Burma Alert

JUNE 1996
Volume 7, No.6

1990 PARLIAMENT CALLED

The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by 1991 Nobel Peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi called for all people's representatives elected in the 1990 general elections to convene in Rangoon from 26-28 May 1996 [F960606].

STUDENTS DETAINED

On 16 May, 6 students from Rangoon University were arrested in Rangoon for organizing people in support of the planned NLD Congress. Among those arrested were Ye Kyaw Zwar, a Rangoon Institute of Technology student, and Kyaw Kyaw Htay (a.k.a) Margue, a 1st year English major [AB-88960523].

262 N.L.D. ARRESTED BY SLORC

To prevent members of parliament from attending the NLD meeting, SLORC arrested 238 parliamentarians and 24 NLD organizers. In Bassein, the wives of 2 parliamentarians were arrested when troops could not find the husbands [F960606].

4 SAGAING M.P.s ARRESTED

U Do Htaung, NLD Member of Parliament for Kale-1, Sagaing Division, U Tin Maung, NLD MP for Kalewa, and Dr Thein Win, NLD MP for Kale-2, were arrested in Kalemyo on 20 May. U Tin Maung Win, NLD MP for Mawlaik, was also arrested on the same day as he was about to board the Mawlaik-Monywa steamship on his way to Rangoon. Four other NLD organizers and twenty NLD youth were also arrested at the same time [NLD-LA960612].

SHAN LEADERS ARRESTED

On 21 May, Sai Pah, an Executive Committee member of the Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD), was arrested at his home in Taik Gyi township near Rangoon. Sai Khun Parng, another SNLD executive from Panglong, was also arrested on the same day in Panglong. The SNLD won 23 seats in the 1990 elections. In March, the SNLD, the Shan State Kokang Democratic Party, the Wa National Development Party, the Lahu national Development Party and the Mro (Khami) National Organization had protested the provision in SLORC's constitution that will allow the military to appoint members of parliament [SHAN960601, Reu/AA960329].

CHIN REPRESENTATIVE ARRESTED

On 23 May, the United National League for Democracy member of parliament for Tamu, Sagaing Division, Htaung Kho Htan, was taken into custody. It is believed that he was taken to Mandalay [FTUBW960530].

MAUNG AYE ISSUES WARNING

General Maung Aye, SLORC Deputy Chairman and Army Commander, warned that SLORC would `annihilate' anyone who disturbs Burma's peace and tranquillity. The state-controlled press said that the NLD is challenging and about ``to shatter the stability and peace of the State'' by calling a meeting on the anniversary of the 1990 elections. ``Internal subversive elements under external influences'' are trying to undermine the country's stability, Maung Aye said. He called on the military to be vigilant against `destructionists' [Reu960523].

N.L.D. CONFERENCE HELD

In spite of the mass arrests, the NLD held its conference from 26-28 May. About 400 party members attended. Daw Suu announced that the meeting was only the first in a series of party gatherings to be held. She also told a news conference later that the party hoped to hold a meeting of all the NLD members elected in the 1990 elections, once they were freed from detention. She said the military could never `annihilate' the Burmese peoples' desire for democracy. She said that in the elections 6 years ago, ``the Burmese people made it manifestly clear they wanted to replace dictatorship with democracy. These results cannot be cast aside because they reflect the will of the people.'' Later, up to 10,000 people - four times the usual number and the biggest democracy crowd in years - gathered outside the gates of Daw Suu's compound to hear her customary weekend speech. SLORC made no move to interfere. Diplomats from the United States, Japan, France, Britain and Australia also attended [F960606, Reu960526, AP960527].

THAILAND VOICES CONCERN

For the first time, Thailand joined Japan and western countries to publicly voice concern about SLORC's crack down [BA].

NEW N.L.D. CONSTITUTION

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said on 27 May that the NLD will set up a special committee to draft a new constitution [A960607].

SLORC SENDS MIXED SIGNALS

On 27 May, the last day of the NLD Conference in Rangoon, SLORC sent mixed signals, suggesting that there may be some uncertainty within the ranks about how to deal with the NLD challenge to its power. One commentary in a state-run Burmese-language newspapers warned the democracy camp that it was committing treason while another paper took a milder tone, even suggesting support for democratic principles [Reu960527].

SLORC ORGANIZES MASS RALLIES

SLORC staged a series of mass rallies across the country at the end of May and in early June to demonstrate that it has the support of the masses. SLORC claimed that 100,000 people demonstrated across the country. In Rangoon, people were brought in to chant slogans, hold banners and hear almost identical pro-regime speeches and denouncements of `destructionists' and their `neo-colonialist' strategies. Observers said that most of the participants were civil servants and members of the Union Solidarity Development Association, a SLORC mass movement organization. Others said that they had been forced to attend by local community leaders who demanded that every household supply three people. Similar rallies were staged in November after the NLD pulled out of the SLORC National Convention [LT960530, ST960530, HKS960530, N960529]

HUNDREDS ARRESTED IN BURMA

A Rangoon University source said that about 200 student activists were arrested during the crackdown against the NLD. Eyewitness could not identify the detainees because their faces were covered by blankets. On May 24, two young monks holding pro-democracy placards at a bus-stop near Sule Pagoda in Rangoon were also arrested [ISDA960527].

OHN GYAW DENIES ARRESTS

SLORC Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw, in Japan to attend a conference, denied that politicians were being detained. ``The reports are fabricated,'' he said. Later, he told Japanese Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda on 24 May that the detainees had not been arrested but detained as guests of SLORC at government guesthouses. He said that they would be released soon and that they were being well-treated [Kyodo/Intelasia960522, Reu960522,23,24].

SLORC FREES PRISONERS

On 31 May, SLORC freed over 100 of the 262 people arrested the week before. However, Daw Suu is concerned that 9 NLD members will be detained for some time and even sentenced. Of particularly concern are Win Htein, a senior aide to Daw Suu, and her cousin and press secretary U Aye Win, who is the brother of Dr Sein Win, Prime Minister-in-exile [AA960601, ToI960601, B960602, N/AFP960602].

SLORC IMPOSES NEW BAN

SLORC on 7 Jun, proclaimed a new law banning all acts `disturbing public order', making violators subject to 5-20 years imprisonment. The order also made unauthorized writing of a state constitution subject to the same punishment. Any organization found in violation will be suspended, dissolved or declared an unlawful organization. [AP960608].

DAW SUU DEFIES SLORC THREAT

On 8 and 9 June, Daw Suu defied SLORC's new law and addressed more than 5,000 supporters who gathered in front of her house. The one-hour meeting took place without any interference from SLORC [TS960608].

ANOTHER SLORC WARNING

On 10 June, SLORC warned that its recent show of restraint towards Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the public meetings of her supporters should not be mistaken for leniency. On 9 June, two large billboards were erected by SLORC near Daw Suu's house exhorting people to, ``Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy'' and ``Oppose those trying to jeopardise stability'' [N/AFP960611].

DAW SUU DEFIES SLORC AGAIN

On 15 and 16 June, Daw Suu defied SLORC again by addressing the weekend crowd in front of her house. Once again, SLORC made no move to interfere [BA].

KHUN SA LIVING IN RANGOON

According to Sao Zarm Hurng, Khun Sa's second son, his father is living in a small house on an island in Inya Lake in Rangoon under the control of SLORC's military intelligence. Since Feb.96, most of Khun Sa's former Merng Tai Army officials of Chinese descent have left Homong to pursue business interests in Burma. Khun Seng, Khun Sa's uncle, and a group of Loi Maw Chinese (10 households) are living in Rangoon at the V.I.P quarters called Shwe Pyi Than Myo Thit. Others are living in Sein Mya Karn Thar quarter on the outskirts of Rangoon. Fah Lang (former chief of Staff of MTA) is also living in Rangoon. Khun Seng is said to be trying to set up a brick factory on the road to Mingaladon. Permits awarded by SLORC to Khun Sa and his group include trading companies, transportation licenses, gem and mineral mining concessions [SHAN960528].

KHUN SA GIVEN BUS CONCESSION

SLORC has awarded Khun Sa a concession to run bus services on three lucrative routes starting in June - between Rangoon and Taunggyi, between Taunggyi and Lashio, and between Loi Kaw and Tachilek. Under the deal, Khun Sa will pay only half the concession fee levied on ordinary bus operators. The buses and vans to be put into service have been bought from companies in Rangoon [B960521].

SLORC PARDON FOR KHUN SA?

Col Kyaw Thein, a member of SLORC's information committee, said that ``There is a possibility that he might be pardoned by the government, but there is no final decision yet.'' Kyaw Thein was a key figure in negotiations that led to Khun Sa's surrender. Khun Sa is wanted in the United States on drug trafficking charges [N/AP960524].

KHUN SA ASSOCIATE EXTRADITED

Chang Fu-sheng, an associate of Khun Sa, was handed over to US marshals, who took him to New York to face drugs trafficking charges. Chang, alias Vicha Sitthiphan or Somboon Khamdaeng, was said to be closely involved in Khun Sa's narcotics operations [B960525].

S.U.R.A. - POLITICAL SETTLEMENT

Major Yod Serk, leader of the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA), wrote to SLORC Chairman Sr-Gen Than Shwe on 27 April, urging SLORC to abandon its policy of total elimination and suppression in resolving the ethnic conflict and to opt for a comprehensive political settlement in the Shan State and in Burma [SHAN960524].

ETHNIC LEADERS MEET DAW SUU

A few weeks ago, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with the leaders of six ethnic groups at a monastery. Among those who participated in the meeting were leaders of the Wa, Kachin Democratic Army (former 4th Brigade) and Karenni National Progressive Liberation Army. SLORC officials were furious when they learned about the meeting but NLD officials played the meeting down. ``It was just an informal meeting,'' said one NLD member [N960531].

N.C.U.B. APPLAUDS N.L.D.

The NCUB applauded the recent action taken by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD party. It said in a statement that she and the NLD are shouldering their historic responsibilities assigned by the Burmese people [NCUB960522].

N.D.F. SUPPORTS N.L.D. POSITION

On 30 May, the National Democratic Front, which represents the ethnic forces fighting for a federal union since 1948, endorsed the struggle for democracy in Burma led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It also called on the officers and men of the Burma Army to fulfil their primary duty by protecting the lives and interest of the people [NDF960530].

KARENNI CONTINUE FIGHTING

The Karenni National Progressive Party said that during April-May, KNPP troops clashed with SLORC forces three times on 18 April, 24 April and May 1. In response, more than 3,000 troops from the 99 LID have been dispatched the border area opposite Thailand's Mae Hong Son province [B960530].

OSHKOSH PULLS OUT OF BURMA

Another American clothing manufacturer Oshkosh B'Gosh Inc, decided to cease operations in Burma in May. Wisconsin-based Oshkosh, a leading manufacturer of upscale children's clothing, attributed the decision to financial considerations and concern about `unknowns' in Burma. Its Burmese supplier, Myanmar Segye, is a SLORC UMEH joint venture [B/AP960526].

CRACKDOWN HURTS BUSINESS

Japanese Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda warned SLORC Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw that Rangoon's crackdown on democracy advocates had dampened the enthusiasm of Japan's business community for investing in and trade with Burma [Reu960524].

JAPAN URGED TO RECONSIDER AID

Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi again urged the Japanese government to reconsider its plan to resume aid loans to Burma [N/Kyodo/AFP960527].

NO PLAN TO REVIEW AID

Japan is not planning to review its economic assistance scheme for Myanmar despite the arrest of pro democracy activists by the military regime there, Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama said on 23 May [Jiji960523].

ASEAN URGED TO REJECT SLORC

On 11 Jun, Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi called on the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to withhold membership from SLORC at its annual Foreign Ministers' meeting in Jakarta in July until the Burmese military agrees to negotiate a return to civilian rule. She also called on the ASEAN Regional Forum not to ratify SLORC's admission to the regional security forum [DVB/ANZ960611, SMH960612].

U.S.ENVOYS IN MANILA

U.S. special envoys William Brown and Stanley Roth met with Philippines President Fidel Ramos on 11 Jun. The Americans were sent by US President Bill Clinton to discuss a co-ordinated response to tensions between Burma's military rulers and the democracy movement. The envoys arrived from Japan and will visit Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. In Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials suggested Tokyo and Washington raise Burma during the ASEAN meeting in Jakarta [Reu960611].

ALATAS REJECTS BURMA REQUEST

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas rejected a recommendation by senior officials from ASEAN that he visit Rangoon to express concern over the growing political tension there. Alatas claimed that the ASEAN position is not to `interfere' in a country's internal matter. In a contrasting mood, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Amnuay Viravan said an ASEAN dialogue with Rangoon on their current internal situation was possible and should be seen as reflecting a legitimate concern towards neighbouring states [N960612].

AUSTRALIA HONOURS DAW SUU

[Reu960523] On May 23 Australian Governor-General Sir William Deane made Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a Companion in the Order of Australia, one of Australia's highest civilian honours. The award was ``in recognition of her outstanding leadership and great personal courage in the struggle to bring democracy to Burma''.

DEMOCRACY AWARD FOR DAW SUU

Burmese Democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi and former US Vice President Walter Mondale, currently U.S. ambassador to Japan, were awarded the 10th annual W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award. The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) will present the awards during the Democratic Convention in Chicago in August. ``Aung San Suu Kyi's courageous struggle to restore democracy to Burma reflects the hopes and aspirations of the Burmese people and is an inspiration to democrats around the world,'' said NDI chairman Paul Kirk, Jr. Madeleine Albright, US ambassador to the United Nations, will present the award to Aung San Suu Kyi [USIA960529].

DR.SEIN WIN URGES SANCTIONS

Prime Minister Dr Sein Win of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, urged the U.S. Senate on 22 May to impose economic sanctions. The bill would ban private investment in Burma and require U.S. firms to disinvest until the president assures Congress that an elected government has been allowed to take power. Sein Win's recommendation was opposed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kent Wiedemann and John Imle, the president of Unocal, the U.S. company engaged in building the natural gas pipeline from the Yadana gas field. [Reu960522].

SOROS SUPPORTS SANCTIONS

Billionaire George Soros, Chairman of Soros Foundations and President, Soros Fund Management, testifying before the US Senate on 22 May said, ``As a general rule I am not in favor of sanctions. I am all for constructive engagement and I have practised it in many countries ... But Burma is a case where desperate measures are needed because the situation is so desperate ... and the common person has nowhere to turn.... More investment does not necessarily mean more leverage. On the contrary, special interests often take precedence over general principles. Sanctions have been successful elsewhere ... South Africa ... in Poland and Chile [OSI960522].

N.C.U.B. HAILS SANCTIONS

The 4th Conference of the National Council of the Union of Burma passed a special resolution in May supporting U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell's proposed trade and investment sanctions against SLORC. The resolution stated that ``investments in Burma will only be beneficial to SLORC'' [NCUB9605].

MON REFUGEES REPATRIATED

In a letter dated 14 April, Nai Shwe Kyin, President of the New Mon State Party, wrote to Ruprecht von Arnim, Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok, requesting monitoring of Mon refugee resettlement in Burma. The letter stated that the Royal Thai Government had ordered all Mon refugees from Payaw and Halokkhani camps to return to Burma by 30th April [NMSP].

NEW MUSLIM REFUGEES

The UNHCR estimates that 5,500 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh from Burma since Mar.96. Other relief agencies say there may be up to 10,000. The influx is an embarrassment for the UNHCR, which is trying to meet its target of repatriating the last 50,000 of 250,000 Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh in 1991 and 1992. Jafar Ahmed explained why life in Burma had become unbearable. ``Twenty days before we left our village of Inn Chaung, the military took me for forced labour,'' he said. ``They said it was for 10 days, but they kept me for 16. They tax us and make us give donations, such as logs, to their requirements. If we can't pay, they take us to a Nasaka (border force) camp and torture us.'' Ahmed, a 40 year-old labourer, said he had once spent 24 hours with his legs held in wooden stocks at a Nasaka camp. SLORC has long denied reports of ill-treatment of Muslims, or Rohingyas, in Arakan State. Bangladesh, unwilling to host any more newcomers, says they are illegal immigrants fleeing poverty, not persecution, and must be deported. Yet the hardships cited by Ahmed and other new arrivals are identical to those claimed by their fellow-Rohingyas who were accepted as refugees after the original mass flight in 1991. Rohingyas are not recognised as full citizens by SLORC, but only as `residents' and they do not have freedom of movement, needing permission if they want to leave their home villages [Reu960605].


Investments:

BRITAIN:

LAND ROVER participated in the first auto show in Rangoon in May. Charles Stroud is the Manager of Myanmar Astra Cinthe Motors' Land Rover/BMW showroom that opened in Rangoon in Mar.96 (BA, Vol.7, No.4). 240 new cars were sold in Burma in 1994 and 684 were sold in 1995. Land Rover has set a sales target of 100 units this year, with the aim of moving some 300 cars a year within five years. In particular demand, according to car company representatives at the Rangoon show, are four wheel drive vehicles - especially for the military and mining companies operating in the rugged north of the country [AFP960530].

CHINA:

SLORC Minister for Forests Lieut-Gen Chit Swe visited China 29 May for a week at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Forestry Xu Youfang. The delegation was seen off Minister for Home Affairs Lieut-Gen Mya Thin and other senior officials [X960529].

YUNNAN MACHINERY EQUIPMENT IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP (YMEC) on 21 May signed a contract with the Myanmar Port Authority to carry out the Bo Aung Gyaw wharf extension project in Rangoon for US$30 million (in 21 months). The YMEC will design and build a wharf that can handle container ships [X960521].

GERMANY:

BMW participated in the first auto show in Rangoon 24-31 May. Arndt Focken, is BMW's country representative. A BMW 735 IL was selling for over US$100,000 (500 times the per capita income). Analysts say the only people able to afford such cars in Burma are the military, government officials and wealthy local businessmen - as well as foreign investors and embassy staff. Import taxes can be as high as 500 percent, a Burmese auto consultant said [AFP960530, AT960610].

JAPAN:

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS is planning to start twice-weekly flights from Osaka to Rangoon to serve the growing number of Japanese tourists and businessmen visiting Burma [A960523].

HONDA participated in the first auto show in Rangoon in May. Honda is waiting for a distribution licence to sell cars in Rangoon [AFP960530].

The KAJIMA CORP contract to build two tunnels for a dam in Paunglaung is worth Yen 1.72 billion (US$17.2 million). Construction began in May 1996 and is expected to end May 1998. This will be the first time the company will be involved in public works in Burma since 1988. Prior to 1988, Kajima had completed 25 projects in Burma. Address: 1-2-7 Moto-Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107 [APDJ960531].

MAZDA participated in the first auto show in Rangoon in May. Mazda is waiting for a distribution licence to sell cars in Rangoon. The cheapest Mazda model on show at the Rangoon motor show had a US$23,000 price tag. According to Satoshi Suzuki, a representative for Mazda, some 2,000 second hand cars were being brought into Burma every month making it very difficult to sell new cars [AFP960530].

NISSAN participated in the first auto show in Rangoon in May. Nissan opened a showroom in June to sell cars in Rangoon. Nissan hopes to sell 50 units by the end of the year, and boost that number to 200 vehicles for calender 1997 [AFP960530].

SINGAPORE:

The C & P HOLDINGS PTE LTD contract to build two container terminals at Thilawa Port in Rangoon, signed Jun.95 (BA Vo.6, No.7), will cost US$48 million [X960521].

ERICSSON TELECOMMUNICATIONS PTE LTD signed an agreement with state-run Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications to install digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT) system in Rangoon (1,000 lines), Mandalay (1,000 lines), Pakokku (400 lines), Monywa (350 lines) and Twante (250 lines). In 1995, telephone companies from Israel, Japan, the United States and Australia also won contracts [X960530].

THAILAND:

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS (Thailand) LTD has appointed Maymyo Import Export (Myanmar) Ltd, as the Burmese distributor of Philips business electronics, communication and security and office automation products [N960605].

U.S.A:

ATLANTIC RICHFIELD President Roger Truitt, signed an agreement with Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise to explore an offshore natural-gas concession and share production [WPD960324].


SLORC:

The SLORC Cabinet
(May 1996)

On 29 May, SLORC reshuffled its cabinet:

RANK: NAME: PORTFOLIO:
01. S-Gen Than Shwe (S) PM/Def
02. V-Adm Mg Mg Khin (S) D-PM
(Also Chairman, Investment Commission)
03. L-Gen(A) Tin Tun (S) D-PM
04. L-Gen Sein Aung (S) Industry 1
05. L-Gen Chit Swe (S) Forests
06. L-Gen Myint Aung (S) Agri
07. L-Gen Kyaw Ba (S) Hotels
08. L-Gen Maung Thint (S) Border A
09. L-Gen Mya Thinn (S) Home
10. L-Gen Kyaw Min (S) Mines
11. L-Gen Tun Kyi (S) Trade
12. L-Gen Myo Nyunt (S) Religious
13. L-Gen Maung Hla (S) Immigration
14. L-Gen(A) Thein Win Transport
15. L-Gen Min Thein Off.Ch.SLORC
16. L-Gen Phone Myint (S) Chair SAC
17. L-Gen Aung Y Kyaw (S) SAC
18. L-Gen AyeThaung (S,t) SAC
19. V-Adm Than Nyunt(t) SAC
20. B-Gen Thaung Myint(t) SAC
21. L-Gen Myo Thant P.M.O
22. B-Gen Lun Maung P.M.O.
23. Col Pe Thein P.M.O.
24. Col Than Shwe P.M.O.
25. B-Gen(A) Mg Maung (t) D-PM Office
(Also Secretary, Investment Commission)
26Khin M Yin D-PM Office
27. M-Gen Kyaw Than Industry 2
28. M-Gen Aye Kyaw Information
29. M-Gen Saw Tun Construction
30. M-Gen Soe Myint Social Welfare
31. M-Gen Saw Lwin (t) Labour
32. B-Gen Win Tin Finance
33. B-Gen David Abel Planning
34. Col Aung San (t) Culture
35. Col. Aung Thaung (t) Livestock
36. Col Win Sein Rail Transp
37. Lt-Col Pan Aung Education
38. L-Col Khin M Thein Energy
39Ohn Gyaw Foreign
40Soe Tha Comm
41Than Aung Coop
42Saw Tun Health
43. B-Gen Tin Aye DM Tourism
44. B-Gen Maung Kyi DM Soc Wel
45 DM Trade
46. Col Thant Zin DM Health
47. Col Kyi Maung DM Education
48. Col Nyunt Swe DM Foreign
49. Col Tin Hlaing DM Home
50 DM Constr
51. Col Than Nyunt DM Industry 1
52. Col Aung Khin DM Religious
53. Col Hlaing Win DM Mines 1
54. L-Col San Wai DM Transp
55. L-Col Soe Nyunt DM Culture
56. L-Col Thein Sein DN Info
57Myint Thein DM Mines 2
58. Dr Than Nyunt DM Education
59Kyaw Aye DM Labour
60Tin Hlaing DM Agri
61Win Naing DM Finance
62Tin Tun DM Energy
63 DM Industry 2
64Kyaw Tin DM Border A
65Aung Phone DM Forests
66Aung Thein DM Livestock

Notes: (S) = Member of SLORC;
* = new Cabinet member;
(t) = transferred to new post;
PM = Prime Minister;
D-PM = Deputy Prime Minister;
P.M.O. = Prime Minister's Office;
DM = Deputy Minister.

REGIONAL COMMANDERS
(May 1996)

Two new regional commands were created to protect SLORC economic interest - Shan State, East of the Salween River where Khun Sa and the Wa armies are competing over new drug routes via Laos, and in the Tenasserim Division where Unocal and Total are building a natural gas pipeline from the Gulf of Martaban to Thailand.

RANK: NAME: COMMAND:
1. B-Gen Kyaw Win * Northern
2. M-Gen Hla Myint Swe North West
3. B-Gen Tin Ngwe North East
4. B-Gen Tin Htut Eastern
5. B-Gen Thein Sein * E Shan State
6. B-Gen Aung Htwe Western
7. B-Gen Ye Myint Central
8. B-Gen Kyi Aung Southern
9. B-Gen Khin M Than Rangoon
10. B-Gen Nyunt Tin South West
11. M-Gen Ket Sein South East
12. B-Gen Sit Maung * Tenasserim
(Thiha Thura)


Resources:


SLORC FAX NUMBERS

BURMA ALERT No.10 Vol.5, published SLORC fax numbers. The following is an update:

Please send new numbers to Fax: 1 (819) 647-5403,

E-mail: yawnghwe@hookup.net


NEWS SOURCES THIS ISSUE: