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[theburmanetnews] BurmaNet News: Ap
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Subject: [theburmanetnews] BurmaNet News: April 27, 2000
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
April 27, 2000
Issue # 1519
This edition of The BurmaNet News is viewable online at:
http://theburmanetnews.editthispage.com/stories/storyReader$363
*Inside Burma
SHAN: RIVAL GENERALS TO TOUR NORTHERN SHAN STATE TOGETHER
SHAN: CHINA OFFERING TO UPGRADE STRATEGIC WORLD WAR II ROAD IN
EXCHANGE FOR TEAK
AVA: SPDC TO OPEN A NEW BORDER TRADE POST IN KIO CONTROLLED AREA ON
SINO-BURMA BORDER
DOW JONES: MYANMAR'S JUNTA MUST LIBERALIZE ECON-ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
*International
AFX: FRANCE'S VEDRINE SAYS TOTALFINA ELF SHOULD IMPROVE MYANMAR
LIVING CONDITIONS
BANGKOK POST: ABDUCTED, SOLDIER GETS 'LIFE SENTENCE'
KYODO: JAPANESE POLITICIAN ON "LACK OF CONSISTENCY" IN US FOREIGN
POLICY
*Opinion/Editorials
*Other
UNLD (LA): INAUGURAL CONGRESS TO BE HELD
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
SHAN: RIVAL GENERALS TO TOUR NORTHERN SHAN STATE TOGETHER
27 April 2000
No: 4 - 14
S.H.A.N. correspondent reported yesterday that the two top generals
and rivals, Maung Aye and Khin Nyunt, are due to arrive in the north
tomorrow and that the local authorities have been busy sprucing up
their respective
towns.
People in Namkham, Muse and Lashio were saying the two generals have
never made a joint tour, as far as they could remember, without
Senior General Than Shwe, who is expected to retire within the year.
Sources also told S.H.A.N. that the projected tour is somewhat
unusual. "What is usual is that all the streets, both big and small,
have to be swept clean," said one source "But what is unusual is that
all billboards with Chinese characters are being ordered to be either
blotted out or removed. That has never happened before."
Another source also spoke about an official sweep in Muse on 20 - 25
April, when more than 20 money changers in town were taken into
custody. A source said the surprise raid might be connected to the
generals' surprise visit. "It's because of you people that our
currency is getting poor rates," one officer was reported to have
told an arrested money changer.
Shan Herald Agency for News.
____________________________________________________
SHAN: CHINA OFFERING TO UPGRADE STRATEGIC WORLD WAR II ROAD IN
EXCHANGE FOR TEAK
27 April 2000
No: 4 - 13
China has offered to improve the strategic road stretching from India
to China again in exchange for teak from Burma, reports S.H.A.N.'s
correspondent from northern Shan State.
The subject of upgrading the World War II road built by the American
general, Stilwell, from Ledo in India passing through Myitkyina (now
in the Kachin State), Namkham (Shan State), Muse (Shan State) to
Chungking (China), the wartime capital of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-
shek, leader of
the Kuomintang (Nationalist) government, has been broached by China
for the third time, for which Rangoon needs to pay only in kind with
teak wood from the Shan State and other parts of Burma.
"The Chinese began their offer a few years ago and then again in mid-
1999," said the source.
According to the source, Gen. Khin Nyunt's faction had been well
disposed to the offer, but was forced to reject it owing to stiff
opposition from Gen. Maung Aye, the regime's vice chairman and
Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
The reason for Maung Aye's opposition was not known, although it was
reported earlier that the general had blamed his rival, Gen. Khin
Nyunt, Secretary-1 and Chief of National Intelligence Bureau, for the
unprecedented influx of Chinese migrants in Burma.
Apart from the Stilwell road, the Chinese had also proposed the
construction of the railroad from the border up to Lashio (110 miles)
that was also "politely scoffed at" by the junta.
The Dali (Yunan)-Lashio (Shan State) railway line, stretching 768 km,
would be part of the Asian railway network, said the source.
The Chinese has already begun building on their side, and hope to
reach Ruili, opposite Muse, by the year 2006.
Shan Herald Agency for News.
____________________________________________________
AVA: SPDC TO OPEN A NEW BORDER TRADE POST IN KIO CONTROLLED AREA ON
SINO-BURMA BORDER
AVA Newsgroup
April 25, 2000
SPDC will be opening a new border trade post as of May 1st, 2000 on
the Sino-Burma Border. The post is located in the Kachin Independence
Organization (KIO) controlled area of Laiza village in Moemauk
township in Kachin State. Prior to the opening of this post, SPDC and
KIO had been in disagreement for months, on the matter of the post's
location. After much deliberation, KIO has submitted to the SPDC's
demands, by allowing the post to be located at the village of Laiza.
Mandalay-Muse Trade route has served as the main border trade route
between China and Burma. Other routes used across the border are
Lweje-Banmo route, Kanbaiti-Waimaw-Myitkyina route and Chinshwehaw-
Kunlon- Hsenwi route. The new Laiza route is connected to both
Myitkyina and Banmo. However, when compared to other routes, the
legal trade volume is considerably less. Activities such as illegal
logging and black market importation of prohibited goods usually
takes place along the Laiza route.
The new border trade post will have offices of the Regional Army
troops, Police, Customs, Immigration, and the Ministry of Forestry.
The village of Laiza is not only in KIO controlled area but also
serves as home to many KIO officers' families, and retired KIA
officials. The significance of this trade post is that it is the
first official presence of SPDC within KIO controlled area, after the
cease-fire agreements between the two parties in
March of 1994.
Ava News Group April 25, 2000
____________________________________________________
DOW JONES: MYANMAR'S JUNTA MUST LIBERALIZE ECON-ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Wednesday, April 26 11:07 AM SGT
BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Myanmar's military regime must loosen its iron
grip on the economy if the Southeast Asian state is to develop, the
Asian Development Bank said in a report Wednesday.
"Given its rich resource base, Myanmar has the economic potential to
grow at a high rate," the bank said in its annual Asian Development
Outlook.
"However, the economy remains highly controlled and has yet to adopt
sound economic policies to exploit its potential and sustain economic
growth," the report added.
Myanmar's junta made an initial step toward liberalizing the economy
in 1988, the year it crushed a student uprising calling for a more
democratic system.
But progress in reducing the monolithic state's role in the economy
has stalled in recent years, the ADB said.
Since 1988, the military has tightened its grip on the economy and
government, annulling a democratic election in 1990 that should have
propelled Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy to power.
Suu Kyi, who won the Noble Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to
promote democracy and human rights in Myanmar, was under house arrest
for six years, and the military still severely restricts her
movements.
Government Shuts Out Private Sector
Myanmar's government must move away from supporting inefficient state
enterprises and allow private companies to play a greater role in the
economy, the ADB said.
"This could shift Myanmar to a higher growth path, and help alleviate
poverty," the report said.
Despite real economic growth of about 4.5% last year compared with
1998, Myanmar is among the poorest countries in the world, due to
government policies that have effectively shut out much-needed
foreign investment.
Currently, the military imposes restrictions on external trade,
preventing the private sector from exporting the country's resources,
which include rice, sugar, rubber, mineral and gems, the bank said.
The government controls external trade through state enterprises. It
maintains the kyat currency at an artificially high level to help
these state concerns import cheaply, and then sells to Burmese
consumers at higher prices. Myanmar is also known as Burma.
Such exchange rate distortions favor state industries at the expense
of private companies and agricultural workers, which account for two
thirds of Myanmar's workforce and produce almost half of the national
income, the ADB said.
Inflation Poses Threat
Inflation is soaring in Myanmar, with consumer prices doubling on
year in the capital Yangon in 1998, the last year for which
statistics are available, the ADB said.
The government's policy of fixing prices for staple foods, and
agricultural and industrial inputs from state enterprises, has helped
push up prices across the board, it added.
Myanmar's central bank has also had to drastically increase the money
supply to cover the government's budget deficit, which was ramped
higher by the cost of keeping the state sector afloat.
A huge rice subsidy for all state workers is making the deficit
unsustainable, the report says.
Rather than improve its tax collection system, Myanmar's central bank
printed more money to fund around 70% of last year's budget deficit,
pushing up prices.
Asian Development Bank, which is based in Manila, said Myanmar should
make the central bank more independent of the government so it can
move to curtail inflation.
__________________ INTERNATIONAL ___________________
AFX: FRANCE'S VEDRINE SAYS TOTALFINA ELF SHOULD IMPROVE MYANMAR
LIVING CONDITIONS
PARIS
The government will not urge TotalFina Elf to withdraw from Myanmar,
but believes that the company should seek to improve living
conditions for the people in the country, foreign minister Hubert
Vedrine told the National Assembly.
A recent report on French television had criticised the Myanmar
military junta for forcing peasants to work on a pipeline project by
TotalFina Elf unit Total, and had fuelled criticism against the group
over alleged indirect support for the regime.
"I wrote a few days ago to Total president Thierry Demarest asking
him to look out, to improve the conditions of his company's insertion
in the country," the minister said.
Vedrine said that France's share in investments in Myanmar was "tiny"
compared with those of the U.S. and the UK, and added that he doubts
the effectiveness of economic sanctions.
He said that the European Union has, however, confirmed sanctions
against the leaders of the Myanmar regime, whose policies he
described as "detestable."
____________________________________________________
BANGKOK POST: ABDUCTED, SOLDIER GETS 'LIFE SENTENCE'
April 27, 2000
But friends don't believe he is alive
Subin Khuenkaew
A army sergeant believed to have been abducted from a border guard
post by soldiers of the United Wa State Army three months ago has
been sentenced to life imprisonment for spying, according to
travellers returning to Thailand.
Sgt Sawaeng, of the Pha Muang Force of the Third Army, vanished from
an outpost at Ban San Makhed, Mae Fa Luang district, opposite the 614
headquarters of Wa drug baron Wei Hsueh-kang, on Jan 18.
Official inquiries into his disappearance are continuing, but a Thai
labourer who had just returned from working at Mong Yawn said
yesterday a UWSA court had on Tuesday sentenced him to life for
spying.
Military authorities have reportedly tried to contact the UWSA to
determine Sgt Sawaeng's whereabouts, but to no avail. There had been
reports he would be released, but they never materialised.
The returned worker said news of Sgt Sawaeng's fate had caused
apprehension among the 3,000 Thais hired for construction work at
Mong Yawn and many wanted to come home. Most are villagers from Mae
Ai, Fang and Mae Fa Luang districts.
About 150 Thai workers had been arrested and detained in a Mong Yawn
prison on various charges, he said.
Maj-Gen Chamlong Pothong, Third Army deputy commander, said Sgt
Sawaeng had disappeared, believed abducted, but it was still not
clear if he was taken while still in Thailand.
Investigators were trying to find out whether Sgt Sawaeng went to
Mong Yawn by himself, if so for what purpose, and if he had anything
to do with the drug trade.
He said despite the many unconfirmed reports that he was still alive,
many people including his friends believed Sgt Sawaeng had been
killed.
Bangkok Post (April 27, 2000)
____________________________________________________
KYODO: JAPANESE POLITICIAN ON "LACK OF CONSISTENCY" IN US FOREIGN
POLICY
Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 25 Apr 00
Text of report by Japanese news agency Kyodo
New York, 25th April: A senior politician in Japan's ruling Liberal
Democratic Party, Koichi Kato, on Tuesday 25th April chided the
United States for lack of consistency in foreign policy.
Kato, a former LDP secretary-general, expressed his frustration at a
private policy forum in New York, but said he was speaking his mind
as a "US ally". Citing US policy on Japan, Kato said Americans ''lack
consistency'' in their interest on Japan and ''as a result,
misunderstandings emerge and friction follows". Despite policy
inconsistencies, Kato told the audience at Global Forum 2000 that he
is not worried that they would shake the foundation of bilateral
ties. Kato said US policy inconsistencies are not limited to US ties
with Japan.
On China, he said US policies ''vacillate from one issue to another",
shifting from human rights to trade disputes and ''political
grandstanding''. Kato also accused Washington of double standards
over human rights issues, citing contradictory US approaches to North
Korea and Myanmar Burma . Myanmar, Kato said, is more open to the
outside world than North Korea but gets the blunt end of US human
rights stick.
_____________________ OTHER ___________________
UNLD (LA): INAUGURAL CONGRESS TO BE HELD
UNITED NATIONALITIES LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
(LIBERATED AREAS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Secretariat Office (Temporary), P.O. Box 41, Mae Ping P.O.,
Chiang Mai 50301, THAILAND
Tel: & Fax: +66 (53) 862 895, +(01) 672 3109, +(01) 672 1980
E-mail: UNLD LA <nainaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, UNLD LA
<yandu@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR
HOLDING OF UNLD(LA) INAUGURAL CONGRESS
24 April, 2000
UNLD (LA) is now preparing to hold it's inaugural meeting "THE
FIRST CONGRESS OF UNLD (LA)" on coming July/September, in a liberated
area. Its advisors, presidium, secretariat and executive committee
members will participate to further consolidate their existing
agreement and to address current issues of nationalities in the
political mainstream of Burma.
Non-Burmans Nationalities, the Founding of UNLD and its Role:
Non-Burmans (Ethnic Nationalities of Union of Burma/Myanmar) have
played major roles in the Wars against colonialism, the struggles for
independence and the preservation of the Union.
Before the Union and democracy were fully mature, the country
fell under Civil War and military dictatorships. These had ignited
the struggle of the ethnic peoples for freedom, equality and
democracy. Since 1988, when mass uprisings were ruthlessly suppressed
by the junta, they have, in conjunction with Burman democratic
forces, been continuing the struggle.
The UNLD was formed by 21 non-Burman ethnic parties in 1989. It
was a united front based on the ethnic peoples residing in 7 non-
Burman states as well as those in Burma Proper. Representatives from
these parties shared duties in the Board of Chairpersons, Board of
Secretaries and various work committees.
The League's stand was to establish a genuine union based on
Equality and the Full Right to Self-Determination and to ensure that
the struggle for the Right of Self-Determination should be integrated
with the struggle for democracy. In other words, the unity for the
struggle for democracy must be based on equality among the ethnic
peoples including Burmans.
Subsequently, the UNLD has, in cooperation with all ethnic
forces, struggled for democracy and, in cooperation with all union
forces, struggled for the right to self determination.
The result was the formation of the 'Election Victory To The
States Committee' during the 1990 General Elections. Altogether 67
seats were won by the 19 ethnic parties, making the UNLD the second
largest winning grouping in the whole union.
However, the UNLD together with 7 other ethnic parties that were
UNLD members were unilaterally dissolved by the junta in 1992.
Since then, many ethnic politicians and MP elects have been
forced to flee abroad. At home, the UNLD continues to be active in
convenient forms for the aims stated above. It also forms the
backbone of the CRPP founded in 1998 based on mutual respect and
recognition.
The Establishment of UNLD (LA) and its Purposes and Programs:
The UNLD (LA) was established on 12 February 1998 by 11 exiled
UNLD-affiliated parties, 15 former members of Board of Chairpersons,
Board of Secretaries and Work Committees, and 8 ethnic MPs. [Ref:
Statement 1/98]
UNLD (LA) Advisors:
( 1 ) Dr Chao Tzang Yawnghwe Shan (Canada)
( 2 ) Dr Maran La Raw Kachin (USA)
( 3 ) Dr Aye Kyaw Arakan (USA)
( 4 ) Dr Vum Son Suantak Chin (USA)
UNLD (LA) Presidium Members:
1 .Daniel Aung (MP)LNDP
2 .Marn Nyunt MaungUKL
3 .Nai Tun WeiMNLD
4 .Lian Uk (MP)Individual MP
5 .U Tha No (MP)ALD
6 .Dr Zalei Htan (MP)CNLD
7 .Htan Lian Pao (MP)ZNC
8 .Nang Zin LaKNC
9 .Sao Ood KesiSSNLD
10 .Khun Mar Ko Ban (MP)KNSLD
11 .Sha RehKNLD
UNLD (LA) Secretariat Members:
1 .U Aye MgLahu
2 .Lian Hmung SakhongChin
3 .Nai Phe Thein ZarMon
4 .Wong Zar KarpZomi
5 .Saw Htun Htun LynnKaren
6 .Khun PoKayarn
7 .U Htun AungArakan
8 .U Myat KoKarenni
9 .Sai Win Pe (MP) Shan
10 .Maran NawKachin
11 .Nai Thaung Shein (MP)Mon
Purposes of UNLD (LA):
1.. To implement the UNLD's original objectives and programs;
2.. To support UNLD activities at home;
3.. To engage in activities denied to those at home;
4.. To work in concert with democratic forces, both at home and
abroad, both Burman and non-Burman.
Objective Programs of UNLD (LA):
1.Together with other forces, to struggle for democracy and
equality simultaneously;
2.To struggle for the realization of Tripartite Dialogue;
3.To assist others in exerting political pressure on the SPDC;
4.To assist in the enhancement of groups pressing for the
realization of Tripartite Dialogue;
5.To coordinate with the UNLD, other ethnic parties, cease-fire
groups at home and the NDF and other ethnic groups abroad;
6.To support the NRP activities;
7.To assist in the drafting of state constitutions;
8.To expose the truth about the so-called National Convention and
the people's genuine desires;
9.To highlight the UNLD's struggle for the peaceful resolution of
the ethnic question.
The Status of UNLD (LA):
It is the original UNLD in another form, as necessitated by being
outlawed by the SPDC. It is to fill the vacuum in the non-Burman camp
in the efforts to make the Tripartite Dialogue a reality. The
difference with the NLD is that the latter is recognized both within
and outside Burma.
Nevertheless, it cannot be overlooked that members of the UNLD
(LA) are active in the CRPP and other political and armed groups
within Burma, and also in the NRP, NCUB, NCGUB, NDF and various
overseas groups outside Burma.
With regards to the NDF, the united front of the ethnic armed
resistance movements, we shall be able to complement each other in
diverse actions for common aim and objective.
Plan for Holding of UNLD (LA) Inaugural Congress:
On 17 November 1999, an ad hoc meeting was held to discuss the
questions of the establishment of an office and the holding of an
inaugural congress. [Statement 11/99]
The inaugural congress is aimed to be the meeting of the Board of
Advisers, Board of Chairpersons, Board of Secretaries and various
work committees.
Purposes of the Conference:
1.to review the political situation, the UNLD's principles and
programs;
2.To draft short/ long term programs and re-distribute duties
among members;
3.To discuss ways to promote the political struggle of the ethnic
people;
4.To discuss tactics to resolve political problems politically;
5.To prepare a strong basis for a future democratic union;
6.To discuss further with NRP, NCUB, NCGUB, NDF, NLD (LA)
Plan (Agenda) of the Conference:
- The UNLD (LA) plans to hold a 3-day meeting between July and
September 2000.
- It shall be attended by the following participants both from
abroad and the border:
4 Advisors,11 members of Board of Chairpersons, 11 members of
Board of Secretaries, 4 members of work committees, 6 assistants.
(office work, communications & transportation)
- The meeting with the NRP, NCUB, NCGUB,DAB, NDF, NLD (LA) is
planned to be held right after.
Conference Preparatory Work Committee Members:
( 1 )Khun Mar Ko Ban( 2 )Sao Ood Kese( 3 )Daniel Aung
( 4 )Lian H. Sakhong( 5 )Sai Win Pe( 6 )Nai Thaung Shein
( 7 )Sai Doue
Contact Address:(Temporary)
Secretariat Office of UNLD (LA)
P.O. Box 41, Mae Ping P.O., Chiang Mai 50301, THAILAND
Tel: & Fax: +66 (53) 862 895, +(01) 672 3109, +(01) 672 1980
E-mail:"Lian H Sakhong" < Lian.sakhong@xxxxxxxxxx>
"Daniel Aung" <aung@xxxxxxxxxx>
"Sao Ood Kesi" <nainaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
"Sai Doue" <maodoue@xxxxxxxxx>
On behalf of UNLD (LA), we, the work committee earnestly request
to our UNLD (LA) concerned members, to take all necessary steps
towards our common goal and to ensure that can function
successfully.
Secretariat office
UNLD (LA)
Date: 24 April, 2000
________________
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