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

The BurmaNet News: November 5, 1996
Issue #561

HEADLINES:
==========
DVB: OPPOSITION RADIO REPORTS STUDENT RIOTS. 
REUTERS: BURMA MAY BE SOFTENING STAND
AP: DEMOCRATS - BURMA COULD AFFECT REGIONAL STABILITY
AP: SINGAPORE DEFENDS STAKE IN BURMESE FUND WITH DRUGS 
KYODO: AQUINO SLAMS MYANMAR KEEPING PEOPLE 'IN BONDAGE'
REUTERS: DEMOCRATS URGE CHINA ON BURMA ARMS EMBARGO. 
REUTERS: BURMESE POLICE DETAIN DEMOCRACY SUPPORTERS. 
BBC: GOV'T NEWS CONFERENCE ON US AND EU SANCTIONS. 
FBC: US WINEMAKER BURMESE PARTNER BANNED FOR DRUG LINKS
US STATE DEPT: DRUG PRODUCTION
BUSINESS TIMES MALAYSIA: MAS FLYING TO YANGON NOV 12. 
KNU: KNU REPORT     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

DVB: OPPOSITION RADIO REPORTS STUDENT RIOTS. 
November 2, 1996
From: DVB <dvb@sn.no

Text of report by Burmese opposition radio broadcasting from Oslo

It has been learned that there was a riot in Kyaukpyu Township because the
students in that township were unable to buy airline tickets to travel to
their respective universities and colleges for the 1996 academic year. The
students reported collectively to the appropriate military officers that
they were facing difficulties buying airline tickets and the seats were not
available for them when they did. The military officers told the students
that it was not their responsibility and refused to resolve the problem.
The students again reported to the responsible authorities that the airline
tickets and seats were being reserved and allocated only to the Defense
Services, the township law and order restoration council and influential
business people, and that ordinary passengers were unable to fly. The
authorities did not resolve the problem and scolded the students for making
complaints.

As a result, the students burned down the Kyaukpyu Airport office building
and other government buildings in the town and clashed with police. The riot
ended when SLORC [State Law and Order Restoration Council] troops fired
shots to disperse the crowds in several locations. There were no casualties,
but the authorities arrested and took action against some students.

It has been learned that disenchanted students and a lecturer at the Sittwe
Akyab [phonetic] Degree College got into trouble because the lecturer always
spoke rudely to the students, saying: You Rakhine [Arakanese] have no
discipline; you are useless. You people are not Rakhine, but are Yakhi
[derogatory reference to Arakanese]. Do you not understand me? I am speaking
to you in Burmese.

It has been learned that there was a heated argument between the students
and the lecturer because of the lecturer's rudeness, which led to a
disturbance at the college on 8th July 1996. The police and military troops
intervened and dispersed the crowd and then arrested the students involved
in the disturbance. The local residents are unhappy because the authorities
did not arrest the lecturer, who practices racial discrimination and causes
race riots, but arrested only the students, who were being discriminated
against. The local residents say the regional authorities do not take action
against the lecturer, although they know all about his behavior. That is
why the local residents believe that the lecturer may be someone sent by
SLORC intelligence unit to cause a race riot. The four student leaders are
still at large. [The SLORC recently released Ma Than Yi, a student who was
arrested during a demonstration staged on 23rd October by students of the
Rangoon Institute of Technology and Rangoon University, according to
Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1100 gmt 2 Nov 96. The radio
added that, according to the All Burma Students' Democratic Front, more than
100 students were still being held.].

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

REUTERS: BURMA MAY BE SOFTENING STAND
November 3, 1996
By Deborah Charles
    
RANGOON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Burma's military rulers may be
softening in their handling of the country's embattled democracy
movement as Rangoon faces mounting international pressure and
questions over entry to a key regional grouping, analysts said.
    'There's definitely a change in tactics here,' said one
diplomat. 'But I'm still not sure what it all means.
    Others agreed, and one veteran local analyst said the subtle
differences in the way the police handled democracy supporters
over the weekend was also a sign change could be in the offering.
    'They seem to be changing the way they are dealing with the
people,' he said. 'There have probably been some meetings high
up and maybe they think this is the better way to go.'

    But the changed approach does not mean police are absent
from the streets, nor that the democracy movement has free rein.
    Police and military intelligence officers still patrol
Rangoon streets to prevent any crowds from gathering within
about 100 metros (yards) of Suu Kyi's house. However, they do
not appear to be as aggressive as in the past weeks.
    Suu Kyi gives regular speeches outside the front gates of
her University Avenue residence on Saturdays and Sundays. But
authorities have prevented the talks since late September as
part of the crackdown on the democracy movement.
    For most of Saturday, officers politely asked pedestrians to
leave the area for 'security reasons' and vehicles were allowed
on University Avenue for the first Saturday in six weeks. Most
people obediently left the area after being told to go home.
    When a couple of hundred supporters refused to leave, riot
police appeared. But instead of guns they had clubs -- which
they did not use.
    Despite several tense stand-offs between democracy
supporters and officials, no one was put into waiting trucks and
taken in for questioning, as they had been in the past weeks.
    The apparent softening comes amid growing international
pressure on the SLORC to improve its poor human rights record
and begin talks with leaders of the democracy movement. The
European Union and United States recently slapped travel bans on
senior Burmese officials and may impose further sanctions.
    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also
appears to be moving towards delaying Burma's membership into
the seven-nation grouping.
    A senior ASEAN delegation is now in Rangoon to assess
Burma's preparations for entry into the bloc. Burma has applied
to become a full member next July.
    SLORC officials, who bristle at international complaints
against their rule, said on Friday they were confident of
becoming full members of ASEAN 'sooner or later'.
    Some diplomats say despite outwardly ignoring charges of
human rights abuses, the SLORC has been affected and seems to be
trying to improve its image.
    Senior Defense Ministry official Kyaw Thein said on Friday
the SLORC and Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD)
party were working on improving relations after being locked in
a war of words for over a year.
    He said Kyi Maung, a top aide to Suu Kyi and deputy chairman
of the NLD, was detained on October 23 for questioning partly to
give the SLORC an understanding of the NLD's current attitude.
    Kyi Maung, who was released last Monday, told Reuters on
Friday he thought the explanations he gave his interrogators
were helpful to improved relations.
    'I told them the most important word was 'contact',' he
said. 'I think they are learning. They listened to me.'
    Since her release from six years of house arrest in July
1995, Suu Kyi has made repeated unanswered pleas to the SLORC to
sit down and discuss how to bring democracy to Burma.
    Diplomats said the fact that Suu Kyi has had several
meetings with Lieutenant-Colonel Than Thun -- her liaison
officer during her house arrest -- could also reflect warming
relations.
    Suu Kyi said on Friday it was too soon to tell if relations
were improving, but added that said she was always open for
dialogue.

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

AP: DEMOCRATS - BURMA COULD AFFECT REGIONAL STABILITY
November 3, 1996
 
   MANILA, Philippines (AP) _ International action is needed to
force Burma into democratic reforms before the conflict there
destabilizes Southeast Asia, former Philippine President Corazon
Aquino said Sunday.

   The two-day conference was attended by more than 100 delegates
from 18 countries, and was sponsored by the Forum of Democratic
Leaders in the Asia Pacific, a non-government group espousing
democratic ideals.
   
Sein Win, prime minister of a U.S.-based Burmese government in
exile, said clashes between civilians and riot police deployed by
the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council have erupted in
Burma and could worsen.
   
``It is becoming more clear that the generals are not capable of
responding to political developments in Burma in any way except by
force,'' Sein Win said.
   
``If left to the generals, the situation in Burma could explode
and affect the stability of the Asia Pacific region,'' he said.
   
Sein Win added that international groups, especially, the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations trading bloc, should try to
defuse the tension and ensure a peaceful transition from a
dictatorship to democracy.

   Since the last weekend in September, soldiers and riot police
had barricaded roads leading to Suu Kyi's home and arrested anyone
who approached.
   Aquino, who led a popular revolt that ousted President Ferdinand
Marcos in 1986, said Burma's military rulers continue to ignore the
lesson of many countries with dictatorial regimes that eventually
collapsed.
   She said ASEAN's policy of constructive engagement with Burma's
military junta and its openess to accept Burma as a member should
be accepted but reinforced by international effort to hasten
Burmese democratic reform.
   An ASEAN delegation arrived in Rangoon for an eight-day visit to
discuss Burma's application for membership. Burma has been seeking
membership and was granted observer status in July.

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

AP: SINGAPORE DEFENDS STAKE IN BURMESE FUND WITH DRUGS 
November 4, 1996

   SINGAPORE (AP) _ An Australian TV documentary that alleged links
between Singapore and Burmese drug lords drew a strong denial from
the government Saturday.
   The documentary, shown in Australia on Oct. 12, said the
Government of Singapore Investment Corporation has shares in an
investment fund which in turn has shares in a company owned by two
alleged Burmese drug lords.
   The government's five-page statement acknowledged holding the
shares, but said they are ``completely open and above board,'' and
the fund's businesses are ``straightforward investments.''
   The statement also questioned the patriotism of opposition
leader Chee Soon Juan, who demanded a government explanation of the
accusations leveled in the documentary.
   Saturday's government statement said Chee appeared to be
endorsing the program's allegations, and should settle the argument
in Parliament or call for a Parliamentary inquiry.
   Failure to do so would prove that Chee is ``allowing himself to
be used by foreign groups,'' the statement said.
   The program, shown on Special Broadcasting Service network, had
implied that GIC's participation in the Myanmar Fund, if not
illegal, may be hypocritical and morally wrong for Singapore, one
of the few nations in the world to hang drug traffickers. Singapore
also rarely loses an opportunity to publicize its abhorrence for
narcotic peddlers.
   The government rebuttal did not delve into the background of the
Burmese father and son businessmen _ Steven Law and and his father,
Lo Hsin Han _ or refute suggestions in the documentary that they
were involved in drug trade.
   It also did not refer to allegations that Lo is allowed to move
freely in and out of Singapore.

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

KYODO: AQUINO SLAMS MYANMAR KEEPING PEOPLE 'IN BONDAGE'
November 3, 1996

     MANILA, Nov. 3 Kyodo - Former Philippine President Corazon
Aquino on Sunday slammed the ruling junta in Myanmar which she said
was keeping the Myanmar people in bondage.
     Aquino, who swept to office 10 years ago on the back of
''people's power,'' told an Asian conference on democracy that while
the Filipino people's message was heard around the world, the Myanmar
military government has yet to heed it.
     ''It continues to shun the peaceful course to normalization, to
ignore the will of the Burmese (Myanmarese) people,'' Aquino said at
the Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia.
     Foreign delegates to the conference included South Korean
opposition leader Kim Dae Jung.
     Aquino said she wrote to Myanmar's Prime Minister Gen. Than Shwe
in March 1994, asking for permission to see Nobel Peace Prize winner
Aung San Suu Kyi, then under house arrest.  She said she never
received a response.
     Aquino said she respects the decision of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to undertake a policy of
''constructive engagement'' with Myanmar but warned such measures
will take time to exert a decisive influence on the Myanmar
government, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council or
SLORC.
     ''In the meantime, the Burmese people remain in bondage and the
stubborn refusal of the SLORC to unblock avenues of peaceful
self-expression is bottling up fumes of discontent that may soon turn
noxious and burst violently across the land,'' Aquino said.
     The chief organizer of the Manila conference is former
Philippine Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus, a senior official of
President Fidel Ramos' political party, Lakas-NUCD (People
Power-National Union of Christian Democrats).

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

REUTERS: DEMOCRATS URGE CHINA ON BURMA ARMS EMBARGO. 
November 4, 1996

MANILA, Nov. 4 (Reuters) - Leading Asian democrats urged China and southeast
Asian nations on Monday to impose an arms embargo against Burma and asked
the international business community not to invest there until a new
government was in place.

The democrats, including former Philippine president Corazon Aquino and
South Korean opposition leader Kim Dae-jung, also called on the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to delay any decision on admitting Burma
as a member.

Delegates from about 20 countries came up with the recommendations at the
end of a two-day meeting in Manila to discuss Burma.
The meeting was organized by the Forum of Democratic Leaders in the
Asia-Pacific, a non-government group.

The group's "Manila declaration" also included a call for the restoration of
democracy in Burma "without delay and without violence, through a process of
dialogue and in a spirit of achieving national reconciliation among all
parties involved".

The resolution urged China and ASEAN to join an arms embargo on Burma as
observed by the United States and European Union.

Burma has observer status in the ASEAN regional grouping and hopes to become
a full member at its next formal meeting in July. ASEAN groups Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
On Friday, Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw told a news conference in
Rangoon he was confident Burma would be accepted as a member of ASEAN but
three members of the regional grouping -- the Philippines, Thailand and
Singapore -- have expressed reservations over whether the country is ready.
The resolution also urged international aid and lending agencies not to
resume assistance to Burma.

The Philippine meeting, convened to find ways to persuade Burma's military
rulers to relax their grip, coincided with a renewed crackdown by Burma's
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) on weekend gatherings
of supporters of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.  

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

REUTERS: BURMESE POLICE DETAIN DEMOCRACY SUPPORTERS. 
November 4, 1996
By Deborah Charles

RANGOON, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Burmese authorities detained at least a dozen
people after preventing them from attending a speech planned by democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, witnesses and a senior government official said on
Monday.

Witnesses said they saw several dozen people being forced into trucks by
club-wielding riot police late on Sunday afternoon after they had refused
police requests to go home.

They did not know where the police took the detainees, but said they were
manhandled and hit before being put on the trucks. Several other democracy
supporters were seen being picked up and then released in other streets near
Suu Kyi's house.

But a senior government official told Reuters only 12 people had been
temporarily detained for being unruly and chanting pro-democracy slogans in
the street on Sunday afternoon.

"The group was making noises and chanting," he said. "They picked up 12
people but I think by now they have already been released."

Suu Kyi was prevented from making her regular weekend speeches on the
weekend when traffic police blocked vehicle and pedestrian access to her road.
It was the sixth weekend in a row that the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) prevented the Nobel Peace laureate from giving
speeches to supporters from the front gates of her University Avenue residence.
Groups of several hundred supporters gathered on different streets near Suu
Kyi's house after being refused entry to University Avenue. In one area,
chanting supporters broke off tree branches and grabbed sticks in case there
was any confrontation with the police, witnesses said.

On another street a group of about 500 Suu Kyi supporters were involved in a
30-minute stand-off with authorities before eventually dispersing.

"We are not afraid. We are never afraid," said one man as he rushed to join
the growing crowd.

Despite the sudden presence of several dozen riot police, the crowd refused
to go home before the police freed one man who had been detained earlier in
the afternoon.

The group, which was earlier shouting "Long live Aung San Suu Kyi", then
insisted on staying in place until the time Suu Kyi's speech would have
normally ended.

The speeches began as spontaneous gatherings after Suu Kyi was released from
six years of house arrest in July 1995. But they have become a regular
weekend fixture and are the only way Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy
(NLD) party can disseminate information.

In the speeches Suu Kyi speaks about NLD policies and also answers questions
by the crowd on anything from the government to education to how best to
make ends meet.

The SLORC says the gatherings are illegal, and unless they are held inside
Suu Kyi's compound they will be stopped. But Suu Kyi refuses to hold them
inside, saying public gatherings should not have to be held behind closed doors.

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

BBC: GOV'T NEWS CONFERENCE ON US AND EU SANCTIONS. 
November 1, 1996 (excerpts)

Source: TV Myanmar, Rangoon, in Burmese 1330 gmt 1 Nov 96
Excerpts from report of news conference held in Rangoon on 1st November by
Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw, including question and answer session in English,
as broadcast by Burmese TV

[Reporter Maung Maung, from Japanese Jiji Press, in English] I would like to
ask you one question, U Ohn Gyaw. The European Union governments were said
to have decided to deny visa to certain categories of Myanmar [Burmese]
nationals. What is your comment and are you bothered or disconcerted by the
decision?

...whatever we were accused of, grossly violating human rights, but we do
not have such a [violation] in our country in existence in such a manner. So
whatever they do is, of course, their own [as heard]. As far as we are
concerned, we look forward to having more contacts and then we look forward
to having more meetings in order to get [pauses] to point that they are
convinced that we
are not actually transgressing, we are not violating human rights
principles. Of course, in the bilateral relations, when there is a certain
measures taken by [pauses] be it EU or any other country, of course, our
response will be on the reciprocal basis...

[Reporter Hla Htwe, from the Japanese newspaper `Nihon Keizai Shimbun', in
English] I understand that ASEAN has to decide matters on consensus
regarding the timing of Myanmar's entry into ASEAN. Formally, we are given
to understand that the ASEAN countries are quite eager to accept Myanmar
next year. According to news reports, there had been a shift of their
attitude regarding that timing. Would you make some comments on that matter?

[Ohn Gyaw, in English] I don't think there is any shift, because to be
integrated fully into ASEAN fold, there are certain requirements - that of
course the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and then the zone of peace and
freedom, and of course other commitment, what the ASEAN had already done. 
It is a process. It's more of a tactical and then, mind you, it is not
political. The ASEAN is so strict that there is no political; but some
people who do not understand that, they would like to interpret from the
aspect of our political [condition]. But we are confident, and I am very
much convinced, that our integration into the ASEAN fold is a matter of
time...

Replying to questions raised by S. Tsukataka of [Japanese newspaper]
`Yomiuri Shimbun' on the action taken by the US and EU, U Ohn Gyaw said he
believed it was a one-sided approach and that they had a wrong view...
[AFP correspondent, in English] When will you reciprocate? When will you
reciprocate taking out visa restriction on EU in response to their action
against Burma?

[Ohn Gyaw, in English] It will be decided by the minister of foreign
affairs. When we need it we will do it. We have many friends in the 15-EU
membership, but when we take action, of course, it will be the measure that
we are going to deploy. It may or may not be to all, because most of the EU
members are our friends. We understand them. But those people who are
belligerent, who seek to do something which is stronger and unnecessary
move, then of course we'll have to take measures. A reciprocity will be
there. 

Dr Than Nyunt, deputy minister of education, replied to a question about
student unrest that it was not unusual for the students to gather in the
evening at the beginning of term. University students in other countries
also gather in this manner. The incident took place while the students were
gathered to enjoy themselves on the evening of a school holiday. The
universities are now open and the students are attending classes regularly
and performing their duties...

Col Kyaw Thein said he is being asked quite often by reporters about the
dialogue with the domestic politicians. He added that most people link and
compare the government's action pertaining to the ethnic armed groups. He
noted that before entering into a dialogue with the ethnic armed groups, the
authorities first assess their response. The face-to-face dialogue takes
place only when the authorities are convinced that they can talk with the
armed groups. If their response is in accordance with the three main
national causes outlined by the SLORC - non-disintegration of the union,
non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of national
sovereignty - and lends itself to joining hands for the development of their
respective areas, then the dialogue takes place.
Regarding the domestic politicians, Col Kyaw Thein said that some
politicians do as they please, and the majority of them are not talking
about the development of the country, but they are talking about taking
action against Burma through sanctions, as well as about other issues. That
is why, it is difficult for the state government to analyze these issues and
say whether it should move a step forward.

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

FBC: US WINEMAKER BURMESE PARTNER BANNED FOR DRUG LINKS
November 4, 1996
From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" <dohrs@u.washington.edu>

FREE BURMA COALITION
Ph: 608-827-7734, Fx: 608-263-9992, email: zni@students.wisc.edu

Boycott Announced:  Wente Vineyards Stands Firm

San Francisco, CA--November 4--An international coalition of human rights
groups today announced a boycott of Wente Vineyards of Livermore, CA.
Boycotters criticize Wente's links to its Burmese partner Steven Law, head
of Asia World Company Ltd.  Law has been denied a visa to the US based on
suspected involvement in the drug trade.

While other companies have been boycotted for their support of Burma's
military regime, Wente is the first company to be targeted due to concerns
over Burmese heroin exports.

Burma supplies most of the world's heroin, including 60% of the
heroin in the US and 80% in Canada.  In March, a State Department
narcotics report said about Burma, "lack of enforcement against money
laundering has created a business environment conducive to the use of
drug-related proceeds in legitimate commerce."

Wente announced its Burma deal in February, describing Law as a
"major player."  Law is the son of Lo Hsing Han, called by the Washington
Post "one of Southeast Asia's leading heroin traffickers."  Wente VP John
Schwartz is aware that Law is barred from the US, but has offered no
comment.

"Doing business in Burma is bad enough" says San Francisco City
Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who led a successful effort to ban city contracts
with companies doing business in Burma.  "But Wente's 'business
arrangement' with a suspected heroin trafficker is outrageous," he says,
noting the troubling rise in heroin use by teens.

The boycott is backed by the US-based Free Burma Coalition, which
has members in 15 countries worldwide, the Canadian Friends of Burma and
Burma Centrum Netherlands.

Numerous companies, including Heineken, Carlsburg, Interbrew
(owners of Labatts) and Levi Strauss have abandoned Burma due to human
rights concerns.  Many others, including Apple Computer, Amoco, Eddie
Bauer, Liz Claiborne and Macy's have left for "business reasons."

"We will not sell or serve Wente wines" says James Hanson, of
Wetlands Reserve, a New York City night club, a supporter of the boycott.

"Heroin is killing people in New York, and no honorable business should
have anything to do with heroin traffickers."

Wente brand names include Wente Vineyards, Murrieta's Well,
Ficklin Vineyards, Sergio Traverso, Ivan Tamas, Concannon Vineyards, Sokol
Blosser Oregon Winery, and microbrew St. Stan's Beer.

Asia World Co. has recently been the target of an investigation by
the Australian television program "Dateline," which aired its findings
October 12.

Larry Dohrs, Free Burma Coalition, 206-784-5742
John Schwartz, Wente Vinyards, 510-447-3603

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

US STATE DEPT: DRUG PRODUCTION
November 4, 1996

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Top Four Countries in World Opium Production
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Opium Production in Metric Tons

YEAR          BURMA     AFGHANISTAN              LAOS       PAKISTAN
----              -----    ----           ----     -----
1986          1,100           300                250           200
1987          1,200           600                260           250
1988          1,250           700                260           250
1989          2,450           600                300           150
1990          2,250           400                250           200
1991          2,300           480                250           210
1992          2,270           650                250           200
1993          2,600           700                210           200
1994          2,100           950                 80           200
1995          2,300         1,250                200           180
1996          2,560           n.a.               200           n.a.
-----------------------------------------------------

SOUTHEAST ASIA: Opium Cultivation and Production
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                 1991      1992      1993      1994     1995
Net cultivation
(ha)           192,625   181,360   194,720   167,230     175,470
Burma       160,000   153,700   165,800   146,600     154,070
Laos          29,625    25,610    26,040    18,520      19,650
Thailand    3,000     2,050     2,880     2,110         1,750
--------------- -------   -------   -------    ------    ------
Potential
Production     2,650     2,543     2,797     2,132     2,545
(metric tons)

Burma          2,350      2,280     2,575     2,030     2,340
Laos            265       230          180        85      180
Thailand        35        24           42        17        25
-------------------        ------   -------   -------    ------
Potential heroin 221       211       234       177       212
(metric tons)

Burma          196       190       215       169         195
Laos           22        19        15         7          15
Thailand       3         2          4         1          2
-------------------------------------------------------------

 Opium        Opium Yield   Heroin        Heroin       Heroin
 Cultivation  (metric       Production    exports    seizures
 (ha)            tons)      (metric       (metric      (metric
                             tons)          tons)       tons)

1987 92,300    836           54                 51        0.05
1988 103,200  1,000          68                 66        0.09
1989 142,742  2,430         174                170        n.a.
1990 150,100  2,255         158                153        0.24
1991 161,012  2,350         167                162        0.18
1992 153,700  2,280         160                155        0.27
1993 165,800  2,575         186                183        0.3
1994 146,600  2,030        138                 128        0.3
1995 154,000  2,340        166                 156        0.1

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

BUSINESS TIMES MALAYSIA: MAS FLYING TO YANGON NOV 12. 
November 4, 1996 (abridged)
By Kamarul Yunus.

MALAYSIA Airlines will launch its inaugural service to Yangon, Myanmar on
November 12, making the national carrier as the first South-East Asian
airline to link Kuala Lumpur with all nine capital cities in the region.

On the service to Myanmar's capital city, its spokesman said the national
carrier will use the B737-400 for the purposed twice weekly flight to Yangon.
It departs Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport in Subang on
Tuesdays and Fridays using the B737 which can accommodate 106 passengers.
At present, Malaysians traveling to Yangon take either the twice weekly
Myanmar Airways International from Kuala Lumpur via Bangkok or Singapore.
To facilitate the service into Yangon, Malaysia Airlines opened its office
in the capital city of Myanmar on October 3 which is located at business
center of the three-star Nawarat Concorde Hotel.

The spokesman said the Yangon's inaugural service will be Malaysia Airlines'
115th destination in its global network since the airline was established 24
years ago.

Malaysia Airlines' introduction of the Kuala Lumpur-Yangon route can be
described as timely, especially when Myanmar is on the verge of joining
ASEAN along with Cambodia and Laos.

The service to Myanmar will pave the way for a more cordial and mutual
relationship between Malaysians and the people of Myanmar as well as open up
more trade opportunities and promote tourism between the two countries.
The close cooperation was also reflected from the recent visits by several
Malaysian leaders to Myanmar.

For example, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik and Foreign
Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited Myanmar last month with the
mission to foster close ties between the two nations.

Dr Ling was in Yangon for a three-day visit starting October 19, while
Abdullah visited Myanmar for two days from October 20 as part of his
eight-day visit to three countries in Indochina.

Besides Myanmar, Abdullah visited Vietnam from October 17 to 19 and Cambodia
from October 22 to 24. 

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

KNU: KNU REPORT     
November 4, 1996

Taungoo district On October 20,1996, Slorc commander and deputy
commander of Light Infantry Battalion 48, Lt. Colonel Myint Han and Major
Tun Tun Oo arrested 60 men, women and children from Kaw Thay Der village and
forced them to carry rations for their troops at the front line at See Keh
Der, Plo Mu Der, Tha Kwee Soe and Bu Hsa Kee. The Slorc soldiers also used
these villagers to sweep mines for them. 

On October 23, 3 causalities were reported. A 42 year old woman was reported
killed by mines. She had 6 children including a breast fed baby. The other
two, Saw Lay Tu, 24,and Naw Bee Meh, 45, were wounded. Lt. Colonel Myint Han
and Major Tun Tun Oo continued to hold remaining villagers as porters and
mine sweepers.

Deputy commander of Tactical Operational Command 2,under Western Regional
Command, Nyunt Tin, ordered the villagers of Kler La  village and the
villagers from the other neighboring villages to build a monastery  in Kler
La  village which would cost about 500.00 kyats. The villagers have to pay
for the expenses as well as DONATE their labor.

Karen National Union Information Center

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

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Total - France          Dawn Star: cd@utopia.EUnet.fr  
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volunteering:           refugee_help@mail.serve.com
World Wide Web:              FreeBurma@POBox.com

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Massachusetts           simon_billenness@mail.cybercom.net 

[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]
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