Burma Related News - Aug 26, 2005.

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BURMA RELATED NEWS - AUGUST 26, 2005.
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HEADLINES
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Reuters - Myanmar coup rumours die but mysteries remain
AFP - Thai PM says Myanmar coup rumours untrue
Asia Pulse - Myanmar, Bangladesh Eye Improved Trade, Cooperation
MCOT - Myanmar releases 53 Thai prisoners from Insein prison
NFB - Dhaka, Yangon 30-point deal for augmenting trade, coop
Daily Times - Bangladesh tightens security at airports and borders
DVB News - NLD ?Cartoon? Chit Shwe released by Burma junta
DVB News - Instability leaves Burmese orphans at risk of hunger
DVB News - Detained Tagu Seik villagers released by Burmese authorities
DVB News - Burmese tuition teacher gets three years for saluting
national hero
E-Pao.net, India - No Urea smuggled to Myanmar: CM
Xinhuanet - Indonesian officials say ASEAN-China cooperation benefits
all
WP - Study: Newer Malaria Drugs Save More Lives
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Myanmar coup rumours die but mysteries remain
Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:09 AM BST
By Aung Hla Tun

YANGON (Reuters) - The whereabouts of Than Shwe, leader of Myanmar's
secretive junta, remained a mystery on Thursday, but rumours he had been
ousted by the army chief were dying rapidly.

The most popular explanation was that Than Shwe, 73, who appears in the
media only rarely, was in a hospital in Yangon's military zone and
General Maung Aye, the army chief and number two in the junta, was
acting in his stead.

"So far as we've heard, he was sent to the Mingaladon military hospital.
We don't know any further details," said U Lwin, the spokesman for
detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy
(NLD).

Than Shwe's last media appearance was on August 19 when he met special
United Nations envoy Ali Alatas, the Indonesian former foreign minister.

The state-run media in the former Burma made no mention on Thursday of
either Than Shwe or the rumours of his ouster which swept Myanmar and
neighbouring Thailand a day earlier.

Officials, who rarely talk to journalists in a country ruled by the
military in various guises since 1962, were unreachable for comment.

But Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra shrugged off the rumours as
baseless.

"The information we've got is that they are not true," he told a news
conference. "We have checked with every source. It was not true."

RUMOURS, HOPE, DISAPPOINTMENT

There had been no unusual military or police activity in Yangon on
Wednesday, leading diplomats to disbelieve the rumours, but the prices
of gold and the kyat currency moved, reflecting unease among ordinary
people.

But the prices of both began to drift back to previous levels on
Thursday as the intensity of the rumours dissipated.

Gold, which rose from 270,000 kyat per tical (0.525 troy ounce) on
Tuesday to 276,300 kyat on Wednesday, dipped to 275,000 kyat.

The black market price of the kyat -- whose official exchange rate is
around 6 to the dollar -- dropped from 1,120 to 1,178 on Wednesday but
had recovered to 1,170 on Thursday morning, dealers said.

Rumours about what is going on in the military have been rife since
General Khin Nyunt was ousted unceremoniously as prime minister and
military intelligence chief last October.

That was followed by the mass release of prisoners the junta said had
been jailed improperly by military intelligence and the inclusion of a
few political detainees raised hopes it was serious about a seven-step
road to democracy Khin Nyunt had announced.

But, as has happened so often before in Myanmar as events spawned hope,
nothing appears to have changed.

Suu Kyi is still under house arrest and her NLD effectively barred from
a conference writing a new constitution critics say will merely cement
the military regime in place.

Nor do long-time Myanmar watchers expect things to change.

"If there were to be a change in leadership, I don't see any indication
that that would lead to a change in policies towards Aung San Suu Kyi or
the pro-democracy movement," said Robert Karniol, the Asia-Pacific
editor of Jane's Defence Weekly.

"There seems to be a very monolithic political viewpoint within the
armed forces and I don't see that being readjusted by a change of
personality," he said.

"There is competition between individuals or blocks of individuals, but
I don't see a hardline verses moderate split within the armed forces."
**********************************************************
Thai PM says Myanmar coup rumours untrue
Thu Aug 25, 3:24 AM ET

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has discounted
rumours of a coup in Myanmar which have circulated in the military-run
country this week, causing its currency, the kyat, to fall.

"The coup d'etat in Myanmar is not true. It is a rumour that has been
released. We have checked the information with all of our sources," he
said at a regular press conference.

The rumours emerged on Tuesday, apparently triggered by an interview on
BBC's Burmese-language radio that said Myanmar's military ruler Senior
General Than Shwe had been forced to retire by number-two General Maung
Aye.

Diplomats in the Myanmar capital Yangon said the city was quiet, that
the government was giving every sign of being in business as usual, and
that they were extremely sceptical a coup had taken place.

"Everybody is aware of the rumours, yet it remains that there's no
evidence whatsoever that anything has happened," one western diplomat
told AFP.

The diplomat, speaking on the usual condition of anonymity, said the
rumours that General Maung Aye and his allies had taken over could also
have been fuelled by activity surrounding the birth of his grandchild
this week.

"That led to his presence at the hospital along with the health minister
.... and fed into stories that Than Shwe was actually in the hospital as
well and was sick," he said.

By Thursday morning, Myanmar's non-convertible kyat had fallen from
1,170 to 1,165 on the black market, although trading in gold had settled
down after initial rises.

"Speculators usually make a killing in gold whenever panic is caused
among the general public and although the rumor was short-lived, many
rushed to the gold market to buy just in case something happened," said
one businessman.

Observers in Myanmar said that although the rumours were now dying down,
the speed with which they spread was a sign of desperation among its
citizens for political change after four decades of military rule.

"The military government has done nothing either to quash the widespread
rumour or try to calm down the panicky public who predictably rushed to
buy gold," said one local political analyst.

The population is also on tenterhooks after two sets of reshuffles in
recent months that have seen a number of powerful military leaders and
government ministers change posts.

The shake-ups are part of an ongoing junta effort to reorganise and
promote its staunchest loyalists after Prime Minister Khin Nyunt was
ousted last October in a sweeping purge.

Khin Nyunt, seen by some observers as a more liberal figure in the
hawkish regime, received a 44-year suspended sentence last month after
being convicted on eight charges including bribery and corruption.
**********************************************************
Friday August 26, 03:54 PM
Myanmar, Bangladesh Eye Improved Trade, Cooperation

DHAKA, Aug 26 Asia Pulse - Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed on a
30-point deal for withdrawing a dual-tax system and to enhance
cooperation in other fields.

The two sides signed agreed minutes on the umbrella agreement here
Wednesday in the second phase of negotiations.

In the first phase of the negotiations, held September 15-17, 2003 in
Yangon, the two sides agreed on 10 articles of the deal. The remaining
20 articles were finalized on Wednesday.

AJ Jahir Mohammad, National Board of Revenue (NBR) member (Income and
Tax Policy), and U aye Ko, Myanmar Internal Revenue Department (IRD)
Deputy Director General, signed the agreed minutes for the two sides.

NBR Chairman Khairuzzaman Chowdhury and Myanmar IRD Director Zaw U were
also present at the signing ceremony.

According to NBR sources, it was the 25th agreement on withdrawal of
dual-tax arrangement of Bangladesh with other individual countries.

The major articles are on shipping and air communications, dividend,
interest, royalty, capital profit and student-trainees.

In the minutes it is stated that the native air authority would pay the
tax in the respective country. The tax would be paid for ships plying at
half the applicable rate.

The dividend-recipient person will pay his tax in his native country
while the income from the interest will be payable in the country
wherein the money earned and for royalty the rule will be the same as of
interest.

Students and trainees would be exempt from paying tax on earnings up to
$2,000.

After the signing ceremony, AJ Jahir Mohammad told UNB that this
agreement would now go to the Law Ministry for further verification and
then it would be placed with the cabinet for final approval.

"Then the last agreement at the highest level of government would be
struck either in Bangladesh or in Myanmar within a possible quick time,"
he said.
He also hinted that the Foreign Minister has directed them to move the
agreement in the shortest possible time.

"To facilitate business between the two countries this agreement is very
much essential," the NBR member said.

He hoped that Myanmar could be the alternative source of Bangladesh for
importing various types of essential goods like onions, rice in the
crisis moment.
Myanmar IRD Director Zaw U told the UNB that both Bangladesh and his
country would be "benefited through this agreement".

He also hoped that investment would increase in both Bangladesh and
Myanmar as a result of this agreement.
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MCOT
Myanmar releases 53 Thai prisoners from Insein prison

BANGKOK, Aug 25 (TNA) - More than 50 Thai prisoners were released from
Myanmar's Insein prison and flown back to Thailand today, according to a
statement released today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry's statement said an official at the Royal Thai Embassy in
Yangon helped facilitate the repatriation of the 53 prisoners from the
notorious prison in Insein, a suburb of the Myanmar capital.

They were flown back to their homeland by Thai Airways International
flight TG 304 this morning.

There was no official announcement of the release by the military junta
in Yangon.

In the past Thai prisoners held in Myanmar jails were held mainly on
charges of illegally encroaching on the Myanmar territory for fishing or
logging.
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News from Bangladesh
Dhaka, Yangon 30-point deal for augmenting trade, coop
Agreed minutes signed
Friday August 26 2005 10:02:11 AM BDT

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed on a 30-point deal for withdrawing a
dual-tax system to start formal business in a bigger way and also
enhance cooperation in other fields between the two neighbouring
countries, reports UNB.

The two sides signed agreed minutes on the umbrella agreement in Dhaka
on Wednesday in the second phase of negotiations.

In the first phase of the negotiations, held September 15-17, 2003 in
Yangon, the two sides agreed on 10 articles of the deal. The remaining
20 articles were finalized on Wednesday.

AJ Jahir Mohammad, National Board of Revenue (NBR) member (Income and
Tax Policy), and U aye Ko, Myanmar Internal Revenue Department (IRD)
Deputy Director General, signed the agreed minutes for the two sides.

NBR Chairman Khairuzzaman Chowdhury and Myanmar IRD Director Zaw U were
also present at the signing ceremony.

According to NBR sources, it was the 25th agreement on withdrawal of
dual-tax arrangement of Bangladesh with other individual countries.

The major ones of the 30 articles are on shipping and air
communications, dividend, interest, royalty, capital profit and
student-trainees.

In the minutes it is stated that the native air authority would pay the
tax in the respective country. The tax would be paid for ship plying at
half the applicable rate.

The dividend-recipient person will pay his tax in his native country
while the income from the interest will be payable in the country
wherein the money earned and for royalty the rule will be the same as of
interest.

Students and trainees would be exempt from paying tax on earnings up to
$2,000.

After the signing ceremony, AJ Jahir Mohammad told UNB that this
agreement would now go to the Law Ministry for further verification and
then it would be placed with the cabinet for final approval.

?Then the last agreement at the highest level of government would be
struck either in Bangladesh or in Myanmar within a possible quick time,?
he said.

He also hinted that the Foreign Minister has directed them to move the
agreement in the shortast possible time.

?To facilitate business between the two countries this agreement is very
much essential,? the NBR member said.

He hoped that Myanmar could be the alternative source of Bangladesh for
importing various types of essential goods like onions, rice in the
crisis moment.

Myanmar IRD Director Zaw U told the UNB that both Bangladesh and his
country would be ?benefited through this agreement?. He also hoped that
investment would increase in both Bangladesh and Myanmar as a result of
this agreement. UNB/ The Bangladesh Observer
**********************************************************
Daily Times - Friday, August 26, 2005
R E G I O N: Bangladesh tightens security at airports and borders
Police looking for 500 extremists believed to have been involved in
bombing

DHAKA: Bangladesh has strengthened security at its airports and borders
with India and Myanmar to prevent suspected militants blamed for recent
serial bombings from fleeing the country, police said on Thursday.

Police said they were looking for 500 or more Islamists believed to have
been involved in the Aug 17 bombing campaign in which hundreds of nearly
simultaneous blasts rocked the country.

?We hope to catch them all, but the task is not easy,? said an interior
ministry official, who asked not to be named.

?The investigation is proceeding well,? he said without giving details.
Six suspects had been arrested at Dhaka airport while trying to board
flights to London or destinations in the Middle East over past three
days as authorities intensified a hunt for militants.

Two died and about 100 were injured in the Aug. 17 blasts which
apparently were aimed more at triggering panic than taking lives.

No one claimed responsibility for the blasts but copies of a leaflet
found at most bomb sites carried a call by a banned Islamic militant
group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, for the introduction of Islamic rule in
Bangladesh, a Muslim democracy.

Many of those detained and being interrogated by police and armed forces
have said they are members of the banned group and that they acted under
orders of the group?s supreme leader Shayek Abdur Rahman, a senior
police officer said. Rahman and his close associates are rumoured to
have fled Bangladesh, though police say they have no proof.

So far six people including Moulana Fariduddin Mashud, a former director
of government-run Islamic Foundation, and Moulana Abdus Sattar, a leader
of radical Ahley Hadis group, have been arrested at Dhaka airport, the
senior police officer said.

More than 160 other people have been detained across the country and
were being interrogated, he said on Thursday. Immigration officials said
all transit points on Bangladesh?s borders with India and Myanmar had
been put under extra surveillance by Bangladesh Rifles (frontier
guards). ?We heard of similar reinforcement on the Indian side of the
border,? said a police officer in southwestern Benapole border post.
Mashud, who heads Islamic organisations that finance hundreds of
madrasas in Bangladesh, is also suspected of having financed the
Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a senior official in the ministry of home affairs
said.

Despite the crisis, the country?s squabbling ruling and opposition
parties, one run by the daughter and the other by the widow of former
national leaders, have failed to form a united front in tackling radical
Islamists.

A senior opposition figure accused the government of being involved in
the blasts but Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Moudud
Ahmed, a senior leader of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party,
dismissed this on Thursday. Diplomats said feuding politicians should
put their differences aside.

?Even Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and opposition leader Sheikh
Hasina should work together to deal with the matter,? French Charge
d?Affaires in Dhaka, Jean Romnicianu, told reporters on Thursday.
reuters
**********************************************************
NLD ?Cartoon? Chit Shwe released by Burma junta

Aug 25, 2005 (DVB) - Rangoon Division Thanlyin (Syriam) Township
National League for Democracy (NLD) vice-chairman ?Cartoon? Chit Swe was
released from Insein Jail on 24 August and returned to his home by the
Burmese authorities.

66-year old Chit Swe was arrested on 12 July for holding a meeting at
his home with his colleagues and was sentenced to one month in prison on
3 August.

Although he had served the sentence, Chit Swe still needs to report to
the authorities for a six-month suspended sentence, and it is not clear
whether he would be able to take part in political activities freely
while he is on bail.

A NLD leader Dr. Win Naing told DVB that Chit Swe had to promise the
authorities that he behaves ?properly?, but he insisted that the
restrictive law was designed for hardened criminals and it is nothing to
with a politician who never breaks the laws.
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Instability leaves Burmese orphans at risk of hunger

Aug 24, 2005 (DVB) - Due to the ongoing banking problems, rapidly rising
commodity price and political instability in Burma, fewer people have
been donating food and other needs for orphans and poor children who are
taking refuge in orphanages, monasteries and nunneries.

A schoolgirl who frequents Suhtoopan Buddhist Monastery which looks
after around 300 children at Thanlyin (Syriam) near Rangoon, told DVB
that the monastery is desperately looking for new donors to cover for
previous donors who have disappeared due to various problems in the
country.

?There are not many (donors) as before. The children are in trouble.
Previously, there were extra donations. We had nothing to worry for the
children then, but we have to now," she said.

At the same time, the monks, nuns and teachers who look after the
children are also finding it hard to procure food even for themselves. A
monk who doesn?t want to be named argued that rich and famous
monasteries which boast powerful and rich generals and businessmen as
their patrons should help those less fortunate monasteries and
nunneries.
**********************************************************
Detained Tagu Seik villagers released by Burmese authorities

Aug 25, 2005 (DVB) - 16 detained people from Tagu Seik Village, Einme
Township and nearby Athoke, in Burma?s delta region of Irrawaddy, were
released by the military authorities on 12 August.

It is not clear whether they were released from a special military
detention centre in Rangoon or nearby Myaungmya Prison but they have all
returned to their homes, according to sources close to Einme Township
National League for Democracy (NLD).

Moreover, around 200 soldiers from Infantry Battalion ? 93 who occupied
Tagu Seik and nearby Thayetkone, had also withdrawn from the villages.
The withdrawal came after the authorities found no incriminating
materials, having surrounded, occupied and searched the village for more
than a month.

Moreover, the authorities promised to pay compensation for the death of
a schoolteacher named Stanford who was killed during a heavy-handed
interrogation session in which he was given electric shocks. The local
authorities and the army also promised to promote the local middle
school to a joint high school, build a tarmac road from Tagu Seik to
Einme and do development works for the village.

On 7 July, the army surrounded Tagu Seik and mounted a major raid, on
suspicion of the villagers having contacts with the Karen National Union
(KNU) and
hoarding weapons and explosives.

The soldiers searched all imaginable places. The village church and
cemetery were turned upside down. But no weapons were found.
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Burmese tuition teacher gets three years for saluting national hero

Aug 25, 2005 (DVB) - The township court of Rangoon Twante, on 25 August,
sentenced a private tuition teacher Aung Pe to three years in prison for
saluting the picture of Gen Aung San, Burma?s national hero and father
of democracy leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The defending lawyer Myint Thaung provided strong evidences indicating
his client?s innocence but they were rejected by the judge, according to
Nyan Win, one of National League for Democracy (NLD) legal advocates.

Aung Pe?s wife Htay Htay Lwin who witnessed the sentencing of her
husband at the court told DVB that she is proud of her husband as he was
imprisoned not for working for his own benefits.

On 13 February, the birthday of Aung San and Burma?s Children Day,
40-year old Aung Pe hung a photograph of Aung San outside his classroom,
and saluted and sang a song honouring the national hero with his pupils.
He was arrested on the following day.

His lawyers are planning to lodge appeals to higher courts.
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E-Pao.net, India
No Urea smuggled to Myanmar: CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 25: Setting the record straight, Chief Minister O Ibobi
Singh has ridiculed the notion that the Urea quota of the State might
have been sold off to Myanmar and to other tea gardens outside the
State.

Talking to mediapersons at the Chief Minister's Secretariat this
evening, Ibobi categorically stated that the question of selling off the
State quota of urea does not arise at all as it (Urea) could not be
lifted due to the 52-day long economic blockade of ANSAM on the two
National Highways.

Out of the total 40,000 Metric tonne of Urea to be lifted as State
quota, so far only 10,000 to 13,000metric tonne has been lifted.

So where does the question of selling them off arise?, he countered.

Responding to a question on the proposed ban on All Manipur Students'
Union (AMSU) for having celebrated Manipur's Independence day on August
14, the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of the Home portfolio said
that he does not have any knowledge about it.

So I do not know what further course of action is to be taken in this
regard, he added.

It may be recalled here that following instructions from the Govt,
Imphal West District police had filed an FIR case against AMSU following
the celebration of August 14 as Manipur Independence Day by the student
body.
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Indonesian officials say ASEAN-China cooperation benefits all
www.chinaview.cn 2005-08-25 23:06:58

JAKARTA, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The economic cooperation between China
and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) benefits China
and all ASEAN nations, said an Indonesian official on Wednesday, one
month after China and six ASEAN nations carried out mutual tariff cuts.

In an interview with Xinhua, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry's Director
General for ASEAN Cooperation Marty Natalegawa said the ASEAN-China
cooperation would positively affect the cooperation between the ASEAN
and three of it's neighbors -- China, Japan, andSouth Korea -- known as
the ASEAN+3.

Indonesia sees China's progress as an opportunity, he added.

"It is a first class cooperation and it is very good. When we establish
a cooperation between the ASEAN and China, the impact spreads not only
to the (ASEAN member) countries, but also to EastAsia, and even the
whole world," he said.

"China cannot be ignored in global affairs. We do not see China's growth
as a problem, but as an opportunity, due to the huge size and capability
of the country," he said

As China's economy keeps growing, its cooperation with the ASEAN could
strengthen the roles of both the region and China in the international
community, he added.

The director stressed that the rapid development of China is not an
obstacle for ASEAN countries, saying there is no possibility that China
could dominate others.

"A country's capability to influence other countries does not depend on
its size and economy, but the quality of its diplomacy,"he said.

"China, Japan and South Korea are powerful countries and have strong
economies. However, when we talk about the ASEAN+3 cooperation or the
East Asian summit, they still need the ASEAN asa driving force,"
Natalegawa said.

China has also directly contributed to alleviating poverty in several
ASEAN countries, he said.

China has made joint efforts with other ASEAN nations to narrowthe gap
in economic development with Vietnam, the Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar,
Natalegawa added.

Sofyan Wanandi, chairman of the National Economic Recovery Committee of
the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Trade, also told Xinhua on
Wednesday that the relationship between the ASEAN and China would be of
mutual benefit, helping both sides efficiently reach their goals.

"I think this is a good relation, the economic ties are very important
because they are mutually beneficial," said Sofyan.

China and ASEAN countries "help each other in developing their own
economies," he added.

China intends to increase its openness and deepen its cooperation with
other countries. This would benefit the region asa whole, Sofyan said.

As there are wide gaps in the economic development of ASEAN
member-countries, they each have their relations with and interests in
China, he said.

Indonesia, for example, is rich in natural resources. Because of this,
it is now attracting Chinese investment in the sectors ofmining, palm
oil, infrastructure and energy, Sofyan said.

During his visit to China in July, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono made a commitment to attract more investment from China. "This
(increased investment) will be mutually beneficial for Indonesia and
China," Sofyan said.

The large number of visitors from China also represents a considerable
amount of tourist revenue for ASEAN countries, he added.

On market issues, the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry's ASEAN
Director of Economic Cooperation, Bambang Guritno, mentionedthat the
flooding of competitive products from a certain country could trigger
other countries to bolster their product competitiveness or to embrace
the country in the investment sector.

Chen Dajiang, chairman of the Indonesian-Chinese Entrepreneur
Association told Xinhua on Wednesday that China could extend its
relations with ASEAN countries by establishing joint ventures overseas,
which would tap into both sides' potential.

"We need China's investment and technology, while China needs our labor
and production base," said Chen.

If both sides could meet each other's demands, it would create a win-win
situation, he added.

China could help ASEAN countries develop their economies without
competing with them in various sectors, he said.

When both sides become integrated more closely, a huge regionaleconomy
might emerge, he explained.

According to an agreement signed by China and ASEAN nations last
November, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore and
Thailand began to provide mutual tariff cuts on 7,455 kinds of
commodities as of July 20.

By 2010, China and six ASEAN member nations -- namely Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- will impose zero
tariffs on most normal products, while China and the other four ASEAN
members -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam --will do the same in
2015 when free trade between China and all ASEAN nations would begin.

The Sino-ASEAN Free Trade Area has a combined population of 1.7billion
and 2 trillion US dollars in gross domestic product (GDP),plus 1.2
trillion US dollars in trade terms. In monetary terms, itwill become the
third largest global trading region after the European Union and the
North American Free Trade Zone.

China has already signed a zero-tariff agreement on fruit with Thailand,
implemented as of last year.

China now mainly imports electronic products, crude and liquefied
petroleum and gas, and vegetable oil from ASEAN countries, and exports
electronic and machinery products, textilesand garments, processed oil
and cereals to the ASEAN.

The trade volume between China and the ASEAN reached 105.9 billion US
dollars last year, a rise of 35 percent from a year ago. The ASEAN has
been China's fifth largest trade partner for 12consecutive years.

China's imports from the ASEAN went up by 28 percent on averagein the
past five years, four percentage points higher than the growth rate for
China's global imports.
**********************************************************
The Washington Post
Study: Newer Malaria Drugs Save More Lives
By EMMA ROSS, The Associated Press
Thursday, August 25, 2005; 8:01 PM

LONDON -- Treating adults with severe cases of malaria with the drug
artesunate _ rather than quinine _ could save tens of thousands of lives
in the developing world, new research suggests.

A study reported this week in The Lancet medical journal shows for the
first time that artesunate is better at saving lives than the standard
medication, quinine, reducing the chance of death from malaria by 35
percent.

Scientists have known for some years that the newer drug _ derived from
a traditional herb that has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands
of years to treat fever _ works more quickly, is easier to use and has
fewer side effects. But it has been unclear whether it was any better at
preventing death.

In the study, a team led by Dr. Nick White at Mahidol University in
Bangkok, Thailand, compared the drugs in 1,461 adults with severe
malaria being treated in hospitals in Bangladesh, Indonesia, India and
Myanmar.

Half the patients were given intravenous artesunate, while the others
were treated with quinine.

The researchers found that while 164, or 22 percent, of the patients on
quinine died from their malaria, only 107, or 15 percent, of the
patients getting artesunate died.

The World Health Organization said the findings will prompt a change in
its guidelines on the treatment of adults with severe malaria in areas
like Southeast Asia and South America, locations where the parasite has
shown resistance to quinine.

"Before the paper came out, all we could say was that artesunate was as
good as quinine, so the recommendation was that we had no evidence to
recommend one over the other," said Dr. Peter Olumese, a malaria drug
policy expert at the U.N. health agency. "Now, with this paper, at least
for that setting, we can clearly say yes, artesunate is the drug of
choice."

In such locations, switching to artesunate could save the lives of tens
of thousands of the estimated 1 million people who die from malaria
every year, Olumese said.
However, most of the world's malaria deaths occur in Africa, where it is
mostly children who are affected. Whether artesunate would be better
than quinine in that situation remains unclear, Olumese said.

The disease progresses differently in children and the drug may work
differently in them, so until studies prove artesunate is better than
quinine in children, the old drug will remain the treatment of choice,
he said.

Quinine is more effective against the malaria parasite in Africa than in
Asia, where the study was conducted, so it is unclear whether the gap in
the risk of death from the two treatments would be as big or large
enough to make a switch worthwhile, Olumese added.

Quinine also is cheaper and more easily available, and without proof of
substantial superiority of artesunate, it is likely that quinine will
remain the drug of choice for treating severe malaria in Africa for some
time, Olumese said.

White, the study's leader, also said supply may be a challenge.

"Quality assured, affordable ... artesunate should be made widely
available in malaria endemic areas as a matter of urgency," he said.
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