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


The BurmaNet News: July 29, 1996=20
Issue #476

Noted in Passing: =09=09                      =20
                          Self-help is the best help, as benefits brought b=
y outside=20
=09            help can only be marginal,said Suu Kyi (see: UPI: SUU=20
=09            KYI-DON'T- BLAME ASEAN)

HEADLINES:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
AP: SENATE OKS BURMA SANCTIONS
PRESS STATEMENT: US STATE DEPT BRIEFING
AP: U.S. SENATOR TO TRY PERSUADING HOUSE ON SANCTIONS
REUTERS: INDONESIA SAYS BURMA SANCTIONS UNHELPFUL
PRESS STATEMENT: MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ON ASEAN
REUTERS: JAPAN URGES BURMA DIALOGUE
UPI: SUU KYI-DON'T BLAME ASEAN
SLORC (NLM): NO LUSTRE LOST
THE NATION: POWER GAMES LEAVE RESIDENTS IN DARK
BKK POST: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT POLICY IS NOT NEW=20
NATION: ETHNIC KARENNI  APPEAL TO WEST, ASEAN FOR AID         =20
THE NATION: 2 WAY REFUGEE FLOW FRUSTRATES WORKERS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------

AP: SENATE OKS BURMA SANCTIONS
July 26, 1996 (abridged)
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

WASHINGTON - The Senate passed a $12.25 billion foreign aid
bill today that includes a measure imposing limited economic
sanctions against Burma.
       =20
The bill, approved 93-7, must be reconciled with a $11.9 billion
House version that passed in June, before it is sent to President
Clinton for signing.
       =20
With help from Republicans, the Clinton administration staved off
an attempt during Thursday's floor debate to make a total cutoff of
economic ties to Burma.=20

The sanctions proposal, sponsored by Sen. William Cohen, R-Maine,
was attached to the 1997 foreign aid bill, which also included a
measure to restore the administration's request for $213 million for
international drug-control efforts.

The Burma measure was supported by the Clinton administration.
The administration opposed a move to enact tougher sanctions by
barring all private and public U.S. investment in Burma.
       =20
The Cohen sanctions would take effect immediately; as an
additional penalty, the president would have to cut off all new U.S.
investment in Burma if he determined that the Burmese government had
harmed or exiled opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi or committed
large-scale repression or violence against the pro-democracy opposition.
       =20
By a vote of 54-45, the Senate defeated an attempt to kill
Cohen's measure. Cohen said his approach would enable the Clinton
administration to coordinate with Asian allies on an effective
policy supporting democratic change in Burma.
       =20
The Senate also adopted an amendment to the foreign aid bill that
would increase spending on international counter-drug efforts from
$53 million to the $213 million requested by Clinton. That
amendment, sponsored by Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Ga., but opposed by
many Democrats, was approved by a vote of 51-46.

In a letter to Cohen, the State Department expressed the
administration's support for his amendment and called it consistent
with current administration policy toward Burma,=20
      =20
Cohen's measure cuts off U.S. government assistance to the
Burmese government except for humanitarian aid, counter-narcotics
assistance under certain circumstances, and assistance in promoting
human rights and democratic values.
       =20
The sanctions, as proposed by Cohen, would last until the U.S.
president certified to Congress that Burma had made "measurable and
substantial" progress in improving human rights practices and
implementing democratic government.
      =20
Cohen, backed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Sen. Don
Nickles, R-Okla., and others, opposed a provision of the foreign aid
bill that would have taken a tougher stance against Burma by barring
any U.S. public or private investment there until Burma's military
rulers give up power and allow free elections.
       =20
Those favoring the tougher approach to Burma, led by Sen. Mitch
McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Daniel Moynihan, D-N.Y., argued during
floor debate Thursday that if the United States unilaterally cut off
ties to Burma, other countries - possibly including the European
Union - would follow suit.
       =20
McConnell called the Burmese regime "truly one of a handful of
pariah regimes in the world." He likened it to the Iranian, Iraqi,
Libyan and North Korean regimes.

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

PRESS STATEMENT: US STATE DEPT BRIEFING
July 26, 1996
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

MR. BURNS: =20
The first concern is the vote by the U.S. Senate last
night on a Burma sanctions amendment.  This amendment was
offered by Senator Cohen of Maine, and it provides the
Administration the flexibility that we need to press the
Burmese regime to make progress in the areas of democracy
and human rights and counter-narcotics.

For this reason, the Clinton Administration is very
much supporting the amendment offered by Senator Cohen.=20
It's an important amendment.  You remember this is an issue
that Secretary Christopher raised with all of our partners
at the ASEAN meetings this week in Jakarta.  The action
taken by the Senate is very much consistent with the message
that Secretary Christopher delivered in Jakarta this week,
and that is that the international community ought to be
concerned by the human rights situation in Burma and by the
actions of the Burmese Government to violate the human
rights of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League of
Democracy and others in Burma who stand for democracy and
human rights.

This amendment provides for sanctions on new U.S.
investment if the Government of Burma has physically harmed,
rearrested for political acts, or exiled Aung San Suu Kyi or
has committed large-scale repression or violence against the
democratic opposition.  We think that this flexibility given
to us by the Congress, this flexibility to undertake these
kinds of measures in the future should the authorities in
Burma cross a certain line, will be a helpful instrument to
U.S. diplomacy towards Burma.

We supported this amendment to send a very clear signal
to the military authorities in Burma that action against
Aung San Suu Kyi or large-scale repression of the opposition
will lead to a strong United States response.

Q:  On Burma, do you have any plan to send the two
envoys back to this region, and how do you assess the impact
on the neighboring countries, who are reluctant to impose
sanctions?

MR. BURNS:  Secretary Christopher had a very good
series of talks with our ASEAN partners in Jakarta this
week.  Ambassador Bill Brown, who was one of our two envoys
a month or so ago, was in Jakarta with the Secretary and
participated in some of those meetings and had his own
consultations.  So in effect we've just had a round of
consultations in Southeast Asia about this issue, and we'll
continue our efforts.

I think Secretary Christopher made clear that we
believe that democratic countries, free countries, have an
obligation to speak out when democrats are being victimized
by autocrats, which is what's happening in Burma, and that
we have an obligation to stand up for people whose voice is
not being heard.  Many members of the National League for
Democracy are not being allowed to speak out.

So the United States has taken a very strong position
on this, and now with the passage of the Cohen Amendment, we
have the flexibility to introduce very tough measures
against the Burmese authorities if we see that they take any
accelerated and tough measures against the National League
for Democracy and Aung San Suu Kyi.

We're very pleased to have this flexibility. We hope
that the authorities in Rangoon understand what this means.=20
To date, the United States has already taken a variety of
very strong steps against Burma.  We certainly have worked
to prevent the international financial institutions to put=20
forward economic assistance.  We are not encouraging American
investment in Burma.  We've taken a number of others
actions, but those actions will get tougher if we see more
anti-democratic steps directly against Aung San Suu Kyi and
her supporters.

Q:  Nick, on that subject, it was reported that the
Secretary said yesterday, I believe, that the U.S. will
further crack down on the Burma Government if the dissent
continues to be repressed in Burma.  Can you tell us what
other actions might the United States take?

MR. BURNS:  Let me just tell you that the Cohen
Amendment prohibits the issuance of visas to Burmese
Government officials.  It requires the United States to vote
against any assistance from the international and financial
institutions to Burma.  We've already been working on that
plane.  It allows for the time being some humanitarian
assistance, counter-narcotics assistance and assistance
promoting human rights and democracy to continue if the
Administration believes it's in our interests.

If the government gets tougher with the democrats in
Burma, then, of course, we could take action in any one of
these areas, given the flexibility of the Cohen Amendment,
to make it clear to the Burmese authorities that their
actions would not be cost-free.  These would be significant,
and sanctions that would prohibit new U.S. investment in
Burma would be, I think, felt in Burma and felt by the
government, and it would not be welcomed by them.

So they've got to think hard now about the consequences
to their relationship with the United States of their own actions.

Q:  What specifically would the trigger be to these
sanctions coming into force?

MR. BURNS:  The language of the amendment as passed
last evening says that if the Government of Burma has
physically harmed or rearrested for political acts or exiled
Aung San Suu Kyi or has committed large-scale repression or
violence against the democratic opposition, then the
Administration would have the flexibility to implement
sanctions against new U.S. investment.  That would be a very
tough measure indeed, and I think we have very clear
language from the Congress and very helpful language.

I should just put a cap on this by saying for a long
time now the Congress and the Administration have been
debating this issue.  You now have a unified American=20
position.  The Clinton Administration and Republicans and
Democrats in Congress are unified that the United States
should have these tougher measures available against Burma,
should that be necessary.

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

AP: U.S. SENATOR TO TRY PERSUADING HOUSE ON SANCTIONS
July 27, 1996
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

 WASHINGTON -- A key senator responsible for the Senate's fiscal '97=20
appropriations bill said Friday he will try to keep a provision calling for=
=20
sanctions on Burma in the final legislation that emerges from a House=20
Senate conference.

 Earlier in the day, the Senate passed an appropriations bill mandating a=
=20
denial of aid for Burma and imposing conditional trade sanctions on the=20
country. The House passed its fiscal '97 appropriations bill in June, but=
=20
the House version contains no mention of Burma sanctions.

 'I think the best we can do in conference is keep the Cohen amendment=20
(calling for conditional sanctions). It's better than nothing,' Sen. Mitch=
=20
McConnell told reporters. McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, chairs the=20
appropriations subcommittee responsible for foreign aid.

 McConnell had written language into the original appropriations bill=20
implementing a total investment ban on Burma, but the Senate Thursday=20
opted instead for limited sanctions.

 The Senate adopted an amendment, offered by Republican William Cohen of=20
Maine, that called for an investment ban in Burma if the country's ruling=
=20
military junta stepped up its oppression of human rights activists.

 The conditional sanctions could be waived if the president determines that=
=20
such a waiver would be in the 'national interest.' McConnell strongly=20
criticized this provision, noting: 'The weakness of the Cohen langauge is=
=20
that every aspect is waivable.'

 Nevetheless, the senator said he would support the Cohen amendment in=20
conference committee. Conferees for the bill haven't been appointed yet,=20
but McConnell's key position on the Appropriations committee virtually=20
guarantees he will be on the House-Senate conference team.

 McConnell said he hoped to get the House-Senate conference finished as=20
quickly as possible. Congress is expected to recess Aug. 3, so it is unlike=
ly=20
the conference would be finished by then.

 The senator may have a serious hurdle in keeping the Burma provision in=20
the final legislation. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert=20
Livingstone strongly opposes including sanctions measures in=20
appropriations bills, say Capitol Hill staffers, and he is expected to be o=
n=20
the House-Senate conference.

 McConnell said it is still unclear whether President Clinton will sign the=
=20
legislation.

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

AP: U.S. SENATOR TO TRY PERSUADING HOUSE ON SANCTIONS
July 27, 1996
From: ktint@earthlink.net

RANGOON, - Burma's army commander, in a reference to looming threats=20
of sanctions, said the country has long been self-reliant and national stre=
ngth=20
came from within.
    =20
General Maung Aye, in a speech published in official newspapers on
Saturday, said the Burmese people opposed "destructionists" who were trying
to engineer the imposition of sanctions against the country.
    =20
"The strength of the nation lies within," Maung Aye told army recruits
in the speech on Friday. "The nation has been self-reliant without
depending on external assistance with strings attatched."

Maung Aye, who is also a leading member of the ruling military body,
the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), said "destructionist
forces" were trying to create the conditions for economic sanctions to
further their aim of "grabbing power."
    =20
"Destructionists" is a term the military government uses to refer to
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for=20
Democracy (NLD) colleagues.
    =20
"Under the pretext of democracy and human rights they are creating
conditions to cause economic sanctions to be imposed on the country=20
and to hinder the visits of tourists and inflows of investment," the=20
general said.

Suu Kyi has called for sanctions to pressure the government to open
talks with the opposition on political reform.

She has frequently appealed to foreign businessmen to postpone investing=20
in the country, and for tourists not to visit, until democracy is restored.
    =20
Burma's Asian neighbours, among them some of its largest foreign
investors and leading trading partners, reject the calls for sanctions
saying they would be counterproductive and would be a set-back for the
chances of reform.

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

REUTERS: INDONESIA SAYS BURMA SANCTIONS UNHELPFUL
July 26, 1996 (abridged)
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

JAKARTA, - Indonesia said on Friday a decision by the U.S. Senate to=20
direct President Bill Clinton to impose economic sanctions on Burma if=20
repression increased was counterproductive.
        =20
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, speaking a day after
the end of the annual meeeting of ASEAN foreign ministers and
their Asian and Western dialogue partners, said it was ``only''
a decision of the Senate and appeared conditional.
        =20
``We will see how it develops in the Senate and in the House
(of Representatives) but we in ASEAN continue to think that
measures such as economic sanctions towards Myanmar (Burma)
would be counterproductive,'' Alatas said.
        =20
``(They) really would not be in order because we don't think
it will achieve even the objectives that have been pursued by
those who would exert or apply those economic sanctions,'' he said.

Suu Kyi called on Thursday for international sanctions to
press for political change.

 ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, some of Burma's biggest trading
partners.

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

PRESS STATEMENT: MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ON ASEAN
July 27, 1996
From: khleee@pc.jaring.my

DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY (Malaysia)
Press Statement by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-
General and MP for Tanjong, Lim Kit Siang, in Petaling Jaya=20

ASEAN should form a council to monitor developments  in Burma to show=20
the world that ASEAN nations are not oblivious to the issues of  democracy=
=20
and democratisation

The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the
Post-Ministerial Conference which ended in Jakarta on Thursday have=20
been a great disappointment on the issue of Burma, as the Myanmese=20
military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC),=20
was admitted as an observer member preparatory to admission as a full=20
ASEAN member.

ASEAN should form a council of eminent and respected citizens from the
respective member countries to monitor developments in Burma to show=20
the world that ASEAN nations are not oblivious to the issues of democracy=
=20
and democratisation in Burma, and the council's report and recommendations
should be an important factor before ASEAN takes the decision whether to
admit Burma under SLORC as an official member of ASEAN.

Such an ASEAN council to monitor democracy and democratisation in=20
Burma should be a natural and logical follow-up to the statement by the=20
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas to the media in Jakarta that Asean=
=20
is "not oblivious" to what is happening in Burma and was closely monitoring=
=20
the situation.

Ali Alatas had  said democracy in Burma remains an Asean aspiration but=20
"not a condition" to its membership in the association and attacked the=20
West for trying to dictate a homogeneous form of  democracy.

He added that while the basic values of democracy and democratisation=20
were universal in nature, Asean believes "democracy has different forms=20
as distinct from its values".

The vital question raised by ASEAN's decision to accord observer status =20
to SLORC at the series of ASEAN meetings in Jakarta immediately after=20
the anti-democracy crackdown by SLORC in May is not whether ASEAN=20
should knuckle down to Western pressures, but  whether ASEAN is=20
completely oblivious to the very  value of democracy itself,  even after=20
conceding that democracy must take different forms n different societies.

It is most deplorable that the ASEAN leaders do not seem to have realised=
=20
or are oblivious of the fact  that their decision to accord SLORC ASEAN
observer status immediately after the anti-democracy crackdown since=20
May would be regarded by Myanmese military junta as an international=20
vindication of its repressive policies against the pro-democracy movement=
=20
in Burma, and would make SLORC even more intransigent and take a=20
more hardline position against democratisation in  the future.

This is all the more reason why ASEAN should establish a council to=20
monitor democratisation in Burma, so as to make clear three issues:

=B7 Firstly, that ASEAN nations are not oblivious to the issues of democrac=
y
and democratisation in Burma and that the ASEAN 'constructive=20
engagement' policy is not a cynical policy to garner profits for ASEAN but=
=20
has a "democracy and human rights" dimension;
=20
=B7 Secondly, that the ASEAN decision to accord observer status to SLORC=20
must not be taken as approval or blessing for the SLORC anti-democracy=20
crackdown in May or a blank cheque for repressive policies in Burma; and
=20
=B7 Thirdly, a clear signal to SLORC that the decision on its admission as =
an
official ASEAN member would be dependent on the progress of=20
democratisation in Burma, including whether SLORC is prepared to start=20
a dialogue with the opposition led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi=20
and pave the  way for democracy in Rangoon.=20

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

REUTERS: JAPAN URGES BURMA DIALOGUE
July 26, 1996
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

SINGAPORE - Japan has urged Burma to start
a dialogue with the opposition led by Nobel laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi and pave the way for democracy in Rangoon, a senior
Japanese official said on Friday.
        =20
Ken Shimanouchi, deputy director-general for public
information of Japan's Foreign Ministry, told reporters the
proposal was conveyed by Japanese Foreign Minister Yukihiko
Ikeda to Burmese foreign minister Ohn Gyaw after the annual
ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting in Jakarta early this week.
        =20
``Japan hopes the SLORC (Burma's State Law and Order
Restoration Council) and the National League for Democracy can
overcome current tensions and initiate dialogue on the
democratisation of Myanmar (Burma),'' Shimanouchi said.
        =20
He did not comment on the vote in the U.S. Senate directing
President Bill Clinton to impose economic sanctions on Burma if
that nation's military rulers increased repression of
pro-democracy leaders.

Shimanouchi said Japan believes a new constitution being
drafted in Rangoon ``should absorb the wide range of views'' in
Burma.
        =20
A Japanese foreign ministry official said Ikeda urged
Burma's government to work with Aung San Suu Kyi, but this was
received coolly by Ohn Gyaw.

Japan is the biggest aid donor to Burma, and has so far held
off from using its aid of about $140 million a year as a lever
in ensuring the country moves towards democracy.

``We are looking at the situation in Myanmar (Burma) very
closely. We are approaching the question of more aid to Myanmar
very cautiously,'' Shimanouchi said.

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

UPI: SUU KYI-DON'T BLAME ASEAN
July 28, 1996 (abridged)
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

RANGOON, - Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi asked her=20
supporters not to blame their problems on others at a speech outside her=20
residence Saturday night.
       =20
The pro-democracy advocate was responding to a letter from a law student=20
who complained that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or=20
ASEAN, had ignored Burma's economic hardships and its poor human rights=20
record. But Suu Kyi urged the 5,000 people who braved a steady drizzle not=
=20
to look at the group in that manner.
       =20
"Burma's troubles were not caused by ASEAN, but had their origin
right here in Burma," she said in a thinly veiled reference to the
nation's ruling military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration
Council, or SLORC. "So we should not blame others for our woes."
       =20
Instead, Suu Kyi advocated a do-it-yourself approach to national=20
improvement.
       =20
"We should help ourselves before we can expect help from others,"
she said, adding that she had been criticized for speaking out
against foreign aid for her nation.
       =20
"My critics accused me of lack of sympathy for our suffering people,=20
arguing that foreign assistance can bring benefits to the people," she said=
.=20
"Self-help is the best help, as benefits brought by outside help can only b=
e=20
marginal."
       =20
However, in another jab at SLORC, Suu Kyi said such improvement
would be difficult without political freedom.
      =20
"The people need freedom to be able to solve their own problems. How can=20
you expect the people to be able to do their best if they do not have freed=
om,=20
if they are kept blind or crippled," she said to vigorous applause.
       =20
"If we can solve our own problems and bring about the progress of our=20
country  by ourselves, other nations will respect us, have confidence in=20
us and will come forward with offers of assistance."

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

SLORC (NLM): NO LUSTRE LOST
July 21, 1996 (The New Light of Myanmar-editorial)
From: strider@igc.apc.org

Even if it is sunk in mud, a ruby does not lose its lustre, or so the
saying goes. Where Myanmar as a nation and a people has to be weighed=20
in the strength of its integrity and worth, it always comes out the winner.
Take for instance the warm hand of hospitality extended to Myanmar
acknowledged by our Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw on behalf=20
of the 45-million-plus citizens. Despite the cacophony of unworthy
utterances made by those who wish us ill, those who would set Asian up
against Asian, acting like the proverbial dog in the manger, Asians know
what to do when their cohesion and long-term interests are jeopardised.

The Ceremony for the Admission of Myanmar as Observer of ASEAN,
according to wire services, was held at 11.30 am on 20 July 1996 at the
Jakarta Convention Centre in the Presence of His Excellency Mr Ali
Alatas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and
Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, the Foreign Ministers of=20
ASEAN countries, His Excellency Dato Ajit Singh, Secretary-General of=20
ASEAN, U Ohn Gyaw himself and members of the Myanmar delegation.=20
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Alatas stated that ASEAN greatly welcomed=20
Myanmar's admission as Observer and ASEAN look foward to closer=20
cooperation with Myanmar. In his turn, Myanmar's Minister for Foreign=20
Affairs recalled that at the 28th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held this
month last year, Myanmar intimated its desire to become an Observer.=20
He also added that acceptance as an Observer this year has brought=20
Myanmar a step closer to ASEAN's ultimate goal of one Southeast Asia.=20
U Ohn Gyaw also took the occasion to reiterate Myanmar's commitment=20
to the ideals and objectives of ASEAN and thanked the member countries=20
for their unanimous support for Myanmar. Regardless of the wedgework,=20
the rhetoric and wiles of those who interfere in the internal affairs of=20
Asian nations, or of the region, there is always the staunch conviction=20
that blood is thicker than water and that Asian unity or ASEAN unity=20
will bring greater benefits. When our Head of State, Senior General Than=20
Shwe attended the Meeting of ASEAN Heads of Government and Heads=20
of Government of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, the consolidation of=20
leadership of the `Asian Ten', soon to become the `ASEAN Ten' was=20
imminent. In bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation, Myanmar=20
and ASEAN, which will include itself, there will be greater chances for=20
Asian regional assistance and co-prosperity. Asians are one. ASEAN=20
nations are one.=20

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

THE NATION: POWER GAMES LEAVE RESIDENTS IN DARK
July 26, 1996 (abridged)

Electricity shortages are hampering the military government's=20
efforts to kick start the moribund economy, BR Lee writes from Rangoon.

Blackouts occur almost daily in Rangoon. Observers say power=20
outages illustrate a fundamental weak-link in the government's=20
drive to join Asean, legitimise their power, and profit from=20
foreign investment. Power outages are a drag at every level.=20
Factories lose production. Musicians lose a song in mid-
recording. Hotels lose guests. People lose patience and belief in=20
a brighter future.

But many foreign business-people testing the investment waters in=20
Burma say they cannot afford to be patient and laugh. They say=20
privately that they worry about investing money in a country that=20
can't even guarantee the electricity flow into the capital, let=20
alone other cities. "Burma isn't the only economy in the region,"=20
says one Asian businessman. "Even the power situation in Cambodia=20
is better than here."

He comments that the blackouts are only the symptom; the disease=20
is the political system and the inefficiency it encourages. "The=20
politics of electricity are very complicated. Electricity is only=20
coming from two places north of Rangoon. If the Karen of other=20
minorities want to cut off the power supply to the government and=20
Rangoon, it's very easy."

The first problem, explains a Singaporean involved in=20
infrastructure projects, are the electrical wires themselves. "We=20
don't know for sure, because this isn't an information society,=20
but there are rumours that he electrical wires are old ones from=20
China. People here believe that Chinese technology is not so=20
good. So when the power goes out, they blame their government,=20
and they blame China."

"I believe it too," he adds.

"The wires are old and very easy to break. The government knows=20
this also. This is why the government people we meet say they=20
want legitimacy," he adds. "They want technology from more=20
highly-developed countries to replace the technology from China.=20
They want to have the appearance of having a civilian government,=20
so they can get money from IMF and ADB for infrastructure=20
projects," he said referring to the International Monetary Fund=20
and the Asian Development Bank.

"But the problem is Aung San Suu Kyi, they don't trust her. They=20
want anybody but her."

The Rangoon businessman, however, says the problem is much deeper=20
than political appearances and the quality of cables. "The=20
problem is at the bureaucratic level. If you are a hotel owner,=20
for example, and you want the electricity fixed in your area, you=20
have to have connections in the government.

You have to call up a colonel and say 'Hello. Can you do us a=20
favour.' If that colonel has enough money and influence, he can=20
make the repair crews go to work and fix the cables. But=20
somethings the colonel has to wait, because the power is out in=20
many places, and there are many colonels.

"There is corruption at every level. The colonel must get a=20
bribe. His superior, who can make the repair order, must get a=20
bribe. And then the repair crew must get a bribe. Everybody=20
want's to eat."

"This is why privatisation is the solution," he says. "This is=20
why we talk about revolution by privatisation."=20

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

BKK POST: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT POLICY IS NOT NEW=20
July 27, 1996

THE Cabinet's recent decision to allow illegal immigrants already
in the country to work legally in 39 provinces is not a new policy.

Following the political upheaval in Burma in 1962, some 40,000
Burmese refugees were allowed into Thailand temporarily to work
in nine border provinces pending repatriation.

The Interior Ministry announced on March 9, 1976 that any Burmese
entering Thailand after that day would be considered illegal
immigrants and would be arrested and punished for illegal entry.

In 1991, the Labour Department proposed that the Interior
Ministry permit at least 10,000 Burmese illegal immigrants in
nine provinces to continue their work. However, the ministry
rejected the proposal for fear that those from other neighbouring
countries such as Cambodia and Laos would enter Thailand.

In 1988, however, the National Security Council agreed to work
out measures concerning illegal Burmese immigrants.=20
    =20
According to regulations approved by the Cabinet on March 17,
1992 illegal immigrants were permitted to work in only four
provinces affected by a labour shortage such as Ranong, Tak,
Kanchanaburi and Chiang Rai.

In addition, 10 other border provinces must register illegal
aliens entering Thailand after March 9, 1976 and all business
operators in these provinces were required to employ the
registered immigrants to do 27 jobs, but only when they cannot
find Thai labour.

At that time, 100,365 illegal immigrants were registered and
their employers were required to put up 5,000 baht guarantee for
each worker thev hired.

Last year, the Employment Department announced a plan to
distribute work permits to illegal foreign workers. Until last
September, only 1-283 Burmese illegal immigrants out of 33,912
applicants received permits.
    =20
Due to the shortage of unskilled labour and the problems caused
by uncontrollable illegal immigrants, the Cabinet agreed on June
25, 1996 to allow 717,689 Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian
immigrants in 39 provinces to work in the fields of fisheries
agriculture, construction, industry and water transportation for two years.
              =20
On July 16, 1996, the Cabinet agreed to extend the same work
permits to another 200,000 immigrants in Nonthaburi, Saraburi,
Pathum Thani and Lamphun.

Amid opposition from many unionists, National Security Council
deputy secretary-general Kachadpai Buruspat defended the
Cabinet's decision, saying that it was meant to put the illegal
immigration problem under control.
    =20
"We never considered the entrepreneurs' complaints about the
shortage of unskilled labour as there was no precise information
about it. Now the Thailand Development Research Institute is
conducting a survey. Thus, I want to explain that this policy is
aimed at putting illegal immigrants into order at a certain level," he said=
.
    =20
However, Mr Kachadpai said he could not estimate when and how the
problem of illegal immigrants would be solved, adding that this
phenomenon occurs worldwide as people usually migrate to another
country in the quest for a higher standard of living.
    =20
********************************************************

NATION: ETHNIC KARENNI  APPEAL TO WEST, ASEAN FOR AID         =20
July 27, 1996

BURMA'S ruling junta has forced 70,000 - 75,000 ethnic Karenni out
of their villages and into eight relocation sites without medicine or=20
sufficient food supplies and shelter, Karenni sources said yesterday.

More than 100 people have already died in the relocation sites in
Burma's eastern Kayah state because of the poor conditions and
the lack of any assistance from the military, a Karenni National
Progressive Party statement said.

The party appealed to the governments of the United States, the
European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to
urgently open a fact-finding mission and send relief teams before
hundreds more died.

Martial law and a 6 pm curfew have been imposed on the sites and
major towns, and curfew violators are shot on sight, a Karenni
source said by telephone from Mae Hong Son, across the border
from Kayah.

 Informed sources in Thailand confirmed  that the Burmese junta
had pushed at least  60,000 from their homes since late May  and
that another 10 000 had been threatened with relocation if a
single shot was fired against the military.=20

More than 3,000 Karenni fled across rugged territory to refugee
camps along the Thai border, but the flow was stemmed  after
Burmese troops blocked the border passes, the sources said.

Most of those in the relocation sites were women, children and
old people, the Karenni source said.

"The men and older youths are hiding in the jungle. They refuse
to go to the concentration camps [relocation sites] because they
know what it is like there," he said. "But the situation will
soon become desperate as the Slorc soldiers are burning the rice
barns" in the jungle outside the villages, he said, referring to
the junta's official title, the State Law and Order Restoration Council.

Hundreds of villages have been destroyed in the scorched-earth
campaign in Kayah and a similar one in Shan state to the north,
where more than 80,000 ethnic Shan have been affected. The
government campaigns, designed to cut armed groups off from their
bases, were made possible by a series of military successes
against ethnic Karen guerrillas in the South last year and by the
January surrender of the opium warlord Khun Sa and most of his army.

Burma participated in the Asean Ministers Meeting in Jakarta and
associated conferences that ended on Wednesday for the first time
as a  full observer, though Western dialogue partners called for
changes in Slorc's political and human rights practices.=20

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

THE NATION: 2 WAY REFUGEE FLOW FRUSTRATES WORKERS
July 26, 1996 (abridged)

As the UNHCR nears the final repatriation of Burmese Muslims who=20
fled to Bangladesh in 1991 more are lining up to cross the border.=20

The Rangoon ,military government has long denied reports of ill-
treatment of minority Muslims, or Rohingyas, in its impoverished=20
northern province of Rakhine.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that=20
5,500 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since March, while other=20
relief agencies say there may be up to 10,000.

The influx is something of an embarrassment for the UNHCR, trying=20
to meet its target of repatriating the last 50,000 of 250,000=20
Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh in 1991 and 1992.

The UN agency, keen to anchor the 200,000 returnees to their=20
villages and head off any fresh exodus, fears that any move to=20
help the newcomers will spur others to follow. "If we give food=20
to this group, we'll attract 50,000 more the next day," UNHCR=20
representative Vanh Nguyen-Tang said in Dhaka. "We don't want to=20
create a 'pull' factor."

Bangladesh, at first unwilling to admit the existence of any=20
newcomers, now says they are illegal immigrants fleeing poverty,=20
not persecution, and must be deported. UN officials said economic=20
conditions for Rohingyas, mostly uneducated farm workers, had=20
worsened after a cyclone in November cut rice out put by up to 20=20
per cent. Rangoon helped push up prices by demanding the same=20
rice tax as before.

"This two-way traffic of influx and repatriation has created a=20
very old situation," said Dick van der Tak, representative of the=20
medical relief agency Medicines sans Frontiers. "We're afraid=20
that if everyone classifies them as economic migrants, we'll lose=20
sight of the context - the reasons for their poverty and the=20
whole human rights situation in Burma."

The UNHCR, yet to define its policy on the newcomers, hopes that=20
its staff stationed in mainly Buddhist Burma's neglected Rakhine=20
province can intercede with its military rulers to ease the=20
plight of Rohingyas and encourage them to stay put.

"We have organised an information campaign asking people to=20
return to their villagers of origin and contacted the authorities=20
to provide transport back home," Tang said.

The 50,000 remaining refugees live under UNHCR protection in=20
camps run by Bangladeshi officials. They may not work, or leave=20
the camps without permits, but are relatively secure.

The new arrivals must seek shelter where they can and are=20
vulnerable to summary deportation and abuse.

In April, an attempt by a river patrol of the paramilitary=20
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to force a boatful of incoming Burmese=20
back across the river ended in disaster.

The boatman jumped overboard in the dark, the drifting boat=20
capsized after getting tangled in fishing nets and 15 people-=20
five women and 10 children - drowned.

Anjuma, a 12-year-old Rohingya girl who arrived in the second=20
week of May, said she had been gang-raped by three BDR soldiers=20
who had previously ordered her family and six others staying in a=20
village near Teknaf to return to Burma.

An examination by a doctor working for an international relief=20
agency appeared to confirm sexual assault. Major Lal Mohammad at=20
BDR headquarters in Teknaf said a military investigation was=20
under way. "If it is true that our soldiers were involved, they=20
will be punished," he added.=20

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