The BurmaNet News: December 25, 199

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Subject: The BurmaNet News: December 25, 1998

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 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: December 25, 1998
Issue #1166

HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: TOP NEWSMAKERS OF 1998 
THE NATION: GOVERNMENT TO PROTEST BURMESE ATTACK 
REUTERS: IRIDIUM TO PROVIDE MYANMAR PHONE SERVICE 
BKK POST: DOING A DEAL WITH BURMA 
ALTSEAN: RICE APPEAL 
ANNOUNCEMENT: AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS SUPPORT FOR BURMA 
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THE NATION: TOP NEWSMAKERS OF 1998
25 December, 1998 

BURMA'S AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Throughout 1998, Aung San Suu Kyi remained the power that united Burmese
democratic movements at home and in exile.  She put herself at great risk
by taking several bold steps to pressure the military junta to initiate
talks with her National League for Democracy.  The regime responded with
arrests and coerced resignations of NLD MPs, members and supporters, and
ordered the closure of party branches across the country.

The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate has refused to budge in the face of
intense suppression.  She proceeded with her party agenda a created 10
committees which act as the parliament, to address several national
policies and issues including military, economic and social affairs.

She continues her call for a tougher international boycott of the military
authority.  As Burma feels the ripple of economic turmoil from other Asian
neighbours, the political face-off is bringing international concern over
the collapse of the Burmese economy and social structure.  The
confrontation will surely carry on into next year.

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THE NATION: GOVERNMENT TO PROTEST BURMESE ATTACK
24 December, 1998 

THE Foreign Ministry will today lodge a strong protest with Rangoon over
the weekend attack on a Thai Navy vessel by a Burmese boat off Ranong
province -- an incident in which two navy officials were killed, ministry
spokesman Kobsa Chutikul said yesterday.

The note, diplomatically called ''note verbale'', reflected Thailand's
seriousness over the incident, Kobsak said.  In the past, he said, the
ministry had usually sent aide memoirs as a mild protest against Burmese
action. The ministry considered the use of force on the weekend as having
serious implications on bilateral relations, Kobsak said.

Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan ordered the submission of the note after
the Defence Ministry confirmed that a Burmese vessel was used in the
attack. The Thai government was earlier hesitant for lack of knowledge on
the places of origin of the attackers and the vessel.  ''Today Deputy
Permanent Secretary Saowanit Kongsiri will submit the note to Burmese
Ambassador to Bangkok U Hla Maung to demonstrate our seriousness about the
assault which killed two of our navy officials,'' Kobsak said.  ''The
ministry expresses grave concern at the use of force in the incident that
seriously affects relations between our two countries,'' the note said.

It strongly urged the Burmese government to investigate the attack, to pay
compensation for the loss of life and the damage to the Thai navy vessel as
well as taking appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such
incidents.

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REUTERS: IRIDIUM TO PROVIDE MYANMAR PHONE SERVICE
23 December, 1998 

U.S.-based global satellite phone company Iridium LLC said on Wednesday it
had signed an agreement with Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT) to
provide wireless communication services in Myanmar.

Iridium said in a statement it would be the first global mobile phone
company to serve Myanmar.

It gave no financial details and did not say when the service would be
established.

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THE BANGKOK POST: DOING A DEAL WITH BURMA
25 December, 1998 

INSIDE POLITICS

Veteran politician and businessman Vatana Asavahame may have suffered a
battering from recent economic and political storms, but there's no way
he's downing anchor permanently in a nice safe harbour.

As we hear it, the deputy interior minister, leading cobra and father of a
son most people wouldn't want to share a road with is currently taking an
interest in matters over the border by looking for new business
opportunities to shore up his business empire -- MP World -- which includes
department store, leisure boat and oil retaining activities.

The economic crisis has almost killed off his Ha Chiang shopping plaza in
Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen, and his leisure boat service on the Mekong River
in the Golden Triangle area and his northern and northeastern retail oil
arms have also suffered a terrific buffetting.

But according to one of our sources, MP World has done a deal with a
Burmese army colonel based in Shan state which offers the potential of
handsome rewards.

The deal was brokered by Maj-Gen Intharat Yodbangtoey, a prominent military
figure in the North and Northeast.  It calls for MP World to export massive
amounts of oil through a border pass at Ban Tonpradu in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai
District to the northern regions of Burma's Shan state.

This is the shot in the arm MP World needed, according to the whispers,
although the deal puts him in direct business competition with the Puka
Tiger Group headed by Boonsawat Duangjai-ekarat, a close aide to Tak timber
wallah Som Chankrachang.

Sources say Maj-Gen Intharat, better known in local circles as "Tse Moi,"
delegated his younger brother, Payungsak Yodbangtoey, to represent his
Golden Triangle group in its dealings with MP World.

Apart from the oil exports, the sources said MP World is also in the
process of relocating its business HQ from the Golden Triangle to
Cambodia's Koh Kong where the casino and tourism business is expected to be
in for a boom.

The group's five leisure boats which were built a few years back for Mekong
River cruises, but have sat moored most of the time since without any
customers, would be moved to Koh Kong.

The vessels will be used to ferry the fortune and fun seekers to the
Cambodian island along the Trat-Koh Kudk-Koh Kong route.

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ALTSEAN: RICE APPEAL
23 December, 1998 from <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx> 

LET THE PEOPLE IN BURMA HELP EACH OTHER

While the Altsean-Burma Secretariat extends its warmest solidarity to all
activists during this festive period, it wants to express its grave concern
at the mean-spirited attacks by the junta upon the NLD's humanitarian efforts.

Recently, the National League for Democracy started a programme to
distribute rice to needy people (who have been suffering the consequences
of severe economic mismanagement and attacks on the agricultural base of
the country). The programme has really taken off well with more
contributors coming forward to supply rice. The recipients really need and
appreciate the rice.

However, the junta has reacted to this popular humanitarian programme by
trying to shut it down. Extreme harassment has been inflicted on
individuals involved in the supply and distribution of the rice. Despite
this the NLD continues to be committed to maintaining and expanding its
humanitarian efforts.

The Altsean-Burma Secretariat appeals to all our colleagues involved in the
universal struggle for human rights and democracy to protest this
mean-spirited harassment. Please raise this issue with your government as
well.

There are people in Burma trying to help each other in the spirit of loving
kindness and compassion, and their efforts are being hampered by the very
forces which are the root cause for the intense poverty in Burma.

If the junta is using intimidation and force to prevent Burmese from
helping each other in a very simple and basic way, how can we trust them to
allow international agencies to deliver assistance directly to those who
need it most?  This is another reason to question the practicality of
international aid reaching the grassroots when there is no political reform.

Please protest this harassment to the closest representative of the junta.
Send them a greeting card with a message demanding that the authorities
stop this harassment and if possible, enclose grain of rice! Please also
send your protest to the junta leaders (address below). It is a potent form
of protest since the country's flag features a bundle of rice.

It is definitely a good way to start off a revolutionary 1999!

Yours in solidarity,
The Staff of the Altsean-Burma Secretariat

Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman
State Peace and Development Council
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar

Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1
State Peace and Development Council
Ministry of Defence, Signal Pagoda Road
Dagon Post Office
Yangon
Union of Myanmar
-----------------------------------
A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
Tel: 66 2 275 1811 * Fax: 66 2 693 4515
<altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>

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ANNOUNCEMENT: AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS SUPPORT FOR A DEMOCRATIC BURMA
22 December, 1998 from <maungt@xxxxxxxxxx> 

Dear friends,

This is the solidarity motion passed at the annual national conference of
National Union of Students in Ballarrat, Victoria, Australia during 7-11 of
December 1998. NUS represent over 600,000 membership of Australian
university students across the country. Every year 300 students delegates
who were elected in the campus elections attend the conference to review,
change, amend and debate the policies on education, welfare, international
solidarity etc.

This year at 13th national conference, Maung Maung Than, general secretary
of All Burma Students Democratic Organization had been invited to the
annual national conference to speak of the struggle of the Burmese people
for a democratic Burma. Students delegates expressed strong support after
the speech with long applause, stand-up and shouting slogans "Free Burma -
Free Burma- Free Burma - Free Burma." The student delegates voted for the
motion without any dissent.

Burma motion include that had been passed unanimously includes three parts
-- preamble, platform and action.  Please contact ABSDO for further
information.

1.2 Platform
	1.2.1 Sanctions and boycotts

		NUS urge Federal Government to impose economic sanctions and an arm
embargo against the military regime in Burma.

		NUS urge the State governments and local councils to adopt selective
purchasing law, which boycott the companies investing in Burma.


	1.2.3 Recognize CRPP

		NUS urge all levels of Australian authority particularly  Govt and
parliamentarians, all unions and organizations general public to recognize
Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP) as the Highest Authority
of the People of Burma.

	1.2.4 Unseat SPDC from UN, ASEAN, ARF and regional, international
non-cooperation

		NUS urge the United Nations to unseat the illegal SPDC regime from
representing Burma at all branches of UN as it is not elected leader of the
people of Burma.

		NUS urge Association of Southeast Asia Nation (ASEAN) and ASEAN Regional
Forum to suspend the membership of SPDC until democratic and human rights
are restored.

		NUS urge Thai Government to free 40 Burmese students in Special Detention
Center ( Notorious political prison) and Immigration Detention Center.

		NUS urge the members as well as the general public to refrain from
visiting Burma.

		NUS urge the Australian and international companies to withdraw and
boycott business with the military regime in Burma.

		NUS urge the federal government to stop all kinds of assistance including
aid and technical support toward the military regime.

		NUS urge Australian federal government to continue and increase
humanitarian assistance to Burmese students, dissidents and ethnic refugees
in Thailand, Bangladesh, and India.

		NUS urge the Australian federal governments continue and increase the
intake of political refugees from who fled Burma with well founded fear of
persecution by the military regime.

		NUS urge the federal government to withdraw Australian Ambassador to
Burma and expel all personnel who are not representing the people of Burma,
in the Burmese embassy in Canberra.

		NUS urge federal government to impose visa restriction over the members
of SPDC and their families entering Australia.

		NUS urge Australian NGO not involve in any activities with military
regime in Burma.

		NUS urge SPDC regime to enter peaceful dialogue with CRPP, which is the
highest authority of the people of Burma.

		NUS urge SPDC to recognize undeniable rights of the ethnic nationalities
and preserve and promote their identity, culture, literature, native values
etc.

		NUS urge SPDC to abolish sham national convention and recognize people's
will by recognizing CRPP's right to convene People Parliament according to
1990-election result.

		NUS urge SPDC to release all political prisoners including students and
student leader Min Ko Naing who has been in solitary confinement and
torture since 1989.

		NUS urge SPDC to reopen all universities and colleges (closed since 1996)
and recognize the establishment of Student Union.

1.3 Action
	NUS will organize Free Burma From Military Dictatorship joint campaign
with ABSDO to increase political awareness  and movement across Australia.

	NUS will organize Free Burma National Speaking tour 99 in co-ordination
with State and local student unions.

	NUS will launch joint campaign with ABSDO to achieve imposition of
Australian economic sanctions and an arms embargo against SPDC.

	NUS will launch joint campaign with ABSDO urging state , territory and
local authorities to adopt selective purchasing law boycotting companies
doing business with ruthless SPDC regime.

	NUS will launch joint campaign with ABSDO asking Australian people to
boycott the companies investing in Burma until they stop doing business
with brutal regime.

	NUS national, state and all affiliated campus all members  will not buy
any goods or services made by the companies doing business with junta. (STA
travel, Intepred Travel, Pacrim Energy etc.)

	NUS will support the International Conference of Burmese Students which
has been planned to hold in Australia.

	NUS will strengthen the Free Burma Student Network encourage all members
to get active and involved in FBSN which is set up by NUS and ABSDO in 1995.

	NUS will jointly organize with ABSDO on the day 9999 as National Day of
Action for a Free Burma and will produce poster, leaflet, and sticker
promoting struggle for human rights and democracy in Burma.

	NUS will continue supporting struggle of ABSDO for future campaigns and
make donation of 2000 dollars for ABSDO.

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