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Response of the Myanmar Embassy, Wa



Subject: Response of the Myanmar Embassy, Washington,D.C.

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January 22, 1999.

Response of the Myanmar Embassy, Washington,D.C. to the Bangkok Post and LA
Weekly.

Re: 	UNOCAL Implicated in Burma Strife

	I am sorely disappointed but not surprised that LA Weekly reprinted the
Bangkok Post's unsubstantiated report that " soldiers hired by UNOCAL and
TOTAL, its French partner, have engaged in violent campaigns against ethnic
minority groups in the region. " Not surprised because it is obvious that
professionalism that once sustained journalists has broken down. With the
exception of a few committed newspapers and magazines, accuracy and fairness
have been sacrificed at the alter of expediency.

	The Post's recent report that Myanmar soldiers have been employed by UNOCAL
and TOTAL to protect the gas pipeline that runs from Myanmar to Thailand is
preposterous. It is one of those stories created by spin masters to generate
sympathy for the anti-government groups. Any journalist worth his salt can
easily ascertain the raison d'etre of the Tatmadaw. Far from being a rag-tag
band of mercenaries carrying out the wishes of  foreign employers, the
Tatmadaw is a well-trained force that was born of the independence movement.
It is a self-defence force. It developed from the nucleus of 30 patriots who
left Myanmar to seek the assistance of the Japanese to overthrow the yoke of
colonialism. They underwent military training on the Japanese-held island of
Hainan and returned home at the head of the Burma Independence Army (BIA)
which was formed in Bangkok on 26 December 1941. Subsequently it was
reorganized as the Burma Defence Army (BDA) in 1942 and the Burma Army the
following year. Today it has become a modern army that is well-organized and
disciplined. It has its own specialised educational institutes and training
facilities. The Tatmadaw, which is composed of the sons and daughters of all
the nationalities of the country, is the glue that binds the nation. The role
and traditions of the Tatmadaw in safeguarding the country has not changed
over the  decades. However, with the advent of peace it is now devoting most
of its time and energy to nation-building.  In the circumstance, the charges
that the Tatmadaw has become a mercenary force and is on the rampage is sheer
fantasy. Never in its history has the Tatmadaw been less than the patriotic
force it was meant to be. 


	The Post owes it to its readers to tell them exactly who its sources are
instead of quoting  some anonymous " source from the Thai military " claiming
that the Tatmadaw is financially backed by the oil companies. The Post adds
insult to injury by making such wild claims. Even Jane's Intelligence Review
which attempts to come up with a credible annual survey on the status of armed
forces world-wide makes no reference whatsoever to oil companies financing the
Myanmar military.

With regard to the Yadana pipeline project, it is apparent that the Post and
its partners have adopted a dog-in-the-manger attitude. Any disinterested
observer can see that the pipeline project has transformed the lives of the
villagers in the area. The living standard of the inhabitants of the 13
villages involved have risen dramatically as the oil companies, much to their
credit, have gone far beyond their legal obligations to develop and improve
the lot of the local populace. Not only are they paying wages well above the
market rate but are involved in socio-economic programs to help develop the
area, improve health care facilities, establish information and communication
systems and protect the environment. Independent observers, Reverend R.W. Timm
a US citizen and Justice K.M. Subhan a Bangladeshi who visited the pipeline
area in January 1998 were so impressed with the responsible way in which the
Yadana gas pipeline was being carried out that they were moved to commend
UNOCAL and TOTAL for the socio-economic and humanitarian work they were
carrying out. They felt that the approach taken at the Yadana Project should
serve as a model for other multinational corporations. 

US Congressman Tony Hall who visited Myanmar earlier this month has also noted
the success of the humanitarian projects carried out in conjunction with the
Yadana pipeline. He underlined this in his briefing in Washington, D.C., on 21
January 1996. All men of goodwill should have no difficulty accepting what the
congressman had to say about the priority that humanitarian assistance
deserves: 

" People who really care about Burma's people-- and not just the cause-- have
an obligation to let others who care about Burma's people do the lifesaving
work that is desperately needed. No one faction has a corner on concern, and
humanitarian needs should be given a much higher priority than they are
getting now."

The statements of disinterested observers gives the lie to the Post's account
that attacks against civilian villages and opposition base camps in minority
areas are standard practice for the Myanmar military. While the Tatmadaw will
certainly defend the country from armed groups that are trying to disrupt the
peace,  it will never harm innocent citizens who are its own kith and kin.
Unscrupulous individuals like Faith Doherty of the Thailand-based Southeast
Asian Information Network(SAIN) cannot be considered sane if they continue
churning out tales on behalf of the KNU insurgents. Doherty and others like
her who have an axe to grid are so blinded by prejudice that they have no
qualms in advancing the theory that the Myanmar army has been enlarged as a

result of the oil investment or that enormous amount of territory has been
lost by the Kayins. It is obvious that UNOCAL is being used as a scapegoat.
Could it be possible that Doherty is unaware that Kayins already have a state
of the own in the eastern region of Myanmar and that the vast majority of the
Kayins live peacefully there together with Shan, Pao, Bamar and Mon brethrens?
All that they desire is to be left alone so that they can live in peace. 

The KNU, the organization that Doherty  seeks to portray as the aggrieved
party is nothing but an insurgent group that has been up in arms against
successive Myanmar governments. They represent less than one percent of the
Kayin population and their numbers continue to dwindle as those disillusioned
with the selfishness of the ageing leadership and discrimination of Buddhists
have banded to form the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Organization (DKBO). Today
the DKBO and  16 other armed groups have returned to the fold leaving the KNU
out in the cold. The fact that all armed groups in the country, save but one,
have returned to the fold speaks volumes for the efforts of the government to
strengthen the fabric of the nation. The KNU leadership should not fail to
seize the opportunity to join hands with the rest of the nation.

Old habits die hard. The Post which is unabashedly anti-Myanmar never tires of
fabricating  tales of human rights abuses in Myanmar. While every newspaper is
entitled to print whatever it chooses, it should nevertheless keep in mind its
responsibility to be accurate, fair and honest. The main enemy of a free press
is the domination of ideological conviction over reliability. 


Thaung Tun
Deputy Chief of Mission

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