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"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" 
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The BurmaNet News: October 30, 1996
Issue #554

HEADLINES:
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THE NATION: SLORC FAILS TO ESCAPE EU CURBS
BKK POST: UN URGED TO OUST REGIME
REUTERS: ACTIVISTS URGE ASEAN TO PUT PRESSURE ON BURMA 
MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: DAW SUU'S LETTER FROM BURMA 
REUTERS: NIPPON OIL, TEXACO PLAN BURMA NATURAL GAS 
REUTERS: BURMA STILL NEGOTIATING PURCHASE OF CRUDE.
THE NATION: DISSIDENT STUDENTS SEE BATTLE WITH SLORC 
BKK POST: KAREN REBELS TO HOLD CEASEFIRE TALKS WITH SLORC 
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THE NATION: SLORC FAILS TO ESCAPE EU CURBS
October 29, 1996 (abridged)
Nation and Agencies

Rangoon - The Burmese junta yesterday released a senior opposition member of
the National League for Democracy (NLD), just a few hours before the
European Union (EU) adopted a package of sanctions which includes a visa ban
on all military leaders and the ir families. Shortly after his release, Kyi
Maung went to the house of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 

"The authorities (yesterday) sent U Kyi Maung home at 12:35 pm after calling
(him) in for questioning," the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok said in a press
release yesterday. The statement also said that the police had lifted the
blockade on the road to Suu Ky i's home, which has been in place for most of
the past month. 

A senior military officer alleged that Suu Kyi's party was involved in
plotting the demonstration and that Kyi Maung had met two student protesters
at Suu Kyi's home beforehand. 

Asked why Kyi Maung's interrogation had taken so long, the officer, who
asked not to be name, said that he "would have been sent home much earlier
if there had been no threats or demands for his release from outside". 

In Luxembourg yesterday, EU foreign ministers stepped up their pressure on
the ruling Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) by
adopting a package of sanctions. The sanctions require EU governments to
turn down visa applications from Slor c members, their families or from
senior military and security officials. 

The ministers also introduced a ban on high-level governmental contacts and
reaffirmed measures already taken against Slorc, including the expulsion of
all military personnel from Burmese embassies in EU states, the withdrawal
of EU military attaches from Rangoon and an arms embargo covering munitions
and military equipment. 

They also agreed to continue the suspension of all bilateral development
programmes, with the exception of humanitarian assistance and projects to
relieve poverty and promote human rights. 

In a statement, the ministers expressed concern at the absence of progress
towards democracy and at the continuing violation of human rights in Burma,
noting that Slorc had demonstrated no willingness to respond to EU or United
Nations' concerns. 

In particular, the ministers said that the EU " deplores the practice of
torture, summary and arbitrary executions, forced labour, abuse of women,
political arrests, forced displacement of the population and restrictions on
the fundamental rights of freed om of speech, movement and assembly."

They called on Slorc to "enter into meaningful dialogue with pro-democracy
groups with a view to bringing about national reconciliation." 

Officials acknowledged that the sanctions are largely symbolic and are
unlikely to have much impact on the regime. Denmark has led a campaign to
get the EU to go further and adopt economic sanctions against Rangoon, but
this has so far been resisted by Britain, France and Germany.

In Tokyo, Japan's Vice-Foreign Minister Sadayuki Hayashi told a news
conference that Japan will continue to keep an eye on Burma's political
situation. 

He said that Tokyo is ready to urge Slorc to imporve ties with Suu Kyi's NLD
when deemed necessary. 

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

BKK POST: UN URGED TO OUST REGIME
October 29, 1996

Asian advocates of democracy in Burma plan to call on the United Nations to
expel the country's military junta form the UN General Assembly. 

The UN should "take immediate steps to eject the Slorc (State Law and Order
Restoration Council ) from the assembly on the grounds that the Slorc is not
the legitimate government of Burma", the activists said in the draft of a
declaration expected to be released tomorrow.

The "Alternative Asean Declaration on Burma" is being finalised at a two-day
meeting opening in Bangkok today that has drawn human rights activists,
trade unionists and academics within and outside Asean, as well as members o
of Burma's pro-democracy mov ement.

An independent source noted that as the UN comprised sovereign states only
countries, not regimes, Slorc could be expelled from its assembly, which
meets yearly. Yugoslavia was the last UN member to be expelled from the
assembly, after South Africa. 

The draft declaration also urges Asean to review its position on Burma,
saying Asean membership would provide the Slorc with a "defacto licence" to
continue its "attacks" on Burmese people. 

Asean gave observer status to Burma in July, but remains undecided and
divided on when to integrate it into the organisation. The Slorc stepped up
pressure on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters after
applying for full membership of t he grouping in August.

The activists' draft declaration also calls on the international community
to ban promotion of the Slorc's Visit Myanmar Year "until the human rights
situation improves in that country". 

Spearheaded by the Asian Fourm for Human Rights and Development (Forum
Asia), the activists also plan to launch an "Alternative Asean Network" to
mobilise regional support for democracy in Burma. 

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

REUTERS: ACTIVISTS URGE ASEAN TO PUT PRESSURE ON BURMA 
October 29, 1996

BANGKOK, Oct 29 (Reuter) - Asian human rights activists urged southeast
Asian nations on Tuesday to follow the United States and Europe and put more
pressure on Burma's military rulers over human rights abuses.

``We think the situation in Burma is getting worse,'' Somchai Homlaor,
secretary general of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, told
Reuters.

The seven-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ``should
work harder to put pressure on SLORC,'' he said, referring to Burma's ruling
State Law and Order Restoration Council.

The European Union imposed strict limits on Monday on contacts with SLORC
officials.

The action, similar to recent moves by Washington, bars visas to SLORC
members and their families and to some senior military members as part of a
build-up of pressure on Burma's ruling junta. The 15-member EU also
suspended all high-level EU visits to Burma.

Somchai was speaking before the start of a two-day ``Alternative ASEAN''
meeting involving more than 80 activists, academics and exiled Burmese from
50 organisations around Asia. 

The aim of the meeting was to discuss how ASEAN -- which groups Indonesia,
Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam -- could
better influence Burma. 

ASEAN has a policy of ``constructive engagement'' aimed at keeping Burma
from becoming isolated in order to try and reform it from within. Rangoon
has observer status to ASEAN and has applied to join the group at its next
formal meeting in July. 

Western nations oppose Burma's entry into ASEAN because of the military
regime's human rights record and its failure to enter into dialogue with the
opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel Peace laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Organisers of the Alternative ASEAN meeting welcomed the pressure on Burma's
military government by the EU and United States but said further steps
needed to be taken by Asian countries.

``It is the first step, but it is not enough. The international community
should put harder pressure on SLORC, like economic sanctions,'' said Gothom
Arya, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University and host of the
meeting. 

``ASEAN should do the same,'' he said. ``We are in a much more important
position, at least geographically. We are from the same culture ... As
neighbours to Burma we should do more.'' 

A Burmese official said on Monday that the EU move would have little impact
because Burmese officials did not travel much to the West.

The junta's latest crackdown on the democracy movement -- when it detained
573 activists to prevent an NLD meeting from taking place in late September
-- and detention last week of Kyi Maung, deputy chairman of the NLD, sparked
world condemnation. 

The SLORC has said all the activists have since been freed. Kyi Maung, 75,
was released on Monday after being held in a government guesthouse for a
week for questioning over his alleged role in a rare student protest.

ASEAN's constructive engagement strategy came into question earlier this
month when Philippine President Fidel Ramos said leaders of the group might
review the policy. His comments followed the fresh crackdown on the NLD. 

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

MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: DAW SUU'S LETTER FROM BURMA 
October 28, 1996
From: Carol Schlenker & Aung Thu <carol@gol.com> 

Mainichi Daily News, Monday, October 28, 1996 
Letter from Burma
By Aung San Suu Kyi

We regret to inform our readers that because of Suu Kyi's house arrest by
Burma's ruling junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the
democratic movement leader was unable to send her award-winning column,
"Letter from Burma" this week.

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

REUTERS: NIPPON OIL, TEXACO PLAN BURMA NATURAL GAS 
October 29, 1996

Nippon Oil Co Ltd said on Tuesday that it aims to start commercial
production of natural gas off Burma in 1999, together with Texaco Inc of the
United States and Britain's Premier Oil Plc. A Nippon Oil spokesman said the
three companies reached a basic agreement with Thailand and Burma on Tuesday
to sell 30,000 barrels per day worth of natural gas to Thailand.

The natural gas, from the offshore Yetagun gas field, will be sold to
Thailand's power utilities through the state-owned Petroleum Authority of
Thailand, he said.

The offshore field in the Andaman Sea, about 270 km (160 miles) west of
Thailand's Kanchanaburi province, should produce about 200 million cubic
feet per day.

The operator of the field is Texaco, which holds 50 percent of the gas
field's rights.

Premier holds 30 percent of the rights and Nippon Oil the remaining 20
percent. The Nippon Oil spokesman said he could not immediately provide an
estimate of the total cost of the project.

He said it would be the first time a Japanese oil company would be involved
in the commercial production of natural gas in Burma. 

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

REUTERS: BURMA STILL NEGOTIATING PURCHASE OF CRUDE.
October 29, 1996

RANGOON, Oct 29 (Reuter) - Burma is still holding informal negotiations to
buy low sulphur "sweet" crude with about five potential suppliers, mostly
Japanese firms, sources at the ministry of energy said on Tuesday. The
sources did not detail how much crude was being sought but told Reuters that
Marubeni Corp, Mitsui and Co Ltd and Mitsubishi Corp were among the firms
involved in the negotiations.

"We are negotiating with some reputable selected bidders, including our
former suppliers to supply crude to Myanmar (Burma)," said a senior ministry
official who declined to be identified.

When asked to elaborate on terms and conditions of the country's planned
purchase, the official said details were not available. But he added: "We
will import sweet crude only since all our refineries can only refine it."
Burma's crude oil imports amount to nearly $100 million annually, according
to official data. Demand for petrol has shot up in the country since car
imports have risen sharply in recent years. Last month, residents in Rangoon
said they were hit by a shortage of petrol and diesel oil which sparked
panic buying. At that time, Japan's Mitsui, a key supplier of crude to
Burma, said Rangoon was behind in some of its payments for crude oil and
diesel fuel sold under annual term contracts.

Mitsui said then that it had fulfilled all obligations on the term contract
which expired on September 7, including cargo loadings. Burma's military
government then denied there was a shortage of oil and said the rumours were
triggered by some manipulators who wanted to push up prices to make profits.
Private car owners in the country often have to rely on the black market to
top up their tanks as most are only permitted to buy two gallons of petrol a
week.

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

THE NATION: DISSIDENT STUDENTS SEE BATTLE WITH SLORC 
October 29, 1996
YINDEE LERTCHAROENCHOK

Dissident Burmese students have urged the international community to help
prevent a looming Burmese military offensive against their isolated camp in
Burma's northern Kachin State. 

In an interview on Sunday, Dr Naing Aung, chairman of the All Burma's
Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), said nearly 400 students and their
families at Naung Da Bar on the Sino-Burmese border have come under severe
military threat due to Burmese military manoeuvres close to their base in
the past few months. 

He said the students, who have been taking refuge in the controlled area of
the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) since 1988, have also come under
pressure from the Burmese junta to surrender. 

The ABSDF students in Kachin had to halt their military activities in the
area after the KIO struck a ceasefire deal with the ruling Burmese State Law
and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) on Feb 24, 1994. 

Naing Aung said the students in Kachin State are in urgent need of
protection against a Burmese attack as, unlike those residing on the
Thai-Burmese border, they are unable to flee into China for asylum. 

A senior KIO leader said yesterday that the overall situation in Kachin
State is normal and peaceful. He added that he did not know whether Slorc
planned to attack the students who are living in KIO territory and that it
is too early to say whether the K IO will assist the students if they are
attacked by the Burmese army. 

"It's a little too early to say if the KIO will protect the students in
Kachin state or not," said the KIO leader. 

Naing Aung said the ABSDF students decided at their congress in September to
neither open ceasefire negotiations with Slorc nor surrender. They are
determined to carry on with their political activities against the Burmese
junta. 

"The ABSDF is fully aware that the KIO will be unable to intervene in the
form of protection for the students in any way because of the limitations
imposed on them by the ceasefire agreement with the Slorc," he said. "We are
currently working hard toward s an appropriate political approach to this
situation." 

The student leader said the ABSDF is determined to save the students in
Kachin state and has worked out a rescue plan if they are attacked. But they
will stay need time and protection from the Kachihn group for passage out of
KIO territory. 

"If we have no other option, then we will move out of the area," he said. 

According to Naing Aung, the ABSDF still maintains some 2,000 members who
are residing in Chitin state, which is bordered by India on the West and
Thailand on its eastern frontier. 

He said students who are taking refuse in the Karen guerilla territory on
the Thai border have also come under military threat as the Burmese army has
been manoeuvring forces as part of its efforts to press the Karen group to
surrender. 

The Karen National Union (KNU), the only remaining armed group, has already
held three rounds of peace talks with Slorc. The group plans to send a
delegation to pursue the negotiations soon. 

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

BKK POST: KAREN REBELS TO HOLD CEASEFIRE TALKS WITH SLORC 
October 29, 1996
SUPAMART KASEM
TAK

The anti-Rangoon Karen National Union is to enter into ceasefire talks with
the Rangoon junta on November 17, a source said yesterday. 

Gen Bo Mya, the KNU president, took up Rangoon's offer after it was
discussed at a three day meeting of 25 Karen executives at the Htee Ka Per
base, opposite Umphang. 

The 25 member panel, chaired by Gen Bo Mya, assigned Lt Gen Tamalabaw to
lead the talks with the State Law and Order Restoration Council. 

It was agreed the KNU guerrillas will keep their arms and propose Slorc
withdraw its forces from around Karen -held areas. 

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

BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST

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

Campus activism:        zni@students.wisc.edu
Boycott campaigns: [Pepsi] ai268@freenet.carleton.ca     
Buddhism:                    Buddhist Relief Mission:  brelief@gol.com
Chin history/culture:        [volunteer temporarily away]
Fonts:                                  tom@cs.colgate.edu
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History of Burma:            zni@students.wisc.edu
International Affairs:   Julien Moe: JulienMoe@aol.com
Kachin history/culture:      74750.1267@compuserve.com 
Karen history/culture:  Karen Historical Society: 102113.2571@Compuserve.com
Mon history/culture:         [volunteer needed]
Naga history/culture:   Wungram Shishak:  z954001@oats.farm.niu.edu
Burma-India border            [volunteer needed]
Pali literature:                 "Palmleaf":  c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org
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Resettlement info:      refugee_help@mail.serve.com 
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Shareholder activism:       simon_billenness@mail.cybercom.net 
Total - France          Dawn Star: cd@utopia.EUnet.fr  
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Geographical Contacts:

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[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]
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