------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: September 8, 1997 Issue #815 HEADLINES: ========== REUTER: SUU KYI SAYS CONFIDENT OF DEMOCRACY COMING KNU: STATEMENT ON CURRENT SITUATION AND DIALOGUE DVB: GENERAL INVOLVED IN TRAFFICKING, COUNTERFEITING S.H.A.N : KARENNI, MON, SHAN JOINT STATEMENT S.H.A.N : GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF UNREPRESENTED NATIONS BKK POST: ASEAN TO CONSIDER UK’S BURMA BAN NATION: PRACHUAB DOWNPLAYS ASEM BOYCOTT THREAT FEER: BURMA PLANS FEER: REACHING OUT KNU: PRESS RELEASE NO. 52 BKK POST: BURMA TO TEST THE ASIAN ECONOMIC MIRACLE THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS DBSO: LETTER TO ASEAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------- REUTER: SUU KYI SAYS CONFIDENT OF DEMOCRACY COMING TO BURMA September 4, 1997 By Deborah Charles BANGKOK, Sept 4 (Reuter) - Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said she is confident democracy will come to Burma and that repressive tactics by the military rulers show they are worried about the opposition. Suu Kyi made the comments in a videotaped interview, a copy of which taken out of Rangoon and obtained by Reuters on Thursday. The Nobel Peace laureate said continued arrests of members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party and restrictions placed on her own movements showed the leaders of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) feared the NLD. ``I'm not under arrest again but my movements are quite restricted, and the movements of those who wish to come and see me are quite restricted,'' she said in the interview. It was taped at the house of one of her colleagues because the journalist was not allowed through barricades in the street blocking access to Suu Kyi's home. ``So it's quite obvious that the SLORC is very nervous about what the NLD is capable of doing,'' she said. ``If they were not nervous about the strength of the NLD they don't need to enforce these restrictions. ``Our access to the people has always been blocked by SLORC,'' she said. ``We have won a lot of sympathy ...I think the people have begun to realise more and more this cannot go on.'' Suu Kyi, released from six years of house arrest in July 1995, has been under strict supervision since last December following large street demonstrations against the government. The SLORC has blocked access to her home since September and prevented her from holding weekend speeches outside her home. But Suu Kyi, who said she was ``fighting fit'' after being ill and unable to keep up with her normal workload, said she still thought democracy would prevail eventually and dialogue with the government would happen one day. ``I am a cautious optimist,'' she said. ``I know that dialogue is inevitable because that is the only way in which problems are solved in the end.'' She said conversations between top NLD officials and SLORC generals in July did not constitute dialogue because she was not included. ``At best we can think of it as a sounding out to see whether dialogue was possible between NLD and the SLORC.'' She said she kept pressing her struggle for democracy because of the ``people for whom I care, people I want to see happy.'' She said her party would help facilitate the return of democracy but could not do it alone. ``I alone cannot bring them democracy, nor can the NLD by itself. They've all got to participate. I believe that people want democracy and because of that we shall get democracy. ``I would like to think of the NLD as helping the people achieve what they want rather than dragging them along to our common goal.'' Suu Kyi said current economic problems in Burma like rising prices, could cause a more intense push for political change. ``Economics and politics are interminably connected,'' she said. ``If the government is unable to cope with the economy there is bound to be push for political change,'' she said. The NLD, co-founded by Suu Kyi in 1988, won a landslide victory in 1990 elections which went unrecognised by the SLORC. ************************************************* KNU: STATEMENT ON CURRENT SITUATION AND DIALOGUE September 8, 1997 win1@psnulok.loxinfo.co.th OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS KAREN NATIONAL UNION KAWTHOOLEI KNU Statement on Current Situation and Dialogue September 8,1997 * In the brutal offensive that the SLORC has launched, after refusing the KNU's call for resolving problems dialogue, more than 200 Karen villages have been destroyed. Similarly, the Karenni, the Shan, the Chin and the Arakanese peoples have been subjected to barbarous attacks and destruction by the SLORC. * After refusing the demand for dialogue by the NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the SLORC has been intensifying its repression against the NLD on all sides. Many NLD leaders are being unjustly arrested and sentenced to long-term imprisonment. * Dissatisfaction and opposition against the SLORC are increasing daily among the civil servants, Buddhist monks, students, workers and the general public who have been demanding political and economic changes. More than 30 colleges and universities remain closed. * The economic situation has been worsening in tandem with the deteriorating political situation. The worsening economic recession, indicated by increasing scarcity of fuel oil, rising prices of consumer foods, currency inflation, decreasing industrial production and etc. has reached and unprecedented point. * An analysis together of the political and economic situation of Burma shows that the country has arrived at a very dangerous point and that it is urgently necessary to resolve the current economic and political problems through dialogue. The situation being as such we, the KNU, solemnly demand the SLORC to immediately - 1. Cease its brutal war against the Karen people and other ethnic nationalities, and commence a meaningful dialogue with the KNU and organizations representing other ethnic nationalities; 2. Cease its cruelty and repression against the general public and political parties based in towns, including the NLD, and commence a meaningful dialogue with the political leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; 3. Release all the political prisoners unconditionally; 4. Initiate, without malice and with a view to forging a genuine unity of all the nationalities, for the holding of a tripartite dialogue, comprising of the democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the ethnic nationalities and the SLORC; and At the same time, earnestly urge the ASEAN countries, the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and other democratic countries to make an intervention for the emergence of a tripartite dialogue in Burma, at the earliest date. Central Committee Karen National Union *************************************** DVB: GENERAL INVOLVED IN TRAFFICKING, COUNTERFEITING August 31, 1997 [translated from Burmese] Oslo Democratic Voice of Burma Just as news of counterfeit kyat notes and rampant narcotics trafficking have emerged in Burma, Maung Paing Tun has reported the involvement of a SLORC [State Law and Order Restoration Council] general not only in drug trafficking but also in counterfeiting. It has been learned that Maj. Gen. Khin Maung, commander of SLORC's No.9 Tactical Command and in charge of Ho Mong after the surrender of Khun Sa, was involved with suspects Sai Nyunt and his wife Ma Mya Thein, who were arrested on 27 June at the Mya Shweli Guest House in Taunggyi with kyat 7 million worth of counterfeit kyat notes. That is why the SLORC authorities have suppressed the news. Sai Nyunt's wife was arrested after being caught red handed selling fake notes in Taunggyi Market. It was later learned that authorities searched her room at Mya Shweli Guest House and arrested Sai Nyunt together with kyat 7 million worth of counterfeit kyat notes. Sai Nyunt, a former medical superintendent of drug king pin Khun Sa's MTA [Mong Tai Army], has been doing business travelling between Rangoon, Taunggyi, and Ho Mong after the surrender of Khun Sa. Maj. Gen. Khin Maung, commander of Arakan State-based No.9 Tactical Command, was transferred to Ho Mong in July 1996. Sai Nyunt eventually became friendly with Maj. Gen. Khin Maung and he gained permission to operate a toll gate [illegally] on the eastern side of the Salween River where the proceeds were evenly shared. A trader can smuggle from 100 to 1,000 heads of cattle per trip paying 500 Thai baht per head of cattle. Close associates noted almost 10,000 heads of cattle worth kyat 30 million in illegal tariffs were smuggled during that period where Maj. Gen. Khin Maung's share amounted to over kyat 15 million. Later, Maj. Gen. Khin Maung became greedy and permitted Sai Nyunt to deal in amphetamine tablets. It has been learned that Sai Nyunt and Maj. Gen. Khin Maung have produced heroin, amphetamine tablets, and counterfeit notes in Khut Kwar Village about 20 kms from Nat Kut--which is about 120 kms away from Ho Mong--where a company of their security guards were stationed. Since Maj. Gen. Khin Maung is very secretive, an internal source revealed that even his subordinates did not know about this. After his arrival, Maj. Gen Khin Maung sold the confiscated drugs including 2 kg of heroin, raw opium, and allied chemicals to Sai Wan, a Shan national residing in Ho Mong. He then bought a motorcycle with the proceeds from the sale and the tariffs and sent it back to the regimental headquarters through Maj. Khin Myint, general staff officer grade-2, in early September 1996. In mid 1996, Capt. Naing Min from military intelligence became suspicious and searched Sai Nyunt's residence in Ho Mong and found 10 30-liter containers of processing chemicals. Maj. Gen. Khin Maung prevented Sai Nyunt's arrest and transferred him to Nat Kut. Near the end of 1996, Maj. Gen. Khin Maung was replaced by Brig. Gen. Myint Thein, deputy commander of Eastern Military Command, and Capt. Naing Min was replaced by Capt. Ko Ko Aung from No.2 Military Intelligence Unit. It has been learned that Capt. Ko Ko Aung continued the pursuit of Sai Nyunt. With a tip off from Capt. Ko Ko Aung, Sai Nyunt's wife Ma Mya Thein was apprehended by military intelligence personnel in Taunggyi near the end of June. ****************************************** S.H.A.N : KARENNI, MON, SHAN JOINT STATEMENT September 04, 1997 JOINT STATEMENT OF THE KARENNI, MON AND SHAN DELEGATES Tallinn, Estonia July 23, 1997 The delegates from the Karenni, Mon and Shan people met during the fifth General Assembly of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO ) in Otepää and International Conference on Non-violence and Conflict in Tallinn, Estonia and agreed to release this joint statement. We, the Karenni, Mon and Shan people who are members of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization ( UNPO ), are the real owners of the territories that we have inhabited since immemorial time. The Burmese occupation forces have brutally and cunningly colonized our territories. In doing so, they have violated our rights to self-determination, social, cultural and human rights. Therefore, we strongly demand; 1. To immediately withdraw all the occupation forces from our territories. 2. To cease the exploitation of all our natural resources which are used in suppressing and eliminating our peoples. 3. To find national and political settlement and solutions through peaceful means. 4. To respect the right of self-determination of all our peoples. ------------------------ Ambassador The Government of Karenni. ----------------------- General Secretary Mon Unity League. ---------------------- Vice President Shan Democratic Union. **************************** S.H.A.N : RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNREPRESENTED NATIONS AND PEOPLES ORGANIZATION September 7, 1997 FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY Fifth Session Otepää, 15-19 July 1997 General Assembly Resolution RESOLUTION ON THE MILITARY OCCUPATION AND COLONIZATION OF THE SHAN STATES BY THE BURMESE MILITARY REGIME The General Assembly, RECOGNISING the Shan people's right to self-determination as evidenced by the historic Panglong Agreement signed in 1947; CONCERNED that the Burmese occupation forces have perpetrated continuous on-going gross and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms which threaten the cultural distinctiveness and national identity and deliberate policy of displacement of 100,000 families or more, still in process, in central Shan States; CONCERNED that rampant destruction of forests, and ruthless exploitation and pillage of natural resources will lead to imbalance of nature, ecological disaster and environmental degradation; THEREFORE, STRONGLY CONDEMNS the continued brutal military occupation and colonization of the Shan States by the Burmese military government. CALLS upon the Burmese regime to respect fully the fundamental human rights, freedoms and the right to self-determination of the Shan people, and to begin unconditional negotiations with the people of the Shan States and the organizations that represent them to facilitate political settlement and the question of Shan sovereignty. URGES the Burmese military regime to halt immediately its policies of population transfer, forced relocation and ethnic cleansing or genocide in the Shan States. APPEALS to the international community to take immediate and urgent steps in pressuring the Burmese regime to halt its destruction and degradation of the natural environment. REQUESTS the General Secretary of the UNPO to organize a fact-finding human rights mission to the Shan States, or otherwise to assist the Shan people in their quest for self-determination and nation-statehood before the international Court of Justice. VOWS to continue its support for the Shan people. ***************************** BKK POST: ASEAN TO CONSIDER UK’S BURMA BAN September 5, 1997 AFP Manila - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations may ask Britain to allow Burma to attend an Asia-Europe Meeting in London next year on the principle of "non-discrimination", Philippine Foreign Under-secretary Rodolfo Severino said yesterday. Mr Severino said the principle of non-discrimination would figure prominently when Asean met to discuss Britain’s objection to Burma’s attendance. ******************************************************* NATION: PRACHUAB DOWNPLAYS ASEM BOYCOTT THREAT September 6, 1997 [abridged] FOREIGN Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan yesterday downplayed Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's threat to boycott the second Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) if Burma's participation is denied, saying it did not reflect Asean's position. "Such a warning represents only one voice and should be regarded as a personal opinion which is not necessarily Asean's collective stance,” Prachuab said. Prachuab, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) coordinator with the European Union (EU), suggested that the EU and Asean compromise on the Burma issue. The minister said the EU's visa ban on Burmese officials was not a permanent resolution but rather subject to repeal every six months. Prachuab had earlier said that Burma should be given the same treatment by the EU that it had accorded to Vietnam when that country was awaiting full participation in Asean-EU meetings. Vietnam was allowed to join those meetings as an observer. Prachuab intends to raise the question of Burma's participation in the Asem and other Asean-EU dialogue meetings when he meets British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook during his official visit to Britain from Monday to Wednesday. Cook said earlier in the week that the EU visa denial made the inclusion of Burma in Asem, which will be held in London in April, impossible. His statement prompted Mahathir to threaten an Asean boycott of the meeting if it does not include Burma, which, along with Laos, was made a member of Asean just last month. Asem comprises the EU, Asean, China, Japan and South Korea. With its latest additions, Asean now counts nine countries as members: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Burma and Laos. .. On Tuesday, Prachuab will chair a meeting in London of 23 Thai ambassadors and consuls, a Foreign Ministry official said yesterday. ************************************************** FEER: BURMA PLANS September 11, 1997 Taiwan is expected to open a full trade mission in Burma as soon as controversy over a similar office in Cambodia has died down. Economic offices are Taipei’s de facto embassies in countries that recognize China rather than Taiwan. Plans to open one in Rangoon appear to have been slowed by events in, Phnom Penh, where Taiwan was ordered by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen to close its office because of its alleged support for his rival, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, whom he deposed in July. But the delay is likely to be brief. Taiwan’s interest in Burma is part of its overall strategy of expanding trade links with Southeast Asia. Rangoon has a strong business community of Cantonese and Fujianese origin whose ties to Taiwan have always been strong. And both China Airlines and Eva Air have already initiated weekly charter flights between Taipei and Rangoon. ******************************************************* FEER: REACHING OUT September 11, 1997 By Bertil Lintner in Chiang Saen, northern Thailand Burma, Laos come under Yunnan’s economic pull Stacks of boxes full of Chinese apples line the bank of the Mekong at the northern Thai river port of Chiang Saen. Yunnan is only 200 kilometres upstream, and Chinese goods_not just fruit, but all manner of consumer items_arrive by the barge-load almost every day. This is the heart of what Chinese officials call the "Great Golden Peninsula," a swath of Southeast Asia that comprises Thailand, Burma and Laos. Over the past decade, China has assiduously built trade ties with all three countries, hoping to turn the region into a giant market for Chinese products. Thousands of Chinese have also been emigrating to Burma and Laos in search of business opportunities. For their part, the countries in the 66 peninsula" are wary of China’s economic and military strength and ambition-and view Yunnan’s push south with growing unease. That helps to explain why both Burma and Laos became members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in July. Burma’s admission to Asean was "a direct move to pull Burma away from China’s sphere of influence," Indonesian commentator Meidyatama Suryodiningrat wrote in the Jakarta Post in May. But China is just as determined to expand its influence in the region. Its links with Burma were forged when-the two countries signed a trade pact in 1988. Two-way trade-cheap consumer goods and machinery from China, and timber, jade, rubies, rice, corn, fruit and seafood from Burma. Yunnan, which shares a 1,950-kilometre border with Burma, has become a major player in the country’s economic development. Last year, the port authority in Rangoon and the Yunnan Machinery & Equipment Import Export Corp. formed a joint venture to build a container terminal and two bulk-cargo wharves in the Burmese capital. In July this year, the China National Complete Plant Import & Export Yunnan Corp. sold nine 2,000 horsepower locomotives to Burma under an agreement that also includes freight cars, passenger coaches, diesel rail cranes and spare parts. Yunnan’s economic expansion into Burma did not happen by coincidence. The Chinese expressed their intentions, almost unnoticed, in an article in the official Beijing Review on September 2, 1985. Titled "Opening to the Southwest: An Expert Opinion," the article, by a former vice-minister of communications, outlined the possibilities of finding outlets for trade from the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan through Burma to the Indian Ocean. Thus far, Sino-Burmese trade has been one-sided (see chart). But Burma-watchers expect the Chinese trade surplus to diminish over the coming years; indeed, Chinese businessmen are already finding it increasingly difficult to sell their produce in Burma. On August 13, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that trade between the two countries currently stands at "only $700 million," indicating a slowdown from a few years ago. "The purchasing power of the general public in Burma has declined over the past year, and those who have money . . . prefer upmarket brand names from Singapore or Malaysia," says a Burmese businesswoman in Rangoon. But even if Sino-Burmese trade is on the wane, that has not stopped the flow of Chinese immigrating to Burma, illegally, to seek their fortune. In Mandalay, in northern Burma, Yunnanese are buying up shops, restaurants, hotels and karaoke bars-even citizenship. "When a person dies in Mandalay, his identity card is sold to a broker across the border in Ruili, who resells it. The picture is then changed and the new owner has become a Burmese citizen who can settle and buy property in Burma," explains a Chinese in Ruili who is involved in the business. Laos, too, has come under the economic pull of Yunnan. Chinese consumer goods are much in evidence in Luang Prabang, Luang Nam Tha, Moung Sing and Phong Saly. Last year, Yunnan Airlines bought a 60% stake in the national carrier, Lao Aviation. In January, Laos’s international and domestic airlines merged into one entity called Lao Aviation Joint-Venture Co., giving Yunnan Airlines control over internal flights. China’s growing economic influence among its southern neighbours comes at a time of increasing military cooperation. For years, it has been a major supplier of military hardware to both Burma and Laos. Late last year, China and Burma signed an agreement to boost military cooperation, according to intelligence sources in Rangoon. Under the terms of the deal, China will train 300 Burmese air-force and naval officers in flying skills, naval duties and the gathering of intelligence in coastal areas, while the People’s Liberation Army will provide additional places in staff colleges for senior Burmese officers. The two countries will exchange military intelligence and Beijing could also provide arms shipments to Rangoon at "friendship prices," the sources say. China has already helped Burma install radar facilities and other naval equipment on a number of islands off the Burmese coast. Similar assistance is being extended to Laos, albeit on a smaller scale. A Chinese-installed signals-intelligence facility is reported to have been built near Laos’s southern borders with Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Yunnan, previously a remote, forgotten province deep in China’s interior, has become an integral part of Southeast Asia’s economies-legal and otherwise. Says a Western social worker who recently visited the Sino-Burmese border: "In 1990, the Chinese were only trading in Burma. But now they are buying land and investing. Even if the opposition gets power, they cannot afford to go against the Chinese." It remains to be seen if Asean membership-and fancy consumer goods in Singapore’s shopping centres-will stem the tide of Chinese influence. ******************************************************* KNU: PRESS RELEASE NO. 52 September 9, 1997 win1@psnulok.loxinfo.co.th OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS KAREN NATIONAL UNION KAWTHOOLEI Press Release No. 52 Regarding 1997 SLORC Offensive against KNU September 9, 1997 News of Combat Clashes during July and August * Tha-ton District, KNLA 1st Brigade Area: Four clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops. Two dead and one wounded on SLORC side, and 2 dead on KNLA side. * Toungoo District, KNLA 2nd Brigade Area: A total of 20 clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops. Seven dead and 26 wounded on SLORC side while one dead on KNLA side. * Nyaung Lay Bin District, KNLA 3rd Brigade Area: A total of 10 clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops. One dead and 6 wounded on SLORC side while the KNLA lost one dead. * Tavoy Mergui District, KNLA 4th Brigade Area: A total of 67 clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops. The SLORC side suffered 88 dead and 78 wounded, while the KNLA suffered 2 dead and 4 wounded. * Pa-pun District, KNLA 5th Brigade Area: A total of 59 clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops. The SLORC side suffered 11 dead and 64 wounded, while there was no casualty on the KNLA side. * Doo-pla-ya District, KNLA 6th Brigade and 103 Battalion Area: Twenty one clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops. The SLORC side suffered 22 dead and 36 wounded. The KNLA side suffered one dead. * Pa-an District, KNLA 7th Brigade Area: A total of 38 clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops. The SLORC side suffered 17 dead and 42 wounded, while there was no casualty on the KNLA side. (A summary of the above shows that 221 combat clashes took place between the KNLA and SLORC troops during the 2 months, resulting in 148 dead and 253 wounded on the SLORC side, while the KNLA suffered 7 dead and 4 wounded. The KNLA's use of guerrilla and mobile warfare tactics has enabled it to take low casualty, to maintain an economy on ammunition and to capture weapons and ammunition from the enemy, from time to time.) (Translated, printed and distributed by Karen Information Center) **************************************** BKK POST: BURMA TO TEST THE ASIAN ECONOMIC MIRACLE RECIPE September 5, 1997 Philippe Agret Kyat unhurt from currency turmoil Rangoon, AFP --After 30 years of self-sufficiency, Burma is soliciting foreign investment as it tries to follow the recipe of the Asian economic "miracle" and break away from the stigma of being one of the world’s poorest countries. According to official figures, Burma had approved $6.36 billion of foreign investment as at July 31, with oil and gas being the most sought after sector attracting $2.3 billion. The Burmese like to present their country as "the richest of the poor nations," at least in terms of potential as it is blessed with energy, mineral and forestry resources. But, paradoxically, at a time when Rangoon expected to be collecting the first fruits of its liberalised economy, launched in the late 80s, the West put pressure on the military junta and, above all, an unprecedented currency crisis hit its wealthy Asian neighbours. "The currency crisis in Asia and Asean is acute and it has affected us also, but since we are not pegged to any currency we are free from a bad situation," Brigadier David Abel, the national planning and economic development minister, told AFP. The local currency, the kyat, has been brutally depreciated since July, losing 50% of its value in one week following the devaluation of the Thai baht, and the turbulence in regional markets has brought about the return of black markets on the streets of Rangoon. "We know we need to devalue the kyat and we will do it eventually," Abel said. "Of course we can do it but at what cost to the poor. "We cannot afford to import anything we want, like before. "We have to reduce our imports to essentials that are necessary to the country - food, medicine, construction materials, spare parts, machinery, fertiliser." Burma, which was once the world’s leading supplier of rice, stopped exports some months back when stocks dropped to a very low level. The harvest was affected by serious flooding during the recent monsoon season. especially in Pegu, north of Rangoon - one of the "rice bowls" in the country. Moreover, the April decision by Washington to ban all new US investment in Burma after accusing Rangoon of human rights violations, hinders the economic take-of of the country. Burma has complained to the World Trade Organisation about the US sanctions. Since the bloody crackdown on the Burmese pro-democracy movement in 1988, the ruling military junta has been deprived of capital and the expertise of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Now, the needs of, its infrastructure are glaring. The government, nevertheless, remains optimistic, confident it will collect dividends from its recent entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Nearly half (46%) of foreign investment in Burma comes from Asean nations, lead by Singapore (US$1.22 billion) and Thailand ($1.13 billion), "and it will go up," said Tun Shin, a legal adviser to the ministry of national planning and economic development. In the absence of reliable statistics, especially on the amount of reserves in dollars, it is difficult to judge the health of the Burmese economy - of which a good part remains hidden, and the system of tax collection appears non-existent. To see the traffic jams, the road-works and the buildings under construction in the capital, one would have to believe Burma is turning the corner towards the Asian "miracle." But the word in diplomatic circles is that the economic situation "is definitely more difficult" to analyse. "If it wishes to have some chance of pulling through, the government will have to fight inflation, curb spending and liberalise the economy," a western diplomat said. ******************************************************* THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS [excerpts only] September 4, 1997: TATMADAW DELEGATION ARRIVES BACK FROM INDONESIA YANGON, 3 Sept-A high-ranking delegation of Myanma Tatmadaw headed by Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Min Thein arrived back from Indonesia this morning after taking part in Friendly Golf of ASEAN Defence Ministers at the invitation of Defence Minister of Indonesia General Edi Sudradjat. The delegation also visited the factory of Sampoerna in Java. ASEAN, EUROPE CAN RESOLVE DIFFERENCES ON MYANMAR KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Sept-The ASEAN and Europe can resolve their differences on Myanmar's participation in the Second Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) through "honest, open and frank negotiation", a high-ranking British official said here Tuesday It has always been the case for the two regions to settle their differences through such means, British Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office Peter Kilfoyle told a news conference at the British High Commission here. Kilfoyle made the statement while commenting on Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's statement last night that the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) may decide to boycott the ASEM if the European Union bars Myanmar from attending. He is here to get ideas about Malaysia's Multimedia Super Corridor. Kilfoyle hoped that like in any other differences of opinion, normal and good relations would prevail, particularly between Britain and Malaysia, and that any "difficulties" between the ASEAN and Europe on the issue of Myanmar "will be resolved". "We have a very close affinity which is being enforced over the past couple of days and I hope that it will continue to be the case," he said. Kilfoyle said he was not aware of Cook's statement on Myanmar on Monday, but added that it was "a reflection of the public opinion".-MNA/Xinhua TWO KNUS EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE YANGON, 3 Sept- Mya Aung (a) San Phyu Aung and L/cpl Pay Ga Lay of No 3 Brigade of KNU armed group, bringing in one American-made grenade, exchanged arms for peace through Thayetchaung Village Law and Order Restoration Council on 1 August. September 5, 1997: RELIEF SUPPLIES PROVIDED FOR FLOOD VICTIMS OF BAGO DIVISION FOR SECOND TIME YANGON, 4 Sept Wellwishers donated K 19.3 million to provide relief supplies to the households of inundated areas in Nyaunglaybin, Shwekyin and Waw townships, Bago Division. Led by Col Khin Aung of Office of Strategic Studies and Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence, the combined team of Tatmadawmen Myanmar Police Force members, USDA members, Red Cross members and Auxiliary Fire Brigade members handed the relief supplies to the flood victims of 41 villages from 20 Village-tracts of Waw Township right up to their doors from 1 to 3 September for the second time. The total value of the relief supplies including cash, rice, medicines, utensils, blankets, clothes and other personal goods was over K 5.6 million. Arrangements are being made to provide similar relief supplies to households of inundated areas of DaikU, Nyaunglaybin and Shwekyin townships. September 7, 1997: THIRTY-TWO MORE EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE WITH TATMADAW YANGON, 6 Sept Realizing the Government's true goodwill and disadvantages of their armed struggle line for the nation, 32 members of KNU, ABSDF and RIF Kalazoe armed groups exchanged arms for peace with the Tatmadaw from 1 to 15 July. In South-East command area, pvts Ah Kyu, Ah Kai, Sein Bo Tint,. Ah Chaung, Than Aye, Maung Sein, Aung Pwint, Tha Naw Phaw, Set Kasein, Thein Yin, Naing Lin, Htay Kyi, Kyaw Kyaw, Nyunt Wai, Mya Than Ti and Maung Myint of No(16) Battalion, No 6 brigade, KNU armed group, and pvts Myo Aung (a) Aung Kyu and Than Oo of 206 battalion, ABSDF, armed group, exchanged arms for peace. In Western Command area, maj Karmal Hussein of RIF Kalazoe group bringing in one AK-47, one 9-mm pistol, a walkie-talkie, five magazines and 80 rounds of ammunition exchanged arms for peace. In Northern Command area, wo-2 Maung Win, cpls Lun Naung and Win Kyaw (a) Moe Gyo and pvts Ma Khin Than Aye, Ma Daung Hsa and Aye Ai (a) Gan Aung of ABSDF (Central) exchanged arms for peace. In North-East Command area, I/cpl Win Naing, and pvt Po Kyaw (a) Aung Kyaw Htwe of 70 battalion, ABSDF, exchanged arms for peace. In Taninthayi Division, wo-2 Win Oo, sgt Yaza, pvts Ye Naing, Moe Zaw, of 4 brigade, and pvt Win Naing of battalion-1, KNU, bringing in on M-62, one AK-47, two M-16s, one hand grenade, four rounds of shells, eight magazines, 215 rounds of ammunition, exchanged arms for peace. ********************************************* DBSO: LETTER TO ASEAN September 2, 1997 From: Dbsousa@aol.com The following letter was sent to members (Head of States) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). -------------------- DEMOCRATIC BURMESE STUDENTS' ORGANIZATION (USA) Office of the Central Committee P.O. Box 443, Rockville, MD 20848-0443 Facsimile: (301)468-9672; Email: Dbsousa@aol.com September 2, 1997 Your Excellency, On behalf of the members of the Democratic Burmese Students' Organization (DBSO-USA) and on our own behalf, the Central Committee of the DBSO would like to express our grave concern over the recent political repression in Burma. We strongly condemn the present Burmese military regime, which imposed harsh and inhumane prison sentences on August 15, 1997 on the four Burmese nationals - U Myo Aung Thant, Executive Committee member of the Federation of Trade Unions of 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 spouse U Myint Swe. The Burmese military junta, also known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), became a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last July. It is totally against the will of the people of Burma. Several thousands of political prisoners, including students and monks remain in hellish jails throughout the country without fair trial. Accepting SLORC as a member of ASEAN is a total disaster and policy failure of ASEAN in its modern history. SLORC is taking advantage of the ASEAN membership to continue its worst human rights abuses against its own people. The SLORC's recent imposition of harsh prison sentences on the four people is actually a flagrant violation of international norms and conspicuous contempt of justice and human rights in a civilized society. ASEAN's promise of using its influence to foster national reconciliation and democratic reforms in Burma will be ridiculous and naive. We strongly believe that ASEAN is somewhat responsible for SLORC's human rights abuses, since it has initiated its constructive engagement policy and accepted Burma as a new member, which boosted political legitimacy of SLORC. We strongly urge you to condemn SLORC's continuing repression. Once again, we express our grave concern over the deteriorating situation in Burma and its threat to regional peace and security. We believe that you will take necessary action for the best interest of the friendly relations between your country and the future democratic Burma. Sincerely yours, (Signed) Ko Ko Oo General Secretary ********************************************