BurmaNet News, July 22, 2004

[Editor]

July 22, 2004, Issue # 2522


INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: US sanctions, China ties contradictory
AP: Myanmar to send two women team to Olympics
Myanmar Times: US teachers’ group visits for first time
DVB: Burmese opposition collecting signatures for Suu Kyi's release

DRUGS
Irrawaddy: First major cocaine seizure for Rangoon

BUSINESS / MONEY
Xinhua: Myanmar to add new domestic airline

REGIONAL
AFP: Thailand firm on Myanmar's inclusion in under-threat EU trade talks

OPINION / OTHER
IPS: Pressure builds on Burma from all fronts


INSIDE BURMA
______________________________________

July 22, Irrawaddy
US sanctions, China ties contradictory - Naw Seng

Two of Burma’s government-run newspapers today denounced US sanctions for
inhibiting progress on human rights and democracy in the military-ruled
country, adding that Washington imposed the measure to serve its own
interests.

On July 7, US president George W Bush signed a law extending a range of
trade sanctions, imposed the previous year, against Burma for an
additional 12 months, for failing to improve its human rights record,
clamp down on drug trafficking or release opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi from house arrest. The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act 2003 includes
a ban on US investments in and imports from Burma, financial services and
certain property dealings. Since 1988 the US has also had an arms embargo
in place and bilateral aid has been suspended.

Today’s article, written by Aung Moe San, was published in both the Myanma
Alin and Kyemon newspapers on Thursday. It called the American sanctions a
foreign policy publicity stunt aimed at winning support for President Bush
and incumbent senators before the US elections in November. The article
also accused Washington of attempting to make Burma its client-state.

The sanctions are misguided, the article charged, because Asian countries,
including those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, continue
to trade with the military regime in Rangoon. Sanctions are also contrary
to American efforts to promote market economies around the world, the
article added.

It also pointed out that while the US censures Burma, it is simultaneously
boosting economic ties with China, a communist state which runs a
“socialist economy”.

Meanwhile, Burma and China reached 11 agreements, exchanges of notes and
memorandums of understanding last week on agriculture, industry,
communications, energy and electricity, during a seven-day visit to
Beijing by Burma’s Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt. Khin Nyunt also met with
Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, Political Bureau of
Chinese Communist Party member Juo Gan, and chairman of the National
People’s Congress of China, Wu Bangguo.

Burmese delegates met with officials from Alcatel Shanghai Bell Co, Ltd,
Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone Development Company, Transtech Engineering
Corporation, Zingang Locomotive Work, Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock
Co, Ltd, Jifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co, Ltd, Jsing Daring
Biotechnologies Group, Zhejiang Orient Engineering Co, Ltd, China
Worldbest Group Co, Ltd and Jiangsu Pengfei Group Co, Ltd.

______________________________________

July 22, Associated Press
Myanmar to send two women team to Olympics

Yangon: Myanmar will send a two-woman team to the Olympics in Athens next
month, a sports official said Thursday.

Thin Thin Khine will take part in the archery, while Nan Aye Khine will
contest the 48-kilogram weightlifting, Myint Swe, joint secretary of
Myanmar Weightlifting Federation, said.

"We are trying hard to win medals in both events," Myint Swe said.

Myanmar has never won a medal at the Olympics, even though it has
participated in every Games, except one in 1976, since becoming
independent in 1948. It won the Fair Play Trophy at the 1972 Olympics in
Germany.

Myanmar sent a seven-member team to the Sydney games in 2000. Its best
performance came from weightlifter Kathy Win who stood fourth. The others
participated in archery, swimming and athletics.

______________________________________

July 19, Myanmar Times
US teachers’ group visits for first time - Maung Myo

Members of an American non-government organisation, Teachers Across
Borders, have for the first time presented a special education program in
Myanmar.

The program, involving seven members of Teachers Across Borders, was
presented at the University of Education in Yangon from July 5 to 17.

The Ministry of Education chose 119 academics from universities and
colleges of education and high school teachers to participate in the
program.

They had the option of choosing one of seven subjects taught by members of
the NGO.

The subjects included literature, geographical analysis, fostering
critical thinking skills through literacy development in English,
information technology, and the global implications of Myanmar
rainforests.

“We are here to help, assist and share our experience in teaching
methodologies with Myanmar teachers,” said the leader of the visiting
Teachers Across Borders group, Daw Win Win Kyi, a professor at Yale
University.

“Our aim is to educate ourselves and others so our nations will become
more educated for the benefit of all,” said Daw Win Win Kyi, a Myanmar who
has lived in the US for 40 years.

Teachers Across Borders was founded in January 2002 and comprises about
1500 members, all of whom volunteer their services at their own expense.

Its members have taught in China, India, Japan and South Korea and many
other countries throughout the world.

Daw Win Win Kyi, who has 30 years experience as a teacher, said one of the
challenges of the program was the different cultures the volunteers
encountered.

“But in the end we believe that all teachers are alike; it does not matter
whether you are the teacher from the United States or Myanmar or another
country,” she said.

“Our mission is the essence of education.”


DRUGS
______________________________________

July 22, Irrawaddy
First major cocaine seizure for Rangoon - Aung Zaw

Burmese authorities seized an unspecified amount of cocaine and heroin
from boats in the international waters last week, according to sources in
Rangoon. The seizure appears to have been one of the biggest in years and
is the first to have involved cocaine, but state-run newspapers have not
yet reported it.

On Thursday, July 15, two feeder boats carrying cocaine and heroin were
intercepted by naval patrol vessels and customs officials offshore from
Monkey Point, south of Rangoon. The two boats were headed for a
Swiss-flagged ship at the time the interdiction took place. Several other
feeder boats escaped capture.

According to an official at the Myanmar Port Authority, who spoke on
condition on anonymity, the seizure was the biggest in lower Burma in more
than a decade (on July 14 AFP reported that police had seized more than
500 kg of heroin from a fishing village in Ye township, Tenasserim
Division, 600 km southeast of Rangoon). But the official did not elaborate
on how much was confiscated. Narcotics officials in Burma could not be
reached for comment.

The two intercepted feeders boats and their crews were brought to Rangoon
Port on Friday, July 16. An official investigation is underway, sources
said. Though it is not confirmed yet, two prominent Rangoon businessmen
are believed to be involved in the drug-smuggling ring.

Coca is grown and refined into cocaine almost entirely in three South
American nations—Columbia, Peru and Bolivia. Burma has been a major source
of opium and its primary derivative, heroin, since the 1950s, but last
week’s drug bust provided the first solid evidence that the country is
being used as a transit point for international cocaine distribution.

While cocaine use is almost unheard of in Burma, it is common among the
wealthy and upwardly mobile in Thailand and other countries in Southeast
Asia.

______________________________________

July 21, Democratic Voice of Burma
Burmese opposition collecting signatures for Suu Kyi's release

(Presenter) Dear listeners: NLD (National League for Democracy) spokesman
U Lwin said a petition calling for the release of all political prisoners,
including Burmese democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD
Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo, will be signed nationwide.

It has been learned that the petition signing which began yesterday, the
57th Martyrs Day anniversary, will also be held in the capitals of states
and divisions with communication offices being opened for that, besides
the NLD Rangoon headquarters.

(U Lwin) The plan is people from Rangoon and other areas, and any other
interested persons can sign the petition at the Rangoon headquarters.
Similarly, petition books will be available in other capitals. Our
headquarters is an official location but with regard to other places, I am
still not sure whether the petition books will be kept at the
communication offices or at the homes of (NLD) officials.

That was NLD Spokesman U Lwin. U Lwin gave the following answer when he
was asked how many people have signed the petition on their own volition.

(U Lwin) "Besides NLD members, about 600 people, including members of
other parties and elected representatives, have signed the petition."

The petition for the unconditional release of all political prisoners,
including U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the reopening of the NLD
offices, had been arranged to be signed by NLD members, the members of
other parties and members of the public who are interested in democracy.
It has been learned that at present anyone can sign the petition books on
their own volition at the NLD headquarters during office hours.

Dear listeners: We have already reported about the members of the Rangoon
Division NLD Women's Group praying for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
at the Shwedagon Pagoda every Tuesday, which is the day of the week that
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was born on. Today, they prayed at the pagoda for the
second time.

A member of NLD Women's Group said:

(Unidentified NLD Women's Group member) We went there after work. There
were about 30 women and the others were NLD Youth members. We offered
fresh flowers at the pagoda and recited prayers. We came back after
praying silently for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and all
other political prisoners. The authorities did not disturb us. The
authorities tightened security measures last week due to the Martyrs Day
event. I think this has been loosened a bit this week."

That was a leader of the Rangoon Division NLD Women's Group.


BUSINESS / MONEY
______________________________________

July 22, Xinhua News Service
Myanmar to add new domestic airline

Yangon: One more new Myanmar government-private joint venture (JV) airline
is making preparations to launch domestic flight by October to reinforce
the country's air transportation, the local news journal Day reported
Thursday.

The Air Bagan, a prospective JV between the Ministry of Transport and the
Htoo Company, will become the third domestic JV airline after Air Mandalay
and Yangon Airways, while the Myanma Airways remains as the state-run
domestic air carrier.

The Air Bagan's destinations are expected to cover Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay
and Heho.

Of the two prior domestic JV airlines, the Air Mandalay has extended its
flights to Thailand's Chiang Mai as a regional one.

Meanwhile, there has been also two Myanmar-foreign JV airlines flying
internationally, namely the Myanmar Airways International (MAI) and the
United Myanmar Airlines (UMA).

It was reported that a new Myanmar-foreign JV airline, the Air Myanmar,
will also launch international flight soon to enhance the country's
external air transportation.

Official statistics show that other foreign airlines that link Yangon
include Air China, Thai Airways International, Silk Air, Malaysian
Airlines System, Biman, Indian Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, Lauda Air,
Druk Airlines, Phuket Airlines and Bangkok Airways.


REGIONAL
______________________________________

July 22, Agence France Presse
Thailand firm on Myanmar's inclusion in under-threat EU trade talks

Bangkok: Thailand refused to back down Thursday over the controversial
inclusion of military-run Myanmar at key trade talks with the European
Union planned for October.

After a meeting with EU special envoy Hans van den Broek, Thai Foreign
Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the Europeans must accept a 13-country
team from Southeast Asia that included Myanmar.

The European Union has railed against Myanmar's presence at the
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Vietnam because of its human rights record
and continued detention of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

However, it has signalled it was ready to negotiate by sending the former
Dutch foreign minister on a 10-day trip of Asian capitals.

Van den Broek gave little away after the meeting on the Thai leg of his
trip, saying "quiet diplomacy" was key to the successful conclusion of
talks.

Asked if there had been any progress after meeting the Thai government, he
said: "We will continue to cooperate. We are both optimistic people."

Europe has demanded a signal that Myanmar's military, which has ruled the
nation since 1962, is prepared to allow a degree of democratic opening,
but has seen little move towards the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The row has threatened the staging of the summit, which is held every two
years and is intended to increase cooperation on a wide range of issues,
including trade, anti-terrorism, immigration and human rights.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has said it wants its
newer members -- Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar -- to be included in the
summit in return for the participation of 10 new EU members.

Surakiart showed no sign of stepping back Thursday. "We reaffirm that it
must be a 13 country package," he said.

"I have said there are many solutions and I hope we can find some from
those that both ASEAN and Europe can accept. We are looking for a
diplomatic solution."

The dispute has already led to the cancellation of two preparatory
meetings for the summit.


OPINION / OTHER
______________________________________

July 22, Inter Press Service
Pressure builds on Burma from all fronts - Sonny Inbaraj

Bangkok: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan had South-east Asia's premier
diplomatic grouping in sight when he released a press statement on Burma,
one of its member countries, at the sidelines of the just-concluded
International AIDS Conference.

Annan's statement, released after he met Thai Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, expressed concern about the slow progress in bringing
democracy to the country and freeing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
despite supposed efforts by the Association of South-east Asian Nations
(ASEAN) to bring about political change.

Since the U.N. chief was in Thailand for the 15th International AIDS
Conference, which ended on Jul. 16, and in the proximity of Burma - it was
an opportune moment for him to draw attention to the country ruled by a
military government accused of gross human rights abuses, including the
forcible relocation of civilians and the widespread use of forced labour.

ASEAN's members are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Burma joined the club in 1997 despite misgivings by some governments and
activists in and out of the region, but ASEAN countries said membership
would allow their 'constructive engagement' policy to slowly encourage
Rangoon to open up its political system.

”In his discussions with the Thai leaders, the secretary-general
underscored the role and responsibility of the countries of the (ASEAN)
region in helping to accelerate the process of democratisation and
national reconciliation in Myanmar, beginning with the release of Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi,'' said the U.N. statement.

The statement added that the U.N. secretary-general stressed ”the need to
engage constructively'' with Burma's ruling junta, called the State Peace
and Development Council.

But it was the U.N. special human rights envoy to Burma, Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro, who pointed out the problems the world body was facing with the
Burmese junta when he spoke to reporters in London - two days after the
secretary general's statement was released from the Thai capital.

''I am not saying they have closed the door, but it is not as open as it
had been until very recently,'' he said.

Pinheiro was due to visit Burma at the end of May, just before a national
convention to discuss a new constitution for Burma opened in Rangoon, but
was refused entry by Rangoon.

''They (the junta) have not given any reasons. Nobody knows why there has
been this sudden change,'' Pinheiro said, while pointing out that since
his appointment in 2001 he had been granted access to Burma seven times.

The U.N. envoy is due to table a new report on Burma to the U.N. General
Assembly soon. He had hoped to meet Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt and
other government ministers, pro-democracy leaders, including Suu Kyi and
representatives of the ethnic minorities.

But is the non-response to the United Nations an indication that the
Burmese junta is in a quandary because of increasing pressure from both
fronts - ASEAN and the international community?

Yes, says Debbie Stothard, of the regional human rights lobby Alternative
ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN). ''The junta is grasping in some way to
try to reduce international pressure on them. Since it's coming from all
fronts, they are confused,'' Stothard told IPS.

''Annan's statement was well-timed and it was a polite way of telling
ASEAN to keep up the pressure,'' she pointed out. ''But this confusion has
also led them to not respond to the United Nations,'' added the lobbyist.

In August last year, military rulers in Burma announced what they called a
road map towards democracy.

In a policy speech, the newly appointed prime minister, Gen Khin Nyunt,
said the government would restart a national convention to draw up a new
constitution which would lead to free and fair elections in the country.

But credibility of the national convention, which began on May 17, has
been criticised by the international community because of the absence of
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD).

The NLD has refused to take part due in the convention because of Suu
Kyi's continued detention by the junta.

The Burmese generals have pressed ahead with the convention, saying that
the event was a historic step towards democracy and remain adamant about
Suu Kyi - preferring her to be under house arrest than being free for fear
that she might stir unrest against the junta.

This has caused embarrassment to ASEAN as it prepares for the bi-annual
joint Asian-European summit in October. Due to be held in Vietnam's
capital Hanoi, the summit aims to forge closer economic and political ties
between the two continents.

The European Union has put it bluntly that Burma's entry to the summit
would not be acceptable to the EU, which has imposed numerous economic and
political sanctions on the country over its poor human rights record.

The EU is insisting that Suu Kyi be released from house arrest by the
ruling military junta and Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot reiterated
recently that ''we (EU) haven't seen much progress (on Burma).” The
Netherlands currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.

ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Thailand are keen that the Asia-Europe
summit takes place as scheduled, because at stake will be trade with the
European Union.

In 2002, the EU was ASEAN's second largest export market and the third
largest trading partner after the United States and Japan.

In that year, EU exports to ASEAN were estimated at 30 billion euros (37
billion U.S. dollars) while EU imports from ASEAN were valued at 62
billion euros (76.5 billion dollars).

''There's much at stake for ASEAN as a whole and now the regional grouping
has come to the realisation that Burma, an insignificant international
trading partner, cannot be a millstone around its neck,'' ALTSEAN's
Stothard pointed out.

Malaysia's new ambassador to France, Hamidah Mohamed Yusoff, said her
country together with ASEAN, would be better positioned to support Burma's
inclusion into the Asia-Europe summit if Rangoon ''is a bit more
accommodating in initiating democratic reforms as well as freeing (Aung
San) Suu Kyi.''

''We hope the Myanmar authorities will let up and do something as regards
these issues raised by the EU, Hamidah told the national news agency
Bernama early this week.

''That will make it easier for us to support Myanmar,'' she added.