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BurmaNet News: November 10, 1994
- Subject: BurmaNet News: November 10, 1994
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 10 Nov 1994 08:19:00
************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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BurmaNet News: Thursday, November 10, 1994
Issue #58
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Contents:
NATION: AUSTRALIA PROBING RIGHTS ABUSE ON BURMESE HERE
NEW ERA: CONSTITUTIONAL SEMINAR SUCCESSFUL IN MANERPLAW
NATION/UPI: MOVIE HELICOPTER RISKS GUNFIRE
BKK POST: CHRISTOPHER PLANS THAILAND STOPOVER
NATION: ANTI-DAM FEVER REACHES NORTHERN TAK PROVINCE
BKK POST: LOY KRATHONG IN CHAING RAI HAS EXTRA BURMESE FLAVOUR
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NATION: AUSTRALIA PROBING RIGHTS ABUSE ON BURMESE HERE
November 10, 1994
AUSTRALIA'S parliament has made an inquiry through its Bangkok
embassy in human rights abuse against Burmese living in Thailand,
a special branch police source said yesterday. The source also
claimed some exiled Burmese students were serving as Canberra's
"spies" in Thailand in exchange for Australian financial
assistance.
"The spies will report to the Australians about human rights
violations at the Thai-Burmese border, " said the source, who
asked not to be named.
The embassy could not be reached last night for comment. "The
Australian parliament wanted the embassy to report Thailand's
ignorant attitude toward the Burmese living in Thailand," the
source claimed.
"Thai intelligence officials have kept a close watch on this
development and reported constantly to the Foreign Ministry."
The source alleged a Burmese student, Ong Min Kyi, had been in
direct contact with the embassy. He allegedly led a secret
meeting at the Ramkhamhaeng University of 15 Burmese students.
The meeting resolved to issue a monthly "news bulletin" aimed at
supporting the pro-democracy struggle in their homeland.
The special branch allegation could compound bilateral tension
caused by the Australia's remarked that it was "unacceptable" for
Thailand to continue supporting the Khmer Rouge.
Reuter reported yesterday that Australia still expects a
parliamentary delegation to visit Thailand later this month,
despite claims the tour might be cancelled because of the Khmer
Rouge row.
"As we understand it, the embassy in Bangkok is getting vibes
that the visit will still proceed," delegation member Laurie
Ferguson told Reuters.
A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Gareth Evans said
Australia had not been told that the visit had been cancel- led.
"We still hope the visit will go ahead and we've heard noth- ing
official to say that it will not," she said.
On Tuesday, a senior official in the Thai Foreign Ministry said
it was most likely the visit would have to be cancelled because
of Evans' weekend comments that Thai soldiers and businessmen
supported Cambodia's Khmer Rouge guerrillas. The delegation,
drawn from Australia's two house of parliament, is due to visit
Thailand from Nov 18 to December 1.
Agence France-Presse reports from Melbourne: Australian David
Wilson, taken hostage and murdered by Khmer Rouge rebels in
Cambodia last month, was buried here yesterday after a requiem
mass. Family, friends and Evans bade an emotional farewell at the
church service, attended by 300 mourners in the chapel of
Wilson's old school in bayside Mentone. Wilson, 29, was killed
along with Briton Mark Slater, 28 and Frenchman Jean-Michel
Braquet, 27, two months after being taken hostage by Khmer Rouge
guerrillas. (TN)
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NEW ERA: CONSTITUTIONAL SEMINAR SUCCESSFUL IN MANERPLAW
November 1994
[New Era (Kipyang) is a monthly Burmese-language newspaper which
also publishes an English-language insert. Several thousand
copies a month are smuggled into Burma. An abridged version of
this article will be published in the November 15 issue.--Editor]
The credibility of a governing body rests on its `constitution',
an accepted fact world-wide. A constitution should ascertain all
the fundamental requirements and rights of the people living int
he country, irrespective of race, creed and religion. A truly
democratic and viable constitution should hold the consensus of
the people and guarantee their peace, liberty, justice and
harmony.
With a view to promulgate such a constitution for the people, by
the people, a constitutional seminar on the future federal
constitution of the Union of Burma was held at Manerplaw.
Manerplaw is in Karen National Union Territory, a liberated area
of Burma. The convention was held under the auspices of the
National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) commencing October
10, 1994 and lasted till October 21, 1994.
The historic testimony on the unity and resolve of the
participating delegates representing forty-one organisations and
sixty-six observers, totalling more than two hundred delegates,
should certainly sound a death knell on the SLORC (State Law and
Order Restoration Council) of Burma.
The invited dignitaries were given a warm welcome by the
organizers on arrival at Manerplaw. The strains and stresses
endured by the guests on their long and hard journey to the
liberated area evaporated and disappeared on landing and seeing
the outstretched hands and more than cordial gestures of the
welcoming committee headed by Pado Saw Ba Thin, Chairman of the
Convening Committee and General Secretary of the Karen National
Union.
The memorable day, October 10, 1994, commenced precisely at
8:00A.M. as scheduled presided by General Saw Bo Mya, President,
National Council of the Union of Burma, who gave the opening
speech. The agenda of the day was carried out in a serene and
relaxed atmosphere. The delegates advanced their views and
opinions freely and openly. They contributed invaluable
suggestions, motions, appendages and other requirements to the
already commendable draft, a momentous task, painstakingly
undertaken by the Constitution Draft Committee headed by Dr. Em
Marta, Foreign Secretary, Democratic Alliance of Burma. The
morning session was punctuated by a ten-minute recess and
continued till 11:00 A.M, when lunch was called. The evening
session resumed at 1:00 P.M. and proceeded till 4:00P.M with a
ten-minute break at half time. All during the seminar the
delegates submitted their papers, statements and other related
legal presentations that greatly augmented the future federal
constitution, that would be heralded as the corner stone for the
foundation of the future Federal Union of Burma.
The discussions during the morning sessions were mainly focused
on the various aspects of the SLORC's sponsored "National
Convention", an internationally known farce and the following
points were specifically noted and presented by the delegates for
general comprehension of the participants.
1. There is no representation from Kachin, Karen, Chin, and
Arakan (Rachine) states in the SLORC sponsored National
Convention.
2. Even though there are organisations participating in the
convention that are supposed to represent the Minorities (Seven
states), Peasants and Farmers, Workers, State Employees and the
Intelligentsia these `organisations' are SLORC-controlled and
their presence at the National Convention is aimed only at
hoodwinking the global community.
3. More than 600 of the 702 participants in this sham are hand-
picked by the military junta.
4. The so-called representatives in the SLORC's farce are
participating in an illusory and hazy atmosphere.
5. The convention is systematically and carefully orchestrated.
6. The delegates' opinions and arguments are totally disregarded.
7. Peremptory measures are being exercised by the SLORC's general
in promulgating a constitution where the military's role will be
enshrined.
8. SLORC's convention is riddled with wedges between social
classes.
9. The principles laid down in the SLORC convention are in
opposition and out of sync with one another. For example, clause
4 cited propagation of genuine democracy while clause 6
relentlessly pressed for the constitutional enshrinement of a
role for the military in politics.
10. The only aim of the SLORC convention is to legitimise all
past and present human rights abuses of the present ruling
military.
11. The SLORC is forcing a leading role for the army in the
politics of the country and to mention this in the constitution
is an established fact.
Given this evidence, SLORC's National Convention can only be
regarded as a sham. It is orchestrated and rigged and most of
the pseudo-representatives were hand-picked by the present
illegal ruling military oligarchy in Rangoon.
In contrast, the constitutional seminar of the Constitution of
the Union of Burma is being held within the bounds of democracy
and enshrines human rights which guarantee each citizen the
freedom to express his/her opinions regardless of race, creed or
ethnic background or religion. Above all, the discussions and
arguments on the proposed constitution were carried out with
sincerity, openness and above all, a fraternal spirit.
The convention was presided over by Nai Shwe Kyin (President, New
Mon State Party), U Daniel Aung (Member of Parliament), U Maung
Maung Aye (Member of Parliament, National League for Democracy),
and co-chairing digntaries U Marco Ban (M.P.), U Maung Maung Lat
(M.P.), U Tin Maung Win (DAB), U Tin AUng (NLD), and Dr Zalat
Htan (M.P).
Delegates representing various organisations and individuals came
from as far as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany,
France, Australia, Japan and Thailand.
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NATION/UPI: MOVIE HELICOPTER RISKS GUNFIRE
November 10, 1994
A THAI military helicopter was lucky to escape being shot at by
Khun Sa forces when the pilots accidentally violated Burmese air
space in an area controlled by the Muang Tai Army.
The helicopter, piloted by Lt Noppong Thongbupakan and Sub- Lt
Krisada Wongprad from the Army Aviation Centre in Lop Buri, was
hired by Walt Disney Pictures Company of the Unit- ed States to
shoot the motion picture "Operation Jumbo
Drop". The company began shooting the movie near Ban Sobsoy of
Pang ,u In Muang District and Bang ma Pa Sub-district early
last month.
The helicopter, painted black with no markings, reportedly flew
into Burmese air space for about three kilometres be- fore the
pilot realised the error.
The Muang Tai Army has ordered its gunmen to open fire on the
helicopter if the incident is repeated.
Mae Hong Son police chief Pol Col Dusadee Neelapamorn yes- terday
told company director Jay Heit and the pilots to be come careful
because the intrusion between Thailand and Burma. (TN)
BURMA TRYING TO ATTRACT TOURISTS November 10, 1994 BANGKOK- In
a move aimed at boosting tourism to one of Asia's least-visited
countries, the Burmese government will soon provide tourist visas
to anyone arriving in the country by air, an embassy official
said on Tuesday.
"Our government has already decided to issue visas on arriv- al
for tourists," Burmese Embassy consular officer U Tint said. "We
are still waiting for the official announcement." Burma, which
previously allowed only two-week stays for visitors with
prearranged visas, recently extended the visa period for tourists
and businessmen to one month.
Burma's military government has been liberalizing its for- merly
socialist economy and expanding its tourist infrastructure,
triggering a construction boom in Rangoon and an upsurge in
tourist arrivals./UPI (TN)
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BKK POST: CHRISTOPHER PLANS THAILAND STOPOVER
November 10, 1994
UNITED States Secretary of State Warren Christopher is due to
arrive in Thailand next Wednesday for a two-day official visit as
guest of Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Christopher, who
will fly into Bangkok from Indonesia where he is attending the
summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, is scheduled to
meet with Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, the Foreign Minister,
Defence Minister Vijit Sookmark and other senior officials during
the visit, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
The Government will use the opportunity to clarify reasons for
refusing to allow the US floating arms depot in the Gulf of
Thailand, it added.
The military equipment depot, which Mr Clinton raised with the
Premier while visiting Washington DC last month, would be used in
crises in Asia and the Middle East. Other topics to be discussed
include the situations in Burma and Cambodia, security in the
region and economic ties between Bangkok and Washington, the
statement said. (BP)
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NATION: ANTI-DAM FEVER REACHES NORTHERN TAK PROVINCE
November 10, 1994
TAK-The recent tide of anti-dam protests sweeping the country
reached this western province last week. Lacking confidence in
government management of dam impacts and fearful that their
culture and lifestyle will follow in the wake of other
communities destroyed by dams, villagers at the proposed Mae
Lamao Dam site in Ban Poo Pae village, Mae Sot district, united
in protest against the project. Dam planners reacted by accusing
villagers of receiving support from influential groups such as
NGOs and businessmen who receive benefits from the land at the
dam site.
About 300 villagers, all ethnic Karens, gathered at the dam site
last Friday to protest against a team of officers sent to conduct
a study of the dam's projected social and environmental impacts.
The team was composed of officials from the Electricity
Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), Team Consulting
Engineering Co Ltd, Mae Sot District Chief Kasem Watthanatham and
other local officials. The proposed Mae Lamao Dam is one of seven
schemes designed to add water to the Bhumibhol Dam reservoir and
solve drought problems in the Chao Phya River basin. It would be
60 metres high and situated on the Mae Lamao Raver, a tributary
of the Ping River where the Bhumibhol Dam sits. The Mae Lamao
reservoir would cover an area of 6.7 square kilometres, most of
in the Mae Lamao National Preserved Forest, but would flood part
of the villagers' farmlands and residences.
Ban Poo Pae village would be inundated by the reservoir. Having
learned about the many problems caused by other dams, villagers
in Ban Poo Pae are naturally worried. "We have been living here
peacefully for over 200 years just like the villagers affected by
the Pak Mool Dam and the proposed Kaeng Sua Ten Dam."
"The problem of the Pak Mool dam still hasn't ended yet. The
villagers there still have many difficulties and must struggle
for their lives. Their community and traditional culture have
been absolutely destroyed by the dam. We will not allow problems
like these to occur with us," said Wiwat. He added that the
government and Egat like to say they will say take all
responsibility for affected villagers, but at the same time
officials say the villagers are a minority who should sacrifice
their lifestyle for the good of the majority in the country.
"Their [Egat's and the government's] past behaviour over dams
does not measure up to such statements," Wiwat claims. "Look at
the way they treated people affected by the Bhumibhol Dam, for
instance. We know from the news that some of them don't have
farmland to earn a living, and villagers at the Pak mool Dam are
now trying to get more compensation but authorities have
refused."
Katee Chaiglomkiri, member of the village's young generation,
said he is sure the new area for the villagers, resettlement if
the dam is built would not be as good as their current land.
"Even the district chief who is charged with the welfare of the
villagers doesn't understand our troubles. He loves Egat more
than his villagers," said Katee.
Villagers gathered on the village's only road leading to the
temple where their meeting was held. The team, led by Kasem and
the headman of tambon (sub-district) Pawor tried to convince the
villagers to hold a meeting at the meeting hall, but they met
with strong opposition.
Kasem tried to speak to them and insisted the team only came to
gather information and the dam would not be built now. The
villagers expressed their dissatisfaction, saying they would not
give any information to dam implementors, refused to listen to
Kasem and returned to their homes.
A so-called public hearing on the project was organized by Egat
and the Thailand Environment Institute and held in Tak on June 8.
The team said the villagers did not have a change to talk at the
seminar, and much of the discussion had been too technical and
difficult for them to understand. So the meeting last Friday was
set up to clarify all information before a decision was made on
the project.
The EIA of the Mae Lamao dam project is being carried out by Team
Consulting Engineering.Suphanni Chayamphon, an academic from the
Social Development Faculty of the National Institute for the
Development Administration, is in charge of the social and
environmental impacts study team, and said she and the company
would like to know why the villagers don't want the dam.
"The decision whether to build the dam or not is the government's
responsibility after they receive the villagers' opinions and the
EIA's information," said Suphanni. "The company does not make the
decision." She claimed that the past seven times she came to the
village to do research the villagers did not behave like this and
were willing to give her data and information. "I believe there
is something wrong with today's gathering," she said. "I am sure
there are external people who came to provoke the villagers,"
The Mae Sot district chief also told reporters he believed
outsiders were to blame for all of the misunderstanding because
the villagers were not previously against the project and had
never acted in such a way before. Some NGO representatives had
indeed visited the village, but they said they had only provided
the villagers with information and had not done anything wrong.
Some villagers from the North who had had experience with
forestry issues had also visited the area.
One NGO member said the situation at Mae Lamao was similar to the
one at Kaeng Sua Ten. Villagers from the two areas should get
together to share their experiences, he said. (TN)
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BKK POST: LOY KRATHONG IN CHAING RAI HAS EXTRA BURMESE FLAVOUR
November 10, 1994
THE Loy Krathong festival to be celebrated in the country's
northernmost province next week will create closer relations
between Thailand and Burma, says Mae Sai District chief Pakdee
Rattanapol. Mr Pakdee met recently with officials of Burma's
Tachilek District, and it was decided to stage a major full moon
festival from November 16-18 in the border area. Arts and
cultural preformances by various ethnic groups, along with sports
competitions, round out the event. Mr Pakdee has urged that the
border checkpoint be opened during the three day festival from
6.am to mid night.
Normally it is open from 6 a.m to 6 p.m, and until 9 p.m on
Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays. Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai,
the public and private sectors have jointly planned a Yee Peng
festival to promote culture and tourism. Highlights will be big
krathong floats, Khom Loy (hot-air balloons), boat and raft
competitions along Ping river plus other entertainment. Chiang
Mai Mayor Vorakorn Tantranond said that at the same time, the
Thai Parliament will host a meeting in Chiang Mai for
Asia-Pacific parliamentarians. The 250 participants will release
krathongs into the Ping River.
One of the Chiang Mai highlights will be a big krathong contest
on the night of November 18. More than 17 floats, some carrying
beauty queens, will be featured in a paradestarting on Tha-pae
Road at 6:30 p.m. The khom loy contest on November 17 will begin
at 8 a.m. Fuji Film (Thailand) Co will join in the launching of
10 giant balloons. Three of the balloons will contain lucky
tickets. Anyone who picks them will win a return air ticket
between Chiang Mai and Phuket. Two days of the boat racing along
the Ping River will feature competitors in two categories, one
with 25 oarsmen, the other with two. On November 17 at 7:59 a.m,
the buang suang mae yanang ceremony will be held to worship the
river goddess and ask for good luck and blessings, before the
competition begings at Chansom bridge.
The winner of the 25-man race will receive a trophy and 10,000
baht in cash, while the winner of the two-man race will receive a
trophy and 1,200 baht. Another rafting event offers a trophy and
2,000 bahts. Chiang Mai's Loy Krathong run from November 16-18 at
Buddha satan will also feature an exhibition of northern village
handicrafts. producers from Maung, Hang Dong, Hod, San Kampaeng,
Saraphi, Maerin and Doisaket Districts will display their wares.
Products on sale will includ silver were, lacquer ware,
woodencrafts, hilltribe products, wooden furniture, flower
arrangements, wickerwork, woven clothes, umbrella, sa paper
products, pot- tery and ceramics. (BP)
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NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/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: BANGKOK POST (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
BRC-CM: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-CHIANG MAI
BRC-J: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-JAPAN
CPPSM: C'TEE FOR PUBLICITY OF THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE IN MONLAND
FEER: FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW
JIR: JANE'S INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
Kt. BURMESE KYAT; 150 KYAT=US$1 BLACK MARKET
100 KYAT=US$1 SEMI-OFFICIAL
6 KYAT=US$1 OFFICIAL
MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN
NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-OWNED NEWSPAPER, RANGOON)
S.C.B.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP
S.C.T.:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP
SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST
USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
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