------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: March 15, 1997 Issue #667 HEADLINES: ========== THAILAND TIMES: ARMY UNDER FIRE UPI: CANADA WANTS SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA AP: THAILAND TO BUY GAS FROM BURMA AND TEXACO FEER: SPOT THE STRONGMAN UPI: CONGRESSIONAL TRIP CRITICIZED JOURNAL OF COMMERCE: WELD LETTER A NEW WRINKLE AP: GENERAL BLAMES TRAITORS AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES BKK POST: BOARD TO CONSIDER PIPELINE IMPACT STUDY NATION: OFFICIAL TRANSFERRED, LOGGING SCAM EXPOSED THE NATION: ITD PLANS TO INK BURMESE PORT AGREEMENT THAILAND TIMES:MAE-SOT MYAWADDY BORDER PASSAGE BEIJING ZHONGGUO XINWEN SHE: STUDY WITH BURMA THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS ANNOUNCEMENT: UPDATE ON GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THAILAND TIMES: ARMY UNDER FIRE FOR TREATMENT OF REFUGEES March 14, 1997 BANGKOK ; House committee on justice and human rights accused local military officers of making last minute improvements to a Karen refugee camp in Kanchanaburi province in order to impress visiting inspectors and journalists. The committee spokesman Suwarote Palang said the outward appearance of the Ban Pu Muang refugee camp in Dan Makhamtia district was a charade perpetrated by the military in anticipation of the justice committee's arrival. He said the brand new plastic tents were proof of the military's efforts to stage a positive photo opportunity to impress the international community. Maj-Gen Thaweep Suwansilp, the 9th Infantry Battalion commander, did not deny the accusations outright, but said the accommodations were well in line with their limited budget. Suwarote, unsatisfied with Thaweep's justification, said he was outraged the refugees only began to receive adequate assistance a few days before his visit. After the press briefing chariman of the House committee Suthep Ngernmeun said non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should be given access to the camps to provide much needed assistance to the Karen refugees. Citing safety concerns, the Thai government has banned NGOs from the camps near the Burmese border. Suthat also said the media should be allowed to enter the area and monitor the camps in order to verify Thai military claims that the refugees are receiving adequate humanitarian assistance. ***************************************** UPI: CANADA WANTS SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA March 13, 1997 OTTAWA, March 13 (UPI) -- Canada is urging several countries to take collective action against Burma to pressure the military junta in Rangoon to move toward democracy and respect for human rights. Foreign Affairs Department official Christine Stewart says, however, that Ottawa cannot act alone to impose ``sanctions against a country like Burma.'' Stewart was speaking shortly after activists from the Canadian Friends of Burma demonstrated outside the Parliament building in Ottawa to urge the government to impose sanctions against Burma, now officially known as Myanmar. In response to a question by an opposition Reform Party member of Parliament, Stewart said Canada is speaking with other nations, particularly those in the region, ``and we hope to be able to encourage them ... to take some collective action with us.'' The objective is to ``try to influence the government in Burma to change (its) ways and promote good governance and democracy and respect for human rights,'' she says. The demonstrators outside Parliament were commemorating the 9th anniversary of mass pro-democracy demonstrations in Rangoon, or Yangon. Reports trickling out of Burma later said the junta reacted to the mass demonstrations with a campaign of repression and massacres. *********************************** AP: THAILAND TO BUY GAS FROM BURMA AND AMERICA'S TEXACO March 13, 1997 RANGOON, Burma (AP) _ The Petroleum Authority of Thailand signed a 30-year contract Thursday with the Burmese government and a consortium led by Texaco of the United States to buy 200 million cubic feet per day of Burmese gas. The gas will come from the Yetagun gas field, 200 kilometers (125 miles) off the Tenasserim coast in the Andaman Sea. The Yetagun field has an estimated 1.1 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves. It lies immediately south of the Yadana field, which is being developed by a consortium that includes Total of France, Unocal of the United States and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand. Production at the Yetagun field is scheduled to begin in late 1999 or early 2000, said K.D. Sniffen, a Texaco executive. The gas is to be delivered to Ban I Thong in the Thai province of Kanchanaburi through a 270-kilometer (167-mile) pipeline. At Ban I Thong, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand will transmit gas from both the Yadana and Yetagun fields through a single pipeline to a plant in Ratchaburi province. The Yetagun project is owned nearly 43 percent by Texaco, nearly 26 percent by British Premier, 18 percent by Nippon Oil of Japan and 14 percent by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand. Burma's state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Exploration has an option to take up to 15 percent of the project. ``Today's agreement is another milestone in Burmese-Thai relationships,'' said Khin Maung Thein, Burma's minister of energy. Asked if the possibility of U.S. economic sanctions on Burma for political repression would affect the project, Sniffen of Texaco said, ``A lot of American businessmen have said that sanctions are counterproductive and are not going to help anybody.'' He said the project would generate jobs, transfer technology and improve the living standards of local employees. *********************************** FEER: SPOT THE STRONGMAN March 20, 1997 By Bertil Lintner in Bangkok Signs of a power struggle within the ruling junta This is not divide and rule, it's decimate and rule," Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi recently told an acquaintance. Arrests of members of her party, the National League for Democracy, have risen markedly nationwide over the past few weeks. But this time, an increased army presence in many towns indicates that it's more than yet another crackdown on the NLD: "We see much more of the army now than before, when military intelligence officials came and knocked on your door in the middle of the night," says a source in Rangoon. The stronger army showing, Rangoon-based diplomats say, may be a reflection of a power struggle between the country's army chief, Gen Maung Aye, and the intelligence boss, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, who for years was considered Burma's strongman. Opinions very as to when their rivalry escalated into a more serious personality clash, though there's a consensus that the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council is divided not over whether to crush the opposition but how best to do so. An Asian diplomat suggests that the rift between the two men became evident after the highly publicized visit to Burma by American Congressman Bill Richardson in February 1994. Richardson was the first nonfamily member allowed to see Suu Kyi, then under house arrest in Rangoon. In September the same year, Khin Nyunt met Suu Kyi, taking the first step towards what could have become a dialogue. "All that was Khin Nyunt's idea," the diplomat says. "He basked in publicity, but achieved nothing for SLORC. The other generals were quite annoyed with the whole thing." A Western diplomat argues that the conflict between Khin Nyunt's policy of neutralizing opponents through negotiation rather than force was even more apparent in dealings with ethnic-Karen rebels in late 1994: "Khin Nyunt favoured a more tactful approach, and several rounds of talks were held with the rebels near the Thai border. But the military wanted to use force." The talks led nowhere, so the military launched an offensive. Karen headquarters at Manerplaw fell in January 1995, and the rebels have been on the defensive ever since. Khin Nyunt, meanwhile, has been pushed into the background, and it is uncertain how much power he wields today. Significantly, he was not in a high-powered delegation that went to Beijing in October to negotiate the terms of future cooperation with China. Until then, Khin Nyunt had been seen as the architect of Burma's close relationship with China. This time, the delegation was headed by Maung Aye and his army chief of staff, Lt-Gen Tin Oo. With Slorc's chairman, Gen Than Shwe, getting older and more removed from day-to-day decision making, Maung Aye is clearly consolidating his grip on power. Burmese sources say he is behind the current crackdown on the NLD. Adds a Western NGO worker who recently visited Rangoon: "Maung Aye is sending his boys out to finish off the opposition. They're everywhere now." Since December, 28 members of the NLD's youth wing have been rounded up, along with 42 older members and 56 others, according to a list compiled by the League. Sweeps against the NLD have been reported from places as diverse as Mandalay, Pegu, the Irrawaddy delta, Yawnghwe in Shan state and the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina. Among those targeted in Rangoon is Than Nyein, a doctor and prominent NLD organizer. He also happens to be the brother of Khin Nyunt's wife, Khin Win Shwe. Than Nyein has had his medical licence revoked for "operating an unlicensed clinic." Although his relationship to Khin Nyunt may be coincidental, the move has nevertheless embarrassed the intelligence chief. Cautious observers stress that the government has so far maintained a remarkable unity, overriding serious internal disagreements. Despised by the majority of Burmese, its unity is precious to its survival. So is its military muscle. The strength of the armed forces has increased from about 185,000 before the 1988 pro-democracy uprising to more than 300,000 today. At the same time, Burma's military-intelligence apparatus has grown from 17 battalions in 1988 to at least 21 today, supported by a network of thousands of neighbourhood informants. "But their duty is also to spy on the military, and to detect dissent within the ranks," says a Western military analyst. "Khin Nyunt's military intelligence has become a state within the state, and that's not tolerated in Burma." That, combined with his general muscle-flexing and publicity-seeking, hasn't made Khin Nyunt popular with Maung Aye's professional military. Or, as a Western military analyst put it: "Slorc is no longer the monolith it used to be." For the first time, Burma watchers are witnessing a serious power struggle within the regime. And judging from recent developments, Khin Nyunt is on the losing side. (FEER) ************************************ UPI: CONGRESSIONAL TRIP CRITICIZED March 14, 1997 DALLAS, March 14 (UPI) -- A spokesman for Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, is defending his trip to Burma last year along with three other lawmakers after groups critical of Burma's military dictatorship questioned the visit. The Dallas Morning News Friday quotes DeLay spokesman John Feehery describing the visit as educational and useful. ``It was a good trip for Tom. He learned a lot about how to deal with China on trade issues and human rights issues as well.'' The December trip came as President Clinton weighed economic sanctions against Burma on human rights grounds. Burma's anti-drug efforts have also been criticized. Larry Dohrs, of the Free Burma Coalition, says the United States has to ask whether cooperating with Burma's generals serves U.S. interests. DeLay, who is House majority whip, traveled to the Southeast Asian nation with three other members of Congress: Bill Paxton, R-N.Y., Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, and Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. Dohrs says the DeLay group did not speak to pro-democracy groups in Burma who oppose the dictatorship, and one month later Burmese officials refused to allow a visit by other U.S. lawmakers who wanted to discuss human rights. The trip by DeLay and the other lawmakers was funded by the Asia- Pacific Exchange Foundation, a non-profit group to which Burma's biggest U.S. investor Unocal, of California, contributes. Following the December trip, Burma in January denied visas to a seven-member official delegation led by Rep. John Edward Porter, R-Ill., which wanted to raise human rights questions. ***************************** JOURNAL OF COMMERCE: WELD LETTER A NEW WRINKLE IN EU-MASSACHUSETTS SPAT March 13, 1997 Michael S. Lelyveld An international dispute about Massachusetts sanctions against Myanmar and Indonesia has sent U.S. trade officials rummaging through the archives to dust off a written pledge made by Gov. William Weld. In a growing conflict with the rambunctious state, the European Union has objected to a Massachusetts government ban on procurement from companies doing business in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and similar Indonesian curbs that are planned to protest repression in East Timor. The EU said last month that it may take a complaint to the World Trade Organization. The dispute underscores the complex jurisdictional issues that result when states and even municipalities take a broader interest in global labor and trade issues. The Europeans have argued that Massachusetts' restrictions violate a 1994 agreement with the Clinton administration that was supposed to keep government purchasing open to all bidders on both sides of the Atlantic. The Europeans say Washington agreed to ""cover'' Massachusetts and 38 other states when it signed the pact. That claim prompted the State Department to wag its finger and remind Massachusetts of its obligations. But two weeks ago, State Rep. Antonio Cabral, a New Bedford Democrat and co-sponsor of the Indonesia measure, said there was never any written commitment from Massachusetts to abide by the agreement. Now, the U.S. Trade Representative's office has dug up a Dec. 3, 1993, letter from Mr. Weld to then-USTR chief Mickey Kantor, stating that the Weld administration has reviewed terms of the agreement and ""has no present intention'' of going against it. That was two years before Mr. Weld agreed to support the Myanmar sanctions, which he signed into law last June. ""If you wanted to call it a change of mind, you could do that,'' said Weld spokesman Jose Juves, who stressed that Massachusetts has been in the forefront of human rights campaigns since it pioneered state procurement sanctions onSouth Africa in the 1980s. LOTS OF WIGGLE ROOM Mr. Weld's no-present-intention pledge also appears to give him oodles of wiggle room, in keeping with his background as a former Justice Department lawyer and an attorney at Hale & Dorr. It is, however, probably not quite so helpful for the GOP governor's current quest to become Mr. Clinton's next ambassador to Britain, an EU member that has been enraged by U.S. sanctions policies. The Myanmar curbs also recently drew fire from the Bank of Japan. Among the many loopholes in Mr. Weld's promise is the little problem of the Massachusetts Legislature, which is not under the governor's constitutional control. ""The letter didn't speak for the legislative branch or the judicial branch of the government,'' said state Sen. Marc Pacheco, a Plymouth Democrat, who is co-sponsoring the Indonesia bill. Mr. Weld has yet to take a position on the measure, which is opposed by numerous business and trade groups. But even if he were to change his mind again about honoring the EU pact, the Indonesia bill could still become law over his veto by a two-thirds vote. The whole imbroglio has raised questions about the negotiating process that led to the agreement, which has since been embodied in the WTO. MORE STATE INITIATIVES? ""We certainly felt we had gotten some assurances in writing,'' said an EU official. The promises from U.S. ""subfederal'' entities were seen as essential because the EU can bind its 15 members, while the United States might have to take its authority over the 50 states to court. In fact, the USTR received commitments from only 39 states and seven of the 24 largest U.S. cities. Now, because of rights-conscious states like Massachusetts, it appears that none may be worth the paper they're written on. Myanmar sanctions efforts are also under way in Connecticut and California. At some point, the spread of state initiatives is bound to make it harder for Washington to conclude future pacts. On Monday, the problem of Indonesia's treatment of the East Timorese is expected to surface in Congress with the introduction of bipartisan legislation sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I. The measure is designed to send a message to Jakarta by cutting off the small amount of remaining U.S. military aid to Indonesia, about $600,000, a Kennedy staffer said. Rights advocates say that some 200,000 citizens of East Timor have died as a result of Indonesia's occupation of the former Portuguese colony in 1975. ********************************* AP: BURMA GENERAL BLAMES REBELLION ON TRAITORS AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES March 14, 1997 RANGOON, Burma (AP) _ A senior military junta member has blamed foreign countries and internal traitors for encouraging ethnic Karen rebels to continue fighting the government, a state-run newspaper said Friday. Burma launched a massive military offensive in February to wipe out the Karen National Union, which has been fighting for autonomy since 1949. Nearly 15,000 refugees have fled to Thailand because of the fighting. ``Using internal traitors, the neo-colonialists are trying to cause disunity among nationalities and disintegration of the country,'' said Gen. Khin Nyunt, head of military intelligence, according to the New Light of Myanmar newspaper. The military government frequently refers to Nobel Peace Prize winner and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as an internal traitor and a stooge of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Several Burma watchers, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, consider Khin Nyunt the moderate among Burma's top generals. The intelligence chief also criticized Suu Kyi and ``colonial'' news agencies for calling the country Burma. The military government changed the country's name to Myanmar in 1989. Suu Kyi has said she refers to the country as Burma when talking with reporters because foreigners pronounce Myanmar so poorly. The New Light of Myanmar also reported that the army seized four SAM-7 missiles and several pieces of 107mm, 82mm and 75mm mortars from Karen rebels when it occupied their bases of Hti Hta and Hti Kee near the Thai border. The government claims 37 rebels and 22 government soldiers have been killed in 59 clashes since fighting began on Feb. 11. Karen rebels claim there have been more government than rebel casualties. ************************************ BKK POST: BOARD TO CONSIDER PIPELINE IMPACT STUDY March 13, 1997 Kanittha Inchukul Already approved by experts in principle The National Environment Board will meet March 24 to consider a study on the impact of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand's (PTT) pipeline project to transport gas from Burma's Yadana field to a power plant in Ratchaburi province. On Tuesday a panel of experts from the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) in principle, and told the PTT to launch an intensive information campaign to educate the public about the project, its possible adverse fallout and its impact on flora and fauna of the region through which the pipeline will pass. The 260-km pipeline will pass through a mountainous region of Kanchanaburi rich with lush green forests which are home to rare and endangered wildlife species such as grate hornbills, regal crabs, Kitti's hog-nose bats and reptiles. Natural gas from Burma will be delivered to a 4,600-megawatt power plant to be built in Ratchaburi. Srisuwan Kuankachorn, a member of the expert panel, however had reservations about the EIA presented by the PTT, saying some serious questions such as the impact on forest and wildlife remain unanswered. "More information is needed. The EIA needs to be studied more thoroughly before sending it to the NEB," he said. The Forestry Department concluded the pipeline will pass through virgin forests and its impact on the habitat will be minimal, though it conceded that reptiles would be most affected and a study has yet to be commissioned to determine how to protect reptiles, regal crabs and Kitti's hog-nose bat, Mr Srisuwan said. Sonthi Wannasaeng of the environmental impact evaluation sub-division said it was impossible to change the pipeline route because the contract signed between Thailand and Burma specifies Ban E-Tong in Kanchanaburi as the transfer point. The pipeline route was chosen after a thorough study of three alternatives to minimise any adverse impact it may have on wildlife, but environmentalists and academics still view the project with concern. (BP) ******************************************************* THE NATION: OFFICIAL TRANSFERRED AS LOGGING SCAM EXPOSED March 14, 1997 THE superintendent of Mae Hong Son's Salween National Park has been transferred following revelations that trees in the park were illegally cut down, shipped across the river to Burma and then ''imported" by Thai companies. The Royal Forestry Department (RFD) will set up an investigative committee to determine whether park chief, Jaen Thafong, is guilty of participating in the illegal timber trade. On Wednesday, Jaen received a transfer order to the position of deputy chief of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiang Mai. The move, considered a demotion, serves as ''light punishment", said RFD Director General Sathit Sawintorn. The illegally-felled timber seized by forestry officials consisted of 195 teak logs, or about 200 cubic metres of wood. They also found another 500 teak logs lying along the Salween River bank, awaiting shipment to Burma. Officials cannot immediately remove the logs because of ongoing military conflict across the border, but according to government policy, they will eventually become the property of the Forest Industry Organisation (FIO). Information about the illegal scheme was reported to the RFD by a forestry officer who identified himself only as ''C5 Paa Mai" ­ a reference to a civil service level. The source also supplied the names of the companies involved. The RFD said that once the trees were felled they would be floated across the Salween River ­ which forms the border in that area ­ and stamped to indicate that the logs came from Burma. They were then brought back to Thailand at Tha Sam Lap port in Mae Sariang district, processed in a saw mill there and sent to Bangkok. Four companies are still allowed to import timber from Burma through Salween National Park and the adjacent Salween Wildlife Sanctuary: Ska Bee Co Ltd, SC Co Ltd, STP Co Ltd and Sor Prapakarn Co Ltd. The whistle-blower also claimed that many influential businessmen and officials involved are in the scam, including police and customs officers, FIO officers, district RFD officers, as well as Kamnan and village headmen in the province's Mae Sariang district. Agriculture Minister Chucheep Harnsawat said that should Jaen be found guilty, legal action would be taken against him, and added that as there are too few forestry officials to monitor the situation, local people should be enlisted to help out. ''We must implement measures to screen logs and make sure they come from Burma," Sathit said. (TN) ****************************************************** THE NATION: ITD PLANS TO INK BURMESE PORT AGREEMENT March 14, 1997 Sophon Phettae CHUMPHON ­ Italian-Thai Development Plc plans to ink an agreement with the Burmese government to construct a deep-sea port in Tavoy which will have the capacity to handle 200,000 deadweight tonnes, by the end of this month. Manu Sattayataewa, a senior official of the National Economic and Social Development Board, revealed the plan at yesterday's seminar. He said the project is part of a Thai private sector plan to relocate investments into the resource-rich country. Manu was speaking at the Western seaboard project seminar. The Western seaboard, covering Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon, will boost trade and investment with Burma. Earlier, Italian-Thai Development Plc signed a memorandum of understanding to construct the deep-sea port. Manu said the government plans to turn the Western seaboard into a huge industrial area. The Japan International Cooperation Agency completed a framework study of the Western seaboard. The agency found that the project would require an investment of Bt100.75 billion. (TN) ****************************************************** THAILAND TIMES:MAE-SOT MYAWADDY BORDER PASSAGE TO BE PERMANENT May 14, 1997 by Assawin Pinitwong TAK: The Mae Sot-Myawaddy temporary border check-point is like to be made permanent in response to the imminent opening of the Thai- Burmese Friendship Bridge, a senior local official said yesterday. Pol Lt-Col Chinnapat Tansrisakul, deputy superintendent of Mae Sot Immigration Bureau, said that once the passage was open a simple border pass might be the only documentation required for local Thai and Burmese people to cross the border for a period of a month's stay. Foreigners will also be allowed to use the checkpoint, but its is unlikely that they will be permitted to cross without a passport and visa, he said. One alternative being considered is the establishment of a Burmese consulate in Mae Sot, said the officer, adding that the temporary border pass currently required will be abolished after the new system is implemented. The officer said immigration and customs officials were at present working on the details of the new document, and are also drawing up a design for the area's new immigration station. The existing border check-point allows residents of Mae Sot and Myawaddy to cross the border between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, once they have been issued with a temporary border pass. Chinnapat said the Friendship Bridge is expected to open in two months's time. The bridge construction was halted by Burma in June 1995 after Burmese authorities disagreed with a Thai building of a causeway in the middle of Moei river. The construction resumed last week after Thailand dismantled the controversial causeway. ************************************************************ BEIJING ZHONGGUO XINWEN SHE: STUDY WITH BURMA ON WATER TRANSPORT ROUTE March 4, 1997 Beijing, March 4 (CNS) -- A jointly conducted study has been completed by a Sino-Burmese expert group on the possibility of land and water transport, via Yunnan Province and into the Irrawaddy River valley in Burma. The report concludes that it is feasible to open an outlet into the Indian Ocean by this method. Currently both the Chinese and Burmese Ministries of Communications, as well as the Yunnan provincial government, are working on a draft accord on land and water co-ordinated transport involving the Irrawaddy River which originates in Tibet and runs through northern and western Yunnan and then into Burma. The group carried out the study on land transport routes linking up Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan and the Burmese ports of Bhamo and Myitkyina, and other water transport routes connecting with Rangoon, capital of Burma. Experts in the group were of the opinion that it was feasible to open such a channel along the Dehong--Bhamo land route and the Bhamo--Rangoon water route. The highway linking the Dehong Prefecture in Yunnan Province and Bhamo in Burma can be readily converted to a high-grade road, and the river section between Bhamo and Rangoon enjoys sound transport conditions. Some of the Bhamo--Rangoon section can accommodate vessels of over 3,000 tonnage. Rangoon is considered an ideal transfer port bordering as it does on the Indian Ocean. It is expected that construction of a terminal in Rangoon with nine berths for vessels of over 10,000 tonnage will be completed this year, and it can provide an all-weather shelter for vessels of up to 15,000 tonnage. The proposed transport network can cut short the journey time by about one week compared with the route of between 3,000 and 5,000 kilometres along coastal areas in southeastern China. ******************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS March 11, 1997 From: OKKAR66127@aol.com DEPUTY C-IN-C DEFENCE SERVICES RECEIVES MILITARY ATTACHES OF MALAYSIAN EMBASSY YANGON, 10 March - Vice-Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Deputy Commander in-Chief of Defence Services General Maung Aye received Military Attach‚ of Malaysian Embassy Lt-Col Shahrir Bin Hashim who is leaving Myanmar at the conclusion of his tour of duty and his successor Lt-Col Marzuki Mohd Rusli Bin Hj Ahmad at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 9 am today. Present together with General Maung Aye were Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Chief of the Office of Strategic Studies Director of Defence Services Intelligence Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Tin Aye and Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe. _______________________________ 19TH WORKING GROUP MEETING OF REGIONAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (RCA) HELD YANGON, 10 March - The 19th Working Group Meeting of Regional Cooperative Agreement for Asia and the Pacific (RCA) was held at Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel this morning. Present were Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Deputy Minister for Industry-l U Than Nyunt, Deputy Minister for Mines U Myint Thein, Deputy Minister for Health Col Than Zin, Deputy Minister for Education Dr Than Nyunt, delegates from RCA member states Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, RCA coordinators, officials of International Atomic Energy Agency, directors-general, coordinators from RCA projects being implemented in Myanmar, officials of Myanma Science and Technology Research Department and guests. _____________________________________ PRC COMPANY TO PRODUCE 300,000 CONCRETE SLEEPERS YEARLY IN MYITNGE YANGON, 10 March Officials today drove in stakes to begin construction of a factory by a Chinese company under BOT system in Myitnge, Amarapura Township, which will produce 300,000 reinforced concrete sleepers annually. China National Complete Plant Import and Export Yunnan Corporation (Complant) of the People's Republic of China will invest $ 12 million to build the factory, offices and quarters for employees and to install machines, said Minister for Rail Transportation U Win Sein-at the ground breaking ceremony. Managing Director of Myanma Railways Thura U Thaung Lwin, General Manager of the PRC company Mr Zhang Lianju and Vice-Governor of Yunan Province Mr Li jai Ting also spoke. Minister U Win Sein, Vice-Governor Mr Li Jai Ting, Chairman of Mandalay Division Law and Order Restoration Council Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint and Deputy Director-General of Foreign Economic Relations Department of Yunan Mr Zhang Rui Kun drove in the stakes. ____________________________________ MINISTER FOR NPED RECEIVES SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF DEUTSCHE BANK YANGON, 10 March Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel received Senior Vice- President of Deutsche Bank, Corporate and Institutional Banking Asia Pacific, Ms Franca V Peters and party at his office this afternoon. They discussed bilateral economic cooperation and regional development affairs. Present also were officials of the ministry. ************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (12 March 1997) SEMINAR ON FACILITATION OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TRAFFIC COMMENCES YANGON, 11 March Seminar on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, co-sponsored by Ministry of Transport, International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), commenced at Inland Water Transport this morning. Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win delivered an address. ____________________________________ MILITARY ATTACHE OF EMBASSY OF PRC YANGON, 11 March- Secretary-2 State Law and Order Restoration Council Chief of Bureau of special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo received Military Attache of the Embassy of the people’s Republic of China Senior Col Wu Huachang who has completed the tour of his duties here at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 4.30 pm today. ____________________________________ MIC CHAIRMAN RECEIVES D-G OF INVESTMENT PROMOTION, FRANCE YANGON, 11 March- Member of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Director-General M Yves de Roissart of Investment Promotion, France, at his office at 10 am today. They discussed measures to be taken by companies of France for investment in Myanmar and other investment possibilities. ********************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (13 March, 1997) DELTA INTERNATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT CALLS ON MIC CHAIRMAN YANGON, 12 March - Vice-President Mr Nasir M Al-shiha of Delta International of Saudi Arabia called on Member of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin at the latter’s office this afternoon. They discussed building of Yangon-Dalla Bridge across Yangon. River and investment opportunities concerning housing development and establishment of a economic zone in Dalla region. ________________________________________ MEMBER OF CHINA’S SC SAYS DESTRUCTIONISTS’ EVIL SCHEME CANNOT SINO-MYANMAR FRIENDSHIP YANGON, 12 March - Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Religious Affairs Lt-Gen Myo Nyunt, while in Beijing, paid a courtesy call on Member of the State Council and Chairman of the National Affairs Committee Mr Simayi at the National Affairs Committee office on 6 March. Mr Simayi said that the subversive elements’ detonating the shrine housing the Buddha’s Tooth Relic in Yangon was aimed at breaking up Sino-Myanmar friendly relations. He said they understood and accepted what Myanmar leaders undertook for that matter and noted that the destructionists’ evil scheme could not mar Sino-Myanmar friendship, but made it firmer. Minister Lt-Gen Myo Nyunt conveyed the message of Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe wishing the Chinese leaders ability to discharge State duties successfully in peace of mind. He stated that Sino-Myanmar friendship will perpetually exist and be firm due to the efforts of the farsighted leaders of the two nations whatsoever any one attempted to break up. The delegation spent the night at Holiday Inn in Beijing. _____________________________________ MINISTER FOR ENERGY RECEIVES FOREIGN COMPANY OFFICIALS YANGON, 12 March - Minister for-Energy U Khin Maung Thein received Chairman Mr W David Lyons of Ocelot International Ltd of Canada at his office this afternoon. They discussed investment and cooperation in oil and natural gas sector. Minister U Khin Maung Thein also received Managing Director Mr G G Hartmann of AEG Power Engineering of Germany and Manager Mr Joel Luchini of GEC Alsthom European Gas Turbines S A of France on separate occasions. ________________________________ MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT RECEIVES DIRECTOR OF INDIAN OCEAN-SOUTH ASIA-PACIFIC YANGON, 12 March - Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win received Director Mr Andre Vessier of Indian Ocean-South Asia Pacific at his office this morning. The guest was accompanied by Commercial Counsellor Mr Robert R Igier of the Embassy of France. Discussions focused on the technical assistant programme on civil aviation and technology and matters on mutual interest. _________________________________ MYANMAR ARAGAN TO PRODUCE TOYS FOR EXPORT YANGON, 12 March Myanmar Aragan Toys Co Ltd of Aragan Group of Japan agreed with Public Works yesterday to invest $ 600,000 here as an initial step to produce toys for export. Managing Director of PW U Tint Swe and Chairman of Aragan Group Mr Masato Yoshikawa signed the accord, which states that production will start in June 1997, employing about 600 family members of PW personnel at the factory and export cent per cent of the products. The ceremony at Summit Parkview Hotel was attended by Minister at the Office of Deputy Prime Minister U Khin Maung Yin and officials. ____________________________________ http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/ ************************************* ANNOUNCEMENT: UPDATE ON GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA March 14, 1997 From: "D. Doering" Reverend David Eubank and his wife Karen, Christinas Concerned for Burma, and the Church of Christ in Thailand will be extending the Global Day of Prayer to include the following week (3/16-23) to honor requests from many of you around the world & to further our opportunity for fasting, prayer and meditation. I ask each of you to reflect on this as we approach this time of prayerful reflection. What is your responsibility; as a Buddhist, a Jew, a Muslim, a Universalist, a Christian? What role in our spiritual life is there for justice? Update: 1) Karen & David report that 54 countries have responded to the call 2) Australia and the US have requested a week of prayer and fasting and the world has responded. (March 16- March 23) 3) The Philippines, Initiative for International Dialogue and the Free Burma Coalition/Philippines give their wholehearted support and participation 4) Reverend Wrightson Toungue has invited the Presbetery/ United Methodist Conference USA to participate 4) Globe of Dharma Productions/ Berkeley will participate 5) Roy Speckhardt & Charlene Gomes from Interfaith Alliance will lead a grassroots network of clergy and concerned people of faith to participate 6) Myo Aye and many others in Australia will participate with a national service on March 23. 7) Pwint Htun has invited 62 newsgroups to particpate/ approximately 2000 people via soc.religion.Christian 8) The Hong Kong Christian Institute and the International Ministries/ Hong Kong will particpate 9) Father Joe La Mar (USA) and Brother John Beeching(BKK) of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers are spreading the word to friends around the world. 10) U Vantu at NCGUB has invited the Chin to participate 11) Many Karen and Kachin have called and emailed to particpate 12) American University and many others too numerous to mention are particpating Many priests, ministers, students, high schoolers, friends and family are responding from all over the globe and every hour brings new calls and emails and faxes. Thank you to each one of you. May the peace of God be with you. Metta, Please let us know if you will participate or if you wish to have materials. Materials available: 1) web site http://wicip.org/fbc (under breaking news) 2) fax 3) mail (this is air express or global express only) 4) coordination with others in your area or country who have materials already Please advise how we may help. Rev. David Eubank/ Karen Eubank Coordinators Christians Concerned for Burma P.O.Box 48, Chiang Mai, 5000 Thailand EMAIL: ccb@pobox.com PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU WILL PARTICPIATE. USA contact for materials & updates Dana Dean Fax: 206-842-5557, PH: 206-842-0883 EMAIL: dring@u.washington.edu **********************************