BurmaNet News, August 27, 2004

[Editor]

August 27, 2004, Issue # 2548

INSIDE BURMA
S.H.A.N.: Shan ceasefire group hold congress
Kao Woa: NMSP remains optimistic on cease-fire
DVB: U Soe Myint, a NLD leader released in Burma
Xinhua: More anti-gov't armed members lay down arms in Myanmar

ON THE BORDER
Mizzima: Assam CM demand sealing of Indo-Burmese border

DRUGS
Mizzima News: Drug trafficking routes emerging across the India-Burma
border -

BUSINESS / MONEY
The News International: FPCCI plans exhibition in Myanmar

REGIONAL
AFP via The Straights Times: Myanmar loan: Thaksin defends deal
Xinhua: Mekong River Commission to strengthen cooperation with China, Myanmar

INTERNATIONAL
S.H.A.N.: UNPO: More Burma-based groups apply for membership
AP via Irrawaddy: Indonesia rejects possible compromise in EU-Burma row
The Guardian: Britain and France fall out over seat at forum for Burma


______________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

August 27, S.H.A.N.
Shan ceasefire group hold congress

Shan State Peace Council, a joint set-up of Shan ceasefire groups, ended
its 2-week long Third Congress on Monday, 23 August, according to
ceasefire sources.

“There was a lot to discuss which we are not in a position to make a
public disclosure as yet,” stated a high-level officer from Shan State
National Army, also known as Shan State Army “Central”, one of the
founding members of the SSPC, which was formed in 1996.

Its other members originally included Shan State Army “North” led by Maj
Gen Loimao and Shan State Army “South” led by Col Yawdserk. However, the
SSA “South”, whose peace offer was turned down by Rangoon,was forced to
withdraw its membership later.

The congress was held at Khaihsim, Hsipaw township, 9-23 August. One of
its main items was to re-elect the executive committee of the Council. The
result, to no one’s surprise, was the re-election of the following
officers:

- Maj Gen Hsoten President
- Maj Gen Loimao Vice President
- Col Gaifah General Secretary

Prior to the convening of the Congress, Col Gaifah had been serving as
Acting General Secretary, following the unexpected death of his
predecessor, Col Gunyawd, on 14 March.

S.H.A.N. was unable to reach the three for an interview. The source later
told S.H.A.N. Gen Hsoten, with two other officers, Col Yabay and Maj
Khurhtai, went down to Rangoon to have an audience with Prime Minister Gen
Khin Nyunt, soon after the conclusion of the Congress. “He is there in
Rangoon at Gen Khin Nyunt’s invitation,” added the source “Nobody knows
what he (Khin Nyunt) has to say to our president.”

_____________________________________

August 27, Kao Woa News
NMSP remains optimistic on cease-fire

The New Mon State Party remains optimistic with its cease-fire policy with
the junta despite it being sidelined at National Convention according to
President Nai Htin.

The 84-year-old President said the NMSP participated at the government
sponsored National Convention to hammer out a political solution, but was
disappointed after the SPDC rejected proposals from the cease-fire groups.

The hope for democracy and a permanent change to the political situation
faded away when Mon leaders listened to a speech delivered by Thein Sein,
Chairman of NC, on the opening day ceremony, he commented.  “We realized
that the freedom of _expression could not be achieved after we heard this
speech.  I don’t think we can achieve our goals when the SPDC continues to
persist on sticking to its basic principles.”

The Mon delegation led by Nai Chan Toi and other cease-fire groups
proposed an agenda for power sharing between the central government and
states but had no chance to debate or discusses the issue.  Even though
their proposals were ignored by the regime, the NMSP will push on ahead
for a political solution, Nai Htin added.

When Kao Wao asked about the fate of NMSP members who were arrested by the
junta for holding arms and collecting tax in Ye last June, President Nai
Htin replied that the NMSP would discuss the situation with the SPDC
authorities as a special case agreed to by two partners when the
cease-fire deal was signed in 1995.

The NMSP’s President is optimistic on the cease-fire agreement with the
SPDC and believes that a positive outcome will be achieved for the release
of their members jailed by the junta in Moulmein .

He also urged the Mons in exile to be united and to cooperate with each
other to promote the Mon political role. Nai Htin was chosen as President
replacing Nai Shwe Kyin who died in March 2003.  He is well-respected by
the majority of the Mon population and grass roots organization for his
down to earth attitude and loyalty to the protracted national movement. 
Despite his old age, he continues to live with his comrades at the jungle
headquarters of the NMSP, BeeRee in Mon State .

Prior to Nai Htin’s interview with Kao Wao, Secretary General Nai Hongsar
talked to the media that the relationship between the SPDC and the NMSP
could be soured for arresting its members.  NMSP members led by Nai Ron
Nai were arrested and sentenced to seven years imprisonment while touring
in the public and collecting funds in Ye township on June 29, 2004.

_____________________________________

August 26, Democratic Voice of Burma
U Soe Myint, a NLD leader released in Burma

U Soe Myint, the chairman of Thakayta Township, Rangoon NLD is released
from Myingyan prison on 25 August.

U Soe Myint along with 7 other NLD members were arrested and accused of
trying to rally NLD youth of Mayanggone Township in Rangoon in 1997 by
Burma’s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

Four out of the eight are released but U Khin Maung Myint die of torture
inside Kale prison.

Dr. Than Nyein, the elected representative of Kyauk Tan Township, Rangoon,
Dr. May Win Myint, the representative of Mayanggone Township in Rangoon
and the township chief NLD organiser U Nyan Thaung are still imprisoned.

Dr. Than Nyein is suffering from liver complaints, heart condition and
high blood pressures and he is unable to walk properly due to the cramps
he is enduring on his left foot.

U Nyan Thaung is suffering from heart condition, diabetes and urinal
diseases.

Daw May Win Myint is also suffering from bone diseases, heart condition
and eye diseases.

Despite their illnesses, Dr. Than Nyein and Dr. May Win Myint have been
recently charged with the Act 10 (a) and to be detained indefinitely, just
before they are due to be released after serving their previous sentences.

_____________________________________
August 27, Xinhua
More anti-gov't armed members lay down arms in Myanmar

A total of 45 more members of some anti-government armed groups in Myanmar
have laid down arms in the last two months, The New Light of Myanmar
newspaper reported Friday.

The 45, who "exchanged arms for peace" with government forces, include
those from the Kayin National Union (KNU), Shan United Revolutionary Army
(SURA), Lahu Democratic Front (LDF) and All Burma Students' Democratic
Front (ABSDF), said the report.

They brought along with them a total of 470 rounds of arms and ammunition
among others, it added.

Among these armed groups, the KNU is the largest one fighting with the
government for more than five decades. Meanwhile, renewed peace talks were
held last February between the government and the KNU. Despite no formal
peace agreement yet, the talks are expected to continue next month.

Official statistics show that up to now, 17 anti-government armed groups
have initiated cease-fire agreements with the government since Myanmar
introduced a policy of national reconciliation in 1989.


_____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

August 27, Mizzima News
Assam CM demand sealing of Indo-Burmese border - Surajit Khaund

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has accused Burma and Bangladesh of
fueling insurgency in northeast India.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, capital of Assam in northeast
India today, Gogoi said, “Assam’s law and order situation is grave due to
cross border terrorism allegedly from Burma and other neighboring
countries”.

In this context, he informed that during his recent visit to New Delhi,
the matter was apprised to Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home
Minister Sivraj Patil to take up the matter with the Burmese and the
Bangladesh governments.

Disappointed with the spurt in activities of the United Liberation Front
of Assam (ULFA), Mr Gogoi said that the militant group has set up a strong
base in the bordering areas of Burma in association with the NSCN groups.

“According to our reports, they (ULFA) have been carrying out subversive
activities from Burma”, he said. He, however, believes that the insurgency
problem in the region could be solved only by deploying more security
force personnel and sealing the border.

In Assam, the ULFA has been on a killing spree, as during the last month,
20 people, including 13 school children have been killed.

Asked whether sealing of the Burma border was possible, he said “Anything
is possible in the modern world. I have already placed a demand to the
Indian Home Ministry to either seal or erect fencing along the border to
stop cross border terrorism”.


_____________________________________
DRUGS

August 27, Mizzima News
Drug trafficking routes emerging across the India-Burma border - Surajit
Khaund

Even though Indian enforcment agencies have claimed that drug trafficking
along the Indo-Burma border has been slowing as a result of their strict
policing vigils, frequent seizures of heroin in Assam and the bordering
areas of Nagaland in northeast India have raised questions concerning this
claim.

More alarmingly, the seized heroin, manufactured in Thailand, are
reportedly brought to the region across the Indo-Burma border. The seizure
of Thai-produced heroin to the region clearly indicates that heroin
continues have not yet been stopped.

Last month, Jorhat police in Assam seized 550 gm of Thai-manufactured
heroin. This was followed by another seizure by the Nagaland police. Three
days ago, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Assam police
seized about 945 gm of heroin hidden in a plastic packet with a Thai
label. The CID also arrested Davis Th. in connection to this latest
seizure.

David, a drug peddler, had been operating in the region in association
with some Burmese connections. His accomplices, however, managed to escape
the police dragnet. Interestingly, within a span of two months, the
enforcing agencies have arrested as many as 10 youths in connection with
the drug trafficking.

Since Mizzima News Group has been closely monitoring the drug trafficking
situation in the northeast India in relation to its connections with
Burma, this correspondent met several officials from Indian enforcment
agencies. These sources, speaking on the condition of anomity, have
revealed that a new trafficking route for heroin from Thailand to India is
emerging. "We are still facing a shortage of manpower and proper equipment
to cope with the situation. This is a vast area for which we need more
personnel to yield the desired result. Moreover, the insurgency factor
creates a serious problem in our operation," they said.

Though drug trafficking has been creating problems for the last 10-12
years, Indian authorities seem to be not too serious about taking
stringent action. It is likely then that peddlers are taking advantage of
the situation and are running their business without hindrance. Moreover,
insurgency in the same region has slowed down the anti-smuggling operation
to a large extent.

Guwahati's Superintendent of Police (SP), Hiren Nath, is in charge of
conducting a recent operations in which one United Liberation Front of
Assam (ULFA) member who had surrendered and his associate were killed.
Nath said that the recovery three packets of heroin from the slain members
by police was evidence that the ULFA members were involved in drug
trafficking.
"According to information, Guwahati, has become a major transit point of
drug trafficking on the basis of frequent seizures," he said. He also
revealed that heroin is believed to have been brought from Thailand across
the Indo-Burma border.

Interestingly, last year, during the BJP government, India and Burma had
come to an agreement to share intelligence to contain drug trafficking
problem. However, considering the gravity of the situation, the enforcment
agencies of both India and Burma seem to have failed to yield the desired
results as drug trafficking is on the rise in northeast India.


______________________________________
BUSINESS / MONEY

August 27, The News International
FPCCI plans exhibition in Myanmar

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FPCCI) will organise a single country exhibition in Rangoon.

This was stated by Haroon Rashid, Vice President FPCCI during a meeting
with the ambassador of Myanmar in his office in Islamabad.

He informed the envoy that preparations are underway for the ‘Made in
Pakistan’ exhibition in close co-ordination with the embassy of Pakistan
in Myanmar and Export Promotion Bureau.

The bilateral trade relations between the two countries were also reviewed
during the meeting and the envoy informed that Myanmar was a lucrative
market for Pakistani products.

It was agreed that there was a need for frequent exchange of trade
delegations which would help to explore the potential economic cooperation
between the two countries.

It was also agreed that Pakistan-Myanmar Trade and Industry Committee of
FPCCI would be activated to facilitate the business community of both the
countries.

Haroon Rashid also proposed the holding of Pakistan-Myanmar Joint Business
Council meeting at an early date. It was also proposed to sign an MoU
between the FPCCI and Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Haroon Rashid also appreciated the facility of E-visa which has been
offered for businessmen visiting Myanmar.


____________________________________
REGIONAL

August 27, AFP via The Straights Times
Myanmar loan: Thaksin defends deal

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has defended a proposed
1.2 billion baht (S$49.6 million) soft loan to Myanmar which could benefit
his family's telecommunications empire.

Thailand's military-run neighbour has sought the loan to overhaul its
telecoms infrastructure through programmes focusing on broadband satellite
and fibre-optic networks.

It requires materials from Thailand's telecoms sector, of which the
Shinawatra family empire is a key player.

The loan request by Myanmar's Ministry of Communications, Post and
Telegraph included US$23.2 million (S$39.7 million) in soft loans and
grants.

'It is a normal loan of money, and like other borrowers it is up to
Myanmar how it spends the money,' Mr Thaksin said yesterday.

He said the Thai Export/Import Bank had thoroughly checked the project and
any approval would be based on business viability and not political
influence.

When asked by a reporter if the loans obligated Myanmar to deal with
specific Thai firms, Mr Thaksin shot back: 'If I really wanted the deal, I
could get it, no problem.' -- AFP, The Nation/AsiaNews Network.

_____________________________________

August 27, Xinhua
Mekong River Commission to strengthen cooperation with China, Myanmar

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat is proposing increased
technical cooperation with China and Myanmar as part of its Water
Utilization Program, a source from Laos said on Thursday.

Siripong Hungspreug, chairman of the MRC Joint Committee for 2004/2005,
told delegates at the 9th Dialogue Meeting of the MRC held Wednesday in
Vientiane that the cooperation would evolve around visits to the MRC
Secretariat and to the Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap areas.

The Dialogue Meeting involves discussions between the four member
countries of the MRC, namely Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, and
delegations from China and Myanmar.

"As these six countries share the waters of the Mekong River, it is in
their mutual interest to cooperate for the wider development of the Basin,
towards its peoples' well-being and protection of its natural resources,"
Hungspreug said.

Following a technical cooperation agreement signed between the MRC and
China in April 2002, which was implemented in 2003, China has been sending
24-hourly water level and 12-hourly rainfall data to the MRC to aid in
flood forecasting.

Hungspreug said the MRC was grateful to China for this cooperation, which
had a significant potential for further enhancement, and the commission
also appreciated the willingness of Myanmar in sharing hydrological data
from the Mekong station located at its stretch of the river.

At the Dialogue Meeting the MRC members briefed their dialogue partners on
trans-boundary issues involved in the MRC's four core programs and sharing
information on fisheries-related hydrological data and fish ecology.


______________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

August 27, S.H.A.N.
UNPO: More Burma-based groups apply for membership

Three Burma-based ethnic groups have requested for membership in the
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, once known as "The Shadow
UN", according to its most recent report.

The UNPO Mid Term Report, released on 25 August, names the following
applicants from Burma that are currently under review:

Arakan-Rakhaing Nation -represented by National United Party of Arakan
(NUPA) Arakan Rohingya - represented by Arakan Rohingya National
Organization (ARNO)
Zo people of India and Burma  - represented by Zo Re-unification
Organization (ZORO)

Among the 12 other aspirants are Kuki of India and Akha of Thailand. 14
other "peoples" have also contacted and shown interest to become members,
states the report.

So far, membership from Burma includes Chin, Karenni, Mon and Shan. Karen
and Kachin have yet to apply for membership.

Founded towards the end of the Cold War, the UNPO was said to have been
instrumental in disentangling the former Russian empire, namely the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics. However, the struggles in the post Cold War
period have become more and more intra-statewise which most of the
existing recognized nation-states are reluctant to support.

Currently, it has 51 members including Taiwan and Tibet. Former Baltic
republics and the newly independent East Timor remain its supporting
members. Its main aim is "to reappear on the international map of most
effective transnational organizations." Its main office is in The Hague,
The Netherlands.


_____________________________________

August 27, AP via Irrawaddy
Indonesia rejects possible compromise in EU-Burma row - Lely T.
Djuhari/AP/Jakarta

Indonesia today rejected any compromise solution to the row between
Southeast Asian countries and Europe over Burma that would result in
Rangoon regime leaders failing to attend an upcoming summit.

The European Union, or EU, has threatened to scuttle a meeting between
European and Asian leaders on October 8-9 in Vietnam if Burma attends,
citing Rangoon’s poor human rights record and the continued detention of
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, believes
that engaging with Burma is the best way to bring about change in the
country, and wants Rangoon to participate in the Asia-Europe Meeting, or
ASEM.

Some Western diplomats have privately suggested a summit-saving
compromise, whereby Burma would be represented by junior level officials,
not Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt.

“[It] is unacceptable to us if the level of a sovereign nation’s
participation in a summit is decided by other states,” Indonesian Foreign
Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told reporters.

“Myanmar [Burma] have to decide themselves whether they will be
represented by their state leaders or not,” he said. “This is [Asean’s]
basic position which is non-negotiable.”

His comments came during a visit to Jakarta by Dutch Foreign Minister Ben
Bot, whose government currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency. He met
officials to seek a solution to the row.

On Thursday, he said he was confident the summit would take place, but did
not indicate how a compromise would be reached. Bot was scheduled to
return to the Netherlands today [Friday].

Burma’s military government detained Suu Kyi in May 2003 and she remains
under house arrest. The EU has demanded her release.

In June the EU scrapped talks with Asian finance ministers because of
their insistence that Burma take part in the October meeting.

Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma,
Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

_____________________________________

August 27, The Guardian
Britain and France fall out over seat at forum for Burma  - Ewen
MacAskill, and Amelia Gentleman in Paris

A new diplomatic spat between Britain and France has developed over an
invitation to Burma to attend a joint Europe-Asia forum in October.

The Foreign Office is opposed to the participation of the Burmese military
government until it releases the pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San
Suu Kyi.

But the French government is arguing that it is more important that the
summit goes ahead.

A British government source described the French position as "craven".
Britain has the support mainly of the former communist states of eastern
Europe.

The Europe-Asian summit (Asem) is to be held in Vietnam on October 8 and
9. Tony Blair is unable to attend and is to be replaced by the deputy
prime minister, John Prescott.

Asean, the Asian partner in the venture with the EU, has invited Burma,
Cambodia and Laos to join the forum for the first time to balance the
arrival of 10 new EU countries.

A French foreign ministry spokesman said: "The Asem meeting is so
important to our Asia policy that it needs to go ahead. Burma is a
relatively minor issue, next to all the other things Europe needs to
engage with Asia on. A row over Burma should not stop the meeting from
going ahead."

A Foreign Office spokesman said yesterday: "We are working closely with
our European partners on the issue. The European foreign ministers are
agreed on the importance of the Asem summit but also that Burma is a
problem."

European foreign ministers are to meet next week to try to resolve the
dispute. A special EU envoy, the former Dutch foreign minister Hans van
den Broek, has been trying to find a solution.