**************************BurmaNet*************************** "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ************************************************************* The BurmaNet News: 11 March 1995 Issue #122 NOTED IN PASSING: "I hope that they will implement the [pipeline] project only after peace prevails in the country. I have no comment whether we are going to sabotage or obstruct the project. But because we are in a civil war, they should not be carrying out that project. We cannot guarantee that the fighting in the area will not affect the gas pipeline project." Gen. Bo Mya, President of the KNU on March 8, 1995. On March 9, KNU troops killed 5 members of a Total pipeline survey party. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Contents: Note: A special issue on the deaths of the Total survey team will be put out shortly. *******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************* NATION: INTERVIEW WITH GEN. BO MYA--KNU TO KEEP STRUGGLE ALIVE BKK POST: YOUNG BLOOD TO BE INJECTED KNU LEADERSHIP BKK POST: KNU PONDERS CHANGES AT THE TOP AP: KAREN REBELS ORGANIZE BKK POST: TEAK TREES FOUND CUT AND MOVED TO BURMA BKK POST: TRADERS WANT BORDER OPENDED FOR SONGKRAN ***********************INSIDE BURMA*************************** REUTERS: KHIN NYUNT WARNS OF "NEO-COLONIALISTS AND THEIR MINIONS" NATION: SLORC LINKED TO PAMPHLET ATTACKS AGAINST SUU KYI BKK POST:SLORC MOUNTS OMINOUS PLAN FOR SELF-PRESERVATION BKK POST: RANGOON READY FOR WEEK-LONG GEM SHOW ************************SHAN STATE**************************** BKK POST: INTERIOR CHECKS THAI CITIZENSHIP OF 'SHAN' CHIEFS BKK POST: KHUN SA AIDE SAYS SLORC ONLY READY FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE ***************"THE OTHER COUNTRY" [THAILAND]***************** BKK POST: BURMESE AMBASSADOR SAYS 'NO' TO MEDIATION BKK POST: BURMESE STUDENTS TO STAGE RALLY NATION: THAILAND READY TO HOST EAS MEETING BY 1996, SAYS PM NATION: WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUPS GATHER FOR GOVERNMENT HOUSE ****************************REGION**************************** NATION: DENG'S DEATH 'WILL NOT SLOW' ECONOMIC GROWTH REUTERS: THAN SHWE IN HANOI BKK POST: BURMA, VIETNAM TO JOINTLY SUPRESS NARCOTICS TRADE *********************INTERNATIONAL**************************** BKK POST: JAPAN SET TO RESUME AID TO BURMA LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL: SIR DAVID STEEL DENIED ACCESS TO BURMA TO PRESENT AWARD TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI NATION: UN SHOWS 'GRAVE CONCERN' AT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BURMA GOA: RIGHTS REPORT--"IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO PROGRESS WHATSOEVER TOWARDS DEMOCRACY IN BURMA" ****************************MISC****************************** BURMANET: LETTER--REQUEST FOR DRUG INFO ************************************************************** 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--MARCH 11, 1995*************** ************************************************************** *******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************* NATION: INTERVIEW WITH GEN. BO MYA--KNU TO KEEP STRUGGLE ALIVE 9 MARCH 1995 General Saw Bo Mya, president of the Karen National Union (KNU) talks to The |Nation's Yindee Lertcharoenchok about the future of his guerrillas movement. Q: THE KNU has suffered a big set back, politically and militarily, from the fall of Manerplaw headquarters and Kawmoora camp and from the internal religious split between the \Buddhist and Christian members. What is the KNU future plan or strategy? For the KNU revolution, we will do what we used to do. At the same time, we will try to reunite our villagers and civilians and to continue our struggle. After the fall of Manerplaw and Kawmoora, the KNU is in urgent need for political and military reforms? What are they going to be? A: Our political objectives will remain the same as before, we don't rally need a change for that. That is, we will fight for Democracy and equal rights for all ethnic nationalities including the Karen nationality. As for our military strategy, we are going to use guerrillas warfare tactics to fight the Slorc. As the Slorc has acquired a huge stock of arms, weaponries and ammunitions and they can use them to attack us, we can not contract a fixed or static military location or base. Q: But how effectively can the KNU carry out a guerrillas war against the Burmese army which has reinforced the border area with large number of troops and weapons? A: We think if we use guerillas tactics, the Burmese army will suffer higher casualties while we will suffer less. Q: The Slorc is using and trying to legitimize the breakaway Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organization. How is the KNU going to deal with the situation? A: DKBO is formed and organized by the Slorc, which is trying to divide us into two groups. The Slorc's objective is that they don't want to give us the Karen State. They try to manipulate and deceive our people, so what we will remain devided or split. All ethnic groups, which have signed a cease-fire agreement with the Slorc, have now found out that they can not discuss any political agenda with the regime. The Slorc told them that if they want to discuss any political changes in Burma, they would have to surrender and lay down their arms first. That is one of the conditions that the KNU cannot accept. Q: Is there any possibility that the KNU and DKBO will patch up? A: Many of the KNU leaders and members do not want to join the DKBO but they were forced at gunpoint by the Slorc or Burmese troops. May be we can persuade some of them to come of in us. Some DKBO members joined the group because they don't know the politics behind the Slorc's creation of the DKBO. They don't know that the dispute and split (within the KNU) was actually initiated by the Slorc. The Slorc is cruel; they sent forces into refugee camps, raping women and looting their belongings. Moreover, the Slorc is not a ligimate government and they don't care about international diplomacy or community. Q: hat is the strength of DKBO troops and supporters? A: The slorc said 8,000 villagers joined them. That is not true. DKBO is only a small unit of the KNU which has joined the Slorc. They lies to villagers that they are going to freed those who go back to Brume. Many of the villagers and refugees were forced by the Slorc and the DKBO to go back to Burma. They also lies to the world community that they need these people to rebuild the country. DKBO and the Slorc are bad people, that is why they can joins hand together. Whatever they do is to oppress the people. Q: How can the KNU stop the intrusion of the DKBO and Burmese forces into refugee camps in Thailand to harass the refugees? A: The refugee camps are in Thailand so we cannot really take care of assume full responsibility for them. We hope the Thai government will be able to handle the problems, we can handle them. I would like to request Prime Minister Chaun Leepai to please provide security protection for the refugees. The Slorc will try to lie to the world that these refugees were suppressed by the KNU and will ask them to support and give assistance for refugees inside the country, Whatever they do, is just a lie. Q: Thai Army Commander in Chief General Wimol Wongwanich said recently that the Slorc should crush the KNU. HE also mentioned that is good that Kawmoora and Manerplaw fall to the Burmese army, as peace can now prevail along the Thai-Burmese border and that the KNU can now enter peace talks with the Slorc. What is your opinion? A: Talking about peace in Burma, we have never rejected peace talk with Brume. But what we ant is genuine lasting peace in Burma, not just a cease-fire. We don't want a temporary peace in Burma, nut what the Slorc wants is just a cease-fire or temporary peace. All ethnic groups which have talked with the Slorc did not know if there was going to be a permanent peace in Burma. I believe that the Slorc will sooner or later try to force these groups to surrender and lay down their arms. If the Slorc forces them like that, there will be no real peace in Burma. Q: Prime Minister Chuan mentioned about a week ago that he wants to mediate in peace talks between KNU and Slorc? What is your opinion? A: We have presented a letter to Prime Minister Chuan. We agree with whatever he said and what was published in the newspapers. It is our pleasure to talk peace with the Slorc. We sent the letter about three day after he (Chuan) said that. The Prime Ministers has not yet replied to our letter. Q: Before the Burmese Army resumed the military offensive against KNU last year, particularly directed at Manerplaw, both KNU and Slorc nearly entered the first round of peace talks. Why didn't the peace talks place? A: I met with the Burmese military attache to Bangkok. I told him that we want the meeting in a third country, but he said no. Later he told us that we could have the talk at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok but the Burmese leaders in Rangoon rejected that. They had agreed first to (the venue) the Burmese Embassy, but they later rejected it. After that we agreed to meet in Rangoon, but they said we cannot do it in Rangoon. We had to do it in Moulmein. During our peace efforts with them, the Slorc started their military operations against us. The Slorc has also rejected the efforts of Buddhist monk, U Rewata Dhamma, who has offered to act as a mediator between the KNU and the Slorc. Q: Can Prime Minister Chuan serve as a mediator because the Slorc could reject him as well? What do you think the Thai government or Chuan could do to restore peace in Burma? A: It is true that Thailand can only act as a mediator if both the KNU and the Slorc agree to it. But we believe that if Thailand really wants to, they can do it. If they put pressure on the SLorc, they can do it. But if they don't, it well not work. It seems the Slorc has no respect for Thailand and Thai authorities. They went into our refugee camps in Baw Naw and shot at our people. They try to make people see that it is only the DKBO forced who are doing this, but infect the Slorc soldiers joined with the DKBO forces. But can the KNU do something from inside Burma to prevent the DKBO and the Burmese soldiers from crossing into Thai camps to harass the refugees? The camps are too close to the border, so they can just cross any where. The partition between the two countries is just small and narrow Moei River, so they can cross at any time. Q: When will KNU hold a meeting to reform itself and to draw out a new KNU military and political strategy? A: Not too long, in the next couple of days from now. The meeting is about our future plan, about our strategy in the future. We just had a meeting of the NCGUB and we have come up with a statement. Q: It seems the KNU is in need for friends especially from the ethnic group? Have there been any contract between KNU and other ethnic groups? A: Yes, we have contracts with the Mon, Rakhine, Chin, Karenni and also the Burmese students. We also have contract with the Kachin and Wa. Q: Is there any possibility do establishing a new ethnic front or reorganizing the existing National Democratic Front? A: We're trying to our best to do it. Q: During the offensive against KNU, the Kachin issued a strong statement condemning the SLorc offensive? Has there been any contract between the two groups? A: We have meetings with the Kachin. I sent my representative to talk with them, said was not easy for me to travel even to meet journalists during the Manerplaw offensive. Q: My understanding is that the Kachin Independence Organization was already expelled from the Democratic Alliance of Burma. Was it also expelled from the Notional Democratic Front? A: It was not legally expelled from the DAB, and the NDF stilll has the same ethnic member ships - the Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Kachin, Shan, Karinne, Wa, Lahu, Palaung and Pa-). Q: Is there any possibility that the NDF will hold a meeting? A: It is not easy at this movement. Q: There have been a lot of talk and speculations that the KNU will have some changes in its leadership. Even the KNU issued a statement mentioning that. What will be the changes? A: There will be changes in the 45-member KNU central committee. We are going to put more young people in it. That we still have to discuss. Q: The breakaway DKBO has accused the KNU leadership of discrimination against Buddhist religious practices and activities and that |Buddhist members were too accorded same or equal rights like the Christian member. Even some KNU leaders and Burma watchers speculate a need of KNU structural reform - bringing in the younger generation and more Buddhist leaders what is your opinion? A: The Buddhist members are not oppressed by the Christians. It is the Slorc who started and spread the rumors. In our KNU leadership there are many Buddhists leaders and even in the central Committee. People who work for the revolution must not give up. But some people who work for the revolution are just fake freedom fighters. When the time are good, they join the revolution and when there are bad times, they leave it (the revolution). Q: Are you discouraged or disheartened one that KNU has lost its Manerplaw headquarters and Kawmoora camp? A: We cannot give up. I don't feel discouraged at all, and neither do other leaders. If they really fight for the country, for their people, they will not feel discouraged and they will not give up. People who feel discouraged or disappointed are just fake freedom fighters. Q: Is there any way for the KNU to bring back their leaders who were kidnapped by the Burmese or DKBO forces, and those who defected? A: We have a way (to bring them back). We are doing the right thing. Slorc are just pretenders and one day the truth will prevail. The Slorc knows how to lie and deceive the people. They announced on Radio that the fall of Manerplaw and Kawmoora was the work of the DKBO and not the Slorc - that is a lie that they and up and ashowed to the world. We hope the world community will not be deceived by the Slorc. Q: Are you discouraged or disappointed with the soft international reaction towards the resumption of the Burmese offensive against the KNU, especially the attacks on Manerplaw and Kawmoora? A: Other countries only care for their own prosperity and their business interests. The Slorc has got a lot weapons and ammunitions from China. That is why they launched a massive military offensive against us. If the Slorc is not supported by the international community, they will not have money to come and fight us. I want to tell the world that because the Slorc is not to the people, I want to see the International community put pressure on them; stop providing them with arms and ammunition; and stop doing business with them. Q: What should Thailand do? A: If Thailand wants to do business with Burma, they should help us to talk peace with Slorc. If there is peace in Burma, there will be no problem in carrying out business in the country. Because they (Thailand) are pursing "constructive engagement", we hope that the thing they are doing will benefit both and not only one party. Thailand can be a mediator and with its "constructive engagement" policy with Slorc, I hope they can do the right thing. Q: What is your opinion about the signing of purchase of natural gas pipeline through the Karen and Mon controlled territory? A: I hope that they will implement the project only after peace prevails in the country. I have no comment whether we are going to sabotage or obstruct the project. But because we are in a civil war, they should not be carrying out that project. We cannot guarantee that the fighting in the area will not affect the gas pipeline project. Q The Unocal Company claims that there is no relocation or forced labour related to the project, US State Department officials said the US will outlaw the KNU like the Khmer Rouge if the Karen forces attacks foreigners working on the project. What is your opinion? A: I just want to ask them a simple question. Who is actually the one who comes and gives us trouble? Who is creating the problem - the company or the KNU? What is the Slorc's next move? The Slorc will try to woo more people to return to Burma. At the moment, they pretend that they are supporting the Buddhist people, but in the fact they just want to have a stable government. Q: How is the KNU going to proceed with the peace talks with the Slorc? Will it be acceptable to the KNU, if the Slorc insists that the talks take place in Moulmein or Pa-an. A: The Slorc does not wants us to have to any mediator, we will have to proceed with the peace talks by ourselves. They told us we can meet in Moulmein or Pa-an. *******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************* BKK POST: YOUNG BLOOD TO BE INJECTED INTO KNU LEADERSHIP 9 March 1995 THE Karen National Union is expected to name a set of young-blood members within this month to assist aged leaders in the struggle for autonomy from Rangoon. Most of the leaders are over 65. A KNU source said yesterday that names of the new leaders will be discussed at the extraordinary meeting now underway in a mountainous Burmese border area south of Mae Sot District of Tak Province. The high-level meeting of the KNU is expected to carry on until next week, the source said. KNU president Gen Bo Mya, 67, who has led the KNU since 1976, will still retain his position. But a few cabinet members of the Kawthoolei Government will step down from their positions or resign from their cabinet posts to pave the way for younger Karens who are intelligent and well-educated to take up the positions, the source said. The new leaders will be installed at all cabinet positions to assist or work on behalf of their leaders. They will act like shadow leaders in the Kawthoolei Government, both in military, administration and foreign affairs, the report said. According to the report, the plan to have younger leaders working alongside the old leaders originated several years ago, but the plan has not yet been implemented. >From now on, there will be new Karen leaders working alongside active Kawthoolei cabinet members. The young leaders will be appointed to take up cabinet posts in place of those who may wish to resign. A natural gas pipeline project of US-based Unocal and Total of France which will be constructed and pass through Karen territory in Tavoy and Mergui districts is also a main topic of the discussion at the meeting. A Karen decision-maker said the KNU is ready to talk with the gas company to settle the problem. (BP&TN) *******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************* BKK POST: TRADERS WANT BORDER OPENED FOR SONGKRAN 9 March 1995 Local traders and merchants have called on the Foreign Affairs and Commerce ministries to coordinate with the Burmese Government to reopen the border before the Songkran festival next month. The move was reached following a meeting between the traders and provincial authorities in Mae Sot yesterday after local Burmese authorities closed the border checkpoint between Myawaddy and Mae Sot last weekend. The Burmese told Thai officials the sudden closure order came from Rangoon to ensure the safety of a senior official from the Burmese capital who visited the border town at the weekend. The traders said the border closure had effected cross-border trade and the passage of people between the two countries. The meeting was also attended by Task Force 34 commander Col Direk Yaemngamribe, Tak Chamber of Commerce deputy president Panithi Tangpati as well as immigration and customs officials. Mr Panithi said the closure, announced on Saturday, was ordered while a large number of Thais were shopping in Myawaddy. He said shutdown order stopped trade completely. Many traders have stocked goods to sell to Burmese traders for the comming Songkran festival. The daily import and export of goods previously was about 10 million baht but the border closure has caused business to drop to about 100,000 baht a day. Mr Panithi hoped that coordination between officials of the two countries would help bring back business soon . A border source said Burma may try to work out what areas it would allow Buddhist Karens to conduct cross-border trade, like it previously gave the Wa National Organisation at Mu See after that faction signed a ceasefire agreement with Rangoon. (BP) *******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************* BKK POST: KNU PONDERS CHANGES AT THE TOP 9 March 1995 KANALAY, Burma_ The Karen National Union (KNU), struggling to reorganize after the severe setbacks dealt it by the Burmese junta in recent military offensives, is holding a series of urgent meetings to outline its future political and military strategies, including leadership reform that will see the emergence of a younger generation to lead the movement. While several senior participants in the meetings have declined to put names to the new faces in the KNU leadership line-up, younger members and leaders said the changes would probably include the movement's presidency, currently held by Gen Bo Mya. Brig Gen Shwe Saing and Brig Gen Oliver, commanders of the KNU Sixth and Fourth Brigades, are thought to be the two leading figures to become president and vice president, respectively. Both Shwe Saing and Oliver, 60, are "very close" to Bo Mya and have a high respect for their commander, according to KNU sources. About 30 senior KNU leaders are participating in the meetings, which started on Monday and are expected to continue over the next few days. Under discussion are changes in KNU leadership for both administrative and military posts. Many leaders and members want to replace Bo Mya with Shwe Saing, who is said to be "a more pragmatic person". Apart from Bo Mya, other leaders who are likely to be replaced include Vice President Lt Gen Tamalabaw, Prime Minister Padoh Ba Tin, Joint Secretary Maj Gen Maung Maung and Vice Chief-of Staff Maj Gen La Htoo. Battalion commanders and second-level leaders will probably be promoted to succeed them, sources at the meetings said.(BP&TN) *******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************* AP: KAREN REBELS ORGANIZE 8 March 1995 BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Burma's main anti-government groups have set up a new headquarters inside the country and vowed to ``launch appropriate forms of struggle on a large scale'' against the ruling military junta, a statement received Wednesday said. Under the umbrella National Council of the Union of Burma, the rebel groups held an emergency meeting March 1-3 at a new, unidentified site inside Burmese territory. It is believed to be near the Thai border. The meeting followed the loss of the resistance headquarters of Manerplaw to Burmese forces in January and other recent defeats in areas along the Thai-Cambodian border. The council includes Burmese politicians, students and other pro-democracy activists as well as ethnic minority groups like the Karen, seeking greater autonomy from the Rangoon government. The Karen bore the brunt of recent government attacks. A statement issued after the meeting said the council urged the junta to halt its current military offensive, hold a general meeting of all political forces inside Burma and release Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's top pro-democracy leader and a Nobel Peace prize winner. She is under house arrest in Rangoon. The conference also called on nations, especially Burma's neighbors, to stop all assistance to the junta and serve as mediators to solve the country's problems by political means. The Karen and other ethnic rebel groups have been fighting the central government for decades. They were joined at their Thai-Burma border bases by Burmans fleeing the bloody 1988 suppression of a nationwide democracy uprising. The recent fighting was complicated by the defection of a Buddhist faction from the Christian-led Karen National Union, the most powerful ethnic rebel group still battling Rangoon. On Wednesday, the official Burmese newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported that senior members of the junta Tuesday visited the camp of the breakaway faction, known as the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organization. The camp is at Myaingyingu, a village 100 miles east of Rangoon and 12 miles from the Thai frontier. It also serves as a refugee camp for Karens returning from Thailand. Burmese officials say 9,500 Karen refugees have arrived at Myaingyingu since the fall of Manerplaw and other Karen rebel strongholds. The government attacks sent waves of refugees into Thai territory. *******************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI********************* BKK POST: TEAK TREES FOUND CUT AND MOVED TO BURMA 10 March 1995 The House committee for Agriculture and Cooperatives yesterday found a large number of teak trees in a national reserve forest in Tak Province cut down and hauled into Burmese territory. Sixteen members of the committee were inspecting the area in Tha songyang District where more them are thought to be teak trees. The inspection was conducted to examine the trees before the Forest Industry Organization began falling them on March 10. Som 3,500 of the 12,000 trees were cut down and hauled from the Thai border into Burma and piled up onto the bank of the Moei River, according to the report. Ten people were found guarding the logs. Tak Provincial forestry chief Thani Wiriyaratanaporn said fighting between Burmese troops and Karen Natuional Union guerrillas posed obstacles for officials to work in the area and this allowed encroachers to fell trees easily there. However, he said forestry officials, Border Patrol Police, and local police and officers from the Thai Army Region have cooperated to protect the area. Forestry Police Deputy Commander Pol Maj-Gen Boonthien Yaibutes said logs htat have already been felled would have to stamped and seized as soon as possible and concerned agencies would have to set up measure to prevent more girdled trees from being cut down. Kamsung Prapakornkaewrat, a committee member, said the would raised the issue during the committee meeting next Wednesday. Committee spokesman Danai Wachraporn said that as the Karen refugees were a major cause of forest encroachment, he would raisse the issue with the Housse Foreign Affairs Committee to deal with the problem more efficiently. (BP) ***********************INSIDE BURMA*************************** REUTERS: KHIN NYUNT WARNS OF "NEO-COLONIALISTS AND THEIR MINIONS" 8 March 1995 Rangoon: One of the Burma's most powerful generals warned that "neo-colonialists and their minions" are trying to urged people to be on their guard, state-run newspaper said yesterday. Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, head of Burma's military intelligence and the second most senior member of Burma's ruling military body, said neo-colonialist are trying to belittle the nation's success by spreading false reports and malicious rumors. He also said "internal and external destructionists" were trying to incite the people, and he urged the people to be on their guard against such efforts. Some neo-colonial countries are increasingly resorting to lies about Burma in an effort to discredit and isolate it, he told a group of teachers attending a training course. Khin Nyunt identified neither the neo-colonialists nor the minions but he said fabricate reports were being heard repeatedly on foreign radio stations. Burmese leaders have often criticized the Burmese language programmes of both the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Voice of America. In an apparent reference to the United States, he said some powerful countries are turning a deaf ear to Burma's "relentless endeavors" to suppress narcotics and are reporting fabrications suggesting Burma is encouraging drug production.(TN) ***********************INSIDE BURMA*************************** NATION: SLORC LINKED TO PAMPHLET ATTACKS AGAINST SUU KYI 10 March 1995 Slorc linked to pamphlet attacks against Suu Kyi Aung Zaw reports on an apparent government-sponsored bid to incite hatred of the dissident Burmese leader. Burmese intelligence officers were believed to be behind the distribution this week of a virulent pamphlet attacking popular opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her husband, analysts and Rangoon residents said. "It is embarassing for them to publish this kind of stuff in their newspapers so Slorc disseminated it on the streets," said one observer in Rangoon. "If not Slorc itself, then it is the DDSI," said a Bangkok-based Burma watcher, referring to the ruling junta's Directorate Defence Service Intelligence agency. The timing of the attack, coming shortly after a string of military victories over the Karen National Union suggests the military government is stepping up its attacks against opposition groups and figures. The pamphlets, which were attributed to an unknown Burmese journalist, said "Aung San Su Kyi was neither an academic nor a professional lady." What was Su Kyi doing before August 1988? Where was she living? Has she ever helped or worked for the welfare of the people of Myanmar? "She had no responsible job under any government or an organisation. Only in 1988 she seized the chance of getting into the political field of Myanmar and jumped on the bandwagon and took the opportunity of pretending to be interested in the affairs of the country and the people. She instantly claimed to be a patriotic person." The pamphlets disputed Suu Kyi's democratic credentials and questioned why she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. "Nobody had heard her lobbying for peace for the people around the world. She had never risked her life or limb or participated in attempt to achieve peace for the mankind of the world. She had not even written a single letter about world peace. It was a big surprise to the people of the world to see such a person like Aung San Su Kyi, being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize." The leaflet was signed by Tun Shwe who claimed to be an international correspondent, Myanmar Tele-Fax-News-Agency. Tun Shwe took particular offense to Suu Kyi's husband, Michael Aris, a British Tibetologist, calling him a, "British Jew" and "an unknown scholar in Tibetan art and culture." Tun Shwe spelt Suu Kyi's name with a Su not Suu, keeping fashion with a style adopted by government-run newspapers. The leaflet took a similar government position in accusing Suu Kyi of being in league with communist and terrorists. It described Suu Kyi as an "opportunist seeking to be gain high position in the political field of Myanmar." Burma watchers said the highly personal nature of the attack recalled similar government abuse hurled at the charismatic dissident when she emerged to lead opposition to military rule in 1989. Just before Suu Kyi was to give her first speech in Shwe Dagon Pagoda, about six people were apprehended by monks and students who were taking care of security at the time. Hundreds of leaflets maligning Suu Kyi and her husband were found in their bags. The leaflets said, "Call your bastard foreigner and buzz off now!" and "Genocidal prostitute."They were accopanied by obsence drawings. Later it was found out that those arrested were from the DDSI. One was identified as Cpl San Lwin and the other Soe Naing. The leader of the team was a DDSI captain, Si Thu. It is believed that Si Thu is close to both Khin Nyunt and Gen Ne Win. The then chief of DDSI was Colonel Khin Nyunt who is now secretary one of Slorc and military intelligence chief. Khin Nyunt has repeatedly accused Suu Kyi of being a political neophyte who allowed herself to be used as a "front" for Communist Party of Burma. Khin Nyunt told foreign journalist in last year, "She rose up because of the Burmese Communist Party and its underground cell." The daughter of Burmese Independence hero Aung San, the Oxford-educated Suu Kyi was swept into political prominence during the upheaval of 1988. In 1989, she led the pro-democracy movement through non-violence and disciple. Even after Slorc put her under house arrest, her party, the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory although its leading members were later arrested and charged with various crimes of endangering the state. In an example of rather skewed and racist llogic, the leaflet asked: "Would it be acceptable to the people of the United Kingdom if the Queen of England was to be married to a Black West Indian or the President of the United States of America was to be married to a Black Muslim lady? (TN) ***********************INSIDE BURMA*************************** BKK POST: SLORC MOUNTS OMINOUS PLAN FOR SELF-PRESERVATION 10 March 1995 It seems Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council is about to win a long battle against democracy by over powering all minority opposition groups and they trying to gain the trust of the world. It is a sad situation despite continued efforts by many of the world's leaders to highlight the country's human rights abuses. And it will become even more sad if its Southeast Asian neighbours, with economic prosperity in mind, continue to stand idly by as the junta bluffs other into believing it is trying to restore basic qualities of life under military rule. The Slorc's strategy, if it was indeed intentional, could be regarded as leader Khin Nyunt's master stroke of genius. History is a good starting point. The slorc takes power amid a bloody uprising and sits patiently while it is condemned by the rest for the world, refusing to relinquish power. Then, it slowly proceeds to reduce any threat of opposition by forcings students involved in the uprising to flee the country. Any other opposition was also slowly eliminated, the latest being the Karen National Union, which had its Manerplaw headquarters blasted last month by junta forces. Still, the slorc reflects condemnation from foreign countries for its unjustified show of force, including the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva which has laready condemned the junta for its offensive. The UN Commission accused the Slorc of toture, arbitrary executions and forced labour, and appealed for the immediate and unconditional release of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Su Kyi, according to Agence France Presse. It is not the first time the Slorc has been accused of committing such atrocities. Now, if it is possible to take an educated guess at future tactics of the slorc, the plan is coming to frution and the rest of the worlde must be careful not to believe an illusion being created by Khin Nyunt's regime - particularly Southeast Asian which can easily fall into the trap of sacrificing morality for the shake of short-termm monetary gain because of Burma's rich resources. Even though there are many more complex factors affecting political decisions, a simplification would say any countries inside Southeast Asia which support the slorc's continued defiance of democracy stand to lose the support of the international community. Economically, countries stand the chance of jumping the gun in an attempt to avoid missing the boat. Next, the slorc has promised to attack Khun Sa, who was the logical last choice. He is know as a drug lord, disliked by Amerca and other dominant powers for pushing drugs which have infiltrated intothose countries. His defeat would be welcomed. His army concription pliices are as brutal as the junta's. Effectively, one villain would have defeated another and the international community would happy to see it. But, again, the slorc's power would be increased and minority groups of Burma's northeast would suffer. Their existing freedom, however little, would be extinguished. The final rabbit in the slorc's has of tricks democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Once all human rights abuses are committeed in the name of absolute rule, she will presumably be released. A year overdue in June, the release will have fulfilled the wishes of human rights activists the world over. There will be an expectation for diplomatic praise. It is than that the world must carefully assess the real political situation in Burma - in brief, it will bw an assessment of just how much freedom will be given to the people, regardless of how much the economy is opened up to the outside world. Japan this announced it will again send aid to Burma - good news for the people if it is not abused by military powers and used for the worng reasons. Develop nations must help to improved the welfare of the people, but they must also beware the government. If the Slorc's bluff works, it will have succeeded in gainging its ultimate goal of total power over the people, whom it will continue to manipulate. Distribution of wealth will remain with the chosen few of the top of the military scale. If not, the United Nations and the outside world must increase efforts to pressure Burma into adopting a truly democratic stance, which should include another controlled election similar to that of Cambodia. Thailand must put itself on a list of countries continuting to condemn absolute rule and, as with the case of Cambodia, must only support a truly democratically-elected government. (BP) ***********************INSIDE BURMA*************************** BKK POST: RANGOON READY FOR WEEK-LONG GEM SHOW 9 March 1995 A gems fair opens here later this week and private traders will be allowed to compete with the state-owned gems house for the first time, an official said yesterday. "After a 15% tax to be levied by the government, 85% of the earnings will go to the trader," Mines Minister Hlaing Win told reporters. But the private traders also will have to pay the government a 25% handling fee. The week-long fair, which begins tomorrow, will feature the nation's renowned rubies and its imperial jade, of which Burma is the only source. Some 500 gem merchants from 16 countries are expected to bid on 339 lots of gems, 621 lots of jade and 120 lots of pearl worth a total of $18.6 million. Jewelry and jade carvings also will be on sale, raising the total value of the emporium to nearly $22.8 million. Formerly a state preserve, the government has recently given mining concessions to private dealers. These traders will operate during the fair from a central market alongside the government's new gems house. Most of the rubies and other precious stones come from mines in eastern Shan State, while jade is abundant in Kachin state to the north. Since the military government reached a truce with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) insurgents, jade production has doubled, Hlaing Win said. "Prior to 1992, security was a problem and the government had access to only a limited area for mining jade," he said. "Now it has been able to extend the area." About 150 tons of jade-bearing rocks reached Rangoon before the 1992 truce, and that now has doubled, he said.(BP) ************************SHAN STATE**************************** INTERIOR CHECKS THAI CITIZENSHIP OF 'SHAN' CHIEFS 10 March 1995 The Interior Ministery is checking Thai citizenship of 10 alleged lieutenants of drug warlord Khun Sa and how citizenship was obtained, Interior Deputy Permanent Secretary Damri Wattanasingha said yesterday. The move is part of a process to withdraw their Thai citizenship so they can be extradited to the United States to stand trial on drug charges. The were arrested last November in separate raids in Chiang Rai, Chiang mai, Mae Hong Son and Bangkok. They are among suspects Washington has asked Thailand to arrest and extradite to the US. Mr Damri said the Supreme Attorney-General's Office will be asked to seek a court ruling on whether they should be extradited. (BP) ************************SHAN STATE**************************** BKK POST: KHUN SA AIDE SAYS SLORC ONLY READY FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE 8 March 1995 The Burmese Government will only wage psychological warfare against the Muang Tai Army (MTA) of opium warlord Khun Sa, according to Khuensai Chaiyen, the aide to the Shan leader. The Burmese Government will launch no more heavy attacks in the future against the MTA, Mr Khuensai told the Bangkok Post yesterday. The battle between Burmese Government troops and the MTA was suspended after a minor exchange of gunfire near Taunggyi in the Shan State opposite Chiang Rai Province earlier this month, said the MTA spokesman. He refused to reveal MTA losses in the small scale-engagement. Regarding psychological warfare, Mr Khuensai said it consisted of the Burmese Government repeatedly warning of its plan to launch a heavy attack against Khun Sa's MTA following the capture of the Karen National Union's stronghold at Manerplaw. Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), said on Burmese Government TV on Monday night that the KNU troops would soon have no where in Burma to live and that the next target of the Burmese Government was Khun Sa's army, Mr Khuensai said. "Our situation is normal. Our people can survive although they have suffered somewhat by the Thai Government's closure of the passage at Mae Hong Son eight months ago," the MTA spokesman said. Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt also asked for funds from the US to support Rangoon's attack against the Shan State, citing the funds would be used to crack down on drug trafficking, Mr Khuensai said. Instead, the US should pay attention to the human rights issue in Burma and help Karen people who took refuge in Thailand in order to flee the Burmese Government's suppression campaign, he said. Meanwhile, Shan State National Congress chairman Gan Gade said that Khun Sa had kept his 10,000 armed troops on standby to counter any possible attacks. Due to langthy preparation, MTA troops could continue fighting for two years without logistical or resupply problems, he said. (BP) ***************"THE OTHER COUNTRY" [THAILAND]***************** BKK POST: BURMESE AMBASSADOR SAYS 'NO' TO MEDIATION 8 March 1995 The Burmese ambassador to Thailand yesterday rejected outside mediation, saying the fighting between the Burmese armed forces and the Karen National Union was an internal affair. KNU leader Bo Mya said earlier that he would welcome Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to mediate peace talks between his group and the Rangoon government. Ambassador Tin Win made the remarks at a vin d'honneur at the Foreign Ministry yesterday, held to introduce the diplomatic corps and newly-appointed Foreign Minister Krasae Chanawong. Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan meanwhile reaffirmed that Thailand was ready to facilitate talks between the Burmese Government and opposition parties to reach peace and a ceasefire in the neighbouring country. But the possibility depended on all parties concerned, he told reporters in a separate interview.Reconciliation between the Burmese Government and ethnic minorities will bring about peace and security for Thais along the border, he said. Prime Minister Chuan on February 25 expressed Thailand's readiness to mediate peace talks between the Slorc and ethnic groups to reach a ceasefire and peace in the neighbouring country. Mr Tin Winn said he expected Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), to pay an official visit to Thailand next month. He said the secretary had a tight schedule this month. Bilateral issues and cooperation will be discussed during the visit, he said. Thailand has invited Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, a powerful figure in the Slorc, to visit as the guest of Deputy Prime Minister Chamlong Srimuang. An invitation was extended during a visit to Rangoon by former foreign minister Thaksin Shinwatra in January. Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt should have come to Bangkok in February but had to postpone on the grounds that the timing was not appropriate due to ongoing fighting between Burmese government forces and ethnic Karens. (BP) ***************"THE OTHER COUNTRY" [THAILAND]***************** BKK POST: BURMESE STUDENTS TO STAGE RALLY 10 March 1995 Burmese students in Thailand are planing a rally in front of the Burmese Embassy on March 13 to protest alleged human rights violations in Burma and to commemorate "Red Bridge Day," a source said yesterday. The Oversea National Students Organization of Burma and other Burmese students groups met last Satuarday at Ramkhamhaeng University to discuss thier plans. The students plan to pro-long the protest until March 16 to commemorate "Red Bridge Day", marking the day in 1988 when Burmese soldiers fired on protesting Burmese students at Red Bridge near Rangoon University. The groups want politicans and academics to join in a panel discussion they are also arranging. The students last Saturday discussed the situation in Burma following the loss by the Karen natinal Union (KNU) of its major bases at Manerplaw and Kawmoora. They concluded that they needed to formulate new strategies in their struggle against the military regime which calls itself State Law and Order Restoration Council. The source said the students are also planning a major meeting of all students groups in April when the Oversea National Students Organization of Burma will elect a new executive committee. Mon people both in and outside Bangkok say Burmese armed forces are better equipped judjing from their abbility to capture the two KNU camps. The source said they had agreed to suspend their armed activities. (BP) ****************************REGION**************************** THE NATION: DENG'S DEATH 'WILL NOT SLOW' ECONOMIC GROWTH 8 March 1995 Economic cooperation between Thailand, Lao, Burma, and China's southern province of Yannan will continue to grow even after the imminent death of Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping, Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan predicted. Surin was playing down fears that the uncertainties within China about the post-Deng era will have a negative impact on the economic cooperation between the four countries. "The momentum is there and any attempts at turning the cooperation around will have a detrimental effect. If anything the momentum will accelerate. I don't think there are going to be any problems," said Surin. The agenda for economic cooperation among the four countries, known as the Growth Quadrangle Economic Cooperation, was initiated in the middle of 1993 during an official meeting held in Bangkok. The forum was first proposed by Yannan Province which was seeking to become China's southern trade gateway. The idea was deemed to be in line with Deng Xiaoping's economic reform. The four countries are expected later this month to sign an agreement to allow the free passage on the Maekong river from Yunnan through to the ancient Laotian city of Laung Prabang. (TN) ****************************REGION**************************** REUTERS: THAN SHWE IN HANOI 10 March 1995 Hanoi: Burmese military leader General Than Shwe arrived in Hanoi at the start of a five-day visit to Vietnam yesterday, the second top-level cantact between the once-isolated coun- tries in less than a year. Tha Shwe, Chairman of Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) and Prime Minister, is returning a visit to Burma last May by Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet. Communist Vietnam is further down the road to economic liberalization and wideranging diplomatic and political relationships which the Slorc has decided to pursue of Burma. Vietmnam is due to join the previously non-communist Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) next July, and prospects of Burma's joinging the regional grouping are expected to figure in Than Shwe's talks here. (TN) ****************************REGION**************************** BKK POST: BURMA, VIETNAM TO JOINTLY SUPRESS NARCOTICS TRADE 10 March 1995 Vietnam and Burman tomorrow will sign an agreement to jointly fight against narciotics. The agreement provides for exchange of information and will be signed on the last of a three-day stay in Hanoi of a delegation led by the chairman of Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc). Gen Than Shwe, who arrived here yesterday for a five-day visits as guest of Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, is due to spend another two days in the southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Slorc's power first secretary, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, joined Burma's first high-powered delegation to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1975. Prime Minister Kiet visited Rangoon in May last year. during formal talls between the two delegations yesterday, Burma agreed to transfer technology in forestry and elephant management to vietnam, a Burmese official told the Bangkok Post. Lt gen Khin Nyunt, who was dressed in a western style suit rather than his normal military attire, is due to meet Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Phan Khai this morning in a separate programme from the rest of the delegation. In an arrival statement, Gen Than Shwe said his visits was "to further strengthen the traditional bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial co-operation existing between the two peoples of Myanmar and Vietnam." In an editorial marking the visit, Vietnam's Communist Party daily Nhan Dan hailed the "important victory" of the burmese government for "eliminating the last major stronghold of the Karen rebels" on the Thai - Burmese border. That success and economic achievements "reflect the support of various ethnic peoples for the policy of national reconciliation, and internal stability, creating favourable conditions for the implementation of new economic policy in the interests of Burma and the region," the editorial added. Gen Than Shwe, who is also Slorc's defence minister, will call on Communist Party chief Do Muoi today and President Le Duc Anh tomorrow before heading south for Ho Chi Minh City. The slorc delegation arrived in hanoi one day after the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva condemned the junta for the recent offensive against karen rebels. The UN Commission also accused Slorc of torture, arbitary executions and forced labour, and appealed for the immediate and unconditional release of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, according to AFP. (BP) *********************INTERNATIONAL**************************** BKK POST: JAPAN SET TO RESUME AID TO BURMA 9 March 1995 Japan is preparing to resume limited official development aid (OAD) to Burma to help it increase its food production, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. A ministry spokesman declined to disclose the scale of the aid, but a ministry had been considering one billion yen ($11 million) in grants for the food production aid. The ministry said Japan "decided to cooperate more in Burma's basic living to promote its further efforts for democratisation and for improving human rights conditions." It cited recent dialogue between the Burmese military junta and pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest. Burma's "more open attitude" towards the United Nations and Western nations was also cited. "This aid is aimed at improving the lives of Burmese people in mountain areas," a ministry official said. "The government's stance remains unchanged that further moves towards democracy are necessary for a full-scale resumption of OAD," the spokesman added. The ministry plans to sign the grant aid by the end of this month.(BP) *********************INTERNATIONAL**************************** LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL: SIR DAVID STEEL DENIED ACCESS TO BURMA TO PRESENT AWARD TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI Aung San Suu Kyi / Sir David Steel worldlib@cix.compulink.co.uk Mar 8, 1995 Statement issued by Liberal International London, 8 March, 1995 The Burmese embassy in London today had told Sir David Steel MP that his proposed visit later this month is "not convenient". Sir David, as President of the Liberal International, was due to present the 1995 Liberal International Prize for Freedom to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader who has been under house arrest for over five years. The decision to make that award had not been made public pending permission from the Burmese authorities for the organisations President to make the necessary visit. The Burmese government made it clear that it would not be appropriate for Sir David to travel to Burma as a tourist and that his proposed timing was not convenient to ministers for an official visit. Sir David said today: "I am prepared to accept the response of the Burmese government at its face value and pospone my requested visit to a time acceptable to it, on the assumption that I will be able to present the award in person to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and to hold talks with her as well as with them. According to the Burmese governments own interpretation of its altered law she cannot continue to be held beyond 11 July 1995 and I look forward to seeing her on 12 July in Burma as a free citizen." Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the 1995 Prize for Freedom by the Liberal International during a meeting in Belfast on 20 January. The Executive Committee of the Liberal International unanimously adopted Sir Davids proposal to award her the Prize, as a clear signal that the case of democracy in Burma remained high on the agenda of the international community. Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest in Rangoon since March 1989, despite continuing campaigns on her behalf by a large number of organisations and Nobel Prize Winners. She was herself awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. Sir David Steel said: "Although shut off from the outside world and her own people Daw Aung San Suu Kyi keeps the flame of democracy flickering. Her struggle is critical to the survival of the dispirited and persecuted remnants of her highly successful democracy movement. LI's Prize for Freedom is a small token in comparison to the great personal sacrifice made by the recipient and I salute her courage." In a letter to Sir David the Secretary of State Douglas Hurd stated: "I was delighted to hear that Liberal International have awarded their 1995 Prize for Freedom to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Her commitment to the cause of democracy and civil liberties in Burma has kept the attention of the world on the fate of the Burmese people. Her continued detention is deplorable and we will continue to press the ruling military regime for her unconditional and early release." The Prize for Freedom is awarded annually for outstanding personal contributions to the cause of freedom. In recent years the Prize was awarded to Sadako Ogata, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (1994), to Mary Robinson, President of Ireland (1993), to Maria Elena Cruz Varela, the imprisoned Cuban poet (1992) and to the Kenyan lawyer Gitobu Imanyara and the Paraguayan Senator Domingo Laino (both in 1991). For more information: Julius Maaten, Secretary General, Liberal International, phone 0171-839 5905 Sir David Steels office, phone 0171-219 3373 / 219 5650 *********************INTERNATIONAL**************************** NATION: UN SHOWS 'GRAVE CONCERN' AT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BURMA 10 March 1995 The United Nations Human Rights Commission on Wednesday accused the Burmese military junta of torture, arbitary executions and other abuses, and appealed for the release of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The resolution, sponsored by Australia, Chile, the United States, Hungary and the European Union, was adopted by ashow of hands. The commissiion said it was "gravely concerned" at what it called extremely serious human rights violations in the Asean country. Beside torture and summary execution, it accused the junta of engaging in forced labour, abuse of women, politically-motivated arrest and dention, forced disaplacement of the population, restrictions on freedom of expression and association and oppression of ethnic and religious minorities. It called for the immediate and unconditional release of political leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi, a dissident who has been under house arrest for more than five years and who won the Nobel peace prize in 1991. Burma's military junta promised to restore civilian rule after the opposition won elections in 1990, but it has remained in power. The commission also candemned the junta for a recent offensive against Karen rebels fighting for autonomy and against student activists. *********************INTERNATIONAL**************************** GOA: RIGHTS REPORT--"IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO PROGRESS WHATSOEVER TOWARDS DEMOCRACY IN BURMA" A report prepared by the Human Rights Sub-committee of the Parliament of Australia Government of Australia HRSUB: Tribal Refugee Welfare "-------------- */ [Subject: To inquire into and report on the human rights situation and lack of progress towards democracy in Myanmar(Burma) by the Human Rights Sub-committee of the parliament of Australia. Submissions to this enquiry by various people and organisations are re-posted here. This section is redistributed to Internet/PeaceNet with permission from the Tribal Refugee Welfare in SE Asia, P.O.box 215 Mirrabooka Western Australia 6061. -- U Ne Oo] # SUBMISSION NO. 1. Part 1 of 2. THE TRIBAL REFUGEE WELFARE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA (INC) & 6 ATTACHMENTS HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA/THAILAND ------------------------------ Since our inception on 3rd April 1986, this office has received thousands of reports against the Burmese ( Tatmadaw) Army which has carried out against its own ethnic minorities arbitrary execution, torture, robbery, looting, harassment, high taxation, arbitrary arrest and ransom, sexual abuses, attacks on civilian targets, forced recruitment, forced relocation, forced labour/slavery and human mine sweepers. Reports received by us including Amnesty International reports have been duly sent to our Members of Parliament, Senators and the Parliamentary Human Rights Sub-Committee with the hope that these human right violations could be redressed and put a stop to. We would like to make a submission on what is taking place on the Mons in Burma and in Thailand. Since Burma was granted her independence on 4th January 1948, the Mons have been forced to wage a war against the Central Burman majority government for equal rights and they are situated in Lower Burma. From last year there was talk about a gas pipeline from Martaban to Thailand, with the Thais buying the gas from the Burmese military junta. The gas pipeline will run through Mon territory. From the beginning of this year, the 9th Division has been trying to push the Mon refugees into Burma to what is now known as the "old" Halockhani Refugee Camp which is just a few miles away from the SLORC outpost in Three Pagoda Pass. By March 1994, the Mons were pushed back into Burma despite many appeals on their behalf by NGO's working in Thailand. On 21st July 1994 whilst the ASEAN Conference was on in Bangkok, 100 SLORC troops (Burmese Tatmadaw) from the Local Infantry Battalion No. 62 based at Three Pagoda Pass occupied the western section of Halockhani Refugee Camp known also as Palai Thumpai and Kwan Saya. The soldiers rounded up all the men and put eight of them, including the section leader and the teacher in chains. Around midday, the troops attempted to move to the main section of Halockhani, half an hour's walk away. They forced approximately 50 refugees as a human shield. However, after about 15 Minutes, they were intercepted by Mon soldiers and forced to retreat to Palai Thumpai. Back in Palai Thumpai, the SLORC soldiers burned down the houses of the 120 housholds in the camp, stole property and destroyed food stocks. Approximately 50 families lost all their possessions. The SLORC troops departed around 4.00 p.m. taking with them 16 prisoners, eight of them in chains. The Second-in-command of 62nd Battalion, Maj. Aung Myint, told the refugees that they could not stay at Palai Thumpai and that his troops would return in three days and kill anyone who remained. After the SLORC troops departed, the refugees from Palai Thumpai fled. The refugees from the main area of Halockhani had already fled to the nearest Thai Border Patrol Police, approximately 5,000 refugees have been camped out at this site. They are living in makeshift shelters under plastic sheeting. Conditions are very crowded and muddy. Therer is no clean water and toilets and this has led to an incidence of diarroheras. Officers of the Thai 9th Army, responsible for that sector of the border, have said that the refugees must return by the 11th of August to Halockhani. The refugees, however, are very afraid of future incursions by SLORC soldiers. The 9th Army has met with the commander of the 61th Battalion, which has replaced the 62nd in a routine rotation. The battalion commander Col. Tin Kyaing has given assurances to the 9the army that the camp will not be attacked again. The Mon however remain skeptical and have asked, in a statement issued July 28th, that they be allowed to remain in Thailand. According to Mon sources, they will try to take the matter to the Prime Minister's office before they goa back. So far they have not been forced back into Halockhani, but the local Thai authorities have threatened to seal the road to the camp, allowing no goods of people to get through. The fate of 16 prisoners is unknown. According to the Mon National Relief committee, two have been released and have made their way back to the camp. The 9th army informed the MNRC that the others have also been released but this has yet to be confirmed. When the Mon refugees at Loh Loe refugee camp were ordered to move to Halockhani early this year, the MNRC protested that the site at Halockhani was not safe since it was on the Burma side of the border and very vulnerable to attack from SLORC troops only an hour's walk away at Three Pagoda Pass. The local Thai authorities from the 9th Army, based in Kanchanaburi, had assured the MNRC that the refugee in that camp was on Thai soil and that their safety was assured. In fact the exact location of the border in Halockhani is disputed and appears to vary according to the political issue at stake. The 9th Army has maintained that the camp is on the Thai soil, while SLORC claims the area is in Burma. The two western most sections of the camp, including Palai Thumpai, are indisputably inside Burma, while the border is thought to lie somewhere through the main section of Halockhani. The Thai authorities first asked the Mon to move from Loh Loe in the middle of 1993, but the refugees were not actually forced to move until March 1994. There is a fair amount of speculation as to what prompted the attack. MNRC has said it believes the attack was aimed at conscripting refugees to be porters and human shields, or putting at more pressure on the New Mon State Party to conclude a cease-fire with SLORC. It must also have been in retaliation to the death of a SLORC soldier in Palai Thumpai in June. On 20th June, two burmese soldiers, armed with machineguns, entered the camp at about midnight. The refugees, believing they were dacoits, repelled them with home-made hunting rifles. The body of one soldier was found later. The other made it back to his base camp. According to the MNRC, the camp leaders in Palai Thumpai had previously received letters from the 62nd's commander, demanding that camp leaders meet with him and supply the troops with "necessities". The camp committee had not responded to the letter. The most recent attack took place as Burma was for the first time attending the ASEAN meeting, as a guest of Thailand. The incident apparently had little or no impact on the welcome SLORC received at ASEAN or the policy of "constructive engagement". The UNHCR has made an "urgent appeal" to the Royal Thai Government that the refugees not be sent back. We have received information that two burmese infantry battalions have left Ye township and are heading towards the Mon headquarters on the Thai-Burma border. On 2nd September 1994 we received information that the BPP manning the New Halockhani campsite have seized rice which has been stored for the Mon refugees in an effort to push them back into burma. Those who return to the Old Halockhani camp would be given their ration of rice. Several thousand sacks of rice were taken to the refugees by foreign relief organizations several months ago. Thai authorities are confusing the situation further by deporting captured Burmese illegals to Halockhani, where they are given precious food and shelter by Mon relief officials. Meanwhile, no new supplies of food or medicine are being allowed into the area in an effort to push the Mon back into Burma by the 9th Army. The reasons the Thai authorities are pushing the Mon is part of the policy of "constructive engagement". They want to pressure the Mon leaders into signing a cease-fire agreement with SLORC. In return, well connected Thai businessmen will receive lucrative contracts for timber, gas and fish from Burmese territory. The Mon should be allowed to stay at the New Halockhani campside (BAn Ton Yang) until such time Burma becomes a free and democratic country. The inhabitants at the New Halockhani are 6,000 Mon refugees, 2,000 captured Burmese illegal immigrants and of the 8,000, 4,00 are said to be infants and children oblivious to the hardship and pending danger. Two more have been born during the last month and their parents fear the day they would be forcibly pushed back into Old Halockhani and delivered into the hands of a brutal regime. From the above submission, it is very clear that there is no progress whatsoever towards democracy in Burma. SIGNED. ( C.V. ALLMARK) DATED 15TH SEPTEMBER 1994. SECRETARY Part 2 of 2. THE TRIBAL REFUGEE WELFARE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA (INC) & 6 ATTACHMENTS LETTER TO THE UNHCR ------------------- Mr Pierre-Michel Fontaine Regional Representative, Australia New Zeland and South Pacific UNHCR 9 Terrigal Crescent O'Malley ACT 2606. Dated 4th August 1994 Dear Sir, I have recently received information relating to events at Halockhanee on the Burma-Thai border which occurred on 21st and 22nd July, in which the Mon refugee camp was overrun by Burmese troops and the camp burnt to the ground. The report has been confirmed by a number of well informed NGO sources in Bangkok, by reports in the Bangkok media and by the Australian Department of Foreign affairs. There events come at a time when the ruling authorities of Burma are actively promoting their position as being open to dialogue with the ethnic nationalities, and as deserving of acceptance by the international community. The Burmese Foreign Minister himself claimed in a statement to UN officials at the time of the ASEAN conference that "there are no problems of human rights in Myanmar". It is of great concern to me and my agency that human rights abuses continue to occur both with Burma and along the border. I am therefore now writing to seek your assurance that the UNHCR representative in Bangkok will take up this incident in dialogue with relevant parties and agencies in the region particularly in Bangkok and Rangoon. I would greatly appreciate your advising me of any follow up which you receive relevant to this matter. Singed. Yours sincerely, (C. de Mello) Vice-chairman LETTER FROM THE UNHCR TO TRW ---------------------------- 22 August 1994 Dear Mr de Mello, I refer to your letter of 4th August 1994 which outlines your concerns over recent incidents in Halockhani Camp on the Myanmar/Thai border. UNHCR become aware of the incident on 21st July 1994 when approximately 100 Myanmar soldiers, from its 62nd battalion, entered the camp, torched about 100 houses and took 16 (by some account 18) hostages. The facts of the incident, while somewhat at variance, indicate that the burning of the camp and hostage - takings were an an act of revenge in retribution for the earlier killing of two Myanmar soldiers by the Mon refugees in reaction to a threat against a Mon woman, which of course does not excuse these actions by the Myanmar soldiers. The burning of the camp appears likewise to have occurred in the context of the Myanmar army's search for the dead soldiers' missing weapons. It should be noted that while UNHCR considers the site of the attack, Bledhun Phait, to be a part of Halockhani Camp, the Thai authorities have on various occasions taken the view that it is a Mon village in Myanmar. It has thus proven difficult to persuade the Thai authorities that the incident was a violation of the security that the Thais have offered the Mon refugees within Thailand. As of 3 August 1994 UNHCR had received reports that the SLORC had released some or all of the hostages, although it was reported that two of them may have died of natural causes. Subsequently received advice is that four of the 16 hostages have returned to the camp but the others, while not yet in camp, are understood to have been released. As a result of the incident, and in light of previous assurances given by the Royal Thai government with regard to providing for the physical security of these refugees, UNHCR's Branch Office Thailand has written to General Charan Kullavanijaya, Secretary General of the National Security Council, requesting that the refugees be permitted to remain in site further inside Thailand then Bledhum Phait/Halockhani Camp. while no official reply has yet been noted, the Thai Government has publicly stated that the refugees would be permitted to remain inside Thailand until such time as it is safe for them to return to Halockhani. As you are undoubted aware, the matter of the situation of the Mon refugees from Halockhani Camp is evolving day by day. We can say at the present time that the Thai government has so far not forcibly returned the refugees. It is clear that what happened in Halockhani Camp was a violation of the physical security of the sort condemned by UNHCR's Ececutive committee in EXCOM conclusions No. 45 ( XXXVII) and No. 48 (XXXVIII) on Military and Armed Attacks on Refugees Camps and Settlements. UNHCR is seeking from all concerned parties adherence to these basic principles and in the meantime trusts that the permission granted by the Thai Government to allow the refugees to reside some distance away from the site of the incursion will serve to protect the refugees. UNHCR is in close contact with the National Security Council and has made absolutely clear our position that forcible return to an area that is presently unsafe should not occur. I sincerely wish to thank you for your interest in this matter and I have forwarded your correspondence to our Office in Thailand and Headquarters so that they too might be aware of the NGOs community's desire for such incidents not to be repeated. Yours sincerely, Signed. Pierre-Michel Fontaine Regional Representative cc UNHCR Headquarters, Geneva UNHCR Branch Office, BAngkok LETTER TO THE ROYAL THAI EMBASSY FROM TRW ----------------------------------------- Ambassador Dr Rongpet Sucharitkul Royal Thai Embassy 111 Empire Circuit Yarralumla ACT 2600 Dated 4th August 1994 Your Excellency, I am writing to you to express the concern of many Australians about the situation of refugees from Burma in Thailand. I ask that you forward our concern and messages of support to Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. As your Government is aware, on the 21st and 22nd July 1994, Burmese troops entered the Mon refugee camp of Halockhanee, near Sanklaburi district, and fighting in that area resulted in the inhabitants of the camp fleeing to seek protection on Thai soil and in the camp being burnt down. Members of my organization and partner organizations in South East Asia have long been concerned about the security of Burmese and Thai people along the border, where fighting in the past has led to the loss of life and property. We are strong believers in the need for protection for displaced and refugee people and appreciate the efforts of the Royal Thai Government to meet the needs of those communities. We seek your assurances that the Royal Thai Government will undertake to offer protection to the Mon and other who have fled fighting and forced labour and who at this time are not able to live in security in Burma. During the time of the ASEAN meetings in Bangkok, we also became aware of the concerns of non-government and community organizations in Thailand who wanted to convey their messages to the Prime Minister in support of human rights and democracy as a priority in developing international relations. We support the Thai people in these views and hope that your Government will pursue them in your relations with ASEAN members and particularly in regard to your relations with Burma. I would be very appreciative of your forwarding me any information which you can provide relevant to the matters raised in this letter. Your sincerely, Signed. (C. de Mello) Vice-Chairman. INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS ---------------------- 1. REUTER, JULY 23: BURMESE REFUGEES REFUSE TO RETURN AFTER ARMY RAID. 2. AFP, AUGUST 9: UNHCR SEEKS HALT TO PLANNED EXPULSION OF MONS REFUGEES TO BURMA. 3. REUTER, AUGUST 10: BURMESE REFUGEES DEFY THAI DEADLINE TO GO HOME. 4. AAP, AUGUST 9: AID GROUPS WANT PROTECTION FOR bURMESE REFUGEES. 5. AUSTRALIA COUNCIL FOR OVERSEAS AID (ACFOA), AUGUST 9: PRESS RELEASE 15/94. 6. DAWN NEWS BULLETIN: ONGOING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. Part 2 of 2. ****************************MISC****************************** BURMANET: LETTER--REQUEST FOR DRUG INFO Reply to: carol@gol.com Mar 9, 1995 From: Carol Schlenker In a few weeks I'll be giving a talk on US policy toward drug production in Burma, specifically the debate between advocates of increased anti-narcotics aid (DEA) and those who say such aid will not only fail to stem the flow of drugs to the US but will actually exacerbate Burma's political problems (State Dept, human rights groups). I've read Bertil Lintner's BURMA IN REVOLT. I'd like to supplement his fine research with info from other sources. In particular, US govt documents: committee hearing transcripts, CRS studies. Any subscribers on the Hill who can help me with this? Eyewitness accounts also useful, like the recently posted RANGOON: CITY OF HEROIN. Your helpful suggestions are encouraged. Thanks. Carol Schlenker, BRC--J ************************************************************ 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. EQUALS US$1 (APPROX), BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION 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 MNA: MYANMAR NEWS AGENCY (SLORC) 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 TAWSJ: THE ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL UPI: UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY **************************************************************