------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: October 15, 1997 Issue #845 HEADLINES: ========== STRAITS TIMES: RAMOS VISIT TO PROCEED DESPITE CRITICISM KYODO: BURMESE ACTIVIST FILES SUIT FOR REFUGEE STATUS INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: TIME FOR COMPROMISE BKK POST: BURMA SETS FREE 29 THAI FISHERMEN ORCHESTRA BURMA: RESULTS OF KNPP-SLORC MEETING KYODO: YKK OF JAPAN TO BUILD 33 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR TOWER BKK POST: EXIM LENDS $ 21M TO BURMESE SUGAR MILL PEOPLE'S DEFENCE FORCE: REPORT ON FLOOD BKK POST: 500 ILLEGAL PIECES OF LOGS SEIZED BKK POST: SLORC ADVANCE OR TACTICAL RETREAT? NLM: MINISTER SAYS FDI IN BURMA TOTALS $ 6.439 BILLION THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE STRAITS TIMES: RAMOS' YANGON VISIT TO PROCEED DESPITE CRITICISM October 12, 1997 MANILA -- Philippine President Fidel Ramos will this week become the first Asean leader to visit Myanmar since it joined the grouping as he seeks to define his country's role as a Western-style democracy. Even before he set foot on Myanmar, the trip has drawn controversy, with Yangon issuing denials to a suggestion that Mr Ramos would meet pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr Ramos also issued a denial last Thursday, a day after saying such a meeting was "being worked out" by the Philippine Foreign Department. The visit "establishes the Philippines as a player within Asean", said Mr Julius Parrenas of the Centre for Research and Communication, a Manila-based think-tank. "It will define how the Philippines will play that kind of role in trying to promote the idea of openness, both on the economic and political fields in the region. "The Philippines is somehow caught in between, being a democratic society with very strong undercurrents favouring democracy in the domestic scene, but on the other hand it has to continue dealing in a pragmatic way that Asean has been using to deal with issues." The Philippine opposition has criticised the visit, saying it would amount to legitimising a regime accused by the West of wanton human-rights abuses and of being involved in narcotics trafficking. But Mr Ramos, cautioning critics not to underestimate the potential of Myanmar and Laos, dismissed the charges: "Our main purpose is to meet, consult, dialogue with leaders of Myanmar and, at the same time, encourage economic ties, particularly in trade, investment and tourism. "There are many important complementarities that we see in the economies of Myanmar and Laos." Myanmar and Laos joined Asean in July despite appeals by Western nations to keep Yangon out to force its military leaders to improve their human-rights record. Details of the Philippine leader's itinerary were not released, but he said he would proceed to Myanmar after two days in Hong Kong, during which he would address the World Economic Forum. Opposition senator Ernesto Herrera urged Mr Ramos to skip Yangon, saying he did not know "of any possible marketing gain Mr Ramos would find in a country conquered by a military junta and run by drug-dealing generals. Their regime will be sanitised by his visit". But Mr Ramos insisted that "because we are part of the Asean family, then certainly the most senior, the older brother must reach out to the new ones in the association". -- AFP. ************************************** KYODO: BURMESE ACTIVIST FILES SUIT FOR REFUGEE STATUS October 9, 1997 Tokyo, Oct. 9 Kyodo -- A Myanmarese [Burmese] pro-democracy activist filed a lawsuit Thursday with the Tokyo District Court seeking repeal of a Japanese Government decision not to grant him refugee status, his lawyer said. Mya Wai, 44, has been taken into custody by the junta four times for his activities and will be in great danger if he is sent back to his native land, lawyer Shogo Watanabe said. In October 1995, Japan's Justice Ministry rejected Mya Wai's application for refugee status. The objections he filed with the ministry were rejected in August this year. The Justice Ministry has rejected Mya Wai's request for refugee status because he did not file an application within 60 days of his arrival in Japan, Watanabe said. Mya Wai has been living in Japan with another Myanmar activist who has been named by the junta as a suspect in a parcel bomb attack in April on the home of a senior junta official, Watanabe said. Mya Wai could be held responsible for the attack if he is sent back, the lawyer said. Shortly after the parcel bomb attack that killed Lt. Gen. Tin Oo's daughter April 6, the Myanmar junta said they suspect the parcel was sent by antigovernment groups in Japan because it bore a Tokyo postmark. Myanmar activists in Japan have denied involvement in the attack. Mya Wai, who entered Japan using a false passport in 1992, is currently being detained by the Tokyo regional immigration bureau, Watanabe said. *************************************** INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: TIME FOR COMPROMISE IN BURMA October 14, 1997 James Finch RANGOON - Recent developments show that there may be room for compromise in Burma's long political stalemate. Two events suggest that the time is right for a pragmatic solution. The military government offered an olive branch by proposing a meeting with Aung Shwe, chairman of the National League for Democracy, the opposition party that won the 1990 elections by a landslide but was not allowed to take power. (The invitation was refused because Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, general secretary of the league, was not invited to the meeting.) Second, the league was allowed by the government to hold the congress commemorating the anniversary of its founding without major interference, something that has not happened in several years. In turn, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi publicly thanked the government for allowing the meeting and reiterated her promise that she will never seek revenge against the military. The downturn in Burma's economy has played a significant role in creating a new atmosphere of opportunity for the country. Economic growth is expected to slow to less than 5 percent this year and next, while inflation is running at about 27 percent. There has been an alarming drop in foreign exchange reserves to about $183 million, from $663 million a year ago. Exports have fallen 15 percent and imports have risen nearly 7 percent in the same period. The military government has shown some flexibility. The league is reluctant to compromise, however, for fear that direct talks with the government would result in a split in the league's leadership. Moreover, the league's broad base of support in the country is dependent on economic hardship. The government and the league can survive a long standoff, especially if they see it as the only means of self-preservation. But vital foreign investment will not come in the amounts required and to the needy sectors until real stability comes. Ordinary Burmese will be the losers. It is doubtful that either side will of its own accord get negotiations on a settlement going. Neutral countries, especially those of the Association of South East Asian Nations, should use their influence to nudge the parties to the table. A program should be proposed providing a faster track to reform, without revenge or reprisal against any party. Equally necessary will be commitments by both sides to respect the popular will but leave the armed forces intact and taking order from the chief executive of an elected government. Any elected leader of Burma will need the military. Armed ethnic minority groups in a number of areas seek independence by force. The result could be chaos and national division. Heavily armed drug lords ply their trade in some of the ethnic areas. Without a trained, cohesive military, such problems cannot be effectively controlled in the future. An impartial foreign mediator is needed. Candidates should include officials or representatives of countries or nongovernmental organizations that have sought to retain good relations with both sides. A compromise political solution would require concessions from both the government and the league. Each would have to give up something, but the people of Burma would be the victors. ----------------- The writer, managing partner in an international law office in Rangoon, contributed this comment to the International Herald Tribune. *************************************************** BKK POST: BURMA SETS FREE 29 THAI FISHERMEN October 14, 1997 Some 29 Thais charged with illegal fishing in Burmese waters have been released, the Foreign Ministry announced. The crewmen had been sentenced to one and a half years in prison for violating Burma's fisheries law. They have been granted a pardon, and will return home on flight TG 304 next Tuesday. Another Thai prisoner identified Boonlert and jailed for illegal entry will be on the same flight. The 29 were working on trawlers 001 and 003 of WWF Co when they were arrested in July and August. Meanwhile, four Thai trawlers were seized by the Burmese navy off Surin island in the Andaman Sea on Saturday allegedly for violating Burma's territorial waters. ****************************** ORCHESTRA BURMA: RESULTS OF KNPP-SLORC MEETING October 14, 1997 [slightly edited by BurmaNet News Editor] From: lokanat@freeburma.org The final status regarding second attempt of SLORC and KNPP to meet A KNPP central committee meeting was held on October 10,1997 and the following decisions were made: KNPP representatives are not going to Rangoon to discuss matters related to the cease-fire agreement. If SLORC wants a conference, it must be held in a neighboring country and the results obtained must be declared officially. The SLORC needs to accept and agree to the demands of KNPP from previous meeting which include 16 facts. It will not be possible to make agreements unofficially as in previous meetings and it must be done according to law with signing of a deed of agreement. KNPP will respond with talks to the talks of SLORC. In response to these decisions U Khun Mya, leader of the SLORC delegation replied that there would no peace conference would emerge. The authorized persons from KNPP said that U Khon Mya was merely a representative of SLORC and he was responsible to talk to KNPP whenever the SLORC asked him to do. Then he had to inform to SLORC about what KNPP said. ______________ORCHESTRA___BURMA_________________ | http://www.freeburma.org/lokanat | | http://www.freeburma.org/lokanat/burmese.htm | | It's possible to read in Burmese language | | at the moment in our Home Page. | | You can request Burmese Fonts if you wish. | ------------------------------------------------ ********************************************* KYODO: YKK OF JAPAN TO BUILD 33 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR TOWER IN RANGOON October 14, 1997 YANGON, Oct. 14 (Kyodo) - The foundation-laying ceremony of a 20-story service tower, to be built by YKK Corp. of Japan, was held Tuesday on Kaba-Aye Pagoda Road, three kilometers north of downtown Yangon. Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, secretary of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), Myanmar ministers, Japanese Ambassador Yoichi Yamaguchi and YKK Director Yoshiki Takeda took part in the bricklaying for the foundation. YKK will invest 33 million U.S. dollars to build the 20-story building, to be known as the Golden Hill Tower, which will have offices and residential apartments. Mitsui Construction Co. will build the tower for YKK, a leading zipper maker. Construction is expected to be finished within three years. YKK will operate the building for 30 years, and hand over the establishment after that period to the Myanmar government under the build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) agreement. This is the first investment in Myanmar by YKK, company officials said. ***************************************** BKK POST: EXIM LENDS $ 21M TO BURMESE SUGAR MILL October 14, 1997 The Export and Import Bank of Thailand has extended US$21.06 million in credit to Thai-Burmese Myanma Sutech Co to build a $23.4- million sugar mill in Burma, according to Exim Bank vice-president Kittiporn Limpisawasdi. Myanma Sutech is a 55:45 joint venture between Sutech of Thailand and Myanma Sugarcane Enterprise, a state enterprise under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. The sugar mill will be built at Pyay. The Exim Bank loan has a seven-year term with repayments every six months. The mill is scheduled to start production in November 1998 with a capacity to crush 2,000 tons per day of sugarcane grown in Pyay and nearby provinces. Sixty percent of the sugar output will be exported to earn foreign exchange. Mr Kittiporn said the deal would also create jobs and earnings for Thailand as the Thai-Burmese joint venture has hired Sutech Engineering Co to design and install the sugar refining machinery. ****************************************************** PEOPLE'S DEFENCE FORCE: REPORT ON FLOOD October 12, 1997 [excerpts] From: burma@ksc.th.com [This report was received by BurmaNet, but the information has not been independently confirmed] FLOOD NEWS On 2/8/97, due to heavy rain, Rangoon-Moulmein rail and road were seriously flooded. The flood covered a large area from Waw township in Pegu Division to Thein-za-yart township near Sit-taung river. There was a landslide in Thein-za-yart, burying a SLORC check-point, killing four - a soldier, a policeman, a woman and a child. There was also a landslide at the foot of a mountain to the west of Kyeik-tee-yoe, burying a Karen village of 20 households, reportedly killing from about 50 to 100 people. The flood also affected villages near Moulmein, a satellite town near Nyaung-bin-zeit and Oak-pho village were flooded. New settlements relocated from areas near Mu-pon Navy Gate were also flooded. The homeless people were moved to stay on the premises of Buddhist monasteries. By estimate, from 40 to 50 persons were drowned in this area. Up to the end of September, there had been no direct transport by rail or road between Rangoon and Moulmein. SLORC authorities were known to make arrangement for transport by ship, as a temporary measure. Reported by People's Defence Force October 12, 1997 ******************************************** BKK POST: 500 ILLEGAL PIECES OF LOGS SEIZED October 13, 1997 Mae Hong Son --Thai authorities have so far seized over 500 pieces of logs in a suppression drive against illegal logging along the Thai-Burmese border in Mae Sariang district of this northern province. Most of the illegally-cut logs were found by the joint suppression force of the Forestry Department, forestry police and Border Patrol Police in the Salween National Park in Tambon Mae Yuam. The suppression drive began on September 13. The Joint suppression force is commanded by Pol Col Sithiporn Srichanthap, commander of the 2nd Subdivision of the Forestry Police Division. About 80 of the seized logs were believed to have been felled by Karens who crossed the border from Burma. The Thai authorities said their operation had occasionally been obstructed by soldiers of the anti-Rangoon Karenni National Progressive Party whose operational area is opposite Mae Hong Son in Burma's Kayah state. ******************************************************* BKK POST: SLORC ADVANCE OR TACTICAL RETREAT? October 13, 1997 Editorial There may be some reason for careful optimism over Burma. The Rangoon regime's decision to allow the recent meeting of the National League for Democracy was extraordinary compared with its recent violence. Aung San Suu Kyi saw reason to hope, although it is also clear that much remains to be done. There is still a long way to go before the Burmese people are free. But credit where credit is due. Slorc's decision to allow a two-day meeting of the National League for Democracy in Rangoon deserves recognition as a step forward. Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the NLD, was careful to do just this as she wound up the congress the week before last. She thanked authorities for helping to keep the peace. Hard-liners in the Burmese pro-democracy camp were not all so kind. They noted that Burmese police kept away both some NLD delegates and all spectators. Those who did not pass muster were shoved into police trucks and shuttled into the far Rangoon suburbs where they were unloaded and left to their own devices. A foreigner was grabbed and summarily deported. Slorc, in its version, remained intransigent and as violent as always. This has not, however, been the version stressed by Mrs Suu Kyi since she began her campaign for Burmese freedom, democracy and basic human rights nearly 10 years ago. She has consistently stressed national reconciliation. The army and its ruling regime, she believes, must become convinced that democracy is in its own interest. She has absorbed both punishment and the most disgusting personal abuse from Slorc and its mouthpieces. Then, as she did two weeks ago, she has been quick to flatter even the smallest privilege. There is no clear agreement just why Slorc bent its policy of breaking up meetings of Mrs Suu Kyi's party. Slorc has had major success in dividing and conquering political and ethnic groups, and there is no doubt it would welcome a split in the pro-democracy group. Just before the congress, the generals scheduled talks with Mrs Suu Kyi's senior adviser, Aung Shwe. He turned down the offer on the grounds the party leader was not invited, and Slore spokesmen criticised him as a hostage to the whims of Mrs Suu Kyi. But even the Burmese generals are not so badly ill-advised as to expect a split during a party meeting. Members of the NLD rallied around Mrs Suu Kyi at the congress. There has been no suggestion by any of them of throwing their leader out in the name of cooperation with Slorc. Others see the hand of the shadowy Ne Win in these recent developments. As reclusive and secretive as ever, the true power behind the Slorc throne is said to be dissatisfied with the rule of the generals. Khin Nyunt, Slorc's Secretary One, has been rumoured as the main source of the old man's displeasure. The reason for Slorc's reasonable actions may not matter. It is enough that Mrs Suu Kyi, her supporters and her well-wishers move forward. Slorc must hold meaningful talks with Burmese democrats. That includes Mrs Suu Kyi, Burma's only elected leader. Those talks must begin sooner rather than later. Foreign countries, particularly neighbours and Asean partners, must encourage such talks. Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn addressed this directly on his recent trip to the United States during a series of speeches to influential American groups. Asean as a group and Thailand on its own, said the minister, expect Slorc to move rather quickly on two important matters, democracy and human rights. This is the right track for friends of Burma to take. Increasing pressure must be put on Slorc. The country is an embarrassment to Asean. Now, as a full member of the group, it has an obligation to loosen up and to begin dismantling its violence towards all Burmese. Like Mrs Suu Kyi, we hope the peaceful meeting of the NLD is a small, but necessary step towards democracy and freedom in Burma. ********************************************** NLM: MINISTER SAYS FDI IN BURMA TOTALS $ 6.439 BILLION TO SEP [abridged] October 8, 1997 YANGON, 7 Oct - Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Minister at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Brig-Gen Maung Maung addressed the opening ceremony of National Workshop on Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment [FDI] in Myanmar sponsored by MIC at Yuzana Hotel at the corner of Shwegondaing Street and Yedashe Street in Bahan Township this morning. Present also were Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel, Minister at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister U Khin Maung Yin, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Min Thein, officials of the Office of Resident Representative of UNDP, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and MIC, department heads and participants. Brig-Gen Maung Maung said: The Union of Myanmar Foreign Investment Law and the Procedures relating to the said Law were promulgated in late 1988 providing generous incentives to foreign investors in the form of taxes and duties. The Law also provides repatriation of profits as well as capital. Moreover, there is an irrevocable State guarantee against nationalization. The promulgation of the Law has been considerably effective in inducing foreign direct investment. Up to the end of September 1997, a total number of 279 projects have already been approved, amounting to total foreign direct investment of US$ 6.439 billion. Leading investors are UK, Singapore, Thailand, United States of America and Malaysia. You can see that there are three ASEAN countries in the list of leading investors. For your information, five ASEAN countries namely Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are investing in Myanmar, and the total amount of FDI of these countries is US$ 3.15 billion, realizing 48.9 percent of the total FDI in Myanmar. Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen. It has come to my knowledge that during the two-day workshop, the ESCAP experts will discuss national policies for the promotion and attraction of FDI for less developed economies and economies in transition as well as problems and recommendations on financing of small and medium enterprises. Myanmar resource person will also exchange the views on FDI promotion in Myanmar. By exchanging views and opinions among those who attend this workshop in the light of mutual understanding, I really expect that the outcome of this workshop would be very fruitful and successful. *************************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS [excerpts only] From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM October 7, 1997 FEASIBILITY STUDY OF GOLDEN GATEWAYS DEEP-SEA PORT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PRESENTED YANGON, 6 Oct-A ceremony to present feasibility study of Golden Gateways Deep-sea Port Construction Project was held at the Ministry of Transport this morning. Present were Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win, officials of ministries concerned and members of the board of directors led by Mr Adisak Lowjun of Sahaviriya Group Corporation Ltd. October 9, 1997 UNIVERSITY ADMISSION FORMS TO BE ISSUED ON 14 OCT YANGON, 8 Oct-Students who passed the Basic Education High School Examination held in 1996 in the A List may obtain their University admission guide books, application forms and mark certificates from supervisors of the examinations centres concerned at K 60 per set beginning 14 October. Those who passed the BEHS examinations before 1996 in the A List and have not applied for university admission are to obtain the guide book and application forms from supervisors of the examination centres concerned at K 60 per set to apply for admission to the University of Distance Education or Workers College or Mandalay University Evening Classes. Course graduates of University for Development of National Races who would like to seek admission to the University of Distance Education are to obtain the guide book and application forms from the Offices of State/Division Education Officers at K 60 per set. The students are to send in their applications attached with original mark certificates to the Higher Education Department on Thaton Road, Yangon, not later than Tuesday, 4 November 1997 October 13, 1997 INDONESIA MILITARY DELEGATION ARRIVES YANGON, 12 Oct - A 28-member Indonesia military delegation led by Brig-Gen Sukirno of Joint Staff College of Indonesia arrived here by air this afternoon. The delegation was welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Commander of Command and General Staff College Brig-Gen Soe Tint, Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung and senior Tatmadaw officers of the Ministry of Defence, Defence and Military Attache of Indonesian Embassy Col Hary Bambang Poernomo and officials. Chief of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Saw Lwin hosted dinner in honour of Brig-Gen Sukirno and party at Karaweik Hotel in the evening. ---------------------------------- To view with photos: English : http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/ German: http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/gnlm/ French: http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/fnlm/ Myanmar: http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/mnlm/ (Pls use Win-myanmar Fonts ) ********************************************