BurmaNet News: July 1 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

July 1 2003 Issue #2274

INSIDE BURMA

DPA: Suu Kyi removed from Insein Jail, but still not free
AFP: Friend expresses confidence over Suu Kyi’s mental state
DVB: Women MPs express worries for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s life,
Xinhua: Over 4,000 villages in Myanmar have improved water supply
Kaladan: Forced labor for growing paddy

DRUGS

AP: Thai-French satellite project to monitor illegal poppy crops

MONEY

Xinhua: Myanmar to launch second international carrier
Forbes: French connection

ON THE BORDER

AFP: UN refugee agency hits back at Thai criticism over Myanmar exiles
Xinhua: Thailand urges UNHCR to share information on Myanmar refugees
Nation: Govt wants UN to alter label policy
Irrawaddy: Refugees laying low

INTERNATIONAL

Irrawaddy: Canadian head of state called to act

REGIONAL

Xinhua: ASEAN economic integration process in progress in Myanmar
Straits Times: S’pore concerned about Suu Kyi
Myanmar Times: ARF welcomes assurance on NLD leader

MISCELLANEOUS

ALTSEAN: Statement of ALTSEAN-Burma regional team meeting
FORUM-Asia: Thai government to hand Burmese pro-democracy activists over
to military junta
NYT: Corrections

INSIDE BURMA

Deutsche Presse Agentur July 1 2003

Suu Kyi removed from Insein Jail, but still not free

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from Burma's
notorious Insein Central Jail to a new location 40 km northeast of the
capital, informed sources in Rangoon said yesterday.

The secret shifting of Asia's most famous political prisoner took place on
Saturday amid worldwide outrage over the harsh and filthy conditions she
was reported to have endured at Insein Jail for the past month.

The location of her new place of confinement was believed to be on the
Rangoon-Bago Road, but further details of the place were unknown.Suu Kyi,
48, was arrested following a violent clash in northern Burma between
supporters of her National League for Democracy and an armed mob backed by
the ruling junta on the night of May 30.

Since then she has been held in a small two-room hut within the grounds of
Insein Jail, and has not even been allowed a change of clothing, according
to diplomats in Rangoon.

The only outsider allowed to visit her during the past month was United
Nations special envoy Razali Ismail, who reported she appeared to be
uninjured and in good spirits.
After his visit, Razali described the conditions under which Suu Kyi was
being held as "absolutely deplorable".
Suu Kyi's supporters and friends said they feared the harsh conditions at
Insein Jail, which has been the military rulers' main political prison and
torture chamber for decades, may have aggravated Suu Kyi's chronic stomach
ailment.
Her hut at Insein Jail reportedly was located between the prison's gallows
and the facility's woman's prison, with the gallows in clear view.
__________

Agence France Presse July 1 2003

Friend expresses confidence over Suu Kyi's mental state

Concerns for Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's health emerged
Monday as she marked one month in detention at the hands of the military
rulers who have given no indication of when she will be freed.
The British government has said that the 58-year-old National League for
Democracy (NLD) leader is being held in a two-roomed hut at the notorious
Insein jail without even a change of clothes.
A close family friend of the feisty opposition leader, who is typically
immacuately dressed with flowers worn in her hair, said he was confident
she would remain in strong spirits despite the harsh conditions.
But he said there were concerns a chronic stomach condition which has
troubled her for many years may flare up again.
"I'm not worried about her mental strength, mentally she's a very strong
person. I'm just worried about her health," the friend told AFP.
"She has a stomach problem, which means she can't eat just any type of
food that is given to her."
Rumours have been circulating among Myanmar-watchers that Aung San Suu Kyi
had gone on a hunger strike in protest at the junta's move to take her
into "protective custody" in the wake of violent protests on May 30.
But the family friend said he believed that was unlikely.
He said that during times of political upheaval she adopts a strict
regimen of meditation and minimal food and water, and that this together
with her refusal of poor-quality prison food could have sparked the
rumours.
"She is always prepared for any eventuality and before going on trips she
goes on a minimal diet and retreats into meditation so that she can
withstand these sorts of situations very well," he said.
Despite a mounting international outcry, Myanmar's ruling junta has given
no sign of when it will release Aung San Suu Kyi.
___________

Democratic Voice of Burma June 29 2003

Worries for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s life, Women MPs express

It has been a month since the assaults on the NLD members and supporters
by the SPDC affiliated thugs at Dipeyin [Tabayin] and the detention of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi occurred. But the authorities still haven’t dealt
effectively with the Dipeyin problems and despite the pressures from the
international community, the SPDC shows no sign of releasing her.

Only Mr. Razali Ismail was allowed to meet her during the detention. As a
result, democracy groups of Burma are very worried about her health
condition.

Daw Hla Hla Moe the MP of Min Hla Township Constituency-2 said that she is
not only worried about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s health but also for her
life:

Daw Hla Hla Moe : I am in doubt whether Daw Suu is still alive and feeling
very said. And where are Uncle U Tin Oo and the youth? Is Daw Suu still
alive? Are her body and soul still together? Is she already dead? That
much my heart is feeling sorry. The UN envoy Mr Razali Ismail said one
thing here and he said another at Malaysia. We don’t know what to believe
and do. The people of Burma are not able to see Daw Suu. The people from
the UN, human rights organisations and the ICRC are unable to see her. I
am feeling doubtful whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s life is with her body.
We are finding it difficult to think.

Daw Nan Khin Htway Myint, the MP of Pa-an, Karen State said that despite
the fact that the Dipeyin incident has occurred a month ago, she has been
living with it everyday without forgetting it a single day and her worries
have increased:

Daw Nan Khin Htway Myint : Never think that I will forget it as time goes
by. I have never forgotten it even for a day. I am always interested in it
and worrying about it. The longer it becomes the more worried I am because
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is very strong willed. I have heard that she hasn’t
changed her clothes yet. I don’t know whether it is true or not. Whatever
it is, it is the difficult time for her
 we are all interested in her and
the world is interested in her. How could we be content? Our worries
haven’t decreased a single drop. We have been thinking about her everyday.
Don’t think that we have reduced our attention because we haven’t done
anything after a month.

Daw Sandar Win, the Magwe Division NLD Women Organisation leader demanded
the SPDC today to investigate into the Dipeyin problems:

Daw Sandar Win : The problems started on the 30th of May and it has been a
month today. We are still feeling bad about it. We can settle our doubts
only when the current government sets up an investigating commission and
investigates into what really happened and tells the people who are
responsible and who are to be punished and the like. We still haven’t
heard about any of them. We heard nothing about the dead people and we
don’t know where they are keeping the missing people. We are feeling very
worried with their families especially we are very worried for Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi. I did believe what Mr. Razali said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
was unhurt. Even that, I want to hear her voice. We want the government to
issue a statement on her condition. May I believe the words of this
government? This government has the duty to look after her. This
government has the duty to solve the problems. It has been a month. We
believe that this government has the ability to solve the problems and I
also urge it to solve the problems as soon as possible. Everyone wants to
know about this
We want the authority to let us open the NLD offices as
soon as possible.
_________

Xinhua News Agency July 1 2003

Over 4,000 villages in Myanmar have improved water supply

A total of 4,187 water-scare villages out of 8,042 in three divisions of
dry zone in central Myanmar have improved water supply since a ten-year
rural water supply project was launched beginning 2000.

According to the latest disclosure of the Ministry of Progress of Border
Areas and National races and Development Affairs, 52 percent of the
water-scare villages in the three divisions of Mandalay, Sagaing and
Magway now have had tube wells sunk, providing clean and safe water.

These rural water supply projects involved assistance extended by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Bridge Asia and the United
Nations Children's Fund.

It is reported that there are 15,813 villages in other states and
divisions in the country where water is still insufficient.

Myanmar has been implementing five rural development tasks, including
supply to the rural areas with clean and safe water for drinking and
agricultural purposes to bridge the gap between the urban and rural areas
for the development of the nation.

Meanwhile, as part of its efforts in improving irrigation water resources,
Myanmar has built 148 dam facilities in 15 years since 1988, adding an
irrigated area of nearly 3 million acres (1.21 million hectares) at a cost
of 62,600 million Kyats (178.85 million dollars) during the period and
bringing the total irrigated area to about 2.22 million hectares, 22
percent of the cultivated area.

Moreover, the government has also implemented 265 river-water pumping
projects, irrigating 121,500 hectares more of the farmland.
___________

Kaladan Press July 1 2003

FORCED LABOUR FOR GROWING PADDY

Buthidaung, July 1:  On 12th June 2003, the Commander of the Military
Operation Command (MOC)-15 of
Buthidaung Township,Arakan State, had ordered five villages to provide
forced labour to work in
farmlands controlled by the army camps, according to our correspondent.

The 5 villages namely  Nan Yah Gone, Aley Chaung (Ali Yaung), Kwan Dine
(Koin Daung), Tha Yet Kin Manu (Say
Ra Kuni) and San Nyin Way (Lambabil-East), of Buthidaung Township were
ordered to provide daily 60
labourers for ploughing the paddy fields controlled by the army camps. 
But it contradicted the earlier order issued by the
same army asking each village to provide daily 12 labourers  to till 4
acres of lands, source further added.

Accordingly, the chairmen of the said five villages have to send to the
army camps, without any respite, daily 60 ploughmen, 120 oxen and 60
plows, together with other agricultural tools, from their respective 
villages, a village farmer said to our source.

These farmlands, which were earlier seized from the poor villagers for the
purpose of the construction of army camps, have now been used by the army
as paddy fields to support their families or their camps, he further
added.

 From 13th June, the people of the 5 villages have been working daily in
the fields, measuring  about 20 acres, to grow paddy for the army camps,
without any wages, carrying with them their own  foods. The villagers
have been asked to complete the works by
15th July 2003, the sources said.

DRUGS

Associated Press July 1 2003

Thai-French satellite project to monitor illegal poppy crops

Thailand and a French satellite company plan to set up a center to monitor
illicit poppy crops in the Golden Triangle region where the borders of
Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, the French Embassy said Tuesday.

A remote sensing and training center will be set up in the northern Thai
city of Chiang Mai under an agreement signed May 20 between Thailand's
narcotics control board and the satellite company Spot Image, the embassy
said in a statement.

The one-year, French government-funded project will train Thai narcotics
experts to use satellite images to control illicit crops in the region,
the statement said.

It gave no other details, but The Nation newspaper reported Thursday that
three Spot Image satellites can take daily pictures of terrain as small as
2.5 square meters (27 square feet) with high resolution in both black and
white and color.

It said anti-drug officials from Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar would
be invited to join the training program.

The Golden Triangle area, straddling the borders of Laos, Myanmar and
Thailand, is notorious for cultivation of poppy, which used to produce
opium and heroin.

Thailand has won praise for its near total elimination of heroin
production. But poppy-growing remains a huge problem in Myanmar, the
world's second largest producer of opium after Afghanistan.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Myanmar is
expected to produce 810 metric tons (893 U.S. tons) of opium in 2003 from
a poppy crop being grown on 62,100 hectares (153,450 acres).

In Laos, poppy is being grown on 12,000 hectares (29,650 acres) with a
potential production this year of 120 metric tons (132 U.S. tons).
Thailand has a production potential of 6 metric tons (6.61 US tons).

Ten tons of opium is needed to make one ton of heroin.

MONEY

Xinhua News Agency July 1 2003

Myanmar to launch second international carrier

Myanmar will start launching its second international carrier, the United
Myanmar Airline, by mid-August after a joint venture agreement is formally
signed early this month, a local press journal reported.

Quoting airline sources, the Myanmar Times said the new airline is a joint
venture between the Hong Kong-based Sunshine Strategic Investment and the
domestic Myanma Airways with an initial investment of 15 million US
dollars.

The airline will begin its services to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala
Lumpur, using two leased Boeing 737-400s to substitute some flight
services last year cut by the Myanmar Airways International (MAI), so far
the only international carrier of the country, it said.

The airline plans to extend its services during its first year of
operation to include China's Hong Kong and Shanghai, and Malaysia's
Penang, and to add its fleet to five by its fourth year of launching,
subject to demand, according to the Myanmar Times.

The sources revealed the new airline's long-term plan of flying more
regional destinations such as Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh city, Cambodia's Siem
Reap, India's Patna and South Korea's Seoul.

Myanmar launched 10 years ago its first international carrier, the MAI,
which is a joint venture between the Myanmar transport ministry and a
Singapore-based carrier.

Foreign airlines that fly Yangon regularly include Thai Airways
International, Biman, Royal Brunei Airlines, Air China, Malaysian Airline
System and Silk Air.
________________

Forbes July 1 2003

The French Connection
By  Joshua Levine

Oil giant Total does business in Iran and Sudan. Now it's trying to get
back to Iraq.


Oil giant Total has long played a dangerous game in Iran, Sudan and Burma.
Now it's trying to get back into Iraq.

Total S.A., The French oil major that has been in Iraq since 1927, isn't
saying much these days about how it's going to maneuver its way back in.
But that doesn't mean it can't dream. Word is that it has already had
informal discussions with ExxonMobil about forming a joint venture to
exploit Iraq's Majnoon and Nahr bin Umar oilfields as soon as a new Iraqi
government is formed. Together those two fields have the potential to pump
out 1 million barrels a day of sweet, easily extracted and supremely
profitable Iraqi crude. There might be 250 billion barrels under Iraq,
good for $3 trillion of gross profit. Not something the world's pushiest
oil company wants to leave on the table.

How galling for the globe's fourth-largest--and only
French-speaking--petroleum outfit. Particularly since Total had negotiated
a contract for Bin Umar with Saddam Hussein, and Elf Aquitaine, which
Total acquired in 2000, had done the same with Majnoon. The Paris-based
outfit regards Iraq as its historical turf.

But those contracts were never signed--a failed gambit in Total's
cat-and-mouse game with Saddam. Russia's Lukoil pursued a different
strategy, signing with Baghdad's butcher for the huge West Qurna field.
(It is now trying to keep the deal alive.) So Total's stuck without a
valid contract and little chance of getting back into those fields as sole
operator. But what it's learned there would give any joint venture that
includes it a year's head start in getting the oil out. Any takers?

"It would accept a smaller stake in a joint venture just to get its foot
back in the door," says Valerie Marcel, senior research fellow
specializing in the oil sector at London's Royal Institute of
International Affairs. "We think they've spoken to ExxonMobil, but Total
is being very careful--there's so much international scrutiny on Iraq
right now that no one wants to take any unusual risks."

Total has good reason to walk on tiptoe these days. It's only four years
since it swelled up via a merger with Belgium's Petrofina and, a year
later, a bruising takeover of France's larger Elf Aquitaine. Last year it
earned $6.6 billion on revenue of $108 billion. Its $116 billion market
cap makes it the biggest company in France.

In acquiring Elf, Total also inherited a Pandora's box of past corruption;
it has found it difficult to close the lid. Former Elf Aquitaine chairman
Loik Le Floch-Prigent is on trial, charged with presiding over what the
French papers called "System Elf"--a money machine that siphoned off $300
million in the 1980s and 1990s. The cash went into the pockets of
executives and, allegedly, to President Francois Mitterrand's Socialist
party and into lavish gifts for the rotten West African governments that
gave Elf most of its oil.

Among the nuggets that came out at the trial: Mitterrand happened to
mention to Le Floch-Prigent in 1991 that his golf buddy, Dr. Laurent
Raillard, wanted to sell his country villa outside Paris. Elf bought the
villa for 20 million francs, plus another 6 million under the table.
Raillard ended up living there rent free. Since the merger, Total has
reportedly been making good on various unpaid debts incurred by Elf, no
questions asked, to make them go away. It was partly against this backdrop
of horrendous publicity that Total commissioned an audit of its corporate
citizenship, released in May. "Our change in size has increased the
expectations of civil society," says Total Chairman Thierry Desmarest.
"But if you are averse to risk, you should probably find another job."
What Price Glory?

1927 Three years after founding of Total (then known as Compagnie
Francaise de PA troles)  oil discovered in northern Iraq. Total starts
drilling in Abu Dhabi in 1936.

1956  Oil and gas strikes by Elf predecessor in Algeria even draw a visit
from Charles de Gaulle. The same year, huge discoveries in Gabon.
Corruption in West Africa haunts Elf during the 1990s.

1966 Predecessor Total unit starts drilling  oil in Iran. In 1995 Total
signs contract to develop two offshore Iranian fields, just ahead of U.S.'
Iran-Libya Sanctions Act

1991-97 While U.N. sanctions are in place against Iraq, Total and Elf 
negotiate for huge oilfields with Saddam Hussein (shown earlier with
Jacques Chirac). Deals remain unsigned today.

1998 Total completes laying of  Yadana gas pipeline that crosses Burma on
its way to Thailand and the offshore fields in the Andaman Sea. Charges of
slave labor dog the company.

2003 Former Elf Aquitaine Chairman  Loik Le Floch-Prigent faces up to five
years in prison if convicted in a case alleging secret accounts, bribes,
personal favors and influence-buying.

Desmarest clearly isn't. He has plotted a course for Total that often
steers it where the mix of hydrocarbons and human misery gets stickiest.
He rose through the rowdy ranks of exploration and production, where he
demonstrated both a sharp nose for new oil and a robust appetite for risk.
He took over as chairman in 1995 at age 49. Before that, he had already
done much to kill the old joke that CFP (the initials of Total's forebear,
Compagnie Francaise des Petroles) stood for "Can't Find Petroleum."

In West Siberia the young Desmarest negotiated a production-sharing
agreement for the Kharyaga field before Russia had any legislation,
leaving Total unprotected. "Desmarest sees an opportunity before anyone
else--that was a very gutsy move," says Florence Fee, who once ran Mobil's
exploration and production in Russia and now heads her own oil
consultancy.

Desmarest has committed Total to an audacious program of oil
discovery--and has so far delivered. Total increased production of oil and
natural gas 10% to the equivalent of 2.4 million barrels a day in 2002
while the four larger petroleum companies were either down, flat or (in
the case of BP) up 3%. Production is likely to rise 5% annually over the
next six years, says Desmarest. Total channels 67% of its capital into
upstream development--compared with an industry average of 60% or so--an
estimated $6.8 billion this year.

To keep getting those impressive results, Total deals with many
incarnations of the Devil. Its E&P people spend a lot of time in places
like Iran and Burma, where oil and gas are still plentiful. As a Total
executive told a consultant in one of its more troublesome spots recently,
"God, in His infinite irony, took most of the world's oil and put it into
the hands of criminals."

And Total has never met a hand it was unwilling to shake. In Burma it laid
the pipeline that connects its Yadana gas field in the Andaman Sea to a
terminus in Thailand, which buys most of the 175 billion cubic feet that
flow through it yearly. The pipeline generates an estimated $400 million a
year in revenue for one of the ugliest governments around; the junta's
take helps keep it afloat. Total has defended itself against accusations
that the pipeline was built with forced labor that included women and
children since that work began in 1995. There are charges, too, of
displaced villages along the pipeline route, and lawsuits against Total on
behalf of Burmese complainants are pending in France.

Desmarest's rebuttal: "Every company has its hot spot: Shell has Nigeria;
Exxon has Indonesia; for us, it's Burma." As far as slave labor goes, he
will only say, "Just imagine women carrying huge sections of pipe that
weigh in the tons." Even one of Total's own consultants finds its various
defenses tough to swallow: "Time and time again, they're caught with a
smoking gun, and they say, 'Just because it's a gun and it's smoking
doesn't mean we just shot it.'"

Total drew Uncle Sam's ire when it signed a deal to operate the $2.2
billion South Pars gas field in Iran. This was in September 1997, a year
after the U.S. passed the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, placing Iran off
limits to American investment. Around the same time, Total began selling
its network of a few hundred gas stations in the U.S., leaving it with
virtually no business interests here. "Can we accept that one country
tells you what is good and what is not good?" asks Christophe de Margerie,
Total's president of exploration and production. Total cranked up its
lobbyists at the law firm of Patton Boggs and got a waiver on the act as
part of a package of trade considerations, including, importantly,
bananas. Which doesn't mean the U.S. has forgiven and forgotten. "Total
really blotted its copybook with the U.S. government over South Pars,"
says Florence Fee.

Total has been holding concessions to Block B for around 20 years in the
disputed south of Sudan. The last thing it wants is to start pumping the
waxy, sulfurous oil right where Sudanese are massacring Sudanese. So Total
and the Khartoum government play a little game: Every year Sudan's oil
ministry tries to compel Total to begin extraction under its contract;
every year Total invokes force majeure, pays some $50,000 to renew the
license for its concessions and does nothing. ChevronTexaco abandoned
Sudan in 1984 without a drop of oil to show for its $1.5 billion
investment. Total hangs in, hoping the winds of change will one day blow
the country's unsavory image away. There's up to 5 billion barrels under
the bloody Sudanese soil, including Block B. "I'm not sure we'll ever get
any oil out of there," sighs Desmarest.

Total and its acquiree played a similar game of rope-a-dope with Iraq, and
for much higher stakes. It's no secret why Saddam picked two French
companies to get these prizes, and Russia's Lukoil for the huge West Qurna
field. "[The Iraqis] tried to sign contracts with members of the U.N.
Security Council that would support lifting the embargo," says Total's
Christophe de Margerie. For their political support, French companies were
rewarded with contracts to sell $3.5 billion worth of goods to Baghdad
under the U.N.'s oil-for-food program, making it Iraq's largest Western
trading partner from 1996 to 2001. Then a change in policy--"smart"
sanctions keeping a tighter rein on funds to Iraq--earned France a
commercial slap on the wrist from Saddam that dropped it from its high
perch.

Still, while Desmarest determined never to breach the embargo, he didn't
mind skating close to the line. Total was negotiating during a period when
Hussein Kamel, Saddam's son-in-law, was serving as minister of oil, before
he defected, was lured back to Iraq and killed. But it was always clear
who really ran the negotiations. "All the main decisions were taken above
the ministerial level," says Alain Lechevalier, Total's senior vice
president in the Middle East. "The guys we were negotiating with had no
authority."

Total's own lawyers counseled against dealing with the shadowy presence De
Margerie calls "the invisible man," but Desmarest overruled them. "We did
it anyway, and we are not in jail," says De Margerie. But when the Iraqis
pushed for a signature, Total balked, saying it would sign only if there
were a clause stipulating that work would begin when sanctions law
permitted. "Iraq was trying to induce us to break the sanctions," says De
Margerie. "Even our government said that if we signed, we would be on the
other side of a red line."

Now Desmarest finds himself with no contract, but he's still got a few
cards left to play. For one thing, Total has long relationships with
Iraq's oilmen, many of whom it trained during its years there. This may
not count for much under U.S. interim authority, but ultimately those same
Iraqi technocrats are likely to run the country's oil industry again.
Total can be patient--just look at Sudan.

Meanwhile, says Desmarest, no one is starting work on Iraq's new oilfields
before there's a stable government that can sign contracts. Reason: Each
field will require an investment of $3 billion to $4 billion and up to
five years before any oil starts flowing. Total will be happy to take a
smaller piece of these huge fields down the road, if that's the best deal
it can get.

A willingness to accept half a baguette sets Total apart from its
Anglo-Saxon rivals, says Desmarest. "We adapt better to these countries
than perhaps an American company would. We're more flexible on contract
terms, as long as there's a fair return."

As in its $2.2 billion investment, shared with two partners, for a 40%
stake in Iran's massive South Pars offshore gas project, which it operates
as of now. The deal transforms Total from an equity partner into a
contractor, giving it 80,000 barrels a day of condensate for expenses and
a return reportedly near 20%. Total relinquished control of the field to
the National Iranian Oil Co. earlier this year. In the process it set up a
program to train 650 students. Of the program's 420 graduates, 350 are
working today in South Pars. This can't hurt Total, as it eyes Iran's vast
reserves of oil and gas.

Any new deal in Iraq is likely to resemble South Pars because no future
Iraqi government can afford to be seen giving up rights to anything that
lies under its liberated sand. "I tell my people, 'Stop crying about
Iraq,'" says exploration chief Christophe de Margerie. "Before we couldn't
sign any deal. Now we can."

Total doesn't need Iraqi production to meet its current targets. More
important to Total's immediate future is the mammoth Kashagan field in
Kazakhstan, with proven reserves of 13 billion barrels of oil. Total holds
a 20.3% interest in Kashagan, but it wants to be operator, as do its
partners ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch/Shell. The current player in that
position is Italy's Eni--not nearly in the same weight class as its
partners, who are all waiting for it to fail. Can Desmarest outmaneuver
his partners to take over as operator? And if so, can he get the oil out
through the politically embattled Caspian pipeline by the production date
of 2005? "Dicey days ahead," says Florence Fee. "But if anybody can do it,
Desmarest can."

ON THE BORDER

Agence France Presse July 1 2003

UN refugee agency hits back at Thai criticism over Myanmar exiles

The United Nations refugee agency defended itself Tuesday against the Thai
government's allegation that it has violated the kingdom's sovereignty by
granting refugee status to Myanmar exiles.

The government has said it wants to become involved in the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) process because it currently had no
details of the identities or whereabouts of those who won refugee status.

The UNHCR said in a statement, however, that it had always been willing to
work with Thai authorities on the issue and that it regularly shared
details of applicants for refugee status.

"The latest list was shared with the government on 13 June 2003.
Statements to the contrary are therefore not accurate," it said.

"UNHCR has repeatedly invited the participation of the Royal Thai
Government in the refugee status determination process... UNHCR therefore
welcomes the new offer made recently by the government for (the two sides)
to work more closely on this issue, including through issuing joint
documentation to refugees."

The UNHCR is empowered to grant refugee status in Thailand because the
nation is not a signatory to the UN treaty on refugees, and does not have
its own legislation governing the determination of refugee status.

The agency said, however, that for nearly three decades it had done so
with the "full consent and cooperation" of the Thai government, and had
dealt with more than 1.3 million refugees over that time.

The attack on the UNHCR followed the arrests of 11 Myanmar democracy
activists for illegal entry after they were found organising a
demonstration calling for the release of detained opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar dissidents, many of whom fled their military-ruled country after
the bloody democracy crack-down of 1988, have in the past staged violent
incidents in Thailand.

In October 1999, five armed rebels were involved in a day-long siege at
the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, in which nearly a hundred people were
taken hostage, which was followed by another dramatic stand-off at a major
hospital.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Tuesday that Thailand should have
the last word in any dispute with the UNHCR over granting refugee status.

"In the case that Thailand and the UNHCR cannot agree, the UNHCR should
abide by Thailand's demands as Thailand is a sovereign state and we do not
have to comply with whatever they want," he told reporters.

Thaksin also expressed frustration over objections expressed by western
countries to his plan to "put in order" the issue of exiled Myanmar
activists.

"All the generous western countries can accept these people instead. It's
not fair that Thailand, which is not a rich country, should have to
shoulder the burden," he said.

Thaksin said that apart from discussions with the UNHCR planned for
Wednesday, Thailand needed to talk with rights groups on how to balance
the dissidents' rights with the need for national security.

He said Thailand had for many years allowed the UNHCR to issue refugee
status, known as "person of concern" status here, but that it had failed
to monitor the card holders.
________

Xinhua News Agency July 1 2003

Thailand urges UNHCR to share information on Myanmar refugees

Thai government would meet officials of the UN High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) this week to discuss the status of Myanmar refugees
living in the country and would urge the organization to cooperate with
Thai authorities, the Nation newspaper reported Tuesday.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the UN has the right to
grant the status to any foreigner seeking UN protection but Thailand, as a
sovereign country with security concerns, should be told how many people
are granted the status and their activities.

He was quoted as saying that Thailand expected to make its position clear
to UNHCR that, among other things, Thailand wished to have the authority
to endorse the status granted to anyone in its territory.

The government would tell the UNHCR to discuss its procedures for granting
the status, otherwise Thailand would be unable to protect and oversee its
own security and sovereignty, the minister added.

The UN's persons-of-concern status has again become a hot issue in
Thailand after a number of Myanmars staged a series of protests in front
of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok.

Police last week arrested 11 Myanmars who joined the protests and
distributed leaflets attacking Myanmar government, even though these
person had refugee cards issued by the UNHCR identifying them as political
refugees.

Thai government then complained that it was never advised about the exact
situation of the Myanmars holding the status including their names and
addresses while the UNHCR argued that it had the right to issue the status
without informing the government and only revealed about 1,400 to 1,500
Myanmars taking shelter in Thai territory.

Besides the information about the Myanmar refugees, Thai government would
also discuss with UNCHR the conditions and requirements of those who want
to apply for the status and would ask the persons-of-concern identity
cards to be specified with issuing and expiry dates, the report said.
____________

The Nation July 1 2003

Govt wants UN to alter label policy
Urges UNHCR to share information on registered exiles
By Rungrawee C Pinyorat

The government will meet officials of the UN High Commission for Refugees
tomorrow to discuss the status of Burmese exiles living in Thailand and
revamp the way the agency labels them.

The government is unhappy with UNHCR's policy of issuing
"persons-of-concern" status to the Burmese without first advising it.

Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the UN had the right to grant
the status to any foreigner seeking UN protection but Thailand, as a
sovereign country with security concerns, should be told how many people
are granted the status and their activities.

"We expect to make our position clear to UNHCR that, among other things,
we wish to have the authority to endorse the status granted to anyone in
our territory," Surakiart said.

"We will tell the UNHCR to discuss with us its procedures for granting the
status, otherwise we would be unable to protect and oversee our own
security and sovereignty," Surakiart said.

The UN's persons-of-concern status has again become a hot issue after a
number of Burmese exiles staged a series of protests in front of the
Burmese Embassy in Bangkok to protest the military junta's detention of
Aung San Suu Kyi.

Police last week arrested 11 Burmese exiles who joined the protests and
distributed leaflets attacking Burma's military junta. Some of them were
persons-of-concern under the protection of the UN.

When the government complained that it was never advised about the exact
number of the Burmese holding the status, the UNHCR argued that it had the
right to issue the status without informing the government.

"The UNHCR has informed us that they granted the status to about
1,400-1,500 Burmese taking shelter in Thai territory. They know the names
and addresses while the government knows nothing," Surakiart said.

The government is taking the issue more seriously now that the situation
in Burma is relatively stable and not generating more asylum-seekers.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Puangketkaew said the government would
also discuss with UNCHR officials the conditions and requirements of those
who want to apply for the status.

The persons-of-concern identity cards should also specify issuing and
expiry dates, Sihasak said.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has already told the interior and
foreign ministries to limit the movements of the Burmese. He said they
certainly should not be permitted to stage protests against neighbouring
governments.

"The Burmese are entitled to stage protests against their government in
camps we provide. They can say what they want," he said.

"But it is not right that they come to Bangkok and protest. We do not like
any situation that we cannot control."

---------

Only police show up at rally

More than 100 police cordoned off the Burmese Embassy yesterday while a
police car with a mobile prison cell stood ready to take away any Burmese
demonstrators calling for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.

But nobody, Burmese or otherwise, turned up.

On Sunday, Police Chief Sant Sarutanond said he would arrest any Burmese
exiles staging political protests in Thailand. His words followed a tip
from Rangoon that Burmese dissidents planned to kidnap Burmese diplomats
or Thai officials to exchange for Suu Kyi's freedom.

Police yesterday stood guard outside the embassy, where a rally was
expected to mark the one-month anniversary of Suu Kyi's most recent
detention by the junta.

From early morning, dozens of uniformed police and about 80 in plain
clothes waited around the building. Fences were erected to prevent
protestors from entering the embassy compound.

"If any Burmese shows up to protest, round them up. If they are Thai NGOs
[non-governmental organisations] or Ramkhamhaeng students, let them be," a
police officer instructed his subordinates on duty outside the embassy.

One police officer from the Yan Nawa district commented as he unlocked the
doors of the mobile prison cell: "We should leave the door open so we
won't waste our time when they [Burmese protestors] come".

A Muslim Burmese who visited the embassy to pay his monthly taxes to his
home government was a little surprised by the police presence. He said he
also wanted Suu Kyi to be released and hoped the Burmese economy improved.
Islam has long been suppressed in Burma, said the man, a native of Arakan
state who is a long-time resident of Thailand.

Thai authorities arrested 11 Burmese exiles on Thursday who they said were
preparing for political protests in Bangkok. Allhold papers issued by the
United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees.

Authorities have declared their intention to tighten regulations on
Burmese exiles in the Kingdom in a bid to curtail their political
activities in the country.
__________-

Irrawaddy July 1 2003

Refugees Laying Low
By Naw Seng

Burmese in Thailand who possess documents issued by the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are hiding throughout the Kingdom to
avoid arrest by Thai authorities. The refugees fear arrest and deportation
due to recent statements by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
threatening to repatriate any exiles who stage demonstrations in Thailand
against the Burmese regime.
Thaksin said Burmese dissidents are becoming a national security problem
and will not be permitted to stage political activities outside of refugee
camps. "We won’t say anything if the demonstration is in the camp no
matter how much they curse or accuse Myanmar [Burma]," he said. "But they
must not wander without control."
Security was beefed up at the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok yesterday, which
marked one-month since Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s
detention. Eleven activists, some of whom carry UNHCR documents, were
arrested last week while planning a demonstration for the occasion. No
protests materialized and no one was arrested at the embassy yesterday.
A Burmese refugee in Bangkok said the threats issued by Thaksin are merely
a political game between Thailand and Burma. "It is impossible to deport
refugees," he said.
Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai met UNHCR officials today to
discuss the rules for issuing refugee cards. The Thai government is
unhappy with UNHCR’s policy of granting "person of concern" status to
Burmese without advising Thai officials first.
"We wish to have the authority to endorse the status granted to anyone in
our territory," Surakiat said.
The UNHCR has not provided refugees with any news regarding changes in
Thai policy towards them, said a Burmese refugee who visited the UNHCR
office in Bangkok today. He was told by UNHCR staff that news of any
developments from today’s meeting would be available by week’s end.
Officials advised him and others to keep a low profile until Friday, he
added. A female refugee spoke of rumors that Burmese refugees would be
rounded up and taken to UNHCR camps within three months.
Over 1,500 Burmese "people of concern" live in Thailand, with cards issued
by the UNHCR.

INTERNATIONAL

Irrawaddy July 1 2003

Canadian Head of State Called to Act
By Tin Maung Htoo

A letter signed by more than 500 people has been sent to Canada’s
Governor-General asking her to press for the release of Burmese opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Canada’s national day.
Campaigners in Vancouver sent a letter to Adrienne Clarkson, Canada’s head
of state, asking her to respond to the customary Canada Day salutation
expected today from Burmese military leader Sr-Gen Than Shwe. The letter
calls on the Governor-General to urge Than Shwe to free Suu Kyi and
restart dialogue with her National League for Democracy.
A group of Canada-based pro-democracy activists gathered at Canada Place
in downtown Vancouver four days ago to collect signatures from city
residents and tourists. "We have been here day and night, rain or shine,"
said Soe Kyaw Thu, one of the organizers. Some of the campaigners at
Canada Place staged a 100-hour hunger strike to highlight the seriousness
of their protest.
"Now is the time to root out the bullying regime in Burma," said Kyaw
Thiha, another protestor, who brought his wife and six-year-old son to
demonstrate at Canada Place. He urged the Canadian government to put
pressure on Burma in light of the May 30 crackdown on Suu Kyi and her
supporters.
Last month, the Canadian government condemned the Black Friday clash and
labeled Burma’s leaders "military thugs." Canada has called for the
immediate release of detainees and demanded an independent fact-finding
mission be deployed to find out exactly what happened on May 30.
Like many other foreign governments, Canada is planning to step up
pressure on Burma’s military junta. A visa ban on military leaders is
being considered, but campaigners are disappointed that the Canadian
government has no immediate plans to ban Burmese imports or new
investment.
As a matter of general policy, Canada is opposed to unilateral sanctions
on any country and has adopted a limited engagement approach to Burma.
Ottawa has withdrawn preferential tariffs on trade between the two
countries, but allows Canadian companies to trade and invest in
military-ruled Burma.


REGIONAL

Xinhua News Agency July 1 2003

ASEAN economic integration process in progress in Myanmar

The economic integration process of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), aimed at reducing the development gap between the six
older members and the four newer ones, is in progress in Myanmar.

The four newer ASEAN members are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam,
referred to as CLMV countries.

About 60 projects have been identified to narrow the gap, the local
Myanmar Times quoted an official of Myanmar's National AFTA (ASEAN Free
Trade Area) unit as disclosing in its latest issue.

The Singapore government contributed about 28 million US dollars for
projects covering four sectors of information and communications
technology, infrastructure, human resources and regional economic
cooperation, the official told Myanmar Times after a recent meeting here
of the ASEAN high level task force on economic integration.

He noted that Thailand has sponsored annual workshops for the CLMV
countries, revealing that ASEAN also seeks funds from potential donors
such as Japan and the Asian Development Bank for the projects under the
integration process.

He called for greater efforts to enhance intra-ASEAN trade which accounted
for only 5 percent of ASEAN's total trade, saying that it would be
assisted by streamlined customs procedures and a relaxation of non-tariff
barriers.

Up till the end of 2002, Myanmar had reduced tariff on 77 percent of the
5,472 products, on which it is required under AFTA to reduce the rate to
less than 5 percent from 2006.

ASEAN plans to totally remove all import duties in the region by 2010 for
the six original members --Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand --and by 2015 for the CLMV countries.
___________

Straits Times July 1 2003

S'pore concerned about Suu Kyi

SINGAPORE is concerned about recent developments in Myanmar and conveyed
its concerns to the government in Yangon shortly after opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi was taken into 'protective custody' on May 30.

In a written response to a question, Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jayakumar
said the 'May 30 events were a setback, not just for Myanmar but for Asean
as well'.

Singapore had urged the Myanmar government to cooperate with Mr Razali
Ismail, the United Nations special envoy, and to grant him access to Ms
Suu Kyi.

Professor Jayakumar said that subsequently, when Asean foreign ministers
met in Phnom Penh last month, Singapore joined the others in the grouping
in expressing concerns about her safety and called for the early lifting
of restrictions on her movement.

'We urged the Myanmar people to stay on the course in national
reconciliation and dialogue with all the parties involved,' he added. His
reply was to Non-Constituency MP Steve Chia, who asked about Singapore's
position on Ms Suu Kyi's detention.
___________

Myanmar Times June 23-9 2003

ARF welcomes assurance on NLD leader
By Thet Khaing

THE Asia Pacific’s top security grouping, the ASEAN Regional Forum, has
welcomed an assurance by the Myanmar government that its decision to place
the secretary-general of National League for Democracy, Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, under protective custody late last month was “temporary.”
The foreign ministers of 23-member ARF welcomed the assurance in a joint
statement issued after a one-day meeting in the Cambodian capital, Phnom
Penh, on June 18.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of her party were placed under
protective custody following violent clashes between supporters and
opponents of the NLD in Sagaing Division on May 30.
The ARF brings together the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations
states and 13 other members, including China, Russia, the United States,
the European Union, Japan, India, Australia and Canada.
“Noting the importance of strengthening democracy as a fundamental element
of regional security, the ministers were briefed about the current
situation in Myanmar,” the statement said.
It also called for a dialogue among “all parties concerned leading to a
peaceful transition in Myanmar.
The ARF “reaffirmed” its support for the United Nations special envoy to
Myanmar, Mr Razali Ismail, who is mandated to facilitate the national
reconciliation process.
The government granted permission for Mr Razali to meet Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi during his latest visit to Myanmar earlier this month.
“While we welcomed the openness of the Myanmar delegation, the ARF
participants also called for national reconciliation and the
democratisation in the country,” said the Cambodian Foreign Minister, Mr
Hor Namhong, the forum’s current chair.
The Foreign Minister, U Win Aung, spoke for about 30 minutes at the ARF
meeting, mainly on the May 30 incident.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Australian Foreign Minister,
Mr Alexander Downer, said Canberra would maintain its policy of limited
engagement in dealing with Myanmar.
He also criticised the use of sanctions by some Western countries in an
attempt to promote a political transition in Myanmar.
“The sanctions have not worked, the sanctions have not changed the
situation,” Mr Downer said, adding that Australia believed that
constructive engagement was the most effective approach to the situation.
Mr Downer, who met U Win Aung on the sidelines of the ARF meeting on June
18, said the Myanmar Foreign Minister had not repudiated the Australian
government’s position on the latest political developments in Myanmar.
“He had not pushed the line that Aung San Suu Kyi deserved to be in
detention,” Mr Downer said.
The ARF meeting was also attended by the American Secretary of State, Mr
Colin Powell, who said he was pleased with the way Myanmar had been
handled at annual Asean foreign minister’s meeting in Phnom Penh on June
16 and 17.
On another issue, Mr Powell said the US would support an ASEAN initiative
launched in 2000 to narrow the development gap between its six oldest
members, and its four newer members, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
“President (George) Bush sees ASEAN as a major instrument for the
development for the region,” Mr Powell told a media conference last
Wednesday.
“The US has been strong supporter of regional integration and free trade,
which are the best means of narrowing the development gap of ASEAN,” Mr
Powell said.

MISCELLANEOUS

ALTSEAN July 1 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 1, 2003

Altsean-Burma, a regional network of organizations and individuals
supporting human rights and democracy in Burma, recently held a regional
Team Meeting at a location in Southeast Asia. More than 40 participants
from 27 groups in 10 countries participated at the meeting, which focused
on developing responses to the current crisis in Burma.

The following is a statement issued by the meeting to mark a month’s
anniversary since the Black Friday attack on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s
entourage and the ensuing crackdown on pro-democracy movement in Burma and
their supporters.

The statement calls for the international community “to employ every
non-military option necessary” to ensure that the Burmese junta delivers
on previous promises to democratize Burma.

Owing to security constraints, Altsean-Burma is unable to provide more
details about the meeting.
-------------------
STATEMENT OF ALTSEAN-BURMA REGIONAL TEAM MEETING

We condemn the unjustified, murderous assault on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
her entourage on Black Friday, May 30.

We also condemn the illegal detentions of NLD leaders and the continuing
arrests and crackdown on the democracy movement in Burma. We demand that
the SPDC immediately:

•       Free without conditions Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political
prisoners, including the Black Friday detainees.

•       Declare a nation-wide cease-fire and stop all military hostilities
and human rights violations.

•       Uphold the right of the NLD and all other political parties to
operate freely.

•       Allow an independent investigation into the Black Friday crackdown
to proceed.

The military regime has made promises over the years that it will commence
dialogue and democratic transition, further that it is committed to
national reconciliation and is only a temporary administration. The NLD
and ethnic political leaders have been consistently committed to dialogue
and have demonstrated their good faith through their peaceful actions.

Since 1988, the peoples of Burma have consistently demonstrated their
desire for a civilian, democratic government, and political and economic
reforms. They made their decision overwhelmingly clear in the 1990
elections, and continue to risk harassment, detention, torture and even
death, to uphold this commitment. Most recently, this commitment was
proven by the masses that prevailed to attend Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s
rallies throughout the country, despite threats by the authorities.

The regime betrayed the peoples of Burma, and the international community
by failing to fulfil its own promises, more so when it initiated the Black
Friday crackdown.

While we remain committed to non-violent means, and still believe that
tripartite dialogue is an essential part of the process to achieve
irreversible, positive political and economic reforms in Burma, it is
obvious that the regime will not engage in positive actions unless the
international community is prepared to take more decisive steps to support
the will of the peoples of Burma.

Therefore, we urge the international community governments, regional
groups such as Asean and the EU, international organisations and UN
bodies, including the UN Security Council - to employ every non-military
option necessary to ensure that the SPDC delivers on its promises,
including
•       An arms embargo and suspension of military cooperation.
•       Diplomatic pressure, including the downgrading of diplomatic ties,
and suspension of membership of regional and international organisations.
•       Economic sanctions including suspension of investment and trade,
freezing of assets and a ban on international remittances to Burma.
•       Visa bans on members of the SPDC and aligned groups such as the
USDA, and their families.
•       Cancellation or suspension of bilateral (state-to-state) aid.
We also wish to emphasize that the governments Asean, India and China have
contributed to the current crisis in Burma because their selective
engagement with the regime has only encouraged more repression in the
country. Such negative intervention has served to enlarge the security
threat that the regime poses to the region.
We call on Asean to:
•       Review the status of Burma’s membership and further to develop a
time frame for Burma to comply with Asean guidelines
•       Redeem itself by pro-actively working with the international
community to facilitate steps towards a political solution in Burma.
•       Send a high-level delegation to Rangoon as suggested at the recent
Asean Ministerial Meeting.
•       Include Burma as a priority agenda item at the Asean Summit in
October.
•       Respect the right of Burmese activists and people fleeing
oppression to peacefully work for the democratisation of Burma. In
particular, we express grave concern at the actions of the Thai and
Malaysian governments to arrest activists who participated in public
events to call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other
activists. It is regrettable that Burmese activists now have to face
repression that is similar to that which they have fled.
ENDS
For more information, please contact tel + 661 850 9008 or altsean at ksc.th.com
___________-

FORUM-ASIA July 1 2003

Thai government to hand Burmese pro-democracy activists over to military
junta

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced yesterday (30 June) that
Thailand will no longer allow Burmese pro-democracy activists to campaign
for democracy, saying that, "Thailand would not allow any groups to use
our territory for their political activities against neighboring countries
[e.g. Burma]."

The Prime Minister has toughened Thailand’s stance to the unprecedented
level by threatening to return pro-democracy activists back into the hands
of Burma's ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC), despite openly acknowledging that most of them would certainly
face persecution by the Burmese authorities if they were returned.

Prime Minister Thaksin’s views were quickly adopted as a policy by the
National Security Council (NSC), with Police Chief, General Sant
Sarutanond, yesterday vowing to immediately arrest any Burmese exiles who
stage a rally in front of the Burmese embassy in Bangkok to press for the
release of pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. He also said that
police, including the Special Branch, have been ordered to keep a close
eye on the approximately 2,000 exiled Burmese in Bangkok who are carrying
documents issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR). Deputy Prime Minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said
pro-democracy activists would be locked up in refugee camps if they
'disturbed social order' in Thailand.

In the past, peaceful protests by pro-democracy activists in front of the
Burmese embassy have been tolerated by the Thai Government.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply
concerned that international efforts to support the restoration of peace,
democracy and reconciliation in Burma may be adversely affected by recent
actions of the Thai Government, which has stepped up measures to crackdown
on pro-democracy activists.

Contrary to Prime Minister Thaksin’s promises to support international
calls for democracy in Burma, 11 pro-democracy Burmese activists were
arrested in Bangkok on 26 June while meeting to plan a peaceful protest in
front of the Burmese embassy to demand for the release of Aung San Suu
Kyi. The Police explained that the arrests were made in accordance with
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's policy to "keep order in the country"
by restricting activities of pro-democracy activists taking refuge in
Thailand.

The Thai authorities have indicated that the 11 activists arrested on 26
June and other pro-democracy activists may face deportation back to Burma,
including Refugees and ‘Persons of Concern’, carrying documents issued by
the UNHCR. FORUM-ASIA is deeply concerned that if the 11 activists are
returned to Burma they are likely to be detained, tortured or even
executed.

Although not being a signatory to the Refugee Convention, Thailand has had
a long-standing relationship with the UNHCR, during which time the UN
agency has provided funds to assist the Thai authorities with the running
of camps in order to cope with large numbers of refugees from neighboring
countries, and Thailand has respected international legal and human rights
standards by not deporting those individuals identified as Refugees and
‘Persons of Concern’ by the UNHCR.

FORUM-ASIA cannot accept a statement made by the Foreign Ministry
Spokesperson, Sihasak Puangketkaew, saying that the situation in Burma is
relatively stable and is causing more asylum-seekers to come into
Thailand. Last month’s ‘Black Friday’ incident, an assassination attempt
against Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in which pro-democracy
supporters in Burma were violently attacked, is a clear indication that
the situation in Burma is anything but stable.

FORUM-ASIA urges the Thai Government to understand that the principle of
non-refoulement (no forcible return of a person to a country where he or
she could face persecution) has now been recognized as a principle of
customary international law. FORUM-ASIA asks the Thai Government to repeal
the plan to crackdown and deport pro-democracy activists back to Burma. In
particular, FORUM-ASIA urges the Thai Government to act on advice from the
UNHCR when dealing with Refugees and ‘Persons of Concern’.

The UNHCR has officially been in cooperation with the Thai authorities
regarding name lists and other information about Refugees with the NSC,
the Ministry of Interior and the Department of Immigration on a monthly
basis. The last of such information sharing was on 13 June 2003.
FORUM-ASIA finds it dishonest and irresponsible for Prime Minister Thaksin
and other key ministers to falsely accuse the UNHCR of issuing documents
to Refugees and ‘Persons of Concern’ without informing the Thai
authorities about how many people have been granted status, when in actual
fact the UNHCR keeps the Thai Government updated with details of refugee
status decisions each month.

Background

Since last year Prime Minister Thaksin has adopted a policy to impose
restrictions on activities of pro-democracy and human rights groups
working on Burma issues. The Thai government adopted a security directive
on 4 July 2002, which has officially imposed a ban on pro-democracy and
human rights groups with the objective to mend relations with SPDC. In
order to secure its economic interests in Burma, the Thai government has
determined to prove that it has no intention at all to support anti-SPDC
groups (Prime Minister Thaksin and other key members of the Thai
government are publicly known to have many business interests in Burma).

Since July 2002, pro-democracy and dissident groups as well as Thai and
foreign NGOs working on the Thai-Burma border have been under close
surveillance. At times, they have faced harassment and raids from security
and law enforcement agencies. Some organizations, especially those in the
Sangkhlaburi district of Kanchanaburi province, decided to close down in
fear of arrest and deportation.

Colonel Somkhuan Saenpattaranate, Army Spokesman, announced during an
official press conference on 26 December 2002 that “the Thai government
and the army would not allow any foreign groups or nationals to use our
territory to launch military raids or conduct unfriendly activities
against neighboring countries. Their misadventure could seriously affect
our national security and relations with neighbors.'' Soon after that the
National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General, General Winai
Phattiyakhul, said on 29 December 2002 that Thailand would end its role of
sheltering and resettling refugees fleeing political conflicts.

After Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the National League of Democracy
(NLD) were attacked and arrested on 30 May 2003, Thailand has been
pressured by the international community to join the ongoing effort to
demand for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Prime Minister Thaksin on 26 June 2003 made a second call for the release
of Aung San Suu Kyi, and also mentioned that the Thai government and other
Southeast Asian countries were "not satisfied" with Burma's response to
international demands.

What appears to be a major change in Thailand’s Burma policy, however, is
in fact a sham – this latest arrest of Burmese democracy activists
planning a protest to call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release shows that
concerns for personal business interests and warm relations with the SPDC
are still on the top of Prime Minister Thaksin’s agenda.

[ENDS]

For Further information or comments contact:
Sunai Phasuk, FORUM-ASIA Spokesperson on +66 (0)1 6323052
_________-

New York Times July 1 2003

Corrections

An article on Thursday about new international pressure on Myanmar's
military junta for the release of the leader of the democratic opposition,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, misstated the action taken by Japan. It is
suspending new economic assistance to Myanmar, not all economic
assistance.