95-06 BURMA PRESS SUMMARY From the Rangoon "The New Light of Myanmar" Compiled for the Burma Studies Group by Hugh C. MacDougall Published by the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies, University of Illinois Volume IX, No. 6, June 1995 Table of Contents POLITICAL Slogans 2 "Destiny of the Nation" 2 Returnees from Bangladesh 33 Special Refresher Courses 33 National Races 34 Police to be Military Reserve 34 SLORC Vice-Chairman Tours Center 34 Judicial Honesty 35 Mon Party Rejoins Legal Fold 35 NATIONAL CONVENTION Plenary Session (of April 6) 35 DIPLOMATIC Diplomatic Calls 37 New Ambassadors to Myanmar 39 New Myanmar Ambassadors 39 Thai Charge Refuted (Apr. 6) 39 International Fashion Show 40 Relations with China Feted 40 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Joint Workshops & Projects 40 Donations from Abroad 40 Border & Regional Affairs 41 Social and Economic Cooperation 41 FOREIGN VISITORS International Agency Visitors 42 Cultural Visitors 42 Medical Visitors 42 Business Visitors 42 Singapore Business Study Mission 43 Religious Visitors 44 Journalists 44 Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister 44 Vietnam Education Minister 44 Bangladesh Cultural Troupe 44 Chinese Health Vice-Minister 44 Chinese Agriculture Minister 45 MYANMAR DELEGATIONS Study Delegations 45 Delegations to Meetings & Events 45 Religious Delegations 46 Business Delegations 46 Than Shwe to Indonesia & Singapore 46 Tatmadaw Delegation to Laos 48 Tatmadaw Delegation to Pakistan 48 Delegations Visit China 48 Delegations Return 49 MYANMAR GAZETTE Probationary Appointments 49 Appointments 49 Appointments Confirmed 49 GOVERNMENT New Immigration Ministry 49 Assignment to Security Commission 49 Cabinet Shuffle 49 New Ministers Named 50 New Deputy Ministers 50 MILITARY Insurgent Attacks 50 Surrenders by Armed Group Members 50 ECONOMIC Economic Articles 51 Inauguration of Projects 51 Advertisements 51 International Business Projects 52 Business Courses 53 Transportation 53 Banking 53 Government Cooperatives 53 Foreign Exchange Admissions 54 Garden City Plan 54 Rice Exports 54 Myanmar International Exposition 54 Gems 54 Import Substitution Seminar 55 Taxis to be Duty-free 55 Rainfall in Yangon 55 HEALTH AIDS Campaign 55 SPORTS Sports Articles 55 Myanmar Teams and Officials 56 Foreign Teams, Coaches, etc. 56 CULTURAL Universities & Institutes 56 Publications 57 Schools 57 Religion 57 Thihathana Throne 57 MISCELLANEOUS Sunday and Holiday Supplements 57 Crime 59 Anti-Narcotics Activities 59 Articles on Narcotics 60 Drug Abuse Day Message 60 Obituaries 61 Fires 62 Anti-drug Postage Stamp 62 ------------------------------------------- The issue for April 7 has been received and is included in this issue: -- Continued text of the Findings of the Panel of Chairmen at the National Convention Plenary Session presented on April 6. -- Myanmar response to Thai complaint against an alleged military incursion. ------------------------------------------- HIGHLIGHTS -- Senior General Than Shwe makes an official visit to Indonesia and Singapore. [MYANMAR DELEGATIONS] -- Major series of articles on "Destiny of the Nation", signed by "Nawrahta", outline the role of the Tatmadaw and its policies in Myanmar history and in the future Myanmar State. [POLITICAL] -- A new Ministry (Immigration and Population), and a cabinet shuffle [GOVERNMENT] -- New role for People's Police Force as a military reserve force. [POLITICAL] -- Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen. Mya Thin issues Message on narcotics. [MISCELLANEOUS: Drug Abuse Day Message] ------------------------------------------- POLITICAL Slogans The bottom of each front page continues to bear the slogan: Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of Myanmar Naing-Ngan [reverted back from "Union of Myanmar." The top of each back page bears the slogan: The Tatmadaw has been sacrificing much of its blood and sweat to prevent disintegration of the Union. All nationalities of the Union are urged to give all co-operation and assistance in this great task. Religious Slogans: Since August 1991, each issue has included a changing religious slogan at the top of each front page: June 1: Arati papa, to abstain from evil; this is the way to auspiciousness. June 2-16: Virati papa, to refrain from sin; this is the way to auspiciousness. June 17-30: Majjapana ca samyamo, to restrain [sic] from intoxicating drinks; this is the way to auspiciousness. "Destiny of the Nation" June 15-30: Destiny of the Nation, by Nawrahta [Major series of policy articles, which we reproduce in full text--bracketed headings have been added by HCMacD.]: June 15: (1) Origin of the Tatmadaw [heading in NLM] [50th Anniversary Armed Forces Day address] Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe delivered an address at the military parade on 27 March 1995, the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) Day. [Note: The full text of this address was published in the March Burma Press Summary] Every year, a military parade is held without fail on 27 March. The Commanders-in-Chief of Defence Services usually delivered addresses of historic importance. The Tatmadaw has turned 50 this year. Moreover, it coincides with the time when the Tatmadaw, as the State Law and Order Restoration Council, is discharging duties of State. The Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services also discharges duties as the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council. Hence, the Commander-in-Chief was addressing not only the Tatmadaw but also the State. I have noticed the address has been clarified. When the address was broadcast on Myanma Television, it was not in the Senior General's voice. It was read by the announcer. The full text was carried in the dailies. Those who read the address paying no special attention at the time might have treated it as just another address. The interest in it will rise gradually as it is clarified throughout the country. In Myanmar, the practice of studying, evaluating and criticizing address with keen interest has been out of vogue for quite some time. The point is, it will not be proper for leaders to deliver speeches in lighter vein like writers do. It will not be possible for them to crack jokes to amuse the public. A historic speech cannot include banter. State leaders should not deliver a speech as politicians canvassing for votes do. A State leader has to say only what must be said. What did the Senior General say at the Armed Forces Day parade on 27 March? The beginning of Senior General Than Shwe's address highlighted points dealing with the members of the Tatmadaw. It reviewed the history of the Tatmadaw and modern history of Myanmar. It dealt with the role of the Tatmadaw and political, economic and social sectors which it is undertaking. Fifty years... Fifty years is half a century. For an ordinary person, it is no small experience. It is a rich experience for the Tatmadaw which had to ward off all kinds of danger posed against the country during the period. [Resistance in colonial times] The Tatmadaw emerged during the independence struggle and experienced hard times. Myanmar people had striven for national independence since the country fell into servitude. Myanmar was enslaved after the Third Anglo-Myanmar War after which King Thibaw was taken away. At the time, the British troops were in no position to occupy the entire Myanmar. Nevertheless, Myanmar lost its sovereignty. It was because the sovereignty of Myanmar existed only at the palace. The entire nation fell once the king was captured. Resistance movements of patriots failed. The movements at the time were not united. However, they troubled the colonialists a good deal for some ten years. As such, the colonialists governed with an iron hand so that no one could rise. There is uprising if there is too much pressure. The colonialists did not apply pressure on the entire nation. That is why servitude lasted long. The colonialists did put pressure in some areas but they dispensed favours to some others. They created "Ingaleik-khit-kaung" (golden age of English) as written by the late Thawda Swe which prolonged Myanmar's servitude. The evil legacy of the divide-and-rule policy has been troubling the country to this day. Myanmar is still subject to dreadful strategies and tactics of the colonialists. There remain those who could not be cleansed of slavish tendencies. There are people who still think highly of the colonialists, who would like to rely on them and who fawn for them. Myanmar could not be politically united. Even at the time of the independence struggle, patriot politicians were disturbed by lackey politicians of the colonialists. There was infighting while rising against the colonialists. The GCBA thus split into two or three. Doh-Bamar-Asiayon also split into two. Still, the Myanmar were unyielding. "The 1300 Movement" (of Myanmar era) which occurred in 1938-39 was the strongest political uprising of the Myanmar against the colonialists. But regaining independence still remained distant. Oil-field workers took part in the Movement risking loss of jobs and defying imprisonment. Their families starved. Students were arrested. Education disrupted. Peasants left their fields and marched to Yangon. With no rice, they also starved. In Yangon, student leader Bo Aung Kyaw fell. In Mandalay, 17 were martyred. Even with all that the victory achieved was not encouraging. The colonialist government made certain changes to compromise with Myanmar capitalists who assisted in its administrative machinery. In reality, there was no glimmer of independence. It is said that warfare is a consequence of politics. Before they got used to the parliamentary democratic system lectured by the British, the Myanmars came to realize that the practice was not conducive to regaining of independence. It would be too difficult for a colony to gain independence under the British-style parliamentary democracy. First, political parties were to be formed only with the approval of the colonial government. Independent politicians would not be allowed. Next, they would have to canvass for votes. If they won they could become Members of Parliament. After that, they would have to work to win support in Parliament. These are different stages of the process. The British taught Myanmar people how to go politicking and allowed them to play a meagre role in administration. Power was thus vested in them not in the public interest but in their own interest. In their quest for independence, the Myanmar made their way into Karl Marx's revolution. They read voraciously, and afterwards some became Communists, some Socialists. There broke out arguments on ideology. However, they were unanimous that there must be a Tatmadaw for armed revolt against the British. Bogyoke Aung San and the Thirty Comrades stole away abroad and took up military training with the Japanese. That was the origin of the Tatmadaw. The Tatmadaw was not formed just to have one. It was not formed after a law was made. It emerged due to the endeavours of a group of patriotic youths determined to selflessly stake their lives for the country and the people. It is a patriotic Tatmadaw. (NLM 6/15) [Bogyoke Aung San] June 16: (2) The beginning of the history of the Tatmadaw played a crucial part in the history of Myanma struggle for freedom. Bogyoke Aung San and the Thirty Comrades took secret military training in Hainan. They had no personal ambition whatsoever in doing so. No one guaranteed them any high post. Not one of them thought of becoming a minister or an army general. Expectations of high salaries were very far from their thoughts. The main objective of Bogyoke Aung San and the Thirty Comrades was to wage an anti-imperialist struggle. Perhaps each of the Thirty Comrades had their personal political aspirations coming as they did from differing political factions but all of them shared the same fundamental belief and that was patriotism. The Thirty Comrades arrived at Bangkok along with the Japanese Armies and managed to collect over 200 young Myanmars. Between 26 and 31 December 1941, they organized the Burma Independence Army. That was the first ever Myanmar armed force. [What founding date should the Tatmadaw adopt?] In this context a question arises as to which date the Tatmadaw should accept as the Tatmadaw Day. Why has 27 March been designated the Tatmadaw Day? Why should not 26 December (or) 27 December be designated the Tatmadaw Day? 27 March is the Resistance Day. The Tatmadaw was there even before 27 March. A number of older politicians had made this contention. The question was raised also after 1988. There is here a point for consideration. Nobody disputed 27 March being designated the Resistance Day. It is common knowledge that the anti-fascist Japanese resistance began on that day. Who revolted against the fascist Japanese? The Tatmadaw and the entire mass of the people revolted. It has been accepted in history that the Tatmadaw and the mass of the people revolted against the fascist Japanese under the leadership of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (later the AFPFL). But... The Burma Communist Party had once claimed that they led the resistance. The Red Flag Communist Party also claimed that they led the resistance. Several people had said: I did it. These people are unable to agree to 27 March being designated the Tatmadaw Day. But it is not necessary here to take their wishes into consideration. There are strong reasons why the BIA Day was not designated the Tatmadaw Day. The BIA was only a Japanese-sponsored army. Admittedly the BIA grew to a strength of over 50,000 men within a space of four, five or six months but there was not systematic organization yet. The strength was a bit inflated too. It was a mere collection of armed patriots. On 27 July 1942, the Japanese disbanded the BIA and instead organized the BDA or the Burma Defence Army. The strength was retrenched, yet the BDA was more precisely organized. Recruitment was systematic and so was training. Discipline improved and it was more compact than the BIA. Yet BDA was still under Japanese command. In 1943, the Tatmadaw began to prepare to rise up against the Japanese. But there were difficulties in getting political elements together. Sectarianism of the Burma Communist Party and the People's Revolutionary Party (also known as the Socialist Party), was intense and they were at odds with each other. Marxists as both the parties were, they still refused to come together. The Tatmadaw mediated the two and organized the anti-fascist league. The Tatmadaw gained secret contacts with the Allies who then collected armed personnel from among the nationals and formed the Burma Army. On 27 March 1945, the Tatmadaw openly declared war on the fascist Japanese and commenced the anti-fascist resistance. At that time the Tatmadaw ceased to be subservient to anyone. It had risen against the Japanese just as it had not become English subordinate to the British though the British tried to win the Tatmadaw over to their side. The Tatmadaw forged a monolithic unity with the people in the course of the anti-fascist resistance. The Tatmadaw began to get the full support of the people and thus became the People's Tatmadaw. At this point the People's Tatmadaw must be analysed. Western Bloc Allies snorted when they heard the word People's Tatmadaw. This was because the Communist Party and the Socialist Party had ordained that the Tatmadaw must be a People's Tatmadaw. Mao Zedong had taught that the army and the people must be like fish and water. The People's Tatmadaw of the Communist Party pattern or the Socialist Party pattern had to unreservedly submit to party leadership. The Tatmadaw of the period of anti-fascist resistance was not subservient even to the Communists or to the Socialists. The revolution was led by the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League but this League was not a political party pursuing a particular political ideology. It was only a league of political parties. It was not a Front of the Communist pattern nor was it an Alliance. And then the leader of the League was none other than Bogyoke Aung San, the leader of the Tatmadaw. The nation should be aware that the Tatmadaw, though frequently referred to as the People's Tatmadaw, had never been a Communist pattern Tatmadaw. But it had frequently come across misunderstandings of the West Bloc. On 27 March 1945, our Tatmadaw made its own decision and legitimately declared war and launched the Resistance. Therefore, this day was designated Armed Forces Day because it was the day attributes of a national army were attained and the Anti-fascist Resistance was launched. [Nature of the Tatmadaw] We can say that the Tatmadaw has been a pivotal organization in the anti-colonialist and anti-fascist struggle. It is also an organization that has emerged due to the needs of the nation. I want you, Comrades, to understand that it is not the type of army formed just to have one. Thus did the Defence Services Commander-in-Chief declare the true character of the Tatmadaw. The Tatmadaw is a patriotic Tatmadaw. The seed of patriotism sown by patriotic young men like Bogyoke Aung San and the Thirty Comrades is thriving eternally in the Tatmadaw. Up till now the dominant sentiment of Tatmadaw personnel is patriotism. The Tatmadaw is not an army of conscripts; it is an army of volunteers and it requires a lot of patriotism to be a volunteer army man. The life of a Tatmadawman is harsh. It is during a time for enjoying life that the young men joined the Tatmadaw. Pay and privileges are not that attractive: they get only as much as the State offers them. They have to get ready to sacrifice their lives as soon as they joined the Tatmadaw. That the Tatmadaw is a patriotic Tatmadaw is therefore indisputable. The Tatmadaw is a well disciplined army. Beginning with the times of the BIA and BDA, the Japanese instilled military discipline with slaps on the cheeks. Tatmadaw personnel have to abide by all laws like any other citizen and also additionally observe strict military disciplinary rules and laws. They have to learn by heart the sixty Codes of Conduct. Offenders are severely punished. In this respect no leniency is shown even to soldiers who had won a series of gallantry medals. The Tatmadaw is a loyal Tatmadaw. The Tatmadaw personnel have to recite an oath of allegiance every day. We will be loyal to the State and the People. We will be loyal to the Fallen Comrades. We will conscientiously obey the orders and responsibilities given by our superiors. We vow to sacrifice our lives for our country, our people and our Tatmadaw. Had the Tatmadaw been disloyal to the country and the people in 1949 just after Independence when internal insurgency was at its most savage state, what could have happened is simply unfathomable. Time now is when the Tatmadaw rules the nation. (NLM 6/16) [Origins of the post-war Tatmadaw] June 17: (3) Beginning with the time Myanmar began to struggle for freedom, the Tatmadaw has been the most important organization. The struggle for freedom was a political struggle against imperialism. The Tatmadaw performed not only military duties that were a continuation of politics, but also political duties uniting political elements and organizing the masses of the people. During the Japanese Era the Burma Defence Army had changed its name to the Burma National Army. The National Army means an army that represents the nation. And during the Japanese Era, only the name was changed while the Tatmadaw still remained under Japanese control. During the period of the revolution, the allies formally redesignated the Tatmadaw and recognized it as the Patriot Burmese Forces (PBF). Myanmars accepted the new title with satisfaction. Myanmars believed that it was quite noble to be recognized as patriots. The imperialists overlooked that point. They designated the Tatmadaw as the Patriot Forces only to imply that it was not a regular army but only a guerilla army. At the end of World War II and on return of the British, they made plans to disband the Tatmadaw saying "Disband your Patriot Forces, we have a Burma Army already formed." Admittedly the Allied Armies brought the Burma Army back with them. Even before the War the British had formed native rifle battalions. These battalions were exclusively to learn the arts of war and shoulder responsibilities assigned to them. When the British withdrew from Myanmar those battalions withdrew along with the British though some were left behind. During World War II the Allies organized guerilla units like the Force 136, the Chindits and the Rangers and sent them into Myanmar. In those units were a large number of Myanmar national races including Bamars. The British organized them into eleven battalions and called them the Burma Army though they were not of full strength. The British made plans to disband the Patriot Burmese Forces and re-enlist them in the Burma Army individually strictly in accordance with their own recruitment policies. But the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League led by Bogyoke Aung San vehemently opposed this move. The Naythurein Mass Rally strongly supported the Patriot Burmese Forces. This was a political battle. The Tatmadaw was ready to continue the revolution if this political battle were to fail. The British who won World War II with the help of Americans had been pauperised and was not ready to confront an armed revolution of an ex-colony. Under the Kandy Agreement, therefore, the Patriot Burmese Forces were allowed to merge in their own formations with the Burma Army in the reorganized army. The Tatmadaw then embraced all the native battalions too. Nevertheless, the imperialists soon won over some native battalions and incited them against the nation: Communists wooed some of them away to their side, and they followed the Communists when Independence was achieved. Some native battalions turned insurgents. The Tatmadaw was confronted with the possibility of a fragmentation. [Four political crises] The internal insurgency of 1948 and 1949 was the first political crisis for the newly independent Myanmar. The disintegration of the Tatmadaw would mean the disintegration of the nation at that time. But the Tatmadaw loyally stood by the side of the AFPFL government. It managed to rebuild unity within. Unity within the Tatmadaw that the Tatmadaw leaders forged with difficulty at that time still remains strong today. It was because of this unity within the Tatmadaw that it had been able to shoulder national responsibilities with intensity. As internal insurgency declined a foreign menace emerged beginning 1950. the Tatmadaw had again to fight the KMT aggressors. When a second front had thus to be opened, internal insurgency resurged. The Tatmadaw was unperturbed. In 1958 insurgents began to surrender though some went on bargaining. The fire of insurgency was about to be totally extinguished when the AFPFL split, just then, into the Stable Faction and the Clean Faction. The Clean AFPFL suspected that the Tatmadaw would side with the Stable AFPFL and therefore expanded its pocket armies: they toyed with the idea of arming the Burma Communist Party, bringing it back to the legal fold and then disband the Tatmadaw. The government lost control of its own followings. Prime Minister U Nu had to legally hand over power to General Ne Win and to request him to form a Caretaker Government. While shouldering the responsibilities of a Caretaker Government, the Tatmadaw gained experience in the government of a country. The Tatmadaw ruled the country honestly and effectively without any political tricks whatsoever. The 1958 political feudings were Myanmar's second political crisis. The Tatmadaw resolved it satisfactorily. Free and fair parliamentary elections were held. The Clean Faction won: it formed the Pyidaungsu Party (Pa-hta-sa). The Tatmadaw handed power back to it. That did not last long. Another crisis developed in 1962. States threatened cessation [sic] from the Union. The Constitution drafted in 1947 conformably to British fancy did allow to secede from the Union ten years after Independence. At that time Rakhine State and Mon State had not yet been formed. The Chin State was a mere Special Division then. States began threatening to withdraw from the Union even before the Union had formed all required States. Some sought US help through the Nationalist Chinese while others entered into agreements. On 2 March 1962, the Tatmadaw took over State power. There was no alternative: the Union was on the verge of breaking apart. The 1948 Constitution was incapable of protecting the Union from breaking apart. A take-over of power became imperative. The Constitution had to be scrapped. The Tatmadaw was able. It dared to make sacrifices. Self-interest was of no account. It only upheld the interests of the State. It was noble. It was capable of overcoming the difficulties. It had the courage required to overcome such difficulties. It was necessary to make bold decisions in times of emergency. Was the deteriorating situation to be tolerated: was it to be simply watched with folded arms? Tatmadaw leaders did what they had to do, never mind it if was to be hated or to be blamed. The Stable Faction and the Pa-ma-nya-ta (NUF) Faction jubilantly supported the Tatmadaw when it took over power in 1962. The Opposition cheered because it was from the Clean Faction that the Tatmadaw took over power. But the Tatmadaw did not think of handing over power to the Opposition Camp. The Opposition was not much better. The Tatmadaw's stress at that time was national solidarity. Myanmar had practised parliamentary democracy that the British had taught them and trained them for fourteen years. That accomplished nothing. The country only kept declining, getting poorer and poorer. Nationals have lost control over economic life. There was not one credible political party. There was hardly any one to be trusted. What was to be done? Bogyoke Aung San had pledged to rule the country with socialist principles. There was firm evidence that even as a member of the Thirty Comrades while in Japan, Bogyoke Aung San had documented that he did not favour absolute monarchism nor of a multi-party system but that he would rule the country under a single party system. A majority of political leaders including U Nu had also dreamed of a socialist goal. Time was when socialism was being very popular in the world. As the Tatmadaw took over State responsibilities in the form of a Revolutionary Council, it advocated consolidation of all political parties into a single party and pursuance of a Myanma way to socialist programme. A number of Burma Communist Party leaders surrendered and came forward to co-operate. Certain sections of the Pyi-ma-nya-ta and the Stable Faction responded positively. A Peace call was made. The Revolutionary Council endeavoured for national solidarity. In 1969, the Internal Unity Advisory Body was formed for the sake of national solidarity. Recalcitrants became expatriates. The Tatmadaw had gained much experience. The political experience of the Tatmadaw that had stood firm for all fifty years is much greater than political experience of political parties. (NLM 6/17) June 18: (4) The GCBA is regarded as the first ever political organization to have emerged in Myanmar. The GCBA split into two. The two halves further splintered into several political parties. All these parties disappeared before the War. In Myanmar, the first ever political party to demand complete independence was the Doh Bamar Asiayon. It split into two before the War. Today it is part of history. The Burma Communist Party is the most senior among all political parties. It ultimately perished as an underground organization. It never came within reach of government power. In 1989, all nationalities joined hands in terminating its existence. The People's Revolutionary Party emerged soon after the Burma Communist Party and converted itself into the Socialist Party. But its name had almost completely been forgotten even at the time of achievement of Independence. The Anti-Fascist Organization formed jointly by the Tatmadaw, the Burma Communist Party and the People's Revolutionary Party became the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) after the Resistance and played the main role in the struggle for Independence. When the Communists quit, Socialists remained within the AFPFL. It wielded power for ten years after Independence and split into two in 1958 and collapsed. The Burma Socialist Programme Party functioned for twenty-four years counting from 1964 when it began as a Cadre Party. Despite the Tatmadaw's backing it collapsed in 1988. The KNU appeared even before Independence but, as of now, it has been reduced to a skeleton. In fact it had fragmented. The name now applies only to a skeleton. [Political experience of the Tatmadaw] The only organization that has been functioning until now with discipline and cohesion and gained the most political experience is the Tatmadaw. A lot of world nations share the concept that an army must not dabble in politics. Myanmar also has such a concept. But, look at those times when it was forced to because there was no escape. In 1948-49, the Tatmadaw Defence Services Chief of Staff had to act as a Deputy Prime Minister. The Tatmadaw had to be there everywhere as there was no alternative. The country was about to be destroyed otherwise. In 1958, the State leader himself had to hand over power to the Tatmadaw. Had the Tatmadaw remained aloof, a civil war could have broken out in those days. Had not the Caretaker Government emerged, there could have been a bloodbath. But the 1962 crisis was far worse. Had the Tatmadaw not taken over power, about three more land-locked States would have emerged in South East Asia which would eventually turn into anti-communist bases of the West Bloc. The outcome would be a ware far more ferocious than the Vietnam War. 1988 was the worst of all. The Army ruled Myanmar from 1962 to 1974. The Revolutionary Council organized a national plebiscite and enacted the 1974 Constitution. Myanmar became a Socialist State henceforth. It was indeed a Socialist State that did not depend upon any outsider. When in 1962 the Revolutionary Council emerged and hinted that it was going to pursue a socialist programme, the Soviets, it will be remembered, came into Myanmar. The East European Bloc and Myanmar developed a very cordial relationship. The Soviets built the Kyetmouktaung Dam for Myanmar. The West Bloc suspected that Myanmar had joined the Soviet Bloc. But, under prevailing circumstances, Myanmar was unable to follow the Soviet line. Time then was when the Soviets and China were estranged. Myanmar shares a common frontier with China. If Myanmar were to toe the line of an enemy of a next-door neighbour, what would be likely to happen to Myanmar? And thus Myanmar did not become a member of the Soviet Bloc. Neither did Myanmar become a member of the Chinese Bloc. Still it became a victim to the West Bloc's enmity. The West Bloc was hostile to anyone who called himself socialist. The West Bloc quietly regarded Myanmar as its enemy and began helping the expatriates and the KNU even as Myanmar was going all out to combat the Burma Communist Party. The Tatmadaw sacrificed many lives fighting Communists just as it did the same fighting other insurgents helped and aided by the anti-communist bloc. A nationalisation campaign appeared soon after the Revolutionary Council came into power. The intention was to boost the nationalist economy. All economic enterprises were in the hands of foreigners and not in native hands and they were therefore nationalised. Even small provision stores fell victim to this socialist nationalisation programme. National small capitalists resented it. Myanmar stood independently without any body's help for twenty-six years. It was impossible for Myanmar to join the Soviet Bloc just as it was impossible to join the Chinese Bloc. And it would surely become another Kampuchea if it were to accept the help of the West Bloc. Under these circumstances Myanmar had to earn its own living trying to maintain amicable relations with its neighbours. It had to develop its own economy. Myanmar is rich in natural resources but very poor in technology and knowhow. It dared not accept foreign help just as it came. Most foreigners who came only fleeced Myanmar: they looked only after their own interests. Myanmars viewed England as an imperialist country and the Japanese as fascists: that deterred Myanmar from developing close relations with them. Myanmar was also unable to trust America who was constantly being branded as an imperialist by communists and socialists. When it was incapable of associating with any body Myanmar simply kept suffering sitting on a gold-mine and getting poorer and poorer. Myanmar endurance ended when socialism declined in the world. When even a mighty communist empire like the Soviet Union disintegrated a far worse fate awaited Myanmar that remained in isolation. The 1988 situation was most miserable. Demonstrations, purportedly for democracy, turned anarchistic. Beheadings followed. Lootings of government property developed into lootings of private property. Law and order had vanished. The government machinery had been paralysed and food stocks had run out. The Tatmadaw just could not help but take over power. Some, even today, keep blaming the Tatmadaw for taking over power. But, ponder over what might have happened to the country had not the Tatmadaw taken over power. Others also say that the Tatmadaw took over power not a moment too soon. The Burma Socialist Programme Party was not longer able to govern the country and that was a fact. When it was said that the Tatmadaw took over power, it was only taking over power from the hands of the Burma Socialist Programme Party. The Burma Socialist Programme Party did not resist, nor oppose, the Tatmadaw. Those who opposed happened to be elements who desired to topple the Burma Socialist Programme Party. Or, say the Opposition Camp. The Opposition jubilantly welcomed the emergence of the Revolutionary Council in 1962. Now it was just the reverse. They launched a massive opposition to the State Law and Order Restoration Council. Myanmar would have split into three had the Tatmadaw not taken over power. One would become a communist state, another would become a socialist state and the third would become a democratic state. These three states will further splinter within a year just as in the Soviet Union and in Yugoslavia. What was the Tatmadaw to do after taking over power? Must it put that State power into the hands of the Opposition, "Alright, now, you rule the country"? At that time there were four factions in the democratic opposition itself. Give them a free hand and they would begin killing. When permission was given to form parties, over 200 parties appeared pronto. Made a world record. Most commendable. Into whose hands must this anarchistic country be put into? There was not a single trustworthy person, not a single trustworthy party. How was the State Law and Order Restoration Council to chart the country's future course? (NLM 6/18) June 19: (5) The Tatmadaw emerged as a result of self-sacrificing endeavours made by Bogyoke Aung San and the Thirty Comrades when Myanmar was in bondage under a foreign power. The Anti-Fascist Resistance was neither [sic] a walk-over. It was a struggle against the Japanese who managed to subdue the powerful Allies for quite a long time. Under the British again the Tatmadaw narrowly escaped from being disbanded. In 1948 and 1949, the Tatmadaw had to fight and defeat internal insurgents of all hues who were very much stronger than the Tatmadaw. In those days, the Tatmadaw as well as the multi-coloured insurgents used single-shot rifles that were the left-overs from the War. Thanks to imperialists, insurgents also possessed artillery as well as armour. Danger posed by the Nationalist Chinese aggression beginning 1950 was not insignificant. Behind the 12,000 of them was the United States. In 1958, as the Tatmadaw was busy engaging internal insurgents and foreign aggressors at the same time it also came under the threat of some politicians wielding governmental power. Pocket armies began growing into a stage where they could challenge the Tatmadaw. But the Tatmadaw managed to resolve that crisis. It succeeded in winning over some of them. The Tatmadaw encountered political opposition when it took over power in 1962. It had to content with disturbances fomented by the Burma Communist Party UGs. It had to combat the BCP that had been strengthened by outsiders in 1968. Later on, it had also to cope with expatriates that also appeared with outside help. The Tatmadaw was surrounded politically and militarily by enemies but it still managed to gain the upper hand. Among the four crises chronicled in contemporary Myanmar history, the 1988 was incomparably the worst. In 1948 and 1949 crisis, the Tatmadaw, despite opposition by some politicians, was still "a bunch of roses loved by every damsel". The masses were grateful to the Tatmadaw for subduing the insurgents. The Tatmadaw's successes in waging the anti-fascist resistance and in securing national independence was still fresh in their memory. And they had, with a nationalist spirit, supported the Tatmadaw when it confronted the foreign aggressor. In resolving the 1958 crisis the Tatmadaw had to take some unpopular measures. It had to cope with some issues with a strong hand. Yet, because of the weaknesses of politicians, the masses continued to depend on the Tatmadaw. They understood the Tatmadaw well. Very soon after the return of power to the Pyidaungsu Party Government, the masses felt nostalgic about the Caretaker Government days. The 1962 crisis related to the threat of disintegration of the Union as a consequence of collapse of national unity. There was political opposition, nonetheless the Tatmadaw was able to cope with it satisfactorily. The crises that the Tatmadaw resolved for fifty odd years were national crises and national difficulties. Contemporary history of Myanma development process is synonymous with the history of the Tatmadaw's development process. [Dealing with the 1988 crisis] The crisis that the Tatmadaw was confronted with in 1988 was the worst to have developed over the past fifty years. The Tatmadaw found itself in a very unpopular plight. Forces opposed to the Tatmadaw were gaining strength. The masses has begun to waver. The Tatmadaw was getting blamed for every thing that had happened. Some alleged that the Tatmadaw was an organisation used to staging coups for nothing. At that moment insurgent organisations of all hues began to launch offensives. The battle of Mongyang and the battle of Methawaw were ferocious battles. Above ground, turbulence and turmoil continued unabated. The situation of the country in all aspects had fallen to zero. Politically bankrupt. Militarily, life and death battles were being fought. Economically, not one pya was left in national coffers. Socially, depravity reigned supreme: culture had vanished and a period of savagery was on the threshold. It was at such a time that the Tatmadaw had to take over power. There was scarcely any one who heartily welcomed and supported the Tatmadaw. Even if there had been some they would not have dared to open their mouths lest they be decapitated. The first thing that the Tatmadaw had to do as the State Law and Order Restoration Council was to restore stability, peace, tranquillity and the rule of law. Security, in other words. The country was in a havoc. It was as if the country was placed in a salver carried on the head by a staggering, drunken hawker. There was not stability anywhere. People lived in panic. Neighbourhoods were restless with no peace and tranquillity. They knew not whom to fear and whose orders to obey. Happenings took their own course. The rule of law became a myth. There were murders, there were dacoities and there were robberies. Nobody knew where to make a complaint. There were rapes and nobody where to go and report. They kept quiet out of shame. What was to be done at such a time? Issuing statements and shouting through amplifiers would be of no avail. The Tatmadaw had to bring back some battalions fighting the enemy on the front line and send them to towns. Troops left in the front lines were compelled to risk their lives to contain far stronger foes. Troops that came back to towns had to face jinglees. They knew not how to respond to insolent taunts and provocations. They would be blamed if they opened fire. At the same time it was impossible for them not to take some sort of action. Bogyoke Aung San, the President of the post-war Myanma AFPFL, himself had had a similar experience. The AFPFL, at the urgings of Communists, got ready to take part in elections. A democratic way of trying to achieve independence. But Communists headed towards violence and disorder. The AFPFL had to expel the Communists. Communists infiltrated into the People's Volunteer Organisation that led to the breaking away of the Red Guards. Lootings emerged. This disobedience campaign did no harm to the British government: it hurt only the AFPFL, that was struggling for Independence. Bogyoke Aung San was compelled to take a resolute decision to suppress the disturbances. "And then they said they organized strikes to destroy the Projects. Now, wait and see if the Projects will get destroyed or the workers will suffer. What we foresee is that Projects will not be destroyed but the workers will suffer and the country will be hurt. It is already hurt now. Conservancy workers are being picketed and that endangers the health of the city of Yangon." "If buses do not get petrol because the Dunneedaw Petrol Pump is picketed, they will stop running and there will be a scarcity of commodities and you will get hurt if there is a shortage of commodities. Where is the Projects getting hurt? They will incite their ignorant followers to do this and to do that but they personally won't make any sacrifices. It is up to you if, knowing this, you want to be exploited by the Communists. But we will have to take action if workers and the country are going to get hurt. I am categorically saying this: we might have to use the Police against our desire." This was the speech delivered by Bogyoke Aung San in the morning of 20 October 1946 at the Mass Meeting held at the Western Stairway of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Bogyoke was referring to the strikes forcibly created by Communists. And now, the Tatmadaw had to take action against Strike Camps that refused to withdraw even after the Tatmadaw had taken over power. This was a move made to stabilise the country. (NLM 6/19) [Priority of State security] June 20: (6) What is the most important basic need for a human being? What is a permanent requirement for a human being? The most important, the most basic and the permanent requirement for a human being is none other than his continued existence as a human being. To put it more clearly, a person needs his continued survival. Man needs security to enable him to survive as a human being. He will be able to live his whole life-span only when there is security. Man can endeavour only when there is security. He can endeavour to clothe and shelter himself. He can then endeavour to acquire wealth. From eating only to live, he begins to eat very well after he became wealthy. From dressing himself merely to cover his shame and merely to protect himself from the vagaries of weather, he begins to dress fashionably. He moves out of the shelter of a hut into the shelter of a brick building. This is a very simple explanation of the process of being a human being. Similarly, the basic need of a State is none other than to continue for ever its existence as a State. There could be no disputing the fact that security is most important for a State to survive and to grow stronger. A State will be able to pursue its aspirations only when there is security. In Myanmar, the organization most responsible for ensuring security is the Tatmadaw. Just as the Tatmadaw, in cooperation with the mass of the people, had secured independence, the Tatmadaw also is responsible to protect and preserve independence and Sovereignty. Ever since regaining of Independence, the Tatmadaw has been sacrificing sweat and blood to protect the country from all sorts of dangers and perils. Tatmadaw that has fought numerous battles with foreign and internal foes in the past fifty years has militarily matured and gained much experience. It has developed to a certain [sic] both in material aspects and psychological aspects. But, is Myanmar now safe from the threats of all kinds of foes? Is Myanmar now quite safe and secure? These questions must be answered with a shake of the head. International developments, more or less, have their impact on Myanmar. World political repercussions would not spare Myanmar. At the present moment, the super powers are meddling in the affairs of developing countries politically, militarily, economically and even in social affairs. They are changing their style of work too. Myanmar defines a "just" war as a "defensive" war. The policy is not to wage aggressive wars but only to defend own country when encroached upon. This is a very generous and tolerant, "just war" policy. American invaded Panama, it invaded Haiti. It waged war against Iraq. American policy deems it just to send its armed forces abroad and take military action. Israel makes bomb attacks on Southern Lebanon. Israel is not likely to take heed however loudly Lebanon may shout about its sovereignty being encroached upon. This is because Israel has to fight the Palestinians who are in Lebanon. Military strong countries are not in the habit of waiting till their foes come into their territories. They make pre-emptive strikes when they suspect that their enemies are collecting their forces in another country. And they will not heed criticisms being made for such action. And it is very easy nowadays for a country to say who its enemies are. It can regard someone with a differing opinion as an enemy. A country may regard another as an enemy on political grounds and even on economic grounds. And, indeed, a country can accuse another with differing cultural systems of violating human rights and proceed to harass that country. There was a certain balance of power before the Soviet Union collapsed. Movements of the West Bloc were, at that time, restricted by the East Bloc. The West Bloc endeavoured to restrain steps taken by the East Bloc. A country, being molested by the West Bloc, may approach the East Bloc for understanding. This system of balancing powers collapsed with the collapse of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. The balance has been lost. The scale has become lop-sided. Developing countries, under these circumstances, must live very wisely. They must be able to conduct themselves in such a way as to deter foreign countries from insulting them. To put it plainly, the security situation is not satisfactory. We will have to make arrangements to be able to defend ourselves. For a country like Myanmar, the Tatmadaw becomes all the more important. The Tatmadaw will have to be built up to attain par with others. The saying that "a country is only as strong as its army" has become more and more relevant. Defence Services Commander-in-Chief Senior General Than Shwe has to take account of the Tatmadaw as being a Tatmadaw leader just as he has to take account of the nation as being a national leader. "Just as the Tatmadaw had, in cooperation with the people, secured Independence, it also has the responsibility to protect and preserve Independence and Sovereignty." Thus has Senior General Than Shwe reminded Tatmadaw personnel of their main responsibility. "I must say that in the light of today's changing situations in the international arena, we need to be more vigilant in defence of our Independence and Sovereignty." This observation may be interpreted as comprehensively as one may desire. The international situation keeps changing from day to day. And it is hard to fathom the policy of certain countries. Someone believes that he has nothing to do with what is going on in Bosnia-Herzegovina. But when Kawmura, the last stronghold of the KNU fell, someone in Australia got up in protest, others living in such a place as Canada started yelling. The loudest cries came from America and England. There are several people who are bent to blame a river bank collapse in Nyaung U for a fractured thigh suffered by a cow in Sanpanago. "We need therefore to strengthen, expand and modernize our Tatmadaw. We have adopted four Tatmadaw Building Programmes to build up the Tatmadaw to meet our national needs." The Defence Services Commander-in-Chief has prescribed four Tatmadaw Building Programmes covering Training, Administration, Welfare and Morale. Tatmadaw personnel are at present striving to modernise and develop the Tatmadaw in accordance with these four Programmes. Five Basic Qualifications have also been prescribed for every unit and every comrade as a means of measuring progress made by units. Tatmadaw personnel, individually as well as by units, have to keep building up their morale. They have to keep improving the standard of discipline. They have to keep strengthening their loyalty and their unity. They have to keep enhancing the three efficiencies, namely efficiency [sic], administrative efficiency and organizational efficiency. Efforts are thus being made to improve the Tatmadaw only for the sake of the country. [Changing Tatmadaw responsibilities] Tatmadaw's responsibility today is not like before. The Tatmadaw's responsibility and policy in BIA and BDA eras were something different. Freedom first. Freedom second. Freedom third. The responsibility and policy changed when the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League was formed for the purpose of anti-fascist resistance. Time, then, was when collaboration with Communists and Socialists was essential. It was also necessary to work with Democratic Allies for the purpose of fighting the Japanese. Therefore, the priorities were-- Freedom first. Democracy second. Socialism third. After Independence the Tatmadaw had to shoulder responsibilities assigned to it by the government. In 1958, during the period of the Caretaker Government the policy had again to be changed in conformity with prevailing national conditions and with the desires of political forces. Peace and the Rule of Law first. Development of Democracy second. Socialist Economic construction third. When the Burma Socialist Programme Party emerged in the later part of 1962, the Tatmadaw had to take this Party leadership. The 1974 Constitution prescribed that the State must take Party's leadership and the Tatmadaw also followed Party principles and policy. Two main responsibilities were prescribed at that time. 1. National defence. 2. Building of a Socialist Society. As of 18 September 1988 it has become impossible for the Tatmadaw to build a socialist society. And it would not do to work without a basic concept and belief which constitute moral armament. Our Three Main National Causes that have guided the Tatmadaw previously without formal announcement and would remain indisputably true in the future too had to be adopted as policy principles. Non-disintegration of the Union. Non-disintegration of National Solidarity. Perpetuation of Sovereignty. Our Three Main National Causes is not socialism. Neither is it democracy. It mainly aims at serving national interests of security of the citizen and the State. The Tatmadaw's responsibilities have also to be changed in consonance with the times. 1. National defence. 2. Training to enhance efficiency. 3. Perpetual service to the interests of the people. Householders in a neighbourhood infested with thieves would not dare to sleep soundly. Travellers would not dare to travel on a road infested with robbers with any sense of security. If security is that important even for an individual, how important it would be for a State needs no further explanation. The country must have peace and stability and there must be the rule of law. The Tatmadaw has shouldered these responsibilities throughout all eras. It does not necessarily mean that national security and defence responsibility involves only fighting wars. To restore peace in the countryside and re-establish the rule of law is also discharge of national defence responsibility. (NLM 6/20) [Need for law and order] June 21: (7) If only the three universal laws of Liberty, Equality and Justice were being universally observed, laws would be redundant. The law of the jungle reigned supreme during the Lithic Age. Later on, cultured human society began to introduce laws for further prosperity and development. These laws were further improved from era to era. If man were to follow rules they were told to follow there would no longer be any justification for keeping a police force. In this context, Myanmars are found to be weak in observance of laws. They are constrained by religion from committing major crimes but they readily violate some petty rules. On television every day, pedestrians are reminded to use the zebra and the Traffic Police keep warning them through loud-hailers. To no avail. Pedestrians still sneak across main roads whenever they can. Two to three hundred pedestrians are being fined every day for such haphazard crossings though there are over two to three thousand such violaters. A young man once boasted of being fined sixteen times for this offence. This is an example. People spit betel juice when they are told not to. People discard garbage indiscriminately when they are asked not to. Breach of law has nothing to do with socialism nor with democracy. It is matter of human conduct. When action is taken against violators of security regulations, mere imposition of fines would not be adequate. Fond-indulgence is out of place when anarchists have to be restrained. Even no two members of the same family behave alike. One member would obey orders but another member might flout the orders. Mother will have to give three or four sharp lashes with a small cane on the buttocks of a recalcitrant. When there are rules there must also be enforcement of the rules and punishment of offenders. After taking over power on 18 September 1988 the Tatmadaw stressed the security aspect. It had to break up Strike Camps that were threatening security. It gave no quarters to disturbers of community peace. Sharp action was taken, never mind if that earned hatred. And probably this method of operation would continue into the future. No parents would tolerate even their own children trying to burn down the house. Action would have to be taken where it was called for. On the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces Day, Senior General Than Shwe gave a simple explanation of the role of the Tatmadaw in the history of the country. How did the Tatmadaw emerge? Why did the Tatmadaw emerge? What type of Tatmadaw is it? What did the Tatmadaw do at the time of the four political crises of 1948, 1958, 1962 and 1988? Had the Tatmadaw kept itself aloof in those days, the country would have been destroyed four times over. Had the Tatmadaw not taken over power, particularly in 1988, the Union would now be in shambles and bloodshed would have continued. "I have now explained to you the role of the Tatmadaw. I will now explain to you about the political role. I must say that the Tatmadaw is not without convictions or concepts; it is not like a blind elephant trampling down the woods; it is not like a blind man walking with faltering steps; it is not trying to fish in troubled waters following a course of expediency: it would be necessary for you comrades to understand this." Criticisms, some of them in whispers and others very loudly, emerged when the Tatmadaw took over power. "These fellows have no dollars now. They are going to issue volumes of Kyats and inflate the currency. Just watch. They won't last even for a year. They will get thrown out." "What do these fellows know about politics? Soldiers may know how to fight. What will they know about politics, economics and social matters?" Such criticisms had emerged. Actually, the Tatmadaw's political experience is not so insignificant. The Tatmadaw is well versed with national politics. Political experience gained by Tatmadaw leaders, political studies they had made and contacts with the masses they had maintained are not to be underestimated. Communists who had been the main adversary of the Tatmadaw, were politically strong-headed foes. They had challenged the Tatmadaw not only militarily but also politically. And the Tatmadaw had also responded politically. But, the Tatmadaw utilized its political experience not only for the welfare of itself. In other words, the Tatmadaw had not indulged in politics of the kind political parties did. It utilized its experience only for the welfare of the masses. "The Tatmadaw has adopted firm objectives in politics, economics and social affairs and are pursuing these objectives systematically. And you comrades also know that we are pursuing political objectives with full goodwill towards the people." "Since 1988, the Tatmadaw has endeavoured to restore peace and stability to the country. The people will have to live in panic if there were no peace and no political stability. What is important is the security for the people. That was why restoration of peace, the rule of law and stability had to be given priority. The Tatmadaw has, as the State Law and Order Restoration Council, performed this task as its main duty." Under circumstances that prevailed in 1988, security became the most urgent problem. Demonstrations that began in March 1988 brought violence in their wake. Section 144 had to be imposed, a military administration had to be enforced. The Burma Socialist Programme Party Government was compelled to give in gradually. Concessions given by the Party were complete excepting its own total withdrawal. Even that was not accepted. The situation became uncontrollable. They said they did not want socialism and asked for democracy. They were therefore promised democracy, a multi-party system. They were not satisfied; they began to demand an interim government. And then anarchism escalated, indiscipline reigned supreme. Myanma history has not known an anarchism of that intensity. Nobody was to be trusted. Beheadings committed at cross-roads were applauded and cheered by the mob. "Very good," they exclaimed. But, committing crimes is not a political movement. It was very easy to put some one into trouble in those days. It was not so difficult to mete out vengeance to a one-time enemy. Point an accusing finger and shout: "Hey, that man is from the Intelligence, he is going around poisoning". That person was slain there and then. There was no security for anyone. Each lived in fear of his property being looted. Restoration of peace became an imperative. The rule of law had vanished. It is so very easy to push down a reeling drunkard. A person without stability cannot stand firm. Myanmar had lost stability. National peace is disturbed not only by insurgents. A robber also can disturb it. A thief can make a nuisance. A man in the street can be disruptive. Law can easily be flouted by anybody. In destabilising Myanmar, aboveground elements can take part, underground elements can do it. Elements within the country can create it and elements outside the country can foment it. The Tatmadaw had a responsibility to provide security to the people. Those who are destroying peace, the rule of law and stability are but public enemies. Public enemies are also enemies of the Tatmadaw. The Tatmadaw will have to fight its enemies. The Tatmadaw has the strength to fight its enemies. It also has the necessary courage. It is capable of fighting enemies not only with weapons but also with other means. It can reestablish the rule of law and suppress its enemies. It can also exercise control by issuing Orders, Proclamations and Rules. Immediately after taking over power, the Tatmadaw was compelled to shoulder its political responsibility as a priority responsibility. (NLM 6/21) [Responsibilities in 1988] June 22: (8) The State Law and Order Restoration Council can be seen to have pursued the following objectives in the political sector since the taking over of power. 1. Restoration of peace, the rule of law and stability in the country. 2. National reconsolidation. 3. Emergence of a strong State Constitution. 4. Building of a new State in accordance with a new Constitution. Of the four political objectives stated above, the first objective is concerned with national security. National defence is important for security. The Tatmadaw's most basic responsibility is national defence. Responsibility assigned to the Tatmadaw by successive governments has always been national defence responsibility. In 1988, national security had completely been wrecked. The State Law and Order Restoration Council issued Proclamation No. 1/88 as its first ever proclamation and that proclamation was directed at re-establishing national security. The Proclamation declared that efforts would be made to restore the rule of law and local peace throughout the country. It also stated that lines of communication would be secured and facilitated. And, striving to ameliorate the daily life of the people and holding of multi-party democracy general elections are also political responsibilities. Objective of political groups' objective then was to bring down the government led by the Burma Socialist Programme Party. That government was brought down when the Tatmadaw took over power. And the socialist system too was brought to an end when multi-party democracy general elections were announced. the 1974 Constitution was scrapped. Those who claimed that they demonstrated and went on strike because they did not like the government... Those who did not like the Constitution... When the government had been brought down, socialist system put to an end and the Constitution scrapped these persons could claim to have started on a way to achieve their political objectives. They could assume that a way had been opened for them to get what they wanted. Yet, demonstrations and strikes did not terminate. Strike Camps became a birthplace for violence. They went too far, they have gone too far. Before the Tatmadaw took over power, it was cursed and condemned as being a prop and a defender of the Burma Socialist Programme Party and that might be conceded as being quite natural. After the Tatmadaw took over power, the least they could do was to wait and see. The State Law and Order Restoration Council's first proclamation, too, was not that unacceptable. "We will continue to do what you want, but right now, security is very important and we will have to give priority to that task..." such frank assurances were not heeded and they did not stop where they should. The day after the takeover of power, on 19 September 1988, the Kyimyindine Police Station, the Sangyaung, the Latha, the Kamayut, the Yakin and the Dala Police Stations came under attacks and raids. Six Policemen perished at Dala Police Station. At about 11:30 the same night, violent elements fired launchers and small arms at the microwave tower on the roof top of the Long Distance and Overseas Communications Switchboard on Maha Bandoola Street near the Sule Pagoda. Three launchers were fired and one made a hit. About twenty rounds of small-arms fire were directed at the same target. The firearms use was American M-16 automatic rifles, a standard weapons of insurgents [sic]. Only three launchers were fired... Only twenty small-arms rounds were fired... The attack could be lightly dismissed this way. But the target happened to have been a microwave tower for inland and overseas communications. It happened to have been a military target. The attack was right at the centre of Yangon City. The following day, 20 September 1988, violent elements raided Thongwa Police Station and took away arms and ammunition. Violence continued unabated. Anarchism proliferated. The Tatmadaw issued proclamations, rules and orders. There were people who disobeyed these. The Tatmadaw compelled them to obey. In so doing, action had to be taken. Persons likely to breach security had to be arrested and detained. This earned hatred but the Tatmadaw had no alternative. On 23 September 1988, the Tatmadaw reminded political parties to register according to law. This further confirmed the fact that the single party system had been terminated. Previously, nobody excepting the Burma Socialist Programme Party, could do politics. Those wishing to do politics had to join the party and follow party policy and principles. The situation had changed now. On 25 September 1988, violence again erupted on the Shwedagon Pagoda platform. Eleven hundred persons had to be detained in nine days from 18 to 26 September 1988 in the whole country. A large number of political groups tried to continue opposition to the Tatmadaw. Some went underground. Others called for an armed revolution. These were cause for concern. The Tatmadaw acted resolutely. Never mind if it got hated for that. The real good intention of the Tatmadaw would be realized one day. Students fled to the insurgents. They came back to Yangon disillusioned, within a month. The Tatmadaw established Reception Camps to welcome the students back. And the Tatmadaw was at that same time fighting the battles of Mongyang and Methawaw. On 2 December 1988, seven students who came back from insurgent camps met local and foreign media personnel. The Press conference held in the drawing room of Defence Ministry was sponsored by the Tatmadaw. The Tatmadaw tried to ensure an orderly transition from the defunct socialism to a new political system. The country would surely have been destroyed had the Tatmadaw dropped the reins and let things take their own course. Look at the pattern of Soviet disintegration, of Yugoslav disintegration and of disintegration of East European countries: they were of the same pattern as had happened in Myanmar. Every Communist or socialist country that turned democratic and embraced market economy overnight ran into trouble. Sanguinary wars broke out. Economically bankrupted and impoverished [sic]. Currency inflations followed. Citizens of fragmented unions and federations fell into deep distress. Have a look at TV newscasts and newspapers, they fell into a pitiable plight. One tragedy followed another for them. Became war victims: starvation stalked them. Immorality spread among the masses. The Tatmadaw was in no way able to let those things happen to Myanmars. It could not allow bloody wars to break out in Myanmar. It did not wish Myanmar masses to have to face starvation. The Myanmar masses must be of a high standard, not depraved, depressed or backward people. This concept stems from patriotism and nationalism. Had the political opposition traumatised the Tatmadaw, had it wavered and had it capitulated, the country would not have come to a situation it now had. That was why the Tatmadaw had to regard the security of the country and the people as its priority task. 1988 ended but the country was still not stable, not orderly. And security had to be kept under constant watch throughout the year 1989. In implementing the State Law and Order Restoration Council's first political objective of restoring peace and stability to the country, the Tatmadaw had to take unpopular measures. The Tatmadaw will never withdraw this objective. It will not tolerate any encroachment upon security from any quarter. It is because security is the most basic and the most important requirement of the country. (NLM 6/22) June 23: (9) The importance of security no longer needs any special explanations. Nations of the world may be seen ensuring their own security, each in its own way. Socialist nations keep strengthening their security and democratic countries keep strengthening their security. Lenin decisively suppressed the counter-revolutionary White Guards that emerged after the October Revolution. American has to keep suppressing the Mafia Mob. A nation without security is incapable of doing anything. Economic activities are impossible. Social welfare is jeopardised. Governments as well as the people must first ensure security to enable them to pursue their objectives. Security is of the first priority. Security had been of primary importance at the time of socialism and security will remain to be of primary importance under democratic rule. [Bogyoke Aung San's Policies] The Tatmadaw and the people were still unable to achieve Independence even after their anti-fascist Japanese resistance. Myanmar, that had become a World War II battlefield, was re-annexed by the Allied Forces. The British Government re-established its rule over Myanmar. The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) led by Bogyoke Aung San had to resort to all means to regain Independence. In waging the Anti-Fascist Revolution, the AFPFL had to join hands with the Democratic Alliance that included the British. In this move, the Communists joined in and the Socialists joined in. What was to be done when the Democratic Alliance refused to grant Independence to Myanmar? The AFPFL waged a political struggle. The Communists urged the AFPFL to take part in Elections. Bogyoke Aung San and leaders took part in the Elections and became members of the Governor's Executive Council (Ministers). Even U Thein Pe Myint became the first ever Communist Minister within the British Empire. In other words, Bogyoke Aung San and AFPFL leaders continued to wage a political struggle after entering the government organized by the British. The Tatmadaw was to fight the British if political means were to fail to achieve Independence. When everybody began to struggle in unity, Communists began to say that it was wrong for the AFPFL to have taken part in the elections. They proposed driving out the British with a revolution. The revolution Communists suggested was not that kind of armed revolution that the Tatmadaw was to undertake. What they wanted was a mass upheaval to wreck the British administrative machinery. However, upheavals the Communists organized did no harm to the British, they only hurt the AFPFL that was in the Governor's Executive Council (Government). The Red Flags instigated the poor people to loot rice under their slogan: "Who dare to fight? Red Flags. Who dare to die? Red Flags." No longer able to tolerate Communists, Bogyoke Aung San expelled them from the AFPFL. He resolutely put down the disturbances. An Anti-Fascist Resistance Anniversary Celebration was held at Aunglan on the morning of 28 March 1947 at which Bogyoke Aung San gave a lengthy speech. Consider the following extracts from Bogyoke Aung San's speech. Bogyoke Aung San gave an explanation of the AFPFL's action programme for attainment of Independence. He denounced the British stooges and political cheats. He issued a warning to Communists fomenting disturbances. "What I have now explained to you is the present situation in brief. "We will now have to make a quick decision as to which road we should follow when we have come to the crossroads in the light of the present situation I have explained. Are we to effectively put out the fires those opposed to the AFPFL had started or are we to say 'Let it burn' and look on with folded arms? "If we are to put out the fire, we must put it out effectively. If we want to keep looking on with folded arms we must remove ourselves from our present position. I am being very frank. We cannot afford to remain undecisive. "If we go on being indecisive, if we continue to waver, if we dare not do what we think is right, that will amount not only to a betrayal of the trust put in us by our supporters but also to being unfair to our own selves. "We don't want a situation in which the people have to live in panic in perpetual fear of being killed any time of the day or night. "We desire a situation in which the people may live in peace and security. We don't want a situation in which people will have to live in uncertainty fearing to get killed any time of the day or night. We desire a situation in which they can live and move about freely. "We do not yet hold all the powers in our hands and are therefore unable to promote the people's living as we might wish, and we are yet unable to solve all the problems that beset the people: nevertheless we have the responsibility at least to deliver the people from their present panicky plight and provide them with a security of life." Thus had Bogyoke given top priority to the task of providing the people with security. He was compelled to crush disturbances created by certain political forces. He thus got hated by some. Those who hated him even went and joined hands with the British. He did not care about getting hated. Despite intelligence he received of imperialist henchmen hatching a plot to assassinate him, he continued to do what he had to. On 19 April 1947, Bogyoke Aung San gave another speech at a mass rally held at U Visuddha's Monastery in Pyinmana. "I have come to Pyinmana twice; once during an explanatory campaign of why Communists had to be expelled and now again in connection with Elections. You say that Pyinmana had to live in fear of Communists. Were you to support them out of fear you will only live long in serfdom. You will never be freed from slavery. "They keep killing their own Bamars, they keep looting, they keep burning and they keep rising in rebellion. What sort of a revolution is that? Is that a revolution? Or is that what imperialists wished? "The Communist insurgency now in Pyinmana is the result of a dereliction of duty of officers who were originally here. You will now see how we could crush them. Why did Communists take part in Elections when they said that Aung San-Attlee Agreement was bad? Why do they keep negotiating? Why do they keep calling for unity? "Communists are rising in rebellion and committing robbery only to discredit the AFPFL government. We might use the army to quell all this." Bogyoke Aung San had to solve some very difficult and very acute political problems just before he was assassinated. Myanmar nationals were not opposing the British in unity. The political struggle was not of 'one blood, one voice and one command'. Everyone was for himself and in conflict with all others. There were disturbances of all kinds. On 13 July 1949, Bogyoke Aung San gave the last address of his life in the Yangon City Hall. "You keep saying that you all are in a fix. What is so surprising about that? I will say that you will remain in a fix. So, consider again if the present turbulence, if the present disturbances are for the good of the country or to the detriment of the country. You need to consider if they are in, or against, the interest of the country." Bogyoke Aung San did not favour meaningless disturbances. Meaningless disturbances simply mean anarchism and violence. "Everyone who lives Myanmar need to join hands to crush these misconceived disturbances. You need not support anybody." Bogyoke Aung San passed away, but disturbances continued simmering. Disturbances continued to be a way of life even after Independence. Demonstrations under democratic rights, processions, and mass rallies rarely ended peacefully. Shouting of slogans developed into yelling of vulgarities. Mobs went on destructive sprees. Just as Communists began to get rowdy and violent, racist fanatics followed getting violent and destructive. Demonstration led to physical clashes, and to vandalism. Treasuries were sacked. Newspaper offices were destroyed and burned down. Eventually, weapons being very handy, they went into the jungles and began shooting and fire-fighting. Why? (NLM 6/23) [Why is there violence in Myanmar?] June 24: (10) In Myanmar, political antagonisms were rarely resolved by political means. They usually led to riots and violence or to armed clashes. Conflicts were rarely resolved with the use of a needle: axes and saw had usually to be brought into play. Why did that happen? The root cause was because the country had been in bondage. As an enslaved nation, Myanmar became well acquainted with the British parliamentary democracy administrative system that was better than absolute monarchism. Those who prospered under the British system wished to remain under that system. Nationalists desired a self-government in place of a British government though they would continue the same system. The great mass of the oppressed people desired to get out of British bondage. For twenty odd years from 1920 to 1940, Myanmars indulged in politics within limits permitted by the British. Some achieved what the coveted and were satisfied with that. Others were not. When it was realized that Independence would not be achieved through political activities as permitted by the British parliamentary democracy, other means of gaining Independence were sought. Marxism with its revolutionary theory discovered [sic]. According to this revolutionary theory when rulers are oppressive the oppressed class will react, resist and explode: a revolution erupts. The oppressed class takes over power when the revolution succeeds. But the revolution referred to by Marxism is a class revolution. The anti-fascist resistance and anti-imperialist struggles are national liberation struggles. Communists perceived that a class revolution still remained to be waged after liberation from British rule. And, Myanmars achieved their objectives not through gentlemanly political means. They achieved their objectives not by verbal persuasion but by physical action. They therefore preferred to deal among themselves by physical action. There were a large number of persons who prospered through politics during the British Era. That was particularly during the prewar days. Politicians who did not defy the British prospered. Progressive leftist politicians were not satisfied with this state of affairs. They therefore resorted to violent methods. A study of lifelong impressions left by Myanma political experience will reveal the following: 1. To achieve political objectives, political power must be first secured. 2. Political power is a tool to oppress the powerless as desired. 3. Those without political power are free to resort to all means to resist those in political power. 4. The Law need not be respected as it was a creation of those in power. 5. Politics is self enriching. 6. No rivalry must be tolerated in politics. Opposition must be kept suppressed. But no politician would admit that the concepts had been ingrained in their way of thinking. They will claim that they are doing politics in the interests of the country and the people. But history invariably reveals if there is, or is not, self interest in politicians. Some hold on dogmatically to a belief that only a programme they believe in would secure results. Partisan sectarianism had given a lot of trouble to Myanmar. Despite adherence to the same Marxism, the Communist Party and the People's Revolutionary Party (Socialist) kept being mutually hostile till the time they eventually vanished from the scene. The Communist Party split into two or three factions. The concept that a People's Party must be established by coordinating aboveground upheavals with underground armed struggles was a concept initiated by the Communists. The Communists adhered to that concept throughout their life. This concept also infected other organizations. Most recently, a number of democratic groups also adhered to this concept in 1988. When underground armed struggles failed to bring them power in Myanmar they began to put more reliance on aboveground mass upheavals. It has become a sort of habit with aboveground and underground political groups with no government power (the opposition) to keep thinking of stirring up mass upheavals. To be able to foment overground mass upheavals it is necessary to oppose the government and to be able to oppose the government, those holding government power need to become objects of hatred. To be able to make persons holding government power become objects of hatred they need to be discredited. A slander campaign must be waged. Violence must be incited. Government must be rendered ineffectual. That will bring down the government. This philosophy is the basis of Communist programmes. In gentlemanly politics, the Opposition must boldly concede that the government is right when it is right. In Myanmar throughout all ages, the Opposition never support the Government be it right or wrong. The Opposition never praise the government: in invariably finds fault with the government. It is as if all Oppositionists have a duty to set the masses against governments. Following regaining of Independence, Communists set the masses against the AFPFL Government. The same method was employed by other non-Communists. During the 1958 Split muckrakings and slander campaign proliferated. The Caretaker Government as well as the Pyidaungsu Party Government suffered the same fate of being maligned. Neither was the Revolutionary Council given any credit. The Burma Socialist Programme Party was not given any credit. The State Law and Order Restoration Council is also being sniped at. But that is nothing unusual: it is quite habitual. Governments need to be thick-skinned. A large number of political personalities had emerged in Myanmar whose method of operations was to "rupture the main drum if they were denied the leading role in the play that is being staged" or "to scare away the audience and grab a seat for themselves in the confusion". Bogyoke Aung San forcefully denounced such opportunist politicians. Communists purged their ranks of opportunistic elements. U Nu also denounced political opportunists. But political opportunism persists. [Political opportunism] Political opportunists remain even under the present State Law and Order Restoration Council regime. Those who aspire to secure power through a short-cut keep agitating as usual. They try to scare away the audience so that they may be able to grab a seat. They keep looking for spikes to rupture the big drum with when they are denied the leading role in the play. They set the masses against the Na-wa-ta. They keep shouting as taught them by foreigners. The State Law and Order Restoration Council, however, is unlikely to tolerate any political opportunist trying to jeopardise the security. Discredit the Na-wa-ta, create disturbances and crises [sic] force it out of power and then grab the power for themselves--this has become a cheap political gimmick. Politicians who claim that they really love their country should eschew the policy of political opportunism. Any attempt to destroy security would be a disservice to the country and the people. In my own analysis, political opportunism may still exist in Myanmar. There is still a likelihood of a discrediting campaign against the Na-wa-ta. There are agitators ever on the alert to take the first opportunity to foment disturbances. There is still a possibility of grabbing power after setting the masses on a confrontational line with the Na-wa-ta. The Na-wa-ta is not going to ignore any attempts made to damage the security. What is better for those who claim they love the country is to eschew political opportunism and abstain from any action that might hurt national security. Most probably, the Na-wa-ta would not permit itself to be put on a confrontational stance against the masses but would only take action against the agitators. Now, just because the Na-wa-ta has declared that its top priority is security, must those agitators, political parties and political activists of 1988 remain hostile to the Na-wa-ta and the Tatmadaw for life? If only the Na-wa-ta were to regard all those who took part in 1988 Affair as its foes, there would not have been any occasion for Na-wa-ta leaders to invite those people to take part in ceremonies and sit at table together with them. There would not have been any reason for the emergence of the National Convention either. Look at what the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services had observed at the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces Day parade as given in the following excerpt. "Not only underground armed organisations, but overground political forces also had opposed the Tatmadaw. They had opposed the Tatmadaw programmes. I would say that the Tatmadaw nurtures no animosity against any body so long as national peace is not disturbed and so long as national wellbeing is not jeopardised." (NLM 6/24) June 25: (11) "The Tatmadaw, since 1988 has been giving priority to implementing the tasks to bring peace and stability. Without peace and tranquillity in the country and without political stability, the life of the people will be full of anxiety. Most important is security of the people. Hence, priority was given to bring peace and tranquillity and to ensure rule of law in the country and stability. The Tatmadaw, as the State Law and Order Restoration Council, gave this due priority." [SLORC priorities] This was the Tatmadaw Defence Services Commander-in-Chief Senior General Than Shwe's explanation of why the Tatmadaw has to regard the restoration of the people's security as its top priority task. After 18 September 1988, the Tatmadaw had to [sic] Orders, Instructions and Proclamations required to ensure security. It had also to take action and make arrests under Section 10(A) of the Law To Protect the State From Dangers Posed by Disruptors. Those detained were released when the security situation became satisfactory. This Section of the Law will definitely be used again if the security situation is not satisfactory. Everybody desires peace. The foundation for peace is security. Security must be established first to enable construction of a lasting peace. The first political objective of the State Law and Order Restoration Council is to restore peace, tranquillity, the rule of law and stability to the country. The second political objective of the State Law and Order Restoration Council is national reconsolidation. The Tatmadaw Defence Services Commander-in-Chief Senior General Than Shwe has, on the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces Day, observed as follows regarding national reconsolidation. "The second point is national reconsolidation. In Myanmar Naing-Ngan armed struggles have been waged due to differences of opinion since the country regained its independence and it is now 47 years. During the different eras and different governments, the armed insurgency was dealt with through military means as well as political means. The military means was used by the Tatmadaw. In reality the armed groups in the jungles are the political forces of the country. If these political forces of the country are split, then steps taken to bring peace and tranquillity to the State and tasks undertaken to bring about development will be difficult to implement. "Due to the disunity and internal strife, the country greatly lagged behind in development compared to other countries. "The State Law and Order Restoration Council realized that if such conditions continue, the country would not make any further progress from the existing state but would be dragged further down. "Therefore, the Tatmadaw became responsible to establish national reconciliation." National reconciliation is for everlasting peace or, in other words for a hundred per cent security. One of the biggest political problems of Myanmar is the problem of insurgency. [Why an insurgency problem?] Why did internal insurgency problem emerge? The answer is: Because national unity collapsed. In Myanmar, national unity had been irretrievably lost. Looking back at national history, Myanma national unity had always been ephemeral. "Myanmars unite only temporarily to fight a common enemy: when they do not have a common enemy they go on fighting among themselves!" This is a criticism that Myanma history books offer. It would be superfluous here to recall what happened during those days under feudalism. As a matter of fact, not only Myanmar, but the whole world kept fighting wars during the days of feudalism. That was a characteristic of feudalism. It would be unfair to blame only Myanmar in this respect. Affairs of those feudalist days could not continue to have repercussions in these days. Pointing an accusing finger at the contradictions of feudalist days would only be a false excuse. Contemporary national disunity may be said to have begun when Myanmar was in bondage. Myanmar was then a victim of a divisive policy systematically practised, of a nip-in-the-bud policy systematically practised. At the end of the First Anglo-Myanmar War that broke out in 1824, Myanmar lost the war and had to give up Assam and Manipur. Myanmar had to surrender Rakhine and Taninthayi coastal strips to the British. Rakhine was governed as a part of Bengal that gave rise to racial problems. Rakhine got estranged from Myanmar for over 60 years up till 1885. Taninthayi was governed as part of Penang. To avert rebellions the British kept the races divided and won over some as their stooges. To keep the Mons and Rakhines with strong Buddhist traditions under suppression, they won over the animist hill peoples into their religion and separated them from Buddhists. In 1852, Myanmar again lost the Second Anglo-Myanmar War and the Lower Myanmar fell into British hands. The British organized Lower Myanmar into the Bago Division and the Ayeyawady Division. The parliamentary-democracy administrative machinery established in areas under the British rule was really superior to the absolute monarchism of Myanmar kings. That led large populations to migrate from Myanmar King's territory to Lower Myanmar. Myanma rebellions also failed to achieve victory. On 1 January 1886, the British proclaimed that the whole of Myanmar had been amalgamated into the British Empire. The British then were not yet able to deploy their armed forces in all parts of the country. And the entire Myanmar nations continued to oppose and rebel against imperialism. The British then adopted their Divide and Rule Policy to prolong their rule of Myanmar. They practised differing administrative policies in different parts of the country. The British did not give equal opportunities to differing national races. Shan Sawbwas retained their positions as Shan chiefs. In the past they paid tributes to Myanma kings and later they paid tribute to the British Government. That made no difference to them. The British permitted feudal system to continue in many parts of the Shan State but they terminated feudalism in Myanmar. Feudal lords continued to function in Britain under its Constitutional Monarchy but the feudalist class disappeared in Myanmar. Certain Sawbwa territories like Wuntho, Mogaung and Mohnyinn resolute resisted the British rule and therefore feudalism was not allowed to continue in those territories. One of the divisive tactics of imperialists was to rule the hills regions and the plains in different ways. The rate of development of the hills peoples was therefore not the same as the rate of development of the plains peoples. Indeed, the hills peoples and the plains peoples, thus kept separated, both estranged one from the other. Imperialists did their utmost to enforce security to enable them to introduce their administrative system. They brutally suppressed all revolutions. When stability was achieved they began their normal administrative functions. The British then began to give positions to the former Myanmar feudalists, land lord and big merchants. National capitalists began to gain political influence this way. The colonial government conferred titles and honours on them. Having achieved self-interests the national capitalists became stooges. Politicians and revolutionaries who wanted Independence had first to confront these stooges in their struggles against imperialism. Class contradictions thus began. While trying to find ways of regaining Independence, diverse political beliefs came to be accepted that led to emergence of sects. Ideological clashes ensued. The following are found to have been the root causes of the collapse of national solidarity. 1. Imperialists annexed Myanmar part by part and introduced differing systems of government. This led to geographical division. 2. Under the Divide and Rule Policy, the imperialists practised differing administrative systems for differing nationalities with unequal privileges. This led to racial division. 3. To facilitate their rule, the colonialists nurtured the national capitalists as their stooges. This led to class division. 4. Adherence to differing political beliefs created opportunism. This led to political conflicts. (NLM 6/25) June 26: (12) Myanmar had, against its own will, to inherit the evil legacy of national fragmentation as a result of its servitude under foreign rule. Ruled under discriminatory systems of administration according to separated geographical entities, Myanmars who were usually deeply parochial, suffered to a certain extent. Racial discrimination bred racial fanatics. Stooges created class struggles. Communists and socialists believed in class struggles. Sectarianism and partisan thinkings proliferated. As Myanmars continued to struggle for Independence from imperialist rule, Myanma political forces split up into different groups. [Political divisions] The first group to have emerged was that of parliamentary democrats of the GCBA Era. This group believed that national advancement could be achieved through endeavours of a parliamentary democracy pattern as taught to them by the British. They got branded as imperialist stooges or imperialist henchmen. This group did not disappear even after Independence. They continued to stand as Democrats. Political researchers call them the Rightist Group. It was the Communists who accepted the Revolutionary Theory of Karl Marx as a formula for achieving Independence. They placed more emphasis on class interests than on national interests. Capitalists, landlords, the bourgeoisie and the feudalist class were their enemies. They therefore believed that the country might have attained Independence from British rule, but that it had not yet been freed from the clutches of capitalists and the bourgeoisie. They were usually grouped as the Leftist Group and branded as leftist extremists. The Socialist Group, Marxists as they claimed themselves to be, were nevertheless more flexible than the Communists. They viewed the class struggle only in the context of national struggle. They were also part of the Leftist Group, or as the Liberals. Some of the Socialists desired to pursue the parliamentary democracy programme: they were known as democratic socialists. Others preferred to construct a socialist democracy with a single-party pattern. The national bourgeoisie, Communists and Socialists were in conflicts in Myanmar even before World War II. In the postwar Myanmar, racist fanatics emerged within the national bourgeoisie group. Communist-Socialist conflicts gained increased intensity to the extent that they even refused to face each other. The national bourgeoisie group took part in the British administrative machinery. They founded political parties. Communists founded their Party. Socialists founded their People's Revolutionary Party. After the War, racist parties emerged as instigated by the imperialists. All these political groupings began dreaming of how they would govern the country. When the country actually gained Independence, it was on the basis of a parliamentary democracy government of the British pattern. The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) came into power. Only Socialists and the national bourgeoisie group remained in the AFPFL as Communists had been expelled from the League even before Independence. The Burma Communist Party and the Communist Party (Burma), also known as the Red Flag Communist Party, branded Myanma Independence as a sham. Under the Nu-Attlee Agreement, Myanmar became a sovereign independent country but Myanmar had to pay the British K 147 crores the British had earlier spent in respect of Myanmar. Myanmar was also to entertain a British Army-Navy-Air Force Mission in Myanmar. Point an accusing finger at these obligations, Communists alleged that Myanmar was not yet free militarily and economically. The Burma Communist Party, up till its demise in 1989, maintained that Myanmar was a semi-colonial semi-feudal country. Communists believed that Myanmar still remained under imperialist influence. They denounced Shan Feudalism that continued even after Independence. Communists did not alter this appreciation even when the Shan Sawbwas surrendered their hereditary powers and even when the country returned to a socialist track. Probably, Communists were not to change their definition of the country as a semi-colonial semi-feudal country till the time they attained power. The Burma Communist Party went underground on 28 March 1948. When the Party was blamed for going underground, it argued that Communists would be arrested if they did not go underground. At that time the AFPFL Government was getting ready to take drastic action against Communists who were fomenting disturbances. Be that as it may, it is now too late in the day to be finding fault with anyone: the damage had already been done, bloody battles had already taken place. Philosophers say that war is a continuation of politics. Military solutions have to be sought where political solutions are not possible. When debatings serve no purpose, guns come into play. The philosophy that war is a continuation of politics is therefore factually correct. Occasionally war becomes inseparable from politics. After the Communists left for the jungles, all means to avert civil war were exploited. Negotiations were conducted with Communists resulting only in the breaking up of the People's Volunteer Organisation, and the PVO (White) group following the Communists into the jungles. Certain army units, won over by the Communists, also went underground. The KNDO armed forces took over administrative power and began committing violence. The Myanma political crisis of 1948 was most complex. To try to find the root cause for that crisis at the present juncture would be of no benefit. Who was right? And who was wrong? Any answer to these questions at this stage would make no difference. What had happened had already happened. After the White PVO went into the jungles, national bourgeoisie and Socialists remained in the AFPFL that was wielding government power. They also were bickering among themselves. The Burma Communist Party and the Red Flag Communist Party were at loggerheads. The White PVO and the Communists were at loggerheads. In the jungles, the PVO split into to factions, and the Revolutionary PVO joined ranks with the Burma Communist Party. The KNDO and the Burma Communist Party were at loggerheads. They joined ranks only temporarily to fight the government together. Insurgents fought the government and they fought among themselves. Some joined ranks temporarily to fight the government together, and others at times joined ranks with the government to fight among themselves. The conflict was not only between the government and the insurgents. The conflict was between the government and the insurgents and among the insurgents themselves: they were very extensive. The problem was beyond solution. The Tatmadaw had to keep fighting with all sorts of enemies. When the threat of a foreign aggression emerged, it was initially felt that the nation would unite in times of emergency, but the KNU went and joined ranks with the Nationalist Chinese. The Communists called for a fight against the Nationalist Chinese but, in practice, they stabbed Tatmadaw in the back. Brothers in a family fell out among themselves. A younger brother wen and fetched some thugs from another house to bash his elder brothers. Would anybody accept such a situation? But, exactly this kind of pattern developed. But it is not only a matter of one family. It is matter of a whole country of very many families. [Failed peace negotiations] Peace talks were held to resolve the insurgency problem. There were secret talks and there were declared talks. Some talks succeeded and others collapsed. There were more talks that collapsed than those that succeeded. Everybody desires peace. The government therefore tried to hold peace talks. The opposition also tried. Independents also tried. At times the insurgents also tried. But, no success was achieved for diverse reasons. When did these peace parleys begin? They began in 1948 as soon as peace came under threat. The Left Unity Parleys of those days had, as their objective, the abandonment of an armed struggle programme by the Communists. The government and KNU leaders talked peace even while the battle for Insein was raging in 1949. In addition to peace parleys, general amnesty orders were issued direction [sic] at terminating armed clashes. In 1958, a promising situation developed. A large number of insurgents, in a deal for guns in return for democracy, surrendered their arms. They came in groups and as individuals. The Burma Communist Party, the strongest among insurgents groups, sent emissaries to talk terms for its return to the legal fold. Peace came within reach. Just at that moment, the AFPFL, holding government power, split into 'Stable' and 'Clean' factions. That effectively put an end to insurgent surrenders. They decided to continue their insurrection in the form of a National Democratic Unity Front (Ma-da-nya-ta). The Internal Peace Parleys of 1963 and the formation of the Internal Unity Advisory Body in 1968, both during Revolutionary Council regime, are prominent landmarks in the quest for peace. The General Amnesty Order (Proclamation No. 2/80) of 1980 during the time of the Burma Socialist Programme Party was another important milestone. Yet, Peace remained remote and unattainable. Why? (NLM 6/26) June 27: (13) Myanmar had been deprived of the pleasure of peace for very long time for diverse reasons. Attempts were made to resolve the problem of internal insurrection not only militarily but also politically. Yet, a substantial success remained elusive. There was one successful parley, the peace parley of 1963. It was, at a time when the KNU had accepted Communism and transformed itself as the KNU Front. The Kayin Revolutionary Council (KRC), led by Kayin nationalist Saw Hunter Tha Hmway, broke away from the KNU and came in. The main armed force of the KRC was the KNDO 5th Brigade, led by Bo Lin Htin. Peace parleys with the Burma Communist Party, and with the NDUF (National Democratic Unity Front) led by the Burma Communist Party, collapsed but the parleys with the KRC achieved an understanding. The KRC and the KNDO 5th Brigade returned to the legal fold. But Bo Lin Htin was unable to forsake warlordism. He had got accustomed to a life of a terrorist in the jungles and was unable to adapt himself to living within the framework of the law. He reverted to committing criminal deeds and got ready to return to the jungle. The Tatmadaw went to him for a discussion but he started opening fire on the Tatmadaw: he had to be captured dead. His 63rd wife, Naw Louisa Benson, a Miss Myanmar and a former movie star, returned to the jungles taking away the KNDO 5th Brigade along with her. That was a grievous loss to the country. It was a failure to preserve a peace secured through very difficult negotiations. Rays of peace again appeared after the Council of State's General Amnesty Order, No. 2/80, was proclaimed. That was when Bo Thet Tun of the Burma Communist Party Western Region, and all his forces returned to the legal fold. A number of BCP armed units of the North Eastern Region also surrendered en masse. Expatriates streamed back to Myanmar. Bo Thet Tun and other Burma Communist Party members who surrendered henceforth lived quietly without making any political movement. They shouldered responsibilities assigned to them by the State. A large number of former expatriates however took up an anti-government stance. They became open opposition activists in 1988. This was another instance of a failure to preserve the peace that had been obtained. But that did not happen as openly as when Naw Louisa Benson and the KNDO 5th Brigade returned to the jungles. The expatriates made their moves only stealthily. Nobody needs now be blamed for the failure of peace talks or for the loss of peace already achieved. This is because all concerned may have their own reasons. In all such bargainings, each side, in the light of its own perception, will insist that it alone was right. In 1981 peace talks were conducted with the Burma Communist Party and with the KIO. The KIO even began to toy with the idea of accepting the 1974 Constitution. Peace appeared on the threshold. But peace was not achieved with the Burma Communist Party. Nor with the KIO. At that time, the Burma Communist Party demanded its recognition. The government was unable to concede to this demand because the 1974 Constitution stipulated only a single party system. The Burma Communist Party was worried over its armed forces getting dismantled and over losing its influence in territories where it had been active. The talks failed. When peace talks with the Burma Communist Party failed, talks with the KIO, an ally of the BCP also failed. Insurgent organisations in this country had their separate beliefs, concepts and political objectives. They had resorted to violence simply because they existed outside the law. But some found themselves unable to forsake their beliefs, concepts and political objectives easily. They got attached to their own parties and their own armed forces. They could not desire the destruction of their parties and their armed forces. Under these circumstances they found it difficult to listen to the government when the government asked them to cooperate, to abandon their armed struggle programme, to disband their own organisations and join the Burma Socialist Programme Party. Points of understanding reach between the two sides involved amendment of the Constitution. And a Constitution is not very easily amended. And the 1974 Constitution had been a basic law overwhelmingly approved by the mass of the people. Peace therefore remained remote. Some insurgents however surrendered individually. Some leaders, getting fed up with the armed struggle programme and getting politically demoralized, returned to legal fold bringing their followers with them. Some insurgent organisations were strong: they had successfully organised masses living in areas they dominated and the influence of leaders over their rank and file was also strong. Perhaps such organisations could have been militarily subdued but political differences might still remain. In fact, it would not be possible to extinguish the blaze of insurgency without being able to repair and rebuild national solidarity that had collapsed and which is the biggest problem for Myanmar. It is also impossible to militarily solve the problem of foreign interferences. Almost all insurgent organisations have been continuously seeking foreign help for their continued existence. And there were those who provided it. This problem would not go away by simply branding them national traitors. The 1947 Constitution recognised the right of States to secede and this Constitution was scrapped only in 1962 when the Tatmadaw took over power. And again, the 1974 Constitution that prescribed only a single-party rule was scrapped in 1988 when the Tatmadaw took over power. If the one-party system had been considered an obstacle to achieve internal peace, the take-over of power by the Tatmadaw may be considered to have removed that obstacle and opened a good opportunity. Why should underground insurgent organisations not be able to come aboveground when the right to form parties has been granted? Why should peace remain so difficult to get if there is a determination to really work for the welfare of our own people and when there are opportunities to do such work? Peace became inevitable. [Collapse of the Burma Communist Party] But at that moment, the Burma Communist Party, politically the strongest, militarily the strongest and most steadfast opposing insurgent organisation to all successive governments, collapsed. There are a large number of reasons why the Burma Communist Party disintegrated but it will be an unending story for it to be mentioned here. As a matter of fact the fight against Burma Communist Party had to be initiated even before Bogyoke Aung San's demise. But the Burma Communist Party lived on till the early part of 1989. It remained indestructible by successive governments. Its strength cannot therefore be underestimated. It had played a role on the stage of history for nearly fifty years and it really had earned public acclaim at times. The main armed forces of the Burma Communist Party were made up of the hills peoples of north-eastern region. These were Kokang, Wa, Kachin, Shan and other nationalities. It was also able to impose its leadership on other racist insurgent organisations. It was able to win support of peasants, workers, rural and urban classes and strata of people. It was able to maintain a lot of underground cells and UGs, extensively over the whole country. But the Burma Communist Party had been a party that existed mainly on foreign help. When that foreign help was cut off as a result of Myanma political endeavours, the Communist Party was paralysed. And also, when racist insurgents kept accusing successive Myanmar governments as being Bamar chauvinists, the real Bamar chauvinists turned out to be the Burma Communist Party. It may also be claimed that the national reconciliation policy consistently practised by the Revolutionary Council and the Burma Socialist Programme Party had become effective in the long term. The many years of strivings had to some extent dispelled narrow racialist views of certain racial groups. The Union spirit resurged more or less. This has become all the more distinct in times of crises. In fact the Burma Communist Party disintegrated at its due time. (NLM 6/27) June 28: (14) This happened on 12 March 1989. Kokang nationals, sinking and drifting while serving in the Burma Communist Party armed forces, rose up against the Ba-ka-pa at Monkoe. Kokang nationals took over the Burma Communist Party Kokang District Office. On 14 March, Kokang and Wa nationals of the 1st Brigade of the Ba-ka-pa Northern Bureau arrested and disarmed the leaders of Ba-ka-pa 888 Brigade. On 18 March, Kokang and Wa nationals successfully took control of the Burma Communist Party Northern Bureau. The mutiny of the Burma Communist Party armed forces did not stop there. On 17 April 1989, Wa nationals rose up in rebellion and occupied the town of Pansang where the Ba-ka-pa Central Headquarters was located. Burma Communist Party leaders fled to and took refuge in an area east of N'maikha River at the northern tip of Myanmar. In that region was the Burma Communist Party, 101 Military Area, made up of Laungwaw, or Maru national group and Lacheitwaw, or Lashi national group. The base for this area was the frontier town of Panwah. But, the Laungwaw and the Lacheitwaw national groups denied them entry into their area. Burma Communist Party leaders had to fell to the other country. They sought asylum there promising only to work for a living without politics. Now, what was to be done by the armed units of Kokang nationals, Wa nationals and other nationals who had evicted the Burma Communist Party from their lands? They were not guerilla units. The Burma Communist Party had organized them in a regular army pattern. But there also were guerillas and other civil administration bodies. They had their economic enterprises established firmly. Were they to surrender themselves to the State Law and Order Restoration Council that was then less than a year old? The armed personnel of the Nationalities did not perceive the State Law and Order Restoration Council as a brand new government or as a government not yet firmly established. They saw it only as the Tatmadaw they had fought against for a long period. They now no longer could regard the Tatmadaw as their enemy. [Insurgents return to legal fold] Tha situation offered a very rare opportunity for peace. The State Law and Order Restoration Council was already convinced that a national reconciliation would have to be striven for urgently: the Tatmadaw swiftly established contacts with the Nationalities armed groups and conducted urgent discussions. Contemporary Myanma history knows of no other peace parleys that were so successful in a very short time as the peace parleys then conducted between Nationalities armed groups and the Tatmadaw. On 31 March 1989, Kokang nationals returned to the legal fold under the name of Myanma Nationalities Democratic Alliance Front. On 9 May 1989, Wa nationals returned to the legal fold and joined hands with the Tatmadaw under the name of Myanmar National Solidarity Party. The Kokang nationals and the Wa nationals had been the main forces of the Ba-ka-pa in the northern Shan State. On 24 June 1989, the Shan State Army, or the SSA, returned to the legal fold. The SSA had been a reasonably strong force in the Shan State. On 30 June 1989, the Shan and Ahkar armed units of the Mongla Area, on whom the Ba-ka-pa had heavily relied in the southern and eastern Shan State, returned to the legal fold under the name of National Democratic Alliance Force: Eastern Shan State Military and Local Government Committee. On 15 December 1989, the Laungwaw and Lacheitwaw national groups of the eastern sector of N'maikha River, returned to the legal fold under the name of the New Democracy Army. These effectively liquidated the Ba-ka-pa armed units. On 11 January 1991, Kachin nationals of Laungkharr Area in Kutkai Region, northern Shan State secured agreements with the Tatmadaw and returned to the legal fold under the name of the Kachin National Progress and Security Army. On 18 February 1991, Pa-o nationals from the southern Shan State returned to the legal fold under the name Pa-o National League. On 21 April 1991, the Palaung State Liberation Army, led at one time by the Ba-ka-pa, returned to the legal fold. Virtually the whole Shan State plucked the victory flower of peace within a year. The Shan masses then began to enjoy the fruit of peace. The hillpeoples who had lived without peace for a very long time now learnt how delicious the fruit of peace was. The Tatmadaw continued to strive to secure peace with the remaining nationalities armed groups. The Tatmadaw Peace Policy differed from peace policies of the past. The Tatmadaw Peace Policy is based on Our Three Main National Causes. The Policy aims at non-disintegration of the Union: the right to secede is not accepted. The Policy aims at non-disintegration of Solidarity: fratricidal wars are rejected. The Policy aims at Perpetuation of sovereignty: it rejects all acts likely to encroach upon sovereignty. The correct attitude of the Tatmadaw has enabled all organisations that believe in Our Three Main National Causes to return to the legal fold. Those peace organisations accept Our Three Main National Causes and declare their belief in Our Three Main National Causes. The Tatmadaw's attitude is clear: it is not to destroy their fratricidal groupings but to permit their own organisations. The Tatmadaw permits them to take responsibility for their own security. The Tatmadaw permits them to work for the welfare of their own land and their own people. Try co-operating with the t permits them to work for the welfare of their own land and their own people. Try co-operating with the Tatmadaw; co-operate without any pre-conditions and go your own way if you do not like it. Nationalities armed groups had lived outside the law for a long time. Having abruptly returned to the legal fold, they might still not have settled down. Some organisations had sustained themselves with opium business. Others have had to contend with Khun Sa's opium bandit group. The Tatmadaw has to look after their food, clothing and shelter needs. The Tatmadaw has to establish them in business other than the opium business. The Tatmadaw has to show them its genuine good wishes and its real intentions towards them. On 27 February 1992, the Kayan National Defence Army returned to the legal fold. The Tatmadaw implemented frontier area development projects with great momentum. The Tatmadaw proved its immense and pure goodwill towards the nationalities armed groups in practical terms. The responsibility to protect and preserve the hard-won peace is indeed onerous. On 28 April 1992, the Tatmadaw declared cessation of its offensives in Kayin State. At the same time offensives were halted all over the country. Some units were withdrawn: containments continued only in some strategic points. The Tatmadaw ceased offensives motivated by its desire for an everlasting peace. And also because that would contribute to reconstruction of national solidarity. It was not because the Tatmadaw was no longer capable. It was motivated by a genuine desire to halt this fratricidal war. Nationalities armed organisations are, in fact, Myanmar's important political forces too. Just as there are persons who correctly assess that the Tatmadaw ceased offensive operations in pursuit of the objective of national reconsolidation, there are also persons who wrongly assess that the Tatmadaw ceased offensive operations because it had politically weakened and was trying to compromise. Some others, incited by foreigners, launched offensives against the Tatmadaw and tried to sabotage the peace process. The KNU organised about one hundred attacks on the Tatmadaw during the period of suspended operations. The Tatmadaw retaliated by right of self defence, while it continued to hold peace talks with the KNU as well as with organisations. National leaders repeatedly invited the remaining nationalities armed forces to return to the legal fold. The Tatmadaw spent the whole year of 1993 trying to achieve peace. On 1 October 1993, the KIO [Kachin Independence Organisation] returned to the legal fold. On 9 May 1994, the Kayinni Nationalities Peoples' Liberation Front returned to the legal fold. On 26 July 1994, the New Kayan State Party returned to the legal fold. On 0 October 1994, the Shan State Nationalities Peoples' Liberation Organisation returned to the legal fold. On 21 March 1995, the Kayinni National Progress Party returned to the legal fold which brought peace to the whole of Kayah State. There are now only two major insurgent groups in the jungles outside of the legal fold and they are the KNU and the Khun Sa Group. Other minor organisations are not so strong. (NLM 6/28) [Disintegration] June 29: (15) It is being repeated declared that the belief and the concept of the State Law and Order Restoration Council is Our Three Main National Causes, namely-- Non-disintegration of the Union; Non-disintegration of national solidarity; Perpetuation of sovereignty. The non-disintegration of the Union may be defined as to consolidate the present Union of Myanmar so that it might endure forever. If a territory of the Union of Myanmar were to secede and establish a separate State, that would mean disintegration of the Union. No territory of the Union will therefore be permitted to secede. If certain territories of the Union of Myanmar were to be handed over to the rule of aliens or if certain territories of the Union of Myanmar were to fall under the influence of aliens, that also comes within the definition of disintegration of the Union. In other words, disintegration of the Union has to do with the collapse of national security. When East European countries disintegrated, the development did not stop at disintegration. Blood fratricidal wars are also being openly waged. There is no disputing the fact that disintegration of the Union is an undesirable development. But there are persons who keep propagating and agitating a concept that there should be one country for one ethnic race in the world. Meanings unions should disintegrate. This is dangerous. To protect the Union from disintegration, it is important that national solidarity should not collapse. Myanmar had lost national solidarity to a certain extent because it had once to live on bondage. Bogyoke Aung San was the first person to rebuild national solidarity by striving to forge the Panglong Agreement on 12 February 1947. And governments throughout the ages have built up national solidarity to the best of their ability. It must, however, be admitted that monolithic solidarity still remains to be achieved. To prevent collapse of national solidarity therefore remains an important task. Sovereign power means judicial power, legislative power and administrative power. The judicial power of Myanmar must remain in the hands of Myanmars. It is impossible for an American to come and be a judge in Myanmar. It is impossible for an Englishman to come and be a Jury. It is the same as regards legislative power. Nationals must have the power to decide their own future. Administrative power must also remain in the hands of nationals. Constitutions give serious attention to defining sovereign power. Some constitutions prescribe that sovereign power resides in the whole country. Socialists and Communists ordain that sovereign power resides with the people. Whatever the case, it is the government that exercises sovereign power. The government must represent the people. It must work for the welfare of the people. Sovereign power is lost not only when a country falls into alien bondage. If a government becomes a puppet government and is subservient to outside influence, sovereign power is lost. And also, sovereign power must be applicable to the whole country: it is not permissible for one single village to be taking orders from outside. To implement Our Three Main National Causes and to protect and defend them, strength is needed. Here, the Tatmadaw alone is not capable. National reconciliation therefore becomes very important. Our Three Main National Causes cannot be held aloft without unity. Endeavours for national reconciliation are being made only to shoulder Our Three Main National Causes. It is for the welfare of the State. The Tatmadaw has to take risks doing this. It had to encounter opposition. There are persons who aim at casting away peace already achieved. There are foreign elements and there are national elements. [Opium in Myanmar] The opium trade, initiated and extended by KMT intruders, gained tremendous development in the mountainous regions on the fringes of Shan State in Myanmar. Some insurgent organisations had also to rely on opium trade for their own existence, for collecting funds and weapons. The Burma Communist Party particularly is found to have enormously extended the opium trade for raising funds. The Burma Communist Party collapsed leaving opium cultivation and production businesses in the hands of Nationalities' armed forces. Hill peoples who actually grow poppy get just enough for their subsistence when those who really prospered out of this opium trade are the opium traders from Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Hills peoples cultivate poppy only to get basic necessities of life. When the State Law and Order Restoration Council achieved peace with some Nationalities' armed forces, the poppy cultivation was still deep-rooted. There were still extensive poppy fields, a large number of opium refineries and huge stocks of yet unsold black opium. In the olden days there was no such thing as opium in Myanmar. When Myanmar became a colony, the British government brought in poppy from India. The government permitted opium under license. The government allowed poppy cultivation on the mountainous regions. The British East India Company began exporting opium to China, in post 1700 years. Opium dens began to proliferate in all British colonies in post 1800 years. The British annexed Lower Myanmar in 1853 and began importing opium from India. By 1930 there were 55,000 opium addicts registered with the colonial government. There were also about 45,000 unregistered addicts and that brought the total number of addicts to 100,000. Opium business developed in the Shan State during the colonial days. In 1950 the Government of Independent Myanmar banned opium business by legislation, but the KMT intruders appeared in the same year and began to extend opium business on a large scale. [Poppy replacement must be gradual] In 1989 when the Nationalities armed forces began re-establishing peace, opium business had been going on in Myanmar for over 130 years. The State Law and Order Restoration Council would not be able to stamp out overnight this deep-rooted and well-established business. It was impossible to immediately destroy the opium fields of the Hill peoples. They would starve if their fields were destroyed. A forcible destruction of poppy fields would only renew hostilities. The Tatmadaw has consistently engaged in this war against narcotics. It has contingency plans to terminate the narcotics trade in building up peace. Funds are needed to replace opium business with alternative means of livelihood. [Sabotage of peace] But now, as soon as the State Law and Order Restoration Council had achieved peace, the first accusation made against it was that it had begun to do opium trade in collaboration with insurgents. The Americans suspended help they had been giving all along to combat the narcotic trading. A number of some other foreign countries also began giving violent pressure. This, in fact, is an anti-peace move. It is designed to destroy peace. They go to the extent of sending their Hong Kong-based spies to infiltrate into Nationalities' armed forces and to persuade them to stop making peace. Some traders instigate them to grow poppies. The State Law and Order Restoration Council had to achieve this peace with a very strong determination. It encountered a plethora of problems. The State Law and Order Restoration Council holds aloft Our Three Main National Causes. It is worried about the Union disintegrating. It strives to build national solidarity. It protects and defends national sovereignty. It pursues the correct path of rebuilding national reconciliation for the sake of Our Three Main National Causes. It achieved peace with armed forces of the jungles for the sake of national reconciliation. And then persons who destroy that peace emerge. Opium traders who feared a destruction of their business did not keep quiet. They try to destroy peace between Nationalities armed forces and the State Law and Order Restoration Council. They foment renewed clashes between the Tatmadaw and Nationalities armed forces. They also instigate clashes among armed forces of the jungle themselves. They persuade armed organisations still in the jungles not to return to legal fold. The Tatmadaw still achieves peace despite all these difficulties. It implements border area development projects for the welfare of the hills peoples. What matters is good will. A genuine good will is capable of dissipating narrow racialist views. [Sen-Gen. Than Shwe on peace and border development] At nine o'clock in the morning of 23 February 1995, the State Law and Order Restoration Council Chairman and the Tatmadaw Defence Services Commander in Chief, Senior General Than Shwe, delivered an address to the students of the 26th academic term of the University for the Development of National Races, on the premises of the Pyithu Hluttaw. In this address, the Senior General touched on matters concerning national groups. "In the context of the situation of national groups, it is found that they have, for diverse reasons, been left behind. As insurgency emerged within the country soon after Independence, it had been possible to restore peace in the interior of the country while the remote frontier areas were left unpacified. That continued to pose a difficulty for carrying out development programmes for national groups." It would not be possible to undertake any development programme amidst raging battles. Development work is possible only when there is territorial peace, the rule of the law and political stability. "For these reasons, nothing could be done to improve their roads and communications nor to develop their education. The inner regions had gained reasonable development but the frontier regions had fallen behind even in their educational standards: it has therefore become an urgent task for frontier areas to try and catch up with the inner regions as quickly as possible. With this concept, the State Law and Order Restoration Council government that emerged began to restore peace in these frontier areas. Nothing can be done when there is no peace. "In trying to make peace, we have adopted a new posture which is unlike the peace postures of the past: we have been very generous. As a result, thirteen organisations have achieved understanding with us and are no co-operating with us. There are a few organisations left." This speech of the Senior General had a deep impression on some KNU followers who then began to object and oppose their leaders' policies. The Kayinni National Progress Party returned to the legal fold as the fourteenth organisation to have done so, soon after the speech. The Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organisation that desires peace broke away from the KNU. There are organisations that will be returning to the legal fold soon. This is good will. There is full good will. Special attention is given so that this good will is actually and fully received by the beneficiaries. Re-establishing peace is but part of the national reconciliation endeavour. (NLM 6/29) June 30: (16) In making peace with armed organisations of the jungles as part of national reconciliation campaign, the State Law and Order Restoration Council extended sincerely motivated concessions. The Council achieved deserving successes this way. Consider the following behest contained in Senior General Than Shwe's speech delivered on 23 February 1995 to students of the University for the Development of National Races: "We will always welcome their armed forces if only they will return to the legal fold with pure and sincere good intentions. Our Union will become a developed country only when our national races live in love and amity. "We therefore committed ourselves firstly to restoration of peace within the country. We succeeded in restoring peace to a certain extent. There are some few areas where peace has not yet been restored but it is our belief that they also will become peaceful before long. These areas have remained disturbed ever since achievement of Independence with the result that they had been left behind in regional development." The rate of development of the hill regions differed from that of the plains as a result of the Divide and Rule policy practised by the colonial government. For over ten years after Independence many areas remained entrapped in the moribund feudal system. The blaze of internal insurgency burnt several hill regions destroying all chances of any development there. Economic and social conditions there were reduced to zero. Hill regions have lived for a long time under swirling opium fumes. [Border area development] It is therefore not so strange that the State Law and Order Restoration Council with sincere good will towards the hill peoples should have achieved co-operative terms with Nationalities armed forces who profess a real desire to work for the welfare of their own peoples and their own regions. "That was why the new Ministry for the Progress of Border Ares and National Races and Development Affairs was established and charged with duties. As a result border areas development programmes have already gained momentum. The situation will substantially improve in five years' time and in ten years' time the gap between the border areas and the interior will have been appreciably narrowed. In carrying out these border areas development programmes, you must work with a sincere desire to promote the welfare of national races." The State Law and Order Restoration Council has indeed worked methodically to develop the border areas and national races which make up the back bone for an everlasting peace. The State Law and Order Restoration Council issued Notification No. 23/89 on 25 May 1989 appointing the Border Areas and National Races Development Central Committee. Senior General Than Shwe personally acts as Chairman of the Committee. At that time only Kokang armed forces and Wa armed forces had returned to the legal fold. Nevertheless the Na-wa-ta formulated a border areas and national races development plan and implemented it. That was why one after another armed force returned to the legal fold. It is very clear that the border areas and national races development plan was not a matter of expediency but a matter of policy and principle. On 31 May 1989 the State Law and Order Restoration Council issued its Notification No. 24/89. This Notification appointed a Border Areas and National Races Development Work Committee with the Na-wa-ta Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt as Chairman. The border areas and national races development work also involves eradication of the scourge of narcotics abuse. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law was promulgated. Under this new Law the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control was appointed on 10 September 1993 and the Home Minister as its Chairman. On 24 September 1992, the Ministry for Development of Border Areas and National Races was established. On 30 January 1994 the Ministry was reorganised as the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs. These were measures taken to accelerate border areas and national races development. The Central Committee, the Work Committee and the Ministry have been spending billions of kyats in developing the border areas. "Another point is that working to narrow the gap between developing standards among Union nationalities is the same as working for Our Three Main National Causes. "As regards the First National Cause of preventing disintegration of the Union, we need to understand one another, love one another and be fair to one another as far as possible. If we want to be equally fair to one another, we will have to have fairness in educational opportunities, fairness in economic opportunities and fairness in social opportunities. Only then our Union will remain united and strong forever." The Senior General explained that the national reconciliation programme was a programme for the upholding of Our Three Main National Causes. "The second National Cause is to prevent national solidarity from disintegrating. National solidarity is needed in order to protect the Union from disintegration. And equality and fairness are needed for national solidarity. And today we are trying to ensure such equality and fairness. "We are working for regional development making use of natural resources of the regions concerned. We keep trying to ensure equality and fairness in social wellbeing including educational and public health. We are doing this to ensure national solidarity and to prevent the Union from disintegration." In pursuance of the political goal of national reconciliation, the first priority task is to cease armed conflicts, and secure peace. Only peace will bring progress. And deeds, not words, are needed to prove peaceful intents. And we can prove our peaceful intents only by working for development of border areas and national races. "The third National Cause of perpetuation of sovereignty rests on the first two National Causes, of protecting the Union from collapse and preventing national solidarity from disintegration. If there is no unity among nationals the Union will collapse and national sovereignty will be lost. These Three National Causes are therefore inter-related and inter-dependent on one another." Senior General Than Shwe's good counsel was reported in full in the 24 February 1995 issue of newspapers. Some read the speech with interest and others remained quite indifferent. Cynics may say 'the same old stuff'. [The Burma Press Summary admits to having done so--HCMacD.] They are people who will reject ambrosia and nectar served them as being bitter. Those who listened with attention to a broadcast of Senior General Than Shwe's speech were the rank and file of the 16th Battalion of the KNU 6th Brigade. KNU rank and file from the 2nd Company, 3rd Company and 6th Company of 16th Battalion and 3rd Security Company of the 6th Brigade seriously assessed the Senior General Than Shwe's speech. They envied progress already attained by regions that had secured peace. They began to realise the sincere good will of the Na-wa-ta. They got indignant with the KNU that refused to work for peace. They gave vent to their frustrations by firing their guns in the air. Regions that had regained peace had made unprecedented progress. Nationalities masses may now sleep soundly and move about freely on motor roads that had been built. Hospitals, schools and bridges have been constructed. The taste of peace is as sweet as no other kind of taste can be. And all the progress achieved were not merely in dreams. News about progress being made by regions that had become peaceful spread to regions that were not yet peaceful. Masses of nationalities living in areas where insurrections raged have been craving for peace for a very long time. One insurgent organisation after another, therefore, began making peace despite formidable obstacles placed in their way. On 21 December 1994, Kayin nationals, fretting under the oppression of the KNU, formed their Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organization (DKBO) and rose up against the KNU. The KNU lost all its posts on the border including its central headquarters. The DKBO is making preparations to build up a peaceful Kayin State with a strong determination to pursue a peaceful path. The New Mon State Party that had all along been bullied by the KNU is also getting ready to pursue a peaceful path. Shan national armed forces, drifting and sinking under the dictates of Khun Sa's Loimaw Opium Band have begun to rebel against him. All armed conflicts in Myanmar are to cease in the near future, under relentless endeavours of the Na-wa-ta for national reconciliation. (NLM 6/30) Returnees from Bangladesh [Articles reporting the return of refugees from Bangladesh list the cumulative total since Sept. 22, 1992. Not all returns are reported in NLM, and, indeed, returns have increasingly been skipped, as the discrepancy between specific reports and the running total indicates.] June 5: 178 persons from 26 households returned to reception camps on June 1, bringing the total to 191,924. (NLM 6/6) June 14: 259 persons from 48 households returned to Taungbyo and Kanyinchaung camps on June 8, bringing the total to 192,183. (NLM 6/15) June 20: 19 persons from 3 households returned to reception camps on June 15, bringing the total to 192,202. (NLM 6/21) June 27: 174 persons from 35 households returned to reception camps on June 22, bringing the total to 192,376. (NLM 6/28) Special Refresher Courses May 31: Short-term Refresher Course No. 1 on Administration of Justice concluded; the four-week course was attended by 53 Township Judges and others. Chief Justice U Aung Toe said the course "was also aimed at enabling them to hold discussions in English with judges and legal experts from abroad. He urged them to continue studying English as a departmental duty. He spoke of the need for them to study the rulings of the past in English." (NLM 6/1) June 17: Special Refresher Course No. 5 for Officers of General Administration Department concluded. Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen. Mya Thin said that altogether 1,159 officers had attended the courses, and he hoped they "would serve the country with sharp qualification, thoughts in conformity with the times and new ideas...." (NLM 6/18) June 19: Special Refresher Course No. 17 for Basic Education Teachers opened, and was addressed by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, who said that "as Special Refresher Courses have now gained momentum, it is found that teachers show greater interest in the lectures and that there is improvement in observance of discipline." He said the State is "taking measures to make the student youths to see the ruthless nature of neo-colonialists, to defend the nation with clear nationalist outlook and to vitalize patriotism." He noted foreign efforts to sabotage Myanmar with "destructive acts with human rights excuses," the need to mobilize youths in the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and cited progress in Indonesia and Singapore. 1,501 teachers are attending the four-week course. (NLM 6/20) National Races June 16: Chairman of the Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, accompanied by Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint, met with Kachin national leader Dr. La Ja of Kachin State Special Region 2 and members U Ji Naw and U La Tuang. "They discussed regional development and progress of transport and economy." (NLM 6/17) June 17: Chairman of the Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, accompanied by Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint, met with Shan State East Special Region-4 national leader U Sai Lin and members U Kyi Myint and U Min Ein to discuss "extended cultivation of paddy by multiple cropping, keeping up momentum of tourism and development of border areas." (NLM 6/18) June 23: Chairman of the Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, accompanied by Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint and other Ministers, met with Wa national leaders from Shan State (North) Special Region-2 U Pau Yu Chan, U Pau Leik Hkam, U Aung Myint, U Kyauk Kyon Tang, U Kyauk Kaw Eng, and U Chin Zi Peng to discuss "improvement in road transport, promoting education and health sectors, economic development and eradication of opium poppy cultivation." (NLM 6/24) Police to be Military Reserve June 18: Director-General Col. Soe Win of the People's Police Force "said that although the PPF's duty in the post-war era is enforcing law and maintaining regional peace and tranquillity, it is being transformed into a reserve force which is to discharge national defence duty together with the Tatmadaw when security of the nation is harmed...." (NLM 6/19) SLORC Vice-Chairman Tours Center June 22: Vice-Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Gen. Maung Aye accompanied by SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo flew to Mandalay and inspected the Mandalay International Airport Project, accompanied by top military and government officials. Speaking to the Mandalay City Development Committee, he called on the need to modernize and beautify the city, "which is a repository of cultural heritage." He called on MCDC members "for successful implementation of this task and to avoid bribery and be careful not to cause any burden to the public." [photos] (NLM 6/23 June 23: He addressed the graduation parade of the 91st Intake of the Tatmadaw (Army) Officers Training School at Bahtoo Tatmyo, calling on junior officers to be diligent, enthusiastic leaders. He toured Mandalay, and laid the foundation for a modern 8-storey Mandalay Railway Station. [photos] (NLM 6/24) June 24: He inspected the Zawgyi Hydro-electric Power Project 18 km. north of Lawksawk, the largest ever undertaken by the Myanma Electric Power Enterprise. He then flew by helicopter to Taunggyi. [photos] (NLM 6/25) June 25: Gen. Maung Aye inspected development projects in Shan and Kayah States (Kalaw, Pinlaung, and Loikaw), and then returned to Yangon. [photos] (NLM 6/26) Judicial Honesty June 24: "Chief Justice U Aung Toe addressed a meeting on eradication of bribery between the Supreme Court and judges of Division, district and township courts held at Yangon Division Court this morning." He called on judges "to help prop up the judicial pillar with uprightness, integrity and conduct, avoiding bribery and corrupt practices and reminded them against misuse of judicial powers and rights. He also spoke of conduct for personnel such as loyalty to the State, adherence to existing laws, laying emphasis on public welfare, discharging duties uprightly, strictly obeying to orders and directives and avoiding moral depravity, bad behaviour, graft and bribery and seeking incomes through dishonest means." He noted that the Supreme Court has issued directives "for exposing and taking action against notorious judges and personnel and honouring dutiful ones." 117 judges from Yangon Division attended. (NLM 6/25) Mon Party Rejoins Legal Fold June 29: The New Mon State Party (NMSP) formally returned to the legal fold at a ceremony at Aung San Hall of South-East Command, following an invitation extended on Mar. 19, 1994 at Ye and Thanbyuzayat by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt. Negotiations with the State Law and Order Restoration Council ensued. Speaking on the occasion, South-East Commander Maj-Gen. Ket Sein noted that the NMSP has become the fifteenth armed group to return to the legal fold. Vice-Chairman Nai Htin of the NSMP, speaking on behalf of NMSP Chairman Nai Shwe Kyin, recalled that "Mon and Myanmar brothers had lived together in weal or woe for many years in accordance with the teachings of Lord Buddha, and built the firm State." The nation fell into servitude "due to disunity of Mon and Myanmar kings," but the Mon nationals took part in the independence struggle led by Bogyoke Aung San. Subsequently, the national brethren were disunited, and "the entire people bitterly suffered the effects of the armed crisis." Following the extension of an olive branch by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt at Ye Township, and "after passing through many difficulties, there came the moment of peace milestone, expressing belief that the entire Union nationals will be filled with joy for the NMSP's returning to the legal fold and that the party can now carry out national reconciliation work." Joint Secretary of the Military Committee of the New Mon State Party, Nai Aung Naing, "presented the report on strength, arms and ammunition to Chairman of Mon State Law and Order Restoration Council Commander Maj-Gen. Ket Sein. Also present were SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt and numerous Ministers and other officials. This strength is 7,860, who brought with them 4,260 AK automatics, 2,175 M-16s, 432 carbines, 218 assorted arms, 176 40mm M-79s, 284 RPGs, 73 60mm mortars, 35 81/82mm mortars, 6 75mm RFs, 230 82mm RFs, 5 107mm rockets, 12 point-fives, 20 SAM-7s, 10 M-57s, 50 M-60s, and 224 RPD AKs, totalling 8,346 weapons. [two pages of photos] (NLM 6/30) NATIONAL CONVENTION Plenary Session (of April 6) Apr. 6: The Plenary Session met, with 635 of 683 delegates present, and heard clarifications from members of the Panel of Chairmen. (NLM 4/7) Apr. 6 [full text except for repeated quotations]: The following is a translation of the salient points of the findings of the members of the Panel of Chairmen on the proposal papers in connection with prescribing self-administered divisions or self-administered zones submitted to the Plenary Session by the delegates on 29, 30 and 31 March: [Kokang self-administered zone] U Tin Maung Kyaw It is found in proposal papers submitted by the representatives-elect delegates of the political parties that they comply with the opinions of the parties concerned. The independent representative-elect of Namhsan Constituency, Shan State, proposed: [one paragraph calling for Kokang self-administered zone]. The independent representative-elect of Tamu Constituency, Sagaing Division, proposed: [one paragraph endorsing Naga, Danu, Pa-O, Palaung, Kokang, and Wa self-administered areas]. The nationalities delegates group proposed: [one paragraph calling for Kokang self-administered zone]. Two Kokang national delegates from Shan State North of the group proposed: [one paragraph calling for Kokang self-administered zone including Kunlong Township]. The delegates have already heard the discussions and proposals of various delegate groups and some delegates in connection with laying down fundamental principles for prescribing Kokang Self-Administered Zone. It is found that there are similar proposals of many delegates as well as those submitted individually. Many delegates proposed a detailed fundamental principle to be laid down for prescribing Kokang Self-Administered Zone organizing Konkyan and Laukkai townships. [Wa self-administered division] U Maung Gyi It is found in the proposal papers submitted by the representatives-elect delegates of the political parties that they comply with the opinions of the parties concerned. The independent representative-elect delegate of Namhsan Constituency, Shan State, proposed: [one paragraph endorsing a Wa self-administered division]. The independent representative-elect delegate of Tamu Constituency, Sagaing Division, proposed: [one paragraph endorsing Naga, Danu, Pa-O, Palaung, Kokang and Wa self-administered areas]. The nationalities delegates group proposed: [one paragraph proposing Wa self-administered division]. [Lahu representation] U Ko The intelligentsia and intellectuals delegates group proposed: [one paragraph endorsing participation of Lahu, Inntha, Kayan, Akha, and Kachin nationals in the Shan State legislature and executive]. The intelligentsia and intellectuals delegates group proposes to lay down the Work Committee Chairman's clarifications in connection with prescribing self-administered divisions and self-administered zones for the national brethren, and the matter of the national race representatives as fundamental principles. The State-service personnel delegates group proposed: [one paragraph endorsing Lahu participation in the Shan State legislature and executive]. Other invited delegates group proposed: [two paragraphs endorsing Lahu participation in the Shan State legislature and executive.] [Inntha representation] Dr. Thaung Myint At the National Convention Plenary Session on 2 September 1994, Work Committee Chairman U Aung Toe clarified: [four paragraphs explaining that Inntha population is insufficient for a self-administered area, but that it may entitle them to participate in the Shan State legislature and executive]. Regarding this clarification, the National Convention peasants delegates group proposed: [one paragraph endorsing Inntha participation in the Shan State legislature and executive]. [Kayan representation in Shan State] U Arnt Maung Intellectuals and intelligentsia delegates group proposed: [two paragraphs endorsing Lahu, Inntha, Kayan, Akha, and Kachin participation in the Shan State legislature and executive]. State service personnel delegates group proposed: [one paragraph endorsing Kayan participation in the Shan State legislature and executive]. Other invited delegates group proposed: [two paragraphs endorsing Kayan participation in the Shan State legislature and executive]. A delegate of ChaungU Township, Sagaing Division, of the group proposed: [one paragraph proposing "immediate" integration into Kayan State of Kayan areas outside the State]. [Akha representation] U Bo Myint Other invited delegates proposed: [two paragraphs endorsing Akha participation in the Shan State legislature and executive]. A delegate of Shan State East Special Region 4 of the group proposed: [five paragraphs proposing a Wa-Akha-Shan-Lahu Self-Administered State]. [Mro or Khami representation] U Kyi Nyunt When we study the proposal papers, we can see that peasants delegates group, workers delegates group, intellectuals and intelligentsia delegates group, State service personnel delegates group, other invited delegates group and nationalities delegates group had suggested participation of Akha national affairs representatives. A delegate of Shan State East Special Region 4 of the group individually proposed to establish the new Wa-Akha-Shan-Lahu Self-Administered State. A delegate of nationalities delegates group also separately suggested that a basic principle to prescribe a self-administered area with approval of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, should be added as there is possibility that more national groups who, in accord with basic principles, are entitled to prescribe self-administered areas may come out. Workers delegates group proposed: [one paragraph citing proposal for a Mro or Khami self-administered area, suggested by U San Tha Aung]. The proposal presented by the Mro or Khami National Solidarity Organizations do [sic] not meet the specific points of the basic principle as it is suggested to group together townships in Rakhine and Chin states to prescribe a self-administered division. To be designated as self-administered division it is necessary to have at least four townships and the basic principle also requires to have major population in all single townships. Thus, I have found out that there is no proper condition to designate a self-administered division for Mro or Khami nationals. [Tai-Lai self-administered division] U Hla Myint U Sai Soe Nyunt, on behalf of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, proposed that all plains of Bhamo, Momauk, Mansi and Shwegu townships in Bhamo District, Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Mogaung, Monyin, Karmaing and Tanai of Myitkyina District, Katha, Inndaw, Htigyaint, Bamauk, Kawlin, Wuntho and Pinlebu townships of Katha District, Kalay, Phaungpyin, Tamu, Kalaywa, Mawlaik and Maintan townships of Kalay District, and Hkamti, Homalin and Nanyun townships in Hkamti District, be groups together and prescribed as Tai Lai Self-Administered Division. No new division or new state is allowed to designate as basic principle has already been laid down to prescribe original seven divisions as seven regions and original seven states as seven states regarding State Structure. As partition off from or to form a new region or a new state is not permitted, there is no position to designate the self-administered division as proposed by Shan Nationalities League for Democracy. Similarly, basic principles have been laid down only to prescribe self-administered areas for nationals who have not got any region or state of their own, there is no position to prescribe self-administered area for Shan nationals as proposed by some delegates of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy. However, there is possibility for Shan national race affairs representatives to participate in the legislature and the executive of the Kachin State and Sagaing Division, if Shan populations of over 260,000 and over 200,000 residing respectively in the former and the latter and meet the required figures which may enable them to take part in the legislature and the executive of a region or a state. A summary of proposals submitted by various National Convention delegates in connection with prescribing self-administered divisions right away instead of forming a commission to do so, the national races who should get self-administered divisions or self-administered zones and areas to be prescribed as self-administered divisions or self-administered zones has already been submitted. [National race affairs representation] Some of the delegates submitted proposals for national races affairs representatives. As this matter is connected with the chapter Executive, after a fundamental principle has laid down for prescribing percentage of national races affairs representatives, nationals who conform to the principle will be vested with rights to participate as national race affairs representatives in the legislature and executive of the region or state concerned. Therefore, proposals on this matter should be submitted when discussions are held in connection with the chapter Executive, and I hereby conclude the summary of the findings on the proposals in connection with prescribing self-administered divisions or self-administered zones. (NLM 4/7) DIPLOMATIC Diplomatic Calls [The following calls were paid on Burmese officials by foreign Embassy or UN officials accredited to Burma. Details of the meetings are rarely reported. Ambassadors generally accompany foreign visitors from their countries on official calls, and their presence is generally not noticed in this Summary. Newly arrived and departing Ambassadors generally make the rounds of Cabinet Ministers and other leading officials.] Apr. 6: Sri Lankan Ambassador K.B. Fernando called on Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin. // Honorary Netherlands Consul-General Mr. H.J. Stevens called on Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen. Chit Swe. (NLM 4/7) May 31: Cuban Ambassador Rolando Lopez del Amo called on Minister for Cooperatives U Than Aung. British Ambassador Julian D.N. Hartland-Swann, who has completed his tour of duties in Myanmar, called on Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt, and on Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. (NLM 6/1) June 1: The Cuban Ambassador called on Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. (NLM 6/2) June 2: Japanese Military Attache Col. Hiroshi Mamizuka, who has completed his tour of duties in Myanmar, called on Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Gen. Maung Aye, to present his successor, Col. Akira Sato. French Ambassador Bernard Pottier called on Minister for Rail Transportation U Win Sein to discuss "French technical assistance on upgrading engine power and capacity of 150 Alsthon diesel locomotives which were imported from France." (NLM 6/3) June 4: Japanese Ambassador Takashi Tajima called on SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt. (NLM 6/5) June 5: British Ambassador Julian D.N. Hartland-Swann called on Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint, and was received by Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin on behalf of SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe [who is visiting Indonesia]. (NLM 6/6) June 6: Bangladeshi Ambassador Brig. Chowdhury Khalequzzaman (Retd) called on President of Myanmar National Olympic Council Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Brig-Gen. Lun Maung. French Ambassador Bernard Pottier called on Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen. Chit Swe. (NLM 6/7) June 8: Finnish Ambassador Mr. Eero Kalievi Salovaara, who has completed his tour of duties, called on Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen. Tin Tun, on behalf of SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe. (NLM 6/9) June 9: Philippine Ambassador Mrs. Sonia C. Brady called on Minister for Industry-2 U Than Shwe, and on border, and on Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint. (NLM 6/10) June 13: The Philippine Ambassador called on Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba, and on Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen. Chit Swe. Laotian Ambassador Ly Bounkham called on Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint. (NLM 6/14) June 14: The Philippine Ambassador called on Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung, and on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant. Laotian Ambassador Ly Bounkham called on Minister for Construction U Khin Maung Yin. FAO Resident Representative Abdul Wahid Jalil called on Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung to discuss FAO assistance in cotton, vegetables, coffee, soya beans, and other crops. (NLM 6/15) June 16: Laotian Ambassador Ly Bounkham called on Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Col. Pe Thein. Philippine Ambassador Mrs. Sonia C. Brady called on Minister for Cooperatives U Than Aung, on Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen. Mya Thin, and on Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt. Italian Ambassador Dr. Benito Volpi called on Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen. Tin Tun. (NLM 6/17) June 19: Philippine Ambassador Mrs. Sonia C. Brady called on Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi, and on Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win. June 20: The Philippine Ambassador called on Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin. (NLM 6/21) June 21: The Philippine Ambassador called on Minister for Mines Lt-Gen. Kyaw Min. Italian Ambassador Dr. Benito Volpi called on Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin. Sri Lankan Ambassador K.B. Fernando called on Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin. (NLM 6/22) June 23: The Philippine Ambassador called on Minister for Livestock Breeding & Fisheries Brig-Gen. Maung Maung. (NLM 6/ 24) June 27: United States Defence Attache Col. Danwill A. Lee, "who has completed his tour of duty," called on Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Gen. Maung Aye, who was accompanied by the Director of Defence Services Intelligence Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen. Tin Oo and other top military officers. [lead story; large photo]. Philippine Ambassador Mrs. Sonia C. Brady called on Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. Canadian Ambassador Manfred von Nostitz called on Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. (NLM 6/28) New Ambassadors to Myanmar June 7: Myanmar has agreed to the appointment of Dr. Gopal Prasad Acharya as new Ambassador of Nepal to Myanmar, replacing Dr. Thakkan Mallik. He was born Aug. 12, 1944, and obtained an MBBS from Punjab University in 1966 and a MRCP from the Royal College of Physicians of England in 1973. He became Professor at Tirbhuvan University, Institute of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, in 1981. From 1982-85 he was Den of the Institute of Medicine. Since April 1989 he has been Director, Department of Medical Education. He is married. (NLM 6/7) June 23: Dr. Wolfgang Wiesner presented credentials to SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe as new Ambassador of Germany to Myanmar. (NLM 6/24) New Myanmar Ambassadors June 1: U Soe Myint on May 22 presented credentials in Male to President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as new Myanmar Ambassador to the Maldives. (NLM 6/2) June 1: U Win Mra on May 26 presented credentials in Havana to Vice President Juan Almeida Bosquet as new Myanmar Ambassador to Cuba. (NLM 6/2) June 13: U San Thein on June 9 presented credentials in Manila to President Fidel V. Ramos as new Myanmar Ambassador to the Philippines. (NLM 6/14) June 16: Dr. Kyaw Win has been appointed new Myanmar Ambassador to Canada. (NLM 6/16) June 22: U Kyaw Myint, Myanmar Ambassador to Singapore, was appointed concurrently as new Myanmar Ambassador to Brunei. (NLM 6/22) June 26: U Set on June 16 presented credentials in Ulaanbaatar to President Punsalmaagin Ochirbat as new Myanmar Ambassador to Mongolia. (NLM 6/26) June 26: U Win Mra on June 21 presented credentials in Mexico City to President Ernesto Zedillo as new Myanmar Ambassador to Mexico. (NLM 6/26) June 29: U Nyunt Tin on June 22 presented credentials in Madrid to King Juan Carlos I as new Myanmar Ambassador to Spain. (NLM 6/29) Thai Charge Refuted (Apr. 6) Apr. 6: The Director-General of the Political Department of the Foreign Ministry gave an aide memoire to Thai Ambassador Poksak Nilubol on Apr. 5, responding to an aide memoire given to the Myanmar Ambassador in Bangkok on Mar. 23 "alleging that Myanmar military personnel raided a house owned by a Thai citizen in Tak province on 2 March 1995." The response [apparently substantially full text]: "The aid memoire given to the Thai Ambassador stated that there was no involvement whatsoever of Myanmar military personnel in these incidents, that armed clashes took place between DKBO which desired peace and the followers of Bo Mya within the KNU resulting in cross border activities, that the Myanmar authorities are not responsible for the actions of groups with whom there is no formal agreement and who have not yet returned to the legal fold, that it is well known these groups have been operating in and out of Thailand for decades, that in keeping with her policy of strictly adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Myanmar has always respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of her neighbours, that she has never allowed armed insurgents and terrorist groups from [sic] stationing and operating from her territory against a neighbouring country, that the use of the term, 'Myanmar military personnel' could give rise to undesirable misunderstanding between the two nations and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would therefore like to advise the Royal Thai Embassy to inform the authorities concerned in Thailand to desist from using allegations which are at variance with the truth and are detrimental to the existing friendship between the two nations. (NLM 4/7) International Fashion Show June 3: The International Fashion Show, jointly sponsored by the Myanmar Women's Sports Federation and the diplomatic community, was held at the National Theatre, in the presence of Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe and wives of other leading officials. Participants are from 15 countries: Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. (NLM 6/4) Relations with China Feted June 6: Chinese Ambassador Mrs. Chen Baoliu held a reception to mark the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and the People's Republic of China, which was attended by SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo and wife Daw Khin Than Nwe, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin, Ministers, Chief Justice U Aung Toe, Deputy Ministers, etc. (NLM 6/7) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Joint Workshops & Projects June 3: On its final day, the Second Regional Teak Seminar discussed establishment of an Asia-Pacific Network on Teak Research and Development (Teaknet), with Myanmar as its headquarters. Representatives from Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, and Myanmar attended the Seminar, along with officials from the Bankgok-based FORSPAR (Forestry Research Support Programme for Asia and the Pacific), the Philippines-based FORTIP, the Vietnam-based STRAP, and the FAO Bangkok-based Branch Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAPA). (NLM 6/4) June 9: The Country Course on Sampling Design and Survey Operations, jointly sponsored by the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific and the Central Statistical Organization, concluded, with a speech by Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin. Acting UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Douglas Gardner and Course Director Dr. Mosleh Uddin also spoke. 24 trainees from 17 departments attended the course, which began May 29. (NLM 6/10) June 10: A demonstration on production of wood-substitute fuel was held at the Myanma Science and Technology Research Department, attended by Prof. P.D. Grover of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology. Also present was Secretary U Aung Koe of the MSTRD Work Committee for the Improvisation and Distribution of Wood-substitute Fuel, and other officials. (NLM 6/11) June 12: Diarrhoea Control Courses, jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, were held in Yangon to observe Oral Rehydration Therapy Week. \\ An advocacy meeting on ORT promotion in Myanmar was attended by Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt, UNICEF Resident Representative Steven H. Umemoto, and others. (NLM 6/13) June 12: A two-week National Training Course on Nuclear Electronics Maintenance and Repair began at the Myanma Science and Technology Research Department, cosponsored by the Myanma Atomic Energy Committee and the International Atomic Energy Agency, with speakers from Yangon University physics department and IATA. (NLM 6/13) Donations from Abroad [We report here donations apparently from foreign sources, except for donations incidental to the visits of business visitors, etc., which are included in accounts of the visits. We do not normally report the numerous articles on donations by Burmese individuals inside Burma and Burmese companies to government, religious, and social organizations and charities.] May 31: The Japanese Government donated 193,000 measles vaccination vials worth US$ 400,000 and 10 solar-powered refrigerators to the Ministry of Health. Mr. David G. Pierce and party of Glaxo Orient Pte. Ltd. of Singapore donated a computer worth K 250,000 to Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt for the National Health Laboratory. (NLM 6/1) June 1: Chinese Ambassador Mme. Chen Baoliu presented 45 sewing machines to the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (Central). (NLM 6/2) June 2: The Japanese Government donated hospital equipment worth over 10 million to the Sittway People's Hospital. (NLM 6/3) June 2: Britain presented 3,030 corrugated iron roofing sheets for Bago fire relief. (NLM 6/3) June 2: Chinese Ambassador Mme. Chen Baoliu presented 50 sewing machines worth US$ 4,000 for Buthidaung and Maungtaw Townships, Rakhine State. On Apr. 30, China had presented 20 power-tillers worth 200,000 yuans. (NLM 6/3) June 7: Acting Chairman Mr. Bunzo Kubota of the Japan Civilian Diplomatic Promotion (CDP) Work Group donated US$ 30,000 to the Forest Department for the greening project in the dry zone. (NLM 6/ 8) June 8: Regional Director Mr. Pascal Grippon of Hypens Marketing and Technical Services Pte. Ltd. of Singapore donated a cassette and medicines worth K 150,000 to the Kyimyindine School for the Blind. (NLM 6/9) June 8: General Manager Mr. Masaaki Osumi of Toshiba Singapore Ltd., on behalf of the Yangon Toshiba Centre, donated K 1,000,000 to the Yenatha Leprosy Hospital in Madaya. (NLM 6/9) June 13: U Chit Pe of the C and D Co., Yamato Golf Store, presented a golf set worth K 120,000 to the Prime Minister's Office Golf Team. (NLM 6/14) June 15: General Manager Mr. Chalit of Interfirst Marketing Co. Ltd. presented 40 bottles of Anna worth US$ 1,000 to the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (Central). (NLM 6/16) June 19: Foreign companies "who have business contracts with the Myanma Timber Enterprise" presented 3,000 sets of Blood Donor Packs worth US$ 4,200 to Yangon General Hospital. Managing Director U Myat Win of MTE, on behalf of Lanon Investment Co. of Hong Kong, Thai Sawat, and Thai Phong Sawmill of Thailand, and Edward Hulten Co. of Sweden, handed over the money. (NLM 6/20) June 22: Director U Kyi Soe of Pinya International Co. Ltd. and Richard K Lee of Pokka Corporation (Singapore) Ltd. donated K 200,000 for a documentary on Red Cross member Ma Moe Yu Swe "who had lost her limbs while saving life." (NLM 6/ 23) June 26: Chairman Mr. Mohamed Kolia of Kolia Myanmar Ltd. presented an India-made Mahindra jeep worth US$ 9,000 to the Ministry of Trade. (NLM 6/27) Border & Regional Affairs June 2: The delegation led by Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen. Mya Thin returned from the Ministerial and High Level Meeting on Drug Abuse Control held in Beijing from May 25-27. (NLM 6/3) // June 4: On May 27 the meeting was addressed by Lt-Gen. Mya Thin, who noted the presence of delegations from China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, as well as UNDCP, the group established by an Oct. 26, 1993 Memorandum of Understanding signed in New York. The meeting went on to coordinate two of the eleven projects the governments had agreed upon. The group will meet next in Myanmar, in about a year. On May 26, Joint Secretary Police Col. Ngwe Soe of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control and delegation attended the Sixth Joint Coordination Committee Meeting of Myanmar, China, and UNDCP. (NLM 6/5) June 7: A 7-member delegation from the Bangkok-based Foreign Anti-Narcotics Community, headed by Mr. Brian Williams of the Royal Canadian Police, arrived to study anti-narcotics activities in Myanmar, and met with Joint Secretary Police Col. Ngwe Soe Tun of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, who later hosted a dinner. The delegation includes anti-drug officers from the Bangkok Embassies of Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Indonesia, and Japan, as well as a representative of Interpol. (NLM 6/8) June 28: Myanmar and Bangladesh held their 18th meeting on reception of returnees from Bangladesh at the People's Park. The Myanmar delegation was led by Director-General U Maung Aung of the Immigration and Manpower Department, and the Bangladesh side by Divisional Commissioner Mr. Md Shafiqul Islam of Chittagong, accompanied by Home Affairs Ministry Representative Mr. Shahabuddin Haider, DIG of Police (Chittagong Range) Mr. Mohammed Salam, Commissioner at Cox's Bazaar for Refugee Relief and Repatriation Mr. Khandaker Fazlur Rahman, Chittagong BDR Sector Commander Mr. Md A. Matin, and Foreign Ministry Director Mr. Mohammed Faizullah. "They cordially discussed immigration, border crossing and reception of returnees." (NLM 6/29) // June 29: The Bangladesh delegation called on Minister for Immigration and Population Lt-Gen. Maung Hla. (NLM 6/30) Social and Economic Cooperation June 2: Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel and Chinese Ambassador Mrs. Chen Baoliu signed an agreement under which China will provide "spares and technical help for maintenance and renovation of the National Theatre." (NLM 6/3) June 16: Japan has given Myanmar a grant-in-aid for debt relief of 4,000 million, in an exchange of Notes between Japanese Charge d'Affaires a.i. Mr. Koichi Kawakami and Director-General U Thein Aung Lwin of the Foreign Economic Relations Department, Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development. "Japan has so far extended such aid--4,000 million yen in fiscal year 1992, 6,200 million yen in fiscal year 1993 and 12,000 million yen in fiscal year 1994. (NLM 6/17) FOREIGN VISITORS International Agency Visitors June 13: Director Dr. Somporn Hanpong Pandh and party of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific, at Dhaka, Bangladesh, called on Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung, who briefed him on Myanmar agricultural policies. (NLM 6/14) June 27: Assistant Director-General M. Daniel Janicot of UNESCO Headquarters in France called on Myanmar UNESCO National Commission Chairman Minister for Education U Pan Aung. (NLM 6/28) Cultural Visitors June 13: Association Professor Ms. Doe Mayer of the Public Relations Department (Television and Film Production) of the University of Southern California and party called on the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control. (NLM 6/14) June 28: Japanese pianist Mr. Izumi Tateno arrived to present a piano recital on June 29 at the National Theatre, under the Japan-Myanmar cultural exchange programme. Tickets are K 50 for dress circle and K 100 for stalls. (NLM 6/29) // June 29: He gave a recital attended by Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt and others. "Well-known classical pieces were presented. Finally, Promenade was played in ten different version." Medical Visitors June 9: Philips Medical Systems (Asia) will make a presentation on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) on June 13. (NLM 6/ 10) // June 13: Manager Steven Yap and Engineer Mr. Alan Yeo made the presentation. (NLM 6/14) June 19: Regional Representative Mr. David Delapraz of the International Committee of the Red Cross called on SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt. (NLM 6/20) June 19: Dr. Y. Yuasa and party of the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation, Japan, called on Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt to discuss "annual provision of medicines and medical equipment worth nearly 15 million dollars to leprosary campaign in Myanmar." (NLM 6/20) // June 20: Officials of the Foundation and of the Health Department "discussed the cost-sharing health care project," and Dr. Myint Oo, Head of the Twantay Township Health Department, shared the experiences of the township." (NLM 6/21) Business Visitors [Although we rarely note it, business and other visitors calling on Myanmar officials are frequently accompanied by the Ambassador from their country. -- HCMacD.] Apr. 6: Mr. Jack Ng of East Asiatic Co. (Malaysia) explained the new Agfa automatic film for automatic cameras. (NLM 4/7) Apr. 6: Dr. Reiner Gehmlich of Euro Kapital AG of Germany called on Minister for Energy U Khin Maung Thein to discuss the electric power sector. (NLM 4/7) Apr. 6: Executive Vice-President Mr. Gilbert Hie of the Societe General Singapore, and Mr. R. Dreyfus, Head of the Commodity Finance Department of World Corporate Group of Societe General Paris Head Office, called on Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen. Tin Tun. (NLM 4/7) June 1: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Andreas Soriano III and party of San Miguel Corp. of the Philippines called on Chairman of the Myanmar Investment Committee Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin. He also visited the Shwedagon Pagoda, where he donated US$ 10,000 to the Board of Trustees. (NLM 6/2) June 1: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Helmut Swarovski and party of Swarovski Co. of Austria met with Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi at the People's Park Restaurant. (NLM 6/2) // June 2: He called on Minister for Construction U Khin Maung Yin, to whom he presented 400 "reflectors of traffic signs", and on Chairman of the Myanmar Investment Committee Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin. He also visited the Shwedagon Pagoda, and donated US$ 1,000 to its funds. (NLM 6/3) June 1: Chairman Mr. Teo Ming Kian of Singapore Technologies Industrial Corp. Ltd., who is also Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) of the Singapore Ministry of Defence, and party called on Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win to discuss tourism, building of international airports, the development of Myanmar ports, and "building of Kyaukpyu blue water port." (NLM 6/2) // June 2: He called on SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, and on Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin. Mrs. Teo Ming Kian visited the Shwegondaing Nursery and Chawdwingon Girls' Training School, run by the Social Welfare Department, and presented K 250,000 to each. (NLM 6/3) // June 4: He signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Civil Aviation "for designing and building Mandalay International Airport." (NLM 6/5) June 6: Director Mr. Ken Tolemen of Geocomp Systems (Australia), Manager Mr. M. Zimmermann of Leica (Switzerland), Managing Director Mr. Fretz of Map Consult (Singapore), Survey Engineer Mr. Thomas Tang and Mr. Tajiri of Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Director U Thein Htut of Geocomp Myanmar talked on land surveying and demonstrated modern equipment to an audience of military officers and others. (NLM 6/7) June 6: Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Deignan of Inchcape Marketing Group of Singapore called on Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi; he donated K 300,000 to the Yenatha Leprosy Hospital. (NLM 6/7) June 7: Mr. Martin C.F. Potts of Fragrance Oils (International) Ltd. of the United Kingdom, and U Kyaw Thein of Cherry Xeno Trading Co. Ltd. displayed fragrant oils at the Summit Parkview Hotel. (NLM 6/ 8) June 7: Director Mr. Kishi Moto of Chiyodo Corp. called on Mandalay City Development Committee Chairman Mayor U Tun Kyi, and presented a fax machine worth K 80,000 and K 10,000 for spare parts. (NLM 6/8) June 7: Mr. Y. Mori and party of Mitsubishi Corp. met with officials of the Yangon City Development Committee to discuss building of an overpass at Hledan junction. (NLM 6/8) June 8: A Thai economic delegation led by President Mr. Direk Vonichutr of Rojana Industrial Park Public Co. Ltd. called on Chairman of the Myanmar Investment Committee Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin. (NLM 6/9) June 13: Welcome advertisement for President Mr. Michiro Kitamura of Asian Honda Motor Co. Ltd. of Thailand, by local Honda offices. (NLM 6/13) June 20: Vice-Chairman Mr. Hiromi Funabiki and party of Japan Air System Co. called on Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win to discuss tourist flights in 1996. (NLM 6/21) June 20: Managing Director Mr. Philip Paris of Parison International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore and Vice-Chairman Mr. Alain Mahillon of Hilton International Hotels of the United States, called on Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba to discuss tours in Bagan and other parts of Myanmar. (NLM 6/21) June 22: Singapore companies demonstrated electrical technology at the Summit Parkview Hotel, sponsored by Prolux International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore and KJS International Co. Ltd. of Myanmar, attended by Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt and other Ministers. Foreign visitors present included General Manager Mr. K. Seshadri and Mr. Peter Wang of Philips of Singapore, and Divisional Managers Mr. Chan Yew Wai, Mr. K.T. Goh, and Mr. Chris Popple of Group Schneider of Singapore. (NLM 6/23) June 28: Export Manager Mr. Freddie Wong and Sales Engineer Mr. Lee Yoon Seong of Esso Singapore Pte. Ltd. demonstrated Esso engine oil and lubricating oil at the Dunneedaw Installation of the Myanmar Petroleum Products Enterprise, in the presence of Deputy Minister for Energy U Tin Tun. (NLM 6/29) Singapore Business Study Mission June 14: A 56-member Business Study Mission of Singapore, led by President Dr. Cham Tao Soon of Nanyang Technological University, arrived and will study business enterprises in Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan for nine days. (NLM 6/15) June 15: It was welcomed by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin, and other officials. Speakers included President Dr. Cham Tao Soon and Dean Prof. Tan Teck Meng of the Nanyang Technological University and Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin. Seminars were then held, with papers as follows: -- Socio-Economic and Cultural Background of Myanmar, by Pro-Rector U Myat Thein of the Institute of Economics. -- Macro-Economic Policies, by Director-General U San Khup of the Planning Department. -- Trade Regime and Doing Business in Myanmar by Director-General U Khin Maung Oo of the Inspection and Agency Services. -- Myanmar Banking and Financial System, by Director U Myat Kyaw of the Central Bank of Myanmar. (NLM 6/16) June 17: The Mission held seminars for a second day, with papers as follows: -- Tourism Development in Myanmar, by Director Dr. Naw Angelene of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism. -- Human Resources Management, by Director U Htin Aung of the Labour Department. -- Corporate and Commercial Laws of Myanmar, by Legal Adviser Dr. Tun Shin of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development. -- Master Plan for Regional Development of Yangon, Mandalay and Economic Zones, by Director U Win Myint of the Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development. -- Hospitality and Tourism Management, by Programme Director Mr. Ivan Paul Polunin of Nanyang Technological University. -- The Development of Capital Markets: The Singapore Experience, by Programme Director Dr. Ng Kah Hwa of Nanyang Technological University. (NLM 6/17) June 18: Senior Lecturer Dr. John G. Bauer of Singapore Nanyang Technological University will lecture June 22 on Private Sector Development in Singapore. (NLM 6/ 19) Religious Visitors June 20: Theravada Buddhist Monk U Pannajota of Bangladesh "a Marama national and a relative of Bo Min Raja who was a descendant of Hanthawady dynasty" called on Minister for Religious Affairs Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt. (NLM 6/21) June 25: Sayadaws Agga Maha Pandita Ashin Nyanika of England and Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Pyinnyavamsa of Singapore recounted missionary experiences at the Dhamma Beikmandawgyi. (NLM 6/26) Journalists May 31: Executive Director Mr. Naoyuki Kohno of NHK Headquarters, Tokyo, called on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant and "cordially discussed" signing of a "Memorandum of Understanding on exchange of information and cooperation between NHK and Myanma Television and Radio Department." (NLM 6/1) June 2: Managing Editor Mr. Gene Roberts of "The Times" magazine and Southeast Asia Correspondent Mr. Philip Shenon of The New York Times called on SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt. (NLM 6/3) June 22: Chief Editor and Publisher Mr. Ashok Nath of Myanmar Business International, "published abroad," called on Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba, to discuss plans to publicize Myanmar tourism on international TV channels. (NLM 6/23) Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Apr. 6: Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Hiroshi Fukuda called on Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel. (NLM 4/7) Vietnam Education Minister May 31: Vietnam Minister of Education and Training Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Quan of Vietnam, and delegation, called on SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, who was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and Minister for Education U Pan Aung. He then departed for home. (NLM 6/1) Bangladesh Cultural Troupe June 1: A 21-member Bangladesh cultural troupe led by Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Mr. M. Mokhlesur Rahman arrived. It will entertain the public at the National Theatre from June 3-6, and study "cultural tasks" in Bagan, Mandalay, and Pyin-Oo-Lwin. (NLM 6/2) // June 2: The Secretary called on Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Myo Thant, and on Minister for Culture Lt-Gen. Aung Ye Kyaw. The troupe toured Yangon, and gave a song and dance program attended at the National Theatre attended by SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo and various Ministers. (NLM 6/3) // June 6: Minister for Culture Lt-Gen. Aung Ye Kyaw hosted a lunch for the delegation. (NLM 6/7) // June 7: The delegation flew to Bagan on June 3, visited Mandalay and Pyin-Oo-Lwin, and returned to Yangon on June 6. (NLM 6/8) // June 8: The delegation departed. (NLM 6/9) Chinese Health Vice-Minister June 4: Chinese Vice-Minister of Health Dr. He Jie Sheng and a five-member delegation arrived, and was given a dinner by Deputy Minister for Health Col. Than Zin. (NLM 6/5) // June 5: She called on Minister for Health Vice-Adm. Than Nyunt, who hosted a dinner. (NLM 6/6) // June 6: She held talks with Myanmar officials headed by Deputy Minister for Health Col. Than Zin, which included "health care for women and children, measures to be taken against spread of infectious diseases through channels of border areas and air, marine and land transport, traditional medicine, and bilateral cooperation in health. Afterwards a Memorandum of Understanding was signed. She then visited the Myanma Gems Enterprise and the Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge. (NLM 6/7) June 10: The delegation visited Bagan, Pyin-Oo-Lwin and Mandalay between June 7-9, including tourist sites and the Mandalay Institutes of Medicine and Traditional Medicine. (NLM 6/11) Chinese Agriculture Minister June 25: A nine-member delegation headed by Chinese Minister for Agriculture Mr. Liu Jiang arrived to study agriculture and livestock breeding activities. (NLM 6/26) June 26: The Minister met with Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung, and with Minister for Livestock Breeding & Fisheries Brig-Gen. Maung Maung. He also toured a carpet factory in Dawbon Township and the Myanma Agriculture Museum in Bahan Township. (NLM 6/27) June 27: The Minister visited agricultural projects in Hlegu and Bago. (NLM 6/28) June 28: The Minister visited a farm machinery workshop and various farms in Yangon, and the Pyinmabin Breeding Farm. In the evening, Minister for Livestock Breeding & Fisheries Brig-Gen. Maung Maung hosted a dinner. (NLM 6/29) June 29: The Minister called on SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe. Later he signed an Agreement on Cooperation in Agriculture with Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung. "Under the agreement, prevention of pests against fruits and industrial crops, development in agricultural research, sericulture, hybrid production of paddy seeds, exchange of seeds and technology, technical cooperation, processing, production and trade of agricultural produce, cooperation in agricultural mechanization, production of farm machines, production of canned fruits and vegetables and establishment of sugar mill will be carried out in cooperation between the two countries." He also visited the Shwedagon Pagoda, and Nyaungdon Kyun in Ayewady Division to study integrated farms. (NLM 6/30) MYANMAR DELEGATIONS Study Delegations June 4: Staff Officer U Aung Naing of the Immigration and Manpower Department left for Thailand to attend the June 6-9 UN-funded Population Information Network Consultative Workshop. (NLM 6/5) June 14: A study group headed by Headmistress Daw Hla Yi of Hlar Kar BEHS, Hpa-an, left on a 15 day study tour of Japan with assistance from the Japan Foundation. Other members are Senior Assistant Teachers U Zaw Win of Loikaw BEHS No. 3, U Chit Nyo of Bhamo BEHS No. 1, Senior Assistant Teacher Daw Khin San Nwe of Pyay BEHS No. 3, and Daw Khin Swe of Hline BEHS No. 3. (NLM 6/15) June 14: Five Myanmar journalists led by Managing Director Lt-Col. Tin Kha of the News and Periodicals Enterprise left to visit Beijing, Shanghai, and Sinchuan under the Cultural Exchange Program with China. Other members are Chief Reporter U Myint Lwin of MNA (Internal), Editor U Ohn Lwin of PPE (Sarpay Beikman), Assistant Editor U Maung Maung Thaung of Myawady Press, and Editor U Kyaw Zeya of IPRD as Secretary. (NLM 6/15) // June 23: The delegation returned. (NLM 6/24) June 17: Assistant Lecturers Daw Win Sein of Central Cooperative College and U Htay Myint of Yangon Cooperative Regional College left to attend the Training of Trainers Programme at Cooperative College in Malaysia from June 19-July 7. (NLM 6/18) June 28: Associate Professor Dr. Myint Kyi of the International Relations Department of Dagon University left for Washington, DC, to attend a Summer Studies Institute on the American Political System at American University, sponsored by the US Government. (NLM 6/29) June 29: Supervisor Daw Nyunt Nyunt Yi of the Immigration and Manpower Department left for Trivandrum, India, to attend the Global Programme of Training in Population and Sustainable Development to be held from July 3, 1995-Apr. 27, 1996 under UN auspices. (NLM 6/30) Delegations to Meetings & Events June 3: A delegation led by Deputy Minister for Labour U Kyaw Aye left for Switzerland to attend the 82nd Annual Conference of the International Labour Organization on June 6-23. Members are Director-General U Maung Maung Ohn of the Central Inland Freight Handling Committee Office, Secretary-General U Maung Maung of the Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Assistant General Manager U Aung Win of Namtu Mines, No. 1 Mining Enterprise, and Assistant Directors U Ko Ko Aye and U Aye Ngwe of the Labour Department. (NLM 6/4) // June 8: On June 8, the Deputy Minister addressed the Session [full text in NLM]. He outlined Myanmar's economic policies in encouraging foreign investment, privatization, expanding border trade, resulting in annual growth of 7.5% during the past three years. In agriculture, systematic use of water resources and irrigation have made possible year-round multiple cropping, including paddy, and even in the dry zone. Agricultural mechanization is being pushed. There is a construction boom, both in urban areas and in rural and border areas, absorbing many workers. Expansion of tourist facilities for the Visit Myanmar Year 1996 provides foreign exchange and jobs. Reconciliation with 14 armed groups is bringing peace and tranquillity and political stability. Economic growth demands skilled labour and training. "An employment strategy should have a socio-economic context and it is in this context that social well-being and human values as well as business prosperity and higher employment shall appear and evolve." (NLM 6/9) // June 14: The Deputy Minister returned. (NLM 6/15) // June 15: En route home, on June 13, the Deputy Minister visited Myanmar workers in Singapore at the site of Singapore Technology Construction Pte. Ltd. (NLM 6/17) // June 28: The remaining delegation members returned home. (NLM 6/29) June 17: Director-General U Tun Chun and Assistant Director U Htut Aung Kyi of the Customs Department left for Belgium to attend the 85th/86th Annual Conference of World Customs Organizations from June 19-21. (NLM 6/18) Religious Delegations June 17: Two monks, Dawei Kan Kyaung Sayadaw Bhaddanta Siriponnya of Myeik [Tanintharyi] and Thechaung Kyaung Sayadaw Bhaddanta Varinda of Yeigantaung Tract, Myeik Kyunzu Township, left to visit six foreign countries, including India, at the invitation of Migadawun Myanmar Kyaung Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vannadhaja of India. (NLM 6/18) Business Delegations June 21: A Defence Services Signals Delegation led by Deputy Director of Office of the Director of Signals Col. Aung Myint left for China at the invitation of M/s Nanjing Panda Electronic Import and Export Corp. Members are Lt-Col. Tin Tun, Maj. Thein Win, Maj. Ne Win, and Capt. Tun Tun Oo of the Office of Director of Signals, Maj. Khaing Zaw of the Commander-in-Chief's Office, and U Thein Aung of the Office of the Director of Procurement of the Ministry of Defence. (NLM 6/22) Than Shwe to Indonesia & Singapore June 5: SLORC Chairman Senior General and Madame Than Shwe left on an official visit to Indonesia. En route they stopped over at Changi Airport in Singapore, where they were met by Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Lim Hng Kiang. At Jakarta they were met by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, who conducted them to Merdeka Palace. The delegation includes SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt and wife Dr. Khin Win Shwe, Minister for Transport Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen. Thein Win, Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and wife Daw Khin Yi, Chairman of the Yangon City Development Committee Mayor of Yangon U Ko Lay, and others. (NLM 6/6) June 8: The Senior General and party arrived in Jakarta on June 5, and after a motorcade through the city, were received by President and Madame Soeharto, and reviewed an honour guard. Senior General and Madame Than Shwe then called on President and Madame Soeharto. They were escorted to the Wisma Negara State Guest House. They visited and laid a wreath at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery, welcomed by Jakarta Garrison Commander Maj-Gen. (Army) Wiranto. Vice-President and Madame Try Sutrisno then called on the Senior General and Madame Than Shwe. In the evening President Soeharto gave a dinner for the Myanmar guests, at which speeches were exchanged. President Soeharto recalled the aid given to Indonesia by Myanmar when it was struggling for independence, and warmly welcomed the increasingly close ties between the two nations. Senior General Than Shwe lauded the Indonesian example of political, economic, and social development as one inspiring Myanmar. He reviewed current Myanmar policies, and endorsed closer relations. [full texts in NLM] On June 6, Senior General Than Shwe and President Soeharto held talks. SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt met with Coordinating Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade I.R. Hatato, accompanied by the Myanmar delegation, Myanmar Ambassador to Indonesia U Nyi Nyi Than, Director-General Lt-Col. Pe Nyein, and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet. Present on the Indonesian side were Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ali Atatas, Minister of Defence and Security Mr. Edi Sudradjat, Minister of Agriculture Sharifudin Baharsjah, Minister of Transportation Mr. Harayanto Dhanutirto, Minister of State for National Development Planning Dr. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, and Indonesian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Mochamad Sanoesi. They discussed "topics on further promoting friendship and cooperation, expanding existing trade contacts and increasing bilateral cooperation." At noon, Senior General Than Shwe received Indonesian Minister of Defence and Security Mr. Edi Sudradjat and party; also present were SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, Myanmar Ambassador U Nyi Nyi Than and Military Attache Col. Nyo Win. Senior General and Madame Than Shwe visited the Museum Purna Bhakti Pertiwi, and the Taman Mini-Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature, the Pavilion of West Nusa Tenggara, the Golden Snail Imax Theatre (to see a documentary film on Indonesian scenery), the Gedang Pameran Senrupa building and Exhibition and Contemporary Art of Non-Aligned Countries. The Myanmar Embassy hosted a dinner for the delegation. Earlier, Madame Than Shwe, accompanied by Dr. Khin Win Shwe (wife of SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt) and Daw Khin Kyi (wife of Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw) visited the National Museum, the Sarinah Department Store, and the Cikini Market. Minister for Agriculture Lt-Gen. Myint Aung, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win, and Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel met with Chairman Aburizal Bakrie of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where Brig-Gen. Abel briefed the Chamber on Myanmar's market oriented economic system. Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen. Thein Win called on Indonesian Commander-in-Chief (Air) Gen. Rilo Pambudi, and Yangon Mayor U Ko Lay called on Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja. On June 7, the delegation called on President and Madame Soeharto before departing for Bandung by special aircraft, accompanied by Minister of Transportation Mr. Harayanto Dhanutirto. [3 pages of photos] (NLM 6/9) June 9: On June 7, the delegation flew to Bandung, where it visited the Nusantara Aircraft Industry (IPTN), and then to Yogyakarta, where it visited Mendut Temple and the Borobudur Archaeological Park, and called on Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, the Sultan of Yogyakarta, and were given dinner by Governor Sri Paku Alam VIII at Pakualam Palace. On June 8, the delegation departed for Singapore. [2 pages of photos] (NLM 6/10) June 11: Senior General Than Shwe and his delegation arrived in Singapore on June 8, at the invitation of Prime Minister Mr. Goh Chok Tong. Following a welcome and review of an honour guard with Premier Goh Chok Tong, the Senior General and Madame Than Shwe called on President and Madame Ong Teng Cheong, who was accompanied by Minister of National Development and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Lim Hng Kiang and wife and others. In the afternoon, the Senior General called on Premier Goh Chok Tong, and held talks with him. With the Premier and Minister Lim Hng Kiang were Minister for Communications Mr. Mah Bow Tan and others. An Agreement on Bilateral Economic Cooperation was signed by Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Trade and Industry Brig-Gen. Lee Hsien Loong. In the evening, Singapore Premier Goh Chok Tong hosted a dinner at the Sofia Hall of the Westin Convention Centre, where speeches were exchanged [full texts in NLM]. Premier Goh Chok Tong noted that in 1994 Singapore's trade with Myanmar reached US$ 570 million, while Singapore investments were close to US$ 300 million. While Singapore investments were mostly in tourism, investors "are keen on diversifying into other key sectors like industry, agriculture and infrastructure." The agreement just signed will provide a framework for broader economic linkages. "The opening of the economy to foreign investors and the steps you have taken towards a market economy will enable Myanmar to join the train of emerging Asian economies. If the momentum is sustained by constructive political developments and stable conditions, there will be increased international confidence in your country's investment climate ...." He concluded that "Singapore will help Myanmar integrate itself into the region and develop like the countries of ASEAN." Senior General Than Shwe hailed the growing economic cooperation between Myanmar and Singapore, and outlined Myanmar policies of reconciliation, cultural protection, and developing a market economy. On June 9, Senior General and Madame Than Shwe visited construction and development projects in Singapore, including Jurong Town and Jurong East Station, where they were greeted by Chairman Mr. Goh Kim Leong of the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit. The went by rapid transit to City Hall to meet the Economic Development Board. Prof. Lin Pin hosted a luncheon. In the afternoon, Senior Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore called on SLORC Chairman and Prime Minister Senior General Than Shwe, who was accompanied by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt. Madame Than Shwe also visited the Botanical Gardens and NTUC Child Care Cooperative Ltd. SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, called on Deputy Prime Minister Brig-Gen. Lee Hisen Loong. Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win called on Minister for Communications Mah Boh Tan. Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw called on Foreign Minister Prof. S. Jayakumar. Yangon Mayor U Ko Lay called on Chairman Prof. Khoo Cheng Lim and Chief Executive Officer Khoo Teng Chye of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. In the evening, Deputy Prime Minister Brig-Gen. and Madame Lee Hsien Loong hosted a dinner in honor of Myanmar delegates headed by SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt at the Oriental Hotel. The delegation returned home on June 11. [three full pages of photos] (NLM 6/12) June 12: On June 10, Senior General Than Shwe an entourage visited the Housing and Development Board, where they were greeted by Chairman Mr. Hsuang Owyang, and then met with Chief Executive Mr. Tan Chin Nan and personnel of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. They then visited the Rare Stone Museum of the Sentosa Natural Forest Park, and the Underwater World Exhibition, and then rested at the Sentosa Golf Club House. In the late afternoon, Senior General and Madame Than Shwe visited the Myanmar Monastery in Singapore, and paid homage to Sangha members headed by Sayadaw Bhaddanta Tilokasiri. In the evening, Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Myint gave a dinner at Orion Hall of the Marina Mandarin Hotel. Singapore Chief of Staff (Air) Brig-Gen. Goh Yong Siang called on Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen. Thein Win. Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen. Abel and Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw held a press meeting. On June 11, the Myanmar delegation returned by special flight to Yangon. [one full page of photos] (NLM 6/ 13) Tatmadaw Delegation to Laos June 5: A delegation led by Central Commander Maj-Gen. Kyaw Than left for Laos at the invitation of Laos Chief of Staff Lt-Gen. Ay Souliyaseng. (NLM 6/6) // June 11: The delegation returned. (NLM 6/12) Tatmadaw Delegation to Pakistan June 8: A high-ranking Tatmadaw goodwill delegation led by South-West Commander Maj-Gen. Tin Hla left for Pakistan, at the invitation of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) of Pakistan. Other members are Director of Military Training Brig-Gen. Saw Lwin, Director of Artillery and Armour Brig-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Deputy Director of Military Engineers Col. Win Aung Tint, and Lt-Col. Win Kyi of the Commander-in-Chief's Office. (NLM 6/9) // June 18: The delegation returned. (NLM 6/19) Delegations Visit China June 21: Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe left for China at the invitation of Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Tang Jiaxuan. He was accompanied by Director-General U Aye Lwin of the Consular, International Law and Research Department, Deputy Director U L Zau Goone of the Political Department, and Head of Branch II U Tin Maung Win. Two other members left June 14: Deputy Director U Ba Cho of the Foreign Ministry and Assistant Director U Than Tun of the Survey Department of the Ministry of Forestry. (NLM 6/22) June 21: A Defence Services Medical Delegation led by Director of Medical Services Col. Mya Thein Han left for China. Members are Col. Aung Nyein, Lt-Col. Ye Thway, Lt-Col. Hla Tun, Lt-Col. Thein Soe, Lt-Col. Ye Tint, Lt-Col. Tun Yi, and Lt-Col. Saw Aung Myat Thein of the Office of Director of Medical Services. (NLM 6/22) // June 28: The delegation returned. (NLM 6/29) June 28: A delegation led by Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba left for China at the invitation of the Chairman of the Chinese National Tourism Administration Bureau. It included Co. Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo of the Ministry of Defence, Director U Htay Aung of the Hotels and Tourism Directorate, Manager U Win Myaing of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services, and the Ministers personal staff officer Capt. Myo Myint Sein. (NLM 6/29) June 28: A four-member police delegation led by Director of Criminal Investigation Department Police Col. Maung Maung Than left for China to study police training courses for two weeks. (NLM 6/29) Delegations Return [Return of delegations whose departure was noted in early issues, or whose departure NLM did not cover] MYANMAR GAZETTE Probationary Appointments The SLORC appointed the following, on probation: June 14: Col. Myint Thein Swe (BC/ 11036), Ministry of Defence, to be Director-General, Cultural Institute Department, Ministry of Culture. Police Brig-Gen. Maung Toe, Deputy Director-General, People's Police Force Headquarters, Ministry of Home Affairs, to be Director-General, Revenue Appellate Tribunal, Ministry of Finance and Revenue. (NLM 6/15) Appointments The SLORC has appointed the following: June 14: Col. Sein Win Aung (BC/10935) to be Chairman, Mandalay City Development Committee (Mayor of Mandalay). (NLM 6/15) June 21: U Kyaw Lwin, Director-General, Fisheries Department, to be Director-General, Planning and Statistics Department, Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries. U Soe Win, Director-General, Planning and Statistics Department, to be Director-General, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries. (NLM 6/22) Appointments Confirmed The SLORC has confirmed the following, after one-year of probation: June 14: U Aung Shwe as Director-General, Development Affairs Department, Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs. Dr. Hla Myint as Director-General, Health Department, Ministry of Health. U Shwe as Director-General, Transport Planning Department, Ministry of Rail Transportation. (NLM 6/15) GOVERNMENT New Immigration Ministry June 15: SLORC Notification No. 31/95 of June 15, Formation of New Ministry, reads [full text]: "The State Law and Order Restoration Council, to more effectively and successfully conduct administrative affairs, has formed the Ministry of Immigration and Population." (NLM 6/16) Assignment to Security Commission June 15: SLORC Declaration No. 2/95 of June 15, Assignment of duty as member of Security and Management Committee, reads [full text]: "The State Law and Order Restoration Council has assigned Lt-Gen. Aung Ye Kyaw [formerly Minister for Culture] as member of the Security and Management Committee of the State Law and Order Restoration Council." (NLM 6/16) Cabinet Shuffle June 15: SLORC Declaration No. 3/95 of June 15, Reassignment of Portfolios for Ministers, reads [full text]: "The State Law and Order Restoration Council has reassigned the following Ministers as the Ministers of the portfolios as shown against their names: (1) Brig-Gen. Myo Thant [formerly Minister for Information] -- Office of the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (2) U Than Shwe [formerly Minister for Industry-2] -- Office of the Prime Minister (3) U Khin Maung Yin [formerly Minister for Construction] -- Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (4) Brig-Gen. Thaung Myint [formerly Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement] -- Ministry of Culture" (NLM 6/16) New Ministers Named June 15: SLORC Declaration No. 4/95 of June 15, Appointment of Ministers, reads [full text]: "The State Law and Order Restoration Council has appointed and assigned duties to the following persons as Ministers of the respective Offices and Ministries as shown against their names: (1) Lt-Gen. Min Thein -- Office of the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (2) Lt-Gen. Maung Hla -- Ministry of Immigration and Population (3) Maj-Gen. Soe Myint -- Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement [replacing Brig-Gen. Thaung Myint] (4) Maj-Gen. Kyaw Than -- Ministry of Industry-2 [replacing U Than Shwe] (5) Maj-Gen. Aye Kyaw -- Ministry of Information [replacing Brig-Gen. Myo Thant] (6) Maj-Gen. Saw Tun -- Ministry of Construction." [replacing U Khin Maung Yin] (NLM 6/16) New Deputy Ministers June 15: SLORC Notification No. 32/95 of June 15, Reassignment of Deputy Minister reads [full text]" "The State Law and Order Restoration Council has reassigned Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Win Naing as Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue." (NLM 6/16) June 15: SLORC Notification No. 33/95 of June 15, Appointment of Deputy Minister reads [full text]: "The State Law and Order Restoration Council has appointed and assigned Brig-Gen. Maung Kyi as Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement." (NLM 6/16) MILITARY Insurgent Attacks June 23: 15 members of a Kayin armed group led by Tha Aung on June 8 attacked a small boat at Pulaw with small arms, wounding two passengers. (NLM 6/24) Surrenders by Armed Group Members Apr. 6: 17 members of the Loimaw armed group returned to the legal fold at Namhsan Township camp on Mar. 31. (NLM 4/7) June 3: 12 members of the KNU armed group returned to the legal fold at Natkyee camp on June 2 [names and details]. (NLM 6/4) June 5: A member of the KNU Customs Gat Chairman Htoo Lon armed group and Nai Talayh Phone Mon armed group returned to the legal fold at Kya-in-Seikkyi camp on May 23 [name and details]. (NLM 6/6) June 12: One member of the KNU armed group returned to the legal fold at Taungthonelone camp of South-East Command on May 16. (NLM 6/13) June 15: Lt. Kyaw Kyaw and 48 members of the KNU Gaunghaungphyu Nai Maung Hla group returned to the legal fold at Tarlay Camp on June 11. The group had been formed by Bo Mya on Feb. 12, 1995, to assassinate Myainggyingu Sayadaw U Thuzana, after his disciples broke with the KNU and formed the KDBO. The surrendering members said that the KNU was in chaos, and "the leaders were too much self-centred and engaged in misconduct." (NLM 6/16) June 17: Nine members of the KNU armed group returned to the legal fold between April 18-June 14 [names and details]. (NLM 6/18) June 18: One member of a Muslim terrorist group returned to the legal fold at Khonmaw camp in the South-East Command area. (NLM 6/19) June 22: A member of the Loimaw drug trafficking terrorist group, and his wife, returned to the legal fold on June 13 at Mong Tatmadaw camp in Namsang Township. (NLM 6/23) June 27: Nine members of Khun Sa's drug trafficking group returned to the legal fold in Kengtung Township on June 23. A member of the Mon armed group returned to the legal fold June 3 at Sakhanthit Naval Base, and a member of the ABSDF armed group returned to the legal fold on June 10 at Khonmaw military camp. [names and details]. (NLM 6/28) June 27: Between May 1-8, 33 members of various armed groups returned to the legal fold [names and details]. (NLM 6/28) June 28: Between May 9-16, 27 members of various armed groups returned to the legal fold [names and details]. (NLM 6/29) June 29: Three members of the BCP armed group returned to the legal fold June 20 at Shweghenyo Camp in South-East Command [names and details]. (NLM 6/30) ECONOMIC Economic Articles June 1: Bago Yoma: Home of golden teak, by Maung Thabarwa. [Discussion of teak and its cultivation.] June 8: Bridging the Golden Land with the Eternal Spring City, by Hla Tun (Twantay). [Inauguration of Yangon-Kunming air service on Myanma Airways International.] June 19: Gems Museum to present Myanmar to dazzle with our resources, by T. Htut. [Forthcoming opening of Museum, which will display "gems of quality par excellence" including the world's largest pearl and a 4.7 kilo jade stone worth US$ 10,000,000.] June 26: Because of Teak, by Zaw Gyi (Lawksawk). [Review of May 29-June 3 Regional Teak Seminar.] Inauguration of Projects June 2: The 100 kw Thanbon Creek Hydroelectric Power Station was inaugurated June 1 in Kyaukkyi Township. (NLM 6/3) June 3: The 250-room business hotel, Summit Parkview, built at a cost of US$ 40 million, was inaugurated on Ahlon Road by SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin, Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen. Tin Tun, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba, and others. Chairman Mr. Teo Ming Kian of Singapore Technologies Industrial Corporation [see also under Business Visitors], and Chairman of Summit Parkview Mr. Stewart Yen spoke. The hotel is owned by Regional Hotels, a partnership of Singapore government-linked Singapore Technologies, property developer Liang Court, and property investment company Timas. The first 100 rooms had been opened on Dec. 10, 1994. (NLM 6/4) June 3: The Chin Su-Mayflower Plywood Factory, jointly owned by Chin Su Co. of the Philippines and Mayflower Trading Co. of Myanmar, was inaugurated at Oktha Myothit, Bago, in a ceremony addressed by Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen. Chit Swe. Factory Chairman Mr. Lee Chin Sheng also spoke. (NLM 6/4) June 3: Dagon Township Aluminium Furniture Producers Trading Cooperative Society Ltd. opened its Super World 2 Store at Bogyoke Aung San Market. (NLM 6/4) June 12: A Green Spot Franchise and License Agreement was signed between Green Spot Myanmar Ltd., represented by Chairman U Kyaw Zaw Win, and Green Spot International, represented by President Mr. Chote Sophonpanich. Ground was broken for a bottling plant at Thayagonkwin, Kyungalay, in Hlegu Township. (NLM 6/13) June 15: A Honda Sales and Service Centre was opened at 201-203 corner of Phongyi Road and Anawrahta Road, Yangon, in the presence of SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo, Chairman Mr. Michiro Kitamura and Vice Chairman Mr. Khanchai of Asia Honda Motor Co. Ltd., and Chairman U Nyo Lay of Yangon Honda Co. Ltd. (NLM 6/16) June 17: A dinner was held to mark the "soft opening" of the 132-room Central Floating Hotel at Wadan Jetty, attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Adm. Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen. Tin Tun, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen. Kyaw Ba, Thai Ambassador Poksak Nilubol, President Khun Suthikiati Chirathivat and members of Central Group of Hotels, and others. "The Floating Hotel, constructed in Valmet Helsinki Shipyards in Finland in 1968, was renovated in Kotka, Finland in 1992. The four-star hotel furnished with IDD and other modern facilities is an investment worth about 10 million US dollars." (NLM 6/ 18) June 22: The Mai Hwa Wedding Hall and Restaurant was opened by the Mai Hwa International Co. Ltd. on the fifth and sixth floors of the Theingyizay D Complex, in a dinner attended by Yangon Mayor U Ko Lay and others. "It will be the largest wedding hall in Myanmar. It can also be used for conferences, meetings and dinners to serve 2,300 guests simultaneously. Floor space is 45,000 square feet. The project costs K 70 million with total investment by Myanmar citizens." (NLM 6/23) Advertisements =========================================== June 3: Full page advertisement from Myanmar Airways International announcing new service to Kunming, China. (NLM 6/3) =========================================== When you are in Bagan, be our guest. ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF HOTEL FREEBIRD BAGAN We prefer Kyats. Corner of Khaye and Myatlay Streets New Bagan (East) Reservation: FREE BIRD TOURS 357, Bo Aung Gyaw Street Kyauktada, Yangon, Myanmar Tel: 95-1-94941 Fax: 95-1-75638 (NLM 6/6) =========================================== WE GIVE YOU A VISION Win Tin Win proudly presents A KAYIN VILLAGE BY DAWNA MOUNTAIN [picture of videotape] VideoSoft Productions a special video documentary programme Now available at: Yangon Duty Free Summit Parkview Myanmar Travels & Tours (counter) Yangon Airport Distributed by AV MEDIA (NLM 6/9) =========================================== Warmly Welcome GOLD FINGER Beauty Salon International Standard Hair and Make-up No. 212, 29th Street Ground Floor, Yangon, Ph-71384 (NLM 6/9) =========================================== June 10: One-third page advertisement for Timex watches, distributed by Vimpex Myanmar Ltd., 422-24 Strand Road, Latha Township. Tel: 26718/26899. Fax: 27566. \\ Also, one-third page advertisement for Titan Watches, with the same distributor. (NLM 6/10) // June 15: Half-page ad for Timex watches. (NLM 6/15) =========================================== June 14: Half-page advertisement by ATG Emporium, Yangon and Mandalay, advertising a new Sales & Service Centre for Mitsubishi Vehicles, with a registration form for vehicle owners. (NLM 6/14) =========================================== NOW OPEN ASHOKA Indian Restaurant Authentic Indian Cuisine 77, Pyidaungsu Yeik Tha Road, Dagon Tsp. Phone: 21134/27770 (NLM 6/15) =========================================== June 15: Half-page ad for Tiger Gold Rush Beer. (NLM 6/15) =========================================== International Business Projects [This category will now also include reports on the establishment of Joint Ventures, hitherto a separate category.] June 9: Myanma Timber Enterprise, represented by Managing Director U Myat Win, and Santi Forestry Co. Ltd. of Thailand, represented by Chairman Mr. Sanit Vayakonivichitr, signed a contract to jointly set up a furniture factory under Sanfoco Wood Industries Ltd. in Dagon Myothit (South). Santi Forestry will invest US$ 2,000,000 for the factory to produce wood-based finished furniture, 90% of which will be sold abroad. Minister for Forestry Lt-Gen. Chit Swe attended. (NLM 6/10) June 10: The R. Piyarelall Group of Companies of India launched Titan and Timex watches in Myanmar, in a Press Conference addressed by distributor Mr. Ramesh Agarwal and marketing chief Mr. C.R. Menon. [see also above, under advertisements] (NLM 6/12) June 13: Director-General U Kyo Lwin of Myanmar Television and Radio Department and Commercial Counsellor Chen Shijie of the Chinese Embassy signed an agreement for the joint construction by MTRD and the China Commercial Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation of five TV retransmission stations: a 1-kw station (90 metre tower) in Loikaw; 5-kw station (110 metre tower) in Bago; 3-kw station (100 metre tower) in Monywa; 3-kw station (120 metre tower) in Bogale; and 1-kw station (110 metre tower) in Labutta. (NLM 6/14) June 14: Minister for Trade Lt-Gen. Tun Kyi visited the Myanma Rice Engineering Co. Ltd. (MREC) factory, jointly sponsored by Myanmar Agricultural Produce Trading and R E S Co. Ltd. of Thailand, which manufactures 5-ton per day rice mills "which farmers can easily buy...." (NLM 6/15) June 14: Myanma Posts and Telecommunications, represented by Managing Director U Htay Aung, signed a contract with Sumitomo Corp. of Japan, represented by General Manager Mr. Tadahiko Mizukami, signed an agreement for the "installation of auto telephones at MPT Head Office." It will also "construct ne digital microwave channels in Mandalay-PyinOoLwin-Kyaukme-Lashio, Mandalay-Meiktila-Loikaw, Mandalay-Sagaing-Shwebo and Myinmu-Yesagyo-Pakokku, and telephone cable lines in Yangon, PyinOoLwin, Shwebo, Sagaing, Hpa-an, and Loikaw, and supply equipment for optical fibre PCM system between exchanges in Yangon." (NLM 6/15) June 28: Myanma Port Authority, represented by Managing Director U Tin Oo, and C & P Holdings Pte. Ltd. of Singapore, represented by Managing Director Mr. Loi Kai Meng, signed a contract for construction of two container terminals at Thilawa Port. Present were SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win, and other Ministers. (NLM 6/29) Business Courses June 7: Seminar on Business Education No. 34 was held, with Deputy Director U Thein of Myanma Gems Enterprise lecturing on Opportunities for Public Sector in Gem Trading Business. (NLM 6/8) June 22: Seminar on Business Education No. 35 was held, with Senior Lecturer Dr. John G. Bauer of Nan Yang Technological University, Singapore, speaking on advantages and disadvantages of privatization and development of Singapore's private sector. (NLM 6/23) Transportation May 31: The Dawei-Yaybyu Railway, 10.7 miles long, and the first segment of the 100-mile Ye-Dawei Railway Construction Project, was inaugurated in Dawei [Tavoy] on May 30. It is the first railroad in Taninthayi Division. Minister for Rail Transportation U Win Sein said that "Fabrications on Myanmar by some external organizations, who do not wish to see Myanmar prosper, could not hinder the railroad building projects, which have been undertaken by the government solely for public benefit, expressing arrangements made for enabling persons such as Professor Yozo Yokota of the United Nations Human Rights Commission to meet local people who had helped implement the Ye-Dawei Project to witness the true situation." Fare will be K 6 per passenger (compared with K 25 by bus), and "passengers along the route can enjoy free rides for seven days." (NLM 6/ 1) May 31: Myanmar Airways International announced that it will inaugurate flights to Kunming, China, on Saturday, June 3. UB-271 will depart Yangon at 0815 hours and arrive in Kunming at 1145 hours. UB-272 will depart Kunming at 1245 hours and arrive in Yangon at 1315 hours. (NLM 6/1) // June 3: The flight was inaugurated with dignitaries on board led by Minister for Transport Lt-Gen. Thein Win. On arrival in Kunming, they were greeted by Yunnan Provincial Governor Mr. Ho Zhiqiang, the Mayor of Kunming, Myanmar Consul General in Kunming U Win Aung, and others. (NLM 6/4) Banking Apr. 6: The Bank of Nova Scotia was authorized to open a representative office in Yangon. (NLM 4/7) June 6: The Myanmar May Flower Bank on June 5 opened a branch at 161 Strand Road, Mawlamyine, attended by Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin and others. (NLM 6/7) June 7: Speaking to banking officials in Bago, Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin "urged bank personnel to deal with entrepreneurs and the public most cordially and attend to their needs. He called on them to take special care of monetary and information security. He spoke of the need to avoid bribery and corruption and malpractices. He specifically urged them to avoid irregularities and malpractices involving saving certificates and saving books...." (NLM 6/8) June 19: The Central Bank of Myanmar on June 14 authorized the Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia to open a representative office in Yangon. Licences have now been issued to 26 foreign banks from Thailand (6), Singapore (5), France (4), Malaysia (3), and one each from Indonesia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Japan, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Canada. (NLM 6/ 20) June 20: The Global Commercial Bank of Cambodia opened its representative office at 3B Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, in the presence of its President Dr. Paul Shi H. Huang and of Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen. Win Tin. (NLM 6/21) Government Cooperatives June 9: Speaking to a coordination meeting of the Government Employees Cooperative Society (GEC), SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo "said although GECs could make a certain degree of progress within a period of about two years, their work has not yet been satisfactory." Three papers, on management, selection of business, and welfare of members will be presented. He said "there are nearly 0.5 million GEC members, including 2.5 million family members, in the entire country and that Education Employees Cooperative Societies are concerned with about eight million students, indicating the huge market for GECs." He said "GECs should find means to relieve service personnel of the pains of ever-rising commodity prices, indicating the need for ardent participation of all ministries. Ministries concerned are making arrangements to sell 24 kinds of goods to members of Yangon Division GEC, he said, urging GECs not to totally rely on the State's assistance but to try to stand on their own in accord with the cooperative principles." (NLM 6/10) Foreign Exchange Admissions June 13: Effective June 10, tourists, foreigners, and diplomats must pay admission to the Hlawga Park in Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs). (NLM 6/14) Garden City Plan June 14: Speaking to officials at the Yangon City Development Committee, SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt said the YCDC "should draw up a master plan in accord with the guidelines of the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council to transform Yangon into a garden city beginning this monsoon, indicating the need to consider the Myanmar's situation and traditions in drawing the plan. Officials and service personnel of YCDC under the leadership of the Mayor of Yangon and with the participation of ministries concerned should strive to implement the plan, he said. "He then dealt with systematic repair of existing buildings in Yangon and construction of new ones in accord with principles, repair of drainage canals, drawing up of plans and step by step implementation to improve sanitation system, systematic tree plantation, upgrading of existing parks, beautifying of Kandawgyi and Inya lakes, repair of pavements and establishment of play grounds and car parks...." Participants "then discussed illumination of streets, extension of phones, planting and conservation of trees, preservation of lakes, prevention against water pollution, greening of compounds of hotels, motels and inns and taking action against offenders. The Secretary-1 then looked into their requirements." Minister for Construction U Khin Maung Yin was also present. (NLM 6/ 15) June 16: Yangon Mayor U Ko Lay inspected measures for beautifying Yangon. Myakantha Nursery and Kandaw Mingala Park "are now ready to distribute over 250,000 shade trees and flowers for beautifying the city." (NLM 6/17) Rice Exports June 15: Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading (MAPT) will export 1.5 million tons of rice this year, or 500,000 tons more than last year's actual exports. (NLM 6/16) Myanmar International Exposition June 19: The Second Myanmar International Exposition will be held at Tatmadaw Hall (Convention Centre) in Yangon from June 20-23, 1995. It will include the Second Myanmar Building Materials & Construction Machinery; Apparel & Textile Machinery & Accessories; and Computer, Telecoms & Consumer Electronics Expositions. Ninety percent of the exhibitors are from Singapore. Some 60 companies of 18 countries, most of which had exhibited in the First Exposition earlier this year, are participating. (NLM article & ad 6/20) June 20: The Exposition was opened, jointly sponsored by the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd., and Applied Investments (Asia) Pte. Ltd. of Singapore. SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt gave the opening address, noting that "up to date we have 18 countries investing in 139 direct investment projects amounting to 2.7 US dollars." (NLM 6/21) Gems June 22: SLORC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt attended the inauguration of the Myanma Gems Museum and shops. "Foreigners as well as nationals can buy jewellery in dollars or in any foreign currency permitted by the government or in FECs or in kyats as shops at Myanma Gems Museum at 66, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road...beginning 24 June." (NLM 6/23) June 23: Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of SLORC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe, visited the Myanma Gems Museum, together with wives of other SLORC members and senior military officers. (NLM 6/24) June 29: Jade blocks and polished jade will be sold in foreign exchange at an "interim sale" at the Myanma Gems Emporium Hall, with bids to be received on July 2, and be opened on July 3. (NLM 6/30) Import Substitution Seminar June 26: A Seminar on Manufacturing Import Substitutes opened at the Ministry of Cooperatives, and was addressed by SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo. "As market-oriented economic system is being practised in the country, he said, measures will have to be taken against domination of foreign capitalists in the country. Domestic entrepreneurs are to take a foothold to prevent such foreign capitalists from doing so. The entrepreneurs, he said, are both entrepreneurs and workers themselves. They are to try to improve the quality of products." He spoke of various festivals and expositions displaying goods made by coops and others. "The Government, he said, is desirous of economic progress of the national races and is making arrangements to privatise some of State-owned factories. As such, he said, production of goods based on the resources of the country and introduction of import-substitutes are necessary." Papers, prepared by entrepreneurs, were given on "present condition of import substitute goods; development of import-substitute technology; and requirements for the development of import-substitute projects." The Secretary-2 then inspected "import substitute foodstuff, medicines, cosmetics, electrical appliances, metal goods and ceramic manufactured by various industries." (NLM 6/27) June 27: The Seminar continued, and the papers were discussed. SLORC Secretary-2 Lt-Gen. Tin Oo again addressed the Seminar. "Previously there was weakness in contacting the departments concerned in striving for the introduction of import substitutes, he said, but the present seminar has paved the way for the right contacts." Minister for Cooperatives U Than Aung then accepted K 191,500 contributed by entrepreneurs to pay for the Seminar. (NLM 6/28) Taxis to be Duty-free June 29: Vehicles (including sedans, vans, trucks, buses, etc.) imported for taxi service are exempted from customs duty and commercial tax effective June 23; the exemption will expire Mar. 31, 1996. The measure was issued "with a view to bringing about easing transportation during Visit Myanmar Year 1996. Taxi licence will be issued to such cars which are to bear red plates. Owners will not be allowed to change their plates." (NLM 6/30) Rainfall in Yangon Rainfall, in inches, at Yangon's three weather stations of Yangon Airport (YA), Kaba-Aye (KA), and Central Yangon (CY) was: YA KA CY 1987 97.01 100.98 95.43 1988 99.17 100.00 107.76 1989 96.22 100.59 102.76 1990 118.35 109.92 122.84 1991 91.81 83.78 96.65 1992 81.34 96.02 95.98 1993 82.64 111.18 95.12 1994 120.16 120.94 117.36 1995 as of: June 1: 9.88 8.62 8.78 June 15: 22.20 23.70 23.70 June 30: 32.95 31.77 33.46 June 7: On June 3, 9.13 inches of rain fell in Mogok in 24 hours, the heaviest June rainfall in Mogok in the past 14 years. (NLM 6/8) HEALTH AIDS Campaign June 6: The Myanmar Medical Association launched "a project on delivery medical support and prevention of HIV/AIDS among high risk groups in Yangon City Development area" in conjunction with the erection of an AIDS billboard on Theinbyu Road. Mr. Koichi Kawakami of the Japanese Embassy donated a Nissan Urvan worth US$ 20,000 to the MMA. Drs. Naw Win and Win Zaw "lectured on AIDS and distributed health education pamphlets, T-shirts, key chains and condoms, to those attending the lecture." The project will continue for a year, "targeting taxi drivers and trishawmen." (NLM 6/7) SPORTS Sports Articles June 4: Myanma traditional boxing has attained world acclaim, by Kyaw Soe Myint (SPED). [May 30 press conference with participants in the International Kick Boxing Federation Challenge Bouts in Germany.] June 23: June 23: International Olympic Day, by Kaw Soe Myint (SPED). [Myanmar in the Olympic Games.] Myanmar Teams and Officials June 2: The three-member delegation led by President of Myanmar National Olympic Council Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Brig-Gen. Lun Maung returned from the May 23-25 Olympic Council of Asia in Seoul, Korea. On May 21 he called on International Olympic Committee President Mr. J.A. Samaranch, and on May 22 he called on Korean President Kim Young Sam. Visiting China afterwards, he received on May 25 a call from Minister of Sports and Physical Education Mr. Wu Shao Zu (with whom he signed on May 28 a "contract on bilateral cooperation in sports"), and called on May 27 on Vice-Chairman Mr. Wang Guangying of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. (NLM 6/ 3) June 5: The Myanmar traditional rowing team came in first in the Macau International Dragon Boat Races 1995 held in Macau on June 4. Myanmar also won the 33-team open race, and "got first for the best timing." On June 10-11, the team will compete in the Hong Kong Traditional Boat Race. (NLM 6/6) // June 13: The team returned, having won fourth in Hong Kong 640 metre race on June 10-11. (NLM 6/14) June 16: A 21-member yachting team led by U Htay Aung and Manager Daw Khin San Myint left for Singapore to participate in the Singapore-Myanmar Goodwill Optimist Yachting Contest on June 16-25. Members are U Naing Moe Aye (instructor), yachtswomen Tin Thiri Aung, May Thitsa, Myat Pwint Yi Kyaw, and Su Myat Soe, and yachtsmen Sithu Moe Myint, Aung Kyaw Win, Ponnya Kyaw, Nyan Lin Naung, Phone Myint Soe, Aung Kyaw Thet Oo, and Win Kyaw Phyo, and seven guardians. (NLM 6/ 17) // June 22: The team returned, after placing in various of the competition. (NLM 6/23) June 28: President of Myanmar National Olympic Committee Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Brig-Gen. Lun Maung told Meeting No. 1/95 of the Committee that Myanmar will enter 24 events in the XVIII South-East Asian Games, and will send 602 athletes/managers. The State will spend US$ 180,000. There are 35 sports federations in Myanmar. (NLM 6/29) June 29: At the Third Ho Chi Minh International Invitational Track and Field Competitions in Ho Chi Minh City (June 28-July 2), Nanda Hlaing won gold in women's high jump, and Khin Khin Htwe won gold in women's 800-metre race and in the women's 5,000-metre race. Min Aung won silver in men's high jump. Seven countries are taking part: Myanmar, China, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thai Youth, and Vietnam. (NLM 6/ 30) Foreign Teams, Coaches, etc. June 5: The Football Coach Course jointly sponsored by the Myanmar Football Federation, Strata Sports Marketing Ltd., represented by Managing Director Mr. Alamgir B. Kashmir, and Tero Entertainment Holdings Co. Ltd., represented by Managing Director Mr. Brian L. Marcar, began under Course Director Mr. George Armstrong of England. Also present were President of Myanmar National Olympic Council Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Brig-Gen. Lun Maung and other officials. 35 trainees are attending. (NLM 6/6) June 12: Three Singapore body builders will visit Myanmar to demonstrate and lecture beginning June 14, at the invitation of the Myanmar Body Building and Physical Culture Federation. They are: Azman Abdullah -- Mr. South-East Asia (1989, 1991, 1993), Mr. Asia (1989-93, middleweight, and Mr. Universe 1993); Augustine Lee Kong Siong -- Mr. Asia (1993-94, heavyweight; and 1991-94 light-heavyweight); and Ibrahim Sihat -- Mr. South-East Asia (1989, 1991, 1993, bantamweight) and Mr. Asia (1990-94, bantamweight). (NLM 6/13) // June 14: The delegation, led by President Mr. Paul Chua of the Singapore Body Building Federation, arrived; the first to visit Myanmar. (NLM 6/15) // June 15: They called on Yangon Mayor U Ko Lay. (NLM 6/16) // June 17: They appeared at Olympic Day Body Building and Physical Culture Competitions at the National Theatre. (NLM 6/18) // June 19: The Singapore Body Building Delegation departed. (NLM 6/20) CULTURAL Universities & Institutes June 2: The University of Yangon will open a diploma course in archaeology in the 1995-96 academic year; applicants "are to sit an entrance examination including a three-honour paper on English." (NLM 6/3) June 6: the Institute of Economics opened Myanmar's first Master of Business Administration (MBA) course, with an address by Minister for Education U Pan Aung, who said that "MBA courses are being conducted in universities of the developed countries practising market-oriented economic system." He noted that Myanmar has 14,546 business organizations: 7,325 export and import services, 1,025 partnership enterprises, 4,315 domestic-owned companies, 279 foreign-owned companies, 70 joint ventures, and 31 chambers of commerce. (NLM 6/7) Publications May 31: The annual Report on Financial Economic and Social Conditions (1994-95), in Myanmar, published by the Planning Department of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, has appeared, and can be bought for K 110 at the Sarpay Beikman Bookshop, 529 Merchant Street, Yangon. [Note: An English-language edition generally appears a month or two after the Myanmar edition -- HCMacD.] (NLM 6/1) May 31: Practical Myanmar: A Communication Guide for Travellers and Residents was published by the Myan Con Services of the Myanmar Language Commission Department as "a language book hailing Visit Myanmar Year 1996." The book, available at K 350 at Innwa Bookshop, 232 Sule Pagoda Road, Yangon, "will be helpful to tourists and foreigners wishing to learn Myanmar and Myanmars learning English." [photo of cover] (NLM 6/1) June 9: The May issue of Discover the Golden Land of Myanmar: A Guide for Tourists & Businessmen, has appeared. [photo of cover] (NLM 6/10) June 19: Myanmar Business, for June 7, 1995, states that Myanmar's GDP had grown 6.8%. [part of front page reproduced]. (NLM 6/19) Schools June 1: Basic education schools opened for the 1995-96 academic year. There are 858 high schools, 2,058 middle schools, and 35,749 primary schools. "All pupils in their white-shirt and green-longyi uniforms, attended their classrooms where they received counsel from their respective class-teachers." (NLM 6/2) June 7: The first meeting of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Monastic Education School Supervisory Central Committee was held, led by Joint Secretary Meiktila Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Sandima of the SSMNC. Director-General U Sann Lwin of the Department for Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana "supplicated matters on condition of monastic education schools in the whole country, formation and implementation of task according to prescribed rules and regulations." (NLM 6/8) June 21: Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin discussed assistance to monastic schools with Sayadaws in Sagaing and Mandalay Divisions. (NLM 6/22) June 25: Minister for Religious Affairs Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt inspected monastic education schools in Mandalay. "He spoke of the need to teach basic Buddhism at these schools and to accept the children, who cannot afford to attend basic education schools, and give them primary education, stressing the role of departments concerned to provide assistance." He said that there are "1,493 monastic education schools, which are now giving primary education and basic Buddhism to 70,315 pupils." (NLM 6/26) Religion June 8: 200 Hajis returned from Mecca, and were welcomed by Election Commission member Saya Chai and Director-General U Arnt Maung of the Department of Religious Affairs. (NLM 6/9) // June 9: Speaking to the Hajis, Minister for Religious Affairs Lt-Gen. Myo Nyunt "said provisions in cash and kind are being contributed for propagation of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism and arrangements are being made to broadcast talks on radio on special occasions, to go on missionary tours and attend religious meetings abroad." (NLM 6/ 10) Thihathana Throne June 7: The Thihathana Throne of King Thibaw "is being assembled for display in the new National Museum on Pyay Road, Dagon Township, beginning this morning." It was taken apart and moved from the National Museum on Pansodan Street. (NLM 6/8) MISCELLANEOUS Sunday and Holiday Supplements June 4,11,18,25: Text of "Our Three Main National Causes. List of Special Projects (6 bridges and 12 dams). Further List of Special Projects (11). For texts see January issue. -- Seven National Convention Slogans. For texts see April issue. June 4: Search strenuously for firewood substitutes, by Than Myint. [Need to preserve forests by finding substitute cooking fuels, such as briquettes.] -- Women and environment, by Yin Yin Lay. [Role of women internationally in environmental protection.] -- Myaungmya of Ayeyarwady Division, by Swe Thant Ko. [Visit to Myaungmya and its new bridge.] -- Scenes changing into a novel and beautiful pattern, by Myint Thura. [Road development praised.] -- New Myoma Market in Hmawbi, by Ahtet Minhla Nyunt Aung. [Opening of new market on May 14.] -- Idyllic Indawgyi Lake in Mohnyin Township, by Mohnyin Kyaw Soe Lay. [Development in the area.] June 11,18,25: Towards a modern nation through all-round development, by Warazein. [Ministry of Hotels & Tourism ushering in a new age of Myanmar economic endeavours: (i) Organization of Restaurants & Beverage Enterprise. Responsibilities of Ministry. Since 1989 visas have been issued for 14 days, and Myanmar Embassies and Consulates act on applications within 24 hours. Airport visas can be issued in Yangon. Customs papers have been simplified, and travellers with less than US$ 2,000 are exempt from making Foreign Exchange Declarations. Since Oct. 1992 individual tours have been permitted, in addition to package tours, and foreigners born in Myanmar may enter the country. Video and other equipment may, with authorization, be brought in to promote tourism. Since Feb. 1993, Foreign Exchange Certificates have been issued. Package tours, in consultation with the Office of the Chief of Staff (Army), may be allowed to "visit areas normally which are not open to tourists." Mandalay, Mawlamyine, and Bagan airports have been designated as points of entry for foreign tourists. Muse, Namkhan, Lwaijai, Kyukok, Kunlon, Mongla, Tachilek, Myawady, Phaya-thonzu, and Kawthoung are entry points for cross border travel; on an experimental basis, visitors may continue on to Bhamo, Mandalay, Yangon, and Taunggyi. Beginning Sept. 14, 1993, direct Chiangmai-Bagan and Chiangrai-Tachilek flights have been authorized; as of Mar. 31, 1994, 397 tourists had used this passage and spent US$ 90,555. From Nov. 9, 1993, Chiangrai-Kengtung-Heho flights have been approved, and 164 tourists had used them, spending US$ 16,300. Between Apr. 1, 1991 {sic} and Mar. 31, 1994, four chartered aircraft and five chartered cruise ships brought in 1,858 travellers who spent US$ 41,634. [(ii) Development of hotel facilities; there are at present 42 hotels with 1,402 rooms run by the Myanmar Hotels & Tourism Services, up from 20 hotels with 800 rooms in 1988. 146 tourism agencies, 247 tourist guides, 303 transport agencies, and 135 hotels have been licensed to serve the tourism industry, as of March 1994. [(iii) Training programs and plans for the future.] June 11: Development of Nyaungdon, by Myint Thura. [Flood control preventing erosion of town.] -- The most lucrative leather works, by Mawgyun Soe Myint. [Over 50 leather works in Myanmar. Myanmar Elcon Gold Ltd. is building a leather factory in Shwe Pyi Thar new town, a joint-venture between She Ngar Leather Products Coop Society Ltd. and Elcon Company of Malaysia, which will contributed US$ 3 million. The public is invited to buy K 200 million shares; dividends will be in US dollars. Annual income is estimated at US$ 51 million and profits at US$ 10 million; the factory will handle 300,000 viss of raw hides and produce 500,000 square feet of finished product. {photo of two snake skin "jerkins"}.] -- Central Agricultural Development Training Centre, by Ahtet Minhla Nyunt Aung. [Training course on rubber nurseries.] -- Htantabin grows summer paddy successfully, by Yedashe Mg Moe Naing. [Agricultural progress.] -- Solar Energy, by Thein Mya Lwin. [As a substitute for firewood.] June 18: Producer gas stoves, by Myint Thura. [Stove, made by Sann Sann Industrial Coop, burns paddy husks and other farm byproducts, costs K 500, and the fuel is only 20% of the cost of firewood.] -- Means of exporting Myanmar vegetables and fruits, by Mawgyun Soe Myint. [Project by Marubeni Corp. of Japan to grow fruit and vegetables in Myanmar for export to Japan.] -- Using firewood substitutes as a national duty, by Ahtet Minhla Nyunt Aung. [Need to conserve forests.] -- Get set for the "Visit Myanmar Year 1996", by Dr. Thet Lwin. ["In 1994 not even 40,000 tourists had visited Myanmar. We still need to have a hundred times more tourists. Earnings from tourism business was less than US$ six million. We still need to earn a thousand times more than that." Some problems observed: foreigners cannot read Myanmar numerals; they want Western-style toilets; they have difficulty eating in Myanmar style (with fingers); local Myanmar hotels cannot compete with the new foreign ones. 1994 tourists came from: Thailand (4684), Japan (4557), American (3052), Germany (2355), Britain (2239), France (2204), Italy (1903), Korea (1633), Switzerland (819), Australia (745), Canada (536), China (322), Pakistan (257), India (271), Soviet (16), others (13,548), TOTAL: 39,192.] June 25: Developing delicatessen market, by Mawgyun Soe Myint. [Increased imports of "sweetmeats and confectionery comestibles" since change-over to the market economy system. Korean, Chinese, Singapore, and Thailand. Myanmar food specialties also sold increasingly to tourists and others.] -- Wild grass will create energy, by Shwe Nagar Tin Win. [As substitute for firewood.] -- The new Kyauktan-Thanlyin-Yangon transport service, by Ahtet Minhla Nyunt Aung. [New bus service begun on May 11, 1995.] -- New railroad for regional development, by Aung Mya Kyaw. [The Ye-Dawei line, a portion of which was inaugurated on May 30.] -- Peace and serenity in Monglar-Mongma area, by Taungdwin Bo Thein. [Sixty miles from Kengtung, but now peaceful.] Crime May 31: Three Thai nationals were sentenced to life imprisonment with labour (plus five years for failure to pay a K 200,000 fine) for smuggling counterfeit kyats with a face value of K 109.95 million into Yangon Airport on Apr. 9. They were also sentenced to three years (plus 9 months for failure to pay a K 50,000 fine) for illegal importation of K 50,000. (NLM 6/ 1) June 16: The Pabedan Township Court sentenced U Zaw Zaw Naing, owner of the Smile World Restaurant, and 12 others including 8 female vocalists, to one month's imprisonment because their dress and style of entertainment ran counter to Myanmar culture in violation of the order of Feb. 23, 1995, on do's and don'ts for stageshow entertainment. (NLM 6/17) Anti-Narcotics Activities Apr. 6: 0.8 kilo of heroin was seized Mar. 14 in Mongshu. (NLM 4/7) May 31: Police and Tatmadawmen on May 20 seized 105.4 kilos of raw opium from various residents of Htitali Village, Pinlaung Township. 296 bottles of Phensedyl were seized May 9 in Monywa. (NLM 6/1) June 2: 30 bottles of Phensedyl were seized May 19 at Mandalay Railway Station. (NLM 6/3) June 3: 3.2 kilos of heroin blocks were seized May 26 in the Kyukok (Pangsai) region. (NLM 6/4) June 6: 25 bottles of Phensedyl were seized in Budalin from a bus arriving from Kalaywa on May 25. 11 more were similarly seized on May 27. 82 viss of jade was seized May 27 on a bus headed for Mandalay. (NLM 6/7) June 11: 20.9 kilos of opium were seized May 27 in Manwaingyi village. (NLM 6/12) June 13: 0.7 kilo of heroin was seized June 2 in Kunlong village on the Namhkam-Bhamo road. 190 bottles of Phensedyl were seized in front of Mandalay Railway Station. (NLM 6/14) June 14: 1.6 kilos of opium, and K 30,000, were seized June 5 near Muse. (NLM 6/15) June 15: During May 1995, the Tatmadaw seized 0.02 kilo of heroin, 24.1 kilos of opium, and 6.2 kilos of marijuana. The police seized 315.6 kilos of opium (52 cases), 4.4 kilos of heroin (133 cases), 10.7 kilos of marijuana (40 cases), 214.4 litres of Phensedyl (21 cases), 0.3 kilo of opium oil (4 cases), 997 tablets of Methaqualone (1 case), 721.5 gallons of acetic anhydride (1 case), 0.03 kilo of liquid opium, 14.4 litres of Comethazine (1 case), 140.6 litres of Bendyl (1 case), and 140 gallons of spirit (1 case), 0.009 litre of Hewletts (1 case). There were 160 cases of failure to register for treatment and 15 other drug-related cases. The police took action against 554 persons in 431 drug-related cases. The police acting with the Tatmadaw also seized 304.5 kilos of opium (10 cases), 0.4 kilo of heroin (9 cases), and 96.8 litres of Phensedyl. (NLM 6/16) June 23: 0.1 kilo of heroin was seized June 16 in Taunggyi. (NLM 6/24) June 26: Myanmar observed the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with an address by Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Lt-Gen. Maung Thint at the Institute of Nursing, in which he reviewed Myanmar drug policy and recent activities. Chairman of the CCDAC Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen. Mya Thin issued an official message (see text below) stating Myanmar's position and programs against narcotics, which was read on his behalf. Acting UNDCP Resident Representative Douglas Gardner also spoke. [texts in NLM]. (NLM 6/ 27) June 27: 5.5 kilos of raw opium were seized May 9 in Kutkai. (NLM 6/28) June 27: Poppy eradication in Wa region was discussed by representatives of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control and personnel from various Ministries, Wa national leaders (U Pauk Yu Chan, U Pau Laik Hkam, U Aung Myint, U Kyauk Kyon Tan, U Kyauk Kaw An, and U Chin Si Pan), and representatives from UNDCP (Mr. Iwasaki), UNDP (Mr. Douglas Gardner), and the US (drug officers Mr. Mark Taylor and Mr. Gary Carter) and Japanese (First Secretary Ms. Taeko Takashi) Embassies. "Delegates of US and Japanese embassies welcome the efforts for poppy eradication and spoke of help." (NLM 6/28) Articles on Narcotics June 5: Search should be conducted in conformity with rules and procedures, by KMO. [Although search was made without witnesses, and "according to the evidence on record it was found that the accused Ko Ko Naing happened to be beaten up by the police," his conviction was nevertheless upheld by the Supreme Court, though the court "explicitly remarked that members of the search party should strictly abide by the rules and procedures in conducting search in accord with law."] June 25: [We want to see healthy nations without drugs. Statements on narcotics by Myanmar leaders; pamphlet on Narcotic Control Measures in Myanmar.] June 26: [Countries of the world unite - to combat the scourge of narcotic drugs, mankind's enemy. Leaflet on The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law of 1993.] Drug Abuse Day Message June 26 [full text]: Message from His Excellency Lt-Gen. Mya Thin, Minister for Home Affairs and Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Today commemorates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and the eighth successive year the Union of Myanmar has not only celebrated but also took a dynamic part in the international movement against narcotic drugs. The abuse and illicit trafficking of drugs have brought about ruthless crimes and terrorist activities, money laundering, corruption of officials and deterioration of the moral character of youths, students and the public in general. In other words, the abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs have become a major socio-economic disaster and a challenge to the security of mankind. Since the advent of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the Union of Myanmar has laid down the following two-point national strategy for drug abuse control. -- to designate drug eradication and prevention activities as a national duty and to perform this duty with added momentum, and, -- to gradually eliminate poppy cultivation by promoting the standard of living of the national races. For the successful implementation of these strategic aims, drug control programmes have been synchronously carried out in the three main sectors, namely, supply reduction, demand reduction and law enforcement. These programmes have been publicised to the mass in general and youths in particular. Multi-faceted educative campaigns are also being launched nationwide one week in advance of this auspicious day. On forthcoming significant days, similar activities will be arranged as the occasion calls for. The Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control was reorganized to meet the requirements provided by the 1993 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. The main sectors and regional institutions were also realigned and assigned specific tasks in this direction. All that needs to be done is to vigorously and harmoniously carry out the duties to which each of us is due [sic]. It is a glaring fact that illicit poppy cultivation that once thrived along the borders is in every way linked with the armed groups lurking in those areas. Due to the relentless efforts of the State Law and Order Restoration Council in border area development and due to the special emphasis given to the progress of national races, the policy of national reconciliation has borne fruits--fourteen of the armed groups have returned to the legal fold and are now working actively hand in hand with the government for the upgrading of their native regions. The Government has, up to fiscal 1994-1995, spent Kyats 2,592 million for all-round development of the once-neglected border areas. The local leaders, in return to the goodwill shown by the government, have not only pledged the eradication of poppy plantations in their native regions, but are actively doing so now. Marked improvements can be noticed in the all-round development projects in the border areas. These improvements are obviously attributed to the hearty assistance of the UNDCP. We therefore today put on record the effective and benefactory role of the UNDCP in the drug control programmes in the Union of Myanmar. At a time when the Government is undertaking drug abuse control measures on a national scale, the drug trafficking terrorist Khun Sa, whose renegade group is now counting its days, is on the rampage, pillaging and resorting to ruthless atrocities along the remote borders. In the military operations launched against this terrorist group from 1988 through 1995, there were 885 engagements, during which 957 terrorists were confirmed killed, 118 were captured, 225 surrendered and a total of 736 assorted weapons were seized. From the Defence Services, 678 enlisted men and 17 officers made supreme sacrifice for the motherland and mankind, and a further 1,915 were wounded. These statistics, I am sure, will be ample evidence of the blood, limb and life that the Union of Myanmar has sacrificed to combat the evil enemy of mankind. And we mean to keep on doing so until the very end. While supply reduction measures are being taken in earnest, law enforcement activities to interdict the trafficking of narcotic drugs and precursor chemicals are also in full swing. The Defence Services, the People's Police Force Task Forces and the Customs Department, in concerted action, are seeing to the law enforcement activities with mounting impetus. There are now 17 anti-narcotic task forces in action, with two more to come within this year. The combating of narcotic drugs has now been designated as a principal duty of the People's Police Force, and hence the task forces are adding momentum to their efforts. It is mandatory that the entire mass should participate hammer and tongs in this noble task in every possible sector. Apart from concentrating on multi-dimensional domestic endeavours in conformity with our national strategy, the Union of Myanmar is also cooperating with all neighbour nations in the sub-region in the field of drug abuse control. A bilateral agreement for cooperation has already been signed between Myanmar and Vietnam. On 26 October 1993, at the UN Headquarters in New York, delegates from Myanmar, China, Laos, Thailand and the UNDCP signed a Memorandum of Understanding to control illicit drug trafficking and abuse in the subregion. Consequently, the first high-level meeting was convened in Vientiane, LPDR from 30 June through 1 July 1994, and an agreement to formulate and implement a subregional drug control programme was reached. The draft programme was drawn up by the UNDCP and was ratified at the Ministerial Conference held in Beijing, PRC on 27 May 1995. The participation of Vietnam and Cambodia as signatories was the highlight of the occasion. It is the inevitable duty of each and every member of the human race to join hands and fight tooth and nail against the scourge of narcotic drugs on national, subregional, regional and global dimensions until a totally drug-free world is achieved. On this momentous day, allow me to call upon the concerted endeavours of all countries to work for the absolute eradication of narcotic drugs, in conformity with Myanmar's slogan, "Countries of all the world unit--to combat the scourge of narcotic drugs, mankind's enemy". May the future generations enjoy a world free of drugs! [NLM also carried the text of the Message issued by United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.] (NLM 6/26) Obituaries [English language obituaries only; there are obituaries in Burmese as well.] May 7, 1994: Colleen Combes, mother [?] of L.S. Combes (USA), died, aged 66 [remainder in Burmese]. [Christian] (NLM 4/7) June 1: U Than Maung (a) MD Haniff (Retired, Construction Corporation), husband of Daw Tin Mya (a) Safura Bi Bi, died in Yangon, aged 67. [Muslim] (NLM 6/2) June 2: Al-Haj Hashim Mohamed Surti, husband of Aisha Mahmood Ariff, died in Yangon (no age given). [Muslim] (NLM 6/4) June 5: Daw Mi Mi Gyi (People's Publishing House, Ava House), widow of Thakin Kyaw Wein, died in Yangon, aged 82. (NLM 6/6) June 5: Mr. A Guha, BSc (Engg), Retd: Supdt: Engineer (Irrigation), husband of Mrs. Khushi Guha (a) Daw Khin Lay Nwe, died in Yangon, aged 67. [Hindu] (NLM 6/9) June 5: Daw Mi Mi Gyi, (People's Literature House, Ava House), widow of Thakin Kyaw Sein, died in Yangon, aged 82. (NLM 6/9) June 7: Winston A. Vardon, Rtd. Asst. Lecturer, English Dept., Mandalay University, husband of Marjorie, died in Yangon, aged 56. [Christian] (NLM 6/9) June 10: Mrs. Anne Yu (a) Daw Khin Nyunt, widow of Malcolm R. Yu (a) U Maung Maung Hnit, died in Yangon, aged 79. (NLM 6/11) June 12: U Hla Pe, retired advocate, Shwebo, husband of Daw Hla Kyi, died in Yangon, aged 86. (NLM 6/13) June 15: Duwa Kumje Tawng (BGM-MC), Retired Commissioner, National Convention Delegate, Myitkyina, husband of Du Jan Maran Lu, died in Myitkyina, aged 80. [Christian] (NLM 6/16) June 18: Terrence C. Simoens, BA (Geog), died, aged 25. [most of obituary in Burmese] [Christian] (NLM 6/19) June 20: U Tint Mg, Rtd. Engineer, Insein City Development Corp., Insein, husband of the late Daw Hmyin, died in Yangon, aged 86. [Christian] (NLM 6/21) June 22: U Kyaw Win (6) (Kenneth), Preventive Officer, Customs Dept., husband of Daw Khin Than Win, died in Yangon, aged 44. (NLM 6/23) June 24: U E-Ba Htun, Retired Deputy General Manager, Myanma Department Stores (Trade), husband of Naw Beauty, died in Yangon, aged 69. [Christian] (NLM 6/25) June 25: Mr. Shane E. Turner (Old St. Paul's Student), died in Yangon, aged 40. (NLM 6/26) Fires [During the month there were frequent reports of donations for victims of the April fire in Bago.] May 31: During April 1995 there were a total of 168 fires in Myanmar, which destroyed 3,433 houses, five factories, and four godowns, killing 6 people, injuring 13, and leaving 20,255 homeless. Damage was K 99.64 million. Of these fires, 142 or 84.5% were caused by negligence. (NLM 6/1) June 27: During May 1995 there were a total of 86 fires in Myanmar, which destroyed 590 houses, two factories, and one godown, killing one person and one animal, and injuring one person. 3,028 persons were left homeless, and damage was K 29.9 million. Of these fires, 74 or 86% were due to negligence. (NLM 6/28) Anti-drug Postage Stamp June 21: The Myanma Posts and Telecommunications on June 26 will issue a new K 2 postage stamp to commemorate International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. First Day Covers will be sold June 26. [illustration] (NLM 6/22) ----- SUBSCRIPTIONS & RENEWALS ATT: Burma Press Summary Center for East Asian & Pacific Studies University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 230 International Studies Building 910 South Fifth Street Champaign, IL 61820 Tel: (217) 333-7273. Fax: (217) 244-5729 Annual Subscriptions: Individuals - US$50.00 Libraries & other Institutions - US$60.00 Add Postal surcharge for air delivery to: Canada - US$18.00 Europe - US$37.00 Asia - US$47.00 [additional charge for US$ check drawn on a foreign bank - $5.00] NOTE: Checks should be payable to: University of Illinois, with "Burma Press Summary" annotated on check. Correspondence concerning subscriptions, missing issues, etc., should be sent to the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies in Champaign, Illinois EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE Editorial correspondence, and requests for full texts of articles, should be sent to: Hugh C. MacDougall 32 Elm Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 Burma Press Summary No. 100, June 1995