The BurmaNet News, July 10, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------     
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"     
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The BurmaNet News: July 10, 1997        
Issue #769

HEADLINES:        
==========   
BURMA OFFICE: TRANSLATION OF NLD PROCLAMATION(4/97)
BKK POST: IRI RETURNS FIRE OVER SLORC CONDEMNATION
SLORC: RESPONSE TO NEWS RELEASE OF IRI
BKK POST: ASEAN TOLD TO ADMIT KHMERS
THE NATION: KYAT DIPS TO 210 AGAINST THE DOLLAR
TT: 2,000 DISGRUNTLED SHAN SOLDIERS SHIFT TO SURA
THE NATION: US CITY APPROVES ANTI-SLORC CURBS
STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING: ASEAN'S NEW MEMBERS
AFP: ISRAEL CONSIDERING IMMIGRATION OF JEWS FROM BURMA
THE NATION: INVESTMENTS IN BURMA UP
BKK POST: SLORC BOASTS SUCCESS IN HELPING MINORITIES
----------------------------------------------------------------- 

BURMA OFFICE: TRANSLATION OF NLD PROCLAMATION(4/97)
July 9, 1997

[The following is translated from NLD transcript (Proclamation 4/97)
written in Burmese].

National League for Democracy
No. 97/B West Shwegonedine Road
Bahan township, Rangoon

NLD Proclamation(4/97)

1. Beginning from 1988, the entire country rose up in protest, an unheard of
event in our history, to demand in one voice, their lost democratic rights.
This was a daring demonstration of the true wishes of the people. In so
doing, all monks, all citizens, all students invested their lives, their
blood, their sweat in this great effort to restore democracy.

2. To stop this great demand and to implement the wishes of the people,
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) took control of the state
and because they were unable to turn a blind eye to the people?s wishes,
they permitted the people formation of political parties and political
activities  and openly promised to hold a democratic general election.

3.  In these circumstances, it was necessary that a political party
representative of the people be created  to strive towards the goal of full
democratic rights and satisfy the wishes of the people.

4.  To fulfil this need, this historically significant event involving
matters relating to defence and politic that are traditionally considered
big and important, intellectuals and technicians, respected persons
experienced and skilled in matter of politics , economics, education,
culture and state administration came together and joined  Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, the daughter of Bogyoke Aung San, our national hero and father of the
Burma army who had gained the full support and confidence of the people in
their great call for democracy, They founded and registered the National
League for Democracy  on 27.9.88 under the provisions of the Law for
Registration of Political Parties and it exists and operates as a legal
political party even to this day.

5.  On the 30 May, 1989, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
promulgated the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law ( No 14\85 ) and on 27.5.90 held
the general elections to enable the people and the multi
political parties to freely and fairly elect their representatives to the
Pyithu Hluttaw. Together with 92  other political parties, the National
League for Democracy contested this election.

6.  Out of a total of 485 constituencies, the National League for Democracy
contested 477 and their candidates won 392 seats. This result was
acknowledged and the candidates were declared to be the duly elected
representatives of the people by the multi-Party Democratic Election
Commission. Having won 82% of the constituents by a majority of  59.8% it is
obvious that the people clearly placed their trust and support for the
National League for Democracy.

7. Section 3, Chapter 2 of the Hluttaw Law states
		?the Hluttaw shall be convened with representatives elected from the
constituencies in accordance with this law?.
 For the implementation of the results of the election the only step that
should have been taken was the formation of a Pyithu Hluttaw. There is no
ambiguity about this.

8. Since no  Hluttaw was formed, it became the duty of the National League
for Democracy, and the elected representatives of the people to come
together for a first  preliminary meeting at the Ghandi Hall on the 28th and
29th July to co-ordinate a plan of action for the formation of a Pyithu
Hluttaw. The Ghandi Hall Declaration  was a public statement of
their views in the matter.

9. At the same time, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
issued Notification 1/90 on the 27 July and required all legally
constituted political parties to signify that they would abide by the
provisions embodied the said notification, paragraph  12 of which reads;- 
		?xxx  the State Law and Order Restoration Council will implement the
convening  of a Pyithu Hluttaw?.

10. It then became the responsibility of the State Law and Restoration
Council to convene a Pyithu Hluttaw in accordance with the Pyithu
Hluttaw Election Law, Chapter  2, Section 3 and Notification 1/90,
paragraph 12, both of which had been promulgated by them as a follow up
of the election. Therefore their excuse that a Pyithu Hluttaw  cannot be
convened because there is no Pyithu Hluttaw Law is not valid. The  State Law
and Order Restoration Council has been making many laws and there is nothing
to stop them from making the law necessary for the convening of a Pyithu
Hluttaw..

11. Instead, the State Law and Order Restoration Council convened a
National Convention in 1993 for the purpose of drawing up a constitution
and defining constitutional issues. But, the National League for
Democracy believes that these matter should not be settled by a Pith
Hullo composed of the people?s representatives  and in full consultation
and  in accordance with the wishes of the people.

12. In order to bring about national reconciliation and with honest
intentions, the National League for Democracy  participated in the
National Convention for three years and always bearing in mind the
desire of the people, presented fundamental principles that needed to be
incorporated in the constitution to be a true union. However, the action
taken by the National Convening  Committee and the decisions arrived at
by the convention of the regulations and the procedures agree upon at
the preparatory meeting for the convening of the said national
convention. The National League for Democracy informed the Chairman of  the
National Convention Convening Committee that wanted to discuss
matters relating to
		(a) national reconciliation
		(b) true democracy
		(c) the creation of an acceptable and reliable constitution and until such
time as these matters could be discussed , its members would refrain from
attending the Convention but  would wait which they are doing till this day.

13. The National League for Democracy gained the largest support from
among the ten legally existing  political parties Prior to the election
and until this day, the National League for Democracy is the part
that has suffered the most by way of restrictions, repression, and the
oppressions. On 20.7.89 before the election, preventative measures were
taken against the leaders U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under  10
(b). U Tin Oo was subsequently charged and sentenced. After the
election, on 6.9.90, one of the leading member of the National League
for Democracy, U Kyi Maung, the returned candidate for Bahan township,
Constituency 2, was arrested and sentenced. In the same manner, other
Central Committee Members, Committee Members and elected representatives of
the people were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment. At  all levels,-
state, division, township, ward and village there has been a systematic
pattern of oppression with arrests, imprisonment, removal of signboards, and
banning of meetings.

14. We are prevented from performing normal activities of a legitimate
political party. Added to that was a disgraceful incident when on 9
November 1996 the action of shameful destructive elements in life
threatening physical assaults on the leader U Tin Oo, U Kyi Maung and
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was condoned  by the security forces who were
present on the occasion. In the entire country, Central Committee and
Committee Members and ordinary members are facing harassment not only in the
political sphere but extending also to the socio-economic spheres. These are
undesired situations which will not benefit the people nor will the outcome
be a genuine democracy. This will not solve the
problems that the country is facing.

15. Today is the 7th anniversary of the democratic multi-party general
election that the  State Law and Order Restoration Council called. The
people  are yearning for the emergence of a Pyithu Hluttaw as a
consequential result of that election. We urged the State Law and
Restoration Council to act honestly and sincerely by convening a Pyithu
Hluttaw Law and Notification No. 1/90. made by them.

16. Political and economic problems that the country is facing will not
be solved  by suppressive and restrictive actions at all governmental
levels against the members and executives of the National League for
Democracy as is happening today. The quickest way to built a modern,
developed democratic union is by general agreement, co-operation and
participation of all the nationalities. Bearing no grudges against one
another; having only as our goal prosperity for the people; with good
and virtuous intentions we should meet and discuss and find situations.
The National League for Democracy believes that this is a only way by
which the well being of the state and its citizens can be achieved.

17. The National League for Democracy firmly  believes that national
reconciliation and genuine democracy can be achieved in the shortest
space of time.
On this the 7th anniversary of the general election, the National League
for Democracy publicly declares that we always welcome dialogue and that
we will hold fast to the following  three concepts to find solutions to
our problems 
	a) Sincerity with openness and mutual respect;
	b) National reconciliation as our objective;
	c) Orientation towards general harmony free from personal grudges.

Rangoon
Central  Executive Committee
6th Waning moon day of the month of Kason
National League for Democracy
27 May, 1997

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

BKK POST: IRI RETURNS FIRE OVER SLORC CONDEMNATION
July 9, 1997
Ralph Bachoe

'Rangoon would win Orwell's recognition'

The president of the International Republican Institute has described as
"Orwellian" Slorc's latest condemnation of the institute's work in Burma.
     
"George Orwell would recognise Burma today. He wrote about it in his book
1984," Lorne Cramer said last week.

"It's Orwellian that the Slorc regime, guilty of forced labour, torture,
execution of dissidents and myriad other human rights abuses, could term as
'terrorism'- the non-violent work aided by IRI."

The IRI had from the beginning conducted its work in the open, said Mr Cramer.

"We are proud that we have stood with those at the forefront of peaceful
efforts to bring change to Burma," he said. 
     
IRI is a US-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to advancing democracy.
It conducts educational activities for political parties, activists and
governments in over 30 countries.

Mr Cramer said Slorc's opposition was an indication of the institute's
effectiveness. The institute would therefore be encouraged and so would the
thousands of Burmese the organisation assists.

The regime's statements resembled many other conspiracy theories, typically
begun by people who speak to no one but themselves, he said.

"A good start in the direction of constructive change in Burma would be to
spend less time dreaming up conspiracy theories and more time talking to Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was elected but prevented from taking power in
1990.."

Mr Cramer's reaction came after Lt Gen Khin Nyunt accused the United States
of sponsoring state terrorism attacks against top figures in Burma's ruling
military junta.

The intelligence chief told reporters in Rangoon on June 27 that US
government funds sent to support the pro-democracy movement had been used to
finance terrorist activities by exiled opposition groups.

Lt Gen Khin Nyunt singled out Dr Sein Win, prime minister of the parallel
Burmese government, the National Council Government of the Union of Burma
based in Washington, of masterminding the attempted assassination attempt of
armed forces chief of staff Gen Tin Oo at his home in April.
     
A parcel bomb, reportedly mailed in Japan and addressed to Gen Tin Oo's
home, exploded in the face of his 30-year-old daughter, killing her
instantly. The general was not home at the time. 

Sources in Rangoon say the powerful blast ripped beyond recognition the
upper torso of the general's daughter, who had opened a cupboard to examine
the parcel after receiving a phone call from an unknown person to check if
the contents were intact.

Gen Tin Oo's wife, who was in the room when the blast occurred, escaped
injury. Sources say she was saved by the cupboard door which shielded her
from the explosion.

During the June 27 speech, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt named another Burmese exile,
also belonging to the NCGUB, of smuggling a satellite telephone into the
country to be used by Burmese dissidents to communicate with their
counterparts outside the country.

Lt Gen Khin Nyunt also said that Suu Kyi's close relatives were involved in
"all these acts aimed at destabilising the nation and causing unrest among
the public and students." Prime Minister Sein Win is the first cousin of Suu
Kyi.

Latest reports from sources in Rangoon say Khin Nyunt's speech is being
played every second day in all government departments and schools explaining
the contents of the intelligence chief's two-hour long tirade against US and
the Burmese dissidents.

Resistance methods taught by IRI include listening to banned broadcasts of
the Voice of America or Radio Free Asia, disseminating information on
democracy and human rights, and circulation of material about how Burmese
and ethnic groups are working to promote a democratic form of government. 

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

SLORC: RESPONSE TO NEWS RELEASE OF IRI
June 30, 1997

Response to News Release of IRI

Reference:  News Release
International Republican Institute (IRI)
Dated:  June 30, 1997.

1. 	The IRI claims that it ? provides assistance to Burmese dedicated to the
sole use of non-violence to oppose SLORC?s rule.?

What is your definition of non-violence?

Is the use of weapons to cause death and destruction, an act of violence and
terror only when American lives are threatened?

How many more innocent Myanmar people do you wish to see mutilated and dead
before you will admit that terrorism was committed on our soil by your
grantees as you call them  -  the so-called Burmese and ethnic groups for
democracy?    Or is it your position that Myanmar lives are expendable, no
matter how many so long as you can put.
 
2. 	Just a few instances to refresh your memory, although it needs no
refreshing.

FACT	A bomb was exploded by grantees ( who are trained demolition experts)
of your organization or affiliated organizations,  at our sacred shrine, the
Maha Pasana Cave, Yangon where the Buddha?s Tooth Relic from the Republic of
China had been put on display for homage by the Myanmar people on 25-12-96.

Four innocent people were killed, two of them just budding youths, leaving
behind grief-stricken families, parents, widows and orphans.
It was an outrageous act, a sacrilege committed by these terrorists 
( no other word can describe them) for they not only killed and maimed but
trespassed on our religious faith.  Every single Myanmar citizen condemned
this sacrilege.

You cite Mahatma Ganchi and Martin Luther King.  Your analogy is false.
 These great men were victims of violence at the hands of the same kind of
people as your grantees.  Gandhi and King were not  murderers and traitors
like them.

FACT   A parcel bomb sent by post from Japan by members of one of your
affiliations to the residence of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council, Secretary 2 Lieutenant General Tin Oo, killed his eldest daughter,
a beloved daughter, a good wife, mother of two young children, a university
lecturer and a Ph.d candidate.  She was uselessly cut down in the prime of life.

Can you in all good conscience call this an act of non-violence?

FACT   Other acts of violence too numerous for detailed recounting.

·	Many blameless villagers have been killed and disabled because a handful
of ethnic malcontents vent their frustrations by deliberately mining the
cultivation plots of these poor people whose only livelihood is to till
these fields.  How does this help the cause (if there is) of these insurgents?
 What sins have these helpless villagers committed?

·	Mining of passenger trains.  Innocent passengers minding their own
business, not hurting anyone have been maimed and killed by your ethnic
insurgents throughout the years, and except for our own people, there was no
one to protest these acts of violence.

These are not wild accusations.  If you are really sincere and caring as you
so vociferously claim, you can verify these cases and many others for
yourselves.  Why rely on verbal reports. Rumours and exaggerations.

Are these not acts of violence?  Do they not qualify as acts of terror?  Or
do you call such acts, terrorism only when they happen in your country and
to members of the white community?

To plot and commit  violence and terror on such a scale requires
organization, planning and funds, all of which are supplied so generously by
organizations like yours, even though you know what the outcome will be -
the loss of innocent lives.

2. 	You termed the condemnation of these terrorist acts by the State Law and
Order Restoration Council ?Orwellian? and go on to make empty charges of
forced labour, torture and executions.  It is not worth rebutting these
groundless accusations, for it would be like giving a reply to a question
like, ?Have you stopped beating your wife.?  But please do take careful note
that if the Myanmar Government were truly guilty of wholesale torture and
executions of dissidents, they would not be still running around killing
people, destroying property and decrying and belittling their own country
and their people.

3. 	Cramer says  ? the IRI has, since the beginning, conducted its work in
the open.  We are proud that we have stood with those at the forefront of
peaceful efforts to bring change to Burma.?

Glad you admit it at last.  For if that is not meddling in our internal
affairs, I don?t know what is.

Yes! You assist  ??..thousands  of  Burmese.?, but what about the more than
48 million in the country.

While on this subject, may I inform you that there are so many right
thinking up and coming young men and women, who take every opportunity of
the improved conditions in every sector of our country and of the new
market-orientated economy to improve themselves and get ahead.  They learn
new languages and skills like computer operations, programming and
engineering.  They take on new jobs and work hard to build up their CVs
There are hundreds of thousands of such upwardly mobile youths, who work
hard and refuse to take any handouts unlike your sycophants.  The negative
policies of the US Administration and your self-righteous, misguided
attitudes towards us hurt these young people and their future the most.

That is an unforgivable sin.

Most Myanmar people, unlike your parasitic lot, value their self-respect.
 Self respect may not appease hunger but without it we are less than human.
We have a saying, very popular with our youths.  It says:  The King Lion,
though he starves, will not stoop to eat grass.?

Just a word to the wise in conclusion.  Myanmar is heading towards a bright
democratic future, one of our own choosing, in spite of all you can do to
obstruct us.   

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

BKK POST: ASEAN TOLD TO ADMIT KHMERS
July 9, 1997 [abridged]

Burma, Laos want expansion plans to proceed despite 'coup' 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations should proceed with plans to
expand its membership despite the turmoil in Cambodia, the ambassadors of
Burma and Laos argued yesterday.

The Laotian and Burmese positions will complicate the Asean foreign
ministers' decision on whether to admit Cambodia during their annual meeting
on July 24.

Burma and Laos are scheduled for admission at the same time. The foreign
ministers have scheduled an emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow "to
review the situation in all its aspects".

Burma's ambassador to Thailand, U Hla Maung, said: "Cambodia is another
country. The Cambodian problem is a Cambodian problem."

He said Burma would stand by the principle of non-intervention.

The ambassador of Laos, Bounkeut Sangsomsak, reiterated Vientiane's support
for Asean's decision to admit Burma, Cambodia and Laos later this month.

He cited the Jakarta declaration of December 1996, which called for the
simultaneous admittance of the three and the May 31 decision in Kuala Lumpur
for the formal induction to be made over the next two weeks.           

"We support the Jakarta Declaration and the May 31 decision. We would like
the three countries to be admitted together and hope [Asean] will abide by
the Jakarta Declaration," he said.

Vientiane looked forward to the results of the July 10 meeting in Kuala
Lumpur, he added.

Cambodia's ambassador to Thailand; Roland Eng, simply said: "It's up to Asean".

Despite [Asean?s call for a ceasefire], Mr Hun Sen, speaking from Phnom
Penh, said the international community should keep out of Cambodia's
internal affairs.

"I appeal to the international community to give their understanding to
Cambodia's internal affairs," Mr Hun Sen said in a radio and television
address the day after his forces claimed victory in Phnom Penh.
     
"Let Cambodians solve their own problems," he said in an apparent bid to
forestall international condemnation for effectively ousting the absent
Prince Ranariddh from his position as first prime minister.

Mr Hun Sen said the world could either recognise the government as it exists
as of yesterday or choose Prince Ranariddh and the outlawed Khmer Rouge
guerrilla faction.

"Now it is the choice of the international community whether to take
Ranariddh and the Khmer Rouge or take the current government," he said.

But Prince Ranariddh warned in Paris yesterday that the current conflict in
his country could blow up into a new civil war if Mr Hun Sen refused to
negotiate his return.

"I am willing to see Hun Sen solve this problem in an existing legal
framework, but if we cannot, there would be, alas, a civil war in my poor
country," he said.

Prince Ranariddh said he intends to return to Cambodia to lead a resistance
movement to the "coup d'etat" launched by Mr Hun Sen.

"There needs to be a resistance movement within the country and the leader
of the resistance has to be there," he declared during his first public
appearance since fleeing Cambodia on Friday.

He claimed that a resistance movement was being organised in western
Cambodia and that he was in direct telephone contact with his generals.

Prince Ranariddh said he intends to travel to Thailand soon but
stressed-that his return to Cambodia would be "influenced by the attitude of
Thailand, which appears to have adopted a neutral stance." 

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

THE NATION: KYAT DIPS TO 210 AGAINST THE DOLLAR
July 9, 1997
AP

RANGOON - Burma's currency, the Kyat, fell to 210 against the US
dollar yesterday, after trading at about 200 for the past few weeks.

Although the official exchange for the kyat is about six to the dollar, only
state enterprises follow that formula. Virtually everyone else uses the
black market rate, which has been rising rapidly since April, when the kyat
was trading at 166 to the dollar.

Black market money changers had no explanation for the rising dollar rate
ant seemed baffled by its continuing climb.

It was in April, however, that President Clinton imposed US economic
sanctions on Burma for its increased repression of the democracy movement
led by Aung San Suu Kyi and its failure to stem exports of narcotics.

The Burmese government's supply of dollars is limited, and with meager
exports from state enterprises failing to bring in more of the US currency,
the government resorts to printing more kyat and using it to buy dollars
from the private sector, said a Rangoon- based economist, who also requested
anonymity.

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

THAILAND TIMES: 2,000 DISGRUNTLED SHAN SOLDIERS SHIFT LOYALTIES TO SURA
July 9, 1997
By Kachorn Boonpath

MAE HONG SON: Over 2,000 dissatisfied Shan soldiers defected from the
Burmese junta last month and joined the Shan United Revolutionary Army
(SURA), a source from the SURA said yesterday.
     
About 2,150 Shan soldiers led by Lt-Col Kanna Muangyon and Lt-Col Poma left
their voluntary positions in the Burmese army on June 6 and immediately
joined the SURA rebels who are stationed near the township of Kiang Tong and
Kiang Kum south of Khun Hing.
     
SURA have recently attacked Burmese soldiers at Nam Chang and Khun Hing
notably on the routes from Tong Yi to Nam Chang and from Khun Hing to Chiang
Tung. The villages of Ban Sai Khaow, Pa Lang, Sai Pae and Khrua Lam have
been particularly badly affected.

The source said that the attacks had caused many difficulties for the
villagers as they now had to obtain permission from Burmese soldiers to
travel on certain routes and an escort has to be arranged. Because of the
volume of requests a short journey can take as long as 10 days to arrange
and authorities frequently delay granting permission.
     
Moreover, Shan traders who went to buy goods in Mae Hong Son were prohibited
from taking Hua Muang-Lang Klua route by the Burmese soldiers who claimed
insecurity on the route. They had to use other roads which would take them
more time.
     
The Shan defectors became the Burmese junta's voluntary troops since
September last y ear, but they agreed to join the SURA rebels last month
because of conflicts over tax collection with the Burmese authorities.

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

THE NATION: US CITY APPROVES ANTI-SLORC CURBS
July 10, 1997

THE Californian city of Santa Cruz has become the latest in a growing number
of American cities to pass a law banning transaction deals with companies
that do business in Burma.

The measure, known as the "Free Burma Law', effectively bars contracts with
companies which do business with Burma's ruling junta by giving a 10 per
cent bidding preference to companies that do no business with Rangoon, said
a statement released by Santa Cruz City Council after the law was passed.

The statement added that the law which takes effect from tomorrow also
prohibits the city from investing in companies that do business in Burma.
Santa Cruz is the latest in a long list of American cities, counties and
states - which includes Berkeley, Madison, Santa Monica, San Francisco,
Aladeda County and the state of Massachusetts - that have passed similar
rulings.

New York City passed such a law last month.

In May, the US government also imposed economic sanctions against
Rangoon, banning new American investments in Burma.  The European Union also
levied sanctions against Burma earlier this year and the British government
last week suspended financial support for companies trading with Burma.

Although most American companies and many foreign firms have withdrawn from
Burma for various reasons, including widespread human rights abuses, a
number continue to do business with Burma's ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc).

Companies that have continued to invest in Burma include Unocal, Total,
Texaco, Caterpillar, Arco, Procter and Gamble, Mitsubishi and the Swedish
firm Ericsson.

Arco and Caterpillar could be affected by the Santa Cruz law and Mitsubishi
and Ericsson have already lost contracts with the city of San Francisco
valued at nearly US$250 million because of their operations in Burma.
Procter and Gamble is the subject of a divestment campaign at the University
of California and other major institutional investors.

Many American citizens are also deeply concerned about the huge quantities
of heroin coming out of Burma.  According to the US State Department, sixty
per cent of the heroin on the country's streets comes from Burma.  Burma has
more than doubled its illicit drug exports since Slorc seized power in
September 1988.

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called for
western cooperation to end support for Slorc.

She reiterated that position on March 27 in a face-to-face interview in
Rangoon with Prof. Judith White, a Santa Cruz resident who spoke to the city
council in support of the law.

"I was arrested in Burma in 1991 as a tourist for trying to find out if Mrs
Suu Kyi was still alive," Santa Cruz Free Burma Coalition member Bob Stone said.

"At tremendous risk to themselves, the Burmese people would take me aside
and beg me to go back to America and tell people about the repression in
their country.  We owe it to them not to do business with the thugs who have
stolen their freedom," he said. (TN)

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

STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING: ASEAN'S NEW MEMBERS
July 7, 1997 [excerpts]

The Federal Document Clearing House

QUESTION: So, I mean, is the United States going to use the suggestion that
Cambodia is not ready to get into ASEAN as a way to keep Burma also out of
ASEAN, because the whole point was to get these last three in all at once?

BURNS: Well, I think the United States would separate those questions and
separate those candidacies. The United States has a very clear position on
the issue of whether Burma is ready to be a member of ASEAN. We've made that
position clear to the ASEAN member states.

It's their decision, of course. It's their decision. They have to make this
decision. But the United States has a very strong view that the government
of Burma is run by military dictators.

What's happening in Burma is not consistent with what's happening in most of
the rest of Southeast Asia, either economically, or certainly, politically.
And we will continue to try to isolate Burma through our own economic and
political policies.

I think we would separate the two and prefer to treat Cambodia individually
rather than to lump it with Burma.

QUESTION: It's just that if you have what seems to be, in effect, a
successful coup d'etat through military force by one of the prime ministers,
it seems Cambodia becomes more analogous to Burma than it is, let's say, to
a lot of other countries in ASEAN.

BURNS: I think that's too early to say. Obviously, the fighting this weekend
was engineered to produce certain results. But I think the origin of the
fighting is, at least at this point, sufficiently murky so that we don't
want to shoot arrows at one side or another today.

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

AFP: ISRAEL CONSIDERING IMMIGRATION OF JEWS FROM INDIA AND BURMA
July 8, 1997 
Burma Centrum Nederland <bcn@xxxxxxxxx>

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel is considering allowing a group of about 3500 Jews
from the border area between India and Burma to immigrate to Israel. The
Jersualem Post reported this on Tuesday.
According to the newspaper, minister of Justice Tsahi Hanegbi has requested
dossiers about the members of the Shinlung-tribe. Several thousand members
of this tribe have been practicing Orthodox Jews for about 27 years. They
have recently made it known that they want to emigrate to Israel, writes the
daily.
The Shinlung-tribe has about one-and a half million members. In the 19th
century they converted to Christianity. Some of them are said to be related
to Menasse, one of the tribes (of Israel) that, according to legend, spread
over the world.

(unofficial translation from Dutch by the BCN)

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

THE NATION: INVESTMENTS IN BURMA UP
July 9, 1997
DOW JONES
AP

RANGOON - Foreign investment in Burma's manufacturing sector soared during
the past year to more than US$1 billion, according to government statistics
released yesterday
     
Foreign investment the manufacturing sector at the end of fiscal 1996 1997
totaled $1 13 billion, up from $193 6 million at the end of fiscal 1995- 1996.
     
That pushed the manufacturing sector from  sixth place in terms of dollar
value of  foreign  investment to second place behind the energy sector.

The government did not release a breakdown of which countries were investing
in which manufacturing projects, but of 251 foreign investment projects in
11 sectors, manufacturing accounted for 86 projects.

Burma's economy is still largely based on agriculture, but there has been
increased manufacturing of food and beverages, plastic pipes, garments,
cigarettes, wood and wood based products and sugar mills.

Burma's military government opened up to foreign investment in 1988 after 26
years of socialist isolationism under Gen Ne Win that left it one of the
world's least developed countries. 

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BKK POST: SLORC BOASTS SUCCESS IN HELPING MINORITIES
July 10, 1997
Nussara Sawatswang

Ethnic leaders lead civilised lives after ceasefire: Minister

A Burmese minister denied yesterday that peace efforts with minority groups
had failed, claiming some ethnic leaders were now enjoying "civilised" lives
after ceasefire deals reached a few years ago.

Lieutenant-General Maung Thint, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and
National Races and Development Affairs, said the government had been 'truly
successful' in developing remote areas, since it initiated ceasefire
agreements in the late1980s.

Development included building roads, dams, power plants and industrial
factories, creating jobs for doctors and nurses in their hometowns and
increasing rice production, Lt Gen Maung Thint said.

He said the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) had also
granted privileges-to ethnic leaders and their associates to allow them to
go into business to make a living after putting down their weapons.

He did not give details, but said no groups were dissatisfied with the
agreements.

"Now these people can do anything they want, ... They can even send their
children to study in Bangkok, Singapore and the United States," he said.

The visiting Burmese minister believed that the government's effort to
improve the lives of people living in remote areas would gradually reduce
the up to 800,000 Burmese and non-Burmese who illegally sought jobs in Thailand.

Lt-Gen Maung Thint, in Bangkok to attend a ministerial meeting on drug
co-operation in the Mekong region, was commenting on allegations by several
ethnic groups that Slorc had failed to deliver on promises to help minority
groups.  They said the junta continued to violate some points of the
agreement by using forced labour and relocations.

A meeting of disgruntled Burmese ethnic minorities held in mid-January
included representatives from the United Wa State Party, New Mon State
Party, Kachin Independent Organisation and Kayan New Land Party.

Ethnic groups at the meeting agreed to collectively boycott any Slorc
proposal in the constitution drafting convention launched by Slorc in 1993.
The so-called national convention has not been held since it was interrupted
last year.

Lt-Gen Maung Thint said the complaints came from "some 10 to 15 people who
rejected ceasefire deals".

He said the military government had reached ceasefire deals with 17 ethnic
groups.  Drug warlord Khun Sa, of Shan State's Mong Tai Army, was the most
recent to surrender to the Slorc, in January last year.

Despite international calls and pressure, the Burmese government does not
communicate with the Karen National Union (KNU), led by Bo Mya, or with
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Lt-Gen Maung Thint said he did not believe Bo Mya would agree to develop
Burma jointly with Slorc because he said the KNU and Mrs Suu Kyi received
financial aid sponsored by the United State's Central Intelligence Agency,
which aimed to overthrow the current government..

The American government's interference in Burma's affairs arose because
Slorc refused to follow its orders, he said. (BP)

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