------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: October 7, 1997 Issue #838 Noted in Passing: The assumption that the moment you have a more open society you invite civil strife cannot scare us away. -- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on his vision of ‘civil society’ [see TIME: "WHAT IS SUCCESS WITHOUT FREEDOM?"] HEADLINES: ========== THE ECONOMIST: A GLIMMER OF HOPE? TIME: "WHAT IS SUCCESS WITHOUT FREEDOM?" THE NATION: BURMA HAILS 'ALLY' SINGAPORE BKK POST: VILLAGERS TO SEEK OFFICIAL DEMARCATION INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY: AUNG SAN'S ASSASSINATION INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY: WHO REALLY KILLED AUNG SAN BKK POST: TWO NATIONS HALT ANTI-DRUGS GAINS BKK POST: PREMIER URGED TO CLARIFY POSITION NO PETRO-DOLLARS FOR SLORC: FBC MOURNS PIPELINE VICTIMS BKK POST: ALLIANCE TO WAGE ALL - OUT WAR ON AIDS BKK POST: TWO MIGRANT WORKERS FACE KILL CHARGES SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET NO.A-0157(I), A-0156(I) THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : NEWS BRIEFS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ECONOMIST: A GLIMMER OF HOPE? October 4, 1997 Bangkok --REASONS to be cheerful about politics in Myanmar are as rare as working telephone lines to the house in Yangon of Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader. For a year, the street outside has been barricaded. Official newspapers have directed a stream of abuse at Miss Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). Many of her supporters remain behind bars; and the government is so uneasy that big universities are still closed for fear of protests. Prospects for reconciliation between the NLD and the ruling military junta have seemed negligible. Yet for two days from September 27th, nearly 800 party members were allowed to attend a congress at her house. Several dozen others who wanted to be there were manhandled into lorries and dispatched by the authorities, who also deported a foreigner picked up on her way to the meeting. But there was no repeat of the mass detentions and harassment that have marked previous gatherings. Miss Suu Kyi herself praised the authorities' help. Suddenly, hopes for the "dialogue" she has long sought no longer seem quite so far-fetched. Have the generals had a change of heart? At the least, they seem more concerned than usual to show themselves in a good light. They made much of their offer to hold talks on September 16th with one of Miss Suu Kyi's colleagues, Aung Shwe. When it was turned down by the NLD, because Miss Suu Kyi was not invited, they accused the party of hypocrisy and of being hostage to the "whims of a single person". As some members thought Mr Aung Shwe should have gone to the talks, the junta probably hopes for a split in party ranks. Cynics believe that the congress was allowed to go ahead in the belief that divisions would become apparent. But it is unlikely that the government would be so ill informed. The generals have enough spies to have known that it would turn out as it did: a display of unity in the face of adversity, and of loyalty to Miss Suu Kyi. The sudden bout of tolerance may have been urged on the generals by foreign and local businessmen-among whom are some of the junta's few sympathisers. Myanmar is running out of money; and a dire economic predicament has been made worse by dreadful flooding. Nor has accession in July to the regional club, the Association of South-east Asian Nations, brought a bonanza of foreign capital. It has not even brought great diplomatic support. Rather, some ASEAN governments regard the regime as an embarrassment. The generals are at least fortunate in the patience of their chief opponent. The congress marked the ninth anniversary of the NLDs founding during a popular uprising put down at the cost of thousands of lives. Since then, many party members have been persecuted, jailed and sometimes tortured. Understandably, some delegates voiced a thirst for vengeance. Miss Suu Kyi made a passionate speech arguing against rancour and in favour of co-operation. That still depends on the generals' willingness to talk to her. There have been false dawns before-notably when Miss Suu Kyi was "freed" from six years of house arrest in July 1995. In May 1996, after another NLD congress had been allowed to go ahead, one of her deputies, Tin Oo, spoke of a "glimpse of a glimmer of light," which was soon snuffed out. At least a flicker is better than no light at all. ******************************************************* TIME: "WHAT IS SUCCESS WITHOUT FREEDOM?" October 6, 1997 [Following are excerpts from an interview with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The interview was conducted by Charles Alexander, Adi Ignatius, Anthony Spaeth, and John Colmey] TIME - Are the proponents of Asian values essentially authoritarian? ANWAR - Asian values are about more than that. What about virtue? What about abhorrence of corruption? What about regard for the rights of others? What about fundamental liberties? What about an inculcation of knowledge? Those are also essentially Confucian ethics, but this has not been highlighted. What is highlighted again and again is filial piety, respect for elders, respect for authority. TIME - Do you and the Prime Minister disagree on this? ANWAR - I should say we have a different emphasis. Coming from my generation, I emphasize the issues of civil society, fundamental liberties and the trust and wisdom that the public, with exposure to education and knowledge, should be able to exercise. TIME - Do you feel you are leading a new generation into power in Malaysia? ANWAR - Yes, there's a new generation that has no hang-ups about the colonial experience. That may seem disrespectful, antagonizing the elders, but I don't believe so. I mean this was a generation that was fighting for independence and had to contend with militant communist insurgents. You can sense their total obsession with order and security. I'm not disputing that. I'm arguing the case that things have changed, and you don't have militant communists now. I don't want to sound like a super-liberal democrat here. I don't think I would be tolerant of any kind of militant activity or groups carrying M-16s. TIME - Your vision of a "civil society" involves an independent judiciary, a free press and a devolution of power. Are Malaysians ready for that? ANWAR - A country needs to be exposed to a wider, open discussion. I don't claim that I have all the answers, be they economic or political. But certainly we'll have to go beyond our present understanding of what democracy is in our society. We have to be more tolerant. The assumption that the moment you have a more open society you invite civil strife cannot scare us away. TIME - Has constructive engagement with Burma worked? ANWAR - My personal view is it is not progressing as well as expected. And ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] governments need to be seen to be more engaged with both the government and [Burma's democratic leader Aung San] Suu Kyi. ************************************************* THE NATION: BURMA HAILS 'ALLY' SINGAPORE October 6, 1997 AFP, RANGOON - Burma's official press yesterday hailed Singapore as a "staunch ally" of Rangoon, which is leading the way in engaging the military state and investing in the country's developing economy. Bilateral relations had "deepened" in the past decade and Burma's entry into Asean was allowing relations to move to a "higher level," said an editorial in the English-language New Light of Myanmar daily. The comment came after Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the ruling junta, attended a joint ministerial meeting with Singapore on Saturday and declared that Burma was ready to enter the regional mainstream. "Singapore has been among Myanmar's [Burma's] staunchest allies practising constructive engagement when those hostile to Myanmar were trying to keep her out of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [Asean]," the editorial said. Despite Western pressure, Burma was admitted into Asean last July, joining a group committed to establishing a regional free trade area over the next decade. ******************************************************* BKK POST: VILLAGERS TO SEEK OFFICIAL DEMARCATION October 6, 1997 Supamart Kasem Govt urged to quickly settle territorial row Tak --People living in border areas of Mae Sot district will officially seek the demarcation of the Thai-Burmese border near a disputed area in Tambon Tha Sal Luad. The villagers agreed yesterday to submit a letter to Mae Sot district officials soon to ask the government to quickly settle a border dispute between Thailand and Burma over land near Wat Prathat Khok Chang Phuak and seek a permanent demarcation along the Moei River. Yesterday, the local people met in Tambon Mae Tao to discuss the problem that Burma has laid claim to a 200-rai plot in Mae Sot by building two watchtowers and digging bunkers. Burma has also deployed more troops to guard the site, frightening about 20 Thai families who had farmland near the troubled area. Thuay-ong Thatoom who holds a Sor Khor 1 ownership document for a four-rai plot near the disputed area said he wanted the government to speedily negotiate with Burma for a resolution so that the villagers could live without fear of danger posed by Burmese troops. "If Burma has the right over the land which has been cut off, Thai people also have the right over our land and can plant on it. But we now fear that Burmese troops will hurt us or place anti-personnel mines there. We want Thai officials to inspect the area and ensure safety for us," he said. Muen Kho-inta who owns a 13-rai plot near the troubled area urged the government to speed up the demarcation of the border along the Moei River, saying the problem existed not only near the temple but also in many other areas. Many villagers said most area of an islet in the Moei River opposite Ban Huay Muang on the Thai side has been eroded due to the change of the river course since Burma started dredging work in the Moei River in June. ******************************************************* INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY: RECENT SPECULATIONS ON AUNG SAN'S ASSASSINATION by H.A. Stonor [Note from BurmaNet Editor: BurmaNet was pleased to receive this commentary from H. A. Stonor, one of the British officers who were in Burma at the time of General Aung San's assassination. Few British officers from that period are still alive today, so H. A. Stonor's commentary is particularly valuable. Another commentary on how the assassination plot developed was recently posted by "Naing Win / Kyin Ho, M.D." on the burmanet-l newsgroup, so we have also included it below.] AN INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY ON RECENT SPECULATIONS CONCERNING THE ASSASSINATION OF AUNG SAN 3 October 1997 On 19 July, the BBC transmitted a television documentary, "Who Really Killed Aung San?", which was also the subject of an article by the correspondent Fergal Keane, printed in the Guardian newspaper on the same day and in the South China Morning Post on 22 July. In these reports it was insinuated that the assassination of Aung San and five fellow cabinet members in July 1947 was somehow the work of a secret conspiracy involving not only a jealous Burmese politician, U Saw, but also an amalgam of different British officials, including the former governor Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith and Captain David Vivian as well as a group of British Burma veterans in the United Kingdom, known as the Friends of the Burma Hill Peoples. With time and distance, it is, of course, easy to play flights of fancy with the fading traces of history. However, as one who not only lived through those terrible events in Rangoon but was also a member of the Friends of the Burma Hill Peoples, the programme made no sense whatsoever and was a gross distortion of many events. Firstly, while U Saw was executed for his alleged role in the assassinations, it is true that many contemporaries - both Burmese and British officials alike - always felt further questions needed to be answered over U Saw's actions at the time: whether he had organised the assassinations alone, on behalf of others, or whether, indeed, he was victim of one of the most successful frame-ups in history. Certainly, in the violent climate of those times, there were many armed bands and much confusion in the country. U Saw himself had recently survived an assassination attempt on his own life, while Aung San and his Cabinet had been discussing the mass arrest of political opponents that very day. Furthermore, there was evidence of two rogue British officers, Captain Vivian and Major Young, conspiring for financial gain to supply U Saw with arms. Most curious of all, however, were the actions of U Saw himself. As a former prime minister, U Saw no doubt retained political ambitions, but his behaviour that day was not that of a man who had any immediate master-plan for power. In fact, U Saw did absolutely nothing but sit in his house until he was arrested. Moreover, although the BBC programme conveniently overlooked this, there was never any question of the British governor, Sir Hubert Rance, appointing U Saw in Aung San's place. If guilty on his own, it appeared to be a heinous crime without motive. Inevitably, although U Saw was swiftly arrested, speculation remained rife in the following weeks. The Burmese communists, who were also armed and then very powerful, immediately believed that there must have been some British involvement, since they claimed that Aung San, frustrated at the slow pace of the British withdrawal from Burma, was considering rejoining their ranks. Aung San, it should be remembered, was a co-founder of the Communist Party of Burma in 1939. Indeed, I personally witnessed Aung San's brother-in-law, the communist leader Than Tun, march into the British Club in Rangoon after the assassination, where he began smashing glasses and generally berating the British. Those of us in the British services, however, began to hear other reports, suggesting other possible perpetrators amongst Aung San's political rivals, who had either framed U Saw or used him as their fall-guy. To my knowledge, although such reports were circulating, they were never formally investigated, but amongst names mentioned were socialist activists, whose leader, U Nu, was fortuitously absent from the Secretariat building that day and subsequently became prime minister in Aung San's place. Other rumours pointed at corrupt factions within the fledgling Burmese armed forces (later led by Ne Win), who were privately jealous of Aung San's dominating political power. The BBC programme, however, did not look at these issues, but instead tried to link together a very disparate group of British officials and Burmese individuals in an alleged conspiracy where the only real connections are a succession of red herrings or, at best, coincidences. Much was made by Feargal Keane and the programme-makers of the alleged discovery of secret British documents, but not only were they not quoted but the programme did not even demonstrate how all the different characters were supposed to be linked by these supposed new documents. Indeed, in some cases, the individuals never even met nor were they known to each other. Much, for example, was made of the connection between U Saw and the British Council representative, John Bingley, but the BBC programme provided no evidence of complicity in the actual crime other than the suggestion that Bingley, who was acting as an individual, made a nod and a wink remark to U Saw at a tea party. U Saw's actions in prison certainly show that he looked to Bingley for help and the communications between the two men appeared odd, but again this does not prove Bingley's involvement or, more importantly, go on to link to any greater conspiracy. Another example is the role of the two corrupt British officers, Captain Vivian and Major Young, who had stolen guns for profit, and these were later found conveniently dumped in the lake by U Saw's house and were reportedly used in the assassination plot. In another curious twist, in 1949, when serving a jail term in Insein prison for his crimes, Captain Vivian was released in fighting after troops from the Karen National Union took control of the town during the civil war that broke out after independence. The programme then follows this trail and concentrates on the embarrassment of a later British government, which was hardly surprising, at repatriating a convicted gun-runner, Vivian, back to the United Kingdom from a war-zone. However, again, this does not link--nor was it shown to link--into any secret British conspiracy. And this is where the programme made even more dangerous errors, when, in the attempt to find an instigator, it tried to somehow link the Karen question with the assassination of Aung San. The group it accused was the Friends of the Burma Hill Peoples. As a member of this group, all I can say is that such an accusation is manifestly untrue. Firstly, the Friends of the Burma Hill Peoples did not really develop into action until 1948, a year after Aung San's death. Secondly, the Friends began life as a talking shop of British veterans who, quite rightly in the view of Burma's subsequent history, were concerned at the deep ethnic tensions within the country and the fate of Burma's ethnic minority peoples, who had been extremely loyal to the Allied Forces in the fight against fascism in the Second World War. Thirdly, diverse opinions were expressed within the group, which included such very different people as H.N.C. Stevenson, the ex-director of the Frontier Areas Administration, Sir Reginald Dorman- Smith, the former Burma governor, Raymond Blackburn, the socialist M.P., and Frank Owen, the editor of the Daily Mail. Indeed, when a number of us considered it appropriate to become more actively involved in support of the Karen cause (which, incidentally, was the subject of a very accurate television documentary, "Forgotten Allies", in April 1997 by the BBC's historical Timewatch series), members such as Stevenson made their disagreements clear and withdrew. Finally, the programme was quite wrong to state that the ex-Burma governor, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, was the key figure behind the Friends of the Burma Hill Peoples. Although Dorman-Smith attended at least one meeting out of interest (where he said nothing), the main activist was, in fact, Col. Cromarty-Tulloch, a veteran of Force 136. Of course, since Dorman-Smith was well-known to U Saw, it no doubt suited the programme makers to play up this angle in the attempt to try and prove a secret British plot, but it has no foundation in historical fact. Nevertheless, the late Dorman-Smith is the main target for many of the innuendoes and conspiracy theories that are trailed throughout the programme. However, not only is there no suggestion of how this plot was organised by Dorman-Smith (or how it was supposed to work), but the programme conveniently overlooked Dorman-Smith's words and actions at the time, when he was a man very much in tune with the sufferings and feelings of Burma. In 1950, for example, following the assassination of the Karen leader Saw Ba U Gyi, Dorman-Smith movingly wrote to The Times newspaper in London, "The major tragedy is that Burma is losing her best potential leaders at far too rapid a rate. Aung San, U Saw, Saw Ba U Gyi, U Tin Tut, all have gone." This was the contemporary view of Dorman-Smith, but the programme-makers selectively disregard it, even though his analysis has great meaning today. Fifty years later, the tragedy of Burma lives on and, even worse, by quite incorrectly trying to link innocent Karens and the long-departed colonial government in the assassinations, the programme has a very distorting resonance in the present tense. In Burma today, the sufferings of the Karen people are immense, and the struggle for justice and democracy for all the peoples of Burma still continues. Very sadly, then, the programme--and its many speculations--have recently been picked up by Burmese government officials for their own propaganda purposes in denouncing both the British and Karen nationalists, so it is vital that the historical record is put straight now before any further damage is done. There are, indeed, questions to be asked and many lessons to be learned from the tragic events at Burma's independence, but these must be based on reality and not with the leisure of conspiracy theories and speculation. H.A. Stonor, ex-Welch Regiment and Friends of the Burma Hill Peoples ***************************************************** INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY: WHO REALLY KILLED GENERAL AUNG SAN (slightly abridged) October 4, 1997 by Naing Win / Kyin Ho, M.D. From: brelief@gol.com September 26,1997 Who Really Killed General Aung San And His Cabinet Members? One of the prescribed textbooks in our 7th grade, "Little Birds Behind Bars" by Lu Du U Hla contains the story about the assassination of Gen. Aung San with the attempt on the life of U Saw. Since then I was thinking all along why, as a people, the Burmese masses could not prevent the death of our hero Gen.Aung San, and this has been felt as a deep frustration by Burmese people especially on Martyr's Days (19th. July) The story unfolded and opened my eyes wide with disbelief in the beginning, but upon closer scrutiny I found it to be true- that was when I became close friends with Yebaw Mya Hlaing! I shall relate for all humankind to know: I was treating Yebaw Mya Hlaing as his family physician since 1988, and as a trusted friend he told me about his involvement in the selfish traitors General Ne Win and Aung Gyi's subversive plot. The cunning plan was to kill Aung San by a deceitful approach- since U Saw was Aung San's adversary, try and attempt on U Saw's life, just to injure but not to kill him, and he (U Saw) will definitely retaliate by assassinating Aung San. At this juncture, the two trusted deputies (Yangon Ba Swe & Ye Baw Mya Hlaing) of Ne Win and Aung Gyi came into the picture -Ba Swe was an expert sharpshooter and he (Mya Hlaing) followed orders precisely. Then, one day they followed U Saw's car wearing the uniforms of Aung San's personal troops and shot to injure U Saw. That was the beginning of their successful plot. Of course Gen. Aung San and his cabinet members were killed by U Saw's gunmen – but to make that happen was due to Ne Win & Aung Gyi's traitors underhand plot. NE WIN WITH THE HELP OF AUNG GYI AND HIS DEPUTIES MURDERED HIS OWN MENTOR GENERAL AUNG SAN. I could not publish the booklet on this story before Mya Hlaing's death ; he would surely have been tortured and killed by Ne Win's stooges – the SLORC! CONCLUSION : 1.Ne Win plotted the assassination of Gen. Aung San who was his rival. Ne Win knew the ability of U Saw, and what he would do if provoked, and planned his traitorous plot and succeeded. [ I am absolutely flabbergasted up to the present day about Ne Win's cunning plot to assassinate Gen. Aung San.] 2. Ne Win ordered Yangon Ba Swe & Mya Hlaing to "make sure not to kill but only to injure U Saw. “Expert shooter Ba Swe's bullet only grazed the left temple of U Saw ( He went to India for treatment.) Whenever U Saw felt the pain over his face or scar his tantrums boiled and wanted to take revenge against Gen.Aung San, who knew nothing about the plot orchestrated by the cunning Ne Win. 3. It was later found out that the gun used to kill U Saw belonged to Ne Win. 4. U Mya Hlaing dare not to tell to anyone in Burma, as he would surely be tortured and killed by Ne Win's stooges, particularly by the secret police chief Khin Nyunt. 5. Yangon Ba Swe and Mya Hlaing later regretted immensely about this plot resulting in Gen. Aung San's death; they eventually refuse to take Ne Win's offering of good jobs. Naing Win / Kyin Ho, M.D. ******************************************** BKK POST: TWO NATIONS HALT ANTI-DRUGS GAINS October 6, 1997 Most governments in the region have seen the necessity of cooperating to fight drug trafficking. The United Nations and others also have become more deeply involved. Narcotics merchants have been extremely quick to strengthen their hands as gaps in the cooperation were exposed. There has been significant progress against drug trafficking in the past two months. Association of Southeast Asian Nations members have mapped out serious new steps to combat narcotics peddlers. Their dialogue partners pledged anew to unify in the war on drugs. That is the realistic end of the good news. The bad news is that the drug producers, smugglers and sellers also have chalked up successes. To Asean's credit, all but two of its nine members now seem committed to a long-range strategy to slow trafficking. The Asean meeting last July in Kuala Lumpur marked a serious new effort. For one thing, Vietnam climbed aboard. Hanoi has never abetted drug trafficking, but had been slow to realise the threat that organised narcotics peddling presents to all countries. At Kuala Lumpur, the foreign minister described trafficking as a major global issue. Asean was not alone. Dialogue partners stressed that the world community has a responsibility to its citizens to fight the drug merchants. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer urged Asean to increase the resources it has dedicated to the battle. Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov promised Moscow's cooperation in sharing intelligence. He noted international criminals exploit differences in national laws and suggested a meeting of technical experts to bring various national laws into harmony. Earlier, the five nations of the Mekong sub-region approved three new United Nations projects. The five - Thailand, Burma, China, Laos and Vietnam - approved the training of law-enforcement agencies and, to improve intelligence sharing, as well as working together to bring traffickers to justice. If the two months of stronger cooperation is encouraging, it is offset by new advances by the traffickers. These have come because of the actions of two countries vital to the anti-narcotics campaign. The most important breakthrough by drugs merchants was the violence in Cambodia. The second was the continuing cooperation by Burma with drug peddlers. Businessmen, government officials and generals already under investigation had increased their use of Cambodia as a drug-export base. The take over of Cambodia by Hun Sen was a windfall for the country's traffickers and their friends. UN officials warned publicly it would leave the country prey to big-time drug traffickers. Cambodian Pol Gen Skadavy Lyroun told a meeting in Bangkok that the situation was serious. Businessmen, government officials and generals already under investigation had increased their use of Cambodia as a drug-export base. In addition, powerful individuals have increased marijuana production, established a traffic in methamphetamines and ecstasy, and set up a black market in precursor chemicals used in the production of heroin and amphetamines. Burma's collusion with big-time narcotics traffickers and money launderers is well documented. Since the renewed effort by most Asean countries, Burma has officially joined the regional group, and continued to pay lip service to combatting narcotics. Heroin shipments continue, and have increased across the Indian border. Thai police in the North claim they are overwhelmed by Burmese made amphetamines. All of this makes it crucial that a peaceful solution be found to. the Cambodian conflict. Trafficking and money laundering will flourish so long as a frontier-style way of life continues. Burma must be pressured continually to pick up its responsibilities as an Asean member. The single largest problem in the anti-drugs struggle is the cooperation of both these regimes with known drug traffickers. This cannot continue. ***************************************** BKK POST: PREMIER URGED TO CLARIFY POSITION October 4, 1997 Nussara Sawatsawang Burma: Chavalit gave right to dig channel The Foreign Ministry wants Prime Minister Chavalit Yongehaiyudh to give a written statement that he did not give Burma the right to dredge a channel on Thai soil In order to extend its border along the Moei River. The ministry came out in support of Democrat Party MP Preecha Suwannathat's proposal that the premier clarify his position, said Deputy Foreign Minister Pitak Intrawithayanunt. He said the letter would help Thailand in further negotiations with Burma over the border dispute. "The premier will be asked to write a letter to the Foreign Ministry to be kept as evidence that [he] did not allow tie Burmese authorities to dig up [the channel]," Mr Pitak said after meeting the Bangkok MP at Saranrom Palace. Mr Preecha accused the premier during last week's censure debate of allowing Burma to dredge a river channel at Khok Chang Phuek in Mae Sot district, Tak, in a bid to reclaim land they said was lost after floods in 1994. Mr, Preecha, who is a legal expert, yesterday repeatedly urged the PM to formally deny the allegation. If he did not address the issue it would be tantamount to giving consent to Burma, he said. Mr Preecha said the ministry had explained that Thailand claimed sovereignty over some of the 200-rai disputed area, while other parts were under negotiation. A ministry source said Gen Chavalit did not discuss the Moei River row with Gen Than Shwe, chairman of Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), during his official visit to Rangoon in May. However, Slorc's Secretary One, Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, had raised the issue with Army Commander in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro. ********************************************** NO PETRO-DOLLARS FOR SLORC: FBC MOURNS PIPELINE VICTIMS October 6, 1997 From: Pamela Wellner FREE BURMA NO PETRO-DOLLARS FOR SLORC PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Media Contact: Pam Wellner, October 4, 1997 (415) 695-1956 Free Burma Coalition Mourns Victims of Unocal's Burma Pipeline at Company Headquarters LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6 - At the culmination of their conference at UCLA, Free Burma Coalition (FBC) participants will hold a funeral on Monday, Oct. 6 at 7:30AM at Unocal's El Segundo headquarters, 2141 Rosecrantz Ave., in memory of the victims of the company's gas pipeline project in Burma. Wearing black, carrying coffins and burial reefs, over fifty people will lead a funeral procession to Unocal's office in memory of the people who either died or suffered at the hands of Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) soldiers ordered to protect the pipeline project. Unocal and Total oil companies have a partnership with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), a regime controlled agency, for a natural gas pipeline through Burma's Tennasserim area to Thailand. Since the beginning of pipeline construction troops have been used by the consortium to provide security and oversee construction. In the process the troops have committed gross human rights violations such as forced labor, involuntary relocation, torture, rape and even the murder of tens of thousands of local people. These abuses are typical repression tactics practiced by SLORC troops throughout the entire country. Unocal, with knowledge of the atrocities, continues with both their project and support of SLORC and is not following the spirit of the Burma sanctions law passed this April by President Clinton. The sanctions, barring new US investments, are a way to limit financial support to SLORC. Multinational oil companies provide the largest legal source of foreign currency to Burma's SLORC. Other sources of currency are from the heroin trade where money is laundered through official SLORC agencies, including MOGE. "Not only is Unocal's partnership with MOGE backing the ruthless brutal regime, but they are complicit in pushing heroin in US streets, 60% of which is from Burma." said Edith Mirante, FBC member. The FBC works internationally to support Burma's democracy movement and to end SLORC's repressive rule. The FBC has been pressuring oil companies to withdraw from Burma and is celebrating a victory with Texaco's recent announcement that it is selling all its Burma operations. This weekend over 200 FBC members, including Burmese democracy advocates, university students, US oil workers, human rights activists, and environmentalists agreed to escalate their campaign against oil companies such as Unocal and ARCO. *********************************************** BKK POST: ALLIANCE TO WAGE ALL - OUT WAR ON AIDS October 5, 1997 Supamart Kasem Immigrant workers encourage its spread Mae Sot, Tak --Local organisations, non-governmental organisations and the private sector will be encouraged to play a more active role in fighting the HIV/Aids epidemic in the country under an Aids prevention scheme which will be kicked off next year. The government has set aside the fund for the project which will be jointly undertaken by municipalities tambon administration organisations, and NG0s, said the Public Health Ministry's Aids Control Division director. During the past two years, the government has spent 90 million baht to control the spread of the deadly disease, which was reportedly rampant along the border area, particularly among immigrant workers who sought jobs in Thailand, said division director Dr Wut Phoolcharoen, who spoke during a seminar on Aids, organised by the World Vision Foundation (WVF). The four-day seminar, which ended yesterday, was held in Tak's Mae Sot district and attended by Thai and Burmese officials. Concerns have been raised over the wildfire spread of Aids among immigrant workers who became the main carriers of the disease. The HIV/Aids epidemic has spread unnoticed to other parts of the country by immigrant workers who shifted from border areas to work in central provinces where they were better paid, said Tak governor Pongpayom Wasaphut. To control the disease more effectively, cooperation from local organisations, NG0s, and the private sector is needed, added the governor. According to Dr Wut, about 200,000 people have been infected with HIV during 1991-1992. Due to campaigns, the infection rate was gradually reduced to 150,000. Since 1995, the rate has increased sharply, particularly among immigrant workers and Thai workers who seldom used condoms when visiting prostitutes, noted Dr Wut. The migration of HIV-infected workers to central provinces has led to the spread of the deadly disease. In Thailand, there are about 950,000 HIV-infected people, said Dr Wut. A senior Burmese official said the Aids epidemic has posed a threat to Burma with 2,917 people contracting the disease last year, compared to 1988 when there was only one HIV infected Burmese national. But, a World Health Organisation report showed that about 300,000 - 500,000 Burmese people, were infected with HIV. ******************************************************* BKK POST: TWO MIGRANT WORKERS FACE KILL CHARGES October 5, 1997 Burmese accused of slaying shrimp boss Songkhla --TWO migrant Burmese workers have been arrested at a hotel in Songkhla and charged with the slayings of their employer and three other family members at a shrimp farm in Satun. The suspects were charged in connection with last week's murders of Lalana Kasiwut, 58, her two daughters Mesa, 28 and Jitsiri, 27 and her son Pongsakorn, 25, at their shrimp farm in La Ngu district. Police said the defendants beat their victims to death using hammers. The suspects allegedly took 70,000 baht cash, gold rings and other valuables and then went into hiding at the Taipei hotel in Hat Yai. They were said to be preparing to flee back to Burma through Ranong province at the time of the arrests. Police said the alleged killers admitted the charges and said they will be handed over for further questioning and a crime re-enactment for investigators in Satun. Yesterday, Police Director-General Pracha Promnok joined the interrogation and said that drastic measures would be taken against migrants charged with felony. ******************************************************* SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET NO.A-0157(I), A-0156(I) From: OKKAR66127@aol.com [excerpts] Information Sheet No.A-0157(I) Date. 5-10-97 (1) Factories Striving for Producing 6,000 power-tillers The Agricultural Equipment Factory, 9th Mile Pyay Road, and Ingon Factory are striving to produce 6,000 power-tillers in time for cultivation of summer paddy this year. Altogether 1,080 engines and gear-boxes for the machine were imported from the People's Republic of China and they arrived at Yangon Port on 3 October. It is targeted to cultivate monsoon paddy on 12 million acres and summer paddy on four million acres, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is striving for realization of this target with effective use of agricultural equipment and implements. (3) Myanmar Delegation Leaves for ROK Myanmar delegation led by Director-General of Advanced Science and Technology Department U Kyin Soe left Yangon by air for the Republic of Korea 4 October to attend the Seminar on Science and Technological Planning under the programme of Korea International Cooperation to be held from 6 to 18 October in Korea. ---------------------- Information Sheet No. A-0156(I) Date.4-10-97 (2) Myanmar Delegation Leaves for China Myanmar delegation led by minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Soe Myint left here by air this morning for the People's Republic of China at the invitation of the Minister of Public Affairs of PRC. (3) MoU on Economic Cooperation Signed The Union of Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding on economic cooperation at the Sedona Hotel on 3 October. (5) Farm Equipment Handed to AMD Shiroyama Shoji Co Ltd of Japan donated five harvesters and one transplanter. The hand-over of agricultural equipment was held at Agricultural Mechanization Department, Kyaikkalo, Mingaladon Township, on 24 September. Manager Makio Yachi of the company handed the equipment to Director -General of AMD U Win Maw. *********************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : NEWS BRIEFS From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM 27 September, 1997 EXIM BANK OF THAILAND WILL GRANT $ 21.06 MILLION TO MYANMAR SUTECH CO LTD YANGON, 26 Sept -Myanmar Sutech Co Ltd and Export Import Bank of Thailand signed an agreement on a 21.06-million-dollar loan at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation this morning. Myanma Sugarcane Enterprise and Sutech Engineering Co Ltd & Associates of Thailand are jointly undertaking construction of 2,000-ton Nawade Sugar Mill near Mya Village, Papy Township, Bago Division, after forming Myanmar Sutech Co Ltd, a joint-venture company. The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation plans to build 10 sugar mills this year. September 28, 1997 MYANMAR DELEGATION LEAVES FOR AUSTRIA TO ATTEND IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE YANGON, 27 Sept Myanmar delegation led by Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany U Tun Ngwe left here by air this afternoon for Austria to attend the Forty-first General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be held in Vienna from 29 September to 3 October. The IAEA general conference will discuss broad areas of technical cooperation for development of applications of nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety, budget and finance and general policy issues. Myanmar has been a member of the agency since 1957, the year of its formation. The IAEA is providing technical assistance to Myanmar for nuclear technology applications ranging from nuclear medicine and research to agricultural uses of radiations. Currently, eight ministries have programmes for nuclear technology applications. Along with the IAEA general conference, the 17member states of the Regional Cooperation Agreement for Nuclear Technology (RCA) will also convene a meeting of representatives in Vienna. RCA is an interregional cooperation activity in nuclear technology sponsored by IAEA Myanmar hosted the previous RCA meeting in Yangon in March 1997, and Dr Tin Hlaing, as RCA National Coordinator, was elected chairman. He will also chair the RCA meeting in Vienna. October 3, 1997 GENERAL MAUNG AYE RECEIVES DEFENCE ATTACHES OF EMBASSY OF ROK YANGON, 2 Oct Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander -in -Chief (Army). General Maung Aye received Defence Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea Col Kwan Soo Oh, who has completed his tour of duty, and his successor Lt-Col Lee - Nae Chan at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence this morning. Present also were Chief of the Office of Strategic Studies and Director of Defence Services Intelligence Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Chief of Staff (Navy) Commodore Nyunt Thein and Chief of Staff (Air) Brig-Gen Kyaw Than. ****************************************