BurmaNet News: December 7, 1994 (r)

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>
>************************** BurmaNet **************************
>"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
>**************************************************************
>BurmaNet News: December 7, 1994
>
>Issue #76
>
>**************************************************************
>
>Contents:
>
>1 BKK POST: POLICE KEEP EYE ON NEWSLETTER SUSPECTS
>2 BURMANET: COMMUNITY INVOVLEMENT IN HIV VACCINE DEVELOPMENT
>3 BURMANET: NETWORKING REQUEST
>4 NATION: TERMS FOR SUU KYI'S RELEASE SAID IN PLACE
>5 BKK POST: KHUN SA "AIDES" FACE CHARGES OF DRUG TRAFFICKING
>6 NATION: BURMA DUBS UN REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AS 'RITUAL THING'
>7 FIGHTING IN BURMA A RISK TO MAE SOT
>8 BKK POST: KAREN WANT TO HOLD PEACE TALKS WITH RANGOON JUNTA
>9 NATION: OHN GYAW RETURNS HOME AFTER MEETING KING, PM
>10 KYODO: MYANMAR'S JUNTA PLANS REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTION
>11 BKK POST: CHIANG RAI MEET TO SET UP MEKONG PANEL NEXT YEAR
>12 BUSINESS TIMES: EURO RSCG GOING INTO BURMA
>13 AWSJ: RANGOON HINTS AT RELAXATION AS FOREIGN BUSINESS STIRS
>14 NATION: SUU KYI RELEASE HOPES
>15 NATION: TORTURE REPORTING A RITUAL
>16 NATION: BURMA SIGNS ARMS DEAL
>17 NATION: FROM DEFENCE TO TOURISM
>18 BKK POST: THREE PAGODA PASS OPENS TO PUBLIC
>19 NATION [LETTER]: REFUGEE CONCERNS
>20 BKK POST: UNCERTAIN FUTURE AWAITS BURMESE AT SAFE CAMP
>21 NATION: DETENTION CELLS INUNDATED WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
>22 NATION: HMONG REFUGEES FEAR FORCED REPATRIATION
>23 BKK POST: ASIA SAID TO NEED MIGRATION NETWORK
>24 BKK POST: CHIANG RAI MEET TO SET UP MEKONG PANEL NEXT YEAR
>
>**************************************************************
>
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>BKK POST: POLICE KEEP EYE ON NEWSLETTER SUSPECTS
>December 6, 1994
>
> Special Branch Bureau police are keeping a close watch on people
>suspected to b e behind a Mon News Agency newsletter which includes
>articles attacking the Tha i Government.
>
>The newsletter has been distributed among Thais of Mon origin and
>displaced Bur mese in Thailand.
>
> A special Branch police source said the newsletter has continued
>to accuse the Thai Government as well as high-level figures
>including Prime Minister Chuan Le ekpai, former foreign minister
>Prasong Soonsiri, Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan and Na
>tional Security Council secretary-general Charan Kullavanijaya.
>
>It accuses them of mistreating Mon people who recently fled attacks
>by Burmese soldiers across the border into Thailand in
>Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri Distri ct. The newsletter accused
>Thailand of pushing back the 6,000 Mon people into the h ands of
>Burmese troops in violation of international humanitarian
>principles. Thailand also discriminated against the Mon people, the
>newsletter said, adding that a large number of Vietnamese, Lao and
>Cambodian refugees had been allowed to temporarily take refugee in
>Thailand for over a decade.
>
>It said Thailand had taken no legal action against Burmese
>immigrants. More than three million Thai, people of Mon origin will
>not vote in the next el ection for parties in the Government which
>have mistreated them, the newsletter said. (BP)
>
>
>*****************************************************************
>BURMANET: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN HIV VACCINE DEVELOPMENT
>December 7, 1994
>
>BurmaNet has received an enquiry from a group of people who are
>interested in encouraging community involvement in HIV vaccine
>development and trials. Their goal is to support community based
>organizations and individuals to become involved in the vaccine
>trial process in their own countries. They would also like to form
>a network of people to discuss trial issues from a global
>perspective. Issues to share information and ideas  on include:
>protecting trial participant rights, ethical trial design,
>community involvement, trial priorities, and affordable access to
>a vaccine. If readers in Thailand or those focusing on AIDS in
>Burma would be interested in discussing these issues, please
>contact BurmaNet.
>
>
>*****************************************************************
>BURMANET: NETWORKING REQUEST
>
><2022000366@cdp>   Organization: Cornell University
>Date: Wed, 30 Nov 1994 19:56:51 -0500
>
>Dear friend:
>
>My name is Zheng Xing, the coordinating editor of  a  journal,
>DIGNITY, sponsored by a group of Chinese   students and scholars in
>U.S.A. I am particularly interested in this item of news,
>regarding human rights report issued by  U.N.
>
> I would like to know more information, and am especially  ardent
>to talk with the reporter writing the news or getting   contact
>with any Burmese organizations in U.S. which are concerned   with
>human rights conditions in your country.
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> Sincerely,
>  Zheng Xing
>
>Please reply to:
> Zheng Xing,
>DIGNITY-l@xxxxxxxxxxx, or zx11@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>**************************************************************
>NATION: TERMS FOR SUU KYI'S RELEASE SAID IN PLACE
>November 30, 1994
>
>
> Tokyo - A Buddhist monk who played a key role in getting Burma's
>military rulers to engage in dialogue with democracy leader Aung
>San Suu Kyi said yesterday the conditions for her release from
>house arrest are in place.
>
>Rev Rewata Dhamma, who met the two parties separately in Burma
>earlier this year, told a press conference in Tokyo that the two
>sides appear to be working on an agreement under which Suu Kyi will
>remain in Burma after she is freed.
>
>He said he cannot predict when the country's military government
>will free her, but added that they are negotiating the terms of her
>release through a series of meetings which he predicted will
>continue. Rewata Dhamma, who is in Japan to raise money for
>construction of a Buddhist temple in Britain, said he is not a
>party to the talks between the Suu Kyi and the leadership of
>Burma's governing State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc).
>Asked for his main impression of Suu Kyi, Rewata Dhamma said the
>1991 Noble Peace Prize recipient had told him that the release of
>Burma's political prisoners is more important than her own release
>from house arrest.
>
>He said she had also told him that she will never leave Burma until
>democracy is achieved in the country. "One of her many good points
>is that she does what she says she will do," he said.
>
>Rewata Dhamma left Burma in 1956 to study in India and has been
>living in Britain for the past 20 years. At the ruling of the
>United Nations, the 65-year-old monk returned to the country on May
>4 for the first time in 30 years to talk with top junta
>officials.He met Slorc Chairman Gen Than Shwe and First Secretary
>Lt Gen Khin Nyunt. He visited Burma again from Aug 5 to 10 to meet
>Suu Kyi. His efforts as mediator paves the way for the first
>face-to-face meeting on Sept 20 between the two junta leaders and
>Suu Kyi since she was placed under house arrest in 1989 for
>allegedly endangering public security. The junta seized power after
>violently suppressing pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 and has
>held on to it, continuing to stamp out dissent.
>
>Rewata Dhamma said Foreign Ministry officials whom he met yesterday
>had told him that Japan is ready to give aid to Burma. But he said
>he interpreted their statements to mean that Tokyo will only supply
>aid after Burma has a democratic government. Tin Maung Win, 57, the
>Thailand-based vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance of Burma,
>an organization working for democracy in Burma, told the press
>conference that the release of Suu Kyi is the "key" to achieving
>any change in Burma. Reuter adds from Myawaddy: At lest four
>Burmese soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded in a clash with
>karen rebels in jungles close to the country's eastern border, a
>senior Burmese said yesterday.
>
>The three-hour exchange of gunfire took place late on Sunday near
>Thichara village in Karen state 32 km north of this Burmese border
>town when a patrol unit of about 60 soldiers, deployed to crackdown
>on illegal loggers, came across the rebels, the official said. The
>official, who asked not to be identified, said at least four
>government soldiers were killed and ten others wounded. There were
>no details on rebel casualties. (TN)
>
>**************************************************************
>BKK POST: KHUN SA "AIDES" FACE CHARGES OF DRUG TRAFFICKING
>
>1 December 1994
>
>NARCOTICS Supression Bureau police have arrested nine suspected
>drug traffickers believed to be close aides of drug warlord Khun
>Sa. NSB sources said Ho Mengtoa or Chatchai Pattarawibun, Chalee
>Yangwilikul or Yang Sue Hua, and Koa Chang Ping or Thawee
>Apiradeethonsarn were arrested in Bangkok. Chukiat Nimitpakpum or
>Nachai Kuy Sae Noa, Kua Fa Moa or Ashafa Sanlee, and Chao Fu Chern
>or Somboon were arrested in Ching Rai. Chang Toa Chai or Toa Chai
>Sae Chang and Lew Fung Toa or Siewsing Sae Sia were arrested in Mae
>Hong Son. Meechai Pathummani or Arhee was arrested in Chaing Mai.
>The nine are suspected of being linked to the smuggling to more
>than 300 kilogrammes of heroin to the United States two year ago.
>The heroin was transported by ship from Thailand to New York. A
>source said the US drug control unit issued an arrest warrant for
>nine suspected.(BP)
>
>
>**************************************************************
>FIGHTING IN BURMA A RISK TO MAE SOT
>1 December 1994
>
>THE Maesot district authority yesterday warned people living along
>the Burmese border to beware of possible danger from fighting
>between Burmese soldiers and Karen National Union guerrillas in
>Burma opposite Mae Sot District. The warning, signed by district
>officer Kasem Wattanatham, to watch for stray shells and gun shots.
>Four Burmese troops were killed and at least 10 others wounded in
>an ambush by a KNU unit at Techara Botae, about six kilometres from
>the border opposite MaeSot on Sunday. The ambush was followed by a
>six hour battle. A suppression drive against the KNU along the
>border is expected to take place soon.
>
>
>**************************************************************
>NATION: BURMA DUBS UN REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AS 'RITUAL THING'
> 1 December 1994
>
>BURMESE Foreign Minister U ohn Gyaw declined to comment yesterday
>on the recently released UN human rights report on Burma, saying
>that the paper "Is a ritual thing". He also denied that Professor
>YozoYokota, special rapporteur for the UN Human rights Commission,
>had asked him about the released of Burmese pro-democracy leader
>Suu Kyi. Speaking upon his arrival yesterday a Bangkok Don Muang
>Airport, Ohn Gyaw, who is here to attend the second meeting of the
>joint Thai-Burmese Committee, said Yokota's preliminary human
>rights report "Is a ritual thing and we express ed our welcome to,
>and cooperation with, the Human Rights Commission." He said Yokota,
>who made a 10-day visit to Burma between Nov 7-10 to investigate
>human rights in the country, was provided with venues to conduct hi
>s meetings with the people he had requested to meet. The report,
>which was recently submitted to the UN General Assembly, is very
>critical of the Burmese junta saying human rights violations __
>torture, arbitrary killing , rapes, disappearances and confiscation
>of private property __ still continue, being "most frequent in the
>border areas" instigated by Burmese troops in the course of their
>operations, by forced relocation and by developme nt projects. It
>also charges that the drafting of a new national constitution "is
>not headin g towards multi-party democracy" due to a lack of
>democratic procedure and freedom of opinion and expression while
>deliberating and drafting the charter. Yokota stated that his
>repeated requests to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi and to have meeting
>with political party leaders take place in his Un Development
>Programme office were turned down.
>
>He added in his report that the junta, known as the Slorc, had
>promptly replied to a number of his written questions of human
>rights abuses, and the progress made by the National Convention in
>drafting the new constitution. However, Ohn Gyaw yesterday
>countered Yokota's report saying that the Japanese special
>rapporteur did not raise questions about the release date of S uu
>Kyi, winner of the 1991 Noble Peace Prize and daughter of Burmese
>independence hero Aung San. "There was no question like that
>because the situation is according to our exit ing laws," he said.
>
>Slorc's rhetoric to any questions about Suu Kyi freedom is that the
>detained political leader "is being dealt with according to the
>existing laws". Ohn Gyaw and his Thai counterpart, Foreign Minister
>Thaksin Shinawatra, will this morning inaugurate a two-day meeting
>of the joint committee which is to discuss bilateral issues
>including political, economic, social affair and acade mic and
>technical cooperation.(TN)
>
>**************************************************************
>BKK POST: KAREN WANT TO HOLD PEACE TALKS WITH RANGOON JUNTA
> 1 December 1994
>
>KAREN nationalist leader Bo Mya, making a rare appearance at a
>Bangkok news conference yesterday, said his rebel group was ready
>to discuss a cease fire wi th the Rangoon junta and called for
>Japan's help. General Bo Mya, whose KNU forces have battle for over
>four decades against Burmese government troops, urged Japan to use
>its position od power in Asia to mediate a peace settlement. "we of
>the KNU never consider the Burman as our enemy. The Burman is our
>friend and we are only fighting __ against the chauvinism of the
>Slorc," Bo Mya said, referring to Burmese ruling Slorc. Burmans are
>a major subgroup in Burmese population of about 42 million people.
>The Karen and Shan are two main ethnic groups still fighting for
>self-rule.
>
>Bo Mya, 76, was in Bangkok as the guest of a Japanese friendship
>association linking businessmen, academic and politicians who are
>committed to working for peace and unification in Burma. The
>Japanese association and KNU signed an agreement in which the KNU
>repeated earlier statements that it was ready to negotiate a
>ceasefire pending a peace settlement. "japan is the most important
>country in Asia and we sincerely believe that with the help of the
>Japanese government and the Japanese people, peace and democracy
>can be resort in Burma," the self-styled general said in a speech.
>
>Bo Mya and members of his cabinet, wearing lounge suits at the four
>star hotel ceremony were expected to leave after the ceremony for
>their jungle base on the Burmese side of the Moei River in
>northwest Thailand. Hattori Chiharu, a university lecturer and
>chairman of the Japanese association , said the organization was
>prepared to mediate in peace negotiations. It would also "put
>pressure on the Japanese government not to provide assistanc e to
>the Slorc until Burma has reached national reconciliation with the
>Karen and other ethnic minority rebels," Chiharu said.
>
>|The veteran fighter said he had met secretly with a Slorc
>representative in Bangkok five months ago, but the talks had not
>progressed because the junta refuse to negotiate outside Burmese
>territory. "we now agree to talk in Rangoon, but the talks must be
>held with witnesses from international agencies. Now with help of
>our Japanese friends, I hope the country will be able to reach
>national reconciliation in the near future," Bo M ya said. The
>Karen are regarded ethnic minority rebels still fighting against
>the centra l government.
>
>The Shan State People's Council, the political wings of notorious
>opium warlord Khun Sa, say their Muang Tai Army(MTA) is also
>continuing an armed struggle against the Slorc. The Rangoon
>government, and international drug enforcement agencies, describe
>them as heroin traffickers. Thirteen armed rebel organizations,
>including the Karen' Former major ally the Kachin Independence
>Organization (KIO) have sign peace pacts with the Slorc in the past
>two years. Slorc, the ruling body of the Burmese junta, was formed
>in 1988 after the military crackdown on a nation wide pro-democracy
>uprising.(BP)
>
>**************************************************************
>NATION: OHN GYAW RETURNS HOME AFTER MEETING KING, PM
>December 6, 1994
>
> Rangoon - Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw has returned home
>after two days of "friendly exchanges in Bangkok with his Thai
>counterpart on matters of mutual interest, an official newspaper
>reported yesterday.
>
> The Mirror daily said that the Thailand-Burma Joint Commission for
>Bilateral Co operation, which began on Dec 1, touched on technical
>cooperation, culture, for estry, tourism and banking.
>
>The commission also agreed to establish new immigration checkpoints
>between the two countries, it said, without adding details. Ohn
>Gyaw had an audience with the Thai King and Thai Prime Minister
>Chuan Leekpai during his visit, the Mirror reported.
>
>Last Thursday, Thai Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told the
>second meeting of the commission that Thailand would allocate
>US$2.1 million for "technical c ooperation" during fiscal year
>1995, a 33 per cent increase over last year.
>
>He also told reporters that Rangoon and Bangkok had agreed to
>consider holding regular meeting with Laos and China, and added
>that construction of the friends hip bridge over the Moei River was
>proceeding smoothly.
>
> Despite the progress on Thursday, "a lot remains to be done,"
>Thaksin said. He referred only to "a number of outstanding issues"
>which required more discussio n. (TN)
>
>
>**************************************************************
>KYODO: MYANMAR'S JUNTA PLANS REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTION DATELINE:
>YANGON, Dec. 2 Kyodo
>
>BODY: Myanmar's new constitution will be adopted by a referendum,
>and general elections will be held in accordance with the new
>charter, a member of the ruling military junta has told a Japanese
>business delegation.
>
> National Planning and Economic Development Minister Brig. Gen.
>David Abel, a member of the State Law and Order Restoration Council
>(SLORC), told this to the 24-member group of Japanese business
>leaders in Yangon on Thursday, sources close to the group said.
>
> A national convention of nearly 700 delegates is meeting in Yangon
>to draw up guidelines for the state constitution. The convention is
>currently dealing with chapters on the legislature, judiciary and
>administration, Abel reportedly said.
>

john badgley
607-255-7229
fax 607-255-8438