My apologies for the format. -glen ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"----------------------------------------------------------The BurmaNet News: December 14, 1995Issue #301Noted in Passing: In another foolhardy speech of hers with the delusion of grandeur she claims that in the Irrawaddy Delta region people are starving and that they had to go to places of charity to get bowl of boiled rice. - Tun Shwe, Myanmar News Agency, on Aung San Suu Kyi (see MYANMAR -TELE-FAX NEWS AGENCY: TRUE FACTS OF THE LIES)HEADINGS:=========BURMANET: AN UPDATE TO "BAD NEWS AT THE VOA"THWIN AND WIN: THREE CHEERS FOR VOAMYANMAR -TELE-FAX NEWS AGENCY: TRUE FACTS OF THE LIESKNU: STATEMENT OF KNU ON FUTURE COURSE OF BURMAKNU: COMMENCEMENT OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN KNU AND SLORCABSDF NEWS AGENCY: FORCED LABOUR, RAPE AND OTHER ABUSESNATION:BURMA HITS THAILAND WITH COMPENSATION DEMANDNATION:BURMA: HIDDEN MOTIVES OR JUST FACING REALITY?BKK POST:PROTEST FURY AT BURMA'S INVITATION TO SUMMIT----------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------BURMANET: AN UPDATE TO "BAD NEWS AT THE VOA"December 13, 1995 strider@igc.apc.org "Bad News at the VOA" was posted to thenet and faxed out at about 1:00am last Fridaymorning. By 8:30 that morning, the Director's officeof the VOA phoned and we will meet this coming Fridaymorning. To VOA's credit, they responded immediately tothe allegations, appear to be taking them seriously and areinvestigating. There is not much more that one could askfrom a government agency. The genesis of the article on the VOA was an incident Iwitnessed just after the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Immediatelyafter her release, correspondents from the VOA and BritishBroadcasting Company asked for interviews. BBC got a long,live interview. The VOA correspondents remainedstuck outside the gate for several days until one finally got afifteen minute interview. The VOA correspondent had to shareeven that time with other journalists. VOA has sincegotten other interviews, but it was enlightening to see who, duringthe initial confusion, was viewed with respect and who was not. After that, I spent some time in Rangoon talking to people who listen to VOA, BBC and the Democratic Voice of Burma. The generalassessment was that the VOA was inferior at best, and pro-SLORC atworst. The US Government is supposed to be on the side ofdemocracy in Burma so it was disturbing that our natural friends andallies would look at any American official and see SLORC. Isuppose it's no great revelation that not everyone who is supposed to beon the side of democracy is a friend, but it's disappointing nonetheless. The Associated Press has now done an article on similar allegationscoming from pro-democracy groups based in Thailand andthe Washington Times is working on an article as well. The VOA isdoing an internal investigation and has broadcast news of theallegations to Burma. At least one Congressional oversight committeeis looking into this as well. But I'm not sure that all this is good news. VOA news is essential in countries other than Burma. Wherever agovernment controls the media, alternatives like the VOA areinvaluable. Despite the VOA's importance, it has powerful enemies inthe Congress who would like to kill it. As flawed as the Burmese- languageservice is, it would be a disaster for the VOA's enemies to use thisissue to harm the entire agency. All of this points up that the issue is notpunishing individual wrong doing, but is instead about quickly removingany bias in the programming. The stakes in all of this are 80 minutes--the80 minutes a day that VOA broadcasts to Burma. A Burmese student put itbest when she wrote to me: The people of Burma have no clue as to the true situation of the world or the pro-democracy movement. Everything that the SLORC tells is a lie and they depend on the radio for true information about life and society. The VOA, which comes on 40 minutes in the morning and 40 minutes at night in Burma, is their lifeline to the world and to their goal for a better future. [Those who broadcast biased news] are destroying the hopes of the 45 million people in Burma for freedom and democracy."And now for some good news. An article posted from an account previouslyused to distribute SLORC views has posted an article praising the VOA'sBurmese language service. If the SLORC likes it, something must bewrong. And there is this from VOA listeners in Thailand: ...since Tuesday, [VOA] coverage changed dramatically. For the first time, the coverage was primarily pro-democracy: coverage of the UN Resolution and an analysis of Aung San Suu Kyi's views on the National Convention. They also called up Maung Maung Aye, Information Minister of the NCGUB, for an interview. They haven't done anything like this in ages. All pro-democracy people here are really thrilled with the change and just praying it lasts! Finally, I should make a correction and a clarification. In the originalarticle, I referred to the VOA Director as Jesse Cowan. I've since beentold that it is Geoffrey(sp?), not Jesse Cowan. My apologiesto Mr. Cowan for getting that wrong. Also, I want to make clear thatI don't speak for anyone but myself. If you have questionsabout the views of any individual or organization referred to in my article,you'll have to ask them directly. I apologize to BurmaNet readers for notstating that clearly from the start.Regards, Douglas Steele Washington, DC**************************************************THWIN AND WIN: THREE CHEERS FOR VOADecember 12, 19995From: news.reporter@unique.com(BurmaNet Editor's Note: This account has been used to post SLORCpropaganda in the past. This is the article referred to above by DouglasSteele.) It is with much interest that we read the information in the BurmaNet under the heading "Bad News at the Voice of America." We are also an avid listeners of the V.O.A whenever we are in Burma (Myanmar) when we were away from our homes in L.A. We have been coming and going from L.A to Yangon onnumerous occasion and now we are running a successful business in Yangon and Mandalay for almost (3) years. It is also veryinteresting to note that a large number of Myanmar familiesresiding in the United States have frequently travelled toMyanmar and is quite in picture with what is taking place in thecountry. As in any country in the world we find things inMyanmar in (3) categories. Things we approve, disapprove andsome we do not really care to comment upon. But as always wehave to keep in mind that who are we to criticize every step acertain government takes in running its country. But it is also very interesting to learn that most of us livingin the United States, before actually travelling over to visit Myanmarand observe the changes taking place in that country. We werethen very much cautious and reluctant to travel to Myanmar andsome of us who pioneered the visit after 1988 was regarded as theApollo (11) crew members who landed and set foot on the moon. Strangely and surprisingly enough, situation in Myanmarwas very different from what we have been reading and hearingover in the United States. Frequent travelling and correspondencewith the people of the country has kept us abreast of the currentsituation of Myanmar. We may not agree on everything the presentgovernment in Myanmar is doing but it cannot also be ignored ofthe achievement Myanmar has made in a short period of time. Weare also proud and happy to see Myanmar prosper and taking herrightful place in the region regardless of which party ororganization is running the country. Our main concern is for thepeople of Myanmar and the country of Myanmar. It is our beliefthat the country is taking the correct path and with the stability andpeace she has achieved combining with its abundant naturalresources and industrious working force. There is no stopping heron her way to success. Really, we do not wish this to beundermined just because of party politics. It is also our belief that V.O.A especially the Burmeselanguage service should also broadcast information which is accurateand objective instead of always being ridiculously bias and onesided. The V.O.A in our view should be commended for sendingher senior staff members to Myanmar to update itself on the currentsituation in the country and getting the outlook of the people of allwalks of life including the antigovernment sector. Bias reportingdoes not always work especially when the target countryhas opened its doors to foreign visitors. Information is coming backfrom various sources and once the truth has been realized the onesided media or station will lose face no doubt. Frankly, we are very glad that V.O.A is not letting itself bea tool of a certain group or organizations with their own selfinterested agendas. We the American citizens of Myanmarcommends the V.O.A for trying to live up to its high standards ininforming its listeners. We do also applaud the visiting V.O.A staffin Myanmar for their donations for the charities over there. This iswhat people of all countries regardless of religion or race shouldbe doing to make our world become a better place to live in. Ofcourse, if the contribution was for an unjust cause we may saythings differently but to find fault for this noble cause is we thinkgoing a bit to far to the extreme. We are also very much surprised by the statement, AmericanPolicy is to treat the SLORC as a pariah. "The surprise was notbecause of the policy to treat SLORC as a pariah but because ofthe fact that U.S now seems to have a foreign policy even thoughwe know its policy in Asia is never consistent. Well in conclusion, we would again like to commend V.O.Afor living up to its own charters and rules and also for not lettingitself be used by certain elements for their own self interestedagendas. V.O.A is and always will be the Voice of America andnever the Voice of Anti as some wishes it to be.Thwin & Win (L.A)********************************************************MYANMAR -TELE-FAX NEWS AGENCY: TRUE FACTS OF THE LIESDecember 12, 1995From: news.reporter@unique.com(BurmaNet Editor's Note: Note the e-mail address above is the sameas the previous letter on the VOA. We can assume that this is alsocoming from representatives of the SLORC.) Recently while US president Bill Clinton was in DublinAFP reported that the President was concerned about Myanmar, inthat press report Bill Clinton also mentioned that the other WesternGovernments and the United Nations were also concerned. Insteadof believing to the hearsay, misinformation and slanderousremarks which came out of self proclaimed opposition leader SuKyi. The US President and the United Nations should make athorough investigation and research about our country, since sheseems to be suffering from some strange malady and whenever anopportunity arises her inner feeling turns into malignant remarks.As an international organization UN should not make hastyassumption and nobody should give Su Kyi an opportunity to pullwool over their eyes. We are peace loving and hard working people and we wishto improve our standard of living and the progress of our economy.Our efforts and endeavor are aimed at reconstructing our countryand achieving the stated political, economic and social objectives. Su Kyi claims that our economy is in chaos and our peopleare starving. She also claims that in Hlaing Tharyar village thepeople cannot afford to eat rice, instead they had to buy stickywater like glue in bottles, which are the residue from the cookedrice. She alleges the price per bottle is 2 Kyats, but her cohorts inthe crowd shouted that it was now 5 Kyats. She also claims that theprice are very high and a run away inflation existed. The remarks about the rice water sold in bottles are falseand we can assure you that in our country of abundance the socalled rice water were fed to the dogs. But a young industrialistfound an opportunity by mixing coal or saw dust with this ricewater which is similar to glue and by processing through aheating machine and he is marketing a substitute fuel for domesticusage. We are friends of the Earth and we conserve energy, and wereforest for the future generations. In another foolhardy speech of hers with the delusion ofgrandeur she claims that in the Irrawaddy Delta region people arestarving and that they had to go to places of charity to get bowl ofboiled rice. This is rather comical because the region she stated isknown as the rice bowl of Myanmar. We have no sympathy but pityher cry for desperation and gasping for the last breath of herpolitical life. In Myanmar we have three seasons and they are dry, wetand cold season. Recently we had our rainy season's crop that hadbeen harvested. This harvest of rice is by tradition offered to theMonks and the general public as boiled rice, which has all kind ofmeat included. This offering of boiled rice is called the offering of"Yah-hu"and it is a joyous occasion with traditional dances andmusic and we all share "Yah-hu", good deeds and merits. Thisillustrates Su Kyi's stupidity and ignorance and her lack ofknowledge of our customs and traditional values. With our National unity and ingenuity we will prevail. Oursociety is an open society and our country is also welcominganyone who wishes to visit us with good will in their mind andheart. We wish to invite all the sceptics and doubting Thomas outthere to come to our country for a visit to see and experience theopenness and the progress of our country. One should not drawhasty and undue conclusions from thousands of miles away justbecause one fouled mouth self centered and self declared so calledopposition leader makes false remarks out of her fantasy.Mr. Tun ShweInternational CorrespondentMyanmar-Tele-Fax News AgencyP.O Box 1187******************************************************KNU: STATEMENT OF KNU ON FUTURE COURSE OF BURMADecember 13, 1995Office of the Supreme headquartersKaren National UnionKawthooleiThe Karen National Union (KNU) would like to congratulate the RoyalThai Government on its hosting of the Fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok.On December 15, ASEAN heads of government are scheduled to meet withleaders of the governments of Cambodia, Laos, and General Than Shwe,Chairman of Burma's military junta, the State Law and Order RestorationCouncil (SLORC).The KNU therefore would like to appeal to ASEAN leaders to use theirprestige and influence to the utmsot to persuad Gen. Than Shwe of theneed for the SLORC to urgently make a real commitment to peace, freedomand democracy in Burma.When the SLORC seized power in 1988, it promised to return power tothe people of Burma through mulit-party elections. In the May 1990elections, the NLD led by Nobel Peace Laureate, Daw Aung San SuuKyi, won a landslide victory. However, the SLORC refused to handover power and tried to re-establish its political credibility through aso-called National Convention packed with its hand-picked delegates.The SLORC's National Convention was charged with laying down theprinciples for a new state constitution. By stage-managing the proceedingsand harassing the delegates, the SLORC has tried to defy the will of thepeople and ensure adoption of a constitution which guarantees continuingmilitary domination.Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD statement of 22nd November pointedout this unpleasant truth. The unpleasant past from which we in Burmamust struggle to escape is the more than 30 years of military dictatorshipand 46 years of civil war.It is our studied opinion that the ASEAN leaders should as Gen. Than Shwefor indications of real steps toward solutions for Burma's political troubles.The KNU believes that it is not only necessary but possible to turn aroundthe depressing political history of Burma. It requires the will of all politicalgroups in Burma to find a genuine solution to the underlying politicalproblems. The KNU has the will and so do the organizations which make upthe National Council of the Union of Burma. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi hasthe will and so does her party.The SLORC has acknowledged that there are political problems which underliethe political unrest and cilvil war in Burma, but until now they have not beenprepared to listen to the people with regard to a solution. Recently, AungSan Suu Kyi, long having called for dialogue with the SLORC, proposed thatthe National Convention might become the focus of such dialogue. Represent-atives of the NLD, who have taken part in the SLORC's National Convention,listed the factors which prevent the delegates from dealing openly and honestlywith the task of preparing a new constitution. This was a constructive attemptto explore solutions to Burma's problems. The SLORC once again refused toopen the door. The SLORC claims credit for bringing about cease-fires witharmed ethnic organizations so as to end the long civil war, but it has refuseduntil now to talk to those organisations about the political settlement necessaryto bring about true peace in Burma. The SLORC asks the ethnic organisationsto "return to the legal fold" and talk about a political settlement in its NationalConvention. But how is this possible while the SLORC denies the NationalConventoin the freedom to debate the real issues.The KNU is one of the ethnic organizations which the SLORC invites to holddialogue with it for a cease-fire. The KNU for its part has stated many timesits willingness to enter into dialogue about achieving real peace in Burma andhas now sent a delegation to attempt to establish dialogue with the SLORC.However, the KNU has real doubts that peace can be achieved through acease-fire agreement which does not also reflect agreement on the way forwardwith regard to real dialogue about the political future.The KNU values the opportunity to exchange views with the SLORC. It alsoechoes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's sentiment. If there is to be progress in Burma,it must be based on a constitution firmly based on democratic principles andprinciples of federalism. Similarly, if genuine peace and national reconciliationis to be achieved in Burma, it must be based on a nation-wide ceasefire andfree and open discussion in which all of Burma's ethnic groups can jointlydecdie the future course of Burma.In conclusion, the KNU would like to urge the ASEAN leaders gathered inBangkok to use their influence and this occasion to help turn Burma'stroubled history around.December 13, 1995 Central Standing Committee Karen National Union**************************************************************KNU: COMMENCEMENT OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN KNU AND SLORCDecember 14, 1995Office of the Supreme headquartersKaren National UnionKawthooleiDepartement of InformationPress Statement for immediate release December 13, 1995 PRD No.1Commencement of dialogue between KNU and SLORC Efforts have been made several times to establish the beginningof dialogue between the KNU and the Slorc, mediation being providedthrough the good offices of the mediating group consisting of L. KhunMya, Saw Tun Aung Chaing, Saw A Soe Myint, Saw Henson Tardaw, Rev.Saw May Gay Gyi and Saw Richard.As a result of those efforts, the KNU has now taken a concrete step. On 13thDecember 1995, a KNU delegation of officials departed for discussions withSLORC officials.the KNU delegation consists of:(1) Padoh Saw Klee Say (Head of Delegation)(2) Padoh Mahn Steela (Member)(3) Lt.Col Saw Nay Soe (member)(4) Major Saw Victor (Cheif of Technical Statff)(5) Capt. Titu (Staff member)(6) Mahn Chit Win (Staff member)(7) Saw Min Htoo (Staff member) It is the policy of the KNU to seek to establish dialogue with theSLORC in order to further the interests of the Karen people and all thenationalities and the entire people of Burma. The KNU will providefurther information oncerniing the development of dialogue as necessaryfrom time to time.***************************************************ABSDF NEWS AGENCY: FORCED LABOUR, RAPE AND OTHER ABUSESDecember 11, 1995From: Unpaid labor at the military bases in Thetyetchaung,Tavoy district Daily unpaid labor is being summoned by the 13 Battalions based infour Tavoy townships. All the villages are ordered to send the dailylaborers to the bases to work various jobs for the military such asbuilding up the army barracks and fences, digging the trench and toilets,cultivating the vegetables, helping in animal husbandry, taking securityguards and giving massage service to the army officers in the camp. Villagers are summoned to go and work at the military bases daily.Anyone fail to do will be arrested and used as the porters or ordered topay 100 kyats per day for fine. Additionally, the villages closed to thebases are ordered to provide two pigs and ten chickens per week regularly. The worst villages for this kind of forced labor overtly militarypurpose are Kyauk Hlaykha, Saw Pyar, Padak Chaung, Kyauk Pyu and ThaungZin village in Tayetchaung Township. Twenty laborers from every eachvillage have to work at Battalion No(403) base and also have to supply thebamboo and thatch for the barracks. If they fail, these villages would berelocated in the concentration village, near Saw Pyar village as thepunishment, according to the letter issued by the Slorc. These villagesfaced the orced relocation previously to this concentration camp in June1991 until the beginning of 1995 for accusing having contact with KNU andABSDF forces. Similarly, ten villages from Taung Pyauk district, Thatyetchaungtownship were ordered to work for the construction of military paradefield and training center near Than Chaung Gyi village for LIB 405, 404,403 of Slorc army. Local villagers have to go and work without pay once aweek starting from September 4, 1995. The main works are cut the trees andbamboo, and make the ground level.Rape and beating On October 28, 1995, warrant officer Aung Gyi from LIB(103) basedin Palaw township, Tenessarim Division raped Ma San from Kyauk Taung TalaiTaik village. The village LORC was ordered to send Ma San to Thara Bwinvillage by warrant officer Aung Gyi for interrogation. When she arrivedthere, she was ordered to come to Ko Aung Tins house and was raped bywarrant officer Aung Gyi. She is 35-year-old and married with threechildren. This rape case spread in the next day among the local people sothat warrant officer Aung Gyi got angry. He came on October 28 at nightand beat Ma San with bamboo stick in front of the mini video theater. Heaccused Ma San was making up a false story to defame him.More forced labor in Mergui motor road projects Slorc has resumed the motor road construction projects since afterthe end of raining season. In Mergui, Tenessarim Division, three motorroad projects are underway and local people are being conscripted as theunpaid labors for these projects. These motor road constructions are;between Kaw Thaung and Mergui, between Maw Taung (closed to Thai-Burmeseborder) and Mergui, and between Theindaw diamond mine and Tenessarim town. Local people from Palaw, Mergui, Tenessarim, Boke Pyin and KawThaung were conscripted for these constructions without any pay. Likeother forced labor projects, they had to bring their instruments and foodto the work-site and work at least fifteen day in one time. 1500 peoplefrom each townships in Mergui and Kaw Thaung district are summoned tothese three construction projects and about 10,000 people are currentlyworking. Every person are subject for forced labor and many types oftaxation except the USDA (Union Solidarity and Development Association)members. Anyone those fails to work has to pay 100 kyats per day for fine.In addition to these three major projects, all the roads and streets indowntown Mergui are being renovated with forced laborers. Another motorroad project of Mergui-Kyel Ku road is also underway with about 300 prisonlaborers. As the result of constructions, many lands and farms wereconfiscated and some faced forced relocation at Takyat, Taru, Talabwin,Ban Pweit, Thein Taw, Sin Din, Zawel, Maw Tong, Nyaung Pin Kwin and Ta BawLate village in Mergui district. All of these projects are monitored by the Tenessarim Division Lawand Order Restoration Council and Infantry Division 17, 101, 103, 224 andLight Infantry Battalion 433, 442,358, 343 are taking security duty. Among the three motor road, the Maw Taung - Mergui road is likelyto be used for the another natural gas pipe from Ye Dagon off- shore fieldby Texaco giant American Oil Company.Deteriorating life of Burmese fishermen in Tenessarim Coast Since Slorc began to sell the fishing licenses to the Thai fishingcompany in the Burmese water territory, the life of Burmese traditionalfishermen is deteriorating in Tenessarim coast. Many Thai fishing vesselsfish close to the coast in shallow waters, and exploit the areastraditionally fished by the local people. The Burmese fishing community inTenessarim Coast who have relied on local fishing resources forgenerations are now literally facing starvation.Many of these villagers,displaced by the activities of the Thai fishing boats, have been forced tomove inland to seek a new livelihood. Many fishermen could not meet theirdaily need so they moved to other places working all odd jobs. Comparedto the small vessels and locally produced fishing gear, used by the localfishing community, the Thai vessels with their modern sonar and radarequipment and electronic communications facilities completely change thenature of catching fish. Heavy mining of the seas has been reported killingall species in the area, and destroying the ecosystem for years to come. After the brutal murder of Burmese fishermen by the Thaicounterparts on the vessel, Burmese authorities has stopped issuing newcontract or extend their licenses to the Thai fishing companies. But therecently resumed the fishing licenses in the beginning of November withsome restrictions. Previously Thai fishing vessels could fish and sellwithout any restriction after the pay tax to the Burmese fishingauthority. According to the new regulation, all foreign fishing vesselsoperating in Burmese waters have to be scrutinized one by one and have tosell the fishes to the Burmese fish buying centers designated by theauthorities. Any vessels found beyond the permitted waters would be shot,the new regulations detailed. In reality, none of these regulations are adhered to. Hundreds ofThai fishing vessels are using one official license and duplicate to othervessel numbering from 6 to 10 vessels with same size and same name. Manyare working illegally in Burmese waters and sometimes reach as far as MonState. they sells very small amount of fishes to the Burmese authoritiesas mentioned in the regulation. Large amount of fishes are smuggled out bythe Thai illegal vessels and sold in Ranong.Two forced laborers drown in Hein Zel camp Two laborers were drown in Hein Zel stream because of the forceorder by the Slorc army to swim across the stream as the punishment fortaking rest during the working hour. According to the civilians returnedback from the Hein Zel forced labor camp, which is one of the forced laborcamps in the Ye-Tavoy railway construction project, three male laborerswere punished to cross the stream for taking unauthorized rest during theworking hour. The order was conducted by army official LIB (410) andoccurred on September 22, 1995. Fortunately one man could managed to swimacross but the other two were drown in the stream. KNU Informationsub-department, Mergui-Tavoy district.Update on the forced labor detention camps in Ye-Tavoy railwayconstruction According to the civilians returned back from the forced labordetention camp, the railway project has been resumed and every fourtownships from Tavoy district has to send 2500-3000 laborers for theconstruction in rotating system. Currently there are eleven labor detention camps and the estimatenumbers of laborers in the camps as of October 3`, 1995 are ; (1) 21-milelabor camp 2000 laborers (2) 27-mile labor camp 3000 laborers (3) 30-milelabor camp 1000 laborers and 500 prison laborers (4) 36-mile labor camp900 laborers (5) Hein Zel labor camp 1700 laborers (6) Nhine Kyel laborcamp 1000 laborers (7) Nwe Lein labor camp 1200 laborers (8) Zin Bar laborcamp 1200 laborers and 300 prison laborers (9) Yar Phu labor camp 1000laborers (10) Kyauk Kadin labor camp 1200 laborers (11) Ye Bone labor camp500 laborers (newly established) In 30-mile labor camp which is the labor camp of approximately 500prison laborers, the working and living situation are severely bad.Between June and October 1995, about 40 prison laborers were killed forthe hard working condition. Other 30 prison laborers attempted to escapeand at least five were shot down and killed by the LIB 406 which is takingsecurity guard in that camp. On October 21, 1995, four prison laborersfrom same camp fled from the camp. One prisoner was shot down and threeescaped. Similarly, on October 4, 1995, some civilians from 21-mile labordetention camp escaped from the camp to their villages in Thetyetchaungtownship. The Slorc army issued a warrant for the escapees and searchingfor them. 25 out of 27 forced laborers from Hein Zel labor camp escaped inTavoy while they were being taken to Tavoy for carrying some materials tothe camp. All of these were originally from Laung Lon township. they weresearched for and arrested by the Slorc and now they have been sentenced tosix months imprisonment with hard labor. KNU Information sub-department,Mergui-Tavoy district.Forced conscription in the labor camps The military recruitment division based in Tavoy district went tothe forced labor camps in its region and recruited the youth aged between16 to 22 years whose term are almost finished to join the army. Six youthsfrom 36- mile camp, eight youths from Nwe Lein camp and 15 youths andinmates from 21-mile camp were forcibly conscripted. KNU Informationsub-department, Mergui-Tavoy districtMore new forms of taxation in Shan State All people from the whole Phae Khone Township of Shan State wereforced to buy 90 horses, November 1995 as the deadline, according to theorder by local SLORCs army. People were ordered to collect money that isequal to the prices of 90 horses. In order to do the order, all householdsfrom every wards Phae Khone Town are subject to pay at least 350 Kyats.Some households in the low populated wards had to pay more. Similarly, the people of Phae Khone Township must pay 300,000kyats for the benefit of Students Sports Festival as well. The people fromfive quarters of Phae Khone Township including Nyaung Gon quarter, inspite of poor living, were subject to pay against their will both porterfees and sports festival fees.Escape of female porters from Slorcs military column SLORCs troops have been conscripting not only men but women to useas porters during the military operation in Karen State. Military columnof LIB No. 340 based in Pa Pon Township headed for the KNUs Kyauk Nyatarea on November 9, 1995, 60 male porters and 40 female porters have beenconscripted for military purposes. During their time as porters, femaleporters were forced to carry 10 Pyi of rice ( about 13 Kilogram ). Four male porters and ten female porters from that column escapedwhile they took a rest at Perhike camp and arrived liberated area. NawHtoo Chel (a ) Ma Aye Aye Cho, 16-year-old, schoolgirl of eight standard,is one of the escapees. Her brother is a medic from DKBO and currentlystaying in the monastery compound of Myaing Gyi Ngu abbot who is believed,according to her, a leader of DKBO. She said that she was caught by LIB340 on her trip despite she had the travel document issued by DKBO. Fivemen and fifteen women were also arrested along with her and conscripted asthe porter for the military column.SLORCs student sports festival and atmospheres of Loikaw It is reportedly known that sixth anniversary of student sportsfestival will be held between 5 to 14 December 1995, in Loikaw, KarenniState. The students from High Schools and Middle Schools of Loikaw Townwere selected for the opening and closing ceremonies of student sportsfestival since first week of September. They had to rehearse for festivalthat caused their absence at their school. It is warned by local SLORCauthorities that the students those who failed to do this assigned dutiesshall not be allowed to enter the final examination and their parents willbe punished. Moreover, governmen servants, students and civilians from villagehad to share cash or crops so that the festival will be accomplished. Asfor the beautification purpose for the festival, the people were forced tocontribute their labor everyday in cleaning, painting, building fences andextending the roads. Under the name of self-help program, they collectedmoney only from the public by force from 250 Kyats to 350 per household,without spending any government budget for the cost of repair andbeautification of the city. As the result of forced contribution and laborfor the beautification, on 3 November 1995, opening sessions of self-helproad construction programs in Min Su, Shan Su, Daw Notu and Daw Tama,Damayone ward were held. Slorc also took the security measure for the Student SportFestival by reinforcing their military strength in Loikaw and arrestedsome youth. Now Slorc has reinforced five battalions in Loikaw andarrested about 50 youth and students. Among the arrested persons, MaungTaw, high school student from State High School No(1) Loikaw was included.All of them would be detained until the festival is over without anycharge.Second talks of KNPP with SLORC Five-member delegation of KNPP led by Khu Oorel, Karenni ministerfor information, arrived Rangoon on 14 November 1995 to discuss with SLORCmilitary officials about the matters relating to the hostile relation thatoccurred after their signing cease-fire agreement. Khu Oorel is the leaderof the delegation that comprised five members who are minister foreducation, minister for home affairs, Lt.Col Richard and Staff of office. The delegation met some chief of staff officials led by Col. KyawWin, Deputy Director General of SLORC military intelligent bureau, and Lt.Col Kyaw Thein, Chief officer for military strategy observation bureau, atDagon avenue, Army Guest house on 21 November 1995. In the meeting KNPP delegates asserted that both side should haveclear control area in Karenni state and should resume cease- fire withmutual recognition and understanding. In their response, SLORC said thatthe main cause of the misunderstanding is logging concessions in KarenniState and they deployed more troops at Karenni territory to preventexploitation by Thai illegal logging companies and to ensure the securityas well. As a consequence, the fighting occurred because ofmisunderstanding on their military deployment, said the SLORCofficials.Moreover, SLORC officials said it is impossible to withdraw thetroops at the moment and regular mutual discussion is necessary tillreconciliation is achieved. As a further step, Karenni delegates requested to set free thethree detainees from KNPP. It is expected that another senior delegateswill be sent to discuss with SLORC about the troops deployment in Karenniterritory, future development and business but schedule has yet to be set.The matter regarding the delegation of peace talks process will be putagenda on the emergency meeting of KNPP central committee. The delegationof KNPP arrived back to Headquarters on 26 November 1995.The plight of Burmese students in SDC Total 30 Burmese students are still behind the bars at ThaiSpecial Detenion Center, Bangkok. Even though, twenty students recentlyreleased and sent to the safe area in Ratchaburi Province in November1995, there are 30 students currently still remain behind the bars ofdetention cells in SDC. Among the students still in the SDC, Toe Kyi and Tin Maung Htoo,both of them are leaders of All Burma Basic Education Students Union(Thailand) were arrested together with other eleven students on December3, 1993 in Bangkok. Now the time in the SDC is more than two year forthem. They were arrested by the Thai police while they were attending theConference on the Human Rights in Burma organized by the StudentsFederation in Thailand (SFT), Action Committee for Democracy in Burma(ACDB) and Students Committee for Human Rights in Burma (SCHRB). All the thirteen students were sent to Immigrantion DetentionCenter in Bangkok a were held for two months. They were informed that theywere charged for the illegal entry to Thailand under the Immigration Act.On February 4, 1994 all of them were transferred to the Special DetentionCenter. They have never been sent to trial or sentenced. They were joinedby the students arrested in front of the Burmese embassy in 1994 and thosefrom the safe area arrested after the march-out from the camp on January15, 1995. The life in the SDC is terrible. No one were allowed to seevisitors except the once-a-week visit by medical doctor from theFoundation in Support of Refugees asstiacne in Thailand (FISRAPT), anaffiliated organization with United Nations Bangkok. They were separatelydetained in the small cells in groups. No physical exercise was allowed tosome students. One Student from the SDC, Zaw Moe died in the policehospital on 13 June 1995. He suffered from brain neaurasthenia whichcaused half-body paralyse two weeks before he passed away. Medical doctorfrom the FISRAPT came and visited on 8 June 1995 and recommended thepolice to send him to the hospital. But he was finally sent to the hospital justa day before of his death when his condition was in final condition. Some students left for the third countries under the refugeeresettlement program and recently ten students were transferred to "safearea" on 19 October 1995. Another group of ten students were alsotransferred to "safe area" on 23 November 1995. All of them told theirterrible stories during their time in SDC. Among them, Maung Maung Oo isnow suffering some mental prblems in "safe area". The the fate of theremaining students are unknown. The names of the students in SDC are: (1) Tin Maung Htoo (2) ToeKyi (3) Myint Soe (4)Aung Kyaw Moe (5) Win Myint (a) Phone Gyi (6) Ye Moe(7) Aung Myint Kyi (8) Win Htut (a) EC (9) Shwe Hla (10) Kyi Win (11)Myint Lwin Oo (12) Aung Zaw (a) Ottama (13) Min Khin Kyaw (14) Than Naing(15) Ye Hein (16) Tin Kyaing (17) San Oo (a) San Shar (18) Min Naing Aung(19) Naing Htun (20) Tint Lwin Oo (21) Aung Naing (22) Aung Htun (23) HanThein (24) Win Naing Htun (25) Thet Oo Naing (26) Soe Min (a) Kyaw Soe(27) Nyi Nyi Lwin (28) nanda Kyaw (29) Thant Zin Htun (30) Myint Ko Ko.*************************************************************NATION: BURMA HITS THAILAND WITH COMPENSATION DEMAND OF$100M December 13, 1995BURMA has demanded over US$100 million (Bt2.5 billion) fromThailand in compensation for the killing of one of its fishermenworking on a Thai boat and for damages caused by border incidents,according to Defence Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.Government deputy spokesman Amnart Chanawong quoted Chavalitas telling the Cabinet yesterday that Rangoon has demandedUS$1 million (Bt25 million) for the various violentincidents recently along Burma's border with Thailand.Burma's ruling junta, the State Law and Order RestorationCouncil (Slorc), has also called for the two countries to jointlyregulate and tax the fishing industry, the defence minister said.Amnart said the Cabinet yesterday discussed Burma's closingof three border crossings following a number of violentincidents earlier this year.The issues will be discussed during the Asean summitmeeting, Chavalit was quoted as saying.Slorc leader Gen Than Shwe, who will lead his country'sdelegation, will meet with Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-archa for 15 minutes on Friday morning.Amnart said the Thai fishing industry has been badly hurt bythe closure of Burma's territorial waters after the killingof the fisherman.Officials in southern Ranong province said Burmeseauthorities told the Thai Foreign Ministry they weresatisfied with its efforts to improve the conduct of itsfishermen. The ministry circulated a memorandum to Thaifishing associations and provincial chambers of commerceurging them to strictly observe Burma's laws when in its waters.The Burma authorities said they would consider reopening theborder checkpoint at Kawthaung or Victoria Point if the Thaimurder suspects and compensates the victim's family.Amnart said he believed Banharn will raise the issue when hemeets Than Shwe. Thailand, he added, wants to lower theUS$1-million compensation claim to Bt200,000 and does notwant to pay the US$100 million demand for border violence.Narong Fushery Industry has already paid 800,000 kyat (aboutBt200,000) to the victims' families, Rayong officials said.***************NATION: BURMA: HIDDEN MOTIVES OR JUST FACING REALITY?December 13, 1995The Nation's Yindee Lertcharoenchok explores the possiblereasons for Rangoon's decision to join Asean.NEARLY five decades after its independence in 1948, Burma, acountry which has strongly advocated and strictly pursued"neutrality" in its foreign diplomacy, will declare thisweek its strong desire to become a member of Asean.The announcement and the commitment to meet the objectivewill be made on Friday by the ruling State Law and Orderrestoration Council (Slorc) leader Senior Gen Than Shwe, whowill lead a high-level delegation to attend the first- eversummit meeting in Bangkok of the heads of government of the10 Southeast Asian counties (SEA- 10).The SEA-10 meeting takes place a day after Asean holds itssummit gathering tomorrow - only the fifth since itsinception in 1967 - to review the grouping's political,economic and social activities and set a new direction andnew identity as Asean expands and strides into the next century.Asean leaders have been advocating in one voice thepossibility of the regional organization evolving to include10 states by 200. After July, when Vietnam officially becameAsean's seventh member, Cambodia and Laos pledged to enterthe alliance in the next two years.The advocacy is also heightened by the fact that Burmaacceded, in the same month, to Asean's 1976 Treaty of Amityand Cooperation, the first step before a country is acceptedinto the Southeast Asian club- initially as an observer andeventually a full member.Asean officials and Burma watchers were caught off guard byBurma's sudden decision to immediately obtain observerstatus at the annual Asean Ministerial Meeting in BandarSeri Begawan in July right after Burmese Foreign Minister UOhn Gyaw presented to his Bruneian counterpart, PriceMohamed Bolkiah, the 1976 Asean treaty, which is betterknown as the Bali Treaty. Accession to the treatyautomatically guarantees the signatory Asean observer status.The junta's sudden change of heart to associate with Aseanwas in complete contrast to Burma's flat refusal to joinIndonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailandwhen they founded the grouping on Aug. 8, 1967.After Burma's independence, successive Burmese governments-parliamentary and military - had strictly adhered to"neutrality" party due to its strategic geo-political location asa country that borders two Asian giants, China and India.They also adopted the concept of the five principles of peacefulcoexistence proclaimed at the Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung,Indonesia, in 1955 where Burma was one of key participants.Burma's "neutrality" was well recognized, especially at theheight of the Cold War in Southeast Asia. During that toughand rough period, Burma avoided suspicion from both thecommunist world and the "free world" by refusing to alignitself with either camps and keeping itself apart from regionalassociations, including Asean, which it considered a staunchlyanti-Communist, pro-Western apparatus and an American lackey.In Sept 1979, Burma withdrew from the Non-Aligned Movement(NAM), citing the violations of the movement's basicprinciples, including the emergence of some "activefactions" within the organization, the use of force by somemembers interference in the internal affairs of countries byothers. Burma sought to restore its NAM membership onlyafter the end of the Cold War.Disregarding hidden motives behind the Burmese junta'sdecision to join Asean, Asean countries were jubilant thatBurma's membership will fulfill their founding fathers'vision of a 10-member Southeast Asian community united underone Asean, a region which shares a common destiny of peace,progress and prosperity through cooperation in the spirit ofequality and partnership.As mentioned in Thailand's concept paper on the SEA-10summit, "Today, the sense of community among all countriesin the region has never been more intensely felt. From aninitial membership of five, seven Southeast Asian nationsnow stand united under the Asean banner. With Cambodia andLaos having obtained observer status and Myanmar's (Burma's)accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation inSoutheast Asia (TAC), Asean is well on its way to becoming acommunity of Southeast Asia."The fifth Asean summit in Bangkok "is a unique opportunityfor Asean leaders to realize the vision," the document continued."It provides a forum for the heads of government of Asean and theCLM (Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar) countries to meet for the firsttime and discuss their shared future. We should take advantage ofthis unprecedented opportunity to explore ways and means to helpstrengthen the economic linkages and increase the interdependenceamong them," the paper read."Asean shall fully cooperate with the CLM counties in thedevelopment of their economies. This will in turn lay a firmfoundation for the mutual trust and goodwill necessary forthe realization of one Southeast Asia," it concluded.During the informal SEA-10 meeting, which will be the majorhighlight of the Asean summit, Asean leaders will seekreassurance from Burma, Laos and Cambodia that they willbecome Asean members and will announce the grouping'sreadiness to help facilitate the three counties' smoothentry into Asean.While it is generally acknowledged that Rangoon's attempt toally itself with Asean began only in the past year, a ThaiForeign Ministry official revealed during a recent interviewthat in fact Burma, especially its foreign ministry, hasbeen studying, with great interest, Asean and its Bali Treaty forthe past few years after Asean adopted the controversial "constructiveengagement" policy towards Burma in July 1991.He said while the Burmese foreign ministry looked to Asean asa fast growing regional economic organization and supportedBurma's association with the grouping, the final decision rests with Slorc."Burmese foreign ministry officials have tried very hard toconvince the Slorc leaders of the benefits the country willgain from becoming an Asean member. Only recently did theyseem to succeed in their efforts," said the official, who stronglybelieved that Slorc's decision to join Asean was for economic reasons."Asean is globally recognized as the world's fastest growingeconomic region and to join Asean will certainly help theSlorc leaders achieve their goal of economic development," he added.But an Asean diplomat rejected the view as a "textbookargument." He contended that Burma has always attached moreimportance to the NAM and its peaceful coexistenceprinciples, which corresponded to the Burmese image ofpolitical "neutrality." Thus, this explains why Burma soughta return to NAM membership in 1992.The diplomat believed that Burma's push to associate itselfwith Asean is purely due to political motives as the countryhas always regarded Asean as a non-neutral body and nevertruly wanted to become its member.The diplomat shared the view with several Thai officialsthat Slorc will not rush to become a full Asean member andthat Asean observer status, which Burma will certainlyacquire next year, will suffice for Slorc's, at least for the timebeing, internal and external interests, politically, and economically.He is convinced that the Slorc will use Asean t its utmostbenefit primarily as a forum to improve its "legitimacy andinternational standing" in the eyes of the world communityand as a springboard to participate in the Asean RegionalForum (ARF), which was created in July last year as aninformal gathering where seven Asean members discusspolitical and security affairs in Asia and the Pacific withtheir dialogue partners.Several ARF members, particularly from the west, haveidentified Burma and the dispute over the Spratly islands asthe two potential hotspots in Southeast Asia.Moreover, Asean serves as a good aegis to deflect strongWestern pressure and criticism against abuses and itsrefusal to initiate democratic reforms, he noted.Contradicting the global recogniting of pro-democracy leaderAunt San Suu Kyi, Asean instead acknowledges Slorc as thepowers-that-be in Burma and deliberately refuses to commenton the political situation in Burma, saying it is tantamountto interfering in the domestic affairs of the country.While Thai Foreign Minister Kasem S Kasemsri publiclysupported Asean to raise the issue of democratic reformsthrough national reconciliation with Gen Than Shwe duringthe SEA-10 summit, his calls will unlikely win blessingsfrom other Asean members, which are more interested inengaging the Slorc in economic rather than political dialogue.Despite hidden concerns of some Asean members over thepremature embracement of Burma under the Slorc into Asean'sorbit and activities, the grouping as a whole will opt topromote the integration of Burma, betting that the five-yeartimeframe before 2000 provides enough room for politicalchanges before the country fully joins Asean.*******************BKK POST: PROTEST FURY AT BURMA'S INVITATION TO SUMMITDecember 13, 1995Burmese and local students rallied at the Democracy Monumentyesterday to protest at Burma's invitation to theAseansummit. Members of the Association of Students of Asia,Students Federation of Thailand, Action Committee forDemocracy in Burma and Overseas National StudentsOrganisation of Burmatook part in the protest.They will today hold a panel discussion on politicalsituation and suppression of democratic movement in Burma atThammasat University. Maung Maung Than, a former student leaderin Burma, said: "We demand the Thai Government stops thedecision to invite the Burmese military government toparticipate at the Bangkok summit.""Representatives of the Burmese regime, the State Law andOrder Restoration Council, are not true representativeselected by the Burmese people," said Maung Maung Than, wholed the protest.Maung Maung Than and other students will try to submit aletter to Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa on Thursday atthe Royal Orchid Sheraton hotel where the summit will be held."In the letter, we will ask Mr Banharn why the ThaiGovernment has invited representatives of a dictatorship toThailand," Maung Maung Than said. Burmese students will also demandthe summit passes a resolution about human rights in Burma in aneffort to push for democracy. (BP)*************************************************