------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" --------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: September 26, 1995 Issue#238 Noted in Passing: The Burmese minority groups see that amphetamines are easier to make, easier to sell and they get the money more quickly. - Thai Pol Lt-Col Veerasak Meenavanich on the switch from amphetamine to heroin production by Khun Sa, the Haw Chinese, and the Red Wa. (quoted in: BKK POST: KHUN SA ACCUSED SWITCHING TO SPEED) Headlines: ======== ABSDF: STATEMENT ON U.S. SENATE APPROVAL OF SANCTIONS KNU: KNU PRESS STATEMENT NO #13 - MERGUI-TAVOY DISTRICT BKK POST: SUU KYI: RELEASE DOES NOT POINT TO CHANGE BKK POST: THAI BUYERS EXPECTING BETTER RESULTS AT GEMS EMPORIUM BKK POST: KHUN SA ACCUSED SWITCHING TO SPEED IWDC: CALENDAR/POSTCARD ANNOUNCEMENT ---------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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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: [on summer vacation] Boycott campaigns: [Pepsi] wcsbeau@superior.ccs.carleton.ca Buddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission, c/o NBH03114@niftyserve.or.jp Chin history/culture: plilian@asc.corp.mot.com Fonts: tom@cs.colgate.edu History of Burma: zni@students.wisc.edu 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: Wungram Shishak, z954001@oats.farm.niu.edu Burma-India border [volunteer needed] Pali literature: "Palmleaf" c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org Shan history/culture: [volunteer needed] Shareholder activism: simon_billenness@mail.cybercom.net Tourism campaigns: bagp@gn.apc.org "Attn. S. Sutcliffe" World Wide Web: FreeBurma@POBox.com Volunteering: christin@ksc.net.th [Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage] ******************************** ABSDF: STATEMENT ON U.S. SENATE APPROVAL OF SANCTIONS September 24, 1995 ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT STATEMENT ON U.S. SENATE APPROVAL OF SANCTIONS AGAINST SLORC Date: September 24, 1995 The ABSDF warmly welcomes the United States Senate's approval of tough sanctions against Burma to ban all U.S trade with, investment in, and travel to Burma. We, the ABSDF respectfully congratulate Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and chairman of a key funding panel, who sponsored the sanctions amendment to the 1996 foreign aid bill, which was approved by the Senate by an overwhelming 91 to nine on September 21. At present in Burma, there has been no new development following the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace laureate and the democracy leader of Burma. Approximately, 3,000 political prisoners are still detained and the Slorc military regime still intends to reconvene its sham National Convention. In addition, there has been no response by the Slorc to an offer by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to make dialogue for national reconciliation and internal peace. It is a crucial time for democratization in Burma and we firmly believe that the international community must take further action against the military regime which rules the country against the will of the people. We highly appreciate the support of the United States for democratization and human rights in Burma. On behalf of the people of Burma, we the ABSDF appeal to the President of the United States to pass the bill and implement effective economic sanctions against Burma until the goal of democracy in Burma has been achieved. Central Leading Committee ABSDF 8888 camps ********************************* KNU: KNU PRESS STATEMENT NO 13 - MERGUI-TAVOY DISTRICT September, 15, 1995 [Note: Translated by the ABSDF Information Department] (editor's note: the mistakes in word choice have been left, as this the way the translated document was printed. One example: "labors" should be read as "laborers") KAREN NATIONAL UNION(MERGUI-TAVOY DISTRICT) ORGANIZING AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE NO 13 ================== September, 15, 1995 Ticket to ride -------------- Tavoy-Yay Phu new railroad was opened by the Slorc in Tenasserim Division on May, 1995 and the train ticket costs 10 Kyat for each. The cost of a ticket from Tavoy to Yay Phu by private bus was also 10 Kyat before the railroad was build in this area. Local people are now very disappointed because they expected that it would be cheaper than the private bus when the government owned railroad finished. Non-water resistance -------------------- During this raining season, Tavoy-Yay Phu railroad was damaged three times in many parts of it by the water. The yearly maximum rate of rainfall in that area is over 200 inches. And local people were summoned as forced laborers by the Slorc for repairing the railroad without any labor charges. Railroad soil bank rebuilt -------------------------- Each 800 local people from Thayat Chaung township, Long Lon township, Tavoy township and Yay Phu township in Tavoy District were collected by the Slorc to construct the rest of long railroad soil bank between Kyauk Kanyar and Zinba village in Yay Phu township since June, 1995. The prisoner labors from 30 mile camp have worked for necessary stones and rocks for the bridges which located along the railroad and the cars owned by the local people were used to carry those stones and rocks by the Slorc's army. The estimate number of local forced labors for the railroad between Kyauk Kanyar and Zimba village. 1. 21 mile camp 1,000 local forced labors 2. 30 mile camp 200 prisoners and 700 local forced labors 3. Nwe lein camp 700 local forced labors 4. Zinba camp 300 prisoners and 800 local forced labors Every local forced labor has to carry their own food while they were in railroad construction site. Rotating system for porters --------------------------- Local people from all the villages in four townships of Tavoy District have been instructed by the local Slorc's army to serve as porters for monthly, two people from each village. If it is failed to serve as porter, they have to pay 2,000 Kyat fine per each. Study of gas pipeline --------------------- The Slorc and TOTAL oil company have allowed a so-called French woman from Green peace to study the possible damage of environmental situation in that area for construction of gas pipeline to evade form the international pressure, started in April this year. In her report, the environment of that area will not be damaged by the construction of gas pipeline. She was allowed for three months to study the environmental situation by the Slorc. During her study, she has stayed in Lanzon Gyi ward in Tavoy by the arrangement of the Slorc. Army of looters --------------- On August 2, 1995, household things and money from villagers in Zarde Win village in Palaw township were looted by the Slorc's army column led by Major. Hla Kyi from No.(101st) regiment and Major. Soe Win from No.(17th) regiment. The following lists of the persons were looted by the Slorc's army: 1. Saw Thar Shell cost of household things 5,000 Kyat money(in Cash) 6,000 Kyat 2. Saw Kya Lay cost of household things 2,000 Kyat money 8,500 Kyat 3. Saw Me De cost of household things 3,000 Kyat money 1,000 Kyat 4. Saw Pe Kay cost of household things 15,000 Kyat money 1,500 Kyat 5. Saw Te De cost of household things 4,500 Kyat money 1,000 Kyat 6. Saw Mu Say cost of household things 4,000 Kyat money 500 Kyat 7. Saw Say Lwal cost of household things 2,000 Kyat money 1,000 Kyat 8. Daw Taw Hla Myain cost of household things 40,000 Kyat money 10,000 Kyat ----------------------------------------------------------- Total 105,000 Kyat When the Slorc's army column entered the village, all the villagers have escaped to porterage and the Slorc's troops went up on the houses and looted money and household things such as radio, cassette tape recorder, traditional silver bowl, new clothes, sewing machine etc. Interview with an escapee from forced labor ------------------------------------------- Brief biography of escapee Name- Ko Tin Sein Sex- male Age- 35 Father's name- U Maung Tin Occupation- Farmer Address- Hnan Kyal village, Yay Phu township, Tenasserim Division Martial status- Married with Ma Hla Yin Children- Two boys and a girl Nationality- Burmese Religion- Buddhist Date of interview- September 10, 1995. Q: Ko Tin Sein, when did you leave Hnah Kyal village? A: I left Hnan Kyal on September 9, 1995. Q: Why did you leave your village? A: When I came back from railroad construction site on September 8, 1995 after my turn of forced labor working and I have seen that my family hardly facing their daily survival. I can do nothing for my family because I didn't get any payment for my work in railroad construction. First, the camp authorities have promised that they would pay labor charges to us, but, finally they didn't and besides, they ordered us to work in terms of our absence during the raining days. Then, after we completed all those works, they have allowed us went back home. So, if I continue to stay in my village, surely I will be faced next term forced laboring again and I left for border and to work in Thailand to save money for my family. Q: You've worked in 30 mile camp, right? And, have you seen the Slorc's soldiers beating forced labors? A: Yes, I've seen. Mostly, camp authorities always punish the forced labors who couldn't finish their quota of works. Q: Which Battalion taking security in 30 mile camp? A: It is Light Infantry Battalion (406). Q: Do you think that camp authorities are civil servants? A: No. officers from LIB (406) are camp authorities. They arrange work hours and daily quota of work for forced labors. Q: How the camp authorities manage daily quota of work for forced labors? A: Every forced labor has to dig a hole wide 10 square ft x 1 ft in the ground. Q: Did they pay labor charges to forced labors? A: No. never. Q: We have heard that Myanmar railway corporation under Minister of railway has paid labor charges to local forced labors regularly ? A: I have heard about it like that. But, we never received that. The prisoners are being used for the work of breaking rocks and stones by the management of camp authorities. Q: Are there prisoners in 30 mile camp? A: Yes. Q: Do you think how many prisoners there? A: I think, about 200 prisoners. Q: Their legs are chained? A: Sure. Q: When you were in 30 mile camp, any local forced labor died for something? A: Yes. One forced labor was killed by the security guard from LIB (406). Q: So, Where does he live? A: He lives in same village of mine. Q: What's his name? Do you know his age and parents' name? A: His name is Ko Pe San, 30 and his father is U Thee Pe. Q: Has he a wife and children? A: Yes. he has. His wife name is Ma Htar and he has 3 children. Q: How did he died? Can you explain me? A: Yes. the camp authorities ordered Ko Pe San and another guy from same village to cut trees for sleepers which will be laid under the iron rails on September 6, 1995. Then they went to the hill east part of camp and later Sergeant Tin Win and his unit from LIB (406) have followed them. Not very soon, we have heard some gun shots. Then, Sergeant Tin Win came back and ordered us to carry the corpse of KO Tin Win and we knew he was shot and dead. Q: So, What's Sergeant Tin Win's reason? A: He ordered forced labors to assemble and said that who did let him went east part of camp where is the limited area of army. Therefore, he said ,"we don't have any kind of responsibility for his death, because he brakes the rule". Q: Did you report to his wife? A: Yes. we did on the same day, September 6, 1995. After received the bad news, Ma Htar and some (Slorc) village law and order restoration council members came to 30 mile camp. Then, Sergeant Tin Win told them to take the dead body back to the village and not to try to charge them at the court. Because, he has broken the rule. Ma Htar replied she would not and it was enough for her to have her husband body. Then, Ma Htar and Slorc members carried the dead body to the village. Q: Ko Toe who accompanied with Ko Pe San, didn't he explain the camp authorities? A: Yes. he did. But camp authorities denied that they did not order them to cut trees in east part of camp. Q: Ko Tin Sein, what do you think about the Slorc military regime? A: Since the period of so-called BSPP (Burmese Socialist Program Party) and the present Slorc military regime, our people can not imagine what is wrong and right. Because, sometimes authorities said that it was true, but next time they said, it was not true and they forgot what they mentioned before. I can say two period under the BSPP and Slorc didn't lead us to the right things. Q: Of course--- and thank you very much for your explanation, very patiently. A: I also thank you very much because we have a chance to open our heart that what we have been suffering since long time. Army's animal farm ------------------ All villages in four townships of Tavoy District have been ordered to supply various domestic animals to the Slorc's Regiments and LIBs for their livestock projects. 200 ducks, 200 chickens, 3 pigs and one buffalo or one cow from each village will be given without fail to the Regiments of No.(25), No.(104) and LIBs (273), (267), (268), (269), (401), (402), (403), (404), (405), (406), (407), (408), (409) and (410). Some local cattle traders who have been accused for smuggling cattle to Thailand and arrested and paid fine by the Slorc's army. Their own cattle were also seized and taken in ratio for Regs and LIBs. Big money for Slorc ------------------- At present, some French officers from TOTAL oil company office staying in Ohnbin Guin village in Yay Phu township have hired helicopters from Slorc authorities for their safe trips in Yay Phu township for constructing gas pipeline. Rental charges for each helicopter costs 400,000 Kyat per day. Recently, gas pipeline construction has been re-started and very close persons of Slorc's army have got the contracts. Although TOTAL company has paid salary to local workers in dollar, the Slorc's officers exchange the salary money in Kyat, and then pay to workers. The Slorc's so-called official exchange rate for 1$ is 6 Kyat, but black market rate is 120 Kyat. A local girl raped ------------------ On April 20, 1995, the Slorc's military column led by Major Thet Oo from No.(101st) Regiment entered Wan Nar village in Tenasserim township and arrested Daw Ohn Kyi 40 and her daughter Ma In Kyi 14. The two women were took near mini video hall in the village. The reason of arrest them was for the support to ABSDF students and informing ABSDF. Daw Ohn Kyi was stood under the sun light for hole day. But, Ma In Kyi was dragged into the mini video hall and raped many times by the Slorc's soldiers. Slorc chairman fled to border ----------------------------- The Slorc's appointed chairman of Slorc (village law and order restoration council) from Yin Gyi village in Long Lon township fled to Thai border in August, 1995. He admits that he couldn't continue to collect money from villagers monthly for township Slorc's chairman and No.(104) Regiment. Order for cattle ---------------- Along the railroad in Hnain Htway village area in Yay Phu township, it was declared that cattle go up on the railway bank will be shot and the owners of cattle will also be paid fine. If the cattle owner want his dead cattle back, he will pay LIB (407) current price of that cattle. And, everyday the soldiers from LIB (407) shoot the cattle which go up on the railway bank and the owners have to pay them 500 Kyat for the charges of ammunition that the soldiers used. Border custom gate ------------------ The army officers from Slorc's outpost in Nat Eaindaung area in Tenasserim Division on Thai-Burma border allow local people entering Thailand through their outpost, but each person has to pay them 300 baht and sometimes those who want to enter Thailand were arrested for porterage. Information Department Mergui Tavoy District Karen National Union ********************************* BKK POST: SUU KYI: RELEASE DOES NOT POINT TO CHANGE September 25, 1995 Kuala Lumpur, AP BURMESE democratic activist Aung San Suu Kyi says her release from house arrest is no indication of change in Burma and that it should not result in a torrent of foreign investment and aid for the current junta. "I am just one person who has been released, why should that make a difference?" Suu Kyi said in an interview published in The Sunday Star. She added that there are still thousands of political prisoners in Burma, which chose her opposition party, the National League for Democracy, to lead the country in 1990 elections. The military government refused to recognise the election and imprisoned Suu Kyi and thousands of other NLD members soon after. The 1991 Nobel peace winner was released from house arrest earlier this year. Britain is reported to be the biggest investor in Burma up to March 1 this year with a total of $647.76, followed by France with $465 million. The United States ranked fifth with $203.19 million. "I believe aid should be gradual and conditional on the process and pace of democratisation," she told the Sunday Star two weeks ago at her house in Rangoon. The 51-year-old popular activist believes the military government is trying to pattern itself on the Indonesian political system, where the military is dominant. She declined to say if this was acceptable to her NLD and added, "It is not for NLD to say. The question is whether it is acceptable to the people of Burma." On the new constitution being drawn up, which might bar Burmese married to foreigner from holding political posts she said, "Some say it is aimed at me that would be a great pity because no national constitution should be written with one person in mind," she added. Suu Kyi married a British academic 23 years ago, but held on to her Burmese nationality. She has refused to go overseas or to see him in Britain for fear the junta may not allow her back into the country. ***************************************************************** BKK POST: THAI BUYERS EXPECTING BETTER RESULTS AT BURMESE GEMS AND JADE EMPORIUM September 25, 1995 by Errol de Silva A LARGE number of Thai entrepreneurs in the gems and jade trade are expected to attend next month's Gems, Jade and Pearl Emporium in Rangoon, organised by the Myanma Gems Enterprise, a state-owned organisation under the Ministry of Mines. The emporium will be held in the Myanmar Gems Emporium Hall on Rangoon's Kaba Aye Pagoda Road from October 14-22. The Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders' Association is coordinating Thai participation in the twice-a-year event at which large quantities of jade high-quality rubies and other gemstones and pearls are offered. In previous years, Thai buyers had little luck in efforts to gain access to these goods after being outbid by buyers from Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, Thais are much more confident of better results, according to TGJTA manager Thanan Maleesriprasert. He said the association's members were interested in' obtaining supplies through the emporium, especially rough gemstones. According to an information note issued by organisers, the sale of gems, jade and pearl will be by competitive bidding with prices in US currency. Payment can be made in several foreign currency units such as UK pounds, German marks, Swiss francs and Japanese yen. Travellers' cheques, bank drafts and telegraphic transfers are also accepted. The emporium also offers manufactured jewellery and jade carvings, but on a fixed-price basis. Prospective buyers can view and inspect the lots on offer for auction on October, 14 and 15. Competitive bidding for jade will be held from October 16-19, while the date for pearls will be October 20 and for gems October 21 and 22. The emporium has always been the main official marketing forum for highly prized rubies of pigeon-blood colour originating in the Mogok and Mong Hsu areas. But substantial amounts of these goods have been smuggled to the Thai border by groups of Kachin, Wa and Shan minorities, who often form alliances to move goods through areas controlled by each of these ethnic groups. Most gemstones have ended up in the Mae Sai market, but in more recent years, supplies to this centre have dried up due to ongoing clashes between SLORC troops and the rebel Shan army. Earlier, drug warlord Khun Sa ordered a halt to the flow of rubies and other gems after he set up a gem-cutting and jewellery fabrication factory in an area he controlled in Shan State. The Thai association was trying to convince SLORC to direct the sale of rough gem material to the local industry, but these initiatives bore no fruit even though the Burmese promised to cooperate with the Thais. ***************************************************************** BKK POST: KHUN SA ACCUSED SWITCHING TO SPEED September 25, 1995 ANTI-NARCOTICS authorities accuse drugs warlord Khun Sa of switching from heroin production to amphetamines for sale on the Thai black market. Because heroin trade in the Golden Triangle has been suppressed, Khun Sa has hired Thais to teach his people to produce amphetamines, Narcotics Suppression Office commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Somchai Malintangkul said yesterday. The pills are easier to make and to sell than heroin. "We have arrested one of these Thais. He told us Khun Sa would pay him 200,000 baht each time he goes up to teach them," Pol Lt-Gen Somchai said, declining to give further details other than to say the man is being prosecuted in Thailand. Pol Lt-Gen Somchai said the authorities were worried because pills were easier to smuggle onto the Thai market. "We make amphetamine arrests in the Central and Northern regions every day. Most of the arrests are in the North and the pills were smuggled into Thailand. Narcotics police nationwide recently completed training In drug suppression techniques and this had resulted in more arrests. They were working with counterparts in Malaysia, Burma, Laos and China to crack down on the import of chemicals used in drugs production. Cooperation with Cambodia and Vietnam would begin when those two countries were ready, he said. Pol Lt-Col Veerasak Meenavanich, who heads an amphetamine and inhalants suppression unit, said that apart from Khun Sa's army, minority groups in Burma such as the Haw Chinese and the Red Wa had turned to producing amphetamines for sale in Thailand. "The Burmese minority groups see that amphetamines are easier to make, easier to sell and they get the money more quickly. "They sell them to distributors at border areas and police are able to arrest only these -agents, not the producers over the border," said Pol Lt-Col Veerasak, deputy superintendent of the Crime Suppression Division's Second Sub-division. Taiwanese and Hong Kong traffickers and chemists produce a concentrated form of the drug on the outskirts of Bangkok. They hand this concentrate to Thai producers who use it to make amphetamines. They also sell their know-how to I Burmese minority groups, according to police. The involvement of Burmese 5 minority groups and foreign chemists has resulted in amphetamines taking two new forms - smokable and injectable in addition to the traditional pill. The pills cost about five baht each to make. They are sold to distributors for 20-30 baht each and then resold for 80-100 baht. The price recently hit 200 baht per pill, depending on the brand. Pol Lt-Col Veerasak said the popularity of amphetamines had spread from labourers and truck drivers to the public. ***************************************************************** Typed by the Research Department of the ABSDF {MTZ} 25.9.95 ***************************************************************** IWDC: CALENDAR/POSTCARD ANNOUNCEMENT September 1995 Dear Friend, The Indigenous Women's Development Center would like to tell you about our 1996 Calendar and Postcard set. Both products are in full colour and have been designed by IWDC to a professional quality. They will make attractive presents to give to friends, family, and colleagues for Christmas. We hope that in this way a wider market can be reached. By marketing overseas we hope that the message of these indigenous women will be remembered. The message of Aung San Suu Kyi is "I have been released. That's all. Nothing has changed." We hope you like the items we have produced. Each calendar contains: 28 pages of information and pictures 12 unique photographs of women and children from Burma Colour co-ordinated graphics and illustrations throughout Useful planning space for all your diary dates in 1996 Each postcard set contains: 9 different colour cards from the borders of Burma Plenty of writing space Order Details: (you can pay in US, UK, or Australian currency) price/item Air - 2 weeks Sea - 2 months Local (includes postage) US UK AUS US UK AUS Thai baht Calendar 8 5 10 6 4 8 100 Postcards 3 2 4 2.50 1.75 3.50 30 per set Minimum Overseas Order per Item: 10 To Order: Enclose: Name, Address, Tel/Fax, and check or money order For more information, contact: IWDC PO Box 169 Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai, Thailand Tel/Fax: 66-53-278-945