Independence Weekly

Independence Weekly, No.47 (8-14 June 2003)

The world
11 June
Iranian conjoined twins, Ladan and Laleh Bijani, who are to be operated next month in Singapore are asked what they would like to see the first thing after operation, reply each other face to face for the first time in their 29-year life. (AP)

12 June
Sars outbreak in nearing its end, but the world shouldn't relax its guard as one is yet to know where it came from or how it was transferred to the human population, says WHO. It has infected more than 8,400 people worldwide and killed more than 750. (AFP)

Actor Gregory Peck, 87, runs his course and dies of old age. (AP)

14 June
Canada calls for sweeping UN reform, including expulsion of members who violate the fundamental principles of the world body. Membership is not a right, but a commitment to uphold the principles and purposes of the organization, says FM Bill Graham. (Globe and Mail)

International Relations
5 May
Agreement to build a highway linking Burma and Laos including a bridge over the Mekong reached on the first day of Gen Than Shwe's visit to Vientianne. (MT)

5 June
Burma is not worried about US-led sanctions. We have very good neighbors around us and we can simply trade and exchange relations with our close, good neighbors, assures Kyaw Win, ambassador to Britain. (Scoop Media)

Dr Sein Win, PM of government-in-exile NCGUB calls for "more sticks and less carrots to stop the evil acts of SPDC." (Text of speech)

Burma Campaign UK is disappointed with EU's "limp response." EU has yet to adopt investment sanctions as called for by the group. (Press release)

We are not asking for an invasion, just that we stop doing business with them. 
Burma Campaign UK, Reuters, 10 June

6 June
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says the Bush administration is extending the visa ban to the managers and families of Burma's state-run enterprise, including the USDA, while seeking an asset freeze and ban on US travel to the country. (Washington Post)

8 June
Razali waits for Than Shwe, who has been playing hide and seek with him. "He hasn't lost his optimism yet," says Khun Toon Oo. (Reuters)

9 June
Washington has protested strongly to both Beijing and Bangkok with a demarche faxed last week, with copies to all Asean governments and the UN secretary general. Burma is to be at the top of Asian foreign ministers summit in Phnom Penh next week, as it has become "an international matter" according to FM Surakiart. Cambodia's stance: Events in Burma (are) unacceptable. (Bangkok Post)

Razali meets Gen Maung Aye, #2 man. He is 'encouraged' by his meeting to continue staying until the next day. Gen Khin Nyunt is also at the meeting which lasts 10-minutes. (AFP)

The United States is leading a new international campaign to lobby Rangoon's neighbors to put pressure on Burma. (Bangkok Post)

Juan Somavia, ILO director general, calls on Rangoon for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Negotiations on measures to bring an end to forced labor in Burma has just been completed at the ILO general assembly. (AFP)

10 June
Razali meets ASSK for 30 minutes, in the presence of Brig-Gen Than Htoon. She is well and in good spirits, no scratches on her face no broken arm. On the 30 May incident: "She has a version and I'll take that into account" (AP). "She did not see at all She was in the front car" (Reuters). He expects her to be released within two weeks (Malaysiakini)

As usual the junta has given the minimum at the very last minute.
A western diplomat, quoted in Burma visit's crumb of comfort, BBC, 10 June

PM Mahathir urges ASSK be released immediately but "we do not indulge (in applying) pressure (for her release)." (Bernama)

China believes the people of Burma are able to handle their own affairs well, says Foreign Ministry's Kong Quan. (XNA)

President Bush and visiting PM Thaksin call for "immediate release" of Aung San Suu Kyi. (AFP)

US has delivered formal request in at least 11 capitals over the last week to put pressure on Burma's military rulers. (Washington Post)

Razali has come away with little. He finds out nothing about the conditions under which Aung San Suu Kyi is being detained. Neither does he has any information about other detained NLD members. (BBC)

We have tried the carrot and now this: a reality check. The US and Europe are really fed up. 
A western diplomat, Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2003

11 June
India is considering fencing and lighting along the Burma border, as along the Bangladesh and Pakistanic borders, to prevent cross border terrorism and arms smuggling, says junior Home Minister I.D. Swami. (PTI)

US Senate passes bill to ban imports from Burma, seize regime assets and bar US visas for its leaders. A House subcommittee has approved a similar bill the following day. (Sun Spot.net)

International activists in Chiangmai urge India to stop supporting Rangoon rulers. They are due to protest China on 13 June. (NMG)

12 June
Asean Foreign ministers are expected to call for Aung San Suu Kyi release during their informal sessions in the 16-17 June meeting at Phnom Penh. (Kyodo)

It's time to ban remittances to Burma so that the SPDC cannot benefit from foreign exchange, writes Colin Powell. (Wall Street Journal)

14 June
Colin Powell says America has formally abandoned dialogue with Burma's military rulers. It will also call on Asean to punish the generals. (Channel News Asia)

15 countries, including North Korea and Burma, have made no significant efforts to stop human trafficking, said US State Department's Trafficking in Persons annual report. (Channel News Asia)

Thai-Burma Relations
7 June
PM Thaksin, in a rare diplomatic move, urges Rangoon for the immediate release of Ms Suu Kyi. (The Nation)

9 June
PM Thaksin is sure to get an earful from Bush when he meets the president tomorrow with regard to Bangkok soft stance. He received a faxed tough demarche from Washington last week. (Bangkok Post)

A reversal of Thai policy is far more likely to help produce some change in Burma than another American embargo measure. (Washington Post)

9-10 June
Unidentified intruders, numbering 20, clash with Rangers from Task Force 3208. They are pushed back, their retreat marked by trails of blood. (Bangkok Post)

10 June

Courtesy: Subin Khuenkaew
Lt-Col Kyi Nyunt, at TBC 30 meeting in Chiangsaen, demands Thai withdrawal from Doilang. His Thai counterpart says both sides must abide by 2001 agreement (that there be no troop movements) until border demarcation was completed. (Bangkok Post)

11 June
Supreme Commander Surayud Chulanont has denied that his close aide, Maj Gen Puchong Rattanawan, was involved in Tachilek bomb attacks on 21 May. (Bangkok Post)

As long as Burma's internal matters are left unresolved, Thailand's refugee and illegal labor problems are bound to increase, says Khin Ohnmar of Women's League of Burma at Chiangmai University's Women's Study Center. (NMG)

12 June
In exchange for Thai support of US tough line over Aung San Suu Kyi, the White House has offered its backing for further talks on free trade pact with Thailand. (Channel News Asia)

Politics
6 June
Khin Nyunt has sent resignation letters to Than Shwe on more than one occasion in the past two years, but Than Shwe has insisted he stay on board. (Irrawaddy)

8 June
Military officials took Ms Suu Kyi's physician, Tin Myo Win, into custody to see and treat her. Some others say a friend had been taken in to see her and bring food for her, because she had refused to eat any of the food they had offered her. (The Australian)

All Burma Students Democratic Front's 7th Congress elects new leaders: Than Gay, President; Myo Win, Vice President: Kyaw Ko Ko, General Secretary; Salai Yaw Aung and Sonny as Joint Secretary 1 and 2 respectively. Vows to combine mass actions with the armed struggle and claims factionalism within the army has been resolved. (NMG)

The generals are afraid if they lift her incommunicado status, she will speak the truth and this will be damaging to them. (Washington Post)

Authorities deny rumors that Tin Oo died in the melee. He is being held in jail in Sagaing Division near the Indian border, they say. (AFP)

12 June
CRPP has plans to call a parliament and form a rival government by its 5th anniversary, 16 September. Aung San Suu Kyi had already disclosed the matter to local NLD leaders during her Kachin trip. (NDD)

13 June
Aung San Suu Kyi is only likely to be released after the current political struggle within Burma's military leadership is resolved. Maung Aye appears to be exercising power now. (Bangkok Post)

Thaung Tun, director-general of Foreign Ministry's political department, Aung San Suu Kyi may be released this month if situation returns to normal. (Kyodo)

Shans
26 May
The Yawnghwe museum, 19 miles northwest of Taunggyi, earned $2,966 from entry fees, each $2, charged to foreigners in 2002-2003, highest revenue among 10 museums outside Rangoon. It was built in 1913 and named a museum in 1964. Nang Lao Hom, deputy head of the museum says most visitors are interested in the photographs and profiles of Sao Mawng and Sao Shwe Thaike. (Myanmar Times)

7 June
9 non-Burman parties, including SNLD, are 'deeply saddened' by recent violence and 'strongly condemn those who have created these acts of violence. Other parties are Mara Pyithu Party, Zomi National Congress, Mon National League for Democracy, Chin National League for Democracy, Karen National Democracy Congress, Kachin State Nationalities Democracy Conference and Kayan National Unity League for Democracy. (Statement) 

8 June
Razali meets non-Burman alliance, led by Khun Toon Oo. Nothing special was discussed, as events have turned worse, he comments later. (DVB)

9 June
Representatives of Shan and Karen opposition urges EU to "heighten and broaden" existing sanctions and consider a full blown trade and financial sanction as a means to restore democracy and rights of self-determination in Burma. (Statement)

11 June
Shan State Army 'South' claims its broadcasting station was forced to move as a result of S.H.A.N. report. (S.H.A.N.)

Business / Economy
5 June
S and S Myanmar Investment Development, a south Korean company, signs an MOU to build $ 22 million cruise ship terminal and hotel complex in downtown Rangoon. It would boost, after completion in 2006, Rangoon capacity to handle visits by cruise liners. (AP)

12 June
A new rice control committee, led by Lt-Gen Soe Win, Secretary-2, has been formed recently. (Narinjara)

13 June
Rangoon is planning to upgrade its 46-year old Mingladon international airport. (AP)

Human Rights
12 June
Trading women, a documentary film on hilltribe girls in Thailand's sex trade, by anthropologist David Feingold will be shown 20 June in Washington. (AP) 

Environment
18 May
Secretary 2, Lt-Gen Soe Win visits Kengtawng Falls, where the hydro electric power project has resumed since October. The challenge is to undertake the task without tarnishing the natural beauty of the waterfall and its environs. (New Light of Myanmar)

9 June
A team of experts from 4 nations "likely" to review environmental impact study on the blastings in Mekong river, according to the Mekong River Commission. Concerns were raised about the quality of the Chinese study because it took only 6 months to finish. The project agreed by China, Burma, Laos and Thailand in June 2001 proposed to widen the navigation channel so to enable vessels of up to 100-tonnes displacement to travel between China's Simao and Lao's Luang Prabang. Thailand, to avoid demarcation problems, had put its Khon Phi Luang rapid blasting on hold in April. The Mekong is 5,594 km long. (Bangkok Post)

12 June
Joern Kristensen, Chief Executive of the Mekong River Commission, says some 250 million people faces devastating social upheaval should calls for sustainable development go unheeded. Only Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are MRC members. (AFP)

Inspectors have found 80 cracks in the Three Gorges Dam surface. They could expand and cause leaking if not repaired, say officials. (AP)

Drugs
13 May
9 metric tons of poppy seeds seized in 2008 destroyed in Arakan State's Akyab (Sitttwe). There is no poppy cultivation in the state, says regional army chief, Maj-Gen Maung Oo. (New Light of Myanamr)

18 May
Gen Khin Nyunt is welcomed by Kengtung dignitaries, including Sai Lin, leader of #4 special region. He was reportedly bedridden after suffering a bad stroke last year. (New Light of Myanmar / S.H.A.N.)

10-km canal in Mongka, a Wa township, opened. It was funded by Japan, $1.6 million. The project hopes to help irrigate 500 acres of opium substitution on crops. (Myanmar Times)

Wa are not innocent. But I think it would be wrong and very incorrect to only point to the Wa. 
Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Rangoon representative of UNODC, Irrawaddy, May 2003

12 June
Laota Saenli, 65, "key aide' to Wei Hsuehkang, along with his two sons, Wicharm, 28, and Sukkasem, 24, arrested at his home in Mae Ai. (The Nation)

13 June
Army chief Somdhat Attanand understands Rangoon's ability to control rebels, in whose area the factories are sited, are limited. We must give Burma time, he says. (Bangkok Post)

14 June
Chidchai Wanasathit, secretary general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board, says China, Burma, Laos, India and Thailand will meet in Chiangrai on the control of drug precursors on 22-25 July. (Bangkok Post)

War
13 June
A bomb containing about 1.5 kg of TNT, wires and an alarm clock set to explode at 04:30 discovered at a power station in Mae Sai at 02:00. A bomb disposal team from Pha Muang Task Force is ordered by Maj Gen Manas Paolitr, its commander, to blow up the device. (Bangkok Post)