------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: October 3, 1997 Issue #835 HEADLINES: ========== REUTER: TOP SLORC IN SINGAPORE IN TRADE TALKS INDEPENDENT REPORT: NEW ZEALAND LODGES PROTEST AAP: AUSTRALIA WELCOMES BURMA DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE AWSJ: BURMA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAID PEOPLE'S DEFENCE FORCE: SITUATION REPORT KNU: PRESS RELEASE 57 AND 58 BKK POST: FOREIGN LABOURERS LOSE OUT ABSL: HUMAN WALL BLOCKADE AT INDO-BURMA BORDER SLORC:NEW DELHI MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF NARCOTICS SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: SUSPICIOUS JUNTA FRUSTRATES BKK POST: COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE PIPE SNAGS THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- REUTER: TOP SLORC IN SINGAPORE IN TRADE TALKS October 2, 1997 SINGAPORE, Oct 2 (Reuter) - Senior Burmese leader Khin Nyunt will arrive in Singapore on Friday for high level trade and investment talks, the Singapore government said. The powerful Secretary One of the military-run State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), will lead a large delegation to this weekend's second joint ministerial working committee meeting, a Singapore government statement said. Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt will also meet Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and his deputy, Lee Hsien Loong. Singapore is Burma's largest trading partner. Last year trade more than doubled to Singapore $1.31 billion (US$856.21 million), from S$615.9 million in 1991, according to Singapore's Trade Development Board (TDB). Total trade between the two countries during the first eight months of this year grew to S$854 million. Singapore is also the second largest investor in Burma, after the United Kingdom. Current Singapore investments in Burma is US$1.3 billion involving 55 projects, the statement said. The Burmese delegation is to include top officials from the ministries of hotels and tourism, national planning and economic development, transport, foreign affairs, agriculture and irrigation, the statement said. Singapore's side in the meeting will be led by Trade and Industry minister Lee Yock Suan and include the ministers for communications and national development. The joint ministerial committee meets every 18 months and the first meeting was held in Burma in January 1996. The second meeting on October 4 will explore new areas such as transport, telecommunications and trade, as well as review the progress of current cooperation in tourism, agro-business and workers training, the statement said. It said the two countries would sign a shipping agreement and their chambers of commerce would sign a memorandum of understanding. It gave no details of either pact. Singapore is a strong proponent of constructive engagement with Burma, which was admitted to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July together with Laos. ASEAN also includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore Thailand and Vietnam. The organisation says it hopes that by boosting meetings and dialogue with Burma, it will help bring about reforms within the family fold rather than resort to sanctions or direct intervention. ******************************************** INDEPENDENT REPORT: NEW ZEALAND LODGES PROTEST WITH BURMA October 1, 1997 By Etain McDonnell Bangkok --New Zealand this afternoon lodged an official protest with Burma, following the detention and deportation of a New Zealand woman from Rangoon last Sunday. Jude Smith was detained by the military authorities around 3.00pm Sunday after trying to attend the closing ceremony of the National League for Democracy party congress at the compound of Burma's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to which she held an invitation. She was questioned for several hours before being deported to Bangkok at 8pm that evening. On arrival in Bangkok, Smith asked the New Zealand government to lodge an official complaint over the fact that while she was in detention, immigration officials repeatedly denied her requests to advise the British Embassy, which is responsible for New Zealand's consular affairs in Burma. Jude Smith said she was advised by the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok that an official diplomatic note was delivered to the Embassy of Myanmar (Burma) this afternoon. The note raised concern over the fact that consular access had been denied and requested a response from the Myanmar government. She was told by the New Zealand Embassy that the note pointed out that the Burmese officials' actions contravened Article 36 of the Vienna Convention, which states diplomats must be notified if requested. It also pointed out that New Zealand has an agreement with the British Embassy to handle consular affairs in Burma. "I am very pleased that the New Zealand government is taking a stand over this," Jude Smith told reporters in Bangkok tonight. "Being detained in Burma is not a pleasant experience and it seems at least someone should know where you are and what is happening. The SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) is getting very deportation-happy these days and I hope it makes them think twice about denying someone consular assistance in the future." For further information, contact the NZ Embassy, Bangkok 66-2-2542530 ************************************* AAP: AUSTRALIA WELCOMES BURMA DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE BURMA AUSTRALIA (CANBERRA) September 30, 1997 [abridged] Australia has welcomed the decision of Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council to allow last weekend's National League of Democracy congress to proceed. Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says the decision to allow the NLD to hold a congress on this occasion is a positive development. **************************************** AWSJ: BURMA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAID October 1, 1997 Burma's foreign minister said Rangoon wants to normalize relations with Washington. Ohn Gyaw said Burma hopes to continue its ties with the U.S., adding it is looking after its citizens' welfare. The U. S. has banned all new investments in Burma to pressure the military government. **************************************************** PEOPLE'S DEFENCE FORCE: SITUATION REPORT October 2, 1997 From: burma@ksc.th.com YE TOWNSHIP IN MON STATE JULY 31, 1997 Near the Ma-hlwe-taung mountain range in Ye township, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 343 is in contract for repair and maintenance of the Ye-Ta-voy road and railway. On 31-07-97, heavy rain caused a landslide on the nearby mountain burying alive 20 prisoners-turned-forced laborers, 5 soldiers, 5 civilian passengers and 2 trucks. The passengers were from a bus which, due to heavy rain, had to stop and sleep that night at that Ma-hlwe-taung forced labor camp. After the incident, LIB 343 reported to the superiors about its inability to take responsibility for road and rail repair. On 19-08-97, officials from TOTAL company came and studied the landslide and said it would take 2 months to repair the road. On 19-09-97, the road repair work restarted. September 10, 1997 At Man-aung ( a Karen village) of Ye township, a landslide buried 70 houses killing 12 villagers, 9 adults and 3 children. At Min-hla (AKA) Late-pope village of Ye township, has 100 houses. Up to now, forced porter conscription has been going on forcing the villagers to provide 7 porters a day. If they can not provide the full number, the villagers have to pay at the rate of 500 Kyat per porter that they fail to find. The nearby villages, such as A-kan village, Kyaug-ywa village and etc. have also to face the same problem. Many people have fled from their villages to avoid the portage. An army column led by CSM Tin Hlaing, extorted money from workers of log and bamboo rafts, in Ye township at the following rates. On one ton of log: - for army camp at Chaung-ywa village 500 Kyat; - for army camp at Kyauk-me-jaung village 500 Kyat; - for army camp at Ye-da-dar-jee Gate 500 Kyat; - for forest ranger of the Forestry department 1500 Kyat; On 100 stems of bamboo: - for army camp at Chaung-ywa village 200 Kyat; - for army camp at Kyauk-me-jaung village 100 Kyat; - for army camp at Ye-da-dar-jee Gate 100 Kyat; - for forest ranger of the Forestry department 200 Kyat; Chaung-ywa village in Ye township will be forcibly relocated after the monsoon, according to the Slorc's plan. At that village, all villagers are forced to carry water daily for the army camp stationed there. In Ye township, U San Kyi's palm grove was confiscated by the township LORC for the expansion of the Ye city area. But in reality, it was divided and distributed among the officials of Infantry Battalion (IB)61 including the second in command, Major Hla Win, who took 3 plots for himself. In July 1997, at Late-pope village, soldiers from LIB 353 gang-raped 5 girls including Naw Phaw Lweh, a 25 years old daughter of U Net Kyar. They also forcibly took commodities worth 50000 Kyat from a shop owned by Ko Myint Oo(28), a man from that village. In Ye township, LIB 343 forcibly confiscated a villager's rubber plantation of 10 acres, situated near the SLORC-owned ice factory. Then, a market place was constructed and sold for the battalion fund. A room of 15 feet by 15 feet was sold at the rate of 150,000 Kyat. Major Hla Win from IB 61 issued orders conscripting forced porters from villages of Kan-ni, Yit-chaung, Ah-byaw, Chauk-taing, Kine-daw, Baw-doe and etc., for the repair of Ye-Ta-voy rail and road. When the villagers did not comply with the order, he summoned the village headmen and threatened to totally wipe out the villagers, if they further refused to follow his order. -------------------- KAW-THAUNG TOWNSHIP IN TENASSERIM DIVISION July 30, 1997 A number of people were arrested at Kaw-thaung township in Tenasserim division. Some of them were released on 970915. Four of the released persons shown below were interviewed: 1) U Hla Hun (45); 2) Maung Kyi Khaing (18); 3) U Maung Kweh (37); 4) U Tin Htun (24); ( All of them are Burman, Buddhist and peasants from Chauk-tine village, Min-don township of Ma-gway Division, in central Burma.) What they said about their experience is as follows: They were from the same village and they came to Kaw-thaung to look for jobs. In Kaw-thaung, they stayed at the Shway-min-win monastery. At 11:00 PM on 30-07-97, about 30 people from local LORC, the army, police and fire brigade came and arrested them. Then they were taken to the Pa-dauk-shway-wa Ward LORC office. They were put together with 20 other people, also arrested. They were kept there all night without sleep. The next morning, they were taken to the police station where there were about 150 other persons, detained for use as porters. In the evening, about 60 soldiers, led by Captain Win Thein from LIB 431, came and took all the detained persons by trucks to Kaw-thaung harbor. Then they were taken by ship to Chain-meh-taung. They arrived at Chain-meh-taung the next morning and were made to carry ammunitions and food supplies. One person had to carry 20 Viss ( 70 pounds) of load. They had to cross streams and climb mountains. At least, they had to walk 10 miles a day, for 20 days to reach Ywar-hay-lu camp. Along the trip, they were given small amount of food, according to scale. It was not enough and they were always hungry, but no more food was provided. Some soldiers sold rice at 50 Kyat per condensed-milk tin. The porters had to buy this rice. If they could not walk quickly enough, were scolded and beaten. If the porters got sick, no medicine or treatment was given. Some soldiers sold the medicines to the sick porters. On the way, 13 porters fled. They had to carry supplies two times from Ywa-hay-lu camp to Koe-theh-lu camp. On other days, they had work on the construction of the army camp and other work there. Altogether about 60 porters had died within 2 months of portage, mainly due to lack of food, exhaustion, sickness, lack of proper treatment and medicine for the sick. All the rest were released on 15-09-97. ------------------------ YE-BYU TOWNSHIP IN TENASSERIM DIVISION September 16, 1997 At the Le-sa-karn village in Ye-byu township of Tanessarim division, lightning struck 3 soldiers from LIB 343, killing one and wounding 2. ************************************* KNU: PRESS RELEASE 57 AND 58 October 2, 1997 From: Office of the Supreme Headquarters Karen National Union KawThooLei PRESS RELEASE NO. 57/97 September 30, 1997 Regarding 1997 SLORC Offensive against the KNU Atrocities and Human Rights Abuses by the SLORC Paan District On 2-9-97, Battalion Commander Tun Aung of the SLORC IB 230 arrested a No Kay villager named Maung Kway, for no apparent reason. After torturing him, the commander shot him dead. Then, the commander looted 2,400 kyat, 3 viss of cooking oil, 5 bottles of liquor and a goat from relatives of the victim. On 2-9-97, a combined force of the SLORC military and police arrested No Boe Kloe villagers, Maung Maung, Maung Win, and Par Lar Kee on charges of having connections with the rebels and sent them to Kaw Ka @LIST28F3.PML Reik detention camp. On 3-9-97, a military column from the SLORC IB 230 arrested Saw Doe and 2 other villagers and tortured them. Though Saw Doe managed to escape, the other 2 remain in the hands of the SLORC troops. Their fate is unknown. On 5-9-97, a SLORC military column came to Kort Ta Raw village of Kaw Ka Reik township and looted a TV set and 2,000 kyat from a villager, Saw Lar. On 16-9-97, a unit of the DKBA came to Ler Dah village of Kaw Ka Reik township and looted chickens and other property from a villager named Saw Gar. They also stole 3,000 kyat from a villager named Maung Nyunt Thein, and kicked Saw Eh Loo Ger without any reason. On 22-9-97, units from the SLORC LIB 547 and 549 fired mortar shells into Tee Klay village of Kaw Ka Reik township, killing 3 village cows. The SLORC troops then came and ate the dead cattle and looted 3,000 kyat from the villagers. They burnt down a house and 6 cow sheds. The mortar shells also wounded 3 villagers. Papun District On 28-8-97, troops from the SLORC LIB 547 and 549 confiscated 85 baskets of rice from Meh Way and Meh Thu villagers. In addition, they took rice from other forcibly located villagers in the area which is situated in the south west of Papun. The troops also shot dead a Pway Day villager named Saw Aung Thein and stole his 55 baskets of rice. On 6-9-97, troops from SLORC LIB 705 came to Wa Lort Mu Doe village in Pupun township and burnt down the houses that had escaped the previous burnings. On 12-9-97, troops from the SLORC LIB 709 shot dead a villager from Maw Cho Ta village in the Pupun township. His name was Saw Jor Ga, he was 55 years old. He was killed for no apparent reason. PRESS RELEASE NO. 58/97 October 2, 1997 Atrocities and Human Rights Violations by the SLORC troops On 28-8-97, a military column from the SLORC Operational Command 3 came to Wah Klu village in Kyauk Kyi township and shot dead a villager for no apparent reason. His name was Saw No Ah. On 29-8-97, in the Tavoy township, the SLORC troops burnt down the whole village of Ber Taw Ta, including the village Christian church. On 29-8-97, troops from the SLORC LIB 704 executed an unknown villager at a front line military camp in Bu Hsa Kee area of Tarn Da Bin township. On 31-8-97, the SLORC troops in Kaw Ka Reik township demanded 1,500 viss of pork from Nor Der Kee villagers as a fine because a battle took place near their village. The troops also ransacked every house in the village. In the Kaw Ka Reik township, the SLORC demanded from the villages of Nor Kay, Mya Pa Daing, Naung Da Hweh, Toh Gor Koe, No Par Doh, No Ta Bor, Yor Bu and other villages, 44 persons from each village to serve as laborers. For each person below the quota, a fine of 200 kyat would be levied against the village. On 2-9-97, village elders of Gor The Doe in Tarn Da Bin township named Saw San Tin, Saw Way Wo and ordained Christian pastors named Saya Law Ret and Saya Saw Kot were arrested and forced into wooden clogs by the SLORC troops. Their crime was the failure to prevent villagers from fleeing the SLORC troops. Troops from the SLORC LIB 701 had subjected the villagers, including children, women and the aged, to forced labor. As a result, those who could not longer bear the hardship of the forced labor, fled. On 2-9-97, troops from the SLORC LIB 534 came to Ma Yan Gon village in Thaton township and shot dead a villager named Saw Khin Zaw for no apparent reason. On 5-9-97, troops from the SLORC military column led by Gen. Aung Kyaw Hla came to Taung Ta Lay village of Kaw Ka Reik township and arrested villager Maung Thaung. He was tortured to death. In Chauk Ba Lu village, the SLORC stole money from women villagers. They stole 6,000 kyat from Naw Heh, 27,775 kyat from Naw Ma NGe and 1,500 kyat from Naw Mu Hsay. On 14-9-97, seventeen villagers, including 12 children of Yar The Ta village in Cha In Seik Jee township arrived at the Thai-Burma border in Umphang township for refuge after fleeing from their village as they could no longer bear mistreatment by the SLORC troops. Many villagers in Cha In Seik Jee and Kaw Ka Reik townships are no longer able to survive in their villages as they have been ruthlessly subjected to mistreatment by the SLORC troops. Abbreviations and Words: KNU = Karen National Union, the political wing of the Karen resistance. SLORC = State Law and Order Restoration Council, the military dictatorship of Burma. KNLA = Karen National Liberation Army, the military wing of the Karen resistance. LIB = Light Infantry Battalion Kyat = name of Burmese currency viss = equals to 1.6 kg. A basket of rice equals 33 kg. ****************************************** BKK POST: FOREIGN LABOURERS LOSE OUT AS BUILDING PROJECTS FOLD October 2, 1997 Onnucha Hutasingh Thousands have not been paid for months Many foreign workers, most of them in the construction industry, have lost their jobs, according to a report by the Department of Employment. As of August about 17,045 migrant workers have been laid off, an official at the foreign labour control centre said. An official report shows that as of Sept 26, the employment of about 1,000 foreign workers has been terminated. This means about 16,000 of them have evaded the authorities. Under the law, employers are required to report termination of employment to the immigration office and hand over the workers for deportation. The Labour and Social Welfare Ministry has yet to take measures on jobless foreign workers, but in the economic meltdown, the official said priority will be given to Thai nationals. Meanwhile, several foreign workers have found that their own future is now hanging in the balance. Most are waiting for payments that are one or two months overdue, according to an official responsible for Burmese workers. Burmese workers at construction sites of the Hopewell rail/road project have not received wages since February. Those at the construction site of the Asia Games venue have not been paid either. "Instead of reporting to labour officials, many decide to go and look for new jobs," the official said. Thawe, an 18-year-old Burmese Worker, said he had been to seven places before ending up at the construction site of the Games. He is now looking for a new job. "I haven't received payment for four weeks. They agreed to pay me 140 baht a day but cut this to 500 baht for two weeks. They haven't paid us yet," he said. He said workers fail to report to authorities for fear that they might be arrested if they go outside limited areas. Some workers have left their money to flee police. Eng, a 30-year-old Burmese worker, is also waiting for his payment agreed at the rate of 560 baht per two weeks. Both workers are unaware that the rising unemployment rate in Thailand due to the recession. They said there are a lot of jobs to do although the money is not that good, and they plan to work and collect money for a while. Officials at the Labour Protection and Social Welfare Department said there were no complaints about alien workers being cheated by employers, and the Social Security Office has no records of migrant labourers who are registered with the fund. Deputy Labour and Social Welfare Minister Ekkaporn Rakkwamsuk said evaluation of the relaxation of alien workers will be conducted by the end of the month. He said the government had yet to decide whether to extend the relaxation period. He said these unskilled labourers were still in demand in several sectors such as fisheries and exports. A June 25, 1996 cabinet resolution allows alien workers to work in 43 provinces and register with the authorities. They are eligible to work for two years. A total of 323,123 migrant workers reported to the immigration office last November and a total of 293,652 received temporary work permits. However, an unofficial report compiled by Mahidol University's Institute of Population and Social Research puts the number of illegal workers at one million; 75 per cent are Burmese nationals. ******************************************************* ABSL: HUMAN WALL BLOCKADE AT INDO-BURMA BORDER October 1, 1997 From: s_aung@tom.unv.ernet.in INFORMATION ON CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ILLICIT ENTRY OF DRUGS AT THE INDO-BURMA BORDER AT MOREH, MANIPUR Date Of Commencement: 2 October 1997 Location: Moreh, 112 Kilometres From Imphal, Manipur Nature Of Campaign : Human Wall Blockade By Political And Trade Union Activists, Human Rights Organisations, Womens Organisations, Students, Ngos Working Against Drugs And Hiv/Aids And All Other Concerned Groups And Individuals The Samata Party has taken the initiative in organising the Satyagraha with volunteers from all over the country erecting a human wall every day. It will not be conducted under the party's auspices, as we wish to mobilise as many people as possible to identify themselves in support of those in the north-east who are fighting the menace of drugs and AIDS. (Please see the background note). The Satyagraha is being organized by George Fernandes, Member of Parliament, President of Samata Party and Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat. This is not a political fight. This is a humanitarian struggle. The people of the north-east, in particular, and in other parts of the country must be saved from the scourge of drugs and AIDS, and the colossal waste of the nation's material and human resources this implies. Along with that the security of the nation must be safeguarded. So, this is a struggle to save the nation, in every sense of the term. It is also a struggle against corruption and for human rights for the people of Burma since the strength of the Burmese military lies in its access to drug money which is then used to suppress the democratic urges of the people. We invite people from all parts of the country irrespective of their political or other affiliations to join us at Moreh during the week beginning October 2. This will be a major international event in which the volunteer satyagrahis are prepared to face any consequences that may arise out of their efforts to prevent vested interests from carrying on their dangerous activities. The people and press of Manipur have welcomed unanimously the proposed satyagraha. We request all our friends in the press to make it possible for your correspondents and photographers to be present at Moreh for the satyagraha so that the world is aware of the struggle of the people of the north-east against those who connive with smugglers of drugs which is destroying the health, well-being and morale of the people. Any information about the logistics of reaching Moreh may be obtained by contacting Mr. Aneel Hegde or Mr. Ramesh Kumar at Delhi Tel: (011) 301 7172 or 301 6035 or Mr. M.G. Chaddha at (011) 335 2280 or contact on Fax No: (91)(11)379 3397. ------------------------------------------ Background Note for the Moreh Satyagraha : ------------------------------------------ TIME is the world's best known and most influential weekly newsmagazine. In its issue of December 23, 1996, TIME carried a two-page report on heroin smuggling from Burma through India to the Middle East and Europe and the United States. The estimated value of the smuggled heroin is about one lakh crore rupees (Rs. 1,00,000,00,00,000). The TIME report only substantiated what is well known to those who are engaged in the war against drug trade and drug addiction. It also substantiated another well-known fact: the involvement of the Burmese army and Indian security forces in the opium trade. Two points need to be emphasised. First, it is eight months since this story appeared and drew the attention of the world with an eye-catching headline "Heroin's Deadly Detour - Smugglers are now sending the drug through India to the West - with help from crooked police". Yet, so far there has been no move by the India government to seal the borders with Burma and prevent the use of Moreh for drug smuggling. All inquiries made by us indicate that it is business as usual, with, as confirmed by TIME, "Indian security forces mixed up in the drug trade". TIME also quotes a senior police officer telling a western drug control expert who visited the area that the "corruption level" (read as "collusion in drug smuggling") in his force was "about 100%". Second, the processing of opium into heroin is made near the India border using Indian- made acetic anhydrides and other chemicals. Obviously, the head of the Narcotics Wing in the Ministry of Finance is aware where the chemicals are manufactured. He also knows who the manufacturers are. These chemicals are smuggled across the frontier at Moreh for converting opium into heroin. Why has no action been taken by the Narcotics Wing to apprehend those involved in this smuggling? Does any person in government service have any interest in the manufacture of acetic anhydrides and other chemicals in India or in Nepal? Drugs have had a devastating effect on India's youth, in general, and the youth of Manipur, Nagaland and other states alongside Burma's frontier, in particular. Mumbai and Delhi have become major operational centres for the drug smugglers who have established large underworld networks of criminals and other anti-socials to market the drug in India and to reach it to the overseas markets. It is drug money that the underworld uses to bribe officials, police and politicians. Drug money poses the gravest risk to national security. Burma has also been exporting AIDS along with drugs into India. Today, Manipur has the largest incidence of AIDS per 1000 of population in India and perhaps in the world. One in every five young persons in Manipur is a drug addict. +-----------------------------------------------+ | Shar Aung | |-----------------------------------------------| | All Burma Students League | | 3, Krishna Menon Marg | | New Delhi - 110011 | | India. | |-----------------------------------------------| | Ph : 95-11-3017172/3016035 | | Fx : 95-11-3793397 | | Email : shar@league.unv.ernet.in | | s_aung@tom.unv.ernet.in | | makakha@league.unv.ernet.in | +-----------------------------------------------+ ******************************************** SLORC:NEW DELHI MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF NARCOTIC DRUGS September 28, 1997 [abridged] From: Okkar66127@AOL.COM NEWS BRIEFS FROM MYANMAR ISSUED BY THE EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR, NEW DELHI MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF NARCOTIC DRUGS Drug transcends border and hence drug related problems also transcend border. However, unlike the end of 17th Century and early 18th Century when the movement of drugs took place with forcible introduction to an innocent country the present day movement accrue and arise out of "users" fondness or addiction of the drug at the other end. The Union of Myanmar is one of the few countries in the forefront of the war on illicit drugs. In 1974, an elaborate legal framework was put in place to deal with the drug menace by the enactment of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Law. This legal framework was further strengthened by amendments in 1983 and 1988. Furthermore from 1977 through 1988 the Myanmar Security forces had carried out large-scale military operations (Operation Moe Hein) in twelve phases. In parallel with these military operations, the eradication of poppy plantations was carried out starting from the year 1974 by aerial spraying as well as by other means. As a result, the Myanmar authorities have been able to destroy well over thousands of acres of poppy fields to-date. At the international level, Myanmar is a State party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. It has also been actively engaged in the sub-regional cooperation with her neighbours. Thus in 1995 Myanmar joined them in signing with UN Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) the Agreement on Precursor Control in East Asia and the Agreement on Reducing Illicit Drug Use in the Highlands of the East. In the last two years the government has made impressive achievements. Hundreds of kilograms of raw opium, heroin, marijuana and precursor chemicals have been destroyed in public on eleven occasions, witnessed by representatives of International Organizations and Diplomatic Corps including Indian Embassy. In the meanwhile the programme to eradicate poppy cultivations was made and implemented so successfully that Mongla Region in the Shan State was declared Opium Free Zone. Furthermore, notorious drug trafficker Li Yun Chang who escaped from a closely guarded Thai detention centre was recently apprehended in Myanmar and later handed back to Thailand making it possible for the latter to extradite the drug trafficker to the United States where he will stand trial in New York for involvement in one of the world's largest heroin seizures. All these are planned and accomplished without any help from either the US or UK. However, hundreds of Myanmar soldiers have sacrificed their lives and further fighting against drug trafficking groups, some of which have been connived and supported by so-called "Aid Programmes" or "NGOs". Myanmar still keep their arms opened to all countries including the US and UK for joining hands to meet the Challenge of Narcotic Drugs. The American and British public should take this opportunity and put pressure to their respective Administration for carrying out the part of their duty and urge for active cooperation with countries like Myanmar. It would be one of the greatest achievements of the decade if any part of the narcotic drugs infested area of the West could be declared Drug-Free Zone similar to Mongla Region of Myanmar. ******************************************* SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: SUSPICIOUS JUNTA FRUSTRATES THAIS October 2 1997 by William Barnes in Bangkok Three months ago Burma was welcomed into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but that did not stop it from building on a Moei River island to spy on Thailand. Burma is desperate for friends but remains suspicious of outsiders, especially its traditional enemy across the river. Burmese soldiers are cloaked in a fierce tradition that their key task is to protect the Burmese heartland from rapacious foreigners. So when nature decided a couple of years ago to change the course of the Moei River - an important border marker - it clipped a few score hectares off Burma in favour of Thailand. The result has been a long and bitter squabble that Thai peace-seekers have failed to quell. The "principled" Burmese simply do not trust the "unprincipled" Thais, as they tend to view things. Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw may sit beaming at any number of regional conferences that preach non-confrontation, but along the border it is the hard men of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the ruling military junta, who still call the shots. This means that the nearby, newly completed HK$25 million Friendship Bridge, remains unused - to the frustration of Thai traders who are eager to do business across the border. Earlier this year Thai army chief General Chettha Thanajaro hugged his opposite number, General Maung Aye, on the bridge, declaring "mutual understanding" had been achieved. The Burmese regime has no access to development money from the likes of the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank because of its poor human rights record and refusal to deal with the opposition, the National League for Democracy. Yet the junta has been ambivalent at best. The generals appear to like the idea of Thai money being used to open up Tavoy port and other transport links. But enthusiastic Thai talk of opening an overland route into Rangoon has met with a cool response. A local politician who wanted to lead a "friendship" convoy was firmly rebuffed. "We find it very frustrating. Nothing we do seems to please them," said one Thai security official. ********************************************* BKK POST: COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE PIPE SNAGS October 2, 1997 PTT tries to allay Yadana worries A joint committee has been set up to deal with disputes arising as a result of the gas pipeline construction in Kanchanaburi province, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand announced yesterday. The project, to deliver natural gas from Burma's Yadana and Yetagun gas fields to a power plant in Ratchaburi, has generated tremendous controversy and has been strongly opposed by environmental groups. The PTT has insisted that the construction and other factors were taken into account and dealt with on international standards but conceded there were disputes between local villagers and contractors as a result. It added that it never resorted to violent means to solve the disputes, although the resolutions were sometimes late in coming. It hoped that the establishment of the committee would help resolve future differences. PTT public relations director Songkiat Thansamrit said the committee's formation was the result of a recent protest by villagers at Ban Phu Takian in Sai Yok district who refused to allow construction to proceed, claiming that it would damage their property. He said the dispute has been satisfactorily resolved with the help of provincial Governor Khwanchai Wasawong. The new committee would be responsible for settling compensation for any damage that might result from the pipeline's construction, he said. Chaired by the Sai Yok district officer, the committee is composed of representatives from local government agencies, kamnans and village chiefs and the PTT. ******************************************************* THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS [excerpts only] From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM September 17, 1997: HANA BANK OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA OPENS YANGON REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE YANGON, Sept 16 - Hana Bank of the Republic of Korea opened its Yangon Representative Office at International Business Centre this Morning. PRC RED CROSS DONATES $ 20,000 FOR FLOOD RELIEF YANGON, Sept 16 - Red Cross Society of the people's Republic of China donated US $ 20,000 for flood relief measures of Myanmar today. September 21, 1997: MEMBERS OF ARMED GROUPS EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE IN TANINTHAYI, DAWEI YANGON, 20 Sept - Altogether 43 armed group members led by commandant U Soe Wai of Myaik-Dawei Nyinyutyay TatU, KNU organizer-incharge Phado Maung Wah (a) Kyaw Thein of Mawtaung Township, and sgt Naung Mei of No 1 company of No 11 battalion and 284 family members exchanged arms for peace at Theindaw military camp in Taninthayi Township on 16 and 17 September, bringing in 50 assorted arms, 1,804 rounds and nine mines. On 3 and 5 September, 10 armed group members led by sgt Saw Shar Bi of No 2 company of No 10 battalion of No 4 brigade, two members led by sgt Saw Bo Hsa Hsai of No 1 company of No 10 battalion, and 42 family members exchanged arms for peace bringing in seven assorted arms, 117 rounds and two grenades. 28 ARMED GROUP MEMBERS EXCHANGE ARMS FOR PEACE YANGON, 20 Sept - Twenty-eight members of armed groups who exchanged arms for peace were pvt Shaung Shu Ar Laung of Kalahsoe Armed Group with one short gun and three rounds in the Western Command area; rations officer Myint Shwe of No 3 company of No 2 brigade of KNU in the Southern Command area; sgt Soe Win of No 17 battalion of No6 brigade of KNU, pvt Ah Myaing, cpl Ko Paik of Kyaikdon, pvts Saw Lwin, Thein Kyi, Jinna, Baw Thaw, E Pa, Shwe Kan, Shan Lu, Han Kyi, Maung Myint, Phado He and Tin Zaw Oo, pvt Han Nyein of, intelligence unit of No 6 brigade, pvt Sein Htwe Hlaing, Soe Myint, Thauk Kya and Ah Pho of No 16 battalion, pvt Thein Dan of Dupalaya district, and pvt Ah Boke and Ah Tun of village defence unit in the South-East Command area; sgt Saw Pe (a) Saw Ei Nu, l/cpl Saw Pei Khee (a) Saw Phyo Khin and their wives of No 2 company of No 10 battalion with one M 16 automatic, two magazines and 30 rounds in Taninthayi Division. *************************************************