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BurmaNet News Septembe 13, 1995
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: 13 September 1995
Issue #225
Noted In Passing:
They're even trying to get exclusive market areas by
sending their sales promotion girls to certain restaurants to
serve the consumers their products. In some cases, they entice
the restaurant owners to boycott other brands by offering
attractive incentives. - a local advertising agent on beer
marketing in Burma.
(quoted in COMPETITION FOAMS UP IN BURMA BEER MARKET)
HEADLINES:
==========
PROJECT MAJE: NOTES ON U.S. SANCTIONS
BEYOND RANGOON INFO
ICFTU-APRO: BURMA-POST CARD CAMPAIGN
BKK POST: CONCERN OVER SHORTAGE OF BURMESE HANDS
BKK POST: DKBA TROOPS ROB LOCAL THAI OFFICIAL BUT RELEASE
HOSTAGES
NATION(EDITORIAL): SLORC MUST BE PRESSURED INTO A
DIALOGUE WITH SUU KYI
NATION: LETTER TO THE EDITOR - NO TO ARROGANCE
ADDRESS BY SENATOR GARETH EVANS TO THE ASEAN PMC 7+7 SESSION
BKK POST: COMPETITION FOAMS UP IN BURMA BEER MARKET
BKK POST: ASEAN TO PRESS FOR BURMA, CAMBODIA AND LAOS TO JOIN
-------------------
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BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST
BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of
different topics related to Burma. The scope of the subjects
involved is simplytoo broad for any one person to cover.
BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteer
coordinators to field questions on various subjects. If you
have questions on any of the following subjects, please
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someone who can:
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N O T E S O N U.S. S A N C T I O N S
A G A I N S T B U R M A 'S R E G I M E
By Edith T. Mirante, Project Maje, September 1995
-------------------------------------------
The idea that "unilateral sanctions by the United States won't work"
is wrong:
** The US has consistently been among Burma's SLORC regime's top
five foreign investors during the last few years. Removal of
that huge income source would mortally wound the SL0RC, which
depends on infusions of overseas hard currency to stay armed and
in power.
** One particular project, the Tenasserim gas pipeline, is the
SLORC's largest current and potential income-generating scheme;
the US oil company Unocal, is a major partner in the pipeline.
Other US oil/gas companies -- Texaco and Arco -- are also huge
investors, having paid millions of dollars to the SLORC.
Sanctions would end their relationship with the regime. If the
US companies withdrew, it would probably not be worthwhile for
other oil companies (such as France's Total, Britain's Premier,
and Japan's Nippon) to continue their Burmese gas investments
without them. The profit margin is low on such gas sales, and
the risk is extremely high, so companies try to spread the risk
around a partnership. US money has been a crucial component of
such partnerships.
** The SLORC has hopes of a lot of "pie in the sky" investment
projects, including new cities and the "year of tourism", but
little has come of them. SLORC remains deeply in dept, with low
currency reserves and high inflation. They are, however,
convinced that they will get a steady income if the gas pipeline
is built -- this helps make them reluctant to cede any power to
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government. The thought that the
oil company money could be removed by US sanctions is extremely
frightening to SLORC, sources with Rangoon contacts report.
** As well as its investments, the US is a significant importer of
some Burmese goods such as teakwood (from endangered forests)
and jumbo shrimp (from overfished seacoast). The SLORC makes
money from such sales, and has waged war on ethnic minorities
for access to these natural resources. Removing the US as a
market for these goods would both help stop the ravaging of
Burma's environment, and take income away from the SLORC.
The idea that "sanctions might hurt the common people" in Burma is
wrong:
** Income from US investments has been going directly to the SLORC
(oil/gas companies) for the most part, and otherwise to various
cronies of the military regime (Pepsico bottling plant, and
garment manufacturing). Withdrawal of the US investments would
take money away from Burma's military, and hamper its ability to
buy weapons.
** US investment since 1989 have served to build a richer SLORC,
with an immense and well armed Burma Army. Thc country is open to
business-people and tourists, but slavery and other human rights
abuse occurs on a massive scale, often right out in the open. In
pouring money into the regime's coffers, US companies have been
complicitous in the continued existence of the regime Worse, US
investment in the Tenasserim gas pipeline scheme has led to
large-scale human rights abuse in SLORC's security campaign for
the pipeline region. Sanctions would put a stop to such
collaboration with the regime.
** As foreign investments have increased in Burma, the military
elite and its cronies have gotten richer and richer, while the
average people have gotten poorer and poorer, and victimized by
inflation. A false free-market economy exists -- in reality, the
economy is as controlled by the military as it was when it was
called "socialism". US investments perpetuate this system, and
benefits do not trickle down to the vast majority of people in
Burma. US projects have employed few people in Burma, and those
employees usually must have the approval of the regime. Garment
companies have withdrawn, citing the inevitability of SLORC
involvement in Burma ventures.
** As consumer goods are largely imported to Burma through
neighbors, on an informal basis, the cancellation of US imports
to Burma through sanctions would have little effect on US
companies or on Burmese consumers. The most high-profile US
consumer prodoct in Burma is Pepsi-Cola and its removal would
certainly not cause any hardships for the average Burmese. Most
people in Burma are living in a subsistence agricultural economy,
and are not now using the American imports such as cell-phones;
sanctions would not hurt them. There are rice shortages in Burma,
but the SLORC is exporting rice for prestige purposes; a US ban
on trade in Burmese agricultural products would help keep food
inside Burma, where it is needed, rather than having it traded
for goods Like Pepsi syrup and bottles overseas.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edith T. Mirante is author of Burmese Looking Glass: A Human Rights
Adventure (Atlantic Month1y press), and director of Project Maje, an
independent information project on Burma's human rights and
environmental issues, which she founded in 1986. She has traveled
extensively in Burma's frontier regions.
******************************
BEYOND RANGOON INFO
If someone wants to get Beyond Rangoon, please try to contact this address.
Roadshow Distributors
Village Roadshow Pictures
Suite 1590, 2121 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles 90067
USA
Tel:213 282 5300
Fax:213 282 5339
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Powerful and thought-provoking."_ Alan Silverman (Voice of America).
"A remarkably affecting action film. Boorman is one of the great
filmmaking masters" _ Polly Frost (ELLE).
"Visually stunning and totally absorbing"_ Michael Medved (New York Post).
"Visually compelling... Inspired by terribly real events..."Beyond
Rangoon" is inspired by real events."_ Kenneth Turan (LA Times).
"Grippingly suspenseful"_ Rex Reed (New York Observer).
"TRUTH HAS A WITNESS..."
*****************************
ICFTU-APRO: BURMA-POST CARD CAMPAIGN
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions - Asian and Pacific
Regional Organization
September 4, 1995
To: Affiliates, friendly organizations and Asian Representatives
Jointly, the ICFTU/APRO/ITS are asking trade unions and their
members to take part in a "post card campaign" to add strength to
the efforts of all of us, in assisting our Burmese brothers and sisters
to restore trade union, democratic and other human rights to their
country.
Burma has been under military dictatorship for the last thirty three years.
In 1988, a split in the military resulted in the establishment of a new regime
calling itself the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). In 1990,
the SLORC allowed democratic election which were overwhelmingly won by
the National League for Democracy then headed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
at the time was under house arrest (she was released in June this year). The
SLORC refused to recognize the election result declared on 18 September 1995
(sic), and began systematically detaining, torturing and persecuting its
opponents.
The post card campaign is one element of the effort of the free and democratic
trade union movement of which you are part, to assist in overcoming the
injustice of the military junta in Burma.
18 SEPTEMBER TO 31 DECEMBER 1995
We want to keep this post card campaign going until at least the end of
1995. To achieve this, we request that your organization reproduce supplies
of the post card and further distribute them amongst your organization's
affilitiates, activists and members; even your friends.
ICFTU-APRO and ITS AFFILIATES MAY BE ABLE TO SUPPLY CARDS
IF NECESSARY
If you cannot reproduce the post card but are prepared to take part in this
campaign to show international solidarity with our Burmese brothers and
sisters, please request ICFTU-APRO or one of the ITSs for additional
copies.
There is no upper limit on the number of post cards that we want to have
delivered to Burmese embassies but we would like at least a minimum of
10,000 in each country where there is an embassy or other mission.
Yours sincerely,
Takashi Izumi
General Secretary
*********************
BKK POST: CONCERN OVER SHORTAGE OF BURMESE HANDS
September 13, 1995 Mae Sot, Tak
REPRESENTATIVES of local employers have lodged a petition
with Tak MPS, calling for an urgent solution to the shortage
of Burmese labourers in Mae Sot District..
Warit Chinsai, manager of the Bangkok Rubber Co, led just
over 30 employers to meet Democrat MPs for Tak on Sunday.
They move followed the Tak provincial administration's ann-
ouncement that Thai employers were to pay, by August 21,
guarantee money for Burmese workers registered with the Local
Administration Department..
Only a small number of employers have put up the guarantee
for just over 700 workers.
The failure of business owners to meet the requirement led to
a crackdown on Burmese workers in the district.(BP)
***************
BKK POST: DKBA TROOPS ROB LOCAL THAI OFFICIAL BUT RELEASE
HOSTAGES
13 September 1995 Ta Song Yang, Tak
HEAVILY-ARMED troops of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
crossed the border yesterday and robbed a local official.
They made off with a shotgun belonging to local authorities,
27,000 baht in cash, and valuables worth about 5,000 baht,
a border source said.
There were 24 of them, armed with M- 16 and AK-47 assault
rifles and RPG rocket launchers.
They intruded into Ban Mae Usu, Tambon Mae Tan at about l
a.m., robbing Bunphing Klinhom, 46, assistant village
headman.
Before returning to Burma along the Moei River, they took as
hostages Mr Bunphing and a Karen villager identified as Kyaw
Aye San.
Mr Bunphing was freed unharmed at the border. Mr Kyaw Aye San
was released in the evening shortly after the robbers
reached their base in Burma.
The incident prompted Phanlop Sripa, a Tha Song Yang
district officer, to dispatch defence volunteers to the
village.
Mr Phanlop has reported the incident to the Tak governor, to
the commander of the 34th TasK Force and Interior Ministry.
He said the DKBA members intruded into Thailand to arrest
Maung Kyaw, an ex DKBA member, who had earlier fled to a Thai
village near Ban Mae Usu where the robbery took place.
The deputy superintendent of Tha Song Yang, Anand Sangthong,
has ordered a police team to patrol border villages.
The intrusion of DKBA soldiers indicates that they
intentionally violated Thai sovereignty, Pol Lt-Col Anand
said. He pointed out that, in robbing an official and seizing an
official weapon, they broke the law.
The DKBA leader in Burma has been contacted to hand over the
seized weapon to Thai authorities, Pol Lt-Col Anand said.
Thai authorities await a reply from the DKBA. Such
intrusions are terrifying for Thai villagers at the border,
Pol Lt-Col Anand said.
He is to propose that the commander of Task Force 34, in his
capacity as chairman of the local Thai-Burmese Border
Committee, lodge a protest with Burmese authorities since the
intruders were Burmese nationals. (BP)
***************
THE NATION (EDITORIAL): SLORC MUST BE PRESSURED INTO A
DIALOGUE WITH SUU KYI
13 September 1995
UNITED States ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine
Albright, late last week delivered a blunt message to Burma's
military leaders. The military junta must undertake demo-
cratic reforms before Rangoon can expect closer ties with
Washington, she told Slorc chief Khin Nyunt.
The US envoy dubbed the National Convention, which was
organized by Slorc to draft a new constitution, a "phoney"
operation and rejected Khin Nyunt's characterization of it is
as "a meaningful process for dialogue".
Burmese democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed
from house detention on July 10, criticized the junta
recently for severely restricting open debate of the new
drawn up in dialogue with the people to reflect their views.
The two women have made things very clear to the junta. Slorc
must be allow the participation of the Burmese people in any
political process, and perfunctory shows where Burmese have
been personally selected by the military to discuss and
formulate the constitution will just and work.
But the Slorc seems to be having a problem. It just doesn't
trust the people.
STILL CLIMATE OF FEAR
Bringing this up at her press conference on Saturday in
Bangkok, Albright commented: "Khin Nyunt expressed the belief
that Slorc had broad public support, and observed that the
Burmese people smile a lot. I said that it had been my
experience in a lifetime of studying repressive societies
that dictators often delude themselves into believing they
have popular support, but that people often smile not because
they are happy, but because they are afraid.
Indeed, a climate of fear still prevails in Burma despite Suu
Kyi's release. The general notion among many Rangoon based
diplomats is that the NLD leader is only free from house
arrest to receive guest in her compound for evening tea and
nothing beyond that.
It is uncertain whether Slorc will talk to the NLD leader
despite the US envoy being "modestly encouraged" over the
junta's consideration "after internal consultations". It
still remains some thing of a mystery as to what the generals
are planning to do. So far there have not been any indica-
tion whatsoever of recognizing the results of the 1990
election where Suu Kyi's NLD won a majority of the seats in
the country's legislature.
One thing, however, is definite. The junta is just is just
waiting for Suu Kyi to make a confrontational move in order
to defeat her popularity. The Nobel Peace laureate realizes
this and for that reason, since her release, she has always
called for dialogue, saying, "In politics one should always
adopt an attitude of cautious optimism. All problems have to
be solved through dialogue. The sooner the dialogue the
better for the people. Dialogue has to be realized.
UN RESOLUTION
It seem the US intends to maintain pressure on Slorc through
the UN. At the previous general assembly, a UN resolution on
Burma was passed, but the Rangoon junta thought it could
deflect international criticism just by releasing Suu Kyi,
and overlooking others provisions. But Albright intends to
make sure the Burmese generals respect the UN resolution and
realize their international obligation.
"The Government's release of Aung San Suu Kyi was just one of
many steps the UNGA called on the government to take. It is
now time to take the many other steps necessary to restore
democracy in accordance with the will of the people as
expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990," she said
in Bangkok.
This stand by the Clinton administration s indeed laudable.
But for Slorc to get the message, it is also necessary for
Asean to turn the screws.
Diplomats action, more aggressive and demanding positions in
relation to ties with Slorc, are necessary. With Burma
showing its eagerness to join Asean, It is important for the
regional grouping to make sure genuine changes in Burma are
implemented before it is granted full membership.
Asean leaders should remind Slorc that constructive
engagement is a give and take situation. The diplomatic
recognition that the junta is desperately seeking from Asean
must come with conditions. The prerequisite is that the
Burmese generals must be seen as working towards a more open
democratic society. (TN)
****************************************
NATION: LETTER TO THE EDITOR - NO TO ARROGANCE
September 12, 1995
In Burma, the ruling Slorc has an image problem. They continue to
detain many students and polidcal activists and refuse to hand
power to the people represented by the National League for
Democracy.
They are also constantly harassing and intimidating party leaders
and elected representatives. They have set Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
free, but refuse to hold a dialogue with her. It's as if she
doesn't exist at all.
Slorc rules the country at gunpoint or tries to portray and
legitimate its image. But despite all this repression, Thai Defence Minister
Gen. Chavalit Yong Chaiyudh still visited Burma recently. He obviously
sides with Slorc for economic reasons. He considers Suu Kyi, our
national leader who has worldwide support, as just an ordinary
politician and did not even bother meeting with her. For that
alone, Gen Chavalit will be remember as a staunch defender of
Slorc. We,the All Burma Basic Education Studer Union (ABBESU),
and all the democracy loving people in Burma, deplore his
arrogant behaviour.
ABBESU
Bangkok
**************
ADDRESS BY SENATOR GARETH EVANS, FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA,
TO THE ASEAN PMC 7+7 SESSION, Bandar Seri Bagawan, 2 August 1995.
(editor's note: this is a small excerpt only)
If we look back over the last year since ASEAN and its dialogue partners
met in Bangkok, it would be fair to say that we have seen in the intervening
twelve months a consolidation and strengthening of the sense of community
amongst Asia-Pacific nations. This is reflected not only in the further
development of APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum, but perhaps also in a
growing call that disputes in both the economic and the security fields
not be resolved unilaterally but be addressed in a cooperative manner with
the interests of the broader Asia-Pacific community in mind.
Economically, the Asia Pacific Region has been going from strength to
strength, reflecting its pre-eminence as the fastest growing region in
the world. This robust growth will be further enhanced by the historic
declaration made last December at the APEC leaders meeting in Bogor. The
agreement to achieve free trade in the region by 2010 for industrialised
countries and 2020 for developing countries will have the end result of
establishing an open market of around two billion people. It is pleasing
too, that at a sub-regional level trade liberalisation is gathering
pace. A good example is ASEAN's decision to speed up the implementation of
the ASEAN Free Trade Area and significantly broaden its coverage.
With regard to Myanmar, we of course welcome the release of Aung San Suu
Kyi as an important action by the military leadership of that country.
It is heartening to see that since her release she has laid stress
on the need for dialogue, for reconciliation and for inclusiveness rather
than for confrontation and division. But it is vital that none of us in
the region should now send a message to the military leadership of Myanmar
that it has now done enough simply by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi - that it
simply has to wait out international disapproval for a year or two more and
that it will be accepted into regional organisations without need for
further change. All of us should make clear to the military leadership
of Myanmar that we need further indications of its intention to move down
the path towards reconciliation. We should make clear to that leadership
that the region will respond in a measured and positive way to the
benchmark steps it takes towards that reconciliation, but that those steps
need to be taken.
********************************
BKK POST: COMPETITION FOAMS UP IN BURMA BEER MARKET
September 13, 1995
BURMA'S Mandalay Beer, first brewed during British colonial rule
more than 100 years ago, is preparing to battle increasingly
stiff competition from foreign brands flooding he recently opened
and fastgrowing beer market.
For decades during Burma's Experiment with a closed, centrally
planned economy, Mandalay Beer was virtually the only choice for
the nation's beer drinkers.
But with the liberalisation of international trade in the
late 1980s, foreign beers including well-known European and
Southeast Asian brands, and numerous cheap Chinese brews - have
appeared to challenge, and in some cases overtake, Mandalay as
market leader.
There are now about 50 brands from 25 countries available in
Burma, and industry sources estimate the Dutch brand Heineken has
35% of market share in Rangoon. Second is Singapore's Tiger with
30%, with Mandalay following on 20%.
The Mandalay Brewery, established by the British in Burma's
second city in 1886, was handed over by the state last year to a
joint venture set up between the Ministry of Industry and the
private firm Myanma Yang Chi Oo Co.
The brewery's output is six million litres per year and
preparations are under way to double that capacity and improve
the quality of the product, Myanma Yang Chi Oo marketing director
Ye Myint said.
"We're trying to improve the quality of the beer under the
guidance of three Swedish beer experts a brew master, a technical
expert and a consultant," he said. "We have also arranged to
invest $6.32 million for boosting production."
Other plans include producing Mandalay beer in cans and in
small 330cc bottles. It is currently only available in large
640cc bottles which retail at 120 kyat each, equivalent to a
hefty $18 at the official rate of exchange but a more realistic
$1.10 at the black-market rate.
Draft Mandalay beer will also soon be available at 10 retail
outlets in Rangoon and five in Mandalay, becoming Burma's first
draft beer, Ye Myint said.
Mandalay Beer is particularly popular with middle-income
consumers and almost every foreign tourist arriving in Burma
samples the brew, he said Industry sources say wide-spread
smuggling of beer into Burma makes it impossible to pin down
aggregate consumption figures.
"No one can tell you correctly the amount of beer sold here
because they don't know how much slips in through illegal
channels without being checked by customs," one beer wholesaler
said.
But everyone in the industry agrees that, with its 45
million people, the Burmese beer market is growing fast and
competition is fierce.
Both Heineken and Tiger are brewed by Singapore-based Asia
Pacific Breweries Ltd but rival local agents handle marketing and
sales promotion activities in Burma. Competition is especially intense
between market leaders Heineken, Tiger and Mandalay.
"They are using every possible sales promotion method
advertising on TV, billboards, small signboards, publications,
sponsoring sports games and contests," said one advertising agent
who declined to be identified.
"They're even trying to get exclusive market areas by
sending their sales promotion girls to certain restaurants to
serve the consumers their products. In some cases, they entice
the restaurant owners to boycott other brands by offering
attractive incentives," he said without elaborating.
Various government departments are also cashing in on the rivalry
by charging for all billboard and television advertising in
hard-currency dollars.
Competition is expected to heat up even more when APB starts
brewing Tiger beer in Burma at its $30-million joint-venture
brewery which is scheduled to open next September.
The new brewery will begin with an annual output of 14
million litres of Tiger beer, later rising to 45 million litres.
The competition is getting nervous. "We can't afford to lag behind them.
Discussions are underway for us to set up a brewery here," said a
Carlsberg agent.
Meanwhile, Burma's beer drinkers are still unsure what the
beer war means for them. "The market is becoming very competitive,
but we have to wait to see whether we consumers will enjoy any benefit or not,"
said one regular beer drinker.
*****************************************************************
BKK POST: ASEAN TO PRESS FOR BURMA, CAMBODIA AND LAOS TO JOIN
September 13, 1995 by Saritdet Marukatat Phuket
LEADER of the member countries of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations are to promise to make every effort to fulfil the
aspirations of ASEAN's founders by including Burma, Cambodia and
Laos in the grouping.
They will make the pledge as part of a declaration at the
ASEAN summit which Thailand is hosting on December 14-15.
Senior officials of the foreign ministries of ASEAN member
countries will discuss the draft declaration here today.
The director-general of the America and South Pacific
affairs department, Sarasin Veeraphol, drew attention to another/
highlight of the summit.
This will be, if it can be completed in time, the signing of
a treaty for a Southeast Asian nuclear weapons-free zone.
Mr Sarasin said the document concerning the nuclear weapons-free
zone has almost been completed.
Some issues need further discussion, but he is optimistic
that the proposal will be ready when the ASEAN leaders meet in
Bangkok.
Mr Sarasin chaired yesterday's working group to discuss
political and security cooperation issues which will be placed in
the Bangkok declaration.
The senior ministry official said the chances of Burma,
Cambodia and Laos becoming part of the organisation are very
high.
This follows Burma's accession to the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation on July 27 in Brunei on the eve of the ASEAN foreign
ministers' meeting.
Burma has made clear that it would like to join ASEAN
although it has not said when, he added.
Rangoon's accession to the ASEAN treaty opens the door for
that country to become an observer at some stage.
Cambodia and Laos, which are currently observers, have
informed the grouping that they plan to become new members by
1997.
Mr Sarasin said ASEAN leaders will encourage the three
countries to join the club by "vowing to share prosperity with
them". The "integration" of all 10 Southeast Asian states is the
ultimate goal of ASEAN.
The summit declaration will be "forward-looking" and will
reflect ASEAN's future role. The intended role of ASEAN is for it
to be more active in political, security, economic and social cooperation.
It will be concerned with expanding within the grouping and
with other groupings and international organisations.
The future of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and how to improve
living standards in the region will be among the items in the
declaration, Mr Sarasin said.
Future security cooperation will be comprehensively
discussed, including such issues as economic growth, migration
and the sharing of natural resources, he said.
"It's time ASEAN discussed these issues (in the security
forum)," he said.
Thailand will propose discussions to expand ties among
people in ASEAN countries at the meeting of senior ASEAN Foreign
Ministry officials here, he added.
The proposed talks follow Foreign Minister Kasem S.
Kasemsri's proposal in Brunei for an ASEAN council.
According to M.R. Kasem, the body should be composed of
people from ASEAN member countries "from all walks of life" for
discussions to expand relations and to provide input their
governments.
***************************************************************
Typed by Research Department of ABSDF [MTZ]
*****************************************************************