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BurmaNet News: February 9




************************** BurmaNet **************************
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
**************************************************************
The BurmaNet News: Tuesday, February 9, 1995
Issue #107

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Contents:                                                    

*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NATION: U.N. CHIEF'S REPRESENTATIVES IN BURMA HAVE TALKS WITH FM
NCGUB: REGARDING SLORC'S PRESS CONFERENCE OF 3RD FEB, 1995
AP: POLITICAL PRISONERS FREED

*****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI***********************
BKK POST: OFFENSIVE AGAINST KARENS EXPECTED
AI: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS FORCED PORTERING
AP: REFUGEES FEAR BURMESE MILITARY

***************************THAILAND***************************
NATION: [THAI] BURMA POLICY NEEDS SERIOUS REVISION
BKK POST: ARREST HERE LINKED TO DRUG SUPPLY DROP IN US

************************INTERNATIONAL*************************
REUTER: EX-AUST PM'S BURMA TRIP GAVE REGIME A BOOST, ACCUSES
          EVANS

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**************THE BURMANET NEWS, FEBRUARY 9, 1995*************
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*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NATION: U.N. CHIEF'S REPRESENTATIVES IN BURMA HAVE TALKS WITH FM
8 February

ENVOYS representing United Nations Secretary-General Boutros
Boutros Ghali met Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw in Rangoon as
international concern once again focussed on the isolated
Southeast Asian country.

Burma's state television, in a broadcast monitored in Bangkok
late on Monday, said Alvaro de Soto, assistant UN secretary-
general, met Ohn Gyaw on Monday for "cordial discussions on
matters of mutual interest."

The television gave no further details of their talks.
De Soto was accompanied by Francisco Vendreel, director of the
East Asia and Pacific Division of the UN political affairs
department.

The two UN representatives arrived in Burma on Sunday as
international concern mounted over a Burmese army offensive
against ethnic minority guerrillas which sent a wave of
refugees feeling to Thailand.

Government forces seized the Karen rebel headquarters at
Manerplaw in Southeastern Burma on 27 Jan and have since been
attacking the guerrillas' few remaining strongholds.
The attack on Manerplaw, which was also the headquarters of
pro-democracy dissidents and exiled members of Aung San Suu Kyi's
National Leguage for Democracy (NLD), sent 6,000
refugees into Thailand.

Burma' ruling military body, the Slorc, has been largely
shunned by the world community for its crushing of a democracy
uprising in 1988 with heavy loss of lief, and its later
refusal to recognized an election victory by Suu Kyi's NLD. Ohn
Gyaw said the Slorc had authorized him to discuss various issues
with Boutros-Ghali or his representatives.

Senior United Nations official Rafeeuddin Ahmed travelled to
Rangoon in November for talk with Ohn Gyaw and other
officials.

The UN General Assembly in December adopted as motion
deploring human rights violations in Burma and calling on the
Slorc to release Suu Kyi. (TN)

*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
NCGUB: REGARDING SLORC'S PRESS CONFERENCE OF 3RD FEB, 1995
February 5, 1995
 
1. In a press conference held on 3rd Feb, 1995 the SLORC denied
its recent offensive against Manerplaw, claiming it merely
supported the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organization (DKBO) in
capturing Manerplaw. SLORC denial of its offensive is an absolute
lie. Its statement is an obvious fraud to the peol fBraand the
international commuiya el

2. Some members frm the KNU have formed the DKBO and DKBA on 21st
December, 1994. Before that a group of KNU former members held a
demonstration in the early week of December, 1994
regarding their religious discontentment. Despite the grant of
their demands, those members made contact with the SLORC.

3. According to a radio-telegram, consisting of 23 different
points, which was received by revolutionary groups and Mr. Khin
Zar Min and Mr. Pyi Aye who returned to the KNU from the DKBA it
was quite clear that the SLORC is the main architect of the
conflict in the KNU.

4. Starting of the week of December, 1994, the SLORC began
to support DKBA with arms and ammunition, medicines, financies
and rations. SLORC's deputy commander of Brigade 33 communicated
the supplies through a buddhist monastery at Kamamaung.

5. On 2nd Jan, 1995 the SLORC General Maung Hla with 20 other
military officials dropped by army helicopter at the monastery of
Myaing Gyi Ngu monk U Thuzana, and had a closed-door
conspiracy with DKBA leaders including the monks. The deal in the
conspiracy was that if the DKBA members will take part in the
SLORC offensive against the KNU, The DKBA would be recognized as
the real representatives of the karen revolution.

6. The SLORC used more than 10,000 troops from brigades
22, 33, 44, 66 and other regiments under the South-eastern        
Comand and Eastern command. Heavy shelling including 76, 81, and
120mm shell to the headquarters of Manerplaw occurred from the
20th to 27th Jan, 1995. SLORC used Rubber-Light boats which
enabled them to convey about 6- 8 troops at a time to cross the
Salween river.

7. About 1,000  DKBA members took part in the offensive. Its main
object was to guide the SLORC along the principle routes to the
centre of Manerplaw.

8. Following of December 27th, 1994 according to 40 porters who
had escaped from SLORC army in the Manerplaw area, it was said
that most of the soldiers were SLORC troops with only a few
members of the to be seen. It added that the relationship between
them seemed very friendly.
9. Due to the offensive, it has clear  that the SLORC has no
desire to solve political problems  and national reconciliation
by political means.

10. In addition, the exodus of refugees to the neighbouring
countries  highlights that the SLORC is creating a threat not
only to Burmese domestic affairs but also to the peace and
stability of the region as well.

     Hence-forth it is overnments who believe in the
constructive engagement policy to review the viability of their
policy with the SLORC.

11 Itis time for the United Nations and
the international community, together with multinational
companies to work out effective diplomatic, political and
economic action against the SLORC. Only immediate actions and
measures can only solve the present crisis.

Headquarters
5th February 1995

*************************INSIDE BURMA*************************
AP: POLITICAL PRISONERS FREED
February 7

        RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- For the third time in two weeks,
the government on Monday released a group of political prisoners,
this time during the visit of a U.N. team investigating alleged
human rights violations.
        Four were freed Monday, including two members of detained
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy, the official Myanmar News Agency reported.
        Altogether, 2,136 detainees described as political
prisoners have been freed since junta leader Gen. Than Shwe
announced in 1992 that prisoners who do not threaten national
security would be released.
        Those freed Monday, along with 23 freed Saturday, include
at least two prisoners who had been the objects of international
concern. On Jan. 26, 47 other prisoners were released.
        Win Htein, released Monday, is a retired army captain and
former aide of detained League for Democracy chairman Gen. Tin
Oo. He had been serving a seven-year sentence. He was designated
a ``prisoner of conscience'' by the human rights group Amnesty
International.         The annual U.S. State Department report on
human rights, released last week, said the junta ``routinely
practiced arbitrary arrest.'' It described conditions at Insein
Prison, near Rangoon, as ``unacceptably harsh.''
        The junta seized power in 1988 after violently
suppressing pro-democracy demonstrations.
        Visiting U.N. special envoy Alvaro de Soto, head of the
U.N. political affairs department, and Frances Vendrell, head of
the department's Asia Division, met Monday with Foreign Minister
Ohn Gyaw, state radio reported.




*****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI***********************
BKK POST: OFFENSIVE AGAINST KARENS EXPECTED
8 Feburary 1995

BURMESE troops are expected to launch a dry-season offensive soon
against Karen rebels to pave the way for a natural gas pipeline
from the Andaman Sea to the Thai border at Kachanaburi
Province.

Kanchanaburi provincial sources said Rangoon forces launched two
attacks last week on bases of the Karen National Union oppsite
Bongti, Saiyok District, and opposite Pasai mine in Thong Phaphum
District.

About 2,000 Karen civilians fled across the border to seek
temporary refuge in Bongti and Pasai mine. All returned to uUrma
after the Burmese troops retreated.
Sources said the pipeline would be laid to E-tong village op-
posite Thong Phaphun District where it will link with a pipe-
line on the Thai side which will extend to Ratchburi where a
power station is to be sited.

A KNU source said the Burmese had not yet conducted a ground
survey for the laying of the pipeline. But he said he expected
work to start soon.

Villagers in Tavoy  and Mergui districts have been forces to
become porters of Burmese soldiers, claimed the source.
Meanwhile, more than 10 phosphorus bombs landed on Thai terri-
tory after Burmese soldiers heavily shelled the KNU camp at
Kaemoora opposite Nae Sot District yesterday.

Border Patrol Police said fighting has intensified since Mon- day
morning, when Burmese troops began firing rockets and
120mm artillery rounds from Hill 200 and Hill 300 encompassing
Kawmoora. The hills are home to more than four government army
battalions.

The BPP said at least 73 phosphorus bombs were forecd onto the
camp, setting fire to the KNU's 101 headquarters. Two K_81 bombs
reportedly exploded midair over Ban Wang Kaew in Tambon Mae Pa on
Monday night, sending more than 100 villagers to take refuge in a
temple ground.

The Army fired three 150mm shells as warning shots immediately
after the bombs exploded over the village. 

A Thai army source said the Burmese will launch heavier artil-
lery attacks over the next two days because they are
determined to seize Kawmoora .

State official in Tak Province were advised to take
precautionary measured and step up security at their officers.
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan  yesterday
maintained that Thailand's role in the ongoing internal
fighting in Burma was to serve as a window for the country with
the international community.

He ruled out the possibility of Thailand serving as mediator
between the Burmese Military Junta and ethnic minorities
unless there is consent from both sides of the conflicts.
His statement contradicts a statement by outgoing Foreign
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who said Thailand would consider
mediating between the two sides.

Dr Surin said the proposal of expected Burmese monk Sayadaw
Rewada Dhamma for Thailand to mediate peace talks between the
Slorc and the KNU was not possible a it was Burma's internal
affair.

"Thailand could only express its attention and concern. To
mediate, there must be consent from both Burmese and Karens, said
Dr Surin.

The Foreign Ministry, as the representative of the Thai
Government, can only coordinate at government level, he said.
Thailand is a neighbour to all groups and countries but
"Thailand can serve as a link between Burma and the outside
world, but please don't ask us to coordinate with any
particular group," he said. (BP)

*****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI***********************
AI: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS FORCED PORTERING
February 2

News Service 27/95
AI INDEX: ASA 16/WU 02/95
2 FEBRUARY 1995

Amnesty International today condemned the Burmese military's
seizure of hundreds of civilians as porters in their offensive
against the Karen National Union (KNU) -- Myanmar's largest
ethnic minority armed opposition group. 

     The human rights organization also expressed concern about
other civilians who may be at risk of killing and torture by
Burmese troops.

     "In the past week, scores of escaped porters have been
fleeing across the border to seek refuge in Thailand, many of
them in terrible condition as a result of beatings and other ill-
treatment by the army," Amnesty International said. "They are
among thousands of Karen refugees who have left their villages to
escape the fighting."

     For over 10 years   the army has forced tens of thousands of
civilians to carry supplies during counter-insurgency operations
against various armed groups. Those who are taken are frequently
beaten and kicked if they are too weak to carry their load or
attempt to escape. 

     Porters often fall ill with malnutrition or malaria, but
receive no medical treatment. Some are even killed by troops if
they do not obey orders. Villagers have also been accused of
supporting the KNU and are tortured or killed by troops
patrolling the area.
                                        
     Amnesty International is calling on the Burmese military
authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily seized
for forced portering. 

     In spite of repeatedly stating that they were seeking a
peaceful solution through negotiations, the government launched a
massive attack against the KNU in December after a split between
two KNU factions.  On 27 January Manerplaw, the KNU headquarters,
fell to Burmese troops in the heaviest fighting since the
military government declared a ceasefire in April 1992.  

ENDS\

*****************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI***********************
AP: REFUGEES FEAR BURMESE MILITARY
Sat, 4 Feb 95

        MAE TOU LA, Thailand (AP) -- Wails of sick children fill
this refugee camp where plastic covers and blankets are the only
shelter for thousands of Burmese fleeing army mortar attacks
across the border.

        The Burmese military junta is fighting to crush rebel
holdouts along the Thai border after seizing their headquarters
Jan. 27. Its main target is the Karen, the largest of the ethnic
minority groups fighting for greater autonomy.

        Taking advantage of divisions within the Karen, the junta
has attacked with impunity, ignoring condemnations from around
the world.
        Buddhist Karen troops broke rank with the
Christian-dominated leadership in December to support the junta,
guiding its troops through hidden paths to the Manerplaw mountain
stronghold.         Aid agencies estimate some 100,000 Karen and
Burmese have been displaced by the fighting, the majority fleeing
deeper into Burma's jungles.
        About 3,000 Karen refugees who fled the junta's advance
are gathered now at Mae Tou La, 372 miles from Bangkok. They
joined 70,000 Burmese already in Thai refugee camps from previous
flareups in the decades-long conflict.
        International relief agencies and the Thai government
provide food and medical care.
        Many refugees are suffering from dysentery, fever,
malaria and malnutrition after days of traveling through the
jungle to escape the junta's shelling.
        Then there are the invisible scars that came with the
loss of Manerplaw -- the symbol of the Karen's four decade
struggle. It has left a huge hole in Burma's pro-democracy
struggle.
        One doctor fought back tears amid a scene of Karen
mothers with sick children in their arms.
        ``We are fighting a losing battle and for this the people
have had to suffer,'' Dr. Saw Po Thew said Saturday.
        Sar Mu Htow, a 26-year-old farmer, said he and his family
fled their village under a hail of mortar fire. Four men were
killed trying to hold off the army until women and children could
get out, he said.
        He said the shelling was accompanied by a torrent of
grenades.         The headquarters also was the center of
students and politicians who fled Rangoon when the junta clamped
down on the pro-demoment and ignored a 1 990 election won by the
opposition.
        The students and other rebels now are regrouping with the
Karen in a bid to recover lost ground and hang onto their last
three main strongholds.
        The Burmese army, buoyed by Manerplaw's fall, has turned
to the Karen's second most important stronghold -- Kawmoora, near
the Thai town of Mae Sot, 298 miles northwest of Bangkok.
        The constant pounding of Burmese artillery there can be
heard five miles across the border, at the Huay Kalok Karen
refugee camp. 

***************************THAILAND***************************
NATION: [THAI] BURMA POLICY NEEDS SERIOUS REVISION
February 8, 1995

Recent events have shown the folly of Thailand's 'constructive
engagement' policy towards the military junta ruling Burma 

Yindee Lertcharoenchok.

Outgoing Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a rather late
remark last Friday when he stated that Asean and Thailand may 
have to review their "constructive engagement policy" towards
Burma if the Burmese offensive against armed ethnic guerrillas
does not cease.

His statement came one day after Thailand signed an "historic
agreement" with Burma to purchase natural gas from the Gulf of
Mataban in which the Kingdom will  pay Bt 10 million a year to
the Burmese junta, known as  the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc).

The ambitious Thai minister may  have forgotten that exactly two
weeks earlier he had pledged to the Slorc, during his 24 hour
economically-inspired visit to Rangoon, that Thailand will 
pursue the controversial policy, which "has proven to be
beneficial  to both Thailand and Burma".

He also went as far as inviting Slorc leader Gen Than She to
attend the summit in December of 10 Southeast Asian heads of
state and powerful intelligence chief Lt Gen Khin Nyunt to pay an
official visit here as guest of the Thai Government.
Thaksin was adamant about going ahead with his Burma trip
despite latent reluctance on the part of some government and
military offices who considered the visit an "unpressing" and
even "unnecessary" agenda of the new minister at  that time. He
even broke Asean traditional diplomacy by paying a visit to
Rangoon before completing a familiarization tour of Asean
capitals.

The Thai minister, whose strong economic  interests and huge
personal investment in several of  Thailand's neighbouring
countries are not secret, wasted no time during his stay in
Rangoon in exposing the true motive of his trip_the prospect of
Thai economic opportunities in Burma.

With a degree of success, he managed to bring to the attention of
Slorc leaders the economic interests of some Thai business groups
including the Salween hydro-electric power projects and  the
leasing and development of Burma's southern port town of Tavoy
into deep sea port.

Thaksin also made known his concern that Thai investment in Burma
is lagging behind  that of other countries, especially Singapore,
and urged the Slorc to open up  new opportunities for Thai
investors.

It  is still unclear why Thaksin has threatened a revision of the
"constructive engagement" policy  _a move categorically rejected
by previous successive Thai administrations when
strongly urged by the West and policy critics, both local and
internationally. Also questionable is whether his remark
reflects his personal view or that of the current government.
While some critics take Thaksin's comment with a grain of
salt, believing it to be a mere political tool or manoeuvre of
the young businessman, who doesn't hide an ambition to enter
politics in the next general elections and whose free-riding
ministerial post will expire on Sunday, some senior government
officials say the 90-day minister could not have made the
statement without the blessing of , or consultations with
other government leaders.

Still, it is debatable if the Chuan government is really
serious about the policy revision or just trying to appease local
and international outrage against the Slorc's renewed military
offensive, which has driven a new massive influx of refugees into
Thailand.

The officials argue that the government and the armed forces are
"quite concerned" about the Burmese army's operations
against armed ethnic guerrillas and afraid that violence would
continue or escalate along the western 2,400 kilometre
frontier with Burma.

The concern is "self-evident" from the fact that  Deputy
Foreign Minister Surin Phitsuwan summoned Burmese Ambassador U
Tin Winn last Friday for a meeting in which he handed the
envoy an aidememoire protesting the Burmese Army's territorial
violations, they added. Thailand complained that all together 65
Burmese mortar shells had fallen on the Thai soil during the
january offensive by Burmese troops against the Karen
headquarters of Manerplaw on the west bank of the Moei River
opposite Thailand's Tak province.

"If we [Thai Government] believe in the Slorc's words that the
fighting was between the two Karen rival forces and not the
Burmese army's operation against the KNU, we would not have
summoned the Burmese ambassador for a protest," said one
official. KNU stands for the Karen National Union, which has been
fighting ruling military in Rangoon for autonomy since Burma
gained its independence from Britain in  1948.

In the past, Thailand and Asean have flatly rejected the
West's concept of pressure or isolation of Burma and strongly
argued that the "constructive engagement" policy would help bring
peace and prosperity to the Burmese people and gradual political
reform in Burma through dialogues between the world community and 
the Slorc.

Bangkok has always maintained that t he Burmese people's
aspiration for democracy and respect of human rights is "an
internal affair" of Burma and that it has no leverage to
persuade or interfere in order to bring about changes.
But in reality, the Slorc has exploited the Thai and Asean
tolerance and nonchalant altitude toward it abuses of
authoritarian power and illegitimate oppressive rule to its
utmost benefit, and has remained unconcerned when  its
ruthless behavior towards the Burmese populace has backfired on 
its neighbours in Southeast Asia.

Ironically, Thailand, which has expected the much criticized
policy has expected the much criticized policy to help
strengthen good bilateral relations between the two countries and
to lead to eventual well being and prosperity of the
Burmese people, is facing an emerging sad reality that
contradicts its wishful thinking.

Last Friday, exiled respected Burmese monk Sayadaw Rewata
Dhamma, who initiated dialogues between the Burmese junta and
detained popular leader Aung San Suu Kyi, revealed a shocking
piece of information which has confirmed the underlining
dormant fear among many policy makers in Thailand.
The monk, who has lived abroad for more than 30 years and
holds the position of spiritual director of the Buddhist
Vihara in Birmingham, England, was interviewed in Bangkok upon
his arrival from Rangoon .

After travelling quite extensively during his one-month visit to
Burma, said he is "very concerned" with the future
bilateral relations between the two countries "because the
felling about Thailand inside [Burma] is not very good."
He expressed hope that he would be able to meet Thai
authorities when he next visits the Kingdom to urge the
country to reconsider its policy and approach in dealing with
exiled Burmese, particularly the students. He said the Burmese
people in general are developing "strong bad fellings" against
Thailand for what they view as exploitation of their human
misery.

The Burmese had learned about what was happening in Thailand from
the people who commute between the two countries,
including reports that Thai authorities often harass, arrest and
extort money from Burmese students.

"It is widely known in Burma. This concerns me very much as the
relations between the two countries will not be good in  the
future," he said. The Burmese populace understood that "Thai
people are good to the Burmese, but not the [Thai]
government" the 64-year-old Buddhist monk during a one-night
stopover in Bangkok.

The Sayadaw has strongly urged Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to
mediate peace talks between the Slorc and the ethnic Karen
guerrillas, saying the premier's mediation is for the sake of the
two countries, which share a common border, and for the good of
Thailand which "suffers many things [from border
conflicts]" including the influx of refugees from Burma.

The monk, who had several meetings with Slorc leaders
including Gen Than She, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, Armed Forces
Commander-in-Chief Gen Maung Aye and Lt Gen Tin Oo, has urged the
primer to give serious thought to his suggestion saying "It is up
to Thailand to find a solution or what to do with Burma.
On humanitarian grounds they [the Thai Government] can do it, but
so far they are not doing it very much."

He said current Thai policy towards Burma is "In difficulty" as
both Slorc, and the Burmese opposition and ethnic groups "are not
happy with it". The Slorc, he explained, never really trusts the
Thai government because of its policy towards armed ethnic groups
active along the common border, while the

Burmese pro-democracy dissidents and ethnic guerrillas
themselves are not happy  with  the Thai "constructive
engagement" relations with Rangoon.

"As monk, therefore, I think the Thai government should find some
way to help restore peace and tranquility in Burma. I want the
Thai government to think about it very deeply, not only for today
but also for the future."

The monk, whose separate meetings with Suu Kyi and Slorc
leaders led to two rounds of their bilateral discussions last
year, said he believed "It is not too late" for both the Karen
and Slorc to enter peace talks.

The people inside Burma, he added, have learned that Thai
businessmen "are greedily and want to get the resources in Burma.
Now it  is very good for Thailand to act to help.
Thailand should play for all groups, for the Burmese people , and
for the long term good relations between the two
countries". Slorc, he said, would accept "friendly dialogues" and
"not pressure or bribery" and Thailand can work it out through
its "goodwill".

Slorc, he added "would accept friendly dialogues_talks as a
friend_but not bribery or pressure. Slorc will then think that
your friends so they will tell you what they'll do. Many
countries have tried to bribe them [with financial aid or
assistance or economic opportunities] and it did not work."
Unfortunately, Thailand has often fallen victim to its own policy
towards its neighbours_Cambodia, Laos and Burma alike. In the
latter case, not only does it stand alone in defending criticism
from the West, which prefers a harsh approach
towards the Slorc, but also from the Burmese populace
including the Slorc who are always doubtful of its sincerity. 

Sayadaw Rewata Dahamma's comments should serve as a good
warning for the Thai government to act more realistically
towards its delicate and fragile relations with Burma.
The outbreak of new Burmese offensive along the border which
drove more  than 10,000 refugees across the border into Thai
territory, should serve as a catalyst for Thailand and Asean to
seriously review, without prejudice or hidden motives,
whether their much proclaimed "constructive engagement" policy is
really beneficial to the people of Burma.

Thailand and Asean have to tell the Slorc loud and clear that its
unrelenting use of force to suppress its own populace will not be
tolerated and unless it reforms its politics and
improves its record on human rights violations, Asean cannot
stand to defend or associate itself with the regime.

Slorc must also be informed that Asean will not and cannot invite
Burma to attend the annual meeting of Asean Foreign Ministers in
July in Brunei and  the December summit in
Bangkok of the  10 Southeast Asian nations, it light of the
refusal to release Aung San Suu Kyi, now in her six year house
arrest without trail, and other political prisoners, to
transfer power to an elected civilian government and to end the
annihilation campaign against the ethnic populace.

It is debatable if the Chuan government is really serious
about  the policy revision or just trying to appease local and
international outrage against the Slorc's renewed military
offensive. (TN)

***************************THAILAND***************************
BKK POST: ARREST HERE LINKED TO DRUG SUPPLY DROP IN US

8 February 1995

THE recent arrest by Thai police of 10 men suspected of being
member of a drug warlord Khun Sa is reported to have caused a
sharp drop in the supply of heroin in the US market, the
commander of Thai Interpol said yesterday.

Pol Maj-Gen Amarin Nimsakul said the price of heroin in the
United States has triple, "which means that those men played a
very important part in the international heroin trade."
Pol Maj-Gen Amarin was briefed on the current drug situation in
the US during a meeting with American officials from the Drug
Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Office of the Coordinator for Counter-
Terrorism.

He said the US team pledged to back police exchange programmes on
anti-territorism and drug suppression between the two
countries.

Chart Thai MP for Nakorn Phanom Thanong Sirpreechapong is
wanted under an arrest warrant issued in the wake of a US
request for the Government to extradite him to stand trail on
drug charges in that country.

The court will decide in 60 days whether to send Mr Thanong to
fight charges in the United States, Pol Maj-Gen  said. (BP)  

************************INTERNATIONAL*************************
REUTER: EX-AUST PM'S BURMA TRIP GAVE REGIME A BOOST, ACCUSES
          EVANS
8 February 1995
Reuter

SYDNEY_ Former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke undermined the
campaign to force Burma into political reforms by falling to
raise human rights during his recent visit, Australian
Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said yesterday.

Evans said the international community was becoming
increasingly exasperated with Burma's State Law and Order
restoration Council (Slorc) failure to implement reforms and
release dissident Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The whole international community is getting pretty fed up with 
the Slorc military regime," Evans said in an interview on the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation's radio National network.
Evans said Hawke's failure to raise human rights during his
january business visit to Burma would be a "morale booster" to
Burma's military leaders.

"It's a very firm signal to the leadership of such a country that
the issue is not all it's cracked up to be," he said. "In
statements of people like me and other foreign ministers and
other leaders around the world, it is important, I think, to have
a consistency of response here and that's of course the main
point that I made in  talking to Bob."

Burma has been criticised by the international community
because of its repressive tactics and the detention of 1991 Nobel
Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the
national League for Democracy which won the 1990 elections. The
Slorc took power after suppressing a pro-democracy
uprising in 1988, ignoring the election outcome.

Suu Kyi, 49, the daughter of independence hero General Aung San,
has been held under house arrest at her home in Rangoon since
July 1989.

Slorc leaders told a visiting Thai government minister last month
that Suu Kyi would not be freed until the constitution now being
drafted was complete. Diplomats say that could take years. But
Evans said there was no legal justification to keep Suu Kyi
detained beyond July, the deadline for her release.
"I  think the next months are going to be pretty curcial in this
respect but it is important that the international
community speak with one voice," Evans said.

Evans said pressure on Burma was growing from the United
States, Europe and Australia, but more importantly from
members of the Association of South East Asian nations (Asean)
who wanted Burma to become part of the organisations.
Asean consists of Indonesia, malaysia, Singapore, Thailand,
Brunei and Philippines.

But Evans conceded it is difficult to apply effective pressure on
Burma, a country in a "self-imposed isolated time warp". "We can
get excited about the prospect of economic or military sanctions
but the reality is... you just can't get those to bite in an
environment where Burma's major trading partners China and the
Asean countries are just simply not prepared to go along with
it," he said. (BP & TN)   



**************************************************************
NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET:
 AI: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
 AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS
 AFP: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
 AW: ASIAWEEK
 AWSJ: ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL
 Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt.3 DUS$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; UP TO 150 KYAT-US$1 BLACK MARKET
                   106 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)
 R.T.A.:REC.TRAVEL.ASIA NEWSGROUP
 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 COUNCIL
 USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
 XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
**************************************************************