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The BurmaNet News: December 15, 199



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------     
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"     
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The BurmaNet News: December 15, 1997        
Issue #891

HEADLINES:        
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BKK POST: BURMA TO LEAVE POLITICS BEHIND
BKK POST: JUNTA SAYS SUU KYI'S TOP AIDE HAS QUIT
BKK POST: CHUAN HAS CHANCE TO VISIT SUU KYI
BKK POST: GAS PIPELINE FOES TO STAGE LIE-IN PROTEST
SITUATION UPDATE: REFUGEES ARRIVING AT KANCHANABURI, RATCHABURI AND
PROVINCES TO THE SOUTH
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BKK POST: BURMA TO LEAVE POLITICS BEHIND

December 13, 1997

MATTHEW PENNINGTON

BANGKOK, AFP

THERE IS ONE BENEFICIARY OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS GRIPPING THE REGION: BURMA'S
POOR POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD IS UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE TOO MUCH
ATTENTION AT THE ASEAN SUMMIT.

Burma will stride into the Asean summit starting tomorrow on the heels of
the military regime's biggest  shake-up in nine years, confident it will not
be pressed on political reform, say officials.

Regional economic turmoil is expected to dominate the agenda of the 30th
anniversary summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Dec 14-16, with
controversy over Burma's membership of Asean on the backburner.

Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling junta, is attending Burma's
first informal summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
leaders since its much criticised entry as a full member in July.

Western nations, notably the United States and the European Union, opposed
Burma's admittance into As an, preferring international isolation of the
junta because of its poor human rights record.

While other Asean states were likely to keep up the effort to nudge Burma
towards acceptance of its democratic opposition, Rangoon officials said
domestic politics was not an important issue at the annual gathering.

"The Asean leaders ate well aware of the changes that took place in Myanmar
(Burma,) recently... and are not in the habit of interfering in other
countries' internal affairs," said a Rangoon spokesman.

"They may give friendly advice and suggestions but they do it in the As an
way," he said.

The government spokesman told AFP that Asean leaders already understood the
"actual situation" regarding the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi and
"would not bring this issue up".

The military regime has refused to recognise the pro-democracy leader's
sweeping election victory in 1990 and continues to exert heavy pressure on
members of her National League for Democracy (NLD).

Gen Than Shwe, who rarely journeys abroad, leads a 50 -strong heavyweight
delegation to Kuala Lumpur. He attended last year's informal summit in
Jakarta, when Burma was still had only observer status in Asean.

He will be accompanied by the junta's first secretary Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, top
ministers and at least two newcomers to the ruling junta, said diplomats.

The recent changes in the regime, with the formation of a new junta called
the State Peace and Development Council in November, have not yet signalled
any significant change in political policy.

This week, the official press announced that seven prominent NLD members,
including elected MPs, had been sentenced to six-year jail terms after
trying to organise unauthorised political meetings.

Burma's military authorities are holding at least 1,200 political prisoners,
according to a recent Amnesty International report, which said there has
been no marked change in the junta's -attitude since it entered Asean.

But Asean, which has stuck by a policy of diplomatic and economic
engagement to promote reforms in Burma, will be looking for signs that the
junta is easing up on Ms Suu Kyi, said analysts.

Burma's membership risks souring ties with the United States and
particularly the EU at a time of regional economic strife, when greater
cooperation with the West is at a premium.

Last month, a joint Asean-EU cooperation meeting in Bangkok was called off
because of dispute over Burma's participation throwing in doubt next year's
Asia-Europe summit to be held next year in London.

The Burmese regime could earn some credit from its Asean partners for the
revamp of the junta, which was primarily geared at improving its image and
cracking down on corruption, said analysts.

A number of ageing generals with a reputation for graft were ousted in the
shake-up, also viewed as a bid to consolidate the power base of the junta's
leadership.

The "housecleaning" of the regime would be seen as a positive step, which
would help improve the investment climate. said a Burmese analyst. 

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

BKK POST: JUNTA SAYS SUU KYI'S TOP AIDE HAS QUIT

December 13, 1997

REUTERS, AFP

Burma's military government said yesterday that Kyi Maung, one of Aung San
Suu Kyi's top aides, had resigned from the National League for Democracy
(NLD), although a senior party official denied the claim.

A statement issued by the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
said Kyi Maung had stepped down from his role as vice chairman of the NLD,
Burma's main opposition.

"It is learnt that the Vice-Chairman of the National League for Democracy, U
[Mr] Kyi Maung, has stopped going to the residence of Daw [Ms] Suu Kyi and
the party headquarters and has not attended the central executive committee
meetings," the statement said.

It cited NLD officials as saying Kyi Maung had a conflict of opinion with
the Nobel Peace laureate and disagreed with Suu Kyi's "confrontational
stance against the government".

But Tin Oo, co-founder and vice chairman of the NLD,- told Reuters that Kyi
Maung had not resigned and had only slowed down his party activities. 
     
"This is the first I've heard of this," Tin Oo said in a telephone interview
when asked to comment on the government statement.

In Rangoon, seven members of the NLD have been sentenced to six years in
jail, the official media reported on Wednesday.

The sentences were handed down on by a special court at the central Insein
jail after they were convicted of "disturbing community peace" under a 1950
emergency act, an official information sheet said.

Among the seven is Dr Than Nyein, brother-in-law of the first secretary of
the ruling State Peace and Development Council.

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

BKK POST: CHUAN HAS CHANCE TO VISIT SUU KYI

December 13, 1997

Letter to the Editor

Now that arrangements are being made for Chuan Leekpai to visit Burma, we
would humbly advise him Excellency to drop in at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
residence just to say hello and be the first head of government to meet the
Burmese Nobel Peace laureate.

Now that Thailand will be embarking on a genuine constructive engagement
policy by emphasising democracy and human rights in its policy towards
Burma, this gesture will help restore to many Burmese the good image of the
Thais and erase the memory of Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who warmly shook
the bloody hands of the Burmese generals.

Kanbawza Win
Manitoba, Canada

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

BKK POST: GAS PIPELINE FOES TO STAGE LIE-IN PROTEST

December 13, 1997

CHAKRIT RIDMONTRI

AIM TO PROTECT 3 SITES WITH DENSE FOREST

Conservationists will tomorrow lie-in front of construction equipment in a
last-ditch attempt to stop pipe-laying work in lush forest in Kanchanaburi.

Environmental groups announced the protest yesterday outside the
headquarters of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, the agency in charge of
the pipeline's construction

"About 200 members will leave tomorrow morning to safeguard three sites
which are covered with dense forest," said the leader of the groups, Phinan
Chotirosseranee.

The areas are based at Thong Pha Phum district's Huey Pak Khok, Huey Kha
Yeng and I-tong villages, which are classified as first and second class
watershed forests and national parkland.

By law, development projects cannot be carried out in such areas but the
PTT was given the go-ahead by the cabinet of former premier Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh in October.

As a result, the PTT began laying the pipeline in the 50-km forest section
last month. It immediately angered those groups which insisted that the
pipeline must not pass through the forests.

"We will never allow the giant snake to slide through our paradise," said a
street performer from the Village School for Children, in Kanchanaburi.

The pupils joined yesterday's protest by performing a play about the "giant
snake". In the play the PTT was referred to as Godzilla and was blamed for
bringing the snake into the province. The beast was based on PTT's
television advertisement. PTT officials chose to ignore the play.

Somphongse Tantisuvanichkul, the Yadana gas pipeline project director,
warned that the groups' activities in the forests would be illegal because
only the PTT was authorised to approach the areas.

"They will violate the National Park Act if they enter the area without
approval from the Forestry Department," said Mr Somphongse, the only senior
official that came ,out from the office to observe the protest.

He blamed the groups for pushing up the cost of the project and delaying its
completion date, set for the middle of next year.

The cost of the project, earlier estimated at 16.9 billion baht, has risen
by 10 percent due to-the baht's depreciation and the rising cost of using
construction equipment for laying the pipe on steep mountainsides and in the
forests, he said. 

Conservation group leaders, including democracy advocate Phibhop Dhongchai,
have also been talking to PM's Office Minister Supatra Masdit. They
suggested the pipeline be rerouted.

Mrs Supatra is to forward the groups' suggestions to the PTT.

The project has been at the centre of controversy since last year when the
PTT revealed the plan to buy Burmese gas for  30 years.

Initially, the protesters demanded the 260-km pipeline be scrapped but later
asked for it to be rerouted to run alongside the road from Thong Pha Phum
district to I-tong village.

The pipeline will carry gas from Burma's Yadana and Yetagun fields
connecting with the Thai side at I tong village. It will then run to a gas
power plant in Ratchaburi.

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

SITUATION UPDATE: REFUGEES ARRIVING AT KANCHANABURI, RATCHABURI AND
PROVINCES TO THE SOUTH

Date: 13.12.97

Number in square brackets e.g. (70) refer to villagers marked on the large
scale map made available to selected receivers of this update.


KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Ban Don Yang.

The population of this camp near to Sangklaburi is 1432. Despite hopes
raised last month concerning Ministry of Interior's (MOI) assumption of its
role in administering the camps, it now seems that there is still no proper
authorisation for building of schools [see notes below - Htam Hin]. The camp
is still closed to new arrivals.

Htee Wah Doh

There are now around 3250 internally displaced persons (IDPS) stuck at this
remote place between the Mon cease-fire area and the Burma army. It remains
a very sensitive issue for the Mon who are being accused by the Burmese
authorities of harbouring Karen National Union (KNU) officials within their
cease-fire area. There have been rumours of impending attack by Burma army
forces based in the hills surrounding the site.

In mid-November about 300 persons from Htee Wah Doh fled to the Thai border
seeking safety in Thailand. They were trucked back to the borderline and
told to go back to Burma by the Thai authorities. News of this refoulement
reached the refugees in nearby Don Yang camp, who then feared some
repatriation process was going on.

IDPs at the borderline

1. The 'Te Lah Koo' sect referred to in the last update [17.11.97], are now
assumed to be
mostly back on the Burma-side of the border near Umphang. Access is very
difficult to these people and it is not clear how they can get medical care
or other assistance. Much of this area of the border, on the Burma-side,
controlled by the DKBA. The Te Lah Koo have traditionally shunned alliances
with any political grouping.

2. The IDPs grouped near the border at Nya Pla Kee, north of the Thai
village of Bongti, are still on the Burma-side of the border and unable to
come to the Thai-side to receive assistance. Their condition seems to have
been stable over the last month.

3. On November 4, 53 Karen from the border villages of Huay Nanm Kao [Karen
call Htee Wah], and Pu Nam Rawn, in the vicinity of Kanchanaburi, were
summarily transferred by military bus to Sangklaburi and deported to Htee
Wah Doh [see above]. These people were mostly villagers from Amla, on the
Tenasserim river, who had stayed outside the camp at Htam Hin and who had
found daily labour in the border area.

A confused two days saw them tricked first to Htam Hin, where they were
refused access by the 29th Regiment (Ratchaburi) - despite the fact that
they were being sent to the camp by the 9th Regiment (Kanchanaburi). The
group includes 26 children, Following this round-up, other Karen who had
eluded being sent on the bus to Sangklaburi, were tracked down and arrested.
They are now in Kanchanaburi police station facing possible deportation.

RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Tham Hin

The population is now 7690. Despite the news revealed in the last update
concerning the
approval of schools for the camp by the MOI, it now seems that the military
of the 9th Division still will not give their approval, Hence, without this
approval the school students in Htam Hin will again be denied access to
educational facilities available to all other refugee camps outside of the
Kanchanaburi /Ratchaburi area.

Without this formal approval it is noe certain whether or not the NGOs will
go ahead with their plan to pay small allowances to the teachers.

Similar confusion surrounds the permission to supply thatch for roofing, It
was thought last month that the MOI had approved such a move- It now seems
that the 9th Division military authorities have squashed that move too,
Recently the camp committee chairman was informed by the military at the
site that refugees had no permission to repair shelters starting to fall
down. [No new building materials will. be allowed on site for such a purpose]

IDPs at the borderline

The number of new arrivals at the old Bo Wi site is now over 600. They are
mostly from the villages of Maw Ma Tru [20), Ka Taw Ni [19] and Paw Taw [14]
- all situated on the Paw Klo river [Burmese name- Banchaung river]. The new
arrivals all tell a tale of systematic destruction of food stocks by the
Burma army and of having been told they had to relocate to the village of
Paw Taw, now a major army camp, Residents of all villages in the area are
forced to work. building the new road from Paw Taw to Hgaw Htee [21], (one
person per house per month. One work cycle is one month period ). Harvested
rice had to be handed to the army at Paw Taw, who then ration the grain back
to the villagers.

The arrivals interviewed told of a harrowing journey to reach the border -
they had
walked 15-20 days to complete a walk which normally would take 3-4 days. On
arrival
at the border they were totally exhausted and some had to be, picked up by
the military and trucked down to the site at Bo Wi. The military authorities
are to be praised for their humane attitude shown towards these new
arrivals, It is hoped that within the month of December they will all be
moved into the camp at Htam Hin where they can be better
cared for.

New arrivals at Bo Wi stated that, if another opportunity exists for escape,
all the residents of the Paw Klo area will run to the border - they estimate
come 1000 persons
could arrive.

PRACRUAB KHIRT KHAN PROVINCE

Huay Satu

The population remains unchanged at 928. The site on the Burma-side of the
border is feeling slightly more uneasy ac, Burma army troop movements come
closer to Ler Ker [70]. It is not clear whether they will be allowed to
cross and seek safety if the area is threatened any more by fighting. Even
if they cross to Thailand, the site is very remote and difficult to serve by
NG0s, especially in the rainy season.

Medical assistance has now been sent to the area through a private donation,
Medicines, will last until about end January- It is hoped that further
private sources of medicines will be found before. then. A qualified health
worker has been posted here to assist this group of people denied NGO care.


CHUMPIION PROVINCE

NO change

About 200 of the Mon repatriated to Burma from their site at Chaung Chi in
November
had come back into Thailand recently. Many were arrested by the Thai
authorities and
deported to Halockani, near Sangklaburi.
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