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Information Sheet N0.A-0525( I)



                                                Information Sheet  

                                   N0.A-0525( I)              28th July 1998 	

(1) 		Myanmar Delegation leaves to Attend 16th ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting

		Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Energy left Yangon by air on 27 July
for Singapore to attend the 16th ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting and Senior
Officers Meeting.

(2)		UMEHL Gems, Jade Sale 3-8 August

		Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited will sell gems and jade at
bargain and auction systems on 7 and 8 August at Myanma Gems Mart on Kaba Aye
Pagoda Road. Checking of gems and jade will be from 3 to 6 August at the same
venue. This will be the ninth gems and jade sale of UMEHL.

                          OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 27 JULY

(A)		 Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission
received Chairman Mr Robert M Friedland of Ivanhoe Capital Corporation and
party at his office. Investment on exploration of copper in Myanmar and
prospects were discussed.

(B)		Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs received Adviser of
Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd (Japan) Mr Zenichi Ishikawa at his office.

(C)		Minister for Mine received Chairman Mr Robert M Friedlalnd of Myanmar
Ivanhoe Copper Co Ltd and Mr Anil Kumar Agarwal  at his office. 

                                What Do They Do ? Timely Fashion-Action

		It is quite appalling to learn that while some foreign media have made
factual reportage and an article which appeared in the Bangkok Post of 28 July
entitled " support for the junta is untenable " continues to report stories
based on fabrication. It is a typical negative mentality of " Don't confuse me
with facts my mind is already made-up. " 

		In this article the usual fabrication such as, "---Aung San Suu Kyi was
spending her nights in her car surrounded by barbed-wires, sand-bags and
soldiers----. The uncomfortable sleeping arrangements forced Mrs. Suu Kyi, 50
Km west of Rangoon demonstrates once more that the newest member holds rules
of common decency in contempt. " It also went on to say that, " The junta that
murdered thousands of civilians in 1988----." It is very unfortunate that
these journalists do not attempt to seriously do their own work in research
and studies before writing a story. Although the numbers of casualties were
grossly exaggerated and fabricated. Probably, they would not like to know that
during the 1988 crisis in Myanmar over 65% of the industries in Yangon was
destroyed and looted while 118 policemen were injured, 35 policemen killed and
50 police stations overrun by the mob.

		Simultaneously, 52 innocent civilians were tried by kangaroo courts and
beheaded by the mob while an infantry platoon guarding a ministry building was
also overrun by the mob.  On top of it, the weapons, ammunition and explosives
from the police stations and the infantry platoon were taken away by the mob
while the insurgents also managed to bring explosives and weapons into the
cities as well. In the meantime anarchism was rampant in the country. The
Burmese Communist Insurgents were attacking the Government troops in the North
East and Eastern borders while the Kayin Insurgents in the South Eastern
borders.

		During this chaotic period the Armed Forces of Myanmar had no choice but to
use whatever means available to restore law and order in the nation while
repelling the attacking insurgent groups. In fact, the Armed Forces of Myanmar
managed to save the country from disintegrating and from becoming a war zone.
But unfortunately the international media and the western world portrayed a
different picture of the Myanmar Armed Forces depicting it as a ruthless
trigger-happy bunch of thugs shooting and killing civilians and repressing
democratic activities. Their so-called heroes of democracy were at that time
not only helpless but they stayed away from the rampage.

		Regarding the situation at the site where Mrs Aris' vehicle has been
stopped, due to the request made by a member of Mrs. Aris' team, on Sunday
night drinking water was provided and on Tuesday morning Mrs. Aris' personal
physicians Dr. Tin Myo Win and Dr. Pyone Mo Ei were also arranged by the
relevant authorities to be sent over to the site after the Central Executive
Committee submitted a request on Monday night. Furthermore, a medical team and
an ambulance have also been on standby since the past few days deployed to
provide medical attention and care if need be.

		It is unfortunate that the NLD leadership chose to adopt and engage in a
confrontational stance by challenging the government at every turn in
collusion with some western governments when  the NLD should have keen
interest and vision in cooperating with the government together with (9) other
political parties in serving the interests of the Myanmar people in the
process of rebuilding a nation.

		It is very regretful that the NLD has ignored her commitments to the nation
as a political party to help create conditions in keeping the nation peaceful,
stable, united and also for the children of Myanmar to enjoy the right in
pursuit of their education peacefully and continuously. Instead it has in
several occasions and also at present bent on creating incidents and agitation
for its propaganda purpose and political agenda only without any consideration
for the national unity, stability and development of a nation comprising 135
ethnic groups.

		It is quite obvious that the NLD is heading to create civil unrest on the 8
August ( the 10th anniversary of the 1988 incident ) and to agitate the quiet
Myanmar population for the August 21 deadline to which they have demanded the
Government to convene a parliament.		

		There has been maximum restraint being exercised in resolving the issues of
conflicts and confrontations in many cases and instances but deliberate
creation of confrontation by the NLD to force the Government to inescapably
react needs to be realistically scrutinized and more importantly stopped
rather than putting all the baseless blame on the Government in enforcing the
laws intended to maintain stability in the country. If governments are
prevented from taking appropriate measures against people or organizations
which are out on purpose to destabilize the nation so that country will
actually become a lawless and unstable nation ready to explode as the U.S.
Secretary of State has portrayed Myanmar as such.

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