My apologies for the format. -glen ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"----------------------------------------------------------The BurmaNet News: December 11, 1995Issue #298HEADINGS:=========WEST BURMA GROUPS: COOPERATION AMONG PRO-DEMOC GROUPSASSK: MESSAGE OF HOPE TO THE ASAHI SHIMBUN AND WIESELNCGUB: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE KARENS INMS MAIREAD MAGUIRE ET AL: OPEN LETTER ON TRADE WITH BURMATHE STRAIT TIMES INTERACTIVE: LIN MINGXIAN: GREATER THAN KHUN SABKK POST: BURMA OFFERS CERTIFICATES FOR CASH EXCHANGENATION: TWO KILLED ON BURMA BORDER.BURMANET: BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF--------------------------------------------------------------------------WEST BURMA GROUPS: COOPERATION AMONG PRO-DEMOC GROUPSDecember 4, 2995From: fdhr!chan@unv.ernet.inIt is informed that Indian sector of Burmese struggle for democracystaged a remarkable occasion of diamond jubilee of Rangoon Universityin New Delhi this afternoon. The organizing committee arranged a grandcelebration with full cooperation of all different groups in India.NCGUB ministers and a monk of the ABYMU were the chairpersons of theceremony. Messages from ABSDF, ABSL, FTUB, YOUNG, IBSA were read.According to the agenda, all participants saluted the Union of Burmaand paid respect to those sacrificed in the revolution. A band of musicsang the songs of pro-democracy struggle. Papers regarding to the occasion wereread out. A group of Burmese students entertained an amusing "Anyeint" to theaudience. The ethnic songs of Arakan, Chin and Karen were also entertained.The NCGUB, in the speech said that such a cooperation was very encouragingfor the cause of democracy in Burma and asked all groups to intensify theireffort towards the goal in accordance with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD's stance.Among others were Indian Burmese who extend their full support to thecause of peace and democracy in Burma. It is also to be noted that Indian mediais writing a lot about Burma now-a-days which was rarely seen before.While Thailand is incorrectly trying for pro-SLORC policy, India deservesacknowledgment.*************************************************ASSK: MESSAGE OF HOPE TO THE ASAHI SHIMBUN AND WIESELFOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN HIROSHIMADecember 6, 1995From: brelief@gol.comMessageHOPE BUILDS WILL AGAINST REPRESSIONExcerpts from a message relayed to the conference fromRangoon, Burma, by Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel PeacePrize laureate, and general secretary of the National Leaguefor Democracy.Asahi Evening News, December 6, 1996What is hope? It is that spark in all of us that reaches out tothe light even at times when it seems darkness must prevailforever. It might be asked if hope is not after all self.deception, a foolish persistence in believing good can stillcome out of a situation that seems wholly fashioned from theingredients of despair. I would like to make a distinctionbetween meaningful hope and wishful thinking. There is tohope a positive force that calls for intelligent action. Merewishfulness unaccompanied by endeavor cannot qualify forthe honorable epithet of hope.Hope is the prerogative of those who strive continuously togo beyond the barriers of complacency and ignorance, ofhate and fear, of resignation and apathy. Those who havelived under long years of authoritarian rule understand bestthe unquenchable spirit that insists on the sacred nature ofhuman dignity in the face of brutal repression. It is becausethere are always great minds and hearts which hold out hopefor the downtrodden and oppressed that the world has turnedagain and again from the brink of disaster, that humanity hasagain and again risen, phoenix - like from man-madeholocausts.The hope of the great majority of people in Burma today is avery simple one - We want a secure, dignified existence,protected by the rule of just laws and a political system thatguarantees the basic human rights recognized by the UnitedNations as indispensable if the future is to be free of'barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience ofmankind.' As the party which received the mandate of thepeople through free and fair elections, the National Leaguefor Democracy of which I am the general secretary has aduty to work for national reconciliation and the restorationof Burma to full and early democracy, guided by the will ofthe people and the dictates of the highest political andhumanitarian values.There are no problems that cannot be surmounted if allconcerned are prepared to look for solutions together inmutual good will and trust. The National League forDemocracy and all others working to bring peace and justiceto Burma will continue to strive for conditions that willpromote a substantive political dialogue through which theaspirations of the people can be realized. The way aheadmay be fraught with difficulties and dangers, but we willpersevere, strong in the knowledge that we have behind usthe moral force of all right - thinking men and women.****************************************************NCGUB: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE KARENS INKNU'S TOUNGOO DISTRICTDecember 4, 995From: "nyuntpaung a-so-ya" On November 30, 1995, troops from No. 1 Tactical Operations ledby Myo Hla, Tactical Operations Commander of the WesternMilitary Command surrounded Kaw Thay Dae - Khalelar village andabducted 100 villagers to serve as human mine sweepers and tocarry war supplies.One of the villagers who were made to walk in front of thetroops carrying military supplies stepped on a mine at Palo Mudevillage on that same day and lost a leg. He is Saw Pya Reh, 30,a villager from Kaw Thay De and a father of five. Also, avillager from Baw So Kho village lost both his legs and an armwhen he stepped on a mine in Bu Sar Htar field on December 2, 1995.The villagers are still being forced to work as porters andhuman mine sweepers today.On November 30, Aung Kyi Sein, commander of the 440th LightInfantry Regiment under No. 1 Tactical Operations of the WesternMilitary Command, shot and killed Saw Tha Kale, 30, father offour, from Kaw Thay De village.It is reported that six columns of troops -- two columns eachfrom the 55th Infantry Regiment, the 20th Infantry Regiment andthe 535th Light Infantry Regiment -- are actively operating inareas along the road in Thandaung township.***********************************MS MAIREAD MAGUIRE ET AL: OPEN LETTER ON TRADE WITH BURMA4 December, 1995, LondonSir: The British Government, through the Department of Trade and Industry,is holding a seminar in London on Tuesday this week aimed at stimulatinginterest in investment and trade in Burma. This seminar is the prelude to a DTItrade mission to Rangoon in February next year. Despite the welcome release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from six years of housearrest, there have been no other positive changes in Burma. In fact, under thebrutal State Law and Order Resolution Council, hundreds of political prisonersremain in jail, including MPs elected in 1990, and there have been furtherarrests. Serious human rights abuses continue, many of them directly linked toenergy and tourism projects. Contrary to the British Government's claim that"trade access provide s a degree of leverage", increased trade and investmentwith the military regime only exacerbates suffering in Burma. The DTI's promotion coincides with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's firm request thatoverseas investors should "wait" until peace and democracy have been restored toBurma. In the US, selective purchasing legislation is being adopted by city andstate councils who refuse to support the regime. The recent events in Nigeria are a reminder of the consequences of investingin countries with ruthless military regimes. Unfortunately, this is a lessonthat the British Government appears to prefer to ignore. Instead of doingbusiness with the generals, we should be looking at way to encourage the regimeto stop its business of repression. Yours faithfully, Mairead Maguire (Nobel Laureate), Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Nobel Laureate),Glenys Kinnock (MEP), Sir David Steel, MP, Yvette Mahon (Burma Action Group),Patricia Barnett (Tourism Concern)***********************************************THE STRAIT TIMES INTERACTIVE: LIN MINGXIAN: GREATER THAN KHUN SADecember 8, 1995, SingaporeFrom: "Moe K. T." A GREATER threat than the notorious drug lord, Khun Sa, has emerged in theGolden Triangle heroin trade. Lin Mingxian, a former field commander ofMyanmar's Communist Party, heads an operation in the Golden Triangle, anarea that extends from eastern Myanmar to Yunnan province in China withdrug routes running through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.According to a report in this month's issue of the Reader's Digest, Lin ismore dangerous than Khun Sa because his allies are none other than theleaders of the ruling military junta in Myanmar. Officially recognised byMyanmar as a "local militia commander", he enjoys a public life, unlikeKhun Sa, who has to hide out in the jungle.The Reader's Digest reported that Lin, born around 1950 of Shan-Chineseparentage, had led thousands of tribesmen in several successful militarycampaigns against government forces in the 70s. He first entered the drugtrade in 1980 with his marriage to an ethnic Chinese whose father was aCommunist military commander trafficking in opium as a flourishingsideline. Lin and his father-in-law became rich and developed a taste forexpensive imported goods. In 1989, they ended their links with the communistsand seized the party's armoury.The ruling junta in Yangon reached an understanding with Lin for fear thathis well-armed rebels would link up with other non-communist insurgentgroups such as the Karens and the Mons, according to the article. Lin wasallowed to engage in any kind of trade as long as his troops did not joinother guerrillas in attacking the government.US government sources cited in the article said that his operation had beentracked for some time by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. But theysaid that the drug trade could not be stopped without political change inMyanmar. Traffickers such as Lin Mingxian would continue to thrive with thegovernment's present attitude, they added.According to the article, Lin was a delegate to a National Convention thatwill draft a new constitution for Myanmar. And when the drug lord visitedYangon, he was a guest of one of the military junta leaders.************************************************BKK POST: BURMA OFFERS CERTIFICATES FOR CASH EXCHANGE.December 10, 1995THE government on Friday inaugurated ten counters downtown whereits official Foreign Exchange Certificates can be exchanged forBurmese currency.The system of foreign exchange certificates issued indenominations of $10,5 and 1,- was instituted in February 1993 tocontrol a rampant black market in hard currencies. The Burmesekyat has an official exchange rate of 5.60 to the dollar, whileon the free market a dollar fetches 100 to 120 kyat.Foreigners can change their travellers cheques and hardcurrencies for the certificates which are treated as the equivalentof the hard currencies, and an be exchanged for Burmese currencyat government banks, authorised hotels and money changers.It is illegal for Burmese citizens to old foreign currencies, butthey can keep and use the FECs legally. They are widely used forcertain transactions, such as facilitating the installaion of atelephone line, which is accomplished much more quickly if thepayment is in foreign currency.Central Bank Governor Kyi Aye aid the new counters wereopened to 'regulate the informal market" in the certificates.The counters were offering 120 kyats per dollar value of theFECs, and Kyi Aye said the rate would be adjusted according tothe market.*****************************************************************NATION: TWO KILLED ON BURMA BORDERDecember 11, 1995 Mae Sot(BurmaNet Editor's Note: A DKBA attack on Shoklo refugee camp is rumoredto be about to take place tonight. DKBA soldiers were sighted coming downthe Moei River in the direction of the camp earlier today. One DKBA soldierwas said to have been killed when two boats crashed into each other.)Gunmen from Burma killed a Thai border policeman yesterday in a clashsouth of this northwestern town. One of the gunmen also died in the shoot-outand several other people were believed wounded, a Thai police officer said.Fighting started after a border police patrol encountered a the gunmen abouta kilometre inside Thia territory and raged for several hours.The Thai force called in support from an army helicopter gunship. The gunmenwere believed to be members of Burma's Karen minority, but it was not clear ifthey were from a guerrilla group opposed to the Rangoon government or from abreakaway faction allied with Rangoon, the officer said.********************************************************************BURMANET: BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF (compiled from various sources)TAISEI'S BURMA BASETaisei [1801] is fortifying its expanding its overseas operations,particularly in Asia. For example, the construction company has establishing agateway office in Rangoon, Burma. Built in anticipation of future economicgrowth in the country, in the first half of FY95 this representative officeserved as a gateway for communication with overseas Chinese companies andsucceeded in securing three large-scale construction projects.AIRLINES, TRAVEL FIRMS TARGETING BURMAJapanese airlines and travel agencies are riveting their eyes on Burma,hoping to cash in on tourists visiting the country slowly making its way towarddemocratization. Forecasting an increase in passenger demand, Japan Airlines,All Nippon Airways and Japan Air System plan to start direct flights to theBurmese capital of Rangoon next year. Among travel agencies, Kinki NipponTourist co. has started selling a package tour. In 1994, foreign tourists visitingBurma totaled roughly 88,000, of which Japanese accounted for some 10 percent.INDIA- BURMA AIR LINK RESTORED AFTER 20 YEARSAir traffic between India and Burma is being restored after a gap of twodecades. Indian Airlines will for the first time in recent years introduceCalcutta- Yangon Rangoon bi-weekly flights from Thursday 7th December. It willbe available on every Thursday and Sunday.TOYOTA OPENS SERVICE CENTER IN BURMAToyota motor corp. has opened an after- sale service center in Rangoon,Burma, to capitalize on expected growth in auto demand in that country, thecompany said. The new after-sale service center is called Aye and Sonsltd; Although Toyota exported only 11 vehicles to Burma in the first ninemonths of this year, the company plans to ship 150 to the country next year.*********************************************************