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BurmaNet News September 15, 1995
- Subject: BurmaNet News September 15, 1995
- From: burmanet@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 21:21:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: September 15, 1995
Issue #227
Noted in Passing:
As far as it is concerned, Karnyord will be redubbed a drug
trafficker if he decides to go back to the MTA. And if he does
attack the MTA, the issue of `who's the traitor and who's the real
freedom fighter' will throw great confusion among the populace and
the resistance.And both outcomes are fine with the SLORC. -
anonymous source (see MTA MUTINEERS)
HEADLINES:
==========
S.H.A.N.: MTA MUTINEERS BEING ENGINEERED BY SLORC INTO
ARMED CONFLICT WITH MTA
ABSDF-DNA:EXCERPTS FROM "MILITARY BUREAUCRACY OF SLORC"
THE NATION: RANGOON SEEKS MORE AIRLINKS
THE NATION: WILL SLORC RESPOND TO US ENVOY'S ULTIMATUM?
BKK POST: AUSTRALIA TEAM VISITS CAMP
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S.H.A.N.: MTA MUTINEERS BEING ENGINEERED BY SLORC INTO
ARMED CONFLICT WITH MTA
September 8, 1995 Muangmai
(note: S.H.A.N. stands for Shan Herald Agency News)
The breakaway MTA group, renamed the Shan National
Army, is being forced into beginning open armed clashes with its erstwhile
mother-organisation, reported a source coming into Thailand.
Unlike the DKBO, the breakaway Karen group which enthusiastically cooperated
with SLORC forces during their campaign against the KNU, the SSNA of Major
Karnyord during its three-month long seperate existence from the MTA has
carefully refrained from starting a civil war with the MTA, among whom are the
mutineers' close friends, relatives and life long comrades.Above all, the
presence of Gunjade,Karnyord's most respected exsuperior in the vicinity proves
an almost tangible deterrent.Instead, it has turned to the tactic of persuading
the dissatisfied soldiers to desert their units, which has had some success.
However, the ambitious SLORC commanders have not been impressed with Karnyord's
exploits, and have so far refused to bankroll his psychological operations,
except to print and distribute his anti-Khun Sa pamphlets. " Everytime he turns
toward the SLORC for funds and arms", says the source, " they keep asking him
when his military operations will start. So far, he has received only K 1
million from General Khin Nyunt, who sent his aide, Col San Pwint, to talk to
him in his stead."
In the meantime, the MTA, under the new leadership, has made a series of
concessions to Karnyord's demands, which includes the recall of controversial
commanders Yiapmong and Kaw-hat, collective leadership and an end to summary
executions without trial. It also promises
amnesty and reinstatements for all returnees including Karnyord.Many prominent
Shan individuals and agencies are also mediating in order to head off an armed
conflict, which once begun would go out of control and and play directly into
the hands of SLORC.
Everything seems to rest on the decision of Karnyord, who is badly in need of
raw cash to upkeep his splinter army. The SLORC does not seem worried , so says
the source; " As far as it is concerned, Karnyord will be redubbed a drug
trafficker if he decides to go back to the MTA. And if he does attack the MTA,
the issue of `who's the traitor and who's the real freedom fighter' will throw
great confusion among the populace and the resistance.And both outcomes are fine
with the SLORC."
*******************
ABSDF-DNA:EXCERPTS FROM "MILITARY BUREAUCRACY OF SLORC"
(We found only a few civilians in the whole report and only one woman.
But then what kind of official delegation did SLORC send to Beijing?)
"Military Bureauracy of SLORC"
September 4, 1995
13 pages
from the Documentation and Research Centre, ABSDF
P.O. Box 42, Mae Hong Son P.O.
Mae Hong Son 58000, Thailand
(caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
INTRODUCTION
Since the military coup led by General Ne Win on 2 March
1962, the military has launched a systematic militarisation by
replacing almost all the intellectual civilian posts in every
adminstrative sector with the officers in uniform. With the
lack of experience in individual fields, every civil and
professorial administration has been ruined by the
monopolisation of the military. That mismanagement led the
country into the Least Developed Country (LDC) with 4000
million US$ foreign debt in December 1987.
Consequently, Burmese people called for an end to one party
dictatorship and restoration of democracy in their motherland.
Although one party rule was at its sunset because of the nation-wide uprisings
, the military took over power and established a
new junta in Sptember 1988 in order to safeguard the military
dynasty and the hierarchy of the outgoing regime. Claiming to
introduce the "Free Market Economy" in Burma, the SLORC
military junta reformed the bureaucracy. But they readopted
the old and unpopular model of militarisation, assigning army
officers to all civil administration posts. At the same time,
SLORC has been convening "National Convention" to
legitimise the role of the miltiary in Burma's future politics.
We do hope that this "Military Bureaucracy of SLORC" will
help you improve your awareness of how the regime
monopolises the civil administration.
Documentation and Research Centre
All Burma Students' Democratic Front
September 4, 1995
(1) STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION
COUNCIL
1 Senior General Than Shwe,
Chairman Prime- Minister,
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Service, Minister for
Defence
2 General Maung Aye, Vice-Chairman,
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
3 Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin
Member Deputy Prime- Minister
4 Lt-Gen. Tin Htun
Member Deputy- Prime-Minister
5 Lt-Gen. Phone Myint
Member Chairman of Security & Management Committee
6 Lt-Gen. Aung Ye Kyaw
Member Member of Security & Management Committee
7 Lt-Gen. Sein Aung
Member Minister for Industry No. 1
8 Lt-Gen. Chit Swe
Member Minister for Forestry
9 Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba
Member Minister for Hotel & Tourism
10 Lt-Gen. Maung Thint
Member. Minister for Progress of Border Area
& National Race & Development
11 Lt-Gen. Aye Thaung
Member Minister for Labor
12 Lt-Gen. Myint Aung
Member Minister for Agriculture
13 Lt-Gen. Mya Thin
Member Minister for Interior Affairs
14 Lt-Gen. Htun Kyi
Member Minister for Trade
15 Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt
Member Minister for Religious Affairs
16 Lt-Gen. Maung Hla
Member Minister for Immigration & & Manpower
17 Lt-Gen. Kyaw Min
Member Minister for Mines
18 Maj-Gen Soe Myint
Member Minister Social Welfare & Resettlement
19 Maj-Gen Nyan Lin
Member No Portfolio
20 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt
Secretary-l Director of Defence Special Intelligence
Director of Military Strategy Study
21 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo
Secretary-2 Chief of Staff
Special Operation No.(1) Commander
(2) CABINET MEMBERS OF THE SLORC
RANK NAME POSITION
1 Senior General Than Shwe Prime-Minister and Defence
2 V.Adm Maung Maung Khin Deputy Prime-Minister
3 Lt- Gen. Tin Tun Deputy Prime Minister
4 Lt-Gen. Sein Aung Industry 1
5 Lt-Gen. Chit Shwe Forestry
6 Lt-Gen. Myint Aung Agriculture
7 Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba Hotels & Tourism
8 Lt-Gen. Maung Thint Border Areas Development
9 Lt-Gen Mya Thinn Home
10 Lt-Gen. Kyaw Min Mines
11 Lt-Gen Tun Kyi Trade
12 Lt-Gen. Aye Thaung Labor
13 Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt Religious Affairs
14 Lt-Gen. Thein Win Transport
15 Lt-Gen. Min Thein Office of the Chairman of SLORC
16 Lt-Gen. Maung Hla Immigration and Population
17 Ohn Gyaw Foreign
18 (Ex-Lt-Col) Pang Aung Education
19 (Ex-Col) Win Sein Rail Transport
20 (Ex-Lt-Col) Khin Maung Thein Energy
21 SoeTha Communication, Post & Telegraph
22 Than Aung Co-operative
23 V-Adm Than Nyunt Health
24 Maj-Gen Kyaw Than Industry - 2
25 Maj-Gen Soe Myint Social Welfare & Resettlement
26 Maj-Gen Aye Kyaw Information
27 Maj-Gen Saw Tun Construction
28 Brig-Gen. Win Tin Finance & Revenue
29 Brig-Gen. David Abel Planning & Economic
Development
30 Brig-Gen. Maung Maung Livestock & Fisheries
31 Brig-Gen. Thaung Myint Culture
32 Brig-Gen. Myo Thant Office of the Chairman of
SLORC
33 Brig-Gen. Lun Maung Prime Minister's Office
34 Col Pe Thein Prime Minister's Office
35 (Ex-Col) Than Shwe Prime Ministers Office
36 Khin Maung Yin Deputy Prime Minister's
Office
37 Brig-Gen.Tin Aye Deputy- Minister (Tourism)
38 Brig-Gen. Maung Kyi Deputy Minister (Social
Welfare)
39 Col Tin Hlaing Deputy, Minister (Home)
40 Col Aung Thaung Deputy Minister (Trade)
41 Col Than Zin Deputy Minister (Health)
42 Col Kyi Maung Deputy Minister (Education)
43 Dr. Than Nyunt Deputy Minister (Education)
44 (Ex-Col) Nyunt Swe Deputy Minister (Foreign)
45 (Ex-Col) Than Nyunt Deputy Minister (Industry 1)
46 Saw Tun Deputy Minister (Industry 2)
47 Aung Phone Deputy Minister (Forestry)
48 Aung Thein Deputy Minister (Livestock &
Fisheries)
49 (Ex-Lt-Col) Soe Nyunt Deputy Minister (Culture)
50 (Ex-Col) Aung Khin Deputy Minister (Religious)
51 Kyaw Tin Deputy Minister (Border Areas)
52 (Ex-Col) Win Hlaing Deputy Minister (Mines)
53 Myint Thein Deputy Minister (Mines)
54 Tin Hlaing Deputy Minister (Agriculture)
55 (Ex-Lt-Col) San Wai Deputy Minister (Transport)
56 (Ex-Lt-Col) Thein Sein Deputy Minister (Information)
57 Tin Tun Deputy Minister (Energy)
58 (Ex-Col) Aung San Deputy Minister (Construction)
59 Kyaw Aye Deputy Minister (Labor)
60 Win Naing Deputy Minister (Finance and
Revenue)
****************
THE NATION: RANGOON SEEKS MORE AIRLINKS
15 Stember 1995
Rangoon
BURMA'S government is trying to help increase the influx of
tourists ahead of next year's "Visit Myanmar Year" by launching
air links with mire countries, media and officials said.
The Burmese government hopes for 500,000 tourists next year.
A delegation from Lao Airlines Co and Burma's Civil Aviation
Department met Transport minister Lt Gen Thein Win on Wednesday
to discuss starting a link between Laos and Burma in November.
Lufthansa Airlines' regional director Michael Uhlmann also met
the minister on Wednesday to talk about matters relating to air
services and increasing tourists arrivals, the media reported.
A German Embassy official said that Lufthansa planned to fly
between Bangkok and Rangoon via an agreement with Thai Airway
International Plc.
The airlines already have approval from German and Thai
authorities and plan to start the operation in October as soon
as Burma gives the go-ahead.
Lufthansa has no current plans to fly directly between Rangoon
and Europe because airports in Burma are not equipped to handle
large planes.
Two international airports with the capacity to handle big
aircraft are being built in Burma's second city Mandalay and
Pago, about 50 miles from Rangoon.
Discussions are also underway to start airlinks with India, a
Transport Ministry official said. Initially fights would be
between Madras and Rangoon, and services may also be extended to
Calcutta later. (TN)
****************
THE NATION: WILL SLORC RESPOND TO US ENVOY'S ULTIMATUM?
15 September 1995
State media suggest Rangoon has limited view of dialogue Aung
Zaw comments
THERE was little in the way of pleasantries ;last week when
Burma's powerful military intelligence chief, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt
met US ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, in
Rangoon.
The ambassador made sure that the Burmese junta, understood
clearly Washington's position regarding the restoration of
democracy and respect for human rights. Albright also urged
Slorc's leaders to begin a dialogue with opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi, who was released in July after spending six years
under house arrest.
As he has done to other visiting dignitaries, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt
explained the development of the National Convention, which is
supposed to draw up a new constitution and set Burma back on the
path to democracy. Khin Nyunt described the National Convention
as a process for dialogue. Albright dubbed it "phoney," saying
it was part of Slorc's long term plan to stay in power
indefinitely.
One hopeful sign that emerged from the meeting, however, was
Albright's assertion that the junta leader had hinted they may
be ready to talk to "the ;ready." Speaking at a press conference
in Bangkok, Albright said the US was "modestly encouraged" to
hear that Slorc was considering talking to Suu Kyi.
Khin Nyunt, however, stressed that the dialogue with Suu Kyi
will come only after "internal consultations" within the top
brass.
But the question that remains is, exactly what sort of dialogue
will take place? Is Rangoon's intention only to appease the
public and the world community, or will it be a meaning dialogue
that will lead to the restoration of genuine democracy?
There is still much to suggest that Slorc is less than
enthusiastic about the prospect of sitting down with the Suu
Kyi-led democracy groups.
An article entitled "Dialogue... Dialogue" that appeared in
the Slorc-controlled New Light of Myanmar recently argued that
dialogue might not be needed.
"Dialogue... Dialogue... Meet? Talk! Seek a solution at a
negotiating table! Don't seek a military solution!
Very easily said. Very easy to make exhortations. But it is not
at all easy in practical terms," the article's author Sithu
Nyein Aye asserted. The writer cited conflicts in Bosnia, the
Philippines and Sri Lanka as examples where he said dialogue had
failed.
Then he went on to attack the Western bloc and dissidents whom
he said had been telling Slorc to open a dialogue. Referring to
Slorc's ceasefire agreements with armed ethnic groups, he said,
"No praise, no congratulations and no happiness was expressed
from the Western bloc and their political pundits who keep
advocating patching up differences through dialogue have kept
mum."
The agreements reached between Slorc and ethnic
groups_specificially ceasefire agreements, so far offer little
guarantee for lasting peace. Sithu Nyein Aye said Western bloc
and dissidents are turning a blind eye on the biggest dialogue
forum consisting of representatives of all national races, of
all parties, of all elected deputies, of the peasantry, of
workers, of artists and the intelligentsia, of all the strata of
people_ the National Convention."
He asked: "Are there any other forums more important than the
National Convention?" Far from being representative, however,
most of the delegates at the National Convention were handpicked
by Slorc. Despite this, they are not allowed to speak out.
Khin Nyunt said to Albright that Slorc had "broad public
support" and that the Burmese people "smile a lot." But
Albright, saying repressive societies, replied that, such
"people often smile not because they are happy, but because they
are afraid."
Albright, also had an extended meetings with opposition
politicians, including Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, and
her close associates Tin Oo and Kyi Maung. Suu Kyi has
repeatedly expressed a readiness to start a dialogue with the
junta. "This is the only way to solve problems," she told the
BBC World Service.
Albright said she made it clear to the Rangoon generals that
they have two choices: "A choice between its present isolation
and reintegration into the international community. As a result
of my visit, the Slorc leadership undoubtedly knows what it must
do. The choice is theirs." She warned Khin Nyunt that Burma's
"isolation would deepen unless concrete steps towards political
freedom are taken." "The sooner the dialogue begins, the
better," Suu Kyi has said. (TN)
************************
BKK POST: AUSTRALIA TEAM VISITS CAMP
15 September 1995
Mae Sot
AN a Australia delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the House
of Representatives Harry Jenkins yesterday visited a Karen
refugee camp at Ban Huay Kalok of Tambon Mae Pa in this northern
border town.
Tak Governor Kasem Nakarat along with local officials led the
delegation consisting of 10 Australian MPs on an inspection of
the camp, which now accommodates more than 6000 refugees.
The Ban Huay Kalok camp was set up in 1984 after Rangoon forces
launched a major suppression drive against a number of Karen
National Union bases. The refugee camp is supported by many
Australia non-governmental organizations.
This year, the Australian government and NGOs have provided
eight financial aid, medical and personal assiatance programmes
costing upwards of 8.5 million baht for the refugees in the
camp.
The Australian delegation also inspected the Thai-Burmese
Friendship Bridge linking Mae Sot and Myawaddy across the Moei
River. (BP)