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BurmaNet News: October 25, 1994
- Subject: BurmaNet News: October 25, 1994
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 04:39:00
************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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BurmaNet News: Tuesday, October 25, 1994
Issue #42
QOUTE OF THE DAY:
"If we captured Karen soldiers we never kept them
alive. We killed them. The NCOs didn't even
interrogate them, they just said, `Pray to your
God,' and killed them with a bayonet, then
beheaded them."
A young soldier who deserted from the Tatmadaw.
**************************************************************
Contents:
ARTICLE 19: THE IMPACT OF TOURISM AND BURMA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE
NATION: LEXICON OF ENCOURAGEMENT
BI: CIVIL WAR; FROG EATING FROG, FISH EATING FISH
BI: ROHINGYAS KILLED IN ARAKAN
BI: DEMOCRACY DENIED CAMPAIGN
SCB: "BURMESE BIRDS"
NYT: DESPOTISM REVISITED #1
NYT: DESPOTISM REVISITED #2
NYT: BARGES FOR BURMA--FAR EAST LEVINGSTON CO.
XNA: FRENCH FIRM TO SUPPLY POWER MACHINES TO MYANMAR
XNA: SINGAPORE NEWSPAPER TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN MYANMAR
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ARTICLE 19: THE IMPACT OF TOURISM AND BURMA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE
by Martin Smith
Article 19, The International Centre Against Censorship
By most modern international standards, the current tourism trade
in Burma is still negligible. One of the most restricted countries
in the world under the former BSPP government, by 1987 visitors had
peaked at just over 40,000 a year (as compared with 4 million in
neighbouring Thailand). Numbers then collapsed altogether to 5,000
in 1989 following the military's suppression of the democracy
uprising, before climbing back slowly towards the 30,000 mark in
1993.
This does not mean, however, that the tourism industry is dead. If
current government predictions are true, Burma could well be on the
brink of a tourism explosion to rival Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore
and other more prosperous Asian neighbours. With an eye for the
well-heeled traveller ("hippies" and "back-packers" will be
barred), currency and visa restrictions are being relaxed to allow
for four week stays; new air, sea and land routes are being opened
up; and 1996 has been declared the "Year of the Tourist" with a
projected goal of 500,000 foreign visitors that year. "Tourism is
blossoming all over the world. Hundreds of millions of dollars are
being made," Lt.-Gen. Kyaw Ba, the SLORC's Tourism Minister, said
recently.
Whether foreign tourists will respond in such an enthusiastic
fashion while Burma's political crisis still continues is far from
certain. But there can be no doubt that international tourism
could well one day play a major role in rebuilding Burma's
impoverished economy with its abundance of historic, cultural and
geographic sites of outstanding international importance. Across
the country many communities would hope to benefit.
The implications for freedom of expression and the protection of
the Burmese environment are already immense. Currently, there are
plans under discussion for ski-resorts around the Hkajabo Razi peak
in Burma's far north, luxury hotels and golf courses on tropical
islands in the Andaman Sea, and gambling casinos in the Golden
Triangle region of the southern Shan State. For the moment, many
of these projects appear wildly ambitious, but the rush of
multinational interest in tourist development is accelerating
nevertheless. According to SLORC officials, over 15 companies from
Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong have now signed
contract for hotel developments worth over US $400 million in
investment figures alone.
The question, then, is who will benefit? In government publicity,
at least the problem of environmental impact is for once openly
acknowledged. "The Government feels that the environmental
degradation is caused by the human activities and it recognizes the
actual and potential threats posed by uncontrolled tourism in the
country," claimed a Tourism Ministry report for 1993. "The Myanmar
Tourism Policy is based on preservation of cultural heritage,
protection of natural environment, regional development and
generation of foreign exchange earnings." To back this up, the
National Commission for Environmental Affairs has been ordered to
lay down guidelines to control pollution caused by tourism, and
there can be little doubt that the desire to protect Burma's unique
cultural environment heritage is widespread amongst virtually all
Burmese citizens today. In April this year, the Minister for
Forestry, Lt- Gen Chit Shwe , also conducted a tour of central
Burma with representatives of Lost Frontiers and Tribal and Ethnic
Tours of the USA to investigate the prospect of "eco- tourism".
To date, however, few actions have lived up to these words and
ideals. Rather than opening up the question of tourism to public
debate and participation, a new, highly centralized tourism
industry is being built by the SLORC. In June 1990, within days of
the NLD's victory in the general election, the Myanmar Tourism Law
was unilaterally pronounced by the SLORC, followed in 1992 by the
creation of the powerful Ministry of Tourism and Hotels which is
responsible for planning all new tour, accommodation and travel
enterprises. Private businesses are technically allowed, but most
lucrative new licences and contracts, including foreign joint
ventures, are going to companies which are controlled either by the
state or the military.
Citizens who object or try to publicize opposition to planning
orders face draconian restrictions. Perhaps the most notorious
example occurred in April 1990 when over 5,--- inhabitants were
ordered by soldiers to move from the site of the ancient capital
Pagan and their picturesque wooden homes, some of which were
centuries old, were forcibly destroyed. Four people who tried to
arrange a public meeting between the villagers and authorities were
reportedly arrested and later sentenced to four months'
imprisonment in Myingyan jail. As well as being a gross abuse of
the fundamental human rights of freedom of association and
expression, such practices also contradict the UNESCO
Recommendation concerning the Safeguarding and Contemporary Role of
Historic Areas (Nairobi, 1976). The Recommendation specifically
promotes the concept of "cultural tourism" and the necessity of
encouraging active participation by the local population. Indeed,
amongst the inhabitants relocated from Pagan were traditional
craftworkers with a worldwide reputation for producing high quality
lacquer ware.
Similar concerns are now being expressed about other main tourist
destinations, including Rangoon and Mandalay, where construction
booms are under way to support the first new international hotels.
Already the centre of Mandalay is changing fast. Here, tens of
thousands of local people have been ordered to donate free labour
since December 1993 in order to build a dual carriageway, dredge
the eight kilometre moat and finish the restoration of the old
Mandalay palace, the last citadel of the Burman kings. "If we
refuse, they say they will arrest us for having anti-military
tendencies," one labourer told a visiting Western journalist in
July.
Under current economic planning, however, it is probably Rangoon
that ultimately stands to change the most. In 1993, the first
demolitions started of the colonial facade of the downtorwn city
area to make way for Singaporean and Thai-backed skyscraper hotels.
In defeernce to Buddhist sentiment, buildings will be limited to a
maximum of 27 storeys so that they will not rise above the
internationally-revered Shwedagon Pagoda, which lies on a small
hill to the north. Many monks and community leaders privately
complain, nevertheless, that the historic shape of Rangoon is being
irrevocably changed without any consultation with the local people.
Nervous residents are also fearful that they could be next to lost
their homes and forced to join the over 200,000 citizens already
relocated from Rangoon since 1989 to the satellite new towns of
Hlaing Thaya and Shwe Pyi Thar.
Equally serious worries are being expressed over land
confiscations, cultural despoliation and a complete lack of
environmental rights in many ethnic minority regions of the
country. Most have been completely closed to foreign tourists for
over four decades due to a combination of government policies and
the insurgencies; indeed, until 1992 Rangoon was the only official
gateway to the country. None the less, with the growing number or
cease- fires, a number of frontier posts have been opened under the
SLORC's Boarder Areas Development Programme in the past three years
to allow short-term visits by foreigners.
However, any joy in the Shan State over the official reopening of
the Mae Sai-Tachilek to Kengtung highway from Thailand was
completely dampened by the sudden but still unexplained demolition
of the royal Kengtung Palace in November 1991. The historic seat
of the tradition Sawbwa rulers, the site has since been left
derelict. Local Shans, however, believe that military officials
had an ulterior motive. For while large government funds are
currently being spent on restoring Pagan, Mandalay, Pegu and the
legacy of the former Burman kings in central Burma, they claim that
the country's ethnic minority heritage is being deliberately run
down. In Kengtung, the objections of senior Shan monks were
overruled and prisoners and ethnic Burman workers had to be brought
in to complete the demolition after local Shans refused. According
to reports reaching Thailand, one Shan magistrate, Sai Sarm Tip,
and two friends were arrested and held in captivity for 46 days for
allegedly distributing leaflet opposing the destruction of the
ornate colonial-style building. "They had no right to pull it
down," Tip said. "It belonged to the Kengtung people."
For many Shan citizens, the destruction of the Kengtung Palace now
stands as a glaring example of the abuse of state power and the
imposition of development or cultural standards without any rights
of consultation or redress by the local community. Celebrated in
song, the palace has now become a focal point in a reviving
resistance movement. "Wallowing our history and resurrecting
their," headline a recent article in one underground Shan magazine.
Ironically, one of the main beneficiaries of this resurgence of
Shan nationalism has been the 15,000-strong Mong Tai Army led by
Khun Sa, which has not yet agreed to peace talks with the SLORC.
Long derided as an opium smuggler, since the end of last year Khun
Sa has unilaterally declared the independence of the Shan State and
ordered a sustained offensive across much of the south-west and
central region. Over 500 fatalities were reported on both sides
during May-June 1994 alone and the road from Tachilek was once
again briefly closed. As with the pipelines to Thailand, it is
hard to see how any sustainable development or environmental
protection can be achieved until there is a lasting peace between
the central government and the people, which allows rights to
political participation and public consultation.
**************************************************************
NATION: LEXICON OF ENCOURAGEMENT
25 OCTOBER 1994
by SIRIMAS CHALANUCHPONG
TO help bridge the gap between Thailand and close neighbour Burma,
the first-ever Myanmar-Thai and Thai-Myanmar dictionary was
released this month and is now on Bangkok bookstands. Among the
entries in the dictionary:
aeign ni (nee) chin: (neighbour)
ga yu ma saik: (ignore)
thin kyar layt: (learning)
Yoe Da Ya: (Thai)
Myanmar: (Burma)
"The study of Burmese is not popular among Thais, compared to the
study of Khmer and Pali," said Wirat Niyontam, researched at
Mahidol University's Institute of Language and Culture for Rural
Development.
Studying a foreign language is the first step to understanding a
country's cuilture and people, he said.
"I thought we should know more about Burma than we do since Burma
is our neighbouring country. But the fact is, we know very little
about Burma. We know Burma as our historical enemy and hold a
generally negative view of the country. We don't know much about
their people, their way of life, their society or way of thinking,"
said the researcher who hold a MA in linguistics. Wirat and his
wife Oranut, who is also a researcher at the institite, started
their work four years ago. Though the couple have background in
linguistics, Wirat said when they atart working on the dictionary,
th ecouple knew nothing abut the Burmese language."The first we had
ro do was look for a teacher," said Oranut.
Wirat and Oranut found their teacher - Asin Kondiya from Wat
Mahathat in Bangkok - through a mutual friend. Ashin Kondinya is a
Burmese Buddhist monk who came to be an instructor in Buddhist
teachings a decade ago.
"We are very greatful to him. He was very patient and kind in
devoting his time and energy to help us master the language and he
refused to take anything from us in return for his kindness.
"He always encouraged us to study. He made sure our work was useful
and that we learned from each other. Being able to speak another
person's language enables you to communicate with them," Oranut
said.
Studying with Ashin Kondinya was not always convenient because the
monk was busy with his regular duties at three Buddhist temples in
Bangkok and in Nonthaburi province. "Because he was always busy, we
had to phone him all the time to ask his whereabouts before meeting
him. Sometimes he could only give us just a few minutes, but we
were greatful for that - happy to drive from the institute in
Salava in Nakhonpathon province to see him," Wirat said.
The two researchers used a research procedure, which they described
as a "field method in linguistics" in studying Burmese. The process
involves learning through a "Language informant",they said.
"This method is the most effect means of studying languages. The
teacher doesn't have to set up lessons, but lets students tell the
teacher what they want to learn, such as grammar or vocabulary,"
explained Oranut.
The couple attended classes for a year at Wat Mahathat's Chotica
College - an institute for teaching Pali, Burmese and Khmer. They
said they didn't learn as much as to the language's tones and
sounds. The classes began with simple vocabulary such as verbs and
nouns. Later, they add a little grammar to help make complete
sentences.
In the second and third year of study, the couple devoted their
energies almost entirely to the study of Burmese. They went to
classes at the wat three time a week with Ashin Kondinya and
started to compile and update Burmese vocabulary with the aid of a
computer.
Wirat, who has computer programming training, collected vocabulary
and enter the data into the computer. "The process of entering data
was not easy because we didn't have a Burmese language programme.
So I had to design the programme and enter data myself," he said.
Meanwhile, the couple continued their lesson with Ashin Kondinya.
They also improved their language skills by reading many Burmese
books, including comic books.
"Reading comic made the process of learning the language more fun
and it helped us study faster than usual. We learn Burmese dialect
and culture every day by reading comic books," said oranut,33.
The couple decide that a trip to Burma was the only real way to
make sure they had a good understanding of the language. They visit
the country three times - a 30 day trip in Feb 1993, a 40 day trip
this April and the last trip July. They lived, ate and dress like
Burmese and spoke the language. They also adopted Burmese names
which they were given by Ashin Kondinya. Wirat name, Maung Myo
Aung, means "success" while Oranut's name, Ma Cho Cho Wei, means
sweet and fragrant".
"We decided to go there because we wanted to check our language
skills for ourselves. We wanted to hear with our own ears and see
with our eyes if we were really learning," Oranut said. The
Niyomtams stayed in Buddhist temple in Rangoon. Wirat said he was
surprise to learn that the Burmese people are still strict
Buddhists."Burmese temples are always crowed. Burmese people always
go to the temple to make merit. In the evening, I often saw
children, youngsters and elders standing in lines to clean the
floor of the temples. It's a lovely scene and I'd like to see this
in Thai temples.
"It is very simple for Burmese to become a monk or novice. Parents
believe becoming a novice as a good way to teach children how to be
a good person. Women are happy to become nuns."
When people go to Burma. usually the first thing they want to know
about is the political climate, to the two decided it was better
not to ask questions about this touchy subject. "We read newspaper,
but they are more like a record of events, not really like our
media," Wirat said. "We don't talk politics with anything because
we have to go back to the country again. "We also thought since
these are domestic affairs which divide the people into two sides
- those who want democracy and those who think the government does
their best - we should stay out of it."
While in Burma, the couple liked to spend their time in bookstores.
After each visit, they came back to Thailand with lots of Burmese
books for reference.
Today, the couple has accomplished their long, difficult work with
the assistance of Ashin Kondinya, who spent countless hours reading
and checking the draft. The 748 page volume id sure to be a lasting
reference for student s and user of the two languages.
"Burmese is a difficult language. As a spoken language it is very
difficult and written from has a complicate pattern. It is
completely opposite to Thai.
Thai language has a structured pattern of subject, verb and object,
where the opposition of subject are interchangeable in Burmese. You
only know which is which with the help of special symbols.
The Niyomtams told FOCUS during a recent interview their reason for
producing the book was simple - to promote the study of Burma.
The lack of in-depth knowledge about Burma and the current reliance
on western source of information and literature on Thailand's
neighbour inspired the couple to produce the book. "I think we
should get information from various sources. If we can read Burmese
documents. we can get different information about Burma, which has
a long relationship with Thailand. "Burmese has a lot of written
documents and resources, as it has long promoted reading and
writing about its culture and ethnics minorities, although some are
written to serve nationalistic purposes."
Though there is some trade between Thai and Burmese, Wirat said in
general, the people of the two countries are reluctant to trust
each other. Learning each other's culture can only strengthen the
relationship between Thailand and Burmese, he said.
"People are always interested in studying second or third languages
for purely economic reasons. Those language are English, Japanese
and Chinese."
Wirat also pointed out that Thai people should be more interested
in studying neighbouring languages, not only Burmese but Malay,
Vietnamese, Lao and Khamer. This would not only broaden the wealth
of knowledge in the region, but also strengthen the inevitable
economic connections in the feature, he said.
Wirat and Oranut said they were given a Bt 25,000 grant for the
project by the Mahidol University Institute of Language and Culture
for Rural Development. The book has more than 25,000 entries with
grammar notes and pronunciations given in phonetic symbols. Entries
are accompanied by examples of usage. One thousand dictionaries
were published, 800 paper back(available for B 270) and 200 hard
cover (Bt340). All proceeds will go to establishing a burmese study
fund at the institute.
"Although our first dictionary is finished, we haven't stooped
learning the language. On the contrary, we kept on studying to
improve our language skills and to become more fluent." The couple
said they plan to produce a book on Burmese grammar and to
translate some Burmese books into Thai.
**************************************************************
BI: CIVIL WAR; FROG EATING FROG, FISH EATING FISH
Burma Issues - October 1994
Commentary by CAC
It is all too easy for people concerned with human rights and peace
to paint with a broad, undiscerning brush the line between the
oppressors and the oppressed in Burma. The oppressed are
civilians, poor and mute, while the villains wear camouflage and
khaki, tote guns and are referred to by the catch-all label,
"SLORC." However, a deeper understanding of militarism in Burma
reveals that oppression is a social problem that affects soldiers
and civilians alike . Thus, the civil servants who carry out
abusive government policy (oppressors?) do so in fear of what will
happen to them and their families if they defy that military
authority (or oppressed?). Everyone suffers because the military's
physical might is projected onto governmental, political, social
and cultural domains, creating a climate of intimidation and fear.
This is the root of social oppression in Burma, a pattern that
stretches back to long before SLORC, Aung San Suu Kyi, or the 1990
elections became the foci of international concern for Burma.
Sustainable peace in Burma depends primarily on the people's
ability to dismantle and discard the military's grossly
disproportionate influence over all aspects of public and private
life.
On June 6, 1994, 11 Burma army privates serving on the Karen State
front line shot dead their non-commissioned officers and defected
to rebel forces. One of these private's testimony, excerpted here
courtesy of the Karen Human Rights Group, paints a picture of
ordinary soldiers' lives, and helps us realize that oppression in
Burma is a pervasive disease fostered by excessive military
authority over all aspects of life whether one is a civilian or
not. A young private's name, hometown and other facts about
himself and his military career are withheld to protect his family.
I was staying in my parents' house when I was forced to join
the army two years ago, in 1992. None of us who arrived here
were volunteers-- we were all forced. Inside Burma, one
person from each house has to join the army. If they don't
[want to], they're forced. So none of us came here as
volunteers. None of us.
The ward authorities already have lists of which houses have
boys and which don't. The houses which don't have boys are
forced to send a woman to work for them for five or six months
sifting beans, then they're let go. The boys who are taken
have to become SLORC soldiers for five years. Some have
already served their five years, but then they're still not
allowed to leave. Those who go and get killed at the
frontline, their families don't get any compensation. It's as
though the SLORC is strangling the people to death...Some of
the rich people refused to go. Personally, I saw about
twenty of them arrested. Also, some people have only one
child and he has to take care of his parents when they get
old, so he doesn't want to go in the army. These people are
sent to hail, not just for days or months , but for two or
three years. After that if they can pay the warden they're
released, but if they can't they're not released, they're sent
to work on the railroads the SLORC is building.
This was my second time in the army. At the time I was a
student, and when I saw soldiers I wanted to wear the uniform,
so I joined. I was at [a Karen front line post] for about 5
years. I was wounded at the front line, I got severe malaria
and then I heard that my mother was dying, so I asked
permission to go home but they refused, so I ran away.
[I rejoined as a new recruit, without the army knowing I was
a deserter.] The NCOs [non- commissioned officers such as
corporals and sergeants] beat us a lot during training, and
they always abused our food- they put sand in our rice and we
had to eat it. Satudays and Sundays we had to work hard
cutting firewood and splitting bamboo, not for the the
recruits but for the NCOs' personal houses. Anytime we did
anything not to their satisfaction they beat us. They have no
patience, they just grab a piece of bamboo or whatever they
see and beat the recruits with it. Some recruits had their
hands and legs broken this way during training.
I was sent [to a different battalion near another front line
area]. When I was a soldier before 1988 the living conditions
were alright, but since then the food, clothing, medicine and
everything else have gotten worse. The situation is getting
so bad because the higher authorites steal everything. For
example, now if you get malaria instead of giving you a whole
pill of chloroquine they only give you a small piece of one.
If you have money you can buy medicine for yourself, but some
sick soldiers who didn't have money shot themselves. After
they killed themsleves the officers and NCOs reported that
they died in battle. Now you don't see many experienced
soldiers in the battalion, just many new recruits always
coming, and many are still coming.
We never got full salary, they always cut it for things like
"bridge and road construction" and "social welfare," cut for
the officers and so on. We only got three to four hundred
kyat per month [out of an official salary of 750 kyat
monthly]. The villagers often felt sorry for us and gave us
some rice. The best food we got was the beanpaste and
fishpaste we got from the villagers. Then if we were going to
attack the Karen army the officers ordered us to catch
villagers to carry our supplies, but we didn't want to do it
because the villagers had helped us and we felt pity for them.
But if we didn't do it, the officers said, "You have contact
with the ringworms [derogatory name for Karen soldiers],"
arrested us and put us in the camp jail. Me, I was beaten on
my back with an iron bar for this. The Warrant Officer hit me
20 or 30 times with the bar and my back was cut open and
bleeding- I still have the scar. Then they kept me tied up in
the hot sun all day without food or water, with my legs in
stocks and nothing but short pants on. Sometimes if the
villagers see this, they come and pretend to work in the field
and sneak a bottle of water to the soldier because they feel
sorry for him.
We weren't allowed to listen to the radio or read any
newspapers. We were allowed to write our families but the
officer reads the letter before sending it and if there is
anything written against them the soldier is punished. For
example, two privates were beaten and put in the camp jail for
four to six months, accused of rebelling agaist the State.
Their letters home had complained about the food, that there
were no good cheroots to smoke, etc. The officers said, "We
don't starve you, Why do you write like this?" We didn't get
leave, not even once a year. Sometimes a soldier's family
came to visit them, so before the visit the officer gives the
soldier a new uniform and good food for a few days, but after
the visit they take the clothes back and the food is deducted
from the soldier's salary at the end of the month.
Any of our own soldiers who were seriously wounded were
killed. If it isn't serious, if they can walk or if it's easy
to take them, then they're taken back. If not, they're
killed. The company commander orders this. When I saw things
like that happen I felt very sad. Our own soldiers, we must
bring them back but we didn't. It's a crime. It's like frog
eating frog, fish eating fish.
If we captured Karen soldiers we never kept them alive. We
killed them. The NCOs didn't even interrogate them, they just
said, "Pray to your God," and killed them with a bayonet,
then beheaded them. Once we found a wounded Karen soldier and
they stepped on his throat to kill him. Other times they
killed wounded Karen soldiers with a bayonet. If they
suspected any villagers of being in contact with the Karen
National Liberation Army they summoned them, and they never
used a gun- just a bayonet. They had no real evidence- if
they didn't liek the look of a civilian they'd just accuse him
of being connected to the KNLA and kill him.
Ever since I arrived I wanted to come over to the KNLA or the
Burmese students. Our officers told us, "If you go to the
KNLA they'll cut your throat," but I didn't believe it because
they were always lying to us and we'd got to know and trust
the Karen villagers. I always saw the army capturing old
villagers, beating them and making them carry heavy loads, and
it made me feel bad. Then one day the Warrant Officer stole
some of our moeny and said it was for his alcohol. He said,
"If you don't like it I challenge you to do something."
Another day, some of the soldiers went to get some more salt
for their rice, and just for that they were beaten and kicked.
So that night I told the others, "Get ready, tonight we'll
shoot them and go to the Karen, it has to better there." We
are the first from the batallions [in this area], but a lot
more will come now that we've shown them the way. The
soldiers are all weak and thin and their officers will never
let them go home, so many will come here.
**************************************************************
BI: ROHINGYAS KILLED IN ARAKAN
Burma Issues
October 1994 issue
On March 24, 1994 members of the Burmese military's Western
Military Command which was patrolling the Naf river, found some
Rohingya Muslims fishing from a small boat. The soldiers tried to
extort money from the fishermen, but when they were unable to do
so, tied them up with rope and brought them to Balu Khali village
in Maungdaw Township. Eight of the Rohingya fishermen were
interrogated and tortured. The soldiers charged them with carrying
out some clandestine operations rather than simply fishing. The
torture lasted for five consecutive days after which the officer in
charge ordered that all be executed. On March 31, all of them were
brought out of the camp with their hands tied behind their backs
and order to stand in a row. Subsequently, they were all shot by
firing squad. The people of north Arakan have long been targets of
whimsical killing by military officers. If villagers report the
crime to higher officers, no charges or arrests are ever made.
This particular incident, carried out despite the presence of UNHCR
officials in Maungdaw, indicates that SLORC will not easily stop
their inhuman persecution against the Muslims of Arakan. Forced
Labor The Burmese military junta has established a television
receiving center ten miles from Maungdaw. The construction has
gone on for several months already on top of a small mountain
called Tunnel Hill. In order to facilitate smooth transportation to
the top of the hill, officials have ordered the construction of an
all-weather road. It is understood that the technology for the
television and satellite center has been provided by the government
of the People's Republic of China, and presently eight Chinese
engineers are supervising the installation of machinery. The border
administration has issued a standing order to the villagers to
supply about 4,000 laborers routinely for work on the project.
Villagers are not provided any food, nor are they given any wages.
Source - Mirror of Arakan, 940401 Chin State Little information
has found its way into the international press about the situation
in Chin State which borders with India and Bangladesh. Yet, as in
many of the other ethnic States, the civil war continues here with
the villagers suffering the brunt of the military's oppressive
policies. Before 1988, no refugees from the Chin State were
reported. Following the 1988 popular uprising in the urban centers
of Burma, a small number of refugees crossed into India. However,
after 1993, the number of refugees began to increase. Presently,
there are about 50,000 Chin refugees in India. A few more can be
found seeking refuge in Bangladesh. Why are the Chin villagers now
fleeing? Many of them are fleeing forced labor on the construction
of a rail road from Pokoku to Tanu on the Indian border. The
ground work for the rail road has already been completed using
forced labor. Soon workers will be required to lay the teak
sleepers and iron rails. Work on the rail road began in 1993, A
second reason villagers are fleeing is to escape forced labor to
build Buddhist pagodas in Falan and Tedim Townships of the Chin
State. Most of the villagers in this area are Christian. Military
officers have forced them to remove the crosses from their
churches, and to build pagodas on the hill tops. This program
started almost three years ago and is being carried out by SLORC
Battalion 83. Source - Chin National Front, 941003
**************************************************************
BI: DEMOCRACY DENIED CAMPAIGN
October 1994
In 1993 two volunteers worked with Burma Issues to produce a multi
media education kit about the civil war in Burma called "Burma -
Democracy Denied". The kit contains an exhibition of 10 large
color display panels, pamphlets giving an in-depth look at the
various topics covered in the panels, a 25 minute slide-show/video
which adds atmosphere and emotion to the exhibition site, and a
documentary about the effects of foreign investments on the
displaced people inside Burma. The exhibition is strongly action
oriented, with ideas for campaigns, letter-writing, boycotts,
petitions etc. From April 18 through August 13 of this year, the
two volunteers, Carol Tingate and Guy Fordy carried the exhibition
around Australian cities. The tour was launched in Melbourne by
John Halfpenny of Victorian Trades Hall Council, Sen. Sid Spindler
(Australian Parliamentary Friends of Burma, and Dr. Herb Feith of
Monash University. In cities they visited, the exhibition was set
up in a shopping mall, church, local meeting hall, or
school/university. Posters publicizing the exhibition were placed
around the area, inviting people to visit the exhibition and view
the videos which were shown usually in the evenings. Petitions for
the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and for SLORC to cease its war
against the ethnic groups of Burma were placed on a table for
signatures. Carol and Guy were both very positive about the ability
of the exhibition and videos to attract interest and concern for
human rights in Burma. At most exhibition sites, television
stations came to do interviews as did the local radio stations and
newspapers. Much publicity was generated by these interviews
which drew more attention to the plight of the people of Burma who
continue to suffer human rights abuses of all kinds. Schools also
became creatively involved in viewing the exhibition. In the city
of Cairns, a group of 9th year students from Trinity Bay came
prepared with a sheet of questions to find answers to in the
display. The questions included, "What is constructive
engagement?" "Describe the SLORC's divide and rule policy." They
spent a good amount of time studying the exhibition seeking answers
to these and other questions. This shows the possibilities for
in-depth school tours of the kit. Another benefit of the exhibition
was that many overseas Burmese living in Australia came to study
the panels and to talk about their homeland. Many of them have not
been home for several decades already. At the exhibition they were
able to meet groups working on human rights for Burma and find ways
to cooperate with them. All of this helps strengthen the movement
for peace and stability in Burma. The "Burma - Democracy Denied"
kit has been distributed to many countries around the world. In
most cases it can be borrowed, or rented for a small fee, for use
by schools, universities, labor organizations, churches, etc. If
you are interested in using the exhibition, you can contact Burma
Issues to find out which organization nearest you has the kit and
how you can contact them.
PO Box 1076, Silom Post Office, Bangkok 10504
Fax: 662 234 6674
**************************************************************
SCB: "BURMESE BIRDS"
Oct 20, 1994
by scip4087@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I would like to get in touch with Burmese ornithologists,
university departments and/or museums that might hold colections
of Burmese birds. Any leads, names, addresses or advice will be
much appreciated.
-- Julian Blanc
scip4087@xxxxxx
Department of Zoology National University of Singapore
**************************************************************
SEASIA-L: "OHN GYAW'S SPEECH"
Tue, 25 Oct 1994
On the speech of Myanmar Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw at the United
Nations General Assembly meeting recently, he says that there are
13 ethnic organisations who already signed the peace aggrement with
the SLORC and few are still refuse to do so. Who are they both
those who signed and those who are not signed yet ? Is anyone know
about it ? I would be appreciated if someone could give me
information about it ? I need this clarification for my on-going
research about this subject.
Sincerely,
Priyambudi Sulistiyanto
Asian Studies,
Flinders University,
Adelaide, South Australia
*****
NOTE: Please reply directly to Priyambudi Sulistiyanto at:
asps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
**************************************************************
NYT: DESPOTISM REVISITED #1
New York Times
October 23, 1994
[Posted to the net courtesy Michael Beer]
Sunday, Late Edition - Final
SECTION: Section 3; Page 36; Column 1; Financial Desk
LENGTH: 344 words
To the Editor: Gino A. Soave contends that Edith Mirante's comments
on Myanmar, formerly Burma (Viewpoints, Aug. 28), are "culturally
biased." Unlike Ms. Mirante, Mr. Soave does not quote any Burmese
and omits mentioning Myanmar's elected representatives and their
repeated calls for sanctions against Myanmar's dictatorship, the
State Law and Order Restoration Council.
Mr. Soave complains that Ms. Mirante calls the council
"recalcitrant" and "despots." What else does one call a
dictatorship that refuses to give up power after it suffers
overwhelming electoral defeat? Let's not mince words: The council
is essentially an organized crime syndicate that has taken over the
country.
Without outside pressure, why would the council give up its
lucrative rule for democracy? As the council's Saw Maung said of
earlier calls for peaceful dialogue, "that is not the way it
works." Only a Chamberlain-esque naivete could let Mr. Soave
seriously expect the council to have suddenly changed since its
recent attack on refugee camps.
Countering Mr. Soave's hand-waving about how doing business with
the council will lead to democracy, The Bangkok Post has noted that
" 'constructive engagement' clearly has not worked and a stronger
signal should be sent." The former United States Ambassador to
Burma, Burton Levin, said the council was "so single-minded that
whatever money they obtain from foreign sources, they pour straight
into the army, while the rest of the country is collapsing."
Those who oppose sanctions against Burma must, if they are truly
concerned about democracy, present a credible alternative:
milquetoast constructive engagement has only given the impression
that the West is prepared to buy the council's stolen goods. One
wonders why a trade consultant is so upset about an expert on Burma
reminding readers that the Burmese people have repeatedly called
for sanctions.
REID COOPER
Ottawa, Oct. 8
The writer is a coordinator with the Burma-Tibet group of the
Ontario Public Interest Research Group at Carleton University.
**************************************************************
NYT: DESPOTISM REVISITED #2
New York Times
October 23, 1994
[Posted to the net courtesy Michael Beer]
Sunday, Late Edition - Final
SECTION: Section 3; Page 36; Column 5; Financial Desk LENGTH: 95
words
To the Editor:
It is most enlightening to learn from Mr. Soave that applying the
word "despots" to the military clique that rules Myanmar reflects
a "culturally biased view" and a "purely Western moral approach."
I have always allowed myself to be swept along by culturally biased
moralistic condemnation of Auschwitz, the Soviet Gulag, South
African apartheid and the like. But henceforth I will try to view
these phenomena from a broader cultural perspective, instead of
applying narrow Western value judgments.
LOUIS JAY HERMAN
Manhattan, Oct. 10
**************************************************************
NYT: BARGES FOR BURMA--FAR EAST LEVINGSTON CO.
New York Times
October 22, 1994
[Posted to the net courtesy Michael Beer]
HEADLINE: Stock market set to see strong 4th qtr
SECTION: Executive Lifestyles; Personal Finance & Investment;
BYLINE: Elaine Koh BODY: Elaine Koh looks at the top picks of
broker SBS HG Asia
A RESURGENCE in export activity and relatively loose monetary
policy have set the stage for a strong fourth quarter for the
Singapore stock market, a recent report by SBS HG Asia says.
[Five of its top picks follow:]
Far East Levingston: The share price should find support with the
clinching of new contracts. If oil prices continue to firm, this
could also lead to new rig orders.
Its current order book is nearly US$ 300 million (S$ 441 million),
among them a US$ 170 million job to build a floating production,
storage and offloading vessel. It is also finalising a US$ 100
million deal to build a power barge for Myanmar, which should boost
fiscal year 1996 earnings.
**************************************************************
XNA: FRENCH FIRM TO SUPPLY POWER MACHINES TO MYANMAR
October 21
Xinhua News Agency
Yangon--
A French company has agreed to supply machines of natural gas power
plant to Myanmar, according to an official report today. The
agreement was signed here on Thursday between the European gas
turbines of France and the state-run Myanma Electric Power
Enterprise. under the agreement, the French company will supply
machines for construction of the second 100-megawatt power plant
near the main power sub-station in Yangon, capital of Myanmar. The
new station will be completed in seven months and will supply power
in full through the power grid beginning may 1995. Another french
company, the GEC Alsthom of France, has supplied machines for the
first natural gas power plant in Yangon.
**************************************************************
XNA: SINGAPORE NEWSPAPER TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN MYANMAR
October 22
Xinhua News Agency
Yangon--
Business Times", a newspaper of Singapore, is to be distributed in
Myanmar under a newly-signed agreement, local press said today.
"Business Times" is the first foreign newspaper to be circulated in
Myanmar. The stationery, printing and photographic stores trading
of the Myanmar Ministry of Trade and the Singapore Press Holding
Ltd. signed the agreement here on Friday for the distribution of
the Singapore newspaper in Myanmar.
**************************************************************
ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET:
AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS
AFP: AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
AW: ASIAWEEK
AWSJ: ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL
Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt.=US$1 (APPROX),
BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION,
BI: BURMA ISSUES
BIG: BURMA INFORMATION GROUP
BKK POST: THE BANGKOK POST
BRC-CM: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-CHIANG MAI
BRC-J: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-JAPAN
CPPSM: C'TTEE FOR THE PUBLICITY OF THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE IN
MONLAND
FEER: FAR EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW
JIR: JANE'S INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
Kt. BURMESE KYAT; 110-120 KYAT =US$1 BLACKMARKET
6 KYAT=US$1 OFFICIAL
NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
S.C.B.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP
S.C.T.:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP
SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST
XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
**************************************************************