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BurmaNet News: February 16, 1995
- Subject: BurmaNet News: February 16, 1995
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 15 Feb 1995 18:21:00
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"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: Thursday, February 16, 1995
Issue #109
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contents:
**********************INSIDE BURMA****************************
1 NATION/REUTER: UN ENVOY DENIED PERMISSION TO MEET SUU KYI
2 BKK POST: HEART FAILURE KILLS BURMA'S SOLE ELECTED PM
3 AP: U NU: 'FATHER OF DEMOCRACY'
4 BKK POST: PETRO ASIA PLANS OIL AND GAS EXPANSION IN LAOS, BURMA
5 NATION/REUTER: BURMA, CAMBODIA AIM TO BE MAJOR RICE SUPPLIERS
*****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI***********************
6 BKK POST: REBEL FACTION RUNNING CAMPAIGN OF FEAR AMONG KAREN
REFUGEES
7 NATION: NEW ATTEMPT TO SEIZE KARENS ON THAI SOIL FOILED
*************************MON STATE****************************
8 NATION: MON REBEL LEADER URGED SLORC MOVE FOR GENUINE PEACE
****************************************************************
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**************************************************************
**************THE BURMANET NEWS--FEBRUARY 16, 1995************
**************************************************************
**********************INSIDE BURMA****************************
NATION/REUTER: UN ENVOY DENIED PERMISSION TO MEET SUU KYI
Reuter
15 February 1995
UNITED NATIONS- Alvaro de Soto, a UN assistant
secretary-general, said on Monday that he was refused
permission to see Burma's Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San
Suu Kyi, by the military government during his recent visit to
the Southeast Asian country.
"They regretted that they were unable to accede to my
request," said de Soto, who returned over the weekend after
leading a delegation to Rangoon to discuss human rights and
other issues with the government of Burma, known as Myanmar.
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali intends to submit a
report shortly to the UN Human Rights Commission as requested
by a General Assembly resolution late last year.
Diplomats said de Soto was sent to Burma to see if the
government could be persuaded to take some action that would
acceptable to the international community.
Burma's ruling military body, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council, has been shunned by the world for
crushing a democracy uprising in 1988 that left many dead. It
has held Suu Kyi, leader of the national League for Democracy,
under house arrest in Rangoon since July 1989. (TN)
**********************INSIDE BURMA****************************
BKK POST: HEART FAILURE KILLS BURMA'S SOLE ELECTED PM
15 February 1995
by Ralph Bachoe
Former Burmese premier U Nu, 88, died of heart failure
yesterday at his home in Pyidaungsu Yeiktha in Rangoon.
According to close family members, the former premier took ill
and complained of stomach pains on Monday night and died at
11.25 yesterday morning.
At his beside were son U Aung and daughters Daw Than Than Nu
and Dr Cho Cho Nu.
U Nu was the only democratically-elected prime minister of
Burma. His Clean AFPFL (Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League)
Party won the 1959 elections. He was later overthrown in a
coup staged by General Ne Win in March 1962.
U Nu first became involved in national politics when he was
elected Student Union president in 1936. Since then he has
been jailed many times for opposing the British colonialists,
and later for promoting democracy in the country.
He is considered the "Father of Democracy" in Burma.
A three-time premier after Burma gained independence in
January 1948, U Nu was also the co-founder of the Non-Aligned
Movement in 1955.
Other co-founding members included Indonesia's President
Sukarno, Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk, China's Chou
En-lai, Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Cuba's Fidel Castro.
He fled to the Thai-Burmese border in 1970 and set up the
Parliamentary Democracy Party. The ex-premier then left for
India in 1973 where he was a guest of Indira Gandhi and was
housed at one of the old places in Bhopal. He ended his
self-exile in 1980 and returned to Burma.
On September 9, 1988 he set up a parallel government,
reclaiming his premiership according to the 1947 constitution.
He formed a cabinet with the unanimous support of the various
organisations that attended the meeting held at the hall of
the Film Workers Association on Wingaba Road in Rangoon.
He was placed under house arrest on December 29. 1989, where
he remained until April 1992. (BP & TN)
**********************INSIDE BURMA****************************
AP: U NU: 'FATHER OF DEMOCRACY'
15 February 1995
Rangoon, AP
U Nu, the only civilian prime minister of a country dominated
by the military, died yesterday at his home in Rangoon, family
members said.
The veteran, 87-year-old politician fell into a coma early
yesterday morning and died before noon, they said. They did
not give the cause of death, but said he "passed away
peacefully."
A key figure in modern Burmese history, U Nu retired from
politics in the late 1970s, only to re-emerge during a
countrywide, pro-democracy uprising in 1988 with a failed
attempt to declare a parallel government.
Born in 1907, U Nu was a student leader at Rangoon University
and an active nationalist before becoming Burma's first prime
minister after the country attained independence from Britain
in 1948.
He held the premiership most of the years from independence
until March 2, 1962, when Gen Ne Win took power in a coup. U
Nu was detained along with other civilian politicians by the
coup makers and released in 1966.
He went into exile in 1969 in Thailand, from where he sought
to spearhead resistance against Ne Win's regime. After
spending 1973-74 in the United States, he and his family
settled in India as guests of the government there.
U Nu returned to Rangoon in August 1980 under a general
amnesty order, and devoted himself to Buddhist studies until
civil unrest caused the fall of Ne Win's regime in 1988.
At the height of pro-democracy demonstration in September that
year, U Nu declared himself prime minister of a 26 member
parallel government.
His movement failed to capture much popular support, and like
all independent political organizations, was crippled when a
military junta seized power on Sept. 18.
In december 1989, he and 12 associates were detained when they
refused the junta's orders to dissolve their government.
U Nu was released from house arrest in April 1992 and since
then had spent most of his time at home.
The state news agency reported last week that U Nu's son,
Maung Aung, had been allowed to visit his ailing father
although he was an "anti-government activist," based on the
Burmese-Thai border. (BP & TN)
**********************INSIDE BURMA****************************
BKK POST: PETRO ASIA PLANS OIL AND GAS EXPANSION IN LAOS, BURMA
15 February 1995
PETROASIA, a powerful Thai-Chinese oil venture which includes
Charoen Popkhand, is working to enter the high-potential
retail oil and gas businesses in Burma and Laos as part of its
Asian market expansion plan.
The company is negotiating with the Rangoon authorities for
the right to set up service stations and gas outlets in the
restrictive Burmese market.
On the other hand, Petro-Asia has been in contact with the
Laotian Government to obtain a license to set up a service
station network in Laos where the number of oil marketers is
regulated.
managing director Apisit Rujikeatkamjorn, who looks after
PetroAsia's oil business projects in Thailand, Burma and Laos,
said the company's move to the two neighbouring countries came
as PetroAsia was working to set up more oil outlets in
Thailand.
He told Business Post that Burmese officials had given a
"positive signal" for opening up its oil market, now dominated
by several Burmese state oil enterprises, to PetroAsia.
While talks with Rangoon authorities are proceeding, Mr
Aspisit said the soonest PetroAsia could start its presence in
that country, initially in the capital city, would be in the
next two years.
Burma's oil demand is estimated at 70,000 barrels per day and,
with the country opening up and its economy growing, the
Burmese oil market offers good potential for oil businesses.In
Laos, PetroAsia is joining a number of international oil
companies seeking Vietiane's permission to set up service
stations. Among them are US oil giant Exxon, the Petroleum
Authority of Thailand (PTT) and partly Thai-state-owned
Bangkok Petroleum Plc.
"We know we are competing with many others and the presence of
restrictions, but we are aware of the need to establish our
contact with Vientiane," said Mr Apisit, a former senior
official of the PTT.
PetroAsia is an emerging Asian multinational oil firm set up
just a year ago with the aim of challenging western
international oil concerns in upstream businesses in the
Asia-Pacific region.
It is a joint venture owned 35% by the PTT, 35% by Charoen
Pokphand and 30% by China's state petroleum and petrochemical
concern Sinopec. The company has already set up a handful of
service stations in China and Thailand.
Mr Apisit said it was too early to discuss in more detail the
company's business plans in Burma and Laos as much of the
exercise was geared toward obtaining licenses.
In Thailand, PetroAsia has 10 service stations under
construction and toward the end of this year, it intends to
stream up to 20 outlets at prime locations in the
150-kilometer radius of Bangkok.
PetroAsia's second service station in Thailand, in Kaeng Khoi,
Saraburi, is scheduled to come on line next month. In each
subsequent month, at least one PetroAsia pump will start
operation.
All of PetroAsia service stations in Thailand will be of
standard size, incorporated with 7-Eleven convenience stores
and restaurants such as Chester's Grill at high-traffic
locations.
PetroAsia focal points of businesses will be China and Thailand
owing to large and fast-growing markets, according to Mr
Apisit.
The company hopes to put on line 20 service stations in China
toward the end of this year. In a five-year period starting
last year, PetroAsia aims to build up 163 outlets in China, a
mission estimated to cost 2.1 billion baht.
Mr Apisit said the company was exploring opportunities in
cambodia, but the lack of established rules concerning foreign
investment in the retail oil sector in that country and the
continued civil war appeared to be major obstacles to
PetroAsia's entry.
Cambodia may be lower in priority when PetroAsia expands its
overseas markets.
PetroAsia has built "on a trial basis" more than 100 small
oil-filling outlets, equipped with "floating tanks", in the
Central Plains since last May.
The company plans to increase its outlets of this type to 400
next year as part of its plan to capitalise on the rural
markets.(BP)
**********************INSIDE BURMA****************************
NATION/REUTER: BURMA, CAMBODIA AIM TO BE MAJOR RICE SUPPLIERS
15 February 1995
REXIE REYES
Reuter
LOS BANOS, Philippines, Burma and Cambodia are likely to emerge
as major rice suppliers to Asia as the region's demand rises
with its population and Gatt makes its full impact, rice
researchers said on Tuesday.
Burma, known as Myanmar, and Cambodia are expected to grow
about half the extra 10 million tonnes of rice that will be
needed in a decade, said Prabhu Pingali, an economist at the
Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI).
The rice market is currently 14 million tonnes a year.
"That's when the long-term effect of Gatt will start kicking
in and that's because Gatt will lead to overall changes in the
economy," Pingali tild more than 200 scientists at a four-day
rice conference at IRRI headquarters, south of Manila.
The General Agreement on tariffs and Trade (Gatt) became the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the beginning of this year,
and is seen opening up markets and new opportunities for
industry and farmers by reducing protectionism.
But with the new opportunities, many rice farmers are expected
to move to the cities, reducing labour supply in farming and
increasing labour costs, other rice researchers said.
IRRI director-general Klaus Lampe sid the problem of labour
migration from the countryside to the cities will become
greater as economies expand, turning this into a major concern
for most countries which have rice as their staple food.
About half of the world's population are rice eaters, the bulk
of them in Asia.
On top of labour migration problems, an increase in the
world's population will increase pressure on food resources,
particularly rice, researchers said.
To meet this demand, Burma and Cambodia could become major
suppliers if they invest in the infrastructure needed to
improve production and the political situation in the two
countries improves, Pingali said.
"I would say that Myanmar would come out and export three
million tonnes (annually) in the future," Pingali said.
This compares with the present 300,000 tonnes in the 1960s.
Cambodia which used to export 500,000 tonnes a year before
its civil war and years of conflict, may be able to return to
this level after a decade, Pingali said.
Asia nations could supply about four million tonnes of the
extra rice required by 2005, but that would leave a big gap.
"Thailand and Vietnam are now at their peak," said Pingali.
More than 90 per cent of the world's rice is currently grown
in Asia, but Latin America and Africa are seen as the answer
to the shortfall that will emerge in the region in 10 years.
(TN)
*****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI***********************
BKK POST: REBEL FACTION RUNNING CAMPAIGN OF FEAR AMONG KAREN
REFUGEES
15 February 1995
A BERAKAWAY Karen guerrillas faction has launched a campaign
for fear among Karen refugee in Thailand in an attempt to
erode the civilian support base for the main Karen sources
said.
Member of the newly-formed Democratic Kayin (DKBA) have
crossed into Thailand and forceed people back at gunpoint ,
looted supplies and threatened to "destroy" those who remain
in the Thai camp, the source said.
"People are very frightened, they are so scared now," one bor-
der relief worker said.
The official, Mahn Yin Sein, is one of the most senoir Bud
dhist leaders in the KNU and while the reason for the kidnap-
ping was not known there was speculation the DKBA and Burmese
military authorities wanted to convince him to join them and
help them attract refugees back from Thailand.
"Presumably they felt that (the kidnapping) was the only way
to demonstrate he's on their side," said one KNU source.
In another incident a group of DKBA members crossed the border
in to refugee camp last Sunday and stole hundreds of sacks
of and then forced more than 100 people back across the border
into their zone of control, one relief worker said.
Leaflets have also been appearing on the border promising re-
turnees land, rice supply an peace and tranquillity while war-
ning that plans have been made to "Destroy" the Thai camp and
all those remain in them, the source said.
The KNU, in a statement issued yesterday, asked Thai authori-
ties to ensure the safety of Karen refugees.
"The KNU appeals to the Thai government to take appropriate
measure to ensure that (Burmese government) troops and DKBA
followers are not able to used their arms to harass Karen ref-
ugees," the KNU said.
About 6,000 Karen refugees fled to Thialand following the cap-
ture of the KNU's headquarters by government troops assisted
by DKBA member on January 27, taking the total number of dis-
placed Karens living in a string of Thai border camps t almost
60,000.
Burmese troops have eased the military pressure on Karen re-
bels but have stepped up the propaganda war to try to encour-
age defectors.
(BP)
*****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI***********************
NATION: NEW ATTEMPT TO SEIZE KARENS ON THAI SOIL FOILED
15 February 1995
Yindee Lertcharoenchok
SOB MOEI, Mae Hong Son- For the second time in less than a
week, an unknown number of armed Karen Buddhist defectors il-
legally crossed the Moei River on Monday night into a refugee
camp in Thailand's Tha Song Yang district of Tak in an attempt
to kidnap Karen guerrillas leaders.
The group fled after security guards Baan Bae Kraw, who
stepped up their effort after lat Thursday's kidnappoing of
four of rebel leaders, detected the infiltrators who fled.
Leader of KNU told the Nation yesterday that between 700 and
800 Karen families at Baan Bae Kraw, about 60 km north of Mae
Sot district, are now living "in grate fear of violent harass-
ment" by the breakaway KNU Buddhist group.
The DKBA last Thursday dispatched eight armed men to kidnap
padoh Mahn Yin Sein, a KNU administrative governor of pa-an
district who had been taking refuge in Thailand for several
years. The group also kidnapped three other KNU hostages - Sim
Bo, the governor's nephew, Sia Jed, a KNU judge, and Maung
Aye, second vice governor of Pa-an and son-in-law of Mahn Yin
Sein.
Maung Aye was forceed to drive the governor's Mazda pick-up
and manageed to escape with minor injuries after driving into
a tree on the Mae Sot-Tha Song Yang high-way. His father in
law and two other hostages were taken across the Moei River
into the Burmese army camp at Moe Pa Zu, opposite Tak provinc
e's Mae Ramat district.
KNU leader said they learned that Mahn Yin Sein and Sim Bo,
who were moved from Moe Pa Zu to another Burmese camp at Ye
Kay, have already been taken to the DKBA's headquarters at
Myaingnyingu Temple in Burma.
However hostage Sia jed, about 60 year old, was reportedly
killed by the group on Friday in the Burmese Army base at Ye
Kyaw.
KNU leader said they believed the DKBA would try to coerce
Mahn Yin Sein, 55, into accepting the leadership of the new
group. A KNU leader said yesterday that the situation at Baan
Bae Kraw " is now very unsafe", and that all KNU leaders and
other persons possibly targeted for kidnapping or harassment"
cannot stay on as "the area is easily accessible by both the
Burmese army and DKBA forces,"
In Sob Moei district of Mae Hong Son, about 6,000 Karen refu-
gees are hastily moving deeper into Thailand after harassment
by Burmese troops who have been illegally crossing the Moei
River to enter the refugee site in this northern Thai
province.
The move began on Feb 7, the day after Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai visited the Mae Taw La refugee camp, and will continue
in the next few days.
The refugees said last week that were harassed by armed
Burmese soldiers who regularly crossed the Moei River to
threaten them and shoot their poultry and pets. (TN)
***********************MON STATE******************************
NATION: MON REBEL LEADER URGED SLORC MOVE FOR GENUINE PEACE
15 February 1995
James Fahn
WITH ethnic Mon preparing to celebrate their National day
today, one of the leader of the Mon resistance in Burma has
urged the Slorc to move towards "genuine peace and
conciliation" in the country.
Nai Tin Aung, the Foreign Affair Officer of the New Mon State
Party (NMSP) declared that his party would "always leave the
door open for negotiation" with Slorc.
Cease-fire talk between the NMSP and the ruling military junta
have been deadlocked for the past six months, but Nai Tin Aung
said the two parties have maintained "indirect contact."
Following three rounds of talks in 1993-1994, Slorc offered to
grant Mon insurgents 12 area of control in Burma, but the Mon
broke off negotiations last year, declaring the offer
insufficient.
"Slorc now appear ready to resume talks with out demanding
that we accept these 12 places," Nai Thein Aung claimed. He
said that the NMSP's central committee will hold a meeting on
the matter, probably to take place at the end of this month.
"But if Slorc does not change , it will not be possible to
resume the talks," he added.
Nai Thein Aung agreed with the assessment made by other Burma
watchers, that the successful attack on Karen Forces at
Manerplaw represented a resurgence of the hard-liners in Slorc
who are opposed to a peaceful reconciliation among the country
warring ethnic minorities.
"Every one knows our position," he said. "If the ruling clique
changes significantly , then would reconsider how to solve the
problem.
"So far, there have been no meaningful changes. But if the
situation countries like this, the future will be
unthinkable," Nai Thein Aung said.
He said he agreed in theory with the idea of exporting natural
resources to foster development , but add that the benefits of
such development must be distributed to everyone. "If the
profit go to buying weapons, they are meaningless."
He agreed that the development of the country's natural
resources will have political consequence . As things stand,
Thai invertor s and Slorc will benefit from the pipeline deal.
"That why we need peace in Burma," he explained, while also
urging Thailand to "give property to peace."
"Since Thialnd is a democracy, it should support democracy in
Burma." he said.
"Peace imposed by force will not last very long. Peace should
give genuine and realistic, not one -side.
"If Slorc really wants peace , it must stop its offensive all
over Burma," he concluded. "It should not stage an offensive
like this while declaring it in in favour of National
conciliation. (TN)
**************************************************************
NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET:
ABSDF: ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT
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
KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
KNU: KAREN NATIONAL UNION
Kt. BURMESE KYAT; UP TO 150 KYAT-US$1 BLACK MARKET
106 KYAT US$1-SEMI-OFFICIAL
6 KYAT-US$1 OFFICIAL
MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN
NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
NCGUB: NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA
NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER, RANGOON)
NMSP: NEW MON STATE PARTY
RTA.:REC.TRAVEL.ASIA NEWSGROUP
SCB.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP
SCT.: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
**************************************************************