Daily News-November-23-Thursday-2000
Exiled leader asks for sanctions to fight forced labour
Hostage-taking drama had a sense of déjà vu
Instructor gave his life to save warden
How the drama unfolded
Radio host turns negotiator
Cross-border shelling ends after 2 days
Surin clears air on ILO with Win Aung
Thai commandos shoot Burmese escapees, rescue hostages
Gen. Than Shwe leaves for ASEAN summit in Singapore
Burmese soldier killed in clash with Thai rangers
Thai businessmen urged Review of restrictions on Burma casino visits
Suu Kyi Hires Lawyers To Contest Suit For House Ownership
Exiled leader asks for sanctions to fight forced labour
source : SMH
By Craig Skehan, Herald Correspondent in Bangkok
Burma's democracy movement has called on the Australian Government as well as trade
unions and companies to implement economic sanctions against the ruling military junta
after a United Nations report condemned the widespread use of forced labour.
"There is a lot Australia can do," said Sann Aung, a Bangkok-based minister in Burma's
government-in-exile.
"The Australian Government should shift its position and support the imposition of
internationally co-ordinated economic sanctions."
Sann Aung called on Australian unions to refuse to handle Burmese goods and to cut
electricity and water supplies to the regime's embassy in Canberra.
On September 16, the governing body of the UN's International Labour Organisation
(ILO) passed a resolution clearing the way for members to apply sanctions over labour
violations in Burma.
This followed the ILO's determination that the country's military rulers had failed to end
the practice of forcing tens of thousands of people to serve as military porters or as
labourers on infrastructure projects.
The resolution called for "appropriate measures" by governments, unions and companies
to ensure business, aid and other relationships with Burma did not "perpetuate or extend"
the system of forced labour.
The resolution, adopted despite strong opposition from Malaysia and a number of other
Asian countries, leaves it up to individual organisations and governments to decide what
punitive action to adopt.
The democracy movement believes virtually all co-operation with the military regime
assists in keeping the junta in power and therefore perpetuates abuses such as forced
labour.
Burmese leaders said the ILO resolution constituted "unjustified pressure tactics" which
did not take account of attempts by the central administration to curtail forced labour in
outlying areas.
A recent report by Burma's Federation of Trade Unions carried first-hand accounts of
villagers and prisoners forced to work as porters or labourers being underfed, beaten and
murdered. There were also descriptions of villagers suffering hardship because the
practice of forced labour had disrupted their normal food production.
The Australian Government has during the past year substantially increased its level of
diplomatic engagement with the military regime in a bid to gain influence.
The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, says sanctions have failed to bring reform.
The United States and the European Union were strong supporters of the ILO adopting
the new resolution on forced labour.
Sann Aung said yesterday that it was only the US which had implemented tough
economic sanctions but, to be effective, there needed to be co-ordinated international
pressure on Burma.
Australian human rights seminars conducted for government officials in Burma have been
branded an exercise in propaganda by the democracy movement.
Melbourne's Monash University, which conducted the seminars with Australian
Government funding, is currently reviewing their effectiveness.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that the
scope of a planned review of relations with Burma would be discussed with the ILO.
However, the imposition of sanctions was "not envisaged".
Hostage-taking drama had a sense of déjà vu
source : The Nation
YESTERDAY'S jailbreak in the coastal
province of Samut Sakhon was the latest of
several violent incidents on Thai soil involving
Burmese nationals, about one million of whom
live and work illegally in the country.
In October last year, five armed dissidents
seized the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok,
holding dozens of officials and scores of
tourists hostage, as they called for the release
of all political prisoners and the restoration of
democracy in their military-ruled homeland.
The stand-off ended when Deputy Foreign
Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra gave himself
to the armed group in return for release of the
hostages. A helicopter took them to a
rebel-controlled area along the Thai-Burmese
border, where the deputy minister was released
and the armed men went free.
Then in January, 10 members from a similar
group seized Ratchaburi Hospital and held
hundreds of medical personnel and patients
hostage. They demanded that the Thai First
Army stop shelling Karen villages across the
border adjacent to Suan Phung district.
The then-commander of the region, Gen
Thaweep Suwanasingha, was quick to blame a
rag-tag group of ethnic Karen rebels, known as
the God's Army, for the incident in what
appeared to be a desperate attempt to justify
the week-long shelling of Karen villagers.
The crisis ended when Thai commandos
rushed the hospital in an early morning raid and
killed all 10 of the hostage-takers. The next day
all 10 bodies, wrapped in white cloth from head
to toe, were revealed to the public.
nSpeaking to The Nation in Singapore
yesterday, Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan
said the Samut Sakhon incident would not
affect bilateral relations. He also hoped the
drama would be solved peacefully.
"I am not familiar with the details of the incident,
but it is our hope that it will not escalate and that
it can be settled in a peaceful way. It of course
would not affect relations between Thailand and
Burma."
Surin said he had already informed his
Burmese counterpart, Win Aung, of the
incident, whom he said had no prior knowledge
of the drama.
The Thai minister was speaking after having a
half-hour talk with Win Aung on the sidelines of
Asean Informal Summit.
Instructor gave his life to save warden
source : The Nation
A RELIGIOUS instructor who went to deliver his
regular lecture on Buddhism sacrificed his own
life yesterday in a bid to free the Samut Sakhon
prison governor taken hostage by armed
Burmese prisoners.
Dom Chidthongpan, 35, was in the jail hall with
hundreds of inmates when seven Burmese
prisoners took him, the governor and six other
officials hostage.
Dom tried to help free governor Somwong
Siriwej by kicking an inmate holding him and
throwing potted plants at some of the other
hostage takers, a source said. During the
scuffle Dom suffered a gunshot to the forehead.
After the hostage takers escaped from the jail
in a station-wagon carrying all seven hostages,
police went into the prison and found Dom's
body in the hall where the drama took place. He
appeared to have died instantly.
Police handed his belongings to his wife and
relatives, who had travelled from Bangkok after
learning of the hostage drama. After being told
of his death, Dom's wife Rangsima and
relatives burst into tears.
The religious instructor was a Corrections
Department official who had worked at the
prison for three years. He was often referred to
respectfully by prisoners as "Acharn Dom".
How the drama unfolded
source : The Nation
Chronology of events at the Samut Sakhon
provincial prison (from the seizure of the
hostages until the getaway).
9 am: Seven prisoners, armed with grenades,
guns and knives, seize the prison chief,
Somwong Siriwej, and hold him and seven
other prison officials hostage at the Zone 3
mess. Somwong was introducing a programme
on job training to about 1,000 inmates at the
facility when he was grabbed.
10 am: About 500 policemen arrive and
surround the prison. Gunshots are heard.
Somwong is injured while trying to fight the
captors. A hostage, religious instructor Dom
Chidthongpan, is fatally shot in the head.
11 am: The seven prisoners move the hostages
from Zone 3 to Zone 1 near the prison's
entrance. The prisoners seize a station-wagon
parked in the area.
11.30 am: Pol Lt Col Kittisak Dee-in, chief
inspector of Samut Sakhon's Muang district,
begins negotiations with the seven prisoners.
The armed men demand a van, food, and the
opening of the prison's gate. They promise to
release all but two of the hostages. They want
to take Somwong and deputy prison chief
Sema Kummanont with them to the Burmese
border in Ratchaburi's Suanphueng district.
Police reject the demand.
1:45 pm: The sound of gunfire is heard from
inside the prison, heightening tension in the
area.
2 pm: Pol Maj Gen Pongsathat Pongcharoen,
national police spokesman, negotiates with the
prisoners but there is no progress. Siwa
Saengmanee, director general of the
Corrections Department, joins the negotiation
but the prisoners reject his offer to send in a
new hostage, Corrections Department official
Sakda Noisopa, in exchange for any wounded
hostage.
3.30 pm: At least three police sharpshooters
take positions on the roof of a flat behind the
prison.
3.50 pm: The prisoners use a gas cutter to
disengage the iron door barring the main gate.
They move the station wagon closer to the
entrance. The hostages are forced into the
vehicles, handcuffed behind their backs.
Somwong is seated in front. The captors stand
guard outside the station wagon.
4.10 pm: The hostage takers scream that they
want another car. They appear angry. Later they
pour benzene on to the station wagon as well
as the hostages and put cooking gas cylinders
near the entrance for the police to see.
4.45 pm: Siwa tries to negotiate with the
prisoners again but fails.
5.10 pm: The prisoners disengage the main
gate and move the station wagon closer to it.
The driver is holding a hand grenade. Two
prisoners flank the vehicle. A prisoner tells
police they will release three hostages if they
are allowed to leave the prison and will release
more hostages after that. Police reject the
proposal.
5.20 pm: The station wagon moves closer to
the entrance but the vehicle stops at the sight of
some 30 heavily armed commandos. Police
are said to be deploying snipers on spots along
potential escape routes.
5.45 pm: Another round of negotiations fails. All
the prisoners are in the station wagon.
6.15 pm: Somwong gets out of the station
wagon and asks police to allow the vehicle to
leave the prison. Win San, leader of the
jail-breakers, wais Somwong and the station
wagon then moves out of the prison. Inside the
crammed vehicle, the jail-breakers either point
guns at the hostages' heads or raise grenades
for police and reporters to see. Somwong sits
on the lap of a gunman in the front seat. The
station wagon speeds past the police. None of
the seven hostages has been released. Police
set off on their trail.
Radio host turns negotiator
source : The Nation
"WIN khrup, please can you release two more
persons," appealed the soft voice of the DJ
from the "Ruam Duay Chuay Khan" (Helping
Each Other) radio programme.
"Can you release two persons," he repeated.
"Please trust me, I will not let you die. You must
believe me."
Grasping his microphone, Thanom Onkedpoh
had already kept up his negotiations on behalf
of the hostages for five hours during yesterday's
crisis in Samut Sakhon.
His voice soft and reassuring, Thanom tried to
appease Win Muang, the leader of the
seven-man group holding seven jail officials
hostage.
Win said he and his group wanted to return to
Burma and threatened to kill all the hostages if
their wish was not granted.
More than 800 of the 2,000 inmates at the
Samut Sakhon prison are Burmese.
Win was able to respond through a mobile
phone provided by the hostages who also
talked on the programme.
Win was noticeably tense when the DJ was
able to make contact with him again at 6.35pm.
"I am sacrificing my life," he said nervously.
Then Win decided to release one hostage,
Preecha Sirisaeng-aram.
Police surrounding the area subsequently
allowed the car carrying the hostages and
hijackers to proceed along Phetkasem Road
leading to the Thai-Burmese border.
By 8.45pm, the negotiations by Thanom came
to a halt when, somehow, the police reached
the conclusion that enough was enough.
Last October, the same radio programme
conducted similar negotiations during the
hostage crisis at the Burmese Embassy using
mobile phones. The crisis was broadcast live
on radio and TV channels.
Cross-border shelling ends after 2 days
source : The Nation
TWO days of cross-border shelling between
Thai and Burmese government troops ended
yesterday after the opposing military units held
talks, a senior Thai army official said.
"They came over and asked to talk," said Third
Army Region deputy commander Maj General
Chamlong Phothong.
"We said fine and the shelling ended there."
Chamlong said the shelling started on Monday
and continued into the next day. The Burmese
had started the exchange following a raid by the
Shan State Army (SSA) against a drug
laboratory belonging to an ethnic army allied
with the Rangoon government, he said.
"They started firing mortars at us. We merely
responded to their action. All of our shelling
was return fire," Chamlong added.
The Burmese shells landed well over a
kilometre inside Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang
district.
Chamlong said the Burmese troops had fired
about six or seven mortar rounds. "I understand
that Shan soldiers raided a drug lab that
belonged to another ethnic group," Chamlong
said. "But, for whatever reason, the Burmese
[government] troops began to shell us instead.
Perhaps they thought we had crossed the
border and raided the place."
Thai newspapers reported that one Burmese
soldier died in the shelling. Chamlong could not
confirm this but said there were no Thai
casualties. The SSA have in the past carried
out attacks against drug labs along the border
to attract international support for its fight
against the military junta.
Surin clears air on ILO with Win Aung
source : The Nation
SINGAPORE - Thailand yesterday defended its
decision not to support an Asean effort to ward
off International Labour Organisation action
against Burma for its use of forced labour.
Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan explained
Thailand's position in a meeting with his
Burmese counterpart, Win Aung, on the
sidelines of the Asean Informal Summit
Meeting.
"I made it clear to Win Aung that it is common
that we Asean countries cannot have a
common position on every issue. On some of
them we have to base ourselves on facts and
the actual situation," Surin said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai
quoted Win Aung as saying that he understood
and respected Thailand's decision, but wished
it was otherwise.
"Burma understands that
Thailand has the right to take its own position,
but it expected that its neighbouring countries
should have helped it on this issue," Don
quoted Win Aung as telling Surin.
Malaysia had proposed that Asean issue a
statement of support of Rangoon in the face of
the harsh ILO report on Burma's labour
practices, but Thailand disagreed. Asean
operates on a consensus basis. Surin and Win
Aung also discussed issues of mutual concern
yesterday, including illegal Burmese migrants.
Surin said he welcomed Rangoon's first official
statement that Burma would welcome its
people back if they return through the route by
which they sneaked into Thailand.
Burma has in the past refused to take back
these immigrants, saying they belonged to
anti-government groups or were rebels..
Surin also called on Burma to take stringent
measures to suppress drug-producing factories
along the border. "We understand that the
Burmese government may not have access to
those factories, some of which are located in
areas controlled by rebels. But we believe that
if the governments concerned are serious
about the issue, concrete action can be
launched to tackle the narcotics problem," he
said.
Thai commandos shoot Burmese escapees, rescue hostages
BANGKOK, Nov 23 (AFP)
Thai commandos Thursday shot dead nine Burmese prison escapees and freed the three prison officials they had taken hostage before making a dramatic overnight dash for the border.
Prison governor Somwong Sirivej was seriously injured during the rescue mission but miraculously no other hostages or police died in the hail of gunfire that ended the 21-hour crisis.
Somwong was shot four times, once in the head, and had been flown to Bangkok where he was undergoing emergency surgery, officials said. A warder was stabbed in the back by the fugitives but was not in danger.
Somwong's deputy and a police officer were being treated for minor wounds, and a Thai prison inmate who the armed escapees had bundled into their escape vehicle to act as a go-between with police survived the ordeal unscathed.
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai praised the rescue mission, saying it restored confidence in Thailand after two other violent sieges involving Burmese nationals.
"We have been watched worldwide during these three incidents that have occurred in Thailand but by taking effective measures we have restored confidence," he said.
A hospital siege mounted by 10 Burmese rebel gunmen in January ended with all 10 being shot by Thai commandos, while last October dissidents opposed to the junta briefly seized Burma's Bangkok embassy but were allowed to escape.
Police said the convicts involved in the latest incident were all wanted on criminal charges, including drug trafficking and murder, and that none were political prisoners.
The group seized governor Somwong and six warders mid-morning Wednesday at the jail south of Bangkok, and shot deada prison religious instructor who attempted to resist the takeover.
After a tense eight-hour stand-off with negotiators, the gunmen broke down the main prison gates and drove out of the compound in a stolen pick-up truck, pursued by hundreds of police.
The convicts headed for the border region, demanding safe passage to Burma, and released four hostages along the route.
Police successfully stalled their progress throughout the night and the rescue mission took place just after 7:30 am (2330 GMT) in the border province of Kanchanaburi.
Police commandos opened fire on the convicts, who were armed with grenades and handguns, after two flat tyres forced them to halt their vehicle and they alighted to inspect a replacement truck.
Television footage showed the balaclava-clad officers surrounding the vehicles and letting off a sustained volley of gunfire that obscured the scene in a cloud of smoke.
Interviewed from his hospital bed later, deputy governor Sema Kumpanon said the captives never expected to live through their ordeal.
"When we left the prison we thought we would not survive, so we talked about dying together," he said.
Sema said he had managed to lie low during the hail of gunfire.
"After police opened fire, the prisoners started to shoot back and after a few minutes I opened the door and threw myself out of the car," he said.
The hostage-takers' bodies have been taken to a local temple where they will be kept for a month and cremated unless they are claimed by relatives.
Police said they found four pistols, two of them fake, one homemade bomb, and some knives and container of a cooking gas inside the inmates' vehicle.
Gen. Than Shwe leaves for ASEAN summit in Singapore
Source : Kyodo News
YANGON, Nov. 23-- Gen. Than Shwe, leader of Burma's ruling military junta, left Thursday morning for Singapore to attend the informal summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), will meet leaders from the nine other ASEAN countries for the summit Friday, which will be joined later in the day and Saturday by leaders from Japan, China and South Korea.
Accompanying the chairman are SPDC First Secretary Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win and Health Minister Kyaw Myint.
Foreign Minister Win Aung is already in Singapore to attend a preparatory session of ASEAN foreign and economic ministers.
The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Burmese soldier killed in clash with Thai rangers
Source : Bangkok Post
A Burmese soldier was killed and two Thai paramilitary rangers wounded in a border clash in Mae Fah Luang district, Chiang Rai, yesterday.
The clash took place near an area where Shan rebels had attacked a drug plant guarded by Burmese troops.
The Third Army's Pha Muang Task Force boosted security along the border around Ban Pa-sang Na-ngern, opposite Ban Muser Abi, Burma, where 13 men, including two Thais, and 100,000 methamphetamine pills were seized this week by the Shan State Army.
Third Army commander Lt-Gen Wattanachai Chaimuenwong praised the Shan State Army, led by Chao Yod Suek, for its anti-drug efforts.
Two rangers posted near Ban Pa-sang Na-ngern, 8-10km southwest of Mae Fah Luang, were wounded after rocket-propelled grenades, believed to have come from junta forces, exploded near the village, 1.5km from the border.
Lt-Gen Wattanachai said the clash might be the result of a misunderstanding, with Burma suspecting that Thai soldiers were involved in Shan-led assaults on Ban Muser Abi. "Thai soldiers won't do such things," he said.
Among the people taken by the Shan were Burmese government troops and soldiers from the United Wa State Army, the Shan's arch-rival.
"This shows Burmese soldiers were directly involved in the drug trade along the border," said a security official.
"They were captured at the drug factory where the Shan State Army made its assault." A pick-up truck with Thai plates and five motorcycles were found.
The Shan handed over the drugs and the two Thais. Lt-Gen Wattanachai said he ordered the task force to retaliate after Burmese forces shelled an area near a military post.
Sources said 500 Burmese reinforcements were sent to the clash site. Ban Pa-sang Na-ngern villagers were evacuated amid fears tensions would rise.
Thai businessmen urged Review of restrictions on Burma casino visits
Source : Bangkok Post
Thai Local businesses are calling for a review of restrictions intended to prevent Thais from visiting a casino in Burma's Myawaddy township.
They say the measures have failed to keep gamblers away from the River Side Club casino, but border trade and tourism is being hurt.
The number of visitors to the province has dropped by 70% and jewellery trade by 60% since the restrictions were introduced in October.
Thais from outside the area wishing to visit Burma must carry a passport and get a permit from the provincial governor.
Border passes are being issued only to local people who have officially resided in Tak for at least six months.
Police, immigration, customs and local administration officials have been told to strictly enforce the new regulations.
The call for a review was made yesterday at a meeting organised by the Tak Chamber of Commerce and a joint committee of the private and public sectors.
Panithi Tangpati, chamber president, said 30-40 people were crossing to gamble at the casino each day without any difficulty.
"The casino has set up an office in Mae Sot district. The customers are taken to the casino in a van through the border checkpoint," he said.
Mr Panithi said the new regulations should be lifted before the New Year festivities or Chinese New Year, which are the peak season for the province.
Vijit na Ranong, chairman of the hoteliers committee, suggested tough measures be imposed on tour agents who provide casino services.
Suu Kyi Hires Lawyers To Contest Suit For House Ownership
Source : Dow Jones
Rangoon (AP)--Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has hired a team of lawyers to contest a suit brought by her brother over ownership of the house where she lives, one of the lawyers said Thursday.
Suu Kyi, who has lived in the lakeside residence for 12 years and is currently under virtual house arrest there, wasn't represented at the first hearing of the case brought by her brother Aung San Oo in the Yangon Division court Tuesday.
Burma's military regime had said beforehand that Suu Kyi would be allowed to hire a lawyer and attend the hearing.
The lawsuit is a fresh headache for Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy party is also facing eviction from its Rangoon headquarters. The party swept general elections in 1990 but was barred from taking power. Its members face steady harassment.
Lawyer Kyi Win said he met Suu Kyi at her house in the capital Tuesday and Wednesday and she had asked him and two other lawyers, Khin Maung Aye and Myint Thaung to represent her.
"According to professional ethics we are to render our service to anyone who needs help," Kyi Win told the Associated Press.
In the past he has taken on controversial cases including those of two British activists, James Mawdsley and Rachel Goldwyn, jailed in Burma last year for staging pro-democracy protests. Both were subsequently pardoned.
Aung San Oo, Suu Kyi's elder brother, is an American citizen living in the U.S.. The two aren't close.
Under a 1987 law, foreigners are prohibited from purchasing or transferring any immovable property in Burma but an exemption can be granted by the government.
But according to Aung San Oo's lawyer Kyaw Zeya, the Home Affairs Ministry granted such an exemption to his client July 28, 2000. Aung San Oo is claiming ownership of half of the property.
"His interest isn't the possession of the property," Kyaw Zeya said. "As the elder brother he wanted to fulfill his late mother's wish to turn the estate into a foundation in his mother's name one day."
The contested 2 acre property was given to Suu Kyi's mother, Khin Kyi, by the government of Burma, after her husband, national hero Gen. Aung San, was assassinated in July 1947.
Local real estate agents estimated it is worth approximately one million US dollars.
Suu Kyi, who used to live in England with her husband and two sons, returned to Burma in April 1988 to look after her ailing mother and has lived in the house since then.
Later that year a popular uprising against the Burmese military regime catapulted her to the forefront of the pro-democracy movement.
At Tuesday's hearing, presiding judge Soe Thein heard that a summons for Suu Kyi to attend had been posted on the house last week after she refused to accept it. He said case would proceed ex parte - with just the plaintiff present - Nov. 27.
But under Burma civil law, the defendant can still contest such a case if they can give good reason why they didn't attend the previous hearing.
Suu Kyi has been confined to the house by authorities since Sept. 22 after she was blocked from traveling to the northern city of Mandalay by train to meet NLD members.
The regime heavily restricts Suu Kyi's movements. She spent six years under house arrest at the residence from 1989 to 1995, held without trial on national security charges.