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BurmaNet News: Covering 18-21 March
- Subject: BurmaNet News: Covering 18-21 March
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 04:31:00
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Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 04:31:27 -0800
Subject: BurmaNet News: Covering 18-21 March, 1995
*************************************************************
The BurmaNet News:21 March 1995
Issue #127 [Covering 18-21 March, 1995]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTED IN PASSING:
The political history of Burma during the past 50
years is that of a continual battle between Burmese
students(the forces of modernisation) and the Burma
Army. The army always won these battles by shooting
the students. But in the process it killed Burma's
future. This is the tragedy of Burma.
Myint Thein, <See BKK POST: BURMA'S
WELL-EDUCATED ARE LEAVING>
Contents:
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
BKK POST: BURMESE OPPOSITION WELCOMES RELEASE OF DETAINEES
BKK POST: BURMA'S WELL-EDUCATED ARE LEAVING
BKK POST: CENSORSHIP REMAINS IN BURMA, SAYS NGO REPORT
********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************
THE NATION: SET BACKS FORCE BO MYA OUT AS KNU COMMANDER IN
CHIEF
BKK POST: KAREN LEADER GIVES UP HIS MILITARY POSITION
BKK POST: KAREN VILLAGERS SEEK MOVE TO HIGHER LAND
BKK POST: BURMA SUGGESTS SALWEEN PROJECT
**************************SHAN STATE**************************
BKK POST:KHUN SA UNIT DESTROYS BRIDGE IN BURMA RAID
NATION: RANGOON SENDS MORE TROOPS AGAINST KHUN SA
BKK POST: WHEN NECESSARY EVILS TRAMPLE ON THE POOR
BKK POST: SHELTER ON HAND FOR REFUGEES
BKK POST: RANGOON REINFORCES TROOPS AGAINST MTA
NATION: SHAN REBELS IN SUPRISE RAID ON THAI-BURMESE BORDER
TOWN
BKK POST: KHUN SA FORCES LAUNCH PRE-DAWN RAID ON TOWN
BKK POST: DEFENDANTS DENY CHARGES OF HEROIN SMUGGLING
************************THAILAND******************************
NATION: THAI MILITARY NEEDS CLEAR POLICIES ON FRONTIERS
BKK POST: EMBASSY: BURMA TO FREE THAI FISHERMEN
BKK POST: BURMESE OFFENSIVE HURTS THAI EXPORTS
BKK POST: WIMOL--NO ROLE IN BURMA
****************************REGION****************************
BKK POST: JAPAN GRANTS AGRICULTURAL AID TO BURMA, SAYS NOT
BACKING MILITARY
*************************INTERNATIONAL************************
BKK POST: EU CONCERNED OVER BURMESE ATTACK ON KAREN GUERRILLA
BASE
**************************************************************
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**************************************************************
*************THE BURMANET NEWS--MARCH 21, 1995***************
**************************************************************
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
BKK POST: BURMESE OPPOSITION WELCOMES RELEASE OF DETAINEES
18 March 1995
Burma's main opposition alliance yesterday welcomed the
release of 31 political prisoners and said it was hopeful the
gesture could lead to a loosening of the military junta's grip
on the country.
The national coalition government of the Union of Burma also
renewed its call for the immediate release of Burma's
best-known dissident, nobel prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
On Wednesday the ruling State Law and Order Restoration
Council (Slorc) released.
Government-run Burmese media said the prisoners were released
as a gesture to mark the golden jubilee of the Burmese armed
forces. In a statement distributed to news agencies yesterday,
the opposition coalition, which includes the National League
for Democracy, said it "welcomes this positive gesture and
hopes that this is the harbinger of what is to come in the
process towards national reconciliation and democratisation of
the nation." (BP)
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
BKK POST: BURMA'S WELL-EDUCATED ARE LEAVING
19 March 1995
Singapore and Rangoon were regarded as the most modern cities
in Southeast Asia before World War Two. The world famous
Raffles Hotel and Rangoon's Strand Hotel were built by the
same architect at the beginning of the 20th century.
At the end of this century, Singapore has the best standard of
living in Asia and its per capita income equals that of
Britain. Burma, on the other hand, is now one of the poorest
countries in Southeast Asia and is often compared with Third
World countries in Africa.
Singapore and Burma both inherited the Britich educational
system. Instruction was in English and, until the early 1960s,
the quality of education at the University of Rangoon was
comparable to that of the National University of Singapore.
Burma's decline began when generals seized power in 1962. The
generals' ill-defined Burmese socialism destroyed Burmese
education. Instruction in English was banned and the generals'
arrogant methods of governing forced Burma's best and
brightest to leave the country.
The political history of Burma during the past 50 years is
that of a continual battle between Burmese students (the
forces of modernisation) and the Burma Army. The army always
won these battles by shooting the students. But in the process
it killed Burma's future. This is the tragedy of Burma.
A few yeears ago I met a highschool classmate. He had been
chairman of a department at Rangoon's major hospital. I asked
him why a successful doctor with no interest in politics would
leave the country and seek employment overseas. His answer
stunned me. He said his son was 10 years old and Slorc had
sent soldiers with machineguns to the school since the boys
were shouting anti-regime slogans.
He could not sleep because of this situation and had to leave
the country to enable his son to get a proper education.
A generation of young Burmese is growing up hating the army.
They have seen their older brothers and sisters killed by the
army simply because they wanted their country to have freedom
and democracy. This new generation, too, will clash with the
army. The army is in constant denial of its role in destroying
Burma during the past 30 years.Burma has no future until it is
led by educated professioals.
I n Taiwan, President Lee Teng Hui and 12 members of his
cabinet hold PhDs from US universities (Business Week, March
6).
In Burma, Lt-Gen Myo Nyunt, chairman of the National
Convention, has a fourth standard education. For those not
familiar with the Burmese educational system, Gen Myo Nyunt
attended kindergarten and did not attend middle or high
school.
Last year Slorc sent a delegation on a public relations
mission. It held many meetings in Europe, America and
Australia. But the people it wanted to meet refused to turn
up.
One of them is an outstanding economist. Twenty years ago,
when I attended meetings on the West Coast, many Stanford
Business School graduates would say, "If you are Burmese, you
must be smart". They would talk about their favourite from
Burma. This professor served as an economics President Nixon
in the 1970s and served on the very prestigiouos three-member
Council of Economic Advisers. He was the first Asian to serve
at cabinet-level. Another outstanding Burmese who refused to
meet the Slorc delegation is the chairman of the economics
department at an Ivy League university. In the 1970s he was
kicked out of Burma by the generals because he was not
"pure-Burmese".
The army's intolerant policies have forced Burma's best
teachers to leave the country. Its best doctors are also
leaving. In 1988, doctors at the Rangoon General Hospital saw
thousands of Burmese murdered in the streets.
What made them hate the army was soldiers shooting six nurses
inside the hospital compound for helping the wounded. Almost
all the heads of department at the hospital have since left
the country.
In addition to Britain and the United States, Jamaica is a
popular destination of Burmese doctors. One hospital in Hong
Kong is staffed almost entirely by Burmese doctors. In
Malaysia there are 500 doctors from Burma.
In Burma, only 30 new doctors applied for 300 openinga as
assistant surgeons this year. Slorc, to counter this crisis,
now requires all new doctors to work three years before they
can apply for a passport.
Slorc is incapable of rebuilding Burmese education. Almost all
the foreign-trained professors have left the country. To
counter student protests, Slorc closed all colleges and
universities for four years.
But it is building luxury hotels for foreign tourists. It has
spent $20 a month, but in Singapore their counterparts can
earn as much as $100,000 a year. Hyperinflation caused by
enormous budget deficits to finance the army has forced
teachers to join the ranks of the poor. (BP)
Myint Thein is an economist based in Dallas Texas.
BKK POST: CENSORSHIP REMAINS IN BURMA, SAYS NGO REPORT
21 March 1995
Situation of censorship and freedom of expression have not yet
inproved in Baurma as the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council still tighly controls the mass media, a
report by a non-government organisation says. "The Slorc's
maintenance of strict controls of freedom of expression, and
the associated rights to freedom of association and assembly,
suggests that the Burmese military is not yet prepared to
loosen its grip on the political life on the country and hand
over power to democratically-elected civilian leaders," said
the report of London-based Article 19. The report "Censorship
Prevails: Political Deadlock and Economic Transition in Burma"
examines censorship laws and record of repression committeed
by the Burmese government.
The restriction by Rangoon, described as "one of the most
heavily censored states in the world," violated the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights which ensure everybody the right
to freedom of opinion, its press release said. Article 19's
report criticised the military regime for using the
government-owned mass media as a mouthpipes for propaganda,
adding that Burmese journalists and writers were used to
exercising self-censorship to be safe from financial loss and
imprisonment. The press Scrutiny Board is still powerful
enough to enforce censorship because all publications have to
be sent to the board under the Printers and Publishers
Registration Law of 1962, the report said. (BP)
******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*******************
NATION: SET BACKS FORCE BO MYA OUT AS KNU COMMANDER IN CHIEF
20 March 1995
GENERAL Bo Mya, leader of the only ethnic resistance group to
the Burmese military government still active, has stepped down
as commander in chief of the KAren NAtional Union.
His decision follows political and military setbacks,
including the recent loss of the KNU's HQ at Manerplaw to
BUrmese government troops.
A KNU spokesman said 69-year-old Bo Mya will continued to hold
the largely ceremonial position of KNU congress, when a major
reshuffle is expected.
The change was made late on thursday at an emergency meeting
called to discuss strategy and a possible changes within the
organization. The meeting was held at Kanehlay, which is
opposite Tak's Phop Phra district.
"General Bo Mya has stopped down from the position but he will
still carry on the position of president," said Arthur Shwe,
who was appointed KNU minister of Foreign affair at the
meeting. General Tamala Baw, who was previously the KNU vice
president, will replace Bo Mya for now, shwe said. Bo Mya is
one of the longest serving rebel leaders in the world, as the
became the KNU commander in chief and president more than 21
years ago.
The KNU was formed in 1949 to fight for Karen autonomy from
the Burmese central government, right after Burma gained
independence from Bratain in 1948.
"General Tamala is acting commander in chief but all these
positions are temporary. The real changes are to be discussed
during the party congress to be held soon," SHWE SAID.
Thai military sources confirmed BO Mya's resignation.
Intelligence and Karen rebel sources said the forthcoming
reshuffle was expected to elevate Shwe Hser, a more pragmatic
Karen leader, to the position of commander and replace other
ageing current leaders with younger people.
Other appointments made at Thursday's meeting included David
Thor as secretary-general for foreign affair and Karen as
finance minister.
A former Buddhist abbot of Kawmoora temple, Maung Satil, was
made governor of Pa-an area, replacing Padoma, who is beleived
to have been abducted by the DKBO.
Maung Satila will be responsible for bringing back the members
of the Buddhist DKBO, a breakaway group which recently took
sides with the Burmese government. The project is being given
priority by the KNU.
A Thai sources said the Thursday meeting ended abruptly
following reports that thousands of Burmese government troops
were advancing on the Karens makeshift temporary hq in
southeast Burma.
The KNU suffered a major setback in December after a Buddhist
faction staged a munity against the Christian-dominated group
breaking away and eventually defecting to join the Burmese
government side the DKBO.(TN)
BKK POST: KAREN LEADER GIVES UP HIS MILITARY POSITION
20 March 1995
The commander-in-chief of one of the world's oldest rebel
groups, the Karen National Union (KNU), has stepped down
following setbacks for the ethnic minority, including the loss
of their headquarters to Burma's army.
KNU rebels and Thai sources said general Bo Mya will continue
to hold the largely ceremonial position of KNU president until
the next party congress, when a major reshuffle is expected.
The change was made late on Saturday at an emergency meeting
ended abruptly on reports that thousands of Burmese government
troops were advancing on the Karen's makeshift temporary
headquarters in southwest Burma.
"General Bo Mya has stepped down from the position but he will
still carry on the position of president," Arthur Shwe,
appointed KNU minister of foreign affairs at themeeting, told
Reuters. Bo Mya, 67, has acted as commander-in-chief of the
8,000-strong guerrilla force and president of the KNU for more
than 21 years. The KNU was formed in 1949 to fight for
autonomy from rangoon's central government, right after the
Burmese gained independence from Britain in 1948.
The rebels suffered a major setback last December after a
Buddhist faction staged a munity against the Christian
dominated group, breaking away and eventually defecting to
join the Burmese government side.
The split was key factor in the collapse of the KNU's
headquarters at Manerplaw in late January, followed by the
capture of the rebel's last major stronghold of Kawmoora.
General Tamala Baw, previously KNU vice president, will
replace Bo Mya for now, Shwe said.
"General Tamala is acting commander-in-chief but all these
positions are temporary. The real changes are to be discussed
during the party congress to be held soon," Shwe said. Thai
intelligence and Karen rebel sources said the reshuffle was
expected to elevate Shwe Hser, a more pragmatic Karen leader
one year older than Bo Mya, to the position of commander and
replace other aging current leaders with young blood.
Saturday's emergency meeting, the KNU's first major gathering
since the setback, was held at the makeshift camp of Kanaelay
in western Burma near the Thai border to discuss changing top
positions and laying out a new strategy.
But the meeting was forced to close on reports that more than
1,500 Burmese troops were advancing towards the hideout.(BP)
BKK POST: KAREN VILLAGERS SEEK MOVE TO HIGHER LAND
20 March 1995
KAREN villagers behind Mae Wang Dam at Huay Ong Kot say they
risk flooding unless they are given new land on which to
resettle. They asked the local forestry office to find newland
for them six months ago but they have not received a reply.
New land must be part of any compensation package.
Pha Kue village representative Hang. Phomuengsue said
yesterday the community would be inundated during the next
raining season if it was not moved by the end of May.
The village is in Nong Prue sub-district of Borploy district
in Kanchanaburi province.
The Royal Irrigation Department Built the dam to provide water
for the Huay Ong Kot agricultural project.
The department offered to resettle the villagers as part of
the projected but they refuse to move, citing loss of cultural
identity.
Although the villagers have occupied their present site for 97
years they did not have ownership rights to the land.
Because of this, they sought new land in degraded forest
through the Forestry Department.
Local officials, Royal Deveploment Project Board officials and
villagers assisted by representatives of the union for Civil
Liberty met last week in an effort to resolve all problem. Sub
district foresty official Niran Promtan said the BAn POng
regional officaer sent him a letter on MArch 3 telling the
village to provide document.(BP)
BKK POST: BURMA SUGGESTS SALWEEN PROJECT
19 March 1995
Burma has proposed to Thailand that it conduct a feasibility
study for a hydropower plant on the Salween River in Karen
state, sources said yesterday. However, Thailand has so far
remained silent on the proposed plan which Burmese Energy
Minister Khin Maung Thein submitted to the Thai Ambassador to
Burma, Poksak Nilubol, for consideration in late January.
The Rangoon government made the move following former foreign
minister Thaksin Shinawatra's call for Burma to speed up its
consideration of Thailand's Memorandum of Understanding on the
river's joint development during his visit to the country's
capital on January 19-21.
Under the proposal, the Burmese energy minister has picked a
site for the feasibility study in Hutgyi town near Pa-an, the
Karen state capital, 150 kilometres from Tak's Mae Sot
District, a source said.
The Burmese government selected the location because it is
under the control of its armed forces, which should prevent
the site from being attacked by minority groups, the source
said.
It is the first time Burma hs agreed to seriously study the
possibility of building a hydropower plant on the river to
fully exploit the country's enormous potential to generate
electricity, another source noted.
However, the Thai government agencies involved have not yet
reached a conclusion on the proposed study, the source said.
Thailand will sound out the stance of all related agencies
before arriving at a decision, a senior Foreign Ministr5y
source said. Thailand held an informalmeeting to consider the
Burmese Energy ministry's proposal for the first time in
mid-February with representatives from the Foreign Ministry,
Department of Energy Affairs, Department of Irrigation and the
Energy Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) taking part.
The Foreign Ministry source expressed concern over the
ownership rights because if built in the proposed location,
the dam would belong to Burma.
But if built along the Thai-Burmese border, the rights would
be shared by both countries, the source said.
"The question of ownership will determine who should be
responsible for the [feasibility] study, costing$4-5 million
plus an additional $10 million for the engineering design,"
the souce noted.
"If the dam is built in Burma, the Rangoon government should
pay for it," the source noted. An Irrigation Department
official expressed doubt over the project, saying one
difficulty would be the engineering design because it involves
building tunnels some 100-kilometres long to divert irrigation
channels into Thailand. If the dam is built, Egat would
possibly bynelectricity derived from it, a source present at
the February meeting quoted an Egat official as saying.
Thailand submitted a draft of the Memorandum of Understanding
on the joint development plan and the feasibility study of the
Salween river to Burma in 1993.(SP)
**************************SHAN STATE**************************
KHUN SA UNIT DESTROYS BRIDGE IN BURMA RAID
BY SUBIN KHERNKAEW
CHAING RAI
DRUG warlord Khun Sa's soldiers yesterday blew up a steel
bridge about eight kilometres from Tachilek twonship,
virtually cutting off land communication between the Burmese
border trading post and the hinterland.
Heavy fighting continued yesterday between Burmese government
forces and Khun Sa's Muang Tai Army in Ban Pang Ma O and Ban
Pang Kaw, about 30 kilometres to the south of Tachilek,
opposite Mae Fa Luang Subdistrict.
The powerful bridge explosion, which took place at 3.35p.m.,
completely destroyed the steel bridge across the Ruak River.
It came two days after the MTA threatened to sabotage the
border twonship. A Thai tradeer who witnessed the incident
said he saw ten Burmese troops who were patrolling near the
bridge run for cover together with Burmese civilians.
No injuries or causalities were reported. A high-ranking MTA
officer said Shan State National Congress chairman Zhao gan
Sede announced earlier that the MTA would sabotage Tachilek
for self-defence. The bridge bombing was inmtended top disrupt
the movement of Burmese reinforcements to the border, said the
officer who added the MTA would try to avoid causing injury to
civilians. Destruction of the bridge has stranded hundreds of
Thai and foreign tourists in Kengtung, a popular Burmese
tourist attraction, according to tour operators. They said
planned trips to Kengttung and beyond had been
cancelled temporarily until the situation inside Burma
improved.
Several THai traders appear to be angry because goods sold to
their Burmese counterparts were held up in Tachilek and could
not be transported to Kengtung, effectively postponing
trading. Thai officials said it would take several days before
the Burmese could repair the bridge and reopen communications
with Kengtung.
They anticipated it might be possible that a Thai contractor
be hired by Burmese autthorities to undertake repairs.
Informed MTA sources said more than one team of sappers were
in Tachilek to carry out sabotage attacks.
MTA and Thai provincial sources claimed about 100 Burmese
troops were killed after becoming trapped under heavy gunfire
by Khun Sa's men in a valley of Ban Pang Ma O and Ban Pang
Kaw. (BP)
NATION: RANGOON SENDS MORE TROOPS AGAINST KHUN SA
19 March 1995
In Shan State, Burma_Burmese government reinforcements were
moving into the mountains of northeastern Shan State yesterday
to try and reach comrades locked in battle with guerrillas
loyal to Burma's opium warlord Khun Sa.
Guerrilla officers said 14 government army trucks packed with
soldiers and heavy weapons were advancing towards their
mountain stronghold in the eastern part of the state where 600
government soldiers have been pinned down by the ethnic
minority rebels since Wednesday.
"We were hoping they would just withdraw but it dosen't look
like that will happen now. We're going to have to fight them,"
a regional commander in Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army (MTA) told
Reuters. The officer, who asked not to be identified, said his
men were ambushing government troops as they moved into the
mountains from the town of Tachilek on the border with
Thailand.
Artillery explosions bomed across the mountains from the
battle as he spoke at an MTA outpost near the border. The MTA
blew up a bridge on a main supply road linking Tachilek to the
battle on Friday and detonated a large bomb killing several
government troops at another location on the road on Thursday,
the officer said.
Burmese forces began their push against the MTA-held area, 25
kilometres west of Tachilek, on Tuesday.
Heavy fighting erupted early on Wednesday and continued
throughout the day as the guerrillas attacked the advancing
government troops and managed to cut them off in a valley
overlooked by mountain-top rebel strongholds, rebel officer
said. Intermittent clashes have continued since then with the
rebels and government troops dug in just 50 metres from wach
other in some places.
"This area is very close to Tachilek and Tachilek is important
for the Slorc economy," said another guerrilla officer, Chit
Shwe, referring to Burma's ruling military body, the State Law
and Order Restoration Council.
Tachilek lies at the centre of a planned economic development
zone known as the growth quadrangle linking booming Thailand
and southern China with resource-rich Burma and Laos.
Khun Sa says he is a Shan nationalisty fighting for the
independence of Shan state. He says he only taxes opium
traders moving through his zone of control in the Golden
Triangle opium growing region.
Shan political sources say the despite his reputation as an
opium warlord and a heroin trafficker Shan nationalists have
rallied to Khun Sa as he is the only person in Shan state
commanding a viable force opposing Slorc.
MTA officers said Burmese forces were preparing a coordinated
offensive against Khun Sa's whole zone of control in southern
Shan state including his headquarters at Ho Mong, 180
kilometres to the west of the current battle.
Burmese troops dispatched by rangoon to crush opium warlord
Khun Sa's Muang Tai Army (MTA) have been under siege in the
border town of Tachilek, another report from Thai military-run
television said on Friday.
Channel 7 quoted Chit Swe, a senior MTA official, as saying
the MTA has encircled the Burmese ground troops between Ban
Pang Ko and Ban Krung Sa, some 10 kilometres from Thailand's
Mae Fa Luang district.
The trapped Burmese troops defended themselves by digging
trenches and setting up traps, forcing the MTA to delay their
strike, the television said.
Chit Swe reportedly said Rangoon had earlier sent in a unit
from Tachilek to rescue their besieged comrades but the relief
force stumbled on an MTA unit at Ban Pangma-O Nua and Ban Huay
Hae, 12 kilometres away.
About 20 Burmese soldiers were killed in the fighting, three
were taken prisoners. Four Burmese porters were also captured
and a large number of arms seized, he reportedly said.
Khun Sa is the self-proclaimed leader of the Shan people and
has demanded autonomy for the region from rangoon. His MTA
controls much of Shan State, which US anti-drug authorities
say is the main opium producer in the world.
A government media report from Rangoon on Saturday said that
Burma has arrested five members of Khun Sa's MTA on charges of
extortion.
Official television and newspapers reported that military
intelligence officiers arrested the five men who were alleged
to be extoring money from entrepreneurs in Taunggyi in the
southern part of Shan state in northeastern Burma.
The intelligence officers first arrested two men on March 10
and with information obtained from them later arrested other
members of the group, the reports said.(TN&SP)
BKK POST: WHEN NECESSARY EVILS TRAMPLE ON THE POOR
20 March 1995
Fighting has began again in rugged northern Burma, close to
Thailand. The target of the latest offensive by the Burmese
army is the drug warlord and self-professed Shan freedom
fighter Khun Sa. The head of rangoon's State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc), Khin Nyunt, has vowed to overrun
Khun Sa and his private army this year. The 61-year-old
commander of the Mong Tai Army has faced such threats in the
past. Run out of his headquarters in Thailand by force years
ago, Khun Sa may finally be caught in a trip. Despite his
claims as a champion of Shan ind3ependence, it is Khun Sa's
dark side which has brought him problems. Behind the twin
shields of mountainous terrain and his own Shan United Army,
Khun Sa has built the world's largest centre of heroin
production and sale. Some 70 per cent of the drug found around
the world_and 100 per cent of that in Thailand_ comes from
Khun Sa's area. Other heroin-producting areas in Latin America
and the Golden Crescent of South Asia are dwarfed by the size
of the Golden Triangle output.
Whether Khun Sa is a legitimate leader of Shan independence is
questionable. Whether he is the world's largest heroin
manufacturer is clear.
Slorc, of course, has its own set of reasons for prusuing Khun
Sa. Not all of them are admirable, to be sure. Khin Nyunt's
refusal to negotiate in any way with the half-Shan,
half-Chinese rebel commander seems ill-considered, to put it
charitably. It is well-known that some of the most oppressed
victims of the heroin trade are the opium farmers themselves.
A military victory over Khun Sa may satisfy Slorc, but many
innocent and poor are likely to die in the fighting. Rangoon
has failed to put forward any suggestions of what it will do
about, or for, the many civilians in case it wins its battle
against Khun Sa.
But it must also be remembered that Khun Sa himself has long
been contemptuous of his own people. In true warlord
tradition, he has rewarded the close followers on whom he
depends. But he has kept farmers in virtual serfdom, dependent
upon the single and unrewarding crop of opium.
In Burma, as previously in Thailand, he has resisted all
efforts and suggestions he move out of the drug trade and
liberate farmers. As crop substitution programmes in Thailand
and even Laos have given workers opportunity, Khun Sa and his
lieutenants have ignored chances to spread freedom.
Since last October, a special Thai military unit, the Naresuan
Force, has been moving into position along the 500-km stretch
of Thai-Burmese border across from Khun Sa's area. The mission
of the new force is to end cross border movement of weapons,
food, medicines, narcotics, and the chemicals needed to
produce heroin. Lt gen Thanom Watcharaphut, the Naresuan
commander, said he intended to tighten border controls with a
dual aim:to curtail delivery of supplies to Khun Sa, without
denying needed goods to villagers. Special checkpoints now
promote lawful trade and restrict delivery of goods vital to
the survival of the Khun Sa drug empire.
This has put Khun Sa in a bind he has never faced before. Up
until now, he has used the border like a guerrilla. Not until
now has he had to consider both a determined Burmese army on
one side and a Thai border force determined to block criminal
infiltration into our country. Several Thai military officials
in the region have stated openly this new development could
make Khun Sa vulnerable to a concentrated Burmese attack.
It remains to be seen whether rangoon is serious in its threat
to cut into the heroin trade. Clearly, Slorc's main concern is
to overwhelm and forcibly control all opposition to its
dictaqtorial rule. For years, it has permitted an
unprecedented rise in opium and heroin production on the
grounds it was too difficult to attack the well-entrenched
army of Khun Sa.
In the more than six years it has ruled from Rangoon, the
junta has failed to match the concern over the growing heroin
trade shown by its neighbours. Fighting is already underway at
the edges of Khun Sa's territory. The next few weeks will tell
whether Slorc is serious about moving against the drug trade.
If the Burmese army succeeds in its offensive and overwhelms
Khun Sa, much will still remain to be done. Khun Sa is the
undoubted leader of the heroin trade, but the battle against
the lucrative Golden Triangle trafficking will still ne long
and tough. If Slorc is serious about combatting this drugs
scourge, it will deserve congratulations.(BP)
BKK POST: SHELTER ON HAND FOR REFUGEES
20 March 1995
TEMPORARY shelter have been prepared in Mae Homh Son to cope
with a possible influx of Burmese refugees from fighting
between Rangoon forces and guerrillas of drug warlord Khun Sa.
Mae Hong Son provincial authority and the Third Army Region
jointly prepared the shelter in anticipation of heavy fighting
in the area, provincial governor Somjet Viriyadamrong said
yesterday.
Border district authorities in Mae Hong Son have been told to
set up relief centers to help Thai villagers who might be
affected by the fighting, he said.
A border Patrol Police source said Burmese government infantry
were preparing for a major offensive against Khun Sa's force
at Hua Maung village, opposite Mae Hong Son village. (BP)
BKK POST: RANGOON REINFORCES TROOPS AGAINST MTA
20 March 1995
THE Burmese government id bringing 3,000 more troops into
action against Khun Sa's MTA after several reverses have been
at least 300 Rangoon soldiers killed in ambushes, according to
Thai military sources.
Only about 150 MTA soldiers have been killed because they have
more weapons and are more familiar with the terrain, according
to the sources.
Heavy fighting between government and MTA soldiers resumed
about 10km from the border with Chaing Rai province, around 2
a.m yesterday.
Government troops, according to the sources , suffered setback
as they were ambushed. Fighting continued at Doi Pha Daeng
Laung, Doi Pha Daeng Noi and Pang Ma-o.
Just over 50 soldiers from either side were treated in
Thailand on humantarian grounds, the source said.
The soldiers were sent to Mae Sai District Hospital or, in
serious cases, to Chaing Rai Prachanukroh Hospital.
Rangoon's reinforcements, with artillery, motors and
intelligence units, yesterday reached. Tachilek district
opposite Mae Sai district in Thailand, the source said.
The reinforcements were divided in two part under the command
of Lt-Gen Swe Win.
About 1,000 troops were deployed to patrol the town of Plark
and Hai. About 2,000 were told attack the MTA in Tamboon
Palaew, Tachilek district.
They have set up a command post in Tachilek only about 300
meters from the Mae Sai checkpoint.
Khun Sa's force of 3,000 has set up its command post at Ban
Prachang and has been deployed in town of Kan, Toum and Sard,
according to a source in the MAi Sai border district. (BP)
NATION: SHAN REBELS IN SUPRISE RAID ON THAI-BURMESE BORDER
TOWN
21 March 1995
Fighters loyal to Burma's opium rebel Khun Sa yesterday raided
a Burmese army barracks in a northeastern town, the least in a
series of guerrilla attacks aimed at deflecting a government
army offensive. Some 60 fighters from Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army
(MTA) staged the early morning raid on a Burmese army barracks
and military guest houses in Tachilek, a bustling border town
opposite the Thai town of Mae Sai, rebel sources and Thai
officials on the border said.
The rebels, firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic
rifles, attacked for about one hour before withdrawing, one
MTA official said. Burmese troops kept up an artillery barrage
in the directiion of the retreating rebels for several hours
after the hit-and-run raid, the guerrilla source said.
Casualties on both sides were not yet known, he said. Seven
MTA guerrillas crossed in Thai territory during the attack and
were disarmed and detained by Thai forces, he said. A senior
local Thai government official in Mae Sai said Thailand had
closed the border yesterday. Tachilek's market, where hundreds
of foreign and Thai tourists go sightseeing and shopping every
day, was completely closed and the town's streets were
deserted, he said.
The attack was the latest in a apate of guerrilla raids since
Burmese forces began an offensive against a guerrilla base in
mountain 25 km west of Tachilek last week. MTA guerrillas
ambushed a Burmese army unit ambushed a Burmese army unit
Tachilek's airfield on Saturday and destroyed a bridge near
the town of Kengtung, on the main road linking Tachilek with
central Burma and China, on the same day, the guerrillas said.
The rebels blew up another bridge on the road nearer Tachilek
last Friday and killed several government soldiers with
another bomb on a road on Thursday, they added. Guerrilla
officer say they are trying to harass government forces and
prevent reinforcements reaching troops locked in battle with
the MTA in the mountains.
The guerrillas say Bsurmese forces are trying to clear them
from the economically important eastern section of Shan state.
MTA commander Khun Sa says he is a Shan nationalist fighting
for the independence of Shan state. Burma's military
government says he is a drug-trading bandit and must be
destroyed. Khun Sa, who say he only taxes opium traders in his
area of control in the opium-growing Golden Triangle region,
has been indicted in the United States on narcotics
trafficking charges. (TN)
KHUN SA FORCES LAUNCH PRE-DAWN RAID ON TOWN
21 MARCH 1995
THE forces of khun Sa's MTA launched a pre-dawn attack
yesterday on Burmese government position in the border town of
Tachilek. Some 60 MTA fighters, firing rockets and grenades,
slipped into the township under the cover of darkness and
pinned down Burmese troops for more than five hours before
withdraw. The MTA first clashed with a Burmese patrol unit at
about 4.a.m at Kong Thoon village, about two km to the south
of border township. The fighting eventually spread to other
part of the town and escalated when Burmese troops responded
with motors and recoilless rifle fire. One M79 grenade fired
from a launcher strayed across the border and hit a
guest-house on the Thai side, causing some damage but no
injures.
At about 7 a.m, 15 MTA troops retreated by wading across the
Mae Sai River to Ban Sob Sai where they were immediately
disarmed by Thai security forces. One fighter who identified
himself as Ai Suey said his unit leader, Capt Jai Mon, had
disappeared while escaping and might have been killed in
Tachilek. Five MTA fighters were wounded and are now receiving
treatment at Mae Sai district Hospital. The fierce firefight,
the first in many year at the town, left at least 10 hours in
Tachilek ablaze as Burmese troops fired rockets to flush out
MTA intruders suspected of hiding there. Reporters of
casualties suffered by the two sides were not available. More
than 1,500 Burmese civilians have fled across the border and
are now being sheltered at Wat Wieng Pang Khan and Wat San
Sai. The fighting yesterday is the latest in a spate of
guerrillas raids after Burmese forces began and offensive
against the MTA base about 25 km west of Tachilek. The
incident yesterday forced the closure of the border. Thai and
foreign tourists heading for Tachilek and Keng Tung, a Burmese
town deeper inland, were told to return to the provincial
township or Chaing MAi. District officer Padee Ratanaphol held
an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon with authorities to
be briefed on security measures. Police and troops were put on
alert and Thai civilians living close to the border were
warned top be extra careful. (BP)
BKK POST: DEFENDANTS DENY CHARGES OF HEROIN SMUGGLING
21 March 1995
TWO defendants alleged to be underlings of drug warlord Khun
Sa yesterday denied charges of smuggling heroin into the
united state and asked the Criminal Court not to send them to
stand trail there. Chao Fu Cheng alias Vicha Suthipan, and
Kao Chang Ping alias Chamoon Thanakiatpaiboon are among 10 men
wanted by the US on drug smuggling charges. As state witness,
Pol Col Voravet Vinitnetayanoon and Pol Capt Adis Charoensawat
from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau told the court the two
defendants were Khun Sa's subordinates who were involved in
smuggling more than one kilograms of heroin into the US from
1994-1988. But the two men insisted they were Thai and had
never been to the US. The Criminal Court yesterday set April
24 and May 2 for more hearings of the case. (BP)
************************THAILAND******************************
NATION: THAI MILITARY NEEDS CLEAR POLICIES ON FRONTIERS
19 March 1995
Without restraint or warning, the Thai Army decided to vent
its anger over the intrusion and killing of two Thai
paramilitary sergeants of the Suranaree Task Force on Feb 28
by a group of armed Cambidian Government forces. This resulted
in the killing of at least 10 intruders in the hot pursuit
by the Thais, which was fully supported by artillery and
surveillance aircraft. The official Thai warning and protest
over the Cambodian ambush on a Thai military jeep in Si Sa
Ket's Khun Harn district, in which four other Suranaree forces
were also injured, only came four days after the Cambodians
were killed in an apparent revenge bid.
Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Wimol Wongwanich expressed his
frankness by saying: "I have told my men to reciprocate such
violence with violence. We cannot let our people die for
nothing. Thais were not born to be killed by others." Prime
Minister Chuan Leekpai was even more vocal, stating that his
administration would formally protest to Cambodia over the
targic mishap and demand compensation for the families of the
dead and injured.
"We will drastically respond. We won't let our people die for
nothing," he said. Early this week, the Thai government
demanded its Cambodian counterpart for an explanation and an
investigation into the arrest on March 9 of three Thais for
ransom by local Khmer authorities at the Poipet border
crossing. The hostages were freed only when a huge sum of
money was paid and a document signed to affirm that they had
not paid a ransom.
As an immediate reprisal, the Thai Army threatened to close
the crossborder checkpoint unless the ransom was returned.
The sudden Thai miliatry tretaliation over the Cambodian
attack has stunned the general public, who have not been kept
well informed of violations of Thai territory by Cambodian
troops. On the contrary, daily news reports, both in the
press, and radio and TV, were flooded with numerous stories of
incursions by armed Burmese and renegade Karen forces into
refugee camps along the Thai western frontier with Burma.
For the past two months, The Thai government and the military
have failed to convince the Burmese junta and the breakaway
Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organization (DKBO) to stop their
illegal intrusions into Thai territory to violently harass
tens of thousands of karen refugees in Thai border camps.
Unlike the Cambodian incident, surprisingly, no military
actions or retaliations were carried out when the Burmese and
DKBO intruders failed to heed repeated Thai threats and
warnings of drastic reprisals.
Groups of armed Burmese and DKBO troops continue to cross the
Moei and Salween rivers illegally, at will, into refugee camps
in Thailand's Mae Hong Son and tak provinces. Apart from
violent physical and verbal harassments, the intruders loot,
maim, and have killed a number of Karen and Burmese refugees
as well as Thai villagers. Also, a number of high ranking and
senior leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU) who have been
taking temporary refuge in the camps, were forcibly kidnapped.
The latest incident in which a Thai paramilitary ranger was
killed and another seriously wounded by a group of armed
intruders, who crossed the Salween River into Baan Mae Samrap
in Mae Hong Son's Mae Sariang district, did not receive the
same official attention as the incident in Si Sa ket, when
Thai paramilitaries were ambushed and killed by Cambodian
forces. Why the double standard we wish to ask? The sad fact
is that despite frequent reports of Burmese and DKBO
territorial violations and criminal actions, the Thai
Government and military do not seem to take the worsening
border stability and security along its western border with
any amount of seriousness.
KNU guerrilla leader Gen Bo Mya was right when he said the
Burmese junta has "no respect for Thailand and Thai
authorities." Predicting a more chaotic scenario, the Karen
general has or many occasions urged the Thai government,
particularly Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, to provide security
and protection for 70,000 Karen refugees taking shelter in a
dozen or so camps along the border.
About 8,000 refugees, who feel unsafe residing in Baan Huay
Manok in Tak's Tha Song Yang, decided to move deeper into
Thailand on Thursday for fear of more threats and violence
from Burmese and DKBO troops who sneaked into their camp a day
earlier in an attempt to kidnap a karen camp leader. The
intruders threatened to return by this weekend if the
fugitives fail to return to Burma.
The refugees have to take their own preventive measures when
they feel that they cannot rely on Thai security authorities,
who fail to protect not only the fugitives but also their own
territory from foreign incursions.
Time and again, the Burmese junta, known as the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (Slorc), has taken advantage of
Thailand's couldn't-care-less attidute towards the Burmese
pro-democracy movements, both inside and outside Burma, and
armed ethnic struggle for autonomy, to exploit Thai
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In fact, the Slorc has, on numerous occasions, publicized
slanderous accusations against Thailand and Thai authorities
in its media. Although the name of the country is never
mentioned in the reports, the words, "the third country" or
"the other country," clearly identify Thailand as the target
of Slorc. Gen Wimol seems to have forgotten that the western
border is currently in a more chaotic situation than the
eastern front, and the refugees from Burma need an immediate
guarantee of physical protection, not just verbal guarantees.
Perhaps the economic stakes in Burma are higher than that in
Cambodia and government ministers, security authorities and
politicians are more than willing to sacrifice humanitarian
principles for economic exploitation.
The arguments put forward by the Thai government and the Army
that the Thai-Burmese border is very long (being over 2,300
kilometres) and that it is impossible to for security forces
to oversee every kilometre of the frontier is absurd. If the
Thai people at the frontiers and refugees cannot entrust their
safety, lives and properties in the Thai military, who else
can they turn to in times of emergency. Clearly the role of
the Thai military is to prevent foreign intrusions into the
country.
Not only is the situation on the western frontier in a state
of confusion but also the attitude of the Thai armed forces in
protecting it. Clearly the Thai military needs a complete
overhaul of its border policies. The double standard practiced
now between different frontiers will only make them laughing
stocks in the eyes of the international community. (TN)
BKK POST: EMBASSY: BURMA TO FREE THAI FISHERMEN
18 March 1995
A Total of 120 fishermen impresoned in Burma will be set free
as a gesture of friendship from Rangoon, according to a
release from the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok.
According to the release, seven prisoners are above
60-years-old, 11 between 40 and 50 and 102 have served
longterm sentences.
Arrangements are being made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the Thai Embassy in Rangoon for carrying out their
deportation. This gesture coincides with the 50th anniversary
golden jubilee celebrations of the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the
50th anniversary golden jubilee of the accession to the throne
of His Majesty the King of Thailand, said the release. (BP)
BKK POST: BURMESE OFFENSIVE HURTS THAI EXPORTS
20 March 1995
Thailand's exports to Burma and China are being blocked by the
Burmese government's drive to wipe out Khun Sa's Muang Tai
Army, according to Thai teaders.
Fighting, which yesterday moved into its tenth day near Doi
Pha Daeng Laung, less than 10 kilometres from the Thai border,
is delaying exports of consumer products and construction
materials to the Burmese town of Keng Tung and to southern
China, through Burma.
Goods were standed in warehouses in Tachilek and in Mae Sai
district, Chiang Rai province, because there were no trucks to
take them from Tachilek to Keng Tung, said a Thai trader who
asked not to be named in case his business was adversely
affected.
The government has seized all trucks and even private cars in
Tachilek to carry soldiers and weapons.
"Cars of Thai businessmen working there were also taken away,"
said the trader, whose pick-up truck, loaded with gods, was
destroyed by gunfire in Burma.
Truck drivers in Keng Tung would not dare to head for Tachilek
owing to the danger enroute, he said, suggesting the Thai
authorities should not allow Thai tourists to drive their cars
to Tachilek.
If the situation continued until the end of March exports
through Mae Sot, worth about 20 million baht a day, will be
adversely affected.
Transport of goods from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces
would have to be suspended because warehouse in Mae Sai would
be full, he said.
A Thai immigration police officer, who declained to be named,
said some Thai and foreign tourists were stranded in Keng Tung
as there wee no vehicles to bring them to Thailand. (BP)
BKK POST: WIMOL--NO ROLE IN BURMA
21 March 1995
THAILAND will not interfere with Burma's internal affairs but
will provide assistance on humanitarian grounds to refugees
suffering under heavy fighting, Army chief Gen Wimol
Wongwanich said yesterday. "We insist we will neither get
ourself involved in the internal matters of Burma nor support
any activity against its government," he said. Gen Wimol said
he received reports that 20 members of Khun Sa's MTA had fled
into Thailand and those injured were receiving treatment as
part of humanitarian assistance. He denied the arrangement was
intended to help the MTA.
Those being helped would be disarmed on Thai soil and sent
home as soon as the situation returns to normal. (BP)
****************************REGION****************************
BKK POST: JAPAN GRANTS AGRICULTURAL AID TO BURMA, SAYS NOT
BACKING MILITARY
Japan formally decided yesterday to provided Burma with a
grant to promote food production, but Foreign Minister Yohei
Kono said the decision was not to be taken as a shift in its
policy towards the military junta.
Tokyo will provide a grant worth one billion yen ($11.1
million) to be used to buy fertiliser and farming equipment,
which it hopes will help relieve extreme poverty. Kono said it
was humanitarian aid, and should not be seen as illustrating a
new Japanese policy towards Burma. "Japan has not made a
policy shift," Kono told reporters. "Unfortunately Ms Aung San
Suu Kyi has not been released, but efforts at a dialogue
continue," he added. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a
Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been under house arrest
without trial since 1989.
The Japanese government has said that it will work patiently
for the promotion of democratic reforms and an improvement in
the human rights situation in Burma. Tokyo is also wary of
being seen as violating its own guidelines on overseas aid,
which call for reviewing aid provided to countries accused of
blatant human rights abuses or those seen increasing military
spending too fast.
Japan stopped providing loans to Burma after the 1988 military
suppression of a pro-democracy uprising. But grants to Burma
have continued. They amounted to 6.2 billion yen ($68.8
million) in fiscal 1993/94. Of this, only 18 million yen
($200,000) was used as purely humanitarian aid, and over six
billion yen ($66.6 million) was provided to relieve Burma's
debt burden. The foreign ministry official acknowledged that
the one billion yen grant represented a jump from
previous years.
But he said it was a demonstration of Japan's strong interest
in promoting democratic government in Burma. Kono said Tokyo
wanted Burma to understand that the grant did not represent a
new Japanese policy.
"I'm using various channels to tell (the Burmese government)
that this assistance does not mean Japan approves of the
situation in Burma." "It is a message, rather, that we want
Burma to push democratic reforms," he said.(BP)
*************************INTERNATIONAL************************
BKK POST: EU CONCERNED OVER BURMESE ATTACK ON KAREN GUERRILLA
BASE
18 March 1995
The European Union has expressed grave anxiety at the
consequence of Burma's offensive against ethnic Karens along
the Thai-Burmese border and the resultng exodus of refugees
into Thailand.
French president Edouard Balladur made the statement on behalf
of the EU on March 13. The offensive was in "total opposition
to the policy of national reconciliation preached by the
Burmese government," he said. The EU "wishes to reiterate its
hope that a peaceful solution will be found quickly for the
problem of the ethnic minorities," he said. The EU also
reiterated its concern at the extension of the
house arrest of dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi to July
11,1995.
It was the second time the EU has expressed concern. On
February 15, following a military offensive against the
Karens, the EU voiced concern at the consequences and at the
flood of refugees to Thailand. (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
**************************************************************