BurmaNet News, February 27, 2008

[Editor]

February 27, 2008 Issue # 3411


INSIDE BURMA
AFP: Suu Kyi's party condemns slaying of Myanmar rebel leader
Reuters: Myanmar market fire destroys 1,500 shops
Irrawaddy: Junta charges 88 generation students
Mizzima News: Junta's referendum law lacks independent monitoring
Mizzima News: Junta allows extension of ILO office in Rangoon
Mizzima News: Law puts to rest question of referendum's fairness
Narinjara News: Sittwe villagers forced to welcome battalion
DVB: Heavy tax burden adds to Chin food crisis
IMNA: Thai police arrest killers of four Burmese migrant workers

ON THE BORDER
Bangkok Post: Burmese hunt Mekong river gang
Khonumthung News: Chin relief group to help drought victims in western Burma

BUSINESS / TRADE
Forbes: Treasury sanctions on Myanmar traffickers implicate CNOOC
ANI: India, Myanmar to go ahead with multi-modal transit transport
facility soon

ASEAN
IOL News: Indonesia calls for Suu Kyi participation

REGIONAL
Xinhua: China calls for "correct understanding" of its Myanmar policy

INTERNATIONAL
Irrawaddy: China’s stand on Burma and Darfur spurs boycott call
The Asahi Shimbun: Tokyo to back Gambari plan to aid Myanmar
Earthtimes.org: Steinmeier calls for release of Myanmar's political

OPINION / OTHER
Bangkok Post: A 'final courtesy call' on the junta
The Asahi Shimbun: 'Democracy' in Myanmar


____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

February 27, Agence-France Press
Suu Kyi's party condemns slaying of Myanmar rebel leader

Myanmar's opposition party headed by Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday
condemned the assassination of a top Karen rebel leader, who was a
critical link between the insurgents and the pro-democracy movement.

The National League for Democracy "regretted the assassination and
strongly condemned any armed terrorist resolution" of political problems,
the party said in a statement, referring to the slaying of Pado Mahn Sha
in a Thai border town on February 14.

"Political problems have to be solved politically," the statement said.
The party stopped short of laying blame on anyone for his death.

Pado Manh Sha, who ranked third in Myanmar's largest rebel group the Karen
National Union, was shot dead by two gunmen at his home in the
Thai-Myanmar border town of Mae Sot.

Myanmar has been hit by a series of small bomb blasts and rebel shootings
since December, prompting the ruling junta to blame the Karen National
Union (KNU) for the attacks.

The KNU suspects that hired hitmen conducted the killing, possibly on
behalf of a pro-junta Karen splinter group.

Myanmar, under military rule since 1962, has signed ceasefires with 17
other ethnic armed groups, but the KNU is one of the few remaining ethnic
insurgent groups yet to sign a peace deal with the junta.

____________________________________

February 27, Reuters
Myanmar market fire destroys 1,500 shops

A huge fire which raged for 13 hours through a big market building in
Mandalay, Myanmar’s second city, injured 21 people and destroyed more than
1,500 shops, official media and witnesses said on Tuesday.

Four Buddhist monks and three women were among those injured in the fire
which took 78 fire engines and more than 4,000 people to put out on
Monday, they said. Altogether, 1,558 shops, including computer training
schools, in the four-storey Yadanabon Market Building were destroyed in a
fire started by an electrical fault on the ground floor, state-run
newspapers said.

There was also a major fire on Monday on the western outskirts of Yangon,
the former capital of the military-ruled country, which left nearly 3,000
people homeless after destroying 200 houses, the newspapers reported. They
said the fire in Hlaingthayar Township began with a kitchen accident.

____________________________________

February 27, Irrawaddy
Junta charges 88 generation students – Saw Yan Naing

About 20 well-known Burmese political prisoners including members of the
88 Generation Students group have been charged and could receive sentences
of up to 20-years, according to sources close to the activists.

Student leaders including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi as well as university
students who took part in the Buddhist monk-led nationwide uprising in
September 2007 have been charged under decree 5/96 dealing with
obstruction or opposition to the National Convention.

Win Maung, the father of the 88 Generation Students leader Pyone Cho,
recently visited Insein Prison. He told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday, “The
new charges were approved on February 20. But, they [prisoners] haven’t
been sent to trial yet. University students were also among the group.”

Decree 5/96, concerning opposition to the National Convention, was enacted
in 1996, said Aung Thein, a lawyer in Rangoon. The National Convention was
convened 14 years ago and charged with making recommendations for a draft
constitution, which is set to go before voters in a national referendum in
May.

Opposition to the National Convention includes leaflet distribution,
public gatherings and lobby campaigns. Any person who organized or
supported such activities could be charged, said Tate Naing, the secretary
of the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
(Burma).

Tate Naing said the 5/96 decree increases the prison time the authorities
can give the pro-democracy activists.

Some political prisoners, including Ba Tint and Ba Mint, were jailed by
authorities in 2005 under decree 5/96, Tate Naing said.

The student leaders were previously charged under section 17/20 of Burma’s
Printing and Publishing Act.

Members of the 88 Generation Students group have been detained since they
were arrested in August following their protests against a sharp increase
in fuel prices. None has been sentenced by authorities.

Meanwhile, the health condition of detained 88 Generation Students members
has improved, according to Tun Myint Aung, a member of the student group
who is now in hiding.

According to the London-based Amnesty International, some 1,850 political
prisoners are in Burmese prisons, and 96 persons remain unaccounted for
following the September demonstrations. An estimated 700 political
activists were arrested in September 2007.

____________________________________

February 27, Mizzima News
Junta's referendum law lacks independent monitoring – Mungpi

Burma's military rulers on Tuesday announced that it has set the rules for
a referendum on a new constitution, but critics said no independent
commission to monitor the polling has been set up.

The announcement broadcast on state-owned radio and television said the
junta has enacted a law that covers matters relating to polling such as
the preparation of electoral rolls, vote counting and postponement and
cancellation of voting.

The announcement also released on Wednesday's Burmese language New Light
of Myanmar newspaper, said the law states that the votes will be counted
in the presence of the public, but did not mention having an independent
commission to monitor the polling.

A Rangoon based legal expert, who request not to be named in fear of
reprisal, said the junta's law reveals that it is determined to win the
support of the people in rubberstamping its constitution.

"An independent monitoring commission is a must to see that the polling is
conducted in a free and fair atmosphere," the legal expert said.

However, the legal expert declined to comment further on the junta's law
and the process of referendum, in fear of punishment by the junta.

In a bid to cover its actions from internal criticism, the junta has
enacted several acts including the 5/96 act, which allows the junta to
punish those criticizing the junta's seven-step road map of up to 20 years
in prison.

In its latest law on the referendum, the junta said those criticizing,
campaigning against, disrupting or attempting, and disturbing the process
of polling, would be liable to punishment of up to three years in prison
or a fine of Kyat 100,000 or both.

The junta on Tuesday also announced that it has formed a 45-member
Referendum Convening Commission, chaired by Supreme Court chief justice
Aung Toe, who also served as the chairman for both the constitution
drafting commission and the national convention convening commission that
supposedly laid the guidelines for the draft constitution.

Thein Nyunt, spokesperson of Burma's opposition party – National League
for Democracy – said the commission members are not high profile figures.

"Even in the referendum for the 1974 constitution under Newin's rule, the
convention, the drafting committee, and the commission overseeing the
process of polling were chaired by different people and included some high
profile figures," Thein Nyunt said.

Thein Nyunt said most of the members of the commission were those included
in the drafting committee and were delegates to the 14-year long national
convention, who largely faced criticism as handpicked men of the junta.

"But we [the NLD] do not want to comment on the details of the law at the
moment," Thein Nyunt said.

The NLD, led by detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
last week said the junta's unilateral announcement this month of a
constitutional referendum and general elections was undemocratic and could
bring more instability to the country.
But it did not call for or advocate a boycott or a "no" vote for the draft
constitution.

The junta's referendum law, which has 31 articles in 12 chapters, lists
detail plans of how the polling will be conducted. But it fails to state
any dates for the referendum to be conducted in May.

The law gives provisions to all citizens, above 18, the right to vote,
however, it disqualifies persons suffering from mental illness,
foreigners, Burmese nationals who are illegally residing in other
countries, criminals and persons charged under existing law, and religious
leaders, essentially barring Buddhist monks, Christian pastors, Hindu and
Muslim leaders from casting votes.

It also said, Burmese citizens who have gone to foreign countries under
legal permission would be allowed to cast their votes.

As a preparation to allow Burmese nationals in Singapore, the Burmese
embassy in Singapore said, they have begun collecting the names of Burmese
nationals residing in Singapore.

"We have begun collecting the names of Burmese people who are above 18
years of age and have come with official permission here. And once we
finish, we will send it to Rangoon. We will finish it before the end of
March. And we will wait for the next instruction," said an embassy
official in Singapore, who wished to remain anonymous because he is not
authorized to speak to the press.

The law also entrusts the referendum convening commission with the power
to postpone, cancel and reconduct the polling if the prevailing situation
is unsuitable for holding polls, which critics said, is the junta's twist
to allow them to nullify the polling result or have it forged to their
desire result.

U Thein Oo, chairman of the Burma Lawyer Council in exile, said, "By
declaring that a general election will be held in 2010, without first
considering the result of the referendum, it is obvious that the junta in
anyway will approved its draft constitution."

To conduct a free and fair referendum, Thein Oo said, it is necessary to
make the public aware of the constitution by explaining the contents of
the constitution.

"Based on the results of the referendum, the dates and nature of election
has to be decided," Thein Oo added.

An article in the junta's mouthpiece newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, on
Wednesday, however, said the government in order to make the public aware
has published the contents of the constitution through out 2007 in the
newspaper.

The article written under a pseudonym, 'U Pyay Kyaw' said the government
in its New Light of Myanmar newspaper had published the 15 chapters that
will be included in the constitution in 2007 and listed the dates and the
titles of the chapters that had been published, an apparent declaration
that the junta will not make efforts to educate the pubic on the
constitution.

(Additional reporting by Htein Linn & Nem Davies)
____________________________________

February 27, Mizzima News
Junta allows extension of ILO office in Rangoon – Solomon

The International Labour Organization today said it has successfully
negotiated with Burma's ruling junta for the extension of its liaison
office in Rangoon.

The Burmese junta allowed the ILO to set up a liaison office in February
2007, to monitor the situation of forced labour in the country after much
pressure on the junta for its human rights records by the ILO.

An ILO delegation led by executive director Kari Tapiola met Burma's
Labour Minister Aung Kyi and negotiated for the extension of its office in
Rangoon, Steven Marshall, ILO's Burma representative said.

"We have agreed with the government for a twelve month extension of the
trial period on a supplementary understanding," Marshall said.

Marshall said, the ILO's liaison office in Rangoon has been effective and
serves as a complaint mechanism for forced labour violations.

The ILO Chief in Burma, however, said, "The situation [of forced labor]
obviously is continuing to be a problem."

"I am going to submit four reports to the governing body [of ILO] in March
on how the supplementary understanding has worked in the year and I will
be reporting to them the number of complaints and the responses of the
government to those complaints. And how the supplementary understanding is
operating," Marshall said.

Burma's state-owned newspaper, the New Light of Myanmar, on Wednesday
said, "As Myanmar has pledged to eradicate the activities of forced
labour, it was agreed to extend the supplementary understanding for
another year."

Earlier, the Burmese authorities in September sentenced six labour rights
activists to long term imprisonment after they attended a discussion on
labour rights at the American Center on May Day in Rangoon.

____________________________________

February 27, Mizzima News
Law puts to rest question of referendum's fairness

There are few surprises in the junta's law to govern May's referendum,
with the regime maintaining tight control over the proceedings and
virtually no role for the public.

Tuesday night's announcement of the 2008 Myanmar Referendum Law will do
little to assuage the widespread condemnation of the military's
constitutional process, despite the apparent inclusion of provisions for
secret balloting and transparent counting.

Open verification of the results, as defined by the junta, is to be
guaranteed by counting the votes in the presence of ten eligible voters
and one commission member. Presumably, these persons could all have close
ties with the current military government or at the very least belong to
the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) – the same people
in charge of polling logistics.

Further, there is no provision made for the independent monitoring of the
process by select groups or international actors.

The 45-member commission designated to oversee the process, also
hand-picked by the military, is only noteworthy for it being comprised of
a majority of ethnic members. Chief Justice Aung Toe is to chair the
commission, as he did with the drafting committee.

Yet the participation of approved ethnic delegates to the regime's
National Convention did little to avert harsh criticism of that 14-year
process.

Not even feigning an attempt at meeting international standards for free
and fair polling, the laws specifically ban the public distribution of
information related to the referendum as well as the delivery of public
speeches. These offences are made punishable by either a prison sentence
or fine.

With scant involvement of the public in the process, it comes as little
surprise that the exact date for the poll will be announced as little as
three weeks out, with the final list of eligible voters to be established
a week prior to the casting of ballots.

However the laws do already deny certain members of the Burmese community
the right to vote, most notably those living in exile and members of the
clergy. Whether political prisoners will be allowed to vote is not
entirely clear, as the law excludes "felons."

It is possible that certain regions of the country will find that come
referendum day their community will not be included in the process.
Possible reasons that this right could be withheld include, as stated in
the law, if the place in question poses a security threat or could
jeopardize the successful holding of the referendum.

The Chief Justice previously admitted that the constitution is designed
with an aim to ensure the continued primacy of the armed forces in
governing Burma.

Earlier in the month, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win is reported to
have straightforwardly informed ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Singapore that
Aung San Suu Kyi would not be eligible to run for office under the new
constitution.

With these laws, the junta has direct control over who votes, both
individually and geographically, as well as who vouches for the legitimacy
of the results; while the military government solidifies its monopoly in
the media sector.

The law, in its entirety of 12 chapters and 31 provisions, has
subsequently been published today in the state run media. In the English
daily New Light of Myanmar, the truth about what is and is not democracy
is featured in a two-page 'conversation' with 'grandfather'.

____________________________________

February 27, Narinjara News
Sittwe villagers forced to welcome battalion

Burmese military authorities ordered villagers in Sittwe to participate in
a welcome reception for a battalion that will be returning there to its
base from the western frontlines today, reports a government teacher.
He said, "The army authority ordered us to send 100 students from our
school to the reception ceremony today and the authority is now preparing
to welcome the battalion in front of the battalion's base."

Light Infantry Battalion 233, which is now on the western frontline near
the Indian border, will return to its base in Kyama Thouk Village in
Sittwe Township on 27 February.

For the ceremony, the authority needs members of the public to attend the
reception ceremony in order to publicize the event around Burma, so the
government high school in Kyama Thouk has been ordered to send 100
students to the ceremony.

"The authority's order is not just for students, but also for villagers,
mostly young girls, to attend the ceremony with flowers and wreaths to
receive the soldiers during the ceremony," said one villager from Kyama
Thouk.

The Burmese army often holds reception ceremonies for battalions returning
to their bases from the frontlines, and typically forces local residents
to attend the ceremonies throughout Burma. "It is intending to propagate
to the Burmese people through its own media that Arakanese people have
warmly welcomed the returning battalion in Sittwe. After that, the army
authority says that Burmese people and the army are one family and we have
been cooperating in all sectors to develop the country since time
immemorial," said the teacher.

The Burmese military government is now wanting to demonstrate a
strengthening relationship with the people to the international community
and the rest of Burma after the recent Saffron Revolution.

The army authority is eager to arrange these kinds of reception ceremonies
for the battalions returning from the frontlines with local people from
Sittwe in attendance.

The Burmese army killed many monks and civilians during the public
demonstrations of the Saffron Revolution, which caused Burmese people
around the country to feel deeply hurt and betrayed by the Burmese
military government.

____________________________________

February 27, Democratic Voice of Burma
Heavy tax burden adds to Chin food crisis – Nan Kham Kaew

The Chin National Front has criticised the excessive taxes levied by the
Burmese government on ethnic Chin people who are already facing severe
food shortages.

The mass flowering of bamboo in Chin state which occurs every 50 years has
brought devastation this year, causing an infestation of rodents and
diminishing food stores.

The CNF warned in a statement that a quarter of the population of Chin
state is facing starvation, and called for famine relief in the area.

“The government completely ignores the rights of the Chin people and
allows soldiers in the state to harass the local population,” the
statement said.

“And on top of that, Chinland is suffering from this disaster in 2008
which has left a quarter of the population starving,” it went on.

“But instead of providing humanitarian aid to these people in distress,
the SPDC has been collecting taxes from them.”

According to the CNF’s itemized list, people who live in towns must pay a
range of taxes to the municipal authorities, central government, township
and central Union Solidarity and Development Association, township
Electric Power Corporation, township police, forestry department and
veterinary department.

Those living in villages have to pay taxes to the municipal authorities
and the military.

These include a fee to avoid military porter duties of 3000 kyat per
person in the towns or 5000 kyat per person in the villages, 5000 kyat for
one day’s absence from military training and 2500 per person to avoid
forced labour on road construction and other projects.

There is also a 1000 kyat hunting tax for each animal killed, a charge of
200 kyat per day to sell vegetables and an annual tax to the central USDA
of 3000 kyat per person.

Villagers are also charged 6000 kyat for each bucket of rice in the
household, and 4500 kyat for every three chickens they keep.

In total, the CNF estimates that the average town-dwelling Chin family has
to pay 800,000 kyat a year in taxes, while village families pay around
40,000 kyat.

“Not only the eight government departments named, but also other
departments are getting everything they can from the Chin people,” the CNF
statement said.

“Due to the pressures caused by starvation and the heavy taxes imposed by
the SPDC this year, 2008 is now considered a disastrous year in the Chin
people’s history.”

Chin people also have to pay tax to the CNF itself, though the group has
now cut its demands in response to the crisis.

“Following a decision taken during the 5th central committee meeting, the
CNF has decided to reduce the annual tax collected from the Chin people
from 3000 kyat to 10 kyat,” the statement said.

“Other taxes on consumer goods have also been reduced from five percent to
three percent.”

CNF central working committee member and chief of staff colonel Pu Ral
Hnin said that the food shortages had led more than 200 families to flee
to Mizoram state in India, where the Indian government has provided them
with some assistance.

“The Indian government and the Indian people have done a lot for the Chin
people,” Pu Ral Hnin said.

“They have had no help from the Burmese government; instead of helping,
they are just collecting more taxes.”

____________________________________

February 27, Independent Mon News Agency
Thai police arrest killers of four Burmese migrant workers

The Thai police on Monday arrested six people who murdered four Burmese
migrant workers on February 4 in Chaiya Township Surat Thani in southern
Thailand, said Ko Tin Tun Aung the secretary of migrat at the Federation
of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB).

Four of the killers were arrested by the police with evidence on Monday
and two others were arrested last week he added.

The four victims were Nai Khaing Thein and Mi Khaing Myint Win, Nai Win
Naing and Mi Khin Soe Soe and they were killed in Ban Pak Mak village,
Chaiya Township.

According to Ko Tin Tun Aung the police asked one of the victims Maung
Myint Naing four times at the hospital. He was afraid of the attackers and
was reluctant to say anything.

Maung Myint Naing was the only survivor and sustained serious injuries. He
is now being treated under the care of the Thai police.

The police showed six photographs that were of the suspected attackers to
the victim Manung Myint Naing. He identified the persons he believed were
the killers.

Among the attackers were a sub-head villager and he denied his involvement
to the police, said Ko Tin Tun Aung.

Maung Myint Naing doesn't have a Thai identity card and police are
arranging to send him back to Burma after the trial. He has been working
with the dead couple in the same rubber plantation for four months.

The police told BBC Burmese service that if the attackers had committed
the crime than the court can give them the death penalty.

The Migrant workers were from Mon state and they had been working at the
rubber plantation for five years. The dead couple -- Nai Khaing Thein and
Ma Khaing Myint Win have four children in Mon state, Burma.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

February 27, Bangkok Post
Burmese hunt Mekong river gang – Theerawat Khamthita

Burmese authorities have launched a hunt for an unidentified armed group
which attacked a Chinese patrol boat on the Mekong river, injuring three
Chinese police officers, on Monday.

Soldiers stationed at Muang Pong pier in Burma's Tachilek township, about
15km north of the Golden Triangle, were ordered to concentrate their
search on a section of the Mekong river opposite Mom township, in Bokeo
province, Laos, a Thai security source at the border said.

Burmese authorities also sought cooperation from Laos in tracking them
down, he added.

The Chinese government has applied pressure on the Burmese and Lao
governments through their foreign ministries to arrest the group as
quickly as possible. Beijing also sent drug suppression officials and
intelligence agency members to help with the investigation, it was
reported.

The Chinese boat was patrolling the river under a regional cooperation
arrangement aimed at fighting drug production and trafficking. The area is
known to be used by major producers of methamphetamine tablets.

Thai troops are guarding the three Chinese police officers, now being
treated at a hospital in Chiang Rai's Muang district. One of them was
still in a serious condition. All of them are based in Xishuangbanna, an
autonomous area of China bordering Laos and Burma.

The source said the Chinese policemen on the boat also provided security
for Chinese businessmen running a five-star hotel and casino on the Mekong
river bank in Bokeo province, opposite Lan Chang commercial pier in Chiang
Saen district of Chiang Rai.

Recently, influential Lao drug figures had demanded protection money from
the casino.

It was possible the patrol boat was attacked as a warning to the Chinese
casino operators, the source said.

____________________________________

February 27, Khonumthung News
Chin relief group to help drought victims in western Burma

Unable to wait any longer for the international community to help, India
based Chin Famine Emergency Relief Committee have begun to take necessary
steps to help the people from the famine called "Mautam" in Chin state,
Burma.

Chins who are living in Mizoram state, northeast India had set up an
emergency relief committee to assist the people who are facing shortage of
food following the fall in paddy production in the areas.

The recently set up a relief committee on the basis of Chin social and
religious organizations stationed in Mizoram state after the Chin National
Day on February 20, is planning to raise relief fund from churches in
Mizoram state by collecting Rs. 300 from each congregation, Mr. Suithawng,
member of CFERC said.

He also added, "We also have a programme to send our members to the field
with the purpose to access more information of the ground situation in
affected areas".

The drought has taken place in the Indo-Burma border areas particularly
Chin state in Burma and Mizoram state in India because of bamboo flowering
since last year. Bamboo flowering helps multiply rats. Later, the rats
destroy paddy fields and paddy stocks. Consequently, the production of
paddy in the areas drastically falls.

The drought severely hit Paletwa, Matupi town, southern part of Chin state
compared to other township, according to CFERC.

"Some villagers can't have food daily. So, the people go out to the
forests searching for food. But, that will not solve the problem," Pu
Samau, the present Chairman of Chin National Council said.

Despite the locals reporting the problem on scarcity of food to the
military regime, so far the authorities have not paid any heed to the
hardship of the people.

The Chin National Front, one of ethnic rebels that is fighting the Burmese
regime, in its statement said that the regime had exploited the people
regardless of the poverty by forcibly collecting tax that range from Kyat
400,000 to 800,000 per household annually in Chin state.

CNF also urged Chins across the world and international community to help
the victims of drought in Chin state.

The rural areas in Mizoram state share the border with Chin state were
also affected by drought from bamboo flowering. However, NGOs, social,
religious and political organization sanctioned millions of Rupees as
relief fund for the victims.

Bamboo flowers once in 50 years when its life term expires.

The areas along the Indo-Burma border is said to have been hit by the same
famine 50 years ago.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

February 27, Forbes
Treasury sanctions on Myanmar traffickers implicate CNOOC – Vivian Wai-yin
Kwok

The latest sanctions issued by the U.S. Treasury have apparently
implicated CNOOC, China's largest producer of offshore crude oil and
natural gas, which is alleged to have been cooperating with a company run
by a family notorious for its heroin-trafficking activities to explore oil
and gas in Myanmar.

The Department of the Treasury on Tuesday announced economic sanctions
against two key financial operatives of the Burmese regime: Steven Law
(also known as Tun Myint Naing) and his father, Lo Hsing Han--as well as
Law's wife, Cecilia Ng, and 14 companies under their control, for
providing support to the government of Myanmar.

"In addition to their support for the Burmese regime, Steven Law and Lo
Hsing Han have a history of involvement in illicit activities. Lo Hsing
Han, known as the 'Godfather of Heroin,' has been one of the world's key
heroin traffickers dating back to the early 1970s. Steven Law joined his
father's drug empire in the 1990s and has since become one of the
wealthiest individuals in Burma," the Treasury said.

Major Burmese conglomerate Asia World Co. is the Lo family flagship firm
sanctioned by the White House. The Treasury also blocked ten companies in
Singapore that are owned by Cecilia Ng, from doing business with the
United States.

David Webb, a business commentator and nonexecutive director of the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange, further revealed that one of the companies in
question has ties to the world's No. 1 offshore oil company. "What the
Treasury didn't mention, but we can tell you, is that Golden Aaron is the
joint venture partner of Chinese government-controlled CNOOC in exploring
for oil and gas in Myanmar," Webb said on his Web site. Golden Aaron is
one of the Singapore companies Cecilia Ng controls.

The relationship can be traced back to October 2004, when the firms
negotiated a production-sharing contract between Myanmar Oil and Gas
Enterprise and a business group formed by CNOOC Myanmar, Golden Aaron and
China Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corp. The partners agreed to
cooperate in oil and natural gas exploration in Kyaukphyu Township of
Rakhine state. According to Myanmar's official newspaper, CNOOC Chairman
Fu Chengyu and Golden Aaron Director Chua Chay Jin attended the signing
ceremony in Yangon.

In CNOOC’s 2004 annual report, the oil giant also disclosed that it would
serve as operator for a joint venture formed with Golden Aaron and the
China Global Engineering Corp. Through the joint venture, CNOOC (nyse: CEO
- news - people ) currently owns five exploration licenses covering 73,152
square kilometers (28,244 square miles), whose terms are up on March 12
this year, unless they are renewed.

Besides its links to a family accused of drug trafficking, CNOOC also has
reportedly been involved in clashes with workers in Myanmar. Ten citizens
from Ye Nan Taung in Kyaukphyu Township were detained and questioned by
government authorities following a dispute over working conditions at
CNOOC in May last year. Workers threw stones at the company's office, to
protest against low wages and long working hours, Burmese newsmagazine The
Irrawaddy reported. The magazine was citing for its report an anti-junta
group, the Shwe Gas Movement, which stressed that as long as companies
continue to cooperate with the Burmese government, workers will experience
persecution, injustice and inequality.

____________________________________

February 27, Asia Times
Look who's digging for gold in Myanmar – John Helmer

Eric Ambler told the tale of a clapped-out reporter whose near-bankrupt
newsletter suddenly starts to make a fortune on its classified
advertisements. The journalist couldn't understand why, but didn't want to
look his gift horse too closely in the mouth.

It turned out that someone was publishing coded intelligence on secret
Chinese nuclear missile silos. The Chinese then tried to buy the
newsletter at a premium to stop the disclosures.

Mysteries such as these, not all of them fictional, are remembered when
phantoms emerge to sign apparently real mining concession agreements with
real government officials. Take Pavel Krivoshei, whose name, possibly of
Ukrainian ethnicity, suggests in Russian, Krivaya sheya, or "Crooked
neck". Krivoshei was reported by the press in Myanmar on February 16 as
having signed on behalf of a Singapore-registered company, Chandwin
International, an agreement to prospect for gold and other miners along
the River Uru.

Krivoshei signed with U Win Te (also referred to as Win Ti), of the
Myanmar Ministry of Mining's Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration
Department. Attending the ceremony was Brigadier General Ohn Myint, the
mining minister, and Russian ambassador Mikhail Mgeladze. The news
appeared first in New Light of Myanmar, and was then relayed by Reuters
and Russian and Chinese wire services. These muddled the corporate
details, and some reported that Victorious Glory International, the
foreign concessionaire at the signing ceremony, is a Russian company. In
Russian records there is no trace.

The reports indicate that Krivoshei controls Victorious Glory
International, with an 80% shareholding held by Krivoshei's Singapore
outfit, Chandwin Projects; 20% of Victorious Glory appears to be held by
local Burmese.

The Chandwin website reports that it was established in Singapore in March
2007, and has paid up capital of 1 million Singapore dollars (US$711,000).
It is said to be owned by a Russian-Swiss company called Benton
International. Its business, Chandwin says, is "Geological Consultation,
Mining Refinery and Exporting of Platinum Gold".

About its founder and controlling shareholder, the Chandwin website claims:

Krivoshey Pavel is the Founder of Chandwin Projects Pte Ltd. He is a
professional mining engineer with over 20 years of experience in mine
development and mine management. His extensive years of experience in
trading for Diamond and Platinum Gold Industry with the International
Buyers gave Krivoshey Pavel an added advantage and thus he was specially
selected by his Russia Government to handle any joint venture contract in
South-East Asia in Mining business. He has a good network and is most
respectable by his buyers for capable of delivering high quality of
diamonds and Platinum Gold.

The website also suggests that Krivoshei trades urea and steel imported
from Russia. No recognition of Krivoshei's name or Chandwin's has been
found among Russia's leading fertilizer and steel producers and traders.

In its concession announcement, Victorious Glory reportedly said the terms
provide for exploration rights along a stretch of the Uru River between
the Homalin and Phakant regions of the country. The area, in the northern
state of Kachin, lies in the east, near the Chinese border. It is known
for gem mining, alluvial gold operations, logging, smuggling, and the
Kachin insurgency.

Before Ohn Myint became minister of mining, he was the government's
warlord in the region; that is to say, the Myanmar army commander for
Kachin. In response to regional, as well as international concerns for the
region's environment, the general issued a directive in June 2006
prohibiting the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), an ethnic rebel
group, from trading gold, jade or logs through its main trading gate with
China in the border town of Laiza. The army commander reportedly asked the
Chinese government to assist in enforcing this ban.

Men at work

The Kachin information outlet, Kachin News, has also noticed Ohn Myint's
latest Russian deal, reporting after Krivoshei put his pen to paper that
Russian mining men had already been seen at work in Kachin. The report
this month says:
A team of Russian mineral inspectors are in Phakant (Hpakan) in Kachin
State, northern Myanmar since last year much before the two countries
signed an agreement last week for exploration of gold and associated
minerals in Phakant areas, the state media said.

Eyewitnesses told KNG they have seen several Russian mineral inspectors
camping and working in Tarmakhan areas for over a year. Both locals and
visitors are strictly forbidden from entering the area. 'I believe
Russians arrived in Tarmakhan for Uranium. Uranium exploration started in
the Tarmakhan and Hongpa areas during Prime Minister U Nu's tenure. But,
the exploration was stopped because of civil war between the Kachin
Independence Army (KIA) and successive Burmese ruling juntas,' a local
geologist told KNG. Last year, a Russian mineral inspector in Tarmakhan
fell ill and died at the government hospital in Phakant Township, local
eyewitnesses and hospital sources said.

The Kachin news agency reinforced the impression that Krivoshei is after
uranium. "A spokesperson of the Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG)
based on the Sino-Myanmar border told KNG that 'the agreement has to do
with mining Uranium rather than gold and associated minerals. Chemical
agents like mercury used for mining in the areas will threaten and impact
daily lives of local residents.' Phakant is also the biggest jade mining
area in Myanmar and these areas are now directly controlled by the ruling
junta and pro-junta business companies after the KIA signed a ceasefire
agreement with the junta in 1994."

The Kachins may be repeating an old story that is now out of date. In
March 2007, Krivoshei and Victorious Glory made their debut in the Kachin
Post, reportedly drilling for uranium. Their location was given artillery
coordinates in the Kachin report - "the mining site is located at Hawng Pa
village of Hpa Kant Township in Kachin State. The exact site location is
between 25°29'43.04"N/96° 6'26.4"E and 25°29'35.2"N/96° 6'35.02"E,
according to the document received by The Kachin Post. The area is around
128 kilometers northwest of Kachin State capital Myitkyina."

Krivoshei's companions at the site were reported as including "Mr Anatoly
Bulochnikov [chairman of Myanmar-Russian Friendship Association] and other
Russian engineers, businessmen, surveyors and Myanmar interpreters."

A Russian mining source believes the uranium search came up empty, and
gold was this year's bright idea. The source believes Krivoshei is a
quick-turnaround specialist "moving upstream from urea and scrap metal
trading".

The Russian government has not subscribed to sanctions imposed against the
Myanmar junta by some Western governments and there are ongoing talks
between the Defense ministries of both countries. In the natural resource
and energy sector, Atomstroyexport, builder of nuclear reactors in China,
India and Iran, has been in talks with Myanmar for a research reactor. But
if there is a Russian interest in uranium in Myanmar, sources at Rosatom,
the supervising agency for nuclear and uranium projects in Moscow, told
Asia Times Online they have not heard of it. Nor, they add, have they
heard of Krivoshei.

Russian reports indicate some interest on the part of regional Russian oil
companies in pursuing oil and gas prospects in Myanmar. Tyzahpromexport is
also building a pig-iron plant there.

History of interest

Faint as Krivoshei's tracks are, there is a history of interest on the
part of Benton International in both gold and oil and gas. According to
Swedish economist and businessman Torbjorn Ranta, Benton holds a 6% stake
in Central Asia Gold AB, a Swedish listed company that Ranta directs from
Sweden. Ranat was trained in Russian by the Swedish military, and is a
former diplomat at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow. He has been managing
director of Swedish firms investing in Russia, including Vostok Nafta and
currently Central Asia Gold.

"Central Asia Gold [CAG] does not own Benton International, it is the
other way around. Benton International is one of the five biggest owners
of Central Asia Gold holding some 6% of the capital and votes of our
company," Ranta told Asia Times Online. He declined to add information
about Krivoshei or Benton without Benton's permission. This hasn't been
forthcoming. Ranta acknowledges he has met Krivoshei.

CAG reports that it operates an alluvial gold project in the Tuva region
of Siberia, which produced about 900,000 ounces in the nine months to
September 30 last. Revenues for the period were US$25 million; after-tax
income was $1 million.

CAG reports: "The group's main assets comprise a large number of mineral
licenses held by the various subsidiaries. The licenses, as at early
January 2007, encompass 747,000 troy ounces (oz) (1 oz = 31.1 g) of gold
reserves according to the Russian C1+C2 categories, as well as 1,055,000
oz of P1 gold resources and 5,765,000 oz of P2 gold resources. CAG AB was
publicly listed on the Swedish NGM Nordic Growth Market stock exchange on
March 29, 2005. The number of shareholders is currently approximately
4,800."

Early asset claims like these are to be tested this year for formal
assessment by the Russian State Reserves Committee (GKZ). Until then,
there are no proven gold reserves.

Krivoshei is not identified in any of CAG's reports. The principal Russian
named is Mikhail Malyarenko. Most of Malyarenko's resource business has
involved oil and gas prospecting in his home region of Tomsk. There has
been a history of business conflict involving some of the oil companies
and projects in which he has been engaged, their Swedish partners, and
larger Russian concerns. Several of the Swedes involved, including Ranta,
have had embassy appointments in Moscow in the past. Vostok Nafta, Vostok
Oil, West Siberian Resources, and CAG appear to share a common pedigree
with thee Swedes and Malyarenko.

No response

But Krivoshei is still apparently missing in action. Through the contact
details provided on Chandwin's website, Krivoshei was asked to clarify
details of the Myanmar project; of any other mining project in which he
has been engaged; and of Russian substantiation of his website claim to
reputation and government influence. According to Chandwin, Krivoshei "was
specially selected by his Russia Government to handle any joint venture
contract in Southeast Asia in Mining business".

To date, Krivoshei has declined to respond. If he's the front man for a
commercial syndicate, or a Russian government agency, it's a secret that
has been covered up as swiftly as it was revealed on February 15.

It is no secret that the Myanmar military junta, and the country's
regional army commanders, have first tried to shut down existing
goldmining concessions, which were aligned with the Kachin movement; and
then issued new licenses to collect both the start fees and revenue taxes.
There were reports from Kachin state last September suggesting the army
had ordered the Jawa goldmine at Phakant closed, and the Kachin
Independence Army ordered it re-opened.

A year earlier, after the army had blockaded Kachin-run goldmines to
prevent their getting food, fuel and other supplies, the regional and
Chinese press reported that the Myanmar government was attempting to sell
concessions to foreign mining companies. License payments of around $1,000
were reported for concessions. Foreign miners reported as active at the
time in exploration were identified as coming from Australia, China,
Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. No mention of
any Russians.

Russian miners in the Russian Far East report some odd coincidences. The
biggest is that the name of the man who signed for Chandwin is identical
to a character in a story by a well-known Russian writer, Varlam Shalamov.
Now dead, Shalamov wrote The Kolyma Tales from his experience as a gulag
prisoner between 1937 and 1951. His book was smuggled abroad and first
published in translation in 1966. It appeared in Russian in 1978.

The Krivoshei in Shalamov's story is a convicted fraudster, with a taste
for expensive antiques; fluency in English and French; no taste for music
or literature; and a wife whose loyalty is rewarded with some regrettable
experiences. As word of the Myanmar exploits of the new Pavel Krivoshei
has spread among Russian miners this month, Shalamov's short story is
enjoying a revival among an unlikely population of readers, looking for
other clues to the future of Victorious Glory.

The Russian Foreign Ministry declines to say why its ambassador to Myanmar
attended Krivoshei's concession agreement earlier this month. The Russian
embassy in Yangon didn't pick up the telephone at its official number.

John Helmer has been a Moscow-based correspondent since 1989, specializing
in the coverage of Russian business.

____________________________________

February 27, Asian News International
India, Myanmar to go ahead with multi-modal transit transport facility soon

In a written reply to a question raised in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit
Transport Facility envisages connectivity between Indian ports on the
eastern seaboard and Sittwe Port in Myanmar Suggesting that this alternate
route would facilitate the transport of goods between the eight north
eastern Indian states and Myanmar, Mukherjee said that the approximate
cost of the project is expected to be Rs. 545 crores.

The time-frame for the project is five years from the date of actual
commencement of the project, which will be after the Agreement and the
Protocols are signed by the two Governments, he added.

In another reply,Mukherjee informed the House that 460 Indian fishermen
had been taken into custody by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency
(PMSA) in 2005, 365 in 2006, 124 in 2007 and 22 in 2008.

251 boats were similarly taken into custody between 2003 and 2005, 58 in
2006, 29 in 2007 and 4 in 2008. As per information available, 372 Indian
fishermen and 342 boats continue to be in the custody of the Pakistan
authorities, he said, adding that the fishermen and boats are mostly from
Gujarat and the Union Territory of Diu and Daman.

Since 2005, 1579 fishermen have been released by Pakistan, including those
taken into custody before 2005. Government have been taking up the issue
of the release of fishermen and their boats regularly with the Government
of Pakistan, including at the highest level.

He said that a Judicial Committee, comprising judges from India and
Pakistan, has been formed to expedite the release of prisoners in either
country.
The Committee has been meeting over the last two days.

____________________________________
ASEAN

February 27, IOL News
Indonesia calls for Suu Kyi participation

Indonesia wants to see democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi included in the
political process in military-ruled Myanmar, Foreign Minister Hassan
Wirayuda said on Wednesday.

Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win last week confirmed to his south east
Asian counterparts that the military's new constitution would bar widow
Aung San Suu Kyi from running in elections that have been slated for 2010
as she had been married to a foreigner.

Wirayuda said that Indonesia, the largest member of the Association of
south east Asian Nations - to which Myanmar also belongs - should along
with ASEAN still engage with the regime to push for an inclusive political
process.

Indonesia welcomed the announcement of the May constitutional referendum
and 2010 elections, "but Indonesia is still advocating an engagement by
ASEAN with Myanmar," Wirayuda told a press briefing.

He said Indonesia supported the mission of UN envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim
Gambari, who is UN chief Ban Ki-moon's pointman on promoting national
reconciliation in Myanmar.

"But Myanmar, being a member of the ASEAN family, we see the importance of
ASEAN or Indonesia, at least, to engage Myanmar so we can ensure that the
process that they are now undertaking...could result in the solution that
is also acceptable to the international community," Wirayuda said.

"That's why our concern is how to make the process in Myanmar more
credible, meaning to make the process more inclusive by allowing the
participation of groups including Madam Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD (her
National League for Democracy party), as well as minority groups...in the
coming process," he added.

Wirayuda was speaking after meeting with his German counterpart,
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was on a one-day visit to Indonesia.

Gambari visited Indonesia earlier this week and said he would raise the
banning of Aung San Suu Kyi with the junta when he next returns in early
March. The visit will be Gambari's third since September, when the
military junta violently crushed the biggest pro-democracy protests in
nearly 20 years.

Wirayuda has said in the past that Jakarta could play a significant role
in Myanmar's democratic process by sharing its experience of transition
from a military government to full democracy.

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

____________________________________
REGIONAL

February 27, Xinhua
China calls for "correct understanding" of its Myanmar policy

China on Tuesday rejected criticism of its Myanmar policy, calling on
relevant organizations to correctly understand the policy.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said that China had adopted a
"good-neighborly, friendly" policy toward Myanmar, and China's
relationship with Myanmar was in the interests of the peoples of both
countries.

Liu made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a
journalist's question about an organization criticizing China's Myanmar
policy.

"China's policy toward Myanmar is conducive to the peace and democracy
process in Myanmar, and the realization of peace and reconciliation of
Myanmar," Liu said.

"We hope relevant organizations can have a correct understanding of
China's Myanmar policy, which is helpful to Myanmar's situation," said
Liu.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

February 27, Irrawaddy
China’s stand on Burma and Darfur spurs boycott call – Wai Moe

As China prepares to host the Olympic Games in August, its foreign policy
is coming under increasing scrutiny because of its stand on political
events in Burma and human rights violations in the Darfur region of Sudan.

A movement in favor of boycotting the Games is gathering pace, while
Hollywood director Steven Spielberg has quit as an artistic adviser for
the Olympics, claiming China was not doing enough to help end atrocities
in Darfur.

China responded to the boycott calls on Tuesday by saying advocates of
such action should have a “correct understanding” of Beijing’s Burma
policy. China’s “good neighborly and friendly policy” towards Burma
“serves the interest of the people” in Burma and also in China, said
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao.

“The policy is conducive to the democratic process of reconciliation and
peace in Myanmar [Burma]. I hope relevant organizations could have a
correct understanding of this policy,” he said.

One of the principal advocates of a boycott of the games is Burma’s 88
Students Generation movement, which issued a call this week appealing to
people around the world not to watch the sports events on TV.

In a recent interview with The Irrawaddy, Tun Myint Aung, a leader of the
88 Students Generation, said the boycott call wasn’t aimed at the Chinese
people but against the foreign policy of their country, which supported
“the worst tyrannies in the world.” Tun Mying Aung added:  “We are on the
same ground as the people of China.”

In a similar appeal, the US Campaign for Burma (USCB), based in Washington
DC, called on athletes to also boycott the games.

Aung Din of the USCB told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that although China
claimed publicly to be a good friend of Burma its friendship was extended
only to the ruling junta.

“China should strongly pressure Burma,” Aung Din said. “If the Burmese
generals don’t listen to Beijing, China should work with the western
democracies and the UN Security Council to save the Burmese people.” It
was clear that the Burmese people “hated” China’s policy on Burma because
it supported a despised military junta, he said.

A USCB statement charged that supplies of arms from China had enabled
government forces to destroy 3,200 ethnic minority villages, forcing 1.5
million people to flee their homes.

Latest policy decisions in Burma would bar opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi from standing in the general election announced for 2010, on the
grounds that she had been married to a foreigner, and a threat of stern
punishment for anybody judged to be interfering with the referendum
planned for May.

The ruling barring Suu Kyi, even though her husband, Briton Michael Aris
died in 1999, flies in the face of international calls for an “inclusive”
political process in Burma.

Legislation announced on Tuesday evening by junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe
forms a referendum commission and threatens long prison terms for anybody
who “attempts to deter” the referendum.

China’s indifference to human rights abuses in Darfur has also led to
increasing pressure for an international boycott of the Olympic Games.

Sudan government policies have cost more than 200,000 lives and driven
more than 2.5 million people from their homes.

Beijing and Khartoum have long had strong political, economic and military
ties. Analysts say China imports two-thirds of Sudan’s oil, an estimated
500,000 barrels a day. China imported a total of $4.1bn worth of goods
from Sudan, mostly oil, in 2007. China is also believed to be Sudan's
biggest arms supplier.

A visit to Sudan this week by a special envoy from China, Liu Giujin,
coincided with a fresh assault by Sudanese government forces on areas of
Darfur.

____________________________________

February 27, The Asahi Shimbun
Tokyo to back Gambari plan to aid Myanmar – Kazuto Tsukamoto

Tokyo, despite its partial freeze on humanitarian aid to Myanmar (Burma),
plans to give its backing to a U.N. plan to assist the impoverished nation
in eradicating poverty, sources said.

A new framework being drawn up by Ibrahim Gambari, special adviser to U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, is expected to focus on ways to resolve
social problems stemming from deprivation as well as income disparities
and issues concerning ethnic minorities.

Gambari has visited Myanmar on several occasions in an effort to prod the
ruling junta to embrace democracy.

The United Nations is expected to play a central role in implementing his
plan by working closely with the military government.

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka
were scheduled to convey Tokyo's support for the plan during meetings on
Wednesday and today with Gambari, sources said.

Gambari's intention is to offer Myanmar wide-ranging support to help the
transition to democratization following an announcement by the generals in
the new capital of Naypyidaw earlier this month to hold a national
referendum in May on a new Constitution and to transfer power to a
civilian government in 2010.

In October 2007, Tokyo announced a partial freeze of its humanitarian aid
to Myanmar following the shooting death of video journalist Kenji Nagai
the previous month while covering street protests in Yangon (Rangoon)
against the ruling junta.

Government officials in Tokyo decided that Gambari's plan has much merit
and decided it should have their support.

Gambari is scheduled to visit Myanmar early next month for meetings with
the leadership there.

According to diplomatic sources, the junta leaders are hesitant about
accepting Gambari's plans for aid at this point for fear that Western
nations will become involved in Myanmar's democratization process through
the envisioned U.N. framework.

It remains uncertain whether the United States and key nations in Europe
will participate in the framework, given their hard-line stand toward
Myanmar over its crackdown on Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy
activists.

Another concern is how the United Nations will be able to ensure its aid
does not get funneled to the junta, sources said.

Japan's foreign policy has been to maintain low-level ties with the junta
until it embraces democracy.

For instance, the Foreign Ministry earlier this month issued a statement
in the name of its press secretary reacting positively to Myanmar's
decision to announce a time frame for democratization through the
referendum on a new Constitution and elections later in 2010.

Separately, Japanese police were dispatched to Myanmar earlier this month
for discussions with the ruling junta as part of their investigation in
Nagai's death.
Government officials want to keep such issues quite separate from the
planned economic support, sources said.

____________________________________

February 27, Earthtimes.org
Steinmeier calls for release of Myanmar's political

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Indonesian
colleague Hassan Wirajuda Wednesday welcomed Myanmar's junta government
allowing a May referendum on a draft constitution, but called on the
military to release political prisoners. "We are both encouraged that
political changes in Myanmar are on course" said Steinmeier after a
meeting with Wirajuda in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

Myanmar's government announced this month it will hold the referendum and
Wednesday Xinhua news agency reported that the military announced ballots
are to be cast in secret and counting to begin in public as soon as voting
closes.

Wirajuda welcomed Myanmar's constitutional referendum as well as the
multi-party elections planned for 2010.

"It is probably the first time that Myanmar's government has set such a
concrete framework," said Wirajuda.

Indonesia's foreign minister said he supported the mission of UN envoy to
Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari for national reconciliation and welcomed a
decision by the military to allow Gambari to push up his visit to March
from April.

For the steps to democracy to succeed, the support of China and all
neighbouring countries is needed, said the German minister, adding that
"an important signal for change in Myanmar would be the release of
political prisoners."

Myanmar, a member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN),
has been internationally criticized for the government crackdown on
monk-led protests in September. The actual death toll and the number of
people still in prison remains a mystery in Myanmar.

As a member of ASEAN, Wirajuda said Indonesia sees the importance to
engage Myanmar to "ensure that the process that they are now undertaking
could result in the solution that is also acceptable to the international
community."

Other issues being discussed between the two foreign ministers were
climate change, efforts to boost bilateral ties and bans imposed by the
European Union on Indonesian airlines.

"Both sides share the view to settle the problem as soon as possible by
promoting cooperation at a technical level," Wirajuda told a joint press
conference after their talk.

Indonesia "welcomes" an offer by Germany for expertise from Lufthansa
airline to Garuda Indonesia, Wirajuda said, saying that such an offer
would be benefit for the country's national flag carrier.

Last year, the EU banned 51 Indonesian airlines, including Garuda
Indonesia. The ban was imposed after a Garuda jetliner crashed upon
landing in the central Java city of Yogyakarta, in March 2007, killing 21
people. On New Year's Day of 2007, a plane belonging to budget carrier
Adam Air plunged into the sea in eastern Indonesia, killing all 102 people
aboard.

On global climate change, both ministers agreed on the need to carry on
the initiatives from December's Bali climate change conference.

"We must work together to ensure that the follow up process would be
productive, to reduce new commitment to replace the old arrangement under
the Kyoto Protocol to be ready by 2012," Wirajuda said.

"We have to do more, namely on how we can develop cooperation as from now
on without waiting for 2012 to mitigate climate change," he said, adding
that Indonesia, one of the world's largest tropical forest nations, is
taking an initiative to convene a conference of the 34 tropical forest
countries this year.

Steinmeier hailed Jakarta's efforts to combat illegal logging under
difficult conditions.

Domestic and international environmental groups claim that Indonesia lost
an estimated 3.7 million hectares of forest lands annually between 2000
and 2005, of which 80 per cent is cut illegally.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared in late 2005 a crackdown
against deforestation in the country, and promised harsh penalties for
officials involved in illegal activity.

Steinmeier also met Wednesday with President Yudhoyono and ASEAN General
Secretary Surin Pitsuwan.

Steinmeier began his five-day tour of Indonesia Tuesday and next heads to
Singapore and Vietnam.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

February 27, Bangkok Post
A 'final courtesy call' on the junta – Larry Jagan

Burma's generals have agreed to let the UN envoy visit again but there is
little likelihood of anything being achieved

The United Nations Special Envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is expected to
return to the country in a few days' time to discuss the military regime's
plans for political change. The junta had originally told the envoy they
could not host him until after the middle of April. But in the past two
weeks the Burmese government has finished drafting the country's new
constitution, and announced plans to hold a referendum in May and new
elections in 2010.

This appears to leave the envoy with little left to do while he is there _
though he will certainly press for the release of detained opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr Gambari is expected to arrive in Rangoon on the weekend after visiting
Tokyo, according to UN sources who do not wish to be identified. The
Burmese authorities have agreed to allow Mr Gambari to visit Burma in the
first few days of March, according to a Chinese diplomat in the region. Mr
Gambari himself remains coy about the forthcoming visit, but told
journalists in Jakarta last week that he was hopeful of visiting Burma in
the first week of March.

''Beijing and Delhi have both been pushing the Burmese leaders to allow
Gambari back as soon as possible,'' an Indian diplomat told the Bangkok
Post recently on condition of anonymity. ''The generals couldn't really
ignore the strong advice of their two biggest neighbours,'' he said.

Last week Mr Gambari held discussions in Beijing with senior Chinese
officials, including the foreign minister, on Burma and was assured of
their support.

But the military government's recent announcement that it plans to hold
democratic elections in two years' time, after conducting a referendum on
the new constitution in May, effectively puts an end to Mr Gambari's
mission.

''It's easy for the junta to agree to Gamabri's visit now, as he really
has nothing to talk about,'' said a Bangkok-based diplomat close to the
international mediation efforts with the Burmese military.

''Than Shwe's decision to set a timetable for the roadmap was a strategic
move to block both Maung Aye _ his deputy _ from assuming power later and
the international community, especially Gambari, from playing a role in
the process,'' he added.

When Mr Gambari visited Burma last time, in November, he had a
three-pronged approach. He asked to the be involved in a constitutional
review process after the National Convention had completed drawing up the
guidelines; he wanted to encourage the regime to make the national
reconciliation process more inclusive and involve pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy; and to set up a
Poverty Alleviation Committee.

Mr Gambari is currently on a trip to the region in preparation for his
forthcoming visit to Burma. The envoy has been encouraged by the response
of India, China, Indonesia and Singapore.

''What is important is for us is to work together with them [the military
government], with the neighbouring countries, with Asean and the
international community to enhance the credibility of this constitutional
process, and to make national reconciliation more inclusive,'' Mr Gambari
said in Jakarta after meeting the Indonesian president and foreign
minister.

At best, Mr Gambari has now been left with a limited role _ possibly in
helping with economic reform. ''The junta will ask him to approve the new
constitution that has just been finalised, and give it credibility in the
hope of deflecting further international pressure,'' a government source
said. ''That's what they would see his role as in any constitutional
review process.''

Mr Gambari is likely to be shown a copy of the new constitution, which so
far has been difficult to find. Diplomats and opposition politicians
contacted by the Bangkok Post last week said they had been unable to
obtain one.

The government officially announced the constitution was now ready for the
referendum two weeks ago.

''The drafting committee completed the constitution in mid-December,''
said a Burmese government source. But it had been held under wraps while
Senior General Than Shwe mulled over what to do next.

It is very clear now that Gen Than Shwe has never had any intention of
making the national conciliation process inclusive. There was never a role
for Aung San Suu Kyi or the NLD. So any efforts by Mr Gambari on this
issue are destined to be rebuffed entirely, despite the envoy's insistence
that this must be a key part of his next mission.

''We have been very consistent in saying that the recent announcement by
the authorities of the referendum on the government constitution in May,
and elections that will lead to a multi-party democracy in 2010, are a
potentially significant step,'' Mr Gambari told journalists in Jakarta.

''But all the same, this process has to be credible and has to be
all-inclusive. This will continue to be stressed in our conversation with
the authorities in Myanmar,'' Mr Gambari told a press briefing after
meeting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

In reality the key issue that remains unresolved and which Mr Gambari may
be able to help in, is the question of Aung San Suu Kyi's release. When
will the opposition leader be released from house arrest? In previous
discussions between Mr Gambari's predecessor, the UN envoy Razali Ismail,
the prime minister and military intelligence chief (General Khin Nyunt at
the time) it was believed she would be freed after the constitution was
ratified, according to sources close to Mr Razali at the time.

Mr Gambari is expected to push for a renewed commitment from the junta
that she will be released soon after the referendum in May. In Indonesia,
Mr Gambari told reporters he would certainly raise the issue of Daw Suu
Kyi's continued detention and her participation in the proposed elections
in 2010.

The main problem for the UN envoy is that he is likely to be given access
only to lower level officials.

''Than Shwe is still furious at Gambari because he smuggled out a letter
from Aung San Suu Kyi [which he made public in Singapore on his way back
to New York to report to the UN secretary-general] last time,'' the Chiang
Mai-based Burmese academic Win Min said. ''He didn't see Gambari then, and
Than Shwe is even less inclined to meet him this time.''

This is something sources close to the UN envoy admit is almost certain to
be the case again. It is even possible he will be denied access to Daw Suu
Kyi and the opposition.

''As long as Gambari is able to stress the international community's
concerns to the generals _ and Than Shwe hears it, even if it's second
hand _ that will be an important measure of whether this forthcoming trip
is a success or not,'' said Zin Linn, spokesman for the Burmese opposition
abroad.

The planned referendum must be ''free and fair'' and international
election monitors allowed to observe the process, he said. Daw Suu Kyi
must be freed as soon as possible and allowed to participate in the
forthcoming elections; and the NLD must be allowed to stand in the
elections without restrictions or harassment.

''The junta must be under no illusions; only a credible vote will satisfy
the international community,'' according to a Rangoon-based Western
diplomat.

The Asean foreign ministers at their retreat in Singapore earlier this
month stressed the same message. ''Nyan Win [the Burmese foreign minister]
was told in no uncertain terms that while the referendum was considered a
domestic matter _ it was essential that is was a credible process,''
according to a Southeast Asian diplomat who was at the meeting.

But Mr Gambari may find even delivering this message hard going. The
Burmese junta has hinted in several ways that the UN envoy and the UN as a
whole has no further role to play in Burma's national reconciliation
process or the proposed political reforms.

But the UN envoy remains upbeat and insists his job is to continue to push
ahead even in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

''Sometimes, I myself am frustrated that the tangible results are not
faster or we have not achieved more, but we have to build on what we have
and continue to press for more results,'' Mr Gambari said.

While the envoy remains optimistic, the signs from the regime are that Mr
Gambari's next trip to Burma is likely only to be a final courtesy call.

____________________________________

February 26, The Asahi Shimbun
'Democracy' in Myanmar

The military junta of Myanmar (Burma) recently announced plans to hold a
general election in 2010 after creating a new Constitution. Normally, we
would welcome such a move as a country's new "road to democratization."

But in Myanmar's case, the plan and the process are extremely problematic.

According to the military government's announcement, the junta will put
together a new draft Constitution and hold a national referendum in May. A
multiparty general election will be held two years after national
acceptance of the Constitution.

The junta announced 15 years ago that it will switch to civilian rule.  It
has finally revealed a specific roadmap.

Last year, the military government was heavily criticized for its violent
crackdown on pro-democracy Buddhist monks. The latest announcement aims to
fend off this strong international pressure.

But no matter what kind of civilian transition the military junta comes up
with, any plan is meaningless as long as opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi is kept under house arrest and her National League for Democracy (NLD)
is prevented from political activities.

In the previous general election held in 1990, opposition parties were
allowed to participate, but the junta had already placed Aung San Suu Kyi
under house arrest the year before. When the NLD nevertheless won a
landslide victory, the junta voided the election results altogether.

There is no knowing what kind of elections will take place in 2010, but
Foreign Minister Nyan Win has already announced that Aung San Suu Kyi
would be barred from running because her husband is a foreigner.

In addition, the ruling People's Assembly went ahead with the drafting of
the Constitution without the involvement of the NLD or ethnic minority
representatives. As a result, the Constitution was drafted in a way that
blatantly protects the powers of the military: a quarter of the
parliamentary seats will be filled by the military; the president will be
required to be "well-versed in military affairs."

If the junta is actually serious about democracy, it should promptly
release Aung San Suu Kyi well before the May national referendum and
create an environment in which opposition groups can operate freely.
Without those changes, the referendum will inevitably be derided as a
"mobilized" referendum with the military forcing people to vote in its
favor.

There is no way that it will be recognized as a democratization process.

The foreign ministers' meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) raised doubts about Myanmar's civilian transition process.

The international society, including Japan and the United Nations, needs
to step up its involvement.

Myanmar will never be stable if there is no dialogue with opposition
groups, and international assistance necessary for economic development
will never come. The Japanese government should send a senior official to
Myanmar to try to convince the junta of this logic.

Moreover, we hope the Japanese government continues its efforts to bring
about a full investigation and the truth about the death last year of
journalist Kenji Nagai, who was shot while covering the pro-democracy
protests.

In Myanmar, ethnic minorities account for as much as one-third of the
country's population. Recently, the leader of an ethnic group visited
Japan to ask Diet members for help so that international election monitors
would be on hand for the national referendum. This is one request that
must be honored.