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

The BurmaNet News: April 23, 1996
Issue #390

HEADLINES:
==========
THE ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL: FORGET MFN
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN): SLORC CAPTAIN DEFECTS TO ABSDF
INDEPENDENT LETTER: PROBLEMS OF MILITRAY ATTACHE IN D.C.
THE HINDU: CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: BAY AREA MAY JOIN BOYCOTT OF BURMA
REUTER: TRADER HELD FOR ILLEGALLY USING PHONES AND FAX
KNU: STATEMENT BY THE FIRST MEETING OF CENTRAL STANDING
NATION: NEW SLORC ACTION SHOWS DEMOCRACY IN BURMA DISTANT
THE NATION: BURMESE ATTACK KARENNI ON FRONTIER
BKK POST: VILLAGERS ROBBED BY SUSPECTED KARENS
NATION: KAREN SHOOT THAI WOMAN DEAD ON ROAD NEAR BORDER
LOS ANGELES TIMES: LETTER - AUNG SAN SUU KYI
BKK POST: BURMA REQUESTS BORDER OPENING
WWW: MYANMA COMPUTER COMPANY HOME PAGE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL: FORGET MFN, THE CONSUMERS ARE
COMING!
April 9, 1996
By DAVID BIRNBAUM

The press focuses its attention on the official hullabaloo
in Washington and Beijing over trade.  But there is mounting
evidence that in the U.S., the government is not the only
force capable of shaping trade policy.  Increasingly, key
decisions are being made by the companies that import
products -and by the consumers on whom all trade ultimately
depends.  And when consumers decide to do something for
human rights, there's nothing a presidential veto can do to
stop them.

What's new here are not the almost limitless permutations of
terrible conditions in which people are forced to work in
many developing countries.  What's changed is that for the
first time human rights concerns could become a major
marketing issue and tool for manufacturers. in an era when
companies must work harder than ever to sell their products,
anything that turns the consumer off has to be avoided at
all costs. Public awareness that this or that Christmas toy
was produced by undernourished, poorly clothed children in
semi-slavery is not going to help sales.

I am not speaking as a do-gooder.  I do not now nor have I
ever belonged to any organization with the words "People
for," "Friends of" or even "Help" in its title- I am a
garment industry consultant who has spent 30 years In Asia
showing companies how to produce and buy better garments for
less money.  And I know for a fact that no social
adjustments take place in the world of business unless the
cost-accountants prove that change is necessary.

But I am here to tell you that the tapping noise you hear on
your door is your CPA coming to announce that something is
indeed happening out there, and that if you want to survive,
now would be a good time to develop a social conscience.

I do not know how it began, but there have always been a few
companies, such as Levi Strauss and Britain's Marks &
Spencer, that operated on the belief that better working
conditions produce better products.  They figured out that -
contented developing-country workers work more efficiently
long before the phrase "social conscience" was even heard
of.  I first noticed the trend when Levi Strauss announced
that it would stop doing business in China.  Levi's gave up
not only a good source of quality production, but
potentially the most important sales market in Asia.  China
lost the orders of the largest garment manufacturer in the U.S.

Or take Burma, where orders for exported garments produced
by Burmese factories have fallen by two-thirds over the past
year.  Companies like Eddie Bauer.  Liz Claiborne and
Federated Department Stores, which in the past found some of
their best bargains in Burma, are now discovering that in
today's socially conscious marketplace these products are
less competitive.  You may ask, "What does Aung San Suu Kyi
have to do with fashion?" The latest answer is, "A lot.'

For years human rights groups have lobbied congress to tie
American trade policy to social conditions in exporting
countries.  In almost every instance they have been defeated
by a chorus of large U.S. companies engaged in buying
products from and investing capital in the targeted
countries.  These include mass-market importers, which have
consistently claimed that cancellation of China's Most
Favored Nation status would lead to higher retail prices and
a loss of U.S. jobs.

The human rights groups' mistake was not the fight, but its
venue.  Ultimately, in the U.S., decisions of whether to buy
and whom to buy from are made by the consumer.  And as long
as American consumers remained indifferent to the plight of
children in India, of Buddhists in Tibet, or everyone in
Burma, importers were free to omit these factors from their
purchasing decisions.  This is no longer true.

More and more importers are now considering safety and other
conditions in Asian factories.  Few can afford not to
because all it takes is one disaster to damage a label's
reputation.  Manufacturers in countries where human rights
activists are known and internationally respected are the
most vulnerable.

It is only natural that importers of younger fashion should
have been the first to make adjustments.  Their customers of
MTV age are not only more aware Of trends in social
attitudes, but sufficiently fickle and product disloyal to
allow human rights in Tibet or in Burma to influence their
choice of blue jeans brands.  Furthermore, the international
garment industry is very flexible.  If one source country
becomes a public relations headache, production can be
shifted to another site in a matter of weeks.

Importers of durable goods do not have these advantages.
Moreover, compared with importers of fashion goods, they are
far less in touch with their customers.  As a result, the
auto makers now vying with each other for production
facilities in China may not see what's coming around the
next turn.  But I won't be surprised if in the near future I
see an ad that read: "This Christmas make a Christian slave
laborer a little happier.  Do not buy a car from a company
producing in China."

Mr.  Bimbaum heads Third Horizon Limited, consultants to the
garment industry. (WSJ)
----------------------------------------------------------

ABSDF (DAWN GWIN): SLORC CAPTAIN DEFECTS TO ABSDF
April 20, 1996
From: Caroline Lurie <caroline@ksc.net.th>

Captain Kyaw Soe, Grade-3, General Staff Officer from Regional
Command Military Headquarters (Loikaw) has defected to ABSDF through KNPP
troops. Captain Kyaw Soe is a law graduate and has 21 years of military
service.  He decided to defect due to the power abuse and corruption among
the military high officials in the Slorc army.

He joined army with the aim to be a people's soldier, as directed
by General Aung San. He became frustrated for the current policy by the
Slorc, he said. Slorc's on-going "National Convention" is injudicious both
from the legal point or political point of view, Captain Kyaw Soe spoke at
length about Slorc's "National Convention."  He observed that the
Convention was a sham convention because all the participants were
hand-picked. He expressed his full support for the tripartite dialogue
proposed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi which would comprise democratic forces,
ethnic forces and Slorc. Comprehensive political dialogue is the only
means of proceeding with democratization and true national reconciliation
in Burma, he said.

Similarly, police private Myint Oo, 24, (Police BC. La. 136319)
from Shar Daw police station, Karenni State defected to KNPP on April 11,
1996. Many Slorc military soldiers have defected to the KNPP and ABSDF
alliance force but it is the first time that a police private joined the
alliance forces, it is learnt.

According to him, every household in Karenni State is now required
to pay 300 kyats per month for porter fees.  Previously, before the
cease-fire, local people were ordered to pay fees only to the Slorc.
However, at this time, people are required to pay not only to the Slorc
but also to all cease-fire groups in the region. There are two cease-fire
groups: Karenni Nationalities People's Liberation Front and Kayan New Land
Party, mobilising in the region.

In addition to the Slorc, businessmen are taxed 2,500 kyats for each teak
truck
going from Karenni State to Rangoon at every KNPLF checkpoint.

FORCED RECRUITMENT IN SHAN STATE

        One person from each township and village in Mai Kai township,
Shan State was forcibly recruited by Slorc Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)
514, under the command of the Eastern military command.  The order, signed
by Battalion Commander Major Kyaw Zeya and dated December 5, 1995, demands
that each township and village LORC send one new recruit to LIB 514 which
is based in Mai Kai.  Those who fail to supply new recruits will be fined
20,000 kyats, according to the order.

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

INDEPENDENT LETTER: **PROBLEMS OF MILITRAY ATTACHE IN D.C**
Apr 19, 1996  by watherly
watherly@aol.com

[BurmaNet Editor's Note: This is an independent, unverified report.  However,
because of the seriousness of the allegations and the fact that it has already

been posted on soc.culture.burma, we have decided to include it here.
Spelling and grammatical mistakes have been corrected, but the content has
not been changed.  BurmaNet would very much appreciate it if someone in the
DC area could investigate the allegations made below and post their findings.

Independent reports are always welcome, as long as they provide verifiable
facts and not rumors.]

" UNSOLVED PROBLEMS OF MILITARY ATTACHES IN D.C"

**The Burmese military attache office is located in Washington D.C, the
capital city of the United States. Seven staff members and one military
attache
are assigned for the office duties there every four years. After completion of
four
years' duty, they are recalled, and State Law and Order Restoration Council
(Slorc)
that killed thousands of demonstrators in 1988 replaces them with new staff
for another four years. So it is like a fixed and regular duty, and it is more
likely
to be an interim duty. In addition, a military attache, Kyi Tun, had served in
the
office from 1992 to 1996. Under his commands, numerous unsolved mysterious
problems occured such as informer Mrs. Myint Zaw Lwin, illegal newspaper
deliveries,
and his two sons remaining in the US illegally; the problems are still going
on today.

** Kyi Tun is the one of the power abusive and unearnest members of the
Slorc, a source said. He embezzled a lot of money from the office's
budgets because he did not have enough money to feed his large family of six
people including himself. His salary was $1,300 per month. He earned
$15,600 per year and $62,400 for four years. He had three cars that cost
$25,000.
He also paid for $8,000 for his son, Win Mon Oo, 23, for his college
educational
fees for one year, $ 32,000 for four years. Kyi Tun spent money for food,
clothing,
etc. totalling at least $1,200 per month. So he needed more money than he
made.
Therefore, he embezzled money to feed his family. Unfortunately, on March 17,
1996, he was recalled to Burma. He is now under investigation.

** The salary of staff members is only $600 for a month even though the staff
may have a large family. So the small amount of money cannot feed their
families;
therefore, they illegally worked delivering  the Washington Post newspaper.
They do not have work authorizations issued by the U.S Immigration
Service. Thus, they broke the United States' immigration law and IRS
tax law. The Washington Post also broke the laws because it hired the illegal
workers to deliver its newspapers. Moreover, the Burmese military attache's
office staff disobeyed diplomatic rules and regulations.  They also committed
crimes because they did not pay taxes.

** Each staff person can make $600 extra money every month by delivering
the Washington Post newspaper. They fed their families with that money, one
of the staffssaid. A military intelligence agent,  Aung Kyi, who is still
working in the office, is one of the best Washington Post delivery men. He
used to deliver the newspaper from 11p.m to 7a.m every day. He went to
his office at 9.am. Even though he had only a few hours to sleep, he was
very much enjoying delivering the news paper because he did not have to
pay taxes. Sources said, they stoped delivering the newspaper in March, but
some saw they are still delivering the Washington Post newspaper.

*Iit is a sad story that the Slorc pays so little money for the staff, but
it is not an excuse for those who broke the laws. Whatever the
reasons they have, they must obey the United States' laws and
constitutional orders. If they do not want to obey the laws and the
constitutional orders, the Slorc does not have to set up the office in the
United States. And there is no excuse for any one who commits any crime in
the United States.

** The worst problem of Kyi Tun is his two sons, Kyi Mon Oo-25 and Win Mon
Oo-23, who are living and working illegally in Maryland. They live at an
apartment in Silver Spring, MD. Both work in Camaro Sea Food Store in
Silver Spring. A former military attache, Kyi Tun left his two sons in
order to make money illegally in the U.S because the exchange rate in Burma
today is $1 for 120 Kyats. Moreover, about 50 people who are sons and
daughters
of the Slorc's high ranking members are living and wroking illegally in the
areas of
Washington, D.C, Virginia, and Maryland, especially in gift shops in hotels.

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

THE HINDU: CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR
April 21, 1996 by V. Jayanth
From: "FTUB (WB)" <aungsan@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in>

Singapore, April 20: With the Opposition groups in both Cambodia
and Myanmar unable to set up public pressure on the ruling regimes
towards the objective of genuine democracy, international pressure
and lobby groups are beginning to work outside these countries.
 
For Cambodia, the donor countries, particularly the U.S. and France,
are picking up the gauntlet and making it clear to Phnom Penh that
democratic path.
 
They have started expressing reservations and attaching conditions to
aid in the wake of reports of authoritarianism taking roots and
pluralism being stamped out in Cambodia.
 
Similarly, for the pro-democracy forces in Myanmar, a pressure
group has become active in Geneva and kicked off its campaign at the
meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
 
A problem that Western donors and human rights groups are facing
in tackling the alleged violations of human rights and other distress
signals from these two countries centres on their ties with the
dynamic economies of the South East Asia.
 
According to the western diplomats based here, international pressure
or lobby can work only when three is a unified approach. "When we
find China and ASEAN willing to work with a military regime in
Myanmar, or to turn a blind eye to the happenings in Cambodia, it
does not make much sense for us to keep shouting from the roof tops.
Does it?", asked a European diplomat.
 
They would like to see ASEAN, particularly, also exert pressure on
Myanmar and Cambodia to come fully on to the road to democracy.
"It is within the powers of persuasion of ASEAN to achieve this
objective. We find Japan and Australia willing to adopt this
constructive, but ASEAN is hesitant to mix up economic ties with
other agenda," the diplomats say.
 
Singapore has emerged as a major investor and trading partner for
both Myanmar and Cambodia. Malaysia is today the top investor in
Cambodia. But the impression here is that they will not mix up
politics or democracy with trade and investment. ASEAN plan to
admit Cambodia as a full member next year and upgrade Myanmar to
an observer status for eventually joining the fold.
 
Under these circumstances, the Western consensus seems to be that
unless ASEAN lends support to the campaign for democracy and
human rights, it is not going to succeed.
 
On Cambodia, the pressures are building up as the kingdom prepares
for the next general election in 1998. Prominent politicians in the
Opposition and those within the ruling, royalist Funcinpec Party have
been crushed, expelled or silenced by the strong arm of the
administration - especially by the Cambodian Peoples Party and its
leader, Mr. Hun Sen.
 
But expelled leaders like former ministers, Mr. Sam Rainsy and
Prince Norodom Sirivudh, have been active in the U.S and Europe,
mobilising opinion against authoritarianism and violation of human
rights in Cambodia.
 
France and the U.S. have been making noises but have not been able
to make much on an impact. But officials in Washington have
stepped up their campaign and perhaps the loudest voice has been
raised on a private platform b the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for East Asia and Pacific, Mr. Kent Wiedemann.
 
He is reported to have told a research institute seminar about some
"very, very disturbing developments" in Cambodia and warned
Phnom Penh "if they go completely off the right path, if there are
serious derogations from the principles of pluralism and freedom of
speech, U.S. aid is going to dry up." He said Australia, France, Japan
and the U.S. "see this exactly the same way, that aid will be
conditional."
 
The campaign against Phnom Penh has picked up momentum
following the expulsion of these two leaders from the ruling party, an
attack on journalists and he freedom of the press, grenade attacked on
Opposition parties and meetings and alleged corruption in he
administration.
 
The Second Prime Minister, Mr. Hun Sen, has taken up a heroic
defence of the Cambodian situation and claimed that the coalition
government has provided peace and stability to a troubled kingdom.
He threaten to seek damages from the from the U.S for land mines
and ravages of war if Washington suspended its and aid and adopted
a negative approach to his country.
 
On the Myanmar front, an international network to promote
democracy in Myanmar was launched this week in Geneva,
coinciding with the meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
 
It consists of parliamentarians and Senators from the U.S., Europe
and Asia and seeks to raise funds for the Opposition groups in
Yangon and step up pressure in international fora for the cause of
democracy in Myanmar.
 
In a message to the Human Rights Commission, Nobel laureate and
pro-democracy leader, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, appealed to the
international community to increase pressure on Myanmars military
regime to restore democracy. She argued that the desire for business
contracts should not blind countries to repressive policies of the junta.
 
How these international pressure groups mount their campaign  and
the response to it will determine the future of democracy and the
upholding fundamental rights in these two countries.
 
********************************************************

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: BAY AREA MAY JOIN BOYCOTT OF BURMA
April 19, 1996 Jonathan Marshall
from zni@students. wisc.edu
(also printed in the Bkk Post on April 21)

        Following the same strategy that helped bring down apartheid in
South AFrica, San Francisco, Oakland, and Alameda County  are poised to
join the growing movement to boycott company doing business with Burma
which critics charge is a notorious violator of human rights.

        Major companies that could be affected by the campaign include
Apple Computer, ARCO, Pepsi, Unocal, United Parcel Service, Texaco, and
Wilson Sporting Goods, according to a list compiled by the Investor's
Responsibility Research Center.

        All have investment, employees or distributors in Burma also known
as Myanmar which is governed by a military junta known as the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

        SLORC leaders have been accused by organizations such as the State
Department Human Rights Office and AMnesty International of massacring
pro-democracy demonstrators, jailing thousands of political dissidents,
waging war on ethnic minority groups, trafficking in drug and using slave
labor on building projects.

        In a preliminary vote Monday, the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors unanimously backed a proposal introduced by Supervisor Tom
Ammiano to bar city contract with companies that have employees or
investment in Burma or other business relationships with it.  The
supervisors are said to take a final vote on April 22.

        A more ambitious ordinance in Oakland which would withdraw city
fund from financial institutions linked to Burma, if slated for a vote on
Tuesday following unanimous support by the Finance Committee.

        The Alameda County Board of Supervisors also intend to act soon on
a Burma boycott proposal introduced by Supervisor Wilma Chan.

        The City of San Franciscon purchasing office has indicated  that it
would have to terminate at least three contracts-with Pepsi, UPS, and
Unocal-if the ordinance passes on Monday.  The largest is a $98,000
contract with Unocal, a feaul supplier.

        The propsoed ordinances are not absolute.  "We do protect the
taxpayers with some loopholes," said Lewis Cohen, an aid to Oakland City
Council member Ignacio de la Fuente, who introduced the city's tough
measure.  "The city can still do business with companies if there is no
other place the service is available or if implementation would cause
significantly higher cause."

        The first Burma resolution passed last year in Berkeley, Santa
Monica, and Madison, Wis.  Similar measures are pending in Chicago, New
York City, Seattle, and Massachusetts.

        The movement is being spearheaded by socially conscious investors'
groups such as Progressive Asset Management in Oakland and San Francisco
Office of Citizens Trust Co., formally known as working asset.

        The corporate responsibility campaign has campaigned has already
led several companies to withdrawal from Burma including Eddie Bauer, Levi
Strauss, Liz Claiborne and Macy's.  Starbuck corp reported asked Pepsi, its
partner in a new cold coffee drink not to distribute it in Burma where
Pepsi has a stake in a local bottling plant.

But other major investors in Burma including Unocal which has a 28% stake
in 1 billion natural gas pipeline across the country are not budging.

        Students at dozens of universities have organized boycott campaign.
At Stanford, more than 2000 students signed petitions urging the
university to prohibit Taco Bell, which is owned by Pepsi, from opening a
restaurant a restaurant on campus.  Yesterday, Stanford said it gave the
restaurant contract to a different company, but denied it had anything to
do with the Burma protest.

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

REUTER: TRADER HELD FOR ILLEGALLY USING PHONES AND FAX
April 21, 1996, Rangoon

BURMA'S military government said it has arrested a leading
businessman for using telephones and fax machines without
permission, official newspapers reported yesterday.

State-run newspapers said James Leander Nichols, an
Anglo-Burmese, was arrested for using nine telephones and two fax
machines without permission of the Post and Telecommunication
Department.

"Action has been taken against him under existing laws," the
papers said.
     
Authorities found the items when they searched his house on April
5, after receiving information from a "duty-conscious person,"
the papers reported without giving any more details.

Mr Nichols, who is also known as Leo, served as honorary consul
for Norway and as the contact person for Denmark, Finland and
Switzerland, diplomats in Bangkok said on Friday. .

Mr Nichols, 65, is also a close friend of Nobel Peace laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi, who was released from six years of house arrest
last July after being detained for her outspoken criticism of the
military rulers.

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

KNU: STATEMENT BY THE FIRST MEETING OF CENTRAL STANDING
COMMITTEE - THE ELEVENTH CONGRESS
April 22, 1996

OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
                          KAREN NATIONAL UNION
                               KAWTHOOLEI
     
     The first meeting of Central Standing Committee of the
Eleventh Congress of Karen National Union (KNU) was held from
April 8, 1996 to April 19. At the meeting an analysis of the
international and domestic situations, and work of the KNU was
made. Based on the findings in the analysis, we issue the
statement as follows;
     1. It is found that the situation of the Union of Burma has
not progressed, in reality, in accordance with the aspirations of
the ethnic nationalities and the entire people. Therefore the
forces involved in the march of events in Burma must continue to
make effort, on all sides, in order to bring about the real progress.
     2. We must clearly bear in mind that if the political and
economic changes are not in compliance with the aspirations and
interest of the ethnic nationalities and the entire people, the
country  can slide into a situation of greater danger, instead of
promoting national unity, stability and peace.
     3. The most important task for all concerned today is the
holding of a free and frank dialogue among the political forces
involved in the affairs of the country so as to establish genuine
and lasting national unity and peace. With new ideas and firm
determination, we must make the effort to clear all the obstacles
preventing the emergence of such a free and frank dialogue.
     4. As the KNU believes that free and frank dialogue is the
best means to resolve the problems of the country, the KNU shall
continue to keep in touch with all the political forces involved
in the affairs of Burma and cooperate with them at all possible levels.
     5. The KNU has started to hold dialogue with the SLORC so as
to resolve the problems peacefully, logically and in a reasonable
manner. Problems that have persisted for more than 40 years,
cannot be solved within a short period. However, since positive
results can be gained if the two sides hold discussions one time
after another, with foresight and perseverance we, the KNU, will
continue to endeavour for progress towards positive developments.

                                   Central Standing Committee
                                        Karen National Union

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

NATION: NEW SLORC ACTION SHOWS DEMOCRACY IN BURMA DISTANT
April 22, 1996
Reuter

Recent crackdowns by Burma's military government show democracy
is still a long way off for the Southeast Asian nation. diplomats
and commentators said.

New arrests of democracy supporters, intimidation, continued
refusal by the government to enter into dialogue with the
opposition and a clampdown on public gatherings over the past few
weeks are the latest sings the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council [Slorc] plans to keep its grip on power.

"All of these clampdown activities show the Slorc is pretty
secure of themselves," said one Bangkok-based diplomat.

The Slorc said through official media that it had arrested a
businessman, james Nichols, for using telephones and fax machines
without permission.

Nichols, an Angle-Burmese who for decades worked as honorary
consul or representative for several European nations, is a close
friend of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

In addition, the Slorc has given 21 political prisoners stiff
increases in their sentences for passing information on the
conditions in their jail to the United Nations, Amnesty
International said this month.

The 21 included four members of Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy [NLD] party. One of them was win Tin, a senior party
member.

Four other NLD supporters, including a well-known comedian, were
jailed in Burma's second city Mandalay after performing at Suu
Kyi's house. The reason for their arrest was not given, but the
entertainers had apparently mocked the Slorc in theirperformance.

An attempt by Suu Kyi to travel to Mandalay to attend the trial
of the four last month was stymied when the train coach she was
to travel in had mechanical problems.

The coach was detached from the rest of the train, which made the
trip to Mandalay without Suu Kyi and her supporters.

Suu Kyi, who said the train incident was an attempt by the
government to prevent her from being in touch with the people,
called for help from the international community.

"It is time the world knew what is going on in Burma today," she
said in a video message played to the 52nd session of the United
Nations Commission on Human rights in Geneva last week.
"It has come to the point when we have to worry, not simply about
the violations of human rights in Burma, but about the lawless
activities of the authorities," she said.

Authorities last week barred the NLD from holding a traditional
Buddhist New Year's ceremony and stopped hundreds of opposition
members from visiting Suu Kyi.

"I think the authorities did not allow us to meet because they
were worried that the world would know how popular we are among
the people," Suu Kyi said late on Saturday to thousands of people
who attended a regular weekend gathering at her house.

Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate, has received no response
to repeated calls for dialogue with the Slorc.

* Agence France-Presse adds from Rangoon: Bo Tauk Htain, a member
of the "30 comrades' who fought for independence and formed the
nucleus of the Burmese army, has died aged 87 in his native town
of Pyinmana, a state newspapers reported on Saturday.

Bo Tauk Htain, also known as Thakin San Mya, received top state
honours for his role in the independence struggle. He died on
April 18 and was cremated on Saturday, a brief obituary notice
from the family said.

The 30 comrades, whose Burmese Independence Army was officially
formed during a ceremony in Bangkok in 1941, were led by Aung
San, father of the current in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi.

With Bo Tauk Htain's demise, only five of the original 30
comrades remain, including Ne Win, who took power in a 1962 coup
d'etat and ruled until 1988 as head of the military-dominated
Burma Socialist Programme Party.

Aung San was assassinated shortly before Burma gained its
independence from the British on Jan 4, 1948.

Bo Tauk Htain entered politics after independence and was a
member of parliament from the central Burman Pyinmana
constituency until the 1962 coup.

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

THE NATION: BURMESE ATTACK KARENNI ON FRONTIER
April 22, 1996  AFP

BURMESE forces have launched attacks for the past five days
on new ethnic Karenni positions near Thailand, the last border posts
the small rebel group holds, a Karenni source said yesterday.

Karenni soldiers were forced to abandon their former
positions around Kaukkauk in Burma's eastern Kayah (Karenni)
state opposite Mae Hong Son, on March 29, the source said by
telephone from Mae Hong Son.

They moved to set up newpositions with their backs to the
border around Hway Markay, not far from Kaukkauk in the
south of Kayah State opposite the Mae Hong Son town of Khun
Yuam, he said. Since then there have been occasional
guerrilla clashes in the area, but concerted attacks on the
new positions began on April 16. Burmese troops crossed Thai
territory to attack the rebels from the rear on April 17, he said.

The daily fighting continued as of Saturday, but the source
had not yet received reports from the field yesterday. (TN)

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

BKK POST: VILLAGERS ROBBED BY SUSPECTED KARENS
April 22, 1996

TWO villagers driving along Tha Song Yang-Mae Sariang
Highway were robbed of about 3,000 baht in cash and
valuables by bandits they suspected to be Karens.

Apichart Leechomrat, 40 and 48-year-old Payap Singprasert,
of Tambon Mae Tan in Tha Song Yang, told police two armed
flagged down their pickup truck between km 148-149 on the
route on Saturday.

The robbers threatened them with AK-47 assault rifles and
forced them to hand over cash and valuables before escaping
to a nearby jungle, the two victims said.

Police from the 344th Border patrol Police unit were sent to
the scene of the attack but the raiders could not be located.
The two men said they believed the robbers may be members of
the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

In another development, the 4th Infantry Regiment will today
call a meeting with 20 representatives from relevant agencies. (BP)

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

NATION: KAREN SHOOT THAI WOMAN DEAD ON ROAD NEAR BORDER
April 20, 1996  (abridged)

TAK - Armed Karen Buddhist guerrillas from Burma intruded into
Thailand early yesterday morning to kill and rob a 26-year-old
Thai woman who was driving along the border highway.

Border Patrol Police sources in Tak's Tha Song yang district said
Rungthip Rertnraek was driving alone at about 1 am when members
of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) fired an AK-47 at
her car, killing her.

The incident took place close to Baan Mae Tan and only about 1.5
kilometres from the Tha Song Yang district seat.

Police found Rungthip's body in the car which had skidded off the
road. Her relatives said the robbers had taken about Btl,000, a
gold necklace and a gold ring.

Sources said Thai authorities believed her assaitants, believed
to number about 10, crossed the Moei River into Thailand from the
Mawpoke camp, which is opposite Tha Song Yang district.

They added that the DKBA had resorted to violent robberies in
Thailand because of a severe shortage of food. The Burmese junta
had stopped sending them supplies.

Thai restrictions on the importation of logs from Burma also
stripped the DKBA of its main source of income, adding to the
group's financial predicament, they said.

Many DKBA soldiers had disobeyed their superiors' orders and
ceased cooperating with Burmese authorities, they added.

Meanwhile, Tak's Mae Ramat District Chief Manit Srivorakul and
local police early yesterday morning arrested a group of 42
illegal Karen immigrants, including three children, while they
were trying to travel to Bangkok for employment.

They also arrested Pa Nu Li Chotrotubonkul, 33, and Loi Fo, 42,
and charged them with illegally hiring and trafficking in illegal
immigrants.

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

LOS ANGELES TIMES: LETTER - AUNG SAN SUU KYI
April 21, 1996
From: ktint@earthlink.net (Kyaw Tint)

Thank you for publishing Scott Kraft's interview with Aung San Suu Kyi
(Opinion, April 14).
I was most impressed by the fact that she felt most free while she was
under house arrest. I do not feel free either, while my native country is
still being ruled by a harsh military regime. I cast a vote for Suu Kyi
from afar by giving up my right to visit Burma as long as this military
regime is in power.
I hope I will feel free, like Suu Kyi, for making a free choice. I pray
that more people of the free world will take a stand and make more free
choices to free the rest of the world from tyranny.

Desmond B. Chiong
San Marino

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

BKK POST: BURMA REQUESTS BORDER OPENING
April 21, 1996
Mae Hong Son

BURMA has requested Thailand open the border pass at Ban Huay:
Pueng to alleviate the shortage of commodities affecting its
people along, the border, said a source.

The request was lodged with provincial governor Somjet
Viriyadarnrong at his meeting Thursday with Burmese i border
officials at Ban Ho Muang in  Shan State, he said.

The opening would promote trade and help Burmese residents along
the border who are facing a shortage of basic commodities.

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

BKK POST: RANGOON FREES FIRST BATCH OF 34 PRISONERS
April 20, 1996 (abridged)

THE first group of 34 Thai prisoners released by Rangoon to mark
His Majesty the king's Golden Jubilee arrived home yesterday.
All 34 are crew members of Thai fishing trawlers caught fishing
illegally in Burmese waters.
     
Burma agreed during a recent visit by Prime Minister Banharn
Silpa-archa to release a total of 100 Thai prisoners. A second group of
33 will fly home on Monday and the remainder on Wednesday.

The 100 have been under the care of the Thai Embassy in Rangoon
since their release last week from Insein Prison, said Nuttavudh Photisaro.

Bounleu Thongchai, 55, who spent three years and nine months in
jail for illegal fishing in Burmese waters, expressed relief at being freed.
He told reporters the problem would not be solved until Thailand
and Burma joined hands in fisheries.

Foreign Ministry Assistant Permanent Secretary Chirasak Thanesnant,
echoed Mr Rounleu, saving joint efforts by the two countries were the
only way to put a stop to Thai nationals being arrested by Burma.

Some 100 Thai nationals, most of them fishermen, remain in prison
in Burma.

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

WWW: MYANMA COMPUTER COMPANY HOME PAGE
April 13, 1996
From: Gijs Hillenius <gijsh@xs4all.nl

 Welcome to our test web site on the internet!
* Visit MCC Font Page to take an overview of our language and
    software
* Visit MCC Wallpaper Page to download free .BMP wallpapers
 
MCC, previously stands for Micro Computer Courses since 1986, was
reformed into Myanma Computer Company, Ltd. We, with nearly 100
employees, are now producing hundreds of computer literates every month.
 
 May we contribute you 1 of our Myanmar / Burmese Fonts FREE? We are
distributing our WIN Innwa Font for Windows for internet citizens and
friends. WIN Myanmar Systems are the most widely used systems all over
our nation. It's user friendly. You'll love it. So good luck!
 
MYANMA COMPUTER CO, LTD
 Mail: 317 Maha Bandoola Street, Botataung, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
 Tel: +95-1-94728
 Fax: +95-1-94724
 Email: MccLtd@aol.com
 HomePage: http://users.aol.com/mccltd/mcc.htm

