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BurmaNet News: August 5, 1997
- Subject: BurmaNet News: August 5, 1997
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 04 Aug 1997 23:22:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: August 5, 1997
Issue #789
Noted in Passing:
Daw Suu Kyi has turned into a venomous cobra! At a touch, she will rear her
head, bite and transmit her venom. She will let the people die of her venom.
- SLORC writer (see NLM: SAFEGUARD THE RACE!)
HEADLINES:
==========
THE ASIAN AGE: REFUGEES CRISIS IN BANGLA AS 14,000 CROSS
NATION: THE COLLAPSE OF BURMA'S ECONOMY
BKK POST: NO-WIN BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS FROM BURMA
NCGUB: CABINET MEETING AT FREDERIKSDAL, DENMARK
NCGUB: BURMA'S NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT MEETS
KNU: APPEAL TO GOVERNMENTS OF DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: "SAFEGUARD THE RACE!"
BKK POST: BURMA POWER IMPORT PLAN FACES OPPOSITION
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: MINISTER INSPECTS PIPELINE LAYING
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: UMNO DELEGATION OF MALAYSIA
KNU: BATTLE NEWS PRESS RELEASES 41/97, 42/97, 43/97
SHAN: SURA BATTLE NEWS
ANNOUNCEMENT: 8/8/97: INVITATION TO ADELAIDE CITY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
THE ASIAN AGE: REFUGEES CRISIS IN BANGLA AS 14,000 CROSS
FROM BURMA
August 4 , 1997
Dhaka, Aug. 3: A group representing Burmese Muslims, who
fled alleged persecution in Burma, claimed on Sunday that
more refugees would flow into Bangladesh unless their
security could be guaranteed.
The Rohingya Solidarity Organisation claimed on Sunday that
up to 14,000 new Burmese Muslims had already crossed the
border into Bangladesh since June because of persecution
from Burmese forces and for "economic" reasons.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees put the
number of Burmese Muslims, known as Rohingyas, at 7,000,
while the Bangladesh government officially puts their
numbers at "several thousand." The UNHCR described the new
Rohingyas arrivals as both "economic and political" migrants.
The six-page "Rohingya Sangbad" newsletter said, "between
12,000 and 14,000 entered Bangladesh during the past two
months. These people fled to Bangladesh after facing a
famine forcing them to live in virtual hunger," it said,
adding in recent days prices of essential and food
commodities have sky-rocketed. (AFP)
****************************************************
NATION: THE COLLAPSE OF BURMA'S ECONOMY
August 4, 1997 excerpts
by Bertil Lintner
[BurmaNet Editor: This article is an expanded version of
FEER: PAPER TIGER, which we printed in BurmaNet yesterday.
Therefore, we have only included excerpts here which did not
appear in the FEER article]
The illusion of a boom is fading fast as currency turmoil and
despair overwhelm the population, Bertil Lintner reports.
Aung Myint says the busy street scenes of commerce outside his
trading offices in downtown Rangoon are not as constructive as
they seem. Those with money are buying, but what motivates them
is not consumerism, it is despair.
"People want to get rid of their kyats but the only thing they
can buy at the moment are consumer goods, video players and such.
There are no dollars to buy, or gold," says he trader.
People began to realise there was a crisis when the supermarkets
removed price stickers from all their goods. "No one knows what
to charge for imported items because no one knows any longer what
the Burmese currency is worth," says a Rangoon resident.
Analysts say the country is now facing its worst economic crisis
since 1988 - an explosive situation brought on by gross
government mismanagement. While the value of the kyat is the most
blatant proof of crisis, the roots run far deeper. The government
has overspent to the point that it has begun stealing from its
citizens, denying them access to their foreign exchange accounts
or gold, because it no longer has the money to repay their
deposits. As Asean welcomes the country as a new member, it may
yet be shocked to find just how much of a political and economic
basket-case it has taken on.
A few years ago, people thought Burma the verge of an economic
boom. There were more cars in the streets than ever before, the
shops were well-stocked with various luxury goods - VCRs, foreign
liquor and clothes - and new buildings were going up all over Rangoon.
But that mini-boom is exactly what has caused the collapse of the
Burmese currency, according to both the International Monetary
Fund and independent economic analysts. "There was no real
growth, no production. Rangoon was little more than a Potemkin
village," says Josef Silverstein, professor emeritus at Rutgers
University, in the United States.
Meanwhile, attempts to restore Burma's rice exports to their pre-World
War II glory have failed miserably. According to official government
statistics, a $198 million worth of rice was exported in fiscal 1994-95, up
from $44 million the year before. But in 1995-96, it fell to $78
million and dropped to $47 million in 1996-97. Insect plagues
destroyed about a third of the 1996 rice harvest, and, as the IMF
puts it, "problems related to procurement, of crops, agricultural
pricing, and export policies" remained as constraints to fuller
development of the agricultural sector.
At the same time, the government's meagre resources were spent on
purchasing an estimated $200 million worth of military hardware
annually, while the health and education sectors saw their
budgets reduced in relative terms. "Where are the future
professional and managerial classes in Burma?" asked the source
rhetorically. "Educational standards are abysmal." Further, the
schools have been closed off and on since the Slorc took over in
1988. They closed again after anti-government street
demonstrations in December last year, and have yet to be reopened
Officially, 23.8 billion kyats was spent on defence in 1996-97,
or 39.7 per cent of total governmental operating expenditures -
compared to 6.6 billion for education and 2.3 billion for health.
And even so. the IMF report states that "official estimates of
military expenditure are believed to be underestimated as some
spending, especially on military imports, takes place outside the budget."
But the real crunch came when by mid 1996 the government was
running out of money.
"That was when the government resorted to stealing people's
money," says a Western diplomatic source. Until late 1995, the
country's reserves of foreign currency had exceeded the private
sector's deposits of foreign currency, as is normal. But in March
1996, IMF figures. show, the figures reversed. Private claims
rose to the equivalent of 1.9 billion kyat, while there was only
1.8 billion in the national coffers. Between April and June, the
government resorted to the printing press, produced more paper
money - and bought up both dollars and FECs from the open market.
Then, in June 1996, people holding FEC accounts were told that
they would get both interest on their savings - and there would
no longer be a 10 per cent tax on withdrawals. "The outcome was a
rush to the banks," says the Rangoon-based economic analyst. "But
three weeks later, the government made it impossible for people
to withdraw their savings."
By last September, private claims to the foreign exchange
reserves had risen to 2.2 billion kyat, compared to only 1.2
billion in actual assets.
In any other country, a similar sequence of events would have
become a major crisis in a matter of days. "But because of the
lack of transparency and accurate market information in Burma, it
took almost a year before the final collapse came," the source
said. During the first quarter of this year, even more kyat was
printed - and when Burma by mid-year experienced its usual slump
in agricultural exports due to the end of the harvesting season
and the advent of the rains, the bubble finally burst.
The government's countermoves are coordinated by a newly formed
monetary stabilisation committee headed by Burma's intelligence
chief, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt. But its actions so far have provided
more worries than solutions. Unable to understand what was going
on, the authorities began rounding up prominent business people,
including Thein Tun, the vice chairman of the Myanmar Chamber of
Commerce who once held the Pepsi-Cola franchise for Burma, and
many other private merchants to find out whether they were
"manipulating the market" by hoarding dollars.
The move was totally counterproductive: food prices shot up as
the kyat became almost worthless.
*********************************************************
BKK POST: NO-WIN BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS FROM BURMA
August 4, 1997 (abridged)
by Subin Khernkaewin Mae Sai, Chiang Rai
2 MILLION SPEED PILLS SEIZED IN SIX MONTHS
Police here are fighting a no-win war in their desperate attempt
to stem the influx of amphetamine from Burma.
In the past six months, two million amphetamine tablets were
confiscated in this northern province alone according to Pol Col
Panurat Meepien, the provincial police superintendent.
But the seized drug accounted for just a fraction of the actual
amount of the speed pills which were smuggled into the country,
particularly through the Mae Sai-Tachilek border.
Half of the 100-man police force in this district have been
assigned fulltime to combat the amphetamine menace. But with
100-km land border which is largely unfenced and mountainous,
plus 30 kilometres long of river which demarcates the border
between the two countries, even a whole division of police force
will not be able to supervise the frontier effectively, let alone 50 men.
Pol Col Panurat admitted that traffickers could cross the border
unnoticed at any time. He said that several small-time traffickers
used the bridge, the only legal border point, to smuggle in amphetamines.
About 2,000 people cross the bridge daily from both sides on
normal days and the number increases to over 10,000 on weekends
or during long holidays.
Informants, therefore, play a vital role in drug interdiction.
The officer said one of his informants was a former Burmese
heroin addict whom he once helped to get treatment at the
district hospital several years ago. At present, he added that
informant was a big amphetamine supplier in Tachilek who owns a
big house and several cars.
According to the officer, this Burmese informant had helped
arrange the escape from Burma to Yunnan southern China, of a
Chinese man. Three months afterward, the Chinese man mailed a
parcel to the informant.
"In the parcel, there were 50,000 baht in Thai currency plus
50,000 amphetamine tablets. A brief note from the sender said he
had set up an amphetamine factory near the Chinese-Burmese border
with 200 men in his employment. The sender also said he could
supply him any amount of amphetamine he would want," said the
officer.
He further said most big amphetamine traders in Tachilek did not
keep the drug in their houses. "They simply took orders and
arranged the drug to be delivered to the buyers."
According to the superintendent, about 10 amphetamine factories
are operating in Tachilek, mostly located about 10 kilometres
from the town and under the control of the Wa tribesmen.
The traders who are actually the middlemen receive one-baht
commission for each tablet sold if a consignment of more than
10,000 tablets was ordered. The commission would be reduced if
the amount ordered was lower.
The police officer said there were about 20 such middlemen in Mae
Sai and Tachilek. "These people could be easily noticed because
they became rich very quickly without any decent business," he noted.
He disclosed that when a big consignment of drugs was delivered
to a Thai trader, the Burmese informant would tip off the Thai
police by giving the name of the buyer, describing how the trader
dressed or the type of the car used to carry the drug.
After getting the information, the police would make the arrest
at the border checkpoint or follow the car to make the arrest at
road checkpoints in the province or make the arrest when the drug
was delivered to the buyer, he said.
************************************************************
NCGUB: CABINET MEETING AT FREDERIKSDAL, DENMARK
July 31, 1997
We, the representatives of the people of Burma, elected in the 27 May
1990 general elections, meeting Frederiksdal, Denmark, as ministers of
the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, hereby -
Thank the Royal Danish Government and the Danish Burma Committee for
making it possible for all of us to meet together in safety and freedom
to plan for the restoration of democracy and national unity in Burma;
Thank the Dialogue partners of the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN), especially Australia, Canada, the European Union, New
Zealand, and the United States of America, for their continued strong
support for the aspirations of the people of Burma, and for their
untiring efforts in trying to bring about much needed political change
in Burma;
Call on ASEAN leaders to exercise their responsibility now that they
have accepted Burma as a member, to help bring about political change
in Burma;
Call on ASEAN to initiate dialogue with the 1990 election winning party
led by Nobel Peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the ethnic leaders of
Burma, and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma;
Call on ASEAN to closely monitor the situation in Burma and along its
borders, and help alleviate the suffering of the people of Burma, both
in the cities where political activists are being severely restricted
and in the ethnic areas where mass forced relocations , mass forced
labour and summary executions are taking place on a large scale;
Call on Burma's neighbours, especially China and India, in the interest
of regional security, to help the Burmese people find a political
solution and bring about national reconciliation and stability;
Call on Japan, other aid donors, and international financial
institutions, to refrain from making the situation in Burma worse by
giving aid or encouraging investments until democracy is restored;
Re-affirm our position that political problems must be resolved by
political means and Call on the international community to enable the
Burmese military, the democracy movement led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
and Burma's ethnic peoples to hold a tripartite dialogue;
Re-affirm our commitment to the principles of non-violent struggle;
Re-affirm our determination to implement the will of the Burmese people
as expressed in the 1990 general elections, to establish a democracy;
Re-affirm our commitment to establishment of a genuine federal union,
based on mutual respect and equality for all as reflected in the 1947
Panlong Agreement;
Fully agree with the spirit of cooperation and unity expressed in the
ethnic peoples' January 1997 Mae Tha Raw Tha Agreement, Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi's February 1997 Union Day message, and the recent United
Nationalities League for Democracy's declaration;
Commit ourselves to join hands with and work more closely with Burma's
ethnic peoples to build a Burma where freedom, democracy, equality,
peace and mutual respect will prevail.
Signed:
Dr. Sein Win MP, Paukkaung Prime Minister
Bo Hla Tint MP, Mogok 2 N & S American Affairs
Marko Ban MP, Pekon Federal Affairs
Maung M Aye MP, Mandalay NE1 Information
Dr. Sann Aung MP, Ingabu 2 Labour
Teddy Buri MP, Loikaw 2 Asia Pacific Affairs
Thein Oo MP, Mandalay SW2 Justice
Dr. Tint Swe MP, Pale 2 South Asian Affairs
Dr. Zahleithang MP, Falam 2 Health/Education
Absent: Tha Noe MP, Rathetaung Social Welfare/Development
*********************************************************************
NCGUB: BURMA'S NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT MEETS IN DENMARK
July 31, 1997
RE-AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO STRUGGLE TOGETHER WITH ETHNIC
PEOPLES FOR DEMOCRACY AND EQUAL RIGHTS
Anticipating the admittance of Burma into the Association of South East
Asian Nations, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
(NGGUB) cabinet held a strategy meeting in Frederiksdal, Denmark, from
24-29 July 1997. This is the first time the full cabinet has met since
it was re-constituted in July 1995 in Bommersvik, Sweden. The NCGUB
was first established in Manerplaw, Karen State, Burma, in December 1990.
Members of the NCGUB cabinet who are working to restore democracy in
Burma from areas bordering Thailand and India, and the United States of
America, met to discuss the deteriorating political and economic
situation in Burma, international development including ASEAN, and
together plan a strategy for the future.
Members of the cabinet who are representatives elected in the 27 May
1990 general elections, re-affirmed their commitment to non-violence in
working to establish a democracy in Burma, and their commitment to work
more closely with Burma's ethnic peoples. The cabinet portfolios were
re-organized as follows.
Prime Minister: Dr. Sein Win PND
Asia Pacific Affairs: Teddy Buri NLD
Federal Affairs: Marko Ban DOKNU
Health & Education: Dr. Zahleithang CNLD
Information: Maung M. Aye NLD
Justice: Thein Oo NLD
Labour: Dr. Sann Aung Independent
N & S American Affairs: Bo Hla Tint NLD
Social Welfare &
Development Minister: Tha Noe ALD
South Asian Affairs: Dr. Tint Swe NLD
Teddy Buri is an NLD elected representative from Karenni State. Marko
Ban is a Democratic Organization for Kayan National Unity elected
representative from Shan State. Zahleithang is a Chin National League for
Democracy elected representative from Chin State. Tha Noe is an Arakan
League for Democracy elected representative from Arakan State. The Party
for National Democracy is a party affiliated with the NLD. The NCGUB
meeting was hosted by the Copenhagen-based Danish Burma Committee with
the support of the Royal Danish Government.
************************************************************
KNU: APPEAL TO GOVERNMENTS OF DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES
August 4, 1997
OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
KAREN NATION UNION, KAWTHOOLEI
Appeal to Governments of Democratic Countries and World Pro-Democracy Forces
Burma is a country co-inhabited by Kayah, Kachin, Karen, Chin, Mon,
Burman, Shan, Arakanese, Lahu, Wa, Palaung, Pa-oh and etc.
All the other ethnic nationalities together form about 60% of the
population of Burma. Due to oppression on all sides by successive ruling
elites, there has always been constant conflicts between the ethnic
nationalities on the one side and the successive ruling elites on the
other. Some ethnic nationalities who have returned to the "legal-fold,"
having to be under the rule of SLORC, have to act in accordance with the
will of the SLORC. The statement, dated 17-7-97, supposedly issued by them
was a fabrication reflecting the wishes of the SLORC, which was nothing but
a pack of patent lies and false allegations. The truth is that all the
ethnic nationalities have been calling for equality, democracy and unity up
to this day. They support the principles of Panglong Agreement which call
for the establishment of a federal union. Burma today is a country without
a state constitution.
1. As the federal principle is not secession but coalition, unity,
equality, democracy and a guarantee for ethnic identity, the Mae Tha Raw Ta
Ethnic Nationality Seminar decided that it was to be cherished and adopted
it.
2. The KNU has never received assistance either in the form of war
weapons or finance. It also has never been controlled by any country, Only the
Karen civilians, who have to take refuge in Thailand because of the civil
war and serious human rights abuses, are receiving some assistance from
international humanitarian NGOs. The KNU will always be much grateful and
remember the humanitarian organizations for their assistance to the Karen
refugees who are in dire plight.
Since the question regarding the Karen people is a political question,
the KNU has endeavored for addressing the question by political means, in a
peaceful way. However, the effort of the KNU to find a solution by peaceful
means has not met with any success, as the SLORC ignored the political
means for finding a solution, obtusely demanded for a surrender and then
resumed its major military offensive in accordance with the policy of total
annihilation through war. Whatsoever the case may be, as the KNU is
committed only to durable peace, it will continue to strive for finding
means and ways for the resolution of conflicts, politically, through the
process of dialogue. Therefore, we would like to earnestly appeal to the
democratic governments and pro-democracy forces of the world to extend
assistance for the resolution of the political malaise Burma, through
peaceful means and on the basis of mutual recognition and respect.
August 5, 1997
Central Committee
Karen National Union
****************************************************************
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: "SAFEGUARD THE RACE!"
July 31, 1997 (abridged)
by a Tatmadawman (a SLORC soldier)
I, who had rarely been to the cities, was admitted to the Defence Services
General Hospital as I was wounded by a bullet of some remnants in hostility
and deep foolery at a frontier. At the hospital, I used to watch the
television arranged for the recreation of the warded soldiers. I also read
the dailies. In frontiers, I sometimes lose sight of the events. Then, I
could trace the footprints.
Whose footprints do you think are they?
They are not of the mother.
They are of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
At the very first, she did her work--party politics. We did our work,
too. Safeguarding the nation is our duty. I had believed so. When I could
close in on the target in the circle, what I saw clearly was the aspects of
Daw Suu Kyi. Alas... How formidable she is!
Photos of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, both foreigners,
assisting her to bring her to power. Financial contributions from foreign
organizations to enable her to put on the queen's crown. Medals awarded her
by the international organizations as assets for her achievement of never
waning fame in the world. Activities of her foreigner spouse and those of
her two foreigner sons.
Ah.. Pa.. Pa.. All are poisons--awards and decorations, cash grants,
dollars, movements, etc. How unwittingly Daw Suu Kyi has turned into a
venomous cobra! At a touch, she will rear her head, bite and transmit her
venom. She will let the people die of her venom. Those who assumed
Manerplaw as their democracy cemetery due to her instigation eventually
fled the battles, discarding their arms. Their life became a complete ruin.
Words coming out as toxic fumes from her mouth are to blame for all these.
At that time, Michael Aris and his two sons are fully enjoying democracy in
a big country. They are enjoying the luxury from one-million-dollar Nobel
prize. How wonderful!
You should not have conceived the idea of breaking up the country. You
should not attempt to cause the Myanmar race to disappear from the world.
In terms of physical phenomenon, Bogoke Aung San is Daw Suu Kyi's father.
But in terms of mental phenomenon (according to Bogyoke's belief, conviction,
attitude, love for the nation and people and love for the Tatmadaw), Bogyoke
is not her father. All the good sons who have inherited the mentality of
Bogyoke Aung San--his belief, conviction, attitude, love for the nation and
people and love for the Tatmadaw--are in the Tatmadaw and are trying to
accomplish the duty of "safeguarding the nation" owed to the father of the
Tatmadaw.
When we saw Daw Suu Kyi paying homage at the tomb of Bogyoke Aung San,
all of us expected with magnanimity whether she would be saying in her
mind, "I apologize to you, father, the Tatmadaw you founded and Myanmar you
loved for all the sins I have committed. I will go back to the democracy
country, where there are my two sons, my spouse and my in-laws, renouncing
my fanciful political ego. I promise that I will never distress the
nationals of motherland Myanmar, whose independence you wrested back, for
the remaining part of my life, and live a pleasant, simple family life."
******************************************************************
BKK POST: BURMA POWER IMPORT PLAN FACES OPPOSITION
August 2, 1997
by Boonsong Kositchotethana
TRANSMISSION LINES TO RUN THROUGH PRISTINE FORESTS
Thailand's plan to import electricity from Burma appears to be
heading toward difficulties before it starts.
Expected opposition from environmental and non-government
organisation activists is likely to be a stumbling block.
Senior officials of the Electricity Generating Authority of
Thailand (Egat) are expecting opposition since the high-voltage
transmission lines from Burma to Thailand would need to go
through pristine forests along the border areas.
Any opposition would be concentrated on Thai soil since the
Burmese military dictatorship can effectively prevent protests.
Last month the Thai government signed a memorandum of
understanding to purchase 1,500 megawatts of power from Burma in
the next decade.
Egat officials have taken note of intensifying protests by Thai
environmentalists against the Thai section of the Yadana gas
pipeline, six kilometres of which will run through a protected
watershed area in Tong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi.
They noted that the long stretch of Thai territory bordering
Burma, through which the power lines will run, included many
"good" watershed areas.
Building transmission lines will inevitably cut a wide swath
through the forests. In the case of a 230-kilovolt line, the
width of the required right of way is 40 metres, and 60 metres
for a 500kilovolt line.
The high-voltage lines on the Thai side will pass through the
forest area over a distance of some 200 kilometres, halfway to
Egat's Nakhon Sawan grid (about 250 kilometres north of Bangkok),
where the line would be connected to the national network.
The environmental impact created by the transmission lines would
be far greater than that created by the Yadana pipeline.
The pipeline in the disputed six kilometre area of Kanchanaburi
will need a 20-metre-wide right of way. Unlike the transmission
lines which will be erected into the sky for a long time, the gas
pipeline will be buried at least one metre under the surface.
"The environmental problems related to the transmission lines
need to be tackled first before we [Egat] can buy any Burmese
electricity," a senior Egat official said.
Egat officials see the 150-megawatt Nam Kok project in Shan state
as the only power-generation project in Burma that has a chance
of getting off the ground and exporting power to Thailand in the
near future.
-------------------------------
excerpt from a related story: NITROGEN CONTENT IN YADANA GAS
A SOURCE OF CONCERN (Bangkok Post, August 2, 1997)
A House panel has voiced concern over pollution resulting from
the high nitrogen content of natural gas from Burma's Yadana field.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand is building a
4,600 megawatt power plant in Ratchaburi which will be fired by
Yadana gas via a 260km-long pipeline passing through
Kanchanaburi.
Dr Veerapoj Lueprasitskul, an academic attached to the House
science and technology panel, said the high nitrogen content in
the Yadana gas means the plant would be releasing a higher level
of nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas which can cause respiratory
problems and inflammation of the lungs.
*****************************************************************
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: MINISTER INSPECTS PIPELINE LAYING
WORK AT YADANA NATURAL GAS PROJECT
August 1, 1997
YANGON, 31 July - Minister for Energy U Khin Maung Thein, together
with Brig-Gen Zaw Tun of Dawei Station, French Ambassador Mr Bernard
Pottier, General Manager of Total Myanmar Exploration and Production
Co Mr F Rafin and officials of the ministry, this morning arrived at
Semi-submersible Pipelaying Vessel SEMAC-1, which is carrying out
deep-sea pipeline laying work at Myanma Offshore
Yadana Natural Gas Project of Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise.
Managing Director of MOGE U Kyaw Nyein, Project Manager of TMEP Co Mr
D Bernier and Mr Sullivan in charge of SEMAC-1 reported on working
programme with charts.
The minister gave instructions.
Mr D Bernier and Mr Sullivan presented photographs and other
relevant data to the minister.
The minister presented gifts to foreign and Myanmar staff.
The minister and party inspected preparations for welding pipelines,
welding work, examining pipelines with X-ray machines, coating of
joints of pipelines and process of laying pipelines.
The minister and party also inspected the computer control room and
left in the afternoon.
About 40 miles of 36-inch diameter gas pipe-line has been laid
inland. Out of about 216 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline to be
laid offshore about 10 miles have already been laid at the beginning
of March and the SEMAC-1 will lay the remaining length. The pipe
line laying work will be completed within three months.
**********************************************************
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: UMNO DELEGATION OF MALAYSIA
VISITS MYANMAR
August 2, 1997
YANGON, 1 Aug - At the invitation of Union Solidarity and Development
Association (Central), a five-member delegation of United Malays
National Organization (UMNO) of Malaysia led by Mr Hasni Mohamad
arrived here by air this afternoon.
They were welcomed at Yangon International Air-port by USDA Central
Executive Committee members U Than Shwe and U Tin Hlaing and First
Secretary of the Malaysian Embassy Mr Kennedy Jawan.
The delegation called on Secretary General of USDA U Than Aung,
member of the Secretariat U Ko Lay and CEC members U Than Shwe, U
Thein Sein and U Tin Hlaing at the City Hall. Views were cordially
exchanged on the work of USDA and UMNO.
Mr Jawan and secretaries and executives of Yangon Division and
District USDAs were also present.
Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay hosted
dinner in their honour at Thakayta Yadana Viewpoint Hotel.
USDA CEC members were also present.
*********************************************************
KNU: BATTLE NEWS PRESS RELEASES 41/97, 42/97, 43/97
August 4, 1997
OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
KAREN NATIONAL UNION, KAWTHOOLEI
Press release No.41/97
Regarding 1997 SLORC Offensive against KNU
Combat News August 2, 1997
Pa-an District
* 12-6-97: Land mines in Waw-ger-kee of Hlaing-bwe township wounded 10
enemy soldiers.
* 15-6-97: At the up-range of Por-toh-bwa village of Hlaing -bwe township,
5 enemy and DKBA soldiers were wounded by land mines.
* 30-6-97: Land mines killed enemy soldiers near Yo-jor in the north of
Mya-wa-dy.
* 01-7-97: The KNLA troops captured one G3 rifle in a clash at Tee-ja-ra of
Hlaing-bwe township.Casualty on enemy side not known.
*12-7-97: In a clash near A-leh-bo-teh on Mya-wa-dy-Kaw-Ka-reik motor road,
3 enemy soldiers were killed.
Nyaung-le-bin District
* 01-7-97: In a clash near Ga-nu-ta of Kyauk-ji township, one enemy
sergeant was killed and two, including one corporal, were wounded.
* 04-7-97: Land mines at Ler-su-ko of Kyauk-ji township wounded seriously
two on the enemy side, including IB 39 commander.
Tha-ton District
* 06-7-97: One DKBA soldier surrendered to the KNLA troops.
* 10-7-97: The KNLA troops attacked a DKBA unit in Wah-ta-mor village in
Tha-ton township, killing one DKBA soldier and wounding some.
Boke-pean Township, Tavoy-Mergui District
* On 3-7-97 and again on 9-7-97, the enemy attacked a camp of the KNLA
Battalion 12. The enemy suffered 2 dead and 7 wounded, including one
Captain.
* After unilaterally abrogating the cease-fire dialogue process, the enemy
launched a major offensive against the KNU and Karen civillains. As a
result, battles are raging in all the KNU base areas.
KNU PRESS RELEASE NO. 42/97
August 4, 1997
Regarding 1997 SLORC Offensive against KNU
Pa-pun District
* 08-7-97: A land mine at Lay-paw-ko wounded an enemy soldier.
* 15-7-97: A land mine at Kler-du wounded and enemy soldier. On the same
day, a land mine at Kler-mu wounded another enemy soldier.
* 16-7-97: A land mine at Pwa-waw-day wounded an enemy soldier.
* 17-7-97: In a clash at Tee-Thaw-du-cho, an enemy soldier was wounded. On
the same day, a land mine at Da-per-cho killed an enemy soldier from LIB
705, and 2 land mines at Ka-hsaw-mee-ta wounded 2 enemy soldiers.
* 18-7-97: A clash took place at Ka-hsaw-mu. Casualty not known. A land
mine at Ler-klay-cho wounded an enemy soldier from LIB 709 and two enemy
soldiers were wounded in a clash at Po-mu-day.
* 20-7-97: Land mines at Tee-baw-kee wounded 2 enemy soldiers from LIB 708.
* 21-7-97: A land mine at Pler-su-day wounded an enemy soldier. Land mines
at Lay-daw wounded 3 from IB 60, and in a clash at Klo-peh-ta 2 from LIB
705 were wounded. A clash took place at Saw-aye-kee. Casualty not known. In
a clash at Pla-bay-kee, an enemy soldier was wounded. A land mine at
Ler-klay-cho wounded one from IB 60.
Tha-ton District
* 16-7-97: A DKBA soldier, Par-thway returned to the KNLA with an AK rifle.
* 20-7-97: The KNLA troops captured 4 AK rifles and some military equipment
in an attack on a SLORC militia unit at Lar-oh-ker in Tha-ton township.
Tavoy District
* 13-7-97: In a clash at Met-ter-kee, 3 enemy soldiers were killed and 4
wounded.
KNU PRESS RELEASE NO. 43/97
August 4, 1997
Regarding 1997 SLORC Offensive against KNU
Taungoo District
* 04-7-97: PrivatesYarn Naing and The Hart from Company 2 of the enemy IB
44 defected to the combined KNLA-ABSDF Column with 2 G3 rifles.
* 05-7-97: Land mines near Pler-mu-doe wounded a corporal and a
lance-corporal from enemy LIB 704. On the same da, LIB 704 seized
Baw-ga-leet villagers and forced them to carry supplies through mine
fields. As a result 2 villagers were wounded by land mines.
* 06-7-97: A soldier from enemy LIB 704 was wounded by a land mine near Si
day. On 3-7-97 also, a land mine near Si-day wounded a soldier from enemy
LIB 702.
* 07-7-97: The KNLA troops staged an ambush on Si-day main road. Casualty
not known.
* 09-7-97: A land mine at Kler-mu wounded an enemy soldier.
* 12-7-97: A land mine at Bu-hsa-kee wounded an enemy soldier.
* 18-7-97: A clash took place near Tee-nu-doe. Casualty not known.
* 19-7-97: Attack near Chin-pa-daung, killed one and wounded 2 from enemy
LIB 344.
Pa-an District
* 18-7-97: A land mine near Ye-jor, north of Mya-wa-dy, wounded an enemy
soldier.
* 20-7-97: Again near Ye-jor, land mines wounded 2 enemy soldiers. Near
Mor-poe-gay of Hlaing-bwe district, the KNLA troops attacked a post of DKBA
wounding 4 and capturing some military equipment. One the same day,
shelling by KNLA troops at Mae-la camp killed one and wounded 2 enemy
soldiers. A clash between two groups from enemy LIB 13 result in one
corporal killed and one wounded.
* 22-7-97: Land mines at Par-ju and Mae-gu Hlaing-bwe township, wounded 2
enemy soldiers.
Doo-pla-ya District
* 04-7-97: The KNLA troops attacked enemy LIB 13 out post at Kaw-ta-ray.
Casualty not known.
* 06-7-97: An attack by KNLA troops on enemy LIB 549 out-post at
Yin-gweh-taung resulted in one enemy soldier killed and 2 wounded.
* 09-7-97: Land mine at Poe-thwee-cho of Kaw-ka-reik township killed one
and wounded one enemy soldier.
(Translated, printed and distributed by the Karen Information Center)
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SHAN: SURA BATTLE NEWS
August 2, 1997
On 4.6.97 night, SURA's (Shan United Revolutionary Army) company 151 of
Brigade 757 clashed with Slorc troops at a place between Kunhing and
Murngnai township. SURA troops seized 1 M-16 rifle, 1 G-3 rifle, 1 Carbine
rifle, 2 grenades and 60 rounds of ammunition.
On 26.6.97, 05:00 hrs., SURA's company 152 of Brigade 757 clashed with Slorc
troops LIB no.518 from Murngnai at Kung Lai Kha, north of Nar Loi, Murngnai
township. Casualty unknown.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: 8/8/97: INVITATION TO ADELAIDE CITY
LUNCH TIME MEETINGS
August 4, 1997
A series of Lunch Time meetings in solidarity with the up-rooted people of
the world will be held by The South Australian Council of Churches
throughout August 1997. On this Friday, August 8, 1997 a Lunch Time
meeting for Burma will be held and our friends are invited to come to
the following place. Myself, Mr Mathieson of Flinders University and
Sr Patricia Pak Poy will be sitting as the panel and the meeting is to be
Chaired by Dr Malcolm McArthur, Director of South Australian Council of
Churches.
Date: Friday 8 August 1997
Time: 12:45 -- 2:00 PM
Place: Pilgrim Church Hall, 15 Flinders Street, Adelaide.
(Tea, Coffee & Biscuits will be available)
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