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The BurmaNet News, October 10, 1997



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------          
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"          
----------------------------------------------------------          
      
The BurmaNet News: October 10, 1997             
Issue #841

HEADLINES:             
==========      
THE NATION: RAMOS MAY SEE SUU KYI DURING HIS BURMA VISIT
REUTER: KINKEL TO LOBBY FOR DEMOCRATIC BURMA IN ASIA 
THE NATION: UNIFIED FIGHT ON TERRORISM
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: APPEAL FOR PRISONERS 
BAY AREA ROUNDTABLE: PRESS RELEASE - ERICSSON BOYCOTT
TACDB PRESS RELEASE: THAI MOI OFFICIALS INCITING VIOLENCE
THE NATION: GLIMMER OF HOPE ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE
BKK POST: COUNTRY 'CAN DO WITHOUT BURMESE GAS'
BKK POST: FIVE FOREIGN GIRLS RESCUED FROM SWEATSHOP
IMPHAL FREE PRESS : TROUBLE DOGS MOREH SATYAGRAHA
MYANMAR ALIN : THOSE WHO ARE COMPLICATING MATTERS
ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA FAMILY FESTIVAL DAY IN CANBERRA
FBC ANNOUNCEMENT: REGIONAL AND TOPICAL LISTSERVERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------   

THE NATION: RAMOS MAY SEE SUU KYI DURING HIS BURMA VISIT
October 9, 1997
AFP

MANILA - Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday said diplomats were
working out his possible meeting with pro-democracy opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi next week during his visit to Burma.

"This is something that is still being worked out by our Department of
Foreign Affairs authorities who are in charge of scheduling in collaboration
with the host government," Ramos said at his weekly news briefing.

"Everything we have right now is preliminary. I'm not saying that it [the
meeting] is going to take place," Ramos added.

Ramos is to proceed to Burma and Laos after a brief visit to Hong Kong on
Monday to address the World Economic Forum.

"I hope to portray the Philippines as being still very strong in economic
fundamentals," at the forum, Ramos said. The Philippine economy has been
battered by a currency crisis sweeping Southeast Asia.

Ramos said he would meet Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, and would
discuss the continued protection of Filipino workers in the special
administrative region of China, as well as pursue the extradition of an
alleged Filipino drug dealer.

The visit to Burma and Laos, the newest members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations to which the Philippines also belongs, hopes "to
determine from their leaders how we of the Philippines can help," Ramos
said. Ramos will return to the Philippines on Oct 18.

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

REUTER: KINKEL TO LOBBY FOR DEMOCRATIC BURMA IN ASIA 
[slightly abridged]
October 7, 1997 

BONN, Oct 7 (Reuter) - German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said on Tuesday
he would lobby support in Thailand, Korea and Japan for more democracy in
Burma during a planned trip to the region later this month. 

Kinkel said the international community must use the fact Burma now has
full membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to
put pressure on its military leaders to end their ``politics of repression.'' 

He said the situation in Burma would be high on the agenda during his talks
with Thai, Korean and Japanese government officials. 

``I will express the Europeans' hope and wish that the decision to give
Burma full ASEAN membership leads to openness and democratisation,'' Kinkel
was quoted as saying in a ministry statement. 

Kinkel's made the remarks a day after he and other European Union foreign
ministers extended an EU ban on granting visas to senior Burmese officials
for a further six months. 

He echoed EU concerns over human rights abuses in Burma and renewed their
call on the SLORC (Rangoon's State Law and Order Restoration Council) to
open dialogue with opposition parties, including that of Nobel peace
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. 

``Burma should not be allowed to remain an island of repression in a region
which has become one of the most dynamic parts of the world because of its
brisk economic development,'' Kinkel said. 

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

THE NATION: UNIFIED FIGHT ON TERRORISM
October 9, 1997
AFP

TOKYO - Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) vowed
to step up cooperation in the fight against, terrorism yesterday as they
wrapped up a two-day conference, officials said.

"Japan and Asean nations agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism measures
including the exchange of intelligence on terrorism," a Foreign Ministry
official said.

The meeting, which was not open to the Media, was attended by anti-terrorism
experts from Japan and Asean, which groups Brunei, Burma, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The meeting was organised based on a proposal that Japanese Prime Minister
Ryutaro Hashimoto made during his visit to Asean member countries in January
during the hostage crisis at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, Peru.

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

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: APPEAL FOR PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE
October 9, 1997

EXTERNAL  AI Index: ASA 16/26/97
EXTRA 134/97   Health concern / Prisoners of conscience      9 October 1997
MYANMAR        U Cho Aung Than
            Dr Aung Khin Sint, medical doctor
            U Win Tin, aged 67, writer

Three prisoners of conscience, all in their 60s, have been transferred to
hospital where the condition of at least one of them is feared to be
critical.  Amnesty International, which learned of the transfers on 9
October 1997, is concerned that the three be given all the medical attention
they need, and that they not be returned to prison under any circumstances.

U Cho Aung Than, Dr Aung Khin Sint, and U Win Tin, all activists with the
National League for Democracy (NLD, the leading opposition political party),
were transferred to the Yangon General Hospital from Insein Jail, Myanmar's
largest prison, where hundreds of political prisoners are serving sentences.
Although Dr Aung Khin Sint and U Win Tin are no longer believed to be in
critical condition, it is feared that U Cho Aung Than's condition remains
very serious.

U Cho Aung Than, NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's cousin and former
assistant, was arrested in June 1997 for allegedly passing funds to NLD
members from foreign nationals. In August he was sentenced along with his
sister and her husband to 10 years imprisonment. Before his arrest he was
in poor health.

Dr Aung Khin Sint, a medical doctor and NLD member of parliament-elect, was
arrested in August 1993 and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He was
released in February 1995, but was rearrested in July 1996 and is believed
to be serving the remainder of his sentence.

U Win Tin, one of the original NLD members and a prominent writer, was
arrested in July 1989.  Since then he has been sentenced three times to a
total of 19 years imprisonment.  In November 1995 he was forced to stay in
a tiny military dog cell along with 28 other political prisoners.  Two of
these prisoners, both NLD activists, have subsequently died in custody. The
67-year-old U Win Tin is suffering from a heart condition, acute
inflammation of the vertebrae, and is in need of dental treatment.

Prison conditions in Myanmar are characterized by overcrowding, and a lack
of adequate food, sanitation, and medical care. Unhealthy prison conditions
and inadequate and delayed medical treatment have contributed to deaths in
custody of political prisoners.

Over 1,000 political prisoners remain in jails throughout Myanmar. The State
Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC, Myanmar's military authorities)
continues to arrest and detain anyone who opposes their repressive policies,
particularly NLD members.  Although the SLORC allowed an NLD congress to
take place in September 1997, on four previous occasions in the last 18
months they arrested hundreds of people who attempted to attend NLD
meetings.  The SLORC also continues to prevent the NLD from addressing
public gatherings.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail
letters in English or your own language:
- urging that U Cho Aung Than, Dr Aung Khin Sint and U Win Tin be granted
full medical care and complete access to their families while in hospital;
- urging that they not be returned to prison, but released immediately and
unconditionally as prisoners of conscience.
APPEALS TO:

Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1
State Law and Order Restoration Council
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Telegrams: General Khin Nyunt, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Faxes: +95 1 229 50
Salutation: Dear General

General Than Shwe, Chairman
State Law and Order Restoration Council
c/o Director of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI)
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
Telegrams: General Than Shwe, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Salutation: Dear General

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of MYANMAR accredited to your
country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 10 November 1997.

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

BAY AREA BURMA ROUNDTABLE: PRESS RELEASE - ERICSSON BOYCOTT
October 7, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    October 7, 1997

Contacts:
- Bay Area Burma Roundtable:  Dan Orzech  (510) 528-0653
- Seattle Campaign for a Free Burma: Larry Dohrs (206) 784-5742
- Australia Free Burma Coalition (Sydney): Amanda Zappia (02) 6297 7734
- Australia Human Rights For Burma (Perth): Ivan Brabant (08) 9451 8905
- Australia Burma Support Group Melbourne: Mary O'Kane (03) 93802986
- Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (New Delhi, India): Aung San Myint
91-11-5623759
- Free Burma Coalition - Philippines: Merci Ferrer (63-2) 435-2900
- Burma Support Group Norway: Camilla Buzzi  8800 1943
- Chicago Coalition for a Democratic Burma: Don Erickson (312) 421-5513
- Students for Environmental Action at Stanford: Jill Shenker  (415)
723-3307
- Los Angeles Burma Forum: Kevin Rudiger (310) 399-0703
- New York - Wetlands Preserve: Mark Goldberg (212) 966-5244
- Canadian Friends of Burma: Christine Harmston (613) 237-8056

ERICSSON HIT WITH WORLDWIDE PROTESTS OVER BURMA

Cell Phone Maker faces Demonstrations, Boycott

San Francisco, CA -- Having already lost municipal contracts worth up to
$90 million because of its investment in Burma, Swedish telecommunications
giant Ericsson now finds itself faced with a worldwide boycott of the
company's cellular phones.

In the coming week, demonstrations will take place at Ericsson facilities
or distributors in over a dozen different locations around the globe.  The
boycott, which has already been under way in Scandinavia since June, will
focus on Ericsson's cellular phones because Ericsson is the major supplier
of cellular equipment to the military in Burma.  Other cellular phone
manufacturers such as Motorola have already pulled out of Burma.

While cellular phones are widely available to the military and business
partners of the generals in Burma, ordinary citizens in Burma who are
caught with telecommunications equipment such as cell phones, fax machines
or modems without a license face a prison sentence of up to fifteen years.

On June 22, 1996, James Nichols, honorary consul in Myanmar for Sweden,
Norway and several other European countries, died in prison after serving
six weeks of a three-year sentence. His crime -- unauthorized use of a fax
machine.

$50 BILLION IN MARKETS CLOSED
Ericsson's business dealings in Burma are already affecting Ericsson's
bottom line.  The company found itself locked out of bidding last year on
contracts worth up to $90 million with the city of San Francisco.  San
Francisco, like New York, and a number of other cities, and the state of
Massachusetts, bars contracts with companies which do business with the
military in Burma.

The combined budgets of the cities and states which refuse to do business
with Ericsson now tops $50 billion.  Ericsson's sales in Burma have never
reached more than a few million dollars a year.

"Ericsson is trading a few million dollars in sales in Burma for the
potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars of municipal contracts,"
says Simon Billenness, an analyst with Franklin Research and Development,
an investment firm based in Boston.  "Investors should think twice about
buying stock in a company which is managed like that."

Institutional investors may soon agree, as major holders of Ericsson stock
like the University of California find themselves facing a growing chorus
of demands to dump holdings in Burma related companies.

Burma's democratically elected leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has
repeatedly called for Western corporations to end their support for the
military regime in Burma. She reiterated that position most recently in a
meeting with Unocal President John Imle at her home in Rangoon, where she
remains under virtual house arrest.

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

TACDB PRESS RELEASE: THAI MOI OFFICIALS INCITING VIOLENCE AGAINST  BURMESE
October 9, 1997

Thai Ministry of Interior (MOI)  officials inciting violence 
                   against Burmese residents of a  UNHCR
                          administered 'safe camp'.

BANGKOK- Troubles at the Ministry of Interior run 'Burmese Students Center',
commonly known as the 'Safe Area', have reached crisis levels in recent
days. An alleged beating of a camp resident, Ko Wai Moe, by the Camp
Commander, Pi Moo, on the 3rd of October has outraged residents who are
calling upon the Thai government to take measures to ensure their personal
safety. 

On the 3rd of October at around 9 p.m., an armed group of villagers,
including MOI representatives from the camp, assaulted a group of Burmese
exiles for 'making a loud noise'. The Camp Commander later admitted to
assaulting this group of camp residents. This admission has created a
climate of unrest within the camp that has already resulted in an attack on
the MOI office within the compound. Residents are concerned that the events
of recent days will provide the officials with an excuse to further restrict
the rights and liberties of Burmese camp residents, who already endure
severe restrictions on their freedom of movement and freedom of assembly.

It has been alleged that a series of recent attacks on camp residents by the
villagers of 'Ban Maneeloi' in Ratchaburi province, Thailand, have been
actively encouraged by the Camp Commander, who has offered alcohol and gifts
of money to some villagers in return for acts of harassment and intimidation. 

Newly elected Chairperson of the Burmese Students Association (BSA), Aung
Htun, stated yesterday that around 8.30pm on the 5th of October, one masked
Thai villager attacked a camp resident who was returning from volunteering
labor at a local monastery. The Camp commander, when approached about this
incident, told BSA that he gave villagers his full permission for the
villagers to carry out the attack and would take no measures against future
attacks.

A spokesperson for TACDB in Bangkok, Thailand, commented that "...these acts
of intimidation perpetrated by Thai officials are shameful. Burmese students
in Ban Maneeloi have enjoyed good relations with their Thai neighbors in the
past. It is a shame to see this community being undermined and destroyed by
a kind of state-sanctioned intimidation and violence.".

Roads leading into the area had been blocked off last night by local police. 

The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and representatives of the Prime
Minister's office in Bangkok could not be contacted for comment. 

For further information please contact TACDB in Bangkok on (+662) 216 4463
or representatives of BSA at the Burmese Students Centre in Ban Maneeloi on
01 651 9929.
----------------------------------------
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB),
328 Phayathai Road,
Rajthevee,
Bangkok 10400,
THAILAND.

tel/fax:  (+662) 216 4463
email:	  tacdb@xxxxxxxxxx

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

THE NATION: GLIMMER OF HOPE ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE
October 9, 1997
Aung Zaw

A Burmese proverb has it that "the cow will be spared only if the tiger
takes pity".

In the wake of the National League for Democracy's (NLD) party conference
there is some debate among Burmese about who is the tiger and who is the cow.

One student in Rangoon said the tiger is the ruling junta, officially known
as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc). The cow is the NLD
which won a landslide victory in the 1990 elections but was denied the
chance to form a government.

However, another politically active student disagreed: "Slorc is not a
tiger." If Slorc is, "it must be in deep trouble", he said.

Toward the end of last month Slorc made an unexpected move: it gave the
go-ahead for the NLD to hold its planned conference.

Analysts and opponents interpreted the move as an encouraging sign from the
ruling junta which has barred the NLD from holding party meetings for
years.             

Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel, Peace Prize winner and secretary-general
of the NLD, has not spoken in public since the junta blockaded her home in
September 1996, thus ending her weekend "democracy forums".

Previously, whenever party delegates in the provinces were summoned to 
attend the planned conferences they were harassed by local officials and
some were imprisoned.

This time, the meeting was given the green light with some conditions. Slorc
allowed only 300 participants. In addition, it subjected delegates to checks
and set up a tight security network along University Avenue where Suu Kyi
resides and the two-day congress was convened.

Nevertheless, when the meeting started more than 700 delegates and guests
were admitted while other party members and supporters were harassed and
trucked outside the city by police.

"We don't know whether it [the permission] was a conciliatory gesture but it
is a positive development," said an exiled NLD member. The self-proclaimed
Burmese government in exile hailed the junta's decision.

But Aung Saw Oo, a former NLD member and spokesman for the exiled NLD
[Liberated Area] cautioned, "It is too early to say anything."

Some political analysts in Rangoon agreed: "There must be a hidden agenda we
don't know what Slorc's real intention is."

At any event, the NLD did not miss the chance for a rare get-together,.

At the congress, a nine point resolution was reached at the end of the two
days of meetings. The resolutions call for political dialogue and the
release of the approximately 1,000 political prisoners.

"There is no other means to solve the country's problems other than in
meaningful dialogue," the NLD statement said.

Suu Kyi also thanked Slorc for allowing the meeting to take place. But as
the congress started, the official press strongly attacked the NLD and Suu
Kyi Slorc's media accused Suu Kyi of being the main stumbling block to
dialogue. Just before the congress the NLD rejected Slorc's invitation for a
meeting. If it was held, it would have been the second meeting between the
NLD and Slorc in three months.

In July, Slorc Secretary One Lt Gen Khin Nyunt surprised people both in and
out of Burma by inviting U Aung Shwe and two other senior NLD members to a
meeting.

So why did the NLD cancel the second meeting?

The NLD statement said chairman Aung Shwe decided not to attend talks with
Khin Nyunt because they would not include Suu Kyi. "The NLD is in favour of
a meaningful dialogue with Slorc but this would have to include Aung San Suu
Kyi," it said.

Slorc then attacked the NLD for not accepting the offer.

According to a veteran journalist in Rangoon, Slorc's liaison officer came
to meet U Aung Shwe. The NLD chairman told him to come the next day. Shortly
after the invitation, the senior NLD leaders called an urgent meeting. At
the meeting, they decided to go only if Suu Kyi and the NLD chairman were
invited. If that was not possible they offered to send two senior leaders
but not Aung Shwe.

The next day, the liaison officer came. Aung Shwe informed him of the
outcome of the urgent meeting.

The meeting was called off.

In an apparent reference to the negotiations, the NLD stated in the
resolutions: "The NLD reiterated in a resolution that it had mandated key
representatives of the party for all important matters to be its chairman U
Aung Shwe and secretary-general Aung San Suu Kyi."

"Current ills can be cured only by face to face dialogue between Slorc and
the NLD, which has the right to nominate its own representatives," it said.

Some independent political analysts in Rangoon saw an obvious divide and
conquer gambit in Slorc's invitation. At the same time they felt that the
senior NLD leaders were worried about a possible split.

"They [Slorc] know Aung Shwe and U Lwin [another senior NLD leader and
ex-army officer] are not hard-liners. They are comfortable with Aung Shwe."

It is a well-known fact that the NLD has two powerful factions: one is the
ex-army faction and the other is the group of intellectuals. So far, the
ex-army faction remains strong and runs the party. Some of the
well-respected intellectuals have left the NLD camp or been imprisoned.

A source close to NLD politics said the party's second line leaders are
unhappy about some of the decisions made by senior executive committee
members. "Though they admire and respect Suu Kyi they are not happy with the
ex-army faction," the source said.

Suu Kyi's recent warning was obvious enough. She said: "Anyone who tries to
disrupt the unity of the party or harm the democratic movement should know
that the party disciplinary committee will take action against them."

Recently, Tun Shwe, an elected NLD member from Moe Nyo township, submitted a
28-page paper to the party leaders criticising the NLD for being headstrong.

The show in Rangoon isn't over. "There is a political stalemate," said a
student activist belonging to the underground All Burma Federation Students
Union in the capital.

"Slorc knows it needs to break it. But the hard part is that they don't want
to sit down with the 'Lady'," referring to Suu Kyi. Some generals have come
to the realisation that they need to sit down with the NLD but they want to
have the upper hand, he said.

Suu Kyi sent out her message at the congress: "It's much more fun to be
friends. We should not be enemies. We all belong to the same country."

But the generals apparently don't think the same way as she does.

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

BKK POST: COUNTRY 'CAN DO WITHOUT BURMESE GAS'
October 9, 1997
Chakrit Ridmontri

Energy consumption can be met locally

Thailand's energy supply remains secure with no need to acquire natural gas
from Burma's Yadana and Yetagun fields, a conservationist argued yesterday.

The director of Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliances, Witoon
Permpongsacharoen, said Thailand generated 18,900 megawatts (MW) of
electricity while consuming only 13,311 MW last year.

It was therefore not necessary for the Electricity Generating of Thailand
(Egat) to produce more electricity using natural gas from Burma.

He said the halt of the gas pipeline construction would not cost the country
40 million baht in daily fines or subject it to an energy shortage as
project owner Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) has claimed.

The PTT signed a contract with Burma in 1995 to purchase gas from two fields
to feed an Egat power plant in Ratchaburi.

The 260-km gas pipeline connecting with the Burmese pipeline at Ban 1-tong
in Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi will pass through 50 kilometres
of forest, six kilometres of which is lush.

Mr Witoon spoke at a panel discussion on the controversial gas pipeline
project at Chulalongkorn University's Centre for Social Development Studies
yesterday.

He accused the PTT of lying when it claimed it was subject to pay a daily
fine to the Burmese government of up to 40 million baht a day if could not
finish its pipeline by the end of June next ear.

He said the fine would go to the gas exploration consortium in which its
affiliate PTTEP International of Thailand holds a 25 percent stake.

The other stakeholders include the French oil firm Total. Unocal of the
United States, and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.

Mr Witoon claimed that the prices the PTT agreed to pay for the gas were
higher than that from other sources because its subsidiary would benefit
from the deal.

He wants the PTT to halt construction until it clarifies "irregularities" in
its contracts and a proper mechanism is set up to monitor its performance.

Otherwise, he said, the irregularities would occur in the 12 other gas
pipeline routes to form a network nation-wide.

M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Democrat MP from Bangkok, believed the PTT was
at a disadvantage when it signed the contract but that it was too late for
the opposition to halt the pipeline construction because it was nearly finished.

"However, it doesn't mean that we can do nothing. If the contract is unfair
to us the PTT must promptly reveal its details so that we will be able to
renegotiate with Burma and find ways to minimise the social and
environmental impact," said M.R. Sukhumbhand, a member of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The PTT is due to reveal the details of the contracts it made with Burma and
its contractors on Friday in talks with its opponents led by the
Kanchanaburi Conservation Group.

The talks were scheduled following a preliminary discussion on Tuesday
between the two sides mediated by the Institute of Dispute Resolution.

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

BKK POST: FIVE FOREIGN GIRLS RESCUED FROM SWEATSHOP
October 9, 1997
Pavit Sorajana, Ralph Bachoe

Five foreign girls were rescued from a sweatshop in Taling Chan, Bangkok,
yesterday.

Police and labour inspectors raided Panama Garment Co, in the, Chao Phraya
housing estate, and found one male and eight females, including a Burmese
girl and four Laotians, aged 14-16.

Booppa sae Chua, 49, who claimed to be the supervisor, was charged with
illegal detention and harbouring illegal immigrants.

Somehai Klaipuek, the owner, and Mrs Ratchada, his wife, were not at the
factory when it was raided.

Among those rescued was a 16-year old Burmese girl. Ma Lwin is six months
pregnant and was sold by a Burmese slave trader to a Chinese household in
Mahachai where she worked as a maid for six months before she escaped to
Bobay market where she got a job on a construction site.

The Burmese man, she claimed, lives in Mahachai where he plies his trade
between Thailand and Burma.

Ma Lwin, who arrived in Thailand in September last year, said she escaped
from her former employer's home because she could not stand the verbal and
physical abuse.

Apart from board and lodging, she received no salary and was expected to
work there for a year.

She said she escaped a police raid at the construction site last month and
was brought to her present work place by her 25-year-old Burmese boyfriend.
He is said to be doing odd jobs in Thon Buri.

She claimed the sweatshop employed 18 workers when she arrived a month back.
So far, eight of them have left, either returning home or eloping with their
boyfriends.

She said they have to work from 7.30 a.m. until 10.30 p.m., sometimes until
2 a.m, with Sunday off. They are paid 1,500 baht a month, plus board and
lodging.

Ma Lwin, who believes she will be sent back to Burma, has appealed to be
returned next month when her boyfriend could give her some money.

The raid was carried out at the request of Paveena Hongsakul, a Chart
Pattana MP, who said she had received complaints of conditions of slavery at
the factory.

The workers said they were given plain rice with a fried egg three times a
day throughout the year.

Lae Kaewilai, from Laos, said she had worked in the factory for five months
after she was brought there from Nakhon Phanoni by a broker. She alleged she
was forced to work all day and night with 2-3 hours sleep a day. 

Whenever she fell asleep during work she would be beaten by the employer.

All the five girls will be sent to a remand home at Pak Klong Talad to day
and after that back home.

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

IMPHAL FREE PRESS : TROUBLE DOGS MOREH SATYAGRAHA
October 5, 1997.
By A staff Reporter

Imphal Oct 4 : The Moreh Council, Moreh has withdrawn its support to the
Samata Party-led satyagraha currently underway at Moreh.

The Council has taken this step in protest against alleged violation by
the organisers of the consensus arrived at with its representatives on
October 2, Y. Thoungamba, president of the MCM stated in a communication
to George Fernandes today. The MCM would also observe a silent protest
against the Satyagraha, the communication added.

A separate release said the satyagraha had violated their agreement by
making provocative statements against the Myanmarese government.

The former minister and Kuki Inpi president Holkhomang Haokip criticised
Samata Party for holding the border trade responsible for drug trafficking.

Describing the Moreh satyagraha a Samata Party gimmick, Holkhomang said
in a release that drug smuggling from Golden Triangle had been going on
for the last many decades along the porous Indo-Myanmar border through a
dozen points.

The involvement of security forces in drug trafficking as claimed is a
very bad reflection on the state and Central governments, he said.

Stating that legalisation of free trade has fulfilled a long cherished
desire of the people of Manipur and Moreh, the release said some
developments have taken place at Moreh because of this.

Fight drug smuggling and its menace by all means but do not do it at the
cost of livelihood do the Moreh and the surrounding areas, Holkhomang
said.

Stressing the need open the border trade at Bihiang in Churachanpur,
Kongkan Thana in Ukhrul district, New Somtal and Kholmumlen in Chandel
district, the release stated that Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal
Pradesh are in the process of opening trade centres.

"We have to look to South East Asian countries for trade and commerce,"
he added.

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

RANGOON MYANMAR ALIN : THOSE WHO ARE COMPLICATING SIMPLE MATTERS
[translated from Burmese]
September 27, 1997
Maung Saw Tun

U  Aung Shwe is the legal chairman of the National League for
Democracy [NLD].  U Aung Shwe was a brigadier general in the Defense
Services and also served as an ambassador.  He rose to the rank of
brigadier general for his devotion to duty served as an ambassador because
of his diplomatic abilities.  Although his advanced age has put him past
retirement age he is still actively engaged in politics and is the
legitimate leader of the NLD.  He attended the National Convention as the
leader of the NLD and the Central Executive Committee included his one time
subordinates -- Former Col. U Lun Tin and Former Col. U Lwin.
This occurred during the time when U Aung Shwe and the NLD Central
Executive Committee removed Daw Suu Kyi as party general secretary by a
party resolution.  Similarly, Former Gen. U Tin Oo and Former Col. U Kyi
Maung were also removed from the party Central Executive Committee.  They
are all indebted to the Defense Services -- Daw Suu Kyi owes her prominence
to being the daughter of Gen. Aung San and the others for what they are. 
But in reality they still criticize, condemn, and attack the Defense
Services showing their lack of appreciation and ungratefulness.
The U Aung Shwe-led NLD National Convention delegates
walked out of the National Convention on the orders of Daw Suu Kyi and they
immediately reversed what they had already discussed. U Aung Shwe in his old
age had inadvertently become a victim caught in Daw Suu Kyi's web.  How
ironic for a former brigadier general with vast political, military, and
diplomatic knowledge and experience to fall prey and be manipulated by an
inexperienced lady who is fit to be his daughter.  There is definitely
someone behind this inexperienced lady.
Simple matters became complicated the moment restrictions were lifted
against Daw Suu Kyi. The West orchestrated her every thought and
proclamation and carefully selected the words.  Madeleine Albright, the
Jewish lady, came to Myanmar [Burma] and reiterated Daw Suu Kyi's words.
Before creating a problem, Daw Suu Kyi will have lunch with western
diplomats at their homes.  Her masters, the western diplomats, will also
come to her house.  Some time later after these visits a problem will arise.
The facts are common, conspicuous, and known to all.Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt,
Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council [SLORC], and
responsible personnel invited the legitimate leader of NLD, U Aung Shwe, and
two other Central Executive Committee members to hold talks on matters of
national interest.  It seemed even the elderly soldier U Aung Shwe was
pleased with the meeting with SLORC Secretary-1 Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt.  It
also seemed he had reached an understanding and expected another meeting.
Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt invited U Aung Shwe and two NLD Central Executive
Committee Members for a meeting at 0930 on 16-9-97.  U Aung Shwe gladly
accepted the proposal and even remarked an invitation would not be necessary.
On the morning of 16-9-97 Daw Suu Kyi, the former general secretary who was
removed from the NLD, prevented U Aung Shwe and party from attending the
meeting without her.  Isn't it ironic for a party chairman to adhere to an
order from the general secretary?   A former strong-willed army person had
been humbled. But on the other hand, it could not be imagined how he would
face the new generation of defense services leaders and the nation's leaders?

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ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA FAMILY FESTIVAL DAY IN CANBERRA
October 8, 1997

The newly formed United Burma Welfare Association (UBWA) in conjunction with
all people of Burma residing in Canberra will hold a Family Festival Day as
part of Austcare's Refugee Week.  Traditional Burmese cuisine, culture,
dance, music and craft will be available to stimulate the interest of the
Canberra community.

As hundreds of thousands of refugees line Burma's borders due to the
repressive and brutal military dictatorship, SLORC, the UBWA will also have
a display showing the plight of refugees from Burma in Thailand, Bangladesh,
India and China.

Please join the festivities and become aware of the culture and ethnic
diversity and political turmoil of Burma, one of Australia's Asian neighbours.

Place:  Rotunda, Glebe Park, Canberra City
Date:  Saturday 18th October 1997
Time:  12.30 PM

For further information please contact:

Ma Ma (02) 6273 4215
Ko Thet (02) 6241 5113		Mobile 0411451647

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FBC ANNOUNCEMENT: REGIONAL AND TOPICAL LISTSERVERS
October 7, 1997

Thanks to a new server dedicated to our use, we can now have all the
listservs we need!

Here are the listservs that have been created and how to sign up (they're
also listed in the little Burma.net book you picked up at registration.):

OIL                      oil@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe oil"
REFUGEES                 refugees@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe refugees"
DRUGS                    drugs@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe drugs"
WOMEN'S ISSUES           women@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe women"
GRASSROOTS LOBBYING      lobby@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe lobby"
FUNDRAISING              fundraising@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe fundraising"
NEWCOMERS                newcomers@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe newcomers"
AIDS                     aids@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe AIDS"
BOYCOTTS                 boycotts@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe boycotts"
LETTER WRITING/FAXING    letters@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe letters"
SELECTIVE PURCHASING     selective-purchasing@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe
selective-purchasing"

So choose one or more (or all!) and sign up!

Also, some of the regional groups which met on sunday are starting regional
listservs.  If you'd like to make sure you're on your regional listserv to
keep in touch with the active spiders and groups around you, send the
request to sysop@xxxxxxxxx and specify which region(s) you want to be on.

CALIFORNIA           region.usa.ca@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe region.usa.ca"
PACIFIC NORTHWEST    region.usa.nw@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe region.usa.nw"
MIDWEST              region.usa.mw@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe region.usa.mw"
NORTHEAST            region.usa.ne@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe region.usa.ne"
WASHINGTON DC        region.usa.dc@xxxxxxxxx
Send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with subject "subscribe region.usa.dc"

If there are other topics that many of us are focusing on, we can create
addtional listservs too.  There are also other tools available on burma.net
for any focus group to use- websites, news/discussion/meeting server, and
live chat.  Just ask sysop@xxxxxxxxx or glen@xxxxxxxxx or see 
www.burma.net for details.

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