BurmaNet News, June 3, 2005

[Editor]

June 3, 2005 Issue # 2732


INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Overcoming a TV channel’s teething problems
Xinhua: Myanmar, Thailand to cooperate in hydropower development

ON THE BORDER
Narinjara: NUPA split up into two groups
Mizzima: India to crack down Burma’s Chin rebels

BUSINESS / MONEY
Xinhua: Uncertainty looms over proposed trans-Myanmar gas pipeline project
Xinhua: OPEC to help Myanmar build edible oil mills

REGIONAL
South China Morning Post: Warning from the highest source

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Dawn of media freedom in Burma?

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

June 3, Irrawaddy
Overcoming a TV channel’s teething problems - Clive Parker

A growing number of people in Rangoon are expected to try to tune in to
the Democratic Voice of Burma’s new television service this weekend as
they attempt to overcome technical difficulties in receiving the new
channel.

Despite making its debut on Saturday May 28, many of Burma’s residents
have been unable to receive the service. The Oslo-based DVB, operated by
Burmese exiles, claims the signal is as strong as that of BBC World, and
that anyone can access it in Burma. Sources in Rangoon say the biggest
obstacle to viewers trying to watch the channel has been a lack of
technical know-how.

A satellite television service provider in Rangoon said a small number of
people had asked the channel to be tuned in. The owner of the business
said he is now pre-setting all new satellite dishes to receive DVB’s
programs as part of the service he provides to his customers.

“I can’t find the satellite PAS 10 [setting] that transmits DVB
television. Other people may be in a similar situation,” said one
Rangoon-based journalist.

The military government has not attempted to block the station and does
not have the capability to do so, he added.

Another journalist said he had not watched the program but knew two
friends who had. Although he was not able to comment on their opinions of
the program, the journalist warned that Burmese exile media groups, such
as DVB, should be careful to avoid biased reporting.

“But we welcome new media in Burma,” he said.

The new channel is also increasingly being discussed among Rangoon’s
foreign community. An expatriate living in Burma confirmed that word was
beginning to spread about the service and that more people are trying to
access it.

“I think it will be a very short time before it is seen,” he said.

DVB claims that 2-4 million viewers will watch to start with, before more
find out how to tune in, though evidence suggests that far fewer have been
able to watch the channel so far.

The service, which is broadcast on Saturdays between 8-9pm and on Sunday’s
from 12-pm, debuted last weekend with a news program on the mid-May
Rangoon bombings, a piece on Burmese migrants in Thailand and the first
part of a documentary entitled “A Force More Powerful,” which features
information on the Burmese opposition movement. This weekend’s programming
will feature part two of the documentary.

The channel said it had received positive feedback about the service this
week, with many viewers asking to see more of famous exiled Burmese rocker
Mun Awng. Living in Oslo since 1988, the pop star has since released two
albums featuring overtly political content, which were subsequently banned
by the Burmese authorities.

The exile group is even confident that the channel’s popularity will
eventually spread to the Burmese government. “If the [ruling] State Peace
and Development Council are willing to watch our news, they will become
part of DVB’s audience,” said deputy director Khin Maung Win.

DVB’s service can be received via PAS 10, 68.5 degrees east on 3940H,
symbol rate 3000.

____________________________________

June 2, Xinhua General News Service
Myanmar, Thailand to cooperate in hydropower development

Yangon: Myanmar and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on developing some hydropower projects on Myanmar's Thanlwin and
Tanintharyi rivers, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported
Thursday.

The MoU was signed during a recent visit to Thailand by Myanmar Minister
of Electric Power Major-General Tin Htut, the report said without giving
further details.

Power generated from these projects is expected to be partly exported to
Thailand.

According to official statistics, Myanmar's total electric power installed
capacity has reached over 1,300 megawatts (mw). Electricity generated from
the hydropower stations accounts for 35 percent of the total, while that
from gas-fired ones take 50 percent.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has been implementing a five-year short-term electric
power plan, which began in 2003, to generate 2,000 more mw in a bid to
fulfill its domestic power demand and bring about socio-economic progress.

Under another 30-year long-term electric power development strategy, 18
other new major electric power projects for power grid with a total
installed capacity of 14,880 mw are to be implemented in the future,
according to the ministry.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

June 3, Narinjara News
NUPA split up into two groups

Cox’sbazar: The National United Party of Arakan, NUPA, a large coalition
party in Arakan state consisting of several Arakanese revolutionary
parties, has now been split up into two groups.   The party was split
after the third congress of NUPA which was held in the border area between
Burma and Bangladesh from 26 May to 30, said a local politician.

One group is now being led by U Padipru, a tribal leader, along with
another 12 central members. Another group is being led by Dr Khine Maung
along with his general secretary U Khaing Mun Aung and another Arakan army
officer Tha Kyaw Tun.

According to U Padipru faction, before the congress Dr Khin Maung was the
party president.  Now U Padipru is president, as he was ele cted as
president of NUPA in the third congress. Furthermore, another 12 central
committee members were elected at the congress, including U Mrawa who is
now vice president and Khaing Pan Aung who is general secretary.

Dr Khin Maung refused to accept of the results of central committee
election led by U Padipru because the congress was held in contravention
to the NUPA constitution.

A central committee member from U Padipru faction said, "We invited all
party members to attend the congress, including Dr Khin Maung, under the
principals of our constitution. Dr Khin Maung also attended the
preliminary section meeting a day before the congress but he avoided the
final day of the congress fearing some party member's accusations of his
misleading the party in his tenure."

It was learnt that it is not first time NUPA has split. According to NUPA
sources, in 1995 a group of Arakan Communist Party (ACP) members l ed by U
Thein Pi broke from NUPA, taking along with them 131 sophisticated guns. 
In 1996 a group of Tribal National Party (TNP) members led by Kalar Aung
left NUPA and in 2001 a group of Arakan Army members led by late Kra Pru
Aung left NUPA along with large numbers of party members and guns.  The
last renegade group surrendered to the Burmese army after 6 months.

Since then, NUPA’s strength has weakened and the central committee has
been losing control over party members.

NUPA was formed by a number of Arakanese revolutionary parties including
the Arakan Communist party (ACP), Arakan National liberation party (ANLP),
Tribal national Party of Arakan (TNP) and the Arakan Army (AA).  It was
formed in 1994 under the supervision of the late Bo Khaing Raza, who was
assassinated by the Indian army on Andaman Island in1998.

____________________________________

June 3, Mizzima News
India to crack down Burma’s Chin rebels

New Delhi:  A major crackdown on Chin National Front (CNF) is on the cards
with the Ministry of Home Affairs of Government of India directing Mizoram
Government and Assam Rifles to launch operation to evict the ultras from
Indian soil.

Its pay back time for Government of India as Burmese Government kept its
words by cracking down on Indian rebel groups operating out of bases in
Burma. The agreement to mount operations against underground militant
outfits operating out of each other's territory was sealed last October
when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the State visit of
Head of Burmese Government, Senior General Than Shwe.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding resulted in coordinated
army operations against the North East based militant outfits last winters
that in Burma. The militant outfits that were targeted included the PLA,
UNLF, KYKL PREPAK and Khaplang faction of the NSCN.

With the Indian Army sealing the international border in Manipur and
Arunachal Pradesh sectors, the rebels groups sustained maximum damage and
were left in total disarray.

The Indian Government that was fighting the rebels in Manipur couldn't
have thanked the military junta in Burma enough. And what better way to
repay that launching similar operations this side of the border.

The issue has assumed such urgency that the Indian Home Ministry during
the last fortnight convened two high-level meetings one in Delhi and the
other in Aizawl, Mizoram to fine-tune the strategy.

The only hitch for the Indian Government appears to be reluctance of the
Mizoram Police force to mount a crackdown.

On May 29 a high-level delegation headed by Special Secretary Internal
Security Anil Choudhury and Joint Secretary (North East), Rajiv Agarwal
visited Mizoram and discussed plans to launch operation against Chin
undergrounds.

The Commandant of the 41st India Reserve Battalion, Colonel, Madhu
Mutatkar briefed the visiting officials. The Army commanders said that
they were ready to assist the Mizoram Police in the crackdown on the Chin
undergrounds.

The Indian security agencies have identified Camp Victoria of the Chin
located inside the Indian Territories as the prime target.

The Home Ministry team then held a meeting with the top Mizoram Government
officials including the Director General of Police and pressed for the
need to mount the crackdown without further delay.

According to officials of the Home Ministry in Delhi the matter has been
taken up with the Governor of the State when the Special Secretary called
on him.

The Special Secretary raised the issue of camps of Chin underground in
Mizoram. He especially mentioned about the so-called Victoria Camp, said
an official of the Home Ministry.

The Special Secretary has requested the Mizoram Government for immediate
action to get the camp evacuated by the armed Chin underground.

"The presence of a large group of foreign underground is a clear violation
of laws of the land and an impediment in our good relations with the
neighbouring country of Myanmar. This is just not acceptable," said the
official briefing newsmen today.

During Senior General's October visit, the two sides agreed that
maintenance of peace and security along the border areas was an essential
pre-requisite to successful implementation of cross border projects and to
bringing about economic prosperity in the area. Both sides reiterated
their firm determination to maintaining peace, stability and tranquility
along the entire length of their common border.

The Burmese Government reiterated that it would not allow insurgent
activities against India from its soil. The Indian side thanked the
Burmese side for the assurance. Both sides agreed to take necessary steps
to prevent cross border crimes, including drug trafficking and arms
smuggling, and to upgrade substantially bilateral cooperation in this
context. The deal was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Non-traditional Security
Issues.

As soaps to Mizoram Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs agreed to
sympathetically consider its long-pending demand for raising an additional
India Reserve Battalion.

The Indian Government also agreed to look at the demand for construction
of roads in Burma, especially to Fallan and Tidim and multi-modal
transport project on Kaladyne River to Akyab (Sittwe) Port in Burma. The
Mizoram Government was assured that work would soon start on the projects.

The joint declaration signed during the Burma’s top General's visit stated
that the two sides fully shared the view that economic development of the
region along the India-Burma border required special focus. Both sides
expressed satisfaction that several other cross-border projects such as
the Tamanthi Hydroelectric Project, the Rhi-Tiddim and Rhi-Falam roads and
the Kaladan Multi-modal Transport Project were on the anvil.

It was decided that, keeping in view the vital importance of these
projects to the economic welfare of the peoples living in the border areas
and to improving connectivity between the two countries, their
implementation should be expedited.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / MONEY

June 3, Xinhua General News Service
Uncertainty looms over proposed trans-Myanmar gas pipeline project

Dhaka: An uncertainty looms over Dhaka's negotiations with New Delhi and
Yangon for the proposed trans- Myanmar gas pipeline project, which will
run through Bangladesh, due to an unprecedented delay in devising
strategies.

Most of the related government agencies of the country have failed to
submit their opinions, sought for preparation of the government strategy,
within a set time frame to the energy ministry, The Financial Express
reported Friday.

The inter-ministerial meeting that was held last May, asked the concerned
agencies - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of
Home Affairs and Ministry of Power - to submit their respective opinions
within a week.

Only one agency has submitted their opinions even after two weeks of the
instruction.

The government reportedly needs to devise its own negotiating strategies
to avail itself of maximum benefit from a proposed trans-Myanmar gas
pipeline project that will run through Bangladesh territory.

Without preparing a well-thought out strategy, the authority finds itself
in a difficult situation to invite Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar
Aiyar to discuss the three conditions, which have been tagged by
Bangladesh government with the proposed cross- border pipeline project.

The conditions are: Providing Bangladesh transit facility for import of
hydro-electricity from Nepal and Bhutan, and trade with the two countries
as well as reducing trade imbalance between Dhaka and New Delhi.

As per the proposal, the pipeline is expected to run through Arakan State
in Myanmar via the Indian states of Mizoran and Tripura before crossing
Bangladesh to Kolkata.

The 897 kilometer pipeline will cost 1 billion US dollars. this includes
involvement of 350 million dollars for Bangladesh part of the pipeline.
Bangladesh is expected to earn 125 million dollars annually as transit fee
from both the countries.

Energy ministers of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar held a meeting on the
gas pipeline in Yangon on January 12-13 last. During the meeting, India
requested Bangladesh to place specific proposals in this regard.

____________________________________

June 3, Xinhua General News Service
OPEC to help Myanmar build edible oil mills

Yangon: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will help
Myanmar build two edible oil mills worth 5 million US dollars as part of
its aid to the country, according to the local 7-Day News journal.

The projects, which also involve the UN Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO), will be implemented in the capital city of Yangon and the second
largest city of Mandalay, the FAO resident representative was quoted as
saying.

Meanwhile, OPEC is at present implementing a 10-million-dollar project to
help Myanmar upgrade its oil crops production for self- sufficiency.

The five-year project, which is the biggest of its kind since 1988, would
assist farmers in 36 main oil seed growing areas and deal mainly with the
development of oil palm and four oil seed crops, including sesame,
groundnut, sunflower and soybean.

Myanmar obtained OPEC's international development fund in May 2003, which
was provided at an annual interest rate of 1 percent payable in 25 years.

OPEC had previously provided Myanmar with loans for agriculture,
telecommunications, energy, transport and water supply improvement
networks.

According to official statistics, Myanmar produces some 250,000 tons of
edible oil annually and imports the same amount of it to meet its local
demand. Its cultivated areas of oil crops have reached 2.8 million
hectares.

The country has been making efforts to turn southern Tanintharyi division
into an oil bowl. Companies from Malaysia and Thailand are also making
feasibility study for investment in oil palm cultivation in Myanmar.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

June 3, South China Morning Post
Warning from the highest source - Michael Richardson

Chinese scientists have recently added their voices to warnings that
global warming, by melting glaciers in and around the Himalayan mountain
chain, is threatening Asia's future water supplies.

Glaciers hold about 70 per cent of the world's fresh water. The Himalayas
and other parts of the Tibetan Plateau have the largest concentration of
these slow-moving rivers of ice, formed when snow from mountains
accumulates in valleys and is then compressed. They cover an area of
nearly 105,000 sq km, almost half of which is in China and somewhat less
in India and Pakistan. Of all the mountain chains in the area, the
Himalayas have the biggest glacier cover, amounting to nearly 35,000 sq
km.

Xinhua said last month Chinese scientists had reported glaciers on the
Tibetan side of Mount Everest were shrinking faster than ever. The melting
point of one Everest glacier had risen around 50 metres in two years, more
than twice as fast as normal, while a huge, high-altitude ice cliff seen
in 2002 had apparently disappeared.

Why is this alarming? Scientists say global warming - caused by the
burning of fossil fuels and the release of heat-trapping gases like carbon
dioxide and methane into the atmosphere - could drive the average
temperature up by between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius over the next 100
years. This would cause glaciers to retreat further and oceans to rise,
swamping low-lying areas around the world.

But the melting of glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau is a special problem
for much of Asia because the vast plateau is the headwaters for rivers
flowing to countries home to half of humanity.

The Himalayan and other glaciers feed eight of Asia's great rivers: the
Yangtze and Yellow rivers, which start in northeastern Tibet and flow
across China; the Mekong, Southeast Asia's biggest river, which originates
in eastern Tibet; Myanmar's two main rivers, the Irrawaddy and the
Salween; and the giant rivers of northern India and Pakistan - the Ganges,
Indus and Brahmaputra.

The glaciers regulate the water supply to China, South Asia and Southeast
Asia, where drought and water shortages are already a serious problem in
many areas.

The glaciers prevent winter flooding when snowfall is heaviest but release
water used for drinking, farming and manufacturing in spring and summer,
when it is needed most.

The scientists' warning that glacial melting on the Tibetan Plateau
threatens the balance of global water resources is only the latest alarm
bell to ring. In March, the China, India and Nepal offices of the
Switzerland-based WWF issued a report saying the retreat of glaciers in
the Himalayan region is accelerating as global warming increases.

They are now receding at an average rate of between 10 and 15 metres a
year. In the past 40 years or more, glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau had
shrunk by over 6,600 sq km, with the biggest retreat occurring since the
mid-1980s.

Melting glaciers could in the short term increase flooding, landslides and
soil erosion in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia before leading to
water shortages for hundreds of millions of people across the region.

"The rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers will first increase the volume of
water in rivers, causing widespread flooding," said Jennifer Morgan,
director of the WWF's Global Climate Change Programme.

"But in a few decades, this situation will change and the water level in
rivers will decline, meaning massive economic and environmental problems
for people in western China, Nepal and northern India."

Michael Richardson is a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute
of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. This is a personal comment

_____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

June 2, Irrawaddy
Dawn of media freedom in Burma? - Aung Lwin Oo

Exiled Burmese media group Mizzima, based in New Delhi, recently announced
that the Rangoon government had lifted the ban on its website, a fact
corroborated by internet users in the capital. The move has drawn praise
from several quarters, including the International Federation of
Journalists in Brussels, but many feel it is in actual fact far from being
a step along the road to press freedom.

In a statement released May 31, IFJ president Christopher Warren welcomed
the development saying that “for the citizens of Burma, living under a
repressive military regime, access to independent information is one step
closer to gaining more democratic freedoms.” Copenhagen-based
International Media Support also expressed their support, calling the move
a positive development.

The enthusiasm in Europe is not shared by all inside Burma, however, with
a senior business journalist in Rangoon complaining that “This is
ridiculous! Everything is [still] blocked,” and that in reality, accessing
exiled groups’ websites is as hard as ever. Other journalists and
media-watchers in Rangoon were just as cynical, maintaining that the
international encouragement was premature and that now was not the time
for slaps on the back.

Roby Alampay, Executive Director of the regional media watchdog, the
Southeast Asian Press Alliance remains cautious and he and his group are
not making any grand statements just yet. “It’s too early to celebrate and
it’s too early to give the junta any credit.”

Sources in Rangoon even suggest that things are getting worse, and that
the government is in fact tightening its leash on internet use, possibly
through the use of a new firewall program. One idea floating about is that
the reappearance of the Mizzima website may actually be down to a
technical glitch.

It has become common practice for internet users in Rangoon to change
their email service on a regular basis, in an effort to avoid the strict
monitoring and vetting web traffic in the country is routinely subject to.
Political and dissident websites—such as The Irrawaddy—and even Bangkok
newspaper sites like The Nation and Bangkok Post remain banned.



Ed, BurmaNet News