BurmaNet News, April 27, 2004

[Editor]

April 27, 2004, Issue # 2464


INSIDE BURMA
AFP: Myanmar's opposition leaders hold meeting with Suu Kyi
Mizzima: Power Black Out in Rangoon

ON THE BORDER
Mizzima: China’s Burmese Drug Headache

BUSINESS
Xinhua: Myanmar to add 10,000 more mobile phone lines
Narinjara: Jelly Fish Season Makes a Promising Start on the Arakan Coast

REGIONAL
AFP: Thailand aims to revive international talks on Myanmar reforms

INTERNATIONAL
AP: Gradual easing of sanctions needed to encourage reform in Myanmar,
group says

OPINION/ OTHER
Washington Post: A Need to Act on Burma - John McCain and Madeleine Albright
Mizzima: The World Through the Junta's Prism

PRESS RELEASE
ICG: Myanmar: Sanctions, Engagement or Another Way Forward?
CSW: Fresh evidence of ethnic cleansing in Burma to be given at briefing
on April 27


INSIDE BURMA
_____________________________________

April 27, Agence France Presse

Myanmar's opposition leaders hold meeting with Suu Kyi

Yangon: Top members of Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) met
with their detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi at her home Tuesday to discuss
next month's constitutional convention, a party source said.

"All nine of us met at Aung San Suu Kyi's residence this afternoon," said
one of the party members who attended the meeting, which ran for three and
a half hours.

"We have not yet made any decisions with regard to (attending) the
national convention. We will meet again before we make a decision," he
told AFP, requesting anonymity.

All nine members of the NLD's decision-making Central Executive Committee
were present, including vice-chairman deputy Tin Oo who was brought from
house arrest to attend the talks.

The party leaders were all taken into detention last May when Aung San Suu
Kyi's convoy was attacked by a pro-junta gang during a political tour of
northern Myanmar, prompting a major crackdown on the pro-democracy
opposition.

NLD secretary U Lwin also confirmed the meeting had taken place, and said
it was the first time in a year that the nine top party members had
gathered together.

"This is the first time we got together since last May," he said, adding
that Aung San Suu Kyi was in good health and spirits. "She is in a good
mood," he said.

U Lwin said last week that the party had repeatedly asked to meet with
Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss the military government's plans to hold a
national convention to draft a new constitution beginning May 17.

He said the opposition party would not make a decision on whether to
attend until all nine discussed the issue.

"We have had only one chance to meet with Daw Suu (in late August) and we
have constantly asked to see her again because all nine of us need to meet
to make decisions with regards to the national convention," he said at the
time.

The ruling junta is keen for as many political parties and ethnic groups
as possible to attend the convention, which is the first step in its
so-called "roadmap to democracy".

Hopes were high until recently that Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo would be
freed before the convention began, but those prospects appeared to fade in
recent days as the political atmosphere in Yangon grew tense.

After the junta reopened the NLD's headquarters, which were slammed shut
during the crackdown, and released two more top party leaders, the party
said on April 19 that they expected Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed "in a day
or two".

But a series of negative signals, including Myanmar's withdrawal from
international talks on prospects for reform due to be held in Bangkok this
month, and sharp exchanges between the opposition and the government, have
changed the outlook.

The convention is expected to assemble government, political parties and
ethnic representatives in a forum that would essentially mirror a previous
convention which collapsed in 1995 when the NLD walked out.

The opposition has demanded substantial changes to the format of the
revived convention before it agrees to attend. Political observers stress
it will have no credibility if the opposition does not take part.

_____________________________________

April 27, Mizzima News
Power Black Out in Rangoon - Myo Myint Aung

Private power suppliers in Rangoon are in high demand as the city’s power
supply fails every alternate day.

A sales woman of the Rangoon-based “Twin Star” Gen-set Company told
Mizzima News “the demand depends upon the amount of containers arriving.
No matter how many containers arrive, they get sold-out.”

Supply of electricity in Rangoon has been on an ‘alternate day schedule’
since February this year, causing people to rely more on generators.
People in the slums who cannot afford to use private generators are forced
to buy electricity from neighbors who do own generators.

While Chinese-made electricity inverters cost about 50,000 Kyats,
depending on the categories, Chinese made portable generators, which are
currently in highest demand, range from 90,000 Kyats to 1,00,000 Kyats.
Japanese made Gen-sets range between 9,00,000 Kyats to 12,00,000 Kyats.

“Previously electricity never failed in the business districts of Rangoon,
but nowadays almost everywhere there are regularly power blackouts,” said
a salesman at Seiko Company Ltd, in Rangoon’s business district, speaking
at the time of a power failure in his office.

“Chinese made generators don’t last and the good ones are very expensive.
Moreover, the prices of petrol and diesel are shooting up so high. So, it
is much cheaper to buy electricity from neighbors who can afford
generators,” said a resident of South Okalappa Township 12, whose 3 out of
5 family members are employed.

People who take electricity from neighbors who own generators are charged
40 Kyats per day for a tube light, and in some regions, up to 60 Kyats per
tube light, depending on the number of users. The less the number of
users, the higher the fee.

The currently rate for a gallon of petrol or diesel is 1800 Kyats.

Accompanying regular power blackouts in Rangoon are water problems. People
rush to put on their motors to pump as much water as they can while there
is electricity. However, the pressure this generates in the power supply
causes fluctuations in voltage, in turn causing damage to electronic
gadgets like televisions and refrigerators.

Electricity in Rangoon is supplied by the Lawpithah Hydro-Project, which
includes 3 natural gas turbine plants and 2 diesel turbine plants. Due to
low supply of power generated by the Lawpithah hydro-project (which
generates only of 45 Mega watts), the constant failure of the natural gas
turbines and irregular power generated by the diesel turbines, the
Electricity Department has scheduled electricity to be supplied to most
areas on alternate days, said an official of the Electricity Department.
Only some very special areas are exempt from this.

The special areas include the eight-mile Konemyintha Yeiktha and
surrounding areas, Bahan’s ShweToneKya Yeiktha, the People’s Parliament
Building, Minmanaing Yeiktha, the Rangoon Zoo and most of the city’s
parks.

As per the alternate day power supply schedule, electricity gets cut off
from 2.00 pm until 2.00 pm the following day. But there are reports that
there are power failures even on days for which electricity is scheduled.

Most people believe that the power shortage is due to the insufficient
power generation by the Lawpithah Hydro Project. Lawpithah project
engineer claims, “we never fail to generate power in our project.” He
admits, however, that there might have been unfair power distributions
from the transmitters.

People who cannot afford to buy Gen-sets or inverters and are unable to
pay the to connect to their neighbors’ energy sources must rely on candles
for light at night. “It is worse in the slums, especially in South Dagon
Township,” said a resident of South Dagon Township, speaking on condition
of anonymity. “Sometimes there would be no electricity at all. So, most of
us have to rely upon candles. We have to use charcoals for cooking.”

General consumers are forced to pay for increases in production costs
caused by the city’s power failure. “Firms like ours cannot immediately
increase the price rates for our products. We still have competition. So,
we are facing a set-back,” said an officer in charge of a Magazine.

“While Rangoon needs 400 mega watts of electricity supply every day, the
actual amount of power supplied is only 390 mega watts,” said an official
from the Electricity Department. Though there are at least 268 potential
hydro-electricity projects with the capacity to generate around 40000 mega
watts, only 42 are in use, generating 390 mega watts of electricity.


ON THE BORDER
_____________________________________

April 27, Mizzima News
China’s Burmese Drug Headache - Mungpi & Ahle

New Delhi: Drugs from Burma have been significantly inflowing and seizures
in Sino-Burma border.

Chinese authorities reported seizure of 269.7 kilograms of heroin hidden
in beehives and transported by truck from Burma to the southwestern Yunnan
Province on April 4,  which is considered the biggest haul of the year.

Last year, Chinese authorities reported seizures of more than 5,000
kilograms (11,000 pounds) of drugs coming from Burma.

In spite of the frequent seizure, some are skeptical that local
authorities in Yunnan who are directly benefiting from the drug trade that
is flowing from Burma, want to look away from the problem, although the
central Chinese government wants an end to the problem as the entire drug
related evils are decreasing the prestige of the nation.

“
The authorities in Yunnan make no fuss about the fact that drug money is
being invested on the Chinese side of the border”, said Muang Muang Myint,
a Radio Free Asia (RFA) special correspondent who visited the Sino-Burma
border on a drug mission.

Using different techniques of hiding the drugs inside trucks and cars, he
said, drugs from Burma are transported to China and are usually taken to
Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province where international connections
can be made for further distribution.

Mya Hlaing, a resident living Sino-Burma border for many years said that
among the various types of drugs produced in Burma, heroin has a good
market in China because the country does not produce opium on its soil.

It is estimated that less than 1% of Burma's annual opium production is
intercepted by the Burmese authorities - the rest is smuggled out.

The Chinese police estimate that 80 percent of the 70 to 80 tons of heroin
manufactured in the golden triangle (Burma, Laos and South west China) in
2003 entered China through Sino-Burma borders for either local consumption
or trafficking to global market.

The result is devastating: numerous drug addicts and HIV infection rates.

The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s 2003 report says,“
there are an estimate of 80,000 young people age 15 and above in China who
smokes opium on a daily basis”.

As part of the two countries’ anti drug trafficking program, China has
been giving anti-drug enforcement training to Burmese policemen. The
training courses, which include anti-drug trafficking strategy, anti-drug
trafficking legislation and drug test, were imparted at Yunnan Police
College.

On April 22 (Thursday), thirty Burmese Policemen, the third batch of the
training, ended their month-long anti-drug enforcement training.

In 2002, China trained the first batch of 25 Policemen from Burma and they
trained 30 more in 2003.

Though there has been drastic drop in opium poppy cultivation, Burma still
ranks second top producers of opium poppy in the global drugs production
league following Afghanistan.

UN drug experts say that though Burma seems intent on cutting back on its
opium production, over the years there have been persistent reports that
senior officials of the military regime are involved in the drug trade and
that funds from the drugs business still find their way into government
coffers.

US drug enforcement agencies estimate opium production in Burma last year
to have been about 1,200 tons.

The UNODC’s 2003 report on Burma states that Shan state of Burma, which
borders with China, alone represents more than 90 percent of the total
opium cultivation in Burma. Of which, the Wa Special region (2), which is
under the control of United Wa State Army (UWSA), ranks the first for
opium poppy cultivation, accounting 34 percent of the total production in
Burma.

The Wa, led by a number of powerful and ruthless families with worldwide
contacts, have been able to build up a highly-organized and sophisticated
drugs business.

Shan state with an estimated population of 5 million, 2,41,700 households,
comprising of ethnic groups like Lahu, Akha, Wa, Shan, Pa-O, Palaung,
Kachin, Lisu, Burman etc. are estimated to cultivate opium poppy.


BUSINESS
_____________________________________

April 27, Xinhua News Agency
Myanmar to add 10,000 more mobile phone lines

Yangon: Myanmar will add 10,000 more mobile phone lines under a latest
infrastructural project to improve the country's telecommunications
industry, the Myanmar Times reported in this week's issue.

Quoting the state-run Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), the
report said the project will also cover Mogok and Mongshu in southern Shan
state and Pharkant in northern Kachin state.

Meanwhile, a new digital advanced mobile phone system network, which is
under installation and will be completed by June, will also allow access
between Yangon and Mandalay, the two major cities of Myanmar, the report
added.

As part of its bid to develop the mobile phone industry, Myanmar is
planning to increase such phone density, anticipating to reach a
saturation point within two years.

While the government-run MPT still remains as the only mobile phone
service provider in Myanmar, experts urged liberalization of the industry
by allowing some more private operators into the phone market to better
the development of the sector, according to the report.

Meanwhile, a Chinese company is reportedly prepared to fund Myanmar's
mobile phone infrastructural projects as it did to Laos.

According to official statistics, out of Myanmar's mobile phone systems,
there were 8,500 lines of cellular system, 2,700 Digital European Cordless
Telecommunication  (DECT) system, 18,250 fixed lines and 11,800 mobile
lines of CDMA system and 21,900 lines of GSM system totalling 63,150 as of
the end of 2003.

The cellular system was introduced in 1993, while the DECT and CDMA
systems were launched in 1997 and the GSM system in 2002.

_____________________________________

April 27, Narinjara News
Jelly Fish Season Makes a Promising Start on the Arakan Coast

Akyab: The Jelly Fish has just started in the Arakan state, and business
has kick started with great momentum.  The industry is expecting to
reverse the effects of last year’s poor yield.

To compensate for last year’s losses, the Jellyfish fishermen are trying
to catch as much jellyfish as possible, by even going on the high seas. 
Last year, a ton of jellyfish priced at 1,900 to 4,000 thousand kyats, but
this year the price is 1,800 thousand kyats.

In 2003, the military Junta SPDC collected 5,800 thousand kyats for a
jellyfish buying depot, and sold all the river, creeks and sea off to high
profile businessmen as plots for jellyfish fisheries.  The Kaladan River,
the main river in northern Arakan was divided into three jellyfish plots,
and the lower end of the river was sold for 70 million kyats to “High
Garee” Kyaw Won from Akyab.

However, due to the change in the water streams, no jellyfish were yielded
last year and those business people had to face the music.  Despite 2002
being a good year, 2003 was a terrible year for the jellyfish industry.

According to a person from the industry, jellyfish gives quick cash
recovery, but involved a lot of work.  The fishermen use 60 feet long; 30
feet wide Thailand-made nets to fish the jellyfish and then salt the
jellyfish for exportation to China.

A large jellyfish is 150 kyats and smaller one is 100 kyats in Arakan. 
Jellyfish is a popular business in Arakan at the moment.  In Akyab,
Jellyfish buying depots are in Padalate, Kyiee Dae, Panlunn Bryne, Thaee
Khaung, Ree Chan Bryne and some Arakanese businesses are thinking of
opening up buying depots in neighbouring Bangladesh too.


REGIONAL
_____________________________________

April 27, Agence France Presse
Thailand aims to revive international talks on Myanmar reforms

Thailand said Tuesday it planned to revive its international forum to push
for democracy in Myanmar, after the junta backed out of a second round of
talks due to be held later this month.

Myanmar originally agreed to attend the 17-nation meeting scheduled for
April 29-30 but withdrew last week, saying it needed to focus on its
national convention to draft a new constitution which begins in Yangon on
May 17.

The "Bangkok Process" talks, which were held for the first time last
December, were indefinitely postponed but Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart
Sathirathai said Tuesday that a new date would be set after the
convention.

"Thailand and other countries agreed that the original dates of April
29-30 were appropriate but Myanmar said it was not ready due to
preparations for the National Convention on May 17 and requested talks
after that date," he said.

"We have agreed to that and will pick a new date later," he told
reporters. "As of now, no new date has been designated."

Surakiart said Myanmar explained it would have more information to share
with the international community if the talks were held after the start of
the convention, the first step in a so-called "roadmap to democracy".

The minister also said he hoped Myanmar would release democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest ahead of May 17.

"We have a clear stance on this issue, that Aung San Suu Kyi should be
released as soon as possible and before the national convention. As the
roadmap has started, she should be freed," he said.

There were high hopes that the Nobel peace laureate would be released soon
after Myanmar's traditional new year festivities in mid-May, but the
junta's refusal to do so has cast doubts over its stated plans for reform.


INTERNATIONAL
___________________________________

April 27, Associated Press
Gradual easing of sanctions needed to encourage reform in Myanmar, group
says -Daniel Lovering

Bangkok: Economic sanctions by the West and efforts by Myanmar's neighbors
have failed to motivate the military government to implement democratic
reform in the country, a policy think tank said Tuesday.

The International Crisis Group, an independent multinational organization,
said a different approach by the international community is needed to
entice Myanmar's leadership to move toward democracy.

"Sanctions have not forced the military to end the grip on power. The
often limp policies of 'engagement' adopted by Myanmar's neighbors have
been no more effective," the ICG said in a report.

It suggested a gradual lifting of sanctions by Western governments to
reward Myanmar if it makes moves toward reform, such as guaranteeing human
rights and establishing a transitional government.

The report said an incentives-based system should also be used for the
resumption of international lending and other economic support to Myanmar,
formerly known as Burma.

For democratic reform to occur, however, the release of detained
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is essential, it said.

Suu Kyi was detained after a May 30 clash between her supporters and a
pro-government mob while she was on a political tour of northern Myanmar.

"If Suu Kyi is given complete personal and political freedom, and the
international community can unite around a concerted approach ... there is
a better chance of political and constitutional movement, painfully slow
though it may be, than there has been for a decade," the group's Asia
program director, Robert Templer, said in a statement.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner's release had been widely expected ahead of a
constitutional convention set to reconvene May 17. However, those hopes
have dimmed in recent days.

The National Convention is the junta's first step in its self-proclaimed
"road map" to democracy.

Myanmar's neighbors have good reason to push for reform, as the
military-ruled country will take over the presidency of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations in 2006, the report added.

The group also called for a greater United Nations' role and international
help to prevent and resolve conflicts, build institutions, plan for
economic development, and provide humanitarian aid to create a "positive
environment for change."

"Myanmar's problems can't be solved from afar, and nothing can solve them
quickly and dramatically ... But it would make a difference to have an
agreed, longer-term, comprehensive international strategy," said ICG's
President Gareth Evans.

Myanmar's current regime took power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy
uprising. It called elections in 1990, but refused to relinquish power
when Suu Kyi's party won by a landslide.


OPINION/ OTHER
___________________________________

April 27, The Washington Post
A Need to Act on Burma - John McCain and Madeleine Albright

"Apathy in the face of systematic human rights abuses is immoral. One
either supports justice and freedom or one supports injustice and
bondage." So said Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African Nobel
laureate and anti-apartheid leader, who knows something about the struggle
for human freedom in the face of tyranny.

The world's democracies have a common moral obligation to promote justice
and freedom. In few places is this obligation more acute than in Burma, a
country in which a band of thugs, led by Gen. Than Shwe, controls the
population through violence and terror. The regime has a record of
unchecked repression. It has murdered political opponents, used child
soldiers and forced labor, and employed rape as a weapon of war. Nearly
one year ago the Burmese military junta launched an orchestrated, violent
attack against democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of her
supporters. Since then the regime has kept more than 1,000 political
activists imprisoned, including elected members of parliament. It recently
sentenced three Burmese citizens to death for contacting representatives
of the International Labor Organization.

The Burmese junta, with the cynical support of neighboring governments,
has announced a "road map to democracy," beginning with a constitutional
convention in May. The convention is expected to be stage-managed by the
junta, which has offered no meaningful participation to Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy, no timetable for progress toward a political
transition, no release of political prisoners and no guarantee that the
military will cede control to democratically elected leaders. Instead, the
junta's proposals seem designed to institutionalize military control by
creating a veneer of civilian authority, while meeting only the minimum
expectations of Western democracies in order to avoid further sanctions.

The Burmese regime's recent actions demonstrate that years of
international engagement and patience have not made the dictatorship more
humane, reasonable or open to accommodation with its political opponents.
On the contrary, it is only in response to international pressure that the
regime has made even the smallest moves toward a political settlement with
the democratic opposition. The lesson is clear: The world's democracies
and Burma's neighbors must press the junta until it is willing to
negotiate an irreversible transition to democratic rule.

The legitimacy, authority and commitment of Burma's democratic leaders to
govern their country is not in doubt. But the international commitment to
Burma's democratic transformation remains uncertain. The Western
democracies and Burma's neighbors should immediately take three steps to
bolster Burma's legitimate democratic leaders.

First, Congress should promptly renew, and the president sign into law,
the ban on Burma's imports enacted into law last July. These sanctions,
which are set to expire after a review period beginning Friday, are
supported by Burma's National League for Democracy. The restrictions have
made it more difficult for the Burmese military to tap financial assets
abroad, travel or accumulate revenue through trade. The European Union,
whose member democracies care deeply about protecting human rights, and
whose trade and assistance programs give it critical leverage in Southeast
Asia, is set to announce a new Common Position on Burma on Thursday. As
part of this new policy, the EU should also initiate targeted sanctions
against the regime.

Second, the EU and the United States, with support from Asian nations,
should urge the junta to implement immediately the provisions of the U.N.
Commission for Human Rights and the U.N. General Assembly resolutions --
including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The
United States and the EU should also formally place the issue on the
agenda of the U.N. Security Council, and work urgently toward a resolution
threatening credible sanctions against the Burmese regime unless it
initiates meaningful progress toward democracy.

Third, China, Thailand, India and other Asian nations uncomfortable with a
tougher response to the junta's crimes must understand that diplomatic
obfuscation and obstruction on Burma will profoundly affect their broader
bilateral relationships with the Western democracies. Thailand in
particular should consider this point when it convenes its planned
international conference to discuss what it optimistically calls "Burma's
progress toward democracy."

Beyond these steps, the United States, Europe and Asian countries must
demand the unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow
political prisoners, but make clear that the releases, while necessary,
are insufficient. In addition, they should continue calls for a political
settlement that reflects the results of the free and fair elections held
in 1990. This settlement must include a central, determinative role for
the National League for Democracy.

In another era, a dissident playwright named Vaclav Havel wrote of the
"power of the powerless" to overcome rule by fear and force, at a time
when such a revolution in human freedom seemed impossible. The
international community today has the power to help the powerless inside
Burma throw off the shackles of tyranny. It is time to assume this moral
responsibility. It is time to act.

John McCain is a Republican senator from Arizona. Madeleine Albright was
secretary of state from 1996 to 2001.

__________________________________

April 24, Mizzima News
The World Through the Junta's Prism - Kanbawza Win

Kunming: In order to have some idea of why the Burmese Generals are
reacting illogically to the international standards and against the
civilized norms of the world, one can simply read the statement of U Mya
Than, the  permanent Burmese representative and leader of the Junta's
observer  delegation to the 16th Session of the Commission on Human
Rights.

However, before delving deep to his discourse, one must study the
erroneous philosophy of the Burmese Tatamadaw (army). They construe that
the Burmese army is the only pebble on the beach and they are the monarch
of all they survey.

That is, they profess that only the soldiers are patriotic while the rest
of the civilians are all parasites, living on the blood and sweat of the
Burmese army. It is from this perspective that they perceived the world.

Mya Than described the statement as "not being a fair, constructive,
balanced and forward looking statement." This means that they think the
whole world is wrong and that they alone are right. "There is positive
development in Prime Minister Khin Nyunt's 7 steps road map."

The Junta's reasoning is that since civilian leeches are clamouring for a 
say in their administration, they have created a fair compromise through 
the seven steps road map in August 2003, which has been endorsed at the 
seventh ASEAN +3 summit in the Bali.  From their perspective, that must be
construed as a watershed in the political arena of Burma. This explicitly
means that what the Generals have imposed from above must be duly obeyed
and endorsed by the entire population of Burma without any rumbling.

"The National Convention due to be held on May 17th has been hailed by the
entire people and the national groups as well as by the countries in the
region." This is entirely an outright lie because the people's
representative led by the NLD have already declared that they will not 
attend and most of the ethnic nationalities groups are questioning whether
 to attend. Even the ceasefire groups like the Kachin and Mon have openly
declared that there is no way they will attend, if the convention
procedure is not modified.

"Representatives from the eight strata of people will participate. This is
of great importance for the future of the country." This is a simple
declaration that the people of Burma and the international community must
endorsed the Junta's stooges as the genuine representatives of the people.

"The absence of the signal achievement of the Burmese government in
combating the scourge of illicit drugs."  The production of opium has
fallen due to bad weather while at the same time the low ranking army
officers have refrained from openly encouraging the people to grow opium. 
But there was a seizure of 269.7 kilogram (more than a quarter metric ton)
of pure heroin No 4 in Mengding, a Chinese town just 16 miles from the
Burmese border.

"That Burma is playing an active role and cooperating fully with the UN
Commission on Human Rights, ILO, UNHCR, UNICEF and ICRC as well as with
the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General and the Special Rapporteur
of Human Rights is well known."  Of course this statement is correct, as
the main motive of the Burmese junta is to legitimize the regime in the
eyes of the world.

However, one must not mention that Professor Sergio Pinherio, the UN
Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Burma is barred
from entering the country. It is also taboo to count the number of times
(14 trips) that Razali Ismail, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary
General has gone to Burma without success. Nobody must mention that death
sentences are passed to anyone who dares talk to the ILO delegation in
Burma, as the country is very desirous of reapplying its membership
because of massive use of forced labour.

The local population is forewarned not to give any news about human rights
violations whenever the UNHCR delegation goes, on pain of severe
persecution. One must not believe the infant mortality figures of UNICEF
and of course the ICRC can travel and visit the prisons only after
thorough are preparation made.

"Much water has flowed under the bridge since the 30 May incidence and has
been overwhelmed by positive events we should be forward looking rather
than backward looking". This line indicates that the people of Burma and
the international community must forgive and forget the Depayin massacre,
a pre meditated genocide on the democratic forces led by Daw Suu. In other
words let bygones be bygones.

Instead, "the welcoming news of U Aung Shwe and U Lwin has been released 
and the NLD head office has been allowed to reopen" Indicating that the 
Junta is magnanimous enough to release those leaders who have orchestrated
 the Depayin incident as the people are so fed up with the NLD. After all,
according to the junta the NLD is a lackey of Western imperialism and as 
such the West should reciprocate their positive gesture by stopping the 
sanctions and treating them as an honourable gentleman and the Human 
Rights Commission should issue no such declarations.

"The litany of allegations concerning violence against women of the Shan
and other ethnic races are unfounded and devoid of any creditability. The
National Intelligence Bureau, the Police Force and the Special Branch
carried out comprehensive investigation. The representatives of the Burma
Nationality Committee for Women Affairs also conducted further
investigation and found them not to be true and has already submitted to 
the UN Commission for Human Rights." This indicates that it was galling
for them as it tarnished the image of Tatmadaw. Of course, they are sore
afraid at the mentioned of an independent enquiry lest the truth be known.

Instead they targeted those NGOs involved in Human Rights, who they
construe as out and out to discredit the Burmese army. Every body must
omit the word Burmanization as rape is just one of the weapons in the
ethnic cleansing policy in the Hush Hush order of the regime.

"Burma attaches great importance to the protection and the promotion of 
the rights of the child.  The accusations that there were 70,000 child
soldiers in the Tatmadaw is incorrect and unsubstantiated" This statement
let the cat out of the bag.

The motto of the Burmese army is Hter Wa Zin Nu Pyo Nae Thaw Tatmadaw, it
literally translated as an "ever-young Burmese army".

Meaning that as old soldiers retired and leave younger ones must always
replace them. Besides the Burmese army target of expanding its man power
to half a million men has been not attained yet. Hence young soldiers
after 6 months of training are packed off to the front lines as they are
more susceptible to obeying orders. Of course those child soldiers who
surrendered or defected to the ethnic armies are just made up stories and
no one must believe them.

The Junta has invited Mr Olara A Otunnu, the Special Representative of the
UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict to visit Burma so
that he can show a careful orchestrated tour of the Tatmadaw where all the
child soldiers will be kept out of sight.

"For the first time in modern history of Burma all the armed groups have
concluded a peace agreement and have joined hands with the government. 
The most significant aspect is with the KNU, the largest armed group."

Here again is another outright lie. No substantial armed group has made a
peace agreement except in 1965 when a small Karen splinter group led by 
Mooso Kawkasa Saw Hunter Thar Hmwe, surrendered. All major ethnic
nationalities have been compelled embarked on armed resistance as there is
no other choice and have grudgingly made ceasefire agreement for
convenience sake, as being pressured by neighbouring governments.

Besides, the Chin, Arakanese (Rakhaing) and the Karenni have not even
entered any cease-fire agreement. It also effectively leaves out the
ABSDF, DPNS and the likes of the pro democracy groups at the peripherals.

"Nevertheless, Burma will continue to cooperate with the United Nations
and the Commission on Human Rights" indicates that they don't want to be
kicked out of the world body.

Now they are going ahead with the National Convention without the people's
representation and the NLD and in their hearts of hearts they knew very
well that they are pariah in the international community but their lust
for power is so huge that they have become blind and could not remedy it.


PRESS RELEASE
___________________________________

April 27, International Crisis Group
Myanmar: Sanctions, Engagement or Another Way Forward?

Yangon/Brussels, 26 April 2004: Both sides of the international debate on
Myanmar (Burma) need to rethink their policies and objectives. Sanctions
have not forced the military to end the grip on power it has maintained
since 1962; nor are more sanctions likely to in the future, as there is no
chance of them being applied universally. The often limp policies of
"engagement" adopted by Myanmar's neighbours have been no more effective.

Myanmar: Sanctions, Engagement or Another Way Forward?,* the latest report
from the International Crisis Group, argues for a new approach, bridging
the gap between the opposing policies -- provided, importantly, that Aung
San Suu Kyi is released from custody and that a serious dialogue begins
with her National League for Democracy (NLD) within and beyond the
framework of the National Convention due to reconvene on 17 May.

"If Suu Kyi is given complete personal and political freedom, and the
international community can unite around a concerted approach --
maintaining pressure by setting benchmarks for change, but also offering
some forms of support without further conditions -- there is a better
chance of political and constitutional movement, painfully slow though it
may be, than there has been for a decade", said ICG Asia Program Director
Robert Templer.

Myanmar is unlikely to see any immediate move towards fully democratic
government and the process of constitutional development is likely to be
long. A move towards constitutional rule would be one step in a long
journey, but an important one that might break the dismal political
deadlock since the 1990 elections.

The report argues that to support this process, the international
community should identify benchmarks for change, eg. effective guarantees
of human rights, and the establishment of a transitional government, with
sanctions being gradually withdrawn as progress is made. There should also
be benchmark-based incentives for the resumption of international lending
and other economic development support measures.

In addition, it proposes that a positive environment for change be created
by the international community supporting -- without benchmark
preconditions -- conflict prevention and resolution, institution building,
planning for economic development and, above all, humanitarian aid for
vulnerable groups.

Myanmar is due to assume the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) presidency in 2006: this gives its neighbours a major incentive to
urge Myanmar's military to take the path of reform. The United Nations
must also step up its activities by developing a plan to coordinate
international support, for change and by expanding its humanitarian role.

"Myanmar's problems can't be solved from afar, and nothing can solve them
quickly and dramatically", said ICG President Gareth Evans. "But it would
make a difference to have an agreed, longer-term, comprehensive
international strategy that worked pro-actively not only on the immediate
political issues, but also to expose the weaknesses of the current system,
promote alternative policies, and strengthen domestic forces of change."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contacts: Andrew Stroehlein (Brussels) +32 (0) 485 555 946
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-785 1601
To contact ICG media please click here
*Read the report in full on our website: http://www.crisisweb.org/

___________________________________

April 27, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Fresh evidence of ethnic cleansing in Burma to be given at briefing on
April 27
Baroness Cox and John Bercow MP to present fresh evidence of ethnic
cleansing in Burma
BRIEFING AT 1.30PM, APRIL 27, 1 ABBEY GARDENS, WESTMINSTER
Continuing military attacks on civilians, accompanied by killings,
widespread rape, forced labour and the associated displacement of
thousands suggests that Burma's military regime's roadmap to democracy is
a sham.

A delegation that included (Caroline) Baroness Cox, President of CSW UK,
John Bercow MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development,
surgeon Anthony Peel FRCS, and Benedict Rogers, CSW human rights advocate,
returned today from visiting ethnic national groups - including Karen,
Karenni and Shan people - on both sides of the Thai-Burmese border, where
they obtained evidence of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)'s
remorseless policy of ethnic cleansing. Some of the delegation has also
recently visited the Chin and Kachin people of north-western Burma where
they found similar policies of attempted cultural genocide of these ethnic
national groups by the SPDC.

Atrocities reported include the rape of a Shan woman by SPDC soldiers on
April 17, and military attacks by SPDC soldiers on Karenni villages from
December 25 to the present day. These attacks have forced over 3,000 more
civilians to flee for their lives, and to live in conditions of acute
deprivation as Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs). Many are hiding in the
jungle with no health care, education or regular food supplied. They are
in constant fear of being found and killed by SPDC soldiers. Cold at
night, with no warm clothing or blankets, they dare not light fires for
fear of discovery and certain death. Others who have been forcibly driven
from villages to relocation camps are subject to forced labour from dawn
until
nightfall, carrying loads of 30 kilograms or more. Many are used as human
minesweepers. Others who have escaped are victims of landmine accidents,
such as one 17-year old boy who lost a leg in a mine explosion and had to
be carried for 21 hours to safety and treatment.

These few examples demonstrate the SPDC's cynicism, continuing its
genocidal policies against ethnic nationals while promoting its "roadmap
to democracy". The forthcoming National Convention can also be seen as a
democratic farce - to be held in a military camp, the participants are
limited to those hand-picked by the regime, which is excluding many ethnic
minority representatives.

Caroline Cox said: "This evidence of continuing atrocities amounts to a
policy of protracted cultural and physical genocide of death by a thousand
cuts. Therefore, the SPDC's much-vaunted roadmap to democracy must be seen
as a hypocritical propaganda exercise which should be treated by the
international community with the contempt it deserves."

John Bercow MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development,
observed that: "For far too long the wanton savagery of the military
regime in Burma has received all too little public attention. The
testimonies we received suggest that these atrocities against innocent
citizens continue on a daily basis. In light of this, the notion that the
regime is serious about planning for a democratic future is beyond belief.
It seems blindingly obvious that the junta is hell-bent on keeping power
at all costs and  bludgeoning its opponents into submission. The British
Government, the European Union and the United Nations owe it to the people
of Burma to intensify pressure, including sanctions, until the ruling
militia comes to apply internationally accepted standards of behaviour."

Detailed case studies, photographs and video footage will be available at
the briefing at Abbey Gardens.

If you would like to attend the briefing on April 27 or arrange a separate
interview with Baroness Cox or John Bercow MP, please contact Richard
Chilvers, Communications Manager, CSW at richard.chilvers at csw.org.uk or
ring 020 8329 0045 or Baroness Caroline Cox on 020 8204 7336 or fax 020
8204 5661 or email ccox at ertnet.demon.co.uk

CSW is a human rights charity working on behalf of those persecuted for
their Christian beliefs. We also promote religious liberty for all.
www.csw.org.uk