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BurmaNet News: December 29-January
Subject: BurmaNet News: December 29-January 1
************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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BurmaNet News: Thursday-Sunday, December 29, 1994 - January 1, 1995
Issue #91
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Contents:
1 SCB: HAPPY NEW YEAR, SLORC
2 BKK POST: MESSAGE FROM THE BURMA RESISTANCE
3 NATION: BURMESE STUDENTS FIGHT BACK
4 NATION: LI PENG IN RANGOON
5 NATION: CHARGES OF CHINESE MILITARY EXPANSION FABRICATION, SAYS LI
6 BKK POST [EDITORIAL]: BURMA VISIT LEAVES OPEN DOUBT ON CHINA MOTIVES
7 BKK POST: BUDDHIST MUTINY SPLITS BURMAS KAREN MINORITY
8 BKK POST: KARENS MUST GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER OR KILL DEMOCRACY GOODBYE
9 UPI: HUNDREDS FEARED KILLED AFTER DERAILMENT OF BURMESE TRAIN
10 BKK POST [LETTERS]: ASSISTANCE FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS
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1 SCB: HAPPY NEW YEAR, SLORC
Sunday, January 1, 1995
Sun, 01 Jan 1995 14:49:36 soc.culture.burma Thread 11 of
20
Lines 20 New Year Greeting to Junta. No responses
jrchien@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx University of Kansas Academic
Computing Services
To all the self-righteous people of military junta,
Congratulation for a job well done in 1994! You have done a great job
violating human rights and hiding it from the world. Great job ignoring
the wishes of 43 million people, and making your interest a national
interest. Kudos for a job well done in keeping 43 million people as
hostage for SIX YEARS. It is a world record!
So, I would like to wish you that may new year brings kindness to your
heart and wisdom to your brain.
(Reminder: To fulfill the historical duty, Burmese Army under the
leadership of Aung San took 3 years to free Burma from Mighty
Colonialism and Fascism.
To fulfill your historical duty, your army is taking more than 6
years to restore democracy, and still you haven't accomplished a thing.
Unlike 1945, you don't have to fight a thing. All you got to do is give up
the power to the democratic government.
I thought it will only take a day or a week at most to give up the power.
If you cannot do it, you should seriously consider to let someone do it.)
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2 BKK POST: MESSAGE FROM THE BURMA RESISTANCE
Sunday, January 1, 1995
Myint Thein sends a New Years message on behalf of the Burmese
Resistance.
VULTURES with business interests in Burma are circulating the ill-
conceived theory that the greed of foreign investors will solve Burmas
political problems and promote freedom, democracy and economic
development in Burma.
Economic development can lead to political reform. There are many
examples in Asia. But Burma is an exception. Foreign investment in the
rest of Asia led to the creation of a large middle class which facilitated
political reform. In Burma SLORC is destroying the middle class.
SLORC has used Burmas natural resources and hard currency earnings
from foreign investors to buy arms. Over fifty per cent of Burmas budget
is allocated for military expenditures. The large budget deficit used to
finance the Burma Army created hyper-inflation which is destroying the
middle class in Burma.
University professors and government officials used to constitute Burmas
middle class. Hyper-inflation has made them join the ranks of the poor.
The rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer due to SLORCs
economic miracle.
This is not the Asian formula for economic development and political
reform. It is a classic formula for a revolution.
Countries with the best managed economies in Asia have the lowest
military expenditures. Less than five per cent of Japans budget is
allocated for military expenditures. Hong Kong does not even have an
Army. The self -appointed generals in Burma do not realize that
promiscuous military expenditures is the biggest obstacle to economic
development and political reform in Burma.
Burma desperately needs a political settlement. But Burma remains
divided because SLORC still uses the 40-year old bankrupt policy of a
military solution to Burmas political problems.
Lack of Infrastructure: Recently one of my friends went back to Burma to
visit his parents. His initial impression was that SLORC had done a good
job of window-dressing. There are new roads and parks. The buildings
have been painted. And Rangoon has many new cars. But reality set in
when he visited the airline agent to make travel reservations.
He was shocked when the travel agent told him he could not send a fax to
Bangkok because they had no electricity. It was a complete culture shock
to him when he was told that the office in central downtown Rangoon
had electricity in the mornings three times a week. On the other three
working days they had electricity in the afternoons.
A visitor from Burma confirmed the story. Rangoon had planned black-
outs because of the power shortage. But this visitor lived close to a
community of senior military officers (and on the same electrical grid)
and they have electricity 24 hours a day.
Electricity is scarce commodity in Rangoon. Sooner or later investors
building hotels in Rangoon will have to face this reality. Without a
reliable source of electricity, the elevators in the hotels wont work. And
if SLORC shuts off electricity of Rangoon residents to service the hotels, it
will generate significant negative goodwill and may sow the seeds of a
revolution.
Infrastructure investments in third world countries is generally financed
by World Bank of Asia of Asian Development type loans. The SLORC
generals simply dont understand that you cannot develop the country
without an adequate infrastructure. And you cannot get funding for
infrastructure projects without significant political reform.
Hyper-Inflation Impact: A Burma Army colonel sent his two children to
America to attend college. His sister told me that the colonel earned two
thousand kyats per month. But his two sons each earned ten thousand
kyats per month selling noodles.
His two sons did not understand the need for an education since they
were making more money than their educated father. This colonel is a
good, decent individual. He understands what SLORC is doing in Burma.
SLORC has destroyed Burmese education with Burmas version of the
Chinese The Great Leap Forward.
Hyper-inflation is destroying Burmese morality and values. Sooner or
later officers like him will break ranks with SLORC and do their duty to
the country. If nothing is done, Burma will end up as a nation of bell-
boys, clerks and prostitutes working for hotels owned by Chinese
investors.
Relations with Thailand: We can understand Thailands reluctance to
accommodate a large number of Burmese refugees. But there is a
significant difference between Burmese and Cambodian refugees.
Thailand is not responsible for creating Cambodian refugees.
But Thailand is responsible for the Burmese refugee situation in Thailand.
Thailand provided a financial life-line to SLORC when it was on the
verge of collapse in 1988.
Thailand has a long border with Burma and needs to delicately handle
relations with its historic enemy. We are pleased to see strong signs of a
kinder and gentler Burmese refugee policy by Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai and Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Burmese must solve Burmas problems and Thai neutrality in internal
Burmese matters will be greatly appreciated by the Burmese Resistance.
We simply ask for compassion and decency in treatment of Burmese
refugees. And we will ask the Burmese refugees to respect Thai hospitality
by obeying local customs and laws.
Conclusion: The greed of foreign investors is not going to solve Burmas
political problems or promote freedom, democracy and economic
development in Burma. Joint ventures between affiliates of the Burma
Army and foreign investors is leading Burma towards fascism.
Burma is divided because SLORC is incapable of genuine political and
economic reforms. Burmas future depends on an equitable political
settlement between SLORC, Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders. There is
no other way to facilitate and expediate freedom, democracy and
economic development in Burma.
And From: Myint, Ba Thaung and all of us from the United Front for
Democracy and Human Rights in Burma.
To: All freedom fighters inside Burma and abroad.
Wishing you the finest
And the best of holidays
The kind
That brings you happiness
In many special ways
And hoping that the coming year
Will surely bring you
Added joy and happiness
In everything you do
May the New Year Bring Us
Peace, Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights
And Unity for All the Peoples of Burma
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3 NATION: BURMESE STUDENTS FIGHT BACK
Sunday, January 1, 1995
BURMESE student guerrillas launched a three-pronged attack on
government army positions in southeastern Burma. The All Burma
Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) attacked the headquarters of the
Burmese armys southeastern command in the town of Papun, in Karen
state.
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4 NATION: LI PENG IN RANGOON
Sunday, January 1, 1995
CHINESE Premier Li Peng, the most important foreign visitor to Burma
since a military junta seized power there in 1988, met with junta
Chairman Senior General Than Shwe. Li arrived for a three-day goodwill
visit, reaffirming Beijings support for the military government.
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5 NATION: CHARGES OF CHINESE MILITARY EXPANSION
FABRICATION, SAYS LI
Thursday, December 29, 1994
Kyodo, Rangoon
VISITING Premier Li Peng said yesterday that allegations about Chinas
military expansion in the Indian Ocean are pure fabrication.
Li, on a three-day goodwill tour to Burma, made the statement in reply to
a question at a press conference on allegations of Chinas intention to use
Burma as an outlet to the Indian Ocean.
Allegations about Chinas military expansion in the Indian Ocean is
pure fabrication. We are devoted to peace and against hegemonism, he
said before his departure in the afternoon.
We have not stationed one soldier outside our country, he added.
There is no military personnel in our delegation and we did not discuss
any military matters with Burmese leaders.
China, the Burma military juntas most important foreign ally, has been
rumoured to be building a naval base off the southern Burma coast.
On alleged human rights violations in some Asian countries including
China and Burma, the Chinese premier said, Developing countries
concept of human rights includes not only political rights, but the right
to existence and development. It is not permissible for anyone to use
human rights issues to interfere in another countrys internal affairs.
Asked whether he discussed the issue of Aung San Suu Kyi with Burma
leaders, Li said, Aung San Suu Kyis affair is Burmas internal affair,
where we do not interfere. We are not like the Westerners. We did not
discuss [her] at all.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest in
Rangoon since 1989 and the military junta has refused to accept results
of the 1990 election, which were won by her National League for
Democracy.
During formal talks on Tuesday with General Than Shwe, chairman of
the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), Li said Beijing
wants to promote trade and economic cooperation with Rangoon on the
basis of equality and mutual benefit, according to an official Chinese
press report.
Li is the highest ranking Chinese official to visit Burma since the SLORC
seized power in a 1988 military coup detat.
Chinese officials said they were satisfied with the development of border
trade with Burma, and the two governments urged the state and private
sectors to expand burgeoning trade links, a Chinese spokesman said.
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6 BKK POST [EDITORIAL]: BURMA VISIT LEAVES OPEN DOUBT ON CHINA MOTIVES
Sunday, January 1, 1995
THE VISIT to Burma by Chinese Premier Li Peng was left important but
unanswered questions for the region. He and his hosts did they best to
gloss over concern on vital issues. But they failed to put to rest several
significant subjects. As expected, the tough Mr Li dismissed suggestions
Beijing get involved in the issue of human rights abuses by the State Law
and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Despite a noticeable bristling,
however, he failed to lessen concern China may be seeking entry to the
Indian Ocean through Burma. And a bland official communique that the
two sides discussed border and economic issues left more questions
than it answered.
Mr Li was only the fourth head of government to visit Burma since the
violent takeover by SLORC in 1988. No stranger to controversy himself,
Mr Li is credited as one of the chief architects of Chinas own crackdown
on dissidents at Tienanmen Square in 1989. Since those two incidents,
China and Burma have become close. China is the major supplier of a
Burmese military build-up estimated at between US $400 million and $1
billion. The Burmese military has almost completely switched its
equipment, from tanks and helicopters to rifles, to Chinese standards.
This newly revamped and well-armed military is one of the roots of
questions neither Mr Li nor SLORC leaders answered last week. Clearly,
the Rangoon junta now is well-equipped for new offensives against
dissident groups, mostly in its border areas. Even apart from the fears of
the human toll of any such operations, Thailand and other neighbours
could face grave security threats from any such military offensives.
Burma clearly has not been forced into a large military build-up because
of threats from its neighbours. Mr Lis trip was at least partly in return
for a visit to Beijing last September by Burmese strongman Khin Nyunt,
SLORC's secretary one. But there may be more to it.
It is vague for example, how Burma has paid for these weapons from a
near-bankrupt treasury. Questions have naturally been asked about just
what payment Beijing has received -- or will receive. Indian officials
have been blunt To their speculation. They fear the Chinese may request
or demand a naval base or other access to the Indian Ocean through
Burma's west-coast border on the Andaman Sea. Mr Lis answer in his
Rangoon news conference edged on the rhetorical. He dismissed such
reports as sheer fabrication. While its true Mr Li cannot prove what
China will do in the future, he could have done better than repeat the
type of denial that comes often from government propaganda agents. As
head of government, he should have explained Chinas plans.
The issue of border problems was also unexplained by both Mr Li and his
hosts. One of the most important, to the two countries and many others, is
the extensive heroin manufacture and smuggling. Although China clearly
is committed to a campaign against trafficking, Burma's policy is less
obvious. Some analysts, including the prestigious Janes Defence Weekly,
have predicted an offensive by Rangoon against drug kingpin Khun Sa
early this year. Like Thailand, China could be quickly drawn into the
effects of such a move.
The visit to Rangoon by Chinas prime minister was, inevitably, a boost to
the regime. It was therefore disheartening to see that Mr Lis only strong
statement was on the issue of human rights. Beijing, he said, intended to
stay out of the subject. Its merely (an) internal affair of Burma. Unlike
other Western countries, China doesnt interfere in the domestic affairs of
others. WE did not discuss her, he said. There is little surprise over such
a stand. It remains depressing, however, China is both a close neighbour
and an expressed friend of the Burmese regime. Taking a stand against
SLORC's clear abuses of its people would be the right thing to do.
Just what Mr Li and his high-level party achieved during their three-day
official goodwill visit remains to be seen. According to the Chinese
leader, he had fruitful talks with SLORC officials and further
consolidated our friendship. It may take some time to dig below this
diplomatic language to know what actually occurred.
Clearly, China intends to push its relations with Rangoon forward,
actively and with some priority. Whether this decision has ulterior
motives remains to be seen.
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7 BKK POST: BUDDHIST MUTINY SPLITS BURMAS KAREN MINORITY
Saturday, December 31, 1994
Reuters, Manerplaw, Burma
A LARGE Buddhist faction has broken away from the Karen National
Union (KNU), dealing a serious blow to the ethnic minority group that
has fought for 40 years for autonomy from Rangoon, KNU officials said.
The Buddhist faction have now totally separated themselves from the
KNU and set up their own organisation, KNU spokesman Em Matha told
Reuters in an interview on Thursday.
Early this month a group of Buddhist guerrillas mutinied against the
Christian-dominated leadership of the KNU, seizing a strategic position at
the confluence of the Moei and Salween rivers and controlling the supply
line to the KNU.
Em Matha said rank-and-file Buddhist guerrillas, ignoring an earlier
peace agreement with the mainstream KNU, had formed their own
organisation based in a Buddhist temple 40 km north of the Karen
stronghold at Manerplaw.
He said the new organisation was called the Democratic Kayin (Karen)
Buddhist Association (DKBA) and numbered about 500 armed guerrillas.
KNU leaders have accused Burmas ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) of sowing dissent based on religious
differences and then exploiting the guerrillas disarray to mount military
operations in breach of its own ceasefire.
DKBA control of the Moei and Salween rivers north of Manerplaw,
situated 280 km northeast of Rangoon, poses serious threat to the KNU
since Burmese government troops are deployed to the south.
The Burmese troops have taken advantage of the situation by attacking
us from the south, Em Matha said.
Burmese troops have launched sporadic attacks on the Karen Moo Ra
camp, 60 km south of Manerplaw, since the middle of this month.
The 8,000-strong KNU is the strongest ethnic minority army to continue
its struggle against Rangoon.
Thirteen rebel factions including the KNUs formerly main ally, the
Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), have signed ceasefire
agreements since SLORC declared in 1992 that it would unilaterally
suspend military operations against the ethnic rebels.
The KNU also wants to discuss peace terms with the Rangoon junta, but
has been preoccupied first by the mutiny and then by the Burmese
attacks.
**************************************************************
8 BKK POST: KARENS MUST GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER OR KILL
DEMOCRACY GOODBYE
Sunday, January 1, 1995
INDULGING in anything to the extreme is bad. Extreme nationalism kills.
But religious fanaticism stinks -- more so in this era when man has
journeyed to the Moon and back. The Crusades saw man kill man and the
Spanish Inquisition saw many burned at the stake.
Now we have the likes of the IRA and extreme Protestants blighting
relations between Britain and Ireland, Saddam Hussein and the
Ayatollahs in the Middle East, Hindus and Muslims going at one
anothers throats in the Indian subcontinent and Serbs, Croats and others,
liquidating one another in Bosnia. The list goes on. Man killing man --
all in the name of religion.
But when politicians, governments and zealots capitalise on the
sentiments of religious groups as a tool to enhance their power and
solidify their position over the masses, they are clearly providing truth in
the line that religion is the opiate of the masses.
The latest skirmish between rival Christian and Buddhist factions within
the Karen Nation Union guerrilla group, which is battling the military
regime in Rangoon for autonomy and a federal form of government, is a
case in point.
Fighting erupted early this month when a group of about 300 Karen
Buddhist guerrillas mutinied against the Christian-dominated leaders of
the KNU. The KNUs leader, General Saw Bo Mya, confirmed Thai
military sources reports that three people were killed in the fighting.
The KNU claims the mutiny was the work of SLORC infiltrators trying to
sow discord among Karen rank and file. The SLORC has neither
confirmed nor denied this allegation. However, we do know the dispute
was caused by religious conflict among the Karen.
A Karen source said: The mutiny was the result of religious conflict but
person and ideological issues are involved here too.
On December 15, both sides hammered out a five-point agreement
whereby the KNU leadership pledged freedom of worship and a blanket
amnesty for the mutineers. The two sides also agreed to fair arbitration of
any crisis concerning religious conflict that may arise in the future.
Despite the agreement, fighting flared anew on Wednesday between the
two religious factions. Reports say about 150 Buddhist Karen have dug in
at the River Junction Pagoda at the confluence of the Salween and Moei
rivers and have fired shots at boats, both Thai and Karen.
The root cause of the Karen problem, according to knowledgeable
sources, is religious favoritism that is being practised by the Christian-
dominated leadership of the KNU.
Promotions among the rank an file of the Karen National Liberation Army
are the bone of contention, the sources say. It is alleged that Christians
are favoured over their Buddhist counterparts in moving up the ranks.
The Buddhists, on the other hand, stagnate at a certain rank. Christians
are also treated more leniently than Buddhists when disciplined.
This form of favouritism has long been standing practice of the central
government in Rangoon, whereby preference is given to Buddhists and
Burmans over people of other faith and race when it comes to winning
jobs and promotion in state offices and armed forces.
One example is Brigadier-General David Abel, National Planning and
Economic Development minister, who had served as a colonel for years
before being promoted to the present rank. Abel is a Roman Catholic and
an Anglo-Burman.
If these allegations about the Karen are true, then an immediate stop must
be put to this form of chauvinism. SLORC has already taken advantage of
the KNU squabble by launching attacks on its bases. The student army
camp at Daungguin has fallen to the Burmese army.[Dawn Gwin was not
overrun this month; only an outpost was burnt before SLORC troops
retreated. -Editor] Also one Karen hilltop base, Ma-nyaw-kee, opposite
Sleeping Dog Hill, was reported captured by Rangoon troops.
General Bo Mya and the top echelon in the KNU, Christians as well as
Buddhists, must bear in mind that they are not only responsible for the
survival of the Karen people and protecting it culture, but also in helping
the other remaining dissidents to hold out against the brutal SLORC
regime to restore freedom and democracy to Burma.
The KNU is the oldest and most powerful guerrilla force, apart from the
Mon and a handful of allied Burmese students of the ABSDF still fighting
the illegitimate Rangoon government. Most other ethnic rebel groups
have negotiated separate ceasefire agreements with the central
government.
Unless the Karen get their act together now to regain trust and unity
among themselves, they can kiss goodbye to their 46-year-long struggle
for autonomy and of ever restoring peace, freedom and democracy to
Burma. Also they must bear in mind that all religions are supposed to
advocate peace and love for one another. Not hate.
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9 UPI: HUNDREDS FEARED KILLED AFTER DERAILMENT OF BURMESE TRAIN
Sunday, January 1, 1995
Rangoon
BURMESE officials say they fear that hundreds of passengers may have
been killed when a crowded train derailed early on Friday.
A government-run radio report said the accident, which occurred at 4:42
a.m. local time, some 257 kilometres north of Mandalay, was caused by a
brake failure.
The Mandalay-Myitkyina train was going downhill between the
Namkham and Boonkyaung stations and was unable to reduce its speed
or come to a stop, the report said.
Two coaches carrying people and four filled with cargo overturned,
while two other cars left the tracks, the statement said.
Trains on the 520-km Mandalay-Myitkyina railway lines are known to
frequently travel at full capacity.
* AP reports: State-owned Myanmar Railways signed two contracts worth
US$50 million with China for the purchase of railway equipment and
construction materials, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar
reported yesterday.
**************************************************************
10 BKK POST [LETTERS]: ASSISTANCE FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS
Sunday, January 1, 1995
SIR: I spoke in high terms of Thailand to all my friends. Hundreds of
thousands of refugees, mainly from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma)
and Vietnam have sought refuge in Thailand in the last 40 years, as war
and political repression forced people to flee their homelands. Thailand
has allowed large numbers to stay within its borders for many years, but
recently the treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees has become
increasingly harsh. In particular those from Myanmar, who now form
the largest single group of refugees in the country, are at risk of detention
and forcible return.
I am very concerned that there is no establishment of a fair and
satisfactory procedure for all asylum-seekers in Thailand to present their
reasons for seeking asylum and ensure effective access to that procedure.
B. Lutz
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NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET:
AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS
AFP: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
AW: ASIAWEEK
AWSJ: ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL
Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt.=US$1 (APPROX),
BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION
BI: BURMA ISSUES
BKK POST: BANGKOK POST (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
BRC-CM: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-CHIANG MAI
BRC-J: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-JAPAN
CPPSM: C'TEE FOR PUBLICITY OF THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE IN MONLAND
FEER: FAR EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW
IRRAWADDY: NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY BURMA INFORMATION GROUP
JIR: JANE'S INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
Kt. BURMESE KYAT; 150 KYAT=US$1 BLACK MARKET
100 KYAT=US$1 SEMI-OFFICIAL
6 KYAT=US$1 OFFICIAL
MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN
NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER, RANGOON)
S.C.B.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP
S.C.T.:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP
SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST
SLORC: STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COMMITTEE
USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
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