The BurmaNet News: June 16, 1998

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 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: June 16, 1998
Issue #1027

HEADLINES:
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FEER: GO SOUTH, YOUNG MAN 
BKK POST: REFUGEES' MOVE AWAITS RANGOON'S NOD 
THE NATION (LETTER): CHINA WILL NOT DEVALUE 
ANNOUNCEMENT: "SACRIFICE" TO AIR
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Far Eastern Economic Review: Go South, Young Man 
18 June, 1998 

Over the past year, at least 10,000 Wa hill-tribesmen from the Sino-Burmese
border have been moved south to the Mong Yawn valley opposite the northern
Thai border town of Thaton.

The United Wa State Army, a group of former rebels who have agreed to a
ceasefire with the Burmese government, is apparently trying to extend its
sphere of influence from the Yunnan frontier to the Thai border.

While most of the new settlers are civilians, many carry guns. They have
been given land in the Mong Yawn valley, where new roads, schools, a
hospital and markets have been built. What puzzles northern Thai security
officials is that the tribesmen have been accompanied by Chinese
technicians and instructors from Yunnan.

Local Burmese forces, headquartered at Mong Hsat, north of Mong Yawn, are
vastly outnumbered by the newcomers and are unable to control developments
along the border. 

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The Bangkok Post: Refugees' Move Awaits Rangoon's Nod
15 June, 1998 

Dhaka -- Bangladesh was waiting for a response from Burma for the
repatriation of some 21,000 Muslim refugees, known as "Rohingyas," stalled
since August last year, officials in Dhaka said yesterday.

"We are expecting an initiative from the Rangoon authorities as they
already cleared the identity of 7,000 refugees," an official said.

The list of the 7,000 was approved by Rangoon after Burmese Foreign
Minister Ohn Gyaw visited Bangladesh in April when he held talks with his
Bangladesh counterpart Abdus Samad Azad to end the deadlock on the
repatriation of refugees.

No date, however, was fixed for resuming the repatriation of the refugees
housed in two camps in the resort town of Cox's Bazar.

Officials of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR),
coordinating the repatriation, yesterday said: "We are hopeful the
repatriation should start soon."

Meanwhile, the Daily Star newspaper yesterday said a supervisory committee
comprising Bangladesh officials was expected to visit transit camps
tomorrow to review the situation.

Up to 280,000 Muslims from Burma's Arakan state fled in 1991 to escape
alleged repression, a charge denied by the military junta. Most were
repatriated after a 1991 agreement between the UNHCR and Burma. 

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The Nation: China Will Not Devalue Before Clinton's Visit 
12 June, 1998 by Myint Thein in Dallas, Texas 

Letter to the Editor

The weakness in the Japanese yen will not activate another Asian currency
crisis. Japan's export market is different from the export market for most
Asian countries, except South Korea, and the competitive devaluation for
market share considerations will not occur. In the long term, a weaker yen
will revive the Japanese economy and eventually help the Asian economies.

The devaluation of the Chinese and Hong Kong currencies will most certainly
activate another Asian currency crisis. But China will not devalue its
currency before President Clinton's state visit to China early next month.
And Hong Kong has the financial sophistication and the hard currency
reserves to defend the Hong Kong peg.

The weakness in the Thai baht is largely due to the political uncertainty
and the prospect of Gen Chavalit again playing a prominent role in Thai
politics. Chuan Leekpai's government needs the full and complete support of
the Thai populace to fix the economic mess.

Meanwhile, the military regime in Burma is running out of options and role
models. Their primary role model was destroyed when Indonesia's Suharto was
forced to resign. Their back-up role model was the plan to hold fake
elections like Nigeria. But Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha's heart
attack and unexpected death has destroyed another option and Slorc/SPDC
role model.

The countdown for the end to military rule in Burma has begun. We are well
aware of the dangers, but the decision has been made to restore freedom and
democracy in Burma. 

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Announcement: "Sacrifice: The Story of Child Prostitutes from Burma" to Air 
 
SACRIFICE, The Story of Child Prostitutes from Burma by Ellen Bruno (50
minutes)
28 July, 1998, 10:00 p.m.; check local listings (PBS)
SACRIFICE examines the social, cultural, and economic forces at work in the
trafficking of Burmese girls into prostitution in Thailand.  It is the
story of the valuation and sale of human beings, and the efforts of teenage
girls to survive a personal crisis born of economic and political repression.

"Sacrifice", which premiered at the well-known Sundance Film Festival
earlier this year is also being shown at the 1998 Human Rights Watch Film
Festival in June.   Stay tuned for date and time.

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