Weekly Digest 109

Weekly Digest, No. 109 (15 -21 August 2004)

Words

War is nine hundred and ninety-nine parts diarrhea. The real war will never get in the books.
Walt Whitman (1819-92), American poet, quoted in National Geographic, December 1994

With the (drug traders) you must use hammer and fist, that is, act decisively and without mercy.
PM Thaksin Shinawatra, 14 January 2003, quoted in Thaksin: The business of politics in Thailand,Silkworm Books, 2004

The World

13 August

Opening ceremony of Olympics bring myths of ancient Greece to life through 21st century technology. (Bangkok Post)

18 August
Maoist rebels impose unprecedented blockade of Nepal's capital Kathmandu triggering fuel rationing and pushing food prices up. (Reuters)

International-Relations

10 August
Two UNHCR officials meet KNPP top leaders to discuss resettlement of Karenni refugees in their homeland. The KNPP has again reiterated that sending back the refugees must come only after there is a political change. (KIC)

16 August
Burma�s female weightlifter, Nan Aye Khine, 27, stripped of her fourth place-finish in 14 August�s 106 pound class, after being tested positive for a banned steroid. (AFP)

18 August
Kofi Annan calls for immediate release of Burma�s opposition leaders and urges Rangoon to open a substantive dialogue. He warns its efforts to draft a constitution will lack credibility until opposition views are considered. His judgment is that the National Convention does not adhere to recommendations made by the UN General Assembly. (AP)

Despite belief that sanctions don�t work, one has to consider the basic rules: nothing works perfectly, nothing will work alone, costs matters as much as benefits and alternatives matter. It is almost never asked about military force, propaganda or diplomacy, the main alternatives. (LA Times)

Thai-Burma Relations

13 August
Announcement by Tak governor Sawat Srisuwandee says business operators are required to fill at least 20% of their work force with Thai nationals. A total of 120,658 aliens registered in Tak with the highest number 55,749 registering in Maesod, opposite Myawaddy. (Bangkok Post)

17 August
Migrant workers are talking freely on the streets in the Thai capital in their own language. Before they would talk less or not at all to avoid being noticed. (IPS)

19 August
Foreign ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow says despite NLD's absence from the National Convention the party remains involved in dialogue with high-level SPDC members. (Bangkok Post)

20 August
The National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC) is worried the more than 1 million registered foreign workers nationwide could be carriers of several diseases that have disappeared from Thailand such as elephantiasis, tuberculosis, dengue fever and syphilis and yearly give birth to 300,000 children who will be persons without nationality. (Bangkok Post)

21 August

Honorary consuls to Thailand are urged by PM Thaksin to help make FM Surakiart Sathirathai a serious contender for the top UN job. The UN, in its 60-year history has had only one Asian man, U Thant, he says. (Bangkok Post)

Politics

13 August
CRPP holds second meeting after Depayin massacre.

14-16 August
4th State Constitutions Seminar held. Participated by 30 federal and state constitutions drafting members. Discusses National Accord rough to counter Rangoon�s Six Objectives. (S.H.A.N.)

16 August
Petition to release NLD leaders rejected by Rangoon and Mandalay courts. AFP is told by a legal expert the bid fails because court officials fear reprisals. U Lwin vows to fight on. (RFA/AFP)

19 � 20 August
Ethnic Nationalities Council held meeting on the Tak border. (S.H.A.N.)

19 August
Kyi Maung, 85, former army officer and former leader of NLD, dies of heart attack. He left the party in 1997, reportedly due to differences with Suu Kyi but remained popular. (AP)

Shans

12 August
Shan State Army �South� clashes with Infantry Battalion 286�s commando company between Kali and Kunhing. Captain Min Thura wounded and dies on his way to the hospital. (S.H.A.N.)

18 August
SSA clashes with Light Infantry Battalion 553 in Monghsat. LI 553 suffers 2 killed in the 8-hour long duel, says SSA source. (S.H.A.N.)

Environment

15 August
Thailand�s future as a hub of foreign direct investment � FDI depends on having a stable power supply and therefore must cooperate with China and Japan to construct hydropower to Rangoon, said Thai ambassador to Rangoon Suphot Dhirakaosal. He declared to discuss the MoU between MDX and Burma in 2002 to build a 3,000 � 4,000 megawatt dam. A feasibility study is underway for the development of two sites on the Salween, Weigyi and Dagwin. Opponents say sites are identified and studied without consultation with surrounding communities. (Bangkok Post)

19 August
Rising water levels that began on 8 August have forced residents in southwestern Burma to leave their homes. 2,000 in Pantanaw and 400 villages in Htantabin. Last month, floods in Myitkyina claimed 50 lives and damaged 5,000 homes. (Irrawaddy)

Drugs

16 August
Third meeting of substitution development working group of Asean and China held at Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel. (NLOM)

17 August
More than 1,200 liters of liquid chemicals seized in Maehongson�s Mae Sariang District. The driver, Udomchai Jaimaha, who is arrested, claims he did not know it was illegal to possess the chemicals, contained in 80 plastic tanks. (Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agency)

War

SSA �South� clashes with Burma Army in Kunhing. See �Shans�.

General

15 August

U Wun, 96, known as Min Thu Wun, Burma�s well known poet, scholar and NLD MP, dies at his home. (Irrawaddy)