Weekly Digest 84

Weekly Digest, No. 84 (22-28 February 2004)

Quotes

It needs two to make a peace, but only one to make an attack. 
Louis L'amour, The Ferguson Rifle

Attempts will be made by the ethnic nationalities forces to block (the SPDC move to legitimize itself), but without Suu Kyi and the NLD, it will not be an easy task. 
Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, 23 February

Most conflicts in the world today are not between states but within states, and internal strife has a way of spilling over from the embattled country to the rest of the region.  Hassan Wirayuda, Foreign Minister, Indonesia, 24 February (Jakarta Post)

The World

24 February

Courtesy: Reuters
A 6.5 magnitude quake kills 564 people in Morocco. (AP)

25 February
Unicef says governments should take measures to assure that obstacles to full citizenship for indigenous children are removed. (Bangkok Post)

27 February Shoko Asahara, 48, founder of a cult seet, Aum Shinrikyo, that mastered a subway attack killing 17 people and injuring 5,500, sentenced to death after an 8-year marathon trial. (AFP)

International Relations

20 February
Indonesia proposes establishment of Asean Peacekeeping Force. The UN finds it 'exciting'. But FM Surakiart Sathirathai, says it is unnecessary. He is worried an armed force can damage one of the most important Asean pillars - non-interference in its members' internal affairs. 

24 February
Australian fraud experts are to train Burmese officials to identify fake travel documents in an effort to prevent terrorism and cross-border crime. Sessions will be conducted on 25-26 February in Rangoon. Australia had suspended its human rights workshops for Burma in May last year after the Dipeyin massacre. (AP)

Burma will ban billboard advertising for cigarette and alcohol next month, says Myanmar Times. Burma has since September become the 75th country to sign the World Health Organization's framework convention on tobacco control. (AFP)

Asean holds 2-day "Conflict Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Peace building in southeast Asia: Asean Security Community and the UN" with the UN Development Programme. The ASC concept was first proposed by Indonesia last October at the 9th Asean summit in Bali. (Jakarta Post)

25 February
(In response to the report in Thai-Burma Relations) Norwegian FM Jan Petersen says Norway's stance is that all voices in the country have to be heard and Aung San Suu Kyi must be released. The country already has its hands full trying to broker peace in many countries including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Sudan and the Israeli- Palestinians conflict. It will be better if Burma issue is left to the regional players. He says Norway is already having donors fatigue as the needs are too big. (Bangkok Post)

26 February
The US wants to see some results in terms of democratization before it decides to participate in Bangkok Process II. (Agencies) 

US annual report on worldwide human rights abuses condemns Burma's "highly authoritarian regime." (The Agency) 

28 February
The Parade magazine places Gen Than Shwe as #2 among the world's worst 10 dictators. #1 is Kim Jong-il and #3 Hu Jintao. Than Shwe jumps up from #5 last year. (VOB)

Thai-Burma Relations

21 February
Thaksin hopes Burma will release Aung San Suu Kyi before the Asem meeting in October. The Asia-Europe Meeting will be held in Hanoi, 8-9 October. (VOB)

22 February
Thailand has asked Burma to help look for Hua Saepang, better known as Ko Yong, a wealthy businessman from Pattani, who disappeared while on a trip to Chiangmai. (Khom Chad Leuk)

24 February 
Thailand once more shakes the nerves of exiled media community by replacing Veera Prateepchaikul with Kovit Sanandang as Bangkok Post editor. Thai Journalists Association whose president is Mr Veera issues a statement demanding clarification from the Post Publishing's board of directors about his removal. TJA says during Mr Veera's editorship, the Bangkok Post had presented articles criticizing the government, drawing reprimands from the administration. Suthkiat Chirathivat, executive chairman, however, denies the change in editorship is a result of political pressure or interference. Suthikiat is also the owner of the Central shopping centers. (Bangkok Post / S.H.A.N.)

Norwegian FM Jan Peterson, meeting counterpart Surakiart, pledges to join Bangkok Process II in mid-year. Thailand believes Burma's National Convention will take place right after. (Bangkok Post)

25 February
New York-based Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, in its report Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Thai policy toward Burmese refugees and migrants says Thailand is toughening its stance towards refugees when conditions are worsening in Burma causing them to flee. Thailand expels as many as 10,000 migrants per month to Burma informally, which includes 400 official deportees. (Irrawaddy)

26 February
Thailand's rights record "worsened" last year, says US blunt country report. However it will not be bringing about penal measures, like aid cuts. (Bangkok Post) 

Politics

18 February
Tenasserim Division USDA has issued orders yesterday to its township branches to wipe out the NLD from its roots. (DVB)

19 February
International Religious Freedom Commission has named Burma among 11 countries of concern. (VOA)

20 February
Chins hold national day. The Chin territory is an independent territory again in the absence of Panglong Agreement and the 1947 Constitution of the Union of Burma, claims MP in exile, Pu Lian Uk. (Statement)

Chins hold national day ceremony at Shan leader Khun Toon Oo's home in Rangoon. It is attended by representatives from UNA, NLD, Veteran Politicians and diplomats from Germany, UK, US and UNDP. (DVB)

18-22 February
Women's League of Burma holds meeting and issues statement demanding, among others, the withdrawal of all SPDC troops from ethnic states. (DVB)

22 February
KNU's 12-men delegation, led by Htoo Htoo Lay, David Taw and Brig Gen Baw Kyaw Heh, leaves for Moulmein to meet Brig Gen Kyaw Win and Col San Pwint. The two sides will discuss Resettlement of Karen IDPs, Demarcation of territories and troops positions and the release of all Karen political prisoners. (Press release) The delegation is welcomed by Col San Pwint at Myawaddy. (DVB)

Faked statistics are presented by Magwe Division's Seikhpyu township officials to the visting prime minister Gen Khin Nyunt. Medicines from a drug store are also borrowed to show how the township hospital is taking care of its patients. (DVB)

23 February
Khu Oo Reh, joint secretary of KNPP, says it will hold ceasefire talks with Rangoon early next month. The issue of 21,000 refugees living in two camps near Maehongson may also be addressed. (Irrawaddy)

KNU concludes 3 days of "frank" peace talks, led by its Col Htoo Htoo Lay and Rangoon's Maj Gen Kyaw Win, concludes. The discussions focus on the fate of some 200,000 IDPs. (AFP)

The New Mon State Party announces it will back Rangoon's roadmap. It is the 16th group to give its blessing. (New Light of Myanmar) S.H.A.N.'s list only finds 12:
1. Kayan National Guard 9 November
2. Kachin Independence Organization 29 December
3. Kayan New Land Party 26 December
4. New Democratic Army Kachin 5 December
5. Pa-O National Army 27 December
6. Karenni Nationalities People Liberation Front 3 January
7. Shan State Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization 7 January
8. Mong Tai Army (other MTA groups not counted) 14 January
9. Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army 19 January
10. Kachin Defense Army 22 January
11. Palaung State Liberation Army 23 January
12. New Mon State Party 23 February
Others including UWSA, NDAA (Mongla) and SSA "North" have yet to say anything publicly. 

24 February
The KIO has been unable to conduct meaningful political discussions with Rangoon, says Secretary General Dr Tuja, on the 10th anniversary of the truce pact which falls today. (DVB)

The KNU has promised to investigate whether its troops were involved in the explosion of the Burma Army's arsenal in Duyinseik, says Secretary General Mahn Sha. It was impossible for Karen rebels to approach the arsenal during the dark of the night to locate it, he says. He wonders whether it might be an accident. (DVB)

26 February
KIA's deputy chief of staff, Brig Gen Lazing Bawknaw, killed by a bomb in Laiza. (NMG)

28 February
General Bo Mya says the 4th round of talks will resume in March. Contrary to Padoh Mahn Sha, Secretary General, he has confirmed the Third Brigade attack on a Burma Army outpost near Moulemein and will return the weapons his troops had brought back from the attack. (Bangkok Post / S.H.A.N.)

Shans

25 February
Sai Wansai, General Secretary, Secretary Democratic Union, expresses its solidarity with "the just struggle of Chechen people." (S.H.A.N.)

26 February
The explosion that kills KIA's Deputy Chief of Staff takes place while SSPC's president, Gen Hso Ten is there with the Palaung State Liberation Army representatives in Laiza. The Shan delegation decides to leave. (S.H.A.N.)

Economy / Business

19-21 February
Kan Agro, a Kanchanaburi-based food processed company, has signed agreement with a state-controlled firm, Myan Naing Myint Co. Ltd., to operate contract farming for pineapple plantations and sweet corn on an area covering 10,000 acres in Burma. Singh Tangcharoenchaichana is the owner of the KA. Supachai Banchasuek of Future Pack says Thai businessmen should look for opportunities to invest in Burma because the competition remains low. The group is traveling with Pinij Charusombat, minister of industry. (The Nation)

25 February
Burma is in desperate need of new investment in generating capacity, but a host of political risks including capital controls and the weak legal system move made it impossible for foreign companies to find a satisfactory projected return. (World Markets Research)

The total frozen assets of Rangoon in EU member countries is Euro 86 (? 57). The country that does it is Germany. The Bank of England includes only those of individual regime members, but not its companies or associated undertakings. (Burma Campaign UK)

Fertilizers are 280 Taka in Bangladesh but 650 on Burma side. This has prompted huge cross border smuggling of fertilizers. (Narinjara)

26 February
Burma has granted 5-year fishing concession on to Siam Jonathan Co. which runs 500 fishing travelers out of Ranong. The grant followed after the Thai Fisheries Department met its counterpart to discuss the concession on 18-20 February. Rangoon wants Thais to invest in commercial prawn farms and to transfer fishing technology in return. The concession marks a let-up in hostility caused by Thai travelers fishing illegally in Burma's waters. (Bangkok Post) Burma ordered a stop to the fishing concession soon after the October 1999 seizure of Burmese embassy in Bangkok. (DVB)

Human Rights

18 February
Clashes break out between Buddhist and Muslim university students of Akyab (Sittwe). The university is temporary shut down. (DVB)

20 February
Two underaged recruits were released by the Army on 30 January and 6 February respectively under pressure from ILO. (Yoma-3)

Truck transporting illegal workers on their way back to the Burmese border overturns and kills 6 while wounding nearly 50 near Sangklaburi. (NMG)

23 February
Six Burmese students who criticized Rangoon's roadmap received sentences ranging from 7-17 years: 2 to 17 years, 1 to 12 years and the rest, 7 years each. (Irrawaddy)

Defense Industries #17 in Myothit, Magwe division, having confiscated lands in the area has been forcing people to pay in kind as tenants. They are also subject to forced labor. Anyone who wishes to move out must also pay K 5,000 each. (DVB)

24 February
Asian Human Rights Commission appeals to Rangoon to release 15 year old student Chantha Kyaw, who been detained on charge of throwing rocks (to whom?) since July 2003. (DVB)

26 February
Hsopawpek Independent News Agency launched by Karenni youth. It can be reached at julymoe07@yahoo.com. 

28 February
Rungruang Prechakul and a few other editors forced to resign from Thailand's long established Siam Rath weekly for being critical of Thaksin administration. (The Nation / S.H.A.N. #82)

Environment

17 February
UNESCO says 9 out of the projected 13 dams on the Nu-Salween fall within World Heritage Site. (S.H.A.N.)

24 February
Praphat Panyachartrat, Minister of National Resources and Environment, signs MoU with Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister of Agriculture, to conduct a joint one-year feasibility study to dam up two rivers, Kok and Sai both of which originate in Burma's Shan State. The dams will create reservoirs in the Burmese soil and enter Thailand in Chiangmai and Chiangrai, benefiting farmland in both countries. Out of two core canals from the dams, one will go to Burma and the other to Thailand. The study may also include a plan to build hydro-electric dams. As the proposed dam will be sited in "degraded forests" will ensure little impact on the river water levels, says Praphat. His assurances fail to convince environmental groups, SEARIN's Chainarong Sretthachau and Ping Watershed Management Project's Nikom Putta. (Bangkok Post)

26 February
Excessive damming of the Mekong's upper part by China will create excessive silt build up and stagnant swamps downstream. Stagnant and slow moving waters will then be ideal habitats for a host of human pathogens, parasites and carriers of pathogenic protozoans and mosquitoes, writes a Postbag contributor. (Bangkok Post)

Waste matters from gold diggings by the UWSA in Sagaing Division's Homalin Township has destroyed paddy fields in the area. (NMG)

27 February
The only thing Rangoon does not receive from ADB is direct financial assistance. But it is being engaged through the Greater Mekong Sub-region economic program. Under this cover, the ADB is prompting plans for the Tasang Dam to be built on the Salween. (Shan-EU, quoting Bank Information Center)

Drugs

21 February
Jayalama Tamaeng, a Nepalese, is caught with about 10,000 speed pills in his stomach in Maesai. The pills are in plastic drinking straws, which were put in 150 silver foil wrappings. The drugs were bought in Tachilek. (Bangkok Post)

22 February
Gen Sant Sarutanond, National police chief, says traffickers have begun to shift their production from Burma to Laos. (AP)

28 February
Last year's crackdown in Thailand results in Bangkok price of a speed pill jumping from 60-80 baht to 300-400 baht. At the Burma side of the border in Mongton it is 3.50 baht. (Bangkok Post / S.H.A.N.)

War

23 February
Just hours before the talks begin, a Burmese outpost in Dayinseik, 130 km northeast of Moulmein, is attacked, killing 3 soldiers and wounding 7. An arsenal is also set ablaze. Bo Mya says it takes place despite orders he had given to honor the informal ceasefire. Others however say Rangoon's operations against the rebels have also continued. (AP)

The attack takes place in the KNLA's Third Brigade area. (Irrawaddy)

After the arrest of 2 officers of Arakan Army in Bangladesh, a huge army and ammunitions cache that includes 7 M-79 grenade launchers is seized by the Bangladeshi Army. (Narinjara)

25 February
According to a press release by the KNLA, the Karens and the Burma Army had, between 22 January-18 February, 25 clashes resulting in 20 casualties on the BA's side (6 killed and 14 wounded). The Karens also captured 1 G4s, 2 carbines, 1 AK47, 2 M-79 grenade launchers and 3 walkie-talkies. (S.H.A.N.)