BurmaNet News, Dec 10, 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

Dec 10, 2003 Issue 2384

INSIDE BURMA
AFP: Myanmar junta, Karen rebels agree to ceasefire during peace talks
Narinjara: People’s land confiscated and sold for USDA fund drive

BUSINESS / MONEY
Xinhua: Myanmar's border trade grows slightly in first 3 quarters

REGIONAL
MCP: ASEAN 'too soft on Myanmar'
Kyodo: Japan, Thailand eye working closely on Myanmar democracy
EN: Southeast Asian nations call for more investment by Japan
AFP: Japan to donate 1.5 billion dollars for Mekong region development

INTERNATIONAL
Irrawaddy: Unocal Trial Begins

OPINION / OTHER
FBC: Free Burma Coalition Responds to the SPDC's National Convention
NCGUB / NCUB: Joint Declaration of NCGUB and NCUB on International Human
Rights Day
Yomiuri: Thai lawyer wins award for work on human rights
DVB: Nobel Winner Wish for Burma’s Democracy Icon
DVB: Wishes for Burma's democracy leader from Nobel Committee

REPORT
SWAN: Shan State groups challenge international support for Burmese
junta's drug eradication programs

INSIDE BURMA
___________________________________

Dec 10, Agence Prance Presse
Myanmar junta, Karen rebels agree to ceasefire during peace talks

Myanmar's junta and the Karen National Union (KNU), one of the last rebel
groups waging war against the regime, have agreed to a ceasefire during
ongoing peace talks, a top rebel commander said on Wednesday.

Speaking after the return of KNU military representatives from five days
of talks in Yangon, the supreme commander of the KNU's military wing,
General Bo Mya, told AFP that both sides had ordered their troops to cease
hostilities.

"During the negotiations, (Prime Minister General) Khin Nyunt confirmed
that there will be no more military pressure on minority groups from now
on and repeated that there will be no more fighting," he said.

"Meanwhile, the KNU issued an order on December 8 asking all soldiers to
stop fighting with government troops... The order is effective from today
(Wednesday)," he said.

A KNU spokesman said last week that after a long-running impasse contacts
between the two sides had resumed when the regime dispatched its
representatives to meet KNU officials at the Thai border town of Mae Sot
on November 22.

The Yangon talks were arranged after progress was made on a number of
issues, including an agreement that no third country would be involved in
the negotiations, Thai and KNU intelligence sources said last week.

Under the deal, all the talks must be conducted inside Myanmar's
territory, either in border towns or the capital, and the opposition
National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi is to be excluded.

The junta also agreed to the KNU's demand that they negotiate a ceasefire
first before surrendering their weapons -- an issue which caused previous
talks to fail.

When asked about the next round of negotiations, Bo Mya, who was speaking
by telephone from his base in Myanmar close to the Thai border, said: "It
depends on the government and how sincere they are.

"If there is another round of negotiations we will find a solution (that
is, a finalised peace deal), but we have not yet agreed when and where we
will meet."

The agreement comes as Myanmar prepares to sell its "roadmap" for
democratic reforms to the international community at a half-day forum in
Bangkok next Monday that was initiated by Thailand.

The democracy plan was announced by Khin Nyunt in August in the midst of
an international outcry over its detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was
shifted from a secret location to house arrest in September.

The first step of the plan involves holding a national convention to write
a new constitution, in which Yangon has been trying to involve ethnic
groups, and eventually to hold "free and fair" elections.

Ethnic minority group the Kachin Independence Organisation said late last
month that it would take part in the convention, a significant development
as the group's armed wing refused to take part in the first convention.

Ethnic insurgencies have plagued Myanmar's border areas since the
Southeast Asian nation gained independence from Britain in 1948. By the
end of the 1990s, the junta had signed ceasefire accords with 17 groups,
leaving a handful, including the KNU, still fighting Yangon's rule.

BUSINESS / MONEY
____________________________________

Dec 10, Xinhua News Agency
Myanmar's border trade grows slightly in first 3 quarters

The border trade of Myanmar with four main neighboring countries --China,
Thailand, India and Bangladesh --reached 354 million US dollars in the
first three quarters of 2003, up 6 percent from the same period of 2002
when 335.3 million dollars were registered, the local Business Tank
reported in a recent issue.

During the nine-month period, the export volume through border trade was
207.8 million dollars, while the imports was 146.2 million compared with
the corresponding period of 2002's 131.5 million and 203.8 million
respectively.

Of the border trade volume, trade with China amounted to 213.7 million
dollars with its exports to China registering 109 million dollars and its
imports from it 104.7 million.

Myanmar's export goods are listed as agricultural, timber and marine
products, while its import commodities are known as industrial and
construction materials, fertilizer, cement, textile, and electronic and
pharmaceutical products.
_______________________________

Dec 10, Narinjara News
People’s land confiscated and sold for USDA fund drive

SPDC authorities seized local people's owned land and are planning to sell
it in pieces to raise funds for Union Solidarity and Development
Association (USDA), local people said.

The report also stated that land owned by local people situated along the
bank of Sat Rogya creek, around downtown Sittwe, the location was formerly
used to sell bamboo, fire wood and water palm leaves (used as roofing) but
was confiscated by the army in 2002 who built an office for military
Intelligence, No 10, and a Nazi Quarter police station.

The surplus plot of about 2 acres is being divided up and is to be sold to
raise funds for USDA and Women's Affair Committee (WAC) led by Dr Daw Khin
Win Shwe, wife of prime minister general Khin Nyunt. In the past, cases
like this were common, having built a long building comprising of 10
stalls, the police department sold them for its department fund raising,
each stall at 5,00,000 kyats.

The estimated current value of the plot is 2 million Burmese kyats said
local reliable sources.

After being confiscated, the owners were forced to shift their business of
selling, bamboos, fire wood and water palm leaves (used as roofing) to the
upper reaches of Sat Rogya creek, far away from Sittwe downtown, causing
inconvenient to Sittwe dwellers in purchasing the commodities mentioned,
local people complained.

REGIONAL
____________________________

Dec 10, Media Corp Press TODAY
ASEAN 'too soft on Myanmar'

ASIAN opposition democrats and activists called on regional governments
yesterday to take action against the military regime in Myanmar.

Speaking from Singapore, they warned that the crisis in the country had
serious repercussions for the region and should not be viewed by
neighbouring countries as an "internal problem" that should be solved by
Myanmar, or Burma, as they call the country.

The democrats addressed the media at a press conference, which was
organised hurriedly after the organisers' request for a permit to hold a
public forum called: "Freeing Burma: How can Asians help?" was rejected by
the Singapore police. The authorities had said the event was "likely to be
contrary to the public interest".

The forum — organised by the Open Singapore Centre (OSC), Alliance for
Reform and Democracy in Asia and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy — was
to be part of a two-day conference attended by prominent opposition
leaders from the region. The list included the vice-president of
Malaysia's Parti Keadilan, Mr Tian Chua; Cambodia's opposition leader, Mr
Sam Rainsy; and OSC chairman, Dr Chee Soon Juan.

"It should not be seen as an internal problem that Burma itself should
resolve," said Dr Chee who, like the other panellists, pointed to
Myanmar's alleged involvement in trafficking illegal narcotics, sex
workers and money laundering.

They also warned that Myanmar's growing Aids epidemic might pose a threat
to the region.

"What happens in Burma not only affects the Burmese people — you are
talking about HIV/Aids, you are talking about the production and
manufacture and trafficking of heroin and methamphetamines 
 these drugs
come to Singapore and they end up in the hands of our youth," said Dr
Chee.

Mr Rainsy said Myanmar's proposed "road map" towards democratic reforms
was merely a public relations exercise to allow the military regime to buy
time, reported AFP.

When asked if South-east Asia could do more to push for democracy in
Myanmar, he said: "I think Asean should reconsider its position ... if the
so-called engagement approach has failed, we should look for another
approach.

"There can be different kinds of sanctions and pressures, but at least
neighbouring countries should speak a common language showing firmness and
not being too lenient," said Mr Rainsy.
_______________________________

Dec 10, Kyodo News Service
Thailand eye working closely on Myanmar democracy

Japan and Thailand on Wednesday agreed to continue to work closely to
encourage Myanmar to take steps to achieve democracy and peace, Japanese
Foreign Ministry officials said.

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi underscored the need to secure the
participation of all parties concerned in the national reconciliation and
democratization process in Myanmar at a meeting with her Thai counterpart
Surakiart Sathirathai, the officials said.

Echoing this, Surakiart spoke about the vitality of urging Myanmar to take
measures toward democratization and peace and have it heed international
concerns over its political situation, they said.

After the hour long meeting with Kawaguchi, Surakiart told Kyodo News he
found the meeting 'very, very constructive' and that Japan and Thailand
shared a 'common vision about regional development' and on working
together on Myanmar.

Wednesday's meeting comes after Surakiart said in Bangkok on Tuesday that
10 countries from Asia and Europe, including Myanmar, have agreed to
attend a forum in the Thai capital next week to discuss Myanmar's 'road
map to democracy.'

He has said the one-day meeting is aimed at giving Myanmar the opportunity
to explain to the international community its plans on national
reconciliation and transition to a democracy.

Surakiart is in Tokyo to attend a two-day special summit among Japan and
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from Thursday.

On bilateral ties, the two foreign ministers reconfirmed their partnership
on regional and global issues, the officials said.

Myanmar Prime Minister Khin Nyunt announced the seven-stage road map in
August that includes the resumption of a national convention aimed at
producing a democratic constitution.

The road map has received little support outside of Myanmar, although
neighboring Thailand has been calling for some recognition of the plan at
international meetings to eventually make Myanmar democratic.

The junta called a general election more than a decade ago, but then
refused to relinquish power when the National League for Democracy, led by
Aung San Suu Kyi, won in a landslide over junta-supported candidates. The
junta has since put Suu Kyi under house arrest several times.
________________________________

Dec 10, Economic News
Southeast Asian nations call for more investment by Japan

Southeast Asian leaders called for more investment by Japan on the eve of
a Japan-ASEAN summit at which Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
said he will unveil a new vision for closer ties with the regional bloc.
    "We are hoping our country will turn into Asia's (power supplier),"
Lao Prime Minister Bounnyang Vorachit told a business seminar here to
promote economic ties between Japan and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
    Bounnyang said his country had great potential in hydro-power
generation using the Mekong River and its tributaries.
    There is huge demand for electricity in neighbouring countries, he
said, adding Thailand last month signed an agreement committing itself
to buying electricity from the Nam Theun II hydro-electric power
project.
    "If Japan and other nations invest in hydro-power generation, it will
benefit us very much," the premier said in a speech through a
translator.
    Myanmar's Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu urged Japan to invest in
the nation's border areas with Cambodia, Laos and Thailand for
industrial development.
    At a summit meeting last month, the four neighbors gave priority to
the industrial sector, he said.
    "We are planning to have industrial plants along the borders of these
four nations," he told the seminar.
    Those areas, though quite rural and remote, will also be developed in
addition to 18 special industrial zones the Myanmar government has
implemented, he said.
    While recognizing Japan has invested heavily in Thailand, the deputy
minister said Japan "could ... also take part in developing these
remote-area industrial regions, which will benefit not only investors
but also could help develop our new ASEAN countries."
    Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also pitched for his country,
saying the government "considers foreign direct investment an
important pillar of the Vietnamese economy."
    Koizumi said the upcoming summit was "epoch-making as the leaders of
all the ASEAN countries meet outside the region for the first time.
    "Working together with ASEAN leaders, I want to show a new vision
which will become the basis of Japan-ASEAN relations for the 21st
century," he said in a keynote speech.
    Koizumi said the example of producing cars in the region using
Japanese electronics, Thai-built engines, Malaysian air-conditioning
units and Indonesian-made door-lock mechanisms symbolized increasing
regional unity.
    The final declaration of the two-day summit is expected to propose the
creation of an East Asian Community -- grouping ASEAN and the
countries of Northeast Asia.
_________________________________

Dec 10, Agence France Presse
Japan to donate 1.5 billion dollars for Mekong region development

Japan will give about 1.5 billion dollars worth of financial assistance
towards development of the Mekong River region over the next three years,
news reports said Wednesday.

Tokyo is making the offer to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) to coincide with their leaders' special summit here
Thursday and Friday, Kyodo News said, citing an internal government
document.

The money will be used to build infrastructure, such as bridges, roads and
ports to help economic development of nations along the river such as
Cambodia and Vietnam, Jiji Press said.

The assistance will be particularly aimed at helping underdeveloped
nations within ASEAN, Jiji said.

The river, extending for 4,000 kilometres (2,400 miles), is among the
world's longest and least spoiled, passing through China, Myanmar,
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The Japanese aid money will be also used to set up frameworks for
liberalisation of trade and investment, Jiji said.

The plan is part of a draft of the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action to be
adopted at the special summit, Kyodo reported.

The Asian Development Bank has a controversial Greater Mekong Subregion
development plan involving 11 flagship programs to integrate the region in
areas including telecommunications, energy, transport, and tourism.

_________________________________

Dec 10, The Daily Yomiuri
Thai lawyer wins award for work on human rights

Reflecting on the past 30 years, Thai lawyer Somchai Homlaor said: "The
environment surrounding human rights and democracy in Southeast and South
Asia has changed, but it hasn't matured to the extent that ordinary people
can easily enjoy and promote these rights themselves.

"There are still areas in Asian countries where basic human rights are
trampled, or sacrificed for economic development, and some people are
fighting for their lives to pursue democratization."

The Ayutthaya, Thailand-born activist made the comments as he accepted an
award last week for promoting human rights in Asia.

Somchai, 53, secretary general of Forum-Asia, a Bangkok-based
nongovernmental organization established in 1991 to facilitate
collaboration among human rights groups in Asia, received this year's
Asian Human Rights Award on behalf of his NGO at a ceremony in Tokyo last
week.

The honor is awarded by a Japanese group called the Foundation for Human
Rights in Asia, which was founded in 1990 and comprises university
professors, Diet members and domestic NGOs.

When he was studying law at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Somchai
became involved with student movements demanding democracy in the 1970s
after the military had seized power.

"During the course of our struggle, we experienced repeated setbacks and
were aware of the fragility of our organizations," Somchai said. "So I
strongly feel the need for a broader framework that goes beyond borders to
allow for cooperation among citizens in Asian regions. That's what
motivated me to start Forum-Asia."

Thirty-four groups from six countries have joined Forum-Asia.

The forum provides members with training programs on improving basic human
rights and sharing information effectively.

Somchai said it seemed to him that Japan was so sensitive about deeds
committed during World War II in regions of Asia that it could not be
involved actively in movements to improve human rights in those regions.
"Japan should overcome the past and play a leading role in this field," he
said.

The 1997 economic crisis that hit Asian countries hard slowed the
promotion of human rights in the region, according to Somchai.

"But human rights have become an increasingly important problem that can't
be sidestepped for the sake of the region's future development. I hope
human rights will take root in Asia as an important common value and we'll
continue to make efforts to realize this," he said.

Winners of the past eight awards have included supporters of Myanmar's
opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Revolutionary Association of
the Women of Afghanistan.

INTERNATIONAL
____________________________

Dec 10, The Irrawaddy
Unocal Trial Begins

A trial pitting Burmese villagers against US-based oil giant Unocal
Corporation began in California on Tuesday. Unocal is the first American
company to stand trial in a US court for alleged human rights violations
committed abroad.

The California Superior Court in Los Angeles began hearing claims that 13
Burmese villagers were beaten, tortured and forced to provide free labor
by Burmese army troops which provided security for a gas pipeline project
in southern Burma.

"Burmese soldiers enforced a system of slave labor and committed horrible
acts of violence on Unocal’s behalf," said Terry Collinsworth, a
plaintiff’s lawyer and executive director of the International Labor
Rights Fund.

Unocal faces court action under the 200-year-old Alien Tort Claims Act,
which allows foreign nationals to sue in US courts for human rights
abuses. Unocal is one of at least a dozen US corporations that have been
sued in American courts for alleged abuses which took place overseas, but
its case is the first to reach trial.

Dan Stormer, a Los Angeles attorney representing the Burmese villagers,
said, "We are using the American justice system to hold corporations
liable for their conduct in foreign countries."

Unocal claims that it is not liable for the alleged abuses because its
venture in Burma did not involve the parent company, only foreign-based
subsidiaries. A Unocal statement about the case says the lawsuit "seeks to
hold us ‘vicariously liable’ for the actions of the armed forces of a
sovereign nation" and calls the company a "minority investor in the
pipeline and not the operator."

Stormer counters that the plaintiffs argue that the foreign subsidiaries
in question were controlled entirely by Unocal and didn’t have a single
employee. "These are phony corporations created solely to hide from
liability," he said.

The trial’s first phase, which began yesterday, will determine if the
subsidiaries are separate corporate entities or merely "alter egos" of
Unocal.

Unocal is a international energy corporation based in El Segundo,
California which operates the $1.2 billion pipeline in partnership with
Thailand’s PTT Exploration & Production, Myanmar Oil & Gas
Enterprise—Burma’s state-owned oil company—and France’s TotalFinaElf. The
409-km pipeline between the Andaman Sea and Thailand was completed in
early 1998.

Although the US prohibited new investments in Burma in 1997, Unocal was
exempted from sanctions because it had begun doing business there several
years earlier.

OPINION / OTHER
_____________________________________

Dec 10, Free Burma Coalition

Free Burma Coalition Responds to the SPDC's National Convention

The Burma Strategy Group, the intellectual wing of the Washington,
DC-based Free Burma Coalition http://www.freeburmacoalition.org issued a
statement today welcoming cautiously the National Convention proposed by
Burma's ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).  The
coalition's statement acknowledges that the proposed convention is "a
first step in the right direction" if it fosters a climate of openness and
fairness.

Burma has been in the grip of South East Asia's longest-running military
dictatorship since 1962.  The current military rulers came to power after
crushing a nationwide pro-democracy uprising in 1988. It held multiparty
elections in 1990 in which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy won by a landslide.  The SPDC has jailed more than 1,500
pro-democracy activists and has kept the NLD leaders including Aung San
Suu Kyi in captivity and under strict conditions of house arrest.

The FBC is one of the first and largest Internet-based human rights
campaigns with its headquarters in Washington. It has also been
instrumental in building the international sanctions campaigns against
Burma.

The Free Burma Coalition's Statement On the State Peace and Development
Council's Proposal
for a National Convention:

Motivated solely by our common desire for solving Burma's decades-long
political problems in a peaceful manner, we welcome, in principle, Prime
Minister Khin Nyunt's proposal to convene a National Convention.

We sincerely believe it is a first step in the right direction for our
country, which has long been devastated by political conflicts, economic
decay and ethnic discontent.

The proposed National Convention, which, in theory, could amount to a
national dialogue among people's delegates and the military rulers, holds
out the promise of bringing about urgently needed reforms.  However, this
dialogue must, in practice, be conducted in a manner which fosters open
and free exchange of diverse ideas, views and opinions as to what serves
the
best interests of the people in whom our nation's sovereignty resides.

Diversity is Burma's strength to cherish, not a weakness to be suppressed.

As our beleaguered nation stands at a crossroads and her people cry out
for reconciliation and nation re-building, we hope that the State Peace
and Development Council or SPDC will demonstrate its sincerity and
willingness to work together with people's representatives and community
leaders in seeking lasting solutions to our problems.

In addition to the already invited leaders of ethnic nationalities and
communities, the SPDC must unequivocally include Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led
National League for Democracy.  The NLD remains a legitimate voice of the
people as mandated by the military-sponsored multiparty elections of 1990.

However, we wish to emphasize that our welcome statement here is not to be
misconstrued as a full embrace of Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt's
seven-point road map.  Burma's problems require careful and collective
examination by all the stake-holders in our national politics.  It would
be neither democratic nor fair for one stake-holder, be it the SPDC or the
NLD, to exercise the right exclusively to shape the future course of our
nation.

We acknowledge the Thaksin Administration of Thailand for hosting the
upcoming International Conference on Burma in Bangkok (December 15, 2003)
and for exercising its neighbourly duties so that Burma may move closer
toward a genuine transition, preferably before the year 2006 when Burma
presides over the ASEAN.

Finally, we urge the international community, especially democratic
governments the world over, to ensure that the National Convention goes
smoothly and results in Burma's desperately needed transition to a modern,
developed and democratic nation in the foreseeable future.
____________________________________

Dec 10, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma & the National
Council of the Union of Burma

Joint Declaration of NCGUB and NCUB on International Human Rights Day

On this auspicious occasion of the International Human Rights Day today,
the NCGUB/NCUB (National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma / the
National Council of the Union of Burma) reaffirm their belief that all
forms of human rights are universal and all human beings, regardless of
their ethnic and cultural backgrounds, are entitled to enjoy the rights
enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Covenants
on Civil and Political Rights, and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The NCGUB/NCUB, while proudly recalling the adoption of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights by the democratic government of a newly
independent Burma on 10 December 1948, must regretfully draw the attention
of the world community to the fact that the very essence of, and the
principles embodied, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are
persistently being violated by the illegitimate military regime in Burma
today.

The regime today is systematically applying intimidation, harassment,
arrest, torture at interrogation centers, long prison sentences, harsh
treatment in prison, and deprivation of economic and social opportunities
in order to eliminate the democracy movement, particularly members of the
National League for Democracy and their families.

It is continuing its arbitrary arrests, summary executions, torture,
systematic rapes, conscription for forced labor including porterage for
the military, massive forced relocations, confiscation of land and
property, destruction of crops and food stocks, extortion of money, and
burning of villages, and other grave human rights violations especially in
non-Burman ethnic areas.

In addition, the ruling generals remain as uncompromising as ever toward
political parties and leaders the result of which had led to the
suspension of the constitution-drafting National Convention in 1996.  The
"seven-point roadmap" the generals are proposing once again adds nothing
more to that defunct National Convention, and hence, the NCGUB/NCUB affirm
their common stance with the people, political parties and institutions,
and ethnic forces in Burma in categorically rejecting that "roadmap" and
reaffirm that any "roadmap" to restore democracy and
national reconciliation in Burma must be formulated to reflect the
aspirations of the people and in consultation with the elected leadership
who represent the people.

On this international human rights day, the NCGUB/NCUB pledge to continue
supporting all political forces, organizations, groups in Burma,
particularly MPs, NLD Youth and Women wings, ethnic based political
parties, students, monks and workers who are courageously engaging in a
relentless struggle and risking their lives and personal well being.

The NCGUB/NCUB also pledge to double their efforts to fully implement
resolutions unanimously adopted at the Fort Wayne Conference of Burmese
Communities in exile (11-12 October) and to work even more closely with
all Burmese communities overseas until Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all
political prisoners are freed, all acts of injustice in Burma are halted,
fundamental human rights and political freedoms are restored, and Burma is
transformed into a genuine democratic nation.

The NCGUB/NCUB call on the people of Burma around the world to join the
democracy movement in any capacity that they can participate and help
build Communities of Democracy in their respective countries and use their
freedom to secure the rights of the people back home.

The NCGUB/NCUB also call on the international community to promote the
efforts to help the Burmese people regain their fundamental rights. In
this regard, the NCGUB/NCUB welcome the United States of America for
implementing the Burmese Democracy and Freedom Act; thank the European
Union for its Common Position on Burma and urge it to add measures of
targeted economic sanctions against the Burmese military regime,
particularly in banning wood and wood products originating from Burma, and
imposition of restrictions on financial transactions; and urge the UN
Secretary-General to take the lead in formulating a roadmap for democratic
transition in Burma in consultation with international key players taking
into account the visions of all parties concerned in Burma and materialize
the structured democratic transition in Burma; and strongly request Japan
and ASEAN to discuss Burma at the upcoming Japan, ASEAN Economic Summit
and to step up regional initiative in cooperation with the United Nations
for the success of national
reconciliation and democratization process in Burma.


REPORT
_____________________________

Dec 10, Shan Women's Action Network
Shan State groups challenge international support for Burmese junta's drug
eradication programs

In the light of fresh evidence of the Burmese military regime's dependence
on the drug trade as part of its strategy to maintain power in Shan State,
it is urgently needed for the international community to review its
support for the regime's so-called drug eradication programs.

The new report "Show Business" by the Shan Herald Agency for News
(www.shanland.org) reveals how the regime, the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC), is continuing to allow its military allies in Shan State
to produce drugs, and how the drug business is subsidizing SPDC army costs
at the field level.

The regime's "war on drugs" is exposed as a charade, staged only in token
areas for the benefit of the international community, and mainly targeting
poor opium farmers, who have suffered arrest and extrajudicial killings,
as well as unnecessary hardship from poorly-planned crop substitution
programs.  Meanwhile, heroin and methamphetamine production continues
unabated under the protection of SPDC military units, and well-known drug
traffickers continue to operate with impunity.

Given the regime's complicity in the drug trade, it is clearly
counter-productive for the international community to provide support to
the SPDC for drug eradication.

"Supporting the regime to eradicate drugs is like watering a poisonous
plant, " said Nang Lao Liang Won of Shan Women's Action Network.  "To get
rid of the drug problem, you have to get rid of the regime itself."

We, the undersigned organisations, therefore make the following
recommendations concerning the drug problem in Shan State:

To the State Peace and Development Council:

1. To stop committing extrajudicial killings in the name of drug eradication.
2. To stop the forced taxation of opium by SPDC military personnel.
3. To allow communities to set up and run their own drug rehabilitation
centres.
4. To stop forcing farmers to implement crop substitution and other
development programs in which they have had no opportunity to participate
in decision-making processes.

To Burma's neighbouring countries:

1. To conduct a transparent evaluation of the SPDC's implementation of any
bilateral or regional anti-drug initiatives, and to review cooperation
with the SPDC on the basis of this evaluation;
2. To raise the political issues at the root of the drug problem in Burma
with the SPDC, and, recognising that political reform is the only means of
addressing this drug problem, pressure the SPDC to enter immediately into
tripartite dialogue with the Burman and non-Burman democratic opposition
in order to restore genuine peace and democracy in Burma
3. To provide protection and allow humanitarian assistance to refugees
from Burma feeing human rights violations, including those inflicted as a
result of the SPDC's anti-drug campaigns, or as a result of forced opium
taxation by SPDC military personnel.

To foreign governments and international funding agencies:

1. To demand a transparent evaluation of the effectiveness of current drug
eradication programs in Shan State and to review support for these
programs on the basis of this evaluation
2. To support indigenous community-based organisations carrying out
cross-border drug education, drug rehabilitation, public health and
community development programs;
3. To pressure the SPDC to enter immediately into tripartite dialogue with
the Burman and non-Burman democratic opposition in order that genuine
peace and democracy can be restored, as political reform is the only means
of addressing the drug problem in Burma.

Finally, Burma's membership in the UN Drug Commission starting in 2004
should be revoked immediately. Only when democracy is restored in Burma,
should membership be reinstated.

Lahu National Development Organisation (LNDO)
Shan Democratic Union (SDU)
Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF)
Shan State Organisation (SSO)
Shan Women's Action Network (SWAN)
Shan Youth Network Group (SYNG)

_______________________________

Dec 10, Democratic Voice of Burma
Nobel Winner Wish for Burma’s Democracy Icon

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi's wishes Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi freedom and good luck in an interview with Democratic Voice of Burma
in Oslo on 10 Dec.
"I would like to say to Aung San Suu Kyi. I have the highest and utmost
respect for her. Women all over the world are honoured by her and are
proud of her. I hope freedom and good luck for her," said Ms Ebadi.
_______________________________

Dec 10, Democratic Voice of Burma
Wishes for Burma's democracy leader from Nobel Committee

Both Gunnar Stalsett, the bishop of Oslo and Geir Lundestad, Secretary of
the Norwegian Nobel Committee, wishes the Nobel Peace Laureate of 1991, Ms
Aung San Suu Kyi to keep up her hope in her fight for freedom in Burma.
From Gunnar Stalsett, the bishop of Oslo:

Dear Aung San Suu Kyi, on this day, on 10 December, when the Nobel Peace
Prize is given to Shirin Ebadi, we keep you in our memories and we wish
you all strength in your continue struggle for democracy. I remember with
great joy my visit to you a few years ago and you are still in my prayers.
As bishop of Oslo I will tonight celebrate a service in the cathedral and
your name would be remembered there too.

All the best to you and your struggle. Keep up the hope in your struggle
for justice, freedom and democracy.

From Geir Lundestad, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee:

We think of her every day. We think of her particularly on this very day.
This is the day when we award this year's Nobel Peace Prize. We think of
the laureate of 1991. She is very much in our mind. We are looking forward
to the day when she can come to give her Nobel lecture.

We hope that she is receiving some protection from the fact that she is
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. But still, she is working under very very
difficult conditions and we hope there will be a change in Burma soon.