************************** BurmaNet ************************** "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ************************************************************** The BurmaNet News: Sunday, February 26, 1995 Issue #116 QUOTE OF THE DAY: He asked, "Do you know who planted the mine before we passed along the road?" I said I didn't know, but the Colonel didn't believe me so he kicked me in the ribs with his big boots. It hurt very much, but he wouldn't stop kicking me. Finally I lost consciousness for about 20 minutes. When I woke up, I could feel that one of my ribs was broken. The Colonel said, "Why don't you know about it?", and he kicked me again so I fell unconscious again. "Hla Kyaw," a Karen refugee. The Colonel referred to is Lt.C. Than Zaw, who featured in BurmaNet #113 "REMEMBER IMET?". Contents: ************************INSIDE BURMA************************** FEER: BORDER BUSHFIRES MNA/SLORC: MYANMAR, JAPAN SIGNED MOU TAWSJ: BURMA SEEKS FOREIGN INVESTORS FOR STATE FIRMS *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** KHRG: MYAWADDY-KAWKAREIK AREA REPORTS (1 of 2) BURMANET: LETTER--"YOU HAVE PROVED SO MUCH FOR US." FEER: LOSS AND EXILE NLM/SLORC: MEMBERS OF DKBA RESETTLE FAMILIES OF KAYIN NATIONALS NLM/SLORC: WHAT CAUSED NGA MYA TO RUN? MNA/SLORC: KAWMURA WAS CAPTURED BY DKBA BKK POST: RANGOON HANDED PROTEST LETTER BKK POST: THAILAND WON'T BE A SPRINGBOARD FOR KNU BKK POST: BUDDHIST KAREN FLAGS FLY AFTER SLORC KAWMOORA VICTORY ***********************SHAN STATE****************************** SEASIA-L: SHAN STATE ASSOCIATION *********************KACHIN STATE***************************** MNA/SLORC: OSS-101 WAR VETERANS OF US ************************THAILAND****************************** NATION: TOP BURMESE OFFICIAL ISSUES APOLOGY FOR 'BURDEN' OF OFFENSIVE BKK POST: JUNTA LEADER TO INSPECT THAI ARMY *******************THE WESTERN BORDER************************* NATION: BANGLADESH AND BURMA RESUME DIRECT AIR LINKS ********************INTERNATIONAL***************************** BKK POST: GERMAN ENVOY TO PUSH FOR MORE DEMOCRATIC BURMA BKK POST: BONN ENVOY WANTS OPEN BURMA *************************************************************** The BurmaNet News is an ********************************* electronic newspaper * Iti * covering Burma. 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For a * edbytherule * free subscription to * oflaw...fear * the BurmaNet News, send * is ahab it. * an e-mail message to: * Iam * * no * burmanet@igc.apc.org * taf * * ra * Subscriptions are handled * id. * manually so please allow * Aun * for a delay before your * gSa * request is fielded. * nS * Letters to the editor, * uu * comments or contributions * Ky * of articles should be * i. * sent to the editor at: ********************************* strider@igc.apc.org In Washington: Attention to BurmaNet c/o National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) Information Office 815 15th Street NW, Suite 609 Washington D.C. 20005 Tel: (202) 393-7342, Fax: (202) 393-7343 In Bangkok: Attention to BurmaNet c/o Burma Issues PO Box 1076, Silom Post Office Bangkok 10504 Thailand Tel: (066) (02) 234-6674, Fax: (066) (02) 631 0133 [The NCGUB is the government-in-exile, made up of the people who won the election in 1990. 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 26, 1995************* ************************************************************** ************************INSIDE BURMA************************** FEER: BORDER BUSHFIRES Far Eastern Economic Review Febuary 16, 1995 By Michael Vatikiotis in Mandalay Nearly 40 years ago, J.S. Furnivall, a former British civil servant reflection on the country's development under colonial rule, wrote: "Burma was thrown ope to the world but the world was not thrown open to Burmans." You don't want to walk far in Mandalay, 610 kilometers north of Rangoon, to hear muchthe same viewpoint expressed today. "All the best oppotunities here are for non-Burmese," says Rambu, a university-educated trishaw driver whose name was given to him by foreign tourists. "Iused to be in business but the competition from outsiders coming from the North was to great." Since an initial agreement was signed on August 6, 1988, opening official cross-border trade, Burma has become Chian's chief foreign market for cheap consumer goods. Informal estimates put the two-way trade, little of which is reflected in Cross-border trade is estimated at $800 million annually, about 40% of Burma's total trade. Apart from trade and investment opportunities, Asean believes limited ties with Rangoon will be more effective in encouraging democracy in Burma than isolation. So far, Asean's policy of constructive dialogue with Burma has yielded more on the business than the political front. Singapore is Burma's leading trading partner after China; bilateral trade now totals $370-400 million a year. Singapore's investment in 23 projects totalled $293.3 million as of October. Thailand and the U.S. followed with investment of $234.6 million nad $203.2 million, respectively. "There are some [Singaporean] businessmen who say they have made more money here than in Singapore," says Ho Chin Beng, chief representative of Development Bank of Singapore in Rangoon. But other countries are coming as well. Last year Hong Kong- based Kerry Securities launched the $30 million Myanmar Fund, Burma's first year coyntry fund. Its first investment: a 5.5% stake in the Traders Yangon Hotel, operated by the Shangri-La group. Like the securities house, Shangri-La is controlles by media and commodities king Robert Kuok. South Korean conglomerates are also active in Burma. Daewoo, for instance, has sunk about $6 million in garment, timber and electronics projects. Meanwhile, 14 foreign companies have taken part in oil-official statistics, at some $800 million annually - equivalent to about 40% of Burma's official trade worldwide. Once the preserve of smuggled goods from Thailand, Mandalay's shops are now filled with Chinese inflatable plastic toys, portable electric fans, clothing, towels and housedhold goods. Indeed, Chinese goods are beginning to eclipse Thai goods, whose sales have fallen by about 30% in the last two years, in Mandalay's shops. But among ethnic Burmese, the influx of ethnic Chinese traders is causing more anger than joy. "We are becoming a second China," complains a shopkeeper, whose shelves are bursting with Chinese-made consumer products. Although business is good, he adds, the bulk of profits are made by Chinese merchants. To make matters worse, rumours about the ease with which Chinese traders can buy real estate and even Burmese citizenship and identity cards in mandalay are stoking ethnic tensions. "We're overwhelmed," grumbles a and gas-exploration projects since1992. Although most pulled out after no findings, at least five remain active. Japanese companies are also scouting for deals. A high-level mission of the Keidanren, Japan's leading big-business group, visited Rangoonlast June and a Japan-Burma business association is in the offing. "The Japanese are cautious but rather systematically laying the ground-work for expanded investment and trade," says Mark Mason, an economist at Yale University. But it's likely to be slow going. "Japanese companies won't really invest in Burma until Burma is eligible for Japanese overseas aid," says a Japanese diplomat in Rangoon. before 1988, Japan's annual aid to Burma totalled Yen500 billion ($5 billion). This year Tokyo provide only Yen21 million in the from of humanitarian assiatance. Much of the regional investment is concentrated in realestate, hotel and trading operations that don't require large long- term capital commitments. But there are signs that more substantial investment is in the wings. Singapore's Asian Pacific Breweries is exretired school teacher. "The Chinese are traded as a favoured group. They get permits to do almost anything and can even carry guns in Mandalay." But it's not just perceptions of favouritism and jealousy about the commercial success of the ethnic Chinese that have some Burmese worried. In Mandalay, situated on the edge of Burma's ethnically diverse supper regions and at a natural trade crossroads between China and India, the spectre of ethnic tention is exacerbated by concerns about China's strategic interests in Burma. Indeed, China's policies toward the Southeast Asian nation have undergone a change since the 1970s, when Beijing supported communist and other anti-government rebels along the burmese border. A shift towards greater economic cooperation came in the mid-1980s and accelerated as other countries cut off weapons supplies and economic aid to protese the military tregime's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988. India, in particular, is looking on with alarm. New Delhi believes China is seeking direct access through Burma to the Bay of Bengal. In an apparent move pected to sign an agreement with military-backed myanmar Economic Holdings to invest $29 million in a new brewery to make Tiger beer. Moreover, a consortium led by singapore's Straits Steamship land, which already has invested some %80 million in hotel projects, also plans to invest in a 364-square-kilometre industrial zone on the outskirts of Rangoon. Singapore is also helping revamp Burma's airline and hotel sector - both prioroties in hte government push into tourism ahead of Visit Burma year in 1996. Singapore'sHighsonic Enterprise is even operating a domesit airline service in a $10 million joint venture with Myanmar Airlines. Singapore's government is actively endorsing investment in Burma, just as it is in India and China. "The government to matchChina's growing commercial influence, India is promoting its own cross-border trade, which is currently estimated at $150-200 million annually - all of it technically illicit. According to a Rangoon-based India diplomat, border trade with Burma is expected to be formalized by early March. Rangoon calims trade and aid from China have brought wealth to Burma's border regions and dismisses allegations of racial tension. "The Chinese entrepreneurs blend in very well with the community, especially with the local Chinese," insists the Economic Planning and Development minister, Brig-Gen David Abel. In fact, not all of the people who are benefiting from the booming northern economy are Chinese nationals. Many are ethnic Chinese from the Kokang area close to Chana as well as ethnic Wa. Both groups have spent decades battling Rangoon, although relations have improved recently. Insurgency drove them into business in turnprovide huge sums of each - some of which is now going into Mandalay 's property market. ************************INSIDE BURMA************************** MNA/SLORC: MYANMAR, JAPAN SIGNED MOU Posted by bbatpt@au.ac.th Myanmar , Japan sign MoU Yangon, 21 Feb - Officials of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development of Myanmar and Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, signed Memorandum of Underst for cooperation in trade and investment at Myanma Investment Commission Office this afternoon. Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel and Chairman Mr Tadashi Itoh of Sumitomo Corporation signed the agreed notes. Other officials of the two sides were also present. (Myanmar News Agency) ************************INSIDE BURMA************************** TAWSJ: BURMA SEEKS FOREIGN INVESTORS FOR STATE FIRMS 23 February 1995 The Burmese government is seeking foreign investors to help privatize 51 state-owned enterprises in various sectors, Thai newspapers reported. Burma's ambassador to Thailand, Tin Winn, said a privatization committee was set up last month to give initial approval to investment proposals, the newspapers reported Wednesday. "The foreign investors joining the program will be exempted from machinery import tariffs and can fully remit their prof- its back to their home countries," the Nation quoted the am- bassador as saying. The Burmese government has earmarked 51 enterprises in energy, food, apparel and other sectors for privatization. Mr. Tin Winn said total foreign investment in Burma as of January was about $2.38 billion and included 119 projects. (TAWSJ) *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** KHRG: MYAWADDY-KAWKAREIK AREA REPORTS (1 of 2) An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights Group January 15, 1995 / KHRG #95-03 The following testimonies and information have been gathered by our human rights monitors from civilian villagers in the area between Myawaddy, opposite the Thai border town of Mae Sot, and Kawkareik, about 40 km. to the west in Karen State. Some of the people interviewed are now in refugee camps in Thailand. The Myawaddy-Kawkareik road, though not much more than a dirt track in many places, is a key SLORC transport route between Moulmein and the Thai border. A new cross-border bridge between Myawaddy and Mae Sot, to be part of the "Asia Highway", is now being built as a joint venture between the Thai Government and SLORC. It is called the "Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge". On the Thai side of the border, it has already caused the destruction of a market (with little or no compensation) and threats to forcibly move Huay Kalok Karen refugee camp, home to over 5,000 refugees. On the Burma side of the border, the bridge seems to be an underlying cause of a SLORC clampdown in the area, including forced relocation, torture and increased harassment of villagers, due to SLORC's paranoia that the bridge will be sabotaged. As a villager points out in this report, the bridge is also being used as an excuse for SLORC troops to extort several hundred thousand Kyat out of every village in the area, supposedly for bridge construction - despite the fact that the Thai Government has already agreed to pay the entire cost of the bridge itself, an estimated US$3.2 million. Some villagers refer to 'Article 144' and martial law being applied in villages which are being forced to relocate. Article 144 is a curfew order, and when applied in conjunction with Martial Law it means curfew violators can be shot on sight, arrested, etc. at the disgression of the local military officer(s). Many villages have both Karen and Burmese names: in this report, the Burmese call Noh Po village 'Outer Kwin Kalay', and they call Tee Muh Hta village 'Inner Kwin Kalay'. Names which have been changed to protect people, including all names of interviewees, are shown in quotation marks. All other names are real. Some details have been omitted from stories to protect people. In the testimonies, SLORC soldiers sometimes mention 'Ringworm' and 'Kaw Thoo Lei' - they use both terms to mean 'Karen soldier'. 'KNU' is short for Karen National Union, the Karen government. All numeric dates are written in dd-mm-yy format. Please feel free to use this report in any way which may help the peoples of Burma, but do not forward it to any SLORC representatives. TOPIC SUMMARY: Torture (Stories #1,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13), Torture of elderly (#1,13), Torture for 'being Karen' (#3,15), Abuse of women (#1), Detention (#1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,12,13), 'Dark cell' detention (#1,4), Execution (#15), Threats/coercion (#1,2), Forced relocation (#1,2,3,14,15), Shelling villages (#2,3,14), Destruction of religious buildings/schools (#3), Curfew order (#2,14), Myawaddy bridge (#2,3), Forced labour (#1,3,11), Looting (#3), Extortion (#3,15), Abuse of monk (#14), 'Compensation' to Army (#3,15), Deserters (#10,11), Fleeing villages (#2,3,4,5,12,13), Post-abuse medical/psychological trauma (#1,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,12,13). _________________________________________________________________ #1. NAME: "Daw Hla" SEX: F AGE: 56 Karen farmer, village headwoman ADDRESS: xxxx village, Kawkareik Township FAMILY: Married, 5 or 6 children On September 8th, I went to Myawaddy together with "Daw Thein", who is headwoman of yyyy village. We went to vouch for two villagers who went shopping there, M---, age 30, and her daughter D---, who is 11. They are shopkeepers in the village, and they bought batteries in Myawaddy to sell in the shop. They were accused of buying batteries for insurgents, so they were arrested. After meeting with the 2 women in the lockup, I was going to go back to my village but "Daw Thein" and I were put on a truck and sent to the Strategic Commander. When we got there he said, "Why didn't you move to the new site yet?" [the village had been ordered to relocate] I said that there were many children and old people in our village and that they cannot move easily. Then they took me to another commander named Captain N---. When I met him, he said that he would have to kill me. I didn't care about his threats - I just said "You can kill me then!" He asked me many questions and accused our village of supporting insurgents. After that, they put us on a truck and sent us to the lockup. When they ordered us into the cell, I finally had to accept it, but "Daw Thein" absolutely refused and cried loudly, so they pushed her inside. She didn't stop crying, so one Sergeant threatened her by pointing his gun at her. We had to stay in the lockup for 3 days. On the 4th day, we were taken out and separated from each other. I was blindfolded and then taken to the dark room. On the way, they pushed me and I fell down and hurt my ankle - even now, it still hurts. When I got into the dark room, they removed the cloth from my face. The dark room was about 10 feet square, with one chair and one table inside. I had to urinate and defecate inside the room, so it stank. There was no clean air and no light, so I couldn't tell day from night. I only saw the light when they brought some food wrapped in a leaf. I had to eat my food in the dark. I just slept on the floor, there was no mat and no blanket. Two weeks later they took me out again with a blindfold, and I was interrogated by 2 women. During the first interrogation, they rolled my hair around the barrel of a G3 gun [assault rifle] and pulled it so that it ripped out some of my hair. After the interrogation they put me back inside the dark room. Altogether I was in the dark room for one month and one day. After such a long time in the dark, I became very depressed, weak and anxious. On October 13th, I was taken out blindfolded. I was so weak that I couldn't walk - they had to support me. After walking some distance, I was put on a truck. When it started moving I felt dizzy, so they had to support me. I'm not sure how far the truck went. Suddenly I noticed that it had stopped, and they removed the blindfold from my face. After so long in the dark, suddenly I saw light. I couldn't see anything at first, but after a while I could see my friend "Daw Thein" near me. When we saw each other, we felt sad and we felt happy, and we embraced each other. We looked out of the truck together and we realized we were at T--- village. We could see the villagers. Then Captain N--- said to the villagers, "We looked after 'Daw Hla' and 'Daw Thein' very well and we didn't treat them badly". Then he turned to me and said, "Isn't that so?" in front of the villagers. I couldn't say no in front of him, so I said, "Yes." That's the only thing I could say. Then the Captain forced me to sign a bond consisting of 5 parts [see following translation of the bond]. I had to sign it, otherwise he wouldn't release me. After I was released, all the villagers were delighted. I took some medical treatment in our village because I couldn't walk well. Even now, I can't walk well. I always feel dizzyness and my eyes still suffer because I was so long in the dark. I always feel tense and I have nightmares. Sometimes I feel like I'm mad. [Another villager added: By the time they were freed we all thought they must be dead. "Daw Thein" is 30, and has 5 children. "Daw Hla" is about 60 and has a husband and 5 or 6 children. After they put "Daw Hla" in jail, the Burmese went up to her village and saw her daughter there so they poked her with a knife and said, "Where's your mother gone?" They already knew her mother was in jail. They poked her slowly several times with the knife. Her daughter said "My mother's gone to jail. You arrested her, you know it all already", and then the soldiers didn't say any more and let her daughter go. They just use their brains to think up ways to make trouble for people.] Translation of the typed bond she was forced to sign (see copy of the original attached to the end of this report) BOND AND GUARANTEE TO SIGN 1) I, "Daw Hla" (xxxx village), headwoman and I, "Daw Thein" (yyyy village) headwoman, we two agree and guarantee to comply with the following points in the presence of the village headman [headman of the village where they were released]: a) Villagers from xxxx village will combine and stay with the villagers of yyyy village. We will take responsibility that they will not remain or return to stay in xxxx village. b) Regional departments such as Township LORC / Village LORC, etc. will take responsibility proportionately to send labourers / carts etc. according to the numbers, places and times specified. c) We will inform the nearby troops / post and #3 Strategic Group (base) of news about Karen terrorist insurgents every day without fail. d) Around yyyy village, we will take responsibility for any artillery shelling or landmines laid against N--- area troops by Karen terrorist insurgents. e) We will take responsibility to always clear the bush on the left and right sides of the car road within the area specified for yyyy village. 2) We guarantee and sign to verify that we know that if we do not comply, violent action will be taken. Signature: [Sd.] Signature: [Sd.] Name: "Daw Thein" Name: "Daw Hla" Chairperson Chairperson xxxx village yyyy village Date: __-10-94 Date: __-10-94 Stamp: No. 3 Strategic Group (base) Place: zzzz village (zzzz village) Date: __-10-94 Military Supervisory Department [Notes: As the village headwoman is called the Village LORC chairperson, item 'b)' basically means that the villagers must send labourers, carts, etc. exactly as ordered by the army. Item 'd)' means the village will be attacked or villagers will be executed if Karen troops attack SLORC. Item 'e)' forces them to keep clear a 'killing ground' along the road to protect SLORC troops from ambush.] _________________________________________________________________ #2. One of our human rights monitors wrote the following report from the Myawaddy-Kawkareik area: With regard to human rights abuses in Kawkareik Township, at Noh Po, Meh Kaneh and Tee Muh Hta villages: On 10 September 1994, a column comprised of troops from SLORC Battalions #355, 356 and 357 commanded by Captain Myint Yi shelled Noh Po village with a big gun, firing 4 shells. One shell hit Saw Yit's house. The commander of #3 Strategic Command, Second Lt. Col. Than Zaw, gave the command to destroy Noh Po village. He commanded that if there was any fighting around Noh Po village, the village must be totally destroyed by burning it down and killing any villagers who remain. No fighting has occurred since then, but most of the villagers have fled. The SLORC then issued an order imposing martial law and Article 144 on Noh Po and Tee Muh Hta villages. Villagers were informed to leave Noh Po between 15 September and 7 November, and after that anyone seen would be shot dead. They were ordered to move to Tee Muh Hta, but instead they have fled into the hills, deserting the village and their homes. On 7 October 1994 the people of Meh Kaneh village were also ordered to leave their village and go to stay along the motor road. However, the villagers have given the Strategic Commander 120,000 Kyat and requested him to allow them to stay. It appears that the SLORC may be determined to destroy these villages in order to protect the "Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge" linking Myawaddy to Mae Sot, now under construction, from any possibility of sabotage. _________________________________________________________________ #3. 1) NAME: "U Than Mya" SEX: M AGE: 42 Karen Buddhist farmer ADDRESS: Meh Kaneh village, Kawkareik Township - now a refugee in Thailand FAMILY: Married, 3 children aged 9 months, 9 and 12 years 2) NAME: "Saw Lah Mu" SEX: M AGE: 29 Karen Christian farmer ADDRESS: Meh Kaneh village, Kawkareik Township - now a refugee in Thailand FAMILY: Married, 2 children aged 9 months and 5 years 3) NAME: "Saw Ko Thay" SEX: M AGE: 55 Karen Christian farmer ADDRESS: Meh Kaneh village, Kawkareik Township - now a refugee in Thailand FAMILY: Married, 6 children aged 4 to 20 4) NAME: "Maung Thein" SEX: M AGE: 30 Karen Christian farmer ADDRESS: Meh Kaneh village, Kawkareik Township - now a refugee in Thailand FAMILY: Married, 1 child aged 2 U Than Mya: I was a headman for many years, but I was only the SLORC headman [the SLORC chooses a person to be "village chairman", usually against his or her will and often different than the real village head - the SLORC village head is held responsible for delivering porters, money, etc. and is usually tortured for any failure to deliver]. Even though I was the SLORC headman, they never believed me very much. They tortured me, and I ran away a month ago [in late November/94]. First I was arrested by SLORC and tortured, and then when I ran away I was arrested again by Thai police. Then the refugee camp people came and freed me and took me to the camp. On September 27th the Burmese soldiers came to Meh Kaneh. It was Myint Yi, the company commander from 357 Battalion. Now he's been moved to Thay Baw Boe at the Thai border. They asked questions but they didn't believe me, so they accused me of being dishonest and of behaving as a Karen, and they said I had contact with rebels and accused me of killing children. They captured me and tied me with a rope around my ankles, and they hung me upside down from a log. After half an hour, their rope broke and I fell to the ground. I still have pain from that, and I can't turn my head. Then they tied me again, tied my hands as well, and hung me upside down from the log again. They tied me up at 6 in the evening, and hung me there until 6 in the morning. I couldn't sleep at all the whole night because of the pain from the rope. The soldiers beat me in the shins with a gun barrel and punched me. I didn't pass out, but I still have aching pain in my chest and shoulders. They also arrested 7 other Meh Kaneh villagers at the same time as me, 8 of us altogether, and beat them all the same as me, and they captured 35 women and children and forced them to stay under the houses [Karen houses are raised above the ground]. They arrested Na Tway, "Pa Ngeh", "Saw Nyo", Saw Tha Wah, Teacher Aye Thaung, and 2 others [see stories #4 & #5]. These seven men were tied to trees standing up, one man to each tree. The soldiers punched and beat them. They didn't ask questions, they just said, "You're Kaw Thoo Lei [Karen soldiers]". We said, "We're not", and then they beat us. They said, "When our enemies come do you hide them in your village?" We said, "No, we don't do that", and they beat us. While they held us they also arrested one woman from the village. They stole her necklace and her money, and they took her food and everything she had in her house. She sells things in the market, so she had some money and gold. They kept her tied up to a tree for about an hour, then they told her to go and buy them some wine. Her name is Naw W--, she's about 45 and she has about 8 children. Then in the morning they released us all except one man. They suspected him, so they took him and put him in jail for 10 days. They put him in a dark room of concrete and said if he ran away they'd kill him. They just gave him a little bit of food to last the whole day, and if it ran out there was no way he could ask for more. After 10 days some people went and secretly freed him, and he ran away. Now he's here with us as a refugee. His name is "Pa Ngeh" [see story #4]. He's 35, and he has 1 child. He wasn't a Karen soldier, they just arrested him by mistake. Ever since 2 of their men died in August they have been capturing and torturing people, making trouble for the village heads and others. After we were released I stayed in the village, but then the soldiers started sending me letters every day, 2 or 3 letters every day, again and again, from the Township LORC office. I didn't dare go to see them, so I didn't dare stay in the village anymore. But not only that - I also came here because they forced us to give money: 300, 500, 1000, 2000 Kyats, until we couldn't give it anymore and we fled. Everyone had to pay. They forced us to pay 3 times a month, some households 500 each time, some households 1,500. You have to give it, or you can't stay there. The Burmese beg by force. They also force us to send other things, like bullock carts to carry their things. We have to go with our carts by turns, twice a month. If we can't go we have to pay 1,000 or 1,500 Kyat. We also have to pay for porter fees [just a name given for cash extorted from villagers], 1,500 Kyat. And we have to make roads, and collect gravel to make the roads. The main roads. Everything is for the Burmese. We have to work on the roads 10 days every month, sometimes 15 days, and they don't give us a single pya! [1 Kyat = 100 pya] We have to pay them instead. We have to give it. We have to buy our own food, and moreover we have to give them money. They force us to work very hard, and then whatever the cost of everything we've eaten, we have to pay it to the SLORC officer at the camp. We have to sleep along the road. It's the Myawaddy - Kawkareik car road, around Ah Bo Der and Aleh Bo Der. They never finish constructing that road, because of the rains and because people often destroy [sabotage] it. Saw Lah Mu: The SLORC also forced every village to give 300,000 to 400,000 Kyat for the new bridge at Myawaddy [the Thai-SLORC "Friendship Bridge"]. I don't know what the money's for, they didn't say. They just said every village has to give them the money. It is a must. You must give it without fail. If you can't give the money then they will bully and abuse you very gravely and seriously. If the village can't give that money, then that village can't continue in peace. They'll come to the village to beat and crush people. We must give it. Our village already paid it, and now they are still forcing people to give more money. We're very poor and we have to work hand to mouth, so we can't always give the money. If we can't pay then the soldiers go to the village head and demand forced labour instead, for example as porters. They pressure the villagers in various ways so that the villagers can't avoid getting the money somehow and giving it to them. In this way they squeeze money out of everyone. Whatever they want to do, we have to do it for them. Then when they come, they eat all our pigs, chickens, etc. Sometimes they disgrace the women in the village. Three or four months ago they built a school, and they forced the villagers to give 100,000 Kyat for this school. If we couldn't give it - we just had to give it. If you had a chicken or a pig, you had to sell it to get that money. We had to try hard. Even though we gave them as much money as we could, the SLORC wasn't satisfied with us. They said we are "Ringworm" [derogatory SLORC name for Karen opposition] and they bullied us when they came again. They frightened us and said, "You can't stay here anymore, you have to leave the village." They ordered us to move to the road, between Thingan Nyi Naung and Myawaddy. We didn't want to leave so we tried to find a way to stay. The village head tried to collect money from the villagers, 5,000 Kyat from the poorest families and 50,000 Kyat from the richer families. Then all this money was given to SLORC so we wouldn't have to move. But then after they finished eating up that money, they came back again and said "You'll have to move". So the villagers have to pay them again, and then when they've spent that they'll come back and say "You have to move", and so on. The villagers have to take responsibility for the car road between Thingan Nyi Naung and Myawaddy, and if the road is destroyed or sabotaged then we're responsible to reconstruct it. It's a must; we have to whether we can or not. This road has been destroyed many times, and we've had to give compensation many times, at least 3 times a year. They collect money from the families according to how much the family owns, 50, 100, or 150 Kyat per household. Whenever a SLORC soldier is killed, the villagers have to pay the army compensation money for his life. They also make us go and build barracks for their soldiers, and when we're building the barracks we have to stay there and sleep there, and they abuse us. This goes on the whole year at Hla Ngwe, below Thingan Nyi Naung. It's their Battalion camp. The Battalion commander and operations commanders stay there. We have to level the ground to build buildings, villagers from Meh Kaneh, May Po, and Tee Muh Hta. We have to work the whole day without getting any food, we have to pull up tree stumps, and sometimes they kick us. They have some tractors and machines but they don't use them there, they only use human labour. The villagers get tired and try to rest, but the soldiers say "Keep working, don't rest", and kick them. In September they sent a letter ordering Noh Po village to move. After they sent it the villagers didn't move, so they fired at the village with a big gun. Then they sent a letter ordering us to move too. Saw Ko Thay: The order didn't say what day or what month we had to move, it just said "You must move. If you don't move, we won't let you stay." After we didn't move they sent another order saying "If you don't move, you must tear down 3 buildings: your church, your [Buddhist] temple and your school." The village elders went to see them to discuss it, but the officers said, "We don't want to hear any gunshots. If we don't hear any gunshots near the road or around Meh Kaneh village, then you can stay. If we hear a single gunshot, you must move." Since then there have been no gunshots, not a sound. Saw Lah Mu: They ordered Meh Kaneh to move to one of two places, either the main road or Tee Muh Hta. SLORC has a garrison at Tee Muh Hta. They've already arranged a place for us to move to - they forced the Tee Muh Hta villagers to clear it, but none of the villagers have moved there yet. Noh Po village was also ordered to move to Tee Muh Hta. The SLORC always sends the same orders to all 3 villages, Meh Kaneh, Noh Po and Tee Muh Hta, whether it's forcing us to move or demanding money or labour. In Noh Po and Tee Muh Hta they always demand money from the villagers. The Noh Po villagers have to run away many more times than us. The Burmese soldiers went and fired the big guns [probably mortars] at their village. SLORC has ordered the village to relocate. They ordered the villagers to tear down their church, their monastery and their school, and said if the villagers didn't do it then the soldiers would come and tear the buildings down themselves, arrest all the villagers and put them in jail. SLORC did the same to Noh Po Tee Hta village. That's why they can't bear it and they run away. The Noh Po villagers have gone up into the mountains or into the forest. They have nothing, they've just run away with none of their things. Some people with alot of land still stay there, but they stay very quietly and if they hear that the Burmese are coming they run away again. Now there are only about 20 families in Noh Po. There used to be more than 200 households. All of them have run to the forest, or some have gone to Tee Muh Hta like they were ordered. The monks in their monastery have already fled. The SLORC also arrested Tee Muh Hta villagers, punched them, beat them and tortured them until their bones broke, covered their faces and then forced them to go along with the soldiers to all the villages. Some of the Tee Muh Hta villagers have run away into the forest and some are still there. Meh Kaneh had 170 households. About 30 families have already fled, and 130 or 140 are still there. 12 or 15 families came to the Thai border, some went into Burma [the plains to the west], and some fled into the forest and the hills, and some didn't flee because they couldn't. The villagers who are too poor to keep paying money to SLORC have left. U Than Mya: Some people can stay because they own alot of cattle, buffalos, or coconut plantations so they can pay SLORC what they ask. People like that are not willing to leave their farms and animals behind, so they try to pay what SLORC asks. But most people have nothing, no cattle or big farms or coconuts, so they have to flee. Saw Ko Thay: Those who have gone to the forest have to make their fields around their hut. They have to cut the forest to make a farm. Those who have gone to Tee Muh Hta as they were ordered, they have to build their huts on the ground and then work for SLORC as they're ordered. They have to carry water for the soldiers. They can't do anything, they don't even have food to eat. They have to take care of each other. That's why nobody wants to stay there. The villagers from Noh Po go back to their village sometimes to get food - it's only one hour's walk from Tee Muh Hta. Then if the SLORC sees them there, they call them, arrest them, beat them and torture them. If the soldiers on patrol see villagers who have gone outside the area where they're supposed to stay, they torture them. They also shoot at them sometimes, but not to kill. They tortured Pa Oo for that. He's 28, and now he's here as a refugee. [Pa Oo was on his way to his field with other villagers when he was met by soldiers, interrogated, tied up and beaten, then left behind. Other villagers found him there at 10 p.m. under the full moon on Oct. 19/94, took him to his village and then to Thailand for treatment.] Maung Thein: We don't dare go back to stay in the village, because if they hear any gunshot near the road or the village they'll arrest all the villagers, even though we don't know anything about the gunshots. We can't promise them there won't be gunshots, because the Burmese are our enemies and our people are fighting for freedom, so if Karen people have to shoot at them then they will. We can't promise that they won't. Saw Ko Thay: In Meh Kaneh, if SLORC orders them to move all of a sudden then people might not be able to escape, so they're fleeing now, before it happens. I don't know about the others, but as for me, I'll never go back as long as the Karen and Burmese fighting isn't over. It's a long way back to our village, and we have to be afraid of the SLORC soldiers along the way. They torture us, they force us to work for them, we're afraid of everything they do. They demand 300, 500, 300 Kyat, again and again and again until we don't even have money to buy food. If we have a cow, a chicken, a pig, we have to sell it just to give money to SLORC. It will never get better. The future will probably be even worse than now. _________________________________________________________________ #4. NAME: "Pa Ngeh" SEX: M AGE: 37 Karen farmer ADDRESS: Meh Kaneh village, Kawkareik Township - now a refugee in Thailand FAMILY: Married, 1 child On 27/9/94 at about 2 p.m., soldiers came into the village and arrested 9 villagers, including me. They tied our wrists behind our backs and tied us to trees. I was interrogated by the soldiers through the night, and they beat me up 3 or 4 times during the interrogation. The next morning, they untied me, pointed their guns at me and took me away. When we got to the car road, we took a truck to Thingan Nyi Naung, where No. 3 military post of 357 Battalion is located. When we got there, they tied my hands behind my back again and blindfolded me with a piece of cloth. They took me to a dark room, then they untied my hands and took the cloth from my eyes. I couldn't see anything in that room. There was no hole for light or air. I felt like I was suffocating, and I could only breathe through the narrow cracks around the door. The room was 8 feet square and had only one door. I was kept in that room for 10 days, and I only got one bottle of water during that time. I got 2 meals a day, at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., just a little bit of rice on a leaf and some clear bean soup. I never saw light except when they opened the door to bring the rice. They brought it, and then they closed the door again. I had to sleep on the floor. I had no mat and no blanket. I had to sleep, eat and defecate on the same floor. There was always a horrible smell in that room, and I always felt like I was suffocating - there was no air. I couldn't tell day from night. When they took me out for interrogation, I was blindfolded. They interrogated me many times. While I was in the dark room, I heard the cries of a woman. After 10 days, I was taken outside again and they threatened to kill me. They took me outside their post and untied the rope from my hands, and then they allowed me to run away. That's how I escaped. It was very hard for me to get back to my village because my foot was in pain. Even though I got back to the village I couldn't sleep well - I always wanted to hide. Since then, I always feel frightened and I always feel tense and unhealthy. Every evening when the darkness is coming down I feel anxious. _________________________________________________________________ #5. NAME: "Saw Nyo" SEX: M AGE: 33 Karen Buddhist farmer ADDRESS: Meh Kaneh village, Kawkareik Township - now living in hiding in the forest I was at the monastery when Captain Myint Yi and his troops came into the village. Suddenly I heard gunshots, so I ran down from the monastery. Before I came into the village, I saw some villagers running here and there to escape the gunshots. As soon as I got into the village, I was captured and tied with rope. Soldiers interrogated me about whether I had contact with insurgents, and I told them I didn't know anything. That's why I was punched in the face 5 times by Lieutenant San Myint. He punched my right cheek twice and my left cheek 3 times. After that I was tied to a tree with my hands behind my back, and they left me in that position all night. The next morning, they untied me and took me along to their camp at Deh Oo. On the way, I was forced to carry one of their military backpacks. then I was released. Now I don't dare sleep in the village anymore. I'm always hiding. _________________________________________________________________ #6. NAME: "Hla Kyaw" SEX: M AGE: 48 Karen Buddhist farmer ADDRESS: xxxx village, Kawkareik Township On September 12, M--- and I went to our farms at 7 a.m. Later while we were clearing the ground at the farm, soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 357 led by Captain Myint Yi suddenly appeared and surrounded us. They tied us up. I pleaded with them not to tie both my hands because one of my forearms is disabled, but they didn't care. I was taken away with my hands tied behind my back. On the way I saw 4 other people who were also tied up. The Captain said, "Don't worry. We'll just take you to our Colonel and then you'll be released." When we got to the Colonel [probably the commander of #3 Strategic Command, Second Lt. Col. Than Zaw], who was in the jungle about 1 mile from my village, he started interrogating me. He told me that I had to answer all his questions, and he made many kinds of threats. I said I'd tell him whatever I knew. He asked, "Do you know who planted the mine before we passed along the road?" I said I didn't know, but the Colonel didn't believe me so he kicked me in the ribs with his big boots. It hurt very much, but he wouldn't stop kicking me. Finally I lost consciousness for about 20 minutes. When I woke up, I could feel that one of my ribs was broken. The Colonel said, "Why don't you know about it?", and he kicked me again so I fell unconscious again. When I came around again, the Colonel repeated the same question: "Why don't you know? You must know about it." Finally I was in such pain and I was so frightened that I told him, "Yes, I know." Then the Colonel asked "Where is your home?" I replied, "My home is not here. I only come here sometimes." But the Colonel didn't believe me, so he hit my head with his rifle butt. I felt dizzy. He said, "You keep trying to lie!", and he kicked me in the chin with his big boots. Later, a Captain interrupted him. For all their long interrogation, they never found out anything. Then they took me back towards the village. Before we got there, they tied me up to a tree. They took my sarong and blindfolded me with it and they said "Don't look! Don't shout! After we've gone from here, if you can untie yourself you will be released." The Captain ordered the soldiers to prepare their guns to kill me. I was very frightened, and I felt that dying was the only way out for me. But then they left me there and continued on their way to Thingan Nyi Naung village. Later I was lucky, because some villagers came by on their way back from the SLORC soldiers. The soldiers had taken them as guides. The villagers untied me and freed me. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't. The villagers had to support me to get me back to the village. Right up till now I'm still suffering from my broken rib, and I'm still on medical treatment. I cannot work at present. Whenever I hear that the SLORC troops are coming to our village, I always go to hide. *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** FEER: LOSS AND EXILE February 16 1995 Manerplaw's fall could end Karen rebellion By Bertil Lintner in Bangkok In 1974, Karen rebels established a camp on the banks of the Moei river, which forms the border between Thailand and eastern Burma. Called Manerplaw, or Field of Victory, the new settlement was sheltered on all sides by steep, rugged mountains. It seemed virtually impregnable, and became the headquarters of the Karen Nation Union, one of Burma's strongest ethnic-rebel armies. Today, 21 years later, Manerplaw lies in ashes. Karen rebels burned the camp on January 26 before withdrawing into the mountains or fleeing into Thailand. Burmese Government forces now control the area, and the future of the Karen insurrection in Burma has become most uncertain. For Burma's ethnic-rebel movement, the fall of Manerplaw, which came after a week-long battle with thousands of troops from the Burmese army's 33rd, 44th and 66th Light Infantry Divisions, has been the severest blow in years. "The time of big rebel bases along the Thai-Burmese border seems to be over," says a military analist in Bangkok. "The Karen rebel movement may survive this loss, but they can only live on as a mobile, hit-and-run gurilla force." Thailand's outgoing Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said his country "would not allow hot pursuit into Thai territory" by Rangoon forces chasing Karen fighters. Nonetheless, the fall of Manerplaw has raised questions about Thailand's policy of "constructive engagement" with Rangoon. Thaksin, however, said the ruling generals in Rangoon told the Thais that they would "allow the minorities to join the draft of the new constitution to allow autonomy of each group. So those who joined, they have a peaceful dialogue. The Karen did not join." According to his information, said Thaksin, the conflict "was a fight between Buddhist Karen and Christian Karen... On the Thai side, we are not involved." However, the foreign minister did say that the Thais "provide all kinds of humanitarian support for those who fled into Thai territory. Now we receive 5,600 Karen, both civilians and soldiers. We have to disarm the soldiers. We care for the wounded and take them to hospital, and when the area is safe we have to push them back. We can not keep them here." The events that led up to the fall of Manerplaw began three years ago. In earlier 1992, the Burmese army launched a massive assault on the camp, using more than 10,000 troops. That attack failed, mainly becauses of the army's outdated tactics and lack of familiarity with the area. After that attempt, the Burmese army appeared to have changed tactics. A unilateral ceasefire was declared. Military sources say Rangoon's forces then concentrated their efforts on consolidating the forward positions that were captured in 1992 and familiarizing themselves with the terrain, all the while looking for opportunities to weaken the Karen fighters. "The first two tasks were not difficult to accomplish, and the third objective presented itself when some Buddhist rank-and- file soldiers ofthe Karen army mutinied againt the predominantly Christian leadership last December," said the military analyst in Bangkok. Although numbering only a few hundred, the mutineers were able to guide the Burmese army through secret trails into Karen redoubt. The Burmese army is now expected to hand over Manerplaw to the break-away Karen faction, the democratic Karen Buddhist Army. This group will most likely be afforded the same status as other ethnic rebel armies that have made peace with the junta and will probably represent the Karens in the National Convention in Rangoon. By capturing Manerplaw, the ruling junta has accomplished much more than just delivering a severe below to the Karen rebel movement. The fall has also affected the rest of the anti- Rangoon movement. Manerplaw was the main base for several umbrella organizations comprising various ethnic rebel armies in Burma as well as pro-democracy activists from Rangoon and other cities in the Burmese heartland, all of whom had sought refuge there following military crackdowns. Now, that platform is gone, and the entire Burmese political opposition will be in exile.(FEER FEBRUARY 16 1995) *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** BURMANET: LETTER--"YOU HAVE PROVED SO MUCH FOR US." BurmaNet received and forwarded the following letter for the Karen troops who were then in Kawmoora. February 19, 1995 Dear General Taw La and beloved Karen National Liberation Army at Kawmoora Thank you so much for the sacrifice for Karen people with your blood and energy. I am very proud to be a Karen. You have proved so much for us. It is a sad thing the SLORC tried to wipe out the Karen people and forced them to flee their homeland to unwelcome neighboring country. Not only my deep heart felt sympathy goes to you but also my family prayer will always be with you even though we have not seen one another. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. We will always remember you the rest of our lives. We will also pray for the SLORC that they wi light and open other avenue for lasting peace. May god be with you always and protect you. With lasting love From xxxxxxx, USA *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** NLM/SLORC: MEMBERS OF DKBA RESETTLE FAMILIES OF KAYIN NATIONALS The New Light of Myanmar 24 February 1995 Members of Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) under the Democratic Buddhist Organization (DKBO) attacked and captured Manerplaw, the central headquarters of KNU armed group led by Bo Mya on 27 January 1995 and Kawmura (a) New Wakha, the last stronghold of KNU armed group on 21 February 1995. After the fall of those camps, peace and security restored in Kayin State. Kayin nationals from the so-called refugee camps under the control of Bo Mya in the other country returned to Myainggyingu area group by group. A total of 8,210 persons including 3,540 males and 4,670 females of 1,450 households arrived back till 23 February. Officials and members of DKBA are resettling them and distributing food. --- MNA *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** NLM/SLORC: WHAT CAUSED NGA MYA TO RUN? ---Maung Pho Hmat The New Light of Myanmar Newspaper 24 February 1995 Myanmar is a country that is striving by all available means to become a peaceful, developed and modern nation. At the same time, the National Convention attended by representatives of all national groups and all classes and masses of the people, is deliberating on fundamental principles for a new State constitution that will build up a new State of genuine democracy. Efforts are being exerted from all angles to transform the country into a developed country. It is achieving remarkable progress in practising a market economy for national economic development. Had we been able unitedly to engage in such development measures without impediments and obstacles beginning with 1948 when we regained our independence, Myanmar would now have become a country admired by many. Armed insurgent organisations that came into being even during the period of our life and death struggle for Independence proliferated immediately after independence. And it is due to these insurgencies that the country had fallen fifty years behind time. Insurgent organisations are found to have been motivated by a lust for political power or spurred by racist problems or misguided by alien incitements. The imperialist who ruled over Myanmar for about a hundred years had implemented their divide and rule policy even at a stage when it had been forced to grant independence. It was only the farsightedness of our national leaders that had brought about the Panglong Conference, the Panglong Agreement and the Panglong Spirit. The Tatmadaw captured dead a British army officer, Capt Vivian, who supplied weapons for the assassination of Bogyoke Aung San and other martyred leaders in a battle in Htawkoko area in the northern part of Kawkareik. KNU leader Saw Ba U Gyi was also captured dead along with Captain Vivian. Imperialists pushed some Kayin nationals into insurgency by incion racial considerations and religious considerations. As is common knowledge, political and military persons, mercenary military advisers and diplomatic personnel of western nations have been visiting the insurgency camp (particularly Manerplaw) of the KNU, erstwhile KNDO. In December 1994, Elina, wife of US Naval Attache, Colonel Terry Hanson, of Bangkok, was visiting at Nga Mya's Manerplaw Camp. In 1988-89 US Congressmen came to Manerplaw to encourage Nga Mya. Political, military and diplomatic personnel from the Western Bloc have been coming in to Manerplaw without let or hindrance. Promising them money and other material help they had manipulated the KNU to be armed insurgents. The KMT Nationalist Chinese who had been chased out of China were kept along the Myanma border by the US CIA for provocative attacks against China. Only recently, a Canadian named Calvin Hefner, a former US Military Attache Robert Halvey and Gene Sharp on mischievous missions. [NOTE: "Calvin Hefner" above is presumably Kevin Heppner of the Karen Human Rights Group---BurmaNet] In Myanmar, throughout all ages, national races had lived in unity and fraternity. They invariably joined hands to fight against enemies in case of a national emergency. In anti- imperialist fights between 1885 and 1900, national peoples shed their blood together in unity. National peoples were united throughout the period of anti-imperialist struggle and the anti-fascist resistance period. After regaining independence they built up the country together in unity. They had erected a pillar of National Unity through weal or woe, prosperity or poverty. National development, however, remained retarded because of multi-coloured insurgencies. Peoples' lives and property were lost. Areas overshadowed by insurgencies suffered from lack of agriculture, of productive activities, of lack of constructive endeavours, of lack of public health and educational facilities. They lost their kinsmen as a result of insurgencies. Dwellings had been turned into ashes. There was no progress whatsoever and everything was just the reverse. Armed organisations in the jungles who realised all these miseries and who also realised the sincerity of the State gradually came back into legal fold and began to engage in regional development work and in Union consolidation programmes. To date 13 groups have seen peace. The peoples of areas where insurgencies ceased to be shone clear and bright as a moon that had come out of a eclipse. They are merrily taking part in development of the whole nation through development of their individual regions. These are the true benefits of peace and of national reconciliation. Kayin peoples from Kayin State, national peoples living widespread all over the country are now united with Union nationals and kinsmen born in other lands under lights radiated by law and by the sincerity of the State. Kayin nationals serving in important departments in the civil and military branches of the State, other Kayin intellectuals and intelligentsia, Kayins serving in all other departments, factory workers and mill workers, and Kayin traders and merchants are working for the welfare of the entire nation. All Kayin nationals have realised Nga Mya KNU's activities. He kills, he burns villages down, he sows land mines, he extorts tributes. Nga Mya KNU's top leadership are rolling in wealth while Kayin nationals living on the border have lost their whole lives. The KNU, therefore, does not represent Kayins living peacefully in Kayin State and elsewhere. The KNU cannot even represent Kayins living under its heels their areas. Kayin nationals living in the border region, in other words, under the shadow of Manerplaw, have been suffering under the persecution of Nga Mya. When he was in dire straits Nga Mya drove those Kayin nationals living on the border into the had fled from Myanmar government persecution and secured international aid. The lion's share of aid went into Nga Mya's pockets. He therefore frequently created panic and drove Kayin nationals into the oth as refugees. And Nga Mya had been using these rts receiving due attention in Myanmar Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Commander- in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe exhorts idpendence insurgency occurred and although there was peace and tranquility in the country proper, the turmoil remained in the border areas in the remote and far-flung regions and so it became difficult to take measures for bringing development to the national races. Therefore, tasks for improving their transport and communication links could not be undertaken. It was also impossible to teach them for developing their knowledge. Development lag Although the regions in the country proper gaine considerable development as situations permitted, the border areas lagged behind in all aspects including knowledge and therefore it is necessary to make efforts so that the border areas will catch up quickly with the country proper in development. With this conviction, when the State Law and Order Restoration Council assumed the responsibilities of the Stagan taking steps to bring peace and tranquility to these regions. If there is no peace, then nothing can be done. In taking measures to bring peace, it is not the same in our era as those of the other eras as the pattern was changed and we had to make a lot of concessions to gain peace. As steps were taken thus there are today 13 groups which have reached complete understanding with us and are working together with us. There are only a few groups left. It is now in a position that if they return to the legal fold willingly with the correct attitude and goodwill we will always welcome them. Only when all the national races live in amity and unity and in friendly and harmonious relations, will our Union become a developed country. That is why steps were taken first to bring peace and tranquility to the country. Due to this there is now considerable peace and tranquility in the country. Although very few regions remain, it is believed that these few regions will soon become peaceful. These regions did not develop as there were disturbances, insurgency and instability. New ministry Hence, a new ministry was formed and assigned duties as ry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs. Due to the formation of such a ministry and border area development tasks carried out, the development of border areas is gaining high momentum today. In about five more years the situation will be quite good. It is assumed that in about 10 years the difference between the border areas and the rege country proper will be narrowed down to quite an extent. In taking measures for bringing about development to these border areas you all should work with goodwill for your own national races to achieve development. In making a country develop basic knowledge is a dire need. Therefore, if there is a desire to develop the entire region, the most important thing is to make efforts to increasse the knowledge of the people in the region. In making efforts to increase the knowledge, you all as teachers must impart knowledge. Therefore, I would like to urge you, in whichever regions you go, to make sacrifices in all aspects, with the firm conviction and goodwill to toil hard in all spheres and make efforts to bring progress and development to the national races. Another thing is that by making efforts to narrow down the difference between all the national races in the Union, it amounts to implementing the tasks related to Our Three Main National Causes. The first point --- non-disintegration of the Union --- means having complete understanding of one another, loving one another and to be equal and fair as far as possible. To be fair and equal means to have equal knowledge, equal economy and equal social status. Only when there is equality in all aspects will our Union remain non-disintegrated and firm and consolidated perpetually. Therefore, you all are to make the entire public in the border areas know and understand the tasks of the Government and educate them to cooperate and participate in the tasks. If the ministries concerned assist in gradually creating a situation of equality and fairness through economic, social and other undertak it will amount to making efforts for non-disintegration of the Union which is the first and foremost point of Our Three Main National Causes. The second point if for non-disintegration of national solidarity. For the perpetuity of the Union it is necessary to have national unity. For national unity to exist efforts must be made aimed at having equality and fairness as far as possible. Today we are taking measures for such equality to exist. As far as possible measures are being taken to help bring development to their regions by making use of the natural resources which they have in their regions. Constant efforts are being made for equality to exist in social as well as in education and health spheres. This is being done to forge national unity and for non-disintegration of the Union. The third point --- perpetuity of sovereignty is based on non-disintegration of national solidarity. If national unity does not exist then the Union will disintegrate. National sovereignty will also be lost. Hence, these points cannot be separated and are complementary to one another and are interrelated. As all the ministries at the central are making concerted efforts in implementing them, it is also necessary on the part of the people to conscientiously cooperate and take part in them. Only when concerted efforts are made thus will our aim of turning the country into a peaceful, prosperous anational will be realized. The tasks we are carrying out today is for the country to become peaceful, prosperous and modern and to enable everyone to live in affluence. For national sovereignty to exist and for the State to become peaceful, prosperous and developed, it is directly linked to the Constitution of State which will emerge in our country in the future. For emergence of an enduring Constitution, it is necessary that it must be accepted by all the Union nationals. It is necessary for all to work together with broad-mindedness for the emergence of a new constitution. Another thing is that food, clothing and shelter needs are the most important fundamental requirements of people. Basic human rights It is regarded that food, clothing and shelter needs are the most basic human rights for mankind to survive. It can be said that once the basic human rights of the people are met there is no difficulty to fulfil other human rights. It is necessary for all of you to understand that the task being carried out by the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the programmes, goodwill and measures taken are based on these points. After understanding thus, it is necessary for all of you to try to disseminate the knowledge of the tasks and goodwill of the State Law and Order restoration at the schools and regions. I now conclude by urging all of you to cooperate in border area development tasks and make efforts to develop your own areas and regions. ---MNA *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** MNA/SLORC: KAWMURA WAS CAPTURED BY DKBA Posted by bbatpt@au.ac.th DKBA captures Kawmura, the last KNU stronghold Yangon , 21 Feb- Kawmura, the last stronghold of Bo Mya's KNU armed group , was captured by Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) after an assault which began on 8 February. The stronghold, also known as New Wakha, became the last heavily fortified KNU armed camp on Myanmar-Thai border after the fall of Manerplaw, the KNU HQ, on 27 January into the hands of DKBA, an army formed under the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organization (DKBO). Situated about 10 miles north of Myawady in Kayin State, along the border , it has only one access point from Myanmar side. Moei or Thaungyin River flows round between the horse-shoe-shaped camp and the other country. Eleven layers of barbed wire entanglements fenced the entrance of the access point and three layers of trenches were dug around the camp, which was defended by ten two-storey concrete bunkers with seven soldiers in each and many other bunkers fortified with teak logs. Htaw Hla, with rank of colonel, and his 800 men of KNU No 101 Battalion, were dug-in at the last KNU camp before it was overrun by the DKBA . KNU armed group members led by Bo Mya fled to the other country after they were defeated by DKBA in the battle in which both sides suffered loss and injury.(Myanmar News Agency) *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** BKK POST: RANGOON HANDED PROTEST LETTER 23 February 1995 The authorities in Mae Sot District, Tak Province have written to the Foreign Ministry in Rangoon to protest about shelling by Burmese forces across the border in Thailand. The letter, signed by Direk Yaemngamrib, chairman of the local Burmese-Thai Border Committee, pointed out that the shelling violates Thai sovereignty and damages public and private prop- erty. Col Direk wrote the Thais felt that the fighting could have ended when Rangoon troops seized the last stronghold of the karen National Union at Kawmoora camp on Tuesday morning. But in the afternoon of the same day Burmese troops kept shel- ling heavily into Thai territory with about 180 rounds of heavy weapons. Some of the shell landed on a paramilitary ranger company's position and set it ablaze, causing damage to shelters. Mnay other rounds landed at the health station of Huay Kalok vil- lage and elsewhere, causing damage to farmland belonging to Thai villagers. The letter said that the shelling reflected the Rangoon troops' intention to violate Thai sovereignty despite Thailand's warning with smoke and illuminating rounds. It called on Rangoon to take responsibility for actions taken by the Burmese troops and damage caused by them. The letter also said Thailand considers the ongoing fighting between Burmese soldiers and KNU rebels as Burma's internal affair and has never interfered, but there have still been violations of Thai sovereignty. Should the Burmese forces continue with the violation, Burma would be regarded as interfering in Thailand's internal affairs, it said. The letter added that all Thai authorities adhere to the Government's policy of regarding Burma as a neighbouring country of long-cherished link. As for the accommodations provided for Karen people who fled into Thailand for refugee, Thailand is performing its duty on a humanitarian basis. They will be sent back into Burma through a safe channel when the situation inside Burma returns to normal, the letter said. (BP) *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** BKK POST: THAILAND WON'T BE A SPRINGBOARD FOR KNU 23 February 1995 Thailand will not let Karen National Union rebels use its border areas as a base to stockpile weapons and build up forces to continue their struggle for autonomy against the Burmese government after the fall of kawmoora camp, Sookmark said yesterday. Gen Vijit conceded his ministry was worried about the possible spread of guerrilla warfare along the Thai-Burmese border and insisted Thailand would not tolerate the use of its soil as a staging area by karen rebels. He said the Government would also have to make the Burmese government understand that Thailand did not and would not support military operation by KNU guerrillas. Thai soldiers have disarmed Karen forces fleeing Burmese troops into Thailand area. The Government, meanwhile, has repeatedly announced it would not interfere in Burma internal affairs. Gen Vijit said Thailand has provided only humanitarian assistance to Karen rebels who crossed into its territory to escape attacks by Burmese soldiers. In fact, he said only a small faction had crossed the border into Thailand after the fall of kawmoora base. The majority of karen soldiers have reportedly move to a new stronghold in an area inside Burma controled by the KNU to prepare for another found of fighting with Burmese troops, according to the Defence Minister. Gen Vijit confirmed clashes between Karen and Burmese forces occurred outside Thai territory and that there had not been any incident which would lead to a confrontation between Thai and Burmese troops. The Third Army Region has also been safeguarding border areas straddling Burma. Gen Vijit said has not yet received official reports about allegations that Burma had used chemical weapons against the karen guerrillas. However, according to information he has obtained so far, the chemicals allegedly used may be tear gas, he said. As for his order for the Royal Thai Navy to postpone its pro- curement of two submarines pending budget problems, Gen Vijit said whether the subs would finally be purchased or not de- pended on changes in the situation and threats to national security in the future. Gen Vijit, however, said Thailand's national security policy has focused on protecting the country and establishing frien dly relations with neighbouring countries, not on taking an offensive stand. He concede that stockpiling weapons by a country could affect the "feelings" of its neighbours. (BP) *****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI*********************** BKK POST: BUDDHIST KAREN FLAGS FLY AFTER SLORC KAWMOORA VICTORY 23 February 1995 The Burmese Army yesterday jubilantly expressed its victory over the fall of the last major Karen guerrilla stronghold at Kawmoora but did not hoist its own flag above the camp. Instead two yellow flags of a rival Buddhist Karen breakaway faction could be seen. The raising of these two banners, with the white Buddhist emblem of Dhammachakara in the centre, suprised neither the embattled Karen National Union (KNU) leaders, who were outsed from Kawmoora, nor Thai border authorities here who predict that the Burmese junta will claim the capture of the KNU 101st special military unit base was the work of the breakaway Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organization (DKBO). The Burmese junta, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), in late December also claimed that the former KNU headquarters at Manerplaw had fallen to the DKBO, despite the fact that the attacks were carried out by Burmese forces with full Burmese weaponry. At the time KNU leaders accepted that DKBO forces, who were familiar with Manerplaw ground defence and military stragety, had assisted and guided Burmese troops to take Manerplaw, situated on the west bank of the Moei River opposite Tak's Tha Song Yang district. But KNU leader Gen Bo Mya had already ordered the evacuation of Manerplaw residents_civilians and militia_when it become clear that Burmese troops were closing in to capture it. Kawmoora commander Brig Gen Taw Hla had also ordered the evacuation of his 800-strong die-hard force early on Tuesday at 4 am and the ethnic guerrillas began crossing the Moei River into Thailand at around 4.20 am. Thai border authorities believed the Slorc would continue to support the DKBO and probably hand over the control of the one-square-kilometre Kawmoora to the breakaway group as part of its plan to legitimize the rival Karen group against the KNU, which has not yet entered peace talks with the Slorc. The situation around Kawmoora remained clam yesterday and Burmese troops were seem patrolling the camp in the morning. Laughter and cheerful conversation among patrolling troops and senior officers could be heard from the Thai side at Baan Wang Kaew, which was burnt down and deserted in May 1989 when the Burmese army launched a massive but unsuccessful offensive to capture it. Burmese troops, identified by their green uniforms, were on alert and observed several groups of reporters, photographers, and Thai villagers who travelled to Baan Wang Kaew to observe the situation at Kawmoora. When waved and shouted at by curious media personnel, many Burmese troops in bunkers and small shelters on the Moei River waved and shouted back in Burmese. Those who were placed on guard at a wooden bridge at the entrance to Kawmoora prohibited media crew members from taking pictures. "No. No. Photos," they shouted at them. Thai border authorities said they had no information on the exact numbers of Burmese troops now stationed in Kawmoora but that all together seven Burmese battalions, estimated at 3,000 to 3,500 men, from the 22nd, 44th and 77th divisions, under the strategic command of Maj Gen Maung Hla, were deployed in the offensive against about 1,000 KNU forces who defended Kawmoora. (BP & TN) ***********************SHAN STATE****************************** SEASIA-L: SHAN STATE ASSOCIATION Gehan bit.listserv.seasia-l 11:54 AM Feb 23, 1995 (at Wijeyewardene.UUCP) (From News system) Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" A representative of the Shan State Association writes: The New york Conference was very useful because the MTA (Muang Tai Army) has accepted federalism, and more importantly, the leadership of overseas Shan elements in political manoeuvering outside Shan state. We issued a statement , the new York Declaration , Shan State Conference, January 1995, and also set up a Standing Committee to make the necessary moves and establish Shan State prly once more on the Burmese and international stage. It will, in effect, act as an informal umbrella body to represent the aspirations of the Shan State people (and as well, the armies). Prior to this, Shan State was silent (and thus voiceless) because of the shadow cast by the Khun Sa/Opium-Heroin factor. No political group wanted to touch Shan State or the MTA for fear of being tarred with the KS/O-H brush. Shan elements overseas too were in an untenable position since they were expected by the armies to act as their mouthpieces. But from now on, because the armies have recognized the complexity of politics and accepted the need for a flexible, more political action and response, per the New York Declaration , the Standing Committeewill, I expect, be able to do more in legitimating the armed resistance and armies (including the MTA). It will also be able to work actively with Bama/Burmese groups, non-Bama fronts, and transnational NGOs. Posted with permission May I also say that the recent BURMA DEBATE edited by Maureen aung-Thwin is devoted to interesting articles on Opium-Heroin, Shan State and the contemporary politics of Burma. I suggest one begs, borrows or steals. Gehan Wijeyewardene gew400@coombs.anu.edu.au *********************** Note: BURMA DEBATE is edited by Mary Pack and is extremely well done. Subscription requests can be sent to burmad@clark.net ---Strider *********************** *********************KACHIN STATE***************************** MNA/SLORC: OSS-101 WAR VETERANS OF US Posted by bbatpt@au.ac.th Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services General Maung Aye decorates OSS-101War Veterans of US with Star of Liberation Yangon , 21 Feb- Vice-Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services and Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, on behalf of Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, received and pinned Star of Liberation on leader of the OSS-101 War Veterans Organization of United States former ambassador Mr Julian M Niemczyk(Ex Capt) and member in recognition of their contribution towards Myanmar's struggle for independence together with the Allied Forces during the Second World War, at a ceremony held at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 10 am today. General Maung Aye , on behalf of Senior General Than Shwe, individually pinned the Star of Liberation on 15 persons who are members of OSS-101 War Veterans Organization of the United States who took part in attacking the fascists in Myanmar theatre during WWII. (Myanmar News Agency) ************************THAILAND****************************** NATION: TOP BURMESE OFFICIAL ISSUES APOLOGY FOR 'BURDEN' OF OFFENSIVE 24 February 1995 Visiting Burmese senior military officier Lt-Gen Tin Oo apologized yesterday to the Thai army for the unfortunate burden caused by Rangoon's month-long military offensive against ethnic Karen rebels positioned along the Thai-Burmese border, according to army sources. Tin Oo, who army chief of staff and deputy secretary-general of Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), was also quoted as telling Army Chief Gen Wimol Wongwanich during their meeting that he was sympathetic to the Thai Army's difficulty in preventing Burmese fighters from crossing the shallow Moei River into Thailand. The junta's fourth highest official also expressed his sympathy that Thailand has been the target of criticism by those countries "which enjoy the luxury of distance from Burma and do not understand relations between countries with adjacent borders". He was quoted as telling Gen Wimol that he believed Thailand knew where to stand and what served the national interest. The general also asked Thailand to send all the refugees back to Burma so that they could help restore the country. Tin Oo and his ten-man delegation arrived here yesterday for a three-day visit as guest of the army, and held three hours of talks with their Thai counterparts at the Army's adutitorium before spending another two hours with Gen Wimol and other senior Thai officers. The visit began two days after Rangoon apparently clinched military control over the Burmese border area from Tak to Mae Hong Son by wiping out Karen fighters from Kawmoora, their last major outpost, less than a month after the fall of the Karen's Manerplaw headquarters. It also comes at a time of tension between the two countries as Burmese shells landed in Thai territory on several occasions during the weeks-long Burmese offensive against ethnic Karen rebels at the border. This tension prompted the postponement of two other high-level visits precviously scheduled for this month_by Burma's powerful intelligence chief, Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, and by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Painchpakdi. Thai border authorities were furious not to have been alerted before the Burmese military operations against the Karen rebels took place, and to have been caught off guard when fighting erupted and triggered shelling and an influx of thousands of Karen refugees to Thailand. Thailand has lodged diplomatic protests about the incidents, both in Bangkok and Rangoon. Deputy Army Chief lt Gen Chettha Thanajaro reportedly led a military delegation which included the First Army Region Commander Lt Gen Bandith Malaai-arisoon to Rangoon last month and met Tin Oo. Gen Wimol yesterday defended his meeting with Tin Oo, saying that Thailand adhered to the policy of befriending its neighbours and not interfering in their internal affairs. He also said the country should not follow the approach of countries which do not share a border with Burma, as "those countries do not share our bitterness". (TN) ************************THAILAND****************************** BKK POST: JUNTA LEADER TO INSPECT THAI ARMY 23 February 1995 Burmese Army Chief-of-Staff Tin Oo will start a four-day visit as guest of Army Chief Wimol Wongwanich today, an army officer said yesterday. The officer said the trip was designed to strengthen military ties between the two countries adding that Lt-Gen Tin Oo would inspect several army units during the stay. Lt-Gen Tin Oo, a senior member of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), will make the trip on behalf of Burmese Army Commander Gen maung Aye who was originally invited by Gen Wimol. During the visit, Lt-gen Tin Oo would make a call on gen Wimol at army headquarters.(BP) *******************THE WESTERN BORDER************************* NATION: BANGLADESH AND BURMA RESUME DIRECT AIR LINKS 24 February 1995 DIRECT flights between Rangoon and Dhaka resumed on Wednesday after a seven-year gap, aviation officials said. Burmese Deputy Minister for Transport San Wai, who was on the inaugural Myanmar Airways International (MAI) flight, told reporters at Dhaka's Zia International Airport that the resumption of flights would help boost ties between the two neighbour. "I am happy and I hope the frequency of the flight will be increased in the future," he said. Official sources said MAI flights were stopped in 1988 because of Burma's internal political situation as well as losses on the route. Bangladesh's national airline, Biman, operates one weekly flight to Rangoon. ********************INTERNATIONAL***************************** BKK POST: GERMAN ENVOY TO PUSH FOR MORE DEMOCRATIC BURMA 23 February 1995 German Deputy Foreign Minister Helmut Schaefer yesterday joined other foreign counterparts calling for democracy re forms in Burma. He will today leave for talks with Burmese leaders in Rangoon. Mr Schaefer said after holding talks with Deputy Foreign Min- ister Surin Pitsuwan the world community wanted to see Burma with "more democracy and more openness" towards other coun tries. The Rangoon government still has problems on democracy re- forms, he said. Mr Schaefer's trip will end in Tokyo where he will attend a forum for the comprehensive development of Indochina of the European Union. Mr Schaefere said his visit to Rangoon was to evaluate democ- racy reforms and the progress of a critical dialogue, a policy the EU is using with the ruling Slorc to convey the grouping's concern over politics and human rights. The EU had dialogue with Burma last September in New York when German Foreign Minister Klause Kinkel, who was EU president, spoke with his Burmese counterpart Ohn Gyaw while visiting the 49th general Assembly of the United Nations. Both Thai and German deputy minister discussed Karen National Union fighters who abandoned their major stronghold Kawmoora on Tuesday after Burmese forces bombarded the base opposite Tak Province. They also discussed a proposed summit between Asian and EU leaders and a forthcoming visit to Germany by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. Mr Surin, who is also acting foreign minister, said his German counterpart had reiterated EU support for the leadership meet- ing as the European grouping plans to play a larger role in Asia. But the deputy minister pointed out the summit needed further discussions over whether it should limit the meeting to lead- ers of the Association of southeast Asian nations, or open it to other Asian countries. (BP) *********************INTERNATIONAL**************************** BKK POST: BONN ENVOY WANTS OPEN BURMA 23 February 1995 Visiting German Deputy Foreign Minister Helmut Schafer said yesterday that Burma should delevop further towards democracy and open more to the international community. Schafer declined to comment specifically on the present situation in the country, saying that he would visit Rangoon to see the situation there for himself before making comment. "I will visit Rangoon [today] and expect to meet some important leaders of the country. We would like Burma to develop like neighbouring countries," Schafer said. The German minister yesterday spent an hour with Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan at the Foreign Ministry as part of a two-day official visit to Thailand ending yesterday. "We all hope for Burma to have more democracy and more opennes towards its neighbours, Europe and the world community, so that the country could be helped much more. This will be the theme of my talks [with Burmese leaders]," he said. Schafer's visit ti Burma comes just two days after Burmese troops captured the last Karen National Union stronghold at Kawmoora, a victory over the ethnic group fighting for independence. Burmese forces captured the KNU headquarters at Manerplaw on Jan 26. He said his visit to Burma is a continuation of the "critical political dialogue" reffered to by Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York late last year. Kinkel first floated the idea of the "critical dialogue" with Burma when he attended the Asean Ministerial meeting in Bangkok last July, during which Germany assumed the European Union presidency. (BP & 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 Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt. 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