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The BurmaNet News: February 27, 1996
Issue #351

HEADLINES:
==========
BKK POST: CHETHA SAYS BORDER TO BE REOPENED BEFORE BANHARN’S
VISIT TO RANGOON
BKK POST: BANDITS FROM BURMA ROB 15 THAI VEHICLES
BKK POST: SLORC LIKELY TO GET RESPECT IT DESERVES
BKK POST: BURMA ‘COULD CALL IN RESERVES’
BKK POST: YADANA NATURAL GAS FIND TURNS MON LEGEND INTO
REALITY
BKK POST: SUU KYI ASKS REGIME TO FOCUS ON SCHOOLS, NOT
TOURISM
BKK POST: ROLLING STOCK DEAL
BKK POST: BURMA BANK OPENS
BKK POST: FRENCH BANK IN RANGOON
FEER: BACK-DOOR TO BURMA
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BKK POST: CHETHA SAYS BORDER TO BE REOPENED BEFORE BANHARN’S
VISIT TO RANGOON

February 27, 1996
By Wasana Nanum, Mae Sai, Chiang Rai

Army deputy commander Gen Chetha Thanacharo yesterday said
the border checkpoint here, opposite Burma’s Tachilek would
be reopened before Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa
officially visits Rangoon.

Gen Chetha gave his assurance after lunch with Burma’s
regional army commander Maj Gen Tin Htut at Tachilek where
the border has been closed since March 21 last year.

“The border has been closed a long time. Now it is the right
time to reopen it. “It would be certainly reopened before our
prime minister makes his official visit to strengthen
bilateral ties,” said the army deputy commander.

Prime Minister Banharn has not yet decided when he would make
the visit while Burma was hopeful the Thai premier could come
between March 18-20. Gen Chetha flew to Mae Sai yesterday and
walked across the border to Tachilek where he had a two-and-
a-half hour meeting with Maj Gen Tin Htut at a military
outpost.

Military sources said Gen Chetha last Friday met Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt, first secretary of Burma’s State Law and Order
Restoration Council, in Burma where the junta strongman told
Gen Chetha of Rangoon’s wish to see an improvement in the
relationship.

The army deputy commander said he did not think anyone would
gain anything if the mistrust and tension along the common
border was not resolved. Gen Chetha said it would be useless
foe either side to blame the other over problems in the area
as it would lead to more confrontation.

“Our bilateral relationship is much more important than
anything else and we should try strengthen it,” said Gen
Chetha. Gen Chetha said he had told Maj Gen Tin Htut, Burma’s
Eastern Forces commander, to swiftly contact local Thai
officials posted along the border if problems occur.

Commenting on the 43 million baht compensation claim made by
Burma over the killing of three Burmese during Khun Sa’s Mong
Tai Army assault on Burmese forces early last year, Gen
Chetha said Rangoon had asked for understanding on the issue
as it was Burmese people who suffered from their relatives’
death.
 
Burma has insisted that Thailand must take direct
responsibility over the incident as they claimed that Khun Sa
’s forces launched it assault from Thai soil. Thai
authorities deny this.

Gen Chetha said the issue has already been raised for
discussion earlier in Burma, adding that payment might have
to be made but the amount of money to be paid would not be as
high as the Burmese demand.

“We have not discussed the amount of money to be paid as it
would lead to more problems. “Burma wants to see us show our
sympathy to its suffering people,” said Gen Chetha.

He is scheduled to make a trip to Koh Song, opposite Ranong
Province, tomorrow where he will meet Burma’s Southeastern
Forces’ Commander Maj Gen Ket Sein. Gen Chetha said he was
optimistic the trip would lead to the opening of Ranong’s
border checkpoint. (BP)

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

BKK POST: BANDITS FROM BURMA ROB 15 THAI VEHICLES
February 27, 1996

A band of about 20 bandits crossed the border from Shan State
of Burma and robbed about 15 vehicles on Pang Mapha Mae Hong
Son Highway and made of with over 200,000 baht in cash and
valuables on Sunday night.

The bandits from Burma blocked the highway in Pang Mapha Sub-
district, about 49 kilometres from Muang Mae Hong Son, with
logs at about 7 p.m. They stopped around 15 cars and
motorcycles and robbed the passengers.

Mae Hong Son Governor Somjate Wiriyadamrong said after an
investigate tour of the scene of the crime yesterday that he
had ordered the provincial police, border patrol police and
rangers to trace and waylay the robbers who were believed to
have field in the direction of Ban Mae Lan, about 15
kilometres from the Thai-Burmese border.

The authorities found a spent AK-47 shell in the area where
the bandits who were armed with M16 and AK47 assault rifles
and RPG rocket launchers staged the robbery. However, nobody
was hurt by the bandits who reportedly spoke Shan and Burmese
languages in their radio communications. (BP)

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

BKK POST: SLORC LIKELY TO GET RESPECT IT DESERVES
February 27, 1996
 
The only person ever elected as the leader of Burma has
continued to work, quietly, to install democracy in the
nation. The campaign has turned hard again for Aung San Suu
Kyi and her followers.

Nearly eight years have passed since the ruling State Law and
Order Restoration Council (Slorc) seized power in a brutal
and bloody coup. Nearly six years have gone by since Mrs Suu
Kyi won election as her country’s head of government while
under house arrest.

Another four years have passed since she won the Nobel Peace
Prize and it has been seven months since she was released
from her prison by Rangoon authorities.

During that time, the ruling military junta has worked at two
tasks: to consolidate power and to improve its image. It has,
lamentably, received help in both these tasks from
neighbours, not least of all Thailand.

Burma will sit as an equal among the 10 Asia nations at next
week’s Europe-Asia summit in Bangkok. It should not be lost
on either participants or observers, however, that Burma
deserves the title of “least equal” among all the countries
represented at this important summit. Its leaders will
receive the diplomatic protocols accorded to all heads of
government. They will not be accorded the same respect.

In Rangoon, Mrs Suu Kyi is nominally free. She also is
isolated to a major extent by a Slorc campaign of arrests and
intimidation. Rangoon has tried to walk a fine line in its
foreign and domestic policy.

No one can ignore, however, that much sham lies behind the
smiles and diplomatic niceties the regime will bring to the
Bangkok meeting. Foreign leaders and diplomats have been told
by the junta they are unwelcome in Burma if they intend to
speak to Mrs Suu Kyi. Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating
_a friend of Asean and Southeast Asia _ has been singled out
as a would be guest who can forget about plans to visit
Rangoon.

The release of Mrs Suu Kyi from house arrest last July was a
cause for celebration. It was also a strong test of the
Rangoon regime’s good will. Since then, Slorc has failed this
test. Instead of proceeding to talk with Mrs Suu Kyi about
the future of Burma, the junta shunned her.

Instead of holding negotiations with pro-democracy advocates
in Burma, the regime rammed through a constitutional
convention. Instead of encouraging discussion of visions for
their country, Slorc arrested those who dared to spread their
ideas.

As a few realists predicted last year, Rangoon released Mrs
Suu Kyi in the cynical belief her gains and goals would die
in oblivion. She has had no access to the government-
controlled media, and cannot travel to meet her supporters.
The same regime which at least met with “The Lady” during her
imprisonment now refuses all contact with her. The question
now is what happens next in Burma?

Mrs Suu Kyi has wisely counselled the many Burmese  who
favour democracy and a free political system to keep a check
on their emotions. The memories of the army’s brutal
suppression of 1988 remains fresh in her mind.

It is clear that Slorc is prepared to gun down more thousands
of unarmed Burmese in case for democracy to the streets. “The
Burmese people know how to bide their time,” Mrs Suu Kyi said
recently. It is important for them, and for Burma, that they
continue to do so.

This does not mean that all those who cherish freedom must
remain silent, however. Government and private citizens must
continue to press the Burmese junta to listen to their own
people. Our own government, while continuing formal
diplomatic relations with the Rangoon regime, should
reconsider its so-called “constructive engagement” policy.

It has proved to be not very constructive, and it seldom
engages Burmese leaders in meaningful discussion. As citizens
of a free country, we should impress on our authorities we
wish the same good fortune for our neighbours.

The truth is Burma’s politically recalcitrant government
continues to hold power through the barrels of its guns.
There is only one way it can gain the respect it seems to
desire.

It must engage its political opposition, including Mrs Suu
Kyi, in meaningful discussion. If it merely continues its
brutal methods of arrests, and intimidation and worse, Slorc
will only get the respect it earns. And that is very little.
(BP)

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

BKK POST: BURMA ‘COULD CALL IN RESERVES’
February 27, 1996

Burma’s reserve forces could be called in to help ward off
foreign aggression, according to Gen Maung Aye, deputy
commander-in-chief. He told senior officers at the Defence
Services Academy in Mandalay last week that the Tatmadaw
(three armed forces) might not be sufficient.

The reserves are police, fire brigades ad red Cross teams.
Every Burmese is responsible for national defence. He said
economic, military and political forces were essential for
the establishment of a peaceful, modern and developed nation.
(BP)

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

BKK POST: YADANA NATURAL GAS FIND TURNS MON LEGEND INTO
REALITY
February 27, 1996
Report: Naovarat Suksamran, Pictures: Courtesy of Pisanh
Paladsingha

Mon legend says a tarlike substance will be discovered in
their land, propelling their race to international
recognition before the end of this year.

This month, along with predictions by Laung Phor Uttama, a
highly revered monk among the ethnic Mon, Karen and Burmese
gained weight when the New Mon State Party and Rangoon’s
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council signed a peace
agreement last June.

Like many other races forced into the union led by the
Burmans, the Mons had long been battling for autonomy from
Rangoon. The agreement ended the armed struggle.

The peace pact was largely motivated by Rangoon’s plan to lay
a pipeline that will take natural gas from Yadana, the largest
known gas field in the Gulf of Martaban, to Thailand.

The pipeline has to pass through an area held by the Mons, and
the agreement is seen as reflecting the mutual interests of
the Mons and Slorc in prospering from the contract.

Natural gas, as the Mons see it, is similar enough to the
much-awaited “tar”. Along with other races from Burma, the
Mons have assimilated in Thailand for three generations,
forming communities mostly in suburban Bangkok and united by
at least 300 Mon temples.

Not wanting to forsake their identity, some Thais of Mon
origin are informing others about their race and culture.
Among them are cinematographer Pisanh Paladsingha, a Thai of
Mon origin who founded the Mon News Agency to spread
information about the history of Mons in Thailand, their
independence struggle and culture.

Among the activities are a Mon-English dictionary, the
Tripitaka (a type of Buddhist script) in the Mon language, and
publication about the history and struggle of the Mons in the
last five decades.

The Mon News Agency also produces a monthly newsletter
distributed free to Mon communities in Thailand and social and
human rights organisations abroad. Between 5,000 and 8,000
copies are circulated each month, with subscriptions totalling
1,000.

The agency is funded by donations from Mon-Thai businessmen,
monks and readers. “I once tried to persuade the New Mon State
Party of the need for public relations. But it was not
convinced,” said Mr Pisanh, who remains in close touch with
his compatriots. He denies receiving any financial aid from
the party for his activities, although it has made the offer.

Mr Pisanh is on the watchlist of the Thai military
intelligence which suspected him of involvement in the Mon
insurgenc. he grew up in a war environment, being told by his
Mon grandmother in photharam district, Ratchaburi, of how his
ancestors fled war to seek refuge in Thailand.

“Grandma told me that of all the Mons fleeing to Thailand,
only half of them _ the luckey ones _ made it, given the
hardships en route,” he said. Mr Pisanh wrote memories of his
childhood in an article that appeared in Dao Siam newspaper in
1990. The article was reprinted in the new agency’s monthly
newsletter.

Although his Mon identity was deeply ingrained his up-
bringing, it never crossed his mind that he should be doing
something to help the Mons until an incident occurred at
Bangkok airport while he was working as a tour guide. Several
flights were landing when one of his friends said jokingly:
“Hey, when is it your air Mon’s turn to land?”

That remark pricked his conscience. He became involved in Mon
activities at their national day celebration in 1977 at the
New Mon State Party’s headquarters across from Three Pagodas
Pass in Kanchanaburi.

He became  acquainted with Mon leaders in Burma and maintained
contacts with them while they were fighting the Burmese
government. Contributing in whatever small was possible, Mr
Pisanh, who want then still active in the cinema industry,
brought Thai movies to Mon audiences in kanchanaburi for the
first time.

Mr Pisanh is as well-versed with a pen as he is with a camera.
His first literary work was “50 Days of Bloody battle at
Krueng Thor”, which depicts the longstanding fight between the
Mons and Rangoon.

“Initially, it was extremely difficult to find a medium for my
writing,” he said, recalling intensive lobbying of publishers.
Eventually, he became a regular contributor to the Khao Piset
political weekly. His writing relates solely to the Mons in
Thailand and Burma.

His public speeches put him in the spotlight as a Mon
nationalist crusader, but also aroused the suspicions of the
Thai security authorities. Mr Pisanh said he was not worried
by this. “After all, time has proven there’s no motive for
what I’ve been doing all these years, except the Mon blood in
me.”

Referring to the peace pact with Rangoon, he said: “The New
Mon State Party still needs capable people to help rebuild the
nation. The principles of cooperation to bring this about are
reflected in the 17 clauses of the agreement, and also during
talks for joint business ventures between the Mons and the
Rangoon government.”

Rangoon had invited Thais of Mons origin to invest and do
business in Burma, he said. Mr Pisanh’s dream is to translate
and old Mon saying, “The lion shall bring the crown to the
swan”, into reality. According to Mon belief, the swan
symbolises the Mon, and the lion foreign races. For Mr Pisanh,
the Mon race will become known when the flying swan, which the
Mons have long used as their emblem, adorns the aircraft of
“Air Mon”. (BP)

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

BKK POST: SUU KYI ASKS REGIME TO FOCUS ON SCHOOLS, NOT
TOURISM
February 27, 1996
AFP

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi attacked the ruling
junta’s focus on tourism in remarks published last week,
urging more investment in schools and hospitals instead of
hotels.

“It is true that many hotels have come in. But what progress
has there been in the field of health and education?”
Singapore’s Business Times quoted the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize
winner as saying in a recent interview.

She said health and education “are the two best indicators of
the living standards of our people,” and a study of the two
sectors would show “whether or not there has been any real
development”.

Mrs Suu Kyi, freed from nearly six years of house arrest last
July, also questioned the morality of promoting tourism in her
impoverished country, ruled since 1988 by a junta that took
over from longtime dictator Ne Win. The British-educated
opposition leader said the “great mushrooming of hotels” had
“not done any service because it has affected the morals of
the people for the sake of entertaining and making money.”

She said her countrymen felt that “a lot of our young people,
especially young girls, are going astray”. Burma has been
engaged in a hotel-building frenzy as part of preparations for
a tourism-promotion programme called Visit Myanmar Year in
1996. Singaporean firms have been active in the new hotel
developments.

The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council has enjoyed
a measure of success in drawing foreign investment despite its
image of brutality. The Slorc  has refused to honour the
results of the May 1990 general election won over-whelmingly
by the opposition.

Mrs Suu Kyi repeated her call for foreign investors to go slow
on putting their money into Burma, saying: “I don’t think my
release is enough to indicate that there has been
any real change in the situation”.

While questioning tourism employment figures released by the
junta and complaining about inflation, she conceded that a
handful of people had done well for the past five or six
years.

“But you should try to look at the hospitals where people go
in Burma. Then you will find out how much development there
has been and whether, if you were a citizen of Burma, you
would think that is something that you would be satisfied
with,” she said. (BP)

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

BKK POST: ROLLING STOCK DEAL

February 27, 1996

Myanmar  Railway has agreed to pay US$28 million for rolling
stock from Invest-Import Yugoslavia. The purchase is part of
the Rail Transport Ministry's plans to expand the country's
capacity to carry goods nationwide. Myanmar Railway wagons
from Yugoslavia in 1956, 103 in 1974 and 600 in 1985. The
latest purchase is Burma's first one since Yugoslavia was
turned into a rump state by the breakaway of several
republics. (BP)

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

BKK POST: BURMA BANK OPENS

February 27, 1996

MYANMA Livestock Breeding and Fisheries Development Bank Ltd
was inaugurated in Rangoon on February 15. Minister for Trade
Tun Kyi told the opening ceremony the bank would provide
financial assistance to meat and fish producers and other
enterprises. Plans are under way to modernise office
automation and services. The bank's total capital is two
billion kyats. It plans to issue up to 400,000 share
certificates, each worth 500,000 kyats. (BP)

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

BKK POST: FRENCH BANK IN RANGOON

February 27, 1996

THE Banque National de Paris opened a representative office in
Rangoon on February 13. The ceremony included Finance and
Revenue Minister Brig-Gen Win Tin; International Bank and
Finance (Asia-Pacific) senior vice-president Francis Vincent;
Central Bank of Myanmar governor Y Kyi Aye and his officials;
French charge d'affaires Olivier Vaysset; and BNP chief
representative Michel Daniel. The bank received its licence in
December 1994. (BP)

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

FEER: BACK-DOOR TO BURMA

29 February 1996

LARGE Western companies may have a problem investing in Burma
because they face protests and shareholder resolutions back
home. But not if they have links with Israeli companies.
Telerad, a subsidiary of the Israeli conglomerate KOR, has
helped Canada's Northern Telecom get around the problem.
Telerad is making 70% of the switching equipment for Burma's
telephone system.

Nortel has a long standing research tie-up with Telerad and
last year bought 20 % of the company. "Telerad's deal in Burma
allows Nortel to be in a market it would be otherwise hard to
reach," says an Israeli businessman in Bangkok. (FEER)


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BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST

BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different
topics related to Burma. If you have questions on any of the
following subjects, please direct email to the following
volunteer coordinators, who will either answer your question
or try to put you in contact with someone who can:

Arakan/Rohingya/Burma     volunteer needed
Bangladesh Border
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Buddhism:                    Buddhist Relief Mission:
brelief@gol.com
Chin history/culture:        plilian@asc.corp.mot.com
Fonts:                                  tom@cs.colgate.edu
History of Burma:            zni@students.wisc.edu
Kachin history/culture:      74750.1267@compuserve.com
Karen history/culture:  Karen Historical Society:
102113.2571@Compuserve.com
Mon history/culture:         [volunteer needed]
Naga history/culture:   Wungram Shishak:
z954001@oats.farm.niu.edu
Burma-India border            [volunteer needed]
Pali literature:                 "Palmleaf":  c/o
burmanet@igc.apc.org
Shan history/culture:        [volunteer needed]
Shareholder activism:       simon_billenness@mail.cybercom.net
Total/Pipeline          Dawn Star: cd@utopia.EUnet.fr
Tourism campaigns:              bagp@gn.apc.org     "Attn.
S.Sutcliffe"
World Wide Web:              FreeBurma@POBox.com
Volunteering:                   christin@ksc.net.th

[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]
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