************************** BurmaNet ************************** "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ************************************************************** BurmaNet News: January 9-11, 1994 Issue #94 ************************************************************** Contents: 1 BKK POST: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: ILL-TREATMENT 2 BKK POST: RANGOON TARGETS KNU HEADQUARTERS 3 BKK POST: PASSAGE CLOSURE PUTS THE SQUEEZE ON DRUG WARLORD 4 NATION: 19 DIE FROM ILLICIT LIQUOR 5 BKK POST: KHUN SA ARMY ADMITS LINK TO DRUG SUSPECTS 6 BKK POST: BORDER CROSSING OPENS FOR BURMESE TRADERS 7 NATION: SAI LEK, SHAN LEADER DIES 8 BKK POST: SHAN GUERRILLA LEADER DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS 9 BKK POST: UCOM EYES NEW PROJECTS IN BURMA AND MALAYSIA 10 NATION: KHUN SA IN THE THREAT TO DISRUPT ECONOMIC SCHEMES 11 BKK POST: BURMA TO SELL OFF MORE STATE FIRMS 12 NATION: INTERVIEW WITH MALAYSIAN FM ON SOUTHEAST ASIA ************************************************************** The BurmaNet News is an ********************************* electronic daily newspaper * * covering Burma. 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By fax: (in Thailand) (66)2 234-6674 Attention to BurmaNet, care of Burma Issues By snailmail: (in the United States) BurmaNet, care of Coban Tun 1267 11th Avenue #3 San Francisco, CA 94122 USA ************************************************************** BKK POST: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: ILL-TREATMENT 9 January 1995 We belong to Group 197 of the French section of Amnesty Inter- national and wish to darw your attention to the cease of asylum-seekers in Thailand. Before expressing our concern, we would like to thank your government for having generously welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees for the past 40 years. However, the attitude of your government has recently undergone a drastic change. All refugees considered as illegal immigrants can be arrested, detained and deported. some asylum-seekers have been taken to local police stations, registered and made to sign a document they could not understand as there were no interpreters. They have been transferred to IDC in Bangkok where conditions are very harsh because of overcrowding. Some refugees can't lie down to sleep, food rations are inadequate and as children do not qualify for them, their mothers have to share with them. When refugees are taken to court, the charges are read out in Thai and no translation service in provided. Asyslum-seekers have no opportunity to sate why they are in the country. Some (particularly from burma) have been forcibly returned to their country. That and the situation in the so called "safe-areas" make us think it is urgent that Thailand reconsider her attitude to the whole problem of asyslum-seekers. (TN) Slorc should free Suu Kyi this month THE military junta which runs Burma faces another serious test in coming days. The Slorc must decide whether to obey its own law and free its most famous political prisoner by January . That is the day the official order detaining Aung San Suu Kyi made the serious error of winning a free election in Burma in 1990. For that, she was placed under house arrest. Her three- year confinement has been extended only by inventive "reinterpretation" of the law by Slorc leaders. There seems little reason to believe the Rangoon junta will obey its own laws. Still, there is always hope. Mrs Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a cause celebre throughout the free world, including Thailand. There are increasing signs SLORC wishes to move Burma from its long-time isolation and join the world community. The generals who lead the regime are well aware of the price. Before the regime will be admitted to full membership inn the world community, Mrs Suu Kyi must go free. In addition, the Burmese regime must ease the harsh civial rights violations of its citizens. In recent months, senior officials from the United States, Britain and the United Nations all have visited Rangoon for talks. The so-called "Secretary One" of SLORC, Maj-Gen Khin Nyunt, has said the conversations were "positive." The visitors appeared to aggree. The regime also has said it is considerinh allowing a delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit hospitals and prisons in Burma. Cleraly, SLORC leaders want to move Burma out of its black days, and to make some economic gaons for its longsuffering population. Just as clearly, however, it is fearful of losing power. None of the visits to Burma by outsideers in late 1994 was as healthy a sign of change as meetings between SLORC and Mrs Suu Kyi. Twice, in October and november, the diminutive political leader met with Secretary One himself. Almost no details of the meetings are known even now. Maj Gen Khin Nyunt told a British reporter the meetings were held "because of the long- term interest of the nation." It may be getting through to the men who seized power in a bloody revolution in 1988 that they will not be welcome in polite diplomatic company until Mrs Suu Kyi is released. The price of using violence against the Burmese now arrears clear to SLORC. Although approches have differed, almost every nation in the world has pressed the junta to release Mrs Suu Kyi and to work towards reconciliation in the nation. Two different approaches each have had their successes. Some nations, particularly Western Ones, have pressed economic and diplomatic sanctions on Rangoon. Others, including Thailand, have opted to use "constructive engagement." Virtually all, however, have made it clear that normal relations could not be expected so long as the burmese junta continued to use violence against peaceful citizens. This pressure must continute. It was disappointing that Chinese prime minister Li Peng passed up an opportunity to use his country's special relationship to push for fair treatment for Mrs Suu Kyi. However, this must not cause other diplomats, including our own, to pause in their efforts to win freedom for the 1990 election winner. It is important that Mrs Suu Kyi has never called violence in her country. Neither has she been charged with any violation of the law. Since she was detained, SLORC has broken her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. She has repeatedly offered to discuss any topic with the regime, except the possibility of her departure from Burma. Slorc leaders should carefully consider releasing Mrs Suu Kyi on January . The ramifications of extending her house arrest yet again will be serious indeed. If the opposition leader is kept under arrest, Burma will only confirm its status as a pariah state in today's world. Her lease, on the other hand, will be taken as a positive sign the regime is serious about reforming itself. Much will still remain to be done by the Rangoon regime. Its human rights abuses are legion. Mrs Suu Kyi has become the main symbol of hope for a resurgent Burma, which will become a democratic nation with free citizens. While SLORC must reverse many excesses such as arbitrary arrests, forced labour and torture, it can demonstrate it is serious in only one way. The regime must release Mrs Suu Kyi, and January is the obvious day to do that.(BP) ********************************************** BKK POST: RANGOON TARGETS KNU HEADQUARTERS January 9,1995 Tak Rangoon soldiers have continued to launch heavy attacks against Karen National Union (KNU) positions near the Thai-Burmese border opposite Tak's Mae Sot district, with the aim of capturing its headquarters by this coming dry season. A border official said yesterday that Burmese troops from Pa-an, capital of the Karen state, led by Col Sein Win, have been ordered to capture the KNU's Kawmoora camp. Chairman of the Local Thai-Burmese Border Committee (Thai side), Col Direk Yemngarmreub, was also invited to discuss the border situation with senior Burmese officials at Myawaddy. Col Direk informed the meeting that Thailand will not intervene in the Burmese crackdown on the rebels which Bangkok sees as Burma's internal affair. But Thailand will put its troops on alert along the border to beef up security for villagers and to maintain its sovereignty. Col Direk told the meeting that if there is any intrusion into Thailand by either force or firing, Thai troops will take steps to correct the situation by firing warning shots. "Anyone who flees across the border into Thailand will be disarmed and detained," he said The Third Army Region yesterday noon ordered Thai border troops equipped with heavy weapons to prepare to provide protection for villagers living along the border. Thai border patrol police and rangers and 105mm artillery pieces have been positioned near Mae Sot since mid-December last year, the source said. On the other side of the border, about 1,500 Burmese troops have been stationed in front of Kawmoora camp and have shelled it continuously since mid-December, the source added. Two 1mm artillery pieces and troops have also taken up positions near Myawaddy-Tingkanyinaung route. About 1,000 porters from border provinces, including Myawaddy have been recruited to transport supplies. The KNU, in turn, had placed about 700-1,000 troops in defensive positions and fired artillery in counter-barrage operations. The border official also said Burmese troops had exploited the internal conflict between factions inside the KNU by stepping up operations to capture the rebel base. (BP) ********************************************** BKK POST: PASSAGE CLOSURE PUTS THE SQUEEZE ON DRUG WARLORD by Subin Khuenkaew (Chiang Mai) Jan 9, 1995 DRUG warlord Khun Sa's supply lines through Thailand are slowly being strangled following the closure of a vital border passage six months ago. The closure of a ckeckpoint on the Thai-Burmese border at Ban Mai in Mae Hong Son's Muang district has squeezed Khun Sa. It is the only channel through which essential supplies for his muang Tai Army and Shan people are transported across the border from Thailand. Closure of the border passage, which began six months ago, is part of the Government's security policy, a border surce said. Necessities denied to Khun Sa include rice, other food, medicine and cloth. The closure put an abrupt end to the supply of vital goods worth more than 10 million baht a month, the source said. Thai traders affected by the order have tried in vain to seek relaxation of the order through the Mae Hong Son Chamber of Commerce. The trade ban has doubled the prices of essential commodities on the other side of the border. "We allow villagers to take goods out of the clountry which are necessary for daily consumption. "We do not allow deliveries of large quantities of goods for commercial purposes. This is in compliance with an order from our superiors," said a border patrol policeman at the Ban Mai checkpoint. Ban Mai checkpoint is about 45 kilometres north of Mae Hong Son town and is manned around the clock by BPP, army-trained rangers and provincial police. A Thai trader said this checkpoint was frequently closed during fighting between Rangoon troops and rebels in Burma. However, this was the longest it had ben closed and here was no apparent reason, he said. Prince Gan Jed, chairman of the Shan State People's Assembly, said Khun Sa felt he was being pressured by the Thai Government to hold truce talks with the burmese government. "We are not in a position to negotiate with the Slorc because the Shan State people do not agree to this," said Prince Gan Jed, who said he had been told by Thai authorities to hold talks. He said during the past meeting of the Shan State People's Assembly none of its members agreed to comply with Thailand's demands. Prince Gan Jed did not reveal the identities or positions of the Thai authorities concerned. Reports have circulated since the start of the year that Burmese government forces will attack the headquarters of Khun Sa's MTA. IN may last year, Rangoon troops launched an offensive against the MTA by a attracking theire positions along the Thai Burmese border and conducted air strickes on Maung Jod, about 40 kilometers from the Thai border opposite Waing Haeng sub- district, and Doi Kongmon, which are about fours walk from the Thachilake border chachpoint opposite Mae Sai district of Chaing Rai. The offensive was said to be the biggest in 30 years. The attack caused Khon Sa to strengthen his defense forces and to capture more areas to stop the BUrmese troops from getting close to the MTA headquarters. "After that offensive, MTA soldiers were able to operate in more than 80 % of the entire area of Shan State," according to Col Khun Deuan, a high-level MTA officers. It remains to be seen whether Khun Sa's headquarters will be attacked. The arrest of ten Haw Chinese drug trafficking suspectsin different localities in Mae Hong Son, Chaing Mai and CVhaing Rai last NOvember is an indication that an offensive against Khun Sa will possinility be renewed. Thge arrests were made after a request by the United States Drug Enforcement Adminstration. Thai courts are still considerring whether to extradite them as requested by the US. China has reportedly agreed to provide Burma with 40,000 AK 47 assault rifles and 8,00 parachutes in addition to assistance in many other fields. During a visit to China to last September , Senior Burmese junta member Lt-Col Khin Nyunt was warnly welcomeed by Chinese officials. Nevertheless,if it is to launch a major offensive against the MTA, the Burmese government will need a lot of money. MTA sources said Khun Sa said has so far not reacted to the reports his headquarters may soon be the main target of attack, but he is known to have met more frequently with his high-level military staff. (BP) ********************************************** NATION: 19 DIE FROM ILLICIT LIQUOR January 10, 1995 Rangoon-Nineteen people have died and 27 others are seriously ill in hospital after drinking an unidentified substance they believed to be bootleg liquor, the official Mirror daily reported yesterday. Two illicit liquor shop owners and a fisherman who sold them the drink were under arrest in Dallah township, across the Rangoon River, the report said. The fisherman, Than Tun, told police that he had found what he thought was country liquor floating down the river in a plastic container and sold it to the shop owners, the Mirror said. Eleven people died after they could reach hospital following intense vomiting and loss of eyesight, and eight others succumbed after admission, the report said. (TN) ********************************************** BKK POST: KHUN SA ARMY ADMITS LINK TO DRUG SUSPECTS January 10, 1995 At least two of 10 ethnic Chinese arrested in northern Thailand in November on suspicion of heroin trafficking are linked to Golden Triangle warlord Khun Sa, a senior member of his Mon Tai Army (MTA) said yesterday. Thai and United States narcotics suppression officials said the 10 men, scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in a Bangkok court tomorrow, were leading members of the opium warlord's organization. MTA Col Duan told Reuters by telephone yesterday that two of the detained men were Khun Sa's, but denied they were senior officials. "I can only recognize two of them, Chalee and Som Wang, but they are not at the high level which the US made them out to be," Duan said. Khun Sa, said by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to be the world's number one narcotics criminal, denies dealing in drugs, saying he only taxes drug traders passing through his zone of control to support his political objectives. Som Wang, alias Liu Fengte, and Chalee Yangwirikul, were seized in November along with eight others after a New York court issued indictment warrants against them. Thai police are detaining the suspects pending a court ruling on whether all or any of them can be extradited to the United States. Col Duan said the Rangoon junta's latest military campaign against Khun Sa had backfired, strengthening the warlord's image as a Shan autonomy leader. "Khun Sa's popularity among the Shan people has increased since Burma attacked us last May," said Duan, adding that anybody who fought against Rangoon would be a hero among the Shan. "We have deployed troops and expanded our areas of influence in all directions in Shan State." The ruling body of the Burmese junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), has vowed never to accept Khun Sa into the legal fold even if he tries to surrender.Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, head of military intelligence and regarded as the ruling junta's most powerful figure, said that because of his drug trafficking Khun Sa was an enemy of mankind and the Burmese people must fight him.Khin Nyunt's remarks, made at a teachers' conference in Rangoon, were published in the state-run media on Sunday. (BP) ********************************************** BKK POST: BORDER CROSSING OPENS FOR BURMESE TRADERS January 10, 1995 The Provincial authority yesterday officially opened a border crossing at Buan Huay Ton Nun in Khun Yuam district to boost trade and commercial links with Burma.The crossing is 30 kilometres from Khun Yuam district town and about 1,5 kilometres from thr border opposite Ban Mae Jae in Burma.According to Mae Hong Son Governor Somjet Viriyadamrong, this crossing is the most secure along the Thai-Burmese border." But if it is not safe, the province will close it immediately as we are concerned most about Thai people's safety along the border," said the governor.It is open for bilateral trade every Wednesday from 6 a.m. to6 p.m. Burmese are allowed to enter Thailand and trade at the specified market while Thai traders cannot get into Burma.No passage fee will be collected from the Burmese, only customs." It's a one-sided affair as the Burmese government is not ready to allow Thai traders to enter its side of the border," said the governor.About four to five immigration and customs officials will be stationed at the crossing to provide convenience for Burmese traders.Aung Kim Mong Taeng, a representative of Doi Koe Province of Burma, said Burma wants to buy consumer and household goods from Thailand.He said Burma will sell local agricultural and naturalproducts to Thai traders. But wood and jewellry are prohibited from export, he added.He said at the moment it is safe to trade on both sides of the border, adding that the currencies of both countries are used (100 kyats is worth baht).Meanwhile, the Third Army Commander Lt-Gen Surachet Dechativong, who presided over the opening ceremony, said the Burmese side is determined to improve security at this border point.He said if the crossing turned out to be dangerous, it would be closed.Lt-Gen Surachet also said there is no possibility to re-open trading points at Huay Pung opposite of Khun Sa base, or at Ban Nam Pieng Din opposite of Hua Bong Lao of Burma, as nobody can provide protection from possible fighting between Slorc soldiers and minority groups. (BP) ********************************************** NATION: SAI LEK, SHAN LEADER DIES January 10, 1995 A leader of a Shan armed ethnic movement died of heart failure last Friday in opium warlord Khun Sa's headquarters at Homomg. Informed sources said Sai Lek, chairman of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), who joined Khun Sa's Mong Toi Army last year as Deputy Commander in Chief, died suddenly on Friday night. The 54-year-old leader fell ill with minor stomach problems after Christmas, but his health had improved shortly afterwards. His sudden death has come as a shock to members of the Shan movement and the Mong Toi Army. Sources said Sai Lek's funeral will be held in Homong on Wednesday.Khun Sa has in the past few years tried to attract a number of Shan and other members of ethnic groups in the Shan State, which have been fighting Rangoon for independence or greater autonomy, to join his Mong Toi Army. His efforts were seen as an attempt to relinquish his international image as a drugs warlord and trafficker. His success in winning over the State Progress Party was a big boost to Khun Sa, as Sai Lek and the SSPP were widely recognized and supported by the Shan population as a true fighter for the independence of the Shan State from Burmese rule. Sai Lek was b elieved to have been groomed by Khun Sa as his possible successor, and his death is a great loss to both the warlord and his movement. The Shan leader fled to China for refuge after an internal rift in his party over peace negotiations with the Burmese junta or the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc). Hseu Thaen, SSPP secretary-general, supported the peace talks, and defected with several hundred troops. He eventually struck a ceasefire deal with the Slorc, forcing Sai Lek to live in southern China for several years. Sai Lek was later forced by the Chinese authorities to leave the country. He re-entered burma's Shan State last year and later joined with the Mong Toi Army. (TN) ********************************************** BKK POST: SHAN GUERRILLA LEADER DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS 11 January 1995 VETERAN Shan nationlist guerrillas leader Sai Lek has died in northeast Burma after a long illness, casting uncertainty over the merger of his own armed organisation with that of opium warload Khun Sa, guerrilla sources said yesterday. Sai Lek, who merged his Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) with Khun Sa"s Mong Tai Army (MTA) last year, died on fried at Khun Sa's Ho Mong headquarters in Shan State as a result of blood poisoning. "Sai Lek has been sick for some time and died last Friday," Kuesai Jaiyen, a close aide of Khun Sa, told Reuters by telephone. "The death of Sai Lek has shattered Khun Sa's dream to clear his image as an opium warload," one Shan soure said. Khun Sa described by the United States as the world's number one narcotics criminal, has in recent years tried to persuade a number of Shan and other armed ethnic groups in Shan State to join the MTA and fight against the Governemnt. Sai Lek, who was in his late 50s, was believed to have been designated by Khun Sa as a possible successor, and his death was felt equally by the MTA and SSPP, the Shan source said. Khun Sa's success in winning over the SSPP was a big boost as Sai Lek and the SSPP were widely recognized and supported by the Shan People as true independence fighters. Sai Lek began his guerrilla war against the Rngoon government in 1962. In 1989 the SSPP split and one faction signed A ceasefire deal with the Rangoon juntas leaving Sai Lek and the rump of the SSPP little choice but to join forces with Khun Sa, observers said. Sai Lek was well respected by other resistance groups such as the Karen National Union, the Mons and the Kachins. His wife and children still live in China.Funeral rites will take place today at Khun Sa's Hua Maung camp opposite Maung District of Mae Hong Song. (BP) ********************************************** BKK POST: UCOM EYES NEW PROJECTS IN BURMA AND MALAYSIA 11, January 1995 United Communications Industry (UCOM) plans to invest in fibre-optic production in Burma and to take part in a large power production project in Malaysia, according to president and chiefexecutive officer Boonchai Bencharongkul. He said UCOM was prepared to set up a plant to produce fibre- optic cable at a plant 10 kilometers from Rangoon. UCOM will take 30% of the shares Leader Cable of Malaysia 30$ and Cap Co, a motorcycle distributor in Burma, 30%. The remaining 10% will be held by the Burmese government. The company is revising the budget and other detail concerning the establishment of the plant. After the contract has been signed, the plant will manufacture cables for export to neighbouring countries and to supply the local market. He said the production capacity of the new plant had not been estimated as the budget had not yet been set. In addition, UCOM has a project to run a telephone concession in India. Now the company has submitted its proposal and handed over part of the document to Indian investors. Meanwhile, it is waiting for a private company in India to collect information and study the investment feasibility. The UCOM group has a plan to invest in digital GSM with the Vietnam Post and Telegraph Company. UCOM will take a 50% stake in the project. If UCOM wins the project, it can sign the contract and set up the network in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi within six months thereafter. The initial investment is estimated at 1-2 billion baht and the investment will brake even within four years. Vietnam has liberalised its telecommunications by welcoming foreign investors to invest through the granting of operation licences without specifying the expiry date. He said the company would invest in the energy sector in Malaysia. The proposal will be submitted to the authorities by June. The UCOM consortium consists of Nova Corp of Canada, Delcom of Malaysia, Ennel of italy and the Sri U-Thong Group of Thailand. Meanwhile, the proportion of the shareholders has not been pinned down. Some 35% of the 60% shares will be held by the UCOM Group and Sri U-Thong Group. The remaining 40% shares will be held by foreign investors. In the first stage, the company will import coal from Burma, Laos and Vietnam to produce power, and will import gas to use later on. The size of the 700-megawatt power plant in Malaysia will require US$700 million. (BP) ********************************************** NATION: KHUN SA IN THE THREAT TO DISRUPT ECONOMIC SCHEMES 11, January 1995 Opium warlord Khun Sa's Shan State Restoration Council has threatened to obstruct two multilateral economic cooperation projects which take inn part of the Golden Triangle area unless their self-styled Shan State is invited to participate in both the Quandrangle and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region schemes, a coordinator of for the Shan State Restoration Council (SSRC) said. "ON behalf of the SSRC, I would like to call upon participating countries to hold talks with Shan State as soon as possible," said Khernsai Jaiyene who is a close aide of Khun Sa and a SSRC coordinator. "Otherwise, Shan State which owns the area (the so-called Golden Triangle - an area overlapping the borders of Thailand, BurmaandLaos controlled by Shan forces hostile to the Rangoongovernment)won't be held responsible for anything that might have adverseeffects on the six countries," said Khernsai without elaborating further. Khernsai told The Nation in an interview on Monday that the SSRC condemned the exclusion of Shan State from both the Quadrangle Economic Cooperation project - which groups Thailand, Burma,Laosand China - and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region project -grouping these last four countries with Cambodia and vietnam - as aviolation of human rights. The SSRC coordinator pointed out that none of the six countries involved in the two projects had thought to consult Shan State before initiating the ambitious schemes despite the fact that Shan people occupy a large part of the area taken in by the projects.The six countries have seriously violated the human rights of the Shan people by initiating the projects without first seeking the consent of people occupying the Golden Triangle area, Khernsai said.Shan State is ready and willing to participate in the two projects, he added. "Shan people have their own jobs, and we wouldn't have anyproblems about participating in these two projects. If theother[member] countries were to allow Shan State to join, I thinkwewould greatly benefit the projects," he added.Khun Sa, who chairs the SSRC, has announced his willingnesstocooperate with effort to set up the Quadrangle EconomicCooperation Project, according to Kherasai. He point out thatthan Shan State covers an area in excess of 160,000 squarekilometers, and at least one province - Kengtung is in theareacovered by the Quadrangle project. Khernsai played down rumours that the Burmese junta - the so-called Slorc led by Gen Than Shwe - was preparing for a bigoffensive against Khun Sa's armed forces known as the MTA,oncethe dry season begins in February. There have been noirregularmovements of Burmese government troops in the area so far thisyear, but the MTA forces are on full alert in case of surpriseattacks, the SSRC coordinator said. * In a related development, Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda said the government will definitely provide aBt300 million "soft" loan to the Burmese junta to help financethe construction of a road linking Tachilek and Kengtung, butsome final details in the loan agreement have not yet beensettled.Tarrin said he thought Rangoon had decided to turn to theoffersmade by both the Chinese and the Singaporean governments toprovide low-interest loans for the same project since Burmeseofficials regularly contacted their thai counterparts toinquireabout the progress of this loan agreement. (TN) ********************************************** BKK POST: BURMA TO SELL OFF MORE STATE FIRMS 11 January 1995 BURMA has listed dozens of state enterprises from biscuit makers to goat farms to be sold in the first phase of an ambi- tious privitisation programme, official media reported yester- day. As well as eight textile factories, the Ministry of Light In- dustry will sell plants making biscuits, noodles, monosodium glutamate, leather goods, matches and paint. The Ministry of Heavy Industry will sell three machine tool plants and one dry cell battery factory. A condensed milk plant, sheep and goat farm, canning factory and all-purpose farm will be sold by the Ministry of Livestoke and Fisheries. The Minister of Trade will sell two ricebran oil factories and the machinery from two cooking oil refineries. As well As listing the assets to be sold, the Slorc set up a privatization commission and a value assessment committee. Head by military intelligence chief, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, the privatization commission groups the Minister of Light and Heavy Industry, Trade, Labour, livestock and fisheries, mines, Transport and Information. The new owners of the enterprises will be obliged to retain the current staff if they wish to stay, media reports said. Soon after seizing power in 1988, the Slorc formally ended 26 years of homespun socialism which foreign economists asid had virtually paralysed the once-thriving country. Mean while, deputy minister for hotel and tourism said invest- ment in Burma's hotel and tourism industry exceeds $600 mil- lion, second only to the energy sector, and it creating much- needed accommodation ahead of a designated tourism push next year. In a speech at a party held by new carrier Air Mandalay Ltd on Monday night, Bri-Gen Tin Aye said that 16 foreign hotel pro- jects were in progress throughout the country. "There are presently 1786 rooms in Rangoon and 1250 rooms in Mandalay In 1996, there will be more than 5,000 rooms altogether," he said. The Rangoon governemtn has designate 1996 as Visit Myanmar (Burma) Year and expect 500,000 tourists next year. More than 50,000 people visited Burma in 1994. Some observers doubt that the governemnt can attract such a large number of tourists next year given the constraints of the country's infrastructure. Tin Aye said measures being undertaken ahead of 1996 included simplifying entry formalities by granting 28-day visas on ar- rival to group tours and passengers on charter flight and cruise ships. (BP) ********************************************** NATION: INTERVIEW WITH MALAYSIAN FM ON SOUTHEAST ASIA Asean key to region's peace, prosperity 11 January 1994 Tan Sri Ahmad Kamil Jaafar, permanent secretary of Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, talked to kulachada Chaipipat and Yindee Lertcharoenchok over the weekend. here are excerpts of his views on peace and security in Southeast Asia. Q: What is malaysian view of the security in Southeast Asia? A: We (Asean) are very encouraged by the development in our own region. I think if we can continue to promote the kind of situation we have here, we can look forward to a peaceful and prosperous Southeast Asia. Vietnam will soon become a member of Asean. Laos and Vietnam have signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and Cambodia has asked to accede to the treaty. Sooner or later Burma will also move towards signing the treaty of Amity. Eventually all the countries in the region will become members of Asean. This is our objective. The Bangkok Declaration (issued at the inception of Asean) for example talks about all the countries in Southeast Asia becoming members of Asean. Asean constructive engagement with Burma has to some extent produced results, for example there is movement in Burma itself, not only politically but also economically. We certainly hope that the movement towards reform in both areas, both political and economic, will move at an even faster rate or peace. In the beginning when Asean put forward the philosophy of constructive engagement, there were a lot of cynics particularly in the West. But people are changing now because there is a culture in Asean_in Southeast Asia_ which not many of our western friends understand, but they are beginning to learn from us to deal with our own region. For example, Australia has already changed its position. They no longer believe in sanctions or isolation of Burma. The United States has sent a delegation to Burma, so to some extent Asean has influenced the movement or the perception of our friends in the West. Looking at Southeast Asia as a whole I am very very encouraged. But while there is a general consensus that peace and security has prevailed in Southeast Asia to a certain extent, some countries in the region are still concerned with some regional flashpoints or potential areas of conflict. Well, I would not say there are flashpoints. There is perhaps one flashpoint, the South China Sea. But the manila Declaration has talked about resolving all issues relating to the South China Sea through negotiations without the threat or the use of force. We will pursue this line with our friends. True, there is a problem in Cambodia, but I think this problem is not insurmountable. I think if the Cambodian government is given some help or assistance in combatting the insurgency of the Khmer Rouge, that problem would be out of the way_or out of our way very soon. Q: Some Asean countries have expressed concern that political instability in Burma could could escalate into a regional conflict? A: I do not see Burma as a potential conflict area. Sure, there is an internal conflict, but I doubt if it will reach that point, because in the end if Burma moves toward reform and resolve problems with its ethnic minority groups, it cannot be worse than it is today. It can only improve. At least the authorities in Burma are thinking in terms of how to bring the various groups together in the kind of national reconciliation. It may take time. In Malaysia, for example, it took us many years before we put different ethnic groups, different communities together. It will take many years, but it is the only road. Q: What would be the criteria for Burma to become a member of Asean? It seems that Burma might be the last country to join the grouping. Does Asean have any timeframe for Burma to become a member? A: We have no time frame for Burma or for any country. It is up to them to decide whether they want to join Asean. Once they decide to join Asean, they must subscribe to the criteria of mambership of Asean and Asean will look at it together. When we signed the Bangkok Declaration setting up Asean, our vision then was that all the 10 Southeast Asian countries would join together into one grouping. That was the vision of our leaders at the time, and that vision has been followed through. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia now moving toward that. Q: Will the criteria for all new members be the same? A: I think as we evolve, it may change. We are already thinking of Asean Free Trade Area (Afta). How soon and how fast Laos and Cambodia can subscribe to Afta would be something that we must look at. Maybe we can talk in terms of partial acceptance or partial subscription to the principles of Afta. You cannot, I think, by one stroke of a pen open up Laos, because laos needs a lot of help. Laos is very far behind if you compare the country to other Asean countries. There must be a philosophy which allows for give and take. Asean should not be rigid in applying rules and criteria. Q: In the case of burma, does it need to have political improvement before it can apply to become a member of Asean or to accede to the Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation? A: That is what the West wants to do, but that is not what we want to do. What happens in a country is an internal matter for that authoprity to handle. Q: So the Burmese junta or the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) could be accepted as a representative of Burmese authority by Asean, then? A: If certain national policies, the movement toward reforms, if all these subscribe toward regional growth, it is fine with me. I am not going to tell Burma you do this, you do that before you join Asean. Who are we to tell anyone within this region to have the same perception on internal security, internal stability than the authority of that country itself. They must decide themselves. Q: How do you see China's influence in Burma and in mainland Southeast Asia, especially military influence in the region through arms deals with Burma? A: If you talk about economic invasion, there is already a lot of economic invasion already in Asean. Look at the number of Japanese companies, look at the number of American companies. Look at the amount or the volume of investment in all Asean countries_ perhaps not Brunei_ the dominance of Japan. And certainly when China becomes a modern country and economically strong, whether you like it or not you are going to feel the influence of China just like we feel the influence of Japan. You cannot run away from it . The question now for us is how do we manage these influences. If we can manage all these influences, I think we shouldbe all right. Just like we have been managing the influence of Japan, the United States and European Union, so long as the influence of all these external economies or countries are not negative influences. Q: How much has Malaysia detected the military influence of China in Burma? A: Burma has got its own ordnance industry, its own defence industry which is one of the best in our region. Burma is not the only country purchasing arms and so on from China. There are many other countries. It is cheaper than the West and it is equally good. I don't see why we should not go to our close neighbours to do our shopping. In the end it was down to economic factors. You talk about how to manage the influence of major economic powers like Japan. What will Asean look like in the year 00? Q: Is it necessary that Asean should grow bigger to cope with the growing influence of China? A: Asean cannot get bigger than the 10 countries. there are mechanism for working toward peace, stability, security and economic growth and the Asean Regional Forum is one of the mechanisms. As long as we are managing our security, political will must underpin our economic development. Q: Maybe the fear of Chinese influence is not so strong at this point; what about in the next century when China turns into an economic power? A: As I said it is a question of how we manage our relations. The mechanisms are there, for example ht e Asean Regional Forum. I don't think China wants to be irresponsible. China wants to play a constructive role, because it is also in the Chinese interests to see there is peace and a secure situation in our region. It would not be in their interests to destablize the region. Q: But it seemed that from what officials have discussed inn the past few days, China still causes many concerns to the regional countries, in the development of long-range equipment. A: Yes, we look at our region of sougtheast Asia and if you look at our neighbours there are certainly moves to modernize our defence stability. We cannot tell anyone not to modernize their defence, but so long as we work, we sit down comfortably together to to talk and discuss our potential issues together, I don't think China would want to do anything foolish. China does not need to do that because when it become economically powerful, the economic power alone will influence. We will sense the influence of China. They don't have to send their blue water navy. I would like to look at the situation in a very positive way. After they Cold War, I see a positive trend toward developing relations toward sustaining those relations, moving toward provding our neighbours with baisc needs of modern society, and China is exactly doing that. As I said some year ago, now it is the situation where we must seek out friends and build on that friendship. There is a new concept that after World War II, China was targeted as a new emerging enemy. I don't see china as a threat - economic or military .I would accept the possiblity that we will feel the influence of China, stronger and stronger as China becomes economically powerful. But we have to engage China in constructive relationship as we have constructive relations with the United States. We feel the power of the United States, very strong US influence because it is the only superpower at the moment and a lot of the United States. In the old days we had a choice, but now we don't have any choice . In the old days if you didn't like the Americans, you went to the Soviet Union. Q: What is your opinion about the US request to find a strategic location for prepositioning its ships or equipment in the re- gion ? I do not believe in foeign military presence . I do not sub- scribe to that philosophy. At the moment I see force as a threat.THere is a Cold War mentality. I think we have got to change our mondset in order to take into account the reality of post-Cold War situation. If Malaysia does not see China as a threat, what about Asean a a whole? There are, of course, different perceptions. Each country will perceive the situation in a different way, looking at it from their own strategic considerations and national experience - and certain six countries cannot have a one common perception. But certainly there are common grounds, open divergence of views and a number od issues where all of as have a common goAl. Our common goal is peace and stability in the region. Do you mean to say that the majourity of Asean members still have strong fears of China's influrence in the region? I won't say majority . I would say some of us have a different perception from Malaysia.(TN) ************************************************************** NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET: AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS AFP: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE AW: ASIAWEEK AWSJ: ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt.3 DUS$1 (APPROX), BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION BI: BURMA ISSUES BKK POST: BANGKOK POST (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK) BRC-CM: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-CHIANG MAI BRC-J: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-JAPAN CPPSM: C'TEE FOR PUBLICITY OF THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE IN MONLAND FEER: FAR EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW IRRAWADDY: NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY BURMA INFORMATION GROUP JIR: JANE'S INTELLIGENCE REVIEW KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP Kt. BURMESE KYAT; 150 KYAT3DUS$1 BLACK MARKET 100 KYAT3DUS$1 SEMI-OFFICIAL 6 KYAT3DUS$1 OFFICIAL MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK) NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER, RANGOON) S.C.B.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP S.C.T.:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST SLORC: STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY **************************************************************