BurmaNet News: March 24 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

March 24 2003 Issue #2200

INSIDE BURMA

Economist: Deadlocked: Talks with the junta are going nowhere
AFP: UN rights envoy cuts short Myanmar visit after bugging incident
DVB: Iraqi crisis and the NLD
DVB: Refugees tortured by SPDC

DRUGS

Myanmar Information Committee: Burma, China discuss drug control

MONEY

Economist: Kyatastrophe: A bank run in Myanmar
Xinhua: Myanmar fetches 23 miln dlrs from gem sales
Narinjara: Burma Bangladesh friendship bridge in the offing

REGIONAL

Xinhua: Thai army to cooperate with Myanmar in taking minority troops away
from border
Bangkok Post: Junta looks in no hurry in talks with Suu Kyi
Bangkok Post: Shan and Wa to be moved from frontier
Kaladan: Banbgladesh PM back from Burma

INTERNATIONAL

Xinhua: Myanmar keeping silence on Iraqi War
AFP: Thailand pledges humanitarian assistance to post-war Iraq

INSIDE BURMA

The Economist March 20 2003

Deadlocked: Talks with the junta are going nowhere

THE head office of the National League for Democracy (NLD) certainly
looks busier than it did last May, before Myanmar's military junta
released Aung San Suu Kyi, the party leader, from house arrest.
Activists bustle backwards and forwards brandishing sheaves of paper. A
group of old ladies sell T-shirts depicting Miss Suu Kyi and her father,
Aung San, the hero of Myanmar's independence struggle. Even the
plainclothes police keeping an eye on things from the tea stall across
the street look more alert.

Too alert, explains U Lwin, the party spokesman. At the time of Miss Suu
Kyi 's release, the military promised to let her and the NLD organise
freely throughout the country, in preparation for negotiations on a
return to democracy. But that agreement, and the dialogue it underpins,
are beginning to break down. Although the NLD has reopened over 70
offices shut down by the military, some 300 more remain closed. Miss Suu
Kyi has travelled to five of the country's ten states to rally party
members. But on the last two trips, her supporters complained of
harassment. In one incident, Mr Lwin says, the authorities tried to
disperse a crowd with a fire hose. In another they dug up the road to
prevent her reaching her destination.

Although Miss Suu Kyi remains publicly optimistic about the prospects
for reform, her cheerfulness is beginning to ring hollow. Mr Lwin says
there has been no attempt at substantive political negotiations. Razali
Ismail, a former Malaysian diplomat who mediates between the two sides,
has not even visited the country since November. One diplomat suggests
that the trio of generals who head the junta feel particularly secure
and unwilling to compromise after squelching dissent within the ruling
elite last year. At any rate, the top brass has taken no action on even
modest proposals, such as granting the NLD some role in soliciting and
managing international aid.

The regime is implementing all its promised reforms at the same crawling
and halting pace. Last September, after years spent denying that forced
labour even existed in Myanmar, the government allowed the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) to set up an office in Yangon to monitor its
efforts to eradicate the practice. Hong-Trang Perret-Nguyen, the new ILO
representative, says that the civil administration in the central part
of the country no longer relies on forced labour to build canals,
airports and railroads, as it did in the 1990s. But in the border
regions, she says, the military still obliges farmers to carry their
supplies, clean their barracks and build roads without pay. Villagers in
the countryside echo her complaint, as do Burmese refugees in Thailand
and numerous human-rights groups. Yet all her suggestions of ombudsmen,
investigation teams and the like have fallen on deaf ears; instead, the
junta's grand plan to solve the problem, she says, consists of little
more than translating decrees against forced labour into the languages
of the minority groups living along Myanmar's frontiers.

Observers view with similar cynicism the generals' decision in January
to admit a delegation from Amnesty International for the first time
ever. The delegates did conclude that the conditions in Myanmar's jails
had improved significantly since 1999. But they also pointed out that
more than 1,200 political prisoners were still being held in them.
Indeed, two days after Amnesty's team departed, in early February, the
police arrested 12 more political activists, including seven NLD
members, for "anti-government activities".

The junta's least substantial step of late was a statement asking for
America's "advice on making the transition to a stable democracy".
American officials say they never actually received a formal offer of
talks. But if they did, one adds, there would be plenty to talk about.
__________

Agence France-Presse March 24 2003

UN rights envoy cuts short Myanmar visit after bugging incident

UN human rights envoy to Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro on Monday cut short
a mission here after finding bugging equipment in a room he used to
interview political prisoners, saying he was "very angry".

"I have cut short my mission because of the incident relating to the
standard operating procedures. I am very angry," Pinheiro told reporters.

"I informed the authorities that while interviewing prisoners at Insein
Prison on Saturday 22nd March I found a functioning listening device in
the form of a wireless microphone placed under the table in the room which
I was using to conduct my interviews," he said.

"Under these circumstances I felt obliged to interrupt my mission."

Pinheiro, who is on his fifth mission here aimed at assessing the human
rights situation in the country, has already met Myanmar's number three,
Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, and Foreign Minister Win Aung.

He has also met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel peace
laureate who heads the National League for Democracy (NLD).

"After presenting my complaint to the authorities concerned I cancelled
all my engagements since the evening of Saturday. I have not met anybody.
I have not gone to see Aung San Suu Kyi for the second time as I promised
because this would not have been consistent with my decision," the
Brazilian academic said.

"I am very angry about this incident and I straight away decided to leave
the country," he added.

Pinheiro said he was leaving despite authorities pledging to investigate
the incident.

"The authorities expressed regret on learning of the incident from me and
they gave assurances that the incident will be investigated in full," he
said.

"Since my first mission to Myanmar I have sought and received from the
authorities of the country assurances that there would be no interference
with the conduct of my proceedings," he said, adding that these included
the respect of confidentiality in prisoner interviews.

"I also reiterated that all persons who operate with me should be free
from any form of intimidation, harassment or punishment before, during and
after my missions. In this regard the Myanmar authorities reaffirmed their
commitment to this principle."

Pinheiro has stressed his top priority was the release of some 1,200 to
1,300 political prisoners in Myanmar's jails.

He said he had met with Home Minister U Tin Hlaing and Deputy Foreign
Minister Khin Maung Win and told them the slow release of political
prisoners was "unacceptable".

As one of few prominent international figures advocating engagement with
Myanmar rather than isolation, Pinheiro's departure is likely to
disappoint Myanmar's leaders.

Western governments have imposed a raft of sanctions on Myanmar in efforts
to pressure the military rulers to make concessions to the democratic
opposition.

Another UN envoy, Razali Ismail, has helped broker national reconciliation
talks between the junta and Aung San Suu Kyi, but the talks are widely
believed to have stalled.

"I have not seen substantive steps towards substantive political
dialogue," Pinheiro said.

The envoy arrived in military-ruled Myanmar last Thursday and had been due
to leave Wednesday. He said he did not know when or if he would return.

_________

Democratic Voice of Burma March 22 2003

Iraqi crisis and the NLD

As the world is debating and arguing about the war in Iraq, Burma's
opposition political party, the National League for Democracy NLD , issued
a statement today. The statement noted that the system of unrestrained
dictatorship in Iraq has led to this war. In an interview with DVB
Democratic Voice of Burma NLD spokesperson U Lwin said if you ask a
question why US-led coalition forces wage a war on Iraq without the
approval of the UN Security Council then I have to ask a question whether
dictators usurp power in accord with UN Security Council resolutions. The
following is DVB interview with U Lwin on the NLD statement.

U Lwin A war has begun in Iraq. The system of unrestrained dictatorship
has led to this war. However, there were questions whether the issue could
have been resolved without going to war, had the world community taken
necessary measures beforehand. Therefore, all the world's nations need to
make exceptional effort to achieve harmony after the war because terrorism
was born out of disharmony. It is also very important to rebuild Iraq and
provide Iraqis with humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation after the
war.

Htet Aung Kyaw What about other views. Among the Burmese community, there
are some who supported the war while some object to it. Some are even
saying that after Iraq, it is going to be Burma. What are the general
views?

U Lwin Well, these are all imaginations. In practical terms there is no
proof whatsoever. At present, the war in Iraq is a matter of having
approval from the UN Security Council rather than whether to wage war on
Iraq. Some say waging war on Iraq without the UN Security Council
resolution undermines the authority of the United Nations. There is
nothing about whether you should or should not wage war against Iraq. It
is all about recognition and approval of the UN Security Council. Then,
the question remains whether dictators usurp power in accord with UN
Security Council resolutions. What have the UN Security Council done in
relation to such matters? What action did the UN take regarding its
resolutions? Of course it does not concern the UN Security Council. The
resolutions of other committees UN General Assembly resolution on Burma
are all unbinding and unfruitful. Well, you could not blame the United
Nations too. Most do not realize what they are asking is feasible or not.
I do not want to elaborate on that but the point is whatever you do you
must have a balanced outlook. You will have a better understanding and
balanced view if you put it on a tripod preceding word rendered in English
, which is the rule of law, transparency, accountability preceding five
words rendered in English . These three aspects are the very basics. If
you could not balance on the tripod then these will be just imaginations.
End of recording

Although the Burmese opposition has issued a statement, the SPDC State
Peace and Development Council authorities have so far given no reaction
about the war.
__________

Democratic Voice of Burma March 21 2003

Refugees tortured by SPDC

It is reported that the SPDC is arresting and torturing Burmese people who
are trying to flee to Thailand. On the 17th of March, two Mon national
refugees from Kalokkani refugee camp were severely wounded after they were
arrested and tortured by the SPDC soldiers. DVB’s Maung Too reports:

MT: The Two refugees, Naing Po Peik and Naing Niti were arrested by the
SPDC’s soldiers of LIB 258 led by Colonel Nyo Maing and Captain Minn Naung
on the 17th of March. The two were accused of having contact with  Naing
Pann Nyunt [the leader of an armed Mon splinter group]and beaten and
tortured for the whole night. Naing Lone Htaw, the chairman of the
Kalokani refugee camp said that the two villagers knew nothing about the
accusations and they were beaten with rifle butts. Similarly, last month,
three Mon refugees were beaten and released by the SPDC soldiers. Because
of the fears of the tortures, refugees dare not even collect wild
vegetables near the camp at the moment.

DRUGS

Myanmar Information Committee March 21 2003

BURMA, CHINA DISCUSS DRUG CONTROL

At the invitation of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC),
a 12-member Chinese delegation led by President of Yunnan People's
Security College Professor Deputy Police Maj-Gen Mr Luo Bingsen arrived in
Yangon Rangoon on 19 March.

On 19 March, the Chinese delegation called on minister for home affairs
and also met director-general of Myanmar Police Force at the Home Ministry
and they discussed matters relating to narcotic drugs and mutual
cooperation between the police forces of the two countries. The delegation
then visited the Drug Elimination Museum in Yangon on the same day.

MONEY

The Economist March 20 2003

Kyatastrophe: A bank run in Myanmar

WHEN the governor of Myanmar's central bank said there was nothing to
worry about, people suspected that something was seriously amiss. Then,
a few days later, General Khin Nyunt, the third-ranking member of the
country's military junta, declared: "The people are forewarned that if
the banks are affected due to the rumours maliciously spread by
destructive elements, the country will also have to bear the
consequences." Having deciphered his syntax, depositors rushed to
withdraw their money from Myanmar's 20 private banks. The banks, unable
to pay them all, limited withdrawals to 1m kyat (officially, $160,000;
unofficially, about $1,000) per account per week. More than a month
later, the restriction remains and the government is as ham-fisted as
ever.

The government has told bankers not to speak to journalists or place
advertisements, so no one has much idea of what is going on. Probably,
the bank run was sparked by the collapse of several shady investment
schemes in early February. But the root cause is the government's 10%
cap on interest on deposits. With inflation at 50%, no wonder many
Burmese put money into shaky schemes, or indeed anything promising more
than the banks.

On paper, Myanmar's private banks (there are a few state-owned ones
too)looked solid before the crisis. They held roughly 500 billion kyat in
deposits. Their reserve requirement was a steep 20% of that. What's
more, they could lend only against collateral, and then only up to 40%
of its value, conservatively estimated.

It seemed, then, that the central bank's initial reaction-lending
perhaps 30 billion kyat to the banks-was safe enough. Suddenly, it
changed its tune, ordering the banks to bring in their own cash by
recovering 10% of their loans by March 1st and another 30% by the end of
April. Meanwhile, the Burmese are having a hard time getting any money. 
The sheer shortage of kyat has driven the black-market exchange rate from
roughly 1,100 to the dollar to 900 since the crisis began.

Bosses cannot pay their employees, nor tradesmen their suppliers. One
foreign businessman complains that his turnover has fallen by 20%.
Construction has stopped on several building sites, locals say, for want
of cash to pay the labourers. As the banks call in loans, the slump can
only deepen.

Why is the central bank now sitting on its hands? One rumour has it that
it ran out of paper and ink with which to print money, and so had to stop
bailing out the banks. Another theory contends that the junta wants to put
the ethnic Chinese businessmen who run most of the banks in their place.
Or maybe it knows that the banks were not, in fact, run as tightly as the
rules required. One thing is certain: generals make poor bank regulators.
______________

Xinhua News Agency March 24 2003

Myanmar fetches 23 mln dlrs from gem sale

Myanmar has fetched a total of 23. 32 million US dollars from sale of
locally-produced quality gems through competitive biddings at an  annual
gems emporium which ended here Sunday evening.

Through tender and competitive bidding systems, of the 1,423 jade lots
displayed, 446 were sold, while of the 219 gems lots, 48 were sold, and of
the  224 pearl lots, 16 were sold at the 40th annual gems emporium.

Besides, through fixed price system, 1.44 million dollars worth of jade
figurines, jewelry, gems and jade lots were sold.

Although the proceeds from this year's gems emporium could not break the
past highest record of 30.7 million dollars gained in the event held last
November, it was registered as near to the second highest sale of 24.17
million dollars earned in the March annual one in 2000.

The nine-day state-sponsored gems emporium, which began on March 15,
attracted 622 merchants of 246 companies from 18 countries and regions,
mostly from China, China's Hong Kong and Thailand. The number of local gem
traders from 162 companies participating in the event reached 440.

Myanmar started holding annual gems emporiums in 1964, introducing
mid-year ones in addition since 1992 to boost the country's dollar
earning.

Since 1964, Myanmar has earned a total of 413.94 million dollars from its
gems emporiums as of now, according to official statistics.

Myanmar, a well-known gem producer in the world, is in possession of nine
gems --ruby, diamond, cat's eye, emerald, topaz, pearl, sapphire, coral
and variety of garnet tinged with yellow.

There are three famous gem lands in Myanmar --Mogok in Mandalay division,
Mongshu in Shan state and Phakant in Kachin state.

To develop the gem mining industry, Myanmar enacted the new gemstone law
in September 1995, allowing national entrepreneurs to mine, produce,
transport and sell finished gemstone and manufactured jewelry at home and
abroad.

Since April 2000, the government has started mining of gems and jade in
joint venture with 10 local private companies under profit sharing basis.
_________

Narinjara News March 24 2003

Burma  Bangladesh Friendship Bridge in the offing

 Following his return to Dhaka from Rangoon Communications Minister
Barrister Nazmul Huda in a press conference said that a bridge connecting
with Burma is the highest priority, according to the Bengali language
daily Janakantha, 23rd March.

The proposed bridge between Gundung on Bangladesh side and Taungbro on
Burmese side will span the common Naaf River.  A road from Taungbro to
Buthidaung, when constructed, will complete the road link to Rangoon from
Dhaka, he said.

The communications minister said that he has prioritised the matter of
construction of the bridge as Number One agenda and a survey team would be
sent there in ten days.  He also quoted part of Prime Minister Khaleda
Zia’s speech in Rangoon during her latest visit that Bangladesh has
initiated certain measures such as establishment of a river port in Teknaf
and Accounts Trade Agreement.

On 19th of this month, the two countries agreed to establish a road link
between Dhaka and Rangoon for easy communication and increase
people-to-people contact while the Prime Minister of Bangladesh was on a
tour to the capital of Burma.  The name of the road was agreed to be
called as ‘Myanmar  Bangladesh Friendship Road.’  The major decision on
the road was reached at the official round of talks between the two prime
ministers of Bangladesh and Burma.  In presence of the two premieres the
two communications ministers from the two countries signed two MoUs on
Account Trade and establishment of Joint Trade Commission, at the
Parliament Building (Pyithu Hluttaw). Another MoU on coastal shipping was
signed the following day.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh M Morshed Khan said in Rangoon on 19th
March that construction of the proposed Friendship Road and bridge over
the River Naaf would commence within months and is expected to be
completed in this year.

The communications minister stressed that the construction of the road
would be completed at the earliest so that the Prime Minister could make
her next trip to Rangoon on this road.

REGIONAL

Xinhua News Agency March 24 2003

Thai army to cooperate with Myanmar in taking minority troops away from
border

Picharnmet Muangmanee, commander-designate of Thailand's 3rd Army, has
said he would work closely with Myanmar to move the Shan State Army (SSA)
and United Wa State Army (UWSA) from the border area, the Bangkok Post
reported Monday.

Picharnmet, who was named the Third Army chief in a reshuffle last week
and will be promoted to take over the position from April 1, will be in
charge of the security in the northwestern provinces along Thai-Myanmar
border.

The presence of SSA and UWSA along the border has long caused problems for
the Thai-Myanmar relations.

The UWSA has been accused of being the main force behind the millions of
methamphetamine pills flooding in the kingdom weekly. The US State
Department claimed the 20,000-strong UWSA is the world's largest
drug-trafficking army.

Meanwhile, the Thai Army has been accused by the Myanmar government of
supporting Myanmar's anti-government ethnic minority rebels, including the
SSA.

Picharnmet pointed out that Thailand would make arrangements for the SSA
to move away from the border, while Myanmar would do the same with the
UWSA, stressing that Thai soldiers will absolutely not use force in
dealing with the SSA.

By the removal of the two armies out of the border area, Picharnmet said,
drug smuggling from Myanmar would be reduced, at the same time, Thailand
would help mediate truce talks between the Myanmar government and the
rebels.

The clearance of these ethnic minority troops will facilitate joint border
partrols by soldiers from Thailand and Myanmar, he added.
_________________

Bangkok Post March 24 2003

JUNTA LOOKS IN NO HURRY IN TALKS WITH SUU KYI
By LARRY JAGAN

Burma's fragile dialogue between the military junta and opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi has failed to moved forward for months now. Things have
gotten so bad that there now seems little prospect of the United
Nations-sponsored dialogue resolving the political deadlock.

What hopes there are are pinned on the current visit of Paulo Pinheiro,
the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma. Mr Pinheiro is in
Rangoon on his latest week-long mission to assess the situation before he
delivers a verbal report to the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights
Commission in Geneva in three weeks time.

Mr Pinheiro last November threatened to resign from his post if there was
no substantial progress on the recommendations he made in his last report
tabled at the UN General Assembly in New York. These included progress in
the dialogue process, the release of political prisoners and Rangoon
agreeing to an independent assessment of allegations of human rights
violations in ethnic minority areas, particularly Burma's northeast Shan
state _ where Burmese soldiers stand accused of deliberately and
systematically raping ethnic women, according to research in the area by
two Thai-based human rights groups. Mr Pinheiro is confident his proposals
on an independent inquiry into these allegations will be accepted by
Burma's military rulers during his current visit, a senior United Nations
official told the Bangkok Post.

But the special rapporteur is extremely disappointed that only a handful
of political prisoners have been freed since his last visit. No political
detainees were released for four months, until last Sunday when the
military authorities said they had released 49 prisoners. The opposition
has only been able to confirm that three students were among those freed.

The human rights envoy will be asking some very tough questions on the
issue of political prisoners during this visit,'' a UN official in New
York said.

The release of political prisoners has been one of the few concrete
results of secret talks between the UN and the military. More than 500
political prisoners have been released since the dialogue began more than
two years ago. International human rights groups estimate that there are
still more than 1,200 political prisoners in Burma's jails.

Burma's generals defend their position on security grounds. In order to
maintain security, we have to be very careful in how we release certain
prisoners,'' government spokesman Colonel Hla Min said. But that does not
mean that we won't release any more. We will.

But we also have to make sure that the country's security and peace is
maintained, so we have to do it gradually. Once we are confident that
security and stability will not be disturbed then we can go on releasing
prisoners.''

This reasoning is not something Mr Pinheiro accepted last year, so the
regime will have to find some convincing arguments for continuing to keep
so many political prisoners locked up.

Diplomats in Rangoon are convinced that the junta is using political
prisoners as a bargaining chip with the international community. So Mr
Pinheiro will have no alternative but to tell the generals that this is
unacceptable and they must release them as soon as possible.

The Burmese military authorities are going to have to provide the UN
special rapporteur with some major concessions if he is not to resign at
the end of the month after reporting back to the UN in Geneva. There is
every possibility that this may be professor Pinheiro's last visit,'' said
a senior UN official.

The UN envoy has come under increasing criticism from the Burmese
political opposition, who cannot accept his appeals to the international
community to credit the junta for some of the progress that has been made
and to engage the regime more rigorously rather than adopt tougher
sanctions. Many Western countries, particularly the United States and some
Europe nations, are beginning to feel tougher sanctions are necessary to
force the generals to keep their promises to introduce political reform.

There should be no question whatever about our commitment towards this
process of national reconciliation,'' Burma's Deputy Foreign Minister Khin
Maung Win said. The reconciliation process is very important. We are in
the process of transition to a democratic system because we want our
country to be developed and modernised.''

But despite the constant insistence on the part of Burma's military
leaders that they are committed to the dialogue, the reality suggests
otherwise. Since Ms Suu Kyi's release from house arrest more than nine
months ago, there has been little effort by the generals to talk to the
opposition leader.

I see it very simply,'' she told the Bangkok Post in an exclusive
interview recently at the National League for Democracy headquarters in
Rangoon. The SPDC State Peace and Development Council is just not ready to
talk. We've been trying to get to the negotiating table for 14 years but
they have never been keen on the idea.''

Ms Suu Kyi has been trying since her release to coax the regime into
serious political talks with herself and the NLD _ offering to cooperate
with the army on various matters, including some involving international
humanitarian assistance.

We have tried to make it very clear to the SPDC we do not want to be the
enemy,'' she said. We do not want to look upon them as the enemy. We are
in opposition to each other at the moment but we should work together for
the sake of the country.

We certainly bear no grudges against them. We are not out for vengeance.
We want to reach the kind of settlement which will be beneficial to
everybody, including the members of the military.''

But these repeated appeals have fallen on deaf ears. The top generals just
cannot bring themselves to meet Aung San Suu Kyi personally and prefer to
delay the day when the army has to acknowledge she has a crucial and
central role in Burma's political future,'' said a senior Western diplomat
in Rangoon.

In the meantime, UN officials are trying to arrange the next trip of
another special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, who helped to broker the
dialogue between the two sides. Military authorities have tried to deflect
the requests to schedule the visit for as soon as possible. They rejected
the requests in February by saying the government was too focused on the
country's financial problems to think about anything else at the moment''.

More recently, they have simply told the UN that it was not possible to
receive the envoy at the moment. They did not give any concrete reasons.
In fact, the military regime has virtually told the envoy to stop
contacting them and they would be in touch when they were ready, according
to diplomats in Rangoon.

UN sources believe this reflects the generals' wish to avoid having to
explain why the government has not had any contact with the opposition
leader for more than four months, nor met any of the promises made to Mr
Razali when he was last in Rangoon.

Mr Razali doesn't expect to return to Rangoon before the end of April at
the earliest,'' according to a senior UN source. And he may not be able to
visit before June the way things are going.''

In the meantime, the regime seems more committed to finding ways of
delaying talking to Ms Suu Kyi and dragging the dialogue process out
indefinitely.
___________

Bangkok Post March 24 2003

SHAN AND WA TO BE MOVED FROM FRONTIER
By Wassana Nanuam

The new commander-designate of the Third Army, Maj-Gen Picharnmet
Muangmanee, says he will work closely with Burma to move the Shan State
Army and United Wa State Army out of the border area.

The presence of SSA and UWSA along the border has long caused problems for
Thai-Burmese relations. Maj-Gen Picharnmet will be promoted to Lt-Gen and
take over the Third Army from April 1.

He said Thailand would make arrangements for the SSA to move away from the
border, while Burma would do the same with the UWSA. Thai soldiers will
absolutely not use force in dealing with the SSA. We have our own methods
for handling them,'' he said.

As a result, drug smuggling from Burma would be reduced.

He said drug suppression operations would be intensified, with the focus
on preventing smugglers entering Thailand and eradicating drugs within the
country. At the same time Thailand would help mediate truce talks between
Rangoon and minority rebels.

After that Thai and Burmese soldiers will conduct joint border patrols,''
Maj-Gen Picharnmet said.

When Maj-Gen Picharnmet was named the Third Army chief in the mid-year
reshuffle, critics said he was promoted only because he was a classmate of
Gen Chaisit Shinawatra, assistant army chief, and had close ties with
Payap Shinawatra, the prime minister's younger brother.

Maj-Gen Picharnmet yesterday admitted he was friends with Mr Payap, a
lecturer at Chiang Mai University, saying they attended the same class at
the National Defence College.

But I have never asked for a position from anyone. I want others to
recognise my capabilities. I think my superiors made the right choice,''
he said.
_____________

Kaladan Press March 22 2003

Bangladesh PM back from Burma

Chittagong, 22nd March: Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia returned home
yesterday afternoon from Rangoon, winding up her three-day official visit
to the Union of Burma. She visited the Burma at the invitation of
Burma Prime Minister, according to the BSS, Dhaka.

Bangladesh-Burma agreed to establish road-link between Dhaka and Rangoon
for any communication and to strengthen people to people contact by a
landmark development in relation between the two neighbors, according to
UNB, Rangoon.

A task force will be formed soon to implement the proposed direct road
communications, it further added.

The major decision was reached at the official talks between two Prime
Ministers.

Two sides also approved the signing of two MOUs on Account of Trade and
establishment of Joint Trade Commission aimed bolstering bilateral
economic cooperation. Another MOU on Coastal Shipping was signed. The
issue of avoidance of double taxation also came up in the meeting that
decided to sign a MOU on this matter in the near future, the UNB reported.

As the Burma side suggested upgrading the MOU on present annual
consultation between the two foreign ministers to an accord Joint
Commission on bilateral cooperation, the Bangladesh PM accepted the
proposition, said the UNB.

Bangladesh FM said construction of the proposed Bangladesh-Burma road and
bridge over river Naff would commence within month and is expected to
finish within this year.

FM of Bangladesh further said that communication ministers of the two
countries would meet on 20th March to work out a “detailed time bound
action programme” for construction of the Dhaka-Rangoon Road for cross-
border transportation.

The FM of Bangladesh said the summit level meeting also decided to have
military cooperation for capacity building of the armed forces through
training and sharing experiences.

About Bangladesh’s proposal for easing visa regime allowing a Bangladeshi
citizen to stay in Burma for more than 90 days, the Burma side assured of
taking immediate measures in the respect, The NUB reported.

Bangladesh made a strong plea for quick repatriation of the remaining
Rohingya refugees as UNHCR plans to wrap up its programme in the next few
months, the daily Star stated.

The two sides also decided to hold single-country trade fairs to boost
bilateral economic relations. A Bangladeshi Trade Fair begins in Rangoon
on 20th March.

Burma Prime Minister and Madam Than Shwe and senior ministers were present
at the airport to see Khalada Zia off.

Boys and girls of Burma wearing traditional dresses gave a rousing
farewell to the Bangladesh Prime Minister, stated in the paper.

INTERNATIONAL

Xinhua News Agency March 24 2003

Myanmar keeping silence on Iraqi War

The Myanmar government is still keeping silence on the  War in Iraq as the
war has entered the fifth day on Monday.

No statement has been issued by the government following the incident
unlike governments of many countries in the world, including members of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which have expressed their
serious concern over the war.

Meanwhile, some foreign diplomatic missions in Yangon have stepped up
security or warned their citizens travelling in Myanmar to take extra
safety precaution.

The US embassy here has urged its citizens in the country to register
themselves with it as soon as possible, influenced by a statement released
in Washington alerting Americans to the increased potential for
anti-American violence.

The statement reminded US citizens to maintain high vigilance and security
awareness.

The British embassy here is also taking security precaution against the
possibility of retaliatory action over Britain's involvement in the war in
Iraq.

The Pakistani embassy here has cancelled a national day reception here
scheduled for Monday.
_____________

Agence France Presse March 24 2003

Thailand pledges humanitarian assistance to post-war Iraq

Thailand pledged Monday to send humanitarian assistance, including a
medical team, to Iraq when hostilities subside.

"The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) has contacted
Thailand about the possibility of providing assistance in rebuilding
Iraq," foreign ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters.

"Thailand is ready to send in a medical team when the fighting eases. We
are ready to provide humanitarian assistance. We will have a good response
when we are asked," he said.

Thai foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the kingdom would be well
placed to provide assistance to refugees.

"We are talking with several organisations about providing humanitarian
assistance in Iraq, including dealing with any refugee problem, because
Thailand has had a long experience in dealing with refugees," he said.

Thailand has dealt with refugee influxes from neighbours Cambodia and
Myanmar in recent years.

The minister said Thailand would also provide food and medical aid, but
further assistance in rebuilding the country would depend on budgetary
restraints.