BurmaNet News, July 14, 2005

[Editor]

July 14, 2005 Issue # 2760

INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Arrests and restrictions continue unabated
Narinjara: Buddhist nun arrested in Rangoon
Xinhua: Myanmar PM criticizes some nations for interfering in internal
affairs
SHAN: No one hurt in bomb blast in Wa capital
DVB: Recently detained NLD leader to stand trial in Burma
DVB: NLD welcomes the extension of US sanctions

HEALTH / AIDS
Xinhua: Myanmar strives to cut malaria occurrence rate in next 5 years

BUSINESS / FINANCE
AP: Eight state-owned Myanmar factories up for auction in privatization
effort
Irrawaddy: Chinese increase offer for Unocal, say reports

INTERNATIONAL
Irrawaddy: British MP highlights Burma in announcing rights body

OPINION / OTHER
Mizzima: Is India a true friend of the Burmese people?
Mizzima: Burma needs to come out of its dark pit

PRESS RELEASE

BCUK: 134 MPS demand Total Oil withdraw from Burma

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

July 14, Irrawaddy
Arrests and restrictions continue unabated – Yeni

The ruling Burmese military junta continues to detain and restrict
pro-democracy activists despite releasing about 300 political prisoners
last week, according to main opposition party the National League for
Democracy.

“We welcomed the release of political prisoners, but now there are these
arrests,” NLD spokesperson Myint Thein told The Irrawaddy by phone today,
adding that although the NLD encourages the release of political
prisoners, the regime’s subjection of former detainees "to conditions
including restriction of movement has increased.”

Military leaders have implemented a ban on criticism of the military, and
any public gathering of more than five people, since September 1988, when
they violently suppressed demonstrations, killing hundreds of people.

On the morning of July 12, Chit Swe, vice-chairman of Rangoon's Thanlyin
(Syriam) Township NLD office, was arrested by local authorities for
holding a pro-democracy gathering. He currently awaits trial in Thalyin
prison.

Naw Ohn Hla, A senior member of the NLD’s women’s group, was arrested for
wearing an Aung San Suu Kyi t-shirt on June 19, the detained NLD leader’s
birthday. She was later released, though local authorities insisted she
report to the local police station at frequent intervals.

On July 8, a senior NLD member and two sympathizers from Sagaing Division
were jailed on a charge of distributing a video tape containing speeches
by Suu Kyi. In addition, at least three NLD members have been arrested in
Pegu, an ancient Burmese capital 80 km north of Rangoon, for "listening to
the BBC’s Burmese service," according to Myint Thein.

The US State Department, meanwhile, noted in a July 8 statement that the
arrest of pro-democracy supporters continues unabated, despite the junta's
release of small numbers of political prisoners, many of whom had already
completed their sentences. On her recent trip to Thailand, US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice called on the international community to press
Burma's military rulers to free democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and other
political dissidents.

Rangoon continues to criticize those it perceives to be interfering with
the country's internal affairs on the pretext of human rights and
democracy.

____________________________________

July 14, Narinjara News
Buddhist nun arrested in Rangoon

A Buddhist nun was arrested by the junta yesterday for her alleged contact
with overseas Burmese exile groups.

A monk from Rangoon, under the condition of anonymity, says the nun, Daw
Thitsar Wadi (30 years of age), was arrested by the newly revamped
Intelligence agency for having contact with pro-democracy activists
overseas.

Daw Thitsar Wadi was staying at the International Theravada Missionary
University, in Maran Gon Township of Rangoon.

“She just got back from Sri Lanka. Though the Intelligence accused her of
involvement with the exile groups, I cannot really comment on whether she
has contacts with the exile groups or if so, the nature of the contact.
The contact may have been just for religious reasons”, continued the same
monk.

It is learnt that Daw Thitsar Wati normally stays in Sri Lanka. She
received a Dhamasarea (Master of Dhama) from Burma and a MA degree from a
Sri Lankan Buddhist University.

____________________________________

July 14, Xinhua News Agency
Myanmar PM criticizes some nations for interfering in internal affairs

Myanmar Prime Minister General Soe Win has criticized some foreign nations
and some persons for interfering his country's internal affairs on the
pretext of human rights and democracy.

Without naming them, Soe Win charged at a function with a social
organization here on Wednesday that they are putting pressure on Myanmar
to shape the country according to their will, state-run newspaper the New
Light of Myanmar reported Thursday.

"Those conspiracies are against the international norms and practices," he
said.

He warned of seeing their perpetration as the scheme to encroach on the
independent stand of the nation which is in the process of transition to
discipline-flourishing democracy according to national character,
tradition and culture.

He urged the organization, the Union Solidarity and Development
Association (USDA), to ward off all attempts to endanger the country's
three main national causes and to break up the union.
He called for endeavors for harmonious development of the political,
economic and defense strengths in building the nation, saying that the
three strengths are inter-related.

Claiming that his nation is on the right track towards progress, Soe Win
said the government has laid down a seven-point political roadmap to
democracy and the first step of it is underway.

The roadmap, announced in August 2003, was outlined as reconvening the
national convention to draft a new constitution, undergoing a national
referendum on draft of the constitution, holding a general election to
produce parliament representatives and forming a new democratic
government.

He urged the USDA, which claimed to have a membership of 16 million, to
strive for the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed democratic
nation.

____________________________________

July 14, Shan Herald Agency for News
No one hurt in bomb blast in Wa capital – Hawkeye

A bomb went off in the business sector of Panghsang on the Chinese border
July 12, according to a Shan source from northern Shan State. The blast at
1 a.m. Tuesday, took place in front of the Wa capital's only casino,
opposite its market. "It made quite a terrible racket," said the
businessman from Panghsang, "but nobody was hurt as the street was totally
deserted. There was some excitement at first, but as nothing more
happened, the gamblers went back to their gaming tables."

So far the culprits have not been found.

Like its southern neighbor Mongla, Panghsang has had few regular visitors
from across the border since Beijing imposed restrictions on its citizens
early this year. Most patrons of the casino, owned jointly by an ethnic
Chinese from Lashio and his partner from China, are local people.

But unlike Mongla, where the whole city has gone dark except for places
with their own generators following power shutdowns from China, Panghsang
has a hydro-power plant just outside the city limits and has therefore
escaped similar predicaments.

Also unlike in Mongla, the United Wa State Army, together with the Burma
Army, has been fighting the anti-Rangoon Shan State Army 'South' of Col.
Yawdserk. The joint junta-Wa operation in March-April cost the Wa more
than 300 killed by its own count. (The SSA said the total was 337)

"It is a very unpopular war among us Wa," a Wa officer explained to a Shan
friend in Mongton. "All of us know the ultimate winner can only be the
Burmese military." Conflicting reports on Wa moves continue to bombard
S.H.A.N, none indicating another full-scale fight, while 2,500 fresh
troops promised since May to replace battle-weary Wa fighters at the SSA's
Loi Taileng stronghold have yet to arrive. Meanwhile, 11 officers and
commanders on leave during April engagements are being urgently recalled
by the Thai border-based UWSA 171st Regional Command of Wei Hsuehkang.

The SSA reports normal activities by Wa confronting them at Loi Taileng
opposite Pang Mapha District in Thailand's Maehongson Province.

____________________________________

July 14, Democratic Voice of Burma
Recently detained NLD leader to stand trial in Burma

The vice-chairman of Rangoon Thanlyin (Syriam) Township National League
for Democracy (NLD) Cartoon Chit Swe who was arrested on 12 July is
currently being detained at the local police station and he is to stand
trial at a local court on 25 July.

According to NLD legal advocate Nyan Win, Chit Swe was remanded for 14
days during a court hearing on 13 July.

Chit Swe was arrested after he held a meeting with other Thanlyin Township
NLD leaders and Nyan Win pointed out that the detention of Chit Swe is not
in accordance with the existing legal practices.

He added the defending lawyers are watching closely, with which acts Chit
Swe is to be charged with, and they are going to defend him to the best of
their abilities.

Nyan Win also said that Sagaing Division is preparing to lodge an appeal
at Shwebo District court for its member and Khin-U Township NLD chairman
Dr Win Aung who was sentenced to ten years in prison on 8 July.

When asked about other 8 NLD supporters and members who were arrested at
Pegu near Rangoon on 4 July, Nyan Win said some of them had been released
and at least three had been sent to Rangoon Insein Jail. He added that he
is still studying details of the charges and preparing to defend them.

____________________________________

July 14, Democratic Voice of Burma
NLD welcomes the extension of US sanctions

NLD welcomes the US Administration's decision to extend its economic
sanction against the military junta one more year today.

"Party welcomes the President Bush's announcement to maintain US economic
sanctions until the time when NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi  were free
from the detention and NLD offices were allowed to reopen, because it is
very practical and necessary in current situation", U Lwin, NLD
spokesperson says.

"There is not much to say. According to the law adopted by the US Congress
and agreed by the president, US will maintain the sanctions to push for
democratization in Burma. It is very clear that US will lift the sanctions
only if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is free and NLD will be able to exercise its
political functions freely." U Lwin continues.

Although NLD, which won a landslide victory in 1990 election, welcomes the
US president's decision, the ruling military regime accuses that US
government ignores the regime's attempt to bring democracy in Burma and
tries to bully one-sided. But, US reject the regime's accusation and urge
the other governments to join with US to apply the pressure against the
regime.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

July 14, Xinhua News Agency
Myanmar strives to cut malaria occurrence rate in next 5 years

Myanmar is striving to bring down the occurrence rate of malaria in the
country by 50 percent by 2010 with the help of international aid, a local
news journal reported Thursday.

To reduce the malaria occurrence rate for the 284 affected townships in
Myanmar, the Global Fund will extend financial aid to the country, while
the World Health Organization will assist in terms of technical know-how,
the 7-Day reported.

According to the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) of Myanmar, the
country is to obtain 9 million US dollars in aid from the Global Fund to
fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria.

The international aid, announced last September to support Myanmar's
activities in controlling the disease, constitutes part of an over 35
million dollars allocation to Myanmar under which over 19 million is to be
provided for the campaign against AIDS and 7 million to combat TB, the
NMCP said.

The fund would help the country carry out a range of activities against
malaria until 2007, the NMCP noted.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children's Fund is supplying
medically-treated mosquito nets to be used in prevention against malaria
and the number of households covered by the aid will go to 1.48 million by
2009, the report added.

According to the NMCP, there are 700,000 malaria patients in Myanmar
seeking treatment each year, of whom about 2,000 died from the disease.
The outbreak of the disease in the border areas is two times higher than
that in other parts of the country.

Malaria usually breaks out during the rainy season which lasts from June
until mid-October.

The country also strived for controlling the outbreak of malaria partly by
educating the people through media in recent years.

_____________________________________
BUSINESS / FINANCE

July 14, Associated Press
Eight state-owned Myanmar factories up for auction in privatization effort

Myanmar's military government will auction off the eight factories it runs
in the capital as part of the junta's privatization plans, state-run
newspapers reported Thursday.

The factories in Yangon - six textile plants, a towel factory and a thread
manufacturer - will go up for auction with base prices ranging from nearly
100 million kyat ( US$100,000; [euro]77,520) to more than 700 million kyat
(US$700,000; [euro]546,235).

Those who owned the factories before the junta took them over will have
priority in the bidding, as long as they can prove Myanmar citizenship and
are among the highest bidders, the daily Myanma Ahlin reported.

The country's late socialist dictator, Gen. Ne Win, nationalized many
private businesses - including banks, mines, hospitals and even retail
shops - soon after he took power in 1962.

When the current military government took over in late 1988, it embarked
on a series of economic liberalization measures to restore some aspects of
a free market.

The junta has gradually privatized some industries that had been
nationalized, primarily those that were operating at a loss.

Doing private business on a large scale is considered difficult in Myanmar
due to the government's lack of transparency and because of currency
controls that make the kyat's official value many times higher than it is
on the free market.

The factories to be sold are in a sector that has not fared well since
August 2003, when the United States, disapproving of the junta's failure
to make political reforms, banned the import of goods from Myanmar, also
called Burma.

The United States accounted for almost two-thirds of Myanmar's garment
exports, which fell by about half in the year after the sanctions were
imposed.

____________________________________

July 14, Irrawaddy
Chinese increase offer for Unocal, say reports – Joe Mcdonald

As US politicians warned of grave security threats in CNOOC Ltd's bid to
buy Unocal Corporation, the state-owned Chinese company reportedly was
ready to increase its US $18.5 billion bid for the California oil and gas
producer.

News reports said CNOOC's board also agreed to pay the US oil company's
shareholders up to $2.5 billion if it signs a takeover agreement but a
deal isn't completed.

The changes were approved amid efforts by Hong Kong-based CNOOC to trump a
competing bid by Chevron. The Unocal board, which was to meet Thursday,
has recommended that shareholders accept the Chevron bid but says it's
willing to consider better offers. Unocal holds significant investments in
Asia, including Burma.

A spokesman for CNOOC, a Hong Kong subsidiary of China National Offshore
Oil Corporation, said he couldn't confirm the reports in Hong Kong's South
China Morning Post, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.

None of the reports said what the new CNOOC bid might be, but the Journal
cited an unidentified source who said it would not exceed $70 per share,
up from $67. Chevron has offered Unocal shareholders $65 per share in cash
and stock.

Citing unidentified sources, the South China Morning Post put the size of
the penalty payment at $2.5 billion, while the Wall Street Journal and the
Financial Times said it was in excess of $2 billion. According to the
South China Morning Post, the money would be held in an escrow account in
the United States and would apply only if the deal meets US regulatory
approval but isn't completed.

A congressional hearing Wednesday in Washington DC turned into an attack
on China. Lawmakers and witnesses dismissed CNOOC's claims that its
pursuit of Unocal was simply a commercial business deal, rather than part
of a government strategy to gain control of more global oil and natural
gas assets.

Those testifying said that letting a Chinese state-controlled firm take
over Unocal, the ninth-largest American oil company, could threaten US
national security. The Chinese government owns 70 percent of CNOOC's
shares.

Two influential senators wrote to US President George W. Bush on Wednesday
to express concern about Beijing agreeing to subsidize a Unocal purchase.
That has allowed CNOOC to offer more than what had been offered from
Chevron.

"The offer raises an important question, namely whether it is appropriate
for state-owned enterprises to subsidize investment transactions to
acquire scarce natural resources that are in high demand," said Senators
Charles Grassley and Max Baucus, leaders of the Senate Finance Committee.

A US poll released Thursday showed a majority of Americans disapprove of
CNOOC's bid for Unocal. The Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found strong
opposition to the CNOOC deal, 73 percent to 16 percent. Eleven percent
said they weren't sure.

Unocal's board could make a decision on the CNOOC bid as early as Thursday
when its directors were meeting. A spokesman for El Segundo,
California-based Unocal declined to discuss details of board meetings,
saying the company has a policy of not making its directors' agenda
public. But analysts predicted Unocal's board will stick to dollars and
cents when analyzing the bid and leave political maneuvering to others.

"The major job for the directors is to pursue a deal that is the best deal
for the Unocal stockholders," said Michael Bazdarich, an economist at the
University of California, Los Angeles. "That's got to be their job number
one. They're not there to do foreign policy for the United States or trade
policy.”

_____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

July 14, Irrawaddy
British MP highlights Burma in announcing rights body – Clive Parker

A leading member of Britain’s main opposition Conservative Party has
focused on human rights abuses in Burma in launching a human rights group
designed to aid British foreign policy.

Liam Fox, the British “shadow” foreign minister, spoke of atrocities
against the Karen and Shan as well as the continuing detention of Burmese
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in his address in London on Wednesday.
The new group will be chaired by British Member of Parliament Gary
Streeter, former “shadow” minister of Britain’s International Affairs
Department, Fox added.

“Burma is one of the most repressive regimes in the world. Aung San Suu
Kyi is one of the most well-known political prisoners in the world, and
her dignity makes her the most respected,” Fox told the Foreign Press
Association in London.

The British MP, who plans to run for the Conservative Party leadership
this fall, said the world “should always look forward to the day when
Burma's people can cast a vote in freedom.”

Fox also warned of countries including North Korea and Zimbabwe which call
themselves democratic, saying “the holding of elections is not always
enough.”

The human rights group will produce an annual audit documenting the
practices of non-democratic states which the Conservative Party says will
aid discussion and contribute towards the formation of British foreign
policy.

The move marks the latest in a series of recent British government
discussions on Burma. Last month another Conservative MP, John Bercow, and
Guy Horton, author of a study alleging genocide by the junta, held a joint
press conference in London in a bid to raise awareness of events in Burma.
Dialogue on Burma has increased recently among British parliamentarians,
Bercow said, adding he had held private conversations with Tony Blair in
which the British prime minister suggested the plight of the Burmese
deserved greater attention by the press and international community.

_____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

July 14, Mizzima
Is India a true friend of the Burmese people? – Nyo Ohn Myint

After 16 years the SPDC continues in power and is adamant against
political change. The lack of change can be attributed to the inability of
the international community to work together and speak in one voice on
Burma. The neighbouring countries' policies on economy and the political
mileage it seeks are being given precedence to the detriment of the future
of Burmese citizens. Many other neighbouring countries feel that given the
insincerity of the regime, it no longer deserves their support and it is
time to give up on the policy of non-interference and constructive
engagement. But the government of India seems to feel differently.

Two years after the Depayin Black Friday, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin
Oo are still being detained and the NLD offices, with the exception of the
Head Quarters, remain sealed. The arrest of Khun Tun Oo, Chairman of SNLD
and spokesperson of the ethnic alliance UNA, along with some Shan leaders,
including one of Shan's cease-fire commanders, and their imprisonment on
trumped-up charges, does not improve the political atmosphere. This
aggravates the fragile domestic political situation and further weakens
the domestic opposition. Worse, the regime's new security personnel
tortured to death a NLD youth member Aung Hlaing Win openly. A doctor from
the local hospital reportedly found multiple injuries on the body such as
-- bruises, three broken ribs, a damaged heart, a swollen throat and
infection in the stomach and intestines.

Recently, the Indian government has begun to appease the Rangoon generals
by not attending the June 19 opposition's political rally and celebrating
the 60th birthday of Burma's national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under
house arrest. Normally, Indian diplomats in Rangoon traditionally show up
for these ceremonies at the NLD headquarters. This time's India's action
has shocked veteran politicians and senior members of the NLD in Burma.
One former NLD central executive member stressed that "the Indian
government has abandoned its principles of supporting our democratization
and bartered away its commercial and security interests. This is shameful
of the Indian government."

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the Congress-led United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, will keep improving its diplomatic
and political ties with the Burmese regime, especially after Senior
General Than Shwe's state visit to India five days after he sacked former
prime minister Khin Nyunt in October last year.

The Mizoram Armed Police (MAP) captured the Chin National Front's "Camp
Victoria" after flushing out Chin freedom fighters on June 21. The rebels
are fighting the Burmese military government for the sake of democracy.
"Indian's policy of not only suppressing the anti-Rangoon political
movement but siding with the generals is shocking," said a prominent
leader of an ethnic group.

Does the Indian government need to show its intention of deepening
relations with the regime in Rangoon? Is democratization of Burma not a
concern in Indo-Burmese relations? Many anti-Rangoon leaders have been
asking these questions. On the other hand, Indias' concern of increased
Chinese foothold in Burma must be upsetting Indian foreign policy. Now we
have two super powers in a regional political game with Burma. Do we
Burmese deserve India's closed eyes policy?

This attitude should not be taken lightly for it will not favour future
relations between India and Burma. Many political observers fear that
policy makers in the Indian Foreign Ministry are willing to sacrifice the
historical relations between the people of Burma and India, and the NLD
and the Congress Party of India.

Political, spiritual and social leaders of the world, including the UN
Secretary General, the President of the United States of America and its
Congress leaders, the British Prime Minister, sympathize and support the
democracy movement in Burma. They celebrated Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 60th
birthday and demanded her release from captivity. But the Indian
government has not only ignored her birthday but has been hostile against
anti-Burmese government groups. It seems that the Indian government is
bent on ignoring historical relations, true friendship, and political
struggles dating back to the colonial British days. Social ties between
the citizens, rejection of Burma's citizens' desires and an emergence of a
new political system means nothing to India now.

On the other hand, the formation of the ASEAN inter-parliamentary Myanmar
caucus clearly indicates that many ASEAN members can no longer ignore the
political system of their neighbours, given the close relationship between
essential economic and social matters and political fundamentals such as
responsibility, accountability, transparency and the rule of law. But the
Indian government is seen as strengthening its relations with Burma's
brutal regime. Perhaps, it is more important to the Indian government to
look at its energy needs from natural gas rich Burma. Gas fields explored
by India in the Arakan state of Western Burma will only help strengthen
relations with the regime.

Commercial opportunities are not as valuable as the historical ties
between the two countries. Supporting and wooing Burma's repressive
government will not win the Burmese peoples' hearts. The short term goal
of receiving gas by appeasing the generals in Rangoon cannot compare to
the Indian's long history of support for the political struggle in Burma.
It is sad that the value of the Indian political strategy towards Burma is
at its lowest ebb, especially when there is a movement for democracy
inside and outside Burma. Should we with a broken heart give cognizance to
India as our former friend?

_____________________________________

July 13, Mizzima
Burma needs to come out of its dark pit – Shyamal Sarkar

Burma today stands firm in its self-created isolation, especially as far
as the western world is concerned. Branded a rogue and a pariah state by
the West, it has to battle severe economic sanctions because of its
ruthless military dictatorship, its blatant human rights violations and
repressive regime.

In a major step that could drastically transform the working mechanism of
the United Nations, G-4 countries (including India, Japan, Brazil and
Germany) have tabled a draft resolution in the United Nations along with a
total of 23 co-sponsor countries across continents. The draft resolution
is to be debated in a few days at the on-going UN General Assembly and is
likely to throw up intense debate on how the reforms on the expansion of
the 15-member UN Security Council should be handled.

At a time when the United Nations is transforming itself into a better
world organization based on an equal and just basis, it is also time for
Burma to get rid of its mindset that the international community is bent
on fomenting trouble in the country and that foreigners are to blame for
the country's problems. The military regime's attitude to shun the
international forum is not new. It almost four decades old and it is still
firm in its belief that it has thrived in its alienation. When the fact is
that it has not. It has only been a retrograde step when their neighbours
have prospered.

There has been a serious lack of understanding of affairs international
and how other nations strive to prosper. Despite some attempt by the
present regime to come out of the woods and reverse its self-imposed
isolation in order to infuse new life to a stagnant economy, the junta
continues to insulate Burma to the outside world.

It is time the country became active in the international forum and not
just looks towards some of its Asian neighbours for succour. The need of
the hour is for Burma to participate in the process set in motion by the
UN and cement relations with other nations to revive an ailing economy and
to find acceptance globally. Burma cannot thrive in isolation with a
handful of friends like China and North Korea who will only ensure that
the military junta eats out of their hands.

The end result will not be so much as Burma prospering and developing
economically but its neighbours furthering their economic and military
interest. If rulers in Burma want to be accepted as equals of sorts by the
developed and developing countries, it needs to interact with nations,
attract western capital and technology for its overall national
development. The military junta today cannot stand-alone anymore. It would
be a historical mistake for which future generations of Burmese will
suffer.

An active foreign policy encompassing the international and regional
spectrum is therefore the need of the hour. Burma has failed to come
anywhere near participating in international activity. And it is all
because of the military junta continuing to treat the country like its
fiefdom. Time was after the independence of Burma that politicians of the
day knew enough of diplomacy to become the founder-member of the Non
Aligned Movement (NAM) and the then foreign policy was characterized as
being non-aligned rather than neutral. Their desire was to foster peace in
South and South-East Asia. And Burma and India after Independence pursued
a form of regional integration. That was the time when there was evidence
of a broad outlook and vision. Not today, for the sectarian and narrow
outlook of the military rulers has made Burma literally an outcast in a
unipolar world.

If the junta has failed to find a place in the international sun, because
of its own medieval culture of repression of its people, the opposition
has done precious little to play an effective role even in its confined
state in a military dictatorship. If the junta has failed to broaden its
horizons for the sake of the country, the opposition, bedraggled though it
is should come forward to reach out by formulating a foreign policy to
attract other nations, in order to develop Burma economically. And this
has to be in keeping with UN reforms process. Just clamouring for
democracy cannot be an end in itself. The opposition or the pro democracy
forces will have to activate a meaningful foreign policy both in regional
and international terms and let Burma be a part of the decision making
process in world affairs. This in turn will usher in peace and prosperity.

But unfortunately Burma is hopelessly trapped in its less than regional
identity that too tainted and bloodied. Burma's regional relations are
confined to China and India and some member states of the ASEAN. China for
its own geo-political, military and economic interests has been
patronizing Burma and providing support, economically, politically and
militarily. India's diplomatic moves are focused on trying to counter the
overt Chinese influence on Burma, which it will find hard to do, for China
is literally crawling all over Burma and is firmly entrenched. Apart from
its own geo-political interest, India has economic interest in terms of
getting gas from the Arakan region in Burma. Its other interest lies in
preventing insurgents from the Northeast from sheltering in Burma. And
India is unlikely to cross swords with Burma at this juncture.

Regionally, the ASEAN members have been playing a hypocritical game. It
adheres to its "constructive engagement" theory for its economic and
vested interests while maintaining that it cannot interfere in the
internal affairs of a country. Though it would like democracy to be
restored it is unwilling to do anything to that end. The ASEAN can be
pressurized by the US, but it will live up to its fundamental belief that
it will not be dictated by the west. ASEAN as a group is overtly conscious
of its image. And Burma is taking full advantage of this. As a result
there is no progress and no democratic reforms in Burma. Should Burma
manage to wiggle its way to the chairmanship of the ASEAN, the west is
unlikely to cooperate as no senior minister from the Western countries is
likely to go to Rangoon to participate in meets. Burma has no solid ground
to stake a claim for being at the helm of ASEAN affairs but is eligible
only because of the rotational nature of the chairmanship. If the
repressive regime continues with its singularly brutal level of
atrocities, and there is no reason to believe it will not, releasing of
political prisoners notwithstanding, then it is likely to face opposition
in its desire to chair the ASEAN. There will be opposition from within,
what with Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia who are not falling over
themselves to appease Burma. ASEAN too is riddled with internal strife
born of regional aspirations.

So in the final analysis, it will not pay Burma much by way of dividends
to link its fortunes to Asians and some other supporters and bask in the
glory of chairing the ASEAN club if it can. It is time for Burma to think
and act in a global perspective if it wants to survive in an environment
of liberalization the world over.

_____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

July 13, Burma Campaign UK
134 MPS demand Total Oil withdraw from Burma

As France prepares to celebrate Bastille Day on Thursday, 134 MPs have
signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling on French oil giant TOTAL Oil to
pull out of Burma. TOTAL Oil – the fourth largest oil company in the UK –
is the largest European investor in Burma.

At the same time, Burmese communities across the world are protesting at
French embassies accusing the French government of protecting the Burmese
dictatorship by vetoing European Union sanctions against Burma in order to
protect TOTAL Oil’s investment in Burma. Protests are taking place in
Malaysia, USA, UK, Japan, South Africa and Korea. Exiles have also
produced hard-hitting cartoons depicting French President Jacques Chirac
dressed as Madame Liberty trampling on Burma’s democracy movement. (High
res copies are available for publication.)

The EDM was tabled by Vera Baird MP, Co-chair of the All-Party
Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma. “TOTAL Oil’s business partner,
Burma’s military dictatorship, is carrying out a campaign of ethnic
cleansing against Burma’s minorities and is using rape as a weapon of war
against women and children”, said Vera Baird.  “Its customers, its
shareholders, and UK parliamentarians must be made aware of Total’s
partnership with tyranny.”

John Bercow MP, the other Co-chair of the All-Party Group, also attacked
TOTAL’s close relationship with the dictatorship, saying: "TOTAL Oil's
investment in Burma is propping up one of the most brutal and sadistic
military dictatorships in the world.  In selling oil, the company is
providing huge revenues for the regime to spend on the instruments of
torture and repression.  The company has blood on its hands and it is an
absolute scandal that it should support a terrorist state in this way. Now
that Premier Oil and British American Tobacco have had the decency to pull
out of Burma, the time has come for a concerted campaign to persuade TOTAL
Oil to follow suit."

Text of the EDM:
That this House notes that Total Oil, the fourth largest oil company in
the United Kingdom, is the largest European investor in Burma; is
concerned that revenue from the gas project it operates in Burma has been
estimated to earn the regime up to £240 million a year; further notes that
the regime in Burma spends half of its budget on the military; supports
Aung San Suu Kyi's calls for companies not to invest in Burma; and calls
on Total Oil to follow the example of Premier Oil, British American
Tobacco and dozens of other companies, and withdraw from Burma.

The list of MPs who have signed the EDM can be viewed at:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=28240

French oil giant TOTAL is the fourth largest oil company in the UK, and
the fourth largest oil company in the world.

A recent report on TOTAL Oil’s involvement in Burma found:
TOTAL is the largest European corporate funder of the regime. The Yadana
gas project, in which it is a partner, is believed to earn the regime
between $200m to $450m a year.

TOTAL’s presence in Burma influencing French, European Union and British
foreign policy on Burma, as France vetoes effective EU sanctions in order
to protect TOTAL.

Horrific human rights abuses committed in the region of TOTAL’s gas
pipeline by pipeline security forces.

Arms sales closely linked to TOTAL’s gas project. The regime used its
first downpayment for gas exports to buy 10 MIG jets from Russia.