BurmaNet News: May 29 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

May 29 2003 Issue #2247

INSIDE BURMA

Independent: Burma’s tower plan for Bagan needles UN
Narinjara: Food shortage in Sittwe State Prison
Narinjara: Has a man buried alive come back to life?
NMG: Pickled tea giants reject the use of prison labor

ON THE BORDER

Irrawaddy: Burmese migrants and their employers warned
Bangkok Post: Aliens’ work permits to be renewed for another year

REGIONAL

NMG: Burmese nationals expelled from Bible school in India
Irrawaddy: Bangladesh delivers message to Burmese armed groups

EDITORIALS

WSJ: Fear in Burma

INSIDE BURMA

Independent May 29 2003

BURMA'S TOWER PLAN FOR BAGAN NEEDLES UN
by Jan McGirk

BURMA PLANS to erect a 200ft (60 metre) observation tower that would loom
over the venerable temple city of Bagan, despite concerns expressed by the
United Nations that it would be jarringly out of scale.

U Khin Maung Latt, the tourism director general, said construction of the
Nanmying, which translates as High Palace, could be completed in a year.
He said the tower would protect one of South-east Asia's most significant
archaeological sites by keeping tourists from climbing on fragile
monuments to take snapshots of sunsets.

Sprawling over 40 square kilometres, Bagan is the main tourist attraction
in Burma after the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon.

Bagan, the ancient capital, was described by the adventurer James Scott as
a "pagoda-studded plain" and has more than 2,000 exquisite temples,
pagodas and stupas dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

The UN, which has helped restore some of the earthquake-damaged monuments
since 1975, has designated Bagan a World Heritage Site. Preservationists
at the UN cultural agency Unesco are alarmed that the tower would detract
from the historical setting, a ghost city of monasteries, hidden frescoes,
and bell-shaped shrines. U Khin said the tower was inspired by traditional
architecture and would "enhance tourism".

The published plans show that the tower, which would be built beside a
golf course in the archaeological zone, would resemble a postmodern pagoda
crossed with a stunted Seattle space needle.
_______________________

Narinjara News May 29 2003

Food Shortage in Sittwe State Prison

The food shortage in the State Prison in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine
State in the western Burma has reached a critical point, according to a
prison official who declined to be identified.

In the face of the critical situation the prison officials have allowed
the relatives of the inmates to supply food from outside by taking monthly
bribes of between kyat 10,000 and 30,000 depending upon the nature of the
sentence, he said.  For the prisoners of conscience the bribe is always
bigger in amount.

U Maung Shwe Khaing (70) who has been imprisoned in the Sittwe Prison for
three years for possession of the picture of the Bamien Buddha Statue on
charges of ‘fomenting’ racial unrest soon after the destruction of the
image by the talibans in Afghanistan in 2001 cannot eat the food supplied
by the prison for its low quality and inadequate amount.  As such his
relatives have been paying monthly bribe of kyat 10,000 to the prison
officials only for sending food cooked at home to him, a family said to
our correspondent.

A recently released prisoner told our correspondent that the prison, which
has a capacity for holding 1,600 to 2,000 inmates, has been facing the
food crisis for a long period.  But the authority has never bothered about
taking any action or have failed to supply enough food for the inmates. 
He also said that there are instances of death caused by prolonged
malnutrition resulting from insufficient and inadequate food supplied to
the prison, and that there is no statistics to the number of deaths.

He said that he has seen dozens of people dying every month from
malnutrition and various diseases resulting from long exposure to
substandard and inadequate food in the prison.

Many of the prominent politicians of the 1988 Burmese Democracy Movement
including student leader Min Ko Naing have spent their prison terms in the
prison.
____________

Narinjara News May 29 2003

Had a man buried alive come back to life

Two men believed to be killed by the Burmese Army in 1997 are now rumoured
to be alive as a good number of Arakanese prisoners have recently been
released from various prisons, according to our correspondent.

In 1997, the two men  U San Gyaw, 54, a well-known footballer from Sittwe,
the capital of Rakhine State in western Burma, and Zeya Thami, 40, a
Buddhist monk hailing from Minbra township, were arrested in Sittwe on
charge of connection with the politicians living outside the country. 
Shortly after the arrest U San Gyaw was believed to be buried alive by the
Burmese Army on 11th August at Wadaung village under Kyauktaw Township
where the footballer was born.   On the other hand the Buddhist monk was
arrested by MI 10 at Sittwe and was believed to be killed at Maungdaw Town
bordering with Bangladesh.  He was arrested from the Mroma Buddhist
Monastery in Sittwe on 5th August, also on charges of involvement with
underground politics with the political groups outside the country.

Our source said that the military intelligence agents came with clothes of
U San Gyaw one day and forbade the family members not to do any religious
or other ceremonies in memory of the murdered goalkeeper and also not to
attract any attention of the public, and they threatened of dire
consequences of all those who would be found to use the death of the
sportsman into any situation that would create unrest.

Though the two persons have so far been believed to have been killed, the
recent release of a number of persons from various prisons have gave birth
to an unconfirmed report that the two are still behind bars in the
Yay-kyi-aing prison camp in Rangoon.  The family members of the long-dead
footballer are now eager to know the real truth about the position of
their beloved one: whether it is true that the man is still living or was
killed by live burial by the Burmese Army.  In absence of the legal or
other opportunity to enquire into the matter the near and dear ones of U
San Gyaw are in real trouble.

U San Gyaw was one of those rare Rakhine sportsman who were selected for
the state football team, and his was a household name for his hero-status
at home.
______________

Network Media Group May 29 2003

Pickled tea giants reject the use of prison labor

Two pickled tea giants of Burma, Ah Yee Taung and Yuzana, rejected on the
accusations of using prison labors in their production processes and
getting huge benefits from it.

Ko Thein Myint, youngest son of Ah-Yee-Taung family said, “It is totally
wrong, Ah Yee Taung has no deal with prison at all.”

U Zaw Tu, a manager from Yuzana company also rejected, “No, the news
agency might get wrong information and we do only Yuzana Tea leave
business.”

There have been reports from Burma that some business companies are
getting huge benefits by exploiting the use of prison labors without
charge. The companies were exploiting labors of prisoners in Burmese
notorious prisons including Mandalay, Thayet and Meik-Hti-La prisons in
areas of packing beans and pickles, and car-servicing workshops.

Ko Thein Myint from Ah Yee Taung said that though he knows the name of
company using prison labor at Meik-Hti-Lar prison, he didn't want to
reveal the name. “If you pay 3.3 viss of onion, you will get back 3 viss.
You need to pay 10 percent to the prison", he explained his knowledge on
payment for the prison.

However, according to reliable sources from Mandalay that a bean factory
in Meik-Hti-Lar owned by U Win Shwe who lives in Bayintnaung Sein Pann
street, Rangoon, is using prison labor at Meik-Hti-Lar.

When NMG asked Ah-Yee-Taung where they are getting raw materials, Thein
Myint said they have their own bean-producing factory in Meik-Hti-Lar.
And, U Zau Tu explained that Yuzana is getting raw materials from several
companies from Mandalay and Pa-Khok-Ku as well as sesame seeds from
Monywa.

A recent report from news agency based on border-area accused that these
leading tea leaves companies were exploiting prison labor, in an Internet
news distribution.

ON THE BORDER

Irrawaddy May 29 2003

Burmese Migrants and their Employers Warned
By Aung Su Shin

The chief of Thailand’s immigration police, Pol Lt-Gen Charnwut
Wacharapuk, yesterday sent a stern warning to Thais who house and employ
illegal migrant workers from Burma. He made his comments during a visit to
a Mae Sot immigration compound where 514 Burmese and their four Thai
employers were being detained.
"Burmese migrant workers are still sneaking into Thailand. When our
authorities arrested the migrant workers, we discovered that Thais were
aiding them," said Pol Lt-Gen Charnwut. Trafficking in Burmese migrants is
illegal and perpetrated by human smugglers and unscrupulous employers
using "dark influence" he added, in reference to the Thai government’s
recently launched campaign against mafia figures.
The immigration police chief also told the more than 500 detained Burmese
not to sneak back to Thailand after they were deported. "I sympathize with
you and I know why you have come here but according to the law we can not
allow you to work in Thailand illegally," he said. "So you better find a
job in your country."
A new program for tracking illegal migrants was also discussed at the
meeting between the arrested workers and immigration police. Starting next
month, anyone arrested for immigration violations in Mae Sot will have
their fingerprints taken and the prints will be catalogued on a computer.
Apprehended workers whose prints have previously been recorded will face
harsher penalties, according to Pol Lt-Gen Charnwut.
The arrested Burmese listened attentively as officials outlined the new
guidelines. Most are accustomed to being arrested multiple times and
expressed concern that the border’s revolving door seems to be closing.
"How can we go back home? Wages in Burma are 200-300 kyat (US $2-3) per
day. That is only 8-12 baht," said one of the detained workers. "Here we
can earn at least 70 baht per day, with which we can feed our family,"
added Win, 42, another Burmese migrant awaiting deportation.
Inflation, rising commodity prices and a lack of job opportunities in
Burma have caused many Burmese families to leave home for border areas
inside Thailand, China, India and Bangladesh. According to Thai officials,
about 1 million Burmese reside in Thailand, half of whom have work
permits. About 50,000 Burmese registered at the Tak Province labor office
in Mae Sot in 2002. Thirty thousand have done so this year.
Pol Lt-Gen Charnwut and his party arrived in Mae Sot yesterday evening in
advance of Deputy Prime Minister Korn Dabbaransri, who will arrive today.
Korn is scheduled to speak with authorities and private sector
representatives about the migrant worker situation before flying to
Rangoon for meetings with his Burmese counterparts.
Thailand has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning
imports of workers with Laos and plans to do so with Cambodia next
Saturday. Burma and Thailand have not yet agreed to an MOU.
________________

Bangkok Post May 29 2003

Aliens' work permits to be renewed for another year
By Penchan Charoensutthipan

The national panel tackling illegal alien labour problems has approved a
proposal seeking to renew work permits for 400,000 migrant workers for
another year.

Labour Minister Suwat Liptapanlop said 409,339 registered alien workers
would be allowed to renew licences for another year in the general labour,
fisheries, housework, animal farming and agricultural farming sectors.

Employers who hire alien workers would be required to register too.

The panel will now consider whether to renew work permits for people
working in factories and gas stations.

However, factories or firms with Board of Investment privileges would not
be allowed to employ alien workers.

Mr Suwat said the panel's next meeting would focus on imports of migrant
workers from neighbouring countries. Thailand has signed a memorandum of
understanding with Laos concerning imports of workers and is expected to
sign a similar MOU with Cambodia and Burma.

Alien workers are expected to receive their long-delayed work permits in
August.

Pinyo Veerasuksawat, member of an NGO on alien workers, says the
government has been too slow to issue work permits. Registered workers
carry a receipt as proof of registration, but that is all they get.

``They carry that piece of paper around and it is easily torn or damaged.
Several alien workers have been arrested or pressured for money,'' he
said.

REGIONAL

Network Media Group May 29 2003

Burmese nationals expelled from Bible school in India

Authorities from Banglore's Bible Schools are forcing students of Burmese
nationals to return as soon as possible to Burma after seizure of drugs
from three Burmese and two Chinese in Calcutta, a Burmese youth from
Banglore said.

Lushai tribe of Chin ethnic from Burma, namely Sang Niang Thanga, a head
of these drug smugglers who were captured by Indian authorities along with
24 Kg of ephedrine hydrochloride used to produce amphetamine in Calcutta
recently, was on wanted list. As he was graduated from PBBC college in
1997, the college authorities assumed that he degraded the esteem of
college and forcing all Burmese to back their own country.

Almost thirty Bible students including Kachin and Chin ethnic nationals
from Burma, who are studying at Parents Baptist Bible Collge in Banglore
were pushed back from school. A Burmese student, Zaw Latt Naung said
"School authorities are kicking out all students from Burma whether they
are new or old. To be frank, they don't accept any students from Burma."
"Because this guy who was arrested was graduated from this college in 97."

According to the reports, the where-about of S. N. Thanga is still unknown
by police and he is the one who masterminded behind that case.

The raid on May 19 was carried out by Narcotic Control Bureau in Calcutta
after getting information from Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA from USA)
informing that Burmese suspects were keeping drugs at the resident of
ex-official of Central Bureau of Investigation, reported in Indian
newspapers.
_____________

Irrawaddy May 29 2003

Bangladesh Delivers Message to Burmese Armed Groups
By Naw Seng

The Bangladeshi government has called on insurgent groups fighting the
Burmese junta to lay down their arms, amid warming relations between Dhaka
and Rangoon, a source on the Burma-Bangladesh border said.
The source said armed groups including the National Unity Party of Arakan,
the Arakan Rohingya National Organization and the Rohingya Solidarity
Organization were given the order by Bangladeshi authorities keen to
appease Rangoon.
Last week, officials from Burma and Bangladesh met for the first
high-level border conference in ten years. Delegates discussed
cross-border smuggling and human trafficking, fishing in the Bay of Bengal
and also agreed to exchange prisoners. They will meet again in six months.
Analysts on the border believe arms smuggling and insurgency were also
discussed at the three-day meeting.
A chief of Bangladesh’s border security forces, the Bangladesh Rifles,
told a reporter that they were working against arms smuggling. "We have
agreed to work to stop the smuggling of weapons," he said.
A source close to the armed groups said Bangladeshi officials have asked
them to surrender their weapons to the Burmese army. He said ethnic
leaders on the border with Bangladesh are willing to negotiate with
Burmese troops but have no intention of handing over their arms to the
ruling military.
Some of the groups would also welcome the Bangladeshi government as a
mediator, he explained.
Burma’s military government has accused Rohighya groups of links to
international terrorist groups including al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
However, the groups have denied any connection.
Relations between Burma and Bangladesh have been improving since Burma’s
military leader, Sr-Gen Than Shwe, visited Dhaka last December. In March,
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia traveled to Rangoon.

EDITORIALS

Wall Street Journal May 28 2003

Fear in Burma
By BENEDICT ROGERS

Thirteen years ago yesterday, a government was democratically elected in
Burma. It won over 80% of the parliamentary seats. Yet today Burma is
still ruled by the same brutal military dictatorship that called those
elections in 1990 and then, when the results were not to its taste,
imprisoned the victors.
If the results of the 1990 elections had been honored, Burma today would
be led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma's ambassadors around the world would be
appointees of the National League for Democracy. Burma's seat at the
United Nations would likely be held by a representative of a government
that would uphold U.N. charters on human rights. Tourists and foreign
investors could flock to Burma without feeling guilty.
Instead, Burma today is a land of terror. The general secretary of the
National Democratic Front (NDF), Zing Cung, told me that the ethnic
minorities in Burma are "living in constant fear -- fear of when the
Burmese are going to knock on the door." It is a land where children as
young as 11 years old are forced to become soldiers, where women are gang
raped when the military enters their village, where people are taken for
forced labor. It is a land in economic collapse. As the chairman of the
All Burma Students Democratic Front Kho Than Khe told me recently, "once
Burma was the rice bowl of Asia. Now Burmese people are craving rice. They
don't have anything to eat."
      A year ago, signs of hope emerged. Aung San Suu Kyi was released
from house arrest. The regime released some other political
prisoners too.

      There was talk of dialogue. But it all came to nothing.
      While Aung San Suu Kyi is still free and has been able to move
around, her meetings are often disrupted by the military. More
significantly, there has been no meaningful dialogue and no progress
toward political reform. I visited the Thai-Burmese border for the
sixth time just a few weeks ago. The phrase everyone used to
describe the situation was "no change." I met three teenage Burmese
boys, all of whom had been forced to join the Burmese Army and had
then escaped. All three had been captured after dark on their way
home from school in Rangoon. All three were given a choice: to join
the army or go to jail. All three were badly beaten during their
military training. One said he had been beaten so badly he could not
walk for a week. The reason? He had tripped over a box.
Fourteen-year-old Yang told me that he decided to run away because
he hated the torture. Now in safety near the Thai border, he said:
"I can try to find my future. If I had stayed in the army, my future
would be hopeless." His monthly salary as a boy soldier was 4,500
kyats. A basket of rice costs at least 10,000 kyats.
      The Burmese junta is not very different in most respects from other
rogue regimes, such as Iraq and North Korea, that have recently
received much more attention world-wide. The ruling generals lie,
cheat, torture, rape and kill. And while they may not yet have
weapons of mass destruction, there are signs of growing
militarization. It is a regime that spends at least 40% of its
budget on the military, and just 2% on health. The chief difference
between Saddam Hussein and the ruling State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC) in Burma, is that Saddam swaggered in the face of the
United States and paid the price. The generals in Rangoon have
carried out their war crimes as much as possible away from the
cameras. But the same mass graves, the same torture chambers, the
same blood-colored rivers exist in Burma as they did in Iraq.
Thirteen years since the junta forfeited all legitimacy, a year
since it released Aung San Suu Kyi, 41 years since it seized power
in a coup what will it take to change the situation? Among the
pro-democracy forces and the ethnic minorities in Burma, there is
unanimous support for increased sanctions. Even though the people
are starving, they know that business deals with Burma do not
benefit the people. The money all goes to the generals, who spend it
on guns, planes and bombs. As a spokesman for the Shan ethnic
minority told me, although sanctions may harm the people, they are
suffering anyway. Sanctions, if applied effectively, will strip the
junta of its funds and force it to enter dialogue. But for sanctions
to be effective requires a united international effort. So far the
United States and the European Union have taken a tough stance,
though they could go further. But the weakness is with Burma's
neighbors. If the Association of South East Asian Nations dropped
its policy of "noninterference" and "constructive engagement," and
put pressure on the junta, progress could be made. If Thailand,
China, Japan and India could be persuaded to lean on the regime, to
threaten to cut trade and investment, the generals in Rangoon might
be persuaded to talk. What would it take to persuade Thailand and
China, for example, to change their tune? The threat of action by
the United States and the EU. Both Thailand and China value their
relations with the U.S. highly. They want foreign investment,
tourism, political influence. Both countries have already suffered a
knock from the combined effect of terrorism and SARS. It would only
take a hint of repercussions from the U.S. and the EU to make China
and Thailand reconsider their relations with Rangoon. But the
international community can go further. It is odd that Burma's
international representatives are all nominees of the junta, when
there is a perfectly capable government with a democratic mandate
given to it over a decade ago. If the U.S. and the EU were to decide
to sever diplomatic relations with the SPDC and instead accept
ambassadors nominated by the
NLD, it would drive the message home that the generals are illegal. If the
U.N. could follow suit and transfer Burma's seat in the General Assembly
from an SPDC-nominee to an NLD-nominee, so much the better. It is likely
that even the threat of such action would drive the junta to the
negotiation table. The trouble is, no one has had the guts to try it. A
few months ago I visited a village of internally displaced persons--that
is, refugees within their own country -- inside Karen state in eastern
Burma. Malnutrition and malaria were rife. I met a 14-year-old girl who
looked about half her age. She weighed just 22 kilos. Her father had been
on the run for 15 years. Her six-year-old brother's growth is permanently
stunted from malnutrition. Yet hanging on the wall of a bamboo hut were
words that pose a challenge for us all: "Are you for democracy or
dictatorship?"
      Mr. Rogers is a free-lance journalist and human-rights campaigner.
He is an international consultant to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.