BurmaNet News April 28, 2005

[Editor]

April 28, 2005 Issue # 2707

INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Another ethic ceasefire group to disarm
Deutsche Presse-Agentur: Self-declared "Shan government" seeks recognition

REGIONAL
Reuters: Annan says consensus over Asian for U.N. top post
AFP: Bangladesh, Myanmar exchange prisoners
Narinjara: Burma becomes a source of raw materials for Bangladesh

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: Annan offers UN help to restore democracy in Myanmar

PRESS RELEASE
USCB: Honor the 60th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi: Boycott the products of
Hong Pang Companies

ANNOUNCEMENT
Radio Free Asia: Job opening: Burmese Broadcaster

______________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

April 28, Irrawaddy
Another ethic ceasefire group to disarm - Nandar Chann

Another ethnic ceasefire group participating in the National Convention
will hand in its arms to government officials on Friday, it was officially
reported in Shan State on Thursday.

Representatives of ceasefire groups in Shan State said the Palaung State
Liberation Army is to be formally disarmed at a ceremony attended by the
junta’s Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein in Mantong, northern Shan State. The
PSLA was handing in its arms in accordance with the military government’s
“exchange arms for peace” program, said a member of the PSLA based in
Lashio, capital of northern Shan State. He declined to comment further.

The government program is aimed at disarming all ceasefire groups that are
participating in the National Convention, which is charged with drawing up
a new constitution for Burma.

Lt-Gen Thein Sein left for Shan State on Thursday morning, state-run radio
reported.

A senior official at the Lashio office of the United Wa State Army, the
strongest ceasefire group, confirmed that he would be attending the
disarmament ceremony.

In early April, another ceasefire group of the Shan State National Army
surrendered its arms to the government, resulting in the departure of
large numbers of its members, who went into hiding in the mountains.

The UWSA official in Lashio said: “I think that group after group will
have to follow suit sooner or later.” He expected an ethnic group of the
Kachin Defense Army based in Shan State would be among the next to disarm.

Since 1989, 17 armed groups have reached ceasefire agreements with the
ruling junta.

The military government has reportedly told the ceasefire groups to
transform themselves into political parties. Observers said that the
groups were likely to be allowed to participate in any future general
election. The junta maintains that the organization of a general election
will be one of the steps towards democracy resulting from the National
Convention.

____________________________________

April 28, Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Self-declared "Shan government" seeks recognition

Bangkok: The self-declared "Shan government," which earlier this month
claimed independence from Myanmar (Burma), is seeking recognition from the
United Nations and several countries including Thailand, leaders of the
rebel government said on Thursday.

"We are in the process of seeking recognition for a number of countries
including the United Nations," said Hkun Hom, self-proclaimed foreign
minister of the Shan government.

On April 17, Shan Prince Surkhanpha, son of Myanmar's first
post-independence president Saopalong Sa Shwe Thaike, declared the Shan
State of northeastern Myanmar independent and the establishment of a Shan
government with himself as president.

The self-proclaimed government has called on the U.N. to send in a
peace-keeping force to the Shan State to help remove Myanmar troops from
their territory to pave the way for a free election.

"We have foreign troops in our country and have to see that they withdraw
back to Burma before we can hold an election to elect a new government,"
said Hkun Hom, addressing an informal gathering of journalists in Bangkok.

Hkun Hom said the Shan government has also sought support and recognition
from Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, head of state of Thailand.

"We have no quarrel with the Thai government. In fact, we share the same
heritage, history and culture so we would welcome full cooperation with
the Thais," said Surkhanpha.

Surkhanpha, a geologist by profession who has been living in exile in
Canada since 1966, claimed he had earned his mandate from the Shan people
by secretly canvassing for their support over the past two years.

"Our government's mandate comes from 48 townships out of 56 in the Shan
State who voted for independence," said Surkhanpha.

He claimed firm support from the eight million people residing in the Shan
State, including the Shan State Army (SSA) and other rebel groups who have
been waging insurgencies in the area for the past five decades.

Surkhanpha said Myanmar, which has been under military rule since 1962,
had lost its constitutional right to preserve the country as a union
because of the Yangon-based military regime's mistreatment of ethnic
minorities, including the Shan.

"The 1948 Union of Burma does not exist. The Burmese generals have
converted it into a Burmese empire," said Surkhanpha, who refused to call
the country by its now official name "Myanmar."

He dismissed concerns raised by other ethnic minority groups that the Shan
government would exclude them from their territory.

"There used to be 34 princes in the Shan states and they were all equal,
with their own territory," said Surkhanpha. "The only difference now is
that there are no more princes."

The Shan are one of a host of ethnic minority groups in Myanmar who claim
the right to independence and territorial sovereignty from the
Burman-dominated central government.

Most of Myanmar's insurgent groups have signed peace pacts with the Yangon
regime, and are participating in the drafting of a new constitution that
will, in theory, address the sensitive issue of sharing power with the
minorities.

An estimated 60 pert cent of Myanmar's population are Burmans. The Shan,
traditionally based in the country's northern territories, ruled much of
what is now Myanmar for 300 years before being defeated by the Burmans in
the 17th Century. They enjoyed a high degree of autonomy under the British
Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

_____________________________________
REGIONAL

April 28, Reuters
Annan says consensus over Asian for U.N. top post - Kamil Zaheer

New Delhi: United Nations members generally agree that Asia should provide
the next head for the global body, after a break of three decades,
Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Thursday.

The last general secretary from Asia was U Thant of Burma, now Myanmar,
whose decade-long term ended in 1971 and Annan said it was the continent's
turn again.

"I think unless there are dramatic changes, most member states see it as
Asia's chance," Annan, whose second term as secretary general finishes at
the end of next year, told a news conference in New Delhi.

Asia has emerged as an economic powerhouse in recent decades, with India
and China among the strongest economies in the world.

The continent already has one declared candidate, Thai Deputy Prime
Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who has the backing of the 10 member
Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Annan, speaking at the end of a three-day visit to New Delhi, played down
the hopes of his hosts that India could win a right of veto if it won a
permanent Security Council seat in a rejigged United Nations.

Annan, who is pushing for wide-ranging reform of the world body, said
candidates for new slots should not expect to get a veto power if Security
Council was expanded.

"I believe enlargement without veto is a major step forward," 66-year-old
Annan told diplomats, foreign policy analysts and other guests at a
function.

"Let us not get so focused on the veto."

India, Japan, Germany and Brazil have pledged to support each others'
candidacy for permanent seats on the Security Council.

Annan said calls by some U.N. members for the five current permanent
members of the Security Council to lose their coveted veto powers was
utopian and not realistic.

Critics say the veto rights of the United States, France, Britain, China
and Russia reflect the situation when the U.N. was formed in 1945, not the
reality of the 21st century.

"What is important is to have effective representation to make the council
more democratic and ensure voices of all the regions are heard," Annan
said.

Annan wants general agreement by September on the reforms he put forward
last month, which also seek a commitment by rich countries to increase aid
funding and an overhaul of the U.N's human rights body.

_____________________________________

April 28, Agence France Presse
Bangladesh, Myanmar exchange prisoners

Dhaka: Bangladesh and Myanmar have exchanged prisoners in a sign of
improving relations between the two South Asian neighbours, officials said
Thursday.

"Bangladesh released 172 Myanmar prisoners, after they served their terms
in different Bangladesh jails while the Myanmar authorities also freed 20
Bangladeshi prisoners," a spokesman for Bangladesh's border force said.

Dhaka's relations with Yangon soured in the early 1990s when around
250,000 Muslim refugees flooded across the border into Muslim-majority
Bangladesh.

The refugees, known locally as "Rohingyas", said they were victims of
atrocities by the Buddhist-majority country's military government.

The prisoner release follows a visit by Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan
Win to Bangladesh last month when Myanmar officials promised to release 75
Bangladeshis held in different jails.

"The decision is a warm gesture by the Myanmar government to its western
neighbour," Bangladesh foreign ministry spokesman Zahirul Haq told AFP.

The governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an agreement on April 28,
1992 under which Dhaka was to repatriate all refugees within six months
from May of that year.

While most refugees have been sent home since then, some 20,000 still live
in two refugee camps in Bangladesh's southeastern town of Cox's Bazar --
and many refuse to return to their homeland.

Border forces of the two countries held a flag meeting late Wednesday and
exchanged the prisoners, the spokesman for the Bangladesh Rifles border
force added.

"Most of the prisoners were fishermen and woodcutters who strayed into
each other's territory in search of work," he said.

The spokesman said it was not known when the remaining Bangladeshi
prisoners would be released.

_____________________________________

April 28, Narinjara News
Burma becomes a source of raw materials for Bangladesh

Cox’sbazar: Burma has become a source of raw materials for Bangladesh
through the exportation of several kinds of raw materials to Bangladesh
via both legal and illegal methods.  This trade trend is a result of
failing Burmese businesses in the recent years, said a top businessman
from the Taknef border town in Bangladesh.

Burmese businessmen have been exporting several kinds of raw materials to
Bangladesh, including rice, wood, fruit, husbandry animals and their
skins, fish and raw iron materials, through the Teknaf border seaport.

According to border business sources, currently the raw material of scrap
iron from Burma is in higher demand in Bangladesh markets than other raw
materials because Bangladeshi iron factories are facing a shortage of raw
iron material.

"Several loaded boats from Burma come to Bangladesh for the exportation of
raw iron materials. A number of businessmen from both Bangladesh and Burma
are involved in this process right now." a businessman said

One kilogram of raw iron material is currently valued at 16 Taka in the
markets of Bangladesh  and is considered a high profit for raw material
businessmen in the border businesses.

"The Bangladeshi local authority treats raw iron material as an exempted
good because it lures Burmese businessmen and, thus, increases the exports
from Burma to Bangladesh," said another trader from Burma.

Furthermore, the Bangladeshi authority recently determined to give rice to
Burmese traders in exchange for duty free products in Bangladesh, with the
intention of fulfilling the
country's demand of rice this year.

For that reason, many Burmese traders are currently exporting not only;
raw materials of iron, but also rice from Burma to Bangladesh by waterways
 across the Bay of Bengal.

_____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

April 28, Agence France Presse
Annan offers UN help to restore democracy in Myanmar

New Delhi: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Thursday the world body
would offer Myanmar's military junta any help it needed to move towards
democracy.

Annan, ending a four-day trip to India, also said he urged Myanmar leader
General Than Shwe to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a
meeting at an international summit in Jakarta that wrapped up over the
weekend.

"I also encouraged the general to open up and allow the (opposition) NLD
(the National League for Democracy) to play a political role," Annan told
reporters in New Delhi.

"The world would like to count on a dialogue and we are prepared to offer
any advice or institution (for Myanmar) to move towards democracy," Annan
said.

Myanmar has convened a national convention to draw up a new national
constitution but the process has been boycotted by Aung San Suu Kyi's
party and labelled a farce by the West.

The convention is the first of seven steps in Myanmar's self-proclaimed
roadmap to democracy but delegates to it have been allegedly handpicked by
the junta.

In Jakarta last week, Than Shwe pledged to go ahead with democratic
reforms during a separate meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono.

There have been repeated demands for Myanmar to withdraw from chairing the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year because of its alleged
human rights abuses and continued detention of Nobel Peace Prize winner
Aung San Suu Kyi.

The United Nations, the European Union and the United States have all
objected to Myanmar taking over the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2006
because of its poor human rights record.

European Union foreign ministers on Monday renewed sanctions for a year
against Myanmar's military regime, which notably restrict travel by junta
officials and prevent investment in the country.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

April 27, Malaysiakini.com
Burma: A good move, another chance - Verghese Mathews

The prickly question of Burma's assumption of the Asean chair next year
has been deferred to the formal Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in
Vientiane in July.

The 10 Asean foreign ministers made this decision during their recent
retreat in Cebu, the Philippines.

Many people within and outside the region were most disappointed that
nothing more assertive came out of Cebu. It is fair assumption that others
were also shaking their heads and muttering, with some disdain no doubt,
that they were not at all surprised by the outcome.

However, a small group of close watchers of the Asean scene see the
picture from a different perspective and are not unhappy over the turn of
events. These realists see Cebu as part of a process and not a finality.
They see advantage in the time gap between the last meeting in Cebu and
the next in Vientiane.

These Asean watchers, dubbed as such for want of a name, understand well
that the Burmese situation is an extremely complex one and recognise the
imperative need to treat Burma with the respect a sovereign nation and an
Asean member country rightly deserves.

At the same time, they are clear in their minds that Burma should no
longer be allowed to shy away from its regional responsibility which the
membership of Asean demands. The ball is now squarely in the Burmese court
and a statesman-like response is expected from a country which previously
had a proud tradition of holding its head high.

These Asean watchers, who are conscious of the part national pride plays
in the psyche of the Burmese leaders, take statements from them quite
seriously, in particular, the recent one that Burma "is not a selfish
country".

This is seen as a critical and a telling statement by the Asean watchers
who seriously believe that Burma has the capacity to harness the political
will to demonstrate its sincerity as an unselfish regional player.

No rancour in Cebu

As a backgrounder, these Asean watchers understand that an Asean retreat,
like the one in Cebu, is quite unlike a formal Asean Foreign Ministers
Meeting, where the ministers are accompanied by their ambassadors, senior
officials and experts and a host of note-takers and other flunkies.

At the retreat, only the 10 foreign ministers are present. The only
outsider is a note-taker. Here the gloves are off. Traditional Southeast
Asian subtleties and shadow play are not in fashion. The discussions can
be brutally frank as each minister details his concerns. There is no
rancour.

The Asean watchers believe that was precisely what had happened at Cebu.
At no time before would the nine other foreign ministers have collectively
bared their souls in such a manner to Burma.

At the end of the day the foreign ministers accepted that Burma had to
decide for itself the course it was prepared to undertake and, as
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said, Burma would naturally have to
bear the consequences of its actions.

To the Asean watchers, therefore, deferring the decision to July is a
solution that gives 'face' to Burma. Its foreign minister would have
faithfully conveyed the tenor of the Cebu discussions to the other leaders
at home.

Burma has sufficient time before Vientiane to either accelerate its reform
time-table or rise above 'selfish' national concerns and think regional.

Annual alphabetical ritual

In this context, two extremely important points need to be made. First,
about this 'bad precedent' card which provides a straw of hope for Burma.
Some commentators have said that if Burma does not assume the
chairmanship, it would set a 'bad precedent' for Asean.

The Asean watchers note that there is much confusion here. Interfering in
the domestic affairs of a member country is indeed a bad precedent -
persuading Burma to skip its turn as chairperson is certainly not.

Asking Burma to leave the grouping altogether is an unacceptable precedent
but, to repeat, asking Burma to wait until it has sorted out its domestic
problems before assuming the chairmanship, is not.

A quick explanation is needed.

Asean chairmanship is an annual alphabetical ritual, not a sacred cow.
There is undoubtedly a certain prestige in the position but this is
secondary. The basic requirement of the chairperson is to be the interface
with the dialogue partners and, in effect, with the rest of the world.

Which CEO anywhere, even in Burma, would appoint as an interface someone
his organisation's friends and important clients are unwilling or unhappy
to relate to?

Second, a word of caution about grandstanding. Here the Asean watchers are
concerned and hope that the US and Europe and their friends could do
better than jump the gun and make threatening statements about
non-attendance, etc. This is not helpful at all and is more likely to be
counterproductive.

Neither the Asean watchers nor the government in Burma are impressed by
these threats. This is just unnecessary distraction at a time when such
distractions are not needed. The period between Cebu and Vientiane is
better left for quiet diplomacy.

In this context, close and trusted friends of Burma should quietly and
privately encourage Burma to think big, to be regional and be
statesman-like. China and India have each a definite role here. Will they
help Burma and its people?

VERGHESE MATHEWS, formerly Singapore's ambassador to Cambodia, is
currently a Visiting Research Fellow in the Institute of Southeast Asian
Studies in Singapore.

______________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

April 28, U.S. Campaign For Burma
Honor the 60th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi: Boycott the products of Hong
Pang Companies

Contact: Jeremy Woodrum at (202) 223 0300

(Washington, DC): The US Campaign for Burma today urged the people of
Burma to boycott the products of the Hong Pang Group of Companies, a major
Burmese conglomerate operated by drug lords indicted by a federal court in
the United States.

"We urge the people of Burma not to purchase the products of the Hong Pang
Group.  It is a dirty and corrupt company operated by drug-lords that
support Than Shwe," said Aung Din, a former political prisoner and policy
director of the US Campaign for Burma.  "This is how the Burmese people
can support the struggle for freedom and democracy without risking their
lives and honor Aung San Suu Kyi's 60th birthday."

The effort is part of an international campaign to increase pressure on
Burma's ruling military regime organized around Aung San Suu Kyi's 60th
birthday.  Similar to "Mandela at 70", a worldwide campaign in 1988
honoring the 70th birthday of then-imprisoned South African leader Nelson
Mandela, USCB and allied groups are organizing protests and activities in
dozens of countries around the world.

Burma activists around the world--including inside Burma--are planning
many activities to honor Aung San Suu Kyi on June 19th.  Understanding the
desire by those inside Burma to take concrete action to honor Aung San Suu
Kyi and defy military rule, USCB urges the people of Burma to boycott the
products of Hong Pang Group of Companies.

"By boycotting drug lords that prop up Burma's military regime, my fellow
Burmese people can directly contribute to a better future for our
country," added Aung Din.  "Additionally, this is a way for democracy
activists to condemn savage attacks on the Shan peoples by the United Wa
State Army."

Hong Pang Group of Companies was founded in 1998 by the United Wa State
Army (UWSA), which is described by the US Government as the "world's
largest armed narcotics-trafficking organization." Its leader Wei Hsueh
Kang is designated by the United States a "drug kingpin," and the US
Government is offering a $2 million reward for information leading to the
arrest of Wei.  Additionally, he and seven other leaders of UWSA were
recently indicted by a US Federal Court in New York on heroin and
methamphetamine trafficking charges.

For the past two weeks, the United Wa State Army has waged a series of
brutal military attacks against leaders of the Shan ethnic group in
eastern Burma.  The Shan State Army has for decades refused to submit to
domination by Burma's military dictatorship.

Although the drug lord owners of Hong Pang Group are wanted by the US
Government and the international community, they are fully protected by
Than Shwe's regime.  They are permitted to run legal businesses, and
launder the proceeds of the drug trade.

It is estimated that Hong Pang Group of Companies is the second largest
privately-owned conglomerate in Burma.

Hong Pang owns an industrial zone in Sagaing Division where it produces
textiles and garments, electronic goods, wires and cables, telephone
wires, fluorescent lamps, frames for lamps, chokes, fans, switches, gas
lighters, and video discs.  The company is also involved in agricultural
produce, agriculture and livestock breeding, gem mining, trading and
construction.

Hong Pang Group's products are available in domestic markets and are also
exported to neighboring countries.

"This is an activity that Burmese people can do without any risk to their
own well-being," added Aung Din.  "Just tell your friends, family, and
colleagues: support democracy, boycott Hong Pang."

____________________________________
ANNOUNCEMENT

April 27, Radio Free Asia: Job opening
Burmese Broadcaster

RADIO FREE ASIA is seeking one (1) Burmese-language International Radio
Broadcaster in Washington, D.C. This private, non-profit corporation
broadcast news and information in 9 languages to listeners in those Asian
countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable.

RESPONSIBILITES INCLUDE
Gathering news and information, developing ideas and proposals for
programs; conducting research for stories and interviews, writing news
scripts, and preparing and presenting reports, programs, and program
segments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university degree in
journalism or related field preferred. One year experience in broadcast
and/or specialized journalism. Knowledge and understanding of current
political, economic and social conditions in Burma. Good news judgment and
fluency in Burmese and English required.

All candidates must be eligible to work and provide proof of eligibility.

Send cover letter & resume via fax to 202-530-7797 or e-mail
www.jobs at rfa.org.

RFA is an equal opportunity employer."