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BurmaNet News 12th April #145




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The BurmaNet News:12 APRIL 1995
Issue #145

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NOTED IN PASSING:

Contents:                                              

*************************INSIDE BURMA************************
THE NATION: BURMA SEEKS INDIAN CAPITAL
IRRAWADDY:  MEETING WITH TIN OO
IRRAWADDY:  A LETTER FROM RANGOON
IRRAWADDY & BKK POST: AVTIVISTS ARRESTED AFTER RANGOON
                      DEMONSTRATION
ABSDF: FORCED LABOUR ON TAVOY-YEBYU RAILWAY

********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************
THE NATION: KNU READY FOR TRUCE TALKS WITH SLORC

***********************THAILAND******************************
BKK POST: MANDARIN LOOKS TO BURMA HOTEL

************************** SHAN STATE ***********************
IRRAWADDY: PHONY WAR AGAINST KHUN SA GETS REAL
IRRAWADDY: BIOGRAPHY OF KHUN SA

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BURMA SEEKS INDIAN CAPITAL
11 April 1995

Burmese Trade Minister Tun Kyi yesterday urged Indian indus-
trialists to invest in his country, saying their countries'
first agreement to govern border trade would help to boost
business ties.
"India tops the list of countries in the developing world and
we are keen to expand trade," Lieutenant General Kyi told a
business chamber here. "The recent border agreement is a step
in the right direction."
New Delhi and Rangoon signed the treaty in January 1994 and a
border trade post between the two neighbours, which had curso-
ry diplomatic links for more than three decades, will reopen
tomorrow at a ceremony attended by Kyi.
The minister said Rangoon had launched irreversible market
reforms in September 1998, ending decades of socialist insula-
tion and attracting foreign investment worth $2.3 billion from
17 countries.
"Britain and Thailand are the leading foreign investors in
Burma," he said, adding that the economy had grown steadily
since 1990, with the gross domestic product posting a six-per-
cent rise in 1993-94.
"There are 120 investment projects at the implementation
stage," he said. "We have social and economic reform, we are
lifting technical barriers to trade and are going towards
privatisation.
"we have to do it (liberalise) carefully," he added.
Kyi accused the Western media of waging a "disinformation"
campaign, saying it sought to dissuade overseas businessmen on
moral and economic grounds.
"I want you to know the real situation in Burma," he said.
"There have been no killings of monks, students and innocent
civilians by the military regime ... and we protect human
rights and have democracy."
"The concept of human rights differs inn the East and the
West," he said.
Burma's military government has been frequently criticised by
numerous countries and human rights organizations for cracking
down on dissidents and the prolonged house detention of
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Khin Maung Oo, a senior trade official accompanying Kyi, said
Burma offered three-year renewable tax holidays for joint
ventures in which the minimum foreign capital participation
would be 35% of the equity.
Indo-Burmese trade grew to $138 million in fiscal 1993-94 form
a paltry $27 million in 1989-90, but is far below the
potential.
Meanwhile, the historic Burmese city of Bagan is set to have a
$23 million luxury hotel following a memorandum of
understanding with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Ltd, it was
announced yesterday in Hong Kong.
In a statement, Mandarin Oriental said the single-storey
hotel, set amid landscaped gardens, would comprise 100 suites
'in full harmony with the cultural and environmental
sensitivities of the region.'
It is to open in mid-1997, added the group, which is
controlled by Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson ltd and is best
known for The Oriental in Bangkok and the Mandarin Oriental in
Hong Kong. (Bp)


KNU READY FOR TRUCE TALKS WITH SLORC
11 April 1995

The Karen National Union is ready to negotiate a ceasefire with
the State Law and Order Restoration Council as soon as the
Burmese government wants, said a KNU source living near the
Thai-Burmese border line in Tak Province. The stance was
proposed by KNU president Gen Bo Mya in his letter sent on
April 2, 1995, to a reconciliation committee set up by the
Slorc, the source said yesterday. The committee consists of a
legal expert, Tun Aung Chin, retired military officers, Aye Soe
Myint and Saw Richard, a priest, Saw Mar Gay Gyi and a
university lecturer, Saw Ka Daw, according to the source.

The reconciliation committee responded in another letter dated
April 3, 1995, that Gen Bo Mya's letter had already been sent
to Let Gen Khin Nyunt, First General Secretary of Slorc, said
the source, adding it was expected that Slorc's decision on the
cease-fire proposal could be made known soon. The hand-written
letter of Gen Bo Mya stated that the KNU wanted Burma to become
peaceful and called for the Slorc to be sincere in peace
negotiations as previous rounds of talks always failed to yield
a positive result due to misunderstanding between both parties,
the source said.

In his letter, Gen Bo Mya also informed Slorc chairman Gen Than
Shwe's recent speech urging all Burmese minorities to join
peace talks for the sake of Burma, the source said. The speech
was delivered on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the foundation of the Burmese armed forces on
March 27, 1995. The request had caused about 40 minorities,
including 13 powerful groups, to seal cease-fire agreement with
Slorc, the source said.

The KNU, which was founded to resist the Burmese Government
more than 46 years ago, was supported by a meeting of Burmese
minorities, held near the border line recently, to settle its
conflict with the Burmese Government, the source said. The
meeting was attended by members of the Democratic Alliance of
Burma, including Pado Mahn Sha, a KNU representative, U Tin
Ohn, vice chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD),
U Tin Saw, a political expert from the New Era newspaper, Moe
Thee Zun, chairman of All Burma Students Democratic Front
(ABSDF)in South Area, U Mya Saw, member of ABSDF's Central
Committee, and U Aung Saw Oh, member of NLD's committee, the
source said. (BP & TN)


MANDARIN LOOKS TO BURMA HOTEL
11 April 1995

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, the parent firm of Oriental
hotel Bangkok, has entered into a joint venture with Italian-
Thai Development Plc to build a 100-room first class hotel in
Burma.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between both parties
and the Burmese Ministry for Hotels and Tourism took place on
April 7.

The MoU calls for construction of a first calls hotel beside
the Irrawaddy River, to the east of Pagan, a tourist
destination of historical interest. The project's shareholder
structure is: 58% by the Oriental Bangkok, 25% by Mandarin
Oriental Hotel Group, and 25% by Italian-Thai.

The project is expected to commence construction around the end
of this year and is expected to be operational about mid- 1997.
(BP)


ANDAMAN CLUB 'NOT A CASINO'
11 April 1995

The Thai owner of 600-million-baht Andaman Club resort on
Burma's son Island opposite Ranong province denies his
establishment is a casino. But he said the resort, complete
with a 210-room luxury hotel and a 18-hole golf course, was
equipped with a "games room" where gambling is allowed to
entertain tourists. The resort project, located only five
kilometres from the Thai border, faced criticism from various
sectors in Thailand who claimed it was gambling den, intended
to attract Thai gamblers places inn Macau and Malaysia. The
resort is expected to be open soon.
Mr Vikrom Ai-siri of Ves Group, which owns the resort project
and a number of other business ventures in Burma, said the
games room would not be open to the public, but restricted to
"exclusive members." "We just have a 'games room with various
kinds of slot machines," said mr Vikrom without elaborating. He
said the project will boost Ranong's economy by offering a
variety of tourist attractions - the Andaman sea, a golf course
designed by Jack Nicklaus on the 7,000-rai island, and duty
free shopping.
"Not everyone likes gambling. There are other attractions in
the resort," mr Vikrom, adding tourists can enjoy sightseeing
in some beautiful Burmese islands, including parts of the
strategic coral of St Mathew island. mr Vikrom said the project
is 95 per cent completed, including a pair at Wat Khao Nanghong
to transfer tourists to the island.
The hotel is preparing to lay a pipeline from Ranong to supply
fresh water to the island. The hotel's soft opening is expected
at the end of May or beginning of June, while the grand opening
is planned for October.
The Ves Group is also building a four-star hotel in Ranong to a
accommodate tourists prior to going to Son island, also known
as the Pulo Ru island. It is scheduled to be completed next
year. He said Thai tourists can go there with a border pass.
Concerned authorities are working on the possibility of issuing
visas to foreigners in Ranong when it becomes a permanent
border checkpoint.
The Andaman Club is 100 per cent foreign investment under the
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) condition. Land is leased for 30
years with an annual rental of US$1.25 million. Mr Vikrom is
known to be close to some high ranking officials in Burma. he
is also involved inn logging business and a gems cutting and
setting factory, jointly with the sate-owned Myanmar Gems
Enterprise. (BP)


            >>>>>>>> The IRRAWADDY <<<<<<<<

MEETING WITH TIN OO

THE UN's Special rapporteur visited Burma last year and met
with some prominent political prisoners including ex-army Gen
Tin U. Tin U was freed last month as Slorc marked its 50th
anniversary of Armed Forces Day. 
U Tin U was in good health and seemed to speak freely without
fear. He told the Special Rapporteur that inmates had been
busy for three days prior to his arrival, painting and
cleaning the prison premises.
The meeting took place in front of a small shack where he was
being kept in isolation. At the outset, U Tin U proclaimed
that he was a political prisoner despite the claim of the
authorities that he was an ordinary criminal. He stated that
he had suffered five months of effective house arrest before
being brought before a martial court on numerous charges. He
said that he had been charged, in particular, with: (a)
inciting the entire population for democracy and human rights;
(b) corresponding with parliamentarians of the European
Community, Japan and the United States of America; and (c)
meeting with military personnel and other  groups. 
 U Tin U declared: I love the army, but I love the people
more than the army. He stated that after the 1990 elections
many people had been detained for a long time without trial as
ordinary criminals. He had sought their release and
remedies. So, he had come to this fate. U Tin U indicated that
his treatment was good. The doctor took good care of him
although a shortage of medicines was a problem. His wife came
to see him every two weeks. He had access to all the religious
books and the New Light of Myanmar, but he received no other
information and had no other sources of entertainment.


A LETTER FROM RANGOON

A correspondent from Rangoon asked about the situation in
Thailand and Maner-plaw. Are there any changes? No change here
they (military leaders) keep stealing and corrupting! But the
letter went on: hundreds of prisoners were taken to Myitkyina,
(capital of Kachin State) to construct a airport. 
Last month, there was a raid on boats carrying goods to black
markets. It was believed that Lt-Gen Sein Htwa's son, who is
also navy officer, is involved in this illegal trade. About 20
custom officers were arrested. The source in Rangoon explained
the arrests. Because the police asked for share but the navy
and custom had refused to share. The source continued
Secretary  One knew about this case but he did not say
anything because of the navy's involvement.  It was not
reported in the New Light of Myanmar. (Inside sources)


PHONY WAR AGAINST KHUN SA GETS REAL
BY A CORRESPONDENT

His Chinese name is Chang Chifu although he is better known as
and reviled through out the world by his Shan nameKhun Sa. 
A former US ambassador in Thailand described him as the worst
enemy the world has. 
Southeast Asia's Pablo Escobar, Khun Sa is currently the
target of a major Rangoon offensive. Last month, Burmese
military government vowed to take Khun Sa's headquarters at Ho
Mong and mobilised more than 10,000 soldiers opposite the
base. Slorc's spokesman Col Kyaw Thein branded Khun Sa as
just a criminal and the had been excluded from the truce
process offered to other ethnic insurgents. 
Coincidently, the US State Department reently released a
statement on Burma saying: Burma remained the undisputed
leader in world illicit opium output, providing over 50 per
cent of known global production. 
Rangoon attacked the drug baron's headquarters in 1994 but
suffered heavy loses. It was, however, considered part of a
Slorc show. 
This time Rangoon again turned their guns on notorious drug
warlord. Rangoon's decision to take on Khun Sa leaves them
with nothing to lose but much to gain, analysts noted. If it
succeeds, Rangoon's struggle to re-enter the world community
will be much easier than before. As no one is going to defend
him, attacking Khun Sa is a win-win situation. But the
important question remains: Is Rangoon determined to wipe out
Khun Sa?  
On March 13 Rangoon forces bombarded the stronghold. Unlike
Mon and Karen insurgent armies Khun Sa's troops countered the
government's offensive. Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army demolished a
steel bridge in Tachilek. Then briefly attacked Tachilek
Airport and staged a pre-dawn raid on the town itself.
According to refugees who fled to the Thai soil the battle in
Tachilek was fierce. 
A source in Mae Sai said next target may be the capital of
Shan State, Taunggyi . He said Khun Sa's military strategy is
much better than Karen. He won't allow Slorc to focus on Ho
Mong. 
Khun Sa's army is regarded as the best-equipped ethnic militia
in Burma. His 20,000 troops are armed with a wide array of
weapons from AK-47 automatic rifles to SAM7 missiles.
Undoubtedly, Rangoon leaders are aware that they will suffer
more than the recent battles with Karen insurgents at
Kawmoora. But to impress the world community, and most
important of all, to sway the US government to resume aid,
Slorc has no alternative but to fight.
The US government criticized the Slorc, The government of
Burma continues to treat counter-narcotics efforts as a matter
of secondary importance. 
Khun Sa is not without his problems. While Rangoon was
reinforcing its troops in Shan State, authorities announced on
March 19 that five Khun Sa aides in Taunggyi, were arrested on
charges of extortion. 
The arrest followed a sweep by Thai authorities that netted
his top lieutenants in Thailand. The Far East Review reported
that the The recent arrests have seriously crippled Khun Sa's
supply network in Thailand. 
Further, Bangkok assigned a special military unit, the
Naseruan Force, to block supply routes to Khun Sa's 
headquarters, leading some observers to speculate that the MTA
may face shortage of food, ammunition and medicine. Others
Burma watchers disagree. There are many routes Khun Sa can
use to get supplies. He is still getting them and his army is
as strong as before, said one.
  Nevertheless, even if Khun Sa was wiped out, will the opium
production and drug trafficking in Burma halt? Many remained
unconvinced. Since Khun Sa is not alone in this business the
question raised again how will Rangoon deal with other drug
traffickers? 
The US State Dept's report said: Most of the country's drug
production and trafficking is under the control of insurgents
armies. The government has no direct control over the
activities of these armies, but it has both political and
economic leverage with these groups. It has failed to use this
leverage on these groups to reduce drug production and
trafficking. 
In 1989 Rangoon had made a peace with the former Communist
Party of Burma whose core is predominantly Wa and Kokang, who
have been producing and selling their opium for many years.
After the agreements were struck they are no longer insurgents
and they continue to run their business without trouble. Last
year the Far East Review noted: The US embassy in Rangoon
reported in a recent analysis that a majority of the 34-40
refineries located in the Golden Triangle's opium-growing area
are no longer under Khun Sa's protection. Instead, most of
Burma's heroin and are controlled by the narco-insurgent
organisations of the Wa and Kokang... these labs suffer little
threat of interference from the Burma army. 
The findings led Washington-based officials to conclude:
Maybe we have been misled by all this focusing on Khun Sa.
Other traffickers have emerged, some of them even more
powerful than he is. 
The future of bilateral cooperation hinges on Slorc's
progress on human rights, democratisation, as well as
improvements in Burma's unilateral drug control efforts. In
Burma in revolt, opium and insurgency since 1984, Bertil
Lintner writes, No anti-drug policy in Burma has any chance
of success unless it is linked to a real political solution to
the civil war and a meaningful democratic process in Rangoon.
The alternative is continuing strife which will keep the
heroin flowing.


BIOGRAPHY OF KHUN SA

Sino-Shan. Born in 1934 in Hpa-perng 
     village in the Loi Maw area of Mong Yai, northern Shan
State, of a Chinese father ad a Shan mother. His father died
when he was a child, and his mother remarried the Shan myosa
of Mong Tawm 9 tax collector under the Mong Yai saopha). Chang
grew up with his Chinese grandfather who was the headman of
Loi Maw. Joined an armed band in the Loi Maw area in the early
1950s and frequently shifted sides between the government and
the rebels. In 1963 his private army was converted into a
government-recognised Ka Kwe Ye (home guard) force under the
northeastern command of the Burmese Army in Lashio.
His forces attacked Shan rebel forces in the area and in
return he was allowed to trade in opium and heroin.  Became
one of Burma's most prominent drug traffickers in the 1960s,
but lost to KMT rivals in a famous battle at the
Lao-Thai-Burma border junction in July 1967. His fortunes
dwindled and he was arrested by the Burmese authorities on 20
October 1969.

His men subsequently went underground an on 16 April 1973
kidnapped two Soviet doctors from the hospital in Taunggyi. In
exchange for their freedom, Chan was released from Mandalay
jail on 7 September 1974. he joined his men underground in
February 1976 and moved to Ban Hin Taek near the Burmese
border in northern Thailand.
He then assumed the Shan name Khun Sa and his former home
guard unit was renamed the Shan United Army, ostensibly a
rebel army. 

He was forced out of Thailand in January 1982 but quickly
built new bases on the Burmese side of the border, where he
established a new working relationship with Burma's military
authorities. He merged his SUA with Mong Heng's Thai
revolutionary Council on 25 March 1985.
Khun Sa became chairman of the TRC (renamed the Shan State
restoration Council in 1991) in September 1991 following Moh
Heng's death in July. Resigned in July 1992 and Bo Dewing
was appointed figurehead leader of the SSRC. Re-elected SSRC
president on 12 December 1993.  


AVTIVISTS ARRESTED AFTER RANGOON DEMONSTRATION

FIFTY pro-democracy activists were detained a after a rare
public demonstration in Rangoon last month, and those arrested
may be at risk of ill-treatment or torture, according to the
Amnesty International.
In a statement the group said it is gravely concern for the
young activities arrested on Feb 20 during the funeral
possession for Burma's prime minister, U Nu.
The young people gathered peacefully at the side of his
funeral procession and shouted a slogans, and than were
apparently arrested, the statement said. However, inside
sources reported that they sung a song and lid a wreath on
behalf of DPNS (Democratic Party for New Society). In fact,
DPNS went underground in 1992 and joined the DAB (Democratic
Alliance of Burma) at Manerplaw.
Amnesty International urgently called on the military
authoritis to ensure that none of these activities are
tortured or ill-treated while in detention.
The statement said two of the demonstrators, Maung Maung and
Moe Myat Thu, were badly beaten by Military intelligence
agents as they were arrested.
Moe Myat Thu was a close associate of Suu Kyi. Another of
those arrested, Ni Ni, is a sister of the first student killed
in 1988 when mass demonstrations broke out to protest 26 years
of one party rule, the statement said. Ni Ni and Moe Myat Thu
also have been arrested previously. 
According to reliable sources: Ye Ye Htun, M.Sc (computer
science), Aye Aye Moe, Kalayar, Moe Myat Thu, Aung Zaya, Maung
Maung Wan, Maung Maung Oo and Tin Than Oo were arrested. 
Sources in Rangoon reported about 9 activists were tried on
March 10. 
(BP& BIG) 


    >>>>>>>>>> From A B S D F NEWS AGENCY <<<<<<<<<<<<

ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT
CENTRAL COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS

Burma Update News
April 11, 1995

FORCED LABOUR ON TAVOY-YEBYU RAILWAY
LINE

In Tennessarium Division, the new railway line from Tavoy to
Yebyu, a part of the Ye to Tavoy railway line, will be opened
by SLORC in April.  To complete construction work in time,
the SLORC authorities are forcing the people from four
townships, Tavoy, Yebyu, Longlon and Thayetchaung, in
Tavoy region, to work as porters.

The people in that region were forced to be porters once in
every fifteen days, with their own expenses.  Moreover, since
January 1995, every family has been taking responsibility for
the cost of 100 cubic feet of stone for paving the way and
supplying for the monthly railway fund from 200 to 500 Kyats
regularly.  The people who are unable to work as porters are
imposed a fine from 1,500 to 2,000 kyats.

Each member of Local Law and Order Restoration Council,
from respective villages, has to accompany the porters, to the
railway line working centers, to perform as an in-charge so that
the porters may not escape.  At the railway line working center
of the Zahar village, between Tavoy and Yebyu township,
altogether 300 prisoners are kept in fetter and forced to work.

Since November, 1993, Ye-Tavoy new railway line, which is
110 miles long, has been constructed by over 20,000 porters. 
The SLORC intends to complete it in 1996, the visit Burma
year.  For paving the way, the ground, 100 meters in width,
has to be cleared.  To build the main railway line, which is 15
feet wide and 16 feet high, mound has to be piled up.  To be
porters, not only males but also females and children were
forced to work.  In constructing it, the soldiers from the
SLORC's Light Infantry Regiments, No 343, 402, 403, 407,
and 410 are watching the porters and their work closely.  Due
to the question of the porters, everyday, from 50 to 100 people
from the four townships mentioned abo e, escape to the Thai
Burma border.

The SLORC sponsored National Convention recognized the
Self-administered Division and Self-administered Zone

On April 7, 1995, SLORC sponsored National Convention,
held in Rangoon, recognized the Self-administered divisions
and Self-administered zones for the ethnic nationalities, that
are Wa, Naga, Danu, Pa-oh, Palaung and Kokant.  They are as
follows:

1.  Self-administered division for Wa
     (6 townships from Shan State - Hopan, Mongmaw,
     Panwaing, Na Phan, Manpant and Panyan -- was formed as
     two districts)
2.  Self-administered zone for Naga
     (Nangyon, La Hae and Lae Shi townships in Sagaing Division)
3.  Self-administered zone for Danu
     (Ywa Ngan and Pindaya townships in Shan State)
4.  Self-administered zone for Pa-oh
     (Hopong, Seseng and Pinglaung townships in Shan State)
5.   Self-administered zone for Palaung
      (Namsang and Mangtong townships in Shan State)
6.  Self-administered zone for Kokant
     (Konggyan and Laukkaing townships in Shan State)

Most of the elected representatives, political parties'
delegates and most of the indigenous nationalities' delegates
objected to the recognition of the Self=administered divisions
and Self-administered zones in the present National Convention.
They submitted the idea that only when the will of the ethnic
nationalities living in the respective areas has been
collected, it should be carried out, and for that purpose, a
commission should be formed.

Nevertheless, Lt. General Myo Nyunt, the chairman of the
National Convention Convening Commission, rejected that
submission by reasoning that, in order to implement the 6
objectives, the SLORC has the authority to carry out that; and,
there was no need to ask. The National Convention was adjourned
until October 23. Although, in the initial stages, 702
delegates attended the NC, on September 2, at its fifth
session, only 633 delegates were present.

ABSDF News Agency

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