------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: May 17, 1996
Issue #410

Noted in Passing:

We've pursued a policy of constructive engagement with Burma, but
nothing has happened,.  'The only positive sign we have seen from the
Burmese was the release, if you could call it that, of (opposition
leader) Ang San Suu Kyi. - US Senator Mitch McConnell
               (see AP-DOW JONES: KEY U.S. SENATOR PUSHES
               SANCTIONS)

HEADLINES:
==========
KYEMON: DRAW LOTS IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY TRUE DEMOCRACY
AP-DOW JONES: KEY U.S. SENATOR PUSHES SANCTIONS
SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL: FREE BURMA KEYNOTE ADDRESS
NMSP: LETTER TO UNHCR
BURMANET: BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KYEMON: "DRAW LOTS IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY TRUE DEMOCRACY
May 7, 1996  (from BBC Summary of World Broadcasts on May 9)

(Editor's Note: Kyemon is a Burmese newspaper.  The article argues that true
democracy can be had by drawing lots, as the ancient Greeks did.)
 
The lady of the house has been using democracy at will to suit her own needs
and most people are confused about it. Democracy is used to compare who is
taller while some think it provides eternal assistance to the unemployed.
People
have been asking what democracy is all about. I did not know what took place
but
just say that I know.

People who are confused about democracy have requested me to explain it to
them. I don't know whether they are trying to corner me but I decided to clear
their confused minds.

Democracy first appeared in ancient Greece. It has been said that in 508 BC,
Cleisthenes amended the old traditional constitution of Athens. The main aim
was
to give political power to the people rather than to the leader of the clans.
>From then on, democracy began to flourish in Athens, Greece.

Dr Oliver Tuplin as transliterated from Oxford University explained the
definition of democracy: "demo" means people and "cracy" means rule. The
professor would have committed suicide by drinking poison if he had found out
that some ice-water vendors in Myanmar Burma know more than that.

However, Archaeology Professor Keith Hors as transliterated from Cambridge
University said democracy was practised in Athens because it was a very small
state. In fact, Athens had a small population. People gathered in the town
centre, where religious festivals took place, and held talks and discussions
and
passed resolutions on relevant matters.

It is believed that Athens had an electoral system which prevented anyone
from holding power for long. A 500-man council was also elected. The tenure of
the council members was one year and members can be re-elected only once. It
was
learned that women never enjoyed that privilege. The lady, the 1988 modern
aerobic fashion model who has been giving weekly democracy remedies, has kept
silent about this .

Moreover, not all Athens residents are considered citizens. Women, slaves and
foreigners, and blood relations of these foreigners had no right to become
citizens and could not participate in the political process. Basically, one
must
be a male to be part of Athenian democracy. It is also clearly stated that
one's
father must be a citizen. Those who are shouting democracy are afraid to
reveal
the roots of democracy because of this. That is why they keep exaggerating
matters. Hypocrites beware!

Some may ask why democracy became popular amid such restrictions. It is
clear. In the history of that period, the idea that gave all citizens equal
political rights was a totally new concept in a world governed by absolute
monarchs, feudal lords and other minority administrative groups.

The citizens of Athens were able to debate and resolve political problems and
were allowed to participate in the judicial system as well. This is similar to
the appointment of judges nowadays. History Professor Donald Kagin as
transliterated of Yale University in the USA has written a book on the
judicial
systems in Athens.

In Athenian courts, jurors were selected by drawing lots from among male
citizens. There could be as many as 1,500 jurors but normally a jury comprised
about 500 members. It also showed clearly how powerful Athens citizens were,
because whatever the law was, it was ratified only at the courts. Lots were
drawn not only for jury selection but also for important management and
administrative officials and staff members.

 Instead of voting, the system of drawing lots was applied to prevent a small
hierarchical group from clinging on to power. Another factor was that all
citizens of Athens were considered equal and were believed to be able to
shoulder the responsibilities. The lot-drawing system also gave other citizens
equal rights to participate in the executive, judiciary, legislature and
administration. These illustrate Greek democracy.

There are many doubts regarding this. Haven't political experts depicted
Athenian democracy as a norm to administer human society? Aren't there claims
that modern-day democracy, where the people elect the government, came from
Athenian democracy? However, Prime Minister John Major from Britain, the
grandfather country of democracy, and Bill Clinton, the president of the USA,
did not get their positions by winning lots and this is considered democratic.

 What flowery words: direct democracy, indirect democracy and even new
democracy! In my understanding, the fact is, do what you like by using the
word
democracy and it becomes democracy.

There are two types of the so-called democracies in Myanmar - "need
democracy" and "undesirable democracy" . The lady of the house and her
follower
the old night watchman, cover up all their impertinent acts with "need
democracy" but they criticize, complain and talk ill about all the
government's
good deeds after measuring them with their broken undesirable democracy ruler.
How difficult!

Therefore, I would like to tell the people, who are confused about democracy
after hearing all kinds of ridiculous stories, that the way to enjoy the real
essence of democracy is to draw lots. There is no purer democracy than this.
It
is the genuine spirit of Athenian democracy. It excludes women, foreigners and
the blood relations of these foreigners. Will the democratic stunt lady, whose
democracy should be termed sneezing democracy, be able to accept that genuine
and true democracy?

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

AP-DOW JONES: KEY U.S. SENATOR PUSHES BURMA INVESTMENT
SANCTIONS
May 15, 1996

WASHINGTON (AP-Dow Jones)--U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell,
chairman of  the Senate Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee,
announced Tuesday that he intends to try to push through Congress legislation
banning U.S. investment in Burma.  McConnell introduced the Burma Freedom
and Democracy Act in December.  The bill bans U.S. investment in Burma,
bans financial aid and directs U.S.financial institutions to vote against
loans for
Burma. A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Rep. Dana
Rohrabacher.

U.S. oil companies Unocal and Texaco have interests in Burma, and Atlantic
Richfield has been eyeing natural gas investments there, sources said.
Several oil services companies also have operations or are trying to establish

operations in Burma.
   
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, told a conference on Burma that the
Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on his legislation on Friday.
The chairman of the Banking Committee, Alfonse D'Amato, is a co-sponsor of
McConnell's legislation, which has been referred to D'Amato's committee.

But a banking committee spokesman told Dow Jones that no hearing has been
scheduled. A McConnell spokeswoman said she would look into the discrepancy.
McConnell told the conference that he has decided to try to move his bill
forward because there's been no progress with the Clinton administration's
policy of engagement with Burma's military-led government.
   
"We've pursued a policy of constructive engagement with Burma, but nothing
has happened,' McConnell told the conference.  'The only positive sign we have

seen from the Burmese was the release,  if you could call it that, of
(opposition
leader) Ang San Suu Kyi," he said.

Burma released Suu Kyi from house arrest last July, but she isn't allowed to
travel or speak freely. 'If I thought there was any evidence the current
approach is
working, I wouldn't have moved in the direction of sanctions,' McConnell said.

"We need to take this first step."

McConnell said he first became interested in Burma because of its narcotics
exports to the U.S. Illegal drug use is a problem in his home state of
Kentucky,
he said.  But he is also concerned about human rights violations and the fact
that the country's military rulers never recognized the results of Burma's
1990
democratic elections. Those elections were in favor of Suu Kyi and her
National
League for Democracy party.

The U.S. hasn't sent an ambassador to Rangoon in protest of the failure to
recognize the 1990 elections. The U.S. has also suspended economic aid
to Burma, placed an embargo on arms sales, denied trade preferences and
decertified Burma as a narcotics cooperating country.

The U.S. sent two high-level delegations to Burma to try to change
the behavior of the military rulers. Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom Hubbard
led a trip in November 1994 in which he told Burmese leaders that U.S.
relations
would worsen if their behavior didn't change, according to State Department
testimony before Congress last year. In addition, United Nations Ambassador
Madeleine Albright visited Rangoon in September 1995 with a similar message.
 But McConnell maintained that these threats haven't brought about the
desired change in Burma's behavior.
 
In addition to barring U.S. investment in Burma, McConnell's bill offers
arange of discretionary sanctions that the President could place on Rangoon.
The optional sanctions include a ban on U.S. imports from Burma, a ban
on U.S. travel to Burma, a ban on accepting diplomatic relations from Burma
at a greater level than the representation accorded the U.S. in Rangoon, and
barring U.S. aid from organizations that fund activities 'other than
humanitarian
activities.'

The bill also calls on the secretary of labor along with the secretary
 of state to submit several reports to Congress within 90 days of the bill's
enactment. The reports would focus on Burmese compliance with internation
allabor standards, including the use of forced labor, child labor and invol
untary prison labor; the degree to which foreign investment in Burma
contributes
 to violations of worker rights' labor practices in support of Burma's foreign
tourist industry; and efforts by the U.S. to end violations of labor rights in
Burma.

The bill's mix of optional and mandatory sanctions, along with its
reporting requirements, make it similar to legislation now moving through
the House of Representatives to place sanctions on countries who trade
with Iran and Libya.

McConnell said, however, there is an important distinction between
the political situation in Iran and the politics in Burma that he hopes to
change.
   
'Iran is a totally different situation, and you have to deal with each
situation differently,' he told Dow Jones.
 
 'In Burma, you have a situation where there was a truly democratic
election that was never recognized. In Iran, I don't recall that problem,' he
said
.
A McConnell aide noted that Iran has been accused of exporting terrorism,
while Burma's detractors complain about Rangoon's treatment of its own
citizens.

Pepsi Co Inc. recently pulled most of its operations out of Burma, largely
because of protests from college students about Burma's treatment of its
citizens. But oil and gas companies haven't indicated they, too, would
voluntarily
leave the country.

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

SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL: FREE BURMA KEYNOTE ADDRESS
May 14, 1996
From: zar ni <zni@students.wisc.edu>

        STATUS QUO or SANCTIONS?  LAISSEZ-FAIRE or LIBERTY?
        POLICY OPTIONS in BURMA
        U.S. SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL

        The Paul Nitze School for Advanced International Studies
        May 14, 1996

There is a story former Secretary Baker likes to tell -- it is one about a
farmer, who after many years had earned enough to buy a small plot of his
own land -- a dusty, dry plot filled with stones and tree stumps, barren of
any life.

For three years, stone by stone, stump by stump, he cleared his fields.
Back breaking work - day in and day out without rest - he toiled and
finally he was rewarded with an abundant harvest.

Well, the first thing he did, was call his preacher to come bless his
bounty. The preacher walked field to field amazed by the richness of what
he saw.  He plucked a tomato, held it high, "Why this is the most ripe,
plump tomato I have seen in years," he said, "Thank the Lord."   He moved
on to a field of melons and was awed by their fullness, how juicy they
were.  "God is indeed great," he said.  Finally, the preacher just couldn't
say enough about the farmer's crisp, tangy  apples and held one high,
"Praise the Lord!" he said.  Well, the farmer couldn't stand it anymore and
burst out, "Preacher with all due respect, I sure wish you could have seen
this field when God was farming it all by himself."

U.S. LEADERSHIP: WHAT IS AT STAKE?

To me, the U.S. role in Burma is a little like the farmer's friend -- we
may get some credit, but others do the heavy lifting.  At the end of the
day, it will be the Burmese people, led by Aung San Suu Kyi and the
National League for Democracy (NLD) who will have labored long under
intolerable conditions -- bearing up to every hardship -- breaking down
walls of adversity -- to bring democracy, justice, peace and prosperity to
Burma.

At the same time, they cannot -- they should not struggle without the
support of the United States.  It is my view that Burma's liberty must be
served by America's leadership.

A few weeks ago, in a courageous statement to the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights, Aung San Suu Kyi appealed again to the international
community to directly and immediately support the restoration of democracy
and respect for the rule of law.  She summoned us to take concrete steps to
implement the results of the 1990 elections in which the Burmese people
spoke with a strong, resolute voice, and the NLD carried the day.

Less we forget, the NLD did not squeak by with a 43% mandate as did our
sitting President -- the leader of the free world.  The NLD claimed 392
seats in the parliament winning 82% of the vote.  Now, that's a mandate!

Unfortunately, a shining moment for democracy has been blackened by a
ruthless dictatorship.   To this day, the generals who make up the State
Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) maintain a chokehold on Burma's
life.

Burma is a battleground  --

        -- between democracy and dictatorship.

        -- between those who believe in open markets and those who openly
market their self-enriching schemes.

        -- between the many who embrace freedom and the few who breed fear.

        -- between Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters and SLORC's sycophants.


There are few modern examples where our choice is so stark -- where the
battle lines are so sharply drawn.

While I could devote a considerable portion of my remarks to cataloguing
SLORC's appalling political and human rights record, I will leave that to
some of your panelists.  Many of you who are  participating in today's
event have done a remarkable job calling attention to the atrocities
carried out by SLORC.  There is no question that arbitrary killings,
detentions, torture, rape, and forced labor and relocations are tools
routinely  abused to secure SLORC's position, power and wealth.

Notwithstanding these conditions, many of you must be wondering why a
conservative Republican has taken interest in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi and
her cause?  After all, Democrats are usually the hard chargers in
Washington's human rights campaigns.

Some may have decided that this is my quirky crusade to export American
morals.  No doubt, these people have concluded I just don't understand our
economic interests in the area, that I fail to appreciate regional
sensitivities.  In short, I just don't get it.

AMERICAN INTERESTS: THE DRUG EPIDEMIC

Well, there are several factors which have contributed to my commitment.
First, is Burma's association with a key U.S. interest: the drug epidemic.
But, let me step back for a moment.

When I moved to the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, I was struck by the
enormous gap in the public's understanding of how U.S. aid serves U.S.
interests.  It concerned me that misperceptions were fueling an
isolationist drive -- undermining the imperatives of U.S. engagement.

It is not just the myth that we could trim the deficit if we cut the 50% of
the budget Americans mistakenly think we spend on foreign aid.  No matter
what we spend, Americans have little sense of what we gain with our
investment.

So, I have spent years giving speeches, communicating with constituents,
and holding town meetings reinforcing the linkage between our aid and
interests.

The shortest bridge to cross this divide rests upon an understanding that
our resources are used to combat international narcotics trafficking,
terrorism and nuclear related crimes -- threats Americans really
understand.

Although the tragedy in Oklahoma City shocked people into recognition of
the danger terrorism represents, our nation's drug problem hardly needs
such a seismic event to get attention.  Every community has a problem.

When I tell a gathering of Kentuckians that 65% of the opium used in the
heroin that swamps our streets comes from Burma, they take note of Rangoon.
When they learn the military junta is harboring one of the globe's most
notorious narco-warlords, they appreciate the need to restore a democratic
government which will join us in a credible effort to control drug
trafficking.

THE CLINTON POLICY: POLITICAL NARCOLEPSY

The Golden Triangle's deadly exports initially caught my eye, but it is the
Administration's policy -- or lack thereof -- which fixed my gaze.  This is
one of the few occasions where the White House has been consistent;
unfortunately they have been consistently wrong.

As Suu Kyi has repeatedly emphasized since her release, Burma today is not
once step closer to democracy.  Indeed, I think the situation has
seriously, dangerously and unnecessarily deteriorated.

In November 1994, after a long, disheartening silence, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State Tom Hubbard, travelled to Rangoon to issue an ultimatum.
The Administration called international attention to their new, tough
line.  SLORC was expected to make concrete progress in human rights,
narcotics and democracy.  If they were appropriately responsive, they could
expect improved ties.  If not, in Hubbard's words, "the U.S. bilateral
relationship with Burma could be further down-graded."

As most of us learn early in life, you don't taunt a bully.

SLORC moved swiftly to call our bluff.  Major attacks were launched against
ethnic groups, generating tens of thousands of refugees.  Democracy
activists were rounded up, tortured and killed.  Negotiations over Red
Cross access to prisoners ground to a halt, prompting the organization to
close its office in Rangoon.  And, the Administration remained strangely
silent.

As the situation worsened, there was another burst of interest, and
Madeleine Albright was dispatched to repeat the message.  This time it was
underscored with a personal meeting and statement of support for dialogue
with Aung San Suu Kyi.  Those of us who follow Burma were hopeful that our
U.N. ambassador, with a tough reputation,  would press forward with a clear
strategy.

Sadly, once again, SLORC rose - or should I say sunk - to the occasion.
The noose tightened around Suu Kyi and the NLD, and the Administration
shuffled past critics in silence.

Today, when I ask the State Department, "What is U.S. policy?" virtually
every official tells me,  "We share your goals, we support Aung San Suu
Kyi's cause."  Unfortunately, this is a transparent substitute of
platitudes for progress.

I know they feel my pain -- Burma's agony.  The question is: what is the cure?

THE COURSE AHEAD: STATUS QUO or SANCTIONS

After hollow policy pronouncements and weak-willed waffling from the
Administration, SLORC is convinced it will pay no price for repression.  We
are left with few real options with the potential for success.

The business community, well represented here today, prefers the status
quo.  They suggest that our ASEAN partners will not support a strategy of
escalating isolation.  A tougher line will only result in a loss of market
share to our French, Italian or other competitors.  They also argue
economic progress will yield political results.  This is Vietnam.  Burma is
like China.

Well, I am a vocal advocate of MFN for China.  I have supported normalizing
relations with Vietnam.  In both instances, we have effectively used the
economic wedge to pry open access to totally closed societies.  Trade is an
important tool in these two cases because it is our only tool.

Burma is quite different.  In Burma, millions of people turned out to vote
for the NLD.  The fact that they were robbed of the reward of free and fair
elections defines both America's opportunity and obligation.

The appropriate analogy with Burma is not China or Vietnam, it is  South
Africa where our application of sanctions clearly worked --just ask Nelson
Mandela.  That is the course I recommend the United States pursue.

In 1996, the advocates for democracy in Burma are facing the same
challenges as the 1986 opponents of apartheid.  I heard exactly the same
arguments then, as I do now.  Let me draw some parallels for you.

When Senators Roth, Dodd, and I introduced the first sanctions bill a
decade ago, both the Reagan Administration and the business community
argued the political value of our sizeable capital investment -- U.S.
investment was a meaningful catalyst for change.   Major American
corporations called attention to their hiring policies, scholarship
programs, and contributions to hospitals, schools and community development
projects.

In sum, I was told that withdrawing U.S. investment would hurt, not help,
the common man.  Not so, says Bishop Tutu.  In an April letter to the Bay
Area Burma Roundtable he said, "The victory over apartheid in South Africa
bears eloquent testimony to the effectiveness of economic sanctions."

There are other, relevant parallels.

South Africa represented a major fault line in the Cold
War struggle for power.  With Soviet proxy forces engaged in conflicts in
Angola and Mozambique, South Africa assumed an important position in our
regional strategy.

The apparent Chinese colonization of Burma should stimulate similar
interest. If there is a single issue which should cause our ASEAN partners
deep concern, it is the expanding military and political ties between
Rangoon and Beijing.  Like South Africa, Burma may not represent an
immediate security problem, but the long term trends demand our attention.

In South Africa, there was a grassroots, well organized, vocal African
American constituency supporting sanctions.  In Burma, the constituency
should be every American community concerned by our drug epidemic.

In South Africa, good corporate citizens developed a corporate conscience
and pulled out.  In Burma, Amoco, Columbia Sportswear, Macys, Eddie Bauer,
Liz Claiborne, Levi Strauss, and now Pepsi have answered the call to
divest.

In South Africa, sanctions affected substantial, longstanding foreign
investment.  In Burma, less is at stake and sanctions are largely
preemptive.

But, American investment -- however little -- is still propping up a few
generals.  We are not improving the quality of life for most Burmese.  U.S.
capital is simply subsidizing global shopping sprees for a handful of SLORC
officials and their families.

Just as SLORC has increased pressure on Burma's democracy movement, we must
increase pressure on SLORC.

I believe the time has come to ban U.S. investment.  We should cut off a
primary source of SLORC's power.

This is the heart of the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act which I introduced
with Senators Moynihan, D'Amato and Leahy.  The Banking Committee will hold
a hearing on the bill this Friday, moving the bill one step closer to final
passage.  Since a companion bill introduced by Congressman Rohrabacher is
also moving through the House, it is my hope that the United States will
impose sanctions on Burma before the Congress adjourns.

A few weeks ago, Aung San Suu Kyi noted, "There is a danger that those who
believe economic reforms will bring political progress to Burma are unaware
of the difficulties in the way of democratization.  Economics and politics
cannot be separated, and economic reforms alone cannot bring
democratization to Burma."

She has emphatically opposed any foreign investment, calling instead for
the international community to take firm steps to implement the 1990
elections.  And, while she has stressed the NLD's commitment to solving
political problems through dialogue, she recently warned the world that she
was not prepared to stand idly by as SLORC attacked her supporters.

Shortly after these remarks, SLORC surrounded her compound with razor wire,
effectively cutting off the thousands of loyal and peaceful citizens who
make a weekly pilgrimage to hear her speak.

Aung San Suu Kyi is prepared to accept her re-arrest.  Although she is
under constant surveillance and severely limited in her movements, she has
not chosen to join her husband and children in exile.   Aung San Suu Kyi
has sacrificed over and over again to secure Burma's freedom.  Let us hope
it will not take the sacrifice of her life to impel this Administration to
assume the mantle of leadership -- fitting for the only remaining
superpower -- and chart a course for the ship we captain called liberty.

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

NMSP: LETTER TO THE UNHCR

THE NEW MON STATE PARTY
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS

Mr. Ruprecht von Arnim
Representative
United Nations High Commission for Refugees Office
Bangkok.
Date. 14th April 1996.
Subject: Re monitoring resettlement of Mon refugees.

Sir,

With regard to the abovementioned subject, the Thai
Royal Government had given order to all Mon refugees to
evacuate from Payaw and Halokkhani camps into Burma
by 30th April 1996.

Therefore, all of them have already evacuated to areas
around the sources of Kin Chaung (stream), Ye Chaung
and Baleh Doonphite.

Resettlement of refugees in respect of economic stability,
self-sufficiency, health and education are still inadequate.
That is why they are in need of special monitoring. We
therefore urge the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees to give every possible help to them.

Yours truly,

(Nai Shwe Kyin)
President
NMSP

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

BURMANET : BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
May 17, 1996
Compiled by Burma Net from information provided by Mbeer.

MYANMAR TO INTRODUCE TEACHING OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

The myanmar government is implementing the task of teaching computer science
in all schools throughout the country.  to give students access to computer
science, the myanmar government has arranged the use of APPLE computers in all
schools and a contract to purchase 3,000 computers for basic educational
schools
has been signed according to official reports recently.  the myanmar education
ministry has also arranged to conduct basic computer courses for teachers and
has brought out a total of 120 instructors in the last two courses, according
to
today's "the new light of myanmar." myanmar is endeavoring for development of
modern educational system for future generation and teaching of computer
science
in schools is now a compulsory subject.

BIDDING HEATS UP FOR STEELMAKERS

 Nippon Steel [5401], NKK [5404], Sumitomo Metal Industries,[5405] and
Kawasaki Steel [5403] have all bid in a mammoth 111,000 ton UOE steel pipe
order
for the national petroleum agency of Thailand.  The pipeline will supply
natural
gas to a thermal power plant close to the border between Myanmar and Thailand.
The bid covers a pipe length of 420km, from offshore Myanmar to the Thai-
Myanmar border.  NKK has already won an order for the underwater portion of
the
line, or 145,000 tons, while an Italian steelmaker took the overland portion
of
25,000 tons.  The first deliveries toward the 111,000- ton order for UOE pipe
must arrive in November 1996.  The steelmakers are teaming up with traders,
including Mitsui & Co. [8031] and Mitsubishi, which will heighten the
competition.

MORE CANON PRODUCTS INTRODUCED IN MYANMAR

More and more photographic instrument products of the well-known Japanese
Canon brand are being introduced in the Myanmar market.  Accel marketing ltd,
a
subsidiary of Singapore's Kuok group and the sole distributor of Canon
products
in myanmar, opened its office and show room here monday.  The Canon products
being introduced in myanmar include office facilitating equipment, computers,
jet printing facilities, copiers, calculators, chemicals and optical items.

NEW RESERVOIR COMES INTO USE IN MYANMAR

The newly-built shwenattaung reservoir in Myanmar's Mon state, which can
irrigate 162 hectares of farm land, has been put into use.  The new reservoir
brings to 65 the number of new dams and reservoirs built since 1988.
Addressing
the inaugural ceremony for the new reservoir in Mawlamyine, Second
Secretary of The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) Lieutenant
Gen
Tin Oo said the irrigable area expanded to account for 21 percent of the total
land under cultivation in 1995-96 from 12.7 percent in 1992-93.  The increase
in the
irrigable area will enable farmers to extend cultivation from traditional
single
crop to double and triple crops per year and their standards of living will
become higher, he said.  According to the latest official statistics, the
annual
growth rate of agriculture in the last four fiscal years (from 1992-93 to
1995-96), which ended on March 31, stood at 8.8 percent and it is targeted for
5.4 percent in the next five fiscal years from 1996-97 to 2000-2001 which
began
on April 1.

PEREGRINE LIFTED BY DISPOSALS

An $ 843.7 million gain on the sale of stakes in two companies rescued last
year's result at investment bank Peregrine Investments, which also announced
write-offs on its Australian and Burma operations.
...
In what he said were "very poor operating environments", Peregrine's
corporate and project finance wing made losses of about $ 14 million, despite
participating in $ 21.8 billion worth of fund raising transactions and acting
as
adviser in 30 deals.

WHISKY FIRM SPONSORS BURMESE GOLF TOURNAMENT

A golf tournament will be held in Rangoon from May 17-18 to select the team
to represent Burma this year in the Johnnie Walker international club
championship, an Asia-based golfing tournament, organizers said Monday.

    The whisky brand which for years was traded for blackmarket Burmese kyat
by
incoming tourists, will be co-sponsoring the tournament with the Myanmar Gold
Association.

    Burma, one of the world's poorest countries run by one of the world's most
notorious military regimes, boasts more than 10,000 golfers nationwide.

    Last year Burma's Lashio Golf Club were crowned the Johnnie Walker
international club champions when the trio recorded a two round aggregate
double
peoria score of 433.6, only two points ahead of the Yoju Country Club of
Korea.

MYANMAR TO GRANT ONE MORE BLOCK TO US FIRM FOR OIL
EXPLORATION

Myanmar sconsidering to grant one more offshore block to us oil firm arco
myanmar inc for oil and gas exploration and production, the official newspaper
new light of myanmar said today, the arco myanmar inc signed last july a
production sharing contract with the myanmar oil and gas enterprise of the
ministry of energy to explore natural gas at myanmar's offshore block no.
m-9.
the report said that energy minister u khin maung thein chaired a special
meeting of the project implementation committee here monday, which discussed
the
possibility to allow the us firm's operation at the offshore block no. m-7.
seven countries --france, the us, britain, australia, japan, thailand and
malaysia --have signed production sharing contacts with myanmar since it
started
to invite foreign oil companies to develop its oil and gas resources in 1989.
the undertaking has involved 14 foreign companies under more than 20 contracts
in five offshore and seven onshore areas in the country.  the oil and gas
sector
boasts the largest share of foreign investments in myanmar, with the amount
standing at 1.435 billion us dollars out of a total 3.237 billion us dollars
at
the end of march this year,

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