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The BurmaNet News: November 29, 199



Subject: The BurmaNet News: November 29, 1999

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The BurmaNet News: November 29, 1999
Issue #1411

HEADLINES:
==========
AFP: JAPAN OFFERS TO HELP REFORM MYANMAR ECONOMY 
TBC: ROBIN COOK ASKS HIGH COURT TO TIE HIS HANDS 
MIZZIMA: ASEAN SHOULD HELP FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA 
BKK POST: BIG DIFFERENCE IN BURMA, MYANMAR 
THE NATION: PAWNS IN CROSS-BORDER POLITICS 
THE NATION: AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY THREATENED 
AP: THAIS ADAMENT ON REBELS' UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER 
BKK POST: UN AGENCY URGED TO AID REPATRIATION 
***************************************************

AFP: JAPAN OFFERS TO HELP REFORM MYANMAR ECONOMY 
28 November, 1999

MANILA, Nov 28 (AFP) - Japan on Sunday announced a new initiative to help
Myanmar rebuild its crippled economy but warned the junta it must prove its
sincerity by undertaking genuine economic and political reform.

Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said at the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit here he would send former Japanese premier
Ryutaro Hashimoto on a mission to assess Yangon's economic needs on Tuesday.

Obuchi told the junta leader, Senior General Than Shwe, during a meeting
that if Myanmar proved its willingness to embark on radical reforms it
could count on Japan for help.

"If your country is to tackle economic reform seriously, we are ready to
support your country's economic reform with our experience," he was quoted
as saying by a Japanese official.

"I would like government officials of the two countries to discuss what
exactly we can do for you."

"Former prime minister Hashimoto is to visit Myanmar on November 30 --
please welcome him," Obuchi said, according to the official who hinted
Japan may offer technical assistance to Yangon if the initiative prospers.

A World Bank report leaked to a newspaper this month reportedly warned that
Myanmar's economy was on the verge of collapse, submerged in debt, choked
by inflation and starved of foreign investment by Asia's crisis and
international sanctions.

The country is viewed as an international pariah by Western nations which
accuse the junta of gross human rights violations including forced labour
and torture and of suppressing the democratic opposition led by Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

A reported initiative supported by the United Nations and the World Bank
last year to barter aid for political reform came to nothing, with the
junta apparently reluctant to ease its iron grip on the country's tortured
political climate.

The Japanese official said Than Shwe was well aware of the need for
economic liberalisation, saying, "economic reform is indispensible."

He said the junta, known as the State Peace and Development Councilalso
planned to hand over power eventually to a democratic government, "but we
are still in the middle of it."

Critics say a constitution currently being drafted by a commission in
Myanmar is little more than an attempt to exclude Aung San Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy from a meaningful role in politics.

The party won a sweeping election victory in 1990 but the military,
surprised at the scale of the party's support, has refused to hand over power.

World Bank sources have said any new initiative in Myanmar would first aim
to build confidence similar to the bank's efforts in North Korea. There is
little prospect of substantial aid being granted early in the process.

Observers in Yangon detect no sign the junta is ready to embrace a
purported aid-for-reform payoff mooted by diplomats as a "carrot and stick"
drive for reform last year.

Ministers said recently Myanmar looked towards the outside world for help
but was prepared to go it alone and hinted it could endure a subsistance
level of existence.

Signs of Myanmar's economic morrass are obvious on the streets of Yangon
where inflation runs at around 30 percent and the beleagured kyat currency
trades on the black market at 350 to the dollar, compared to the official
rate of around five.

Power cuts are frequent, plunging streets into darkness at night.

Copies of the scathing World Bank report were delivered secretly to
Yangon's top generals and Aung San Suu Kyi by a World Bank envoy
accompanying a special representative of United Nations chief Kofi Annan
last month.

A Myanmar spokesman told AFP this month the government had "invited the
World Bank representatives for further discussions." 

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

THE BURMA CAMPAIGN: ROBIN COOK ASKS HIGH COURT TO TIE HIS HANDS ON ETHICAL
FOREIGN POLICY
26 November, 1999 

In an extraordinary move, the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, will next
Thursday, December 2, ask the High Court to rule that the UK Government
cannot impose financial (investment) sanctions on other countries without
UN or EU backing or a specific Act of Parliament. If he wins, the
Government's much-criticised ethical foreign policy will be weakened yet
further.

The Burma Campaign (TBC) has launched a judicial review against Mr Cook
over his attitude to sanctions against the military regime in Burma, one of
the most brutal in the world.

The Government accepts that the human rights situation in Burma is
appalling. Under EU law, the UK can impose a ban on investment by British
companies in Burma if the situation there is 'urgent'. The Government says
it is not urgent, because it has been so bad for such a long time. TBC
argue that a situation is 'urgent' if it needs addressing quickly, as that
in Burma clearly does. The long history of repression does not detract from
the urgency but rather adds to it.

However, in an attempt to have the case thrown out, the Government is now
arguing that, even if the situation is 'urgent', it does not have the power
to impose sanctions against Burma because there is no Act of Parliament
allowing it to do so. If this were correct, it would apply not just to
Burma but to every other brutal regime throughout the world - until or
unless the UN or EU could be persuaded to impose sanctions, which is
usually very difficult. It has not been possible with Burma, despite
near-universal condemnation of the regime.

In 1990, Burma's military ignored the election which gave an overwhelming
victory to Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy (NLD). In a statement given to TBC for the case, Aung San Suu Kyi
strongly supports financial sanctions against her country.

John Jackson, a TBC director said:  "We are frankly very surprised and
disappointed that the Government is trying to stop our case coming to
court. The UK can, it seems, carpet-bomb Yugoslavia without UN backing but
cannot impose financial sanctions on Burma.

How much suffering do Burma's people have to endure before their situation
is deemed 'urgent'? The Government's position on this lacks credibility,
particularly since ministers accept that human rights abuses in Burma are
getting worse".

Notes

1. On November 12 the United Nations General Assembly condemned Burma's
junta for its widespread use of torture and other forms of repression. The
International Labour Organisation recently accused it of a 'crime against
humanity' -  the most serious breach of international law - for its
systematic use of forced labour of millions of people (including women and
children). Hundreds of thousands have fled to Thailand and other
neighbouring countries, posing a threat to regional stability and peace. In
addition, Burma is the world's largest exporter of heroin - Robin Cook has
accused the regime of directly benefiting from its trafficking.

2. The EC Treaty provision in question is Article 60.2 (added by the
Maastricht Treaty), which allows member states to impose financial
sanctions unilaterally if there are 'serious political reasons and on
grounds of urgency'. The Government does not dispute that serious political
reasons exist. The issue centres around the meaning of 'urgency'. The
Government argues that a situation is not urgent if it has not deteriorated
(but at the same time accepts that the situation in Burma has deteriorated!).

3. The Government, having argued for 18 months that Article 60.2 cannot be
used - because the situation in Burma is not 'urgent' - is now arguing that
it is irrelevant anyway. It is arguing - it is thought for the first time
in history - that the UK needs specific authority from Parliament to impose
sanctions in peacetime without the backing of the UN or EU. It has always
been assumed that this could be done under the royal prerogative, which
enables the Government to do all manner of things in the foreign policy
field. TBC argue that the issue is irrelevant anyway to these proceedings -
even if the Government is right, the court still needs to rule whether,
under Article 60.2, Parliament could legislate for sanctions.

4. The Government has unilaterally imposed measures short of sanctions on
Burma, such as withdrawing support for trade missions. It discourages
tourism. It therefore clearly believes economic pressure is justified and
potentially effective. Indeed, Mr Cook, in his Labour Conference speech
this year, said that a policy of isolating Burma was justified given its
appalling human rights record, and castigated the Conservatives for not
backing sanctions against apartheid South Africa. Twice this year, Mr Cook
has publicly urged Premier Oil (see below) not to proceed with its
investment in Burma.

5. Premier has a 27% stake in the Yetagun gas pipeline which will supply
Burmese gas to Thailand. The pipeline costs well over $700m. There are
well-documented human rights abuses associated with the Yetagun pipeline
area and the construction of a parallel pipeline by Total and Unocal. The
military benefit hugely from major infrastructure projects of this sort,
while the people of Burma get progressively poorer. The people of Burma, a
country rich in natural resources, remain near the bottom end of human
development tables.

6. In 1997 President Clinton banned new investment by US companies in Burma.

For further information contact:

John Jackson            tel: 0171 281 7377      mobile: 0961 357 391

Yvette Mahon            tel: 0171 281 7377      mobile: 07957 301 346

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

MIZZIMA NEWS GROUP: INSTEAD OF BUSINESS, ASEAN SHOULD HELP FOR DEMOCRACY IN
BURMA
28 November, 1999 by B.K. Sen 

New Delhi, Nov. 28. The 13-nation annual East Asian Summit will meet today
on November 28, 1999 at Manila in the Philippines. The meeting is
participated by the leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) plus China, South Korea and Japan.

The Economic Ministers of ASEAN have agreed to work together to come out
with a common agenda that will serve the collective interests of the
economy of the region. This move is intended to take member-nations on the
path of economic recovery.

Burma (Myanmar) is a member state which is run by military dictators for
the past several years. They have also betrayed the trust in not fulfilling
the vow of transferring power to the elected representatives of the people.
The world community and United Nations agencies time and again had asked
the military junta to fulfill their promise. That request had been
irrationally defied.

On the contrary, large-scale violations of human rights and narcotic trade
are being carried on recklessly. People, ethnics, Members of Parliament,
students and Buddhist monks are hounded and harassed. A reign of terror
prevails in Burma.

The issue before The Summit in relation to Burma is: Can the ASEAN
countries do trade with such a country governed by military tyrants, not
withstanding its high policy of "constructive engagement"?

Rulers who do not keep words with their people, who are doing business with
drug lords, who have closed down The University for years killing the
growth of middle class, what business is expected from this environment?

There is no entrepreneur class in Burma. Everything is done through and by
the military. How can ASEAN countries who all have civilian governments in
their respective countries, expect to do business with the regime of Burma?

Whatever business ASEAN countries had done earlier with Burma only
aggravated the economic crisis and made the people poorer. No wonder that
leading countries of the West have put sanctions on Burma. Burma's economy
is in total ruin.

Thailand Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan who played a constructive role
during seize of Burmese Embassy at Bangkok in October said that Economic
Ministers have resolved import, economics, and financial issues and they
await approval by the leaders at the gathering. However, the realities of
the Asian financial crisis and its impact must not be lost sight of.

The accelerated process of China's entry into the W.T.O is also a crucial
factor to be taken into account. In the context of all these and because
the ruling elite in Burma has stalled the political process which alone can
lead to economic recovery.

Burma should be put on terms and strictly. The ASEAN leaders will be doing
a yeoman service if they can remove the last military vestige in ASEAN
scenario. Rule of law is the only guarantee for economic recovery not only
in Burma but also in the entire region.

(Mr. B.K. Sen is an advocate who works for Burma Lawyers' Council in India
and contributed this article to Mizzima News Group.) 

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

THE BANGKOK POST: BIG DIFFERENCE IN BURMA, MYANMAR 
27 November, 1999 by Kanbawza Win 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

It was interesting to read the article of the 23rd instant written by J
Dempsey (according to the junta's term, another Nga Pwa Gyi, meaning a
hook-nosed farang) studying for his joint degree. Such kind of writing from
a person desirous of getting another visa to enter Burma is not unexpected.
If objective reporting is lacking from the Western press, then they should
take a leaf out of the Myanmar Alin or some other junta publication to be
more objective, if it is according to his hypothesis. But for clarity's
sake, as a native Burmese, may I humbly point out the difference between
the noun Burma and Myanmar. Isn't it the same country which was called
Burma previously? Digging a little deeper one will soon understand that the
word Myanmar is chauvinistic, and synonymous with gross human rights
violations. The romanised version of the Burmese generals in changing the
fair name of the country by decree and forcing everyone within its clutch
to comply, stems from the illusion that names in English could be changed
by dictators. Sweden calls herself as Sverige, Germany as Deutschland,
Spain as Espana and so on and so forth, but the world recognises them by
their English names. So why should the free world now acquiesce to the
crassness of these drug generals?

The word Myanmar comes from South Indian word "Mramar", if originality is
to be emphasised; later, in the Burmese language it was known as Myanmah.
The ending "mah" is pronounced softly as in the second syllable of the word
"mother" in English. If it is literally translated, should be "Myamar Naing
Ngan Taw".

"Naing Ngan Taw" means country, and Myanmar is the people - a major race of
the so many ethnic tribes of Burma. It is ridiculous in the English
language to call a country and the people by the same name. But sadly, the
business community of the world and those who want to be in the good books
of the junta, have to acquiesce for obvious reasons. If one recalls the
struggle of the Burmese people against the colonialists, the founder of
modern Burma, Bogyoke Aung San (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's father) founded Doh
Bama Asaiyone, and not Doh Myanmar Asaiyone.

Again, the Union of Burma is composed of several ethnic groups who
willingly joined hands at the famous Panglong Conference in 1947 to gain
independence from the British. Thus, the Union of Burma was born. Hence the
word Myanmar is both phonetically and politically wrong.

Most of the generals belong to major race called Myanmar and
Myanmarnisation over the indigenous people is seen as a prelude, like the
Khmer Rouge who changed Cambodia to Kampuchea, or the Sinhalese chauvinists
who changed Ceylon to ancient Sri Lanka, to help justify their grip on
power. So the democratic countries might as well refrain from using the
word Myanmar and continue to call the country Burma until such time when
human rights prevail and democracy is obtained in Burma, and the consensus
is reached over the word Myanmar.

I think it is not a crime to champion the cause of democracy and real
federal union as most of the Western countries are doing according to the
ardent wishes of the people of Burma, and not the wishes of a handful of
generals.

Kanbawza Win, University Of Winnipeg, Canada

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

THE NATION: BURMESE MIGRANT WORKERS - PAWNS IN CROSS-BORDER POLTICS
28 November, 1999 by Win Min 

THE TRAUMA AND THE SORROW IS MADE EVEN MORE PAINFUL WITH THE ALLEGED
MISTREATMENT OF THE BURMESE PUSHED BACK ACROSS THE BORDER, WRITES WIN MIN.

Mae Sot- The full moon of Loy Krathong showered light on the banks of the
Moei River as candle-lit floats drifted by. In years past, Thais and
Burmese gathered together here to celebrate this festival of joy. But this
year, the banks were almost deserted, except for a few huddled groups of
migrant workers trapped on islands between the two countries.

In the past four weeks, tens of thousands of Burmese workers have been
deported. Of the estimated one million Burmese migrant workers living in
Thailand, Thai official figures put the number of Burmese in Mae Sot at
70,000.

Others believe the figure to be as high as 100,000. Today, few remain and
Mae Sot has become a ghost town. The garment factories, restaurants, and
shops where the Burmese once worked are deserted. The streets are empty.

But many Burmese are hiding in the jungle and hoping they will be able to
return to their former jobs. They say they cannot survive in Burma.

Exposing the false distinction between economic migrant and refugee, many
report that they are afraid of returning. Not only are they unable to find
jobs, but they are also subjected to forced labour and frequent extortion
of fees by local authorities. Those coming from villages that have been
forcibly relocated in campaigns against the ethnic armies no longer have a
home.

The crackdown came a month after Burma's decision to unilaterally shut down
the border and revoke Thai fishing concessions in Burmese waters in
response to the Thai government's handling of the Burmese embassy siege in
Bangkok. Burma's ruling generals were angry that the hostage-takers were
allowed to escape. The Thai government responded by repatriating Burmese
migrant workers. But because the Burmese government maintained that the
borders were closed, the returning workers were not been welcomed.

Just recently, Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan negotiated the re-opening of
the border and a "normalisation" of border trade and cross-border travel
procedures.

Unfortunately for the Burmese deportees, the opening does not indicate a
reversal of the deportation policy. Surin said the Burmese authorities
agreed to now facilitate the workers' safe return.

However, such "facilitation" could prove dubious.

During the first days of the deportation programme, Burmese soldiers fired
shots to prevent the repatriations. Then there were reports of 15 female
migrant workers being raped by Burmese soldiers. Thousands of migrant
workers who returned to Burma are now stranded in the border town of
Myawaddy, unable to pay for transportation home.

The abbot of Thamanya monastery in Karen State has sent monks to the border
to help the returnees with food and transportation, but the military regime
has been uncooperative.

In the meantime, Myawaddy residents say petrol prices, bus fees and food
costs have risen dramatically. But this is of little concern to the junta,
which is totally preoccupied with its political survival.

This is not the first time the junta closed down the border to pressure
Thailand. The regime has often used such tactics to wrest concessions from
the Thai government. In particular, it has demanded that Thailand stop
harbouring Burmese political dissidents who can publicise news of human
rights abuses in Burma and encourage the country's pro-democracy movement. 

Surin dismissed Amnesty International's concern about the safety of the
deported Burmese, saying the operation was being carried out in a
humanitarian manner. However, a number of those who were arrested by the
Thai police had their valuables confiscated before being sent back across
the river. Some migrant workers who were deported but later returned to
Thailand have reported witnessing the rape of female migrant workers by
Thai policemen. For Daw Kyi Than, a 56 year old woman from Burma, the
terror of being arrested literally killed her. When Thai policemen broke
into her room with axes on Nov 7, she suffered a heart attack. She was
found dead, praying beneath her Buddhist altar. Burmese returnees and Thai
villagers have found as many as a dozen bodies along the banks of the Moei
River. Afraid of what would happen to them in Burma, many migrant workers
have secretly tried to swim back to Thailand.

Some drowned. Other workers are still waiting desperately for their
salaries. When the deportation programme was announced, factory owners told
their employees to hide and come back when the crackdown was over. After it
became clear that this crackdown was far more serious than similar
round-ups in the past, workers returned to demand their salaries.

On Nov 17, two pregnant women one three months and another six months - had
miscarriages after running through the jungle from police who arrived at a
clinic in Mae Sod, a local nurse said. Many factory owners took advantage
of the workers' vulnerable situation and paid them only partial wages or
not at all. With no money and no safe shelter, migrant workers have been
hiding where they can. According to volunteers who have visited workers in
the jungle, many are suffering from acute respiratory  infection, gastric
ulcer, malaria, dysentery, and  other diseases. As the weather gets colder,
their misery only increases.

Health is not the only concern. Thai immigration authorities have been
mistreating many of the workers. A Burmese monk witnessed an incident
involving immigration police and a dump truck full of workers. The
immigration police used hydraulics to tilt the dump truck up, forcing
workers to slide off the truck and towards the ground. One worker who tried
to hold on in order to keep from falling was beaten by police until he fell
off the truck. The monk who witnessed this incident got very angry with the
officials, and later the officials involved were filmed at a local temple
paying tribute in order to make up for their actions.

"What is so sad is that this crisis is man-made," said one volunteer. Are
the migrant Burmese workers being used as pawns in Thai-Burma diplomacy?
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said on Friday that there are no major
problems between Thailand and Burma. But Surin hastily arranged visit to
Rangoon recently suggests otherwise.

In fact, the border closure and repatriation mess is symptomatic of the
underlying political crisis in Burma today. Were Burma a democracy, the
Thai and Burmese governments could easily work out border tensions without
having to resort to such hostile measures. In the meantime, until Burma's
economic and political situation improves and the regime's use of forced
labour ends, the flow of people fleeing the miserable conditions will
continue. As one local businessman said, "Thai border businesses rely on
cheap Burmese labour, and there are not enough Thai workers willing to take
their place." On Nov 7, the Tak Chamber of Commerce stated that their
businesses had already lost Bt4 billion because of the deportations.

Thailand should halt this operation which has resulted in a humanitarian
crisis and an economic disaster in Mae Sot. Instead, Thailand should work
with other Asean members to pressure the Burmese military junta to engage
in a dialogue with the pro-democracy movement so that the country's
political and economic problems can begin to be resolved. The upcoming
Asean summit is a good place for such discussions.

While Asean has typically adhered to a policy of non-interference in other
member states' politics, the massive number of Burmese migrant workers in
Thailand reflects that one country's problems can have profound effects on
its neighbours. If Thailand and other countries do not engage Burma on such
issues, they too will suffer.

Although Thailand may find it difficult to take on the regime alone, if
other Asean members were to lend their support, the junta would have to
listen. In the meantime,  the Burmese migrants continue to hover in fear on
the sandy islets between Burma in Thailand, wondering what they did to
deserve such a fate.

[WIN MIN is with the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF).]

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

THE NATION: AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY THREATENED
28 November, 1999 

THE NATION, AP

PRIME Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday ordered the Interior Ministry to
beef up security measures after the Australian embassy requested tighter
protection for fear of reprisals by exiled Burmese students whose requests
for entry visas had been turned down.  The Australian Embassy would
certainly not issue entry visas to the Burmese students until the agreement
regarding the resettlement process was finalised, said Chuan before leaving
for Manila to join the Asean summit.

"They will accept only when they are  ready'' added  the premier.

Police Lt Gen Yothin Mattayomnant said the embassy had requested more Thai
security personnel to guard its sprawling compound in Bangkok.

All visitors to  the embassy regardless of  nationality are being
thoroughly inspected.

Embassy officials were not available for comment on Saturday.

"The embassy fears it might be a target of some disgruntled Burmese
dissidents," the police officer said.

Media reports have indicated that the Australian government has been
turning down applications by Burmese activists seeking a new life in
Australia. The refusal has sparked rumours that the displeased students
would retaliate by storming the mission.

According to Chuan, about 85 per cent of the Burmese students residing in
the Kingdom want to be resettled in a third country. 

Several countries have expressed their interest in  granting these exiled
students asylum. They include the United States, Australia, Canada, New
Zealand and a number of European Union nations.  Moreover, the Thai police
are also providing extra security around the Burmese Embassy to prevent
history from repeating itself. Five democracy activists seized the Burmese
Embassy here in October but released all hostages unharmed after Thai
authorities gave them safe passage to the Thai-Burmese border.

Several thousand former students from Burma have been allowed to stay in
Thailand since fleeing their military dominated homeland.

Most escaped following the bloody 1988 suppression of a pro-democracy
uprising.

But after the Oct. 1-2 embassy seizure, the Thai government asked the UN
High Commissioner for Refugees to complete resettlement of the activists
within the next few years.    

* A Thai court yesterday sentenced 19 exiled Burmese students to six month
suspended  jail terms for falling to comply with a Thai crackdown on asylum
seekers, immigration officials said.   

They did not meet a Nov 21 deadline for all exiled students  to report to
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) before being
confined to a holding camp on the Thai-Burma border.

A municipal court found them guilty of illegal entry and sentenced them to
a six-month suspended jail term along with a Bt9,000 fine, court and
immigration officials said.

"All of them were charged with illegal entry," said Colonel Vissanu
Muangpraesri from the immigration police.  The Thai National Security
Council set strict new conditions for the estimated 2,000 exiled Burmese
students in Thailand, after Five gunmen claiming to be pro-democracy
student activists took 38 people hostage at Burma's embassy here on Oct 1.

Thailand has also urged the UNHCR to speed up the repatriation of all
exiled  Myanmar students to third countries. 

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

ASSOCIATED PRESS: THAIS ADAMENT ON MYANMAR REBELS' UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
26 November, 1999 

BANGKOK (AP)--Thailand's army is still trying to arrest the rebels who
stormed the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok two months ago, but won't give in to
their surrender demands, an army spokesman said Friday. 

The five fugitives from the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors contacted
army officers in Ratchaburi province at the Thai-Myanmar border at the
start of November, but demanded they be tried in an international tribunal. 

"The condition is impossible," said Col. Pairoj Thongma-Eng, deputy chief
of the Surasee Army Base which oversees that section of the border. 

Thailand is adamant the rebels would be dealt with under Thai law, but has
said they wouldn't be deported to military-run Myanmar - where they would
likely face a harsh penalty. 

The rebels stormed the embassy in broad daylight Oct. 1 demanding democracy
in their homeland. They held hostages at gunpoint for 25 hours, only
releasing them after they were given safe passage to the border at
Ratchaburi. The incident badly frayed Thai-Myanmar relations. 

Yangon's ruling military regime closed its over 2,000 kilometer border with
Thailand until Wednesday, after Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan flew
to Myanmar to mend ties. 

The Thai army believes the five dissidents are staying with "God's Army," a
tiny armed rebel group of ethnic Karens led by a pair of boy twins who are
said to inspire their fighters through mystical powers.

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

THE BANGKOK POST: UN AGENCY URGED TO AID REPATRIATION
27 November, 1999 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been urged by the
National Security Council to negotiate with Rangoon the repatriation of
100,000 refugees in Thailand.

NSC Secretary-General Kachadpai Burusphat said it was hoped the UNHCR and
other international organisations would push for the repatriation of
Burmese who had fled over the past 15 years to escape fighting, through
talks with the Burmese government.

"I have asked the UNHCR to come up with decisive resolutions. The UNHCR
must consult international communities to find out how to play a greater
role in Burma and give Burma assistance, to ensure the safety of refugees
who return home," he said.

More than 750 Burmese students in Bangkok had so far registered with the
UNHCR and would be sent to the Maneeloy centre in Ratchaburi, which houses
1,100 Burmese students.

The NSC chief said he believed the process to send all Burmese students in
Thailand to third countries could begin by the end of the year.

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




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