---------------------------------BurmaNet----------------------------------- ----- "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- The BurmaNet News: September 19, 1996 Issue #518 Noted in Passing: Our people are very easily aroused and they can easily make some mischief. So we have to control this firmly and now we are laying down our foundation. - General Kyaw Ba's opinion on the purpose of the government constitution (see: VOA: SUU KYI ON SLORC AND NATION-BUILDING) HEADLINES: ========== U.S. CONGRESS APPROVES SANCTIONS ABSDF STATEMENT: 8TH ANNIVERSARY OF SLORC'S COUP D'E TAT JOINT STATEMENT: 8TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MILITARY COUP BURMANET: NEWS INSIDE BURMA FBC: AUNG SAN SUU KYI ENDORSE OCTOBER FAST US EMBASSY RANGOON: FOREIGN ECONOMIC TRENDS - BURMA THE NATION: KL CONFIRMS BURMA'S APPLICATION FOR ASEAN THE NATION: BURMESE REBEL ASSAILS ASEAN VOA: SUU KYI ON SLORC AND NATION-BUILDING VOA: BURMA'S PR IMAGE PROBLEM THE NATION: THAIS THREATEN FORCED EVICTION OF IMMIGRANTS BKK POST: KAREN REFUGEES TO BE BETTER PROTECTED THE NATION: JAL TIES UP WITH MYANMAR AIRWAYS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- U.S. CONGRESS APPROVES SANCTIONS September 18, 1996 From: NYUNTPAUNG A-SO-YA On September 17, the eve of the anniversary of the violent takeover of power by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) in Burma eight years ago, the US Congress approved sanctions against the military dictatorship. The bill was passed in spite of intense lobbying against it by the US oil firm UNOCAL and its corporate partners. In approving the Cohen-Feinstein Amendment - Section 569 of the Foreign Operations and Appropriations Act, the US is sending a clear message to the Burmese generals that they cannot continue to pursue a policy of intimidation, imprisonment, and torture with impunity. The US action gives a major boost to the Burmese democracy movement led by Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The Cohen-Feinstein Amendment proposed in July was a compromise to the mandatory sanctions called for by Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell and New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Under the provisions of the adopted legislation, the US President shall prohibit new US businesses from investing in Burma if SLORC physically harms, re-arrests, or exiles Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or continues its repression of the democracy movement. As recently as September 14, SLORC arrested two close confidants of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi -- U Aung Myint Oo and Maung Khin Thein. Since the last crackdown in May, more than sixty supporters of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have been arrested and half have been sentenced to harsh prison terms. On September 11, the 125th Congress of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Denmark unanimously adopted a resolution to work for European Union sanctions against SLORC and to support the work of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). NCGUB Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win currently in Germany said, "I am very happy to see that the US Congress has passed the legislation. The joint efforts of the United States and the Danish Government in Europe will have a significant impact on the political process in Burma. I trust that those nations committed to seeing democracy restored in Burma will follow the lead of the United States and Denmark." Dr Sein Win added that "the current US sanctions bill is only the first step in a process that will begin again when a new Congress convenes." He said he was confident that the US Congress will increase its support for democracy in Burma. The NCGUB advocates sanctions because foreign investments have enabled the illegitimate military regime to survive and more than double its army while becoming increasingly brutal and repressive, especially in ethnic areas. Only sanctions will curb the excesses of the generals and influence them to enter into a political dialogue with the Burmese democracy movement led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's ethnic peoples. ******************************************************** ABSDF STATEMENT: 8TH ANNIVERSARY OF SLORC'S COUP D'E TAT 18 September 1996 From: Caroline Lurie Eight years ago on September 18, 1988, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) staged a military coup d'e tat that brought the people of Burma onto the streets demanding an end to one-party rule and demand for democracy. The response from the military was a brutal, and violent crackdown that resulted thousands of people killed and imprisoned. In addition, the Slorc announced that it would held multi-party general election and that state power would be transferred to those elected. Eight years later the people of Burma are still waiting for the Slorc to honor the results of the general election held in 1990. Eighty two percent of parliamentary seats were won by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Many elected members of parliament were arrested and given long prison sentences, some of whom are still, today, facing many more years of imprisonment. The country is still under military rule where gross abuses of human rights are conducted in order to ensure the Slorc stay in power. The All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) strongly condemns the Slorc for ignoring by the true will of the people of Burma through the 1990 general election, and for ignoring calls from the international community for democracy and human rights. While the Slorc has failed in its management of the country, the people face more hardships. The economic and social policies of the Slorc do nothing but empower the army and further oppress the people. SLORC's army is now two times larger than in 1988 and continues to grow under its open market economy. In order to ease increasing international and internal pressure of its worsening human rights record, and failure for democratization; the Slorc has through force, achieved temporary cease-fire agreements with 15 armed ethnic groups. However, the Slorc still refuses to discuss any of the political and social problems through dialogue and political means with any groups. Instead, pressure through military oppression and divide and rule are still implemented by the regime today. Therefore, the ABSDF, for the sake of the country, strongly demands that the SLORC; release all political prisoners including prominent student leader Min Ko Naing, stop all forms of human rights abuses, cancel all unjust laws and orders, engage in a tripartite dialogue with democracy groups led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders for achieving national reconciliation and lasting peace. We also appeal to the international community to help the people of Burma by exerting more pressure on the SLORC through economic sanctions and an international arms embargo until democracy and human rights is achieved in Burma. The ABSDF urges the students and people from all walks of live in and out of the country to redouble their efforts for furthering the struggle for democracy and human rights. The ABSDF reconfirms that it will continue the fight against the SLORC hand in hand with the ethnic people of Burma for uprooting the military dictatorship, the root problem of the country and achieving genuine peace. Central Committee ABSDF *************************************************************** JOINT STATEMENT: 8TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MILITARY COUP September 18, 1996 From: tinkyi@iac.co.jp Today is the 8th anniversary of the day the military dictators, under the name of State Law and Order Restoration Council, stage a coup after killing the Burmese people in order to perpetuate the military dictatorship in Burma. Many people, including ethnic minorities, have been killed or subjected to arbitrary arrest, unlawful imprisonment, forced labor, and suspension of their rights by the Slorc since it come to power. We demand that the Slorc, which has committed these inhuman acts, do the following: 1. Release unconditionally all political prisoners, including student leader Min Ko Naing. 2. Talk with the democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to search for the future of Burma. 3. Transfer power to the National League for Democracy which won by a landslide in the 1990 election. 4. Enforce the resolutions of the United Nations concerning Burma. We also urge the Japanese people and the people of the rest of the world to firmly support the democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to pressure the Slorc to meet the above demands which can lead to the restoration of democracy in Burma. And we strongly urge the international community to take effective actions against the Slorc if it does not respect the above demands. Burma Youth Volunteer Association ( Japan ) Democratic Burmese Students' Organization ( Japan ) 8888 Group National League for Democracy (Liberated Area-Japan Branch) 'em BURMANET: NEWS INSIDE BURMA September 18, 1996 To commemorate the military coup that occurred on the September 18, 1988, The military government organized opening ceremonies of current tourism construction projects. Some of the projects have been completed and some are still in the process of being completed. Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Lieutenant General Kyaw Ba, attended the the ceremony as well as other government officials The projects are as follows: 1) Mandalay Mya Nan San Kyaung Palace 2) Mandalay Bar Ga Yar Monestary 3) Mandalay Atu Ma Shi Monestary 4) Sin Tae Wa Resovoir in Pakhok ku District 5) Commencing ceremony of construction Tha Phan Sike Reservoir at Kyun Hla township 6) Rangoon ---National Museum 7) Rangoon---Cultural University 8) MyaungMya Bridge 9) Railway line between Pagan- Myin Gyan 10) GaYuNa pharmacy store in Rangoon and Mandalay 11) Paung Laung Hydroelectric Station 12) Nang Saung Ngaung Hydroelectric station in KyaukMae township 13) Nang KhamKa hydroelectric station in Moe Gaung township 14) Kandawgyi Palace Hotel in Rangoon 15) Sedona hotel in RGN 16) Bassein University 17) Mingalardon new Airport building in RGN 18) Ramada Hotel in RGN 19) Parami Road in RGN. 20) Jade Factory in Pyin Ma Bin in RGN(Myanma Holding Co) 21) Industrial Zone 1 and 2 in Dagon new Town in RGN 22) Same at Hlaing Tha Ra in RGN 23) Thakatoe Yeik Mon Housing in RGN 24) FMI housing project in RGN 25) Nawaday housing project in RGN 26) 200 bedded hospital in Pakhokku 27) Myakhantha Golf Course in RGN 28) Pyin Oo Lwin digital electronic Auto Exchange 29) Kyauk khwat-LatPanto Oil Field in Pakhokku ********************************************************* FBC: AUNG SAN SUU KYI ENDORSE OCTOBER FAST September 18, 1996 From: zni@students.wisc.edu (zar ni) 1) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and October Fast The leader of Burma's democracy movement, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has just endorsed the October Fast for a Free Burma. She also urges groups in Japan, ASEAN countries, and Europe to join the Fast. Below are few excerpts from her audiotaped statement message which will be distributed to you all: On the Fast: The Free Burma Fast will help focus attention on the essentially peaceful nature of the quest for democracy in Burma...I would like to thank all of you who are participating in the fast, in particular American and Canadian students who have done so much for the Free Burma campaign. Victory will surely be ours because our cause is just." On U.S. Corporations in Burma: Until we have a system that guarantees rule of law and basic democratic institutions, no amount of aid or investment will benefit our people. Profits from business enterprises will merely go toward enriching a small already very privileged elite. Companies such as UNOCAL and PEPSI, ARCO and TEXACO only serve to prolong the agony of my country, by encouraging the present military regime to preserve in its intransigence. 2) South Africa joins October Fast Please add to your list of colleges joining the October 7 Fast, the University of Durban-Westville. I have succeeded in enlisting a few persons and have hope for more. We will ensure that the issue gets the necessary media coverage. 3) Hampshire College join October Fast Hampshire's on board for the Fast. We're also contacting the other four schools in our consortium (UMass, Smith, Mount Holyoke and Amherst Colleges) to see if we can generate interest there...We're going to show Beyond Rangoon probably Sept. 30 as a kick-off for our FBC and to publicize and recruit for the Fast. 4) Duke University kick off Free Burma campaign I received information in the mail concerning Burma. I am now in the process of speaking with 1) Amnesty International and 2) Taiwanese students (who I understand are politically in tune to the situation in Burma). I have also gotten the paperwork required to start a new club. Furthermore, I am ordering 100 of the stickers from the FBC homepage. On the homepage, I had noticed that there was a march in Chapel Hill. Being that Duke is situated about 10 miles from UNC, I was wondering if you had the number of who organizes anti-SLORC campaigns at the school. Richard Froom (rsf3@acpub.duke.edu) 5) The current list of October Fast Groups: The list of participating colleges and high schools: a) U.S.A 1-Santa Monica College 2-University of Houston 3-University of Wisconsin-Madison 4-Stanford 5-Harvard/Radcliffe 6-Princeton 7-UCLA 8-Berkeley 9-Johns Hopkins 10-Northwestern 11-University of Chicago 12-Warren-Wilson College 13-Tufts University 14-University of Michigan 15-Penn State 16-University of Washington 17-New York University 18-Iowa State University 19. Texas A & M University 20. University of Minnesota 21. Georgetown University 22. Texas Southern University 23. University of Oklahoma 24. East Tennessee State University 25. Baylor College of Medicine 26. Stephen F. Austin University 27. University of Texas at Austin 28. Texas Women's University 29. Conneticut College 30. University of North Carolina 31. University of Georgia 32. Syracuse University 33. SUNY-ESF 34. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 35. Wesleyan 36. San Franciscan State University 37. Hampshire College High Schools: 1. Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Twshp., New Jersey 2. Lab Schools, University of Chicago 3. Lamar High School, Texas 4. West High School, Madison, Wisconsin 5. East High School. Madison, Wisconsin 6. W.P. Clements High School, Sugar Land, Texas 7. Lexington High School Community Group: Westerville Social Action, Westerville, Ohio Chicago Free Burma Coalition b) Canada Lakehead University at ThunderBay, Ontario c) South Africa The University of Durban-Westville ********************************************************** US EMBASSY RANGOON: FOREIGN ECONOMIC TRENDS - BURMA June , 1996 (excerpt) GOVERNMENT ROLE IN THE ECONOMY Burma's tentative movement, since 1988, towards an internally and externally competitive market orientated economy is constrained by the exigencies of a militarized authoritarian state not conducive to economic liberalization. Immediately upon being constituted in September 1988, the SLORC proclaimed that it would move toward a market oriented economy and began to liberalize economic policy. During the late 1980's and early 1990's, the SLORC allowed the private sector to engage in internal trade and many kinds of manufacturing, external trade and some financial activities. Some small state- owned enterprises were privatized. State procurement of agricultural surpluses at below market prices was limited to a single crop, paddy, of which about 1/7 of national production is now purchased by the state and about 1/3 of the market price for export and for substituted distribution to military and government employees and members of ethnic minorities that the government seeks to pacify. Private exportation of crops other that rice was permitted. Border trade was legalized and allowed to be conducted at market exchange rates. Exporters were permitted to retain their earnings in foreign currency bank deposits, although required either to use the bulk of them for imports, or to exchange them for Kyat with prospective importers. The establishment of private banks was permitted, although interest rates continue to be set by the government at rates well below the rate of inflation, and only four parastatal banks were permitted to handle foreign exchange transactions. The GOB promulgated a new domestic investment law, a new mining law, and a new foreign investment law that permits foreign direct investment in most sectors of the economy and 100% foreign investment in some sectors. Nominally, Burma still has a dual exchange rate regime, including an official exchange rate which values the local currency, the kyat, at more than twenty times it's value on a legal and competitive parallel foreign exchange market. In 1990, when it began to liberalize external trade, the GOB allowed exporters to hold dollar dominated accounts in domestic banks, and allowed such dollar deposits to be traded legally for kyat at a parallel exchange rate; but although these dollar deposits could be used to purchase goods for imports, these could be converted at the market rate only to purchase local goods for export, not for domestic consumption. In February 1993, the GOB introduced a form of local currency pegged to the US dollar, the "foreign exchange certificate" (FEC) into which foreign currency holders, including tourists and exporters, could exchange dollars at the market-determined parallel rate, to buy local goods and services. By 1995, hardly any transactions except intra- public-sector transactions still occurred at prices reflecting the official rate. Fiscal Developments: Under the SLORC, disproportionate military expenditures have caused both fiscal deficits equivalent to 11% and 25% of legal GDP, and a deterioration of health and education services. For at least some recent years, the exclusion of substantial military imports and related financial flows from the GOB's BOP accounts implies that the true fiscal situation may be worse than these figures indicate. Implicit and explicit taxes on the external sector, which made up less than one fourth of legal GDP, appears to have provided about half of public sector receipts. Much of the GOB's foreign currency receipts come from the state economic enterprises, which monopolize major legal exports, and thereby generate substantial positive net income for the government. The GOB's net declared cash basis foreign financial flows have been consistently positive, thanks largely to debt relief grants from the government of Japan, which have recently provided an increasing share of GOB receipts. Since the SLORC was constituted, defense spending has grown, both in real terms and in terms as a share of central government operating expenditures certainly in exchange-rate unadjusted terms and apparently in exchange-rate adjusted terms. In FY 93/94 and FY 94/95, on-budget defense and "unidentified" disbursements appear to have constituted at least 41% of total central government operating disbursements in unadjusted terms and about half of central government operating disbursements in exchange-rate-adjusted terms, despite the absence of any evident military threat and the pacification of most ethnic insurgent groups. Meanwhile, central government disbursements have decreased in terms of real terms and as shares of central government disbursements in exchange rate unadjusted terms. Public schools have increasingly been funded by formal and informal user fees. GOB receipts from school fees have increased from 50 million in FY 89/90, to about 300 million kyat in FY 94/95. It is widely reported that the salaries of teachers - which like those of non-military central government employees, declined at an average of at least 20% a year in real terms from FY 89/90 to FY 94/95 - were increasingly supplemented by side payments from the families of students, and that increasing formal and informal school fees are contributing materially to Burma's high primary and secondary school drop out rates. Recent Ministry of Education surveys, conducted with the assistance of UN agencies, have indicated that 65% to 75% of children entering primary school drop out of school before the fifth year of formal education, and that fewer of than 5% of them complete secondary school. Among the rural poor, many children never start school at all. Class rooms are overcrowded, textbooks and school supplies are inadequate, much of the teaching relies on rote memorization. However the GOB continues not to permit the establishment of private multi-subject schools at any level. Similarly, the public health care that most Burmese can afford has by all accounts deteriorated during the 1990's; that many hospitals expect patients to provide or pay for food, bedding, medicines, non-reusable medical supplies and use of diagnostic equipment, without regard to ability to pay. Private side-payments to state-employed doctors reportedly have increased, as the value of their compensation from the GOB has fallen in real terms. However private clinics for thhe affluent have begun to flourish in Rangoon. *************************************************************** THE NATION: KL CONFIRMS BURMA'S APPLICATION FOR ASEAN September 18, 1996 KUALA LUMPUR - Burma has made a formal application for full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi said yesterday. Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw handed over the application last month during a visit by Burmese junta leader Gen. Than Shwe and top members of his ruling council, the national news agency Bernama quoted Abdullah as saying. Abdullah said he was optimistic Burma will be accepted. Laos and Cambodia are set to join ASEAN next year. (TN) ************************************************************ THE NATION: BURMESE REBEL ASSAILS ASEAN September 18, 1996 TEAKAPLAW, Burma - The leader of Burma's oldest rebel insurgency said yesterday that the country's expected entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will benefit its tyrants, not its people. "They are dictators," Gen. Bo Mya, the 69-year-old chief of the Karen National Union said of the generals who have ruled Burma since 1962. After years of thumbing its nose at the international community, the regime is seeking international acceptance. "If they become a member of ASEAN, they will reap all the benefits for themselves, but the people of Burma will become poorer and poorer," Bo Mya said from his jungle stronghold near the rugged, malaria-plagued mountains of the Thai - Burma border. The general, dressed in battle fatigues but steadying his bearish frame on a teak cane, commands an estimated 5,000 troops. Despite some disastrous military setbacks in the past few years, Bo Mya and his soldiers are determined to continue their struggle against the government in Rangoon. ************************************************************ VOA: SUU KYI ON SLORC AND NATION-BUILDING September 9, 1996 From: dawn star Rangoon -- in Burma, the government and pro-democracy activists continue a battle of wills about the future of the country. Each side believes it is firmly in the right, and the rhetoric coming from both camps is heated. There is an establishment in Rangoon, named "The Happy Nation Restaurant". It is a wishful thought, for Burma's political landscape remains bleak. The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, known as Slorc, is run by a well-entrenched military that sees opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi as a dangerous demagogue who will bring anarchy to the country. Nobel peace prize-winner and leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, views the country's ruling generals as repressive and corrupt, bent on crushing dissent and holding on to power by whatever means necessary. She wants the results of the 1990 election, which the National League for Democracy decisively won and the government nullified, implemented. Minister of hotels and tourism and a member of Slorc, Lieutenant General Kyaw Ba, says the military will not turn over the reins of power to her under any circumstances. He says the military must stay in power, because nobody else can keep order in Burmese society. " If somebody is going to take over the administration, they will not be able to handle it. They would not be able to keep control. Our people are very easily aroused and they can easily make some mischief. So we have to control this firmly and now we are laying down our foundation." The foundation General Kyaw Ba refers to, is a convention that is drafting a new constitution the government says will bring multi-party democracy to Burma. But, it will clearly not be a western-style multi-party democracy. The military, deeply fearful of a flare-up of ethnic insurgencies or political unrest, will continue to play the dominant role. Government sources say the current draft document calls for reserving 25-percent of the parliament seats for the military. General Kyaw Ba says western-style democracy could bring chaos to Burma. "We are marching toward democracy, but there will be a big difference. We believe if we are going to follow according to western democracy -- will they guarantee that our country will not be disintegrated?" Aung San Suu Kyi dismisses the convention as an undemocratic procedure that allows no dissenting or alternative views. "Let us leave alone political dialogue, they would not even dialogue about the working procedures of the national conventions within the national convention. So it is not much of a convention. It is just a paper reading ceremony." Aung San Suu Kyi says she wants to see an inclusive, rather than exclusive form of government in Burma. "We do not believe that central government can sit and say this is how we are going to resolve all our problems. We have to talk, we believe in communications, we believe in talking to people and listening to their views and bringing them in. then, one of the main differences between SLORC and us is that we believe in including people, they believe in excluding people. We think that as many people as possible should be included in the process of nation building." Whatever document emerges from the convention, it is also clear from government sources the military has no intention of giving a role to Aung San Suu Kyi. One provision in the draft, resurrected from the 1948 constitution, bars anyone from office who has foreign obligations. This explains the government's continual barrage of criticism in the official media of Aung San Suu Kyi's personal life. She is married to a British citizen. ************************************************************* VOA: BURMA'S PR IMAGE PROBLEM September 9, 1996 From: dawn star Rangoon -- for all the current world attention, Burma has not been a spot high on the list of tourist destinations, few foreign visitors have come here. But times have changed, in November, Burma will kick off a year-long promotion to lure foreign tourist to the country. Rangoon, Burma faces a severe image problem abroad. Had Burma not lived in such international isolation for so long the great Shawe Dagon Pagoda in Rangoon might well rival India's Taj Mahal as a tourist spot. The golden dome of the 26-hundred-year old Buddhist shrine, which contains relics of the Buddha, towers nearly 100-meters over a vast park of tropical foliage, like a giant shining vale rising out of the jungle. Burma bills itself as the golden land because of the vast array of exquisite golden pagodas and temples that dot its landscape. Burma has pristine beaches, stunning mountain vistas, and ancient archeological sites. The air is clean and a Bangkok resident would laugh at what is called a traffic jam in Rangoon. It is in fact virgin territory for the travel and tourism industry. Millions of potential dollars ride on the question of whether the gold of ancient pagodas will be overshadowed by the green of army uniforms. The government is planning to inaugurate "Visit Myanmar Year" in November. Myanmar is the government's name for Burma. It is hoping to attract foreign currency from tourists, particularly those from Asia. The government is also trying to convince foreign companies in the hospitality industry that Burma is the place to invest. But independent analyst say that could be an uphill battle for the government. Burma's image abroad, particularly in the west, is a tarnished because of the country's poor human rights record. Moreover, the government's nemesis, democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for an economic boycott of Burma and is asking tourists and the travel industry to boycott "Visit Myanmar". In an interview, a minister for hotels and tourism and a member of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, General Kyaw Ba, dismisses the impact of a boycott. He says tourist revenues were 80-million dollars last year and predicts they will top 100-million dollars this year, with the largest number of tourists coming from Japan. But some diplomatic analysts say those figures may be exaggerated. In addition to the image question, Burma also faces severe short-comings in what economists call infra-structure. Western-style hotels are few, the telephone system and the electric power supply -- especially outside Rangoon -- are often unreliable. Roads are of un-even quality and dining choices are limited. General Kyaw Ba says improvements are being made to improve facilities. Some new hotels are going up and the historic Rangoon hotel, the strand, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, although its 300-dollar a night rooms put it out of the reach of most travelers. General Kyaw Ba says hotel groups from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong are planning to build hotels in Burma. He says one-fourth of foreign investment in Burma is in the hotel industry. But analysts say if occupancy rates of existing facilities are low, potential investors could be scared off. ********************************************************* THE NATION: THAIS THREATEN FORCED EVICTION OF IMMIGRANTS September 18, 1996 THAI fishermen from Ranong yesterday threatened to seal off access to the Andaman Sea and forcefully evict tens of thousands of Burmese immigrants from the province unless the Burmese government ensures justice following the recent killings of two Thai and three Burmese workers by the Burmese navy. Fifteen fishermen traveled to Bangkok in a six-wheel truck with five empty coffins and delivered their ultimatum to Sawat Palakawong, an adviser to Foreign Minister Amnuay Viravan, at the ministry. The fishermen, calling themselves the Andaman Human Rights Group, said they had come to the capital after their petition and demand for justice from local Thai and Burmese authorities had fallen on deaf ears. They first called at the Burmese Embassy before moving on to the Foreign Ministry. Two Thai fishing trawlers - Watheerungroj and R Chasamut - were attacked by a Burmese naval vessel at 1 am on Aug 30, about two nautical miles to the northwest of Khom Island in the Andaman Sea. Wit Khan-ngern, 39, was killed and Anuwat Sea Ping, 31, was seriously wounded during the attack. Thanet Changmek, 35, and three other Burmese were pronounced missing and presumed dead after jumping over board into heavy seas. The Burmese naval officers also seized the tow boats. The trawlers' owners - Walee Buasawan and her husband Viroj, who were on board one of the boats and witnessed the incident - joined the group to protest before the Burmese mission. Prathan Letkajorn, the group's leader, told Sawat the Ranong fishermen have decided to block off the Ranong Gulf in the Andaman Sea and drive out the Burmese immigrants unless their demand for justice is met within five days. They threatened to expel all Burmese males in three days and the remaining women and children in a week. Sawat urged the group to refrain from taking such harsh action and to give Thai authorities 15 days to investigate the matter. The ultimatum to expel the Burmese, most of whom are working as cheap laborers in provincial fishing and mining industries, is the most serious threat since relations between Thailand and Burma soured following the murders in August of last year of several Burmese workers aboard a Thai boat by their Thai -workers. Although Prathan claimed the two Thai boats were anchored in Thai waters when the attack took place, informed sources say the scene of the incident was located within disputed marine territory between Thailand and Burma. The trawler owners claimed the two boats already received authorization from the Thai navy to anchor at the site. (TN) *************************************************************** BKK POST: KAREN REFUGEES TO BE BETTER PROTECTED September 18, 1996 Supamart Kasem Security for Karen refugees in Tak has been stepped up since Burmese troops and the Rangoon-backed Democratic Karen Buddhist Army threatened to attack refugee camps, according to a border military source. Thai officials and representatives of NGOs worked out measures to protect Karen refugees at a meeting chaired by 4th Division Task Force Commander Col. Suvit Maenmuen in Mae Sot yesterday. Taking part in the meeting were officials, military officers, Border patrol Police and rangers from Tha Song Yang, Mae Ramat, Mae Sot, Phop Phra and Umphang districts and staff of the Karen Refugee Committee, Burmese Border Consortium and Doctors Without Borders. Col Suvit said that although all concerned agencies were prepared to deal with the situation, they could not enforce security measures efficiently because many Karen refugees frequently ventured out of the camps. "From now on, the KRC and Thai officials in these areas will be asked to bring all refugees outside back to the camps," said the commander. He said the officials were making identification cards for all Karens so that camp staff could check the number of refugees more easily, adding that the issuance of ID cards for more than 8,000 refugees at Sho Klo Camp had been completed. According to the measures, refugees are required to follow Thai laws strictly and are forbidden to leave the camps at night and move to other districts. NGO staff are asked not to approach the Thai-Burmese border or leave Thailand without protection. Hundreds of Karen refugees have fled from a camp at Don Pa King in Mae Ramat since the DKBA threatened to set fire to the camp unless all refugee returned to Burma. ********************************************************** THE NATION: JAL TIES UP WITH MYANMAR AIRWAYS September 18, 1996 TOKYO - Japan Airlines Co (JAL), the country's largest airline, has formed a tie-up with Myanmar Airways International, a JAL spokesman said yesterday. The tie-up is aimed at smoothing transit procedures for JAL passengers flying from Japan to Rangoon through Bangkok, a JAL spokesman said. Currently, JAL operates flight between Japan and Bangkok, and Myanmar Airways flies between Bangkok and Rangoon. Under, the tie up, Myanmar Airways will also send some flight attendants to JAL for training. Under an aviation agreement between Japan and Burma, Japan is allowed to operate three direct flights a week between Japan and Burma, but JAL rival All Nippon Airways Co has the aviation rights to all three flights. The JAL spokesman said it remains undecided what other business will come out regarding Burma. But the latest accord is aimed at laying the groundwork for future business opportunities, he said. Japan Airlines Co is Japan's largest airline. It has ties up with Deutsche Lufthansa AG in developing networks and technical exchanges. (TN)