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Burma Appeal for Foreign Journalist (r)



Subject: Re: Burma Appeal for Foreign Journalists

> Date:          13 May 1997 13:29:00
> Reply-to:      Conference "reg.burma" <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> From:          cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject:       Burma Appeal for Foreign Journalists
> To:            Recipients of burmanet-l <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>

>  If any of you have experiences that you would care to communicate on or
> off the record, please send them to us here at EuroBurmanet. The
> strictest confidentiality will be assured. Our intention is to find ways
> and means to fight back for increased freedom of the press in Burma.
> 
I enclose a report on an incident that occurred in Burma in 1994.To 
my knowledge this incident was never acknowledged to have happened by 
either SLORC or the New Zealand government. It is written to bring 
attention to the problems and dangers  of trying to set up 
enterprises  in Burma under such a government.

It is very important for the safety of others that my name or EMAIL 
address is not associated with any publication  of this report. 


        SLORC OPEN FIRE AND  ARREST INVITED GUESTS!!

The recent announcement of the embargo by the US will no doubt be
considered in its implication, by many would be investors. However,
the regime has already, by its own commercial incompetence, effected a
major disincentive to at least one company. This company, believed to
be a major New Zealand company, was personally invited by the Minster
of Livestock,Breeding and Fisheries to conduct a marine survey of the
fisheries biomass in the Bay of Bengal. The Minister himself issued
the invitation, and amongst other things, welcomed the potential
investor in order that they - the foreigners would be able to learn at
first hand the "truth" about the country, as opposed to the lies
eminating from the foreign press!

The survey was equipped with a Burmese government vessel, and a
Burmese crew. All permits were obtained and the survey was commenced.
On board were three foreigners from the invited company. Three days
into the survey, while at anchor in the bay of Chaungtha, in broad
daylight - approximatley one kilometre offshore the beach that has the
"No 1  Beach Tourist Resort" , the vessel was attacked, boarded, put
under arrest and commandeered by some thirty odd soldiers from the
local army garrison. The soldiers opened fire on the vessel from three
small local boats The vessel, which was flying the MFE flag, as well
as the Burmese flag, was held and relocated incommunicado for some
eight hours. 

When the vessel retuned to Rangoon, no officials made contact with the
foreigners, no communications of any type regarding this breach of
international law were made by any Burmese official.

So for at least one potential investor, the message must be quite
clear - if you want to invest in Burma, be prepared to be shot at, be
prepared to be arrested, be prepared to loose money and do not expect
any recompense or even the basic human courtesy of an explanation or
apology. 

For other investors, the message is clear - if the so called
government can not organise a simple survey, do not expect to much
when the enterprise involves SLORC assurances.



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