BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

Text of recorded telephone interview with Phado David Taw, in charge of KNU foreign affairs, by DVB Correspondent Khine Thazin on 12 October, place not given, broadcast by Burmese opposition radio Democratic Voice of Burma web site on 12 October
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Excerpt from report by Burmese opposition radio Democratic Voice of Burma web site on 12 October

The Arakan League for Democracy called on the military government to unconditionally release all political prisoners, including Arakanese political prisoners. (more…)

October 12: The border guards of Burma military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) have been ordered by its military intelligence to carry out thorough searches on people coming into Burma through many border checkpoints because it is afraid that they might be smuggling musical tapes of the world’s leading pop stars that dedicate to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi into the country.
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Sao Sengsuk, acting President of the Shan Democratic Union, speaking on the Myanmar Opium Survey 2004 released by the United Nations office of Drugs and Crime Tuesday, curtly brushed the report as a “misrepresented
portrayal” of the real drug situation in Shan State.
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Thai Airways International Plc is looking to expand its role as an airport operator in neighbouring countries by pursuing deals in Luang Prabang and Rangoon.
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Bimstec has recommended steps to increase rail connectivity amongst the member countries. The proposed Bimstec railway network will connect Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, besides India.
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October 12: Thailand’s Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has said he wants to hold talks with Myanmar’s top leader Gen. Than Shwe on the international community’s concerns about the problems in Myanmar’s national reconciliation process.
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The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has taken more steps towards becoming one of the world’s most proactive regional organisations in the food sector.
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Punitive steps will be taken against the Burmese military leadership for the country’s lack of progress towards democracy, EU Foreign Ministers confirmed October 11.
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Several hundred people gathered to form a human circle around the Justice Ministry on Wednesday to draw attention to the plight of more than 1,000 foreigners held in detention centers across the country.
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October 18: Delhi: The blasts in Assam and Nagaland that claimed over 70 lives last weekend clearly indicate the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) are on a suicide mission.
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BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

Burma has criticized the EU decision to tighten sanctions in a statement issued by the Myanmar Information Committee on 13 October. The statement accused the West of making “trumped charges” against the Rangoon authorities for the purpose of “demonization and then domination”, and
heavily criticized a reliance on “extravagant and expensive dossiers” compiled by politically motivated groups and individuals.
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Guardian Society Pages, Pg. 5

Well done Burma Campaign UK for daring to speak out against Comic Relief’s relationship with DHL, a company working with Burma’s dictatorship (Eco Sounding, October 6).
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