[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
BurmaNet News: December 19, 1995 #3
- Subject: BurmaNet News: December 19, 1995 #3
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 04:44:00
Received: (from strider) by igc4.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.16 ) id EAA15491; Wed, 20 Dec 1995 04:35:06 -0800
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 04:35:06 -0800
Subject: BurmaNet News: December 19, 1995 #306
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: December 19, 1995
Issue #306
HEADLINES:
==========
HINDUSTAN TIMES : INDO-MYANMAR BORDER TRADE CROSSES RS 3 CR
INDEPENDENT REPORT: FAMILY ARRIVES FOR CHRISTMAS REUNION
ARAB NEWS: BURMESE JUNTA KILLS FIVE ROHINGYA YOUTHS IN ARAKAN
DVB: OPPOSITION RADIO REPORTS DEFECTION OF TWO GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS
BKK POST: GLOBAL LABOUR UNION BLAMES BURMA JUNTA FOR
NATION: BURMA: WE HAVE A SHARED DESTINY WITH ASEAN
ASIA PACIFIC CONSORTIUM ON BURMA: RESOLUTION
BURMANET: BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HINDUSTAN TIMES : INDO-MYANMAR BORDER TRADE CROSSES RS 3 CR
December 14, 1995
>From : FTUB(WB) <burtu.atubdo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
CALCUTTA, Dec. 13: Cross border trade between India and Myanmar through
the newly opened land route connecting Moreh in Manipur with Tamu in
Myanmar has during the last six months crossed the Rs. 3-crore(10 million) mark.
This has prompted the need to establish a similar land route between Champhai in
Mizoram with adjoining Burmese province, which will start opening soon,
according to Indian Commerce Ministry sources.
Both these land routes as well as the newly launched biweekly direct air flights
between Calcutta and Yangon by Indian Airlines are expected to ease considerable
the earlier difficulties encountered by the Indian traders. Absence of direct shipping
lines and lack of other transportation facilities were stifling the growth of bilateral
trade, and the Indian business community had to depend mainly on costly carriage
facilities offered by Thai and Singaporean airlines.
The resumption of direct air links after a gap of 22 years is understood to have evoke
tremendous interest in corporate circle here as quite a number of Calcutta and
Northeast based industries and firms have begun exploring possibilities of setting up
marketing offices in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar.
The Indian multinational ITC is understood to have sent a senior official to Yangon
last week to hold discussion with Myanmar Chamber of Commerce on mutually
beneficial business cooperation as many ITC products are through the company's
offices in Singapore.
Official of both India and Myanmar are also examining the possibility of reopening
very soon the suspended auction center for the famous Myanmarese teak wood
somewhere near the border, so that Indian traders can take part in it.
One of the most compelling reasons why most Indian companies which have already
gained a foothold in Myanmar through their agents and subagents are eager to have
their own offices in that, due to supply delays, a lot of spurious goods with Indian-
made labels are flooding the markets there causing huge financial losses and damage
to their reputation.
Thus, deployment of these companies' own personnel in Myanmar will generate
increasing business, transportation of high-demand Indian consumer goods including
tea, spices, pharmaceutical products, toiletries, cosmetics, tyres, textiles and hosiery,
etc., by air cargo, the official pointed out.
********************************************
INDEPENDENT REPORT: FAMILY ARRIVES FOR CHRISTMAS REUNION
WITH SUU KYI December 19,1995
RANGOON, Burma -- The family of dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrived
Monday to help her celebrate the Christmas holiday, her first outside
detention since 1988.
Her British husband Michael Aris, an Oxford don, and their younger son Kim
are visiting for the second time since her release from six years of house
arrest in July.
****************************************************************
ARAB NEWS: BURMESE JUNTA KILLS FIVE ROHINGYA YOUTHS IN ARAKAN
December 14, 1995 (English Saudi Arabian daily newspaper)
Five Rohingya Muslim youths from Arakan province were shot dead after
torture by the Burmese military junta recently, according to a stetement
issued by the Rohingya Solidarity ORganization (RSO).
A section of military intelligence belonging to Unit 18 of Buthidaung
township, some 80 miles north of Akyab, captial of Arakan state, had
arrested these youths from different villages under the township for allegedly
having links with rebel groups. In course of interrogation, they were
subjected to severe torture and later on all of them were shot dead behind a
hill west of the military unit.
The RSO gave the names of the victims as: Abu Siddique, 20, from Sin Oo
Byin village, Muhammad Shafi, 22, and Nazir Hussain, 21, from Mingyi
village, Anwar, 19, from Migyagze village and Abdur Rahim, 35, from Pondgaw
Byin village.
RSO siad extrajudicial killings of Rohingyas are a common affair as
perpetrators have no fear of being prosecuted. The organization gave
chronological details of some brutal murders commiitted by the so-called
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
It said Imam Sharif, 45, of Sikdarpara village near Maungdaw was inhumanely
beaten to death, Na Sa Ka (border security forces) of Khandaung killed Shah
Alam, 35, of Ponnoylake village by beating, NSK bayoneted Muhammad haroon to
death as he was ill and could not follow NSK orders to load belongings on a
boat, and NSK fired indiscriminately on a fishing boat at Pyin Pyu creek
killing four fishermen.
The RSO said besides massacring Rohingya youths, the military junta is also
indulged in serious human rights violations like rape, torture and arbitrary arrests.
******************************************************
DVB: OPPOSITION RADIO REPORTS DEFECTION OF TWO GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS
December 15, 1995 (Democratic Voice of Burma)
It has been learned that privates Myint Kyu and Aung Myint from the SLORC's
State Law and Order Restoration Council No 103 light infantry division,
stationed at Kalaele Gwin phonetic in the KNU's Karen National Union 7th Brigade
region, defected, with arms and ammunition, and sought refuge with the 6th
Company of the 35th Battalion of the Thai Border Police Force on 6th December.
The defectors said the soldiers were facing many difficulties because of lack of
food and medical supplies, clothing and appliances. They said their salaries
were not paid in full because their salaries had been deducted by the senior
officers. The defectors said 11 of them managed to escape but the other nine
were captured. Because of the lack of supplies, comrades from the Burmese
military forces frequently rob the Thai villages. This report is from the Shwe
Baho Si Studio.
********************************************
BKK POST: GLOBAL LABOUR UNION BLAMES BURMA JUNTA FOR
WORKERS' LAYOFF December 19,1995 Singapore, AFP
A Global trade unions group said yesterday that Burma's
military junta should be blamed for an impending layoff of
workers in Burmese garment factories following protests over
alleged human rights abuses.
"It is the corrupt military regime which is to blame,:" the
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions-Asian and
Pacific Regional Organisation (ICFTU-APRO) said in the
statement published by Singapore's Straits Times daily.
The labour group was responding to the newspaper's December
14 article by a top official of Hong Kong-based Victoria
Garment Manufacturing Co, alleging that pressure from US
human rights activists hampered exports of garments from his
Burmese factories.
The opinion piece by Joe Pang was first carried in the Paris-
based International Herald Tribune on December 12. Pang said
his company expected to lay off up to half of its 3,300
workers from his four factories in Burma in the next few
months because exports to the US market could drop by 69
percent to $10 million in 1995 from $32 million last year.
Workers' average pay, which is mainly calculated by piece
rate, has already fallen to $12 a month from between $30 and
$40 previously, he said. Pang said many of his American
customers relented to pressure from human rights groups,
including the New York-based Coalition for Corporate
Withdrawal From Myanmar (Burma), which claimed that the junta
violated human rights and repressed democracy.
"These activists threatened to picket any stores selling
Myanmar-made goods. They also threaten to buy shares of any
publicly-listed company importing such goods to voice their
views at annual stock-holders' meetings," Pang said.
"But do they consider the rights of workers in Myanmar,"
Pang asked. "Their misguided actions will hurt the very
people they purport to help." ICFTU-APRO general secretary
Takashi Izumi said in his response that Pang was wrong about
human rights activists costing Burmese workers their jobs.
***************************************
NATION: BURMA: WE HAVE A SHARED DESTINY WITH ASEAN
December 18, 1995
Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw accompanied Burmese junta head
Gen Than Shwe to attend the first summit of Southeast Asian
leaders. He talked to a small group of reporters, including
The Nation's Yindee Lertcharoenchok, before his departure.
Here are excerpts of the interview.
Opening statement
In 1967, when the Bangkok Declaration [on the establishment
of Asean] was made on the 8 of August, then Myanmar [Burma]
was invited particularly by Adam Malik, then foreign minister
of Indonesia to participate. He took pains to visit Myanmar
and explained the vision of the founders of the Asean at one
stage, that Southeast Asian nations will be emerging a very
sound and very solid economic potential.
That was the vision of the founders of Asean. At that
particular time, there was a Vietnam War and there was Seato
and a few countries in this region were committed militarily
or under a defence pact, with the so-called entangling in the
Cold War.
>From the very beginning Myanmar, as an independent country,
we fashioned out foreign policy to be at first neutral and
then later on independent, and then of course independent and
active foreign policy.
In the same time, since the Bandung Conference took place in
May 1955, we were also committed there that we would practice
the five principles of peaceful coexistence. We were very
much convinced that soon after we came out of the colonial
yoke and the World War II, we were very much convinced that
at one stage Southeast Asian nations will be emerging as what
we see at the present day.
Since 1988 we have changed our political system and our
economic system. Now we are introducing a more refined social
system. In that initiative, we can claim that we are heading
in the right direction and with the support of the people,
that we are making headway in our economic development, in
our political institutions as well as the efforts in the social fields.
Last year we exported over one million ton of rice and nearly
three quarters of a million tons of beans and pulp. And we
have minerals and we have off-shore oil exploration and we
are getting enough commercial amount of gas which will be
exported to Thailand and elsewhere.
We are now able to uplift the living standard of the people.
We are looking after the people living in the border area. At
one time they were under the insurgency, now they have a
meaningful way of life to look for the future.
That is the reason why from the very beginning, we had
impetus of initiative. We happened to be leader in the Non-
aligned Movement and we took part very actively. U Thant, as
a person, had been leading the United Nations for quite
sometime. Our participation at the United Nations had made 80
colonial countries independent, and right now the fourth
committee of the United Nations has no more work on
decolonization. So these are the efforts that Myanmar has
been making at the front line.
Now we are hopeful, we are confident, and we are convinced
that by putting more degree of association with Asean, then
of course we will be contributing our potential to the
prosperity of the region.
On Burma and Asean
Does your country expect to integrate into the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations? If yes, When?
In as much as we are prepared, we have to take into
consideration whether or how Asean is prepared, meaning that
as soon as we are sure of our political and economic progress.
Of course, with the bilateral good relations between Myanmar
and Thailand, I was invited as the guest of the host [Thai]
government the year before last and last year in Brunei.
Taking the opportunity now that we have changed our political
and economic system, we have indicated the accession to the
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). I handed over the
letter of accession to His Royal Prince Mohamad Bolkiah in
Brunei in the last Asean Ministerial Meeting and of course
with this we expect to become, we aspire to become an
observer in Asean.
In the Asean procedure, there are certain things that we have
to take into a consideration. So it will in accordance with
the Asean procedure. In the meantime, what we could do, what
we are supposed to do, what we are obligated to do internally
in our domestic economic and social policy, then we will be
doing out best.
What are those obligations that you have to do to obtain an
observer status?
One country cannot obtain an observer status overnight. By
looking at what has been arranged with Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia, accedding to the TAC is not enough. Asean has over
20 years of experience. It is not only the achievement, but
there are certain visions, certain arrangements and certain
preparations, not for one country but for the whole region.
In order to catch up what has been done for 20 over years by
the individual Southeast Asian nation and of course the Asean
as a whole, there are many things, the Asean Regional Forum,
Asean Free Trade Area, and many things connected with the
Asia Pacific Economic Forum.
These are the things that we have to take out time. Even
though we would like to be planting ourselves into the Asean
fold overnight, it would be counter-productive both to the
Asean as well as to Myanmar.
Asean members are hopeful that the three other Southeast
Asian countries could join the Association before the year
2000? What is your comment?
In accordance with Asean procedure, if Asean is prepared, of
course, we will be more than happy. We would not like to
intrude, to demand. We would like to be in accordance with
the process and principle.
There are certain obligations such as Afta or Apec that your
country will have to adopt, do you expect your country to
join in the Afta process?
The process is like a river going and we are like the
passengers, because there is a set code going on. They cannot
wait for us. We have to catch up. How far we can catch up
depends on our efforts domestically.
For example we have to liberalise our laws, we have to make
some arrangements for the expansion of our trade, and there
are many things, many considerations. You have seen from
yesterday [Friday], there were many agreements, many
documents signed. There are now having more concrete efforts
going on in many directions_ that we have to catch up. We
need training. We need to be sure ourselves that we can contribute.
If you look at our country, we have 45 million people,
260,000 square miles of area, and then we have potential, we
have man power, we have natural resources. When we come in we
would not be a sleeping partner. We would like to contribute
our potential. But without experience and without a real
foundation, one cannot do it.
What is the most appealing aspect of Asean for your country?
Today everybody is thinking about peace. Peace does not mean
no war. When there is no war but people are hungry, then
there is no peace. If there is no war but if there are some
commotion, some troubles in an individual country, then the
region cannot develop.
Right now we are on the right track. We are now concentrating
more on the economic development of our country, and so,
complementary, do the other countries in the region. This is
the aspiration. We feel that we are a Southeast Asian nation
and we would like to aspire to the prosperity of Southeast
Asian nations.
Asean is now very much solid in a leading role, and of course
we would like to be part of it. If the 10 Southeast Asian
countries can be as quick as possible, a member of Asean,
then it is of course a solid proof that we have s shared
destiny, mutual confidence and mutual efforts for the prosperity.
>From the outcome of the Asean summit, it seems that Asean is
moving on to another level, trying to incorporate Asean and
the Mekong subregion. What is your opinion?
Now that economics is no longer the economics of 25 years
ago. Once cannot go into one direction because development
has many facets. If you want to develop your own industry and
your own internal economy, then at one stage there will be
competition among the countries.
If there is competition, if they are contradictory and if
they are not complementary, then it is very dangerous. That
is the reason for the Mekong project, because people begin to
think of, the resources as well as making use of natural
things. That is a good sign. If one can make use of nature to
the advantage of human beings, then of course it is good. We
are very much interested and keen to learn and participate in
it. Of course, we look forward to have an observer status in
the next Asean Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia.
On Thai-Burmese relations
There are rumours that Burma is demanding a huge compensation
from Thailand for the killing of the Burmese fishermen in August?
We have very good bilateral relations with Thailand, and the
meeting between the leaders was very cordial. When the
problem came up, of course, you have to follow who originated
it. It's not the government, not the two governments. It is
the company and local people. This can be resolved at the local level.
What ever happened happened. There is a natural tendency that
those poor people when their husbands die they are helpless,
so the idea and the indication is that if there is some arrangement,
financially to those people, then the matter can be resolved.
This is the word that the local people think. But in the name
of the government we never said that "Look, Thailand, you,
must pay compensation." No. It is not our policy. In the
meeting of the two leaders yesterday, it was resolved that
the problem can be resolved in a very cooperative and meaningful way.
So is it just a rumour that there is a demand for financial compensation?
It is not a rumour, it is a certain obligation of the part of
the company and the company authorities that they should do.
What they are doing or not doing does not concern the
government. The government has no policy to impose on another
government that you must pay compensation.
It seems that the Thai military has been quite active in the
establishment of Thailand's relationship with its neighbours.
As for your country, do you feel more comfortable dealing
with the military_ Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Gen Chettha
Thanajaro_ or do you feel more comfortable dealing with the
foreign ministry?
General Chavalit has personal friends. he visited Burma in
1989 and from that time on he has been frequenting the
country. He has established many friends. Traditionally, our
people, our governments have been very friendly with the Thai
leaders, starting from Chatichai Choonhavan, Arthit
Kamlangek, who was then the supreme commander, because they
have the contacting communications.
The time of Prem Tinasulanond also he visited Burma, and
Siddhi Savetsila. All these people are military people,
formerly. Of course they have the contacts. Of course Gen
Chavalit has the same accent and the same aspiration to be friendly.
With the foreign ministry in the past seven years, I met your
five foreign ministers very closely. Kasem Masemsri is the
latest one and before him is the short period of Thaksin Shinawatra.
Before Thaksin, all the foreign ministers are very close to each other
and that is why we were able to establish a joint commission.
Arsa Sarasin, he started the initiative to have this joint
commission and I complied. So what more I should do? Foreign
Ministry to foreign ministry, we have a channel and the
mechanism. We are resolving questions, very amicably.
There are some comments in Thailand that this kind of foreign
policy may send different messages to neighbouring countries.
Do you feel that way, that the foreign ministry is sending
one message to you but you have your friend sending another
message about the resolution of problems?
As long as there is no problem growing, it shows that they
are compatible. As far as Myanmar is concerned, in the past
5-6 years, we are able to establishing closer relations with
the five neighbouring countries. With Thailand, of course
with common border this long, we will have some problems. But
we have the perception that there is no problem which cannot
be resolved. We will resolved it by mutual accommodation as
well as by mutual initiative.
Thailand wants the border to be reopened especially the three
border crossings. What are the conditions or obstacles to
their reopening?
There are no conditions and no obstacles. There is a saying
in Chinese that the one who ties the string will have to unite it.
So what has to be united?
You have to go to the exact situation. For example, the
friendship bridge. Before the bridge was built, there was an
island. When we agreed that the bridge be built, the island
disappeared. We didn't it. Who did it? The government didn't
do it. So as long as there is the original position of the
island, then of course the border will be opened.
In Mae Sai. When there were some insurgents going in and out,
we were attacked and a few people died. We said please, we
didn't start it. Who started it? Of course you have to resolve it
on your own. But it is not the government. It is the local people.
What do you want them to do? Do you want them to compensate
for the destruction?
Whatever arrangement that they can make it at the provincial
level. We have our won people on our side. We do not want to
overblow it, because on the other side, people also have
feelings. If they don't welcome it, then of course the
problem will be at the local level.
My understanding is that maybe the local authorities want
compensation for the loss of houses and other acts of destruction?
Of course, but not local authorities, the people who suffered
without their own fault. This is the main criteria.
Does the Burmese side also want the Thai side to hand over
the people who intruded?
Yes.
When will the border be reopened then?
It will be a simple matter of how soon this mistake is
corrected. (TN)
***************
ASIA PACIFIC CONSORTIUM ON BURMA: RESOLUTION
December 18. 1005
Asia Pacific Consortium on Burma
December 17-18, 1995, Bangkok, Thailand
Resolution
An Asia Pacific Consortium on Burma attended by 36 participants
from 26 organizations/ groups in 12 Asia Pacific countries and
other continents held on December 17-18, 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Noting that since the release of the 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate awardee
Aung San Suu Kyi, the general situation in Burma has not improved.
Noting with grave concerns that:
1. Despite of the decision by the elected people's
representatives from the National League for Democracy to no
longer participate in the process, the State Law and Order
Council (SLORC) is continuing with its National Convention.
2. The ceasefire which the SLORC military dictatorship is
coercing the ethnic nationalities to agree to, do not represent
progress towards genuine peace and national reconciliation.
3. Despite of the repeated calls by the United Nations and the
others the Slorc has refused to enter into a political dialogue
with the democratic forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi and the ethnic
nationalities.
4. Repressive Laws still remain; hundreds of political prisoners
are still languishing in jail.
5. The model of development being embraced by the SLORC, promoted
by the Asian Development Bank and actively being pursued by ASEAN
and most foreign investors, is certain to result in great
environmental destruction; further displacement of indigenous
peoples; further enrichment of a small and illegitimate,
additional inflationary pressure, and hindrance of the process of
democratization.
6. The multinational investments that are financing the SLORC
military dictatorship are continuing regardless of the gross
human rights violations; particularly against workers, women,
children, indigenous peoples.
7. The ASEAN members support the SLORC despite of its human
rights abuses and are working to accept it as a member.
Therefore, the Asia Pacific Consortium on Burma:
Expresses its grave concerns over the continuing serious
violations of human rights in Burma. The UN General Assembly's
Third Committee recently adopted a resolution, for the fourth
consecutive year, condemning the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC) for its failure to respect human rights. Clearly,
the "Constructive Engagement" policy, adopted by ASEAN in the
past, has not resulted in greater respect for human rights nor
the return of democracy in Burma.
The Consortium is particularly disturbed by the most recent
developments related to the work of the National Convention
responsible for drawing up a new constitution for the country
Calls for unconditional release of all political prisoners
immediately;
Urges the SLORC to immediately enter into a genuine dialogue with
Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, other leaders of the democratic
opposition and representatives of ethnic nationalities aimed at
achieving national reconciliation and the restoration of
democracy;
Calls on the SLORC to halt the National Convention since it has
no legitimacy. The NLD which is has the majority of the
elected-representatives did not join in the process.
Recognizes the legitimacy of the NLD under the leadership of Aung
San Suu Kyi to be the main convenor of the National Convention;
Urges the ASEAN, and the International Community to exert more
efforts to instruct the SLORC to enter into a meaningful dialogue
with the democratic forces under the supervision of the United
Nations' Secretary General;
Expresses its concern over the multilateral investment projects;
Strongly urges the ASEAN to take appropriate measures to support
human rights in Burma as ASEAN's Constructive Engagement Policy
benefits only SLORC but harms the people of Burma.
Also urges ASEAN to adopt the people-centered sustainable
development;
Urges the Secretary General of the United Nations to fully
implement the December 1994, 1995 resolutions of the UN General
Assembly which call for the Secretary General to assist in the
national reconciliation process.
Calls on Burma's neighbors and the international community as a
whole to impose an embargo on arms and war supplies to SLORC; and
Call on tourists, particularly those from within ASEAN, not to
support "Visit Myanmar Year 1996" which is causing great hardship
to the people of Burma Forced relocations, forced labor and a
disruption of essential services.
FREE BURMA NOW !!
December 18, 1995
Bangkok, Thailand
****************************************************************
BURMANET: BRIEF BUSINESS REPORTS
December 19, 1995
information provided by M. Beer and abridged by BurmaNet
STAR CRUISE TO OPERATE IN BURMA
Asia's leading cruise operator Star Cruise has placed a US$ 700
million (S$ 987 million) order for two luxury vessels which it says will be
among the world's largest and fastest cruise ships. Both ships will provide
seven-night cruises in South-east Asia throughout the year. Destinations
will include Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Burma and the
Andaman Islands in India. Star Cruise is a wholly owned company of
Malaysia's Genting International PLC.
BURMA TO SET UP MORE FURNITURE JOINT VENTURES
Burma will set up more joint-venture furniture factories to reduce the
country's exports of log and boost those of manufactured products, according to
the official newspaper "New Light of Myanmar" . Forestry Minister Lieutenant
General Chit Swe made this remark at an inaugural ceremony of a furniture
factory invested in by Yangon Wood Industries Ltd of France. The French
put in an investment of 3 million US dollars and will transfer 20 percent of the
equity to the state-run Myanmar Timber Enterprise after five years of operation.
SWISS GARDEN TO OPEN A HOTEL IN BURMA
Swiss-Garden Management (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd aspires to become a major player
in the hospitality business in South-East Asia by the turn of the century. The
company plans to have a hotel in key cities within the region such as in Singapore,
Vietnam, Burma, and Cambodia. Swiss-Garden is in the preliminary
stages of negotation with a local party in Burma for the setting up of a hotel
operation in Rangoon.
SHIPPING SERVICES FOR BURMA
Tajo Bricks Bhd has formed an understanding with a shipping company operating
from Japan and South Korea to assist in its shipping activities in South East
Asia. It also plans to expand its shipping business for a more stable income in
future. It is already providing shipping services to Burma, and it has started to
assist Eastern Car Liner which is operating in Japan and South Korea, to ship
cars and bulldozers to Rangoon.
TOTAL'S INVESTMENT IN ASIA
Asia is becoming one of the major pillars of the TOTAL group, which expects
to earn 20% of its operating results in this region by the year 2000, up from
15% currently, and to strengthen its already enviable position as a natural gas
producer. Active in Asia since 1955, the French oil group had one billion French
Francs in operating income on the continent in 1994, with investment worth FF
1.3 billion, or 10% of the group's total, Jacques Lafond, TOTAL's
Director-General for Asia, indicated on December 6.
Thanks to the gas fields of Thailand, Indonesia and Burma, Asia accounts for
40% of TOTAL's natural gas production outside the Middle East.
Distribution of fuels is closed to foreign companies in many countries,
except for Cambodia, which will have 25 TOTAL service stations in 1998. TOTAL is
developing its distribution of special products (lubricants, LPG solvents) in
most Asian countries.
BOISE ATTRACTS GOODS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
Pat and Sue Sheridan of Boise started Wild Flower Imports as a wholesale
business about three years ago. Pat had sold computer products in the Far East,
so he had lots of sources of goods. Sue had been an international banker.
They opened a retail store about a year ago. The three-room shop in the
Belgravia building is filled with Buddhist statues rescued from abandoned
temples; tribal masks and art pieces from New Guinea, Borneo and Burma; and
antique elm wood furniture items from Asia.
(Comment by Michael Beer.....I find the use of the word rescue here to be a
euphemism for theft of religious artifacts to be sold for profit. Is there someone in
the FBI we can refer this case to?)
NEW JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN
The Japanese government approved the appointment of a new ambassador to Myanmar
last week. His name is Yoichi Yamaguchi, 58 years old, from Fujian Province, China.
Graduated from Tokyo University in 1960. Former board member of the Metal Mining
Agency of Japan and ambassador to Turkey. Ambassador stationed in Osaka since
February 1994.
*******************************************************************