BNI Weekly News - November 24, 2003
. USDA as powerful as the Local Intelligent services in Arakan
. Nasaka Authorities Illegally Taking Money From Public to Support their Armed Force
. Regional Command Level meeting held between Indian and Burmese Army
. Chinese Motorcycle factory to be built in Mandalay
. The Smuggling of Fertilizer to Burma stopped by the Bangladeshi Coast Guard
. UNHCR cuts back on support for Burmese refugee student
. Indian Rupee falls against Kyats along Indo-Burma border
. Largest gathering at Shwedagon Pagoda after May 30th bloodshed
. Burmese Refugees Protest against the detention of 43 Burmese in Delhi jail
. Auxiliary midwife training being given to ethnic women
. Indian Defence Minister visits Burma border
. Arakan prawn industry suffers
. Chin National Front holds its third Conference, rejects SPDC’s roadmap
. Where Sanctions Lead Remains Unclear
. NSCN ‘liberates’ Indian districts bordering on Burma
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USDA as powerful as the Local Intelligent services in Arakan
24 November 2003:
The ruling military junta organised a NGO, known as the Union Solidarity and
Development Association (USDA) to support their rule in the late 1990s.
“The members of local branches of the USDA are behaving like they are the
military intelligence and the local authority”, a resident of Ra The Daung,
20 miles north of Arakan state capital Sittwe, said.
The same resident explained that, “To get a government job (public service),
one has to get recommendations from the township USDA president and
secretary. To get such recommendations, one has to pay at least 10,000
kyats. Even when the applicant is well qualified, if he/she doesn’t have
the recommendation or do not have membership with the USDA, there is no
chance of getting a job.”
If students do not join the USDA, passing exams will be hard and the
students will not be able to participate in extra-curricular activities.
In order to get permits and licences, business people used to consult with
the Military Intelligence, now they only have to approach the USDA. Almost
all permits and licences are in the hands of USDA members. The USDA even
controls the selling of robes to monks from the government (It is cheaper
and better quality than that found on the market). All members receive
various material benefits, and therefore more and more people join USDA,
whether they agree with its policies or not. Hence, the USDA is growing in
strength.
At the same time, members are controlling and restraining civilians
everywhere. Such control over the people is coordinated with other
government organised NGOs, such as the reserve fire fighters, veteran
affairs, and Red Cross. For example, to welcome and show support to the
SPDC leaders visiting the region, the USDA’s cadres force the civilians to
hold demonstrations of support for the government’s “Road Map”.
It is reported that some USDA members also engage in criminal activities
such as illegal logging, gambling, and illegally exporting rice and fish to
the neighbouring countries, in order to increase the funds of the
organization. With the money from such activities, the USDA members donate
food items, clothing, and other materials to poor villagers and preach to
them about how good the military junta and USDA is.
It is claimed by the people that the junta is planning to enter the election
through USDA, and thus, the USDA is being made more prominent in daily
political activities. However, the association is becoming suppressive as
the Military Intelligence, the main oppressive organ of the Junta. #
________________________________________________
Nasaka Authorities Illegally Taking Money From Public to Support their Armed Force
23 November 2003:
Nasaka (Border Security Force) of Maungdaw Township in Arakan State was
taking Kyat 500,000/- from a businessman by giving a license for a sole
agent of vermicelli for only Maungdaw Township, said a trader from Maungdaw
Town.
A businessman named Maung Naing Win, 30, hailed from Ward No. (5) of
Maungdaw Town has taken a license from Nasaka for a sole agent of vermicelli
for only Maungdaw Township to purchase vermicelli (locally known Semai) from
neighboring Bangladesh and to sell it in Maungdaw Township. He got
permission for the period of November 01 to 30, 2003, as a sole agent, he
further added.
The holy month of Ramandan (the Sabbath month) begins on October 28, 2003,
as the moon of the lunar month was sighted on 27th of said month. This holy
month begins with the Muslims preparing themselves for 30 days of fasting
and self-abstinence in their quest for purification of the body and soul in
the true sense of the term, said a religious man from Maungdaw Town.
The Ramadan will be ended on 25th or 26th of November and the Muslims will
celebrate Eid-ul-fitr (the festival marking the end of Ramadan). As it is
customary for every Muslim, even the poor, to wear new clothes and to give
presents to near and dear ones and buys at least a kg of vermicelli in every
family to eat and entertain guests. And also people use vermicelli for
unfastens the Sabbath after sunsets. As a result, the vermicelli is an
essential commodity of Ramadan month and the Eid-ul- fitr, he further said.
The effects of US sanctions hardest hit the Burmese economy. Even the price
of newsprint increased by almost 50% and prices of imported goods
skyrocketed and thousands of workers have been thrown out of work. The
scarcity of US Dollars in Burma makes difficulties in the country’s
business.
Therefore, SPDC authorities try to cope the situation; they have engaged to
collect money from public by various ways to support their armed forces,
said another trader to our source. #
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Regional Command Level meeting held between Indian and Burmese Army;
Joint operation to combat insurgencies on border area
22 November 2003:
Regional Command level meeting between Indian and Burmese armies was held on
November 17 at Kalaymyo, Sagaing Division of Burma. The insurgency and armed
revolve issues were the highlights of the meeting and two countries agreed
to combat insurgencies by means of joint operation, a person who closed to
India Army said in anonymity.
India Army delegation was headed by Chief Officer of Eastern Command General
Madan Gopal and Colonel Tin Maung Ohn, deputy commander of Northwest Command
headed Burmese delegation. India delegation was comprised of fifteen members
including Indian military attache in Rangoon and its counterpart was
included seventeen members.
In the meeting, Burmese delegation expressed their concerns of the presence
of Chin National Army (CNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) on India soil
and India also pointed out Northeast's 'separatist' armed groups bases in
Kabaw Valley, Tamu and Nant-Phar-Lone market in Burma.
Two sides agreed to take necessary measures if these facts were found
correct and to plan a joint operation by India and Burmese to conduct a
joint operation against these militants.
India delegation promised to take action on its counterpart's claims that
Burmese pro-democracy groups had been organizing political activities,
public speeches, training, schools and library in Imphal and Moreh on border
areas if India is informed those events in advanced in future.
After the meeting, 15-membered India delegation later headed to Monywa and
Mandalay and the Northwest Commander in Chief, General Thar Aye hosted a
dinner at Monywa on November18.
Although India delegation planned to come back India from Mandalay on
November 20, their trip has extended until November 23.
This meeting marked one of the highest level talks between two Armies.
There had been accuses between two countries that Burma was accused by India
that ZRA and CNA were taking Indian soil as their bases. India, in turn,
said the Northeast 'separatist' groups such as ULFA, PLA, PREPAK and UNLF
were taking shelter in Burma.
In the meeting, Burmese delegation raised questions on recent joint military
exercise by India and US in early this year and the on-going process of
peace talk with Naga rebel groups. On the other hand, India also asked
Burmese army to open communication channels between two armies in order to
exchange information about security concerns in the border areas.
________________________________________
Chinese Motorcycle factory to be built in Mandalay
22 November 2003:
A joint venture investment was agreed in October to produce Chinese
motorcycles in Mandalay by Donghuan Company from Yunnan Province, China and
Chanthar Trading Ltd. from Mu-Se, Northern Shan State of Burma, mentioned in
‘Mingalar’ magazine published by Chinese cultural exchange program from
Yunnan Province.
According to October issue of 'Mingalar' magazine, two companies signed
agreement during October 2003 at international trade center at Kunming, city
of Yunnan Province in China.
Chinese motorcycles are to be produced up to 20,000 in number during the
first year though there was no details available when the factory is started
to build nor when the motorcycles will be ready to produce.
China-made motorcycles, imported illegally, were widely used today in Burma
especially upper part of Burma, Northern Shan State and Kachin State due to
cheaper price.
China had imported 15,000 motorcycles into Burma in June but the number had
increased up to 35,000 during the first two weeks of July this year,
according to the data from official Chinese border custom department.
Apart from official business, around one hundred China-made motorcycles are
smuggling into Burma through Ruili, Jiegao and Yinjian on border area in
Yunnan..
“A few hundreds, less than 500 bikes, are going into Burma everyday. Some
smugglers use roadways through Ba-Mao and Mu-Se, and some come through
Jiegao by using boats,” a local businessman in Jiegao said.
Myanmar Suzuki Motor Company Ltd., which had invested in Burma to produce
cars and motorcycles is now facing financial problem as Burmese government
allows the company to produce only limited amount of vehicles.
Due to Burmese government regulations, Suzuki Company is allowed to produce
only 400 motor cycles per year. One official from this company previously
told Myamma Dana magazine (October 2002 issue) that if their company is
allowed to assemble and produce 2,000 motorcycles and 1,000 cars in a year,
the company will not suffer from financial problem in Burma.
Suzuki motorcycles, illegally smuggled into Burma from Thailand, are
relatively expensive in Burmese markets with price tag of 2 to 3 million
Kyats.
Meanwhile, China made motorcycles are available around 2 to 3 hundred
thousand Kyats at border areas and five hundred thousand Kyats in Burma and
apparently more popular in Burmese markets. (Exchange rate is approximately
1,000 kyats/ US $). #
______________________________________________
The Smuggling of Fertilizer to Burma stopped by the Bangladeshi Coast Guard
21 November 2003:
The Bangladeshi Coast Guard seized 2000 bags of Urea Fertilizer on a boat
off the Bangladeshi coast, on Tuesday.
These bags of fertilizer were to be smuggled into Burma, according to a
Narrinjara reporter in Cox’s Bazar. The boat, the M.L. Shobim was carrying
the fertilizer from Chittagong. The Coast Guard caught the boat near the
Kautub Dia Island.
The haul was valued at around15 million Bangladesh Taka (US$ 300,000).
On October 18th, another 4000 bags of fertilizer were seized when they were
being loaded onto a boat belonging to the Nur Louk Company, on St Martin’s
Island, close to the Bangladesh-Burma border. This information was obtained
by Cox’s Bazar’s regional Bengali language newspaper, The Daily Ajker Desh
Bidesh.
The newspaper also reported that fertilizer smuggling is not only done over
sea, but also through in-land routes, and the Burmese Border Security Nasaka
does not stop the smuggling, because they welcome it as a new source of
income.
Since the military junta is not able to provide enough fertilizer to the
farmers, they have to rely on smuggled fertilizers for their crops.
Compared to Bangladesh, the price of fertilizer in Burma is almost double.
Hence, the smuggling business is thriving along the Bangladesh-Burma border.
The retail price of a bag of fertilizer is about 9,000 Burmese Kyats ( 600
Bangladeshi Takas), but it costs 16,000 Kyats in Burma. Apart from
fertilizer, cement (for construction), medicine, and petroleum are also
smuggled into Burma from Bangladesh. #
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UNHCR cuts back on support for Burmese refugee student
20 November 2003:
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Dhaka has
announced a change in its policy for education of the Burmese Refugee
Students.
The changed policy, announced on October 28, will see refugee students
studying at English Medium schools in Dhaka, under the UNHCR supervision,
transferred to Bangladesh government schools by January 2004.
This would mean that the students would now have to study in the Bengali
medium instead of the English medium, as they had been doing up to now.
A spokesperson for the Refugee Counseling Service Unit (RCSU), a local NGO
responsible for looking after the Burmese refugees on behalf of the UNHCR,
claims that the policy change will be for the long-term benefit of the
Burmese students, since the UNHCR can now only pay for “O” level classes as
the “A” level education is too expensive. According to the spokesperson,
the new policy will provide continuous education for the refugees.
A Burmese student said they have been studying only in English medium so far
and changing to the Bengali medium could prove to be very difficult.
However, since UNHCR is the sole provider of facilities and funding for the
Burmese students, they are incapable of doing anything but accepting the
policy change.
Since the educational aid for English Medium schools will be stopped the
refugee families are planning to move to the border areas where the cost of
living is less than in Dhaka.
There are about 80 Burmese refugees in Dhaka and 20 of them are students. #
________________________________________________
Indian Rupee falls against Kyats along Indo-Burma border
19 November 2003:
The value of the India Rupee has dropped sharply against the Burmese Kyats
due to a change in the value of the Chinese Yuan and dull market for the
Burmese businessmen along the Indo-Burma border, a local businessman has
said.
In the last month, Rs 100 was valued at 2,200 Kyats and had now fell to
1,800 Kyats. A moneychanger attributed the decline in the value of the India
Rupee had against the Kyats to the decline in the value of the Chinese Yuan
along the China-Burma border.
‘’At the current barter rate (exchange rate), one will get only 1800 Kyats
for Rs 100. The sharp fall is because the value of the Chinese Yuan is
dropping along the China-Burma border, Kyats 100 is trading with 1 Yuan.
That’s why India Rupee is falling,” the money exchanger on the Indo-Burma
border said. According to the information from China-Burma border,
previously 1,000 Kyats was trading against 8.5 Yuan and now it has become
9.5 to 10 Yaun.
Chinese consumer goods had been flooding the Northeastern states of
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram States. As Chinese
goods such as textiles and electrical equipment continue to pour into India
through Burma, the value of India rupees changes in accordance with Chinese
Yuan.
Meanwhile, very few Burmese businessmen are coming to Indo-Burma border due
to unfavourable market situation, a trader said. According to local
businessmen, the border trade, under these circumstances, is impractical for
not only businessmen from Monywa, Mandalay as well as for the local
small-scale businessmen.
“These businessmen, who usually come and go up to Tamu, have now nothing to
do. Previously they used to buy at least 100,000 to 300,000 Kyats from there
and sell their goods here again. Because of the business on the border has
slowed down, there is less Burmese currency on the border,” a local
businessman said.
In Burma, trade in the consumer goods has been frozen for months due to
recent Muslim-Burma riots and banking crisis, which had occurred early this
year. #
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Largest gathering at Shwedagon Pagoda after May 30th bloodshed
18 November 2003:
Over 350 National League for Democracy (NLD) members from 35 townships
across the country gathered at the famous Shwedagon Pagoda to mark 83rd
anniversary of Burma’s National Day.
Youth members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD took an oath for the restoration of
democracy in their country and paid tribute to their predecessors who had
sacrificed their lives for Burma’s independence in 1920, a NLD youth member
from Rangoon said.
At 10 am in the morning, over 350 activists from 35 townships -- 25
townships from Rangoon division, 3 from Irrawaddy division, 1 from Pegu
division and 3 townships from Magwe division -- gathered at Shwedagon
platform and paid their tributes and took oath at National Day Stone Pillar,
a symbol of national sentiment and independence.
A NLD youth member told NMG that “Our aim is to pay homage to our ancestors
who gathered in this historic place and boycotted education policy of
colonialist in 1920.
Likewise, we the youth members of NLD take an oath in the same corner of
Shwedagon Pagoda and pledge for restoration of democracy in our country with
all our endeavors,” NLD Youth said.
At 10 am, nearly 200 Youths wearing NLD uniforms, who had been gathering at
Thway-Say-Kan, walked hand-in-hand through the North stairway and prayed for
their leader Aung San Suu Kyi at Tuesday corner of Shwedagon pagoda.
The situation reached a break point when NLD youth members encountered heavy
deployment of security and intelligence personnel in the morning, though
there was no report of arrest of any NLD members.
“Nearly seventy policemen and the Military Intelligence (MI) were monitoring
us with still and video cameras. Authorities put iron-sieve around National
Day Stone Pillar. Because the General Assembly in the United Nations is
convening for the time being, we are lucky and not been arrested.
But I’m not sure they may come my home and arrest me at night,” a NLD member
said.
NLD youth members walked around on stairway of Shwedagon and marched
two-in-a-role up to Thar-tha-na-gone-ye monastery in Chauk-Htat-Kyi Pagoda
and attended alms offering to mark this 83rd ‘National Day’.
Although Rangoon government officially laid down the principles for the
National Day, there is no report on celebration of National Day in Rangoon.
Meanwhile, the Burmese military government officially issued the objectives
of the 83rd anniversary of National Day.
These are (a) Keeping national spirit alive and uplift of national prestige
and integrity (b) Uplift of national education (c) Perpetuation of
independence and sovereignty of the State (d) Success of seven-point future
policy programme of the State.
Democratic activists and the United Nations are widely criticizing the
seven-step road map proposed by military government due to lack of a time
frame and one-sided approach towards the road map. #
_______________________________________________
Burmese Refugees Protest against the detention of 43 Burmese in Delhi jail
18 November 2003:
About 250 Burmese nationals staged a demonstration today in New Delhi
against the continued detention of 43 Burmese refugees and asylum seekers
who are currently lodged in Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
Holding placards and shouting slogans of " Release– innocent prisoners, We
need– refugees status, We want – resettlement, UNHCR– silent killer", the
Burmese held a protest near Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi.
The demonstrators in their memorandum to the Indian Prime Minister Shri Atal
Bihari Vajpayee, stated that the "UNHCR had recently cut down Subsistence
Allowance of Rs. 1400 per month by 60% and since 1994, the office had not
increased the SA despite inflation in the country". They also alleged that
about 99% of asylum applications have been rejected without any written
reason.
The demonstrators had requested the Indian Prime Minister to release all the
43 Burmese refugees who were arrested on November 12 while demonstrating in
front of the UNHCR by the Delhi Police.
Several Burmese refugees and asylum seekers had staged sit-in protests
against UNHCR in front of the UNHCR office in New Delhi from 20 October.
They demanded the recognition of refugees by the UNHCR and their
resettlement in third countries.
UNHCR had refused to accept the demonstrators' demands and urged the Indian
authorities to take whatever action is necessary to dispel the protestors.
On 12 November, Delhi police took action against the demonstrators and
forcibly dispersed the refugees by the use of water cannons and lathi
charges. Some of the demonstrators were seriously injured and hospitalized
in the scuffle. The police claimed that the demonstrators turned violent and
tried to enter into the UNHCR compound and in the scuffle, 12 police
personnel were injured as well. The demonstrators denied the Delhi police
claims.
Twenty-three Burmese women and men were produced this afternoon before the
metropolitan magistrate Ashawani Kumar Sarpal at Patiala Court in New Delhi.
They were charged under Section 147, 148, 149, 186 and 323 for rioting and
obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions by Delhi police.
Total 43 Burmese men and women are currently lodged in Tihar Jail in New
Delhi. #
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Auxiliary midwife training being given to ethnic women
15 November 2003:
Young ethnic Burmese women from the Indo-Burma border areas and refugees
from New Delhi completed the auxiliary midwife training which uses outdated
techniques in Jamkhad near Mumbai in the western Indian state of Maharashtra
in the first week of November, a trainee who got back to the border
yesterday said.
The training methods used were outdated and similar to those provided in
early days. As such it was easy for us to understand them easily, Ma Le Le,
who just returned from the training, said.
Jamkhad, a small town near Mumbai, is famous for its rural health care
policy officially known as Comprehensive Rural Health Project.
Chairman of the National Health and Education Committee (Western Branch) Dr
Aung Kyaw Oo, who organized the training said , “There is a center for rural
health care in Jamkhad. People from more than 120 countries come to this
center every year to learn latest techniques on rural heath care.”
The month-long training, conducted by experienced doctors and nurses who
have been working in the center for years, finished on November 5. Around
ten Burmese women from the Chin, Naga, Kuki ethnic groups attended the
training, he added.
The training was held to fill the gap in the health care system for
pro-democracy activists, refugees and workers from Burma living in India and
for those living in remote areas. #
___________________________________________________
Indian Defence Minister visits Burma border
16 November 2003:
Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes visited the Indo-Burma border
yesterday and addressed a public meeting where he spoke on regional security
issues and stability in the region.
Mr Fernandes arrived in Moreh yesterday morning at 0800 hrs in a helicopter
and addressed the meeting at Moreh Kut football field. The border was sealed
off in the first half of the day due to security concerns, a local resident
from Moreh said. Mr Fernandes is a strong supporter of the Burmese democracy
movement.
In his speech, the Defence Minister spoke on length about the regional
security issues and stability in the region. He further said that unless
there is stability in the region, the central government will not provide
assistance for the north-east.
He also talked about the future of the younger generation. However, Mr
Fernandes did not speak on Burmese issue during the visit. #
____________________________________________________
Arakan prawn industry suffers
18 November 2003:
Due to decline in the demand for exports following US trade sanctions on
Burma, the prawn industry in the Arakan state has suffered this year,
according to our correspondent.
Malaysia and Singapore used to import a large quantity of prawns from Burma,
but the demand from these countries has declined this year.
The wholesale price of a viss (1.75 kg) of prawns used to be around Kyat
20,000 in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan. Currently the price has come down
to less than Kyat 10,000. Moreover, the prawn traders are not paid promptly,
but only after they manage to sell their supplies, the correspondent added.
Therefore, the prawn cultivators along with the traders have been traveling
to Rangoon to sell prawns. Since the transportation cost in travelling to
Rangoon entails around Kyat 2600 for 20 viss (35 kg) of prawns, therefore
the prawn cultivators have not been able to transport enough prawns to
Rangoon.
Since the downslide in the prawn market, some prawn industries like Kyaw San
Pwint, Shwe Thara Wonn, Coop (6), Minn Zar Nee, Aung Naing Won are doing
badly and may soon face bankruptcy.
The military divisions in Arakan confiscated prawn farms without
compensating the cultivators who owned them. The soldiers then started
breeding and selling the prawns themselves to supplement their military
expenditure. However, with the prawn prices declining and the soldiers being
unable to maintain the farms, the military divisions are also facing heavy
losses. #
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Chin National Front holds its third Conference, rejects SPDC’s roadmap
18 November 2003:
Third Conference of the Chin National Front (CNF), held near the Indo-Burma
border from November 5 to 12, was attended by about 70 people representing
various parts of Chin State, Burma.
The Conference rejected the road map proposed by Burmese Prime Minister and
decided to convene a ‘‘Chin Seminar’’ soon, the CNF said in a statement.
“In the Conference, we analyzed the road map proposed by the SPDC. We found
that
there is no time frame involved and it’s a one-sided idea. It will not lead
Burma towards democracy. That is why the Conference rejects it. Our aim is
to get going a tripartite dialogue in Burma. We have also decided to convene
‘Chin Seminar’ very soon,” Pu BiaK Ceu, in-charge of Border Office said.
The conference has decided to convene a seminar on ‘’Chin Consensus
Building’’in order to get unanimity among the Chin Nationals.
“The main objective of holding third Conference is carry out a consensus
building exercise among Chin nationals. In the seminar, we may form a single
organization representing all Chin nationals,” Pu Biak Ceu added.
The week-long Conference was held at the Headquarters of CNF in Camp
Victoria and was attended by 69 representatives along with other
organizations such as the National League for Democracy, Chin National
League for Democracy (Exile), Mara People’s Party, Chin Youth Organization,
Chin Women Organizations. On the final day of Conference, the CNF elected
new office bearers and the Central Executive committee.
The list of newly elected representatives is as follows:
Thomas Thang No (Chairman), Pu Zing Cung (Vice-Chairman), Pu Thang Zem
(General Secretary), Dr Sui Khar (Joint-Secretary) and the 18 Central
Executive Committee members.
In the statement, the CNF demanded national reconciliation to build a stable
and democratic country, and also called for a nation-wide cease-fire and
freedom for forming political associations in Burma. #
_________________________________________________
Where Sanctions Lead Remains Unclear
Roxanne Toh (IPS)
23 November 2003
Six months after the violent attack on Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and
her group, a range of different strategies on Burma, including sanctions by
foreign governments, continue -- but where these are leading to remains
uncertain.
The U.S. government has imposed probably among the toughest measures after
the May 30 attack on Suu Kyi's party. In July, it banned Burmese imports to
the United States, froze the U.S. assets of the military junta and imposed a
visa ban on junta member, relatives and associates.
This month, under pressure from activists and the British government,
British American Tobacco withdrew its subsidiary, Rothmans of Pall Mall
Myanmar Pte Ltd in Burma.
U.N. human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who visited Burma this month,
again urged the release of some 1,300 political prisoners in the country.
Meantime, Suu Kyi still refuses to be freed from house arrest if colleagues
who were taken into custody with her in the May 30 attack, blamed on
pro-Rangoon thugs, are not freed.
But life - and business - goes on as usual in Burma. Recent events also
reflect how governments like Thailand, believe that western sanctions on
Burma do not work.
On Nov. 12, the leaders of Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand met in Pagan,
Burma to ''increase competitiveness and generate greater growth in the
region''and generate investments. It also constitutes Thailand's Economic
Cooperation Strategy, and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says it is
based on the ''four nations, one economy'' concept.
Looking back, many find themselves asking what has changed in the last six
months in Burma, despite some tough actions against the South-east Asian
country.
The issue of ''hard'' and ''soft'' sanctions is among the issues most
debated in relation to pushing democracy in Burma, where Thailand has been
pushing for a 'road map' to political change.
''People talk a lot about sanctions - sanctions haven't worked, pressure
doesn't workà But people talk very vaguely, as if they were real, hard
sanctions,'' said Harn Yawnghwe, director of the Brussels-based European
Office for the Development of Democracy in Burma.
''The only real sanction I would say in the world would be the (that of)
U.S.A.),'' he said at a seminar on European Union-Burmese links at
Chulalongkorn University here.
The EU itself has taken a firm position against Burma. It adopted a common
position in 1996 - a ''soft'' sanction as Hawn Yawnghwe defined - while
confirming existing sanctions like an arms embargo and suspension of a
defence alliance. The EU also placed a visa ban on the military government
and regime, security officers and all of their family members. No
governmental visits to Burma were allowed as well. This was expanded in
1998, when the ban included transit visas and Burma's tourism
administration.
Yet Harn Yawnghwe himself said: ''In reality, these sanctions are nothing.
It's just saying that we are not happy with the situation.''
Even the U.N. joint efforts with the U.S. government and the EU to pressure
the Burmese government to release Suu Kyi faces challenges from Thailand,
China, as well as other South-east Asian countries that offer them constant
military and economic support.
Such support has ''undermined attempts to send a clear message to Burma's
military rulers that it is timeà to make way for an elected civilian
government,'' Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia
division said, even though months earlier members of the Association of
South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) had also called on Rangoon to free Suu Kyi.
The grants and loans that Thailand would provide under the Economic
Cooperation Strategy discussed in the Pagan summit is welcome news for
Burma, since sanctions have caused the accumulation of ''huge debts'' over
the years.
The English-language daily 'The Nation' reported that Rangoon had ''earlier
expressed a preference for financial aid''.
Likewise, Harn Yawnghwe asks if these investments would be entirely
independent and free of any relations with the Union of Myanmar Economic
Holding Cooperation - solely owned by the military.
Thaksin, whose government is hosting a forum of the much-touted 'road map'
this year to let western nations ''better understand'' Burma, said after the
Pagan meeting: ``Burmese officials sent a strong signal about national
reconciliation. I heard it with my own ears.''
One Thai rights activist, who asked not to be identified, said in an
interview: ''Just when you think things are starting to build up with these
actions - sanctions, pullouts - something like the Pagan meeting happens.''
''Sometimes there seems to be so much happening, but is there really
movement (to democracy?'' he asked.
Choombhon Lertrathakarn, a senior specialist in the Thai National Security
Council's international security department, says that Burma's neighbours
remain ready to help when democratic change does happen there.
''If you have reform and you move towards democracy, we will help with the
economic development,'' stated Choombhon, adding that Thailand might even
have some lessons for Burma given its past rule under the military.
However, he said there was a need for a socially ''open society'' in Burma,
where ''you have more mobility within. . .''
Analysts say the picture in Burma remains full of questions, not least
around the 'road map' that Thailand is promoting as a seven-step regional
approach that would lead to elections.
One participant in the seminar suggested the 'road map' include respecting
the results of the 1990 elections, which Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy party won.
But Chomboon points out that insisting on this - a key demand of the Burmese
pro-democracy movement and activists because the junta did not respect its
results -- would be a ''roadblock'' instead of a road map.
Harn Yawnghwe adds that the future is also likely to being more pressure
from the EU as it expands in membership from 15 to 25 next year.
This is because eight out of these ten countries, including the Czech
Republic and Poland, were once ''ex-communist or ex-totalitarian nations'',
which have experienced transitions to democracy and are ''very strong on
human rights and democracy'', he said.#
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NSCN ‘liberates’ Indian districts bordering on Burma
By Nava Thakuria
23 November 2003:
After taking charge of the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Mastership in the first
week of August this year, Gegong Apang implemented a premeditated decision
to stop military operations against militants of the Isaac-Muivah and
Khaplang factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland militants.
Named 'Operation Hurricane', military operations had been launched by the
Mukut Mithi government in June in the insurgent-stricken district Tirap,
bordering on Burma. Mr Mithi’s Congress-led government was toppled,
allegedly with the support by the NSCN (IM), to pave way for Mr Apang. While
the Mithi government had argued for the operations to continue in view of
the security scenario in the state, Apang justified his decision to stop the
operations which had taken on a “vindictive” hue.
Until a last few years go, Arunachal Pradesh was called the ‘peaceful state’
in the! North East of India. A province with a population of over one
million, Arunachal then started to witness insurgency primarily in Tirap and
Changlang, which are both dominantly Naga-inhabitant districts. The NSCN’s
Khaplang faction established its dominance in Tirap a decade go whereas the
IM faction began asserting its strength since 2000. Violent clashes between
the militants of the two rival factions ensued. Soon other armed outfits
like United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Democratic Front of
Bodoland roamed the districts.
These groups’ armed cadres enjoy a free run of the area which is almost
inaccessible for the government machinery. “One can witness rampant
extortion activity by these armed outfits in Tirap. In fact, businessmen and
even the government officials in the district have to pay ransom of around
10 per cent of their income to buy peace. Nobody wants to work in the
district”, described a senior! citizen and political activist based in
Itanagar, the capital of Arun achal Pradesh.
So when a New Delhi-based English daily brought a news item on 18 November
revealing the “liberation” of Tirap by the NSCN, there was little surprise
for political observers. Headlined “NSCN ‘liberates’ Arunachal district”,
the article reported that the NSCN (I-M) had declared Tirap district a
"liberated zone". Quoting a state government source, the report also added,
“There is nothing called a district administration in Tirap, which is now
fully under the NSCN(I-M)'s control". Reacting promptly to the news item,
the Arunachal State Home Minister L. Wanglat called it baseless. In a
hurriedly convened press meet in Itanagar, Wanglat confirmed that government
administration in Tirap was still active. Speaking to Mizzima News from
Itanagar, State Home Commissioner MK Parida also denied the alleged
“liberation” of Tirap. The office of Chief Secretary of the Arunachal
government also den! ied any kind of developments in the state.
With the situation Khonsa, Tirap’s main city, tense, no one wants to talk
much. Speaking to Mizzima News from Khonsa, a lady worker in the Ramkrishna
Sarada Mission reported that the situation was not good. “We all stay inside
the Mission’s campus. So the incidents generally don’t affect our daily
lives. For shopping, we generally go to Tinchukia or Dibrugarh town in Assam
once in a week. We cannot depend on the small town Khonsa for our
requirements”, she added. Established in 1973 for the benefit of local
tribal girls, Ramkrishna Sarada Mission has over 300 students.
A worker in the Treasury Office at Khonsa stated that the situation had been
very bad a few days earlier. “Of course, it is better now,” said T. Desia
who represents the Nocte tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Mr Desia, however,
denied that ransom was paid to the NSCN or any other insurgent outfits.
The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police based in Khonsa were
not available for comments. One inspector, NC Kharkwal, claimed that the
situation in Khonsa was normal. He also denied reports of the NSCN’s
extortion drive.
To cover up the administration’s failure in both the districts, the Apang
government now advocates autonomy for Tirap and Changlang. The state
government has received a green light from New Delhi for granting autonomy
to both districts within the ambit of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian
Constitution. Gegong Apang: “With the aim of safeguarding the autonomy of
the tribals, a power-sharing structure of would be implemented in Tirap and
Changlang, as has been done in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura”. Home
Minister Wanglat also feels that the autonomy would help the people in the
districts concerned on way to rapid development.
“In order to grant autonomy to the districts, the Arunachal government has
to pass a resolution in the state assembly which would be followed by
introducing a bill in Parliament”, explains P. Dasgupta, a senior journalist
based in Itanagar for the last 25 years.
The move to give autonomy to the NSCN-dominated districts had provoked
dissent among political observers. “Such a move would only prove the
weakness of the government. On the other hand, it would gives legitimacy to
the NSCN’s propaganda about creating a greater Nagaland named Nagalim”.
Tirap and Changlang districts are included in the proposed map of Nagalim,
which also covers Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Manipur and even Burma
(Myanmar).
“It is nothing but a gift by Apang to the NSCN for having helped him to come
to power. The BJP-led central government is sympathetic to Apang as his
United Democratic Front is a part of NDA. NSCN (I-M) is in negotiations with
the central government. Can you guess what the links are here?”, queries
Itanagar-based journalist and human rights activist L. Duchuchou.
____________________________________________________________
Burma News International (BNI) is a network of six Independent Burma Media
organizations: The Mizzima News, The Narinjara News, the Kaladan Press
Network, the Khonumthung News Group, the Network Media Group and the
Independent Mon News Agency.#