------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: May 18, 1997 Issue #724 HEADLINES: ========== THE NATION: REVIEW OF SLORC'S BID TO JOIN ASEAN SOUGHT THE NATION:CHAVALIT SEEKS TO END CONFLICTS SHRG: SHAN REFUGEE UPDATE SHRG REPORT: APRIL 1997 THE NATION: THAI-BURMA LINK COULD SPEED EXPORTS FBC: CHAPMAN AWARDS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE BURMA CENTRUM NETHERLANDS: INVITATION ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE NATION: REVIEW OF SLORC'S BID TO JOIN ASEAN SOUGHT May 17, 1997 THE House Committee on Foreign Affairs has urged the government to review a decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to admit Burma and to consider the implications for Thailand and Asean as a whole. They also called for a review of Asean's decision to only admit Laos and Cambodia into the grouping in conjunction with Burma. In a letter sent to Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan on Wednesday, committee chairman Bhichai Rattakul said that his panel is prepared to back the results of the review and help Thailand play a leading role in shaping Asean policy on the admission of the three countries. Taking a different view to the government's on the Burma issue for the first time, the committee warned that Asean is increasingly being viewed as a club of dictators, an image that will come back to haunt the grouping and Thailand. Prachuab is scheduled to meet informally with other Asean leaders in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the month to exchange ideas about the timing and implications of admitting the remaining three Southeast Asian nations. The letter said that Asean should consider the possible effects of the admission of Burma on Asean's external relations and on Thailand, which has long been affected by political turmoil in its neighbouring state. While the committee said it supports Asean's commitment to collective decision making and to keeping out of the internal affairs of neighbouring states, it insists that policy should not blind the grouping from looking into real issues. The letter called on the government to make a five-point assessment of the benefits and pitfalls of Burmese membership. These include: • The effect of Burma's internal trouble on Asean and in particular Thailand, which has suffered intrusions by Burmese troops and an influx of refugees. • The implications of Burmese membership on Asean-US relations and especially Thai-US relations, given the latter's excellent relationship with Thailand and its status as the country's biggest trading partner. • The impact of Burma's entry on Asean's relations with other Western countries backing the US position against Burma. • The effect of the admission on Asean's reputation. "Over the past few years, Western countries have felt many Asean governments are undemocratic and violate human rights," the committee noted. Lastly, the committee called for a reconsideration of the decision made at last December's Asean leader's summit to only admit Laos and Cambodia as a package with Burma. "It is important to determine how the decision will shape the positions of the two countries at present and in the future," the letter said. ******************************************** THE NATION:CHAVALIT SEEKS TO END CONFLICTS WITH BURMA May 17, 1997 AP LEADERS of Thailand and Burma yesterday agreed to clear up remaining border problems and boost trade and investment ties aimed at restoring bilateral relations, which will enter their 50th year next year. Government Spokesman Warathep Rattanakorn said Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Slorc leader Gen Than Shwe agreed to set up a working committee to solve the remaining problems which include narcotic issues, the exploitation of marine resources and boundary disputes. The two prime ministers also agreed to develop a multi-mode transportation system linking the two nations, in particular on the route linking Thailand's Laem Chabang deep-sea port with Burma's southern Tenessarim region that will shorten the journey of Europe-bound shipments of Thai goods. Local Thai-language daily Matichon reported that the two leaders agreed to remove their troops, currently positioned face-to-face in the disputed territory at Doi Lang Between Chiang Mai and Burma's Shan State, deeper inside the border to avoid confrontation and will set up a local sub-committee to demarcate the boundary in this area. The report quoted PM's Office Minister Veerakorn Kamprakob as saying that Thailand and Burma will discuss the setting up of a special free trade zone to allow the passage of labour between the two countries that will encourage joint investment. He made no mention about Thailand's request to Burma for help m resolving the problems of 700,000 illegal Burmese workers in Thailand. According to the report, Veerakorn said the Burmese Deputy Prime Minister Gen Maung Maung Khin, in separate talks, also informed that ethnic insurgency groups have operated 18 factories producing amphetamines along the Thai-Burmese border. Chavalit, who has long been close to members of Burma's military government yesterday began his two-day official visit to Burma, his first as head of government. Chavalit is accompanied by a 43-member delegation which includes Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn and other Cabinet members, as well as Army Commander Gen Chettha Thanajaro. His visit however was marred by a concerted protest by local and international groups which called for Thailand to distance the repressive regime in Burma and scrap the US$1.2-billion (Bt31.3-billion) cross-border Yadana gas pipeline project. According to official statistics at the end of last year, Thailand was the third biggest investor in Burma with projects totalling $996 million. Foreign investment stands at $5 billion since 1988, when the military government took power and first liberalised the economy. Local Thai TV coverage of the visit monitored by The Nation reported that Chavalit reassured Than Shwe of Thailand's unfailing support for Burma's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The report said the two leaders also witnessed the signing of an agreement on border crossings and on the division of jurisdiction over the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge across the Moei River. Chavalit was met at the airport on his arrival by Than Shwe and other Burmese military ruling junta members Gen Maung Aye, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt and Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw. A 19-gun salute boomed and flag-waving students shouted, "Long live the Thai prime minister", as Chavalit emerged from his plane. He proceeded in a motorcade to the state guesthouse along a route decked with Thai and Burmese flags and lined with students. *********************************** SHRG: SHAN REFUGEE UPDATE May 1997 S H A N H U M A N R I G H T S F O U N D A T I O N SITUATION INSIDE SHAN STATE In the last few months there has been a renewed offensive by the SLORC against the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA) in Central Shan State. Following increased political activity by the SURA in early March in the Kunhing area, the SLORC brought in reinforcements, at least 6 battalions, from southern Shan State to try and crack down on the Shan troops. However, unable to target the SURA due to guerilla nature of their operations, the SLORC has instead mainly targeted the civilian population. SLORC troops have intensified the forced relocation program which began in March last year, and affected over 600 villages in eight townships, well over 100,000 people (see the December 1996 SHRF report: “Uprooting the Shan”). Relocations are now being carried out in new areas, such as in Murng Pan, as well as Murng Ton, east of the Salween River, and the SLORC is cracking down with increasing brutality in the old areas of relocation, causing a climate of terror among the villagers. One pattern emerging is that the SLORC is now relocating villagers from existing relocation sites into towns in order to totally cut of their links with the Shan resistance. In late March, all of the relocation sites south of Kunhing township, totalling approximately 12,500 people, were forced into the town. On April 4, SLORC fired grenades into Tard Mawk relocation site, north of Laikha, killing three people, and then burned down over 1,000 houses at the site, ordering all the occupants to move to Laikha town. There has also been a sharp increase in the numbers of villagers being killed by the SLORC in the relocation areas. In just one relocation site alone, at Kho Lam, west of Kunhing, the SHRF has documented the killing of 57 villagers, including monks, during the last two months. Some were shot at their homes in the site, some were moving their possessions from their old villaged, and some were taken as porters. Some of the women killed were also gang raped. (see SHRF montly report: April 1997). The inability of the people to withstand repeated forced relocations and the brutality of the SLORC troops has driven increasing numbers of refugees to flee to Thailand. REFUGEE FLOW TO THE THAI BORDER The flow of refugees to the border has been steadily increasing since March of this year. Refugees arriving at the Thai border north of Chiang Mai report entering Thailand in convoys of 3-4 trucks from central Shan State, each truck carrying 30-50 people. Throughout April, the towns and villages inside Burma on the main road to Nong Ook, such as Murng Ton, Mae Ken, Murng Hang, Na Kong Moo, and Bong Ba Kem, opposite northern Chiang Mai province, have been filled with hundreds of refugees camping in the schools and temples, on their way to Thailand. Even as far away as Tachilek, in April, one of the temples was reported to be filled with over 200 refugees from the Kunhing relocation area. The flow of refugees (not counting regular travellers) coming across the border at the main border crossing points in the last two months has been reported as follows: Average daily number of refugees crossing into Thailand March April Mae Hong Son 60 100 Piang Luang 5 10 Nong Ook 80 120 Fang 50 80 Mae Sai 15 20 ________________ Total 210 330 This means that at least 16,000 refugees crossed into Thailand during March and April alone. Reports since the start of May indicate that the flow is now increasing even more. SITUATION OF REFUGEES IN THAILAND The Thai authorities continue to deny the existence of these Shan refugees. The authorities are maintaining that the refugees are simply migrant labourers. Thus, as with the Shan refugees who arrived in 1996, the refugees arriving in the last few months have either been hiding out around villages and farms in the rural areas of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai provinces, or the refugees have gone to find work in construction sites in towns such as Chiang Mai and Bangkok. As before, it is hard for refugees with children and elderly dependents to support themselves on the wages earned by the working family members. There are also several factors making it even more difficult than last year for new arrivals to survive in Thailand. In the rural areas, the steady increase in the refugee population has meant that agricultural work is becoming less and less easy to find. In the towns, the reluctance of emloyers to hire workers without work permits has meant that increasing numbers of refugees are becoming desititute in the towns without work. For example, in Chiang Mai in the past month there has been an increasing number of cases of groups of refugees needing emergency food assistance because they had been dumped at temples and worksites in the town by drivers from the border, but were then unable to find work. Health workers have also reported many cases of malnutrition among children, as well as dysentery, malaria, and TB. APPEAL The SHRF continues to appeal to the international community to pressure the SLORC to end the forced relocation program in Shan State and to allow the displaced Shan villagers to return home. The SHRF also repeats its appeal to the Royal Thai Government to allow these Shan refugees access to safe refuge in Thailand and the right to receive humanitarian assistance. ************************************************ SHRG REPORT: APRIL 1997 April 1997 From: Ken and Visakha Kawasaki Monthly Report April 1997 Shan Human Rights Foundation Monthly Report April 1997 Shan Human Rights Foundation P.O. Box - 201 Phrasing P.O. Chiang Mai, 50200, THAILAND MONKS TORTURED AND KILLED BY SLORC In late March, Slorc troops No.524 LIB arrested a monk named Ven. Ein Taga, 32, at Kyawng Long monastery in Kho Lam, Namzarng township. They took him to the abbot of Kyawng Kawng Moo monastery to disrobe him. But the abbot said he could not do it because Ven. Ein Taga was senior to him in monkhood. So they took him out of the monastery and forcibly tore off his robe, tied his hands and dragged him to their Kho Lam military base. While interrogating him they tortured and beat him until he was died. In late March 1997, Slorc troops No.246 arrested the abbot of Kaeng Kham village temple, Kunhing township, Ven. Yan Na at his monastery, forcibly disrobed him and took him away. While questioning him, they bound his hands and feet and put him in a sack, tied the mouth of the sack and submerged him in a stream. After a few minutes, they pulled him out and asked questions. They did that several times until he was dead. After the arrests of the monks, no one was allowed to see them, talk to them or give them food. Some relatives, monks and community leaders who tried to testify the innocence of the monks were slapped and beaten so that no one would dare go near them anymore. MASS KILLING AND RAPE OF RELOCATED VILLAGERS On March 28, 1997, Slorc Major Saw Win and 100 soldiers from IB No.246 came to Wan Phui, Kho Lam circle, Nam Zarng township, and saw 20 people moving their things to Kho Lam. Major Saw Win and his soldiers accused them of being SURA soldiers and they beat and killed them all. There were 14 men and 6 women. * All the women were raped by Major Saw Win and his soldiers. After raping them, the soldiers killed all the women, accusing them of being SURA soldiers' wives. RAPE VICTIM PUNISHED On 2. 4. 97. Slorc troops from No.45 IB which had been newly stationed at Murnsart, led by Maj. Aung Lwin, patrolled the area of Waeng Nur village tract and met with the headmen and community leaders and returned to their station on the same day. However, on 6. 4. 97, Maj. Aung Lwin and some of his soldiers came to the village of Waeng Nur, this time in civilian clothes. He went to the house of Nang Zarm, 18 (a Shan girl he had seen and liked on his previous trip):and, seeing she was at home with her parents, sent her parents to another place to get something to eat. While the parents were away, he told his men to wait down stairs and he raped Nang Zarm who remained alone upstairs. When her parents returned, Nang Zarm cried and complained to them that she had been raped by the Burmese major. But Maj. Aung Lwin denied the charge and slapped Nang Zarm until her face was swollen all over, saying that she falsely accused him. Before Nang Zarm's parents could bring the case to the headman of the village circle, the major had already told the headman that he had been dishonestly accused of rape when he was only doing his duty; that he had come out to familiarize himself with the area which was still new to him, and had stopped at Nang Zarm's house to get something to eat and, since there was not enough food, he had sent her parents out for it, and Nang Zarm had accused him of raping her. He had slapped her a few times to teach her a lesson for telling lies. Though Nang Zarm's parents later came to seek help, there was no way in which the headman could help. RAPE AND EXTORTION On April 1, 1997, Slorc Major Maung Kyaw Tun from LI No. 424 in Runhing township raped Nang Than 16 years old, daughter of Sal Su Nan Tar and Nang Aye Kham in her house in Wan Beang Khan, Wan Lao circle, Runhing township. Before he raped her, he gave her father 50 Kyats to go out and buy a hen and told her mother to go and take some vegetables from another house. When her parents went out he gave the order to his soldiers to wait under the house. He said to Nang Than, " I think in this house there are illegal things, so I'll check inside the rooms but if anything is lost, you will think I have taken it, so please follow me." She therefore took him inside. He raped her and after he had finished, she ran to tell the headman and the other villagers. They came and asked Major Maung Kyaw, but he said Nang Than was lying and beat her unconscious. When her parents came back Major Maung Kyaw demanded 10,000 Kyats from them for their daughter's "false" accusation. GANG RAPE OF RELOCATED VILLAGERS On April 2, 1997, the following women were raped by Slorc troops: Nang Hla (16 years), Nang Sai (18 years), Nang Bok (22 years), Nang Tun (25 years) All the women are from Nong Khan Village, Ho Yarn circle, Kunhing township, and had been forced to move to Kunhing township. On April 2, 1997, they came back to their village to take some things and Major Myint Lwin and 26 of his troops from LI No.424 came into the village. Major Myint Lwin raped the women and told his 26 soldiers to rape them. After they had finished, the women went back to Kunhing township. Major Myint Lwin and his soldiers then burned down 35 houses in the village. Most of the villagers from Nong Khan who were forced to move have been unable to find work and have fled to Thailand. WIVES OF ALL SEVEN HOUSES RAPED In the area of Kaeng Kham village tract, Rushing township, there is a little village called Wan Sop Sim which consists of only seven houses. The adult male villagers often have to go with logging boats to work for the logging-company in Kaeng Kham in order to earn money to support their families. A platoon of Slorc troops from No.519, led by Sgt. Hla Phyu, is stationed at the village. On the nights when all the men in the village had gone away, Sgt. Hla Phyu and his men raped the wives, house after house. There is no adult woman left unraped in all the seven houses. HEADMAN BEATEN, HELD FOR RANSOM On March 21, 1997, Major Aung Kyaw gave orders to Major Hla Khin and 45-50 soldiers from Slorc LI No.44 to go to Wan Pan Hook, Wan Lao circle, Kunhing township. About 2 miles from the village they met SURA soldiers and fought for about one hour. 2 Slorc soldiers were killed. After that the SLORC troops came into the village and beat the headman, accusing the villagers of having given SURA food. Major Hla Khin then detained the headman and demanded 20,000 Kyats from Sai Saw Na and ten other people in exchange for the headman. On March 29, 1997, the Slorc troops burned down 30 houses in the village. LAND SEIZURE 1 (CONFISCATED BY SLORC) On 2. 4. 97, Slorc troops No. 66 Battalion Commander Maj. Maung Thwe at Murngpan seized rice fields belonged to the people, on the western side of the town. The fields run on both sides of the road that leads to Wan Kho Lin village and an area of about 400 yards long and 40 yards wide on either side have been confiscated for a new quarter to expand the town. Since 6. 4. 97, Slorc troops have divided the land into small plots of 30 yards squares and put them on sale for 5,000 Ks a plot. Following this, all the land along the road from the town to Wan Kho Din, a distance of 5 miles, has now been confiscated by Slorc. LAND SEIZURE 2 (FOR CHINESE) In late March 1997, some Chinese, who had come from China via Kiu Khok border town near Muse to Lashio and boarded a Takota plane to Namzarug, wanted to buy some land in Namzarug town to set up a department store. SLORC commander at Namzarug forced Nang Zing Mya and Loong Awng to sell their lands to him--- two compounds adjacent to each other on the main road in No.1 quarter in town's centre--for only 15,000 Ks each, which they did not sell even for 50,000 Ks before. The Slorc commander then resold both the compounds to the Chinese for 500,000 Ks. The Chinese let Nang Zing Mya and Loong Awng dismantle and move away their houses, taking only the land. The Chinese has now adopted a Shan name- Zai Parn. Since March 1997, in Lashio, northern Shan State, Slorc has been confiscating lands belonging to the people of Wan Kawng Khar (12th Quarter). It is a long stretch of cultivated land opposite the main prison of Lashio Long, on the other side of the main road. The lands will be sold to a Chinese company from China to set up stores and other buildings. KILLING AND THEFT AT KHO LAM On March 3, 1997, Slorc troops from LI 99 came to Wan Phung, Kho Lam circle, Nam Zarng township, and killed the old parents of Zai Mar Lar: Loong Seng Tar and his wife Pa Noom. They also stole 80,000 Kyats, 15 Baht of gold in the house and took two oxen, and one horse. Zai Mar Lar then fled to Thailand. On March 3 , 1997, Slorc troops from LI 99 came to Wan Phui, Kho Lam circle, Namsarng township, and killed Sai Kham and burned down his house. His wife Nang Hla her family then fled to Thailand. On March 5, 1997, while Sang Jai (24) and Nang Seng La (19) of Wan Klang, Kho Lam circle, Namsarng township, were being forced to move from their homes, Slorc troops came into their house and took all their money and gold. They lost more than 200,000 Kyats, and 18 baht of gold and two oxen. They therefore fled to Thailand. RELOCATION On March 9, 1997, Slorc troops No.64 IB ordered villagers from Wan Nong Dee, Wan Thi circle, Laikha township, to move to Laikha. VILLAGE BURNED, HEADMAN BEATEN On March 30, 1997, 30 Slorc troops came into Wan Mai Si Lee village, Ho Yarn circle, Kunhing township, and asked why the village had not moved like other villages. They then accused the villagers of giving food to the Shan Army and then they burned down the village. The villagers lost all their things. They took Loong Pain Nyar, the headman of the village, and beat him unconscious three times and took 10,000 Kyats and two oxen from them. Most of the villagers therefore fled to Thailand. ABBOT DISROBED, BEATEN On March 20, 1997 Major Aung Kyaw Tun and 60 of his troops (from IB No.44) Kunhing township, went to Jong Saai Khao temple, at Saai Khao village, south of Kunhing, to search the place. When they saw a radio in the temple, they said " That radio is from SURA" and beat a monk called Vi Seng Tar (age 30) who had bought the radio from China. The troops forced Vi Seng Tar to disrobe and beat him unconscious three times and then took him one mile to the south of Jong Saai Khao temple. A Slorc officer called U Than Saw was about to killed the monk, when the monk begged him to untie his hands so that he could grant him forgiveness before he died. When they untied the rope the monk ran away from them. They shot after the monk but missed. The monk went back to Keng Tong village and fled to Thailand. MULTIPLE KILLINGS AT KHO LAM RELOCATION SITE On February 22, 1997, SURA troops arrived near Kho Lam relocation site, Namzarng township. The Slorc troops suspected that the SURA troops had entered the relocation site, so they shot 9 villagers at the site dead: Loong Su (30 years old) and his wife Nang Nu (42), and their four children and one nephew; and Hla Soe (35) and one other man. On March 8, 1997, one of the relocated villagers, Ai Per (age 43), was asleep at his house in Kho Lam relocation site. Slorc troops went into his house and took him to the centre of the relocation site and shot him dead. On March 28, 1997, Ven. Ein Taga, the abbot of Kho Lam temple, aged 38, returned to his temple at 04:00 P.M. after visiting Bindaya in central Shan State. On the same day at 09:00 P.M., the Slorc troops went to Kho Lam temple and hit Ven. Ein Taga and forced him to disrobe. Then he was taken to the local Slorc post where he was killed. On March 30, 1997, two villagers from Kho Lam relocation site, Loong Koong Mard (age 45) and his two friends Ai Shwe (age 30) and Ai Sum (age 42) went fishing to feed their families. Slorc troops saw the 3 men and shot them dead. On April 3, 1997, in the evening, three women from Kho Lam relocation site went out to find vegetables outside the site. Only twenty minutes after they had left their neighbors heard three gun shots. The next morning five friends of the women went to look for them. When the Slorc troops saw the five villagers, they shot them dead. On April 4, 1997, one woman and seven men from Kho Lam relocation site went back to their old village, Par Son, to get paddy which they had hidden the year before, when they had been relocated, When Slorc troops saw the 8 villagers in their old village they killed the seven men and raped the women. On April 10, 1997, two women from Kho Lam relocation site went out to Wan Lin (30 minutes' walk north of Kho Lam) to sell " Khao Karb" (made from rice). When they had finished selling this, they came back to Kho Lam relocation site. Slorc troops saw them on the road back from Wan Lin and shot them. TARD MAWK RELOCATION SITE BURNED TO THE GROUND On April 4, 1997, Slorc troops from LIB No.151 fired M 79 grenades into Tard Mawk relocation site. Three villagers died and three villagers were wounded. On April 8, 1997, 150 Slorc troops came into Tard Mawk relocation site and ordered all the villagers to move to Laikha township within two days. On April 10, 1997, the Slorc troops from LIB No.151 burned down all the over 1,000 houses in Tard Mawk relo cation site. OVER 1,000 CHILDREN BEGGING NEAR PARNG PHONE On April 12, 1997, a Shan villager named Loong Ti and his wife, who had been working at a construction site in Thailand (having been forcibly relocated from their homes in Laikha township last year), went back to Shan State from Thailand to go and collect their old father and mother who were staying in Parng Phone relocation site inside Shan State. When they travelled along the road to Parng Phone, they reported seeing over 1,000 children begging and about 50 older people begging outside the site. Loong Ti and his wife had very little money, so spent only 2 days at the side before bringing only their father Loong Won Na (age 80) back with them. On their way back, the car they were riding in broke down and they had no food for two days. Because of this, their old father Loong Wan Na collapsed, and then died in Murng Ton hospital. A FATHER OF 5 KILLED WHILE SERVING AS PORTER In early April, Slorc troops (from Arakan State) seized more than 10 villagers, young and old, Ton Hoong village, Ton Hoong tract, Namzarng township, to use as porters. After they were taken away for 4 days, a porter named Sai Awng Sa, 26, escaped and returned to tell that one of his fellow porters villager Sai Kan Na, 36, son of Loong Kaw Ling & Nai Yawd, was accused of trying to escape and shot dead by Slorc troops in a forest about 5-6 miles west of Ton Hoong. They were taken from their relocation site at Kho Lam in Namzarng township and all the rest of the porters have, a few at a time, escaped and returned to their places lately. Sai Kan Na's widow Nang Yawd, 35, daughter of Loong Mu & Nai Mung, and their five daughters-ages: 16, 14, 10, 8, 6 -- have fled and arrived at Thailand's Fang district sometime in mid - April. Since arriving 10 days earlier (at the time she was interviewed), Nang Yawd had been able to find work for only 2 days earning 70 baht a day. KILLINGS AT RANDOM In early April, Slorc troops (said to be from Arakan State who had come to control Murng Taw & Murng Tha areas during the early days of Khun Sa's surrender, and had now been sent to engage in campaigns launched against SURA --- No.537 LIB and other unidentified Burmese troops, because they usually tore off the insignias and numbers of their battalion during these operations), while patrolling the village tract of Kho Ood, Namzarng township, they spotted some villagers who were trying to hide in the forest west of a deserted village of Ho Nar, 2-3 miles west of Nar Law village, and shot at them, instantly killing 4 people - (1) Pi Thark Awn, 45, a secretary of Wan Nang village; (2) Zit Ta Awn, 34, from Nar Law; (3) Another man, name unknown; (4) Nang Ying, 16, from Nar Law. These people had gone to collect their things from their old village and hide them in the forest, and were about to return to their relocation site near the motor road near Kho Lam in Namzarng township. Their corpses were dragged to the same spot and piled up together. On 10. 4. 97, about 100 Slorc troops (55th division) shot dead 2 villagers at a place about a quarter mile north of Wan Ter Zrang village which had been forced to move the day before. Sai Aw Ta, 22, son of Loong Kaw Li & Pa Thuay and Sai Mu Ling, 30, son of Loong Ta & Nai Kham from Wan Ter Zarng, Nar Poi tract, Namzarug township, were killed. Sai Sarng Aw, 27, son of Loong Saw & Nai Ing, who was with them and had also been shot at, ran away and escaped. After 7-8 days he came back to Kho Lam (where they have been relocated) and related about the incident. For fear of being shot at, the relatives of the dead dared not go to bury the corpses but left them to the mercy of scavengers. http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm ************************************************ THE NATION: THAI-BURMA LINK COULD SPEED EXPORTS May 17, 1997 Supunnabul Suwannaku A ROAD linking Tavoy in Burma with the western seaboard of Thailand, coupled with bilateral investment in a deep sea port at Tavoy, will further open the door for Thai exports to European markets. The road between Tavoy and Thailand, as well as a joint investment in the deep sea port project at Tavoy, are on the agenda for Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's first visit to Burma this weekend, Industry Minister Korn Dabbaransi said. The prime minister arrived in Burma yesterday. Based on the initial plan, the road would link a deep sea port at Tavoy with either Kanchanaburi or Ratchaburi, around 300 kilometres from Bangkok. If the joint collaboration eventuates, this route would shorten the transport times of exports to India, Europe and Mediterranean countries. Products manufactured in central Thailand could be exported using this route instead of via Klong Toey and Laem Chabang ports, from where ships are forced to detour around Singapore. Korn said other connecting routes include from Bokpyin to Bangsapan, a 100 kilometre route between two sea fronts - the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand; Tab La Mu in Phang Nga to Sichon in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a 200 kilometre route linking the two southern provinces; and Penage to Pattani, which connects to Penang for utilisation of the deep sea port there. These routes would connect the two seafronts to deep sea ports in each location in a bid to assist transportation between the west and east coasts. All projects are under study for investment evaluation by the National Economic and Social Development Board. Speaking at a recent discussions on the "Western Seaboard the Economic and Trade Opportunities in the West to Andaman Sea", Korn said the development of the Western Seaboard, included in the Eighth National Economic and Social Development Plan, is aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Thai industries and export-oriented products through collaboration with Burma in the areas of S economic development, research and development, and natural resources. The three main objectives of the Western Seaboard plan are to develop Thailand's seaboards to strengthen the competitiveness of exports and create close relationships with Burma through joint collaboration for economic development. The Western Seaboard area covers seven provinces - Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Petchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Prachuab Khiri Khan. Based on a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency on the Western Seaboard Regional Development Master Plan Study, the Western Seaboard will be divided into three areas: • the upper area, incorporating the southern parts of Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram provinces and the upper section of Petchaburi province. These provinces are located in irrigation areas along the Mae Klong River. Value will be added to the agricultural products, and industries will be developed in a zone linking Bangkok with other provinces. • the central area, incorporating the lower parts of Petchaburi, Cha-am, Hua Hin and Prachuab Khiri Khan. As several attractive tourism sites are located in this region, the area is off-limits to factories. • the lower area, comprising Bangsapan district, Prachuab Khiri Khan and Chumphon. As the weather and soil is suitable for agriculture, the area will be become a fruit cultivation zone. Bangsapan, where Sahaviriya has a big steel mill with a deep sea port accessible to 220,000 deadweight tonne vessels, will be developed as the centre for industrial development. The Western Seaboard is targeted at two main sectors, agriculture and the steel industry. Korn said a special economic zone would be set up on the Western Seaboard to reduce the production costs of labour-intensive industries by allowing the hiring foreign workers. The type of special economic zone and level of government support are being studied. *********************************************** FBC: CHAPMAN AWARDS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE May 15, 1997 wardwell@chapman.edu Contact: Ruth Wardwell (714) 532-6075 Dr. Win (714) 432-5860 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is a virtual political prisoner in Burma, has been selected to receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Orange County s largest independent university. She was nominated for the degree, which will be presented in absentia, by Chapman alumna Betty Jane Champlin, a Dana Point lawyer and photojournalist who is active in the Free Burma movement. The honorary degree will be awarded in absentia at Chapman’s undergraduate commencement ceremony, Sunday, May 25, 1997 at 4 p.m. on the campus athletics field. The nomination has drawn significant support from Orange Coast College Professor U Kyaw Win, a Burmese exile living in Laguna Hills. He says: "In honoring Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chapman University is paying tribute to the heroic people of Burma in their peaceful struggle for human dignity and freedom, under the leadership of this courageous lady." Chapman’s board of trustees voted unanimously to award the honorary degree to Sun Kyi for her non-violent commitment to democracy, peace and human rights. Chapman University, based in Orange, Calif., is comprised of six schools and two colleges. It was founded in 1861 as Hesperian College and maintains a relationship with its founding denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The principles of basic human rights, for which Kyi stands, parallel the Disciples vision for peace and creating environments open to all, which were among the founding tenets of the institution. Ruth S. Wardwell Director of News Services Chapman University 333 N. Glassell Orange, CA Phone: (714) 532-6075 Fax: (714) 997-6685 e-mail: wardwell@chapman.edu ***************************************************** BURMA CENTRUM NETHERLANDS: INVITATION May 15, 1997 From: Anja Sloot BCN VG NOVIB Burma Centrum Nederland van Gennep INVITATION 27th of May 1997 De Rode Hoed Keizersgracht 102 Amsterdam 20:00 - 22:30 hours (8:00 =- 10:30 pm) Our struggle for democracy is first of all a revolution of the spririt Daw Aung San Suu Kyi On the 27th of May it is seven years ago that the National League for Democracy, de party of Nobel Peace Price laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the elections with an overwhelming majority. Until today the military regime refuses to hand over power and tries, by all possible means, to silence the opposition. In the book Voice of Fear Daw Aung San Suu Kyi makes knowledge of her answers to the dictatorshop in Burma. Opposite to hate and violence she sets reconciliation and forgiveness, to lies the truth and to intimidation bravery, to lead her country to freedom and democracy. Voice of Fear is a document of hope. By occasion of the publication of the Dutch translation of Voice of Fear, Stem van Verzet, Publisher van Gennep, Novib and the Burma Centre Netherlands offer you a program in which writers and journalists explain on what way and under what conditions the Burmese opoosition continues her work and what the perspectives are for peace and democracy in Burma. The evening will be illustrated with a performance of the Burmese singer Bo Han. Program: Minka Nijhuis, journalist and writer Passages of Voice of Fear and an impression of the way the opposition continues her work (Dutch language) Anna Allott Dissidents and censure (English language) Martin Smith, writer, journalist and documentary maker The position of the ethnic minorities after decennia of ruling by central authority (English language) For more information please contact BCN +31 (0)20 6716952 Stem van Verzet is a publication of Publisher van Gennep and Novib and available in regular bookstores as well as during this evening for Fl 38,90 ********************************