BurmaNet News: September 18, 1996

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The BurmaNet News: September 18, 1996
Issue #517

HEADLINES:
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THE NATION: CHARTER DELAY 'WILL PROLONG MILITARY RULE'
NLM: TOURISM CONTRACT SIGNED; MINISTER SPEAKS AT CEREMONY  
BURMANET: NEWS INSIDE BURMA
US EMBASSY RANGOON: FOREIGN ECONOMC TRENDS - BURMA
ARTICLE 19: BURMA - A THIN FACADE OF LEGALITY
TOURSM INFO : ANSON WORLDWIDE TRAVEL AND TOURS 
THE NEW INTERNATIONALIST: LETTER - PEPSICO
THE NEW INTERNATIONALIST: LETTER - TOURISM			
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THE NATION: CHARTER DELAY 'WILL PROLONG MILITARY RULE'
September 17, 1996

RANGOON - The leader of Burma's military regime has warned that any attempt
to interfere with the pro-government panel drafting a new constitution will
only prolong military rule.

The statement, published yesterday in official newspapers, amounted to a
warning to pro-democracy activists led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi who have boycotted the constitutional proceedings and threatened to
write their own charter.

Gen Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State law and Order Restoration
Council, was speaking at the close of a convention of a state social group,
the Union Solidarity and Development Association.

"Efforts to delay and disrupt the ongoing National Convention will simply
delay the emergence of the constitution and prolong the current type of
administration," Than Shwe said.

Suu Kyi withdrew the delegates of her National League for Democracy from the
convention last year, claiming the proceedings were weighted in favour of
the regime and continued military rule. The convention has been meeting
intermittently since 1993.

In May, an arrest-depleted congress of Suu Kyi's party vowed to draft a
separate constitution.

Authorities responded with harsh new laws threatening long prison terms for
any such action. The separate charter has since been little spoken of.

Suu Kyi's party overwhelmingly won democratic elections in 1990, but the
regime never allowed Parliament to convene. She has said that nay new
constitution should be drafted by the country's elected representatives.

The military has ruled Burma since 1962. State-run media have published
articles believed to reflect the government's views that the army will never
accept a back seat to civilians in politics.

Than Shwe told the gathering that each Burmese citizen had the duty to guard
against national disintegration.

"It is most important not to succumb to the temptations, schemes and
coercion of foreign powers to introduce their choice of administration,
legislature and judiciary in other, independent countries," Than Shwe said.

The government contends that Suu Kyi, daughter of independence hero Aung
San, is a tool of foreign nations like the United States determined to
subjugate Burma through the guise of introducing free speech, democracy and
respect for human rights.

Than Shwe said the regime is working to develop and raise living standards
in border areas, home to ethnic groups that have long fought the central
government.

The general claimed that ongoing strife, despite several deals struck with
various rebel groups in recent years, was a legacy of imperialism. Burma was
ruled by the British until 1948.

Suu Kyi, 51, was freed in July 1995 from six years of house arrest, raising
hopes of negotiations that would lead to democratic rule in Burma. But the
regime has rebuffed her calls for dialogue.

Instead, they have tightened the screws on her supporters, sentencing dozens
of them long prison terms while allowing Suu Kyi limited freedom. 

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NLM: TOURISM CONTRACT SIGNED; MINISTER SPEAKS AT CEREMONY  
September 10, 1996

[ Transcribed Excerpt] Yangon [Rangoon], 10 Sept -
- Traders Square Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Kuok Group of
Singapore, today signed a contract with Quartermaster
General Office of the Ministry of Defence to build Trader's
Square Commercial Complex at the corner of Sule Pagoda Road
and 32nd Street at 0900 today. Minister for Hotels and
Tourism Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba delivered an address at the contract signing ceremony. 

He said: First of all, on behalf of the Quartermaster
General office, Ministry of Defence, and on my own behalf, I
would like to extend our warmest welcome to all the
honourable guests from abroad who came to Myanmar [Burma]
especially for this occasion, the ceremony of the signing of
agreement between the Quartermaster General Office, Ministry
of Defence and the Traders Square Company Ltd for the
construction of a commercial complex. [passage omitted] 
Mentioning the consideration and trust bound between us
and our partners, we believe we also owe so much to the
Government of Singapore because even in the time when
negative issues on our country are spreading all over the
world, the Government of Singapore keeps strengthening the
bilateral economic cooperation between our two countries.
The encouragement of the Government of Singapore gave
impetus to the Singaporean businessmen to invest in Myanmar.
Without mentioning the other economic sectors, the amount of
investment solely in hotel industry shows that Singapore has
581.5 million US dollars out of the total foreign investment
of 1.0 billion US dollars in the Hotel projects in Myanmar.
Undoubtedly, friendly-ties that have bound for each other
hold stronger with each passing year. Goodwill of your
country seems incomparable. Large amount of investment from
Singapore proved our mutual cooperation and understanding. 
Agreement of our two countries are well founded on our
mutual trust and friendship that our long term project could
be very beneficial. After each project has been completed,
chances for employment for our younger generation seem very
promising. As the potential of tourism in Myanmar is full
recognised many foreign firms are also preparing for their
chances. Hotels, resorts and business centres are cropping
up one after another. [passage omitted] 
Development of tourism in Myanmar, in spite of its
clean and green nature has been unjustly criticised as being
damaging to the society, environment and economy of the
country by unscrupulous persons. This "grapes are sour"
attitude will only backfire at those people who are making
false accusation with ulterior motives. Trader's Hotel by
offering huge salaries and benefits to the local employees,
by sending a batch of employees for further study abroad is
worthy of its prestigious name and its sincerity towards the country. 

In spite of the cheap and low down rumours about
Myanmar Tourism being spread by the destructive elements, we
are seeing more and more tourists coming with each month.
With this rate and trend in the tourist arrivals, we will be
able to meet the target we have projected for Visit Myanmar
Year 1996 by the year 1997. 

It proves that there are only a handful of people who
believe what these destructive elements are saying and
instigating: I really hope that we, together with the
prestigious group like Kuok Group jointed by other investors
would be able to retaliate and spread true and positive
information about Myanmar to the outside world. It is
against our nature to talk evil about other people even
though it may be true. But it comes to the point where we
can no longer tolerate. It is time that we speak out because
we have enough of it. Silence is not always golden. Success
achieved so far in all the sectors of the economy
particularly in the tourism industry is undisputed. Faith,
hope and sincerity demonstrated by our foreign investors
like Kuok Group for the further development of Myanmar will
always overcome the negative and imbalanced reporting
especially in the West. [passage omitted] 
In conclusion, my best wishes to Kuok Group and the
success and prosperity of all their projects in Myanmar. Thank You. 

The contract was signed at the Strand Hotel with the
arrangement of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Tin Hla and Managing Director
Mr Goh Soo Siah of Traders Co Ltd also spoke. Deputy-
Quartermaster-General Col Zaw Lin and Mr Goh Soo Siah signed
the contract. [passage omitted] 

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

BURMANET: NEWS INSIDE BURMA

1) NLD and ASSK situation

SLORC in Irrawaddy division have been threatening members of the 
NLD since the second week of September. 
Followings are threats in this division:

In Phya Pon district, a group of fishermen, who are members of the NLD were
threatened by authorities and told that they would not be permitted to go
offshore 
fishing until they resigned from the NLD. Some have had to abandon their NLD 
membership for their own survival.

In Maubin District, NLD members were threatened that they would be
arrested and imprisoned when the NLD is announced as an
unlawful organisation. 

Since 12/9/96, In Bassein district, the house-owners of the NLD offices
were threatened that their houses would be confiscated when the NLD was
announced as an illegal organisation. As a result, the NLD township offices in
Tharpound township and Athok township had to be closed. 

On 7/9/96, student leaders from the North Okkalapa came to meet
ASSK,but refused to be register their names with the Military Intelligence
officials at the gate of her compound. That night, they were arrested at
their homes. There names will be released soon.

NLD has been writing a constitution which will be finished in October.

There are difficulties for the SLORC to restart the National Convention as
the ethnic organisations in cease-fire with the SLORC (especially KIO and
NMSP) have sent letters to the SLORC that this should be restarted only
after finishing the tripartide dialogue among ASSK,them and SLORC.

On the first week of September, the workers in the Myitngae Railways
Factory in Mandalay division arranged to organize a strike. The authorities
after learning of their plans provided a substantial amount of basic
commidities 
such as rice, cooking oil etc to them free or very low price, aiming to
prevent the 
strike. Afraid of spreading to the Insein Railways Factory in Rangoon, the same 
action was action by the authorities there . 

On 15/9/96, the price of petrol per/gallon is 320, 600, 550 kyats in
Rangoon, Mandalay and Taunggyi respectively. Diesel is 210 kyats in
Rangoon. Due to the rising price of fuel, many ships and trucks stopped 
work. This shortage of oil became severe and will become worse.  Inside news
from
the SLORC Oil Corporation confirms that there is no oil available to the end
of this month.

China is planning to build a deep-sea harbour at Akyab township in
Arakan State. They will hire land from the SLORC and if the project
is to commence, the town must be relocated.

There is shortage of paper available for newspaper production in Burma. The 
paper  available to SLORC will only be sufficient until the end of October. 

In Rangoon, the people in Sanchaung township have begun a campaign to
boycott buying SLORC newspapers. They have had a 75% success rate

The Land Transport Minister has joined forces with the Sein Min Company 
and another unknown company in Rangoon. They have decided that all taxis 
must install computerised meters which must be bought from only these
companies. This has angered taxi drivers as the price for each meter is 55 000 
kyats (340 US$)  

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US EMBASSY RANGOON: FOREIGN ECONOMC TRENDS - BURMA
June, 1996

AGRICULTURE

According to the GOB data, agriculture generated about 65% of employment and
about 55% of legal unadjusted GDP in FY 94/95, and the agricultural sector's
share of GDP has grown steadily and substantially throughout the 1990's in 
exchange rate adjusted terms. Although much of the sector's recent growth has 
been the result of farmer's voluntary responses to a substantial albeit
incomplete
liberalization of agricultural production and marketing from1987 - 1991, much 
of the growth in the important rice sub - sector has been achieved by state
coercion,
which appears to have increased since 1992.

Burma's two most valuable crops are diverse strains of rice and diverse
beans and 
pulses. Exports of both are large and growing sources of foreign exchange.
However
as bean and pulse cultivation are largely privatized, nearly the whole
burden of the
state on the agricultural sector is borne by the rice subsector. The
resulting tension
between private efforts to increase bean and pulse cultivation and exports,
and state
efforts to increase rice cultivation and exports, has been a central theme
in the 
development of Burmese agriculture under SLORC rule.

Between 1987 and 1991, the GOB for the first time allowed private domestic 
trading of agricultural surpluses and private exportation of all crops except 
rice, and promised to allow farmers to mange their own production, subject to 
the constraint that paddy must be grown on designated paddy land. However
the GOB continues to own all farmland, monopolize export marketing of rice
and to require paddy to be grown on "designated paddy land" which appears to
constitute nearly 12 million of the 22 million acres sown in FY 94/95

The increase in paddy output from FY 91/92 to FY 94/95 wasachieved almost 
entirely through the expansion of multiiple cropping. Before each cropping
season, the GOB extensively publicized, through all the state and media organs
nationwide instructions to farmers of when and what to cultivate on designated
paddy land. The GOB deplloyed and still deploys a force of 7,000 "agricultural 
supervisors" throughout the countryside, chieflly to communicate these 
instructions, ensure compliance and procure quotas of paddy at below - market
prices.

In FY 92/93 and FY 93/94, the SLORC instructed farmers assigned to paddy
land with year round access to water to double - crop paddy. In many cases
this involved replacing traditional dry season crops, such as beans and pulses
export of which had been privatized, with unfamiliar and for some farmers less
profitable dry season paddy, export marketing of which the state continues to 
monopolize. Dry - season paddy planting increased from negligible proportions
in FY 91/92 to 3.2 million acres in FY 94/95, according to GOB statistics, and 
was targeted to reach 4.0 million acres in FY 95/96.

In some regions, multiple croping increased farm incomes with little risk and
farmers complied wllingly and successfully with the government's new 
production directives. In some other areas, including regions near the sea in
Irrawaddy, Rangoon and Pegu divisions - Burma's rice surplus region - salinity
problems, high flood risks, and seasonal pest problems made multiple cropping
inappropriate; it was nevertheless imposed on villages, with some disasterous 
results, by regional and local military authorities who had production
targets to 
meet. In areas near roads, where cropping patterns could easily be monitored
village headmen imposed the multiple paddy cropping directives under the 
sometimes explicit threat of loss of access of land or other state - allocated
inputs. 

The results of the FY 94/95 experiment in wet season double cropping of
paddy proved disappointing: due to heavy rains late in the season, and to GOB 
orders to plant early so as to facilitate dry - season planting while water 
remained plentiful, not only the first wet - season crop, but also the econd was
harvested in the rain and was seriously damaged by excessive moisture.  Half 
of Burma's farmland continues to be used as a government laboratory for 
experiments in centrally planned agriculture evidently conducted with a view 
to maximizing the GOB's foreign currency receipts from it's rice export
monopoly; the freedom of farm households to make their own production
choices continues to be highly constrained.

In 1995 and 1996, Burma's paddy production began to be adversely affected
by infestation of small insects that eat the rice kernel inside the paddy husk,
especially in storeage areas. In some areas villagers claim that the pest
reduced
milling outturn by about 85%. This infestation is thought by some experts to be
associated with multiple cropping of paddy, which may provide a continuous
food supply for paddy eating insects whose numbers had previously been
limited by the absence of paddy during much of the year.

The introduction of multiple cropping of paddy required a rapid expansion
of irrigation systems. This was achieved through a large increase in the GOB's
use of uncompensated "people's contributions", largely of labour and of labour
compensated at wages far below market, in state irrigation construction
projects,
chiefly during the dry season.

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

ARTICLE 19: BURMA - A THIN FACADE OF LEGALITY
September 18, 1996

For the first time since the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) seized power in Burma eaight years ago legality of their regime is
analyzed in a major new report published today by ARTICLE 19.

In "Burma: Beyond the Law" K. S. Venkateswaran shows that despite the
stream of laws, orders and decrees it has issued in an attempt to
legitimize its authority the SLORC's apparent attachment to legal form is
no more than a thin facade.

"Burma: Beyond the Law" discusses the legality of the coup d'etat of 18
September 1988 and reveals a regime which  subverts the rule of law to
maintain its own political pre-eminence.  Its failure to respect the
outcome of the May 1990 general election and its continuing refusal to
abide by the democratic will of the people stand as a clearest proof of this.

The SLORC is shown to have disregarded humanitarian law standards and to
have violated international human rights.  "Burma: Beyond the Law provides
a detailed analysis of the martial law measures introduced by the SLORC and
demonstrates the extent to which they are incompatible with international law.

Welcoming the report Frances D'Souza, ARTICLE 19's Executive Director,
said: "It provides valuable access to information about the current law and
practice in Burma affecting human rights.  Much of this information
continues to be withheld from the people of Burma itself who remain subject
to a pervasive censorship regime."

"Burma: Beyond the Law" concludes with a series of recommendations designed
to establish the rule of law, human rights and governmental accountability
in Burma, and urges the international community to support and promote them.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1.  "Burma: Beyond the Law was written by K.S. Venkateswaran, an expert on
international human rights law and currently Lecturer in Law at the
University of Ulster at JOrdanstown in Northern Ireland.

2.  "Burma: Beyond the Law" is published on 18 September 1996 by ARTICLE 19
in association with the Burma Project of teh Open Society Institute of New
York, price 3.99 (Streling lb).

3. ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, is a registered
charity which works impartially and systematically to oppose censorship
worldwide.  It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
on the report:   K. S. Venkateswaran
                 Tel/Fax:  01960 365079

on ARTICLE 19:  Frances D'Souza
                Tel: 0171 278 9292
                Fax: 0171 713 1356

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TOURSM INFO : ANSON WORLDWIDE TRAVEL AND TOURS 
September 16, 1996

Myanmar (formerly "Burma") has just begun actively to welcome tourists,
but Anson has already been there with groups for two years--as it has led
in visits to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Tibet, and in direct travel between
China and its neighbors.

Anson Worldwide Travel & Tours offers another first in its series of tours
whose members enjoy discovering new places and new approaches to Asia,
again combining adventure with comfort at bargain prices. A new 18 day
tour (November 4-21, 1996) out of San Francisco linking Myanmar, Cambodia,
and Vietnam begins in Thailand and ends in Hong Kong. For further
information, call 1-800-722-6766 or send email to Betty Chan at:
canson@xxxxxxx

Anson Travel Page designed by DTP Express.
Visit the DTP Express web site at -- http://www.dtpe.com

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THE NEW INTERNATIONALIST: LETTER - PEPSICO
September, 1996

We were shocked to see you unilaterally let PepsiCo off the hook. 
Contrary to what you state in your issue on BURMA (NI 280), the company 
has not left the country, but is simply engaged in paper shuffling. It 
has turned its operations into a franchise directly owned by a Burmese 
company run by Thein Tun, who chaired a mass rally for the Burmese 
dictatorship in June where he denounced Burma's democracy movement.

	Meanwhile, PepsiCo itself still refuses to explain how it could 
have exported agricultural goods from Burma without trading in produce 
grown by using forced labour. To have avoided this, PepsiCo must have 
known about the practice long before the human-rights groups dis. Yet it 
did not present any testimony concerning this during US Government 
hearings on Burma, nor did it inform even its own shareholders.

	Had you contacted the PepsiCo/Burma boycott organizers you would 
have avoided a major error which has set our work back considerably.

[Reid Cooper and Terry Cottam, Burma-Tibet Group, Ottawa, Canada]
(The New Internationalist, September 1996).

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THE NEW INTERNATIONALIST: LETTER - TOURISM			
September, 1996

Your issue on BURMA (NI 280) is clear that tourists should not 
visit Burma. But according to an article I read in a local magazine, a 
group of travellers concluded that the Burmese people do want you to come 
to their country: "In our tour through this country long  on discipline 
but short on progress, one thing was clear: going there is a tough moral 
call to make but to the Burmese people we talked to, you only have one 
choice. They want you to come and see how their Government has managed to 
turn Shwe Puidaw - the Golden Land - into one of the 10 poorest countries 
in the world. They want you tell their horror stories. Your only 
responsibility is to pass them along."

[S Edwards, Dubai, United Arab Emirates]
(The New Internationalist, Septembet 1996).

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BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST

BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different 
topics related to Burma. If you have questions on any of the 
following subjects, please direct email to the following volunteer 
coordinators, who will either answer your question or try to put you 
in contact with someone who can:

Campus activism: 	zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Boycott campaigns: [Pepsi] ai268@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     
Buddhism:                    Buddhist Relief Mission:  brelief@xxxxxxx
Chin history/culture:        [volunteer temporarily away]
Fonts:                  		tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
High School Activism:     nculwell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
History of Burma:            zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
International Affairs: 	 Julien Moe: JulienMoe@xxxxxxx
Kachin history/culture:      74750.1267@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Karen history/culture: 	Karen Historical Society: 102113.2571@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mon history/culture:         [volunteer needed]
Naga history/culture: 	Wungram Shishak:  z954001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burma-India border            [volunteer needed]
Pali literature:            	 "Palmleaf":  c/o burmanet@xxxxxxxxxxx
Pipeline Campaign       	freeburma@xxxxxxx
Resettlement info:	refugee_help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Rohingya culture		volunteer needed
Shan history/culture: 	Sao Hpa Han: burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shareholder activism:       simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Total - France		Dawn Star: cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  
Tourism campaigns:      	bagp@xxxxxxxxxx     "Attn. S.Sutcliffe"   
volunteering: 		refugee_help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
World Wide Web:              FreeBurma@xxxxxxxxx

Geographical Contacts:

Massachusetts		simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]
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