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BurmaNet News: 27 March, 1995 (cont



Subject: BurmaNet News: 27 March, 1995 (continued)

**************************BurmaNet***************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
*************************************************************
The BurmaNet News: Tuesday, 27 March 1995
Issue #131

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


Contents:
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
BKK POST: KRASAE TO VISIT RANGOON FOR BORDER TALKS
BKK POST: SLORC'S DIPLOMACY OF BLACKMAIL
NATION: BURMA ARMY'S SIZE DWARFS LEGIMATE DEFENCE NEEDS
NATION: BURMESE JUNTA CUTS PRISONERS' SENTENCES TO MARK ARMED
        FORCE DAY 

********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************
BKK POST: BREAKAWAY REBELS TURN ON THE REFUGEES
BKK POST: KARENNI REBEL GROUP SPOKESMAN DENIES SURRENDERING TO
          SLORC
BKK POST: MORE REFUGEES EXPECTED AS FIGHTING GOES ON IN BURMA

**************************SHAN STATE*********************
THE NATION: BURMESE CLOSE BORDER CROSSING EARLY AMID FEARS OF
            NEW RAID 
NATION: THAILAND'S ACTION ON KHUN SA GUERRILLAS ANGERS BURMA
        JUNTA 
NATION: RANGOON TO STRIKE AT KHUN SA FROM THE AIR, SAYS REPORT


*************************THAILAND************************
NATION: THAI GOVT URGED ACT AS BURMA MEDIATOR
NATION: GOVT URGED TO REROUTE PIPELINE

*************************INTERNATIONAL******************
THE NATION: 6-WAY MEET SET IN BURMA ON 'PROGRESS' OF MEKONG


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*************THE BURMANET NEWS--MARCH 27, 1995***************
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BKK POST: KRASAE TO VISIT RANGOON FOR BORDER TALKS
25 March 1995

Foreign Minister Krasae Chanawong is shortly to make an
unofficial visit to Burma for talks on border problems and
economic ties.
Speaking to reporter
s after inspecting the border situation in Mae Sai district,
Dr Krasae confirmed he will visit Burma in his capacity as
Foreign Minister.

He said the trip is designed to look at the facts and to hold
discussions with senior local Burmese officials concerning the
problems along the Thai border.

"The border problems, which I have learned about on Thai soil,
will be brought into a joint discussion with local Burmese
represeatatives. Any problems or misunderstandings can be
cleared up.

"I will take opportunity to listen to accounts of Burma's
problems, its views and its objections, so that jointly we can
work on resolving them," he said.

Dr Krasae said if he gets the opportunity to meet
representatives of the ruling junta, he will bring up all key
issues,
particularly the problems in the Chiang Rai border area and in
other northern provinces of Thailand which share a border with
Burma.
Particular attention will be paid to certain border areas
which are important ecinomic zones for both countries, Dr
Krasae said. "A decision may not be effective unless the
correct facts are discussed jointly," he said.
Dr Krasae said he takes the view that Burmese problems are
internal matters and local affairs which might not adversely
affect overall government policy, and he is optimistic that
the tense border situation will ease.
"Although internal conflicts may not disappear entirely, we
are confident that there will be fewer heavy clashes," Dr
Krasae said.
A  border source said Burmese officials have not been able to
ensure the foreign minister's complete safety if he plans to
visit Tachilek.
This is apparently after former deputy transport and
communications minister Charas Puachuay and his team were once
barred by heavily-armed Wa United State Army troops from
passing along the Tachilek and Kengtung routes towards
southern China. That incident casued the Burmese government to
lose face, the source said.
"Local Burmese officials do not want to take responsibility if
something happens during the foreign minister's trip to
Tachilek, as it is not an official visit," said a high-ranking
official of Mae Sai district.
"But our local officials are able to provide solid
confirmation that no problems will occur and the minister's
request can be complied with," he said.
If the minister wants to make an official visit to Burma, he
will do so via Rangoon, the source said.
After inspecting the current situation along the Mae Sai
district border, Dr Krasae said he was confident that problems
will not occur if he visits Burma via this route.
Regarding trading in Mae Sai, Dr Krasae said he will consult
local officials to work on measures to resolve the negative
impact on the economy and tourism.
The foreign minister said he will propose the setting up of a
night bazaar in Mae Sai district to revive local trade and
tourism. (BP & TN)

BKK POST: SLORC'S DIPLOMACY OF BLACKMAIL
By U Thaung
26 March 1995

SINCE the fall of Manerplaw, headlines about BUrma have
dominated the Thai press. MOst of the news has been received
unfavourably in civilised nations. Activities of the BUrmese
miiltary government discourage hopes for peace and democracy
in BUrma. Even news about the released of 31 political
prisoners, including U Tin Oo, chairman of NLD and party's
spokeman U Kyi MAung, is not an encouraging sign from the
BUrmese military. I, too, was once a political prisoner and I
know very well the price prisoners have to pay for
their freedom.

There were negotiations before the release of a prisoner. The
dialogue would usually statrt about the poltical convictions
of the prisoner. MOst of them didi not surrender their deliefs
in the first round of talks. Then the parole officer would
talk about family anf personer affairs, aiming at the heart of
the victim. For a prisoner with great attachment to his son,
talk with be abou twhat his son was doing while the father was
away. The officers might explain to the prisoner that the boy
needed to be help by his father to
pass matriculation, something most importment for every young
lad in BUrma. "Your young wife is not home at the time," was a
warning laced with innuendo. "Your mother's heart problem
needed an operation," was aimed at worrying a devoted son.
Such pressure cause many victims to lose their mental balance
and submt to their jailers.
Prisoners are forced to speak aganist their convictions ar at
least to become neutralised.
Many prisoners who leave BUrma military jails denounce
politics as such, if not thier beliefs. Even a person like Ko
Yu, a noted revolutionary, was rundered inative before his
release from a military prison. Ther were few people like U NU
and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who ewfused to compromise with their
jailers. Blackmail tactics used by the BUrmese military are
cunning and cruel. The mnay political prisoners of their
captors cannot be blamed. Almost all the manoeuvring of the
Slorc , involve blackmail. Offering their nation to China is
a from of blackmail of civilised nations. The general know
very well China was their enemy only a decade ago. But they
are aware of
the assistance they can obtain from Bejing. It is only too
obvious China cannot offer the infrastructure Burma needs to 
build a modernised nation.
Slorc knows products made in China are fragile ad cheap, yet
still opened the BUrmese market to that countyr. The reason is
to blackmail western nations: " If your desert me, I will be
friend Chian." Tha tatic is childish, but it works.
Only last week the Japese government agreed to pay the
"ransom". It began with a package of food production
assistance that might lead to total support for the military
government just to counter the Chinese.The United State is
blackmailed by Slorc through a Sham war with the MTA of
KhunSa. I am certain the aim of BUrmese gengerals in this war
is not to defeat the drug problem, but to get help from the
US. LAst year, Rangoon's forces marched toward the MTA
stronghold before stopping abrupylt and requesting helicopters
from the US government. The Americans, although frustrated by
the Burmese drug problem, tried to stand strong against the
BUrmese generals' blackamail and refused to help Rangoon last
year. But I doubt whether the US will give priority to human
rights this year. Drug reachig America from the leading
opium-producing nation are creating an unbearable problem. Oe
day, US government will also yield to the BUrmese military and
pay the "ran- som".
It is a tragedy. The BUmrese military gets whatever it wants
thrught blackmail. t seem any aruel government can blackmail
civilised nations are too cowardly to resisit.

Lies, nothing but lies, Thai foreign minister Krasae had told
the Ambassador David Lambertson that the BUrmese military
democracy in improving. I cannot choose to whom I should
appeal, the foreign minister or the Ambassador; "Please do not
- peat, do not - beleive that." It was stated that the foreign
ministercited the preparation of the newconstitution and new
election by the Burmese military as an improvement. It is
obvious that endeavour is exactly the same as two years ago.
There is no BUrmese military. I wonder why the minister cannot
see the true situation.
The most important fact is the release date of the famous
prisoner, Aung San Suu Kyi. The minister has no doubt that she
wiil be freed that year. NO BUrmese accept that timing. If the
BUrmese military has agreed to relase her in July, Why wait?
why not set her free today? For the BUrmese democracy
activists, the picture id clear: the junta is playing to time 
to extort more business and political concessions from the
civilised world. I can acheieve this by keeping the natonal
leader in bondage. I am willing to give odds of 100-1 to the
minister or any other person who thanks that she will be set
free in July this year. The military cannot afford to free the
national leader. The military is merely asking time to save
its neck.
It is sad that the minister is insisting that the
"constructive engagement" policy is correct. As for the
American ambassador, no boubt the knows very well that policy
has yielded nothing since it was laid down more tha six year
ago.

U Thaung is former chief editor of the BUrmese language
newspaper, the MirrorDaily  . The
67 year old veteran journalist now writes for the New Era
Journal, and it base in Mami, Florida. (BP)





NATION: BURMA ARMY'S SIZE DWARFS LEGIMATE DEFENCE NEEDS
BY AUNG ZAW
27 MARCH 1995

On the evening of July 27, 1977 in the evening Captain Ohn
Kyaw Myint was taken out from his cell. The prison official,
Chit Maung did not explain the reason. The prisoner was taken
by a car to Insein main jail where was put into a small cell
to wait till mid night. Ohn Kyaw Myint asked Chit Maung "I'm
going to be killed soon?." Chit Maung shook his head. A few
hours later when two colonels from the war office arrived in
prison together with a judge - Captain Ohn Kyaw Myint's time
is up. He was hanged. The captain's crime was attempt to
assassinate state leaders including Gen Ne Win. His genuine
intention was to save the country. Ohn Kyaw Myint and his
friends who were also military officers involved in abortive
coup were opposed Ne Win's Burmese Way to Socialism and felt
it was in ruin.They had vowed to hand state power over to
respected pilotiand and army officers, but Ohn Gyaw Myint was
arrested along with a dozen other military officers before the
plan could be carried out.
Ohn Kyaw Myint was a university students in 1962 when Gen Ne
Win staged a coup which ousted prime minister, U Nu. He was
swept up into the anti-Ne Win movement, joining the campus
rotests. But to the surprise of his friends, he later joined
the Defence Service Academy,Burma's West Point.
In the wake of Ohn Kyaw Myint's failed coup, Gen Ne Win purged
thousands of socialist cadres. Hundreds of military officers
were transferred, retired and forced to resign. Ne Win
publicly announced more than 50,000 socialist members had been
fired. It was, in fact, a second purge as Ne Win dismissed his
comrades- in-arms in 1960s. After the purge Ne Win's second
generation of military officers were promoted and taken new
positions. Those included army officers Saw Maung, Aye Ko,
Sein Lwin, Tun Ye.... Indeed Ne Win has brought far-reaching
changes into Tatmadaw since the 1962 coup.
Ne Win's rise to power was initially met with public
support but it took only four months before they were to
witness the ruthlessness that was to make his rule. On July 7,
a peaceful gathering of hundreds of university students was
gunned down by the army and the historic union building was
demolished. Ne Win warned: "I have no alternative but to meet
dad [sword] with dah and spear with spear."
Burmese communists at the time documented the massacre and
stated: "Never in the history of the world student movements
have so many students killed or wounded in a single incident."
Many former students who took part in 7 July affair said:
approximately 100 students were killed and many were wounded.
They said, from that day on the army became Ne Win's Kha piet
saung tat (pocket army).
According to the constitution, the role of the Tatmadaw is to
defend the country and to protect the citizens. In reality,
it's role has been the complete opposite. During the Ne Win
era, all soldiers were taught a Burmese history consisting of,
"The ethnic rebels are robbers and bandits...the democracy
movement was inspired by communists and rightists."
Ne Win trusted only his men uniform. The Tatmadaw has been
given a privileged status. Ne Win, in an effort to curb
resentment among the Tatmadaw, has offered many special
privileges. For in stance, the retired military officers were
given new jobs at civil administration services
government-owned factories to make their fortune.
Since the beginningof the Ne Win era, Burma's Defence
spendings has been high. In 1986-87 Ne Win regime has spent
20.7% for Tatmadaw while they were spending less than 13.3%
for education. They spent less money on health and education.
When in July of 1988 Ne Win publicly announced his resignation
as a chairman of his party he said: "I have to inform the
people throughout the country that when the Army shoots, it
shoots to hit, not to the sky," It was Ne Win's last speech in
public. The current regime, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council does has done carried on from where Ne Win
left off. The coup in 1988 was, in fact, not to end the
authoritarian rulers but to save them.
Peaceful demonstration or anti-Slorc rally's have been
invariably crushed and blamed on communists and rightists
groups.
Ironically, in 1988 alone, thousands of unarmed demonstrators
were killed, not because of insurgents or communists but
because of the army shot them. Thus, following 1988 massacre,
Tatmadaw is more commonly referred to in private the
Tha'mataw. Tha' meaning "to kill" mataw is "not enough."
In the 1940s Burma army fielded 5,000 men. By 1988 it had
risen 200,000. It has since topped 300,000.
Analysts note that the present regime's Defence spendings
could be even higher than the previous socialist regime. In
1990, Burmese were astonished to learn that a land of Burmese
embassy in Tokyo was sold and the S 600 million from the sale
spent on the army. More recently Rangoon has bought US$400
million
worth of helicopters, ammunition, field guns, six Hainan Class
patrol boats armoured vehicles from China.
Why do military leaders need such a large military? Is it
because of Rangoon leaders have a plan to invade one of its
neighbors? Or are they preparing for external threat or
foreign invasion? If not, their only intention can be to build
up their strength and to threaten their own people.
Sadly, the Tatmadaw of today is not what its founder Gen Aung
San wanted to see. The dignity and glory of Tatmadaw is has
gone. Tatmadaw's sole role is now to prop up Ne Win's third
generation. Nevertheless, not all soldiers are brainwashed,
bad and corrupted. During the 1988 uprising hundreds of navy
and airforce soldiers joined the demonstrations.




NATION: BURMESE JUNTA CUTS PRISONERS' SENTENCES TO MARK ARMED
        FORCE DAY 
27 March 1995

Burmese military government said it has cut by one-third the
sentences of more than 23,000 prisoners in honour of the 50th
celebration of Armed Forces Day, official media reported
yester- day.
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the Minister of House
Affairs, Lieutenant-General Mya Thinn, issued a decree
reducing the sentences of inmates who have worked on projects
that were completed in time for today's celebration.
"As a gesture hailing the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces Day,
one- third of their sentences... has been reduced," the order
said, without adding whether this meant that any of the
prisoners would walk free.
Bur state-run newspapers, television and radio made to mention
of any leniency towards Aung San Suu Kyi, a co-founder of the
oppo- sition National League for Democracy (NLD) who has been
under arrest in Rangoon since July 1989.
There have been renewed rumours in diplomatic circles and
among residents on Rangoon that Suu Kyi may be set free soon.
Top officials of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration
Coun- cil (Slorc) have been busy cutting ribbons and
inaugurating a highway, several bridges, a beach resort and
television channel - all to be ready in time for today.
Armed Forced Day marks the anniversary of the date in 1945
when the Burmese rose to end Japans Word War II occupation.
On March 15, the government announced the release of 31
prison- ers, including leading dissidents Tin Oo and Kyi
Maung.
Their release could mean a revival of the dialogue started be-
tween the Slorc and Suu Kyi last September which apparently
has stalled since October, diplomats said.
Meanwhile, troops of the Burmese military junta suffered
nearly a hundred casualties in a battle against opium warlord
Khun Sa's Maung Tai Army  (MTA), Channel 7 said on Saturday.
Thirty-two Burmese troops were killed and 60 others wounded in
a two-and-a half-hour clash on Friday with the MTA at Ban Pang
Ko inn the east of the country, about 10 kilometres from the
Thai border. (TN & BP)


********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************
BKK POST: BREAKAWAY REBELS TURN ON THE REFUGEES
25 March 1995
Rangoon's recent victory over Karen guerrillas has not stopped
fighting in the area. Now refugee camps in Thailand are being
attacked. Rebecca Dodd reports.
Burma-Thai border, Gemini News
Refugee camps in  Thailand for Burma's persecuted Karen people
are being harassed by a breakaway faction of the Karen
resistance movement, probably with the support of the military
government in Rangoon.
Disruption to the once-sleepy camps is part of the fall-out
from rangoon's recent victory over the Karen National Union
(KNU), which has been demanding political autonomy since
Burma's
independence in 1948.
A wave of panic spread through one camp after rumours that the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA, a breakaway from the
KNU) had poisined water supplies and planted landmines in
schools. There is no evidence that the rumours are true.
The DKBA has been blamed for the kidnapping of four camp
leaders, the murder of several refugees and an attack on a
refugee truck in which two pregnant Karen women and a Thai
driver were killed. In one camp, the DKBA put up posters
threatening that the houses of any Buddhist refugees who did
not return to Burma would be destroyed.
The organisation split from the Karen Union earlier this year
and joined with the military government, the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (Slorc), in attacks on the KNU
strongholds of Manerplaw and Kawmoorah. Its inside knowledge
of the jungle and of the position of KNU-planted landmines is
widely believed to have been a crucial factor in the victory.
When Kawmoorah fell in February, some 10,000 refugees crossed
the Moei river into Thailand, swelling camps along the border
to 70,000. The camps have been safe havens for Karen for a
decade, and the recent defeats mean there is no longer a KNU
buffer zone to protect them.
Some camps are only 15 minutes walk from the river_in most
places shallow enough to wade through_making them easy targets
for the Burma military and the DKBA on the other side.
Rising tension has also led to skirmishes between Buddhist and
Christian Karen refugees. There has been talk of putting the
two sides in separate camps.
The DKBA was established by a Burmese monk suspected by the
KNU of being a Slorc agent. Buddhists within the KNU have long
complained of discrimination from its Christian leadership,
but most observers believe that the military junta has strong
links with the DKBA. Some believe that many DKBA soldiers are
actually Slorc troops.
"Our people were weary from a long period of war," says a KNU
spokesman.
"The monk promised them a lot of things_that they would be
well taken care of, that there would be peace.
His original monastery was in the same place as Slorc
technical command headquarters and there is some evidence that
his original followers were also Slorc agents."
The refugees_many of whom are unable to comprehend that the
attacks could be coming from their own people_also link the
DKBA to the Burmese.
"I'm very frightened of them," says Naw Buay Pao, a refugee
whose husband died fighting for the KNU in 1984.
"If they find out I am the wife of a Christian, they will
treat me the same way as the Burmese would."
The incursions have strained Burmese relations with the Thais,
who have a policy of "constructive cooperation" with Slorc, a
regime widely condemned for its human rights abuses and for
refusing to accept the results of the 1990 general election.
During the attack on Kawmoorah, the Burmese fired shells into
Thailand and requested permission to mount as attack from the
Thai side.
the request was denied, and hardliners in the Thai military
are reportedly outraged by the shelling.
The Thai business community, however_ now the most influential
force in Thai politics_is keen to start exploiting teak
forests and gem deposits in the region and will work with
whoever
controls the border.
They are said to want refugees to be repatriated as soon as
possible, so the area can be turned into a zone of economic
actiovity. To this end, suspicions have been voiced that Thai
soldiers are providing clandestine support to the DKBA. (BP) 


BKK POST: KARENNI REBEL GROUP SPOKESMAN DENIES SURRENDERING TO
          SLORC
25 March 1995
A Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) executive member
has denied surrendering to Burma's ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc). His party totally denied Slorc's
recent claim that his group had laid down arms, he said
yesterday. The KNPP executive member, who did not want to be
identified, said Slorc's announcement in Loikaw in eastern
Burma on March 21 was "merely propaganda and  a big lie to the
world." "We will soon issue an official statement denying the
announcement," he said.
he was referring to reports published in the official Burmese
media in rangoon and a radio announcement picked up by foreign
news agencies. The announcement said Karen ethnic minority
rebels had laid down arms and surrendered to Slorc in Loikaw
in Kayah State. According to the KNPP executive member, after
the KNPP reached a ceasefire agreement with Slorc, nine
official KNPP representatives were sent to Loikaw in March to
attend a formal signing ceremony. On March 21, the nine KNPP
representatives and Slorc Secretary Major Gen Khin Nyunt
attended the ceremony.
At the ceremony the head of the KNPP was forced to say the
KNPP had surrendered to Slorc. Slorc took the opportunity to
broadcast to the world that 7,790 members with 9,000 weapons
including mortars, recoilless, and an assortment of guns had
surrendered with their weapons said the executive member.
Actually no member of the KNPP had surrendered, nor were any
arms given to Slorc, the Karen exewcutive member said.
"The Karen will continue to implement their political
objectives," he said.(BP)





BKK POST: MORE REFUGEES EXPECTED AS FIGHTING GOES ON IN BURMA
25 March 1995
More Karen refugees are expected to flee across the border
into Thailand to escape continuing battles between Burmese
troops and the Karen national Union, according to an official
border source. Umphang district chief Apichart Thiawpanich
said the refugees have been detained at camps in Ban Tapeupu,
Nong Luang and Klo Thor villages. The influx of more than
3,000 refugees followed the Burmese troops's effort to seize
the KNU's Azin camp. District officials have been told to
prepare for the arrival of another 4,000 Karen refugees who
are reported to be ready to abandon their viollages if Burmese
troops r3enew their attack on the KNU. It is expected that
most of the refugees will make their way through Ban Perng
Klerng.
The Commander of Task Force 34, Col Direk Yamngamriab, led a
medical team from the provincial Red Cross office to the
refugee camps to provide the refugees with basec necessities.
The commander said about 1,700 Burmese soldiers were geraring
for a fresh attack on the KNU. The first group of soldiers
will be deployed to suppress the KNU rebels from their Kanele
camp further south, while another group will close in on Azin
camp in an effort to gain control over the surrounding Karen
villages.(BP)


**************************SHAN STATE*********************
THE NATION: BURMESE CLOSE BORDER CROSSING EARLY AMID FEARS OF
            NEW RAID 
27 March 1995

Without prior official warning, Burmese authorities abruptly
closed the side of the Tachilek- Mae Sai border crossing
yester- day afternoon, two hours before the normal 6 pm
closing time. While no official explanation was given, Thai
border authorities and Tachilek residents suspected that the
move was to facilitate a house-to-house search by Burmese
troops checking point for infiltrators from opium warlord Khun
Sa's Mong Tai Army (MTA), which launched a pre-dawn raid on
the town last Monday.
Speculation and rumours have been running high on both sides
of the border that the MTA would attack Tachilek again today,
which is Burmese Armed Forces Day. Fears of possible fighting 
caused a number of Shan and hilltribe people from Burma's
southern Shan State to flee into Thailand.
The Burmese gave people in Tachilek an hour's notice of the
clo- sure. Hilltribe mothers, carrying or holding children,
some with babies strapped on their back, were seen rushing
across the Mae Sai River Bridge into Thailand shortly before
Burmese immigration and police officers closed the crossing at
4 pm Burmese time (4.30 pm in Thailand).
When informed of the early Burmese closure, several Mae Sai
immi- gration and police officials went into Tachilek to warn
Thai tourists or traders to return to Thailand before the
deadline. After the closure, Mae Sai district chief Pakdi
Rattanaphol went to Tachilek to negotiate the re-opening of
the gate for stranded Thai and Burmese traders and commuters
caught unawares on both of the border.
He said he did not know while the Burmese sealed checkpoint
and had learned of it only 10 minutes before the closure.
Pakdi said his Burmese counterpart, Tachilek district chief U
Htay Maung, told him the order came from higher authorities.
Htay Maung told reporters that he did not know if the action
was a security move, but he said that a second MTA raid on the
town was not possible.
The Burmese chief said he did not know how long the closure
would last or whether the Burmese checkpoint would reopen
today. Pakdi said the closure would benefit Thai traders as
tourists would do their shopping on the Thai side.
Thai immigration officers said the number of tourists visiting
Mae
Sai and Tachilek had dropped sharply since the MTA attack,
from about 10,000 a day to about 2,000 yesterday.
According to Thai border authorities, the Burmese army has
move several thousand more fresh troops into Tachilek since
the MTA attack. Military and intelligence and patrols were
being conduct- ed around the clock, they said.
Border officers said about 50 ethnic people from Mong Payak
and Mong Ko, about 30 kilometres north of Tachilek, crossed
into Baan Pa Daeng Luang in Mae Sai and asked for a temporary
refuge in Thailand until the situation returned to normal.
They said they fled in fear of more fighting and violence
between the MTA and the Burmese army.
Pakdi said Thai humanitarian policy towards refugees remained
unchanged and that no foreign armed forces would be allowed on
Thai soil. he added that he had told Burmese authorities "to
try their best to prevent people from crossing into Thailand".
"We have tried our best to limit the number of refugees. We
have told them [Burmese authorities] to try their best to
prevent the people from crossing into Thailand. We allow only
mothers and children to come in," said Pakdi.
The Mae Sai district chief said Thai security forces had been
placed on alert, but he believed a second MTA raid was "hardly
possible".  (TN & PB)









**************************SHAN STATE*********************
NATION: RANGOON TO STRIKE AT KHUN SA FROM THE AIR, SAYS REPORT
26 MArch 1995

BURMESE trops are preparing to launch air strikes in their
continuing bid to destry drug warlord Khun Sa's MTA army in
BUrma's eastern border town of tachilek, THai television said.
Channel 7, a military run-channel, quoted an MTA intelligence
officer as saying in Thailand'd northern city of Chaing Rai
that some assault aircraft of an unknown type or make were
aeen landing at a tenporary airfield inside the Burmese Army's
33st headquarters in Tachilek.
The MTA officer reportly said Rangoon was likely to strike
areas controlled by Khun sa and Ban Ya-ay all within some 20
km of the border with Thailand. The television report said
groound fighting took place Thursday in Maug Lung, some 50 km
from Tachilek, when some 300 besieged Burmese troops were
attacked by about 200 of Khun Sa'a MTA men.
The MTA personnel seized 23 machine guns left behind by the
soldiers who withdrew late in the day, it said. No casualties
reports were given. It reported another major clash early on
Friday at Mong Hai, some 23 km from Tachilek with a fierce
firefight between some 300 MTA troops and 100 government
soldiers. Khun Sa, the professed leader of the ethnic Shan,
has demanded greater autonomy from Rangoon. His MTA, whose
weapons are allegedly financed by drug profits, controls much
of the opium-growing Shan State. Since late February Rangoon
hAs sent increasing numbers of troops to crush th erebel
leader after it successfully captured two main KNU rebel bases
inthe south.
It started attacking MTA strongholds in TAchilek on Monday.
Also on Friday several thousand BUrmese troops laid siege to
the KNU's 6th Brigade headquarters at Kya Inn Seikyi, opposite
Thailand's Umpang district, and continued t shell it, Challel
7 said. Other BUrmeese troops raided Karen villages in the
area suspected of supporting the KNU. Some 3,000 refugees have
already fled the fresh fighting to Thailand, the television
reported. (TN)


'



*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NATION: THAILAND'S ACTION ON KHUN SA GUERRILLAS ANGERS BURMA
        JUNTA 
25 March 1995

Burma, in rare criticism of a neighbour, said it was seriously
concerned by Bangkok's reaction to an incursion into northern
Thailand last week by a group of separatist rebels who had
raided Burmese army posts.

Burma's state-run television, in a broadcast monitored in
Bangkok late on Thursday, quoted a military official as saying
Thailand's action towards the rebels of Khun Sa's Mong Tai
(Shan state) Army (MTA) was "disturbing and deplorable".
Burma's state-run media is widely considered the mouthpiece of
Burma's ruling military body, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc).

A group of about 60 guerrillas raided Burmese army positions
in the northeastern Burmese border town of Tachilek on Monday.
Burma's state media later said three troops, six rebels and
two civilians were killed.

After the raid, a band of MTA guerrillas fled to the Thai side
of the border where they and their weapons were seized.
Burmese authorities in Tachilek asked Thailand to repatriate
the guerrillas, who instead were sent back to "their native
place", Burmese media said, apparently referring to MTA-held
territory in Burma.

Earlier, Burma's state media alleged the MTA guerrillas
attacked Tachilek from "the other country", a term they
commonly use for Thailand, which allows refuge to civilians
and disarmed soldiers from any side at times of fighting.
Thai authorities do not force refugees, dissidents or
guerrillas into areas held by their adversaries but push them
back into areas considered safe for them, including
guerrilla-held territory.

"We cannot just push these people back to their deaths. It
would not be fair and Thailand would be condemned for it," a
Thai army official told Reuters yesterday.
Last February, Thai authorities dis-armed about 1,000 Karen
guerrillas who entered after abandoning a base just inside
Burma. The Karen fighters were allowed to return to a zone in
southeast Burma held by their comrades.
Burmese television said on Thursday that Thailand should have
respected Burmese sovereignty and handed the MTA rebels over
to the Burmese army.

"There should be mutual goodwill and respect between the two
neighbouring countries," it quoted the military official as
saying.

They would be returned to the country concerned as a gesture
of respect for sovereignty of the two countries but the opium
trafficking terrorists were not extradited," it said.
Thai government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart yesterday
defended Thailand's position in releasing captured members of
Khun Sa's army, saying the government's plicy is to disarm
such people and send them back if they want to return. "We
don't have a policy of arming those who have fled without
arms," Akapol said.

He also denied reports that Thai authorities in Mae Sai
district had sent any of those captured back to their bases in
Tachilek. "We simply sent them across at routine border
crossings." (TN & BP)



*********************THAILAND**********************
NATION: THAI GOVT URGED ACT AS BURMA MEDIATOR
26 March 1995

THE Thai government should act as "mediator" in the current
fighting between the BUrmese government and KAren ethnic
minority rebels along the Thai-Burmese border if it wants to
resolve probles of an influx of KAren refugees and to avoid
allegation that the government affords help to a certain group
inthe BUrmese armed conflict, Army adviser Gen Kitti
Rattanachaya said. Kitti said the current fighting between the
minority rebels and BUrmese troops was similar to that between
Chinese Communist in Malasia and Malasian troop, in which the
Thai government successfully acted as a peace mediator for the
neighbouring country.
"I think the Thai government should act as mediator between
the Karen ethnic minority and the BUrmese government ." Kitti
said if the Thai government didi not intervene, the fighting
could be prolonged indefinitely. "If the Thai government wants
to solve the problem of an nflux of KAren (refugees) and to
avoid accusation by some groups that it still renders help to
the rebels, it should act as a mediator responsible for
bringing the two sides (together) to sit down and talk
reasonably," he said. (TN)


NATION: GOVT URGED TO REROUTE PIPELINE
26 March 1995

THE threat of ethnic BUrmese guerrillas attacks on Thai worker
has prompted PM's Office Minister KornDabarasi to prepare a
request that the government reconsider the current route of
the Electrcity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) gas
pipeline project running from Burma to Kanchanaburi province.
The planned request comes in the wake of two guerrillas
attacks earlier this month which killed five members of a
survey team and injured several others. "I'll ask the
government to consider changing the location of the gas
pipeline from Burma,"Korn told the Nation in Nakhon Ratchasima
province. The minister, whose office oversees Egat, said the
present route of tine runs through areas controlled by Karen
and Mon minority groups, who the BUrmese authorities have
failed to bring under control. There fore, it would be risky
building a 2,800 megawatt electricity generating plant, worth
about Bt 10 billion, in Ratchaburi province using the gas from
BUrma, Korn said. "I am very worried that the plant would be
unable to generate electricity as expexted, after larg
einvestment, because of possible attacks by minority groups,"
he said. Korn said he has discussed the matter with Egat
leaders and will propose to the government that the gas
pipepline be laid in locations under the full control of
BUrmese authorities. Defence Minister Vijit Sookmark said
earlier that troops will not be sent into BUrma after
construction gets underway. It is planned that natural gsa
will be sent from reserves in the Andaman Sea in BUrma to
Kanchanaburi, a distance of around 400 km. It would then
travel a further 400 km to ratchburi where it will feed an
electricity geerating plant. Also participating in the project
are the Petroleum Authority of Thiailand and three BUrmese
state enterprise firms. The attack on the naturral gas
pipeline survey team was carried out on March 7 near the
village of Kanbauk in Burma.
The slin and injureed victims were BUrmese nationls. French
oil company Total said. Total spokeman Joseph Danel announced
earlier that the attack was carried out by a "solidly armed
force" and occured as the BUrmese workers were carrying out
preparatory work on the project. The pipeline is being built
by Total and California-based Unocal. If completed, it would
carry gas from the coast of Burma to Thailand, going through
areas of southeastern Burma in which Karen nd Mon ethnic
minority guerrillas operate. But BUrmese studemts announced
later that the slain victims included a Frenchman. The BUrmese
student said two of the tevhnicians were kiled when froces of
the KNU's 10th BAttaian opened fired on three BUrmese military
helicopters carrying the pipeline project
team to Kan Bauk township in BUrma's southern Tenasserm
division. Three others were wounded and aircrafted back to
Rangoon but pronounced dead on arrival
at Minhaladon Airport, where a Total representative was
present. They were flown into the military, not the regular
civilian, sector of the airport. "At the airport Mr Herbico of
total Co came and received the bodies," said a atatement
released by theAl Burma Students Dmocratic Front (ABSDF). It
said the one-hour attack took placeabout 10 am as the
helicopters, carrying French and BUrmese technicians and a
BUrmese military strategist from the Southern Regional Comand,
were descending to the ground. The student group said the
BUrmese junta, Slorc, deliberately blacked out the
information, as they seriously worry about it affecting the
investment". Usnally, the ABSDF is an ally of the KNU. KNU
also far has declined to confirm or deny the statement of the
ABSDF. An ABSDF member said his group released the statement
without proor consulation with KNU. (TN)

*************************INTERNATIONAL******************
THE NATION: 6-WAY MEET SET IN BURMA ON 'PROGRESS' OF MEKONG
25 March 1995

Ministers from the six countries along the Mekong river basin
are scheduled to meet in Burma in April this year to discuss
the latest development of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
sponsored Greater Mekong Sub-regional, Economic Development
Project, which covers basic  infrastructural projects linking
Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Southern China to the
northern part of Thailand.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi the
ADB should complete its final report on transport and energy
projects by April. Studies into another four sectors_tourism,
telecom, energy and human resources development_will be
presented to the ministers latr.
The ADB-sponsered joint development projects are a part of the
international community's efforts to rebuild the Indochinese
countries through region-wide assistance programmes.
Speaking at the Private Sector Symposium for Comprehensive
Development of Indochina yesterday, Supachai said it's timely
for the private sector to actively participate in
infrastructural projects, especially when the Indochinese
countries are struggling to transform from centrally-planned
to market-oriented economies.
Sang Ryvannak, the representative from Cambodia, told the
participants at yesterday's forum that to achieve the
rehabilitation plan, "We need to mobilize funds not only from
our traditional sources such as multilateral and bilateral
donors but also from the private sector. Private sector
participation is important and desirable in the long term for
the development of this sub-region," he asserted.
Organized by the Japanese government, yesterday's Private
Sector Symposium, with more than 200 participants, was a
follow-up seminar to February's ministerial meeting for
Comprehensive Development of Indochina, held in Japan. At that
time, the ministerial meeting agreed to set up three working
groups to oversee the development programme in the Indochinese
region. The first advisory group, chaired by japan, has been
assigned to work on infrastructure projects in the Indochinese
region. The group will work with ADB.
The second group, chaired by France, has been assigned to work
on human resource development. This working group will work
closely with the United nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The third working group, chaired by Thailand, will work on
trade and investment for comprehensive development in
Uindochina. They will cooperate with the Working Commission
for Asia and pacific (Escap).
"The interest from the private sector does not come only from
Asians but also from Europe," Supachai said. He added as an
example, a week from now a group of 70 top executives from
Europe will visit Indochinese countries and Burma.
The trip by the European businessmen is a follow-up to the
World Economic Forum held in January this year at Davos,
Switzerland. Supachai said the private sector might
participate in areas such as the renovation of airports and
transport routes. He said that the Thai government three years
ago approved a US$2 million budget to help renovate parts of
the Luang Prabang airport. However, the Lao government has
recently told him that the country needs more money because
they hope to fully renovate the Luang Pranang Airport. In
response, Thailand said it would likely extend assistance
comes with help from the private sector. Apart from the
airport renovation project, the Thai government also approved
a budget of Bt20 million last year to help Laos develop an
electricity plant at Pak Chan, an another US$6 million to help
renovate a 48 kilometre transport route in Cambodia_route
number 5 to link Poipet--Srisophon.
The Thai government also has set aside US$15 million in fiscal
year 1995 for special technical assistance programmes to
countries in Indochina.
Sang Ryvannak said in the case of Cambodia, the war-ton
country has an urgent need to develop the transport and energy
sector to reconstruct its economy, which was completely
destroyed by the end of the 1970's.
Doctor Bountheuang MounIasy, a representative from Laos,
stressed that the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) alone
from bilateral and multilateral donors is not suffeicient to
finance the development programmes, and active contributions
from the private sector are also needed.
Takashi Itedani, a representative from Keidanran the
federation of Japanese Industries_said that the private sector
is willing to fully engage in sub-regional projects only if
the government provides basic infrastructure including a legal
framework and qualified human resources.
Yukitoshi Funo, a representative from Keizaidouyukai, said the
private sector would consider three key factors before they
decide to do business in any country.
These are cost, delivery and quality of goods. He said that
investors would be reluctant to do business in those countries
if the investment climate is not supportive.
He cited the result odf last year's survey among Japanese
businessmen on how they view the Indochinese market.
He said over past decades, Japanese and Asian investors have
successfully cooperated in promoting marketing activities in
the region because of the labour cost. (TN)








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