My apologies for the f6rmat. -glen ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"----------------------------------------------------------The BurmaNet News: October 3, 1995Issue#244Noted in Passing:As the process is going very smoothly, we don't need dialoguewith anybody.- Tin Winn, SLORC ambassador to Thailandon why the SLORC has not started a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi.(quoted in: BKK POST: SLORC 'WON'T DISCUSS REFORM WITHSUU KYI')Headlines:========BKK POST: SLORC 'WON'T DISCUSS REFORM WITH SUU KYI'WSJ: BURMESE FAMILY RETURNS FROM EXILE WITH KEYSBKK POST: SLORC'S KHIN NYUNT TO VISIT THAILANDBKK POST: MOEI RIVER RECLAMATION BEGINSFRDC: UPDATE FROM MASSACHUSETTSLETTER: ON MAKING "BEYOND RANGOON"ANNOUNCEMENT: PROTEST BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS----------------------------------------------------------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 wireservices and the Internet as well as original material arepublished.The BurmaNet News is e-mailed directly to subscribers and isalso distributed via the soc.culture.burma and seasia-lmailing lists and is also available via the reg.burmaconference on the APC networks. 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The scope of the subjectsinvolved is simplytoo broad for any one person to cover.BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteercoordinators to field questions on various subjects. If youhave questions on any of the following subjects, pleasedirect email to the following coordinators, who will eitheranswer your question or try to put you in contact withsomeone who can:Arakan/Rohingya/Burma- Michael W. CharneyBangladesh Border GoMaha@aol.comCampus activism: tlandon@u.washington.eduBoycott campaigns: [Pepsi] wcsbeau@superior.ccs.carleton.caBuddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission, brelief@gol.comChin history/culture: plilian@asc.corp.mot.comFonts: tom@cs.colgate.eduHistory of Burma: zni@students.wisc.eduKachin history/culture: 74750.1267@compuserve.comKaren history/culture: 102113.2571@Compuserve.com Karen Historical SocietyMon history/culture: [volunteer needed]Naga history/culture: Wungram Shishak, z954001@oats.farm.niu.eduBurma-India border [volunteer needed]Pali literature: "Palmleaf" c/o burmanet@igc.apc.orgShan history/culture: [volunteer needed]Shareholder activism: simon_billenness@mail.cybercom.netTourism campaigns: bagp@gn.apc.org "Attn. S.Sutcliffe"World Wide Web: FreeBurma@POBox.comVolunteering: christin@ksc.net.th[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]*************************************BKK POST: SLORC 'WON'T DISCUSS REFORM WITH SUU KYI'October 2, 1995BURMA'S military government will not discuss political reformswith opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to Rangoon'sambassador to Thailand.Reforms would continue to be undertaken solely by the as NationalConvention, Tin Winn said yesterday.The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council would leavethe future of the country to the convention that las beendrafting a new constitution since 1993."As the process is going very smoothly, we don't need dialoguewith anybody," he said.Earlier, there were expectations of talks between the regime andthe 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate to reform Burmese politicsfollowing her release from house arrest in July.Talks appeared possible when Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, sectary of themilitary regime, told United States Ambassador to the UnitedNations Madeleine Albright early last month that the government[s considering political dialogue with Suu Kyi.Convention members, criticised by opposition groups for beinghand-picked by military leaders, will gather for a new session onOctober 24-25 to continue work on the draft.The ambassador said he could not anticipate when the task wouldbe finished, but the next president needed military "knowledge"because his country required a strong government to unite 155minority groups."It is not true that the president must have a militarybackground, but must have military knowledge, he said. Civilianswho met this qualification would not be ruled out.The military would hold one of the two vice-president postsbecause of its right to take part in politics, although it didnot have a party, he said.The SLORC seized power in 1988. It refused to step down andaccept the result of the 1990 election in which Suu Kyi'sNational League for Democracy won by a landslide, although shewas under house arrest for a year before people voted.The SLORC refused to recognise the result, claiming the winningparty did not live up to its promise to draw up a newconstitution but instead called for the transfer of power fromthe military to the civilian administration, Tin Winn claimed.Burma had no constitution at that time as people refused toaccept the 1974 constitution written during Ne Win's one-partysystem.The ambassador claimed that before the election all partiespolitical leaders and the government discussed the drafting ofthe constitution and agreed the party that won j must initiatethe draft. However, after the NLD won it asked for the transferof power.Opposition groups dispute this, saying SLORC's declaration on thedrafty came almost a month after the election and was a tactic bythe military to retain power.The election was held in May. The announcement that electedmembers would draft a new constitution was dated July 27 andsigned by then Brig-Gen Khin Nyunt.****************************WSJ: BURMESE FAMILY RETURNS FROM EXILE WITH KEYSTO UNLOCK RECLUSIVE NATION September 27, 1995 By Jeremy MarkRANGOON, Burma -- As Asia's more-reclusive socialist statesemerged from isolation in the past 20 years, the role ofreintroducing them to the world was often played by countrymenwho found their fortunes as emigres.Now it's Burma's turn. The closeted nation is trying tocatch up with booming Southeast Asia, and a group of Burmesewhose families once chose exile are coming home to help showBurma the way."It's a chance of a lifetime," says Halpin Ho, the scion ofa Burmese-Chinese family that left three decades ago afterits businesses were nationalized. Now he's sitting on theveranda of a lakeside Rangoon hotel run by his family,discussing plans for millions of dollars in future investments."I know the situation inside [Burma]," Mr. Ho says, "I knowthe situation outside. I have the backing of foreign companies.If I can make a contribution to my country, I will make my markin history."Mr. Ho's family, which controls the Ho Group of gem andreal-estate businesses in Thailand, is working closely withKerry Financial Services Ltd. of Hong Kong, which itself isa part of the empire of Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok. Kerryand Ho Group are partners in Irrawaddy Advisors Ltd., a smallRangoon-based company that is overseeing direct investmentsin Burma by the $28 million Myanmar Fund, listed in Dublin.One of the Myanmar Fund's investments is in the Hos' KandawgyiLake Hotel, which is completing a $20 million, 234-room expansion.The Ho family lost everything when the Burmese military tookpower in the early 1960s and launched the country down theroad to economic stagnation. The family was split up for years,with some children staying behind. "We had a lot of businessesand property, and then we were refugees with nothing," says the40-year-old Mr. Ho.The family eventually fetched up in Bangkok, where it started over.Mr. Ho worked in the family business, sweeping floors and sortingstones as a child and eventually presiding over its expansioninto property development in Thailand."For a long time we were scared to come back. Then I came backthree and a half years ago and it wasn't like everybody was saying.Burma has its faults, but there are also good sides."The family is now planning a $200 million commercial center inBurma, complete with offices and a convention center. Mr. Hohopes to bring together major corporate investors from aroundSoutheast Asia to build the center. An industrial park is alsoin the works.*****************************************************************BKK POST: SLORC'S KHIN NYUNT TO VISIT THAILAND BEFOREASEAN SUMMIT October 2, 1995BURMA'S key military figure Khin Nyunt, will pay an officialvisit to Thailand before the ASEAN summit starts on December 15.Rangoon's ambassador Tin Winn said yesterday the visit might takeplace just after the third week of October when Ohn Gyaw returnsfrom the United Nations General Assembly in New York.Tin Winn said the Thai Embassy in Rangoon on September 7officially invited Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt to visit Thailand as guestof Deputy Prime Minister Amnuay Viravan.Thailand hopes the visit by the Secretary No.1 of the State Lawand Order Restoration Council will improve strained ties.Tin Winn said the delay in accepting an invitation from Mr Amnuaytwo years ago was not because of problems along the border butbecause of the effect the change of foreign minister inThailand's previous government had on the timing.Burma supported a meeting of leaders of all 10 Southeast Asiancountries as part of the ASEAN summit, but it would not considerattending until it received an official invitation from the host,Thailand, he said.The meeting would be a fundamental step toward all 10 nationsbecoming ASEAN members, he said.Burma acceded to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Julyand is seeking observer status from the group.ASEAN has made clear that Rangoon will not be given automaticobserver status upon accession. The treaty is the first step forcountries in the region to apply for membership.Tin Winn said Burma would not rush to join the group until it wasready to play a part in the organisation.*****************************************************************BKK POST: MOEI RIVER RECLAMATION BEGINSOctober 1, 1995MAE SOT _ Thai border authorities have been dismantling allstructures on reclaimed land along the Moei River to complete thework by today's deadline.Mae Sot District Chief Kasem Wattanatham yesterday instructeddeputy district chief Chalee Inket to monitor the dismantling ofthe remaining structures encroaching on the river banks and toinform Burmese authorities in Myawaddy border town, opposite thesite, of the work.Local Mae Sot officials said they hoped the Burmese would besatisfied with Thailand's move and subsequently resumeconstruction the Thai-Burmese bridge across the Moei River whichwas suspended early this year after the land encroachment on theThai side.Deputy Agriculture Minister Montree Danpaibool on Wednesday wentto Mae Sot to hand over Bt600,000 in compensation to owners ofthe 16 structures.*****************************************************************Typed by the Research Department of the ABSDF {MTZ} 2.10.95*****************************************************************FRDC: UPDATE FROM MASSACHUSETTSSeptember 27, 1995MASSACHUSETTS BURMA ROUNDTABLEThe next Roundtable will take place on Tuesday, October 10. It makes sensenot to meet on Columbus Day Monday... The meeting will start at 7pm at theoffice of Franklin Research & Development at 711 Atlantic Avenue 4th floor,just across the street from South Station and opposite the Greyhound Busterminal.Massachusetts Burma Roundtable Draft Agenda1. Massachusetts Selective Purchasing Legislation (H2833) update by Simon Billenness2. Student Activism Update update by Dorothy Chan, Miriam Leibowitz, Adam Richards3. Cambridge Selective Purchasing Legislation update by Ann Stewart4. Future Activities Brainstorming BURMESE STUDENT LEADER VISITS BOSTONMoe Thee Zun, the Chairman of the All Burma Students Democratic Front, willbe in the Boston area next week and making several speaking engagements. In1988, Moe Thee Zun took part in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and wasforced to flee to the Thai-Burma border in 1989. You can meet him at thefollowing events:October 2; 7pm-9pm.Alumni Lounge, Student Center, Brandeis Universitycontact: Miriam Leibowitz: (617) 736 8250 st931523@pip.cc.brandeis.eduOctober 4; 8pm-10pmEmerson 105, Harvard Yardcontact: Adam Richards (617) 491 7510 arichard@husc.harvard.eduMoe Thee Zun and Simon Billenness will be guests of Amnesty International onBe Live, Channel 55, Cambridge Community TV from 6pm-6.30pm on October 2. Final Push on Massachusetts Burma Bill!On September 18, the Massachusetts Senate Ways & Means Committee favorablyreported out H2833, State Rep. Byron Rushing's bill that would bar the statefrom buying goods or services from companies doing business in Burma.The bill is scheduled to be debated by the Senate Steering & PolicyCommittee on October 18. If it is reported out of this Committee, the billwill go to the Senate floor for its final vote. *** Please use the enclosedletters to write your State Senator and Governor Weld in support of thebill. ***Simon Billenness, Franklin Research, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111(617) 423 6655 x225 simon_billenness@mail.cybercom.net---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------SEND A LETTER TO YOUR STATE SENATOR...Senator ________Massachusetts SenateState House, MA 02133-1053Dear Senator __________:I am writing to ask your support for H2833, Representative Byron Rushing'sbill that would bar state purchasing managers from buying goods or servicesfrom companies doing business with the ruling Burmese military junta. Thebill has already passed the House and was favorably reported out of theSenate Ways & Means Committee on September 18. Specifically, I am requestingthat you write to Senator Edward Clancy, the Chairman of the Steering &Policy Committee, to ask him to report H2833 out of committee quickly andfavorably so that it can come to a floor vote.(Include a personal paragraph here. If possible, mention your personal andfamily history in Massachusetts and in your State Senator's district.Explain your interest in Burma.)Despite the recent release of pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace PrizeLaureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the struggle for democracy in Burma is not over.It was not until two years after the release of Nelson Mandela that hecalled for a lifting of economic sanctions on South Africa. As a recentBoston Globe editorial noted: "Efforts to isolate the junta must continueuntil the colonels permit the Burmese to retrieve a legitimate,representative government. The world can be certain that Suu Kyi will demandno less."Other cities and states are also considering laws that would effectively barthe purchase of goods or services from companies doing business in Burma.In February, Berkeley, California, became the first city to pass such a law.In August, the City of Madison, Wisconsin, passed similar legislation. Onthe federal level, Senator Mitch McConnell (Rep. Kentucky) has introducedthe Free Burma Act (S1092), a bill imposing tough federal economic sanctionson Burma.Massachusetts has a proud history of support for democracy and human rightsboth at home and abroad. The Massachusetts legislature played a leading rolein the successful struggle against apartheid in South Africa and continuesto press for peace in Northern Ireland. I ask you to build on thistradition by supporting H2833.You can obtain the name of your state senator by calling the State House at(617) 727-2121 or by calling CPPAX (address below).Please send a copy of your letter to Citizens for Participation in PoliticalAction (CPPAX), 25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111. If you have anyquestions, contact Julia Carpenter at CPPAX at (617) 426 3040 or cppax@aol.com.----------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...AND DON'T FORGET TO WRITE GOVERNOR WELD TOO!Governor William WeldState House, MA 02133-1053Dear Governor Weld:I am writing to ask your support for H2833, Representative Byron Rushing'sbill that would bar state purchasing managers from buying goods or servicesfrom companies doing business with the ruling Burmese military junta. Thebill has already passed the House. It was favorably reported out of theSenate Ways & Means Committee on September 18 and will soon come to a floorvote.(Include a personal paragraph here. If possible, mention your personal andfamily history in Massachusetts and in your State Senator's district.Explain your interest in Burma.)Despite the recent release of pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace PrizeLaureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the struggle for democracy in Burma is not over.It was not until two years after the release of Nelson Mandela that hecalled for a lifting of economic sanctions on South Africa. As a recentBoston Globe editorial noted: "Efforts to isolate the junta must continueuntil the colonels permit the Burmese to retrieve a legitimate,representative government. The world can be certain that Suu Kyi will demandno less."Other cities and states are also considering laws that would effectively barthe purchase of goods or services from companies doing business in Burma.In February, Berkeley, California, became the first city to pass such a law.In August, the City of Madison, Wisconsin, passed similar legislation. Onthe federal level, Senator Mitch McConnell (Rep. Kentucky) has introducedthe Free Burma Act (S1092), a bill imposing tough federal economic sanctionson Burma.Massachusetts has a proud history of support for democracy and human rightsboth at home and abroad. The Massachusetts legislature played a leading rolein the successful struggle against apartheid in South Africa and continuesto press for peace in Northern Ireland. I ask you to build on thistradition by supporting H2833 and signing it into law at the earliestpossible opportunity.Please send a copy of your letter to Citizens for Participation in PoliticalAction (CPPAX), 25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111. If you have anyquestions, contact Julia Carpenter at CPPAX at (617) 426 3040 or cppax@aol.com.*****************************LETTER: ON MAKING "BEYOND RANGOON"Professor U Kyaw WinDear Paul Haakenson:You better believe that "Beyond Rangoon" is realistic. I was the specialadvisor on location in Malaysia for five months and acted as the monk atthe huge reclining Buddha and ASSK's elder escort at the rally when troopsimpeded our path with orders to shoot.Every incident in the movie's Burma background was true even though theywere transplanted at other locations exercising artistic license. I madesure of that. Burmese witnesses to the events of Aug/Sep 1988 faulted mefor not showing much more blood than was done by John Boorman. Story ofLaura is, of course, fiction. But many Aung Ko's lost their jobs foraiding students in earlier uprisings.Professor U Kyaw WinOrange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA 92626e-mail: win@cccd.eduphone: (714) 432-5860****************************ANNOUNCEMENT: PROTEST BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONSON THE 3RD OF OCTOBERFrom: JULIEN MOE A demonstration will be staged before the United Nations in New York on the3rd of October,1995.The demonstration will be attended by the Burmesestudents and members of NCGUB and all interested paties are cordially invitedto present themselves before UN at 12 noon on the 3rd of October.Thedemonstration will be staged with a view to protest against the Burmesegovernment's delegation to UN and influence the UN to modify its standtowards Burma.