------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: July 9, 1997 Issue #768 HEADLINES: ========== HKS: ASEAN CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN CAMBODIA SHAN: SITUATION IN SHAN STATE THE NATION: THAI PRISONER SUFFERS FROM JUNTA'S HANDS AFP: JAPAN MAY JOIN EU-US TALKS ON MASSACHUSETTS LAW BEIJING XINHUA: MYANMAR WANTS TO STRENGTHEN TIES THAILAND TIMES: WORKERS CRY FOUL OVER NSC POLICY BKK POST: PANEL AGREES TO BURMESE SECTOR PLAN BKK POST: MEETING OVER GAS PIPELINE CALLED OFF THAILAND TIMES: ASEAN WORKS ON INVESTMENT AREA XINHUA: BURMESE LEADER CONGRATULATES CHINA ON HK XINHUA: OVERSEAS CHINESE IN MYANMAR CELEBRATE HK ASIAN AGE (NEW DELHI): MAJOR-GENERAL DIES IN N-E COPTER BKK POST: DEPARTMENT STORE RISES ON NLD STREET ANNOUNCEMENT: FORMATION OF OBSDA SAMPLE LETTER: SEATTLE SELECTIVE PURCHASING BRC-J: GREETING CARDS AND POSTERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- HONG KONG STANDARD: ASEAN CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN CAMBODIA July 8, 1997 KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire among Cambodia's warring factions and for immediate steps to ensure the safety of foreign nationals. ``Asean is dismayed by and deeply regrets the unfortunate turn of events in Cambodia, resulting in the loss of innocent lives, both of Cambodian citizens and of foreigners,'' the seven-member grouping said in a statement. ``Asean calls for an immediate ceasefire,'' it said. ``Asean also calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of foreign nationals and provide protection to their properties in that country.'' It urged Cambodia's two warring prime ministers ``to abide by the terms of the (1991) Paris Peace accords'' which ended two-decades of civil war. Asean foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the crisis. Malaysia is currently chairman of Asean, which also groups Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. Cambodia, which was plunged into turmoil following two days of fighting in the capital Phnom Penh over the weekend, was to join Asean later this month along with Burma and Laos. It has been Asean's ambition since it was founded to have all 10 Southeast Asian countries within its fold. But the collapse of Cambodia's troubled coalition government has thrown considerable doubt on the plan. Second Prime Minister Hun Sen has taken control of Phnom Penh and its outskirts, while his ousted rival, First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, has vowed from France to organise resistance. Singapore's Straits Times newspaper said in an editorial on Tuesday Cambodia's entry into Asean can wait. The pro-government English-language daily said the situation raises questions about who is really in charge of Cambodia and could speak for it when Asean meets on 23 July to formalise entry of Cambodia, Burma and Laos into the group. The foreign ministers of Thailand and the Philippines said on Monday Asean may reconsider its decision to admit the three new members. Malaysia's acting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Asean foreign ministers at the meeting on Thursday would review the decision to admit Cambodia. ``We're asking our Foreign Ministry to discuss with the other Asean foreign ministries the possibility of a change,'' he told reporters. Malaysia's opposition leader Lim Kit Siang also said induction of the three new members should be deferred. ``The United Nations had sent more than 20,000 peacekeeping troops to Cambodia between 1991 and 1993 and spent more than US$2 billion to organise elections to create a legitimate and democratic society _ but all these efforts seem to have gone down the drain,'' he said in a statement on Tuesday. The political stalemate has prevented Cambodia's National Assembly from meeting for more than two months to enact laws paving the way for the country's entry into Asean, he said. But the Malaysian Business Times, which reflects government views, said in an editorial on Tuesday the Cambodian conundrum could best be solved if the country was within the Asean fold. ``Asean can, and probably will, play a key role in bringing the feuding parties in Cambodia to a compromise without anymore gunfire and violence,'' the newspaper said. ``The vision of an Asean-10 must not be allowed to waver at this point in time.'' A Western diplomat said of the editorial: ``That argument can be made persuasively and not just by the Malaysians.'' The political quake in Cambodia exposed possible fault lines in Asean as well, analysts and diplomats said. Vietnam, which joined Asean in 1995, installed Mr Hun Sen as head of a communist government after invading Cambodia in 1978 to end the ``killing fields'' regime of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. Mr Hun Sen visited Vietnam last week before making his move against Prince Ranariddh but was on vacation and did not meet any Vietnamese leaders, a foreign ministry spokesman in Hanoi said. In the 1980s, Asean steadfastly supported an anti-Vietnamese coalition led by King Norodom Sihanouk that included his son Prince Ranariddh's royalist faction and the Khmer Rouge. Vietnam is worried anti-Vietnamese sentiment may re-emerge in the wake of Mr Hun Sen's takeover, analysts said._ Reuter ********************************************** SHAN: SITUATION IN SHAN STATE July 8, 1997 From: shan THE WHOLE OF KAENG TAWNG AREA FORCED TO MOVE On 26.5.97, Strategic Command commander Thein Htut at Kho Lam sent an order to Maj. Kyaw Than Win of Slorc no.44 who was stationed with 50 troops at Ton Hoong Long relocation site in Kaeng Tawng area, Murngnai township, to move all the villagers in the entire area to towns such as Namzarng, Murngnai, Kunhing etc. On 28.5.97, Maj. Kyaw Than Win summoned 13 headmen in the area and told them that another relocation was imminent and suggested that they go and plead with Thein Htut for mercy so that they did not have to move. So, on 29.5.97, they went to see Thein Htut at Kho Lam who asked them if there was any Shan rebels in the area. The villagers said that they did not see and did not give any help to any rebels but there might be some in the area because they often came across some foot tracks which they thought were rebels'. Thein Htut then ordered the 13 village leaders to remain at Kho Lam while he dispatched troops to search the area. Troops from 3 different battalions -- 150 troops from Murngnai - based no.158 led by Maj. Ba Maung, 120 troops from Kunhing- based no.404 led by Maj. Aung Than Htay and 200 troops from Panglong led by Maj. Kyaw Htay Win -- were involved in the search. On 1.6.97, while no.424 troops were returning to Kunhing, they clashed with some rebel troops at Kung Nyawng, Kun Mong village tract, Murngnai township. The battle lasted for about 2 honours during which 17 Slorc troops were killed and 5 wounded (later all died) while 1 rebel was killed with the number of wounded unknown. Four packed-horses of the SLORC troops were also killed. On 4.6.97, all the villagers in the entire Kaeng Tawng area were driven to Murngnai, Kunhing, Namzarng and Larngkhur. No one was left in the villages except for some villagers who were still hiding in the jungles near Nam Ma, Nar Paw, Pa Kharn and Huay Yaen deserted villages which were close to the Salween river. As soon as he got a hint of the impending relocation in late May, Loong Zarng Kham Su, one of the well-to-do farmer-traders in Kaeng Tawng, gave away all his possessions that he had taken to sell at the Market place to the villagers on the market day -- things usually sold at village general stores, including 30 baskets of husked rice -- in fear of being looted or burned by Slorc troops if he had to move. Fortunately, he had managed to move 16 cart-loads of his things to Kunhing, and later to Namzarng by truck. THAI LOGGERS SEIZED BY SLORC On 2.6.97, Maj. Gen. Thein Sein, Kaengtung-based Golden Triangle Area Command commander, came to a meeting in Murngsart. Than Aung & Aye Thant also attended the meeting. 30.5.97, Slorc troops retained only one of their 6 check-points along Murngton - Pung Pa Khem route opposite Fang district, Chiangmai. Before that, there were military check-points at BP 1 (Border Point 1), Pung Pa Khem, Na Kawng Mu, Murng Harng IB no.277 and Pha Khe; and an immigration check-point at Pung Pa Khem. Currently, there is only one at BP 1. 5.6.97, Thai military closed the Pang Tawng - Nawng Ook border crossing by felling trees to block the roads on Thai side. But the Burmese troops did not close, they still let people walk through their check-point even though they secretly take money, it was said. One of the reasons for the border closure could be the arrest of some Thai loggers by the Burmese troops. There are 3 groups who bribe local Burmese military commanders and haul logs into Thailand: (1) Ai Ti, an ethnic Chinese at Nawng Ook. (2) Tam Bon Mon Pin (Fang District) group led by the headman. (3) Thamma (an officer of 'Wa' group) and Loong Phon (a Thai from Lampang) group. On 4.6.97, 120 Burmese troops, under the order of Aye Thant ....., surrounded the loggers and arrested 38 men, 2 elephants, 18 chain-saws and 2 trucks, and took them to Murngton and then to Murngsart. Ten men who were not actually in logging business but were hired as cooks and housekeepers were released before sending the rest to Kaengtung. The 28 men were mostly Thai from Chiangrai and Lampang. Their leader was Loong Phon from Lampang who had been buying logs for more than a year. When they were in Murngsart, Thamma tried to plead for their release, but to no avail. VILLAGERS FORCED TO GROW OPIUM On May 1, 1997, Yang kyar Shong aka Kyaw Htoon aka Kyaw Win, 38, a Chinese cousin of Khun Sa from Mamdalay, came to meet Slorc Maj. Khin Than Aye, head of LI no.64 in Murngnai. He gave 500,000 Kyat to Maj. Khin Than Aye to arrange for local villagers for growing opium. On May 5, 1997, Maj. Khin Than Aye called the headmen of Loi Ai and Loi La villages to come into the town to meet him. He gave the headmen 500,000 Kyat so that the people in their villages could grow opium in 1997-98. They were ordered not to sell their opium crop to anyone else except for Loong Ah Soong. Maj. Khin Than Aye told the headmen that he wanted to help the village become developed, and if the villagers refused to grow opium they would be punished. TOWNSPEOPLE FORCED TO SELL ESTATES AND MOVE OUT Because of the Chinese (from China) willingness to buy estates in Namzarng town, Slorc authorities there have ordered townspeople who live close to the main roads to build 3-storey, or larger, houses. Those who could not afford to build 3-storey houses would have to move away or Slorc would seize their property. Or they could sell their property and Slorc authorities would help sell them if the owners could not sell by themselves, the buyers were virtually all Chinese from China. Left with no choice, many have to sell their properties at give-away prices and move to the outskirts of the town. The Chinese were also asking for land along the main roads in Murngton town. There houses have so far been inquired about, but none have actually been bought. BATTLE NEWS On 2.5.97, SURA (Shan United Revolutionary Army) troops were collecting 'tax' from the passing vehicles between Pung Pa Khem and Mae Ken in Murngton township, when an army vehicle carrying troops of no.277 from Murngton arrived and exchanged fires. In the shooting, 4 Slorc soldiers were killed. On 27.5.97, 13:00 hrs., SURA troops of no.156 Battalion, no.757 Brigade clashed with Slorc troops south of Wan Pung village, Loi Ngawk circle, Murngnai township. Casualties unknown. 27.5.97, 03:00 hrs., SURA troops of no.451 Battalion, no.759 Brigade clashed with Slorc troops north of Wan Kung village, Pang Pi circle, Murngpan township. Slorc suffered 4 deaths and 3 wounded, and SURA 2 wounded. 6.6.97, 08:00-09:00 hrs., SURA troops no. 153 Battalion, no.758 Brigade clashed with Slorc troops on Murngsu-Laikha road. Three Slorc soldiers were killed, including 2 sergeant, and 9 wounded. SURA seized 2 G-3 rifles and 40 rounds of ammunition. DIRECTIVE FROM THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE SHAN UNITED REVOLUTIONARY ARMY (SURA). Directive 18 June 1997 To all the officers and the rank and file of SURA Since its seizure of power (1988), Slorc military junta has regarded us, the people of Shan State, as its enemies and has been killing and displacing the civilian population up to the present, causing many people to lose their homes, their farmland and, thus, their livelihood. In order to survive the atrocities of the Slorc, it is imperative that the people and the armed resistance of Shan State should unite in our effort to withstand Slorc's aggression and protect our livelihood. Our Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA) is an army which was born of the people and acts in accordance with the will of the people. Therefore, wherever we go, it is imperative that we refrain from any act of injustice towards the people and abstain from any form of racial discrimination. In the end, justice will certainly prevail. When we meet good and just civilian Burmese nationals, we should tell them that we are not brutal soldiers as Slorc troops and that it would be advisable for them to return to Burma Proper for their own safety while Slorc is brutally oppressing the people, because the situation has become chaotic and many people are on the verge of starvation, robbers are rampant and there are several armed groups, some with no identity, that roam the highways. We shall strive with unified effort until we achieve our goals and restore our rights. Yord Serk CHINESE BIG GUNS AND TRUCKS BROUGHT TO MURNGTON On 3.5.97, 200 strong Slorc troops from no.62 IB led by Maj. Aung Thein brought from Taunggyi 150 trucks with 16-tons capacity each, which Slorc had bought from China on 20.3.97, to Murngton. The trucks were being kept: - 40 at Nawng Pa Yaen village, 40 at Wan Nar village and 40 at Pha Khe village. Each truck had 2 drivers who took turns to look after it all the time. Maj. Aung Thein and his troops returned to Taunggyi with 30 trucks on 7.5.97. The trucks were said to have carried 4 pieces of 130mm artillery and a large amount of ammunition to Murngton area. It was said that the big guns were brought to use against the SURA troops in the area. AMPHETAMINES SOLD IN SLORC CAMP Since February 4, 1997, one of Khun Sa's men of Chinese origin, Loong Lao Yarng, has been jointly producing heroin and amphetamines together with Slorc troops from LI no.65, no.225, and no.519 at Murngton. On May 20, 1997, Maj. Than Nyunt and Maj. Shwe Myint of LI no.65 sold 500,000 amphetamine pills to a Chinese man from Nawng Ook called Ai Ti at a price of 15 Baht each. Ai Ti collected the pills from the Slorc camp and then brought them to the Thai border. ********************************************* THE NATION: THAI PRISONER SUFFERS FROM JUNTA'S HANDS July 8, 1997 By Khachorn Boonphat MAE HONG SON: Thai authorities have demanded that the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) accept full responsibility for an incident in which a Thai prisoner's legs were broken by Burmese soldiers. The victim and six other prisoners were imprisoned in Chiang Tung on charges of illegal entry into Burma near Baan Khai Luang in March this year and were finally released early this month, a member of the Provincial Council said. Surasi Trithong said Chan-tha Chah-ha, a 19-year-old Red Muser tribeswoman living in Baan Ya Pa Han, was found to be so emaciated she could not walk following a few months of incarceration. He therefore yesterday submitted a strongly worded letter to the military junta through Capt Samran Rung-ruang, deputy chief of the Thai-Burmese border cooperation unit, in protest against the 65th Battalion led by Maj Win Shew. *************************************************** AFP: JAPAN MAY JOIN EU-US TALKS ON MASSACHUSETTS LAW AGAINST BURMA July 8, 1997 TOKYO - Japan may join the European Union in taking the United States to the World Trade Organisation over a US state's sanctions law against Burma, a Japanese trade official said Tuesday. "We are considering taking part in the talks as a third country," said the official in charge of international agreements at the ministry of international trade and industry. "Our status will not be equal to that of the United States or the EU. But it may be close to that of an observer," he added. The European Union (EU) decided last month to take its complaint about the 1996 Massachusetts law to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The law bars state-owned entities from buying goods from companies doing business in military-ruled Burma. That has led to the black-listing of roughly 150 foreign companies. "There is the possibility of the law violating the WTO provision on government procurement," said the Japanese official. "Depending on US action hereafter on the matter, we may consider taking it to the WTO ourselves." In January, the EU formally complained about the Massachusetts law, while Japan registered its objections more quietly. The EU claims the law violates a WTO provision committing most states to open all government contracts to international competition. "We have been getting information on the matter from the US side as the federal government and the state of Massachusetts continue consultation," he said. "It is not that the federal government can unilaterally force the state to scrap the law." In a letter to US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky last month, EU Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan expressed displeasure at the lack of progress made in the consultation. "On this issue, it would not appear that progress has been made, and there are no indications that Massachusetts is considering amending this law, in spite of the efforts you have been making," he wrote. Barshefsky replied in a statement she was "surprised and very disappointed" at the European move, given the shared US and European interest in improving the human rights situation in Burma. ********************************************** BEIJING XINHUA: MYANMAR WANTS TO STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORLY GOODWILL TIES July 3, 1997 Yangon, July 3 (XINHUA) -- Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister Lieutenant-General Tin Tun has said his country wants to further strengthen neighborly goodwill relations as well as trade and economic cooperation with China. Tin Tun made the remarks here on Wednesday afternoon when he, on behalf of Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council and Prime Minister Senior-General Than Shwe, received Chinese ambassador to Myanmar Chen Baoliu who is leaving her post in the country. He noted Myanmar had consistently paid attention to the development of Myanmar-China bilateral relations. He also expressed his congratulation on China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. ******************************************** THAILAND TIMES: WORKERS CRY FOUL OVER NSC POLICY GIVING MORE FREEDOM TO ALIEN LABOR July 8, 1997 BANGKOK: Labor organizations voiced disagreement with a rumor that the National Security Council (NSC) may move to approve more freedom for alien workers . Prathuang Saengsang, secretary-general of the National Congress of Thai Labor, said the government's policy to allow alien laborers to work in all occupational areas throughout the country would greatly affect Thai laborers, particularly when the country is facing economic slowdown and laying off workers. He said, if the matter is passed on to the Cabinet for consideration, most employers will take full advantage of the situation and exploit alien workers due to lower wages. The congress will seek measures to cope with the matter in its meeting on Saturday. Thipphawan U-vichien, chief of the Alien Labor Control Center, said a committee that the NSC had assigned to study the alien labor problems would carefully consider the matter. She added that most of over 700,000 alien workers from neighboring countries had not registered with the government labor offices. *********************************************** BKK POST: PANEL AGREES TO BURMESE SECTOR PLAN July 8, 1997 Proposal may speed up demarcation work Mae Sot - The Joint Boundary Committee has agreed in principle with a border demarcation proposal from the Burmese authorities. The Burmese JBC proposed that the 2,000km-long common border be divided into nine sectors with ill-defined boundaries as the first spots to be demarcated. The proposal was made during the JBC meeting of the two countries on June 30-July 2 in Rangoon, said Tak Governor Pongpayom Wassaput. The Thai delegation led by Somboon Sa-giambut, director-general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department, the Burmese delegated by "U Aye Lwin to discuss demarcation. The Burmese proposal would help speed up demarcation work as it clearly divided the common border into nine sectors, said the Tak governor, adding that previous talks had been unsuccessful as Thai and Burmese authorities normally focused on an area in dispute without considering other ill-defined boundaries. The division of the area into nine sectors would enable the JBC committee of the two countries to consider the whole borderline faster and an agreement would be made in each sector, said Mr Pongpayom. However, the two countries needed to allocate budgets for the border demarcation in each sector. Sources said the meeting raised the dispute over the digging of a new channel in the Moei River in front of Wat Phrathat Khok Chang Pheuak in Mae Sot. Thailand proposed that aerial photos from 1994 be used to demarcate the area, but Burma was silent on the issue and asked for more details from the Thai delegation. Burma proposed that the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge be officially opened on August 15. The two countries agreed to open three permanent checkpoints - Mae Sot-Myawaddy, Mae Sai-Thachilek and Ranong-Kawthaung - on August 16. (BP) ******************************************************* BKK POST: MEETING OVER GAS PIPELINE CALLED OFF July 5, 1997 Kanchanaburi- Officials of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand yesterday cancelled a meeting aimed at assuring local villagers of the safety of the Yadana gas pipeline to be built in front of their homes. Villagers in tambon Chorake Puek of Dan Makham Tia district were earlier told by their headman, Chaicharn Jenbanchong, that PTT officials would visit them yesterday to put to rest their concerns over the pipeline project. But the PTT officials decided to call off the meeting after noticing i that some 200 villagers were gathering at the tambon administrative organisation's office where some local environmentalists were speaking against the pipeline project. "It's not safe enough for the PTT official because the villagers may get wild with environmentalists demonstrating nearby," Mr Chaicharn said. ************************************************** THAILAND TIMES: ASEAN WORKS ON REGION-WIDE INVESTMENT AREA July 5, 1997 AFP MANILA: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed to complete a framework by 1998 for the creation of an ASEAN Investment Area to lure region wide investors, it was announced here yesterday. The agreement was reached at a meeting of the heads of investment agencies of the ASEAN nations, held in the Philippines this week, said Melito Salazar, director of the Philippine Board of Investments. Salazar said the joint ASEAN Investment Area would be crucial in attracting foreign direct investment to the region as well as in encouraging intra-ASEAN investment. The framework for the investment area would be completed by September 1998 and would deal with harmonizing the investment incentives of ASEAN countries and with competition between countries for investment, he added. Also to be taken up are issues of national treatment of foreign investments, increased investment promotion between ASEAN countries and development of sub-regional economic groupings within ASEAN. Lim Pin, deputy chairman Singapore's Economic Development Board, said the investment area would largely be operation by 2010 although some aspects would not be fully implemented until 2020. However Salazar said that no member would be compelled to harmonize its investment incentives, but rather member nations would be al to consult each other to s what would be the best incentives to adopt. Also at the conference, Staporn Kavitanon, secretary general of Thailand's Board of Investments, announced that his country was working on an ASEAN industry database which could be accessed on the Internet. The database would allow those seeking potential partners or suppliers in- ASEAN to get information on companies in the region depending on their sectors, their product lines, their markets and their ownership. ASEAN includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The countries of Burma, Cambodia and Laos are scheduled to join ASEAN this month. ************************************************************ XINHUA: BURMESE LEADER CONGRATULATES CHINA ON HONG KONG RETURN July 1, 1997 Beijing, July 1 (XINHUA) -- Chairman of Myanmar's [Burma] State Law and Order Restoration Council (head of state), Than Shwe, sent a message, on Monday, of congratulations to Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Hong Kong's return to the motherland. In his message, Than Shwe said the Chinese government's resumption of the exercise of sovereign over Hong Kong is an event well worth celebrating. He said he believed Hong Kong's return would help promote the development of the Chinese economy, and the principle of "one country, two systems" the Chinese government adopted to solve the Hong Kong issue would be carried out smoothly and successfully there. *************************************************** XINHUA: OVERSEAS CHINESE IN MYANMAR CELEBRATE HK'S RETURN July 2, 1997 Yangon, July 2 (XINHUA) -- Overseas Chinese in Myanmar gathered here this evening to celebrate China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1. A grand reception, sponsored by the Committee for Celebration of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland, was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Baoliu, leaders of the local Chinese community and over 1,000 representatives from different walks of life. He Deneng, acting chairman of the committee, said in his speech that he believed that Hong Kong's future will be better and its prosperity and stability will be maintained. The Chinese ambassador also spoke at the reception. At the reception, local Chinese artists gave performances. ****************************************** ASIAN AGE (NEW DELHI): MAJOR-GENERAL DIES IN N-E COPTER CRASH July 8, 1997 Guwahati: AN Army helicopter carrying the chief of staff of 3 Corps, Maj. Gen. Keshav Singh, and three others, including two crew members, went missing soon after it took of from the corps headquarters at Rangapahar near Dimapur, Nagaland, on Monday morning, reports our special correspondent. The two pilots on board were Capt. Surjit Singh and Capt. S. Srivastava, defence sources in New Delhi said reports PTI. Army sources said the Chetak helicopter took off at 7 in the morning for Limakong (Leikmakun), near Imphal, but soon the ground control lost radio contact with it. "The last message which ground control received was that weather conditions were very bad and that they were returning either to base or to Kohima," the sources said. However, official sources in Nagaland said the helicopter crashed over the Sakhraba hill in the Phek district, about 80 km from Kohima. "Some villagers reported seeing a helicopter crashing down in the area," an official in Kohima said. Maj. Gen. J.B.S. Sharma, GOC of a mountain division based in Manipur, said over the telephone that the ground troops and helicopter were looking for the missing helicopter, but there was no trace of it till the afternoon. Maj. Gen. Singh was on his way to the border town of Moreh where he was to preside over a meeting on Wednesday with Burmese Army officers. He was to have arrived at Moreh by noon on Monday. ******************************************** BKK POST: DEPARTMENT STORE RISES ON BURMA'S NLD STREET July 7, 1997 Matthew Pennington Rangoon, AFP Yuzana brushes politics aside A leading Burmese property developer has set up a gleaming new department store down the street from the humble Rangoon headquarters of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD). Fifty metres from the ramshackle office where the NLD party faithful meet and plan how to outwit the military authorities, the Yuzana Company has set up a multi-storey shopping, hotel and office complex. Unconcerned at the prospect of the occasional street blockade, the Burmese construction giants opened Rangoon's latest "one-stop" shopping experience on Shwegondine Road in a blaze of state media publicity on June 7. The ruling junta's chief of military intelligence, Lieutenant- General Khin Nyunt cut the ribbon at the Yuzana Centre, before 1,500 eager punters given $3 worth of discount vouchers started the tills ringing. "Over the past five years after the government opened up the economy, in 1989, so many stores have started up. People have more money in their pockets now," said Yuzana's managing director Dr Myat Hlaing. He announced that despite having the democratic opposition on their doorstep, business has been booming. "It's no problem for us," he said, with a brief glance over his shoulder towards the two red NLD flags bearing the party's peacock symbol, "Visible above the palm trees. "They're doing politics. We're doing business." The Yuzana centre is the firm's second major multi-product store in Rangoon, as traditional open-plan marketplaces in the Burmese capital begin to give way to convenience shops and air-conditioned shopping centres. Young Burmese shop assistants, all girls, shine smiles from behind glass counters, peddling mostly imported goods, especially fashions, cosmetics, and hi-tech consumer goods. Confident they have their finger of the pulse of retail trends in Rangoon, Yuzana have also built a soon-to-be opened store in Bayinaung township in the north of city, and are beginning construction of a shopping complex in the eastern township of Mingala, to be finished within 14 months. To include parking spaces for 1,500 and a drive-in cinema, it is part of a $100 million project including apartments and houses covering 70 acres (28 hectares) on long-term lease from the government. In return for using state land, Yuzana gives between 30 and 50% of the developed property to the government, Dr Myat said. While the purchasing power of the average Burmese is still small, labour costs are low - starting at $30 a month - and owning your own store means you pay no rent, Dr Myat said. To keep prices down, mark-ups are on average about 10%, much lower than in Thailand or Singapore, so the secret is to keep up a high volume of trade. (BP) **************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT: FORMATION OF OBSDA July 3, 1997 From: dawn Overseas Burmese Social Development Association (OBSDA) In Burma, where military totalitarianism has been practiced for years, along with struggle for democracy, for the emergence of righteous, genuine and developed democratic society, laying foundations must be done. We, who have been struggling for democracy in our mother land, formed the Overseas Burmese Social Development Association (OBSDA) on the basic of patrotism. 1. Aims To mutually carry out the development of social and educational affairs of the patriotic overseas Burmese people for the restoration and development of the country in future. 2. Working Plans (a) To promote and widen the real practice of democratization among the members and citizens. (b) To stand up against drugs within democratic society. (c) To promote the international community's awareness of the loss of human rights and sufferings of people in Burma. (d) To improve the mutual progress of the organization and its members. (e) To establish contact with international organizations. 3. Membership (a) The members shall be persons who share the desire to implement the aims for both self interest and welfare of others. (b) Admission to the organization (membership) must be decided by the secretariat. (c) Following address can be contacted for membership. 4. Formation Formation of the organization was done by the activists on 1st January 1997 to fulfill the above-mentioned aims and working plans. For the time being the secretariat will take responsibility of the organization. The secretariat was democratically elected at the meeting held on 26 April 1997 by all members. 5. Secretariat is as follows; (1) Ko Than Naing Ko (General Secretary) (2) Ko Aike San (Secretary - Foreign Affairs) (3) Ko Min Kyaw (Secretary - News & Information) (4) Ko Than Aung ( Secretary - Finance) (5) Ko Naing Naing (Secretary - Social welfare) Contact address: OBSDA PO Box- 63, Hua Mak Post, Ramkhamhaeng Rd, Bangkok, Thailand. 10243. E- mail : < dawn@cm.ksc.co.th > ************************************************** SAMPLE LETTER: SEATTLE SELECTIVE PURCHASING July 6, 1997 From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" The Seattle City Government is close to enacting a selective purchasing law. This law is modeled on the successful anti-apartheid "selective purchasing" laws from the 1980's, and is called for by the legitimate, elected leaders of Burma, led by Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. Please write a letter to the city council and Mayor Norm Rice (same address). These local efforts are the best hope for democracy in Burma. So say Burma's democrats, who clearly represent the majority. It is both right and in our own interests to support them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mayor Norm Rice OR To Receptionist: Please Distribute to All Council Members Seattle City Council 600 Fourth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 Dear Council Member, I am ... (give some personal background). I am interested in the restoration of democracy in Burma. Please support a "selective contracting" law barring city contracts to companies doing business in Burma. Such companies clearly support a violent military regime that stifles democracy, uses massive forced labor, practices systematic torture and rape, and cooperates in the export of heroin worldwide. President Clinton has now barred new US investment in Burma. A Seattle law would support the federal effort, and is in fact more fair, since it applies to US and foreign companies equally. Similar laws are now in force in New York City, San Francisco, Oakland, the State of Massachusetts and a dozen other municipalities. The laws have been found to be non-burdensome at home, yet highly effective in squeezing the investment-dependent Burmese junta. Seattle's interests in the future will be best served by more democratic development on the Pacific Rim. Please take this small but crucial action to support the Burmese Democracy movement. Please support a Seattle "selective contracting" law on Burma. Sincerely, For more info, call 206-784-5742. See also www.freeburma.org ******************* BRC-J: GREETING CARDS AND POSTERS July 5, 1997 From: Ken and Visakha Kawasaki Greeting Cards and Posters featuring a magnificent portrait of Daw Suu by Chinese artist Chen Yan Ning. The artist has donated the portrait and its reproductions to the Burmese people and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Order the cards and posters and use them for fund- and consciousness - raising activities at your upcoming events. To order, contact Syllavethy Gallery. Syllavethy Gallery Montgarrie, Alford, Aberdeenshire Scotland AB33 8AQ Tel: 019755-62273 Fax: 019755 63173 International + 44 19755 62273 Cards approximately 8" x 4 1/2" with envelopes ... 1.00 pound Pack of 5 cards with envelopes ... 4.50 pounds. Please make cheques payable to the SUU KYI FUND http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm ************************************************