---------------------------------BurmaNet-----------------------------------
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"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: September 30, 1996
Issue #527

Noted in Passing: 
                
                ...The Tatmadaw has become an armed private enterprise serving 
                the private interest of "governmental warlords" and moneyed 
                interests       (see: NATION: ILLEGAL JUNTA CONTINUES ITS 
                BRUTAL RULE)

HEADLINES:
==========
STATEMENT: AUSTRALIA'S RESPONSE TO THE NLD CRACKDOWN
NATION: ILLEGAL JUNTA CONTINUES ITS BRUTAL RULE
UPI: BURMA JUNTA TARGETS COMPUTER LINKS
INSIDE NEWS: TV MYANMAR NEWS 
BRC-J: JAPAN SUPPORTS THE FBC OCTOBER FAST FOR BURMA
ANNOUNCEMENT: MASSACHUSETTS BURMA ROUNDTABLE - OCTOBER 1996
NATION: THAI MDK EYES BURMA, INDOCHINA
ARTICLE FOR THE NATION: SUHARTO'S BUSINESSES IN BURMA
SLORC WEBSITE: INFO. ABOUT MYANMAR.COM
HOW TO ADD YOUR HOME PAGE INTO SLORC HOME PAGE
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STATEMENT: AUSTRALIA'S RESPONSE TO THE NLD CRACKDOWN
September 28, 1996
From: azappia@spirit.com.au (Amanda Zappia)

Alexander Downer, Foreign Minister, Australia

The actions of the SLORC to suppress the NLD party congress on 27th
September are totally unacceptable, and yet another example of SLORC's total
disregard for normal political freedoms.  There are reliable reports that at
least fifty six NLD members of Parliament elected and more than thirty two
party organizers have been detained.  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior
party leaders have not been detained so far.

It appears that action was taken against the party congress to prevent
discussion of the NLD's proposed national constitution.  The constitution
the NLD is drafting in parallel with the constitution of the SLORC's
sanctioned national convention.

The Burmese authorities claim that the participants in the congress were
acting in contravention of a draconian decree the SLORC passed in June of
1996.  The SLORC used similar heavy handed tactics to disrupt the NLD's last
party congress in May 1996.  In the lead up to that congress 262 NLD members
were detained, the majority of MPs elected,  61 of these are still in
detention.  

I have asked our Ambassador in Rangoon to protest to the Burmese authorities
about these actions in the strongest terms.  In the meantime we will be
monitoring the situation closely to see what further action we should take.
I urge the SLORC to abandon its repression of non violent political
opposition and address its differences with the NLD in the spirit of
reconciliation and compromise.  I call upon it to release all those
detained immediately.

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

NATION: ILLEGAL JUNTA CONTINUES ITS BRUTAL RULE
September 27, 1996

Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe questions Slorc's right to rule Burma at gunpoint.

Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe is a son of the late Sao Shwe Thaike, the
first president of independent Burma from 1948-1952. This article
was contributed to The Nation.

Soldiers are, by definition, servants of  the people -
empirically, "servants" of,  within the bounds of constitutional
legality, the government of the day. This definition has been the
"universal" norm in modern times, an age where the sovereignty of
a nation is postulated upon the notion that power is vested in
"the people" as a whole, instead of in the hands of a person or
individuals who hold power (such as kings and ruling princes).

Even in pre-modern times, soldiers were not masters. They were
not really "soldiers", but armed servant-retainers of lords and
princes, and ultimately, of the king. This was the norm in the
days when rulers were universally thought of either as supra-
human beings anointed by God, or mandated by heaven to rule, or
as descendants of a mythical founder of the race, way back in the
mist of time. As a matter of historical fact, "soldiers" in the
ancient world occupied the lowest rung in the social hierarchy.

In many cases, their status was no better than serfs as most of
them were what one might now call prisoners-of-war". 
     
After the notion of scared rulers was swept aside (by the
American and French revolutions) and replaced by modern thoughts
and a new notion of sovereignty, soldiers gained greater dignity.
They became "servants" of the country and "the people" (rather
than armed servant-retainers of some individuals). The military's
role in modern times has been that of a sword arm of the state (or government).

Also, the notion that the military is sub-ordinated to civilian
authority is now a days firmly rooted even in countries that are
non-democratic (and are currently supporting Slorc rule). For
example, soldiers in Singapore, China, Malaysia, and even in
Thailand, are confined to barracks and subordinated to civilian
authority. In this connection, it is doubtful if "soldiers" such
as Khin Nyunt and  Slorc/Lorc bosses would have been tolerated by
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, had they been members of
Singapore's armed forces (and for that matter, it is doubtful
whether Lee would have fared as well, had he been born in Burma). 
     
What soldiers, especially officers, in Burma should therefore be
asking themselves is: why are neighboring leaders advocating and
defending military rule in Burma - when the same leaders have
kept their own soldiers firmly bottled up in barracks and
subordinated to civilian authority? Their support for military
rule in Burma, but not in their respective countries, looks very
suspicious. There is patently a very cynical game being played by
some people both with soldiers and the well-being and future of 
the people of Burma. 
     
Soldiers should also be concerned with how power usurpation and
plunder have harmed the Tatmadaw, and poisoned the atmosphere
within it. For example, every military transfer and posting in
Burma is nowadays tainted by allegations of gross corruption,
which reinforce the impression that all military officers are
corrupt, and thus are all without honor.

A case in point is the transfers of several zone commanders and
the replacements of general ministers (Bogyoke-Wungyis). These
changes have been dogged by allegations that the transferees were
"kicked upstairs" or fired" by the irrcorruptable Khin Nyunt for
putrid corruption. Their defenders however maintain that they
were removed precisely because they were not corruptible, or for
reasons that are unrelated to corruption. Nonetheless, their
names and good reputations - if what their defenders say is true-
have been tarnished beyond redemption (there are, incidentally, over 60).

Adding to the dishonor of the Tatmadaw is a very widespread
practice in Rangoon's high circle: Bogyoke-Wungyis pathetically
begging foreign investors (actually, profiteers) for
commissions, gifts, and jobs for sons and daughters (preferably
abroad) in exchange for signatures and concessions.

As a result, Burma's military rulers and officers have become
objects of contempt of businessmen, who are all well aware of the
fact that Slorc bosses are selling very cheaply the natural
resources they, legally speaking, do not at all own. In private,
they are appalled at the way military men are ruining a rich and
beautiful country, but being smart profit-takers, they do not 
at all mind SLORC's assistance in making it easy for them to make a quick buck.

Indeed, the behavior of military officers, especially those on
top, clearly contradicts SLORC's claim that the  military's sole
concern is defending the country and the national interest.

If that is indeed the case, there is absolutely no need for
soldiers to usurp power at gunpoint. Soldiers of other lands have
been able to defend and serve their country without installing
themselves as lords and masters. The fact of the matter is that
in a democratic Burma, soldiers will still be able to defend the
country, perhaps even more effectively and efficiently. An added
bonus is that they will be honored and admired by the people,
rather than hated s and reviled. 

At the heart of the crisis confronting Burma today is not the
question of whether soldiers have the right to defend the
country, or the right to be honored as such. Rather, the
question is whether armed men who call themselves "soldiers" have
the right to rule and exercise power at gunpoint; to accumulate
wealth at gunpoint; and to install themselves as masters of the
country and violate the rights of the men, women, and children of 
Burma at gunpoint.

The sad reality is that Burma is a country which, for quite some
time, does not have a genuine national army (or genuine
soldiers). Those who claim to be soldiers have long ago ceased to
be one. They have since 1962 (or even earlier), become armed
servant-retainers of one man. And with the collapse of Ne Win's
most peculiar brand of "socialism", the Tatmadaw has become an
armed private enterprise serving the private interest of
"governmental warlords" and moneyed interests. 

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

UPI: BURMA JUNTA TARGETS COMPUTER LINKS
September 27, 1996
From: John Hail <johnhail@mozart.inet.co.th>

RANGOON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Burma's military government has
promulgated a new law providing a jail term of up to 15 years to
anyone who imports, uses or possesses a computer modem or fax
without government permission, an official said Friday.

The Computer Science Development Law empowers the Ministry of
Communications, Posts and Telegraphs to determine the types of
computer equipment to be restricted, according to official media.
   
It said the Myanmar Computer Science council will be appointed
under the new law and empowered to approve the types of equipment
to be restricted.

   Analysts said the law appeared to be specifically aimed at
restricting the use of internal modems and fax modems that are
included with many new computers.

   They said the law reflected the dilemma of the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC) which wants to modernize the
country's fledgling computer industry while restricting the flow
of political information.

   Under the new law, anyone who imports, keeps or uses the
restricted equipment without the ministry's "prior sanction" will
be punished with a prison term of from seven to 15 year and/or a fine.

   The government-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar said the
same punishment is prescribed for anyone who sets up a link with
a computer network without the prior permission of the ministry,
or who uses computer network and information technology for
undermining state security, law and order, national unity
national economy and national culture, or who obtains or
transmits state secrets.

   A lesser punishment of between five and 10 years in prison is
laid down for anyone who imports and exports computer software or
information banned by the Myanmar Computer Science Council.

   Under the law the "prior sanction" requirement will be waived
for computers used as teaching aids or in office or business
work, the newspaper said.

   In July an honorary consul for several European countries, Leo
Nichols, died in prison after he was sentenced to a lengthy term
for illegal possession of fax machines.

   The death of Nichols, an Anglo-Burmese, triggered an avalanche
of criticism from the European Union.

   The ruling junta controls all mass media and has attempted to
ensure that the limited access to the internet available in the
country will does not provide unwelcome political information to
Burmese or a channel for providing information about internal
conditions to the outside world.

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

INSIDE NEWS: TV MYANMAR NEWS 
September 29, 1996

- In the past, NLD meetings requiring the use of load speakers had to apply for 
permission from the required authorities. In August 1989, a warning was
issued to the NLD. Stating that if this law was violated, the people responsible
would be reprimanded. 

After release of ASSK from under house arrest, the NLD refused to abide by this
law.

- During August,  ASSK met Ambassadors from France, Britain, Germany and Italy.

In August, ASSk met     US CDA          2 times
                        British Amb.            4
                        Australian Amb.         2
                        French  Amb.            2
                        UNDP    Rep.            2

                        British Amb. met with her                       3
                        Australian Amb.                         2
                        US CDA                          2
                        US Officer                              2

ASSK met news reporter  52 times and organized one Press Conference.

On June 2 and 4, a warning was issued to the NLD by Authorities ordering them
to discontinue weekends speeches, but the warning has gone unheeded.

ASSK has made false news reports, derogatory comments about SLORC, is trying to
divide the unity of the army and is also trying to stop foreign investment
and tourism 
to Myanmar. 

The NLD has been trying to hold conferences since May unsuccessfully.
The most recent conference has been coordinated with the US embassy in Rangoon
to coincide with the UN General Assembly. 
The founding day of  the NLD is September 30. But, the meeting was arranged
to be 
on  28-29 of September, Saturday and Sunday. It seems clear that they intend to 
agitate the people who regularly come to these weekend speeches. To avoid the 
disturbance and riots that occurred in 1988, the NLD Conference has been
blocked. 

- On September 27, 14 KNU members led by Saw Khin Thaung, the KNU judge 
of the ThaTon township of 1st brigade surrendered.

- Gen. Myo Nyunt invited members of  the Township Monks Committees of all
townships in Rangoon, District and Divisional Monks Committee in Rangoon 
and the Central Monks Committee to a conference in Rangoon. 

The vice chairman of the Central Monks Committee delivered a speech 
discussing the delicate political situation in Myanmar at present. He stated
that 
monks should carry on with their own work of religious affairs and stay away 
from politics. 

He said that now the state is stable(contradicting his previous statement)
and rebels 
are joining the state government, the government is donating a lot to monks, 
monasteries and  other religious institutions. Not only financial donations,
but 
construction of roads, bridges, schools and hospitals are also donated to
the people. 
He believed that these donations attract rebels to return to the country. So
he would 
like to ask the government to continue it's donations.

Myo Nyunt's speech follows: 

He said that General Aung San had laid down the principle that religion and 
politics should not be joined but be separate as was clearly mentioned in the 
1947 Constitution. 

In 104 Principles laid down by the National Convention recently also clearly
mentioned this.

The government believes the NLD is trying to agitate monks in the following
ways:

1)  The NLD has sent members to monasteries frequently to befriend the monks

2)  The NLD has sent its members to be ordained  as monks. These monks then 
try to divide the loyalty of the monks.

Laws have recently been passed so as to prevent the ordination of NLD members.
Respective monks should contact the SLORC at wards/village tracts, townships 
and the division and states if they have any inquires about the ordination
process.

A member of the Central Monks Committee made the following speech:

"Monks do not understand social affairs. It is not the traditional period for 
ordination ,so if anyone would like to be ordained, the responsible monk should 
contact and discuss this with the respective SLORC member."

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

BRC-J: JAPAN SUPPORTS THE FBC OCTOBER FAST FOR BURMA
September 29, 1996
From: carol@gol.com

Burmese democracy activists in Japan will join their fellow activists in
the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and Thailand in fasting for a free
Burma this October.
        
Burmese Relief Center -- Japan in Nara has launched a "Pray for Peace in
Burma" campaign, inviting communities and parishes of all religions to set
aside October 4-6 as a time for prayer and offering support to the fasters
and to the people of Burma.  In addition, BRC-J will make buttons saying
"I'm Fasting for Burma," in English and Japanese, for individuals who wish
to join the worldwide fast on October 7-9.  Through these activities, BRC-J
hopes to raise awareness about Burma among Japanese citizens and to
underscore the difference between the peaceful, ecumenical and
self-sacrificing character of the democracy movement and the brutality,
chauvinism and greed of the military dictatorship.
        
In Tokyo, meanwhile, Burmese democracy activists will show their support
for the FBC fasters and the people of Burma by holding a press conference at
the Japanese Foreign Ministry on October 7.  Representatives from National
League for Democracy (Liberated Area -- Japan Branch), Democratic Burmese
Students' Organization (Japan), 8888 Group and Burma Youth Volunteer
Association (Japan) will inform the press about the FBC fast and convey the
views of the democracy movement on recent events inside Burma.  They will
also submit a letter to the Japanese Government condemning SLORC's latest
crackdown on the NLD and Japan's continuing support for the regime.
Marubeni Corporation, in particular, will be targeted for its plans to
resume oil shipments to SLORC after its predecessor Mitsui & Co. sensibly
stopped such shipments when SLORC failed to pay for the oil.  (An
international letter campaign addressed to Marubeni CEO and staunch SLORC
supporter Kazuo Haruna is now being organized.)  
        
We in Japan wish our fellow activists around the world great strength and
courage as we all strive to educate and activate our respective communities
about the Burmese people's heroic struggle for democracy and human rights.

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: MASSACHUSETTS BURMA ROUNDTABLE - OCTOBER 1996
September 27, 1996
From: simon_billenness@cybercom.net (Simon Billenness)

As I email the latest Massachusetts Burma Roundtable announcement, I am
painfully aware of the arrests today of over 100 people planning to attend a
National League of Democracy meeting at Aung San Suu Kyi's house in Rangoon.
According to Reuters, hundreds of heavily armed soldiers have surrounded the
home of Aung San Suu Kyi to prevent the meeting.  

It is vital that we continue mobilize political support for economic
sanctions on the Burmese military junta. Please voice your support for
sanctions by attending the Burma Roundtable meetings this month. And make
sure you write President Clinton to demand US economic sanctions on Burma!

 - Simon Billenness
------------------------------------------------
In this month's email alert (written by Charlotte O'Sullivan)

1.  Notice of October 15 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable
2.  Minutes of September 10 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable
3.  Upcoming Events
4.  Washington Update
5.  Action Alert!  Write President Clinton in Support of Sanctions on Burma!
6.  Campus Contacts
------------------------------------------------
1.  Notice of October 15 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable

***** Next Massachusetts Burma Roundtable meeting: Tuesday, October
15th, 7:00 p.m.  
at Franklin Research and Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111,
(617) 423-6655. We hope to see you there!   ******

2.  Minutes of September 10 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable

Another Summer has come and gone and we are entering into an eventful Fall
Season.  For those of you who missed September's Roundtable meeting, we had
a great meeting and were pleasantly surprised with a visit from State
Representative Byron Rushing. 

Several things were discussed at the meeting.  Representative Rushing
updated us on the status of the Selective Purchasing measure which was
executed this summer by Governor Weld.  A list of companies which the state
will not be buying from will be available soon. Should you wish to view this
list, please contact Philmore Anderson, Purchasing Agent at the Office of
Procurement and General Services, who can be reached at (617) 727-7500 x211.
Also, since other human rights groups offered support in favor of Burma
legislation, Rep. Rushing thought we should be informed of the pending East
Timor legislation.  For more information about this legislation, please
contact him at (617) 722-2220.   

Charles Baroody, a newcomer to the Roundtable who recently returned from
spending 4 years in Thailand is planning a multi-media art presentation next
year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Burma's independence and to
bring attention to the continuing struggle for freedom of the Burmese
people.  For more information please contact Mr. Baroody at (603) 436-9246. 

Lastly, many thanks to the following individuals who donated money for the
assistance of the Burmese dissident and his family in Thailand:  Mr. Niki
Baccus, Mr. and Mrs. Philip M. Lam, Mr. and Mrs. Noel Redford and Mrs. Jean
Anderson.  Our goal was met and the Burmese family should be arriving safely
in Australia.  Should you wish to contribute money or help other Burmese
refugees, please contact Tin Tin Nyo at 388-0038

3.  Upcoming Events

On OCTOBER 7: a Rally will be held at Boston Common.  This is a solidarity
event with other organizations across the globe who are holding events on
this day in support of the Burmese Democracy movement.  Please come out and
bring your friends.  There will be some great speakers and Burmese music and
dance. To volunteer, please contact Nanette Skiba at (617) 524-0045. 

On OCTOBER 17TH: Thet Thet Lwin of the Burmese Women's Union and 
Ohmar Khin of Refugees International will speak about the women's angle of the 
struggle for freedom in Burma at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist
Church, 
3 Church Street, Cambridge at 6pm on Thursday, October 17.

(The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is organizing this 10-city
tour from their Cambridge office and volunteers are needed.  For more
information contact Shalini Nataraj at (617) 868-6600. )

On OCTOBER 20TH: a forum, Towards a Free Burma will be held at the Kennedy
Library.  It is sponsored by the UUSC, CPPAX and the Massachusetts Burma
Roundtable.  Panelists will include The Boston Herald's Christopher Cox,
Burmese activists Tin Tin Nyo and Zaw Wynn Tan, Albert Einstein Institute
scholar Gene Sharp and Simon Billenness from Franklin Research &
Development.  We will be having a table at the forum and also need someone
to prepare a brochure.  If interested, please contact Simon Billenness at
(617) 423-6655 x225.

The Buddism in America Conference will be held on January 17-19 in Boston.
Gary Dmytryk is planning a table on Burmese activism at the conference.  If
you can donate time or money (the table costs $250), please contact him at
(617) 491-1197. 

Several people have expressed interest in a New England regional Burma
Action strategy meeting.  This could be held in mid-January to early
February, 1997 as a lead-up to the next national strategy meeting that will
probably take place in Washington DC in June or July.  Please call Simon
Billenness at (617) 423-6655 x. 225 should you wish to get involved.

4.  Washington Update

It appears likely that Congress will pass limited sanctions on Burma.  The
word from Washington DC is that the House /Senate conference has reached
agreement on the language on Burma in the Foreign Aid Bill.  The agreed
language will include a ban on new investment in Burma if the military junta: 
* harms, imprisons or kills Aung San Suu Kyi    
* commits large-scale repression of the Burmese
democracy movement.
It is expected that President Clinton will soon sign into law legislation
containing this language on Burma.  It is also rumored that the
Administration may also soon announce that it will refuse to issue U.S.
visas to members of the Burmese military junta.

5. Action Alert!  Write President Clinton in Support of Sanctions

President Clinton has the power to impose wide-ranging sanctions on Burma,
including bans on US investment and US imports from Burma.  Through issuing
a simple executive order, the President can add teeth to the
Administration's ritual denunciations of the crackdown in Burma.  

We have done a good job of lobbying the Massachusetts Congressional
delegation.  But the Administration has not heard from voters on this issue!
Let's change that now....

Suggestions for your letter:

*  First specifically ask the President to impose sanctions.  

*  Include a personal paragraph describing yourself (mention it if you are a
registered Democrat) and your interest in Burma.  

*  Mention your deep concern over the recent arrests and prison sentences in
Burma.  

*  Stress Aung San Suu Kyi's support for economic sanctions and mention that
she just received the prestigious Harriman award from the National
Democratic Institute.  

*  Be sure and ask President Clinton for a reply.  

For extra impact, please send copies of your letter to Senator Warren
Christopher and National Security Advisor Anthony Lake.   

President William Clinton                       
The White House                         
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW               
Washington DC 20500                     
(202) 456-1414                          

Warren Christopher                                                      
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C. Street NW
Washington DC 20520
(202) 647-4000

National Security Advisor Anthony Lake
National Security Council
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 
Washington DC 20500 
(202) 456-9481

6.  Campus Contacts

There are several Boston area university Burma Action Groups who have been
active on numerous projects.  We will keep you updated of their activities
and events.  Should you wish to contact them directly, please call: 

HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
Marco Simons, (617) 493-2186 , msimons@husc.harvard.edu

TUFTS UNIVERSITY 
Kathy Polias, (617) 627-7799, kpolias@emerald.tufts.edu

BOSTON COLLEGE 
Rob Matthews, (617) 562-1749 or (617)655-2315, matthero@bc.edu

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Nannette  Skiba, (617) 524-0045 
9120nskib@umbsky.cc.umb.edu

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
Miriam Leibowitz, stn31523@pip.cc.brandeis.edu

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY
Jonah, (617) 788-0630
 
*Newsletter edited by Charlotte O'Sullivan, (617) 789-4352,
imchaos@internetMCI.com, 21 Hooker St., Allston, MA 02134.  

For circulation, please call Simon Billenness at (617) 423-6655 x225, c/o
Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Ave. Boston, MA 02111,
simon_billenness@cybercom.net. 

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

NATION: THAI MDK EYES BURMA, INDOCHINA
September 27, 1996  (abridged)

PUBLIC relations house MDK Consultants (Thailand) Co is
discussing with its Singapore based parent company plans to
expand its services into Indochina and Burma.

Under the proposal from the Thai subsidiary, the unit will be
responsible for Cambodia, Laos and Burma. The parent company is
likely to establish a new subsidiary in Vietnam.

"However, the company is waiting to see if the investment and
political situations improve in these countries. If we go ahead
now, we will face problems with political instability and
investment difficulties, " Danai said. He said despite the influx
of investment into these countries, the public relations industry
is still in its infancy. The firm expects it to take at least
three years for the business to pick up.

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

ARTICLE FOR THE NATION: SUHARTO'S BUSINESSES IN BURMA
September 22, 1996 (abridged)
From: George J. Aditjondro

How the Suhartos cement their partnership with the SLORC
-- with cement, timber, telephones, explosives and oil

ON Monday through Wednesday, October 7-9, 1996, more than 300 students and
others across the USA, Canada, South Africa, and Australia, will
participate in a fast sponsored by the Free Burma Coalition. One of the
themes of the fast is to support the call of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the
National League for Democracy (NLD) for immediate and complete withdrawal
of all foreign business from Burma.

Ironically, this call has fallen on the deaf ears of the Indonesian ruling
family, who have lately even intensified their investment and other
business deals with Burma's State Law and Order Council (SLORC). For them
it has been business as usual, as if nothing had happened on that dreadful
day on August 8, 1988, and as if the NLD had never won the election with an
overwhelming vote, two years later.

As I have written in an earlier article ("Suharto clan's global forestry
interests, The Nation , Monday, September 9, 1996), one of the first
Indonesian investors in Burma was PT Rante Mario, one of the numerous
companies under the Humpuss Group, controlled by President Suharto's
youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, also known as Tommy Suharto. Through
a joint venture with a Burmese state company, Myanmar Timber Enterprise
(MTI), PT Rante Mario is planning to build a wood processing industry with
an investment of US$ 75 million.

In the first five years (since 1994), this joint venture will only produce
logs and lumber. After that, it will go into plywood production, with a
total disregard for Burma's natural resources and beauty. According to WWF
data, Burma's natural environment is already worse off than Indonesia. As
published on page 42 in the November 20, 1995 edition of another business
journal, Warta Ekonomi , Burma has already lost 71% of its natural habitat,
compared with 49% in the case of Indonesia. Area wise, Indonesia still has
nearly 750,000 Km2 of natural habitat, while Burma only has nearly 226,000
Km2. So, one can say that to conserve Indonesia's own natural forest,
President Suharto allows his beloved youngest son to destroy a friendly
nation's forest.

This young member of Suharto's kleptocracy has not only began to do
business with Burma's forestry industry. He began his acquaintance with
Burma through his familiarity with the international oil companies, which
has been a 'family business' of the Suharto clan since the boom time of
Indonesia's national oil and gas mining company, Pertamina, which was led
in the 1970s by a Suharto crony and fellow Army general, Ibnu Sutowo
(Asiaweek , May 5, 1995: 47).

Two years ago Tommy Suharto was already doing business with UNOCAL and
Total, two of the oil companies targeted to be boycotted by the world-wide
pro-Free Burma movement. He has a 20-year contract with UNOCAL and Total to
supply natural gas to Tommy's fertilizer industry in East Kalimantan, PT
Kaltim Methanol Industry (KMI).

It is still unclear where the natural gas comes from. According to Abdul
Wahab, KMI's director, the methanol will be imported, "among others,
methanol from Sabah, Malaysia, since the production of Pertamina's methanol
factory on Bunyu island in East Kalimantan, is not sufficient" (Swasembada
, February 1994). However, around the same time that he began to construct
his fertilizer factory, Tommy has also began to export explosives to Burma.
This was carried out by another of his numerous companies, PT Bina Reksa
Perdana, through a joint venture with Oiltech Service Singapore. Two years
ago, this company, in which Tommy owns 55% shares, has already received
orders amounting to more than US$ 4 million from Burma, India, Iraq, and
Australia (Tempo , June 4, 1994).

So much for Suharto's youngest son, Tommy. Meanwhile, Bambang Trihatmojo,
Suharto's second son is involved in the telecommunication industry in
Burma. PT Elektrindo Nusantara, has invested its capital in small telephone
central units for 256 subscribers in Rangoon, as a pilot project for a much
bigger deal with the SLORC. This company is 51% owned by Bambang
Trihatmojo, and forms one of the main money-makers of Bambang's
conglomerate, the Bimantara Group. One of Bambang's brothers-in-law, Indra
Rukmana, who is married to the Suhartos eldest daughter, Siti Hariyanti
Rukmana, also known as Tutut, is an old school-mate and major business
partner in Bimantara as well (Swasembada , August 1995).

As it turned out from further research in my Indonesian business data base,
Bambang has also indirectly entered Burma's forestry industry. According to
an Indonesian business magazine, Info Bisnis  of July 1884, another
Indonesian conglomerate, Barito Pacific, has also stretched its forestry
arm into Burma, apart from a multitude of other countries (Cambodia,
Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Suriname, Gabon and Zaire).

What has Barito Pacific to do with Bambang Trihatmojo? A lot. Although he
controls his own business group, Bimantara, Bambang is also a major
shareholder in Barito Pacific. This group is led by a Sino-Indonesian
businessman, Prajogo Pangestu. In the group's bank, Andromeda Bank, Bambang
owns 25% shares, Prajogo 50%, and another Sino-Indonesian businessman,
Henry Pribadi, also 25%.

The third member of the extended Suharto family who plans to invest in
Burma is Hashim Djojohadikusumo. This rising star on the Indonesian
business firmament is a younger brother of Prabowo Subianto, one of
President Suharto's sons-in-law. Not only that. Prabowo's wife, Siti
Hediyati Harijadi, also known as Titiek Prabowo, is also an active partner
Hashim's numerous business enterprises. In fact, Hashim's Eka Persada Group
and Titiek Prabowo's Daya Tata Matra (Datam) Group have numerous
overlapping shareholders, including in one of Hashim's cement factories.

Last Thursday, September 19, Hashim anounced his plan to invest US$ 200
million in a new cement factory in Burma. Although he already owns three
cement factories in Indonesia, he hopes that in October he might sign a
memorandum of understanding to build that cement factory with the SLORC.
The planned company will be 70% owned by Indonesian companies, and 30% by a
Burmese state company.

With a capacity of one million tons of cement per year, Hashim hopes that
his cement factory may be able to compete with China and Thailand made
cement on the Burmese market, which still imports 1.8 million ton of cement
per year.

Another reason why Hashim for to invest in Burma is that he is optimistic
that in two years time, Burma will become a full member of the ASEAN.
Consequently, Burma will also become a member of the ASEAN Free Trade Area
(AFTA). This means that Indonesian companies will be able to market their
products freely in all ASEAN member countries, as all other ASEAN
citizens-owned companies are also free to market their products in
Indonesia (Media Indonesia , September 21, 1996).

As has happened with most of the juicy businesses of the Suharto family,
Hashim's businesses are also milking cows for the Indonesian Army. In
particular, milking cows for the most feared Army unit, Kopassus , also
known as the Red Berets. These troops, which have been involved in quelling
every major independence and other uprisings in Indonesia and East Timor,
are now commanded by Hashim's older brother, Mayor General Prabowo
Subianto. As Hashim stated in an interview with The Asian Wall Street
Journal  on February 2, 1993, "if Prabowo needs funds, as a loyal and
dutiful brother, I'll provide them. He has a lot of soldiers to take care of."

That was when Prabowo was still a Lieutenant Colonel, and had fewer
soldiers to take care of compared with now, after he became the commander
of 3,000 Red Beret soldiers, which will soon be beefed up to 5,000 soldiers
(Straits Times , May 23, 1996). No wonder that the SLORC generals like to
do business with Hashim, who has already exported several types of
Indonesian-made medicines -- antibiotics, analgesics, and medicines for
skin diseases -- , to Burma, since three years ago (Gatra , April 29,1995).

Finally, with all those First Family members involved in doing business
fields with the SLORC, it is most likely that they have also been involved
in exporting PepsiCo products to Burma. Why? Because Indonesia's largest
conglomerate, the Salim Group, in which a foster brother of Suharto,
>Sudwikatmono, and two of Suharto's kids, Sigit and Tutut are involved, is
the franchise holder of PepsiCo for Indonesia (Warta Ekonomi , June 13,
1994). This might be an additional reason for a world wide boycott of PepsiCo.

This answers the question, why Suharto is so eager to cement -- both
literally as well figuratively -- his oligarchy's partnership with the
SLORC, by endorsing the SLORC's membership in ASEAN. This also explains,
why Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal to foreign companies, to cancel their
investment and trading plans with the SLORC, falls on the deaf ears of the
Suharto oligarchy. Finally, it also explains why Suharto is, apart from
Mahathir and Lee Kuan Yew, so fanatically against the European Union's
attempt to link human rights with trading interests. His standard rhetoric
is that ASEAN members should refuse "any Western interference" into their
domestic affairs.

This Suharto-Mahathir-Lee Kuan Yew rhetoric only masks the real business
interests of these ruling elites, since we all know, that the frantic
promotion of Western capitalism into the ASEAN region, has already caused a
major interference in the domestic affairs of these countries, by creating
a super rich elite with a very Western life style, who play Western golf
and fly around the globe in Western airplanes and stay in Western five star
hotels, while destroying centuries-old rice fields and indigenous
businesses, such as the traditional locally-owned textile and beverage
industries, to name just a few.

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

SLORC WEBSITE: INFO ABOUT MYANMAR.COM
>From Glen:  <freeburma@pobox.com>

[The following information is about who registered the domain, myanmar.com.
The site has moved and improved in the last few months.  One might inquire 
via email or phone with the administrative contact or the technical contact]

UNIQCOM (MYANMAR-DOM)
9327 Kings Post Ct
Laurel, MD 20723

Domain Name: MYANMAR.COM

Administrative Contact, Billing Contact:
Winn, Thomas  (TW341)  TWINN21227@AOL.COM (301) 604-4755
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Gani, Paul  (PG359)  tech@SMART.NET
(410) 792-4555 (FAX) (410) 792-4571

Record last updated on 14-Jun-96.
Record created on 26-Sep-95.

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

HOW TO ADD YOUR HOME PAGE INTO SLORC HOME PAGE
From: Myo Aye <082903@bud.cc.swin.edu.au

1.Type: http://www.myanmar.com/links/links.html in the Location box.    

2.Type your home page title in the Title box.

3.Type your home page location address (URL) in the URL box.

4.Select Business or Real_Estate or Travel or Education or Government or 
  Entertainment or Personel or Computer or Miscellaneous.

5.Click on the Add It! button.

6.Click on Reload button after finished adding up you home page to look at it.
Example:
Title:   BURMA (Democracy Movement)

URL:     http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/4474
                                                                
(select)---- Business or Government
                
(Click on)---- Add it!

