The BurmaNet News, May 18, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------    
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"    
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The BurmaNet News: May 18, 1997    
Issue #724
  
HEADLINES:    
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THE NATION: REVIEW OF SLORC'S BID TO JOIN ASEAN SOUGHT
THE NATION:CHAVALIT SEEKS TO END CONFLICTS 
SHRG: SHAN REFUGEE UPDATE
SHRG REPORT: APRIL 1997
THE NATION: THAI-BURMA LINK COULD SPEED EXPORTS
FBC: CHAPMAN AWARDS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE
BURMA CENTRUM NETHERLANDS: INVITATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------  

THE NATION: REVIEW OF SLORC'S BID TO JOIN ASEAN SOUGHT
May 17, 1997

THE House Committee on Foreign Affairs has urged the government to review a
decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to admit
Burma and to consider the implications for Thailand and Asean as a whole.

They also called for a review of Asean's decision to only admit Laos and
Cambodia into the grouping in conjunction with Burma.
     
In a letter sent to Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan on Wednesday,
committee chairman Bhichai Rattakul said that his panel is prepared to back
the results of the review and help Thailand play a leading role in shaping
Asean policy on the admission of the three countries.

Taking a different view to the government's on the Burma issue for the first
time, the committee warned that Asean is increasingly being viewed as a club
of dictators, an image that will come back to haunt the grouping and Thailand.

Prachuab is scheduled to meet informally with other Asean leaders in Kuala
Lumpur at the end of the month to exchange ideas about the timing and
implications of admitting the remaining three Southeast Asian nations.

The letter said that Asean should consider the possible effects of the
admission of Burma on Asean's external relations and on Thailand, which has
long been affected by political turmoil in its neighbouring state.
     
While the committee said it supports Asean's commitment to collective
decision making and to keeping out of the internal affairs of neighbouring
states, it insists that policy should not blind the grouping from looking
into real issues.

The letter called on the government to make a five-point assessment of the
benefits and pitfalls of Burmese membership. 

These include:

? The effect of Burma's internal trouble on Asean and in particular
Thailand, which has suffered intrusions by Burmese troops and an influx of
refugees.

? The implications of Burmese membership on Asean-US relations and
especially Thai-US relations, given the latter's excellent relationship with
Thailand and its status as the country's biggest trading partner.

? The impact of Burma's entry on Asean's relations with other Western
countries backing the US position against Burma.

? The effect of the admission on Asean's reputation. "Over the past few
years, Western countries have felt many Asean governments are undemocratic
and violate human rights," the committee noted.

Lastly, the committee called for a reconsideration of the decision made at
last December's Asean leader's summit to only admit Laos and Cambodia as a
package with Burma.

"It is important to determine how the decision will shape the positions of
the two countries at present and in the future," the letter said.

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

THE NATION:CHAVALIT SEEKS TO END CONFLICTS WITH BURMA
May 17, 1997
AP

LEADERS of Thailand and Burma yesterday agreed to clear up remaining border
problems and boost trade and investment ties aimed at restoring bilateral
relations, which will enter their 50th year next year.

Government Spokesman Warathep Rattanakorn said Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Slorc leader Gen Than Shwe agreed to set up a
working committee to solve the remaining problems which include narcotic
issues, the exploitation of marine resources and boundary disputes.

The two prime ministers also agreed to develop a multi-mode transportation
system linking the two nations, in particular on the route linking
Thailand's Laem Chabang deep-sea port with Burma's southern Tenessarim
region that will shorten the journey of Europe-bound shipments of Thai goods.

Local Thai-language daily Matichon reported that the two leaders agreed to
remove their troops, currently positioned face-to-face in the disputed
territory at Doi Lang Between Chiang Mai and Burma's Shan State, deeper
inside the border to avoid confrontation and will set up a local
sub-committee to demarcate the boundary in this area.

The report quoted PM's Office Minister Veerakorn Kamprakob as saying that
Thailand and Burma will discuss the setting up of a special free trade zone
to allow the passage of labour between the two countries that will encourage
joint investment. He made no mention about Thailand's request to Burma for
help m resolving the problems of 700,000 illegal Burmese workers in
Thailand. According to the report, Veerakorn said the Burmese Deputy Prime
Minister Gen Maung Maung Khin, in separate talks, also informed that ethnic
insurgency groups have operated 18 factories
producing amphetamines along the Thai-Burmese border.
     
Chavalit, who has long been close to members of Burma's military government
yesterday began his two-day official visit to Burma, his first as head of
government.
     
Chavalit is accompanied by a 43-member delegation which includes Foreign
Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn and other Cabinet members, as well as Army
Commander Gen Chettha Thanajaro.
     
His visit however was marred by a concerted protest by local and
international groups which called for Thailand to distance the repressive
regime in Burma and scrap the US$1.2-billion (Bt31.3-billion) cross-border
Yadana gas pipeline project.
     
According to official statistics at the end of last year, Thailand was the
third biggest investor in Burma with projects totalling $996 million.
Foreign investment stands at $5 billion since 1988, when the military
government took power and first liberalised the economy.
     
Local Thai TV coverage of the visit monitored by The Nation reported that
Chavalit reassured Than Shwe of Thailand's unfailing support for Burma's bid
to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
     
The report said the two leaders also witnessed the signing of an agreement
on border crossings and on the division of jurisdiction over the
Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge across the Moei River.
     
Chavalit was met at the airport on his arrival by Than Shwe and other
Burmese military ruling junta members Gen Maung Aye, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt and
Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw.    
     
A 19-gun salute boomed and flag-waving students shouted, "Long live the Thai
prime minister", as Chavalit emerged from his plane.
     
He proceeded in a motorcade to the state guesthouse along a route decked
with Thai and Burmese flags and lined with students.

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

SHRG: SHAN REFUGEE UPDATE
May 1997

S H A N   H U M A N   R I G H T S   F O U N D A T I O N

SITUATION INSIDE SHAN STATE

In the last few months there has been a renewed offensive by the SLORC
against the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA) in Central Shan State.
Following increased political activity by the SURA in early March in the
Kunhing area, the SLORC brought in reinforcements, at least 6 battalions,
from southern Shan State to try and crack down on the Shan troops.  However,
unable to target the SURA due to guerilla nature of their operations, the
SLORC has instead mainly targeted the civilian population.

SLORC troops have intensified the forced relocation program which began in
March last year, and affected over 600 villages in eight townships, well
over 100,000 people (see the December 1996 SHRF report: ?Uprooting the
Shan?).  Relocations are now being carried out in new areas, such as in
Murng Pan, as well as Murng Ton, east of the Salween River, and the SLORC is
cracking down with increasing brutality in the old areas of relocation,
causing a climate of terror among the villagers.

One pattern emerging is that the SLORC is now relocating villagers from
existing relocation sites into towns in order to totally cut of their links
with the Shan resistance.  In late March, all of the relocation sites south
of Kunhing township, totalling approximately 12,500 people, were forced into
the town.  On April 4, SLORC fired grenades into Tard Mawk relocation site,
north of Laikha, killing three people, and then burned down over 1,000
houses at the site, ordering all the occupants to move to Laikha town.

There has also been a sharp increase in the numbers of villagers being
killed by the SLORC in the relocation areas.  In just one relocation site
alone, at Kho Lam, west of Kunhing, the SHRF has documented the killing of
57 villagers, including monks, during the last two months.  Some were shot
at their homes in the site, some were moving their possessions from their
old villaged, and some were taken as porters.  Some of the women killed were
also gang raped.  (see SHRF montly report: April 1997).

The inability of the people to withstand repeated forced relocations and the
brutality of the SLORC troops has driven increasing numbers of refugees to
flee to Thailand.

REFUGEE FLOW TO THE THAI BORDER

The flow of refugees to the border has been steadily increasing since March
of this year.  Refugees arriving at the Thai border north of Chiang Mai
report entering Thailand in convoys of 3-4 trucks from central Shan State,
each truck carrying 30-50 people.  Throughout April, the towns and villages
inside Burma on the main road to Nong Ook, such as Murng Ton, Mae Ken, Murng
Hang, Na Kong Moo, and Bong Ba Kem, opposite northern Chiang Mai province,
have been filled with hundreds of refugees camping in the schools and
temples, on their way to Thailand.  Even as far away as Tachilek, in April,
one of the temples was reported to be filled with over 200 refugees from the
Kunhing relocation area.

The flow of refugees (not counting regular travellers) coming across the
border at the main border crossing points in the last two months has been
reported as follows:

Average daily number of refugees crossing into Thailand

			March		April
Mae Hong Son		60		100
Piang Luang		5		10
Nong Ook 		80		120
Fang			50		80
Mae Sai			15		20
			________________
Total			210		330

This means that at least 16,000 refugees crossed into Thailand during March
and April alone.  Reports since the start of May indicate that the flow is
now increasing even more.

SITUATION OF REFUGEES IN THAILAND

The Thai authorities continue to deny the existence of these Shan refugees.
The authorities are maintaining that the refugees are simply migrant
labourers.  Thus, as with the Shan refugees who arrived in 1996, the
refugees arriving in  the last few months have either been hiding out around
villages and farms in the rural areas of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, and
Chiang Rai provinces, or the refugees have gone to find work in construction
sites in towns such as Chiang Mai and Bangkok.  As before, it is hard for
refugees with children and elderly dependents to support themselves on the
wages earned by the working family members.

There are also several factors making it even more difficult than last year
for new arrivals to survive in Thailand.  In the rural areas, the steady
increase in the refugee population has meant that agricultural work is
becoming less and less easy to find.  In the towns, the reluctance of
emloyers to hire workers without work permits has meant that increasing
numbers of refugees are becoming desititute in the towns without work.

For example, in Chiang Mai in the past month there has been an increasing
number of cases of groups of refugees needing emergency food assistance
because they had been dumped at temples and worksites in the town by drivers
from the border, but were then unable to find work.  Health workers have
also reported many cases of malnutrition among children, as well as
dysentery, malaria, and TB.

APPEAL

The SHRF continues to appeal to the international community to pressure the
SLORC to end the forced relocation program in Shan State and to allow the
displaced Shan villagers to return home.  

The SHRF also repeats its appeal to the Royal Thai Government to allow these
Shan refugees access to safe refuge in Thailand and the right to receive
humanitarian assistance.

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

SHRG REPORT: APRIL 1997
April 1997

Monthly Report April 1997 Shan Human Rights Foundation 

Monthly Report April 1997
Shan Human Rights Foundation 
P.O. Box - 201
Phrasing P.O. 
Chiang Mai, 50200, THAILAND

MONKS TORTURED AND KILLED BY SLORC

In late March, Slorc troops No.524 LIB arrested a monk named Ven. Ein Taga,
32, at Kyawng Long monastery in Kho Lam, Namzarng township. They took him to
the abbot of Kyawng Kawng Moo monastery to disrobe him. But the abbot said
he could not do it because Ven. Ein Taga was senior to him in monkhood. So
they took him out of the monastery and forcibly tore off his robe, tied his
hands and dragged him to their Kho Lam military base. While interrogating
him they tortured and beat him until he was died.

In late March 1997, Slorc troops No.246 arrested the abbot of Kaeng Kham
village temple, Kunhing township, Ven. Yan Na at his monastery, forcibly
disrobed him and took him away. While questioning him, they bound his hands
and feet and put him in a sack, tied the mouth of the sack and submerged him
in a stream. After a few minutes, they pulled him out and asked questions.
They did that several times until he was dead.

After the arrests of the monks, no one was allowed to see them, talk to them
or give them food. Some relatives, monks and community leaders who tried to
testify the innocence of the monks were slapped and beaten so that no one
would dare go near them anymore.

MASS KILLING AND RAPE OF RELOCATED VILLAGERS

On March 28, 1997, Slorc Major Saw Win and 100 soldiers from IB No.246 came
to Wan Phui, Kho Lam circle, Nam Zarng township, and saw 20 people moving
their things to Kho Lam. Major Saw Win and his soldiers accused them of
being SURA soldiers and they beat and killed them all. There were 14 men and
6 women.
<names and ages omitted ... supplied upon request>

* All the women were raped by Major Saw Win and his soldiers. After raping
them, the soldiers killed all the women, accusing them of being SURA
soldiers' wives.

RAPE VICTIM PUNISHED

On 2. 4. 97. Slorc troops from No.45 IB which had been newly stationed at
Murnsart, led by Maj. Aung Lwin, patrolled the area of Waeng Nur village
tract and met with the headmen and community leaders and returned to their
station on the same day.

However, on 6. 4. 97, Maj. Aung Lwin and some of his soldiers came to the
village of Waeng Nur, this time in civilian clothes. He went to the house of
Nang Zarm, 18 (a Shan girl he had seen and liked on his previous trip):and,
seeing she was at home with her parents, sent her parents to another place
to get something to eat. While the parents were away, he told his men to
wait down stairs and he raped Nang Zarm who remained alone upstairs.

When her parents returned, Nang Zarm cried and complained to them that she
had been raped by the Burmese major. But Maj. Aung Lwin denied the charge
and slapped Nang Zarm until her face was swollen all over, saying that she
falsely accused him.

Before Nang Zarm's parents could bring the case to the headman of the
village circle, the major had already told the headman that he had been
dishonestly accused of rape when he was only doing his duty; that he had
come out to familiarize himself with the area which was still new to him,
and had stopped at Nang Zarm's house to get something to eat and, since
there was not enough food, he had sent her parents out for it, and Nang Zarm
had accused him of raping her. He had slapped her a few times to teach her a
lesson for telling lies. 

Though Nang Zarm's parents later came to seek help, there was no way in
which the headman could help.

RAPE AND EXTORTION

On April 1, 1997, Slorc Major Maung Kyaw Tun from LI No. 424 in Runhing
township raped Nang Than 16 years old, daughter of Sal Su Nan Tar and Nang
Aye Kham in her house in Wan Beang Khan, Wan Lao circle, Runhing township.
Before he raped her, he gave her father 50 Kyats to go out and buy a hen and
told her mother to go and take some vegetables from another house. When her
parents went out he gave the order to his soldiers to wait under the house.
He said to Nang Than, " I think in this house there are illegal things, so
I'll check inside the rooms but if anything is lost, you will think I have
taken it, so please follow me." She therefore took him inside. He raped her
and after he had finished, she ran to tell the headman and the other
villagers. They came and asked Major Maung Kyaw, but he said Nang Than was
lying and beat her unconscious. When her parents came back Major Maung Kyaw
demanded 10,000 Kyats from them for their daughter's "false" accusation.

GANG RAPE OF RELOCATED VILLAGERS

On April 2, 1997, the following women were raped by Slorc troops:

Nang Hla (16 years), Nang Sai (18 years), Nang Bok (22 years), Nang Tun (25
years) 

All the women are from Nong Khan Village, Ho Yarn circle, Kunhing township,
and had been forced to move to Kunhing township.  On April 2, 1997, they
came back to their village to take some things and Major Myint Lwin and 26
of his troops from LI No.424 came into the village. Major Myint Lwin raped
the women and told his 26 soldiers to rape them. After they had finished,
the women went back to Kunhing township. Major Myint Lwin and his soldiers
then burned down 35 houses in the village. Most of the villagers from Nong
Khan who were forced to move have been unable to find work and have fled to
Thailand.


WIVES OF ALL SEVEN HOUSES RAPED

In the area of Kaeng Kham village tract, Rushing township, there is a little
village called Wan Sop Sim which consists of only seven houses. The adult
male villagers often have to go with logging boats to work for the
logging-company in Kaeng Kham in order to earn money to support their
families. A platoon of Slorc troops from No.519, led by Sgt. Hla Phyu, is
stationed at the village. On the nights when all the men in the village had
gone away, Sgt. Hla Phyu and his men raped the wives, house after
house. There is no adult woman left unraped in all the seven houses.

HEADMAN BEATEN, HELD FOR RANSOM

On March 21, 1997, Major Aung Kyaw gave orders to Major Hla Khin and 45-50
soldiers from Slorc LI No.44 to go to Wan Pan Hook, Wan Lao circle, Kunhing
township. About 2 miles from the village they met SURA soldiers and fought
for about one hour. 2 Slorc soldiers were killed. After that the SLORC
troops came into the village and beat the headman, accusing the villagers of
having given SURA food. Major Hla Khin then detained the headman and
demanded 20,000 Kyats from Sai Saw Na and ten other people in exchange for
the headman. On March 29, 1997, the Slorc troops burned down 30 houses in
the village.

LAND SEIZURE 1 (CONFISCATED BY SLORC)

On 2. 4. 97, Slorc troops No. 66 Battalion Commander Maj. Maung Thwe at
Murngpan seized rice fields belonged to the people, on the western side of
the town. The fields run on both sides of the road that leads to Wan Kho Lin
village and an area of about 400 yards long and 40 yards wide on either side
have been confiscated for a new quarter to expand the town. Since 6. 4. 97,
Slorc troops have divided the land into small plots of 30 yards squares and
put them on sale for 5,000 Ks a plot.

Following this, all the land along the road from the town to Wan Kho Din, a
distance of 5 miles, has now been confiscated by Slorc.

LAND SEIZURE 2 (FOR CHINESE)

In late March 1997, some Chinese, who had come from China via Kiu Khok
border town near Muse to Lashio and boarded a Takota plane to Namzarug,
wanted to buy some land in Namzarug town to set up a department store. SLORC
commander at Namzarug forced Nang Zing Mya and Loong Awng to sell their
lands to him--- two compounds adjacent to each other on the main road in
No.1 quarter in town's centre--for only 15,000 Ks each, which they did not
sell even for 50,000 Ks before. The Slorc commander then resold both the
compounds to the Chinese for 500,000 Ks. 

The Chinese let Nang Zing Mya and Loong Awng dismantle and move away their
houses, taking only the land. The Chinese has now adopted a Shan name- Zai Parn.

Since March 1997, in Lashio, northern Shan State, Slorc has been
confiscating lands belonging to the people of Wan Kawng Khar (12th Quarter).
It is a long stretch of cultivated land opposite the main prison of Lashio
Long, on the other side of the main road. The lands will be sold to a
Chinese company from China to set up stores and other buildings.

KILLING AND THEFT AT KHO LAM

On March 3, 1997, Slorc troops from LI 99 came to Wan Phung, Kho Lam circle,
Nam Zarng township, and killed the old parents of Zai Mar Lar: Loong Seng
Tar and his wife Pa Noom. They also stole 80,000 Kyats, 15 Baht of gold in
the house and took two oxen, and one horse. Zai Mar Lar then fled to
Thailand. On March 3 , 1997, Slorc troops from LI 99 came to Wan Phui, Kho
Lam circle, Namsarng township, and killed Sai Kham and burned down his
house. His wife Nang Hla her family then fled to Thailand.

On March 5, 1997, while Sang Jai (24) and Nang Seng La (19) of Wan Klang,
Kho Lam circle, Namsarng  township, were being forced to move from their
homes, Slorc troops came into their house and took all their money and gold.
They lost more than 200,000 Kyats, and 18 baht of gold and two oxen. They
therefore fled to Thailand.

RELOCATION

On March 9, 1997, Slorc troops No.64 IB ordered villagers from Wan Nong Dee,
Wan Thi circle, Laikha township, to move to Laikha.

VILLAGE BURNED, HEADMAN BEATEN

On March 30, 1997, 30 Slorc troops came into Wan Mai Si Lee village, Ho Yarn
circle, Kunhing township, and asked why the village had not moved like other
villages. They then accused the villagers of giving food to the Shan Army
and then they burned down the village. The villagers lost all their things.
They took Loong Pain Nyar, the headman of the village, and beat him
unconscious three times and took 10,000 Kyats and two oxen from them. Most
of the villagers therefore fled to Thailand.

ABBOT DISROBED, BEATEN

On March 20, 1997 Major Aung Kyaw Tun and 60 of his troops (from IB No.44)
Kunhing township, went to Jong Saai Khao temple, at Saai Khao village, south
of Kunhing, to search the place. When they saw a radio in the temple, they
said " That radio is from SURA" and beat a monk called Vi Seng Tar (age 30)
who had bought the radio from China. The troops forced Vi Seng Tar to
disrobe and beat him unconscious three times and then took him one mile to
the south of Jong Saai Khao temple. A Slorc officer called U Than Saw was
about to killed the monk, when the monk begged him to untie his hands so
that he could grant him forgiveness before he died. When they untied the
rope the monk ran away from them. They shot after the monk but missed. The
monk went back to Keng Tong village and fled to Thailand.

MULTIPLE KILLINGS AT KHO LAM RELOCATION SITE

On February 22, 1997, SURA troops arrived near Kho Lam relocation site,
Namzarng township. The Slorc troops suspected that the SURA troops had
entered the relocation site, so they shot 9 villagers at the site dead:
Loong Su (30 years old) and his wife Nang Nu (42), and their four children
and one nephew; and Hla Soe (35) and one other man.

On March 8, 1997, one of the relocated villagers, Ai Per (age 43), was
asleep at his house in Kho Lam relocation site. Slorc troops went into his
house and took him to the centre of the relocation site and shot him dead.

On March 28, 1997, Ven. Ein Taga, the abbot of Kho Lam temple, aged 38,
returned to his temple at 04:00 P.M. after visiting Bindaya in central Shan
State. On the same day at 09:00 P.M., the Slorc troops went to Kho Lam
temple and hit Ven. Ein Taga and forced him to disrobe. Then he was taken to
the local Slorc post where he was killed.

On March 30, 1997, two villagers from Kho Lam relocation site, Loong Koong
Mard (age 45) and his two friends Ai Shwe (age 30) and Ai Sum (age 42) went
fishing to feed their families. Slorc troops saw the 3 men and shot them dead.

On April 3, 1997, in the evening, three women from Kho Lam relocation site
went out to find vegetables outside the site. Only twenty minutes after they
had left their neighbors heard three gun shots. The next morning five
friends of the women went to look for them. When the Slorc troops saw the
five villagers, they shot them dead.

On April 4, 1997, one woman and seven men from Kho Lam relocation site went
back to their old village, Par Son, to get paddy which they had hidden the
year before, when they had been relocated, When Slorc troops saw the 8
villagers in their old village they killed the seven men and raped the women.

On April 10, 1997, two women from Kho Lam relocation site went out to Wan
Lin (30 minutes' walk north of Kho Lam) to sell " Khao Karb" (made from
rice). When they had finished selling this, they came back to Kho Lam
relocation site. Slorc troops saw them on the road back from Wan Lin and
shot them.

TARD MAWK RELOCATION SITE BURNED TO THE GROUND

On April 4, 1997, Slorc troops from LIB No.151 fired M 79 grenades into Tard
Mawk relocation site. Three villagers died and three villagers were wounded.
On April 8, 1997, 150 Slorc troops came into Tard Mawk relocation site and
ordered all the villagers to move to Laikha township within two days. On
April 10, 1997, the Slorc troops from LIB No.151 burned down all the over
1,000 houses in Tard Mawk relo cation site.

OVER 1,000 CHILDREN BEGGING NEAR PARNG PHONE

On April 12, 1997, a Shan villager named Loong Ti and his wife, who had been
working at a construction site in Thailand (having been forcibly relocated
from their homes in Laikha township last year), went back to Shan State from
Thailand to go and collect their old father and mother who were staying in
Parng Phone relocation site inside Shan State. When they travelled along the
road to Parng Phone, they reported seeing over 1,000 children begging and
about 50 older people begging outside the site. Loong Ti and his wife had
very little money, so spent only 2 days at the side before bringing only
their father Loong Won Na (age 80) back with them. On their way back, the
car they were riding in broke down and they had no food for two days.
Because of this, their old father Loong Wan Na collapsed, and then died in
Murng Ton hospital.

A FATHER OF 5 KILLED WHILE SERVING AS PORTER

In early April, Slorc troops (from Arakan State) seized more than 10
villagers, young and old, Ton Hoong village, Ton Hoong tract, Namzarng
township, to use as porters. After they were taken away for 4 days, a porter
named Sai Awng Sa, 26, escaped and returned to tell that one of his fellow
porters villager Sai Kan Na, 36, son of Loong Kaw Ling & Nai Yawd, was
accused of trying to escape and shot dead by Slorc troops in a forest about
5-6 miles west of Ton Hoong. They were taken from their relocation site at
Kho Lam in Namzarng township and all the rest of the porters have, a few at
a time, escaped and returned to their places lately.

Sai Kan Na's widow Nang Yawd, 35, daughter of Loong Mu & Nai Mung, and their
five daughters-ages: 16, 14, 10, 8, 6 -- have fled and arrived at Thailand's
Fang district sometime in mid - April. Since arriving 10 days earlier (at
the time she was interviewed), Nang Yawd had been able to find work for only
2 days earning 70 baht a day.

KILLINGS AT RANDOM

In early April, Slorc troops (said to be from Arakan State who had come to
control Murng Taw & Murng Tha areas during the early days of Khun Sa's
surrender, and had now been sent to engage in campaigns launched against
SURA --- No.537 LIB and other unidentified Burmese troops, because they
usually tore off the insignias and numbers of their battalion during these
operations), while patrolling the village tract of Kho Ood, Namzarng
township, they spotted some villagers who were trying to hide in the forest
west of a deserted village of Ho Nar, 2-3 miles west of Nar Law village, and
shot at them, instantly killing 4 people -
(1) Pi Thark Awn, 45, a secretary of Wan Nang village;
(2) Zit Ta Awn, 34, from Nar Law;
(3) Another man, name unknown;
(4) Nang Ying, 16, from Nar Law.

These people had gone to collect their things from their old village and
hide them in the forest, and were about to return to their relocation site
near the motor road near Kho Lam in Namzarng township. Their corpses were
dragged to the same spot and piled up together.

On 10. 4. 97, about 100 Slorc troops (55th division) shot dead 2 villagers
at a place about a quarter mile north of Wan Ter Zrang village which had
been forced to move the day before.

Sai Aw Ta, 22, son of Loong Kaw Li & Pa Thuay and Sai Mu Ling, 30, son of
Loong Ta & Nai Kham from Wan Ter Zarng, Nar Poi tract, Namzarug township,
were killed.

Sai Sarng Aw, 27, son of Loong Saw & Nai Ing, who was with them and had also
been shot at, ran away and escaped. After 7-8 days he came back to Kho Lam
(where they have been relocated) and related about the incident. For fear of
being shot at, the relatives of the dead dared not go to bury the corpses
but left them to the mercy of scavengers.

http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm

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

THE NATION: THAI-BURMA LINK COULD SPEED EXPORTS
May 17, 1997
Supunnabul Suwannaku

A ROAD linking Tavoy in Burma with the western seaboard of Thailand, coupled
with bilateral investment in a deep sea port at Tavoy, will further open the
door for Thai exports to European markets.

The road between Tavoy and Thailand, as well as a joint investment in the
deep sea port project at Tavoy, are on the agenda for Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's first visit to Burma this weekend, Industry Minister
Korn Dabbaransi said. The prime minister arrived in Burma yesterday.

Based on the initial plan, the road would link a deep sea port at Tavoy with
either Kanchanaburi or Ratchaburi, around 300 kilometres from Bangkok.

If the joint collaboration eventuates, this route would shorten the
transport times of exports to India, Europe and Mediterranean countries.
Products manufactured in central Thailand could be exported using this route
instead of via Klong Toey and Laem Chabang ports, from where ships are
forced to detour around Singapore.

Korn said other connecting routes include from Bokpyin to Bangsapan, a 100
kilometre route between two sea fronts - the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand; Tab La Mu in Phang Nga to Sichon in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a 200
kilometre route linking the two southern provinces; and Penage to Pattani,
which connects to Penang for utilisation of the deep sea port there.

These routes would connect the two seafronts to deep sea ports in each
location in a bid to assist transportation between the west and east coasts.
All projects are under study for investment evaluation by the National
Economic and Social Development Board.

Speaking at a recent discussions on the "Western Seaboard the Economic and
Trade Opportunities in the West to Andaman Sea", Korn said the development
of the Western Seaboard, included in the Eighth National Economic and Social
Development Plan, is aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Thai
industries and export-oriented products through collaboration with Burma in
the areas of S economic development, research and development, and natural
resources.

The three main objectives of the Western Seaboard plan are to develop
Thailand's seaboards to strengthen the competitiveness of exports and create
close relationships with Burma through joint collaboration for economic
development.

The Western Seaboard area covers seven provinces - Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi
Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Petchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Prachuab Khiri
Khan.

Based on a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency on the
Western Seaboard Regional Development Master Plan Study, the Western
Seaboard will be divided into three areas:

? the upper area, incorporating the southern parts of Kanchanaburi,
Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram provinces and the upper section of Petchaburi
province. These provinces are located in irrigation areas along the Mae
Klong River. Value will be added to the agricultural products, and
industries will be developed in a zone linking Bangkok with other provinces.

? the central area, incorporating the lower parts of Petchaburi, Cha-am, Hua
Hin and Prachuab Khiri Khan. As several attractive tourism sites are located
in this region, the area is off-limits to factories.

? the lower area, comprising Bangsapan district, Prachuab Khiri Khan and
Chumphon. As the weather and soil is suitable for agriculture, the area will
be become a fruit cultivation zone. Bangsapan, where Sahaviriya has a big
steel mill with a deep sea port accessible to 220,000 deadweight tonne
vessels, will be developed as the centre for industrial development.

The Western Seaboard is targeted at two main sectors, agriculture and the
steel industry.

Korn said a special economic zone would be set up on the Western Seaboard to
reduce the production costs of labour-intensive industries by allowing the
hiring foreign workers. The type of special economic zone and level of
government support are being studied.

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FBC: CHAPMAN AWARDS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE
May 15, 1997
wardwell@xxxxxxxxxxx

Contact:  Ruth Wardwell 	(714) 532-6075
	 Dr. Win 	(714) 432-5860

 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is a virtual political prisoner in Burma, has
been selected to receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from
Orange County s largest independent university.

 She was nominated for the degree, which will be presented in absentia, 
by Chapman alumna Betty Jane Champlin, a Dana Point lawyer and 
photojournalist who is active in the Free Burma movement.

The honorary degree will be awarded in absentia at Chapman?s 
undergraduate commencement ceremony, Sunday, May 25, 1997 at 4 p.m. on the
campus athletics field.

The nomination has drawn significant support from Orange Coast 
College Professor U Kyaw Win, a Burmese exile living in Laguna Hills.  He
says: "In honoring Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chapman University is paying
tribute to the heroic people of Burma in their peaceful struggle for human
dignity and freedom, under the leadership of this courageous lady."

Chapman?s board of trustees voted unanimously to award the 
honorary degree to Sun Kyi for her non-violent commitment to democracy,
peace and human rights.

Chapman University, based in Orange, Calif., is comprised of six 
schools and two colleges.  It was founded in 1861 as Hesperian College and
maintains a relationship with its founding denomination, the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ).  The principles of basic human rights, for
which Kyi stands, parallel the Disciples  vision for peace and creating
environments open to all, which were among the founding tenets of the
institution.

Ruth S. Wardwell
Director of News Services
Chapman University
333 N. Glassell
Orange, CA

Phone: (714) 532-6075
Fax:  (714) 997-6685
e-mail:  wardwell@xxxxxxxxxxx

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BURMA CENTRUM NETHERLANDS: INVITATION
May 15, 1997

BCN	VG		NOVIB
   Burma Centrum Nederland van Gennep		

	INVITATION
	27th of May 1997
	De Rode Hoed
         	Keizersgracht 102 Amsterdam
	20:00 - 22:30 hours (8:00 =- 10:30 pm)

Our struggle for democracy is first of all a revolution of the spririt
		Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

On the 27th of May it is seven years ago that the National League for 
Democracy, de party of Nobel Peace Price laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 
won the elections with an overwhelming majority. Until today the military 
regime refuses to hand over power and tries, by all possible means, to 
silence the opposition.

In the book Voice of Fear Daw Aung San Suu Kyi makes knowledge of her 
answers to the dictatorshop in Burma. Opposite to hate and violence she 
sets reconciliation and forgiveness, to lies the truth and to intimidation 
bravery, to lead her country to freedom and democracy. Voice of Fear is a 
document of hope.

By occasion of the publication of the Dutch translation of Voice of Fear, 
Stem van Verzet, Publisher van Gennep, Novib and the Burma Centre 
Netherlands offer you a program in which writers and journalists explain 
on what way and under what conditions the Burmese opoosition continues 
her work and what the perspectives are for peace and democracy in Burma. 
The evening will be illustrated with a performance of the Burmese singer 
Bo Han.

					Program:

	Minka Nijhuis, journalist and writer
	Passages of Voice of Fear and an impression of the way 
the opposition continues her work (Dutch language)

	Anna Allott
Dissidents and censure (English language)

	Martin Smith, writer, journalist and documentary maker
The position of the ethnic minorities after decennia of ruling by central 
authority (English language)

For more information please contact BCN +31 (0)20 6716952
Stem van Verzet is a publication of Publisher van Gennep and Novib and 
available in regular bookstores as well as during this evening for Fl 38,90

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