from Terra's new frontiers

[brelief@xxxxxxx]

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Vol 1, No. 6
October 1995
(A Monthly Briefing on Tourism, Development and
Environment Issues in the Maekhong Subregion)
>From Terra (e-mail: TERRAPER@xxxxxxxxxx)
BURMA

SLORC MINISTER SLAMS FOREIGN MEDIA FOR
IMPAIRING TOURISM 
BP:29.08.1995; 16.09.1995; 21.09.1995; TN: 17.09.1995;
21.09.1995)
 -  FOR the first time, a Burmese government minister
acknowledged that critical international press reports could be a
threat to the country's thriving tourism business and "Visit
Burma Year' in 1996.  Lt. Gen Kyaw Ba, Minister for Hotels
and Tourism, blamed incorrect information "concocted' by some
foreign media for damaging the tourism industry.

"Because of misinformation that exaggerates the insurgency,
many foreigners still hold to the impression that Myanmar
[Burma] is politically unstable and unsafe to travel," the
minister said.  He insisted that, on the contrary, people who visit
the country feel that peace and stability prevail, and they accept
that Burma is safer than any other part of the world.

"We are confident that once we can eradicate the negative
images created by some foreign media, our tourism industry
will boom and reach new heights,"  Kyaw Ba said, adding that
"the main purpose of the government designating 1996 'Visit
Myanmar [Burma] Year' is to let the world know our political
stability and to let foreign visitors enjoy our unique culture and
beauty."

Meanwhile, the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) has vowed to become more flexible with its rules to
issue visas to tourists and on foreign exchange regulations in the
run - up to and during 'Visit Burma Year'.  Getting a visa to
visit the country has in the past been a trying experience for
some, due to excessive bureaucracy and security concerns.

The official exchange rate is six kyats to one US dollar.  But
tourists can either exchange US dollars for foreign exchange
certificates (FEC) at a rate of 100 kyats to one US dollar or get
up to 110 kyats on the black market.  "We are going to be more
relaxed on the issue of exchanging foreign money for kyats by
tourists when they are here," said Kyaw Ba, meaning that
unofficial money exchanges would not be severely policed and
punished.

At a recent seminar in Singapore, National Planning and
Economic Development Minister David Abel said once the 31
ongoing hotel projects are completed, 5000 new rooms would
be available for tourists in Burma.  "Many investment
opportunities are also available for the development of golf
courses, beach resorts, tourist villages, amusement parks,
recreational centres, service apartments, condominiums and
office complexes," Abel added.  Singapore has been among the
largest investors in Burma.

CASINO RESORT CONFIDENT THAT BORDER
PROBLEMS WILL RESOLVE 
[BP: 28,09.1995] - THE Andaman Club, a Thai -owned
casino-golf resort on Thahtay Kyun Island in southern Burma,
is getting ready to open early October.  It is directly adjacent to
Victoria Point, 10 minutes by sea from the Thai town Ranong. 

Located on an 1,800 - acre plot of the island, the 205 - room
resort, including gambling facilities, began construction in April
1993 (see also new frontiers 1/5).  It is also developing an 18-hole golf course, and further plan is to add a "safari park" and a
"butterfly enclosure".  The company is also ticking on another
island nearby to develop a resort consisting of 45 to 50 chalets
targeted for those who seek "total relaxation".

Although the border is still closed, the project development is
going on with the positive conviction that both Thai and
Burmese governments are trying to solve the problem.  "It just
received a letter from the government to receive guests," said
Danny Chan, executive director of the Andaman Club.

The resort is said to be working closely with the Burmese
tourist and trade development authorities.  Apart from access
via Ranong in Thailand, Air Mandalay may establish an air
link between Rangoon and Victoria Point if there is sufficient
potential.  Seatran and Andaman Princess also plan cruises into
this region.  The Andaman Club aims to attract mainly the Thai
leisure market and travellers from other Asian countries - Hong
Kong, Taiwan, Japan and mainland China.

BURMESE WOMEN IN FOCUS 

[BP: 1.9.1995; 3.9.1995; 19.9.1995; TN: 1.9.1995]
INSPIRED by the video - taped speech by Burmese democracy
leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi,
participants of the 10-day NGO Forum on Women in Huairou,
China, challenged governments, big business, and religious
fundamentalists.  "It is not the prerogative of men alone to bring
light to this world," she said.  "Women with their capacity for
compassion and self-sacrifice, their courage and perseverance,
have done much to dissipate the darkness of intolerance and
hate, suffering and despair."

Referring to the situation in her country, Aung San Suu Kyi,
who spent nearly six years under house arrest, said: "The
regaining of my freedom has in turn imposed a duty on me to
work for the freedom of other women and men in my country
who have suffered far more - and who continue to suffer far
more - than I have."

When Maj. Gen. Soe Myint, head of the all - male Burmese
delegation, told the United Nations' Conference on Women in
Beijing that Burmese women needed no special arrangement,
the Burmese Women's Union quickly agreed.  The Union said
in a statement that Burmese women were indeed equally treated
with men when they were subjected to summary executions,
torture, forced labour, arbitrary arrest, forced portering, denial
of their rights to participate in the political process, religious
persecution and forced relocation.

Violence against the girls and women of Burma is pervasive
under SLORC's rule, Especially those of ethnic minorities were
raped during military offensives, raped while serving as porters,
and sold into prostitution.

Further, in preparation for 'Visit Burma Year' in 1996, many
women, including those who are pregnant, are among hundreds
of thousands of people forced to work as slave labourers in
"beautification" projects and construction of railways, roads,
bridges and airports, according to the Union.

Research by the Chiang Mai - based group Images Asia
presented at the NGO Forum reveals that Burmese women were
forced across the border into Thai brothels because of
suppression and economic problems in their country.  Corrupt
Thai police and immigration officials facilitate this sex trade
and function as agents themselves, says the report.

Images Asia warns it is necessary to avoid a situation in which
"Visit Burma Year" becomes a repeat of what happened since
"Visit Thailand Year" in 1987.  A large number of tourists who
visited Thailand in 1987 came for sex tourism, which since then
has enjoyed a "continuous boom".

Hnin Hnin Pyne, an exiled member of the Burmese Women's
Union, pointed out in Huairou that pressure from the world
community would greatly help to bring about democracy in
Burma.  Economic sanctions were needed.  Each woman could
contribute by boycotting transnational companies investing in
Burma and their governments if they supported such
investment.  International donor agencies were also asked to
take precautions before granting aid to SLORC - ruled Burma.

CAMPAIGNS

ABBDF DENOUNCES "ETHNIC HUMAN ZOO"

[TN:  6.09,1995]
 ACCORDING to a Statement by the All Burma Students'
Democratic Front (ABSDF) ethnic minority people from more
than 200 villages in Thandaung township in the hills of
northern Karen State have been ordered by Burmese authorities
to leave their homes by 10 November to live in a model -
village tourist attraction.  Among the hill people forced to move
to new locations in the lowland are members of the Padaung
ethnic group, a sub-group of the Karen people whose women
put medal rings around their necks, giving them a "long -
necked" look.

The model tourist village, which is being built near Rangoon in
time for next year's "Visit Burma Year" has been condemned
by ABSDF as an "ethnic human zoo".  Many of the hill people
were resisting the order to move there and had fled into the
forest instead, said ABSDF.

Padaung women have been promoted as tourist attractions
before.  A small group of them were moved from Burma to live
in northwestern Thailand where tourist groups are charged
money to enter their village and take pictures of them.  Another
group of Padaung people live near Burma's Inle Lake tourist
destination where tourists also have to pay a fee to visit them.

ABSDF opposes SLORCs tourism promotion campaign and
has produced T-shirts, calling for a boycott of "Visit Burma
Year 1996".

(For further information contact: ABSDF, P.O. Box 42, Mae
Hong Son 58000, Thailand.)

(Or Burmese Relief Center -- Japan at: brelief@xxxxxxx)



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