[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

No Subject Line




************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
**************************************************************

BurmaNet News: Saturday-Sunday, September 17 and 18, 1994
Issue #20

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

          "Some local [Slorc] frontline commanders have told people that
          they cannot trust the KIO and fighting might soon break out, so the
          people have started to have doubt about both sides..."

                              Zau Mai, KIA Chief of Staff

*************************************************************
Contents:

1: NATION: NO CUT LIKELY IN US MILITARY FUNDS
2: NATION: KACHIN TO HOLD DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE TALKS WITH RANGOON
3: ECONOMIST: PEREGINE INVESTMENTS; BANKING ON CHINA AND THE SLORC
4: NATION: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
5: KHRG: SLORC VICTIMS IN NYAUNGLEBIN DISTRICT
6: BURMANET: INDEX OF BURMANET ARTICLES, AUG 11-SEPT 18, 1994
7: BURMANET: THE SOC.CULTURE.BURMA ARCHIVE

*************************************************************
NATION: NO CUT LIKELY IN US MILITARY FUNDS
September 16

It is likely that the United States will not cut military assistance to
Thailand under the Internatioanl Military Education Training Programme
(IMETP).

Deputy Supreme Commander Prasert Sarnrit revealed this, quoting a visiting
senrior US officer.

Gen Dennis J. Jeimer, US army chief of staff, who is visiting Thailand as t=
he
Thai army's guest, said the IMETP funds were of mutual interest and will mo=
st
likely be maintained, according to Prasert.

President Clinton recently signed a bill whuich allowed the US government t=
o
cut the assistance if there was evidence that Thailand continued to support
the Khmer Rouge.

[Editor's note:  This article, like many in the Thai press, focus on the Th=
ai
army's rumoured support of the Khmer Rouge.  A cessation of support to the =
KR
is one conditionality of continued aid under the IMET program according to
the bill that Clinton signed.  What is often unmentioned in the reports is
that the other condition of the law is an end to harassment of Burmese
refugees, exiles and pro-democracy activists sheltering in Thailand.]

*************************************************************
NATION: KACHIN TO HOLD DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE TALKS WITH RANGOON
September 16

by Yindee Lertcharoenchok
Pajau, Burma

An ethnic Kachin delegation has left discretely for Myitkyina and Rangoon f=
or
talks witht he Burmese junta, including Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, on trade and
economic issues, as well as rural development programmes for the Kachin
State.

The talks are the latest bilateral engagement since the ruling State Law an=
d
Order Restoration Council and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of th=
e
country's strongest border-based guerrilla forces, signed a ceasefire
agreement in February after three years of truce negotiations.

The 10-member delegation, led by Brig Tu Jai, vice president of the Kachin
Independence Council, is divided into a trade and economic mission and a
development mission.

The team left the KIA headquarters on the Sino-Burmese border on September =
1
for Myitkyina, where they met and held talks with Norther Commander Maj Gen
Saw Lwin.

The group is believed to have already left Myitkyina for Rangoon, where the=
y
were to hold talks with Burmese leaders, including SLORC Secretary One Khin
Nyunt, whose ceasefire initiative has brought about a dozen ethnic guerrill=
a
groups into a ceasefire with Rangoon.

Tu Jai, who had previously headed the Kachin military team in the ceasefire
talks, is officially to announce Col Seng Hpung as his successor.  The
bespectacled Seng Hpung, who is fluent in English, Hindi and Shan, will tak=
e
over as head of the Kachin mission, as well as being special senior liaison
officer on trade, economic and development affairs.

Recently, the Kachin ethnic group sent a five-member economic team, led by =
Dr
La Ja on an observation tour to Myitkyina, Bhama, Kutkai, Muse and Lashio,
where they held talks with local authorities and people about  economic and
invest************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
**************************************************************

BurmaNet News: Saturday-Sunday, September 17 and 18, 1994
Issue #20

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

          "Some local [Slorc] frontline commanders have told people that th=
ey
          cannot trust the KIO and fighting might soon break out, so the
          people have started to have doubt about both sides..."

                              Zau Mai, KIA Chief of Staff

*************************************************************
Contents:

1: NATION: NO CUT LIKELY IN US MILITARY FUNDS
2: NATION: KACHIN TO HOLD DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE TALKS WITH RANGOON
3: ECONOMIST: PEREGINE INVESTMENTS; BANKING ON CHINA AND THE SLORC
4: NATION: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
5: KHRG: SLORC VICTIMS IN NYAUNGLEBIN DISTRICT
6: BURMANET: INDEX OF BURMANET ARTICLES, AUG 11-SEPT 18, 1994
7: BURMANET: THE SOC.CULTURE.BURMA ARCHIVE

*************************************************************
NATION: NO CUT LIKELY IN US MILITARY FUNDS
September 16

It is likely that the United States will not cut military assistance to
Thailand under the Internatioanl Military Education Training Programme
(IMETP).

Deputy Supreme Commander Prasert Sarnrit revealed this, quoting a visiting
senrior US officer.

Gen Dennis J. Jeimer, US army chief of staff, who is visiting Thailand as t=
he
Thai army's guest, said the IMETP funds were of mutual interest and will mo=
st
likely be maintained, according to Prasert.

President Clinton recently signed a bill whuich allowed the US government t=
o
cut the assistance if there was evidence that Thailand continued to support
the Khmer Rouge.

[Editor's note:  This article, like many in the Thai press, focus on the Th=
ai
army's rumoured support of the Khmer Rouge.  A cessation of support to the =
KR
is one conditionality of continued aid under the IMET program according to
the bill that Clinton signed.  What is often unmentioned in the reports is
that the other condition of the law is an end to harassment of Burmese
refugees, exiles and pro-democracy activists sheltering in Thailand.]

*************************************************************
NATION: KACHIN TO HOLD DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE TALKS WITH RANGOON
September 16

by Yindee Lertcharoenchok
Pajau, Burma

An ethnic Kachin delegation has left discretely for Myitkyina and Rangoon f=
or
talks witht he Burmese junta, including Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, on trade and
economic issues, as well as rural development programmes for the Kachin
State.

The talks are the latest bilateral engagement since the ruling State Law an=
d
Order Restoration Council and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of th=
e
country's strongest border-based guerrilla forces, signed a ceasefire
agreement in February after three years of truce negotiations.

The 10-member delegation, led by Brig Tu Jai, vice president of the Kachin
Independence Council, is divided into a trade and economic mission and a
development mission.

The team left the KIA headquarters on the Sino-Burmese border on September =
1
for Myitkyina, where they met and held talks with Norther Commander Maj Gen
Saw Lwin.

The group is believed to have already left Myitkyina for Rangoon, where the=
y
were to hold talks with Burmese leaders, including SLORC Secretary One Khin
Nyunt, whose ceasefire initiative has brought about a dozen ethnic guerrill=
a
groups into a ceasefire with Rangoon.

Tu Jai, who had previously headed the Kachin military team in the ceasefire
talks, is officially to announce Col Seng Hpung as his successor.  The
bespectacled Seng Hpung, who is fluent in English, Hindi and Shan, will tak=
e
over as head of the Kachin mission, as well as being special senior liaison
officer on trade, economic and development affairs.

Recently, the Kachin ethnic group sent a five-member economic team, led by =
Dr
La Ja on an observation tour to Myitkyina, Bhama, Kutkai, Muse and Lashio,
where they held talks with local authorities and people about  economic and
investment prospects int he areas, with particular reference to border trad=
e.=20
The working group also included Maj Khun Latt, Capt Ji Naw, Zaw Naw and Khu=
n
Nawng.

According to KIA Chief of Staff Maj Gen Zau Mai, Brig Tu Jai and his team
will pass on to Burmese leaders three Kachin proposals to do with trade an
economic affairs, administrative matters and development and resettlement
programmes for internally displaced people and refugees from the Kachin
State.

There is no fixed agenda tot he talks, as the meetings officially mark the
beginning of a process of non-military discussions, and the two parties hav=
e
to become acquainted with one another.

However, the meetings would set out policies concerned with social and rura=
l
development and economic matters and discuss several related projects that
are of mutual benefit and which could be immediately implemented.

The development programmes would include projects on the resettlement of
refugees and internally displaced persons, improvement of communications an=
d
transportation links, health care and sanitation and the education system.

Many local and foreign businessmen from Asian and Europe have shown great
interest in investment projects in Kachin State.  The Kachin group and Slor=
c
were working out possible undertakings.  Most of the businessmen have been
interested in the hotel and tourism industry, others were attracted to the
prospect of the precious gems mining business, as the Kachin State i s the
world's largest and best source of jade.

The Kachin delegation will also raise several points that concern them,
including the lifting of Slorc's 17/1 order, which bans people from
contacting or communicating with armed ethnic groups.

Speaking in a recent interview, Zau Mai said the resettlement of more than
12,000 refugees who have between taking refuge in China, and 60,000
internally displaced people could not start "because of many interruptions.=
"=20
He declined to reveal the actual causes of the delay.

He said his group and Slorc had agreed that after the ceasefire, both sides
would start on development and resettlement programmes in Kachin State and
"we have jointly looked for villages and sits for villagers."

"However, some local [Slorc] frontline commanders have told people that the=
y
cannot trust the KIO and fighting might soon break out, so the people have
started to have doubt about both sides... They also told the people that
nobody was allowed to participate in KIO programmes or they would face
arrest," said the 58-year old general, who is at present acting chairman of
the KIA political wing of the Kachin Independence Organization.

Zau Mai said the KIO would need outside assistance including the support of
non-governmental organisations, to carry out its development and resettleme=
nt
projects.  He added that he did not know if Rangoon would "give permission =
or
not" to these requests.

The KIO, he said, was well aware of the concern among the people of the
changing military and economic situation in Kachin State after the ceasefir=
e,
but that the group needed time "To collect opinions and information" of all
aspects concerning social, trade and economic development before it could
start dialogues on those issues with Rangoon.

"Now is the time and that is why we sent our delegation to Myitkyina and
Rangoon" to talk with Slorc, he said.

Many civilians and traders in Kachin State have complained to the armed
Kachin group of an increase in Burmese troops deployed int he country's
northernmost state, especially to areas previously inaccessible to the Burm=
a
Army.

They are also concerned with Slorc's resettlement of the Burman population
into the Kachin State, its involvement in and attempts to control jade mine=
s
and businesses in Hpakant areas, it forced recruitment of people into the
labour force.


*************************************************************
ECONOMIST: PEREGINE INVESTMENTS; BANKING ON CHINA AND THE SLORC
Sept 10-16th, 1994

Hong Kong
Intro: A six-year old investment bank has become one of Asia's most
successful.  It has done so by ruthlessly exploiting Chinese connections.

It takes Chutzpa to hustle a bevy of Manchurian models, skirts slit to the
waist, through Beijing airport's  grim passport controls to greet western
executives arriving for an investment conference.  It takes connections to
have as shareholder or business partner nearly every Hong Kong Chinese tyco=
on
as well as several levels of communist China's government.  Both
characteristics may help explain how Peregrine Investments has become such =
a
powerful force in investment banking, both in Hong Kong and in much of the
rest of Asia outside Japan.

Peregrine's rise owes much to the coming-of-age in Hong Kong of a new
establishment of Chinese entrepreneurs, who have eclipsed such British hong=
s
as Jardine Matheson and the Swire Group.  Among the colony's investment ban=
ks
and brokerages, Peregrine has bet its money firmly on this new establishmen=
t-
-one reason for the disdain of some brokers at traditional houses such as
Barins and Hongkong Bank's Wardley Capital.  Yet Peregrine's success is not
disputed.  The firm was founded at the end of 1988 with capital of $38
million; that has grown to $550 million.  In 1993 its pre-tax profits surge=
d
to $110 million.  Profits in the first half of this year were flat compared
with a year earlier, not a bad result considering the slump in the Hong Kon=
g
stockmarket.  In recent weeks, as the market has struggled back up,
Peregrine's share price has soared.

Philip Tose, one of Peregrine's two founders, wrote the first-ever "western=
"
research report on a Chinese-run firm.  The firm, Cheung Kong, was headed b=
y
a reticent entrepreneur named Ki Ka-Shing.  Mr Ki is now one of Hong Kong's
richest and most influential businessmen.  In 1988 when Mr Tose and a
colleague, Francis Leung, launched Peregrine, the firm's backers included n=
ot
only Mr Li but also several other Chinese bigwigs: Gordon Wu's Hopewell, wh=
at
is now CITIC Pacific, run by Larry Yung, and interests associated with
Stanley Ho, a Macau casino operator.

These men have since channelled lots of business Peregrine's way.  Last yea=
r
Peregrine led a third of all rights issues in Hong Kong, by value; and
sponsored three-fifths of new stockmarket listings.  Now Peregrine wants to
repeat its success with equities in the bond market, which could finance ma=
ny
of Asia's massive infrastructure projects.  It recently poached a debt-
trading team from the Hong Kong branch of Lehman Brothers, an American
investment bank; and it boast of several big sixed-income mandates in the
bag.

Just as Hong Kong's new establishment has forged ties with China's budding
class of "cadre capitalists" so Peregrine has turned its Hong Kong
connections to advantage on the mainland.  Its ties to CITIC Pacific are
especially valuable, because this "red-chip" company is the Hong Kong arm o=
f
the China International Trust & Investment Corporation, China's biggest
holding company, which was chaired until last year by Mr Yung's father, Ron=
g
Yiren, a longstanding intimate of Deng Xiaoping.

Other ties with China include a trading partnership with the Beijing
municipality, a joint venture with Jiangsu's provincial government and a
foreign-exchange business with the authorities in Guangzhou.  Peregrine als=
o
has a clutch of mainland shareholders.  Not surprisingly, it has been the
busiest broker bringing Chinese enterprises to the Hong Kong market, as wel=
l
as tot he markets in Shanghai and SHenzhen.  Peregrine is the only house to
have got round the rules that bar foreigners from seats on the Shanghai
exchange.

Peregrine's efforts, both in money and energy, have focused on "China plays=
".=20
Much of the groups's diversification around the region--into Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan--has been in search of overseas Chinese
money and business.  (The firm's new Indian venture is the only big excepti=
on
to this pattern.)  As Mr Tose puts it, "We've plugged ourselves into a
network of overseas Chinese and now we can piggy-back off that back into
China."  Mr Tose also insists that Peregrine's way of doing business gives =
it
an edge by allowing it to commit capital quickly and take stakes in the dea=
ls
it is arranging.  "It's not formal," he says. "You sit down over a cup of t=
ea
with the top guy; there isn't documentation; the deal is done."

The Hong Kong branches of British and American investment banks often chafe
at bureaucratic rules imposed by head officers.  Many, however, proclaim th=
at
there is virtue in doing business their way, not Peregrine's.  They claim
that Peregrine's informal style allows it to sail close to the wind.  Why,
for instance, have several of Peregrine's big share placements add a large
chunk--up to one-third--unaccounted for?  Did they go into Peregrine's own
accounts, to parties in Hong Kong-or to friends across the border?  Peregri=
ne
responds, smugly, that the shares in question were all successfully placed.

Rivals also accuse Peregrine of dumping some new share issues on private
clients.  This seems to be true: many small new issues that Peregrine float=
ed
on the froth of last year's market were only offered to private clients, no=
t
to institutions.  Some of Peregrine's private clients may have represented
hot money from Taiwan and China in search of hot stocks.  Yet among
institutional investors that take the less frothy stuff, Peregrine has a
loyal following.  The Templeton group of funds and George Soros have both
invested in the firm itself.

Peregrine is unashamedly blunt about where its political loyalties lie.  Mr
Tose once offered Britain's Conservative Party--perhaps in jest--5 million
pounds (US$7.5 million) to sack Chris Patten as Hong Kong's governor.  Mr
Tose is not bothered by his close ties with such nasty governments as
China's.  He is excited about its links with a particularly brutal one, the
military regime in Myanmar, for which Peregrine acts as unofficial consulat=
e,
to the extent of issuing visas.  Peregrine has the shrimp-fishing rights in
the Bay of Bengal; Mr Tose wants to help the Burmese military build their
version of a CITIC.  Peregrine is eager to be involved when China realises
its dream of establishing a route through Myanmar to the Indian ocean.

Peregrine's bet, whatever its morality, is a simple one.  It is that China'=
s
capitalism will remain crude and bureaucratic, relying on cronyism to
dispense business favours.  In that, it is no different from western banks
beating a path to the Chinese government's door.  The difference is that
Peregrine does not even affect to hold its nose.

*************************************************************
NATION: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
September 16

A Cowardly Act:
I'm one of those people who tends to be reticent to write letters to the
newspapers, although I must admit I enjoy reading them.  Several of the
letters in this morning's edition regarding the plight of the Mon Burmese
refugees and the callous conduct of the Thai military towards them made me
feel ashamed of my own silence.

I too share the opinion that starving refugees, especially women and
children, into submission is a truly cowardly act.  Shame on Gen Charan
Kulavanich or whoever else may have given these orders.  They really have
disgraced Thailand in the eyes of the world.

And wile I am taking time to write, may I add that the constant lying and
habitual deceitfulness by men in uniform, almost always from the ranks of
officers, is giving a bad name to the nation.  If it isn't the latest lie
about Saudi jewellery, police involvement in prostitution and graft, it is
lies about military caches of weapons for the Khmer Rouge or why refugees
have to be forced back across the border.  Let's just start referring to th=
em
as two-star, three-star or four-star liars.

signed, =20
 Sorry I didn't write earlier
 Bangkok



Disgraceful Affair

I agree with the criticism being levelled at the Thai military over the
handling of the Mon refugees.  What happened is a disgrace.

I would like to know why Chuan Leekpai kept silent throughout the whole
sordid affair.  Is it because he agrees that the refugees should be forced
back to Burma irrespective of the consequences; or is he incapable of
controlling the army services of the nation?

signed,
 Shame on Thailand
 Pathumathani

*************************************************************
KHRG: SLORC VICTIMS IN NYAUNGLEBIN DISTRICT
An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights Group
September 1, 1994     /     KHRG #94-22
Part 1 of 2

The following testimonies were given by civilian villagers in
Nyaunglebin District (Karen name Kler Lwe Htoo District) and 2
porters from west of the Pegu Yoma in Pegu Division.  Their names
have been changed and some details deliberately omitted to protect
them, but all names and details in their stories are real.  This
report may freely be used in any way which may help the peoples
of Burma.

TOPIC SUMMARY:  Murder of civilians (p.2,4,5), torture (p.1,2,3,4,5,7,8),
torture and unlawful imprisonment of relatives of resistance soldiers,
including young children (p.3-6), forced portering and abuse of
porters (p.7-8), killing elderly porters (p.7), enslavement for
business purposes (p.7,8), looting (p.2,3,5), forced labour at
army camps (p.2,4,5,7,8).
_______________________________________

NAME:     Chit Hla  SEX: M    AGE: 37   =AB Pa'O / =ABBurman, Christian, fa=
rmer
ADDRESS:  Shwegyin Township, Nyaunglebin District, Pegu Division
FAMILY:   Married with 1 boy and 3 girls

Chit Hla lives in a village in the area which cannot be named.
He keeps detailed notes on events in the area, and his knowledge
of the events he describes is mostly first hand.  To protect him
we have had to omit certain details which would show his personal
connection with the events.  He has now left his village.

On July 11, troops from Kyauk Kyi, Column 1 of Infantry Battalion
#60, column commander Major Tin Aye, came to Wah Boh Daun village.
They sat down there and watched over the road.  They stayed there
for 2 days.  On July 13, Maung Way, Hla Khine, and Myint Oo from
Ba Day Gone village were on their way home from Kwee Oo town,
so they met this column near Wah Boh Daun.  The troops arrested
them and searched them.  They found 12,000 Kyat in Maung Way's
pockets so they took it.  The troops said to the men, "You have
contact with rebels, and you went to sell cattle and buffalos
to them."  They took the men away to #350 Light Infantry Battalion
camp at Bo Ka Hta and arrived there at 4 p.m.  They put Hla Khine
and Myint Oo in leg stocks [these are like mediaeval European
leg stocks, where the victim sits with his legs straight out in
front of him and both ankles clamped between two horizontal lengths
of wood, or in this case bamboo], while they tied Maung Way up
with rope, beat him and interrogated him, saying "You're a black
market trader.  Who else in your village works with you?"  Maung
Way said "I don't know.  I'm not a black market trader."  So they
beat him again until his head was cut open and he couldn't bear
it any longer.  He was so afraid that they would beat him again
that he said "Bee Li and Soe Myint are also black market traders."
 Then they put Maung Way in the leg stocks.

Later that day at 6 p.m. a section from Infantry Battalion #60
went and surrounded Bee Li's house, but Bee Li wasn't there.=20
They only found his wife Daw Pyone Kyi, so they asked her "Where
is your husband?"  She answered "He went to Shwegyin to buy things",
so they took Daw Pyone Kyi to the place where they were holding
the 3 men, and they also took 4 of her buffalos with them.  When
they got there they put Daw Pyone Kyi in the leg stocks like the
others.  They kept them all there for 4 days and during that time
they also arrested 5 more people:  Soe Myint, Nyunt Htay, Pu Tu
Lay, Shan Hla Myint, and Ma Mi Ohn [the first 4 are men, and Ma
Mi Ohn is a woman].  On July 16 Myint Htay, Pu Tu Lay, Shan Hla
Myint and Ma Mi Ohn were interrogated and then freed from the
stocks but the soldiers still kept them there under house arrest.

Soe Myint wasn't freed from the stocks.  On July 17 Ko Bee Li
arrived home from Shwegyin.  As soon as he got home he found out
his wife had been arrested so he went to the camp.  When he got
there the troops arrested Bee Li and released his wife.  At 7
p.m. they took Bee Li from the leg stocks, interrogated and beat
him and pushed his head underwater.  It was a diabolical thing
to do, because his face was already badly injured from their beatings.

On the same day, July 17, Soe Myint and Maung Way were taken to
Wa Boh Daun as guides for Column 1 of #350 LIB [Light Infantry
Battalion], with nearly 100 troops led by Column Commander Major
Hla Myint.  On July 18 there was no news of them, but on July
19 at 10 a.m. these troops murdered Soe Myint and Maung Way with
a knife.  A porter who was with the troops was an eyewitness and
later described it to the villagers.  He also said that the Column
Commander had given a special order to the porters:  "We have
killed these 2 guides but you must never tell anybody about this."

On July 19 at 2 p.m., LIB #349 troops commanded by Captain Than
Zin came from Shwegyin to take Bee Li to a camp south of Ba Day
Gone.  On July 20 they murdered him with a knife, east of Myin
Thay Gone in the Nga Bwa Sho stream valley, only about 1 mile
from Ba Day Gone.  That day the same troops then went to Baw Tha
Zin to wait for the enemy.

On July 21 at Bo Ka Hta camp, there was an argument between officers
from LIB #350 and Infantry Battalion #60 over who would get the
4 buffalos they had stolen from Bee Li's house.  I don't know
the result, but the next day IB #60 Column 1 commander Major Tin
Aye left to drive these 4 buffalos to Kyauk Kyi at about 9 a.m.

On the way one of the buffalos ran away and went home to Ba Day
Gone village.  When Bo Ka Hta camp commander Captain Myo Min Than
heard about this, he sent an order to Bee Li's son saying "You
must come and bring this buffalo back to Bo Ka Hta camp."  Bee
Li's son Myo Myo was very afraid, and he was crying while he took
that buffalo to them.  Captain Hla Nyunt from #350 LIB then took
it to the battalion at Shwegyin.

Maung Way was 36, his father was U Than Pe and his mother Daw
Mweh Yee.  He was a Burman Buddhist day labourer.  His wife's
name is Daw Kyi Win and they have 2 children.  Soe Myint was 37,
father's name U Chit Dee, mother's name Daw Thein.  He was a Burman
Buddhist farmer with 5 boys and 1 girl.  His wife's name is Daw
Ohn Myint.  Bee Li was 45.  His father was U Maung Maung, his
mother Daw Pan.  He was a Karen Buddhist, and he farmed along
the riverbank.  His wife is Daw Pyone Kyi, and they have 5 children.

He was arrested on July 17 and murdered on July 20.  Now his
family's in a terrible situation.  His sons are always crying
and just wandering the village.  His wife feels terrible because
her husband is dead, but she can't even talk about it openly with
the other villagers because of the Column Commander's order.=20
She couldn't even go to retrieve his body.

This is injustice and oppression.  These men lived in their village
and everyone knew they were just honest people minding their own
business.  The SLORC said they were black marketeers, but this
is wrong, I can guarantee it.  These men never did that.  But
they're not the only men the SLORC has murdered - they're always
doing things like that.  If they come to the village they kill
and eat our chickens, ducks, pigs and cows.  They demand porters,
and if they don't get porters then they demand money.  We can't
even count all their abuses.  So now if the troops come everybody
runs away from the village.  Then if the SLORC meets someone who's
run from the village hiding in the jungle they say "You're a rebel"
and arrest, beat and kill him.  They're not rebels, they've just
run away from the village because they're afraid of SLORC.  The
troops at Bo Ka Hta camp have their own style.  Every day they
make each village send 8 people for "emergency sentry duty".=20
If they need porters or guides they use these people.  This has
been going on since 1984, right up until now.  They also demand
money, call people for forced labour, and now they're forcing
everyone to build fences to protect their camp.

After SLORC falls, the civilians will have peace and we can stay
in our homes and do our jobs.  Ba Day Gone village had 200 houses
until now.  After they killed the three men, the Bo Ka Hta camp
commander said "This is an example for you.  We're going to have
to arrest some other people in your village too."  So a lot of
people, especially the men, have all fled the village.  Nobody
knows who they'll arrest next.
_______________________________________

NAME:     Naw Ta Blu Htoo     SEX: F         AGE: 28   Karen Buddhist farme=
r
ADDRESS:  Ler Doh Township, Nyaunglebin District, Pegu Division
FAMILY:   Married with one son aged 8

Naw Ta Blu Htoo's husband is a Karen soldier.  She fled her village
and arrived in Karen-controlled territory in June 1994.

Brother, I'll tell you how the SLORC captured me on January 16
[1994] at 8 o'clock in the evening.  The SLORC came and surrounded
my house.  My husband wasn't at home, just me and my son.  There
were about 100 soldiers.  Tay Aye was there, and Soe Moe Khine,
Aung Thu, and Major Nyo Aye the battalion commander [of #60 Infantry
Battalion].  The SLORC came into my house and asked me my name.

I told them, and then they told me to come down out of the house.
Then they tied me up with rope with my hands behind my back.
One of them hit me on the head with a gun, while the others beat
me, slapped me in the face and punched me in the back with their
fists.  They asked me if my husband carries a gun and I told them,
"No, because he's not a soldier", but they didn't believe me.

They started wrapping something around my head, and after they
wrapped it around 2 or 3 times I couldn't bear it so I said "Yes,
my husband carries a gun", because there was nothing else I could
do.    They stole everything from my house, even my clothes, spoons,
pots and plates, and they stole my pregnant pig to take to their
camp.  After that they took me to the village head's house.  They
tied me up under his house and kept me there for half an hour.

Then they took me up into the house and tied me up around the
neck and all over my body.  They kept me like that all night long
and they didn't give me anything to eat until noon the next day,
when they untied me and took me to Tat Tu.  We had to cross a
river and as we crossed they started tying me up again.  One of
the soldiers put my son on his shoulders to cross the river.=20
Then Major Nyo Aye himself from #60 Infantry Battalion took a
photo of us  Later we arrived at Taw Lu Ko village, then at Noh
Po.  While we stopped there they arrested another woman and they
got very upset and angry, and then they took our photo again.
Then we arrived at Tat Tu at about 4 in the afternoon.

When we arrived there they made a special place to keep us like
a prison, and at about 7 p.m. they took me out and interrogated
me.  They said, "If you ask your husband to come here do you think
he'll come?", and I said No.  They said "If your husband doesn't
come we'll do bad things to you", and I said "You can do whatever
you want, because I'm in your hands now and there's nothing I
can do."  They kept telling me to write a letter to my husband
but I told them I couldn't write, so they told one of the other
villagers there to write a letter for me and then they ordered
another man to go deliver it.  The next morning they put me back
in the lockup, and they said "We asked your husband to come here
but he wouldn't, so you'll be the one to suffer."  I said "Go
ahead, there's nothing I can do", and they said "We can wait.

If he doesn't come here then we'll never let you out."  The place
they kept us was underground and very dark.  They kept us there
all day and night, just gave us a little food and only let us
out twice during the day and once at night to go to the toilet.

When they let us out into the light we couldn't walk properly
and it was so bright we couldn't see after being in that dark
place.  They kept us there for 7 days and nights.  Then they marched
us to Tah Pu, Thu K'Bee, the Burmese village at Kyo Gone and on
to Theh Gone, where we had to get on a truck to Nat Than Gwin,
then to Ler Doh army camp.  We thought they were going to keep
us there but then they took us to Chit Than Gwin and finally to
Tham Bo [this is #60 Infantry Battalion headquarters].  Major
Nyo Aye went with us all the way.  When we got to their camp at
Tham Bo they made us sign a paper, then they locked us up.  Along
the whole way they'd arrested about 30 of us, from many different
places.  They ordered the Burmese soldiers there who'd lost their
legs to guard us, so those men ordered us to do everything for
them and we had to do it.  They made us plant trees and cut all
the grass, not even one blade of grass was to be left.  We also
had to make fences and tend their ducks and animals, find firewood
for them and carry water for them.  We had to cook and eat very
early in the morning before they came to call us for work, and
if we weren't ready we'd be in trouble.  Some days we weren't
well enough to work but they said "You're just lying".  While
we worked they just sat and watched us, like a boy tending his
goats.  They also made my son work cutting the weeds around the
barracks, and he didn't want to do it so he began crying.  They
sent a message to the people in my village to come all the way
once a week to bring food for us, and when they came my son went
back with them.  But I had to stay there and work every day, all
day and at night too, so I was getting very tired.  The soldiers
told me "We won't let you out until your husband surrenders to
us".  They said they'd keep me there forever.

At night I had to sleep in the prison.  At midnight they came
to wake me up and asked whether my husband was coming to surrender,
and when I said no they started beating me on my back.  My back
got all swollen up until I couldn't even wear a brassiere any
more.  One day we heard gunfire from outside the camp so the soldiers
went to check, then they brought back one man with them.  He was
a trader, and he had a hand grenade so they put him in together
with us.  They tied up his whole body and didn't give him any
food.  Later tears were falling from his eyes, and we felt very
sorry for him.  At night they wouldn't let him sleep.  One of
the soldiers came to ask him a lot of questions and beat him,
then as soon as he went back another came, and so on.  The man
wanted to rest but they'd never let him.  Then the next morning
they took him out of the prison and asked him questions.  The
soldiers cut off one of his ears, then they cut out his tongue.

Then they put him back in the cell with us.  His blood was all
pouring down.  The next day they came and took him away and we
never saw him again.  I don't know what they did to him.

We were kept at Thambo like that for 3 months, then we were sent
to the police lockup at Ler Doh.  They kept us there like pigs
- we ate in the cell, we had to go to the toilet in the cell.

Inside there were a few pots we had to use as toilets for everyone
there.  Before putting us in there, the police forced each woman
to give them 100 Kyat.  They kept us there for one day and night,
then they sent us to the Village LORC camp [Village Law & Order
Restoration Council, the local SLORC administration], then to
the Township LORC camp.  They sent us to Strategic Command headquarters
to sign a paper, then back to the police station again.  Then
we had to sign again to be released, but the police demanded money
before they'd let us sign.  They demanded 12,400 Kyat from me.
I had to give them the money and then they let me go.

When I arrived back in my village there were SLORC soldiers in
all the houses.  They told me "You have to go see our officer".

The officer asked me "Do you want to stay here or somewhere else?",
so I told him I wanted to stay there.  He said "I don't want you
to stay here because I don't want you to meet your husband.  Go
stay in another village."  I told him I'd go and stay wherever
he ordered, but then after the soldiers had left I went back and
stayed in my own village.  Later my husband came back, and we
moved here because I know if I stay there the soldiers will come
for me again.  I've been sick the whole time since I was released
because of the way they beat me.  I still have pain inside.  The
druggist has given me injections but they don't work, so I don't
know what kind of medicine I need.  My son is also sick and it's
very hard for us.  We're from the plains but here it is mountains,
so we have to cut down the forest and plant on the hills.  It's
very hard and I don't know how I can do it with my sickness, and
my husband also isn't used to it, but I'm afraid to go back to
my village so there's nothing I can do.

*************************************************************
BURMANET: INDEX OF BURMANET ARTICLES

What follows is an index of the first twenty issues of the BurmaNet news
To order a back issue of the BurmaNet News, send a note to:  =20

     strider@xxxxxxxxxxx

All requests are handled manually so please be patient.  If you are in a
hurry and know how to use FTP (file transfer protocal), you can get back
issues yourself through the soc.culture.burma archive.  See the next articl=
e
for instructions.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: August 11, 1994
Issue #1

Contents:

1 AUTHORITIES SEAL ROAD TO MON CAMP
2 ALL BETS OFF FOR THE KAREN
3 POLITICAL UNCERTAINTIES KEEP BURMA WEAK ECONOMICALLY
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: August 12, 1994
Issue #2

Contents:

1: BANGKOK POST: SOLDIERS CUT OFF WATER SUPPLIES TO REFUGEES
2: KACHIN LEADER, BRANG SENG DIES AFTER SUFFERING STROKE
3  BRANG SENG EULOGY
4: PRESS RELEASE, OVERSEAS MON YOUNG MONKS UNION: HALOCKHANI, SUVICHA,
   AND ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
3: BURMANET FAQ UNDER CONSTRUCTION

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: AUGUST 13, 1994
Issue #3

CONTENTS:

1:  SPECIAL REPORT FROM INSIDE HALOCKANI CAMP
2:  MON REFUGEES MUST GO HOME: NSC CHIEF
3:  MON REFUGEES STILL THREATENED BY BURMESE BORDER SOLDIERS
4:  REPATRIATED ILLEGALS ADD TO STRAIN ON CAMP
5:  MON HOLD TO SAFETY AS DEADLINE PASSES FOR RETURN TO BURMA
6:  XUWICHA EXPECTED TO VISIT HALOCKHANI CAMP
7:  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS THREE PROMINENT CRITICS OF BURMESE JUNTA
    ARRESTED
8:  NEARLY 1,400 ROHINGYA's IN B'DESH RETURN TO BURMA
9:  CONSORTIUM COMPLETES DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR BURMESE GAS FIELD
10: BURMA PLANS SECOND TRADE FAIR
11: THAI GHOST STORY

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: August 23, 1994
Issue #4
Contents:

1: CPPSM: MON REFUGEE SHOT BY A LOCAL THAI BORDER PATROL POLICE
2: BURMANET: THE SITUATION IN HALOCKANI
3: REUTERS: BURMESE CHURCH LEADER TO PURSUE BID FOR PEACE
4: BKK POST: BURMESE ISSUE WARNING ON ISLET
5: AFP: BURMA BUYS TWO CHINESE FRIGATES

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Wednesday, August 24, 1994
Issue #5

Contents:

1: CPPSM: MORE BURMESE WORK-SEEKERS IN THAILAND DEPORTED TO THAI-BURMA BORD=
ER
2: OMYMU: REPORT TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH-ASIA ON
   RAPES IN THE SANGKLABURI JAIL
3: BKK POST: SOLUTIONS TO BORDER PROBLEMS DISCUSSED
4: NATION: RANONG LIKELY TEMINAL FOR SECOND BURMESE GAS PIPELINE

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Thursday, August 25, 1994
Issue #6

Contents:

1: BKK POST: THAI COPS `HELD FOR TRYING TO RAPE REFUGEES'
2: BKK POST: US AID CUT PLAN ANGERS [THAI] MILITARY
3: KYODO: SUU KYI IN 9TH FAMILY REUNION
4: REUTERS:  RANGOON FREES TWO PROMINENT MON POLITICIANS
5: BURMANET: BBC REPORTS THREE CHINESE BOATS SIEZED FLYING BURMESE FLAG
6: CPPSM: HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT FOR THE 6000 MON REFUGEES

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Friday, August 26, 1994
Issue #7

Contents:

1:  NATION: CLINTON SIGNS BILL TO AXE US AID TO THAI MILITARY OVER KHMER
    ROUGE, BURMA LINKS
2:  BURMANET: US AND THAILAND; TALKING AT CROSS PURPOSES
3:  U.S SENATE: S.RES. 234 RESOLUTION ON BURMA
4:  NATION: SLORC CRACKDOWN A PRELUDE TO UN RIGHTS INVESTIGATION
5:  NATION: TWO BORDER PATROLMEN HELD AFTER MON REFUGEE SHOT NEAR [HALOCKAN=
I]
    CAMP
6:  BURMANET: DEADLINE FOR MONS TO RETURN PASSES QUIETLY

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Saturday-Sunday, August 27-28, 1994
Issue #8

Contents:

1:  BURMANET: XUWICHA FLIES TO PAYAW CAMP; PRESSURES MONS LEADERS
2:  NATION:  THAI ARMY DENIES MON FLEEING RIGHTS ABUSES
3:  NATION: MON REFUGEE WOMAN REPORTED DEAD FROM CEREBRAL MALERIA
4:  BKK POST:  MORE ON SHOOTING INCIDENT AT HALOCKANI REFUGEE CAMP
5:  BKK POST:  WIMOL HAD DOUBTS ABOUT U.S.
6:  NATION:  (EDITORIAL) MILITARY DICTATES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER
7:  REUTERS: MON REFUGEES SEES AS PAWNS IN COMPLEX POLITICAL GAME
8:  NATION: BORDERLINE ADVENTURE; JOURNALISTS SNEAK INTO HALOCKANI CAMP
9:  AWSJ: (EDITORIAL) BAD MIX OF DRUGS AND POLITICS
10: BKK POST/AFP: AIDS AND [BURMESE/CHINESE] CHILDREN IN THAILAND
11: BKK POST:  AIR MANDALAY PLANNING THAI-BURMA CHARTERS

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Monday, August 29, 1994
Issue #9

Contents:

1:  BURMANET: THAI NSC CHIEF HEADS FOR RANGOON TODAY
2:  BKK POST: A BUSINESS PRIORITY
3:  BKK POST: SLORC-SUU KYI TALKS A POSSIBILITY
4:  BURMANET: DEAL FOR SHIPS NOT YET SIGNED
5:  FEER: SNOOPING AROUND
6:  BI: NGOS IN BURMA
7:  DA: BURMA LETS HAIR DOWN TO PROMOTE TRADE

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Tuesday, August 30, 1994
Issue #10

Contents:

1: NATION: MON SEPARATIST LEADERS SUSPEND TALKS WITH SLORC
2: FEER: SALTWATER DIPLOMACY
3: JDW: MYANMAR BOOSTS NAVAL POWER WITH FRIGATES
4: FEER: TRIBAL TROUBLE IN INDIA (INCUDES BURMA'S NAGAS)
5: BURMENET: SOME BACKGROUND ON THE AIPP
6: SAN SAN NWET: THE CHILDREN WHO PLAY IN THE BACK ALLEYWAYS

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Wednesday, August 31, 1994
Issue #11

Contents:

1: NATION: MON GUERILLAS VOW TO STOP THAI-BURMESE GAS PIPELINE
2: NATION: OFFSHORE GAS TO FLOW FROM PTT FIELD IN BURMA
3: NATION: SLOW PROGRESS IN REFUGEE TALKS
4: IRR: NE WIN UPSET=20
5: BT: SINGAPORE'S CORPORATE HEAVIES TEAM UP FOR MYANMAR VENTURE
6: IRR: TALL AND UGLY BUILDINGS IN BURMA
7: BKK POST: UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR GEM TRADERS
8: NATION: LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM MYINT THEIN
9: BURMANET: NGOS WORKING IN BURMA

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Thursday, September 1, 1994
Issue #12

Contents:

NATION: MON REFUGEES DENIED ACCESS TO RICE DEPOT
NATION: ROYAL VISIT TO BURMA

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Friday, September 2, 1994
Issue #13

Contents:

BKK POST MON REFUGEES CLAIM RICE SEIZED BY BPP
REUTERS: BURMESE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SET TO RESUME
BKK POST: TWO BURMESE SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR FRAUD
NATION: SPY MASTER'S RISE TO POWER

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Saturday, September 3 1994
Issue #14

Contents:

1: MNRC: REGARDING THE PROTECTION OF MON REFUGEES
2: NATION: NATION:  SLORC'S SPIES KEEP CLOSE WATCH ON JUNTA'S FOES AT HOME
   AND ABROAD
3: NATION: BURMESE ISLANDS FOCUS OF STRATEGIC MOVE BY CHINA

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Saturday, September 10, 1994
Issue #15

Contents:

1: NATION: THAI GOVT SLATED BY AMNESTY AS MON REFUGEES RETURN TO BURMESE CA=
MP
2: AP: MON REFUGEES BEING 'STARVED BACK' TO BURMA=20
3: NATION: MONS AND THAIS: NO LONGER SO BROTHERLY
4: NDF: STATEMENT ON HALOCKANI REFUGEE ISSUE
6: BKK POST: MON FACTION IN TELEVISED SURRENDER TO BURMESE GOVERNMENT
7: BKK POST: FAIRNESS OF BURMA GAS DEAL QUESTIONED IN LIGHT OF PRICE
8: NGO ROLE IN AIDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO BE LIMITED
9: NATION: DRIVEN OVER THE EDGE--FRAGGING IN THE TATMADAW

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Sunday, September 11, 1994
Issue #16

Contents:

1: BKK POST: KARENS SKEPTICAL OF BURMESE CHURCH LEADER, DENY COUP ATTEMPT
2: AFP: MILITARY DEFENDS MON RETURN
3: AWSJ: BURMA TO ENTER PIPELINE PROJECT WITH THAILAND
4: KHRG: SLORC ORDERS TO KAREN VILLAGES:  SET 94-E
5: BURMANET: SUBSCRIPTION LIST REACHES EIGHTY

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Wednesday, September 14, 1994
Issue #17

Contents:

1: MNRC: LATEST INFORMATION FROM HALOCKHANI MON REFUGEE CAMP
2: BURMANET: MORE INFORMATION FROM HALOCKHANI
3: BKK POST: TEXACO BEGINS DEAL TO SELL NATURAL GAS TO THAILAND =20
4: KHRG: INCOMING FIELD REPORTS: 8/94
5: NATION: SRT GETS RAIL SUMMARY
6: BURMANET: CURRENT TRAVEL INFORMATION

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Thursday, September 15, 1994
Issue #18

Contents:

1: FEER: STRINGS ATTACHED; US CONDITIONS ON MILITARY AID RANKLE THAIS
2: NATION: WIMOL WARNS ETHNIC MON ON GAS PIPELINE SABOTAGE THREAT
3: BURMANET: WHOSE RICE, WHO PAYS?
4: BURMANET: ICE ON THE ROADS IN THAILAND
5: BRC-CM: BROKEN PROMISES (THE WA PEOPLE OF THE SHAN STATES)
6: BURMANET: ARTICLE 19 PRINTS REPORT ON BURMA'S ENVIRONMENT AND CENSORSHIP
7: KHRG: SLORC ORDERS TO KAREN VILLAGES:  SET 94-D

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Friday, September 16, 1994
Issue #19

Contents:

1: NATION: THE SLORC AND ISLAM
2: BURMANET: GUIDE TO "INVESTING IN MYANMAR" AVAILABLE
3: KHRG: TESTIMONY OF A KAREN POLITICAL PRISONER

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BurmaNet News: Saturday-Sunday, September 17 and 18, 1994
Issue #20

Contents:

1: NATION: NO CUT LIKELY IN US MILITARY FUNDS
2: NATION: KACHIN TO HOLD DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE TALKS WITH RANGOON
3: ECONOMIST: PEREGINE INVESTMENTS; BANKING ON CHINA AND THE SLORC
4: NATION: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
5: KHRG: SLORC VICTIMS IN NYAUNGLEBIN DISTRICT
6: BURMANET: INDEX OF BURMANET ARTICLES, AUG 11-SEPT 18, 1994
7: BURMANET: THE SOC.CULTURE.BURMA ARCHIVE

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

***********************************************************
BURMANET: THE SOC.CULTURE.BURMA ARCHIVE

An archive for soc.culture.burma articles is online for anonymous FTP=20
from ftp.nectec.or.th in directory /pub/archives/soc.culture.burma/1994.
Articles posted in the current month are not on the archive but they will b=
e
online in the following month.

Searching for an article is best done via WAIS full-text search/retrieval
facility. There are many WAIS utilities available for many platforms on
the Internet. To search and/or retrieve, specify the database
soc.culture.burma-1994 on the host nexus.nectec.or.th, for instance:

   $ waissearch -d soc.culture.burma-1994 -h nexus.nectec.or.th 'charter'

would locate articles in the archive that contain the word 'charter'. for
more information about WAIS, consult the newsgroup comp.infosystems.wais.

-original by Trin Tansetthi



*************************************************************************

ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET:

 AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS
 AFP: AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
 AWSJ: ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL
 BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION
 BI: BURMA ISSUES
 BIG: BURMA INFORMATION GROUP
 BKK POST: THE BANGKOK POST
 CPPSM: COMMITTEE FOR THE PUBLICITY OF THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE IN MONLAND
 DA:  DEPTHNEWS ASIA
 FEER: FAR EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW
 NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)

*************************************************************************
* The BurmaNet News is distributed via the reg.burma and seasia mailing *
* lists, and the soc.culture.burma and soc.culture.thai newsgroups.  To *=
=20
* subscribe to the reg.burma mailing list, send a note to:              *
* strider@xxxxxxxxxxx                                                   *
*                                                                       *
* The BurmaNet News is distributed at least weekly and sometimes more   *
* frequently, time permitting.                                          *
*************************************************************************