Wired News on Jan. 27 & 28, '95

[FreeBurma@xxxxxxx]

Attn: Burma Newsreaders
Re: Wired News on Jan. 27 & 28, '95
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Eastern and Oriental invests US$35 million in Burma   

    RANGOON, Jan 27 (Reuter) - Union of Myanmar (Burma) Economic Holdings Ltd
and Eastern and Oriental Express group on Friday signed an agreement for a
hotel project in Rangoon and luxury cruises from Mandalay. 

    Eastern and Oriental Express Ltd is owned by a consortium including
Orient Express Hotels, part of London-based shipping and tourism group Sea
Containers, Orient Express Hotels Chairman James Sherwood told a news
conference. 

    Under the agreement, Eastern and Oriental Express will invest up to US$35
million over the next two years. 

    The first project will operate river cruises between Mandalay and Pagan
by the end of this year. 

    The second project is to convert a luxury liner into a five-star hotel in
Rangoon, and is expected to be ready in 1996, he said. 

    Other major shareholders in Eastern and Oriental Express are Malaysia's
YTL Corporation Berhad and Landmarks Berhad, as well as Italthai Industrial
Co Ltd (Thailand), he added.  REUTER


Transmitted: 95-01-27 14:17:10 EST
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U.S. concerned about Burmese army attacks   

    WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The White House Saturday expressed deep concern
over reports of shelling and attacks by the Burmese army against ethnic
minorities, and urged Rangoon to peacefully resolve its differences. 

    The rebel Karen National Union, the strongest ethnic group still fighting
for autonomy from the Rangoon government, suffered a severe setback in its
decades-old struggle Friday when Burmese troops entered and sacked their
headquarters in the town of Manerplaw. 

    It was the first time Manerplaw, a home to student and other
anti-government groups, had been captured since the KNU guerrilla army began
fighting for autonomy from the Burmese central government more than 40 years
ago. 

    ``These actions conflict starkly with the regime's stated intention to
pursue policies of national reconciliation, and are especially alarming in
view of the regime's pattern of serious human rights abuses in the context of
civil conflict,'' said White House Spokesman Mike McCurry. 

    He said the United States was following closely the fate of Burmese
civilians displaced by the fighting and welcomed assurances from Thailand
that it would continue to provide safe haven for those fleeing Burma. 

    McCurry pointed out that late last year Washington offered Rangoon two
visions of a future relationship: increased cooperation linked to positive
developments by the Burmese government on issues of importance to the
international community, or heightened isolation if progress is not
forthcoming. 

    ``We urge the regime to avoid the path of confrontation and international
isolation, to end the violence and to implement its repeated assurances that
it will peacefully resolve its differences with ethnic minorities,'' he said.


    The United States also urged Rangoon to take other actions ''that will
demonstrate a genuine commitment to political reform in Burma,'' he said. 

    McCurry mentioned specifically the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other
``prisoners of conscience'' so they may ''participate in the political life
of their nation.'' 

 REUTER


Transmitted: 95-01-28 19:53:40 EST
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Burma's Karen guerrillas defiant in defeat   

 (Updates with report of Karen defections paragraphs 8-10) 

    By Robert Birsel 

    MAE SAMLAP, Thailand, Jan 28 (Reuter) - The capture by Burmese troops of
the Karen guerrilla headquarters at Manerplaw has forced commander General Bo
Mya and 6,000 civilian followers into Thailand, but the veteran fighter says
the Karen's 46-year war for autonomy will continue. 

    ``Things will get better in future. The Karen revolution will never die,
it will never collapse,'' Bo Mya told Reuters. 

    Speaking in a simple wooden house in deep forest south of this frontier
trading settlement, Bo Mya said he had ordered his troops to torch Manerplaw,
a sprawling settlement on the west bank of the River Moei, as Burmese forces
closed in. 

    Karen officials said casualties among the 1,000 Karen defenders were not
heavy -- 15 dead and more than 50 wounded. 

    They said it was clear the guerrillas could not stand and hold ground
with a Burmese force more than 10 times stronger advancing. 

    The guerrillas withdrew from the base on Thursday night, breaking up into
bands to harass Burmese army supply lines, Bo Mya said in an interview late
on Friday. 

    The Karen National Union (KNU) is the largest guerrilla army still
fighting Rangoon's military leaders for greater autonomy. 

    Burmese state television said late on Saturday that about 4,000 members
of the KNU who had been active in border areas but rejected the leadership of
Bo Mya had formed a Democratic Karen Buddhist Organisation (DKBO) on December
21. 

    DKBO members, Karen Buddhists and other Karen families had come out of
hiding and grouped around Hlaingbwe in Karen state, it added. 

    The television, which made no mention of recent fighting around
Manerplaw, showed Karen refugees receiving food and clothes at resettlement
centres and the construction of permanent buildings there. 

    The KNU said in a statement on Saturday it had pulled out of Manerplaw
when it became clear the headquarters which had served it for 21 years could
only be defended with heavy casualties. 

    The ruling generals, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC),
have in recent years reached ceasefire agreements with 13 other guerrilla
armies, promising development aid but refusing to discuss political demands. 

    Bo Mya, while defiant in defeat, said the KNU was always ready to
negotiate with the SLORC. ``We never refuse to negotiate. It's the SLORC that
doesn't want to talk peace.'' 

    Moves were under way last year to open talks but these stalled over
disagreement on a location for negotiations. 

    ``What we have always said is that we need a stable political settlement
for the whole country, not a temporary settlement,'' Bo Mya said. 

    Burmese forces on Saturday were bombarding the Karen's last major border
base at Kaw Moo Ra, 120 km (75 miles) to the south of Manerplaw, guerrilla
sources said. 

    Thai forces were moving into the forest-clad mountains opposite Manerplaw
as night fell on Friday to prevent any fighting from spilling onto Thai soil
and to keep the 6,000 Karen refugees from moving deeper into Thailand. 

    The mountain slopes were studded with small fires as the refugees,
surrounded by their bundles of possessions, cooked whatever food they had
managed to salvage. 

    Relief workers were scrambling to organise supplies for the new influx
and wondering how thousands of other refugees already in Thailand will be
supplied now that transport along two border rivers has been cut by the SLORC
advance. 

    A month ago the KNU was crippled by a mutiny by 500 Buddhist troops in
the 5,000-strong Christian-led force. 

    Many of the mutineers joined SLORC forces and gave them vital help in the
capture of Manerplaw, KNU officials said. 

    ``Although there were only a few of them, the defectors presented the
SLORC with the key to the capture of Manerplaw,'' an official said. 

    The loss of Manerplaw has also thrown into question the future of the
opposition alliance, including pro-democracy student fighters and members of
detained dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy who were based at the Karen headquarters. 

    ``If Manerplaw falls the stability of the movement will be lost,'' Said
Naing Aung, leader of a student army set up in the guerrilla zone after a
1988 crackdown on democracy demonstrations in Rangoon and other cities and
towns. 

    ``It will be difficult to keep the alliance together,'' Naing Aung said
Friday before the fall of Manerplaw was confirmed. 

 REUTER


Transmitted: 95-01-28 22:23:09 EST
************

Nine Burmese drown in boat accident   

    RANGOON, Jan 28 (Reuter) - A newlywed couple and seven other people
drowned when their boat sank in the Rangoon River after a collision with a
bigger ferry, the City News has reported. 

    There were 17 passengers on the unlicenced smaller boat when it sank on
January 23, the newspaper said on Friday. 

    All the bodies were recovered. 

    The newspaper said the bride and groom had eloped a few days earlier
against the will of their parents. 

    The boat's 17-year-old operator was being sought by authorities. 

 REUTER


Transmitted: 95-01-28 04:22:45 EST
************

UNOCAL FORECASTS 1995 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
            AT $1.4 BILLION; FOCUS ON STRATEGIC BUSINESS GROWTH
      LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Unocal Corp. (NYSE: UCL) today
said it expects 1995 capital spending to total about $1.4 billion, a
10 percent increase over expenditures of $1.27 billion for 1994.
      Roger C. Beach, Unocal's chief executive officer, said the actual
spending for 1995 could range from $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion
depending upon the progress of various projects and commodity prices.
      Beach noted that the most of increased capital spending focuses on
growth in three strategic business areas.
      "We'll move forward on development of new oil and gas ventures,
particularly in Myanmar and Azerbaijan, while at the same time we'll
increase spending for development of geothermal power projects in
Indonesia," Beach said.  "In the U.S., we'll increase capital spending
for the 76 Products Company to complete refinery modifications to
manufacture California mandated reformulated gasoline and continue our
marketing reformat program to increase service station throughput and
profitability."
      Petroleum Exploration and Production
    About $855 million, or 61 percent of the forecasted 1995 capital
spending, is directed toward the company's worldwide petroleum
exploration and development activities.  This compares with $795 million
in 1994.
      Approximately $405 million is earmarked for foreign oil and gas
activities, up 31 percent from $308 million last year.  Major projects
include development of gas reserves in several fields offshore Thailand,
as well as further delineation of the Pailin field.  In addition, the
company plans to develop the Halfweg gas field on the Q1 block offshore
the Netherlands.
      Capital spending for development work on new high potential overseas
oil and gas ventures -- the Yadana natural gas project in Myanmar, the
oil project in the Caspian Sea offshore Azerbaijan and other projects --
is forecast to total nearly $50 million.
      Some $450 million is targeted for domestic projects, down 8 percent
from $487 million in 1994.  The Louisiana/Gulf of Mexico area accounts
for nearly 60 percent of the domestic budget as the company moves ahead
with development of various key projects including natural gas
development in Fresh Water Bayou and oil development on Ship Shoal 208.
  In Alaska, an important project is the first phase of developing new oil
production from the Anna platform in the Granite Point field in the Cook
Inlet.
      The capital spending plan for petroleum exploration and production
includes nearly $200 million for worldwide exploration.  Of this, more
than one-half is targeted for projects near existing operations that
have the potential for rapid development.  The balance, about
$90 million, is slated for new trend exploration.
        Geothermal and Power
    Capital expenditures for geothermal power projects are projected at
$80 million in 1995, more than double the $35 million spent in 1994.
  The spending forecast focuses on development of geothermal resources and
construction of electrical generating plants in the Salak field in
Indonesia, which is expected to come on-line in 1997.
        76 Products Company
    Planned capital expenditures for the 76 Products Company, which
encompasses Unocal's West Coast refining marketing and transportation
operations, are about $380 million, up slightly from last year.
      About 80 percent ($305 million) of the spending is on refinery
projects.  This includes $240 million for modifications to manufacture
CARB Phase 2 reformulated gasoline for the California market.  Another
$25 million is earmarked for projects to enhance profitability in other
refining areas.
      About $50 million is directed toward marketing operations, mostly
reformatting service stations in the western United States.  In 1995,
the company expects to improve pumpability at about 120 retail sites by
adding credit card readers at the dispensers and reconfiguring pump
islands.  More than half of these projects include new formats, such as
FastBreak(R) convenience stores and fast food restaurants.
        Diversified Businesses
    The company's diversified businesses encompass agricultural
products, carbon and minerals operations, pipelines, real estate and
environmental remediation operations.  For 1995, capital expenditures
are expected to total $85 million for these businesses, up 42 percent
from $60 million last year.  The forecasted capital plan reflects higher
planned spending on various projects in the company's agricultural
products and carbon and minerals businesses, as well as environmental
remediation projects throughout the company.
                                  Unocal Corp.
                        Capital Investment Forecast
                         (millions of dollars)
                                             1995 Forecast   1994 Actual
      Petroleum Exploration and Development        855           795
      Domestic U.S.                              450           487
      Foreign (including Canada)                 405           308
    Geothermal & Power                            80            35
    76 Products Company                          380           368
      Refining                                   305           283
      Marketing                                   50            66
      Other                                       25            19
    Diversified Businesses                        85            60
    Other                                                       14
    Total Capital Investment                   1,400         1,272
  /CONTACT:  Barry Lane of Unocal, 213-977-7601/
    (UCL)

  CO:  Unocal Corp.

  ST:  California
  IN:  OIL
  SU:


Transmitted: 95-01-26 00:00:00 EST
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