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BurmaNet News:: 21 March 1995
- Subject: BurmaNet News:: 21 March 1995
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 00:26:00
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The BurmaNet News:21 March 1995
Issue #126 [Covering 14-17 March, 1995]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contents:
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
BKK POST: ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AFTER RANGOON DEMONSTRATION
NATION: BURMESE JUNTA RELEASES TWO KEY POLITICAL LEADERS
********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************
THE NATION: 800 KAREN REFUGEES FLEE BAN HUEY MANOK FEARING
ATTACK
THE NATION: BO MYA ASKS THAILAND TO PROTECT KAREN REFUGEES
BKK POST: KAREN REBELS BLAMED FOR ATTACK ON GAS PIPELINE
BKK POST: MALARIA KILLS 2 KARENS
**************************SHAN STATE**************************
BKK POST: US WARNS BURMA OVER DRUGS TRADE
BKK POST: 30 BURMESE TROOPS 'KILLED IN FIGHTING'
BKK POST: BURMA 'USED INMATES AS ARMY PORTERS'
***************************THAILAND***************************
BKK POST: THAI-BURMESE VENTURE WINS B10b FISHING DEAL
BKK POST: CHIANG RAI PREPARED FOR ARRACK AFTERMATH
BKK POST: ILLEGAL ALIENS SEIZED AT SEA
BKK POST: UNHCR ALREADY WINDING DOWN
BKK POST:BURMESE GUNNERS HIT KHUN SA STRONGHOLD
BKK POST:CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS 'FOR SAKE OF NATIONAL
SECURITY'
BKK POST: BPP UNCOVERS ARMS CACHE
BKK POST: BURMA TO FREE FISHERMEN
BKK POST:ELEPHANTIASIS IS RIFE AMONG BURMESE ALIENS
THE NATION: WIMOL WARNS BORDER RESIDENTS AGAINST 'SEPARATIST'
DRUG GANGS
THE NATION: THAILAND COOL ON MEDIATOR ROLE IN BURMA-KAREN
DISPUTE
BKK POST: FOREIGN ARMED TROOPS DEMAND PROTECTION FEE
***********************INTERNATIONAL*************************
THE NATION: US DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN BURMA
*****************VISIT MYANMAR YEAR 1996***************
NATION: VISITING BURMA
****************************MISC*****************************
SCB: ANY MON PEOPLE OUT THERE?
***************************BUSINESS**************************
BKK POST: KODAK PLANS TO LEAD IMAGING BUSINESS IN INDOCHINA IN
2 YEARS
BKK POST: SIAM SYNTECH IS BUILDING B1.6b HOTEL IN RANGOON
**************************************************************
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**************************************************************
*************THE BURMANET NEWS--MARCH 21, 1995***************
**************************************************************
***********************INSIDE BURMA***************************
BKK POST: ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AFTER RANGOON DEMONSTRATION
17 MARCH 1995
FIFTY pro-democracy activities were detrained a after a rare
public demonstration in Rangoon last month, and those arrested
may be at risk of ill-treatment or torture, according to the
human rights organization Amnesty International.
In a statement received yesterday in Bangkok, the group said
it is gravely concern for the young activities arrested on Feb
20 during the funeral possession for Burma's first and only
elected prime minister, U Nu. "The young people gathered
peacefully at the side of his funeral procession and shouted
a slogans, and than were apparently arrested," the statement
said.
"Amnesty International urgently called on the military
authorities to ensure that none of these activities are
tortured or ill-treated while in detention." The statement
said two of the demonstrators, Maung Maung and Moe Myat Thu,
were badly beaten by Military by Military intelligence agents
as they were arrested.
On Wednesday, the junta freed 31 political prisoners,
including Tin Oo, former chairman of the NLD. But the party's
main leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under house arrested in
Rangoon. The two students beaten during the asrrests last
month has been arrested previously in 1989 for their
pro-democracy work, Amnesty International said. It described
Moe Myat Thu as a close associate of Suu Kyi.
Another of those arrested, Ni Ni, is a sister of the first
student killed in 1988 when mass demostrations broke out to
protest 26 years of one party rule, the statement said. She
also has been arrested previously.
The Government's sudden release of two top political prisoners
is a gesture designed to counter bad publicity from its
military crackdown on ethnic minorities. State-run television
showed leading dissidents Tin Oo and Kyi Maung walking out of
Insein Prison in Rangoon on Wednesday into the arms of waiting
relatives. The 29 other prisoners in Mandalay, Toungoo and
Thayawaddy. "If they are sincere, they should release Aung San
Suu Kyi and all the other political prisoner as well. In our
view this is just propaganda to improve their tranished image
abroad," a spokesman fort he NCGUB. A Rangoon based diplomat
said: "It does not mean a great deal for the release of Aung
San Suu Kyi, but he stalled dialogue with her may now be
resumed." The government in exiled said the Slorc was caught
in a dilemma over Suu Kyi. The world community is pressing
than to release her, but they know that once set free she
cannot be controlled: she is the symbol of Burma democracy," a
spokesman said. (BP)
NATION: BURMESE JUNTA RELEASES TWO KEY POLITICAL LEADERS
16 March 1995
The junta yesterday freed two of Burma's most significant
political prisoners, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung, both former
chairmen of the National League for Democracy (NLD) which won
free elections here in 1990.
The former armed forces chief of Burma, General Tin Oo
co-founded the NLD with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu
Kyi in 1988. He was arrested the following year for allegedly
sewing dissent among the armed forces which he commanded.
U Kyi Maung served as NLD chairman in 1990, following Tin Oo's
arrest, and led the party to its landslide election victory
that year.
The current military junta refused to accept the results of
those polls. The two leading political figures were among 31
prisoners released from four jails in Burma yesterday.
Radio Rangoon, monitored in Bangkok, said that the State Law
and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was making a point of
releasing prisoners this month which marks the 50th
anniversary of Burmese Armed Forces Day.
Tin Oo and Kyi Maung, like Aung San Suu Kyi, were officially
expelled from the NLD under junta pressure after their
arrests. But Burmese dissidents told AFP yesterday that the
trio remained the true leaders of the movement.
"We welcome the release of our leaders," U Thein Oo, Justice
Minister for the opposition National Coalition Government for
the Union of Burma (NCGUB) said.
The NCGUB, a political coalition which includes the NLD, has
called for the release of all prisoners of conscience in
Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held under
house arrest for nearly six years. (BP&TN)
********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************
THE NATION: BO MYA ASKS THAILAND TO PROTECT KAREN REFYGEES
BKK POST: KAREN REBELS BLAMED FOR ATTACK ON GAS PIPELINE
NATION: 800 KAREN REFUGEES FLEE BAN HUEY MANOK FEARING
ATTACK
17 March 1995
About 8,000 Karen refugees, fearing another attack by renegade
Buddhist Karen guerrillas yesterday abandoned their holding
centre in Baan Huey manok to move to safer areas in Tak
Province, border authority sources said yesterday.
The mass exodus almost emptied the camp, which was under the
protection of a combined force of around 80 Thai paramilitary
troops and border police.
The group moved en-masse to other holding centres along the
border in Baan Mae Salid, Baan Mae Tan and Baan Mae Song in
Thasong Yang district.
The Karen refugees consist of around 5,000 people who fled
across the border in January after the Karen National Union's
headquarters at Manerplaw fell to Rangoon military forces, and
a further 3,000 refugees who were already resident at the camp
before the Burmese government offensive.
The mass movement of the Karens came only one day after a
group of around 30 armed soldiers from the Karen Buddhist
Organization (KBO), a KNU splinter group, crossed the Moei
river on Tuesday night and attempted to abduct the Karen chief
of the camp. The KBO assisted the Rangoon troops overrun KNU
camps last month. The guerrillas were surprised by Thai
border troops though and a subsequent battle left one KBO
soldier dead and three seriously injured.
According to KNU officials, the KBO intruders issued a threat
that they will return to the camp again on March 18.
The sources said later reports confirmed that four more KBO
fighters' bodies were found near Baan Manok after they
abducted one KNU leader. (TN)
NATION: BO MYA ASKS THAILAND TO PROTECT KAREN REFYGEES
14 March 1995
Kanaelay, Burma - General Bo Mya, president of the Karen
national Union (KNU), has appealed to Thailand to do more to
protect thausands of Karen refugees on Thai soil from Burmese
harassment. In an interview at his makeshift camp in southeast
Burma, the veteran campaigner complained that fighters of the
breakway Democratric Kayin (Karen) Buddhist Organization
(DKBO) continiued to kidnap KNU officials under the nose of
Thai authorities. "Although Thailand has been taking very good
care of the Karen refugees living in the camps, harassment by
the DKBO is increasing," Bo Mya, 67, said.
"The KNU would appreciate more safety measure to protect Karen
civilians from the DKBO," the general added.
At least six leaders loyal to the KNU were kidnapped and five
other refugees of the ethnic minority were killed in the past
two months when DKBO guerrillas crossed the River Moei to raid
refugee camps in Thailand, a karen refugee official told
Reuters. The DKBO was formed last December after a Buddhist
faction of the KNU staged a munity against the
Christian-dominate KNU leadership and later defected.
The breakway fighters joined Burmese government troops and
spearheaded a military drive that led to the capture of the
KNU's 20-year-old headquarters at Manerplaw in January, and of
their last major stronghold at kawmoora last month.
Of the more than 71,000 Karen refugees housed in 20 camps in
Thailand, some 8,000 are newcomers who fled in January and
February, the refugee official said.
Bo Mya, a stocky figure who has been playing the leading role
in the KNU rebel organization for more than 20 years, said he
differentiated between military and civilian objectives.
"The KNU is continuing its struggle for Karen autonomy with a
new strategy of purely guerrilla mobile warfare," he said.
Agence France-Presse adds: Burma's bruised political
opposition marked Human Rights Day yesterday with a renewed
call to end human rights abuses and a vow that "ultimately,
the people will previal" over the Rangoon junta.
The National Coaltion Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)
said in an official statement obtained in Bangkok that it
would fight for "the restoration of democracy and [for]
fundamental human rights" which have been violated in Burma
and, most recently, in refugee camps in Thailand. (TN)
BKK POST: KAREN REBELS BLAMED FOR ATTACK ON GAS PIPELINE
14 March 1995
A small armed unit of fewer than 10 Karen rebels is
responsible for last week's attack on a natural gas pipeline
being built by French oil company Total in which five workers
were killed and 11 others wounded, rebel source in the area
said.
The armed rebel group was from the 10th battalion under the
Karen National Union's 4th brigade which is in charge of Tavoy
and Mergui districts, the sources said.
The 10 th battalion commander is Maj Saw Keroe whose armed men
operate along the proposed gas pipeline from the sea to the
Thai border, the sources said.
The 10th battalion which is located opposite Sai Yok district
of Kanchanaburi was disrectly responsible for the attack at
Kanbauk village on Wednesday.
The killed and the wounded were in a convoy of vehicles
heading for the proposed gas pipeline for a survey, said the
sources. This small armed unit had sneaked into Kanbauk
village which was heavily guarded by Burmese soldiers and
launched the attack with RPG rocket launchers and light
machineguns.
In another development, the rebel sources said that five of
the 20 Burmese army battalions protecting the railroad and gas
pipeline constructions in Ye and Mergui districts have been
sent to wipe out the KNU's Kanaelay makeshift camp, southeast
Burma, near the Thai border of Phop Phra district.
The five battalions were reported to have reached the
surrounding areas and are preparing to launch an attack. (BP)
BKK POST: MALARIA KILLS 2 KARENS
An outbreak of malaria at a Karen village inside Burma close
to the border of this southern province killed two Karen
children last weekend while three others were brought to
Thailand for medical treatment, an assistant pastor of the
Karen church said. The dead children, aged less than two years
old, were from Ko Thetlu village, Bopyin township of
Mergui District, close to the border of Tha Sae District.
The pastor said Karens at the village are short of medicine
to pervent malaria, otherwise their children would not die
easily from the disease. What they urgently need is quinine
and saline water.
According to the report, most villagers are suffering from
acute malaria and are running out of medicine and other
necessary items.
Older people suffer for a week before recovering, but children
usually die because they have no natural immunity to the
disease. Nor does the village have the medicine to cure them.
(BP)
**************************SHAN STATE**************************
BKK POST: US WARNS BURMA OVER DRUGS TRADE
14 March 1995
The US State Department has labeleld Burma the world's
"undisputed leader" of opium production, and indicated it will
cut financial and educational assistance to Rangoon unless the
situation improves.
Poor weather ruined crops and cut opium production by an
estimated 21 per cent in 1994, according to the department's
annual International Narcotics Strategy report, obtained here
yesterday.
But Burma "remains the undisputed leader in world illicit
opium output," a report summary said, adding that the
country's net yield last year was an estimated 2,030 metric
tons.
The State Department has estimated that Burma produced 2,575
tons in 1993.
Most of the opium produced in Burma was growing in Shan State,
an area largely controlled by the notorious drug warlord Khun
Sa, and the majority of that was funneled through Chinese and
Thai borders.
The report acknowledged that the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc), the official name of the Rangoon
junta, had shown signs of 'willingness to cooperate in
counter-narcotics efforts."
It also noted the junta's military campaign last year against
Khun Sa's Maung Tai Army, which it said had squeezed supply
routes and slowed opium transportation through the "Golden
Triangle" - a narcotics through-fare where Burma, Laos and
Thailand meet.
But it said that Rangoon's efforts "fall far short of what is
required" and that the junta's languid attitude had allowed
the opium trade and heroin addiction within Burma to flourish.
"The government of Burma continies to treat counter-narcotics
efforts as a matter of secondary importance," it said.
The report offered informal estimates of Burma's addict
population, siting outside observers as saying 200,000 to
300,000 people in Burma were believed to be drug addicts.
By contrast, it said, the government's six drug treatment
centres house a total of just 220 beds - "woefully
inadequate".
The summary concluded that Washington would continue to aid
Rangoon on a limited basis, primarily by trainingpolice
officials via US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents
stationed in Rangoon.
But the future "hinges largely on the slorc's progress on
human rights and democratization, as well as improvements in
Burma's unilateral drug control efforts."
More likely, the department will concentrate on Burma's
neighbor, Thailand, where the State Department has seen
improvement in the past year.
Thailand is the world's number-one transit point for illicit
opium, the report said, but the country has almost completely
eradicated opium-growing within its border and has become "a
leader in regional drug control programs."
The government has also begun to hammer out Thailand's first
money-laundering legislation and, in Novermber, Thai police
working with the DEA arrested 10 men who were allegedly
trafficking in drugs here for Khun Sa. (BP)
BKK POST: 30 BURMESE TROOPS 'KILLED IN FIGHTING'
17 MARCH 1995
OVER 30 government troops have been killed during fighting
with warlord Khun Sa's MTA during the past three days, a
source at the border said. Government troop on Tuesday began
moving via Techilak to Pang Ma-O area where the
MTA base in situated. Pang Ma-O is some 15km from the Thai
border.
The sources said MTA casualties were much lower as they are
more familiar with the area. The fighting has reportedly
forced about 200 villagers to seek shelter at a temporary
holding centre in Mae Fah Laung District.
Chaing Rai governor Kamron Boonchrd, accompanied by Provincial
Army Commander Ithiphol, Provincial Sirimonthon, Provincial
police chief BAnrung Kaeddee and authorities
from the local officers of the Public Welfare Department and
Red Cross Society, visited the centre yesterday to inspect the
centre and distribute necessities to refugees. Maj Gen
Ithiphol said the situation remained normal on the Thai side
and authorities were ready to maintain security along the
border. The sources said about 60 Burmese government troops
were captured by MTA forces yesterday in an area between Pang
MA O and Pang Ko close to Doi Pha Daeng Luang, 30
kilometres south of Tachilek. Government troops launched
artillery and motor attacks on the MTA base yesterday
morning from a position between Ban Nam Fang and BAn Nam Law,
65 Km northeast on Tachilek, according to two porters who were
injured in the bombardment. The two fled into Thailand and are
receiving treatment at Mae Sai Hospital. (BP)
BURMA 'USED INMATES AS ARMY PORTERS'
17 MARCH 1995
THE Burmese junta has forced over 500 prisoners to become
porters attacking Khun Sa's Maung Tai Army positions.
The story was revealed to the Bangkok Post yesterday by a
30-year old Burmese porter, Identified as Ai Non, who escaped
during a mine explosion on the way to Tachilek and cross
the border into Mae Sai District of Chaing Rai. Ai Non said
the had been among over 500 prisoners jailed at the big prison
in Mandalay. Last Month the prison officials told the inmates
that the military junta had ordered their early release.
However, according to the Ai Non, the day they were supposed
to be released the prisoners were transported by about 10
helicopters from the Prison to a jungle near Sard Town early
this month. Upon landing, all the prisoners were forced to
carry weapons and ammunition and to walk in a single line
heading for Tachilek. "Porters received neither food nor rest.
More than 20 prisoners who fainted during the March were
thrown into ravines or about to death by the troops," he
claimed. Ai Non said he and another porter made their escape
when a land mine exploded. (BP)
***************************THAILAND***************************
BKK POST: FOREIGN ARMED TROOPS DEMAND PROTECTION FEE
17 March 1995
A LETTER threating to set of bombs in Mae Sariang township
and demanding one Million baht protection fee has been
received by the district chief of Mae Saring from unmodified
foreign armed troops who were believed to be behind the
killing of a paramilitary ranger and the wounding of a another
on Tuesday night. The latter signed "Thanu Dam" was found at
the site of the ambush and told district chief Sanong Srinual
to prepare cash for payment. The latter threatened to set off
bombs in the township and further suggested Mr. Sanong wait
for contact from the foreign force. (BP)
BKK POST: WIMOL WARNS BORDER RESIDENTS AGAINST 'SEPARITIST'
DRUG GANGS
17 March 1995
ARMY Commander Chief Wimol Wongwanich yesterday warned Thai
residing along border areas to beware of being lured into the
group of drug dealers disguised as separatist guerrillas.
Some drug trafficking gangs have proclaimed that they are
separatist guerrillas in neighbouring countries.
The gangs may be persuade some Thais to join them for military
training so they can fight against the government, Wimol said.
In response to reports that Burmese government camps along the
border in Thailand continue their crackdown on Karen
guerrillas, Wimol said it is beyond the capability of the
army to prevent the Burmese rangers from sneaking ni as the
Thai-Burmese border in very long.
IN Addition, Wimol said, Thai Nationals along the border
belong to the same tribes as neighbouring ethnic people in
Burma. So if Burmese rangers mix with the Thai hilltribe
people, it would be difficult to spot them among the locals.
Wimol added that currently many Thais have recruited a larger
number of Cambodians to be illegal low-paid workers in
Bangkok, a practice he said the would like to see stooped.
(BP)
BKK POST: THAI-BURMESE VENTURE WINS B10b FISHING DEAL
14 March 1995
A twenty-year concession worth more than 10 billion baht to
fish in Burmese waters and build up a hi-tech fisheries
industry was grasnted yesterday to Myanmar ONK Fisheries Joint
Venture Co. It is biggest-ever joint venture granted in Burma.
The firm is a newly-formed Thai and Burmese venture.
The contract was signed by Karin Tongpatchote, president of
ONK Mining and Construction Co of Thailand, and the director
of the Burmese fisheries department, U Kyaw Lwin.
The ceremony was chaired by Brig-Gen maung Maung, Burmese
minister of livestoke breeding and fisheries.
Witnesses at the event were Uthai embassy Silthorn, minister
of the Thai embassy in Rangoon, military attache Col Prachan
karnsutr, and representatives in Rangoon of Siam City Bank,
Asia Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Bangkok Bank, together with
about 50 guests.
The joint venture is for an integrated fishing and related
fisheries industries project, with the investment shared 51:49
by ONK and the Burmese fisheries department.
The authorised capital is 10,751 million baht to implement the
joint venture under the name of Myanmar ONK Fisheries Joint
Venture Co.
Mr Karin said after the ceremony that the profit sharing will
be 49:49. The remainder will be for research and development
work in fisheries breeding grounds, shrimp farm development
and related fishing and fisheries industries for the Burmese
fisheries department and ministry of livestock breeding and
fisheries. In the implementation of the 20-year concession,
the Burmese counterpart will invest about 428 million baht and
ONK 445.47 million baht. 3,350 million will be foreign loans
and 6,750 million baht from the reinvestment of profits.
In related fisheries industries, the joint venture company
will construct 10 factories worth about 250 million baht, two
piers worth about 350 million baht, bring the total investment
to about 11,228 million baht.
Mr Kirin said the processing sites will be at Rangoon and at
Myeik (about 300 miles south of Rangoon), with equal factories
and facilities including four 1,000-metre ton could storages,
six b,ock-freezers of 1,000 kg/hr, four invididual quick
freezers of 1,000 kg/hr, two canning factories of 180,000
cans/day/8 hr, and two fishmeal factories of 150 metric tons
per day.
In fishing operations, the joint venture will have four mother
vessels of 5,000 gross tons each, with facilities for cold
storage and freezing, one 5,000-ton gross ton oil tanker, and
a fishing fleet of about 300 fishing vessles of the 300-ton
class. The work of the joint-venture operation will require
10,000 local workers and 600 foreign experts and technicians.
The company will appoint Maung Maung Nyunt, director of
Burmese planning and statistics department, as chairman, and
there will be three Burmese executives. Mr Karin will be a
director of the company. There will be three Thai executives.
The joint-venture company will enjoy investment privileges
under investment related-laws for three years of tax exemption
on the import of 120,000 tons of diesel oil.
The applications of Myanmar ONK Fisheries JV Co Ltd were for
the promotion and expansion of the exports of marine products,
acquisition of experties in management of fishing vessels, and
processing and canning of marine products.
During the initial stage of the first four years in the
concession, the joint venture is allowed to lease a fleet of
200 Thai fishing vessles of about the 100-ton class.
The company will build its own vessles of the 300-ton class
for 30 vessles on the third year, and 105 each on the fifth
and sixth years of the concession.
Mr Karin said his company will call Thai vessle owners
interested in joining the fishing in Burmese waters to
standardise
procedures.
"This fishery joint-venture is the biggest ever, not only in
Burma but also in Thailand, and I don't want any violation
spoiling the whole thing," he said.
"We Thais have to work within effective laws and relations
required by the Burmese authorities in Burmese waters," he
added. Under the concession right, the joint-venture company
is allowed to net 410,400 tons of maximum marine catch
annually, or 70% of the marine resources avilable for
exploitation on a sustainable basis, while the catch in the
first two years will be shipped to seven or eight Thai
fisheries firms. (BP)
BKK POST: CHIANG RAI PREPARED FOR ATTACK AFTERMATH
14 March 1995
Authorities in Chiang Rai province are on alert for intruders
as Burmese troops appear poised to launch an annual dry-season
offensive against the Khun Sa-led Muong Tai Army (MTA).
At least two Rangoon battlions were reported to have laid
siege on drug warlord Khun Sa's major military base, 15
kilometres from Thai territory, a border source said.
Burmese forces were transported via Thchilek opposite Chaing
Rai's Mae Sai district in about 30 military trucks.
Their weapons, equipment and supplies were carried by about
300 draught hourses, the source said.
They had patrolled Doi Pha Daeng Noi and Doi Pha Daeng Laung
which are traditionally under Khun Sa's influence.
Burmese people were recruited by rangoon troops as porters
carrying food to support patrol units, the source said.
But no clash between Rangoon troops and the MTA has yet been
reported and trading and tourism-related business between Mae
Sai and Tachilek is continuing as usual.
Border Patrol Police, narcotics suppression and intelligence
units have been told to carefully watch for possible illegal
aliens who might be involved with war weapons trafficking and
drug smuggling.
Chiang Rai Governor Kamroon Boonherd said the dry-season
attack occurs annually but varies in intensity.
The clash has before resulted in Burmese refugees fleeing to
Thailand to seek refuge along the border.
The governor vowed to strictly cling to the government's
policy of not letting anyone use Thai soil to attack other
forces and not to interfere with any country's internal
affairs.(BP)
NATION: LETTER--UNHCR ALREADY WINDING DOWN
14 March 1995
Sir: Your newspaper and its crosstown rival The Nation have
recently printed very similar letters to the editor from a
certain Mr Angus MacGillivary (March 8) and not the for the
first time. I will not go so far as to assume that the author
is indulging some personal grudge to discredit a major
institution to stem from a mixture of ignorance, naivety and
"disdain for the big."
The UNHCR has been working in Thailand for the past 20 years,
and has spent millions of doolars assisting hundres of
thousands of people, mainly Indochinese refugees. Lest this be
construed as equating quanity with quality, I think it is fair
to say that many UNHCR staff members, like myself, have done
their jobs with care and conviction, basing their actiions on
the premise that comforting the individual is as important as
provding food, shelter and protection.
Mr MacGillivary gives the impression that only agaencies other
thanUNHCR have people seeking asylum showing up at their door
everyday for advice and assistance. This is not the case. In
fact, we have staff (very small numbers) rendering assistance
in several places in Bangkok. The FISRAPT Office on Soi
Inthamara is assisting some 2,00 non-Indochinese refugees
monthly. At the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Centre, one of
our staff recently spent the entire night helping a jailed
African woman in distress. This is not a closed-door or
closed-eyes attitude. I mention only one instance, but there
are many similar acts of compassion rendered everyday.
In the past two years, UNHCR has more than halved its staff in
Thailand following the successful repatriation of Cambodians
and a similar programme for Laotains and Vietnamese that is
well underway. If UNHCR were to close, the author would
suddenly have 3,00 non-Indochinese on his doorstep in addition
to those he is already caring for.
One wonders if his own good intentions and the capacity to
his social services could cope. One might also ask how
successfully he could negotiate with the Royal Thai Government
concerning appropriate responses to events along the Burmese
borer and how well hecould provide protection for Burmese
students or assure the day-today survival of other
non-Indochinese and non-Burmese whom UNHCR assists. UNHCR also
regularly dispatches missions to monitor the protection of the
Burmese border population.
With less than half the staff that it had two years ago, UNHCR
still assists some 20,000 Indochinese refugees in camps and
some 3,000 refugees outside of camps.
As for the author'd remark that UNHCR's "infrastructure
remains", I find this puzzling for two reasons. One is that we
cannot assist the people he says we should if we have
insufficient staff or offices. Also, if he had taken the
trouble to find out what UNHCR is doing at present, he would
know that we are indeed phasing out in line with the timetable
for camp closures linked to the regional Comprehensive Plan of
Action.
In Bangkok, we cannot very well demand that the size of the
United Nations ESCAP complex shrink just because UNHCR is
phasing out, but we are about to have the space that UNHCR
occupies in the building. Should we shrink UNHCR to nothing?
The author has every right to express his different
perspective and opinion. The UNHCR wishes that more people
expressed concern for and contributed to the refugee
cause.What's hard to accept is the author's pouring so much
energy into scorn when construvtive criticism would do more
good. UNHCR does not pretend to be perfect. Let the author
come forward with open, positive
proposals for consideration. (BP)
BKK POST: ILLEGAL ALIENS SEIZED AT SEA
14 March 1995
Ninety Burmese were arrested in Ranong Province yesterday
morning for illegal entry after a boat stopped and searched by
police. The Burmese were travelling in a boat, Choke kanchana
18, from Burma to ranong when stopped by police.
The boat, which was moving unusually fast, was stopped and
searched when it approached Takhrut Island of Tambon Paknam,
Muang District, at about 3.30 a.m. yesterday, police said.
(BP)
BKK POST: CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS 'FOR SAKE OF
NATIONAL SECURITY'
15 March 1995
The Interior Ministry has ordered the Police Department to
crack down on illegal immigrants to protect national security,
according to a high-level source at the ministry.
Aliens from Burma, China, Indochina and South Asian countries
have for years illegally fled into Thailand.
More than 500,000 illegal immigrants are now in the country,
said the source. Most_more than 300,000 are believed to be
from Burma, followed by those from China and other countries.
The Interior Ministry and National Security Council have
discussed the problem which may cause adverse effects on the
country's security both in the short and long term.
Because of the long common border with Thailand, Burmese
people have fled to Thailand to avoid political turmoil and
economic hardship in their own country.
Since 1988, when the Burmese junta launched a nationwide
crackdown on politicians, people and students who aired
opposition to the military government, including students,
fled to take refuge in Thailand.
It is believed there are now more than 2,500 Burmese students
and 300,000 other people hiding in Thailand, particularly in
factories of private companies in need of cheap labour.
More Burmese immigrants entered Thailand in 1994 when the Thai
Government relaxed regulations against Burmese workers in
Kanchanaburi, Tak, Chiang Rai and Rannong provinces. It is
believed there are more than 200,000 Burmese workers outside
the four provinces. It is also thought there are tens of
thousands of Chinese immigrants. They enter the country
overland and by sea, often in the guise of tourists who
overstay and then seek jobs in Bangkok and nearby provinces
with the help of relatives and Chinese residents.
The Immigration Police, Special Branch, Metropolitan Police,
Central Investigation Bureau and provincial police bureaus are
jointly cracking down on illegal aliens to prevent jobs being
taken away from Thais.
The Interior Ministry and NSC are concerned that illegal
immigrants will not only adversely affect the life and
property of Thais, but also the country's security.
The Police Department is suppressing illegal immigrants in
Bangkok and its vicinity because some factories provide
assistance without considering negative consequences, said the
source.
The Interior Ministry has empowered the Police Department to
take legal action against owners of factories and houses found
to have sheltered illegal workers. (BP)
BKK POST: BPP UNCOVERS ARMS CACHE
15 March 1995
Tak: Border Patrol Police yesterday uncovered a cache of war
weapons and ammunition near the Thai-Burma border in Ban Tak
District.
The cache included two 60mm mortars, 200 rounds of M-93
machinegun ammunition and 1,441 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Flowing a tipoff, Pol Lt-Col Somsak Ninprapa, deputy
superintendent of the 34th BPP Unit, led 15 Border Patrol
policemen to search for the weapons with a mine detector and
found them buried near Ban Ko Lan in Tambon Samo Khon on the
Ban Tak-Mae Ramat road.
The search was based on information that weapons delivered
from the eastern border with Cambodia would be resold to Karen
National Union rebels fighting Rangoon troops, Pol lt-Col
Somsak said. (BP)
BKK POST: BURMA TO FREE FISHERMEN
15 March 1995
A total of 120 Thai fishermen to be released by Burma will
arrive in Bangkok on March 20. They will be flown in on an Air
Force C-130.
Rangoon has agreed to release the fishermen on the occasion of
His Majesty's Golden Jubilee this year following a request
from former foreign minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his
official visit to Rangoon last January. (BP)
BKK POST: BURMESE GUNNERS HIT KHUN SA STRONGHOLD
15 March 1995
Burmese government troops yesterday bombarded the stronghold
of Khun Sa's Muang Tai Army (MTA), forcing about 100 Shan
civilians to seek shelter near the Thai border, according to
Mae Sai district Chief Phakdi Ratanaphol.
He said the artillery and mortar attack on the MTA base, some
15 kilometres from the Thai border, was heard in Mae Sai.
Burmese government troops are believed to be preparing to
launch a dry-season offensive against the MTA as their forces
have reportedly transported supplies in 30 military trucks to
a staging area via Tachilek opposite Mae Sai since March 5.
A border Patrol policemen yesterday told the Bangkok Post
about 700 soldiers had on Saturday entered Doi Pa Daeng Luang
in Pang Ma O area where the MTA base is situated.
An MTA source said about 2,000 of its military personnel were
stationed there. Mr Phakdi said he did not think the situation
was serious and would not affect Thailand. However, he said
shelters have been prepared for people living along the border
to move into if they are forced out of their homes by the
fighting.
He said the Naresuan Task Force, Border Patrol Police and
local police are cooperating to guard the area along the
border which is expected to be affected by fighting.
Mr Phakdi quoted a report as saying that a TV Channel 7
cameraman was detained on Monday by burmese authorities in
Tachilek while filming.
However, he was released after a talk between Mae Sai police,
district officials and Burmese authorities. Meanwhile, Shan
State National Congress President Gan Gade said the decision
by the Burmese government to lay siege to drug warlord Khun
Sa's military base in Pang Ma O was aimed at policing its
tainted international image.
"They (Burmese government) are just truing to tell the world
that they are ready for the (Mekong sub-regional Economic
Cooperation) Golden Quadrangle project," he said, adding that
the Burmese Government has failed to provide confidence to
investors in terms of security and safety. (BP)
BKK POST: ELEPHANTIASIS IS RIFE AMONG BURMESE ALIENS
15 March 1995
Of the Burmese immigrants living in Tak Province, 4-11% are
estimated to be infected with elephantiasis, according to
random blood tests carried out by Mae Sot Hospital's public
health team. Hospital director Kanoknart Phisuthakul, who
heads the team, said that prior to the test, several Burmese
patinas admitted to the hospital were found to be infected,
despite the Public Health Ministry's assurance that there has
been no elephantiasis in the country for over 10 years.
The discovery prompted hospital to report to the Public Health
Ministry before launching a random survey among thousands of
Burmese selling their labour in Mae Sot.
The test revealed that up to 11 per cent of the Burmese from
Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, and four per cent of those
from Pa-an, capital of Karen State, were infected with
elephantiasis.
Dr Kanoknart said the normally the infection rate is not more
than one per cent.
The test has resulted in more officials, including those from
the Elephantiasis Control Centre, public health units, medical
doctors and nurses of the hospital, being mobilised.
Additional blood tests have been carried out on more Burmese
all over Mae Sot since March 3, and so far it has been found
that 3,593 Burmese aged one year and up have become infected.
Dr Kanoknart said she feared that elephantiasis can be spread
very easily by common mosquitoes. (BP)
NATION: THAILAND COOL ON MEDIATOR ROLE IN BURMA-KAREN DISPUTE
17 March 1995
Thailand would consider acting as a mediator to end the
on-going confrontation between the Burmese military junta and
ethnic Karen guerrillas if it was asked to by the "legitimate
government of Burma" instead of the Karen, national Security
Council chief Gen Charan Kullawanicha said yesterday.
As the request, so far, had only come from the Karen national
Union (KNU) Thailand is reluctant to participate, he said.
"There has not been any official proposal for our assistance.
But we would be more willing if the request came from the
legitimate government of Burma," Charan said.
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has given the green light if such
proposal is made, saying Thailand wants to see an end to the
long-running confrontation between Burma's State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) and the KNU.
Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has said a request must
come from both parties if Thailand is to be a mediator.
"Thailand will decide whether to be the middle man or not if a
request comes from the Burmese government," Charan told
reporters, adding that it is up to the Burmese to work out
details for such an arrangement.
Charan declined to say, when asked, whether thailand would
contact the Karen to participate in the talks if a request was
put forward.
His comments came after the attended the weekly meeting of the
NSC, which was chaired by Chuan. In the meeting, those
attending were informed of the current situation along
Thailand's borders with Burma, Cambodia and Laos.
The meeting supported the policy of granting temporary shelter
to refugees escaping the military confrontation until the
situation returns to normal. "But on condition that Thailand
is not used as a base for insurgent activities against the
Burmese government," Charan added.
Burma's Democratic Kayins Buddhist Organization, Buddhist
guerrillas who broke away from their alliance with the mainly
Christain KNU, have been blamed for illegally entering Thai
refugee camps to kidnap Karen leaders. The abductions drove
the Thai government to protest twice to the Burmese
government. Asked whether the protests were sufficient to end
the incursions, Charan said the government had done what it
could and that retaliation against the intruders had already
taken place, but he did not elaborate.
Regarding Burmese students taking refuge in Thailand, Charan
warned that they were illegal immigrants and therefore they
and their supporters could face legal action.
"In the meeting, the Interior Ministry was asked how Burmese
students could freely live in the country. Therefore, it was
agreed that the ministry would take concrete action against
the students," Charan said, again without elaborating.
In a separate interview, Surin, who attended the same meeting,
said that the Interior ministry would set up a centre to
monitor and oversee the Burmese taking shelter in Thailand's
border province of Tak.
"Thai authorities will step up preventive measures to ensure
the safety of the Burmese based there, as well as local
Thais," Surin told reporters, adding that the Burmese in the
camps did not have refugee status.
"The Burmese government has also got upset with the Thai
military, who fired warning shots into Burma when stray shells
landed on Thai soil, and these shells sometimes injured
Burmese soldiers," Charan said. Surin said there would
stricter measures to ensure safety in the border camps,
including definding the exact areas that the Burmese can
travel within.
Referring to the possibility of Thailand becoming a mediator
in the confrontation, Surin said that both sides had different
ideals on peace talks. One side is willing to talk anywhere
and without conditions, he said, while the other will only
talk in areas controlled by them. (TN)
******************INTERNATIONAL*****************************
THE NATION: U.S. DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN BURMA
16 March 1995
Washington-The Clinton administration is "deeply disappointed"
with Burma's lack of progress on human rights, democracy and
nacrotics matters, but it is willing to give Burma a little
longer to improve before downgrading bilateral relations any
further, according to Assistant Secretary of State Winston
Lord.
During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Foreign
Operations Subcommittee on Tuesday, Lord got into an extended
exchange on Burma's progress with Subcommittee Chair Mitch
McConnell (Republican of Kentucky). Lord referred to a visit
to Burma by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Hubbard
last November that laid out the conditions Burma had to meet
for improved bilateral relations with the United States, in
effect telling the Burmese government that if it improved in
human rights, democracy and counter-narcrotics efforts, the
United States would engage it further and modestly improve
the relationship. Hubbard also warned Burma's rulers that, if
there was no improvement, there was a real chance that the
relationship would deteriorate even further.
"I don't think we've completely played out the string of the
Hubbard mission," Lord said. "We're very disappointed, as I
said. Certainly the record has been discouraging enough so
that we're not prepared to move toward the more hopeful path
that we laid out for them if they were forthcoming on human
rights, demcracy and nacrotics. But before moving to much
tighter policies, which would be hard to get international
support for, I think we ought to see - wait a little
bit longer and see whether perhaps the Burmese will come
around."
Lord candidly admitted that he was not optimistic about the
chances for such improvements. "We're going to keep up the
pressure, as we have, but right now there's been no government
decision to give up on this dual vision and to go even further
in terms of isolation," he said. "But we are very unhappy. The
Burmese are missing a chance to improve relations, and the
government will keeep this under review."
Last November, Lord said, there were modest signs that maybe
the situation in Burma might improve. "But meanwhile," he
said, "there have been no further talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.
They've extended her illegal detention for another six
months." Furthermore, he said, Burma has not worked out the
promised deal with the Red Cross to inspect
prisons. 'And of course, dramatically, they waged this attack
against the Karen National Union forces and drove refugees
into Thailand. So it's been a very discouraging trend, to say
the least," Lord said. Currently, Lord said, the United States
neither encourages nor discourages investment in Burma.
(TN)
NATION: BURMESE EXILES SEE RELEASE OF PRISONERS AS SLORC
PUBLICITY PLOY
17 March 1995
The Burmese government's sudden release of two top political
prisoners is a gesture designed to counter bad publicity from
its military crackdown on ethnic minorities, Burmese exiles
said on Thursday.
State-run television showed leading dissidents U Tin Oo and U
Kyi Maung walking out Insein Prison in Rangoon into the arms
of waiting relatives on Wednesday, but their release
highlighted the continuing house arrest of Nobel Peace
Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
"If they are sincere, they should release Aung San Suu Kyi and
all the other political prisoners as well. In our view this is
just propaganda to improve their tarnished image abroad," a
spokesman for the National Coalition Government of Burma said.
Tin Oo and Kyi Maung were among 31 political prisoners
released on Wednesday. The 29 others were set free from three
prisons in Mandalay, Toungoo and Tharawaddy.
Australia, the European Union and the United States have
criticized Burma this year for fighting, rather than seeking
reconciliation with, the Karen National Union (KNU), one of
the rebel armies still struggling for autonomy from Rangoon.
A Rangoon-based diplomat told Reuters: "It does not mean a
great deal for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, but the
stalled dialogue with her may now be resumed."
Suu Kyi said in a statement released by her husband in Bangkok
in January that she wanted to consult colleagues before
continuing any political dialogue with Burma's governing
generals.
The government in exile said the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) was caught in a dilemma over Suu
Kyi, who is the daughter of Burmese independence hero General
Aung San.
"The world community is pressing them to release her, but they
know that once set free, she cannot be controlled, she is the
symbol of Burma democracy," a spokesman told Reuters.
Senior members of the Slorc met Suu Kyi in two
highly-publicized meetings in September and October. After
initially hailing the talks as a breakthrough, diplomats
believe the dialogue has stalled since then, possibly over Suu
Kyi's political demands, including her refusal to leave the
country.
Tin Oo and Kyi Maung were the most prominent opposition
figures liberated since the house arrest of former prime
minister U Nu was lifted in April 1992.
Former defence minister Tin Oo, 68, co-founded the opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) with Suu Kyi in 1988 and
became its first chairman.
He and Suu Kyi were arrested and detained in July, 1989, for
allegedly causing national discord, and Tin Oo received a
three-year jail sentence, which was later extended.
Kyi Maung, 76, a former colonel, led the NLD to overwhelming
victory in a May 1990, election in which he was voted into
parliament from a Rangoon constituency. He was imprisoned in
September that year for alleged offences against state
security. (BP&TN)
****************************MISC*****************************
SCB: ANY MON PEOPLE?
pnuon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
soc.culture.burma 9:24 AM Mar 15, 1995
(at titan.oit.umass.edu) (From News system)
Is there any MON people in there?
I am very interested in wanting to know my fellow Mon-Khmer
people
*****************VISIT MYANMAR YEAR 1996***************
NATION: VISITING BURMA
15 March 1995
Two of my friends and myself had a very pleasant, enjoyable
(on the whole) and interesting stay at Rangoon and Pagan
during our recent visit to Burma in the early part of
February. I am particularly glad Burma is now beginning to
venture into tourism. Burma has the opportunity now to learn
from its neighbours' mistakes in tourism and create
potentially, a very well managed business.
During our two week's stay, we note that the whole "Visit
Myanmar Year" episode could be spoilt for some tourists by
sharp practices by some greedy and unscrupulous restauranteers
we came across during our visit. Unfortunately, they were
either recommended to us or we were taken to them; nearly the
Panda in Rangoon and the Ayar in Pagan (opposite the Shwedegon
Pagoda). In both establishments, they have no prices on the
menus. We were unable to find our the prices from any of the
waiters or the managements staff. The size of each portion of
dishes were also not indicated. We ordered one dish each and
we got three huge dishes; each enough to feed at least four.
At the Panda we discovered also the staff had taken the
liberty to open bottles of drinks without any references to
us.
Luckily, we had just enough to cover the bill. We left from
each place disgusted and feel cheated. However, for anyone
intending to visit Burma, we can recommend the Royal Garden on
the Kandawgyi for a good night out; and the Inya Lake Hotel,
and of course, the Strand for a pleasant atmosphere. These
places have menus with prices and very good services. (TN)
***************************BUSINESS**************************
BKK POST: KODAK PLANS TO LEAD IMAGING BUSINESS IN INDOCHINA IN
2 YEARS
15 March 1995
Kodak plans to lead the imaging business in Indochina within
two years, according to Narong Chivangkur, managing director
of Kodak's East Asia office.
Mr. Narong said Kodak will use the strategic framework, a
development plan the company has used successfully in Thailand
for the past two years, to strengthen its networks in Burma,
Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Kodak presently controls the
market share in Thailand and Laos.
The strategic framework consists of five development plan,
Management Effectiveness, presents a plan to develop an
effective management system.
The second, Winning Team, provides a plan to strengthen the
sales team. For example, one section of Winning Team-the 3-1
program-explains the contact system between the company and
its clients. Kodak's staff are trained to respond to a
client's request for information on their first call.
Goods must be delivered to clients within one day of their
request.for information on their first call. Goods must be
delivered to clients within one day of their request.
The third, Product Leadership, focuses on developing new
products to stimulate the market.
World Class Operation concentrates on training and upgrading
the company's personnel. This year every staff member must
attend 20 hours of training. Next year training time will be
raised may be rotated to gain new experience.
Marketing Excellence describes Kodak's advertising and
promotion development plan. Kodak produces regional TV
commercials, reducing its production costs. The company will
soon launch four new commercials for the Asia-Pacific region.
"Kodak allocates more than ten million baht to production, but
those commercials will be aired in many countries. This
strategy saves a lot of money on production costs for higher
frequency transmission," said Mr Narong.
"If our 15-second commercials can talk to the consumer equally
as well as our competitors' 30-second commercials, Kodak will
be able to talk to the consumer twice for one-tenth the
production cost." Mr Narong said Kodak has a 50% market share
in Vietnam and owns 120 of a total of 280 mini-labs in the
country. Kodak will own 180 labs by the end of this year.
In the Burmese market, which is doubling every year, Kodak
holds a 30% market share with seven of Burma's 30 labs.
Kodak controls 70% of the Laos market, growing by 15%
annually, with 14 of the country's 25 labs. The company has a
30% share of the Cambodian market with four labs.
"Kodak has more or less the same share as Konica in Cambodia.
But Kodak has less market share than Konica in Burma and
Vietnam. However, we will be the leader in Vietnam in 1996 and
Burma in 1997," said Mr Narong.
This year the company will open its new branch office in Burma
and quality control center in Laos. Moreover, Kodak will
introduce the new concept of open merchandising to its labs in
Indochina. Open merchandising concentrates on making photo
shops more convenient and modern. Kodak's competitors, Fuji,
Konica, and Agfa were not available to comment on their market
share or plans to develop their
businesses in Indochina.
However, an earlier disclosure by Konica indicated it has a
20% share of the Laotian market, 40% in Burma, 40% in
Cambodia, and 43% in Vietnam. Fuji and Agfa have tiny shares
in those markets. (BP&TN)
BKK POST: SIAM SYNTECH IS BUILDING B1.6b HOTEL IN RANGOON
Siam Syntech Co, one of Thailand's leading construction firms,
has received a new contract worth 1.6 billion baht to build a
22-storey hotel in Rangoon, Burma, Somsak Leeswadtrakul,
chairman and chief executive officer of the company said
yesterday. Under the contract, Siam Syntech will be
responsible for all structural and architectural planning,
mechanical and electrical engineering work and installation of
the hotel's lifts. Mr Somsak said piling work on the project
began in August. The 500-room hotel is scheduled to
be completed by the end of 1996 and will add to the Traders
Hotel chain of Kuok Group.
Siam Syntech is a member of the SSP Group, a leading business
and industrial conglomerate. The company was awarded a
contract worth 200 million baht by the same Burmese company,
Traders Yangon Co, last year when the developer built the
Traders Hotel in Rangoon. Mr Somsak said Siam Syntech has also
submitted tenders for two other international hotel
projects, one in Rangoon and the other in Mandalay. "We are
confident that we will secure at least one of these two
projects," he said. The company has just obtained an
investment licence in Vietnam to build two 23-storey
apartments in Ho Chi Minh City. The project is a joint venture
between SSP Group holds a 23.5% share in the US$25 million,
forthe project which should be finished in two and a half
years. Siam Syntech broke in to the construction business in
Malaysia in 1992 when it secured two major projects, the Star
Hill Centre Hotel and the Best World Plaza, worth a total of
four billion baht.
Through its Malaysian company, Invescor Ventures, it secured a
third contract last year, the first phase of the massive
residential apartment project - the Sentul raya - worth more
than four billion baht.
In the past three months, Invescor Ventures has secured seven
more construction projects worth more than 3 billion baht. The
company is also in final negotiations with developers of four
major projects, worth over 12 billion baht, Mr Somsak said.
In Thailand, Siam Syntech has business worth more than 17
billion baht.
Local projects include the 884 million baht Rattanakosin Waste
Water Treatment project and the 6.4 billion baht Bangkok City
Waste Water Treatment Project which Siam Syntech manages in a
joint venture with Northwest Water of England.
Mr Somsak added that his group recently submitted a proposal
to the Office of the Commission for the Management of Road and
Traffic to build the first phase in the multi-billion baht
underground train project which will link the eastern and
western parts of Bangkok. Under the proposal, SSP Group will
join GEC Alsthom of France, Mcc (a state enterprise of China),
Mitsui of Japan, Shanghai-Bangkok Tunnel Engineering Co., and
Pornpat Co. (BP)
**************************************************************
NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET:
ABSDF: ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT
AMNESTY: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS
AFP: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
AW: ASIAWEEK
Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt. EQUALS US$1 (APPROX),
BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION
BF: BURMA FORUM
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
GOA: GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA
IRRAWADDY: NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY BURMA INFORMATION GROUP
KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
KNU: KAREN NATIONAL UNION
Kt. BURMESE KYAT; UP TO 150 KYAT-US$1 BLACK MARKET
106 KYAT US$1-SEMI-OFFICIAL
6 KYAT-US$1 OFFICIAL
MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN
MNA: MYANMAR NEWS AGENCY (SLORC)
THE NATION: A DAILY NEWSPAPER IN BANGKOK
NCGUB: NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA
NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER,RANGOON)
NMSP: NEW MON STATE PARTY
RTA:REC.TRAVEL.ASIA NEWSGROUP
RTG: ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT
SCB:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP
SCT:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP
SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST
SLORC: STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL
TAWSJ: THE ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL
UPI: UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
**************************************************************