------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: June 26, 1997 Issue #759 HEADLINES: ========== BURMA UN SERVICES OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE: ENVIRONMENT BKK POST: RANGOON BLAMES KAREN FOR ROCKET ATTACK VOA: G-7 DENVER-BURMA FOLLOWUP AP: BURMA SIGNS DEAL WITH CHINESE COMPANY TT: BURMESE STUDENTS CALL MASS HUNGER STRIKE BKK POST: HIGHWAY PROJECT GAINS MOMENTUM BKK POST: MAPS DISPUTED IN MOEI RIVER ROW BKK POST: A BLESSING IN DISGUISE NLM: INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DESTRUCTIONISTS NLM: RANGOON EXPECTS 24.5 PERCENT GROWTH BURMA UN SERVICES OFFICE: TEAK RETAILER LETTER ----------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA UN SERVICES OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE: ENVIRONMENT PANEL DURING EARTH SUMMIT June 25, 1997 From: "Burma UN Services Office" FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 1997 Contact: Dr. Thaung Htun, (212) 338-0048 The issue of the destruction of Burma's environment was highlighted today at a public session organized by the Burma UN Service Office during the Earth Summit. Forty people gathered across from the United Nations to hear about the environmental and human rights abuses of the military regime currently in power in Burma (Myanmar), called the State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC. The speakers included Dr. Thaung Htun, Representative for UN Affairs for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma; Edith Mirante, Director of Project Maje and author of Burmese Looking Glass; and Tim Keating, Director of Rainforest Relief, NY. Dr. Htun also read a statement from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy, the main opposition party to the SLORC. Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and was kept under house arrest by the generals for six years to prevent her organizing the people against the military regime. She has been a strong critic of the SLORC's style of development saying that it benefits the rich and powerful generals and their friends, while having a negative affect on the people as a whole. In her statement, Ms. Suu Kyi said, "I doubt that under the present circumstances that you can do anything very effectively, in the way of conservation," referring to the way in which the military constrains all debate and impoverishes the people of Burma. "About 80% of our population live in the rural areas," she added. ". . .conservation is important for their livelihood as well as for their happiness and for developing their aesthetic sense." According to the panelists, the SLORC is in the midst of a massive sell-off of the natural heritage of Burma and is using torture, forced labor, forced relocation and summary execution to achieve their ends. Dr. Thaung Thun gave an overview of the style of development that would be acceptable to the NCGUB if they were able to assume the office into which they were voted by the people of Burma. Quoting James Gustave Speth, Htun said, "'Development that fails to benefit the poor has no soul. Development that fails to safeguard the environment has no vision. Sustainable development doesn't take place in a political or social vacuum but depends both on effective governance and on the empowerment of communities in civil society to participate in the decisions that effect their lives.'" Dr. Htun went on to say that "Burma is the obvious example of a nation in which, as the preamble to the draft declaration states, where 'human rights violations lead to environmental degradation and environmental degradation leads to human rights violations.'" Dr. Htun went on to outline some of the ways in which the NCGUB would sustain the environment. Edith Mirante gave a slide presentation that showed massive environmental destruction under the SLORC including unregulated logging, strategic deforestation, gas and oil exploration and gold mining, tin dredging, conversion of mangroves to shrimp farms and cutting for charcoal, the use of dangerous pesticides such as paraquot and increases in pollution. Much of Ms. Mirante's slides focused on excessive logging, the spoils of which are flowing night and day over the borders into China, Thailand and India. Ms. Mirante also spoke about the gas pipeline being pushed through Burma into Thailand by Total of France and Unocal of the U.S. Ms. Mirante speculated that part of SLORC's plan for the project was to strategically deforest and militarize the southern part of Burma which had been under the control of the Karen ethnic minority who opposed the SLORC. "It's not impossible that stopping the pipeline might be accomplished by groups in Thailand who are opposed to it," she said. "They've stopped projects like this before. Thailand is an open society with a free press." Tim Keating gave a report on the use of forced labor for logging and described a systemic and widespread use of coercion and force by the army to denude the forests above and around local villages. Logs from these operations are sold illegally by army personnel for their own financial gains. The villagers themselves are forced to cut their own trees (upon which their livelihoods depend) and sometimes saw them into lumber. They are left with a barren landscape, dried streams and ponds and faced with an inability to grow food. SLORC is systematically pulling the rug out from under the people for their own personal profit. Mr. Keating read from his report, quoting a farmer who fled into Thailand to escape the horrors of SLORC's forced labor, "They have been cutting so many trees that the climate is now changing here and it has become drier, so every year the rice harvest is worse." Another farmer was quoted as saying, "All the trees around the water ponds were cut down so the ponds have all dried up, and so have most of the streams and wells. We can't understand why they're doing it. . . from Kengtung up to Mong La. . . there's only a small bit of forest left. . . they'll never stop cutting down the trees." The panelists together said that the deforestation of Burma has increased threefold since the SLORC took power. Forest cover has gone from 48% in 1988 to as little as 20% by some estimates, with others putting the figure closer to 35%. Teak makes up 50% of the hardwood exports from Burma, and timber is the second largest legal export by value (not including opium). Panelists called for increasing pressure on the oil companies Unocal, Texaco and Arco to cease their projects in Burma. In an effort to stop the abuses of local people and the forests, the panelists called for an international boycott of teak from Burma. Activists plan to demonstrate at numerous teak re-sellers across the U.S. between July 1 - 7. ************************************************ BKK POST: RANGOON BLAMES KAREN FOR MYAWADDY ROCKET ATTACK June 25, 19997 Tak Rockets were fired into Myawaddy yesterday, causing a fire but no injuries. Four 107mm rockets were fired from an area north of the Burmese town at 1.30 a.m., three of which landed on a market opposite Tambon Tha Sai Luad, Mae Sot, and one on a plantation in Ban Tha Aj, Tak. Burmese soldiers in Myawaddy fired two mortar rounds at the attackers and closed peripheral routes while villagers fled to bunkers. In Tak, Pol Maj Noppadol Chatiwong, commander of Border Patrol Police Unit 346, led troops to Ban Tha Aj while soldiers from the 4th Infantry Regiment Task Force were posted along the Moei River. A source said Burmese authorities blamed the Karen National Union for the attack, a claim that was denied. Karen officers linked the attack to a conflict of interest among officials. The incident took place shortly before a meeting of senior Thai and Burmese officials on the opening of the Friendship Bridge and the 16th Local Thai-Burmese Border Committee Meeting to be held today. Burmese authorities were reported to have cancelled the border meeting, citing security reasons. ******************************************* VOA: G-7 DENVER-BURMA FOLLOWUP June 23, 1997 [abridged] As we reported over the weekend, leaders of industrialized countries included burma on a list of regional political issues of concern to them. In Denver, foreign ministers of the Şgroup of eightŞ (the former G-7 group plus Russia) called on Burmaıs military government to begin a meaningful political dialogue with the democratic opposition and ethnic minorities. Following the Denver summit, President Clinton was asked in a news conference whether the United States pursues double standards in its policies toward various countries. In responding, Mr. Clinton referred to his administrationıs decision to impose new sanctions on Burma: [Ş I donıt think (the question is) fair. For example, if you look at our policy toward Burma, which unlike China had a democratically-elected government and reversed it, and represents the most severe abuses of political and civil rights, that we have dealt with recently in terms of our action -- we have been for sanctions against Burma, but we havenıt repealed MFN. And when you look at China, we still have Tiananmen Square sanctions on China that we havenıt gotten rid of. We have given up a lot of business in China clearly, and they made it clear that we have, by continuing to press our rights concerns in rights forum. What we do not believe is that it would be fruitful to withdraw normal trade from China -- something we have with virtually every country in the world, in a way that would estrange us further from them, prevent us from working together on problems like North Korea, weapons proliferation and other issues, and endanger our ability to be a partner with China in the 21st century. Thatıs what we donıt believe. We have paid quite a price from time to time for our insistence on human rights and I just donıt think weıre, you know, taking trading status away from them is much of a way to influence them over the long run. I think itıs a mistake.Ş] ************************************************ AP: BURMA SIGNS DEAL WITH CHINESE COMPANY FOR TWO SUGAR MILLS June 25, 1997 RANGOON, Burma (AP) _ Burma has signed an agreement with a Chinese company to build two sugar mills with a capacity of 2,000 tons a day, the state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday. The state-owned Myanmar Sugar Cane Enterprises will enter into a joint venture with China National Complete Plant Import and Export Yunnan Corp. to build the mills. The Chinese company will supply dlrs 41 million worth of equipment for the venture, the paper said, but other financial details the deal and the location of the mills were not disclosed. This is the third sugar mill joint venture agreement signed by Burma in recent weeks. In early June, Burma signed a contract with Sutech of Thailand to build a 2,000 ton-a-day sugar mill. The government already had signed agreements with Guang Don Zuhai Corp. of China for two 1,500 ton-a-day sugar mills. Burma's economy is largely dependent on agriculture. ******************************************** TT: BURMESE STUDENTS CALL MASS HUNGER STRIKE June 25, 1997 By Benchamas Chumworatayee BANGKOK: Students worldwide will join a hunger strike with Burmese pro-democracy students in protest against ASEAN's decision to admit Burma as a new member next month. Exiled Burmese student Myat Kyaw Auang yesterday called on ASEAN members to suspend the decision to allow Burma into the regional grouping at their annual ASEAN ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 24 and 25. He said that Rangoon's membership of ASEAN will never bring about better times for Burma, it will only encourage increased suppression of poor people. He said if the grouping failed to adhere to his demand, all Burmese students including those living abroad will commence a hunger strike for at least 10 days starting from July 20 to 30 in an attempt to display to all nations their strong disapproval of the move. He also vowed to encourage all allied organizations including Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to join the mass fast. As a representative of Burmese students, Myat Kyaw Auang said he expected Thai students to show solidarity by participating in the event. Suriyan Tongnu-iad, secretary-general of the Student Federation of Thailand (SFT) promised to mount a hunger strike between July 24 and 25 durinq which an official ceremony will take place. He said Thai students will initially discuss the matter with other students in the United States, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India. Moreover, Thai and Burmese students will stage a rally in front of the Malaysian Embassy on July 6, said Suriyan. He added the SFT will also organize a "Burmese Study" week between the 8th and 15th of next month at Thammasat University . ******************************************* BKK POST: HIGHWAY PROJECT GAINS MOMENTUM June 25, 1997 [slightly abridged] Supamart Kasem Phitsanulok The government has joined hands with the private sector in nine northern provinces to push for a 1,188-km-long highway project linking the North, the West and the South. The project is aimed at supporting the Thai-Burma Development Plan and boosting the economies of the two countries, said a senior official. The Central Development Centre yesterday called a meeting of representatives of relevant agencies including the North Development Centre, the Highways Department, the Industry Council of Thailand and the Chamber of Commerce to consider the 20-billion-baht project. The meeting was chaired by CDC director Weera Sritranond. According to the plan, the new highway will run parallel to the existing Phaholyothin Highway but will not pass through Bangkok. It will pass through the border provinces of Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Weera said the planned highway project would increase the economic potential of these provinces and also support the so-called Thai-Burma Development Area. Apart from this, it would also reduce traffic congestion in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. More meetings on the subject will be held in Kanchanaburi next month to discuss the project details before it is forwarded to the National Economic and Social Development Board for consideration. Patthana Silapakanchanamalai, vice president of the Industry Council in Kanchanaburi, said a sub-committee of the cabinet's economic affairs had resolved in August 1995 that a feasibility study and economic viability of the project be conducted by his agency and representatives from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Industry, the Highways Department and the private sector in 9 northern provinces. Sources said Mr Patthana and NESDB representatives are scheduled to meet Burma's Planning Minister David Abel next Saturday to discuss a joint development scheme to link the regional highway with Tavoy, a major coastal town in southern Burma. Earlier, the private sector in Kanchanaburi proposed 12 different plans to the Burmese government to develop Tavoy, said Mr Patthana, including the construction of a deep-sea port and tourism promotion on the Andaman coast. The Tavoy deep-sea port, which would have the capacity to hold large-sized vessels, would be a transit route for goods from Thailand, Burma and Indochina to other countries. The port would provide a short-cut for the transportation of goods without having to pass through the Straits of Malacca. Thailand, Burma and other neighbouring countries would stand to immensely benefit from its contruction as it would help save millions of baht annually in transportation costs, said Mr Patthana. Phanithi Tangphati, vice president of the Tak Chamber of Commerce, said the project would help spur the economies of towns along the Andaman coast. **Inauguration of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge across the Moei River linking Mae Sot district of Tak province with Burma's Myawaddy town has been set for August 14. The decision was reached at a meeting yesterday attended by among others, Deputy Foreign Minister Pitak Intrawithayanunt and Democrat MP for Tak province Udorn Tantisunthorn who initiated the bridge project and Tak Governor Chaiwut Banawat. Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and State Law and Order Restoration Council chairman Than Shwe will jointly preside over the opening of the bridge which was completed last month. The two sides have still to work out details of the inaugural ceremony. The meeting concluded that Thai and Burmese transport ministries should set up three committees. One panel would operate the bridge, the second would look after maintenance, and the third would lay down procedures to turn the bridge into a permanent border pass, Mr Chaiwut said. As a permanent border pass, immigration officers will be empowered to issue visas to people crossing the border. ************************************************************ BKK POST: MAPS DISPUTED IN MOEI RIVER ROW June 25, 1997 Nussara Sawataswang Phitsanulok, northern Thailand Officials prepare for more border talks Thailand would use the 1994 map of the disputed area on the Moei River border with Burma in talks on the issue in Rangoon next week, Third Army Region Commander Lt Gen Thanom Watcharapuk said here yesterday. This map was "more appropriate" because it recorded the situation before floods later that year, and was closer to the conditions pertaining in the area today than the 1989 map advocated by Burma, he said. Speaking at a seminar organised by Naresuan University, Lt Gen Thanom said Thai officials reached the decision during consultations in Bangkok on Monday, as part of preparations for the June 30 to July 2 talks in Rangoon. Burmese Ambassador to Thailand U Hla Maung, who attended the seminar entitled "Learn about our neighbour Burma," refused to comment on Thailand's map choice or on Burma's preference for the 1989 document as the basis for settling the dispute. Burma's main concern was that villagers did not build structures in the disputed area, the ambassador said. Thai and Burmese troops almost clashed late last month when Burmese troops began dredging the area near Wat Khok Chang Pheuak, in what they said was a justified bid to reclaim land they said they lost during floods in 1994. Burmese troops stopped the dredging after protests from local villagers bur made it clear it was only a temporary halt. Director-general of the Thai foreign ministry's legal affairs and treaties department Somboon Sangiambutr said Burma presented a new dredging plan about two weeks ago that threatened to enlarge "by several times" the disputed area. International law allows Burma to reclaim lost land but in this case they should do so by closing rather than dredging the river channel, Mr. Somboon said. A Burmese official insisted yesterday that the dredging took place last month after Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh reached an agreement during talks with Burmese leaders in Rangoon in mid-May. According to the official, who declined to be named, Gen Chavalit then promised to abide by the 1989 map in exchange for the withdrawal of troops from both sides of the border, and the despatch of a technical survey to the area. Thai technical officials involved in the survey later denied that they had been instructed to use the 1989 map.(BP) ************************************************ BKK POST: A BLESSING IN DISGUISE June 22, 1997 [abridged] Kyansitha It is still too early to tell if the decision by Asean to admit Burma as a full member in July is a correct one. Indeed, the decision may have been a blessing in disguise for the forces of democracy so valiantly represented by Aung San Suu Kyi. What Slorc is touting as a major political victory may yet backfire on it and lead to consequences that Slorc never expected nor desired. Whether or not admission to Asean will lead to economic as well as political improvements in Burma remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that it does not represent a political victory for Slorc nor does it signal a major political defeat for the forces of democracy. When and if the forces of democracy gain power in Burma as surely they must in the near or distant future (hopefully it will be in the near future), they will certainly want to join Asean anyway. So why not join the organisation now and allow the people of Burma to enjoy the privileges Asean offers to citizens of its member states. For so long, the people of Burma have been kept isolated that it is almost a sacrilege to deny them the opportunity to partake of the benefits membership in Asean will bring. But as a prominent Asian leader pointed out, the decision to admit Burma should not be seen as a "pardon". In other words, it should not be construed as tacitly supporting the repressive regime of Slorc. If that is really true, then Asean in future dealings with Burma must press for genuine reforms and urge Slorc to enter into negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi- led democratic forces. I am in essence arguing that the decision to admit Burma as a member of Asean is not wrong if Asean in the future can exert strong pressure on SLORC to mend its ways and start a meaningful dialogue with the opposition. Aung San Suu Kyi needs the cooperation of Slorc or at least some members of Slorc if her dream of building a democratic and prosperous Burma where people can enjoy full human rights is to ever come true. In the same way, Slorc needs her if it is to cling on to power in one way or another. Both sides in Burma - the democratic forces of the opposition and Slorc - are aware of this yet despite repeated calls by Aung San Suu Kyi for dialogue, Slorc has consistently ignored her. But can they remain so arrogant and unyielding in the face of a diplomatic onslaught from the West? The answer is probably "yes". In fact, unwittingly, the West may have played into Slorc's hand by so strongly supporting Aung San Suu Kyi. In an impoverished and generally underdeveloped nation like Burma, resentment and suspicion of the West is unusually high and government propaganda can be very effective especially in the absence of a free and credible press. Hence, it is counterproductive for Aung San Suu Kyi to be seen as favoured by governments of the West. While vicious attacks by Slorc on the character of the "Iron Lady of the East" may be seen as crude and awkward and even ludicrous to many of us who are educated, they may ring true to the uneducated masses of Burma. But strong support by Asean for the Nobel laureate would be a different matter. The people of Burma are familiar with the organisation and have a lot of respect for it. Endorsement by Asean would certainly give the embattled opposition leader of Burma a new weapon in her valiant but so far vain struggle against Slorc. Admission of Burma to Asean can be a positive factor in our struggle to bring democracy to the people of Burma if Asean would but exert its considerable influence and power to force Slorc to negotiate with Aung San Suu Kyi and relinquish its full control on the country. In short then the opposition forces in Burma may have lost a battle but may now have a golden opportunity to win the war. All now depends on Asean. Having disappointed the forces of democracy by admitting Burma as a member, will Asean now reverse itself and exert pressure on Slorc to enter into earnest negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi? The world waits with bated breath. Let's hope Asean will not disappoint us a second time. Kyansitha is the pseudonym of a Burmese academic residing in Thailand. (BP) ******************************************************* NLM: "INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DESTRUCTIONISTS -- MUST BE CRUSHED! MUST BE CRUSHED!" June 19, 1997 [abridged] by Myo Chit Thu Mass meetings of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) on implementation of community service tasks were held in 16 major towns and cities of the 14 States and Divisions on an extensive scale in May 1997. At those mass meetings, (1) motions on expansion of organization of the association and participation of members at different levels in community service tasks, and (2) a motion denouncing internal and external destructive acts were tabled and resolutely passed. The USDA was formed on 15-8-93. It is less than four years old. The membership during the period exceeded the six million mark. The USDA will be a reliable force for the future of Myanmar. Its objectives are noble. Every person who has attained 11 years of age can become a member in the USDA. In fact, the USDA is made up of the children of all the national races. The goal today is emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation. Each and every person is duty-bound to realize the goal. The government, the Tatmadaw and the people must join hands and work together. At present in the country, things are totally different from those in the past. Market-oriented economic system is being practised in the country under the open door policy. It is totally different from the planned economic system practised in the past. Foreign investment and foreign joint venture enterprises are being permitted systematically and encouraged. Up to 30 April 1997, 22 countries around the world had already invested over 6.057 billion US dollars in Myanmar. Foreign investment is being allowed in 11 sectors to engage in 250 projects. There are bright prospects for more foreign investments. Myanmar had been in a state of self-isolation for nearly 30 years. The world situation, however, has changed today. The Cold War period has ended and there is no more rivalry between the two power blocs. No nation should follow the policy of hegemonism and monopoly. However, the world today is witnessing a growing number of instances in which powerful nations are bullying small nations in pursuing hegemonism. Under the circumstances, it would be impossible for Myanmar to remain aloof in international relations. It has become necessary to cooperate with nations which maintain ties based on mutual respect and mutual understanding. There can certainly be progress if there is mutual assistance among the ASEAN member nations. Myanmar, on its part, will be able to contribute toward regional progress, peace and stability by extending help to other ASEAN members. The above-mentioned points were included in the discussions of Chairman of the ASEAN Leading Committee Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt at the first meeting of the Leading Committee on 13 June. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt also highlighted other important points. He said: "Considering that it was time to join the ASEAN, Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe took the initiative for Myanmar's integration into ASEAN during his visit to Malaysia. "The seven ASEAN members believe that Myanmar's membership will contribute a great deal toward regional security and development. "Some foreign nations strongly opposed and prevented Myanmar's integration into ASEAN. The internal axe-handles also made all attempts to prevent the membership. "Since we have steadily moved on in spite of various obstacles and obstructions, Myanmar will be admitted to the ASEAN." The attitude of the present ASEAN members is quite clear and precise. They repeatedly stated that internal affairs of a nation would not be a requirement for its membership into the ASEAN and that they would not interfere in the internal affairs of a nation. Moreover, they do not accept the interference and pressure of the US, which is a big and powerful nation of the world, not to admit Myanmar into the ASEAN and to delay its membership under the pretexts of democracy and human rights. As they repeatedly stated the ASEAN members have now decided to admit the three nations-- Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos-- simultaneously. Ruthless and crafty attempts of the axe-handle Bogadaw (wife of British citizen) group inside the country which relies on external elements and holds negative views have come to nought. All the attempts to prevent, delay and repeatedly delay Myanmar's integration into ASEAN harming national and public interests have been smashed completely. Still, destructive acts of internal and external elements have not run out of steam. Especially the condition of internal traitorous and destructive elements relying on external elements is like a lighted candle which is nearing its end. This fire must be extinguished totally. Hence, out of the three slogans chanted finally at all the mass meetings of USDA held in 16 major cities and towns in the States and Divisions in May 1997, the third one is to be stated here once more. Internal and external destructionists--must be crushed! must be crushed! ************************************ NLM: RANGOON EXPECTS 24.5 PERCENT GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR June 18, 1997 [abridged] Yangon, 17 June - The Fourth Myanmar Building Materials, Construction Machinery and Hardware Expo '97 jointly sponsored by the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited and Somerford Agencies (Asia) Pte Ltd of Singapore began at the Tatmadaw Hall on U Wisara Road here at 9.30 am today attended by Secretary-2 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo. The opening ceremony this morning was also attended by Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel, Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister Col Pe Thein, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Brig-Gen Myo Thant, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win, Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt, Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Tin Aye, Deputy Minister for Industry-2 U Thein Tun, senior officers of the Ministry of Defence, Managing Director of the Somerford Agencies (Asia) Pte Ltd and organizer of the exhibition Mr Koh Kim Seng and members, departmental personnel, local and foreign journalists, personnel of the companies displaying their products and guests. First, Minister Brig-Gen Abel delivered an address. He said: It is always such a pleasure to be back specially with those of you who have been around previously, at such a premier occasion as the Myanmar Building Materials, Machinery & Hardware Expo '97, this being the forth. In the first instance I would like to thank especially the many familiar faces -- those of you who have had the foresight, conviction and stamina to stick with us through thick and thin in the knowledge and belief that this Government, will bring about the necessary reforms -- social, political, economic -- to ensure success and prosperity firstly and without apologies in the narrower, context of Myanmar and secondly in the broader regional zone of peace and prosperity within the Asean /Indochinese ecopolitical geometry. It would be superfluous for me to mention that in the ignorance of those who coin names, we have earned ourselves some of the most unfounding accusations whatever it means, we need make no apologies because those in the international community who are enlightened enough can see and comprehend what we are up to and where we are headed. Any party misled into believing that we shall indulge in byzantine government regulations has only himself to blame. The more so, when we have decided to plumb for a free and open market economy. Suffice it to say this Government will vindicate the faith and trust you have placed in us and we will demonstrate to you that we will acquit ourselves honorably and I might add perhaps a little immodestly, admirably.At this juncture, I would therefore let you in on some vital statistics on what the Government has done in the last nine years, what it intends to do in the future, from which you will be able to determine for yourselves the opportunities ahead. We are all set to achieve prosperity for Myanmar with freedom and equality for all. In 1998, the GDP per capita was Kyat 1940, and in the space of eight years to 1996, the GDP per capita increased to Kyat 15701, a 800 percent increase. The annual GDP growth for the last 8 years, commencing 1989 has been an average of 7.5 percent, and this year we expect an enhanced growth. In terms of opportunities, in the construction industry the average annual growth rate for the last 8 years has been rapidly growing. We expect the unprecedented growth of 24.5 percent bearing in mind the relatively massive development projects of our ports, airports, industrial park of 12 sq km, hotels making up over 5600 rooms, construction of highways, Railways, Irrigation Systems, Universities, Schools, Hospitals etc. In the oil and gas industry, our LNG pipe line from Yadana to Thailand is being constructed in association with TOTAL and UNOCAL, and the above has given the oil and gas industry a boost and is expected to begin production by mid year 1998. There are other world class gas fields and in more recent times we have found valuable reserves of oil. The hotel and tourist industry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, gem stones and forest, telecommunication and power generation sectors are also showing great promise. What I have mentioned is but the tip of the iceberg and is not designed to wet your appetite but merely to inform you objectively of what is in store in Myanmar in the near future. Indeed, we are working assiduously towards enhanced privatization and liberalization of state owned enterprises and corporations and you may view the future, in this respect under these five scenarios:- Total Privatization Formation of Companies Joint Ventures Public Listed Companies A stock exchange is expected to be put in place within the next two years with a Capital Market already developing and your participation in full or as joint-venture operations would be fully welcomed. The developed North is invited to view for themselves the tremendous changes that are taking place in Myanmar instead of living under the misconceived, mischievous and archaic concept derived from "parachute-cocktail-lounge" journalists who write of Myanmar in vacuo. It is your own visit which will persuade you that Myanmar is no "garrison state". We have said on more than one occasion that when the new Constitution is in place, we will act accordingly. The intention of the Government is to "internationalize" Myanmar as much and as quickly as possible and the first step I am happy to say consisting of our admission to the Asean brotherhood of states come July '97, will take place to the mutual benefit of Asean and ourselves. This ought to propel us through to the next stage of development. In summary, we do not want to be what we are not, nor would we want to try to be what we cannot be, nor would we try to be what we need not be. Next, Mr Koh Kim Seng of the Somerford Agencies (Asia) Pte, Ltd thanked all who had helped make the exhibition a success. More than 100 companies from 15 nations exhibit their building materials, construction machinery and hardware in over 100 booths. The exhibition is open to public free of charge from 11 am to 6 pm daily till 20 June. ********************************** BURMA UN SERVICES OFFICE: TEAK RETAILER LETTER June 16, 1997 From: "Burma UN Services Office" 6/16/97 To: All Teak Re-sellers From: Rainforest Relief and Burma UN Service Office Dear Owner/Manager, As Representative for UN Affairs of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma and Executive Director of Rainforest Relief, we are requesting that you cease selling Teak that has originated in Burma since 1962 in any and all of your stores, unless that Teak carries the label of an independent certifier accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council. Since 1962, when a military coup supplanted the democratically elected government of Burma, illegitimate leaders have been oppressing the people of Burma and committing large-scale human rights abuses as well as selling off the natural heritage of the country. General elections were held by the current regime in 1990. The National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, won 82% of the parliamentary seats. However, the military refused to yield power, nullified the elections and proceeded to arrest many of the NLD leaders, some of whom are still in prison today. Logging of Teak in Burma has accelerated dramatically since the military takeover, especially since 1988 when a new set of generals took power. There is no enforcement of sustainable forest management and Burma has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the region. Additionally, all the income from the sale of Teak and other hardwoods goes directly to the government which uses this money to buy more weapons to further oppress the people. Especially oppressed are the ethnic minorities, some of whom are currently at the receiving end of a military offensive designed to wipe out their quest for democracy and self-determination. Since Thailand instituted a ban on logging within its borders and Cambodia followed, Teak being sold by Thailand, Singapore, China and India is almost assuredly originating in Burma. Hundreds of trucks of hardwood logs stream out of Burma destined for processing in Thailand, China or Singapore. Much of this ends up as furniture in the U.S. and Europe. The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (the democratically elected government in exile) and Rainforest Relief consider that all Teak logged from public lands within Burma by the illegitimate military government as having been stolen from the people of Burma. We respectfully request that you immediately cease your sale of any Teak that has originated from Burma since 1962. If you cannot cease your sales of this material immediately, please let us know within the next two weeks of a date by which you intend to do so, since we have targeted Teak re-sellers for further actions should we not hear from them within that time. Thank you for your consideration of this highly important matter. Sincerely, Dr. Thuang Htun, Representative for UN Affairs National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) Tim Keating, Executive Director Rainforest Relief *************************************************