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The BurmaNet News, September 22, 19 (r)
- Subject: The BurmaNet News, September 22, 19 (r)
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 18:47:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: September 22, 1997
Issue #825
HEADLINES:
==========
REUTER: CLASH AT BANGLADESH REFUGEES CAMP
DVB: ABSDF EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT USDA OBSTRUCTING NLD
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: MINISTERS RELEASED IN THAILAND
KNU: OVER 300 PEOPLE FLED THEIR VILLAGES.
THE NATION: BURMA LETS THAIS LOOK FOR AIRCRAFT
RASTRIYA SAHARA: NORTH- EAST INSURGENCY GETTING SUPPORT
THE HINDU: SEAL MANIPUR BORDER, DEMANDS SAMATA PARTY
KAREN SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION: STATEMENT NO. 1/97
KAREN SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION: PRINCIPLE CONSTITUTION
UK FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE: FLOOD RELIEF
KYODO: SLORC GENERAL AYE KYAW DIES IN LONDON
TACDB: LETTER TO BAUER THAI COMPANY RE UNPAID WORKERS
BKK POST: FAKE NOTES CIRCULATING IN THE NORTH
BKK POST: DIRECTIVE ON BORDER CONTROLS
RADIO BURMA GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT: WEB PAGE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
REUTER: CLASH AT BANGLADESH REFUGEES CAMP
September 18, 1997
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Sept 18 (Reuter) - About 15 people were injured in
clashes between police and armed Burmese refugees in southeastern Bangladesh
on Thursday, government officials said.
``Fighting erupted at Nayapara camp after some refugees barred others from
taking food rations provided by the government,'' one official said.
``The rival refugees battled with spears and catapults. When police
intervened hours later, they attacked them. Police fired at least 20 teargas
shells and used clubs,'' he said.
Officials told reporters the injured comprised about a dozen refugees and
three policemen.
They said the situation at the camp, home to more than 12,000 of about 21,000
Burmese Moslem refugees known as Rohingyas, was still tense.
``There may be further violence. We have deployed extra forces,'' said one
police officer at Cox's Bazar, near Nayapara.
Some 8,000 Rohingyas live at Kutupalong camp, also in Cox's Bazar district.
The Rohingyas have been refusing to accept food and medicine since July 20 in
an attempt to avoid repatriation to their homes in Burma's western Arakan
province. Officials said on Thursday the camps' inmates were divided on the
food issue.
The Rohingyas say they want to stay in Bangladesh because of continuing
military persecution in Burma, especially in Moslem-majority Arakan, and will
not return until democracy is restored in their country.
Bangladesh says the Rohingyas are mostly economic refugees and must go back
under supervision of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
Dhaka has assured the refugees, the remainder of some 250,000 Rohingyas who
fled to Bangladesh in early 1992, that no one will be forced to return.
****************************************
DVB: ABSDF EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT USDA OBSTRUCTING NLD MEETING
September 15, 1997 [translated from Burmese]
Oslo Democratic Voice of Burma
The National League for Democracy, NLD, has planned to hold a meeting
on 27 and 28 September to mark its ninth anniversary. The All Burma
Students Democratic Front, ABSDF, has issued a statement today, saying that
the SLORC [State Law and Order Restoration Council] military clique has
issued an urgent secret directive instructing the Union Solidarity and
Development Association, USDA, to provide 20 hardcore members from each
township to obstruct the planned NLD meeting.
It has been reported that USDA members who would act as instructed by
the SLORC's military intelligence service have been screened and selected.
People's Volunteers Organization [Pyithu Soon Ar Shinmyar Athin] formed
with these members is patterned after Hitler's terror organization. The
main objective of this organization is to carry out physical attacks
against NLD members and to make it appear as if they are retaliation from
the dissatisfied general public. The SLORC's USDA members are planning to
attack the NLD members under the guise of members of the public.
The SLORC's military intelligence is currently training USDA members
on use of force, collection of information by mixing with the people,
dissemination of false information among the public, creation of unrest so
as to prevent support for NLD, and other methods of sabotage.
NLD leaders from states and divisions have been invited to attend the
NLD's ninth anniversary meeting on 27 and 28 September and they are
requested to arrive in Rangoon by 25 September. The ABSDF expressed its
concern at the possibility of SLORC's USDA hardcore members threatening,
obstructing, and intimidating the NLD members.
*******************************************
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: MINISTERS RELEASED IN THAILAND
September 20, 1997
William Barnes in Bangkok
Three ministers in the government-in-exile who faced forced repatriation have
been released in Mae Sot, just inside the Thai border, say human rights
workers.
The "soft deportation" effectively means Thailand had acknowledged it would
create a furore if the three, elected as MPs in a 1990 general election, were
handed over to the military junta in Rangoon.
"There was a very sharp response. Many diplomats and journalists became
involved. There was even a demonstration outside the Thai Embassy in
Jakarta," a human rights activist said.
The three are Teddy Buri, the Asia-Pacific affairs minister in the National
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, health minister San Aung and
justice minister Thien Oo.
Thai police had claimed that because the three did not have valid passports
they would "definitely" be deported.
There were also fears that publicity surrounding the affair might prompt
Bangkok authorities to re-examine its long-standing and relatively benign
policy of allowing Burmese exiles to live and continue their political
activities in Thailand.
"It irritates the hell out of the State Law and Order Restoration Council,
which has been pushing the Thais to kick them out. And the Government of
Prime Minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has better relations with
Rangoon than its predecessors," said a Burmese observer.
A Western diplomat said: "In a way it has been quite reassuring. It means the
exile community probably remains pretty safe here."
The MPs are expected to be allowed back into Bangkok soon.
The same cannot be said, however, for the many thousands of Burmese working
in the underground economy or who have sought refuge in Bangkok as illegal
refugees. Some estimates say there are as many as a million Burmese in this
category.
Thai security forces have stepped up stop-and-search operations for Burmese
illegal immigrants apparently out of fear they may turn to crime following a
slump in the Thai construction industry, where many worked.
*******************************************
KNU: OVER 300 PEOPLE FLED THEIR VILLAGES.
September 20, 1997
win1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
KAREN NATIONAL UNION
MERGUI-TAVOY DISTRICT NEWS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
20/9/97
The SLORC offensive against the Karen in the Mergui-Tavoy District began in
February 1997. Thousands of villagers fled their homes for safety on the
Thai-Burma border. However, some villagers chose not to leave their homes.
These four villages remained: 1) Seik Ku, 2) Hsar Mu Taw, 3) Kyauk Twin, 4)
Par Thar Yay Bu. Since the offensive began, SLORC continually ordered these
villages to provide able bodies for portering and forced labor.
Between the 13th and 14th of September, 1997, villagers from the above
mentioned villages finally fled their villages. Over 300 villagers reached
the Thai-Burma border by the 17th and 18th. The villagers have provided the
following reasons for their collective departure.
1. Villagers from all four villages have had to constantly provided labor,
without any compensation, to construct a car road from Pawng Daw village to
Tha Byu village.
2. On 14/8/97, the SLORC unit killed six villagers from Seik Ku village.
The killings were carried out as a threat to the other workers. The SLORC
complained that the six villagers killed did not work hard enough and were lazy.
3. The SLORC troops are continually destroying the stored rice supplies.
The stored rice is often confiscated by the SLORC troops for meals, but many
rice barns have been burnt.
4. The villagers are now facing the harvest time, but the SLORC troops are
using forced labor instead to destroy the rice plants and rice fields.
5. In September, 1997, the SLORC sent forced relocation orders for all
remaining villagers in the four villages to move to Thaung Thone Lone.
6. When serving as porters or completing their forced labor, the villagers
can not attend to their own labor for survival. The villagers now fear for
their lives after the SLORC casually killed the six workers. They have
witnessed the mass destruction of their stored rice and the upcoming
harvest, they realize the possibility of starvation. And they have lost
hope with their decision to stay in
their villages, therefore, they fled from their homes.
The responsible SLORC units that have committed these atrocities are from
the Light Infantry Division 66 and the TOC 661 [Tactical Operations Command]
under the command of Colonel Win Myint.
FORCED LABOR
Thaung Thone Lone in the Tavoy Township has 12 sections with approximately
900 houses. The Hein Da village has 9 sections with about 600 houses.
Every ten days, the SLORC army orders 30 men from Thaung Thone Lone and 20
men from Hein Da village. If no villagers are available, then the village
is fined 2000 kyat for each person not present. The money is paid to the
LORC village chairman.
On 15/6/97, forced labor was used to build houses for the 25 KNU soldiers
who surrendered to the SLORC. The forced laborers were made to find the
bamboo, cut and carry the bamboo, clear jungle for the houses, and provide
the leaf roofs. No money was paid to these laborers and they had to provide
for their own food.
Remark: From the 25 KNU soldiers who surrendered, four returned to the KNU
without weapons. They told the KNU officers that others wanted to return
but dared not to.
At Myitta village, the SLORC wants to establish an office. They demanded 18
carpenters from Taung Thone Lone village and 12 carpenters from Hein Da
village. There was no opportunity to substitute for this labor.
FORCED RELOCATION
Forced relocation orders first came in July. 70 houses from Seik Ku, 40
houses from Hsar Mu Taw, and 70 houses from Kalit Kyi were ordered to move
to Taung Thone Lone in July. First the villagers were to move to Taung
Thone Lone, then they were to be moved to Myitta village.
Remark: Some villagers went to the responsible person and asked for mercy.
The villagers pleaded that they had many problems away from their houses and
they wanted to return to their village. Permission was granted in August
for some to return. Then the SLORC issued a final order in September for
all villagers to move to Taung Thone Lone.
PORTERING
>>From Taung Thone Lone, 24 men were ordered to porter for 10 day periods. 2
people were required from each section. In Hein Da, 18 men were ordered for
the same work, 2 men from each section.
If the village can not provide enough porters, the village is fined 2000
kyat for each absent porter. This money is given to the LORC village
chairman, then it is passed on to the SLORC army commander. In addition,
porter fees are collected from each house in Taung Thone Lone and Hein Da.
The fees range between 200 to 300 kyat and are paid to the LORC village
chairman.
Finally, on 15/6/97 25 KNU soldiers from the Fourth Brigade, Tenth
Battalion, Second Company surrendered to the SLORC. On 16/6/97, General
Maung Aye arrived to Taung Thone Lone village to preside over a welcoming
ceremony. He gave the 25 soldiers a welcoming gift of 500,000 kyat.
However, according to Taung Thone Lone villagers who later escaped to the
Thai-Burma border, the money did not come from the treasury of the SLORC.
Instead, it was
collected from business men and ordinary villagers.
*******************************************
THE NATION: BURMA LETS THAIS LOOK FOR AIRCRAFT
September 21, 1997
AFP
Mission: troops search for helicopter lost in bad weather last month.
BURMA allowed Thai troops across the border yesterday to search for the
wreckage of a Thai military helicopter which went missing in bad weather in
late August, an army officer said.
Gen Chatchapath Yamngramread, a regimental commander in Tak province, some
400 kilometres northwest of Bangkok, said that Thai soldiers would also be
allowed to search for the missing helicopter by land and air today.
"This is the second time we have asked for permission from the Burmese
government to search for the missing helicopter," Chatchapath said by
telephone from Tak, opposite the Burmese town of Myawaddy in Karen State.
The general said that the Thai military will also seek assistance via
relations between Thai and Burmese villagers in the area.
Burma's military junta has only recently wrested control of much of the area
from the ethnic Karen National Union (KNU), which has been fighting Rangoon
for greater autonomy in a federal and democratic system for five decades.
"The military cannot directly ask for help from Burmese villagers because
we don't known which one is Burmese or KNU, but we really need help from
them, whoever they are," Chatchapath said.
The Thai military has offered a reward of Bt50,000 to anyone who can find
the missing helicopter, which it hopes will attract the interest of
villagers, particularly on the Burmese side.
An organisation of former Burmese students opposed to the junta say they
intercepted communications revealing that a local Burmese military division
shot the helicopter down after radioing for approval from Rangoon.
Thai and Burmese military sources dismissed the claim, saying it went down
after straying across the border in bad weather.
The region's seasonal southwest monsoon brings fierce storms, which
yesterday caused the deaths of 14 people in the entourage of Her Majesty the
Queen in a helicopter crash in the south near the Malaysian border.
Chatchapath said the military helicopter disappeared with four pilots on Aug
28 on a routine surveillance flight of refugee camps and forests in
Thailand's border areas.
***********************************************
RASTRIYA SAHARA: NORTH- EAST INSURGENCY GETTING SUPPORT OF MYANMAR
September 18, 1997
[BurmaNet Note: This is an unofficial translation from a Hindi newspaper
article. Translation by Burma Info, India]
New Delhi, 18 Sept; 1997: Military government of Myanmar is supporting the
North-East Insurgency. Not only that, military rulers of Myanmar are also
involved in drug trafficking activities that is taking place along the
Indo-Burma border trade routes. Dr. Tint Swe exposed the facts while
talking to some journalists here today. Dr.Tint Swe is one of the leaders
of the Burmese democracy movement and a strong supporter of Aung San Suu
Kyi. He is struggling for the restoration of democracy in Burma. Dr. Tint
Swe said that there are camps of Naga and ULFA insurgents in the hills of
Myanmar. Those insurgent groups seek military training and weapons from
other countries. It is a great concern that military rulers are overlooking or
allowing these insurgent groups' operating on Myanmar soil.
Dr.Swe, Mr. Ramjeet Verma, the director of NCGUB (Foreign Affairs), and
Burmese Literary person, Mr. C.P. Prabhaker (Mawthiri), told that the
people of Burma look toward the Indian Government and its people for
help in restoring democracy in their country. They have a strong belief
that democracy can be achieved with the help of the Indian Government and
people. Today marks the 9th anniversary of a military coup d'etat when the
military junta crushed nation-wide pro-democracy movement and seized the
power.
It is said that a group of Burmese democracy activists staged a poster
campaign and demonstration in front of the Burmese embassy here in New
Delhi, today.
Despite the fact that the Indian Intelligence Bureau has had knowledge
of hideouts of North-East insurgency, it is the first time that a Burmese
democratic supporter exposed the fact.
Mr. Verma furthermore said that pro-democracy activists in Burma are being
subjected to arbitrary arrest and torture by the ruling junta. The economy
of the country and its people has been shattered and its development has
become stagnant. The state economy is on the verge of collapse.
Dr. Tint Swe said that day by day the Chinese influence in the state is
growing fast. It is a great threat to the security of India. He said that
he would meet the prominent political leaders of India very soon and try
to persuade them to deal with India's real security concerns.
*******************************************************
THE HINDU: SEAL MANIPUR BORDER, DEMANDS SAMATA PARTY
September 19, 1997
NAGPUR, Sept. 18: The Samata Party national general, Ms. Jaya Jaitley, today
demanded that the Government immediately seal the Indo-Myanmar border at
Moreh in Manipur and snap trade links with Myanmar since it had become a
haven for drug traffickers. Talking to reporters at a 'meet the press'
programme here, Ms. Jaitley said drugs were smuggled into Indian territory
through Moreh border and alleged the involvement of the security forces in
it. She quoted a report in Time alleging involvement of security forces in
drug trafficking and expressed surprise that it had not been denied by the
Government. The party would launch a public awareness campaign in Manipur
against drugs and organise a ' human-wall' from October 2 to prevent trading
of goods through Moreh border, she said.
The party had planned to continue its border-blockade agitation for at least
one week, she said. Ms. Jaitley expressed concern over spread of AIDS in
Manipur and felt the State would [take action?] "due to the alarming rise in
drug addiction there." One out of five people in Manipur are drug addicts,
she said. Ms. Jaitley said the party would organise a rally in Patna on
October 25 demanding the dismissal of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)
government in Bihar. She reiterated her party's demand to impose President's
rule in the State. She alleged that the Congress president, Mr. Sitaram
Kesri, was seeking help from former Bihar Chief Minister Mr. Laloo Prasad
Yadav for his own survival in the State as the Congress is a divided house
there. (PTI)
***************************************
KAREN SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION: STATEMENT NO. 1/97
September 3, 1997
KAREN SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION
Statement No. 1/97
1. The SLORC's military junta today, under a well planned strategy
and capitalization on their military might are systematically
committing genocide against the Karen minorities.
Hence it becomes a historic duty to unite and form an organization to
counter the inhumane acts of the SLORC. For the very survival and to be left
in peace, the organization was successfully formed on 31.8.97, comprising of
patriotic monks students, workers, farmers and intellectuals.
2. The aim of KSO is to promote peace, liberty and equality, uplifting the
prestige and solidarity of the Karen national. KSO will strive for the
benefit of the entire Karen nation, without any discrimination as to sex,
religion, locality, tribes, class or political organizations.
3. K.S.O, while striving hard for the Karens, will at the same time help or
cooperate with the affairs of other ethnic minorities.
4. The affairs of Karen refugees and workers who are displaced into Thailand
will be emphasized and promptly handled. At the same time for those Karen in
Burma, who are displaced or forced to relocate from their homeland due to
military operations they will also be similarly handled.
5. K.S.O has been formed by the following patriots:
_ Patronage board
1.Saw Ba Soe Gay
2.Saw Franklin Thein
3.Pah Doh Terence
Central Executive Committee members are
1.Saw W.Po Ni President
2.Mahn R.Ba Zan Vice-president
3.Mahn Aung Htay General Secretary
4.Mahn Win Kyi Secretary(1)
5.Saw Pi Htoo Chit Secretary (2)
6.Saw Mu Head of National Security Department
7.S'Than Naing Deputy head of National Security Department
8.Mahn Awa Phaung Head of Finance Department
9.Naw Paw Ta Su Deputy Head of Finance Department
10.Saw Tin Maung Oo Head of Foreign Affairs
11.Saw Khu Paw Deputy head of Foreign Affairs
12.Mahn Hta Ma Naint Head of News and Information Department
13.Saw Kaw Htoo (B.J) Deputy Head of News and Information Department
14.Saw Po K'Ne Head of Youth Affairs Department
15.Khun Ler Wah Head of Students Affairs Department
16.Saw Clyde Head of Health Department
17.Saw Lay Klair Head of Education Department
18.Naw Pa Mu Head of Women's Affairs
19.Saw Aye Htoo Aung Head of Religious Department
20.Saw Shu Wah Head of Common Karen language Implementation and
Research Department
21.Saw Thein Paw Di Head of Karen Arts and Culture Department
6. K.S.O resolutely declares to strive hard for the Karen. To bring
about national reconciliation and solidarity.
Central Executive Committee
Karen Solidarity Organization
3rd, September 1997.
****************************************
KAREN SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION: PRINCIPLE CONSTITUTION September 20, 1997
KAREN SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION
Principal Constitution
1. Aims
(A) Peace
(B) Equality
(C) Liberty
(D) Uplifting Karen National Dignity
(E) Solidarity
2. Objectives
(A) In establishing internal peace-
(1) Nationwide ceasefire
(2) All problems will be solved through peaceful negotiations and not
by violence.
(3) Present national conflicts must be settled by Tri- party negotiations:
-All Ethnic Nationalities
-Democracy forces
-(SLORC) State Law and Order Restoration Council
(B)In establishing equality-
(1) Complete human rights for everybody in all ethnic nationalities
(2) Each ethnic nationality in the union shall enjoy full national
and Democratic Rights.
(C) In establishing liberty-
(1) The Karen state must be established.
(2) The rights and privileges of Self Determination, Judicature and
Laws must be granted.
(3) The Karen state must is an autonomous state and have self
determination in Federal Union.
(4) National armed forces are a must for Karen national security.
(5) Sovereignty over social, economic and political affairs in the
Karen State.
(D) In uplifting Karen National Dignity-
(1) To carry out and extend traditional Karen culture.
(2) To establish a Karen National School system, an arts and culture
museum and a historical military museum
(E) In establishing Solidarity-
(1) A Karen National convention or congress must be held.
(2) To draw up a Karen National constitution.
(3) For national reconciliation and solidarity participation of Karen
people from urban, rural, overseas, above and under ground political
organizations
3. K.S.O's fores are:-
(a) Systems of exploitation
(b) Slavery systems
(c) Narrow and superior minded racism.
(d) Authoritarian and party-egoism
(e) SLORC military junta, which has elements of all above.
4. K.S.O's friends are:-
(1) In Karen Society:
(a) Karen manual workers
(b) Karen farmers
(c) Karen Youth, Students, Women, Clerical and Secretariat staffs,
Traders and Businessman, Artists, Technicians and Intellectuals, etc....
(d) Karen Social, Political and Religious organizations.
(e) Overseas Karens
(2) Brotherly Ethnic Nationalities in Burma:
(a) Workers
(b) Farmers
(c) Youth, Students, Women, Clerical and Secretarial staffs, Traders
and Businessman, Artists,
Technicians and Intellectuals, etc....
(d) Democratic forces and anti SLORC multi-party organizations
(3) Overseas friends are:
(a) International Labour Organizations
(b) International students, Youth, Women Organization and Democracy
forces. etc.....
(c) Non-Governmental Organizations and all sympathetic nations to the
Karen cause.
5. Urgent tasks to be done are:-
(a) nationwide ceasefire.
(b) Tri-party negotiation after cease fire.
(c) K.S.O must be nationwide.
(d) Karen national convention must be carried out.
(e) Karen national reconciliation must be carried out urgently.
(f) Common Language and literature for Karen must be created.
(g) Rescue and protection measure must be carried out immediately for
Karen refugees in Thailand.
(h) Public Relations Department, to be established and implemented for
Karen National reconciliation and Solidarity.
(i) K.S.O's journals must be published and issued.
6. K.S.O's Center Committee Structures
Patronage board
- Buddhist Concern
-Christian Concern
-Karen Patriots :-1. Saw Ba Soe Gay
:-2. Saw Franklin Thein
:-3. Pah Doh Terence
Central Executive Committee:- [see above]
Note: Central committee shall be expanded whenever required.
7. K.S.O's Three National Duties
(1) To initiate Karen National Convention.
(2) To uplift Karen National Prestige, Liberty and Equality.
(3) To initiate Karen National Reconciliation and Solidarity.
*******************************************
UK FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE: FLOOD RELIEF
September 19, 1997
The Department for International Development announced on 29 August the
contribution of 80,000 pounds (approximately US$129,000) of emergency
humanitarian relief to flood victims in Burma, as part of a local and
international coordinated relief programme. The funds have been channelled
through World Vision UK and will provide food, blankets, clothing and other
basic needs to flood victims in Bago Division. Distribution is already
underway and according to our latest reports appears to be going well.
United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office
South East Asian Department
*******************************************
KYODO: SLORC GENERAL AYE KYAW DIES IN LONDON
September 19, 1997
YANGON, Sept. 19 (Kyodo) - Myanmar Information Minister Maj. Gen. Aye Kyaw
died of lung cancer in a London hospital Thursday, according to family
sources. He was 59.
A former commander of the northeast military region, Aye Kyaw became
minister for information in June 1995.
He is survived by his wife and six children.
********************************************
TACDB: LETTER TO BAUER THAI COMPANY RE UNPAID WORKERS
September 19, 1997
URGENT FAX MESSAGE
To : The Managing Director,
Bauer Thai Construction Co. Ltd.,
142 Pacific Tower, 19th Floor, Sukhumvit Road,
Klong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand.
Fax No. : (+662) 589 4948.
Date : 19th September, 1997.
Re. : Request to cease the non-payment of wages to Burmese
workers in Bangkok.
CC. : ASEAN and International Press, BurmaNet News Service
(worldwide), Royal Thai Government, Diplomatic missions in Bangkok
(including Germany), Union for Civil Liberties (BKK), Asian Forum for
Development and Human Rights (BKK), The International Labor Organization
(BKK and Geneva), Asian Human Rights Commission (Hong Kong), United Nations
Hotline (Geneva and New York).
________________________________
Dear Managing Director,
We respectfully request that your company cease the practice of withholding
wages from Burmese workers on your project construction site near Lar Hok
railway station in Rangsit, Bangkok.
These wages were meant to be paid to workers through your agent Mr. Suwan.
Mr. Suwan represents ' Anglo-Thai' or 'Angel Thai' Agents and this company
has been breaching the terms of the contract since it was agreed upon in
early February, 1997. We believe that Bauer Thai Co. Ltd. have previously
experienced such problems with this agent. Burmese workers, although having
sold their labor power to Bauer Thai Co. Ltd. in good faith, have received
no wages since commencing work for Bauer Thai in February, 1997. Workers now
face many difficulties, the most devastating and humiliating of which has
been hunger.
As all proper and original agreements have been violated between Bauer,
Angel Thai and the laborers, we urge that the matter be remedied through
direct and un-mediated contact between Bauer Thai Co. Ltd. and the workers
themselves, in order that wage payment can be guaranteed.
We would like to stress that the only problem between Bauer Thai Co. Ltd.
and the laborers is the non-payment of wages to Burmese workers.
Most of the workers are highly suspicious of Mr. Suwan and Bauer Thai Co.
Ltd. and many think that you are intent on exploiting their situation by
continuing to withhold wages. As you may be aware, we are planning to make a
large-scale plea for action on this issue in the international community if
the matter is not resolved peacefully, justly and forthwith.
The world is already starting to come to know how some business owners
exploit and mistreat Burmese workers in Thailand. Soon, too, the world will
come to know that internationally owned and/or operated companies are also
exploiting and mistreating Burmese workers in Thailand. We believe that
Bauer Thai Co. Ltd. is a German owned company. Germany has a good reputation
in the world for industrial relations that we would like to see upheld in
Bauer Thai's handling of this situation.
The world is becoming more sensitive to the problems of Burmese people who
have been forced to leave their country for one reason or another. Burmese
workers must be treated fairly, wherever they may be.
We restate that it is your company's responsibility to pay our wages and the
remedy the situation as soon as possible.
We respectfully request that Bauer Thai Co. Ltd. deliver workers' wages
directly to laborers at the site in Lar Hok.
If you have any difficulties in this matter we are prepared to assist you in
any way. It is possible for us to ask a well-reputed Thai organization and/
or lawyer, to oversee this process for your peace of mind.
Sincerely, and with kind regards,
U Mai Maung,
Workers Representative.
Khin Pyu Win,
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB),
328 Phayathai Road,
Rajthevee, BKK 10400, THAILAND.
tel/fax: (+662) 216 4463.
-----------------------------------------------
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB),
328 Phayathai Road,
Rajthevee,
Bangkok 10400,
THAILAND.
tel/fax: (+662) 216 4463
email: tacdb@xxxxxxxxxx
******************************************************
BKK POST: FAKE NOTES CIRCULATING IN THE NORTH
September 21, 1997
Cheewin Sattha
Mae Hong Son
The former stronghold of drug war lord Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army in Shan
State is now producing counterfeit US, Thai and Burmese banknotes a Shan
source says.
The source said counterfeits were being made on five printers in Ho Mong
opposite Ban Na Pu Pom of Mae Hong Son's Pang Ma Pha district.
They are used to print fake US dollars, 500 and 1,000-baht notes and 200 and
500-kyat denominations.
The counterfeit notes had been circulated in Chiang Mai's Chiang Dao and
Fang districts as well as in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.
The printing house is being supervised by a former MTA commander and Burmese
army officers.
A Thai border security source confirmed there had been reports of fake notes
being produced at Ho Mong but they had not been circulated in Mae Hong Son.
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BKK POST: DIRECTIVE ON BORDER CONTROLS
September 21, 1997
Thais to be told of Burmese entry rules
TAK --The provincial chamber of commerce has called on officials to inform
Thais of border crossing regulations and work out with their Burmese
counterparts how to reduce costs for people crossing the border via the
friendship bridge.
Paniti Tangphati, vice president of Tak Chamber of Commerce, said
information about entry regulations and fees should be provided at the
checkpoint to avoid problems.
He also suggested a joint working team be appointed to discuss border entry
fees, saying people are forced to pay extra when crossing the border via the
bridge.
The Thai immigration charges 100 baht each for those who leave for Burma, in
addition to a normal fee of 10 baht each while the customs charges 200
extra for every vehicle leaving the country, in addition to the normal fee
under a local agreement.
He said those who cross the border via the bridge pay higher costs than
crossing by boat.
Such calls follow the detentions of two border police and three officials
charged with illegal entry into Burma when they crossed the border to
Myawaddy via the Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge on Thursday.
Border officials said yesterday the five were released on Friday after
paying fines of 8,400 each. They were held at a police station in Myawaddy
opposite Mae Sot district for over 20 hours.
The officials also said the Burmese authorities demanded Thais buy vehicle
insurance, 229 baht for cars and 630 for trucks, without issuing any
insurance certificates.
They also asked tourists to be aware of some Burmese authorities who are in
league with illegal Burmese guides in a swindling scam.
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RADIO BURMA GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT: WEB PAGE
September 21, 1997
Dear friends
We are cordially inviting you to see our web page covering the following
issues:
-faxtoon
-enviroBurma
-recent issue
-EcoEffect of Burma and
-RBG Publications Collection
We start our electronic publication recently. Starting from this week, we'd
like to present our RBG e-publication books through this page. We will put
every new chapter of the book every week until it ends.
Radio Burma Group
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