BurmaNet News Oct 27, 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

October 25-27, 2003 Issue #2355

INSIDE BURMA
BBC Committee to assist work of constitution-drafting body
BBC: Demands To Reopen Democracy Party Offices Spread
DVB: Burma Communist Party Welcomes Wa Joint Statement On National Convention
Xinhua: Myanmar to hold fishery, livestock fair
Irrawaddy: Junta Pushes Sarong Story
BBC: Burmese Officials Cancel Sermon Services In Mandalay To Prevent Unrest
Narinjara: Military Intelligence is selecting the Convention
Representative secretively

ON THE BORDER
BBC: Nine Burmese Illegal Immigrants Die In Thai Road Accident

DRUGS
AP: Thai village flushes out drug scourge with rules and threats of ostracism

BUSINESS / MONEY
AFP: Myanmar pledges to act as business link between China, ASEAN
Nation:  Egat told to suspend dam talks


INTERNATIONAL
IHT: Visa-Less Family Faces Deportation Break-Up
BBC: Burmese government-in-exile leader says dialogue inevitable



----INSIDE BURMA----

Oct 27, BBC
Committee to assist work of constitution-drafting body

Text of report in English by Thet Khaing entitled:"43-member team for
convention"; published by Burmese newspaper The Myanmar Times web site on
27 October

The State Peace and Development Council SPDC has reconstituted a 43-member
management committee to assist the work of the National Convention
Convening Commission, which has the task of drafting a constitution.

The committee, to be headed by the auditor-general, Maj-Gen Lun Maung, was
appointed under an order issued by the SPDC on 21 October and signed by
its chairman, Snr-Gen Than Shwe.

The director of supply and transport under the Defence Ministry, Maj-Gen
Than Htay, and the deputy minister for hotels and tourism, Brig-Gen Aye
Myint Kyu, were appointed vice- chairs of the committee. It also includes
another seven deputy ministers, as well as directors general and managing
directors of government departments, and senior military officials.

A 35-member work committee was also reconstituted in early October to
assist the commission, which has 13 members.

The SPDC's secretary-2 was appointed chairman of the commission under
far-reaching changes to the body made by the council in September. The
commission was initially formed in 1992.

The reconvening of the National Convention to draft a new constitution is
the first step in seven-step road map to democracy unveiled by the Prime
Minister Gen Khin Nyunt on 30 August. The plan also provides for
parliamentary elections.
____________________________________________

Oct 27, BBC
Demands To Reopen Democracy Party Offices Spread

The NLD (National League for Democracy) township organizing committee
members have sent letters to the respective township election commissions
demanding the reopening of NLD offices that have been closed since the 30
May Tabayin incident.

It has been learned that NLD township committees in Magwe Division are
also planning to send letters to the respective township election
commissions to demand the reopening of the NLD offices. A Magwe Division
NLD leader said this course of action has been coordinated with the
approval of the Magwe Division NLD chairman and letters demanding the
opening of the NLD offices will be send out from tomorrow.

The townships involved include Magwe, Taungdwingyi, Sagu, Natmauk and
Salin. Other townships in Magwe Division are preparing to follow suit.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 26 Oct 03
____________________________________________

Oct 26, DVB
Burma Communist Party Welcomes Wa Joint Statement On National Convention

The Burma Communist Party (BCP) issued a statement today welcoming the
actions of the UWSA (United Wa State Army) Wa group that frankly stated
their opinion that it was not possible for them to participate in the SPDC
(State Peace and Development Council)-sponsored National Convention if
they could not practise their democratic rights.

The BCP was once the mother party of the UWSA until the latter withdrew
their support of the former and signed a separate cease-fire deal with the
SPDC in 1989. Observers based at the (Burma-China) border claimed that
this is the first time the BCP has issued a welcoming statement after
their separation from the Wa group.

The three-point statement pointed out that the joint statement issued
after a special meeting at Panghsang on 13-15 October was a correct move
and that the UN-sponsored tripartite dialogue process should be further
pursued instead of accepting the SPDC's roadmap programme.

The BCP statement finally claimed that at this important juncture, where
we are at the political crossroads, it is the duty of every political
organization to oppose the SPDC's National Convention and endorse the UN
resolution.
____________________________________________

Oct 27, Xinhua
Myanmar to hold fishery, livestock fair

A fishery and livestock fair is due to open on Friday  at the Yangon Trade
Center, Myanmar Times newspaper reported Monday.

The five-day event, the second of its kind, was jointly sponsored by the
ministries of Commerce, Livestock and Fisheries.

It is aimed at raising international awareness of the country's developing
fishery and livestock products, finding more markets, attracting foreign
investment and getting technical know-how, said the report.

It will be attended by manufacturers, traders, sale agents, cooperatives
and fishery-related business organizations both at home and abroad.

The event will feature fishery, marine and livestock products, animal
feed, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, packing materials and fishery-related
machinery and equipment, it added.

The first fishery and livestock fair, held in February 2002, was attended
by 135 foreign and local companies and a number of sale contracts worth
27.25 million US dollars were signed.

Official statistics show that Myanmar produced over 1.5 million tons of
fish and prawn in 2002, exporting 127,500 tons of them and earning 158.4
million dollars in the year.

During the first quarter of 2003, Myanmar fetched 63 million dollars
through such exports.

There are 120 seafood processing plants in Myanmar, of which 25 are being
upgraded to the international standard to boost the export.

Myanmar is rich in fishery resources and fishery is the third mainstay of
its economy after agriculture and forestry, contributing 7.3 percent to
its gross domestic product and standing as the third largest foreign
exchange earner.

Statistics also show that since Myanmar opened to foreign investment in
late 1988,  contracted foreign investment in the fishery sector has
reached 283 million dollars by the end of 2002.
____________________________________________

Oct 27, BBC monitoring International Reports
Burmese Officials Cancel Sermon Services In Mandalay To Prevent Unrest

As a consequence of the religious riots that broke out between Buddhists
and Muslims in Kyaukse, it has been learned that Buddhist religious sermon
services in Mandalay have been cancelled. Local residents told DVB
(Democratic Voice of Burma) that the annual pre-Thazaungdaing festival
religious sermon services were cancelled at the last minute by local
authorities.

The residents also said that a dispute broke out between some Buddhist
monks and Muslim brethren on the third night of a religious sermon service
at Daywun Ward in Mandalay on 24 October. Furthermore, a textile shop
owned by a Muslim on the Rangoon-Mandalay highway was torched on the night
of 24 October. Similarly, residents claimed that about 30 monks and lay
people entered a mosque at Chanayethazan Township in Mandalay at 0300
(local time) on 25 October and ransacked the place.

According to the latest reports, mosques in Mandalay have been receiving
telephone threats and authorities have positioned large number of security
personnel in the vicinity of the mosques.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 26 Oct 03
____________________________________________

Oct 26, Narinjara
Military Intelligence is selecting the Convention Representative secretively

Pauktaw, October 27: Representatives to attend Pauktaw Township National
Convention are being secretively selected by the Military Intelligence in
Pauktaw, it is learnt. Selective candidates are summoned by the Military
Intelligence and their resume is collected, said a source who opts to
remain anonymous.

The followings are the person preliminary selected by the Puaktaw Township
Military Intelligence.

1.      U Tun Hla Maung, age 40, retired school teacher, Quarter 3, Pauktaw.
2.      U Tun Wai, age 38, Shrimp Merchant, Quarter 3, Pauktaw.
3.      U Tun Aung Khaing, age 45, Information and Communication Officer,
Quarter 2, Pauktaw.
4.      U Khin Maung Thein, age 42, retired government officer (Justice
Department), Apple Quarter, Pauktaw.

It is reported that U Khin Maung Thein declined the selection whereas the
other three persons handed over their resumes to the Military
Intelligence. According to the criteria set by the Military Intelligence
for the selection of Convention Representatives a candidate must be a
university graduate in forties with financial solvency and influence in
the community.

In order to make the National Convention a success, it is learnt that each
township government officer has to collect resumes of four university
graduates and forward them to the authorities concerned. Resume forms have
been distributed to all townships, including Pauktaw, in the Rakhine State
of Burma.

----ON THE BORDER----

Oct 26, BBC Monitor
Nine Burmese Illegal Immigrants Die In Thai Road Accident

The death toll from a crash involving a pick-up truck laden with illegal
Burmese workers rose to nine yesterday after one of the injured passengers
died, police said.

The pickup had overturned on a sharp bend after smashing through a police
checkpoint in Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district on Friday (24 October).
Maj-Gen Chamnong Kaewsiri, commissioner of Chiang Rai Province, said
authorities were searching for the ringleaders of the people-trafficking
operation.

Police had yet to identify the driver of the pick-up. It is unclear
whether the driver fled the scene or is one of the injured.

Col Suthee Kajatsin, superintendent of Mae Chan district, said five men
and two women died at the scene. Two others died in hospital.

He said the driver of the truck sped off after smashing through the
checkpoint before losing control of the vehicle.

Police said migrant workers paid smugglers between 7,000 bhat to 10,000
bhat to sneak them into Bangkok to work in low-paying jobs.

The government estimates there are more than one million illegal workers
in Thailand, the vast majority Burmese.

Most flee to Thailand to escape dire economic conditions in Burma. Western
governments have imposed economic sanctions on the country's brutal
military government.

Source: The Nation web site, Bangkok, in English 26 Oct 03

----DRUGS----

October 27, Associated Press
Thai village flushes out drug scourge with rules and threats of ostracism

his rice-farming village in the hills of northern Thailand was being
destroyed by drugs.

Children stole from family rice stores to buy methamphetamine - the drug
of choice for most Thai addicts - and outsiders drove into town all night
long to buy the little orange pills from a few dozen villagers who had
taken up drug dealing full-time.

Then, backed up by angry residents and relatives, village elders
threatened the drug dealers and users with a terrifying fate for a Thai:
If they died, no one would attend their funerals and no monk would say
prayers for their souls.

The dealers and users soon went clean, and no one suffered ostracism.

"The thing villagers fear most is dying and not having anyone help with
their cremation," said Sumalee Wanarat, a former teacher who now works
with Ban Pang Lao's anti-drug program.

Thai Buddhists believe the soul will be consigned to hell if funeral rites
are not performed properly. A well-attended funeral - usually an elaborate
affair of relatives and musicians - is one of the main requirements of a
proper cremation.

"We set up village rules and told them that if they were involved with
drugs, we would cut them off from the community completely," said Sumalee.

The last of the 53 known drug dealers in the village of 1,500 people gave
up the trade within months. Addicts were weaned from the habit.

"We have to depend on ourselves because we suffer the consequences, not
the outsiders," Sumalee said.

Ban Pang Lao's success is being touted as a model for Thais to come up
with indigenous - and perhaps ingenious - ways to combat the country's
drug epidemic, and government officials brought foreign journalists to the
village to show off its achievement.

Previously, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's administration had focused
on a bloody campaign to wipe out drug dealers, giving police wide latitude
to arrest suspects and freedom to shoot those who resisted.

Thailand's drug problem can be traced to neighboring Myanmar, where drug
lords, dominated by the former rebel United Wa State Army, operate with
impunity in border areas.

Granted virtual autonomy by Myanmar's military regime under a peace deal,
the Wa produce millions of methamphetamine pills in factories close to the
Thai border. The drugs are smuggled by jungle trails into Thailand.

Last year, Thai police seized a record 95.4 million methamphetamine
tablets, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Bureau. The
Public Health Ministry estimates 3 million of Thailand's 63 million people
regularly abuse drugs.

In big cities, including the capital, Bangkok, 420 miles south of Ban Pang
Lao, drug dealers can blend in among street urchins and vendors.

But in villages, there are no secrets. "We could point to each house where
the dealers and addicts lived," Sumalee said.

Rice farmer Supat Vintavud was the first person to bring methamphetamine,
known in Thailand as "ya ba" or "crazy drug," to the village in 1997.

Supat, 35, said hill tribesmen he worked with on odd jobs introduced him
to "ya ba" to give him the strength and endurance to drag large sacks full
of ginger.

"But I kept needing more, and if I didn't take it, I was weak, tired and
grumpy," said Supat, who works now as a community anti-drug worker.

For four years, he sold and used drugs. He could sell 200 pills a day and
earn $250, a hefty sum in an area where most farmers make 4,000-8,000 baht
$100-200 a month.

Others soon took up the trade, and drug use spread in the village, fueling
petty theft to pay for the pills. Young users took from their family rice
stocks, and objects disappeared from the village temple and school,
Sumalee said.

The community woke up to the seriousness of its problem after two
villagers were murdered by rival dealers from another province and a
10-year-old was found using and delivering "ya ba" to buyers.

Turning the dealers in to police would have solved nothing, Sumalee said,
because they would be set free after paying bribes and would mock the
elders.

"I was arrested as I was about to give up dealing," said Narong Supanyo, a
farmer who shriveled from 216 pounds to 140 pounds because of his
addiction. "I had just sold my last two pills, when 10 or so police drove
up the road."

He said that if he had paid a bribe of 3,000 baht, the equivalent of $75,
to the officers, they would have let him go immediately, but he had only
$50.

Narong said he spent 48 days in jail, and still had to pay police $163 to
be freed.


----BUSINESS / MONEY----

Oct 27, AFP
Myanmar pledges to act as business link between China, ASEAN

Myanmar pledged Monday to act as a business link between China and
Southeast Asia as it took over the chair of the Greater Mekong Subregion
Business Forum (GMS-BF) which was formed three years ago.

Chairman Win Aung, who takes over from the Laos leadership, said he hoped
Myanmar would be able to pursue the forum's aim of bringing greater
economic growth and prosperity to the Mekong region.

"We will be acting as a bridge between Yunnan province and ASEAN (the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations)," he said at the opening of the
group's fourth annual meeting.

The GMS-BF groups Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and China's
Yunnan province.

"We in Myanmar have confidence in the economic strength of GMS and its
members," Myanmar's deputy foreign minister Kyaw Thu told the forum.

"With a combined population of 125 million and abundant natural and human
resources... this organisation will surely be able to bring about greater
prosperity to the whole region."

The 12th GMS ministerial meeting was held in Yunnan province in September
2003 and the 13th ministerial conference is slated for Laos in 2004.

The fourth annual GMS-BF is being attended by representatives of member
countries as well as the Asian Development Bank, UN-ESCAP and donor
country Japan.
____________________________________________

Oct 27, Xinhua
Myanmar calls for effective cooperation among developing countries

Myanmar's Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu on Monday called on
developing countries to cooperate with each other in the most effective
and efficient way possible in the globalization process which has brought
to them new opportunities and challenges.

U Kyaw Thu made the call at the opening session of the 4th Annual Meeting
of the Greater Mekong Subregion Business Forum (GMS-BF).

"We are living in an era of rapid technological advances and
globalization. This globalization has brought with it new opportunities as
well as new challenges, particularly to the developing countries. In a
world of increasing interdependence and growing economic competition, no
country can stay aloof and in isolation," he said.

He was confident that with a combined population of 125 million and
abundant natural and human resources and with the goal of promoting
economic and social development by strengthening economic linkages among
its members, the GMS countries will surely be able to bring about greater
prosperity to the whole region.

In this regard, he stressed the vital importance for all member countries
to implement the various sectoral action plans timely and effectively.

The GMS organization was founded in 1992 to bring together the six
countries along the Mekong River, namely China's Yunnan Province,
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, while the BF was
established to encourage the development of the private sector and its
involvement in the GMS program.

Speakers at the two-day GMS-BF also include Chairman Chanpheng Bounnaphol
(Laos), Vice-President of the Union of Myanmar Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (CCI) U Win Aung and President of the CCI of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations U Pyone Maung Maung as well as Director of the
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) Ravi Ratnayake and Investment Officer of the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) Madeleine Varkay.

The meeting is attended by delegates from all members of the GMS-BF, as
well as representatives from ADB and UNESCAP.
____________________________________________

Oct 27, The Nation
Egat told to suspend dam talks

Controversial hydro plan needs more study, says Energy Ministry

The Energy Ministry last week ordered the Electricity Generating Authority
of Thailand (Egat) to indefinitely suspend talks on its investment in the
controversial Salween hydropower project in Burma, after Egat had
distributed information about the project at the recent Apec meetings.

The Salween River project in Burma is a sensitive issue that requires a
more detailed study about its potential social, economic and environmental
impacts, said the permanentsecretary of the Energy Ministry, Cherdpong
Sirivith.

The Apec meetings were not the place to discuss the hydropower project
because the Energy Ministry was focusing on power cooperation from natural
gas, coal and oil, Cherdpong said.

At the Apec meetings Thailand participated in talks on energy cooperation
with Apec members such as China, Russia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
There was no discussion about the Salween project, Cherdpong said.

The Salween project is a massive power-generation programme, originally
designed to generate 500-megawatts. It will need an investment of about
Bt200 billion. Egat would be the main investor in the joint venture with
the Burmese government and it is seeking investment from other foreign
partners.

Thailand is expected to require additional electricity to cope with
growing demand from an expanding economy.

Earlier, Egat officials said the Salween project should be completed by
2012 when Thailand will need additional power supplies.

At Apec the Apec meetings, Egat tried to push the Asean-power-grid
project.Information was handed out to participants and delegates about the
importance of creating the grid to help distribute power throughout the
region.

Meanwhile, Egat governor Sitthiporn Ratanophas said it was vital to push
for the Salween project because it would provide relatively cheap power to
the region.

The Exim Bank of China and China National Machinery Electric Corporation,
which built the 18,000 megawatt Three Gorges dam project, have expressed
interest in participating in the Salween project and have held preliminary
talks with Egat.

Watcharaphong Thongrung

----INTERNATIONAL----

Oct 27, International Herald Tribune
Visa-Less Family Faces Deportation Break-Up

Now that political asylum has been refused, mom, dad and kids may be torn
apart. The Asahi Shimbun He is a visa overstayer from Myanmar (Burma) she
an illegal resident from the Philippines. They met in hard times when both
were struggling to make it in the sprawl of Tokyo. Together, they survived
and prospered, marrying and raising a family, but now they face being torn
apart by immigration laws

After 11 years of a stable and happy marriage, immigration law has caught
up with them and forced them to confront the reality of being separated
and deported to their different homelands

One day in October, Khin Maung Latt, 45, painfully aware that the orders
may come any time now, calls his 9-year-old daughter, Demi to his side

Daddy may be caught and sent back to Burma. If that happens, I want you to
keep our promise and help your mommy,'' he says It won't be little Demi's
first brush with the authorities. She remembers the time her father was
first taken in by immigration officials when she was 4 years old-tears
begin rolling down her cheeks

Why are they going to arrest you? You haven't done anything wrong,'' she
pleads

Maung Latt explains that he needs something called a visa to stay in Japan

Demi nods and whispers to her younger sister Michelle, 6, Daddy may be
leaving us.'' At a loss, Maung Latt and his wife Maria, 36, put their
daughters to bed and listen to their quiet sobbing until after midnight

It's a familiar story-Maung Latt arrived in Japan in 1988, escaping the
military junta in his homeland. He enrolled in a computer business school,
with a trainee visa and, after graduating, found employment at a delivery
company

At the same time he became politically active, joining the Burmese
Association in Japan (BAIJ) to support the democracy movement in his home
country. This made his position in Japan precarious

In July 1992, when his last visa ran out, he decided to lie low and
stopped applying for visa extensions, so becoming an illegal overstayer

Before they met, Maria, born in the Philippines, had been slipping in and
out of Japan since 1986 on counterfeit passports, working at bars and
clubs in Tokyo

The two met in 1991, fell in love, and moved into an apartment together in
1992

As the Myanmar government restricts marriage to foreigners, their two
children applied for Philippines citizenship

The two girls, born and raised in Japan, can speak only Japanese, the
language their parents use at home

Maung Latt applied for refugee status in 1994, but was denied that
lifeline in 1998, leaving the threat of deportation hanging over the
family

He has been fighting the deportation order in court, but has already lost
his case and now awaits a High Court ruling on his appeal that will be
handed down this Wednesday

Even his lawyers sound skeptical, The situation is pretty grim,'' said one

The general consensus is that Maung Latt will be sent back to face the
military rulers in Myanmar and Maria and the children will have to go to
the Philippines. Their woes do not end there

Maung Latt says, It is possible that I'll be arrested upon my arrival.''
There is no guarantee that he will ever be able to leave his home country
again, nor any promise that Maria would be able to visit him there

Well-wishers have pitched in to make a last-ditch attempt for a stay of
the deportation order

Maung Latt's boss and colleagues from the delivery company, Demi's
homeroom teacher and others jointly filed a petition to the justice
minister, asking that immigration authorities grant the family special
residency permits. Their neighbors all signed the petition form, too

The Justice Ministry has yet to respond, but time is running out.
____________________________________________

Oct 26, BBC Monitor
Burmese government-in-exile leader says dialogue inevitable

In order to obtain the views of the exiled opposition on the reformation
of the National Convention Convening Commission by the SPDC (State Peace
and Development Council) and continuously holding mass rallies to endorse
the SPDC-sponsored road map, DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) has contacted
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) Prime Minister
Dr Sein Win to obtain his view. DVB correspondent Htet Aung Kyaw conducted
the interview.

(Dr Sein Win - recording) There is nothing new about the road map. The
National Convention began in 1993 and was adjourned in 1996. It is like
reinvigorating the National Convention. Neither the public nor the
political parties and the political leaders have accepted the road map and
if the junta persistently proceeds then it will only be their doing. In
fact, they should release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, allow the political
parties to conduct their political activities freely, and hold talks. They
must hold talks they just could not avoid the process. (Htet Aung Kyaw)
Yes. Although almost everyone including U Khun Tun Oo (chairman of Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy) have said that there must be a
dialogue otherwise it is unacceptable, the SPDC has shown every indication
of proceeding with the matter. How would the exiled groups react?

(Dr Sein Win) As I have mentioned before we could not accept this
proposal. If they pursue it further it would not make any difference.
There would not be any political significance. Gen Khin Nyunt would become
U Khin Nyunt and then he would become a prime minister. These are all
deceptions and do not constitute any essential change. You would not get
any political answers if you carry on with these deceptions. If there is
no political answer then there would be no solution for the country. They
seem adamant to pursue it further and on our part we would have to reject
the proposal and carry on doing what we have to do.

(Htet Aung Kyaw) Rather than saying that it would not make any difference
and although the opposition has rejected the current road map, what do you
think would be acceptable to the opposition such as an alternative road
map?

(Dr Sein Win) Well, the NLD (National League for Democracy) has already
provided an explanation. The NLD did not leave the National Convention. It
just pointed out the inappropriate procedures and asked them to amend
them. Instead they expelled the NLD from the National Convention and
accused the NLD of walking out on the National Convention. If they want to
change the road map, the first thing they need to do is hold talks with
the political parties. They must also release all the political leaders
including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. If they convene the National Convention
without releasing the political leaders then it would amount to nothing.
The suppression would continue and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD leaders,
and other political prisoners would remain incarcerated and what will it
bring. Therefore, they must have a dialogue. If they do not mend their
ways and strictly follow their programme then the country will suffer.
Evidently, the people will suffer too. So, for the good of everyone the
dialogue process has become unavoidable for them today.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 24 Oct 03

____________________________________________