The BurmaNet News: August 3, 1999

[strider@xxxxxxx]

------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: August 3, 1999
Issue #1328

HEADLINES:
==========
DVB: INSTIGATIVE "9999" STAMPED ON CURRENCY NOTES 
SHAN: JUNTA GEARING UP FOR FOUR 9'S 
MYANMAR EMBASSY, LONDON: NEWS BULLETIN 
REUTERS: PAPER CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST SUU KYI 
XINHUA: FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN MYANMAR PLUMMETS 
DPA: MYANMAR FEELS "GUILTY" FOR CAUSING ASEAN TROUBLE
REUTERS: THAILAND TO CLOSE "TRAFFICKERS" CHECKPOINT 
ANNOUNCEMENT: 8888 ANNIVERSARY ACTIONS (DC, SF) 
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DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF BURMA: INSTIGATIVE "9999" STAMPED ON SOME BURMESE
CURRENCY NOTES 
28 July, 1999 

Burmese currency notes with the numerals "9999" stamped on them are
reported to be in wide circulation in Myawadi from where they have reached
up to Kawkareik, Pa-an, Moulmein, Mandalay, and Rangoon. The "9999" in
Burmese numerals are stamped with permanent red ink on various kinds of
Burmese currency notes. Informed sources are saying that the numerals are
aimed at instigating an uprising [similar to 8 August 1988 uprising] on 9
September 1999. The SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] authorities
are unable to take any action as the numerals "9999" are stamped on legal
currency notes and millions of kyats are used daily at the border trade.
Although they were able to investigate traders initially on how they
acquired currency notes with "9999" stamped on them, they could not take
further action and had to ignore the problem. 

When asked about his reaction to such currency notes, a trader at the
border who had seen the currency notes with "9999" commented, "When I first
saw the currency notes with '9999' stamped on them, I was frightened.
Later, I thought the SPDC would be afraid to withdraw these currency notes
as they could face an uprising in Burma similar to '8888' disturbances
[triggered by demonetization in 1987]. My feeling was that after seeing the
instigative '9999' I told myself that if such an uprising were to take
place I too would join and if other members of the general public join in
it would be successful."

The SPDC authorities concluded that the Thai-based pro-democracy activists
are responsible for stamping "9999" on the currency notes. Pro-democracy
activists and their contacts are now under close observation by the SPDC
intelligence agents in Mae Sot. 

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SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (SHAN): SPECIAL TRAINING IN COUNTER
INTELLIGENCE; JUNTA GEARING UP FOR FOUR 9'S
30 July, 1999 

The Defense Services Intelligence issued an order in mid-July to regional
commanders to select eligible trainees among their officers for a special
counter-intelligence course due to begin in August, according to SHAN
reporter in the north. 

The military produces counter-intelligence agents annually, but for this
year it would be an extraordinary course. The Opposition, dubbed by the
junta as "destructive elements", is reported to be preparing for public
protests and disturbances on 9 September (Day of the Four 9's) and the
military authorities wanted to be ready for them. 


As on 8 August 1988, the Day of the Four 8's, the authorities expected
many among the rank and file to join the general protests. The aim of this
special course for this 88th batch of counter intelligence training is to
keep all the dissidents within the three armed services in check. 

The training would begin on 16 August simultaneously in several locations
such as Mingaladon, Hmawbi, Bahtoo, Maymyo, Kyaukme and others. 

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

MYANMAR EMBASSY, LONDON: NEWS BULLETIN 
29 July, 1999 

[From Information Sheet, No. (B)1005(I), issued by the Myanmar Information
Committee and sent to BurmaNet by OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

For the past few years, amidst predictions by some western political
figures of impending political upheavals and civil unrest, the Union of
Myanmar has continued to enjoy peace and stability throughout the nation.
Even the small remaining insurgent groups such as the Karen National Union,
seeking refuge in uninhabited jungles along Thai-Myanmar border, have
suffered from mass defections and inter-factional skirmishes among
themselves. 

However, in view of their untenable military situation following
unrealistic rejection of the peace terms already accepted by 17 other
former insurgencies, there seems to be a shift in tactics towards
fabrication of news and false information in order to mobilise political
support from governments as well as human rights organizations in western
countries. 

They are now apparently hoping against hope that they might be able to
incite civil unrest around their numerically obsessed dates of 8.8.88
anniversary and the forthcoming 9.9.99. 

Recent dissemination by them of completely false and fabricated stories
such as "Sa, Sa, Sa" death squads and detention of a three years old as
"youngest prisoner of conscience" (who was never arrested) are glaring
examples of this ploy which may have already hoodwinked some prominent
"rights" organizations such as Amnesty International that reported the
"insurgent news" without seeking confirmation from credible alternative
sources. 

The Embassy now foresees a similar trend of action by supporters of these
desperate insurgent groups. For this reason, those truly non-political
human rights organizations should be conscious of this possibility before
drawing any conclusions especially on news emanating from such directions. 

An overwhelming majority of Myanmar's national races including the Kayins
(or Karens) are living peacefully in complete harmony with each other like
never before since the country became independent in 1948, only soon to
become embroiled in multicoloured insurgencies. 

As things stand today any attempt from inside or outside of Myanmar to sow
discord among the national races will only be a perilous exercise in
futility as well as a wasteful consumption of scant resources that are so
much in need for other purposes.

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

REUTERS: BURMESE PAPER CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST SUU KYI 
2 August, 1999 

YANGON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A commentary in Myanmar's state newspapers on
Monday accused opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi of ``brazenly spoiling
peace'' and reiterated a call for legal action against her. 


The official Myanma News Agency (MNA), meanwhile, quoted powerful
intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt as saying opponents of the
military government had been plotting to incite unrest next month. 

The commentary carried by the Myanmar-language ``Kyemon'' and ``Myanma
Alin'' newspapers accused Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy of
destroying national reconciliation. 

``Especially Daw Suu Kyi is brazenly spoiling peace,'' it said. The
commentary, signed ``An Advocate,'' accused Suu Kyi and her cousin Sein
Win, who heads a government in exile, of seeking foreign assistance,
colluding with the outlawed Karen National Union insurgents, and of trying
to disrupt ceasefire agreements between the government and other ethnic
groups. 

``She is cutting the union into pieces so the neo-colonialists can swallow
it piece by piece after its disintegration. Once she succeeds in her work,
the union will be in bloodshed.'' 

Suu Kyi should no longer be tolerated and forgiven, it said. 

``I hereby suggest on behalf of the nationalities of the Union that the
government should take effective action against her in accord with the
prevailing laws.'' 

The official papers in Myanmar are usually considered the mouthpiece of the
military government, but similar calls against Suu Kyi since her release
from six years' house arrest in 1995 have not resulted in legal action
against her. 

Khin Nyunt, considered the most powerful figure in the ruling State Peace
and Development Council, on Sunday accused opponents of plotting unrest to
mark ``four nines'' day -- September 9, 1999. 

``They are attempting to create disturbances like the four-eight riots,''
MNA quoted him as telling an Interior Ministry meeting. 

Khin Nyunt was referring to August 8, 1988, the date taken to mark the
start of a nationwide democracy uprising the military crushed the following
month. 

Khin Nyunt accused foreign broadcasting stations of ``spreading propaganda
with a view to panicking the people saying that it will be 'four nines'
this time. 

``Those who are involved in this matter and how they are involved are
becoming reasonably clear now. The people will be informed about it when
time is ripe,'' he added. 

After the 1988 uprising, the government accused the British Broadcasting
Corporation of inciting unrest by publicising a student call for mass
demonstrations on September 8, 1988. 

The Mynamar-language services of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia have
carried reports recently quoting dissidents in exile as calling for
anti-government protests on September 9.

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

XINHUA: FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN MYANMAR PLUMMETS 
2 August, 1999 

Myanmar received a total of 29.45 million U.S. dollars of foreign
investment in fiscal 1998-99, accounting for only 3.78 percent and 1.04
percent of that drawn in 1997-98 and 1996-97 respectively, official figures
show. According to the latest economic indicators published by the
country's central statistical organization, there were only 10 investment
projects during 1998-99 that came from eight countries and regions. They
are from Britain, China, the Hong Kong special administrative region,
India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Of the investment, that in
the manufacturing sector made up the highest with 19.57 million dollars in
5 projects, followed by fisheries with 5 million dollars in one project and
mining with 4.88 million dollars in 4 projects. The economic indicators
show that the foreign investment in the country in 1998-99 dropped to the
lowest level as compared with the past five fiscal years. The foreign
investment hit a peak in 1996-97 with 2.814 billion dollars. One of the
main reasons for the steep drop in Myanmar's foreign investment is the
impact of the Asian financial crisis. Brigadier-General Abel, Myanmar
minister at the office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council, admitted recently that due to the effect of the crisis, the direct
investment in Myanmar from member countries of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations fell by 70 percent. According to official statistics, Myanmar
had drawn a total of 7.108 billion dollars of foreign investment from 24
countries and regions up to the end of April this year since the country
opened to foreign investment and adopted a market-oriented economic policy
in late 1988. 


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

DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR: MYANMAR FEELS "GUILTY" FOR CAUSING ASEAN TROUBLE,
DIPLOMAT SAYS 
23 July, 1999 

Myanmar (Burma) seems to feel "guilty" for straining ties between the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the West by abusing
human rights -- but not guilty enough to make any changes -- a senior ASEAN
diplomat said Friday [23 July]. 

Military-ruled Myanmar had at length sought to explain its policies at an
informal dinner at the grouping's 32nd Ministerial Meeting in Singapore,
said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified. 

"Nobody spoke" after Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Win Aung gave a
presentation on the government's policies, he said. 

Myanmar was admitted to the bloc in 1997 despite heated opposition from
human rights groups and Western governments. 

The regional body had said it hoped membership would help convince the
junta to implement pro-democratic reforms. However, there has been no
obvious progress on restoring democracy or improving the human rights
situation since. 

ASEAN's relations with the European Union, however, have been severely
strained by Myanmar's admission. 

"Maybe Myanmar is feeling guilty for causing such difficulties for ASEAN,"
the diplomat said. 

U Win Aung had "recounted the developments in Myanmar since the 1992
elections up to the new policies". 

"The emphasis is on their government's priority of unity in the country
before undertaking new themes, new initiatives for improving external
relations," the diplomat said. 

Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called on ASEAN to
encourage dialogue between her National League for Democracy party and the
ruling generals. 

The Nobel Peace Price laureate has said the group's "constructive
engagement" with the junta had failed. 

Southeast Asian human rights activists Friday told ASEAN to "grow up, get
real and learn to deal" with unabated human and civil rights violations in
the region. To take no action would threaten the group's "credibility and
self-respect", they said. 

[ ... ]

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

REUTERS: THAILAND TO CLOSE MYANMAR "TRAFFICKERS" CHECKPOINT 
31 July, 1999 

BANGKOK, July 31 (Reuters) - Thailand said on Saturday it would close a
customs checkpoint on the Myanmar border in an effort to stem an influx of
illegal drugs. 

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai told reporters San Ton Du border
crossing, in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, would be closed
soon. He gave no date. 

The checkpoint is regarded as a main gateway for traffickers smuggling
amphetamines and heroin from the infamous Golden Triangle, where Myanmar
meets Laos and Thailand. 

"After discussions with the interior minister and the security council, I
think there is no problem closing one checkpoint at San Ton Du on the
Myanmar border," said Chuan, who is due to visit Chiang Mai on Sunday. 

He said closure of at least one other checkpoint on the Thai-Myanmar border
was under consideration. 

"We cannot close the other checkpoints now as they are still necessary for
commodities trade. But it is still under consideration and I have to
discuss this again to see what we can do," he said. 


The announcement follows the seizure on Thursday of more than four million
amphetamine tablets and 16 kg (35.2 lb) of heroin in a border clash with
suspected ethnic Wa guerrillas from Myanmar. 

Officials put the Thai street value of the haul at nearly $9 million and
said it was the biggest single seizure of amphetamines in Thailand. 

Thailand has accused Myanmar soldiers of being involved in the drugs trade,
a charge denied by Yangon. 

But international drugs enforcement agencies say ethnic Myanmar guerrillas
under the United Wa State Army (UWSA) based in Myanmar are responsible for
most of the illicit drugs produced in the Golden Triangle region. 

Thailand has deployed more than 800 troops along the border with Myanmar in
recent weeks to try to stem the flow of narcotics, but huge amounts of
amphetamine and heroin are still pouring across the border, Thai police say. 

Thai officials estimate the UWSA now produce some 300 million amphetamine
tablets a year, mainly for the Thai market. 

U.S. authorities said 130,300 hectares (321,700 acres) of Myanmar were
under opium poppy cultivation last year, capable of yielding up to 1,750
tonnes of opium gum. It takes about 10 tonnes of opium gum to make one
tonne of heroin.

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: 8888 ANNIVERSARY ACTIONS (DC, SF) 
2 August, 1999 

WASHINGTON, DC

DC Burma Activist Network- Ted Hobart: 703-524-9773 
Free Burma Coalition- Sapna Chhatpar: 202-543-1094 
Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma: Tin Maung Thaw:
703-834-5670

Washington, DC-August 2- Over 100 Burmese and American democracy supporters
will hold a series of actions in remembrance of the eleven year anniversary
of the August 8, 1988 massacre by the military of Burma against its own
people. Beginning on the 7th of August at 6:30pm, a mock funeral procession
will take place originating at the Dupont Circle Metro and ending at the
Burmese Ambassador's Residence (2333 R Street). A 12 hour vigil and wreath
laying ceremony will follow. 

The event coincides with the launching of a worldwide campaign to remove
the Burmese military's seat from the United Nations General Assembly. Each
participant will therefore bring a chair -- symbolizing the "unseating" of
the military junta -- to form a circle of empty chairs around the
Ambassador's residence. 

Burma, a country of almost 50 million people, is ruled by a brutal and
oppressive military junta. On August 8 1988, the people of Burma protested
their repressive government, resulting in a brutal crackdown in which
almost 10,000 civilians were massacred. Two years later, the military held
national elections. The National League for Democracy, the party of 1991
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, won 82% of the seats in the
parliament. Unfortunately, the military refused to honor the results and
declared the elections void. 

The Burmese military regime is recognized internationally for its
systematic oppression. Atrocities such as rape, extra-judicial killings,
forced labor, child labor, and torture are widespread. 


· In 1999, the International Labor Organization (ILO) voted to suspend
Burma from its ranks for its pervasive use of forced labor. 

· In 1996, The United States imposed economic sanctions on Burma in
response to widespread human rights abuses. 

· Since 1994, resolutions have been adopted repetitively by the UN General
Assembly and the UN Human Rights Committee calling for recognition of human
rights standards and the formation of the legitimately elected government. 

Modeled on the South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, Burmese democracy
activists and supporters have launched a campaign to kick the illegal
military junta out of the United Nations General Assembly and replace it
with the elected parliamentarians. The "Unseat Campaign," brings attention
to the illegitimacy of the Burmese regime and will ultimately remove their
seat from the General Assembly. At the same time, the goal is to "seat"
those legitimate representatives who were democratically elected in 1990. 

While there are many brutal regimes in the world, Burma is the only one
which held internationally recognized elections but whose representatives
are not honored by the United Nations. Burma's seat in the UN General
Assembly is unjustly occupied by the military junta, instead of the duly
elected officials. 

This is the first event in a series of actions over the next several months
to bring awareness to the campaign and the illegitimacy of the Burmese
junta. In September, the United Nations General Assembly begins its annual
review of Burma's credentials.

----------------------

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

You are invited to a... 

Candle Light Vigil for Democracy in Burma 

United Nations Plaza 
8th & Market Streets 
(Civic Center) 
San Francisco 

Sunday, 8/8/99, 8:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. 

Eleven years after the massive uprising and massacre which marked the
beginning of the democracy movement in Burma, the Bay Area Burmese
community invites you to a commemoration. The candle light vigil will
include refreshments and presentations by local activists and Burmese
students who took part in the 8/8/88 demonstrations. (Candles will be
provided.)

We, Burmese democracy activists, also invite all friends residing in San
Francisco Bay Area to commemorate 8888 by participating in the following
activities... Food offering to monks at San Jose Buddhist monastery at
10:00am on Sunday (8/8/99.)

For more information, contact: 

Francis Win (650)871-0738 Daly City 
Kyi Soe (650) 991-0197 Daly City 
Victor Win (650) 756-7285 Daly City 
Myat Htoo (510) 477-0987 East Bay 
Sein Tun (510)494-1666 Fremont 
Ko Ko Lay (415) 564-2446 San Francisco 

Sponsored by: Burmese Democracy Activists ( San Francisco Bay Area)

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