BurmaNet News December 15, 1995

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"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: December 15, 1995
Issue #302

HEADINGS:
=========
NANDO TIMES: BURMA TAKES ANOTHER TENTATIVE STEP TO ASEAN
BKK POST: ALATAS DEFENDS BURMA'S MEMBERSHIP OF ASEAN
BKK POST: BOYCOTT INVESTMENT IN BURMA, URGE STUDENTS
BKK POST: APPROVAL FOR DRAFT DEAL ON THAI-BURMA BORDER TRADE
BKK POST: MONEY-CHANGERS MUSHROOMING IN BURMESE CAPITAL
NATION: UN ACTION ON BURMA: GOVTS SHOULD PRESS FOR COMPLIANCE
FEER: DOING THE DIRTY WORK
ISBDA: NEW & SPECIAL NLD INFO VIDEOS AVAILABLE
ANNOUNCEMENT: DIAMOND JUBILEE LUNCH IN VIRGINIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NANDO TIMES: BURMA TAKES ANOTHER TENTATIVE STEP TO ASEAN
December 14, 1995  (excerpts)

BANGKOK (Dec 14, 1995 - 03:00 EST) - Long-isolated Burma steps on to the
regional stage on Friday when it attends a summit of southeast Asian
leaders for the first time, but its full integration into the booming
region is still some way off.

Rangoon-based diplomats said Burma's military government, much-criticised
in Western countries for its human rights violations, would benefit from
attending the Bangkok summit. "It's another feather in their cap. Another
vindication, as they see it, that their pariah status is starting to come
to an end and that their acceptance is growing," one diplomat said. "It's
all symbolic. They've been trading with ASEAN for ages but to be invited
into the big house as opposed to trading over the garden fence is a big thing," 
said another envoy.

Burma began introducing market reforms in late 1988 after 26 years of
disastrous central planning. But the diplomats said the reform process
still had some way to go before it could comply with requirements necessary
for inclusion in ASEAN's Free Trade Area (AFTA). "ASEAN will push them to
comply with AFTA requirements and unless they do, they won't come in," one
diplomat said. "It's a full-blown market economy which might be quite
frightening for some of the old ideologues." Said another diplomat: "In
terms of the organisational infrastructure required to meet ASEAN
commitments they're certainly not ready yet."

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

BKK POST: ALATAS DEFENDS BURMA'S MEMBERSHIP OF ASEAN
December 14, 1995  (slightly abridged)

Burma's eventual membership of Asean should not threaten good 
relations between the group and its dialogue partners, said 
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas. Neither does he 
believe Burma is cynically using membership of the Association 
of Southeast Asian Nations to enhance its international 
legitimacy and to ward off criticism over human rights and 
democratic reform.

"We hope Myanmar being with us does not, and should not, 
necessarily influence the total relationship with our dialogue 
partners," the minister told the Bangkok Post in an interview 
prior to today's fifth Asean summit.

The dialogue partners are a group of nations, including the 
US, which maintain close consultation with Asean. Today the 
leaders will sign the Bangkok Summit Declaration which will 
reaffirm Asean's commitment to expand the association to 
include Cambodia, Laos and Burma.

They will also reaffirm the commitment to achieve the Asean 
Free Trade Area by 2003 and give the mandate for negotiations 
on the liberalisation of services in certain sectors. The 
leaders of Cambodia, Laos and Burma will join their Asean 
counterparts in an unprecedented meeting on Friday.

In July, Burma acceded to the 1976 Asean Treaty of Amity and 
Cooperation, taking the first step towards observers status 
that will eventually lead to full membership. Cambodia and 
Laos, both observers of Asean, have said they would like to be 
full members in two years time.

Minister Alatas said Asean has been trying to explain to its 
dialogue partners that eventual Burmese membership should not 
affect relations. He cited, as an example, Jakarta's problems 
with Portugal over East Timor.

"Indonesia has a problem with Portugal on East Timor. Asean 
has a good relationship with the European Union. Should one 
influence the other? We say no," he said. Indonesia believes 
the East Timor problem with Portugal should be resolved in an 
"appropriate forum" he continued.

"We must be able to distinguish certain problems which are 
bilateral in nature and questions which relate to 
relationships between two countries or two regions," he said. 
Despite constant calls for Asean not to include Burma as a 
member, Minister Alatas reaffirmed the association's stance of 
constructive engagement.

"We realise Myanmar is under heavy criticism from some 
developed countries and international bodies over what are 
perceived to be human rights violations. "We believe if such a 
situation exists you have two options: isolate them and impose 
sanctions or you can draw that country out and that process is 
the one we are doing.

"Quietly talking them out of their shell and asking them to 
see the benefits of being open. "We think it has already had 
some benefits and concrete results, although it is a slow 
process," he said. "I don't believe Myanmar is trying to use 
Asean to ward off attacks by the international community."

During the summit today, the leaders are expected to discuss 
possible measures to help the transition of Cambodia, Laos and 
Burma into Asean. After the leaders of the 10 Southeast Asian 
countries meet, Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa will issue 
a chairman's statement.

Sources told the Post the draft two-page statement will cite 
economic links and increased participation by the three 
countries in all future Asean activities as the most appropriate 
way to boost ties between the association and the potential members.

The draft pinpoints exchange programmes and training and 
research collaboration as possible means to boost links. Asean 
is also expected to announce it will help the three countries 
in their transition to market economies and help them in their 
eventual participation of AFTA.

The draft ends by saying the meeting of Asean and Cambodia, 
Laos and Burma "reinforces the prospects of one Southeast Asia 
under Asean by the year 2000". The Asean leaders and their 
guests will also sign the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons-Free 
Zone Treaty today. This treaty bans nuclear weapons in the 
region_ despite a lack of support for the treaty by major military powers.

Britain, China, France, Russia and the US have expressed 
reservations over the treaty fearing it may affect the passage 
of their vessels through the region. Asean has assured the 
nuclear powers there will be "freedom of the seas."

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

BKK POST: BOYCOTT INVESTMENT IN BURMA, URGE STUDENTS
December 14, 1995

Students from a handful of countries yesterday called on their 
governments to stop public and private investment in Burma to 
prevent its ruling military junta reaping benefits from it.

The call was made by representatives of students from 
Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and Burma during a panel 
discussion at Thammasat University. They said Thailand, in 
particular, should stop business investment in Burma.Former 
Burmese student leader Maung Maung Than, speaking at a press 
conference afterwards, said any kind of financial support 
given by the Thai Government will only benefit the military 
dictators and not poor people.

Thailand has been one of the major foreign investors in Burma 
in recent years. The panel discussion was attend by 
representatives of the Asia Students Association, the Students 
Federation of Thailand, the Thai Action Committee for 
Democracy in Burma and the Overseas National Students' 
Organisation of Burma.

Also represented at the discussion were the All Burma Basic 
Education Students Union, All Burma Students' Democratic 
Front, Australia's National Student Union, Malaysia Students 
Council and the All Burma Students Democratic organisation. 
The event was closely observed by 15 plainclothes police officers.

Apart from imposing economic sanctions on Burma, the 
panellists also called for Asean governments to pay more 
attention towards easing the impact of development projects on 
the livelihoods of people in member states. Some said past and 
present governmental policies had caused a severe impact on 
the environment and livelihood of the people in the region.

Maung Maung Than claimed Burmese forests had been extensively 
damaged by Thai logging firms in recent years. He said 
although the Burmese government had imposed a ban on logging 
in 1989 a number of Thai companies still continued to operate 
in Burma. The logging actively, he claimed, has continued with 
the support of some Thai politicians and the Burmese military regime.

He said: "The Thai and Burmese governments are supporting each 
other for their own benefit. They are not really concerned for 
the environment." The student activist claimed a forced labour 
problem in Burma has also been worsening because of an 
increase in development projects there.

He referred to a United Nations' report indicating there were 
more than one million people being put into forced labour to 
implement development projects by the Burmese government. 
Letters detailing the students' calls will be handed to 
representatives of the Asean governments today.

Deputy Interior Minister Suchart Tancharoen yesterday urged 
the students to refrain from undertaking any action during the 
Asean summit that could damage the country's reputation. He 
said the Interior Ministry was willing to help process any message 
the students might have for the Asean leaders during the summit.

In a related development, a human rights group yesterday 
called on Asean leaders to put aside reservations about 
meddling in each others" affairs and raise rights violations 
at the summit, according to the AFP news agency.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) 
said it was concerned that "the prevalence of human rights 
violations in the region" would not be discussed at the 
summit. Forum-Asia said while it welcomed cooperation between 
the countries, it was concerned Asean was overlooking human 
rights violations in Indonesia, as well as Burma and Cambodia.

The Bangkok-based group said in an open letter to Asean 
leaders that "repression of peaceful dissident in East Timor 
continues unabated," citing East Timorese students who alleged 
police brutality after they staged a sit-in at the Dutch and 
Russian embassies last week.

Forum-Asia called on Asean to pressure Indonesia to end its 
presence in the former Portuguese colony it invaded in 1975, 
saying Asean members "should feel free to discuss the problems 
of other members."

Asean has resolutely maintained a policy of public unity and 
refraining from what it sees as meddling in the affairs of 
other nations. Burma and Cambodia hope to join the grouping 
but Forum-Asia said both should first "demonstrate their 
respect for the principles of peace freedom, [and] social justice."

Forum-Asia expressed "grave concern over the continuing 
serious violations of human rights in Myanmar" and said 
Asean's policy of close contact with the junta had not 
"resulted in greater respect for human rights." (BP)

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

BKK POST: APPROVAL FOR DRAFT DEAL ON THAI-BURMA BORDER TRADE
December 14, 1995

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of the border trade 
agreement between Thailand and Burma, ahead of the Burmese 
leader's arrival to attend the two-day Asean summit meeting. 
The draft agreement represents the first concrete step in the 
efforts to improve frosty Thai-Burmese relations which slipped 
late last year.

The three-page draft agreement, proposed by Burma late 
October, designates three checkpoints where border trade can 
be conducted" Burma's Tachilek opposite Chiang Rai's Mae Sai 
in the north, Myawaddy across from Tak's Mae Sot, and 
Kawthaung-Ranong in the south.

The draft opens the possibility for more trade posts to be 
authorised in the future. The agreement is good for two years 
when it comes into effect, and will be automatically extended 
for another two years at a time unless either side wishes to 
terminate it.

Once the agreement takes effect it is likely to put an end to 
the free-wheeling trade activities previously conducted by 
locals. Even though Thailand decided to conform to Burma's 
proposal to use its (Rangoon) version of the agreement which 
Bangkok regarded as "containing a few loopholes," the 
agreement will regulate trade, while offering assurance that 
Burma will open more border checkpoints in the future.

"Once the agreement is signed by the two sides, Burma will 
open at least one of the three checkpoints," the Foreign 
Ministry said in its report, quoting Burmese Trade 
Department's Director-General Kyaw Myint. The agreement sets 
regulations on the trade of certain sensitive commodities that 
include teak, rice, gems, and livestock except cattle and buffalo.

These products are banned from cross-border trade, but the 
Burmese Government allows for officially-sanctioned exchanges 
through its state enterprises. Having gone through the process 
such as opening letters of credit, these goods can then be 
transported through these checkpoints.

It is not known when Thailand and Burma would sign the 
agreement. One possible occasion for the pact to be signed is 
during the annual meeting of the joint commission chaired by 
the two foreign ministers. It is Burma's turn this year to 
host the meeting, but not date has been fixed for the meeting 
which is supposed to be place at the end of the year.

Gen Than Shwe is scheduled to call on Defence Minister Chavalit 
Yongchaiyudh at the Defence Ministry early this afternoon. The 
Burmese leader will be accompanied  by Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first 
secretary-general of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, 
and chief of military intelligence.

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

BKK POST: MONEY-CHANGERS MUSHROOMING IN BURMESE CAPITAL
December 14, 1995                     By Khin Maung Thwin
Rangoon, AFP

Money-changers, both licensed and otherwise, are on the 
increase in the Burmese capital, responding to public demand 
and reflecting the opening of the country's economy. Foreign 
Exchange Certificates (FECs), introduced just two years ago, 
have become widely used in day-to-day transactions.

Initially intended to help foreign tourists limit the losses 
they suffered from an unrealistic official exchange rate, the 
FECs now circulate among Burmese as well_ at least those in 
contact with foreigners.

 Last week, Burma officially opened an FEC trading centre in 
central Rangoon where 10 licensed currency dealers have 
booths, and Finance Minister Win Tin hailed the move as a step 
towards eliminating the black market.

The US dollar is worth around six kyats at the official rate 
of exchange and currently trades at between 110 and 130 kyats 
at what is now referred to as the market rate. Burmese 
citizens, who are not supposed to handle hard currency, may 
use FECs, which are officially pegged to the dollar. Some $10-
million worth of FECs are believed to be in circulation.

Speaking at the opening of the trading centre last 
week, Win Tin said the use of FECs had helped stabilise the 
open exchange rate, "helped bring down the price of the dollar 
and stabilise the unofficial rate."

He went on to say that the move to establish an FEC market was 
not only an important step toward "positive change" in the 
prevailing financial market but would also help eradicate 
trading in the black market.

Money-changer Soe Myint, who owns a self-proclaimed "user-
friendly" exchange counter at the newly-established FEC 
centre, said it was too soon to comment on prospects for the 
future. (BP)
****************

THE NATION: UN ACTION ON BURMA: GOVTS SHOULD PRESS FOR 
COMPLIANCE
December 14, 1995

Unless governments act soon, the confrontation over the National 
Convention may lead to a renewed crackdown by the Burmese military 
junta, writes Human Rights Watch/Asia in New York.

Following the decision on Nov 29 by the NLD to withdraw from 
the National Convention, the forum established by the military 
government to draft "principle" for a new constitution, 
tension remains high in Rangoon.

Human Rights Watch/Asia has received reports of protests 
talking place in high schools, in Insein jail and in monasteries. 
Every weekend the numbers of people attending the NLD's "people's 
forum" outside Aung San Suu Kyi's house has increased, and on 
Dec 7 more that 4,000 were reported to have gathered there.

Thus far, the Slorc has allowed these demonstrations of public 
support for the NLD to continue, but key figures in the party, 
including chairman U Tin Oo and vice chairman U Kyi Maung, are 
reported to be under constant surveillance and are routinely 
harassed. Witnesses in Rangoon have reported that there is a 
prison van parked outside U Kyi Maung's house.

At the same time, while negotiations with the KNU and the KNPP 
apparently remain deadlocked, there have been renewed attacks 
and killings by the DKBA, a group which receives military 
support from Slorc, on refugees and Thai citizens. Since Dec 
4, one refugee and three Thais have been killed.

Last Tuesday's UN General Assembly resolution welcomed the 
unconditional release on July 10 of Suu Kyi, but deplored 
ongoing human rights violations in Burma. It urged Slorc to 
release other prisoners, restore fundamental freedoms of 
depression and assembly and end forced labor. The resolution 
also called on Slorc to allow the International Committee of 
the Red Cross confidential access to the country's jails and prisons.

Regarding the National Convention, the UN insisted that the 
government "allow all citizens to participate freely in the 
political process in accordance with the principles of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Human Rights Watch/Asia recommends the following measures to 
ensure that the resolution is implemented: 

* Emergency efforts to establish an ongoing human rights 
monitoring presence in Rangoon, reporting directly to the UN's 
Special Rapporteur in Burma, Prof Yozoyokota.
As tension is expected to increase over the coming weeks and 
months, it is crucial that staff be based in Rangoon with a mandate to 
conduct on-the-ground monitoring of the human rights situation. 
Australia, the European Union, Japan and the US should consider 
taking the lead promoting and funding this initiative.

* suspension of any government-supported effort to entice or 
stimulate trade and investment in Burma.
The UK held conference to encourage British companies to 
invest in Burma only last week, and will be giving sponsorship 
to companies who participate in a trade mission to Burma in 
February, with plans fro two further mission later in the year.
Governments' policies towards Burma should be consistent with 
their principle stand at the UN, and they should avoid helping 
to underwrite Slorc's detail of basic rights by generating 
direct or indirect financial assistance.

* No bilateral or multilateral loans to Burma until key 
provisions of the UN's resolutions are fulfilled.
The World Bank issued a report in October on Burma's economic 
reforms, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently 
decided to begin a limited program there. Any efforts by the 
Slorc to respond to recommendations by the Bank or IMF 
regarding Burma's economic problems must be accompanied by 
significant actions to improve fundamental human rights.

* Japan, in particular, should refrain from restoring Official 
Development Assistance yen loans for major infrastructure 
suspended since 1988 until there is substantial human rights 
progress.

Tokyo has already rewarded Slorc with a $15 million grant for 
a nursing hospital, and $50 million as debt relief grant-in-
aid following Suu Kyi's release.

* At Asean's summit in Bangkok this week, member governments 
should use the opportunity of the presence of the Slorc 
chairman Gen Than Shwe, to make it clear that the release of 
Suu Kyi, though welcome, is not sufficient for Asean to 
consider taking further steps to integrate Burma into the 
regional grouping.
Human rights reforms which will bring about an end to the flow 
of refugees into their countries, and an end to cross border 
attacks by forces supported by the Slorc, should be a top priority.

* In the months since Suu Kyi's release, senior Burmese 
leaders have  conducted "goodwill trips" abroad, solacing 
investments, arms and closer political relations in China, 
France, Britain, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Thailand, 
Singapore, the US elsewhere. Invitations for any such visits 
in 1996 should be linked to specific actions by Slorc to 
fulfill the UN resolution.

* Steps to exert pressure on Burma to end the massive use of 
forced labour.
In his verbal report to the UN General Assembly, Yozoyokota 
stated  that Slorc leader Gen Khin Nyunt had issued a "secret 
directive" in June to discourage the practice. The government 
has yet to make the text public.
Human Rights Watch/Asia welcomes any steps by the government 
to eliminate the use of force labour, but note that with no 
rule of law for public accountability, the military is likely 
to continue to force civilians to work without pay in often 
appalling condition.

The secret directive reportedly prohibits the use of civilians 
as unpaid labours for many "development projects". but allows 
the army to continue to use civilians as porters and 
"sanitation" workers. Thus, Slorc may be sanction portering, 
the most abusive kind of forced labour, which violates not 
only International Labour Organization standards, but also the 
Geneva Convention, which Slorc ratified in 1992.

Regardless of the exact of this "secret directive", it is 
clearly not being implemented. In interviews conducted by 
Human Rights Watch/Asia in September, refugees who had arrived 
in Thailand from Kyukkyi township in Karen State between June 
and September reported that forced labour on infrastructure 
projects is continuing in those area.

Governments should press Slorc to give the Special Rapporteur 
unhindered access to all parts of Burma to monitor 
implementation of this or any other initiatives announced by 
the government in its attempt to dampen international concern 
about forced labour and its impact n potential foreign 
investors.

At the same time, governments, trade unions and employers 
organizations should investigate the practice of forced labour 
under Article 26 of the ILO, and following public hearing 
should, if necessary, considering Burma's membership of the 
organization. (TN)

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

FEER: DOING THE DIRTY WORK
ASIA'S BROTHELS THRIVE ON MIGRANT LABOUR
December 14, 1995
By Gordon Fairclough in Chiang Rai

Wan came to Thailand to make money. She had heard all about 
the "golden land" in letter from her friends. "They all encourage me 
to come," Wan says. "They told me the pay was good."

So, soon after Wan finished high school in Keng Tung, a 
sprawling market town in Burma's Shan State, she boarded a bus 
and made the 100-kilometer trip over mountain roads to the 
border. At first, she work at the maid for a Thai family. But 
the 800 baht ($28) she earned each month didn't go as far as 
she thought. She decided that to really get ahead she would 
have to try something new. She went to work in massage  parlour.

Faced with poverty at home, several hundred thousand Burmese 
have crossed into Thailand in recent years. And like Wan, a 
great many of the women- 30,000 by one estimate-have ended up 
working in the commercial sex industry. It's a pattern that's 
repeated in numerous corners of Asia, as rapid but uneven 
economic growth triggers the migration of million of job-
seekers-from countryside to city, and cross international border.

The migrant population supplies a huge portion of Asia's sex 
workers-and customers as well. Poor, disoriented and cut off 
from the social support of their home villages, they make easy 
marks for recruiter. Yet most of Burmese women working in 
northern Thailand were not kidnapped  or tricked. The word is 
out that prostitution can be highly lucrative-and no education 
or experience is required.

Now, Wan starts her evenings sitting in a small. glass-walled 
room with a dozen other women, waiting to be chosen by 
customers. She says she's 23, but her heavy make-up doesn't 
quite mask the adolescent pimple on her cheeks.

Wan says she earns about 4,000 baht a month, a fortune in 
Burma. She sends half of it home to support her family. And, 
after two years in the border town of Mae Sai, she says she 
has saved up almost enough to go into business as a 
hairdresser back home.

Her customers are mostly men from Taiwan, Singapore and China, 
drawn to the Thai town of Mae Sai by the profitable cross-
border trade. They like to spend their earnings on whisky and 
sex. In the top-end places, men pay up to 1,500 baht for a 
night with a prostitute.

"It's not such bad work," Wan says in heavily accented Thai." 
The problem is everyone looks down on you. But what are we 
supposed to do?"

Migrants such as Wan are doing a job that fewer and fewer Thai 
women want. Rising incomes and fear of AIDS have made Thai 
women less willing to work in the sex trade. And those that do 
go into the business prefer to work overseas, or in Bangkok and 
other entertainment centers where they can make the most money.

The trend is especially pronounced in border areas.  In the 
western town of Mae Sot, most prostitutes are Burmese. In 
Ranong, a port on the Andaman Sea, hundreds of Burmese women 
sell sex to their countrymen who work on Thai fishing boats.

It is not only women who work in the sex trade. Maung Htay was 
14 when he left his home in central Burma. He sneaked across 
the border into Thailand and landed a job in a restaurant in 
Mae Sai. At 16, he traveled about 200 kilometers to Chiang 
Mai, northern Thailand's commercial center. There, he went to 
work in a dingy gay bar.

The money is good. says Maung Htay (not real name), and the 
work isn't too hard. He gyrates on stage in his underwear, 
trying to entice tourists to have sex with him. Maung Htay, 
now 17, says he earns an average of about 10,000 baht a month, 
more than he ever dreamed he could make in  Burma. "My parents 
have no idea what I'm doing," Maung Htay says. And, he says 
they are glad to get the 5,000 baht that the sends each month.

Many of the prostitutes' customers are also migrants, job-
seekers from Burma and Thailand's own less-developed rural 
areas. Most of Thailand's industrial labour force is made up 
of young men and women who have left home for the first time 
to find work. They are separated from their families and have 
escaped from the social constraints of village life. Many look 
to brothels for comfort and fun.

Take the case of Boi. He came to Chiang Mai at 15 looking for 
work. Away from his parents, and with cash in his pocket, his 
teenage longings for experimentation drew him to Kampaeng Din, 
the city's notorious red-light district. He started having sex 
with prostitutes and has been a regular customer since.

"The girls all have numbers pinned to their chest so you can 
pick them out. Some of them are really cute," he says. Boi 
worries about getting AIDS, so he says he's careful: "I always 
wear two condoms. I but my own at the 7-eleven."

The flesh trade is highly lucrative, and the authorities make 
sure they get a piece of the action. Women in Mae Sai say they 
must pay the Thai police 500 baht each month to avoid 
deportation. In many cases, the police do more than just turn 
a blind eye. They are actually involved in the business. A 
prostitute in one combination massage parlour and karaoke 
lounge in Mae Sai reassured a guest after a police man walked 
past. "No problem" she said. ""He work here"

But protection bought from corrupt cops comes with no 
guarantees. As illegal immigrants working in an illegal 
industry, people like Maung Htay and Wan are especially 
vulnerable. They cannot go to the authorities for help, since 
they would risk imprisonment and deportation. They also end up 
working in the least remunerative and most dangerous places. 
And because they don't know as much about AIDS prevention as 
their Thai counterparts, they have much higher infection rates.

Aid workers in Bangkok argue that improving workers' (word 
missing) could reduce their involvement in prostitution. "We should 
register migrant workers, give them work permits and allow them to 
bring their families," says Sanphasit Koonpraphant, director 
of the Center for the Protection of Children's Rights.

But few governments would be willing to take such measures, 
which would encourage migrant workers to settle permanently in 
the host countries. Even more significantly, there's no 
guarantee they would be effective: Millions of Thai who have 
migrated from the countryside to the cities have full legal 
status, but they're usually young and single for economic 
reasons-housing and feeding a family in a place like Bangkok 
would be too expensive.

Driven by economic, migration continues. At any one time, as 
many as 100 million people are on the move in China. Thailand, 
in addition to its own internal immigrants, has an estimated 
30,000 illegal Burmese migrants and 100,000 illegal Chinese 
immigrants, according to the government. An estimate 1 million 
Indonesians have migrated to Malaysia, and approximately 1.4 
million Philippine nationals are working in other Asian 
countries.

As long as poverty drives these migrants away from their 
homes, some will keep finding their way into prostitution. 
Says Khin, a prostitute in Mae Sai: "If I didn't come here, my 
mother wouldn't have anything to eat." 

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


ISBDA: NEW & SPECIAL NLD INFO VIDEOS AVAILABLE
December 13, 1995

		New and Special NLD Info Videos Available!
			From: kyawtint@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Special Volume 1: NLD Video Document on the National Day, Nov. 16, 1995.
Special Volume 2: Private Video Document on the Independent Day, Jan. 4, 1995.

Regular Releases:
"Burma's Democracy Struggle and Our Future Prospect, 
                                  vol. #17, #18, #19, #20, #21 and  #22."

Dear Friends:

ISBDA would like to announe the1995 final distribution of video tapes which
includes two special volumes and the regular series of  "Burma's Democracy
Struggle and Our Future Prospect, vol. #17, to #22."The tapes were recorded
during September to November and distributed by the NLD HQ to its members. In
Vol #22, you can see how SLORC placed barricades on the road to disturb the
assembly in front of Daw Suu's home.

Special Volume 1  covered the whole National Day Ceremony held at the NLD
Headquarters on November 16, 1995. 
Special Volume 2 covered a Dinner Party of Independent Day which was organized
by senior Burmese Nationalists (Thakhin Gyis) on January 4, 1995, long before
Daw Suu's release.

Descriptions for Regular Series are as follows:

Volume #17  covered  the discussion of NLD leaders with  the party officials and
members of Kwanchangon Township on September 6, 1995.     (US$15)

Volume #18  covered  the discussion of NLD leaders with  the party officials and
members of Mayangon Township on September 26, 1995.    (US$15)

The tape #19, #20, #21 and #22 are the serial video documents of public speeches
and discussions in Burmese by the NLD leaders headed by Daw  Aung San Suu Kyi,
based on the  questions by the people gathered every weekends in front of  Daw
Suu's resident on the following dates, respectively:

                        October 21 & 22, 1995.
(US$15)
                        October 28, 29 and November 4, 1995.        (US$15)
                        November 12, 1995.
(US$15)
                        November, 18 &19, 1995.
(US$15)

People who interested in sharing these tapes must send return address  to ISBDA,
202-601 Chohai 3-chome, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan 480-11 with enclosed check or
international MO payable to Htay H. Kyi.

_OnlY FoR YoU:_

Those friends who have reputation of sharing previous video & audio sets are
suggested to send an email mentioning that he or she has just mailed the payment
so that we can process for shipping the new volumes without confirming the
payment.   

copying + handling fees ==>

Burma's Democracy Struggle and Our Future Prospect, vol. #13, #14, #15. #16:
 ===========(previous set)===============   US$ 60.0 per set.

Burma's Democracy Struggle and Our Future Prospect, vol. #9, #10, #11. #12:
 ===========(previous set)===============   US$ 60.0 per set.

Burma's Democracy Struggle and Our Future Prospect, vol. #6, #7, #8:
 ===========(previous set)===============   US$ 35.0 per set.

Five Audio Tapes (C60s):
===========(previous set)===============   US$ 25.0 per set.

Burma's Democracy Struggle and Our Future Prospect, vol. 5:
 ===========(previous set)===============   US$ 15.0 per copy.

August 11 Press Briefing Audio Tape (C60):
===========(previous set)===============   US$ 10.0 per copy.

Burma's Democracy Struggle and Our Future Prospect, vol. 3 and 4:
 ===========(previous set)===============   US$ 25.0 per set.

Burma's Democracy Struggle and Our Future Prospect, vol. 1 and 2: 
 ============(previous set) ==========   US$ 25.0 per set.

Please clearly mention the tape volume numbers in your order and we will
immediately air-mail  after receiving your payment. 

All video tapes are recorded by home video camera system on NTSC VHS format.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: DIAMOND JUBILEE LUNCH IN VIRGINIA
December 14, 1995

Dear all friends:

We are excited to invite you to join us for luncheon at George Mason
University on Sunday, December 17 1995 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee
of Rangoon University.  A variety of Burmese cuisine will be served and
a traditional concert will be followed. Burmese of young and old
generations will gather to share their unforgettable stories and insights
of their alma mater.  For further information, contact 301 4246009.

                          17 December 1995, Sunday  1:30 - 4:30pm
                          George Mason University
                      Metro Campus Professional Center
                          3401 North Fairfax Drive
                          Arlington, Virginia 22201


Directions:
>From Maryland:  Take 495 to Virginia; take Interstate 66 East (left exit)
toward Washington; take Fairfax Drive/Glebe Road exit. Stay on Fairfax
Drive; George Mason on your left.

>From Virginia:  Take interstate 66 East; follow above direction.
>From Washington DC; Take interstate 66 West; follow above direction.
Metro: Blue line to National Airport; take Virginia Square station; GM
located 2 blocks away.

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