Daily News-March-21- 2001- Wednesday

  • U.S. and EU keep heat on Burma over forced labour
  • US hopes for Thai-Burma cooperation on drug issue
  • Burma reports 39 armed group members exchange weapons for peace
  • Bangkok, Rangoon plan April talks on border tension

    • U.S. and EU keep heat on Burma over forced labour

    GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States and European Union back tough measures, including possible trade sanctions, against Myanmar to bring an end to forced labour, a report by the International Labour Organisation said on Tuesday.

    The report will be discussed by the ILO's governing body next week and is a follow up to the organisation's call last November for countries to take measures against Yangon to ensure the military government ended forced labour.

    The United States said in a letter to the ILO dated January 19, the last day of the Clinton administration, it had imposed diplomatic and economic sanctions on Burma but there was no evidence suggesting forced labour had ended.

    Stressing the need for reconciliation between Myanmar's authorities and the opposition, the U.S. government said that "in the absence of significant and measurable progress, ILO members, including the United States, should be prepared to consider additional measures, including trade sanctions..."

    An ILO inquiry in 1998 found forced labour "widespread and systematic". The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions says more than a million people in Myanmar are subjected to forced labour, toiling on construction sites for roads, railways, military installations and tourism.

    Myanmar's labour minister, Major-General Tin Ngwe, said in a letter to the ILO that the country was continuing efforts to eliminate forced labour, which was "illegal...both in law and in practice".

    The European Union said it had suspended trade privileges in 1997 due to Myanmar's use of forced labour. It acknowledged Yangon had taken some steps to ending the practice but called for a complete end and for practitioners to be punished.

    "The European Union was monitoring the situation closely and, should the authorities in Myanmar fail to take the necessary action in this respect, the European Union stood ready to take further measures," it added.

    Japan was notably absent among countries replying to a letter from ILO director-general Juan Somavia to member states drawing attention to the call for measures.

    Thailand assured the ILO that "no Thai investment in Myanmar contributed, directly or indirectly" to forced labour.

    Singapore and the Philippines said they had no relations with Myanmar that abetted the practice. But Singapore said that technical assistance would be "more appropriate and effective" than sanctions in addressing the issue, the ILO report said.
    US hopes for Thai-Burma cooperation on drug issue

    source : Reuters

    By Sonya Hepinstall

    WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - The United States hopes the new Thai governmentwill be able to use its connections to work with Myanmar on the neighboring country's drug problem, the U.S. ambassador to Thailand said on Tuesday.

    Ambassador Richard Hecklinger told a breakfast of businessmen and diplomats in Washington that the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would devotea great deal of attention to relations with its northwestern neighbor, known widely by its former name, Burma.

    "A number of people in the government have connections," Hecklinger said. With that in mind, he added: "We certainly hope that the new government will be able to establish some type of cooperation with Burma (on the drug issue).

    "And we hope the Burmese government will respond, which it has not yet done."

    Myanmar is the source of several problems for Thailand, including illegal workers seeking greater economic opportunity over the border dividing the two countries and political refugees fleeing the repressive military rulers in Yangon.

    "The Golden Triangle" where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet has long been a source of opium and its derivative, heroin, but in recent years has diversified into the production of methamphetamines.

    The Thai army has said 700 million methamphetamine pills - a stimulant that costs just $1.14 a pill on the street - will come into Thailand this year, an increase of 40 percent over the year before.

    Thai army chief of staff Boonrawd Somtas told reporters outside a closed-door conference on Thailand's drug problem earlier this month that at least 85 percent of production was getting through to about 2 million addicts around the country.

    The growing problem has had a "devastating impact on Thai society," Hecklinger said in Washington.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh says he can boost ties through his good relationships with some of Yangon's ruling generals,and Thaksin himself has said he is looking for "sincere" discussions with Myanmar following his January election.

    But relations have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks since fighting between Myanmar troops, backed by their allies in the Wa ethnic minority, and ethnic Shan rebels spilled over into Thai territory.

    Thai army sources suggest the fighting is linked to the drugs trade. They believe the United Wa State Army is the biggest producer of methamphetamines.

    The United States will continue to work with Bangkok on drug issues, focusing oninterdiction, police training and the role of the courts, as well as how to treat addicts and reduce demand, Hecklinger said.

    More staff in the U.S. embassy in Thailand are dealing with narcotics than any other single issue, Hecklinger said.
    Burma reports 39 armed group members exchange weapons for peace

    BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 20, 2001

    Text of report in English by Burmese newspaper The New Light of Myanmar on 20 March

    Yangon [Rangoon], 19 March: The State Peace and Development Council, upholding the Our Three Main National Causes, is striving for national reconsolidation with genuine goodwill with a view to ensuring emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation. Remaining armed group members realized that their destructive acts did not benefit the nation and retard development of their region. After understanding the genuine goodwill and correct endeavours of the government, armed groups have been exchanging arms for peace individually or in groups.

    Captain Aung Min and Sgt Khin Maung Lwin of ABSDF [All Burma Students Democratic Front] armed group in Northern Command area; Privates Yway Hla and Pau Lu of Lahu armed group, bringing along one 0.38 revolver, six rounds of ammunition and one grenade, in Triangle Region Command area; area commander in charge Soe Myint alias Sai Khat alias Pho Cho of PLS armed group in Southeast Command area; Privates Saw Pi Naw, Saw Ba Lo, Saw Htuk Htuk alias Saw Aye Shwe, Saw Tha Htoo, Saw Htoo Mei, Saw Ba Toe, Saw Hsay Ya, Saw Moe Hnget, Tun Naing Win alias Saw Phee, Saw Kyaw Khee and wife Naw Phaw Pwe, sons and daughters Saw Htoo Lay, Saw Det Ki, Naw Htoo Khee, Naw Ka Naw, Naw Mu Dan and Naw Mu Cho, Privates Saw Yu Ju and wife Naw Ge May, Private Pha Kaw of No 11 Battalion of KNU [Karen National Union] armed group, Privates Kha Laik alias Chit Sein of combat company of No 4 Brigade and wife Naw Khin Aye and sons and daughters Aung Chit Soe, Chit Than, Aye Htwe, Han Myint, Tint Lwin and Nu Nang, Private Saw Thu Di and wife Yu Aye, daughter Win Win Than, Pvt Saw Bwe Htoo-wife Sein Mya, daughter Khin San Mon, with one M-23, one 0.22, one long-barrel gun, one magazine, 18 rounds of ammunition, in Coastal Region Command area exchanged arms for peace at respective military camps from 1 to 28 February.

    Officials of the military camps warmly welcomed the 39 persons who exchanged arms for peace and attended to their needs. It is learnt that there are still more members of armed groups to exchange arms for peace.

    Source: The New Light of Myanmar, Rangoon in English 20 Mar 01
    Bangkok, Rangoon plan April talks on border tension

    Source : MSNBC / Reuters

    BANGKOK, March 21--Thai and Burmese officials plan to hold their first border talks in two years in April in Burma's northeastern town of Kengtung, in a bid to soothe tension simmering after their soldiers clashed last month.

    The two countries' bilateral regional border committee will meet from April 2 to 4 for the first time since Burma put the talks on hold two years ago.

    'This meeting is aimed to restore the bilateral relationship,'' Lieutenant-General Wattanachai Chaimuanwong, commander of Thailand's third army, which defends the northern border, told reporters.

    ''I will be joining the meeting as an ambassador, not a soldier and I don't feel any pressure,'' said Wattanachai, who will lead Thailand's delegation.

    Relations between the two neighbours dived last month during battles between Burma troops, their allies in the United Wa State Army (UWSA), and anti-government Shan rebels.

    Thailand says the battles spilled over onto Thai soil, forcing a response. Burma denies this.

    The drug trade has been another irritant souring relations.

    Bangkok says the UWSA is the source of hundreds of millions of methamphetamine tablets flooding Thailand each year, and has accused Yangon of turning a blind eye to the problem. Burma says the Shan rebels are the region's main drug traffickers.

    Wattanachai has been extremely critical of Burma, fuelling speculation in the Thai media he could be transferred to a higher but inactive post later this year.

    New Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has often boasted of his good relations with Burma's ruling generals and is keen to restore friendly ties with Burma.

    The two countries, which share a 2,400 km (1,490 miles) border, have waged a war of words since the February clashes.

    CALL FOR CALM

    Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday has urged that both neighbours stop trading accusations in order to improve their relationship.

    ''Please don't act like children having fights,'' Thaksin said. ''We should be mature. I hope the...talks will solve most problems from the local to the national levels.''

    Deputy Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapha told reporters that the two sides had yet decide an agenda for the meeting, but said Thailand would raise the issue of bilateral cooperation to stamp out drugs.

    Washington said on Tuesday it was hopeful Bangkok would be able to use personal connections to work with Rangoon on the drugs problem.

    U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Richard Hecklinger told a meeting of businessmen and diplomats in Washington that he hoped Rangoon would respond positively to Thailand's efforts.

    Major General Thein Sein of the Triangle Region Command will lead the Burmese delegation to the meeting.

    The last regional border meeting was held in Thailand's southern resort of Phuket in March 1999.