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BurmaNet News 18th April #150




**************************BurmaNet***************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: 18 APRIL 1995
Issue #150
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NOTED IN PASSING:

Contents:

************************THAILAND****************************
BKK POST: SINCERITY, AND THE RIGHT BURMA POLICY PAY OFF FOR
          FOREIGN INVESTORS

*************************INSIDE BURMA************************
BKK POST: BURMESE MUSLIMS SLAM SLORC
Inside source & NLM: SIX YOUNG BURMESE ARRESTED IN RANGOON.

***********************INTERNATIONAL*************************
BKK POST: MEKONG PROJECTS TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD

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necessarily reflect those of either NCGUB or Burma Issues]


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MEKONG PROJECTS TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
"Rangoon meeting expected to give transport and energy working
group their marching orders"
18 April 1995

Minister of the Greater Mekong Sub-regional Economic Coopera-
tion group will meet in Rangoon next week to discuss now to
implement transport and energy projects in the six countries.
Prior to the April 24-25 Rangoon gathering, the fight ministe-
rial-level meeting, senior officials from Burma, Cambodia,
China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam are expected to meet in Ma-
nila to review the "resource papers" that complied views from
all six countries of the functions of two working groups on
transport and energy.

The working groups were set up at the last ministerial-level
meeting in September in Chiang Mai, to  handle "software is-
sues" such as harmonising legislation to facilitate cross-bor-
der movement of people and goods.
A ministerial-level committee was also set up the Chiang Mai
meeting to set policy guide-lines.

Noritada Morita, director of programmes (west) for the Asian
Development Bank, told Inside Indochina that the Rangoon meet-
ing will focus on how to organise the working groups after a
priority list of projects in the two sectors has been made and
preparations are made for their implementation.

On top of the transport list is the Bangkok-Phnom Penh-Ho Chi
Minh City-Vung Tau road, whose engineering design is being
drafted and funds are being raised. The project is expected to
begin this year or early next year.

Leading the energy list is the Xe Kong and Se San basin hydro-
power development study in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, includ-
ing transmission linking among these countries.

The working groups will be expected to facilitate successful
implementation of projects; address regulatory, legal and in-
stitutional bottle-necks; and provide continuity to
subregional consulation and consensus-building.

As well, they would raise funds for sub-regional projects;
coordinate technical aspects of project planning at the macro
level; facilitate training and disseminate information.
It has also been proposed that they do public relations to
stress the high priority of the projects, and to assure
investors of continuity of policies and programmes under the
Greater Mekong scheme.

The ADB has agreed to fund the working groups initially,
although Morita expressed confidence that the groups will be
able to obtain financial support from the six governments.
He said the Rangoon meeting will also review progress made on
priority projects in both sectors, as well as human resources
development and HIV/AIDS issues.

He said any new proposal relevant to the Greater Mekong scheme
will be considered. "The meeting is still open.
Other priority road projects are the Thailand-Laos-Vietnam
east west corridor, the Chiang Rai-Kunming road improvement
project via Burma and Laos, and the Kunming-Lashio road system
improvement.

Regional railway projects include a Thailand -Cambodia-Vietnam
link, a Yunnan-Vietnam railway and a Yunnan-Thailand link.
Inland water transport projects include navigation
improvements in the upstream Lancang-Mekong River area, the
red River in Yunnan and Vietnam, and water transport links
between southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia.

Air transport projects endorsed for study include U-Tapao
Airport, a heavy-aircraft maintenance centre in Thailand,
Sihanoukville Airport in Cambodia, Jinhong Airport in Yunnan,
and Hanthawaddy International Airport near Bago in Burma.
Other high priority energy projects are:

1) The Nam Tha hydropower pre-feasibility study in Laos,
including transmission to Thailand.

2) A feasibility study on transmission from the Jinghong
hydropower project in Yunnan province to Thailand.

3) The Nam Theun basin hydropower development study in Laos,
including transmission to Thailand and Vietnam.

4) The Thanlwin basin hydropower development study in Burma
and Thailand, including transmission between the two
countries.

5) The implementation of the Theun-Hinboun (formerly Nam Theun
1-2) hydropower project in Laos, including transmission to
Thailand. (BP)


BURMESE MUSLIMS SLAM SLORC
18 April 1995

The Muslim community pledged yesterday to report the
maltreatment they have suffered at the hands of the Burmese
Government to the Overseas Islamic countries and International
Islamic Organization.

All Burma Muslim Union (ABMU)  Chairman Abdul Razak said
representatives from his union and the Arakan Rohingya Islamic
Front (ARIF) are discussing the issue.

According to the ABMU chairman, the State Law and Order
restoration Council (Slorc) has been in violation the basic
human rights of Muslim communities in Burma such as occupying
mosques in many areas for its own uses.

He cited a mosque in Three Pagoda Pass area opposite
Thailand's Kanchanaburi province, which had been used by over
1,000 Muslims to perform religious ceremonies and had been
seized by Burmese Government soldiers to use as its base.

He quoted chairman of AIRF Nurul Islam as saying that the
Slorc since May 1991 had forbidden any religious ceremonies
from being performed at the Jamme Mosque and Islamic Preaching
Centre in Maung Daw, Arakan State, and had recently opened it
up as a hotel and restaurant.

Vice Chairman of AMBU, Abdul Malig yesterday said the Burmese
Government had demolished a number of mosques in kyaidon,
kyondo, Kawkareik and Tingkanyinaung towns along the Kyaidon
Myawaddy route to pave way for the construction of a road.
(BP)



SINCERITY, AND THE RIGHT BURMA POLICY PAY OFF FOR FOREIGN
INVESTORS
18 April 1995

Doing business in a Burma under the rule of the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (Slorc) is not as difficult as one
might think. All it takes, says successful investor Vikrom
Ai-siri, is responsibility, since rity and the backing of the
right Burma policy from your government. Vikrom, who is a
major shareholder of the Dusit Island Resort in Chiang Rai pro
vince and whose VES Group is a leading investor in Burma,
first came to the country i n 1988 just when it was opening up
and moving toward a market-driven economy. Most Thai
businessmen at the time were interested only in two sectors
forestry and fishery. There were also many brokers and
adventurers.

Today, very few concessions remain in either sector, after the
Slorc cancelled most logging deals and adopted an
environmental policy two years ago. Thai businessmen have also
created a bad reputation for themselves, losing cred ibility
and the chance to move into other good businesses in the
country. Vikrom says his investments in Burma were all by
accident . He quickly adds, however, that by accident or not,
he would always try his best to carry the projects through. As
a result, Vikrom is one of the very few whose logging deal was
left untouche d. He still exports logs via Ranong province.

Other business include: a lucrative joint venture with the
state-owned Myanmar Gems Enterprise in a gem-cutting and
setting factory; the 600 million baht Andaman C lub resort on
Burma's Son Island, opposite Ranong; and plans to bid for the
construction o f the Salween hydropower project on the
Thai-Burmese border. Other investors complain about
difficulties in dealing with the Slorc, citing l ack of
transparency and red tape. Vikrom brushes the criticism aside
and claims Burmes e authorities are flexible and easy to talk
to.

Burmese authorities just want you to do your job; otherwise
don't talk or ask for favours,  he said. Vikrom does not deny
that the close ties that have evolved between him and some
high-ranking Burmese officials, serve as a safety net for his
expanding investm ent. However, he stressed that the
relationship has to be backed with promises kept, serious
work, and a step-by-step approach.

The best way to keep your opportunities and your status is to
keep your word, he said. Vikrom recalls some of the  accidents
that brought him to Burma six years ago.

The first was decision to enter into a joint venture with a
Thai logging compan y Thip Tharnthong which claimed it had
obtained a concession along the Thai-Burmese bo rder.

It turned out the company was a broker and disappeared with a
large sum of mone y he had advanced for the venture. As the
owner of a construction firm at the time, Vikrom decided to go
ahead wit h the deal himself, seeing the vast potential of the
untapped resource. The second accident occurred when he served
as a mediator between a French jewe llery designer and the
Slorc in setting up a joint venture in a gems factory in Rango
on.

The Burmese side was to hold a 52% stake in the Myanmar VES
Joint Venture Compa ny, but again the designer withdrew and
Vikrom moved in, even though he had no expe rience in the
jewellery business. It took two years to train some 200
Burmese workers, open a factory and jewelle ry shops at
Rangoon's Mingaladon airport and downtown for foreign
visitors. Burmese agen cies supply him with raw stones.

The business is going well today, with plans to open another
factory with 600-7 00 workers, and to explore gem mines in
northern Burma this year. Vikrom is negoti ating with Burmese
authorities to export jewellery.

The third accident was the luxurious Andaman Club, located on
the 7,000-rai Son island, complete with a 210-room hotel,
18-hole golf course and a duty-free shop. Vikro m landed the
project from a broker company, Union Farm Engineering. The
resort, to be inaugurated next month, is expected to promote
Visit Myanmar Year 1996. It is no surprise that among the
invited VIPs are the powerful Slorc Vice -chairman, Gen Maung
Aye, and Secretary 1, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

His growing business is a sharp contrast with the experiences
of other Thai inv estors who seem to have lost their chances
and their credibility in the country. One major factor is the
businessmen themselves, says Vikrom.

Many look at Burma for shorter profits; exploit the resources
and go. The re a re also those who use sweet words but never
carry out the agreement. He cited a project to build a resort
on the Burmese side of the Golden Triangle . Burma granted
permission in 1990 but the project is still to be completed.
Further problems are caused by many brokers who go to Burma to
seek concessions to resell to honest Thai businessmen, and by
those who make money mediating betwee n Burmese authorities
and foreign businessmen. These people not only cause
misunderstanding but also damages and loss.

The Thai government's uncertain policy toward Burma also has
an impact on bilat eral relations. Unlike Singapore, whose
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong led a business delegation to
Burma last year, the Thai government has had difficulty
deciding when and how t o pay official visits, and whether to
invite high-ranking Burmese officials to Thaila nd. I believe
talks between the Burmese government and ethnic minorities
will be h eld very soon and the issue can be settled, said
Vikrom.

The Thai government needs to show a clear stance toward the
[Burmese] governme nt in order to create new investment
opportunities in Burma for Thai investors. (BP)



SIX YOUNG BURMESE ARRESTED IN RANGOON.
(March 25)
(unsolicited report)

On 12:30 PM, March 24 a group of young Burmese curse and fight
back a SLorc's security unit (Lon Htein) who secure the "
marching route" for the Golden Jubilee of Tat Ma Daw Day(Armed
Forces Day) Celebration in the place of southern entry of Shwe
Ta Gon Pagoda at Pha Ya Gyi Ward of Dagon Township in Rangoon.

Six of them were arrested after the incident by the Police.
These detainees are Bo Bo(son of U Win Aung), Thant Zin(son of
U Kyi Oo) and four sons of U Than Yee, namely, Win Thant, Win
Zaw, Aung Naing Oo and Saw Naung.

All of them were charged for attacking the security forces.

(Inside sources & News Light of Myanmar)


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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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