Wired News on April 9 & 10, 1995

[FreeBurma@xxxxxxx]

Attn: Burma Newsreaders
Re: Wired News on April 9 & 10, 1995
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     NEW DELHI, April 10 (Reuter) - India and Burma this week resume
cross-border trade shut down for 33 years by Rangoon's previous isolationist
policies, officials said on Monday. 

    ``India should become an important partner in our new market-driven
economy,'' Burmese Trade Minister Tun Kyi said in a meeting with Indian
officials and private entrepreneurs. 

    India shares a 1,670 km (1037 mile) border with Burma. 

    ``Due to unavoidable reasons, trade with Burma slumped drastically after
the 70s,'' said Tejinder Khanna, a senior Indian Commerce Ministry official. 

    A new agreement will allow nationals of both countries to penetrate some
60 km (35 miles) into each other's territory, officials said. 

    Both countries would build roads and highways to connect border points to
important towns in both countries, they said. 

 REUTER


Transmitted: 95-04-10 12:52:33 EDT
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      BANGKOK, April 9 (Reuter) - Thailand's Foreign Minister Krasae
Chanavongse said on his return from a two-day trip to Rangoon he was
satisfied with Burma's efforts to improve human rights and democracy, Thai
newspapers reported on Sunday. 

    He told reporters Burma's ruling military body was sincere in its efforts
to foster national reconciliation. 

    ``Burma knows about the outside world's criticism. However, each country
has its own way of developing democracy and human rights,'' Krasae was quoted
as saying. 

    His trip followed several months of cooler relations that began when a
Burmese army offensive against minority Karen guerrillas forced thousands of
refugees into Thailand. 

    The two neighbours have since then exchanged accusations over a series of
incidents along their border. 

    Krasae had talks with his Burmese counterpart, Ohn Gyaw, and the military
government's powerful intelligence chief, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt. 

    ``After talking with Ohn Gyaw and Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt I am
pleased and satisfied with their efforts to develop democracy and human
rights,'' Krasae said. 

    ``The Burmese government is not only attempting to restore national
unity, it has developed the country in many areas, including border areas,''
he said. 

    The recent border problems stemmed from fighting between Burmese
government forces and autonomy-seeking guerrillas that at times spilled over
the frontier into Thailand. 

    Bangkok offered to act as a mediator in the long-running disputes but
Rangoon turned down the offer saying the fighting was an internal affair. 

    Despite the recent problems, Thailand has long been a leading advocate of
Southeast Asia's policy of ``constructive engagement'' with the Rangoon
military government. 

    Burma attended a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) for the first time last year as a guest of host country, Thailand. 

    Bangkok newspapers cited Ohn Gyaw on Sunday as saying he would be happy
to attend the next ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Brunei in July if he
were invited. 

    ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand. 

    ASEAN leaders have said they hope the four Southeast Asian countries,
which are not yet members, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, will eventually
join. 

 REUTER


Transmitted: 95-04-09 03:04:31 EDT
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