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STATEMENT
Concerning the statement in Daily Pakistan Observer
We
express our deep concern at attached press statement in the
Daily Pakistan Observer dated 12 August 2001 which claims to
have a new organisation formed, under the leadership of
Dr. Mohd. Yunus, namely " Arakan Liberation Front
(ALF)". It is to be stressed that the people of Arakan
have, until now, no knowledge of ALF.
It
is an ill-design to further disintegrate the oppressed people of
Arakan and their movement.
The
people of Arakan are surprised at the unilateral and
self-style activities of Dr. Mohd. Yunus who has continuously
infused factionalism in the Muslim Society of Arakan since 1980.
Therefore,
we inform all concerned not to be confused by the activities of
Dr. Mohd. Yunus and his ALF.
Central
Executive Committee
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO)
Arakan
Dated: 23rd August 2001.
AFP: UN envoy to make new tilt at pushing
ahead historic dialogue
BANGKOK, Aug 26 (AFP) - UN envoy Razali Ismail
arrives in Myanmar Monday to launch a new attempt at
accelerating historic talks between the junta and democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi which began 10 months ago.
The four-day mission is the fifth by the
Malaysian diplomat since UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
appointed him in April 2000 with a brief to help end a decade of
political deadlock in the military-run nation.
On each occasion he has met with top members of
the junta and been allowed to visit Aung San Suu Kyi at her
lakeside residence, where she has been held under loose house
arrest restrictions since September.
"Razali has the trust of both sides. All
his visits have been fruitful," a spokesman for the junta
told AFP on a recent visit to Yangon.
Diplomats agree that Razali plays a vital role
in efforts to bridge the gap between the generals and the
democratic opposition, which has never been allowed to take
power despite winning a landslide election victory in 1990.
"As long as Razali is engaged, his visits
have always had an impact, she will continue to put her trust in
him," said one Western ambassador, referring to the
charismatic National League for Democracy (NLD) leader.
Informed sources in Yangon say that since they
began meeting last October, the two camps have not progressed
past the first stage of the process which is aimed at creating a
"climate of confidence and mutual respect".
The new atmosphere has seen the release of
around 170 political prisoners in small groups over the past few
months.
But eventually the aim is to establish a
full-blown "national reconciliation" process and the
drafting of a new constitution which would herald the return of
civilian government after 40 years of military rule.
Observers have been heartened by the prisoner
releases, but note that only about 60 are from a "priority
list" of 200 presented to the junta by Razali when he last
visited in June.
"Aung San Suu Kyi is frustrated at the pace
(of the releases). She thinks they could move a lot
faster," said one diplomat.
The international community meanwhile is waiting
for some proof of the generals' sincerity, like a mass release
of prisoners or a decision to free Aung San Suu Kyi and her two
top aides who also remain in detention.
This week Razali is scheduled to meet again with
Myanmar's leader Senior General Than Shwe as well as its
influential chief of military intelligence Lieutenant-General
Than Shwe.
He is expected to see Aung San Suu Kyi twice, as
he has on past visits where he has also held talks with leaders
of the religious, ethnic and business communities who also have
a stake in moves for reform.
Foreign missions in Yangon remain divided over
how to deal with the notoriously intransigent junta, but agree
that the "Razali initiative" is Myanmar's best chance
to emerge from the damaging political impasse.
"His role is to ensure that progress is
made, without interfering in the substance of the
discussion," said a well-informed source.
"But his patience will be tested if the
process does not move ahead," he said.
For its part, the junta remains fearful of
unleashing a force it cannot control and "those who are in
favour of the dialogue are confronting strong opposition from
others who are not."
"But when the one-year mark arrives,
something will have to happen," the source said.
Source: BurmaNet 26 Aug 2001
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BURMA'S POOR EARN A LIVING BY STANDING IN
LINE
RANGOON, Aug 19 (AFP) -- Conversations with
ordinary Myanmar citizens tell of continual price rises,
rationing and a daily struggle to gather the necessities of
life.
Apart from rice, which the government keeps in
plentiful supply to avoid the prospect of hunger-fueled dissent,
the price of basic commodities has doubled or tripled this year
alone, according to aid officials. "The price of cooking
oil has tripled, as well as other items vital to people's
lives," said one, on condition of anonymity.
In the towns and cities, Myanmar citizens endure
annual inflation rates as high as 50 percent, the alarming
depreciation of the kyat currency and constantly changing rules
on rationing of items like gasoline.
Tax-free markets set up a couple of years ago to
ease the burden on low-wage earners, including the legion of
government employees, offer fresh produce at discounted prices
but in very limited amounts.
As a result, an industry has sprung up among
"professional queuers" who can be seen lining up well
before dawn to purchase their quotas and sell them at a healthy
profit to oil merchants or harried housewives. "In a single
day I can get to queue up again at least four times and invest
350 kyats, from which I can get a profit of 500 kyats at the end
of the day ... not bad for eight hours of queuing up," one
jobless man said.
Ironically, the government's plan to help
consumers by distributing rationed staples like cooking oil
through the markets has served only to line the pockets of
big-time oil merchants. "I don't know if Than Shwe
understands how bad it is, it is getting worse ... and people
are becoming impoverished," a Western diplomat said.
Foreign observers posted in Yangon remain
pessimistic. "The ticking bomb now is energy now ... They
can't supply the electricity necessary to run the
industries," said one expert.
"In the countryside, people will continue
to live like they did in the feudal times."
Foreign investment remains extremely weak, and
what funds do make their way to Myanmar are centred on
speculative sectors like property or tourism, rather than
industry or manufacturing. "Investors don't come, because
investors want to make money. People have pulled out, like the
Singaporeans out of oil, others out of textiles," one
analyst said.
The stunning new five-star hotels built in
Yangon, with their luxurious ballrooms, expansive swimming pools
and plentiful staff, are nearly deserted with occupation rates
running at a miserable eight percent. "It is the worst July
they have ever had, even Laos is getting better figures,"
one diplomat exclaimed.
Observers do not believe that the
"desperation factor", which fueled the bloody uprising
of 1988 after three currency devaluations, exists today.
Hopes for the future rest on the landmark
dialogue between the junta and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
which began last October. "The only way to make any reform
in this country -- whether in the economy, social or health
sectors -- is to start with political reform," said one
observer.
Source:
Burma Courier, 25 Aug 2001
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Burmese Women Association (Melbourne,
Australia): Invitation for a Fund Raising Lunch for
Burmese Refugee Children
We, the Burmese Women Association (Melbourne,
Australia), would like to invite you and your family for a fund
raising lunch (Burmese Monhinkha and Burmese dessert) for
Burmese refugee children on Thai-Burma borders.
As the situation in the refugee camps on
Thai-Burma border is worsening, the welfare and education of
local children are greatly affected by the continuously changing
conditions.
Your support and donation for these
underprivileged refugee children are very much needed and will
be greatly appreciated.
Please come and join our fund raising lunch for
Burmese Refugee Children according to the following program.
Date: 1 September 2001 (Saturday)
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Place: 13 McCormic Court, South Oakleigh
Tickets for 6$ per person are available from our
women representative, and all the money raised will be directly
sent to the educational program for Burmese refugee children on
Thai-Burma Border.
RSVP: 30 August 2001
Please contact for more information:
Ms Nwe Ni Tun (03) 9551 9090, 0402 059 483
Email: bwa_Melbourne@hotmail.com
Source: BurmaNet
26 Aug 2001
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Xinhua: Indian Company to Build Dyeing
Factory for Myanmar
YANGON, August 23 (Xinhuanet) -- An Indian
company has reached a contract here with Myanmar to build a
dyeing and printing factory in the country's northern Mandalay
division.
The contract between the PEC Ltd of India and
the Myanma Textile Industries of the Ministry of Industry No.1
was signed on Wednesday, official newspaper The New Light of
Myanmar reported Thursday.
The Yamethin dyeing and printing factory
construction project will be implemented on a plot of 6.68
hectares, 8 kilometers north of Yamethin in the division, within
11 months after the signing of the contract, it said.
According to an earlier official report, India's
Angelique International Ltd signed a number of contracts in June
respectively with organizations under Myanmar's Ministry of
Industry No.2 for purchasing machinery totally worth 4.8 million
U. S. dollars to be used at production factories of the
ministry.
India began investing in Myanmar only in
February 1999 with 4.5 million dollars as a new foreign investor
out of those from 25 countries and regions investing in Myanmar.
Source: BurmaNet
23 Aug 2001
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Announcement for the Burmese Literature and
Art Symposium 2001
The following speakers will participate in the
Burmese Literature and Art Symposium and everyone is invited to
attend.
Speakers:
(1) U Tin Moe (Poet)
(2) U Win Pe (Author, Artist, Movie Director)
(3) U Tin Maung Than (Journalist)
Where: First Parish in Brookline Church
382 Walnut Street
Brookline, Boston
Massachusetts
When: September 2nd 2001, Sunday
2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
A commemorative magazine 'Tha-Byay-Nyo' will be
published and
distributed on the same day. It can be obtained from:
Ko Lay
35 Chestnut Street, Apt #2
Malden MA 02148
USA
eddress: kolay@zxmail.com
fax: 1-781-388-0038
Price: One issue of magazine (paperback): US
$7.00
One issue of magazine (CD version): US $10.00
Source: BurmaNet 23 Aug 2001
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SHAN VILLAGES TOLD TO TELL FOREIGNERS
‘THERE’S NO FORCED LABOR”
The Shan Herald Agency for News reports that
Shan villagers in several townships have been instructed by
military authorities to inform foreign investigators expected to
tour Shan State soon that forced labor had ended. On 28 July,
Lt. Col Myint Maung, Commander LIB 515 (Laikha) told people in
Mongkerng, 108 miles northeast of Taunggyi, that
"foreign" fact-finding team was
expected during the month of August and he "hoped" the
people would give "proper" answers. "Please tell
them all labor given are voluntary out of your love for the
army," he reportedly told the gathering. Sources coming
from the area reported that Col.
Myint Maung had already briefed the people of
Laikha, 29 miles south, a day earlier. Similar reports were
received from Monghsat and Mongton, opposite Chiangmai and
Chiangrai provinces.
Sources from Mongkerng said since June, forced
labor had in fact significantly lessened but, on the other hand,
monetary requisitions had increased. "For instance, each
village tract is expected to pay for rent of 10 mules to be used
in the army's monthly patrol details," said one.
"Rental for each mule is K. 5,000 per month. So we have to
share about K. 300-500 per household."
Source: Free Burma Action News, 13 Aug 2001
TOP
SHILLONG: An earthquake of mild intensity having a magnitude
4.6 on the Richter scale shook Shillong and its neighbouring
area at 0728 hours on Sunday, according to the Seismological
Observatory Centre here.
The epicentre of the quake was located at latitude 23.3 degree
north and longitude 93.1 degree east on the Indo-Myanmar
border, sources said. The tremor lasted for few seconds. No
loss of life or damage to property was reported, official
sources said.
( PTI )
Source:
The Times of India, 16 Aug 2001
TOP
Cooking Oil
Shortage
Continues
August 15, 2001: Burma is facing a cooking oil shortage after the
ruling military regime recently made it illegal for non-state owned 
businesses to import cooking oil. It is believed the government
discontinued the imports in order to better control the flow of hard
currency leaving the country.
Beginning on July 10th citizens of
Rangoon and Pegu have been forced to wait in lines each day to receive
rations of oil from the army-run Myanmar Holding Company Limited (MHCL).
Mainly housewives and individuals who are unemployed have been lining up
as early as six in the morning to get their rations, according to a source
in Rangoon.
MHCL has been distributing the oil from its fleet of
fifty oil tankers. The tankers carry 1,000 viss of oil apiece (1 viss= 3.6
lbs.) and each individual is allowed one-quarter of a viss a day. The
government's price for one viss of cooking oil is 350 kyat (1 USD= 700
Kyat). Many citizens who cannot wait in these lines have seen the market
prices of oil increase from 630 kyat for one viss last month to 980 kyat
in August.
In Rangoon and Mandalay the military regime
recently arrested most wholesale oil distributors, who until recently were
the major suppliers of cooking oil to consumers. The regime accused the
wholesalers of driving up prices.
In Burma, most consumers
use palm oil, which is an imported good and cheaper than the more
traditional peanut and sesame oil. The prices of traditional deep-fried
snack foods have risen in the markets as well.
Source:
The Irrawaddy, 15 Aug 2001
TOP
Democratic
Voice of Burma: Air force chief of staff said replaces
commander over Feb chopper crash
Text of report by DVB on 9 August
Maj-Gen Myint Swe, air force chief of staff, has replaced Lt-Gen
Kyaw Than as the Burmese Defence Services' air force
commander-in-chief since the past two months. The appointment
was not publicly announced and it was not known until Maj-Gen
Myint Swe inspected some air bases on 17 July in his capacity as
the air force commander-in-chief. Accompanied by other staff
officers, he inspected Meiktila, Namhsan and Myitkina airbases.
When Thai Defence Minister Gen Chavalit [Yongchaiyudh] was
welcomed at Rangoon Airport on 23 July, Maj-Gen Myint Swe was
mentioned as air force commander-in-chief. Although the date of
appointment of Maj-Gen Myint Swe was not known, former Air Force
Commander-in-Chief
Lt-Gen Kyaw Than has disappeared from public view for over two
months now. He was last seen in mid May after his return from
Malaysia. Lt-Gen Kyaw Than assumed the position of air force
commander-in-chief on 15 November 1997 when the State Law and
Order Restoration Council changed its name to SPDC. Though the
underlying factor for his dismissal was not known, it is
believed to be related to the helicopter crash that killed SPDC
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and party. The helicopter crash in
February killed more than a dozen high-ranking military officers
including Lt-Gen Tin Oo. DVB has learned that Air Force
Commander-in-Chief Lt-Gen Kyaw Than was relieved of his post as
the air force was deemed responsible for the crash.
Source: BurmaNet; Democratic Voice of Burma,
Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 9 Aug 01
TOP
Daily
Star (Bangladesh): Exhibition of Bangladeshi goods in Myanmar in
Oct
August 8, 2001
UNB, Dhaka
A solo exhibition of Bangladeshi goods will be
held in Myanmar in the first week of October to develop an
export market there. Besides, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of
Bangladesh will arrange similar exhibitions of Bangladeshi goods
in Katmandu and Saudi Arabia soon, EPB director Faridul Hasan
told a meeting with Chittagong Chamber and Bangladesh-Myanmar
Business Promotion Council (BMBPC) in Chittagong yesterday.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)
president Farid Ahmed Chowdhury said the huge reserves of bamboo
and limestone in the Rakhain state of Myanmar, close to
Bangladesh border, would be more feasible to use commercially by
Bangladesh in establishing cement and paper pulp industry.
But, it is necessary to construct a bridge over
the river Naf and jetties at the riverbanks on both its two
sides to take the advantage and turn the trade potential into
reality, he said.
"We'll have to develop bilateral economic
relation with Myanmar on the basis of regional cooperation due
to face the reality of competitive global economic
scenario," said BMBPC chairman Rashed Maksud Khan.
He said other countries will make use of the
advantage if the two countries fail to utilise the natural
resources of both sides despite existing opportunities.
Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia are now
considering investment in Myanmar due to its resources, he
added.
CCCI senior vice president SM Nurul Huq, vice
president MA Latif, BMBPC vice chairman Syed Mahmudul Huq, EPB
Director in Chittagong Kazi Mahbubur Rahman, former CCCI
president Engr Ali Ahmed and Youngone Corporation chairman Kihak
Sung also spoke at the meeting, said a press release.
Source: BurmaNet 9 Aug 2001
TOP
Reuters:
Bangladesh says 10 wounded by Myanmar firing
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Aug 9 (Reuters) -
Bangladesh said on Thursday that at least 10 Bangladeshi
fishermen were wounded when Myanmar border guards fired on them
inside Bangladesh territory.
``Myanmar border guards shot and wounded at
least 10 of our fishermen inside Bangladesh's water territory in
the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday,'' Lt. Col. Rafiqur Rahman
Bhuiyan said.
He told reporters the guards fired on four
Bangladeshi boats fishing near Saint Martin's island. Bhuiyan
said Bangladesh had lodged a protest with the Myanmar
government.
Source: BurmaNet 9 Aug 2001
TOP
AFP:
Russia set to strike arms deal in Myanmar: military
MOSCOW, Aug 8 (AFP) - A high-ranking Russian
military delegation has arrived in Yangon on a four-day visit to
sign arms contracts with the Myanmar government, the Russian
defense ministry said Tuesday.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Mikhail Dmitryev,
who arrived in Yangon Monday, is to sign an agreement on
military cooperation as well as a series of arms-sales contracts
with Myanmar's deputy prime minister and defense minister,
Lieutenant-General Tin Hla, the AVN military news agency quoted
the ministry as saying.
Although the Russian defense ministry did not
disclose the content and the amount of the contracts, AVN said
they could include the sale of MiG-29 fighters to Myanmar and
exceed 100 million dollars.
Russian officials said earlier that Moscow
considers Myanmar a promising partner in the Asia-Pacific
region.
The Myanmar junta is accused by the United
States and the European Union of frequent human rights abuses.
Source: BurmaNet 9 Aug 2001
TOP
DVB
: SPDC opens four new border trade posts
DVB has learned that the SPDC military government has amended
the border trading regulations and opened four new special
border trade zones. In accord with the new import and export
procedures, some formerly restricted items can now be exported.
DVB correspondent Myint Maung Maung filed this report.
[Myint Maung Maung] The SPDC has designated and opened four
new border trade posts - Sittwe, Hlaingtha, Lweje and Mergui on
25 July in addition to the current six special border trade
zones. The new import and export regulations have allowed the
export of eight items restricted since the introduction of
border trade in 1989. Furthermore, 10 out of 15 Thai foodstuff
items restricted since May have been allowed to import but MSG
[monosodium glutamate] packets, juice, dried foodstuff, canned
products and condensed milk tins are still prohibited. Exporters
and importers must apply and obtain approval at the regional
Trade Departments and Customs Offices three days in advance
providing the particulars, quantity and weight details of the
Burmese items to be exported and the particulars, quantity,
weight and recommended retail price details of the foreign items
to be imported. Moreover, border regulations supervisory units
have been sent to the four newly established border trade posts
and they have been ordered to commence their duties from 28
July.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma,31 July 2001
TOP
Press
Trust of India: India to build military bases in Andaman &
Nicobar-- Report
T V Parasuram, PTI
Washington, Aug 1
INDIA WILL spend $ 2 billion during the next
five years to establish new military bases in the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Defense News has reported. Approved by New
Delhi on July 5, it says, the bases will be used to monitor and
counter military and terrorist activities against India,
according to senior military officials. The command post in the
islands, they said, will be India's first full-fledged military
base in the region as well as its first to be run jointly by the
three branches of its military -- the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The bases will be in the Andaman and Nicobar
chain, 572 mostly uninhabited islands which stretch for hundreds
of miles in the eastern Bay of Bengal. The command post is
slated to be operational by August 15 although building and
equipping the bases will take years. The setting of the
tricommand in the islands was long overdue, especially in the
wake of deployment of missiles, weaponry and troops in Myanmar,
said Sament Harish, former Air Force officer. The bases, the
report said, will be commanded by a three- star military
officer.
Source: BurmaNet 6 Aug 2001
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