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Burma Related News - Jan 26, 2002.
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TIN KYI
Jan 26, 2002, 9:15:02 AM1/26/02
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BURMA RELATED NEWS - January
26, 2002.
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HEADLINES
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Kyodo News - Myanmar,
India to reopen respective consulates general
DT - Burma Rail PoW auctions pictures of death
camps
Daily Star - Dhaka-Yangon trade deal proves
unsuccessful as smuglling rising
Bkk Post - Reactor
plan too risky, groups say
Bkk Post - Asean to
boost co-operation
NSTP - Rohingyas seeking asylum from UNHCR
arrested
NSTP - Myanmar
criticised over nuke reactor
Mizzima - N.E militants call boycott on India
Republic Day
SHAN - Ex-druglord condition hopeless, says
source
DVB - Burma: Veteran politicians prepare
for February meeting with UN special envoy
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Myanmar, India to reopen respective consulates
general
YANGON, Jan. 26, Kyodo -
Myanmar and India have agreed to reopen their respective consulates general,
state-run newspapers reported Saturday.
The newspapers featured a report of the agreement on the reopening of the
offices on the front page, with Myanmar junta leader Senior Gen Than Shwe's
messages of felicitation to Indian President K.R. Narayanan and Prime Minister
A.B. Vajpayee on the Indian national day.
''As a result of the ever-strengthening friendly ties and with a view to
effectively facilitate economic, trade and consular relations, Myanmar and India
have agreed through exchange of notes in Yangon on Nov. 2, 2001, to reestablish
their respective consulates general,'' according to the newspapers.
Myanmar had a consulate general office in Kolkata, and India had one in the
central Myanmar city Mandalay, but the offices were closed in 1979 due to lack
of communication and trade relations between the two countries.
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The Daily Telegraph
Burma Rail PoW auctions pictures of death
camps
By Will Bennett, Art Sales Correspondent
(Filed: 26/01/2002)
By Will Bennett, Art Sales Correspondent
(Filed: 26/01/2002)
A FORMER British prisoner of war on the infamous Burma Railway is to sell
the watercolours and drawings which he risked his life to produce secretly under
the noses of Japanese guards.
Jack Chalker will auction one of the world's most emotive collections of
war art at Bonhams in London because he and his wife are no longer in good
health and need the money.
"I feel reluctant and in a way guilty about doing this, but it will help us
out," said Mr Chalker, 83, who lives near Wells, Somerset. "It will just put a
bit of jam on the bread."
About 100 drawings are expected to fetch up to £80,000 on April 16,
although auction house experts say that this estimate is conservative and they
could fetch much more.
Mr Chalker had already won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in
London when his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War
and he was conscripted. He joined the Royal Artillery and was captured when
Singapore fell to the Japanese army in February 1942.
Eight months later, he was sent to the Burma Railway, on which thousands of
Allied prisoners of war were forced to work as labourers.
Mr Chalker was sometimes made to work for up to 16 hours a day in what he
called "singularly horrific" conditions during the three years he spent on the
railway.
Despite this he managed to produce scores of watercolours and drawings of
life in the prisoner of war camp in Thailand, usually when he was sick because
the guards paid less attention to him.
The pictures graphically illustrate the appalling conditions in which the
emaciated prisoners lived and worked, the punishments that were inflicted on
them and the guards who made their life hell.
Mr Chalker had some pencils and watercolours hidden in a secret compartment
in his haversack when he was captured. The Japanese never found them. He also
stole paper, pencils and ink from his captors.
The camp commandant unwittingly helped by giving him some brushes and paint
and telling him to produce watercolour postcards to send to his family in
Japan.
"I was ordered to produce 20 paintings a day under threat of being beaten
up and incarcerated unless they were forthcoming and this I did for a few
wearisome weeks," said Mr Chalker.
His undercover artistic activities were only discovered once. He said: "A
guard found me hiding some stuff and I got beaten up. I had a very rough time
for a couple of days.
"The guard tore one drawing up in front of me, but when I came back later I
found the pieces under a rice sack. All the others had been destroyed, but this
one had survived.
"It is a symbol of the whole thing and is an important drawing to me, but I
may sell it with the others."
Much of Mr Chalker's work survived because he hid drawings in hut roofs and
in pieces of buried hollow bamboo. Others were kept safe inside another
prisoner's wooden leg.
Mr Chalker, who became an art college principal after the war, has had two
recent spinal operations as a result of Japanese ill-treatment and has had to
have a hip replaced.
He had hoped to give the collection to the Australian War Museum in
Canberra, which has a collection of Burma Railway art, but has now decided that
he must sell it.
A seascape by J M W Turner failed to sell when bidding stopped at £3.3
million at Christie's in New York yesterday. The auction house had hoped for
between £4.2 million and £5.7 million for Sheerness as seen from the Nore.
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The Daily Star
January 26, 2002.
Dhaka-Yangon trade deal proves unsuccessful as smuglling rising
UNB, Chittagong
January 26, 2002.
Dhaka-Yangon trade deal proves unsuccessful as smuglling rising
UNB, Chittagong
The border trade agreement signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar in 1994
has so far been unsuccessful and the blame partly goes to rising smuggling.
The business community in Bangladesh feels that a better approach is needed to overcome the problem as trade gap between the two neighbouring countries rose to Tk 167 crore in last four years because import from Bangladesh continues to decline.
The business community in Bangladesh feels that a better approach is needed to overcome the problem as trade gap between the two neighbouring countries rose to Tk 167 crore in last four years because import from Bangladesh continues to decline.
As per the agreement, both the countries could export or import goods worth
5,000 US dollars at a time without opening any Letter of Credit (LC).
The agreement said Bangladesh could import onion, turmeric, ginger, chili,
shrimp, sea-fish, various spices, pulse and pickle produced in Myanmar, and
export to that country goods like melamine, cosmetic, lifesaving drugs and
clothes.
As Myanmar recently increased border trade with Bangladesh following
deterioration of its relations with Thailand, the coalition government of BNP
has called for raising the export-import volume without LC to 15000 US dollars
from 5,000 dollars.
According to competent sources, a section of businessmen in connivance with
a section of BDR and customs officials are illegally importing huge Chinese,
Thai and Malaysian goods through the Bangladesh-Myanmar border undercover of
import from Myanmar, creating problems for the country's genuine
importers.
A source at Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the Bangladesh
business community could not be benefited with the border trade agreement as it
restricts import other than agricultural products and sea fish from
Myanmar.
He said limestone and bamboo are found in plenty in frontier Akyab and
Mongdu areas of Myanmar and it's more profitable to use those in Bangladesh
rather than Myanmar because of Bangladesh's geographical location. Bangladesh
can use those raw materials by setting up pulp and cement industries here, he
said.
He apprehended that the trade relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh
might suffer a setback due to forgery and fraudulence by some Bangladeshi
businessmen.
He said there are some businessmen in Bangladesh who cancel contracts with
their Myanmar counterparts after receiving goods from them without making any
payment.
Bangladesh Consulate in Myanmar M Emdadul Islam in a recent letter brought
the matter to the notice of the government and said it this trend could not be
checked Myanmar might rescind the border trade agreement.
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Bangkok Post - January 26,
2002.
Reactor plan too risky, groups say
Another Chernobyl crisis in the making
An alliance of Burmese pro-democracy and ethnic groups said it was
``ridiculous'' for Rangoon to buy a nuclear reactor from Russia.
Rangoon confirmed the plan but said the reactor would be used for peaceful
research purposes.
Gen Bo Mya, the Karen leader of the National Council of the Union of Burma,
rejected the reasons cited for the purchase.
``This military junta can't even manage to feed or look after the basic
health needs of its own people. But they want to spend millions of dollars on a
reactor,'' he said.
In a statement called ``Burma the next Chernobyl'', he said the plan would
be an environmental disaster for the region.
``Considering their long history of economic incompetence, how do they
intend to maintain the safe operation of the nuclear reactor and where will they
dispose of the deadly nuclear waste?'' he said.
``Burma should listen to the concerns of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, which said Burma failed to meet the minimum safety standards needed to
operate a nuclear reactor,'' he said.
A reactor would pose security, environmental and health risks to the
region. Burma's Southeast Asian neighbours should oppose it, he said.
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Bangkok Post - January 26,
2002.
Asean to boost co-operation
Plus-Three group to play a bigger role
Bamrung Amnartcharoenrit
Asean tourism ministers agreed yesterday to broaden co-operation with
China, Japan and South Korea under an Asean-Plus-Three scheme to promote tourism
in the region.
Their first official meeting with the three nations mirrored an urgent need
for increased tourism co-operation in the wake of the economic recession and the
Sept 11 attacks, blamed for the declining number of Western travellers.
The agreement to pursue Asean-Plus-Three co-operation included facilitating
travel and promoting tourism among Asean countries and China, Japan and South
Korea.
They also agreed to enhance private sector co-operation, joint programmes
on human resource development, as well as exchanges of research and information
technology.
The 10-member Asean also asked Beijing to allow more Chinese people to
travel in Asean countries by relaxing its quota system. However, the request was
turned down.
Speaking at the conference taking place in Yogyakarta from Jan 21-28,
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri said the forum would help strengthen
tourism co-operation from marketing to security support among the Asean
members.
The ministers also agreed on second-phase implementation of the Visit Asean
Campaign addressing the consumer market with primary focus on intra-Asean travel
in addition to the existing major markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
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The New Straits Times
Rohingyas seeking asylum from UNHCR
arrested
Police picked up all 20 after brief negotiations
by Lee Shi-Ian
Twenty-eight Rohingya immigrants from Myanmar who sought asylum from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees yesterday were arrested by police today.
Police picked up all 20 after brief negotiations
by Lee Shi-Ian
Twenty-eight Rohingya immigrants from Myanmar who sought asylum from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees yesterday were arrested by police today.
Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Koh Hong Sun told reporters
that the 28 were arrested for not having valid documents and would be handed
over to the Immigration Department.
About 1pm, 20 policemen accompanied by Immigration Department officers
entered the UNHCR compound in Bukit Petaling and negotiated with the Rohingyas
for 10 minutes.
It is understood that the negotiations were to persuade the Rohingyas to
follow the police peacefully and create any untoward incident.
A UNHCR spokesman thanked the police for making the arrests without any
fuss.
"Over the 10 two years, we have received 2,000 applications from asylum
seekers but only 100 were approved," he spokesman said. "The rest were all
rejected."
On the latest application by the Rohingyas, the spokesman said it had also
been turned down.
The group comprise three families from a settlement of 200 in Cheras Baru.
They are part of an estimated 7,000 Rohingyas in Malaysia.
They had attempted to seek asylum at the UNHCR after several family members
were arrested for not having valid travel documents.
The group comprised five aged below 6, seven aged between 6 and 18 and 16
aged above 18.
The Rohingyas, who are Muslims, had been fleeing from their homes in the
Arakan Province in Myanmar since 1991, alleging discrimination by the Myanmar
Government.
More than 250,000 fled the country but most were repatriated home from
various countries after two agreements between the United Nations and the
Myanmar Government.
Malaysia has not accorded the Rohingyas refugee status and most only carry
the special passes given to them on arrival here to do odd-jobs for a
living.
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The New Straits Times Press
Saturday, 26 January 2002
Myanmar criticised over nuke
reactor
BANGKOK, Fri. — A Myanmar dissident group today slammed the military
regime's plans to build a nuclear research reactor, saying it would be an
environmental disaster and a threat to the region's stability.
Myammar could become "the next Chernobyl" if the proposal to acquire a
reactor from Russia went ahead, said the National Council of the Union of Burma
(NCUB), an umbrella group of ethnic forces and pro-democracy groups.
Myanmar has confirmed it is negotiating with Russia over the facility which
would be used "for peaceful purposes". Reports from Moscow said Russia has
drafted a plan to build the reactor despite strong US objections.
"This military junta cannot even manage to feed or look after the basic
health needs of its own people — yet they want to spend millions of dollars on a
reactor," said NCUB chairman General Bo Mya.
"Considering their long history of economic incompetence how do they intend
to maintain the safe operation of the nuclear reactor and where will they
dispose of the deadly nuclear waste?" Bo Mya, whose group is based on the
Thai-Myanmar border, called on all Southeast Asian countries to oppose the plan
which he said threatened to bring an "environmental disaster" to the
region.
Myanmar has argued that most of its neighbours operate research reactors,
and that it needs to pursue "the peaceful use and application of nuclear
technology" to ensure it is not left behind.
But Bo Mya rejected those claims as "ridiculous" and said there was no
guarantee the reactor would not be used for military purposes against
neighbouring countries, given the junta's record on human rights abuses.
The US also expressed concern this week over the plans, calling on Myanmar
and Russia to ensure any such project included extra security to protect
radioactive material from theft, saying extra caution was needed in the wake of
Sept 11 terrorist attacks.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is also
reportedly concerned about the plans and has asked Moscow for details after an
inspection last year found safety standards were "well below the minimum the
body would regard as acceptable." Russian news agencies said that a draft plan
for the reactor could be approved early this year, and the project, estimated to
be worth US$100 million (RM380 million) to Russia, could begin in three or four
years. — AFP
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N.E militants call boycott on India Republic
Day
Mizzima News
Mizzima News
By Our Correspondent
Guwahati, Jan. 25: The security forces have stepped up vigilance along the
international border in view of spurt in activities of the militant groups and
the boycott call given by the 12 underground organizations in India’s North
Eastern States bordering with Burma on the Republic Day in India tomorrow. The
entire international border has been kept under strict vigilance to foil any
possible subversive attack of the militants in the region.
Meanwhile the militant groups have appealed to the people to observe a
day-long strike tomorrow to protest against alleged repression and the
“suppression” of the Indian Government. In a joint press release issued here
today the militants said that people of the region have lost their rights due to
ongoing atrocities meted out by the Indian Government.
"We should fight unitedly to thwart the exploitation of the Indian
Government", the organizations said. The organizations are – the National
Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, National Democratic Front of Boroland,
Arunachal Dragon Federation, Achik National Volunteers Council, Dima Halong
Daugah, Manipur People’s Front, United People’s Democratic Solidarity, United
Liberation Front Asom and some outfits of Tripura.
In Assam, elaborate security arrangements have been made due to violence
perpetrated by the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB). The oil
installations and state Secretariat has been kept under strict vigilance by the
Indian Army.
The NDFB publicity secretary B Erakdau told Mizzima correspondent over
telephone that the people of the entire region should launch a freedom movement
against the exploitation of the Indian Government. He also appealed to the
people to hoist black flags on the Republic Day as a mark of protest.
Shan Herald Agency for News
25 January 2002
No: 01 - 10: Ex-druglord condition hopeless, says source
25 January 2002
No: 01 - 10: Ex-druglord condition hopeless, says source
A source from Kengtung reported yesterday that the leader of a cease-fire
group was discharged from a Chinese hospital recently after concluding as a
hopeless case.
Leader of Special Region No. 4 (Mongla), Sai Leun a.k.a. U Sai Lin a.k.a.
Lin Mingxian, 53, was paralysed after suffering a second massive stroke in two
years on 28 October. He was rushed off to a hospital in Kumming, the capital of
Yunnan province, and had been receiving treatment there until lately.
"His wife wanted him to go to Hongkong for further treatment," said the
source. "But his lieutenants objected saying it would be too risky given his
reputation."
The source said he was still looking for more details about Sai Leun's
illness.
He also found that there was general anxiety about who was to succeed him
in the event that he was permanently incapacitated.
"If Kyi Myint (Zhang Zhiming, his close associate) is able to prove himself
acceptable to the majority, it's okay," he said. "But if he is not, confusion
will follow and afterwards the Burmese army."
The Mongkoe Defense Army (MDA), another cease-fire group further north, was
blown off into oblivion on 24 November 2000, when the Burmese army entered the
fray where two rival factions were fighting for control of the MDA.
Sai Leun, a former communist leader, reached a cease-fire agreement with
Rangoon in 1989 along with Kokang, Wa and others. His group, also known as
Eastern Shan State Army, declared Mongla, 60-miles northeast of Kengtung, a drug
free-zone in 1997. Two years later his name was scrapped off the US
blacklist.
The ESSA has 3 brigades: The 815th commanded by Lo Chingpao, the 911th of
Sai Htoon (Sai Leun's brother) and the 369the of Oon-mao. Its deputy
commander-in-chief is Khun Sanglu, but he has little influence outside his
former brigade, the 369th, according to several sources.
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AS1-BURMA-UN-ISMAIL
Burma: Veteran politicians prepare for February meeting with UN special envoy
Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 24 January
Burma: Veteran politicians prepare for February meeting with UN special envoy
Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 24 January
When UN special envoy Mr Razali Ismail returns to Rangoon next month he
will meet with all the representatives of political parties which he has met
before and he is also expected to meet with veteran politicians who fought for
Burma's independence. In order to present their official view in meeting with Mr
Razali, the 23-member veteran politicians group led by
Bohmu Aung held a coordination meeting today. According to Thakhin Thein Pe, who is one of the meeting conveners, the group will present Mr Razali with the National Reconciliation Programme Report given to the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] military government back in 1999.
Bohmu Aung held a coordination meeting today. According to Thakhin Thein Pe, who is one of the meeting conveners, the group will present Mr Razali with the National Reconciliation Programme Report given to the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] military government back in 1999.
[Thakhin Thein Pe - recording] We presented the National Reconciliation
Programme Report to the SPDC in 1999. We have been repeatedly calling for the
formation of a Government of National Reconciliation comprising representatives
from the Defence Services, the National League for Democracy [NLD], Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy, National Unity
Party, other nationalities' representatives, and other suitable persons.
Party, other nationalities' representatives, and other suitable persons.
[Htet Aung Kyaw] Did you discuss the ongoing dialogue [between the SPDC and
the NLD]? What about its prospects and your views?
[Thakhin Thein Pe] According to comments by U Lwin [NLD secretary] we are
optimistic about the talks. There has been some progress. The fundamentals are
there, we think only the implementation is needed. Since there are no perpetual
friends and eternal enemies in the eyes of the NLD that could be seen as a sign
of a reconciliatory approach. If the other side accepts
NLD's proposal then national reconciliation will be achieved. We are all hoping for that.
NLD's proposal then national reconciliation will be achieved. We are all hoping for that.
[Htet Aung Kyaw] So far the government has not announced anything.
[Thakhin Thein Pe] Well, we do not know what is holding them up. The people
are very anxious about that and we are also very anxious too. While we are still
waiting for the political outcome, the prices of basic commodities have
skyrocketed. That is the most important thing. I asked one of my grandchildren
about the current price of a former 25-pya [Burmese currency
unit 1 kyat equals 100 pyas] movie ticket and he said 300 kyat. The 25-pya movie tickets were the cheapest in those days and they were the front seats. Gen Aung San [Burma's late national leader and father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] was always broke and he used to watch movies from the 25-pya seat. If only Gen Aung San were alive today he would refrain from watching movies rather than pay 300 kyat.
unit 1 kyat equals 100 pyas] movie ticket and he said 300 kyat. The 25-pya movie tickets were the cheapest in those days and they were the front seats. Gen Aung San [Burma's late national leader and father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] was always broke and he used to watch movies from the 25-pya seat. If only Gen Aung San were alive today he would refrain from watching movies rather than pay 300 kyat.
[Htet Aung Kyaw] Well, you have been watching TV and reading the newspapers
and there are conflicting remarks about the ongoing dialogue. Some say it is
progressing while others say it has stalled. At such a time, the Kyant Phut
[derogatory term for Union Solidarity and Development Association] rallies,
which were last held about two years ago, have reappeared. What is your view on
that?
[Thakhin Thein Pe] It is simply a show of strength but one unusual thing is
there seems to be no criticism about political parties. They are only
reiterating the achievements and developments of the government. On one hand it
is good because we think they are trying to control and prevent conflicts. We do
not think the people attended the rallies in accord with their own will like the
rally held at the west entrance of Shwedagon Pagoda over a decade ago. There may
be people who attended on their own while some were ordered to attend.
[Htet Aung Kyaw] Previous rallies called for the resignation of NLD elected
representatives and denounced NLD activities but now they are only supporting
the government's development endeavours. It seems strange. What do you think
about that?
[Thakhin Thein Pe] In our view, if we put everything into perspective, we
think the dialogue is not between the NLD and the government. The subject matter
is already known at the UN. If an agreement could not be reached among ourselves
then we think gradually the UN will step in to solve it for us. The UN is
already involved in the forced labour issue and has passed
some resolutions. Similarly, if the UN has to intervene in our political affairs, then that goes to show that we Burmese are incapable of solving our own problems and that will definitely affect the reputation of the Burmese. [End of recording]
some resolutions. Similarly, if the UN has to intervene in our political affairs, then that goes to show that we Burmese are incapable of solving our own problems and that will definitely affect the reputation of the Burmese. [End of recording]
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 24 Jan
02
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