**************************BurmaNet*************************** "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ************************************************************* The BurmaNet News: 18 APRIL 1995 Issue #150 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOTED IN PASSING: Contents: ************************THAILAND**************************** BKK POST: SINCERITY, AND THE RIGHT BURMA POLICY PAY OFF FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS *************************INSIDE BURMA************************ BKK POST: BURMESE MUSLIMS SLAM SLORC Inside source & NLM: SIX YOUNG BURMESE ARRESTED IN RANGOON. ***********************INTERNATIONAL************************* BKK POST: MEKONG PROJECTS TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD ************************************************************** 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] ************************************************************** MEKONG PROJECTS TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD "Rangoon meeting expected to give transport and energy working group their marching orders" 18 April 1995 Minister of the Greater Mekong Sub-regional Economic Coopera- tion group will meet in Rangoon next week to discuss now to implement transport and energy projects in the six countries. Prior to the April 24-25 Rangoon gathering, the fight ministe- rial-level meeting, senior officials from Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam are expected to meet in Ma- nila to review the "resource papers" that complied views from all six countries of the functions of two working groups on transport and energy. The working groups were set up at the last ministerial-level meeting in September in Chiang Mai, to handle "software is- sues" such as harmonising legislation to facilitate cross-bor- der movement of people and goods. A ministerial-level committee was also set up the Chiang Mai meeting to set policy guide-lines. Noritada Morita, director of programmes (west) for the Asian Development Bank, told Inside Indochina that the Rangoon meet- ing will focus on how to organise the working groups after a priority list of projects in the two sectors has been made and preparations are made for their implementation. On top of the transport list is the Bangkok-Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City-Vung Tau road, whose engineering design is being drafted and funds are being raised. The project is expected to begin this year or early next year. Leading the energy list is the Xe Kong and Se San basin hydro- power development study in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, includ- ing transmission linking among these countries. The working groups will be expected to facilitate successful implementation of projects; address regulatory, legal and in- stitutional bottle-necks; and provide continuity to subregional consulation and consensus-building. As well, they would raise funds for sub-regional projects; coordinate technical aspects of project planning at the macro level; facilitate training and disseminate information. It has also been proposed that they do public relations to stress the high priority of the projects, and to assure investors of continuity of policies and programmes under the Greater Mekong scheme. The ADB has agreed to fund the working groups initially, although Morita expressed confidence that the groups will be able to obtain financial support from the six governments. He said the Rangoon meeting will also review progress made on priority projects in both sectors, as well as human resources development and HIV/AIDS issues. He said any new proposal relevant to the Greater Mekong scheme will be considered. "The meeting is still open. Other priority road projects are the Thailand-Laos-Vietnam east west corridor, the Chiang Rai-Kunming road improvement project via Burma and Laos, and the Kunming-Lashio road system improvement. Regional railway projects include a Thailand -Cambodia-Vietnam link, a Yunnan-Vietnam railway and a Yunnan-Thailand link. Inland water transport projects include navigation improvements in the upstream Lancang-Mekong River area, the red River in Yunnan and Vietnam, and water transport links between southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia. Air transport projects endorsed for study include U-Tapao Airport, a heavy-aircraft maintenance centre in Thailand, Sihanoukville Airport in Cambodia, Jinhong Airport in Yunnan, and Hanthawaddy International Airport near Bago in Burma. Other high priority energy projects are: 1) The Nam Tha hydropower pre-feasibility study in Laos, including transmission to Thailand. 2) A feasibility study on transmission from the Jinghong hydropower project in Yunnan province to Thailand. 3) The Nam Theun basin hydropower development study in Laos, including transmission to Thailand and Vietnam. 4) The Thanlwin basin hydropower development study in Burma and Thailand, including transmission between the two countries. 5) The implementation of the Theun-Hinboun (formerly Nam Theun 1-2) hydropower project in Laos, including transmission to Thailand. (BP) BURMESE MUSLIMS SLAM SLORC 18 April 1995 The Muslim community pledged yesterday to report the maltreatment they have suffered at the hands of the Burmese Government to the Overseas Islamic countries and International Islamic Organization. All Burma Muslim Union (ABMU) Chairman Abdul Razak said representatives from his union and the Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF) are discussing the issue. According to the ABMU chairman, the State Law and Order restoration Council (Slorc) has been in violation the basic human rights of Muslim communities in Burma such as occupying mosques in many areas for its own uses. He cited a mosque in Three Pagoda Pass area opposite Thailand's Kanchanaburi province, which had been used by over 1,000 Muslims to perform religious ceremonies and had been seized by Burmese Government soldiers to use as its base. He quoted chairman of AIRF Nurul Islam as saying that the Slorc since May 1991 had forbidden any religious ceremonies from being performed at the Jamme Mosque and Islamic Preaching Centre in Maung Daw, Arakan State, and had recently opened it up as a hotel and restaurant. Vice Chairman of AMBU, Abdul Malig yesterday said the Burmese Government had demolished a number of mosques in kyaidon, kyondo, Kawkareik and Tingkanyinaung towns along the Kyaidon Myawaddy route to pave way for the construction of a road. (BP) SINCERITY, AND THE RIGHT BURMA POLICY PAY OFF FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS 18 April 1995 Doing business in a Burma under the rule of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) is not as difficult as one might think. All it takes, says successful investor Vikrom Ai-siri, is responsibility, since rity and the backing of the right Burma policy from your government. Vikrom, who is a major shareholder of the Dusit Island Resort in Chiang Rai pro vince and whose VES Group is a leading investor in Burma, first came to the country i n 1988 just when it was opening up and moving toward a market-driven economy. Most Thai businessmen at the time were interested only in two sectors forestry and fishery. There were also many brokers and adventurers. Today, very few concessions remain in either sector, after the Slorc cancelled most logging deals and adopted an environmental policy two years ago. Thai businessmen have also created a bad reputation for themselves, losing cred ibility and the chance to move into other good businesses in the country. Vikrom says his investments in Burma were all by accident . He quickly adds, however, that by accident or not, he would always try his best to carry the projects through. As a result, Vikrom is one of the very few whose logging deal was left untouche d. He still exports logs via Ranong province. Other business include: a lucrative joint venture with the state-owned Myanmar Gems Enterprise in a gem-cutting and setting factory; the 600 million baht Andaman C lub resort on Burma's Son Island, opposite Ranong; and plans to bid for the construction o f the Salween hydropower project on the Thai-Burmese border. Other investors complain about difficulties in dealing with the Slorc, citing l ack of transparency and red tape. Vikrom brushes the criticism aside and claims Burmes e authorities are flexible and easy to talk to. Burmese authorities just want you to do your job; otherwise don't talk or ask for favours, he said. Vikrom does not deny that the close ties that have evolved between him and some high-ranking Burmese officials, serve as a safety net for his expanding investm ent. However, he stressed that the relationship has to be backed with promises kept, serious work, and a step-by-step approach. The best way to keep your opportunities and your status is to keep your word, he said. Vikrom recalls some of the accidents that brought him to Burma six years ago. The first was decision to enter into a joint venture with a Thai logging compan y Thip Tharnthong which claimed it had obtained a concession along the Thai-Burmese bo rder. It turned out the company was a broker and disappeared with a large sum of mone y he had advanced for the venture. As the owner of a construction firm at the time, Vikrom decided to go ahead wit h the deal himself, seeing the vast potential of the untapped resource. The second accident occurred when he served as a mediator between a French jewe llery designer and the Slorc in setting up a joint venture in a gems factory in Rango on. The Burmese side was to hold a 52% stake in the Myanmar VES Joint Venture Compa ny, but again the designer withdrew and Vikrom moved in, even though he had no expe rience in the jewellery business. It took two years to train some 200 Burmese workers, open a factory and jewelle ry shops at Rangoon's Mingaladon airport and downtown for foreign visitors. Burmese agen cies supply him with raw stones. The business is going well today, with plans to open another factory with 600-7 00 workers, and to explore gem mines in northern Burma this year. Vikrom is negoti ating with Burmese authorities to export jewellery. The third accident was the luxurious Andaman Club, located on the 7,000-rai Son island, complete with a 210-room hotel, 18-hole golf course and a duty-free shop. Vikro m landed the project from a broker company, Union Farm Engineering. The resort, to be inaugurated next month, is expected to promote Visit Myanmar Year 1996. It is no surprise that among the invited VIPs are the powerful Slorc Vice -chairman, Gen Maung Aye, and Secretary 1, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. His growing business is a sharp contrast with the experiences of other Thai inv estors who seem to have lost their chances and their credibility in the country. One major factor is the businessmen themselves, says Vikrom. Many look at Burma for shorter profits; exploit the resources and go. The re a re also those who use sweet words but never carry out the agreement. He cited a project to build a resort on the Burmese side of the Golden Triangle . Burma granted permission in 1990 but the project is still to be completed. Further problems are caused by many brokers who go to Burma to seek concessions to resell to honest Thai businessmen, and by those who make money mediating betwee n Burmese authorities and foreign businessmen. These people not only cause misunderstanding but also damages and loss. The Thai government's uncertain policy toward Burma also has an impact on bilat eral relations. Unlike Singapore, whose Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong led a business delegation to Burma last year, the Thai government has had difficulty deciding when and how t o pay official visits, and whether to invite high-ranking Burmese officials to Thaila nd. I believe talks between the Burmese government and ethnic minorities will be h eld very soon and the issue can be settled, said Vikrom. The Thai government needs to show a clear stance toward the [Burmese] governme nt in order to create new investment opportunities in Burma for Thai investors. (BP) SIX YOUNG BURMESE ARRESTED IN RANGOON. (March 25) (unsolicited report) On 12:30 PM, March 24 a group of young Burmese curse and fight back a SLorc's security unit (Lon Htein) who secure the " marching route" for the Golden Jubilee of Tat Ma Daw Day(Armed Forces Day) Celebration in the place of southern entry of Shwe Ta Gon Pagoda at Pha Ya Gyi Ward of Dagon Township in Rangoon. Six of them were arrested after the incident by the Police. These detainees are Bo Bo(son of U Win Aung), Thant Zin(son of U Kyi Oo) and four sons of U Than Yee, namely, Win Thant, Win Zaw, Aung Naing Oo and Saw Naung. All of them were charged for attacking the security forces. (Inside sources & News Light of Myanmar) ************************************************************** 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