SITUATION INSIDE BURMA_ VOICE OF TH

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: SITUATION INSIDE BURMA_ VOICE OF THE PEACOCK(ABSDF)

    
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                                  ABSDF
                   ALL BURMA STUDENTS DEMOCRATIC FRONT
   
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                         NEWS FROM INSIDE BURMA
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Burmese-Chinese Soccer Riot 
===========================

   A Chinese soccer team arrived in Rangoon to play for Burmese-
Chinese goodwill by the invitation of Slorc in March, 1995. The
first soccer match was played in Rangoon on March 11, 1995. In
that first soccer match, the Chinese players played very
violently and were warned many times by the Burmese referee.
Although  the referee warned them many times,  the Chinese
players didn't respond.

One time, a Chinese player was ordered off of the football field
after the referee showed him a red card . Suddenly, that Chinese
player fought the referee with his fists and feet. Finally, the
audience became impatient and threw bottles and stones at the
Chinese players. Suddenly, it  looked like an anti-Chinese riot
in the stadium. Securities couldn't control the Burmese
audience, so the soccer match was stopped by the authorities.
After that soccer match in Rangoon, according to schedule,
another soccer match was played in Mandalay, the second largest
city of Burma, popular as a Chinese city among the Burmese
people. But, that time, the Mandalay people were not allowed to
watch the soccer except for army families and government
servants, who felt embarrassment because they were prohibited
from
bringing even pepsi bottles and water bottles into the stadium.
Moreover, during these days, many soldiers were placed separately
in Mandalay for so-called city security by the Mandalay Division
army authorities. So, the Mandalay people said, "we don't want to
watch that kind of soccer which was arranged and played in our
city by the army, and we feel that we want to take louvres(tayote
ka') off from our houses. Burmese call Chinese, "tayoke", in
Burmese language.

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Slorc's trade with Moscow
==========================

Last March, 1995 the Slorc Lt. General Myint Aung, Agriculture
Minister, made an agreement with Russian authorities to sell one
million tons of Burmese rice to Moscow for 1996. The Slorc
generals are confident that they have enough surplus rice to sell
to Moscow every year. At the moment, in Burma, especially in
Irrawaddy division and Pegu division, farmers are forced to plant
whatever kind of rice the generals want. Naturally, Burma has
been an agricultural country since a long time ago, but Burma's
annual rice production every year has been just enough for its
own consumers in the country since 1962.

 Burma is a mountainous country except for the delta area, Pegu
area and Mandalay area. The Mandalay area, although a plain area,
is a dry zone and very difficult for growing rice. At the moment,
1 kg of lower standard rice, namely "Nga Sein" costs 40 Kyats in
Rangoon. The official currency exchange rate for  1 U.S $ is
equal the 6 Kyats. Now, some observers say, "It is impossible to
export one million tons of rice per year, if it happens, Burmese
consumers will be faced with higher prices for rice everyday."

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Is Rangoon a battle field?
==========================

On July 10, 1995 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released from six years
under house arrest. There were no more soldiers near her lakeside
residence, but many soldiers are guarding  different regions in
Rangoon particularly nearby Shwe Da Gone Pagoda.

Two days before Martyrs' day, the reinforcements of the Burmese
army was clearly seen in the city by the people of Rangoon. Slorc
is preparing for Martyrs' Day. If something happens on that day,
they will surely use the army, said the Rangooners.

According to  sources from Rangoon, now  Slorc has already placed
army columns separately in Rangoon as in front line areas. The
followings are the Slorc's column locations:

1. Behind the Koe Htat Gyi Pagoda in Tamawe township;
2. At the Padonmar field in Sanchaung township;
3. Near the Parliament building in Ahlon township;
4. Near government broadcasting service in Kamaryut township;
5. In the Thayetaw Buddhist monastery in Lamadaw township;
6. At the some big monasteries in Rangoon;
7. Near MI 6 office in Mayangon township;
8, Near Ye Kyi Ai, infamous MI office in Mingaladon township;

Residents of Rangoon  say that there are approximately 15,000
Slorc soldiers in Rangoon, but no reason was given.
 
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Many soldiers desert military units of the Slorc
================================================

Because of the disagreements and maltreatments within the Burmese
Army, Slorc is now faced with a problem of  soldiers deserting
their mother units. 

Slorc is paying special attention to the problem of deserters  as
their possible participation in demonstrations can lead to
violent response if a public uprising breaks out again in the
future.   

 Slorc is stepping-up measures to curb the problem by arresting
deserters and giving them heavy punishments.

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A rumour spreading among the people of Burma
============================================

Concerning the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a rumour is
spreading that Than Shwe was directly ordered by Ne
Win and Kyaw Htin ( former Defense Minister ) to release her
immediately. Many people think that this rumour was created by
the MI officials.

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The view of a student from inside Burma
=======================================

The decision to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is just the Slorc's
escape from the prevailing problems that the Slorc is now facing.
They also wish to gain better international relationships. As
the international community is looking toward their own interest,
short-term and long-term, Slorc believes that her release will
help promote foreign investment in Burma where a market of
cheap raw materials, resources and workers, is available.  

They also hope to receive international funding and assistance.

As  conditions are forwarding  the confrontation between the
Slorc and the ethnic groups, Slorc wants to use Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi as a buffer in a tactic to create confusion which in turn
will give them more time to cling on the state powers.

Slorc also wants to find out and reveals the groups which are
currently working for democracy in secret. 

Even after her release, Slorc is seeming to continue their
arrests of the young activists who threaten their power and
escalate the democracy movement.

Even though Slorc attempts to sell the national resources, as
much as they are able according to their policy, the economy has
become deteriorated and people are facing a crisis in living,
accommodations and clothing which are really essential for their
lives. As a consequence, SLorc is really concerned about the
conditions which may leads to another uprising again.

Slorc understands that they can not solve  all of these problems
even though they are handling the problems by suppressing 
potential activists very strongly, and very desperately seeking
 foreign investors to provide a staple for their ruling
machinery. Likewise, they hope to gain profits from rice exports
by increasing the quotas of rice the farmers have to sell to
them. They are especially counting on the foreign currency which
they can gain from "Tourist Myanmar Year 1996".  

It is now impossible for the Slorc to reduce their budget,
particularly on the military which has been expanded and on
government servants which are at the same time, their back bone
and potential forces to threaten their power.



VOICE OF THE PEACOCK
ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT(CHAIRMAN MOE THEE ZUN)
8888 CAMPS

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     For More Information Please Contact: Zaw Min Joint-Secretary of
                      Foreigh Affairs of the ABSDF
        Mailing: P.O Box 42, Hua Mark P.O Bangkok 10243, Thailand
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