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News Update



ERRORS-TO:INET:strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
FROM:NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burmese Relief Center--Japan
DATE:April 12, 1995
TIME: 6:25PM JST
SUBJ:NEWS UPDATE

>From A B S D F NEWS AGENCY

ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT
CENTRAL COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS

Burma Update News
April 11, 1995

FORCED LABOUR ON TAVOY-YEBYU RAILWAY
LINE

In Tennessarium Division, the new railway line from Tavoy to
Yebyu, a part of the Ye to Tavoy railway line, will be opened
by SLORC in April.  To complete construction work in time,
the SLORC authorities are forcing the people from four
townships, Tavoy, Yebyu, Longlon and Thayetchaung, in
Tavoy region, to work as porters.

The people in that region were forced to be porters once in
every fifteen days, with their own expenses.  Moreover, since
January 1995, every family has been taking responsibility for
the cost of 100 cubic feet of stone for paving the way and
supplying for the monthly railway fund from 200 to 500 Kyats
regularly.  The people who are unable to work as porters are
imposed a fine from 1,500 to 2,000 kyats.

Each member of Local Law and Order Restoration Council,
from respective villages, has to accompany the porters, to the
railway line working centers, to perform as an in-charge so that
the porters may not escape.  At the railway line working center
of the Zahar village, between Tavoy and Yebyu township,
altogether 300 prisoners are kept in fetter and forced to work.

Since November, 1993, Ye-Tavoy new railway line, which is
110 miles long, has been constructed by over 20,000 porters. 
The SLORC intends to complete it in 1996, the visit Burma
year.  For paving the way, the ground, 100 meters in width,
has to be cleared.  To build the main railway line, which is 15
feet wide and 16 feet high, mound has to be piled up.  To be
porters, not only males but also females and children were
forced to work.  In constructing it, the soldiers from the
SLORC's Light Infantry Regiments, No 343, 402, 403, 407,
and 410 are watching the porters and their work closely.  Due
to the question of the porters, everyday, from 50 to 100 people
from the four townships mentioned abo e, escape to the Thai
Burma border.

The SLORC sponsored National Convention recognized the
Self-administered Division and Self-administered Zone

On April 7, 1995, SLORC sponsored National Convention,
held in Rangoon, recognized the Self-administered divisions
and Self-administered zones for the ethnic nationalities, that
are Wa, Naga, Danu, Pa-oh, Palaung and Kokant.  They are as
follows:

1.  Self-administered division for Wa
     (6 townships from Shan State - Hopan, Mongmaw,
Panwaing, Na Phan, Manpant and Panyan -- was formed as
two districts)
2.  Self-administered zone for Naga
     (Nangyon, La Hae and Lae Shi townships in Sagaing
Division)
3.  Self-administered zone for Danu
     (Ywa Ngan and Pindaya townships in Shan State)
4.  Self-administered zone for Pa-oh
     (Hopong, Seseng and Pinglaung townships in Shan State)
5.   Self-administered zone for Palaung
      (Namsang and Mangtong townships in Shan State)
6.  Self-administered zone for Kokant
     (Konggyan and Laukkaing townships in Shan State)

Most of the elected representatives, political parties' delegates
and most of the indigenous nationalities' delegates objected to
the recognition of the Self=administered divisions and Self-administered zones
 in the present National Convention.   They
submitted the idea that only when the will of the ethnic
nationalities living in the respective areas has been collected, it
should be carried out, and for that purpose, a commission
should be formed.

Nevertheless, Lt. General Myo Nyunt, the chairman of the
National Convention Convening Commission, rejected that
submission by reasoning that, in order to implement the 6
objectives, the SLORC has the authority to carry out that; and,
there was no need to ask.  The National Convention was
adjourned until October 23.  Although, in the initial stages,
702 delegates attended the NC, on September 2, at its fifth
session, only 633 delegates were present.

ABSDF News Agency