------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: March 19, 1996
Issue #365


HEADLINES:
==========
BKK POST: HUNDREDS TOLD GIVE BANHARN BIG WELCOME
BKK POST: KHUN SA BECOMES FUGITIVE FROM MTA
BKK POST : RANGOON ORDERS ITS RENEGADE ALLIES TO QUIT BORDER
NATION: PM SUPPORTS MANDALAY AIRPORT
THE NATION: POLICEMEN ACCUSED IN MURDER CASE
NATION: LETTER - FAILED POLICES
NATION: LETTER - TRADE BAN
NATION: LETTER - BURMESE BURDEN
NATION: LETTER - CHURCH RAID
BKK POST: CASHING IN ON KHUN SA'S FAME
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BKK POST: HUNDREDS TOLD GIVE BANHARN BIG WELCOME
March 18, 1996, Rangoon  (abridged)

HUNDREDS of Burmese were brought to welcome Prime Minister
Banharn Silpa-archa at the start of his official visit to Rangoon yesterday.

They included children, teachers, Red Cross officials from
Mingaladon township, some of them members of the junta's
Union Solidarity and Development Association.

They had to wait at Mingaladon airport and along the road to
the state guest-house for almost two hours for the opportunity to
shout "good health" at the little-known Mr Banharn.

One girl in the parade said she had no idea about him, but
said: "I'm glad to be here because I can meet my friends
during this summer holiday."

Another local resident said he saw Mr Banharn on a BBC
broadcast at the Asia-Europe Meeting early this month in Bangkok.

Another said Mr Banharn was not as well known as Gen
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, his deputy.

A local reporter said he thought of Deng Xiaoping, the
Chinese leader, when his eyes fell on Mr Banharn.

Relations with Burma have been strained in recent years, and one
local wondered what Mr Banharn would discuss during his visit.

At present, Thai investments rank fourth in Burma with $288
million, following the UK with $642 million, Singapore $584
million according to the Thai Office of Commercial Affairs
in Rangoon. (BP)

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

BKK POST: KHUN SA BECOMES FUGITIVE FROM MTA
March 18, 1996
Mae Sai

DRUG kingpin Khun Sa is hiding on an island from an
assassination threat by his former soldiers, a source said yesterday.

Rangoon troops are protecting Khun Sa on Koko island, south
of the Burmese capital, from members of his former Mong Tai
Army who felt betrayed when he capitulated to the Slorc.

In January, the heroin magnate announced the end of his
struggle for an independent Shan State and surrendered with
10,000 MTA soldiers and weapons to the junta.

He left his Ho Mong headquarters for Rangoon early this
month, reportedly to launch businesses, but became uncertain
about his safety, said the source.

More than 20,000 former MTA soldiers have formed four groups
and taken positions north of Ho Mong, two of them declaring
the war is still on.

The 9,000 strong Shan State National Army, led by Maj Karn
Yod, is near Lashio, and the 800-1,000 strong Eastern Shan
State People's Army, under Sai Loen Kham, an adopted son of
Khun Sa, is near the Mekong near Muang Yon.

The two other groups have yet to declare their intentions.

The first, comprising 2,000 soldiers, is led by Maj Yod Suk
and the other, with 10,000 troops, is under Sai Leun, a
former Burmese Communist Party member.

Yod Suk's group was likely to join the SSNA, the source said.

Although these groups had not been able to combine as one,
they were not in conflict.

"Political and drug problems will continue in Burma and Shan
State in particular," he said. (BP)

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

BKK POST : RANGOON ORDERS ITS RENEGADE ALLIES TO QUIT BORDER
March 18,1996
Suthep Chawiwan

RANGOON has ordered 300 renegade Karen to withdraw from the
border to their Kawtor base, 150km east of the capital, a
source said yesterday.

The order was given to U Thuzana, the monk who leads the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, at Myaingyi Ngu monastery,
opposite Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son.

A reason for the move was not immediately clear but renegade
incursions in which they killed, kidnapped or robbed
refugees and Thais had increased tension between Thailand
and the State Law and Order Restoration Council.

A Karen monk from Mae Sot who met U Thuzana to end the
schism was told the Karen National Union should convert to
Buddhism and its leaders should enter the monkhood.

U Thuzana's stance was rejected by Christian Karen leaders.

The DKBA was formed in late 1994 by a small rank and file
group from the Karen National Liberation Army who said they
had suffered discrimination at the hand of their Christian leaders.

The KNLA, the military wind of the KNU, said the renegades
were operating on Slorc's orders a claim the junta denies.

The renegades have intimidated Karen refugees in Thai camps,
burned the camps, abducted Karen leaders and killed 36 Karen leaders.

They also entered deep into Thailand and killed some police
officers and a monk this year.

Reports from inside Burma suggest the renegades have started
attacking Christian groups, particularly the Seventh Day
Adventist Church.

An adventist school in Ohn Kaw village, in Kamamaung sub-
township, lost some of its land to the renegades and a
pagoda was built on the site.

The renegades also ordered Christian families to build pa-
yar-zin, a Buddhist place of worship, in their houses.

Families that failed to obey were persecuted and told their
houses would be destroyed, the source said. (BP)

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

NATION: PM SUPPORTS MANDALAY AIRPORT
March 18, 1996
Piyanart Srivalo - The Nation, Agencies  (abridged)

RANGOON - Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-archa yesterday
threw his support behind a high-profile Thai construction
company's bid to build a new international airport in Burma.

In an apparent about-face Banharn indicated he would support
Italian-Thai Development Plc's application for a US$ 150
million (Bt 3.75 billion) loan from the Export-Import (Exim)
Bank to finance the development, in Mandalay.

"It's government should help the private sector whenever
necessary because competition would become increasingly
intense in the future.

His comments contradict his initial reaction to the loan
application during a Cabinet meeting last month. According
to an informed source, Banharn was concerned about the
finance risks.

Banharn said yesterday he was satisfied Burma would be able
to pay for the airport. There was growing investment in
Mandalay, he said.

Italian-Thai president Chaiyuth Kanasuth said that he hoped
the Cabinet would approve the project soon.

"If [I wasn't confident about] the situation in Burma, I
wouldn't have made an investment of more than Bt300 million
there," he said.

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

THE NATION: POLICEMEN ACCUSED IN MURDER CASE
March 18,1995  (slightly abridged)

POLICE chief Pochana Boonyachinda has promised severe action
against four Border Patrol policemen arrested and accused of
robbing and killing a Burmese merchant in Ranong, an incident that
officials fear could spoil the prime minister's current visit to Burma.

Police Department deputy spokesman Pairat Phongcharoen said
yesterday that Pol Gen Pochana had ordered an inquiry into
allegations that the four policemen stole more than Bt1
million from Myu Beng, and killed him on March 15.

They were arrested on Saturday and have been suspended from
duty pending the result of the investigation.

The police Chief had instructed the panel to speed up
inquiries as the incident had hurt the image of the Police
Department, Pairat said.

The immediate superiors of the arrested sergeants will also
be investigated on suspicion of having neglected to monitor
the suspects' behaviour' Pairat added.

Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-archa said that the murder had
not hampered government- level contacts.

Even so, he asked Thai people to think of the country first.
"Don't do this sort of thing, because we are now trying to
bolster relations," he said.

Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Aree Wongsearaya, who
accompanied Banharn to Burma, said although the killing had
nothing to do with the prime minister's trip it had
embarrassed the Thai delegation.

"I will speed up the investigation when I return to
Thailand," he said.

Meanwhile, Banharn said he would press for clemency for some
100 Thai prisoners in Burmese jails, to mark His Majesty the
King's 50th year on the throne. (TN)

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

NATION: LETTER - FAILED POLICES
March 17, 1996

The Slorc is now facing what development economists call the low
level equilibrium trap". To escape from this trap, you
need to turn to the IMF, World Bank and the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) for funding.

This is a Catch 22 situation for the Slorc. You cannot get
World Bank funding unless your country's economic plans are
approved by the IMF. And the IMF won't approve any assistance to
Burma until the over valued kyat is devalued. However,the Slorc
might not survive the devaluation.

The Slorc will have difficulty securing World Bank or IMF
assistance since Washington by law is required to vote against
loans to governments that collaborate with drug traffickers.
The US holds 21 per cent of the votes at the World Bank and 18
per cent at the IMF. If those votes are not enough to deny aid
to the Slorc, we will lobby Congress to withhold their
contributions to the World Bank, IMF and ADB if they resume
lending to the Slorc. In very blunt terms, the Burmese resistance
is willing, able and ready to play hardball with these
international lending institutions.

The Slorc is foolishly talking about an economic takeoff. But
economic statistics indicate that they have crashed instead.

The Slorc projected rice exports of 1.5 million tones last year.
They reduced the amount to 1.2 million tones and then to 700,000
tones. However, the actual amount might be lower.

"Visit Myanmar 1996" predicted 500,000 tourists. They have now
reduced the projection to 200,000 tourists. The actual number
will be lower.

Burma simply does not have the infrastructure to support these
ambitious economic development goals. The Slorc's failed economic
policies have resulted in the price of rice increasing 500 per
cent since 1991. The consumer price index has increase

850 per cent since 1986. Inflation will seriously threaten the
survival of the Slorc regime in 1996.
 
The Burmese resistance remains confident that it will win its
difficult struggle for freedom and democracy.

Mint Theine
Texas

*****************************************************************
NATION: LETTER - TRADE BAN
March 17, 1996

Since 1988, we have been striving for democracy and human rights
to be restored in Burma.

Our student leader Ko Min Ko Naing and other political detainees
from opposition parties are still detained even though the Slorc
has promised democracy. The economy is in the red and the
constructive engagement policy of Asean towards Burma has not
helped us at all. The designation of 1996 as -Visit Myanmar Year"
will not improve the lot of the people and will only benefit the
military, who continue k violate our human rights.

Since the Slorc is not a legitimate government, foreigner should
stop investing in the country as this only prolongs the rule of
the military. Trade sanction must be imposed until the human
rights situation improves.

Toe Toe
Bangkok

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

NATION: LETTER - BURMESE BURDEN
March 18, 1996

Tun Shin, legal advisor to the d Myanmar Investment Committee
states that our legal system is solid and stable.

It wasn't born yesterday [Asiaweek, Jan 5]". But when Peregrine
Investments filed a US$20 million (Bt500 million) lawsuit against
the chairman of its Burmese subsidiary, Miriam Marshall Segal,
the firm avoided the legal system in Burma and filed the lawsuit
in the US district court in New York.

As evidence, Peregrine submitted 12 memos. Teressa Dukes, Segal's
personal assistant, signed an affidavit in the presence of her
persona1 attorney, -that Segal wrote those memos.

All these documents were filed at the New York court.

The memo of June 21 states, I am recognized throughout the world
as being the strongest and most influential person with the
government of Myanmar. I influence the Burmese government and the
dependency grows stronger daily. It's the colonial version of the
'white man's burden'.

In this case it is a 'white woman's burden'."

A memo from June 12 states: People in ministries are actually
helping the opposition (We can confirm that). It also states,
"Watch out for espats or ex-Burmese.

They are planted to organize local Burmese with money and
strategy while they remain in the background and act as business
people." (We can also confirm this.)

The solar eclipse of Oct 24, 1995 portended major changes in
government and the death of several generals in Burma. In January
the left and right hand men of Gen Ne Win died. Gen San Yu who
served as president until 1988 had been ill since 1982 and his
death was not unexpected. The death of Gen Kyaw Htin, defence
minister in 1988, and who was rumoured to be Slorc's choice for
president of Myanmar, was a surprise and shocked Slorc. Gen Kyaw
Htin died within a few days of his illness.

Gen Kyaw Htin was able to keep the different military factions
from fighting one another. His death has prompted Gen Ne Win
to come out of semi-retirement.

The Burmese resistance is confident that in the near future the
flag of freedom will fly again in Burma.

Myint Thein

*****************************************************************
NATION: LETTER - CHURCH RAID
March 18, 1996

On March 10, as we gathered to conduct a special prayer service
on Sukhumvit Soi 2, police rudely checked the identification
papers of the people there knowing that some of the worshippers
were Burmese.

This is not the first time, and certainly not the last, that we
have been harassed.

We are not questioning the Thai government's policy, but we are
humbly reminding them that the church is a place for worship.
Even people who are being persecuted have a right to pray.
Harassing people while they a in church does not improve the
reputation of the Thai police. Although there is freedom of
religion in
Thailand, our church has been raided several times, especially on
Sundays. In some instances, people were dragged off to detention
centres. However, we are thankful that the Thai police did not
confiscate the holy artifacts from the sanctuary, as their
Burmese counterparts often do.

Saw Eddie Sein
Bangkok

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

BKK POST: CASHING IN ON KHUN SA'S FAME
March 17, 1996

A village in northern Thailand is looking to cash in on former
opium warlord Khun Sa's recent surrender to Burmese troops. SUBIN
KHIJENKAEW and THAKSINA KHAYKAEW brave mountainous terrain to
investigate Ban Hin Taek's tourism push.

An awkward sight lays in the middle of a small creek. Split into
two pieces in the middle, a_shapeless boulder grounded at the
bottom sluggishly welcomes visitors to Ban Hin Taek {Broken Rock
Village).

Sandwiched between breath taking Doi Mae Salong mountains of Mae
Chan district and Mae Sai-Tachilek checkpoint in Chiang Rai, Ban
Hin Taek has housed Burmese and Chinese migrants, mostly minority
groups, for decades.

Phra That Ka Kham temple stands forlornly on this placid mountain
top amidst a mixture of ethnic groups. An atmosphere of wanting
to succeed runs high among these people, while ethnic
discrimination has become past practice.

Once the temporary home of former opium warlord Khun Sa and his
armed cronies, the village embodies past reminders of this
notorious man's life.

Chiang Rai is gearing up to promote the Ban Hin Taek, presently
called Ban Therd Thai village, to become the latest provincial
tourist destination.

This was planned with the intention of creating jobs and extra
income for locals. The house of the former drug kingpin is to be
the major selling point.

A well-maintained, one-storey wooden house with a number of rooms
and a garden is all that is left of Khun Sa's abandoned house,
which is now under construction, and soon to become a museum. It
will house contents of Khun Sa's life and struggle for the
independence of Shan State.

Adorning the walls of a corner room are a number of pictures and
clippings about the drug kingpin from newspapers and foreign
magazines. On the other end hangs a striking black and white
photograph of a handsome Khun Sa with friends during his playboy
years in Mandalay.

"Khun Sa came to live at Ban Hin Taek in late 1964, when he was
around 30 and left a year later. In 1976, he came back again with
his wife and children," recalls  Duangdee Khemmawongse, Ban Hin
Taek's village headman, better known as Kamnan (chief of
sub-district) Daeng.

Looking relaxed and amiable, the man in his late fifties looks
friendly and relaxed at his home office where waddling geese and
ganders seem to patrol the front yard.

Sipping his hot tea, he shows great interest in talking with
journalists while his wife pours tea into empty cups.

Recalling past experiences, Kamnan Daeng suddenly says: "I
remember him as a self-confident man with broad shoulders, having
all the characteristics of a group leader. His powerful voice
kept things under control."

Nevertheless, he denied accusations that he himself was one of I
KhunSa'smen anxiously explaining that he only knew him as an
immigrant from Nawng-sae or Talifu, an ancient Shan City in
China.

"I do not know about his private life. We knew each other as good
neighbours. I think he is a good man who never hurt anyone.
Outsiders have painted him out to a drug warlord," he said.

His view is shared by an elderly Ban Hin Taek woman.

Slouching in her rocking chair, a wrinkled-faced Thai Yai woman
spoke of alleged looting that occurred after Khun Sa's unexpected
surrender to Burmese authorities.

"After Khun Sa gave up his weapons in Ho Mong, groups of Burmese
soldiers came into villagers' homes. Money, valuable property and
rice were looted from locals," said Mrs Kam Jaimook, recounting
stories from her relatives in Ho Mong, the former army base of Khun Sa.

"Men were coerced into doing hard labour, while attractive girls
were used as objects of pleasure," added Mrs Kam, who moved from
Burma to live at Ban Hin Taek over a decade ago.

She further claimed her friends knew who the intruders were from
their attire and looks. Now, her friends live in fear and are
planning to move to Ban Hin Taek

"I would be happy to have them as my new neighbors, but it sad to
hear what happened. If Khun Sa was still master, nobody would
dare to do this to his people on his land," she said.

Previously, the trade route between Ban Hin Taek and Ho Mong was
familiar to Mrs Kam, who was once a trader

"What happens to them (Ho Mong residents) now will be a result of
Khun Sa's surrender. It has enormously affected the Shan people
both physically and psychologically," she said.

Presently, Ban Hin Taek houses over 3,000 immigrants from the
Thai-Burmese border with ethnic groups such as the Lisu, Hmong
Akha, Karen, Tai Yai, and Chinese. Living standards here are the
same as in other northern hill villages.

There is a bustling morning market and roadside shops carrying a
wide variety of Thai goods, once used as a warehouse for Khun
Sa's cache of weapons.

Much improvement is being made in and around the village,
especially on roads, water, and electricity. A hospital, worth
over 15 million baht, is being constructed on one of the small hills.

And there is a public school which provides students with primary
and junior high school education.

Residents here cannot obtain Thai nationality and are counted as
immigrants. They are allowed to travel between provincial
districts  but-need special permission to go to other provinces.

"Those born in the village must carry documents and have reliable
people stand as guarantors while requesting Thai nationality,"
said Kamnan Daeng.

Students without identification cards cannot further their
education in district schools or colleges, as certificates from
village schools are not accepted.

It took Kamnan Daeng 10 years as village leader to be elected as
chief of sub-district two years ago. This is because he was the
only one in the entire village to receive Thai nationality.

There is still a long way for this village to go to achieve
substantial progress.

The present generation often are not well-versed with the past,
as the young are seen patronising karaoke and beer bars at night
rather than staying home to talk politics.

But it was hard to avoid asking people what they thought of the
speedy retirement of the drug kingpin who was once their
neighbour.

"I do not want to think that Khun Sa surrendered to the Burmese
government without planning ahead. This might be a new strategy
to free Shan State," said Mrs Kam.

She believed that even though he is Chinese-Shan, his intentions
to free the Shan people were genuine. Ten years ago, she met the
former opium warlord three times while he lived as an immigrant
in Ban Hin Tack.

"The news about his surrender to Burmese government on television
totally surprised us. I thought it was a rumour. But when people
talked and argued about it repeatedly, I started to believe it
could be true. It is just hard to imagine that the so-called
opium king has retired," said Kamnan Daeng.

"Everything about the opium warlord is now history. No one can be
a hero forever. But we still remember him for what he was. The
museum will at least be a record."

"I do not know about his private life. We knew each other as good
neighbours. I think he is a good man who never hurt anyone.
Outsiders have painted him to be a drug warlord" Duangdee
Khemmawongse, Ban Hin Taek's village headman.

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

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