**************************BurmaNet*************************** "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ************************************************************* The BurmaNet News:23 March 1995 Issue #128 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOTED IN PASSING: Contents: ***********************IRRAWADDY************************* BBC, VOA AND THE ROYAL DRUM *************************THAILAND************************ BKK POST: KRASAE:BURMESE DEMOCRACY IMPROVING NATION : 120 'LUCKY' THAI FISHERMEN RELEASED FROM BURMA PRISON *************************************SHAN******************** BKK POST: RUMOURS OF NEW FIGHT WORRY SHAN REFUGEES BKK POST: SHAN LEADER SAYS BATTLE THREATENING QUADRANGLE ***********************INSIDE BURMA************************* BPP POST: BURMA SAYS ANOTHER REBEL GROUP SURRENDERS ************************************************************** The BurmaNet News is an ********************************* electronic newspaper * Iti * covering Burma. Articles * snotpo * from newspapers, magazines, * werthatcor * newsletters, the wire * ruptsbutfea * services and the Internet as * r.Fearoflos * well as original material * ingpowercor * are published. * ruptsthosewhoare * The BurmaNet News is * subjecttoit...Theef * e-mailed directly to * fortnecessarytoremain * subscribers and is * uncorruptedinanenvironm * also distributed via * entwherefearisanintegralpar * the soc.culture.burma * tofeverydayexistenceisnoti * and seasia-l mailing * mmediatelyapparentto * lists and is also * thosefortunate * available via the * enoughtolivein * reg.burma conference on * statesgovern * the APC networks. For a * edbytherule * free subscription to * oflaw...fear * the BurmaNet News, send * is ahab it. * an e-mail message to: * Iam * * no * majordomo@igc.apc.org * taf * * ra * In the body of the message, * id. * type "subscribe burmanet-l" * Aun * (without quotation marks) * gSa * * 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] ************************************************************** NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET: ABSDF: ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT AMNESTY: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS AFP: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE AW: ASIAWEEK Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt. EQUALS US$1 (APPROX), BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION BF: BURMA FORUM 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 GOA: GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA 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) THE NATION: A DAILY NEWSPAPER IN 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 RTG: ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT 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 ************************************************************** BBC, VOA AND THE ROYAL DRUM MAUNG KHINE HTUN Burma's ruling junta, likes to find a scapegoat for all their mistakes. For each disaster they cause they put the blame on someone, a general or an official or, most of the time, academics and school teachers. Though teaching was traditionally regarded as one of the most prestigious professions, the military dictators in Burma always told contemplators look towards them whenever there is a chance, the generals pointed their fingers at the teachers. On the 18th of Feb, the closing ceremony of a reorientation course for the teachers was held at the central Civil Services, Institute, Paunggyi, north of Rangoon. It was the fourteenth such meeting of teachers, forcing them to control their students so that there could never be a repetition of the students uprising that occurred in the past, especially in 1988 which escalated into a general uprising. The ceremony was attended by Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, military intelligence chief, who concurrently holds quite a number of top positions, the chairmanship of the National Education Committee among them. As usual, Khin Nyunt gave the teachers many sorts of instructions together with grave warnings. Abrutly, he diverted from the subject and focussed his speech the western media, giving particular attention to the BBC and the VOA. He attacked the radio services saying that the two are disseminating false information. Since 1962, all form of media were under the strict control of the junta. The reports in all organs were always synonymous, constantly defending the policies and deeds of the regime. Every kind of expression of resentment against the junta as labelled unruly behaviour and critics were accused of being as spies of the western imperialists, and if not that, of the communists. Even when good-hearted persons among the junta braved themselves to show their disagreement with the oppressive measures, they would be hit with various kinds of ridiculous allegations. In June 1974 when commodity prices soared up beyond the reach of the population, workers of almost all factories organised a strike demanding an increase of wages and salaries. The junta accused the workers of being communist infiltrators who attempted to disrupt law and order, and incite unrest among the peaceful population. More than a hundred were gunned down in their own factories. Gen Tin Oo, who was the army chief at that time, expressed his indignation at such atrocities. Sometime later the general was dismissed and imprisoned. The case put forward against him was that his wife, a medical doctor, failed to pay custom duties when they brought an organ from abroad for her son. When a group of influential colonel, among the BSPP leadership tried to demote Gen Ne Win by voting against him in the BSPP congress in 1977, all involved were dismissed and some of them imprisoned. The reason given was that the colonels had sold their surplus rations such as sugar and condensed milk. All these events were printed in the junta's newspaper journals and magazines in exaggerated lengthy reports. The state radio used to cover those reports, sometimes taking a couple of hours. Thus doing whatever they wanted to and covering all forms of media in their favour, the handful of hard-core dictators were enjoying privileges no one from the outside world could imagine. Even the prestigious UNESCO was fooled by the regime so that the world body awarded for to accomplishing the best implementation of adult education in the world. Then Burma was acclaimed to posses and of the higher literacy rates in the world (more than 90%). (But in 1987 when the junta applied for LDC status in the UN, they said there had been some mistake with their figures. The actual literacy rate, they claimed then, was a less than 20%.) Eventually some citizens were able to establish contact with the outside world particularly the BBC and VOA. Since then much of the misbehaviour of the regime, together with the unthinkable sufferings of the population, were frequently reported by the two media giants. For the hard core dictators, the two Services were considered to be the most dangerous enemies of their regime. It is no wonder that Khin Nyunt attacked the two agencies, centre branding them as the biggest listeners. In fact, the two radios are just echoing the truth as the royal drum did in a famous Burmese fable. The fable goes like this. Once there lived a monarch. Being an absolute monarch he was feared by everybody in his country. No one dared to say a thing though they knew the king was doing numerous absurd things. One day the king conceived an awful desire. He wished to eat chaff which as meant for farm animals. The king ordered a minister to bring a plateful of chaff into his room. The minister brought in. Then the king said ìmy trusted minister you are the only person who knows that I have done. Don't tell this to anyone. If there is a leak, you will certainly be beheaded.î >From that day on the minister wanted to disclose the truth to somebody. Because of fear of death, he had to control himself. But the minister found it very difficult to keep such a peculiar story to himself. He even began to feel sick. One day he went into the forest alone and looked for a place where he could tell the story without being heard by anyone. Fortunately, he found a big hollow tree. Happily, he inserted his head into the hallow as much as possible then shouted with much contentment. ìThe king eats chaff! The king eats chaff!.î Relaxed, the minister went back home and continued his duty as before. The Burmese king used to keep a big drum on the top of a tower and beat it every hour to let the city dwellers know the time. As the royal drum of the King was very old, he ordered his servants to find a new drum. Then they went to the forest to find a tree to make a drum. Coincidently, they came across the above-mentioned tree. Seeing that the ready made whole would help them to save energy and time, they felled the tree and turned it into a big drum. After installing it on top of the royal tower, the opening ceremony was held. When a strong-muscle drummer beat the drum, instead of emitting the sound ìboom,' it echoed ìThe king eats chaff! The king eats chaff.î Instantly the entire population learned the truth about what had happened behind the curtain. Similarly, the BBC and the VOA are just reverberating the events that had actually happened.(FROM IRRAWADDY INDEPENDENCE NEW & INFORMATION VOL3 NO.12) RUMOURS OF NEW FIGHT WORRY SHAN REFUGEES 23 March 1995 SHAN refugees taking shelter in Thailand fear being repatriated in the wake of rumours of a new round of clashes between Burmese troops ops and Khun Sa's MTA next week. They have been told a battle could occur in Tachilek opposite. Thailand's northernomst border district, Mae Sai, between March 25 and 27. About 300 Shan minority people are taking refuge at Wat Phasukaran in Mae Sai after fierce fighting in Tachilek last week forced the m to flee across the border. Some Shan refugees went to Burma during the day to resume trading and look after their houses, but at night they returned to the Ma e Sai temple. Sammanen Jai, a Shan novice of Khunthun Temple in a Tachilek, who is now taking refuge at Wat Phasukaram, said he and 30 novices fled the fighting, leaving the abbot alone in the Shan temple. The novice said he has heard that fighting would break out again on March 27, which is the 50th anniversary of Burma's Army Day. "To be safe, we must remain in Thailand until that day passes," he said. Meanwhile, other refu- gees who have taken shelter at Tham Pajom Temple opposite Ban Kong Kum were reportedly told to return to Burma. A Monk said he feared the temple, which is close to the border, might be a target of sabotage by Burmese soldiers. Some refugees, whose house were torched during previous attacks by Burmese troops, we were forced to return to Ban Kong Kum while so me moved to Wat Phasukaram. About 70 Shan refugees from Maung Paeng and Kengyung were yesterday sent back to the Burmese side of the common border. At the end of yesterday. more than 200 Shan refu- gees were sent back to Burma. Thai official earlier asked local Burmese officials to prepared shelters for refugees to be repa- triated. Burma agreed to allow those whose houses were burned down in the attacks to stay at temples but that seemed to be not enough to convince refugees to again c ross the border. Chaing Rai Governor Khanron Baunched said there were two group of refu- gees - those wounded and those who fear returning to Burma. Offi- cials have already provide humanitarian aid to them, Mr Khamron said. Trading at the border remained sluggish but Mr Khamron told venders that tourists should return in the next few days. (BP) SHAN LEADER SAYS BATTLE THREATENING QUADRANGLE 23 March 1995 Shan State National Congress chairman Zao Gan Gede yesterday warned that Rangoon's continuing suppression drive against the Shan forces would disrupt development of the so-called Growth Quadrangle region which encompasses the borders of Thialnd, Laos, Burma and C China. "If Burmese government comes to our home with violent means, we will respond in kind to protect ourselves. We are sorry for Thailand , China and Laos that they will also suffer as a result," said the chairman in an interview. He disclosed that the MTA soldiers commondo-style attack against Burmese soldiers at Tachilek on Monday had three purpose. 1- To retaliate against Burmese government troops who attacked the Shan village of Tambon Phu Luang on March 16, which left across of civilians dead and wounded. 2- To warn the Burmese Govern- ment that the MTA fighters have a capability to strike at Burmese forces any time and any where they want nt. 3- To demonstrate to KNU rebels that they are not alone in the struggle against the military junta in Rangoon known as Slorc. At least 3 MTA fighters and more than 10 Burmese soldiers were killed in action in Tachilek township. The gun battle lasted more than n four hours and also claimed the lives of civilians caught in the cease-fire. The Shanleader said the bulk of the Burmese troops in the area did not rush to the battle to engage the Shan rebels, staying where t hey were because they expected another surprise attack from a different direction. " We are also waiting for them," he added. Echoing Thialand's offer to help coordinate peace talks between the warring factions in Burma, Zao Gan said the mta and the Shan STATE e National Congress are ready to hold talks with Slorc. He said peace talk with the Slorc would be possible if China and Laos also helped in the mis- dating. Meanwhile;e yesterday, about 200 Burmese refugees, mostly Shan, were driven back into Tachilek by Thai authori- ties. The refugees, with their belonging, were truck to the border where they were told to wade across the Mae Sia River to Tachilek. Bangkok Post reporters who were at the scene reported that after the departure of Thai security forces, many of the refugees return d to Thailand by wading across the river. More than 1,000 refugees fled to Mae Sai District during and after Monday's fighting. Several refugees expressed reluctance to return home fearing that MTA troops would strike again. "No one is going back," said Michoo who swam across the Mae Sai River with her three year-old son on her back during Monday's battle . (BP) KRASAE:BURMESE DEMOCRACY IMPROVING 23 March 1995 FOREIGN Minister Krasaer Chanawong told US Ambassador David Lambertson yesterday that Thailand sees Burma as having made improvement toward democracy. Dr Keasae cited Rangoon's preparation of a new constitution of improvements. He also said them military regime in Burma had set more exact terms for the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi. According to a report by UN special rapporteur on Human Rights Yozo Yokotas, Suu Kyi should be released on July 21, 1995. Dr Krasae also reiterated merits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' constructive engagement policy towards Burma. The US is a harsh critic of the Slorc that rules Burma. After a courtesy call by Mr Lambertson, Dr Krasae also told report- ers Thailand wanted a Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to be 20-25 years rather than indefinitely as proposed by some countries, including the US. Dr Krasae said a fixed period was good because time would be enough for any country to father study changes in nuclear science and technology. Mr Lamberton reiterated US suport for an "indefinite" extension of the treaty. (BP) BURMA SAYS ANOTHER REBEL GROUP SURRENDERS 23 March 1995 Ethnic minority rebels in Burma's eastern Kayah state have laid down their arms and surrendered to the government, Burma's offi- cial media reported yesterday. A total of 7,790 members of the karenni National Progressive Par- ty (KNPP) "returned to the legal fold" on Tuesday at a ceremony in Loikaw, the Kayah state capital. They brought with them almost 9,000 weapons including mortar, recoilless rifles, machine guns and automatic rifles, the media said. Burma's powerful military intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt attended the ceremony. The KNPP has been fighting Rangoon for the independence of Kayah state since Burma's independence from Britain in 1948. The karenni people are ethnic cousins of the Karen who live to the south and the KNPP is the 14th rebel army to reach a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese military. (BP) 120 'LUCKY' THAI FISHERMEN RELEASED FROM BURMA PRISON 23 March 1995 A total of 120 Thai fishermen detained in Burma for illegal fishing in that country's water were released from a Rangoon prison and return to Bangkok yesterday. They were greeted at the Air Force Airport by Assistant Army Com- mander Chettha Thanajaro and their families who presented them with garlands. About the same number of Thai fishermen remain in Burmese pris- ons, either still on trial or serving prison terms following convic- tions for poaching in Burma's territorial waters. Gen Chettha said the Burmese government released the fishermen from Insein Prison without conditions to commemorate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King's ascension to the throne next year. He said the Burmese government freed only 120 of the incarcerat- ed fishermen because they regarded that as a lucky number, while the method used to select who would be freed gave priority to those who had been detained for a certain period of time, or were sick or old. The released was the result of conversations between Burmese Army Commander in Chief Gen Maung Aye and Chettha, who visited Rangoon on March 3. Chettha praised the "sincerity" of the Burmese government, and said it had agreed to free the fishermen only after a five-minute talk on March 3. Gen Chettha warned the released fishermen not to enter Burmese waters illegally again, and said the government and the Army could not always be expected to help negotiate for their release. "Don't think that you can do wrong again. We can't help you if you do so. You should know that every country loves its territory," he told the fishermen. Pradaya Devi Tavethikut, the deputy permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry, said the ministry began negotiations for the re- lease of the fishermen when Thaksin Shinawatra was still foreign minister. However, he praised Chettha for playing a leading role in the nego- tiations for their release. He said about 190 Thai fishermen were still detained in Burma and the Foreign Ministry would continue to try to help them. Chan Thepyos, 27, one of those released, said he was sentenced to 15 years in jail but had served only 11 months. he said the prison gave them only two meals a day, consisting of boiled nuts and vege- tables. (TN)