------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: January 30, 1996 Issue #334 Noted in Passing: The increase in the number of children who can't even make it past primary education tells you that the percentage of impoverished parents is very much on the rise. - Aung San Suu Kyi (see BKK POST: BURMA POLITICAL HARASSMENT 'AN OLD ROUTINE') HEADLINES: ========== NATION: VISIT MYANMAR IF YOU CAN ASSK: LETTER FROM BURMA #10 INDPENDENT REPORT: BYVA HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: EMBASSY BLACKMAILS BURMESE IN JAPAN ABSDF-MTZ: FORMER BURMESE PRESIDENT IS DEAD AT 78 CFOB: PRESS RELEASE ON NOVA NATION: NO DICTATORSHIP IN MY DEMOCRACY PARTY, INSISTS BKK POST: BURMA JUNTA SEEKS FOREIGN HELP FOR ECONOMIC BKK POST: BURMA POLITICAL HARASSMENT 'AN OLD ROUTINE' NATION: RANGOON SAID TO HAVE BREACHED BORDER ACCORD NATION: BURMA-CAMBODIA PACT WWW: PAGAN IMAGES AT SEASIAN MONUMENTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NATION: VISIT MYANMAR IF YOU CAN January 26, 1996 Slorc takes Suu Kyi off the list of tourist attractions, Aung Zaw writes. Visit Myanmar Year 1996, the Burmese military's ambitious tourism promotion campaign, has gotten off to an inauspicious start with two tour groups being banned from the country and other visitors complaining of being harassed by military officials. The message from Burma appears to be that the country's arms are open to visitors, but it prefers those who are prepared to stay in their hotels and only emerge for controlled sightseeing tours. In January and February, Tourism Minister Lt Gen Kyaw Ba twice refused to grant landing rights to tour groups from the United States. As a result, approximately 100 visitors from the Stanford Alumni Association and 70 from its Michigan counterpart planning to visit Burma were turned away. The American tourists had been issued visas and were planning to stay two nights in Rangoon and take a day excursion to Pagan to see the "Golden Land". But they never made it. The trouble begin in late December. New-Horizons, the Rangoon-based travel agency helping arrange the two groups, receiving a note from Kyaw Ba saying their chartered flight would be denied permission to land. The reason given was that the ruling junta, known as State Law and Order Restoration Council(Slorc), had discovered that both groups were seeking to set up a meeting with opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi during their visit to Rangoon. According to sources in Washington, Duncan Beardsley, director of traveling programmes at the Stanford Alumni Association, sent a letter to Suu Kyi in November, inviting Suu Kyi to meet with the Stanford graduates. But on December 22, Beardsley, apparently realizing his request would jeopardize the group's travel plans, wrote back to Suu Kyi saying he was withdrawing his invitation due to unforeseen circumstances. At the same time Beardsley wrote to Tin Tun at New Horizons, saying "...I innocently sent the invitation not understanding the impact of my action. He said his group had no political agenda whatsoever while visiting Burma. I wish to emphasize in no uncertain terms that neither I nor any of the passengers or staff will contact this person [Suu Kyi]." It seemed as if wanting to see Suu Kyi had become a crime. Abercrombie and Kent (A&K), a Hong Kong- based travel agency also making arrangements for the trip petitioned Rangoon, promising "100 per cent" that neither group would visit with the opposition leader who was released in July 1995. A&K's Patrick Macleod sent a note to Tin Tun. "It looks like the guy at Stanford has sent a letter to Aung San Suu Kyi asking her to speak to the group. Anyway, he now realises what a mistake he has made." Sources associated with the tour in the US said, "The appeal from Stanford was turned down and they are going to Phnom Penh instead. But Michigan's appeal was upheld "because there was no written proof Michigan had tried to arrange a meeting with Suu Kyi or to present her with an award," said the source. Simon Billenness an analyst at Boston based Franklin Research and Development said: Western proponents of tourism in Burma claimed that tourism in Burma will open up the country to new ideas. The Slorc's refusal to allow tourists to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi shows that the Slorc wants tourists to just bring hard currency and leave any new ideas at home." Sources in Bangkok and Washington said Rangoon's moves were likely to boost the anti- Rangoon sentiment on campuses around the United States. For their part, Burmese officials are planning to ask visitors who they are going to meet in Rangoon. Even for those foreigners who do make it into the country, their hassles with officialdom are not over, returning visitors have said. Dianne Guest, a regular visitor of Burma for the last three years, was detained in early January with a group of American and British companions in Magwe. Speaking in Bangkok, Guest said she was exhausted and angry as a result of being detained and treated unpleasantly by Burmese authorities. Guest and her friends had been travelling around the country by bicycle. They were stopped in Magwe, about 100 km out of Rangoon, and asked if they had permission to be on the road. They were told it was illegal to travel independently. "There is law," a Burmese official said. Finally Guest and her friends were forced to fly back to Rangoon. They made an appointment to see Kyaw Ba but the Tourism minister failed to show up for the meeting. Other tourists have similarly complained they were followed and harassed by military intelligence officers. Reliable sources said foreign officials visiting Burma have been told to decide on Suu Kyi or Slorc. They are not allowed to see both, but of course a lot of people don't want to see the Slorc anyway, said an American activist. Aung Zaw is a freelance writer. He contributed this piece to the Nation. ********************************************************* ASSK: LETTER FROM BURMA #10 January 29, 1996 From: carol@gol.com (Carol Schlenker) Mainichi Daily News, Monday, January 29, 1996 Letter from Burma (No. 10) by Aung San Suu Kyi THE GREAT BURMESE INDEPENDENCE DAY SHOW: EVEN CERTAIN ARREST DID NOT HOLD BACK THE CELEBRATIONS The /a-nyeint/ is a uniquely Burmese form of entertainment consisting of a medley of orchestral music, song and dance -- and, perhaps most important of all, witty repartee and humorous skits provided by comedians. Traditionally an a-nyeint troupe is hired to perform both at family celebrations such as the Buddhist ordination ceremony for boys or on public occasions such as pagoda festivals or jubilees. Jan. 4 this year was the 48th anniversary of the day when Burma became an independent nation. The National League for Democracy (NLD) made plans to include in its program to commemorate Independence Day a performance of a-nyeint by a troupe from Mandalay. During the week before Independence Day, members of the youth wing of the NLD has been rehearsing another item on the program, a short one-act play that concluded with a song about freedom. Perhaps it was the resounding refrain of this song, repeated again and again, that made the authorities view the forthcoming NLD celebrations with a jaundiced eye. It was conveyed to us that our entertainment program should not include either /dobat/ or a play. A dobat is a double-sided Burmese drum to the rousing rhythm of which are sung songs in the folk tradition, often very witty, with a satirical content that is not always pleasing to the powers that be. We had not in fact planned any dobat song and there seemed no good reason for canceling the play, whose principal theme simply underlined the importance of unity and the need to solve political problems through dialogue. It was therefore decided that the program would be carried through as planned. On the evening of Jan. 2 a key member of my office staff was pulled in by his local military intelligence unit for 24 hours. He was interrogated not only on such crucial matters as the policies and decision-making process of our party but also on our proposed Independence Day ceremony. The authorities did not seem particularly keen on the idea of our commemorating the occasion in a spirit of freedom. However the a-nyeint was not mentioned. At eight o'clock in the morning on Jan. 4 there was a commemoration ceremony in the grounds of a small rope factory organized by members of the /Dohbama Asi-ayone/, the political organization that had been at the core of the struggle to liberate Burma from colonial rule. The hoary veterans conducted the proceeding with the elan and verve possible under the restricted circumstances, their aging voices strengthened by their convictions as they repeated their dedication to the cause of freedom and national unity. The Independence Day ceremony of the NLD began later in the morning in the garden of my house and was expected to be completed within three hours. In the event the program went on for six hours because the audience of nearly 2,000 wanted the last item, the a-nyeint, to continue for as long as possible. It started in the traditional way with two comedians coming forward to introduce the performance. But as soon as the senior of the two, U Pa Pa Lay, started to speak it became obvious, to the surprise and untold delight of the audience, that this was going to be an act such as had not been witnessed in Burma for several decades: The comedians were determined to exercise to the full their traditional right to apply their comic and critical powers to a commentary on matters of topical interest, many of a political nature. U Pa Pa Lay began by saying that this was an occasion when he would be acting and speaking according to his own wishes and that he was aware such audacity would likely land him in prison. He explained that he had already served a year in prison for making a joke that referred to the overwhelming support for the NLD throughout the whole country. The thunderous applause that greeted U Pa Pa Lay's introductory remarks was a fitting prelude to a performance that scintillated with witty skits, brilliant jokes, sprightly dances and lively music. The audience reveled in the artistic skill of the whole performance and were filled with deep admiration for the courage of the company, in particular for U Pa Pa Lay and his fellow comedian U Lu Zaw who so bravely gave voice to what the people had been wishing -- but not daring -- to say for may an year. On the afternoon of Jan. 6 the troupe came to say good-bye to me before they went back to Mandalay. They knew they would very likely be arrested soon but they were extremely cheerful. They assured me nothing would detract from the great satisfaction achieved from a performance conducted entirely in accordance with their own wishes. The company arrived back in Mandalay on the morning of the 7th and later that day they were all taken away by the authorities. We are now waiting for the next act in the drama of this most courageous troupe. Come what may, we shall stand by them. ******************************************************* INDPENDENT REPORT: BYVA HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING January 29, 1996 From: carol@gol.com (Carol Schlenker) Burma Youth Volunteer Association (Japan) held its annual meeting on Sunday, January 28, in Tokyo. About 60 members and guests attended the meeting, during which elections were held; reports on fundraising and political activities were delivered; and compliments, complaints and suggestions were voiced. The meeting featured two special guests: Dean Chapman, a British photographer, and Munesuke Yamamoto, a freelance photojournalist from Japan. Mr. Chapman, who lived for about a year in Kayah State, displayed and talked about his black-and-white photographs, which depict all aspects of Karenni life. Mr. Yamamoto, who recently returned from a three-week trip inside Burma and the border, showed slides and discussed current conditions inside the country. Guests also enjoyed a meal of ohnnokaukswe. Following the meeting, members of various democracy groups met to discuss plans to cooperate with each other in future events. The next such event will be a meeting, sponsored by National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Japan Branch, on February 11 to coordinate activities for Union Day, February 12. The 1996-97 BYVA Executive Committee is as follows: Chairman........................Khin Maung Zaw Vice Chairman...................Soe Win General Secretary...............Aung Thu Joint General Secretary-1.......Htay Win a.k.a. Romy Joint General Secretary-2.......Myo Min Htut a.k.a. Michael Collins Treasurer.......................Kyaw Kyaw Soe Assistant Treasurer.............Kyi Lwin Information Committee Chairman................Tin Kyi Information Committee Members.................Khaing Min Swe Than Htoo Win Coordinators....................Nyi Nyi Than Zaw Min Researchers.....................Cho Cho Aye Win Maung Auditors........................Hlaing Aye Than Swe Ye Htut For more information, contact: Burma Youth Volunteer Association No. 102, Court Tangent A-2 2-12-1 Komagome Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170 JAPAN Tel/Fax: +81-3-3916-4996 ******************************************** MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: EMBASSY BLACKMAILS BURMESE IN JAPAN January 29, 1996 From: carol@gol.com (Carol Schlenker) (Note: This is a summary from an English language newspaper of an article that was first published in SHUKAN HOSEKI, a Japanese language weekly magazine.) ================================== Mainichi Daily News, Sunday, January 21, 1996 EMBASSY BLACKMAILING MYANMARESE INTO PAYING DUBIOUS INCOME TAX Shukan Hoseki 1/25 Foreigners working in this country must pay income tax to Japanese authorities. But only those from Myanmar are forced to pay a questionable kind of overseas income tax to their own government. SHUKAN HOSEKI takes a look at this peculiar system which id doubling tax for Myanmarese in Japan. The magazine starts the investigative report with a disclosure by a 30-year-old Myanmarese who came here four years ago to work. The informant reveals to SHUKAN HOSEKI that he and other Myanmarese in Japan are asked by the Myanmarese Embassy in Tokyo to pay 10 percent of their income in the name of "tax." The source explains that he is unwillingly following the request because the embassy refuses to renew his passport unless he does so. Passports are not the only tool the Myanmarese Embassy is allegedly using to collect money. Without specifying the source, SHUKAN HOSEKI reveals that a Myanmarese in Japan cannot open a bank account fro remittance in Myanmar without an embassy-issued certificate of tax payment. To maintain passports and bank accounts, two essentials for them, most Myanmarese here are paying either the minimal sum of 10,000 yen or 10 percent of their income to the embassy each month. An informed journalist estimates the embassy's annual tax revenue at 2 billion yen. The journalist goes on to suggest that the military regime in Yangon could be pooling this revenue as secret fund or using it to purchase arms from China. "Money sent from Japan has a significant meaning for the military regime," reminds a 40-year-old Myanmarese in Nagoya, one of the brave few who have been refusing to pay the questionable tax. "It is natural for me to pay tax to the Japanese government because I'm working here. But it's wrong for the Myanmarese government to collect tax from me." The Myanmarese, now without a passport adds, "It is a violation of international laws for the embassy to refuse passport renewal for people like me who do not pay the tax." SHUKAN HOSEKI contacts the Myanmarese Embassy in Tokyo for an explanation. A spokesman for the embassy admits to the magazine that more than 10,000 Myanmarese nationals in Japan are sending in tax money amounting to 10,000 yen each or more per month. The spokesman maintains that it is their duty to pay the tax because they left Myanmar by agreeing to this condition. The magazine wonders if tax collection on a foreign soil does not constitute a legal problem. "Collection of tax by the Myanmarese government is not a subject on which we can or should state our view," offers a spokesman for the National Tax Administration Agency. But the same official admits, "We've never heard of this kind of practice in another country." Another Japanese government spokesman, representing the Finance Ministry's International Tax Affairs Division, informs SHUKAN HOSEKI it is absolutely OK for the Myanmarese government to tax Myanmarese nationals in Japan. But the magazine is not satisfied with the explanation and asks an international law expert. The expert notes, "Tax collection is a sovereign act. Collection in another country constitutes violation of that country's sovereignty." Adds the expert, "If these people are willing to pay, it's OK. But they are practically coerced into paying the tax. The Japanese government should take issue." ********************************************************** ABSDF-MTZ: FORMER BURMESE PRESIDENT IS DEAD AT 78 January 29, 1996 From: ABSDF-mtz Rangoon, Jan 29, (AFP)- San Yu, former president of Burma and vice Chairman of the Burma Socialist Programme Party(BSPP), which was in power for nearly two-and-a-half decades, has died at age 78, official news media said Monday. Born in 1918 to a Sino-Burmese family, San Yu studied medicine in Rangoon when World war II broke out and joined the army to serve as a junior officer while Burma was under Japanese occupation. San Yu rose to the rank of general and was one of the members of General Ne Win's revolutionary council which took over from Prime Minister U Nu in 1962 following a military coup. San Yu was the first general secretary of the ruling BSPP and became its vice President in 1985. He became chief of staff and defence minister in 1972 and assumed the presidency in 1981. Following widespread anti-government unrest in 1988 which toppled his BSPP administration, San Yu retired from his office to live quietly in suburban Rangoon. The Obituary in the Burmese-language newspapers said San Yu would be buried on Tuesday afternoon. ***************************************** CFOB: PRESS RELEASE ON NOVA 29 January 1996 From: Canadian Friends of Burma NOVA GAS INVESTS IN CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINE Canadian Friends of Burma strongly opposes Nova Gas International's decision to provide consultancy services for a gas pipeline that carries Burmese gas across ethnic controlled lands into Thailand. The $1 billion pipeline is being built by a consortium led by Unocal of the US and the French oil company Total. Nova Gas and OGP Technical Services of Malaysia were awarded the 480 million baht ($24 million) contract by the Thai petroleum authority, PTT, January 25 in Bangkok. When completed in 1998 the pipeline will bring several millions of dollars annually in profits to the widely despised military regime that runs Burma -- the State Law and Order Restoration Council. Friends of Burma predicts this will further entrench the junta, allowing it to continue to ignore international appeals to restore democracy and respect human rights. "This development underlines our call for economic sanctions against the SLORC regime," Christine Harmston, coordinator, said. "The Department of Foreign Affairs discourages official trade and investment in Burma but unless it takes steps to prevent it Canadian investment and trade will continue to rise." She cited an almost three-fold increase in imports to Canada of garments made in Burma, and Indochina Goldfield Inc's attempt to raise investment money in Canada for its copper mining venture at Monywa, near Mandalay. Friends of Burma's human rights contacts in the Burma-Thai border area report a recent increase in forced labour use in the pipeline area. Thousands of villagers are forced to work without pay to build a railway that will transport troops and materiel to secure the pipeline against attack. The labourers have to buy their own food and medical supplies. A bill calling for economic sanctions is currently in committee stage in the US Congress. It would bar US investment in Burma and authorize the President to prohibit imports from Burma. It would also direct the US to vote against IMF and World Bank assistance to Burma. Nova Gas International said from its Calgary office that its services are contracted by the Thai petroleum authority and concern only a 260 kilometre stretch from Ban I Thong to Ratchaburi in Thailand. CFOB responds that even if Nova never sets foot in Burma, it is nonetheless investing in a project supported by forced labour and other human rights abuses. CONTACT: Christine Harmston, 613 237-8056 CANADIAN FRIENDS OF BURMA (National Office) tel: 613 237-8056 145 Spruce Street, Suite 206 fax: 613 563-0017 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6P1 email: cfob@web.apc.org CANADA ********************************************************* NATION: NO DICTATORSHIP IN MY DEMOCRACY PARTY, INSISTS SUU KYI January 29, 1996 (abridged) Reuter RANGOON - Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi denied government accusations that she has become dictatorial in her running of the National League for Democracy party. "There is no practice of dictatorship in the NLD party," the Nobel Peace laureate told supporters at the weekend. Suu Kyi's remark was made after official, state-run Burmese language newspapers carried a commentary asking her to step down she had become dictatorial. In the commentary entitled "Give up little sister", Suu Kyi was accused of ignoring the will of the people in her leadership of the pro-democracy party. The commentary, the latest in a series of criticisms against the democracy leader, said 50-year old Suu Kyi used "feminine wiles" over other party members to get her way. "I would like to request you give up little sister, in order to raise the political impression of the party," said the commentary. It suggested the NLD try to find a way to change its decision to withdraw from military-sponsored constitutional talks. Suu Kyi said late last year the NLD, which she helped found, was pulling out of the talks because they did not represent the will of the people. Agence France-Presse reports: Burma's military authorities have freed all but four of 13 opposition supporters detained in Mandalay earlier this month, an opposition spokesman said. All 13 were picked up on their return to Mandalay after attending private Independence Day celebrations on Jan 4 at Suu Kyi's home. (TN) ************************************************* BKK POST: BURMA JUNTA SEEKS FOREIGN HELP FOR ECONOMIC TAKEOFF January 30, 1996 By Michele Cooper, Rangoon, AFP Burma's Trade Minister Tun Kyi said yesterday that economic cooperation with other nations would not only boost his country's economy but would also promote democracy. Addressing a symposium on fostering interdependency with neighbouring countries and Japan, Lieutenant General Tun Kyi said Burma had managed to achieve an average annual growth rate of 7.5% with assistance from only a few friendly countries. "If we could get financial and technical cooperation substantially from abroad, I firmly believe that the economy of Myanmar would be skyrocketed within a few years time," he said. Myanmar is the official name of Burma, preferred by the ruling junta, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc). "Democracy will flourish with the prosperity of the nation," Tun Kyi told the one-day symposium, organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and funded by Japan. Saying that the pro-democracy demonstrations of 1988-89 were "mainly because of economic difficulties," he added: "Political stability goes hand in hand with economic development." The junta took power in 1988 and put down country-wide protests, jailing thousands. The minister tackled international criticism of Burma's democracy record head-on, maintaining _ like several other Southeast Asian countries _ that the West's definition "may not be the same" as that of all other nations. He added that the junta did not intend to hold power indefinitely and that once a new constitution had been promulgated, " a constitutional government will emerge to lead the country." He made no mention of elections, or of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi or of her National league for Democracy (NLD) which won general elections in 1990. The Slorc declined to recognise the results of that vote. On the economy, Tun Kyi said that with more than US$3 billion already on the books in investment commitments, he believed the figure could be boosted to $4 billion "in the near future." He noted that since the time of Burma's kings, through the colonial period and until today, Asian nations accounted for 80% of Burma's foreign trade. Japanese Ambassador Yoichi Yamaguchi hailed economic reforms to date in Burma, but stressed the need to pursue further reforms. "There are still several challenges for Myanmar to face," he said. Yamaguchi did not identify areas for reform, but these were believed to include the dual exchange rate which is considered a significant block to economic expansion. (BP) *************** BKK POST: BURMA POLITICAL HARASSMENT 'AN OLD ROUTINE' January 30 1996 Rangoon, AFP Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday shrugged off recent detentions of her party supporters, saying they were nothing new and part of a routine dating back to the military junta's take-over. "This has been going on for the past seven years. So many NLD [National League for Democracy] people have been arrested on so many different pretexts," she told AFP. "The attempt to intimidate the NLD has been going on for a long time," she added. Aung San Suu Kyi spent nearly six years under house arrest before she was released by the military authorities on July 10. Her NLD won general elections in 1990, but the junta refused to recognise the results and hand over power. Aung San Suu Kyi identified the latest people detained as six members of the Insein branch of the NLD, who were taken into custody on the evening of January 27. They included branch deputy chairman Thein Tun and lawyer Maung Maung Lay, she said. "I believe they were taken away because some of them had presented a poem to the family of U Tin Maung Win," she said. Tin Maung Win died in prison on January 18, 1991. Aung San Suu Kyi said the NLD legal team was on the case, although no formal charges had been laid. Of 13 supporters detained in Mandalay earlier this month after attending January 4 Independence Day celebrations at her Rangoon home, four remained in custody, she said. She identified them as two comedians who had performed at the private party and two NLD members who had attended. Military authorities were believed to have taken exception to satirical remarks made during the performance. "I believe they've been charged under section 5J," she said, describing it as a "catchall" provision. "We call it the don't like you section'," she remarked. A report on Sunday that only two remained in custody was mistaken, she indicated. Asked whether there had been any threats against her weekend rallies which attract an estimated 3,000 people, Aung San Suu Kyi said authorities could only, according to the law, move against gatherings intending to create disturbances. "We are not interested in creating disturbances of any kind at all... our gatherings are extremely disciplined and quiet," she said. On Sunday Aung San Suu Kyi said that the ever-widening gap between rich and poor could lead to social unrest if left unresolved. Speaking during her weekend appearance before her supporters outside her gate, Aung San Suu Kyi said the gap between the rich and the poor was already a tangible thing in the country. Over the past six years, an increasing number of children were unable to complete primary education because their parents had been become impoverished, she said. "The increase in the number of children who can't even make it past primary education tells you that the percentage of impoverished parents is very much on the rise," she said. Aung San Suu Kyi said that the majority of Burma's young children should at least be guaranteed basic education so they get the opportunity to strive for their own future development. "We must create a situation where we can at least guarantee primary education for the majority of our children so they can work for their own development," she said. Speaking about the current trend of computerising schools to keep pace with the "computer age," she said it could benefit only the rich and the privileged as the poor would not have the knowledge, means or opportunity to use them. Such an educational technology would further widen the gap between the have and the have-nots and create feelings of dissatisfaction, she said. "And if there is dissatisfaction, there will be resentment between our own citizens leading to possible social unrest," she said. Aung San Suu Kyi once again reiterated the need for a "dialogue" with the ruling junta to help solve the nation's ills. She reminded that her party, the NLD, which won the 1990 general elections, carried the people's mandate to take part in such a dialogue. "We have a responsibility towards the people, who gave us their mandate at the 1990 general elections ... and we will continue to work for democracy under whatever circumstances," she said. Aung San Suu Kyi admitted that democracy was not a "cure-all" of every ill but at least it would 'ensure the people security of life and human dignity." **************************************************** NATION: RANGOON SAID TO HAVE BREACHED BORDER ACCORD January 29, 1996 Somjit Rungchamratrasmee Mae Sot, Tak - The construction of riverside installations on the Burmese bank of the Moei River, which began yesterday, is a violation of the Joint Regional Border Committee agreement of 1994, a senior military source said yesterday. The construction of retaining walls, concrete embankments and shophouses along three kilometres of the Burmese side of the river is understood to be for the prevention of erosion. It is also seen as a defiant response to recent reclamation on the Thai side of the river. The work, being done by about 150 low-wage civilian labourers recruited by Burmese authorities, is seen as potentially damaging to bilateral of the Rim Moei market and suspension of work on the Thai-Burmese friendship bridge last year. Agence France-Presse reports: About 100 Burmese soldiers were in position on Thai soil to attack ethnic Karenni forces from behind, while refugees fleeing the offensive were turned back at the Thai border, a Karenni source claimed yesterday. But a Thai military source reached by telephone in Mae Hong Son province on the border with Burma's eastern Kayah State, which is home to the Karenni, denied any report of encroachment by the Burmese. "They may have strayed into Thailand in the past but they get out when they know it's Thai territory. The Karenni might want to involve Thailand for publicity. We do not assist the Burmese," the Thai source said. He said the border there was clearly and naturally defined by mountain ridges, contradicting reports from Thai and Karenni sources that Burmese troops had threatened to take hills named Doi King Hon and Doi Saen, claimed by the Thais. The Karenni sources Burmese soldiers had occupied an abandoned Karenni refugee village some two km inside Thailand, and that the Thai side might not know about it yet. (TN) *************************************** NATION: BURMA-CAMBODIA PACT January 29, 1996 Reuter RANGOON - Burma and Cambodia have signed a cooperation agreement, official media reported yesterday. Burma's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ohn Gyaw and his Cambodian counterpart Ung Huot signed an accord to form a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, according to the reports. ************************************ PAGAN IMAGES AT SEASIAN MONUMENTS January 30, 1996 From: "Moe K. T." Nice work on Pagan Monuments with beautiful images, short explanations & location map is on WWW site of the Oriental Department of the Leiden University, Netherland. http://www.leidenuniv.nl/pun/ubhtm/mjk/pagan.htm ---------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different topics related to Burma. 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