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BurmaNet News: January 21, 1995
- Subject: BurmaNet News: January 21, 1995
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 20:52:00
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Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 20:52:45 -0800
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"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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BurmaNet News: January 21, 1995
Issue #98
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Contents:
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NATION: THAKSIN [THAI FM] IN RANGOON
BKK POST: KHIN NYUNT AGREES TO VISIT THAILAND
IRRAWADDY: NO SUU KYI BUT HER MOTHER-IN-LAW
IRRAWADDY: JOIN USDA?
NATION: BURMA INTERESTED IN ATTENDING ASIAN-INDOCHINESE MEETING
NATION: DESPITE PUBLICITY BLITZ, BURMA REMAINS A TOURIST TRAP
**************************SHAN STATE**************************
BKK POST: CASINO OPENS ON BURMESE BORDER
NATION: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR--SHAN STIGMA
****************************KOKANG****************************
IRRAWADDY: HOME COMING
***************************THAILAND***************************
BKK POST: THAKSIN--NO CHANGE IN BURMA POLICY
NATION: BURMESE STUDENTS `HAVE ABANDONED RIGHT TO SANCTUARY'
AFTER RIOT
NATION: BURMESE REFUGEE REBELS LOSE ASYLUM RIGHTS
BKK POST: VIJIT WARNS AGAINST TRESPASSING
BKK POST: IMMIGRATION ARRESTS 27 ILLEGAL BURMESE WORKERS
BKK POST: MORE BURMESE IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED
*****************************MISC*****************************
BKK POST: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR--SUU KYI MUST BE RELEASED TODAY
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*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NATION: THAKSIN IN RANGOON
19 Jan 1995
Thai Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, leading an 18-member
delegation, arrived here yesterday for a good-will visit, the
state-run news agency said.
The Thai foreign minister was scheduled to meet Burmese
Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw yesterday evening at a dinner the
latter will host for the Thai delegation.
Thaksin will call on Senior general Than Shwe, chairman of the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), today and the
delegation will meet SLORC secretary Lt Gen Khin Nyunt in the
afternoon before returning to Bangkok.
Diplomatic sources said the main purpose of the visit is to
invite Than Shwe to a meeting of all 10 Southeast Asian
countries at the ASEAN summit in Thailand in December this year.
(TN)
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
BKK POST: KHIN NYUNT AGREES TO VISIT THAILAND
By Woranant Krongboonying
Rangoon
Bangkok Post, January 20, 1995
THE Burmese junta's powerful "Secretary Number One" Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt, yesterday agreed to pay an official visit to Thailand as
the guest of Deputy Prime Minister Chamlong Srimuang.
According to a senior official, Foreign Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra submitted the written invitation in person to the
First Secretary-General of the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council.
"Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt thanked him for the invitation and said he
would have to find an appropriate time for the visit," the
official added.
Mr Thaksin met Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt as part of a 24-hour visit to
Rangoon which ended yesterday evening.
He met separately with SLORC chairman Gen Than Shwe, who
reacted positively to ASEAN's initiative to hold a summit of ten
Southeast Asian leaders at the end of this year, according to Mr
Thaksin.
The 10 would represent the six Asean members states -- Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand --
as well as Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
"He (Gen Than Shwe) said it's a good idea because the
countries in this region must have closer ties," Mr Thaksin said.
Senior officials of ASEAN two weeks ago agreed in principle with
Thailand's proposal to hold the Southeast Asian leaders'
summit back-to-back with the 5th Asean summit Bangkok is hosting
at the end of this year.
"Because the theme of our summit will be "Asean towards the 21st
century"' meaning the development will affect every country in
the region, so they (Asean) would like the leaders of these
countries to understand," the foreign minister said.
Last July Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw participated in the
annual Asean foreign ministerial meeting in Bangkok as guest of
the host country.
Mr Thaksin said Burma would be invited again this coming July,
this time to Brunei which is hosting the 28th annual gathering of
the grouping's foreign ministers.
Mr Thaksin said he had made clear with his Burmese counterpart U
Ohn Gyaw that the international community would like to see Burma
attain national reconciliation, and bring about the release of
Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as soon as possible. "But
we'll have to leave it to them. We are not trying to force them.
They need time," Mr Thaksin said.(BP & TN)
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
IRRAWADDY: NO SUU KYI BUT HER MOTHER-IN-LAW
January 1995
LAST month there was a report about the meeting between Suu Kyi
and her NLD fellows,Tin Oo and Kyi Maung. But this may be just a
rumour, say recent visitors and foreignjournalists. This is not
the only news--there was also news of a meeting between Suu Kyi
and strongman, Ne Win. Sources said they had met on 30th October.
But military sources said this is just a rumour.
BBC World Service correspondent in-charge Derek Brooke-Wavell
said in his article, "To make up for the lack of official
information, there is plenty of a less definable kind," --People
may have mistaken her (Mrs Evlen Aris for Aung San Suu Kyi)
because she was quitely staying at Suu Kyi's house at that time.
(BBC & Inside sources)
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
IRRAWADDY: JOIN USDA?
January 1995
ARMED FORCES day is coming! (March, 27)
Since last year RAngoon military leaders have been preparing fo
rthe jubliee. Insidesources reported there may be a reshuffle
among military leaders.
At least 5 senior Slorc officers may retire. Some observers said
the Navy and Air-force chiefs may retire. But not Khin Nyunt.
What if Than Shwe retires, and Khin Nyunt or Maung Aye took
power, asks one dissident.
At any event, there will not be complete retirement, say Burmese
because of this they said the retired-generals might join USDA or
Slorc-sponsored Union Solidarity Development Association. (Inside
Sources)
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NATION: BURMA INTERESTED IN ATTENDING ASIAN-INDOCHINESE MEETING
January 20, 1995
Burma would accept an invitation to this year's Asian
ministerial meeting in Brunei and is interested in attending the
Asian-Indochinese heads of government meeting in Bangkok in
December.
Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister U Nyunt Shwe said yesterday that
Burma attended last year's Asean ministerial meeting in Bangkok,
at the invitation of Thailand, and would be pleased to attend the
Brunei gathering in July.
"My foreign minister [U Ohn Gnaw] went to the [Bangkok]
meeting the first time. Why would he not go a second time," U
Nyunt Shwe said in an interview with The Nation.
The Asian-Indochinese leaders' meeting, or SEA-10, will be held
at the same time as the Asian leaders' summit in Bangkok.
Visiting Thai Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told
reporters yesterday he had conveyed a recommendation reached by
Asean senior officials that Burma should be invited to the Asean
ministerial meeting in Brunei.
He said the status of the invitation had still to be discussed -
whether as a guest of Asean, or of the host country.
Thaksin yesterday paid a courtesy call on the military junta's
chairman, Gen Than Shwe, secretary-general Gen Maung Aye and the
first secretary Lt Gen Khin Nyunt.
"I informed them of the Thai proposal that the 10 heads of
government of Asean and non-Asean, or indochinese, countries meet
in parallel with the Asean summit in December in
Bangkok," said Thaksin.
He said Than Shwe had replied that it was a good idea.
Burma attended the 1994 Asean ministerial meeting as the guest of
Thailand, the host, after Asean nations could not agree to issue
an invitation on behalf of the organization.
Laos and Vietnam are observers of Asean: Burma and Cambodia have
no links yet and therefore cannot not attend the Asean summit.
The junta has been condemned by Western countries for failing to
hand over administrative power after the May 1990 general
elections and for continuing to detain leading opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi. They have urged the isolation of
Burma.
However Asean has adopted a policy of "constructive
engagement", arguing about change inBurma.
Thaksin, on a two-day visit, met his counterpart U Ohn Gnaw on
Wednesday. U Ohn Gnaw said the visit, which he described as
between "close friends" and "very successful", would enhance
bilateral relations.
Deputy Permanent Foreign Secretary Saroj Chavanavirat said Burma
was the first of the four non-Asean countries be
officially informed of the invitation.
Thaksin said he told Than Shwe he would like to be kept
informed of developments in democracy and human rights in
Burma. As Burma's immediate neighbour, Thailand had received many
questions from the international community.
"I was informed that Burma is drafting its constitution and that
minority groups in conflict with the regime have been invited to
join in," Thaksin said. "Burma needs more time to move towards
democracy and a better human rights record."
He said Bangkok regards drug warlord Khun Sa, of Burma's Shan
state, as a drug trafficker not a leader of the minority
groups.
Foreign Minister Thaksin yesterday officially invited Burmese
secretary-general Lt Gen Khin Nyunt to visit Thailand, a
well-informed source said.
Thaksin submitted the invitation letter to Khin Nyunt when he
paid him a courtesy call on during his last day of his two-day
visit to Rangoon yesterday. The latter was signed by Deputy Prime
Minister Chamlong Srimuang, who oversees the foreign affairs.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) chairman,
Than Shwe , was scheduled to visit Bangkok this month at the
invitation of the Thai armed forces, but has postponed the visit
for "technical" reasons.
The source said Than Shwe was now expected to visit to Bangkok
next month. (TN)
*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NATION: DESPITE PUBLICITY BLITZ, BURMA REMAINS A TOURIST TRAP
20 Jan 1995
Since 1988, the Burmese State Law and order restoration
Council (Slorc) has been successfully pursuing and using the
policy of the "open-door market economy of Myanmar" to attract
foreign investment and tourists in order to sustain its
illegitimate rule. having entered joint ventures with
multinational corporations for the extraction and sale of rich
natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, minerals, gems and
teak, the Slorc has now embarked upon a rigorous campaign to
promote 1996 as "Visit Myanmar Year" with the hope of
attracting some 300,000 to 500,000 tourists that year.
If they are successful, the foreign exchange will allow them to
dig in their heels for military fortification and power
entrenchment, Lately, not only private foreign investors but also
the governments of the United States, Japan and the European
Community began to let up on their human rights condemnation of
the Burmese military regime in favour of the "constructive
engagement" policy of Asean with different twists of "opening the
country " and engaging :critical dialouge" with the Slorc for
potential democratisation.
A frenzy of diplomatic exchanges and trade missions between the
West and Myanmar has ensued since september after the senior
generals of the slorc staged two meetings with Burma's most
famous prisoner of conscience, the 1991 Nobel Laureate Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi who has been under house arrest since 1989.
Since 1993, a number of visitors to Myanmar, including the
junta's joint-venture partner Mariam Marshall Segall, the New
York Times reporter William Shenon and a number of US
congressmen and businessmen hosted by military cabinet
ministers, began reporting impressive changes and
attractiveness of Myanmar for foreign visitors. in particular,
they noted "positive changes" and the growth of the tourist
industry.
Throughout 1994, a number of foreign reporters visited Myanmar at
the invitation of the Slorc, including the Christian
Science Monitor's Barbara Bradley whose audience with the
finance minister, Brigadier General Win Tin appeared on the front
page of the state-owned newspaper, The New Light of
Myanmar. Based upon the economic briefing of the minister and
casual observations of newly constructed hotels, high rises,
roads and increased numbers of automobiles and foreign
visitors in Rangoon, Mandalay and other cities, bradley made the
following summary:
Many travellers probably associate burma with
political repression, narcotics from the
Golden Triangle and five and half years house
arrest of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
But much is changing even on that score.
Citing the two meetings between the generals and the captive, she
speculated the potential release of the prisoner at the end of
January. It should be noticed that in October before the first
meeting took place, six dissidents who spoke and wrote against
the unjust military rule were arrested and handed out harsh
sentences ranging fron seven to twenty years.
Nothing has really changed in the nightmare state of Myanmar
where no one dares to speak or write against the military
regime. The enthusiasm and perception of great changes in
Myanmar made by Bradley and other visitors miss the point that
with the dollars received from direct foreign investmets and
tourists, "the happy junta" has been getting away with arrest,
murder, rape, torture and forced labour as documented by the US,
the UN, Amnesty International and other human rights
groups and continued to avert international sanctions.
With the supply of arms, it has successfully and systematically
subdued most pro-democracy forces in central Burma and at the
borders. Presently, the burmese army is mounting an assult to
wipe out the last remnants of pro-democracy rebels, the Karen,
Mon and student rebels at the Thai-Burmese border.
Most foreign visitors fail to visit or rather are not allowed to
visit the new satellite towns accross the country to
observe their shabby dwellings and economic plight of hundreds of
thousands of residents who have been forcefullt relocated by the
junta since 1988 to make way for the face-lifting of Rangoon,
Mandalay and Pagan to attract foreign investors and tourists.
they also are not officially allowed to visit and witness the
state of refugees forced to live under sub-human conditions all
along the Burmese borders.
The reality of changes in Myanmar since 1988 is that there are
hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority refugees stranded along
Burma's borders (including more than 100,000 Muslim refugees at
the Bangladesh border and some 75,000 refugees along the Thai
border). Also, there are thousands of Burmese girls and women
forced to work as prostitutes accross the border on the Thai
brothels and villagers and lately city folks, forced to donate
free labour and act as porters for the military campaign and
projects of building roads and bridges to accommodate the
Chinese, the Thai and other foreign investors and visitors.
Recently Rangoon strongman Lt Gen Khin Nyunt admitted the
conscription of labour from the people and called it a Buddhist
"deed of merit" in the same manner as the ancient burmese tyrants
did to justify their acts of building roads, pagodas and bridges
for the atonement of their sins of torture, rape and murder. In
reference to the conscript labour used by the Slorc, a foreign
journalist, Suzanne Goldberg of The Guardian, London, who visited
Myanmar in 1994 wrote "Burma's junta is using a `unique form of
taxation' to realize its grandiose dreams" in dredging the moat
of the old Mandalay palace, building international airports at
Bassein and Mandalay and 110 mile Ye-Tavoy railway to promote
tourism.
Contrary to the positive reports of pro-junta visitors to Myanmar
a pro-human rights visitor Jesse Newcomb, who visited Burma at
about the same time as Bradley, reported "Burma lives behind a
thin facade painted for the tourist. don't be fooled...guns are
everywhere. Barbed wire is everywhere. This is the same
government that killed thousands after losing the elections just
a few years ago" and that for the tourist the visit to Myanmar is
"expensive, depressing, and not very spectacular."
As for modern facilities and accommodation provided for the
tourist, shortages of electricity and water at hotels are a
regular occurrance in major urban centres. From what this
author has learned from interviews with recent Burmese and
foreign visitors to Myanmar, most of them swore not to do it
again in view of the inadequate facilities, corruption and
costliness of the trip. The infrastructure remains in a woeful
state. The derailement of a passenger train on January 2 that
killed 102 and injured 51 highlights the safety of travel in
central Burma where the famous tourist sights of Mandalay and
Pagan are located.
Potential tourists should be reminded of the following
negative changes which can be stacked up against all the so-
called positive changes claimed by the Slorc and reported by its
lobbyists: the alarming UN estimate of 400,000 Burmese infected
with the AIDS virus, the phenomenal gaps between
official prices and unofficial/black market prices for basic
necessities, the unofficial rate of inflation that has been
rising at a rate of between 100-150% , the widening gap in living
standards, income and wealth distribution between the military
elites and "simple folks," the unreported high rate of
unemployment, mounting foreign debt of over $5 billiion, the
deforestaion of rich teak forests and the depletion of natural
resources at the unchecked exploitation of foreign companies, the
increased planting of opium and export of heroin from 200 to 250
tons a year to the outside world from the golden Triangle of
Burma.
Above all, each dollar spent by a tourist represents
additional funds for the military regime to "dig in their
hills," as Daw Suu Kyi said about "the carrot policy" of
foreign governments, and allows it to perpetuate its rule
against the will of the Burmese people. - Mya Maung_ (TN)
**************************SHAN STATE**************************
BKK POST: CASINO OPENS ON BURMESE BORDER
20 January 1995
A big gambling den was opened yesterday at Tachilek town in
Burma's Kengtung province, less than half a kilometre from the
Thai border.
More than 300 Thais and Burmese have been attracted to the four-
storey shophouse-turned-gambling den by leaflets distributed in
Mae Sai District and elsewhere.
The "Wa and Burma VIP Casino" opened unofficially four days ago
and has already succeeded in tempting several millions of baht
away from punters. The entrance fee is 50 baht.
The operation is reported to be a joint venture between Thai
investors and members of the Red Wa, and is operating with the
permission of Burma's junta.
It is the biggest gambling den in Tachilek town.
Chiang Rai Governor Kamron Booncherd said his provincial
administration can do nothing about the casino because it is
"Burma's internal affair".
But he said he is concerned about gambling-related crimes which
could damage the image of the province. A plan to make the Mae
Sai-Tachilek border pass a permanent checkpoint may be carried
out, he said.
The Chiang Rai governor said the authorities do not have the
right to stop tourists from crossing the border to gamble
inside Burma. The Mae Sai-Tachilek checkpoint is open from 6 a.m
to 6 p.m on weekdays and from 6 a.m to 9 p.m on weekends and
government holidays.
Mr Kamron said immigration officers will step up checks to stop
people from crossing the border outside the permitted hours. (BP)
**************************SHAN STATE**************************
NATION: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR--SHAN STIGMA
19 Jan 1995
Imagine the following scenario if the stigma afflicting the Shans
were lifted today:
1. The Shans would, like other resistance movements in Burma,
receive both moral and material support from the outside world in
their struggle for their legal rights, ie non-interference in
their internal affairs; human rights and democracy;
financial autonomy; and the right to secede from Burma since
January 4 1958.
2. All the opposition against the SLORC, free from the fear of
being identified with the hitherto ostracized group, would be
united with the strong Shan resistance as their backbone.
3. This would hasten the downfall of, or at least the transfer of
power from, the SLORC: democracy in Burma would then be restored;
Aung San Suu Kyi would gain her freedom; peace and order would
return; the Shan people, having finally regained their long-lost
freedom, would go back to their rice fields again with the
support of the international aid agencies,
leaving make-shift poppy fields behind forever. This would result
in no time in zero opium production and regional
economic projects would move in big strides.
Yet sadly, despite the claims of almost everyone that unity is
the key to victory for the opposition in Burma, they are at the
same time, either knowing or unknowingly helping to divide the
opposition by stigmatizing its strongest movement. People are
behaving in effect as if they are afraid the hated SLORC will be
overthrown. Surely it is time for all of us to stop making things
harder for the people of Burma and Shan State? - Khun Sua-
Chiang Mai -(TN)
****************************KOKANG****************************
IRRAWADDY: HOME COMING
January 1995
THE ashes of Burmese drug trafficker Yang Muxing, who was
executed by the Chinese in Kunming in October, have been brought
back to his native Kokang district in Northeastern Burma. A
majestic tomb, surrounded by a stone wall, has been erected in
Kokang to house the remains of Yang, who was convicted of
smuggling hundred kilograms of heroin to Yunnan. (FEER)
***************************THAILAND***************************
BKK POST: THAKSIN--NO CHANGE IN BURMA POLICY
19 Jan 1995
Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night confirmed that
Thailand will continue its constructive engagement policy with
Burma.
"This policy has proven to be beneficial for both Thailand and
Burma. Hence there will not be any changes for the time
being," Dr Thaksin said.
The foreign Minister made the statement after meeting his
Burmese counterpart Ohn Gyaw over dinner last night. He was
paying a one-day official visit to Burma as the last in a
series of visits to Thailand's neighbouring countries.
He said the atmosphere at the dinner was friendly and the
Burmese foreign minister who hosted the dinner invited several
other key Burmese officials to the function.
Dr Thaksin said Thailand has being serving a useful role as a
window for Burma to the rest of the world. He cited the case of
Japan keeping in close contact with Thailand to monitor the
latest political developments in Burma.
Japan is waiting for substantive political reforms in Burma in
order to justify the resumption of its economic assistance to
that country which was suspended after the bloody suppression of
the pro-democracy movement in 1988.
"Japan is relying on us to update itself on the latest
political changes because Tokyo feels that we are closer to
Burma," he said.
Dr Thaksin conceded that Thai investment in Burma has lagged
behind that of other countries, especially Singapore, He said
this is because Thai businessmen are still not confident about
the economic situation in Burma and its exchange rate regime and
Burma has also had some unfavourable experiences with Thai
businessmen in the past.
Unlike Singapore which has made an all-out effort to commit
long-term investment to Burma and now ranks as the top foreign
investor here, Dr Thaksin admitted that coordination between the
Thai government and its private business community
relating to investment in Burma is still not effective enough.
During yesterday evening's discussion, Dr Thaksin urged the
Burmese side to open up new opportunities for Thai business
investors.
On security matters, the Thais assured the Burmese of their
policy not to interfere in Burma's internal affairs.
Dr Thaksin said Thailand has to assist refugees who flee
fighting into Thailand from Burma on humanitarian grounds,
because otherwise it would be condemned by the international
community.
But, at the same time, Thailand would have nothing to do with
different ethnic minority groups since any assistance to them
would be tantamount to interfering in Burma's internal
affairs. (BP)
***************************THAILAND***************************
NATION: BURMESE STUDENTS `HAVE ABANDONED RIGHT TO SANCTUARY'
AFTER RIOT
19 Jan 1995
A group of 78 Burmese students have "abandoned their right" to
sanctuary in Thailand by refusing to return to a government- run
camp in Ratchaburi province after a riot on Monday night, a
senior Interior Ministry official said yesterday.
Thirteen members of the group will have to stand trial on il-
legal entry charges and will then be transferred to a deten- tion
centre at the Bang Khen Police Privates School in Bang- kok,
where their friends are.
The decision to take the legal action against the students was
reached yesterday after authorities at the Maneeloi camp in
Ratchaburi said they had tried in vain to persuade the
students to return to the so-called "safe area", the camp in Pak
Tho district set up by the government last year to accom- modate
exiled Burmese students who had registered for tempo- rary asylum
here with the Interior Ministry.
On Tuesday, about 150 students marched out of the camp in pro-
test at violent clashes the previous night between camp resi-
dents and security guards in which three students, a camp
guard and the Maneeloi camp chief were injured.
The students demanded that the camp be closed down, that they be
allowed to stay in Bangkok and not be repatriated to Burma
against their will.
After the intervention of Ratchburi deputy governor Prasong
Vithoonkijja, seventy-two students agreed to return to their camp
on Tuesday night but the rest of the group refused to back down
on their demands, claiming that the camp was unsafe. In an
interview with The Nation yesterday, a senior Interior Ministry
official said that the ministry had decided to prose- cute the
students because they "have abandoned their right to stay
temporarily in Thailand".
"They sneaked out of the camp and refused to return, so they have
disqualified themselves from any rights they had to stay in
Thailand on a temporary basis, ' the official said.
"The [ Thai] authorities will have to prosecute them for vio-
lating our immigration laws. But, we'll do this smoothly with-
out using force."
The official said the group would now be considered as "ille- gal
immigrants" and will be detained at Bang Khen Police Pri- vates
School, instead of the immigration detention centre in Soi Suan
Phul which has become overcrowded.
Another government official said the 13 students have never
before face charges of illegal entry so they will have to
stand trial first before joining their colleagues at the Bang
Khen detention centre.
However, the official said the group would not be repatriated
since the government has no policy of sending registered stu-
dents back to Burma against their will.
The students will not have the same freedom of movement that they
enjoyed at the Ratchaburi camp, but they will still be allowed to
receive visitors while in detention.
Thai officials could not say when the group will be
transferred from Ratchaburi to Bangkok but said that the
provincial authorities have the right to start legal
proceedings right away.
The group has been split up and is being held in three
separate locations in Ratchaburi - the Pak Tho and Wat Pleng
Police stations and at the Ratchburi provincial hall.
Meanwhile a group of students held a meeting in Bangkok
yesterday with officials from UNHCR during which they
complained that "the authorities have tortured and put
pressure on innocent students since the first day" they
arrived at the camp.
The students complained that the clashes on Monday night were
"initiated" by camp authorities "led by the Safe area security
commander," and that some students decided to leave the camp and
go to Bangkok "to escape torture".
They claim that they were "obstructed and unjustly arrested"
while attempting to march on the capital but Thai officials say
they intend to investigate what caused Monday's riot
because they suspect that the students provoked the clash to
pressure the government into closing down the camp.
The row broke out around 11 p.m. on Monday when a group of
students refused to put out a fire they had lit in the TV hall to
keep themselves warm.
In the ensuing melee the students reportedly used abusive
language and impolite gestures but reports indicate that the camp
authorities were the first to use physical force when a guard
slapped the face of one student. (TN)
***************************THAILAND***************************
NATION: BURMESE REFUGEE REBELS LOSE ASYLUM RIGHTS
20 Jan 1995
Fifty-five Burmese students who have refused to re-enter their
holding camp in Ratchaburi province were stripped of their
"temporary asylum rights" yesterday and sent to a detention
centre in Bangkok as "illegal immigrants".
Thirteen others must appear in court on charges of illegal entry
into the kingdom before they are sent to join their col- leagues
in Bang Khen Police Private School.
The Interior Ministry decided to take legal measures against the
group after their refusal to return to Maneeloi "safe ar- ea" in
Ratchaburi's Pak Tho district because of what they cite as a lack
of security for their safety there. the 55 stu- dents arrived at
the Bang Khen detention centre yesterday, Thai government
officials said yesterday.
About 150 students marched out of their camp on Tuesday after
violent clashes the night before in which 10 Thai security guards
and 3 Burmese students were hurt.
Thai officials said that at least 2 of the guards were hurt
badly. One was stabbed with a knife and needed three stitches and
the other, the camp chief, was hit on the neck, they said. One
official said the melee, which involved 50 camp residents and 10
guards, erupted after the camp guards asked the students, who
were watching television inside the hall, to extinguish a fire
they had lit for warmth.
The students refused the authorities' order and reportedly used
abusive language and an impolite gesture that provoked a guard to
slap one of them on the face. Some exiled students in Bangkok
said in interviews earlier this week that the guards were drunk.
The students have accused the guards of initiating the
violence and said the residents decided to leave Maneeloi camp
"to escape torture".
Thai authoritied interviewed earlier this week said they
suspected the students had provoked the violence as a pretext to
force the government to close down the "safe area".
While the government had previously said it would not send
students who went to the camp back to Burma, the violent
incident in which Thai guards had been hurt might prompt the
government to review its policy, the officials said.
Provincial authorities and local villagers have been calling for
harsher action against the students who they say often create
trouble for people living near the camp.
Deputy Prime Minister Banyat Bantadtan said yesterday that the
relevant agencies were looking into the matter.
He said the Burmese students had always been a troublesome affair
for Thailand which was always criticizes of human
rights violations if it adopted harsh policies against the exiled
group.
Banyat said Thailand cannot accord the students full rights
comparable to Thai citizens, as Burma and Thailand are
neighbouring countries and Rangoon could become suspicious of any
Thai support for the dissident group. (TN)
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BKK POST: VIJIT WARNS AGAINST TRESPASSING
January 20, 1995
Mae Sot, Tak
Bangkok Post
DEFENCE Minister Vijit Sookmark yesterday warned foreign
forces not to trespass on Thai territory saying any violation
will meet with tough retaliation.
Gen Vijit made the comment while he presided over a meeting at
the Task Force 34's office of leading security officials
including 3rd Army Commander Lt-Gen Surachet Dechaitiwong and the
provincial governor Kasem Nakarud.
The Defence minister told reporters that during the meeting he
stressed to local security officials that any encroachment of
Thai territory by foreign forces would meet prompt
retaliation.
Hen said it was possible fighting Burmese forces and the Karen
National Union might spill over to Thai territory.
"They will be disarmed if they cross the border and if they
resist we will take tough measures against them," said the
minister.
Gen Vijit said bilateral relations between Burma and Thailand had
been strengthened, adding that hopefully Asean's policy of
constructive engagement might contribute toward
democratisation in Burma.
He voiced concern over the change of water flow in the Moei
River, which was a natural border between both countries,
saying the change would deprive both sides of territory and would
propose that Burma soon demarcate the border.
Gen Vijit said any problem with Burma could be tackled through
negotiation adding that it might take much time to solve a
complicated problem.
The defence minister yesterday also inspected progress of
construction of the Thai-Burma friendship bridge.(BP)
***************************THAILAND***************************
BKK POST: IMMIGRATION ARRESTS 27 ILLEGAL BURMESE WORKERS
19 Jan 1995
Immigration officials yesterday arrested 27 Burmese crewmen
illegally working on Thai trawlers.
Immigration chief Pol Capt Pirom Nilsathit said a team of
officials first raided living quarters and rented houses in a
fishing village at Pak Nam Si Chon, Khanom district, but only
found a small number of Thai villagers.
Nearly every house was closed and most villagers refused to
answer questions, he said.
One official said there were about 300-400 ethnic Burmese in the
fishing community. Officials therefore continued their search at
Khanom Bay, where the workers tried to escape. (BP)
***************************THAILAND***************************
BKK POST: MORE BURMESE IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED
January 20, 1995
Another 138 Burmese immigrants were arrested on charges of
illegal entry by immigration officers and Boder Patrol Police at
Tak's Mae Sot District yesterday morning.
A total of 207 illegal immigrants from Burma were rounded up in
a crackdown between January 15-18.
The illegal immigrants, most of them Burmese and Karen women,
teenagers, young children and eldery people, were arrested in
seperate raids on rented shop house in and out side Mae Sot town
by a combined force of 70 immigration officers and border
patrol police.
Provincial immigration police deputy superintendent Pol Lt-Col
Atthasit Jitrapan said about 207 suspects had been arrested
during January 15-18, following the National Security
Council's (NSC) policy to crack down on illegal Burmese
immigrants and any influential figures conspiring to bring
illegal immigrants into the country to work as cheap labour.
The immigrants arrested in the crack down included whole
families of different ages. "If we don't take any action now they
would eventually become a minority group in our territory and the
problem would be difficult to solve," the deputy superintendent
said.
An immigration officer said the Burmese immigrants will be sent
back to their country through a safe channel, and not via the
Myawaddy-Mae Sot checkpoint because the Myawaddy officials would
refuse them entry.
The Karens will be sent back into an area under the control of
the KNU, the source said. (BP)
*****************************MISC*****************************
BKK POST: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR--SUU KYI MUST BE RELEASED TODAY
SIR: The overseas intelligentsia highly appreciate your
editorial "Slorc should free Suu Kyi this month" (Jan9). The
world will soon be witnessing whether the Slorc will respect its
state law and order and restore it to the Burmese junta has the
guts to free the daughter of Bogyoke Aung San. As you have
rightfully pointed out, January 20 "is the day the official order
detaining Aung San Suu Kyi runs out."
Despite having more than 300,000 men under arms and purchasing
more than $4 billion worth of arms from China lately, it lacks
the moral and physical courage to set fre a lone, frail,
unarmed woman held in bondage since 1989.
As you have pointed out, the international community has
adopted two politicises. Some have pressed for economic and
diplomatic sanctions, and some, led by Thailand and ASIAN, have
used " constructive engagement." But both agree that democracy
must be prisoners. However, of late, a third option has been
pursued that combines dialogue, benchmark and a timetable for
change in Burma.
To this, Slorc has responded by introducing reforms:
well-timed but cosmetic changes to the political process in
Burma. How long will the world wait patiently?
As we start the New Year, we should send a clear single that if
the daughter of Aung San is not released, it will result in
increased pressure from the international community followed by
concrete action to restore democracy to the beleaguered people of
Burma. Perhaps Slorc understand only the "Haiti solution". It
is high time that the world implement it.(BP)
Kanbawza Win, Nonthaburi
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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.3 DUS$1 (APPROX),
BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION
BI: BURMA ISSUES
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 EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW
IRRAWADDY: NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY BURMA INFORMATION GROUP
JIR: JANE'S INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
Kt. BURMESE KYAT; 150 KYAT3DUS$1 BLACK MARKET
100 KYAT3DUS$1 SEMI-OFFICIAL
6 KYAT3DUS$1 OFFICIAL
MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN
NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER, RANGOON)
R.T.A.:REC.TRAVEL.ASIA NEWSGROUP
S.C.B.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP
S.C.T.:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP
SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST
SLORC: STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL
USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
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