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Burma News Clippings




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BURMA NEWS CLIPPINGS

Bangkok Post

Monday, May 9, 1994
(in letters to the editor)
 
 
Blatant Extortion at Burma Border
 
SIR: I would like to bring to your readers' attention the current 
situation existing at the Three Pagodas Pass in Kanchanaburi 
Province where there is a border checkpoint between Thailand and 
Burma. As there has been a lot of correspondence over the years 
concerning double or triple pricing policies that exist at certain 
tourist attractions in Thailand, it is interesting to note that this 
policy pales in comparison with the thirteen times greater price 
charged to "foreigners" compared to Thais by the Burmese 
authorities at the checkpoint.
 
For the benefit of those that have not yet visited the Pass, foreign 
nationals are charged 130 baht for crossing the border, as opposed 
to 10 baht for Thais and only 5 baht for Burmese citizen (although 
in practice the fee is waived for these latter two groups). For your 
130 baht or US$5 "investment" into a country deemed to have the 
worst human rights abuses of any country in the world by Amnesty 
International, you get access to one kilometre of road in the village 
 of Payathonzu. I was assured by locals that there was nothing of 
interest to see in this village apart from tourist shops selling identical 
items to those that are available on the Thai side.
 
Hence, I would urge anyone conidering visiting the Three Pagodas 
Pass (and maybe other border crossings to Burma?) to consider 
beforehand if they really want to make such generous contributions 
to a corrupt regime (i.e. SLORC) for what must rank ($/km) as one of 
the most expensive "visas" in the world.
 
--David Blake, Australia


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The Sunday Post
Sunday, My 8, 1994
Reuters, Rangoon
 
 
BURMA SEEKS THAILAND'S HELP ON BOOSTING TOURISM
 
 
Burma has asked for help from neighbouring Thailand to develop its tourist 
industry, Burma's state-run Radio Rangoon reported.
 
Burma's Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Major-General Kyaw Ba, told visiting
Thai Mnister in the Prime Minister's office, Savit Bhothiwihok, that he hoped
for cooperation from Thailand in developing tourism, the radio reported late
on Friday.
 
"Kyaw Ba said he knew the extent of the success of Thai tourism and added
that (Burma) is also making plans to promote tourism," the radio reported in
a dispatch monitored by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
 
Savit also met Brigadier-General Lun Maung, Minister in the Prime Minister's 
office, and discussed ways to strengthen relations and economic cooperation, 
the radio reported.

An official in Savit's office said on Wednesday the minister was hoping to 
finalise a route for a controversial natural gas pipeline from Burma's Gulf
of Martaban to Thailand during his Rangoon visit.
 
The sale of natural gas from the Burmese fields to Thailand has been agreed
by the state Petroleum Authority of Thailand and Rangoon authorities.
Burmese opposition groups have lobbied against the pipeline, saying it will 
provide revenue for the junta which came to power in 1988 after crushing a 
pro-democracy uprising.
 

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The Nation
Saturday, May 7, 1994

BURMA RELEASES 30 FISHERMEN
 
 
Thirty Thai fishermen whose release from a Burmese prison had been postponed 
because of bad weather were freed yesterday, officials said. A 12-year-old
boy  was also discharged.  The boy had been arrested and fined.
 
Fishermen Boonserm Chobnai, 55, of Ranong's Maung district, told reporters
that conditions in Burmese jails had improved.
 
"Being imprisoned in Burma today is different than in the past. The Burmese 
give Thai prisoners much honour. We are not required to work. Wardens
allocate  time for prisoners to exercise so they do not catch diseases."
 
The press conference was attended by Maj Gen Winit Krachangsin, the First
Army  Region commander, Lt Gen Sanan Khachornklam of the Supreme Command, and
Chamnong Chaloemchat, the Ranong provincial governor.
 
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Bangkok Post
Saturday, May 7, 1994
 
 
Rangoon Releases 31 Thai Fishermen
 
Thirty-one Thai men jailed in Burma were handed over to Thai authorities 
yesterday morning at Kawthaung opposite this southern province.
 
The men were originally scheduled to arrive at Kawthaung Thursday but were 
delayed by a storm on their way from Mergui. A welcoming ceremony as
postponed till yesterday morning.
 
Among the Thai authorities attending the 9 a.m. reception were Pol Lt-Gen
Sanan Kachornklam and First Army Region deputy commander Maj-Gen Vinij
Krachangsoot.
 
The release of the men, crewmembers of two Thai fishing boats arrested by 
Burmese authorities during the past three months for allegedly intruding in 
Burmese waters, followed talks in Bangkok on April 26-27 between authorities 
from Burma and Thailand.
 
The talks covered the freeing of 30 Thaisbut an additional man jailed in 
Kawthaung was also released.  Of the 31 men, 15 are natives of Ranong, six
from Chumphon, four from Prachuab  Khiri Khan, two from Phuket and one each
from Krabi, Nong Khai, Prachin Buri  and Sakon Nakhon.