BurmaNet News, March 15, 2007

[Editor]

March 15, 2007 Issue # 3162


INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Humanitarian work in Burma nearly paralyzed, ICRC says
Irrawaddy: Junta accuses US center of inciting public 'unrest'
AFP: Myanmar lashes out at US over human rights report

ON THE BORDER
Network Media Group: Residents demonstrate against Salween dam project

HEALTH / AIDS
VOA: UN agency says Burma needs help to fight bird flu

BUSINESS / TRADE
Mizzima: Burma risks being left out of free trade
MIzzima: Indo-Burma gas pipeline under negotiation: Ambassador

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: British blast at Myanmar 'abuses'
AFP: EU pushes ASEAN on Myanmar human rights abuses

PRESS RELEASE
ICRC: Myanmar: No progress in talks, ICRC closes offices
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Ian McCartney to raise Burma at EU-ASEAN
meeting in Nuremberg

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

March 15, Irrawaddy
Humanitarian work in Burma nearly paralyzed, ICRC says - Eliane Engeler

The International Red Cross will close two of its offices in Burma because
the country's military government is severely hampering the organization's
work, official said Thursday.

The ICRC is unable to visit detainees anywhere in the country or to work
independently in sensitive border areas, the Geneva-based organization
said.

“The ICRC's humanitarian work in Myanmar [Burma] has now reached
near-paralysis,” Pierre Kraehenbuehl, the organization's director of
operations, said in a statement. “A recent meeting with the Ministry of
Home Affairs made no headway,” he added.

The ICRC will close its two offices in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State,
and Kengtung, located in eastern Burma’s Shan State, and will consider
whether to keep open the remaining three field offices, the statement
said. The organization says the offices are crucial for it to be able to
carry out prisoner visits.

The military regime in Burma ordered the ICRC in October to shut five key
field offices in the country, including the two in Moulmein and Kengtung.
But after negotiating with the government, the ICRC was allowed to reopen
the offices in December. Burma’s move to hamper the organization’s work
drew criticism from international rights groups.

The ICRC said it tried for months to reach an agreement with the
government, but Burma maintained its "drastic restrictions" on the
organization's work.

“Living and security conditions for civilians in sensitive border areas
remain a real concern for the ICRC,” Kraehenbuehl said. “There are also
strong indications of a deterioration in conditions of detention and
treatment at several places of detention.”

The ICRC said it remained open to high-level discussions with the Burmese
authorities to break the deadlock.

Since starting its work in Burma in 1999, the ICRC has made more than 450
visits to about 90 prisons and labor camps across the country, meeting
detainees and providing them with medicine, soap and other assistance.

____________________________________

March 15, Irrawaddy
Junta accuses US center of inciting public 'unrest' - Khun Sam

The Burmese military regime said on Thursday a debate at the American
Center last month and an anti-government demonstration, which took place
at different locations in Rangoon, incited public unrest, according to a
state-run newspaper.

The New Light of Myanmar accused organizers of the debate and
demonstration, which both took place on February 22, of holding “illegal”
activities and inciting “public unrest and violence.”

The regime’s mouthpiece newspaper said participants in the two events were
members or sympathizers of opposition groups, including the National
League for Democracy and the 88 Generation Students group and the separate
events were more than coincidence.

The article said Zarganar, a well-known Burmese comedian, gave a
threatening talk at the American Center that encouraged unrest and
violence.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy, Zarganar denied the allegation and said there
was no connection between the two events.

“We frankly spoke about the aims of the debate,” Zarganar said. “There was
no mention of such things in my speech. I was focusing on students to
improve themselves amid their economic hardship and to work toward their
professional careers.”

An audience of about 100 people, mostly students, attended the debate
sponsored by the American Center. The center, operated by the US embassy,
offers English language courses, a library, films and other facilities
that are open to Burmese citizen.

Previously, the junta has accused the US center and some western embassies
in Rangoon of violating diplomatic codes of conduct, saying their missions
are aimed at interfering in Burma's internal affairs. The embassies denied
the allegations. The American Center is intended to improve people’s
language skills and knowledge, according to the US embassy.

A prominent former student leader of the 88 Generation Students group, Ko
Ko Gyi, blamed the inaccurate account on the New Light of Myanmar
government newspaper.

“The New Light of Myanmar is a state-run newspaper,” Ko Ko Gyi told The
Irrawaddy. “But it often carries such inaccuracies and accusations.
According to the international norm, the Information Minister should
resign when there is such a big mistake.”

____________________________________

March 15, Agence France Presse
Myanmar lashes out at US over human rights report

Myanmar on Thursday lashed out at US criticism of the isolated
military-run state, accusing Washington of using the United Nations to
install a "puppet government" here.

The mud-slinging in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper, a government
mouthpiece, followed the release last week of a US State Department human
rights report, which singled out Myanmar as one of the world's worst
offenders.

"The attempt of the US was not for promotion of human rights but for
putting political pressure on Myanmar," the paper said.

"The US is attempting to use the (UN) Security Council and the Human
Rights Council to ensure a dialogue to fulfil the wishes of the NLD and
its cohorts in order that it can install a puppet government in Myanmar,"
it added.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi,
won landslide elections in 1990, but was not allowed to take office. Aung
San Suu Kyi has spent most of the last 20 years under house arrest.

Washington has driven efforts to free the detained Nobel peace laureate
and speed up democratic reform in Myanmar, which has been under military
rule since 1962.

However efforts have been hampered by Myanmar allies Russia and China, who
in January vetoed a US-backed Security Council resolution condemning the
junta for human rights abuses.

The paper told people in Myanmar not to worry about any US effort to bring
Myanmar before the UN Human Rights Council, calling such actions
"incorrect and unjust".

In its annual human rights report, the US State Department said Myanmar's
record had worsened, with the regime continuing to commit serious rights
abuses including extrajudicial killings, rape and torture.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

March 14, Network Media Group
Residents demonstrate against Salween dam project

Over 500 local residents staged a demonstration on the Thai-Burma border
near the Salween River today demanding the Burmese military junta and
foreign companies put a halt to the planned Salween dam project.

Together with NGOs, local residents from both Thai and Burmese sides,
including people from about 30 villages in Papun district and Thai hill
people, today on ‘Global Day of Action against Salween Dams in Burma’,
held a demonstration to stop the Salween dams.

Saw Karen of Karen Rivers Watch which helped organise the demonstration,
said the protest was to prevent the disadvantages that will result if the
dams are built on the Salween River.

“There will be human rights abuses, forced relocation and thousands of
people will be displaced and homeless if the dams are built. So, we want
to send a message not to build the dams,” Saw Karen said.

Foreign countries are also being urged not to give any kind of support to
the Burmese military junta regarding the Salween dam project.

“Without help from foreign countries, the junta will not be able to build
the dams. And we urge foreign companies to show concern for us and stop
investing on the dam project,” a source said.

The Karenni Development Research Group today released a statement saying
12 civilians were killed by landmines and 1,100 fled to Thailand in 2006
and 2007 because of the Wei Gyi dam project on the Salween River.

“Nearly 30,000 people in Karenni State would be endangered by floods
because of Wei Gyi dam, which is proposed to be built in Karen State,”
said Ko Aung Nge of the Karenni Development Research Group.

The Salween Watch had collected signatures against the Salween dam project
and sent it to the Thai government on February 28.

With cooperation of the Sinohydro Corporation, China's largest
hydroelectric power company, and Thailand’s Electricity Generating
Authority, the Burmese military junta plans to build five dams on the
Salween River for hydroelectricity.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

March 15, VOA News
UN agency says Burma needs help to fight bird flu

A United Nations agency says that while Burma responded quickly to
outbreaks of bird flu last month, it needs more help to continue its fight
against the disease in the long term.

The Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, says that the source of an
outbreak that spread to four townships around Rangoon in late February is
still unknown.

To help prevent further outbreaks, the FAO says that more intensive
surveillance was needed around Rangoon.

It is also recommending that the military-ruled country strengthen its lab
capabilities, animal health services and public awareness campaigns.

The FAO is providing Burma with $1.4 million in emergency assistance to
help fight the disease.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

_____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

March 15, Mizzima News
Burma risks being left out of free trade - Christopher Smith

The pursuit of a free trade agreement between ASEAN and the EU, along with
concerns over regional security, are said to be atop the agenda for the
ASEAN/EU Foreign Ministers Meeting currently underway in Nuremburg,
Germany.

A free trade agreement between the two entities has been a goal for some
time, with a target date around May of this year for comprehensive talks
regarding the implementation of such a deal.

However the issue of Burma, an ASEAN member since 1997, is a direct
obstacle to the attainment of a free trade pact between the EU and ASEAN.

"We feel it [Burma] is the main issue that we have to consider as we
decide whether to proceed on free-trade association negotiations with
ASEAN," commented EU Trade Envoy Jen-Jacques Bouflet in a statement to the
Islamic Republic News Agency.

One option being discussed as a means to circumvent the question of Burma
is the establishment of extensive bilateral trade agreements among
countries as opposed to a bloc to bloc agreement, thus effectively
isolating Burma.

Such an approach would presumably draw ire from Naypyidaw, as the Burmese
junta continues to seek economic arrangements to jumpstart a faltering
economy in the face of United States led economic sanctions.

However economist Dr. Khin Maung Kyi questions just how significant such
exclusion would be, as "Burma has nothing to lose since we have nothing to
trade."

With approximately 15 percent of the ASEAN export market, the EU is the
second largest market for ASEAN after the United States.

Regarding Asian regional security issues, the EU is believed to be looking
to play a larger role in Asian regional security following the perceived
success of EU involvement in the troubled Indonesian province of Aceh.

However, kowtowing to traditional ASEAN sentiment regarding sovereignty,
Friedrich Hamburger of the EU in Bangkok stated that assistance would be
considered "as requested".

Further, closer economic ties and a greater role in regional security for
the EU is also potentially contingent upon the EU signing the ASEAN Treaty
of Amity and Cooperation. The treaty, unsigned by the United States, has
already been entered into by the likes of China, Japan, Australia and
India. A principle tenet of the treaty is the non-interference in internal
affairs of one another. It is expected that the EU will sign.

In addition to at least 40 delegations from EU countries and
organizations, all ten ASEAN members are represented.

The Burmese delegation is headed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Nyan Win.
The inclusion of the Burmese delegation in the talks comes despite a
European Union ban on travel by senior members of the ruling junta.

The EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting is a biennial undertaking initially
convened in 1978 and last held in 2005 in Jakarta. It is a two-day affair,
culminating on the 15th.

____________________________________

March 15, Mizzima News
Indo-Burma gas pipeline under negotiation: Ambassador - Syed Ali Mujtaba

Burma is likely to tell India the quantity of natural gas it will produce
and is willing to sell by April or May. India is expected to take a final
decision on the pipeline project based on it, according to Kyi Thein the
Burmese Ambassador to India.

Addressing a seminar organized by the India-Burma Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the India-ASEAN-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
here on Wednesday, Kyi Thein said, "the proposed Indo-Burmese gas pipeline
is still under negotiation and after hearing from us, India will take a
final decision."

On the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project Kyi Thein said, the two
countries are putting the final touches to this joint project and Burmese
Deputy Minister of Transport Tint Swe will lead a delegation to New Delhi
in the last week of March to discuss and finalize the details.

He called the project a three-part scheme and said it involved the
development of the Sittwe port, a waterway along the Kaladan River linking
the port to the city of Kaletwa and a 70-kilometre road link from there to
Mizoram.

"Once completed, the northeastern states of India can use it to facilitate
trade with Myanmar and beyond. The project would give a tremendous boost
to bilateral relationship," he said.

India is investing US $103 million to develop the Sittwe port in Arakan
(Rakhine) while Burma has committed US $ 10 million.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

March 15, Agence France Presse
British blast at Myanmar 'abuses'

Britain said Thursday it would take Myanmar to task over the "dire"
humanitarian situation in its former colony, at talks between European and
Asian ministers in Germany.

Britain's Trade Minister Ian McCartney pledged to raise Britain's concerns
over the "grave human rights abuses" by the military junta in the country
also known as Burma.

The 27 European Union states and the 10 countries of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations were to meet Thursday in the German city of
Nuremberg.

The EU was to stress its opposition to the Myanmar junta, which the bloc
and the United States accuse of massive human rights abuses and
suppression of political dissent.

"I will take this opportunity to raise the UK's increasing concerns about
Burma and the grave human rights abuses suffered by the Burmese people,"
McCartney said in a statement before leaving for Nuremberg.

They included "the detention of over 1,150 political activists, including
(pro-democracy leader) Aung San Suu Kyi; the military offensive in Karen
State forcing several thousand civilians from their homes; the systematic
sexual violence against ethnic groups; the harsh and abusive prison
conditions; the recruitment of child soldiers; and the freedom to express
religious belief.

"I know that many of our ASEAN colleagues are increasingly frustrated with
the slow pace of reform in Burma.

"I hope that we can use this opportunity to discuss how EU and ASEAN
countries can work together to improve the dire humanitarian situation in
Burma."

____________________________________

March 15, Agence France Presse
EU pushes ASEAN on Myanmar human rights abuses - Guy Jackson

The European Union said it would put pressure on members of the Southeast
Asian regional grouping ASEAN at talks here on Thursday to urge Myanmar to
improve its human rights record.

Foreign ministers from the 27-country EU and the 10-nation Association of
Southeast Asian Nations were expected to agree a declaration enshrining an
enhanced political partnership.

But European participants said that Myanmar, ruled by a military junta,
was a significant hurdle to establishing a free trade deal between the two
regional blocs.

External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Myanmar, which
the EU and the United States accuse of massive human rights violations and
repressing political dissent, was not ready to be included in such an
agreement.

"We want to see Myanmar change and this of course, I would say, is the
first step. We have not seen that yet, but we are going on," the
commissioner told journalists before going into Thursday's meeting.

Ferrero-Waldner said the EU would discuss human rights with Myanmar's
foreign minister who is in Nuremberg, but added "it is also for our ASEAN
partners to bring them into going into human rights, into democracy,
having an inclusive national dialogue and finally seeing Aung San Suu Kyi
released."

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Myanmar opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize
winner, has been under house arrest since 2003.

On trade, Ferrero-Waldner said she favoured granting preferential
conditions to selected ASEAN states but leave the door open for others to
join later.

"My idea is that we can start with those countries that really are ready
for it and then that the others... can then opt in."

ASEAN's membership ranges from wealthy Singapore to impoverished Cambodia
and Laos.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country currently
holds the EU presidency, called on Wednesday for the EU and ASEAN to pool
their combined resources of more than one billion people and work together
on tackling climate change and international terrorism.

"The era of nation states is over, at least to the extent that none of our
countries can solve these problems on its own," he said.

Steinmeier said the EU's recent commitment to reduce emissions of carbon
dioxide would be futile unless other countries took measures to curb
pollution.

"These targets can only be fully effective if other international partners
come on board too," he said.

Steinmeier said ASEAN could also play a significant role in international
efforts to find peace in the Middle East, where a Palestinian unity
government was unveiled on Thursday.

"A number of our partners in ASEAN have developed their own close links to
the Middle East and at a time when a number of efforts are under way...
our ASEAN partners can be very helpful as they have something to offer of
their own."

The gathering in the southern German city marks a milestone as EU and
ASEAN are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their
relations.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

_____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

March 15, International Committee of the Red Cross
Myanmar: No progress in talks, ICRC closes offices

"The ICRC's humanitarian work in Myanmar has now reached near-paralysis,"
the organization's director of operations has said. Speaking in Geneva,
Pierre Krähenbühl explained that staff were still unable to resume visits
to detainees anywhere in the country or to conduct independent field
operations in sensitive border areas. "A recent meeting with the Ministry
of Home Affairs made no headway," he added.

Despite sustained effort by the International Committee of the Red Cross
to overcome differences that have surfaced over many months, the Ministry
has maintained its drastic restrictions on the organization. Those
restrictions are jeopardizing the ICRC's ability to discharge its
internationally recognized mandate since they are incompatible with its
independent and neutral approach to assessing the need for humanitarian
action and to assisting vulnerable people. The ICRC has therefore decided
to close two of its offices, one in Mawlamyine (Mon State) and the other
in Kyaing Tong (East Shan State). It is carefully considering whether to
keep open its remaining field offices.

"Living and security conditions for civilians in sensitive border areas
remain a real concern for the ICRC," Mr Krähenbühl said. "There are also
strong indications of a deterioration in conditions of detention and
treatment at several places of detention."

Over the past two years, the ICRC has regularly raised issues of urgent
humanitarian concern with the Government of Myanmar both orally and in
writing, insisting both on measures to improve the situation and on being
able to effectively and freely carry out its activities. However, with no
tangible response from the authorities and with the restrictions that have
been imposed on the ICRC, the organization's core humanitarian activities
are now at stake.

The ICRC deplores the failure of its efforts to rekindle a meaningful
humanitarian dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ICRC remains
open to high-level discussions with the Myanmar authorities to break the
persisting deadlock and stands ready to act immediately to address the
most pressing humanitarian issues provided that it may operate
independently and with regular and direct access to persons in need.

The ICRC opened an office in Yangon and started a limb-fitting and
rehabilitation project in 1986. Since 1999 it has carried out assistance
and protection work in places of detention and in sensitive border areas.
Over the past year, the ICRC has reduced the number of its expatriate
staff from 56 to 16 because of the restrictions imposed by the Government
of Myanmar.

For further information, please contact:
Thierry Ribaux, ICRC Yangon, tel +951 662 613 or +951 664 524
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/myanmar-news-150307!OpenDocument

_____________________________________

March 15, Foreign and Commonwealth Office – United Kingdom
Ian McCartney to raise Burma at EU-ASEAN meeting in Nuremberg

The Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney MP,
will travel to Nuremberg on 15 March to attend the 16th Foreign Ministers'
Meeting of the European Union and the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN).

Some 40 ministerial delegations from the EU Member States and the 10 ASEAN
countries will travel to Germany for this event.

Before departing for Nuremberg, Mr McCartney commented:

"I am very pleased to be representing the UK at the EU-ASEAN meeting.

"I will take this opportunity to raise the UK's increasing concerns about
Burma and the grave human rights abuses suffered by the Burmese people,
such as the detention of over 1,150 political activists, including Aung
San Suu Kyi; the military offensive in Karen State forcing several
thousand civilians from their homes; the systematic sexual violence
against ethnic groups; the harsh and abusive prison conditions; the
recruitment of child soldiers; and the freedom to express religious
belief.

"I know that many of our ASEAN colleagues are increasingly frustrated with
the slow pace of reform in Burma.  I hope that we can use this opportunity
to discuss how EU and ASEAN countries can work together to improve the
dire humanitarian situation in Burma."

FCO Press Office: 020 7008 3100