Bangkok Post(2/9/99)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

Chamber checks relocation of factories to Myawaddy
Local businessmen seek clarification

Achara Ashyagachat
The Thai Chamber of Commerce has sought confirmation from Burma over
relocation
of labour-intensive garment factories from Tak to Myawaddy.
Niyom Wairatpanij, chairman of the chamber committee on border trade,
yesterday
led a delegation of senior officials from the commerce, industry, foreign and
labour ministries to discuss the matter with Hla Maung, the Burmese
ambassador.
The Burmese ambassador was quoted as saying his country is supportive of the
move to boost border economic relations, according to Mr Niyom.
Tak is home to nearly 30,000 Burmese who work in more than 100 garment
factories. They are among the nearly one million Burmese migrants in Thailand,
who turned illegal following the Aug 4 deadline unless granted ad hoc permits
for certain industries.
"The private sector believes Rangoon supports the plan to set up a special
economic zone in Myawaddy. Now Thai entrepreneurs need to know for certain," a
commerce official said.
The envoy said Rangoon would invite Thai officials and businessmen for talks,
officials said.
The 10,000-rai economic zone site is 5km from Myawaddy but Thai businessmen
still need assurance of safety and infrastructure there and a clarification
from Thai agencies about the legal aspects involving re-exports.
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Burmese exiles stir up support for rally
More than 100 exiled Burmese students rallied outside their embassy
yesterday to
support calls for a mass uprising next month against the country's military
rulers.
The National Students League vowed to stage a sit-in outside the embassy until
Sept 9, the date of the planned uprising.
The protesters were closely monitored by authorities as they carried placards
and shouted anti-junta slogans in a vocal but peaceful demonstration. Exiled
pro-democracy activist groups in Bangkok have been calling for a mass uprising
against the junta on Sept 9, or 9/9/99, a day of numerical significance for
many Burmese. On Aug 8, 1988, or 8/8/88, hundreds of pro-democracy
demonstrators were gunned down and a junta took power.-AFP
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Rangoon to look into renegade raid
Bhanravee Tansubhapol
Burma has ordered an investigation into a weekend attack on a Thai border
village by guerrillas of the pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, the
Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
Surin Pitsuwan, the foreign minister, was yesterday informed of the order
given
by Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the ruling State Peace and
Development
Council. The information came in a letter from Mr Surin's Burmese counterpart
Win Aung, which was delivered by Burmese Ambassador Hla Maung.
A Thai shopowner was wounded in the attack over the weekend by an estimated 20
guerrillas who crossed the border into Ban Rai Don Chai, tambon Mae Dao of Mae
Sot district.
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