BORDERS
SSA AND SPDC STILL HAVING SKIRMISHES NEAR MONG TON IN SHAN STATE
BURMA AGREES TO HIGH-LEVEL BORDER MEETING WITH THAILAND
THAI THIRD ARMY COMMANDER MAY CHANGE POSITION
KNU STEPPING UP OFFENSIVE AGAINST BURMA
BURMA RE-OPENS PAGODA PASS CHECKPOINT, PRISES RISE IN RANGOON
BURMESE FORCESA ASSAULT KNPP BASE
THAILAND TO ASK BURMA TO SIGN DRUG COOPERATION AGREEMENT
GOD’S ARMY TWINS’ FUTURE UNCERTAIN
THAI MILITARY PUT 200 BURMESE MONKS ON WATCH IN MAE HONG SON
INSIDE BURMA
BURMESE TIRE WORKERS ARRESTED FOLLOWING PROTEST
BURMA STOCKS UP ON AMMUNITION
BURMA EARNS ONLY HALF A MUCH FROM ANNUAL GEMS EMPORIUM
INTERNATIONAL
BURMA SUPPORTERS CALL TO INVOLVE ETHNIC GROUPS IN NLD-SPDC TALKS
US AND EU MAY BACK TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA
MALAYSIA AND BURMA TO SIGN BARTER TRADE AGREEMENT
MALAYSIA LOOKING FOR CAR MARKET IN BURMA
INDIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER QUITS OVER ARMS SCANDAL
U WIN TIN WINS UNESCO WORLD PRESS FREEDOM PRIZE
JAPANESE AID PROGRAM TARGETS HIV/AIDS CARE FOR WOMEN
SSA AND SPDC STILL HAVING SKIRMISHES NEAR MONG TON IN SHAN STATE
The Democratic Voice of Burma reported that the Shan State Army South attacked a Burmese Light Infantry Battalion stationed near Mong Ton in southern Shan State on 10 March. Three barracks were destroyed while five Burmese soldiers were killed and eight were wounded. The townspeople thought the town would be overrun by the SSA and most evacuated to the suburbs. On the morning of 11 March, Mong Ton-based SPDC tactical commander held a meeting on the prevailing situation with the battalion commanders, township authorities, departmental officials, and responsible personnel. He ordered security posts to be manned in every ward and village and to immediately report any important matter. That night Mong Ton-based tactical commander declared the Mong Ton area as an emergency zone. DVB reported that according to latest reports Mong Ton area is still declared an emergency zone while skirmishes are sporadically occurring near the vicinity of Mong Ton. In a unrelated battle, two Shan rebels and one pro-Rangoon guerrilla were killed in a clash close to Doi Kor Wan opposite Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang district, an SSA officer said. A source said the SSA has cancelled its planned Army Day celebrations on March 25.
“Shan State Army attack kills five troops, wounds eight,” Mar 14. DVB
“Rival troops killed in clash near border,” Mar 20. Bangkok Post
BURMA AGREES TO HIGH-LEVEL BORDER MEETING WITH THAILAND
Thailand and Burma have agreed to convene a top-level border committee for the first time in two years to try to resolve a brewing row over conflicts along their shared border, officials said Monday. "Myanmar has agreed to the regional border meeting, which is a good sign because we can clear up all the misunderstandings and thus our relations will be cordial," said Thai Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. The Regional Border Committee will gather from April 2-4 in the Burmese town of Kengtung, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the Thai border. Two sessions of the lower-level Township Border Commission have failed to ease strains sparked by clashes between the two neighbours' armies at the important Mae Sai-Tachilek crossing. Thai army commander Lieutenant General Wattanachai Chaimeunwong will head Bangkok's delegation in the April talks. Prime Thailand on Monday called a cease-fire with Burma in their war of words over drugs trafficking, and said the two governments would hold talks to resolve their differences.
“Thailand calls cease-fire in verbal war with Myanmar drugs,” Mar 19. AP
“Thailand, Myanmar officials to meet over border conflict,” Mar 19. AFP
“Bilateral withdrawal from disputed areas proposed,” Mar 20. Bangkok Post
THAI THIRD ARMY COMMANDER MAY CHANGE POSITION
Army chief General Surayudh Chulanont maintained yesterday he had no intention of transferring the outspoken commander of the Third Army Region and suggested any attempt to do so would constitute interference by "a higher authority". The names of all Army officers to be transferred had already been submitted to the Office of the Supreme Command, and did not include any from the Third Army Region, Surayudh said. "General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, deputy prime minister and minister of defence, has said transfers of Army officers were to be left up to myself and the supreme commander. If General Chavalit really wants to transfer somebody, he must first have a thorough discussion with us to see whether such a decision would be appropriate," Surayudh said. Surayudh's statement yesterday was his strongest attempt yet to dismiss growing concerns that Lt-General Wattanachai Chaimuanwong, commander of the Third Army, would be transferred to an inactive post because of his
outspoken criticism of Burmese generals amid high tensions along the border over the past month. Chavalit has been evasive about whether he would endorse Surayudh's proposed transfer list. Gen Chavalit reportedly felt that transferring Lt-Gen Wattanachai and putting a new face in charge of the Third Army would facilitate talks on the border dispute. Rangoon's leaders were reportedly upset by Lt-Gen Wattanachai's critical public remarks about Burma.
“Aides Well Cared for in Coming Reshuffle,” Mar 19. Bangkok Post
“Bilateral withdrawal from disputed areas proposed,” Mar 20. Bangkok Post
“Support for border commander,” Mar 20. The Nation
KNU STEPPING UP OFFENSIVE AGAINST BURMA
The Karen National Union (KNU) is intensifying its armed offensive against the Burmese military as more Karen people are being tortured by junta forces, KNU Secretary General Pado Mansah said Wednesday. On March 6, 50 KNU rebels with heavy weapons attacked a military outpost at Wekalay, a village 120 kilometers from the southern province of Moulmein, killing three Burmese soldiers and burning road construction equipment. Karen soldiers captured the outpost, which contained about 70 government troops at the time, but relinquished it after half an hour. Since 1997, more than 400 houses of Karen people have been torched and several women raped by Burmese soldiers, Mansah said. A KNU company launched a surprised attack on the SPDC Central Training Camp near Thanbyuzayat on 6 March. At the ensuing battle, four SPDC troops including Company Commander Capt Than Tun were killed while six were seriously wounded. The central training camp is responsible for the security of the (?Wegalaung) Dam construction project near Thanbyuzayat and have been forcing local residents to work at the project. The KNU reportedly freed 900 forced laborers at the Training Camp. The SPDC troops are continuing to make preparations to retaliate the KNU attack and many civilians in Thanbyuzayat and Ye townships in Mon State have been forcibly recruited as porters for the army.
“Karen rebels step up offensive against Myanmar military,” Mar 14. Kyodo
“Burmese troops said to be launching offensive against Karen rebels,” Mar 18. DVB
BURMA RE-OPENS PAGODA PASS CHECKPOINT, PRISES RISE IN RANGOON
Burma reopened a border crossing with Thailand on Friday after a daylong closure that officials said may have been a show of protest against the Thai government's disclosure of widespread drug trafficking from that country. All vehicles were stopped Thursday from entering Burma at the Three Pagoda Pass checkpoint, 260 kilometers (158 miles) southwest of Bangkok. Burmese authorities opened the gates after a Thai delegation visited them and talked about the need to maintain tourist flow, Maj. Gen. Mana Prachakchit, the regional commander said. Mana said he thought the closure was ``an act of retaliation for the exposure.'' The Three Pagoda Pass action came four days after Thailand reopened its checkpoint at Mae Sai, in northern Thailand. But the Burmese side of that border crossing remains closed. Mana said that Burma, closed crossings which were lucrative to Thai businessmen but kept open those necessary for vital imports, including oil, rice and medicine, from Thailand. Despite the tensions, two of the three key frontier checkpoints, at Ranong and Mae Sot, remain open. The ambassador said in a telephone interview yesterday that the general atmosphere in Rangoon was not good. Prices had soared 20% with some goods in short supply, especially Thai goods.
“Pagoda Pass Checkpoint Closes Down” Mar 16. Bangkok Post
“Myanmar opens one border crossing with Thailand,” Mar 16. AP
“Burma up to its Old Trick of Niggling Thais,” Mar 17. The Nation
BURMESE FORCESA ASSAULT KNPP BASE
More than 100 members of Burma's Karenni ethnic minority fled into Thailand on Tuesday after Burmese troops attacked a stronghold of opposition group Karenni National Progressive Party, Thai provincial officials said. Burmese troops attacked the KNPP rebel camp at Doi Ta Khe, opposite Thailand's Mae Hong Son province, Thai district chief Kasem Chemchoi said. An official of the KNPP said 500 Burmese troops were involved in Tuesday's assault. He said one Karenni guerrilla died and four were wounded, and six were wounded on the the government side.
“Karenni refugees escape fighting into Thailand,” Mar 21. AP
THAILAND TO ASK BURMA TO SIGN DRUG COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said Thursday he will ask Burma for its cooperation over the drugs crisis during the first talks with his counterpart Win Aung in Chile later this month. Surakiart said the meeting would take place on the sidelines of the inaugural session of the East Asia-Latin America Forum to be held in Santiago from March 29-30. "We will ask if it is possible for Burma to sign a drugs suppression and prevention cooperation agreement with Thailand, like China has done," he said in a radio interview. The meeting with Win Aung will be the highest-level talks between the two neighbours since Thailand's new government led by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was sworn in last month. The premier said he would demand explanations from Burma's generals over the deadly flow of methamphetamines from jungle refineries operated by Rangoon-allied ethnic druglords.
“Thailand, Myanmar to tackle drugs issue in first foreign ministers' meet,” Mar 15. AFP
GOD’S ARMY TWINS’ FUTURE UNCERTAIN
The boy leaders of the God Army's militia, who were captured two months ago on the Burmese border, have been reunited with their mother. However, the pair's fate remains uncertain, according to officials in the western province of Ratchaburi who are considering giving them refugee status that will entitle them to asylum in Thailand. "The committee which will decide how they will be classified has until now not begun to meet," said Suan Pheung District Chief Payakphan Phokaew. After their capture by Thai troops in January, the Htoo brothers debunked the myths surrounding their militia group and said they dreamed only of returning to Burma and going to school like ordinary children.
“God’s Army's twins' fate uncertain after tearful reunion with mother,” Mar 15. AFP
“God’s Army twins, mum reunited,” Mar 16. The Nation
Burma Issues: Other rumours have circulated in Thailand that the twins’ may have to go to a third country, because their lives could be put in jeopardy if they remained in a refugee camp
THAI MILITARY PUT 200 BURMESE MONKS ON WATCH IN MAE HONG SON
Thai police said Wednesday they have put more than 200 Buddhist monks from Burma in the northern border province of Mae Hong Son on a watch list over suspicions they are military spies. Most of the monks belong to Burma's ethnic Shan minority and have been in Thailand for years trying to win followers, they said. Many of them are closely watched since they often cross the border between the two countries, according to the chief of a Mae Hong Son district police station, Col. Tinnapat Pumarin. 'Some monks are moving around the border areas seeking to make friends with Thai military officers guarding the areas,' he said. Some 40 Burmese people suspected of spying have been detained by Thai authorities since the February clash. The Thai military estimated earlier that hundreds of people from Burma are spying in Thailand and mix in all sorts of groups, such as migrant laborers, businessmen and fortune tellers. Monks and fortune tellers are difficult to control since some senior Thai officials and their wives are followers, Tinnapat said.
“Thai police suspect Myanmar monks of spying,” Mar 21. Kyodo
BURMESE TIRE WORKERS ARRESTED FOLLOWING PROTEST
The Democratic Voice of Burma broadcast the news that workers from a tire factory at Kanthayar Village in Thaton Township staged a protest on 9 March to seek compensation. The workers dispersed after the authorities told them they can submit their grievances to relevant ministries. Before the workers were able to present their petitions, members of No. 5 Military Intelligence Unit [MI-5] had begun arresting 19 leaders of the workers' protest. All work have been stopped at the factory and two companies of Burmese soldiers are posted at the factory for security. A sign was installed at the top of the lane leading to the factory that anyone who passes through the factory lane from 1800 to 0600 is liable to be shot.
“Workers arrested following protest over compensation claims,” Mar 20. DVB
BURMA STOCKS UP ON AMMUNITION
Burma is obtaining through international dealers a significant quantity of 82mm smoothbore mortar ammunition, apparently intending to replenish its supplies in the face of continuing border tension with Thailand. The shipment involves some 50,000 to 100,000 mortar bombs that should cost Rangoon around $2 million. It originates from Vietnam, although Hanoi may be unaware of its ultimate destination. A Vietnamese-flagged ship was due to land the ammunition in Thailand in mid-March for covert trans-shipment to Burma, Bangkok-based intelligence sources informed Jane's Defence Weekly.
“Myanmar stocks up on ammunition,” Mar 21. Jane's Defence Weekly
BURMA EARNS ONLY HALF A MUCH FROM ANNUAL GEMS EMPORIUM
Burma fetched a total of 10.12 million U.S. dollars through sale of locally-produced gems, jade, pearl and jewelry at the country's 38th annual gems emporium which ended Sunday evening, 58.1 percent less than that earned from the year-ago annual event. The eight-day state-sponsored gems emporium, which began on March 11, attracted a total of 674 merchants from 15 countries and regions, and local companies. The foreign gems traders were mostly from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Thailand and China's mainland. The country has earned over 330 million dollars from its 38 annual and nine mid-year gems emporiums, according to official statistics.
“Myanmar Earns Less From Annual Gems Emporium,” Mar 19. Xinhua
BURMA SUPPORTERS CALL TO INVOLVE ETHNIC GROUPS IN NLD-SPDC TALKS
Supporters of Burma democracy movement from various countries have called for the increased international pressure on the Burmese military junta to ensure that on-going talks between the junta and democratic opposition are transformed into a “genuine tripartite dialogue” between the regime, democratic opposition and ethnic nationality groups. Expressing their confidence in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s leadership and commitment to tripartite dialogue, the democracy supporters around the world in a meeting in Thailand urged the governments to escalate efforts at this “critical time” to support the transformation of talks into tripartite dialogue. The participants who represent 53 organizations from 28 countries from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe and North America concluded their three-day “International Strategy Meeting on Burma” at an undisclosed location in Thailand. Acknowledging the role of economic and political pressure in pushing the Burmese regime toward the initial talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the participants of International Strategy Meeting appealed to governments to refrain from providing any form of official economic or developing assistance until a genuine tripartite agreement could be reached in Burma. “The talks are good. We support the talks. But we really want the talks to become a genuine tripartite dialogue. If we don’t have a genuine tripartite dialogue, then the problems in Burma will never be solved. There's been a lot of hype over the talks but they haven't really produced much. But they've given the SPDC a six-month holiday. They should deliver results,” said the spokesperson of the meeting.
“Democracy supporters call for tripartite dialogue in Burma,” Mar 20. Mizzima
“Myanmar ethnic groups bid for inclusion in opposition-junta talks,” Mar 20. AFP
US AND EU MAY BACK TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA
The United States and European Union back tough measures, including possible trade sanctions, against Burma to bring an end to forced labour, a report by the International Labour Organisation said on Tuesday. The report will be discussed by the ILO's governing body next week and is a follow up to the organisation's call last November for countries to take measures against Rangoon to ensure the military government ended forced labour. The United States said in a letter to the ILO dated January 19, the last day of the Clinton administration, it had imposed diplomatic and economic sanctions on Burma but there was no evidence suggesting forced labour had ended. Stressing the need for reconciliation between Burma's authorities and the opposition, the U.S. government said that ``in the absence of significant and measurable progress, ILO members, including the United States, should be prepared to consider additional measures, including trade sanctions...'' ``The European Union was monitoring the situation closely and, should the authorities in Burma fail to take the necessary action in this respect, the European Union stood ready to take further measures,'' it added. Japan was notably absent among countries replying to a letter from ILO director-general Juan Somavia to member states drawing attention to the call for measures. Thailand assured the ILO that ``no Thai investment in Burma contributed, directly or indirectly'' to forced labour. Singapore and the Philippines said they had no relations with Burma that abetted the practice. But Singapore said that technical assistance would be ``more appropriate and effective'' than sanctions in addressing
the issue, the ILO report said.
“U.S., EU keep heat on Myanmar over forced labour,” Mar 20. Reuters
MALAYSIA AND BURMA TO SIGN BARTER TRADE AGREEMENT
Malaysia and Burma will soon finalize an agreement to facilitate the conduct of barter trade between
the two countries, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz said Thursday. There is also a need for both governments to facilitate and promote bilateral trade by simplifying or removing various obstacles, she said in a statement issued in conjunction with a three-day trade and investment mission led by her to Burma which ended Thursday. Barter trade is an important component of the bilateral trade between Malaysia and Burma, which currently amounts to 600 million ringgit (157.89 million U.S. dollars) and 800 million ringgit (210.52 million U.S. dollars) a year. Products exchanged through the barter trade arrangement include agricultural products, fish, timber products, electrical items, clocks, plastic goods, used motorcycles and bicycles, and used vehicle parts. Total trade between Malaysia and Burma last year amounted to 1.142 billion ringgit (0.3 billion U.S. dollars), a 3.1 percent increase over that in 1999, with Malaysia's main exports to Burma including crude petroleum, vegetable oil, margarine, and plastic and glass products and its main direct imports from Burma including vegetables, natural rubber, wood and fish.
“Malaysia, Myanmar to Sign Barter Trade Agreement,” Mar 15. Xinhua
MALAYSIA LOOKING FOR CAR MARKET IN BURMA
Malaysia’s visiting Minister for International Trade and Industry, Rafidah Aziz, has made clear her country’s intentions to aggressively market regional exports from its automobile manufacturing industry, proposing at a business forum in Rangoon that Burma begin importing her country’s Proton cars.Ms Rafidah’s visit to Rangoon coincided with the application of increasing pressure on her country, particularly from Thailand, to open up its protected car manufacturing industry to regional competitors as part of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) process. The highest ranking Burmese officer at the seminar, Brig Gen Abel, the Minister for the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), said Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed had offered Burma preferential trading status if the country wanted to import Proton cars.
“Trade minister says ‘buy our cars’,” Mar 20. Myanmar Times
INDIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER QUITS OVER ARMS SCANDAL
Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes resigned late Thursday, denying allegations of bribery in a weapons-deal scandal involving his assistant and party colleagues. Undercover reporters posing as military contractors used a hidden camera to film a money-handover inside Fernandes' residence. The film also showed an aide to Jaya Jaitly, president of Fernandes' Samata Party, accepting money from a journalist. Jaya Jaitly resigned earlier on Thursday. The small Samata Party has pulled out of the ruling coalition, the National Democratic Alliance. Fernandes, one of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's closest allies, is a popular figure among the military rank and file. He has also been a high-profile supporter of the Burma pro-democracy movement, displaying a wall-size picture of Aung San Suu Kyi in his official bungalow, where Burmese underground leaders are frequent visitors. Several members of
the exiled All Burma Students League reportedly live in the 70-year old Samata leader's residence.
“India's Defence Minister Quits over Arms Scandal,” Mar 16. Burma Courier
U WIN TIN WINS UNESCO WORLD PRESS FREEDOM PRIZE
The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, instituted in 1997, is intended to honour each year a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially if some risk was involved. The US $25,000 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize is awarded on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals chaired by Mia Doornaert, President of UNESCO's Advisory Group for Press Freedom. Names are submitted by regional and international non-governmental organizations working for press freedom and by UNESCO Member States. This year's laureate, U Win Tin - former editor of the daily Hanthawati newspaper in Burma, vice-chair of Burma's Writers' Association and a founder of the National League for Democracy - was arrested in July 1989. Three months later, accused of being a member of the banned Communist Party of Myanmar, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison and transported to Insein jail in Rangoon. In 1996, U Win Tin was tried in prison and sentenced to an additional five years for breaking prison regulations prohibiting the possession of writing materials. In early October 1997, he was transferred to Rangoon General Hospital, where he remains and is reported to be seriously ill. His prison sentence will only end in July 2008, unless he renounces all political activities, which he refuses to do.
“Burmese journalist honoured for fight,” Mar 15. The Nation
“Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2001--U Win Tin, Myanmar,” Mar 20. UNESCO
JAPANESE AID PROGRAM TARGETS HIV/AIDS CARE FOR WOMEN
The Japanese Government, together with the United Nations Children 's Fund (UNICEF), will continue to provide assistance for the improvement of health services and education in the area of HIV/AIDS care for women and children in Burma. A grant, covering a further US$ 5.68 million for the two-year period from April 2001 to March 2003, was signed here recently by the Japanese ambassador, Shigeru Tsumori, and UNICEF Resident Representative John Bertrand Mendis. The money will be used for purchases of essential drugs, vaccines, refrigerators and carriers for vaccines and test kits for HIV/AIDS, as well as the upgrading of education and management techniques for Burma maternal and child health care professionals.
“Japanese AID program targets HIV/AID care for women,” Mar 12. Myanmar Times