The BurmaNet News - 6 February, 199

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------------------------------ BurmaNet -----------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies
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The BurmaNet News, 6 February, 1998
Issue #929

Noted in passing:

"There seems to be a common feeling in both Japan and the EU that
requesting a WTO panel on the Myanmar sanctions law would now be
too much to digest," -  Japanese official (see THE JAPAN TIMES: US 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS COME UNDER FIRE)

HEADLINES:
==========
THE JAPAN TIMES: US ECONOMIC SANCTIONS COME UNDER
BKK POST: BURMA STRIKES BACK AT US CRITICISM
THE NATION: MEET ON AGRICULTURE
THE ASIAN AGE: BANGLADESH TO SEND BACK ROHINGYAS
REUTERS: MYANMAR, JAPAN LAUNCH ECONOMIC
XINHUA NEWS AGENCY: MYANMAR LEADER MEETS CHINESE
XINHUA NEWS AGENCY: PRC, BURMA SIGN AGREEMENT ON
BURMANET EDITOR: MEN IN BATIK SHIRTS
BKK POST: BURMESE WOMEN ON DRUG CHARGE
RANGOON TV MYANMAR: TIN OO - ASIA CRISIS HAS ONLY
DIAKONIA: IN THE BRIEF ... BURMA

Karen:
INDEPENDENT SOURCE: BRIEF REPORT ON THE BEATING OF
KNL: KAREN REVOLUTION DAY STATEMENT
KNU: PRESIDENT SAW BO MYA'S SPEECH ON 49th

Announcements:
INDEPENDENT SOURCE: THAI-BURMESE BORDER CROSSING
FREE BURMA COALITION: PHOTO SEARCH
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THE JAPAN TIMES: US ECONOMIC SANCTIONS COME UNDER
FIRE AT THE WTO
5 February, 1998
By Hisane Masaki, Staff writer

To understand how political factors can often come into play at the
World Trade Organization, look at Japan's and the European Union's
dispute with the United States over Massachusetts' Myanmar sanctions
law.

Nearly seven months have passed since Japan joined the 15-nation EU
in filing a complaint with the WTO-the Geneva-based watchdog on 
international commerce-over the Massachusetts law, which denies state
contracts to both American and foreign companies doing business in
Myanmar.

Although Japan has so far held three rounds of "bilateral consultations"-
the first in July, the second in October and the third in December-in the
first stage of the WTO's dispute-settlement procedures, it is in no hurry to
play its strongest card: requesting the establishment of a neutral WTO
panel to rule on the case.

It appears likely that Japan, and the EU as well, will wait another few
months or longer before deciding whether to ask for such a panel.

The WTO rules grant a complainant the right to request the establishment
Of such a panel in the second stage of dispute-settlement procedures if
bilateral consultations fail to produce a settlement within 60 days of the
complaint being filed.

The WTO panel on the case of the Massachusetts law, if established,
Would likely rule against the U.S., adding further fuel to voices within the
U.S.calling for a switch in trade and economic policy away from 
Multilateralism under the WTO.

"We will never condone the Myanmar sanctions law," a senior Japanese
government official said. "But at the same time we will have to take into
account various factors, including political ones, very carefully in
deciding whether and when to exercise the right to ask for a WTO panel,"
the official said, requesting anonymity.

In theory, the EU can also request a WTO panel to rule on the Myanmar
sanctions law, regardless of whether Japan does so. But the Japanese
official, who is closely involved in the case, indicated that Japan and the
EU are maintaining close contact on the issue, saying that cooperation
between Japan and the EU will make their battles with the U.S. at the WTO
"more effective."

Unlike many other disputes brought before the WTO, the row over the
Myanmar sanctions law is as much political as economic. Since the 
Massachusetts law took effect in January last year, both Japan and the
EU have complained to Washington that the law violates a WTO agreement
on government procurement practices.

The accord covers not only central governments but also local governments
registered in the commitments made by WTO members. The U.S. agreed to
put Massachusetts and some other states under the WTO government
procurement accord.

After Tokyo and Brussels complained to the U.S. over the Myanmar
Sanctions law, a group of legislators from Massachusetts sent letters to the
Two capitals in February last year warning against what they see as an
interference in the internal affairs of their state.

Aside from Massachusetts, 10 other U.S. states are said to have passed laws
prohibiting the signing of procurement contracts with companies doing
business with Myanmar, which has been shunned by the U.S. and Europe
because of its alleged violations of human rights and democracy.

Japan's complaint to the WTO last summer over the Massachusetts law was
prompted by a deep concern that the law might spill over into other American
states, and that Massachusetts might enact a similar bill targeting other
countries over human rights violations and democratic principles.

Among those countries that Japan fears could be targeted is Indonesia which
has drawn a harsh criticism from the international community over its
repression in East Timor. Any sanctions law targeting Jakarta would have a
much greater impact on Japan than the Myanmar sanctions law, given the
close trade and investment relations Japan has with Indonesia.

In recent months, the U.S. has stepped up pressure on the military regime in
Myanmar for its continued crackdown on the pro-democracy movement led
By opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Sun Kyi.
Last May the Clinton administration imposed a ban on new U.S. investments
in the Southeast Asian country.

But while facing a battle with Japan and the EU over the Massachusetts law
at the WTO, the Clinton administration has urged the Massachusetts state
government to repeal any legislative measures that could be in violation of
WTO rules.

While some Japanese government officials say that they want to watch to see
if such efforts by the U.S. administration will bear fruit, they are
pessimistic
about the prospects of the controversial state law being rescinded.

Among other political factors that are on the minds of Japanese officials is
the diplomatic wisdom of requesting a WTO panel on the case at a time
when Tokyo is carefully gauging the timing for extending loans to Yangon
for a major airport project.

Although Japan virtually suspended official development assistance to
Yangon after the Myanmarese military [grabbed power in a 1988 coup, it has
advocated a policy of "constructive engagement'' with Yangon to encourage
positive change there.

The repair and expansion of Yangon's international airport is among the six
infrastructure projects for which Japan pledged yen loans before the 1988
military coup. The yen loans, including Y27 billion for the airport project,
were never disbursed.

According to Japanese government officials and private-sector experts,
Yangon airport's deteriorating conditions : have raised safety concerns and
work on the facility should begin immediately. But Tokyo believes that
Myanmar's military regime needs to make some effort toward national
reconciliation, such as opening a dialogue with Sun Kyi, before it will
disburse the pledged yen loans.

"Even if the loan disbursement is made for humanitarian reasons, we are not
yet convinced that such a step will be accepted, or at least condoned, by
either the Japanese public or the international community," said one senior
Foreign Ministry official, who asked to remain anonymous.

Alarmed by the Japanese move to disburse the airport loans, the U.S.
administration has put relentless diplomatic pressure on Tokyo in recent
months. "Japan's request of a WTO panel on the Massachusetts law would
provoke the U.S. and make the loan disbursement for the Yangon airport
project even more difficult, " another Japanese official said.

There is also a view within the Japanese government that requesting a WTO
panel now would not be politically wise, given the current state of economic
relations between Japan and the U.S.

"Japan should avoid any steps that could provoke the U.S.," one Japanese
trade official said, "because Japan-U.S. bilateral economic relations are
becoming increasingly tense over what the U.S. perceives as Japan's lack of
effort to stimulate its stagnant economy, a move that Washington believes
will reduce Japan's growing trade surplus and ease the current Asian
financial crisis."

Another factor affecting Japanese and EU stances at the WTO over the
Myanmar sanctions law is the bitter squabble between the U.S. and the EU
Over The U.S. Helms-Burton Act, which the EU brought before the WTO. 
The law, aimed at making life difficult for the Castro regime, allows
Americans to sue foreign firms that do business on property confiscated
 in Cuba in U.S. courts.

But the Helms-Burton Act, which was signed into law in 1996, also gives
The U.S. president the authority to waive that right for a six-month period.
Last month President Bill Clinton extended the waiver for the fourth
consecutive time.

The EU claims that the U.S. law defies global trade rules because it attempts
to impose U.S. policy on other countries. Although the EU requested
the creation of a WTO panel last spring to rule on the dispute, the WTO
proceedings have since been suspended for one year to give the U.S. and the
EU time to reach an out-of court settlement. If no out-of-court settlement
is reached by April, the WTO proceedings are expected to resume, and the
EU-requested dispute-settlement panel is expected to be established.

The Clinton administration recently began to review its policy of imposing
economic sanctions on countries that have been deemed to violate human
rights, such as like Cuba, Iran and Libya.

The U.S. sanctions law against Iran and Libya, enacted in 1996, has also
pitted the U.S. and the EU against each other because it would allow the
U.S. to mete out sanctions against foreign companies that make oil and
Other energy investments in the two Mideast countries. U.S. enforcement
of the law, especially over European investments in Iran, would likely 
result in the EU filing a complaint with the WTO.

The U.S. administration's review of its economic sanctions has come amid
growing voices at home that the policy has not worked as originally
intended. But it Is not clear at the moment when the review will be
completed and what the outcome will be.

"There seems to be a common feeling in both Japan and the EU that
requesting a WTO panel on the Myanmar sanctions law would now be
too much to digest," commented a Japanese official.

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

BKK POST: BURMA STRIKES BACK AT US CRITICISM
5 February, 1998

AFP - Burma struck back at the United States yesterday for its attack on the
country's human rights record, saying Washington was using democracy as a
weapon against the country.

Burma's junta said the US State Department's annual rights report was
written in "stereotypical" fashion.

"The situation report on Burma was no doubt written in the standard
stereotypical fashion of judging others negatively so that the judge can be
imaged to look like an innocent or a saint," a statement from the junta
received in Bangkok said. 

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

THE NATION: MEET ON AGRICULTURE
5 February, 1998

ASEAN'S agriculture ministers will meet in Burma to discuss ways to
enhance cooperation m agriculture and seek ways to help less-developed
Countries within Asean, Agriculture mister Pongpol Adireksan said
yesterday.

Pongpol said senior representatives of the United Nations' Food and
Agriculture Organisation would also be invited to the meeting, set to be
held from April 20 to 24 in Rangoon.

"The meeting will set measures on how Asean countries can cooperate
to help countries in the grouping that are less developed by helping them
develop agricultural techniques and food products," he said.  The minister was
speaking after a meeting with Soelatwo Sadiwigeno, the deputy FAO director
for the Asia-Pacific region.

Pongpol said Sadiwigeno was informed that Thailand was ready to help
Promote technical aspects of agricultural development, particularly in
Laos and Burma.

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

THE ASIAN AGE: BANGLADESH TO SEND BACK ROHINGYAS
5 February, 1998 

Dhaka, Feb, 4: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
and the Bangladesh government have agreed to repatriate all Burmese
refugees sheltered in camps in the southeast of the country "peacefully",
a senior UN official said Wednesday.

Both the UNHCR and the government agreed "to try to resume repatriation
and find a solution to the problems in the camps by this year with the
 government emphasis on repatriation, "Mr. Wilbert Van Hovo, resident
chief of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told AFP.

He said Bangladesh would not accept resettlement of the remaining
Muslim refugees, called Rohingyas, and a solution was essential, as there
can be "no forced repatriation".  "We have agreed with the government
that this problem (in the camps) be resolved through peaceful means if
possible.  Although, the government is keeping other options open", 
Mr. Van Hovo said.  (AFP)

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

REUTERS: MYANMAR, JAPAN LAUNCH ECONOMIC
COOPERATION PANEL
4 February, 1998

YANGON - The Union of Myanmar Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (MCCI) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce
 and Industry (JCCI) have signed an agreement to launch an
economic cooperation committee in Yangon,  Myanmar (Burma)
newspapers said on Wednesday.

The government newspapers said MCCI chairman Khin Maung Yi 
and  representatives of JCCI chairman Tomoo Takahara signed an
agreement on Tuesday to form the  bilateral Economic Cooperation
 Committee.

Local analysts said the pact would help boost direct Japanese
investment in Myanmar.

"Most Japanese investment has come to Myanmar through third
 parties, mostly Singapore, because of U.S.-led sanctions against
 Myanmar," an analyst told Reuters.

The Japanese now seem to have decided to take advantage of the
 financial crisis in Southeast Asian countries which used to be
Myanmar's biggest foreign investors,'' he said.

"It is not too late for the Japanese because Myanmar still offers them
a great deal of investment opportunities," he added.

Up to January last year Japan, Myanmar's biggest trading partner,
had proposed $206.8 million worth of direct investment in 17 local 
projects.

More than a fifth of Myanmar's total imports in the 1996/1997
(April-March) fiscal year came from Japan.

Japan took 382.2 million kyat ($1.4 million at the current market rate)
of Myanmar's 5.2 billion kyat worth of exports in the same year.

The kyat has an official value of six to the dollar, but its market rate is
much lower at 280.

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

XINHUA NEWS AGENCY: MYANMAR LEADER MEETS CHINESE
VICE FOREIGN MINISTER
2 February, 1998

Yangon -- Myanmar leader Khin Nyunt said here Monday that his
country wants to further strengthen the neighborly goodwill
ties as well as trade and economic cooperation with China.

When meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Tang Jiaxuan here Monday, Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the Myanmar
State Peace and Development Council, said leaders of the new generation
of the two countries are responsible for carrying on the good-neighborly
and friendly ties forged by leaders of the older generation.

Tang's visit will help enhance the development of trade and economic
cooperation between the two countries which have a great potential, he
added.

At the meeting, Vice Minister Tang said China also attaches importance
to the development of Sino-Myanmar good-neighborly and friendly
relations and trade and economic cooperation.

He is convinced that such relations would be continued and further
developed.

On the same day, Tang also held talks with his Myanmar counterpart, U
Nyunt Swe, on the promotion of the two countries' bilateral ties including
trade and economic cooperation and on matters of mutual interest.

The Chinese vice minister arrived here last Saturday on a four-day
visit to Myanmar at the invitation of U Nyunt Swe.

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

XINHUA NEWS AGENCY: PRC, BURMA SIGN AGREEMENT ON
DIPLOMATIC VISA EXEMPTIONS
3 February, 1998 [abridged]

Rangoon -- China and Burma Tuesday signed an agreement on mutual
exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic, official/service passports.

The agreement was signed to further promote the friendly relations
between China and Burma.

Visiting Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Tang Jiaxuan and
Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister U Nyunt Swe signed the document on
behalf of their respective governments.

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

BURMANET EDITOR: MEN IN BATIK SHIRTS

When Indonesia's President Suharto appeared standing next to a batik clad
President Clinton and other esteemed international statesmen at the 1995
APEC summit in Bogor, the Burmese generals must have looked with envy and
admiration.  It was quite a feat for the man responsible for the brutal
invasion of East Timor, leading to the murder of foreigners and locals
alike, to be holding court with world leaders proudly adorned in batik
shirts.  Perhaps former military dictator General Ne Win envisaged a day in
the not too distant future when the international political gentry would
gather in Rangoon or Mandalay clad in 'pinni' jackets.

Last year was the year that Indonesia's President Suharto and Burma's
General Ne Win exchanged high profile visits to discuss how the SLORC could
transform its pariah status into a more palatable version of government,
based on Indonesia's New Order success story.

This year promises to be the year that Bapak Suharto loses his patriarchal
grip.  The violence that has been erupting across the Indonesian
archipelago over the past two years and most recently throughout Java - the
princely seat of Suharto's power - indicates that pursuing quasi-democracy
is a superficial path to stable government and sustainable development.

Suharto has been a long-term political survivor, despite rampaging nepotism
and corruption, because he has been able to provide economic stability.
However in the wake of the Asian economic crisis it seems that his
charismatic star is rapidly losing its lustre.  There are lessons for the
fledgling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in the explosive
situation currently gripping Indonesia.

In the Myanmar Alin article, 'Local product use urged to help economy'
posted in yesterday's edition of The BurmaNet News, Pauk Sa expounds the
benefits of a 'domestic democracy'.

Over the past three decades Suharto has bred his own kind of 'domestic
democracy', whilst simultaneously seeing the benefit of spinning a
well-oiled image of technocratic development to the West.  By providing
fertile trading opportunities to both his ASEAN neighbours and the Western
world, Suharto managed to lay a veil over his dictatorship's repressive
methods of control.

The Burmese regime much admires the three key elements of Suharto's New
Order - the state ideology of Pancasila, the 1945 constitution and the dual
function of the military, because they give licence to a double life for
President Suharto - the international statesman and the dictator.

Indonesian people suffer from many of the same forms of repression current
in Burma today.  In the back streets of villages, towns and cities,
particularly in the non-Javanese and ethnically disparate islands of East
Timor, Irian Jaya and Kalimantan, the people are marginalised by their lack
of political voice.  Those who do speak out - trade unionists, opposition
supporters, students or ethnic resistance groups - are arbitrarily
arrested, imprisoned without trial, tortured and murdered by the military.
All this occurs, it's just that we hear little about it.

The same lack of respect for cultural, ethnic and political diversity as
exists in Burma, also exists in Indonesia.  We all know that the Burmese
military regime's name change to the warm, fuzzy State Peace and
Development Council, will in itself not bring about an overnight transition
to a freer and more democratic Burma. 

And let's face it, Burma is not Indonesia.  The Indonesian populous has
been relatively passive towards the incongruities of its government
because, despite an ever-widening socio-economic gap, there was economic
growth and opportunities.  But with these opportunities now stymied by the
breathtaking plunge of the Rupiah, long simmering resentment and grievances
are threatening to manifest in major civil unrest.

The people of post-independence Burma have again and again 'demonstrated'
that the unrelenting brutality of the military is totally unacceptable.
History has shown that brutality can be tolerated, to a degree, if there is
a return in the form of social, cultural and economic growth. Burma,
however, has nothing positive to show for the suffering of its people, only
a never-ending trail of misery and deprivation.

To believe that embracing more liberal economic policies alone will give
them international credibility and security, is politically naïve of the SPDC.

The strong pro-democracy movement, with its sophisticated network of
committed activists both inside and outside Burma, is evidence enough that
the Burmese people want nothing less than full democracy.

Meanwhile in Indonesia the curtain is falling on Suharto's shadow play.
When the people can no longer afford to buy oil for their woks, they will
no longer be the willing 'wayang' of the puppet master.  For the newly
polished SPDC, there is a loaded message in this historical dynamic.

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

BKK POST: BURMESE WOMEN ON DRUG CHARGE
5 February, 1998

Chiang Rai - A Burmese woman was arrested in Mae Sai yesterday and
Charged with having 46,000 amphetamine tablets in her possession for
delivery to a local distributor.

The pills, worth almost five million baht, were intercepted as Pad Kampan,
37, was crossing the border.

She told police she was paid 4,000 baht by a Burmese businessman to
deliver the drug to a middleman who was waiting to meet her in Chiang Rai.

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

RANGOON TV MYANMAR: TIN OO - ASIA CRISIS HAS ONLY
SLIGHT EFFECT ON BURMA
2 February, 1998 [translated from Burmese, abridged]

Lt. Gen. Tin Oo, secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development
Council [SPDC], attended a ceremony to mark the opening of a new branch
Of Asia Wealth Bank Limited [AWB] in Pazundaung Township at
Pazundaung Market on Lower Pazundaung Road at 0800 today. 

Addressing the opening ceremony, Finance and Revenue Minister U Khin
Maung Thein said that at a time when banks are facing bankruptcies in some
countries in neighboring Southeast Asia, banks in our country are operating
successfully and continued efforts will be made to further improve bank
operations.

U Khin Maung Thein said in practicing a market-oriented economy,
political, economic, and social objectives have been laid down for
achieving economic success and that, as a result, the economic situation
has improved.  He said Burma has become a full-fledged member of ASEAN
and it will be necessary for private banks to help out in the financial sector
in cooperating with other ASEAN countries.  He said the current financial
crisis in Southeast Asia has had only a slight effect on Burma.  However,
it will be necessary to take precautionary measures to be prepared for
repercussions in the future in case the crisis deteriorates further.  He
said he took pride in the expansion of private banks in the financial
sector and their contribution toward the country's economic, political, and
social development.

*******************************************************
DIAKONIA: IN THE BRIEF ... BURMA
January edition (a publication of the Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific)
by Jon Greenaway, 

With the new year beginning there is anticipation that SLORC's dry season
offensive against ethnic minorities last year will be repeated by its
successor the State Peace and Development Council. Yet while there are
suggestions that clashes are already escalating, the welfare of those who
choose to flee their homes in Burma are also affected by the policies of
Thailand's army and government.

November brought a change of government in Thailand and the new
administration promised that it would conduct its foreign policy in
accordance with the principles of human rights. However, despite new Prime
Minister Chuan Leekpai's superior track record on the question of Burmese
refugees compared with his predecessor Chavalit Yongchaiyndh, this
intention may buckle under the weight of an ailing economy.

At the beginning -of December Bangkok announced that it would launch a
Crackdown on illegal alien workers in Thailand. Estimates of their numbers
vary but go as high as one million. IJniversity research puts the
proportion of
illegals that are Burmese at 75 per cent. The Government has chosen to 
discontinue the temporary allocation of work permits to foreign labour as part
of a campaign to find jobs for Thais.

While technically a migrant worker is not a refugee, the distinction is not
so clear in the case of the Burmese. The Army divisions in control of the
Burma border have policed the camps in the last year under a policy of no
acceptance unless in the case of flight from armed conflict. This is part of
a process of deterrence that has stunted the development of conditions and
services in the new camps created from the consolidation of temporary
refuges that housed those who fled last year's offensive. Many Burmese thus
choose to work in Thailand instead of seeking the protection of the camps.

There is the hope that the new administration in Burma may not be a purely
cosmetic change and that something might come from dialogue with the Thai
Government in a working group established to deal with the problem of
refugees and migrant labour from Burma. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan met
with the head of Burma's military government at the ASEAN meeting in
December and informed him that the special envoy to Burma, Alvaro de Soto,
would be sent to Rangoon in January, the first trip by the envoy since 1995.
In other talks with Chuan, Kofi Annan also asked that Thailand distinguish
between refugees and illegal immigrants to avoid accusations of mistreatment

What effect the agreement between Thailand and Burma to officially demarcate
their border will have on the camps and the populations sheltering in what
is nominally Burmese territory also remains to be seen. 

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

INDEPENDENT SOURCE: BRIEF REPORT ON THE BEATING OF KAREN REFUGEES AT MAE LA
CAMP

On January 14th, 1998, a number of Karen refugees from Mae La refugee camp
in Tha Song Yang District, near Mae Sot in north west Thailand, were beaten
by Thai soldiers stationed at the camp.

The Thai soldiers, who could only be described by the camouflaged uniform
they wore, are based at an Army post on the opposite side of the Mae Sot to
Mae Sariang highway, overlooking the camp.

>From early in the morning on the 14th, as on most days, refugees crossed
the road near the Thai Army base, and went into the forest to forage for
wild vegetables and to cut bamboo and collect leaves to build their new
roofs, before the coming rains. Some of them were seen by soldiers, who did
not inform them of any restrictions on movement outside the camp, nor
attempted to stop them.

Later in the day, at different times, small groups of these refugees made
their way back to the camp, some carrying forest vegetables, some leaves,
and others bamboo. However, when each of these groups came back past the
Army base, they were apprehended and beaten by a number of Thai soldiers
stationed there.

At one point during the day, as many as 20 refugees were captured by this
group of soldiers, and six of them spoke of the injuries they suffered
during their beatings, including:

1. Two grandmothers - one 70 years old and the other 65 - returning
together with leaves to make a new roof. One was kicked in the back five
times and sharply prodded twice in the side of the ribs with the barrel of
a gun, before collapsing on the ground. The other was kicked in the rear
three times and also sharply prodded in the ribs with a gun. She was kicked
again when they let her go. Both had their machetes confiscated.

2. Two middle aged women - one 45 years old and the other 40 - also
returning together with leaves to make a new roof. A soldier beat them both
twice on the top of the back and on their forearms with his walkie-talkie.
He then kicked each of them in the back twice. They managed to run away
with others who had been caught. One of the women explained, "I don't
understand why they did this. We weren't stealing their wood. In a few
months all the leaves will be burnt in the forest fires anyway. We just
wanted to collect leaves to repair our house."

3. A 37-year old one-legged man who had been looking for bamboo shoots to
eat. Thai soldiers, maybe feeling a degree of pity on his disability,
decided to punish and humiliate him by pulling the hairs from his beard and
his nostrils. He was freed after a camp elder came and pleaded with the
soldiers to let him go.

4. A 53-year old man who had been seen by the Thai soldiers on his way to
cut bamboo, but had not been warned or turned away. When he returned, a
number of Thai soldiers called to him and fired a shot from their assault
rifle. He ran away in fright and was chased by three of them. He ran deep
into the forest and had to wait until dark before sneaking back into the camp.

Despite the varying enforcement of restrictions in and around the camp, it
is quite apparent from the accounts gathered that, for whatever reasons,
the behaviour of certain Thai military groups stationed in the area are at
times unwarranted, and therefore damaging to the working relationship
needed by all parties involved in order to run and control the camp
effectively.

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

KNL: KAREN REVOLUTION DAY STATEMENT
31 January, 1998 

Today, the 31st day of January 1998, marks the 49th anniversary of the
beginning of the Karen revolution for justice, equality, freedom and
democracy. We the Karens shall never forget this day.  Exactly forty nine
years ago, our Karen people with a view to obtain our national survival and
freedom from oppression, tried to negotiate with the majority Burmese
political leaders by peaceful means. But due to the Burmese leaders' policy
of greater Burmanism, the Karens inevitabily had to take up armed
struggle. 

In the almost half a century long struggles of the Karen people, which have
been unwaveringly led by the Karen National Union (KNU), countless number
of Karen people sacrificed their lives.  On this solemn occasion,  Karen
National League (KNL) honors and salutes all those who have led the
struggles and given their lives for their people. 

KNL realises that every Karen national has a national responsibility to
continue striving for national liberation if the sacrifices of these lives
are not to be in vain. KNL welcomes any Karen organisation around the world
for collaborative work in the spirit of continuing the struggle for our
national liberation and democracy in Burma.  As a leading international
Karen organisation, we vow to support and advance the struggles of Karen
people for justice, equality, freedom and democracy by focusing on national
planning and development programs and the international Karen movement.

In the meantime, KNL is prepared to work with the international community
in order to promote the cause of the Karen people and the image of the
Karen struggle.  Since KNL is not an armed organisation, it can and will
freely cooperate with the United Nations and its agencies, and other
non-governmental organisations in its national development programs.

KNL whole-heartedly endorses the initiative taken by the Karen National
Union to end the forty nine years of armed conflict by indicating their
willingness to participate in cease-fire talks with the ruling military
regimes in Burma.  But unfortunately due to the military junta's spirit of
dictatorship, the negotiations that have been made in the past have failed.
 In fact, the insistence by the military regime that no political
resolution can occur until the Karens lay down their arms is totally
unrealistic and impedes any possible resolution by negotiation.

We desire genuine peace and DEMOCRACY. The world's continued interest and
support for our national cause are most indispensable and highly appreciated.

Towards our national liberation!
 
Department of Communication and Information
Karen National League (KNL)

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

KNU: PRESIDENT SAW BO MYA'S SPEECH ON 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF RESISTANCE DAY
31 January, 1998

On this Anniversary Day of our Resistance, firstly, I would like extend
the warmest greetings and best wishes to all the Karen people, near and far.

We, the Karen people, have to start the resistance because of genocidal
attacks against Karen civilians by the enemy, in response to the Karen
people's peaceful demand for their rights. It was the racist chauvinists'
plan to subjugate all the ethnic nationalities by force, including the
Karen people, and keep them under their oppressive domination, as slaves
and vassals. 

The KNU, led by President Saw Ba U Gyi, decided that the Karen people must
strive for a land of their own so that they would have complete rights to
develop as a people and escape from racial persecution. Accordingly,
President Saw Ba U Gyi submitted the Karen people's demand for a state and
their rights to the AFPFL government, led by U Nu, and had a number of
negotiations. However, peaceful negotiations did not make much progress and
there were accusations that the Karen were making impossible demands.
Meanwhile, armed attacks with extreme atrocities against Karen civilians,
by troops of the People's Comrade Party and the Communist Party, started.

In view of the genocidal attacks, the KNU had to get the permission of the
AFPFL government to set up a Karen militia force, the Karen National
Defense Organization (KNDO). On the other hand, the AFPFL set up a militia
known as the People's Volunteer Force as a counter balance. 

The negotiations between the KNU and the AFPFL government broke down as U
Nu finally told Saw Ba U Gyi that not an inch of land would be given and
that the Karen could start a war if they wanted a state. The peaceful
demands of the KNU were reduced into four points, namely: "Give Karen State
at once; Give us equality; We don't want communal strife; We don't want
civil war." While the Karen people's peaceful demands were ignored, attacks
against Karen civilians in the Irrawaddy delta and Tanessarim division
increased, as the year 1948 wore on. 

Finally, the Karen community in Rangoon as well as in Insein, where the KNU
headquarters was situated, came under attacks. Peaceful attempts by the KNU
to stop the attacks were to no avail. Thus there was no alternative for the
KNU but to lead the armed resistance of the Karen people that started on
the 31st of January 1949.

The racist chauvinists are still using armed suppression and attacks, with
the hope of subjugating the Karen people. They have used various means,
including religion, to divide and weaken us. Some of us were misled by the
enemy's deceits and sided with the enemy. 

Dear Karen people, be always alert against the enemy's deceits and
machinations. Do not let yourselves fall into the enemy's trap. Build up
unity together among the Karen people and rally under the flag of the KNU.
Strive on with courage and unity, until the freedom of the Karen people is
achieved.  Remember the motto of the KNU - "Unity is Strength."  

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ANNOUCEMENTS:

INDEPENDENT SOURCE: THAI-BURMESE BORDER CROSSING STATUS AT MAE SOT/MYAWADDY

Foreigners staying in Thailand are permitted to cross into Myawaddy, the
town on the Burmese side of the Friendship Bridge.

On leaving the Thai side, your passport will be stamped as "Departed" from
Thailand. On arriving at the Burmese side, you will be asked to pay
US$10.00, which allows you to stay in the Myawaddy town area for the day.
Equivalent payment in other currencies is not accepted.

Your passport will be kept by the Burmese Immigration officials at the
bridge office, and given back to you when you want to return to the Thai
side later that day. The Thai Immigration Office closes at 4:00 pm.

The Burmese Immigration Department will stamp your passport with Myanmar
Immigration "Admitted" and "Departed" stamps for that day.

Upon crossing back into Thailand, the Thai Immigration Office at the base
of the bridge will give you a free 30-day "on arrival" transit visa.
Alternatively, if you are staying in Thailand on the first of a
double-entry tourist visa, the Thai authorities will stamp you back in on
the second of your double-entry visas.

This service avoids the need for foreigners to travel out of their way to
Malaysia or other distant borders to stamp in the second of their
double-entry visas. It also offers tourists in the area the alternative of
extending their stay with free 30-day "on-arrival" transit visas when their
current tourist or transit visa expires by crossing into Myawaddy for the
day. The cost in both cases is US$10.00 to the Burmese Immigration Department.

The circumstances regarding non-immigrant visas is not known, but the Thai
Immigration Department says that foreigners can cross into Myawaddy for the
day and receive a free 30-day "on arrival" Thai visa upon their return to
Thailand more than once.

There are reports that similar services are offered at the other two major
Thai-Burmese crossing points - Mai Sai/Tachileik in the far north, and
Ranong/Kawthaung in the far south.

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FREE BURMA COALITION: PHOTO SEARCH
5 February, 1998

Dear Friends,

Professor Des Ball, Australian National University, is trying to find a
photograph of Taw Hla, Commander 101 Special Brigade at Kawmura.  He has
been working on many papers for Burma, among them, Burma's military
intelligence.

He would like this photo for a forthcoming publication.  If anyone can help
please send the photo to this address of to the Professor:

ANU, SDAS
Research School of Pacific Studies
Acton House
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Des Ball is a good friend to Burma and it would be great to be able to help
him.

Yours with thanks
Amanda