From editor at burmanet.org Wed Sep 24 13:17:16 2003 From: editor at burmanet.org (editor@burmanet.org) Date: Tue Mar 9 07:32:44 2004 Subject: BurmaNet News: September 24, 2003 Message-ID: <33478.63.173.78.131.1064423836.squirrel@webmail.pair.com> September 24, 2003 Issue #2333 INSIDE BURMA AFP: Indonesian envoy leaves Myanmar with no timeframe for Suu Kyi release AP: Indonesian envoy says Suu Kyi detention "counterproductive" TV Myanmar: Than Shwe Received Indonesian Special Envy TV Myanmar: Than Shwe assigns duties to National Convention Commission members Irrawaddy: Ceasefire Groups Attend Road Map Rally Xinhua: Chinese film festival opens in Myanmar ON THE BORDER Xinhua: Smuggling challenges border trade between Bangladesh, Myanmar Irrawaddy: Karens Flee Labor Conscription DRUGS SHAN: Speed II comes to town GUNS Narinjara: Burmese military delegation visit a hilly town in Bangladesh REGIONAL JEN: Thai foreign minister to meet Than Shwe and Khin Nyunt Thursday Economic Times: From Kunming to Kolkata INTERNATIONAL AFP: UNESCO appeals for release of "political prisoners" in Laos, Myanmar Australian: Free places open to refugees EDITORIALS Australian Financial Review: Indonesia Looks For Lost Respect ----INSIDE BURMA---- Agence France Presse September 24, 2003 Indonesian envoy leaves Myanmar with no timeframe for Suu Kyi release YANGON: Indonesian envoy Ali Alatas said Wednesday that Myanmar's military junta had given him no indication of when democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed despite his urging for her to be released. Alatas said that during talks this week with Myanmar's top generals he had presented letters from Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri pushing for the issue to be resolved before next month's Southeast Asian summit in Bali. "I can confirm that in the letter we did express the hope that we would like to see the early lifting of the restrictions placed on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her early release," Alatas said as he ended a four-day visit. But the former foreign minister said that despite being told the restrictions on the 58-year-old opposition leader were temporary, he was not given any timeframe for when they would end. "They did not give indications with regard to any timing," he said. As the host of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Indonesia is concerned the meeting will be hijacked by the continuing detention of the opposition leader who was taken into custody nearly four months ago. "It is in the interests of ASEAN as a whole and in the interests of Myanmar that no extraneous issues such as a possible unresolved problem of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would mar our deliberations," he said. "It is a question that we feel is becoming increasingly conterproductive," he added, in unusually blunt language among ASEAN members who have a firm agreement not to interfere in each other's internal affairs. Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested on May 30 and detained at a secret location after violent clashes between her supporters and a pro-junta gang which mounted an ambush on her convoy during a political tour of northern Myanmar. She was admitted to a private hospital in Yangon last week for major surgery to treat gynaecological and other unspecified conditions and is still recuperating there. Alatas said he had been expecting to see Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel peace laureate, but that her illness forced a cancellation. "With regard to a possible meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi I was given to understand that before my arrival here a meeting was planned as part of the program. But her health condition prevented me from doing so," he said. However, the former Indonesian foreign minister was only appointed as a special envoy to Myanmar on September 17, the same day the opposition leader was admitted to hospital. Alatas said that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) who remain in custody since the May 30 unrest was vital to Myanmar's stated plans for reform. Amid intense international pressure for a shift to democracy and mounting sanctions against the military regime, Khin Nyunt last month unveiled a seven-point "roadmap" for change including free and fair elections. Alatas said the government did not give him any indication of when the roadmap would be implemented but that the leaders said the issue would be "studied in a positive manner". Despite the apparent failure of his mission, the envoy said he was "very satisfied" with his visit which included meetings with the nation's ruler Senior General Than Shwe and newly appointed Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt. "I was assured by both leaders that they very much appreciated the contents of the letters that I conveyed on behalf of our president. And that they would carefully consider the contents, the views expressed and the suggestions made," he said. Alatas served as foreign minister under Indonesia's former strongman Suharto, who was considered a friend and a role model by Myanmar's ruling generals. His mission is the latest attempt to break the political deadlock in Myanmar, after the junta refused to recognise 1990 elections won in a landslide by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Demcracy (NLD). Associated Press Worldstream September 24, 2003 Indonesian envoy says Suu Kyi detention "counterproductive" By Aye Aye Win YANGON: An Indonesian envoy pushing for the release of Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Wednesday that military rulers repeated earlier claims that she would be freed, but could not say when. Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said at the end of a four-day mission aimed at securing the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's release that he was unable to meet her as planned. The junta cited "circumstances concerning her health," he said. Suu Kyi, 58, is recuperating from what was described as major gynecological surgery at a private hospital in Yangon, Myanmar's capital, last week. However, her private physician, Tin Myo Win, said Wednesday she was in "good shape to accept special guests." "There are no complications - she is mentally, spiritually and physically in top form," he said, adding that Suu Kyi had not received a request for a meeting with Alatas. Myanmar's ruling junta, already shunned by many Western nations because of its poor human rights record, was further isolated when it detained Suu Kyi in May after she and her followers were caught in a violent clash with a pro-government mob. Since then, Suu Kyi has been held at an undisclosed location, despite appeals from world leaders for her release. Alatas said the junta told him Suu Kyi's detention was temporary, and that she had been taken into custody to protect her and "to let the tension subside a bit." During his visit, Alatas met Myanmar's top leader, Gen. Than Shwe, and Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt, to deliver letters conveying the concerns of Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Indonesia holds the rotating presidency of the 10-nation ASEAN, which includes Myanmar, and earlier expressed hopes that Suu Kyi would be freed before next month's meeting of ASEAN leaders on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. "We would like to believe that it is in the interest of ASEAN and Myanmar that no extraneous issue such as the problem of ... Aung San Suu Kyi would mar the deliberations," Alatas said, calling called her continued detention "increasingly counterproductive." Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won a national election more than a decade ago in Myanmar, also known as Burma, but the junta refused to yield power. Since 1990, Suu Kyi has been kept under various periods of house arrest. Alatas expressed the Indonesian government's support for Myanmar's seven-point road map to democracy, which was announced by Khin Nyunt last month, but without details or a schedule. He said the leaders could not provide him with a timetable for reconvening the National Convention, a committee charged with drafting a new constitution. Myanmar's government organized the National Convention in 1993 but suspended it in 1996 after Suu Kyi's party walked out, saying it was being forced to rubber stamp decisions made by the junta. TV Myanmar, Rangoon, in Burmese September 24, 2003 [translated by BBC Monitoring International Reports] Burmese Leader Received Indonesian Special Envy Sr Gen Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) and commander in chief of the Defence Services received Mr Ali Alatas, special envoy of the president of the Republic of Indonesia, at the hall of Zeyathiri Beikman at 1000 (local time) in Yangon (Rangoon) today. Attending together with Sr Gen Than Shwe, SPDC chairman and commander-in-chief of the Defence Services were Vice Sr Gen Maung Aye, SPDC vice-chairman and deputy commander-in-chief of the Defence Services (Army); Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt; Lt Gen Soe Win, SPDC secretary-1; Lt-Gen Thein Sein, SPDC secretary-2; U Khin Maung Win, deputy foreign minister, and Thura U Aung Htet, director-general of the Protocol Department. Present at the occasion together with Mr Ali Alatas, the special envoy of the president of the Republic of Indonesia, was Mr Wyoso Prodjowarsito, the Indonesian ambassador to Myanmar. TV Myanmar, Rangoon, in Burmese September 23, 2003 [translated by BBC World Monitoring] Burmese leader assigns duties to National Convention Commission members Text of Declaration No 11/2003 issued by the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Burma on 23 September, as broadcast that day by Burmese TV The full declaration reads: Assignment of duties as members of the National Convention Convening Commission; To be able to continue the National Convention systematically, successfully, and smoothly, the State Peace and Development Council SPDC has assigned duties to the following persons as members of the National Convention Convening Commission: 1. U Aye Maung , Attorney-General - Member 2. Maj Gen Lun Maung, Auditor-General - Member 3. U Thaung Nyunt, Law Adviser - Member 4. Brig-Gen Soe Maung, Inspector-General of Defence Services - Member 5. Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Ministry of Defence - Member 6. U Thein Sein, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Information - Member 7. U Thein Soe, Deputy Chief Justice - Member 8. Dr Tun Shin, Deputy Attorney-General - Member 9. Dr Tin Aung Aye, Chief Justice, Supreme Court - Member 10. Brig Gen Than Tun, Ministry of Defence - Member 11. Brig Gen Nyan Win, Office of Strategic Studies - Member 12. Lt-Col Ko Ko Hlaing, Research Division, Ministry of Defence - Member 13. U Myint Thein, Director General , Pyithu Hluttaw Office - Joint Secretary-2 Signed by Than Shwe, senior general, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council The Irrawaddy September 24, 2003 Ceasefire Groups Attend Road Map Rally By Naw Seng Representatives of the two ceasefire groups in Kachin State today attended a public rally in support of the road map to democracy forwarded by Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) both sent 20 representatives to the gathering at Myitkyina?s city stadium early this morning. Ten thousand residents also attended. The rally was organized by the Union Solidarity Development Association, which has staged similar rallies throughout Burma over the last week. The KIO plans to participate in the National Convention only if the delegates are drawn from all political parties, including the National League for Democracy. Mukyin Dau Hawng, an NDA-K liaison officer in Myitkyina, said his group supported the resumption of the National Convention, the body set up to write Burma?s constitution, which was suspended in 1996. Reconvening the National Convention is the first step in the seven-point road map the Prime Minister outlined in a policy speech on August 30. "A constitution has to be drafted, otherwise, we will never reach the answer," said Mukyin Dau Hawng. Five delegates of the NDA-K attended the previous National Convention and the group plans to participate again when the convention resumes, he said. The NDA-K is a remnant of the Communist Party of Burma?s 101st war zone in Kachin State. It signed a ceasefire with the Burmese junta in 1989. An officer from the KIO?s Myitkyina office, who asked not to be named, said members of his organization attended today?s rally only to observe the proceedings, which he deemed important to the people of Kachin State. The KIO plans to participate in the National Convention only if the delegates are drawn from all political parties?including the National League for Democracy?all ethnic nationalities and the military, according to a letter the KIO sent to Khin Nyunt early this month. KIO delegates attended the previous National Convention as observers after signing a ceasefire in 1994. Officers from both the KIO and NDA-K said they hope to attend the proceedings as representatives of all Kachin people. A Kachin youth leader in Myitkyina prefers that delegates from the ceasefire groups represent only their own membership at the convention. Xinhua General News Service September 24, 2003 Chinese film festival opens in Myanmar YANGON: Chinese Film Festival opened at the Naypyidaw (Capital) Cinema here Wednesday to mark the upcoming 54th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which is falling on October 1. Under the cultural exchange program between China and Myanmar, the six-day film festival is jointly sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the Myanmar Ministry of Information. At the opening ceremony, a film titled "Gua Sha-The Treatment" was screened. During the film festival, other five Chinese films will also be screened. ----ON THE BORDER---- Xinhua September 24, 2003 Smuggling challenges border trade between Bangladesh, Myanmar DHAKA: Formation of a task force to stop smuggling in the unguarded water of the Bay of Bengal has been urged as the trend has challenged the border trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The smuggling of fish, spices, textile goods and drugs worth millions of taka from Myanmar is rampant in the Bay of Bengal, The Bangladesh Observer reported Wednesday. The concerned officials and trade bodies have appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the formation of a high-powered task force comprised of police, customs and coast guard to stop this smuggling. Presently items like spices, fish, drugs, weapons and fishing nets are being smuggled directly from Sittwe, western provincial city of Myanmar to the southern port city of Chittagong and other parts of the country through the open unguarded high seas, which has threatened the formal border trade. In the 2002-2003 fiscal year, the government of Bangladesh realized 380.98 million taka (6.568 million US dollars) as duty from the southeastern Teknaf land port. The amount was 80 million taka (1.38 million dollars) more than that of the fiscal 2001-2002. The legal traders in the country are also facing financial loss, as the price of smuggled goods is just a fraction of the imported ones. Many traders have meanwhile stopped doing trade with Myanmar as the imported goods cannot see profitability. The Irrawaddy September 24, 2003 Karens Flee Labor Conscription By Aung Su Shin/Mae Sot Villagers from Karen State are fleeing to Tak Province in Thailand to avoid providing free labor to the Burma Army and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), say the refugees and Thai border security officials. About 150 villagers from throughout Karen State have arrived at the Thai-Burma border after being told by Burma Army battalions 701, 702 and 706, and DKBA battalion 999 to provide soldiers with food and labor. "From August until now, the Burma army and DKBA summoned our villagers in Kaw Ka Reik Township of Karen State to construct their barracks," said Saw Le War, 24, of Pawwipho, who recently arrived in Thailand. "We also have to carry rice sacks and ammunition to their border camp. We can?t bear it so we ran away to the border." "We have to go there with our own food," he added. "So we have to neglect our paddy field which is our family?s ration for the whole year. We also have to provide them with rice." The Burmese government repeatedly denies that its armed forces use forced labor. The Karens arriving in Thailand are being provided food and health care by Thai authorities and non-governmental organizations in the area. Makeshift huts have been constructed to house them along the Moei River which separates the two countries. The new arrivals have not yet been given permission to stay in the Karen refugee camps run by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Tak Province. ----DRUGS---- Shan Herald Agency for News September 24, 2003 Speed II comes to town According to a reliable source from the border, a new type of yaba (methamphetamine) produced by the Wa has entered the drug market since the beginning of this month. The new speed pill is thicker than the standard yaba, maroon color and is at least five times as "high" as the original, said the local businessman. "With the old yaba, you may need 5-6 pills each day to 'to stay alive'", the 50-year old native of Mongton, opposite Chiangmai, told S.H.A.N.. "With the new one, half a pill each day will keep you in shape." The pills were manufactured, beginning July, at Hwe-hok, east of Hoyawd at the foothills of Hpahompook mountain range. The refinery is under the protection of Ta Rong, Commander of Brigade 214, United Wa State Army. The compressor used for the purpose is said to be one that turns out 39 pills each time. On 20 September, two buyers from Thailand: one, an ethnic Chinese from Tham-ngob, Chaiprakarn District, and the other, a Muser (Lahu) from Phrao District, arrived in Hoyawd, that lies east of the township seat, Mongton. "Each took a few thousand pills to test the waters in Thailand," he said. "The wholesale price is 150 baht per pill while the retail price is 200." Nevertheless, entry into Thailand is still a problem for drug operators because of the continued crackdown in the kingdom, he conceded. "We therefore diverted them into Laos through the Golden Triangle, to the seaways via southern Burma and to India through Tamu," he said. Drug prices have also gone down, according to him. Heroin is 120,000 baht per block (700 g) and opium is 10,000 per viss (1.6 kg) down from over 200,000 baht per kg and 11,000 baht per viss last month respectively. "If it's opium from west of the Salween, the price is even lower, only 8,500 baht," he confided. ----GUNS---- Narinjara news September 24, 2003 Burmese military delegation visit a hilly town in Bangladesh Dhaka: The visiting Burmese military delegation on Sunday visited a hilly district town in the southeastern part of Bangladesh. The twelve-member high-level military team led by Lieutenant General Aung Htwe, commander of the Burmese defence ministry, called at a Buddhist monastery in Rangamati Town in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, about three hundred kilometres southeast of Dhaka. The team met the abbot of the monastery, popularly known as Bana Bhante (the forest monk) who is well known for his rigorous meditation and respected by a huge number of followers. Later they had a boat ride in the Kaptai Lake built by erecting a hydro-electrical power station by damming the River Karnafuli. According to an inter-services press report the Burmese military delegation also visited a naval base and the Bhatiary Military Military Academy in Chittagong, the second city of the country. The Burmese team has come to Dhaka on a six-day visit on Friday with an intention to discuss sharing of military intelligence to curb sea piracy, insurgency and arms smuggling, reported the Daily Star on 21 September. Another significant aspect of the tour is Dhaka?s willingness to shop defence hardware from Burma. The long shopping list contains: 5.56 mm light machine gun, assault and automatic rifles, 7.62 mm light machine guns, prototype of Chinese type-58 stake mines and type 59 pressure mines. Other items include a special combat vehicle (SCV) roof mounted with 12.7 mm Herstal machine gun, a bonnet-mounted 7.62 mm light machine gun, bonnet-mounted 84 mm Carl Gustav M2 rocket launcher, and 81 and 60 mm mortar, the paper added. Meanwhile Bangladesh and Burma have been trying to patch up a number of differences and eying at improving relations since the beginning of this year when the Burmese junta leader, General Than Shwe, and the premier of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia visited each other?s country. Since the end of last month reports in the local newspapers have confirmed a large scale offensive against a number of Burmese insurgent groups along the common border by the Bangladesh defence forces. ----REGIONAL---- Japan Economic Newswire September 24, 2003 Thai foreign minister to meet Myanmar junta figures Thurs. BANGKOK: Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai will meet with Myanmar junta leaders Thursday to discuss plans for restoration of democracy, a senior Thai official said Wednesday. The official, who requested anonymity, said that during his one-day, low-profile visit to Yangon, Surakiart would meet with Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and with Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt. He noted that it would be the first opportunity for Surakiart to meet with Myanmar's new premier and to explain to him his ideas on how Myanmar should go about restoring democracy. On the junta's own road map towards democracy, the official said, 'It is vital that the Myanmar's road map needs to be recognized by the international community. And Thailand is ready to render our full support to ensure progress of the road map.' Surakiart's visit will follow on the heels of one by former Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, who arrived in Yangon on Sunday as special envoy of President Megawati Sukarnoputri in an apparent bid to secure the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi before a summit of Southeast Asian leaders next month on Bali. Suu Kyi has been held incommunicado at an undisclosed location in Yangon since what the junta claims was a clash between her supporters and pro-government demonstrators in northern Myanmar on May 30. The Economic Times (India) September 24, 2003 From Kunming to Kolkata By N Vidyasagar Though it's too early to bring out the bubbly, bright days are up ahead for West Bengal if a proposal floated by China's Yunan province to promote economic cooperation between its capital city Kunming and Kolkata (predictably dubbed K2K) becomes real. The idea is to build a passage through Myanmar to facilitate and promote trade and tourism flow in the region. Yunan - China's landlocked southwestern province - is building a highway to connect with Myanmar and eventually link this to eastern India. Industry experts said Yunan province will benefit in expanding trade cooperation with West Bengal and the North East. And, Indian industry can use Yunan as a gateway to expand into China. Senior government officials of China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India are scheduled to meet at Yangon in November this year to deliberate on this issue. Experts feel the world's two-fastest growing economies will benefit from this economic cooperation. However, they maintain that this initiative will take a long process and expected to move in baby steps initially. Agreements have to be signed between the countries for the construction of a highway running through China, Myanmar and India. ''Yunan province is keen to have economic cooperation with Kolkata. They are planning to bring a delegation here next year,'' said Piyush Bahl who heads CII's China desk at Shanghai. Xiao Boren of the China Council Of Promotion for International Trade (CCPIT) in Yunan has initiated this trade cooperation with its India partner CII. West Bengal government has asked CII to identify a Chinese partner for the toys business. ''Yunan has excellent climatic conditions and is an ideal place for India to promote infotech and electronics. You don't need an AC in this province,'' said Bahl. Yunan has close economic ties with Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia - and is keen to bring India into the loop. This comes on the heels of China's decision to open up border trade with India through the Nathu La pass, which has sparked off a flurry of activity in state of Sikkim. It also hopes to benefit from trading with China through the renowned 'Silk Route'. Sino-Indian bilateral trade has crossed US $ 4 billion during the first seven months of calendar year 2003. ----INTERNATIONAL---- Agence France Presse September 24, 2003 UNESCO appeals for release of "political prisoners" in Laos, Myanmar PARIS: The United Nations cultural organisation Tuesday appealed for the release of two "political prisoners", one a former Laotian government minister, Latsami Khamphoui, and the other a researcher in Myanmar, Khin Zaw Win. Latsami Khamphoui, 63, a former deputy economy minister, has been imprisoned in Laos since 1990 and "is in poor health and the conditions of his detention are said to be very harsh," the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation said in a statement. In 1992, he was tried and given a 14-year sentence for "preparing a rebellion, propaganda against the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, it said. He has served more than 13 years of his sentence and UNESCO's Committee on Conventions and Recommendations expressed concern over the Lao governments indication that Khamphoui "might not be released at the end of his sentence unless he appeal for clemency.", the statement said. UNESCO issued "a humanitarian appeal for clemency" to the Lao government. The organisation also appealed for clemency for Khin Zaw Win, 52, a dentist and researcher who received a 15-year sentence after he was arrested in 1994 at Yangon airport on his way to Singapore where he was to resume studies in political science. He is alleged to have been carrying documents about the National League for Democracy opposition party founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. "He is said to be suffering from several medical problems exacerbated by harsh conditions and insufficient medical care," UNESCO said. The Australian September 24, 2003 Free places open to refugees By Jim Buckell AFTER internal dissent killed an attempt to provide education to asylum-seekers in detention centres last year, RMIT University has switched focus and will open its doors to refugees. The university is one of three in the Australian Technology Network that will offer free places to refugees holding temporary protection visas next year. RMIT will provide the equivalent of 10 full-time places. Perth's Curtin University and the University of South Australia will each make five places available. The proposal is also being investigated at the University of Technology, Sydney and the Queensland University of Technology. TPV holders are usually classed as international students and are required to pay full fees. These have been waived by the universities participating in the scheme. RMIT pro vice-chancellor (students) Helen Praetz said that in addition to the special higher education places, TPV holders and East Timorese on special visas will also be eligible for free places in TAFE programs at RMIT. These are being paid for by the Victorian Government as part of a wider access program. The fresh focus on tertiary education for refugees extends beyond our shores. In Thailand, five Karen people in makeshift camps along the Thai-Burma border began studying business administration this year through an online program offered free by the Australian Catholic University. The project was initiated by Jesuit priest Michael Smith after a visit to the camps last year. "I was disturbed by what I saw there. These people are not classed as refugees, they are displaced persons," Dr Smith said. "They are going nowhere, they have virtually no access to tertiary education, and are desperate for opportunities. "About 95,000 Karen are waiting out their lives in the hope that at some time in the future they may be granted nation status so they can return to their homeland in Burma." He called together a group of educators from ACU and Deakin universities, who helped formulate the plan to offer the business course. Components of the ACU course had already been delivered online to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Queensland, so it was easily adapted for delivery to the Karen students. They receive online assignments and assessments and are assisted with a tutor on the ground in a makeshift classroom with computers and internet access near the Mae La camp. Although there are plans for expansion, these rest on funds being raised. ----EDITORIALS---- Australian Financial Review September 24, 2003 Indonesia Looks For Lost Respect By Andrew Burrell A huge earthquake struck central Burma early on Monday, toppling three ancient pagodas, destroying a bridge and causing some minor damage as far away as Bangkok. On the scale of things, it was hardly a major news event, but diplomats and politicians across South-East Asia and many around the world will be hoping that the quake was a portent that may knock some sense into the despots who have ruled Burma for 40 years. The earthquake coincided with the arrival in Rangoon of Indonesia's influential former foreign minister, Ali Alatas, who is on a special mission to press for the release of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It is a crucial mission. The annual leaders' summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations starts in less than a fortnight in Bali, and Burma's nine fellow member nations are desperate to avoid Suu Kyi's detention becoming the major issue of the meeting when security and economic co-operation should be centre stage. For ASEAN, the Suu Kyi impasse looms as the group's biggest credibility test. It has so far failed to convince Burma's military rulers to release the popular Suu Kyi, let alone hand over power to her National League for Democracy, which won democratic elections in 1990. ASEAN these days is trying to project an image on the world stage of a region that espouses democratic values and open economies, but Burma's hardline rulers have remained steadfastly opposed to both of these principles. Alatas, who is in Rangoon as a special envoy of Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, is following up the strong concerns conveyed to Burma at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Phnom Penh in June. Yesterday, Alatas met Burma's leader, Senior General Than Shwe, but it seemed unlikely he would meet Suu Kyi herself, who is recuperating in hospital after a major operation believed to be a hysterectomy last week. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday he would also send his envoy, Razali Ismail, to Burma later this month to press for Suu Kyi's release, but Ismail has been talking to the military men in Rangoon for several months without much apparent success. Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been held incommunicado since May 30 after a bloody clash between her supporters and members of a pro-junta group. She has spent about half of the past 13 years under house arrest. There have been mounting concerns in recent weeks about her health and safety, and reports surfaced last month that she was refusing to eat, although the International Red Cross later dispelled this. If Suu Kyi is still locked up when the summit starts on October 7, ASEAN will be deeply embarrassed, Burma will become even more isolated and the rogue state's membership of ASEAN will be further questioned. The urgency in dealing with Burma is heightened by the fact that it is due to take over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2005. ASEAN copped plenty of criticism for admitting Burma as a member in 1997, and it was not until the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in June that Suu Kyi's imprisonment was openly debated. Part of the problem is that ASEAN has been largely drifting aimlessly since the 1997 economic crisis. Before that, its success rate was not much better. For all its faults, signs are emerging that ASEAN is attempting to assert itself as a relevant institution, and Burma is providing a real and immediate test of this. The region's giant, Indonesia, can take much credit for ASEAN's increasingly proactive approach, particularly on the Burma issue. Indonesia wants to re-establish some of the authority it held in the region before its economy crashed and the strongman Soeharto fell from power, leaving behind a political mess. It has just assumed the ASEAN chairmanship for the next 12 months and will host the crucial Bali summit. Two new ideas will be on the table in Bali that will further test whether ASEAN can act with unity and decisiveness. The first is Jakarta's proposal to establish an ASEAN security community to more effectively deal with common defence issues, as well as the security threat posed by Jemaah Islamiyah and other groups throughout South-East Asia. It is fitting that the terrorism threat will be discussed in Bali on the eve of the first anniversary of the Kuta nightclub bombings that dramatically altered the regional security landscape. The other idea is a proposal, championed by Singapore and Thailand, for an ASEAN economic community to be created before 2020 to meet the growing competition for investment from behemoths China and India. This concept of a single market is an extension of the already-adopted ASEAN Free Trade Area, under which tariffs are being slashed to no more than 5 per cent. These are bold ideas that will make ASEAN more relevant and attractive to foreign investors. It is a shame that a few ageing tyrants in Rangoon could overshadow them. From jw_jacobs at hotmail.com Wed Sep 24 12:14:07 2003 From: jw_jacobs at hotmail.com (John Jacobs) Date: Tue Mar 9 07:32:45 2004 Subject: subscribe Message-ID: <1FD0B3A0-EEAA-11D7-BD8D-003065569C42@hotmail.com> John Jacobs