FYI. apologies for those receiving this more than once
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "gani" <gani@iidnet.org>
> To: <fbc-phils@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, 22 July, 2004 10:45 AM
> Subject: [fbc-phils] Burmanet news update
>
>
> > INSIDE BURMA
> > ______________________________________
> >
> > July 21, Xinhua News Service
> > Number of internet users in Myanmar rising
> >
> > Yangon: The number of internet users in Myanmar has grown to nearly
> > 70,000 since 2000 when it was first introduced to the country, a local
> > news journal reported Wednesday.
> >
> > The number of internet subscribers even rose 133 percent within a year
> > from 2003 when it stood at only 30,000, the 7Day quoted internet
> > provider sources as saying.
> >
> > Among the users, private companies account for the majority, while
> > government departments stand the minority, it said, adding that users
> > range from people of 20 years old to 40.
> >
> > Internet services were first provided by the state-run Myanma Posts and
> > Telecommunications when it came into being and the services were later
> > extended to include the Bagan Cybertech and some 20 cyber cafes.
> >
> > Myanmar's information and communications technology (ICT) sector has
> > been making progress since the country introduced e(
> > electronic)-education system in early 2001 with two ICT parks in Yangon
> > and Mandalay being respectively set up in the last two years to provide
> > modern communications services in the country.
> >
> > In addition, a teleport and internet data center was established near
> > the Yangon ICT park by the Bagan Cybertech, a semi-government
> > organization providing the park with high speed data communication
> > broadband internet access and telephony services.
> >
> > Being a signatory to the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement initiated at the
> > Singapore Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
> > in 2000, Myanmar has formed the e-National Task Force (NTF) to support
> > the IT development.
> >
> > As part of a series of projects of the e-NTF, Myanmar has been launching
> > some e-government systems including e-passport, e-visa, e-procurement,
> > e-certification authority and trade data interchange.
> >
> > Meanwhile, the government enacted in last May the Electronic Transaction
> > Law to serve as a legal basis for the development of multi-sector with
> > the use of e-transaction technology.
> >
> >
>
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> ..........................................
> >
> > July 21, Mizzima News
> > Burma frees imprisoned journalist - Sein Win
> >
> > A Burmese journalist was released from prison on the12 of July four
> > months after his sentence had been completed.
> >
> > U Thar Ban, 67yearsold, was released from Rangoon's notorious Insein
> > prison. Hewas detained for more than seven years for helping a
> > university student write about Burma's student movement.
> >
> > Paris based media watchdog Reporter Without Border or RSF and exiled
> > Burma Media Association welcomed his release but regretted that he had
> > not been freed earlier in a joint statement released yesterday.
> >
> > "His health sharply deteriorated in 1999 but he was not allowed to go to
> > hospital," said the statement criticising what they call a "criminal and
> > deliberate policy" by the authorities of allowing prisoners' health to
> > worsen.
> >
> > A journalist and a political activist, U Thar Ban was also a lawyer, a
> > staff member of the government paper Kyemon (The Mirror) from 1962 to
> > 1978, and a worker for various independent magazines from 1986 and 1990.
> > He was arrested in March 1997 along with thirty-one other people. This
> > is his second time in prison.
> >
> > He was imprisoned from 1990 to 1995 for the first time for his political
> > involvement in the United Nationalities' League for Democracy, which is
> > linked to the opposition party, the National League for Democracy.
> >
> > At least 10 journalists remains in the prisons of Burma, the statement
> > said. Meanwhile, a former political prisoner, Wa Nay Soe died due to
> > liver cancer just a month before his release, said the Thai-based
> > Assistance Association for Political Prisoners' Burma (AAAP) yesterday.
> >
> >
>
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> ..........................................
> >
> > July 20, Kaladan News
> > Nasaka issued ultimatum to the villagers whether to pay kyats 500, 000
> > or to demolish the houses
> >
> > Maungdaw: Nasaka issued an ultimatum to the Rohingya villagers whether
> > to pay Kyats 500,000 per house or to demolish their tin roofed houses in
> > Maungdaw Township, northern Arakan State of Burma, according to our
> > correspondent, in side Arakan.
> >
> > On July 4, 2004, Captain Aung Kyaw Moe, the Commander of the Nasaka
> > Sector No.4 called a meeting in their Nasaka camp inviting some
> > villagers including village Chairmen and Secretaries of Kyein Chaung and
> > Pruma villages of Maungdaw north. In the meeting, the Commander asked
> > the villagers to demolish the tin roofed houses, which were built in
> > last five years back. And to avoid this, whether the villagers have to
> > pay Kyats 500,000 per house or to demolish all the houses, a villager
> > participated in the meeting said.
> >
> > On hearing the order, the participants of the meeting requested to the
> > Commander to withdraw the order as in the rainy season, it will be very
> > difficult to stay in other places after destroying their houses. But,
> > the said Captain took no notice, said a villager from the village.
> >
> > He further said, " If any one meet not to comply the order, he would be
> > punished according to the laws. The villagers have to destroy all the
> > houses by August 15, 2004."
> >
> > About 120 houses in two villages would be affected by this order. Some
> > of the villagers have already paid Kyats 500,000 (US$ 556) to the Nasaka
> > per house, who can afford this money and the rest are trying their best
> > to pay. But, most of them are unable to pay the said money as their
> > acute poverty, said another villager who preferred not to mention his
> > name.
> >
> > Deliberately, Nasaka arrested and detained three of the villagers, on
> > the information of discussion each other about the Commander's order.
> > However, they were released after bribing, he further added.
> >
> > In 1999-2000, when General Khin Nyunt, the then Secretary 1, present
> > Prime Minister of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) visited to
> > this area and instructed the villagers to redecorate the bordering town
> > and villages with good quality of roofs and etc. Therefore, some
> > villagers had built some tin roofed houses after getting permission from
> > concerned authorities. But now, The Commander denied everything and
> > charging the villagers on illegal modification of houses in bordering
> > areas.
> >
> > When asked a village elite said, "We have no strength not to comply
> > their order because of the judge and the defendant are the same person.
> > They know that in rainy season, the villagers would be faced acute
> > difficulties after destroying our houses. They do it deliberately."
> > ______________________________________
> > BUSINESS / MONEY
> >
> > July 19, Myanmar Times
> > Garment industry overcomes sanctions - Ye Lwin
> >
> > As the United States renewed economic sanctions on July 7, Myanmar's
> > garment industry is more stable than when the stricter sanctions were
> > first introduced at the end of August last year, industry sources told
> > Myanmar Times last week.
> >
> > The managing director of the Crocodile Trading Company, U Zaw Min Oo
> > said that although his company had faced difficulties in August last
> > year, reducing employment and productivity by up to 20 per cent, they
> > were prepared for this month's announcement.
> >
> > "We are experienced in overcoming the challenge of sanctions and we have
> > made the necessary preparations in searching for new markets," U Zaw Min
> > Oo said.
> >
> > "Despite further sanctions, it will not much affect our industry," he
> > said.
> >
> > U Khin Tun, managing director of Prime Industries and Business Limited
> > said his company was looking for new markets in European countries such
> > as Germany and Spain.
> >
> > "The productivity of our garment factory declined 50 per cent after last
> > year's sanctions as the majority of our buyers are from the United
> > States," he said.
> >
> > U Kyaw Zin, director of Opal International Company Ltd told Myanmar
> > Times that his company's main customers are from Germany, Austria and
> > France.
> >
> > "Since the factory first opened we have not operated in the American
> > market, therefore the sanctions are having no effect on our business,
> > but we do face some difficulties in remittance between Myanmar and
> > foreign banks," said U Kyaw Zin.
> >
> > Opal garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone now employs 1700
> > workers and business is stable, U Kyaw Zin said. The company enjoyed its
> > peak productivity in 2000, he added.
> >
> > This trend is similar throughout the garment industry - in 2000, the 400
> > garment factories in Myanmar employed 350,000 people, producing almost
> > 35 million dozen garment batches with an export value of US$397 million.
> >
> > Myanmar is increasingly targeting Europe as a market for garment CMP
> > (cutting, making and packaging) - the industry expects to increase
> > exports to the region by 6 million dozen garments this year.
> >
> > There are now about 160 garment factories operating in Myanmar with a
> > workforce of more than 100,000 employees.
> >
> > While sources in the garment industry were optimistic about the current
> > situation, most admitted that young women - who make up the majority of
> > shop-floor workers in the industry - are the main victims when
> > production decreases.
> > ______________________________________
> > REGIONAL
> >
> > July 21, Irrawaddy
> > Bangkok wants regime for Burma forum - Aung Lwin Oo
> >
> > Thailand has expressed its willingness to resume the talks on Burma
> > which were suspended in April 2004. Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart
> > Sathirathai said on Tuesday that Bangkok is ready to host the second
> > round of the "Bangkok Process" and wants Burma to join the forum.
> >
> > "Now some countries have approached us including the UN Secretary
> > General to consider the possibility of having the second Bangkok
> > Process," said Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
> > spokesman, who spoke to The Irrawaddy by telephone.
> >
> > The Bangkok-hosted forum started in December last year with delegates
> > from 12 countries along with the UN special envoy to Burma, Razali
> > Ismail. Although a second round was scheduled for April, Rangoon
> > withdrew from the process at short notice, causing some embarrassment to
> > the Thai government.
> >
> > "Whether or not we will be able to organize [the forum] depends on the
> > readiness of the Myanmar [Burmese] government to attend and we can not
> > force the Myanmar [Burmese] government to attend," Sihasak admitted.
> > "But we hope that the Myanmar [Burmese] government will see the benefits
> > of coming."
> >
> > Meanwhile, the EU has been critical of Burma's lack of progress in
> > political reform, which led to a standoff regarding the planned
> > Asia-Europe Meeting or Asem scheduled for October 8-9 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
> > Last week the EU appointed a special envoy to sort out the problem with
> > its Asian counterparts. The special envoy, former Netherlands foreign
> > minister Hans van den Broek is due to meet with the Foreign Minister of
> > Thailand on Thursday.
> >
> > Sihasak said that Thailand would maintain its position that new members
> > of Asean be included in Asem, including Burma, as long as the EU insists
> > on bringing its new members to the meeting.
> >
> >
>
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> ..........................................
> >
> > July 21, Irrawaddy
> > Restrictions eased for migrant workers in Thailand - Nandar Chann
> >
> > Registration for Thailand's alien workers just got easier. The Thai
> > Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare announced on Wednesday that illegal
> > migrants no longer need their employers or landlords to accompany
> > workers to district offices to fill out the registration forms.
> >
> > Foreign workers from Burma, Cambodia and Laos have been allowed to
> > register for official work permits from July 1 to 31. But complicated
> > registration procedures and high fees have opened room for job brokers
> > to exploit alien workers. Thus, many workers have chosen to avoid
> > registration. The low turnout during the first half of the registration
> > period has caused the Thai Labor Ministry to ease restrictions.
> >
> > "I have been looking for a broker to pretend he is my employer because I
> > want to register for a work permit in Thailand," said Nan Win, an
> > unemployed Burmese migrant in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. She
> > added that it is easier to pay off a broker to facilitate her
> > registration than to find a job.
> >
> > Of the roughly one million migrant workers in Thailand, 80 percent are
> > from Burma. The new registration policy will allow migrant workers to
> > seek health coverage under the Thai national healthcare system. They
> > should also be eligible for work permits at the end of the registration
> > period, entitling them to full labor protection.
> >
> > They also have the right to seek a new job if they wish. As a result,
> > employers are reluctant to pay and register their workers, fearing that
> > migrants might quit their jobs after obtaining a registration card.
> > Previously, employers paid for registration and deducted the amount from
> > the workers' salaries.
> >
> > "I have to pay the broker 2,000 baht (US $48) to pretend that he is my
> > employer," said Nan Win. "I also have to spend 3,800 baht to register.
> > But I can't afford that."
> >
> > Pranom Somwong, of the Thai-based Migrant Assistance Program, said that
> > as of July 18, roughly 560,000 workers had registered for work permits.
> >
> >
>
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> ..........................................
> >
> > July 21, Associated Press
> > Report: China holding U.S.-based dissident
> >
> > Beijing: China is holding a U.S.-based dissident who disappeared while
> > traveling in Myanmar, a human rights group said Wednesday.
> >
> > Peng Ming, a veteran Chinese democracy activist who lives in California,
> > was arrested in Myanmar around May 22 on charges of possessing fake
> > Chinese money and turned over to Chinese authorities, according to
> > Washington-based Worldrights.
> >
> > Myanmar and China may have worked together "to snare" Peng, the group
> > said in a statement. It said he was detained with a Chinese companion,
> > Zhong Ping, who is under house arrest.
> >
> > "Without certifiable proof of any wrongdoing on Peng's part, his
> > detention is manifestly arbitrary," said Worldrights executive director
> > Timothy Cooper in the statement. "We call for Peng's immediate release
> > and his safe return to the United States."
> >
> > Peng is leader of the China Federation Foundation, which was founded in
> > California last year. He told The Associated Press at that time that its
> > goal is to replace communist rule with democracy.
> >
> > The Worldrights statement said Peng was being held in the central
> > Chinese city of Wuhan. Police and prosecutors reached by phone in Wuhan
> > said they had no information about the case.
> >
> > Peng went to Myanmar to set up a haven for fleeing Chinese dissidents,
> > the statement said. It said he entered Myanmar from Thailand, where his
> > parents live as refugees.
> >
> > Peng spent 18 months in a Chinese labor camp after he was arrested in
> > 1999 amid a crackdown on dissent that sent dozens of dissidents into
> > prison or exile.
> >
> > Released in August 2000, he left China and moved to the United States in
> > 2001 and has applied for permanent U.S. residency.
> >
> > China will never interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs General Khin
> > Nyunt calls on PRC President Hu Jintao
> > ______________________________________
> > INTERNATIONAL
> >
> > July 21, The Daily Telegraph (London)
> > Asia forum threatened by British boycott of Burma - Anton La Guardia
> >
> > Britain is under attack from European and Asian countries demanding that
> > it abandon its policy of ostracising the Burmese military regime.
> >
> > The Government wants Burma banned from the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in
> > November because of the junta's repression of political opponents,
> > especially the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's main
> > pro-democracy leader.
> >
> > But virtually every other nation involved in the forum does not want
> > relations to become hostage to the Burmese question.
> >
> > European Union countries - which have imposed an arms embargo as well as
> > a visa ban and asset freeze on senior regime officials - accept that
> > Burma has not made progress in meeting EU demands, such as the release
> > of Miss Suu Kyi.
> >
> > But they say that Europe's relations with Asia, which buys 21 per cent
> > of the EU's exports, are hugely important.
> >
> > "It is impossible to have normal relations with the regime," said one EU
> > diplomat, "but we cannot sacrifice relations with such an important
> > region because of Burma. We are not going to inflict damage on
> > ourselves.
> >
> > "Many members of the EU feel that Britain is manipulating the EU. If
> > Britain wants to exert pressure on Burma, why doesn't it cut off its own
> > diplomatic relations?"
> >
> > A spokesman for the Thai foreign ministry, said: "We recognise that the
> > issue of Myanmar [Burma] is of concern but we do not think it should
> > pose as an obstacle to broader co-operation."
> >
> > The Asia-Europe Meeting started in 1996, bringing together the 15
> > nations of the EU and seven members of the Association of South-East
> > Asian Nations (Asean), plus China, Japan and South Korea.
> >
> > But both organisations have since expanded, forcing the Burmese issue on
> > to the agenda. The EU wants to include its 10 new members at the summit,
> > prompting Asia to demand the inclusion of its new members - Laos,
> > Cambodia and Burma.
> >
> > Diplomats are trying to broker a deal whereby Burma would take part in
> > the summit but would send a "lower-level delegation", allowing the
> > Europeans to take part.
> >
> > Britain's position on Burma is unusually firm. It has often preferred
> > pragmatic "engagement" rather than confrontation with other pariah
> > states such as Iran, Syria, Libya and even North Korea.
> >
> > But Tony Blair last year invited Miss Suu Kyi to address the Labour
> > conference, hailing her as "an example to democrats all over the world".
> >
> > Critics accuse Britain of double standards because it is not demanding
> > the exclusion of one-party communist states such as Laos, Vietnam or
> > China.
> >
> > Britain insists that there is a united EU position on Burma. "The
> > membership of Asem is a matter for Asem," said one official, "but we and
> > the Europeans have a problem sitting down with the Burmese regime.
> >
> > "Burma is unique because in every other country we are seeing progress
> > in economic and human rights. Burma is the only country where the regime
> > is getting worse."
> >
> > The junta has reacted by blaming Britain for almost every problem the
> > country has suffered in the past half century.
> >
> > Britain's policy was driven by its "colonial mentality", said a
> > statement from the junta. Burma, renamed Myanmar by the generals,
> > declared: "The people of Myanmar are very much disappointed to learn
> > that even after the British troops left Myanmar more than 50 years ago,
> > Britain continues in its attempt to deny Myanmar its sovereign right to
> > shape its own nation's destiny."
> > ______________________________________
> > OPINION / OTHER
> >
> > July 20, The New Light of Myanmar
> > Towards bilateral cooperation between China and Myanmar
> >
> > The People's Republic of China and the Union of Myanmar Burma
> > established diplomatic ties on 8 June, 1950. The two countries share a
> > 2,210-km-long common border and the governments and the peoples of the
> > two nations enjoy a long history of friendship, adhering to the policy
> > of mutual respect, equality and non-interference in the internal affairs
> > of each other. Moreover, the two countries have been cooperating in
> > political and cultural fields, especially in economy and trade.
> >
> > At the invitation of Premier Mr Wen Jiabao of the People's Republic of
> > China, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr
> > Daw Khin Win Shwe paid an official visit to the People's Republic of
> > China from 11 to 18 July. During his visit, Prime Minister Gen Khin
> > Nyunt paid a courtesy call on Mr Hu Jintao at the Fujian Hall of the
> > Great of Hall of the People in Beijing on 13 July.
> >
> > At the meeting, President Mr Hu Jintao expressed his thanks for
> > Myanmar's constant support to one-China policy and stressed that the
> > People's Republic of China would provide assistance for economic
> > progress of Myanmar as much as possible, to raise the momentum of
> > bilateral cooperation in every sector. The president also added that
> > China would never interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs and expressed
> > his pleasure at the Sino-Myanmar relations which, based on the Five
> > Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, remained unchanged.
> >
> > Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt also called on Mr Wu Bangguo, chairman of
> > the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, at the
> > Great Hall of the People in Beijing and they discussed the matters on
> > strengthening Paukphaw brotherly friendship between the two nations,
> > enhancing the bilateral cooperation and mutual respect.
> >
> > Moreover, Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt met Mr Luo Gan, member of the
> > Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, at the Hong Kong Hall of the
> > Great Hall of the People and they cordially discussed matters on
> > strengthening mutual friendship and bilateral cooperation, eliminating
> > narcotic drugs and development of border region management system of
> > both nations.
> >
> > We strongly believe that, as the People's Republic of China has been
> > providing necessary assistance for economic development of Myanmar, the
> > two nations will enhance mutual understanding and promote bilateral
> > cooperation in various fields.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Isagani Abunda
> > Advocacy Officer, Burma Program
> > Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
> > Telefax: (63) (2) 9110205
> > Tel: (63) (2) 4352900
> > Web: www.iidnet.org
> > -----------------------------------------------------
> > For regular updates on IID's campaigns and lobby initiatives in Burma,
> > subscribe to Burma Alert.
> >
> > Send a blank e-mail to burma-alert-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
> > Also check the Burma section of the IID web site at
> > http://www.iidnet.org/adv/burma/updates.htm.
> > ------------------------------------------------------