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Junta blocks DASSK and Frence big B



Subject: Junta blocks DASSK and Frence big Burma investors

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The Daily Yomiuri
Oct 24, 1995

JUNTA TO BLOCK SUU KYI FROM TAKING PARTY
POST

YANGON (AP) - Myanmar's military government has ruled
that pro - democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's
reappointment to a leadership role in her political party is
illegal, a government official said Monday.

The ruling by the election commission, which regulates all
political parties, cited a 1991 rule banning further changes in
party leadership, said a commission member who demanded
anonymity.

Suu Kyi, who was freed from six years of house arrest in July,
was reinstated on Oct. 9 as general secretary of the National
League for Democracy, which she helped found.

The election commission ruling also prevents Tin Oo and Kyi
Maung, former political prisoners released in March, from
assuming their new posts as vice chairmen.

The National League for Democracy was forced to expel Suu
Kyi, Tin Oo and Kyi Maung in 1991 to retain its status as a
legal party.  A government regulation proscribed parties from
having members who were charged with offenses by the state.

Suu Kyi was detained, but never tried, on charges of
endangering national security. 

Changes in party leadership must be submitted in writing to
the election commission.  The commission informed the
National League for Democracy of its ruling last week.

The commission member said the party can still function
legally with its old leadership lineup.

The National League for Democracy won a landslide victory
in 1990 elections, but the military government refused to hand
over power.

Instead, it said that the elections were to set up a national
convention to draw up guidelines for a new constitution.  The
ongoing convention has been labeled a sham by human rights
organizations because opponents of the regime have not been
allowed to participate.

Many government opponents are still in prison or exile.

The government assumed power in 1988 after slaughtering
thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators on the streets of
Yangon and other major cities in the country.  It has set no
date for a return to civilian rule.
  - - - - - 

The Asahi Evening News
October 24, 1995

FRENCH ARE BIG BURMA INVESTORS 
Agence France-Presse - Jiji

RANGOON - France is the surprise leader among Western
countries coming to do business in Burma, according to
ambassador Bernard Pottier.

"French businessmen normally prefer to follow the leader
when it comes to business, but this time they are in the
forefront," Pottier said.

The latest Burmese government statistics show France with
investments of $455 million (45.5 billion yen) - in large part
due to Total's oil and gas exploration projects-second to
Britain with just under $600 million.

The figures fail to reflect, however, the vagaries of company
registrations internationally, and in fact the French constitute
the single largest group, Pottier said.

In about a year, the number of French companies installed in
varying forms in Burma has soared from eight to 25.  And
where two years ago, between four to five French businessmen
contacted the embassy each month, now the number hovers be-
tween 40 and 50 a month.

Part of the interest in Burma came from French businessmen
who had rushed to invest in Vietnam and then became
discouraged at the red tape and corruption involved in doing
business there.

Pottier cautioned that the figures, while indicating a dramatic
rise in French interest, were only just returning to 1986 - 87
levels, before a military junta crushed a nationwide pro -
democracy movement and seized power.

Major projects include a gas pipeline from offshore fields to
Thailand, and key French exports to Burma were gas turbines
and ATR passenger planes, Pottier said.

He saw a continuing good market for French railway
equipment as Burma updates its rail system, which is 70%
French in origin.

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