BurmaNet News, March 2, 2006

[Editor]

March 2, 2006 Issue # 2911


INSIDE BURMA
Reuters: Indonesia offers to help Myanmar to democracy
Deutsche Presse-Agentur: Geneva-based humanitarian NGO closes shop in Myanmar
Mizzima: Death toll rises as Burma army and Naga rebels clash
DVB: Mandalay authorities accuse US Center of interfering with Burma affairs

ON THE BORDER
SHAN: Underage women can pay to cross the border

DRUGS
Irrawaddy: Burma’s opium production down, says US

ASEAN
Channel NewsAsia: ASEAN likely to make hard decisions on Myanmar

REGIONAL
Reuters: Bush says Myanmar rights situation "deplorable"

___________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

March 1, Reuters
Indonesia offers to help Myanmar to democracy - Aung Hla Tung

Yangon: Indonesia, which emerged from a long era of military dominated
government only eight years ago, has told Myanmar's ruling generals they
must move toward democracy and offered to help, officials said on
Thursday.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made the call in two
meetings with junta chief Than Shwe, who promised to follow through on a
seven-step "roadmap to democracy," they said.

"President Yudhoyono explained Indonesia's experiences and offered his
preparedness to assist Myanmar in democratization and national
reconciliation," former Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told
Reuters.

"The Myanmar leader welcomed our offer and explained to our president
their seven-point political roadmap in detail," said Alatas, who was
present at the meetings on Wednesday soon after Yudhoyono arrived.

But few details emerged on how quickly the military, which has ruled the
former Burma in one guise or another since a 1962 coup, would move on a
program they announced in 2003.

They are still on the first step, a constitutional conference which
critics say is designed to produce a document which will cement the
military in power.

The conference, adjourned in January and not due to reconvene until the
end of the year, is being boycotted by the main opposition party because
its leader, democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, is under house arrest.

NO SUU KYI MEETING

Yudhoyono, due to head back to Jakarta on Thursday, would not meet Suu
Kyi, who has been in detention since her latest arrest in May 2003, Alatas
said. "Our stay here is very short and we have no time for it," he said.

The secretive junta has upset fellow members of the 10-strong Association
of South East Asian Nations, one of the few international groupings which
will have Myanmar as a member, by foot-dragging on freeing Suu Kyi and on
political reform.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told Jakarta-based Radio Elshinta
in an interview that Indonesia, which freed itself of three decades of
autocratic rule in 1998, understood Myanmar's difficulties.

"This is not a situation in which we come to a country and lecture them
and demand this and that," he said.

"If Indonesia can help this democratization process, we will do it
smoothly and properly with ways that can open doors, not seal them," he
said.

But, he said, Yudhoyono stressed "advancing democracy is absolutely
imperative."

Yudhoyono, whose government has been one of the toughest critics of
Myanmar's junta, is a former general himself who won Indonesia's first
direct presidential election in 2004 and has championed civilian supremacy
over the armed forces.

Last year, other ASEAN members forced Myanmar to forgo its scheduled 2006
chairmanship of the group. Jakarta said in January the generals'
foot-dragging had hurt regional stability.

(Additional reporting by Achmad Sukarsono in JAKARTA)

___________________________________

March 2, Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Geneva-based humanitarian NGO closes shop in Myanmar

Bangkok: The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Geneva-based
non-governmental organization, has decided to close its office in Myanmar
(Burma) after failing to have its agreement with the government extended,
the NGO disclosed in a statement Thursday.

"The HD Centre has been in discussions with government officials to
continue its work in-country since January 2006," said a statement issued
by the HD Centre's Geneva headquarters and made available in Bangkok.

"On 22 February 2006, the annual agreement for the HD Centre expired. It
is with regret, therefore, that the HD Centre has taken the decision to
close its office in Yangon," it added.

The HD Centre's decision to leave comes amid reports of increasing
difficulties faced by NGOs and United Nations offices in conducting their
operations in the country.

The HD Centre had been running an office in Yangon, the former capital,
since August, 2000. Late last year Myanmar's military government announced
that it had decided to move the capital to Pyinmana, a backwater town
situated about 300 kilometres north of Yangon.

The HD Centre is an independent, Geneva-based foundation whose purpose is
to prevent human suffering in war.

Myanmar is conducting military campaigns against ethnic minority groups
and rebels such as the Karen National Union (KNU), Shan Shan Army and All
Burma Students' Democratic Front.

___________________________________

March 2, Mizzima News
Death toll rises as Burma army and Naga rebels clash - Sarbari Bhaumik

At least 12 Burmese soldiers and five Naga rebels have been killed in
clashes that started in Sagaing Division on Tuesday, a Naga spokesman
said.

Kughalo Mulatonu of the Khaplang faction of the outlawed National
Socialist Council of Nagaland told Mizzima the group's bases at Chumsa and
Tenuk were under attack from the Burmese military.

He said while the rebels were holding Burmese troops off, the intensity
and scale of the attacks were increasing.

"A full Burmese light infantry battalion, more than one thousand troops,
have encircled our bases and launched a full scale attack with mortars and
machine guns. We have beat back the first few waves on Tuesday but the
fighting is getting intense as the day progresses," Mulatonu said.

The fighting is likely to continue with one Indian military official
telling Mizzima wireless messages had been intercepted that showed both
the rebels and the Burmese army were calling for reinforcements.

Mulatonu said while he was confident the NSCN's 52nd, 229th and 347th
battalions would be able to hold off the Burmese army, he confirmed they
had called for backup.

"It seems [the Burmese army] are drawing more reinforcements from their
brigade headquarters at Hkamti and Lahe," Mulatonu said.

No confirmation of the attacks was available from Burmese military sources.

Naga rebels are also engaged in clashes between rival groups in India's
Nagaland State. The Khaplang faction said they had driven guerillas from
the rival NSCN faction Muivah out of Meluri, Phek district on Monday after
two days of heavy fighting.

"We will capture four to five districts from the Muivah faction in
Nagaland state, we will drive them out. They are working for the Indians,"
said Mulatonu.

The NSCN split in 1988 when Burmese Naga rebel leader S S Khaplang fell
out with Thuingaleng Muivah and Issac Chisi Swu over proposed talks with
India. The Muivah faction started negotiations with India in July 1997.

"But we will not pull out a single fighter from Nagaland, we will crush
the Muivah faction, we have enough fighters in Burma," said Mulatonu said
adding the groups rebel allies would support fighters in Sagaing Division
if they needed help.

India and Burma have developed close military relations in the past two
years. India has forced Burmese rebels from Arakan and Chin States out of
northeast India and the Burmese army have launched intermittent attacks on
Indian rebel bases in Sagaing Division.

___________________________________

March 1, Democratic Voice of Burma
Mandalay authorities accuse US Center of interfering with Burma affairs

The 2006 local authorities at Mandalay in central Burma, on 1 March,
accused Rangoon-based American Center of interfering with the affairs of
Burma, for holding seminars on the studies of English at the old royal
city recently.

The accusation was made in a leaflet bearing no seal or name, and many
copies of the leaflet were distributed among the local population,
according to Mandalay Division National League for Democracy (NLD)
organising committee member Win Mya Mya.

The ‘anonymous’ accusation came after a 14-member strong team from the
Center toured Mandalay on 27 & 28 February and held seminars on the
studies of English language and discussed the situation of the town.

The US team held a separate meeting with Mandalay NLD members at noon on
27 February and held a dinner party for 50 writers, business proprietors
and respected public figures in the evening.

It is assumed that the local authority and the government-sponsored Union
Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) members carried out the
pamphlet-attack because they bear grudges on the actions of Center.

Similar leaflets bearing anti-US sentiments were printed in local journals
when the American embassy officials met with NLD members recently.

___________________________________
ON THE BORDER

March 2, Shan Herald Agency for News
Underage women can pay to cross the border - Tai Touch

Despite the law restricting women under 25 to travel to the border and
across it, Burmese authorities in eastern Shan State have made allowances
for those who can pay, according to sources coming to the border.

Any underage women can easily obtain a safe conduct at the office of the
Myanmar Women Affairs Federation  Eastern Shan State in Kengtung after
paying 200,000 kyat ($200), signed by its chairwoman, an office
customarily held by the wife of the regional commander.

On arrival at Tachilek, she must pay 200 baht ($5) to apply for a border
pass and another 200 baht at the border checkpoint if she chooses not to
leave her national ID card there. "The keeping of the cards are quite
disorderly," said a local resident, who travels back and forth across the
border, "and it is not unusual to find a wayfarer who has his/her ID card
misplaced by the officials."

For a girl who comes to find work in Thailand, keeping the ID card on her
person therefore is a more sensible option. "Not only women, but also men
who aim to have a long stay in Thailand like myself willingly pay 200 baht
at the border checkpoint so they can keep their ID cards," said a migrant
worker.

Burma promulgated the Anti Trafficking in Persons Law on 13 September. An
offender is punishable by life in prison.

____________________________________
DRUGS

March 2, Irrawaddy
Burma’s opium production down, says US - Yeni

The production of opium in Burma has declined over the past 10 years,
though the production and export of methamphetamine tablets has increased
sharply in the border regions of Shan State, according to a new report by
the US State Department.

The 900-page “2006 International Narcotic Control Strategy Report,”
released yesterday, listed Burma as the world’s second largest illicit
opium producer—behind Afghanistan—, which accounts for more than 90
percent of the heroin produced in Southeast Asia.

“Annual production of opium has declined over the past ten years and is
now at less than 20 percent of mid-1990 peak levels...an estimated 380
metric tons,” says the report, which was commissioned by the US Congress.

The report also highlights the limited area in which drugs are produced in
Burma. It claims that “less than 1 percent of Burma’s poppy crop is grown
outside of Shan State,” and goes on to say that “cultivation by Wa hill
tribesmen accounts for 40 percent of Burma’s total poppy growth”

In 2005, the US government pinpointed Burma and Venezuela as two countries
that had “failed demonstrably to meet international counter-narcotics
obligations.” The new report does, however, concede that Burma has aided
both American and Australian agencies with investigations into narcotics
in the country, and increased cooperation with neighboring countries such
as Thailand and China in dealing with wanted drug traffickers.

In 2005 Burmese authorities are reported as having detained a total of
4,754 people on drug-related charges and seized more than 800 kg of
heroin, 750 kg of opium, 250 kg of crystal methamphetamine, 120 kg of
marijuana and 3.6 million amphetamine-type stimulants tablets, according
to state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar.

Nevertheless, the report charged the Burmese government with failing to
show any proof of having destroyed drug production laboratories. The
escalating amount of methamphetamines coming out of Burma is reportedly
produced “in labs co-located with heroin refineries in areas controlled by
the United Wa State Army, the ethnic Chinese Kokang, and the Shan State
Army-South.”

The UWSA announced in June 2005 a total ban on poppy cultivation and opium
production and trafficking.

___________________________________
ASEAN

March 2, Channel NewsAsia
ASEAN likely to make hard decisions on Myanmar - S. Ramesh

Singapore: ASEAN foreign ministers are likely to make hard decisions on
the grouping's approach towards Myanmar when they meet in Bali in April.

Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo was giving an overview of foreign
relations in Parliament on Thursday.

He says the regional outlook for Singapore has become more favourable
compared to a year ago.

However, Myanmar continues to be a glitch in the picture.

Recently, Myanmar's government moved its seat of power away from the
capital Yangon.

Mr Yeo says isolating Myanmar is not a solution, especially since it is a
strategic buffer between China and India.

Mr Yeo says: "It is in our interest to ensure that we stay engaged in
Myanmar, that our gate to Myanmar is open, but what happens in that
country is a source of concern.

"So I think let's take a realistic approach, we are in no position to
affect the course of internal development, what happens there - good or
bad - is for the Myanmar people to bear the consequences, but I think we
have to distance ourselves a bit if it is not possible for them to engage
us in a way which we find necessary if we are to defend them
internationally."

Till now, no date has been set for Malaysia's foreign minister to make a
fact-finding mission to Myanmar.

Mr Yeo says if Myanmar needs time to attend to its own domestic
pre-occupation, ASEAN should respect it.

On ties with Malaysia, he says negotiations are into its fifth round on
the subject of replacing the Causeway with a bridge.

Mr Yeo says: "As to earlier reports of a move to build a half bridge on
the Malaysia side, Wisma Putra has clarified with us in a TPN (third party
note) that Malaysia remains committed to negotiations for a full bridge
and only soil studies are being conducted.

"We have explained to Malaysia the serious implications of the unilateral
move by Malaysia to demolish its side of the Causeway and replace it by a
crooked bridge however scenic."

On Pedra Branca which is before the International Court of Justice, Mr Yeo
says the case is expected to be heard in 2007 and both sides have already
put in their written submissions.

MPs have also asked about developments in the Philippines and Thailand.

Mr Yeo says he does not expect any change to the Philippines hosting the
ASEAN and East Asia Summits at the end of the year.

As for the recent protests against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in
Bangkok, Mr Yeo says he has been assured by the leader of the Thai
Democratic Party that the actions are not directed against Singapore.

Mr Yeo was addressing MPs' concerns that the protests against Mr Thaksin
had escalated when the Thai leader's family sold its controlling stake in
the telecommunication-based Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Meanwhile, Mr Yeo has also described Middle East as an important new
region for the Republic, especially in the economic field.

He says Singapore enjoys a good reputation in the Middle East, much more
than most Singaporeans realise.

Mr Yeo adds: "When we embarked on our new policy two years ago to engage
the Middle East, we found friends everywhere who were happy to work with
us. We discovered to our pleasant surprise that they knew far more about
Singapore than we did about them.The Middle East therefore presents a huge
new opportunity for us.

"We are encouraging our officers to study Arabic. And it should not just
be Foreign Service Officers. We need more Singaporeans to learn the
language. I was happy to learn that an enterprising graduate of Al Azhar
University has recently opened a school to teach Arabic in Kembangan. URA
is thinking of doing up our Arab district to give it a richer Middle
Eastern character. And we are attracting more and more tourists from the
Middle East here. "

___________________________________
REGIONAL

March 2, Reuters
Bush says Myanmar rights situation "deplorable"

New Delhi: The human rights situation in military-ruled Myanmar was
"deplorable", U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday, and he called for
the release of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, jailed or under house
arrest since May 2003.

Bush, who is visiting New Delhi, said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
agreed with his views on Myanmar, formerly called Burma, which has been
under military rule in one form or the other since 1962.

"On Burma, we agree on the deplorable state of human rights and all
nations to seek the release of Aung San Suu Kyi," Bush told a news
conference with Singh.

The U.S. president also said the royalist government in Nepal, where King
Gyanendra sacked the government and seized power 13 months ago, should
restore democracy.

King Gyanendra justified his power seizure, saying he had to do so to
crush a deadly Maoist revolt aimed at overthrowing the monarchy.

"In Nepal, we agree that the Maoists should abandon violence and that the
king should reach out to the political parties to restore democratic
institutions," Bush said.

Washington and New Delhi suspended arms supplies to Kathmandu after the
king's takeover, but India resumed the supply of "non-lethal" equipment
such as trucks last year.