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9/5/96 Far Eastern Economic Review




2 pieces from the "Intelligence" column (pp. 12):

Visa Bar
One of Burma's most prominent businessmen, Steven Law, also known as Htun
Myint Naing, has been denied a visa by the United States.  The refusal has
been made under an American law which bars entry to people suspected of
involvement in the drug trade.  This is the first time a prominent Burmese
citizen has been denied a US visa on these grounds.  Law is the managing
director of the Asia World Co., which has invested an estimated $200
million in various construction projects in Burma.  He has denied that
this money has been generated through Burma's booming heroin trade and
has told associates in Rangoon that he is going to fight Washington's
decision in the US courts.  Law's father, Lo Hsing-han, was known as the
King of the Golden Triangle until his arrest in Thailand in 1973.  He was
then extradited to Burma and sentenced to death.  The death sentence was
later commuted and Lo was freed under a general amnesty in 1980.




Pull of the Land

A large number of Chinese from Yunnan have bought land across the border
in the Wa hills of eastern Burma to grow opium poppies.  The land is being
sold by the United Wa State Army, an ethnic army which made peace with
the Rangoon (sic) in 1989.  The Burmese government, however, has not
endorsed these land deals.  Because of the influx, more poppies are
expected to be planted this growing season, which begins as soon as the
rainy season is over in November.





Note:  If others havew more information on the business activities of
Steven Law, please post it or send it along.

LD