[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
BurmaNet News: December 22, 1994
- Subject: BurmaNet News: December 22, 1994
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 22 Dec 1994 20:14:00
Received: (from strider) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.5 ) id UAA17692; Thu, 22 Dec 1994 20:14:28 -0800
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 1994 20:14:28 -0800
************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
**************************************************************
BurmaNet News: Thursday, December 22, 1994
Issue #85
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
For her own good and for the good of the country she had to
be restrained in order to prevent her from promoting the
cause of these unsavory political elements who found their
way and got themselves into positions of influence around
her to create disunity among the only unified establishment
left in the country, the tatmadaw (military),
Ohn Gyaw, SLORC Foreign Minister explaining why
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be held under house
arrest.
**************************************************************
Contents:
1 NATION: SLORC TELLS REASON FOR SUU KYI'S DETENTION
2 NATION: DOCUMENT THAT KEEPS SUU KYI UNDER ARREST REVEALED BY SLORC
3 BKK POST: PLAN TO EVACUATE VILLAGERS OVER FIGHT IN BURMA
4 NATION: DOCUMENT THAT KEEPS SUU KYI UNDER ARREST REVEALED BY SLORC
5 BKK POST: BURMA BEGS HELP TO FIND MISSING TROOPS
6 BKK POST: STUDENTS REINFORCE DAWN GWIN
7 HEAVY CASUALTIES AS BURMA FORCES ATTACK KAREN REBEL STRONGHOLD
8 BKK POST: AMNESTY CLAIMS HUMAN RIGHTS NO BETTER IN BURMA
9 NATION: TOP AIDE OF DRUG WARLORD KHUN SA READY TO BE EXTRADITED TO
U.S. TO FACE CHARGES
10 BURMANET: LO HSIENG HAN RUMOURED TO HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED
11 BKK POST: 6 ARRESTED OVER ARMS TRAFFICKING
12 NATION: BAY OPENS RANGOON BRANCH
13 UNATTRIBUTED: RANGOON MUST STOP RIGHTS ABUSES
**************************************************************
The BurmaNet News is an *********************************
electronic daily newspaper * *
covering Burma. Articles * Iti *
from newspapers, magazines, * snotpo *
The wire services, news- * werthatcor *
letters and the Internet * ruptsbutfea *
are published as well as * r.Fearoflos *
original material. * ingpowercor *
* ruptsthosewhoare *
The BurmaNet News is * subjecttoit...Theef *
e-mailed directly to * fortnecessarytoremain *
subscribers and is * uncorruptedinanenvironm *
also distributed via * entwherefearisanintegralpar *
the soc.culture.burma and * tofeverydayexistenceisnot *
misc.activism.progressive * immediatelyapparent *
newsgroups as well as * tothosefortun *
the seasia-l mailing * ateenoughtol *
list. For a free * iveinstatesgo *
subscription to the * vernedbytheru *
BurmaNet News, send * leoflaw...Iam *
an e-mail note to: * n ota frai *
* d.. *
strider@xxxxxxxxxxx * .D *
* aw *
Subscriptions are handled * Au *
manually so please allow * ng *
for a delay before your * San *
request is fielded. * Su *
* uK *
Letters to the editor, * yi *
comments or contributions * . *
of articles should be *********************************
sent to the strider address as well. For those without e-mail,
BurmaNet can be contacted by fax or snailmail.
By fax: (in Thailand) (66)2 234-6674
Attention to BurmaNet, care of Burma Issues
By snailmail: (in the United States)
BurmaNet, care of Coban Tun
1267 11th Avenue #3
San Francisco, CA 94122 USA
**************************************************************
NATION: SLORC TELLS REASON FOR SUU KYI'S DETENTION
December 21, 1994
Yozo Yokota, UN Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights
on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma, in a letter dated Oct 5 to
Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw, asked the Burmese military
government for its response to a summary of allegations of human rights
violations in Burma.
Yokota also asked U Ohn Gyaw to reply to questions concerning the fate
of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the ongoing National
Convention. Below is U Ohn Gyaw's response to the queries concerning
Aung San Suu Kyi, now in her sixth years of house arrest since being
detained by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) on july
20, 1989.
Please specify the reasons, including reference to specific legal
authority, for keeping Daw Aung San suu Kyi under house arrest after 20
July 1994, and please indicate precisely when the Government intends to
release her.
The Myanmar (Burmese) authorities, in the statements made since action
had to be taken against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, made known the reasons for
restraining her:
(a) That she had been included by anti-government, opportunistic
politicians and insurgent groups in their attempt to seize political
power for their own end, at a time when a political vacuum developed by
the people's genuine desire to forsake the socialist economic system and
their yearning for the return to a multi-party democratic system:
(b) For her own good and for the good of the country she had to be
restrained in order to prevent her from promoting the cause of these
unsavory political elements who found their way and got themselves into
positions of influence around her to create disunity among the only
unified establishment left in the country, the tatmadaw (military),
which was endeavouring to stabilize the situation created by the
political vacuum;
(c) Despite repeated caution on the part of the authorities, she made
seditious speeches inciting the people to acts of violence and to cause
division within the armed forces and division between the armed forces
and the people.
The specific legal authority for restraining Aug San Suu Kyi is the 1975
Law to Safeguard the State against the Dangers of Those Desiring to
cause Subversive Acts. Under this law, if there are reasons to believe
that any citizen has done or is about to do any act which infringes the
sovereignty and security of the State or Public peace and tranquility,
the Council of Ministers is empowered to pass an order, as may be
necessary, restricting any fundamental right of such person.
Also, under section 10(b) and section 14 of this 1975 Law to Safeguard
the State against the Dangers of \Those Desiring to Cause Subversive
Acts, there is the legal basic for the restraint of Aug San Suu Kyi
after 20 July 1994. Under this Law the Council of Ministers may pass an
order as may be necessary restricting any fundamental right of a citizen
if there are reasons to believe that he has committed, or committing, or
is about to commit, any act which infringes the sovereignty and security
of the State or public peace and tranquility. To exercise such power a
Central Body, consisting of the Minister for Home Affairs as Chairman,
and the Minister for Defence and the Ministers for Foreign Affair as
members has been formed. The Central Body in passing restriction order
for safeguarding the State against dangers has the following powers:
(a) Arresting and detaining a person for a period not exceeding 60 days
at the time, up to a total of 180 days;
(b) Restraining a person up to one year.
If is becomes necessary to extend the period of detention or restraint,
the Central Body may be authorized by the Council of Ministers to detain
or restrain a person for a period not exceeding one year at a time, up
to a total of five years.
In accordance with section 13 of the Law, the Central Body shall obtain
the prior sanction of the Council of ministers if it is necessary to
continue the restraint of the person against whom action is taken for a
period than contained in section 10 (b). Hence, the Central Body can
restrain a person for one year with its own mandate under section 10 (b)
of the Law, and with the prior sanction with the Council of Ministers,
can extend the period of restraint for five years in accordance with
section 14 of the Law.
In view of the foregoing, there is the legal basis for restraining Aug
San Suu kyi after 20 July 1994 of the 1975 Law to Safeguard the State
against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts.
Please describe in as much detail as possible the present status of Aug
San Suu kyi's physical health. Regarding her physical wellbeing, other
than being allowed to move outside her compound, she is free to live as
she wishes with- in her property and enjoy all other privileges. She
lives as she pleases, listens to the radio, watches television, reads,
writes, exercises, signs and plays the piano and guitar. She always had
one maid to help her.
#She has no social difficulties. She can meet freely with her im-
mediate family, and since the beginning of her restraint, her hus- band,
Mr Michael Aris, has visited her nine minutes, her elder son Alexander
five times, and her younger son Kim eight times. She is allowed to write
freely to her family and receive correspondence and parcels from them.
# She can meet freely with relative who came to meet and live within her
compound. She can also invite revered monks to her house to offer alms
to them.
# Apart from giving Congressman Bill Richardson the opportunity to meet
with Aug San suu kyi two times when he last visited Myanmar,
arrangements were made for her mother-in-law, Mrs Evelym Aris, on her
arrival in Yangon on 28 October 1994, to send a week together with Aug
San suu kyi.
# Aug San suu Kyi is in a good health.
Please detail the government's position with regard to maintaining
dialogue with Aug San Suu kyi, indicating the time frame the Government
intends to follow in this regard. The Chairman of the Slorc, Senior
General Than Shwe, and first Secretary Kin Nyunt, met with Aug San suu
kyi on 20 September 1994. Subsequently another meeting took place
between Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt and Daw Aug San Suu Kyi on 28
October 1994. Brig General Than Oo, the Judge Advocate General, and Brig
General Tin Aye, the Inspector General of the Defence Services, were
also present at the meeting. Such meetings are expected to take place
again. Meetings with Daw Aug San Suu Kyi are regarded as purely an
internal affair of Myanmar. (TN)
**************************************************************
NATION: DOCUMENT THAT KEEPS SUU KYI UNDER ARREST REVEALED BY SLORC
21 December, 1994
While international speculation is running high about the immi- nent
release of Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese junta
has for the first time described in detail the rele- vant law that can
be enforced to prolong her house arrest for the next few years.
The lengthy one-and -a -half-page explanation of the 1975 Law to
Safeguard the State against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause
Subversive Acts-the main legal authority used to put Suu Kyi under house
arrest since July 20, 1989- could kill any hope of her release,
speculated for January 20 when her detention term is supposed to expire
after its 60-day extension from July 1994.
The legal mechanism was described in response to a letter writ- ten by
Yozo Yokota, a UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in
Burma. Prior to his human rights mission to Burma in November, Yokota
wrote a letter to Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw requesting him to
identify the "specific legal authority" for keeping Suu Kyi under house
arrest after July 20 1994, and to indicate when the Burmese junta or the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) intends to release her.
IN Ohn Gyaw's reply, a copy of which has been obtained by The Nation, it
was explained that Suu Kyi has been put under house arrest "for her own
good and for the good of the country" and "to prevent her from promoting
the causes" of anti-government elements who "got themselves into a
position to influence [being] around her [in order] to create disunity
among the only unified establishment left in this country, the Tatmadaw
[military] ". Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner and daughter of
Burma's independence hero Aung San, was also accused of having been
under the influence of "anti-government, opportunistic politicians and
insurgent groups in their attempt to seize political power for their own
ends" and of making "seditious speeches inciting the people to acts of
violence and to cause division in the armed forces and division between
the armed forces and the people".
The Burmese minister said there is legal basis for detaining Suu Kyi
after July 20 1994 based on Section 10 (b) and section 14 of the 1975
law.
To exercise the power, a "Central Body" composed of ministers for home
affairs, defence and foreign affairs has been formed to pass "the
restriction orders".
The Central Body , according to Ohn Gyaw, has the power of "arresting
and detaining a person for a period not exceeding 60 days at a time, up
to a total of 180 days" and "restraining a person up to one year."
Moreover, the Central Body can obtain a sanction by the Council of
Ministers "to continue the restraint of the person against whom action
is taken for a period longer than contained in section 10 (b)".
In accordance with Section 14 of the law, the council of Ministers may
also permit a detention permit for "a period not exceeding one year at a
time up to a total of five years". "In view of the aforementioned,
there is legal basis for restraining Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after 20 July
1994 based on section 10 (b) and section 14 of the 1975 Law to Safeguard
the State against the Dangers of those Desiring to Cause Subversive
Acts," said Ohn Gyaw.
The described law is seen by some Burma watchers and political analysts
here as a self-made excuse for the Slorc to continue Suu Kyi's unlawful
detention for an indefinite period, until and unless she poses no threat
to the military's survival and omnipotence.
U Rewatta Dhamma, an exiled Burmese Buddhist monk who met both Suu Kyi
and Slorc leaders during his recent trips to Burma and who worked out
their bilateral dialogues, said recently in South Korea that both sides
are working on conditions for Suu Kyi's freedom and that he was hopeful
for her early release. In his response, Ohn Gyaw said the Suu Kyi-Slorc
meetings in September and October, which are geared towards resolving
the country's political crisis, "are expected to take place to again"
and that the bilateral talks "are regarded as purely an internal affair
of Myanmar [Burma]". The Slorc had previously ignored Suu Kyi's repeated
calls for dialogues and otherwise belittled her. The Burmese minister
also rejected several charges of human rights abuse, especially in the
cases of forced labour and porterage, saying "forced porterage, the use
of civilians as labourers in Myanmar has been practiced since the time
of colonial rule, under laws promulgated by the British".
He said civilian labourers used by the Burmese military are paid with
"daily wages" and given travelling warrants or cash to cover the cost of
transport. Moreover, they are provided with other recompense including
accommodation, "medical coverage and social welfare benefits."
A civilian labourer receives "a daily wage of 20 kyats [Bt 0.80]" and
rations of 28 ounces of rice, 1.75 ticals of cooking oil, 1,75 ticals of
salt, five ticals of split peas, and five ticals of saltfish, he
claimed.
Numerous porters and civilians who fled across the Thai-Burmese border
have shared the same account of being forced to work on several
construction projects for the Burmese military without any payment or
compensation. They said they had to provide their own food and medicine
as well as tools or equipment for construction.
Ohn Gyaw said it has always been part of the Burmese culture for the
people "to donate labour for the building of pagodas, monasteries, roads
and bridges." (TN)
**************************************************************
BKK POST: PLAN TO EVACUATE VILLAGERS OVER FIGHT IN BURMA
December 22, 1994
Preparations haven been made for the evacuation of some 1,600 border
villagers after Burmese government troops shelled the Karen National
Union's Kaw Moo Ra camp yesterday. The people of Mae Pa, Huay Kalok and
Pak Huay Mae Pa villages, which are 2-3 kilometres from the border, Mae
Sot district officer Kasem Vattanatham said.
A new site 10 kilometres from the border has been prepared and the
villagers will be evacuated if fighting continues. They will be provided
with food and drinking water there. The people of 15 other villagers
have been warned not to cross the border into Burma. A 24-hour tight
security has been imposed for the area around the villages.
The Third Army Region has sent a 105mm artillery piece to Wang Kaew
village, across the border from Kaw Moo Ra camp. Warning shots will be
fired if there is an intrusion into Thailand.
Border Patrol Police reported that some 1,000 Burmese government
soldiers pounded Kaw Moo Ra camp with about 200 rounds of artillery
shells.
Four Burmese government soldiers were killed.
Burmese government troops have recruited more porters from border
villages to transport arms and ammunition to the fighting zone and they
may resort to crossing the border into Thailand in order to attack the
camp from behind, sources say. Thai border officials arrested four
Burmese porters yesterday morning. They sent them back in the afternoon
**************************************************************
BANKOK POST: BURMA BEGS HELP TO FIND MISSING TROOPS
December 21, 1994
Government forces in Southeast Burma have requested Thai help in finding
four of their men who went missing during an assault on a Karen guerilla
camp near the Thai-Burmese frontier, Thai and Burmese army sources said
yesterday.
Two Burmese officers were killed and 17 soldiers wounded on Monday
during an assault on the Karen guerilla stronghold of Kaw Moo Ra, on the
west bank of the Moei river, the sources said. The river forms the
border with Thailand.
Burmese officers met their Thai counterparts in the Burmese border town
of Myawaddi yesterday to request Thai help in locating the missing
soldiers.
The Burmese apparently thought the four might have crossed the Moei into
Thailand, he said.
A Karen guerilla officer on the border said his men defending Kaw Moo Ra
had on Monday spotted a column of government soldiers advancing to
within 300 metres of their stronghold during a government artillery
barrage and attacked them with mortar bombs.
The 1,000 defenders of Kaw Moo Ra, including Karen guerillas and
dissident Burmese students, were preparing for more government attacks,
the Karen officer said.
Government forces launched the heaviest attacks in more than two years
on Karen positions last week, apparently taking advantage of a mutiny by
400 Buddhist fighters in the 5000- strong Christian-led Karen guerilla
army. Burmese forces captured one Karen camp and the headquarters of
dissident student guerillas to the north of Karen's Manerplaw
headquarters and made unsuccessful attacks on a key defensive position
to the south. (BP)
**************************************************************
BKK POST: STUDENTS REINFORCE DAWN GWIN
December 19, 1994
Student rebels said yesterday reinforcements were joining thedefence of
their jungle headquarters, under fire from Burmesegovernment troops 12
kilometers away . Minn Aung Myint of the All Burma Students Democratic
Frontsaid in a telephone interview 300 students and 1,000 allies from
the Karen ethnic minority had been sent to fortify theheadquarters,
defended for days by 700 students.
Although the Burmese government had declared a ceasefire in1992 against
armed ethnic groups , the students believed thegovernment restored to
the attack with AK 47 rifles, grenadesand artillery to force them into
negotiations to end the irinsurgency.
Minn Aung Myint said a number of Burmese soldiers had beenkilled or
wounded but he did not have exact figures. He saidnone of the students,
dug in on a hillto p, have been woundedin the skirmishes.
Minn Aung Myint said it appeared the government side also wasbringing
in more troops yesterday.
The Democratic Front was formed by Burmese students who fledthe capital
of Rang oon after the military junta crushed a prodemocracy uprising in
1988, killing h undreds of protesters. Itsince has joined forces with
other rebels who have been demanding greater autonomy from Burma's
central government.
The Burmese government has persuaded about a dozen rebelsgroups to lay
down the ir arms in recent years. It has stoppedup attacks this past
year on those who have refused to followsuit.
Meanwhile, the Burmese Buddhist monk who has been acting as amediator
between the government and detained opposition leaderAung San Suu Kyi
arrived in Rangoon yesterday, officialsources said.
He is hoping to meet again with Mrs Suu Kyi, who has beenunder house
arrest since 1989.
U Rewata Dhamma knows Mrs Suu Kyi's family well and is widelyrespected
among the Burmese leadership.
He last visited Burma in August, when he met with Mrs Suu Kyiand senior
junta leaders Than Shwe and Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.Since then, the leaders
have met twice with Mrs Suu Kyi, inSeptember and October.
It is widely believed the opposition leader will be freedearly next
year. U Rew ata Dhamma remains one of the few peoplethe junta allows to
meet with Mrs Suu Kyi in her lakesidehome. (BP)
**************************************************************
HEAVY CASUALTIES AS BURMA FORCES ATTACK KAREN REBEL STRONGHOLD 20
December 1994 [This is either from the BKK Post or The Nation but was
sent without attribution]
BURMESE government forces are believed to have suffer heavy casualties
yesterday after they attack they main base of ethnic minority Karen
guerrillas in southeast Burma, a guerrilla source said.
Government troops fired more than 2000 mortor bomb at the Karen's Kaw
Moo Ra base, located on the west bank of the Moei river, which form the
border with Thailand, yesterday morning. Sporadic fighting continued
into the afternoon.
Three Karen soldiers were wounded when Burmese infantry made an
unsuccessful assault on the camp, 100km southeast of the guerrillas'
Manerplaw headquarters, the Karen sources said. Burmese casualties were
believed to be heavy, he said.
KNU, the most powerful guerrilla force fighting Rangoon for greater
autonomy within a federal Burma, was this month rocked by a mutiny by
about 400 Buddhist fighters in the 5,000-strong Christian-led force.
Guerrilla officials say the Slorc has taken advantage of the crisis to
launch attack on several guerrilla positions in southeast Burma,
including a key defensive position about 20km south of Manerplaw.
Last Wednesday, Burmese forces captured the headquarters of dissident
Burmese student fighters, allied with the KNU, at Dagwin 40km north of
Manarpalw.
The fighting was the heaviest since 1992, when the junta made an
unsuccessful attempt to capture Manarplaw and then said it was
suspending operations against the guerrillas in the interests of
national reconciliation.
The junta has so far been unsuccessful in its attempts to win a
ceasefire with the KNU, as it has done with 13 other guerrilla armies.
KNU leader Gen Bo Mya said late last month he was willing to send a
delegation to Rangoon for talks.
**************************************************************
BKK POST: AMNESTY CLAIMS HUMAN RIGHTS NO BETTER IN BURMA
December 21, 1994
Amnesty International, renewing its call for the immediate release of
all prisoners of conscience in Burma, has said it sees no significant
improvement in the human rights situation there. In a 24-page report
received here yesterday, the London-based human rights monitor said
there had been "no fundamental change in [Burma's] attitude towards
respecting the basic human rights of its citizens".
It expressed concern that "certain well-publicised events", such as
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's meetings with a US congressman and
members of the ruling junta, "should not draw attention away from the
ongoing human rights violations." It referred to serious health problems
among detainees as well as incidents of ill treatment by authorities.
The report asked that all prisoners of conscience be immediately and
unconditionally released, a full list of detainees be published and that
proper medical attention be provided to all prisoners.
It also called for commutation of death sentences, release of civilians
forced by the military to work as unpaid labourers or porters and
granting of full and free access to international human rights and
humanitarian bodies.
"Whereas the Slorc took a number of tentative steps to indicate to the
international community a willingness to address the human rights
situation in Myanmar, it at the same time reinforced its repressive hold
within the country," Amnesty International said.
The report acknowledged the officially reported release of more than
2000 political prisoners since 1992, but stated that political detention
"continues to be a major tool of repression used by the SLORC (State Law
and Order restoration Council)." Hundreds of political prisoners
arrested since the pro- democracy movement began in 1988, including 28
members of the 1990 parliament-elect which was never seated, remained in
detention, it recalled.
At least 60 students and perhaps as many as 200 were arrested at
December 1991 demonstrations seeking the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
forty-six were known to have been given jail terms ranging between 6 and
20 years.
"The Slorc continues to intimidate its citizens and discourage them from
exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and
assembly by arresting anyone involved in political opposition
activities," the report said.
Regarding Aung San Suu Kyi, now in her sixth year of house arrest, the
group said it was concerned her widely-publicised meetings with junta
leaders "may be simply an attempt by the Slorc to gain international
respectability."
Ethnic minorities continue to suffer from human rights violations, in
the context of both the junta's operations against armed opposition
groups and its work on large construction projects.
"Such human rights violations include extra-judicial killings, torture
and ill-treatment, forced porter duty for the (army), forced unpaid
labour on construction projects and forced relocation of villages," the
report said.
It accused Rangoon's ongoing national convention to draft a new
constitution of tailoring provisions to exclude the possibility of Aung
San Suu Kyi becoming president. Delegates were not allowed to discuss
provisions freely, it added. (BP)
**************************************************************
NATION: TOP AIDE OF DRUG WARLORD KHUN SA READY TO BE EXTRADITED TO
U.S. TO FACE CHARGES
December 21, 1994
One of Burmese opium warlord Khun Sa's 10 leading lieutenants arrested
here last month has expressed his "willingness" to be extradited to the
United States to face drug charges of trafficking in 1,000 kilogrammes
of heroin into that country. However, the final decision on the group's
US-requested extradition will rest on a ruling by the Thai court, which
will open trial to consider the issue once it receives evidence from
Washington on the trafficking charges.
The Us has 60 days beginning from the date of last month's arrest to
collate and translate into Thai all relevant evidence and documents
against the 10 suspects who are being held in Bangkok under a renewable
court detention order.
In an interview on Monday, Pol Lt gen Somchai milindankura, commissioner
of the Police Department's Narcotics Suppression bureau, said one of the
10 suspected traffickers has expressed his "willingness" to be
extradited.
Somchai did not reveal the suspect's identity, and said he did not know
if the suspect's proposal to be extradited stemmed from a personal
belife in his own innocence.
He said eight of the group were found to hold "genuine" Thai identity
documents but the other two have no "legal" papers. Thai authorities,
however, still must establish if the group are Thai nationals or
investigate how they obtained official Thai documents. A senior US
Embassy official in an interview last Friday said that the 10 suspects
were "basically Chinese" and carried no "official Thai documents.
Somchai said that if the court rules against their extradition, the US
can instead send more evidence and other related information here for
the Thai court to prosecute the group. The US Embassy official has
expressed doubts if the suspects could be prosecuted under the Thai
conspiracy law as the case "is very complicated and sophisticated" and
Thailand will need more time to deal with it".
The conspiracy law, which was introduced and enacted in only 1992, is
very strong but judges, prosecutors and police still need to be trained
to "grab financiers and mafia chiefs_ real bad people, instead of small
fish" he said.
Thailand has in the past extradited foreign suspects and repatriated
foreign convicts but never any Thai nationals. The US had previously
asked Thailand to help capture drug suspects and traffickers but the
arrest of Khun Sa's 10 top men is the largest group ever requested by
Washington.
Under two bilateral agreements _ the 1992 Extradition Act and the 1993
Ttreaty relating to extradition_the United States in early November had
requested the Thai Government's help to arrest and extradite a group of
20 drug suspects wanted on charges of trafficking 1,000 kilogrammes of
heroin into the US, particularly New York City, over the past 20 years.
The 10 suspects arrested in separate raids on Nov 27 and 28 in Chiang
Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Bangkok, have been identified as Na
Tsai-kuei, wholesale heroin broker and refinery manager, Chao Fu-sheng,
heroin sales representative and procurer of refining chemicals; Kuo
Famou, finance officer, Liu Feng-te, Khun Sa's chief representative in
Mae Hong Son; Liu's deputy Chang Te-tsai; Lo Te-ming, logistics manager
and one of Khun Sa's most trusted men; Meechai Pathumanee, logistics
officer; Kao Chang-Ping, drug sales representative; Ho Min-te, refinery
manager; and Chalee Yangwirikul, Khun Sa's right hand man for many
years.
A joint Thai-US task force comprising Thai police, military and anti-
drug agencies and agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), State Department, Immigration and Customs is still hunting for
the other 10 invididuals of Khun Sa's trafficking network wanted under
indictment warrants issued by New York City's eastern district court.
The Us Embassy official said "Operation Tiger Trap," which involved
intensive action to collect information and track down Khun Sa and his
drug cartel over the past two years, has managed to cripple Khun Sa and
his 20,000-strong Mong Tai Army. He likened the impact of the 10 arrests
to a "standing eight-count" in boxing terminology.(TN)
**************************************************************
BURMANET: LO HSIENG HAN RUMOURED TO HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED
December 22, 1994
BurmaNet has picked up a rumour that drug king pin Lo Hsieng Han was
assassinated in Kengtung, Burma. Lo Hsieng Han, an ethnic Chinese
warlord and former KKY leader returned to the legal fold and is now
referred to in the state press as a respected elder statesman
although outside observers maintain that his former title of notorious
drug kingpin remains a more accurate description.
**************************************************************
BKK POST: 6 ARRESTED OVER ARMS TRAFFICKING
Mae Hong Son
December 19, 1994
Six men were last night being held in custody after policeseized a small
cache of weapons from a pickup truck in MaeHong Son's Muang District
yesterday. A police team, led by Pol LtCol Rangsit
Bambudsupparok,stopped the truck at a c heckpoint on the Mae Hong
SonPaihighway. They found one M16 assault rifle, one M76 hand
Police said the truck driver, Thalee Kamyong said a Karen hadhired him
to drive from Ban Huey Dua to Ban Mai. (BP)
**************************************************************
NATION: BANK OPENS RANGOON BRANCH
December 21, 1994
BANGKOK_ The Bangkok-based Bank of Ayudhya Public Co Ltd opened a branch
in the Burmese capital on Monday, state-run Radio Rangoon said. Local
businessmen and senior government officials attended the opening
ceremony, which was presided over by the Burmese revenue and finance
minister, Brigadier General Win Tin, the radio reported in a dispatch
monitored here. (TN)
**************************************************************
UNATTRIBUTED: RANGOON MUST STOP RIGHTS ABUSES
[This was sent to BurmaNet without attribution or date. If a reader
recognizes the source of this document, please contact BurmaNet.]
IN RANGOON
The mother of a political prisoner in Rangoon said recently: I hope my
son will be released soon, I want him to go back to school. Her 20-
year-old son was arrested in 1991 during a protest against the military
regime.
Military intelligence officers came to take him at his home in the
middle of the night. Then he disappeared for two months. By the time his
mother had a chance to see her son he was already in the notorious
Insein prison, serving a 10 year sentence.
There was no defence lawyer, no hearings and only arbitrary detention
and a rape of justice.
IN THE COUNTRYSIDE When the train stopped at
Nyaungglebin station, I was on the train selling rice to the passengers.
I was arrested by the police because I didn't have a licence. [This is
often used as an excuse to arrest people or extort money from them the
Slorc says you must buy a licence to do anything whatsoever.] I slept
2 nights in the police lockup, then they sent me to the porter group at
No. 60 Battalion in KyaukKyi. We started to work from there. My load
weighed 15 or 20 viss [24 to 32 kg.]. We slept one night at Mu Thet,
then one night at Neh Gya and then we went to Byat Kyaw. We ate very
little food each day. There was no curry and no salt, just rice
sometimes with some yellow beans. There was no fighting on the way. I
was beaten with a rifle butt, and the others were also beaten up by the
soldiers. When we got to In Gone, they sent me to collect firewood and I
escaped. This is one story happening in the countryside everyday.
Recent UN Human Rights Rappor-teur, Professor Yozo Yokota published a
new report on Burma shortly after he came back from Rangoon. He will
complete his report in the near future to submit to UN Human Rights
Commision.
Rangoon leaders twisted the truth in Burma during Yokota's visit. The
Junta's mouthpiece, The New Light of Myanmar reported: Professor Yokota
goes on Upper Myanmar tour, inaugurates new railroad section in the
picture Yokota and a Slorc minister and officials are seen cutting a
ribbon. Was it odd? What was Yokota doing there?
There is no doubt Yokota has not had an independent investigation on
human rights in Burma. But Yokota made the point soon after he came back
from Burma. In his new report which was submitted to UN General
Assembly: Cases of torture, arbitrary killings, rapes, disappearances
and confiscation of private property seem to be taking place most
frequently at the border areas by military soldiers in the course of
military operations, forced relocations and development projects.
The victims of such human rights violations seem to cut through all the
social, geographical and ethnic groupings, and the most vulnerable
groups seem to be ethnic national populations, women, children,
peasants, daily wage earners and other peaceful civilians who do not
have enough money. Not surprisingly Rangoon strongman Khin Nyunt denied
all charges. He said, Allegations of human rights violations in Burma
are fabrications by rebels and dissidents, and are believed by those who
are ignorant of the real situation in the country. Then he continued,
Roads, rails, bridges and irrigation dams have been built with the
cooperation of the people, greatly benefitting the local people. pard
PRESSURE MUST W ORK We must not forget the fact that Burmese people
have been suffering under Ne Win's so-called socialist regime for almost
3 decades and worse still, their sufferings continue under Ne Win's
adopted sons. Will these power hungry Khaki-leaders suddenly change
their minds and see the light? Have the leopards truyly changed their
spots? Most Burmese dissidents who have experienced bitterness under
the military regime for years say, ...more pressure must be applied.
Recently, a well-known Burmese dissident spoke to us. When asked his
opinion of the conciliatory approach to the junta he said, There is no
reason to appease the repressive regime but to keep strong pressure and
aggressive international protests.
**************************************************************
BEST BRAINS LOST TO SLORC'S BURMA
December 20, 1994 [This is either from the Bangkok Post or The Nation,
but which is not clear]
STUDIES have shown that you need the support of at least two of the
Three interest groups (military, professionals and general populace) to
develop third world countries. Slorc has the support of only the Burmese
army.
Burma needs trained economists to plan and implement its economic
development policies. Indonesia had the "Berkeley Mafia", Chile had MIT
economists and Maxico had Harvard economist. The reason Burma does not
have trained economists is because arbitrary rule by the country.
Twenty years ago a Burmese economist with a Phd from MIT was kicked out
of Burma because he was not "pure" Burmese. His MIT PhD got him job
offers from Princeton and Columbia. Travelling as a stateless person he
was unable to get to America in time to accept the Princeton offer. He
is now a full professor at Columbia University. Recently he refused to
meet with a Slorc delegation because he knew Burma had no future under a
military dictatorship.
Burma has many other outstanding economists. One of them served as an
economic adviser to President Nixon. He was the first Asian to serve on
the very prestigious three member Council of Economic Advisers. There
are many other outstanding Burmese in America. But none of them would
volunteer their service until there is a political settlement in Burma.
The message we want to send to Slorc is sincere and very simple.. they
should understand that educated, civilized people will not get involve
in Burma's reconstruction so long as the country;'s elected leaders are
held under detention without trial, and without any formal charges.
Even one of the Slorc's strongest supporters is sounding as bit
disappointed with Slorc. In a recent Wall Street Journal article (Nov
29), A. Cushman May, a director of Peregrine Capital Limited of Hong
Kong, stated that "Slorc is trying hard, but its hard for them to grasp
the concepts of reform." Burma is divided because Slorc is incapable of
genuine political and economic reforms. Burma's future depends on an
equitable political settlement between Slorc, Aung San Suu Kyi and the
ethnic leaders. There is no other way to facilitate and expedite
freedom, democracy and economic development in Burma
Myint Thein
**************************************************************
NATION: BEWARE MYINT
December 22, 1994
If they had not already from his other voluminous production of waste in
The Nation letters column, Myint Thein, self-pro- claimed "senior
Adviser to the Burmese Resistance," gives us a pretty good early
estimate of what his idea of the "democrat- ic" alternative is to the
Slorc in his Dec 14 letter "Business ban call". In a previous letter, Mr
Thein had threatened to blacklist The Nation and other newspapers as
"Slorc accompli- ces" if they dared print any material favourable to the
Slorc. In the business ban letter, he gives us a further taste of what
the "Burmese Resistance's" idea of the law is when he states that when
he and his clique take over they will invali- date all contracts with
the Slorc including those of Unocal and Total. This shows the low level
of respect that Mr Thein has for the law and, I might add, suggests what
a vindictive and arbitrary person he is, rather than someone who is
truly fair-minded and democratic seeking to reconcile "his" country. I
have been reading Mr Thien's absurd and self-serving letters for years,
since the Thai newspaper letter columns are a free "printing press" for
him to let out his periodic geysers of hot air. I have duly noted his
obvious thirst for political power for himself and his Burmese
Resistance cronies, which hardly differentiated them from the group
presently in power which he is bent on attacking. If people like Mr
Thein ever come to power in Burma, it will be an even sorrier day for
the troubled country. Burma has never realized its potential greatness
in modern times. What is required is truly law-abiding and democratical-
ly-minded people committed to national reconciliation-not powermongers
such as Mr Thein who talk about ripping up contracts with foreign
investors and launching witch hunts against perceived enemies of himself
and his faction. (TN)
*********************************************************
NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET:
AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS
AFP: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
AW: ASIAWEEK
AWSJ: ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL
Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt.=US$1 (APPROX),
BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION
BI: BURMA ISSUES
BKK POST: BANGKOK POST (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
BRC-CM: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-CHIANG MAI
BRC-J: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-JAPAN
CPPSM: C'TEE FOR PUBLICITY OF THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE IN MONLAND
FEER: FAR EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW
IRRAWADDY: NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY BURMA INFORMATION GROUP
JIR: JANE'S INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP
Kt. BURMESE KYAT; 150 KYAT=US$1 BLACK MARKET
100 KYAT=US$1 SEMI-OFFICIAL
6 KYAT=US$1 OFFICIAL
MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN
NATION: THE NATION (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK)
NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER, RANGOON)
S.C.B.:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP
S.C.T.:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP
SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST
SLORC: STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COMMITTEE
USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA)
**************************************************************