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

The BurmaNet News: August 14, 1996
Issue #489

Noted in Passing:
============
                For scattered political exiles and their sympathizers, 
                the Internet has opened new vistas....... e-mail also 
                offers a way of achieving rapid global mobilization.  
                (see: THE ECONOMIST: ARACHNOPHILIA)

HEADLINES:
==========
THE ECONOMIST: ARACHNOPHILIA
WALL STREET JOURNAL (EDITORIAL): THE REAL BURMA
FBC: AUGUST 8 PROTEST/DIPLOMACY TRAINING IN D.C.
JAPAN TIMES: MYANMARESE RALLY IN TOKYO
NATION: SUU KYI SLAMS SLORC-ASEAN RELATIONSHIP
NATION: SLORC CHIEF TOUTS ASEAN MEMBERSHIP
REUTERS: BURMESE SIGN DEALS IN MALAYSIA
CA SENATOR BOXER: LETTER ON SANCTIONS BILL
REPORT: NATIONAL CONVENTION ON INDIA'S SECURITY AND 
           RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
NLM: EDITORIAL - IT AIN'T FUNNY
BKK POST: THE MAN INVESTORS MUST MEET IN BURMA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE ECONOMIST: ARACHNOPHILIA
August 10, 1996
From: zni@students.wisc.edu

"When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion."  Thus the motto that 
adorns faxes from the Free Burma Coalition, a pressure group campaigning 
for the downfall of the military regime that rules Myanmar (which is 
still called Burma by the the junta's opponents).  The spidery metaphor 
is appropriate for a movement that, perhaps more effectively than any 
other overseas political campaign, has harnessed the potential of the 
World Wide Web and the Internet.

For scattered political exiles and their sympathesizers, the Internet has
opened new vistas. More than a cheap and immediate form of 
communication, it also offers a solidarity in cyberspace that may be hard 
to achieve geographically.  It is especially useful in developing a student 
movement, now that so many universities provide access to the Internet.

Activists have found several ways to use the computer network.  Free 
Burma groups have established "home pages" on the Web (http://www.
freeburma.org and http://danenet.wicip.org/fbc) where those interested 
can find campaign material, a directory of the myriad organizations 
involved, copies of relevant American legislation, and a special section 
on the movement's heroine and Myanmar's opposition leader, Aung 
San Suu Kyi.

But e-mail also offers a way of achieving rapid global mobilization.  
Simon Billenness, an analyst with Franklin Research and Development, 
a "socially responsible" investment firm, has waged campaigns for outside 
companies to withdraw from Myanmar, and for United States sanctions 
against the country. He boasts that in the space of half and hour he can 
ask a couple of thousand activists around the world to write a letter or 
make a phone call.

Some of the activists will be very well informed.  "BurmaNet", an
electronic mail news service with about 700 subscribers, provides a daily
digest of press coverage on Myanmar, as well as a forum for exchanging
news, ideas, outrage and requests for help.  On a typical day in early
August, for example, BurmaNet sent out a detailed report by a human rights
group about the relocation of ethnic Karens near the Thai border; calls for
action to mark the eighth anniversary of the 8-8-88 (August 8th 1988)
uprising in Yangon, which led to thousands of deaths and the junta's
seizure of power; lists of Free Burma songs that can be downloaded from the
Web; and reports of the death in prison on Auguts 2nd of a member of Miss
Suu Kyi's party.

The campaign's main successess have been in persuading American business 
in Myanmar, through a mixture of shareholder pressure and consumer 
boycotts. On August 5th London Fog, a clothing manufacturerer, followed 
others, including Liz Clairborne, Eddie Bauer, Levi Strauss and Reebok, in 
halting production in Myanmar.  In July, two European brewers, Carlsberg 
of Denmark and Heineken of Holland, also withdrew.

Doug Steele of BurmaNet attributes the comparative success of the 
Myanmar campaign to two factors: "Aung San Suu Kyi as a rallying 
figure, and the Internet as an organisational tool."  The junta seems to be 
worried, despite the fact that nobody outside the government in Myanmar 
has access to the Internet.  Yet the regime, too, has its own home pages 
on the Web.  Its newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, is no livelier 
on line.  Exiles are nervous about the confidentiality of BurmaNet's 
subscription lists, although it is not clear what use a list of email 
addresses would be to Myanmar's intelligence service.

But two immediate goals have eluded the activists: they have not persuaded
the United States Congress or administration to introduce economic
sanctions; and they have not brought about the withdrawal of the oil
companies helping to develop and sell Myanmar's oil reserves.  The
longer-term aim, of course, is to see the junta lose power and a
democratically elected government take office.  That may take more than 
the co-operative use of the Internet.

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

WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL: THE REAL BURMA
August 12, 1996
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

Burma's ruling military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration 
Council, has been opening the country's economy to the outside world in 
recent years, but the global reaction has been cautious at best. If one were 
to take the current opening in the context of Burma's history since the 
military coup in 1962 that ushered in the "Burmese way to socialism," it 
might seem like welcome news, a sign that rationality has returned to 
Burmese polity. But a new report from the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon makes 
a strong case why continuing U.S. pressure on Burma is justified, and why 
an enthusiastic rush to invest in Burma or engage it politically isn't.

The best indication that the government of Burma is not yet on a rational 
plane is its military spending. Considering the lack of a clear external 
threat and the cease-fires with minority insurgents, the military's 
massive procurement programs, its expansion of troop strength from 
175,000 to 325,000 over six years, and its gobbling of more than half of 
the government budget is hard to fathom. This build-up was made possible 
by cutbacks in civilian government and even by the sale of embassy land in 
Tokyo. It can only be seen as a manifestation of the brass's overestimation 
of its own importance, as well as preparation for civil unrest.

Then there is the government's suspect relationship with the opium 
producers, who "whiten" their money by paying a 40% tax, or plough it 
into investments like hotels to disguise its origins. The drug lord Khun Sa, 
the target of government bluster just a year ago, is now reputedly living in 
Rangoon, and is apparently in no danger of prosecution.

In fact drug money may be what is holding Burma's economy together in the 
face of the self-destructive policies of the government. Certainly that is 
the leading explanation for why the country's currency, the kyat, has been 
so strong in recent years. Hot off the streets of America, the cash of drug 
syndicates operating in Rangoon covers up a multitude of the government's 
economic sins.

Human rights violations afflict many who are not political dissenters. 
True, members of the National League for Democracy, which won 80% of 
the seats in the 1990 national elections, are routinely arrested and 
harassed. But it is the peasantry that bears the heaviest burden, being 
pressed into forced labor which the U.S. Embassy report estimates makes 
up 3% of GDP.

Despite these signs that Burma does not yet have a leadership that is 
rationally considering the best interests of the country, some see a 
government they can do business with. Burma's attendance at the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering in Jakarta last month was 
a significant boost to the junta's international prestige. Furthermore it 
puts Burma on track to join the organization as a full member by the 
beginning of the new millennium. But the run-up to the Asean gathering 
proved to be an anxious time for the Southeast Asians. Confrontation 
between the military and the NLD's Aung San Suu Kyi threatened to make 
the Burmese observers into an embarrassment to the group. It was only 
with some effort that the delegates succeeded in rationalizing their 
hospitality to the Burmese.

But at the post-ministerial conference U.S. Secretary of State Warren 
Christopher reserved the right of the U.S. to continue taking a harder line 
than Asean on pressuring Burma. The information in the U.S. Embassy 
report shows why Mr. Christopher's approach will be proved right, and 
Asean must continue to fear future embarrassments.

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

FBC: AUGUST 8 PROTEST/DIPLOMACY TRAINING IN D.C.
August 12, 1996  
zni@students.wisc.edu  

1) The FBC staged a successful protest rally in front of the SLORC Embassy 
in Washington, DC. from 1-2:15 PM on August 8, 1996.  About 100 activists 
from different ethnic and democracy organizations from various parts of the 
U.S. joined hands to commemorate the 8th Anniversary of the infamous 
August 8, 1988 massacre where thousands of pro-democracy students, 
civilians, monks and nuns, and civil servants were murdered on the streets 
of Burma.

Following is the list of organizations that participated in the event:

>From Burma:
Kachin-American Friends, Chin National Front, Karen Youth Organization,
Democratic Burmese Students Organization, Chin National Counil, 
Monland Restoration Council, Shan and Arakanese communities

>From U.S. and other countries:
Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)
AFL-CIO
Amnesty International
East Timor Action Network
Students for a Free Tibet
Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party Mission (DPP)
Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA)
International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)
Taiwan Communique
Taiwanese Collegian

Passionate speeches were made in several languages including Chin, Mon,
Burmese, and English and statements from political organizations were read.

The Voice of America (Burmese program) came and interviewed students not
only from Burma, but also from other Asian countries that turned up in show
of solidarity with Burma's freedom struggle. Agence France Press (AFP) sent a 
photo journalist to record the protest.

We marched up and down the streets in front of both the Slorc Embassy 
and the  Office of the Military Attache.  As usual, the military intelligence 
took pictures and videotaped the rally from inside the Embassy and MA's 
Office.  Many of us chanted: Defect Now! Defect Now! Free, Free, Free 
Burma! SLORC out of Burma!

2) Earlier the same day, the same organizations and individuals went and
staged a spirited protest rally in front of the Indonesian Embassy to let the 
Indonesian people and East Timorese know that we are in support of their 
struggles. 

3)).  About 25 organizers from various Burma groups attended a Diplomacy 
Seminar in Cheverly, MD (August7-11) in conjunction with Taiwanese
pro-democracy activists. The highlights of the Seminar were dancing and 
singing in various languages including Kachin, Chin, Mon, Burmese, and 
Shan, learning about various on-going freedom struggles in Asia, and 
exploring ways to work in solidarity with one another.  We also visited the 
legislative assistants of some of the senators who supported the Burma 
Freedom and Democracy Act as well as some who voted against the Act.   
We were interviewed by BBC and sent a message to the people of  Burma 
that we, as young organizers from various ethnic communities from Burma, 
are working together to help bring about genuinely democratic changes for 
all ethnic people of Burma.  We declared our uneqivocal support for the 
establishment of federal union where minority's rights to self-determination 
and peaceful co-existence are guaranteed.

4). From now on the Free Burma Coalition will be referring to the SLORC 
as "Burma's alleged government"  (as they are not legitimate) and Burma's
political oppression as "genocide".  Once an issue comes to be defined as 
"genocidal", then the issue can not be treated as an "internal affair".  For 
issues that are defined as "genocides", the international community has an 
obligation to intervene.

The Free Burma Coalition
http://wicip.org/fbc

When spiders unite they can tie down a lion.  (Ethiopian Proverb)

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

JAPAN TIMES: MYANMARESE RALLY IN TOKYO
August 9, 1996
From: carol@gol.com

Hunger Strikers Complain ODA Keeps Junta in Power
        
While 25 Myanmarese activists staged a 36-hour hunger strike in Tokyo's
Hibiya Park on Thursday, a visiting leader of the antigovernment movement 
in Myanmar reiterated a demand that the Japanese government suspend 
official development assistance to the military regime.
        
"We want the Japanese government to suspend its ODA and business 
to refrain from investing in our country," said Win Khet, the chairman 
of the National League for Democracy (Liberated Area).
        
The NLD-LA is an overseas body of the National League for Democracy, 
which is led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
        
Win claimed that the NLD, which won a majority of votes in the 1990
national election, is a legitimate government, and Japan should follow the
demand by the NLD.
        
"I believe the main reason that (the military regime) has been able to keep
power so far is aid from foreign countries," Win said.
        
He stressed that Aung San Suu Kyi also has repeatedly asked the Japanese
government to suspend ODA.
        
The plea apparently has fallen on deaf ears.  According to the Foreign
Ministry, Japan was the biggest ODA donor to Myanmar in 1993.  In 
1995, a 15.7 billion yen grant was given.
        
The NLD-LA opened its Japanese office in Tokyo on the same day.
The office will be the center of their Asian activities, the group said.
Exactly eight years ago Thursday, a general strike and demonstrations by
people calling for democracy spread across the country.  Thousands of
antigovernment activists were believed to be killed by the military
government during the strike.
        
"The number eight has a special meaning for us because the day (of the
general strike) was August 8, 1988, eight years ago," said a participant at
Thursday's rally in Tokyo.
        
Win said they consider the Aug. 8 movement the most important democracy
movement of the country.

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

NATION: SUU KYI SLAMS SLORC-ASEAN RELATIONSHIP
August 12, 1996 (abridged)

RANGOON - Burma's observer status and future membership in the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)  will not
contribute to the region's peace and prosperity, according to
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi told The Nation in an exclusive interview that Burma,
with its prevailing conditions, cannot be a credit to the region.

"I do not think Burma under this regime will be in a position to
contribute either peace or prosperity to Southeast Asia," she
said, adding that Asean should deal firmly with countries which
fail to promote harmony and  prosperity.

Suu Kyi said that she is not in a position to tell Asean what it
should do, but added that she could at least explain the current
political situation in Burma, which she said has been misgoverned
by the junta.

"The Slorc does not want to give  democracy to the people even
though they keep saying the country is heading towards democracy.

"Although at one time many wanted to believe that the Slorc was
heading towards democracy, it has been confirmed [that this will
not happen]. The international community has realised that the
Slorc is not ready," she said.

"What Slorc is doing is for themselves the national convention is
run totally  along the lines they want, without any referendum to
the people," she said.

Suu Kyi endorsed the economic sanctions proposed by the West,
saying she believed the foreign trade and investment pouring into
Burma has benefitted only certain groups but neither the Burmese
people nor the country's economic development.

"The people in general are poor, and the standards of education
and family health care have deteriorated," she said.

"I can understand the argument that it is not possible for
everybody to get rich at the same time. Some get rich earlier,
others later. But why is it that during the last six years, the
standard of education has fallen, and so has the standard of
health?" she asked.

"This is all because of misgovernment and where there is
misgovernment, investment and trade only exacerbate the
situation," she said.

Suu Kyi said she does not support "Visit Myanmar Year" because it
is Slorc propaganda (Myanmar being the name given Burma by the
Slorc). The money the country receives from tourism will not be
used to help the people, she claimed.

Democracy, she reiterated, is important to the country's
development and the people must be politically mature. "Unless
the people are [politically] mature, you cannot begin or maintain
development in the long run," she said.

When the NLD announced plans to hold a conference at the end of
May at Suu Kyi's house, the Slorc interfered by arresting more
than 260 of the democracy advocate's colleagues who planned to
attend the conference.

"What has made the Slorc nervous is their knowledge that we have
the support of the public at large," she said.

Suu Kyi said the NLD's policies will be decided in accordance
with the will of the people, and in a democratic way. "We are
determined to carry on the struggle for democracy with the
support of the people," she said.

Suu Kyi, Burma's most internationally-known figure, said she
wants the people to understand that they also have the
responsibility of bringing democracy to Burma, and that neither
the NLD nor she herself could do it alone.

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

NATION: SLORC CHIEF TOUTS ASEAN MEMBERSHIP
August 11, 1996

RANGOON - Burma's membership in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean) will be a boon for its development and will
boost economic relations with the region, Burmese intelligence
chief Khin Nyunt was quoted yesterday as saying.

Khin Nyunt, speaking in Mandalay, 720 kilometres miles north of
Rangoon, said Burma's expected entrance into Asean will cement
the already close economic ties with the members of the regional group.

When Myanmar becomes a full member of Asean, she will be able to
fully participate in efforts for stability, peace, security and
economic development of the entire Southeast Asian region," he
was quoted as saying in the official New Light of Myanmar.

Khin Nyunt, also the first secretary of Slorc, was speaking at a
foundation-laying ceremony for a Thai-funded international
airport project. He thanked Thailand for its cooperation in the
military government's efforts at transforming Burma into a modern
and developed nation.

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

REUTERS: BURMESE SIGN DEALS IN MALAYSIA
August 12, 1996
From: John Scherb <mcs@primenet.com>

KUALA LUMPUR - The head of Burma's military government arrived in 
Malaysia on Monday for a five-day visit that underlines Southeast Asia's 
policy of ``constructive engagement'' with Rangoon.
         
General Than Shwe, chairman of the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), met Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad for an hour after which officials from both
countries signed an economic, scientific and cultural agreement.
         
Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi told reporters
Mahathir wanted to see Burma become a full member of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year in
conjunction with ASEAN's 30th anniversary.
         
``We hope they can join ASEAN next year and judging from the
response of the senior general (Than Shwe) it seems most
likely,'' he said.

ASEAN has been pressured by its Western trade partners to
keep Rangoon at arm's length because of its repression of a
democracy movement led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi has also asked ASEAN to exert influence on Rangoon
to introduce greater democratic reform.
         
But Abdullah said the issue had been defused in talks
between ASEAN and its ``dialogue partners'' which include such
critics of the Rangoon junta as the United States, the European
Union, Australia and Japan.
         
``I don't think there is going to be any problem,'' Abdullah
said. ``The Myanmar (Burma) issue was very sensitive in Jakarta
but we managed to deal with it very successfully.''
         
ASEAN insists that reforms in Rangoon stand a better chance
of succeeding if Burma is part of the group than if it is
isolated and left possibly to drift into China's orbit.
         
The pact signed on Monday intensifies cooperation between
the two countries in technical training and education.
         
Abdullah said it would pave the way for more Burmese workers
to come to labour-short Malaysia and encourage business
partnerships in construction, oil and gas exploration, mining,
tourism and manufacturing.
         
Malaysia is the fifth largest foreign investor in Burma,
with total approved investments of $420 million.
         
Than Shwe is making his first visit to Malaysia since becoming SLORC 
chairman in 1992. He visited Indonesia and Singapore last year.

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

CA SENATOR BOXER: LETTER ON SANCTIONS BILL
August 9, 1996
From: ktint@earthlink.net

United States Senate
Hart Senate Office Building 
Barbara Boxer, California
               Committee on Enviroment and Public Works
               Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
               Committee on Budget

Thank you for writing to me to express your support for imposing sanctions 
on the government of Burma.  I agree with your views on this subject.

As you may know, the proposed FY 97 Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill imposed severe sanctions on the ruling government 
in Burma. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was 
established in 1988 by the military dictatorship which has ruled Burma 
since 1962. Despite numerous pledges, SLORC has failed to honor the 
results of the 1990 election of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Their campaign 
of terror against their political opponents has been among the most 
oppressive in the world.

This sanctions proposal was included in the Committee reported
version of the bill, but it was eliminated by an amendment introduced 
by Senator William Cohen. I voted for the original, stronger sanctions. 
Should this issue come before the Senate in the future, I will certainly 
keep your views in mind.

Like you, I am shocked and saddened by the continued abuse of
human rights by the rulers of Burma. The international community 
can no longer tolerate these blatant violations of international standards.

Thank you very much for writing to me about this very important matter.

Sincerely,

sd.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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

REPORT: NATIONAL CONVENTION ON INDIA'S SECURITY AND 
           RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
August 10, 1996
From: aungsan@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in

Chief Guest     Dr. Tint Swe, MP (Burma)
Key speakers   Natwar Singh, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Cell of 
                  the Congress Party,
                        Former Minister of State for External Affairs, Nepal
                  Member of European Parliament
                  Member of Parliament (Tibet exile govt.)
 
Resolution on Burma
 
Greets Aung San Suu Kyi and all those fighting for the restoration of 
Democracy in Burma, and assures them of unqualified support and 
solidarity form the people of India in their struggle;
  
Believes that the restoration of democracy in Burma is as vital for 
India's security and for peace in South East Asia as a liberation of 
Tibet from Chinese occupation; 
  
Asserts that the military junta which staged a coup in 1988 and 
entranced itself in power by sustained mass killing of men and 
women, youth and students, workers and farmers has neither moral 
nor legal right to be called as the government of Burma:
  
Further asserts that it is only the members of parliament belonging to 
the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi who 
were given a massive mandate by the people with 82% of the popular 
vote and 392 out of 485 seats in the National Parliament, who have 
the legitimate mandate and rights to exercise power on behalf of the 
Burmese people.
  
Emphasizes that the theory of "Constructive engagement" which is 
used as a fig-leaf by several countries including India to hide the 
ignominy of undertaking trade with Burma is a counter-protective 
exercise whose sole purpose is to provide creditability and 
respectability to the military junta, and thus legitimize their 
repressive and ruthless  regime.
  
Condemn the deny of human rights to and continuing violence against 
the people of Burma by the junta.
  
Notes that in the absence of democratic institution in Burma, drugs 
and AIDS which are taking a heavy toll of human life have crossed 
the international frontier and are wreaking havoc in the North Eastern 
States of India particularly in Manipur , Mizoram and Nagaland:
  
Further notes that the border trade between India and Burma through 
Moreh in Manipur and Champai in  Mizoram has meant opening 
India's doors for smuggling of Chinese goods, causing considerable 
damage to India's economy and danger to Indias security; and 
cautions the people of the grave threat posed to India's security with 
the militarisation of Burma with Chinese arms and training.
 
The Convention Demands
 
* the immediate release of all political prisoners in Burma,
  
* restoration of democratic rights and civil liberty of the Burmese people,
  
* a dialogue by the ruling junta with ASSK and other democratic forces 
  in Burma to work out the modalities for convening the democratically 
  elected parliament of 1990, and
  
* the transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people.
 
The Convention Appeal to the people of India to:
 
* boycott Burmese goods and more particularly products of all 
  companies-National or Multi-national-who trade with Burma,
  
* pressurize all domestic companies and such multinationals trading 
  with Burma which have a presence in India to immediately stop doing 
  business with Burma,
  
* provide moral and material support to the Burmese students, youth, 
  Members of Parliament and others who have sought refuge in India,
  
* persuade the Union and States movements to extend all hospitality to 
  the refugee from Burma,
  
* urge the United Nations to grant the refugee status to all those who 
  had to flee form Burma to save themselves from physical elimination 
  at the hands of the military dictators, and
  
* organize "Burma support" groups at various levels, including in 
   Universities, work places, States, District and local areas, and to hold 
   meetings, conferences and demonstrations to make people aware of 
   the going on in Burma and the need and importance of a democratic 
   Burma for India's security.
 
The Convention urges
 
* Indian businessman to immediately withdrawal from doing business of 
  any kinds with Burma,
  
* Members of Parliament and all the States legislatures to stand up all 
  the restoration of democracy in and in defense of the rights and liberty 
  of their fellow Parliamentarians from Burma who are either in prison 
  or in exile, and in any case, are denied their right to take their place in 
  Parliament and to use the floor of their respective houses to highlight 
  the meaning and significance of the struggle for the restoration of 
  democracy  in Burma, for India's security; and 
  
* the government of India to recognized that only a democratic Burma 
  can ensure the safety and security of India's eastern frontiers.

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

NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: EDITORIAL - IT AIN'T FUNNY
August 7, 1996

It ain't funny...We would let you fill in the rest, for the issue at 
hand requires careful reading first. There are quite a few who today 
champion Myanmar [Burma]-bashing, specially those churning up 
concoctions bordering on the hypercritical, all aimed at undermining the
political, economic and social progress we have made in recent years.

To overlook facts and to cook up concoctions aimed at playing down the 
gains Myanmar has made after jettisoning the single-party system, the 
centralised economy and changing the laws wherever necessary to install 
a new democratic order and the market-oriented economy would be a sin.

True, we have our problems like so many countries. It would be hypocritical 
for certain countries or a country to keep stalking Myanmar, targeting it on 
the smallest of excuses and in the hope of making maximum capital out of
it, to exaggerate and blow things out of proportion.

Maybe, the U.S. Embassy embarked, as was said, as usual, on an academic 
exercise in putting out two recent reports on the Myanmar economy, but 
the tone and content of each report would, even after a cursory glance, 
reflect the harm intent or to assess more seriously, the ulterior motive.

Though a preamble claims that "All statistics in this report are unofficial 
embassy estimates, not official U.S. Government statistics, unless otherwise 
specified", that fabrication is manifest cannot be denied.

In our view, and as specifically explained by Minister for National Planning 
and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel, the publication of such reports 
reflects bad taste and borders on sabotage.

When feedback is spoken about, ours must be of  disappointment arising 
from the rather low blow that was administered our achievement in the 
time of the State Law and Order Restoration Council.

After clarification by the minister, there must be public indignation, for 
all patriotic citizens, be they here or in any other country, rightfully feel 
that any insult directed even at a lone citizen is insult on the nation
itself. Could it be asked in diplomatic terms if the reports must be taken 
as the true intention or misrepresentation. Perhaps the latter might be ruled 
out.

It ain't funny, but it sure is corny!

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

BKK POST: THE MAN INVESTORS MUST MEET IN BURMA
August 11, 1996
Nussara Sawatsawang and Saritdet Amrukatat

Interview : Burmese entrepreneur Thein Tun Shrugs off the loss of
PepsiCo and Carlsberg partnerships

Lightning struck twice for  Thein Tun This year. First was Pepsi
Co's withdrawal from its Burmese soft drink operations - he was
the Burmese joint venture partner. Carlsberg followed suit last month.

"I suffered a lot," he says.

But that did not stop the 69-year old businessman, known as
perhaps the most influential local entrepreneur in Burma.
Shrugging off Western reactions, Mr Thein Tun says he will simply
look for joint-venture partners in the East - Japan, South Korea,
Singapore and Thailand.

In the West the reactions have become too "politicised", he says,
particularly after the death of James Leander Nichol, the
unaccredited honorary consul for Denmark, Finland, Norway and
Switzerland.

"I do not see this kind of problem in Asia."

The Pepsi and Carlsberg joint ventures were two of 19 firms in
his Myanma Golden Star Group Co Ltd. The group's focus is on
consumer L products such as soft drinks, condensed milk, and
cigarettes.  But it also sells cement, and is involved in wood
processing, mining and an amusement centre.

Some of the companies are fully owned, others are joint ventures
with counterparts from Australia, Singapore, Japan or Burma
itself. He declines to put a figure on his assets, but other
Burmese businessmen estimate the value to be US$40 million (one
billion baht at the market foreign exchange rate of 150 kyat per dollar).

His family also runs a charity, the Tun Foundation Bank. He says
the bank has donated eight million kyat (640,000 baht) this year
for social, educational and religious purposes.

For a new market economy like Burma, consumer products are a sure
road to profit, Mr Thein Tun says, because everyone needs them
and now they are starting to enjoy the ability to buy them.

"This is my success," he says, smiling proudly.

The lesson came when he was in Britain in 1987 when stock market
crashes sent shockwaves around the world. He noticed that only
consumer product businesses continued to do well.

"So since 1987 I decided that when my country opened for the
market economy system, I would join the consumer product business."

He says Burma's young market experience is being guided correctly
by the ruling government the State Law and Order Restoration
Council. The SLORC is trying to rescue the country from problems
created by socialism, he says, referring indirectly to 26 years,
1962-88, of isolation under Gen Ne Win.

Partnership is another key factor of his success because it has
helped him raise capital. He represented foreign trading
companies like Berli Jucker during the socialist regime. This led
to a joint venture with the giant Pepsi International company
five years ago. The name Thein Tun has become widely recommended
for new investors.

"He is a lucky man in that every body comes to him and gives him
money in doing business," says a Rangoon-based foreign businessman. 
"Whether the businesses fail or are run well is another matter."

So far none have failed. One of the joint ventures with foreign
partners is Myanma Gold, a gold exploration company set up with
ARC Exploration Australia.

Another is Myanma Steel Industry involving Japan's Itochu
Corporation, Natsteel Trade International of Singapore and Tansri
Chandra, an Indonesian partner. This is in the initial stage of
incorporation to produce galvanised iron sheets.

It is not known how much his businesses must contribute to the
military usual practice in Burma. But he has joint ventures with
stated-owned organisations and the military-created Myanmar
Economic Holdings company.

Myanmar Economic Holdings, for example, holds 43 percent of the
Dagon Brewery Co, the beer-making firm from which Carlsberg
International recently withdrew its 40 percent stake. Mr Thein
Tun's Myanma Golden Star owns 17 percent.

It was no surprise, therefore, to see him leading local
businessmen in a rally against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
in May when tension rose after the Slorc detained members and
supporters of her party, the National League for Democracy.

Mrs Suu Kyi criticised the government's failure to solve economic
problems, particularly soaring inflation. But Mr Thein Tun argues
that overall the economy is on the right track because
market-orientation is replacing the Burmese Way to Socialism.

"We were struggling under the socialist system for 26 years and
that system has already eliminated (our expertise)," he says. "We
cannot compare with American Standard or Thailand's standards. We
only compare with (our) 26-year experience, and this (the market
economy) is much much better."

Burma opened its doors in 1988 to lure foreign capital into the
natural resource rich nation. Altogether, 139 projects worth
$2.74 billion were set up by January this year, mostly hotels and
tourism, according to the Ministry of National Planning and
Economic Development.

His most famous business, Pepsi Cola Products Myanmar, in which
he is chairman and chief executive officer, is flourishing,
despite PepsiCo's withdrawal. The Burmese drank eight million
cases of Pepsi last year and 10 million are projected this year.

A future prospect is Dagon Dairy Products Co, which plans to
produce condensed milk owned jointly by Myanma Golden Star and a 
state owned organisation. The capacity is as high as 48 million condensed 
milk cans a year, according to Mr Thein Tun.

As vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Thein Tun wants
to convince more foreigners to come to Burma and see for
themselves that business is good.

He blames the international press for presenting a distorted
picture and discouraging investment. "Our country is frustrated
by the media. This is a big problem," he says.

Burma's economic priorities are to boost exports (which should
take off after a new port eases congestion), develop basic
industries and improve local business and managerial skills.

"We have to set up more import substitution industries, (boost
the) agricultural sector and increase products to export more and
cut down some rising expenditure," he says.

Other businessmen agree with his view that Burma needs to rely
less on imports. The big question is the lack of serious
encouragement from the government to build local entrepreneurs,
they say.

Because of the human rights record and-the crackdown on the
democracy movement, international organisations are withholding
financial aid.

"We have some difficulties to get the financing for investment,"
he says. But he believes the government can tackle the problem
and that the economy will improve.

"In the future, I don't see any reason why we can't survive."

