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BurmaNet News Supplement; Part II;



Subject: BurmaNet News Supplement; Part II; October 12

************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
**************************************************************

BurmaNet News
Wednesday, October 12, 1994
Supplement to #32

BURMA SURVERY: PART II

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THE NATION: CLINTON PLEDGES TO END TRADE THREAT
Saturday, October 8, 1994
 
Chuan wins watchlist promise as Senate passes long-awaited bill on 
copyright
 
[Photo caption: CEMENTING TIES: President Clinton meets Prime 
Minister Chuan Leekpai in the Oval Office of the White House on 
Thursday. During the 30-minute meeting, Chuan explained to the US 
president what the Thai government had done to improve intellectual 
property protection.]
 
THE Senate yesterday passed the long-awaited Copyright Bill into law, as 
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai won President Bill .Clinton's promise in 
Washington DC that the United States would soon withdraw Thailand 
from the US trade watchlist.
 
"The US president assured the prime minister that as soon as the 
Copyright Bill is passed by the Thai parliament, the US government will 
remove Thailand from the watchlist," government spokesman Abhisit 
Vejjajiva told reporters in Washington. He added that Clinton also 
"accepted in principle" Chuan's invitation to visit Thailand.
 
Chuan explained in a 35-minute meeting with the US president in the Oval 
Office what the Thai government had done to improve intellectual 
property protection in this country.
 
The US Trade Representative has, from the beginning, cited two points for 
putting Thailand on its trade watchlist: inadequate protection on 
intellectual property, and human rights, specifically relating to a ban on 
state enterprise workers forming unions.
 
Chuan informed Clinton on the developments concerning copyright and 
labour rights, according to Abhisit. "The president thanked Thailand for 
paying serious attention to the matters," the spokesman said.
 
According to a statement from the Thai Embassy in Washington DC, 
Clinton promised to look into the issue and said Washington would be 
ready to take Thailand from the watchlist.
 
Prior to the Apec summit in Seattle last year, Chuan raised the issue of the 
US priority watchlist during a bilateral meeting with Clinton.
 
The United States removed Thailand from its Priority Foreign Country 
(PFC) watchlist classification last year, to a less serious status -- a so-
called Priority Watchlist (PWL) country -- pending the passage of the new 
Copyright Bill.
 
The US Trade Representative also made it clear that it would consider 
extending tax concessions under the Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) programme to Thailand, pending the passage of the amended labour 
law.
 
Chuan was visiting Washington after a week-long visit to Canada. Chuan 
and his delegation are due back in Bangkok on Sunday.
 
Business issues dominated the discussions of the two leaders yesterday. 
According to the statement released by the Thai Embassy, Chuan also 
told Clinton that the Thai House of Representatives had approved a bill to 
allow state enterprise workers to set up labour unions.
 
The bill is yet to be endorsed by the Senate.
 
On security matters, Chuan has asked Clinton to clarify to some US 
Congressmen that the Thai government did not give any support to the 
Khmer Rouge, the embassy statement said. The prime minister confirmed 
to President Clinton that his administration would not support any illegal 
political faction in Cambodia, making the point that Chuan was appointed 
through a democratic electoral system.

In response to Chuan's request, Clinton expressed his sympathy on the 
Thai government, and he said that he would explain the truth to the US 
congress.
 
Chuan expressed a readiness to work with the United States and the 
United Nations in sending peacekeeping forces to help restore democracy 
in Haiti. He also briefed Clinton on the "improving" situation in Burma, the 
statement from the Thai ambassador added.
        
Reuters quoted a white House spokesman as saying that President Clinton 
also agreed that trade liberalization in the Pacific Rim should be a priority
at a forthcoming summit of Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) 
leaders in Jakarta.
 
Chuan and Clinton will represent their countries at the mid-November 
summit.
 
"Both leaders emphasized the importance of the upcoming Apec meeting 
in November and agreed that a commitment to regional trade liberalization 
should be a priority objective at that meeting," said White House 
spokeswoman Dee Dee Myers.
 
The 17 members of Apec are the United States, Canada, Japan, South 
Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines Brunei, Indonesia, 
Singapore, Malaysia Thailand, Australia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and 
New Zealand.
 
Myers said that during the meeting Clinton reaffirmed the importance the 
United States attaches to its long-standing relationship with Thailand, one 
of five treaty allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

***************************************************************
BKK POST: DEMOCRATIC REFORM EFFORT IN HONG KONG TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
Saturday October 8, 1994
by Ethan Casey
 
I was in Hong Kong on September 18, when elections were held for the 
colony's district boards, or local government units. The polls were being 
billed in official circles as the first "fully democratic" polls ever in Hong
Kong -- a polite way of saying that they are the latest installment in the 
British attempt to save face as they withdraw more or less gracefully from 
the city that already is only ostensibly their last remaining significant 
colonial possession.
 
"What today reflects is that Hong Kong is a grown-up community," 
Governor Chris Patten said on election day. The next day's South China 
Morning Post described Mr Patten as "elated", though the paper took 
note that he "would not say whether the 33.1 per cent (turnout) could 
prove his political reform had been a success." Some observers describable
either as skeptics or realists took pains to note that while it was quite
true that 61 per cent more people had voted than in the 1991 elections, the
figure described an increase in the absolute number of people voting, 
inflated by 100,000 newly-eligible 18-to-20-year-olds, as well as by an 
assortment of ineligible and in some cases nonexistent people. As the 
Morning Post explained in its September 20 leader: "There was a 61 per 
cent increase in the overall number of voters. If that was not reflected as
a proportion of the electoral roll, it was because the register is stuffed
with the names of emigrants, residents who have changed their address and 
substantial numbers of the dear departed."
 
In other words, the district board election, and attempts at massaging the 
numbers to support claims of "democracy" triumphant, were an exercise in 
political theatre and/or self-serving British public relations. The hulking 
reality is that China will have none of any of it, as it officially announced
at the end of August.
 
In any case, Britain's much-vaunted efforts at democratic reform -- led 
quite valiantly by Mr Patten, it must be said -- evidently are too little too
late. This much seems certain, and will be borne out in the months and 
years following June 30, 1997: many in Hong Kong just sort of wish the 
British would go away now, or at least smell the geo-political coffee.
 
Noting the Clinton administration's half-hearted attempt to coerce China 
into respecting the human rights of its own citizens, columnist David Chu 
wrote in the Morning Post of September 20: "If a power as great as the US 
cannot budge China, no other can, however hard it tries and however wily 
it may be. The Germans, French, Japanese and others realise this as they 
queue up for business in China. The Americans have also learned this 
lesson. The ones who do not seem to understand this are the British." 
Many Hong Kongers know that they must deal with China, and they seem 
ready to do so -- on China's terms.
 
Which raises a matter that those of us who believe vaguely in something 
we call liberal democracy would prefer not to discuss: democracy is 
besieged everywhere these days, not only by military juntas like Burma's 
SLORC and the Haitian generals, but by the sheer dead weight of history 
and culture.
 
So long as the United States remained a factor to be reckoned with, 
governments everywhere tripped over each other to declare themselves 
democracies. But after what Americans should consider their humiliation 
at the hands of China, many in Asia are looking at globes and realising 
that China is a lot nearer to them than America, and that the US 
government cannot be expected to stand on principle. Sad but true. 
Columnist Chu caught the mood: "Like a body-builder's bulging biceps, 
American muscles -- military, economic, political, social and cultural -- 
appear at times more decorative than useful."
 
[some material deleted]
 
The author also claims that China -- the whole seething, multi-lingual, 
multi-ethnic mass of 1.1 billion (some now say 1.2 billion) people -- may be 
in for a political sea change. He draws ominous parallels between the 
present situation, as all await the demise of nonagenarian leader Deng 
Xiaoping, and the Qing dynasty that collapsed, exhausted, in 1911, to be 
replaced by the short-lived non-communist Republic.
 
"By now the problems of the political system are hideously apparent, as 
the bright young regime that was going to overturn the old world and 
build a brave new China looks old, shabby, oppressive and irrelevant to 
China's needs," argues Jenner. "Like the Qing dynasty in its final years, it 
seems to be ultimately unreformable: it will allow you a little freedom, but
if you try to go further, it shoots you. Indeed, it is apparent that it is in
many ways a reinvention of the bureaucratic monarchy.
 
"It now looks as though the problem of what should succeed the Qing 
dynasty has yet to be solved."
 
When I was in Hong Kong my attention was much less urgently riveted to 
the polls than to the bizarre slow-motion American occupation of Haiti 
that was then unfolding. The elections certainly did not seem to be 
understood to have the life-and-death significance of elections in, say, 
Haiti.

Hong Kong residents know that China is a big, well-armed, autocratic 
country. They also know the history of Chinese tyranny: dissent or rival 
governments with competing mandates (eg, Taiwan) are anathema in 
Chinese civilisation, going back some two millennia. The tentative wishful 
tone of Morning Post political editor Chris Yeung's post-poll analysis 
seems apt: "Clearly, the new band of district board members can convince 
the voters -- even through their deeds and words -- that their votes in a 
blossoming democratic process have mattered."
 

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BURMA/S.E.ASIA
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NATION: MEKONG NATIONS AGREE TO BAN ON HAZARDOUS WASTE ON RIVER
October 9, 1994
by Marisa Chimprabha
 
VIENTIANE -- Representatives from the four countries bordering the 
Mekong river met in the Laotian capital yesterday and adopted a proposal 
put forward by the Thai delegation to prohibit the river being used to 
transport shipments of hazardous waste.
 
The meeting, called to discuss transportation and tourism issues was 
attended by delegates from Burma, Laos, China and Thailand. A joint 
committee has been set up to work out the details of the Thai proposal. 
Discussion at yesterday's meeting focussed on a 24-article draft 
agreement covering commercial shipping along the Mekong river, 
submitted by the Chinese delegation.
 
Delegates decided to delete article 18 of the agreement which proposed 
that shipping companies carrying goods for export be exempted from all 
taxes, duties and other levies.
 
Xay Phabxasoum, permanent secretary at the Laotian Ministry of 
Transport, Post and Construction, told reporters that it was decided to 
delete the article as delegates felt that the issue should first be examined 
by tax experts to ensure accuracy and fairness.
 
Meanwhile, Chiang Rai governor Kamron Booncherd who attended the 
meeting, said it would not be possible to extend exemptions on all taxes 
and levies. "What needs to be considered is exactly how much each 
nation would need to collect to fund development projects along the 
Mekong river," Governor Kamron said yesterday.
 
The Chinese delegation agreed to draft the agreement after the four-nation 
group had it's second meeting in China's Kunming province in January 
this year.
 
At the Kunming meeting it was agreed to allow vessels to use the river 
route from China's Simao province to Chiang Kong province in Laos. 
However, the draft agreement presented to yesterday's meeting stated that 
ships using the river for commercial or tourist purposes should be allowed 
to use docks in the Laotian province of Luang Prabang.
 
Xay, speaking on behalf of the Laotian delegation, agreed to the change 
saying it would benefit trade and tourism in all four countries but 
especially in Laos itself.
 
"Anyway, each of the four governments will have the final say on whether 
or not to approve the change. After that, the four nations will meet and 
discuss the matter again," Xay told our reporter.
 
The Beijing government is reported to be considering the use of explosive 
charges to remove rapids and rocky outcrops along the Lancang, a 
tributary of the Mekong which flows through Chinese territory. However 
other countries with land bordering on the Mekong, particularly Cambodia 
and Vietnam, have expressed opposition to the Chinese proposal. They 
fear that removing the rapids to improve navigation on the river may result 
in changes in water flow which could also affect boundary markers which 
delineate national frontiers.
 
An informed source said that this matter was not raised at the meeting 
although delegates said they were not in favour of opening up any new 
navigation channels along the river.
 
At yesterday's meeting, the Laotian delegation insisted that the agreement 
should be implemented for a three-year trial period after it was signed by 
representatives from the four countries. Other delegates suggested that 
the trial period be extended to five years.
 
The meeting, which was chaired by Xay later decided to review article 5 of 
the agreement. This states that each country should agree to grant 
vessels from each of the other three, special customs and other 
clearances.
 
Xay commented that normally this type of "most-favoured-nation" status 
was only conducted between two countries.
 
The six-day meeting, which started Thursday, will wind up on Wednesday 
with the signing of the agreement.

******************************************************
BKK POST: LAOTIAN FM LAUDS BURMA FOR RECONCILIATION 
EFFORTS
Thursday, October 6, 1994
by Saritdet Marukatat New York
 
LAOTIAN Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad lauded Burma 
yesterday for its success in solving its political problems and opening up 
to the outside world.
 
Mr Somsavat told the 49th session of the United Nations General Assem-
bly: "In Myanmar (Burma) a new important event has taken place.
 
"Efforts towards national reconciliation and the opening up of economic 
cooperation with the outside world have been fruitful and this will 
consolidate the stability of the country "
 
Mr Somsavat did not elaborate on the "important event" but it was taken 
as a reference to talks last month between leaders of the State Law and 
Order Restoration Council and dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi who 
has been under house arrest for more than five years.
 
Laos rarely discloses its stance towards Burma to the world.
 
Laos is one of the few close friends of Burma. Their friendship was
underlined when SLORC chairman Gen Than Shwe picked Vientiane for his 
first official foreign visit.
 
A visit to Rangoon' in 1992 by Laotian Prime Minister Khamtay Siphan-
done made him the first government leader to hold talks with the ruling 
junta.
 
Mr Somsavat pledged to cooperate in all areas with the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations as "a new era of cooperation" is gaining 
momentum in the region since the opening of the Friendship Bridge with 
Thailand.
 
"In April the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge was opened with the financial 
cooperation of the Government of Australia, marking a special event for 
Laos, Thailand and Australia and countries in the region in our effort to 
further strengthen regional cooperation in different areas," he said.
 
"Our participation in the ASEAN meeting in Bangkok once again demonstrated
our sincere desire to cooperate in all areas with the countries of 
ASEAN."


 
******************************************************
BKK POST: LAOS HOSTING SUB-REGIONAL MEET ON TOURISM, TRANSPORT
Saturday, October 8, 1994
by Nusara Thaitawat     
Vientiane
 
THE third meeting on sub-regional transport and tourism opened here 
yesterday with strong commitments from the four participating countries 
to facilitate the movement of goods and people across their borders.
 
On top of the agenda is an agreement on merchant shipping on the 
Lancang and Mekong rivers between Burma, China, Laos and Thailand.
 
The 24-article agreement covers issues from the definition of a "vessel", 
"crew member", "passenger" and "merchant goods" to insurance cover, 
accident and rescue operations, and use of ports.
 
The four countries are expected to adopt the draft agreement at the close 
of the meeting on October l3.
 
The timing for the agreement to come into effect is to be negotiated at the 
meeting but, according to the draft agreement, it comes into force three 
years from the signing date.
 
Each delegation will bring the draft agreement back to  seek endorsement 
from their governments.         
The meeting was opened by Laotian Minister for Communications, 
Transport, Post and Construction Bouathong Vonglokham.
 
Mr Bouathong said the Laotian government had outlined a policy giving 
top priority to developing the region covered by the four countries.    
        
 
He said the region boasted abundant natural resources, manpower and 
natural beauty.
 
Millions of tourists visit each year, and the peoples of the four countries 
have similar traditions, values, languages, beliefs and cultural heritage.
 
Mr Bouathong said communications and transport were the two main 
"bottlenecks" hampering the development o the region during the current 
period of international economic development cooperation.
 
Apart from the navigation agreement on the Lancang and Mekong rivers, 
the four countries will also discuss regional tourism and road links.
 
Also on the agenda is the proposed railway link from Yunnan to Thailand, 
the opening of an international airport at Kunming, and the launch of i 
flights between Luang Prabang, Chiang Mai, Mandalay, Jinghong and 
Kunming.
 
The meeting is expected to announce another rally, from Chiang Rai to 
Houaysay, Luang Namtha and Kunming, in 1994-1995.
 
Burma was proposed as the venue for the next meeting.

*************************************************************
FEER: TAIWANESE TAKEOVER [WAGE RATES IN S.E.ASIA] [abridged]
Island's entrepreneurs are leading the way 
FEER (Cover Story). September 22, 1994, p.77+
By Julian Baum in Taipei
 
[Graph: Export Platform
 
Vietnamese wages are low . . . but so is buying power
 
Country        Min. mo. wage       Per-capita GNP      [Both in US$]
________      ____________         ____________
Burma               60+*                750
Indonesia           60+                 600 [almost]
Malaysia            300+                3,300 [almost]
Philippines         110+                900 [almost]
Thailand            120                 2,400
Vietnam             35                  20+
 
*Using official exchange rate; US$4.50 at blackmarket rate.
Source: Review Data]


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BURMA/THAI RELATIONS
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NATION: FESTERING COUP ALLEGATIONS HURTING THAILAND
Saturday, October 8, 1994
 
New evidence pointing to Thai involvement in the failed Cambodian 
power grab, is causing suspicion among Thailand's neighbours, The 
Nation's Yindee Lertcharoenchok writes.
 
[Photos: ADUL, CHARAN]
 
MORE than three months have elapsed but the mystery of who was 
behind the failed coup attempt in Cambodia remains unresolved. Worst of 
all, the allegations of Thai complicity have not been cleared and emerging 
evidence is likely to cause great embarrassment to the Kingdom and its 
people.
 
Although the Thai government and military have strongly denied any 
official blessing or involvement in the putsch and demanded that Phnom 
Penh release the remaining nine Thai suspects, they are finding it 
increasingly difficult to maintain their position that no Thais, be they 
officials or businessmen, were involved in the affair.
 
The Cambodian government, which is playing its cards very close to its 
chest, is believed to have evidence to back up its accusations. One card is 
the Thais being detained in near incommunicado in Phnom Penh since the 
failed coup attempt in early July. Cambodian authorities claim that two of 
the detainees have confessed and revealed some disturbing information.
 
Other evidence is the names of certain Thai officials and businessmen 
who are alleged to have a hand in the affair. Phnom Penh claims to have 
obtained a full list of the Thais, including military officers who were 
accomplices in the failed power grab.
 
The officers are said to have travelled regularly between the two capitals 
and were in Cambodia at the time of the coup. When the plot failed they 
sneaked out of the country. The businessmen are suspected of having 
financially supported the putsch to gain revenge after Phnom Penh 
revised "unfair" business contracts they had struck with the previous 
Cambodian administration
 
Among the list of 14 Thais whom the Cambodian government has sought 
permission to interview are former New Aspiration Party MP Pol Lt Col 
Adul Boonset and two military officers, who are close aides of General 
Charan Kullavanijaya, secretary general of the National Security Council 
(NSC).
 
The list was "verbally" conveyed last month from Phnom Penh to the Thai 
Foreign Ministry which subsequently gave it to the media.
 
Phnom Penh also wants to interview another of Gen Charan's aides, a 
colonel who was recently promoted to a major general. The colonel is said 
to have picked up coup leader Cambodian Prince Norodom Chakrapong at 
Bangkok Don Muang Airport when he flew in from Malaysia where he had 
taken temporary refuge since the putsch. He happened to use Gen 
Charan's Jaguar limousine to collect the prince.
 
In an interview early this week with The Nation, two NSC officers, whose 
names were made public by Phnom Penh, accepted that they were in 
Phnom Penh at the time of the failed coup attempt. But both denied any 
involvement in the event.
 
Supong Srichamnong, an officer who has overseen Cambodian affairs for 
more than 10 years, said he had flown into Phnom Penh, with a valid 
Cambodian visa, on July 1 to visit Cambodian friends and left on July 5.
 
Col Vivat Vissanuvimol claimed that his direct superior, General Charan, 
and Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai had been informed of his regular visits 
to Cambodia and of his latest controversial trip.
 
Vivat said Thai security authorities had learned about the coup bid several 
months in advance but could not specify the exact date. He claimed that 
both Chuan and Charan were kept abreast of the information.
Thai authorities, he said, had passed on the information to the 
Cambodians but that they did not pay attention to it. "We tipped off the 
Cambodian authorities about the coup plot, but it seemed they paid no 
attention to it," he said.
 
Vivat claimed that he and three other friends, also military officers, 
travelled to Phnom Penh a few days before the attempted coup to observe 
the general situation which he described as "ripe for a coup bid at any 
moment".
 
According to the colonel, he met Pol Lt Col Adul for the first time in 
Phnom Penh as they were staying in the same hotel. He claimed that he 
and his friends were caught off guard when the coup took place, returned 
to the hotel and decided that they should proceed with an overland 
journey back to Thailand.
 
They returned to Thailand in a Mercedes-Benz through a Khmer Rouge-
controlled section of the border area, they said.
 
Vivat has offered to travel to Phnom Penh to "give the account of my trip 
and the events leading up to the coup attempt". He believed that the visit 
could help clear his name as well as General Charan and the National 
Security Council who have been implicated in the scandal. Cambodian 
authorities, however, have not yet responded to his overture, he said.
 
Long Sarin, minister of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, publically 
defended Vivat earlier this week. He said Vivat was neither involved in the 
coup attempt nor was the colonel wanted for questioning in Phnom Penh. 
He, however, declined to name the Thai colonel.
 
In contrast to the two NSC officers who have come out to answer the 
allegations, General Charan, has chosen to remain quiet throughout the 
building controversy. Charan has also come under criticism recently from 
some sections of the Thai press for his policy towards Burma.
 
Perhaps, the most damaging repercussions of the coup conspiracy is 
Thailand's image and its credibility in the eyes of its neighbours. Like it
or not, suspicion and mistrust are growing in the minds of the leaders in 
neighbouring states, as Phnom Penh has fully briefed them of the putsch 
and the alleged Thai complicity.
 
Some Bangkok-based envoys have raised the issue with senior Thai Army 
officers and government officials for clarification, but big question marks 
remain in their hearts. They are closely observing the fall out from the 
coup with interest and inquisitive eyes.
 
The diplomats are particularly disturbed and concerned that similar Thai 
interference could take place in their countries. They are well aware that 
the same group of suspected Thai businessmen has also knocked on their 
doors in search of economic opportunities and some have already 
invested in their homelands.
 
The diplomats see a real threat to their country's peace, stability and 
security, especially if those accused officers are responsible in formulating

and implementing Thai foreign policy towards its neighbours.
Thailand will pay a high price to redeem its sagging reputation. No longer 
can the Thai government or the military stay idle or silent, hoping that the 
Cambodian and Thai people will soon forget about the attempted power 
seizure.
 
Neither can they afford to sacrifice the nine Thai detainees, whether 
innocent or guilty, as convenient scapegoats for a few Thai officers who 
are accused of being the real culprits.
 
The allegations against Thailand represent a pressing agenda to be 
addressed and only thorough a transparent investigation will a solution 
found. The innocent have to be released and the culprits be brought to 
Justice.
 
To help the Thai investigation, the Cambodian government has to provide 
whatever information about the Thai abetment that it claims to possess. 
Also, it should not play up or exploit the issue of the Thai suspects while 
deliberately ignoring the complicity of Cambodian authorities in the coup 
attempt.
 
Finally, Phnom Penh has no right to detain the Thai suspects without 
charging them. Its attempts to prolong their detention through legal means 
in the court are inhumane and a clear violation of basic human rights as 
the suspects, already under three months of confinement, are still being 
denied contact with professional lawyers and their families.

***************************************************************
NATION: NSC CHIEF DENIES THAI HAND IN JULY'S FAILED CAMBODIA COUP
Saturday, October 8, 1994
 
[Photo caption: CHARAN: Press blamed.]
 
NATIONAL Security Council chief Gen Charan Kullavanijaya yesterday 
denied any Thai complicity in July's failed coup in Cambodia and accused 
the local press of misleading the public by carrying reports of unfounded 
Cambodian allegations.
 
Charan said he did lot know how "Thai citizens in Thailand'' could be 
involved in the affairs of other countries, which have their own 
responsible authorities.
 
"I appeal to people to use their powers of reasoning,'' he said, and not be 
misguided by news reports of Thai involvement in the failed putsch.
 
Phnom Penh has advised the government of the names of 14 Thais they 
suspect of involvement in the abortive power seizure and wish to 
question. Two of them are colonels who work as Charan's aides.
 
Charan was speaking on his return from Canada, where he accompanied 
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai on an official visit. It was his first comment 
on the subject since the Cambodian allegations became public.
 
The NSC chief said those who report about the Cambodian coup should 
show "wisdom" and bear in mind the positive and negative impacts of 
their articles on the country.
 
"The NSC has never used any office personnel for any operation because 
that is not their job," he said.
 
He said he did not know where the allegations of Thai involvement 
originated.
 
In an interview with The Nation earlier this week, the two colonels denied 
any involvement in the abortive coup, but they agreed they were in 
Phnom Penh at the time.
 
The Cambodian government also suspects that a third officer who works 
for Charan in the NSC was involved. The former colonel, who has just 
been promoted to major general, is said to have picked up the coup leader, 
Cambodian Prince Norodom Chakrapong, at Bangkok's Don Muang 
Airport when he flew in from Malaysia where he had taken temporary 
refuge. He happened to use Charan's Jaguar limousine to collect the 
prince.
                
Charan said he has never been contacted by Phnom Penh for information 
about alleged Thai complicity in the coup bid.
                                
He said he was prepared to testify before the Parliament, but had not been 
requested to do so. He said he learned that former prime minister and Chat 
Pattana Party leader Gen Chatichai Choonhavan had some doubts about 
the coup.
 
"[If any MPs] are doubtful they should inquire through the proper 
channel, that is from the Parliament to the administration. It is a good
thing 
that MPs are interested in the affairs of the country." he added
 
Agence France-Presse adds from Phnom Penh. A member of parliament 
was investigating allegations that the Cambodian government had ordered 
a local television station to stop broadcasting controversial news, a report 
said yesterday.
 
Kem Sohka, chairman of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee, told 
the bi-weekly English-language Phnom Penh Post that if the allegations 
proved true, he would protest to co-premiers Prince Norodom Ranariddh 
and Hun Sen.
 
Threats designed to stop the broadcasting of material critical of the 
government were illegal, Kem Sokha said.
 
The private Thai-owned International Broadcasting Co (IBC) recently said 
it would no longer cover the activities or statements of non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) which were critical of the government.


******************************************************
BKK POST: MAE SAI-TACHILEK BORDER HOURS EXTENDED
Thursday, October 6, 1994
Chiang Rai
 
THOUSANDS of people were gathered along the Mae Sai-Tachilek road 
last Friday night to witness the opening ceremony of the official extension 
of hours of the Mae SaiTachilek border checkpoint.
 
The new closing hours will be extended from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 
Saturdays and annual holidays.
 
It is the first Thai border checkpoint to allow border crossings at night. 
The extra period will be extended on Friday and Saturday nights and on 
annual holidays, according to Phakdhi Rattanapol, county
magistrate of Mae Sai.
 
"It is an historic night for Thailand and Burma. People from both sides will 
be able to get in touch at night time, but they have to carry two border 
passes on both sides including a passage fee," he noted.
 
He said it took both sides more than five months to reach the resolution as 
previously Burma vowed to open the checking point until midnight but 
the Thai Interior Ministry agreed the checkpoint should be closed at 9 
p.m.
 
"Possibly within three months, it may be extended everyday if the results 
of the trial period are satisfactory," he added.
 
The Joint Public and Private Sectors Consultative Committee of Chiang 
Rai province consisting of the private sector, Immigration, Customs 
Department, Police Department and the Department of Local 
Administration has screened the project and realised it would benefit the 
growing economies in the provinces and neighbouring countries 
following the policy of the project of regional economic cooperation.
 
Presiding over the ceremony were Chiang Rai Governor Kamron 
Booncherd and Lieutenant General Kim Mong Yee of Tachilek of Chiang 
Tung.
 
"I would say it is an historic event showing a good sign of a strong 
relationship between Thailand and Burma. It assures tourists and 
investors that they are visiting or investing in safe places," the governor 
said.
 
He added that the project is aimed not only to meet the growing economy 
along the border but also to promote tourism as the province is stepping 
up infrastructure development to provide new tourist destinations.
 
Mae Sai district has requested supporting funds from TAT to promote 
tourism activities in the area and also to upgrade roads leading to several 
natural tourism destinations in Mae Sai such as Khun Na Nang Non, 
Tham Luang Cave and Wat Dai Wao.
 
The governor said the checkpoint might extend its official hours to 
midnight in the future and allow foreign tourists to cross the border at 
night by using border passes instead of passports.
 
He said foreign tourists ar allowed to stay over in Tachilek for three nights
by passport.
 
To more effectively manage traffic, main roads in Mae Sai will be improved 
and expanded to cope with people travelling to the checkpoint.
 
Meanwhile, people in colourful clothes travelling from both sides of the 
checkpoint were enjoying the entertainment programmes saying they have 
never seen nightlife at Mae Sai before.

*********************************************************
NATION: BRIDGE TO LINK WITH BURMA
Sunday, October 9, 1994
 
An agreement was signed to build a bridge across the Moei river at Mae 
Sot, linking Thailand and Burma. Thailand will pay the whole cost of tho 
Bt79.2 million bridge. Construction is expected to take one and a half 
years.

*********************************************************
BKK POST: RUMOURS ON PRASONG'S OUSTER
Thursday, October 6, 1994
 
BANGKOK diplomatic circles have been jumping with speculation 
recently as to whether Foreign Minister Prasong Soonsiri would soon lose 
his job.
 
"Last week I was told that Khun Prasong was definitely going to be 
replaced. But just yesterday I was told that he will stay where he is," a 
Western diplomat said recently.
 
Others questioned whether Chamlong Srimuang would act against Prime 
Minister Chuan Leekpai's wishes by kicking out Prasong. "The latest I 
have heard is that Prime Minister Chuan wants Prasong to stay on," 
another diplomat said.
 
However, there is one factor that many believe will have a strong influence 
on the decision over Prasong's fate.
 
"Could [former prime minister] Gen Prem Tinsulanonda stand seeing 
Prasong sacked?" an ambassador asked.

*********************************************************
SEASIA-L: "GEN. WIMOL & BURMANET NEWS"
/* Written  2:06 AM  Sep 17, 1994 
by peckg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:bitl.seasia */

BurmaNet News for Sept. 15 reprinted an article from the Nation quoting
Thai Army Commander Wimol commenting on the Mon and planned gas pipeline
from Burma. My office had the occasion to call the Army spokesman about
this article, and was told, with a laugh, that it was overblown. To be
precise, we were told, and have little reason to doubt, that it was the
usual matter of reporters mobbing Wimol (as they do to all public figure
in Thailand) and offering up a provocative question to which the general
felt compelled to reply.

I have no idea what Gen. Wimol really thinks of the pipeline or
the Mon or most anything else. But I thought it worth reminding people
that news reports, even from the most reliable newspapers in the country,
can be misleading and sometimes dead wrong. Wimol is no fire-breather,
contrary to the impression one might get from the article.

That said, I should also note that the Burma postings here are
just about the most useful thing I can get on the Internet, and I thank
[message cut off here].


*********************************************************
NATION: NO INTERFERENCE IN POLITICS, SAYS NEW SUPREME COMMANDER
Friday, October 7, 1994
 
NEW Supreme Commander Gen Vatanachai Vuthisiri yesterday met 240 
senior military officers and heads of agencies under his control and 
reaffirmed major policies, confirming the military fully supports democracy 
and will not interfere in politics. 
 
Vatanachai said these policies formed the basis of a sound and efficient 
working relationship. 
 
The policies he outlined: 
 
*    The military will remain united and always serve the nation and the
     public. 
*    The military will ensure national security and protect the country's
     interests. 
*    The military will not interfere in politics or government affairs. It
     will act in accordance with government policies and support the
     democratic system. 
*    The military will collaborate with the government and private sectors to
     develop the country, and help with disaster relief. 
*    The military will promote military relationships with foreign countries,
     especially neighbouring nations in Southeast Asia, to ensure better
     mutual understanding and the ability to resolve any problems which
     arise. 
 
He said if problems occur with Cambodia or Malaysia, the military will 
attempt to settle them by negotiation. It will seek help from the government 
if agreement cannot be reached. 
 
Officers should strive to the best of their abilities to ensure the public
feel at ease and the government is free to run the country without hindrance. 

He said politics was thriving under the democratic system, but he did not 
believe that politicians would interfere in military affairs. Politicians and
the military would focus on their respective jobs. 
 
Amending the Constitution was the responsibility of Parliament and would 
not lead to chaos or violence, he said. 
 
The new supreme commander said training and discipline within the military 
should be improved and reinforced. However, no problems concerning the 
"class" of officers would arise and nothing needed to be corrected because 
all officers lived and worked like brothers. 
 
He added he and Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Wimol Wongwanich were 
good friends and played golf together. He did not believe there were any 
problems between the various branches of the armed forces. If any arose, 
he was confident he would be able to settle them. 
 

*************************************************************
DRUGS
*************************************************************
NATION: OPIUM SEIZED IN BURMA
Sunday, October 9, 1994
 
Burmese military intelligence officers posing as drug dealers seized more 
than 70 kg of raw opium and arrested three people on drug charges after 
an undercover operation in southern Shan state.

*************************************************************
REUTERS: CHINA EXECUTES BURMESE TRAFFICKER
Sunday, October 9, 1994
 
BEIJING -- Chinese authorities have executed a Burmese drug smuggler in 
the southwestern province of Yunnan bordering Burma, official media said 
yesterday.
 
Yang Maoxian, 48, was put to death on Friday for conspiring with Chinese 
drug traffickers to smuggle a total of 212 kilograms of heroin from Burma 
on nine occasions between July 1990 and 1994, the People's Daily and 
Xinhua news agency said.
 
Executions in China are usually carried out with a bullet to the back of the 
head.
 
Chinese police arrested Yang in May after he entered China. The Supreme 
Court upheld his death sentence on Sept 23.
 
Other suspects in the case are also subject to legal punishment, court 
officials were quoted as saying.


*************************************************************
REFUGEES
*************************************************************
REUTERS: BURMA SUSPENDS REFUGEES' RETURN FROM BANGLADESH

DHAKA, Oct 7 (Reuter) - Burma has temporarily halted the return of
Moslem refugees from Bangladesh, citing efforts to keep the country free
from plague as the reason, government officials said on Friday. 

``Burmese authorities told us on Thursday they believed the returning
Rohingya citizens might be carrying plague or by any means help spread of
the disease,'' said Deputy Relief and Repatriation Commissioner,
Raqibuddin Ahmed. 

``We are trying to convince them that the fears are unfounded because
no one in Bangladesh proved to have contracted plague,'' he told reporters
at his office in Cox's Bazar. ``But the Burmese side is adamant about
enforcing a temporary shut down on the repatriation process.'' 

Officials said more than 81,000 Rohingyas, who fled to southeastern
Bangladesh in early 1992 to escape alleged military persecution in west
Burma's Moslem-dominated Arakan state, have returned home so far. Nearly
170,000 more were still waiting to go back when Rangoon disrupted the
process. 

Bangladesh has closed all but seven border transit points with India,
where plague has killed at least 52 people.  Flights from India, except for
a few operated under special agreements, have been cancelled. Indian ships
have been barred from entering Bangladesh ports and the Bangladesh Shipping
Corporation has asked its vessels to avoid India. 

``I suppose the plague has caused a scare far more extensive than the
disease itself,'' said a doctor at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. 
His comments followed a sudden decision on Thursday by some 12,000
doctors in government hospitals to call off a 16-day-old strike. 

The high court had earlier ordered a return to work but the Bangladesh
Medical Association (BMA), which organised the strike to press for higher
wages, promotions and new jobs, initially said the doctors would ignore
it. 

``Yes, we were worried. People were already suffering and they could
be fiercely angry at the striking doctors if plague had actually broken
out.'' 

Conditions in the hospitals were returning to normal on Friday with a
majority of doctors having returned to work. 

Government sources claimed more than 300 patients had died as a result
of lack of care, and thousands fled hospitals during the strike, which
began on September 11. 


*************************************************************
SEASIA-L: BURMA REFUGEES DEPORTED FROM MIZORAM, INDIA 
 >Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
 >Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 10:44:44 -1812
 >Sender: Southeast Asia Discussion List <SEASIA-L@xxxxxxx>
 >From: "F. K. Lehman" <flehman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 >Subject: Burma refugees deported from Mizoram, India
 >Lines: 39

A FAX, early this morning, US time, from Aizawl, capital of Mizoram
State, India, to Lian Uk, elected parliamentarian from Burma's Chin State,
bordering Mizoram, now in asylum in the US, reports that some thousands of
people from Burma were rounded up suddenly in Aizawl and Mizoram generally,
arrested, and handed over to Burma (SLORC/Army) authorities over the
border, who promptly jailed them. The scene was shown on India  television
(at least the Eastern Service).

The Chin are close cultural and linguistic relatives of the Mizo
themselves, and the majority of those living in Mizoram, where they had
sought refuge from Burma, are Chin, but there are also a number of Burmans
and other nationalities from Burma that were taken in this round-up and
deportation. It was reportedly sudden and without warning, and it is said
that many were weeping and begging to be let go, and some tried to flee,
but were subsequently caught. They all had to leave any homes, property and
so on that they had there, and were sent off back to Burma with nothing.
India, it should be understood, has never granted refugee status to those
who have fled Burma, and has long insisted that they stay in Mizoram,
preferably in a stockaded camp on the very border, at Champhai, but it has
at least let many of them stay more or less unofficially up until now.
This, therefore, is a new and very disturbing development.

One hears continually, certainly on this List, about the way
Thailand has mishandled refugees from Burma and undertaken forced
repatriation of them, but I feel it is time to make it well known and well
publicised that the situation, on the Western border with India is quite
dreadful, too, even if perhaps on a smaller scale and having less to do
with organised insurgency against SLORC and even though India is less
concerned, at least publicly, to co-operate formally with SLORC along the
lines of Thailand's 'constructive engagement'.

It is quite unclear as of this posting what has brought about this
action, or even to what extent is the result of Indian Central Government
initiative as against Mizoram State Government initiative, but it may be
worthy of consideration that in the forthcoming elections there, the Mizo
National Front (MNF) is conyesting strongly with the Congress, which is
currently in power in Mizoram. The MNF is known to be narrowly
nationalistic, even as against the Chin in Mizoram (the reasons are
complicated beyond the capacity of this List to encompass them), and it is
not unimaginable that the development under consideration here may have
been a co-operative venture between the State Government and the Central
Government in New Delhi, also Congress dominated, to counter the MNF
campaign.


*************************************************************
NATION: OFFICIALS TO FACE WRATH OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Sunday, October 9, 1994
 
THE Interior Ministry will charge local officials with negligence of duty if 
illegal immigrants and unlawful employment of aliens are found in areas 
under their supervision, a ministry source said yesterday.
 
The source said stringent action is part of a package of measures drafted 
by the Interior Ministry to fight the growing number of illegal immigrants 
in Thailand.
 
Another measure calls for the setting up of a task force to deal specifically
with illegal entry and immigrants.
 
The source said the Interior Ministry will also order immigration police and 
the Corrections and Public Welfare departments to detain illegal 
immigrants whose family is arrested and cannot pay fines.
 
They would be taken to a central detention centre in Pathum Thani's 
Thanya Buri District and other centres of the Public Welfare Department.
 
The Corrections Department's detention centres in Kanchanaburi, 
Ranong, Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, Sa Kaew and Songkhla will also be 
expanded in the next two years to detain illegal immigrants.
 
People giving assistance to immigrants or their employers will also be 
arrested, he said.
 
According to the source, the issue of "visa on arrival" for citizens of 
certain countries will also be cancelled.
 
These measures have been worked out following a meeting of the Interior 
Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Labour and Social Welfare Ministry, 
the National Security Council, the Police Department and the Local 
Administration Department on September 12.
 
The package will be submitted to an Interior Ministry meeting tomorrow 
for approval.
 
The ministry earlier reported there were nearly 600,000 illegal immigrants in
Thailand.

END OF PART II