BurmaNet News: April 22-23 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

April 22-23 2002 Issue #2221

INSIDE BURMA

AFP: Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi complains for first time of stalled talks
Asian Tribune: Dying 189 Burmese political prisoners languishing in
prisons in Burma

DRUGS

Xinhua: Myanmar gets achievements in drug combat: official

MONEY

World Rainforest Movement Bulletin: Burma: Revival of the Weigyi dam
Irrawaddy: Fake kyat seized
Business Line: APSTC to auction Myanmar teak
Xinhua: Myanmar-built vessel for foreign company delivered
Xinhua: China presents seismographs to Myanmar
Wired News: Job site drops disfavored nations

ON THE BORDER

Irrawaddy: KNU stand by attacks
Irrawaddy: Sangklaburi activists apply for asylum

REGIONAL

Chinese premier to attend ASEAN SARS summit in Bangkok

MISCELLANEOUS

Job posting: Digital Divide Data

INSIDE BURMA

Agence France Presse April 23 2003

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi complains for first time of stalled talks

Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday complained for
the first time publicly about the lack of progress in national
reconciliation talks with the country's ruling military junta, a major
turnaround on her usually conciliatory stance.

"We have been concerned with the lack of process. We should move on to a
more advanced stage. We have been forced to question the integrity of the
SPDC (the ruling State Peace and Development Council) and their sincerity
in achieving national reconciliation," she told reporters.

"If they truly have the interests of the people at heart, they have got to
come to a settlement," she said, speaking at only the third press
conference she has given since her release from 19 months of house arrest
last May.

"I have come to the conclusion that the SPDC is not interested in national
reconciliation. We need to come to national reconciliation quickly for the
sake of the people and the country," she said.

Historic UN-brokered talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta began in
October 2000, but are widely known to have ground to a halt.

When asked why she thought that the SPDC did not want national
reconcliation she replied: "National reconciliation is change. They don't
want change, but change is inevitable."

"It is high time to proceed from the confidence-building stage to full
cooperation, especially in the humanitarian area, which would lead us to
general reconciliation and dialogue," she said.

"The SPDC has shown it is not keen to cooperate with us in matters of
humanitarian aid. Until such time that dialogue takes place there will be
no change in the situation."

Aung San Suu Kyi has previously maintained a consistently conciliatory
approach to the junta, and been extremely careful to avoid alienating the
ruling generals.

The charismatic leader also called on the military to allow Razali Ismail,
the UN secretary-general's special envoy to Myanmar who was instrumental
in brokering the talks, to make another visit to the country.

"As a special representative of the secretary-general of the UN who is
working towards a dialogue he should be allowed to visit any time he
wants, go anywhere he pleases and talk with anybody," she said.

"If we really respect the position of the United Nations we should let him
come here. I think it is for Razali to decide when he should come and not
have to wait for an invitation," she said.

Sources have told AFP that Razali has made four attempts to visit the
country this year, and was now expecting to visit the country in May.

Aung San Suu Kyi also said that her party's support for economic sanctions
remained in place.

"We have never called for economic sanctions. But our policy with regards
to sanctions remains unchanged until such time as negotiations take
place," she said.

The United States and European Union currently maintain sanctions against
the regime, including investment bans and restrictions on lending, and
have both threatened to tighten them due to concerns over Myanmar's human
rights record and its treatment of the NLD.

The EU earlier this month extended sanctions against Myanmar.

In December, Aung San Suu Kyi said she was "cautiously optimistic" that
political change would come to Myanmar.

Her party won a landslide 1990 election victory but has never been
permitted to rule by the military.
____________

Asian Tribune April 22 2003

Dying 189 Burmese political prisoners languishing in prisons in Burma

Asian Tribune recently received reports about the political prisoners
languishing in various Prison facilities Burma who are terminally ill. We
learnt with alarm that those political prisoners, who are kept in remote
prisons, very far away from their homes and relations, are the neglected
lots and they need the help of the international community if they are to
be saved from their grave illness and death.

Nearly 189 Burmese political prisoners in various prisons facilities in
Burma are dying. Immediate attention of the international community is
sought to speed up the release of theses dying political prisoners from
hell-hole, in other words from these prisons and send them immediately to
medical facilities to save them from the terminal diseases they are
suffering at present.

Asian Tribune is receiving reports from various quarters about the
incarceration and of the solitary confinement of hundreds of Prisoners in
various jails in Myanmar. Numerous prisoners at present languishing in
number of prisons are political activists and are members of National
League for Democracy a political Party struggling inside and outside
Myanmar for the restoration of democracy and people’s rule.

The Editorial Board of the Asian Tribune contacted reliable sources in
Rangoon to confirm the positions of these prisoners. Earlier the woeful
plight prisoners’ was highlighted in the article written by Zin Linn.
Burma: The Return of an Outrageous Cry

Zin Linn a political activist was also a political prisoner. In 1982
March, M.I.S Unit 7 arrested him and made lawsuit under 5 J and put into
solitary confinement for 2 years in Insein Jail. In May 1984 after two
years of imprisonment he was released from the prison. Again in 1991 -the
Military Court No.2 sentenced Zin Linn for 7 years imprisonment under
National Security Act 5 (J) due to delivering the NCGUB's bulletin &
statements and was released in 1997. Thus he ended up with a total 9 years
of imprisonment in Burma.

According to the information Asian Tribune received, there are about 1381
political prisoners in various prisons in Burma and out of this 189 is in
a very serious condition

Harsh conditions are still commonplace in some prisons and detention
centers, and some prisoners suffer from serious mental disorders resulting
from long periods of isolation.

Investigations made by Asian Tribune revealed that the most shocking an
alarming truth is that t 189 prisoners are suffering from terminal illness
and they are in the verge of dying. The sources that Asian Tribune
contacted told that only a miracle could save their lives.

Up to now no successful attempt is undertaken for the release of these 189
prisoners at present languishing in prisons under life threatening
conditions. Therefore, Asian Tribune wishes that a campaign should be
launched to free these 189 political prisoners, who are said to be living
corpse and majority of them have already lost their memories and senses
and are simply vegetables, not knowing what is happening to them or around
them.

Many of them are kept isolated and are in a demented state. Several of
them have lost memories about themselves and are walking corpse described
one source in Rangoon close to Asian Tribune.

A pitiable sight said a Rangoon based Asian diplomat. He added that these
political prisoners who put their life on line for the birth of democracy
in Burma are today dying unnoticed. These were one-time heroes of
democracy and should not be allowed to die as prisoners. Their release
should be arranged forthwith from the prisons and they are medically
rehabilitated for the good of the country said the diplomat who wish to
remain anonymous.

Interested readers and parties may contact and write to Asian Tribune,
info at asiantribune.com any of proposal regarding the release of these
prisoners.

Update list of political prisoners who need immediate medical treatment
No. Name Imprisoned Illness Prison
1. Aung San 7 years Depression Myingyan
2. Aung Naing 7 years Depression Myingyan
3. Aung Naing Oo 14-years Breast pain Pathein
4. Aung Kyaw Oo 14-years Depression Myitkyinar
5. Aung Kyaw Soe 7-years Stroke, Monoplegia Myaung Mya
6. Aung Zin- 7-years Heart disease Insein
7. Aung Zin Min 7-years Gastric and Depression Thayet
8. Aung Thu 20 years Arthritis Myingyan
9. Aung Myo Tint 12-years Heart disease Myaungmya
10. Aung Naing 20 years Hypertension Thayet
11. Aung Saw Oo 7-years Malaria, Dysentery Kalay
12. Aung Aung 24-years stroke (cannot walk) Myaungmya
13. Aung Khine 14-years Hypertension Myitkyinar
14. Aung Myint 21 years Gastric Ulcer, Hypertension Insein
15. Aung Myo Tint 12+7 years Heart disease Myaung Mya
16. Aung Pwint (Journalist) 21 years Gastric Ulcer Insein
17. Aung Than Nyunt 14-years Paralysis Insein
18. Aye Aung 45-years Malarial, Typhoid Kalay
19. Aye Myint Than 21-years Arthritis, Heart disease, Myaung Mya
20. Aye Than 7-years Hypertension Insein
21. Aye Kyu 21 years Hypertension, Gastritis Thayawaddy
22. Aung Kyaw Oo 10+7 years Mental Disorder Thayawaddy
23. Ba Htoo Say 7-years Tuberculosis Thayet
24. Ba Min 7-years Anemia Myitkyinar
25. Chit Ko Ko 7-years Mental Trauma Mandalay
26. Doh Daung,U(NLD-MP) 7-years Chest-pain, Hyper-tension Mandalay
27. Dr Min Soe Lin(Mon-M.P) 7-years Hernia Maw-la-mying
28. Dr. Myint Naing (MP) 25+5 –years Sinusitis, Oitis Media Thayet
29. Dr Min Kyi Win (Mon-M.P) 7-years Heart disease , Depression Maw-la-mying
30. Dr May Win Myint 7-years Heart disease, Coronary insufficiency Insein
31. Dr Than Nyain 7-years Liver disease, Heart disease Insein Prison Hostipal
32. Dr Saline Tun Than 7 years Eye disease Insein Prison Hostipal
33. Han Nyunt 7 years Depression, Hallucination Myaungmya
34. Han Tin (NLD) 7 years Throat Cancer Myaung-mya
35. Hla Hla Win 7-years Heart Disease Insein
36. Hla Shwe 7 years Cardiac Disease Thayet
37. Hlaing Win Swe 7 years Eye-sight Failure Myaung-mya
38. Htwe Khine 7 years Heart Disease Thayawaddy
39. Htwe Myint 7-years Neurological failure Rongoon general Hospital
40. Hla Win 15-years Piles Maw-la-mying
41. Htay Nyunt 20+4 years Depression Mandalay
42. Htay Thein 20 years Depression Mandalay
43. Htay Win Aung 7+7-years Cataract, Migraine Insein
44. Htein Linn 7 years Gastric Ulcer Myitkyinar
45. Khin Moe Aye 7-years Hypertension Insein
46. Khin Khin Leh Lifesentenced Rheumatoid Arthritic Insein
47. Khin Mar Yee 7-years Osteoarthritis Insein
48. Khin Cho Myint 7-years Arthritis Mawlymine
49. Khin Zaw 20 years Cataract, Migraine Thayawaddy
50. Khin Zaw Win,Dr 15 years Hypertension, Piles bleeding Myitkyinar
51. Kyu Kyu Mar 21-years Arthritis Insein
52. Khaing Soe (Araken) Life Heart & kidney problem Insein
53. Kyi Kyi Win (N.L.D) 14-years Arthritis Mandalay
54. Kyaw Zin Htwe 21-years Convulsion Pathein
55. Kyaw Mya(C.P.B) 20-years Gastric Ulcer Pathein
56. Ko Ko Gyi 20-years Limpoma chest and back Thayet
57. Kyaw Khaing@ Phoe La Pyaye 7 years Arthritis Pathein
58. Kyaw Kyaw Tun 7-years Hernia, Piles bleeding Myaungmya
59. Kyaw Wai Soe 12 years Gastric Pain Pathein
60. Kyi Tin Oo (author) 7 years Heart disease Insein
61. Kyi Thaung 7-years Eye-sight Failure Myaungmya
62. Kyaw Min Tun 7 years Mental disorder Insein
63. Ko Ko Htwe 7-years Neuropathy, Cataract Myaungmya
64. Ko Ko Zaw 7-years Hypertension and Heart disease Maw-la-mying
65. Kyaw Nyunt( NLD) 14-years Ear disease(total deafness) Mandalay
66. Kyaw Oo 7-years Severe Asthma, Migraine Myaungmya
67. Kyaing Tun 7-years Glaucoma Maw-la-mying
68. Leh Leh 7-years Rheumatism Insein
69. Lwin Nyein NLD 7-years Hernia, Hepatitis Myaungmya
70. Letyar Win (Poet) 7years Anemia Pathein
71. Mann Maung Wah 7-years General Break-down Myaungmya
72. MannPhu Lone 7-years Seriously Sick Myaungmya
73. Mar Mar Oo 14-years Rheumatoid Arthritis, Urtecaria Insein
74. Maung Maung 10+6 years Depression, Anorexia Mandalay
75. Maung Maung Lay 7-years Chest pain Myaungmya
76. Maung Maung Oo 10 years Anemia Mandalay
77. Maung Oo 7-years Hernia Myaungmya
78. Maung Tin) 12 years General weakness and Anemia Maw-la-mying
79. Min Zaw Oo 7-years Heart vessel disease Myaungmya
80. Min Thu 7 years Coronary Heart Disease Insein
81. Min Tin 7-years Chest pain Myaungmya
82. Min Zaw 14 years Depression, Insein
83. Mon Ngwe Thein 7-years Fistula in Anus, Urinary Track Infection
Maw-la-mying
84. Mya Sabai Moe 21 years Convulsion, Paralysis of limbs Shwebo
85. Myat San (N.L.D) 20-years Gastric Ulcer, Tuberculosis Insein
86. Myo Aung 14-years Gastric Ulcer Insein
87. Myo Min Htaik 52 years Heart, Lung disease, Pile Pathein
88. Myo Min LWIN 7 years Eye disease Myaungmya
89. Myo Min Thein 7-years Heart Disease Myaungmya
90. Myo Min Zaw 52-years Gastric Pain Pathein
91. Myo Htun 7 years Arthritis, Tonsillitis Abscess Shwebo
92. Myo Myint 7 years Coronary Heart Disease Thayet
93. Myo Myint 7-years Heart disease Tharwaddy
94. Myo Naing 7-years Gout Myaungmya
95. Myo Thein 7-years Gout Myaungmya
96. Naing Aung Than Death Gastric Maw-la-mying
97. Naing Aung Mon 7 years Gastric Ulcer Myaungmya
98. Naing Myint 20-years Depression Mandalay
99. Nay Tin Myint 20-years Gastric Ulcer Inn Sein
100. Nay Lin Soe 14-years Eye disease Kalay
101. Naing Ngwe Thein 7-years Urinary Track Infection Maw-la-mying
102. Ne Zar Phyoe 7 years Mental Trauma, Gastric Maw-la-mying
103. Naine Naine 21-years Hernia, Heart vessel disease Insein
104. Ngwe Lin 7 yrs Bleeding pre Rectum Thayawaddy
105. Nyi Nyi(Myo San) 7 years Sinusitis, Oitis Media Myaungmya
106. Nyunt Yin , Daw Death-penalty Anemia, Hypertension Insein
107. Ohn Maung 7 years Anemia Insein
108. Ohn Kyaing 7 years liver disease, Insein Prison Hostipal
109. Pado Than Hla 10+7 years Bleeding Piles Taung-oo
110. Pe Ko Oo Life Tuberculosis Thayet
111. Phone Thet Paing 7 years Heart disease Myin-gyan
112. Sa Saw Htoo 14-years Spondylitis Myaungmya
113. Saw Nay Dun Life-sentenced TB and Gastric Ulcer Thayet
114. Saw Benson 20-years heart disease and Bronchitis Thayawaddy
115. Saw Tha Way Life sentenced TB and Gastric Ulcer Thayet
116. Sanny Thein 7 years General Break-down Myaungmya
117. San Hla Baw 25-years Glaucomam Maw-la-mying
118. San Nu 10 years Stroke and Renal Failure Myaungmya
119. Sein Hla Oo 7 years Serious skin infection Tharwaddy
120. Sein Lin 7-years Hernia, Hypertension Myitkyinar
121. Sein Win 10 years Heart Disease, Chest-pain Mandalay
122. Shwe Maung 7 years Gastric Ulcer Myingyan
123. Soe Myint 7-years Typhoid Kalay
124. Soe Myint 7-years Stroke Thayawaddy
125. Soe Myint 7-years Hypertension, Diabetes Insein
126. Soe Moe Naing 10+7 years Arthritis Pa-thein
127. Soe Win 24-years Mental Trauma Mandalay
128. Thar Ban 7-years Severe Eczema Myaungmya
129. Tha Lin Htin 7 years Heart Disease Kalay
130. Than Maung 14 years Chest infection, Neuropathy, Myaungmya
131. Than Lwin 7-years Malarial and Arthritis Maw-la-mying
132. Than Than Htay7-years Rheumatoid Arthritis Myaungmya
133. Than Naing 20+7 yrs Suicidal tendency 3 times Maw-la-mying
134. Than Hteik br7-years Heart Disease Myaungmya
135. Thaung Kyi 14 years Neuropathy (Family can't visit) Myaungmya
136. Thawda Tun 7 years Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tonsillitis Insein
137. Thein Htay 7-years Gastric Ulcer Pathein
138. Thein Htwe 7-years Tuberculosis Pathein
139. Thein Tan 10+7 years Heart Disease (Age:73) Thayet
140. Thet Naing 7-years Neuropathy Myitkyinar
141. Thet Win Aung 59 years Malarial Kham-ti
142. Thet Htun 10 years Paraplegia Myin-gyan
143. Thet Htun Oo 7-years Malaria Myaungmya
144. Thida Htwe 7 years Steel-rod in broken arm, overdue ; Low B.P. Insein
145. Thi Thi Aung 7 years Renal failure, Edema Thayawaddy
146. Thura 14 years Anamia Insein
147. Thu Wai 7 years Chronic Bronchitis,Urithritis Insein
148. Thura Kyaw Zin 7-years Hypertension, Gastric Myaungmya
149. Thwe Khaing Heart disease Insein
150. Tin Hoe 7-years Kidney Disease Myaungmya
151. Tin Soe 7-years Hernia, Piles Myaungmya
152. Tin Tun 20-yrs Heart disease &Hypertension Rongoon GH
153. Tin Myint 10 years Depression Mandalay
154. Tin Aye 7-years Skin infection, severe stress Taungoo
155. Tin Aung 20-years Hypertension, Diabetes Kalay
156. Tin Cho 7-years Hypertension Mandalay
157. Tin Thaung Blurred vision Myaungmya
158. Tin Win 7-years Stroke Thayet
159. Toe Po 7yrs Hypertension, Piles Insein Prison Hostipal
160. Toe Toe 7-years Severe Eczema Myaungmya
161. Tun Aye 7-years Tuberculosis Thayet
162. Tun Aung Kyaw 7-years Tuberculosis Mandalay
163. Tun Tun Oo 20-years Gastric Ulcer Insein
164. Tin Aye Kyu 20 years Hypertension, Depression Mandalay
165. Tun Myint 7-years Hypertension Mandalay
166. Tun Myint 21 years Cataract , Hypertension Insein
167. Win Aung 7+7-years Hypertension, Depression, Maw-la-mying
168. Win Naing 14-years Heart disease Maw-la-mying
169. Win Kywe 10-years Stroke and Mental Trauma Maw-la-mying
170. Wunna Maung 7-years Heart disease Mandalay
171. Winn Naing 7 years heart problem, chest pain Maw-la-mying
172. Win Tin 59-years Heart disease, Lung disease, U.T.I Kandy
173. Yan Gyi Aung 20-years Ulcer Maw-la-mying
174. Yan Naing Min 20-years Hernia, Hallucination Mandalay
175. Ye Maw Htoo 10-years Elephantiasis Insein
176. Ye Min Naing 7 years Sore eyes Myaungmya
177. Ye Mon Kyaw 14 years Gastric Ulcer Myaungmya
178. Yi Mo 7 years Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tonsillitis Myaungmya
179. Yin Mon 7 years Heart problem, chest pain Myitkyinar
180. Zaw Naing 7 years Tuberculosis Thayet
181. Zaw Than Htike 14-years Gastric Ulcer Pathein
182. Ze-ya 15-years Pile Thayawaddy
183. Zaw Htoo Life Gastric , Hypertension Myaungmya
184. Zaw Hmaing Wai 7 years General weakness Mandalay
185. Zaw Min 10 years Mental illness, Gastric Thayet
187. Zaw Min Htun 7 years Cardiac Disorder Myaungmya
188. Zaw Tun 7 + 7 yearsMental Trauma , Anemia Thayawaddy
189. Zin Bo 7 years Malaria Myaungmya

DRUGS

Xinhua News Agency April 23 2003

Myanmar gets achievements in drug combat: official

Since 1989, the Myanmar government has worked out a strategy to develop
the infrastructure of the border areas and upgrade the living standards of
people to gradually phase out poppy cultivation in the country, a Myanmar
minister has said.

Home Affairs Minister Tin Hlaing, also chairman of the Central Committee
for Drug Abuse Control, made the remarks at an anti-drug meeting of the
United Nations held in Vienna on April 8-17, newspaper The New Light of
Myanmar reported Wednesday.

He said at the 46th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drug, organized
by the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime, that after the
establishment of Myanmar's first opium-free zone in Mongla, eastern Shan
state, in 1997, the Kokang Special Region-1 declared that it stopped poppy
cultivation in 2003 with the Wa Special Region-2 promising to follow suit
in 2005.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar government started in 1999 launching a 15-year plan
of total drug eradication in the country.

As part of the plan, a pilot project named "New Destiny" has been launched
since April 2002, collecting poppy seeds from growers and exchanging with
them agricultural crops.

At the same time, the authorities carried out destruction of poppy seeds
handed over voluntarily by the growers. So far a total of 165.95 tons of
poppy seeds have been burnt and destroyed, enabling the prevention of
41,128 hectares from illicit cultivation which could produce 44.17 tons of
opium, he disclosed.

Myanmar's poppy cultivation area and opium production were estimated to
have dropped sharply to 77,700 hectares and 630 tons in 2002 from 163,110
hectares and 2,560 tons in 1996 respectively.

It represented a 77 percent reduction within seven years, he pointed out.

In the law enforcement sector, he noted there has been a marked decline in
the amount of opium and heroin seized in the country in the past few
years.

However, he warned that growing problems of stimulant drug tablets have
prompted Myanmar to cooperate with neighboring countries in the region on
a bilateral, trilateral and multilateral basis.

He stressed the need to step up cooperation at the regional, sub-regional
and bilateral level to overcome drug-related problem.

MONEY

World Rainforest Movement Bulletin #67 February 2003

Burma: Revival of the Weigyi dam"

 First commissioned in 1964, the World-Bank funded Bhumiphol dam in Tak 
province, north west Thailand, has never operated to its full capacity.
In March 1994, the reservoirs behind the Bhumiphol and Sirikit dams (both
World Bank-funded) contained only 7 per cent of their total usable
volume. The Thai government's answer is to propose yet more dams on the
Salween River, on the Thai-Burma border in order to divert water into the
Bhumiphol reservoir.

 The Salween river runs along the edge of Thailand for several dozen
 kilometres. It passes through mountains and rainforests, until recently
the scene of armed insurrection. Thailand plans to deprive the
Salween--as well as other rivers running along the border--of some of the
plentiful monsoon rainfall diverting it towards the reservoirs of its own
dams and using also the natural resource as a source of electrical power.

Recently, plans by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
(EGAT) to build the Weigyi dam between Thailand's Maehongson Province and
Burma's Karen State, have been revived. The dam will have a back  flood
that will go as far as 380-400 km to the north. Weigyi "Great Whirlpool",
after completion, will be 168 meters high, with a generating capacity of
4,540 MW at an estimated cost of US$ 6 billion.

 The Thailand-based environmental NGO TERRA (Towards Ecological
 Recovery and Regional Alliance) says the reservoir, with a normal high
water level of 220 meters will be inundating 15,000 - 20,000 acres of
land that will displace thousands of Karenni people in Burmese Kayah
State. The extent of the damage, however, remains to be investigated,
though an EGAT reporting to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
promises probable destruction of thousands of acres of forest areas on
both sides of the Salween River.

The Weigyi dam nonetheless still requires official approval from Rangoon,
that had already signed an agreement with Thai-based MDX  Group last
December to construct a 3,300 megawatt dam at Shan State's Tasarng, 400 km
upstream.

 The Burmese Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has already
confirmed since Burma's Independence Day, 4 January, that it is firmly
against foreign investments until substantive talks between the
Opposition and military rulers are in place. Shans, Karens and Karennis
have also voiced their condemnations on the dam projects since 1993.
"This is a life and death issue," says a Karenni representative. "The
Weigyi Dam would split the Karenni in two. It would be the final nail in
our coffin.
Damming the Salween affects us in so many ways: economically, socially,
culturally, environmentally. It will break the Karennis' rice pot."

 Article based on information from: "Environment Dam in Karen State will
still flood Shan State", Shan Herald Agency for News, 20 February 2003,
disseminated by electronic list owner-irn-mekong at netvista.net;  "A
paradoxical Alliance, Thailand taps Burma's rivers", André and
 Louis Boucaud, Le Monde Diplomatique,
http://mondediplo.com/2000/02/10boucaud
 "Over the hills and not so far away. The Karenni people of Kayah state in
Burma will live and die with their resources,", by James Fahn
 http://www.geocities.com/jdfahn/Karenni.htm
____________

Irrawaddy April 22 2003

Fake Kyat Seized
By Aung Su Shin

Six million kyat (US $6,000) in counterfeit notes were seized from a
Burmese man on Apr 19 as he crossed an area controlled by the Karen
National Union (KNU) opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot District, according to
KNU officials.
KNU battalion 101 arrested Nyunt Khin, 37, from the Mon State capital of
Moulmein, after a search revealed fake 500 and 1,000 kyat bills. He denied
manufacturing the notes and said he had been hired to carry them to
Rangoon.
Captain Thar Htoo Kyaw, of KNU battalion 101, said the man might have been
planning to use the counterfeit bills to purchase cattle from Karen
villagers living in the area. He said the villagers were vulnerable, as
most of them cannot tell the difference between fake and genuine Burmese
currency notes.
"We have to protect our innocent villagers," said Captain Thar Htoo Kyaw.
"If these people are going to buy cattle with this money our people will
suffer." He said Nyunt Khin had already been sentenced to six years in
prison with labor under Karen law.
KNU officials said the six million kyat seizure was significant. They said
that during all of 2002 they were only able to intercept one million kyat
in counterfeit notes from this particular area.
A moneychanger in Mae Sot, opposite Myawaddy, Burma, said they
occasionally come across fake Burmese banknotes in the border markets. "We
used to get one or two banknotes among the bundles of money when the
merchants came to change kyat for Thai baht," he said. "But the real
merchants don’t dare deal in fake banknotes because they will lose their
credit in the market."
Karen traders from the area who travel to border areas to sell cattle and
agricultural products say they do not bring their earnings directly home
for fear of being robbed in this remote area of Karen State.
Instead, they transfer their money back to Burma via merchants in Mae Sot
or buy necessary commodities before returning. "I don’t dare take money
along with me through the jungle," said one Burmese cattle trader.
__________________

Business Line April 19 2003

APSTC TO AUCTION MYANMAR TEAK

VISAKHAPATNAM, April 18. THE Andhra Pradesh State Trading Corporation
(APSTC) is for the first time importing teak from Myanmar and planning to
sell it to the public at cheaper rates.

The first consignment of teak from Myanmar arrived on Friday and the
unloading would be completed by Saturday. Mr Prakasa Rao, Deputy General
Manager (Exports and Imports), said that APSTC has tied up with the
Hyderabad-based firm, Anuradha Timber Estates, to procure quality teak
from Myanmar and sell it to the public through public auctions at
different places in the State.

The teak from Myanmar, known locally as Burma teak, enjoys heavy demand in
the State but the prices are high, as there are too many middlemen and as
such is out of the reach of the common man, he added.

APSTC would procure all varieties of teak from Myanmar and plans to bring
at least two consignments in a month.

Mr Tirupathi Rao, Managing Director of Anuradha Timber Estates, said that
his company was a family concern with nearly 100 years of expertise and
experience in the timber trade.

"Currently, nearly Rs 7,000 crore worth of teak is being imported and sold
in the country, but the business is monopolised by 4-5 companies and their
margins are very high," he added. "In Andhra Pradesh, one of the biggest
markets, Rs 1,000 crore worth of teak is sold. In the joint venture with
the APSTC, we wish to supply teak to the public at reasonable rates."

According to him, importing teak through Vizag would result in reduced
freight and there would be at least 25-30 per cent difference in price.

Mr Tirupathi Rao also said that 1,400 tonnes had been imported in the
first consignment and the handling had been entrusted to Srinivasa
Transports, Shipping and Logistics.

Public auctions would be held at Vizag, Tirupati, Nellore, Vijayawada,
Hyderabad, Warangal, Kurnool and Rajahmundry.

Later, teak would be imported from other countries such as Malaysia and
Ivory Coast as well. "We are confident of a good response from the
public."
________

Xinhua News Agency April 22 2003

Myanmar-built vessel for foreign company delivered

Myanmar has delivered to a Singaporean company an offshore oil exploration
utility vessel built by the Myanma Shipyards (MS), a state-run enterprise
under the Ministry of Transport, official newspaper The New Light of
Myanmar reported Tuesday.

The Jaya Gold-2 vessel, built for the Jaya Marine Lines Private Ltd of
Singapore and handed over here on Monday, is 56 meters long, 13.6 meters
wide and 5.2 meters high with a draught of 3.5 meters.

It is operable by 52 crews.

The 2.44-million-US-dollar vessel, which can carry about 1,200 tons of
materials for the offshore drilling platform, is installed with two
1,750-horsepower main diesel engines and three 315- kilowatt generators
and can travel 12 nautical miles (22.23 kilometers) per hour, the report
said.

The report claimed that the Myanmar-built vessel meets the set standard of
the maritime law prescribed by the Singaporean government and
international maritime laws, and has secured the certificate of the
highest grade from Lloids Register of Shipping (LRS), an international
ship building inspection and registration organization.

Myanmar has made certain progress in ship building in recent years with
the encouragement of the government. Since 1995, the MS has successively
built and delivered six vessels to marine companies of two Southeast Asian
countries --Indonesia and Singapore, according to the ministry 's figures.
Of them, four transporters were built for Singapore. Official statistics
also show that since 1988, Myanmar has built over 30 vessels for cargo and
passenger services and imported over 100 passenger and cargo vessels to
improve its inland water transport, of which 72 were imported from China's
Yunnan Machinery Import and Export Corporation.

So far, Myanmar owns 721 state-owned vessels for its inland water
transport services and 23 ocean vessels engaged in overseas and coastal
shipping services.
_______

Xinhua News Agency April 22 2003

China presents seismographs to Myanmar

A ceremony to hand over two digital seismographs donated by the Chinese
government to the Myanmar government was held here Tuesday.

Myanmar Minister of Transport Hla Myint Swe said at the ceremony that
Myanmar is a country located on the Alphide Himalaya earthquake belt with
frequent such activities. The two sets of digital seismographs presented
by the Chinese government would promote Myanmar's launching of the
seismographic tasks.

He expressed thanks to the Chinese government for its generous donation,
hoping the two sides would continue to strengthen the friendly and
mutually beneficial cooperation.

On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Li Jinjun said China and
Myanmar are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. The peoples
of the two countries have forged deep  " paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship
amid long exchange.

In recent years, he noted, reciprocal visits of leaders of the two
countries have been frequent. These visits at high level have pushed the
cooperative ties of the Sino-Myanmar friendship toward a new stage.

He added that their visits have brought about common views of enhancing
the exchange and cooperation in the fields of economy, technology, science
and culture.

He stressed that the hand-over of the digital seismographs is a concrete
step of realizing the common views reached between leaders of the two
countries.

The two sets of digital seismographs presented by China is valued at
960,000 Chinese renminbi yuans (about 117,000 US dollars) and is the best
equipment in terms of technology being used in China.
____________

Wired News April 23 2003

Job Site Drops Disfavored Nations

In what it described as an effort to comply with government regulations,
Monster.com will soon begin deleting certain references on users' resumes
to nations not in good diplomatic standing with the United States.
Starting on Thursday, the job site will remove listings selected from its
scroll-down menus -- used when creating or modifying a resume -- that
refer to seven countries: Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea,
Sudan and Syria.
In an e-mail sent to affected account holders, Monster said it was making
the changes to comply with the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of
Foreign Assets Control, and some states, that "maintain sanctions which
prohibit U.S. companies from conducting certain business activities with
organizations located in or residents of" the seven countries.
"We just want to be in full compliance with federal regulations," said
Kevin Mullins, spokesman for Monster.com, which has more than 26 million
resumes in its database. He said the change will affect fewer than one
percent of the site's users.
Mullins said the policy change is meant only to apply to selections
entered into drop-down menus on the Monster.com site, where members choose
from a pre-set list of countries in response to questions about their job
history or employment goals. Users who selected those nations in the past
will have the references deleted.
However, members will be able to include references to the seven countries
in other sections of the resume-building site meant for storing more
detailed information about their education or work experience, Mullins
said.
Ali Moayedian, who helps run a website for Iranian Americans, said many
Monster users were led by the company's e-mail message to believe that
they could not have any references to the seven sanctioned countries on
their resumes.
"It says if the nation is on your resume it will be deleted," he said.
Richard M. Smith, an Internet security consultant, said he believes
Monster.com is "misinterpreting the intention of the sanctions" by
removing names of countries from its members' records.
"My impression is that sometimes legal departments in companies go
overboard and do things that are not in the interests of the company," he
said, adding that the new policy could alienate users.
Mullins said that's not Monster.com's intent.
"We're not trying to discriminate against people who are originally from
those countries or have an education in those countries," Mullins said.
Rather, he said, the company wants to make sure people do not use its site
to do business with companies or individuals in countries that are subject
to U.S. sanctions.

ON THE BORDER

Irrawaddy April 23 2003

KNU Stand by Attacks
By Naw Seng

The Karen Nation Union (KNU) says it will carry out further attacks
against Burma’s military government if the rights of ethnic minority
groups continue to be suppressed and talks with the opposition National
League for Democracy remain shelved, according to the KNU’s general
secretary.
The declaration came in response to Burma’s ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) labeling the KNU an "ethnic terrorist group" in
a statement released yesterday, after the KNU announced on Saturday that
it was responsible for a series of attacks on a gas pipeline in Burma
beginning in Feb. The SPDC also urged the KNU in yesterday’s statement to
give up its "militant policy of violence and terrorism".
KNU Gen-Sec Padoe Mahn Shar defended the decision to bomb the pipeline
saying, "We have to do something in reaction to the junta’s despotic
acts." The KNU said in a statement released on Saturday that they choose
the pipeline because it was generating cash reserves to purchase military
hardware that was being used against the Karen.
The regime, however, said that the natural gas pipeline is not simply
state owned, but that it belongs to over 50 million Burmese citizens,
according to yesterday’s statement.
"We are ready to talk tomorrow if the junta stops its operation today,"
Padoe Mahn Shar said.
Yesterday’s government statement also accused the Karen, Shan and Karenni
of wanting independence, while the National League for Democracy only
desired political reform. Padoe Mahn Shar said that is deliberate
"scandalmongering" by the regime, saying they would accept federalism over
independence.
___________

Irrawaddy April 22 2003
Sangklaburi Activists Apply for Asylum
By Naw Seng

Thailand’s United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office
agreed in Feb to review asylum applications from Burmese democracy
activists living in Thailand’s Sangklaburi District, according to sources
familiar with the situation.
Western diplomats and Thai-based NGO’s reportedly pressured the UN body to
again accept applications after the Thai government began cracking down on
activists living in the area late last year. Opposition leaders from
Sangklaburi also played a role in the negotiations, according to sources
there.
"Over 20 opposition members have submitted their applications," said Aung
Kyaw Soe, from the Democratic Party for a New Society, and who was
arrested during a January sweep. He said more were planning to apply.

UNHCR officials in Bangkok and Sangklaburi declined to comment on the
issue, saying information concerning refugees is "confidential".
Those granted asylum, however, will reportedly have to live in the Tham
Hin Refugee Camp on the Thai-Burma border, or be moved to a third country.
UNHCR policy also stipulates that refugees granted asylum have to cut all
political affiliations.
Burma’s opposition New Mon State Party (NMSP), which has a liaison office
in Sangklaburi, said they were unaware of the new asylum situation but
said it would be up to its individual members to decide for themselves if
they wanted to seek political asylum.
To deal with the influx of Burmese student activists after the 1988
pro-democracy uprising in Burma, the UNHCR had originally established the
Maneeloy student holding center along the Thai-Burma border. But the camp
was officially closed at the end of 2001after thousands of students had
been relocated to third countries. Those left were moved to Tham Hin
Refugee Camp.

A small number of Burmese opposition members have resided in Sangklaburi
since 1988. It is considered, however, to be the most unstable area for
Burmese democracy activists in Thailand. Local authorities frequently
close opposition offices, and have on occasion escorted individuals back
to the border.

REGIONAL

Chinese premier to attend ASEAN SARS summit in Bangkok: Thailand

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will join leaders of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for a Bangkok summit next week aimed at
finding ways to deal with the SARS crisis which has wrought economic havoc
in the region, Thailand announced Wednesday.

"Chinese Prime Minister Wen will attend the meeting next Tuesday," Thai
Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai told reporters.

"The meeting will be divided into two sessions, an ASEAN session and ASEAN
plus China," he said.

"If ASEAN and China can agree about cooperation (on SARS) it will boost
confidence for tourists to come back to the region."

The April 29 summit will be Wen's first overseas mission since taking
office last month, Surakiart added.

The 10-member ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has been blamed for at least 248 deaths
around the world, mainly in Asia, including 106 in China.

MISCELLANEOUS

Job Posting: Digital Divide Data

Job Opportunity

Operations Manager Trainee
Phnom Penh and Battambang, Cambodia
Vientiane, Lao PDR

Innovative data services enterprise based in Phnom Penh seeks two
management trainees for the position of Operations Manager Trainee to open
new production sites.

Selected applicants will spend 3 months in paid training in Phnom Penh
office and a 6 month internship at a production site.

Job Requirements

Successful candidates will demonstrate:
3+ years business management experience
Strong proficiency in written and oral English language
Strong information technology skills, including network administration
plus word processing, database and spreadsheet applications
Understanding of NGO community and DDD’s business and social mission
Burmese national or refugee status

About Digital Divide Data
Digital Divide Data (DDD) is a non-profit cooperative employing more than
80 disadvantaged Cambodians in Phnom Penh in a data services outsourcing
business.  DDD was founded as a social enterprise.  Our mission is to
create jobs and educational opportunities in developing countries by
providing outsourcing services to business and public sector customers. 
We are established in the U.S. as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and as
a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Cambodia.  Our business employs
disadvantaged individuals, including people with disabilities, landmine
and polio victims, orphans and abused women.  Our clients include Bain
Capital, the Harvard University Crimson newspaper, Tufts University
Libraries and others.  Employees receive good wages according to local
standards as well as health benefits and further education and training
opportunities.   DDD is now expanding operations.  Over the next four
years, we plan to open production facilities in four additional locations,
enabling us to serve a growing customer base and provide jobs and
educational opportunities to for 500 people.  More information is
available at www.digitaldividedata.com


To apply, email letter of introduction and resume to
recruiter at digitaldividedata.com.

Job Opportunity

Operations Manager Trainee
Phnom Penh and Battambang, Cambodia
Vientiane, Lao PDR


Management Responsibilities

Business Systems Management
Translate customer requirements into production rules and processes
Manage workflow and backlog
Manage quality control process
Implement business reporting systems to report customer and financial results
Ensure financial accountability for the profitable operation of the work site
Coordinate and share best practices with managers at other DDD sites

Staff Management
Hire and train new employees
Oversee payroll and human resource issues
Guide a minimum skilled workforce to achieve high productivity and quality
levels
Allocate operators to different projects
Train employees to improve overall quality and productivity
Create an environment conducive to learning and personal growth

Business Development
Conduct local marketing
Work closely with the U.S.-based sales staff and local clients to
determine pricing policies, appropriate formats, and commitment dates for
new customer jobs.
Assure customer satisfaction and awareness
Work with government ministries to ensure adherence to local laws and
regulations