From editor@burmanet.org Tue Oct 15 23:19:38 2002 From: editor@burmanet.org (editor@burmanet.org) Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 18:19:38 -0400 (EDT) Subject: (no subject) Message-ID: <17425.207.10.94.131.1034720378.squirrel@webmail.pair.com> THE BURMANET NEWS A listserv covering Burma October 12-14 2002 Issue #2104 www.burmanet.org INSIDE BURMA UN News Center: UN human rights expert urges fundamental political change in Myanmar AFP: Myanmar needs reform, not aid: Suu Kyi AFP: UN urged to prepare for work in Myanmar Xinhua: Myanmar rejects US report concerning religious freedom AP Worldstream: Suu Kyi makes new trip to countryside to rebuild party DVB: Burmese naval vessels said extorting diesel to supplement ration cut MONEY Kaladan: Price-hike of rice make people starve in Arakan Radio Myanmar: Burmese leader urges officials to minimize loss, wastage in development tasks INTERNATIONAL Myanmar Times: Britain joins campaign to help combat AIDS Chinland Guardian: International conference on Burma concludes in Ottawa, Canada REGIONAL Xinhua: Myanmar calls for ASEAN states to fight against food insecurity Mizzima: Indian policy on Burma: Who is influencing whom? Mizzima: Arms seizure in India-Burma border Narinjara: Rohingya repatriation yet to be completed ON THE BORDER DVB: Burma, Thailand to exchange prisoners at Kawthaung-Ranong border reopening STATEMENTS ALTSEAN: Aung San Suu Kyi: Better governance will aid Burma The Red and Black: Human rights violations hit home INSIDE BURMA United Nation News Center October 14 2002 UN human rights expert urges fundamental political change in Myanmar 14 October – In order to secure the human rights of its citizens, Myanmar must achieve national reconciliation and the political transition to democracy, a United Nations expert says in a report released today at UN Headquarters in New York. The report of the UN Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, points to a number of positive developments in Myanmar, including the release of more political prisoners, but warns that “recent mellowing on the political front has not and could not possibly bring about significant improvements to the complex human rights and humanitarian situation; this is only feasible in the context of a sustainable process of political transition and national reconciliation.” In order to achieve a credible democratic political transition, Myanmar must meet four fundamental conditions, according to the report. These are the inclusion of all components of society in political dialogue, the release of all political prisoners, the lifting of restrictions on political parties and groups, and the holding of free elections. Citing the experience of other countries, Mr. Pinheiro says the possibilities for reconciliation and democratization in Myanmar must “be handled with great care and generosity.” The international community, he adds, “should start thinking about options to strengthen contributions from its various actors in the context of principled engagement with key players in the country.” Looking to the broader context of international cooperation, he warns against “viewing the complex process as a struggle between good and evil,” and notes that with the international community engaged in the struggle against terrorism, “there is a tendency on the part of some nations to put human rights, the right to development and democracy in the back seat.” The Special Rapporteur also cites ongoing reports of human rights violations, especially in areas where military operations continue. These include counter-insurgency operations which have reportedly affected hundreds of villages in Shan and Karen states and the forcible transfer of populations in Shan state. “Asylum-seekers continue to move into Thailand, a symptom of a complex internal situation which is essentially man-made and whose roots are as economic as they are political,” he says. The report recommends that the UN begin considering an enhanced or reoriented role in some of the areas that could facilitate the transition process, including helping Myanmar to ratify human rights treaties and supporting improvements in the administration of justice. __________ Agence France-Presse October 14 2002 Myanmar needs reform, not aid: Suu Kyi BANGKOK - Political reform, not more foreign aid, is the best way to combat Myanmar's mounting humanitarian crisis, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in a videotaped interview released here yesterday. 'The most important aspect of humanitarian assistance or any kind of assistance is good governance,' she said in the interview with the Thailand-based rights group Altsean Burma, which was filmed in August. 'Unless there is good governance, you cannot ensure that the assistance will really benefit the country.' Ms Suu Kyi has been a staunch supporter of sanctions against military-ruled Myanmar introduced after brutal repression of 1988 pro-democracy protests and the 1990 polls won by her National League for Democracy but ignored by the junta ___________ Agence France-Presse October 14 2002 UN urged to prepare for work in Myanmar The UN special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar urged the United Nations on Monday to get ready to help with the transition to democracy in a country that was treated for years as a pariah. In a report to the UN General Assembly, rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said "the present delicate situation... needs to be handled with great care and generosity on the part of those who wish the people of Myanmar well." It was "essential to discourage international public opinion" from accepting a simplistic good-and-bad explanation of events in Myanmar, he said. Pinheiro noted "the recent mellowing on the political front" since the release by the military junta on May 6 of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after 19 months of house arrest. But more fundamental reforms were needed, notably to give people access to justice, he said. The international community should start thinking about how it could help in such ways as reviewing prison conditions, examining national laws and training police and judicial officials, he said. The United Nations "should begin assessing the priorities for its engagement, including through the involvement of the executive boards of some of its agencies, funds and programmes," he said. Pinheiro, who last visited the country in February, said he was "not in a position to accept statements made by government sources in May 2002 that there were no more political prisoners in Myanmar." The report was dated August 9 and transmitted to the General Assembly on Monday by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. On Thursday, the junta said it had freed 31 political prisoners, including seven pro-democracy opposition members, in one of the largest of a series of releases announced over the past two years. Pinheiro said he had written to the authorities in March, giving the names of 104 political detainees who should be immediately released. They included 19 elected members of parliament, 22 people who had been arrested for communicating with the UN about human rights, and 33 people who had been held after serving their sentences in full. The release of all political prisoners was one of four fundamental conditions for a credible, democratic transition, he said. The others were: including all components of society in a political dialogue; lifting restrictions on political parties and rebel groups that had signed a ceasefire with the government; and the holding of free elections. _____ Xinhua News Agency October 14 2002 Myanmar rejects US report concerning religious freedom YANGON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) --The Myanmar government Monday rejected a recent report of the United States with regard to religious freedom, saying the allegations contained in the report "represent an attempt to exert pressure and interfere in the country's internal affairs." In the report, Myanmar was designated as a "country of particular concern." The Myanmar Foreign Ministry said in a press release Monday evening that such classification by the Annual International Religious Freedom Report 2002 issued by the US State Department on Oct. 7 does not in any way represent the true situation in Myanmar. The release charged that some of the information came from insurgent groups or unscrupulous persons with the aim of damaging the image of Myanmar. The allegations contained in the report are groundless and considered as being politically motivated, it said. The release maintained that every citizen in Myanmar has the right to profess and practise one's belief and the country is significantly characterized by the fact that all national races have freedom of faith and the right to maintain their own culture and traditions. It said that all religions in Myanmar are allowed to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes as well as to acquire and hold their own property and administer it in accordance with existing laws. It stated that the main religions in Myanmar are Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and animism, adding although Theravada Buddhism is the religion of majority in the country, the government is providing and assisting the work of other religions as well. The release denied forced conversion by the government in favor of one religion over another and discrimination or persecution for religious reasons. ____ Associated Press Worldstream October 14 2002 Suu Kyi makes new trip to countryside to rebuild party Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi left Monday on her latest trip outside the capital to rebuild her National League for Democracy party, which has suffered from years of government repression. The trip to Pyi - also known as Prome - is the Nobel Peace laureate's third political trip outside Yangon since the junta released her from house arrest on May 6. Pyi is a trading town about 240 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of Yangon. Suu Kyi began closed-door talks with the junta in late 2000 to break the deadlock that began when the military refused to recognize the results of a 1990 general election, which Suu Kyi's party won in a landslide. Instead, the military began harassing and detaining pro-democracy activists, for which it was condemned and isolated by Western nations, including the United States. Suu Kyi, 57, left for Pyi in a motorcade accompanied by party Vice Chairman Tin Oo and about a dozen youth party members, said party spokesman U Lwin. In addition to attending the installation of party office signboards at Pyi and elsewhere, Suu Kyi plans to visit government irrigation and dam projects, he said, adding that she will make more such trips after the upcoming end of the rainy season. Suu Kyi visited the northern city of Mandalay in June and Moulmein in the last week of July. Before her release from house arrest on May 6, Suu Kyi had been blocked from traveling outside the capital. _______ Democratic Voice of Burma October 13 2002 BURMESE NAVAL VESSELS SAID EXTORTING DIESEL TO SUPPLEMENT RATION CUT DVB Democratic Voice of Burma has learned that due to the reduction of diesel fuel ration for the SPDC State Peace and Development Council navy, patrol boats have been facing severe fuel shortages in forward operations. Naval vessels from the naval base at Zadetgyikyun in Kawthaung Township have been extorting diesel fuel from coastal passenger vessels. DVB correspondent Myint Maung Maung filed this report. Myint Maung Maung Fuel ration for naval vessels from forward Naval Base No 58 stationed at Zadetgyikyun in Kawthaung Township has been reduced from 1 October. The fuel ration of 500 gallons of diesel oil per naval vessel per week has been reduced to 300 gallons. Due to reduction in diesel fuel patrol boats have been facing mounting difficulties daily to perform their duties. Furthermore, the naval base commanders have also issued a directive on 5 October instructing the vessel commanders to solve the problem on their own. In accord with that directive all naval commands and naval vessels have begun extorting fuel by searching coastal passenger boats, freighters, and cargo vessels giving all kinds of excuses. Any boat that does not wish to be searched must give one barrel 44 gallons of diesel fuel. Sources close to the navy said excess fuel extorted from the passenger and other boats were sold at the black-market by the naval personnel. ____MONEY_____ Kaladan News October 14 2002. PRICE-HIKE OF RICE MAKE PEOPLE STARVE IN ARAKAN The price of rice hikes up over twofold in northern Arakan, western part of Burma, compared to previous two months and poor people of the area are now facing starvation, said a trader of Maungdaw. At present, in northern Arakan the prices of essentials have gone up to unprecedented level. Rice costs Kyats 400-560 per Pri (1 Pri = 2 kgs ), soybean Kyats 2,300 per Viss (1 Viss = 1.75 kgs ), onion Kyats 400 per Viss, garlic between Kyats 700 to 900 per Viss, dry chilli 1,400 to 1,500 per Viss, suger Kyats 550 per Viss, salt between Kyats 90 to100 per Viss, potato Kyats 350 to 400 per Viss, pea Kyats 600 per Viss, green chilli Kyats 600 per kg, egg plant Kyats 250 per kg, a packet of 400 gms of Chinese milk powder Kyats 1,000 and one can ( 250 gms ) of condensed milk Kyats 400. Beef Kyats 2,000 to 2,200 per Viss, mutton Kyats 1,900 to 2,500 per Viss, chicken Kyats 2,200 per Viss, egg Kyats 50 each, petrol one gallon Kyats 1,400 to 1,900, a cup of tea Kyats 60, the first grade fish Kyats 1,600 per kg, the second grade fish Kyats 1,000 and the third grade fish Kyats 800 per kg, he further added. According to the government sources, price-hike is created by insincere and crocked businessmen who hoard rice and paddy. When asked some traders at Maungdaw told that the military government has exported much rice and paddy leaving nothing for the people of the country. So, the price of rice is hiking up unusually. According to the consumers, the military junta has exported huge quantity of rice and paddy to neighboring Bangladesh and has left very little for the people of Arakan. Therefore, the price of rice is skyrocketing. The price-hike of the essentials in Arakan has taken the people by surprise, as it has not developed through a gradual process. For this reason, most of the poor families are facing starvation and some of them becoming beggars and even prostitutes knowingly or unknowingly. They include all communities such as, Rohingyas, Rakhings and Hindus, said another trader. Not only the general people but also the rice traders are restricted to carry rice from one township to another without permits issued by the authority. Therefore, the traders are mostly using illegal ways to carry rice from place to place bribing the authorities. Most of the traders who did not bribe the authorities, while carrying rice to northern Arakan from the townships of Mann Aung, Kyaukpru and Sittwe ( Akyab), were arrested, said a trader of Sittwe. The official exchange rate is 6.80 Kyats to one US dollar but in black market it is 1,250 Kyats to one US dollar and 21.00 Kyats to one Bangladesh Taka in Burma- Bangladesh border, said our sources. ______ Radio Myanmar October 12 2002 Burmese leader urges officials to minimize loss, wastage in development tasks Gen Khin Nyunt, chairman of the Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races and Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council SPDC , met with departmental personnel and members of social organizations of Arakan State at the City Hall in Akyab at 1030 0400 gmt today. In his address, SPDC Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt said that he would like to clarify measures being taken by the state, work to be carried out by the departments concerned and the individual duty of the citizens while meeting with the departmental officials, town elders, and members of social organizations. He said he came with the ministers, deputy ministers and departmental heads to fulfil the needs for the development of education, health, economic, and social sectors of Arakan State. He added that he had fulfilled the requirements for development of Mrauk-U, the ancient cultural region, and preservation of cultural heritage... He said, the government with the participation of the national races and the people has been making efforts for the emergence of a peaceful, modern, and developed nation. As Myanmar Burma is a union made up of the national races, emphasis has been placed on national solidarity. Armed insurgency emerged in the past due to lack of communication among the national races and the instigation of imperialists making the national races misunderstood the government. SPDC Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt added in the time of the SPDC, national solidarity has been attained, thus contributing to the cessation of armed insurgency and priority has been given for the development of border areas including Arakan State and uplift of the living standard of national races. As emphasis has been placed on development of border areas which lagged behind in development, progress has been made in transport, education, health, economic, and social sectors of border areas including Arakan State. He added that so far about 30bn kyat about 4.5bn US dollars has been spent on development projects of border areas... Gen Khin Nyunt stressed that at a time when the government is making all-out efforts for the development of Arakan State, it is incumbent upon departmental officials and private entrepreneurs to strive together with the local people to fulfil the project targets. Efforts are to be made for success in implementing the five rural development tasks in accord with the guidance of SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe. Thus, with the successful implementation of the project various parts of the country including remote areas and rural regions would develop. Just as regional development tasks are being implemented, he added, priority has been given to the development of agricultural and industrial sectors. He also emphasized the need for the states and divisions to make concerted efforts for food sufficiency and to make arrangements for providing surplus food to other regions... SPDC Secretary-1 Gen Khin Nyunt noted the need for responsible officials to lay emphasis on minimizing loss and wastage and practice thriftiness in efforts to develop all sectors of the nation. At the time when the government is making endeavours for national development and uplift of living standard of the people, officials at different levels are to discharge their duties conscientiously with goodwill. He finally urged the people to participate in the regional development tasks with patriotism under the leadership of the government and in accord with the cultural tradition, civic duties, and responsibilities of a citizen. The meeting later ended. __INTERNATIONAL____ Myanmar Times October 14-20 2002 Britain joins campaign to help combat AIDS By Nwe Nwe Aye BRITAIN has allocated US$15 million to Myanmar to help combat HIV-AIDS. The British embassy told Myanmar Times that the aid would be channelled through United Nations agencies for use in projects identified by the UN-Myanmar joint action plan on HIV-AIDS, said an embassy spokesperson, who asked not be to named. He said the British Government believed that the joint action plan would be an efficient way to ensure that aid reached people in need. The spokesperson rejected suggestions that Britain had taken too long before deciding to contribute to the campaign against AIDS in Myanmar. He said the funds would go towards projects planned between 2003 and 2005. In another development, the World Food Program is planning a $4.7 million project next year which will include a program to feed children orphaned as a result of AIDS. The UN Population Fund is funding a $1.7 million project to promote 100 per cent condom use in 10 townships identified by the National AIDS Program, the vehicle for implementing the UN-Myanmar joint action plan. The head of the UN aids agency in Myanmar, Mr Eamonn Murphy, said last week that while the international interest in helping Myanmar tackle the epidemic was encouraging, more funding was needed to implement all the activities identified under the joint action plan. Mr Murphy said $34 million was needed for the plan’s activities this fiscal year, of which about one third had been provided. ______ Chinland Guardian October 11 2002 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BURMA CONCLUDES IN OTTAWA, CANADA Ottawa: A one-day international conference on Burma, organized by Canadian Friends of Burma, was successfully held at Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Ottawa on October 9, 2002. The conference was attended by various Burma donor organizations, delegates from various Burma’s democratic movements and supporters from across Canada and around the world. Several Chin individuals, many of whom represented the Chin Human Rights Organization were also in attendance. The keynotes speakers include the honorable David Kilgour, Canada’s Secretary of State for Asia and Pacific, and Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister, National Coalition Government of Union of Burma, Chris Lewa of Forum Asia, Max Kern of International Labour Organization and other prominent scholars and activists from Burma pro-democracy movements. In his inaugural address, Mr. Kilgour spoke about Canadian government’s position on Burma in relation to political transition, the need for substantive talks within the framework of a Tripartite Dialogue that includes the country’s diverse ethnic groups. He also emphasized the need for “substantive political reforms” as a precondition for Canada’s economic engagement with Burma. Among the issues raised in the conference included refugee situation along Burma’s western borders which includes Chin refugees in Mizoram state of India and Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the Campaign against forced labour presented by Mr. Max Kern of International Labour Organization. Mr. Max Kern led ILO delegations on its inquiry mission on forced labour to Burma and the delegates eventually had met with Secretary One, Maj. Gen. Khin Nyunt of State Peace and Development Council SPDC. The ILO in what was regarded as unprecedented move by the organization, suspended Burma from receiving official supports and calling on its members to disengage the Burmese military junta for its widespread and pervasive use of forced labour in the year 2000. During the conference, participants of different interests and concerns discussed issues ranging from humanitarian assistance to political campaigns. Past and current activism and campaigns against giant international corporations doing business in Burma were also evaluated. The conference was successfully concluded at 6:00 p.m. However, after the conference a separate follow-up meeting among donor organizations was held to discuss about potential funding for various projects. The conference was hailed as a success and many participants were hopeful that the conference will bring positive outcomes for the movement for democracy and human rights in Burma. A separate meeting among Burma supporters and groups across Canada was also held on the next day, on October 10, to create better communications and links among themselves and to work out a planned strategy for activism within Canada. _____REGIONAL______ Xinhua News Agency October 14 2002 Myanmar calls for ASEAN states to fight against food insecurity YANGON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) --The Myanmar minister of agriculture and irrigation Monday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states to move into higher gear to fight against food insecurity facing the region. Myanmar Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Nyunt Tin made the call at the opening session of the 48th Governing Board Meeting of the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Southeast Asia Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. He noted that the food security situation still remains severe in Asia, over 500 million people in Asia, including about 160 million children, still lack access to adequate food. Under such circumstances, he said, the efforts by the ASEAN nations to secure a sustainable agricultural development through human resources development research, exchange of knowledge and policy support has been seen highly invaluable. Giving an account of Myanmar's agricultural development, the minister said that Myanmar constitutes the largest land-mass in Southeast Asia, and has been endowed with rich natural resources and its agricultural production has all along, apart from meeting domestic requirement, allowed surplus for export. He said Myanmar's agricultural sector grew by 6 percent during the five years period from 1997 to 2001, contributing 36 percent of the gross domestic product and 24 percent of the total export earnings and employing 64 percent of the labor force. In its efforts to further raise the agricultural production, during the past decade, Myanmar built 138 various-sized dams and reservoirs, bringing about the irrigated areas to 1.98 million hectares in 2001-02 from 200,000 hectares in 1988-89. The area under irrigation increased to 19 percent from 12 percent of the net sown area during the same period, he said. However, the minister admitted that there still remain constraints in the country's drive towards sustainable agricultural development, saying that yields per hectare for certain crops remain low due to inadequacy of inputs, farm machinery, funds and related infrastructure. The SEAMEO is a treaty organization established in 1965 to promote regional cooperation in education, science and culture. It comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and its associate members are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand. _____ Mizzima October 14 2002 Indian Policy on Burma: Who is influencing Whom? By Ahmantya On a sultry night in the monsoon of 1988 as a steamy Rangoon grew hotter with the pro-democracy uprising against Burma's military dictatorship, a small group of activists jumped over the walls of the Indian diplomatic enclave and knocked at the door of the then Ambassador P.M.S. Malik. "I was a bit startled by their unannounced arrival", remembers Malik, who has since retired from the Indian Foreign Service. Even more startling, of course, was the request of the activists to the Indian government 'to do something'- a euphemism Malik believes for 'sending Indian troops into Burma' to oust the hated dictatorship. For the paranoid military junta too at that time if there were any worries of foreign intervention on behalf of the pro-democracy movement the only possible front was from across the border in India. After all it had not Indira Gandhi sent in troops to help liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan and her son Rajiv Gandhi- who was still in power in 1988- just a few years earlier sent Indian troops to Sri Lanka ostensibly on behalf of that country's Tamil population? "Of course there were no plans to send any troops to Burma but we knew that the Burmese military was certainly anxious", says Malik. In the following years as the junta carried out a bloody crackdown on the uprising and killed, maimed and jailed thousands of activists India was alone among Burma's neighbours to take an unequivocal stand in support of democracy. More than a decade later, however, as the' idealist' sheen of Indian foreign policy gives way to a cynical' pragmatism' military chiefs from both countries make official visits to each other's capitals while foreign ministry mandarins sign deals to promote border trade and curb ethnic insurgents along their common borders. Gone are the tensions of the past as the wives of Burmese military leaders get flown to Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Bodhgaya at the expense of not just Indian taxpayers but also the overwhelming sentiments of ordinary Indian citizens in favour of the pro-democracy movement. The' pragmatism' of Indian foreign policy vis a vis the Burmese junta is claimed to be born out of two major security concerns- the growing presence of China both militarily and commercially in Burma and the use of Burmese territory by Indian ethnic insurgent groups for staging operations against India. An added worry is the perpetual' Pakistan factor' with Islamabad is allegedly also joining the select pack of rogue nations dealing with the generals and supplying them military hardware and expertise. In response, successive Indian governments since 1993, when Indian foreign secretary J.N. Dixit made a secretive visit to Rangoon to 'break the ice', have tried out a policy of 'engaging' the generals while simultaneously making sympathetic noises about the pro-democracy movement. In a world where' principles' in foreign policy along with ethical or moral lines are seen as an anachronism such a double-track stand on Burma by the Indian government at first sight may seem to be quite appropriate. The problem that emerges on close examination however is that for all its realpolitik gloss the policy does not seem to be yielding either short-term or long-term "dividends" for India and the only ones benefiting from it are the military goons in Rangoon. Take the myth of India countering China by doing tango with the Burmese military for example. According to Indian defence analysts, China in the last decade has gained a significant foothold in Burma setting up military installations targeting India and wielding considerable influence on Burma's own military rulers and their strategic thinking. "China has been using Pakistan and Burma as surrogates to contain India from two different flanks", Bramha Chellaney, a defence analyst with a New Delhi based think tank is quoted as saying by the Mizzima news agency. He further accuses China of fostering closer ties between Pakistan and Burma enabling Pakistani intelligence to operate out of Burmese soil against Indian interests. And all this has been possible say Chellaney and other analysts because India's strong pro- democracy stand in the wake of the 1988 Burmese uprising gave room for countries like China and Pakistan to get closer to the Burmese generals. What is obviously wrong with this line of argument is that it rests on the very flawed assumption that had India taken a softer stand the Burmese military rulers would have desisted from getting closer to China or Pakistan. The truth is that the Burmese generals because of their political proximity to authoritarian regimes in both China and Pakistan would always have favoured these two countries as allies over an 'unreliable' partner like India- which whatever its flaws-is the biggest democratic nation in the region. For example, in the mid-nineties soon after India's policy shift vis a vis Burma, Indian diplomats had a tough time convincing the generals that the Nehru Peace Prize awarded to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was by an independent Indian jury and not the work of the Indian government. Shamefully the Indian foreign ministry even blocked news items on the Peace Award to Suu Kyi from appearing on government run news channels- an indication of how instead of India influencing Burma it was the reverse that was true! In fact what Indian and other defence analysts with their peculiarly narrow idea of the world as, one big battlefield forget also is that the then Indian government's decision to back the pro-democracy movement was not a 'mistake' born out of ignorance of geo-politics but just an official reflection of the spontaneous support the movement got from ordinary citizens- a factor that cannot be ignored in any democracy. Of course what some Indian defence analysts will be telling us next is that democracy within India is also a 'mistake' and a 'threat to national security' and doing away with it would help them play their cheap little war games better. The second myth that propels the Indian foreign ministry to cosy up with the Burmese generals is that by doing so India can get Burma's support for curbing movement of arms and drugs destined for Indian ethnic insurgents who also use Burmese territory for staging operations. To begin with the problems of Indian ethnic groups vis a vis the Indian government are quite similar to those of Burma's own ethnic groups vis a vis Rangoon. While there are a plethora of groups fighting for various causes and sometimes each other for territory a common sentiment binding India's ethnic insurgents is the feeling of being colonised within Indian borders by an often racist and bureaucratic machinery of the Indian state. Whether this is strictly true or not to pursue a military solution to this obviously political/economic/cultural problem as the Indian government has done for decades is futile and detrimental to all parties concerned. But just for arguments sake if one assumes that the Indian government is right in seeking Burmese help to curb activities of Indian ethnic insurgents on their soil the simple question that arises is whether the Burmese military is really capable of delivering? By most independent accounts the generals in Rangoon do not have any such control or capability to stop trafficking of arms, mostly Chinese made, along the porous border Indo-Burma border. In the case of drugs, in fact there are good grounds to believe that the generals and their henchmen may very well be the maim source of supply flooding into north-east India. So, on the one hand while the Indian government is not achieving any of its so called realpolitik strategic aims in Burma vis a vis China or Pakistan or its own ethnic insurgents on the other hand the current Indian policy is seriously damaging its credentials within Burma's own pro-democracy movement and its millions of supporters allover. Given the obvious fact that the Burmese military cannot hold on to power indefinitely- despite their record-shattering stint so far- in the long run the perception of India among the Burmese people will remain that of an 'unreliable' partner- ironically in both dictatorship as well as democracy! For the Indian people themselves it is important to pay serious attention to their government's policy towards Burma because the pursuit of an amoral realpolitik strategy towards neighbouring countries by its rulers could one day turn inward and consume their own democratic rights and aspirations. As the censorship of news about the Nehru Peace Award shows kowtowing to dictatorships abroad only reveals a deep-seated yearning among a small Indian elite to implement a similar regime at home. Supporting democracy abroad is surely the best way of preserving it at home. __ Mizzima October 14 2002 Arms seizure in India-Burma border Guwahati, Oct. 14: In a major operation, the Assam Rifles engaged in counter insurgency operation along the Indo-Burma border seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Tirap of Arunachal Pradesh in the North East of India. The arms and ammunition including AK 47 rifles, Chinese grenades, were brought from Burma for the militant groups of the region, an Assam Rifles release claimed yesterday. Tirap, bordering area of Burma, of late has become a hotbed of militant groups of the North East India. Taking advantage of dense forest in the area and the lack of security personnel, the militant groups are ruling the roost in the area. The release further claimed that the consignment of weapons was brought by the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) for the underground organizations of the region. "The security personnel seized 10 AK 47 rifles, 15 grenades and 150 rounds of ammunition on Saturday", the release said adding that it was one of the major seizures in this part. Tirap and Changlang of Arunachal Pradesh of the region have been witnessing militant activities for the last couple of weeks immediately after formation of a new platform by the 12 underground groups of the North East India. Worried over by step-up activities of the militant outfits, the security forces have already geared up operations to contain their activities. _________ Narinjara News October 12 2002 Rohingya repatriation yet to be completed Cox'sbazar, 12 October 02: A decision of an inter-ministers meeting regarding completion of repatriation of all the Rohingya refugees to their home land could not be executed as their actual number could not be determined, according to today's the independent. The decision was taken in the meeting held Dhaka on June 3 to the effect that the repatriation of all the Rohingya refugees must be completed by 2003 and that check posts of army be set up at the borders to check the intrusion of the Rohingya. The factor that delayed the execution of the decision was the lack of non-coordination among the people who were entrusted with the task of preparing the lists of Rohingya living illegally in Ukhia Township of district. The preparation of lists of the Rohingyas as per directives from the higher authorities for the determination of the actual number of the Rohingyas was not done properly. The Home Ministry under the urge from the Director General of the BDR, Hill Tracts Zone to take necessary measures for repatriation of the Rohingyas and to check their further intrusion issued an order to the Deputy Commissioner of Cox'sbazar on June 3, to prepare the lists of the Rohingyas. The order was handed down to the union parishad chairmen via Upazila Nirbahi Officers, who received it from the Deputy Commissioner on June 18. No lists containing the actual number of the Rohingyas excepting the lists prepared by five union parishad chairmen reached the Deputy Commissioner. The number of Rohingyas mentioned in the fives lists was not reliable as different sources indicated that the number of the Rohingyas living illegally in Ukhia Township would be 50,000. The sources said the chairmen and members of the union parishads under the township elections ahead, do not dare to run the risk of losing the voters bank. In preparing the lists, they did not include the names of thousands of Rohingyas in the lists as they had already been enrolled as voters. Earlier, the commission of Rohingya Refugees and Repatriation, Cox'sbazar mentioned the number of the Rohingyas living illegally in the districts of Cox'sbazar and Bandarban above two hundred thousands. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament fro Teknaf-Ukhia constituency, Shahjahan Chowdhury mentioned the number above 2.50 lakh, saying that it is high time that the government took measures for the repatriation of Rohingyas. __ON THE BORDER__ Democratic Voice of Burma October 13 2002 Burma, Thailand to exchange prisoners at Kawthaung-Ranong border reopening Although the SPDC State Peace and Development Council said that Thai-Burma border will be reopened on Tuesday 15 October , it is not certain whether all the border checkpoints will be reopened simultaneously. A border source told DVB Democratic Voice of Burma that Mae Sai-Tachilek and Mae Sot-Myawadi will be reopened in the morning while Kawthaung-Ranong will be reopened only in the evening. A police major from Myanmar Burma Police Force headquarters has each arrived at the border towns to reopen the border checkpoints and they have planned to attend the opening ceremonies together with the local police commanders. Border sources also said that the significant point of Kawthaung-Ranong border checkpoint reopening ceremony is the handover of prisoners from both sides. The SPDC will handover the four suspects sought by Thailand in connection with the shooting of a school bus in Ratchburi Province while Thailand will handover deserters from the SPDC army, prisoner labourers, and ordinary porters that have absconded to Thailand during the border closure. _STATEMENTS___ Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma October 13 2002 AUNG SAN SUU KYI: BETTER GOVERNANCE WILL AID BURMA Activist report criticizes push for increased aid Bangkok, Sun: - Burmese national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has described "better governance, not increased funding" as the answer to Burma's humanitarian crisis. She emphasized "Unless there is good governance, you cannot ensure that the assistance will really benefit the country." The NLD General Secretary said that increased humanitarian assistance to Burma would not "do anything to change the situation of civil society", adding, "without pluralism, there can't be a strong civil society." Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was responding to assumptions stated by a number of international groups that increased aid to Burma would bring above conditions conducive to the growth of civil society. Her comments were made in an interview with activist group Altsean-Burma (Alternative Asean Network on Burma). The full transcript appears in "Peace of Pie," a report on Burma's humanitarian aid debate released today by Altsean-Burma. The Nobel Peace Laureate also emphasized that accountability, transparency and independent monitoring were necessary to ensure that aid actually benefited the people of Burma. The Altsean-Burma report criticized the push for increased humanitarian assistance to Burma in light of its regime's massive expenditure on military expansion at the expense of basic social services. Altsean described the regime as "the single largest contributory factor" to Burma's humanitarian problems: "Aid that does not work to pro-actively address this root cause risks becoming aid that prolongs Burma's suffering." The report "Peace of Pie" also tackles common assumptions about aid to Burma and exposes examples of questionable practices committed by some international agencies operating in the country. The report describes possible ways to ensure that aid is delivered satisfactorily and concludes that the potential of international agencies to deliver aid that contributes to national reconciliation, democratisation and peace in Burma has yet to be exercised. ______ The Red and Black (an independent student newspaper serving the University of Georgia community) October 10 2002 Human rights violations hit home By David Clark Almost a year ago, Dr. Salai Tun Than planted his feet on the steps of City Hall in Rangoon, Burma. He donned an academic gown and held protest fliers in his hands. He stood peacefully and alone. Salai began to make demands of his government -- a corrupt regime that was voted out in elections more than a decade ago but refused to accept and allow the results. He called for political reforms. He insisted that the military's dominating power be lessened. He called for open multi-party elections to be held within the year under a civilian government. Within minutes, he was arrested and sent to an undisclosed detention center. His whereabouts were unknown to his family until two weeks after his arrest. Last spring, Amnesty International reported that he had been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in Insein Prison, Rangoon. There, he receives little medical attention, despite the fact that his health is reportedly failing. Salai is 74 years old. I'm sure this story seems familiar -- we constantly hear of similar human rights abuses. It is generally easy to pin such disgraces on the cruel intentions of dictatorships "over there." It also is easy to want to rid the mind of these horrible stories; after all, it's the United Nations' problem, right? Isn't there some human rights body that counteracts that mess? We separate ourselves from these undemocratic atrocities; it is always less demanding to simply ignore them. So here's a catch: Salai earned his master's from the University in the 1950s. He may seem worlds and civilizations away, but he's still one of us. For the sake of decency, I won't address this direct violation of Salai's rights with vulgar stream-of-conscious diatribes. You can, however, believe that I am feeling such things on the inside. For when the Burmese military regime punishes Salai for peacefully expressing dissent, they slap you and me in the face. They take our democratic practices and spit at them. The fact that this regime has no consideration for human rights is an insult to the very nature of liberty. We should be offended by this case to start with, but we should especially take action given his Georgia background. I'm not asking anyone to beat themselves with reeds over this, nor do I want anyone to offer self-righteous pleas of "I'm soooo sorry." Pity is irrelevant; we should actually do something tangible about this disgrace. Soon the University's chapter of Amnesty International will be submitting a resolution to the Student Government Association and to the University Council demanding Salai's safe and immediate release. I ask that all students and faculty support such a measure. I also ask that we write letters to the highest positions of our federal government expressing that this is simply unacceptable. Letter-writing may seem like a very simple thing to do, but Amnesty International has reported numerous successful writing campaigns in similar situations. This one should be no different. Ultimately, we should commit ourselves to fighting against the plight of Salai not just because he has ties to Georgia. We should fight for his freedom because it is simply the right thing to do. We should fight for his freedom because given the chance, he would undoubtedly fight for ours. The Asian Human Rights Commission reported that before Salai was taken away from the steps of the Rangoon City Hall, he stated that "it is better to die than live under (a) military regime." His cries for human rights and democracy should not be ignored in Burma, nor should they be ignored here. Together we can make them be heard.