Daily News-October 22 - 2001- Monday

  • Akyab reported hit by moderate quake, religious riots
  • Rangoon junta so far fails to issue official report on Burma's religious unrest
  • Buddhist-Muslim riots
  • Burmese navy seizes two boats, arrests 30 Indians "poaching"
  • Burma, Cuba sign economic, technical cooperation agreements
  • Myanmar Has Over 270,000 Telephones
  • Shan refugees in limbo
  • Tribesmen nabbed, speed pills seized

    • Akyab reported hit by moderate quake, religious riots

    BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Oct 21, 2001
    Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 20 October

    The SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] Meteorology and Hydrology Department [MHD] issued a statement yesterday [19 October] that a moderate earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale with epicentre near Akyab in Arakan State struck around 1330 [0700 GMT] yesterday. A MHD official said that there were no reports of damage or fatalities yet.

    DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] attempted to phone to Akyab to know about the latest situation there but the SPDC has cut off all telephone communications. According to unconfirmed reports, religious riots have again erupted in Akyab.
    Rangoon junta so far fails to issue official report on Burma's religious unrest

    BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Oct 21, 2001

    DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] has issued a news report yesterday about a dusk to dawn curfew imposed in Pegu and Pakokku due to Buddhist-Muslim religious riots. According to latest reports received today, the curfew is still in place but the curfew period has been reduced to between 2000 in the night to 0500 in the morning. Armed security personnel are still seen guarding the monasteries and mosques... To obtain a balanced view, DVB contacted a Muslim from Pegu who gave the following remarks.

    [Unidentified Muslim] Yes. Everything is all right and the curfew period has been reduced. The situation is better than the past days.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Yesterday we were only able to contact the Buddhist monks. We want to give a balanced report. What is the view of the Muslims?

    [Unidentified Muslim] Well, it will all be according to the law because there is rule of law and the incident should be rationally judged.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] There were Muslim and Buddhist riots recently in Toungoo and Prome. What is your opinion as a Muslim and what do you think is the cause of the incident?

    [Unidentified Muslim] I do not know anything. Many people are saying different things. Everything is all right here. The Muslims are also very quiet and calm. Nothing has happened.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] The monks said they were called for a meeting on 15 October where the government authorities delivered speeches. What about the Muslims?

    [Unidentified Muslim] We were not called for a meeting like that.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Since yesterday was Friday, how did the Friday prayer services go?

    [Unidentified Muslim] It was alright, nothing happened. Everything is calm and peaceful.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] What about going into town and shopping?

    [Unidentified Muslim] Well, everyone is going about and doing their job. It is fine.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] How many mosques are there in Pegu?

    [Unidentified Muslim] There are four mosques.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] What is the Muslim population of Pegu?

    [Unidentified Muslim] According to my estimates there are about 5,000 Muslims.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] That's quite a number.

    [Unidentified Muslim] Yes it is.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Yesterday, the monks said they wanted all the people to freely practice their faith.

    [Unidentified Muslim] Yes, that's right. In Burma, the Muslims can freely practise their faith. There are no restrictions.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Well, it is hard for us to contact a Muslim in Pegu. Could you please say something for the people on behalf of the Muslim community?

    [Unidentified Muslim] Well, as you know we believe in Allah. Allah is a very just, compassionate, merciful, and loving God. Allah will not send his children to destroy others. Allah is always on Islam's side. [End of recording]

    Although the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] religious affairs minister and home affairs minister have inspected Pegu, the SPDC has so far failed to issue any form of official report.

    The SPDC spokesperson, Col Hla Min, admitted that a night curfew was imposed in Prome recently because of religious riots. It is believed that the SPDC is stalling to issue an official report about the religious unrest in some major towns including Pegu and Pakokku.
    Buddhist-Muslim riots

    Text of report by Democratic Voice of Burma on 19 October

    DVB has learnt that the Buddhist-Muslim riots which occurred in Prome on 9 October has spread to Pegu, Pakokku, and other towns. DVB tried to contact some monasteries in Pegu and one monk gave the following remarks.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Reverend, I am calling from Norway. I heard that there were some clashes between the Buddhists and the Muslims in Pegu. I would like to ask about that.

    [Unidentified monk] I don't know whether you should call it a clash with the Muslims. About 100 monks became dissatisfied with the Muslims and the authorities, as a precautionary measure, issued a curfew under Section-144 in Pegu.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] The problem is between the monks and the police.

    [Unidentified monk] Well, there was a clash with the police and a scuffle broke out. Later the authorities issued a curfew under Section-144. There was no casualty just some wounded.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] How did the problem start?

    [Unidentified monk] The problem started with a war of words between a Muslim and some young novice monks from the teaching monastery. According to what we heard, he said something like an alms beggar without mentioning monks intrinsically. But the monks took it as an insult, got into an argument, and fighting broke out. The police intervened and the disturbances started.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Where did it happen?

    [Unidentified monk] It happened in the eastern part of Pegu. I don't know about the western part.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Yes, Reverend. I heard that after the Prome incident, it spread to Pegu, and then some other towns. What can you say?

    [Unidentified monk] I also heard about the incidents in Toungoo and Prome. The authorities, fearing similar violent riots like in Prome and Toungoo, issued a dusk to dawn curfew.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] What is the latest situation since it is night there?

    [Unidentified monk] From this morning to 2030 [1400 gmt] tonight, 19 October, there is nothing unusual. Everything is calm and normal. There is nothing on the roads. Of course, the dusk-to-dawn curfew is still in place. There are no further disturbances...

    Similarly, religious riots broke out in Pakokku, central Burma, on 16 October where at least one Muslim was seriously injured while two Buddhist monks were arrested. A trader from Pakokku gave the following remarks.

    [Unidentified trader] Yes, it did happen, but it was not that serious.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] In what way?

    [Unidentified trader] Well, fighting broke out on a minor scale between the Indians [Muslims] and the Buddhist monks. One Indian had to be admitted to a hospital.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] When did it happen?

    [Unidentified trader] I am not quite certain but it was two days ago.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Was any curfew imposed?

    [Unidentified trader] No.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] You mean, there weren't any security personnel stationed?

    [Unidentified trader] There are security personnel.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] According to what we heard it started from a marriage problem in Prome. How did it all start in Pakokku?

    [Unidentified trader] It started with a Muslim wearing their traditional attire.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Do you mean a Muslim went to town in an attire to attend a mosque?

    [Unidentified trader] Yes, in a similar sense.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] Were the Muslims beaten by the monks?

    [Unidentified trader] Yes. Two monks were defrocked and arrested. They are both in custody now.

    [Htet Aung Kyaw] The Muslim guy was admitted to hospital, wasn't he?

    [Unidentified trader] Yes and his injury required two stitches.

    DVB tried to contact the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] authorities but to no avail. SPDC spokesman Col Hla Min told foreign news agencies that it was true a night curfew was imposed in Prome last week but there was nothing serious. According to latest reports received by DVB, a dusk to dawn curfew remains in place in Prome with many security forces stationed there. Similarly, the SPDC has posted security forces near monasteries, mosques, and thoroughfares in Mandalay, Pakokku, Taunggyi, Toungoo, Syriam, and Akyab. At the same time, the SPDC authorities have severely restricted the travel of Muslims.
    Burmese navy seizes two boats, arrests 30 Indians "poaching"

    BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Oct 21, 2001
    Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 20 October

    The Burmese navy has seized two boats and arrested 30 Indian nationals caught poaching in western Burmese territorial waters on 14 October.

    One of those arrested was beaten by Burmese navy personnel and he had to be admitted at Ponnagyun Township hospital in Arakan State. Legal action was taken against the remaining persons and they were all sentenced to one month jail under the Immigration Law. The two boats are currently in the custody of the navy.
    Burma, Cuba sign economic, technical cooperation agreements

    BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Oct 21, 2001
    Text of report by Burmese radio on 20 October

    Deputy Foreign Minister U Khin Maung Win met and held talks with the visiting Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jose Armando Guerra Menchero, and delegation at 1000 [local time] today [20 October]. The two deputy foreign ministers then exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation.

    Next, an Agreement for Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Union of Myanmar [Burma] and the Government of the Republic of Cuba and an Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba were signed by the two deputy foreign ministers. In the evening, Deputy Foreign Minister U Khin Maung Win hosted a dinner in honour of his Cuban counterpart and his delegation at the Karaweik Palace.
    Myanmar Has Over 270,000 Telephones

    YANGON, October 21 (Xinhuanet) -- There are 277,807 telephones in Myanmar with 563 telephone exchanges, 440 telegraph offices and 1, 294 post offices, according to the latest statistics of the country's Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs.

    The statistics shows that in 1988, there were only 67,016 telephones, 245 telephone exchanges, 310 telegraph offices and 1, 115 post offices in the country. There are also 165 digital microwave stations and 40 analogue microwave stations in Myanmar for local communications.

    For the overseas communications, there were only 63 overseas communication lines and one satellite communication station (B level) in 1979, and now Thanlyin Satellite Station (A level) has been linked with many nations through Intelsat satellite and Thaicom satellite. Fax services are also available in 88 towns in the whole country, it showed.

    Not only regular overseas postal services with 31 nations, but also Yangon-Singapore, Yangon-Bangkok and South Korea-Yangon expedite mail services are being provided in Myanmar.

    In addition, Myanmar DHL Ltd, in cooperation with DHL World- wide Express BV Company of the Netherlands, is providing international expedite mail services between Yangon and 227 nations, it also indicated.

    In order to promote communication modernization, new auto- telephone exchange projects, local satellite communication projects, microwave link extension projects, overseas auto- exchange and satellite ground station projects and Asian-Europe Submarine Cable Project are being implemented in the country. The Myanmar Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs was set up in 1992.
    Shan refugees in limbo

    The Bangkokpost
    Subin Khuenkaew

    About 300,000 Shan who claimed to have been evicted from Burma and fled to Thailand between 1996-1998 will not be given refugee status.

    National Security Council chief Kachadpai Buruspat said the call for refugee status and for Thailand to set up a refugee camp for them was ``unacceptable''.The authorities investigated their plight and found the majority had fled for economic reasons, he said.

    ``All agencies concerned provided similar information that they came to Thailand to look for jobs and to avoid hardships at home,'' he said.

    Shan leaders called on the government to give them refugee status and to build a refugee holding centre for them.Mr Kachadpai said it was impossible for the government to build a refugee shelter because Thailand was not ready to be responsible for these people.
    Tribesmen nabbed, speed pills seized

    The Bangkokpost

    Police arrested three Akha tribesmen with 68,000 methamphetamine pills near a waterfall in tambon Huay Chomphu of Muang district yesterday.Plainclothes police had earlier ordered speed pills from the traffickers. The plan led a group of over 10 armed men with the pills to a mountain where the Khun Korn waterfall lies.

    Ten policemen waiting to make the arrest learned from a spy that a similar number of traffickers were in the area. To avoid a clash, police managed to have the spy relocate the transaction to a Muang district area.Six traffickers then brought the pills to the new location where the police surrounded them.Police arrested three men while the others fled the scene. Three pick-up trucks were also seized.

    Chiang Rai police are intensifying drug suppression measures as the illicit business is expected to become active in light of the upcoming winter.Police said about 800 million pills were destined for Thailand through the Thai-Burmese border pending the end of the rains.