Weekly Digest 82

Weekly Digest, No. 82 (8-14 February 2004)

This week's special: Burma's economics in a nutshell

Quote

Our task is not only to say or show the world that the SPDC is BAD, BAD, BAD. It is also to convince the world that we are a viable alternative, that we are smart, we get things done� 
Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, 8 February 2004

The World

26 January - 1 February
The colonial name of Bombay that was changed to Mumbai in 1996 was the work of a concerted campaign by the rightwing Hindu movement Shiv Sena. The trend took off around other cities, with Calcutta becoming Kolkata and Madras into Chennai. (AFP/MT)

11 February
Some 25 million people around the world have been forced out of their homes by their governments and are living in another part of their country, says a report by Norwegian Refugee Council for the UN. Among the top ten in 52 IDP countries are Sudan, 4 million, Congo and Columbia, 3 million each and Uganda, Iraq and Burma, 1 million each. (MSNBC)

International Relations

27-28 January
"Understanding Myanmar" Conference organized by Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies. 52 participants, consisting of think tank members, business and NGO representatives, feel the SPDC is serious about the roadmap. Participants from Burma are more willing to talk, albeit mostly still in private. The representation has also broadened, to include not only retired officials but also academics, representatives from women's organizations and doctor associations, and business people. Other individuals met outside the conference are also somewhat more upbeat (about change). 

Rangoon must adopt a few principles if they want to make their proposal credible. 

• Inclusion of NLD and freedom of expression 

• Clear time frame

• Welcoming advice from the international community (Jusuf Wanandi, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta)

5 February
UNA, 9 party coalition, met by Joseph Silverstein, Dr Robert Taylor, Martin Smith, U Tin Maung Thaung Than and Kyaw Yin Hlaing, visiting Burma experts who attended the 'Understanding Myanmar' seminar, 27-28 January. (DVB)

6 February
Jose Ramos-Horta, on a visit in Bangkok, says he is "totally opposed" to dictatorship but "ambivalent about economic sanctions". He has offered himself to assist in the national reconciliation process. (Irrawaddy)

8 February
FM Win Aung says with a ceasefire with the main rebel group, the Karen National Union, the regime can no longer justify its existence, and that "if all the problems are solved" there is no need for a military government. (AFP)

Razali meets FM Win Aung in Phuket during the sideline of the BIMSTEC meeting. He fails to get invitation for his 12th visit. (Bangkok Post)

9 February
Keith Luse, advisor to Senator Richard Lugar, Senate Foreign Relations, warns North Korea and Burma might cooperate on nuclear technology. Rangoon responds by saying "it is rather speculative" and that it is working instead on another WMD program, Weapons for Mass Development. (MIC) Luse was part of the US delegation that visited North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear plant in January. (BBC)

11 February
According to Thai officials, FM Win Aung said the National Convent would start sometime in June. There is good, regular contact between Aung San Suu Kyi and Rangoon that is no longer at the level of Brig-Gen Than Tun, according to him. (IPS)

Opposition Labor Party of Australia reaffirms its long-standing condemnation of rights violations in Burma, and vows to close office in Rangoon once it becomes government. (US Campaign for Burma)

12 February
Rangoon and Ireland has signed agreement to establish diplomatic relations on 10 February in Kuala Lumpur. (MIC)

13 February
NCGUG announces Conference on Democracy in Burma to be held in Washington, 26 March. (Press release)

Thai-Burma Relations

7 February
A pro-Rangoon DKBA man was killed in an exchange of fire with Thai Army's 4th infantry regiment as a stolen pickup is being delivered across the border. The truck is believed to be part of the payment for drugs taken by Thai importers, who manage to escape. (Bangkok Post)

Thailand hopes to open another international forum for Burma by the middle of this year if that country shows progress in drafting a new constitution, says FM spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow on the sidelines of BIMSTEC ministerial meeting in Phuket island. (The Nation)

12 February Hard-hitting Siam Rath weekly will go soft, following resignation of its editor, who refused to bow to revised editorial conditions imposed by its new owner, says a Thai media source. The attachment is the last independent issue of the publication. The publication was founded by MR Kukrit Pramoj, late prime minister. (S.H.A.N.)

Politics

5 January
Ko Lay, minister for Prime Minister's office, allowed to resign. The order is signed by Secretary-1 Soe Win. (Statement) He is said to be close to Gen Than Shwe. (VOB)

7 February
The Third Ethnic Nationalities Seminar, 28 January - 2 February, has accomplished three things, according to NCGUB: 

• A single plan

• Formation of Ethnic Nationalities Council

• Putting to rest all speculations that ethnic and democratic forces are at odds over the military's roadmap. (NCGUB)

9 February
NCUB informs media groups that a 6-men media team, led by Bo Thaung, was formed on 18 November. (Text)

FM Win Aung says Aung San Suu Kyi "could" be freed from house arrest. Date of National Convention "depends on the completion of our preparations." (AFP)

10 February
NLD member have resumed monthly meetings throughout Burma for the first time since 30 May 2003. (DVB)

11 February
Saw Ba Thin Sein, KNU president, on the 56th anniversary of Karen National Day, recalls how in 1948, 400,000 Karens had silently called for a Karen homeland, Equality, Prevention of inter-ethnic strife and Prevention of civil war. Barely a year later, the war began. (Text)

The pro-junta National Unity Party officially welcomes Rangoon's roadmap, says its chairman Tha Kyaw. (AFP)

The KNU announces postponement of talks with Rangoon to late February, citing need for preparatory internal talks ahead of negotiations. (World Market Analysis)

12 February
The exiled United Nationalities League for Democracy calls for the implementation of the 7-point roadmap adopted last month at a Karen base. It reminds again that today's Burma came into being because of the agreement by 4 former British colonies. (Statement)

Burma's roadmap will fail unless it embraces the spirit of co-existence, says Teddy Buri, Karenni MP, at a seminar organized by Bangkok by Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma. Meanwhile Pornpimol Trichote, Chulalongkorn University's Asian Studies Center, complains rise of use of force "by all groups." (Bangkok Post) 

Senior Gen Than Shwe, in his Union Day message, calls for support to the junta's 7-point roadmap. (AP)

Shans

5 February
SSA Brigade 7 in Kali asks for health assistance in its area in Kunhing to the visiting ICRC team. (S.H.A.N.)

7 February
Shan National Day also marked in Rangoon and Taunggyi. U Shwe Ohn, Shan leader, says no political speeches are allowed to give. It was celebrated as if it were a cultural event. Without this day, the 12th February Union Day could not have come into begin, he maintains. (DVB)

8 February
Non-Burmans must grow beyond ethnicity and become leaders of Burma instead, urges Fred Gilbert, an American participant of "Fort Wayne". (Text)

9 February FM says the Shan State Army "South" must accept a ceasefire and show its willingness to deal with the government before it can become part of the national convention. (The Nation) Teunsarng, Col Yawdserk's secretary, however, says the report could have misquoted Win Aung. (S.H.A.N.)

12 February
The Shan State has now been united to meet all challenges and fulfill the aspirations of the founding fathers of "our Union", declares Shan Democratic Union's Union Day message. (S.H.A.N.)

Economy / Business

5 February
Chickens from poultry farms of IB 201 based in Pa-an and Kya-in-seikkyi based IB 62 dying in large numbers from an unknown cause. (DVB)

7 February
India's state-owned Oil and Gas Exploration Corporation has been asked to conduct a feasibility study of importing natural gas from Burma and Thailand. (Daily Star)

India's Manipur and Mizoram states have banned import of chicken and other animal meat. As a result an average 200-500 kg of chicken sale in March has come to a grinding halt. (Mizzima)

8 February
The six-nation BIMSTEC agrees to create a free-trade zone by 2017. Bangladesh refuses to sign the pact as its demand: a clause providing compensation for possible damage that low import duties can do to the country's manufacturing. The problem will be resolved before leaders of the 7-nations meet in July. The group has 2 new members: Bhutan and Nepal. (Bangkok Post) 

India, as BIMSTEC meeting ends in Thailand, has offered to fund and conduct feasibility study to develop Burma's Dawei (Tavoy) area for deep-sea port. Burma is keen to see it become a hub connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia. (BBC)

9 February
New ERL Company arrives in Langkher for gold exploration along the Salween starting from the Teng confluence, Ta Sopteng. (S.H.A.N.)

10 February
Japan's foreign ministry is planning to resume fresh economic aid to Burma, taking into account Asean's call for early end to aid suspension. 

12 February
Lee Tae-yong, Daewoo International president, says he expects $ 86 million in annual profit from a gas mine in the seas northwest of Burma for 20 years one year after operations begin in 2009. (Asia Pulse)

Human Rights

16 January
Committee for Preventing Recruitment of Child Soldiers, chaired by Lt-Gen Thein Sein, meets. (New Light of Myanmar)

7 February
Federation of Trade Unions of Burma writes to UNDP to assist to farmers who are facing price drops caused by Rangoon's export ban. (Text)

9 February
The food contractor for Arakan's Maungdaw police prison is begging from the public due to insufficient food supplied by him as per contract rate, 10 kyat per day per head. The price of foodstuff is skyrocketing: groundnut cooking oil 1,800 kyat from 1,500 per viss, and onions K. 900 from K. 600 per viss. (Narinjara)

10 February
Local authorities are rounding up sea gypsies, Salons a.k.a Mokens, in southern Burma to make them partake in a festival beginning on 14 February. 12 of them escaped to Thailand on 9 February but they are deported back to Burma the next day. (DVB)

UNESCO reports only half the children who enter primary school in Burma will reach grade five, indicating a dropout of 45%. Enrolments, between 1990-2000, rose substantially but statistics also shows a high number of dropouts. Burma is 3rd behind India (53%) and Laos (47%) in dropouts, followed closely by Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh in Asia. (AFP)

11 February
Bangkok has ordered all Burma refugees living in urban areas be relocated in three existing camps near the Thai-Burma border by the end of February. The UNHCR has declined to comment on the plans. The action will affect all POCs and asylum seekers. Beginning January, the American embassy has been interviewing about 40 refugees per day for resettlement in America. (Irrawaddy)

Environment

5 February
Two representatives from New Energy Foundation, Japan: Akira Mitsuzumi and Yuichi Sano, arrives in Kengtawng to survey the flow on the Teng near the hydel power project. (S.H.A.N.)

12 February
The forests in Kachin State's N' Mai Hku area are being logged in a large scale. Logging is severe and chaotic and brings little benefit to the local population, says Global Witness's Jon Buckrell at the 7th Conference on the Convention on Bio-Diversity and Sustainable Development in Kuala Lumpur. (Kachin Post)

Drugs

January
The Indo-Burma border trade signed in 1994 paves the way for druglords to smuggle out drugs. Under the agreement, local traders are allowed unrestricted access to an area spanning 40 km on each side of the border. (Burma Dossier, Mizzima News)

12 January
New Light of Myanmar says Kachin State, like Wa, is also trying to free itself from opium by 2005. (S.H.A.N.)

19-25 January
Burma has been appointed a voting member of the UN's Commission on Drugs for the first time since its establishment in 1946. The appointment took effective on 1 January and it will serve on the 53-member commission for three years. (Myanmar Time)

8 February
A total of 71 kg of heroin, 1.9 kg of speed powder and 19,200 speed pills hidden in fruit cans seized at Perwang pier, 500 meters east of Maesai Friendship Bridge, by a patrol team from Thai army task force. The 4 men who carried the cardboard boxes dump them and escape. 
Two Wa soldiers were arrested in Chiangmai's Wianghaeng district with 20,000 speed pills on 6 February. (Bangkok Post / S.H.A.N.)

12 February
Luo Feng, deputy director of National Narcotics Control Commission, says it has trained 115 drug fighters for Burma and Laos during the past two years. (XNA)
He says the drug problem is "worsening" and the Golden Triangle remains the biggest drug source into China last year. About 70-80 tons of heroin is produced annually 80% of which is smuggled into China. Recently new trafficking routes to China have been opened through India and Nepal. (AFP)

16 February
Japan International Cooperation Agency 15-member delegation, led by Hikiharu Sato, shall be spending two months at buckwheat farms in Shan State, says a JICA official, Harayuki Shimada. The quality of buckwheat grown in Shan State is good, but the lengthy journey to transport it to Japan via Singapore affects its quality and makes it incompetitive. He also wants promotion of buckwheat consumption in Thailand and Burma as Japanese market alone is limited. The project was launched in 1998. (Myanmar Time)

War

5 February
Burma is buying non-infantry arms from India, says visiting Burmese military official. (RFA)

9 February
Number of hostilities has been reduced, says Mahn Sha of KNU, although some clashes still goes on in Brigade 6 area on 2 February, 4 February, for instance, plus Pa-pun and Toungoo areas. (DVB)

General

9 February
Nai Dhamma Nay, veteran Mon leader, 75, who had written many Mon revolutionary books, passes away in Mon State's Thanbyuzayat. His funeral will be held on 14 February. (IMNA)

Burma's economics in a nutshell
(Edited by Chao Tzang Yawnghwe)

Burma has 100 cows.

In the old time, when the country was ruled by kings and queens, they put 90 cows in their palaces and let the people milk the remaining 10. Milk from 10 cows was quite plenty for the people so they were able to make a lot of donation and build pagodas. Burma was a golden land. 

Then the British came. They took the cows kept by the kings and sent the milk that came out of those cows back to England. Though, they still allowed people to milk the remaining 10. Burma remained a golden land. 

A group of young men fought against the British with the hope that they could make a government that allowed the people to milk all 100 cows for themselves. Unfortunately, there was a PIG among those men. 

After the British were driven off, the PIG started the plot against his fellow freedom fighters and finally became the "NUMBER ONE" 

The "No. 1 PIG" seized all 100 cows. Used all the milk for himself and his little pigs. He raised a pack of "DOGS" and used them to suppress people who stood against him. 

People have nothing to eat and Burma, now no longer a golden land, became the poorest country in the world. 

As the year went by the "No. PIG" got older and the DOGS got stronger. Finally the DOGS got rid of the "OLD PIG AND HIS LITTERS"

NOW THE DOGS HAVE ALL THE COWS. THEY TAKE ALL THE MILK AS USUAL. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE NOW KILLING THE COWS FOR MEAT.

For the people, there are two choices. One is to eat grass; that is what most of them have been doing since the time of the PIG. The second is to serve the DOGs hoping that dogs will throw some bones.