Daily News-June 05 - 2001- Tuesday

  • UN envoy said upbeat on Burma political progress
  • Analysis: Burma visit brings hope
  • Two Jailed Burmese Journalists Get Golden Pen Of Freedom
  • World Journalists Urged to Campaign for Jailed Journalists
  • Confident PM charms foreign media
  • Rangoon raises religious flag to end skirmishes
  • Conflict hurts Thai, Burmese business
  • Foreign Investment in Burma Declines
  • Burma's Foreign Trade Up in 1st Two Months

    • UN envoy said upbeat on Burma political progress

    YANGON, June 4 -The U.N. special envoy to Myanmar hopes civilian rule will emerge within four years and has urged the opposition to have confidence in historic peace talks with the military government, diplomatic sources said on Monday.

    Veteran Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail, on Monday ended a four-day visit to Myanmar which the international community hopes will break an impasse in talks between the government and pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

    A Yangon-based diplomat from one of Myanmar's fellow members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) said Razali told diplomats during his visit he was confident the country would make the transition from military rule in coming years.

    ''He told us that there will be transition from military to civilian government in two to four years,'' the diplomat, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

    But the diplomat said he could not comment on whether Razali was more optimistic than during his previous visit in January. Razali had no comment on his visit, during which he had two meetings with Suu Kyi and held talks with senior members of the military government and representatives of Myanmar's many ethnic groups.

    ''The U.N. will issue a statement in New York about the results of my visit,'' Razali told Reuters. Razali helped broker the start of dialogue between the government and Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi on previous visits.

    Leading members of the ruling junta have been holding regular meetings with Suu Kyi since October, raising hopes that the political stalemate that has gripped Myanmar for more than a decade could finally be broken. oth sides agreed to keep the content of the talks confidential and even senior members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), which won elections by a landslide in 1990 but has never been allowed to govern, say they have no information on what progress has been made.

    CONCERN OVER DEADLOCK

    Concern has been growing that the talks are deadlocked. Foreign diplomats in Yangon say they believe the dialogue has been stalled in recent months, amid talk of a heightened power struggle between senior members of the government.

    Some NLD members and representatives of ethnic groups have become increasingly frustrated about the lack of news on the talks.Diplomats hope Razali's visit reassured them and can prevent the talks unravelling.

    Razali met members of the NLD's Central Executive Committee on Monday morning. One of the committee members said Razali encouraged them to stay confident about the talks.

    ''He gave us encouragement and urged us to have confidence in the talks,'' the committee member told Reuters. ''Razali told us that he was not a negotiator but a go-between. He said his duty was just to make us start talks. He said the entire international community encouraged the talks and they also wish the process to continue smoothly.''

    Diplomats say that while the government faces no serious internal political threat, the country's precarious economic situation is the main factor pushing the military towards dialogue with the opposition.

    Most Western nations have imposed sanctions against Myanmar including the suspension of aid programmes, a ban on sales of military items, suspension of access to favourable tariff rates and opposition to multilateral lending. This was due to Yangon's treatment of the opposition and alleged systematic human rights abuses. The military says it is committed to building a democracy in Myanmar, but it says the country could disintegrate if the process moves too quickly. (With additional reporting by Andrew Marshall in Bangkok)
    Analysis: Burma visit brings hope

    source : BBC

    By regional analyst Larry Jagan

    The UN special envoy for Burma, Razali Ismail, has completed a four-day visit to Rangoon.During the trip he met Burma's military leaders and the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

    Analysts believe Mr Razali's trip to Burma might add new momentum to negotiations between the opposition leader and the military leadership which he helped to broker last year.Many have feared that the talks were on the verge of collapse.

    Mr Razali told the BBC that he could not comment on the progress of the talks, but said he expected the UN secretary-general to make a statement on his trip later on Monday.

    Grapping with democracy

    Although everyone is being tight-lipped about the progress of the talks, diplomats in Rangoon believe that the Mr Razali's visit is a clear sign that the dialogue process is proceeding. There were earlier concerns that it had stalled.

    With the talks taking place in complete secrecy, there is no way of determining what progress, if any, is being made.

    A senior opposition figure told the BBC that the international community must have patience with the process.He said that the real problem was that the military were still grappling with the implications of introducing democracy.

    Many of the military commanders, particularly those out in the border areas, fear that if they move too fast the country could disintegrate.

    Senior members of National League Democracy are hoping to see more concrete signs that progress is being made. One of them told the BBC that the military had not fulfilled its earlier promise to release many of the party's political prisoners currently being held in Burma's gaols.

    Their release soon, he said, would certainly be a sign of good faith on the part of the authorities, as would the release of Aung San Suu Kyi's from her eight-month house arrest.
    Two Jailed Burmese Journalists Get Golden Pen Of Freedom

    HONG KONG (AP)--Highlighting criticism of the Myanmar military government's human rights record, the World Association of Newspapers awarded its Golden Pen of Freedom to two journalists imprisoned in Myanmar in dire conditions.

    Aung Ko, an exiled democracy activist and actor, received the award Monday on behalf of jailed Myanmar journalists U Win Tin and San San Nweh during the opening ceremony of the association's four-day annual meeting.

    U Win Tin, 71 year old, is a former editor of the independent Hanthawati daily newspaper and a founder of the National League for Democracy, which is led by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He has been imprisoned in Myanmar since 1989.

    Kept in isolation in recent years, he has been subjected to beatings and was forced for a time to live in a former kennel for prison guard dogs. Each day, U Win Tin is forced to spend his waking hours in silence, squatting with his head bowed and staring at the bamboo mat he sleeps upon, said Ruth de Aquino, president of the World Editors Forum, who presented the award.

    San San Nweh, 56, is a dissident writer and poet and was the first woman to train as a journalist in Myanmar, also known as Burma. She was imprisoned for 10 years in August 1994 for providing French journalists with anti-government reports and for providing information about the human rights situation in Myanmar to a United Nations official. San San Nweh is a widow and her children have difficulty finding the money to pay for her prison rations, de Aquino said.

    "It is a tale of terror," said de Aquino, adding that both journalists are reported to be in ill health.

    Myanmar's ruling military regime has come under international criticism for its suppression of Suu Kyi's party and human rights violations.

    The World Association of Newspapers, which defends and promotes press freedom worldwide, represents more than 18,000 publications and its members include 67 national newspaper associations.
    World Journalists Urged to Campaign for Jailed Journalists

    By Tin Maung Htoo
    Burma Media Association
    June 4, 2001

    At the opening ceremony of World Newspapers and Editors Forum in Hong Kong, over a thousand of journalists attending the conference from 95 countries have been encouraged to join in the campaign for the release of this year Golden Pen Award co-recipients U Win Tin and Daw San San Nwe.

    "Over a hundred media outlets have campaigned on their behalf. Thousands could. All of you here today could contribute to the campaign for their freedom. We all know that the independent press has a key role to play in every country. But it has a particularly key role to play in a country such as Myanmar (Burma)."

    This pledge was sought in the speech by World Editors Forum's president Ruth de Aquino. He also mentioned other eleven imprisoned journalists by names, saying they are also being refused to exchange their freedom for the renunciation of their work and integrity.

    The actor and human rights advocate U Aung Ko, who accepted the Golden Pen Award on behalf of two journalists, also gave a speech at the conference. He said he could imagine how they would feel if they could hear of being honored with Golden Pen Award.

    He started his speech drawing audience's attention by saying, "People often ask me if the freedom of expression in Burma is controlled. I say No. Because there is no freedom to be controlled as it is confiscated. If one says that the freedom of expression exists in Burma, it is only for the Generals of the military junta and their mere puppets. Democracy lovers are considered as the enemies of military dictatorship who should be "crushed" by the dictators."

    Portraying the ruling military generals as lesser Buddhists in principle and practice compared to those who advocate for freedom, humanity and dignity, he said in his speech "I do not know if you are Buddhists or not. But here today, what I can see with my own eyes proves to me that you all are more Buddhist than our Burmese-Generals by showing your kind thoughts, kind words and kind actions towards the oppressed."

    The president of World Editors Forum informed the conference that the health conditions of two imprisoned journalists are in the poorest health condition. He said U Win Tin is suffering from spondylitis, heart disease, chronic dental problems and hypertension and Daw San San Nweh from kidney infection, arthritis, partial paralysis, high blood pressure and eye problems.

    MA learned that World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum have started a campaign for release of these two journalists through its members since last year November. They established a petition page on their web site to which newspapers can add their logos in solidarity, an option to donate money for the two journalists, and protest letters calling for the journalist's release to be sent to the Burmese junta.

    Note: The text of two speeches can be seen at Burma Media Association's web site - www.bma-online.net
    Confident PM charms foreign media

    source : The Nation
    Wassana Nanuam

    Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night charmed members of the foreign press with witty comments and straightforward answers on a variety of topics.

    After a speech to a full house of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) at the Plaza Athenee Hotel, the prime minister showed no signs of defensiveness as he answered questions posed by foreign reporters.

    Thaksin drew laughter when he said the recently dismissed governor of the Bank of Thailand should not operate a "Shan State". He also won applause when he cited tactical reasons for declining to reveal whether or not he would appear before the Constitution Court on June 18, the final day of his asset-disclosure trial.

    Earlier in the day, Thaksin said the closing session of his trial might coincide with a planned visit to Burma. "I have long intended to visit Burma. The trip was prepared before the Constitution Court scheduled the final session of the trial," he said. He hinted the visit could have mutual benefits for Bangkok and Rangoon. Thailand, he said, is concerned with narcotics, while Burma is concerned with its ethnic minorities.

    It was unclear whether the latest proposed date would be convenient for Burma. Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung is scheduled to visit Thailand in the third week of this month to finalise the Thai leader's trip. According to Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh,plans to develop Thailand's western frontier with Burma into an industrial complex and a "gateway to Andaman Sea" will be raised during the visit.

    The deputy premier spoke yesterday to a gathering of Thai businessmen in Kanchanaburi. Among the projects pushed by local businessmen are the construction of a Kanchanaburi-Tavoy highway linking the countries and a commercial airport on the Thai side.
    Rangoon raises religious flag to end skirmishes

    Bangkok Post - Thailand; Jun 4, 2001

    Burmese soldiers have apparently called a truce in the disputed border area of Kuteng Nayong by raising a religious flag next to the Burmese national flag.

    Lt-Col Suparerk Supapornpol, commander of the 18th Cavalry Battalion, said the religious flag was raised two weeks ago by the commander of Burma's 316th battalion. Burma and Thailand have been locked in a dispute over the one-square-kilometre area overlooking Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai.

    Thai soldiers erected two outposts either side of an existing Burmese outpost. The three outposts were only 200m apart.

    Col Wanthip Wongwai, commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, said Thai soldiers remained on alert despite the truce signal. Col Wanthip, who has just been appointed chairman of the Thai Township Border Committee, said the TBC meeting originally scheduled for May 28 was postponed indefinitely because the Burmese side failed to show up.Rangoon has not issued an explanation.

    Gen Sommai Wichaworn, armed forces chief-of-staff, yesterday visited border units in Mae Sai and said border disputes had to be settled at a national-level meeting of the Joint Committee. He was referring to Kuteng Nayong and Doi Lang in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai. He believed the border situation would improve after the visit to Burma of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

    Gen Sommai, a former Third Army commander, enjoys personal relations with Gen Maung Aye, the Burmese army commander, and Maj-Gen Thein Sein, commander of the Triangle Force. He was assigned by Gen Sampao Chusri, the supreme commander, to co-ordinate with Burma.
    Conflict hurts Thai, Burmese business

    Bangkok Post - Thailand; Jun 4, 2001
    Woranuj Maneerungsee

    A large number of Burmese businessmen and fairgoers in Rangoon are likely to miss the next Thai trade fair organised by the Thai Export Promotion Department as a result of the simmering military conflict between Thailand and Burma.

    At the same time, about 150 Thai companies would lose opportunities to sell their products in Burma, where total sales of around 50 million baht were expected, according to Sriwat Suwarn, the former minister-counsellor to Burma.

    The department has held three successful Thai trade fairs, the biggest foreign trade exhibitions in Rangoon, over the past three years. This year it had planned to organise two events, in March and December. The exhibition in March was delayed because of border conflicts and inflammatory commentaries in the newspapers of both countries, and the December exhibition is now in doubt.

    However, if Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visits Burma soon, it is possible that the department will review the December show, Mr Sriwat said. Mr Sriwat, who was reassigned to Toronto, Canada, last month, said theThai trade fairs had been popular among Burmese, with 60,000 visits during the four-day period.

    "Long queues of Burmese stand in front of the Tatmadaw Hall. They come very early, waiting for us to open the doors," he said. Made-in-Thailand products are popular among middle-class Burmese. For example, stainless kitchenware and audio and electrical appliances were sold out completely during the fairs, Mr Sriwat said. However, Chinese goods are available in Burma for lower-income people.

    While Burma was not a prominent market now, it had potential because its economy was gradually growing every year, Mr Sriwat said.

    Thailand exported US$482 million to Burma last year, accounting for only 0.67% of Thailand's total exports of $69 billion. Border trade represents half the trade volume. Two-way trade registered around $714 million in the same year. Burma imports chemicals, cement, consumer goods and vehicles and parts from Thailand.
    Foreign Investment in Burma Declines

    Xinhua, Rangoon, 4 June 2001. Foreign investment in Myanmar totaled 4.03 million U.S. dollars in two projects in the first two months of this year, dropping by 52.54 percent from the same period of 2000, according to the latest figures issued by the country's Central Statistical Organization.

    The investment, which came from Singapore and Canada during the two-month period, respectively amounted to 3.53 million dollars and 500,000 dollars in the manufacturing and mining sectors.

    In 2000, a total of 152.8 million dollars came to Myanmar from nine countries and regions, mainly from the Republic of Korea, Britain, China and Canada. The investments were mostly injected into the sectors of manufacturing, oil and gas and agriculture.

    According to official statistics, since the opening up to foreign investment in late 1988, Myanmar had drawn a total of such contracted investment of 7.34 billion dollars in 356 projects as of the end of 2000. Of the leading foreign investors, Singapore ranked the first with 1.504 billion dollars, followed by Britain with 1.401 billion and Thailand with 1.264 billion.

    However, due to the Asian financial crisis in mid-1997, there emerged a trend of down sliding in Myanmar's annual foreign investment.
    Burma's Foreign Trade Up in 1st Two Months

    YANGON, June 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar's foreign trade, including the border trade, totaled 769.15 million U.S. dollars in the first two months of this year, up 35.64 percent from the same period of 2000, the country's Central Statistical Organization (CSO) said in its latest data.

    Of the total trade volume during the two-month period, imports were valued at 431.15 million dollars, increasing by 10.71 percent, while exports amounted to 338 million dollars, rising by 90.3 percent.

    However, the trade deficit stood at 93.15 million dollars, the CSO said.

    During the period, the import value of consumers goods, capital goods and intermediate goods accounted for 30.73 percent, 40.9 percent and 28.37 percent of the total imports respectively.Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, timber and marine products.

    The figures also indicate that Myanmar's private sector is playing a leading role in the country's foreign trade. During the period, the import value of the private sector made up 68.68 percent of the total imports, while its export value represented 59.84 percent of the total exports.

    The import and export value of the government sector during the period accounted for only 31.32 percent and 40.16 percent respectively.

    Myanmar's main foreign trading partners are Singapore, China, Thailand, south Korea and Japan.