BurmaNet News, December 1, 2005

[Editor]

December 1, 2005 Issue # 2855

INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Rangoon cracks down on crime

HEALTH/AIDS
Irrawaddy: AIDS “Epidemic” harming Burma’s economy, says report

BUSINESS/TRADE
Thai Press Reports: Myanmar agrees to cultivate seven million hectares
Xinhua: Myanmar extends beans, pulses cultivation to boost production

INTERNATIONAL
AP via IHT: U.S. seeks consensus on Myanmar inquiry
Narinjara: Arakanese demonstrate their solidarity with Shan

OPINION/OTHER
Financial Times: Sanctions take a heavy human toll

PRESS RELEASE

>From the Office of Rep. Mario “Mayong” Joyo Aguja: House reps unite on Burma


INTERVIEW
Irrawaddy: Why Total agrees to compensation in forced labor suit

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INSIDE BURMA

December 1, Irrawaddy
Rangoon cracks down on crime - Yeni

Rangoon’s police force today launched a new initiative—Crime Free
Week—which introduced a curfew that was intended to reduce crime on the
streets of the capital.

Members of Rangoon’s police force have begun patrolling sections of the
capital on a 24-hour basis by bicycle, motorbike and car, according to
local residents. They have also deployed covert armed personnel on foot,
warning that if patrols find anyone on the streets after 9 PM who looks
suspicious, they could be placed under arrest.

Authorities have included in their campaign against crime the distribution
of leaflets on crime prevention. The operation is being led by Rangoon’s
Western District Second Police Officer Aung Naing Thu, a police official
told The Irrawaddy by telephone today. The program currently extends to
three townships in central Rangoon, but will eventually become city-wide

Sources in Rangoon consider crime in the capital to be on the rise, though
they add that police have not previously taken significant action.

“The government appears now to be concerned,” said a Rangoon-based
journalist on the new crime initiative. “Rangoon residents are taking
responsibility for their own safety. The effectiveness of the new police
initiative remains to be seen.”

The Burmese government has stated publicly, in the junta mouthpiece
newspaper The New Light of Myanmar, that no increase in crime has
occurred. Nonetheless, they reported this week on 10 murders committed in
the capital in the last two months, and adding that such crimes “happen
rarely.”

Observers inside the country and abroad have reported that dismal economic
conditions, sparked by a rise in fuel prices and a devaluation of the
kyat, have created desperation among residents and have contributed to
increased criminal activity.

Local residents report that, despite orders by authorities that late-night
businesses close by 11 PM, the city’s nightlife has not suffered
significantly, particularly for the well-to-do.

“The people most affected by the new restrictions are the street vendors,”
said one city resident. “If you have a car and the money to stay out all
night, you can go where you want.”

____________________________________
HEALTH/AIDS

December 1, Irrawaddy
AIDS “Epidemic” harming Burma’s economy, says report - Sai Silp

The Asian Development Bank says the incidence of AIDS in Burma threatens
the country’s economy by cutting labor productivity, slowing population
growth and slashing the people’s ability to save money.

The gloomy assessment comes in an ADB report that lists Burma with four
other Asian countries where it says a “generalized HIV/ Aids epidemic”
exists. The others are Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and six states
of India.

In Burma, the United Nation estimates that more than 600,000 people carry
the virus. HIV prevalence among pregnant women was estimated at 1.8
percent in 2004. AIDS is reported to be moving into the general population
from high-risk groups such as sex workers and intravenous drug users.

Recently, the Global Fund, an organization working to fight against AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria, terminated its AIDS program in Burma,
complaining that government restrictions hampered its work.

The Global Fund’s withdrawal means 5,000 patients will miss out on
anti-retroviral treatment. Lack of funding will also hit other efforts
such as condom distribution and HIV testing programs.

Dr. Min Thwe, a physician working closely with AIDS issues in Burma, said
in the government newspaper The New Light of Myanmar Thursday that this
year Rangoon would launch a two-pronged health information policy.

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BUSINESS/TRADE

December 1, Thai Press Reports
Myanmar agrees to cultivate seven million hectares under contract farming
with Thailand

Section: General News - The Cabinet yesterday heard a progress report on
contract farming with Myanmar in which the neighbouring country agreed to
reserve seven million hectares, or about 44 million rai, for the purpose.

Government Spokesperson Surapong Suebwonglee said after the Cabinet
meeting that Myanmar agreed to plant such crops as sugarcane, oil palm,
cassava and rubber, to be supplied to factories in Thailand.

The Thai Government also expects to conclude a contract farming agreement
with Cambodia shortly and has begun negotiations on the same issue with
Laos.

Contract farming is being conducted between Thailand and neighbouring
countries under the Ayeyarwaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation
Strategy, or ACMECS. The practice is usually applied to agricultural crops
which are labour intensive and aims to substitute imports. Produce from
the project will be sent to Thailand for value adding purpose. The project
will help generate jobs in neighbouring countries and will support
investment expansion between partners.

Contract farming is expected to effectively solve illegal border crossing
of migrant workers, reduce health and social problems originated from
illegal labour and patch up the difference in development levels between
Thailand and neighbouring countries. Moreover, the practice will reduce
the production capital of Thai goods because of cheaper raw materials and
labour cost in the neighbouring countries.

____________________________________

December 1, Xinhua News Service
Myanmar extends beans, pulses cultivation to boost production

Myanmar has been extending the cultivation of beans and pulses year by
year with the crop's cultivated area reaching 3.4 million hectares in the
fiscal year 2004-05 which ended in March, according to a state-run
newspaper Thursday.

The sown area of beans and pulses was up from only 729,000 hectares in
1988-89, the New Light of Myanmar said.

With increased sown area of beans and pulses, its production attained 2.5
million tons in 2004-05, up from 250,000 tons 16 years ago.

Meanwhile, the export of the crop reached 650,000 tons in 2004- 05, rising
from only 17,000 tons in 1988-89, it said.

Agricultural experts told Xinhua earlier that beans and pulses stand one
of the ten major items of crops that Myanmar grow. Of the beans and
pulses, gram, lablab bean, pigeon pea, butter bean and soya bean are
cultivated most in the country.

The export items of beans and pulses cover green gram, pigeon pea, soya
bean, cow pea and Myehtaukpe.

Myanmar remains the biggest exporter of beans and pulses in Southeast
Asia. It exports the crop mainly to India, followed by Japan and member
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Myanmar has also taken measures to extend growing and production of high
yield strain beans and pulses, planning to establish special beans and
pulses cultivation zones across the country to produce the quality crops
for export, according to the state-run Myanmar Agricultural Produce
Trading.

The move is aimed at yielding such quality agricultural crops to be
exported further to European and Middle-East markets.

Pilot projects for the establishment are being launched in Magway
division's Aung Lan.

As an export market expansion, the government has advised growers to
cultivate more marketable items of the crops and transform them into
value-added ones.

Myanmar possesses the potential of becoming one of the top six beans and
pulses trading countries in the world, according to an estimation for 2005
of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

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INTERNATIONAL

December 1, AP via International Herald Tribune
U.S. seeks consensus on Myanmar inquiry

The United States delayed until Friday its push to get the UN Security
Council to put military-ruled Myanmar on its agenda for the first time,
because of questions raised by China, Russia, Japan and other members.

The U.S. ambassador, John Bolton, told reporters after a closed-door
discussion that he agreed to the delay because Washington believes there
is a possibility of getting consensus among the 15 Council members on the
U.S. request for a briefing on the situation in Myanmar.

When the United States last attempted to get the Council to discuss
Myanmar in June, it failed to get support from at least nine of the 15
members to put the issue on the agenda.

Russia and China were among the key opponents, and they raised questions
again when Bolton brought up the issue on Wednesday, as did Japan, Brazil
and others, Council diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity
because the meeting was closed.

"We're confident that we're going to get it approved," Bolton said,
stressing that Washington sent a letter seeking to hold a briefing by a
senior UN official only after consulting the 14 other members.

"In the interest of obtaining consensus, I said we would put off a
decision until Friday, where we will either achieve consensus on having
the briefing, in which case it will go ahead, or I will call for a vote,"
Bolton said.

In a letter Tuesday to the Council president, Bolton asked for a briefing
to address "the deteriorating situation in Burma," as the country is also
known. Bolton said he has asked Secretary General Kofi Annan to do the
briefing.

The letter was sent two days after the military government extended the
house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, which began in May 2003. The Nobel Peace
Prize winner has spent 10 of the last 16 years in detention.

It also follows last week's approval by a key General Assembly committee
of a resolution condemning human rights violations in Myanmar.

The Security Council deals with threats to international peace and
security. Bolton said Myanmar warrants Council action because of the
potential destabilization from its international narcotics trafficking,
human rights practices, and internal repression that has led many of its
people to flee the country.

Andrey Denisov, Russia's UN ambassador, called the situation in Myanmar
"difficult," but he said "we don't see any threats to international peace
and security," a position that he said is shared by some other countries.

Bolton said China had some questions about a briefing on Myanmar and
wanted to consult Beijing. Council diplomats said Japan, Brazil and others
also questioned whether the situation in Myanmar constituted a threat to
international peace.

In arguing for the Council to take action, Bolton's letter also cited
press reports that Burmese authorities are seeking nuclear power
capabilities and accused the military regime of destroying villages,
targeting ethnic minorities and forcing people to relocate.

____________________________________

December 1, Narinjara News
Arakanese demonstrate their solidarity with Shan

Members of Arakan League for Democracy (Japan Branch) participated in a
demonstration that was led by the Shan National for Democracy (SND-Japan)
in Tokyo, Japan on 27 November, demanding the release of Shan leaders who
have received long imprisonment sentences by the Burma Junta recently.

“Our members led by U Mrat Thu, vice president of ALD (Japan),
participated in the demonstration and condemned the lengthy sentences of
Shan leaders. He also delivered his speech at the demonstration,” a member
of ALD said to Narinjara by phone.

The demonstration was held in front of the Burmese embassy in Tokyo and
over 50 Burmese democratic activists took part in the demonstration.

He said that “we launched the demonstration at 1:00 PM in front of the
Burmese junta embassy. We demanded the release of our leaders Khun Tun Oo,
General Sao Hso Htin and Sai Nyunt Lwin.”

Furthermore, the demonstrators demanded the release of democracy icon Daw
Aung San Suu kyi and U tin Oo, the recognition of the result of the 1990
election and the holding of a tripartite dialogue among Burmese military,
Democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the leaders from ethnic
groups.

In the same day, however, the Burma military junta announced that they
increased Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's prison term by one year.

It was learned that Khun Tun Oo, the chairman and elected MP of the Shan
National League for Democracy ( SNLD), which has boycotted the junta’s
constitutional assembly along with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD, was given
ninety-two years while General Sao Hso Htin, a leader of cease-fire group
called the Shan State National Army ( SSNA), received more than a hundred
year prison term

____________________________________
OPINION/ OTHER

December 1, Financial Times
Sanctions take a heavy human toll – Amy Kazmin

In 1995, Aung San Suu Kyi, then just freed from a first six-year term
under house arrest, called on the international community to press Burma's
military junta to honour the results of the 1990 election, in which her
National League for Democracy won a landslide victory. A decade on, Burma
is subject to a patchwork of western sanctions, ranging from a European
Union visa ban for regime stalwarts to a total US bar on Burmese imports.

Consumer boycotts have prompted some western companies to pull out of
Burma, while campaigners have protested against travel industry efforts to
promote the country as a holiday destination.

Yet humanitarian workers say western antipathy towards the regime has left
Burma's already neglected people worse off. Burma receives less
humanitarian and development assistance per capita than almost any other
troubled, impoverished country, including many with corrupt, repressive
governments.

According to statistics compiled for a study by Britain's Department for
International Development on aid to "fragile states", Burma received just
Dollars 2 a head of overseas development assistance in 2002, compared with
Dollars 50 for nearby communist Laos and Dollars 15 for Zimbabwe.

Pro-democracy activists have opposed efforts to step up aid for Burma.
Some US congressmen attacked a decision by the Global Fund for HIV/Aids,
Tuberculosis and Malaria to provide Dollars 98m to fight the three
diseases in Burma and sought to impose crippling restrictions to prevent
the regime from deriving any benefit from the programme. In August, the
Global Fund cancelled the grants, citing travel restrictions on foreign
aid workers.

But many aid workers argue that Burma's people can no longer afford to
wait for a political breakthrough. "There is an absurd, disgraceful denial
of assistance for 52m people," says Guy Stallworthy, country director of
the US-based Population Services International, one of 18 international
non-governmental organisations working in Burma.

In September a group of former student leaders, many newly released from
prison, called on the military, United Nations agencies, donor countries
and independent civil society groups to work together to ease a crisis in
health and education. "We deeply feel that our people are in need of
humanitarian assistance from the international community," Ko Ko Gyi, one
freed student leader, told the Financial Times. "But donors need to focus
on how to manage their aid effectively to reach the people in need."

____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

November 25, From the Office of Rep. Mario “Mayong” Joyo Aguja
Despite house division on political crises, house reps unite on Burma

Amidst disputes on controversial political issues, one hundred and twenty
legislators from various political persuasions resound the call for the
Philippine government to urge the ASEAN to support the growing demand from
the international community for the UN Security Council to include Myanmar
on its agenda as manifested in House Resolution 996. The said resolution
was originally authored by Akbayan solons Mayong Aguja, Etta Rosales and
Risa Hontiveros, and signed by 23 partylistas, and 97 district
representatives from both majority and minority parties.

Burma has been ruled by a military junta since 1962. Since then, there
have been several efforts to restore democracy in Myanmar both from the
local and international community. In the  1990 free elections for 489
parliamentary seats, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 406 seats
but the ruling military regime did not allow the formation of the new
government. Moreover, the members of the NLD have been harassed, jailed
and even murdered by the government led by the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC). "Even Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, NLD's
leader, still remains under house arrest", Hontiveros said.

The United Nations, thru the Office of the Secretary General, the General
Assembly and its various organs have attempted to promote change and
development in Burma by facilitating national reconciliation. Such efforts
have seemingly failed due to the Burmese government's refusal to
cooperate. "Even a recent request by the UN Special Rapporteur on human
rights in Myanmar Paolo Serghio Pinheiro, was again turned down by the
government. Note that he has been denied entry to Burma since November
2003", Aguja explained.

The abovementioned House Resolution affirmed the recent report
commissioned by The Honorable Vacláv Havel, Former President of the Czech
Republic and Bishop Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town
which calls for the UN Security Council to intervene in Burma's case. 
"The Tutu-Havel reports that Burma is not just a severe human rights
problem, but also a continuously growing threat to international peace and
security", expressed Rosales.

 The Akbayan solons explained it is not difficult for the Filipinos to
empathize with the people of Burma as we also experience some of their
concerns, such as political repression, increasing number of child
soldiers, sexual violence against women by military troops, and internal
displacement of persons, among others.  "As a people who have been looked
up to as a champion in upholding democratic principles, in defending the
human rights and in supporting electoral democracies, the Filipinos
should be at the forefront in promoting the call for the UNSC's action on
Burma, especially with its two-year term in the UNSC coming to a close by
the end of this year.", said the partylist legislators.

____________________________________
INTERVIEW

December 1, Irrawaddy
Why Total agrees to compensation in forced labor suit - Jean Francois
Lassalle

Two days after French oil giant Total made a 5.2 million euros (US $6.12
million) out-of-court settlement to end a suit by 12 Burmese accusing the
company of involvement in forced labor to build a natural gas pipeline, a
Total executive explained why his company agreed to settle. In a phone
interview with The Irrawaddy, Total’s vice president for exploration and
production Jean Francois Lassalle claimed his company is paying
compensation despite the fact “we’ve never used forced labor.” The eight
plaintiffs and four witnesses had brought the suit against Total in 2002,
claiming forced labor was used by Total in building its Yadana pipeline
from Burma to Thailand from 1995-1998. This is what Lassalle told The
Irrawaddy:

Question: Total has agreed to a compensation package of €5.2 million. How
will the money be allocated?

Answer: There is the first sum that is going to be allocated at €10,000
(US $11,773) per plaintiff. Then there is a further sum of €1.12 million
(US $1.32 million), which will be put at the disposal of the people who
can justify that they’ve been subject to forced labor at the time of the
work in pipeline areas. And then, of course, their cases will be submitted
to NGOs in charge of verifying that their claims are exact. If it’s exact,
then of course they will be compensated according to their standard. The
final sum of €4 million (US $4.7 million) will be allocated for the
benefit of [Burmese] refugees at the border in Thailand. Basically, some
of the money will be used for social works like the ones that we’ve done
in the pipeline area. So, basically, this is for flood protection, water
supply, sanitation and professional training. That’s how the funds will be
allocated.

Q: Why did Total agree to this level of compensation?

A: Well, it was an agreement that was deemed most sound by the lawyers.
Once the suit was brought, the decision was reached rapidly. The lawyers
realized that the suit was not the proper way to solve the differences
between the plaintiffs and ourselves. We wanted to be in line with what
we’ve always done, which is a social economic program. We wanted also to
state strongly that we were not directly or indirectly responsible for
what happened during the course of the work. We’ve never used forced
labor, and neither have our sub-contractors. This is clearly stated in our
press release. So, the solution that was found was as I’ve described—not
guilty for sure, but socially responsible for the situation we found in
Myanmar [Burma].

Q: Burmese lobby groups like Burma Campaign UK have stated that the
settlement constitutes a humiliation for Total. How would you respond?

A:  I don’t see any humiliation in it at all. What we’re doing in the
pipeline area is not humiliating. On the contrary, it involves social
cooperation and social responsibility.

Q: You mention social responsibility. Is the compensation package Total
has agreed to simply a convenient or cheap way to appease criticism from
the plaintiffs and others in the international community?

A: Well, we’re not trying to appease anyone. We’ve provided similar
compensation in the past. Remember, there were plaintiffs in 1995 who
claimed that they had been used for forced labor. As soon as we knew about
it—because we’re entirely against those ways of working—we provided
compensation. So, we’re doing the same now. In the present case, instead
of addressing the issue with us directly, plaintiffs went to a French
court. So, once the judiciary process starts, it’s certainly more
difficult to find a solution. But it’s not humiliating, in my opinion.
Apart from Burma Campaign UK, reactions that we’ve received so far are
rather positive.

Q: €4 million (US $4.7 million) has been earmarked for humanitarian
assistance along the Thai-Burma border. How will this money be used? And
will it be allocated with the assistance of any other partner humanitarian
organizations?

A: We have found two humanitarian organizations that will participate in
the implementation of this agreement. These are the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees and the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and
Refugees.

Q: Have these organizations agreed to receive the funds and distribute them?

A: Yes, under the control of the management committee.

Q: Total has been critical of companies doing business in Burma. Do you
think Total’s business ties with Burma ultimately support the regime?

A: We don’t think so. We work anywhere in the world as long as doing so
does not conflict with our ethical practices. If there is a legal ban from
the UN, for instance, certainly we wouldn’t work. That was the case in
Iraq, where there was a legal ban from the UN not to work in Iraq. But,
for the moment, it’s not the case in Myanmar. So, we work properly there
and show cooperation and social responsibility.

Q: Ethnic and other opposition groups have recently stated that they would
like to see Total leave Burma and come back when democracy has been
restored and the government is run by a civilian administration. How do
you respond to this?

A: We don’t think it’s a good solution because it’s very clear that if we
were to withdraw from the country, our position would be taken immediately
by another company. There’s a definite need for energy in this part of the
world, as you know. So, another operator will make it, and then you will
face the risk that all the positive things we are doing there for the
population may not be continued. So, what is the change? You had that case
several times in Myanmar. Well, important companies withdrew and were
replaced by others. You have British-American Tobacco. You have Premier
Oil. All those companies have been replaced—sometimes for the better, and
sometimes not.

Q: Many international opposition groups claim that your compensation
package will result in huge profits for the military government—perhaps as
much as US $300 to 500 million—that could be used to further solidify
their power. How do you respond to such accusations?

A: First of all, the figure of US $500 million is totally out of
proportion. It’s not the right figure, I would say.

Q: What is the right figure?

A: We cannot disclose that. But, the stated figure is out of proportion.
You have to keep something in mind. Total is not alone in this joint
venture. We have other partners—Unocal and PTT  [Petroleum Authority of
Thailand]. As partners, we pay not only taxes to the government, but also
pay for the gas itself. Although we are the operator of the joint venture,
we are only one partner. And the actual figure [of profit for the regime]
is much further down.

Q: Do you think that your work in Burma is helping what some have called
one of the world’s most repressive governments?

A: We are working in a difficult country, but we are persevering. We’ve
always said that forced labor of any kind is unacceptable, and we’ve
always fought against forced labor, which is reportedly not yet eradicated
in Myanmar [Burma].