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

The BurmaNet News: April 17, 1996
Issue #385

Noted in Passing:

                We need to let Burma's elected leaders know that we care.
                - Ryan Friedrichs, student and member of Amnesty
                International on Ann Arbor's selective purchasing bill
                (see MICHIGAN DAILY: ANN ARBOR CITY COUNCIL
                PASSES RESOLUTION)

HEADLINES:
==========
ABSDF-MTZ: UNIVERSITY AVENUE SEALED
MICHIGAN DAILY: ANN ARBOR CITY COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION
INDEPENDENT REPORT: S.F. SEL. PURCHASING LEGISLATION PASSES
APPEAL: LETTERS TO OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
BKK POST: BURMA BIDS TO STABILISE KYAT
DAWN: CHILDREN ARE A COUNTRY'S FUTURE. WHAT ABOUT BURMA?
ANNOUNCEMENT: RANGOON TELEPHONE NUMBERS CHANGED
INDEPENDENT LETTER: THE MEANING OF THINGYAN
INDEPENDENT LETTER: A POST CARD FROM LONDON.(ON THINGYAN)
INDEPENDENT REPORT: BURMESE WATER FESTIVAL  IN MELBOURNE
BYVA-JAPAN: A HAPPY BURMESE NEW YEAR
BURMANET: BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABSDF-MTZ: UNIVERSITY AVENUE SEALED
April 16, 1996
From: ABSDF-MTZ <lurie@mozart.inet.co.th>

Since the beginning of April, the NLD's party has prepared to
celebrate the new year water festival in front of Daw Aung Suu Kyi's
residence. Thingyan or the water festival is the biggest event in Burma.

Normally University Avenue where her residence is located is a
crowded road in every Thingyan festival as it connects from one
township to another in the area.

>From the very first day of Thingyan celebrations up until today
the University Avenue has been sealed from both ends by the SLORC
(State Law and Order Restoration Council). All vehicles and
people have been prohibited to pass through this road and have to
use the other ways instead.
 
Today is the first day of the new year in Burmese calendar and
Rangooners stop playing water but go to listen to monks recite
Dhamma to repel the evils and wrongs of the previous year. There
is also a custom of freeing fishes into lakes and rivers as a
part of merit making to welcome the new year.

A news has been spread in Rangoon that Aung San Suu Kyi has
called her NLD parliamentarians throughout the country to gather
in her residence to hold a meeting. It appears that the SLORC
intends to disrupt the meeting that may not even take place
because they clearly want her to confine in her home. Whether the
meeting is taking place or not it is a precaution from the part
of the SLORC to stop democratic messages reaching other parts of
the country. Recently, the stance of the SLORC towards democratic
movement has become more aggressive.

Voice of the Peacock
ABSDF(camp 88)

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

MICHIGAN DAILY: ANN ARBOR CITY COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION
TO BOYCOTT BURMESE COMMERCE
April 16, 1996
From: Ryan Dobson Friedrichs <ryandf@umich.edu>

At the urging of student members of the University's Amnesty
International Chapter, the Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution
last night that will terminate city transactions with any U.S. companies
conducting business in Burma.  Some city councilmembers also urged
Ann Arbor citizens to boycott companies that do business in Burma.

The southeastern nation of Burma hoped to end the unstable military
rule it has been under since the late '60s when it held U.S.-supported
free elections in 1990.  However, the elected officials were never allowed
to take office and Burma remains under an oppressive military dictatorship.
The current government had named the country Myanmar, but the United
States has not recognized the dictatorship and still refers to the nation as
Burma.

Before the vote, RC first-year student and Amnesty International
member Ryan Friedrichs told the council, "We need to let Burma's elected
leaders know that we care."

Councilmember Jean Carlberg (D-3rd Ward) proposed the resolution and
said this measure was consistent with Ann Arbor's often global perspective.
"This would not be Ann Arbor if we did not involve ourselves in the wider
world," she said.

Councilmember Elisabeth Daly (D-5th Ward) listed some of the major
companies currently doing business in Burma. Daly mentioned Pepsico--
which includes Taco Bell, KFC, Pepsi, Pizza Hut and Frito Lay -- Chase Bank,
Heineken and Texaco.

"I would urge all Ann Arbor citizens to consider boycotting their
goods," she said.

The resolution passed by a vote of 8-2 and was opposed by Councilmembers
 Jane Lumm and David Kwan (both R-2nd Ward) who felt foreign policy fell
outside of the council's jurisdiction.  "I think this issue is important,"
Kwan
said.  "But I don't think this is the province of the City Council."
Lumm said she liked to stick to her main focus, which was "very local."

Amnesty International members explained why they were addressing the
problems in Burma specifically.  "The real question is , 'Why Burma?'"
said LSA junior Jose Bartolomei, a group member.  "Burma is out there,
it's in the news -- it's a glaring violation."

Bartolomei said Burma was just one of the countries Amnesty
International was looking to aid.  He said the organization's goal was to
follow Harvard's lead and ban Pepsi from the University's campus.
Harvard decided not to honor a million dollar contract with Pepsi because
of Pepsico's dealings in Burma.  "We want to kick Pepsi off of campus,"
he said.  "If Berkeley and Cambridge can do it -- so can we."

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

INDEPENDENT REPORT: S.F. SEL. PURCHASING LEGISLATION PASSES
1ST READING
April 16, 1996
From: Citizens Trust <wach@igc.apc.org>

The Board of Supervisors of San Francisco voted unanimously for passing the
Burma selective purchasing legislation at the first reading on April 15.

The two (significant) hits of the legislation are UNOCAL (current contract
@ $98,000.00) and UPS (current contract @ $28,0000.00).

A divestment part for financial institutions can be added as an amendment
to the legislation later, if we want that.  I have already talked to the
Deputy City Attorney regarding this.

The second reading (proforma) is on April 22, at 2:00 pm, at 401 Van Ness
(between Grove & McAllister), Room 404.  After the second reading, the
legislation needs to be approved by the mayor within 10 days.

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

APPEAL: LETTERS TO OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
April 16, 1996

In preparation for the Tuesday, April 23 vote by the Oakland City Council
on a Burma divestment/selective purchasing bill, we need to have letters
of praise and endorsemente from national human rights organizations.

We have had a request from Lewis Cohen, staff director for Ignacio de
la Fuente, sponsor of the legislation, for letters of support to the Mayor and

City Council, to be sent as soon as possible by groups who endorse the
legislation, so they can be presented at the April 23rd meeting.

Letters should be directed to:
Mayor & City Council Members
#1 City Hall Plaza
Oakland, CA 94612

The fax is 510-238-6129. Sorry no e-mail there yet.

If you add a note and fax to the number above, they will make a copy
for the mayor and all city council members. The Mayor is Elihu M. Harris.

Conrad MacKerron
Progressive Asset Management
1814 Franklin Street, Suite 710, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 834 3722, (800) 786 2998
pam@igc.apc.org

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

BKK POST: BURMA BIDS TO STABILISE KYAT
April 16, 1996
Nussara Sawatsawang in Rangoon

STATE-CREATED FOREIGN exchange certificates are taking on
increased credibility and popularity as the Burmese government
tries to standardise the value of the kyat.

However, the government is still far from narrowing the gap
between the official and black market exchange rates.

Bankers and businessmen in Rangoon said the unofficial exchange
rate has been stable for the past few months between 122 and 124
kyats per US dollar compared with 100-200 kyats in the past. The
official rate is about 5.5 kyats.

The stable-rate followed the setting up last December of a
foreign exchange centre that freely issues exchange certificates.
The government allows its people to own the certificates each
equal to one dollar. At the same time, it is trying to bring all
currency into the controlled system, one businessman said.

The certificates, created in 1993, meet a demand from Burmese
nationals who are all prohibited from holding US dollars.

At the centre, 10 counters handle the sale and purchase of the
certificates in kyats. US dollars and possibly other hard
currency can be legally converted into the certificates. Many
money changers are also licensed to operate the service.
     
Bankers and businessmen say the centre was set up to eliminateS
the black market for currency exchange and to control money in
circulation. Therefore, a true commercial exchange rate in the
market can be achieved quickly.

Finance and Revenue Minister Brig-Gen Win Tin said the centre was
an important step toward a market-oriented economic system in
Burma's financial sector.

It is proving effective to some extent as shown by the stable
kyat. Although the rate climbed to 126 kyats/dollar during the
water festival last week, an observer suggested it would drop to
normal level within two weeks.
     
This contrasts with previous wide fluctuations, caused by the
peak and low tourism seasons, bidding for purchase of confiscated
trawlers, the flow of foreign aid, and the unusual closure of
borders with Thailand by the military government last year,
according to businessman in Rangoon.

The kyat used-to be strong at 103 kyats/dollar during the tourism
season, but weakened when large sums in dollars were required to
buy the trawlers, he said. When the borders were closed the rate
climbed to 200 kyats/dollar.

The exchange certificates have gained acceptance by goods
suppliers and purchasers. A local resident who runs a family
business said that whenever he got the certificates in the past
he used to sell them at once because local shops did not except
them. "But now I can buy a mobile phone worth $5,000 with them."
     
The certificates used to have limited use. They were created for
foreign visitors who were required to exchange $300 on arrival at
the airport. The certificates were accepted only by some service
sectors such as hotels and restaurants where foreigners were the
main customers.

A teller at the exchange centre said the certificates were so popular her
booth changed the equivalent of two million kyats a day.

However, the centre benefits only those who can afford to buy
goods at market prices. Most people, mainly civil servants, still suffer.

Civil servants earn their salary at the official rate, starting from about
1,300
kyats ($11) for a new graduate to a maximum of 2,500 kyats ($22) at
director-general level. A private secretary earns two or three times the top
rate.

Civil servants benefit from state subsidies to some extent, such
as free housing and cooking oil. But the cost of a mobile phone
equals 220 months' salary at their top pay rate.

Adjustments to bring the official rate into line with the black
market rate are essential if Rangoon wants to restore and
maintain macro-economic stability, according to the World Bank.

"Postponing that adjustment is likely only to delay the resumptions of
sustained growth of the Burmese economy and therefore, would impose
large economic costs in terms of foregone output," it said.
     
The bank said the overvaluation of the kyat had reduced the
country's revenue from imports in the form of customs duties and
commercial taxes, compared with the amount it would have received
if the exchange rate was realistic.

The overvaluation could also create more illegal economic
activities, limiting the authorities' ability to collect tax and duty.

A complex system of cross subsidies compounded the problem. The
prices of rice, electricity, petroleum products and fertiliser are officially
set.

Changes to the exchange rate would increase revenue by about 105
billion kyats, the bank said. Burmese policy makers knew this well but
were reluctant to take this step in case it worsened inflationary pressure.
     
Rangoon was also worried about external debt. Devaluation  would
obviously increase debt payments in terms of kyat and raise the
fiscal burden substantially to about 37.1 billion kyats (at 110 kyats/dollar).

Some groups would lose as a result of the depreciation. They include those
with access to cheap imports, such as many state enterprises, government
officials and military personnel, according to the bank.

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

DAWN: CHILDREN ARE A COUNTRY'S FUTURE.  WHAT ABOUT BURMA?
April 16, 1996
From: <caroline@ksc.net.th>
(DAWN is an ABSDF publication)

"Children are the country's future." "Today's children are tomorrow's adults"
and other such common sayings illustrate the importance of children to the
nation's future development. A nation's children grow up to become valuable
members of society who con

tribute to its development.
        International and national laws are intended to guarantee children
protection from exploitation and abuse and to safeguard their well being.
Many government policies and programs are promulgated to implement children's
rights recognized in the Un

ited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which states "Every child
has inherent rights, and nation-states shall ensure the maximum survival and
development of children."
        Tragically, however, the plight of Burmese children is everywhere
worsening. Children are the innocent victims of military's gross mismanagement
of the country military regime, often suffering more severely than adults. The
ruling military regime

is incapable of solving the political, economic and social problems they
themselves  have created.
Rampant human rights violations and the on-going civil war are contributing to
worsening conditions of children in Burma.
        Burma ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991.
This was seen as a positive sign, and improved Slorc's image for the world
community, but the actual treatment of children can be shown to be absolutely
contrary to the object and

purpose of the Convention, according to the report on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.  Interestingly, in
Burma,
children, minors, who protest against the Slorc face the same harsh treatment
as adults.
        In a report by UNICEF, the plight of Burmese children is directly
linked to the country's economic collapse:  "Due to inflation and declining
living standards, social problems such as early childbearing, marital
disruption, migration and urbanizat

ion are likely to worsen, contributing to a rise in child abandonment, labor,
homelessness, abuse and neglect."
        The desperate state of Burma's children was noted in a confidential
draft report by UNICEF officials in 1992. The opening appeal gave an alarming
warning of the scale of human rights abuses children in Burma face: "Many
children are orphaned, aban

doned, trafficked, exploited in the labor force, institutionalized or jailed.
Some are used in drug running, while others are targets of ethnic
discrimination. In the civil war, children have become victims or participants
in armed conflicts, at times use

d as porters, human shields or human minesweepers. Although we do not know
exactly how many children suffer these conditions, our knowledge has increased
recently from new reports."
        Children under 14 represent an estimated 36 per cent of Burma's
population. The infant mortality rate in Burma is 94 per 1,000 live birth, the
fourth highest among the nations of the East Asia and Pacific region. The
mortality rate for those under

 the age of five is the fourth highest in the region, 147 per 1,000. And the
maternal mortality rate is the third highest in the region at the official
rate of 123 per 100,000 lives births. (United Nations agencies surmise that
the actual maternal mortali

ty rate is in fact higher, 140 or more per 100,000)
        The reasons for these high mortality rates are malnutrition, lack of
access to safe water and sanitation, lack of access to health services and
lack of caring capacity, which includes programs for childhood development,
primary education and healt

h education. In a country once known as the "rice basket of Asia", ten per
cent of children under three suffer from severe malnutrition, according to
UNICEF's draft report in 1992.
        Obviously, there is a great need in Burma for greater investment in
health and education.  Yet government expenditure in both sectors, as
proportions of the budget, has been falling steadily.  Education accounted for
5.9 per cent of the budget in

1992-93, 5.2 percent in 1993-94 and only 5 percent in 1994-95.  Similarly
government spending on health care has dropped from 2.6 per cent in 1992-93 to
1.8 per cent
in 1993-94 and down to 1.6 per cent in 1994- 95.
        The plight of Burma's children, as clear from these statistics, is
symptomatic of the general deprivation and exploitation of children taking
place throughout Burma today.  There is little welfare support, even for those
who have lost parents in t

he armed conflicts.  Less than 20 per cent of school children complete more
than four grades of primary school, and across the country many children enjoy
no childhood at all; they are simply put to work. UNICEF deduces that as many
as four million out of

 a total of 11.8 millions six to
15 year-olds may be working today.
        The over four - decades long civil war between the ruling regime and
armed ethnic groups is another burden worsening conditions for many Burmese
children.  The military routinely violates human rights, including torture and
summary execution, in t

he context of its counter-insurgency activities against various ethnic
minority groups, which have been struggling for greater autonomy since 1949.
The ethnic people suffer greatly as a result of human rights abuses committed
during Tamadaw operations, e

specially
during the forced relocation of villages, enforced portering and the seizure
of land and property.
        Women and children are the most vulnerable victims of human rights
violations by the military in the war zone. These is clear evidence that the
majority of the refugees from Burma who have fled to Thailand to seek asylum
are women and their childr

en. The global situation of children is reflected in Burma: most of the
casualties of war are women and their children; most of the refugees and
displaced persons are women
and their children;  most of the poor are women and their children in Burma.
        Once children from Burma reach refugee camps along the border,
although they may be more secure, they find their lives in these primitive
camps harsh with severe restrictions on movement, trade and access to land.
Living almost in isolation, depri

ved of proper education, without a homeland, the childrn's lives are without a
future.
        Naw Phaw Mu, now 12-year-old, came with her family from Papun district
and reached Shoklo Refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border when she was only
6-years old. "I can't recall what my native village looked like. I just
remember that there were so

me paddy fields outside my village and a church where my father always took me
every Sunday. The other thing I can recall is the day the soldiers came and
beat some villagers in front of all the others."  She does not remember the
reason for the beating.  Her
voice quavered.  "The soldier beat the villagers again and again.  The
villagers were so bloody. I was afraid and wanted to cry loud but my mother
told me not make a noise.  Otherwise, they soldiers would beat me too."
        "I feel this is my home." she continued.  "I have been living here for
long time. I know many people and have many friends. But I don't know when I
can go back to my real home in Burma. I don't know what will be tomorrow. My
parents told me we may

 have to move somewhere else sometime soon because of yellow band gang
(DKBA)."
        Inside Burma all members of the population are liable to seizure by
the army for forced portering and forced duties. There was a time when women
and children might have been spared, but in the past few yeas there is
increasing evidence of children

 being taken in the forced labor projects across the country. As the Slorc has
opened up the economy to international investments, it has forced civilians to
rebuild the country's infrastructure which has been badly neglected by the
previous government.
        Hundreds of thousands of local people have been forced to work without
pay constructing roads, railways and bridges across the country; forced
laborers include children as young as 12 year-olds.   Publicly Slorc has
claimed that no children under

16 work in the labor projects but child forced labor is common and well
-documented.  In Mon State and Tenassarim Division where forced labor is
widely practiced, every person between 16- 60 from every household are ordered
to work for two week each
month.  When the adults cannot fulfill this quota, they are required to find
and hire their own laborers at prices ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 kyats per
person or to pay to the authorities the same price for the cost of hiring
their substitute laborers. T

he able- bodied men are mostly the breadwinner of their own families and are
under great pressure to provide for their families because of the ever -
escalating cost of living and widespread unemployment in the country.
        Understandable, the family breadwinner cannot afford to spend much of
time working on forced labor projects without payment. This means that many
children in the rural areas must to go and work in place of their parents so
their parents can devote

 their time to the family's livelihood.
        Due to the economic hardships and human rights abuses back home, many
youth and children with their family migrate to neighboring countries,
especially to Thailand, with the dream of a better life.  Political and
economic difficulties in their hom

eland are the significant factors that forced these children to seek refuge in
Thailand. The political upheavals in Burma is the "big push" that has driven
many Burmese and Karen children out of their own country- sometimes literally
at bayonet point.  In

 general, children migrate
to big cities in Thailand with their families or alone. Often they must beg or
drift on the street in order to gain a living and will consider any work that
enables them to survive. While their parents are illegally working odd jobs in
Thailand, some chil

dren also have to find jobs or end up as street children. Without language
skill and because of their parents' illegal status, many Burmese children are
found in the streets of Bangkok and other cities in Thailand begging money
from pedestrians.
        According to a Thai NGO working with street children, the majority
come from Laos, with most of the rest from Cambodia and Burma.  Less
frequently children from Bangladesh and Pakistan are spotted begging in
Bangkok.  For these street urchins, chi

ld prostitution is a common fate.
        Many Burmese and Karen children are working in places such as
construction sites, gas stations, restaurants and fishing boats in the
provinces along the border such as Tak and Ranong.
        The life awaiting immigrant child laborers in Thailand is extremely
harsh. Most children don't dare to escape because they entered Thailand
illegally and don't know who they can ask for help. Employers prefer children
as they are cheap, productive

 and obedient. Children working in the industrial sector have no contract of
employment and so find it difficult to stand up for themselves and fight for
their rights. The demand by Thai factories for child laborers is increasing
all the time.
        When these "illegal alien" children are arrested in Thailand, they are
held at the Immigration Detention Center until their cases are processed and
they can be sent home. Often this takes from six months to one year. There
have also been many comp

laints from NGOs working for children's welfare that the children at the
Immigration Detention Center are treated badly.  Children are confined under
appalling conditions,
crammed together with adult detainees into small, dark, stuffy rooms.
        In Burma, children regardless of their race, religion and color are
exploited and abused, unprotected by the government.  Further, Slorc, the
ruling military junta, is itself an abuser and exploiter of Burma's children.
Children are crying while

Slorc is enjoying the profits from foreign investment. Children are dying
while Slorc is building hotels and developing other tourist sites. Children
are starving while Slorc is proudly claiming that the Burmese economy is
booming.  The life and future of

 Burmese children cannot be bright until Slorc relinquishes power and a
democratic government attends to the needs of Burma's future, her own
neglected children.

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: RANGOON TELEPHONE NUMBERS HAVE
BEEN CHANGED.
April 15, 1996
From: Nwe Ni Tun <073333@bud.cc.swin.edu.au>

Yangon City telephone numbering changing to six digits.
*******************************************************
                (16th April 1996)

Existing 5 digits Tel. Nos      New 6 digits Tel. Nos
--------------------------      ---------------------
        01-20xxx                        01-220xxx
        01-21xxx                        01-221xxx
        01-22xxx                        01-222xxx
        01-23xxx                        01-223xxx
        01-24xxx                        01-224xxx
        01-25xxx                        01-225xxx
        01-26xxx                        01-226xxx
        01-27xxx                        01-227xxx
        01-28xxx                        01-228xxx

        01-30xxx                        01-530xxx
        01-31xxx                        01-551xxx
        01-32xxx                        01-532xxx
        01-33xxx                        01-533xxx
        01-34xxx                        01-524xxx
        01-35xxx                        01-525xxx
        01-36xxx                        01-526xxx
        01-37xxx                        01-527xxx
        01-38xxx                        01-548xxx
        01-39xxx                        01-549xxx
        
        01-43xxx                        01-543xxx
        01-40xxx                        01-640xxx
        01-41xxx                        01-641xxx
        01-45xxx                        01-635xxx
        01-46xxx                        01-636xxx
        01-47xxx                        01-600xxx
        01-48xxx                        01-620xxx
        01-49xxx                        01-625xxx

        01-50xxx                        01-550xxx
        01-51xxx                        01-551xxx
        01-52xxx                        01-552xxx
        01-53xxx                        01-553xxx
        01-54xxx                        01-584xxx
        01-55xxx                        01-565xxx
        01-56xxx                        01-566xxx
        01-52xxx                        01-572xxx
        01-57xxx                        01-577xxx
        01-58xxx                        01-578xxx
        01-59xxx                        01-579xxx

        01-60xxx                        01-660xxx
        01-61xxx                        01-661xxx
        01-62xxx                        01-662xxx
        01-63xxx                        01-663xxx
        01-64xxx                        01-664xxx
        01-65xxx                        01-665xxx
        01-66xxx                        01-666xxx
        01-67xxx                        01-667xxx
        01-69xxx                        01-699xxx
        
        01-71xxx                        01-271xxx
        01-72xxx                        01-272xxx
        01-73xxx                        01-273xxx
        01-74xxx                        01-274xxx
        01-75xxx                        01-275xxx
        01-76xxx                        01-276xxx
        01-77xxx                        01-277xxx
        01-78xxx                        01-278xxx
        
        01-80xxx                        01-280xxx
        01-81xxx                        01-281xxx
        01-82xxx                        01-282xxx
        01-83xxx                        01-283xxx
        01-84xxx                        01-284xxx
        01-85xxx                        01-285xxx
        01-86xxx                        01-286xxx
        01-87xxx                        01-287xxx
        01-89xxx                        01-289xxx
        
        01-90xxx                        01-290xxx
        01-91xxx                        01-291xxx
        01-92xxx                        01-292xxx
        01-93xxx                        01-293xxx
        01-94xxx                        01-294xxx
        01-95xxx                        01-295xxx
        01-96xxx                        01-296xxx
        01-97xxx                        01-297xxx
        01-98xxx                        01-298xxx

        01-29xxx                        01-241xxx
        01-44xxx                        01-244xxx
        01-70xxx                        01-240xxx
        01-79xxx                        01-247xxx
        01-88xxx                        01-248xxx
        01-99xxx                        01-249xxx

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

INDEPENDENT LETTER: THE MEANING OF THINGYAN
April 16, 1996
From: zni@students.wisc.edu

By Zarni

According to the Burmese lunar calendar, today, April 16, marks the Burmese
New Year.  In our country, the welcoming ritual of New Year is known as
"Thingyan Pwe-daw"  The word "Thingyan" derives from the original Sanskrit
word "Thin-kan-da" meaning "change" "transformation."  The Burmese word
"Pwe-daw" means grand celebration or festival. Thingyan Pwe-daw is THE most
loved and joyous festival of all the seasonal rituals we perform in Burma
annually. Even for the most unsentimental among us, the expatriates, the
thought of Thingyan Pwe-daw brings back the good old memories of
celebrating with our loved ones this most favorite cultural ritual of all
time.

Virtually people of all ages and all racial and ethnic groups participate
in the Thingyan Pwe-daw.  For three consecutive days which usually fall
around mid-April of every year, we celebrate the Burmese New Year by
pouring water onto one another from dawn to dusk.  Water is meant to
symbolize the act of cleansing the wrongs one may have committed in the
past year.  At night, dance troupes, street theatres, and musical bands
would perform in every community, big or small.

During the Thingyan Pwe-daw, cultural regulations are relaxed considerably.
Social and political crticism directed at the powers that be are more or
less tolerated.  People perform such meritorious deeds as helping repair or
clean the homes of the elderly, setting free farm animals (i.e., cows) that
have helped farmers to produce rice and other crops over long years,
repairing the old and bumpy roads in one's community, and going to
monasteries in order to hear Buddhist sermons. From materially poor rural
communities to the urban areas, the spirit of Thinggyan is thus honored.

It is the time even the old rivals and enemies would exchange warm
greetings and reflect on their past mistakes. Indeed, Thingyan Karla (i.e.,
New Year Period) is a time for renewal, reconciliation, and self- and
societal-transformation with individuals and communities exploring ways to
conduct the worldly and spiritual matters in more constructive ways.

On this auspicious occasion, we, the politically-active expatriates from
Burma, would like to express our heart-felt thanks to you, the
justice-minded individuals of the world, who have joined hands with us in
our attempts to help free Burma.  All of us feel certain that the people of
Burma would join us in thanking you all for the tremendous efforts you have
put in the past year to help our people free themselves from the yoke of
tyranny.

As we would say in Burma,  May you all be free from abuses inflicted by
five principal evils:  flood, fire, rulers, thieves, and robbers.

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

INDEPENDENT LETTER: A POST CARD FROM LONDON.(ON THINGYAN)
April 15, 1996
from Oung Myint Tun (omtun@gn.apc.org)

 By Oung Myint Tun

A few hundred Burmese democracy lovers, along
with several supporters from the international community,
gathered to bid farewell to the old year and welcome
in the BURMESE NEW YEAR last Sunday in London
at a joyous and inspiring ceremony sponsored by
U Uttara, a Burmese Buddhist monk, who escaped to
Thailand (in 1989) and then to London (in 1992),
from Taungyi (Shan State) where he had been pursued
by the military for his leading part in the 1988 nationwide
democracy movement in the Shan State, as the Secretary of
the Young Buddhist Monks Association ( Rahan-pyo Ah Phwe ).

IN 1993, he set up a Buddhist monastry in London. Ever since,
his monastry has become a focal point not just for practicing
Buddhism but also for campaigning for the restoration of
democracy in Burma.

The Thingyan celebration took place in  a huge hall rented by
U Uttara, and was an elegant blend of religious rites and cultural
sights being reinforced with culinary bites.

The ceremony began with Buddhist precepts followed by the
offering of a wide variety of tasty dishes and delicacies which
were brought to the event by Burmese residents in the U.K.
 ( who formed the majority in the crowd ), and by friends
and supporters of the Burmese cause, who are British, Chinese,
Nepalese, Sri Lankan and Bengali. After providing appetising
food for the spirit and the tummies, delightful food for the
eyes and ears of the crowd was provided by young Burmese
performing Burmese dances and songs.

The occasion also provided delicious food to satisfy the exquisite
political taste of the Burmese and British democracy campaigners
in the U.K., by giving them the opportunity to do briefings and
de-briefings and to strategise for future democracy campaigns
in the U.K.

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

INDEPENDENT REPORT: BURMESE WATER FESTIVAL HELD IN
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
April 15, 1996
From: Nwe Ni Tun <073333@bud.cc.swin.edu.au>

Burmese Water Festival (ThinGyan) held in Melbourne on 14th April 1996
by Burmese students who arrived in Australia after 1988 pro-democracy
movement in Burma. The participants including students were very
pleased to have traditional Burmese foods such as "MoteHinGar" and
"MoteLone RayPaw". The students donated the traditional Burmese foods
to Burmese and Australian monks at the monestry in Melbourne.

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

BYVA-JAPAN: A HAPPY BURMESE NEW YEAR
April 16, 1996
From: tinkyi@iac.co.jp

Dear Burmanet readers
        We wish all of the Burmese and friends of Burmese around the World,
Merry Thingyan and Happy Burmese New Year.
        On the 14th of April, Burma Youth Volunteer Association-Japan, hosted
the fifth Burmese Water Festival( Thingyan ) at Tokyo, Japan. About 6,000
Burmese and Japanese, American friends of Burmese communities attend the
festival. 25 Burmese eatable food shops and Burmese traditional dance,
Japanese
traditional dance have been performed.

Burma Youth Volunteer Association-Japan.

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

BURMANET: BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
April 16, 1996
(compiled from information provided by M.Beer and various other sources)

BURMA RAISES TREASURY BOND INTEREST RATE

Burma's central bank has raised interest rates on its treasury bonds with
effect from April 1, the bank said in a notice published in state-run
newspapers.
The bank said annual interest on three-year treasury bonds had risen to 13.5
percent from 10 percent while that on five-year bonds would rise to 14 percent
from 10.5 percent.

   The Central Bank of Myanmar began issuing the bonds in December 1993 and
had
issued 221.5 million kyat worth by the end of September last year, according
to
official statistics.

(Comment by MBeer: This is BIG news.  This is a huge increase which is strong
evidence that inflation is accelerating because the government cannot find
anyone
to lend  the money to at 10 percent.  This will also wallop the budget of the
government in 3 years.  This is further evidence of weak economic fundamentals

that continue to plague the regime)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAEWOO ELECTRONICS TO SET UP A PLANT IN MYANMAR

Daewoo Electronics will set up a general electronics plant in South Dagon,
near Rangoon, with an investment of 20 million, the company announced.
The plant will initially turn out 200,000 color TVs, 200,000 VCRs,70,000
refrigerators, and an unspecified number of parts and components yearly
starting next year. In a related move, the company plans to transfer color TV
and VCR lines currently operating in Rangoon to South Dagon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AIRPORT LIMO SERVICE LAUNCHED

MYANMAR Airport Limousine Service was launched at Yangon
International Airport late last month. The service was jointly undertaken
by the Department of Civil Aviation and Advance Communication Ltd
of Thailand.  Civil Aviation Department deputy director-general Maung
Maung Zan is the chairman of the company's board of directors. The
transport service will be extended to Mandalay and Bagan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES BANK OPENS

THE Burmese government opened the Government Employees Bank
earlier this month to assist civil servants and pensioners. The
bank will provide loans at five percent interest to state
employees and retired persons They will be eligible for loans
equal to 10 times their monthly income. Branches of the Myanmar
Economic Bank in various districts will serve as offices of the new bank.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BURMA IMPORTS CHINESE TRUCKS

Burma recently purchased 1,525 Jiefang trucks from the First Automotive
Works (FAW) in Jilin Province, China Xinhua reported. Burma imported 500
motor vehicles from FAW in 1990 and will buy a further 1,800 motor vehicles
this year along with 200 nine-ton dump trucks. To date, Burma has purchased
more than 4,000 FAW-made cars and trucks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHINESE MOTORCYCLES INTRODUCED IN BURMA

China's Shandong Qingqi Motorcycle Group General Corporation has begun
introducing its motorcycles of qingqi and mulan brands in Burma. A state-owned

enterprise, the Qingqi Corporation recently opened its newly-formed branch
company and showroom in Rangoon. The opening ceremony was attended by
Minister for Second Industry Major General Kyaw Than and Minister for
Information Major General Aye Kyaw, visiting Vice Governor of China's
Shandong Province Du Shicheng, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mrs.
Chen Baoliu and Chinese Economic and Commercial Counselor Lin Jian.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHINESE PROVINCE SEEKING COOPERATION WITH BURMA

China's Shandong Province will seek economic cooperation with Burma with
two delegations from the province making visits.  An eight-member Chinese
delegation led by vice governor of China's Shandong Province Du Shicheng
recently made a six-day visit to Burma.  Another 30-member Chinese economic
delegation from Shandong province arrived on April 8th.  The Chinese guests
held discussions with Burmese officials on trade and economic cooperation.
