------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: June 22, 1995 Issue #189 BKK POST: SURIN DISMISSES BURMESE BOYCOTT OF THAI PRODUCTS THE NATION: NONTHABURI POLICE RAID NETS 15 BURMESE ---------------------------------------------------------- o-------------------------------o The BurmaNet News is an | | electronic newspaper | Iti | covering Burma. 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Sutcliffe" World Wide Web: FreeBurma@POBox.com Volunteering: Dr. Christina Fink c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org [Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage] ---------------------------------------------------------- ===== item ===== SURIN DISMISSES BURMESE BOYCOTT OF THAI PRODUCTS 22 JUNE 1995 Acting Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan yesterday brushed aside Burma's campaign to boycott Thai products in Myawaddy in favour of those from China, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. He said the campaign was just another indication of Burma's scepticism over Thailand's policy of not interfering in its internal conflicts with ethnic groups. Mr Surin maintained that Bangkok will not take its problems with Burma to the international level even though relations between the two have continued to deteriorate following a series of border incursions and Burma's order to suspend construction of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge. However, he admitted being surprised at receiving a report from the Thai Embassy in Rangoon, informing him of the campaign. Anti-Thai leaflets, reportedly produced in Rangoon, were recently handed out to public and civil servants, with posters also being put up in the eastern Burmese border town opposite Mae Sot District. Businessmen in Mae Sot suspect the move was initiated to help promote local products manufactured in Burma by foreign investors from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. "It will take time before Burma can resolve its internal problems," Mr Surin said. "We'll try to use mechanisms at all levels as we must resolve the problem." He said past and present issues between Thailand and Burma would not affect Bangkok's policy to promote unity, reconciliation and understanding in the region so as to attract foreign trade and investment for regional prosperity. Neither will these issues have an effect on the decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to invite Burma to attend the annual meeting of its foreign ministers in Brunei next month as a "guest of the host," Mr Surin said. Meanwhile relations at the local level between Mae Sot and Myawaddy have become tense after the Burmese placed bunkers on the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge over the Moei River. A large number of sandbags were placed on the Burmese side of the bridge . Construction of the bridge has been suspended since early this month. The Myawaddy authorities deployed 100 people to build a rock dyke encroaching into the river, a bunker around a bridge pillar and a row of stakes in the river to weaken the current. Thai local authorities asked the Burmese to explain, but no answer has been received. The Burmese earlier asked the Thai contractor to stop constructing the bridge because they are not happy with some work extending into the water on the Thai side of the river. The river is regarded as a border line and Burma contends that no construction should be allowed on the river which causes the current to change. Building of the dyke appears to be a retaliatory measure. (BP) ===== item ===== NONTHABURI POLICE RAID NETS 15 BURMESE 22 JUNE 1995 Fifteen ailing Burmese refugees including a severely handicapped man, two pregnant women and four babies were rounded up by police early yesterday morning from a house in Nonthaburi. The 1 am raid followed a tip-off from neighbours who were annoyed by a disturbance in the middle of the night caused by a mentally ill Burmese woman at the refuge. The house was being utilized as a place for them to recuperate or await medical treatment. The detainees were taken to Pak Kret police station, where they remained, according to relief workers. The handicapped man was identified as Moe Kyaw, who recently lost both his eyes and hands in a landmine explosion. Released after treatment at a border hospital, he arrived in Bangkok about two weeks ago for a medical check-up and to see whether he could receive a cornea transplant and be fitted with prosthesis, said the workers. Moe Kyaw was not registered by the UN High Commission for Refugees as a person at risk. Three other people, all suffering from tuberculosis and infected with HIV, were in poor physical condition and could not walk at the time of the arrest. Two other men have broken legs. The workers said the house served mainly as a temporary refuge for sick Burmese recuperating or awaiting medical treatment. It was not known if the group would be charged and processed as illegal immigrants or be released because of their illnesses. Pak Kret police could not be reached for comment. In another development, Burmese students at the Police Academy's Special Detention Centre (SDC) have charged Thai authorities with contributing to the death of a 25-year-old who suffered a brain illness. Zaw Zaw, who was among a group of 66 students detained at the SDC after attempting a protest march over a riot at the Burmese student camp, died on June 13 while undergoing emergency medical treatment at the Police Hospital in Bangkok. An aid worker said Zaw Zaw was known to have long suffered a brain problem and had twice before been sent to the hospital for treatment. The students blame police ignorance and lack of "humanitarian sympathy" towards Zaw Zaw, and the Interior Ministry for its "stern and unbending" policy towards Burmese students. They said they expected to collect Zaw Zaw's body soon and would try to hold a funeral this week. 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