Independence Weekly

Independence Weekly, No. 53 (19 - 25 July 2003)

The World
18 July
Burma and North Korea are at the far end of the scale of internet repression, says Shanthil Kalathil, author of Open Networks, Closed Regimes. (AP)

21 July
Uday and Qusay, sons of deposed Saddam Hussein, killed in US raid. 

26 July
Court orders arrest of junta leaders. Now, don't get excited just yet. It is only a newspaper headline for a court order issued by an Argentine judge for the arrest of 46 former top officials from the country's 1976-83 military regime. (S.H.A.N.)

International Relations
17 July
FM Yoriko Kawaguchi asks the Asean through its current chair Indonesia to send a mission to "Myanmar" to urge its rulers to release Suu Kyi. (Jiji Press Ticker)

Burma issue discussed in US Security Council. (DVB)

18 July
The NLD-LA ahs received unofficial invitation from Yunnan officials to discuss current political situation in Burma, says Nyo Ohn Myint, Foreign Affairs Committee member. (Irrawaddy)

19 July
Burma military junta has been put on US rogue government list. Others on the list are from Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Zimbabwe and Belarus. (VOB)

20 July
Burma might have to be expelled from Asean "as a last resort" if its rulers continue to incarcerate Aung San Suu Kyi, says Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad. "If they are willing to defy the world, then what can Malays do?" (AFP)

(W)e are not criticizing (Burma) for doing what is not related to us, but what they have done has affected us, our credibility. 
PM Mahathir Mohamad, AFP, 20 July 2003

22 July
French president and PM Mahathir Mohamad say invasion of Burma in order to achieve regime change is unthinkable though they do not approve the attitude of Burmese authorities. (WP)

23 July
Asean will be sending a delegation to Burma soon, but Philippine FM Blas Ople refuses to say exactly when. (AP)

Foreign ministers from Asean and EU begin two-day formal talks. Burma is not attending. (VOB)

24 July
ASEM emerges with a common document for the first time - urging Rangoon to immediately release Suu Kyi and resume efforts towards national reconciliation and democracy. (AFP)

European nations at Asian-Europe Meeting make it clear Burma will not become a member of ASEM until it releases Aung San Suu Kyi and allows democracy. (Bangkok Post) Cambodia and Laos also failed to get admitted. (AFP)

Thai-Burma Relations
17 July
Talking about the proposed 'road map" to Rangoon, FM Surakiat says Bangkok would like to see Burma announcing a clearcut plan: its process towards democracy, when Aung San Suu Kyi shall be released and when it will have a constitution. (BN) It had been given to Deputy FM Khin Maung Win during his visit to Thailand, 2-3 July. Senator Kraisak Choonhavan meanwhile says Thailand should include conditions to encourage the junta to respect human rights. He also agrees Thailand is not in a position to impose economic sanctions on Burma. (The Nation) So far Rangoon has been cool on the road map idea. (BP)

18 July
Two gunmen who allegedly killed a close aide of Kanjanaburi MP Maj Gen Sornchai Montriwat handed over by Tachilek authorities to the Thai police. It is not known whether the Wa in Sansai Leu where they were caught had agreed to the capture. (S.H.A.N.)

FM Surakiart calls on the international community to meet the junta halfway at the negotiation table if it wants to resolve Burma's conflicts. 23-24 July meeting of Asia-Europe foreign ministers in Bali will raise Burma issue. (Bangkok Post) 

23 July
FM Win Aung will visit Thailand on 31 July. He will tour Asian countries to brief neighbors on the latest Aung San Suu Kyi situation. (Reuters)

24 July
Response from FM Win Aung on Thailand's roadmap is encouraging, says FM Surakiart. China, among others, has expressed interest to attend the forum to be held in Thailand before the end of this year pending Rangoon's agreement. All political groups and armed ethnic groups will also be invited to the forum. (The Nation) Aung Moe Zaw, NCUB General Secretary, says elected representatives should not be forgotten in the invitation. As for Khun Toon Oo's response, see Shans. (Irrawaddy)

Gen Surayud Chulanont travels to Rachaburi now and then to testify before a provincial court in defense of army assault on provincial hospital in January 2000 to free staff and patients held hostage by Burmese guerillas. (Bangkok Post)

Thailand has proposed Burma roadmap to "5-6 countries" during the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and wants them to comment so that it becomes something that is practical" according to FM Surakiart Sathirathai. He has yet to divulge details. (Bangkok Post)

Politics
17 July
May Hnin Kyi, MP-Mogok, rearrested after her release yesterday. (DVB)

18 July
Burma's junta says it has released 91 prisoners detained over 30 May clashes. Names of 31 of those freed are disclosed. Nobody knew how many have been detained over the event. (AFP) New arrests are being made in the meanwhile, according to news from Rangoon, Moulmein and Kawsawng (Kawthoung), says DVB. 

Junta-run New Light of Myanmar stresses the need to realize three key elements for the emergence of a democratic state: to build national reconciliation "without fail taking lessons of the past", for the armed forces to play a role in the national politics, and to modernize and develop the nation's productive forces. (XNA)

Exiled Arakan League for Democracy leader, Khaing Myo Khaing, 55, passes away in Chiangmai. The party won 11 out of 26 parliamentary seats in Rakhine state. (Narinjara)

19 July
Suu Kyi is unable to attend a ceremony marking her father's assassination. The Aung San family is represented by Aung San Oo, 60, a US citizen, who is in Rangoon as a special guest of the military government. The three top generals do not attend. (Thai TV) 

21 July
'Young Turks' officers led by Chief of Staff Shwe Mann are demanding resolution of conflict with Aung San Suu Kyi and a cabinet reshuffle that will make Than Shwe 'head of state' and Khin Nyunt prime minister. The outcome is expected in a week or so far. (The Nation)

24 July
The 91 released prisoners were freed only after agreeing a strict set of conditions, including not to speak about the 30 May incident. ((Irrawaddy)

Shans
21 July
Shan Democratic Union General Secretary Wansai currently on a visit to Thailand is briefed by Shan activist groups on the border of current situation. He had just been on a lobbying tour in Europe and is keen to acquire fresh inputs. (S.H.A.N.)

25 July
Khun Toon Oo, Shan leader, says he is unclear whether Thailand's roadmap will be any different to the current UN approach. 

Economic / Business
14 July
Germany donates $ 150,000 for drinking water project in Rangoon Division's Thongwa Township. (DVB) 

16 July
Construction of bridges connecting Bangladesh and Burma has been suspended through uncertain situation that arose from Japanese sanctions. The project gets assistance from BAJ. (Narinjara)

Burma sends appeal to President Bush not to sign the sanctions bill. Appeal is signed by 350,000 garment factory workers. (VOB)

23 July
Thawee Bunying, Chairman of Rangoon Fisheries Association, says trawler operators and fishermen want a concession arrangement that will allow then to operate in Burma waters. Joint ventures with private firms that have Burma concessions are not profitable due to high fees charged by Burma - between 300,000 - 500,000 baht a month per trawler. (Bangkok Post)

What China card? China seems much more interested in the economic colonization of Burma…
The Nation, 23 July 2003

Human Rights
3 July
Villagers report rape of a Rohingya woman by a Nasaka (border security force) officer in Arakan's Maungdaw Township. The culprits are later transferred as punishment. (Narinjara)

23 July
Network for Democracy and Development urge activists to emulate Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal who relentlessly tracked down Nazi officers responsible for killings of 6 million Jews. (S.H.A.N.)

Press watchdog Reporters without Border (RSF) says 4 journalists from First Eleven, a weekly sports magazine were beaten and detained on 17 July for an article dealing with a fine imposed on a football team for failing to participate in a tournament. (AFP)

Environment
24 July
Thailand and Burma, after a 3-day meeting, have agreed to preserve 60,000 square kilometer fertile forestland of the Tenasserim mountain range, the world's second largest wild tiger population area (150-300 tigers) after Siberia. (Bangkok Post)

Drugs
8 July
Ronald Renaud, author of A thirty-year journey: Opium reduction in Thailand 1970 - 2000, gives talks in Chiangmai on "The Wa may be wilder without opium." (S.H.A.N.) 

20 July
Diplomatic sources say Australians have confirmed all 125 kg of heroin seized on 19 April on North Korean freighter Pong Su have been traced to Burma. Kim Jong-Il had reportedly ordered opium be grown. The country can produce 40 tonnes a year. Proof of link to Burmese military junta is non but suspected. (Bangkok Post)

24 July
Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, China and India agree to restrict precursor chemicals acetic anhydride, emphedrine and pseudo-ephedrine Agreement is announced after a one-day meeting in Chiangrai. It is the first time the nations have met to discuss the issue. 

Brig-Gen Kyaw Thein rejects Thai reports that Wei Hsuehkang is hiding in Shan State. He also denies Rangoon had arrested him. He is not even sure Wei is really in Burma at all. Justice minister Pongthep Thepkanjana however insists both Wei and Surachai Ngernthongfu, better known as Bang Ron, are hiding in Burma. (Bangkok Post)

Brig-Gen Kyaw Thein says Western sanctions will "hurt" its drug fight. Home minister Tin Hlaing, who is also at Chiangrai, however says his country's drug efforts will be unaffected. (AP)

Thailand has singled out Wa, Kokang and Kachin Independence Army as being responsible for much of the opium and heroin flowing through the region. 

War
18 July
A spokesman for National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang faction) says thousands of Burmese soldiers are closing on their headquarters. Kachin source however says its headquarters had already been captured. The NSCN split into two factions in 1988. The other faction is headed by Isak Swu and Muivah. (Irrawaddy)

21 July
Civil servants, ages 15-60, in Mon State's Thanbyuzayat, Kyaikkhami and Mudon townships ordered to attend basic defense course twice daily: 07:00 - 08:50 and 18:00 - 19:00. (MNA) 

23 July
According to a report by Karen National Liberation Army, between 1 January - 30 June, it had engaged in 392 clashes: