BurmaNet News: November 8 2002

[editor at burmanet.org]

November 8 2002 Issue #2119

INSIDE BURMA

DVB: We are not investigating says ICRC
DVB: Ex-Burmese leader Ne Win’s relatives appeal case 12 November
Irrawaddy: No fanfare preceding Razali visit
IMNA A man is killed in Mudon police station
Kaladan: 13 families of new settlers brought to Maungdaw

MONEY

DPA: Protesters urge pension fund to drop firms that operate in Myanmar

DRUGS

AFP: Hong Kongers face execution in cross-border drug trafficking

REGIONAL

Xinhua: Thai, Indian PMs discuss transport, tourism cooperation

PRESS RELEASE

SWAN: Press Release
NCGUB: NCGUB condemns mockery of justice in Burma

___INSIDE BURMA____

Democratic Voice of Burma
November 6 2002

We Are Not Investigating Says ICRC

The ICRC stated today that it is not true that the SPDC has invited the
ICRC to investigate the allegations of rape of Shan women by the SPDC
army. SPDC spokesman Colonel Hla Minn said yesterday that the SPDC had
invited the ICRC to investigate the allegations as the result of advice
given by the UN Human Rights special envoy, Mr Pinheiro. When the DVB
asked the Geneva-based ICRC, spokesman Mr Roland Sitler told the
following:
ICRC : We would like to be quite clear that we are not conducting any
investigations. Our discussions with the authorities focus on gaining
access to this area in order to evaluate activities that we usually are
doing concerning humanitarian problems.
Then, he outlined the activities of the ICRC in Shan State thus:
ICRC : For the moment we already have activities in these areas concerning
drinking water and the medical aspect. What we would like is of course to
be able to access a deeper and wider area than the one we have so far.
When asked if the SPDC had asked the ICRC to investigate the allegations,
he replied:
ICRC : No. Not so far. If the subject comes up, I must say that it is not
our aim to conduct an investigation. There are other organisations that
are in charge of doing this kind of work, not the ICRC.
_______

Democratic Voice of Burma
November 8 2002

EX-BURMESE LEADER NE WIN'S RELATIVES APPEAL CASE 12 NOVEMBER

Democratic Voice of Burma DVB has learned that an appeal case against the
death sentence for high treason handed down to U Aye Zaw Win, and his
three sons Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win, and Zwe Ne Win , is to be heard on
Tuesday 12 November .

Insein jail special tribunal announced the death sentences against Aye Zaw
Win, and his three sons - Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win and Zwe Ne Win - on 26
September. Earlier in October, their lawyer U Tun Shein, had lodged an
appeal against death sentences at the Central Court. It is learned from
Rangoon lawyers circles that the appeal will be submitted on coming
Tuesday. How the appeal will be decided is not exactly known. Some
political observers told DVB that they expect the verdict to drag on. Some
observers said that even if the court of appeal would continue to give
them the capital punishment, it would not be carried out in reality. Burma
has not executed those sentenced to hang for over 20 years.
_______

Irrawaddy
November 8 2002

No Fanfare Preceding Razali Visit
By Aung Zaw

November 08, 2002—As UN special envoy to Burma Razali Ismail prepares for
his record ninth trip to Rangoon next week, the celebratory zeal and
enthusiasm that preceded prior visits has all but evaporated as Rangoon’s
recalcitrant generals appear unwilling to take the most basic steps needed
to get Burma’s reconciliation process back on track.
"Very few people are interested in his visit," said a senior journalist in
Rangoon. Unconfirmed reports have been surfacing inside and outside Burma
that this may in fact be Razali’s last mission to Burma, since taking the
post over two years ago, if the regime cannot show any desire to change.
Razali’s agenda consists of the usual suspects including—diplomats, UN
officials, top ranking military officers as well as opposition party
members. However, opposition leaders say they have yet to be officially
informed of the upcoming visit.
National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesperson U Lwin continues to
retain hope for an eventual dialogue with the military regime, while
trying to remain optimistic that Razali has what it takes to influence the
junta to change. But the veteran opposition leader is less sanguine this
time around than he has been in the past.
"We are always hopeful," said U Lwin to The Irrawaddy yesterday. However,
even over the phone he was unable to hide his feelings of disappointment
in the country’s stalled reconciliation process. U Lwin said that everyone
has witnessed the past visits and the lack of developments that have
followed.
Indeed, signs of frustration are obvious. Ethnic leaders, who say Razali
has never done his homework concerning ethnic issues, continue to remain
unimpressed with the former Malaysian diplomat’s successes in Burma.
Even sources close to Razali, who is known for his optimism, say he has
expressed frustration over the continuing political impasse in Burma.
Previously, military leaders, the opposition and the international
community praised Razali’s efforts in bringing the two sides to the
negotiating table. But lately, sources say the generals are keeping their
distance from Razali. While observers fear that this may be a sign that
Rangoon is losing interest in maintaining a dialogue of any sort with the
NLD.
However, according to NLD sources, Razali was able to establish warm
relations with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was reportedly quite cold
with the Razali at the on set of the "secret talks" that began in Rangoon
two years ago.
Although these friendly relations may be a point of contention with the
generals, say Burmese analysts.
Aung Naing Oo, an exiled political analyst, says that before Razali’s
appointment, many influential political figures, including monks, had
asked the regime to seek a political dialogue with the opposition. "But
they never listened," says Aung Naing Oo.
He also says that with no tangible results having occurred after two years
of continual attempts, Razali may be looking for a way out.
Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, a veteran Shan scholar and political observer based
in Canada, says the international community can now see that the junta was
never serious about any type of reform. "We now can see their true color,"
Chao Tzang Yawnghwe told The Irrawaddy. "It’s up to the international
community what to do next," adds Chao Tzang, who also feels Razali should
not quit, but instead continue pressing the regime.
Razali, chairman of Iris Technologies, continues to come under fire for
business deals that Iris entered into with the regime during his tenure as
special envoy. And as a result, he appeared eager to show that he was able
to bring the two sides together after completing his last visit in August.
During his August visit, junta leaders, Sr-Gen Than Shwe and Gen Khin
Nyunt, promised him they would resume political dialogue in the near-term,
however, it is becoming increasingly clear that they had no intentions of
keeping those promises.
Observers now say that Sr-Gen Than Shwe is calling all the shots, while
seeming reluctant to move forward. "If he moves, the rest will follow
him," says a well-informed Rangoon journalist.
"He is in the driver’s seat, but the car is in auto pilot," joked a
Burmese scholar in exile, in regards to the country’s continuing economic
and social ills.
In preparation for the visit, veteran analysts say, aside from the
regime’s releasing of political prisoners to coincide with Razali’s
arrival, that they may indeed have a surprise or two in order to keep the
envoy from jumping ship and to ease international criticism.
But without an international support base that can aid Razali in
pressuring the regime into change or a strong UN mechanism allowing for
effective checks and balances over the government, it is unlikely that the
generals will muster the energy to come to the table.
"This deadlock cannot go on forever," says one journalist. Nor can Razali
be UN special envoy forever.
________

Independent Mon News Agency
November 7 2002

A MAN IS KILLED IN MUDON POLICE STATION

Police beaten and killed a Mon man in Mudon Police
Station during investigation with an accusation of
rubbing an actress on November 4, In Mudon Township, a
local Mon reporter reported.

Nai Mya Han, 45 a villager from Ma Pa Rang [Kuan Brot]
village of Kya Inn Seik Kyi Township was arrested on
October 29 with an accusation of rubbing and attacking
Nan Dar Hlaing, a popular actress from Mon State
during her trip to Let Tet village for entertainment
on October 25.

Mr Han was beaten several times in Mudon Police
station during questioning him and he was
unconsciousness for many hours then death in the cell,
a close relative said.

Police force of the Mudon Station arrested him and
other hundred villagers who had history of criminal
[rubbery] including thirty people form Kyeik Roy
village in the past for questioning.  He was libeled
of rubbing to the actress at the main entrance into
Kyiek Roy village of Mudon Township, in Mon Township.


Miss Hlaing was travelling with Rev Kesara, a chief of
monk of Kyeik Ta Lone Hill who has managed for an
event of opening festival of new pagoda construction.
Local armed gang arrested the actress and released the
monks but the armed gang took all her personal
wearing. She then released after the monk.

It is no clear evidence whether Mr Han is a rubber for
this attack because the armed gang used modern armed
guns-fire during the attack, local source added.
________

Kaladan Press
November 8 2002

13 FAMILIES OF NEW SETTLERS BROUGHT TO MAUNGDAW

By Our Correspondent
Maungdaw, 8th November: 13 families of new settlers
were brought to Maungdaw north, Arakan State from
Rangoon for settlement on 22nd October, according to
our source.

The settlers were shifted into Baruwa Khata villag of
Ngarang Chaung village tract, a place 38 miles north
of Maungdaw under the Nasaka area No.2. This village
is placed nearly 2 miles from Bangladesh border. The
members of the settlers were looked like very gentle.
Some of them were hanging gold chains to their necks,
source further added.

Since August 2002, the authorities have been very busy construction of
aforesaid model village for the new
settlers. In addition, some acres of Rohingya lands
were seized within a short time for these settlers.
The houses were built with forced labor of Rohingya
villagers though there is no forced labor in Burma,
declared by SPDC authorities.  All these houses were
built with wood and  looked very fine, said a
ex-village chairman.

About the construction of this Natala village (model
village), a problem was occurred among the model,
Nasaka, the Secretary and a special intelligent branch
for cutting wood and bamboos. For this reason, Salay
Ahamed, 35, the present Village Peace and Development
Council Secretary Furkhan’s younger brother was dead
in last September while he was going to appear before
the special intelligent branch that came from Rangoon.
In this connection, the Secretary to the special
intelligent branch had paid Kyats 12,00,000/-, said a
villager to our source.

_____MONEY______

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
November 8 2002

Protesters urge pension fund to drop firms that operate in Myanmar

Human rights protesters on Thursday urged a leading U.S. pension fund for
teachers and academics to drop shares of companies that work with the
military regime in Myanmar (Burma).

Three dozen activists and Burmese exiles rallied outside the New York
headquarters of TIAA-CREF, a 260-billion-dollar pension fund, which was
holding its annual shareholders meeting in North Carolina. The Free Burma
Coalition said the fund holds shares by U.S. oil company Unocal, which
operates in Myanmar, and Singapore Technologies, a subsidiary of which
supplies arms to the junta.

"Most people who have money in TIAA-CREF would be shocked if they knew
that their money was being used to make guns for Burma's military," said
Zaw Win of the New York Free Burma Coalition.

More than 100 shareholders, including many academics, also wrote an open
protest letter to TIAA-CREF, the Teachers Insurance and Annuity
Association College Retirement Equities Fund.

They charged they had been made "inadvertent supporters of the forced
labour, forced relocation, rape, torture and murder of people living in
the Southeast Asian country".

_____DRUGS______

Agence France-Presse
November 8 2002

Hong Kongers face execution in cross-border drug trafficking

Seven people from Hong Kong were facing execution in the largest-ever
cross-border drug trafficking in southwestern China's Yunnan province,
local media reported Friday.

The seven were convicted of concealing 672 kilograms (1,478.4 pounds) of
heroin inside tree trunks, the Chinese-language Oriental Daily News
reported. The seven men from Hong Kong and six of their mainland
accomplices from Guangdong province, aged between 30-47, could face death
sentences after a court in Qujing city found them guilty of trafficking
300 million Hong Kong dollars (38.5 million US) of heroin from
neighbouring Myanmar last year.

The Hong Kong men all had prior convictions for drug trafficking as well
as illegal gambling, the daily said, before being convicted in what was
the largest cross-border drug smuggling ever in Asia.

Yunnan borders the "golden triangle" of Laos, Myanmar (formally Burma) and
northern Thailand, a poppy-growing region that has become one of the
world's largest producers of heroin.

_____REGIONAL_______

Xinhua News Agency
November 8 2002

Thai, Indian PMs discuss transport, tourism cooperation

BANGKOK, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) --Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra met with
visiting Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee here Friday, focusing on
ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the transport and tourism fields.

Thai government spokesman Sitha Thiwaree told reporters after the meeting
that the two sides agreed on a highway project linking Thailand and India
via Myanmar. A meeting attended by the three countries will discuss
details of the plan later next month in Myanmar.

Thaksin said the Thai government will provide loans for constructing the
Myanmar part of the road.

The two leaders also agreed to strengthen linkage between key seaports of
the two countries.

Thaksin also invited the Indian side to join a proposed regional tourism
air route plan which links the region's top tourist spots with northern
Thai resort of Chiang Mai as the hub.

Vajpayee, who is making a one-day stopover here after attending the annual
summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) in Cambodia
and visiting Laos, said Indian interior minister will soon visit Thailand
to settle a bilateral pact on extradition of criminals.

Thaksin thanked his Indian counterpart for supporting the Asian
Cooperation Dialogue  and the International Rice Trade Conference, two
meetings held here earlier this year initiated by Thailand.

Arriving here Friday morning, Vajpayee will return to India later Friday.

____PRESS RELEASE_______

Shan Women’s Action Network
November 7 2002

New German Website launched in support of the Shan
For the first time, German speaking internet users can learn and read in
their own language about the plight of the Shan people and their fight for
freedom and justice.
Until now, there was hardly any information about the Shan available in
German language. Not even the SWAN Report 'License to Rape' has found any
notable media coverage in Germany.
The newly launched website www.friends-of-shan.de (also reachable under
the German address www.freunde-der-shan.de) aims at changing this state of
ignorance and lack of information.
The new website has been set up by a small team of German and Thai online
journalists and web designers based in Germany. One of their main
activities is the publication of the website www.thailife.de which is an
online magazine focussing on the Thai-German community and on Thai culture
in Germany and on social projects in Thailand.
The group, which is not affiliated to any political party or tendency is
also sponsoring websites for some of these relief projects and supports
their work. Some examples are www.depdc.org , www.childlife-maesai.org or
www.duang-prateep.de.
'It is only a short time ago, that I learned about the Shan people and
their fate after the fighting in the Shan State broke out earlier this
year', said Mr. John Pohl who started the new website. 'That time I began
to read and research about the Shan and their history and culture.'
'I was very much shocked when I read the SWAN Report and learned about the
massive crimes and abuses in the Shan State. I thought that something had
to be done in order to raise awareness here in Germany about the
atrocities committed by the Burmese regime against the Shan.'
'With the help of some friends we translated the SWAN Report into German.
For all of us it was a painful experience having to translate all those
detailed descriptions of so many acts of violence, torture and killings
against defenceless women and girls.'
The first version of the website has been set up in a hurry in order to
make the SWAN Report available to the German public as soon as possible.
More background information and articles about the Shan and about the
human rights situation in Shan State are planned to be published. A
printed German language version of the SWAN report will also follow soon.
'Our resources are limited and we could not yet do as much as we would
have liked to do', said Mr. Pohl. 'But we hope that with the help of the
new website we will manage to win more support in the future'.
Frankfurt, Germany
November 7, 2002
_________

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
November 7 2002

NCGUB Condemns Mockery of Justice in Burma


The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) strongly
condemns the harsh sentence of the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) to a student for 14 years imprisonment just for a peaceful protest.
Thet Naung Soe, a final-year law student was arrested while staging a solo
protest on August 18, 2002 in front of the Rangoon city hall and demanding
the release of all political prisoners.

We have come to understand that senior lawyers from the National League
for Democracy (NLD) tried to meet him and Khin Maung Win, another law
student, who was arrested the same day as Thet Naung Soe for distributing
pro-democracy leaflets in the university campus, to legally represent
them, but they were barred from entering the courtroom.  Later when they
were permitted to enter the court premises, they were confined to a
reception area for guests only.  Khin Maung Win is also facing trial and
will be charged soon, according to the NLD.

Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win expressed his grave concerns over the quality
of justice and the fairness of trials in Burma.  He said, “This incidence
shows obviously that military tribunals in Burma are a mockery of justice.
 It is also ridiculous and contradictory to their own statement that all
Burmese citizens will be allowed to freely participate in the political
process”.

The NCGUB lauds the courage and integrity of students like Thet Naung Soe
and Khin Maung Win, who came out to the forefront to make a statement
despite knowing the consequences of their actions.

The NCGUB firmly believes that as long as the SPDC ignores the fundamental
rights of the citizens of Burma, peace, democracy, and most importantly,
national reconciliation could not be achieved in the country.  We call on
governments, international institutions, and human rights organizations to
condemn the SPDC for continued human rights abuses.