BurmaNet News, August 17, 2006

[Editor]

August 17, 2006 Issue # 3027


INSIDE BURMA
Thai Day: Karen exodus eases, but abuses rife
Irrawaddy: Stop harassing HIV victims and helpers, says NLD

ON THE BORDER
Irrawaddy: New migrant worker regulations in Tak Province
IMNA: HARP discusses assistance to organizations in Thailand

DRUGS
Irrawaddy: Regime and Shan rebel group clash over drugs charges

BUSINESS / TRADE
Mizzima: Indefinite curfew further paralyses Indo-Burmese border trade
Asia Pulse: 5.7 to 10 TCF gas reserves discovered in 3 Myanmar fields: Gail

INTERNATIONAL
Kaowao News: Burma report presented to Canadian government
AFP: Japan gives 2.8 million dollars' aid to Myanmar

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

August 17, Thai Day (IHT)
Karen exodus eases, but abuses rife - Ismail Wolff

Systematic human rights abuses by the Myanmar military against members of
the Karen minority in the east of the country are continuing, with nearly
20,000 people displaced within Karen State and 3,000 having sought refuge
in Thailand, human rights groups say.

According to a field report released this week by the Karen Human Rights
Group (KHRG), attacks on villages in Toungoo and other northern Karen
State districts are continuing, with more than 2,000 State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) troops deployed in Toungoo district alone.

“The SPDC’s current plan is to force the villagers living in the hill
areas to move into the SPDC controlled areas,” the report said,
“representing the first step in their strategy to eliminate any
possibility of non-violent or armed resistance against complete SPDC
control of people’s lives, land and livelihoods.”

While many Karen villagers living in the hills are resisting attempts by
SPDC forces to drive them into lowland areas controlled by the military,
others continue to flee to other districts or across the border or to
refugee camps in Thailand, the report said.

Detailed reports from a number of groups working in Myanmar cite continued
blockades of non-military traffic throughout Karen State, as well as
increasing patrols in the jungle-clad hills that are normally a stronghold
of the rebel Karen National Union (KNU) and its armed wing, the Karen
National Liberation Army (KNLA).

Widespread human rights abuses against civilians continue to be reported,
including forced labor, killings and torture.

“In these [SPDC controlled] areas the increased SPDC militarization and
activity has led to increases in forced labour, land confiscation, forced
relocation, and restrictions on movement and livelihoods, all of which
have led to problems with food security,” the KHRG report said.

“In the hills, villagers have suffered from forced displacement,
systematic destruction of their crops and food supplies, arbitrary
shootings and killings, and land mines, among other abuses.”

Latest figures from the Free Burma Rangers suggest more than 18,000
villagers are displaced from their homes in Toungoo, Nyaunglebin and Papun
districts alone.

And because of both difficulties and a reluctance to cross into Thailand
as refugees, more than 1,000 Karen men, women and children are seeking
shelter at a makeshift refugee camp on the border with Thailand at Ei Tu
Hta, opposite Mae Hong Son province.

The KNU-run camp on the banks of the Salween River was set up in April and
continues to grow, with new families arriving tired and hungry from the
jungles each week.

“The displacement of villagers is due to the SPDC’s violation of their
human rights, which have become so severe and systematic that they have
had to leave their way of life and the places inherited by their ancestors
in order to secure their human rights and life for the future,” the KHRG
report said.

“The forced labour, extortion, restrictions on movements, blockades on the
pathways and roads, and the proliferation of land mines throughout their
district are all making it difficult for villagers here to work for their
own and their family’s survival.

“If the villagers were not subjugated, attacked or hunted down by SPDC
forces and if they were allowed to live according to their own culture and
traditions, they would not be forced to flee from their homes and seek
refuge in other countries in such large numbers.”

Some 140,000 Karen and Karenni refugees are living in refugee camps in
Thailand, according to figures released in April by the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees.

The UNHCR cited concerns in May that a new exodus of refugees fleeing
Myanmar would push the already overstretched Thai camps beyond their
limits.

However, UNHCR yesterday said the number of new arrivals had dropped
considerably in recent months and the latest refugees have adequate
shelter and food, with most living at the Mae Ra Ma Luang camp near Mae
Sariang.

“The numbers have certainly come down but there have been about 3,000 new
arrivals in total since December 2005,” said UNHCR’s Hannah Massafin,
speaking from Mae Hong Son.

“There has been speculation for different reasons for the reduction of
numbers including tighter border controls, the Karen camp of Ei Tu
Hta
effects of the rainy season and possibly less conflict.”

However, the fact that numbers in Ei Tu Hta had not risen dramatically
pointed to a reduction in the number of those seeking refuge along the
border, she said.

Massafin also said there was no indication that there would be a
resurgence of large numbers of Karen fleeing across the border, as
occurred early this year.

However, the possibility could not be discounted entirely, she added.

____________________________________

August 17, Irrawaddy
Stop harassing HIV victims and helpers, says NLD - Yeni

The National League for Democracy and the 88 Generation group have called
on the Burmese authorities to stop the intimidation of HIV patients and
their supporters.

The call comes after 11 members of the NLD’s youth wing, who provide help
for HIV victims under the name “Friends with a Red Ribbon,” were arrested
in Rangoon for not informing local authorities of their overnight stay at
a monastery in connection with the AIDS-related death of friends.

Meanwhile, plans to hold a Buddhist traditional merit-making service for
the friend, Than Lwin, a 44 year-old member of the NLD who died last week,
are reportedly faced with increasing pressure by the authorities. “Since
the authorities realize we are NLD members, they treat us very bad,” said
Khin Cho Oo, widow of Than Lwin.

Observers suggested the reason behind the intimidation is the government’s
concern that the NLD would take political advantage of Burma’s HIV/AIDS
problem.

But Myint Thein, an  NLD spokesperson, told The Irrawaddy Thursday by
phone that even though campaigners are members of NLD youth-wing “they
nowadays are working hard emphasizing helping HIV/AIDS patients.”

The 88 Generation group have questioned the military regime's attitude
towards combating the pandemic. “That’s a shame,” a well-known human
rights activist, Min Ko Naing, who is also leader of the group, said.

About 50 HIV patients are in the “Friends with a Red Ribbon” group. Some
are former political prisoners who believe they contracted the disease
while in custody.

HIV infection rates in prison reportedly are high due to communal use of
syringes for medical treatment.

There also were credible reports that the health of several political
prisoners has deteriorated, according to the Thailand-based Assistance
Association for Political Prisoners-Burma.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

August 17, Irrawaddy
New migrant worker regulations in Tak Province - Sai Silp and Shah Paung

Thai traders in Tak province have proposed changes in migrant worker
regulations during a meeting with local entrepreneurs in Mae Sot on
Wednesday.

Amnat Nantaharn, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industry in Tak
province told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the federation wants to
tailor the migrant worker employment system specifically to the needs of
Tak province and other border areas in order to boost investment.

“The trend of investment in this area has not increased in the last two
years because of confusion over the migrant worker policy, which always
changes,” Amnat said.

According to the Mae Sot Labor Department, 143,012 migrant workers have
registered in Mae Sot in 2006, though many more work in the area
illegally. The agriculture sector and garment factories employ almost
exclusively Burmese migrants.

A crucial issue for employers along the border is the creation of a
“one-stop” department that will handle all issues related to migrant
workers, as well as serve as a temporary shelter for illegal workers that
would normally be deported to their home countries as soon as they are
arrested.

Amnat said such a center would coordinate with the Thai Immigration Office
and take custody of illegal workers. If they wish to work in Thailand,
they would be sent to the temporary shelter until traders could be found
to hire them.

Thai Labor Minister Somsak Thepsutin responded well to the proposal,
according to Amnat, and would push the plan among policy-makers.

Somsak visited Mae Sot in place of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, who had planned a stop as part of his current tour of northern
Thailand but canceled his flight because of bad weather.

Proposed changes to migrant regulations would include a lower registration
fee—to discourage illegal workers from moving into central provinces.
Also, the plan includes a provision for employers to receive refunds of
registration deposits in the event that a worker abandons the employer.

“The proposed plan for migrant workers is good, but it will not solve all
the problems,” said Check Gyi of the Mae Sot-based Yaung Chi Oo Burmese
Worker’s Association. He added that, under the plan, Thai authorities
would only have a limited time in which to find employment for illegal
Burmese workers before they would be sent back to Burma. They would simply
try to come back, said Check Gyi.

“If the Thai authorities can keep those migrant workers until they find a
job [with no threat of deportation] it will be a good way to end the
migrant worker problem in Thailand,” Check Gyi said.

Amnat agreed that the proposed plan is a short-term solution, until the
Thai and Burmese governments can cooperate in allowing legal employment
for Burmese workers crossing the border.

____________________________________

August 17, Independent Mon News Agency
HARP discusses assistance to organizations in Thailand - Mi Kyae Goe

Humanitarian Assistance and Reconciliation Project (HARP) under the
National Catholic Commission on Migration are discussing support to
organizations in Thailand.

It will help support education, health, accommodation, and living
conditions of the relocated people from Burma, according to Nai Dait field
coordinator in Sangkhlabui, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.

HARP has 24 organizations with it. These include, 10 organizations from
Sangkhlaburi, one from Chaing Mai, two from Mae Sot, one form Ranaung, and
four from Mahachai and Thong Pha Phum in Thailand.

Nai Dait said, “We will distribute the fund, which is about two millions
to these organizations in the coming months. It takes about six months for
the probe to select the organization. We will support them for the next
two years.” These organizations should have to be in Thailand.

HARP will assist the people from Burma and any ethnic group whose land
were confiscated, were forced into labour, and were relocated from their
native town. Currently the victims would have to be in Thailand.

Moreover HARP has listed about 80 victims who were forced into labour in
Kanbauk, Yebyu Township and Tenasserim Division.

The victims were forced into labour around the Kanbauk areas since 1995,
said Nai Dait. HARP also received names of more victims after advertising
for applications to be sent to them.

The TOTAL Company will also investigate to compensate based on their
applications by the end of this month. But they will not pay for forced
labour on the Kanbauk to Myaing Kalay gas pipeline because it was shared
with the regime.

____________________________________
DRUGS

August 17, Irrawaddy
Regime and Shan rebel group clash over drugs charges - Shah Paung

Burma’s Information Minister, Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, and the Shan State
Army-South have traded charges over drug production and trafficking
following official praise for the United Wa State Army’s approach to the
problem.

Kyaw Hsan, speaking at a press conference in Kengtung, eastern Shan State
on Monday, accused the SSA-S of continuing to produce and deal in drugs.
At the same time, he said the United Wa State Army, which has close ties
to the regime, had eradicated opium production in its area of operation.
“The Wa group, like others, can be found actively taking part in the
anti-drug activities,” the state-backed newspaper The New Light of Myanmar
quoted Kyaw Hsan as saying.

SSA-S spokeswoman Nam Khur Hsen denied the Shan rebel group was producing
drugs. “We are not producing any drugs,” she declared, claiming the junta
was trying to “build misunderstanding between us and the UWSA.”

The junta has claimed that drugs recently seized in UWSA areas of southern
Shan State had been produced by the SSA-S. Nam Khur Hsen countered: “How
can we operate such businesses in Wa-controlled areas?”

Foreign diplomats attended the Kengtung function, at which drugs worth US
$436 million were ceremonially set on fire and destroyed.

According to the US State Department’s latest report on drugs in March,
Burma remains the world’s second largest illicit opium producer after
Afghanistan, despite a cut in opium production of more than 90 percent.

_____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

August 17, Mizzima News
Indefinite curfew further paralyses Indo-Burmese border trade -
Subhaschandra M

The Manipur government has imposed indefinite curfew in the commercial
Indo-Burmese border town of Moreh since yesterday to prevent any untoward
incident among different communities.

The Additional District Magistrate of Moreh issued a notification in this
regard following palpable tension between different communities over the
ongoing bandh which forced closure of all forms of business as well as
educational institutions over the last five days. The bandh followed the
recovery of the body of student leader Sunil on August 11.

Sunil, the Moreh unit President of All Manipur Students Union was abducted
and killed by cadres of the Kuki National Front (Military Council).
Meanwhile unofficial reports said a small market called 'ching-tam market'
in Moreh town was set on fire by unknown persons yesterday. Police are yet
to track down the persons involved in the arson.

Normal life in the commercial border town has been paralyzed since August
12 as angry residents imposed indefinite bandh protesting against the
killing. Lack of vehicular movement along the Indo-Burmese road known as
Imphal-Moreh sector of National Highway 39 is creating hardship for the
people.

Although Moreh is a small town, various communities reside there. The town
had witnessed the unforgettable ethnic clash between the Naga and Kuki
tribes in the late eighties.

Angry residents who floated a joint action committee against the brutal
killing of the student leader have been demanding the arrest of the
culprits and suspension of all transport activities along the Imphal-Moreh
road until the killers are rounded up and punished.

In another development, joining the condemnation band wagon, the Kuki Inpi
Manipur, an apex body of Kuki tribes in the state denounced the killing of
Sunil on August 11. The Meitei Council, Moreh rejecting the Kuki outfit's
statement over the killing, asked the KNF (MC) to punish the cadres
involved in the killing if the outfit was a revolutionary organization. It
also sought clarification over the killing. However KNF (MC) is yet to
give any clarification.

____________________________________

August 17, Asia Pulse
5.7 to 10 TCF gas reserves discovered in 3 Myanmar fields: Gail

New Delhi: State gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd (BSE:532155) on Wednesday
said the estimated natural gas reserves in three discovered fields in two
blocks in Myanmar are in the order of 5.7 to 10 trillion cubic feet.

"The estimated gas resources in the three discovered gas fields Shwe and
Shwe Phyu in Block A-1, and May field in Block A-3, have been certified by
Gaffney Cline and Associates (GCA). The resource certification by the
third party indicates the total estimated gas initially in place is of the
order of 5.7 to 10 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas," the company said in
a press statement here.

GAIL holds 10 per cent stake each in Block A-1 and A-3 while ONGC Videsh
Ltd, the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), has
20 per cent interest. South Korea's Daewoo is the operator of both the
blocks with 60 per cent stake and the remaining 10 per cent is with KOGAS
of Korea.

"The recently-concluded feasibility study for field development forecast
that the three fields from A-1 and A-3 can produce about 16 million cubic
meter of gas per day for 20 to 25 years. First commercial gas production
is expected to commence in mid 2010," it added.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

August 16, Kaowao News
Burma report presented to Canadian government

Calgary: Burmese activists have published a report urging Canadian
officials for a proactive foreign policy towards Burma.

According to U Than Aung, Coordinator of Burma Forum Canada, the 2nd Burma
Forum Report was presented to the Foreign Affairs Canada officials in a
meeting held on August 9 in Ottawa.  Humanitarian conditions and a
proactive Canadian foreign policy towards Burma were discussed between
Burmese activists and Foreign Minister officials.

The BFC Report recommends the Canada channel direct aid to Burma through
UN agencies and home-grown Burmese NGOs given the appalling situation in
Burma.  It urges Canada to increase humanitarian assistance along the
Burma border and inside the country but through a mechanism which provides
transparency, accountability. It also advised close monitoring of
humanitarian assistance to reach to the intended recipients.

The activists recommend that the Canadian Government should work together
with other countries to establish a mechanism for humanitarian operation
in Burma.

The report was published following the 2nd Burma Forum meeting held in
Ottawa from March 17 to 18, 2006. The forum participants widely
represented democracy activists from Burma including ethnic nationalities
across Canada and the United States along with representatives from
Canadian Burma support groups. The forum mainly focused on the
humanitarian crisis, political initiative of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) and Canadian foreign policy towards Burma.

Over 810 Burmese refugees mostly ethnic Karen from Thailand have been
accepted to Canada and about 646 will be arriving between August and
October.

____________________________________

August 17, Agence France Presse
Japan gives 2.8 million dollars' aid to Myanmar

Tokyo: Japan on Thursday gave 330 million yen (2.8 million dollars) in aid
to Myanmar despite the military regime's detention of democracy icon Aung
San Suu Kyi.

Officials said the aid, which will support a forestation project, was made
on a humanitarian basis and Japan would not offer full-fledged assistance
unless Myanmar releases the Nobel peace laureate.

In a rare break with its main ally the United States, Japan has rejected
sanctions on Myanmar and preferred the approach of most Asian states to
try to engage the junta.

Officials from the two countries signed the agreement for the aid in
Myanmar's new capital near Pyinmana, the Japanese foreign ministry said.

"This grant-in-aid is regarded as humanitarian assistance, which Japan
considers appropriate support for the country," a ministry official said
on condition of anonymity.

"But we cannot offer full assistance to Myanmar unless the country
expedites the democratization process, including the early release of Ms.
Aung San Suu Kyi."

The opposition leader has spent 10 of the past 17 years under house arrest
at her lakeside residence in central Yangon. The junta extended her
detention in May for another year.

Japan used to be a major donor to Myanmar but has suspended new aid for
major infrastructure or development projects, saying it only provides
humanitarian assistance.

But dismaying Washington, Japan said at the UN Security Council in June
that the situation in Myanmar did not pose a threat to international peace
and security, a key prerequisite for UN action.

In the 2005 fiscal year Japan gave 1.19 billion yen (10.2 million dollars)
in aid to Myanmar. Last month, it also donated 260,000 dollars through
United Nations agencies to support polio vaccinations in the country.