From: BurmaNet ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: September 9, 1995 Issue# 220 Noted in Passing: While the employed middle-class indulge in corruption to met their basic needs, those in power do so out of sheer greed. - a Burmese observer (see Under-the Table Economics) HEADLINES: ========== THE NATION: UNDER-THE-TABLE ECONOMICS THE NATION: CHAVALIT URGES COMMON STANCE ON BURMA POLICY THE NATION: BURMA' WOMEN PROVE TO BE GLOBAL SYMBOLS THE NATION: KARENNIS DOUBT BURMA PEACE PROSPECTS BKK POST: ASEAN CALLED ON TO MEDIATE BETWEEN SLORC AND FOES BKK POST: SUU KYI ORGANIZED FOR HELP PRISONER BKK POST: TAK MPS SEEK RELEASE OF ILLEGAL WORKER TO CURE LABOUR SHORTAGE BKK POST: WA WARLORD REPORTED MISSING IN KUNMING ------------------------------------------------------- Produced with the support of the Burma Information Group (B.I.G). 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Sutcliffe" World Wide Web: FreeBurma@POBox.com Volunteering: christin@ksc.net.th [Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage] ---------------------------------------------------------- THE NATION: UNDER-THE-TABLE ECONOMICS September 8, 1995 Bribes and a black market grease Burma's rusty economy, Staya Sivaraman of Inter Press Service reports. Perched atop a wooden bar, facing the docks on Rangoon's lazy Hline River, Thein Pe is a ferry driver with a difference: he actually makes more money just sitting here than plying his ferry up and down the waterway. "We get a fixed quota of fuel every day at the official rate of 25 kyat per gallon and sell it at 180 kyat par gallon in the black market," he explains casually, drawing on his ceroot. (One dollar is 5.5 kyat at the official rate.) In the bizarre world of the Burmese economy, doing the impossible has become the only means of survival for millions of ordinary citizens like Thein Pe. With its runaway inflation, stagnant income levels and chronic shortage of goods, corruption and cheating are rapidly becoming a national scourge. "It is utterly debasing," says one Burmese writer, "but for most Burmese, the bribe and the blackmarket are becoming as acceptable a part of day-to-day life as Buddhism." With even salaries of senior civil servants not exceeding US$30 a month, corruption of one from or another has become essential for many employees with fixed incomes. The blame for all this, says the writer, lies squarely on Rangoon's military rulers who have mismanaged the economy beyond belief. Since the State Law and Order restoration Council (Slorc) as the military regime calls itself took over power in 1988, prices of most basic commodities have gone up by at least 100 per cent. In some cases, prices have even increased eightfold. Out of an average monthly income of around 3,000 kyat, middle class families have to contend with the price of rice at 80 kyat per pyi (approximately 1.5 kg), edible oil at 240 kyat per viss (2.2 kg) and chicken at 450 kyat per viss. Parents also lament over the high cost of sending their children to school. While the official fee at government schools is low, the hidden costs involved are high. Apart from the textbooks and clothing to be bought at open market rates, parents have to shell out large sums as private tuition fees to individual teachers in order to "see their children through the exams." "Most school and college teachers insist on students coming to them for private tuition so they can make some extra money," fumes one parent. But in an afterthought, she admits she would probably do the same if she were a teacher. Again, though government hospitals are no supposed to charge any fee from patients, it is difficult to convince doctors of one's ailment without paying bribes. Most hospitals also rarely have stocks of essential medicines and purchasing them in the open market can be quite costly. But as one Burmese observer points out, while the employed middle-class indulge in corruption to met their basic needs, those in power do so out of sheer greed. With all decision-making power solely in the hands of military officials and in the absence of open competition of any kind, most foreign businessmen have to bribe their way to contracts and deals in the country. "There is a Burmese tradition of taking gifts while visiting anybody and businessmen use this excuse to bribe government officials," says a Rangoon-based diplomat. Gifts range from imported cars, gold Rolex watches to actual gold bars, all willingly accepted by officials. Tales abound here of how the close relatives of senior Slorc officials have been the first to benefit from the ongoing economic liberalization. Most foreign investors seek out such their ventures to "politically insure" their investments. Two of the most notorious of such cases are those involving the daughter of Gen Ne Win, who rule Burma for 26 years until 1988, and for present trade and industry minister Tun Kyi. Ne Win's daughter San der Win and her husband Khin Zaw Win are major shareholder in several foreign-owned luxury hotels in Rangoon, while Tun Kyi's daughter runs a chain of seven cafÇs in the city. But even these are minor cases compared to the alleged corruption involved in the awarding of large oil, natural gas and mining contracts to multinationals around the world. The lack of transparency in these deals has Rangoon citizens talking of commissions being paid to Slorc officials directly into their Swiss bank account. Amid all this corruption, the only section in society left out are the ruran poor and the farming community in the villages. Though farmers' incomes have risen in recently years due to higher procurement prices for their crops, much of it has been offset by the increase in costs of agricultural inputs. Pro-democracy activists fear that without the "privilege" of being corrupt, poor families in Burma may be forced to send their daughters to the sex industry in neighbouring Thailand. Though more conservative, the flesh trade also exists within Burma and is expected to flourish with the arrival of dollar-rich tourists. "Corruption is eating away the basic core of our society and turning normal, straightforward people into moral delinquents, " says a senior leader of proponent dissident Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. He says while the coming of democracy to Burma would be no guarantee against corruption, it would certainly go a long way in preventing the deep economic and physical insecurity that is robbing the nation of its basic values. (TN) ***************************** THE NATION: CHAVALIT URGES COMMON STANCE ON BURMA POLICY September 8, 1995 The government should coordinate with all relevant agencies to work out a common stance on their approach to Burma, Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday. Chavalit, who paid a two-day visit to Burma last week in an attempt to improved strained Thai-Burmese relations, also urged the agencies to help resolve the conflicts which have prompted the Burmese junta to take several retaliatory measures against Thailand. The minister told the House committee on foreign affairs yesterday that the Burmese junta, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), was not happy with many bilateral issues, including border trade, encroachment on the Moei River by some Thai businessmen, Thai fishing in Burmese waters and the policy towards Burmese ethnic groups, especially opium warlord Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army (MTA). He said Slorc was "suspicious" of the Thai stance towards border-based armed ethnic groups which have been fighting Rangoon for greater autonomy. Slorc suspects Thailand of abetting the MTA. Suwat Liptapanlop, chairman of the House committee, told reporters after the hearing that Chavalit had proposed a united approach to handle Burmese affairs. The former Army chief told committee members that the Foreign Ministry was responsible for such affairs and thus should act as the core party in the approach. He said he had already consulted the ministry. He said his trip to Burma was not independently decided by himself or by the Defence Ministry, but he had closely discussed the matter with the Foreign Ministry before he left. He said that he had to clarify his trip, otherwise the committee might think the government was not united and each ministry was working independently. Chavalit, also deputy prime minister, said he had already called a meeting involving all the agencies concerned to reorganize Thai economic activities in Burma, which included border trade and the fishery industry. He said he had urged the Commerce Ministry to speed up the signing of a Thai-Burmese border trade agreement so problems relating to border crossings between the two countries would disappear. The Fishery Department was urged to reorganize its fishing activities in Burma and concerned agencies should remove all the structures on the Moei River set up on reclaimed land. The armed forces and the Defence Ministry were told to coordinate among themselves and reorganize their methodology in resolving border problems. Suwat said he was confident Chavalit's brief visit would help improve bilateral Thai-Burmese relations, but Burma would certainly take more time before reopening border crossings and allowing Thai fisherman back into Burmese waters. Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa's planned visit to Burma could also help resolve present conflicts and improve the overall situation, Suwat said. Foreign Minister MR Kasem S Kasemsri yesterday tried to play down criticism that Chavalit's trip was not fruitful by saying that the restoration of bilateral ties needed more time and would be a gradual process. (TN) *************** THE NATION: BURMA' WOMEN PROVE TO BE GLOBAL SYMBOLS September 8, 1995 Aung Zaw profiles Ma Thida, the Burmese dissident who was the focus of a petition released in Beijing last week. The symbolism was lost on few people, except perhaps Burma's ruling junta which sent an all-male delegation to attend this week's fourth UN World Conference on Women. Aung San Suu Kyi was in many ways the perfect choice to open the global women's forum in Beijing last Friday. Her struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma, the six years she was imprisoned after leading her party to electoral victory, the denial of her rights by men in uniform_it all neatly reflected the cry for political power that was the core message of the women's gatherings in China. But while Suu Kyi is probably the most prominent of Burmese dissident women politicians she is not the only one. She is also now free, from house arrest at least. Among the others is Ma Thida, who was the focus of a petition organized in Beijing demanding her release from Rangoon's Insein jail. Ma Thida, like many of Burma's prominent artists and writers supported and joined Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in 1988 after the ruling junta allowed the establishment of political parties to compete in general elections. Ma Thida, 30 is a thin, quiet lady whose writings have a keen following in Burma. Her first stories appeared in Burmese magazines in the early 80s when she was studying in Rangoon Medical Institute. Her work is different from that of her contempary writers depicting the lives of ordinary Burmese people, her poor patients and the priviliged medical students whose parents are invariably top government officials. As well she has sketched the irony of Burma under one-party rule with regard to how poorly and haphazardly they are run. After coming into the NLD party, Ma Thida became a close friend of Suu Kyi. She joined the charimatic leader on her national campaign trips before Suu Kyi's arrest. She was active in the NLD, organizing and giving speeches. In 1989 and 1990 she was detained briefly and interrogated and then finally arrested in 1993 for distributing leaflets outside the Slorc-organized National Convention urging people and delegates to boycott it. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Amnesty International has called her a "prisoner of conscience" and demanded her release. At the time of her arrest, she was working as a surgeon at the Muslim Free Hospital. She was reported to have had gastric problems since her arrest. One day in the future, when Ma Thida is free, perhaps she and her readers may meet again in the pages of magazines. And she may have the chance to publish her compilation of short stories which Slorc has banned. (TN) *************** THE NATION: KARENNIS DOUBT BURMA PEACE PROSPECTS September 8, 1995 Aung Zaw talks to KNPP secretary general Raymond Htoo about the chances for peace and Rangoon's national convention. Raymond Htoo, secretary general of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), has said that Burma's ruling junta, the State Law and Order restoration Council (Slorc) will not be able to succeed with its plans for a national convention and restore peace unless it shows more understanding of the problems facing the country. "If they [Slorc leaders] want to see genuine peace in Karenni State they must be sincere and honest," said Htoo. He added that Burma's military leaders need to understand the ethnic conflict more. The secretary general also criticized the Slorc-sponsored national convention, which had been delayed several times because Rangoon's leaders wanted all armed ethnic minority groups to participate. During the past meetings with Slorc officials, Karenni leaders were asked to attend or at least to observe the proceedings at the national convention. The convention, which was convened to draw up a new constitution is a key to Slorc's long term strategy, will be resumed in October this year. It has been dismissed by political opponents as a sham and nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt by Slorc to keep power indefinitely. The KNPP secretary general disagreed with Slorc's main objectives at the national convention, one of which is to let the Tatmadaw (armed forces) have a leading role in politics. Additionally, Htoo also expressed his disagreement with Slorc's proposals at the convention. In Sept 1994, Slorc submitted a list of proposals. One of them recommended that 25 per cent of the members of the future parliament be appointed by the military. The future parliament will be composed of two chambers_ a House of Representatives (lower house) and a House of Nationalities. It was also stipulated that 75 per cent of the members of both houses will be elected, while the remainder representing the military will be nominate by the commander in chief of the armed forces. The proposal also indicated that the House of Representatives will have 330 elected members and 110 members representing military personnel. The House of Nationalities will have 168 elected members in seven states and seven regions. Fifty six members of the upper house will be nominated by the commander in chief of the defence forces. While some armed ethnic groups have signed ceasefire agreements with Slorc, Htoo said not all were willing to attend the national convention. "People have no faith in this national convention," said Htoo. Mistrust between Slorc and ethnic minority groups have remained despite ceasefire agreements. Htoo said he doesn't believe Mon and Kachin leaders want to attend the national convention. Recently, a Mon delegation led by Nai Shwe Kyin in Rangoon met with Slorc leaders, including Senior Gen Than Shwe. The Mon rebels had reached a ceasefire agreement with Slorc in June. Htoo stressed that one ethnic minority group, which had reached a ceasefire agreement with Slorc earlier, sent its men to "go and see" the national convention, although none of them were seen in attendance. Slorc leaders refused to discuss political issues (with ethnic leaders), saying that only the "future government" should take up the issues. But Htoo said "they [Slorc officials] asked us to attend the national convention to draw up a new constitution." Maung Maung Cho, who was a elected representative in the 1990 election in Kayah state, did not attend the national convention. The reason, Htoo said, was because Maung Maung Cho was an outspoken delegate. "Because of this he was not allowed to attend," he noted. To restore genuine peace and harmony in Burma, he believes that political dialogue with Slorc should be started. After the release of Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the KNPP sent a letter to Slorc's powerful military intelligence chief and Secretary One, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. The letter urged Slorc leaders to give political freedom to Suu Kyi and to begin a genuine political dialogue. Htoo said KNPP believes in a "tripartite" dialogue, with Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders on one side. The KNPP reached a ceasefire agreement with Slorc last March. However, its did not last very long. Soon after the truce was signed, Slorc did not hesitate to exploit the situation. Reports appeared in the controlled-media that Karenni rebels had already laid down their arms and surrendered to the government. The media noted that the KNPP had "returned to the legal fold." (TN) *************** BKK POST: ASEAN CALLED ON TO MEDIATE BETWEEN SLORC AND FOES September 8, 1995 REPRESENTATIVES of 20 countries in Asia and the Pacific have called on Asean to mediate between Slorc and democratic groups, according to the chairman of the House Sub Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Sutin Noppaket said Asean should mediate in negotiations because it enjoyed the trust of all Burmese factions and was likely to be a good coordinator of the various groups now in conflict in Burma. He was one of the participants at a seminar entitled "Trends to Democratic Reform in Burma" staged by the Forum of the Democratic Leadersin the Asia-Pacific during on September 4-3 in Seoul. The seminar's objective was to seek cooperation from countries interested in Burma's democratic problems in order to push for politicians, academics and NGOs from the United States, Canada, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Norway and Singapore. The seminar urged the international community, especially the major powers, to stop selling or providing weapons to various minority groups in Burma. Sutin said the first seminar in Seoul was a good start for democratic leaders from 20 countries in the region to bring about an end to the conflicts in Burma through peaceful means. He said the next meeting would continue to focus on Burma in order to push for changes since the fighting in Burma had affected every country in the Asia-Pacific region. (BP) *************** BKK POST: TAK MPS SEEK RELEASE OF ILLEGAL WORKER TO CURE LABOUR SHORTAGE September 8, 1995 Tak TAK MPs have sent a letter to Labour and Social Welfare Minister Phisan Moolasartsathron calling for a halt in the arrest of Burmese immigrants working in Mae Sot District. The arrests have brought about a labour shortage and adversely affected the operation of same 40 businesses in the town, reads the letter consigned by Therdpoong Canaan, D Thavorn Kasomsan and Rak Tantisoonthorn. An informed sources said that officials from the Labour Ministry had led Crime Suppression Division and Immigration Police Bureau officers on a crackdown against Burmese workers in the district. This occurred after local business owners failed to meet the deadline to pay 5,000 baht refundable guarantee fee for each Burmese worker to the provincial immigration office. The Tak provincial administration announced on May 21 that Thai employers must pay guarantee money for Burmese workers who are registered with the Local Administration Department by Aug 21. So far, however, only a small number of employers have put up the guarantee for over 700 Burmese workers. Employment officials have approved about 300 applications. Mae Sot Mayor Therkiat Chinsoranan point out that among those arrested were workers who have identity cards issued by the Local Administration Department and who are waiting for their employers to put up a guarantee for them. (BP) *************** BKK POST: WA WARLORD REPORTED MISSING IN KUNMING September 8, 1995 Reuter/ Bangkok Post A REGIONAL commander of the United Wa State Army from Burma's Golden Triangle China. A Thai anti-narcotics official said Col Theng Kwang Ming travelled to Kunming several months ago and disappeared soon after. Thai anti-narcotics agent s discovered that Col Theng had gone missing in the course of routine surveillance, and contacted the Chinese authorities to enquire into his whereabouts. The Chinese police said he might be dead, but gave no details, the official said. The United Wa State Army is a major producer of opium and heroin in Shan state, northeastern Burma. It is a long-time rival of the rebel army of Khun Sa, the opium warlord. Col Theng, 48, commanded the Wa militia's southern zone, with 4000 commander arms at Ban Doi Lang, in the area cross the border from Chaing Rai and Chiang Mai provinces. A member of the Wa-Kuomamting ethnic group, Col Theng studied in Taiwan for a period before joining the liberal KMT army in Wa- controlled areas. Another sources confirmed the disappearance of Cool Theng. He said he was a accompanied by a well-known Thai businessman and his associates to the north of Thailand and to Kunming in late April, reportedly to buy phosphorus and marble. The businessman, who is known in the North to have traded in arms and supplies with the Wa militia, returned after three days. But Theng stayed on and lost contact with the group's HQ. The sources said that Col Theng's wife had gone to Kunming but had failed to find him. Traces of blood [missing] of his hotel room. The sources said three are two possible causes of death: a row within the Wa ethnic group, in which case it is likely that Col Theng's enemies preferred not to kill him in Thailand or Burma; or, given that his ancestry and educational background is Taiwanese, it is possible that the Chinese authorities murdered him. The source believes Col Theng was executed by members of a heroin cartel in some sort of double-cross operation. The Wa group used to be the rank-and-file of the Burma Communist Party's military wing, but mutinied against the leadership. In 1989 it agreed to a ceasefire with Burma's military gover- nment. Thai anti-narcotics officials say that since the ceasefire with the Rangoon government the Wa have considerably expanded their opium business. The output from their zones is thought to rival that of Khun Sa. (BP)