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The BurmaNet News, May 14, 1997
- Subject: The BurmaNet News, May 14, 1997
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 00:39:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: May 14, 1997
Issue #720
HEADLINES:
==========
REUTER: TEXACO INC MIGHT SELL NATGAS FIELD OFF BURMA
MELBOURNE RADIO AUSTRALIA:DOWNER-TRADE SANCTIONS
REUTER: SLORC MULLING NEW WAYS TO DEAL WITH MEDIA
RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR: IS IT A NONVIOLENT METHOD?
THE NEW OBSERVER: RECENT BURMA NEWS FROM JAPAN
BANGKOK BUSINESS DAY: FOREIGN INVESTMENT UP
BKK POST: CHETTHA FIRM ON NEW REFUGEE CAMP SITE
TACDB: MALAYSIAN EMBASSY PROTEST-4 ARRESTED
FORUM NEWS: THE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES IN JAPAN
FEER: THE SANCTIONS GAME
THE NATION: PM MAKE CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY PLEA
TT: THAI-BURMESE TRADE ROUTE ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS
THE NATION: SLORC URGED TO CERTIFY ILLEGAL BURMESE
TT: LAOS SAYS ASEAN BID WITH BURMA, CAMBODIA
BURMANET CORRECTION: EVENEMENT DU JEUDI ARTICLES
-----------------------------------------------------------------
REUTER: TEXACO INC MIGHT SELL NATGAS FIELD OFF BURMA
May 13, 1997
RYE BROOK, NY, May 13 (Reuter)- Texaco chief executive Peter Bijur said at
the company's annual shareholders meeting that the company would
consider selling its Andaman Sea natural gas stake offshore Burma.
"We have prepared financial data...including the possibility of a sale to
a third party," Bijur said.
Protestors have called for Texaco to exit Burma because of the country's
military dictatorship.
********************************************
MELBOURNE RADIO AUSTRALIA:DOWNER-TRADE SANCTIONS ON BURMA 'FUTILE',
'UNPRODUCTIVE'
May 7, 1997
Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer says Australian
trade sanctions on Burma would be futile and unproductive. Mr. Downer
says Australian investment in Burma is less than 1 percent of foreign
investment and Australia represented just half of 1 percent of Burma's
export. Downer says the figures show that unilateral Australian trade
sanctions will not achieve any significant results.
The Foreign Minister's comments are in a letter to the president of
the Senate following a senate resolution on Burma. Tasmanian Greens
Senator Bob Brown released the letter, saying it shows Mr. Downer had
wimped the issue on Burma.
************************************
REUTER: SLORC MULLING NEW WAYS TO DEAL WITH MEDIA
May 12, 1997
By Deborah Charles
BANGKOK, May 12 (Reuter) - Burma's military government, which has
cancelled its last two monthly news conferences for foreign journalists, is
mulling new ways of dealing with the media, a government official said on
Monday.
``We're hoping to come up with a new method,'' the official told Reuters by
telephone from Rangoon. ``We want to find new methods of updating the
flow of information.''
Last July, Burma heralded a new era of open communications when the
government's revamped information committee announced it would hold
regular news briefings at the beginning of each month for local and
visiting foreign correspondents.
The idea was to give journalists -- especially from foreign organisations
who were not allowed regular access to the country -- easier access to
developments in Burma, the ruling State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC) had said.
Burma's official press regularly attacks the foreign media for reports
critical of the military government.
But the government cancelled briefings for April and May.
The official said on Monday he was not sure if the briefings would be
cancelled altogether or if they would just be changed.
``We have been told that there is a lot of good information coming from
the briefings but sometimes it is old news,'' he said. ``So we are finding
ways and means to change this.''
Analysts and diplomats say the SLORC is unhappy with the anti-
government news that is published while foreign media are in Burma for
the monthly briefings.
The visits give foreign reporters virtually the only chance to talk with
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She is usually unreachable since her
telephone line is often cut.
The monthly briefings, often the only time foreign reporters are given visas
to enter Burma, also have coincided with several uprisings or unrest related
to the opposition movement.
Last September, supporters of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy
(NLD) held impromptu gatherings on street corners after authorities put
barricades around the Nobel laureate's house to keep her from giving her
regular weekend speeches.
Analysts and diplomats said the presence of international media and
television cameras emboldened the NLD supporters to gather near the
barricades, despite several arrests and allegations of beatings
of some supporters.
In December, just days before the monthly briefing, thousands of students
took to the streets in series of rare protests against the government.
After pictures and stories were sent around the world, the SLORC became
wary of the media presence, and accusations against journalists and news
organisations increased in state-run media.
********************************
RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR: IS IT A NONVIOLENT METHOD?
May 6, 1997 [translated from Burmese]
Di Hlaing
A small parcel sent from Japan in the last week of March arrived at the
General Post Office in Yangon [Rangoon] addressed to Lt. Gen. Tin Oo,
secretary- 2 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council [SLORC].
The stamps pasted on it were estimated to be worth over 1,000 Yen. The
parce? got to the residence of Lt. Gen. Tin Oo on 3 April. The people at his
home placed the parcel on a desk in the room next to the sitting room. No
one suspected it-- and they did not open it, since it bore the name of Lt.
Gen. Tin Oo, who had been on tours to the districts and on duty full time at
the office, and had not gotten back to his residence.
April 4--The parcel sent from Japan remained untouched.
April 5--No one touched the parcel. It lay quietly where it was first placed.
April--Daughter Ma Phyu Phyu Oo picked up the parcel and looked at it. It
was only about 7 or 8 inches long, 5 inches wide and about half an inch
thick, the size of a small diary. Ma Phyu Phyu Oo had been to Japan as a
student. Studying the words and stamps on the parcel, she realized that it
had been sent from Japan. She noted that the package had stamps on it
worth about 1,000 or 500 yen. It had been some time since it had arrived,
so she made a move to open it. At that moment, she heard a call from the
front of the residence. It was her aunt calling. Ma Phyu Phyu Oo put the
parcel back on the desk and went to the front of the residence. She had not
been gone near the parcel since. That evening, Maj. Maung Maung Kyaw
arrived at the residence, where his wife Ma Cho Leh Oo was. Ma Cho Leh
Oo, elder daughter of Lt. Gen. Tin Oo, was studying for her Ph.D. Her
husband, Maj. Maung Maung Kyaw, had come to see her and the children-
-Maung Hein Htet, who is 6-year-old, and Phoo Ngon Kyaw, who is one
and a half. The children are happy at the residence of their grandparents.
Maj. Maung Maung Kyaw took his wife Cho Leh Oo and the two children
for a drive in his car. He then dropped them at the residence and went back
to his duties. Ma Cho Leh Oo was studying in the sitting room while
Maung Hein Htet and Phoo Ngon Kyaw played and watched television in
the dining room. From time to time she rang her friends to discuss lecture
notes. Daw Khin Than Nwe, mother of Ma Cho Leh Oo, was putting
some blouses that had been ironed into the wardrobe at that time. The
parcel from Japan was on the desk, less than a meter away. At that
moment, the telephone rang, and the mother heard her daughter Cho Leh
Oo answering the call.
Ma Cho Leh Oo entered the adjoining room, where her mother was.
Mother Daw Khin Than Nwe, who was putting the blouses into the
wardrobe, did not notice Ma Cho Leh Oo, who was not more than a foot
away from her. Ma Cho Leh Oo then opened the parcel. There was a loud
explosion. The door of the room was shattered. The ceilings in the room
and those in the sitting room were torn. The wardrobe in front of Daw
Khin Than Nwe was destroyed. The entire room was in darkness engulfed
in smoke. Shaken by the explosion, Daw Khin Than Nwe rushed out of the
room and called for help from the household and security men. She learned
that her grandchildren were in the dining room. Elder daughter Ma Cho
Leh Oo was not in the sitting room. "Where is Cho Leh, my daughter, Cho
Leh?" "Cho Leh is lying down," someone answered. Daw Khin Than Than
Nwe rushed to her daughter's room but did not find her. She then reentered
the room from which she had just emerged. She found Cho Leh Oo lying
in a pool of blood, ran to her, and embraced her. Cho Leh Oo was
breathing but badly wounded. The parcel bomb had exploded closely
behind her. Cho Leh Oo and her mother had been been standing close,
facing opposite directions. Cho Leh Oo appeared to have protected her
mother from the full impact of the explosion with her body.
Receiving the phone message, Lt. Gen. Tin Oo immediately returned home
from his office. He sent Ma Cho Leh Oo to hospital. They heard a low cry
or moan twice from Ma Cho Leh Oo in the car on the way to the hospital.
Ma Cho Leh Oo, assistant lecturer in the Yangon University History
Department, died one minute after she arrived at No. 2 Military Hospital.
Her husband, Maj. Maung Maung, who arrived at the hospital from his
post, was not able to see his wife alive.
"Truly, it was an attempt on my life. My elder daughter sacrificed her life
on my behalf. She protected her mother with her body. This means that she
was warned that there is a danger of terrorists to not only my family but
also the entire nation." Lt. Gen. Tin Oo explained to those enquiring after
the incident. Cho Leh Oo, the 32-year-old mother of two young children,
was killed owing to the atrocious acts of cruel terrorists. The incident was
shocking. That should not have happened to an innocent woman.
It was said that the method was a nonviolent one. And also soft method,
political battle, and political defiance. It was also claimed that the fight
would be based on nonviolence and wisdom.
A lot of printed matter has been published. There has been quite a large
number of publications on causing disintegration of the country to gain
political power. There has been a heavy inflow of such publications across
the border. There is "From Dictatorship to Democracy" written by Gene
Sharp. The meddlesome Dr. Gene Sharp also wrote "The Role of Power in
Nonviolent Struggle," in addition to the book "Political Defiance." These
publications have been distributed to Myanmar expatriates abroad free.
They are used as handbooks for training programs at insurgent camps.
Sein Win's expatriate group translated it into Burmese. There have also
been other voluminous books on democracy and human rights. They said
they employed only nonviolent methods to topple the military government.
They implied that they would not engage in armed revolution. In practice,
however, there is clear evidence that they are always connected with the
insurgents. The Democratic Party for a New Society, when it existed as a
legal party, attempted to make the All Students Democratic Front, ABSDF,
an armed force. Then it went underground.
Today, the NCGUB [National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma], or expatriate Sein Win government, CRDB [Committee for the
Restoration of Democracy in Burma], or the so-called democracy group of
Tin Maung Win and Tin Aung's NLD-LA [National League for
Democracy in Liberated Area] collude with Bo Mya's KNU [Karen
National Union] group and are engaged in causing the disintegration of the
country. They shout that they are working for democracy to flourish after
the military government is toppled. In fact, they are inciting riots in the
major cities and destabilizing the situation.
A pincer movement based on riots aboveground and underground terrorist
acts was the old method of gaining power applied by the Burma
Communist Party. The number of groups rising up against the Myanmar
Government can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The old and new
expatriates have aligned themselves with the KNU terrorist group. Those
terrorist groups in the jungles are encouraging the Notorious League for
Demons aboveground. They are giving importance to the leader of that
league. There is evidence. Instigations to oppose the government,
dissemination of false news in their attempt to make the people hate the
government leaders, and incitements to cause unrest are said to be the
methods of political defiance or nonviolence--but the incidents indicate
that they are leading to terrorist acts.
A bomb exploded near Buddha's Sacred Tooth Relic conveyed from the
People's Republic of China, and people were killed. They blasted the
Toungoo power substation. And they exploded a bomb right inside a
residence. A terrorist act is not to be forgiven by simply calling it a
political struggle. It will not be possible to remain standing with folded
arms when acts of political defiance resulting from a craving for power
lead to terrorist acts. It is shameless to make allegations that the explosion
was an inside job and an act in a power struggle within the SLORC. The
entire Myanmar people is vehemently denouncing the unmanly and
cowardly terrorist act. They are guessing who the culprit is. In any case,
the innocent Ma Cho Leh Oo has left her better half and her two young
children.
***************************************
THE NEW OBSERVER: RECENT BURMA NEWS FROM JAPAN
May 1997
On April 6 a package bomb exploded at the home of a top SLORC
member, killing his daughter but allegedly leaving him unharmed. SLORC
blamed Japan based dissidents for the blast, but in a statement issued in
Tokyo the following day, the Joint Action Committee, a coalition of four
Burmese pro-democracy groups, denied responsibility and speculated that the
incident reflected a power struggle within the military clique. In fact,
some activists here consider SLORC's accusations to be a compliment in
disguise:
By urging Japanese police to investigate the pro-democracy groups, the
junta may be trying to curb growing support in Japan for Aung San Suu Kyi
and the Burmese democracy movement.
Some possible causes for SLORC's concern:
* The December launch of the People's Forum on Burma (Biruma Shimin
Forum), the first Burmese pro-democracy group with large Japanese
participation. The Forum marshalls the talents of academics, journalists,
lawyers, political activists and other Burma watchers and has two main aims:
to promote Burmese democracy issues with the Japanese public and Diet
members and to provide assistance ranging from Japanese lessons to legal aid
to Burmese activists in Japan.
* On March 10-11, members of the Norway based International Network of
Political Leaders Promoting Democracy in Burma (PD Burma) held a
meeting in Tokyo to share their concerns and to map a strategy for future
joint action. Parliamentarians from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Australia,
India, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and the Philippines
attended. PD Burma was launched in Geneva in April 1996 and its membership
includes three councilors from the Japanese Diet. In Japan PD Burma is
regularly translating and distributing valuable information about Burma in
Japanese. (For more information about PD Burma, call Schu Sugawara at (03)
3485~819.)
Some activists here were concerned that SLORC might use the explosion
as an excuse to disrupt "Thingyan", the Burmese water festival organized
each year by Burma Youth Volunteer Association. Fortunately, the festival,
held on April 13 in Nakano, proceeded without incident, and BYVA raised
hundreds of thousands of yen to support pro-democracy activities in Japan
and along Burma's borders.
The New Observer
PO Box 5404
Tokyo International Post Office
Fax (03) 3357-2207
E-mail: anzu@xxxxxxxxx
**********************************************
BANGKOK BUSINESS DAY: FOREIGN INVESTMENT UP IN FIRST 4 MONTHS DESPITE SANCTIONS
May 6, 1997
Report by Narirat Wiryaphong
Yangon -- Myanmar has shrugged off recent American sanctions by
claiming it has managed to attract foreign investment in the first four
months of this year higher in value than that recorded for the whole of
1996.
The US recently announced an investment ban on Myanmar and also
lobbied to block Myanmar from gaining membership in Asean as a protest over
its poor human rights record.
Myanmar Minister Deputy of the Prime Minister's Office Brig- General
Maung Maung announced that foreign registered investment capital in Myanmar
from January to April this year was approximately $2.814 billion. The figure
was four times higher than last year's total of $661 million.
American investors, he revealed, ranked fourth among foreign investors
from 21 countries currently in Myanmar, following the UK, Singapore and
Thailand, respectively.
"These foreign investors have looked for long-term investment and have
increased during recent times. Despite the US accusations, we will take
absolute care of those investors," he said.
Because US investors, who invest mostly in the energy industry, are
now banned from dealing with Myanmar, energy companies from other
countries, notably Total from France, have expressed an interest to invest
here," he added.
He admitted that the major headache for foreign investors in Myanmar
was an inadequate basic infrastructure, notably electricity supply.
However, the Myanmar Government has tried to solve the problem through
encouraging the private sector to co-invest in power generating projects.
Three international-standard industrial zones, to be operated by
Mitsui of Japan, Sinmadev from Singapore, and Thailand's Rojana industrial
Park, have already been approved in order to serve foreign investment.
In addition, Myanmar's Department of Human Settlement and Housing
Development is negotiating with Genting Sanyen Berhad from Malaysia and
Japan's Marubeni for the establishment of additional industrial zones in the
near future.
*************************************************
BKK POST: CHETTHA FIRM ON NEW REFUGEE CAMP SITE
May 13, 1997
In attempt to prevent cross-border attacks
Army Commander Gen Chettha Thanajaro yesterday reiterated the army's stance
on security along the Thai-Burma border, saying that to effectively prevent
cross-border attacks Karen refugee camps had to be relocated 10 kilometres
deep inside Thailand.
The army commander was confident that security along the border would be
much improved if the army's proposal to move refugee camps at the border
deeper inside got support from related agencies, including the interior
ministry which had initially opposed the idea.
The 59-year-old commander made the remark after yesterday's meeting of top
security officers at the Government House, chaired by Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.
Gen Chettha said it was difficult for the army to maintain security along
the Thai-Burma border as long as refugee camps were located a few kilometres
from the border.
During the past several months, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, which
was in sharp conflict with the Karen National Union, has launched
cross-border attacks on KNU camps located along the common border.
Gen Chettha claimed that the premier had agreed with the proposal when he
discussed the problem with Gen Chavalit, noting that the army was ready to
have its mean take charge in administering the camps once they were moved
deep inside.
The National Security Council also voiced its support for the idea.
Around 70,000 Karen refugees took shelter on six camps sprawling along the
border in Tak Province including Sho Klo and Mae La of Thasongyang; Maw Kier
in Phop Phra; Ta per Poo, Nu Pho in Umphang and Huaey Kalok in Mae Sot.
The army commander planned to reduce the camps into three camps - Mae La,
Maw Kier and Nu Pho - located around 6-10 kms from the border area.
However, the site of No Pho camp has caused public outcry as it was
reportedly located in a wildlife sanctuary and considered first-class
watershed. (BP)
*****************************************************
TACDB: MALAYSIAN EMBASSY PROTEST-4 ARRESTED
May 13, 1997
PROTEST AT MALAYSIAN EMBASSY IN BKK: 4 BURMESE STUDENTS ARRESTED AND
DETAINED IN BANGKOK
A group of Burmese students yesterday staged a protest outside the Malaysian
Embassy demanding that ASEAN Members refrain from accpeting SLORC into the
regional body and urging the Malaysian government to review their policy of
constructive engagement towards the junta.
They also demanded that all investment to Burma from Malaysia cease
immediately and that the Malaysian government urge SLORC to engage in
dialogue with the democractic groups inside Burma.
Four students were arrested and are currently being detainned in Bangkok;
Name Organisation Place of Detention
SHWE HLA Burmese Students Assoc. SDC, Bangkok.
YE CHAN ONSOB IDC, Bangkok.
NYEIN MOE ABBESU IDC, Bangkok
The fourth student remains as yet undentified.
Thai Intelligence officers were present at the event and encouraged students
to take their letter to a representative of the Malaysian Embassy, which is
located inside the REGENT TOWER building in down-town Bangkok. Students were
concerned that they would be liable for arrest if they entered the building
and they decided to wait outside for an embassy offical to come and collect
their letters. After some discussion from the Malaysian officals inside the
embassy, a representative accepted the students letter and declaration
outside of the embassy.
Around 14 plain clothes Thai Intelligence officials were present throughout
the protest. They waited until the protest had been staged before requesting
key, targeted organisers go with them for questioning. They assurred these
four students that they would not be arrested and that they would be free to
leave. The four students went with the intelligence officers but were
arrested and detained after questioning.
LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF THE ACTIONS OF THESE STUDENTS CAN BE SENT TO THE
MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT AND MALAYSIAN EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD.
_____________________________________________________
THAI ACTION COMMITTEE FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
328 Phayathai Road
Ratchavee
Bangkok, 10400
THAILAND
tel/fax: (+662) 216 4463
**********************************************
FORUM NEWS: THE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES IN JAPAN
May 10, 1997 (received)
People's Forum on Burma
E-mail: QYN02403@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Protection of Refugees in Japan
Shogo Watanabe, Attorney at Law, Secretary General of the People's
Forum on Burma
I became involved in Burma affairs in 1992, and I have mostly been
concerned with the issue of the application by political refugees for refugee
status. In Asia it is Japan that has a large influence on the future of Burma.
It may be said that it has taken too long for an NGO with a clear aim to
support the democratization of Burma to be established in Japan. However,
as Secretary General of the People's Forum on Burma. I am ready to try all
possible means <in order to support the democratization process>.
Today I would like to report on the treatment of applicants for refugee
status in Japan. It is planned that the Forum will make a request to the
Ministry of Justice regarding this issue.
The Treatment of Burmese Applicants for Refugee Status in Japan
1. The Japanese system of admitting refugee status
(1) The rigid application of the rules and the small number of admittance
in consequence of the '60-Days Rule'
In Japan, there is a provision that the application for refugee status must
be filed within 60 days of the applicant's landing into Japan. Japan is not
the only country that has such restrictions to the period of time in which
application may be filed. However, Japan is probably the only country that
places the rule itself as a requirement that has to be fulfilled for the
applicant to be admitted as a refugee.
Many Burmese have only been able to start the application process several
years after their landing into Japan. To enter Japan they are only granted
short term visas, and it is cruel to demand that they should apply right
after their landing. Short term visas cannot be renewed, which easily
results in making the applicants overstayers. It must be noted that the
applications are processed at the immigration office which is the same
office that has the power to send overstayers back to their countries.
So far all of the 89 Burmese whom the lawyers' group upon request have
assisted, the applications of have been denied refugee status solely because
of failure to satisfy the '60 days rule'.
Only 8 Burmese have been granted refugee status in Japan, and none of the
8 has participated directly in the 1988 demonstrations. Even from this one
fact one is able obtain an idea of how Japan regards the Burmese activists
towards democracy.
# The burden of proof
If the applicants' failure to file their applications within 60 days of
their landing into Japan is due to some unavoidable circumstances, then
their applications will be processed and come under substantial
examination. However, it is the applicants that must prove the existence of
such unavoidable circumstances. Moreover, it is also the applicants that
must prove that they have a 'well-founded fear' of being persecuted for
political reasons.
# The number of admissions of refugee status
In the past 16 years since the current system was established, a little over
200 people have been admitted as refugees. However, about 150 of the 200
people were initially Indochina refugees to start with, which leaves us with
the fact that only 50 to 60 people have been admitted under the current
system as refugees in Japan.
2. Treatment of the Burmese applicants
There has been no exception to the strict application of the '60-days rule'
concerning the Burmese applicants. One cannot see any protective attitude
towards them.
For example, to those who applied for refugee status in December 1992,
notifications of denial were sent on 17 November 1994. The applicants
immediately filed appeals, (Here it must be noted that the appeals must be
filed to the immigration office, the same office that makes the initial
decisions. This system is under international criticism. There has been only
one case where an applicant who had initially been denied was granted
refugee status after filing an appeal.) but the interviews for the appeals
were held more than two years later, in February 1997.
3. The legal status of applicants
In Japan, applicants for refugee status do not obtain any special status, so
if an applicant happens to be an overstayer, s/he faces the risk of being
sent back to his or her country. The immigration office of course does not
go as far as to send such applicants back to their countries by force, but
they do not give the applicants any special status, either. Therefore when
the applicants seek employment, the prospective employers must risk
employing overstayers. Since in Japan if an employer employs an
overstayer the employer may be punished, it results in making prospective
employers reluctant to employ applicants for refugee status. It has once
been reported that an employer seeking to employ an applicant for refugee
status asked the immigration office for referral of the applicant, and the
immigration offtce merely stated that the applicant was an overstayer, thus
resulting in the employer deciding not to employ the applicant. It is
extremely difficult for applicants to make a living.
Another thing is that in Japan, overstayers cannot join the national health
insurance even if s/he is an applicant for the refugee status. As we have
already seen, it takes a very long time for the decision to be made whether
an applicant shall be admitted refugee status, but there is no medical
insurance for the applicant while the application is being processed.
4. As we have seen above, it is clear that Japan hardly plays a positive
role in the international arena regarding the Burmese political refugees. It
should be that, as long as the Burmese asylum seekers have the right to
apply for refugee status, they should be guaranteed a legal status.
I sincerely hope that the reader will have an understanding about the
unstable situation that the Burmese asylum seekers are in.
http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm
************************************
FEER: THE SANCTIONS GAME
May 8, 1997
By Nigel Holloway in Washington
American groups now target Indonesia and China
Antonio Cabral has never set foot in Indonesia, but he feels the pain of the
East Timorese. A native of the Portuguese-speaking Azores in the
mid-Atlantic, Cabral wants independence for the former Portuguese colony
of East Timor. "The only solution it self-determination," he says. "It's as
American as apple pie."
Cabral, a Massachusetts state lawmaker, has proposed a bill that would
prohibit the state from awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in
contracts to any company, American or foreign, doing business with
Indonesia. "I will be the first to file a bill to repeal the law if
Indonesia grants self-determination to East Timor," Cabral says.
This proposal isn't the first of its kind in the United States; in fact,
it's modeled on a measure Massachusetts enacted in July that prohibits the
state from awarding contracts to firms working in Burma.
To many American firms, the Burma law's implications in Massachusetts
are bad enough. But they fear the sanctions President Bill Clinton imposed
on Burma on April 22 will set a similar precedent in Washington, and that
Indonesia will be the next target-followed perhaps by moves against China.
"There is a real trend towards this kind of potshot interventionism in
foreign policy," says Ernest Bower, president of the U.S.-Asean Council, a
Washington-based group that represents business interests.
Corporate America thought that when Clinton cut the link between China's
human rights record and its trading status in 1994, the issue was buried, at
least for Asia. But human rights organisations' success in lobbying for
Burma sanctions-a measure which Congress passed in September-has
encouraged them to look at other targets. By some counts, more than 30
states, counties and cities have enacted, or plan, sanctions against Burma
and Indonesia.
The American ambassador to Indonesia, Stapleton Roy, was so worried
about the trend that he sent a cable to Washington on February 12: "I urge
in the strongest terms that we not pussyfoot around on this question but
rather mount a strong and concerted effort to oppose such local initiatives
with all the ammunition we can muster."
The administration is reluctant to challenge the constitutionality of the
Massachusetts law. But U.S. executives have launched a public-relations
campaign to persuade lawmakers and the public that economic sanctions
against countries such as Burma don't work and cost thousands of jobs.
The National Foreign Trade Council, a business lobby in Washington,
commissioned a study which argues that sanctions of various kinds cost the
U.S. as much as $19 billion in lost exports in 1995-38% of it to Asia.
Another leading opponent of sanctions, the National Association of
Manufacturers, strongly criticized the Clinton administration for its ban on
new investment in Burma. "Unilateral economic sanctions are not
substitute for serious foreign policy," said the association's president, Jerry
Jasinowski.
In fact, some congressional proponents of sanctions agree that multilateral
measures are preferable to steps taken by the U.S. alone. "Unilateral
sanctions have not proven to be effective, but multilateral sanctions could
be," says a adviser to a leading Democratic senator. "But you don't get
there until a country like the U.S. is prepared to take the lead."
Bower of the U.S-Asean Council argues that this is precisely what the
Clinton administration failed to do with its Burma sanctions. "They talked
about building a multilateral effort, but there was little evidence of it,"
he says.
Officials in the Clinton administration disagree. After the sanctions were
announced, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told reporters: "We
have, in fact, been in close touch with other nations on this." She said junta
in Rangoon tightened the screws on the political opposition.
Now, U.S. officials are trying to put out bush fires in several places at
once. The administration has come under strong pressure from Japan and
the European Union to take action against Massachusetts law on Burma
and the proposed bill on Indonesia. Critics say the measures break the
World Trade Organisation's rules on government procurement.
Although board economic sanctions against Indonesia are unlikely in the
near future, the issue of trade measures against China is likely to be one of
Washington's most contentious foreign-policy questions over the coming
months.
Some lawmakers plan to push for a delay in the annual process of
renewing China's preferential trade status until September, in order to see
how Beijing handles Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese sovereignty.
What is certain is that Congress will not give up its most important lever
over U.S. policy towards China. As long as it has this weapon, economic
sanctions remain an ever-present threat. (FEER)
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THE NATION: PM MAKE CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY PLEA IN BURMA
May 13, 1997
Nitsara Srihanam
Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will urge his Burmese counterpart
during his visit this weekend to move towards introducing convertible
currency to remove foreign exchange risks for Thai traders.
Chavalit plans to raise the foreign exchange problem during his Friday and
Saturday visit to Burma. According to Dr Virachai Techavichit, an adviser to
the premier, Thai traders have complained about the foreign exchange risk
because they have to deal with double currency exchange rates: an official
rate of 6 kyat, and the more realistic of 170 kyat per dollar. The foreign
exchange risk causes exporters to face an exchange rate loss.
The US administration has announced sanctions on Burma, out of concerns over
human rights abuses in that country.
Virachai said Thailand will not follow the hard core attitude adopted by the
US government. Thailand will instead talk to the Burmese government and see
what Thailand could do to help Burma revive the economy.
"Thailand and Burma are close friends sharing a long boundary. The US
sanctions cannot change the relationship between Thailand and Burma,"
Virachai said.
"Because of this, I think the US understands well that it is not possible to
urge Thailand to suddenly stop connections with Burma due to geographical
factors. Moreover, the US does not seem to be serious about Burma.
"It has to announce sanctions to respond to public pressure. Chavalit's trip
is to promote investment in Burma, therefore, nothing should impede the
objective of the trip."
Chavalit will ask Burma to help Thai investors supervise not only the big
projects, but the small and medium projects in which Thai investors
participate in Burma.
He will also urge the Burmese government to liberalise foreign exchange to
make the exchange rate more realistic.
Thailand will ask Burma to support projects such as port construction and
industrial area projects. Thailand will suggest Burma develop a plan to
promote foreign investment by offering the model of Thailand's Board of
Investment.
"Now Burma has no specific organisation to watch over investments in the way
the BoI does in Thailand," Virachai said.
"If foreign investor want to invest they must contact nearly all government
ministries.
Thailand will show the BoI system as an example to persuade Burma to set up
an office to support foreign investment." (TN)
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TT: THAI-BURMESE TRADE ROUTE ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS
May 13, 1997
BANGKOK: Thailand is fully confident that the planned transport link between
Laem Chabang deep sea port and the Burmese town of Tavoy will be a success
story, the deputy finance minister said yesterday.
"Burma has expressed a keen interest in the project and I look forward to
the plans coming to fruition," said Thawatwong Na Chiang Mai.
Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is due to raise the issue with Burma's
military leaders during the course of his two-day official visit to
Rangoon, which begins on May 16.
The Burmese are forging ahead with construction of a deep sea port in
Tavoy, while in Thailand Chonburi's Laem Chabang port, already open for
shipping, is nearly complete, he said. All that is needed now is a road and
railway link between Tavoy and Thailand's Kanchanaburi province, from where
access to Laem Chabang is easy.
Once the transport links are up and running ships approaching Tavoy will no
longer have to make the grueling week-long trip round the Straits of Malacca
to reach the Gulf of Thailand, he said.
His welcome for the venture was echoed by the secretary-general of the
National Security Council, who said the scheme will give a boost to
Thailand's trade prospects with its neighbor.
Gen Bulsak Kamhaengrittirong said Burma will take on the task of
building the road and railway link from Tavoy to the border, leaving
Thailand to continue the construction towards Kanchanaburi.
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THE NATION: SLORC URGED TO CERTIFY ILLEGAL BURMESE WORKERS
May 13, 1997
Piyanart Srivalo
PRIME Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will urge the ruling military junta in
Rangoon to certify the citizenship of Burmese working illegally in Thailand,
a step that will facilitate the legalisation of their working status in the
Kingdom.
The proposal, seen as a marriage of convenience between Bangkok and its
neighbour, was discussed yesterday during a meeting between government
officials and the National Security Council (NSC), chaired by the prime
minister.
It will be among the key topics of discussion with Burma's leaders, the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), when Chavalit visits the
country this Friday and Saturday.
"We do our part in registering them and give them two years to work in
Thailand. But once the registration takes place, Burma will have to certify
their citizenship so as to make the legalisation. of their working [here]
become effective," said NSC chief Gen Bunsak Khahaengritthirong.
A temporary measure giving two-year concessionary work permits to illegal
foreign workers from the neighbouring countries of Burma, Laos and Cambodia
allowing them to work in 43 provinces has failed to meet its objectives to
control their movement.
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TT: LAOS SAYS ASEAN BID WITH BURMA, CAMBODIA ON TRACK
May 13, 1997
REUTERS
VIETIANE: Recent troubles in Cambodia and Burma are not expected
to derail the imminent entry of the two countries and Laos into the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), a top Lao official said
yesterday.
Asked whether he was worried at the possibility of delay, Sayakane
Sisouvong, deputy director general of the ASEAN Department,
said: "We are not concerned at all."
"We have been tracing the record of ASEAN decisions in the past
and we know they have a good record. There has not been a change
when things have been decided," he told Reuters in an interview.
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BURMANET CORRECTION: EVENEMENT DU JEUDI ARTICLES
May 14, 1997
The translations two articles from the French journal L'Evenement du Jeudi,
included in BurmaNet News on May 12, issue 718, were prepared by David
Arnott and Brian McGee, not by dawn star (cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx).
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