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BURMA RELATED NEWS - MARCH 15- 17, 2008
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HEADLINES
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AP - Thailand's new PM scolds Western nations for picking on Myanmar's
ruling junta
AP - Thailand's new PM defends Myanmar
AP - Pinheiro: No visit to Myanmar
AP - Imprisoned North Korean commando hospitalized in Myanmar
AP - Philippine opposition senators say they have not seen, let alone
dismissed ASEAN charter
AFP - Thailand, Myanmar sign investment pact: state media
AFP - Sanctions on Myanmar may take sparkle out of Thai jewelry
Reuters - Australia pressures China on Tibet; global protests
MCOT - FM Noppadon says Thailand not spokesman for Myanmar
IANS - Myanmar fails to make progress on democracy: UN rap****teur
CNA - MFA says Gambari=E2=80=99s recent visit to Myanmar not a failure
Times of India - Security posts alerted along Indo-Myanmar border
The Nation - Noppadon seems woefully uninformed on Burma issue
Irrawaddy - Thai Leaders=E2=80=99 Burma Comments Draw More Criticism
Mizzima News - Than Shwe's daughter pleads for furniture at fair
DVB News - Two ABFSU leaders arrested
DVB News - Arakan NLD urges action against referendum
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Thailand's new PM scolds Western nations for picking on Myanmar's
ruling junta
AP - Monday, March 17
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's new prime minister said Sunday
that Westerners are overly critical of Myanmar and he has newfound
respect for the ruling junta after learning that they meditate like
good Buddhists should.
"Westerners have a saying, 'Look at both sides of the coin,' but
Westerners only look at one side," Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
said in his weekly television talk show, two days after an official
visit to Myanmar.
"Myanmar is a Buddhist country. Myanmar's leaders meditate. They say
the country lives in peace," Samak said, noting that he has studied
Myanmar for decades but just learned that the junta meditates. Both
countries are predominantly Buddhist.
Myanmar's junta has come under global criticism for its deadly
crackdown on pro-democracy protesters last year and its detention of
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but Samak said he preferred to
talk about bilateral trade not democracy during talks with junta
chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe.
Many Western nations, including the United States and members of the
European Union, maintain economic and political sanctions against the
regime for its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power
to a democratically elected government.
But Thailand and most other Southeast Asian nations are less critical
and encourage companies to do business there.
Samak said he discussed investment op****tunities for Thai companies in
Myanmar, especially in the area of production and exploitation of
natural gas and hydropower projects.
"We want to do something about dams. Than Shwe told me, 'You can do it
here and here and here. Find the investors and do it," said Samak,
whose coalition government took office last month. "Myanmar only uses
a small amount of electricity. Thailand needs electricity."
Blackouts and power cuts are common in Myanmar, where the military
regime has distributed electricity under a rationing system for the
past decade, barely keeping up with rising demand.
The power rationing does not affect so-called "VIP areas" where senior
government and military officials reside.
Thai state-owned energy companies are the largest purchasers of gas
from Myanmar, contributing almost US$2 billion (=EF=BF=BD1.3 billion) a
year=
to the military regime.
"They found new gas resources. I negotiated with them so we can sign
contracts," Samak said, adding that the junta wants to build a
pipeline to its largest city, Yangon. "Myanmar doesn't have money to
build the pipeline. Thai companies will do that for them."
He said Thailand's approach to dealing with Myanmar was in the spirit
of good neighborly relations.
"We have three neighbors: Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar," he said. "We
use their resources, all three of them. If we have this great
relation****p, why should we pick on them?"
Thailand also borders Malaysia.
************************************************************
Thailand's new PM defends Myanmar
Sun Mar 16, 5:16 AM ET
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's new prime minister said Sunday
Westerners were overly critical of Myanmar and that he had a newfound
respect for the nation's military leaders after learning they meditate
like good Buddhists.
"Westerners have a saying, 'Look at both sides of the coin,' but
Westerners only look at one side," Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
said in his weekly television talk show, two days after an official
visit to Myanmar.
"Myanmar is a Buddhist country. Myanmar's leaders meditate. They say
the country lives in peace," Samak said, noting that he has studied
Myanmar for decades but just learned that members of the junta
meditate. Both countries are predominantly Buddhist.
Myanmar's junta has come under global criticism for its deadly
crackdown on pro-democracy protesters last year and its detention of
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but Samak said he preferred to
talk about bilateral trade not democracy during talks with junta
chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe.
Many Western nations, including the United States and members of the
European Union, maintain economic and political sanctions against the
regime for its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power
to a democratically elected government.
But Thailand and most other Southeast Asian nations are less critical
and encourage companies to do business there.
Samak said he discussed investment op****tunities for Thai companies in
Myanmar, especially in the production and exploitation of natural gas
and hydropower projects.
"We want to do something about dams. Than Shwe told me, 'You can do it
here and here and here. Find the investors and do it," said Samak,
whose coalition government took office last month. "Myanmar only uses
a small amount of electricity. Thailand needs electricity."
Thai state-owned energy companies are the largest purchasers of gas
from Myanmar, contributing almost $2 billion a year to the military
regime.
"They found new gas resources. I negotiated with them so we can sign
contracts," Samak said, adding that the junta wants to build a
pipeline to its largest city, Yangon. "Myanmar doesn't have money to
build the pipeline. Thai companies will do that for them."
************************************************************
Pinheiro: No visit to Myanmar
Sat Mar 15, 7:12 AM ET
GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. human rights investigator on Myanmar said
Saturday he will not visit the Asian country before the end of his
mandate.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro says an earlier announcement that Yangon had
granted him a visa was a misunderstanding. Myanmar has refused to let
the U.N.-appointed rights expert visit since his trip there in
November.
Pinheiro, who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday, has strongly
criticized Myanmar's military government for last year's deadly
crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, and says he does not believe
the government's claim it's paving the way for free elections.
Pinheiro's mandate as an independent expert on Myanmar is due to end
soon with the appointment of a successor by the U.N. Human Rights
Council.
************************************************************
Imprisoned North Korean commando hospitalized in Myanmar
AP - Tuesday, March 18
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A North Korean commando who has been held in
Myanmar's notorious Insein prison for nearly 25 years was hospitalized
last week, a hospital staffer said Monday.
Kang Ming Chul was the only survivor of three North Korean commandos
involved in a bloody bombing during an October 1983 visit by South
Korea's then-President Chun Doo-hwan. Chun was unhurt but 21 other
people died, including four South Korean Cabinet ministers.
Last week Kang, now 53, was taken under tight security to the Yangon
General Hospital for treatment of a serious liver ailment, a hospital
staffer said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals
from authorities in tightly controlled, military-run Myanmar.
Yangon is the largest city in the country, which is also known as
Burma.
Of the three North Korean bombers, one was hanged in Insein and the
second blew himself up after he was arrested.
The two countries severed diplomatic relations after the attack, but
ties have improved in recent years and Pyongyang has become a supplier
to Myanmar's military.
Myanmar and North Korea resumed diplomatic ties in April last year.
************************************************************
Philippine opposition senators say they have not seen, let alone
dismissed ASEAN charter
AP - Monday, March 17
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippine Senate would consider
ratifying a landmark Southeast Asian charter that bolstered democracy
and human rights in a region blighted by violations, two senators said
Monday.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the nine other leaders of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states signed the
charter last November in Singa****e and pledged to have it ratified by
each of their parliaments by November this year.
Arroyo has however warned that Filipino legislators could find it
difficult to ratify the charter if military-ruled Myanmar, an ASEAN
member with a dismal human rights record, does not restore democracy
and free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
All ASEAN members must ratify the charter or it will not come into
force. Brunei, Laos, Malaysia and Singa****e have already done so.
Sen. Francis Escudero, an opposition leader, said Monday that Arroyo
had no right to speak on behalf of the opposition-dominated Senate,
pointing out that senators had yet to discuss the charter because the
president had not submitted it to the Senate _ the only chamber able
to ratify treaties.
``It's unfair and presumptuous, at the least, for her to say that
we'll block this do***ent when we haven't even seen it,'' Escudero
said, adding that opposition senators ``were keeping an open mind.''
Escudero said he has read an unofficial copy of the charter and found
it ``a good starting do***ent'' to strengthen trust in a region ridden
with conflicts.
Opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., a vocal critic of Myanmar's
junta, said he wanted to *****s whether the charter could help prevent
human rights violations in countries such as Myanmar.
``There should be respect for human rights and of course free
elections as a manifestation of democratic practice,'' Pimentel said.
The long-overdue charter is aimed at formally turning the 40-year-old
ASEAN _ often derided as a powerless talk shop _ into a rules-based
legal entity. That means ASEAN could sue and be sued under the
charter, and would be held accountable for all the treaties and
agreements it signs.
A key pledge in the charter, which promotes democracy and human
rights, is the setting up of a regional human rights body. Critics say
such a body would have limited impact unless it was empowered to
impose sanctions on governments that violate human rights.
ASEAN was founded during the Cold War years as an anti-communist
coalition, eventually evolving into a trade and political bloc. It
consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singa****e, Thailand, and Vietnam.
************************************************************
Thailand, Myanmar sign investment pact: state media
AFP - Saturday, March 15
YANGON (AFP) - - Thailand and neighbouring Myanmar have signed an
agreement to boost investment during a one-day official visit to the
military-run country by the kingdom's premier, state media said
Saturday.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej also met with Myanmar's junta
leader General Than Shwe on Friday in the country's new capital of
Naypyidaw, the official New Light of Myanmar daily said without giving
further details.
The paper gave no details of the trade pact. A Thai government
spokesman could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
Thailand is one of Myanmar's biggest investors and trading partners,
spending billions of dollars annually to tap into the country's
natural gas and hydropower resources to power its own growing economy.
The kingdom is at odds with the West over ways to deal with Myanmar's
military regime, which sparked global outrage following its deadly
crackdown on peaceful protests in September 2007.
The United States and the European Union tightened sanctions against
Myanmar's ruling generals after the suppression.
But Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Friday the kingdom
opposed sanctions, arguing that negotiations rather than punishments
could lead to positive developments in the country, which has been run
by the military since 1962.
************************************************************
Sanctions on Myanmar may take sparkle out of Thai jewelry
AFP - Sunday, March 16
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai jewellers are buying highly coveted rubies and
jade at an official auction this week in Myanmar, which supplies
stones for the kingdom's booming, multi-billion-dollar jewelry
industry.
But once they cut and set the gems, they could face problems selling
them as companies and western governments move to ban trade in
precious stones from the military-ruled state.
Myanmar has about 153 million dollars worth of gems on the auction
block this week, at the second official sale of the year in a country
that produces some of the world's most spectacular stones.
Up to 90 percent of the world's rubies are from Myanmar, including
"pigeon blood" rubies that are considered the finest in the world,
sometimes costing more per-carat than a diamond.
Imperial jade -- emerald green in colour -- is another Myanmar
treasure that is highly sought after.
However, leading jewellers including Tiffany, Cartier and Bulgari, are
refusing to sell the stones in protest at the military's deadly
crackdown on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in
September.
Their boycott is backed up by tightened sanctions in the European
Union, which ban trade in Myanmar's gems.
The United States is also moving to close a loophole in its sanctions
regime, which had allowed the sale of Myanmar stones as long as they
were cut in Thailand.
That has cast a shadow over Thailand's jewelry ex****ts, which soared
33 percent last year to 185.15 billion baht (5.8 billion dollars).
The kingdom's top buyer is the United States, followed by Hong Kong
and Australia, according to government data.
"Sanctions over trade in gems from Myanmar by the US or the European
Union will certainly hurt some gem and jewelry ex****ters in Thailand,"
said Vichai Assarasakorn, president of the Thai Gem and Jewellery
Traders' Association.
He estimated that up to two million dollars worth of gems, mainly
rubies, are im****ted into Thailand from Myanmar each year. But he said
there are no official im****t records, so it's impossible to know the
exact amount.
The actual figure could be much higher. Myanmar sells more than 300
million dollars worth of precious stones every year, and Thailand and
China are the two biggest buyers.
Jewellers associations from around the world plan to meet in
Switzerland next month to draft a letter calling on the United States
not to ban all sales of Myanmar gems, he said.
"The US government and politicians need to thoroughly consider all the
information, because their sanctions may not be the right answer to
solve the problem," he said.
Thai traders agree with the goal of promoting democracy in Myanmar,
but they say the ban would hurt the 400,000 people in Myanmar who
depend on gem mining and trading to earn a living.
Human rights groups argue that workers in Myanmar's officially run
mines toil in deplorable conditions and are sometimes subjected to
forced labour, but Vichai said ordinary people do benefit from the
trade.
"The junta might have an amount of gems for its auction sales. But, a
greater amount of rubies remain in the hands of ordinary people in
Myanmar who need to trade gems for their living," Vichai said.
Those stones slip into Myanmar's vast black market, which economists
estimate is larger than the formal economy. With scant border controls
between Myanmar and Thailand, small-scale miners can slip across the
border to sell their stones, bypassing regulations.
Less than 15 percent of Thailand's im****ted gemstones come from
Myanmar, said Dej Pathanasethpong, chairman of the Thai Chamber of
Commerce's Fa****on and Jewelry Industry Club.
He warned that enforcing a ban will prove difficult.
"It is not easy to prove the origin of rubies," Dej said.
Despite growing attention to the Southeast Asian country's gem trade
after the junta's crackdown on anti-government demonstrators, demand
for Myanmar's rubies has not subsided, said Choosak Tangkoonsombat,
manager of Petcharat Im****t and Ex****t company.
His company ex****ted 15 million baht (475,000 dollars) worth of
jewelry last year to Europe, mostly to France, with much of the
****pments including rubies and sapphires, he said.
"Red rubies are in great demand and the fine quality ones cannot be
found anywhere other than Myanmar," he said.
Tougher US and EU sanctions have not deterred him from changing his
business practises, he said.
"Our business has carried on as usual. Our customers are happy with
the products. They did not express any concerns over sanctions on gems
from Myanmar," Choosak said.
************************************************************
Australia pressures China on Tibet; global protests
By James Grubel
CANBERRA, March 17 (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
said China's crackdown in Tibet was disturbing while scuffles broke
out at protests in Paris and New York as international pressure
mounted on China to show restraint.
Western governments have expressed concern about the unrest in Lhasa
which on Sunday spread to neighbouring Tibetan enclaves in China.
Beijing has given "troublemakers" from Friday's deadly riots in Lhasa
until midnight on Monday to turn themselves in.
"These most recent developments in Tibet are disturbing. I would call
on the Chinese authorities to exercise restraint," Rudd told re****ters
on Monday.
China is Australia's top trading partner.
Rudd, a former diplomat who speaks fluent Mandarin, said Australia had
long recognised China's sovereignty over Tibet. He said human rights
issues were regularly raised in top level discussions with Chinese
leaders.
The Australian Greens criticised Rudd's comments, comparing his call
for restraint with calls for targeted sanctions against Myanmar when
its soldiers shot and jailed Buddhist democracy demonstrators last
year. "Our prime minister and this government has got to get some
backbone over Tibet and speak up and look the Chinese communist
dictator****p in the eye when Kevin Rudd gets to China," Australia
Greens Senator Bob Brown told re****ters.
Australia's plea for restraint echoed similar calls from the United
States, Europe and Japan.
France said it was monitoring the situation in Tibet "with close
attention with our European partners". "With the approach of the
Olympic Games, which ought to be a great show of fraternity, France
would like to draw the attention of the Chinese authorities to the
im****tance of respecting human rights," a Foreign Ministry statement
said.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier phoned his Chinese
counterpart Yang Jiechi, his office said in a statement on Sunday, and
expressed the German government's very serious worries.
"Everything must be done to prevent a further escalation of the
situation and to enable a peaceful end to the conflict," the statement
said.
"Minister Steinmeier calls on his Chinese counterparts to offer as
much transparency as possible over the events in Tibet and asks them
to do everything possible to ensure the safety of German citizens and
tourists."
In Asia, where many countries have im****tant trade or strategic
relation****ps with China, official comments, if any have tended to be
cir***spect.
A South Korea Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a news briefing on
Monday:
"We are closely watching the situation in Tibet. We hope the issue is
resolved peacefully without any casualties. I do not think it is
appropriate to speak on the impact this matter will have at this
current stage."
Over the weekend Japan's Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura called for
calm, adding: "I ask that the Chinese government give thorough
consideration (to this) so that the Olympics will not be affected."
PROTESTS
There have been daily pro-Tibet protests around the world since last
Monday, the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule.
On Sunday, French riot police used tear gas to disperse around 500 pro-
Tibetan sup****ters from around the Chinese embassy on Paris's chic
avenue George V.
Protesters held up banners with slogans such as "I Am With The Dalai
Lama" and "China's Lying, Tibetans Are Dying".
At one point, a demonstrator climbed onto the first floor balcony of
the embassy to take down the Chinese flag and replace it with the
Tibetan one.
In New York, police said protesters threw rocks at officers gathered
outside the Chinese consulate in Manhattan.
There were also ugly demonstrations in Australia at the weekend.
A leading Vietnamese dissident Buddhist monk condemned the violence in
Tibet and said "brute force cannot engender peace" in the Himalayan
region ruled by China.
Thich Quang Do, whose Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam is outlawed
by the Communist Party government, has been imprisoned or lived under
restrictions at his monastery in Ho Chi Minh City over decades of
opposition to authorities.
"The peaceful protests of Buddhists all over Asia -- in Tibet, Burma
and Vietnam -- are being quelled with brutality and bloodshed," Do
said in a statement distributed by e-mail through the Paris-based
International Buddhist Information Bureau.
"The Chinese government says repression will bring 'order and
stability'. But we Buddhists know that violence cannot dispel
violence, that brute force cannot engender peace."
************************************************************
MCOT
FM Noppadon says Thailand not spokesman for Myanmar
BANGKOK, March 15 (TNA) -- Thailand's Foreign Minister Noppadon
Pattama said Saturday that the Samak government is not acting as
spokesman for the Myanmar government in its bid to explain to the
international community its so-called "roadmap to democracy".
Mr. Noppadon, who accompanied Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej for a
one-day official visit to neighboring Myanmar on Friday, said he had
held talks with his Myanmarese counterpart U Nyan Win and urged the
Myanmar government to cooperate with the United Nations in developing
a democratic system in that country.
Mr. Nyan Win said he would discuss the issue with the Myanmar
government and was willing to exchange information on conducting a
public referendum on his country's draft constitution with Thailand,
said Mr. Noppadon.
Plans by Thailand to explain to the world on its willingness to assist
Myanmar should not be interpreted as Thailand having become spokesman
of the Myanmar government, but was simply being carried out as an act
of neighbourliness, Mr. Noppadon said.
The Thai diplomat was referring to comments made by Thai Prime
Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday after meeting Senior General Than
Shwe regarding military-ruled Myanmar's plans for its self-designated
"roadmap to democracy" that he would inform the leaders of European
countries when he visits them in future and that he would speak at the
UN General Assembly in September.
Leaders of military-ruled Myanmar last month made a surprise
announcement that it would hold a referendum in May on a draft
constitution and would hold a general election in 2010.
The elections will be the first since detained democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy to a landslide
victory in the 1990 elections, but the party's victory was never
recognised by the junta.
Several Western countries, including the US and European Union
members, have maintained economic and political sanctions against
Myanmar for its alleged human rights violations and its failure to
hand over power to a democratically elected government.
Ruled by the military since a 1962 coup d'etat deposed the elected
government of Prime Minister U Nu, the country that was then called
Burma has been ruled by military ever since. The ruling junta has
changed composition several times but democracy has not been allowed
back.
In 1988 the junta changed the name of the country from Burma to
Myanmar.
************************************************************
IANS: Myanmar fails to make progress on democracy: UN rap****teur
Fri, Mar 14 10:32 PM
Geneva, March 14 (DPA) The military Junta in Myanmar had failed to
make any real concessions to democracy, the UN special rap****teur said
Friday suggesting efforts were more make-believe than real.
Paulo Pinheiro told re****ters in Geneva: 'If you believe in gnomes, in
trolls and in elves then you can believe in this process of
democracy.'
The Myanmar authorities have moved to silence international criticism
following September's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators
and announced a
series of measures they claim will transform the country to a
democracy.
'They don't give any concessions. For Latin Americans, eastern and
southern Europeans and Asian democracies we cannot give a certificate
of democratic transition because this is not happening,' said
Pinheiro.
He was speaking after presenting his final re****t on Myanmar to the
Human Rights Council the previous day. He is due to hand the brief to
a successor.
He said the Myanmar government had paid no heed to the UN Security
Council or resolutions by the Human Rights Council.
He said he saw no evidence that anyone responsible for September's
killings or excessive use of force had been brought to book.
'I am afraid 'accountability' does not translate in the Myanmar
language,' he said.
The referendum, scheduled for an undisclosed date in May, is at the
forefront of the Junta's democratization efforts but has already
provoked protest at home.
Pinheiro said a referendum could not be democratic if it excluded
political parties and opposition figures.
He praised China for the 'positive role' it had played in the region
in trying to find a solution.
Pinheiro had been accused of a lack of 'objectivity' and
'impartiality' by Myanmar after presenting his re****t to the Council
Thursday.
Myanmar said the visit by the UN Secretary-General's special adviser
and meeting with the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi pointed to the
regime's commitment to democratic reform.
************************************************************
MFA says Gambari=E2=80=99s recent visit to Myanmar not a failure
Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, March 15
SINGA****E : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said that
Singa****e and ASEAN would continue to sup****t United Nations Special
Envoy Ibrahim Gambari=E2=80=99s efforts to engage the Myanmar authorities.
Responding to media queries, the Ministry said while it was
unfortunate that Professor Gambari=E2=80=99s visit to Myanmar over the
last
weekend did not yield substantive results, the media should not label
the visit as a failure.
Professor Gambari has already met with Myanmar ministers and high=E2=80=94
ranking government officials, as well as opposition politicians,
including detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
MFA said that these were positive developments.
Still, it acknowledged that much needs to be done to ensure an
inclusive political process, and Singa****e has urged the Myanmar
authorities to reconsider their position.
It also urged the international community to continue to sup****t
Professor Gambari=E2=80=99s efforts, as he remains the best prospect for
moving the political process forward.
************************************************************
Times of India
Security posts alerted along Indo-Myanmar border
17 Mar 2008, 1300 hrs IST,PTI
MOREH (MANIPUR): Security posts in this border town of Manipur's
Chandel district have been put on high alert after Saturday's ambush
by insurgents on an Assam Rifles post left two persons dead, official
sources said on Monday.
Random security patrolling has also been intensified to detect the
movement of insurgents of Manipur People's Army (MPA), armed wing of
United National Liberation Front (UNLF), which attacked the post of
24th Assam Rifles battalion at T. Minou village, about 5 km west of
this town.
Police sources said a civilian identified as Holkhomang Mate was
killed in crossfire during the ambush in which rifleman Mohammad
Hadish was also charred to death.
The sources said a large number of MPA insurgents were present along
the international border, who might strike at the security posts
anytime, about 120 kms south-east of Imphal.
************************************************************
The Nation
Noppadon seems woefully uninformed on Burma issue
Julian Pieniazek, ****hon Ratchasima
Published on Mar 17, 2008
The latest edict from Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama concerning his
government's policy toward Burma is monumentally and breathtakingly
staggering in the way it completely ignores all the plainly dreadful
facts of recent events in Burma.
His edict ignores the brutal assault and murder of monks and peaceful
citizenry and the abject state of a nation that was once (before the
generals) a ****ning light of development in the region. Now some 70
per cent of the population are living on a dollar a day, infant
mortality rates are among the worst in the world (according to a UN
study, nearly 400 children under the age of five die every day from
preventable diseases) and per-capita spending on health and education
is around 50 US cents per year!
But that is only part of it. The foreign minister also seems to be
totally unaware of the complete and utter intransigence being shown by
the junta in the face of all efforts by the UN and most governments
around the world to encourage serious moves toward real democracy.
Noppadon Pattama's apparent attempt at rapprochement with the generals
is a slur against the whole of Thailand - any government that cares to
deal with such murderers and crooks drags their country's reputation
through the most stench-ridden gutter imaginable. Can he honestly
believe that his words stand a snowball-in-hell's chance of being
taken at face value when he chooses to completely disregard the
"elephants in the sitting room" - human rights, justice and the litany
of crimes against the Burmese people committed by that dreadful
regime?
************************************************************
The Irrawaddy
Thai Leaders=E2=80=99 Burma Comments Draw More Criticism
By VIOLET CHO - Monday, March 17, 2008
Thai human rights groups have launched a wave of criticism over recent
comments by Thai officials in sup****t of Burma=E2=80=99s dictatorial
militar=
y
regime, which continues to deny its citizens basic human rights.
Thai Foreign Minister Noppodon Pattama promised to hand any remaining
funds from a 4 million baht (US$127,000) soft loan back to Burma
during his visit last week as a member of the Thai delegation led by
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to strengthen economic ties between
the two countries.
The loan was signed between the Myanmar [Burma] Foreign Trade Bank and
the Ex****t-Im****t Bank of Thailand in mid-2004 during the
administration of Thaksin ****nawatra, who was overthrown in a coup in
2006.
Noppodon also confirmed that Thailand plans to push ahead on the
construction of the Tasang dam on the Salween River.
His statements drew criticism from human rights activists and
environmental groups.
=E2=80=9CI think that the Thai foreign policy on Burma should also
consider
the promotion of human rights and democracy in Burma and not only the
business benefits,=E2=80=9D said Somchai Homlaor, the general secretary of
t=
he
Human Right and Development Foundation, a leading Thai human rights
group based in Bangkok.
=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t think the Thai government, which claims to come
fro=
m
democratic elections, should sup****t a military dictator****p.
Thailand=E2=80=99s help and business deals will prolong dictator****p in
Burma,=E2=80=9D he said. =E2=80=9CThey [the junta] use our money to
suppress=
their
people. Because Burma is not a democratic country, many of their
problems can not be solved. We will have more refugees, migrants and
drug issues.=E2=80=9D
The Tasang dam project in Burma has been widely criticized for poor
environmental and social impact studies.
Thailand received a concession to build Tasang dam about 10 years ago
to boost energy security in Thailand. MDX, a Thai firm, signed an
agreement with Burma in 2002 to develop the project.
The 7,110-megawatt dam is the largest proposed dam project on the
Salween River. It would create a reservoir flooding hundreds of square
kilometers in Shan State in northeast Burma and thousands of Burmese
people would be displaced, say environmentalists.
Sai Sai, a member of Salween Watch, a local organization that deals
with environmental issues in Burma, told The Irrawaddy on Monday,
=E2=80=9CThailand will be responsible for the displacement of thousands of
people by that dam project. The Thai government knows about
Burma=E2=80=99s
political instability and on-going conflicts inside the country, and
they are using it as an op****tunity to exploit things in Burma.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CThe Thai government only considers its own business interests to
ge=
t
energy through the Burma mega-dam project,=E2=80=9D he said. =E2=80=9CThe
Th=
ai
government doesn=E2=80=99t have any sympathy for the people of Burma and
the=
ir
suffering under the military regime.=E2=80=9D
Areas near the Salween River have long been a conflict zone for the
Burmese military regime, which is fighting ethnic Shan and Karen
armies.
Thailand is building or is a joint-partner in more than seven dam
projects on the Salween River, all of which were put on hold after the
September 2006 coup that ousted former premier Thaksin ****nawatra, who
actively pursued business deals with the military regime during his
term between 2001 and 2006.
Prime Minister Samak also met with junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe on
Friday in the country's capital of Naypyidaw, the state-run newspaper
The New Light of Myanmar re****ted.
After a one-day visit to Burma, Samak said the country had =E2=80=9Cpeace
an=
d
order=E2=80=9D and its military leader, Snr Gnr Than Shwe, with whom he
met,=
was a good Buddhist who meditated and prayed daily.
=E2=80=9CKillings and suppressions are normal there, but we have to
understa=
nd
the facts,=E2=80=9D said Samak. =E2=80=9CThe general view of this country
ha=
s always
been one-sided, but there are two sides to a coin.=E2=80=9D
During the meeting, Thailand also pledged to develop the Tavoy deep-
sea ****t in southern Burma to help open up trade and business links
between the two countries, according to foreign minister Noppodon.
He said Thailand opposed economic sanctions against the junta,
preferring =E2=80=9Cnegotiations rather than punishments=E2=80=9D could
lead=
to more
positive developments in the country that has been run by the military
since 1962.
According to figures compiled by the Foreign Trade Department,
Thailand currently ranks as Burma's third-largest foreign investor,
with investments of $1.3 billion in 2007. Britain ranks first with
$1.5 billion worth of investments, followed by Singa****e with $1.4
billion. Thailand also ranks among Burma's leading trade partners.
************************************************************
Mizzima News - 17 March 2008
Than Shwe's daughter pleads for furniture at fair
Rangoon =E2=80=93 In an acute display of lack of self respect, Khin
Thandar
Shwe, daughter of Burmese military junta supremo Snr. Gen. Than Shwe,
visited the Myanmar Furniture Fair, pleaded and took away furniture
worth approximately USD 10,000 without payment, sources said.
She visited 'Myanmar Furniture Fair 2008' held at the Armed Forces
Hall (Envoy Hall) in U Wisara Road, Rangoon on March 8. She took away
a truckload of woodcrafts and furniture in a 'CANTER' truck. Most of
the stuff was from 'Golden Pollen Myanmar'.
"She took away all she wanted without making any payment. The
furniture companies did not dare ask for payment from her because most
of these companies are running on im****t-ex****t licenses issued by
Myanmar Timber Cor****ation," a source in the industry said.
A staff member from another company said they gave the furniture to
her free of cost.
The biennial furniture fair was scheduled to be held from March 3 to 7
but was extended for another two days.
Thandar Shwe, daughter of Snr. Gen. Than Shwe and Kyaing Kyaing, was
married in July 2006. In the videotape of the wedding ceremony, she
was seen wearing a lot of diamonds.
The lavish wedding ceremony where USD 50 million was rumored to have
been spent in one of the poorest countries in the world became
infamous. The physical possession of the video disc and video tape of
the wedding ceremony carries a prison term and it was strictly banned
in Burma.
************************************************************
Two ABFSU leaders arrested
Mar 17, 2008 (DVB)=E2=80=93Two key leaders of the All-Burmese Federation
of
Student Unions, Ko Kyaw Ko Ko and Ko Nyan Linn Aung, were arrested by
authorities on Sunday, group members said.
ABSFU spokesperson Ko Linn Htet Naing told DVB that Kyaw Ko Ko and
Nyan Linn Aung were arrested last night by government officials but
would not give the location of the arrest.
"ABSFU leaders Ko Kyaw Ko Ko and Ko Nyan Linn Aung were arrested last
night," said Linn Htet Naing.
"Arresting people like this will not bring democracy to anyone."
Ko Kyaw Kyaw, leader of youth activist group Generation Wave, was also
arrested by authorities on 13 March, Linn Htet Naing said.
************************************************************
Arakan NLD urges action against referendum
Mar 17, 2008 (DVB)=E2=80=93National League for Democracy members in Arakan
state and Magwe division have said they are ready to oppose the
constitutional referendum the government plans to hold in May.
Arakan state NLD members vowed to sabotage the upcoming referendum and
said they hoped other NLD branches would do the same.
U Than Hlaing, secretary of the Arakan NLD organising committee, said
a meeting of committee members and 1990 elected people=E2=80=99s
parliament
representatives had agreed it would call on people within the state
and in other regional NLD branches to join them in their activities to
oppose the national referendum.
=E2=80=9CWe are going get in touch and cooperate with NLD organising
committees from other regions of Burma,=E2=80=9D said Than Hlaing.
=E2=80=9CAt this time, they already know what should be done and we are
all
going to do it together.=E2=80=9D
In a statement released by the Arakan NLD representatives and
organising committee members, the group said it firmly opposed the
SPDC=E2=80=99s draft constitution.
=E2=80=9CWe are making a very clear statement here of our strong
denouncemen=
t
of the SPDC government=E2=80=99s unbalanced constitution, written without
th=
e
full involvement of true ethnic leaders and parliament members elected
by the people, and of the upcoming referendum where votes will be
collected to approve it,=E2=80=9D the statement said.
=E2=80=9CWe stand firm on our policy of not giving the SPDC a chance to
hold=
the referendum successfully and bring all the people of Burma under
the military dictator****p, and we will organise effective campaigns
and encourage people to work with us.=E2=80=9D
In Yay Nan Chaung town****p, Magwe division, the local NLD denounced
the planned referendum in their monthly meeting, which was held on
Thursday at the house of chairperson U Khin Win.
U Than Aung, a member of the Yay Nan Chaung NLD communication
committee said the group would follow any instructions from NLD
headquarters on how to work against the referendum.
=E2=80=9CThis national referendum is illegitimate and we cannot accept it
in=
any way,=E2=80=9D Than Aung said.
=E2=80=9CBut we are ready and standing by to deal with it according to
whatever guidelines the headquarters gives us.=E2=80=9D
************************************************************
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