Subject: The BurmaNet News February 14, 1997 Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 18:47:16 -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 14, 1997 Issue #638 HEADLINES: ========== BURMESE RELIEF CENTER: BORDER UPDATES BBC REPORT: SLORC-KNU FIGHTING NATION: THOUSANDS CROSS BORDER AS SLORC ATTACKS KAREN KNU: SITUATION UPDATE ON THAI-BURMA BORDER UPI: AUNG SAN SUU KYI CALLS FOR NEW DIALOGUE THE NATION: SUU KYI AT HOME WITH SUPPORTERS FOR UNION DAY THE NATION: YOUTH STAGE PROTEST IN BANGKOK THE NATION: ASEAN, EU TREAD SOFTLY THE NATION: BURMA ISSUE IMPEDES ASEAN-EU AGREEMENT BKK POST: PTTEP'S BURMA VENTURE APPROVED SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET No. A -0020 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS 2/8/1997 RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR: ARMED FORCES' MYAWADI SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET No. A -0021 UNDC: STATEMENT ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF PANGLONG BURMA PEACE FOUNDATION: BURMA ACTION DIRECTORY UPDATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMESE RELIEF CENTER: BORDER UPDATES February 12-13, 1997 Ken and Visakha Kawasaki 2/13/1997 There are more than 20,000 SLORC troops and 500--1000 DKBA in the 6th Brigade area. Sakhandhit fell to Slorc around noon today. The clinics in Chogali and Sakhandhit have been burned; there are no clinics left in 6th Brigade area. All medics and their families are accounted for. 2/12/1997 Burmese Relief Center--Japan has just received information that the border has been closed by Thailand and no one is allowed to cross. In Chogali area there are more than 3000 SLORC troops, accompanied with DKBO who are familiar with the area. The SLORC troops are attacking Kyeik-don area also. Naung Ta Man and Naung Ta Kho villages are occupied. Those villages are only about a six-hour-walk from Kyeik-don. Casualties and the extent of the fighting are not known. Karen refugees inside Thailand are extremely fearful as there is no definite demarcation of the border in many places. http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm *********************************** BBC REPORT: SLORC-KNU FIGHTING February 13, 1997 darnott@gn.apc.org In addition to the following interview, Newshour quoted relief agencies as saying that Karen refugees are fleeing to Thailand, and that up to 10,000 are expected to join the 80,000 Karen refugees already there. .................... BBC World Service (Newshour) of 13.00 GMT, 13/Feb/97 carried the following interview: Announcer: .....Karen rebels in the town of Sakhandhit. Fighting is reported to be continuing between Government soldiers and rebels of the Karen National Union around the town, which has been their base since they were driven out of the border town of Manerplaw two years ago. Joining me now is Larry Jagan, the BBC's Burma specialist. How severe a blow to the KNU is the loss of Sakhandhit? LJ: Well, they never really had their headquarters in the township, although the township was important in terms of their economy, and they did derive finance from it. Most of the headquarters have been outside in the nearby jungles. There's no doubt that in fact what happened is that the Karen actually withdrew and allowed the Burmese troops to come into the township, and there is intense fighting going on. The other key area some 100 kilometres to the east of this township is also under threat, and this is where General Bo Mya, the actual head of the Karen National Union is based, and some 2000 Burmese troops are launching an onslaught on that. So there is intense fighting and there is no doubt that the KNU is under great threat at the moment. Announcer: So if I hear ... what is reported to be going on at the moment around Sakhandhit could be more crucial to the KNU's survival. LJ: In some ways in terms of their finances, certainly; but after Manerplaw fell I think that the KNU actually found it very difficult to continue the fighting, to get resources, and they relied very heavily on Thai support which was also cut off because the Burma-Thai relationship had improved. But I think what happened after that was that the KNU decided that they were going to maintain a guerrilla force, and we've got two major guerilla camps in this area that are now continuing to fight, and the Burmese troops have moved in something like 14,000 soldiers, so there's no doubt that they are trying to push them or crush them. I think what has actually prompted this is the KNU and other ethnic groups coming out at the beginning of January and saying that they actually rejected the military dictatorship and wanted to have tripartite talks with both Suu and the military. Announcer: So by all accounts, what the Burmese Government is trying to do is some kind of decisive offensive against the KNU. LJ: It is indeed; this is the beginning of the end, I think, for the KNU. And the real issue is [whether] there is going to be any scope for talks or not. (Burma Peace Foundation Monitoring Service 13/Feb/97) *************************** THE NATION: THOUSANDS CROSS BORDER AS SLORC ATTACKS KAREN REBEL POSITIONS February 13, 1997 By Yindee Lertcharoenchok THE Burmese Army launched a major military offensive against Karen rebel strongholds along the Thai-Burmese border yesterday, driving thousands of refugees into the Umphang district of Thailand's northern Tak province. The operation, which targeted the Sakanthit headquarters of the Karen National Union (KNU) and neighbouring areas under its control, began at around noon and came on the same day that the Burmese ruling junta informed Thailand of its decision to use force against the rebel ethnic group. A Thai Army colonel said yesterday that Burmese Defence Attache Lt Col Kyaw Hann called on senior Army officials yesterday morning to inform them of an impending Burmese military offensive against the KNU as a result of the rebel group's rejection of the junta's peace initiatives. He said that in the afternoon, Burmese Ambassador to Thailand U Hla Muang called on Suvidhya Simasakul, director general of the Foreign Ministry's East Asia Affairs Department, and conveyed a similar message. A KNU spokesman said yesterday that his group wanted to resolve their 50- year-old dispute with Rangoon peacefully and said it ''is regrettable" that the ruling Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) chose instead ''to use force to resolve problem". Speaking in separate interviews yesterday, the Karen spokesman and other officials said the KNU had repeatedly informed Slorc that it wanted to continue peace talks with Rangoon, which began in December 1995, and has tried hard to find the means to break the current deadlock. They said Slorc had imposed ''unacceptable" pre-negotiation conditions on the KNU that were tantamount to a total surrender. Slorc insisted that the KNU, which has been fighting Rangoon for greater autonomy since January 1949, ''return to the legal fold" and renounce armed revolt. According to KNU and Thai officials, some 3,000 to 4,000 Burmese troops equipped with heavy weaponry are undertaking a three-pronged offensive from the North, West and South to capture ground controlled by the KNU's 6th Brigade, which is located opposite Umphang. In contrast to the dogged defence of its former headquarters at Manerplaw, the Karen guerillas decided, after a minor resistance, to abandon Sakanthit shortly after coming under attack. They said that Sakanthit, which is close to the Thai border, was just one of a number of mobile guerilla units that could be abandoned should they come under Burmese assault to avoid high defence costs and casualties. The latest Burmese offensive against the KNU did not come as a total surprise to KNU and Thai officials, as the Burmese rulers have stepped up threats to use force since November, when the fourth round of talks between the KNU and Slorc failed to achieve a breakthrough. In the past few weeks, the Burmese Army has also strengthened its military presence and power in the vicinity of the KNU's 6th Brigade, sending in fresh troops and heavy artillery. KNU officials and relief workers said that some 2,000 Karens from Kyaidon town had already fled across the border ahead of the Burmese assault, and that Thai officials are expecting up to 15,000 civilians to arrive in the country in the next few days. The Thai colonel said that Kyaw Hann had called on his colleagues to convey Slorc's intentions to launch the military operation and its desire not to violate Thai sovereignty, as well as to stress the good friendship and understanding between Thailand and Burma. In return, Kyaw Hann was informed that Thailand will retain a neutral position in relation to Burmese affairs and will strongly defend against violations of its territory and sovereignty by armed foreign intruders. The Karen Refugee Committee is evacuating women and children from the areas which are under threat from the Burmese offensive. (TN) *************************************** KNU: SITUATION UPDATE ON THAI-BURMA BORDER February 11,1997 So_Nou@sala.icn.net (So Nou) On 10 February 1997, Slorc's General Khin Nyunt announced that the Karen National Union had broken off negotiations and that Slorc would always welcome any ethnic group that was willing to hold negotiations with open arms. This same day eye-witnesses reported between 350-400 army trucks arriving in the border town of Myawadi opposite Maesot. These are troops of the 88 division of the Slorc army. These eye-witnesses also reported hearing that the troops were given orders to use any means to try to eliminate the KNU including entering Thai territory as deep as needed. The troops were also told not to take notice of the Thai military as it was a force too weak to be taken into consideration and eliminate any resistance in the way of their objective whether it may be the Thai army or Thai civilians. The Slorc foreign ministers would then smooth things out with the Thai government. As of 11 February 1997, Troops of the 88 division have left Myawadi. The 77 Division have left Paloo to attack the KNU headquarters at Hteekable. The 44 and 22 divisions have left Kya-In-Seik Kyi to attack the KNU 6th Brigade headquarters at Sakanthit. The 66 division is sent to reinforce the 3 pagodas pass. There have already been 2 battles near the Hteekable area and Slorc artillery battalions have set up positions within range of the Hteekable camp. Air support by the Slorc air force is also expected. A large number of porters rounded up from the villages and towns and prisoners from the various prisons have been brought up for this offensive by the Slorc. As most of the Karen refugee camps are on the border within range of Slorc artillery and since air raids are expected, Thai officials have issued orders for the refugees to evacuate and move to safer areas. KNU Information Center ***************************** UPI: AUNG SAN SUU KYI CALLS FOR NEW DIALOGUE February 12, 1997 RANGOON, Feb. 12 (UPI) _ Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked Burma's Union Day with a call for a tripartite conference of ethnic national leaders, the government and democratic forces. Aung San, the Nobel peace laureate, spoke to about 1,500 people at her residential compound in west Rangoon. Members of her party, the National League for Democracy, and some foreign diplomatic officials attended the ceremony. The celebrations marked the signing 50 years ago by Suu Kyi's father, Burmese independence hero General Aung San, of a treaty of national unification at a conference in Pinglong. Aung San said national unity is the basic requirement of democracy, and genuine democracy will not emerge in an environment where basic human rights such as freedom of expression are absent. All roads in the vicinity of Aung San's residence were closed to vehicular traffic. Political observers said the proposal amounted to an offer for a renewed dialogue with the military junta that has run Burma since 1988. The State Law and Order Restoration Council has snubbed the NLD since it won the general election of 1990. At celebrations by SLORC, the party's leader Gen. Than Shwe, told a rally of some 20,000 that his government has been striving for rapid progress in the economic and social life of the people. But he complained that ``neo-colonialists'' are interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. ************************************ THE NATION: SUU KYI AT HOME WITH SUPPORTERS FOR UNION DAY February 13, 1997 AFP Rangoon - Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi opened her home to supporters yesterday for Union Day celebrations, despite military efforts to blockade the approaches to her lakeside compound. Hundred of people were being turned away by armed riot police as they tried to gain access to University Avenue, where Suu Kyi's home is situated, to attend the opposition-organised celebrations for Burma's 50th Union Day. The junta's attempts to scuttle the celebrations at Suu Kyi's home came as human rights watchdog Amnesty International said political repression in Burma 1996 was the worst since a military crackdown in 1988. The London-based rights group said that more than 2,000 people were arrested for activities which were deemed to be anti-government in 1996 and that severe restrictions were imposed on the speech and movements of Suu Kyi. Burmese officials have so far been unavailable for comment on the Amnesty report which branded 1996 as the worst year for human rights in Burma this decade. Despite the heavy security presence, sources inside Suu Kyi's compound said between 2,000 to 3,000 people had managed to make it to the celebrations, most of whom had arrived early in the morning. "She gave a speech to the people in the compound," said a source from Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), reached by telephone from Bangkok. "I would say there were between 2,000 and 3,000 people." Other participants who left the compound early put the number of those attending the celebrations at closer to 1,000. The NLD source said he was expecting about another 2,000 people to arrive at Suu Kyi's home for the celebrations later in the day. "All celebrations are still on but the road is still blocked," the source said. "They are trying to come to our compound from all over Rangoon." The military has maintained almost constant blockades of University Avenue since late September, when hundreds of NLD activists were detained as the party attempted to hold its second successive congress of the year. Blockades were briefly lifted sporadically over the next two months, but have been firmly in place since the beginning of December, when student unrest rocked Rangoon campuses and sparked a security clampdown. Despite the continued presence of tanks in the grounds of a downtown government building, the situation has been clam in the Burmese capital since December. "It doesn't feel tense at all," said one Rangoon diplomat. "The tanks are still there but I think everyone has got used to them." Union Day marks the signing of the Peng Long agreement by nearly all the ethnic groups in the country and calling for the setting up of a federal union after gaining independence from Britain. Independence came the following year. In a message printed in the official press, the head of Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), Than Shwe, said the junta's efforts had helped bring unprecedented peace to the country's warring ethnic groups. "In the Union of Myanmar [Burma] today, the kind of national solidarity which was not experienced in the past has been restored," he said. The Burmese government has forged ceasefire agreements in the past few years with almost all the country's ethnic insurgencies, with the notable exception being the Karen National Union (KNU). The KNU has so far refused to be a part of any deal. KNU officials in the Thai border town of Mae Sot said this week that Rangoon is poised for a new offensive against the few pockets of territory still held by the KNU in eastern Burma. (TN) *************************** THE NATION: YOUTH STAGE PROTEST IN BANGKOK February 13, 1997 AFP In Bangkok, a group of Burmese students held a demonstration outside their embassy to mark Burma's Union Day and call for the international community to exert more pressure on the military junta. About 30 Burmese and Thai students participated in the protest, calling on Slorc to release jailed students and political prisoners. They also demanded that the military government begin immediate dialogue with Suu Kyi, as well as dissolve a state-sponsored constitutional convention. The students appealed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to review its constructive engagement policy towards Burma and hold off on offering Rangoon full membership in the seven-member grouping. "To support constructive engagement with Slorc is to support violence and human-rights violations in Burma," they said in a statement. Asean insists that constructive engagement with the military junta is the best way to bringing about democratic reforms in Burma, and has announced that Rangoon would be admitted along with Cambodia and Laos. A date has yet to be set for the admittance of the three countries, but diplomats say they expect that to happen before the end of the year. Asean groups Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. (TN) ****************************** THE NATION: ASEAN, EU TREAD SOFTLY February 13, 1997 (abridged) Kyodo Singapore - Senior officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the European Union (EU) were holding preparatory talks on Wednesday for their ministerial meetings from Thursday, trying to steer clear of a collision course on human rights issues. The seven-member Asean wants a joint declaration to be adopted tomorrow, the final day of the two-day meeting of Asean-EU foreign ministers, not to mention "extraneous issues" in relations between Asean and the EU such as the question of East Timor and Myanmar, diplomatic sources said. The 15-member EU agreed that a joint declaration would not make an "explicit reference" to the issue of East Timor, the former Portuguese colony, but still demands direct mention of the situation in the military-controlled Myanmar, the sources said. However, the EU repeated calls for Indonesia to improve its human rights record in East Timor at a meeting in Dublin in December. As for Myanmar, the EU is the most vocal critic of Myanmar's alleged human rights abuses with a policy of isolation toward the junta and urges the military government to commence dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (TN) **************************************** THE NATION: BURMA ISSUE IMPEDES ASEAN-EU AGREEMENT February 13, 1997 Rita Patiyasevi SINGAPORE ­ The Burma issue continues to block efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the European Union (EU) to conclude a joint declaration aimed at giving a new thrust to their future relations, a senior Asean official said yesterday. The official said after extensive discussions on Burma yesterday, senior officials from both sides failed to reach a conclusion on the wording regarding Burma and left the final decision to their Foreign Ministers who are to meet today and tomorrow. The official said the 15-member EU agreed that a joint declaration would not make an ''explicit reference" to the issue of East Timor, the former Portuguese colony, but still demands direct mention of the situation in military-controlled Burma. Other issues which demand the Foreign Ministers' attention before the draft of the declaration is finalised are the Korean Peninsula issue and the wording of the final paragraph of the draft which will reflect future cooperation between the two groups. The two sides will consider whether to express support for the proposal of four-party peace talks between the Koreas, China and the United States. The United States and South Korea had proposed the four-way talks to seek peace in the Korean Peninsula. Asean wants to check with China for approval before giving the green light. The official said the EU is concerned about the wording of the final paragraph of the proposal which will guide the two regions' future cooperation, because the EU's proposal on economic cooperation has not yet been approved by the Council. Indonesian Foreign Ministry's Director General of Politics, Izhar Ibrahim said about 90 per cent of the draft declaration has been completed and no references have yet been made regarding Burma or East Timor. Thailand's Permanent Secretary Saroj Chavanaviraj said Asean and the EU have different approaches to the issues of human rights and democracy. However, the dialogue between the two has helped create progress towards understanding, which will in turn dispel the problems between the two. The Philippines' Under-Secretary Severino Rodolfo said all Asean members are committed to Burma's entry, which will be approved very soon. However, the timing will depend on its readiness to comply with the Asean Free Trade Area plan. ''We are talking here about the internal affairs of a country that is very close to becoming an Asean member," he said. Severino said Asean is concerned and is not ignoring the current situation in Burma. However, Asean has opted for Burma's entry because it believes it is better to involve the Burmese junta in international forums rather than to exclude it, he added. Severino said the draft prepared by senior officials also reflects other concerns such as the Bosnia-Herzegovina issue, the situation in the Middle East, the question of nuclear disarmament, the Asean Regional Forum, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and human rights. The declaration is aimed at broadening political, economic and cultural ties and will also reflect joint cooperation in trade, investment and continued technological assistance. Danish Ambassador to Singapore Niels Kaas Dyrlund said the EU wants Asean's constructive engagement policy with Burma to work toward progress in terms of human rights and improving conditions. ''The EU is not quite satisfied with the way things are developing in Burma, we would like to see a faster pace," he said, adding that Asean's policy should achieve some progress. In October, the EU imposed limits on contact with Burmese officials by refusing entry visas to senior members of the junta and their families. Asean agreed in November that Burma, Cambodia and Laos be admitted as full members simultaneously and the three countries are widely expected to be accepted this year. Burma became an observer of Asean last year. (TN) ***************************************** BKK POST: PTTEP'S BURMA VENTURE APPROVED February 13, 1997 Phusadee Arunmart Nepo also debates smuggling problem The government yesterday approved a venture between PTT Exploration and Production Plc and two partners to develop and explore Burma's Yetagun offshore gas field. The venture also involves state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), and others including Texaco Exploration Myanmar Inc (the project's lead developer), Premier Petroleum Myanmar, and Nippon Oil Exploration (Myanmar) Ltd. The partnership will develop, produce and transmit natural gas from three exploration tracts in the Yetagun offshore gas field, and from two other tracts nearby in which PTTEP is already taking part. According to Sompong Amornviwat, minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and supervisor of the National Energy Policy Office (Nepo), PTTEP is likely to hold a 14.16% stake in the venture. MOGE has an option to take up to 15% but if it declines, PTTEP could increase its stake to 17.16%. The Yetagun field is located in the Andaman Sea, 270 kilometres from Thailand. It has gas reserves of 1.14 trillion cubic feet. It is due to start producing in 1999, with capacity of about 210 million cubic feet per day. According to Nepo Secretary-General Piyasvasti Amranand, PTTEP and its partners expected to invest a combined US$570 million in project development, with an additional $325 million representing the gas field development, and another $245 million on a transmission line to Thailand. The contribution of PTTEP itself will be about $101 million. The venture will help boost Thailand's foreign petroleum reserves at a time when the country's demand for energy is increasing rapidly, Mr Piyasvasti noted. Yesterday's Nepo meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, also approved a plan by PTTEP to buy 70 million cubic feet of gas in 1999 from the Benjamas gas field being developed by Maersk Oil (Thailand) in the Gulf of Thailand. It will also purchase 30 million cubic feet from Esso's Nam Phong gas field in northeastern Thailand by the end of this year. Thailand now consumes about 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas per year. By 2000 the figure is expected to exceed two billion cubic feet. Mr Sompong also announced yesterday that the government seized more than 12 million litres of smuggled oil in 1996, compared with only two million litres in 1995. But smuggling persists, and according to Mr Sompong, Nepo officials had a lengthy debate about how to suppress it. Avoiding tax allows oil smugglers to sell the finished product at the pumps for as much as three baht per litre less than for legally taxed oil products. The possibility of reducing oil taxes to make smuggling less attractive was discussed but rejected, he said. Thailand remains highly dependent on earnings from such taxes due to the current economic slowdown. Other proposals such as locating more oil metering stations along the coasts, and increasing the Navy's patrol fleet, drew more favourable responses. "So far, we cannot capture large smugglers. But as we know, the large smugglers are foreigners who are related to Thai traders," Mr Sompong said. He also predicted that Thailand could be short of oil in the next 20 years if Thai consumers continue squandering the fuel. Daily consumption now is about 114 million litres. (BP) ************************************** SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET No. A -0020 February 12, 1997 Ok Kar In Myanmar, any organization which wishes to celebrate commemorative days are required to request permission from the respective administrative authorities and provide information on the ceremonial program, the estimate number of people invited to attend, as well as the time and venue, in accordance with the prescribed rules. Therefore, political parties desirous of holding the Union Day Ceremony had, in adherence with existing rules asked for the required permission and submitted the requisite details. All these parties had therefore received permission to conduct the ceremonies. The National League for Democracy notified the regional administrative authorities that its township party branch office would be holding a commemorative ceremony for the Union Day at Mrs. Aris' No. 54 University Avenue compound. The administrative authorities informed the township NLD party organizer to resubmit their request since the ceremony was obviously not going to be held by township level but by NLD Headquarters and also to cooperate by providing the requisite details as well. The NLD party ignored the injunction and rallied a mass of people and held the commemoration ceremony at NO. 54 University Avenue at 1000 hrs. on the 12th Feb. 1997. This ceremony at Mrs. Aris' residence was attended by some diplomats, foreign correspondents and party members. Although, no proper official request was submitted to the authorities concerned the authorities avoided an intentional confrontation by allowing the ceremony to proceed. As the number of people exceeded 900 and because the latecomers appeared to consist of riff-raff, further entry into the compound had to be barred for the sake of security it is learnt. Source: Myanmar Authority Concerned. ************************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS 2/8/1997 February 8, 1997 From: OKKAR66127@aol.com SECRETARY-1 RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF SEA CONTAINER SERVICES YANGON, 7 Feb- Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt- Gen Khin Nyunt Received Chairman Mr James B Sherwood of Sea Container Services Ltd of the United Kingdom at Dagon Yeiktha of the Minister of Defence this afternoon. TOURISM PROMOTION DISCUSSED YANGON, 7 Feb- Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt- Gen Kyaw Ba received Retired Minister of Industry and Commerce of Brazil Mr Marcus Vinicius Partini de Moraes at his office today. They discussed arrangement for Brazilian tourists to visit Myanmar, tourism promotion activities and cooperation based on common interest. MYANMAR TRADE FAIR TO BE HELD FROM 27 FEB TO 5 MARCH YANGON, 7 Feb- The Minister of Commerce has made arrangements to sponsor "Myanmar Trade Fair 97" from 27 February to 5 March 1997 at Yangon Trade Centre on an international scale, said Minister for Commerce Lt- Gen Tun Kyi today. He was speaking at a meeting of the Central Working Committee for Holding the Trade Fair at his ministry. Visit Myanmar Year Trade Fair was staged successfully at the centre in Mingala Taungnyunt township he said. Efforts should be made for booth of foreign companies to meet international standard and to give priority to displaying of export-quality goods of local industries, he noted, speaking of the need to make concerted efforts for the fair's success and to avoid deficiencies based on the previous year's experiences. Matters of displaying of local and foreign goods, decorations arrangements, sales, holding of opening and closing ceremonies, finance, health care and security were then presented by the respective subcommittees. MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT MEETS THAI DELEGATION YANGON, 7 Feb- Minister for Transport Lt- Gen Thein Win received Permanent Under- Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Mr Chachaval Sukitjavanich and party of Thailand accompanied by Ambassador of Thailand Mr Poksak Nilubol at the minister this morning. They discussed construction of deep sea port and cooperation to mutual interest in transport sector. MYANMAR DELEGATION TO ATTEND 5TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL IN LPDR YANGON,7 Feb- Myanmar delegation led by member of Myanmar Olympic Committee Director of Medical Services of the Ministry of Defence Brig-Gen Mya Thein Han this evening left here by air for Lao People's Democratic Republic to attend the Fifth National Sports Festival in Luang Prabang Province from 9 to 18 February. General- Secretary of MOC Director- General of Sports and Physical Education Department Col Hla Myint Kyaw also left together with Brig- Gen Mya Thein Han. MINISTER RECEIVES BRAZIL'S FOREIGN TRADE ASSN CHAIRMAN YANGON, 7 Feb- Member of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Minister for Commerce Lt- Gen Tun Kyi received Chairman Mr M V Pratini de Moraes and party of Brazil's Foreign Trade Association (AEB) at his office at 2 pm today. They discussed cooperation in commerce and banking business. *************************************** RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR: ARMED FORCES' MYAWADI TELEVISION TO EXPAND BROADCASTS February 5, 1997 (translated from Burmese) Myawadi Television Network [under Defense Services] has been broadcasting normal programs in the morning since the Armed Forces Golden Jubilee on 27 March 1995. It has been reported that Myawadi Television Network will expand its programs by start broadcasting evening programs soon on a separate channel. ************************************ SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET No. A -0021 February 13, 1997 Ok Kar On the 12th of Feb. 1997 an incident occurred at No. (22/A) of Kaba Aye Pagoda Road of Bahan Township in Yangon, concerning with a neighbor forcefully taking down the flag of the Union of Myanmar which was hoisted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Union Day. The Myanmar family residing at No. (22/A) hoisted the flag of the Union of Myanmar in the their compound on the morning of the 12th of Feb. to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Union Day. In this regard the wife of an Australian Charge d' Affaires, Ms. Rosalind Eva Ransome who lives in the next compound No. (22) sent over a local employee to house No. (22/A) demanding the family living there to take down the flag. Ms. Rosalind Eva Ransome, after (15) minutes, later again sent over another local employee to tell the family from house No. (22/A) to take down the flag. The family living at No. (22/A) in an attempt to avoid unnecessary confrontation went to the local administrative authorities and reported the situation. While the family member of No. (22/A) were on their way to the office of the local administrative authorities, Ms. Rosalind Eva Ransome came over to house No. (22/A) with another local employee and instructed this employee to take down the flag from the flag pole. Her employee refused to comply with her instructions on the grounds that it was against the law and not proper to do so. Ms. Rosalind Eva Ransome was told by her local employee twice not to behave in that manner but she refused to listen and took down the flag from the pole herself. The Australian Charge d' Affaires, Mr. Simeon Richard Giulding came to the office of the local administrative authorities with his wife later that day and tendered his apology for the incident it is learnt. Source : Myanmar Authority Concerned. ********************************* UNDC: STATEMENT ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF PANGLONG AGREEMENT February 12, 1997 "ABSDF (WB)" Today is fiftieth anniversary of historic signing of Panglong agreement between the representative of Burmese government, General Aung San and leaders of Chin, Kachin and Shan to achieve Independence of Burma from the British rule the essence of this agreement was to establish a future union which was constituted with the federated states having and experiencing democratically the rights of equal status and privileges in unison. However, the future perspective and goal of "equality within democracy" of the leaders of ethnic Nationalities and proper Burma has gone away with the Independence of Burma. It is so evident that ethnic nationalities are waging armed struggle against the proper Burma regimes at the last resolution when Democracy is no more to defend their grievances and suppression. In the mean time, the situations of Burma is in stalemate by the so call "Cease-fire without agreement" and at the worst conditions of economic corruption. Analyzing instuitionally the current politics of present Burma- We (UNDC, United Nationalities' Democratic Congress ) gravely believe that antagonistic conflicts and contradictions in Burma will be properly solved just by means of establishing Burma as a Federal Union based on Democracy, granting equal status and self-determination for ethnic nationalities and declare our confirmed stand with people of Burma to continue our struggle for total elimination of Chauvinism and Dictatorship, for National Reconciliation and establishment of a prosperous Nation by genuine Federal system presuming as our prime national responsibilities. United Nationalities' Democratic Congress ***************************************** BURMA PEACE FOUNDATION: BURMA ACTION DIRECTORY UPDATE February 11, 1997 darnott@gn.apc.org The Burma Peace Foundation is almost ready with another update of its Burma Action Directory (BAD), which as usual will be posted on reg.burma and soc.cult.burma. SEND YOUR BAD UPDATES NOW if you want them to feature, to darnott@iprolink.ch. or (Tel/Fax) (+41-22) 733 2040. Check the version posted on 30 October 96 and see if there are any corrections to make. For the innocent who know not BAD, it is the most comprehensive list of snail and email addresses, plus phone, fax and sometimes descriptions, of groups and individuals in the Burma support community, plus the people working on Burma in the UN, governments, human rights and development NGOs, Burmese ethnic groups, and lots more. With the list of corporations (which I have not updated recently, having given this task to another person, and will not post this time), BAD is now about 200 pages. One area I have not been able to keep up with is North America. Could someone send me a list (preferably in BAD format) of the student and other groups active on Burma in North America. Apart from what people send me between now and Upload Day, the main additions since the last update (30/10/96) are for Japan, India and Thailand. SLORC and its friends are invited to check the October 96 BAD and update their addresses, websites, fax numbers etccontained therein. David Arnott (Burma Peace Foundation) ***************************************