BI Weekly No. 265

February 2nd - February 8th, 2006

The BI Weekly archive is available on our website: www.burmaissues.org

Inside

Explosions in Mon State cause no damage
Arakan State Forestry Department doubles tax
Forced Labour for Modern villages
Hunt for attackers harms locals around Mayu Range
Two French ‘soldiers' caught

Border

International

The EU reconsiders strict Visa ban
EU position weakens
Indian party leader blames Burma 's military


* denotes BI commentary

Near Mudon Township in Mon State , a series of explosions occurred on the 1 st February. To the Yadana Gas Pipeline that crosses this terrain towards a new cement factory in Myaingkalay village in Karen State no damage was caused to. For several hours noise and smell lasted and spread over huge area the air. The SPDC troops and guards blame the attack on terrorists. The reason for the explosions is nevertheless unclear.

The Kanbauk-Myaingkalay gas pipeline was constructed by the military in early 2000. Several explosions have occurred at the pipeline in the past few years, but were caused by leaks or breaches in the pipe itself.

‘Gas pipeline undamaged by explosions in Mon State ', Mizzima News , February 3, 2006

The Arakan State Forestry Department has ordered the local timber shops to pay the tax in timber and money. The order was handed down on a meeting of timber shop owners in Sittwe.

According to the order, a timber shop will have to reserve 50 tons of timber for sale to the Rakhine State Forestry Department. The Forestry Department will pay in return 8000 kyat per ton, but will only pay out 30 tons worth in cash. The remaining 20 tons of timber will be taken as payment for taxes.

On the normal market in Sittwe one ton is worth around 100, 000 kyat. This means that the tax for trading timber has doubled in relation to last year. A reason might be the discovery of the SPDC that locals illegally traffic timber to Bangladesh . The new restrictions shall tighten the local timber traders.

‘Arakan State Forestry Department Demands Timber and Cash for Tax ', Narinjara News, February 4, 2006

The SPDC has forced people from the western part of Rathidaung Township to transport the government's timber and tin-plates to modern villages, which are located at the foot of the Mayu range. The carriers had to work for three days without wages.

They brought the material in the 15 miles away villages. Villagers from Athat Nanrar, Auak Nanrar, Zay Di Byin , Kan Byin, Pyin Wan, Maw That, Chut Byin, Kyauk Ran, Doeway Chaung and Chin Wra had to work in the transportation of wood and tin-plates for the army. The plates formerly came from Sittwe, Arakan State , for the purpose of reconstructing three villages that had been destroyed during the rainy season.

Additionally, paddy fields have been confiscated from local farmers around the modern villages, and local farmers have been used as forced labor.

‘Forced labor for modern villages', Narinjara News, February 4, 2006

.

Hunt for attackers harms locals around Mayu Range

The hunt for 8 unknown culprits has lead to the limitation of movement for local people around the Mayu Range . The 8 people had, armed with knifes and swords, attacked an outpost of the Burmese military security force and freed a detainee from the army base at Indian Village under Maungdaw Township on 26 January, 2006. 4 military staff has been injured in the attack. ADular King has been freed.

Since then the SPDC has increased presence in the area. The locals where not allowed to travel between places. Local people whose life is dependent on travelling in this area suffer from the situation .

The army also abruptly arrested four brothers of Adular King and seized their family properties including an engine boat. A villager reported that Adular King was arrested by Burmese military security forces on 22 January, 2006 , after he had returned to his native village in Maungdaw Township after residing in Bangladesh for over 10 years. The group is expected to be already escaped to Bangladesh .

‘Hunting for Culprits, People Suffer', Narinjara News, February 5, 2006

Two Frenchman wait for their deportation after being caught by Thai border officers near Mae Sot. Both were sentenced to jail first. But they became released after denying that they are soldiers and helping train ethnic Karen rebels but tourists who try to write a book over Thailand .

The French were spotted on the KNU celebration last week where KNU leaders presented them as French soldiers that want to support the KNU resistance. Later they were arrested when the tried to re- cross the border 100 km from Mae Sot check point of Thailand.

‘Two Frenchmen cleared of training Myanmar ethnic rebels', Agence France Presse, February 5, 2006

The Commander of the Western Command and Chairman of Arakan State Peace and Development Council, Lt. Gen. Khin Maung Myint, visited the new border town of Taung Bro on 3 February, 2006 .

T he commander came to the new town to meet some tribal people who are living there after they were forced to leave their native villages in the border hill area. Afterwards, the Commander inspected several construction sites, including a hospital and school in the new town.

The Burma government is now constructing the new town named Taung Bro in the north part of Maungdaw to upgrade its border trade with Bangladesh .

In Taung Bro, the Burmese authority recently confiscated about 62 acres of land from local people without any compensation and a number of government's buildings are now being constructed on the land.

As it is a state plan, the general inspected all nurseries with castor oil plants in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, two western bordering towns of Burma close to Bangladesh , during his trip.

" Commander from Western Command visits Bangladesh-Burma Border", Kaladan News, February 04 , 2006

Thai PM visit Mae La refugee camp by surprise

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sudden decision to visit to the 'Mae La' refugee camp in Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border on February 4 caught camp officials - and foreign diplomats invited to accompany him - by surprise.

Refugee support groups voiced fears that the PM might be seeking to divert public attention from the big rally in Bangkok , by making the refugees "scapegoats" for security concerns along the border.

It looks likely that the premier will be asking envoys for more financial support for the refugees and to increase the number of refugees they take for resettlement. Thai officials have had a major rethink about the border camps over the past 18 months and now appear to have accepted that resettlement is a very good option, to reduce tensions with Rangoon and areas adjacent to the camps, plus provide a "way out" for the refugees.

US officials are reportedly prepared to take about 10,000 refugees this year, mainly from the Tham Hin camp in Kanchanaburi.

The crowded conditions at Tham Hin have been the subject of strong international criticism, and it looks likely that many of the 9,000 refugees there will be shifted abroad within this year.

"PM's border trip catches officials off guard", The Nation ( Thailand ), February 4 , 2006

Euro to replace US dollar in Burma 's border trade

The European currency, euro, will be introduced in place of US dollar in the border trade between Burma and China , the Myanmar finance authorities confirmed.

The confirmation, quoted by Monday's Voice Weekly, was made by Minister of Finance and Revenue Major-General Hla Tun in a latest meeting here with over 300 importers and exporters.

It is the first time that Burma formally uses euro to replace US dollar in its border trade with China since 10 August 2003 , when the government decided that government organizations and private enterprises should use euro in place of US dollar for international business transactions including import and export.

The cabinet meeting also decided that border trade with five neighbouring countries, China , Thailand , India , Bangladesh and Laos , will be conducted in euro as well as the currencies of the countries concerned.

" Euro replaces dollar in Burma-China border trade ", Xinhua News Agency , February 6, 2006 .

The EU reconsiders strict Visa ban

The EU is reconsidering the strict Visa ban for high- ranking SPDC officials to engage them in discussions about peace and democracy. The foreign ministers addressed the issue at a meeting in Brussels .

Despite the general ban a new clause shall make invitations possible in cases of urgent humanitarian need, or on grounds of attending intergovernmental meetings, including those promoted by the European Union. This new agreement which is valid for a year shall more actively produce a development of democracy and human rights in Burma . But how exactly this will work out stays unclear.

Than Shwe for example would still be not allowed to attend any ASEM meeting. Brussels formulations are no clear guidelines, probably because the EU states do not want to upset the ASEAN members. The whole discussion could follow a complaint from Japan about the hindering of Soe Tha to attend an ASEM meeting last year.

  ‘EU reconsiders Burma visa ban', Irrawaddy , February 3, 2006

EU position weakens

A group of Europe- based Burmese people has shown the deep concern over the development of the EU policy towards Burma . Dr Win Naing, spokesperson for the Germany-based Forum of Burmese in Europe said that the new decision to loose the visa ban will showing a weakening of the European position, especially, because the visa ban is just the newest sign for the softening of the EU position to Burma.

For example, the opening of a Burmese embassy in Brussels , the opening of the European Community Humanitarian Office in Rangoon and the commission of a report by researcher Robert Taylor, who is seen by many as an apologist for the Burmese military regime gave already signs in this direction.

The decision to loosen the visa ban has been fallen in Brussels to encourage attendance in the ASEM neetings. It is hoped ASEM might be a stage on which to engage the regime in human rights and democracy discussions.

'Burmese in Europe concern over EU move' , Irrawaddy , February 7, 2006 .

Indian party leader blames Burma 's military

An Indian party leader has blamed the junta for smuggling drugs and arms across the Indo- Burmese border. G. Devarajan, national secretary of the leftwing All India Forward Bloc said the SPDC troops support narcotic and arm traders.

The illegal border trade would not be possible without the help of the junta, he said, after speaking at the two-day National Reconciliation in Burma seminar in New Delhi .

Subir Bhowmick, the BBC's east India correspondent argued in the same direction by saying that evidence and reports have had shown that Burmese arms dealers were supplying weapons to insurgent groups in India's northeastern states including Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Nagaland.

The Indian Narcotics Control Bureau has rejected claims drugs and weapons were being smuggled across the Burmese border into India .

‘Indian politician accuses Burmese junta of drugs and arms dealing', Mizzima News, February 6, 2006