BurmaNet News Movember 26, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------           
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"           
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The BurmaNet News: November 26, 1997              
Issue #877

Noted in Passing:

An SPDC spokesman on ex-ministers reported under house arrest:

"They are staying in their houses because they have new posts and 
they don't have any offices to go to yet."
(see: SCMP: EX-MINISTERS IN CLEAR)

HEADLINES:              
==========
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: EX-MINISTERS IN CLEAR AS
BKK POST: PARTY GUESTS HARASSED BY JUNTA: NLD 
XINHUA ENGLISH NEWSWIRE: MYANMAR MEDIA URGED 
XINHUA: MYANMAR ECONOMISTS, ENTREPRENEURS URGED 
BKK POST: NEIGHBOURS OFFER CHUAN A CHALLENGE
APEC SUMMIT: COMPILATION OF BURMA-RELATED EVENTS
ITAR-TAS: ALBRIGHT ACCUSES JAPAN OF EXTREME EXPORT 
NATION: NEGATIVE FACTORS MAY HIT BURMA BID
THE NATION: CHUAN GOVT WANTS RANGOON TO ADAPT
THE NATION: TOTAL COMPLETES PIPE WORK
BKK POST: BURMA, LAOS PLAN TO WAIVE VISAS
BKK POST: CHILD LABOUR ABUSES DENIED
BKK POST: CHILDREN FLEE POVERTY FOR BETTER LIFE
KNU: KNU PRESS RELEASE NO. 64/97
FBC: OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE PRESIDENT AGREES TO STUDENT
BANGOR DAILY NEWS: COA TAKES A SWING AT OPPRESSIVE REGIME 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: EX-MINISTERS IN CLEAR AS
JUNTA ADMITS PROBE
November 25,  1997

REUTERS in Bangkok

The new-look military Government yesterday admitted questioning staff at
several ministries.

But a spokesman denied reports that some ex-ministers had been detained
or put under house arrest since the junta changed its name to the State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

He said: "Inquiries have been made in the ministries, but it's too early
to say at the moment what it is about."

Reports had circulated in the media, on the Internet and in diplomatic
circles that several members of the now-defunct State Law and Order
Restoration Council had been arrested.

"They have not been picked up for questioning," the spokesman said by
telephone from Rangoon. "They are staying in their houses because they
have new posts and they don't have any offices to go to yet."

"That's probably where the confusion came about - they aren't going into
any office."

Diplomats said last week that the creation of the SPDC was partly to weed
out corrupt ministers and improve the image of a Government accused of
rampant corruption as the country suffered a severe economic slump.

Four of the more prominent ministers dealing with financial issues were
removed from office and put on a newly created 14-member Advisory
Council.

They include tourism minister Lieutenant-General Kyaw Ba, trade and
commerce minister Lieutenant-General Tun Kyi, forestry minister
Lieutenant-General Chit Swe and agriculture minister Lieutenant-General
Myint Aung.

The spokesman said the decision to change the Government's name and
revamp the ruling council and Cabinet showed the Government's desire to
move towards democracy.

"This indicates that the Government is a transitional Government," he
said. "If it was going to hold on to power indefinitely it wouldn't need
to change its name or the people in the Government."

He said this was the Government's second phase in a three-step plan
towards democracy.

Diplomats said the new Government, which is led by the same top four
generals as the council, did not appear to have any new policy and said
the changes were made to improve its image and promote some junior
officers.

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

BKK POST: PARTY GUESTS HARASSED BY JUNTA: NLD 
November 26, 1997
RANGOON, AFP

INVITATION  LETTERS WERE 'CONFISCATED'

Burma's main opposition  National  League for Democracy (NLD)
yesterday slammed the military authorities for obstructing its
efforts to commemorate National Day at the house of Aung San Suu Kyi.

An NLD statement accused the authorities of harassing party members to 
prevent them from attending the gathering on Monday, organised to mark 
the 77th anniversary of the Burmese independence movement.

"Various means" had been used to "hamper and obstruct" the
ceremony including the confiscation of invitations to the event.

"Not only did they place barb-wire 0 barriers near Aung San Suu
Kyi's residence ... they even went to the extent of confiscating
the invitation letters," the statement said.

The event was the first major NLD gathering since Burma's
military; leadership announced a shake-up of the regime, designed
to help the country make the transition towards "disciplined democracy".

The NLD noted the obstructions came despite earlier official
assertions that such NLD gatherings could be conducted freely
inside the Rangoon  residential compound of the party  leader.; 
     
The party complained that  even central executive committee 
members of the party including  co-vice-chairman Tin Oo were
subjected to "prolonged questioning" although security officials
on duty knew them by sight.

"These petty acts of harassment were totally unnecessary...
especially when everyone including the authorities should have
been sharing the feeling of mutual pride on such an occasion,"
the statement said.

Some 300 NLD members, as well as diplomats and local journalists,
were allowed into the National Day gathering after security
checks at barricades manned by riot police either side of Aung
San Suu Kyi's house.

Security officials at the scene said that no invitees were turned away.

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

XINHUA ENGLISH NEWSWIRE: MYANMAR MEDIA URGED 
TO HIGHLIGHT INDUSTRIAL VITALITY
November 19, 1997

Newly-appointed Myanmar Minister for Information Kyi Aung has
urged the media in the country to highlight the vitality of
industrial strength for national development.

The Myanmar head of state has chosen the motto  "to leap forward
with industrial power," he noted while meeting with officials of the
Myanmar media here Tuesday, the official newspaper The New Light of
Myanmar reported today.

The minister urged official newspapers to highlight the motto as a
guideline in their work, saying they should also give priority to
matters of national importance.

Greater efforts are required in publishing news in accordance with
the state's objectives, the minister said.

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

XINHUA: MYANMAR ECONOMISTS, ENTREPRENEURS URGED 
TO WORK FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
November 24, 1997

YANGON (Nov. 24) XINHUA - Myanmar senior leader Lieutenant 
General Khin Nyunt has called on local economists and entrepreneurs 
to join hands with the government in developing a peaceful and
modern nation.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the Institute of 
Economics here Sunday, Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the State Peace 
and Development Council (SPDC), stressed that economy and politics
are inter-related and there is political stability if the economy is strong.

He said that Myanmar is trying to be strong in economy, noting that 
the SPDC was formed on November 15 to strive for peace and tranquillity 
and economic growth of the country and the people, official paper The New 
Light of Myanmar reported today.

He pointed out, "There is not much success in the endeavor for economic 
well-being due to interference, suppression and hindrance of some
big nations."

He called for cooperation among economists, entrepreneurs, bankers and 
statisticians for economic development of the country. 

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

BKK POST: NEIGHBOURS OFFER CHUAN A CHALLENGE
November 23, 1997  (abridged)

Prior to leaving for the Apec forum, Thailand's new government promised to
take a stronger stance against Burma's military regime. In Vancouver, a
meeting between the foreign ministers of Thailand, Indonesia and the
Philippines and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will address the
political crisis in Cambodia.

Hundreds of human rights groups have mounted a counter-summit on the
sidelines of the Asian-Pacific Economic Forum in Vancouver to highlight
abuses throughout the larger region.

Their message is clear: Apec is not a "strictly business" affair. Human
rights issues cannot be separated from economics.

Enter Chuan Leekpai, Southeast Asia's newest Prime Minister, who inherits a
host of burdens, not just at home, but in forming a coherent policy to deal
with unruly neighbours Cambodia and Burma. The possible postponement of
Cambodia's upcoming elections and Burma's continued suppression of its
opposition have cast a pall over the region as thick as the Indonesian haze.

Burma's embarrassing feud with European Union, and Thailand's feeble
attempts to mediate, rubbed fresh salt in old wounds.

And, of course, Asean's spotty attempts at policy during the Cambodian
political crisis have only made matters worse.

These two high-handed regimes are undermining Asean's bargaining power in
the geopolitical arena. The region's credibility is at stake.

An inspired Mr Chuan, riding the strength of a people's constitution, would
have the power to set regional policy in motion. That policy must be one
that insists upon free and fair elections in Cambodia, no matter what toes
are trod upon in Asean's Old Boy network.

The same goes for Burma. Deputy Foreign Minister M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra
vowed last week that the Chuan government intents to pursue "constructive
engagement" between the Thai and Burmese people, rather than just between
military officials and businessmen.

Until these conditions are met, and until these wayward neighbours can be
brought into line with values that Mr Chuan champions, Thailand will feel
the bite on its own democratic system as it gnawed from two ends.

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

APEC SUMMIT: COMPILATION OF BURMA-RELATED EVENTS
November 25, 1997

[BurmaNet Editor's Note: Although most of the participants in the APEC
meeting wanted to keep human rights and social problems off
the agenda, activists found ways to make sure that these issues received 
attention in the media, in demonstrations, and alternative gatherings.
Below is a compilation of some of the Burma-related events that took
place.]

ASSK SPEAKS TO APEC WOMEN'S CONFERENCE (ABRIDGED)

The 2nd International Women's Conference Against APEC opened today 
with 500 delegates packing the BC Room of the Plaza of Nations to hear a 
host of speakers from across the Asia-Pacific.

The delegates, about 100 of whom come from outside Canada, began the day
with an opening prayer and welcome from Harriet Nahanee, followed by a
welcome from Joan Grant Cummings of the National Action Committee on the
Status of Women (NAC Canada), organizers of the women's conference.

A message of solidarity was then heard by the delegates, via videotape,
from Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of an oppositional
party to the military dictatorship in Burma. Kyi reaffirmed one of the most
basic understandings of the audience, almost all of whom were women: that
you cannot divorce the internal affairs of a country from its economic
affairs. "There cannot be real economic progress without democracy," said
Kyi, speaking of the situation in Burma, which includes her own house
arrest, but touching on something noted throughout the day as being
relevant for women in all countries.

BURMA DIARY- CANADIAN PREMIER OF A NEW FILM ON BURMA.
November 18, 1997
Produced by Jeanne Hallacy
 Alan Clements, author of  "Voices of Hope"  and Jeanne Hallacy, filmmaker, 
 were in attendance to answer questions and to introduce new people to
 Burma. Well attended event!
 
"I AM A CHILD OF BURMA" PHOTO ESSAY
November 21-December 9, 1997
Langara College-Main Foyer Open 7am till 10:30 pm
 Exhibit began November 21, 1997 and runs to December 9, 1997
 
HUMAN RIGHTS SPEECH//BURMA
 People's Summit on APEC, HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
 Dr. Win Myint Than- Physician at the Thai-Burma border
November 21, 1997

 This speech received a standing ovation by several hundred delegates.
 Many people from across North America have asked how they can join the
 Burma effort.
 
GRAND MARCH/PLAZA OF NATIONS
November 23, 1997
A march in solidarity with the democratic forces in Burma
 North American/Alternative ASEAN/Northwest Region/West Coast/ strategy
 session followed.

FBC-SEATTLE: APEC AND VANCOUVER HEROIN
November 22, 1997  (Free Burma Coalition - Seattle)
from dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx   

Vancouver, BC -- November 22, 1997 -- Protesters at the APEC Summit will
demand that Singaporean and Malaysian investors cut their ties to Burmese
narcotics trafficker Lo Hsing Han at a demonstration on Sunday in
Vancouver, during the Walk for Global Justice, starting at the Plaza of
Nations in downtown Vancouver at 12:30 p.m.

"It is outrageous for big Singapore and Malaysian investors to be
represented here at APEC, while the heroin exported by their Burmese
business partners flood the streets of our city," says Vancouver-based
author Alan Clements, director of the Burma Project USA.  "It is high time
for accountability."

"As long as Singapore continues to play such a key role in supporting
Burma's drug trade through it's investments there, it seems unlikely that
any progress will be made in stemming the increasing flow of heroin from
Burma into Singapore and the rest of the world," says investigative
journalist Leslie Kean, co-author with Dennis Bernstein of "Singapore's
Blood Money" (The Nation, Oct. 20).  "Singapore has the potential to have
a huge influence in that regard, and they have taken the first small step
in that direction," she adds, noting that the Singapore Government
Investment Corporation (GIC), chaired by Senior Minister Lee Kwan Yew has
moved to liquidate a fund that joint-ventured with Lo.

"Perhaps now other Singapore and Malaysian investors will follow suit and
take the same responsibility for their investments, by cutting their ties
to Burma's heroin traffickers," adds Kean.
------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: 2,000 IN CHANT FOR PRIORITY 
ON HUMAN RIGHTS (abridged)
November 25  1997   Reuters

About 2,000 chanting demonstrators protested outside the Apec summit,
calling on leaders to put human rights and other social issues higher on
their agenda.

Billing themselves the "People's Summit", the activists sought to
highlight a host of causes ranging from workers' rights to the
environment and the perils of free trade.

Waving placards and puppet caricatures of Asian leaders, they also called
for greater freedom in China, Tibet, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Burma.

Organisers of the People's Summit presented a declaration to Canadian
officials urging greater focus on human rights.

Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy praised their efforts. "We think
the People's Summit has been a constructive exercise," he said. "The
issues they raised about looking at the social and economic consequences
of trade and economic development were seen as matters that need to be
addressed."

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

ITAR-TAS: ALBRIGHT ACCUSES JAPAN OF EXTREME EXPORT 
OFFENSIVE  (abridged)
November 23, 1997

TOKYO, November 23 (Itar-Tass) - U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
accused Tokyo of pursuing a wrong policy in many areas, ranging from
encouraging an export offensive to contacts with military regime of Myanmar. 

Albright also expressed concern over Japan's economic cooperation with the
military regime of Myanmar (Burma), which is accused by Washington of
violating human rights. According to the state secretary, Tokyo sends,
thereby, "a wrong signal" to that country, instead of promoting a dialogue
between the authorities and the opposition there. 

Obuchi explained in his reply that Japanese aid, for instance in
modernising the airport in the Myanmar capital Yangon was prompted by the
need to ensure safety of flights. 

He promised to think over the U.S. advice but ducked a specific obligation
to cut economic contacts with that country in South East Asia. 

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

NATION: NEGATIVE FACTORS MAY HIT BURMA BID
November 24, 1997

BURMA might fail in its attempt to stimulate economic growth
through its dependency on cooperation from Asean countries
because of the region-wide economic slump and a growing concern
over its human rights record.

A report from Thai Farmers Research Centre showed that
investments in tourism and hotels which have been bullish in the
past four years, have recently stalled even though the Burmese 
government tried to boost its economy by promoting
Burmese tourism  this past year. The increasing pressure from
human rights groups in Western nations has caused several
potential investors to shy away from the country.

The Burmese government then sought closer cooperation from Asean
countries. Unfortunately, Thailand and several Asean countries
are facing economic slumps and are unlikely to make new
investments for some years.

Although the trade volume between Thailand and Burma fell to
second place after the volume between Thailand and Vietnam, this
year's trade figures remain in good shape.

The research found the trade volume between Thailand and Burma
for the first three quarters of this year was worth more than Bt
10 billion, while trade between Thailand and Vietnam amounted to
Bt 14 billion during the same period.

Thailand's exports to Burma for the first nine months of this
year rose by 45 per cent and raised hopes for an improvement in
Thailand's total exports, said Thai Farmers Research Centre Co
Ltd (TFRC).

According to the TFRC findings publicised in Nov 18, Thailand
enjoyed a Bt6.4 billion trade surplus with Burma this year,
marking the fifth consecutive year of a trade advantage over
Burma. This year, Thailand's export volume to Burma for the first
nine months of the year was worth Bt8.4 billion, up by 45 per
cent over the Bt 5.77 billion in the same period the year before.

Thai exports to Burma this year were much improved over last
year, particularly necessities. Shoes, bicycles; and pharmaceutical 
exports increased by 244,91 and 76 per cent, respectively.

During the first nine months of the year, imports from Burma
contracted by 15 per cent. Hence, Burma fell from being the
number one source of Thai imports among Indochina nations while
Vietnam jumped up to first place with a value of Bt. 3 billion.
This was the main reason for Burma's trade deficit with Thailand.

Thailand imported soybeans, jewellery and garlic from Burma.

Due to the baht flotation in July, trade between both countries
in the second half of the year became messy and caused delays.
The fluctuation and depreciation of both currencies caused
difficulty for traders in setting the prices on their goods.

The value of foreign investments in Burma was more than US$ 6.3
billion at the end of July, with Thailand the second-largest
investor after Singapore. The value of Thai investments in Burma
right now is about $1.1 billion, while Singapore's investment
reached $1.2 billion at the end of July.

Thai investments in Burma declined in the second half of this
year due to the economic situation in Thailand. The fluctuation
and depreciation of the baht did not encourage Thai investors to
expand into foreign markets. Burma is facing its own domestic
problems, including an unstable currency.

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

THE NATION: CHUAN GOVT WANTS RANGOON TO ADAPT
November 22, 1997   Reuters

THE Chuan administration plans to follow a policy of "constructive
engagement" with Burma but, the Thai deputy foreign minister yesterday urged
Rangoon not to isolate itself.

"The policy of constructive engagement is going to carry on but we will put
stress on the word 'constructive'," deputy foreign minister Sukhumbhand
Paribatra told Parliament as part of a presentation of the new government's
policies.

"The most important part is we are supporting Burma to be more open," he said.

He urged the military government in Rangoon to try to improve relations with
other countries and recognise internationally accepted standards of
democracy and human rights.

"They have to adjust ... to recognise, that the world today has
international rules," he said. "No country can isolate themselves and live
alone without complying to such international rules. It is to the Burmese
benefit to seek a way to develop itself."

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

THE NATION: TOTAL COMPLETES PIPE WORK
November 22, 1997 AP

FRENCH oil giant Total has finished laying the underwater portion of the
Yadana gas pipeline in Burma ahead of schedule, the company said yesterday.

In addition, company officials denied reports by a Burmese students exile
group that the pipeline had been damaged by tropical storm Linda.

Total and its partners in the project, Unocal of the United States and the
Petroleum Authority of Thailand, have come under heavy criticism from
democracy activists for doing business in Burma.

In a statement received in Bangkok yesterday, Total's general manager in
Burma, Herve Madeo, said his company finished laying the 346-kilometre
offshore section of the pipeline on Nov 16.

During December, Total will complete hyperbaric welding on the submerged
portion of the pipeline. 

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

BKK POST: BURMA, LAOS PLAN TO WAIVE VISAS
November 24, 1997  (abridged)
by Bhanravee Tansubhapol

Hopes for visa-free travel within the region are close to reality as Burma
and Laos plan to waive visa requirements next year, while Vietnam said it
will follow suit in the next two years.

In a meeting of immigration and visa authorities from the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) held in August in Kuala Lumpur, Laos and
Burma told other members of their readiness to lift visas for travellers,
diplomats and officials of the grouping by the end of next year, a Foreign
Ministry source said.

Burma made clear its decision to fulfil the obligation in time, the ministry
source said, adding that he expected Thailand to be the first country to
benefit from the agreement. Since 1986, Burmese passport holders have enjoyed 
visa-free entry into the Kingdom for up to 30 days..

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

BKK POST: CHILD LABOUR ABUSES DENIED
November 24, 1997
Immigration admits begging a problem
by Poona Antaseeda

Even though non-government organisations (NGOs) have complained about the
exploitation of alien child labour in Thailand,, the kingdom's Immigration
Bureau denies the problem exists.

Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Chidchai Vanasatidya said such children
usually came with their families. His bureau had found few children working
as prostitutes.

The commissioner said the problems were exacerbated by the failure of
neighbouring countries' governments, saying: "They can't even survive
themselves, so how can they help their people? Worse still, some even don't
count the people as their own."

"Those countries must respond to the problems of their people. They must do
things to prevent their people sneaking out of their countries and to
provide them with jobs. The problems should be passed on to them," said Pol
Lt Gen Chidchai.

The officer met with a delegation from the European Union on November 14 and
he urged it to cooperate with the NGOs in Thailand to create business
activities.

The NGOs, he said, would act as coordinators bringing together countries
such as Laos, Burma, and Cambodia and the EU. They had experience at
grassroots level of what was needed.

But he said his bureau would not directly deal, with such plans because it
could not be seen to be interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries.

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

BKK POST: CHILDREN FLEE POVERTY FOR BETTER LIFE
November 24, 1997
Estimated 100,000 are working illegally
by Poona Antaseeda

The badly performing Thai economy has done nothing to stop foreign children
coming to Thailand to work - in fact war and poverty in neighbouring
countries has increased the number.

Sanphasit Koompraphant, director of the Centre for the Protection of
Children's Rights, said the children were desperate for a better life and
were so poor they were barely touched by the recession.

Employers, he said, could take advantage of the children by cheating them
out of their wages or calling the police to arrest them before they were paid.

"Thailand is the Bangkok of our neighbouring countries. Children from every
country in the Mekong region - China, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia
-pour in. They even come from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan," said Mr
Sanphasit.

"Most children risk working in Thailand, even though it is hard, because in
their country it is even harder. If they had 10,000-20,000 baht back home
they could live comfortably for years," he said.

Kusol Sunthorntada, a researcher at Mahidol University's Institute for
Population and Social Research, said in Burma and Cambodia children were
used to build roads and pipelines without pay. Others were conscripted.

Research carried out by Prof Kusol and Prof Umaporn Patrawanich showed that
foreign child labourers worked, like alien adults, for up to 10 hours a day
and 28 days a month.

Many worked as petrol pump attendants, in restaurants, and resorts, as maids
and sales representatives, in the flesh trade and in the fisheries industry.

----------------------------------
excerpts from a related story: 
BKK POST: MORE FOREIGN WORKERS JOIN SEX INDUSTRY
November 24, 1997 by Poona Antaseeda

War and poverty are bringing more and more girls from abroad into the Thai
sex industry.

Girls from Burma and China, aged 12-18, are more in demand since Thai girls
from the North have been persuaded not to join the flesh trade.

The centre's public education and campaign team chief says: "Most alien
girls, especially from Burma and China, come to Thailand knowing they will
work in brothels, massage parlours or cafes."

Not only are they badly treated by the brothel owners but by their
customers. Operators often make them work without a day off, steal their
wages and warn them not to leave their work places telling them they will be
arrested as illegal immigrants. Some are beaten for refusing to work and
customers may become violent if the girls refuse to perform various sex acts.

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

KNU: KNU PRESS RELEASE NO. 64/97
November 22, 1997

OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, 
KAREN NATIONAL UNION, KAWTHOOLEI

Regarding 1997 SLORC offensive against KNU

Oppression in Kaw-ka- reik District.
* On 19-1097: the SLORC army LIB No 356 led by battalion commander 
Zaw Lin Tun entered Kalersaw, Nai-age villages and looted the domestic
animals such as chickens, ducks, pigs etc. which belonged to the
villagers. In addition to this, they have arrested (7) innocent
persons and later on demanded from their respective families 5000
Kyats each for their release.

*20-10-97 LIB No 548 entered Law Pa Kee village and burnt it to the
ground. 15 houses were destroyed by fire. The people whose houses were
destroyed are as follows. Saw Bo Key (2)U Ye Mway (3)Naw Myo Aye (4)Pa
Ta Ler (5)Maung Tun Hlaing (6)Pa Thet (7)Pa Tay Boe (8)Maung Kyo
Myaing (9)Naw Pa Po (10)Kyaw Polo  (11)Kyaw Pai (12)Pa Htoo (13)Kyaw
Wai Po (14) Naw Ta Pai (15) Kyaw We Bai . On the same day LIB 548
reached "Wa" village and destroyed it by fire. (14) houses were
destroyed and the name of the people whose houses were destroyed are
as follows, Maung Aye Tun (2)Maung Ye (3)Pu Kee Tha (4)Aloy (5)Pu
Naithay (6) Yaung Bway (7)Mauny Yee Kyi (8)Maung Aye Thery (9)U 
Aung Mya (10)Naw Lu Thaung (11) U Da Kyi (12) U Tun Kyaw Aye (13) 
Kyaw Lin Aung and Naw Mu Kyi-paw They also looted the belongings of 
the villagers especially the chickens, pigs, ducks and some household items.

* On 14-10-97 LIB No 208 company (2) of the SLORC army 22nd division,
which led by 2nd commander Mya Thaung came to Bu Yee Village in Kaw
-ka reik township to install the army position at Kyaw a wah's house.
Thereafter, one group after another came in to install the army
position at the village. On 20-9-97 , the army engineering groups led
by Major Tun Aung Came to the above mentioned village, fenced out the
houses and the land belonged to the villages and built the army
outpost. This incident caused fear among the villagers and as a result
they have to move out to some other places. The costs of the houses
and the land are estimated at (350000)Kyats.

* On 16-10-97, the SLORC army battalion No 546 led by Bo Ni and Major
Maung Maung Htoo demanded that the following six villages of Kaw
-ka-reik township are to be relocated to Shoo Hta village on 16-10-97
at the latest. The names of the villages relocated are as follows. Pa
Aue Kalaw (2)Parai-Kee (3)Pa Rai-ta (4) Swee-lar-tai-ka (5) Hteenuko
(6) Paw Naw Kee. If the villagers failed to move out on the said dare,
Bo Ni and major Maung Maung Htoo  threatened to kill them for being
the KNU : The next day , 17-10-97 Bo Ni and his groups went to clear
the villages which are relocated. During the clearing of the villages,
they have taken the remaining household items and furnitures to Kyiet
-do and sold it there. The remaining domestic animals of the villagers
were also looted . Since the paddy from the fields are not ripe for
harvest, the villagers had to loose them all. As a result, some
villagers went to Shoo Hta and other fled to different places.

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

FBC: OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE PRESIDENT AGREES TO STUDENT
DEMANDS  
November 25, 1997

(Written by BurmaNet from info posted by members of the Free Burma Coalition)

Several students at Occidental College have been participating in a hunger 
strike after their demands were originally ignored by Mr. Slaughter, the 
college's president.  Mr Slaughter is a member of ARCO's board of 
directors, and ARCO is doing business with the military regime in Burma.
The Free Burma Coalition has demanded that all oil companies pull out 
of Burma, and campus groups have been pushing their administrations to
divest from companies operating in Burma.

Members of Free Burma groups on other American college campuses
had joined in the hunger strike to express their solidarity.  

The strike was called off after Mr. Slaughter agreed to their demands. 
 
Namely, he promised to write a statement which said at least two things: 
1. He disagreed with the majority of the board regarding the Burma investment  
2. He would prefer that the company withdraw their investment from Burma.

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

BANGOR DAILY NEWS: COA TAKES A SWING AT OPPRESSIVE REGIME 
November 19, 1997  (BANGOR, MAINE)  (abridged)
by Catherine Ivey
 
 BAR HARBOR -- Little College of the Atlantic this week took on one of the
most repressive military regimes in the world. 
 
In the first application of its " Burma  policy," the college rejected a $
9,000 bid from a Taiwanese computer company engaged in business with the
military junta that took over the democratic government of  Burma  in 1988,
renaming it  Myanmar.  
 
   Students and college officials hope the action sends a clear message to
companies that do business with the Southeast Asian country's corrupt
leadership, which has been declared guilty of widespread human rights
violations by international organizations, the U.S. Congress and the State
Department. 

"When businesses start seeing the loss of doing business there
outweighing the benefits of doing business there, we hope they will pull out
of the country," said Rob Fish, a sophomore who led a student movement,
including a fast, that encouraged the college to adopt the policy last year. 

The college's action is believed to be the first case of a U.S.
institution refusing to do business with a foreign company with business ties
to the military junta, according to Simon Billenness, a senior analyst for
Franklin Research & Development, a Boston investment firm.  Billenness, whose
company advises clients on socially conscientious investments, said similar
consumer pressure on American companies prompted Pepsi-Cola and Texaco to
pull out of  Myanmar.  

He called the latest action from Maine important.  "Whenever another city
or university supports the democracy movement in  Burma,  the word gets into
 Burma  quickly.  This is quite encouraging to the people there that people
around the world support them through political and economic pressure," said
Billenness. 

The state of Massachusetts and 17 cities, including New York City and San
Francisco, have selective purchasing policies regarding  Myanmar.

Although only a few colleges and universities have policies in place, the
student movement is taking hold.  Last year, Harvard College students
persuaded officials against giving Pepsi-Cola a $ 1 million contract with its
dining services.  Stanford University students defeated a plan to locate a
Taco Bell restaurant on campus for the same reason.  Taco Bell was owned by
Pepsi.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

FBC-SEATTLE: NEXT MEETING, LOCAL INITIATIVES
November 22, 1997

Next meeting is Sunday Nov. 30.  Sign making in preparation for the Dec. 2
City Council panel will begin at 2:30 with a strategy meeting starting at
3:30. The meeting is at the home of Tao-Sheng Kwan Gett and Paula Bock at:
7740 44th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115     tel 206 526-9084

We already have endorsements on the Seattle Burma Ordinance from the 
King County Labor Council, the Communications Workers of America, 
and Progressive Investment Management. Endorsements for Burma Selective 
Purchasing laws also come from: Hundreds of Seattle Citizens, AFL-CIO 
Executive Committee, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sen. Jesse Helms, the 
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

More good news:

Paula Bock, author of the recent Seattle Times special report "A Land of
War, A Journey of the Heart" has been chosen to receive a Human Rights
Award from the United Nations Association in Seattle.  Paula's article,
highlighting the plight of Burmese refugees and the heroic efforts of
volunteers to care for them, has stimulated strong interest in the issue
here in Seattle, and has drawn attention across the country.  The award,
signed by Mayor Rice, will be presented on Dec. 10, International Human
Rights Day, at the U District Unitarian Universalist Church, 6556 35th NE,
from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.  All are encouraged to attend.  It's free.

Paula and photographer Tom Reese will also present a slide show and talk
about their trip to Thailand and Burma on Dec. 9, 7:30 pm at the Nippon
Kan Theater, 628 S. Washington St., Seattle. 
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VANCOUVER BURMA ROUNDTABLE MEETING (FIRST EVER)
December 2, 1997
 
 A Time to Share and Create Collective Action
 The Entire Pacific Northwest Coast will be represented!
 Unitarian Church ( 949 West 49th Avenue)
 7-8:30 pm
 
 For information call:
 Canada:
 Ko Soe Oo 604-708-6359   or U Nay Linn 604-258-9482
 United States:
 Larry Dohrs 206-784-5742


JOIN FREE BURMA SUPPORTERS FROM FRANCE

Those who would like to discuss Burma issues with others in French, are
welcome to subscribe to the Burma listserv for French speakers,
birmanie@xxxxxxxxxx

To join, just send an email to sysop@xxxxxxxxx with the subject line
"subscribe birmanie".

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REFUGEE PHOTOS ON THE NET
November 25, 1997
ANNOUNCEMENT: Refugee Photos

I have posted some new refugee photos from Ken and Visakha Kawasaki at
Burmasong. They can be found under the first link on the "Faces" page.

These are 100K-200K JPEG images so, even under the best of conditions,
they may take several minutes to download. It is worth the wait,
however, to see the faces of those who wait for peace. And the excellent
image quality only adds to their impact.

(go to www.freeburma.org and connect to Wrightston's Burmasong
homepage, and go from there)

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