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The BurmaNet News: April 24, 1998



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------  
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"   
----------------------------------------------------------
 
The BurmaNet News: April 24, 1998
Issue #991

Noted in Passing: "Computer operators coined a phrase many years ago that
seems applicable here: garbage in, garbage out. If Rangoon is mistaken or
lying to itself about the opium crop, it cannot conduct effective
operations to reduce and eliminate the flow of narcotics. If Rangoon
attempts to design a crop-replacement programme that assumes less than
10,000 hectares of cropland, then the anti-opium campaign will fail." (The
Bangkok Post, see BKK POST (EDITORIAL): BURMA MUST FACE THE DRUG REALITY)

HEADLINES:
===========
THE NATION: BURMA WORRIED ABOUT FOOD
JOURNAL OF COMMERCE: MYANMAR BANS FOREIGN COURIERS
WNC BURMA: TIN OO BLAMES EXTERNAL ELEMENTS
BWU: STATEMENT ON DAW SAN SAN SENTENCE
BKK POST (EDITORIAL): BURMA MUST FACE THE DRUG REALITY
LDJ (BOOK REVIEW): TOTAL AND NARCOTRAFFICKERS
GLOBE AND MAIL: OTTAWA MAY RESUME BURMA AID 
UPI: CANADIAN POLICIES AGAINST BURMA STAY
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THE NATION: BURMA WORRIED ABOUT FOOD
24 April, 1998

Rangoon -- Burma's military government expressed worries yesterday over
prospects for all nations to ensure secure food supplies as the economic
climate worsens and foreign aid declines.

"Development aid has declined in recent years. The present situation looks
no brighter. Without a favourable international climate, the cherished goal
of food security for all will be unattainable and remain a dream," said Lt
Gen Khin Nyunt, a senior leader of the ruling junta.

Speaking at the opening of an Asian-Pacific ministerial-level meeting of
the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation, Khin Nyunt said the
currency turmoil facing the newly industrialising countries in the region
will affect trade and investment, and many of the developing countries
suffer under a heavy external debt burden.

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JOURNAL OF COMMERCE: MYANMAR BANS FOREIGN COURIERS; DHL VENTURE SPARED
17 April, 1998
By P.T. Bangsberg

(BurmaNet Editor's Note:  The Journal of Commerce is a daily newspaper
published in the United States.)

The military-backed regime in Southeast Asia's most reclusive state is
ordering all foreign air express companies to cease operations, except a
joint venture between DHL International and its own postal monopoly.

Authorities in Myanmar (formerly Burma) issued the directive 10 days ago
without warning and without what some foreign courier services said
Thursday was much explanation. Among those told to shut down starting
Monday are Federal Express Corp., United Parcel Service Inc., TNT Express
Worldwide and Overseas Courier Service Inc. "We have received the letter
and are studying it," said Julia Khang, spokesman for FedEx in Singapore,
the regional headquarters. "Beyond that, we don't know much."

FedEx, a unit of FDX Corp. of Memphis, has daily service between Singapore
and Yangon (Rangoon) operated with Myanmar partner Indo-China Express Inc.
Ms. Khang said the business is a mix of documents and goods.

Other companies confirmed receipt of the decree and said they were
discussing it with the regime in Yangon. Some said they might have to
advise customers of an interruption of service until the matter is
resolved. The sole exception to the blanket ban appears to be a joint
venture between the DHL International Ltd. unit of DHL Worldwide Express
and Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications. The government directive said 11
other foreign companies were operating without official sanction. Several
have been working in the country for five or six years -- FedEx since 1983
-- and those contacted said they received authority from the Ministry of
Trade.

DHL International began negotiating its arrangement six years ago, but
wasn't approved until 1996. Its regional office in Singapore didn't return
calls seeking comment. Myanmar, the wealthiest country in Southeast Asia
when it won independence from Britain 50 years ago, has been isolated for
several years after its current government seized power in a 1990
rebellion, rejecting election results.

The regime retains a tight grip on political dissent, keeping the key
opposition leader under effective house arrest, and shuns the outside world
except for seeking investment.

One observer suggested the move against foreign express carriers is
designed to control the flow of political information in and out of the
country, and perhaps ensure that no scarce foreign currency departs.

With inflation galloping and the local currency, the kyat, plummeting, the
ruling council ordered that only state-run banks could deal in foreign
currency. It recently stripped seven private banks of their licenses to
handle such transactions. Air cargo industry executives say Myanmar's
courier business isn't great -- perhaps $1 million a month -- but it was
growing as commerce grew, despite the difficult conditions.

"Limiting courier and express service to a single entity will inevitably
put up costs," one executive said.

The number of private businesses in Myanmar increased by more than 4,000
last year, official figures show, to 23,464. Foreign investment in Myanmar
is put at $6.6 billion at the end of 1997. Of the country's $725 million
exports in the first 10 months of 1997, the private sector contributed 75%,
the government says. Myanmar runs a heavy trade deficit and is encouraging
import substitution.

A spokesman at another carrier, who requested anonymity, said it seemed
Yangon is trying to force operators to work with the postal agency, which
offers an express mail service. Such a requirement "allows closer control,
obviously, and diverts revenues to government coffers," he said.

U.S. businesses have been forbidden to open new ventures in Myanmar since
President Clinton imposed sanctions nearly a year ago.

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WNC BURMA (RANGOON TV MYANMAR NETWORK): TIN OO BLAMES EXTERNAL ELEMENTS
18 April, 1998

(BurmaNet Editor's Note: This article comes from the Burmese government-run
TV station.  It is excerpted from a longer transcript.  The UN Special
Rapporteur on Myanmar recently submitted his report to the UN Commission on
Human Rights, including the following passage linking forced labor to
development projects:  "The Special Rapporteur has on several occasions
reported on the use of forced labour for various development and
infrastructure projects. In these projects women are not spared forced
recruitment, even when they are pregnant or nursing their infants. Those
who are too weak for the strenuous work have to hire another person or face
a fine. On the work site, the forced labourers do not receive appropriate
medical treatment. Further, they are reported to receive no remuneration
and have to provide their own food." [see The BurmaNet News, #986, part 2,
April 18, 1998])

Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
[SPDC] and Commander in Chief of the Defense Services, attended the
inauguration of Saddan Dam in Myothit Township of Magwe Division at 0830
today. The ceremony was also attended by SPDC Secretary-2 Lt. Gen. Tin Oo. 

SPDC Secretary-2 Lt. Gen. Tin Oo delivered an address at the inauguration
ceremony.  He said that today is auspicious for the State and the regional
populace because Saddan Dam, which will provide water to more than 10,000
acres of arable land, is a great assistance for regional and agriculture
sector development.

Tin Oo said the State has given its support and assistance since Magwe
Division is a region suitable for four major crops [paddy, cotton,
sugarcane, and beans] and he urged the farmers to use the dam water
efficiently, to utilize all arable land, and to increase the per acre
yield.  He added, as the State has fulfilled the needs of the farmers, the
farmers should in turn put in their utmost efforts for agricultural
development.  Tin Oo remarked that the mutual beneficial relationship
between the State and its populace will definitely enhance the development
of the country. He noted the success achieved within a short period in the
construction of dams, reservoirs, roads, and bridges showed the State's
steady and correct policies and the efforts and strength of the people.  In
other words, he said, it is the result of mutual cooperation between the
State and its people.

Tin Oo said, forces representing pessimists holding wrong convictions do
not accept such construction victory as constructive development but
instead make false allegations citing violation of human rights, forced
oppression of the people, and destruction of democracy.  He explained, they
are excessively using the usage and ideas of Western countries which are in
contrast to the living standard, tradition, culture, and social nature of
Myanmar [Burma] and sowing dissent between the State and its people, the
people and the military.  Tin Oo reminded the farmers to carefully analyze
the agitation and urged them to oppose and take firm action against those
agitators.  No matter what kind of obstruction, accusation, allegation, and
pessimism exists, he said, national and regional development activities
were achieved with the leading role of the Defense Services, cooperation of
the populace, and efforts by state employees. 

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BWU: STATEMENT ON THE LONG-TERM SENTENCE OF DAW SAN SAN
23 April, 1998

The Burmese Women Union (BWU) strongly condemns the long sentence of Daw
San San, a 58 year-old woman MP of the National League for Democracy who
was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment earlier this month. BWU also demands
the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to release her immediately.

Daw San San was arrested on October 28, 1997 for conducting an interview
with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on June 26, 1997. She was
critical of the military regime when she talked about the National
Convention and political dialogue between the NLD and the SLORC during her
interview.

Daw San San is an NLD member and is the elected MP from Seikkan township,
Rangoon Division.  She was first arrested in November 1990 and was
sentenced to 20 years imprisonment under Penal Code Section 122, for 'high
treason'. She was, however, released on May 1, 1992 during an amnesty.
During her first detention, the military regime dismissed her as a Member
of Parliament and banned her from contesting any future elections.  The
regime arrested and detained Daw San San under Section 10(a) of the 1975
State Protection Act in November 1997, but in April this year she was
charged under the 1923 Official Secrets Act. Daw San San was sentenced to
seven years imprisonment for being accused of distributing false
information domestically and internationally, but the term was increased to
25 years when she refused to pledge to refrain from political activities.
No one has been allowed to see her since her sentencing.

The long sentence given to Daw San San is an example of the repression that
the NLD (the election-winning party) faces.  There is no freedom of speech
in Burma.  For merely speaking her mind, Daw San San has been arrested and
put behind bars for 25 years.   

The BWU is strongly concerned about Daw San San's condition in prison,
where many abuses against women prisoners take place and health problems
are common.  Female prisoners in Burma are usually mistreated and their
health problems are ignored. Hundreds of women have been arrested and
sentenced to long terms in jail in Burma's notorious prisons since the
military staged a coup in 1988. 
 
The BWU requests the international community to condemn the harsh sentence
given to Daw San San and to help bring about the immediate release of Daw
San San as well as other female political prisoners in Burma. 

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

BANGKOK POST: BURMA MUST FACE THE DRUG REALITY
24 April, 1998

Editorial

Burma is the largest producer of heroin and opium in the world.  The United
Nations has criticised unchecked drug trafficking in Burma.  Membership in
Asean has had little effect on production of opium or shipments of heroin
and amphetamines.  Burmese authorities may not understand the extent of
their problems.

The making and trafficking of drugs in Burma has long been a major headache
for Thailand and other neighbours. To its vast opium fields and its system
of heroin factories have recently been added networks of amphetamine makers
and dealers. The many tentacles of drug manufacturing and smuggling have
caused immense difficulties on our side of the border. These range from
increased addiction of Thais to drugs, through criminal enterprises that
have done major harm to our economy.

Now it must be asked whether Burma is even aware of the problems it faces
at home from drugs, and the burdens it places on its neighbours. In the
first few months of this year, Burma has appeared to cooperate in a number
of anti-drug initiatives. These have occurred both at home and in Rangoon's
diplomatic dealings. 

But its statements and reactions have so often been at odds with the known
and obvious facts that one must wonder if Burmese authorities are aware of
what is going on under their noses.

Early in the year, Burma and the United States cooperated in a survey of
the Burmese opium fields. The six-day inspection covered all the country's
major and minor poppy-growing areas. Officials found what they have found
for the past decade _ the opium fields continue to grow in scope and size.
The on-site inspections, combined with satellite photos from the US, the
United Nations and elsewhere, found opium flourishing as ever. The crop
estimate was 2,500 tonnes of opium.

Rangoon wasn't buying this international estimate. Even though Burmese
officials led the fourth annual on-site inspections with the Americans,
Rangoon simply won't accept its result. The crop size and acreage are both
over-estimated by the international experts, say Burmese officials. 

The United Nations reports that 300,000 hectares has been under opium
cultivation in Burma in the 10 years since 1988, producing at least 2,000
tonnes of opium annually. Burma claims that 9,630.9 hectares is under
poppies, yielding 106 tonnes of opium.

The question is whether Rangoon is dissembling or deluding itself. The
official Burmese reports, such as this one, are so silly that they are
simply unbelievable. Take the acreage of poppies Burma claims. Any opium
farmer could tell authorities that the crop yield would be less than 10
tonnes -- not the 106 tonnes Rangoon claims -- since poppies yield less
than 10 kg of opium per hectare on average.

Computer operators coined a phrase many years ago that seems applicable
here: garbage in, garbage out. If Rangoon is mistaken or lying to itself
about the opium crop, it cannot conduct effective operations to reduce and
eliminate the flow of narcotics. If Rangoon attempts to design a
crop-replacement programme that assumes less than 10,000 hectares of
cropland, then the anti-opium campaign will fail.

This is a crucial matter to Burma, its neighbours including Thailand, and
the world community. The United Nations, which is funded by taxpayers
worldwide, is about to embark on a major anti-drug programme in Burma. The
centrepiece is a crop-replacement programme for Burma's exploited opium
farmers.

The UN programme will mark the first major cooperation by Burma with the
international community against drug trafficking. It is Rangoon's
opportunity to show that it means what it says about helping Burma's
neighbours with their narcotics problems. 

But it must be informed and realistic to succeed. If Burma continues to
delude itself about the scope of the problem it faces, there is no chance
it can help either its own people or others.

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L'EVENEMENT DU JEUDI: IS TOTAL HELPING NARCOTRAFFICKERS?
16 April, 1998
By Patrice Piquard, Translation by G. Gamel-Joseph

Book Review

(BurmaNet Editor's Note:  L'evenement du Jeudi is a French publication.
The English in this article has been edited.)

For ten years, since the military junta has come to power in Burma, the
production of opium has increased from 800 tons to almost 3000.

Main suppliers of heroin, the Rangoon generals invented a new type of
state: the narcotic dictatorship. Francis Christophe, a researcher, looked
into every part of the heroin supplying machine. His book <Burma: The Poppy
Dictatorship>, brings to the fore the way the army is involved in every
stage of the drugs agricultural industry: taxes paid in opium, raw material
and finished products carried by military trucks, and the protection of the
refining plants. Is it tolerable to cooperate with a state whose main
origin of currency are drugs? "Yes," answers France, the only western
country which does not condemn the junta, preferring instead a policy of
"constructive engagement." The reason for such a discretion is an enormous
agreement signed in 1992 between Total and MOGE, the local petroleum
company, for the working of offshore gas.

F.Christophe shows how our Embassy changed itself as a "zealous assistant"
of Total, ludicrously supporting the oil company's cause.

The French company, however, has been taken to L.A. Federal Court, being
accused of human rights abuses because of its partnership with the Burmese
government in building a land pipeline of gas, these charges being worsened
by a suspicion of direct involvement in the laundering of heroin
trafficking revenues.

The technique is simple: payments in foreign currency from Total to MOGE
(15 million dollars) allow the Rangoon regime to justify of the origin of
sums paid to its suppliers. To make it more serious, big arms deliveries
paid by the junta are thus divided in 15 million portions.

Such accusations led Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese dissident, to comment
that "Total became the military regime's main supporter". Francis
Christophe's book screens the contradictions of public relations operations
planned by the oil company and our Embassy's manipulations to protect
Total's breakthrough, as well as the commitment in Burma of former Secret
Services agents as Michel Roussin and Jean-Charles Marchiani.

Irony of fate: the crisis in Asia might well spoil the viability of a
project that shaped the French support policy to a narcotic dictatorship,
in spite of the opposition of the Burmese people to what they call our
"destructive involvement". Total's Burmese pipeline will provide gas to
Thailand as early as 1998. But does this repressive country need such extra
energy? Is it still credit-worthy ?

In Burma, French diplomacy has perhaps been successful in the feat of
strength to reconcile human rights contempt and financial waste.

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GLOBE AND MAIL: OTTAWA MAY RESUME BURMA AID
22 April, 1998
By Rod Mickleburgh (China Bureau)

Marleau's comment appears at odds with Canada's policy on human-rights
violations

Beijing -- Canada is considering resuming foreign aid to Burma, one of the
world's most authoritarian regimes, after a 10-year hiatus.

The surprise disclosure was made during an interview here with
International Co-operation Minister Diane Marleau, at the end of a two-week
swing inspecting Canada-funded development projects in Bangladesh, Thailand
and China.

Asked why the Canadian International Development Agency underwrites
development in China but not in Burma, when both countries are guilty of
well-documented human-rights abuses, Ms. Marleau replied:

"To be honest, I think as time goes by you may see us considering some
incursions into some areas [of Burma]. It may happen sooner, rather than
later.

"We're not quite ready yet, but we're monitoring it very closely. We
realize that there's much there that needs to be done as well [as in
China]," the minister said.

Ms. Marleau's remarks appear to fly in the face of trade restrictions
imposed on Burma last year by Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy,
following a fruitless attempt to launch a human-rights dialogue with
Burmese leaders.

They also come just as the United Nations Human Rights Commission
unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday expressing "deep concern" over
continued human-rights violations in Burma, including arbitrary execution,
torture and repression of ethnic and religious minorities.

At the same time, it was learned that Burmese authorities have jailed San
San, a prominent woman opposition leader in her later 60s, for 25 years.

Canada suspended its bilateral aid program in Burma in 1988 after thousands
of pro-democracy demonstrators were massacred as the country's brutal
military regime - then called the State Law and Order Restoration Council
but now known as the State Peace and Development Council - took control.

Human-rights activists in Canada were quick to denounce Ms. Marleau's
suggestion that CIDA might return to Burma, which is officially known as
Myanmar.

"It is not possible to do any kind of sustainable development inside Burma
without having some connection with the Burmese military regime," said
Christine Harmston, co-ordinator for the non-governmental organization
Canadian Friends of Burma.

"We are opposed to any Canadian-government money going into Burma at this
time, without significant democratic reforms."

Ms. Harmston pointed out that the country's most prominent pro-democracy
activist, Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has urged that economic
sanctions be maintained against Burma as long as repression continues.

Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest in Rangoon, after state council
leaders refused to recognize the sweeping election victory won by her
party, the National League for Democracy, in 1990.

Ms. Harmston said the absence of credible NGOs within Burma makes it
impossible to do credible aid work there, despite the country's
impoverishment.

"It's just not feasible. It's not going to happen," she said. "The
existence of the military government is causing the destitution of its own
people. There's hardly any civil society left in that country."

Ms. Harmston said aid projects in Burma by the United Nations Development
Program are floundering because of corruption and lack of accountability.

Last August, Mr. Axworthy announced that Canada would join the United
States and the European Union in imposing selective economic sanctions
against Burma. Preferential tariffs on Burmese goods were withdrawn and
Canadian
businesses now require special permits to export their products to Burma.

"Burma's military leaders have made no effort to improve the current
situation and have repeatedly failed to respond to the international
community's attempts to open channels of communication," Mr. Axworthy said
at the time.

Although bilateral aid to Burma ended in 1988, Canada has spent $8.4
million during the past three years to assist Burmese refugees in
Bangladesh, plus $660,000 since 1992 to help refugees from Burma stranded
along the Thailand border.

A report presented to the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva before
yesterday's vote said the people of Burma live in fear, while the ruling
council has failed to take any steps toward democracy and refused to
co-operate with UN's special rapporteur, Rajsoomer Lalah of Mauritius.

As for the newly imprisoned opposition leader San San, a spokesman for the
ruling council said she was thrown back into jail to serve a previously
imposed 25-year sentence for treason after violating parole.

However, activists said she was punished for refusing to end her political
activities and doing an interview with the BBC critical of the military
rulers.

San San, who had been elected to parliament in 1990, was arrested last
October, along with seven other leading members of Aung San Suu Kyi's
party, the NLD.

Ms. Marleau, meanwhile, defended CIDA's participation in countries with
poor human-rights records, such as China.

Over the years, she said Canada has won the trust of the Chinese government
"and we may be able to accomplish more in a quiet sort of way because of
this trust factor"

This trust extends well beyond China, Ms. Marleau added.

"If there's something that Canada has been able to accomplish that is
absolutely extraordinary for our population, it's the respect and trust
with which many of these governments deal with us.

"It's not for nothing that we managed to get 123 countries to sign the
land-mines treaty."

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UPI: CANADIAN POLICIES AGAINST BURMA STAY
22 April, 1998

Ottawa -- Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy says Canada has no plans to
resume aid to Burma soon because of human rights violations in the
southeast Asian nation.

His remarks came after a report from Beijing quoted International
Cooperation Minister Diane Marleau as saying Canada may resume bilateral
aid to Burma ``sooner rather than later.''

Marleau, now back in Ottawa after a two-week trip to Bangladesh, Thailand
and China, says her statement was taken out of context.

In a clarification today, Marleau says Canada has not changed its policy
and will not resume economic aid until Rangoon improves its human rights
record.

She says Canada's trade restrictions on Burma also remain.

Axworthy announced the restrictions in August 1997 after several failed
attempts to begin a dialogue on human rights with Burma's military rulers.

Canada ended its bilateral economic aid to Burma in 1988 after the military
junta in Rangoon massacred thousands of people in a brutal crackdown on
pro-democracy demonstrators.

Among groups opposing resumption of aid to Rangoon is Canadian Friends of
Burma, an Ottawa-based non-government organization that monitors human
rights violations in that country. Spokeswoman Christine Harmston, recently
back from a trip to the Burmese border, told United Press International the
military is still holding thousands of political activists in prison.

She says it is using women and children, among the thousands forced into
slave labor, to build roads and clear land mines in its fight against
ethnic uprisings across the country.

The junta has been holding Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi under house
arrest since her party, the National League for Democracy, won a sweeping
election victory in 1990.

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