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BurmaNet News May 14, 1996
Received: (from strider) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id KAA02584; Tue, 14 May 1996 10:12:51 -0700 (PDT)
Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 10:12:51 -0700 (PDT)
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: May 14, 1996
Issue #407
Noted in Passing:
Here is where the Burmese landed their army to attack
Phuket in 1785. They were defeated then. But now,
another Burmese army has come - this one without
soldiers, filling every town and village. Yet no one knows
how we can protect ourselves. - Thai journalist Siang Tai
(see BKK POST: BURMESE MIGRANTS: NOWHERE
TO RUN)
HEADLINES:
==========
BURMANET: BURMANET ARCHIVE CAN BE SEARCHED BY GOPHER
SYNAPSES: ANOTHER MAJOR APPAREL FIRM DROPS BURMA
BKK POST: RAMPANT NARCOTICS PRODUCTION ON BORDER
BKK POST: THE DEMONISATION OF FOREIGN LABOUR
BKK POST: BURMESE MIGRANTS: NOWHERE TO RUN
NATION: SIHANOUK CANCELS MEETS WITH REGIONAL LEADERS
NATION: BURMA-CHINA SHIPPING DEAL
NATION: CHINA COMPANY PROVIDES BURMA LOAN FOR SHIPS
NATION: DIRECT FLIGHTS TO RANGOON
NATION: PTT APPOINTS NOVA AS ENGINEERING ADVISER
NATION: BATES IN BURMA GETS NEW GENERAL MANAGER
INDEPENDENT REPORT: GEORGE FERNANDES WON THE ELECTION
FBC: LOBBY WEEK FOR FREE BURMA ACT: MAY 13-16
INDEPENDENT LETTER: REPLY TO S. BROOKES' OPEN LETTER
INDEPENDENT REPORT: DAASK ON PRIME TIME FRENCH NEWS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BURMANET: BURMANET ARCHIVE CAN BE SEARCHED BY GOPHER
May 11, 1996
The address is:
gopher://gopher.igc.apc.org:70/11/orgs/freeburma
Eventually, you will be able to search this using email and WWW, but
for now, it is just gopher. By the way, for those of you with Web
pages, feel free to make links to BurmaNet's gopher. Just let me know
that you've done it so we can let others know.
Also, if you could drop me a note the first time you use it, I would
appreciate it. This is especially so if you find any problems with it
or have suggestions for improvements.
Regards,
Strider
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Some Hints for Using BurmaNet's gopher
The search engine on BurmaNet's gopher uses simple boolean logic. In
plain English, that means you can't use plain English questions. For
example, if you searched on this:
"Why does Mi Mi Myint Phu support doing business in Burma?"
the results would be something of a mess. Instead, try:
"Myint and Phu and business and Burma"
The result of this search won't be a plain English answer (e.g.
"Because her new Chinese lover is a business man with investments in Burma).
Instead, gopher would show you every message where "myint" and
"phu" and "business" and "Burma" showed up.
In this case, you wouldn't use word fragments (like Mi Mi) because your
search would return every message with a word starting with mi
(MIlitary, MIllion, etc.).
Be careful of variations in spelling. For example, in an article
on a conference at Harvard last year at which Ms. Myint Phu spoke,
her name was spelled differently so if in doubt, try variations:
"myintphu or myint phu or myintphun."
-----
You should find this to be an extremely useful tool which will allow you
to make connections between pieces of information and lead you on to
entirely new questions. For example--
why is Ms. Myint Phu such a strong advocate on UNDP's controversial
program in Burma?
Why would the Harvard Institute of International Development (HIID)
hire her as a consultant and why do they want to go into Burma?
Why is UNDP helping HIID set up its operation in Burma?
Is UNDP really contracting with the Harvard Institute to serve as
"nuetral outside evaluators" of UNDP's program in Burma?
How nuetral can HIID be when their access into Burma is through the
agency they supposedly are monitoring?
Isn't that a conflict of interest?
------
If you come up with answers to these questions, please let us know.
Regards,
Strider
*********************************************************
SYNAPSES: ANOTHER MAJOR APPAREL FIRM DROPS BURMA
May 13, 1996
Contact: Don Erickson
SYNAPSES
1821 W. CULLERTON, CHICAGO, IL 60608
312 421-5513
Oshkosh B'Gosh Inc. announced today that it will no longer have clothing
made in Burma. The leading manufacturer of children's clothing said, "After
a thorough evaluation of all the facts regarding this sourcing relationship,
we have chosen not to source product from Myanmar Segye for any Oshkosh
B'Gosh brands after our current agreement runs out. We are expecting a last
and final small Genuine Kids shipment in June of this year."
Myanmar Segye is 40% owned by the Burmese junta, a regime that has been
widely condemned for massive human rights violations by the UN Commission on
Human Rights, Amnesty Internaitonal, Human Rights Watch/Asia, the European
Union, the US congress and the State Department.
"In initiating this campaign, we were fairly certain that once they had the
information a company with Oshkosh B'Gosh's reputation would not want to
have anything to do with the Burmese military junta," said Don Erickson of
Synapses, a Chicago based human rights organization. "If anything the human
rights situation has worsened this last year. Burma is surely a
totalitarian state fast approaching the level of Hitler's Germany and
Stalin's USSR," Erickson added.
Oshkosh B'Gosh follows Levi Strauss, Liz Claiborne, Eddie Bauer, Macy's and
Columbia Sportswear in exiting Burma.
Besides Synapses, participating in the Oshkosh B'Gosh campaign were the
Grassroots Collective, UW Oshkosh; the 8th Day Center for Justice in
Chicago; and the UW Greens in Madison.
US manufacturers still reported to be sourcing clothing in Burma are
Nautica, Leslie Fay and London Fog.
**********************************************************
BKK POST: RAMPANT NARCOTICS PRODUCTION ON BORDER
May 12, 1996
Mae Hong Son
NARCOTICS production along the northern border remains rampant
despite drug warlord Khun Sa's capitulation to the Rangoon junta.
The discovery of two heroin production plants on April 16
testified to the activity, said Northern Narcotics Prevention and
Suppression Centre director Banpot Piamdee.
Border Patrol Police and anti-narcotics agents unearthed a large
quantity of chemicals used for producing heroin at the plants in
Pang Mapha Sub-district, two kilometres from the Burmese border.
Nearby they found an amphetamine production plant.
"We believe there are still many narcotics production plants deep
in the forest along the border which have yet to be located,"
said Mr Banpot. "Access to these locations is difficult.
"We are coordinating with other agencies such as Region 5 BPP to
step up intelligence work to pinpoint the locations of those plants."
Khun Sa's defection to the Slorc had not put an end to production
of drugs in Burma, he said. Remnants of his Mong Tai Army are
still trying to set up permanent plants along the border with Shan State.
Mr Banpot also said the centre has carried out an Integrated Drug
Abuse Project with a budget of $539,037 from the UN Drugs Control
Programme. (BP)
***********************************************************
BKK POST: THE DEMONISATION OF FOREIGN LABOUR
May 12, 1996
PHUKET has long been a magnet for the ambitious, from all walks
of life and many different countries, but until recently those
occupying positions as labourers and builders have always been
Thai, coming from northern and northeastern Thailand in the main.
Now that has changed: increasingly during the past three years
they have been arriving from Burma, a country viewed with
ambivalence if not downright animosity by most Thais.
This has come about because of two factors well beyond the
control of the border police: continuing economic despair in
Burma, and the general boom throughout Thailand which is drying
up the traditional sources of labour here in the South.
Wages in Isan and the northern provinces are now high enough and
steady enough that the lure of working in unfriendly (yes, that
is how most Thais working here term it), faraway Phuket is
significantly diminished. Not unnaturally, they would rather work
closer to home.
Burmese, on the other hand, are desperate for something to do.
But, some Thai people look on immigrants without pity, and there
is growing alarm at what is being termed in the local press an
"invasion" of Burmese economic refugees.
To some extent, the alarm is understandable. Within a very short
period, most labour-intensive business on the island have turned
themselves over almost entirely to this new source of cheap
labour. Big construction projects, shrimp farms and fishing
fleets are now worked by gangs composed almost wholly of Burmese.
Employers find them very attractive. Not only are they cheaper
than their Thai counterparts typically earning between 70 and 150
baht per day for skilled labour but because of their illegal
status here, they are quiet, keep to themselves and try to stay
out of trouble.
Employers are liable to substantial fines under the law for
employing illegal labour 60,000 baht for each worker. But
newspaper head-lines never mention big fines being dished out to
construction contractors or shrimp farm operators, so presumably,
in this case, the law is a paper tiger.
What the newspaper headlines do mention is fighting, drug
addiction, and murders. There appears to be an open and
continuing attempt on the part of at least one major newspaper in
Phuket to incite Thais to hatred of Burmese.
Glancing at local newspaper headlines, they are something like
this: "Monks from Burma and Marihuana spilling into our cities."
A picture of a construction project in Patong had this caption:
"A mountain destroyed: This five-storey building project has 500
Burmese construction workers."
Caption to a picture of one Burmese carrying on his back a friend
to the hospital: "Burmese Invade...A Burmese takes his friend to
the hospital after he went mad in his sleep at a Khao Rang
construction project in Phuket Town."
Murders of Burmese have become so common that whenever an
unidentified body turns up floating in the waters off Phuket the
initial assumption is that it is Burmese. In one edifyingly
tragic case at 11:30 in the morning last November 20, a group of
Thais estimated to number about 30 seized upon a Burmese man whom
they allegedly suspected of complicity in the murder of a
motorcycle taxi driver.
It is not quite war, but the situation is tense, and for a long
time it has been largely hidden from view of public officials.
The places of work and habitation where Burmese immigrants are
found fishing boats, shrimp farms, and construction
camps are not places policy makers go. But the sheer numbers
arriving to work and the avidity of businessmen eager to supply
them with it is forcing the problem out in the open.
Nearly 300 workers were rounded up on February 15 by immigration
police at a hotel construction camp near Bangtao. Other sites are
believed to contain similar, perhaps greater, numbers.
On March 18, it was revealed that a bill to legalise foreign
workers in the fishing industry is up for consideration.
Back in January, no less a body than the National Security
Council recommended foreign labourers the number of which they
put at 550,000 be allowed into some border provinces legally.
Employers would have to lay out 5,000-baht-ahead insurance
against the immigrants' disappearance. The issue remains highly
controversial.
Asked by a reporter how merely making it legal would stem the
flood of economic migrants, the council chairman, Prasit
Chaiyatongpan, was quoted as saying he did not know.
As long as wages for Burmese working in Thailand are three times
what they are in Burma and, at the same time, as low as one-third
the rate for Thais, he may never find out.
*****************************************************************
BKK POST: BURMESE MIGRANTS: NOWHERE TO RUN
May 12, 1996 (excerpts)
Thailand promises riches for Burmese migrants. But they are ill-
treated. Their human rights are seemingly being ignored.
CHITRAPORN VANASPONG suggests it is high time something was
done to help them.
Hatred against the Burmese has also been projected in newspapers.
Displaying a photograph of Phuket's northwest taken from the sea,
Siang Tai, wrote a caption relating to the Thai-Burmese war 200 years ago.
It read: "Here is where the Burmese landed their army to attack
Phuket in 1785. They were defeated then. But now, another Burmese
army has come - this one without soldiers, filling every town and
village. Yet no one knows how we can protect ourselves."
Despite this intense feeling, the Thai government has yet to
decide on how to compromise. There is lobbying from the private
sector to legalise migrants to ease a labour shortage, and
concern over national security if they are allowed to stay.
Neither accepted or rejected by the Thai government, Burmese
lives have become tough,. Being illegal brings fear of being
arrested and sent home. This provides an opportunity for
employers to take advantage of them.
Time and again, stories have surfaced where owners have turned
their employees in to authorities.
It was claimed that to avoid paying salaries of his illegal
Burmese workers, an employer at a construction site in Phuket,
called the police to arrest them.
The same occurred in Samut Prakan, according to illegal employees
working at a factory there.
Sometimes, Burmese pay for working in Thailand with their lives.
Burmese lives are priceless, said a charity foundation in Ranong.
In a month, it collects 30 unidentified bodies, believed to be Burmese.
Many die because they cannot access health services. According to
an official of the Rawai District Public Health Office in Phuket,
many Burmese construction workers are severely ill.
The health problem of illegal immigrants can inevitably affect
Thailand. According to Dr Somchai Wongcharoenyong, Ranong's
Deputy medical chief, 160 Burmese in Ranong were found to have
elephantiasis last year. The number of cases is rising.
During 1992-1993, health officials found Burmese migrants with
polio. Almost 1,000 died of malaria last year in Ranong. It is
believed that not a single province where they have lived, such
as Tak, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, has been free of Malaria.
Diseases which have long disappeared from Thailand have
resurfaced, posing a threat to the country's health care system if
it continues to ignore the health of these people.
Hesitation to legalise Burmese immigrants also provides a wide
channel for local officials to make money. A member of the Phuket
Chamber of Commerce said employers pay 500 baht per month under
the table for every illegal worker.
It has been claimed that from such practice, six local state
agencies have together profited at lease 10 million baht per month.
Even though many Thais think the Burmese have taken away the jobs
of Thais, a Thai seaman in Phuket said the natives choose to
abandon the jobs themselves.
He disagreed with the majority: "Burmese and Thai workers get
along quite well."
Without them, local economic activity would collapse.
What has Thailand done to prepare itself for the near future?
As Burmese communities in Thailand grow rapidly, legalising their
labour would only benefit Thailand itself.
The country can monitor their population for safety reasons,
which would reduce corruption and allow provision for tax collection.
They would be provided with health care, be guaranteed a minimum
wage, and their second generation would be educated. (BP)
*************************************************************
THE NATION: SIHANOUK CANCELS MEETS WITH REGIONAL LEADERS
May 13, 1996
AFP
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk has sent separate letters to
Singaporean President Ong Teng Cheong and Burmese junta chief
Than Shwe saying he will not be able to meet either of them
during scheduled exchanges of visits.
The Chairman of Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council
Than Shwe is to visit Cambodia later this month, though no firm
date has been set for the trip. King Sihanouk was to make a state
visit to Singapore on June 10.
The king, now on an extended visit to France, cited "grave health
problems" as the reason for scrapping meeting plans. He intends
to travel to China for medical treatment. (TN)
******************************************
THE NATION: BURMA-CHINA SHIPPING DEAL
May 13, 1996 AFP
Burmese military authorities a leading Chinese shipping firm
signed an agreement on Saturday to purchase new ships, state-run
Radio Rangoon reported.
The agreement to purchase two new ocean-going ships for the state-owned
Myanmar Five Star Shipping Line was signed in Rangoon with Yunan
Machinery Import and Export Cooperation (YMC), the radio said.
******************************************************
THE NATION: CHINA COMPANY PROVIDES BURMA LOAN FOR SHIPS
May 13, 1996 Kyodo
China's Yunnan Machinery Import-Export Corp agreed on Saturday to
provide a loan worth US$17.5 million (Bt43.75 million) to a
state-run shipping company for the purchase of two modern coastal
vessels, a government news agency reported.
Yunnan Machinery and Burma Five Star Shipping Line signed the
agreement in Rangoon. It was the fourth interest-free loan from
Yunnan Machinery to Burma for the purchase of Chinese ships.
The Chinese corporation extended two interest-free loans _ for
US$ 30 million and US$40 million _ in 1994 to supply 44
modern inland-water passenger boats and 28 barges. Most of the
vessels, built in Shanghai dockyards, have been transferred to Burma. (TN)
**********************************************************
THE NATION: DIRECT FLIGHTS TO RANGOON
May 13, 1996 AFP
Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) will become the first airline
company from a major industrial nation to open regular flights to
Burma since a military junta took power there in 1988, a press
report said yesterday.
ANA, Japan's second largest airline, will inaugurate on June 25
twice-weekly non-stop flights between Osaka's Kansai
International Airport and Rangoon's airport, the leading economic
daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported. No official was available at
ANA's head office to comment on the report.
Burma's state-run Myanmar Airways and airline companies in six
neighbouring countries, including Thai International Airways, currently
operate flights between Burma and other countries, the newspaper said.
*******************************************************
THE NATION: PTT APPOINTS NOVA AS ENGINEERING ADVISER
May 13,1996
Pichaya Changsorn
Canada's Nova Corp has been named engineering adviser for the
Petroleum Authority of Thailand's natural gas pipeline from Burma.
In early 1980s, Nova Gas won a similar contract to advise PTT in
the construction of the Erawan-Rayong project, the country's
first gas pipeline.
Jeffery Flood, Nova Corp's public affairs manager, said Nova is
interested in participating in other natural gas and
petrochemical-related projects in Thailand including equity
investment in the country's natural gas pipeline project.
Flood headed a group of Nova executive visiting Bangkok to make a
presentation to PTT on Friday on the company's proposals for the
Yadana gas pipeline project.
Nova Gas International (NGI) and its partner OGP Technical
Services of Malaysia have been awarded a US$ 18 million (Bt45
million) engineering, procurement and construction management
contract for the PTT's project to lay a 260-kilometre gas
pipeline from the Burmese border to Ratchaburi.
Expected to be completed in mid-1998, the pipeline will transport
gas from Burma's Yadana field to serve the Electricity Generating
of Thailand's planned 4,600 megawatt power plant in Ratchaburi.
Flood said he understands that human rights activists in Canada
and the US are keeping an eye on the operations of companies like
Nova but he is confident a successful and environmentally-
friendly pipeline will enhance rather than detract from Nova's reputation.
According to Nova Corp's consolidated financial statements, the
company generated a $702 million net income from revenue of $4.48
billion in 1995. In addition to operating an extensive network of natural
gas pipelines in North America, Nova's current businesses include
petrochemicals, in which it is one of the world's largest producers of
methanol.
OGP is a 60:40 per cent joint venture between Petronas,
Malaysia's national oil company, and NGI.
Flood said the prospects for natural gas-related projects in Asia
are bright because natural gas consumption as a percentage of
total energy demand in Asian countries remains relatively low at
the present. He said Nova is selective in terms of its investments
but recognises Asia is a potentially lucrative market.
The PTT has issued invitations for bids for the supply of
pipeline materials for the Yadana project and is expected to
call for contracting bids by July. Construction should commerce
before the end of the year.
The developers of the Yadana gas field, led by Total of France,
are responsible for the construction of a pipeline running 400
kilometres from the gas field in the Gulf of Mataban to the
Thai-Burmese border at Ban-I-Thong in Kanchanaburi Province.
***************
THE NATION: BATES IN BURMA GETS NEW GENERAL MANAGER
May 13, 1996 (abridged)
Laurie Rosenthal
Recently named general manager of Bates in Burma, Australian-born
Iskandar (Chris) Poole-Johnson finds the country's buoyant
economic growth good for business if not for his personal life.
"In the 11 weeks I've been here, I haven't had a chance to slow
down, but the long hours are worth it," said Poole-Johnson, 49.
In Burma, the agency handles 555, Lucky Strike and Benson &
Hedges cigarettes, Bayer, Mitsubishi Electric, Heineken beer,
Ovaltine, J&B whiskey and Ciba-Geigy, as well as its newest
accounts BMW and Land Rover. UNDP is another client for below-
the-line business such as brochures and flyers. "We are also
seeking local clients rigorously," Poole-Johnson said.
As the first full-service agency to set up in Burma, where it has
been active since 1992, the firm was the first to organise a delayed
telecast by satellite of the World Cup in 1994, Burma's first major
local band concert, and a live broadcast of the 1995 SEA Games.
The Bates group was also the earliest to go into Vietnam,
Cambodia and Laos. All the companies are managed by Singapore-
based Bates Indochina Pte Ltd, a sister agency of Bates Thailand.
Although in Burma the firm is a leader in billboards the bulk of
its advertising is on television, said Poole-Johnson, who added
that production demands are low as the agency brings in the
majority of commercials from overseas and dubs them into Burmese
when necessary.
Bringing in the advertisements poses few problems. "With the
government's positive attitude towards advertising, the
environment is much easier to work in than in Vietnam, where it
is much more complex," he said. "The government here has a policy
of increasing liberalisation."
Up to now, the climate has also provided the firm with a wide-
open market. With competition mainly from local companies, the
agency has dominated the playing field. Other foreign companies
are setting up, however. Lintas and McCann-Erickson have
established offices; Dentsu, Young & Rubicam have plans to come
into the market; Spa is opening its office this week.
More of a problem is the shortage of reliable statistical data.
The firm does basic research in-house such as surveys of retail
outlets, distribution, competition and consumer preferences.
The firm is already on the way to solving another problem -
Rangoon's sporadic electricity supply. With a new generator
to be installed soon, "we won't have to worry so much about our
computer files," he said.
*****************************************************
INDEPENDENT REPORT: GEORGE FERNANDES WON THE ELECTION
May 13, 1996
Dear friends of Burma,
The strongest supporter for Restoration of Democracy and Human
Rights in Burma, Mr.George Fernandes has won the election from
the Nanladar constituency. Please send in congratulation
message!!. I will be very happy indeed to pass all your
congratulation message to him.
Sincerely,
Shar Aung, ABSL
******************************************************
FBC: LOBBY WEEK FOR FREE BURMA ACT: MAY 13-16
May 12, 1996 (abridged)
Simon Billenness <simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Dear Fellow Freedom Fighters:
The Free Burma Coalition has designated the coming week (May 13-May16) as
the Free Burma Lobby Week.
On May 17 (Friday), the Senate Banking Committee will be holding a hearing
on Burma Freedom and Democracy Act (Bill # S. 1511). Co-sponsor
of the Bill Senator Mitch McConnell himself and Dr Sein Win, the Head of
the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma will testify before
the Committee.
The last word is that Senators McCain and Kerry continue to oppose any
sanctions on Burma . The sponsors of the bill really need grassroots
support from all of us. And this is a very crucial moment for our Free
Burma movement.
If your Senator is not on the Senate Banking Committee, you should contact
Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland), the ranking Democrat on the Senate
Banking Committee.
It is crucial that we obtain Senator Sarbanes support for the S.1511.
The Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-New
York), is already a co-sponsor of S.1511 and can be counted on to support
reporting the bill out of committee with a favorable recommendation. If we
can secure the support of Senator Sarbanes for favorably reporting the bill
out of committee, it will encourage the other Democratic Senators on the
committee to follow suit.
Please fax, call or email Senator Sarbanes today. Ask him to support
efforts to report S.1511 out of the Senate Banking Committee with a
favorable recommendation.
Senator Paul Sarbanes
(202) 224-4524
(202) 224-1651 fax
senator@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Please concentrate on making phone calls free of charge (and writing
letters, if you have time) to the offices of the senators, especially the
ones on the Senate banking Committee.
Toll Free Number for the US Congress: (800) 972-3524
SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE
Republicans
Alfonse D'Amato (NY) - Chair
Phil Gramm (TX)
Richard Shelby (AL)
Christopher Bond (MO)
Connie Mack (FL)
Lauch Faircloth (NC)
Robert Bennett (UT)
Rod Grams (MN)
Pete Domenici (NM)
Democrats
Paul Sarbanes (MD) - Ranking Member
Christopher Dodd (CT)
John Kerry (MA)
Richard Bryan (NV)
Barbara Boxer (CA)
Carol Moseley-Braun (IL)
Patty Murray (WA)
*******************************************************
INDEPENDENT LETTER: REPLY TO S. BROOKES' OPEN LETTER AS
REGARD TO THE NLD POLICY
May 13, 1996
Dear Mr. Stephen Brookes:
As I read your open letter to BurmaNet, I feel I should make a reply as a
Burmese.
I do not believe that you are exactly equal to those 'ever name-withholds'
who authored similar articles in the New Light of Myanmar. This is because
I assume that you at least read and understand English if not Burmese
Kagyi, Khagway.
You accused of the opposition party as it has no practical plan for
developing the country. I am surprised that you are too confident a
business reporter to say so and you even concluded that is why Aung San Suu
Kyi and the NLD are losing support in Myanmar. I am certain the politics
in Burma is not so. The people's desire for democracy and human rights is
ever growing in Burma. To most human beings in Burma, the leadership role
of NLD is obvious. The SLORC controlled media is just trying to stop that
rain in vain. Maybe you just can't see it because you are too busy to
report about Myanmar's business chances to your readers who do not want to
read about human right violations.
I wonder if you ever read "THE PROGRAMME OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR
DEMOCRACY," which is made available in English (the language you use for
profession) since October 1988. In this document the NLD has clearly
mentioned its programme in Foreign Policy, Ethnic Minorities, Economic
Policy, Agriculture, Trade Unions, Youth and Education, etc. Are you
certain that the knowledge is enough to judge the performances of the
opposition party without citing their programme and publications?
Moreover, I think that you were not in Rangoon on 28 January 1996, the day
U Kyi Manug revisited the NLD policies to journalists and people who
gathered at the weekend forum. He also pledged that the NLD will publish a
series of books on the party's policies and programs once there exists
freedom of press in Burma. I would be very happy to send you a video record
of the forum if you like to get it.
If you have not got the PRINTS of the NLD programme yet, please ask your
Myanmarese friends or the NLD in Burma. I just don't want to be the first
person to offer it for you. But, if you fail to get it during your next
visit to Burma, please just write a formal request to ISBDA with a
letterhead of your company. We will mail you the copy we have.
I hope you will understand the desire of Burmese people some day.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Kyaw Tint
Information Service on Burmese Democracy Affairs
KT
ISBDA
************************************************************
INDEPENDENT REPORT: DAASK ON PRIME TIME FRENCH NEWS 13 5 96
May 13, 1996
Dear Burma Readers
The French press is not totally insensitive to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
struggle and the problem of French investment in Burma. Tonight, on
TF1,the leading French television channel, in the 8pm half hour news
program, a short reportage of French correspondant showed video of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi,with commentary of enornmous economic opportunity in
Burma against a backdrop of political uncertainty.
I will try to get transcipt. Be encouraged that DAASK has followers here
in France!
Dawn Star, Paris
****************************************************************