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BurmaNet News March 8, 1996
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Date: Sat, 9 Mar 1996 04:46:40 -0800
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: March 8, 1996
Issue #357
HEADLINES:
==========
FEER: CHOPPER DEAL
THE NATION: BURMA TO REOPEN CROSSINGS BEFORE PM'S TRIP
THE NATION: KARENNIS BACKED AGAINST THE WALL
IRRAWADDY: SUU KYI IN A BIND OVER ECONOMY
IRRAWADDY: RANGOON DENIES DEAL WITH OPIUM WARLORD KHUN SA
IRRAWADDY: 8888 AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS?
IRRAWADDY: YE HTAY DIES IN PRISON
IRRAWADDY: SOME MTA FOOT SOLDIERS REGROUP
IRRAWADDY: KHUN SA IS SAID TO BE UNHAPPY WITH HIS SWEET DEAL
IRRAWADDY: FORCED RELOCATION
IRRAWADDY: WA KILLED MTA
IRRAWADDY: ASYLUM SEEKERS NABBED IN BANGKOK
ACTION ALERT: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FORCED LABOUR REVIEW
------------------------------------------------------------
FEER: CHOPPER DEAL
March 14, 1996
A group of Russian aircraft technicians arrived in Rangoon
in last January to discuss maintenance of helicopters which
have been sold to the Slorc. The Burmese army's commander
in-chief, Lt-Gen Tin Oo, paid a visit to Moscow last
November and negotiated a deal under which Russia has
supplied eight helicopters so far. Officially, the choppers
are transports, but sources in Rangoon say they will be
equipped with machine-guns and rocket launchers. Previously,
there were only three regular staffers in the defence
attache's office at the Russian embassy in Rangoon. But a
fourth has now been added to oversee the helicopter deal and
explore other arms sales to Burma. (FEER)
***************
NATION: BURMA TO REOPEN CROSSINGS BEFORE PM'S TRIP
March 8, 1996 (abridged)
THE Burmese government has agreed to reopen three border
checkpoints on March 16 a day before Prime Minister Banharn
Silpa-archa begins his visit to Rangoon, Deputy Commander in
chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro said yesterday.
The reopening of the checkpoints comes a year after the
Burmese government ordered the closing of Myawaddy, which
links Tak's Mae Sot province, on March 4 last year following
several disputes.
"We have a letter from the Burmese government endorsing our
request for the border checkpoints to be reopened next
Saturday, before the Thai premier visits Rangoon the
following day," Gen Chettha said.
Banharn is scheduled to visit Rangoon on Sunday March 17 and
return the following day. His visit will be the first by a
Thai leader to the country in 15 years.
**********************************************
THE NATION: KARENNIS BACKED AGAINST THE WALL
March 8, 1996
KNPP insurgents in Kayah state are slowly withdrawing from
their mountain bases and are preparing to take up a
guerrilla campaign, Aung Zaw writes.
Last year, Burmese military intelligence chief Lt Gen Khin
Nyunt travelled to Kayah state and met Karenni insurgents to
discuss the signing of a cease-fire agreement with the
ruling junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(Slorc). At a dinner party, Khin Nyunt declared peace would
prevail in Kayah state with the return of the Karenni
National Progressive Party [KNPP] to the 'legal fold.'
A few months later fierce fighting broke out between the
Karenni force and government troops. Initially, observers
said the cause of fighting was because of lucrative trade in
teak across the Thai-Burma border. "What they [Slorc] want
is to control logging trade and secure strategic points
along the border," said an observer in Mae Hong Song. If
that was their aim, the military has nearly achieved it. They
government forces have now secured almost all strategic
points and lucrative economic areas in Kayah state including
May Yu and its subordinate trade offices.
Nevertheless, Karenni officials said the fighting broke out mainly
because of political reasons.
"Shortly after we went back to the 'legal fold' we declared
we would continue to struggle for our political objectives,"
said Raymond Htoo, KNPP secretary general, claiming this was
the main reason for the upsurge in fighting.
Whatever the reason, the Burmese military government appears
poised to launch its biggest offensive yet against the area,
KNPP sources said.
Since the beginig of the year, Slorc has sent truckloads of
troops to Kayah state and now has 27 battalions deployed in
the area, KNPP sources said.
In January, the KNPP lost a key mountain ridge including
'Rambo Hill' after Slorc onslaught now controls three
strategic hills: Ta Yoke (Chinese), Nonglon I and II hills.
The KNPP's frontline positions have been reinforced by about
100 soldiers from the All Burma Students Democratic Front.
The speculation in KNPP-controlled area is that Slorc is
determined to oust the Karennis before Armed Forces Day,
which will be held in Rangoon on 27 March. "So all [Slorc]
commanders are working against the clock," said an ABSDF
member.
"If they are serious [to wipe out KNPP] they can do it in a
few weeks," he said. For the past few months Slorc has been
shelling KNPP positions almost daily with 81mm and 120mm
mortars.
The Burmese generals have committed about 1,500 foot
soldiers to the frontline but the Burmese forces so far have
sustained heavy causalities, according to KNPP.
On Tuesday, Slorc soldiers began advancing on the Nonglon
hills situated on the Thai-Burma border.
If there is a strong offensive, they won't resist it. They
will withdraw and attack them [Slorc] from the back," said a
Karenni source. Already the Karenni rebels have carried out
a number of surprise assaults, the buiggest one being an
attack on an army check-point near Loikaw, the capital of
Kayah state, where they demolished a small overpass.
At present, the KNPP is without headquarters after
withdrawing from their main camp at Kauk Kauk. As a result,
KNPP leaders say they no longer need to worry about losing
the remaining hills. "Their last tactics will be hit-and-run
guerrilla warfare" said a KNPP source.
This will be difficult for Slorc to contain because they
cannot seal off the border with Thaialnd.
But Slorc also has friends in Kayah state, namaely the KNPLF
(Karenni National People's Liberation Front) which has been
cooperating with Slorc after signing a cease-fire with Slorc
a few years ago.
The question that remains is whether there can be a
negotiated end to the fighting. "No, it is impossible," says
a KNPP source in Mae Hong Song. The KNPP sent a delegation
to Rangoon in December but talks were a failure. "But it is
better to solve our problems at the table not at the
battlefield," said the Karenni man.
The only other insurgent group that remains outside the
'legal fold' is the Karen National Union and they are
currently talking to Rangoon.
A negotiating team under senior leader Padoh Mahn Shar Lar
Pan returned from Rangoon where they held talks with Burma's
military leaders including Lt Gen Khin Nyunt. It was a
second delegation sent by KNU. The KNU delegation proposed a
12-point paper but Slorc rejected five of the Karen demands.
Karen leaders declined to discuss the talks but a KNU source
in Mae Sot said one of the demands turned down by Slorc was
a call for a nation-wide cease-fire.
Most Burma observer believe sooner and later the Karen will
have to cut a deal with Slorc. "Karen leaders foresee
conflicts and problems and they are going cautiously and
step by step," said the Mae Sot observer. Slorc watchers in
the border town, however, warn that if KNU drag its feet too
long it will face a new Slorc offensive. Rangoon has already
deployed troops in the Karen town of Taunggoo. "The message
is clear. If you don't make peace with us, we will force you
to make it."
The KNU is not without trouble. In areas under their control
they have come under repeated attacks from the Democratic
Karen Buddhist Army, a splinter Karen group backed by Slorc.
The DKBA have attacked Karen refugees loyal to KNU and many
Kaen refugees on Thai soil have been either gunned down or
abducted by DKBA troops.
At the beginning of the February, fierce fighting broke out
between the KNU and DKBA and the KNU claimed they were
beginning to gain the upper hand over the renegade group.
When asked whether there would be a new round of fighting
between the KNU and Slorc troops in karen state, the KNU
source said: "The battle has already started - DKBA is
Slorc, Slorc is DKBA. Peace in Karen State is millions of
miles away." (TN)
##Burmese government troops drove ethnic Karenni rebels off a
strategic hill in Burma's eastern Kayah State near the Thai
border with a third frontal assault, a Karenni source said
yesterday. Karenni guerrillas had held off the numerically
superior government forces in two previous assaults this
week, forcing them into retreat with heavy casualties, the
source in Mae Hong Son province said. But the third time the
pressure proved too great. "The (Karenni) military told me
that our fighters had to leave Naung Long Hill on
Wednesday," the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
source said.
The military did not reveal the where abouts of the
defenders or the status of another hilltop base in the Hta
Na Khwe area opposite Mae Hong Song, but the Karenni still
held positions to the south along the border and inside
Kayah State, he said.
Last week the KNPP said it had 400 out of a total of about
1,00 armed men in the Hta Na Khwe area while the military
government had 4,00 troops there.
The ABSDF said it had more than 300 soldiers in the area,
though none on Naung Long Hill.
Many of the organization's fighters in the Hta Na Khwe area
are at a base not far the Thai border town of Baan Mai
Sapeh, an ABSDF source said.
Coincidentally, the school in Baan Mai Sapeh was closed and
80 students had to run for cover after two mortars shells
from the fighting in Burma landed near by.
Rangoon has committed 27 battalions of 300-400 men each in
an effort to eliminate armed opposition in Kayah State, the
ABSDF said, citing intercepted radio communications between
Burmese army officers. (TN)
*******************************************
***************
IRRAWADDY: SUU KYI IN A BIND OVER ECONOMY
VOL.4 NO.2
Edgardo Boeninger, a member of America's National Democratic
Institute who went to Burma in early November said that
unless Suu Kyi "can prove that she is good for business and
the present government is not, there will be no incentive to
change the regime."
Since her release, "the Lady" has been warning foreign
investors to study the situation carefully before they rush
in with millions of dollars.
But Burmese people, who were isolated in Ne Win's so-
called socialist country for almost three decades, now want
an open market economy.
Millions of people took to the streets in 1988 as they
were frustrated with the government's mismagement of the
econo-my. In recent months, Suu Kyi has been given her
former captors a great chance to criticise and attack her as
an 'anti-foreign investment' politician.
Suu Kyi, on the other hand, did not fail to point out the
serious economic problems in her country: high inflation,
sky rocketing prices and corruption among high-ranking
officials.
The important question is who is really benefiting from
the open market economy?
Last week, responsing to critics who say she is bad for
business, Suu Kyi outlined the economic policy of her
National League for Democracy and said the means for its
implementation were in a paper published by a Harvard
economist.
Suu Kyi's policy statement calls for an open-market
economy, and its credibility will be based on an open and
democratic political system.
"A democratic Burma will be an economically dynamic
Burma," Suu Kyi wrote. She laid out 11 general economic
objectives. She said the details of how to put them into
practice could be found in a paper called "prospects for
Sustainable Development in Burma," submitted to the United
Nations Development Programme by Dr David Dapice, a
professor at Harvard University in the US.
"This is important because the Slorc has been portraying
her as a crypto-socialist," said Bertil Lintner.
He said the most significant of her party's economic
objectives was a clause calling' for "a review of the
exchange rate, followed by necessary revision."
Burma's economic planners have steadfastly refused to cut
the currency's official value, saying that it would boost
their foreign debt, estimated at about $5 billion.
Lintner said Suu Kyi should have been more critical of
the difficulty companies have in obtaining the necessary
information to do business in Burma.
"Businesses need transparency for real information about
what is happening in the markets," Lintner said. "Burma now
has zero transparency."
In spite of this, Rajan Pillai of Peregrine Investments,
the only foreign investment house operating in Burma, said
Suu Kyi's objectives weren't significantly different from
the Slorc's.
"Every single point is exactly what the government is
already doing," Pillai said.
Pillai isn't alone. Yasuda wrote in Tokyo-based The Daily
Yomiuri recently. He is director at the Nomura Research
Institute. "Suu Kyi maintains that resuming ODA and
investment at this time would only help the junta remain in
power, without explaining why this would happen. She has yet
to come up with her own set of policies," Yasuda said.
"While she was under house arrest, Myanmar's economy was
transformed significantly because of the flow of foreign
investment into the country. Although construction machinery
sent by Japan to improve Yangon's airport rusts away,
construction of a road from China's Yunnan Province to
Mandalay and construction of a new airport have made
impressive progress thanks to Chinese investment."
Yasuda's comparison between Suu Kyi and Corazon Aquino is
interesting indeed. He wrote: "When we talk about Myanmar
and Suu Kyi, it may be useful to look at 1986 when Corazon
Aquino became president of the Philippines. People had high
expectations because she was considered an ordinary
housewife and there was a sense of true democracy in the
air. But she soon gained the reputation of a political amateur."
"She lost her stature because of the nation's slow
economic development. Is there any danger of Suu Kyi going
through the same experience as Aquino?" He asked.
It is time for Suu Kyi to show her ability on economic
policies. Suu Kyi has many chances to prove this. The
military leaders have no knowledge of how to run the country
and economy. They rule the country at gun point. They know
how to bully innocent people and how to run a corrupt
government and how to maintain their power.
The tragedy of Burma is that those with little knowledge
of economics have had the reins of power in their hands and
they relied heavily on the military to deal with ethnic
conflicts, a legacy of colonial rule.
Suu Kyi's Nobel Prize character and democracy speeches
are important and needed in Burma. But while we are talking
about how to restore democracy and freedom in the country
she must not forget the fact that 'stomachism' is a critical
issue.
Suu Kyi must put into practice what she says. Still, she
represents a large population in Burma. Because of this
action is needed. She must show that she is able and
possessed with political skills. This is what Burmese people
are looking for. -- The Editor
*****************
IRRAWADDY: RANGOON DENIES DEAL WITH OPIUM WARLORD
KHUN SA VOL.4 NO.2
Burma has dismissed speculation that it cut a deal with Khun
Sa, saying the opium warlord surrendered on the government's
terms.
Lt-Col Kyaw Thein, a senior Defence Ministry official,
denied that Rangoon had made a deal with Khun Sa. At a drug-
burning show in Rangoon he said: "We didn't have any
negotiation or deal at all. They just surrendered
unconditionally."
The drug baron proposed laying down his arms in a tape-
recorded message delivered by his uncle Khun Seng to the
leaders of Slorc last December, a Slorc officer said.
Khun Sa 'surrendered' to Rangoon on Jan 5 and since then
speculation has been rife about what kind of agreement he
may have made with Slorc.
On Feb 9, Rangoon-based diplomats, senior Slorc officials
and ministers, including Lt gen Khin Nyunt, and UN officials
witnessed the burning of approximately 1,750 tonnes of
heroin, opium and marijuana.
Slorc will not extradite opium warlord Khun Sa to the
United States where he is wanted on heroin trafficking
charges, Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw said at the press
conference.
Ohn Gyaw's comments marked the first time a senior
official of the Slorc has publicly said Rangoon had no plan
to extradite Khun Sa.
"There is no question of extradition with any country. In
1990 we received a request from an embassy to have U Khun Sa
extradited," Ohn Gyaw said.
State Department spokesman Glyn Davies decribed as a
"negative development" a Ohn Gyaw's statement.
A total of 12,868 MTA members surrendered in January,
turning over 7,610 assorted weapons, the government said.
Kyaw Thein said two non-productive drug laboratories had
been found in MTA-controlled areas and the government was
searching for more. He said the flow of drugs out of Shan
State had not stopped despite the surrender of Khun Sa.
"But I can assure you that the amount of drugs produced
in MTA-controlled areas will drop very significantly." He
said many of the formerly armed ethnic groups living in the
Shan State and the Kachins in northern Burma have also
pledged to make their regions "opium-free zones."
"So the production of opium from this country is going to
drop in the future," he said. When asked what would happen
to Khun Sa, Kyaw Thein said: "We will deal with this matter
according to the law and processes for this are still going
on. Right now I don't know when exactly this process will be
finished." Khun Sa could be charged under Burmese law, but
"after all, we have treated other criminals leniently," Kyaw
Thein said.
He also said the case of Khun Sa is a different matter
when compared with other armed national groups. "We have not
treated U Khun Sa and his troops as an armed national group
at all," he said.
But a western diplomat who attended the drug burning show
said that Khun Sa has been given special treatment. There
was no political agenda involved because he is just a
warlord, he said, adding that it is easier for Slorc to deal
with Khun Sa rather than armed ethnic groups, which are
unhappy with Slorc's performance.
Even though Slorc repeatedly claims that Khun Sa will be
dealt with according to the law, there have been no
developments suggesting Slorc actually intends to do this.
The drug baron is still a free man and Slorc has been
allowing him to stay either Mandalay or Rangoon.
Said another diplomat: "Obviously, there has been a sweet
deal."
"U Khun Sa is now our own blood brethren," said one
senior military official. "U" basically means "mister" or
"uncle." It is a term of respect.
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, in a speech, welcomed Khun Sa's
surrender and referred to him and the MTA as "our own blood
brethren".
"We will look after them well on humanitarian grounds and
for the sake of national spirit," said the junta member,
adding that they were no different than others who had laid
down arms.
Indeed, Khin Nyunt's speech enraged some ethnic groups,
which are preparing to make a protest statement against it.
"He [Khun Sa] is neither a politician nor an ethnic leader.
He is just a 'businessman'," said one Karenni official.
Sources in Rangoon said another retired drug warlord, Lo
Hsing-Han is now an 'unofficial adviser' to Khin Nyunt. Lo
acted as go-between for Slorc during its talks with Wa-Ko
Kang groups in 1989.
At the Union Day ceremony in Rangoon, outspoken
opposition leader Suu Kyi said the junta is treating Khun
Sa not as a criminal, but as an ethnic leader.
"It is the military government which has always said that
Khun Sa is not to be considered an ethnic leader, but as a
drug dealer.
"It is not surprising to us that they have gone back
completely on their word and are now treating him as an
ethnic leader." Ironically, while the Nobel Peace prize
winner was under house arrest, there was widespread fear
that she would be forcibly deported.
The opposition in Burma has been facing a crackdown and
some members have been thrown into jail recently. There are
reliable reports about harsh treatment and torture in
prisons. They are neither drug barons like Khun Sa or
criminals but democracy activists.
Khun Sa was once described as the worst enemy they world
has but for Slorc this may not be true. Suu Kyi and
democracy-minded people in the country are the worst enemies
they have.
**************
IRRAWADDY: 8888 AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS?
VOL.4 NO.2
Something will happen within six months, say some students
and opposition members in Rangoon. So our correspondent in
Rangoon asked, "What does that mean?"
"Uprising," one answered.
"Why?" the reporter asked.
Many are angry with Slorc's performance, the price of
rice is very high while daily goods and commodities are
sky-rocketting.
Predictably, the gap between the rich and poor is
widening.
But one observer in Bangkok is not convinced. He said,
"People in Burma are not as frustrated as before like under
Gen Ne Win. They now have some opportunity if they want to
make money, find a job or want to get rich."
Besides, the current regime is serious about foreign
investment and promoting an open-market economy while
Singapore and China are giving advice to them.
In 1988, when Phone Maw, a student from the Rangoon
Institute of Technology (RIT) was killed by riot police,
many non-students joined together with students in anti-Ne
Win demonstrations .
It was easy for university students to organise the
public to take to the streets. But, repeated devaluations of
the currency, frustration and anger pushed the public to
confront the government. Otherwise, it would be a battle
between only students and Ne Win. No popular uprising like
8888 would take place.
"They [military leaders] don't know how to do business.
You will see Slorc collapse not because of opposition or
student uprisings but because of a deteriorating economic
situation." Said a former army officer now in exile.
Related Report: A student group in Rangoon released a
statement in January urging Slorc to free all students
under detention. The group also urged Slorc to open
political dialogue with Suu Kyi and ethnic groups. The
statement, 'Students and National Politics' was signed by 21
students including a student leader, Min Ze Ya. Min Ze Ya is
a well known student leader who is willing to compromise
with Slorc. His group was summoned by Slorc and strongly
warned. In the statement, "...although the Slorc freed many
political prisoners [since 1992] very few students have been
released."
"We believe they should be released and should they be
allowed to return to classrooms." [Inside Sources]
****************
IRRAWADDY: YE HTAY DIES IN PRISON
VOL.4 NO.2
According to sources in Bangkok, Ye Htay, a political
prisoner and poet, died in Bassein prison as a result of torture.
Ye Htay fled to the border areas shortly after the
military took power in 1988. He arrived at the Three Pagodas
Pass in late 1988. He joined the armed movement along with
other activists.
He later came to Bangkok and applied for refugee status at
the UNHCR. He was arrested in 1992 and was detained at the
Immigration Detention Centre for months. He was later
deported to Kawthoung where military intelligence officials
captured him.
He has not been seen since. According to his friends who
remained in Bangkok, Ye Htay was sentenced to 10 years in
prison. While he was in the jungle and Bangkok Ye Htay
composed many revolutionary poems. There is no further
confirmation on his death. (Inside Sources)
***************
IRRAWDDY: SOME MTA FOOT SOLDIERS REGROUP
VOL.4 NO.2
Even though Khun Sa has 'surrendered' to Rangoon officials,
some of his Mong Tai Army members are either fleeing to
Thailand or regrouping elsewhere in Shan State.
Since Jan 5, thousands of MTA soldiers have surrendered
to Slorc. Slorc is claiming the soldiers had returned to
the legal fold and held a reception in Shan State to
welcome Khun Sa's soldiers.
During the surrendering ceremony, Slorc "asked" each
household to provide one person to attend. Refusal to
attend resulted in a fine of 100 Kyat. Sources said most
children soldiers from Tiger Camp are quite happy "because
they can go back home now."
Although Gun Yord is still a thorn in the MTA's side it
is not a big one. Gun Yord broke away from the MTA in June
and established the Shan State National Army (SSNA).
Even though there is no ceasefire agreement between the SSNA
and Slorc, Slorc is pushing the SSNA to reach a deal.
Sources said Gun Yord will have no choice but to deal with
Slorc in the near future. (BIG)
**************
IRRAWDDY: KHUN SA IS SAID TO BE UNHAPPY WITH HIS SWEET DEAL
VOL.4 NO.2
THE rumour in Bangkok and Rangoon is that warlord Khun Sa
has been taken from his jungle headquarters in northeastern
Shan state to live in Rangoon.
He was accompanied by his right-hand man Chang Shu-chuan,
who is also known by the Shan name Sao Hpalang, a former
Chinese nationalist soldier who has worked with Khun Sa
since the mid-1960s.
An officer from Khun Sa's MTA also said the drug baron
and Sao Hpalang were taken to Rangoon, but on Jan 28.
"His security officers were guarding his house when I was
there over the weekend but people said that Khun Sa was not
in the house anymore," the MTA officer said.
The sources said it was unclear why Khun Sa had been
taken to the Burmese capital, but a Shan based in Mae Ai
said, "It is not true." He said the warlord is still in Ho
Mong. "He won't leave his home. He doesn't feel really
secure outside in Ho Mong."
Whatever the case, there was wild speculation in Rangoon
last month that the US was going to invade and capture Khun
Sa. "Like the US did in Panama in 1989, they can be done
again to Khun Sa," said a Burmese citizen. Some in
Rangoon believe the US would launch an operation from the
Andaman sea to snatch Khun Sa.
>From January 20 to 23, ships, jets and missiles provided
by China were used in joint military exercise. Sources in
Rangoon said a similar exercise would be held along the
southern coast near the natural gas pipeline to be laid
toward Kanchanaburi.
"The only reason for the drill is that our 300,000 troops
have been idle for a long time," said a senior military
officer.
He said it had nothing to do with the unfounded rumours.
But Khun Sa is quite unhappy with his deal. "He has to
give up all his weapons to Slorc, and he has no more power.
His soldiers went back to their homes." Said one ethnic
leader who followed Khun Sa's movement.
Khun Sa is also quite upset with his uncle, Khun Seng who
he sent in December to make a deal with Rangoon. Khun Seng
is believed to still be in Rangoon. Khun Sa's son is now the
main messenger between Ho Mong and Rangoon, sources said.
"His face is very similar to Khun Sa. This is the reason
people mistake him for his father," said a source. But one
observer based in Chiang Mai said since Khun Sa himself is
Ne Win's adopted son there is no surprise at the recent
deal. He said Slorc itself is spreading the rumor so people
will get confused. "They protect him," he added. (Inside sources )
**************
IRRAWDDY: FORCED RELOCATION
VOL.4 NO.2
On 6 February 1996: About 300 Slorc troops from Light
Infantry Division Nos. 20, 88 and 535 ordered villagers from
Shan Le Pyin area in Pegu Division to move out.
"There has been no systematic resettlement programme so
children and elderly people have been getting sick," said
the inside sources. Moreover, in an attempt to renew its
offensive against the KNU, the Slorc began to take villagers
from Padauk Gone, Ye Dar Shay Ka Lay and Na Gyat villages.
(Inside Sources)
***************
IRRAWADDY: WA KILLED MTA
VOL.4 NO.2
ON January 5, Khun Sa's MTA 'surrendered' to Slorc. In
the middle of January, Slorc transported 80 MTA soldiers to
Mai Set from Doi Lang. As the convoy approached Hua Hone
village they were ambushed by Wa soldiers. Almost all MTA
soldiers were killed along with four Slorc soldiers. The
Chinese-made army trucks were also set afire. It was also
reported that a Lahu armed group under Slorc killed 17 MTA
soldiers. In the past, the MTA and Lahu group have engaged
in battles. It (the recent killing of MTA) was revenge,
said local sources. (Inside Sources)
***************
IRRAWADDY: ASYLUM SEEKERS NABBED IN BANGKOK
VOL.4 NO.2
ON 8 February 1996: about 9 Burmese asylum seekers were
rounded up at the Ramkhaemhaeng University compound. At
least four were members of the Overseas National Students
Organisation of Burma (ONSOB). "They spoke in Burmese and
wore no uniform," claimed one source.
It is believed that the arrest was a pre-attempt to deter
any possible protest in front of the Burmese embassy or at
the upcoming ASEM meeting in Bangkok. Those sent to the IDC
include; Aung Win, Htin Kyaw Htet, Jimmy, Kyaw Gyi, Aung
Gyi, Aung Naing Oo, Myint Soe, Myint Aung, Mon Lay (Min Kyaw
Naing) and Thaung Htike. (BIG)
******************************************************
ACTION ALERT: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FORCED LABOUR REVIEW
March 7, 1996
>From Phil Robertson
The deadline for submissions is fast approaching, it is March 20th. This
investigation is the first time ever that the European
Community (EC) is using the regulation in their Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) code that countries found guilty of practicing forced labor
can lose trade privileges which reduce tariffs on exports to the EC.
According to a recent article by the InterPress News Agency, last year the
Burma exporters and their SLORC friends received $30 million in tariff
privileges last year. If we are successful in making our case to the EC, not
only will they lost those privileges (thereby making their exports to Europe
uncompetitive) but it will also be a major public embarrassment to SLORC.
This is just the kind of economic pressure we need to generate to open political
space inside Burma that Daw Suu and the NLD can use.
So -- it's imperative that everyone who has first-hand knowledge and
experience of forced labor in Burma should write to the EC and tell them about
it! This is a great opportunity to really make our voice heard and make it
count on the international level, hitting the SLORC in a big way where it hurts
them most...in the wallet! Most importantly, it may finally give the SLORC
an incentive to stop their abuse of forced labor which saps the Burmese
people of their strength, their livelihoods, and in some cases, their lives.
People can submit their entire story re: forced labor experiences or a brief
version (saying that an addendum will be added later), but the key is that it
get there by the March 20 deadline. So please pass the word quickly! All the
details of what to do are attached below.
Thanks in advance for either acting on this message yourself or passing it
along to others who have this information. Anyone who has questions can
contact me at reaproy@xxxxxxxx or (301) 270-1009.
Best wishes,
Phil Robertson
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More information on European Commission investigation forced labour
Subject: Deadline, address and description of EC-investigation, related to
the GSP of the EC.
Deadline: March 20, 1996
The definitive deadline for the deliverance of information, evidence and
other relevant documents for the investigation of the European Commission
into the use of forced labor in Burma, is 20th March 1996.
The information should be sent to:
The European Commission
Directorate General 1B
External Relations
(Directorate 1B, D, Division 3)
Rue de la Lois/Westraat 200
B-1049 Brussels
Belgium
Fax:
you can fax this division:
.. 32-2-299-1047
(Representatives of) Organizations and/or individuals that wish to be heard=
by the commission:
- should specifically request to appear before a hearing; provided the
person or organization can demonstrate a legitimate concern and possesses
relevant information;
In practice this means that ERD there will be a hearing (this is not sure)
then representatives of the Burmese opposition, representatives of ethnic
groups and/or representatives of NGO's will be invited or asked by the EC to
appear. The representatives should make themselves known to the EC, at the
above address, and state who they are, what they do, how long they do this
and why they believe the EEC should hear them. It is not clear whether
expenses of travel etc. can be covered, however.
Other questions, and their answers:
What sort of information can be submitted to the EC?
And can information be submitted without wanting to be heard by the EC?
Please note that:
- The EC already has the extensive report on forced labor, part of a
trilogy from the Burma Peace Foundation;
- The EC has assured itself of the co-operation of Yozo Yokota, special
rapporteur of the commission of Human Rights of the United nations.
- The EC already has a large number of documents eg from the KHRG, CPPSM,
HRW/A, IRRC and others that I do not include here. Please do not submit
report from other organizations, but ask these organization to do so
themselves.
All other information that is considered needed and not already delivered=
can be submitted. This can be done in the following forms
1) as straight interviews
- on 'video' tape
- on 'sound' tape
- as written text
2) as (printed, written or other) reports that are not known to the EC yet
3) Photographs can ONLY be submitted IF:
- they clearly show forced labor
In any other case the photographs MUST be accompanied by an explanation
about the form, context, history and other details of the forced labor. The
same is the case even when submitting photographs of chained forced
laborers.
Full description is in all cases needed because forced labor might
otherwise be judged different, depending on various international laws.
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