Subject: BurmaNet News February 4, 1997 Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 17:45:54 -0800 (PST) From: strider@igc.apc.org Reply-To: Conference "reg.burma" To: Recipients of burmanet-l ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: February 4, 1997 Issue #628 HEADLINES: ========== THAILAND TIMES: THAI POLICE ABORT KAREN ATTEMPT TO CROSS NATION: FRONTIER SHOOTOUT REPORTED NATION: RANGOON WATCHFUL AMID "RED ALERT" BKK POST: FUJI BANK TO OPEN VENTURE IN BURMA BKK POST: MITSUBISHI LAUNCHES CAR SALES IN BURMA ASIA TIMES : DISNEY'S IMAGE AT RISK OVER TIES TO MYANMAR KYODO: COMPANY TO SET UP JOINT VENTURE WITH BURMESE BKK POST: ARSON ATTACK RUINS CHANCE OF EDUCATION BKK POST: PTT PRESS ON WITH PIPE DESPITE FEARS OVER IMPACT THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : BRIEF NEWS REPORTS FROM 31-1-97 RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR : THAN SHWE WARNS USDA RANGOON KYEMON : ALBRIGHT'S INTERFERENCE QUESTIONED KSNG STATEMENT : KAREN REFUGEES CAMPS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THAILAND TIMES: THAI POLICE ABORT KAREN ATTEMPT TO CROSS BORDER February 2, 1997 by Assawin Pinitwong BANGKOK : Thai border patrol police yesterday successfully prevented 100 renegade Karen troops from crossing in to Thailand, killing three of the soldiers in the Moei River, according to an informed border police source. Several rounds of mortars were fired by the Thai forces to halt the progress of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), who were attempting to cross the border opposite Ban Org Pha Lu village in Thai Song Yang district. The Karen troops returned to Burma in the evening, carrying the corpses of their dead comrades, the source said. In another development, the Karen National Union (KNU) yesterday launched a guerrilla attack against its rivals the DKBA, who splintered off from the KNU just over a year ago. According to KNU sources over 100 soldiers from the KNU's 7th Division used RPG guns and 60 mortars to bombard the 50 member DKBA patrol unit based across the border from the Thai village of Mae Lah. The half hour assault began as the DKBA men were preparing to rest, and ended with the KNU retreating. Mortar shells were found near the Thai border area beside the Moei River, dangerously close to the Mae Lah refugee camp. However, no Thais were injured in the clash, and although the attack caught the DKBA troops unprepared, there are no reports of casualties on either side. Thai border patrol police were reportedly hot on the scene of the incident, positioning themselves near the border in preparation for the foreign troops making an incursion onto Thai soil. According to reports border security has also been beefed up by the KNU, who on Saturday stationed themselves at the border area opposite Mae Lah camp. The camp houses several thousand Karen refugees, and is believed to be a DKBA target. A large number of Karen refugees living in the camp have reportedly fled their homes to seek shelter in the nearby forest for fear that the DKBA would strike. DKBA troops have launched a number of attacks on Thai refugee camps in recent days. ***************************************************************** NATION: FRONTIER SHOOTOUT REPORTED (abridged) February 3, 1997 AFP Thai paramilitary forces yesterday day fought a gunbattle with members of a breakaway ethnic Karen group which crossed the border into Thailand from Burma in a bid to launch an attack on the Karen National Union (KNU), border sources said. The brief shootout took place on the Thai-Burmese border in Tak in the afternoon and the Thai side managed to halt the advance of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the sources said. No casualties were reported on either side of the border. The latest reported clash between the Thai army and the DKBA came as the rebel group announced it would burn a third refugee camp in a week in Tak last night. But a Thai military officer reached by telephone in Tak denied that the rebels who are claimed to be backed by Burma's ruling Junta crossed into Thai territory or clashed with Thai security or clashed with Thai security forces. The officer said two rival Karen groups had clashed inside Burma, but Thai units were not involved. Renegade DKBA fighters last Tuesday burned and looted two camps in Thailand housing more than 10,000 Karen refugees. The simultaneous assaults took place on the Wangka and Don Pa Kiang refugee camps, just north of the Tak town of Mae Sot, and were condemned by the United States and Burma's Karen National Union (KNU). The Mae La camp houses more than 25,000 who have dispersed into the jungle. Thai militia turned back a pervious attack on Mae La last week just after the other two camps were destroyed. Most of the refugees are supporters of the KNU, which seeks greater autonomy for Burma's eastern Karen State under a federal and democratic constitution. ************************************ NATION: RANGOON WATCHFUL AMID "RED ALERT" February 3, 1997 Reuter Rangoon - Burma's military remains firmly in control of the country but is on full alert against any surprise dissent from restless students, young Buddhist monks and opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi, analysts said yesterday. "The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) is still on red alert now since last month's sudden student unrest," a diplomat said. "Although all appears normal now and they are firmly in charge, they are not relaxing one bit." Slorc cowed thousands of anti-government student protesters by parking army tanks in strategic places in the capital Rangoon, closing troubled universities and sending students home to their provinces. Street demonstrations launched by the students demanding greater freedom were the most serious in the capital since 1988 when the military brutally crushed prodemocracy protesters, killing and jailing thousands. "For now, they have taken action to break the back of the student protesters at ground level. But don't forget historically students and young Buddhist clergy have always been the backbone of antigovernment sentiment," said another diplomat. "Another group of students and monks will emerge and probably surprise the government again like this group did in December as history has shown. But too much blood has been spilled in the past and the people don't want a repeat from the military," he said. Analysts said young Buddhist monks, unlike their abbots or elders whom Slorc has courted, sympathised with the students and would come out on the streets again if the students made another attempt to protest. "What many did not notice were the number of yellow robes amongst the student protests the last time," the diplomat said. Nearly two months after the unrest, universities in the key cities of Rangoon, Mandalay and Moulemin remain closed and the government was unable to say when they would be reopened. "They will be opened at an appropriate time," said an official. But some expect a re-opening around March. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy was another big albatross around Slorc's neck, with its tacit support from Western nations and people at the grassroots level, the analysts said. "Although there is a stalemate now in that Suu Kyi has been blocked from meeting the people, the NLD will always try to do something and the Slorc will be watchful," another analyst said. The US Embassy's charge d'affaires, Kent Wiedermann, said the government was using concerns over Suu Kyi's personal security as an excuse to bar her from carrying out political activities. Slorc said it would continue to block public access to her until her personal safety was fully assured. Meanwhile, the Nobel laureate, who was released from six years of house arrest in July 1995, can only meet visitors with government approval. "This is unacceptable" said NLD vice-chairman U Tin Oo. "The Slorc continues to harass the NLD. At ground level, our members are picked up and jailed for petty reasons. We (NLD leaders) may not be able to see freedom and democracy in our lifetime, but we hope our children and the children of the military will be able to see it in the future," he added. ***************************************************************** BKK POST: FUJI BANK TO OPEN VENTURE IN BURMA January 30, 1997 Tokyo- Japan's Fuji Bank Lt plans to launch a bank in Burma in Joint venture with ma Bank Ltd. major privately-owned local bank Fuji Bank official said yesterday. Fuji Bank and Yoma Bank will sign the Joint venture memorandum in Rangoon later yesterday, the official said, adding that Fuji hoped to set up the venture by the end of this year, although the timing has yet to be finalised. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, a ma or business daily, said in a report that the Japanese bank would be the first from an industrialised country to make such a move. AFP ***************************************************************** BKK POST: MITSUBISHI LAUNCHES CAR SALES IN BURMA January 30, 1997 Tokyo-Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp has launched car sales Burma through a joint venture, recently formed by Japanese trading house Nissho Iwai Corp and local concerns, a Mitsubishi spokesman said yesterday. Cycle and Carriage Golden Star Co Ltd, set up by Nissho Lwai, CCL Myanmar Pte Ltd and Golden Star Co Ltd, will sell Mitsubishi passenger cars and recreational vehicles, the company said. Mitsubishi has no stake in the venture, the spokesman said, adding that the company was only supplying cars. AFP *************************************** ASIA TIMES : DISNEY'S IMAGE AT RISK OVER TIES TO MYANMAR January 28, 1997 Yaroslav Trofimov, Haifa, Israel Defying the international boycott campaign against Yangon, an Israeli company partially-owned by Walt Disney is planning to invest tens of millions of dollars in Myanmar's petrochemical industry. A similar-sized project was also under consideration in Vietnam, said Eli Hovev, manager of the Haifa area-based Dor Energy Trade. The Israeli company plans to set up petrochemical plants in both Asian countries, and to operate them as 50-50 joint ventures with the state-owned monopolies, Myanmar Petrochemical Enterprises (MPCE) and Petro-Vietnam. This would be the first sizable Israeli investment in either country. One-third of Dor Energy, Dor Energy Trade's parent company, is owned by Shamrock Holdings, the investment arm of the Walt Disney empire. The remaining two-thirds of the company is held by the Tel Aviv-based Dankner group, a privately-held conglomerate which effectively dictates company policy. According to Hovev, Dor Energy's negotiations with Myanmar were more advanced that those with Vietnam. The Israeli company and MPCE recently signed a memorandum of understanding and the actual contract may be finalized within a month. "We are not worried about the international campaign against Myanmar. It is true that some companies, mostly American, left the country, but many others went in," Hovev said. "As far as I know, there is no political pressure on us from the Israeli government not to do business with Myanmar." Myanmar, historically one of Israel's most faithful Asian allies, still maintains a privileged relationship with many Israeli decision makers. Industry analysts warned that Dor Energy's Myanmar petrochemical deal may lead to a clash between Dankner group and Walt Disney. Over the past two years, many companies operating in the United States have found themselves targeted by painful boycott campaigns launched by supporters of democracy in Myanmar. The organizers of the boycott believe that any foreign investment in Myanmar makes it easier for the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the country's military government, to repress the democracy movement. The Dankner group does little business in the US and is therefore relatively immune to the boycott campaign. The same, however, could not be said about Walt Disney, whose carefully-nurtured public image in the US could be badly hurt by a financial partnership with SLORC's Myanmar - which is definitely no Disneyland. *********************************************** KYODO: COMPANY TO SET UP JOINT VENTURE WITH BURMESE GOVERNMENT January 30, 1997 Tokyo, Jan. 30 KYODO -- Plant engineering company Chiyoda Corp. will set up in April an infrastructure venture jointly with Myanmar [Burma]'s government-run construction company Public Works, Chiyoda officials said Thursday. Chiyoda will establish Chiyoda and Public Works Co. in the Myanmar capital of Yangon [Rangoon], with the aim of strengthening its construction-related consulting business in the country, a relatively new type of business for Chiyoda which specializes in oil refining and petrochemical plants. The Japanese contractor will invest 60 percent of the venture's capital of 3 million kyats (500,000 dollars) while the Myanmar company will contribute the rest, the officials said. The venture will conduct consulting, engineering and construction of infrastructure and community development in the country as well as lease construction-related machinery. It plans to develop sewage disposal systems and waterworks, and build bridges. It will also aid projects in obtaining official development assistance, the officials said. Once the infrastructure business gets well under way, Chiyoda plans to proceed with the development of the northern city of Mandalay, for which Chiyoda has already compiled a master plan. In the future, Chiyoda hopes to expand its infrastructure business overseas, establishing the venture in Myanmar as its base. ********************************************** BKK POST: ARSON ATTACK RUINS CHANCE OF EDUCATION February 2, 1997 Mae Sot, Tak Some 1,200 Karen students have lost their chance to study in Tuesday's attack on Huay Kalok refugee camp here by Democratic Karen Buddhist Army soldiers. All the school buildings and equipment at the camp were destroyed when some 100 DKBA troops crossed over from Burma and put them on fire. Ban Huay Kalok is among three Karen refugee camps in Mae Sot and Mae Ramat districts hit in the cross- border attack. According to Huay Kalok Education Committee, the final examination for the students this month has been cancelled because new school buildings and teaching equipment could not be built and acquired in time. Completely destroyed in the attack included 10 classroom buildings, a library, offices, toilets, teaching equipment and text books worth over 500,000 baht. Moo Moo Son, 16, a high-school student, said she was allowed by the DKBA attackers to bring only a pet dog out of her home before it was burnt to the ground by the assailants. (BP) ****************************************************** BKK POST: PTT PRESS ON WITH PIPE DESPITE FEARS OVER IMPACT February 3, 1997 Kanittha Inchukul 'Drilling will ensure trees won't be cut' The Petroleum Authority of Thailand confirmed it would continue its Burma-Thai gas pipeline project despite the fact that local environmental groups are dissatisfied with the PTT's clarification on the project's impact. The scheme will be continued although the PTT would have to pay any cost to lessen the environmental impact of the pipeline construction, PTT's gas president Piti Yimprasert said. "The PTT will use state-of-the-art technology in laying down the pipeline especially in critical areas and will use drilling methods instead of open-and-cover methods to ensure that trees won't be cut down without due cause," he said. Mr Piti was speaking at a seminar which over 100 people attended to hear details of the impact of the scheme. A technical hearing is to be arranged at Kanchaburi's Thong Phapum district next month. Opinions and comments on technical aspects will be put together with an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be considered by the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry. The pipeline project is to transfer natural gas from the Yadana and Yetagun fields in Burma to fuel a 4,600-megawatt power plant in Ratchaburi. Environmentalists have raised concerns over the project since part of the route will penetrate a lush area of the western forest complex. The PTT is waiting for the Office of Environmental Policy and Planning to consider an EIA before asking for approval from the National Environment Board. Kanchanaburi environmentalists were dissatisfied with information distributed by the PTT at Thursday's seminar, saying it is different from information given by local staff of the PTT. Phinan Chotirotseranee claimed said field staff had told her that the risk of a gas explosion is virtually nil; however, academics insisted that an accident from an explosion is possible. Local environmental groups are seeking their own information from several non-governmental organisations and academics to strengthen their objections to the project. "If the explanation is not clear, we think the project is not worth exchanging with the dense forest," said Mrs Phinan. (BP) *********************************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : BRIEF NEWS REPORTS FROM 31-1-97 From: OKKAR66127@aol.com January 31, 1997 MYANMAR SANITARY CARE PRODUCTS LTD TO PRODUCE ITEMS FOR EXPORT AND DOMESTIC MARKET Yangon, 30 Jan --- Myanmar Sanitary Care Products Ltd and Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development today signed a land-lease contract for building a factory in Hlinethayar Industrial Zone. This signing ceremony at Sedona Hotel was attended by Secretary-2 of State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt.Gen Tin Oo, Ministers and officials. Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun delivered an address: Two international standard industrial zones have been established with foreign investors. One industrial zone is about to be established and another two are still under negotiation. Mutual-interest undertaking have been going on with four foreign investors on Build, Operate & Transfer concept like service apartments, commercial complex and hotels. Negotiation is still going on for further investment like this. Leasing of industrial land to foreign investments for industrial production is under way and there are now four foreign investors including this company which is going to sign the agreement today. With the approval of the Myanmar Investment Commission, two more contracts will be signed next month. Myanmar Sanitary Care Products Ltd is a joint company between the CFA International Paper Product Pte Ltd which is a French Company based in Singapore and Science & Technology Advisory Group of Myanmar. In this joint venture company, the foreign company will invest US $ 3.75 million. This company will lease 1.57 acres of land from the Department of Human Settlement & Housing Development Industrial Zone at Hlaingthayar. The initial lease term will be 20 years with an extensions of an other five years, two times. The land rent will be paid according to the rate which be fixed in accordance with the duration. This factory will produce sanitary products of which 70% will be exported and the remaining 30% will be for local market. Director-General U Arnt Kyaw and Deputy Director-General U Soe Lwin of DHSHD and directors of the company Mr. J Marcielle and Daw Khin Swe Yu signed the contract. Maj-Gen Saw Tun presented the MIC permit to Mr. J Marcielle.---MNA NO 2 MINING ENTERPRISE, HOLY S PIN CO SIGN PROFIT-SHARING CONTRACT FOR GOLD PRODUCTION Yangon, 30 Jan --- The No 2 Mining Enterprise of the Ministry of Mines and Holy S Pin Co Ltd of Kachin Special Region 1 signed a profit-sharing contract for production of gold at Malikha and Maykha Rivers region at Thiri Yadana Hall of the Ministry of Mines today. The signing ceremony was attended by Minister for Mines Lt-Gen Kyaw Min, Deputy Ministers U Hlaing Win and U Myint Thein, heads of department under the ministry, Chairman of Holy S Pin Co Ltd U Za Hkun Ting Ring, officials concerned and invited guests. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Min said a policy has been laid down for launching survey and mining of gold and copper deposits in joint venture inviting foreign investment and expertise in accord with the third economic objective of the State "Development of the economy inviting participation in terms of technical know-how and investments from sources inside the country and abroad". In carrying out the works after this policy had been adopted, he said, 23 mineral exploration plots were designated and permitted under the supervision of the Department of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration and exploration works now being carried out by No 2 Mining Enterprise at Phayaung Taung Mines and Kyaukpahtoe Kawlin Block were permitted in joint venture with foreign organizations. Managing Director of No 2 Mining Enterprise U Tin Win and Chairman of Holy S Pin Co Ltd U Za Hkun Ting Ring also made speeches. After the contract had been signed, Lt-Gen Kyaw Min presented the metal production permit to U Za Hkun Ting Ring. CHAIRMAN OF STRAND HOTELS INTERNATIONAL (HONG KONG) DONATES K 10M FOR RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL SECTORS Yangon, 30 Jan --- Mr. Anthony Gaw, Chairman of Strand Hotels International (Hong Kong), today donated K 10 million to be used in religious, educational and social sectors in Myanmar. The donation ceremony at Inya Lake Hotel was attended by Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Ministers, officials and specially invited guests. He handed over the donation to Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. He said K 3 million of his donation will be used for general renovation of the Shwedagon Pagoda, K 2 million for restoration and reservation of Bagan pagodas, K 3 million for education, K 1 million for Kandawgalay Little Sister's Home for the Aged and K 1 million for the youth training schools under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. Mr. Anthony Gaw has made investments in Myanmar's hotel services since 1991 when foreign investments were legally permitted. --- MNA. SECRETARY-1 RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF MULTINATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF MALAYSIA Yangon, 30 Jan --- Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Chairman of Multinational Consortium (Mekon/Triarms Group) of Malaysia Lt-Gen (Retd) Raja Dato Abdul Rashid Bin Raja Badiozaman at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 4 pm today. Present together with the Secretary-1 were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department. The guest was accompanied by Defence Adviser to the Embassy of Malaysia Lt-Col Shahrir Bin Hashim. --- MNA MINISTER FOR HOTELS & TOURISM RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF MCG YANGON INTERNATIONAL HOTEL Yangon, 30 Jan --- Members of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba received Chairman of MCG Yangon International Hotel Mr. Kokoi Onodera at his office at 3 pm today. They discussed measures for opening Yangon International Hotel in April this year. It is being built at the corner of Ahlon and Pyay Roads. Myanmar Information Centre has been opened in Japan for increasing Japanese tourists' arrivals here. Present also were Director-General U Khin Maung Latt and officials of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism. --- MNA MIC SECRETARY RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF MINOR ENTERPRISE ASSN Yangon, 30 Jan --- Minister at the Office of Deputy Prime Ministers Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung received a 23- member delegation led by Chairman Mr. Akoi Saiki of Minor Enterprise Association of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, at the Commission office at 1 pm today. The minister explained investment opportunities in Myanmar and Foreign Investment Law to the guests. Officials of MIC office were also present. ---MNA MIC SECRETARY MEETS OFFICIALS OF DELTA INTL Yangon, 30 --- Minister at the Office of Deputy Prime Ministers Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung received Executive Director Mr. Christopher P Harney, Project Manager Mr. Paul L Blanton and party of Delta International, Saudi Arabia, at the Commission Office today. They discussed cooperation in building bridges in Myanmar. Present also were officials of MIC Office. ---MNA *************************************************** RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR : THAN SHWE WARNS USDA EXECUTIVES TO WARD OFF DESTRUCTIONISTS January 29, 1997 translated from Burmese Senior General (Sr. Gen.)Than Shwe, patron of the Union Solidarity and Development Association [USDA], chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council [SLORC], and commander in chief of the Defense Services, addressed the opening ceremony of Management Course No. 8 for USDA Executives, held at the Pyidaungsu Hall of the Central Public Relations Unit in Hmawbi at 0900 today. Regarding the reasons for forming the association, he said it was formed to join hands with the Tatmadaw [Defense Services] and guard valiantly against dangers to the nation and the people, so as to serve the long-term interests of the State and the people. He pointed out there are three important national tasks--the nondisintegration of the Union, the nondisintegration of national solidarity, and the perpetuation of national sovereignty--which are to be always upheld and safeguarded with care at present and in the future. The SLORC chairman said all the national races must strive in unison to achieve urgently needed progress and the success of the 12 political, economic, and social objectives that are the national tasks, and to ward off--with constant vigil--internal and external destructive elements out to break up the unity of the national population. He remarked that if there is any lapse in implementing our three main national causes, the nation will lose its independence and fall into servitude--so it is the main duty of the association to steadfastly safeguard our three main national causes so that no one can harm them in the future; and as of right now they need to understand this, and carry out this duty with strong conviction. ***************************************** RANGOON KYEMON : ALBRIGHT'S INTERFERENCE QUESTIONED January 28, 1997 translated from Burmese While the State Law and Order Restoration Council [SLORC] is performing its duties by upholding its three cardinal causes, there have been external interference in Myanmar's internal affairs militarily, politically, and diplomatically from 1988 up to January 1997. Meanwhile, the BBC and the VOA, which are a skyful of lies, have been continuously broadcasting unfounded reports. In his special news briefing on 31 December 1996, SLORC Secretary-1 Lieutenant Khin Nyunt said it could be clearly seen that internal traitor axe handles and neocolonialists are striving to undermine the peace and tranquility of our Myanmar I shall mention the news concerning the permanent representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright carried by the BBC broadcast of 9 September 1995 and the VOA broadcast of 10 September 1995. This ambassador had made statements which amounted to internal interference in Myanmar VOA broadcast of 9 September 1995 [subheading] It has been learned that the permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Madeleine Albright has held a news conference at the [Yangon] airport and issued a statement in Bangkok after meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit to Myanmar from 8 to 9 September 1995. It was stated that Ambassador Albright met the secretary-1 [Khin Nyunt] and urged him to hold talks with the democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Ambassador Madeleine Albright's meeting with Daw Suu Kyi [subheading] The ambassador met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to help bring about a civilian administration and to hold negotiations with the current government and to show American support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts. Although the Myanmar Government released Aung San Suu Kyi to get a positive impression from the American and Western governments, Aung San Suu Kyi herself has said her release alone would not bring about changes to Myanmar's internal situation. VOA broadcast of 10 September 1995 [subheading] Furthermore, Ambassador Albright had told the secretary-1 that Myanmar would remain isolated if substantial efforts are not made for freedom. She said the American Government wanted to see democratic reforms being made before working for friendly relations between the two countries. There were one-sided views of Madeleine Albright on Myanmar. It has already been stated at the beginning of this article that the chairman of the SLORC and leaders, together with the people of Myanmar, are striving to develop the Union of Myanmar into a democratic state which is modern, developed, and peaceful. Let me ask Madeleine Albright how much she knows about Myanar and its people. Our chairman and the leaders had dismantled a one-part system and socialist laws and had promulgated the necessary laws and decrees. They are continuing with the necessary work. The National Convention was convened and the necessary work was undertaken. Madeleine Albright: Rome was not built in a day. Please understand this. A Myanmar national cannot be an American national. Madaleine Albright, you are not a Myanmar national. It is necessary for you to know this clearly. A journalist asked a following question when U.S. Ambassador Madeleine Albright held a news conference at the Yangon Airport on 9 September 1995. Question: I would like to know your opinion about alleged correct and incorrect statements by Aung San Suu Kyi in the news conferences she held following her release. Answer: It is difficult to criticize statements made by Aung San Suu Kyi. During my meeting with her I felt that this woman was detained for six years and she may have made both good and bad comments deliberately or was urged to say so. She is a patriot and she cares greatly for the people of Myanmar. She wants the best for the people of Myanmar and she alone is capable of providing that. She wants the best for the people. In her comments on Aung San Suu Kyi, Madeleine Albright claimed it is difficult to criticize Aung San Suu Kyi, that she may have made both bad and good comments, and that she is a patrioitic person. This is a farce, indeed. Aung San Suu Kyi married a descendent of the colonialists, who killed her father's grandfather and whose cronies and followers also killed her father. She has done nothing for the benefit of Myanmar. Is calling this type of woman a patriot a compliment or mockery? This has become a farce for the 45 million Myanmar people. Madeleine Albright also said Aung San Suu Kyi was concerned about the Myanmar people and wanted the best for them, and that she is capable of providing the best. Dear Madeleine Albright, there is a political saying in the Myanmar political circle -- ideology without practice is unproductive and practice without an ideology is visionless. However, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is blabbing whatever she wants without any ideology and practice, is neither unproductive nor visionless and has turned out to be nothing at all. She has no traditions in Myanmar history and the social world. What good for the Myanmar people did Daw Aung San Suu Kyi do in the past and at present? On what grounds can Madeleine Albright say she is the one who could provide the best for Myanmar? Please show concrete proof whether it is economics, politics, military, religion, social, education, literature, culture, music, performing arts, or medicine? [passage omitted on patriotic Burmese ladies] Think! If you think carefully, all the international awards and prizes given to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are all poison. Do you know that poison has been poured into Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's head for her to hate the Myanmar Government, the Myanmar Defense Services, and the Myanmar people more. What did Daw Aung San Suu Kyi do for the Myanmar national cause?. Nothing so far. However, she has been hampering and preventing national economic growth and development. Do not forget till you die that the SLORC [State Law and Order Restoration Council] is a Myanmar national government. At the Yangon Airport news conference on 9 September 1995, Madeleine Albright replied to a journalist that it will be necessary for the [Myanmar] Government to reach international human rights standards. [29 Jan, pp 5-7] We have a report headlined: Violation of Human Rights by United States carried by the Beijing Radio on 6 December 1996. I shall describe the broadcast in full. Mrs. Madeleine: read it thoroughly. What do you have to say about the deterioration of human rights standard in your United States reported in this news report. Do no keep mum. It is necessary to speak the truth. The United States is Violating Human Rights [subheading] The United States of America, which is criticizing other countries for the violation of human rights is trying to cover up such violations in the U.S. However, a a news conference held in Brussels, Belgium, on 5 December 1996, a U.S. citizen, Scholl, explained how the U.S. is gravely violating human rights in its own country. Scholl is head of the Electoral and Information Department of Natural Law Party in the U.S. He said although the U.S. Government is continuously accusing other countries of violating human rights, there are records of grave violations of democratic and human rights in the U.S. He said according to the Nature Law Party and 30 other international organizations, it is found that the U.S. has been seriously violating the Copenhagen Declaration on Human Rights ratified in 1990 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and committing acts in elections which are looked down by the international community. Madeleine Albright should realize by now that the people of Burma do not support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Our fatherland shall never accept imperialist stooges. They fall without fail in one way or another. ******************************************* KSNG STATEMENT : KAREN REFUGEES CAMPS February 1, 1997 From: 76613.2262@CompuServe.COM The Karen Student Network Group (KSNG) is deeply concerned about the attacks on three Karen refugee camps in Thailand by a State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) backed armed groups. The three refugee camps are Huaykaloke (Wankha), Huaybone (Don Pa Kiang) and Mae La (Baeklaw) camps which situated along the Thai border with Burma. Despite reports in Thai media that Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) is responsible for the attacks, the KSNG is convinced that the attacks also included SLORC soldiers, by conducting numerous interviews with refugees from Huaykaloke camp. The Burmese military regime is thereby once again proving itself a threat to regional security in Southeast Asia. The present situation in the camps is critical due to the lack of security and the lack of education for over 3,200 students in the three attacked camps- Huaykaloke, Huaybone and Maela. Together those camps house more than 36,000 Karen refugees. The refugees in camps are affected daily by the physiological warfare conducted by the SLORC and DKBA through threats of repeated attacks on the camps, kidnapping of the refugees and forcing of the refugees back to Burma by gun point. The refugees in the three affected camps are now staying outside in the surrounding jungles at night, fearing a repeat of the violent acts that were committed by the intruders. We the Karen Student Network Group - regard that the intrusion of Karen refugees camps inside Thai territory by armed group controlled by State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) violates the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Thailand; - regard the attacks of Karen refuge camps by armed groups controlled by SLORC is a violation of international laws; - strongly condemn the ruthless attacks and lawless activities on innocent civilian refugees by those armed intruders backed by the SLORC; - urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Thai authorities and the international community to ensure increased and adequate protection of the approximately 80,000 Karen refugees, as well as Karenni, Shan and Mon refugees along the Thai-Burma border. For further information, please contact: In the US: Naw Shar Loo at (805) 322-0739 Karen Student Network Group *************************************