------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: November 26, 1997 Issue #877 Noted in Passing: An SPDC spokesman on ex-ministers reported under house arrest: "They are staying in their houses because they have new posts and they don't have any offices to go to yet." (see: SCMP: EX-MINISTERS IN CLEAR) HEADLINES: ========== SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: EX-MINISTERS IN CLEAR AS BKK POST: PARTY GUESTS HARASSED BY JUNTA: NLD XINHUA ENGLISH NEWSWIRE: MYANMAR MEDIA URGED XINHUA: MYANMAR ECONOMISTS, ENTREPRENEURS URGED BKK POST: NEIGHBOURS OFFER CHUAN A CHALLENGE APEC SUMMIT: COMPILATION OF BURMA-RELATED EVENTS ITAR-TAS: ALBRIGHT ACCUSES JAPAN OF EXTREME EXPORT NATION: NEGATIVE FACTORS MAY HIT BURMA BID THE NATION: CHUAN GOVT WANTS RANGOON TO ADAPT THE NATION: TOTAL COMPLETES PIPE WORK BKK POST: BURMA, LAOS PLAN TO WAIVE VISAS BKK POST: CHILD LABOUR ABUSES DENIED BKK POST: CHILDREN FLEE POVERTY FOR BETTER LIFE KNU: KNU PRESS RELEASE NO. 64/97 FBC: OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE PRESIDENT AGREES TO STUDENT BANGOR DAILY NEWS: COA TAKES A SWING AT OPPRESSIVE REGIME ANNOUNCEMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: EX-MINISTERS IN CLEAR AS JUNTA ADMITS PROBE November 25, 1997 REUTERS in Bangkok The new-look military Government yesterday admitted questioning staff at several ministries. But a spokesman denied reports that some ex-ministers had been detained or put under house arrest since the junta changed its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). He said: "Inquiries have been made in the ministries, but it's too early to say at the moment what it is about." Reports had circulated in the media, on the Internet and in diplomatic circles that several members of the now-defunct State Law and Order Restoration Council had been arrested. "They have not been picked up for questioning," the spokesman said by telephone from Rangoon. "They are staying in their houses because they have new posts and they don't have any offices to go to yet." "That's probably where the confusion came about - they aren't going into any office." Diplomats said last week that the creation of the SPDC was partly to weed out corrupt ministers and improve the image of a Government accused of rampant corruption as the country suffered a severe economic slump. Four of the more prominent ministers dealing with financial issues were removed from office and put on a newly created 14-member Advisory Council. They include tourism minister Lieutenant-General Kyaw Ba, trade and commerce minister Lieutenant-General Tun Kyi, forestry minister Lieutenant-General Chit Swe and agriculture minister Lieutenant-General Myint Aung. The spokesman said the decision to change the Government's name and revamp the ruling council and Cabinet showed the Government's desire to move towards democracy. "This indicates that the Government is a transitional Government," he said. "If it was going to hold on to power indefinitely it wouldn't need to change its name or the people in the Government." He said this was the Government's second phase in a three-step plan towards democracy. Diplomats said the new Government, which is led by the same top four generals as the council, did not appear to have any new policy and said the changes were made to improve its image and promote some junior officers. *********************************************** BKK POST: PARTY GUESTS HARASSED BY JUNTA: NLD November 26, 1997 RANGOON, AFP INVITATION LETTERS WERE 'CONFISCATED' Burma's main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) yesterday slammed the military authorities for obstructing its efforts to commemorate National Day at the house of Aung San Suu Kyi. An NLD statement accused the authorities of harassing party members to prevent them from attending the gathering on Monday, organised to mark the 77th anniversary of the Burmese independence movement. "Various means" had been used to "hamper and obstruct" the ceremony including the confiscation of invitations to the event. "Not only did they place barb-wire 0 barriers near Aung San Suu Kyi's residence ... they even went to the extent of confiscating the invitation letters," the statement said. The event was the first major NLD gathering since Burma's military; leadership announced a shake-up of the regime, designed to help the country make the transition towards "disciplined democracy". The NLD noted the obstructions came despite earlier official assertions that such NLD gatherings could be conducted freely inside the Rangoon residential compound of the party leader.; The party complained that even central executive committee members of the party including co-vice-chairman Tin Oo were subjected to "prolonged questioning" although security officials on duty knew them by sight. "These petty acts of harassment were totally unnecessary... especially when everyone including the authorities should have been sharing the feeling of mutual pride on such an occasion," the statement said. Some 300 NLD members, as well as diplomats and local journalists, were allowed into the National Day gathering after security checks at barricades manned by riot police either side of Aung San Suu Kyi's house. Security officials at the scene said that no invitees were turned away. ********************************************************** XINHUA ENGLISH NEWSWIRE: MYANMAR MEDIA URGED TO HIGHLIGHT INDUSTRIAL VITALITY November 19, 1997 Newly-appointed Myanmar Minister for Information Kyi Aung has urged the media in the country to highlight the vitality of industrial strength for national development. The Myanmar head of state has chosen the motto "to leap forward with industrial power," he noted while meeting with officials of the Myanmar media here Tuesday, the official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported today. The minister urged official newspapers to highlight the motto as a guideline in their work, saying they should also give priority to matters of national importance. Greater efforts are required in publishing news in accordance with the state's objectives, the minister said. ******************************************************* XINHUA: MYANMAR ECONOMISTS, ENTREPRENEURS URGED TO WORK FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT November 24, 1997 YANGON (Nov. 24) XINHUA - Myanmar senior leader Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt has called on local economists and entrepreneurs to join hands with the government in developing a peaceful and modern nation. Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the Institute of Economics here Sunday, Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), stressed that economy and politics are inter-related and there is political stability if the economy is strong. He said that Myanmar is trying to be strong in economy, noting that the SPDC was formed on November 15 to strive for peace and tranquillity and economic growth of the country and the people, official paper The New Light of Myanmar reported today. He pointed out, "There is not much success in the endeavor for economic well-being due to interference, suppression and hindrance of some big nations." He called for cooperation among economists, entrepreneurs, bankers and statisticians for economic development of the country. ******************************************** BKK POST: NEIGHBOURS OFFER CHUAN A CHALLENGE November 23, 1997 (abridged) Prior to leaving for the Apec forum, Thailand's new government promised to take a stronger stance against Burma's military regime. In Vancouver, a meeting between the foreign ministers of Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will address the political crisis in Cambodia. Hundreds of human rights groups have mounted a counter-summit on the sidelines of the Asian-Pacific Economic Forum in Vancouver to highlight abuses throughout the larger region. Their message is clear: Apec is not a "strictly business" affair. Human rights issues cannot be separated from economics. Enter Chuan Leekpai, Southeast Asia's newest Prime Minister, who inherits a host of burdens, not just at home, but in forming a coherent policy to deal with unruly neighbours Cambodia and Burma. The possible postponement of Cambodia's upcoming elections and Burma's continued suppression of its opposition have cast a pall over the region as thick as the Indonesian haze. Burma's embarrassing feud with European Union, and Thailand's feeble attempts to mediate, rubbed fresh salt in old wounds. And, of course, Asean's spotty attempts at policy during the Cambodian political crisis have only made matters worse. These two high-handed regimes are undermining Asean's bargaining power in the geopolitical arena. The region's credibility is at stake. An inspired Mr Chuan, riding the strength of a people's constitution, would have the power to set regional policy in motion. That policy must be one that insists upon free and fair elections in Cambodia, no matter what toes are trod upon in Asean's Old Boy network. The same goes for Burma. Deputy Foreign Minister M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra vowed last week that the Chuan government intents to pursue "constructive engagement" between the Thai and Burmese people, rather than just between military officials and businessmen. Until these conditions are met, and until these wayward neighbours can be brought into line with values that Mr Chuan champions, Thailand will feel the bite on its own democratic system as it gnawed from two ends. ******************************************************* APEC SUMMIT: COMPILATION OF BURMA-RELATED EVENTS November 25, 1997 [BurmaNet Editor's Note: Although most of the participants in the APEC meeting wanted to keep human rights and social problems off the agenda, activists found ways to make sure that these issues received attention in the media, in demonstrations, and alternative gatherings. Below is a compilation of some of the Burma-related events that took place.] ASSK SPEAKS TO APEC WOMEN'S CONFERENCE (ABRIDGED) From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs"