The BurmaNet News: March 3, 1999

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: March 3, 1999
Issue #1219

HEADLINES:
==========
BURMA CAMPAIGN UK: ASSK CRITICISES TOUR OPERATORS 
NLM: NEW AMBASSADOR TO GREAT BRITAIN 
REUTERS: MYANMAR STRIVES FOR CREDIBILITY ON DRUGS 
BKK POST: CHUAN TO RAISE DRUG ISSUES IN TALKS 
AP : KAREN LEADER ASKS THAI ARMY TO NEGOTIATE PEACE 
ANNC: BURMA BENEFIT DINNER - NEW ENGLAND 
ANNC: BURMA BENEFIT DINNER - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY 
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BURMA CAMPAIGN UK: AUNG SAN SUU KYI CRITICISES TOUR OPERATORS 
1 March, 1999 from <bagp@xxxxxxxxxx> 

Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi criticises 'patronising ' and 'racist' tour operators

In an interview with the Burma Campaign UK, Burma's democracy leader, Aung
San Suu Kyi calls on tourists to stay away from Burma.  She also criticises
tour operators who claim tourists assist the cause of democracy by exposing
Burmese people to new ideas about freedom and democracy: "That's so
patronising!  Burmese people know their own problems better than anyone
else.  They know what they want -- they want democracy -- and many have
died for it.  To suggest that there's anything new that tourists can teach
the people of Burma about their own situation is not simply patronising -
it's also racist."

In recent months there has been renewed interest in Burma within the
tourism industry.  In November 1998 the Burma Campaign UK persuaded ITV's
"Wish You Were Here" not to go ahead with a planned feature on the Orient
Express' Irrawaddy luxury boat tour.  It is believed that there are around
50 British tour operators currently working in Burma. These include Orient
Express, Noble Caledonia Ltd and Kuoni.  Travel agents including Thomas
Cook sell tours to Burma run by other tour operators.

In her first major statement on tourism since the military regime's failed
"Visit Myanmar (Burma) Year 1996" Aung San Suu Kyi says: "I still think
that people should not come to Burma. Because the bulk of the money from
tourism goes straight into the pockets of the generals.  And not only that,
it's a form of moral support for them because it makes the military
authorities think that the international community is not opposed to the
human rights violations which they are committing all the time.  They seem
to look on the influx of tourists as proof that their actions are accepted
by the world."

Aung San Suu Kyi added that operators promoting tours to Burma should look
to their consciences and admit that their main agenda is to make a profit.
This is a clear counter to the argument that tour operators are most
concerned with helping the people of Burma and furthering the cause of
democracy.

Yvette Mahon, a Director of The Burma Campaign UK says: "The tourist
industry in Burma is inextricably linked with widespread and systematic
human rights abuse.  Millions of men, women and children have been forced
to build roads, railways and other tourist infrastructure while the regime
reaps the rich rewards of the tourist dollars that come in.  Tourism in
Burma, simply put, is about having pleasure as a consequence of others'
pain." 


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NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEW AMBASSADOR TO GREAT BRITAIN
28 February, 1999 

YANGON, 28 Feb-The Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council] of
the Union of Myanmar has appointed Dr Kyaw Win, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Union of Myanmar to Canada, as Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Union of Myanmar to the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

[BurmaNet Editor's Note: Dr. Kyaw Win previously was Ne Win's personal
doctor.  In the mid-1990's, following a conflict between his son, Htut Kyaw
Win, and students at Rangoon University during which one of the students
was killed, Dr. Kyaw Win was quickly appointed to the position of
Ambassador to Canada, presumably to diffuse tension by removing him from
the situation.  His son was detained for only a few days then released.
Dr. Kyaw Win's appointment to the position in the UK is certainly a
promotion.]
 
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REUTERS: MYANMAR STRIVES FOR CREDIBILITY ON DRUGS 
1 March, 1999 

Opium producer Myanmar, accused of laxity in curbing poppy growing and
being a money launderer and harbourer of infamous druglords, is regaining
some credibility in its lonely war on narcotics, experts say. 

Last week, Myanmar's campaign received a boost when Interpol pressed ahead
with a meeting on heroin in Yangon despite refusals by the United States
and most European nations to attend because of the controversial venue.
Interpol's Director of the Criminal Intelligence Directorate Paul Higdon
publicly commended Myanmar's plan to wipe out drugs by the year 2014.
Myanmar needed more world assistance to achieve this objective, he said.
Colonel Kyaw Thein, member of the central committee for the control of drug
abuse, says Myanmar is struggling with the drug menace because it sorely
lacks money and equipment. 

"We are ready to do it with whatever resources we have on our own. But it
will help speed up...if we get more international assistance," he told
reporters last week. 

Currently, Myanmar gets little or no world aid to fight drug warlords
operating mainly in the northeastern Shan state which forms part of the
poppy growing Golden Triangle area where the borders of Myanmar, Laos and
Thailand meet. Intensive crop surveys, with some U.S. involvement, are
under way to establish the true extent of the poppy cultivation to move
away from guesstimates of the past, Kyaw Thein says. Myanmar predicts this
year's opium crop will fall by half from an estimated 680 tonnes produced
in 1998 because of crop eradications and bad weather. Experts say this
forecast is too optimistic but agree less will be produced. Most of
Myanmar's heroin goes to Australia and Canada. Official data shows Myanmar
had 151,000 acres (60,400 hectares) under opium last year and Kyaw Thein
claims 40,000 acres of poppy have already been eradicated while another
6,000 will be cut this year. But the United Nations puts opium output at
1,700 tonnes in 1998. 


Experts at the Interpol heroin conference said they were encouraged by
Myanmar's determination to combat drugs. But some said the government's
plan would take many years to bear fruit. "They have a good programme. But
it will take a lot of time to start to be truly effective...maybe five to
10 years," said one Interpol expert. The United States, in a significant
declaration on Myanmar drugs, said last week the country was the world's
largest source of illicit opium and heroin but noted there was no evidence
its military government as an institution was involved with drugs. The U.S.
State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
said Myanmar's opium production fell by 26 percent last year, due partly to
government efforts to eradicate the poppy crop. But it said there were
persistent and reliable reports that Myanmar officials, particularly
corrupt army personnel in outlying areas, were either involved or paid to
allow the drug business to be conducted by others.

Kyaw Thein said his government was aware of this corruption. Some of those
involved were as highly ranked as colonel and action was being taken
against culprits. Myanmar's other problem is that its more than 6,000 km of
borders with Thailand on the east, China in the north and northeast and
India on the west, is so porous, experts say. "Chemicals to refine drugs or
to move them is so easy. It's so difficult to control movements of
traffickers," said another expert from the Interpol conference. 

Experts and officials also say that the government, having arranged
ceasefires with poppy-growing, anti-government insurgent groups, now had
the dilemma of what to offer them in terms of crop substitution or
commercial opportunities. If cash-strapped Myanmar was unable to help them
in substitution, they could return to the illicit trade. A sticking point
in Myanmar international relations on drugs is the fact that it harbours
two or more wanted drug traffickers -- Khun Sa who lives in Yangon under
government supervision and known trafficker Lo Hsing-han who is doing
business in Myanmar. Kyaw Thein says his government believed it was better
if these druglords were kept out of the business, to reduce the outflow of
opium and heroin, than to charge them. He also denies drug money laundering
charges leveled at Myanmar and says accusers should help find proof. "There
is a lot of talk outside...it's only talk. We have no evidence."
 
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THE BANGKOK POST: CHUAN TO RAISE DRUG ISSUES IN TALKS WITH THAN SHWE 
2 March, 1999 by Wassana Nanuam 

ARMY BORDER UNITS TOLD TO BE PREPARED

The prime minister will raise drugs production and smuggling along the
border with his Burmese counterpart due for a two-day visit next week.

Chuan Leekpai, also defence minister, expects full cooperation from Burma
in formulating plans to combat trafficking, said a source.

Gen Than Shwe is due to visit Thailand between March 8-9 in the wake of
long-standing border conflicts as talks to settle the disputes are under
way. His visit follows that of Win Aung, the Burmese foreign minister, who
was here last month.


The talks were supported by Gen Surayud Chulanont, army chief, Gen
Teeradej Meepien, permanent secretary for defence, and Gen Mongkol
Ampornpisit, supreme commander, at the Defence Council talks last week.

Meanwhile, Gen Surayud has ordered troops along the border to be prepared
despite pending talks later this month, an army source said.

Thailand and Burma will discuss confidence-building measures at the
Regional Border Committee in Phuket in the middle of this month.

According to the source, Gen Surayud plans to invite senior Burmese figures
at the regional level to visit Thailand to strengthen relations.

"Although the army chief emphasises the Foreign Ministry takes the lead in
solving problems with Burma, he considers personal relationships crucial,"
said the source.

A number of army colonels is to be selected to participate in a
Thai-Burmese language exchange programme resulting from Gen Surayud's visit
to Burma last month, he added.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS: KAREN LEADER ASKS THAI ARMY TO HELP NEGOTIATE PEACE WITH
MYANMAR
2 March, 1999 

TAK, Thailand (AP) -- As the Myanmar military shelled one of his key bases
on Saturday, the leader of the Karen guerrilla army called on Thailand's
generals to help negotiate peace with the government in Yangon.

Gen. Bo Mya, president of the Karen National Union, made the appeal as
Chinese-made mortar shells rained down on Do Lo Khe, the headquarters of
his 7th Brigade not far from the border with Thailand. Thai army sources
said the Myanmar military was determined to capture the base.

Gen. Bo Mya told The Associated Press he fully supports any involvement by
the Royal Thai Army in negotiating a peace settlement between the KNU and
the Burmese government.

"I warmly welcome any help the Thai army commander can give us in obtaining
peace. We would be very happy to have the Thai army help negotiate a cease
fire settlement."

During his recent visit to Yangon, Gen. Surayud Chulanont, Thailand's army
commander in chief, told Burma's leader Gen. Than Shwe that Thailand wanted
to see a negotiated settlement to the dispute between the government and
the rebels.

Gen. Than Shwe is scheduled to visit Thailand on March 8-9 when the issue
is likely to be raised again for discussion, as fighting between the Karen
and the Myanmar army frequently spills over on to Thai soil.

The Karen have been fighting for autonomy from successive governments in
Yangon for 50 years. Once a powerful army, the Karen fighters have been
reduced to guerrilla units holding slivers of territory near the Thai
border and staging hit and run attacks on the Myanmar army.

A series of cease fire negotiations in recent years between KNU leaders and
representatives of Myanmar's military government stalled and eventually
broke off.

The Karen, and other ethnic insurgents, were once supported by the Thais as
a buffer between them and their traditional enemies the Burmese. Myanmar is
also known as Burma.

Since the early 1990s, however, relations have gradually warmed between the
two countries and Thailand has withdrawn its support Myanmar's opening to
foreign investment during the same period has allowed it to beef up its
army to more than 400,000 troops and obtain more sophisticated weaponry.


More than 100,000 mostly Karen refugees are living in camps inside
Thailand. Bo Mya said he wanted to see a negotiated settlement and true
peace so his people could go home.

Meanwhile Saturday, Karen commanders said that nine battalions from
Myanmar's 22nd Light Infantry Division deployed to attack the 7th brigade
headquarters had become bogged down in the mine-fields surrounding the
rebel base and the Myanmar army commander had called for artillery support
to take the pressure off his troops.

A spokesman for 7th Brigade commander, Gen. Htain Maung, told The AP by
telephone that 155 millimeter artillery pieces had fired more than 30
rounds on Friday and Saturday at the rebel base to cover the army's advance.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA BENEFIT DINNER - UUSC & NEW ENGLAND BURMA ROUNDTABLE 
2 March, 1999 from  <sbillenness@xxxxxxxx> 

JUSTICE FOR BURMA BENEFIT

Hosted by:

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
     &
New England Burma Roundtable

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1999, 6:30 p.m. at the Cronkhite Graduate Center
(directions below), Harvard University

SPEAKERS:

* Dr. Cynthia Maung, founder of the Mae Sot Clinic, UUSC partner from the
Thai-Burma border [**Her presence contingent upon the security situation
along the Thai-Burma border**]

* MA State Representative Byron Rushing, sponsor of the Burma Selective
Purchasing Law

PHOTO EXHIBIT

Faces of Courage, an exhibit of photographs by Elizabeth Call, will be on
display.

Asian food and refreshments will be served.  All proceeds from this event
will benefit Burmese refugees along the Thai-Burma border.  Similar
benefits for Burma are being held worldwide during the month of March.

CO-SPONSORS:
* Human Rights Program, Harvard Law School
* Graduate Student Chapter of Amnesty International, Harvard University

Please R.S.V.P. with payment and the information requested below by March
8, 1999.

NOTES:
* REGISTRATION WITHOUT PRE-PAYMENT WILL BE ACCOMODATED ON A SPACE-AVAILABLE
BASIS ONLY.

* STUDENT SPACE IS LIMITED.  Please contact Laurie Simons at
72753.1440@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx for more information.

See below for directions to the event.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tickets $25.
Please reserve _____ spaces.
___  Family of 3 or more   $10 X ___ = ____
___  Student $10

Please consider an additional contribution.
___$25     ___$50     ___$75     ___$100     $___other

___I will not be attending but am enclosing a contribution of $_____.

Guest Name(s) _____________________________________
Company/Organization ______________________________
City, State & Zip Code ____________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________
Home (          ) _______________________
Work (          ) _______________________

Please return payment with this information by March 8, 1999.
MAIL TO:
  Burma Benefit
  UUSC
  130 Prospect Street
  Cambridge, MA 02139-1845
--------------------------------------------------------------
Location:
Cronkhite Graduate Center
Harvard University
6 Ash Street, Cambridge, MA
(617) 495-8781   Front Desk


[On Corner of Brattle Street, 4 blocks from Harvard Square, one block
beyond the American Repertory Theater]

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ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA BENEFIT DINNER - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY 
2 March, 1999 from <jw1970a@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 

Fellow spiders,

We (AU spiders) would like to invite you to Burma Freedom Dinner 1999,
Washington, DC.  We hope to raise a ton of money for the grassroots
movement while having a fun time as well.  Michele and Angie and everyone
else at AU have worked their tails off putting this together, and we think
we've come up with a great event.

We are excited that the speakers for this year's event are Harold Koh, the
Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Nancy Pelosi, U.S.
Represenatative from CA, and Dr. Zar Ni, a leader of the opposition
movement.  We are very lucky that such esteemed speakers are participating
in our event-Harold Koh happens to be the highest ranking Asian American in
the U.S. Government!  We definitely want to thank them with a show of
resounding support--filling up Bender Arena with 600 people!

We would be honored by your attendance at this year's dinner.  Please come,
and bring your friends, families, or classes.  We truly believe our motto:
when spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.

If you can, please r.s.v.p. by calling 885-3333 ext. 5.  If not, please
come to the dinner anyway!

Love and hope,
Jeremy 

Keep Reading, Here's the Specifics.

Refugees International, the Institute for Asian Democracy, and the American
University Free Burma Coalition invite you to:

BURMA FREEDOM DINNER 1999

A Dinner to Benefit the Movement for Democracy in Burma

        Tuesday, March 9, 1999
        Bender Arena, American University
        4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington DC

6:30 PM  Reception - 7:00 PM Program - $15.00 Students 
$25.00 Non-students 
Semiformal attire

Program:
Welcome Anjanette Hamilton/Michelle Keegan,  American University Free Burma
Coalition

Dinner   Traditional Burmese Cuisine,  catered by the Burma Restaurant
Bamboo Dance Performance
Fashion Show
Musical Accompaniment - Aung Saw Oo

Keynotes:
Harold Hongju Koh,  Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor
Nancy Pelosi,  US Representative, CA

Candlelight Dancing

Slideshow       Dr. Zar Ni,  Founder, Free Burma Coalition

M.C.            Joe Eldridge, University Chaplain;  Louis Goodman, Dean,
School of International Service


Note: The military dictatorship governing Burma is one of the worst human
rights abusers in the world. Atrocities such as torture, rape,
extrajudicial killing, and forced labor are commonplace. In 1997 at
American University, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi called on students and citizens around the world to support her
country's quest for democracy and human rights:  "Cast your eyes beyond
your own frontiers towards the shadow lands of lost rights and assist our
fight for a Burma where young people can know the joys of hope and
opportunity. Please use your liberty to promote ours."


The Free Burma Coalition is coordinating 9 simultaneous benefit dinners:
Atlanta - Boston - Los Angeles - Milwaukee - the Netherlands - New Zealand
- San Diego - Vermont - Washington D.C.

Please R.S.V.P to the Free Burma Coalition at 202-885-3333 ext. 5.
Tickets must be reserved by March 2.

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