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BurmaNet News August 22, 1996
- Subject: BurmaNet News August 22, 1996
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1996 08:58:00
-----------------------------BurmaNet--------------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: August 22, 1996
Issue #496
Noted in Passing:
They tied and beat him, burned him, cut his lips, cut his
flesh, buried him in the ground up to the neck, forced
him to eat the flesh which they had cut from Ai Khin's
thigh, and cut his flesh and made Ai Khin eat it.
( S.H.A.N: TORTURE AND MURDER BY SLORC TROOPS)
HEADLINES:
==========
SLORC STATEMENT: WIN HTEIN AND HLAING MYINT SENTENCED
REUTERS: BURMA SENTENCES 11 ACTIVISTS TO PRISON TERMS
ABSDF NEWS AGENCY: KARENNI DIE IN RELOCATION SITE
S.H.A.N: TORTURE AND MURDER BY SLORC TROOPS
AP: NORDIC FOREIGN MINISTERS DEPLORE SITUATION IN BURMA
US EMBASSY RANGOON:FOREIGN ECONOMIC TRENDS - BURMA
UPI: BURMA DENIES ALLOWING OPIUM CROPS
BOYCOTT LAUNCH: TOTAL NORTH AMERICA
LETTER: TO TOTAL PETROLEUM
STATEMENT BY TOTAL: REGARDING PIPELINE IN BURMA
UPI: U.S. PLEDGES MILITARY SUPPORT IN ASIA
BKK POST: BURMA FREES EIGHT THAI VILLAGERS
ABSL: CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
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SLORC STATEMENT: WIN HTEIN AND HLAING MYINT SENTENCED
August 21,1996
Information Regarding the sentence of Win Htein (NLD) and team
has been released by Myanmar Authorities.
Win Htein and team sentenced.
Under the instruction of Win Htein some NLD members, former
members and locals were sent out to collect information on agriculture
development in various parts of the country. Among those who went out
to collect information, Po Aye and Htein Lin from Hlaing Tharyar
Township, Yangon concocted with Win Htein and deliberately sent false
data and information through Win Htein to Mrs. Aris's (Suu Kyi)
residence after their return from various township in Yangon and
Ayeyarwaddy Division.
Similarly, Hla Tun Aung and Kan Shein from Hinthada
Township recorded with a video camera some plots of land where
summer paddies were not growing well. This was done with the intention
of showing the recorded tape to Mrs. Aris and the NLD central executive
committee and later to be sent to the U.N Human Rights Commission
so that they can trick U.N.H.R.C into believing that farmers are
forced to work on a project which was a total failure. This recorded
tape was also sent initially to Win Htein to be screened.
Under the present circumstances, those (5) people were put on
trial and the Insein Township Court found them guilty of spreading false
information to destabilize the existing peace and tranquility in the
country. The court sentenced Win Htein, Po Aye, Htein Lin, Hla Tun
Aung and Kan Shein to (7) years of imprisonment under the Emergency
Act (5) Nya, on the 15th of August 1996.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hlaing Myint and team sentenced
In order to agitate and incite civil unrest through students and
youth, Hlaing Myint (a) Billy Mckenzie attempted forming of illegal
youth organizations by monetary fundings, distribution of anti-
government papers and video tapes. In the process of carrying out
illegal activities, Hlaing Myint contacted Kyaw Khin (NLD, Taungyi) to
obtain recorded video tapes with anti-government messages
broadcasted from foreign TV stations. Kyaw Khin also made several
copies to be distributed among students through Maung Maung Wan.
Under the present circumstances, Hlaing Myint, Kyaw Khin
and Maung Maung Wan were put on trial and the Insein Township
Court found them guilty of breaching the 1985 Television and Video
Law, Act (40) - which they were sentenced to (3) years imprisonment
and also another (7) years of imprisonment under the Emergency Act(5)
Nya, on the August 15th of August 1996.
*********************************************************
REUTERS: BURMA SENTENCES 11 ACTIVISTS TO PRISON TERMS
August 21, 1996
RANGOON, Aug 21 (Reuter) - Burma's military government has
sentenced a total of 11 democracy activists to seven-year prison
terms, sources in Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy (NLD) said on Wednesday.
The military government never announces sentences
imposed on dissidents but reports that three activists had been
sentenced to prison terms, including Suu Kyi's personal
assistant Win Htein, filtered out earlier this week.
The NLD sources said on Wednesday that eight other activists
were sentenced to prison terms at the same time.
As well as Win Htein, the 11 comprised one Buddhist monk, a
woman and eight other men.
'There were a total of 11 sentenced,' an NLD source at Suu
Kyi's house told Reuters. The source said all 11 were sentenced
last week and were being held at Insein prison.
Win Htein and two of the others NLD members were charged
with 'taking part in a video conspiracy fabricating the poor
situation of the farmers', NLD sources said on Tuesday.
Apart from Win Htein the names of the others were not
immediately available nor was it known under what laws they were
sentenced, but NLD sources said it was likely under a sweeping
Emergency Powers Act.
They say they violated section 5G. If they want to act mean
it's always 5G,' the NLD official at Suu Kyi's house said.
The 11 were among more than 250 NLD members arrested by the
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) in a
crackdown on democracy politicians ahead of a May 26 party
congress at Suu Kyi's house.
Aye Win, a relative and personal assistant to NLD leader Suu
Kyi, was arrested in the crackdown. His family told Reuters on
Tuesday he had not yet been sentenced.
Most of the NLD politicians arrested by the SLORC were
released after the May 26-28 party meeting took place. The
government said at the time the arrests were made to prevent
anarchy arising as a result of the meeting.
********************************************************
ABSDF NEWS AGENCY: KARENNI DIE IN RELOCATION SITE
August 20, 1996 (English slightly corrected)
At least 150 newly-relocated Karenni refugees died in July at the new
relocation site in Shar Daw town, Karenni state, claimed a Karenni refugee
who has spent some time in the relocation site.
Local Karenni villagers living in 98 villages between Pun Creek and Saloon
river in Karenni state were forcibly ordered to move to a new relocation site
in Shar Daw town by June 7, 1996. Anyone found after the deadline would
be shot, according to an order issued by Regional Command Military Strategy
Headquarters based in Loikaw.
Without assistance by the authorities and lack of medical care, at
least 150 Karenni, most children and elderly, died of malaria
and diarrhea in July, according to U Pe Reh, a Karenni refugee who has
spent some time in the new site and escaped to Thai-Burmese border.
"People had to stay in monasteries and churches with extremely
crowded conditions and no medical assistance was given. At least 4-5
people died daily." said U Pe Reh.
Similarly, about 2,000 refugees arrived to the border area are
also facing the same health problem. "At least 10, most of them
children, died of malaria and diarrhea since July and many are ill," a
medic working with the Karenni refugees explained. "Many of them got sick
or seriously ill due to their hard journey to the border and heavy rain on
their way," said a refugee worker working with the recently arrived
Karenni refugees.
"There are many Karenni hiding in the jungle because they neither go to
relocation site nor walk to the border. We do not know their plight, but
believe their situation could be worse," added by other worker.
In addition to struggling against disease, many Karenni villagers were
killed by the Slorc troops for failing to obey their orders. All the
villagers' barns were burnt and people were shot in the deserted village.
In the last week of July, U Law Reh, 53-year-old Karenni from Daw Tama
village was burnt to death along with his house while he was inside, said
a 70-year-old refugee woman from the same village. She was left behind
in the village because she could not walk to the border. She arrived two days
ago at the border along with two companions since she dared not stay
in the village.
Bu Me, 50-year-woman from Daw Hti Kaw Le village was dragged out
from her house by the LIB 305 in the last week of July and shot twice in
the stomach. She died instantly according to Ngar- Reh, an eyewitness
from Daw Htaw Vee Me Le village.
Slorc has also issued a forced relocation order to the villages in Prusoe
township to move to a new site under their control. "Slorc is undergoing
its infamous four cuts operation to suppress the Karenni forces. The innocent
Karenni people are vulnerable under this cruel operation" an official from
the Karenni National Progressive Party said. " we hope many more refugees
will be arriving, but current heavy rain and flood make them difficult to
get here." he added.
***********************************************************
S.H.A.N : TORTURE AND MURDER BY SLORC TROOPS
August 1, 1996
Narng Poo, wife of Zarae Kaeng Haao in Murng Thar (an area formerly
controlled by MTA and now occupied by SLORC troops, opposite Wiang
Haeng district, Chiang Mai province of Thailand), reported to the SLORC
troops that a man named Ai Khin had stolen her gold. Ai Khin, a native
of Nar Parng village, Ha Wan circle, Kae See township, was working at
Murng Nen. He was arrested by SLORC soldiers on June 19, 1996, and
was tortured and asked not only about the stolen gold but also about
hidden weapons as well. After unbearable torture, he told them he did
not know about the hidden weapons, but a man named Ai Mon might know.
Ai Mon was the son of Loong Yan Na and Pa Kham, who lived in Murng
Nen. At the time, Ai Mon was at Look Maw Kharng village, two and a half
hours' walk from Murng Nen. So the soldiers went after him and arrested him
and his brother Ai Sarn, together with 4-5 other villagers. The troops made
them stand in a line and fired their guns aiming just above their heads. After
that they questioned and tortured Ai Mon. They tied and beat him, burned
him, cut his lips, cut his flesh, buried him in the ground up to the neck, forced
him to eat the flesh which they had cut from Ai Khin's thigh, and cut his
flesh and made Ai Khin eat it. Ai Mon, unable to endure the agony, revealed
a place where they found rockets, mines and ammunition - enough for a
mini-truckload. But, saying he had not given them all, they continued to
torture Ai Mon and some other villagers.
Ai Mon's daughter, Narng Horm, aged 2, was tied with a rope and hung
upside down by the legs, and they put a knife to her throat in front of Ai
Mon, threatening to cut it if he did not tell them the truth. They also tied
up and beat both his parents and his wife.
They arrested a woman named Pa Lu (wife of Pu Lao who has a daughter
named Ee Pee,aged 8, and a 10-month-old adopted baby ( whose mother
had died in labour ).
They bound Ee Pee's hands and dragged her along, forcing her to go into
the forest barefoot to search for the weapons the whole day. The 10-month
-old baby was left crying alone for one day and one night.
They also arrested a man named Loong Soi, aged 43, a native of Murng Kerng,
and accused him of being an MTA member who had not surrendered and
was keeping hidden property. They beat him with 2x3 wooden planks,
while asking the whereabouts of the concealed weapons until he passed out.
When he came to, they beat him again with their fists until his face was
swollen all over. Then, on July 7, 1996, they forced him to watch while
they tortured Ai Mon and Ai Khin, threatening him that he would suffer
the same fate if he did not tell them the truth. In front of Loong Sai,
who had been dragged out from the bamboo foot-locks in which he had
been kept during the previous days, they pricked out Ai Mon's eyes and
let them hang dangling over his face, cut off his ear, pierced
his nose and hung the ear to it,and cut many deep scars into his arms.
They cut off a lump of flesh from Ai Khin's right thigh, pierced it with
a stick, heated it on a fire and forced Ai Khin himself to eat it. All this
was done while both were still alive and while Loong Soi was forced to
watch it. Finally, they killed both Ai Mon and Ai Khin, and took Loong
Soi to Murng He to search for more hidden weapons.
Others who were beaten during that time were :
- Ai Sarn, Ai Mon's brother
- Narng Zung, Ai Sarn's wife, and their daughter Ee Pawk, aged 2
- Pa Lu and her daughter Ee Pee, aged 8
- Ai Parng, 22, son of Loong Kham and Pa Non
- Pa Long, 35, wife of Loong Ta, native of Sanin, Loi Lem toenship
- Ai Work, 18, son of Loong Orng and Pa Ae : they burned his groin,
plucked the hair and forced him to eat it.
Zao Sarng Mon, former colonel of the MTA who still holds some civilian
power, heard about this, and went to pledge their innocence, after which
they were released. Twelve people, including children, had been held
without food or water from June 29 to July 06. Loong Soi was released at
Murng He on July 10.
These atrocities were committed by SLORC no. 542 Battalion, Company 4,
led by Company Commander Myint Kyaw. It was said that Narng Poo had
bribed them with 1 baht weight of gold and 5,000 Baht to persuade them to
investigate of her gold.
************************************************************
AP: NORDIC FOREIGN MINISTERS DEPLORE SITUATION IN BURMA
August 21, 1996
PORVOO, Finland (AP) _ The foreign ministers of the five Nordic
countries on Wednesday called for Burma's military government to
release imprisoned members of Aung San Suu Kyi's democracy
movement.
Burma has been an increasingly sore point with the Nordic
countries since the death in prison in June of James Leander
Nichols, a former honorary consul for several of the countries.
Norwegian officials have said Nichols, an associate of Mrs. Suu
Kyi, was repeatedly tortured through sleep deprivation. He was
arrested for illegally possessing two fax machines and telephone
switchboard, Burmese government newspapers said.
In a statement released at the conclusion of their meeting in
this town 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Helsinki, the foreign
ministers of Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland urged
Burma to release detained members of the National League for
Democracy and other political prisoners.
They also demanded an ``impartial and independent''
investigation of Nichols' death.
**********************************************************
US EMBASSY RANGOON: FOREIGN ECONOMIC TRENDS REPORT
- BURMA (first installment)
July 1996
(NOTE: BurmaNet will be posting sections from the US Embassy's report
on Foreign Economic Trends over the next few weeks.)
ECONOMIC TRENDS AND OUTLOOK
Partly in consequence of diverse economic liberalization measures
inaugurated between 1988 and 1993, positive real growth of legal GDP
resumed and averaged 6% a year from FY89/90 through FY 94/95,
according to GOB statistics adjusted to reduce distortions introduced by
the GOB's dual foreign exchange rate. However, the rate of real exchange
-rate-adjusted legal GDP growth was only 4.6% in FY 93/94 and 94/95.
These figures, being based in part on a flawed GDP deflator, may overstate
real legal GDP growth for all years. Due largely to exchange rate
developments, the external factor shrank as a share of GDP from FY 92/93
to FY 94/95; consequently, growth of real exchange-rate-adjusted GDP
does not show the accelerating trend apparent in the real unadjusted legal
GDP, which grossly undervalues the external sector. Moreover, other
trends, call into question the medium and the long term sustainability
of this growth.
During the first half of the 1990's, evident net cash-basis foreign financial
inflows (disbursements of external grants, loans, direct investment, and
unrequited private transfers, less external debt service payments and other
net capital movements), equivalent on average to at least 14% of legal GDP,
covered virtually the full amount of the gap between legal savings and legal
investment - equivalent to the legal trade deficit - which, due to low rates of
legal net domestic savings, constituted about 60% of gross legal investment.
However, these foreign financial inflows substantially exceeded the real
growth of legal GDP implied by the GOB figures. That is, Burma's legal
economy, under SLORC management, appears yearly to have absorbed about
14% of it's own weight in foreign cash but to have grown, on average, by
only 6% or less.
Meanwhile, the volume of profit-seeking gross financial inflows (foreign
direct investment and the non-grant portion of foreign loans) has decreased
sharply relative to charitable gross foreign financial inflows (foreign grants,
the grant element of confessional foreign loan disbursements, and net
unrequited private transfers that are assumed to consist largely of
remittances from Burmese's working abroad). Unrequited yet private
transfers alone substantially exceeded foreign direct investment in both
FY 93/94 and FY 94/95.
Some of the growth of Burma's legal economy since 1989 has occurred at
the expense of it's extralegal economy. Considerable economic activity,
especially in the external sector, appears to have been voluntarily diverted
from the extralegal to the legal economy in response to the GOB's liberalizing
policies. Economic growth seems to have been especially rapid in Rangoon,
in part because liberalization has diverted much previously extralegal trade
from the border to that city, which contains Burma's only significant seaport.
In some peripheral regions, such as Mon state, little if any economic growth
has appeared to have occurred in recent years. In addition some of the growth
in legal GDP - the part of the economy that the GOB can observe - appears to
have been achieved by extension of central government control over border
areas of ethnic conflict. Since 1989, successful military offensives against
ethnic insurgencies and cease-fire agreements with others have increased the
set of economic actors, activities and resources that the GOB can monitor
and some cases tax. Consequently, legal GDP may have grown more rapidly
than unobservable total GDP.
Economic growth has been unevenly distributed in other ways as well. The
real incomes of many urban Burmese, including government employees
have declined, contributing to widely alleged increase in official corruption.
In the countryside, real farm incomes have risen since 1989 in most of
Burma, but have declined in areas where the GOB have imposed
inappropriate new agricultural technologies or raised in-kind taxes on
marginally productive land, and in border areas targeted by GOB military
operations. Meanwhile the amount of uncompensated labor
"contributions" exacted from the rural population to build transportation
and irrigation infrastructure appears to have increased sharply.. Throughout
Burma, the perception is widespread, that the benefits of the growth have
accrued disproportionately to military officers and to a small commercial
elite, although the lack of data about income distribution makes it
difficult to ascertain the validity of these subjective perceptions.
Under SLORC's rule, Burma's economy has been subjected to a gradual
de facto currency devaluation that is now largely complete. Although
a dual exchange rate regime nominally persists, few non-tax transactions
other than inter-public-sector transactions now occur at prices reflecting the
official exchange rate. Consequently, the exchange rate regime no longer
greatly discourages exports or subsidizes imports. Although the persistence
of the official exchange rate continues to complicate foreign investment,
it is no longer a major impediment to economic growth or a major source
of macroeconomic instability.
In other respects, however, the pace of economic liberalization has slowed
and in some sectors, such as agriculture, has been reversed. In particular
none of the many large state economic enterprises have been privatized,
and no known privatization's are known to be imminent.
Defense spending has increased in real terms, as a share of legal GDP,
and as a share of central government expenditures, crowding out spending
for health and education, and contributing more than any other factor to
chronic overall obligations-basis fiscal deficits ranging between 25.1% and
at least 11.5% of legal GDP, to broad money supply expansion averaging
36% per year. Growing external debt service related to military imports,
and expanding domestic production of military equipment, have caused
defense spending to increase even though the value of obvious military
imports have decreased since FY 91/92.
(to be continued tomorrow)
***********************************************************
UPI: BURMA DENIES ALLOWING OPIUM CROPS
August 21, 1996
BANGKOK, - The Burmese government Wednesday hotly denied a
report that it was allowing ethnic Shan guerrillas to grow opium near
the Thai border.
In a rare public statement issued to news agencies, the Burmese embassy
in Bangkok said a report in the Bangkok Post Wednesday on Rangoon's
drug policy was "based on groundless information."
The report alleged that Burmese officials in Homong, the former
headquarters of notorious opium warlord Khun Sa, had given their
permission for former members of the warlord's Mong Tai Army (MTA)
to plant and harvest opium.
The guerrillas will grow the opium on about 500 acres of hilly terrain
along the Salween River near the Thai-Burmese border, the paper said.
Khun Sa surrendered to Burmese military authorities in January
along with the majority of his 20,000-strong private army.
Since then, Rangoon has ignored pleas by the United States and other
countries to punish or allow the extradition of the half-Shan,
half- Chinese warlord.
Khun Sa has been indicted by a New York federal court for heroin
smuggling and the U.S. government has posted a reward of $2 million
for his capture.
The warlord's current whereabouts is unknown, but he has been
variously reported to be under guard at a military barracks in
Rangoon and engaging in business in eastern Burma's Shan state.
Rangoon government officials have denied reports that remnants of
Khun Sa's army would be allowed to continue their narcotics business
as part of the warlord's terms of surrender.
"The Myanmar (Burma) Government has never allowed the MTA or any
other group or individual to cultivate opium nor does it condone the
trafficking and consumption of the same," the Burmese embassy
statement said. "Whatever its cultivated if any, is totally illegal
and in contravention of the relevant existing laws of the country."
The statement said the Rangoon government cooperates with
neighboring countries and United Nations agencies to suppress
narcotics trafficking.
"At the national level, Myanmar strictly enforce the stipulations
provided in the relevant laws," the statement continued. "The
Embassy views such reporting based on groundless information is
nothing but part and parcel of the worldwide campaign to discredit
the Myanmar Government (sic)."
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other
narcotics control agencies, Burma is the world's largest single
source of illicit opium, producing about 2,000 tons per year.
The agencies have identified Burma as the main source of heroin
used in the United States.
It takes ten tons of opium to produce one ton of pure "Number 4"
or "China White" heroin.
*******************************************************
BOYCOTT LAUNCH: TOTAL NORTH AMERICA
August 19, 1996 (abridged)
Free Burma Coalition Groups & Rainforest Action Groups:
Monday, August 19, 1996 a number of concerned groups gathered at
the Denver, Colorado headquarters of TOTAL to formally launch a North
American boycott of Total and its products, service stations and
subsidiaries. This was truly a joint effort of many dedicated groups and
individuals, each of whom added a crucial element to the event (see below).
The delegation including Dr. Kyaw Win, [Shan Princess] Inge Sargent, David
Wolfberg and Kim Mizrahi were escorted to Total's reception area by PR
manager Christelle E. Langer, whereupon we presented her with the SAIN/ERI
report "Total Denial". We also provided copies of recent articles including
London Financial Times' "Western companies encounter protesters on road to
Burma: After Heineken campaign Dutch activists will target French group"
[July 12 '96] and Far Eastern Economic Review "Worlds Apart: Asia and West
at odds over approach to Burma" [July 25 '96]. We'd recommend these two for
anyone working on the Total boycott.
***********************************************************
LETTER: TO TOTAL PETROLEUM
August 19, 1996
Gary Jones, CEO
Total Petroleum North America
Total Tower, 900-19th Street
Denver, Colorado
[Hand Delivered]
Dear Mr. Jones:
We are here to express our concern about the irrefutable links between
Total and Burma's illegal military junta, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC). Through numerous exchanges with Total
International, we have conscientiously informed your company of the dangers
-- both to the people of Burma and to Total employees -- inherent in a
joint venture partnership with the SLORC.
Since 1993 we have urged Unocal and Total to reconsider this project until
there could be real guarantees that the SLORC wouldn't behave in the region
of your proposed natural gas pipeline as it does throughout the country.
Human rights violations along the route of the Total/Unocal/SLORC pipeline
have been clearly documented and continue to be reported by refugees
fleeing the area.
As you may know, Unocal is the target to a growing boycott throughout the
western United States. We regret to inform you that we now find no other
alternative but to launch a North American campaign to boycott Total and
its service stations. At the same time, Free Burma groups in seven
European countries are launching a Total boycott after convincing Heineken
and Carlsberg to cancel plans for breweries in Burma.
Please take some time to review the attached report, "Total Denial",
published by the Southeast Asian Information Network and EarthRights
International. We are certain you'll agree it's time for Total to suspend
this project until the National League for Democracy is given a chance to
exhibit the will of Burma's 43 million citizens -- who gave the NLD a
mandate for Democracy in Burma's 1990 elections.
Sincerely,
Inge Sargent Kyaw Win, Ph.D.
Kim Mizrahi David Wolfberg
*********************************************************
STATEMENT BY TOTAL: REGARDING PIPELINE IN BURMA
August 21, 1996
Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding the current political
situation in Myanmar (Burma). As you know, there is a gas pipeline
construction project currently underway in that country, which is a joint
venture between Total SA, a French company, and Unocal.
Total Petroleum, Inc. has no involvement in this project, nor will it
benefit in any way from this transaction. Total Petroleum, Inc. is a
petroleum refiner and marketer, with operations confined to the central
United States. It is not involved in gas exploration or production
activities. Total Petroleum (North America) Ltd. (TOPNA), a Canadian
holding company, owns Total Petroleum, Inc. and is a publicly traded
company. Although Total SA is a major shareholder in TOPNA, Total SA and
TOPNA are separate companies with different officers and directors and
completely separate operations.
Total SA has and continues to respond to the public and the media about its
involvement with the project in Myanmar. For information call:
Joseph Daniel
Direction de la Communication/ Relations Presse
TOTAL S.A.
24 Cours Michelet
92069 PARIS LA DEFENSE Cedex 47
tel: 011-33-1-4135-2822, fax: 4135-6462
Total Tower 900 19th Street Denver, Colorado 80202-2523
P.O. Box 500 Denver, Colorado 80201-0500
Telephone 303 291-2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A brief response from David Wolfberg: Clearly, Total SA profits from income
derived from Total Petroleum, in which it owns 54% according to the London
Financial Times, which goes on to say "The US subsidiary operates four refineries
and manages 1,950 service stations concentrated in 12 mid-continent states."
*************************************************************
UPI: U.S. PLEDGES MILITARY SUPPORT IN ASIA
August 21, 1996 (abridged)
KUALA LUMPUR,- The United States will continue to maintain its
current level of military readiness in the Asia-Pacific region to deter
conflict, a senior U.S. Navy official said Wednesday.
Vice Admiral Archie Clemins, commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet,
said he sees the 21st century as an era when food shortages,
territorial claims and economic issues could trigger regional conflicts.
"Asia will thrive economically, and needs stability. To avoid
future conflicts which will threaten this prosperity, the U.S. needs
to engage actively in the region," he said.
Clemins said regional forums like the Association of Southean
Asian Nations help reduce the likelihood of tension and conflict.
"The key is not to isolate anybody, but to get people to engage in a
dialogue," he said.
The United States has sought to isolate Burma, accusing its military
government of suppressing democracy. But ASEAN has resisted U.S.
overtures to pressure the Burmese regime to step down.
Clemins said, however, the U.S. presence in the region was not a
police force.
"Policeman is too strong a word. While we act to harmonize our
relationships with our allies and friends, we will continue to be
the honest broker."
*******************************************************
BKK POST: BURMA FREES EIGHT THAI VILLAGERS
August 21, 1996
Mae Sot, Tak - Eight Thai villagers detained by Burmese soldiers
since Sunday were released yesterday.
The eight, Mek Kanthawong, Lanthom Kanthawong, Lop Kanthawong,
Pan Kanthawong, Nong Fongnoy, Prasert Fongnoi, Chalong Tangsuwan,
and Pairoj Suwanchana, were released after long negotiations with
Thai authorities headed by Vichit Sriprasert, the Phop Phra district chief.
The Burmese soldiers accused the villagers of engaging in illegal
logging and corn-farming on Burmese territory.
Pan Kanthawong, among the villagers released yesterday, said they
had permission to enter Burma to work on the corn filed, and they
did not engage in logging as Burmese soldiers had alleged.
The villagers were interrogated for 13 hours. Their release was
unconditional.
********************************************************
ABSL: CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
August 21, 1996
Tentative Programme of the 2nd General Conference
of the All Burma Students League
21/08/96 - Inauguration
(1st Day) - Reading of Messages
- Submission of the report of 1st General Committee (1994-1996)
22/08/1996 - Reading of Messages
(2nd Day) - Formal approval of the Actions and policies
adopted by the 1st Central Committee (1994-1996)
- Resignation of 1st Central Committee (1994-1996)
23/08/1996 - Reading of Messages
(3th Day) - Discussion on the Constitutional Amendments of the League
- Formulating of future plans and policies
24/08/1996 - Reading of Messages
(4th Day) - Continuation of formulating future plans and policies
- General Discussion
- Election of the 2nd Central Committee (1996-1998)
26/08/1996 - Swearing in Ceremony
(5th Day) - Presidential Address
Chief Guest - George Fernandes
(Member of Parliament, India)
Special Guests - NCGUB/Friends of Burma/ TheOther Media/
Democratic Forces of Burma and well-wishers
from India
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