[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
The BurmaNet News January 6, 1998
- Subject: The BurmaNet News January 6, 1998
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 18:36:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: January 6, 1998
Issue #905
HEADLINES:
==========
DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR: BURMESE OPPOSITION OPPOSES
SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET NO A.0271(I/L)
BKK POST: SUU KYI BATTLES ON
LA TIMES: SEATTLE TIMES REPORTER PAULA BOCK WINS HUMAN
KNPP: KARENNI SITUATION REPORT
DVB: DISPATCH FROM AUNG KHAING SAN AT CHINA-BURMA BORDER
SPDC: SPECIAL PRESS BRIEFING HELD
INDEPENDENT COMMENT: RE- SPECIAL PRESS BRIEFING HELD
BKK POST: GAS PIPELINE WILL STRESS CLOSER INTERDEPENDENCE
NEWS BRIEFS ON REFUGEES, MIGRANT WORKERS IN THAILAND
SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET NO A0267(I)
---------------------------------------------------------
DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR: BURMESE OPPOSITION OPPOSES
LIMITS ON INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION
December 30, 1997
Rangoon
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD)
Tuesday criticized a Burmese government order limiting the size of the party's
planned celebration of Burma's Golden Jubilee Independence Day on January 4.
An NLD press release said the Rangoon Division Peace and Development Council
had ordered that the opposition celebration of the event at Suu Kyi's Rangoon
home be limited to no more than 300 people.
NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe sent a letter to the council on Tuesday stating
that the limitation on the number of people celebrating "the Golden Jubilee is
absolutely inappropriate and out of tune with the time of joy and merriment".
The letter suggested the ruling council should cooperate with the NLD in
organizing a festive celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Burma's
independence from Great Britain.
*****************************************
SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET NO A.0271(I/L)
January 4, 1998
>From OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx
(1) List of State-Owned Economic Enterprises to Be Privatised
A total of (42) State-owned factories under the (A) Ministry of Industry
(1), (B) Ministry of Industry-2, (C) Ministry of Livestock Breeding and
Fishery, and (D) Ministry of Commerce are to be privatised.
Two Livestock breeding farms under the Ministry of Livestock Breeding and
Fishery, and a total of (76) cinema halls under the Ministry of Information
are also to be privatised, it is learnt.
(2) Independence Day Ceremony Held Successfully by the NLD
The National League for Democracy held the 50th Anniversary Independence
Day Ceremony inside the University Avenue residential compound of Mrs.
Aris on the morning of 4th January.
The ceremony was attended by some members of the diplomatic corps,
journalists, former politicians and NLD members comprising about (450) people.
Permission was actually granted by the local authorities to hold this ceremony
with the number of guests not exceeding (300).
The ceremony however proceeded well and it is also learnt that this function
was conducted within the framework of the law and within the established
regulations governing such activities making it unnecessary for the
authorities concerned to enforce laws intended to maintain stability in the
country.
**********************************************************
BKK POST: SUU KYI BATTLES ON
January 2, 1997
by Matthew Pennington
BANGKOK, AFP
Fifty years since Burma won its freedom from colonialism, Aung
San Sun Kyi, the daughter of independence hero Aung San, still
has popular support in her struggle for democracy, say analysts.
Public sentiment is on the side of the Burmese opposition, nearly
a decade since Aung San Sun Kyi emerged as a political force in
1988 and her National League for Democracy (NLD) romped to a
sweeping electoral victory in 1990.
"The NLD is still a political force, but Burma has remained a
secret society for the past eight years and is not a country
where people can openly express their opinions," said one analyst
in Rangoon.
"She (Aung San Sun Kyi) is still popular among the people, but
right now they don't have any way of showing it," he said.
The NLD's election victory has never been recognised by the
military junta which grasped power during a mass movement for
democracy in 1988, during which thousands of people were shot and
thousands more thrown into prison. .
Although the junta, recently renamed as the State Peace and
Development Council, says it wants to bring "disciplined
democracy" to Burma, it has tightened the screws on its chief
political, opponent over the past year.
When Ms Sun Kyi was released from six years of house arrest in
1995, the authorities at first allowed the Nobel Peace Prize
winner to address supporters from the gate of her residential
compound.
But since late 1996, the NLD leader has been barred from
addressing any public rally, and her recent bid to visit NLD
offices around Rangoon was abandoned after several party
officials were promptly sentenced to jail terms.
The junta says she is "confrontational" and unwilling to
compromise with the military authorities.
"The NLD is still functioning, but not properly because the
restrictions are too great," said a Burmese analyst.
"Aung San Sun Kyi can meet her colleagues at home or at the party
headquarters, and even hold a congress, but outsiders aren't allowed in."
Access to foreign journalists - previously allowed to interview
her or attend specially-arranged press conferences, but now
rarely allowed into the country - has also been effectively
forbidden for almost one year.
Yet her stature as the daughter of Aung San, who spearheaded
Burma's 'struggle for independence from Britain granted 50 years
ago on Jan 4, 1948, appears undiminished.
"The people respect Aung San Sun Kyi for two reasons. Firstly,
because she is the daughter of Aung San. And secondly because she
has tried, against the odds, to emulate him," said the Burmese analyst.
******************************************************
LA TIMES: SEATTLE TIMES REPORTER PAULA BOCK WINS HUMAN
RIGHTS AWARD FROM UNITED
December 29, 1997
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 29, 1997--On International Human
Rights Day, December 10, 1997, Seattle Times journalist Paula Bock received
a human rights award from the Seattle chapter of the United Nations Association
for her article "A Land of War, A Journey of the Heart."
The Seattle Times and photojournalist Tom Reese also received recognition for
their contributions to the story, which was published in the newspaper as a
separate special section on September 28.
Bock's article chronicled her return to the war-torn Thai-Burma border in
search of two little girls whose village had been overrun by the Burmese army
earlier this year. Bock had met the children during an earlier visit to Burma,
when she had accompanied her husband during his tenure as a volunteer doctor
with the refugee population. Much of Bock's story focused on the valor of
physician and refugee, Dr. Cynthia Maung, who has spent the past eight
years establishing and running medical clinics for thousands of Burmese
refugees.
In accepting the award, Bock said, "It is a great pleasure to accept this human
rights award on behalf of Dr. Cynthia and the brave families of Burma, who
struggle so hard to live lives of peace despite the war. Telling the story
of Dr.
Cynthia Maung was a real honor, both inspiring and heartbreaking." Larry
Dohrs, a Burma specialist with the Seattle Burma Roundtable, noted that
"It is crucial that the refugees be kept in the international spotlight.
Otherwise they can be raped, tortured and killed with impunity. Paula
Bock, Tom Reese and The Seattle Times have saved lives by telling this
story."
Reader and community reaction to Bock's story also has been powerful.
More than 400 readers of The Seattle Times have donated over $24,000,
as well as clothing, antibiotics, medical equipment and supplies to Dr.
Cynthia's work.
Bock and Reese will present a slide show of their trip on January 13,
7:30 p.m. at the Elliott Bay Book Company at 1st Avenue South and
South Main Street in downtown Seattle. The entire section of "A Land of
War" is available in The Seattle Times lobby, downtown Seattle; and for
viewing on the World Wide Web at http://www.seattletimes.com/burma/ .
************************************************
KNPP: KARENNI SITUATION REPORT
January 3, 1997
THE GOVERNMENT OF KARENNI
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND INFORMATION
Situation Report:
Militias, who were forcefully mobilized by the SPDC ( State Peace and
Development Council), and troops of KNPA led by Lee Reh in tracts of Daw Ta
Ma Gyiand Kay Hylar are ordered to collect one milk tin of rice per
household per day by the SLORC now SPDC since the beginning of December,
1997. The local villagers are forced to provide food for the SPDC troops
that are taking position in the areas.
On December 19,1997, about 100 SPDC troops from LIB No. 531 and LIB No.337
arrested Thow Reh,former headman of Wam Ngaw village, Oo Reh, teacher of
the same village and Day Reh without giving any reason.
On December 30, 1997, some troops of SPDC from unknown unit enterd and
threw a grenade in Thay So Leh village, Dee Maw So Township, Karenni. Three
innocent villagers were killed. The names of the dead persons are not
available yet.
January, 2,1998.
***********************************************************
DVB: DISPATCH FROM AUNG KHAING SAN AT CHINA-BURMA BORDER
December 25, 1997 (Democratic Voice of Burma - pro-democracy
radio station)
Local authorities searched a convoy led by Captain Win Ko from the
Lashio-based 717th Communications Regiment in Mong Ko-Kyu Hkok
region, near the China-Burma border, in mid October and confiscated
chemicals used for refining heroin. It has been learned that there has
been much dissatisfaction over the search of military officers.
The confiscated chemicals have been sent to a laboratory for analysis
to use as evidence when Capt. Win Ko is put on trial. Capt. Win Ko has been
detained for two months and there has been no investigation into the
matter. Instead, the Northeast Military Command has demanded his release.
A military officer has warned the authorities concerned that they will be
responsible for the problems arising from the detention of Capt. Win Ko.
According to local sources, the Army is resorting to various means to
prevent chemical analysis and that efforts are being made to hide the
military involvement in opium refining. Military regiments and units are
allowed to raise their own funds and it is reported that regiments and
units in the Northeast Command are either jointly or separately involved
in the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs. They are reported to
be doing well.
It is reported that in Mong Yai region the military collected Kyat
20,000 from each opium producer and the Army has collected over Kyat 4
million and that units in charge of drug control have been bribed. The
local people of Mong Yai claimed they gave military columns Kyat
600,000 in bribes last year to prevent the destruction of opium fields.
***********************************************
SPDC: SPECIAL PRESS BRIEFING HELD
December 31, 1997
>From OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx
On the morning of 31st December a special briefing was held at the
Myanmar TV Station in Yangon at 9:00 am.
The briefing was on the new project which is to be implemented in
1998 on ACCURATE DATA COLLECTION on narcotic drugs.
The aim of this project is to collect consensal of drug users in
Myanmar so that a base line data can be obtained for prevention and treatment
programmes.
A report was read by Col. Kyaw Thein who is the member of the Central
committee for Drug Abuse Control and later on followed by questions from the
invited UN agencies, DEA representatives and the local and foreign media.
Responsible authorities replied to the questions and concluded the
briefing at 10:00 am. The paper red by Col. Kyaw Thein "The Achievement of
the Government in Narcotic Drug Control (1988-1997) is as follows:
Achievements of the Government in Narcotic Drug Control
(1988 -1997)
Myanmar has assiduously carried out narcotic drugs control measures
throughout the years, Myanmar has also consistently cooperated with United
Nations organizations, neighbouring countries and countries in the region in
order to expend and increase the suppression and countrol of narcotic durgs,
but these activities will be further heightened with the advent of the State
Peace and Development Council. On 3rd December, 1997, a special meeting of the
Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control presided over by Secretary 1 of the
State Peace and Development Council Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt was
convened, and the Committee itself was reconstituted. This newly re-
established Committee has resolved to immediately undertake as its first step,
a compilation of statistics on a national level, the acreage of poppy
cultivation and the number of addicts, with effect from January, 1998. The
UNDCP and other international organizations have been requested to give
assistance in this collection of vital statistical data and the United States
of America has also been approached with an offer for cooperation in the
matter and although a programme for the collection of such statistical data is
included in the Sub Regional Action Plan drawn by UNDCP no immediate response
have been given because of the high expenditure it would incur. Nevertheless,
the Government of the State Peace and Development Council, realizing the
importance of obtaining Base Line Data for drug eradication, undertook this
task according to its own schedule.
At present, it will be seen that there is a wide gap in the
forecasts on the
acreage and production of opium made respectively by Myanmar and the United
Stated of America. Myanmar's opium cultivation data are based on actual ground
survey and calculations show an average yield of 4.4 kilograms per acre. The
American opium production rates, according to the American survey team, are
based on satellite imageries and the yield per hectare is forecast as 100 per
cent. The American forecast thus fails to take into account crop failure due
to changing weather conditions and wastage during harvestation nor does it
make any allowances for poppy cultivation plots uncovered and destroyed, and
opium and heroin captured and seized. Thus, with a view to obtaining accurate
Base Line Data without discrepancies, a nationwide campaign for the
statistical data compilation was initiated.
As far as drug interdiction is concerned, the following figures show the
results achieved from the time of assumption of state responsibilities in 1988
up to l5th December, 1997.
(a) Heroin 3717.35 kilos
(b) Opium 22762.71 kilos
(c) Phensendyl 32717.85 litres
(d) Precursor chemicals & acids 33551 gallons
(e) Stimulant drugs 10800625 tablets
(f) Ephedrine 3789.22 kilos
(g) Heroin refining camps burned 70 Nos.
(h) Burning of seized narcotic drugs
(Yangon) 11 times
(i) Burning of seized narcotic drugs
(Border regions/other areas) 18 times
In carrying out this crusade against narcotic drugs during the period of
September 1988 to the end of 1997, (766) members of the Armed Forces,
including (20) officers gave up their lives and (2292) members, including (81)
officers were wounded.
As far as interdiction is concerned, 1997 has seen even more effective
results. From January to 15th December, 1997, anti drug authorities were able
to seize 1396.92 kilos of heroin, 7651.4 kilos of opium, 1093 litres of
phensedyl, 16948 gallons of chemicals and acids, 5043350 tablets of stimulant
drugs and 615.62 kilos of ephedrine. Seized narcotic drugs were burned and
destroyed on 4 separate occasions and 33 heroin refining camps were uncovered
and destroyed. Since 1988, the United States of America and European countries
withdrew all form of assistance to Myanmar including that for antinarcotics
measures. But Myanmar, being fully aware of narcotic drugs as the common enemy
of mankind, has within its limited means, successfully carried on, as a
national duty, an unceasing fight against the narcotic drug menace. Opium
poppy is grown and cultivated mostly in the Shan State and border regions and
the armed national groups in these regions were at one time largely involved
in the drug trade. Hence the reason why the Government gives priority to
border area development and national reconsolidation. Due to the unceasing and
earnest efforts of the Government, the 15,000 strong drug trafficking armed
group led by Khun Sa surrendered unconditionally and entered the legal fold
together with over 9,000 heavy and light weapons and assorted ammunitions and
mines, (15) former armed national groups have also entered the legal fold and
are now working in cooperation with the government. These events have made the
armed forces as well as the other law enforcement agencies to concentrate more
on the fight against narcotic drugs which had resulted the significant
seizures in 1996 and 1997. The cooperation and active participation of the
former armed ethnic groups had also made it possible to establish and proclaim
Opium Free Zone in the Shan State (East) Special Region 4 ( i.e. Mongma /
Mongla ) region in April, 1997. Moreover a three-year project was initiated in
1996 in Shan State (North) Special Region 2, and the year 2000 set as the
target date for Shan State (North) Special Region 1, for establishment of
additional opium-free zones. Plans have been drawn up for the poppy
cultivation season of 1997/98 to carry out crop substitution of tea, wheat,
corn and buckwheat on more than 23,000 acres in the Mongko, Laukkhai, Kongyan,
Kunlong, Hopan, Namtu, Mong yaw / Mongkyet regions of Shan State (North),
where poppy used to be the main crop.
Thank you.
*********
INDEPENDENT COMMENT: RE- SPECIAL PRESS BRIEFING HELD
January 2, 1998
>From suantak@xxxxxx Mon Jan 5 13:41:37 1998
MR. OKKER
What General Than Shwe said and what is being said about opium production
in Burma from the opium fields seem to be quite different. The drugs that
were confiscated were arranged. Even during planting the Burmese Army is
already palanning it. Opium growing in Burma is not concentrated only in
the Shan States but also in the Chin Hills, Karenni state and Kachin state.
It is said that that six miles from Loikaw the government distributed lands
for growing opium. Each grower is assigned three acres. One acre is to be
destroyed when the opium is at its young age. The destruction happened
with the soldiers moving down the plants. It was taped. The production
from one acre was to be given to the Burmese Army. The production from the
remaining acre was for the planter.
In the past the opium is extracted by scratching the fruit and the juice
being collected by wiping with pieces of cloth, which were later boiled to
separate the opium from the cloth. Today the harvest of the opium is done
by cutting off the whole plant and by boiling the whole plant, thus
exracting the maximum amount of the opium. It is also said that although
the Burmese Army meant to destroy the one acre by cutting off the plant, it
so happened that where the plant was cut off, up to five branches came out,
instead of the usual one fuit there were up to five fruits, thereby
yielding more opium..
The transportation of opium is the most secure with army vehicles because
the transportation of the drug by other means means competing with the
monopol of the Burmese Army. Competing with the Burmese Army in any dealing
is a dangerous undertaken. That is the reason why some opium were
confiscated from civilian cars.
It is said that when General Khin Nyunt accused of General Tun Kyi being a
"Stone Tun Kyi " making money ( bribes etc) from the Ruby, Saphire, and
Jade, Tun Kyi responded by calling General Khin Nyunt, "Four Khin Nyunt",
meaning that Khin Nyunt was involved in the drug trade. In Burma heroin is
called "Number Four" because it has to be refined four times to make pure
heroin.
*********************************************************
BKK POST: GAS PIPELINE WILL STRESS CLOSER INTERDEPENDENCE
December 30, 1997 (abridged)
NUSSARA SAWATSAWANG
THE YADANA GAS PIPELINE IS THE MOST TANGIBLE EXAMPLE OF THE
CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT POLICY ADOPTED TOWARDS BURMA.
The scheduled delivery of Burmese offshore natural gas to
Thailand in July highlights the economic interdependence expected
to become increasingly important to relations between Thailand
and Burma in 1998 and beyond.
Despite opposition from environmentalists and human rights
advocates, the Thai government maintains that the import of what
is the cleanest and cheapest energy source will serve Thailand's
long-term need for industrialisation.
For the Burmese military junta in Rangoon, which remains isolated
internationally for human rights abuses and its failure to
democratise, the gas pipeline is emerging as its main apparent
source of income.
Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has expressed hope that
economic relations will turn from burden into opportunity through
the sharing of borders between the two countries, and encourage
an "internal change" within Burma as well.
"In many countries, conflicts are gradually reduced after
economic cooperation. The internal change is also accelerated
more quickly and easily when trade and investment opportunity is
open... We [Thailand] hope this would also happen,"" he said.
Cooperating with neighbouring countries will help Thailand save
$5-6 billion.(230-276 billion baht) annually on energy bills,
added the man who served as deputy foreign minister in the
previous Chuan Leekpai government which set the policy in late
1993 to import natural gas from Burma.
Thailand is committed to a 30-year contract with the Yadana
consortium under which the, Petroleum Authority of Thailand will
buy an average of 525 million cubic feet of gas per day and pay a
daily rate of about 41 million baht.
Burma, which will use some 105 million cubic feet of the gas
daily, is expected to earn about $150 million ,(about 6.9 billion
baht) annually after sharing expense and capital recovery, a
process expected to continue through the year 2001-2002. The
French oil company Total has a 31.24 percent in the consortium,
Unocal of America 28.26 percent, PTT Exploration and Production
Plc 25.5 percent, and Myanma Oil and,Gas Enterprise (Moge) 15
percent.
In other follow-up projects, the PTT is committed in the year
2000 to start taking delivery of, natural gas from the nearby
Yetagun field, which is developed by a consortium led by the US
oil company Texaco.
Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in July
for Thailand to purchase 1,500 megawatts of power from Burma in
the next decade, the Thai power firm MDX has won permission from
the Burmese government to conduct an 18-month feasibility study
on the construction of hydro-power plants on the Salween River.
With the $1 billion (46 billion baht) Yadana gas pipeline project
now 70 percent complete, the PTT is scheduled to begin taking
delivery of natural gas from Burma on July 1 at the Ratchaburi
power station.
Thai environmentalists and the Burmese opposition do not look
forward to the event. The environmentalists have been demanding
the rerouting of a 50-km segment of the 260-km pipeline that lies
in the Huay Kayeng national park reserve.
Unlike Thai people who enjoy freedom of expression, a lot of
Burmese cannot voice their grievances from forced relocation for
economic ventures in the south, including the laying of a gas
pipeline which runs some 63 kms across Burma to the Thai border.
According to "Terror in the South", a report by the All Burma
Students' Democratic Front, as many as 79 villages and 6,421
households in southern Tenasserim division have been forcibly
relocated by Burmese troops since mid-1996. The report also
points to extrajudicial killings, destruction of villages, rape
and sexual harassment.
Aung San Sun Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for
Democracy, doubts the benefits for the Burmese people of the gas
pipeline.
"As long as there's no accountable government in Burma, I do not
think the money generated by the gas pipeline can be said to be
invested for the country as a whole," she said in a recent
interview with the non-government Alternative Asean Network on
Burma, a transcript of which was obtained by the Bangkok Post.
The military junta, she said, "have absolute right to decide what
they will do with the revenues that they gain. They can use it
all to buy arms or they-can build the military museum."
The Chuan government however is not without political demands on
Burma's leaders. The prime minister himself turned down an
invitation extended in December for him to visit Rangoon. During
his first term as prime minister, between 1992-1995, Burma was
the only neighbouring country he did not visit.
Thailand also advocated the concept of an "open society" in the
Asean Vision 2020 statement issued during the grouping's informal
summit in Kuala Lumpur mid-December. Burma was certainly one
member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which
would have found it difficult to accept the call for popular
participation in determining the future of Asean communities.
In recent statements, Mr Surin has maintained that Thailand had
no option but to be a "moral and ethical" force towards this
goal. But he also has made clear that Thailand will ,,actively
engage Burma in a positive way without interference".
In the view of Thammasat University historian and long-time Burma
observer, Charnvit Kasetsiri, the Asean emphasis on creating open
societies "consistent with respective national identity"
obstructs realisation of the goal.
Sustainable Thai-Burmese relations, maintains Mr Charnvit, depend
very much on a political settlement in Burma and on the
establishment of truly peaceful borders.
If this political tension remains unsolved, economic problems
will persist, there will be no real ceasefire between the regime
and ethnic minority insurgents, and Thailand will have to receive
a new influx of Burmese people, he concluded.
"As long as the situation inside Burma is not eased, problems
[between Thailand and Burma] will remain," he said.
Thailand is current host to about a million illegal Burmese
immigrants who offer cheap labour for many domestic industries.
There are also up to 115,000 refugees encamped along the
Thai-Burmese border.
---------------------------------
excerpts from related stories:
PTT MAY BRING IN MILITARY TO BUILD YADANA PIPELINE
(Nation, January 4, 1997)
THE Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) may have to-ask
military engineers to build the Yadana gas pipeline if the
dispute with environmental protesters cannot be settled, Industry
Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said yesterday.
However, although the PTT had prepared a contingency plan, he did
not expect the situation to deteriorate to the point such a move
was warranted. "The presence of military personnel might, in itself,
lead to violence," he warned.
-----------------------------
PTT IN DILEMMA OVER PIPELINE PROTESTERS
(Nation, December 30, 1997)
THE most important question now for the Petroleum Authority of
Thailand (PTT) concerning the construction of its controversial
Thai-Burmese gas pipeline is how to deal with the testers now
gathering in the forest where the route will pass.
The number of people opposed to the project is growing all the
time. Non-governmental organisations and environmentalists in
Bangkok and from the North, Northeast and the South have recently
announced they would send their representatives to join the
protest in Kanchanaburi next month.
Opponents of the project submitted a letter to Prime Minister
Chuan Leekpai on Dec 2 demanding that he take action on the case
within seven days. The government responded by sending PM's Office
Minister Supatra Masdit to negotiate with the group.
At first, everything seemed to be going well, with Supatra
listening to their arguments and proposals and agreeing to set up
a neutral body to ,review the project on the condition that
construction be temporarily halted during the talks. But two
weeks later, she changed her mind and refused to deal with the case.
"It's very surprising. At first she kept asking us to negotiate,
not protest. Now she's telling us to carry out any protest we
want,' Phinan said.
"She told us she cannot handle-the case any more because Industry
Minister Somsak Thepsuthin has intervened in the working process.
That's all she says."
Phinan said that after the opponents submitted the letter to
Chuan through Supatra, she asked them to take her to visit the
pipeline route by helicopter and explain the problem to her.
"The trip on Dec 7 failed. She did not see what we wanted her to
see because local officials dominated the trip and took her to
some other areas instead.
So she told us to send her another letter and to request the
neutral committee to review the project, so we followed her
advice,' Phinan said.
"At that time, we weren't sure we could trust her. She said she
would order the PTT to suspend construction until the committee
was formed. A day later, we surveyed the area again and found
that the construction was stopped.
'So we decided to give her a chance," she said.
Phinan said Supatra even suggested a further study of the
pipeline route to determine whether a new route would be
technically feasible and not as expensive as others have claimed.
Somsak announced after the trip that construction would continue
and he also suggested that the pipeline route be made into a new
tourist attraction or developed into a new transportation route
to Burma, she said.
Yesterday, in Chiang Mai, academics from Chiang Mai University
joined northern NG0s and the Northern Farmers' Network to condemn
the pipeline project. The groups also announced their plan to
boycott all products of the project investors, including PTT,
Total and Unocal oil companies.
Nithi Iewsriwong, a prominent academic and a lecturer at the
university, called on members of the public to join the movement
to seek a review of the project, which he said lacked transparency.
***********************************************
NEWS BRIEFS ON REFUGEES, MIGRANT WORKERS IN THAILAND
December 30, 1997 -
BKK POST: REFUGEES TO BE MOVED DEEPER INSIDE THAILAND
December 30, 1997 Mae Hong Son
Thousands of Burmese and Karen refugees living in seven border
districts of this northern province are to be moved to four major
camps deeper inside Thailand, for security reasons.
Mae Hong Son governor Phakdi Chomphuming yesterday said the
province had recently been given 1.5 million baht from the
Defence Ministry to evacuate some 30,000 refugees from areas
prone to attacks.
The evacuation follows a series of attacks by members of the
renegade Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and illegal
logging activities in Salween Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is alleged that Thai wood traders hired refugees living near
the sanctuary to fell trees and process them before smuggling the
qood to Burma.
The accused refugees will be moved to Ban Nai Soi camp in Maung
district, Ban Mae Surin camp in Khun Yuam district, Ban Mae Kong
Kha camp in Mae Sariang district, and Ban Mae Lamaluang in Sob
Moei district, said the governor, adding that the evacuation was
expected to be finished during the dry season.
------------------------------
BKK POST: ARMY CHIEF ALLAYS CONCERNS OVER DOI LANG FORCE
December 30, 1997
The planned stationing of a rapid deployment force (RDF) at the
disputed border in Doi Lang, Chiang Mai, was not meant to provoke
Burma, army chief Gen Chettha Tanajaro asserted yesterday.
He said the establishment of the RDF was only meant to strengthen
Thailand's defence capability at D 01 Lang opposite Burma., a
disputed border area has been a sore point in the relations
between the two neighbours.
Gen Chetha dismissed reports that tension was building at the
border, saying guards of both the countries stationed 'n the area
were performing their duties as usual and peacefully.
-------------------------------------
BKK POST: INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE BEHIND THE ILLEGAL BORDER
BUSINESS
January 4, 1997
Illegal logging involves powerful people. It is big business in
which the operators are protected by politicians and men in
uniform - primarily the military.
Suchart Tancharoen, the former deputy interior minister in the
Banbarn Silpa-archa government, was censured for his alleged
involvement in logging by minority groups along the Thai-Burmese
border.
Mr Suchart, now a Thai Party MP for Chachoengsao, was said to
have jointly invested in a logging business with Zaw Ma Khine, a
Burmese businesswoman with close ties with Burma's military rulers.
Logging along the Thai-Burmese border from the northern province
of Tak up to Mae Hong Son further north has been under the
control of the rebel Karen National Union, Karenni National
Progressive Liberation Front and Khun Sa, the drug warlord of the
Mong Tai Army who surrendered to Rangoon.
Funding comes mainly from Thai investors including Sakabee Co,
Thai Veneer Industry 999 Co, SPA Richwood Co, Korean Veterans
Welfare Co, Polpana Co, B and F Goodrich Co, STB Co
and Boonsawat and Company Co.
Some of these firms hold logging concessions in Burma while some
are sub-contractors hired by the concessionaires to build roads
into the jungles, fell trees and remove logs from the forests.
Major logging companies holding concessions in Burma all had
politicians and military generals as shareholders.
Log imports from Burma through Mae Hong Son were made possible by
the former Chavalit government which agreed to open five border
passes in Ban Huay Pueng, Ban Nam Piang Din, Ban Huay Ton Noon,
Ban Sao Hin and Ban Mae Sam Laeb.
The opening was meant to allow three big companies, to bring in
10,000 logs. However, there was also an influx of illegally-cut
logs from Burma, prompting that country to send a protest to Thailand.
The complaint, however, was ignored by Thai authorities because
government insiders had connections with logging operators.
Burma then retaliated by closing border checkpoints in Mae Sai,
Chiang Rai, and Mae Sot, Tak. That caused crossborder trade to
drop by one billion baht.
A meeting of Karen rebel leaders chaired by Gen Bo Mya early last
year discussed the problem of illegally-cut logs in Thailand.
Thai loggers were also said to have paid a large sum of money to
cut trees in areas held by Khun Sa and the Kayah minority.
--------------------------------------------
NATION: JOBLESS THAIS MUST REPLACE ILLEGAL WORKERS
January 3, 1998
EMPLOYERS of illegal immigrants will be required to hire an
equivalent number of unemployed Thais to replace illegal workers
found working for them, Immigration Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt
Gen Chidehai Wansathit said.
The employers will also be asked to shoulder the expense of
deporting their illegal workers, Chidehai said.
The Fishery Association of Thailand warned that overly harsh
measures against illegal workers in the fishing industry could
cause a labour shortage because most Thais avoided working in the
industry.
'The firm will have to pay for all deportation expenses, like air
fares and the travelling expenses of immigration police."
*************************************************
SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET NO A0267(I)
January 1, 1998
>From OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx
(1) Government Determined to See Peace in the Entire Nation
Chairman of the Work Committee for the Development of Border
Areas and National Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, ministers and party met the Kachin nationalities
leaders headed by U Zaw Mai in the meeting hall of the KIO Headquarters
in Kachin State on 31December.
The Secretary-1 then told them that the State Peace and Development Council
was constituted to expedite work for the speedy emergence of peaceful, modern
and developed new nation in the interest of the entire national people,
favourable foundation has been laid and arrangements are being made for the
progress of all areas including border areas. Next, U Zaw Mai said on behalf
of the KIO Central Committee members and KIO members that the KIO secured
peace in early 1994 after realizing the goodwill of the government towards the
national races and cooperated with the latter. At present, he said, the region
has developed day by day. He said the KIO supports the formation of the State
Peace and Development Council on 15 November 1997 for the emergence of
discipline flourishing democracy and peaceful, modern and developed new
nation. He said people do not want undisciplined democracy. He said KIO
believes the government objectives will be realized and the organization will
continue to work together with the government. Not only the KIO but also the
entire Kachin State welcome the government's endeavours for the well-being of
the Union and the entire mass of national races. The Secretary-1 called on the
local people to extend a helping hand to the development of border areas and
national races although the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National
Races and Development Affairs is responsible, it is learnt.
************************************************