------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: August 22, 1995 HEADLINES: ========== THE NATION:GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE THE NATION: INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE THE NATION: BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED THE NATION:SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA BKK POST:BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL BKK POST:FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA ---------------------------------------------------------- Produced with the support of the Burma Information Group (B.I.G). The BurmaNet News is an electronic newspaper covering Burma. Articles from newspapers, magazines, newsletters, the wire services and the Internet as well as original material are published. The BurmaNet News is e-mailed directly to subscribers and is also distributed via the soc.culture.burma and seasia-l mailing lists and is also available via the reg.burma conference on the APC networks. For a free subscription to the BurmaNet News, send an e-mail message to: majordomo@igc.apc.org In the body of the message, type "subscribe burmanet-l" (without quotation marks) Letters to the editor, comments or contributions of articles should be sent to the editor at: strider@igc.apc.org ------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA THE WEB AND GOPHER: Information about Burma is available via the WorldWideWeb at: FreeBurmaWWW http://199.172.178.200/freebrma/freebrma.htm. [including back issues of the BurmaNet News as .txt files] BurmaWeb: http://www.uio.no/tormodl Burma fonts: http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~lka/burmese-fonts/moe.html Ethnologue Database(Myanmar): http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/eth.cgi/Myanmar TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA GOPHER: gopher csf.colorado.edu. Look under the International Political Economy section, then select Geographic_Archive, then Asia, then Burma. ---------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different topics related to Burma. The scope of the subjects involved is simplytoo broad for any one person to cover. BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteer coordinators to field questions on various subjects. If you have questions on any of the following subjects, please direct email to the following coordinators, who will either answer your question or try to put you in contact with someone who can: Arakan/Rohingya/Burma- [volunteer needed] Bangladesh border Art/archaeology/: [volunteer needed] Campus activism: Boycott campaigns: Buddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission, c/o NBH03114@niftyserve.or.jp Fonts: tom@CS.COLGATE.EDU History of Burma: zar1963@violet.berkeley.edu Chin history/culture: Kachin history/culture: 74750.1267@compuserve.com Karen history/culture: 102113.2571@Compuserve.com Karen Historical Society Mon history/culture: [volunteer needed] Naga history/culture: [volunteer needed] [Burma-India border] Pali literature: "Palmleaf" c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org Shan history/culture: [volunteer needed] Tourism campaigns: bagp@gn.apc.org "Attn. S. 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==== GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE 19 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The government is not in a position to "apologize" for the murder of Burmese fishermen on a Thai trawler recently because the crime concerns a private fishing company, not the government, Thai Ambassador to Rangoon Poksak Nilubol said yesterday. What the government can do is express "regret" for the deaths, allegedly at the hands of Thai crewmen, as well as take legal action against the culprits, he stressed. Poksak was referring to the apparent revenge killings by a group of Thai crewmen who suspected that Burmese crew members had alerted their country's authorities to illegal activities on Thai trawlers. Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is scheduled to visit Rangoon early next month and will convey a letter from Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-acha expressing "regret" over the killings and ensuring Thailand's seriousness in solving the case. "The Thai government is not going to apologize to the Burmese government but it will express its condolence. The crime involved a private fishing company," Poksak said. Poksak was here to attend a meeting of Thai ambassadors and consul generals.Meanwhile, a well-informed source said that Burmese Ambassador to Thailand U Tin Winn had met Foreign Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Saroj Chavanavirat on Wednesday to discuss the incident. The source quoted Saroj as telling the Burmese envoy that the Foreign Ministry and other authorities concerned were doing their best to resolve the issue. Poksak said the Burmese government had expressed its "understanding" of Thailand's explanation about its seriousness and sincerity in handling the case. A Thai skipper and a Cambodian crew member of the vessel on which 15 Burmese were beaten and thrown overboard have been arrested, and arrest warrants have been issued for 10 other Thai crewmen. Burmese authorities were furious about the murders, prompting them to order the closure of a temporary checkpoint on Kawthaung Island opposite Thailand's Ranong province. The order resulted in the closing of the last border trade link between Thai land and Burma as two other main checkpoints, one in Tak and the other in Chiang Rai province, were closed down earlier. Poksak said Thai private firms should be far-sighted and adopt long-term business strategies when investing in other countries instead of operating with short-term measures aimed at maximum profits. The ambassador denied criticism that Thailand was taking a weak position in handling the Thai-Burmese problems. Earlier this year the Burmese government failed to react to a series of protests by Thailand on incursions by Burmese troops into Thai territory. Critics said Thailand had over-reacted to the murders of the Burmese crewmen, compared to Rangoon's reaction to the incursions. "We are not taking the weaker position with Burma. In the case of the incur sions by Burmese troops into Thai territory, the Rangoon government had claimed that they were actually the work of two groups of Burmese ethnic minorities. "The deaths of the Burmese crewmen have nothing to do with the Thai government, but a private company," Poksak said. The same source said a team from Narong Canning Co had already arrived in Rangoon to explain the situation to the Burmese government. The vessel involved in the crime was operating under a concession granted to the Myanmar-Narong Canning firm, a joint venture of Narong Canning. (TN) ====item==== INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation Deputy permanent secretary for the Interior Damri Wattanasingha yesterday played down the seriousness of the Burmese closure of its sea border with Thailand, claiming it is closed annually at this time of the year because of egg-laying season. His comments contradict reports that the Border was closed in wake of the murders of at least six Burmese fishermen on board a Thai vessel. Damri said Rangoon had simply "suspended", not "revoked", the fishing licence of the Thai company whose vessels and crewmen were suspected of involvement in the murders of the Burmese fishermen. "The NCC Asia Fishery Co Ltd had its fishing licence suspended because it had violated some regulations by using nets to catch shrimps and equipping its vessel with a radar," Damri said. "The closure of waters for fishing at this time of the year is Burma's annual practice because it is the season fish lay eggs. Fishing during this period is prohibited. It is understandable," he stressed. His information is at odds with that of senior Interior Ministry officials, Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and local authorities. Earlier reports had it that Rangoon closed its territorial waters to all Thai vessels, even if they held concessions to fish in Burmese waters. The order came shortly, after the government was alerted to the incident in which Thai fishermen murdered Burmese crewmen. The murders were reportedly committed after the Burmese informed their author ities of illegal fishing activities being carried out by the company off the southern province of Ranong. The bodies of at least six Burmese fishermen have been swept ashore since the incident. The men had clearly been beaten and their ankles and wrists tied with rope before being thrown overboard. "Because the company's vessels and fishermen are alleged to have been involved in the murders, it should bear responsibility for the incident," said Damri. Two men have already been arrested in connection with the murders. Eight Thais suspected of involvement in the murders were still at large. (TN) ====item==== BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The British Broadcasting Corporation said yesterday that its World Service broadcasts in Burmese were being jammed for the first time in their 55-year history. "BBC engineers have found deliberate interference on two of the three regular short-wave radio frequencies carrying BBC Burmese language programmes," the BBC said in a statement. Elizabeth Wright, the BBC World Service's Asia-Pacific head, said a distinc tive electronic "wobble" noise was first detected in the Burmese capital Rangoon two weeks ago and had now been confirmed by BBC staff as jamming. The BBC said the exact source of the noise has not been established and a spokeswoman refused to comment when asked whether the Burmese authorities might be responsible. She said the jamming began shortly after a BBC interview with Burmese opposi tion leader Aung San Suu Kyi was broadcast in Burma. (TN) ====item==== SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation San Miguel Packaging Products (SMPP), a division of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp (SMC), has made its first sale to Burma, according to a com pany statement issued yesterday. SMPP Division President Raul C Hernandez said the shipment covers two 20-foot vans of bottle caps, which was ordered by Burma-based beverave companies Pepsi Cola Products Myanmar and Lo Hein Company. Hernandez said the two transactions mark the entry of SMPP into the Burmese market. The orders will be shipped to Burma in September. SMPP also exports softdrink caps to Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Nepal, as well as other types of bottle caps to Bangladesh. The business ties SMC is forging with Burma through SMPP is a step toward the company's efforts to establish a solid foothold in the South Asian market, the statement said. In 1994, SMC entered the Indian market with its shrimp-feed exports. SMC is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a joint venture brewery in India. (TN) ====item==== BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The Burmese Ministry of Mines and East Asia Gold Corp of the United States have signed a gold and copper exploration and production-sharing contract. Exploration will be carried out near Thabeikyine, about 700 kilometres north of Rangoon. The Burmese junta initially invited foreign companies to prospect for gold and copper last October. (BP) ====item==== FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The House Foreign Affairs Committee has invited Foreign Minister M.R Kasem S. Kasemsri to explain current relations between Thailand and Burma to the com mittee on Thursday. Committee chairman Suwat Liptapallop, secretary-general of the Chart Pattana Party, said the recent murder of Burmese crewmen on board a Thai vessel and the subsequent closure of the border between the two countries have seriously affected the economy and security. The committee wants the Foreign Minister to explain the situation and the Government's policy towards neighbouring countries. Representatives of the National Security Council will also be invited to testify, Mr Suwat said. Mr Suwat urged the Government to speed up efforts to improve the worsening relations with Burma "before it is too late." A delegation led by M.R. Kasem will visit Rangoon early next month. Chief adviser to the Foreign Minister Gen Siri Tiwaphan said during a border inspection in Tak Province's Mae Sot district the visit would take place after Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh returns from Burma. Gen Siri believed a joint Thai-Burmese border demarcation committee to solve border disputes would help resolve conflicts between the two countries. Thailand and Burma were successful in their joint demarcation of the border in the Mae Sai and Ruak rivers while he was Third Army commander. (BP) Subject: Aug22 Cc:  ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: August 22, 1995 HEADLINES: ========== THE NATION:GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE THE NATION: INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE THE NATION: BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED THE NATION:SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA BKK POST:BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL BKK POST:FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA ---------------------------------------------------------- Produced with the support of the Burma Information Group (B.I.G). The BurmaNet News is an electronic newspaper covering Burma. Articles from newspapers, magazines, newsletters, the wire services and the Internet as well as original material are published. The BurmaNet News is e-mailed directly to subscribers and is also distributed via the soc.culture.burma and seasia-l mailing lists and is also available via the reg.burma conference on the APC networks. For a free subscription to the BurmaNet News, send an e-mail message to: majordomo@igc.apc.org In the body of the message, type "subscribe burmanet-l" (without quotation marks) Letters to the editor, comments or contributions of articles should be sent to the editor at: strider@igc.apc.org ------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA THE WEB AND GOPHER: Information about Burma is available via the WorldWideWeb at: FreeBurmaWWW http://199.172.178.200/freebrma/freebrma.htm. [including back issues of the BurmaNet News as .txt files] BurmaWeb: http://www.uio.no/tormodl Burma fonts: http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~lka/burmese-fonts/moe.html Ethnologue Database(Myanmar): http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/eth.cgi/Myanmar TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA GOPHER: gopher csf.colorado.edu. Look under the International Political Economy section, then select Geographic_Archive, then Asia, then Burma. ---------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different topics related to Burma. The scope of the subjects involved is simplytoo broad for any one person to cover. BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteer coordinators to field questions on various subjects. If you have questions on any of the following subjects, please direct email to the following coordinators, who will either answer your question or try to put you in contact with someone who can: Arakan/Rohingya/Burma- [volunteer needed] Bangladesh border Art/archaeology/: [volunteer needed] Campus activism: Boycott campaigns: Buddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission, c/o NBH03114@niftyserve.or.jp Fonts: tom@CS.COLGATE.EDU History of Burma: zar1963@violet.berkeley.edu Chin history/culture: Kachin history/culture: 74750.1267@compuserve.com Karen history/culture: 102113.2571@Compuserve.com Karen Historical Society Mon history/culture: [volunteer needed] Naga history/culture: [volunteer needed] [Burma-India border] Pali literature: "Palmleaf" c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org Shan history/culture: [volunteer needed] Tourism campaigns: bagp@gn.apc.org "Attn. S. 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==== GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE 19 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The government is not in a position to "apologize" for the murder of Burmese fishermen on a Thai trawler recently because the crime concerns a private fishing company, not the government, Thai Ambassador to Rangoon Poksak Nilubol said yesterday. What the government can do is express "regret" for the deaths, allegedly at the hands of Thai crewmen, as well as take legal action against the culprits, he stressed. Poksak was referring to the apparent revenge killings by a group of Thai crewmen who suspected that Burmese crew members had alerted their country's authorities to illegal activities on Thai trawlers. Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is scheduled to visitRangoon early next month and will convey a letter from Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-acha expressing "regret" over the killings and ensuring Thailand's seriousness in solving the case. "The Thai government is not going to apologize to the Burmese government but it will express its condolence. The crime involved a private fishing company," Poksak said. Poksak was here to attend a meeting of Thai ambassadors and consul generals.Meanwhile, a well-informed source said that Burmese Ambassador to Thailand U Tin Winn had met Foreign Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Saroj Chavanavirat on Wednesday to discuss the incident. The source quoted Saroj as telling the Burmese envoy that the Foreign Ministry and other authorities concerned were doing their best to resolve the issue. Poksak said the Burmese government had expressed its "understanding" of Thailand's explanation about its seriousness and sincerity in handling the case. A Thai skipper and a Cambodian crew member of the vessel on which 15 Burmese were beaten and thrown overboard have been arrested, and arrest warrants have been issued for 10 other Thai crewmen. Burmese authorities were furious about the murders, prompting them to order the closure of a temporary checkpoint on Kawthaung Island opposite Thailand's Ranong province. The order resulted in the closing of the last border trade link between Thai land and Burma as two other main checkpoints, one in Tak and the other in Chiang Rai province, were closed down earlier. Poksak said Thai private firms should be far-sighted and adopt long-term business strategies when investing in other countries instead of operating with short-term measures aimed at maximum profits. The ambassador denied criticism that Thailand was taking a weak position in handling the Thai-Burmese problems. Earlier this year the Burmese government failed to react to a series of protests by Thailand on incursions by Burmese troops into Thai territory. Critics said Thailand had over-reacted to the murders of the Burmese crewmen, compared to Rangoon's reaction to the incursions. "We are not taking the weaker position with Burma. In the case of the incur sions by Burmese troops into Thai territory, the Rangoon government had claimed that they were actually the work of two groups of Burmese ethnic minorities. "The deaths of the Burmese crewmen have nothing to do with the Thai government, but a private company," Poksak said. The same source said a team from Narong Canning Co had already arrived in Rangoon to explain the situation to the Burmese government. The vessel involved in the crime was operating under a concession granted to the Myanmar-Narong Canning firm, a joint venture of Narong Canning. (TN) ====item==== INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation Deputy permanent secretary for the Interior Damri Wattanasingha yesterday played down the seriousness of the Burmese closure of its sea border with Thailand, claiming it is closed annually at this time of the year because of egg-laying season. His comments contradict reports that the Border was closed in wake of the murders of at least six Burmese fishermen on board a Thai vessel. Damri said Rangoon had simply "suspended", not "revoked", the fishing licence of the Thai company whose vessels and crewmen were suspected of involvement in the murders of the Burmese fishermen. "The NCC Asia Fishery Co Ltd had its fishing licence suspended because it had violated some regulations by using nets to catch shrimps and equipping its vessel with a radar," Damri said. "The closure of waters for fishing at this time of the year is Burma's annual practice because it is the season fish lay eggs. Fishing during this period is prohibited. It is understandable," he stressed. His information is at odds with that of senior Interior Ministry officials, Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and local authorities. Earlier reports had it that Rangoon closed its territorial waters to all Thai vessels, even if they held concessions to fish in Burmese waters. The order came shortly, after the government was alerted to the incident in which Thai fishermen murdered Burmese crewmen. The murders were reportedly committed after the Burmese informed their author ities of illegal fishing activities being carried out by the company off the southern province of Ranong. The bodies of at least six Burmese fishermen have been swept ashore since the incident. The men had clearly been beaten and their ankles and wrists tied with rope before being thrown overboard. "Because the company's vessels and fishermen are alleged to have been involved in the murders, it should bear responsibility for the incident," said Damri. Two men have already been arrested in connection with the murders. Eight Thais suspected of involvement in the murders were still at large. (TN) ====item==== BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The British Broadcasting Corporation said yesterday that its World Service broadcasts in Burmese were being jammed for the first time in their 55-year history. "BBC engineers have found deliberate interference on two of the three regular short-wave radio frequencies carrying BBC Burmese language programmes," the BBC said in a statement. Elizabeth Wright, the BBC World Service's Asia-Pacific head, said a distinc tive electronic "wobble" noise was first detected in the Burmese capital Rangoon two weeks ago and had now been confirmed by BBC staff as jamming. The BBC said the exact source of the noise has not been established and a spokeswoman refused to comment when asked whether the Burmese authorities might be responsible. She said the jamming began shortly after a BBC interview with Burmese opposi tion leader Aung San Suu Kyi was broadcast in Burma. (TN) ====item==== SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation San Miguel Packaging Products (SMPP), a division of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp (SMC), has made its first sale to Burma, according to a com pany statement issued yesterday. SMPP Division President Raul C Hernandez said the shipment covers two 20-foot vans of bottle caps, which was ordered by Burma-based beverave companies Pepsi Cola Products Myanmar and Lo Hein Company. Hernandez said the two transactions mark the entry of SMPP into the Burmese market. The orders will be shipped to Burma in September. SMPP also exports softdrink caps to Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Nepal, as well as other types of bottle caps to Bangladesh. The business ties SMC is forging with Burma through SMPP is a step toward the company's efforts to establish a solid foothold in the South Asian market, the statement said. In 1994, SMC entered the Indian market with its shrimp-feed exports. SMC is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a joint venture brewery in India. (TN) ====item==== BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The Burmese Ministry of Mines and East Asia Gold Corp of the United States have signed a gold and copper exploration and production-sharing contract. Exploration will be carried out near Thabeikyine, about 700 kilometres north of Rangoon. The Burmese junta initially invited foreign companies to prospect for gold and copper last October. (BP) ====item==== FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The House Foreign Affairs Committee has invited Foreign Minister M.R Kasem S. Kasemsri to explain current relations between Thailand and Burma to the com mittee on Thursday. Committee chairman Suwat Liptapallop, secretary-general of the Chart Pattana Party, said the recent murder of Burmese crewmen on board a Thai vessel and the subsequent closure of the border between the two countries have seriously affected the economy and security. The committee wants the Foreign Minister to explain the situation and the Government's policy towards neighbouring countries. Representatives of the National Security Council will also be invited to testify, Mr Suwat said. Mr Suwat urged the Government to speed up efforts to improve the worsening relations with Burma "before it is too late." A delegation led by M.R. Kasem will visit Rangoon early next month. Chief adviser to the Foreign Minister Gen Siri Tiwaphan said during a border inspection in Tak Province's Mae Sot district the visit would take place after Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh returns from Burma. Gen Siri believed a joint Thai-Burmese border demarcation committee to solve border disputes would help resolve conflicts between the two countries. Thailand and Burma were successful in their joint demarcation of the border in the Mae Sai and Ruak rivers while he was Third Army commander. (BP) ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: August 22, 1995 HEADLINES: ========== THE NATION:GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE THE NATION: INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE THE NATION: BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED THE NATION:SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA BKK POST:BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL BKK POST:FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA ---------------------------------------------------------- Produced with the support of the Burma Information Group (B.I.G). The BurmaNet News is an electronic newspaper covering Burma. Articles from newspapers, magazines, newsletters, the wire services and the Internet as well as original material are published. The BurmaNet News is e-mailed directly to subscribers and is also distributed via the soc.culture.burma and seasia-l mailing lists and is also available via the reg.burma conference on the APC networks. For a free subscription to the BurmaNet News, send an e-mail message to: majordomo@igc.apc.org In the body of the message, type "subscribe burmanet-l" (without quotation marks) Letters to the editor, comments or contributions of articles should be sent to the editor at: strider@igc.apc.org ------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA THE WEB AND GOPHER: Information about Burma is available via the WorldWideWeb at: FreeBurmaWWW http://199.172.178.200/freebrma/freebrma.htm. [including back issues of the BurmaNet News as .txt files] BurmaWeb: http://www.uio.no/tormodl Burma fonts: http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~lka/burmese-fonts/moe.html Ethnologue Database(Myanmar): http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/eth.cgi/Myanmar TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA GOPHER: gopher csf.colorado.edu. Look under the International Political Economy section, then select Geographic_Archive, then Asia, then Burma. ---------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different topics related to Burma. The scope of the subjects involved is simplytoo broad for any one person to cover. BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteer coordinators to field questions on various subjects. If you have questions on any of the following subjects, please direct email to the following coordinators, who will either answer your question or try to put you in contact with someone who can: Arakan/Rohingya/Burma- [volunteer needed] Bangladesh border Art/archaeology/: [volunteer needed] Campus activism: Boycott campaigns: Buddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission, c/o NBH03114@niftyserve.or.jp Fonts: tom@CS.COLGATE.EDU History of Burma: zar1963@violet.berkeley.edu Chin history/culture: Kachin history/culture: 74750.1267@compuserve.com Karen history/culture: 102113.2571@Compuserve.com Karen Historical Society Mon history/culture: [volunteer needed] Naga history/culture: [volunteer needed] [Burma-India border] Pali literature: "Palmleaf" c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org Shan history/culture: [volunteer needed] Tourism campaigns: bagp@gn.apc.org "Attn. S. 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==== GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE 19 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The government is not in a position to "apologize" for the murder of Burmese fishermen on a Thai trawler recently because the crime concerns a private fishing company, not the government, Thai Ambassador to Rangoon Poksak Nilubol said yesterday. What the government can do is express "regret" for the deaths, allegedly at the hands of Thai crewmen, as well as take legal action against the culprits, he stressed. Poksak was referring to the apparent revenge killings by a group of Thai crewmen who suspected that Burmese crew members had alerted their country's authorities to illegal activities on Thai trawlers. Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is scheduled to visit Rangoon early next month and will convey a letter from Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-acha expressing "regret" over the killings and ensuring Thailand's seriousness in solving the case. "The Thai government is not going to apologize to the Burmese government but it will express its condolence. The crime involved a private fishing company," Poksak said. Poksak was here to attend a meeting of Thai ambassadors and consul generals.Meanwhile, a well-informed source said that Burmese Ambassador to Thailand U Tin Winn had met Foreign Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Saroj Chavanavirat on Wednesday to discuss the incident. The source quoted Saroj as telling the Burmese envoy that the Foreign Ministry and other authorities concerned were doing their best to resolve the issue. Poksak said the Burmese government had expressed its "understanding" of Thailand's explanation about its seriousness and sincerity in handling the case. A Thai skipper and a Cambodian crew member of the vessel on which 15 Burmese were beaten and thrown overboard have been arrested, and arrest warrants have been issued for 10 other Thai crewmen. Burmese authorities were furious about the murders, prompting them to order the closure of a temporary checkpoint on Kawthaung Island opposite Thailand's Ranong province. The order resulted in the closing of the last border trade link between Thai land and Burma as two other main checkpoints, one in Tak and the other in Chiang Rai province, were closed down earlier. Poksak said Thai private firms should be far-sighted and adopt long-term business strategies when investing in other countries instead of operating with short-term measures aimed at maximum profits. The ambassador denied criticism that Thailand was taking a weak position in handling the Thai-Burmese problems. Earlier this year the Burmese government failed to react to a series of protests by Thailand on incursions by Burmese troops into Thai territory. Critics said Thailand had over-reacted to the murders of the Burmese crewmen, compared to Rangoon's reaction to the incursions. "We are not taking the weaker position with Burma. In the case of the incur sions by Burmese troops into Thai territory, the Rangoon government had claimed that they were actually the work of two groups of Burmese ethnic minorities. "The deaths of the Burmese crewmen have nothing to do with the Thai government, but a private company," Poksak said. The same source said a team from Narong Canning Co had already arrived in Rangoon to explain the situation to the Burmese government. The vessel involved in the crime was operating under a concession granted to the Myanmar-Narong Canning firm, a joint venture of Narong Canning. (TN) ====item==== INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation Deputy permanent secretary for the Interior Damri Wattanasingha yesterday played down the seriousness of the Burmese closure of its sea border with Thailand, claiming it is closed annually at this time of the year because of egg-laying season. His comments contradict reports that the Border was closed in wake of the murders of at least six Burmese fishermen on board a Thai vessel. Damri said Rangoon had simply "suspended", not "revoked", the fishing licence of the Thai company whose vessels and crewmen were suspected of involvement in the murders of the Burmese fishermen. "The NCC Asia Fishery Co Ltd had its fishing licence suspended because it had violated some regulations by using nets to catch shrimps and equipping its vessel with a radar," Damri said. "The closure of waters for fishing at this time of the year is Burma's annual practice because it is the season fish lay eggs. Fishing during this period is prohibited. It is understandable," he stressed. His information is at odds with that of senior Interior Ministry officials, Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and local authorities. Earlier reports had it that Rangoon closed its territorial waters to all Thai vessels, even if they held concessions to fish in Burmese waters. The order came shortly, after the government was alerted to the incident in which Thai fishermen murdered Burmese crewmen. The murders were reportedly committed after the Burmese informed their author ities of illegal fishing activities being carried out by the company off the southern province of Ranong. The bodies of at least six Burmese fishermen have been swept ashore since the incident. The men had clearly been beaten and their ankles and wrists tied with rope before being thrown overboard. "Because the company's vessels and fishermen are alleged to have been involved in the murders, it should bear responsibility for the incident," said Damri. Two men have already been arrested in connection with themurders. Eight Thais suspected of involvement in the murders were still at large. (TN) ====item==== BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The British Broadcasting Corporation said yesterday that its World Service broadcasts in Burmese were being jammed for the first time in their 55-year history. "BBC engineers have found deliberate interference on two of the three regular short-wave radio frequencies carrying BBC Burmese language programmes," the BBC said in a statement. Elizabeth Wright, the BBC World Service's Asia-Pacific head, said a distinc tive electronic "wobble" noise was first detected in the Burmese capital Rangoon two weeks ago and had now been confirmed by BBC staff as jamming. The BBC said the exact source of the noise has not been established and a spokeswoman refused to comment when asked whether the Burmese authorities might be responsible. She said the jamming began shortly after a BBC interview with Burmese opposi tion leader Aung San Suu Kyi was broadcast in Burma. (TN) ====item==== SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation San Miguel Packaging Products (SMPP), a division of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp (SMC), has made its first sale to Burma, according to a com pany statement issued yesterday. SMPP Division President Raul C Hernandez said the shipment covers two 20-foot vans of bottle caps, which was ordered by Burma-based beverave companies Pepsi Cola Products Myanmar and Lo Hein Company. Hernandez said the two transactions mark the entry of SMPP into the Burmese market. The orders will be shipped to Burma in September. SMPP also exports softdrink caps to Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Nepal, as well as other types of bottle caps to Bangladesh. The business ties SMC is forging with Burma through SMPP is a step toward the company's efforts to establish a solid foothold in the South Asian market, the statement said. In 1994, SMC entered the Indian market with its shrimp-feed exports. SMC is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a joint venture brewery in India. (TN) ====item==== BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The Burmese Ministry of Mines and East Asia Gold Corp of the United States have signed a gold and copper exploration and production-sharing contract. Exploration will be carried out near Thabeikyine, about 700 kilometres north of Rangoon. The Burmese junta initially invited foreign companies to prospect for gold and copper last October. (BP) ====item==== FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The House Foreign Affairs Committee has invited Foreign Minister M.R Kasem S. Kasemsri to explain current relations between Thailand and Burma to the com mittee on Thursday. Committee chairman Suwat Liptapallop, secretary-general of the Chart Pattana Party, said the recent murder of Burmese crewmen on board a Thai vessel and the subsequent closure of the border between the two countries have seriously affected the economy and security. The committee wants the Foreign Minister to explain the situation and the Government's policy towards neighbouring countries. Representatives of the National Security Council will also be invited to testify, Mr Suwat said. Mr Suwat urged the Government to speed up efforts to improve the worsening relations with Burma "before it is too late." A delegation led by M.R. Kasem will visit Rangoon early next month. Chief adviser to the Foreign Minister Gen Siri Tiwaphan said during a border inspection in Tak Province's Mae Sot district the visit would take place after Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh returns from Burma. Gen Siri believed a joint Thai-Burmese border demarcation committee to solve border disputes would help resolve conflicts between the two countries. Thailand and Burma were successful in their joint demarcation of the border in the Mae Sai and Ruak rivers while he was Third Army commander. (BP) >From steele@mozart.inet.co.th Wed Aug 23 03:26:40 1995 Received: from rs.thnic.net (rs.thnic.net [192.133.10.128]) by igc3.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.6 ) with SMTP id DAA00195 for ; Wed, 23 Aug 1995 03:26:26 -0700 Received: from mozart.inet.co.th (mozart.inet.co.th [202.44.200.1]) by rs.thnic.net (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id RAA18172 for ; Wed, 23 Aug 1995 17:27:36 +0700 Received: by mozart.inet.co.th; (5.65/1.1.8.2/22Aug95-0504PM) id AA00988; Wed, 23 Aug 1995 17:26:09 +0700 Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 17:26:09 +0700 (GMT+0700) From: Douglas Steele To: burmanet@igc.apc.org Cc: Douglas Steele Subject: Auug22 Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: R ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: August 22, 1995 HEADLINES: ========== THE NATION:GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE THE NATION: INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE THE NATION: BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED THE NATION:SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA BKK POST:BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL BKK POST:FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA ---------------------------------------------------------- Produced with the support of the Burma Information Group (B.I.G). The BurmaNet News is an electronic newspaper covering Burma. Articles from newspapers, magazines, newsletters, the wire services and the Internet as well as original material are published. The BurmaNet News is e-mailed directly to subscribers and is also distributed via the soc.culture.burma and seasia-l mailing lists and is also available via the reg.burma conference on the APC networks. For a free subscription to the BurmaNet News, send an e-mail message to: majordomo@igc.apc.org In the body of the message, type "subscribe burmanet-l" (without quotation marks) Letters to the editor, comments or contributions of articles should be sent to the editor at: strider@igc.apc.org ------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA THE WEB AND GOPHER: Information about Burma is available via the WorldWideWeb at: FreeBurmaWWW http://199.172.178.200/freebrma/freebrma.htm. [including back issues of the BurmaNet News as .txt files] BurmaWeb: http://www.uio.no/tormodl Burma fonts: http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~lka/burmese-fonts/moe.html Ethnologue Database(Myanmar): http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/eth.cgi/Myanmar TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA GOPHER: gopher csf.colorado.edu. Look under the International Political Economy section, then select Geographic_Archive, then Asia, then Burma. ---------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different topics related to Burma. The scope of the subjects involved is simplytoo broad for any one person to cover. BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteer coordinators to field questions on various subjects. If you have questions on any of the following subjects, please direct email to the following coordinators, who will either answer your question or try to put you in contact with someone who can: Arakan/Rohingya/Burma- [volunteer needed] Bangladesh border Art/archaeology/: [volunteer needed] Campus activism: Boycott campaigns: Buddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission, c/o NBH03114@niftyserve.or.jp Fonts: tom@CS.COLGATE.EDU History of Burma: zar1963@violet.berkeley.edu Chin history/culture: Kachin history/culture: 74750.1267@compuserve.com Karen history/culture: 102113.2571@Compuserve.com Karen Historical Society Mon history/culture: [volunteer needed] Naga history/culture: [volunteer needed] [Burma-India border] Pali literature: "Palmleaf" c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org Shan history/culture: [volunteer needed] Tourism campaigns: bagp@gn.apc.org "Attn. S. 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==== GOVT REGRETS FISHING DEATHS, BUT STRESSES IT CANNOT APOLOGIZE 19 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The government is not in a position to "apologize" for the murder of Burmese fishermen on a Thai trawler recently because the crime concerns a private fishing company, not the government, Thai Ambassador to Rangoon Poksak Nilubol said yesterday. What the government can do is express "regret" for the deaths, allegedly at the hands of Thai crewmen, as well as take legal action against the culprits, he stressed. Poksak was referring to the apparent revenge killings by a group of Thai crewmen who suspected that Burmese crew members had alerted their country's authorities to illegal activities on Thai trawlers. Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is scheduled to visit Rangoon early next month and will convey a letter from Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-acha expressing "regret" over the killings and ensuring Thailand's seriousness in solving the case. "The Thai government is not going to apologize to the Burmese government but it will express its condolence. The crime involved a private fishing company," Poksak said. Poksak was here to attend a meeting of Thai ambassadors and consul generals.Meanwhile, a well-informed source said that Burmese Ambassador to Thailand U Tin Winn had met Foreign Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Saroj Chavanavirat on Wednesday to discuss the incident. The source quoted Saroj as telling the Burmese envoy that the Foreign Ministry and other authorities concerned were doing their best to resolve the issue. Poksak said the Burmese government had expressed its "understanding" of Thailand's explanation about its seriousness and sincerity in handling the case. A Thai skipper and a Cambodian crew member of the vessel on which 15 Burmese were beaten and thrown overboard have been arrested, and arrest warrants have been issued for 10 other Thai crewmen. Burmese authorities were furious about the murders, prompting them to order the closure of a temporary checkpoint on Kawthaung Island opposite Thailand's Ranong province. The order resulted in the closing of the last border trade link between Thai land and Burma as two other main checkpoints, one in Tak and the other in Chiang Rai province, were closed down earlier. Poksak said Thai private firms should be far-sighted and adopt long-term business strategies when investing in other countries instead of operating with short-term measures aimed at maximum profits. The ambassador denied criticism that Thailand was taking a weak position in handling the Thai-Burmese problems. Earlier this year the Burmese government failed to react to a series of protests by Thailand on incursions by Burmese troops into Thai territory. Critics said Thailand had over-reacted to the murders of the Burmese crewmen, compared to Rangoon's reaction to the incursions. "We are not taking the weaker position with Burma. In the case of the incur sions by Burmese troops into Thai territory, the Rangoon government had claimed that they were actually the work of two groups of Burmese ethnic minorities. "The deaths of the Burmese crewmen have nothing to do with the Thai government, but a private company," Poksak said. The same source said a team from Narong Canning Co had already arrived in Rangoon to explain the situation to the Burmese government. The vessel involved in the crime was operating under a concession granted to the Myanmar-Narong Canning firm, a joint venture of Narong Canning. (TN) ====item==== INTERIOR OFFICIAL PLAYS DOWN BURMA'S SEA BORDER CLOSURE 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation Deputy permanent secretary for the Interior Damri Wattanasingha yesterday played down the seriousness of the Burmese closure of its sea border with Thailand, claiming it is closed annually at this time of the year because of egg-laying season. His comments contradict reports that the Border was closed in wake of the murders of at least six Burmese fishermen on board a Thai vessel. Damri said Rangoon had simply "suspended", not "revoked", the fishing licence of the Thai company whose vessels and crewmen were suspected of involvement in the murders of the Burmese fishermen. "The NCC Asia Fishery Co Ltd had its fishing licence suspended because it had violated some regulations by using nets to catch shrimps and equipping its vessel with a radar," Damri said. "The closure of waters for fishing at this time of the year is Burma's annual practice because it is the season fish lay eggs. Fishing during this period is prohibited. It is understandable," he stressed. His information is at odds with that of senior Interior Ministry officials, Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and local authorities. Earlier reports had it that Rangoon closed its territorial waters to all Thai vessels, even if they held concessions to fish in Burmese waters. The order came shortly, after the government was alerted to the incident in which Thai fishermen murdered Burmese crewmen. The murders were reportedly committed after the Burmese informed their author ities of illegal fishing activities being carried out by the company off the southern province of Ranong. The bodies of at least six Burmese fishermen have been swept ashore since the incident. The men had clearly been beaten and their ankles and wrists tied with rope before being thrown overboard. "Because the company's vessels and fishermen are alleged to have been involved in the murders, it should bear responsibility for the incident," said Damri. Two men have already been arrested in connection with the murders. Eight Thais suspected of involvement in the murders were still at large. (TN) ====item==== BBC SAYS BROADCASTS JAMMED 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation The British Broadcasting Corporation said yesterday that its World Service broadcasts in Burmese were being jammed for the first time in their 55-year history. "BBC engineers have found deliberate interference on two of the three regular short-wave radio frequencies carrying BBC Burmese language programmes," the BBC said in a statement. Elizabeth Wright, the BBC World Service's Asia-Pacific head, said a distinc tive electronic "wobble" noise was first detected in the Burmese capital Rangoon two weeks ago and had now been confirmed by BBC staff as jamming. The BBC said the exact source of the noise has not been established and a spokeswoman refused to comment when asked whether the Burmese authorities might be responsible. She said the jamming began shortly after a BBC interview with Burmese opposi tion leader Aung San Suu Kyi was broadcast in Burma. (TN) ====item==== SAN MIGUEL MAKES FIRST SALE TO BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, The Nation San Miguel Packaging Products (SMPP), a division of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp (SMC), has made its first sale to Burma, according to a com pany statement issued yesterday. SMPP Division President Raul C Hernandez said the shipment covers two 20-foot vans of bottle caps, which was ordered by Burma-based beverave companies Pepsi Cola Products Myanmar and Lo Hein Company. Hernandez said the two transactions mark the entry of SMPP into the Burmese market. The orders will be shipped to Burma in September. SMPP also exports softdrink caps to Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Nepal, as well as other types of bottle caps to Bangladesh. The business ties SMC is forging with Burma through SMPP is a step toward the company's efforts to establish a solid foothold in the South Asian market, the statement said. In 1994, SMC entered the Indian market with its shrimp-feed exports. SMC is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a joint venture brewery in India. (TN) ====item==== BURMA, US FIRM IN MINING DEAL 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The Burmese Ministry of Mines and East Asia Gold Corp of the United States have signed a gold and copper exploration and production-sharing contract. Exploration will be carried out near Thabeikyine, about 700 kilometres north of Rangoon. The Burmese junta initially invited foreign companies to prospect for gold and copper last October. (BP) ====item==== FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED TO EXPLAIN TIES WITH BURMA 22 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post The House Foreign Affairs Committee has invited Foreign Minister M.R Kasem S. Kasemsri to explain current relations between Thailand and Burma to the com mittee on Thursday. Committee chairman Suwat Liptapallop, secretary-general of the Chart Pattana Party, said the recent murder of Burmese crewmen on board a Thai vessel and the subsequent closure of the border between the two countries have seriously affected the economy and security. The committee wants the Foreign Minister to explain the situation and the Government's policy towards neighbouring countries. Representatives of the National Security Council will also be invited to testify, Mr Suwat said. Mr Suwat urged the Government to speed up efforts to improve the worsening relations with Burma "before it is too late." A delegation led by M.R. Kasem will visit Rangoon early next month. Chief adviser to the Foreign Minister Gen Siri Tiwaphan said during a border inspection in Tak Province's Mae Sot district the visit would take place after Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh returns from Burma. Gen Siri believed a joint Thai-Burmese border demarcation committee to solve border disputes would help resolve conflicts between the two countries. Thailand and Burma were successful in their joint demarcation of the border in the Mae Sai and Ruak rivers while he was Third Army commander. (BP)