From: BurmaNet ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: September 16, 1995 Issue#229 Noted in Passing: Actually we could have more visitors, had some of the foreign media spread the real political situation of the country. - Kyaw Ba, the Burmese Minister for Hotels and Tourism on tourist arrivals in Burma. (quoted in S'POREANS TO BUILD 2ND HOTEL IN BURMA) Headlines: NATION: THAI POLICE SEIZE ARMS SAID TO BE FOR KAREN REBELS BKK POST: SECURITY TIGHTENED FOLLOWING DKBA RAID NATION: SLORC, KNU TALKS MAY BE PUT OFF BKK POST: S'POREANS TO BUILD 2ND HOTEL IN BURMA BKK POST: BURMESE TROOPS KILLED IN CLASH WITH KARENNIS BKK POST: BURMESE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS DUE FOR VISIT BKK POST: BURMA THREATENS STRAYING THAI FISHING VESSELS. NATION: CASTROL ASIA'S BOOM SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING NATION: LETTER - NUMBERED DAYS NATION - LETTER: HOW TO USE TANKS SHAN (editor's note: this is an independent report from S.H.A.N.) Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's most popular politician ,had agreed to adhere to the Agreement of Panglong. According to reliable quarters, Ms Suu Kyi had invited leaders of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy on 16 August to her house and said that she accepted the terms of historic treaty which was signed by her late father General Aung San at the nationalities conferance held by the Shans in Panglong, a small southern Shan town.According to the treaty, Aung San promised full autonomy both in political and financial affairs, humanrights and democracy.They were never realized after his assasination. In 1952, Burmese forces under General Ne Win occupied the Shan State and since then talks of the terms of the treaty became tantamount to treason. It led to uprisings all over Shan State and rapidly spread to all other non-Burman ethnic nationals. Aung San Suu Kyi's speech to the SNLD (Shan Nationalities League for Democracy) leaders was obviously designed to ease the tensions and pave the way for a new union. Many Burmans and non-Burmans alike welcomed it as a sign of change from the long standing SLORC stand on the non-Burman issue. Some however doubt whether she could convince the generals to give up their hold on the states which are still seething with resentment despite ceasefire agreements with the armed ethnic groups. She also told her visitors that the 1947 Constitution which contains the controversial right of secession for the states must be amended ` in order to meet today`s needs '. While many refrain from contradicting the lady who has been worldwidely regarded as Burma`s only future, one Shan in Germany did not hesitate to note dryly : Even Ethiopia considered as the backwater of Africa, has ratified its constitution recognizing the right of the states to secede from the union. Trying to deprive the right, in my opinion, would only serve to be counter productive. In today`s world, there is only one way to prevent disintegration of existing so-called nations. And that is to share and share alike the rights in existence including the right of self determination. ************** SLORC TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROPE-ASIA BUSINESS FORUM September 15, 1995 UPI/AFP According to UPI and AFP wires of 15 Sept, 450 European and Asian business leaders, 100 experts and officials, and 50 prominent government figures will meet for 3 days from 20 Sept in Singapore at the fourth annual Europe-East Asia Economic Summit. The conference, "in hopes of improving business ties between the two economically powerful regions", will focus on "financial issues, intellectual property rights, environmental concerns, human resources, stability and security and the role of the private sector in helping to develop national infrastructure". David Abel, Burma's Minister of National Planning and Economic Development and other Burmese officials will address a special closed-door seminar on Burma. The conference is organised by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, whose Director, Colette Mathur, said Burma's attendance at the conference was particularly exciting to participants from the business world. "Every year we choose a country that is not fully open - last year it was Vietnam", she said. Mekong area development will also be discussed. Apart from David Abel, who will no doubt encourage the European business community to benefit from Burma's particularly cheap and disciplined labour force, participants will include Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, Norwegian Premier Gro Harlem Brundtland, Sir Leon Brittan and Manuel Marin (European Commission Vice-Presidents), Jeffrey Garten, a U.S. Commerce Undersecretary, Singapore Premier Goh Chok Tong, President Suharto of Indonesia and South Korean Premier Lee Hong Koo. The conference will be opened by Singapore elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew. Its Chair will be Tommy Koh, Singapore's ambassador-at- large. Singapore is probably not the best place to arrange adequate welcoming committees or street theatre for this notable event. However, people like Sir Leon Brittan, Gro Brundtland and Gareth Evans, as well as the World Economic Forum and the various European governments attending, would no doubt be gratified to receive faxes and phone calls with ideas concerning business with Burma. If a list of participants at the closed-door seminar on Burma were posted on the net, these people, businesses or governments could subsequently be approached with similar ideas. If the fax numbers of the conference or the hotels the various delegations were staying at were posted on the net, useful suggestions could be sent during the conference by our jolly burmaneteers. There will be a 25-nation inaugural Europe-East Asia summit of government leaders in Bangkok next March.