BurmaNet News Dec 3, 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

Dec 3, 2003 Issue # 2379


INSIDE BURMA
AFP: Myanmar reforms in the offing despite apparent impasse: analysts
Associated Press Worldstream: Myanmar court sentences nine to death for
treason, including magazine editor
Irrawaddy: Open to KNU Talks
DVB: SPDC refuses to discuss AIDS with its people
DVB: NLD top priority before the release of the party leader
Xinhua: Myanmar to hold traditional medicine conference


ON THE BORDER
Narinjara: 18 more Burmese Muslim Refugees repatriated yesterday

DRUGS
The Nation: The ‘big five’ drug barons

INTERNATIONAL
RSF: Outrage over death sentence passed on sports magazine chief editor



INSIDE BURMA
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Dec 3, Agence France Presse
Myanmar reforms in the offing despite apparent impasse: analysts

Myanmar may seem to be stuck in a political impasse with opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, but behind the scenes the junta
appears to be working towards democratic reforms by 2006, analysts say.

The generals' slow and reluctant efforts will not produce a truly
democratic state, but they could begin a shift away from more than 40
years of military rule and a degree of power-sharing with political
parties, they say.

After his surprise appointment as prime minister in August, the regime's
number-three General Khin Nyunt announced a new reform "road map"
including a convention to write a new constitution and "free and fair"
elections.

His initiative was hailed by neighbouring governments who are anxious to
encourage Yangon's baby steps towards democracy, but dismissed in the West
as a smokescreen that failed to include any mention of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The scepticism was magnified by the fact the road map was announced
shortly after the government launched a crackdown on the pro-democracy
opposition including the arrest of its leaders and the closure of its
offices nationwide.

However, six months after the May 30 attack on opposition supporters by a
pro-junta gang triggered the crackdown, experts say Khin Nyunt has been
tasked with moving the country ahead, even at a snail's pace, and that he
is taking the job seriously.

"I am convinced that this government is very serious about this plan, and
that Khin Nyunt intends to carry out the process of a national convention
and elections," said Morten Pedersen, a Myanmar researcher from the
Australian National University.

Pedersen said he expected the government to begin organising the
constitutional convention by early next year, and that the timing was tied
with its membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"The timeframe is unclear, but my feeling is that Khin Nyunt, at least, is
aware of the dilemma Burma's ASEAN presidency in 2006 presents for the
grouping and aims to have at least a constitution in place, and possibly
even elections, before that date," he said, referring to the country by
its former name.

ASEAN is anxious that Myanmar, the most controversial and troublesome of
its 10 member states, puts on a more presentable face when it takes up the
group's revolving presidency.

UN secretary general Kofi Annan has also seized on the 2006 date as a
deadline for democratic reforms in Myanmar.

"But this does not necessarily mean a democracy in a western sense, they
themselves call it a disciplined democracy," Pedersen noted.

Another leading political expert here said the ASEAN presidency "will
force Yangon to move".

"And this could mean a very busy schedule with a national convention as
soon as 2004, then a new constitution, then the election," he said.

The first national convention, convened in 1993 to write a constitution,
was suspended in 1996 after Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy (NLD) withdrew on the grounds it was unrepresentative.

This time around, the question of who attends the convention from the
pro-democracy opposition and ethnic parties will be critical to its
success.

But it remains unclear if the ruling generals will be willing to provide
the conditions that would make it acceptable for the NLD and others to
come on board.

Yangon-based diplomats believe that despite being under house arrest since
the end of September, Aung San Suu Kyi is communicating with the generals
through a liaison officer who she sees at will, and the two sides are
discussing the convention.

Myanmar's deputy foreign minister Khin Maung Win last month told the
British Broadcasting Corporation that the government was having regular
and "positive" contacts with the Nobel peace laureate.

"Some of the military would like to sideline Aung San Suu Kyi, but some
would not as they understand she has to be part of the process," Pedersen
said.

On the weekend, the state press announced that the Kachin Independence
Organisation (KIO) would take part in the convention. The announcement was
significant because the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the ethnic group's
armed wing, refused to take part in the first convention.

"The junta is clearly already working hard to gather parties and ethnic
minority groups to be able to present something that seems viable," said
one western diplomat.
_________________________________

Dec 3, Associated Press Worldstream
Myanmar court sentences nine to death for treason, including magazine editor

A Myanmar court has sentenced nine people to death for high treason,
including the editor of a sports magazine, legal community sources said
Wednesday.

A special court held inside Insein prison, on the outskirts of Myanmar's
capital, issued the sentences last Friday, said the sources, who insisted
on anonymity. Myanmar exile media groups also reported the sentences.
The government did not reply to questions about the trial Wednesday.
Shortly after the arrests in July, the government said the suspects were
accused of plotting to overthrow Myanmar's military junta through bombings
and assassinations.

It has denied the arrests concerned the journalism of Zaw Thet Htwe, 37,
editor of the magazine "First Eleven."

The junta has been under widespread international criticism for human
rights violations since it seized power in 1988 and refused to yield to a
pro-democracy party that won elections in 1990.

Pro-democracy leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has for
years been detained or kept under house arrest. She is currently confined
to her home in Yangon.

The nine people sentenced were among 12 arrested in mid-July. The fate of
the other three was not immediately known.

It was not clear if the trial was open to the public, but political cases
in Myanmar are often prosecuted unannounced - making them, in practical
terms, closed sessions.

Khine Cho, the editor's wife, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that
she was not allowed into the court when the judgment was issued Friday.
She said she will appeal.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, rarely carries out death sentences.
Another of the 12 defendants was Zar Naing Tun, the nephew of one of the
hijackers of a Myanmar airliner that was diverted to Thailand during a
domestic flight in October 1989.

A report by the Norway-based opposition radio station, the Democratic
Voice of Burma, said he was among those sentenced to death.

The convictions were made under the same law used as the basis for death
sentences last year against four relatives of former dictator Ne Win who
were accused of plotting a coup.

The government claimed the suspects planned to create a mass movement in
collusion with members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.
There was no evidence of NLD involvement in any plot.

The international press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, which had
suggested that Zaw Thet Htwe's arrest was linked to a report in his
magazine raising questions of official corruption, expressed outrage at
the death sentences.

"Your government has once again shown its criminal attitude towards
journalists who refuse to comply with orders," said the Paris-based group
in a letter to Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt.

In the letter, issued jointly with the Burma Media Association, an
organization of exiled Myanmar journalists, the group said "We challenge
you to provide the evidence of this journalist's implication in a coup
attempt."
___________________________________

Dec 3, Irrawaddy
Junta Open to KNU talks

A delegation from the KNU will travel to Rangoon for talks with the
government in the near future, according to a well-placed source within
the Karen National Union (KNU), who asked not to be named.

Karen sources said five junior army officers would fly to Rangoon from
Bangkok very soon. The nature of the discussions is not yet known and some
senior KNU officials are not well informed about the trip, said the
source.

Meanwhile, Burma’s military government is open to dialogue with the KNU
without conditions, said a KNU leader.

Col San Pwint, a spokesman for Burma’s Ministry of Defense, told the KNU
that the government is open to talks, but would not accept the presence of
any third parties, such as Thai or Western representatives, said Gen
Tamalar Baw, a KNU chief of staff. Col San Pwint met with KNU leaders on
Nov 22 in Mae Sot, on the Thai-Burma border. The Burmese colonel
reportedly invited Karen leaders to visit Rangoon "to see for themselves."

Gen Tamalar Baw declined to comment on what topics would be covered in any
dialogue between the two groups. He said the KNU could have a bilateral
meeting with the military government without changing their policy, which
encourages tripartite dialogue between ethnic groups, the opposition and
the ruling junta.

Some colleagues who traveled to Mae Sot with Col San Pwint said "it is a
good time to negotiate," according to Gen Tamalar Baw.

Burma’s Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt has already met with leaders of the
United Wa State Army, Kachin Independence Organization and Shan State Army
(North) to discuss his proposed road map and the National Convention,
which is set to reconvene in early 2004. All three groups have signed
ceasefire agreements with Rangoon.

The KNU is the largest armed ethnic group to hold out on signing a
ceasefire with Rangoon. It has been fighting successive Burmese
governments for nearly 55 years.

The KNU and the junta have met to discuss a possible ceasefire four times
since 1995. None resulted in any agreement. The junta demanded that the
KNU lay down its arms and stop hostilities with the Burma Army but the
condition that the group disarm was not acceptable to the KNU leadership.
__________________________________

Dec 3, Democratic Voice of Burma
SPDC refuses to discuss AIDS with its people

Forum for AIDS organized by the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia
(AMDA) International on 27 November inside Burma was cancelled by the
military junta.

The forum has invited well known Burmese writers and cartoonist including
Taw Phayarlay U Aung Zay, Jue, Than Myint Aung, Khin Swe Oo and Kan Chun
(a cartoonist) to discuss AIDS with the public.

According to UNAIDS, over 400 000 people is HIV positive inside Burma.
__________________________________

Dec 3, Democratic Voice of Burma
NLD top priority before the release of the party leader

Restarting NLD activities systematically throughout Burma is at the top of
the agenda of meetings between the five Central Executive Committee (CEC)
members and NLD Organizing Committees from different Divisions and States,
according to U Nyunt Wei, the spokesperson of NLD.

But he refused to give any official comment on the Dipeyin incident and
NLD's stance on the "National Convention" before the release of NLD party
leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

On 1 December, the five CEC members met with the NLD Woman Affair Committe
and they would meet with NLD Rangoon Division on 2 December.

Five elderly members are: U Nyunt Wei, U Lun Tin, U Than Tun, U Hla Pe and
U Soe Myint.
_____________________________________

Dec 3, Xinhua
Myanmar to hold traditional medicine conference

Myanmar will hold an annual traditional medicine conference later this
month to promote its medical practices, the local Myanmar Times reported
in its latest issue.

The conference, the fourth since 2000, will be attended by traditional
medicine practitioners.

There are at present in the country 12 traditional medicine hospitals, 2
with 50 beds each and 10 with 16 beds each as well as 214 traditional
medicine clinics with services provided by 9,045 practitioners.

In 2002, more than 1 million patients received treatment at traditional
medicine hospitals and clinics.

The traditional medicine, composed of such ingredients as roots, tubers,
bulbs, natural items and animal products, has, in a historical
perspective, represented the typical Myanmar culture and traditional value
and norms.

With the traditional medicine playing a more and more important role in
treating diseases in the country, the government in January 2002
established the Myanmar Traditional University in Mandalay, offering a
bachelor of Myanmar Traditional Medicine.

Meanwhile, the government has initiated programs aimed at integrating the
use of traditional and modern medicine in treating several challenging
diseases such as pulmonary, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension,
stroke, bronchial asthma and malaria.


ON THE BORDER
_____________________________________

Dec 3, Narinjara
18 more Burmese Muslim Refugees repatriated yesterday

Cox'sbazar, December 3: 18 Burmese Muslim refugees belonging to three
families returned to Burma yesterday (on Tuesday), official sources said.

Bangladesh and UNHCR officials saw them off on the bank of Naaf River at
Karountali Departing Gate in Teknaf Township.  Burma immigration officials
and UNHCR officials received them at KaningChaung reception centre in
Maung Daw Township, Burma.

With this, 2,36,238 Rohingya refugees have so far returned to Burma till
yesterday morning, sources said.

Meanwhile, another 9,591 Burmese refugees are expected to return to Burma.

It is known that the repatriation process had been not workable for
sometime for getting no consensus between Burma and Bangladesh
authorities. But it is the first batch of repatriation after sometime
break.

About 2,500,00 Burmese refugees crossed the border and took refuge in
Bangladesh in 1991 to escape persecution by Burma military regime.


DRUGS
_____________________________________

Dec 3, The Nation
The ‘big five’ drug barons

NAPANISA KAEWMORAKOT profiles five drug kingpins three of whom are behind
bars and their narcotics trafficking syndicates.

Wei Xiagang, aka Prasit Chiwinnitipanya, Suchat Panlertsakun

Occupation: Owner of the Phloi Daeng jewellery shop at the former World
Trade Centre shopping complex in Bangkok. The shop was thought to be a
front to launder drug money. A colonel in the Burmese army, he governs
Muang Mai 46, across the border from Chiang Rai’s Mae Fa Luang district,
and Muang Mai Ban Khong (Bending Mekong), in a new economic zone
controlled by the Red Wa.

Narcotics profile: Joined drug warlord Khun Sa in 1981 and fled to the
United States with Bt50 million of Khun Sa’s money. He returned four years
later to join the Burma based Kok Min Tang party, engaged in the drug
trade. He gave financial support to the Red Wa, who were engaged in a turf
war with Khun Sa. In 1998, a US court tried him on trafficking charges.

His brother, Wei Xialong, was the economic head of the Red Wa’s drug
operation. His younger brother, Wei Xiaying, was gunned down over a drugs
dispute with a business rival.

Status: He was arrested on November 23, 1988 on charges of possessing
heroin with intent to smuggle it into the Kingdom. He jumped bail during
the appeal.

At the end of 2001, antinarcotics authorities raided his mansions in
Chatuchak and Huai Khwang districts, and impounded his Phloi Daeng
jewellery shop together with over Bt100 million in assets.

His syndicate was raided in February as part of the government’s war on
drugs. Many suspects were arrested during the campaign, and several were
killed.

Assets impounded: Over Bt400 million in assets were confiscated.

Syndicate: In early 2002, antinarcotics authorities raided locations in
Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Bangkok. They raided 99 different
spots in Chiang Rai. The raids mainly focused on relatives and business
associates of Wei.

Raids began on 20 locations in Pathum Thani and Chiang Mai. A number of
Wei’s relatives and Red Wa members were killed.

===================
Surachai ‘Bang Ron’ Ngernthongfu, is a major world narcotics figure wanted
by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

He is second only to Burmese drug kingpin Khun Sa on the DEA’s wanted list.

He has been wanted by local authorities since September 1998 for
conspiracy to commit offences against the drug laws and for conspiring on
October 1516 of the same year to conceal 748,000 amphetamine tablets in
two plastic containers in a chicken pen at his house in Bangkok’s Nong
Chok district.

Fled a four hour police siege at his house to the Natap mosque, after
which he joined Wei Xiagang on the Thai Burma border.

Was said to have shuttled between Thailand and Burma collecting drug money
with apparently no significant role in selling. He reportedly underwent
plastic surgery to avoid capture.

He remains at large but antinarcotics authorities have cut off his supply
route.

Assets impounded: 18 items worth Bt8.6 million.

Syndicates: Has syndicates strewn across Bangkok in the city’s Phra
Khanong, Rom Klao, Lam Phak Chee, Min Buri and Nong Chok districts, 19 of
which are on the anti narcotic authorities list.
Status: Remains at large, believed to be holed up with the Red Wa group in
Burma.

===================
Supap Seedaeng, aka Sayam Sapworasit, nickname ‘Pap 70 rai’.
Age: 35.
From: Klong Toei.

Occupation: Car financing, drivers’ licence renewals and car insurance
sales. He is suspected of using his legitimate businesses to launder
money.

Arrested: March 26 this year at his Klong Toei home. He was allegedly
implicated in a scam involving two other people who were arrested in 1998.
Many of his assets were seized. A month after his arrest, his wife was
also detained and another Bt100 million worth of assets were seized.

Assets impounded: Personal properties and those owned by Supap?s syndicate
now under government control are estimated to be worth more than Bt230
million, but a portion of his worth is believed to have been absorbed into
the syndicate?s assets. The Bt230million seizure is thought to represent
about half of his actual worth.

Profile: Allegedly involved in drug running since 1994. Police believe
such was the depth of his involvement, the syndicate was formed nine years
ago specifically to manage illicit income.

Syndicate: Authorities seized assets listed as belonging to Supap and the
syndicate, whose major players were thought to be active in Klong Toei
slum’s major drug running clique.

===================
Laota Saenlee Age: 65

From: Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai district

The former village headman of Moo 4, Tambon Tha Ton, Mae Ai, was arrested
on June 12 this year, along with his two sons Banyat and Sookkasem Saenlee
at a house in Imperial Baan Huai Chan, Mae Ai district. The village is on
the Thai Burma border and inhabited mostly by ethnic Lisaw people. The
arrest followed more than 20 years of reconnaissance by antinarcotics
authorities and the military. Two previous raids turned up nothing,
because he was warned by neighbours, police said.

Assets: Laota owned few assets directly, apparently in a bid to avoid
having anything seized. He owned a two storey house in Baan Huai Chan
village and a village front service station. Anti narcotic authorities
believe there are assets worth hundreds of millions of baht officially
owned by relatives. Laota is married, with 23 wives with 45 children.

Profile: It is alleged he was a former broker for drug lord Khun Sa and
subsequently for Red Wa chief Wei Xiagang. Police allege Laota sold drugs
secured from Burma’s Mong Yon district and spirited across the border to
Mae Ai district. His name was on the government’s drug trafficking
blacklist and he had previously been arrested for masterminding the murder
of Fang based trafficker Thon Mue Lek. The case is yet to be heard by a
Chiang Mai court. It is alleged his family and junior associates have
taken up narcotic deals with the Red Wa. Laota had a reputation for being
a harsh village headman and employer. He was allegedly a major supplier of
narcotics to the United States. American drug enforcement agents want him
tried in the US, but Thai anti narcotic authorities want to grill him for
more information related to drug deals involving government officials. His
syndicate comprises relations living in the Kingdom’s northeastern,
northern and southern regions.

Status: Currently imprisoned at a Bangkok maximum security prison, Laota’s
request for bail has been rejected. His son Banyat, aka Supachok
Sithikornleekun, and his son in law Somchai, aka Anubae Saenmeesand Muang,
are still at large and wanted by the authorities.

===================
Wuthipong Chuahongkaew, nickname ‘Daeng Borphloi’ Age: 40

From: Bor Phloi district, Kanchanaburi province

Arrest details: He was arrested on January 12 at the Venice Hotel, Charoen
Nakhon Road, in Bangkok’s Khlong Sam district. Antinarcotics agents raided
room 239 at the hotel and found 500,000 methamphetamine tablets, a one
pound stick of C4 explosive, two detonators and firearms.

Assets impounded: Over Bt125 million worth of assets belonging to Daeng
and his crime syndicate.

Profile: Active in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri,
Phetchaburi, Samut Sakhon and Kanchanaburi, he was a member of one of the
main syndicates smuggling speed pills from the Red Wa into Bor Phloi. His
assets were taken over by his sister, Kamonrat Unkaew, who ran the
syndicate until she was arrested and her assets confiscated.

Syndicate: The syndicate has an estimated 10 members in Kanchanaburi and
Ratchaburi’s Pak Tho district.


INTERNATIONAL
_____________________________________

Dec 3, Reporters sans frontières
Outrage over death sentence passed on sports magazine chief editor

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) and the Burma Media
Association (BMA) today voiced outrage at the death sentences passed by a
court martial on 28 November on sports journalist Zaw Thet Htway and eight
other persons for allegedly trying to kill the
members of Burma's military junta.

"Your government has once again shown its criminal attitude towards
journalists who refuse to comply with orders," the two organisations said
in a joint letter to the prime minister, Gen. Khin Nyunt. "We challenge
you to provide the evidence of this journalist's implication in a coup
attempt," the letter added.

The editor of the sports magazine First Eleven, Zaw Thet Htway and the
other eight were convicted and sentenced to death by a Rangoon court
martial under article 122/1 of the law on high treason for supposedly
trying to murder the leaders of the SPDC (the ruling junta). The others
are Aye Myint (a lawyer), Zaw Zaw, Zar Naing Htun, Ne Win, Shwe Mann, Than
Htun, Myo Htway and Nai Min Kyi. The last public execution was held in
Burma in 1988, the magazine Irrawaddy said.

All nine were arrested on 17 July 2003 by members of Military Intelligence
(MI).  Zaw Thet Htway was arrested at the First Eleven office in Rangoon.
Four other journalists working for the magazine were also detained for
several days.

A member of the military junta, Col. San Pwint, announced on 26 July that
the security services had thwarted a planned series of bombings in which
12 suspects were implicated, including Zaw Thet Htwe. They were also
accused of contacts with political organisations in exile.

A former political prisoner, Zaw Thet Htwe already served a four-year
prison sentence in the early 1990s for his activities as a member of the
Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), and he was reportedly tortured
during interrogation.

His arrest in July is thought to have been prompted by a report in First
Eleven raising questions about the use of an international donation of
four million dollars to promote football in Burma. The
country's most widely-read sports magazine, with a circulation of 50,000,
First Eleven shortly thereafter carried a report about a fine imposed by
the organisers of an Asian football tournament (the Asian Champion Club)
on a Burmese team that failed to take part.

On 24 July, the military junta denied the claims of Reporters Without
Borders and the BMA that Zaw Thet Htwe's arrest was linked to his work as
a journalist.
___________________________________