BurmaNet News, July 8, 2005

[Editor]

July 8, 2005 Issue # 2756


INSIDE BURMA
South China Morning Post: Former PM's trial under way in Yangon; Observers
expect Khin Nyunt to be found guilty and receive death penalty
Irrawaddy: Win Tin still held—did he defy junta?
Mizzima: Shan ceasefire leaders still in detention

ON THE BORDER
Mizzima: Five Indian smugglers detained without trial in Chin State
Narinjara News: Bangladesh security forces raid a Burmese Muslim rebel camp

BUSINESS / FINANCE
Kaladan News: New Delhi to make effort fastening in Dhaka

ASEAN
Business World: RP voices readiness to lead ASEAN

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: UN envoy, media rights group welcome Myanmar releases, urge more action
AFP: Rice's non-attendance at Southeast Asia meet could hurt US credibility
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: US accuses Burma of continuing to
arrest pro-democracy supporters


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INSIDE BURMA

July 8, South China Morning Post
Former PM's trial under way in Yangon; Observers expect Khin Nyunt to be
found guilty and receive death penalty – Larry Jagan

The trial of the former prime minister Khin Nyunt has begun inside the
country's notorious Insein prison in Yangon. He was arraigned on eight
charges on Wednesday and was told he could appoint a defense lawyer,
according to government sources.

Details of the charges against the former intelligence chief have not yet
emerged but diplomats believe he probably faces allegations of corruption
and insubordination.

Total secrecy and massive security surrounds the trial.

"The junta is totally tight-lipped over the whereabouts of Khin Nyunt and
are desperate to keep the whole charade under wraps," an Asian diplomat in
Yangon said.

Myanmar legal experts said, however, the former government leader is
almost certain to face the death penalty in a trial that is scheduled to
start in earnest next Tuesday. Three Supreme Court judges are appearing in
a special court set up inside Insein prison.

Khin Nyunt's two sons have already been tried in a special court in the
prison. The first, Ye Naing Win, a businessman and owner of the
independent internet provider Bagan Cybertech, was charged with 33 counts
of economic crimes, infringements of currency exchange regulations and
corruption. The second, military officer Zaw Naing Oo, has been tried on
more than 10 charges.

The two are due to be sentenced today, though this is the fifth straight
week the court has been scheduled to announce the verdict.

Khin Nyunt's arraignment this week makes it more likely that the sons will
finally be officially found guilty and sentenced to more than four years
in prison, observers said.

Earlier this week former agriculture minister Nyunt Tin and his son Thar
Gyi were arrested because of the family's involvement in a foreign
exchange and import license scam which netted more than US$ 10 million,
mainly from government ministries and economic agencies, the Myanmar
Economic Bank and the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited.

When Nyunt Tin was arrested, the authorities reportedly seized more than
30 unlicensed cars and a large amount of gold and jewelry. The former
agriculture minister was sacked in September when Myanmar's top military
ruler, senior General Than Shwe, started his move against Khin Nyunt, who
was then the prime minister. Nyunt Tin was sacked for excessive
corruption, according to government sources.

The agriculture minister and his family were notorious for their
involvement in corruption. Last year the minister built a house in a plush
area of the capital. Large amounts of gold bars, pearls and precious
stones were plastered into the walls of the building, according to his
neighbours.

Former home minister Tin Hlaing and the former foreign minister Win Aung
were also arrested.

____________________________________

July 8, Irrawaddy
Win Tin still held—did he defy junta? – Louis Reh

Burma’s longest-serving political prisoner, the prominent journalist Win
Tin, was not among those freed in this week’s amnesty, the opposition
National League for Democracy confirmed on Friday.

It had been expected that Win Tin would be released after he was summoned
to meet the Home Minister in Insein prison on Wednesday. Nine other
political prisoners who also met the Home Minister were freed, prompting
speculation that Win Tin might have insisted on the release of all
prisoners and detainees, including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Win Tin, a 75-year-old NLD veteran, has served 16 years of a 20 year jail
sentence imposed in 1989.

In Wednesday’s amnesty, 335 prisoners were freed. Almost all were classed
as political prisoners, leaving more than 1,000 still in prisons across
Burma.

Win Tin has won international recognition for his pro-democracy
engagement. In 2001 he was awarded the World Association of Newspapers
Golden Pen of Freedom and the UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom
Prize.

A close friend of Win Tin who visited him in Insein prison last Saturday
said he remained devoted to his political beliefs and principles. “I keep
the flag flying even when there’s nothing left,” he was quoted by his
friend as saying.

The international community, meanwhile, has welcomed Wednesday’s amnesty
but continues to urge the Rangoon regime to release all political
prisoners, including Suu Kyi.

The Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro said he “firmly believes that former political prisoners can make
a valuable contribution to the process of national reconciliation.”

____________________________________

July 8, Mizzima
Shan ceasefire leaders still in detention

Three members of the Shan ethnic ceasefire group who were arrested on
Tuesday near the Sino-Burmese border town of Muse by the military
authorities continued to be detained, despite offers to negotiate by the
rebel chief.

Vice-chairman of Shan State Army- North, Col. Sao Khai Hpa, and three
rebels were arrested on Tuesday by the police at 105th mile Gate while
traveling to Muse town from Northern Shan State town of Lashio.

The police later released Col. Sao Khai Hpa and allowed him to return to
Lashio but he remained in town and was reported to have talked with the
police for the release of his men.

A Shan source said the chairman of SSA-N, Maj-Gen Loimoa, met the Burmese
military’s Northeastern Region Commander, Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing in Lashio
town to negotiate the release of his detained men. However, there are no
reports of the the jailed rebels being freed.

Reports suggest that the arrest of the rebels, who were in possession of
arms and ammunitions, was another sign of increased tension between the
SSA-N and the junta, which began after the junta arrested the group’s
leader, Gen Hso Ten, in February.

The SSA-N, which had agreed to a ceasefire with the military regime for
nearly a decade, has merged with the Shan State National Army to form the
Shan State Peace Council, of which Gen Hso Ten is the President.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

July 8, Mizzima
Five Indian smugglers detained without trial in Chin State – Min Thang

Five Indians who were arrested by the Burmese army for illegal felling of
trees in southern Chin State village of Aisih near the Indo-Burmese border
have reportedly been in detention for over five months without trial.

Ten Indian nationals, including dealer Go Khan Thang, were arrested by the
Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 269 led by Maj Kan Maw for felling on
February 12, 2005. The Burmese army, however, freed five of them team
while detaining the rest.

"They have been transferred to Tonzang township lock-up but so far there
is no trial or prosecution in the court," said Go Khan Thang's wife.

"We have to supply them everything. From food to medicine when they are
sick," she added.

Relatives in Tonzang Township are trying for the case to end in Tonzang
Township court without going to higher courts and are hopeful that the
case will be taken up in the month of July.

According to the locals, on April 3, the Chin State military Commander
visited Aisih villager in Kyikha Township, where the Indians were
arrested, and seized the trucks, which were to be used for transporting
the logs.

About after a week, the Indians were transferred to Tonzang Township
lock-up said the locals. The army then took the trucks to town.

The illegal logging team was arrested while the Burmese army, LIB 269 was
patrolling the village of Aisi, which is about 25 miles east of the army
camp.

A close relative of the logging dealer told a Mizzima correspondent that
the arrested Indian nationals bribed Maj Kan Maw with 1, 20,000 Indian
rupees for their release.

In the past five years, felling of trees on the Indo-Burmese border has
become a lucrative mainline business with increasing demand and
authorities of both India and Burma, who are willing to negotiate and are
prone to accept bribes for permitting the felling.

____________________________________

July 8, Narinjara News
Bangladesh security forces raid a Burmese Muslim rebel camp

Bangladesh security forces, army and Bangladesh Rifle, raided a Burmese
Muslim rebel camp stationed in Bangladesh territory near the Burmese
border on 5 July, stated a border report.

In the raid there was no firing between Bangladesh security forces and
Burmese Muslim rebels because the Muslim rebels retreated to the safety of
the deep forest after they received a tip-off about the raid.

However, Bangladesh security forces arrested one rebel, named Abul Kalan,
aged 27, in the raid and recovered a number of explosives and military
utensils.

According to official sources, the seized ammunitions are: two cartoons of
TNT explosives, 199 bullets of AK 47 rifle, 91 bullets of pistol and
several army uniforms.

The camp is located in the deep forest, 30 kilometers south of
Naikhongchari town under the Bandaban district of Chittagong hill tract.

Last month in this area Bangladesh authority recovered 8 rocket launchers
from the earth near the rebel camp but the authority did not disclose to
whom those arms belonged.

There are two Burmese Muslim rebel groups active in the area. The two
rebel groups are Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) and Arakan
Rohingya National Organization (ARNO).

It has been learnt that a number of Burmese insurgent groups in the
Burma/Bangladesh border area have been in disarray since Bangladesh
authorities have cracked down on Burmese rebels from Arakan state in he
last couple of years.

_____________________________________
BUSINESS / FINANCE

July 8, Kaladan News
New Delhi to make effort fastening in Dhaka

India will continue its efforts to sort out the issues with Bangladesh to
ease the laying of gas pipeline from Burma to India through Bangladesh,
according to UNB, Dhaka.

This was decided at the India-Burma ministerial level meeting in New Delhi
on 6th July 2005, when Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Mani
Shankar  Aiyar had a wide-ranging discussion with his Burma counterpart
Brig Gen Lun Thi on enhancing cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.

Bangladesh did not participate in the meeting as the invitation from the
Indian side reportedly came only a day ahead of the meeting.

But, Bangladesh wants India to first address the issues of trade
imbalance, providing corridor for Nepalese goods to Bangladeshi ports and
access to hydroelectric potential in Bhutan.

Since there has not been any progress in resolving the issues between
India and Bangladesh, New Delhi and Rangoon took the initiative to find
any possible alternative to lay the gas pipeline directly between the two
countries excluding Bangladesh.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed evacuation of gas from Burma
through Burma-Bangladesh-India pipeline and other alternatives, a release
of the   Press Information Bureau (PIB) of India said yesterday.

The release also said both sides agreed that the best alternative of gas
evacuation from Burma to India be through Burma-Bangladesh-India pipeline.

____________________________________
ASEAN

July 8, Business World
RP voices readiness to lead ASEAN – Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo

The Philippines expressed readiness to take over the leadership of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) once the military-led
Myanmar decides to give up its turn for chairmanship.

"I don't think we have reservations in chairing the ASEAN. We are always
prepared," Foreign Affairs Sec. Alberto G. Romulo told reporters in an
interview. The Philippines is next on the alphabetical list to become
chairman.

Early last month, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the
Philippines should take up the position if Myanmar gives it up. Mr. Romulo
also said all ASEAN members have been calling for the release of Nobel
Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi over the years.

Myanmar yesterday released 400 prisoners, most of whom were political
prisoners, across the country in what was seen as a demonstration that it
was relaxing its iron rule on its population. It was unlikely though that
Ms. Suu Kyi was among the freed prisoners.

The United States and European Union earlier threatened to shun group
meetings and stall its development funding if Myanmar's military junta
assumes the chair in 2006 as scheduled.

ASEAN members will meet by the third week of July in Vientiane, Laos for
the Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which is expected to tackle the
chairmanship.

_____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

July 8, Agence France Presse
UN envoy, media rights group welcome Myanmar releases, urge more action

A UN human rights envoy and a media rights group welcomed Myanmar's
release of more than 200 political detainees and others, but said the
military junta must free all remaining prisoners of conscience.

Further releases would "send an important signal to the people of Myanmar
and the international community that the government is committed to a
process of reconciliation and to establishing an inclusive and
participatory democracy in Myanmar," the UN human rights envoy for
Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, said in a statement.

Yangon said Thursday about 400 prisoners had been released across the
country, but declined to identify any.

Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) said some 334
prisoners, mostly political detainees, were released.

Amnesty International put the figure at more than 200 political prisoners
freed and urged the release of the estimated 1,100 others, including
pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi who remains under house arrest.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said two journalists
were among those freed, but five remained imprisoned.

"We are relieved that our colleagues Aung Pwint and Sein Hla Oo are free,
but Burma's leaders must release all of the imprisoned journalists who
remain behind bars," CPJ executive director Ann Cooper said.

The US State Department said Myanmar's military rulers were still
arresting pro-democracy supporters "despite the junta's periodic releases
of small numbers of political prisoners, many of whom had already
completed their sentences."

_____________________________________

July 8, Agence France Presse
Rice's non-attendance at Southeast Asia meet could hurt US credibility –
Martin Abbugao

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's decision to skip a Southeast
Asian security meeting in Laos this month could further hurt the United
States' credentials in the region, analysts said.

Although Washington's image has been somewhat refurbished by its swift
response to the December 26 tsunami disaster, doubts remain in Southeast
Asia over the region's importance to US foreign policy-makers, the
analysts added.

Regional diplomats have confirmed that Rice will not attend the ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) and post-ministerial conference in the Laos capital
of Vientiane on July 28-29.

It will be the first time in about two decades that a US secretary of
state has not attended the annual Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN)
foreign ministers' summit and the ARF, Asia's only official forum on
security issues.

ARF is attended by the foreign ministers of the 10-member ASEAN group and
their key trade and security partners such as the United States, Russia,
China, Japan, Australia and European Union.

Rice, who is expected to visit Africa during the ARF meeting, will be
represented by her deputy, Robert Zoellick.

Amitav Acharya, an analyst with the Institute of Defence and Strategic
Studies (IDSS) in Singapore, said some Southeast Asian countries will view
Rice's absence as a US snub.

"It will send concerns on the level of US engagement, especially in the US
support for the war on terror in Southeast Asia," Acharya told AFP.

"After all, the US called Southeast Asia the second front in the war on
terror. If you call something the second front and you don't show up to
defend it, then you are sending a different signal."

Southeast Asia is the operations base for Jemaah Islamiyah, an Al-Qaeda
affiliate blamed for a series of bloody attacks in Indonesia and believed
to have training bases in the southern Philippines.

Ernest Bower, a partner with Washington-based consultancy BrooksBowerAsia
and a former US-ASEAN Business Council president, said Rice's absence was
bad diplomacy that would mask the United States' deep engagement in the
region.

"The Americans suffer from bad public relations -- and having the deputy
secretary of state attend the ARF and PMC (post-ministerial conference)
will add to that perception problem," he said.

"Sadly, not having the secretary of state attend the... meetings will be
perceived as a lack of top level US engagement in Southeast Asia.

"So, for the United States, the question remains -- is perception reality?
If so, perhaps deploying Secretary Rice would be the right move."

Bower said Zoellick was an old Asia hand who is "virtually a co-secretary
of state when it comes to Asia outside of Korea".

"(But) Zoellick cannot fully replace Rice. In truth, the impact is
potentially greater on the US than on ASEAN," he said.

It is ironic that US commitment to the region has been perennially
questioned even if it is Southeast Asia's top trade and investment partner
and has played a key role in regional security and humanitarian
assistance, Bower said.

IDSS security analyst Andrew Tan said Rice's absence should not come as a
surprise because President George W. Bush's unilateral-focused
administration had downgraded the importance of multilateral forums like
the ARF.

"It's more reflective of the preferences of the current administration in
Washington which is, after all, not seeing multilateral institutions in
very high regard," Tan told AFP.

But Tan also noted that the United States had "many friends" in Southeast
Asia, and Rice's absence at the ARF was unlikely to leave Washington
alienated in a major way.

Some regional governments have said they would have liked Rice to attend
the meeting, but sought to downplay any ramifications. Singapore Foreign
Minister George Yeo said he was "disappointed" but understood Rice's
reasons.

Acharya of IDSS said Rice's absence could also be linked to pressure on
ASEAN to bloc military-ruled Myanmar from assuming the group's
alphabetically-rotating chairmanship next year.

"The United States probably anticipated... that ASEAN might let Myanmar
off the hook on the question of chairmanship. If that's the case, then
Rice not going to Laos would be an expression of displeasure," Acharya
said.

_____________________________________

July 8, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
US accuses Burma of continuing to arrest pro-democracy supporters

The United States has accused Burma's military rulers of continuing to
arrest pro-democracy supporters, even after Rangoon announced it had
released 400 prisoners.

The US State Department says arrests of pro-democracy supporters continue
unabated, despite the junta's release of small numbers of political
prisoners, many of whom have completed their sentences.

The junta said on Thursday it had released about 400 prisoners across the
country but would not identify the freed inmates, many of whom were
believed to be political detainees.

The leader of the country's National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San
Suu Kyi, also remains under house arrest.

The NLD won national elections in 1990, but military leaders blocked it
from taking power.