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The BurmaNet News: March 21-22, 199



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------   
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"   
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The BurmaNet News: March 21-22, 1998    
Issue #963

HEADLINES:    
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THE NATION: THAILAND ADMITS BLAME FOR ATTACK ON KARENS
THE NATION: THAILAND BIGGEST LOSER IN ENGAGING BURMA
BKK POST: NSC ADMITS SECURITY LAPSE LED TO REFUGEE CAMP ATTACK
BKK POST: 'SANCTION SHOULD CONTINUE'
BKK POST: BURMA DENIES ROLE IN KAREN RAIDS ON CAMP
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THE NATION: THAILAND ADMITS BLAME FOR ATTACK ON KARENS

March 21, 1998

Agence France-Presse

MAE SOT, Tak _ Authorities admitted yesterday that a lapse in security had
led to a cross border attack on a Karen refugee camp by Burma-backed forces
last week that left four dead and more than 30 injured.

"We accept we were inactive," National Security Council (NSC)
Secretary-general Gen Boonsak Kamheangridirong said as Western ambassadors
toured the scorched remains of Huay Kalok camp just north of here.

"I accept that it [security] should have been stronger, particularly in our
intelligence gathering," he added.

Refugee leaders say that some 100 or more troops of an ethnic Karen
splinter-group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), along with
Burmese government troops ventured unopposed into Thailand and torched the
camp destroying some 1,000 dwellings.

Tak Governor Pongpayom Vasaputi told ambassadors that the authorities had
heard two or three hours before the attack t hat intruders were planning to
set fire to Huay Kalok.

It was the second such attack to burn the camp down in the space of one year.

The governor also promised that the refugees would be relocated to a safer
site further inside the country within one month.

"We have decided to move the Huay Kalok camp and move the displaced persons
to a place that is more safe," Pongpayom said. Over 90,000 Karen loyal to
the Karen National. Union (KNU) _ the only major ethnic insurgency yet to
sign a ceasefire with Rangoon's ruling junta _ are encamped at the border.

The ambassadors of the United States, Britain and Australia were also due to
visit a second camp at nearby Mae Hla later yesterday. Mae Hla was shelled
from Burma at the weekend killing one refugee.

The diplomatic visits reflect growing international concern over the attacks
in Thailand last week and at the weekend.

Several countries, including the United States and Britain, which spoke out
as president of the European Union, have criticised Burma's military
authorities for waging a campaign of terror against refugees in Thailand.

Some non-governmental organisations have also criticised the Thai military
for inadequately protecting the border camps.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Thailand
welcomed the decision to relocate Huay Kalok camp.

"This is the best news I've heard," said Amelia Bonifasio the UNHCR
representative in Thailand. "It is a welcome decision fond the UNHCR and
those in the international community who are very concerned by the [refugee]
tragedy.

"This camp was attacked last year and is within shelling range [of Burma].,
Relocation further away from the border is the best way to ensure the safety
and security of the refugees."

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

THE NATION: THAILAND BIGGEST LOSER IN ENGAGING BURMA

March 21, 1998

Editorial

It has been seven years now since Thailand, under the Anand I government,
and the rest of Asean first mooted the policy of "constructively engaging"
the ruling military junta in Burma. An examination of the events over that
time can yield only one conclusion: for both Thailand and Burma, the policy
has been a dismal failure.

The theory behind constructive engagement is by now well known. By doing
business with Burma, foreign countries would help its woeful economy to
develop. Economic progress, it was said, would eventually lead to political
progress and a loosening of the generals' grip on power.

Meanwhile, political engagement with Slorc was supposed to draw Burma out of
its disastrous isolation from the rest of the world. More discreetly, Asean
hoped that it would draw Burma out of China's orbit.

For Asean, the policy has been a washout. Burma is now a full-fledged member
of the regional grouping, but while this may have kept it from becoming a
Chinese vassal, China's influence over the country remains as strong as ever.

Constructive engagement has not done much for Burma, either. There has been
some economic growth _ now seemingly stalled by the region's financial
crisis _ and Rangoon and Mandalay have been spruced up a bit. But the Visit
Myanmar Year tourism campaign proved to be a total bust, the official rate
of the kyat remains way overvalued and the black market still seems to be
the healthiest part of the economy.

Some generals and well-connected businessmen have no doubt become a, good
deal richer, but this wealth has yet to trickle down to the rest of the
country. Most people are as poor as ever, and the nascent middle class seems
stillborn. Indeed, much of the money gained from selling off Burma's fish,
forests and minerals seems to have been squandered on arms, empty hotels and
offshore bank accounts.

Political development has not gone anywhere, either. Although opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi has officially been freed, she is still under
virtual house arrest. The party she led to victory in the 1990 elections,
meanwhile, is no closer to power.

Thailand may be the biggest loser of all from constructive engagement.
Following a policy advocated by its National Security Council, support for
the ethnic minority groups which have been warring with Rangoon for decades
has slowly been withdrawn. The loss of this long-standing "buffer" was
supposed to be compensated by greater cooperation between the two
governments, a more stable and peaceful border region and increasing
cross-border trade.

Instead, there are now more Burmese refugees in Thailand dim ever before,
and border trade has been stymied, even shut down, at the whim of local
Burmese warlords. Whereas the Karen formerly used Thailand as a base to
attack Burma, a large chunk of the rebel group has now allied itself with
the Burmese generals and attacks Thailand. So much for improving national
security.

Some Thai tycoons have no doubt benefitted from better relations with
Rangoon. The Salween illegal logging scandal, after all, could not have
occurred without the help of Burmese authorities. But the rest of us are
merely left with diminished forests.

Finally, there is the Yadana gas pipeline project _ the foremost symbol of
constructive engagement. It has turned into a huge controversy thanks to the
bullying ineptitude of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, and it appears
Thailand may not even need the gas.

Is it asking too much for a review of this disastrous policy?

Part of the problem is that while Southeast Asia has been eager to do
business with Burma, most Westerners have shied away, even boycotting the
place. The foreign community is therefore working at cross-purposes.

So perhaps it is time for all concerned outsiders to sit down together and
co-ordinate policies toward the strife-torn country. Somehow or other, more
pressure must be brought to bear on the ruling junta to loosen both the
political and economic reins.

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

BKK POST: NSC ADMITS SECURITY LAPSE LED TO REFUGEE CAMP ATTACK

March 21, 1998

Western envoys tour remains of camp

Bangkok Post/AFP Mae Sot, Tak

Thailand admitted yesterday a lapse in security led to a cross-border attack
on a Karen refugee camp by Rangoon-backed forces which left four dead and
more than 30 injured.

"We accept we were inactive," National Security Council chief Gen Boonsak
Kamheangridirong said as Western ambassadors toured the scorched remains of
Huay Kalok camp just north of here.

"I accept that it (security) should have been stronger, particularly in our
intelligence gathering," he added when quizzed on last week's bloody attack.

Refugee leaders say some 100 or more troops of an ethnic Karen
splinter-group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, along with Burmese
government troops ventured unopposed into Thailand and torched the camp
destroying some 1,000 dwellings.

Tak Governor Pongpayom Vasaputi told the ambassadors that authorities had
heard two or three hours before the attack that intruders were planning to
set fire to Huay Kalok.

The governor also promised Thailand would relocate the refugees to a safer
site further inside the country within one month.

"We have decided to move the Huay Kalok camp and move the displaced persons
to a place that is more safe," Mr Pongpayom said.

The diplomats welcomed the decision and US Ambassador Willian Itoh urged
Thai authorities to maintain a dialogue with Burma which he said ultimately
held responsibility for the attacks.

"There's a lot of discussion that it's an initiative of the DKBA, but I
think the general view is that the DKBA doesn't really do anything without
at least the tacit understanding of the Burmese."

Nearly 100,000 Karens loyal to the Karen National Union _ the only major
ethnic insurgency yet to sign a ceasefire with Rangoon's ruling junta _ are
encamped at the Thai border.

The ambassadors of the United States, Britain and Australia also visited a
second camp yesterday at nearby Mae Hla which was shelled from Burmese
territory at the weekend, killing one refugee.

The diplomatic visits reflect growing international concern over the attacks
in Thailand last week and at the weekend.

Several countries, including the US and Britain, which spoke out as
president of the European Union, have criticised Burma's military
authorities for waging a campaign of terror against refugees in Thailand.

Some non-government organisations have also criticised the Thai military for
inadequately protecting the border camps. The United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees office in Thailand welcomed the decision to
relocate Huay Kalok camp.

Refugees there have built bunkers around their bamboo homes, while others
are currently abandoning their camps at night to sleep in surrounding fields
for safety.

At the weekend, Thai forces fired shells into Burma after a mortar attack on
the camp at Mae Hla. 

Gen Boonsak said he would raise the issue of the cross-border raids in visit
to Rangoon to be made before, the end of the month. 

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

BKK POST: 'SANCTION SHOULD CONTINUE'

March 21, 1998

Washington, AFP

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called in an interview published
on Thursday for continued sanctions against her country.

"We do not think investment at this time really helps the people of Burma,"
she said in an interview with Business Week. "It provides the military
regime with a psychological boost," she added.

"If companies from Western democracies are prepared to invest under these
circumstances, then it gives the military regime reason to think that they
can continue violating human rights because even Western business companies
don't mind," she said.

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition NLD and winner of the Nobel Peace
Prize, also said Burma's economic situation was "very bad", with prices
rising and investors pulling out.

Her comments follow a recommendation by a blue-ribbon US delegation that
visited Burma in February that Washington should ease some sanctions on
humanitarian grounds.

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

BKK POST: BURMA DENIES ROLE IN KAREN RAIDS ON CAMP

March 22, 1998

Thais urged to act against DKBA forces

Wassana Nanuam

Burmese military leader Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt has given the go ahead for Thai
forces to take action against the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army if it
persists with attacking refugee camps in Thailand, the army chief said
yesterday.

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro said that Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt,
first secretary of the State Peace and Development Council, Burma's ruling
body, told him this when they met in Rangoon on Friday.

Gen Chettha quoted the Burmese military leader as telling him that Burmese
soldiers were not involved in DKBA attacks on a Karen refugee camp in Mae
Sariang district, Mae Hong Son, several weeks ago, and another attack on the
Huay Kalok camp in Mae Sot last week.

"He (Khin Nyunt) insisted that Rangoon has nothing to do with the attacks
and that the Burmese government does not support the DKBA. Since he insists,
we have to believe him. He is sorry about it but said that he can't control
the DKBA and the Thai army can take any action against them," Gen Chettha said.

Gen Chettha was in Rangoon to accompany Privy Councillor Gen Prem
Tinsulanonda to a function to open the Nikko Hotel there last Friday. During
the function he met and talked to both Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and Burmese army
chief Gen Maung Aye.

The Thai army chief said that it was difficult to prevent DKBA attacks
against refugee camps because they were all Karens who used to be in the
same group, the Karen National Union.

The KNU is the only major ethnic insurgency yet to sign a ceasefire with
Rangoon's ruling junta. They still trade with each other and trade conflicts
might have been responsible for the attacks, he said.

The army chief said KNU rebels also cross the border to burn DKBA camps but
the Thai military will be searching refugee camps for arms to prevent this
in the future.

"However, we can't take violent action in such search because we will be
criticised by humanitarian groups again. It's a difficult position for us to
be in," Gen Chettha said.

The general said Thailand will no longer tolerate DKBA attacks. He can
directly call up Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt to prevent any violent incidents, Gen
Chettha said.

He will be in Rangoon again early April since he has made an appointment
with Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt to discuss proposals for joint fisheries with Burma
that is being drafted by the Agriculture Ministry.
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