The BurmaNet News: January 20, 2000

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--------------- The BurmaNet News ---------------
January 20, 2000
Issue # 1443
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HEADLINES:
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KYODO: 4 THAI SOLDIERS DIE IN CLASH WITH MYANMAR REBELS

MIC: RANGOON WISHES "A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR" TO PARDONED BRITISH ACTIVIST

THE NORTHERN ECHO: JAMES' CAMPAIGN GOES ON

AFP: MYANMAR REFUSES RETURN OF 14,000 MUSLIM REFUGEES FROM BANGLADESH

REAKSMEI KAMPUCHEA (CAMBODIA): TWO BURMESE MON "RESISTANCE" LEADERS 
DETAINED

BANGKOK POST: POLITICS 'NOT JUST FOR MEN'

BANGKOK POST: BORDER ALERT OVER UNITED WA STATE ARMY
RESETTLEMENT

BANGKOK POST: TROOPS READY TO REPEL KAREN FIGHTERS

BANGKOK POST: BORDER PIONEER-IN BRIEF

LETTER TO THE EDITOR--MAE KONG KHA REFUGEE CAMP COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON 
ACCUSING KAREN WANTS TO GO HOME

LETTER TO THE EDITOR--PROSPECT BURMA ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS COMING YEAR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR--DAYS OF PRAYER FOR BURMA



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KYODO: 4 THAI SOLDIERS DIE IN CLASH WITH MYANMAR REBELS 

BANGKOK, Jan. 20 Kyodo 

Four Thai soldiers were killed and five seriously injured in a clash 
with Myanmar rebels in the border province Ratchaburi, a Thai army 
spokesman said Thursday. 

The clash took place Wednesday afternoon when Thai soldiers were 
deployed in the area around Kao Krachom, about 200 kilometers west of 
Bangkok, after the army learned about an armed intrusion into Thai 
territory. 

The deaths and injuries all came from land mines in the area, Col. 
Somkuan Sangpattaranetr said. 

The rebel force is believed to have been the 'God Army,' an armed 
faction of the Karen National Union, the strongest rebel opposing the 
military junta in Yangon. 

The God Army was attacked by the Myanmar junta last week and the 
guerrillas lost their base. It is believed they wanted to capture Thai 
territory for a new base to fight the junta, a military officer said. 

The operation has also forced more than 1,000 Karens to flee Myanmar 
into Thailand. 

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH 

LOAD-DATE: January 20, 2000 


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MIC: RANGOON WISHES "A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR" TO PARDONED BRITISH ACTIVIST
Myanmar Information Committee

Rangoon, in English 19 Jan 00 

The government of Myanmar wishes the Goldwyns all the best and happiness 
for the new year 

Text of information sheet No B-1223(I) issued by the "Myanmar 
Information Committee" in Rangoon on 18th January, carried by Myanmar 
[Burma] National Homepage web site on 19th January; subheading as 
carried 

The Myanmar government does not feel disappointed but it feels sorry for 
Ms. Rachel Goldwyn [British activist] that she has to change her ground 
so suddenly. It is quite understandable that she is under tremendous 
pressure from people with vested interest. The government of Myanmar, 
realizing that she has been victimized by a certain group of people 
while recognizing the love and affection of the distressed parents on 
their daughter, decided to release her on humanitarian grounds. 

The government has no regrets for the leniency and clemency it had 
granted to Ms Rachel Goldwyn and continues to wish her all the best. 
Taking this opportunity, the government would also like to extend the 
Goldwyns a very happy new year.


***********************************************
THE NORTHERN ECHO: JAMES' CAMPAIGN GOES ON 
Jan.20 2000
Bruce Unwin 

A PROTEST is to be staged outside the Burmese Embassy in London next 
month to highlight the plight of jailed pro-democracy campaigner James 
Mawdsley. 

The 26-year-old human rights protestor from Durham has spent the past 
four-and -a-half months locked up in a prison cell in remote northern 
Burma. 

He was sentenced to 17-years imprisonment on September 1, for alleged 
illegal entry into the south-east Asian country and for handing out 
pro-democracy leaflets, banned by the ruling Burmese military junta. 

The plan to peacefully demonstrate outside the Burmese Embassy emerged 
from a meeting at Westminster on Tuesday, between members of James' 
family, human rights campaigner Lord Alton, and the action group Jubilee 
Campaign, which speaks up for oppressed minorities round the world. 

James' mother Diana, a nurse from Brancepeth, near Durham, said the 
protest would be staged on St Valentine's Day, February 14, her son's 
27th birthday. 

"It will raise awareness, not just of James' situation, but hopefully 
make our Government aware of what is happening out there. 

"That's what James wants. It's not an ego-trip for himself. He wants to 
expose the horrors of what is happening in Burma. 

"Thousands of people from the largest minority group, the Karen, have 
been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. It's ethnic 
cleansing, genocide, and yet British companies continue to invest in 
Burma and tourists take holidays there." 

She visited James in November and her estranged husband, David, a London 
businessman, returned at the weekend after also seeing his son in Burma. 


Mrs Mawdsley admits she was concerned at the junta's recent statement 
suggesting James may have to serve the full sentence. 

"The whole tone was bullying, to intimidate us, his family. They rule by 
fear, and I can't say I was over the moon at the statement. 

"James is speaking up for the people by what he's doing. Because he's 
British it gets attention, and for the moment he's determined to keep it 
going." 

While in prison James has received a message of support from Aung San 
Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's democratically-elected party, which has 
been never been allowed to take power by the junta. 


***********************************************
AFP: MYANMAR REFUSES RETURN OF 14,000 MUSLIM REFUGEES FROM BANGLADESH 

DATELINE: DHAKA, Jan 19 

BODY: 
   Yangon is refusing to accept the return of some 14,000 Muslim 
refugees who have been held in camps in Bangladesh since escaping 
Myanmar in 1991, officials here said Wednesday. 

The military junta refused to recognise the refugees as Myanmar citizens 
during a weekend visit to Yangon by a Bangladeshi delegation sent to 
settle the problem, a foreign ministry official said. 

However, Myanmar softened its stand on the repatriation of another 7,000 
of the refugees, who it cleared earlier, saying they could return home 
at any time, he added. 

A seven-member delegation led by the secretary of Bangladesh's Relief 
and Disaster Management, Azad Ruhul Amin, returned to Dhaka Saturday 
after talks with a Myanmar team led by the deputy immigration and 
population minister, Maung Aung. 

More than 250,000 Myanmar refugees took shelter in Bangladesh's 
southeastern frontier district of Cox's Bazar nine years ago. 

Most returned by 1997 under a 1992 bilateral agreement and subsequent 
intervention by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 

The return of the 21,000 has been stalled since 1997 by questions of 
identification and clearance by Myanmar, and also by logistical 
problems, said a Relief Ministry official who asked not to be named. 

An official report here last month said that in the past nine years some 
31,500 children have been born to the refugees, who fled Arakan Province 
to escape atrocities by the Yangon troops. 

Myanmar's military rulers deny the atrocities ever took place. 

Nearly 7,500 of the refugees died in the Bangladeshi refugee camps. 

Dhaka, which has called the refugees an "economic burden," said the 
children were not entitiled to Bangladeshi citizenship because their 
parents were in the country "illegally."


***********************************************
REAKSMEI KAMPUCHEA (CAMBODIA): TWO BURMESE MON "RESISTANCE" LEADERS 
DETAINED

January 17th, 2000

Two activists of the independence movement from Burma crossed into 
Cambodian territory through the Fifth Military Region and were sent to 
the security and criminal office of the military police headquarters of 
Battambang Province at 1800 [local time] on 12th January. 

Col Pao Vannak, the provincial military police commander, ordered his 
men to take the two resistance movement leaders to the Defence 
Ministry's research department the same night. 

Lt Kaeut Sophal, head of the military police's provincial security and 
criminal office, told 'Reaksmei Kampuchea' that one of the leaders of 
the resistance movement for independence, based on the Thai-Burmese 
border, is Mawn San, a 40-year-old man of Mon [a major ethnic group in 
Burma] descent; he is the leader of the resistance movement. The other 
is Kau Soek Nuonchhay, a man of Mon descent; he speaks Thai. 

The two told the Fifth Military Region commander that they crossed into 
Cambodian territory through Thailand, accompanied by Thai soldiers. They 
said they came to Cambodia with the aim of requesting political and 
military assistance from the Royal Government of Cambodia, reasoning 
that they are from the Khmer-Mon stock sharing the same blood, had been 
oppressed, and that 29 of their provinces in Burma had been annexed. In 
their opinion, they think the Cambodian government has sentiments on the 
basis of which they can establish relations. 

The resistance movement leaders also said their movement currently has 
over 10,000 people who have volunteered to fight for liberation from 
Burma with over 500 weapons. 

Reasoning that this is beyond his authority because this is an 
inter-governmental matter, Col Pao Vannak said he decided to send the 
two resistance leaders to the research department of His Excellency Mol 
Roeup at the Defence Ministry that night without waiting until the next 
day. 


***********************************************
POLITICS 'NOT JUST FOR MEN'
18.1.00/BANGKOK POST
MANILA
DPA

Two top Asian women leaders yesterday exhorted women worldwide to
break into the "traditionally male bastion" of politics to boost
efforts to eliminate discrimination and equalise opportunities
for women.

At the opening of a three-day Global Forum of Women Political
Leaders in Manila, former Philippine president Corazon Aquino
said it is only "when women take matters into their own hands
that they are able to secure their rights and privileges as full
human beings, equal partners of the menfolk".

"It is up to the women who are in positions of power and
responsibility to push for the equality that women aspire for and
deserve," Ms Aquino told delegates to the forum held in
preparation for a United Nations review of the 1995 Beijing
women's conference.

"We, who are the keepers of the values of the family and of
society, should not leave the important task of leadership in the
political sphere to the men alone," she added. "It is a job men
and women can and should do together, in complementarity."

In a videotaped message sent to the conference, Burmese
opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
stressed the need for more women in government, noting "women in
general have more compassion than men".

"I would like to think that there's built-in compassion in women
because we are the ones who have to nurture the children, we are
the ones who have to look to the next generations," said Ms Suu
Kyi, who is still under house arrest in Burma.

"I'm sure that we can always think of some women leaders who have
made tremendous impact, greater impact .than any of their male
counterparts," Ms Suu Kyi added.

The forum noted the slow increase in the number of women in
parliaments.

Pippa Norris, a Harvard University lecturer, said during the
1970s, women accounted for only 11% of the total number of
parliamentarians around the world. In the 1980s, the number
inched to 12% and in the 1990s, 13%.

Ms Aquino, cited by Time magazine as one of the most influential
Asian women in the last century, lamented; that gender
inequalities and violence against women remains rampant.

"While it is heartening to note that the world is indeed
realising and taking into serious consideration the advancement
of women. it has not moved fast enough for the women of the
world," Ms Aquino said.


*****************************************************************
BORDER ALERT OVER UNITED WA STATE ARMY RESETTLEMENT
20.1.00/BANGKOK POST
NUSARA THAITAWAT / WASSANA NANUAM

The Third Army is keeping a close watch on the United Wa State
Army amid its plan to resettle tens of thousands of soldiers and
civilians opposite Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Lt-Gen Watanachai Chaimuanwongse, the Third Army commander, said
he was concerned about the latest activities of the biggest drug
trafficking group in the Golden Triangle.

"I don't believe they can accommodate all newcomers as their Mong
Yawn projects have been stalled," he said in reference to the
closure of the San Ton Du-Mong Yawn border pass five months ago."

"The spill-over could spell problems for Thailand," said Lt-Gen
Watanachai, who has placed forces on alert from Tha Ton, Chiang
Mai, to Mae Sai, Chiang Rai.

A source close to the UWSA leadership in Mong Yawn, opposite Ban
San Ton Du in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai, said some 90,000

ethnic Wa, mostly civilians, are moving in from eastern Shan
state and Yunnan, China.

The relocation programme, to be completed by April, would boost
Mong Yawn's population to 120,000, the source said.

Burma said it planned to relocate 50,000 to opium-growing
villages in Shan State in conjunction with Wei Hsueh-kang, a Wa
commander based in Mong Mai, opposite Ban San Maked, Mae Fah
Luang district, Chiang Rai.

The Mong Yawn and Mong Mai leaders, though at odds, remain UWSA
members. Lt-Gen Watanachai said as many as 20,000 newcomers were
approaching Mong Yawn. He said Burma aimed to gather ethnic
minorities in one place.

The source said the UWSA were responding favourably to the
Rangoon policy in the expectation of political rights.

"The mostly civilian ethnic Wa in Mong Yawn are unlikely to cause
problems," he said, and they were happy with their new homes
after years of war with Burma, he added.

*****************************************************************
TROOPS READY TO REPEL KAREN FIGHTERS
20.1.00/BANGKOK POST
NUSARA THAITAWAT / WASSANA NANUAM

Security has been stepped up in Suan Phung district after Karen
guerrillas fleeing an attack by Burmese troops crossed into
Thailand.

About 200 armed members of God's Army had fled the Burmese action
and many had crossed the border, said Maj-Gen Sanchai
Ratchatawan, chief of the Surasi Task Force.

He warned that troops would push them back, first with warning
shots, and then fire on them if they refused to leave.

*****************************************************************
BORDER PIONEER
20.1.00/BANGKOK POST-IN BRIEF

Dr Singha, former health minister of the Karen National Union
government, died yesterday in the jungle in Umphang district of
Tak. He was 70.

The doctor, who headed the Burma Medicine Association, suffered a
heart attack after leading a team of physicians to treat Karen
refugees at Nu Pho refugee camp.

After resigning as minister, Dr Singh teamed up with an alliance
of foreign physicians and non-governmental organisations in
forming the association to treat refugees on the Thai-Burmese
border.


***********************************************
LETTER TO THE EDITOR--MAE KONG KHA REFUGEE CAMP COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON 
ACCUSING KAREN WANTS TO GO HOME

15 Jan, 2000

We, Camp Committee of Mae Kong Kha Refugee Camp dispute about more than 
10,000 Karen in Mae Kong Kha Camp want UNHCR to repatriate them with 
support from the National Security Council. That news expressed 4 
January, 2000 in Bangkok Post. We also dispute about the Camp Committee 
collected the list of refugees that already signed by refugees.

In or around about our camp, there are no narcotics trafficking but also 
the Camp Committee had clearly declare the regulation on no drug 
strictly.

The refugees want to keep the environment, and they cut bamboo and wild 
wood only for their shelters.

We are in the Refugee Camp in case of the war and we fled to the Refugee 
Camp from very oppressive military government (SPDC). We thank the Thai 
government for our shelters in Thai soil.

During we are in Thai soil, we would like to express our opinion that we 
will obey either state regulations or local regulations. As soon as 
there could restore peace and true democracy in Burma, we will return 
back our home land.


Camp Committee
Mae Kong Kha Refugee Camp

Please more detail contact ? 66 - 053 ? 682429



***********************************************
LETTER--PROSPECT BURMA ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS COMING YEAR

	Information on scholarships for the coming academic year for students 
of Burmese origian offered by Prospect Burma is now available.

	The details can be obtained from either of the Britain-Burma Society's 
web sites -Planet Burma on 
<http://www.planet.simplenet.com/index.mv?Burma> or
Planet Myanmar on <http://www.planet.simplenet.com/index.mv?Myanmar>

	In either case, click on START HERE at the bottom right, then follow 
the link.  Students with access to MS Word or Word Pad can download the 
form and instructions from the same place.

	Derek Brooke-Wavell, Britain-Burma Society


***********************************************
LETTER--DAYS OF PRAYER FOR BURMA
MARCH 10-12, 2000

Please Join Communities of Faith throughout the World
 in Supporting Human Rights in Burma by Participating in the 
International Days of Prayer for Burma


On March 10-12, 2000 communities of faith will join together to observe 
a moment of silence or join in prayer for the people of Burma.

"The people of Burma are struggling to reclaim their rights and their 
country from one of the world's cruelest and longest lasting
dictatorships...  The facts cannot be hidden, and we outside Burma 
cannot look away and ignore the plight of Burma's people.  Our religious 
and philosophical teachings tell us that human suffering anywhere must 
be accepted as our own suffering.

 ... In South Africa, we gratefully learned that the people's voices 
raised is indeed a most powerful tool.  It is time we raised our voices 
together to demand that our governments and the world community take 
effective action to bring respect for human rights and democracy to 
Burma"

-The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town


How Communities of Faith Can Help

Throughout the centuries, brutal regimes have sought to 
divide-and-conquer those they oppress by fomenting dissent among the 
different religious communities.  The current military regime ruling 
Burma is no different and has been relentless in its attempts to pit 
ethnic and religious groups against one another.

On the International Days of Prayer, MARCH 10-12, 2000, however,
communities of a multitude of different faiths will come together to 
support the people of Burma in their struggle against the brutal 
military regime.

The Weekend of Prayer
March 10-12, 2000

The Weekend of Prayer, March 10-12, 2000 is an opportunity for 
communities of faith to raise awareness about the human rights situation 
in Burma.

We invite communities of faith to join in the weekend of prayer for 
Burma by participating in a wide array of activities.  Some ideas for 
participating include:

*       Observing a moment of silence at faith services reflecting on 
the Burmese people who are suffering at the hands of military regime of 
Burma.

*       Highlighting the situation in Burma as part of an appropriate 
reading at a faith service.

*       Inviting a Burmese person or person knowledgeable on Burma to 
share their experiences and insight at a faith service.

*       Organizing discussions of readings, an educational slideshow or 
video on the situation in Burma.  Inviting a speaker knowledgeable on 
Burma from our speakers list to initiate a dialogue.

*       Including information about the situation in Burma in your 
regular newsletters and publications.

*       Contacting the Burma Forum for various campaigns you can become 
involved in to help the people of Burma (for example organizing letter 
writing campaigns)

Where to Write To Write For More Information

The Burma Forum is also inviting communities to add their place of 
worship to the growing list of participants of the Days of Prayer.  We 
are compiling this list to show the diversity of faiths and cultures 
joining in Prayer.


Please contact Heidi Quante at the Burma Forum if you would like to 
receive more information and if you have any additional questions.

Contact Information:

Attn: Heidi Quante
Days of Prayer
Burma Forum of Los Angeles
Suite 104
8124 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Telephone (323) 653-4571
Fax (323) 653-4581
E-mail: zquante@xxxxxxx

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