(no subject)

[editor at burmanet.org]

THE BURMANET NEWS
A listserv covering Burma
October 12-14 2002 Issue #2104
www.burmanet.org

INSIDE BURMA

UN News Center: UN human rights expert urges fundamental political change
in Myanmar
AFP: Myanmar needs reform, not aid: Suu Kyi
AFP: UN urged to prepare for work in Myanmar
Xinhua: Myanmar rejects US report concerning religious freedom
AP Worldstream: Suu Kyi makes new trip to countryside to rebuild party
DVB: Burmese naval vessels said extorting diesel to supplement ration cut

MONEY

Kaladan: Price-hike of rice make people starve in Arakan
Radio Myanmar: Burmese leader urges officials to minimize loss, wastage in
development tasks

INTERNATIONAL

Myanmar Times: Britain joins campaign to help combat AIDS
Chinland Guardian: International conference on Burma concludes in Ottawa,
Canada

REGIONAL

Xinhua: Myanmar calls for ASEAN states to fight against food insecurity
Mizzima: Indian policy on Burma: Who is influencing whom?
Mizzima: Arms seizure in India-Burma border
Narinjara: Rohingya repatriation yet to be completed

ON THE BORDER

DVB: Burma, Thailand to exchange prisoners at Kawthaung-Ranong border
reopening

STATEMENTS

ALTSEAN: Aung San Suu Kyi: Better governance will aid Burma
The Red and Black: Human rights violations hit home

INSIDE BURMA

United Nation News Center
October 14 2002

UN human rights expert urges fundamental political change in Myanmar

14 October – In order to secure the human rights of its citizens, Myanmar
must achieve national reconciliation and the political transition to
democracy, a United Nations expert says in a report released today at UN
Headquarters in New York.
The report of the UN Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, points to
a number of positive developments in Myanmar, including the release of
more political prisoners, but warns that “recent mellowing on the
political front has not and could not possibly bring about significant
improvements to the complex human rights and humanitarian situation; this
is only feasible in the context of a sustainable process of political
transition and national reconciliation.”
In order to achieve a credible democratic political transition, Myanmar
must meet four fundamental conditions, according to the report. These are
the inclusion of all components of society in political dialogue, the
release of all political prisoners, the lifting of restrictions on
political parties and groups, and the holding of free elections.
Citing the experience of other countries, Mr. Pinheiro says the
possibilities for reconciliation and democratization in Myanmar must “be
handled with great care and generosity.” The international community, he
adds, “should start thinking about options to strengthen contributions
from its various actors in the context of principled engagement with key
players in the country.”
Looking to the broader context of international cooperation, he warns
against “viewing the complex process as a struggle between good and evil,”
and notes that with the international community engaged in the struggle
against terrorism, “there is a tendency on the part of some nations to put
human rights, the right to development and democracy in the back seat.”
The Special Rapporteur also cites ongoing reports of human rights
violations, especially in areas where military operations continue. These
include counter-insurgency operations which have reportedly affected
hundreds of villages in Shan and Karen states and the forcible transfer of
populations in Shan state. “Asylum-seekers continue to move into Thailand,
a symptom of a complex internal situation which is essentially man-made
and whose roots are as economic as they are political,” he says.
The report recommends that the UN begin considering an enhanced or
reoriented role in some of the areas that could facilitate the transition
process, including helping Myanmar to ratify human rights treaties and
supporting improvements in the administration of justice.
__________

Agence France-Presse
October 14 2002

Myanmar needs reform, not aid: Suu Kyi
BANGKOK - Political reform, not more foreign aid, is the best way to
combat Myanmar's mounting humanitarian crisis, pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi said in a videotaped interview released here yesterday.
'The most important aspect of humanitarian assistance or any kind of
assistance is good governance,' she said in the interview with the
Thailand-based rights group Altsean Burma, which was filmed in August.
'Unless there is good governance, you cannot ensure that the assistance
will really benefit the country.'
Ms Suu Kyi has been a staunch supporter of sanctions against
military-ruled Myanmar introduced after brutal repression of 1988
pro-democracy protests and the 1990 polls won by her National League for
Democracy but ignored by the junta
___________

Agence France-Presse
October 14 2002

UN urged to prepare for work in Myanmar

The UN special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar urged the United
Nations on Monday to get ready to help with the transition to democracy in
a country that was treated for years as a pariah.

In a report to the UN General Assembly, rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
said "the present delicate situation... needs to be handled with great
care and generosity on the part of those who wish the people of Myanmar
well."

It was "essential to discourage international public opinion" from
accepting a simplistic good-and-bad explanation of events in Myanmar, he
said. Pinheiro noted "the recent mellowing on the political front" since
the release by the military junta on May 6 of opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi after 19 months of house arrest.

But more fundamental reforms were needed, notably to give people access to
justice, he said.

The international community should start thinking about how it could help
in such ways as reviewing prison conditions, examining national laws and
training police and judicial officials, he said.

The United Nations "should begin assessing the priorities for its
engagement, including through the involvement of the executive boards of
some of its agencies, funds and programmes," he said.

Pinheiro, who last visited the country in February, said he was "not in a
position to accept statements made by government sources in May 2002 that
there were no more political prisoners in Myanmar."

The report was dated August 9 and transmitted to the General Assembly on
Monday by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

On Thursday, the junta said it had freed 31 political prisoners, including
seven pro-democracy opposition members, in one of the largest of a series
of releases announced over the past two years.

Pinheiro said he had written to the authorities in March, giving the names
of 104 political detainees who should be immediately released.

They included 19 elected members of parliament, 22 people who had been
arrested for communicating with the UN about human rights, and 33 people
who had been held after serving their sentences in full.

The release of all political prisoners was one of four fundamental
conditions for a credible, democratic transition, he said.

The others were: including all components of society in a political
dialogue; lifting restrictions on political parties and rebel groups that
had signed a ceasefire with the government; and the holding of free
elections.
_____

Xinhua News Agency
October 14 2002

Myanmar rejects US report concerning religious freedom

YANGON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) --The Myanmar government Monday rejected a recent
report of the United States with regard to religious freedom, saying the
allegations contained in the report "represent an attempt to exert
pressure and interfere in the country's internal affairs."

In the report, Myanmar was designated as a "country of particular
concern." The Myanmar Foreign Ministry said in a press release Monday
evening that such classification by the Annual International Religious
Freedom Report 2002 issued by the US State Department on Oct. 7 does not
in any way represent the true situation in Myanmar.

The release charged that some of the information came from insurgent
groups or unscrupulous persons with the aim of damaging the image of
Myanmar.

The allegations contained in the report are groundless and considered as
being politically motivated, it said.

The release maintained that every citizen in Myanmar has the right to
profess and practise one's belief and the country is significantly
characterized by the fact that all national races have freedom of faith
and the right to maintain their own culture and traditions.

It said that all religions in Myanmar are allowed to establish and
maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes as well as to
acquire and hold their own property and administer it in accordance with
existing laws.

It stated that the main religions in Myanmar are Buddhism, Christianity,
Islam, Hinduism and animism, adding although Theravada Buddhism is the
religion of majority in the country, the government is providing and
assisting the work of other religions as well.

The release denied forced conversion by the government in favor of one
religion over another and discrimination or persecution for religious
reasons.
____

Associated Press Worldstream
October 14 2002

Suu Kyi makes new trip to countryside to rebuild party

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi left Monday on her latest trip
outside the capital to rebuild her National League for Democracy party,
which has suffered from years of government repression.

The trip to Pyi - also known as Prome - is the Nobel Peace laureate's
third political trip outside Yangon since the junta released her from
house arrest on May 6. Pyi is a trading town about 240 kilometers (150
miles) northeast of Yangon.

Suu Kyi began closed-door talks with the junta in late 2000 to break the
deadlock that began when the military refused to recognize the results of
a 1990 general election, which Suu Kyi's party won in a landslide.

Instead, the military began harassing and detaining pro-democracy
activists, for which it was condemned and isolated by Western nations,
including the United States.

Suu Kyi, 57, left for Pyi in a motorcade accompanied by party Vice
Chairman Tin Oo and about a dozen youth party members, said party
spokesman U Lwin.

In addition to attending the installation of party office signboards at
Pyi and elsewhere, Suu Kyi plans to visit government irrigation and dam
projects, he said, adding that she will make more such trips after the
upcoming end of the rainy season.

Suu Kyi visited the northern city of Mandalay in June and Moulmein in the
last week of July.

Before her release from house arrest on May 6, Suu Kyi had been blocked
from traveling outside the capital.
_______

Democratic Voice of Burma
October 13 2002

BURMESE NAVAL VESSELS SAID EXTORTING DIESEL TO SUPPLEMENT RATION CUT

DVB Democratic Voice of Burma has learned that due to the reduction of
diesel fuel ration for the SPDC State Peace and Development Council navy,
patrol boats have been facing severe fuel shortages in forward operations.
Naval vessels from the naval base at Zadetgyikyun in Kawthaung Township
have been extorting diesel fuel from coastal passenger vessels. DVB
correspondent Myint Maung Maung filed this report.

Myint Maung Maung Fuel ration for naval vessels from forward Naval Base No
58 stationed at Zadetgyikyun in Kawthaung Township has been reduced from 1
October. The fuel ration of 500 gallons of diesel oil per naval vessel per
week has been reduced to 300 gallons. Due to reduction in diesel fuel
patrol boats have been facing mounting difficulties daily to perform their
duties. Furthermore, the naval base commanders have also issued a
directive on 5 October instructing the vessel commanders to solve the
problem on their own. In accord with that directive all naval commands and
naval vessels have begun extorting fuel by searching coastal passenger
boats, freighters, and cargo vessels giving all kinds of excuses. Any boat
that does not wish to be searched must give one barrel 44 gallons of
diesel fuel. Sources close to the navy said excess fuel extorted from the
passenger and other boats were sold at the black-market by the naval
personnel.
____MONEY_____

Kaladan News
October 14 2002.

PRICE-HIKE OF RICE MAKE PEOPLE STARVE IN ARAKAN

The price of rice hikes up over twofold in northern Arakan, western part
of Burma, compared to previous two months and poor people of the
area are now facing starvation, said a trader of Maungdaw.

At present, in northern Arakan the prices of essentials have gone up to
unprecedented level. Rice costs Kyats  400-560 per Pri (1 Pri = 2 kgs ),
soybean  Kyats 2,300 per Viss (1 Viss = 1.75 kgs ), onion
Kyats  400 per Viss, garlic between Kyats  700 to 900 per Viss, dry chilli
1,400 to 1,500 per Viss, suger Kyats 550 per Viss, salt between Kyats 90
to100 per Viss, potato Kyats 350 to 400 per Viss, pea Kyats  600 per Viss,
green chilli Kyats 600 per kg, egg plant Kyats 250 per kg,  a packet of 
400 gms of Chinese milk powder Kyats 1,000 and one can ( 250 gms ) of
condensed milk Kyats 400. Beef Kyats  2,000 to 2,200
per Viss, mutton Kyats 1,900 to 2,500 per Viss, chicken Kyats 2,200 per
Viss, egg Kyats 50 each, petrol one gallon Kyats 1,400 to 1,900, a cup of
tea Kyats 60, the first grade fish Kyats 1,600 per kg, the second grade
fish Kyats 1,000 and the third grade fish Kyats  800 per kg, he further
added.

According to the government sources, price-hike is created by insincere
and crocked businessmen who hoard rice and paddy.

When asked some traders at Maungdaw told that the military government has
exported much rice and paddy leaving nothing for the people of the
country. So, the price of rice is hiking up unusually.

 According to the consumers, the military junta has exported huge quantity
of rice and paddy to neighboring Bangladesh and has left very little for
the people of Arakan. Therefore, the price of rice is
skyrocketing. The price-hike of the essentials in Arakan has taken
the people by surprise, as it has not developed through a gradual process.
For this reason, most of the poor families are facing starvation and some
of them becoming beggars and even prostitutes knowingly or unknowingly.
They include all communities such as,
Rohingyas, Rakhings and Hindus, said another trader.

Not only the general people but also the rice traders are restricted to
carry rice from one township to another without permits issued by the
authority. Therefore, the traders are mostly using illegal ways
to carry rice from place to place bribing the authorities. Most of the
traders who did not bribe the authorities, while carrying rice to northern
Arakan from the townships of Mann Aung, Kyaukpru and Sittwe
( Akyab), were arrested, said a trader of Sittwe.

The official exchange rate is 6.80 Kyats to one US dollar but in black
market it is 1,250 Kyats to one US dollar and 21.00 Kyats to one
Bangladesh Taka in Burma- Bangladesh border, said our sources.
______

Radio Myanmar
October 12 2002

Burmese leader urges officials to minimize loss, wastage in development tasks

Gen Khin Nyunt, chairman of the Work Committee for Development of Border
Areas and National Races and Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council SPDC , met with departmental personnel and members of
social organizations of Arakan State at the City Hall in Akyab at 1030
0400 gmt today.

In his address, SPDC Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt said that he would like to
clarify measures being taken by the state, work to be carried out by the
departments concerned and the individual duty of the citizens while
meeting with the departmental officials, town elders, and members of
social organizations. He said he came with the ministers, deputy ministers
and departmental heads to fulfil the needs for the development of
education, health, economic, and social sectors of Arakan State. He added
that he had fulfilled the requirements for development of Mrauk-U, the
ancient cultural region, and preservation of cultural heritage... He said,
the government with the participation of the national races and the people
has been making efforts for the emergence of a peaceful, modern, and
developed nation. As Myanmar Burma is a union made up of the national
races, emphasis has been placed on national solidarity. Armed insurgency
emerged in the past due to lack of communication among the national races
and the instigation of imperialists making the national races
misunderstood the government.

SPDC Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt added in the time of the SPDC, national
solidarity has been attained, thus contributing to the cessation of armed
insurgency and priority has been given for the development of border areas
including Arakan State and uplift of the living standard of national
races. As emphasis has been placed on development of border areas which
lagged behind in development, progress has been made in transport,
education, health, economic, and social sectors of border areas including
Arakan State. He added that so far about 30bn kyat about 4.5bn US dollars
has been spent on development projects of border areas...

Gen Khin Nyunt stressed that at a time when the government is making
all-out efforts for the development of Arakan State, it is incumbent upon
departmental officials and private entrepreneurs to strive together with
the local people to fulfil the project targets. Efforts are to be made for
success in implementing the five rural development tasks in accord with
the guidance of SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe. Thus, with the successful
implementation of the project various parts of the country including
remote areas and rural regions would develop.

Just as regional development tasks are being implemented, he added,
priority has been given to the development of agricultural and industrial
sectors. He also emphasized the need for the states and divisions to make
concerted efforts for food sufficiency and to make arrangements for
providing surplus food to other regions...

SPDC Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt noted the need for responsible officials
to lay emphasis on minimizing loss and wastage and practice thriftiness in
efforts to develop all sectors of the nation. At the time when the
government is making endeavours for national development and uplift of
living standard of the people, officials at different levels are to
discharge their duties conscientiously with goodwill. He finally urged the
people to participate in the regional development tasks with patriotism
under the leadership of the government and in accord with the cultural
tradition, civic duties, and responsibilities of a citizen. The meeting
later ended.

__INTERNATIONAL____

Myanmar Times
October 14-20 2002

Britain joins campaign to help combat AIDS
By Nwe Nwe Aye

BRITAIN has allocated US$15 million to Myanmar to help combat HIV-AIDS.
The British embassy told Myanmar Times that the aid would be channelled
through United Nations agencies for use in projects identified by the
UN-Myanmar joint action plan on HIV-AIDS, said an embassy spokesperson,
who asked not be to named. He said the British Government believed that
the joint action plan would be an efficient way to ensure that aid reached
people in need. The spokesperson rejected suggestions that Britain had
taken too long before deciding to contribute to the campaign against AIDS
in Myanmar. He said the funds would go towards projects planned between
2003 and 2005. In another development, the World Food Program is planning
a $4.7 million project next year which will include a program to feed
children orphaned as a result of AIDS. The UN Population Fund is funding a
$1.7 million project to promote 100 per cent condom use in 10 townships
identified by the National AIDS Program, the vehicle for implementing the
UN-Myanmar joint action plan. The head of the UN aids agency in Myanmar,
Mr Eamonn Murphy, said last week that while the international interest in
helping Myanmar tackle the epidemic was encouraging, more funding was
needed to implement all the activities identified under the joint action
plan. Mr Murphy said $34 million was needed for the plan’s activities this
fiscal year, of which about one third had been provided.
______

Chinland Guardian
October 11 2002

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BURMA CONCLUDES IN OTTAWA,
CANADA

Ottawa: A one-day international conference on Burma,
organized by Canadian Friends of Burma, was
successfully held at Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown
Ottawa on October 9, 2002. The conference was attended
by various Burma donor organizations, delegates from
various Burma’s democratic movements and supporters
from across Canada and around the world. Several Chin
individuals, many of whom represented the Chin Human
Rights Organization were also in attendance.

The keynotes speakers include the honorable David
Kilgour, Canada’s Secretary of State for Asia and
Pacific, and Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister, National
Coalition Government of Union of Burma, Chris Lewa of
Forum Asia, Max Kern of International Labour
Organization and other prominent scholars and
activists from Burma pro-democracy movements.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Kilgour spoke about
Canadian government’s position on Burma in relation to
political transition, the need for substantive talks
within the framework of a Tripartite Dialogue that
includes the country’s diverse ethnic groups. He also
emphasized the need for “substantive political
reforms” as a precondition for Canada’s economic
engagement with Burma.

Among the issues raised in the conference included
refugee situation along Burma’s western borders which
includes Chin refugees in Mizoram state of India and
Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the Campaign against
forced labour presented by Mr. Max Kern of
International Labour Organization.

Mr. Max Kern led ILO delegations on its inquiry
mission on forced labour to Burma and the delegates
eventually had met with Secretary One, Maj. Gen. Khin
Nyunt of State Peace and Development Council SPDC. The
ILO in what was regarded as unprecedented move by the
organization, suspended Burma from receiving official
supports and calling on its members to disengage the
Burmese military junta for its widespread and
pervasive use of forced labour in the year 2000.

During the conference, participants of different
interests and concerns discussed issues ranging from
humanitarian assistance to political campaigns. Past
and current activism and campaigns against giant
international corporations doing business in Burma
were also evaluated.

The conference was successfully concluded at 6:00 p.m.
However, after the conference a separate follow-up
meeting among donor organizations was held to discuss
about potential funding for various projects. The
conference was hailed as a success and many
participants were hopeful that the conference will
bring positive outcomes for the movement for democracy
and human rights in Burma.

A separate meeting among Burma supporters and groups
across Canada was also held on the next day, on
October 10, to create better communications and links
among themselves and to work out a planned strategy
for activism within Canada.
_____REGIONAL______

Xinhua News Agency
October 14 2002

Myanmar calls for ASEAN states to fight against food insecurity

YANGON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) --The Myanmar minister of agriculture and
irrigation Monday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) states to move into higher gear to fight against food insecurity
facing the region.

Myanmar Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Nyunt Tin made the call at
the opening session of the 48th Governing Board Meeting of the Southeast
Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Southeast Asia Regional
Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture.

He noted that the food security situation still remains severe in Asia,
over 500 million people in Asia, including about 160 million children,
still lack access to adequate food. Under such circumstances, he said, the
efforts by the ASEAN nations to secure a sustainable agricultural
development through human resources development research,  exchange of
knowledge and policy support has been seen highly invaluable. Giving an
account of Myanmar's agricultural development, the minister said that
Myanmar constitutes the largest land-mass in Southeast Asia, and has been
endowed with rich natural resources and its agricultural production has
all along, apart from meeting domestic requirement, allowed surplus for
export.

He said Myanmar's agricultural sector grew by 6 percent during the five
years period from 1997 to 2001, contributing 36 percent of the gross
domestic product and 24 percent of the total export earnings and employing
64 percent of the labor force.

In its efforts to further raise the agricultural production, during the
past decade, Myanmar built 138 various-sized dams and reservoirs, bringing
about the irrigated areas to 1.98 million hectares in 2001-02 from 200,000
hectares in 1988-89.

The area under irrigation increased to 19 percent from 12 percent of the
net sown area during the same period, he said.

However, the minister admitted that there still remain constraints in the
country's drive towards sustainable agricultural development, saying that
yields per hectare for certain crops remain low due to inadequacy of
inputs, farm machinery, funds and related infrastructure.

The SEAMEO is a treaty organization established in 1965 to promote
regional cooperation in education, science and culture. It comprises
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and its associate members are Australia,
Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
_____

Mizzima
October 14 2002

Indian Policy on Burma: Who is influencing Whom?
By Ahmantya

On a sultry night in the monsoon of 1988 as a steamy Rangoon grew hotter
with the pro-democracy uprising against Burma's military dictatorship, a
small group of activists jumped over the walls of the Indian diplomatic
enclave and knocked at the door of the then Ambassador P.M.S. Malik.
"I was a bit startled by their unannounced arrival", remembers Malik, who
has since retired from the Indian Foreign Service. Even more startling, of
course, was the request of the activists to the Indian government 'to do
something'- a euphemism Malik believes for 'sending Indian troops into
Burma' to oust the hated dictatorship.
For the paranoid military junta too at that time if there were any worries
of foreign intervention on behalf of the pro-democracy movement the only
possible front was from across the border in India. After all it had not
Indira Gandhi sent in troops to help liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan and
her son Rajiv Gandhi- who was still in power in 1988- just a few years
earlier sent Indian troops to Sri Lanka ostensibly on behalf of that
country's Tamil population?
"Of course there were no plans to send any troops to Burma but we knew
that the Burmese military was certainly anxious", says Malik. In the
following years as the junta carried out a bloody crackdown on the
uprising and killed, maimed and jailed thousands of activists India was
alone among Burma's neighbours to take an unequivocal stand in support of
democracy.
More than a decade later, however, as the' idealist' sheen of Indian
foreign policy gives way to a cynical' pragmatism' military chiefs from
both countries make official visits to each other's capitals while foreign
ministry mandarins sign deals to promote border trade and curb ethnic
insurgents along their common borders. Gone are the tensions of the past
as the wives of Burmese military leaders get flown to Buddhist pilgrimage
sites in Bodhgaya at the expense of not just Indian taxpayers but also the
overwhelming sentiments of ordinary Indian citizens in favour of the
pro-democracy movement.
The' pragmatism' of Indian foreign policy vis a vis the Burmese junta is
claimed to be born out of two major security concerns- the growing
presence of China both militarily and commercially in Burma and the use of
Burmese territory by Indian ethnic insurgent groups for staging operations
against India. An added worry is the perpetual' Pakistan factor' with
Islamabad is allegedly also joining the select pack of rogue nations
dealing with the generals and supplying them military hardware and
expertise.
In response, successive Indian governments since 1993, when Indian foreign
secretary J.N. Dixit made a secretive visit to Rangoon to 'break the ice',
have tried out a policy of 'engaging' the generals while simultaneously
making sympathetic noises about the pro-democracy movement.
In a world where' principles' in foreign policy along with ethical or
moral lines are seen as an anachronism such a double-track stand on Burma
by the Indian government at first sight may seem to be quite appropriate.
The problem that emerges on close examination however is that for all its
realpolitik gloss the policy does not seem to be yielding either
short-term or long-term "dividends" for India and the only ones benefiting
from it are the military goons in Rangoon.
Take the myth of India countering China by doing tango with the Burmese
military for example. According to Indian defence analysts, China in the
last decade has gained a significant foothold in Burma setting up military
installations targeting India and wielding considerable influence on
Burma's own military rulers and their strategic thinking.
"China has been using Pakistan and Burma as surrogates to contain India
from two different flanks", Bramha Chellaney, a defence analyst with a New
Delhi based think tank is quoted as saying by the Mizzima news agency. He
further accuses China of fostering closer ties between Pakistan and Burma
enabling Pakistani intelligence to operate out of Burmese soil against
Indian interests.
And all this has been possible say Chellaney and other analysts because
India's strong pro- democracy stand in the wake of the 1988 Burmese
uprising gave room for countries like China and Pakistan to get closer to
the Burmese generals.
What is obviously wrong with this line of argument is that it rests on the
very flawed assumption that had India taken a softer stand the Burmese
military rulers would have desisted from getting closer to China or
Pakistan. The truth is that the Burmese generals because of their
political proximity to authoritarian regimes in both China and Pakistan
would always have favoured these two countries as allies over an
'unreliable' partner like India- which whatever its flaws-is the biggest
democratic nation in the region.
For example, in the mid-nineties soon after India's policy shift vis a vis
Burma, Indian diplomats had a tough time convincing the generals that the
Nehru Peace Prize awarded to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was by an independent
Indian jury and not the work of the Indian government. Shamefully the
Indian foreign ministry even blocked news items on the Peace Award to Suu
Kyi from appearing on government run news channels- an indication of how
instead of India influencing Burma it was the reverse that was true!
In fact what Indian and other defence analysts with their peculiarly
narrow idea of the world as, one big battlefield forget also is that the
then Indian government's decision to back the pro-democracy movement was
not a 'mistake' born out of ignorance of geo-politics but just an official
reflection of the spontaneous support the movement got from ordinary
citizens- a factor that cannot be ignored in any democracy.
Of course what some Indian defence analysts will be telling us next is
that democracy within India is also a 'mistake' and a 'threat to national
security' and doing away with it would help them play their cheap little
war games better.
The second myth that propels the Indian foreign ministry to cosy up with
the Burmese generals is that by doing so India can get Burma's support for
curbing movement of arms and drugs destined for Indian ethnic insurgents
who also use Burmese territory for staging operations.
To begin with the problems of Indian ethnic groups vis a vis the Indian
government are quite similar to those of Burma's own ethnic groups vis a
vis Rangoon. While there are a plethora of groups fighting for various
causes and sometimes each other for territory a common sentiment binding
India's ethnic insurgents is the feeling of being colonised within Indian
borders by an often racist and bureaucratic machinery of the Indian state.
Whether this is strictly true or not to pursue a military solution to this
obviously political/economic/cultural problem as the Indian government has
done for decades is futile and detrimental to all parties concerned.
But just for arguments sake if one assumes that the Indian government is
right in seeking Burmese help to curb activities of Indian ethnic
insurgents on their soil the simple question that arises is whether the
Burmese military is really capable of delivering? By most independent
accounts the generals in Rangoon do not have any such control or
capability to stop trafficking of arms, mostly Chinese made, along the
porous border Indo-Burma border. In the case of drugs, in fact there are
good grounds to believe that the generals and their henchmen may very well
be the maim source of supply flooding into north-east India.
So, on the one hand while the Indian government is not achieving any of
its so called realpolitik strategic aims in Burma vis a vis China or
Pakistan or its own ethnic insurgents on the other hand the current Indian
policy is seriously damaging its credentials within Burma's own
pro-democracy movement and its millions of supporters allover. Given the
obvious fact that the Burmese military cannot hold on to power
indefinitely- despite their record-shattering stint so far- in the long
run the perception of India among the Burmese people will remain that of
an 'unreliable' partner- ironically in both dictatorship as well as
democracy!
For the Indian people themselves it is important to pay serious attention
to their government's policy towards Burma because the pursuit of an
amoral realpolitik strategy towards neighbouring countries by its rulers
could one day turn inward and consume their own democratic rights and
aspirations. As the censorship of news about the Nehru Peace Award shows
kowtowing to dictatorships abroad only reveals a deep-seated yearning
among a small Indian elite to implement a similar regime at home.
Supporting democracy abroad is surely the best way of preserving it at
home.
__

Mizzima
October 14 2002

Arms seizure in India-Burma border

Guwahati, Oct. 14: In a major operation, the Assam Rifles engaged in
counter insurgency operation along the Indo-Burma border seized a huge
cache of arms and ammunition in Tirap of Arunachal Pradesh in the North
East of India. The arms and ammunition including AK 47 rifles, Chinese
grenades, were brought from Burma for the militant groups of the region,
an Assam Rifles release claimed yesterday.
Tirap, bordering area of Burma, of late has become a hotbed of militant
groups of the North East India. Taking advantage of dense forest in the
area and the lack of security personnel, the militant groups are ruling
the roost in the area.
The release further claimed that the consignment of weapons was brought by
the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) for the underground
organizations of the region. "The security personnel seized 10 AK 47
rifles, 15 grenades and 150 rounds of ammunition on Saturday", the release
said adding that it was one of the major seizures in this part.
Tirap and Changlang of Arunachal Pradesh of the region have been
witnessing militant activities for the last couple of weeks immediately
after formation of a new platform by the 12 underground groups of the
North East India. Worried over by step-up activities of the militant
outfits, the security forces have already geared up operations to contain
their activities.
_________
Narinjara News
October 12 2002

Rohingya repatriation yet to be completed

Cox'sbazar, 12 October 02: A decision of an inter-ministers meeting
regarding completion of repatriation of all the Rohingya refugees to their
home land could not be executed as their actual number could not be
determined, according to today's the independent.

The decision was taken in the meeting held Dhaka on June 3 to the effect
that the repatriation of all the Rohingya refugees must be completed by
2003 and that check posts of army be set up at the borders to check the
intrusion of the Rohingya.

The factor that delayed the execution of the decision was the lack of
non-coordination among the people who were entrusted with the task of
preparing the lists of Rohingya living illegally in Ukhia Township of
district.

The preparation of lists of the Rohingyas as per directives from the
higher authorities for the determination of the actual number of the
Rohingyas was not done properly.

The Home Ministry under the urge from the Director General of the BDR,
Hill Tracts Zone to take necessary measures for repatriation of the
Rohingyas and to check their further intrusion issued an order to the
Deputy Commissioner of Cox'sbazar on June 3, to prepare the lists of the
Rohingyas.

The order was handed down to the union parishad chairmen via Upazila
Nirbahi Officers, who received it from the Deputy Commissioner on June 18.
No lists containing the actual number of the Rohingyas excepting the lists
prepared by five union parishad chairmen reached the Deputy Commissioner.

The number of Rohingyas mentioned in the fives lists was not reliable as
different sources indicated that the number of the Rohingyas living
illegally in Ukhia Township would be 50,000.

The sources said the chairmen and members of the union parishads under the
township elections ahead, do not dare to run the risk of losing the voters
bank. In preparing the lists, they did not include the names of thousands
of Rohingyas in the lists as they had already been enrolled as voters.

Earlier, the commission of Rohingya Refugees and Repatriation, Cox'sbazar
mentioned the number of the Rohingyas living illegally in the districts of
Cox'sbazar and Bandarban above two hundred thousands.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament fro Teknaf-Ukhia constituency, Shahjahan
Chowdhury mentioned the number above 2.50 lakh, saying that it is high
time that the government took measures for the repatriation of Rohingyas.

__ON THE BORDER__

Democratic Voice of Burma
October 13 2002

Burma, Thailand to exchange prisoners at Kawthaung-Ranong border reopening

Although the SPDC State Peace and Development Council said that Thai-Burma
border will be reopened on Tuesday 15 October , it is not certain whether
all the border checkpoints will be reopened simultaneously.

A border source told DVB Democratic Voice of Burma that Mae Sai-Tachilek
and Mae Sot-Myawadi will be reopened in the morning while Kawthaung-Ranong
will be reopened only in the evening. A police major from Myanmar Burma
Police Force headquarters has each arrived at the border towns to reopen
the border checkpoints and they have planned to attend the opening
ceremonies together with the local police commanders.

Border sources also said that the significant point of Kawthaung-Ranong
border checkpoint reopening ceremony is the handover of prisoners from
both sides. The SPDC will handover the four suspects sought by Thailand in
connection with the shooting of a school bus in Ratchburi Province while
Thailand will handover deserters from the SPDC army, prisoner labourers,
and ordinary porters that have absconded to Thailand during the border
closure.

_STATEMENTS___

Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma
October 13 2002

AUNG SAN SUU KYI: BETTER GOVERNANCE WILL AID BURMA
Activist report criticizes push for increased aid

Bangkok, Sun: - Burmese national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has described
"better governance, not increased funding" as the answer to Burma's
humanitarian crisis. She emphasized "Unless there is good governance, you
cannot ensure that the assistance will really benefit the country."

The NLD General Secretary said that increased humanitarian assistance to
Burma would not "do anything to change the situation of civil society", 
adding, "without pluralism, there can't be a strong civil society."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was responding to assumptions stated by a number of
international groups that increased aid to Burma would bring above 
conditions conducive to the growth of civil society. Her comments were
made in an interview with activist group Altsean-Burma (Alternative Asean
Network on Burma). The full transcript appears in "Peace of Pie," a report
on Burma's humanitarian aid debate released today by Altsean-Burma.

The Nobel Peace Laureate also emphasized that accountability, transparency
and independent monitoring were necessary to ensure that aid actually
benefited the people of Burma.

The Altsean-Burma report criticized the push for increased humanitarian
assistance to Burma in light of its regime's massive expenditure on 
military expansion at the expense of basic social services. Altsean
described the regime as "the single largest contributory factor" to
Burma's humanitarian problems: "Aid that does not work to pro-actively
address this root cause risks becoming aid that prolongs Burma's
suffering."

The report "Peace of Pie" also tackles common assumptions about aid to
Burma and exposes examples of questionable practices committed by some 
international agencies operating in the country.

The report describes possible ways to ensure that aid is delivered 
satisfactorily and concludes that the potential of international agencies
to deliver aid that contributes to national reconciliation,
democratisation and peace in Burma has yet to be exercised.
______

The Red and Black (an independent student newspaper serving the University
of Georgia community)
October 10 2002

Human rights violations hit home
By David Clark

Almost a year ago, Dr. Salai Tun Than planted his feet on the steps of
City Hall in Rangoon, Burma.

He donned an academic gown and held protest fliers in his hands. He stood
peacefully and alone.

Salai began to make demands of his government -- a corrupt regime that was
voted out in elections more than a decade ago but refused to accept and
allow the results.

He called for political reforms. He insisted that the military's
dominating power be lessened. He called for open multi-party elections to
be held within the year under a civilian government.

Within minutes, he was arrested and sent to an undisclosed detention center.

His whereabouts were unknown to his family until two weeks after his arrest.

Last spring, Amnesty International reported that he had been sentenced to
seven years' imprisonment in Insein Prison, Rangoon.

There, he receives little medical attention, despite the fact that his
health is reportedly failing. Salai is 74 years old.

I'm sure this story seems familiar -- we constantly hear of similar human
rights abuses.

It is generally easy to pin such disgraces on the cruel intentions of
dictatorships "over there."

It also is easy to want to rid the mind of these horrible stories; after
all, it's the United Nations' problem, right? Isn't there some human
rights body that counteracts that mess?

We separate ourselves from these undemocratic atrocities; it is always
less demanding to simply ignore them.

So here's a catch: Salai earned his master's from the University in the
1950s.

He may seem worlds and civilizations away, but he's still one of us.

For the sake of decency, I won't address this direct violation of Salai's
rights with vulgar stream-of-conscious diatribes. You can, however,
believe that I am feeling such things on the inside.

For when the Burmese military regime punishes Salai for peacefully
expressing dissent, they slap you and me in the face.

They take our democratic practices and spit at them. The fact that this
regime has no consideration for human rights is an insult to the very
nature of liberty.

We should be offended by this case to start with, but we should especially
take action given his Georgia background.

I'm not asking anyone to beat themselves with reeds over this, nor do I
want anyone to offer self-righteous pleas of "I'm soooo sorry." Pity is
irrelevant; we should actually do something tangible about this disgrace.

Soon the University's chapter of Amnesty International will be submitting
a resolution to the Student Government Association and to the University
Council demanding Salai's safe and immediate release.

I ask that all students and faculty support such a measure.

I also ask that we write letters to the highest positions of our federal
government expressing that this is simply unacceptable.

Letter-writing may seem like a very simple thing to do, but Amnesty
International has reported numerous successful writing campaigns in
similar situations. This one should be no different.

Ultimately, we should commit ourselves to fighting against the plight of
Salai not just because he has ties to Georgia.

We should fight for his freedom because it is simply the right thing to do.

We should fight for his freedom because given the chance, he would
undoubtedly fight for ours.

The Asian Human Rights Commission reported that before Salai was taken
away from the steps of the Rangoon City Hall, he stated that "it is better
to die than live under (a) military regime."

His cries for human rights and democracy should not be ignored in Burma,
nor should they be ignored here.

Together we can make them be heard.