BurmaNet News March 14, 1996

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The BurmaNet News: March 14, 1996
Issue #362

Noted in Passing: 

		Burmese leaders want me to visit the country very 
		much because they were very impressed to have 
		received the best treatment when they travelled here 
		to attend the summit. - Thai Prime Minister Banharn.
		(See NATION: SECURITY FORCES KILL THREE 
		BURMA SOLDIERS)

HEADLINES:
==========
MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: LETTER FROM BURMA #16
ABSDF-DNA: BURMA UPDATE MARCH 11, 1996
BKK POST: 'FAULTY' COACH THWARTS SUU KYI'S TRAVEL PLANS
BKK POST: BURMESE IN AUSTRALIA PROTEST BANHARN VISIT
BKK POST: NEW SHAN ARMY SET UP 'TO CONTINUE' STRUGGLE
BKK POST: KARENNI REBELS FACE BURMESE ONSLAUGHT
NATION: SECURITY FORCES KILL THREE BURMA SOLDIERS
BKK POST: BRUNEI VISIT
BKK POST: SAHA SUBSIDIARY SEES VN, BURMA AS SITES FOR ARROW 
WWW: ASIAN WEBSITES
ISBDA: NEW NLD VIDEO TAPES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: LETTER FROM BURMA #16
By AUNG SAN SUU KYI
March 11, 1996

DANCING UNDER THE BANNER OF ETHNIC HARMONY
"Union Day Dances"

On Feb. 12, 1947, an agreement was signed by Chin, Kachin and Shan leaders
and by my father as the representative of the Burmese government.  This
agreement, which came to be known as the Panglong Agreement after the name
of the town in the Shan State where it was signed, stated the belief that
"freedom will be more than speedily achieved by the Shans, the Kachins and
the Chins by their immediate cooperation with the interim Burmese
Government."  The Panglong Agreement was proof that the Union of Burma is
based on the voluntary decisions of different ethnic peoples to unite in the
building of an independent nation and Feb. 12 is designated Union Day.  It
is a day for all the peoples of Burma to rededicate themselves to the spirit
of mutual trust and respect that made the Panglong Agreement possible.

The National League for Democracy commemorated Union Day with a 
declaration of its policy on the ethnic peoples of Burma followed by a program 
of dances.  There was a small bazaar where textiles from different parts of
Burma, souvenirs, hot tea, cold drinks, rice noodles with fish soup, bean
noodles and Shan tofu salad were sold.  The food stalls did very brisk trade
and I can personally vouch for the superiority of the tofu, cool and satin
smooth on the tongue.
	
About 5,000 people attended our celebration, the maximum number we could
accommodate.  There were many more who wanted to come despite the fact that
in certain townships the authorities had threatened unpleasant consequences
for those who came to the NLD Union Day ceremony.  Karen villagers from
Hmawbi township were told they should not dance at our ceremony and it was
made impossible for them to rent a car on the morning of Feb. 12.  However,
they managed to make their way to us by public transport.
	
The entertainment program began with a solo performance by a Mon dancer.
Her costume in flaming burnt orange brocade and her golden headdress
surmounted  the legendary /kintha/ bird were very striking, and her
movements were precise and graceful with the flexible hand gestures
characteristic of so many dances in Southeast Asia.
	
A troupe of Pa-O dancers had come from a village in the Mon state.  They
made an impressive appearance on the stage, the men in black jackets, wide,
black trousers and white shirts, their turbans presenting the only touch of
color.  The women were also in black, the tunics and jackets with the merest
touch of red and black trimming, their turbans very similar to those of the
men.  One of the girls accompanied the dancing with songs sung in a high
sweet soprano.  The most exciting part of the Pa-O performance were the
sword dances executed by the men with solemn finesse.
	
A Shan contingent which had come up from villages southeast of Rangoon also
performed, as the last item on the entertainment program, sword dances to
the rousing music of drums and cymbals.  As the tempo of the music built up,
punctuated by an occasional beat on a brass gong, the sword play became very
swift and intricate and the audience clapped along with the music, carried
away by the rhythm and swayed by the prowess of the performers.  At one
point members of the audience stood up and danced, unable to contain their
enthusiasm.  Some of the loudest applause was drawn by the dance with tow
swords, performed with naked, well-honed blades that flashed under the stage
lights as the dancer thrusted and parried and swirled in action.
	
Earlier in the program there had been another kind of Shan dancing executed
by a group of girls dressed in pink.  In addition there had been a solo
dance by an Arakanese dancer, Karen dancing. Kayah dancing, Kachin dancing.
Chin dancing and a traditional Burmese folk dance that acted out the words
of a chant accompanied by lively music.
	
Each dance had its own individual attraction.  The Chin dance was quite
different from the sword dances which fired such enthusiastic response but
it was also extremely popular with the audience.  The dancers were clad in
beautiful woven cloth, the men with traditional Chin blankets draped
toga-fashioned.  They treaded a steady measure around the stage in couples,
headed by a tall young man with raised right arm holding up a sword while a
pretty girl paced by his side, delicately holding on to his left arm.  The
rhythm of the music as well as the stateliness of the dance was mesmerizing.
	
The various dances illustrated the wide range of ethnic cultures of which
Burma can boast.  Unity in diversity has to be the principle of those who
genuinely wish to build our country into a strong nation that allows for a
variety of races, languages, beliefs and cultures to flourish in peaceful
and happy coexistence.  Only a government that tolerates opinions and
attitudes different from its own will be able to create an environment where
peoples of diverse traditions and aspirations can breathe freely in an
atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust.

************************************************************

ABSDF-DNA: BURMA UPDATE MARCH 11, 1996
March 11, 1996

        Slorc troops bombard on Naw Kaw Ki hill
        Slorc launched an air attack on the Naw Kaw Ki hill where the
alliance forces of KNPP and ABSDF were stationed, on March 10 1996.
Fighter planes from the Slorc Air force bombarded three separate times on
the hill, which is an another strategic hill of the alliance forces. Naw
Kaw Ki hill is situated 30 kilometers northeast of Thailands Mae Hong Son
province.
        Three fighter planes bombarded three rockets and seven bombs
during its 25- minute attack on the area at 11:10 am on March 10 and
returned back.  At 2:30pm, in its second attack, six rockets and eight
bombs were again shelled within 15-minute attack.  Another five fighter
planes attacked again with seven rockets and eight bombs during 40- minute
attack. All these fighter planes were from Meikhtila No.(51) group under
the command of Meikhtila Air Base (503), it is learnt. No casualties from
the alliance forces was reported.
        Previously, similar air attack was launched on the Naw Kaw Ki at
5:30 pm on March 9, 1996. Four fighter planes from the Slorc Air force
bombarded on the hill for 15 minutes, but no casualties from the alliance
forces was reported.
        After the retreat of the alliance forces from Nonglong hill on
March 6, Slorc has captured the strategic hill. During the Nonglong battle
in last recent days, over 70 soldiers from Slorc were killed including one
Lt.Col and about 150 were wounded.  One major from the Slorc was among the
death. On the alliance forces, one KNPP soldier was killed and five
wounded.  No casualties from ABSDF fighting forces. The wounded soldiers
were carried back to Loikaw military hospital by army helicopters for
three days.
        The firece fighting is still going on between two Slorc military
columns, composed of 300 soldiers from LIB 102, 421, 423 and 424, and KNPP
forces in the region which is just 3 kilometers north of Nonglong hill.
Yesteday, at 3:30pm on March 10, ABSDF student camps of Ahle Sakhan and
Yan Aung hill were destroyed and burnt by the Slorc troops.  Defected MTA
soldiers killed by rival groups
        Some defected MTA soldiers were reportedly killed by UWSA (United
Wa State Army), a rival armed groups of former MTA troops in the second
week of January on their way back to their homes in Mai Sut, southeastern
Shan State. About 80 defected MTA soldiers from Lwe Lin were carried to
Mai Sut by three army trucks escorted by the Slorc soldiers. Each truck
was escorted by 4-5 Slorc soldiers. The convey was ambushed near Ka Hway
Kon village, Mai Sut township by USWA troop. Many MTA soldiers were killed
including four Slorc soldiers. The remaining fled from the scene and
escaped. Later the USWA troops burnt down the three military trucks.
        Another killing was occurred during the first week of February by
Ta Lu Ni, a group of Lahu militia in Main Hai district, in Tacheleik
township, Shan State. 17 MTA soldiers went to Mai Ko village to surrender
to the Slorc troops. They were welcomed at Nan Hoke Chaung Phya, Main Hai
district by the soldiers from Slorc Light Infantry Regiment (359) and
transferred to the Lahu militia.  Later, all 17 were killed by the Lahu
militia as a retaliation of their past deeds, according to the source from
Shan State.  ABSDF News Agency ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)

***********************************************************

BKK POST: 'FAULTY' COACH THWARTS SUU KYI'S TRAVEL PLANS
March 14,1996
Rangoon, AFP

Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was yesterday 
forced to cancel a trip to Burma's second city Mandalay to 
attend the trial of four supporters due to a mechanical 
problem on the train coach she was booked on.

Suu Kyi and three senior colleagues from her National League 
for Democracy (NLD) party were booked on an evening train. 

But just before she arrived at the Rangoon station, railway 
authorities said there was a mechanical problem on their 
coach. The coach was detached from the rest of the train 
which departed for Mandalay.

"It's a very silly situation," she told reporters who were 
waiting at the railway station to see her off. "It is very 
dangerous for tourists to travel on the railways because the 
coaches are not reliable," she joked before returning to her 
Rangoon home.

The planned trip to Mandalay would have been her second trip 
outside Rangoon since her release from six years' house 
arrest in July. In early October, Suu Kyi made her first 
trip outside the capital when she travelled to eastern Karen 
state to visit a respected Buddhist monk at his temple 
there.

Rangoon-based diplomats later said the military government 
disapproved of that trip, which was seen as an act of 
defiance.

Suu Kyi's press secretary, Aye Win, told Reuters earlier 
yesterday that she wanted to go to Mandalay to give evidence 
at the trial of four of her supporters, all of them 
entertainers detained by authorities after a performance at 
her house in January.

The entertainers on trial, including the comedian Papa Lay, 
were arrested along with three others by military 
intelligence agents on January 7. Three days earlier they 
had given an Independence Day performance in the compound of 
Suu Kyi's Rangoon home during which they apparently mocked 
the military government. (BP)

***************

BKK POST: BURMESE IN AUSTRALIA PROTEST BANHARN VISIT
March 14,1996

A group of Burmese people residing in Australia rallied in 
front of the Thai Consulate in Sydney yesterday to protest 
against Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa's forthcoming 
visit to Burma.

Joining the protest were Burmese and Australian students who 
oppose trade deals with the State Law and Order Restoration 
Council, a statement from the New South Wales branch of the 
National Union of Students said.

The NUS is an Australian-based group which is opposed to 
military governments. John Nolan-Neylan, president of the 
group, said in the statement that engaging in trade with 
Burma would strengthen the Slorc's status and hamper 
international efforts to improve human rights there.

"Governments around the world, and particularly those from 
this region, have a responsibility to act in a manner that 
will promote democracy and bring an end to human rights 
abuses," he said. Mr Banharn is scheduled to visit Burma on 
Sunday and Monday. (BP)

*************************************************

BKK POST: NEW SHAN ARMY SET UP 'TO CONTINUE' STRUGGLE
March 14,1996

A new Mong Tai Army has been formed to continue its struggle 
for Shan State independence from Burma after its leader Khun 
Sa surrendered to the Burmese junta early this year.

An informed MTA source yesterday said the new army has 
mobilised about 12,000-15,000 troops, adding that its 
headquarters is in the town of Yong in the eastern part of 
Shan State.

Yong is surrounded by fertile forest inhabited by some 
40,000-50,000 ethnic minority people, the source said. These 
minority groups have pledged to fight alongside the new MTA 
against Rangoon forces, the source said. (BP)

***************************************************

BKK POST: KARENNI REBELS FACE BURMESE ONSLAUGHT
March 13, 1996

BURMESE government troops engaged ethnic Karenni fighters Monday
in heavy ground fighting after two days of air attacks, forcing
refugees out of nearby camps in Thailand, a Burmese opposition
group said.

The Karenni still held five or six positions in the Hta Na Khwe
area of Burma's eastern Kayah (Karenni) State, opposite
Thailand's Mae Hong Son province as of Sunday, a Karenni National
Progressive Party (KNPP) source said.

But its allies in the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF)
said Burma's military government seemed determined to push them
out. The Karenni source had not yet received reports from its
military officers on Monday's action.

The ABSDF and the Karenni said in statements and by telephone
from Mae Hong Son that Burmese PC-7 Swiss-made aircraft flew four
sorties against Karenni and joint positions over the weekend.

The ABSDF and an associated human rights and environmental group,
Green November 32, said two Burmese columns of a combined 300 men
engaged frontline Karenni troops in heavy ground combat Monday
morning.

The Karenni have said they have about 400 men in the Hta Na Khwe
area, many of them strung out in positions on the Noung Koung Ki
ridge 24-32 kilometres (15-20 miles) from Mae Hong Son, out of a
total about 1,000 armed men.

Rangoon has committed 27 battalions of about 300-400 men each to
try eliminate opposition in Kayah State, the ABSDF said, citing
intercepted communications between Burmese military officers.

The Karenni in the Hta Na Khwe area were backed up by more than
300 ABSDF fighters, some of whom are defending the approaches to
Karenni refugee camp number 3 in Thailand, where about 40 ABSDF
families were staying, Green November 32 said.

Karenni refugee camp 2, one of a string of camps along the border
in Thailand, was moved in February from a position one hour's
walk from Burmese troop positions to another four hours' walk
away.

The ABSDF families have already moved out of camp 2 which houses
about 3,000 refugees, and the others, mostly Karenni are packed
and ready to move at a moment's notice, a statement compiled by
Green November 32 and another human rights group said.

To date, 10 Karenni positions have fallen and there are
indications a 300-strong rebel force will have to abandon
positions at Doi Sam Muen, Doi Sa Pe and Pang Yon.

Lt-Col Aemui, commander of the Karenni Second Battalion, said he
and his men would not lay down their weapons. A large number of
civilians has taken refuge in Ban Huay Pong On.

Troops of the State Law and Order Restoration Council are thought
to be moving south towards the Karenni base at Ban Mae Surin.

The Naresuan Task Force is reinforcing border areas to prevent
intrusions by SLORC or Karenni forces. -local stringer and AFP

********************************************************

NATION: SECURITY FORCES KILL THREE BURMA SOLDIERS
March 13, 1996   (slightly abridged)

THAI border security forces shot dead three Burmese soldiers
yesterday after they crossed a river into Thai territory, a
border patrol police officer said.

The Thai officer said the Burmese apparently had intended to rob
a village.

The incident follows a tense period along the troubled frontier
and comes a week before Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa is due
to make an official visit to Rangoon.

The officer said para-military border police had reinforced the
frontier after a group of Burmese soldiers crossed the Salween
river into Thailand and robbed a village on Monday.

Six Burmese soldiers crossed the river to the north of the Thai
town of Mae Sam Lap again on Tuesday morning and fighting broke
out after they were challenged by Thai police lying in wait.

Two Burmese soldiers were killed on the spot while a third
wounded soldier drowned as he tried to swim back across the
Salween river, the officer said. The other three escaped, he said.

Thai army officers accused Rangoon of supporting and directing
the gunmen in their raids into Thailand. Rangoon said it had no
control over the gunmen who broke away from an anti-Rangoon
guerrilla army in late 1994.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Banharn expressed confidence yesterday
that all disputes and problems with Burma that have strained
bilateral relations since early last year will be resolved during
his official two-day visit to Rangoon starting on Sunday.

He said he would discuss with Burmese junta leaders all aspects
of bilateral relations, including security along the border,
armed Burmese minority groups, border crossings which have been
closed since early last year, and the construction of a bridge
across the Moei River which was suspended after Burmese
allegations of Thailand encroachment in Mae Sot.

"My policy is to travel to [Thailand's] neighbouring countries as
often as possible because if there is any tension, it [the trip]
can help improve the situation," Banharn said at Government House.

"Burmese leaders want me to visit the country very much because
they were very impressed to have received the best treatment when
they travelled here to attend the summit," Banharn said.

********************************************************

BKK POST: BRUNEI VISIT
March 12,1996

A delegation from the Brunei Investment Agency visited Burma 
last week to discuss investment opportunities. Led by the agency's 
vice-president, the delegation was welcomed at Rangoon airport by 
National Planning and Economic Development Minister Brig-Gen 
David Abel. Not further details were available. (BP)

***************

BKK POST: SAHA SUBSIDIARY SEES VN, BURMA AS SITES FOR ARROW 
GARMENT FACTORIES  (abridged)
March 12,1996
By Sukanya Jitpleecheep

People's Garment Plc, a subsidiary of Saha Group, is 
exploring the possibility of setting up plants to produce 
Arrow brand clothing in Vietnam and Burma.

Pending positive results of feasibility studies now under 
way, plants could be established within the next two years 
when protectionism in these countries is eased, managing 
director Poa Pavarolarvidya said yesterday.

Lower labour costs is one of the main considerations for 
choosing Vietnam and Burma, Mr Poa said.

Manufacturing in Burma has not gone smoothly for some US 
clothing brands, including Liz Claiborne and Levi Strauss. 
They closed operations there after US consumer protests 
against companies that do business with the Rangoon junta.

***********************************************************

WWW: ASIAN WEBSITES
March 6, 1996

Quality WWW-Sites Containing Economic and Political Information On Asia

General Gateways

Site: The World Wide Web Virtual Library maintained by Australia National 
University
Contents: The best gateway to Asian Web sites.  If you don't know where to go, 
go here first.
Address: http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVL-AsianStudies.html

Site: J. Murrey Atkins Library, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Contents:
The best gateway we found for information and analysis on Asia by 
organizations outside of Asia (e.g., the UN, IMF, foreign governments, 
major international media, etc.).
Address:
http://library.uncc.edu/lis/library/using/services/reference/intbus/
and
http://library.uncc.edu/lis/library/using/services/reference/intbus/vibeh=
ome.htm
General News Sources

Site: Electronic Newsstand
Contents:
Links to major international media like the Financial Times, the Economis=
t, the Journal of Commerce, the Far Eastern Economic Review.
Address: http://www.dc.enews.com/business/pubs/international.html

Site: Asia, Inc.
Contents:
Probably the best private site within Asia. It acts as a gateway to business
sites within Asia, provides analysis of its own, and contains links to 
information on the region's stock markets.  Also has links to Knight-
Ridder Financial News.
Address: http://www.asia-inc.com/textindex.html

Site: Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd.
Contents:
PERC's site has country-specific analysis on East and Southeast Asian 
countries, a library containing analysis on various Asia-related topics, 
and a bulletin board for asking questions and receiving answers 
confidentially.
Address: http://asiarisk.com

from another burmanet reader: 
also make note of this new Burma website
http://www.getnet.com/~kf7ay/myanmar.html

*************************************************

ISBDA: NEW NLD VIDEO TAPES
March 12, 1996

Volume # 34 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum:  New Year Messages for 1996, Speeches and answers to
the questions for the people who assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung.	Recording Date: December 30, 31, 1995.

Volume # 33 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum: Speeches and answers to the questions for the people
who assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi
Maung.  		Recording Date: December23, 24, 1995.

Volume # 32 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum: Speeches and answers to the questions for the people
who assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi
Maung.			Recording Date: December16, 17, 1995.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Unless otherwise specified the price for each Volume  is US$15.00 which
includes tape, copying, handling and air-mailing from the US. 

Friends who interested in sharing these tapes must send return address  to
ISBDA, 108 N. Hidalgo #305, Alhambra CA91801, USA  with enclosed check or
international MO payable to Htay H. Kyi.

Please clearly mention the tape Volume  numbers in your order.
All video tapes are recorded by home video camera system on NTSC VHS format.
Burmese students and refugees  should send a written request to ISBDA for
getting these videos at high discount rates. 

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