---------------------------------BurmaNet----------------------------------- ----- "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- The BurmaNet News: September 9, 1996 Issue #509 Noted in Passing: There is still a dual exchange rate but the official rate of exchange is now irrelevant. We are just withholding from announcing it. - Set Maung, senior economic advisor to the SLORC (see BKK POST: BURMA'S DUAL EXCHANGE RATE) HEADLINES: ========== BURMANET: NEWS FROM INSIDE BURMA DAWN: FORCED RECRUITMENT FOR MILITARY BASES DAWN: BURMESE INMATES IN THAI DETENTION HIGH DAWN: MASS EXODUS OF KARENNI REFUGEES THAILAND TIMES: BURMESE TROOPS SAID POSITIONED BKK POST: EX-MTA MEN JOIN SHANS AGAINST JUNTA BKK POST: BURMA'S DUAL EXCHANGE RATE DISAPPEARING NATION: PADAENG ASIA INVESTMENT SET FOR R&D IN BURMA BBN: ACADEMICS IN THE SERVICE OF TYRANTS AND MERCHANTS NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: EDITORIAL - SEEING IS BELIEVING NLM: EDITORIAL - NEEDED: OBJECTIVE REPORTING NLM: SLORC PRESS CONFERENCE ON U.S. EMBASSY REPORT ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMESE IN AUSTRALIA MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- BURMANET: NEWS FROM INSIDE BURMA September 8, 1996 (inside sources) On Myanmar TV today, the surrender of the soldiers from the No: 203 battalion of the ABSDF stationed at the Htatsakae near Prakyuat in the Southern region was reported. Between the 31st of August and the 1st of September, more than 79 armed soldiers and 52 family members surrendered to the Coastal Command. Assorted arms including more than 70 small fire arms, RPGs, ammunition and wireless radios were laid down. On the 6th of September, an official surrender ceremony was held at Mergui and attended by Major Gen: Sit Maung, the commander of that area. 1.1 million kyats and rice bags were handed over by the townspeople and they were provided with national identity cards. On September 2, 1996 Khun Myart, the chief mediator from the SLORC, met with KNU leaders, including General Bo Mya, along the Thai-Burma border. He conveyed an ultimatum from the SLORC. If the KNU does not surrender by the end of this month, there will be a SLORC military offensive. On September 6, 1996, a group of DKBA soldiers entered Mawker refugee camp, south of Mae Sot, and stole 50,000 baht and took 6 people back to Burma with them. ********************************************************** DAWN: FORCED RECRUITMENT FOR MILITARY BASES July/August 1996 (DAWN is an ABSDF publication) From: caroline@ksc15.th.com Since 1988, Slorc has been dramatically expanding its military might adding entire new battalions with the expected result that the armed forces will have grown from 186,000 in 1988 to an eventual half a million troops under arms. Due to this policy of rapid military expansion, recruiting new soldiers has become a serious problem for Slorc authorities. In order to solve this problem, Slorc has stepped up forcible recruitment of new troops on the village and township level by a strict quota system. While the Slorc claims the Burmese army, the Tatmadaw, is a volunteer army which does not accept recruits below the age of eighteen, there is plenty of strong evidence of forced recruitment, especially of under-aged boys. In Tanessarim Division, the cost of recruits has soared to 80,000 kyats per person as the Slorc is desperately recruiting new soldiers for their recently-established coastal regional division military headquarters and for new battalions under the command of No.8 Strategic Command Headquarters. Previously, the price for a substitute recruit was 20,000 kyats for one person, but because of the demand for the rapid expansion of the armed forces the amount has gone up sharply. According to the order issued by the division Law and Order Restoration Council, village and ward Lorc members were required to find two new recruits from each village and ward within the ten townships of Tanessarim Division. "The Slorc has ordered every village and ward to provide two village youngsters," said U San Nyunt from Mintha village, Yebyu village. New recruits are usually chosen by drawing lots. His son, Maung Than Naing, a seventh grade student and another classmate were chosen in this way. Neither boy had any alternative but to join the army, according to U San Nyunt. Later they both escaped from the Military New Recruit Training Center and they and their families decided to flee to the Thai border, where they arrived recently. Other testimony was given by a 14-year-old secondary school student from Kan Bauk district, Tanessarim division. Due to the worsening demand for forced labor, he and his family fled to the Thai border last July. According to him, SLORC ordered every household with male members in Kan Bauk to provide one person (between 16-30 years of age) as a recruit for the army or to pay a 5,000 baht fine. "We cannot avoid this because they have a list of all households with male members" his 50-year-old father said. The soldiers came to their neighborhood and made all the young men stand in front of them. They selected those who were tall and heavy enough regardless of age. "Some students showed their ID cards, but it did not make any difference." the student reported. According to him, his friends, Toe Toe, a student in sixth standard in the State Middle School and Soe Pyne, who was out of school, were selected and taken to LIB 104 in Tavoy. They later fled and escaped to Three Pagodas Pass. Their whole families also fled to Thailand because they were afraid of being arrested by troops after their sons deserted. A similar situation is taking place in the Naga region of Chin State by local Slorc troops. Since last June 1996, the local military battalion has been recruiting Naga youth from village to village. Naga youth in the Naga Hills do not dare to stay at home or in their village for this reason and many have fled and taken refuge in Indo-Burmese border. Forced recruitment by quota system had been practiced for a long time in the region. In the past, recruitment depended on village size and the price for substitute was 30,000 kyat. Now, however, the tactic being employed bypasses the quota system entirely, with young men being forcibly recruited entirely at random. As a result, the price for a substitute has recently gone up to 75,000 kyats. According to Naga youth who escaped and reached the Indo-Burmese border, there were many physical and psychological torture methods employed during the military training period. Salaries were also cut off for some reason, it was reported. Many of those interviewed spoke of terrible suffering during their time in the army. ********************************************************** DAWN: BURMESE INMATES IN THAI DETENTION HIGH July/August (DAWN is a publication of the ABSDF) ABSDF(DAWN GWIN)" Due to continued political repression and extreme economic hardship inside Burma, thousands of Burmese flee to neighboring countries with hope for survival and the dream of a better life. Although they have managed to escaped from the terror of their home country, they still have to face new problems as illegal immigrants in foreign lands. As illegal immigrants, they are subjected to arrest, harassment and deportation under the immigration laws of foreign countries. They face many social and labor problems since they do not have legal status or work authorization. Various forms of labor discrimination including low pay, harsh and dangerous working conditions, threats and force, are frequent. Abuse and unlawful treatment after their detention orduring the deportation period, especially against women and children are frequent. In July, Ko Thaung (not his real name), formerly an inmate in Thom Pha Phom, Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand claimed four Burmese inmates (two men and two women) died in detention center during the 36 days he was detained during May and June 1996. Ko Thaung is 31-year-old Karen originally from Kyar Ein Seik Kyi township, Karen State. He came to Thailand three years ago due to the economic hardship, the constant threat of forced labor, and the incessant demands for taxes by the local Slorc authorities in Burma drove him to escape to Thailand. "I have worked at so many odd jobs in Thailand. The money I earn here is not very attractive, but it's much better than staying in Burma." he said. In mid-May, while he was working at an illegal logging operation run by a local Thai business man, he was arrested near Thom Pha Phom for cutting wood unlawfully and also charged under the immigration act. He spent 36 days in jail. According to his account of conditions in Thom Pha Phom Detention Center, there are two big halls with bars on one side while the other three sides are walls without windows. The ceiling is zinc. One hall is for male prisoners and other is for females. Each hall is 18' x 18' wide where the bathroom and toilet is annexed. There are always at least 40 men but sometimes male prisoners number over 200. Beatings in the detention center were common. Inmates were sometimes beaten by the Thai prison officers over small matters, according to him. He said "once while I was in detention, two inmates fought over money matters and an officer came and asked the problem. The two were singled out and handcuffed; then they were taken outside the room and forced to lay down on the floor with their faces down, while the officer and three policemen beat them with batons. After their injuries healed, they had scares on their backs from that beating." he said. Health problems were rampant in the cells. Most of the inmates were Burmese and suffered from malaria and malnutrition even on their way to Thailand. When they got sick in jail, they suffered more severely than other prisoners. No proper treatment was ever given nor were regular medical examinations conducted. "I did not see any sick people sent to hospital even when they were critically ill." he said. The prisoners informed the authorities about the ailing people and requested they be sent to the hospital, but no action was taken. The Thai policemen always said, "You aliens had better die; we will burn your body,", Ko Thaung reported. Due to the lack of proper medical care, Ko Thaung claimed that he himself witnessed four people die in prison. He saw three people's deaths within two days. The first one was 24 year-old man from Kaw Bein, Karen state. He died at 2:00 am on the 1st or 2nd of June. His body was taken to the hospital in the morning and the other dying man was also taken to hospital. "We did not hear anything about him, so all of his friends believe that he was also dead." The next day, one women, about 24 years old died in the women prisoners' room. The three of them who died were from the same region. "They had been sick for at least one week and their friends had informed the police several times." he said. Prison officials also saw their condition, but they did not send them to the hospital while they were still alive, said Ko Thaung. When people died, hospital staff came and took photos and then the bodies were taken away. Nobody knew what happened after that. The officials later told the inmates that the bodies were cremated, but no one knew if it was true. Another death was Ni Ni Win, 16-year-old single girl from Moulmein. She came to Thailand with a group of sixty-one men and women who were all arrested on 18 June. They were apprehended in Sankhlaburi while waiting to go into Thailand. About five days after their arrest, many of them got sick including the girl, said Ko Thaung. In the evening, the girl began vomiting blood and then she suffered convulsions. An official came but did nothing. She died about 1:30 am of 24, June. The other women covered her body with a blanket until the medical staff came and took away her body. Similar stories are heard about other local police cells, lock-ups, detention centers and jails. Because Burmese are aliens in Thailand, no proper action is taken nor are they accorded any protection whatsoever. ********************************************************** DAWN: MASS EXODUS OF KARENNI REFUGEES July/August 1996 (DAWN is an ABSDF publication) from: During the past 40 years, civilians, especially ethnic people, have borne the brunt of government attempts to crush the resistance against the central government. The inhabitants of the war-zones also suffer as a result of human rights abuses committed during the military operations, especially during the forcible relocation of villages, enforced portering and the seizure of land and property. The Slorc always claims these tactics are "Counter-insurgency" operations. Under the "Four Cuts" campaign, entire communities have been forcibly relocated from their homes and army operations have created large numbers of refugees and displaced peoples in the border area. The number of displaced or forced to resettle since 1988 is as high as four million which amounts to a full ten per cent of the population. >From every corner of Burma, there is irrefutable evidence that the forcible relocation of civilians by the Slorc military is taking place on a massive scale in both government-controlled areas and ethnic minority zones of conflict. Not only are such moves themselves a major cause of poverty and deprivation, but it is in the context of such relocations that many of the worse human rights abuses by the security forces have occurred. The most recent massive forced relocations, begun in March 1996, are being carried out by Slorc in Shan State and Karenni State. To date, at least 70,000 villagers in Shan and Karenni States have been ordered to move to new sites under the Slorc control. Those who fail to comply face death, according to orders issued by township Lorcs. Karenni Nationalities Progressive Party (KNPP) signed a cease-fire agreement at a ceremony in Loikaw on March 21, making it the fourth and final armed group in the Karenni State to do so. But on June 28, the KNPP issued a statement claiming that the Slorc had broken the terms of the agreement by sending an additional 2,000 troops into its territory and continuing to take civilians for porters from the area. Two days later, fighting broke out after the Slorc launched an attack on the KNPP headquarters near the Thai border. The fighting was fierce until the Slorc captured some of the strategic locations in the region. During the operation named "Pyi Nyein Aye", Slorc used between 2000-3000 of its armed forces from 27 battalions. Slorc also launched an air attack, sending its Swiss-made PC-7 planes against KNPP strongholds. Skirmish are still taking place, followed by orders demanding forced relocation of the civilians in the region. The purpose, of course, is mainly to eliminate the KNPP forces from the region by cutting off all food, information, communication and recruitment. In Karenni state, ninety-six villages in Shar Daw township, between Pun Creek and the Salween River received relocation orders in the first week of June 1996. An original order, given to the ABSDF by newly arrived refugees on the Thai border, gave a deadline of June 7, 1996 for relocation in Shar Daw town. The letter dated May 31, 1996 issued by Chairman of Shar Daw Township Lorc reads as follows: Stamped : Township Lorc Shar Daw Township Letter No. : 101/0-1/Ya Ta-1 (tha wa) Date : May 31, 1996 Village headman xxxxxx village Shar Daw South Village group Subject : Building concentration village with the villages in Shar Daw township ref: : Letter No. 337/01/Oo-1 dated May 30, 1996 on the front line LIB 337. Regarding the above-mentioned case, we order you to move the villagers from the villages between Salween River and Pun Creek as well as villages in southern and northern part of Shar Daw into Shar Daw town by June 7, 1996. This is in order to restore peace, law and tranquillity in the region. Anyone who fails to comply the order will be considered an enemy and dealt with accordingly. Thus, we inform you to move your whole village into Shar Daw not later than June 7, 1996. The relocating village will be resettled by the Township Lorc. Signed by Chairman Shar Daw Township Lorc - Chairman State Lorc, Kayah State - Chairman District Lorc, Kayah State - Front line office, LIB 337, Shar Daw town - Chairman, Market Ward, south, middle and Aung Chan Tha- in order to assist the resettlement. Over 20,000 people in Karenni State were affected by the orders. About 10,000 of them went to Shar Daw as ordered while 2,300 fled and reached the border. Villagers were not allowed to take their livestock or food supplies with them and had to move with just the barest of essentials, such as cooking pots and what clothing they could bring. All their property including silver coins that are being still used for trade in that area were left behind. In Daw Leh Ku village alone, 22 houses, 300,000 baskets of paddy and about 10 cattle and buffaloes were left behind. About 10,000 villagers went to stay in Shar Daw town while the rest of them either moved to Shan State or fled to Thai-Burmese border. Those who went to Shar Daw according to the order were placed in the churches and schools and other built makeshift shelters. Slorc intended to make no provision for them, they found out later. These shelters were very crowded and no food or medicine was provided for the arrivals. Due to overcrowded conditions and lack of medical assistance, diseases such as malaria, diarrhea and cholera are rampant. At least 150 newly relocated Karenni refugees, mostly the elderly and the very young, died during the month of July at the new relocation site in Shar Daw town. When the villagers asked permission to go back to their villages in order to fetch rice and other food supplies for themselves, they were allowed to go back for three days. Upon their return to the relocation site, all the food stuffs and rice they had carried back from the villages were seized by the troops, who later redistributed only six tins of rice per family back to them for their daily use. Experiencing the overcrowding and large number of deaths in the new site, many fled to the border after staying some time in the camp. Many refugees reported that their villages had been razed, after soldiers had taken all the livestock and destroyed the remaining crops and barns. One hundred houses in Daw Tama and Daw Bo Leh villages as well as the local schools and churches were burned down on June 15 by the Slorc. Soldiers looted more than 10,000 silver coins from that village alone. One of the villager reported that he himself had left 6,000 silver coins behind. Many villagers reported that they saw soldiers using and selling silver coins in Shar Daw. In some cases, people were shot in the deserted villages. A 70-year-old refugee woman reported that U Law Reh, a 53-year-old Karenni from Daw Tama village was burnt to death in the last week of July when his house was fired while he was still inside. The woman herself had been left behind in the village by her family because they thought she could not walk to the border. However, she managed to reach the border with two companions in the first week of August; she hadn't dared remain any longer in the abandoned village. Slorc troops committed many other brutal killings against the Karenni villagers. Bu Me, 50-year-old Karenni woman from Daw Hti Kaw Le village was dragged out from her house by the Slorc troops in the last week of July. Shot twice in the stomach, she died instantly, according to Ngar-Reh, a witness from Daw Htaw Vee Me Le village. Over 2,000 Karenni villagers reached the Thai-Burmese border sheltering in existing Karenni refugee camps near Mae Hong Son. Although the villages and the border is only two days walks far, many refugees took at least five days to reach to the border. The heavy rain on the way and Slorc's attempts to prevent their escape forced the refugees to hide by day and walk only at night. Troops from IB. 54 based in Loikaw, IB.94 based in Shwe Nyaung in Shan State and LIB.530 based in Lawpita have been sent to the region to prevent the people from escaping to Thailand. Some people were arrested on the way to border and sent back to the concentration camps in Shar Daw. In one case, a group of villagers from Htee Saw Ku were arrested while they stopped to help one woman in the group give birth en route to the border. Despite the heavy monsoon rain and flooding in the region, the new arrivals reach the camps every day. These refugees are also facing terrible shortages of food and medicine. "At least ten of them, mainly children, have died of malaria and diarrhea since July and many are very sick," according to a medic working with the Karenni refugees. "Many of these people are seriously ill due to their exhausting journey to the border and the heavy rains" said another aid worker. "There are many Karenni hiding in the jungle because they couldn't go to relocation site but they couldn't manage to walk to the border either. We do not know their fate, but we believe that their situation must be getting worse." added by other worker. Slorc has also issued the order of forced relocation to the villages in Prusoe and Maw Chi townships in Karenni state. Similarly forced relocation is widely practiced in Shan State. The victims of human rights abuses by Slorc are taking refuge along the border. They are in desperate need of assistance as very few international aid agencies are operating. The exodus of thousands of Karenni refugees to the border because of the forced relocation orders by the Slorc in the region clearly indicates the level of human rights violations going on in Burma. Also relocations in this area are designed to pressure the KNPP into signing a new binding cease-fire agreement which would enable the government to open up the area to tourism after October 1996, the start of "Visit Myanmar Year." Besides, Slorc is desperately attempting the regain cease-fire with KNPP in order to cover its renewed repression against opposition forces inside Burma. "Cease-fire agreements" which lack the genuine desire and means for internal peace can not last long. Pressuring a group with threats and harassment to its people clearly shows that Slorc has neither the desire nor the way to establish internal peace in the country. ********************************************************** THAILAND TIMES: BURMESE TROOPS SAID POSITIONED TO PRESSURE KNU September 4, 1996 Tak -- The recent deployment of Burmese troops along Thai-Burmese border was aimed at pressuring ethnic rebel group the Karen National Union (KNU) to surrender, according to an informed border police source. The Thai officer who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday said Rangoon has deployed about 7,000 troops opposite Tak province to force the KNU to accept its defeat and surrender amid lingering peace-talks between the two sides . Rangoon and the KNU had held talks four times. The latest round, which took place in late May, failed to reach any substantial agreement as the rebel group refused to lay down its arms, the condition demanded by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). More than 10,000 Burmese troops have been moved areas opposite Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces since July. The source said Rangoon was showing off its military might ahead of the next round of negotiation scheduled in Moulmein and Rangoon month. The source said at least 2,500 Burmese soldiers were deployed near KNU's Tegaba headquarters, opposite Um Phang district in Tak. KUN President Gen. Bo Mya is reportedly residing at the base The KNU's 6th Division, located at the nearby Ar Sein strategic base, is also bracing for defense under the command of the group's deputy president Suay Chai, the source said. The officer said the Burmese troops, particularly the 101 Division led by Brig-Gen. Sein Win, were ready to launch an attack on the rebels as soon as the order was issued. However, a KNU senior officer said the real purpose of Rangoon's frontier deployments was still unknown. He said the KNU, which has been fighting for greater autonomy from central government for more than 40 years, would never give up its arms to surrender before reaching peace agreement despite the pressure. The source said the KNU has sent its representatives to the third countries including the US, Australia, and other European countries, to seek assistance should the new round of peace-talks fails. Rangoon said its troops' deployments opposite Thai border provinces were to prevent illegal logging in its soil. ********************************************************* BKK POST: EX-MTA MEN JOIN SHANS AGAINST JUNTA September 7, 1996 Remnants of drug warlord Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army have regrouped and formed a new alliance with Shan freedom fighters to carry on their resistance against the Burmese government. The new alliance, called the Shan State Nationalist Army (SSNA), is led by Chao Jai Nong, a relatively unknown Shan scholar who has dedicated himself to the struggle for the liberation of Shan State from Burmese control. A well-informed rebel source told the Bangkok Post that the leaders of various Shan rebel factions, including Lt-Col Kan Yod, an aide of Khun Sa, met in the middle of last month to forge a new alliance to fight for an independent Shan State. Lt-Col Kan Yod broke away from Khun Sa last November following a bitter conflict over the warlord's dictatorship, nepotism and corruption. The renegade scholar brought with him about 4,000 armed troops who were later joined by more troops after Khun Sa capitulated to SLORC in January this year. Apart from Chao Jai Nong who was appointed chairman of the SSNA, the meeting also named Chao Harnsuek commander of Shan troops, Lt-Col Kan Yod secretary-general, while Chao Gai Fah and Chao Pang Fah were appointed deputy chairmen. The source said the SSNA had chosen Hsipaw, a Shan township near the Chinese border, as the site of its new headquarters. "Since the Thai government does not want us near their border, we moved further north and hope that we can rely on help from the Chinese," said the source quoting a Shan rebel leader. The SSNA, according to the source, only intends to prevent SLORC from spreading its influence to central and northern Shan State "which is our liberated zone". "The SSNA will not get involved in narcotics. We earn revenue from taxing all goods and vehicles which go through the Sino-Burmese border in Shan State," the source quoted a rebel leader as saying. Asked to comment on Khun Sa who is now in Rangoon pursuing business, the source said the new Shan liberation movement would treat the former warlord as a non-person. ********************************************************** BKK POST: BURMA'S DUAL EXCHANGE RATE DISAPPEARING September 6, 1996 Rangoon Burma's dual exchange rate, which officially values the kyat at more than 25 times its market value, is "irrelevant" but necessary for economic stability, a senior official said yesterday. "There is still a dual exchange rate but the official rate of exchange is now irrelevant," said Set Maung, senior economic advisor to Burma's ruling military junta. "We are just withholding from announcing it." However, Set Maung said there were no plans to officially scrap the unwieldy system as doing so would spark inflation, adding that Burma did not have the economic resources to protect the kyat against speculation. He said that any alteration of the exchange rate system would require the assistance of the World Bank and ; International Monetary Fund, both of which have frozen loans to Burma as a result of US pressure. The market rate for the dollar currently stands at over 160 kyat, compared with the official rate of about six kyat to the US unit. ********************************************************* NATION: PADAENG ASIA INVESTMENT SET FOR R&D IN BURMA September 6, 1996 PADAENG Industry Ple has a made a Joint investment agreement with Asia Investment (1995) Co Ltd to sign a contract with the Burmese government to invest in research and development of zinc and copper Sources in Burma Padaeng Industry Plc will hold 20 per cent of shares in the first stage of the project, which is part of a company policy to expand investment in the company's related business and also to expand business in Indochina. Asia Investment Co Ltd has been authorised by the Burmese government to do research and development of zinc and copper sources in 1,400 square kilometres in the north of the country. ***************************************************************** BBN: ACADEMICS IN THE SERVICE OF TYRANTS AND MERCHANTS September, 1996 (British Business News - Advertisement) From: zni@students.wisc.edu (zar ni) Myanmar Britain Business Association: Myanmar the next emerging economy Aims of the Association: To promote commercial dialogue between Myanmar and Britain, and to assist member in the promotion of trade, industry, investment and economic relations between the two countries. Forum for British businesses to get to know Myanmar counterparts and other members to identify opportunities for projects and joint ventures. To promote British know-how, technology, services and industries. To compile news, information and statistics on trade in general, on industrial affairs, and on legal and financial matters worthy of interest, for distribution to members. Advantages for Members; *Identification of potential business partners in Myanmar. Consultancy services can be arranged to carry out background research to identify suitable potential partners. *Access to laws on investment, company and copyrights laws, import/export regulations and current business practices. *Advice on business travel. Suggestions for hotels. Visa and inoculation for members in one hour. *FAST TRACK VISA SERVICE. The Myanmar Embassy has guaranteed visas for members in one hour. *A quarterly newsletter covering latest development, foreign competitor analysis, industry analysis, investment opportunities, tourism update and enquiries from Myanmar and British companies. Other articles and an advertisement section. *Seminar with visiting dignitaries from Myanmars for members at reduced rates. Private meetings with such dignitaries on priority basis for members. *Cocktail functions and lunches with prominent speakers. Lunch is not included in the fee. *Introduction to organisations providing a variety of related consultancy services. *Bibliography of books on Myanmar and books sales services. __________________________________________________________ Membership Fee There is a non-refundable joining fee of $$ (X),... Membership is aimed at Director to Senior Manager level. A corporate member can nominate two people, one of whom must be a Director or Senior Manager. Committee President: Mr Peter Godwin CBE, Manager Director, West Merchant Bank and chairman of Asia Pacific advisory group Chief Executive Officers: Mr Keith Win Bsc, Fca, Frsa chartered accountant Executive committee: - Mr. Charles Jamieson (vice-president)., Chief Exexutive, Premier Oil plc. - Robert Taylor (vice-president) pro director, School of Oriental and African Studies - Mr. Peter Grut, Director, United Plantations, a Malaysian Palm Oil plantation company - Mr. Christopher Penn, Coordinator Asia Pacific, Pearson plc. - Mr. Barry Evans, Director, Representation plc and ex-Marketing Director of KLM Airlines. - Mr. Simon Dawkins FCMA (Treasurer). Ex-Officio Members: (Britain's) Department of Trade and Industry and Myanmar Embassy. For further details contact: Keith Win, P.O. Box 8756, London W 13 0WH Phone: 0181-997-4350 Fax: 0181-810-8796 or cut out and return the form overleaf. _______________________________________________________ Note from FBC (abridged): What is most interesting about the above ad is the composition of the committee. Professor Dr. Robert Taylor BA-Ohio University, Ph.D. in government/political science (Cornell) is unarguably the best-known apologist of the dictatorship in Burma. Like Lee Kwan Yew from Singapore, Bob Taylor has argued that Burma needs the military as the central institution because there are no civic or cultural alternatives that can hold the country together. Another thesis he advances publicly in one of his talks in Europe is the following: One of the reasons that generals in Burma are corrupt and morally bankrupt is because Burmese generals are underpaid compared to their counterparts in other countries. One way to solve Burma's problems is to raise the payscale for the generals! ********************************************************** NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: EDITORIAL - SEEING IS BELIEVING September 4, 1996 Attempts are being made at home and abroad to tarnish the image of Myanmar discrediting her to be an unworthy place for foreign investment. Still, reports of contract signing ceremonies for new projects have been quite common these days. Investers include major firms of big nations involving multi-million dollars of capital in each project. In some cases, plane-loads of businessmen from neighbouring countries have visited Myanmar to see for themselves what investment opportunities exist here. This was normally followed by starting new businesses or signing of new contracts. This is largely due to their first-hand knowledge about our country. Everyone will have to admit that Myanmar is in the process of change for the better. Myanmar today is much different from that some years back. This has been thanks to relentless and dedicated endeavours of the Myanmar leadership which is determined to establish a modern and developed multi-party democratic nation. In so doing, it has laid down projects in practically all sectors encompassed by the twelve political, economic and social objectives. Through personal contacts between the Myanmar leadership and that of neighbouring countries, exchange of delegations with them and individual visits of businessmen and others prior to the Visit Myanmar Year 1996, the improving situation in the country is widely known to the world in general and the region in particular. After winning Observer status in the 29th Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN, Myanmar can now look forward to the association's full membership in the near future. All these and prevailing objective conditions in the country indicate that Myanmar is a promising place for foreign investment. Two hundred and four projects with the total value of 4.3 billion US dollars are under way in ten sectors. This was disclosed by Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel at the recent News Briefing of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Information Committee. The Minister cited this figure based on contracts originally signed. He did not include soft cost or additional cost that has been added to the projects. According to the Minister, the contract was signed to build the Trader's Hotel for 50 million dollars. But it now costs 72 million. Many have realized the opportunities for mutual interest in Myanmar and are enjoying benefits. Those who are misled by biased reports will lose such opportunities. Hence, all interested persons are advised at least to come and visit Myanmar to see for themselves that those concoctions on Myanmar hold no water. ********************************************************* NLM: EDITORIAL - NEEDED: OBJECTIVE REPORTING September 3, 1996 (The New Light of Myanmar) [Transcribed Text] That the State Goodwill visit of State Law and Order Restoration Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe to Malaysia at the invitation of the Yang diPertuan Agong [paramount ruler] last month has added to achieving greater political rapport is an undeniable fact. Mutual regard and esteem, better understanding and mutually beneficial economic cooperation have been boosted to a higher level as a result. Myanmar [Burma], in the time of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, has achieved unprecedented success in its relations with its Asian and ASEAN neighbours into the noble fold of which it will soon be admitted. To lay to rest any doubts about Myanmar's success and to apprise the local and foreign correspondents of the true situation in the political, economic, social and other spheres as exists today, the Information Committee held its second Press Briefing yesterday. Newsmen are newsmen. With their different shades of opinion and different bent on how they would want to report a development or developments, they will cajole, excite, incite or do whatever they would have to, to get the kind of answer they would want. In answer to a question, a minister was obliged to respond "You put your words in his mouth and then took them out", which in certain cases can be true. In the absence of other ready excuse to authenticate a source, newsmen are bound to quote "a reliable official who spoke on condition of anonymity", or something to justify what is being reported. What the Government here is doing is to provide its side of the story, to provide quotable statements and the like. It would be naive to suggest our fellow men file balanced reports, for though the word balanced in Myanmar carries a lesser meaning than purposely having to balance the news, it carries a more serious connotation in some other tongue. Be that as it may, journalists had a field day yesterday, taking the opportunity to squeeze whatever information they would want from the authorities present. We would hope there will be objective reports now and in future, for that would only be fair. ******************************************************* NLM: SLORC PRESS CONFERENCE ON U.S. EMBASSY REPORT September 4, 1996 (excerpt) YANGON, 3 Sept-The following is a continuation of the questions and answers at the Second News Briefing of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Information Committee yesterday [Sept.2]. Correspondent U Sein Win of the Kyodo News asked the Minister for National Planning and Economic Development to explain a little bit about the recent economic report by the US Embassy in Myanmar. Minister Brig-Gen Abel said "It is a slanted report. It is not an economic report at all. He said so many points are to be contended after analyzing the report. But the worst thing, he said, is on the first page, para two, sub-small para three, line 14 which says that the export of opiates alone appeared to be worth about as much as all legal exports. He asked where that figure came from and who gave the figure of opiate export from Myanmar?" *********************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMESE IN AUSTRALIA MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY September 5, 1996 From: ricchie@netspace.net.au On September 1st 1996, at the Burmese Family Sydney Community Centre a meeting took place concerning the 8th anniversary of the military crackdown against the people's pro- democracy uprising in Burma. Representatives from several pro-democracy organisations in Australia joined the meeting. The meeting decided to organise a forum on Sunday the 15th of September to expose the brutalities of the SLORC military dictatorship. A march is also planned to take place on the 18th of September. This will be on the 8th anniversary of the brutal massacre of students and pro-democracy protesters in Burma. This massacre resulted in over 3000 deaths with several thousands of others wounded and detained. The march will meet at Martin Place in Sydney on 12:00pm and then move to the NSW Parliament to demand economic sanctions against Burma.