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BurmaNet News March 11, 1996



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The BurmaNet News: March 11, 1996
Issue #359

Noted in Passing: 

		[T]here are some women who think highly of aliens 
		and fail to safeguard own race [sic].
		- Khin Nyunt in a speech to the Myanmar Women's
		Entrepreneurs Association
		(see NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: PERSPECTIVES)

HEADLINES:
==========
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: PERSPECTIVES - UNDISPUTABLE 
ABSDF: KNPP AND ABSDF FORCES RETREAT FROM NOGLONG
BKK POST: BURMA BARS UN HUMAN RIGHTS DELEGATE FROM 
UVI NET: TOTAL DENIES AFP REPORT OF ARMED ATTACK
BKK POST: PRESS-GANG LABOUR HELPING ROAD WORK
NATION: PM'S BURMA TRIP TO INCLUDE MANDALAY STOP
ASAHI EVENING NEWS: SUU KYI URGES JAPANESE FOR PEACE
ASAHI EVENING NEWS OPINION: ASIA MUST ARM WITH SKILLS
INDEPENDENT REPORT: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN G. R.
THE HINDU: TRADE WITH MYANMAR STOP AT EXPLORATORY VISITS
NATION: BURMESE HALT MOEI RIVER CONSTRUCTION
BURMANET: BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: PERSPECTIVES - UNDISPUTABLE 
PROMINENT ROLE OF MYANMAR WOMEN
February 27, 1996

[Editor's Note: The Myanmar Women Entrepreneur's Association and
 the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Assoication are not independent
organizations.  Although The MWEA actually began as an independent 
organization, Khin Nyunt took an active interest in their activities and 
insisted on paricipating in their first anniversary celebration a few weeks ago.
The SLORC demanded that 40 blank invitations be sent to them for SLORC
officials, and just a few days before, the time of the event had to be changed 
to fit Khin Nyunt's schedule.   Khin Nyunt's wife is one of the founders 
of the Myamnar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, which works very
closely with the Ministry of Health.  The second to last paragraph refers to 
"women who like aliens". This is a slur against Aung San Suu Kyi.]

A Myanmar woman has generally been responsible for managing family
affairs ranging from taking care of the famliy members' basic needs to 
managing financial matters thereby sharing responsibilities with her
spouse.  Many women are not confined to their homes.  Grasping equal
opportunities provided for men and women, they engage in professions
of their choice.  As a result, there have emerged successful Myanmar
women in cultural, religious, education. art, health and economic spheres
throughout history.

We are today actively engaged in allround development projects.  The
private sector has been given a good measure of liberty to take advantage 
of market oriented economic policies being practiced.  Myanmar women,
too, have taken this opportunity and formed the Myanmar Women 
Entrepreneurs' Association last year.  The association, made up of successful
and prominent Myanmar women, held its first anniversary the other day.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council Lt.-Gen Khin Nyunt said members of the association is unitedly and 
successfully in business reflecting the inherent qualities of Myanmar women.  
He remarked this as an indication that Myanmar women have secured a suitable
place in Myanmar society.

In fact, Myanmar society has high regards for them.  Taking advantage of due
encouragement extened by the government, the Myanmar Maternal and Child
Welfare Assoication is looking after the welfare of mothers and children who
constitute the vast majority of the country's population.  The MMCWA, also,
has a similar success story during its short history.

Still, they have hidden potentials to do better than what has already been 
achieved.  As the Secretary 1 has pointed out, they can make parallel efforts 
in economic, political and social fields at a time when there are attempts to 
distrub and disrupt the constructive endeavours.  All the available resources
under their power and control should be mobilized and put to good use in
these fields in the national and public interest.  

At the same time, there are some women who think highly of aliens and fail
to safeguard own race [sic].  In this connection, the Secretary-1 called for 
realization of social objectives of the State to ensure that Myanmar women
possess sound thinking power and good character to be able to respect own
culture and traditions and safeguard own race based on patriotism.

The Myanmar Women Entrepreneur's Assoication in particular and the 
entire mass of Myanmar women are believed to have acknowledged the 
significance of the Secretary-1's behest and will do the needful.

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

ABSDF: KNPP AND ABSDF FORCES RETREAT FROM NOGLONG
STRONGHOLD
March 9, 1996

        Alliance forces of KNPP and ABSDF troops retreated from a KNPP
stronghold in Nonglong at 1:00am on March 6, 1996.  Burmese troop renewed
their offensive attack since March 2 in Karenni territory, 24 kilometers
northwest of Thailands Mae Hong Son province.
        About 1,500 Burmese soldiers from LIB 102, 421,423 and 424 has
launched a fierce attack with heavy artillery, including 120 mm, 81 mm and
60 mm mortars between March 2 to 5 to the Nonglong stronghold. During the
four-day long fierce fighting, the Burmese troops tried to unsuccessfully
to capture the Nonglong stronghold. They have suffered serious casualties
and that at least 60 soldiers were killed and over 100 were wounded
including one Lt.Col. One major was also among the death.  In the alliance
side, one KNPP was killed and five were wounded. No casualties from the
ABSDF side.
        On March 2, a 20-year-old private Myint Zaw (serial no.  31480), a
17-year-old private (serial no. 31496) and a 20-year-old private Maung Win
(serial no. 31482), all of them from LIB 102, Division 2 commanded by
Major Aung Myo Myint defected into the alliance forces. According to their
saying, Burmese troops were suffering ills and morally deteriorating. Some
did suicide, they said.
        The retreating from the stronghold is to conduct another defense
strategy said one student leader from the ABSDF. He further said that the
Nonglong stronghold has been occupied by the Slorc after the retreat of
the alliance forces.  ABSDF News Agency ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)

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

BKK POST: BURMA BARS UN HUMAN RIGHTS DELEGATE FROM 
COUNTRY'S JAILS
March 10, 1996
Agence-France Presse, Geneva

Burma barred UN human rights official Yozo Yokata from visiting its jails,
despite repeated requests, but he gathered numerous accounts of torture
and mistreatment from witness, according to his latest report published
here Friday.

Yokata, special rapporteur for Burma of the UN Human Rights Commission,
said he was refused permission to visit the Insein and Myitkyina jails
last October, although he had been previously able to inspect them.

But he quoted former inmates as describing such tortures as being put in
leg irons and beaten with canes until the prisoner lost consciousness.
Prisoners were denied adequate food and health care, were housed in
insanitary and degrading conditions and subjected to cruelty.

Yokata singled out the treatment of Saw Naing Naing, Monya Tin Shwe, U Win
Tin, Myo Myint Nyein and Myint Aung, all members of the opposition
National League for Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi, apparently in
retaliation for smuggling out letters to the UN official.

"According to the information received, prison officials forced the five
prisoners to sleep on concrete floors without mats or blankets in .. small
cells where military dogs are normally kept, " Yokata's report said.

The rapporteur said he had informed the Rangoon authorities that he should
have free access to letters and other documents, and that punishment for
collaboration with him was in contravention of Human Rights Commission
policy.

Yokata said reliable sources had told him prisoners were often forced to
sleep on cold cement and many suffered from sickness and serious disease.
U Ein Tin, for example, was said to suffer from inflammation of the spine.

Cells were often overcrowded and prisoners had inadequate hygiene or
medical care, the report said. He quoted a former woman inmate of Insein
as saying that between 1989 and 1992 up to 250 women were held in a room
measuring 60 feet by 40 feet [20 metres by 13 metres].

At least 30 children were with their mothers and many newborn infants died
because of inadequate food.

Bribery and corruption was a serious problem, with food and medicines
brought by families of prisoners being confiscated, Yokata said.

He expressed continuing concern at hundreds of cases of prisoners being
forced to work under harsh conditions on construction sites, including a
railway.

The authorities had then gone back on promises to release them at the end
of their stint, Yokata said.

Torture remained widespread, he alleged, including beatings, shackling,
near suffocation, burning , stabbing, rubbing of salt and chemicals into
open wounds rape of women, mutilation and threats of death.

While welcoming the release in particular of Aung San Suu Kyi from house
arrest, Yokata said hundreds of people were still detained for political
activities.

He concluded that conditions in Burmese prisons were still far short of
international standards, while evidence indicated that forced labour
forced portering , torture and arbitrary killings remained widespread.

On a more positive note, he observed signs of relaxation of tension in
normal daily life, many consumer goods available and improved
infrastructure.

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

UVI NET: TOTAL DENIES AFP REPORT OF ARMED ATTACK
March 5, 1996

Paris, March 5 - Responding to a published report by AFP yesterday, 
TOTAL headquarters, in the business sector of La Defense, Paris, issued a 
complete denial over allegations that of an attack had occurred on or near 
the Yadana gas field that, otherwise, if true, threatens to seriously add to 
the human rights problems already confronting  its highly controversial 
billion dollar consortium gas project. » 

TOTAL declared that the AFP report was false, saying that "TOTAL had not 
been  the target of the reported atatck early February as cited by the AFP". 

However, while not denying that an attack may, in fact, have occurred in the 
area, the company spokesman said "it was not our immediate concern as long 
as  Total is not directly or indirectly involved ».  

The TOTAL company added, « no one had been killed or wounded, and contrary to 
the report, no  French citizen was either killed or wounded. That has been 
confirmed by the French Ambassador, Bernard Pottier, in Rangoon ».

« This is extremely embarrassing to TOTAL, as it is to the Burmese exile 
student group that reported it to the press, » concluded  the company 
spokesman, referring to the exile student Burmese news agency, the ABSDF. 

Nonetheless, as tensions mount on the eve of the anniverasy one year ago, in 
March 1995, when the TOTAL cocmpany was attacked with five killed and eleven 
wounded, TOTAL attempted to further undermine the possiblity of any real 
danger to its pipeline project calling "the reported attack by an unknown 
armed group" both "curious" and "bizarre".

"We really cannot comment further on what may or may not have occured, if 
indeed there were local victims, as we have no proof that any attack ever 
happenned", TOTAL declared.

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

BKK POST: PRESS-GANG LABOUR HELPING ROAD WORK
March 11, 1996
Mae Sot, Tak

ABOUT 2,000 Burmese and Karen civilians have been press-ganged into
helping speed up the construction of two roads along the Burmese side of
the Thai border opposite the northern province of Tak, it has been
claimed.

A border official said the work is expected to be completed before the
coming rainy season as the two roads will be used for strategic purposes,
including as a supply route, if talks on a ceasefire between Burma and the
Karen National Union fail.

The roads being built on to the north of Myawaddy and one to the south of
it - are Myawaddy-Ye Gyaw road opposite Tak's Mae Ramat district and
another one linking Myawaddy to a border village near the KNU stronghold
opposite Umphang district.

Since January, a number of border villagers have been recruited to work on
the roads which will pass at least 10 Burmese military checkpoints from
the north opposite Tak's Mae Ramat, Mae Sot, Phop Phra and Umphang
districts to the south near the KNU's sixth infantry division.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Burma has assigned
the Military Technician Battalion and the Light Infantry Regiment to carry
out the construction work.

Most of the workers were Karens and Burmese of Thai origin who did not
hold Burmese ID cards. They were from 20 border villages including Naung
Ha, Mae Pale, Hauy San, Tingkanyinaung, Mae Taw Tale Nilpan and Myawaddy.

The source claimed those who refused to be recruited can hire others to
work for them for 1,000-2,500 Kyats per head, depending on the amount of
work and the distance from their villages to the construction site.

The recruitment period ranges from on day to one week, after which
labourers are allowed to return home. No transportation is offered to
them.

Currently-Ye Gyaw road is about 80 percent complete while the construction
of the southern road has reached a point about 50 Km from the KNU base.

Rangoon is continuing to reinforce its troops along the border to pout
pressure on KNU rebels although both sides have officially held talks on a
ceasefire twice, the source said.

If their final round of talks fails, the Burmese soldiers are ready to
force the rebels out of their southern stronghold, the source said.

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

NATION: PM'S BURMA TRIP TO INCLUDE MANDALAY STOP
March 11, 1996  (abridged)
Piyanart Srivalo

PRIME Minister Banharn Silapa-archa will travel to Mandalay during his
visit to Burma next weekend, to view the site for an international airport
to be built by a Thai construction company, Deputy Prime Minister Amnuay
Viravan said yesterday.

The contracting company, Italian-Thai Development Plc, has applied for a
loan of US $150 million (Bt3.75 billion) from the Thai Export-Import Bank.

However, the Cabinet recently postponed a decision on whether to guarantee
the loan, as proposed by Finance Minister Surakirart Sathirathai, pointing
to the need for more information.  Banharn also criticized Surakiart for not 
consulting him first on such an important decision.

Amnuay reasoned that the international airport contract was huge and the
government was being asked to guarantee the $150 million loan, so
information form the site was essential before making a decision.

Amnuay described Banharn's March 17 to 18 trip as " a working visit", the
first by a Thai prime minister to Burma in 15 years.

A government House source, however, said yesterday that Banharn and his
team should not assume the visit will necessarily clear up all bilateral
disputes.

* Agence France-Press adds:.
Troops of the Burmese military government shelled Karenni positions from
their former base on Naung Long Hill, while " fighter bombers raided,
strafing and bombing," the statement form the Karenni National Progressive
Party (KNPP) said.

Five government aircraft were involved in the attacks on Saturday
afternoon and two flew missions yesterday morning but the Karenni suffered
no casualties, it said.

The KNPP said that well before dawn on Thursday its forces undertook a
planned tactical retreat from Naung Long Hill, in the Hta Na Khwe area of
Kayan [Karenni] State opposite Mae Hong Son province.

Rangoon's forces suffered heavy casualties in three frontal assaults on
the hill during the previous week, a Karenni source said.

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

ASAHI EVENING NEWS: SUU KYI URGES JAPANESE TO WORK 
HARDER FOR WORLD PEACE
February 26, 1996   (slightly abridged)

[Editor's Note: This article and the following one already went out on 
burmanet-l but didn't reach other readers of the BurmaNet News so they
are reposted here.  Sorry for the delay.]

By Saburo Ito

RANGOON -- Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi urged the normally low - key Japanese people to raise
their voices for the promotion of peace, in a recent
interview with Asahi Shimbun.

The interview was held in conjunction with Suu Kyi this
month becoming a member of the Asahi Shimbun
international forum, Create 21, Asahi.

The forum was created in 1991 as part of the newspaper's
efforts to offer views and suggestions on Japan's role in the
next century.

Other forum participants include former Costa Rican
President Oscar Arias Sanchez and novelist Kenzaburo Oe,
both Nobel Prize laureates.

In recalling her stay in Kyoto in 1985 and 1986, Suu Kyi
said "I felt that many Japanese people cared about more
than just business. But I think the consciousness of some
Japanese people perhaps needs to be aroused a bit, and
(there is a) need to give voice to the many many people in
Japan who do care about peace and justice.

"Perhaps those who care about peace and justice are not
speaking loudly enough."

The 50 - year - old Burmese peace activist said the
Japanese people were in a unique position to push for
peace because of their historical experience.

"The Japanese people have a lot to contribute to peace
because they have known the horrors of war and  ... the
benefits of peace," she said.

"Japan has changed tremendously since the end of World
War II. Japan has found how much you can benefit under
peace ... and a democratic system that guarantees human
rights," she said.

In order for Japan to play a positive role in promoting
peace, however, Suu Kyi urged the Japanese "not to just sit
and hope that peace will come."

"I think the Japanese people must study how peace is
linked to justice, to human rights and to democracy and to
do what they can to promote it," she said.

She said Japan had many lessons to provide in the
development of Burma.

"Since Japan is a country that has improved and developed
and progressed very much under a democratic system, I
feel certain that the people of Japan would sympathize with
our desire for democracy," she said.

"The desire of the people of Burma for democracy is based
on the conviction that only if we have a system that guarantees basic 
human rights will we be able to make genuine progress."

Suu Kyi also expressed her belief that as an economic
superpower, Japan was in a position to serve as a role
model for Burma and other Asian nations.

"Japan, as the leading economic nation not just in Asia, but
in the world, has a duty to make people understand that
economic growth is not everything, but it is the
development of the people, the happiness and fulfillment of
the people that is most important."

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

ASAHI EVENING NEWS OPINION: ASIA MUST ARM ITSELF WITH 
THE SKILLS FOR PEACE
February 26, 1996

FORMULAS FOR THE FUTURE
by Aung San Suu Kyi

So much has been said about peace one questions whether
there is anything left to say. And yet, "peace" as a concept
has never lost the freshness of its appeal. Particularly in
Asia, expressions such as shalom, salaam or shanti bear
repetition many times over, confirming and reinforcing
man's eternal desire for peace.

All over the world, New Year is a time to wish each other
peace and prosperity. However, there is no single Burmese
word that means "peace." The expression nyeinchan is a
compound of the words for "extinction" and "coolness."

The latter word connotes ease and happiness, while the
former signifies the cessation of the fires of passion.

The allusion here to the taming of one's desires as a
precondition for the internal quest for peace is fundamental
to the teachings of the Lord Buddha, which continue to
inspire so many Asian peoples even in our age of gross
materialism.

For without the quelling of all those instincts that
contribute to human greed, pride and hate, what possible
hope can there be for peace in human society? The same
message lies at the heart of all the major religions of the
world and of the ethical standards they hold in common.

The need to develop paths to peace has not decreased
despite the sweeping changes that have taken place in the
balance of political and economic power in recent decades.

The impressive performance of some Asian countries in the
economic field over the last few decades has won
widespread admiration. It is natural for people to expect
that a betterment in material conditions would bring
happier times.

The onslaught of materialism

Yet never has it been the case that wealth and riches have
been able to prevent human conflict, with its attendant
suffering. The peoples of Asia have long prided themselves
on the possession of ethical standards and spiritual values
that are above mere material considerations.

As more and more Asian countries enter the ranks of
affluent nations, it will become increasingly evident
whether or not those standards and values that are held to
be a particularly Asian heritage can withstand the
onslaught of materialism.

Will we become more compassionate and caring or more
calculating and egoistic? Will we develop greater vision
and deeper understanding or will our interests narrow down
to mere profit - making? Can we use the lessons learned
from economic achievements to help improve our social
and political condition?

It has been said that a key element in the economic success
of many Asian societies is trust in the commercial sector.
The same has to be true of the social and political spheres,
where justice founded on trust and public confidence bears
lasting fruit in peace and stability.

The wealth and power of nations wax and wane, subject to
the principles of commerce, the development of,
technology, the challenges of the new and unexpected, and
the frailties of human nature. The life of nations is
calculated not in decades but in centuries, and to ensure
sustained progress and stability there is a need to develop
institutions and processes that allow for change without
upheaval and for the peaceful solution of conflicting
interests that are bound to arise even in the best - ordered
societies.

Conflict, it can be argued, is fundamental to all forms of
life. But just as we have to accept that for most people
suffering and happiness coexist in various shifting, unequal
measures, so surely it can be seen that the very presence of
conflict in our midst points to its antithesis in attainable peace.

Every conflict is but the repetition of those that have
occurred throughout the long vistas of our shared past, even
if the form those conflicts have assumed has varied
constantly from time to time and from place to place. Their
nature and outcome, the mental and physical misery caused
by human folly, is always the same.

But the universality of conflict and suffering is matched
also by the skills of conciliation that have had to be
developed by most human societies at various levels, from
the nuclear family to the nation state. All the means of
resolving conflict that have ever been used lie before us
like an open book, and it is up to us to make constructive
use of the lessons that can be learned from the history of
the human race.

It has been argued that war itself is a legitimate means of
attaining peace. The problem of using evil means in pursuit
of a just end will doubtless continue to exercise thinking
people for generations to come.

The answer to that problem may never be settled to everyone's 
satisfaction, but everyone can surely agree on the absolute need 
to identify and uproot the seeds of strife before they grow to gather 
pace and momentum beyond all control.

I believe we can, at the present time, take some cautious
comfort from what appears to be a reduction in the
immediate threat of wars caused by invasion. It would
seem, for the moment at least that a sense of restraint and
rationality has been brought to the territorial ambitions of
nation states though to be complacent about: the situation
can only invite future trouble.

If, however, we can detect a lessening of human misery
resulting: from foreign interventions, the same is decidedly
not true when we consider the pervasive suffering caused
by political, social, and economic injustice and most
noticeably, by ethnic hatred.

A lack of human understanding

The last is usually the result of grievances caused by a
sense of injustice or of prejudices fostered by lack of
human understanding.

To attempt to eliminate, disguise or conceal by repression
the expressions of human grievance caused by injustice --
in fact to try to impose peace by the exercise of
authoritarian power alone -- reminds me of the Buddhist
notion of "conventional peace" (sammuti shanti), which is
traditionally contrasted with "momentary peace" (tatanga
shanti) and "total peace" (accanta shanti).

Buddhists are taught to cultivate the transient form of
peace through constant mental awareness as a means to
attaining that all - embracing peace that is synonymous
with the goal of nirvana. But peace of the "conventional"
variety has been described as "imaginary peace without
practice; for instance, the peaceful life one can attain due
to the saving of a powerful being, which is nothing but a
misconception."

It follows that the peace (or, perhaps more accurately,
quiescence), resulting from artificial coercion or
intervention is nothing more than a dangerous illusion and
has to be recognized as such. The truth of this has been
amply borne out in recent history.

We have seen how long - festering grievances and
animosities burst into open conflagration when
authoritarian forms of rule collapse along with the means
whereby those urgent problems were hidden from view.
Systems which sweep aside fundamental problems of
social and political injustice in the vain hope that such
problems, if ignored long enough will vanish, cannot
achieve long - termstability.

The notion that "peace without practice" can only be of an
imaginary order points to the essentially active nature of
any process aimed at achieving genuine peace.

The skills of arbitration, mediation, negotiation and
compromise will acquire ever - increasing importance as:
the world continues to shrink -- in a movement that is
already bringing its manifold cultural and political
diversities into closer and closer contact. The potential for
both conflict and harmony on this planet now seems greater
than ever before, as the speed of change accelerates beyond
anything comparable in human history.

The time is fast coming to an end, if it has not done so
already, when conflict and peace in Asia can be separated
from the turmoils and harmonies of Africa, the Americas,
Australasia or Europe.

To be a peacemaker

Those who would be peacemakers have to develop
transparent sincerity, a keen understanding of differing
points of view, and an ability to compromise, which
includes a willingness to give up prejudices and privileges
that obstruct the path to conciliation.

Our success in the great task of generating peace on this
earth will depend finally on our ability to recognize our
common humanity and our shared goals, which transcend
and rise far above the cultural and political divisions of all
nations and continents of the west and east.

Peace is too important to be left to chance, to be allowed to
deteriorate into the imaginary form that results from lack of
positive endeavor. We need to strengthen and develop
regional and international institutions that work actively for
peace, specializing in the resolution of conflicts and in the
promotion of harmony both within and between nations.

The last decades of the 20th century have been an era of
impressive economic achievement for some parts of Asia.
But our continent is still rife with social and political
injustice as well as ethnic and communal strife.

Should we not resolve to work toward removing injustices,
putting an end to strife, and making the 21st century an era
not just of Asian prosperity but of Asian peace that may
spread to all peoples of the world?

Aung San Suu Kyi is the 1991 recipient of the Nobel Peace
Prize, awarded to her for her nonviolent struggle for
democracy in Burma. After being released last July from
six years of house arrest by the country's military government, 
she was restored as general secretary of the National League for 
Democracy, a party she helped found in 1988.

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

INDEPENDENT REPORT: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN THE FRENCH 
TRAVEL REVUE `GRANDS REPORTAGES'
February 25, 1996

In its March issue, the French travel revue `Grands Reportages' has published 
two letters to the editor on Burma. Both are from Amnesty International members 
in France and are mentionning the appalling human rights records of Burma.
As already posted to the Burmanet, the January issue was devoted to Burma 
without a single word on human rights violations and forced labor linked to 
tourism development. Thank you to all burmanetters who sent a letter.

David Boilley

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

THE HINDU: TRADE WITH MYANMAR STOP AT EXPLORATORY VISITS
March 7, 1996   (slightly abridged)
from [email protected]
By V. Jayanth

Yangon, March 6:  India is still unable to take a firm decision on trade, 
investments and dealings with Myanmar.

Several delegations of private and public sector executives have visited 
Yangon. The exploratory visits are still continuing, with no clear sign of
a positive involvement.

The government of India itself has not yet fulfilled its commitment to
 upgrade and relay a crucial Rs 100-crore roadway that will open up border 
trade in a positive way, and symbolise the first concrete step in the development 
of  Myanmar.

India's Ambassador, Mr. Lal Thanzaua Pudiate, says the potential sectors 
and areas of co-operation, joint venture or investments have already been 
identified. But no tangible progress has been achieved.

Exploitation of Myanmar's rich mineral resources, infrastructure development, 
utilisation of pulp and timber and going into a partnership for the development 
of small and medium industries, especially in the light engineering and 
manufacturing sectors, were  some ways, he says.

Mr. Pudaite says on offer has been made to New Delhi for a possible 
agreement on purchase of power and gas from Myanmar. At least a couple of 
the potential hydro-electric projects on the north-eastern borders of India
will depend on New Delhi's willingness to buy much of it.

Gas has been struck or identified in a couple of other wells nearer India. The 
question again in whether India is willing to buy  this.

It has been estimated that there are five to seven lakh Hindus, even more
Muslims and also a small Christian population from the south particularly 
Andra Pradesh. There are about three lakh Indians in the Mandalay area, 
mostly  Muslims and those from the North-Eastern States.

There are obviously problems in entering this market. But the strategic and 
locational advantages seem to outweigh those hurdles. The experience of the
past and the military regime in Yangon are considered impediments. But the 
Southeast Asian countries are finding the junta "quite comfortable to 
deal with", according to some of their diplomats.

The Embassy here is only waiting to encourage and assist trade and investments 
from India, but the officials are perhaps tiring of more enquires and delegations 
with exploratory visits. The time to act has come.

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

NATION: BURMESE HALT MOEI RIVER CONSTRUCTION
March 10, 1996   (slightly abridged)
Somchit Rungchamratrasmee

Mae Sot- Authorities in Burma's Myawaddy township yesterday suspended the
construction of about 10 weirs and an embankment on the Moei River after
Thailand started to dredge the waterway back to its original course, a
precondition set by the Burmese junta for the reopening of the border.

Thai official in northern Tak's Mae Sot district suspected that the
Burmese decision to suspend the work stemmed from a protest letter Mae Sot
district chief Somchai Hanayatanti handed to Burmese Ambassador U Tin Win
during his visit to Mae Sot last Thursday.

U Tin Win accompanied Deputy Interior Minister Suchart Tancharoen on an
inspection of a controversial area of land reclaimed from the Moei River.

Somchai told reporters yesterday that the dredging had progressed rapidly
and that about 90 per cent of the work had already been done. He said the
operation, which includes the levelling of the ground, should be completed
in a few days.

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BURMANET: BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
March 8, 1996

ISRAEL TO SUPPLY BURMA WITH TELECOM EQUIPMENT

- Telrad Telecommunications, a subsidiary of Koor Industries <KOOR.TA>,
will negotiate with the government of Burma the supply of public switchboards
worth $10 million, a company spokesman said.

This was agreed to at a meeting in Rangoon between Koor president Benjamin 
Gaon, Telrad president Bezalel Levine and the Minister of Post and 
Telecommincations U Soe Tha.

    Telrad is one of the leading suppliers of telecommunications systems to
Burma's government although the company spokesman refused to give the total
value of Telrad's contracts in Burma.
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BANK OF TOKYO/MYANMAR REACH COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

The Bank of Tokyo has reached a cooperative agreement with the government
of Myanmar to promote Japanese corporate investment.  The bank has
established an office in the capital of Yangon, setting up a support system
to promote Japanese corporate investment in Myanmar.
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FIRST DYNASTY EXPECTS TO FIND LOTS OF GOLD

First Dynasty has acquired important new gold and copper properties 
through joint ventures in Myanmar, Irian Jaya and West Java....
Myanmar and Irian Jaya: Geological reconnaissance on our three Myanmar
exploration blocks during 1995 indicates a definite potential for bulk
tonnage gold occurrences....

First Dynasty Mines Limited is a Yukon corporation with headquarters in
Denver, Colorado. For further information, Leslie Young, Media and Investor 
Relations (303) 740-1209.  First Dynasty Mine Limited press releases are 
available through Company News On Call by fax (800) 758-5804 ext. 100437.
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CHEIL FOODS AND CHEMICALS DONATES HEPATITIS VACCINE 

Cheil Foods and Chemicals of Korea donated hepatitis B vaccine worth 400 
million won to KOICA. The donated 50,000 doses of vaccine will be provided 
to Myanmar in March, whose people have a higher rate of being infected by 
hepatitis B compared to neighboring countries.
	The Myanmar government recently asked Cheil to provide vaccines.
According to the company, the donation gives equal benefits to the grass roots, 
not to "specific" people.  KOICA expects that Cheil's vaccine donation will 
activate the private level participation in international aid programs.

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