------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: July 10, 1997 Issue #769 HEADLINES: ========== BURMA OFFICE: TRANSLATION OF NLD PROCLAMATION(4/97) BKK POST: IRI RETURNS FIRE OVER SLORC CONDEMNATION SLORC: RESPONSE TO NEWS RELEASE OF IRI BKK POST: ASEAN TOLD TO ADMIT KHMERS THE NATION: KYAT DIPS TO 210 AGAINST THE DOLLAR TT: 2,000 DISGRUNTLED SHAN SOLDIERS SHIFT TO SURA THE NATION: US CITY APPROVES ANTI-SLORC CURBS STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING: ASEAN'S NEW MEMBERS AFP: ISRAEL CONSIDERING IMMIGRATION OF JEWS FROM BURMA THE NATION: INVESTMENTS IN BURMA UP BKK POST: SLORC BOASTS SUCCESS IN HELPING MINORITIES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA OFFICE: TRANSLATION OF NLD PROCLAMATION(4/97) July 9, 1997 From: BURMA OFFICE [The following is translated from NLD transcript (Proclamation 4/97) written in Burmese]. National League for Democracy No. 97/B West Shwegonedine Road Bahan township, Rangoon NLD Proclamation(4/97) 1. Beginning from 1988, the entire country rose up in protest, an unheard of event in our history, to demand in one voice, their lost democratic rights. This was a daring demonstration of the true wishes of the people. In so doing, all monks, all citizens, all students invested their lives, their blood, their sweat in this great effort to restore democracy. 2. To stop this great demand and to implement the wishes of the people, State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) took control of the state and because they were unable to turn a blind eye to the people’s wishes, they permitted the people formation of political parties and political activities and openly promised to hold a democratic general election. 3. In these circumstances, it was necessary that a political party representative of the people be created to strive towards the goal of full democratic rights and satisfy the wishes of the people. 4. To fulfil this need, this historically significant event involving matters relating to defence and politic that are traditionally considered big and important, intellectuals and technicians, respected persons experienced and skilled in matter of politics , economics, education, culture and state administration came together and joined Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Bogyoke Aung San, our national hero and father of the Burma army who had gained the full support and confidence of the people in their great call for democracy, They founded and registered the National League for Democracy on 27.9.88 under the provisions of the Law for Registration of Political Parties and it exists and operates as a legal political party even to this day. 5. On the 30 May, 1989, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) promulgated the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law ( No 14\85 ) and on 27.5.90 held the general elections to enable the people and the multi political parties to freely and fairly elect their representatives to the Pyithu Hluttaw. Together with 92 other political parties, the National League for Democracy contested this election. 6. Out of a total of 485 constituencies, the National League for Democracy contested 477 and their candidates won 392 seats. This result was acknowledged and the candidates were declared to be the duly elected representatives of the people by the multi-Party Democratic Election Commission. Having won 82% of the constituents by a majority of 59.8% it is obvious that the people clearly placed their trust and support for the National League for Democracy. 7. Section 3, Chapter 2 of the Hluttaw Law states “the Hluttaw shall be convened with representatives elected from the constituencies in accordance with this law”. For the implementation of the results of the election the only step that should have been taken was the formation of a Pyithu Hluttaw. There is no ambiguity about this. 8. Since no Hluttaw was formed, it became the duty of the National League for Democracy, and the elected representatives of the people to come together for a first preliminary meeting at the Ghandi Hall on the 28th and 29th July to co-ordinate a plan of action for the formation of a Pyithu Hluttaw. The Ghandi Hall Declaration was a public statement of their views in the matter. 9. At the same time, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) issued Notification 1/90 on the 27 July and required all legally constituted political parties to signify that they would abide by the provisions embodied the said notification, paragraph 12 of which reads;- “xxx the State Law and Order Restoration Council will implement the convening of a Pyithu Hluttaw”. 10. It then became the responsibility of the State Law and Restoration Council to convene a Pyithu Hluttaw in accordance with the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law, Chapter 2, Section 3 and Notification 1/90, paragraph 12, both of which had been promulgated by them as a follow up of the election. Therefore their excuse that a Pyithu Hluttaw cannot be convened because there is no Pyithu Hluttaw Law is not valid. The State Law and Order Restoration Council has been making many laws and there is nothing to stop them from making the law necessary for the convening of a Pyithu Hluttaw.. 11. Instead, the State Law and Order Restoration Council convened a National Convention in 1993 for the purpose of drawing up a constitution and defining constitutional issues. But, the National League for Democracy believes that these matter should not be settled by a Pith Hullo composed of the people’s representatives and in full consultation and in accordance with the wishes of the people. 12. In order to bring about national reconciliation and with honest intentions, the National League for Democracy participated in the National Convention for three years and always bearing in mind the desire of the people, presented fundamental principles that needed to be incorporated in the constitution to be a true union. However, the action taken by the National Convening Committee and the decisions arrived at by the convention of the regulations and the procedures agree upon at the preparatory meeting for the convening of the said national convention. The National League for Democracy informed the Chairman of the National Convention Convening Committee that wanted to discuss matters relating to (a) national reconciliation (b) true democracy (c) the creation of an acceptable and reliable constitution and until such time as these matters could be discussed , its members would refrain from attending the Convention but would wait which they are doing till this day. 13. The National League for Democracy gained the largest support from among the ten legally existing political parties Prior to the election and until this day, the National League for Democracy is the part that has suffered the most by way of restrictions, repression, and the oppressions. On 20.7.89 before the election, preventative measures were taken against the leaders U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under 10 (b). U Tin Oo was subsequently charged and sentenced. After the election, on 6.9.90, one of the leading member of the National League for Democracy, U Kyi Maung, the returned candidate for Bahan township, Constituency 2, was arrested and sentenced. In the same manner, other Central Committee Members, Committee Members and elected representatives of the people were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment. At all levels,- state, division, township, ward and village there has been a systematic pattern of oppression with arrests, imprisonment, removal of signboards, and banning of meetings. 14. We are prevented from performing normal activities of a legitimate political party. Added to that was a disgraceful incident when on 9 November 1996 the action of shameful destructive elements in life threatening physical assaults on the leader U Tin Oo, U Kyi Maung and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was condoned by the security forces who were present on the occasion. In the entire country, Central Committee and Committee Members and ordinary members are facing harassment not only in the political sphere but extending also to the socio-economic spheres. These are undesired situations which will not benefit the people nor will the outcome be a genuine democracy. This will not solve the problems that the country is facing. 15. Today is the 7th anniversary of the democratic multi-party general election that the State Law and Order Restoration Council called. The people are yearning for the emergence of a Pyithu Hluttaw as a consequential result of that election. We urged the State Law and Restoration Council to act honestly and sincerely by convening a Pyithu Hluttaw Law and Notification No. 1/90. made by them. 16. Political and economic problems that the country is facing will not be solved by suppressive and restrictive actions at all governmental levels against the members and executives of the National League for Democracy as is happening today. The quickest way to built a modern, developed democratic union is by general agreement, co-operation and participation of all the nationalities. Bearing no grudges against one another; having only as our goal prosperity for the people; with good and virtuous intentions we should meet and discuss and find situations. The National League for Democracy believes that this is a only way by which the well being of the state and its citizens can be achieved. 17. The National League for Democracy firmly believes that national reconciliation and genuine democracy can be achieved in the shortest space of time. On this the 7th anniversary of the general election, the National League for Democracy publicly declares that we always welcome dialogue and that we will hold fast to the following three concepts to find solutions to our problems a) Sincerity with openness and mutual respect; b) National reconciliation as our objective; c) Orientation towards general harmony free from personal grudges. Rangoon Central Executive Committee 6th Waning moon day of the month of Kason National League for Democracy 27 May, 1997 *********************************************** BKK POST: IRI RETURNS FIRE OVER SLORC CONDEMNATION July 9, 1997 Ralph Bachoe 'Rangoon would win Orwell's recognition' The president of the International Republican Institute has described as "Orwellian" Slorc's latest condemnation of the institute's work in Burma. "George Orwell would recognise Burma today. He wrote about it in his book 1984," Lorne Cramer said last week. "It's Orwellian that the Slorc regime, guilty of forced labour, torture, execution of dissidents and myriad other human rights abuses, could term as 'terrorism'- the non-violent work aided by IRI." The IRI had from the beginning conducted its work in the open, said Mr Cramer. "We are proud that we have stood with those at the forefront of peaceful efforts to bring change to Burma," he said. IRI is a US-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to advancing democracy. It conducts educational activities for political parties, activists and governments in over 30 countries. Mr Cramer said Slorc's opposition was an indication of the institute's effectiveness. The institute would therefore be encouraged and so would the thousands of Burmese the organisation assists. The regime's statements resembled many other conspiracy theories, typically begun by people who speak to no one but themselves, he said. "A good start in the direction of constructive change in Burma would be to spend less time dreaming up conspiracy theories and more time talking to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was elected but prevented from taking power in 1990.." Mr Cramer's reaction came after Lt Gen Khin Nyunt accused the United States of sponsoring state terrorism attacks against top figures in Burma's ruling military junta. The intelligence chief told reporters in Rangoon on June 27 that US government funds sent to support the pro-democracy movement had been used to finance terrorist activities by exiled opposition groups. Lt Gen Khin Nyunt singled out Dr Sein Win, prime minister of the parallel Burmese government, the National Council Government of the Union of Burma based in Washington, of masterminding the attempted assassination attempt of armed forces chief of staff Gen Tin Oo at his home in April. A parcel bomb, reportedly mailed in Japan and addressed to Gen Tin Oo's home, exploded in the face of his 30-year-old daughter, killing her instantly. The general was not home at the time. Sources in Rangoon say the powerful blast ripped beyond recognition the upper torso of the general's daughter, who had opened a cupboard to examine the parcel after receiving a phone call from an unknown person to check if the contents were intact. Gen Tin Oo's wife, who was in the room when the blast occurred, escaped injury. Sources say she was saved by the cupboard door which shielded her from the explosion. During the June 27 speech, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt named another Burmese exile, also belonging to the NCGUB, of smuggling a satellite telephone into the country to be used by Burmese dissidents to communicate with their counterparts outside the country. Lt Gen Khin Nyunt also said that Suu Kyi's close relatives were involved in "all these acts aimed at destabilising the nation and causing unrest among the public and students." Prime Minister Sein Win is the first cousin of Suu Kyi. Latest reports from sources in Rangoon say Khin Nyunt's speech is being played every second day in all government departments and schools explaining the contents of the intelligence chief's two-hour long tirade against US and the Burmese dissidents. Resistance methods taught by IRI include listening to banned broadcasts of the Voice of America or Radio Free Asia, disseminating information on democracy and human rights, and circulation of material about how Burmese and ethnic groups are working to promote a democratic form of government. *********************************************** SLORC: RESPONSE TO NEWS RELEASE OF IRI June 30, 1997 From: OKKAR66127@aol.com Response to News Release of IRI Reference: News Release International Republican Institute (IRI) Dated: June 30, 1997. 1. The IRI claims that it “ provides assistance to Burmese dedicated to the sole use of non-violence to oppose SLORC’s rule.” What is your definition of non-violence? Is the use of weapons to cause death and destruction, an act of violence and terror only when American lives are threatened? How many more innocent Myanmar people do you wish to see mutilated and dead before you will admit that terrorism was committed on our soil by your grantees as you call them - the so-called Burmese and ethnic groups for democracy? Or is it your position that Myanmar lives are expendable, no matter how many so long as you can put. 2. Just a few instances to refresh your memory, although it needs no refreshing. FACT A bomb was exploded by grantees ( who are trained demolition experts) of your organization or affiliated organizations, at our sacred shrine, the Maha Pasana Cave, Yangon where the Buddha’s Tooth Relic from the Republic of China had been put on display for homage by the Myanmar people on 25-12-96. Four innocent people were killed, two of them just budding youths, leaving behind grief-stricken families, parents, widows and orphans. It was an outrageous act, a sacrilege committed by these terrorists ( no other word can describe them) for they not only killed and maimed but trespassed on our religious faith. Every single Myanmar citizen condemned this sacrilege. You cite Mahatma Ganchi and Martin Luther King. Your analogy is false. These great men were victims of violence at the hands of the same kind of people as your grantees. Gandhi and King were not murderers and traitors like them. FACT A parcel bomb sent by post from Japan by members of one of your affiliations to the residence of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, Secretary 2 Lieutenant General Tin Oo, killed his eldest daughter, a beloved daughter, a good wife, mother of two young children, a university lecturer and a Ph.d candidate. She was uselessly cut down in the prime of life. Can you in all good conscience call this an act of non-violence? FACT Other acts of violence too numerous for detailed recounting. · Many blameless villagers have been killed and disabled because a handful of ethnic malcontents vent their frustrations by deliberately mining the cultivation plots of these poor people whose only livelihood is to till these fields. How does this help the cause (if there is) of these insurgents? What sins have these helpless villagers committed? · Mining of passenger trains. Innocent passengers minding their own business, not hurting anyone have been maimed and killed by your ethnic insurgents throughout the years, and except for our own people, there was no one to protest these acts of violence. These are not wild accusations. If you are really sincere and caring as you so vociferously claim, you can verify these cases and many others for yourselves. Why rely on verbal reports. Rumours and exaggerations. Are these not acts of violence? Do they not qualify as acts of terror? Or do you call such acts, terrorism only when they happen in your country and to members of the white community? To plot and commit violence and terror on such a scale requires organization, planning and funds, all of which are supplied so generously by organizations like yours, even though you know what the outcome will be - the loss of innocent lives. 2. You termed the condemnation of these terrorist acts by the State Law and Order Restoration Council “Orwellian” and go on to make empty charges of forced labour, torture and executions. It is not worth rebutting these groundless accusations, for it would be like giving a reply to a question like, “Have you stopped beating your wife.” But please do take careful note that if the Myanmar Government were truly guilty of wholesale torture and executions of dissidents, they would not be still running around killing people, destroying property and decrying and belittling their own country and their people. 3. Cramer says “ the IRI has, since the beginning, conducted its work in the open. We are proud that we have stood with those at the forefront of peaceful efforts to bring change to Burma.” Glad you admit it at last. For if that is not meddling in our internal affairs, I don’t know what is. Yes! You assist “…..thousands of Burmese.”, but what about the more than 48 million in the country. While on this subject, may I inform you that there are so many right thinking up and coming young men and women, who take every opportunity of the improved conditions in every sector of our country and of the new market-orientated economy to improve themselves and get ahead. They learn new languages and skills like computer operations, programming and engineering. They take on new jobs and work hard to build up their CVs There are hundreds of thousands of such upwardly mobile youths, who work hard and refuse to take any handouts unlike your sycophants. The negative policies of the US Administration and your self-righteous, misguided attitudes towards us hurt these young people and their future the most. That is an unforgivable sin. Most Myanmar people, unlike your parasitic lot, value their self-respect. Self respect may not appease hunger but without it we are less than human. We have a saying, very popular with our youths. It says: The King Lion, though he starves, will not stoop to eat grass.” Just a word to the wise in conclusion. Myanmar is heading towards a bright democratic future, one of our own choosing, in spite of all you can do to obstruct us. ******************************************* BKK POST: ASEAN TOLD TO ADMIT KHMERS July 9, 1997 [abridged] Burma, Laos want expansion plans to proceed despite 'coup' The Association of Southeast Asian Nations should proceed with plans to expand its membership despite the turmoil in Cambodia, the ambassadors of Burma and Laos argued yesterday. The Laotian and Burmese positions will complicate the Asean foreign ministers' decision on whether to admit Cambodia during their annual meeting on July 24. Burma and Laos are scheduled for admission at the same time. The foreign ministers have scheduled an emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow "to review the situation in all its aspects". Burma's ambassador to Thailand, U Hla Maung, said: "Cambodia is another country. The Cambodian problem is a Cambodian problem." He said Burma would stand by the principle of non-intervention. The ambassador of Laos, Bounkeut Sangsomsak, reiterated Vientiane's support for Asean's decision to admit Burma, Cambodia and Laos later this month. He cited the Jakarta declaration of December 1996, which called for the simultaneous admittance of the three and the May 31 decision in Kuala Lumpur for the formal induction to be made over the next two weeks. "We support the Jakarta Declaration and the May 31 decision. We would like the three countries to be admitted together and hope [Asean] will abide by the Jakarta Declaration," he said. Vientiane looked forward to the results of the July 10 meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he added. Cambodia's ambassador to Thailand; Roland Eng, simply said: "It's up to Asean". Despite [Asean’s call for a ceasefire], Mr Hun Sen, speaking from Phnom Penh, said the international community should keep out of Cambodia's internal affairs. "I appeal to the international community to give their understanding to Cambodia's internal affairs," Mr Hun Sen said in a radio and television address the day after his forces claimed victory in Phnom Penh. "Let Cambodians solve their own problems," he said in an apparent bid to forestall international condemnation for effectively ousting the absent Prince Ranariddh from his position as first prime minister. Mr Hun Sen said the world could either recognise the government as it exists as of yesterday or choose Prince Ranariddh and the outlawed Khmer Rouge guerrilla faction. "Now it is the choice of the international community whether to take Ranariddh and the Khmer Rouge or take the current government," he said. But Prince Ranariddh warned in Paris yesterday that the current conflict in his country could blow up into a new civil war if Mr Hun Sen refused to negotiate his return. "I am willing to see Hun Sen solve this problem in an existing legal framework, but if we cannot, there would be, alas, a civil war in my poor country," he said. Prince Ranariddh said he intends to return to Cambodia to lead a resistance movement to the "coup d'etat" launched by Mr Hun Sen. "There needs to be a resistance movement within the country and the leader of the resistance has to be there," he declared during his first public appearance since fleeing Cambodia on Friday. He claimed that a resistance movement was being organised in western Cambodia and that he was in direct telephone contact with his generals. Prince Ranariddh said he intends to travel to Thailand soon but stressed-that his return to Cambodia would be "influenced by the attitude of Thailand, which appears to have adopted a neutral stance." *************************************************** THE NATION: KYAT DIPS TO 210 AGAINST THE DOLLAR July 9, 1997 AP RANGOON - Burma's currency, the Kyat, fell to 210 against the US dollar yesterday, after trading at about 200 for the past few weeks. Although the official exchange for the kyat is about six to the dollar, only state enterprises follow that formula. Virtually everyone else uses the black market rate, which has been rising rapidly since April, when the kyat was trading at 166 to the dollar. Black market money changers had no explanation for the rising dollar rate ant seemed baffled by its continuing climb. It was in April, however, that President Clinton imposed US economic sanctions on Burma for its increased repression of the democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi and its failure to stem exports of narcotics. The Burmese government's supply of dollars is limited, and with meager exports from state enterprises failing to bring in more of the US currency, the government resorts to printing more kyat and using it to buy dollars from the private sector, said a Rangoon- based economist, who also requested anonymity. *********************************************** THAILAND TIMES: 2,000 DISGRUNTLED SHAN SOLDIERS SHIFT LOYALTIES TO SURA July 9, 1997 By Kachorn Boonpath MAE HONG SON: Over 2,000 dissatisfied Shan soldiers defected from the Burmese junta last month and joined the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA), a source from the SURA said yesterday. About 2,150 Shan soldiers led by Lt-Col Kanna Muangyon and Lt-Col Poma left their voluntary positions in the Burmese army on June 6 and immediately joined the SURA rebels who are stationed near the township of Kiang Tong and Kiang Kum south of Khun Hing. SURA have recently attacked Burmese soldiers at Nam Chang and Khun Hing notably on the routes from Tong Yi to Nam Chang and from Khun Hing to Chiang Tung. The villages of Ban Sai Khaow, Pa Lang, Sai Pae and Khrua Lam have been particularly badly affected. The source said that the attacks had caused many difficulties for the villagers as they now had to obtain permission from Burmese soldiers to travel on certain routes and an escort has to be arranged. Because of the volume of requests a short journey can take as long as 10 days to arrange and authorities frequently delay granting permission. Moreover, Shan traders who went to buy goods in Mae Hong Son were prohibited from taking Hua Muang-Lang Klua route by the Burmese soldiers who claimed insecurity on the route. They had to use other roads which would take them more time. The Shan defectors became the Burmese junta's voluntary troops since September last y ear, but they agreed to join the SURA rebels last month because of conflicts over tax collection with the Burmese authorities. *********************************************** THE NATION: US CITY APPROVES ANTI-SLORC CURBS July 10, 1997 THE Californian city of Santa Cruz has become the latest in a growing number of American cities to pass a law banning transaction deals with companies that do business in Burma. The measure, known as the "Free Burma Law', effectively bars contracts with companies which do business with Burma's ruling junta by giving a 10 per cent bidding preference to companies that do no business with Rangoon, said a statement released by Santa Cruz City Council after the law was passed. The statement added that the law which takes effect from tomorrow also prohibits the city from investing in companies that do business in Burma. Santa Cruz is the latest in a long list of American cities, counties and states - which includes Berkeley, Madison, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Aladeda County and the state of Massachusetts - that have passed similar rulings. New York City passed such a law last month. In May, the US government also imposed economic sanctions against Rangoon, banning new American investments in Burma. The European Union also levied sanctions against Burma earlier this year and the British government last week suspended financial support for companies trading with Burma. Although most American companies and many foreign firms have withdrawn from Burma for various reasons, including widespread human rights abuses, a number continue to do business with Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc). Companies that have continued to invest in Burma include Unocal, Total, Texaco, Caterpillar, Arco, Procter and Gamble, Mitsubishi and the Swedish firm Ericsson. Arco and Caterpillar could be affected by the Santa Cruz law and Mitsubishi and Ericsson have already lost contracts with the city of San Francisco valued at nearly US$250 million because of their operations in Burma. Procter and Gamble is the subject of a divestment campaign at the University of California and other major institutional investors. Many American citizens are also deeply concerned about the huge quantities of heroin coming out of Burma. According to the US State Department, sixty per cent of the heroin on the country's streets comes from Burma. Burma has more than doubled its illicit drug exports since Slorc seized power in September 1988. Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called for western cooperation to end support for Slorc. She reiterated that position on March 27 in a face-to-face interview in Rangoon with Prof. Judith White, a Santa Cruz resident who spoke to the city council in support of the law. "I was arrested in Burma in 1991 as a tourist for trying to find out if Mrs Suu Kyi was still alive," Santa Cruz Free Burma Coalition member Bob Stone said. "At tremendous risk to themselves, the Burmese people would take me aside and beg me to go back to America and tell people about the repression in their country. We owe it to them not to do business with the thugs who have stolen their freedom," he said. (TN) *************************************************** STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING: ASEAN'S NEW MEMBERS July 7, 1997 [excerpts] From: Julien Moe The Federal Document Clearing House QUESTION: So, I mean, is the United States going to use the suggestion that Cambodia is not ready to get into ASEAN as a way to keep Burma also out of ASEAN, because the whole point was to get these last three in all at once? BURNS: Well, I think the United States would separate those questions and separate those candidacies. The United States has a very clear position on the issue of whether Burma is ready to be a member of ASEAN. We've made that position clear to the ASEAN member states. It's their decision, of course. It's their decision. They have to make this decision. But the United States has a very strong view that the government of Burma is run by military dictators. What's happening in Burma is not consistent with what's happening in most of the rest of Southeast Asia, either economically, or certainly, politically. And we will continue to try to isolate Burma through our own economic and political policies. I think we would separate the two and prefer to treat Cambodia individually rather than to lump it with Burma. QUESTION: It's just that if you have what seems to be, in effect, a successful coup d'etat through military force by one of the prime ministers, it seems Cambodia becomes more analogous to Burma than it is, let's say, to a lot of other countries in ASEAN. BURNS: I think that's too early to say. Obviously, the fighting this weekend was engineered to produce certain results. But I think the origin of the fighting is, at least at this point, sufficiently murky so that we don't want to shoot arrows at one side or another today. ************************************************* AFP: ISRAEL CONSIDERING IMMIGRATION OF JEWS FROM INDIA AND BURMA July 8, 1997 Burma Centrum Nederland JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel is considering allowing a group of about 3500 Jews from the border area between India and Burma to immigrate to Israel. The Jersualem Post reported this on Tuesday. According to the newspaper, minister of Justice Tsahi Hanegbi has requested dossiers about the members of the Shinlung-tribe. Several thousand members of this tribe have been practicing Orthodox Jews for about 27 years. They have recently made it known that they want to emigrate to Israel, writes the daily. The Shinlung-tribe has about one-and a half million members. In the 19th century they converted to Christianity. Some of them are said to be related to Menasse, one of the tribes (of Israel) that, according to legend, spread over the world. (unofficial translation from Dutch by the BCN) ********************************************** THE NATION: INVESTMENTS IN BURMA UP July 9, 1997 DOW JONES AP RANGOON - Foreign investment in Burma's manufacturing sector soared during the past year to more than US$1 billion, according to government statistics released yesterday Foreign investment the manufacturing sector at the end of fiscal 1996 1997 totaled $1 13 billion, up from $193 6 million at the end of fiscal 1995- 1996. That pushed the manufacturing sector from sixth place in terms of dollar value of foreign investment to second place behind the energy sector. The government did not release a breakdown of which countries were investing in which manufacturing projects, but of 251 foreign investment projects in 11 sectors, manufacturing accounted for 86 projects. Burma's economy is still largely based on agriculture, but there has been increased manufacturing of food and beverages, plastic pipes, garments, cigarettes, wood and wood based products and sugar mills. Burma's military government opened up to foreign investment in 1988 after 26 years of socialist isolationism under Gen Ne Win that left it one of the world's least developed countries. ******************************************* BKK POST: SLORC BOASTS SUCCESS IN HELPING MINORITIES July 10, 1997 Nussara Sawatswang Ethnic leaders lead civilised lives after ceasefire: Minister A Burmese minister denied yesterday that peace efforts with minority groups had failed, claiming some ethnic leaders were now enjoying "civilised" lives after ceasefire deals reached a few years ago. Lieutenant-General Maung Thint, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, said the government had been 'truly successful' in developing remote areas, since it initiated ceasefire agreements in the late1980s. Development included building roads, dams, power plants and industrial factories, creating jobs for doctors and nurses in their hometowns and increasing rice production, Lt Gen Maung Thint said. He said the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) had also granted privileges-to ethnic leaders and their associates to allow them to go into business to make a living after putting down their weapons. He did not give details, but said no groups were dissatisfied with the agreements. "Now these people can do anything they want, ... They can even send their children to study in Bangkok, Singapore and the United States," he said. The visiting Burmese minister believed that the government's effort to improve the lives of people living in remote areas would gradually reduce the up to 800,000 Burmese and non-Burmese who illegally sought jobs in Thailand. Lt-Gen Maung Thint, in Bangkok to attend a ministerial meeting on drug co-operation in the Mekong region, was commenting on allegations by several ethnic groups that Slorc had failed to deliver on promises to help minority groups. They said the junta continued to violate some points of the agreement by using forced labour and relocations. A meeting of disgruntled Burmese ethnic minorities held in mid-January included representatives from the United Wa State Party, New Mon State Party, Kachin Independent Organisation and Kayan New Land Party. Ethnic groups at the meeting agreed to collectively boycott any Slorc proposal in the constitution drafting convention launched by Slorc in 1993. The so-called national convention has not been held since it was interrupted last year. Lt-Gen Maung Thint said the complaints came from "some 10 to 15 people who rejected ceasefire deals". He said the military government had reached ceasefire deals with 17 ethnic groups. Drug warlord Khun Sa, of Shan State's Mong Tai Army, was the most recent to surrender to the Slorc, in January last year. Despite international calls and pressure, the Burmese government does not communicate with the Karen National Union (KNU), led by Bo Mya, or with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Lt-Gen Maung Thint said he did not believe Bo Mya would agree to develop Burma jointly with Slorc because he said the KNU and Mrs Suu Kyi received financial aid sponsored by the United State's Central Intelligence Agency, which aimed to overthrow the current government.. The American government's interference in Burma's affairs arose because Slorc refused to follow its orders, he said. (BP) ***************************************************