The BurmaNet News, May 19, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------    
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"    
----------------------------------------------------------    
    
The BurmaNet News: May 19, 1997    
Issue #725
  
HEADLINES:    
==========  
BKK POST: RECAPTURED DRUG FUGITIVE ARRIVES
LOS ANGELES TIMES: UNOCAL CHIEF MEETS SUU KYI
BKK POST: THAI HOTELS AFFECTED BY US SANCTIONS
SHRG: SLORC'S AIR EXERCISES
KNPP: SITUATION REPORT
BKK POST: ACTIVISTS WANT GAS PIPELINE WORK TO STOP
BKK POST: 5,000 REFUGEES TO BE MOVED TO CAMP
BKK POST: WHERE DO STOLEN VEHICLES GO?
THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS
-----------------------------------------------------------------  

BKK POST: RECAPTURED DRUG FUGITIVE ARRIVES
May 18, 1997
Nusara Thaitawat, Wassana Nanuam

The Burmese government yesterday handed over drug fugitive Li Yun-chung
wanted in Thailand and America in a gesture coinciding with the end of a
two-day official visit by Premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

The Thai Air Force flew officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and
the army's Special Force into Rangoon early yesterday morning to escort Li
back to Thailand even though the two countries have no extradition treaty.

Li was timed to arrive shortly after Gen Chavalit's plane landed at Don
Muang's military wing, where he was brought into the press briefing room
where the prime minister and his delegation made statements about their visit.

A military source attributed Li's arrest to the close relationship between
Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro and Slorc's No 1 Secretary
Khin Nyunt.

The source said Gen Chettha called Khin Nyunt and asked for the latter's
help in arresting Li, who was believed to be hiding in Rangoon. Li, said the
source, was apprehended by Burmese officials in mid-April. 
     
Li, wearing a straight jacket and handcuffs, appeared calm as he was
photographed by the media. Behind him stood the army's Special Forces,
posing with their M-16 assault rifles and sunglasses. Li was then led away
under a heavily armed army and police escort.

Analysts were quick to point out that the Burmese government, which has been
criticised for condoning drug trafficking and for harbouring drug warlords
and fugitives, hoped to smooth its entry into Asean this year in the face of
an intensifying international campaign against its membership.

However, a senior narcotics police officer said the Burmese government did
not care about international criticism. 
     
Thai leaders had only words of praise for the Burmese government, officially
known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) .

Army Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro said Burma's gesture demonstrated its
readiness to cooperate in drug suppression, in line with international
practice and it underlined the good relations between the two countries.

Senior police and army officers made several requests to Slorc to apprehend
Li and hand him over, after it was confirmed that he had settled in Rangoon,
with the assistance of Thai brokers and Khun Sa.

Li did business with Khun Sa, who settled in Rangoon early last year, but
was not an aide.

Police Chief Pol Gen Pracha Promnoke followed up a trip last month to
Rangoon by Narcotics Assistant Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Viraj Chutimit and
Gen Chettha's calls to "old friends", with an official letter.

The Burmese authorities informed Gen Chettha of an arrest about four weeks
ago, but could not confirm Li's identity, since they had only seen his
picture. A narcotics officer flew to Rangoon to confirm it was Li. Li was
then kept in custody to be handed over when Gen Chavalit made his official
visit to Rangoon.

Slorc, in a statement, said the total eradication of drugs was a national
task and the return of Li to Thai custody contributed to regional efforts to
tackle narcotics and to the development of Thai-Burmese bilateral relations.

US minister counsellor Ralph Boyce said he hoped the Thai authorities would
extradite Li to stand trial in the US once legal proceedings in Thailand
were completed. He expressed confidence in the Thai judicial system.
     
Meanwhile, a senior police source said there were concerns that Li might be
assassinated by those who had helped him escape to Burma in February, to
prevent him naming names. He fled after being granted bail by Deputy Chief
Justice Somchai Udomwong.

[excerpts from related article]
REUTER: SLORC HANDS DRUG SUSPECT TO THAILAND
May 17, 1997

"I am prepared to go to the United States to stand trial there," Li Yun
Chung said on arrival in Bangkok after the Burmese military government
handed him over to Thai authorities.

Li, who said he fled to the northern Thai border town of Tachilek with the
help of a Chinese friend,apologized for having jumped bail.

"I would like to ask Thais to forgive me for causing this embarrassment," he
said in fluent Thai.

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

LOS ANGELES TIMES: UNOCAL CHIEF MEETS SUU KYI
May 17, 1997 
Evelyn Iritani

In a Turnaround, Unocal Chief Meets Myanmar's Suu Kyi 
Energy: Surprise talks are held with the Nobel laureate, who opposes a
controversial $1.2-billion pipeline. 

  Unocal Corp. President John Imle strolled into the lion's den Friday when
he held a surprise meeting in Myanmar with Nobel laureate and opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the most formidable critic of his firm's
controversial $1.2-billion pipeline in that Asian nation. 

Imle's surprise move--praised by opponents of Myanmar's brutal military
regime--represents a dramatic turnaround for the El Segundo-based energy
company. Previously, Unocal's chief executive had refused to meet Myanmar's
leading opposition figure on the grounds that it would be construed as
meddling in domestic politics. 

While a Unocal executive described Friday's meeting in the capital city of
Yangon as purely informational, the timing is intriguing. Early next week,
President Clinton is expected to sign an executive order banning new U.S.
investment in the  troubled country, a move that would hinder any expansion
plans by Unocal and others. 

U.S. firms are also feeling pressure from a spurt of new local and state laws
prohibiting government agencies from doing business with firms involved in
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. This week, the New York City Council
passed such a law, and similar measures are pending in Connecticut and Texas. 

Bo Hla-Tint, the finance minister of Myanmar's government in exile, called
Friday's meeting a victory for Myanmar's opposition, which won a
parliamentary election in 1990 but was not allowed to take power. Hla-Tint
said he had asked Unocal executives to meet with Suu Kyi for years but had
always been rebuffed. 

 "We hope they finally understand, they have to listen to the democratic
voice of the people," said the Burmese leader, who now lives in Washington. 

Imle's apparent change of heart about meeting Myanmar's leading opposition
figure is not a political endorsement but simply represents a desire to
"personally brief" Suu Kyi about the pipeline project's contributions to the
impoverished nation, according to David Garcia, a Unocal spokesman. 

Myanmar's military leaders apparently approved of the meeting since they
control access to Suu Kyi's residence. 
 
 "They were useful discussions," Garcia said, declining to elaborate on the
substance of the talks. 

Observers in Washington and elsewhere said the Unocal meeting could be a
public relations move designed to bolster Myanmar's international image at a
critical juncture. On May 31, the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations, the
region's leading  economic group, is scheduled to decide whether to admit
Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia to its powerful club. 

The Clinton administration has asked ASEAN to hold off on Myanmar's
admittance, given its poor human rights record, political instability and
key role in the world's heroin trade. But ASEAN leaders, who oppose U.S.
efforts to isolate Myanmar, have indicated they intend to go ahead. 
  
Myanmar's leaders are feeling the economic squeeze, which has intensified
since the Clinton administration announced its new investment ban.
Anheuser-Busch Cos. and Seagram Co. have joined a long list of firms that
have pulled out of the country, citing the worsening economic situation and
bad publicity. 
                                  
There are also rumors circulating in the investment community that at least
one of the two remaining major U.S. investors--Atlantic Richfield Co. and
Texaco Inc.--is seriously considering withdrawing from Myanmar. 
                                  
At Texaco's annual meeting this week, Chairman and Chief Executive Peter I.
Bijur confirmed the company was considering the "sale or swap" of its
investment in a natural gas operation in Myanmar. He said that action was
not in response to political pressure but to new opportunities that had
arisen as a result of a natural gas sales contract signed by Texaco last
spring. 
                                  
"We believe this review is consistent with good business," he told Texaco
shareholders. 

Al Greenstein, a spokesman for Arco, refused to comment Friday on his
company's Myanmar plans. Of the three oil companies, Arco has the smallest
exposure, having spent close to $30 million on two offshore exploration
contracts in the South China Sea. 
                                 
******************************************

BKK POST: THAI HOTELS AFFECTED BY US SANCTIONS
May 18, 1997
Bhanravce Tansubhapol
Rangoon

Thai hotel operators in Burma are feeling the pinch following the United
States' ban on new US investment in the country.

Room occupancy has dropped to 10 per cent of rooms available thanks to the
squeeze on industry.

The disclosure was made by Wichart Mektrakarn, deputy chairman of the Thai
businessmen's association in Burma. It followed Burmese Premier Than Shwe's
statement that foreign visitors were still travelling to the country despite
the sanctions announced on April 22.  

Mr Wichart, a gem trader, was among a group of about 10 businessmen who met
Prime Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh at the government guest house in
Rangoon shortly before he left for Bangkok yesterday.

Mr Wichart said Gen Chavalit's two-day visit would help boost relations
between the two countries.

Thailand ranks third in the foreign investment line-up, with US$996 million
recorded as of the end of last year. Hotels and related services are
Thailand's main investment activity.

The US sanctions, designed to punish Rangoon for its failure to allow human
rights and democracy, would force Burma to increasingly turn to Thailand for
help, said Mr Wichart.

The six Thai banks with representative offices in Rangoon-Bangkok Bank, Thai
Farmers', Krung Thai, Thai Military, Siam Commercial, and Siam City asked
Gen Chavalit to persuade the Burmese authorities to permit an upgrading of
their operations to full branches, added Mr Wichart. 

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

SHRG: SLORC'S AIR EXERCISES
May 17, 1997

Shan Human Rights Group

Since February and March, the Slorc's Chinese-made air planes have arrived
at Maithtila (central Burma) and Namzarng (in southern Shan State) air bases
and have been practicing every day. There are 12 fighter jet planes at
Maiththila air base and 9 at Namzarng air base. The planes are mostly
second-hand and were bought at a cheap price on credit for a 5-10 year period.

Military planes with which the Slorc air force is exercising at the air
bases of Mingladon, Mawbi, Myitkyina, Taungu, Maithtila and Namzarng.
Altogether the numbers of planes are (8) F-72 K, (11) A52 K, (1) FT-6, (5)
PC-9 and (3) BH.

About 2-3 months ago several Chinese military trainers arrived at Mai Sat,
Southern Shan State and have been training Burmese officials. On 6.4.97, 5
Chinese trainers led by Ar Zu, came down to train the Burmese officials at
Mai Sat. The Chinese Trainers taught the Burmese how to use and maintain
the artillery and anti-aircraft weapons. Recently, the Slorc troops have
been studying how to handle them properly in loading, dismantling and
assembling.

Eight of the Chinese air trainers from Namzarng have also come to Mai Sat
and 3 of the 9 planes at Namzarng were to be brought to Mai Sat during the
month of April. In Namzarng, the exercise has been going on.

Source: Shan Human Rights Foundation

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

KNPP: SITUATION REPORT
May 18, 1997

K A R E N N I   N A T I O N A L   P R O G R E S S I V E   P A R T Y
The Government of Karenni - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY SLORC TROOPS IN KARENNI

1. Killing, rape, torture, and detention.
On March 13, Slorc's troops from Light Infantry No. (530) led by Lt. Col.
Hla Win raided Show Doh Kho village, No. (2) District, west of Karenni, at
8:30 am.  They captured nine villagers who were hiding in the jungle to
escape forced relocation.  After three weeks they killed 7, including two
children.  Villagers found the seven dead bodies and buried them.  The other
two people are still missing.

The following passage demonstrates the brutality of the SLORC's troops.  Naw
Mae Say (a 53-year-old widow) of Show Daw Kho village was caught together
with others, including children, and brought to the village.  The SLORC
soldiers hit Naw Mae Say with a big pestle, which villagers use to pound
rice.  Her son, Saw Tha Dah (7th grade) and (3) brother and sisters were all
killed in this manner.  At the same time Saw Balah Koo's daughter Naw Dolisi
(13 years old, third grade) and son Saw Moe Toe (10 years old, second grade)
had their hands tied behind them and their heads were pushed into the rice
pounding mortar and their heads were smashed with the pestle.  They were
killed in this manner. The sister Naw Ma Moo Tu (18 years old) was hiding in
the jungle, and from a distance witnessed the brutal killing of her young
brother and sister. She went to her father Saw Bala Koo and told him what
she witnessed.  The father thought that the SLORC's troopes had already
withdrawn and approached the village to recover the dead bodies of his
children.  But he was captured and is still missing.

On March 27, 1997, claiming that they were celebrating Armed Forces Day, the
SLORC's troops burnt down Show Daw Kho village, including the village
private school and 15 houses - the number of people living in those houses
was 50.

On March 3, 1997, 14 year old Naw Say Mya returned from a school
examination.  Her mother, Naw Loo The and father, Saw Mya Htoo asked her to
fetch the rice they hid in the jungle.  She went but stepped on a
SLORC-planted mine, injuring both of her ankles.  She was taken to the
Karenni medical post for treatment.  There was no proper medicine so she
died on 3.4.97 at 8:20 am.

The following people were recently arrested and remain under detention at
the Light Infantry Battalion (250) in Loikaw.

Name		Age	Sex	Address
1. Kay Reh	40	m	Daw Noku village, Dee Maw So
2. La Kee Reh	40	m	Daw Noku village, Dee Maw So
3. Hlyar Say	40	m	Daw Noku village, Dee Maw So
4. Hter Rue		m	Daw Oo Khu, Loikaw
5. Aung Naing Soe  18	m	Daw Oo Khu, Loikaw
6. Ah Rwing	40	m	Daw Oo Khu, Loikaw

One ex-soldier from the Karenni Army, Khu Htey Reh from Daw Ta Dah village
was recently arrested and locked up in the No. (427) Battalion.  He was
reportedly brutally tortured.

Villagers living near the Aung Ban - Loikaw railway line are ordered to give
protection to the railway line.  They have to build shelter huts at 500 yard
iintervals.  In rotation, four villagers have to keep watch from the huts
from 8pm to 6am.  After the Karenni Army opened on a train carrying a
hundred SLORC troops, the SLORC soldiers called down everyone from Thee Su
Leh village in Dee Maw So township and beat the villagers.

When SLORC immigration officers perform weekly cross-checks of relocated
villagers, villagers must sit in the sun for the entire day.

In the last week of February, 1997, at 5 pm, Pheh Reh, who was looking for
his cattle, accidentally wandered near the post of LIB (72).  This Unit
ill-treats any villager who fails to fulfil assigned tasks such as bringing
posts for the fence, carrying water for soldiers, etc.  They do not listen
to excuses.  Anyone who cannot fulfil their task is expected to provide 5
kilos of chicken or the equivalent in money.  The price of chicken is
estimated at 300 kyats per kilo.

Widows and women separated from their husbands are ordered to collect leaves
for roofing.

On February 16, 1997, SLORC trooops from LIB (430) led by Lt. Col Kyaw Min
Kaung seized all the rice they came upon in the deserted villages in Dee Maw
So Township.  They also planted hundreds of land mines around the deserted
villages.

Villagers living in Slorc's forced relocation sites are starving and
suffering many diseases.  There is not enough water to drink.  Most of the
villagers live on yam.

A company from LIB (72) is taking up a position near Per Long village.  The
company forces the villagers living around the village to bring six milk
tins of rice, salt, and dried chillies per family per month.  The troops
force the villagers to mark and offer a 33-kilogramme pig whenever a new
officer arrives in the village.  Captain Myint Lwin, Htay Win, Lynn Oo,
Myint Soe and Aung Win have served in the village already.

On Dec 12, 1996, troops from LIB (531) which takes security for the road
between Dee Maw So and Bruso pointed at a group of villagers who were
catching fish, demanding that they give them all the fish the villagers had.
Otherwise, the troops could shoot them.  The troops from the said Unit have
already behaved in such a manner towards other villagers.

For more information contact:
Abel Tweed, Foreign Minister of Karenni. Phone- 6653 611-691
Fax: 6653 612-469, e-mail: coreh@xxxxxxxxxxxx   

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

BKK POST: ACTIVISTS WANT GAS PIPELINE WORK TO STOP
May 18, 1997 [abridged]

In a separate letter to the prime minister, Mr Sulak asked Gen Chavalit to
take into serious consideration the advantages and disadvantages of the
pipeline project in light of protests by the international community and
people in Kanchanaburi as well as local non-governmental organisations.

He said that the project had contributed to the worst human rights
violations in Burma. Unocal Corp, an American company involved in the
project, is facing increasing pressure in the US. 

Washington is under pressure from legislators who want Unocal to sell its
28.26 percent stake in the $1 billion Yadana project as part of efforts to
force Slorc to change its repressive policies.

PTT Exploration and Production Plc of Thailand has a 25.5 percent stake. Its
parent company, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, is to buy most of the
Yadana gas under a 30year contract which calls for delivery of 525 million
cubic feet per day of gas to PTT starting in mid-1998.

Slamming the deal between the Thai and Burmese governments as immoral, Mr
Sulak likened the deal to an agreement signed during the Second World War by
the government of Pibul Songgram and the Vichy government which gave
Thailand full control of Cambodia's Battambang, Siem Reap and Sisophon as
well as Laos.

But after the war the French government declared the agreement illegal and
void because it was done by the Vichy government, an ally of Nazi Germany.
The territories were then given back to France, putting Thailand in shame,
said Mr Sulak.

He warned that the gas deal with Slorc might put Thailand in shame in the
same manner as the treaty with the Vichy government because the Slorc had no
legitimacy to rule over Burma.

He urged the prime minister and other MPs to show their moral courage for
the benefit of the Burmese and Thai people by putting on hold the pipeline
project. 

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

BKK POST: 5,000 REFUGEES TO BE MOVED TO CAMP
May 18, 1997
Cheewin Sattha, Mae Hong Son

Provincial authorities plan to send l more than 5 000 Burmese refugees
living in the Saiween national park to a refugee camp in Sop Moei district
to stop illegal logging there.

Deputy governor Amornphan Nimaphan said over 5,000 Karens in the park in Mae
Sariang and Sop Moei districts will be sent to a refugee camp in Ban Mae La
Ma Luang in Sop Moei district once the Interior Ministry allocates a budget
for the transfer.

However, the transfer will be made difficult in the coming rainy season
because many roads may be damaged by heavy rain and floods, he added.

The move is aimed at preventing the Burmese refugees from cutting more trees
in the national park after thousands of rai of forests have already been
destroyed.

Provincial officials had agreed to cooperate with military forces, local
police, border police, forestry officials to find measures to suppress
illegal logging in border areas of Mae Hong Son, Mr Amornphan said.

Burmese refugees living along the border are found to have played a major
role in destroying forests in the national park. They are believed to be
backed by some Thai businessmen and officials. 

Lumber will be sent across the Salween River to Burma and later returned to
Thailand and sold to Thai business operators.

The Central Investigation Bureau police, led by Deputy CIB Commissioner Pol
Maj-Gen Boonyien Yaibuated, seized more than 2,041 teak logs and 2,295
pieces of processed teak wood from the area between March 7 and April 10.

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

BKK POST: WHERE DO STOLEN VEHICLES GO?
May 18, 1997
Supradit Kanwanich

Rich pickings: Thailand's central geographical location and an abundance of
expensive cars have made it easy for car theft syndicates to supply stolen
vehicles to buyers in neighbouring countries

Every day stolen vehicles from Thailand are smuggled across the border into
Burma opposite Mae Sai (a border district of Chiang Rai)," said Pol Col
Phanurat Meephian, the Mae Sai district police chief.

However, he said, smuggling out of Chiang Rai into neighbouring countries is
much lower than that from the central provinces.

Along the approximately 40-kilometre stretch of land and water that borders
the district, there are six legal checkpoints against numerous unofficial
passes that the smugglers use.

"Look at the road from Mae Sai to Doi Tung," he said. "Several passes into
Burma are visible, to the right of the paved road," he said.

The checkpoints require car registration papers for those who take cars into
Burma. But these checkpoints are easy to avoid.

Burmese car theft syndicates based in the Burmese border town of Tachilek,
right across the Mae Sai district, have strong connections with their Thai
counterparts in the district.

He said Burmese syndicates prefer motorcycles, particularly the Honda Dream
and the Suzuki Crystal models. The area police frequently confiscate between
five to 10 motorcycles at a time, but dealers say the instalments for these
vehicles have been fully paid.

The gang get the ID card and house registration of a villager and pay him
500 to 1,000 baht to buy a motorcycle in either Lampang, Phayao, Chiang Mai
or Chiang Rai.

The bike is insured and paid by instalments and taken to Mae Sai district
where the Thai and Burmese syndicates hire a Thai boy for 500 baht. The boy
wears a shirt that identifies him as a Burmese motorcycle taxi rider and the
bike is then ,equipped with Burmese licence plates. The boy then rides the
bike from Mae Sai to Burma.

Though the police could stop the bike on Thai soil, no one has filed any
complaints about the stolen bike. The syndicate then pays the instalment for
a few months, after which the owner reports the theft to the police. By that
time, the bike has already been in Burma for a long time.

A brand-new motorbike costs 30,000-35,000 baht in the dealer's showroom. The
syndicate sells it to a Burmese buyer for about 25,000 baht.

The syndicate sell a stolen new saloon car for about 250,000 up to 300,000
baht; a four-wheeled drive car for over 300,000 baht and a pickup truck for
about 200,000 baht. A stolen motorbike is sold for about 8,000 baht. The car
thief is paid between 70,000 and 120,000 baht for every car sold to the
syndicate.

In February, police arrested two Burmese car thieves belonging to a
Thai-Burmese syndicate. An additional 20 suspects are being closely watched,
he added.

A source in Tachilek told the Sunday Perspective that 90 percent of the
vehicles in this border town were right-hand drive vehicles made in
Thailand. Even the motorbikes were of Thai manufacture.

However, he denied, that these vehicles had been stolen from Thailand. He
said that Burmese people had paid for the vehicles which are properly
registered with Burmese authorities. Officials receive between 5,000 to
20,000 baht for the registration.

The source said that the officials simply do not care about the origin of
the vehicles. He said officials do not bother to check the chassis or engine
numbers. "The owner simply pays the import tax and the registration is
completed rapidly," he added.

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

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS

May 14, 1997:

MINISTER FOR HOTELS AND TOURISM RECEIVES EXECUTIVES OF PACIFICWIDE TRADING,
DELTA RESORT 
   
     YANGON, 13 May- Managing Director Mr Dirk Niedermann of Pacificwide
Trading Ltd of Hong Kong, called on member of the State Law and Order
Restoration Council Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba at the
ministry of Hotels and Tourism this evening. Mutual cooperation in General
of Directorate of Hotels and Tourism U Khin Maung Latt and Managing Director
of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services U Soe Thein. Similarly, Chairman Mr
Jean Jacques Vellino of Delta Resort Ltd of France called on Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba
at his office this evening. Mr Vellino reported on construction of resort
hotel of international standard at Ngapali beach. The minister explained
opportunities, exemption on customs duty and tax relief.
     
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF (AIR) RECEIVES MILITARY ATTACHE OF PAKISTAN 

YANGON, 13 May - Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe received Military
Attache of Pakistan Lt-Col Zahid Hussain Khan, resident in Dhaka,
Bangladesh, at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at     7.30 am today.
     
MYANMAR DELEGATION TO ATTEND 3RD INT'L CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF ASIA 

YANGON, 13 May- Myanmar delegation led by Secretary of Myanmar
investment Commission Minister at the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister Brig-Gen Maung Maung this evening left Yangon to attend the     3rd
International Conference on the Future of Asia to be held in Tokyo, Japan.
     
MAI, AIR MANDALAY SIGN INTERLINE TRAFFIC AGREEMENT 

YANGON, 13 May-Myanmar International Airways and Air Mandalay Ltd signed an
interline traffic agreement, which will unite the two     airlines for full
cooperation in the carriage of passengers, at the Head Office of Air
Mandalay Ltd in Bahan Township here today. Director (Operations) Wu Ling
Siow of MAI and Managing Director Mr Eric Kang of Air Mandalay Ltd signed
the agreement, under which MAI     passengers will have easy transit to
domestic. flights by Air Mandalay.

26 MEMBERS OF ARMED GROUPS EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE 
   
     YANG0N, 13 May  Between 1 April and 11 April 1997, 26 men of. the armed
groups exchanged their for peace. In the South-East Command area, Phado Mahn
Pyi Thein of township administration, Ryaw Khu, Za Paraw, Saw Min Aye and
PoLahe of township administration, Napoleon who was in charge, Saw Po Wah
who was deputy in-charge and member U Ne Thwe of No 6 brigade, sergeant De
Pa law (a) Athti Kaw and privates Saw Htaw Kale and Zaw Myint Htay of No 16
battalion, sergeant Saw Kyaw Yu, privates La Pa Paw and Hla Ko of No 17
battalion, of KNU, exchanged their arms for peace. They brought along five
AK-47 automatic rifles, four M-16 automatic rifles, one carbine, one hand
grenade, one land mine, one     Icon walkie talkie and 49 rounds of
ammunition. Similarly, company     commander Thet Way of No 206 battalion
and privates Thaung Sein and     Nay Lin of No 216 battalion of ABSDF armed
group exchanged their arms     for peace bringing along with them two hand
grenades.
     
     In the Northern Command area, second lieutenant Aung Min, private a
Kyi Kyi Aye and her daughter Ma Phun Nanda Aung of ABSDF No 701
battalion, cpl Aung Thein Naing, wife Ma Khawn Ja and daughters Ma     Phyu
Win Nu and Ma Ei Win Than of battalion headquarters brought     along two
hand grenades to exchange arms for peace.
     
     In Eastern Shan State, MTA remnants Ai Kham and Kyaung Shan brought
along one M-16 automatic rifle, one China-made sub-machine gun and 360
rounds of ammunition to exchange armes for peace.
     
May 15, 1997:
 
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT RECEIVES GM OF SAMSUNG HEAD OFFICE 
   
     YANGON, 14 May - Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win received
General Manager Mr J H Chun of Samsung Head Office at his office on Merchant
Street at 8 am today. They discussed construction of port, construction of
vessels for Myanma Five Star Line and cooperation     between the two countries.

MINISTER FOR NPED RECEIVES DELEGATION LED BY CHAIRMAN OF HANA BANK 
   
     YANGON, 14 May Minister for National Planning and Economic
Development Brig-Gen Abel received 10-member delegation led by     Chairman
Mr Byung Chul Yoon of Hana Bank at his office at 5 pm today.   
     Economic reforms and economic development of Myanmar and investment
opportunities were discussed.
     
19 MEMBERS OF ARMED GROUPS EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE 
     
     YANGON, 14 May-In South-East Command area, pvts Wah Mu, Thaung Han, Tun
Wai, Aye Tun and Win Lwin of 102nd battalion under 5tk brigade o f KNU armed
group, incharge Ba Di of 6th brigade, president of women's association Nant
San Tint, Kyainn forestry member Saw Kala, deputy company commander Mehm Win
Yone of 6th DO battalion under 6th brigade, and pvt Lay Myint (a) Pha Nay of
7th brigade, bringing in     four AK-47 automatics, one BA-63 automatic
rifle one revolver, one     BA-64 automatic rifle, one Icon walkie-talkie
and 37 rounds of     ammunition, and pvt Win Naing of 209th battalion of
ABSDF armed group and organizer U Aung Nan of Pyithu Pyichit Party exchanged
arms for  peace.     
     In Northern Command area, pvt Thaung Kyi of ABSDF armed group, cpl Aung
Kyaw Win (a) Khwet Gyi, l/cpl Ma Yit Tu and A pvt Kyi Lin of     702nd
battalion exchanged arms for peace. In Shan State (East), pvts     Mong
Phyan, Aik Ywet and U Kyin Hsan of remaining MTA group, bringing in one M-1C
automatic rifle, .22 pistol, one Icon walkie-talkie and 2C3 rounds of
ammunition, exchanged arms for peace.

May 16, 1997:

SOFT OPENING OF YANGON INTERNATIONAL HOTEL

     YANGON, 15 May - A soft opening ceremony of Yangon International
Hotel being built with cent per cent investment by Myanmar MCG
Corporation of Japan at the corner of Ahlon Road and Pyay Road was     held
at the hotel today.  Today's ceremony marked the-opening of 110 rooms office
hotel completed in the first phase. Present at the ceremony were Deputy
Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung .Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Tun,
ministers, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, President Mr Koki
Onodera and officials of Myanmar MCG Corporation, departmental officials and
guests.

MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT RECEIVES DIRECTOR OF TRANSMILE AIR

     YANGON, 15 May - Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win received
Director of Transmile. Air Mr Eugene Gan and party at his office
yesterday morning.They discussed aviation matter and mutual Cooperation.

MINISTER FOR ENERGY RECEIVES THAI, SINGAPORENAN DELEGATIONS

     YANGON, 15 May - Minister for Energy U Khin Maung Thein received
Managing Director of Electricity Generating Public Company Limited Mr
Wrought Khamkanist and party at his office this afternoon. They discussed
mutual cooperation in energy sector. Similarly, General Manager of Wattsila
NSD (Singapore) Pte Ltd Mr Sakari Kolehmainen called on Minister U Khin
Maung Thein at his office this evening. They discussed mutual cooperation in
energy, electricity and natural gas sectors and investment. Director-General
of Department of Energy Planning U Soe Myint was also present.

LPDR DEPUTY MINISTER ARRIVES

     YANGON, 15 May -At the invitation of the Ministry of Hotels and
Tourism, Deputy Minister of Prime Minister's Office of Lao People's
Democratic Republic Mr Cheuang Sombounkhanh and party arrived here by air
this evening.

27 MEMBERS OF ARMED GROUPS EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE

     YANGON, 15 May- In South-East Command area during the period between 18
and 30 April, pvt Phama Saw of 1st brigade of KNU group, agriculture
in-charge of Bilin management committee Saw Nyi, pvts Saw Le Mu, Nareh Mu,
Tacho and Ko Bo of defence group and pvt Tha Hpe of 6th brigade, bringing
three M-16 automatics, rifle AK 47 automatics, three carbines BA 63
automatics, 165 rounds of ammunition, and pvt Ahtu of 207th battalion of
ABSDF group exchange arms for peace.
     In Southern Command area Lt Ye Aung, pvts Kyaw Min Oo and Saw L Gaw of
3rd company under 7th battalion of KNU group, bringing in one Icon walkie
exchanged arms for peace.
     In Northern Command area pvts Akar Min and Win Kyaing (a) Kyaw Zeya of
701st battalion of ABSDF exchanged arms for peace.
     In Taninthayi Division area, pvt Myint Sein, regional in-charge Cha
Hto Ngaw, wife Naw Dah Bwe, mother Daw Mya Yin, toll in Charge Phado Ba
Ngunt of 10th battalion under 4th brigade of KNU group, pvts Saw Hto Saw Nay
Win Saw Dae Mi and regional in-charge U Than Aung of 12th battalion,
bringing one carbine, one M-l6 automatic rifle, one AK-47 automatic rifle,
one- hand grenade, one mine and 82 rounds of    ammunition, exchanged arms
for peace. Lt Khin Maung Thein (a) Pha     Khan of 1st battalion of ABSDF
group, bringing in one mine and US-made shell and communication in charge Su
Ni (a) Min Thu, pvt Su Nge (a) Aung Kyin, wife Daw Ni Ni, son Maung Tu,
daughter Naw Nga Eh     of BCP United Front, bringing in one-.22 rifle, two
hand grenades, 10     rounds of ammunition, exchanged arms for peace.

May 17, 1997:

THAI PRIME MINISTER GENERAL CHAVALIT YONGCHAIYUDH CALLS ON SENIOR GENERAL
THAN SHWE

     YANGON May- visiting Prime Minister of Thailand General Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh called on Chairman of the State Law and Order  Restoration
Council, Prime Minister of Myanmar Senior General Than     Shwe in Mingala
Hall of the Pyithu Hluttaw building at 2 pm today.

AGREEMENT ON BORDER CROSSING SIGNED, NOTES ON JURISDICTION OVER THAI-MYANMAR
FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE ON MOEI/THAUNGYIN RIVER EXCHANGED

     YANGON, 16 May - Agreement between the Government of the Union of
Myanmar and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on Border     Crossing
between the two countries was signed and Notes concerning     Jurisdiction
over the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge on the Moei/    Thaungyin River were
exchanged at Pyithu Hluttaw building this    evening.

SECRETARY-1 CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND

     YANGON, 16 May-Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of
Thailand-General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh at Seinle Kantha State Guest
House at 11.30 am today.  Present together with Prime Minister General
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh were Minister of foreign Affairs Mr Prachuab
Chaiyasan, Ambassador of Thailand Mr Poksak Nilubol, Permanent Secretary of
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Saroj Chavanaviraj and Commander-in-Chief of
Royal. Thai Army General Chetta Thanajaro.
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt was accompanied by Minister for Foreign
Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, Deputy Minister U Nyunt Swe, Myanmar Ambassador to
Thailand U Hla Maung and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of Protocol
Department.

SECRETARY-1 RECEIVES S-G OF NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OF THAILAND

     YANGON, 16 May - Secretary 1- State Law and Order Restoration Council
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Secretary-General of the National Security
Council of Thailand General Boonsak Kamheahgrid-hirong who visited here
together with Prime Minister of Thailand General Chavalit     Yongchaiyudh
at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 4 pm     today.
Present-together with Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt was Minister for Foreign
Affairs U Ohn Gyaw.

MYANMAR DELEGATION RETURNS FROM JAPAN

     YANGON, 16 May - Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Finance and
Revenue Brig-Gen Win Tin arrived back here by air this evening from
Japan after attending the 30th Conference of Asia Development Bank     held
from 11 to 13 May in Fukuoka, Japan..

    English :     http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/
    German:     http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/gnlm/

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