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

The BurmaNet News: April 4, 1996
Issue #375

Noted in Passing:

                For all to merrily take part, revellers should stay clear
                of making disturbances and agitations that may lead to
                disintegration of national unity and a state of unrest.
                - Secretary 1,Khin Nyunt on the upcoming water festival.
                (see NATION: EROSION BARRIERS PROMPT PROTEST
                NOTE TO BURMA)

HEADLINES:
==========
NLD: LETTER OF U AUNG SHWE DATED MARCH 25, 1996
ABSDF: DETAIL ON THE MUDER OF ABSDF MEMBER BY DKBA
AP-DOW JONES: BURMA OPPOSITION SAYS FORCED LABOR
ABSDF: LOCAL VILLAGERS FACE FORCED RELOCATION FOR TOTAL
WASHINGTON POST: PEPSI'S BURMA PRESENCE DRAWS STUDENT PROTESTS
ABSL: STATEMENT OF OBJECTION ON STATE RUN CONVENTION
NATION: TORCHING OF PA YAW REFUGEE CAMP A REAL MYSTERY
NATION: EROSION BARRIERS PROMPT PROTEST NOTE TO BURMA
 BKK POST: RANGOON KEEPS SHACKLES ON BURMESE POLITICAL LIFE
BANGKOK POST: BPP FIRE REPELS KAREN INTRUDERS
BKK POST: CAUTIOUS THAI INVESTORS TEST THE WATER IN RANGOON
BANGKOK POST: FOOD FOR REFUGEES
FTUB(WB): REQUEST FROM BURMA LIBRARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NLD: LETTER OF U AUNG SHWE DATED MARCH 25, 1996
April 4, 1996
From: Caroline Lurie <caroline@ksc.net.th>

Following is the transcript of letter by U Aung Shwe, Chairman of NLD to
senior General Than Swe on March 25, 1996.

National League for Democracy
97-B West Shwegondine Road
Bahan township, Rangoon

Ref: 060/Sec (Nyein)/96
Date: 25 March 1996

To
Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman
State law and Order Restoration Council
Union of Burma

Subject: To arrange for the discussion and implementation of the Pyithu
Hluttaw representative-elect for fixing a date for convene the first
Pyithuhlattaw (legislature)

1. In the Declaration No1/88 of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (Slorc) issued on 18 September 1988, the Slorc declared to the
country that it was designed to carry out the following as its prime
duties:
        "(a)  Restoration of law and order, peace and tranquillity
         (b) Smooth and secure transportation
         (c) To work at its best to make the people's lives easy and to
ensure the undertaking of private
        and cooperative sectors
         (d) After having completed the above mentioned tasks, to hold
multi-party general elections."

2. In paragraph 3 of the said Declaration 1/88, it urges that:
        "in order to be ready for the general elections, party
organizations that are going to adopt a genuine democratic system may
start establishing themselves."

3. Therefore with the intentions of an emergence of a genuine multi-party
democratic state and of a democratic government that will guarantee basic
human rights in conformity with the wishes and aspirations of the people,
the National League for Democracy (NLD) has registered itself with the
Multi- Party Democracy General Elections Commission under the Political
parties Registration Law (Law No.  4/88) enacted by the Slorc on 27
September 1988 and officially stands as a political party.

4. In order to elect members of parliament through free and fair
multi-party democratic elections, the Slorc enacted the Pyithu Hluttaw
(Legislature) Elections Law (Law No 14/89) on 31 May 1989.

5. Moreover, in accordance with the Pyithu Hlattaw Election Rules (the
Multi-Party Democracy General Election Commission's Rules No 1/89) issued
by the Multi-Party Democracy General Elections Commission on 30 June 1989,
the NLD contested the Multi-Party Democracy General Elections held on 27
May 1990.

6. The NLD won 392 seats out of 485 constituencies prescribed for the
election. Hence it has won 82 per cent of the constituencies and this
proves the magnitude of the support of the people (to the NLD).

7. In the Notification No 896 on 3 July 1990, the Multi-party Democracy
General Elections Commission officially recognized that 87.70 per cent of
the NLD's representatives had been elected out of its 447 delegates. This
again proves that it has attained the unanimous support of the people.

8. However the final report of the Multi-party Democracy General Elections
Commission has not yet been issued. It is stated in "the Notification No
1014 of the Multi-Party Democracy General Election Commission"  issued on
24 March 1992 as follows; ".... This Commission supervised the holding of
the Multi-Party Democracy General Election and this election in the first
election for adoption of a multi-party system in the Union of Burma. The
election has already been held in accordance with the Pyithu Hlattaw
Election Law and Rules. the Commission, in accordance with the Pyithu
Hlattaw Election Law and Rules, is responsible for scrutinizing the issues
of elected representatives as well as of those candidates unsuccessful in
the elections."

9. At the Coordination Meeting between the Union of Burma Multi-Party
Democracy General Elections Commission and Chairman of sub-commissions of
States, Division and Zones, the Chairman of the Commission clearly stated
the following:
        .... We have learnt that election tribunals are finalizing the issues
of examining and judging the election objections..
        ...the first stage of scrutinizing election expenses of a total of
2201 delegates including the elected ones and the unsuccessful ones has
already been completed.

10. Today in March 1996, the tasks of election tribunals regarding
election objections as well as election expenses have already been
completed.

11. The Multi-Party Democracy General Elections Commission is sending its
notifications under the title of notifying the Names of Elected
Representatives in accordance with section 43 , sub-section (d) of the
Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law, officially confirmed and informed the elected
representatives that they are elected representatives of the Pyithu
Hluttaw. Similarly the names of these representatives were included in
Burma Gazettes as elected Hluttaw Representatives. Hence Pyithu Hluttaw
representatives elected at the1990 Multi-Party Democracy General Elections
are officially representatives.

12. In accordance with section 3 of Chapter 2: Formation of the Hluttaw ,
      The Hluttaw shall be formed with the Hluttaw representatives who
have been elected in accordance with this law from the Hluttaw
constituencies.
      The Hluttaw to be formed as such as clearly defined in sub-section
(a), section (2) of the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law as follows;
      Hluttaw means Pyithu Hluttaw.
      The Hluttaw now to be convened must not be the constituent assembly
but it should be the peoples parliament of legislature.

13. In paragraph 12 of the Slorc Declaration 1/90 issued on 27 July 1990
in which the authorities directed all officially standing political
parties to sign undertakings to abide by the declaration on that day, it
is clearly stated to the country as follows;
      In section 3 of the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law, it is provided that
The Hluttaw shall be formed with the Hluttaw representatives who have been
elected in accordance with this law from the Hluttaw constituencies. In
accordance with this provision, the Slorc will take care of the formation
and convening of the Hluttaw,...

14. In the 90th press conference of the Slorc Information Committee, it is
clearly stated again as follows;
      ... In answering the question of whether there is a fixed date to
convene the first Hluttaw, it will be carried out after elections,
coordinating with elected representatives.

15. In accordance with Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law and Rules, with
paragraph 12 of the Slorc Declaration No. 1/90, and with promises made at
various Press Conference of the Slorc Information Committee, to implement
the results of the 1990 Multi-Party Democracy General Elections which was
held democratically and to give due respect to the wishes and aspiration
of the people, the Pyithu Hluttaw must be convened.

16. In accordance with the clarification that roads; the slorc will work
for the implementation of the issued laws, orders and declarations, stated
at the 97th Press Conference of the Slorc Information committee, only when
the task of forming and convening the Pyithu Hluttaw is promptly carried
out, will it ensure its implementation of restoration of law and order.

17. It has now been nearly six years since the free and fair Multi- Party
Democracy General Election was held. At this point we would like to remind
you of the statement made at the 102nd Press Conference of the Slorc, that
is;
     ... We cannot specify a definite time to convene the Hluttaw but we
have no intention whatsoever to deny it ...
     This statement has been carefully noted by the entire mass of people
as well as the NLD, the winning party at the election. Hence it is now
necessary to convene the Pyithu Hluttaw as soon as possible.

18. According to standard practices not only of Burma but also of the
International community, issues of convening the legislature do not take
so much time. In accordance with the laws enacted by the Slorc, the Pyithu
Hluttaw is to be formed with the Hluttaw representatives who have been
duly and unanimously elected by the people so as to express their wishes
and aspirations.  There is no such practice of neglecting the wishes and
aspirations of the people even in states exercising a single party system
or an authoritarian system. Taking such a long time to convene the Pyithu
Hluttaw not only means turning a blind eye on the wishes and aspirations
of the people but also breaking the promises which the Slorc has given to
the state and its citizens.

19. When study the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law (Law No. 14/89), there is
no provision for the term of the Pyithu Hluttaw. The term is to be decided
by the Hluttaw representatives themselves after convening the Hluttaw.
Therefore as long as the Pyithu Hluttaw has not convened, the Slorc will
not be able to head towards the emergence of a genuine democratic system
as it has promised .  In respect of this fact, only the Pyithu Hluttaw ,
formed in accordance with the results of the previous elections, are to
enact general laws (including detailed provisions for future election).

20. With references to the facts stated above, you are hereby informed
with special emphasis to arrange for the discussion and implementation of
the Pyithu Hluttaw representatives-elect for fixing a date to convene the
first Pyithu Hluttaw (legislature) as soon as possible.

By decision of the Central Committee Meeting of the NLD held on 22 March
1996.
                                                              Sd/. AUNG SHWE
                                       Chairman
                                                              National League
for Democracy


Cyclostyled with the NLDs Temporary Cyslostyling Machine No 893

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

ABSDF: DETAIL ON THE MUDER OF ABSDF MEMBER BY DKBA
April 4, 1996
From: Caroline Lurie <caroline@ksc.net.th>

        15 armed troops from joint troop of Slorc's LIB 301 under the
command of Division 88 and DKBA came and robbed the villagers from Mae La
village (Burma side), Tak province, Thailand at 11am on March 23, 1996.
After their robbery , they arrested five villagers including two ABSDF
members and later killed one ABSDF member.
        Among five villagers; Ko Khin Win , Ko Mya Win and Ko Nge were
villagers from Mae La village (Burma side) and Ko Aung Toe and Ko Aung
Aung were ABSDF members. Ko Aung Aung was killed on the same day of arrest
but the other four were released in the evening.
        Ko Aung Aung , 25, was from Kyike Latt, Irrawaddy division in
Burma. He fled in 1989 to the Thai-Burmese border and became a member of
ABSDF Wankha camp.  According to Ko Nge, another ABSDF member and
eyewitness, DKBA troop took one video desk machine, 20" TV, one generator
and some other belongings from the two ABSDF members' house. These
students went to the village to earn fund for their camp from showing
video movies to the logging workers.
        In the morning of next day, on March 24, another Slorc and DKBA
joint troops came back and burnt down the village. The renegade threatened
the villagers to move within five days, otherwise they would be killed.
        The motive was believed to wipe out the who village whose
villagers are working in the illegal logging concession inside Burma. The
villagers had to pay bribe money to the Slorc troops in the region in
order to get working permission.  The troops would be transferred on April
2, 1996 with new troops so that the previous troop forced the village to
move in order not to leak their secret bribe deal with village.  All the
400 villagers fled into Thailand after the burning and they were
temporarily given shelter near Thai Mae La village inside Thailand.

ABSDF News Agency
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)

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

AP-DOW JONES: BURMA OPPOSITION SAYS FORCED LABOR
SUPPORTS CONSTRUCTION
April 4, 1996
From: Imre Der <ider@mail.datanet.hu>

   BANGKOK (AP-Dow Jones)--A Burmese opposition group charged
Wednesday that villagers are working without pay to build a
supply road for a gas pipeline being constructed by a French oil company.
   A statement received by fax from the All Burma Students'
Democratic Front also said residents near a field office for the French oil
company Total were forced to move after the officewas allegedly attacked.
   The report couldn't be independently confirmed.
   The 254-mile pipeline project is controversial because it will
bring income to Burma's military dictatorship and because of
allegations over the last two years that forced labor has been
involved and villagers along the route have been evicted.
   The $1 billion project is a joint venture by Total, the U.S.
oil company Unocal, a Thai state-owned oil company and the Burmese
government. The pipeline will carry natural gas from the offshore
Yadana field in the Gulf of Martaban to power plants in Thailand.
   Earlier this month, the opposition group said a French citizen
and four local employees were killed Feb. 8 when an unknown armed
group using a rocket launcher attacked Total's field office.
   A Total spokeswoman denied the claim.
   The opposition's report also claimed five other employees were
wounded in the attack near the town of Kanbauk, about 190 miles
south of Rangoon.
   The oil companies have said repeatedly that forced labor wasn't
being used in construction.
   But the frequent use of forced labor by Burma's military has
been documented by human rights and political organizations, and
was noted in a U.S. State Department annual report on human rights
issued last month.
   Wednesday's statement from the student front said 20 people
from each village in the Kanbauk village group had been conscripted
by the Burmese army to work without pay on construction of a
three-mile road between the Total office and a seaport.
   It said villagers in Einayaza, seven miles from the Total office, had been
ordered to move by the end of March to an area three miles away.

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

ABSDF: LOCAL VILLAGERS FACE FORCED RELOCATION FOR THE
SECURITY OF TOTAL OFFICE
April 3, 1996
From: Caroline Lurie <caroline@ksc.net.th>

        Local villagers from Eindayaza village in Yebyu township,
Tenassarim division were ordered to move by the end of March, according to
the order by the military strategy command Brig-Gen. Zaw Tun. This order
was issued after the attack of a French TOTAL oil firm's field office,
near Kanbauk village, Yebyu township by the unknown armed group on
February 8, 1996.
        Eindayaza village, most of its inhabitant are Karen, is 7 miles
far from the TOTAL's field office. The whole village has been ordered to
move to the "54-mile" beside the Ye-Tavoy motor road which is three miles
far from the old place, according to the order. Villagers were allowed to
bring only their basic stuffs and other household things were not allowed
to bring together with them, it is leant.
        The reason for the relocation was unclear. But it was doubted that
relocation was the repercussion of the February 8 attack.  On February 12,
1996, 11 Karen civilians including village headman from Eindayaza village
were arrested by the troop from Slorc' LIB 273 and tortured for allegedly
having contact with the attackers.  Twelve villagers from Eindayaza were
coincidely found while they were going to their hill-side cultivation on
the Phya Gone hill, on the same day when the attack was occurred. They
were suspected for having relation with the attack as the unknown group
attacked with 107 rocket launcher from the same hill which was only 5
furlongs from the TOTAL's office.
        Additionally, claiming for the security of TOTAL's office, 10
civilians mostly women were summoned from each village in Kanbauk village
group by the LIB 273.  These over hundred people were order to take
security guard between Kanbauk and Eindayaza from early morning to
evening daily.
        20 villagers each from every village in Kanbauk village group are
being conscripted by Slorc LIB 273 to work forced labor in the
construction of three-mile-long Kanbauk- Pyin Gyi motor road between
the TOTAL office and sea port. The road will be used for transportation of
the materials for the building of natural gas pipe.  While local people are
being conscripted in this forced labor construction, TOTAL is paying 50
kyats per day for the each Slorc soldier who are supervising the forced
labor.

ABSDF News Agency
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)

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

WASHINGTON POST: PEPSI'S BURMA PRESENCE DRAWS STUDENT PROTESTS
April 4, 1996
From: Imre Der <ider@mail.datanet.hu>

   NEW YORK (AP-Dow Jones)--PepsiCo Inc.'s softdrink
sales in military-ruled Burma has spawned a wave of
student activism against the company and appears to be
a boon to once-politically unpopular rival Coca Cola Co.,
the Washington Post reports on Thursday.
   The paper reports that students at about 75 schools
have begun pasting boycott appeals on Pepsi soft drink
machines and lobbying for university trustees to join
shareholder revolts against business in Burma. Harvard
University's director of dining services this week reversed
a plan to transfer $200,000 in business from Coca-Cola to
Pepsi after meetings with students claiming that the company
contributes to forced labor practices in Burma, the Post reports.
   'Burma has become the South Africa of the '90s and the
problem that Pepsi has is that they can find people that feel
like this on campuses around the world,' the Post quotes
Simon Billenness, a senior analyst at the Boston-based
Franklin Research & Development Corp., as saying.
   Elaine Franklin, manager of corporate information at
PepsiCo, said the company entered a soft drink joint venture
in Burma in 1991 with Burmese entrepreneur U Thein Tun, the
paper says. The company's initial investment of $1 million has
grown to one which produces more than $8 million in revenue
each year, the New York Times says.
   The company has 240 Burmese employees and is a major sponsor of
sporting events in Burma, also known as Myanmar, the paper reports.
   'PepsiCo certainly does not support tyranny and terrorism,'
the Post quotes Franklin as saying, adding that Pepsi believes
'that we can best promote the well-being of the citizens of a
country by providing quality products, employment, social
benefits, trading opportunities and introducing new ways of thinking.'

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

ABSL: STATEMENT OF OBJECTION ON STATE RUN CONVENTION
April 3, 1996
From: shar@tom.unv.ernet.in

**************************************************************
Statement of objection on guidelines for constitution laid down by
SLORC in on-going state run convention
**************************************************************
Plenary session of military-run constitutional convention laid down guidelines

on March 29, 1996 and the guidelines stipulate as follows :

1.  The Ministers for defence, interior and border region affairs and their
deputies must be military personnel nominated by the armed force's
commander-in-chief.

2.  The president must have lived in Burma for the past 20 years. The
president, or his parents, spouse or children, must not be a subject of
foreign country.

3.  Government employees taking up ministerial positions must resign from
government service, military personnel serving as ministers or deputy
ministers
need not resign from military service.

4.  Military memebers of parliament, guaranteed 25 percent of seats.

All Burma Students League strongly object above guidelines adopted by
the convention because representatives of the military-run convention are
not genuine peoples' representatives and genuine representatives are not
allowed to debate, but merely to approve.

Central Committee
All Burma Students League

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

NATION: TORCHING OF PA YAW REFUGEE CAMP A REAL MYSTERY
April 4, 1996
JAMES FAHN

The Pa Yaw refugee camp in Kanchanaburi, which used to house more
than 2,500 ethnic Mon refugees from Burma, has been burned down,
sparking a " who dunnit" controversy, border sources say.

Mon villagers who witnessed the fire claim it was set by around
10 Thai men in military uniform who flew into the camp on a
helicopter last Tuesday, sources said.

Col Withoon Dissayabutr of the Royal Thai Army's Ninth Infantry
division based in Kanchanaburi denied that soldiers from his base
burned down the camp, and said he believed the Mon carried it out
themselves because they are no longer living there.

Most of the former residents of the camp have moved to  a new
settlement on the Burmese side of the border called Gwan Ta Mor,
following the signing of a cease-fire agreement between the New
Mon State Party and Burma's ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council [SLORC].

The repatriation from Pa Yaw means there are no longer any Mon
refugees sheltering in Thailand , although the location of the
Halockhani camp on the ill defined Burmese border in ambiguous-
some say it is in Burma while others say it is in Thailand.

"This [ the torching of Pa Yaw camp] is a statement from Thai
authorities. They are saying, Don't come back", said one of the
border sources.

The sources said Gwan Ta Mor is extremely insecure for the
refugees because Slorc troops are located only three hours' march
away. But the sources added that Mon leaders felt they had no
choice but to move the refugees there because of pressure from
both the Slorc and Thai authorities. Under the ceasefire
agreement, the site is one of eight zones of "Temporary control"
by the Mon. Mon soldiers were supposed to have left these zones
by the end of last year. The Mon have also been given control of
12 areas where their soldiers are allowed to stay permanently.

Meanwhile, 20 new refugees are arriving in the border areas every
day, most fleeing from forced labour sites on the Ye-Tavoy
Railroad, the sources claimed.

Col Withoon said the refugees could return to Thailand if an
armed conflict resurfaces in Burma. This also means that if there
is peace in Burma, the refugees must go back, he added.

Referring to the torching of Pa Yaw, Withoon said he flew there
by helicopter last Tuesday, but he and his fellow soldiers did
not set fire to the camp. They merely went to make sure all the
Mon had returned to Burma, he said.

"So Mon refugees promised to clean up Pa Yaw once they had left,
but they left their houses behind.

"So I think it was the Mon leaders [who coordinated the
repatriation] who ordered that the camp be burned down," Withoon
said. "Why would I do it?"

According to the border sources, the central part of Pa Yaw has
been burned to the ground. Some of the outer parts remain
standing, however.

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

NATION: EROSION BARRIERS PROMPT PROTEST NOTE TO BURMA
April 4, 1996   (abridged)
Somchit Rungchamratrasmee

MAE SOT- THAI officials yesterday protested to Burmese
authorities in Myawaddy township over the construction of more
erosion barriers along the bank of the Moei River, which could
affect the river's course during the monsoon.

However, yesterday's protest note, like previous notes, went
unheeded. Myawaddy authorities often ignore any Thai protests
against alleged Burmese violations of bilateral agreements on the
boundary between the two countries.

The two countries agreed several years ago to halt the
construction of any structures that could affect the flow of the
river and cause erosion of its banks.

The Burmese barriers consist of lines of stakes jutting out from
the river bank, angled downstream.

Informed official sources here said a 16-member Thai boundary
committee would raise the issue at meeting today with its Burmese
counterpart.

The BKK POST on April 4, 1996 added:

AUTHORITIES will today propose a sub-committee look at channels
in the Moei River and decide if stalls on the Burmese side
encroach on Thai territory.

Mae Sot district chief Somchai Hataisanti said Col Suwit
Maenmuan, chairman of the local joint border committee, sent a
note to Rangoon authorities in Myawaddy objecting to construction
of four stalls in Taungsu, opposite Tambon Mae Ku.

A Burmese contractor started work late last month on the stalls
which are 3m-5m wide by 70m-100m long and which, it is thought,
intrude on Thai soil and could cause the river bank to collapse.

Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa told the sub-committee to
resolve the issue within seven days ahead of a meeting to be
attended by Rangoon ambassador Tin Winn and other junta officials.
-----------------------------------

* Associated Press reports from Rangoon: The head of Burma's
secret police has given this advice on how to celebrate the
country's upcoming water festival holiday-don't commit treason.

"For all to merrily take part, revellers should stay clear of
making disturbances and agitations that may lead to
disintegration of national unity and a state of unrest," said Gen
Khin Nyunt of the ruling Burmese junta.

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

BKK POST: RANGOON KEEPS SHACKLES ON BURMESE POLITICAL LIFE
April 4, 1996

The men who run Burma continue to set back the chances for both
democracy and political peace in the country. The latest nail in
the coffin of Burmese freedom is a constitution written by the
military, for the military. The charter ensures the indefinites
survival of a compliant, army-directed regime. In case there was
any doubt left of the intention, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council [Slorc] forced through a specific ban against
Aung San Suu Kyi. The Only person ever elected to political
leadership of Burma now is officially prohibited from running for office.

One must wonder why SLORC went to this much trouble to bar the
Nobel Peace Prize winner. The Rangoon regime's new constitution
forbids direct election of political leaders. Under this shabby
new national charter, voters will have little say in running
their country anyhow. They will elect a parliament made up of
candidates approved in advance by the regime. this body then will
elect three vice presidents from its own membership. Finally, one
of these - again, approved by SLORC will serve as president. Any
decisions the president may make will be subject to review by
hand-picked supporters of the regime.

All of this is, of course, merely a show designed to keep the
current rulers of Burma in power. It has also the aim of
convincing some outsiders and apologists that SLORC is working
towards democracy. In fact, the opposite is occurring. In  case
the new constitution ever is promulgated, Burma will remain a no-
party state with all power resting in the armed forces. The
constitution provides for no important freedoms which seems
assured by the new national charter is SLORC's freedom to
terminate political opposition.

Gen Tan Shwe, who serves as the chairman of SLORC and thus as the
effective president of Burma, spent his Armed Forces Day speech
giving his revealing reasons why the army has to stay in charge
in Burma. Throughout the world, most such speeches dwell on the
need for the army to defend the borders against foreign
aggression. But the Burmese leader saw threats everywhere . "some
foreign destructionists," he said, are trying " to drive a wedge
between the army and people." In case a few dull listeners missed
his point, he repeated that he was speaking about "a few internal
destructionists." The xenophobic SLORC leadership has long
maintained that Mrs Suu Kyi is in the grip, and perhaps the pay,
of foreigners and that she seeks political power to sell lout
Burma. This is because she received a higher education abroad,
and is married to a Briton. Since it released Mrs Suu Kyi from
house arrest last year in order to evade some harsh criticism,
the regime has sought to isolate her. Members of the junta have
refused to talk with her, although she is clearly the nation's
most popular politician and has carefully and repeatedly called
for national reconciliation with out violence.

The people of Burma must settle their own political problems and
establish their own course. Unfortunately for them, the new
national charter rammed by SLORC through a fearful and compliant
constitutional convention allows no such action. On its own, this
is an injustice against Burmese citizens. But the junta's actions
have caused and, we fear, will continue to cause trouble on our
borders and for our citizens. Burma's special deal with the drug
kingpin Khun Sa has already caused new heroin smuggling. Rangoon
supported groups such as the so-called Buddhist Karens have
killed Thais, and are a constant danger.

The rulers in Burma should not expect respect for their new
constitution. It is simple to see through their plan to hold
power indefinitely. At the same time, they hope to continue to
profit from foreign investment, tourism and other international
commerce. SLORC can, however, earn respect and acceptance only if
it recognises the rights of its people to chart their own
national destiny.

What will earn the Rangoon regime the respect it desires is to
ease its dictatorship progressively. SLORC must recognise the
basic rights of Burmese  to be free in their own country. That
includes the right  to oppose government decisions by peaceful
protest. When it seized power in a bloody 1988 confrontation, the
regime pledged to allow citizens a voice in running their
country. Nearly eight years on, there is no sign Rangoon intends
to honour that promise.

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

BANGKOK POST: BPP FIRE REPELS KAREN INTRUDERS
April 3, 1996 Tak

Border Patrol Police fired two mortar rounds to warn off renegade
Karens who slipped across the border to pick up stolen goods yesterday.

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army bandits had robbed five Tha
Song Yang villagers of goods worth 200,000 baht which they hid in
bushes before crossing back to Burma.

Villagers told police 30 renegades with M-16 assault rifles and rocket and
grenade launchers raided Ban Mae Layang on Monday night.

A BPP unit went after the renegades after the robberies and there
was a brief exchange of fire before the raiders fled across the Moei River.

While inspecting the scene of the clash, a BPP unit sighted eight renegades
and fired the mortar rounds but the Karens escaped with the goods.

Bunma Piromsingkhorn, 31 headman of Ban Mae Layang said the
renegades made off with a motorcycle, a shotgun, gold ornaments,
medicines and other goods.

Last month, five villagers and a Karen refugee in this border
village were kidnapped by renegades who demanded a 5,000 baht
ransom, said Mr Bunma.

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

BKK POST: CAUTIOUS THAI INVESTORS TEST THE WATER IN RANGOON
April 2,1996  (abridged)
Report: Nussara Sawatsawang

Thai investors find their own way to do business in Burma
despite the risks and uneasy relations between the two countries.

Thai investment ranks fourth, at US$288 million, after France
with $500 million, Singapore with $584 million and the United
Kingdom with $642 million, according to the Thai Office of
Commercial Affairs in Rangoon.

Most investment is in the service sector: of 22 projects,
eight are in the hotel and tourism sector, six in manufacturing, five in
fisheries and two in transport and one in agriculture.

These projects exclude a number of trading companies and
representative offices which are either fully Thai-owned or
operating under local brands.

More Thai investors were expected soon, particularly those
who have tried their luck in Vietnam, observers said. Plenty
of natural resources, cheap labour, a low cost of living and
a different way of doing business between Burmese and
Vietnamese are the main reasons.

Manoon Piyapanyawongse, of Greenline Myanmar Group, said
local markets have high potential. Burma needs endless goods
to supply its market after the country was closed for almost
three decades.

The company imports tyres, condensed milk, beer, whisky,
cement tiles and many kinds of consumer products. Recently,
it has stepped into manufacturing, producing packed noodles
and energy drinks called Yummy and Chogun. Yet, strained
relation between the two countries have hampered Thai
businesses for some time.

Last year, the junta closed its border with Thailand
following a number of disputes. As a result, Thai goods were
banned from simply crossing the borders, but had to be trans-
shipped through Bangkok and Singapore.

Negotiations for some projects were scrapped without reason,
while other investors were told to delete Thai names from the
company or project. Many Thai companies reportedly choose to
come to Burma with Singaporean names to avoid anti-Thai sentiment.

Five companies which registered to operate fishery businesses
were left high and dry last year following the murder of
three Burmese crewmen aboard Thai trawlers in August. It was
also reported that they had been given two months to invest
in on-shore related businesses or leave the country.

"It is not easy for listed companies to mobilise money from
the capital market to invest in projects in which they are
not keen and not sure of transparency," said an observer.

Forming a joint venture with state agencies could cause management
problems but was advantageous because investors "can secure their
businesses and meet the junta's requirements," investors said.

Thai investors are also still worried about instability,
particularly amid continuing friction between the junta and
democracy groups. Moreover, private financial institutions
are likely to think twice about extending large loans because
of the junta's poor economic and political track record. (BP)

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

BANGKOK POST: FOOD FOR REFUGEES
April 2, 1996

The Japanese government will donate US$1.9 million to
provide food for Muslim refugees returning to Burma. As
many as 250,000 Rohingya Burmese Muslims fled from
western Rakhine State into Bangladesh in early 1992,
telling of persecution by the Burmese army.

There are still 51,000 Rohingya refugees living in
camps near the Burmese border. Repatriation is being
overseen by the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees and food distributed by the world Food
Programme. Japan donated $ 6.3 million in 1994-95.

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

FTUB(WB): REQUEST FROM BURMA LIBRARY
April 3, 1996
From: "FTUB(WB)" <aungsan@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in>

        In accordance with the decision made in the committee
meeting held in January 1996, the library committee have taken a step
by holding a weekly literary talk, commencing on 25 February, 1996,
in which everyone is free to participate and discuss any subject of his
choice in the talk. The conversations spoken in the talk were recorded
on the audio tape and were published into a booklet under the name of
Pann Sagar(Forum).
        So far, we have been able to hold the 6th weekly talk, and, out
of which five booklets have been published successfully. Due to lack of
publishing facility, we have to seek permission from the NCGUB(WB)
to use its computers for the publication. The NCGUB has willing
granted our request. Therefore, we are able to use the computers
whenever they are free. Under the circumstances, we are not able to
complete the booklet of corresponding talk within a scheduled time,
i.e., within a week after the corresponding talk.
        The cost incurred on publication has been borne by the
library. So far, no financial aid for the publication has been received
by the library. Although, in the beginning, the publication was meant
to be distributed free of cost, the financial situation has restricted us
from doing so. Therefore, in order to cover the printing cost and postage,
the library requests all the interested parties to subscribe the publication
at
US $.4 (Rs. 140) per every four copies of Pann Sagar, i.e. per month.
                                      
 
The librarian, Burma library.
 
Mailing Address:
Burma Library
C/O Mr. R.J Verma
87-C, GG-I, Vikas Puri,
New Delhi-110018, India.
