------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: August 21, 1997 Issue #802 HEADLINES: ========== BKK POST: SLORC DENIES DEAL ON SAN NAING NCGUB PRESS RELEASE: CONDEMNS REPRESSION NATION: BURMA SIGNS ACCORD TO DEMARCATE BORDER JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE-JAPAN: LETTER TO ASEAN SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET NO. A-0097(I) NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BKK POST: SLORC DENIES DEAL ON SAN NAING August 20, 1997 Nussara Sawatsawang Dissident must want to return, says envoy Burma will not take back a dissident accused of plotting to assassinate intelligence chief Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt unless he volunteers to return, according to the Burmese ambassador to Thailand, Hla Maung. Mr Hla Maung said Burma preferred the use of diplomatic channels over trying to press the Thai government to return any Burmese student in exile who wants to go home. "Even if [Thailand] hands him over [to Burma] we will not take him unless he is willing," he said. San Naing collaborated in the hijacking of a Fokker-28 from Burma t Thailand in 1989. He is due to complete a four-year sentence in December on charges of possessing weapons. On Monday he said he would not go back to Burma, as he fears for his safety. Speculation was rife that Thailand might send him back to Burma in exchange for drug suspect Li Yun-chung. Rangoon handed the latter over to Bangkok in May even though there is no extradition treaty between the two countries. Ambassador Hla Maung said Slorc did not demand any reciprocity for the return of Li Yun-chung. He conceded that Slorc suspected San Naing of indirect involvement in a recent parcel bomb blast that killed a daughter of Slorc's second secretary Lieutenant-Gen Tin Oo. There was no inquiry into the matter, as San Naing was still in prison, he said. San Naing was not so important that Slorc would want his return so "eagerly," the envoy said. The Burmese government was well aware that it would face public protest if it punished him after he had already been punished in Thailand, he said. San Naing reportedly made a claim for refugee status with the UNHCR in May. The claim is still pending, but there is no indication that he will be sent back. Deputy Foreign Minister Pitak Inbrawithyanunt said he did not discuss San Naing's case with his counterpart Nyunt Swe. Thailand wanted to avoid sensitive issues that might hamper Thai Burmese cooperation, he said. ************************************************************ NCGUB PRESS RELEASE: CONDEMNS REPRESSION August 19, 1997 From: NYUNTPAUNG A-SO-YA Immediate Release - 8/19/97 N.C.G.U.B CONDEMNS RENEWED REPRESSION The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) strongly condemns the harsh prison sentences imposed on 15 August on U Myo Aung Thant, an Executive Committee member of the Federation of Trade Unions - Burma (FTUB); U Cho Aung Than, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's cousin and close aide; his sister (Daw Nge Ma Ma Than); and her husband (U Myint Swe). This most recent outrage by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) is a clear indication that the generals believe its membership in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a license to increase its repression. The other ASEAN countries argued that SLORC would modify its behaviour after becoming a member. This is not the case. Instead, SLORC has become even more repressive. The government of the United States of America and Canada were correct in perceiving that SLORC would become more repressive. The USA imposed sanctions due to SLORC's large scale repression of democracy activity and Canada imposed sanctions after SLORC became a member. The NCGUB once again calls on the international community, especially the European Union and Japan, to act now and impose sanctions. U Myo Aung Thant was accused of trying to smuggle in explosives into Burma, charged with "high treason" and sentenced to life imprisonment. At the 27 June news conference announcing the arrest of U Myo Aung Thant, Lieut-Gen Khin Nyunt accused the NCGUB of sending in a number of terrorists to attack foreign embassies and the residence of SLORC leaders. The NCGUB was also accused of masterminding the bombing of Lieut-Gen Tin Oo's home in April. According to SLORC, the NCGUB and the FTUB as well as other Burmese groups are being funded by the United States Government to perpetuate acts of violence and terrorism to cause unrest and instability in Burma. First and foremost, the NCGUB and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have always advocated non-violence. Political problems must be resolved by political means. SLORC on the other hand, came to power in 1988 by killing thousands of unarmed civilians. Since then, SLORC has brutally suppressed all dissent and carried out summary executions and mass relocations by threatening violence, especially in rural and ethnic areas. Earlier this year, SLORC also launched massive attacks on the Karen, Karenni and Shan peoples bordering on genocide. The National league for Democracy, students, Christians and Muslims have also recently been the target of violence instigated by the military leaders. If anyone is guilty of terrorism, the generals are. Second, according to SLORC's own account, U Myo Aung Thant was arrested at Rangoon's Mingaladon Airport. The alleged explosives were seized in Kawthaung, hundreds of kilometres south of Rangoon. How can U Myo Aung Thant then be guilty of smuggling in the explosives? Where is the undeniable proof? Forced confessions extracted through torture and psychological abuse are not acceptable evidence. There is no due process in Burma. SLORC's Special Court which handed down the sentence was a mockery. It lasted less than ten days and merely confirmed SLORC's pre- determined conclusion without observing any of the internationally accepted standards for a fair trial. At the press conference on 27 June, SLORC also listed a number of organizations funded by the US Government through the National Endowment for Democracy. The list allegedly show how the US was secretly funding 'terrorist' groups in Burma. In actual fact, the list is not a secret document. In a democracy like the USA, transparency about sources of funding is paramount. They are openly acknowledged and made freely available to the public. By contrast, SLORC - a narco dictatorship is not transparent about its sources of funds. At a time when the people of Burma are having a hard time making ends meet, the generals are spending lavishly and enjoying life. The funds mentioned at the press conference were given by the US government to legitimate organizations involved in promoting democracy or providing humanitarian assistance to refugees. Only under a paranoid dictatorship like SLORC could such activity be construed as 'terrorist' or anti-government activity. Treason is when one acts against one's own country. The people of Burma in 1990 called for democracy and voted for the NLD. Working to establish democracy in Burma through the NLD is, therefore, not treason. Those who ignored the people's will in 1990 and continue to prevent democracy from being established in Burma are the ones who are actually guilty of 'high treason'. Third, these recent acts on the part of SLORC point to the ruling generals' increasing nervousness about the current situation in Burma. The crackdown against dissidents has increased in frequency and severity. The rhetoric used is becoming more hysterical and irrational - for example, the accusation, without proof, that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi accepted a cash donation of $80,000 from an American and the prediction that "she will perish after her raft has dashed against the consolidated rock of national politics" are clear indications. Therefore, based on SLORC past pattern of behaviour, and SLORC's statement that it will take "preventive measures" against the NLD, it is not unreasonable to assume that the generals are becoming desperate and are planning further drastic action. A repeat of 1962 when all political leaders in Burma including those at the township level were arrested and also a repeat of the violent 'coup' of 1988 cannot be ruled out. People should, therefore, be prepared for any eventuality. The NCGUB is not looking on passively. SLORC must understand that repression carries a high price tag. For example, SLORC will have to answer to the international community at the coming United Nations General Assembly for its increasing repression. It is unfortunate for SLORC that it does not require foreigners or expatriate Burmese to cause unrest and instigate instability in Burma. The generals themselves are the cause of the unrest and instability. The events of 1988 were caused in large part by the two demonetizations ordered by the Burmese Socialist Programme Party. The recent drastic rise in the price of rice also has its origin in SLORC's export of a million tons of rice a couple of years ago at the expense of the people. The current economic uncertainty, the falling value of the kyat, the hardships faced by the Burmese people will be aggrevated if SLORC persists in its repressive ways. Should this happen, SLORC's downfall will surely follow swiftly. 'Be vigilant and do not be afraid. We will prevail. Be prepared to protect your freedom and participate in the struggle for our second independence" Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister "I do not believe in an armed struggle because it will perpetuate the tradition that he who is best at wielding arms wields power... Some people think that non-violence is passiveness it is not so... Non-violence is positive action. You have to work for whatever you want." Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ******************************************** NATION: BURMA SIGNS ACCORD TO DEMARCATE ENTIRE BORDER Don Pathan, Puangthong Rungswasdisab August 20, 1997 THAILAND and Burma yesterday reached a breakthrough agreement for a comprehensive approach to settle boundary problems by agreeing to jointly demarcate the entire stretch of boundary between the two countries. Unlike in the past when Burma had requested the two governments discuss disputed areas, on a case-by-case basis, the agreement yesterday called on both countries to survey and demarcate the entire border and to pass over any disputed areas which are difficult to define, Deputy Foreign minister Pitak Intrawitayanunt said. Pitak yesterday co-chaired the Third Meeting of the Thailand-Burma Joint Boundary Committee with Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister U Nyunt Swe. The agreement will also allow progress in other less problematic areas and prevent any further political tension between the two countries. Relations between Thailand and Burma have improved very much since Burma became a full-fledged member of Asean last month, as indicated by last week's opening of the Thailand-Burma Friendship Bridge over the Moei River at Mae Sot and Myawaddy, as well as Burma's application to join the Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka- Thailand Economic Cooperation. The cordial atmosphere will help speed up the border demarcation process. It's also good for trade between the two countries," Pitak said. The joint boundary committee has divided 2,400 kilometres of border into 10 sectors, and two joint survey teams will be set up: one dealing with the land boundary and the other with the river boundary. On a note of success, at the end of the two-day committee meeting in Bangkok yesterday, Pitak signed the Agreed Minutes of the Meeting. The first meeting of the committee was held in Rangoon in 1993 when both sides agreed that the mandate of the committee should cover the entire border. Territorial disputes have often severed ties between Thailand and Burma and led to either military clashes or an abrupt closure of cross border trade. The latest case was Burma's dredging of the Moei River at Thailand's Ban Kok Chang Puek in the Mae Sot district of Tak province in June this year. Rangoon claimed that it lost an area of land to Thailand when the 1994 flood altered the Moei River's course. Thailand yesterday also proposed that Burma study aerial and satellite photos that show the course of the Moei River before it was changed by a heavy flood in 1994 as a basis to solve the demarcation issue. "We are glad that Burma agreed to study the photos and we will hold our next meeting soon,' Pitak said. 'We suggested that Burma fill in the new course of the Moei River which cut through its land, and that will allow the river to return to its old course. Then we can discuss restoring the Moei River's course later,' said Somboon Sangiambut, director general Treaties and Legal Affairs and head of the Thai border committee. Since June, negotiations over the Moei River at Ban Kok Chang Fluek have faced an impasse as the joint border committee was unable to reach an agreement on which map would be used. In the Agreed Minutes of the Meeting, Thailand and Burma included the issue of maintenance of the Boundary Reference Pillars on the Mae Sai-Nam Ruak River Sector as well as Thailand's proposal to discuss three disputed islands near Thailand's Kraburi River estuary in Ranong province and Burma's Victoria Point. Thailand claims that Britain seized Koh Lam, Koh Khan, and Koh Kheenok and placed them under Burmese sovereignty, at the time Burma was a British colony, although the three islands are closer to the mainland of Thailand. Thus, according to international law, they should belong to Thailand, Somboon said. ************************************************************ JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE-JAPAN: LETTER TO ASEAN August 18, 1997 From: "TIN KYI" For your information, the following letter was sent to the heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. August 18, 1997 Once again, the so called State Law and Order Restoration Council has made a mockery of the law, this time by slapping three of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's relatives with 10 year sentences for allegedly endangering national security, and by handing down a life sentence to U Myo Aung Thant, a sailor accused of terrorist activities. Once again, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has stood by in silence as one of its members commits a gross injustice against innocent citizens. U Cho Aung Than, U Myint Swe and Daw Nge Ma Ma Than were accused of smuggling videotapes of Suu Kyi's speeches abroad. In what other country is the dissemination of the words of its rightfully elected leader considered treason? Such acts do not endanger national security; they merely endanger the SLORC's security. "Martial law means no law at all." Those words are as true today as they were when uttered by a delirious SLORC general years ago. The "law" under which Suu Kyi's relatives were convicted is in fact a military decree issued for the sole purpose of crushing the democracy movement. Meanwhile, under the same system of justice, drug lords like Khun Sa are permitted to live free and prosper from their trade, posing a true danger to the security of not only Burma but also its ASEAN neighbors. It is therefore the SLORC, not U Myo Aung Thant, who is the true terrorist. ASEAN approved Burma's membership with the promise that it would use its influence to foster national reconciliation. We, the 48 million citizens of Burma, are still waiting for results. Joint Action Committee ====================== Burma Youth Volunteer Association (Japan) Students' Organization for the Liberation of Burma (Japan) National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) -- Japan Branch ++++++++ Information Committee Burma Youth Volunteer Association ( Japan ) ****************************************** SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET NO. A-0097(I) August 20, 1997 [abridged] From: OKKAR66127@aol.com (1) MCWA Provides Stipend to Poor Students in Pathein Pathein Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association presented stipend and school uniforms to the poor students at Eya Shwewa Hall in Pathein township on 17 August. (2) Red Cross Medal (First Class) posthumously awarded to Maung Than Hsaing Member of Mayangon Township Red Cross Brigade Maung Than Hsaing, who died while on duty, was awarded posthumously the Red Cross Medal (First Class) for outstanding performance at the Myanmar Red Cross Society meeting hall here. Speaking on the occasion, MRCS President Dr. Hla Bu said Maung Than Hsaing was taking care of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which was brought from the People's Republic of China and kept for public homage in the Maha Pasana Cave, and assisting the pilgrims on 25 December 1996. He then died in a bomb explosion, he said. The highest honour of MRCS would be awarded to him posthumously for discharging duty fully. Dr. Hla Bu presented the Red Cross Medal (First Class) to mother Daw Hnin Yi. OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 19 AUGUST (A)Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Managing Director Mr. David R Walton Masters of Merry Investment Management Ltd. of Hong Kong and party at his office. (B)Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt.Gen. Kyaw Ba received Managing Director Mr. Chongcharern Thitadilaka of Moey Riverside Complex Co. Ltd, Thailand, at his office. (C)Minister for Transport Lt.Gen. Thein Win received a delegation led by Managing Director Mr. Y M Pang of Jaya Holdings Ltd. Singapore, at his office. ******************************************* NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS August 8 - 19, 1997 [excerpts] 8-8-97: SECRETARY 1 RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF INSTITUTE OF WORLD PEACE YANGON, 7 Aug-Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Chairman of the Institute of World Peace Mr Hideo Watanabe and party of Japan at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence this afternoon. August 11, 1997: HEARTY WELCAME EXTENDED TO SIX KNU MEMBERS, 16 FAMILY MEMBERS IN ARMS-FOR-PEACE EXCHANGE YANGON, 10 Aug. At 2.30 am on 23 July, six members of KNU No 1 Company, No 10 Battalion, No 4 Brigade, led by Company Commander Saw Khawra and 16 family members exchanged arms for peace at Taungthonlon military camp in Dawei Township, Taninthayi Division. They brought together with them one .45 pistol, one magazine, six rounds, Six M-16s, six long magazines, 11 short magazines, 392 rounds, one 107-mm rocket grenade and one American hand grenade. The KNU members exchanged their arms for peace at a ceremony at Taung-thonlon village primary school in Dawei Township at 11 am on 7 August. Present on the occasion were Commander of No 1 Tactical Operations Command Col Chit Than, member of Taninthayi Division Law and Order Restoration Council Police Col Win Myaing, members of Dawei District and Township Law and Order Restoration Councils, military officers, heads of department, members of the Township and Village Union Solidarity and Development Associations, Red Cross Brigade members and local nationals. Leader of the arms-for-peace KNU members Saw Khawra took arms and ammunition to TOC Commander Col Chit Than. There are more members of the armed groups who will follow suit. August 12, 1997: MYANMAR, INDIA TO JOINTLY IMPLEMENT THREE-YEAR KALAY-TAMU ROAD PROJECT YANGON, 11 Aug-The Work Committee for Upgrading the Kalay-Tamu Road at the Myanmar-lndia border held its first meeting at Public Works Head Office on Shwedagon Pagoda Road here this morning and Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun delivered an address. August 13, 1997: SECRETARY-1 RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF FUJITSU LIMITED OF JAPAN YANGON, 12 Aug-Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received President Mr Tadashi Sekizawa of Fujitsu Limited of Japan and party at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence this afternoon. SECRETARY-1 RECEIVES SECRETARY OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING OF THE PHILIPPINES YANGON, 12 Aug-Secretary- 1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Secretary of Socio Economic Planning Dr Cielito F Habito of the Republic of the Philippines and delegation at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence this morning. MAJOR KAT YE (A) THEIN TUN AND MEMBERS OF NUPA RAKHINE ARMED GROUP EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE YANGON, 12 Aug- Members of the NUPA Rakhine armed groups have recently exchanged arms for peace in separate occasions at the local Tatmadaw battalion at Kwinchaung Village in Paletwa Township. Platoon commander Weh Set and sergeant Aung Kalay of NUPA Rakhine armed group exchanged arms for peace bringing along with them two M-22 automatic rifles, three magazines and 340 rounds of ammunition on 17 July; privates Aung Aung and Kyaw Khine on 24 July; 11-member armed group led by major Kat Ye (a)Thein Tun with two AR-18 arms, three AK-47 automatic rifles, one M-22 automatic rifle, eight 40-mm bombs, one No 36 hand grenade, three AK-47 magazines, four M-16 magazines, 500 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 150 rounds of M-16 ammunition on 25 July; and eight-member group led by sergeant Kan Lwe on 28 July. August 15, 1997 MYANMAR, ROK SIGN AGREED MINUTES ON AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION ON INCOME AND PREVENTION OF FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES YANGON, 14 Aug A delegation of the Republic of Korea led by Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Mr Nam Koong Hoon arrived here on 7 August and held discussions with Myanmar counterparts the following,day. Further discussions were held from 11 to 14 August at IRD on a draft agreement on avoidance of double taxation on income and prevention of financial' irregularities between the two countries. Myanmar officials led by IRD Director-General U Than Nyunt and Korean counterparts including Director Mr Lee Kwang-Ho and Deputy Director Mr Lee Kyung-Geun of the ROK Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and Counsellor Mr Chang Suk-Chul of the ROK Embassy took part in the discussions. Afterwards, the leaders signed the note. August 19, 1997 CHIEF OF BUREAU OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS, CHIEF OF STAFF (ARMY) RECEIVES CHIEF OF STAFF (ARMY) OF THE ARMED FORCES OF BANGLADESH YANGON, 18 Aug - Chief of Bureau of Special Operations and Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo received Chief of Staff (Army) of the Armed Forces of People's Republic of Bangladesh Maj-Gen Mohammad Anwar Hossain and party at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 3 pm today. They discussed friendly relations between the armed forces of the two nations. _____________________________ To view with photos: English : http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/ German: http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/gnlm/ French: http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/fnlm/ Myanmar: http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/mnlm/ (Pls use Win-myanmar Fonts ) *************************************************