************************** BurmaNet ************************** "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ************************************************************** The BurmaNet News: Thursday, February 16, 1995 Issue #109 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Contents: **********************INSIDE BURMA**************************** 1 NATION/REUTER: UN ENVOY DENIED PERMISSION TO MEET SUU KYI 2 BKK POST: HEART FAILURE KILLS BURMA'S SOLE ELECTED PM 3 AP: U NU: 'FATHER OF DEMOCRACY' 4 BKK POST: PETRO ASIA PLANS OIL AND GAS EXPANSION IN LAOS, BURMA 5 NATION/REUTER: BURMA, CAMBODIA AIM TO BE MAJOR RICE SUPPLIERS *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** 6 BKK POST: REBEL FACTION RUNNING CAMPAIGN OF FEAR AMONG KAREN REFUGEES 7 NATION: NEW ATTEMPT TO SEIZE KARENS ON THAI SOIL FOILED *************************MON STATE**************************** 8 NATION: MON REBEL LEADER URGED SLORC MOVE FOR GENUINE PEACE **************************************************************** The BurmaNet News is an ********************************* electronic newspaper * Iti * covering Burma. 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Burma Issues is a Bangkok-based non- governmental organization that documents human rights conditions in Burma and maintains an archive of Burma-related documents. Views expressed in The BurmaNet News do not necessarily reflect those of either NCGUB or Burma Issues] ************************************************************** **************THE BURMANET NEWS--FEBRUARY 16, 1995************ ************************************************************** **********************INSIDE BURMA**************************** NATION/REUTER: UN ENVOY DENIED PERMISSION TO MEET SUU KYI Reuter 15 February 1995 UNITED NATIONS- Alvaro de Soto, a UN assistant secretary-general, said on Monday that he was refused permission to see Burma's Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, by the military government during his recent visit to the Southeast Asian country. "They regretted that they were unable to accede to my request," said de Soto, who returned over the weekend after leading a delegation to Rangoon to discuss human rights and other issues with the government of Burma, known as Myanmar. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali intends to submit a report shortly to the UN Human Rights Commission as requested by a General Assembly resolution late last year. Diplomats said de Soto was sent to Burma to see if the government could be persuaded to take some action that would acceptable to the international community. Burma's ruling military body, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, has been shunned by the world for crushing a democracy uprising in 1988 that left many dead. It has held Suu Kyi, leader of the national League for Democracy, under house arrest in Rangoon since July 1989. (TN) **********************INSIDE BURMA**************************** BKK POST: HEART FAILURE KILLS BURMA'S SOLE ELECTED PM 15 February 1995 by Ralph Bachoe Former Burmese premier U Nu, 88, died of heart failure yesterday at his home in Pyidaungsu Yeiktha in Rangoon. According to close family members, the former premier took ill and complained of stomach pains on Monday night and died at 11.25 yesterday morning. At his beside were son U Aung and daughters Daw Than Than Nu and Dr Cho Cho Nu. U Nu was the only democratically-elected prime minister of Burma. His Clean AFPFL (Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League) Party won the 1959 elections. He was later overthrown in a coup staged by General Ne Win in March 1962. U Nu first became involved in national politics when he was elected Student Union president in 1936. Since then he has been jailed many times for opposing the British colonialists, and later for promoting democracy in the country. He is considered the "Father of Democracy" in Burma. A three-time premier after Burma gained independence in January 1948, U Nu was also the co-founder of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1955. Other co-founding members included Indonesia's President Sukarno, Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk, China's Chou En-lai, Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Cuba's Fidel Castro. He fled to the Thai-Burmese border in 1970 and set up the Parliamentary Democracy Party. The ex-premier then left for India in 1973 where he was a guest of Indira Gandhi and was housed at one of the old places in Bhopal. He ended his self-exile in 1980 and returned to Burma. On September 9, 1988 he set up a parallel government, reclaiming his premiership according to the 1947 constitution. He formed a cabinet with the unanimous support of the various organisations that attended the meeting held at the hall of the Film Workers Association on Wingaba Road in Rangoon. He was placed under house arrest on December 29. 1989, where he remained until April 1992. (BP & TN) **********************INSIDE BURMA**************************** AP: U NU: 'FATHER OF DEMOCRACY' 15 February 1995 Rangoon, AP U Nu, the only civilian prime minister of a country dominated by the military, died yesterday at his home in Rangoon, family members said. The veteran, 87-year-old politician fell into a coma early yesterday morning and died before noon, they said. They did not give the cause of death, but said he "passed away peacefully." A key figure in modern Burmese history, U Nu retired from politics in the late 1970s, only to re-emerge during a countrywide, pro-democracy uprising in 1988 with a failed attempt to declare a parallel government. Born in 1907, U Nu was a student leader at Rangoon University and an active nationalist before becoming Burma's first prime minister after the country attained independence from Britain in 1948. He held the premiership most of the years from independence until March 2, 1962, when Gen Ne Win took power in a coup. U Nu was detained along with other civilian politicians by the coup makers and released in 1966. He went into exile in 1969 in Thailand, from where he sought to spearhead resistance against Ne Win's regime. After spending 1973-74 in the United States, he and his family settled in India as guests of the government there. U Nu returned to Rangoon in August 1980 under a general amnesty order, and devoted himself to Buddhist studies until civil unrest caused the fall of Ne Win's regime in 1988. At the height of pro-democracy demonstration in September that year, U Nu declared himself prime minister of a 26 member parallel government. His movement failed to capture much popular support, and like all independent political organizations, was crippled when a military junta seized power on Sept. 18. In december 1989, he and 12 associates were detained when they refused the junta's orders to dissolve their government. U Nu was released from house arrest in April 1992 and since then had spent most of his time at home. The state news agency reported last week that U Nu's son, Maung Aung, had been allowed to visit his ailing father although he was an "anti-government activist," based on the Burmese-Thai border. (BP & TN) **********************INSIDE BURMA**************************** BKK POST: PETRO ASIA PLANS OIL AND GAS EXPANSION IN LAOS, BURMA 15 February 1995 PETROASIA, a powerful Thai-Chinese oil venture which includes Charoen Popkhand, is working to enter the high-potential retail oil and gas businesses in Burma and Laos as part of its Asian market expansion plan. The company is negotiating with the Rangoon authorities for the right to set up service stations and gas outlets in the restrictive Burmese market. On the other hand, Petro-Asia has been in contact with the Laotian Government to obtain a license to set up a service station network in Laos where the number of oil marketers is regulated. managing director Apisit Rujikeatkamjorn, who looks after PetroAsia's oil business projects in Thailand, Burma and Laos, said the company's move to the two neighbouring countries came as PetroAsia was working to set up more oil outlets in Thailand. He told Business Post that Burmese officials had given a "positive signal" for opening up its oil market, now dominated by several Burmese state oil enterprises, to PetroAsia. While talks with Rangoon authorities are proceeding, Mr Aspisit said the soonest PetroAsia could start its presence in that country, initially in the capital city, would be in the next two years. Burma's oil demand is estimated at 70,000 barrels per day and, with the country opening up and its economy growing, the Burmese oil market offers good potential for oil businesses.In Laos, PetroAsia is joining a number of international oil companies seeking Vietiane's permission to set up service stations. Among them are US oil giant Exxon, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) and partly Thai-state-owned Bangkok Petroleum Plc. "We know we are competing with many others and the presence of restrictions, but we are aware of the need to establish our contact with Vientiane," said Mr Apisit, a former senior official of the PTT. PetroAsia is an emerging Asian multinational oil firm set up just a year ago with the aim of challenging western international oil concerns in upstream businesses in the Asia-Pacific region. It is a joint venture owned 35% by the PTT, 35% by Charoen Pokphand and 30% by China's state petroleum and petrochemical concern Sinopec. The company has already set up a handful of service stations in China and Thailand. Mr Apisit said it was too early to discuss in more detail the company's business plans in Burma and Laos as much of the exercise was geared toward obtaining licenses. In Thailand, PetroAsia has 10 service stations under construction and toward the end of this year, it intends to stream up to 20 outlets at prime locations in the 150-kilometer radius of Bangkok. PetroAsia's second service station in Thailand, in Kaeng Khoi, Saraburi, is scheduled to come on line next month. In each subsequent month, at least one PetroAsia pump will start operation. All of PetroAsia service stations in Thailand will be of standard size, incorporated with 7-Eleven convenience stores and restaurants such as Chester's Grill at high-traffic locations. PetroAsia focal points of businesses will be China and Thailand owing to large and fast-growing markets, according to Mr Apisit. The company hopes to put on line 20 service stations in China toward the end of this year. In a five-year period starting last year, PetroAsia aims to build up 163 outlets in China, a mission estimated to cost 2.1 billion baht. Mr Apisit said the company was exploring opportunities in cambodia, but the lack of established rules concerning foreign investment in the retail oil sector in that country and the continued civil war appeared to be major obstacles to PetroAsia's entry. Cambodia may be lower in priority when PetroAsia expands its overseas markets. PetroAsia has built "on a trial basis" more than 100 small oil-filling outlets, equipped with "floating tanks", in the Central Plains since last May. The company plans to increase its outlets of this type to 400 next year as part of its plan to capitalise on the rural markets.(BP) **********************INSIDE BURMA**************************** NATION/REUTER: BURMA, CAMBODIA AIM TO BE MAJOR RICE SUPPLIERS 15 February 1995 REXIE REYES Reuter LOS BANOS, Philippines, Burma and Cambodia are likely to emerge as major rice suppliers to Asia as the region's demand rises with its population and Gatt makes its full impact, rice researchers said on Tuesday. Burma, known as Myanmar, and Cambodia are expected to grow about half the extra 10 million tonnes of rice that will be needed in a decade, said Prabhu Pingali, an economist at the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The rice market is currently 14 million tonnes a year. "That's when the long-term effect of Gatt will start kicking in and that's because Gatt will lead to overall changes in the economy," Pingali tild more than 200 scientists at a four-day rice conference at IRRI headquarters, south of Manila. The General Agreement on tariffs and Trade (Gatt) became the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the beginning of this year, and is seen opening up markets and new opportunities for industry and farmers by reducing protectionism. But with the new opportunities, many rice farmers are expected to move to the cities, reducing labour supply in farming and increasing labour costs, other rice researchers said. IRRI director-general Klaus Lampe sid the problem of labour migration from the countryside to the cities will become greater as economies expand, turning this into a major concern for most countries which have rice as their staple food. About half of the world's population are rice eaters, the bulk of them in Asia. On top of labour migration problems, an increase in the world's population will increase pressure on food resources, particularly rice, researchers said. To meet this demand, Burma and Cambodia could become major suppliers if they invest in the infrastructure needed to improve production and the political situation in the two countries improves, Pingali said. "I would say that Myanmar would come out and export three million tonnes (annually) in the future," Pingali said. This compares with the present 300,000 tonnes in the 1960s. Cambodia which used to export 500,000 tonnes a year before its civil war and years of conflict, may be able to return to this level after a decade, Pingali said. Asia nations could supply about four million tonnes of the extra rice required by 2005, but that would leave a big gap. "Thailand and Vietnam are now at their peak," said Pingali. More than 90 per cent of the world's rice is currently grown in Asia, but Latin America and Africa are seen as the answer to the shortfall that will emerge in the region in 10 years. (TN) *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** BKK POST: REBEL FACTION RUNNING CAMPAIGN OF FEAR AMONG KAREN REFUGEES 15 February 1995 A BERAKAWAY Karen guerrillas faction has launched a campaign for fear among Karen refugee in Thailand in an attempt to erode the civilian support base for the main Karen sources said. Member of the newly-formed Democratic Kayin (DKBA) have crossed into Thailand and forceed people back at gunpoint , looted supplies and threatened to "destroy" those who remain in the Thai camp, the source said. "People are very frightened, they are so scared now," one bor- der relief worker said. The official, Mahn Yin Sein, is one of the most senoir Bud dhist leaders in the KNU and while the reason for the kidnap- ping was not known there was speculation the DKBA and Burmese military authorities wanted to convince him to join them and help them attract refugees back from Thailand. "Presumably they felt that (the kidnapping) was the only way to demonstrate he's on their side," said one KNU source. In another incident a group of DKBA members crossed the border in to refugee camp last Sunday and stole hundreds of sacks of and then forced more than 100 people back across the border into their zone of control, one relief worker said. Leaflets have also been appearing on the border promising re- turnees land, rice supply an peace and tranquillity while war- ning that plans have been made to "Destroy" the Thai camp and all those remain in them, the source said. The KNU, in a statement issued yesterday, asked Thai authori- ties to ensure the safety of Karen refugees. "The KNU appeals to the Thai government to take appropriate measure to ensure that (Burmese government) troops and DKBA followers are not able to used their arms to harass Karen ref- ugees," the KNU said. About 6,000 Karen refugees fled to Thialand following the cap- ture of the KNU's headquarters by government troops assisted by DKBA member on January 27, taking the total number of dis- placed Karens living in a string of Thai border camps t almost 60,000. Burmese troops have eased the military pressure on Karen re- bels but have stepped up the propaganda war to try to encour- age defectors. (BP) *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** NATION: NEW ATTEMPT TO SEIZE KARENS ON THAI SOIL FOILED 15 February 1995 Yindee Lertcharoenchok SOB MOEI, Mae Hong Son- For the second time in less than a week, an unknown number of armed Karen Buddhist defectors il- legally crossed the Moei River on Monday night into a refugee camp in Thailand's Tha Song Yang district of Tak in an attempt to kidnap Karen guerrillas leaders. The group fled after security guards Baan Bae Kraw, who stepped up their effort after lat Thursday's kidnappoing of four of rebel leaders, detected the infiltrators who fled. Leader of KNU told the Nation yesterday that between 700 and 800 Karen families at Baan Bae Kraw, about 60 km north of Mae Sot district, are now living "in grate fear of violent harass- ment" by the breakaway KNU Buddhist group. The DKBA last Thursday dispatched eight armed men to kidnap padoh Mahn Yin Sein, a KNU administrative governor of pa-an district who had been taking refuge in Thailand for several years. The group also kidnapped three other KNU hostages - Sim Bo, the governor's nephew, Sia Jed, a KNU judge, and Maung Aye, second vice governor of Pa-an and son-in-law of Mahn Yin Sein. Maung Aye was forceed to drive the governor's Mazda pick-up and manageed to escape with minor injuries after driving into a tree on the Mae Sot-Tha Song Yang high-way. His father in law and two other hostages were taken across the Moei River into the Burmese army camp at Moe Pa Zu, opposite Tak provinc e's Mae Ramat district. KNU leader said they learned that Mahn Yin Sein and Sim Bo, who were moved from Moe Pa Zu to another Burmese camp at Ye Kay, have already been taken to the DKBA's headquarters at Myaingnyingu Temple in Burma. However hostage Sia jed, about 60 year old, was reportedly killed by the group on Friday in the Burmese Army base at Ye Kyaw. KNU leader said they believed the DKBA would try to coerce Mahn Yin Sein, 55, into accepting the leadership of the new group. A KNU leader said yesterday that the situation at Baan Bae Kraw " is now very unsafe", and that all KNU leaders and other persons possibly targeted for kidnapping or harassment" cannot stay on as "the area is easily accessible by both the Burmese army and DKBA forces," In Sob Moei district of Mae Hong Son, about 6,000 Karen refu- gees are hastily moving deeper into Thailand after harassment by Burmese troops who have been illegally crossing the Moei River to enter the refugee site in this northern Thai province. The move began on Feb 7, the day after Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai visited the Mae Taw La refugee camp, and will continue in the next few days. The refugees said last week that were harassed by armed Burmese soldiers who regularly crossed the Moei River to threaten them and shoot their poultry and pets. (TN) ***********************MON STATE****************************** NATION: MON REBEL LEADER URGED SLORC MOVE FOR GENUINE PEACE 15 February 1995 James Fahn WITH ethnic Mon preparing to celebrate their National day today, one of the leader of the Mon resistance in Burma has urged the Slorc to move towards "genuine peace and conciliation" in the country. Nai Tin Aung, the Foreign Affair Officer of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) declared that his party would "always leave the door open for negotiation" with Slorc. Cease-fire talk between the NMSP and the ruling military junta have been deadlocked for the past six months, but Nai Tin Aung said the two parties have maintained "indirect contact." Following three rounds of talks in 1993-1994, Slorc offered to grant Mon insurgents 12 area of control in Burma, but the Mon broke off negotiations last year, declaring the offer insufficient. "Slorc now appear ready to resume talks with out demanding that we accept these 12 places," Nai Thein Aung claimed. He said that the NMSP's central committee will hold a meeting on the matter, probably to take place at the end of this month. "But if Slorc does not change , it will not be possible to resume the talks," he added. Nai Thein Aung agreed with the assessment made by other Burma watchers, that the successful attack on Karen Forces at Manerplaw represented a resurgence of the hard-liners in Slorc who are opposed to a peaceful reconciliation among the country warring ethnic minorities. "Every one knows our position," he said. "If the ruling clique changes significantly , then would reconsider how to solve the problem. "So far, there have been no meaningful changes. But if the situation countries like this, the future will be unthinkable," Nai Thein Aung said. He said he agreed in theory with the idea of exporting natural resources to foster development , but add that the benefits of such development must be distributed to everyone. "If the profit go to buying weapons, they are meaningless." He agreed that the development of the country's natural resources will have political consequence . As things stand, Thai invertor s and Slorc will benefit from the pipeline deal. "That why we need peace in Burma," he explained, while also urging Thailand to "give property to peace." "Since Thialnd is a democracy, it should support democracy in Burma." he said. "Peace imposed by force will not last very long. Peace should give genuine and realistic, not one -side. "If Slorc really wants peace , it must stop its offensive all over Burma," he concluded. "It should not stage an offensive like this while declaring it in in favour of National conciliation. (TN) ************************************************************** NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET: ABSDF: ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT 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 KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP KNU: KAREN NATIONAL UNION Kt. BURMESE KYAT; UP TO 150 KYAT-US$1 BLACK MARKET 106 KYAT US$1-SEMI-OFFICIAL 6 KYAT-US$1 OFFICIAL MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK) NCGUB: NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER, RANGOON) NMSP: NEW MON STATE PARTY RTA.:REC.TRAVEL.ASIA NEWSGROUP SCB.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP SCT.: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 **************************************************************