Daily News- December 17 - 2002- Tuesday
  • No Press Freedoms Yet
  • Myanmar in serious shortage of fertilizer
  • Burma's PM in Bangladesh for Trade, Refugee Talks
  • Thai high court rules Burma gas pipeline legal
  • Myanmar thrash Philippines, boosting chances of Tiger Cup semifinal place
  • Burma to follow Thailand's Doi Tung Royal Project
  • Thai dignitaries participate in `kathin' ceremony in Rangoon


    • No Press Freedoms Yet

    By Htet Aung Kyaw
    The Irrawaddy

    December 16, 2002-Burma’s draconian censorship laws will remain soundly in place until substantial political change occurs, according to a well-known Burmese literary critic. Burmese poet and author Maung Swam Yi, while on a rare trip outside Burma, spoke about press freedoms and censorship laws during a conference in The Netherlands on modern literatures of Asian and African nations who formerly came under colonial rule.

    Maung Swam Yi said, outside of the government backed weekly The Myanmar Times, there has been no change inside Burma despite the alleged reconciliation talks that have taken place on and off for the last two years between the military regime and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He said Burmese now rely almost solely on foreign radio broadcasts for their news.

    Concerning censorship laws, Maung Swam Yi told the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) while in Europe that: "There is nothing changing. You must go three times a month to the PSB (press scrutiny board) office: once for proof censoring, second for printing and the third for delivering. If you are absent or delayed, your magazine will definitely be banned for months, years or for life."

    He said he personally came under heavy censorship while writing his latest book. The PSB prohibited him from writing the names of different famous poets, writers and journalists due to their opposition ties-including poets Kyi Aung, Ko Lay-Ava Gyonyi, Bamaw Nyo Ngwe, Min Thu Won, imprisoned journalist U Win Tin and exiled poet Tin Moe.

    The PSB even went so far as to censor the name of U Aung Khin, a famous painter in Mandalay, because his name shares the same spelling with Dr Aung Khin, who works for the opposition run DVB as well as the BBC. "It's very funny," says Maung Swam Yi, who does not know Dr Aung Khin.

    The major player in the country’s state-controlled media is not the PSB, but the country’s military intelligence (MI), which is run by Sec-1 Gen Khin Nyunt and advises the PSB on what is permissible and what is deemed subversive.

    Since February of this year the PSB has been told to censor all references to Thailand, whether they are advertisements or articles. "Now they ordered us to print anti-Thai articles, which are written by MI-backed Dr Ma Tin Win," says Maung Swam Yi.

    Dr Ma Tin Win’s writings have become synonymous with the government line, and as a result of her anti-Thai rhetoric, Thai authorities have banned her from coming to the Kingdom. The Burmese regime, however, awarded her the National Literature Prize this year, which is given by the Ministry of Information.

    Writers like Dr Ma Tin Win, along with The Myanmar Times, which is owned by Australian editor Ross Dunkley, are the regime’s latest propaganda tools, says Maung Swam Yi. "This journal is for foreign investment. They have the chance to print big news such as the secret talks [between the junta and opposition] and even interviews with Gen Khin Nyunt."

    Despite the same press freedoms not being granted to the Burmese run journals and magazines, Maung Swam Yi says as a whole the public is not overly interested in The Myanmar Times. "There are two points: one, it's very expensive at 500-kyat per copy while our journal is 50-kyat. Secondly, all of The Myanmar Time's big news has already been broadcasted from foreign- based radio."

    He says the major gap between Burmese media and the rest of the world is the lack of information technology found inside Burma. "When the seminar finished, every body exchanged business cards except me. I have no card with Internet, e-mail, fax or phone numbers."

    "It's impossible," says Maung Swam Yi. "Before I came here, I tried to send a copy of my thesis to the seminar via the government's e-mail service. But the officials ordered me to first show permission from the PSB before it could be e- mailed."

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    Myanmar in serious shortage of fertilizer

    YANGON, Dec 16, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Myanmar, as an agricultural country, is in high demand for fertilizer to ensure increased production of agricultural crops. Due to much limited quantity of domestic production, the country is in serious shortage of the fertilizer.

    According to a report of the weekly Myanmar Times published on Monday, Myanmar's annual demand for fertilizer amounts to one million tons, but the country has only three fertilizer plants producing urea with an annual production capacity of only 300,000 tons.Due to various reasons, there exists a wide comparison between the actual output and production capacity with the annual output being only more than 100,000 tons.

    In 2000, Myanmar's total fertilizer production was 160,000 tons, while in 2001, the output dropped to 46,000 tons, accounting for only 4.6 percent of the total demand, the report said.

    To ease the serious shortage, Myanmar imports several hundred thousand tons of various kinds of fertilizer annually. In the present fiscal year ending March next year, Myanmar will import 100,000 tons of urea worth 14 million US dollars from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and other countries.To promote the agricultural development, the country has exempted the import duties of agricultural machinery, pesticide, fertilizer and agricultural implements.

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    Burma's PM in Bangladesh for Trade, Refugee Talks

    DHAKA (Reuters) - Burma Prime Minister Than Shwe became the first leader of his country to visit neighboring Bangladesh Tuesday when he arrived for talks likely to cover trade and Muslim refugees.

    Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia greeted Than Shwe at Dhaka airport when he flew in for a two-day visit.

    As well as trade and economic cooperation, the leaders are likely to discuss the repatriation of thousands of Burma's Muslim refugees in Bangladesh, officials said without giving details.

    Several hundred thousand Muslims from the west of mostly Buddhist Burma fled to predominantly Muslim Bangladesh in 1992, alleging persecution by the Burmese military.

    Most have gone home but about 21,000 are still in Bangladeshi camps. Bangladesh says their delay in going back is because of "foot-dragging" by Burmese authorities.

    Bangladesh officially imports goods from Burma worth nearly $20 million a year and exports items worth $5 million but much more unofficial trade goes on between the two countries, business officials said.

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    Thai high court rules Burma gas pipeline legal

    BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Dismissing objections from social and environmental activists, Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that construction of a gas pipeline from Burma to Thailand was legal.

    Prominent social critic Sulak Sivaraksa had petitioned the court to rule the pipeline illegal, arguing that it violated the Thai constitution by damaging the environment and private property.

    The 238-kilometer (148-mile) pipeline was built between 1996 and 1998. It carries natural gas from Burma across the border to an electrical power plant in Thailand's Ratchaburi province, 95 kilometers (60 miles) west of Bangkok. The plant has been operating since Oct. 2000.

    The court ruled by a vote of 12 to 1 that the state-controlled Petroleum Authority of Thailand, or PTT, did not violate the law by building the pipeline. Two judges who had originally voted not to accept Sulak's petition did not vote.

    "The majority of judges ruled that PTT has the legal right to lay the pipeline through the jungles and cut down trees if necessary. It is not against the constitution. But if the agency caused damage to public or private property, PTT will have to pay compensation," Judge Jul Adirek said at a news conference.

    Thai environmentalists say the pipeline's construction damaged rain forests and displaced wildlife.

    Social and political activists charge that the project profits fund Burma's military regime, which has a poor human rights record and refuses to hand over power to a democratically elected government.

    They also charge that Burma's military junta used forced labor to build pipeline infrastructure on its side of the border.

    A U.S. federal appeals court in September reinstated a lawsuit on behalf of Burmese farmers, alleging that Unocal Corp. — part of the consortium that built the pipeline — was legally responsible for the alleged human rights violations.

    The allegations against the El Segundo, California-based Unocal include complicity in slavery, murder and rape, which the farmers say were carried out by the Southeast Asian nation's military. The military provided the company with security and other help in the pipeline venture with the Burmese government.

    Unocal has repeatedly denied the accusation.

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    Myanmar thrash Philippines, boosting chances of Tiger Cup semifinal place

    JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Three goals in each half gave Myanmar an easy 6-1 win over the Philippines Tuesday in the Tiger Cup, boosting its chances of reaching the semifinals of the region's top soccer tournament for the first time.

    Myanmar's snappy passing, movement off the ball and clinical finishing quickly overpowered the Philippines, which was playing its first match of the tournament.

    The win leaves Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, atop Group A, ahead of group favorites Vietnam and Indonesia, which have both played just one game. Myanmar held local favorite Indonesia to a surprising tie in the tournament opener on the weekend.

    "We still have a lot of games to play. It's too early to speak of a semifinal possibility," said Myanmar coach David Booth. "I have been happy with the results so far. The next match will be tough against Vietnam and I hope I will be happy just like to today."

    Aung Kyaw Moe fired in the opening goal from outside the penalty area after 10 minutes when the Philippines failed to clear a corner.

    Substitute Htay Aung sidefooted the second with his first touch on 35 minute, while a backpass set Soe Lin Tun on his way for the third just before half time.

    After the interval, Kyaw Moe notched a second, before Zaw Zaw and Tint Naing Tun Thein scored one apiece.

    Alfredo Gonzales scored a late consolation goal for the Philippines, which has only won one of its twelve matches in previous Tiger Cups.

    On Sunday, Myanmar's young team held Indonesia to a 0-0 draw.

    Myanmar recorded five successive Southeast Asian Games victories in the 1960s and 70s before political instability took its toll on the team. It has never reached the semifinal stages of the Tiger Cup, which has been held every two years since 1996.

    Later Tuesday, Indonesia takes on Cambodia, who were demolished by Vietnam in its opening match. The home side desperately need a win after Sunday's disappointing performance.

    Play in group B, comprising Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Laos, will kick off at Singapore's National Stadium on Wednesday.

    The top two sides from each group qualify for the semifinals, which are scheduled for Jakarta on Dec. 27. The finals are to be played out on Dec. 29, also in the Indonesia capital.

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    Burma to follow Thailand's Doi Tung Royal Project

    Bangkok, Dec 16 (TNA)-- Burma will use a royal project on the development of Doi Tung as an example for addressing its narcotic problem, according to a T.V. news report.

    Kitti Limchaikij, Thai Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotic Control Board (ONCB), told reporters on Monday that Rangoon had been interested in the Doi Tung Royal Project in the northen province of Chiang Mai, which has successfully substituted opium plantations to those of economic crops, and would follow the royal project to address the drugs problem in its country, said the news report of Modernine T.V. (T.V. Channel 9).

    Kitti led a Burmese delegation, led by Myanmar police chief to visit the Doi Tung Royal Project.

    The Burmese police chief also heads the Burma central committee on narcotic control, according to the T.V. news report.

    "Myanmar will follow the Doi Tung Royal Project to turn its Yong Kha area, about two kilometres from the Thai border, to become plantations of economic crops to address the drugs problem in the country", Kitti was quoted by the Modernine T.V. as saying.

    Ban Yong Kha has about 20,000 population, most of whom are red wa. Kitti said that Burma and Thailand had also agreed to coordinate and cooperate more closely in tackling the drugs problem.

    To The Top

    Thai dignitaries participate in `kathin' ceremony in Rangoon

    Source : Bangkok Post

    The solemn chanting of Namo Tassa evoked the feeling that one was attending a religious ceremony at a temple somewhere in Thailand. But the person intoning the prayer was clad in a white shirt over a sarong; it wasn't a Thai-style sarong and he obviously wasn't a Thai monk.

    The man was taking the lead in one of the more important religious events of the year in Burma _ a ceremony to offer royal kathin robes bestowed by His Majesty the King. It took place last month at the Mahavisuddhayon Shwekyin (Great and Pure Dhamma) Monastery in Bahan township, Rangoon. Established in 1958 with donations from the Sein family, the monastery is currently home to 300 monks and 50 novices.

    The ceremony has been held every year since 1995 to strengthen the bond between neighbours which share the same belief in Theravada Buddhism. Our government is of the view that the promotion of religious and cultural ties between Burma and Thailand will further strengthen the bilateral relationship, particularly on a people-to-people basis.

    The Burmese authorities recommend to which temple the royal kathin robes should go. ``From the monasteries in Rangoon and Mandalay divisions, we picked this one since its abbot is one of only six monks still alive who know the sacred Tipitakadhara off by heart,'' said Sann Lwin, 58, director-general of Burma's Department of Religious Promotion and Propagation.

    The examination for the Tipitakadhara is the highest and most difficult of those held by Burma's Ministry of Religious Affairs.

    ``Last year, we selected the monastery whose abbot was the first to pass the qualifying exam. Now it's the turn of this monastery; its abbot, Sayadaw Sirindabhivamsa, is the second living monk to pass.''

    Other factors in making the decision, according to Sann Lwin, were that the monks here are renowned for their strict observance of the Vinaya, the Buddhist canon, and that their temple is recognised as a Pali monastic university.

    Participating in the approximately three-hour ceremony were key figures from both countries. The permanent secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tej Bunnag, presented the robes to Burma's minister of religious affairs who in turn offered them to the monks. Other guests included Thai ambassadors and their families, members of the Thailand-Burma Cultural and Economic Cooperation Association and officials from Burma's Ministry of Religious Affairs.

    Also in attendance were Burma's Supreme Patriarch and his deputy, temple abbot Sayadaw Sirindabhivamsa, senior monks and novices. All in all some 150 individuals took part.

    Apart from the robes themselves, other objects presented to the monastery included a shoulder bag, ceremonial fan and alms bowl embroidered with HM the King's insignia plus daily necessities including medicine, an electric saw, food containers and glassware.

    The principal Buddha image at Maha-visuddhayon Shwekyin Monastery is made from pearly white alabaster and dressed in golden robes. Alabaster is widely used in Burma for carving Buddha statues.

    In addition to the robes and other accessories, Tej Bunnag also presented to the monastery 10,000 baht in cash from His Majesty and US$4,651 (199,993 baht) from the Thai government.

    The ceremony ended with guests giving alms to all the monks and novices present. The last monk in line was not the youngest novice, but the abbot himself. Barefooted, he opened his alms bowl to receive an offering, allowing the donor to make merit that hopefully will tighten the bonds between our two countries.

    To The Top