Daily News-November-09-Thursday-2000

  • Burma State Press Denounces Corrupt Traders
  • Burma launches annual military offensive against rebels
  • Burma for balanced ties with India, China
  • U-N Assembly criticises Burma's junta
  • ILO experts said Burma making some progress on force labour
  • Burma could win sanctions reprieve from ILO
  • Burmese Leader Calls for Producing Standardized Motor Vehicles
  • Myanmar back in the hunt for Tiger Cup

    • Burma State Press Denounces Corrupt Traders
    Source : Dow Jones (AP)

    Rangoon--Taking a break from its usual vitriolic attacks on the country's pro-democracy movement, a state-run newspaper Thursday blasted "unscrupulous businessmen" and "corrupt officials" for smuggling luxury foreign goods into the country and lacking patriotic spirit.

    "Some avaricious businessmen smuggled out cattle, precious stones and timber into a neighboring country and smuggled in banned items such as toys, and luxury foreign goods such as cigarettes and liquor," wrote the pseudonymous commentator "Pauk Sa" in the Myanma Ahlin daily.

    The author did not identify the "neighboring country" but border trade between Burma and Thailand has often created problems between the two governments.

    Burma restricts the import of more than 20 categories of goods, including beverages, biscuits, fresh fruit, canned food and cigarettes. The import of luxury goods is banned.

    "The people of Myanmar will be happy if businessmen can take part in the country's market-oriented economic system with honesty and patriotic spirit," said the newspaper commentary.

    "Likewise, some officials from the customs department and border trade department who are involved in implementing the country's economic development should carry out their duties with patriotism for the welfare of the people."

    It urged "unscrupulous businessmen,", "a handful of people who think highly of foreign goods," and "some corrupt officials" to work for the benefit of the people and the country.

    The military regime, which took power in 1988, instituted limited economic liberalization, particular encouraging foreign investment, but kept many trade and currency restrictions.
    Burma launches annual military offensive against rebels
    Source : Kyodo News

    BANGKOK-- Burma's military junta has begun its annual dry-season offensive against ethnic minority guerrillas based along the Thai border, a border source said Wednesday.

    Junta troops and their minority allies deployed along the border attacked several strongholds of major rebel groups this week, notably those of the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Shan State Army (SSA), the source said.

    The KNU, seen as the strongest anti-government force, has fought for independence from Burma since 1949 while the SSA, once commanded by drug lord Khun Sa, was reshaped to continue the struggle for independence after Khun Sa's defection to the junta in 1996.

    More than 500 Burmese troops attacked a major SSA base at Loilam, some 200 kilometers northwest of the Thai border province of Chiang Mai on Monday and Tuesday. At least 50 troops died in the clash, according to the source, who belongs to SSA. The source declined to disclose the guerrilla losses.

    ''The battle subsided Tuesday, but I don't think the fighting is over. It might well bloom into a big offensive,'' Yawdserk, a leader of the SSA, was quoted by the source as saying.

    Meanwhile, some 400 Burmese soldiers and the Rangoon-backed insurgents, the Democratic Karen Buddhism Army, raided a KNU stronghold near Thailand's border district of Phop Phra about 550 kilometers northwest of Bangkok.

    The sound of gunfire has been heard every day since last week in clashes of four to six hours daily, said a Thai military officer stationed nearby.

    About 30 Burmese soldiers and 10 KNU fighters have been killed since last Thursday while dozens of wounded fill a small border hospital in Myawaddy, he said.

    Thai troops are on alert along the border to prevent invasions due by troops in hot pursuit of their quarry.

    Shells from Burma reportedly landed in the Phop Phra district Tuesday.
    Burma for balanced ties with India, China
    Source : The Hindu (India)

    CHENNAI-- Burma strives for ``balanced'' relations with both its major neighbours, India and China, the visiting Burmese Home Minister, Col. Tin Hlaing, said today.

    Burma's relations with India, which was ``very good and cordial'' did not hamper or impede his country's relations with China, he told The Hindu, at the Indo- Burmese Buddhist temple at Padianallur here.

    India stepped up diplomatic efforts with Rangoon after the reported presence of Chinese naval forces in the Bay of Bengal and also after reports of the possibility of China setting up a base in that country. The recent rejuvenation in Indo-Burma relations were the result of the ``desire of both countries to come closer'' and ``explore possibilities for further cooperation in various spheres,'' he said.

    India was training Burmese military personnel, he said and added that India had a lot to offer to upgrade information technology capability in his country. Besides, military and civilian authorities in border states of both countries have stepped up efforts against trafficking of narcotics and smuggling of contraband.

    Col. Hlaing, who is on the last leg of his India visit, said that a senior leader of the military junta will visit New Delhi shortly to cement the relation further. Col. Hlaing, who was here ``on an invitation from the Indian Union Home Minister,'' said that his present visit covered Calcutta, New Delhi, Patna, Agra, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

    The process of his country returning to democracy was ``in progress'' but no deadline could be put for a return to democracy. On the issue of the restriction of movement of the pro-democracy leader, Ms. Aung Suu Kyi and her frequent house arrests, he said that the Burmese authorities were ``working on the issue closely with United Nations officials.'' A team sent by the U.N. Secretary-General had met Ms. Aung Suu Kyi and the issue of greater freedom for her was being discussed, he said and added that the authorities treated the leader with great regard and consideration.

    Six fishermen, who had reached the shores of Tamil Nadu after a storm set their boat adrift some months ago, met the Minister today and requested his intervention to speed up the repatriation process.
    U-N Assembly criticises Burma's junta
    Source : Australian Broadcasting Agency

    A U.N. human rights committee has adopted a draft resolution slamming Burma's human rights situation and seeking more freedom of movement for pro-democracy supporters in the country.

    The resolution, submitted by 23 countries, reflected the stronger position of European countries in their opposition to continued suppression in Burma.

    It states the General Assembly is gravely concerned by the deterioration of the human rights situation.

    It deplores the junta's treatment of pro-democracy supporters, particularly the new obstacles that have been placed on Aung San Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy members.

    The Assembly also deplores the systematic policy of suppression of political economic and social rights by the Burmese government.
    ILO experts said Burma making some progress on force labour
    Source : Australian Broadcasting Agency

    A new report by the International Labour Organisation says Burma has made progress in changing its laws to end the use of forced labour.

    The ILO report found however, there was far less progress by Burma in putting legislative changes into practice.

    A team of experts, who have just finished a six-day mission to Rangoon, says progress is far less in evidence in terms of appropriate executive, administrative and budgetary measures.

    The report comes ahead of a discussion next week by the ILO's governing body on whether to recommend its member states review their relations with Burma over the use of forced labour.

    The ILO wants the country to comply with recommendations made by a 1998 committee of inquiry which found use of forced labour to be widespread and systematic.
    Burma could win sanctions reprieve from ILO
    Source : CNN

    GENEVA (Reuters) -- Burma could avoid new sanctions over the use of forced labour next week by persuading the International Labour Organization it has made sufficient movement towards a ban on the abuse, a diplomatic source said on Wednesday.

    The south-east Asian state is already a virtual pariah after bloodily crushing a 1988 uprising, refusing to recognise the victory of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a 1990 election and flooding neighbouring states with illegal drugs.

    An ILO report on its labour policy, to be presented to policy-makers on Monday, says the military government's effort to make laws conform to an international treaty banning forced labour "leaves a deficiency" with regard to ILO demands.

    But a source familiar with ILO policy said the concessions could still persuade the 174-nation body to tone down a call for governments and international organisations to strengthen sanctions -- a move it threatened to carry out at its annual meeting in June unless the junta changed tack by November 30.

    The ILO's Governing Body, meeting in Geneva from November 2 to 17, will consider Burma's response from next Monday.

    "It is more probable that they will strike some sort of compromise and put some of this on hold," the source said.

    The governing body will debate a report compiled by five ILO experts after meetings last month with Rangoon's military rulers, including Lt.-Gen Khin Nyunt, the powerful Secretary One of the State Peace and Development Council and intelligence chief.

    The report, which includes letters from the ministers of labour, home affairs and foreign affairs, shows Burma has not directly met demands to pass legislation banning forced labour, which a 1998 ILO inquiry ruled was "widespread and systematic."

    But a letter from Burma's Department of Labour, dated October 31 -- five days after the fact-finders left -- gave details of steps towards a forced labour ban, which a diplomatic source said could avert the full weight of ILO sanctions.

    The prospect of sanctions from ILO member governments and other U.N. organisations looked to have twisted Rangoon's arm -- though probably not enough to win ILO approval, the source said.

    The dispute centres on Burma's Towns Act and Village Act, which the government says reflect traditional cooperative involvement in local building projects, but which the ILO says amount to legal authorisation of effective slave labour.

    Trade unions have estimated that more than 800,000 Burmese are conscripted with little or no pay as army porters or construction and agriculture in slave-like conditions.

    Rangoon has long withstood Western pressure to transform its dictatorial regime into a more open and tolerant society despite sanctions imposed by many of the world's large economies.

    These curbs have had little effect on the impoverished country because its economy has long been shut off from the world and has never really had full international exposure.
    Burmese Leader Calls for Producing Standardized Motor Vehicles
    Source : XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

    Rangoon (Nov. 9)-- Burma's leader Lieutenant- General Tin Oo has called on the country's private industrialists to produce standardized motor vehicles to help reduce car imports.

    Tin Oo, second secretary of the State Peace and Development Council, made the call at a coordination meeting here Wednesday, attended by industrialists from the country's five industrial zones out of 18, official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday.

    Production of motor vehicles by the national industrialists is just on the initial stage, he said, adding that the country has to use and assemble most of the imported parts.

    He disclosed that a plan is under way for each industrial zone to design and produce each own model motor vehicle.

    He urged the industrialists to bring innovation idea into use in producing and assembling motor vehicles.

    He called for cooperation between the government and the private industrialists for the development of this import- substitute industry.

    Meanwhile, Burma plans to form a Car Producers' Association in the country to boost the production.

    Motor vehicles used in Burma are mainly imported ones and manufactured in Japan. It is reported that the Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan is running a car assembling plant in Dagon Myothit, one of the industrial zones in the capital of Rangoon.

    According to official statistics, the number of motor vehicles in operation in Burma increased by 31,828 annually in the last four years, registering 434,315 at the end of June this year which include passenger cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles.
    Myanmar back in the hunt for Tiger Cup
    Source : The Straits Times

    CHIANGMAI -- Myanmar collected its first three points of the Tiger Cup soccer tournament here yesterday, with a 3-0 win over the Philippines that restored its hopes of a place in the semi-finals.

    Three goals in five minutes put Myanmar level on points with Thailand and Indonesia at the top of Group A.

    However, Myanmar has played one game more than the two teams which are favourites to reach the knock-out stages.

    The Philippines, which has never won a game in the Tiger Cup since its inauguration in 1996, held out for 67 minutes thanks to several top-quality saves by goalkeeper Edmundo Mercado.

    The match had seemed headed towards a commendable draw for the Philippines, but Myanmar broke through when Thet Naing Soe's drive from the edge of the area left Mercado flat-footed.

    Three minutes later, Zaw Htike beat Mercado to the ball to head home for 2-0.

    Myanmar added its third in the 72nd minute as Nay Thu Hliang rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home.