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The BurmaNet News December 27, 1997



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------     
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"     
----------------------------------------------------------     
 
The BurmaNet News: December 27, 1997        
Issue #900

HEADLINES:        
==========
BKK POST: SUU KYI TELLS OF HER ISOLATION
KNU: CENTRAL STANDING COMMITTEE 2ND MEETING STATEMENT
THE NATION: BURMA MAKES SMALL STEPS, BUT A MAJOR 
PHUCHATKAN: RANGOON PREPARES TO ATTACK WA REBELS IN 
ASIAN AGE: NEW RAILWAY LINKS IN BURMA
BKK POST: TFB CLOSING OFFICES IN VIETNAM AND BURMA
THE NATION: JUNTA WARNS OF BOGUS REPORTS
XINHUA: MYANMAR LEADER CALLS FOR PRIORITY TO MYANMAR-
RADIO MYANMAR:  LT. GENERAL TIN OO'S TALK TO OFFICIALS
BANGKOK POST: NEWS BRIEFS FROM THAILAND
ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (BMA)
ANNOUNCEMENT: REQUEST FOR HELP FROM CLINIC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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BKK POST: SUU KYI TELLS OF HER ISOLATION
December 24, 1997

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has never seen a
Rangoon shopping mall, and barely leaves her house, she said in
an interview published yesterday. 

"I hardly go out. I do all my work from the house," she told the
British daily The Guardian  in its second interview with the
National League for Democracy leader.        "They make it
impossible for me to leave Rangoon. I have never seen any of
these shopping malls." 
     
Suu Kyi also spoke of her father General Aung San, martyr of
Burma's independence struggle, and how successive military
governments have sought to diminish his role. 
     
"I suppose they want to play down the role of my father," she
said. "But they have not been able to do that entirely. They can
do anything they like to me but they can't touch my father."

She added she never thought she had to live up to her father's
example because "I never thought I could reach the  heights that he did." 

***************************************************************** 
 
KNU: CENTRAL STANDING COMMITTEE 2ND MEETING STATEMENT
December 26, 1997

OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS 
KAREN NATIONAL UNION, KAW THOO LEI

	         11th KNU Congress
Central Standing Committee 2nd Meeting Statement

1. The 2nd meeting of Central Standing Committee, the 11th KNU 
Congress, was held from 22-12-97 to 24-12-97, at a certain location 
in the base area of the Karen national resistance. Twenty eight 
central standing committee members, 8 candidate C.C. members and 4 
observers, led by President Saw Bo Mya and Vice President Saw Shwe 
Hsaing, attended the meeting.

2. At the meeting, a review was made regarding the domestic and 
international situation, the situation of the Karen national 
resistance and the talks between the KNU and SLORC. Then, future 
tasks in resonant with the policies and programs of the KNU 11th 
Congress and the current situation were discussed and unanimously 
decided upon.

3. In the analysis, conclusion was reached, with regard to the 
military dictatorship, that the international situation does not 
augur well for its continued existence for long. Domestically, the 
failure to resolve the political problems by political means has 
further worsened the political and economic situation daily and 
tension in the country has risen rapidly to a very dangerous level. 
The SLORC's name change to the State Peace and Development Council 
(SPDC) has not been accompanied by any change in policies, the SPDC 
military dictatorship is still waging its atrocious war against the 
KNU as well as the Karen people and continuing its oppression against 
the entire people, and it is still refusing to resolve political 
problems by political means.

4. Regarding the situation of Karen national resistance, conclusion 
was reached that it has arrived at a vital level and that the main 
reasons for the failure of talks between the KNU and SLORC military 
dictatorship (presently SPDC) were lack of intention on the part of 
the SLORC to address political problems by political means, 
escalation of its atrocious war against the KNU and the Karen people, 
and the abrogation of the talks unilaterally.

5. Additionally, the Central Standing Committee meeting solemnly and 
earnestly urges again:

(1) The entire Karen people to unitedly struggle on together with the 
KNU;
(2) The forces, at home and abroad, to struggle on with greater 
effort and steadfastness, so as to effect the resolution of political 
problems of Burma by political means; and 
(3) The SPDC to change its policies in conformity with its name, to 
immediately stop its atrocious war against the KNU and Karen people, 
and to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the KNU.

KNU information center

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

THE NATION: BURMA MAKES SMALL STEPS, BUT A MAJOR 
LEAP IS NEEDED
December 26, 1997

Year-end Review/ BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN

Despite the general support given by Asian leaders to Burma's military
regime, it will remain a thorn in their overall relations with Europe and
the United States in the foreseeable future. 

Unless there are positive and sufficient changes within Burma, differences
among Asean countries and their East Asian counterparts -- Japan, China and
South Korea -- will deepen and further dampen broader cooperation. 

Burma's application to join the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) early this month
put the Asean members of Asem in an awkward situation. At the Kuala Lumpur
summit recently when Burma's membership was discussed, Asean and its East
Asian counterparts failed to reach a consensus. 

There were sharp differences between them. While China strongly supported
Burma's bid, some Asean countries expressed reservations. Furthermore, quite
a few countries have applied to join Asem, including Australia, New Zealand,
India and Pakistan. Failing to reach a consensus, they agreed to impose a
two-year moratorium on Asian members. 

The ban, however, will not stop Burma from becoming the central issue in
Asia's ties with its major trading partners. Some Asean officials felt the
two-year membership freeze would be ample enough for the beleaguered country
to make domestic progress to improve its chance of joining Asem by the end
of the century when the grouping holds its third meeting in Seoul in 2000. 

Now that Burma has been a member of Asean for six months, the grouping and
international community are carefully examining the balance sheet. The
verdict -- the Burmese regime's record is not all that impressive. 

Since May, the junta continued to intimidate and jail its political
opponents. Hundreds of the opposition National League of Democracy have 
been arrested and many sentenced to lengthy prison terms. For instance, in
August, Cho Aung Than, Nge Ma Ma and Myint Swe were sentenced to 10 
years in jail. The speeches routinely given by Aung San Suu Kyi in front of 
her house were banned. Burmese universities have been closed for more than 
a year. 

That explains why the West continues to remain firm in its position against
the Burmese regime. Washington will this month renew its sanction banning 
US investment in Burma which has been in place since May because the regime 
in Rangoon has yet to show any sign of willingness to permit a return to
democratic and civilian government. The EU is continuing its current
sanctions against Burma. 

To be fair, there was only one event that had been widely credited by the
international community as being a sign of flexibility by the military
junta, now called the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) -- the
decision to allow the National League for Democracy to hold a party congress
last September to commemorate the founding of the party nine years ago. 

Suu Kyi has also given credit to the regime for allowing the congress to
take place. Since then, the SPDC has been signalling its willingness to start 
dialogues with some leaders of the NLD, without the attendance of Suu Kyi. 

In addition, both Asean and the UN have become more assertive, and dialogues
are currently now being established between them and Burma's rival parties.
The recent meeting between Foreign Minister Domingo Siazon and Suu Kyi --
the first contact between Asean and the opposition party leader after years
of Asean's recalcitrance -- was the first building bloc between her and
Asean. After all, her previous effort to garner Asean's support for
democratisation in Burma by writing directly to Asean leaders was in vain. 

In her meeting with Siazon, she reiterated that Burma needs political change
to bring about a government that is accountable and one which has the
support of the Burmese people. The Nobel peace laureate has also linked the
solution of the economic and political problems of Burma to the revival of
the Asean economy as a whole. 

SPDC leader Than Shwe has agreed to allow the UN rapporteur on Burma, 
Alvaro de Soto, to visit Burma next month after his meeting with UN Chief 
Kofi Annan in Kuala Lumpur on the side of Asean summit. The rapporteur, 
whose critical reports on the human rights situation in Burma has irked the
regime, will also have the opportunity to meet Suu Kyi. 

Now that the military junta has a new name and a new Cabinet line-up, which
has strengthened Khin Nyunt -- a key pro-Asean leader in the junta -- Asean,
the West and the UN are hoping that the SPDC will allow Suu Kyi to
participate in the dialogue in meaningful ways in the months, if not weeks,
to come. Recently, after years of non-stop propaganda against her, the SPDC
has identified Suu Kyi as a political force to be reckoned with. 

Rangoon-based diplomats have also taken note that some of the SPDC leaders
have begun to address Suu Kyi with the honorific "Daw", albeit spoken
quickly and softly. Such positive overtures have given some hope that a
process might be beginning that will lead to a broader dialogue with Suu Kyi
and the NLD and the ethnic minority leaders aiming at solving the crisis in
Burma. 

Furthermore, with Siazon breaking the ice, it is likely that in the future,
Asean foreign ministers will be meeting Suu Kyi as part of the pressure to
bring about dialogue between her and the ruling party and to widen the
dialogue between Asean and Suu Kyi. 

Soul-searching 

This will also entail a bit of soul-searching and a proactive role by
Thailand in engaging Burma both within the Asean and bilateral frameworks.
Indeed, the Democrat-led government under Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has
rare twin opportunities to review and sharpen his administration's policy
toward Burma and at the same time send a strong signal to the SPDC leaders
that Thai policy-makers are unified on the Burmese issue. 

The usual Rangoon tactic of divide and rule by playing the Thai military
against the Foreign Ministry and other concerned ministries and organisations, 
which has been previously exploited to the hilt, will no longer work. 

On top of that, Thailand has proved that it can lead Asean in constructive
ways now that it has a more effective and cleaner leader who has shown deep
commitments to the objectives of Asean. Chuan established a good rapport
with the Asian summiteers, who will render, if need be, support for the
country's broader policy to bring about genuine dialogue between the SPDC
and its rival political groups. 

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

PHUCHATKAN: RANGOON PREPARES TO ATTACK WA REBELS IN 
SHAN STATE 
December 18, 1997  (Thai language business newspaper)

A security source operating along the Thai-Burmese border has
disclosed that the Burmese Eastern Military Command Headquarters has
dispatched ten battalions to reinforce  government troops in the border
areas opposite Thaton village, Mae Ai District of Chiang Mai Province, in
preparation for a new offensive drive against the /United Wa State Army -
UWSA.

Citing radio communications monitored at the Thai border, the source
said that the Wa Southern Military Command is geared up to cope with the
anticipated suppression operation and is planning to evacuate Wa people
from the vicinity of Samsao Mountain, Mong Yon, and Mong Sat townships to
take refuge inside Thai territory at Thaton village.

The source believed that the new reinforcement was made to prevent the
Wa troops from helping Shan rebels now fighting government troops in the
central and southern regions of Shan State.  Meanwhile, the UWSA fears that
government troops will launch a new suppression drive against them in
retaliation for their refusal to comply with the government's ultimatum for
them to leave the area before the end of this year.

The UWSA is under the command of Pao Yosang and has some 25,000
troops.  It is the biggest heroin and amphetamine producer in Burma.   Five
thousand Wa soldiers have been stationed in the southern part of Shan State
at Doi Samsao Mountain, Mong Yon, and Mong Sat townships since 1998
following the signing of a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese.

The UWSA used to help the Burmese government fight the Mong Tai Army
of Khun Sa.   However, after Khun Sa gave himself up to the Burmese
Government on 6 January 1996, the UWSA attempted to expand their control to
cover the southern part of Shan State.  The Burmese Government later
demanded the Wa troops be pulled back to the north.  The UWSA refused to
comply with the ultimatum and turned to join hands with Shan rebels in the
central and northern parts of Shan State.

Fierce fighting between Shan rebels and Rangoon government troops has
dragged on since last month and the Burmese Government is worried that the
Wa will help the Shan rebels.

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

ASIAN AGE: NEW RAILWAY LINKS IN BURMA
December 27, 1997

[BurmaNet editor's note: According to numerous eye witnesses, including
people who had to do work on the railway, plenty of forced civilian labor was 
used on the railway to Taunggyi.  On some road and railway projects, soldiers
are now being used to do some of the work, but the bulk of the work continues
to be done by unpaid civilians.]

Bangkok: The Burmese military government has opened a stretch of railway
lines linking Rangoon to the Shan state capital of Taunggyi for the
first time, reports said on Friday.

The 33.2-Km section from the central Burmese City of Shwenyaung to
Taunggyi was opened on Wednesday by rail transport minister Pan Aung,
official newspaper in Rangoon reported. The reports said soldiers built
the railway, which was expected to boost trade and communication between
Rangoon and Shan State in the northeast of the country. More than 1,200
Kms of railway have been built in Burma since June 1996, bringing the
country total rail network to 5,452 Kms. (AFP)

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

BKK POST: TFB CLOSING OFFICES IN VIETNAM AND BURMA
December 26, 1997
by Nussara Sawatsawang

Little Thai business in either country

Thai Farmers Bank will close its representative offices in Burma and Vietnam
from Tuesday to save money.

The number of Thais wanting to do business in both nations has dropped
because of the economic slump in Thailand, the bank said in a statement.

Representative offices usually generate no income because they are not
allowed to offer full banking businesses. Their role is to advise customers
in the host countries.

Opening an office in Burma alone was estimated to cost US$3,000-4,000 a
month (140,000-190,000 baht), in addition to salaries of Thai and local
staff. Office rent is usually paid in US, dollars.

Industry sources in Rangoon said the bank's representative office had not
functioned since early last week. Thai Military Bank and Siam City Bank were
also reducing the number of staff at their offices by recalling Thai employees.

Krung Thai Bank, the Bank of Ayudhaya and Bangkok Bank also have
representative offices in Rangoon.

Thai banks were uncertain when the Burmese government would allow foreign
banks to offer full banking services, the sources said.

It was previously understood that after three years in the country,
representative offices could be upgraded into full branches handling
commercial banking.

In 1993, Thai Military Bank became the first Thai bank to open a
representative office in Rangoon, followed by Thai Farmers Bank in 1994.

In 1995, in an effort to boost local banks' competitiveness, the Burmese
government came up with a new policy, saying it would consider granting full
branch licences to banks forming joint ventures with Burmese banks.

But Rangoon called off the plan last August because "it was unclear what
Burma would gain from allowing joint-venture banks to operate," said a
source who is close to the Burmese authorities.

Another source said the terms set by the Burmese Central Bank, which
required $10 million capital for a joint bank with foreigners holding a 35%
stake, was not practical.

Burmese banks were seen to be gaining an advantage by using the official
exchange rate of $1 to six kyats, compared with the black-market rate of
about 400 to the dollar, the source said.

Turning to the trade and investment potential in Burma and Vietnam, Thai
Farmers Bank said it would consider applying for full branch licences in the
future, "when both nations have a policy to allow commercial banks to
operate as full branches".

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

THE NATION: JUNTA WARNS OF BOGUS REPORTS
December 26, 1997
AP

BURMA'S military government warned news agencies yesterday that fake
government press releases were circulating on the Internet and in the United
States.

The military government, which after a brief period of openness now rarely
lets journalists into the country, sends "Information Sheet" to news
agencies over the Internet.

The latest government press release warned journalists to "beware of
credibility gap-induced information sheets."

The government said the phoney press releases were also being sent through
the mail in the United States, although it did not say to whom.

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

XINHUA: MYANMAR LEADER CALLS FOR PRIORITY TO MYANMAR-
SINGAPORE
December 24, 1997

YANGON (Dec. 24) XINHUA - Myanmar leader Khin Nyunt urged the government
ministries to give priority to implementing projects arranged by the Singapore
government. 

The projects, laid down in the last two meetings of the Myanmar-Singapore Joint
Ministerial Working Committee (JMWC), include those of tourism, agriculture,
livestock and fisheries and human resources development. 

Speaking at a coordination meeting here Tuesday, Khin Nyunt, first secretary 
of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council, pointed out that 
Singapore is the second largest investor in the country, the official newspaper 
The New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday. 

 The JMWC was formed following a visit to Singapore by Myanmar top leader 
Than Shwe in June 1995. 

According to official statistics, Singapore's investment in Myanmar amounted 
to 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in 64 permitted projects covering hotels and
tourism, 
industrial zones and container terminals as well as other industrial sectors.

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

RADIO MYANMAR:  LT. GENERAL TIN OO'S TALK TO OFFICIALS
December 17, 1997  (abridged)

Lt. Gen. Tin Oo, secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development
Council [SPDC],  met with senior departmental officials from ministries and
staff organizations at 1300 today in the conference hall on the first floor
of the Office of the  Yangon [Rangoon] City Development Committee. 
Addressing the meeting, Secretary-2 Lt. Gen. Tin Oo said the meeting was
called to explain the situation in the country to departmental authorities
who are responsible for the country's political, economic, and social
affairs following the reorganization of the SPDC government.

Lt. Gen. Tin Oo recalled the assumption of state power by the State
Law and Order Restoration Council in 1988 and subsequent efforts to restart
the administrative machinery which had been at a standstill.  He cited
efforts to wipe out anarchic groups and to reestablish law and order and
local peace and tranquillity and to ease the people's need for food,
clothing, and shelter.    He explained how the four- and five-year plans
were drawn up and implemented once the law and order situation improved 
and said great success had been achieved in the economic sector.  He said 
the departmental authorities are aware that there have been hitches and
problems in changing from a centrally controlled economy to a
market-oriented economy.  However, he said, compared to other countries our
problems are not as severe.

Lt. Gen. Tin Oo said just as efforts were made in the administrative
and economic sectors, so efforts were also made to build up mutual trust
and respect among the national people.  As a result, national
reconsolidation has reached the highest level since independence. There is
unprecedented peace in the border regions where the fraternal local people
have endured years of armed insurgency and the government has been spending
billions of kyats to implement special projects for these regions.

Furthermore, he added, the government convened the National Convention to
draw up a new state constitution with the participation of people,
including sincere representatives from political parties, since 1993. 

He said the Defense Services will strive to further improve the political,
economic, and social conditions in the country.  The SLORC has been
dissolved and the SPDC formed to meet the needs of the country.

Lt. Gen. Tin Oo explained that changes in the national administration
were made not because of difficulties confronting the government, but to
enable the government to effectively and efficiently serve the interests of
the nation and the people.  The changes were made to reflect the extent of
duties to be discharged and in response to new circumstances and times.  He
said the policies laid down by the government are practical in serving the
interests of the national people and are in accordance with the concrete
conditions of the country.  There is no plan to change policy in essence
and the existing policy will be continued to be practised.  He said in
shouldering the duties assigned by history such as at present, the Defense
Services will take particular care to avoid actions detrimental to the
interests of the nation and the people and will not allow such actions to
stain the image of the Defense Services in the country's history.  He said
it had been reiterated many times that we assumed state duties in order to
serve the interests of the nation and the people, and not for self-interest
and self-gratification.

He said it is human nature to have eagerness at the beginning of an
undertaking, but as time passes, lassitude sets in and duties are performed
perfunctorily.  Care should be taken to correct this.  Some cannot stand
the demands of duty in their old age.   He said, if  weakness and defects
are not addressed, there would be more mistakes, misconduct, and
recalcitrance.  The departmental authorities are fully aware of this from
their experience.  He said that was why the SPDC, as in other countries,
made appropriate changes to portfolios.

He said SPDC Chairman Sr. Gen. Than Shwe had laid down the following
guidelines:
Work should not be completed only when a minister responsible
goes to the grass roots level.  Public service personnel at various levels
should carry out necessary supervision; they should not be sitting at their
desks and issuing instructions.  They should go to the grass roots level
and carry out their  work efficiently and effectively and meet the
requirements and give guidance.  -- Work cannot be performed in a normal
manner as this is the revolutionary period [taw hlan yay sin hnwe nay de
karla] and a time of national construction.   It is not enough to love the
country with mere words, but we must show our love through work;
We cannot work step by step to overcome backwardness in order to catch
up with other countries, but must leap forward.

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

BANGKOK POST: NEWS BRIEFS FROM THAILAND
December 24-5, 1997  (abridged)

IMPORT BAN HITS LOCAL TRADERS  HARD
(Bkk Post, December 24, 1997)

Burma's month-long suspension of imports has caused a loss of
about 500 million baht to Thai business  people in Mae Sot and
may lead to a boom in goods smuggling in border areas.

Tak Chamber of Commerce chairman Panithi Tangphati said yesterday
Burmese traders were smuggling  Thai goods across the border in
response to a great demand for them in Burma since Rangoon
ordered the suspension of imports late last month. "Since Burma
suspended cross-border trading, merchants in Mae Sot  have lost
more-than 400 million baht  in total income. They used to get
more than 16 million baht per day from  exports. But now they
earn only tens  of thousands of baht selling consumer ; goods and
have to spend money hiring ; workers to look after their goods '
stranded in border areas," he said.

Burmese authorities in Myawaddy had yet to inform his agency when
they would allow imports to resume but Kawthaung authorities said
Thai merchants would be required to pay tariffs to Burma in US
dollars, he added.

According to a Thai trader, many Burmese merchants had been
smuggling Thai goods worth hundreds of millions of baht into
Burma through border areas in Kanchanaburi's  Sangkhla Buri
district and Mae Hong Son's Mae Sariang district since last week.
-----------------------------

FARMERS TO SUPPORT PIPELINE OPPONENTS
(Bkk Post, December 24, 1997)

Farmers are to boycott Petroleum Authority of Thailand products
in support of the campaign to keep the Yadana gas pipeline out of
fertile forest.

The Northern Farmers Network, which covers seven provinces,
announced the boycott as more activist groups pledged to join the
lie-in in a fertile forest in Kanchanaburi.

In the announcement, the network said it would give food to-
protesters taking action to "prevent the destruction of natural
resources". Construction of the 260km natural gas pipeline would
destroy the country's "last tract of western forest and infringe
on the rights of communities".

The government was being insincere in the conflict, it said, and
Industry Minister Somsak Thepsuthin had favoured multinational
companies in giving the project the go-ahead.

The announced support came as the Forum of the Poor said it was
joining the protest. Protesters occupying three areas of a 6km
stretch of pristine forest have said they are ready to lie in
front of bulldozers to prevent them razing trees.

Confrontation is not yet imminent because work is being done in
Sai Yok national park which is part of the 50km section through
forested areas. Pipeline laying  will  reach the protest area
next month.

PTT's public relations director Songkiart Tansamrit yesterday
pleaded for the protesters to take the national interest into
account. Confrontation would deter foreign investment needed to
restore the economy, he said.

Mr Songkiart said the PTT has no plan to talk to the protesters
now although it is willing to do so. For the time being,
provincial officials and those from related agencies will try to
persuade the opponents to drop their protest.
---------------------------------------

ALIENS MAY BE FORCED TO GIVE UP JOBS
(Bkk Post, December 24, 1997)

Registered alien labourers in this northern province may be
forced to give up their  jobs to make way for Thai workers made
redundant by the economic recession. 

Somchai Rattanachai, head of the provincial employment agency,
agrees with the Labour Ministry's initiative to push them back to
their countries of origin to make room for jobless Thais.

Alien workers who entered the country illegally were pardoned by
the Banharn government in early 1996 and permitted to register
for work in designated border provinces.

The recruitment of alien workers was intended to alleviate a
labour shortage. But the economic downturn is forcing the
authorities to repatriate them so as to secure the labour market
for Thai workers.

Vithit Laothamthat, chairman of the Chiang Rai Industry Council,
said repatriating the registered alien workers was easier said
than done, adding this would only leave an employment vacuum as
most Thai workers were likely to refuse the jobs.
-------------------------------

'NOT NSC POLICY' TO EJECT KARENS
(Bkk Post, December 25, 1997)

The National Security Council has no policy to push Karen refugees back into
Burma, its deputy secretary-general, Khachadpai Burusapatana, said yesterday.

Mr Khachadpai said the NSC would gather them in large camps to make it easy
for authorities to prevent them from getting into illegal activities and to
protect them from Burmese troops and renegade Karens.

The Karens from the Ban Huay Kaloke camp in Mae Sot district and the Huay
Mae Bong camp in Mae Ramat district of Tak might be moved to the Ban Mae La
camp in Tha Song Yang district which now houses some 20,000 refugees, he
added. The two camps were torched by the pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen
Buddhist Army in January.

The NSC was also planning to place Karens living in the Salween forest and
Mae Sariang and Sop Moei districts of Mae Hong Son under the Third Army's
jurisdiction to suppress illegal logging.

However, these refugees would not be allowed to live in dense forest areas
or communities and must follow the regulations of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees to ensure safety for Thais, Mr Khachadpai said.

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (BMA)
December 25, 1997

Dear Fellow Medical Professionals,

It was decided during the BMA Executive Committee meeting, that with the
situation changes in the liberated area. BMA will have to be restructured
again to more realistically and effectively. The time has come for all the
medical professionals (Doctors, Medics, Health workers, Lab technicians
etc), from different Ethnic groups and Democratic Forces, both within the
liberated area and abroad, to join hands and work in harmony, to realize the
noble BMA objectives. BMA was formed soon after the National Health
Convention, convened in Manerplaw, by the National Coalition Government of
the Union of Burma, in June 1991.

The medical professionals from different Ethnic groups and Democratic 
Forces are warmly invited to become members of the BMA to enhance the 
work of BMA, for the sake of our people.

Applications are available at Dr. Cynthia Maung's place, the Vice-Chairman 
of BMA.

For further information, please directly communicate with the
under-mentioned contact persons and address.

- Executive Committee, BMA

Contact persons and address:

Dr. Cynthia Maung (Vice-Chairman) E-mail. win7@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
K-Myo Minn Aung (Information)	E-mail. win5@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

BMA
P.O Box 21,
Mae Sot, Tak 63110, THAILAND.

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: REQUEST FOR HELP FROM THE MAE TAO 
CLINIC (DR. CYNTHIA'S) IN MAE SOT, THAILAND
December 24, 1997  (abridged)

This holiday season, please consider making a donation to assist Burmese
refugees in Thailand.

Even $2.00 - $5.00 will help as you can see from what some of the items they 
need cost.  Checks can be sent to the following account, designated for the 
Mae Tao Clinic:

Father Manat Supalak
Krung Thai Bank Ltd
Mae Sot
604-1-22304-2

Those wanting to make a tax-exempt contribution can send checks to the 
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Attn:  Shalini Nataraj, 130 
Prospect St., Cambridge, MA 02139, again designating it for the Mae Tao 
Clinic, Burma program.

For further information, contact Shalini Nataraj directly at:
snataraj@xxxxxxxx
__________________________________________________________________

The Mae Tao clinic was established by Dr. Cynthia Maung in 1989 due to the
large refugee population which arrived in 1988-9 and a result of military
hostilities in Burma. The clinic originally saw about 2000 people in the
first year of its operation . It is expected that by the end of 1997 we will 
have treated approximately 20,000 people many of whom are migrant workers.
The clinic has an out-patient facility, in-patient facility, ANC , family
planning services, immunization clinic, and a newly commenced nutrition 
project.

The clinic trains approximately 50 new junior medics per year who then 
go to  work both in Burma and along the Thai Burma border . As well there 
is ongoing senior medic training. The clinic increasingly acts as a resource 
centre for the medics along the Thai Burma border.

There is also a newly established sewing training to provide displaced
Burmese people with skills to become self sufficient.

With the increasing hostilities in Burma we are seeing many people arriving
at the clinic in a destitute state. They are sick, weary, malnourished and
carry only meagre belongings. When we have, we give, but this seems to be a
never ending and escalating need.

SHOES   Both patients and nonpatients come to the clinic without any form of
footwear. This area is endemic for hookworm which enters the body via the
feet and causes anaemia. 25B ($0.75) for children 45B ($1.25) for adults

CLOTHES  We are seeing more and more new refugees who have fled from 
a burning village, forced relocation, or some other atrocity and will come to 
the clinic in great need of clothes . Sarong 70B ($1.95) Shirt 50B ($1.40) 
Underwear 80B ($2.25) Trousers 60B ($1.70) -shirt 100B ($2.80) childrens 
clothes we will make in the clinic as part of the sewing project. One kilo of 
cotton is 200B ($5.60) and we can make many little items. Warmer clothing 
is needed now is more expensive. Our request for clothes is primarily for the
children and the pregnant women.

BABY PACKAGES  These consist of a sarong, shirts for the mother , 10
nappies , soap and five changes of clothing for the baby. The packages
are needed for babies who are born to families that are new refugees or are
extremely poor .         450B  ($12.50)

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS-40    The clinic and the houses where the medics 
live are made of wood which is highly flammable .

SOAP, TOOTHBRUSHES, TOOTHPASTE   Many people are arriving 
from Burma without any basic essentials.  We would also give these to the 
people in the camp who are very poor .         
Soap 4B/ Toothbrush 9B Toothpaste 5B  (Total $0.50)

MATS, MOSQUITO NETS, BLANKETS  It is essential for everyone living 
here to own a mosquito net and use it appropriately. Malaria is endemic here 
and  highly resistant to many drugs. 

It is becoming increasingly difficult to treat people with malaria and we are
seeing a large number coming from Burma who are very sick. They are
requiring blood transfusions and extra feeding due to the malnutrition. We
are seeing people who are being carried for days to get to the clinic. They
have come from as far as 500kms away.The cold season has arrived here and
the temperature is very low at night. The children need more blankets.   
Mats 100B ($2,80) Large mosquito net 200Baht ($5.60) blanket
80B ($2.25) for a single.

The Mae Tao Clinic would like to thank you for your kindness and
consideration and we wish you a very Happy and Holy Christmas.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS
December 2, 1997
Press release by INDIA-MYANMAR (BURMA) FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY

Aung San Suu Kyi International Child Literature Award

Being highly impressed with the life values of the great National leader
of Burma and taking the importance and similarities in
life-values and cultural relations between India and Burma, as a focal
point, India Myanmar Friendship Society has decided to set up " Aung San
Suu Kyi International Child literature award ". As this year is the year
of Golden jubilee of freedom of Burma, the decision of India- Myanmar
friendship society is replete with the feeling of world friendship,
exchange of cultural values, strengthening of democracy and human
welfare. Life of Aung San Suu Kyi is a source of inspiration not only
for Burma but also for entire world. Literature does not represent only
a community, society or a nation, but is a direct reflection of cultural
heritage. Child literature serve as a foundation for the life values.
Child literature develops healthy mental attitudes, which in turn are
the fundamental assets for any developed nation. Child literature is
also important because it creates and interest in these building talents
and attracts and involves them with literature. Thus Child Literature
serves as the base for any literature.

Rules and Regulations:

- Child literature may be of any region or country but it must have been
published in Hindi or English.
- Literature written in other languages must have the basic Hindi of
English translation with it.
- Entries for awards should be sent at the office address, last date for
the entries is 12th February 1998.
- It is necessary to send four copies of book published within 3 years
or before the year of award.
- Every year one child author will be awarded Rs 25000/00, a shawl and
certificate of appreciation.
- The decision of the panel of judges will be final.
- One author can send only one entry every year.
- Every published book must have with it a certificate of originality.
- The entry for consideration may originally be in any language but
should have been published in Hindi or English.
- For entries invited for Child Literature Award at International level
and for all decision, the head-office will remain in Delhi (India) only.

- The selected author will be paid the travel expenses as per the rule.
- The decision taken after the receipt of the entries will be intimated
to the winning author by post.
- Award will be presented every year on 19th June, the birthday of Aung
San Suu Kyi.
- Change in rules and regulations are possible according to the circumstances.
- Entries can also be sent to

General Secretary
Indo- Myanmar (Burma) Friendship Society
C/O Oxford Senior Secondary School
E- Block, Vikaspuri,
New Delhi 110018, India.

Chander Prakash Prabhakar,  (Maw Thi Ri)
India Myanmar (Burma) Friendship Society
New Delhi (INDIA)

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