People's militias, army to be trained to defend against "foreign threat"

DVB ( July18,2003 )

It is reported that Rangoon military HQs has set up the 21st of July as the beginning day of military trainings for People’s Army [militia] against the enemy without. In a directive, the families of soldiers throughout the country and militia members from villages and wards are told to simultaneously take part in basic military and firearms handling trainings from the 21st of July for a month.

According to a local resident in Mandalay, 25 people from each of the 16 wards of Maha Aungmye Township have been given military training for two days and seven people from each of the 28 wards of Aungmye Thazan Township have been trained since the full moon day [13 July] of Waso.

The training ground is near the No.9, State High School and the trainees have to attend the courses every evening from six to seven o’clock. The recruiting duties are given by local township authorities to their subordinates, according to the local residents.

In Taungoo, Pegu Division, seven people from each ward are being recruited for military trainings but it is not known when the trainings are going to begin, according to local residents there.

Impact of US sanctions felt; UN Security Council involvement viewed
We have learned that within days of the import ban legislation passed by the two houses of the United States Congress, many factories in Hlaingthaya of Rangoon Division have already closed down.

According to Rangoon residents, factory workers have been given salaries for three months and told to take their time off.

To find out the situation in Rangoon following the action by the United States, we contacted U Khun Tun Oo, a company owner as well as a leader of ethnic nationalities, for his comments.

U Khun Tun Oo : There is bound to be an impact and some will be hurt presently. What is important is who will be hurt and what will be the consequences, and we will have to wait and see. Presently, factories had to be closed down but the workers are not feeling the full impact as yet because they have been given salary for three months. And, since the Bill has not come into force yet, some have kept their factories open, at least for the time being. Once the Bill is signed into law, there will definitely be an impact.

That was U Khun Tun Oo, chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy.

Meanwhile, in his interview, Dr Thaung Htun, UN representative for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma [in exile], explained the significance of the economic sanction by the United States and the connection it has to the discussions underway in the United Nations Security Council.

Dr Thaung Htun : The main reason for our efforts to get sanctions imposed is to weaken the economic base of the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council]. In previous years, exports from Burma to the United States amounted to about 400m dollars, and the bulk of this amount goes into the coffers of the SPDC. By passing the legislation, we will be able to block this 400m dollars from going to the SPDC.

Also, the entire US Congress is in support of bringing the case of Burma before the UN Security Council. With regard to the economic sanctions against Burma, the US Congress wants to see the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to cooperate and take effective action.

We have learned that the US representative to the United Nations took the lead in discussing Burma at the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday [16 July]. Britain and France also voiced their opinions in support of the United States.

Russia, however, said that the question of Burma was a matter that only concerned the UN General Assembly and had nothing to do with the UN Security Council.

What was remarkable, however, was that the Chinese representative, who most had thought would use his veto power, just sat there listening without making any comments.

We also asked U Khun Tun Oo whether the increase in international pressure would make the SPDC talk to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi or make it more intransigent, he said:

U Khun Tun Oo : Personally, I think they would consider how to successfully revive the talks. This is because you mentioned the UN Security Council in your question. Once the UN Security Council gets involved there isn't much left to do. As you had said, prospects cannot be too good for the SPDC. Personally, I think the talks must be resumed. I have said this many times before too.

(BBC Monitoring service)