Burmanet News: March 15, 1995 #363

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The BurmaNet News: March 15, 1996
Issue #363

Noted in Passing: 

		Slorc won't talk to Suu Kyi and the opposition 
		unless they have guns. Slorc only talks to those 
		who have guns. - un-named Karenni official
		(see NATION: 'AN ANT FIGHTING AN ELEPHANT')
	
HEADLINES:
==========
HINDUSTAN TIMES: TORTURE, MURDER A ROUTINE IN MYANMAR
FEER: CO-OPTED FORCE
NATION: 'AN ANT FIGHTING AN ELEPHANT'
NATION: KARENNI TO BATTLE ON DESPITE TACTICAL DEFEAT
NATION: SUU KYI PONDERS NEXT MOVE
ABSL: ANNOUNCEMENTS AND APPEAL
BKK POST: RANGOON TOLD BORDER POINTS NOT AN ISSUE
BKK POST: MANDALAY PROJECT SURE TO PAY BACK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HINDUSTAN TIMES: TORTURE, MURDER A ROUTINE IN MYANMAR
March 15, 1996

Forced labour, torture and killings remain widespread under the military 
regime in Myanmar, special rapporteur Yozo Yakota of Japan said in a 
report to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights issued in Geneva 
yesterday.
 
Detail reports, photographs, video recordings and variety of physical 
evidence seen by the special rapporteur indicated that the practice of 
forced labour, forced portering, torture and arbitrary killing are still 
widespread in Myanmar, the report said.
 
They seem to be occurring in the context of development programmes and 
of counter-insurgency operations in ethnic minority regions, the report 
said. Many of the victims of such acts belong to ethnic nationality populations.
 
In particular, they are peasants, women, daily wage-earners and other 
peaceful civilians who do not have enough money to avoid mistreatment by 
bribing, it said.
 
Report from non-governmental sources have described cases of civilians 
who were allegedly executed when they resisted becoming porter for the 
army or were beaten to death while being used as porters, the report added.
 
The army is also reported to have executed civilians for failure to 
provide goods or services demanded. Those would include labour, food, 
money or arms, the report said.
 
Although 2,000 political prisoners had allegedly been freed since April 
1992, hundreds of other political prisoners were still in jail serving 
long prison terms.
 
The due process of law was generally not respected in the Asian 
countries. Numerous testimonies alleged the absence of counsel during 
trial, the absence of time and all other such attendant guarantees, the 
report said.
 
The practice of torture remains widespread.
 
Report of torture and inhuman treatment in the past year include severe 
beatings, shackling, near suffocation, burning, stabbing, rubbing of salt 
and chemical into open wounds and psychological torture, including threat 
of death, it said.
 
Detainees were often forced to sleep on cold concrete and many of them 
suffered from sickness and serious diseases.
 
In one cause, prisoner were forced to sleep on concrete floors without 
mats or blankets in "military dog cells", small cells where military dogs 
are normally kept.
 
Myanmarese continued to be deprived of fundamental human rights like the 
right of freedom of expression and association.
 
In the province of Rakhine, the local Muslim population did not even 
enjoy the unrestricted right to citizenship, it said.

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

FEER: CO-OPTED FORCE
March 21, 1996

THE Defence Ministry in Rangoon mentions a new unit under 
its command: the Frontier Force. It is believed the new 
force will incorporate ethnic rebel armies which have signed 
cease-fire agreements with the ruling junta in Rangoon. These include 
the Kachin Independence Army and the Mong Tai Army of opium 
warlord Khun Sa. The Frontier Force might be the military leadership's 
way of reaching a compromise between total integration of the former 
rebel forces with the regular army and allowing  them the autonomy they 
were granted under cease-fire agreements. (FEER)
 .
***********************************************************

THE NATION; 'AN ANT FIGHTING AN ELEPHANT'
March 15, 1996

The Karen National Progressive Party [KNPP] has been 
fighting with the Burmese military government, the State Law 
and Order Restoration Council [Slorc] , since a cease-fire 
between the two broke down last year. Last month, two strategic 
hills held by the KNPP were captured by Slorc troops. In the last week, 
Rangoon's ground troops, aided by fighter bombers attacked the 
remaining KNPP hills. The KNPP lost the hills but continues put up  
resistance to the offensive. With little ammunition and few heavy arms, 
the guerrillas are adopting hit and run tactics to attack Slorc from the rear.
The Slorc troops, according to guerrilla sources have suffered heavy 
causalities but field army officers are under orders to wipe out the KNPP 
before Armed Forces Day, which will be held on March 27.

Aung Zaw talked to a KNPP leader about the battlefield 
situation. The KNPP official agreed to the interview under 
the condition he not he not be identified.

Aung Zaw: There have been reports that Rangoon is using 
bombers to attack your positions? Are they true?

KNPP: They are using four Swiss-made PC-7 bombers. In fact, 
these planes are just for training but the Slorc uses them 
to attack ethnic minorities and insurgents. 
[The Pilatus PC-7 was sold to the Burmese air force for 
training but it was modified by Burmese air force. The 
planes are loaded with rockets and bombs.]

What had happened last week? When did they begin to attack?
Since Feb 28 they began a new offensive. Then on March 3 
there was a heavy attack. They used 81mm, 120mm, 75mm, and 
machine guns. But many Slorc soldiers were killed when they tried to 
advance on Nonglong hill. We intercepted Slorc radio messages - the 
order given by top leaders was to wipe out and control KNPP by the 
fourth or fifth March. But they didn't so finally they called for 
reinforcement and help from the air force.

When did they start to attack by air?

On March 7. When they dropped bombs, our soldiers had to 
run. It is like an ant fighting with an elephant.

You lost your strategic hills?

Well. We still control some hills but Nonglong and Ta Yoke 
[Chinese] hills were captured by the enemy. They are 
important as they are highest in that area.

What are your plans? You have less than 1,000 foot soldiers 
and inadequate ammunition. Unlike Slorc you have no mortars 
or anti-air craft guns. How long do you think can you last?

We have launched guerrilla warfare. We will continue to do 
so. We sometimes ambushed convoys and food provisions. 
[Slorc soldiers] are scared of our hit-and-run warfare. 
Their morale is low. But we don't want to reveal [our next plans].

But if Slorc wants to open a new dialogue with the KNPP, 
will you talk to them?

Yes, definitely. We are ready to sit and talk with them. But 
they must be sincere. They must be sincere. There must also 
be equality. The can't say that we are coming back to the 
'legal fold'. We won't surrender.

There are 15 armed ethnic groups that have reached cease-
fire with Slorc. How do you feel since they have not made 
any statements in support of you in the wake of this 
fighting? What is your message to them?

Well. We fight alone. I don't think they [the 15 armed 
groups] are happy with Slorc. They get nothing from Slorc. 
But some of them are cowards and they don't dare to oppose 
or speak out against Slorc. I don't think they are getting what they 
wanted. Slorc leaders don't want to discuss political issues. They are 
also suffering. They should know Slorc is cheating us.

There was a report saying that the student army is 
cooperating with KNPP.

Yes. There are 40 or 50 ABSDF [All Burma Students Democratic 
Front] soldiers helping us.

Do you think your remaining bases will be wiped out in a few 
weeks? What can they do?

We have been fighting this war for forty years. They might 
get hills and land but not our revolutionary spirits. Even 
if they get them, we have a plan to continue.

How can you survive in the long term? The situation has 
changed. You have lost strategic trade offices to Slorc?
There is no outside [financial] support for the KNPP. 

We previously made money from the logging trade in teak. We 
now have very little ammunition and food. We therefore would 
rather choose hit-and-run warfare.

What is your impression of the international community and 
inside political situation in Burma?

It is absurd to see a high ranking UN official not allowed 
to enter Burma. Why are they [Slorc] so afraid? I think the 
world community and the UN should speak out more. It is 
disappointing the UN is not capable to help us. I heard 
there may be sanctions, arms embargoes imposed. I think it 
must be done as quickly as possible. The world community 
should punish Slorc.

Why should they punish Slorc?

They are social outcasts. They don't respect the will of the 
people. They don't know politics. Like Mao Ze Deng they rule 
the country at gun point. In Kayah state, Slorc soldiers 
continue to rob our villages, kill villagers, rape women and 
take men for forced labour or to carry ammunition and food 
for soldiers. If they suspect some villagers are helping the 
KNPP they severely torture and kill them.

What do you think of Aung San Suu Kyi and the opposition in 
Burma. do you think they are effective?

They are also suffering under this regime. It is difficult 
for them since they have no arms. We at least have arms. If 
[Slorc] come and bully we can at least fight back because we 
have guns.
They don't care about the urban opposition because Slorc 
knows very well that they have no guns. Slorc won't talk to 
Suu Kyi and the opposition unless they have guns. Slorc only 
talks to those who have guns. 

So you are saying that the opposition in Burma should be 
armed?

Yes. We will win if we have arms.

Aung Zaw is a freelance journalist. He contributed this 
article to the Nation.

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

NATION: KARENNI TO BATTLE ON DESPITE TACTICAL DEFEAT
March 15, 1996 AP   (abridged)

ETHNIC Karenni rebels vowed yesterday to continue their 
struggle for autonomy despite losing the last of their key 
hilltop positions to Burmese government troops.

At the same time, Burma's only other minority group still 
resisting government control _ the Karen _ plans a new round 
of cease-fire talks with Burmese leaders next month.

Burmese soldiers, advancing against Karenni fighters in an 
enclave along the Burmese-Thai border, dislodged the 
defenders Monday from their last mountain stronghold, known 
as Rambo Hill 2.

"Of course it was a defeat, but we will never surrender," 
said Abel Tweed, foreign minister for the Karenni 
independence movement. "We will turn to guerrilla tactics. 
Slorc will never win this war."

He said a force of 400 Karenni withdrew from Rambo Hill 2 
because they lacked an effective way to defend against 
Burmese fighter-bomber aircraft. More than 3,000 Burmese 
troops are now based in the area, he said.

He added, however, that Burmese looses were heavy. About 500 
government soldiers were killed or wounded in attacks in the 
first nine days of March, and seven Burmese soldiers 
deserted to the Karenni side, he said. Karenni losses during 
the same period were two killed and seven wounded, Tweed said.

The Karen, a closely related ethnic group operating in areas 
farther south along the border, will send a delegation to cease-fire 
talks in April in Moulmein, a well-informed Karen source said.

But Karen leaders expect little to come of the meeting and 
hope simply to gain time for their cause, said the source. 
The planned talks are the third since the two sides began 
meeting in December.

The earlier discussions failed because Burmese officials 
insisted on signing a separate cease-fire deal with the 
Karen but not with their pro-democracy allies, said the source, 
who works in the group's political arm, the Karen Nation Union.

Due to the peace talks, the Karen have postponed plans to 
launch an urban guerrilla campaign against military targets 
in Rangoon and other Burmese cities , the source said.

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

THE NATION: SUU KYI PONDERS NEXT MOVE
March 15, 1996
Reuter

RANGOON- Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi met her 
colleagues yesterday to discuss the possibility of making another 
attempt to travel to Mandalay to attend the trial of four supporters.

"We are thinking it over. The leaders are discussing it now 
but there's no specific plan yet," Suu Kyi's press secretary 
Aye Win said when asked whether Suu Kyi would again try to 
make the trip to Mandalay, a city to the north of the capital.

Suu Kyi and three colleagues from her National League for 
Democracy party cancelled a planned trip to Mandalay on 
Wednesday evening after a railway coach they had booked 
developed a mysterious, last minute technical hitch.

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

ABSL: ANNOUNCEMENTS AND APPEAL
March 14, 1996

                Zar Ti Man Journal is ready to distribute now !!!
             ***********************************************

We, members of All Burma Students League(ABSL) are happy to 
announce that the League is ready to distribute the first ever offset-printed "
Zar Ti Man" Journal in Burmese language. The Journal exclusively 
reflect/cover the outstanding activities of the Burmese Democratic 
forces based in India and varieties of articles/one-page short story/
revolutionary poems/prose/cartoon/photos and many illustrations which 
were contributed by the democratic fighters of ABSL and other analyst/
academicians around the world. The League kindly request those who like 
to receive the copy of the "Zar Ti Man" Journal, write to 

     Ko Nyo
     Propaganda and Mass Communication Department
     All Burma Students League(ABSL)
     3, Krishna Menon, New Delhi - 110011
     Fax : 0091- 11 - 3793397

(((( Though Free Subscription Fee to order for the Journal, the League
     request overseas readers for postage fee according to the respective
     country.)))))

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  ANNOUNCEMENT II //////////////////////////////
        
        A book : A note on Indo-Burma Border Trade is released !!! 
        ***********************************************************

Dear friends,

A seminar on Indo-Burma Border Trade Treaty was organized by ABSL and some 
Burma-support groups in Manipur State of India in August, 1995. About 400 
people from different walks of life participated at the Seminar and many
important issues relating to the treaty and pros- and cons- of the Indo-
Burma Border Trade were lengthily discussed by the speakers. The ABSL has
published the papers and documents which were presented and discussed in
the seminar as a book. It is an informative book on Indo-Burma border trade.
Those who are interested can order the copies of book from ABSL office in
New Delhi. 
A copy = US $ 5 + US $ 2 (for postage)

        Ko Kyaw Than
        Research and Analysis Department
        All Burma Students League
        3, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi - 110011
        India.
        Fax : 0091 - 11 - 3793397

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  EARNEST APPEAL 

BOYCOTT VISIT MYANMAR YEAR 1996
                                                      
Dear friends,

SLORC was forced to postpone its Visit Myanmar Year program till October
1996. Obviously, this is a result of the pressure from many Burmese
democratic forces and Burma-support groups campaigning against SLORC'
Visit Myanmar Year. Since the middle of 1995, the ABSL has been speeding
up its campaigns and programmes urging tourists not to visit Burma until
democracy restores in the country. Now, a pamphlet on Boycott Visit Myanmar
Year, published by the ABSL with the financial assistance from SAIN has
come out. We would like to urge all the like-minded people and organizations
to join the campaign and help us distribute these pamphlets as effectively as
you can. The pamphlets are available by writing to the All Burma Students
League Delhi Office.

        Htin Kyaw Oo
        Foreign Affairs
        All Burma Students League
        3, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi-110 011
        Fax : 379 3397

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

BKK POST: RANGOON TOLD BORDER POINTS NOT AN ISSUE
March 15,1996
By Nussara Sawatsawang

Rangoon has been told that Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-
archa's official visit is intended to lay the foundations 
for future ties, not to negotiate the reopening of three key 
border checkpoints.

The reopening of the checkpoints, ordered closed by Rangoon 
last year, was not a subject for negotiation by the Prime 
Minister, said Kobsak Chutikul, director-general of the 
Foreign Ministry's economic affairs department.

Mr Kobsak arrived in Rangoon on Wednesday with colleagues 
from ministries concerned to finalise four remaining points 
on the border trade agreement to be signed by Foreign 
Minister Kasem S. Kasemsri and Rangoon's Minister of Trade 
Lt-Gen Tun Kyi, during the visit.

He said he had sought assurances from Rangoon that the 
checkpoints would be reopened before the visit. "It's not a 
precondition but it's a factor the Prime Minister takes 
seriously because Thai people are watching," he said. Mr 
Kobsak said hesitation was building in Bangkok in the lead-
up to Mr Banharn's visit, planned for March 17-18, because 
Rangoon has remained silent on the checkpoints.

An aide to Deputy Army Commander Gen Chetha Thanajaro said 
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1 of the ruling State Law and 
Order Restoration Council, had given a personal assurance 
two checkpoints would reopen tomorrow.
But there has been no confirmation so far from Rangoon to 
the Foreign Ministry or the PM's Office in Bangkok.

A source at Foreign Ministry in Rangoon said Lt-Gen Khin 
Nyunt wanted to obtain direct guarantees from Mr Banharn 
that Thai authorities will stop smuggling and a recurrence 
of old problems at the border before reopening the checkpoints.

The source said March 27, which coincides with Burma's Armed 
Forces Day, was a more likely date for the reopening of the 
Mae Sai and Ranong checkpoints.

Mr Kobsak said Burmese officials held a two-hour meeting 
after he made his point and came out to say "no problem, 
don't worry". He did not name the official, who mentioned no 
date. Mr Kobsak said he reported back to the Foreign 
Ministry in the evening and as of last night, the visit was still on.

The director-general held talks yesterday with U Kyaw Myint, 
director-general of the Trade Department, Trade Ministry on 
the four remaining points of the border trade agreement: 
immigration, customs, trade and banks.

He said Rangoon still cannot agree with the proposal for the 
six Thai banks with offices in Rangoon to be used in the 
border trade. It wants only one or two banks.

On immigration issues, Mr Kobsak said the Thai side has 
agreed to reciprocate by adjusting immigration rules to 
allow Burmese traders to remain in Thailand for three nights 
and four days for trade. The present rule allows only a 24-
hour stay.

On the trade issue, Rangoon has agreed to move 28 items from 
its prohibited commodities list, including jade, gems and 
jewellery, teak, cattle and buffalos, antiques and minerals. 
Mr Kobsak said these remaining technical points will not 
stop the inking of the border trade agreement, as both sides 
did not expect everything to be settled by this weekend. He 
expected all details to be settled by next month.

A delegation from the Thai Banker's Association is due in 
Rangoon next month to try to find a compromise on the bank 
issue in the agreement. Mr Kobsak quoted U Kyaw Myint as 
saying the agreement will finally "normalise, legalise and 
liberalise" border trade.

He said Rangoon officials were ready to explain the content 
of the agreement to traders in due time. "It's going to 
change from border trade to normal trade at the border." 

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

BKK POST: MANDALAY PROJECT SURE TO PAY BACK
March 15,1996

A US$150 million airport project in Mandalay is commercially 
viable and will be able to pay back both the principal and 
interest on schedule, Export & Import Bank of Thailand 
president M.R. Pridiyathorn Devaula said yesterday.

Exim Bank will single-handedly extend $150 million to the 
airport construction project in Mandalay with a 13-year 
repayment period, he said but added that the interest rate 
is still under negotiation.

Ital-Thai Group won the right to build the Mandalay airport, 
outbidding its Singaporean rival with its attractive long-
term and cheap credit package.

----------------------------------------------------------

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