------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: July 29, 1997 Issue #784 Noted in Passing: Orwellian....illusory and self-serving.....no resemblance to reality. - US officials on Ohn Gyaw's speech to ASEAN (see LA TIMES: ALBRIGHT CALLS BURMA AN ANOMALY) HEADLINES: ========== FEER: ARRESTING PREPARATIONS LA TIMES: ALBRIGHT CALLS BURMA `AN ANOMALY' IN ASIA US SEC OF STATE ALBRIGHT: REMARKS AT ASEAN NINE-PLUS-TEN BKK POST: ALBRIGHT URGES JOINT EFFORT TO PROMOTE BURMA OTTAWA CITIZEN: CANADA SET TO CUT TRADE TIES XINHUA: BENEFITS FROM BURMA'S ENTRY INTO ASEAN NOTED THE HINDUSTAN TIMES (NEW DELHI): RESTORE DEMOCRACY NATION: HARSH WEATHER AND LAWS PUNISH BURMESE NATION: CURRENCY TURMOIL RATTLES BURMA'S MARKET REUTER: BURMA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH FACE HUNGER SLORC COMMENT: Re: USIA REPORT ON BURMESE MUSLIM REFUGEES KNU: WA AND KAREN BATTLE NEWS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- FEER: ARRESTING PREPARATIONS July 24, 1997 (Far Eastern Economic Review) The Burmese authorities are apparently planning to arrest opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi but could face opposition from ASEAN. A cell in the capital's main jail is being prepared to accommodate what has been described as "a very important person." The cell is reported to be equipped with a western-style bathroom. This has led people to believe that it is meant for Suu Kyi, who spent several years in England before returning to Burma in 1988. Sources say that she will not be charged with political crimes, but for violating Burma's strict foreign-currency regulations. In a speech on June 27, intelligence chief Lt.-Gen. Khin Nyunt made a point of mentioning that in January this year Suu Kyi accepted $80,000 from an American who represented a pro-democracy group based in the United States. Other sources suggest that the Rangoon junta's plan to arrest Suu Kyi could be thwarted by ASEAN intervention. The regional grouping, which Burma is slated to join in late July, has urged the junta to start a dialogue with the democracy leader. So far, however, the generals have disregarded such overtures. **************************************************************** LA TIMES: ALBRIGHT CALLS BURMA `AN ANOMALY' IN ASIA July 28, 1997 By Robin Wright KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- In an unusually tough diplomatic barrage, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright accused the government of Burma yesterday of everything from profiting from drug trafficking to routinely closing schools in a bid to prevent political unrest, acts she said made it ``an anomaly'' in Asia. Albright felt compelled to ``vigorously'' dispute a presentation by Burma -- making its debut at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, here -- about the state of affairs in the junta-ruled nation, according to U.S. officials. One U.S. official called the Burma presentation ``Orwellian,'' while State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns labeled it ``illusory and self-serving'' with ``no resemblance'' to reality. ``Burma is the only member of ASEAN singled out by the U.N. General Assembly for refusing to honor election results, the only member where the state and society are fundamentally at odds,'' Albright said. ``Burma is also the only member of ASEAN where the government protects and profits from the drug trade. In fact, Burma's top traffickers have become leading investors in its economy and leading lights in its new political order. Drug money is laundered with such impunity in Burma that it taints legitimate investment.'' In Burma, she noted, owning a fax machine is illegal, while police regularly arrest legitimate business people in an attempt to stop currency fluctuations. Albright appealed to ASEAN to take the lead in promoting democratic reforms and a dialogue between the junta and opposition leaders. The junta blocked democratically elected leaders from taking office in 1990. ``We must insist that we work together to promote conditions within Burma that will lead toward true democracy and permit its genuine integration into this region,'' she said in an official U.S. statement introduced earlier at the summit. ``Now more than ever, Burma's problems need an ASEAN solution.'' Unless a ``dialogue of reconciliation'' opens the way for installation of an accountable government, Burma will remain outside the Southeast Asian mainstream and isolated from the global economy, Albright warned. ``This is not an admonition but an objective fact we must acknowledge.'' ****************************************************** US SEC OF STATE ALBRIGHT: REMARKS AT ASEAN NINE-PLUS-TEN July 28, 1997 (excerpts) Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright Statement at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Nine-Plus-Ten Session, Sunway Lagoon Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 28, 1997 as Released by the Office of the Spokesman in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia U.S. Department of State The United States is determined to deepen its cooperation with our partners in this region and beyond. This commitment is solid because it is solidly based on American interests. It is not necessary to remind this audience how close the economic links between the United States and ASEAN are. American investment in this region now exceeds $35 billion, and it grew by over 200 percent between 1990 and 1996. Collectively, ASEAN is the United States' fourth largest trading partner, and our exports to ASEAN support 700,000 U.S. jobs. On my way to Kuala Lumpur, I stopped in California -- America's biggest exporting state. A full 25 percent of the products leaving California are destined for Southeast Asian ports. Nothing has done more to harm the health of our people and their faith in government and law than the epidemic of drug addiction. The primary source of these drugs is Burma, which is itself experiencing an alarming rise in drug abuse and AIDS infection. Narcotics production has grown in Burma year after year, defying every international effort to solve the problem. As a result, drug traffickers who once spent their days leading mule trains down jungle tracks are now leading lights in Burma's new market economy and leading figures in its new political order. We are increasingly concerned that Burma's drug traffickers, with official encouragement, are laundering their profits through Burmese banks and companies -- some of which are joint ventures with foreign businesses. Drug money has become so pervasive in Burma that it taints legitimate investment and threatens the region as a whole. This is a challenge we must face together -- and another reminder that it will be hard to do normal business in Burma until a climate of law is restored to that country. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a lasting solution to this region's narcotics problem without a lasting solution to Burma's political crisis. This is one reason why President Clinton has barred future U.S. investment in the country. [Environmental Protection] And here ASEAN has another shining opportunity for leadership, because you have the know how, the proven skills at innovation and adaptation, that will help us find the technologies we all need for greener development. I urge you to take up the challenge and to work with the United States and others to craft a global consensus that will safeguard the nature preserves of Borneo, the islands of the Mergui Archipelago, and the livelihoods of our children and grandchildren. I congratulate ASEAN for all it has achieved in strengthening regional cooperation in these areas, and in reaching out to others beyond this region who share the same interests and the same fundamental goals. I pledge to you my best efforts, and those of the United States, to ensure we keep moving forward together. *************************************************************** BKK POST: ALBRIGHT URGES JOINT EFFORT TO PROMOTE BURMA REFORMS July 28, 1997 in Kuala Lumpur BURNS CALLS FOR TALKS BETWEEN JUNTA, NLD The United States yesterday called for cooperation from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to ensure political reforms in Burma and a dialogue between the ruling military junta and the National League for Democracy . Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the ASEAN decision to admit Burma on Wednesday, which the US respected, compelled US-ASEAN cooperation, "Now that the choice has been made, we must insist that we work together to promote conditions within Burma that will lead towards true democracy and permit its genuine integration into this region," she told the ASEAN Regional Forum. Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw was among the 21 foreign ministers at the day-long discussion that also covered the political turmoil in Cambodia, problems in Korea and the South China Sea. US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns called for the joint US-ASEAN effort to aim at the opening of a dialogue between the State Law and Order Restoration Council and the NLD. ASEAN, he said, should use its constructive engagement policy to encourage the Slorc to talk directly with Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD's key person. "What we do is try to see if all of us working together can influence the government in Burma to connect with the democratically elected leadership in the NLD," the spokesman said. Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn said all ARF participants expected to see democracy in Burma now that it has become an ASEAN member joining Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Laos was admitted with Burma on Wednesday. Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi told a press conference that Burma's membership would enable more ASEAN engagement with Rangoon. Ms Albright was most critical about the slow progress towards democracy in Burma although her counterparts from Australia, Canada and Luxembourg which represented the European Union made strong remarks on the point. According to Foreign Minister Prachuab, the Burmese minister said the constitution drafting process had been delayed by the writers' attempt to accommodate the interests of diverse ethnic groups. Largely because the Burmese foreign minister failed to give a timeframe for the constitution, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos told a press conference: "I don't feel that Burma's presentation was credible at all". ASEAN is due to meet EU today as part of the Post-Ministerial Conference and one item on the agenda according to Mr Prachuab, is to convince the EU to include Burma in its cooperation programme with ASEAN. ------------------------------------- in a related article in the Nation (ASEAN URGED TO PRESS BURMA) July 27, 1997: ASEAN has made-three specific proposals to urge Burma's junta to carry out democratic reforms, senior ASEAN officials said yesterday. The regional group has proposed that ongoing work on Burma's new constitution must be completed as soon as possible so that national elections for the legislature can be held, they said. The officials said ASEAN has also requested that the junta should launch a dialogue with Suu Kyi as well as ensure that Burma's Muslims and other minorities are treated fairly. The Burmese junta's response to the proposals is unknown. When Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited Rangoon last month, he submitted the proposals to the junta, the officials said. ---------------------------------------- in a related article: AUSTRALIA TO STEP UP REFORM PRESSURE ON JUNTA (July 28, 1997) While Australia has already suspended official aid and military assistance to Burma, the Government is believed to be considering the possibility of further sanctions in line with moves by the United States and the European Union. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Downer, confirmed moves to toughen Canberra's Burma policy after a meeting yesterday with the Burmese Foreign Minister, Mr. Ohn Gyaw, on the sidelines of annual talks with ASEAN leaders. During the meeting, Mr. Ohn Gyaw flatly denied there were any political prisoners in Burma and said talks 10 days ago between officials of the regime and Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy were not a precursor to a dialogue on political reforms. Mr. Downer, who had strongly condemned the regime's human rights record, was angered when Mr. Ohn Gyaw emerged from the meeting and told journalists the issue was not raised. The Malaysian Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdullah Badawi, has confirmed that ASEAN was continuing to press the Rangoon regime to open a dialogue on political reform ahead of fresh elections. Diplomats said senior US and EU officials had told the ASEAN ministers they were prepared to wait another six months for signs of progress from the regional contacts before taking further steps against Burma. *************************************** OTTAWA CITIZEN: CANADA SET TO CUT TRADE TIES TO BURMA-JUNTA WON'T ACT ON DEMOCRACY, AXWORTHY SAYS July 28, 1997 (abridged) By Jonathan Manthorpe Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Canada is ready to restrict trade and investment links with Burma if the military regime doesn't soon start negotiations with leaders of the country's democracy movement. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy said here yesterday he is ready to impose sanctions because all international and regional pressures for political reform "have been met so far with a deafening silence." Mr. Axworthy refused to detail his plans, but said they would affect Canadian investment, trade and financing with Burma, also known as Myanmar. He added that the plans aim to counter a campaign by the junta, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council, to attract foreign and private investment, including from Canadian ventures, in the wake of Burma's admission on Wednesday to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The junta leaders "think they can have the best of both worlds," attracting investment with the credibility of ASEAN membership while refusing to reform the repressive regime, said Mr. Axworthy. "they have to learn that if there is no response (on democratic issues) then other rules apply." He will meet Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw tomorrow morning. "but I wouldn't look for a burning-bush conversion," Mr. Axworthy said. Western officials noted a distinct change of mood among the ASEAN ministers, who in the past have stonewalled international criticism of proposals to let Burma into the regional economic and political club. At this meeting the ASEAN members - Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam - said they told Burma membership has obligations. They say they are pressing Burma to talk with National League for Democracy, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. "The ASEAN countries that are big investors in Burma are getting very worried because instability is growing, and when you get a government that is so dependent on the drug trade you begin to wonder," Mr. Axworthy said. He said the junta now pays its army out of profits from trafficking in heroin produced in the opium poppy fields of the "Golden Triangle" in the northern part of the country. **************************************************************** XINHUA: BENEFITS FROM BURMA'S ENTRY INTO ASEAN NOTED July 23, 1997 (excerpts) Rangoon, July 23 (XINHUA) -- Burma, after standing alone for several decades, finally joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today, opening a new chapter in its foreign relations. Burma's integration into the regional grouping is seen as not only an opportunity for the country in the development of its economy and trade and attraction of foreign investment, but also a challenge to it in commodity production and market competitiveness, some observers here believed. Burma's joining of ASEAN would also contribute to the transport sector of the Southeast Asian region. The eventual establishment of regional highway and railway networks would in turn promote the economic development of the region. The country's admission into ASEAN also poses a challenge to its market competitiveness in commodity export since Burma is industrially weak to produce goods for the purpose. Observers here believe that Burma's economy would be developed at a relatively quicker pace with technical assistance and support of other member countries of ASEAN. **************************************************************** THE HINDUSTAN TIMES (NEW DELHI): RESTORE DEMOCRACY, MYANMAR TOLD (abridged) July 28, 1997 India made a strong plea for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and Cambodia at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting held here today. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram who led the Indian delegation urged Myanmar and other countries to take note of the strength of public and parliamentary opinion in India with regard to democracy and freedom. All the countries of the world were treading on the road of freedom and democracy, he said adding that Myanmar must "come on to that road as quickly as possible." Taking note of the Myanmar Foreign Minister's statement that Yangon intended to usher in multi-party democracy, Mr. Chidambaram said, "it was our hope that all parties in Myanmar be allowed to participate in the elections." The reference here was obvious to Aung San Suu Kyi although he refused to disclose it to the journalists. Myanmar should evolve a constitutional Government and polity which reflects the aspirations of the people, said Mr. Chidambaram. He said that with Myanmar joining ASEAN India had come very close to the region as "we share a 1600 km border with ASEAN now." ********************************************************* NATION: HARSH WEATHER AND LAWS PUNISH BURMESE July 27, 1997 FARMERS UNABLE TO MEET THE MILITARY JUNTA'S RICE QUOTA ARE ABANDONING THEIR FARMS FOR JOBS IN THAILAND. Farmers in Burma were devastated this past summer. Their predicament was partly triggered by unkind weather conditions - and partly by harsh policies imposed on them by the ruling junta, the State Law and Restoration Council (Slorc). This year's annual rice harvest was down 30 per cent due to unfavourable weather conditions. Days of heavy rain followed by unusually torrid conditions reduced the average half-hectare yield to 50 baskets, compared with a normal yield of 60 to 70 baskets. The average yield for 1995-96 was 62 baskets, according to government statistics. More than three million tonnes of rice were reportedly damaged by the bad weather, according to rice farmers in lower Burma, although the country's military authorities have been tight-lipped about the real situation. Yet the climate is not alone to blame for the unprecedented hardship rice growers are facing. Rising overheads coupled with forced sales to the government at an outrageously low price have forced many of them to abandon traditional subsistence farming and seek alternative ways to make a living, such as becoming a cheap labourer in neighbouring Thailand. The military junta in Rangoon insists that, no matter what the weather, all rice farmers in the country meet their annual required sales of 12 baskets per half-hectare to the state. In addition, they have to sell at the nominal price of 70 kyat a basket (approximately 21 kg), compared to the 500 to 600 kyat a basket of unhusked grain can fetch in the market. The situation is worse in the country's hard-hit Mon state where a prolonged deluge destroyed young crops before the harvest began, resulting in an acute shortage of grain in many areas. That left hundreds of subsistence farmers from the region facing a harsh reality- their inability to meet their annual obligation to the government means they failed to observe the law and therefore committed an offence against the state. Those who failed to meet their quota face arbitrary punishments, and Slorc has been far from lenient. Punishments vary. First, the farmer's rice barn is plundered. The local authorities seize and take away all paddy and rice in sight. That leaves the farmer's family with empty pots for the rest of the season. Second, personal possessions and the house are targeted for seizure if no rice is found in the storage. Finally, the head of the family is arrested and imprisoned indefinitely if the other "two measures" are exhausted. Farmers face not only the seizure of their property and arrest, but termination of their 'farming book", a licence which enables them to grow rice in their own land. Punishments are carried out by the local military and Ya Wa Ta (the Ward Law and Order Restoration Council) members, who are fully empowered by Ma Wa Ta (the Township Law and Order Restoration Council) to make sure that farmers meet their annual obligation to the state. Collaborating with the army and Ya Wa Ta are local Peasant Union members, who themselves are farmers but chosen to represent the majority of farmers in their respective districts and supervise farming affairs. "Ya Wa Ta don't accept any excuses it we can't meet their requirement," said a farmer from Mudon, a small town in Mon state, about 320 kilometres southeast of Rangoon. "They say it's every farmer's obligation to the ,country." There's no question the military holds farmers accountable for the country's low output of rice, a major foreign exchange earner since World War 11. Slorc is also undoubtedly attempting to re-establish its former rice-bowl-of-the world status after decades of economic mismanagement and a xenophobic policy devised by former strongman Gen Ne Win. In April, Slorc leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe announced the country was targeting the annual yield at one billion baskets (21 million tonnes). Government statistics show the country's rice production in fiscal 1995-96 was a little over 19 million tonnes. How that target could be achieved under the present circumstances, he did not say. Instead, the general promised farmers to turn nine dry districts on the western side of the Irrawaddy River into farmland by building dams in a seemingly generous gesture to the peasants. A few days later, the junta's Secretary Two Lt.-Gen. Tin Oo berated farmer representatives in Myingyan Township in central Burma for their unsatisfactory rice yields. He warned that farmers must "reciprocate to the government's plan to improve their standard of living by growing rice in accordance with the needs of the entire nation". Slorc's order offers little choice for all farmers, Burmans and minorities alike. The forced sales requirement and the fear of punishment for failing to comply with it make them unwilling to grow rice, even for their own consumption which they have done for centuries. Now with the military government's new ambitious policy, many farmers in frontier states such as Mon and Karen have begun to abandon their farms to avoid the looming trouble and hardship. At one village in Mon state, at least 80 people have left for the Thai border since January. They travelled in groups of 10 to 15 people, led by a broker who arranged their illegal cross-border transportation to employers in Thai cities, where menial jobs shunned by Thai workers are ample and easy to find. "Most of my relatives in the village have gone to 'Shan country'," said one elderly retired farmer of his folks' desperate search for a job in the country known to them as Shan rather than Thailand. Life may be yet another challenge for Burmese farmers beyond their own frontiers. It is certainly tough but the money earned in Thailand is far better than back home. For now they can forget the backbreaking farm work and the fear they face at home, despite looming uncertainty in Thailand. ******************************************************** NATION: CURRENCY TURMOIL RATTLES BURMA'S MARKET AS WELL July 28, 1997 By Aung Zaw, freelance reporter Over the last 10 days the Burmese kyat has declined from 186 to 280 to the US dollar. Last weekend, it fell to 300 kyat. The sudden plunge has created chaos and confusion for local and foreign traders. As there was no independent business reporting on the sudden currency turmoil the price of foreign imports skyrocketed. A Toshiba TV on sale at a shopping centre nearly doubled to 25,000 kyat from 13,000 within a week. Last year the kyat was trading at 160 to the dollar. Then it dropped to 200. "Usually, every Friday morning the rate will decline but in the evening it returns to normal but this time it looks like it is going to be over 300," said a trader in Rangoon. At first, it was rumoured that the kyat would decline to 400 kyat per dollar before the end of the year. The official rate is six kyat per dollar. Burmese inside Burma are not allowed to hold foreign currency and in its place must use Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs). Kyi May Kaung, a US-trained political scientist wrote in a recent article: "No one knows exactly how many FECs have been issued. Late last year the official word in Rangoon was that FECs made up nearly three per cent of the currency that circulated at the market exchange rate." However, merchants in Rangoon speculated that the authorities have printed more than 20 times as many of the paper certificates. One report said the military government, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), was looking to buy FEC with kyat. Additionally, many local businessmen in Burma are convinced that the government will devalue the kyat in the near future. "They were told to devalue the kyat before becoming a member of ASEAN," said one trader. Burma joined ASEAN last week at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. In downtown Rangoon, the May shopping market at Pansodan street suddenly shut down shortly after the kyat plummeted. Rumours began circulating that well-known businessmen were being apprehended. One of them was Thein Htun, better known as Pepsi Thein Htun, due to his control of a Pepsi dealership. It was believed that a few weeks ago Thein Htun withdrew a huge amount of money from the bank. The authorities said that businessmen were summoned for questioning but no one was detained. As panic gripped traders the government denied rumours that it will void 200 and 500 bank notes. But the announcement only made matters worse. Shortly after, the price for vegetables, rice, oil, gold and petrol increased 10 per cent. One viss of chicken now sells for 700 kyat up from 600 kyat the week before the currency turmoil. Many shops at Mingala market shut down as shopkeepers refused to accept 200 and 500 notes. Those looking to save money ran to gold shops. In 1987, the then socialist government demonetised the 25, 35 and 75 bank notes without compensation even though it denied it was planning to do so. "The kyat is worthless, yesterday it was 15 kyat for a cup of tea. Today it is 18 and they say it will be 20 soon," said one trader. Instead of solving the problem, the Slorc denied all the devaluation rumours and said rumour-mongers were trying to damage the country's economy. Burma's military intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, said, "Rumours about financial and economic matters afloat today are totally untrue and this has been concocted by destructive elements." The rumour-mongers, the general said, were taking advantage of the public's lack of knowledge about ASEAN to spread false information in an attempt to deprive Burma of the economic benefits it would enjoy once it joined the grouping. But Burmese are not convinced. A government office worker said his salary is now 1,500 kyat, compared to 220 kyat in 1987. "Before [in 1987] it was quite okay with 220 kyat. Now I can not feed my family since my salary increased." But Thailand-based political activists believe that the Burmese generals will lose their battle with the economy. "This is because they have no knowledge of how to run an economy. They only know how to shoot," said student leader Moe Thee Zun. A few months ago, two giant hotels, the Sedona and the Traders in Rangoon laid off about 400 of their employees because of the lack of visitors. "We have no jobs - our families depended on us," said a former receptionist at the Hotel Sedona. But local traders in Rangoon also said they believed that Thailand's recent de facto devaluation had a major impact on the Burmese market as well. "This is something they cannot control - as the value of the kyat declines the government will have no choice but to devalue the currency in the near future," said one economist in Rangoon. ******************************************************* REUTER: BURMA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH FACE HUNGER July 27, 1997 By Nizam Ahmed CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, July 27 (Reuter) - Thousands of Burmese refugees in Bangladesh are on the verge of starvation because their militant leaders have forced them to reject government-provided food rations, officials said on Sunday. The militants have even told mothers among the ``Rohingya'' refugees to keep their children away from camp feeding centres, one relief official told Reuters. ``The starvation may cause death to children and the old,'' he said as the rations boycott, triggered by violence between police and refugees at Nayapara camp a week ago in which about 20 people were injured, continued. As desperation grew, hundreds of refugees fled from the Nayapara camp, but about 25 of them were captured by villagers and handed over to police, officials in Cox's Bazar, temporary home to the Rohingyas, told Reuters by telephone. Bangladesh postponed the repatriation of some 21,000 Rohingyas, the remnants of 250,000 who entered the country in 1992 to escape alleged military persecution in their home province of Arakan in west Burma, after the clashes at Nayapara on July 20. Meanwhile, efforts on Sunday by a local parliamentarian, Mohammad Ali, to bring the militant refugee leaders to the negotiating table failed. ``They refused to talk to us unless the meeting is brokered by the UNHCR relief agency,'' Ali told reporters. ``Local UNHCR officials also avoided a request from the government and public leaders to arrange a dialogue,'' he added. ``The militants are forcing refugees to starve only to attract more international attention after initial UNHCR backing for their demand to stay in Bangladesh,'' another official in Cox's Bazar said. ``We are acting very cautiously to avoid any clash with the refugees who want an issue (to inflame their protest). But any death out of starvation might complicate the matter,'' he added. Police said the Rohingya militants were trying to provoke law enforcement officers by chanting abuse and ``obnoxious slogans.'' On Saturday they fortified their camps with bunkers and trenches to thwart any attempt to repatriate them forcibly. They continued to demonstrate at the camp gates on Sunday, witnesses said. The militants on Saturday handed a list of preconditions to Bangladeshi officials for their repatriation. They said they would return to Burma only if the Rangoon government issued them with formal documents of nationality, restored democracy, handed power to the National League for Democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and guaranteed human rights. The Bangladesh government said on Sunday it was willing to send back 7,000 out of the 21,000 remaining Rohingya refugees who had been cleared recently by the Burmese authorities, by August 15. ``But it all depends on the refugees and their foreign supporters,'' one official said in an apparent reference to the UNHCR. ***************************************************** SLORC COMMENT: Re: USIA REPORT ON BURMESE MUSLIM REFUGEES July 28, 1997 (excerpts) From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM As mentioned above Bangladeshis who are not Myanmar citizens enter our borders an masse, and when immigration checks are made they flee back to their country. But among them are a few Myanmar Muslims who are unjustifiably clamouring for a separate state in spite of the insignificance of their members. Such an incident occurred in 1978 when scrutinization was carried out by the immigration authorities. A large number returned to Bangladesh and the UNHCR and certain NGO's decided to give humanitarian support in camps set up for them, But living on handouts from the UNHCR and certain NGOs has become a way of life. For the poor and needy who do not possess land or other means of earning a living is indeed excusable, if not legal nor acceptable. But as pointed out earlier there are those few who live on such charity just for the opportunity of creating problems for the Myanmar authorities where none exist, with their wild accusations of torture and forced labour. There are now staff of the UNHCR and certain NGOs on both sides of the border. They are in the field, they know the true situation, but will not speak out the truth. The principle reason is as clear as day light. The UNHCR staff appointed for this so called refugee programme are earning good salaries, around fine to six thousand dollars. Plus expenses for accommodation and travelling. So they are really onto a good thing. As long as this immigration problem remains unstable they need not worry. If the problem should be resolved, then they would have to start job- hunting. So, although they know for a fact that there is no killing, no torture. no rape, no forced labour on the Myanmar side of the border, they choose to keep the embers of these false accusations alive in their own self- interest. What they call " Burma Bashing" extends the tenure of their jobs. ******************************************************* KNU: WA AND KAREN BATTLE NEWS July 28, 1997 From: "win1" WA-SLORC BATTLE NEWS On 8.6.97 a battle between UWSA & SLORC was borken in Meung Hsat township. Meung Li area. 28 SLORC troops were killed in action. 2 killed & 1 wounded from Wa side. On 28.6.97 a battle was broken between Wa troops & SLORC troops in Menung Pin township. Ton Ta area. 25 SLORC troops were killed. No casualties from Wa side. KNU-SLORC BATTLE NEWS (abridged by BurmaNet) During the month of June, there were numerous small clashes between SLORC troops and Karen troops (KNLA, the KNU's military wing, and KNDO, the KNU's civilian defense organization). According to KNU reports, about 40 SLORC troops were killed in the fighting or by stepping on landmines. Approximately the same number were injured. Skirmishes were recorded in the following locations: Brigade 1: Thaton District Baw Naw Nee village Brigade 2: Toungoo District Klay Mu, position between Paw Hta and Tha Khaw, position between That Ya Yu and Hsaw Me Kho, Thay Ya Yu village, position between Play Hsar Lo and Saw Thay Khae. Brigade 3: K'er Lwee Hto District Hay Tha Weh village, Ler Htaw Thoe village, Baw Lo Klo, Wah Pae Khee, Wah Po, Wah Doh Klo, Kyaw Ghaw Hta area Brigade 4: Mergui/Tavoy District Htee Per village, Hse Pa Ler, Noh Pa Doh, Noh Pa Day, Ler Hta Say, Ta Khaw Hta, Wah Pu Brigade 5: Mu Traw District Hee Po Khee village, K'ner Der, position between Htee Ghaw Hta and Nyar Sar villages, Kaw Lay Der village, Day Bu Pu village, Law Pla Thay Hta village, Blaw Htaw Lu Khaw Htee village, Ta Gho Lu, He Ghaw Khee Maw Pu, Lay Khee, Ray Lo Klo, Law Me Hta, Htee Baw Khee, Hto Po Law Lu Htee, Htee Thaw Tu Hta, Kher Kyo, Hto Pwar Der, Day Bu Kyo. Brigade 6: Dooplaya District Noh Po village, a position between the Ler Taw and Lay Htaw Hta villages, at Htee Ghu Thaw village, Ta Law Bler Khee, Kyaw Blu Noh Po, Pa Wah Klo village, position between the Noh Taw Plar and Mae Ta Nar villages, Kya Chaung, Noh Po Pu, Htee Moo Hta village, Baw Ner Lu Brigade 7: Pa-an District position between the Pe Tu Hta and Htee Maw Hta villages, Ta Dar Kyo, a position between the Par Klu and Saw Kho **********************************************************