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BurmaNet News February 4, 1997




------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: February 4, 1997
Issue #628

HEADLINES:
==========
THAILAND TIMES: THAI POLICE ABORT KAREN ATTEMPT TO CROSS
NATION: FRONTIER SHOOTOUT REPORTED 
NATION: RANGOON WATCHFUL AMID "RED ALERT"
BKK POST: FUJI BANK TO OPEN VENTURE IN BURMA
BKK POST: MITSUBISHI LAUNCHES CAR SALES IN BURMA
ASIA TIMES : DISNEY'S IMAGE AT RISK OVER TIES TO MYANMAR
KYODO: COMPANY TO SET UP JOINT VENTURE WITH BURMESE
BKK POST: ARSON ATTACK RUINS CHANCE OF EDUCATION
BKK POST: PTT PRESS ON WITH PIPE DESPITE FEARS OVER IMPACT
THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : BRIEF NEWS REPORTS FROM 31-1-97
RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR : THAN SHWE WARNS USDA
RANGOON KYEMON : ALBRIGHT'S INTERFERENCE QUESTIONED
KSNG STATEMENT :  KAREN REFUGEES CAMPS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

THAILAND TIMES: THAI POLICE ABORT KAREN ATTEMPT TO CROSS BORDER
February 2, 1997
by Assawin Pinitwong 

BANGKOK : Thai border patrol police yesterday successfully
prevented 100 renegade Karen troops from crossing in to Thailand,
killing three of the soldiers in the Moei River, according to an
informed border police source.

Several rounds of mortars were fired by the Thai forces to halt
the progress of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), who
were attempting to cross the border opposite Ban Org Pha Lu
village in Thai Song Yang district.

The Karen troops returned to Burma in the evening, carrying the
corpses of their dead comrades, the  source said.

In another development, the Karen National Union (KNU) yesterday
launched a guerrilla attack against its rivals the DKBA, who
splintered off from the KNU just over a year ago.

According to KNU sources over 100 soldiers from the KNU's 7th
Division used RPG guns and 60 mortars to bombard the 50 member
DKBA patrol unit based across the border from the Thai village of
Mae Lah.

The half hour assault began as the DKBA men were preparing to
rest, and ended with the KNU retreating.

Mortar shells were found near the Thai border area beside the
Moei River, dangerously close  to the Mae Lah refugee camp.
However, no Thais were injured in the clash, and although the
attack caught the DKBA troops unprepared, there are no reports of
casualties on either side.

Thai border patrol police were reportedly hot on the scene of the
incident, positioning themselves near the border in preparation
for the foreign troops making an incursion onto Thai soil.

According to reports border security has also been beefed up by
the KNU, who on Saturday stationed themselves at the border area
opposite Mae Lah camp. The camp houses several thousand Karen
refugees, and is believed to be a DKBA target.

A large number of Karen refugees living in the camp have
reportedly fled their homes to seek shelter in the nearby forest
for fear that the DKBA would strike. DKBA troops have launched a
number of attacks on Thai refugee camps in recent days.

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

NATION: FRONTIER SHOOTOUT REPORTED (abridged)
February 3, 1997
AFP

Thai paramilitary forces yesterday day fought a gunbattle with
members of a breakaway ethnic Karen group which crossed the
border into Thailand from Burma in a bid to launch an attack on
the Karen National Union (KNU), border sources said.

The brief shootout took place on the Thai-Burmese border in Tak
in the afternoon and the Thai side managed to halt the advance of
the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the sources said. No
casualties were reported on either side of the border.

The latest reported clash between the Thai army and the DKBA came
as the rebel group announced it would burn a third refugee camp
in a week in Tak last night.

But a Thai military officer reached by telephone in Tak denied
that the rebels who are claimed to be backed by Burma's ruling
Junta crossed into Thai territory or clashed with Thai security
or clashed with Thai security forces.

The officer said two rival Karen groups had clashed inside Burma,
but Thai units were not involved.

Renegade DKBA fighters last Tuesday burned and looted two camps
in Thailand housing more than 10,000 Karen refugees. The
simultaneous assaults took place on the Wangka and Don Pa Kiang
refugee camps, just north of the Tak town of Mae Sot, and were
condemned by the United States and Burma's Karen National Union
(KNU). 

The Mae La camp houses more than 25,000 who have dispersed into
the jungle. Thai militia turned back a pervious attack on Mae La
last week just after the other two camps were destroyed. 

Most of the refugees are supporters of the KNU, which seeks
greater autonomy for Burma's eastern Karen State under a federal
and democratic constitution.

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

NATION: RANGOON WATCHFUL AMID "RED ALERT"
February 3, 1997
Reuter

Rangoon - Burma's military remains firmly in control of the
country but is on full alert against any surprise dissent from
restless students, young Buddhist monks and opposition led by
Aung San Suu Kyi, analysts said  yesterday.

"The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) is still on
red alert now since last month's sudden student unrest," a
diplomat said. "Although all appears normal now and they are
firmly in charge, they are not relaxing one bit." 

Slorc cowed thousands of anti-government student protesters by
parking  army tanks in strategic places in the capital Rangoon,
closing troubled universities and sending students home to their
provinces.

Street demonstrations launched by the students demanding greater
freedom were the most serious in the capital since 1988 when the
military brutally crushed prodemocracy protesters, killing and
jailing  thousands.

"For now, they have taken action to break the back of the student
protesters at ground level. But don't forget historically
students and young Buddhist clergy have always been the backbone
of antigovernment sentiment," said another diplomat.

"Another group of students and monks will emerge and probably
surprise the government again like this group did in December as
history has shown. But too much blood has been spilled in the
past and the people don't want a repeat from the military," he
said.

Analysts said young Buddhist monks, unlike their abbots or elders
whom Slorc has courted, sympathised with the students and would
come out on the streets again if the students made another
attempt to protest. "What many did not notice were the number of
yellow robes amongst the student protests the last time," the
diplomat said.

Nearly two months after the unrest, universities in the key
cities of Rangoon, Mandalay and Moulemin remain closed and the
government was unable to say when they would be reopened.

"They will be opened at an appropriate time," said an official.
But some expect a re-opening around March.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy was another big albatross
around Slorc's neck, with its tacit support from Western nations
and people at the grassroots level, the analysts said.

"Although there is a stalemate now in that Suu Kyi has been
blocked from meeting the people, the NLD will always try to do
something and the Slorc will be watchful," another analyst said.

The US Embassy's charge d'affaires, Kent Wiedermann, said the
government was using concerns over Suu Kyi's personal security as
an excuse to bar her from carrying out political activities.

Slorc said it would continue to block public access to her until
her personal safety was fully assured. Meanwhile, the Nobel
laureate, who was released from six years of house arrest in July
1995, can only meet visitors with government approval.

"This is unacceptable" said NLD vice-chairman U Tin Oo. "The
Slorc continues to harass the NLD. At ground level, our members
are picked up and jailed for petty reasons. We (NLD leaders) may
not be able to see freedom and democracy in our lifetime, but we
hope our children and the children of the military will be able
to see it in the future," he added.

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

BKK POST: FUJI BANK TO OPEN VENTURE IN BURMA
January 30, 1997

Tokyo- Japan's Fuji Bank Lt plans to launch a bank in Burma in
Joint venture with  ma Bank Ltd. major privately-owned local bank
Fuji Bank official said yesterday.

Fuji Bank and Yoma Bank will sign the  Joint venture memorandum
in Rangoon later yesterday, the official said, adding that Fuji
hoped to set up the venture by the end of  this year, although
the timing has yet to be finalised.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, a ma or business daily, said in a
report that the Japanese bank would be  the first from an
industrialised country to make such a move. AFP

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

BKK POST: MITSUBISHI LAUNCHES CAR SALES IN BURMA
January 30, 1997

Tokyo-Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp has launched car sales Burma
through a joint venture, recently formed by Japanese trading
house Nissho Iwai Corp and local concerns, a Mitsubishi spokesman
said yesterday.

Cycle and Carriage Golden Star Co Ltd, set up by Nissho Lwai, CCL
Myanmar Pte Ltd and Golden Star Co Ltd, will sell Mitsubishi
passenger cars and recreational vehicles, the company said.

Mitsubishi has no stake in the venture, the spokesman said,
adding that the company was only supplying cars. AFP

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

ASIA TIMES : DISNEY'S IMAGE AT RISK OVER TIES TO MYANMAR
January 28, 1997
Yaroslav Trofimov, Haifa, Israel

Defying the international boycott campaign against Yangon, an Israeli
company partially-owned by Walt Disney is planning to invest tens of
millions of dollars in Myanmar's petrochemical industry. 

A similar-sized project was also under consideration in Vietnam, said
Eli Hovev, manager of the Haifa area-based Dor Energy Trade. 

The Israeli company plans to set up petrochemical plants in both Asian
countries, and to operate them as 50-50 joint ventures with the
state-owned monopolies, Myanmar Petrochemical Enterprises
(MPCE) and Petro-Vietnam. This would be the first sizable Israeli
investment in either country. 

One-third of Dor Energy, Dor Energy Trade's parent company, is
owned by Shamrock Holdings, the investment arm of the Walt Disney
empire. 

The remaining two-thirds of the company is held by the Tel
Aviv-based Dankner group, a privately-held conglomerate which
effectively dictates company policy. 

According to Hovev, Dor Energy's negotiations with Myanmar were
more advanced that those with Vietnam. The Israeli company and
MPCE recently signed a memorandum of understanding and the actual
contract may be finalized within a month. 

 "We are not worried about the international campaign against
Myanmar. It is true that some companies, mostly American, left the
country, but many others went in," Hovev said. "As far as I know,
there is no political pressure on us from the Israeli government not
to do business with Myanmar." 

Myanmar, historically one of Israel's most faithful Asian allies,
still maintains a privileged relationship with many Israeli decision
makers. 

Industry analysts warned that Dor Energy's Myanmar petrochemical deal
may lead to a clash between Dankner group and Walt Disney. 

Over the past two years, many companies operating in the United States
have found themselves targeted by painful boycott campaigns  launched
by supporters of democracy in Myanmar. 

The organizers of the boycott believe that any foreign investment in
Myanmar makes it easier for the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC), the country's military government, to repress the
democracy movement. 

The Dankner group does little business in the US and is therefore
relatively immune to the boycott campaign. 

The same, however, could not be said about Walt Disney, whose
carefully-nurtured public image in the US could be badly hurt by a
financial partnership with SLORC's Myanmar - which is definitely no
Disneyland. 

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

KYODO: COMPANY TO SET UP JOINT VENTURE WITH BURMESE GOVERNMENT  
January 30, 1997

Tokyo, Jan. 30 KYODO -- Plant engineering company Chiyoda Corp. will set up
in April an infrastructure venture jointly with Myanmar [Burma]'s
government-run construction company Public Works, Chiyoda officials said
Thursday. 
Chiyoda will establish Chiyoda and Public Works Co. in the Myanmar capital
of Yangon [Rangoon], with the aim of strengthening its construction-related
consulting business in the country, a relatively new type of business for
Chiyoda which specializes in oil refining and petrochemical plants. 
The Japanese contractor will invest 60 percent of the venture's capital of 3
million kyats (500,000 dollars) while the Myanmar company will contribute
the rest, the officials said. 
The venture will conduct consulting, engineering and construction of
infrastructure and community development in the country as well as lease
construction-related machinery.
It plans to develop sewage disposal systems and waterworks, and build bridges. 
It will also aid projects in obtaining official development assistance, the
officials said. 
Once the infrastructure business gets well under way, Chiyoda plans to
proceed with the development of the northern city of Mandalay, for which
Chiyoda has already compiled a master plan. 
In the future, Chiyoda hopes to expand its infrastructure business overseas,
establishing the venture in Myanmar as its base. 

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

BKK POST: ARSON ATTACK RUINS CHANCE OF EDUCATION
February 2, 1997

Mae Sot, Tak

Some 1,200 Karen students have lost their chance to study in Tuesday's
attack on Huay Kalok refugee camp here by Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
soldiers.

All the school buildings and equipment at the camp were destroyed when some
100 DKBA troops crossed over from Burma and put them on fire.

Ban Huay Kalok is among three Karen refugee camps in Mae Sot and Mae Ramat
districts hit in the cross- border attack.

According to Huay Kalok Education Committee, the final examination for the
students this month has been cancelled because new school buildings and
teaching equipment could not be built and acquired in time.

Completely destroyed in the attack included 10 classroom buildings, a
library, offices, toilets, teaching equipment and text books worth over
500,000 baht.

Moo Moo Son, 16, a high-school student, said she was allowed by the DKBA
attackers to bring only a pet dog out of her home before it was burnt to the
ground by the assailants. (BP)

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

BKK POST: PTT PRESS ON WITH PIPE DESPITE FEARS OVER IMPACT
February 3, 1997
Kanittha Inchukul

'Drilling will ensure trees won't be cut'

The Petroleum Authority of Thailand confirmed it would continue its
Burma-Thai gas pipeline project despite the fact that local environmental
groups are dissatisfied with the PTT's clarification on the project's impact.

The scheme will be continued although the PTT would have to pay any cost to
lessen the environmental impact of the pipeline construction, PTT's gas
president Piti Yimprasert said.

"The PTT will use state-of-the-art technology in laying down the pipeline
especially in critical areas and will use drilling methods instead of
open-and-cover methods to ensure that trees won't be cut down without due
cause," he said. Mr Piti was speaking at a seminar which over 100 people
attended to hear details of the impact of the scheme.

A technical hearing is to be arranged at Kanchaburi's Thong Phapum district
next month.

Opinions and comments on technical aspects will be put together with an
environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be considered by the Science,
Technology and Environment Ministry.

The pipeline project is to transfer natural gas from the Yadana and Yetagun
fields in Burma to fuel a 4,600-megawatt power plant in Ratchaburi.

Environmentalists have raised concerns over the project since part of the
route will penetrate a lush area of the western forest complex.

The PTT is waiting for the Office of Environmental Policy and Planning to
consider an EIA before asking for approval from the National Environment Board.

Kanchanaburi environmentalists were dissatisfied with information
distributed by the PTT at Thursday's seminar, saying it is different from
information given by local staff of the PTT.

Phinan Chotirotseranee claimed said field staff had told her that the risk
of a gas explosion is virtually nil; however, academics insisted that an
accident from an explosion is possible.

Local environmental groups are seeking their own information from several
non-governmental organisations and academics to strengthen their objections
to the project.

"If the explanation is not clear, we think the project is not worth
exchanging with the dense forest," said Mrs Phinan. (BP)

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

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : BRIEF NEWS REPORTS FROM 31-1-97
January 31, 1997

MYANMAR SANITARY CARE PRODUCTS LTD TO PRODUCE ITEMS FOR  EXPORT AND DOMESTIC
MARKET

	Yangon, 30 Jan --- Myanmar Sanitary Care Products Ltd and 
Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development today 
signed a land-lease contract for building a factory in Hlinethayar 
Industrial Zone. This signing ceremony at Sedona Hotel was attended by 
Secretary-2 of State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt.Gen 
Tin Oo,  Ministers and officials.
	Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun delivered an address: 
	Two international standard industrial zones have been 
established with foreign investors. One industrial zone is about to 
be established and another two are still under negotiation.  Mutual-interest
undertaking have been going on with four foreign investors on Build, Operate
& Transfer concept like service apartments, commercial complex and hotels.
Negotiation is still going on for further investment like this. 
	Leasing of industrial land to foreign investments for industrial 
production is under way and there are now four foreign investors 
including this company which is going to sign the agreement today. 
With the approval of the Myanmar Investment Commission, two 
more contracts will be signed next month.
	Myanmar Sanitary Care Products Ltd is a joint company 
between the CFA International Paper Product Pte Ltd which is a 
French Company based in Singapore and Science & Technology 
Advisory Group of Myanmar. In this joint venture company, the 
foreign company will invest US $ 3.75 million.
	This company will lease 1.57 acres of land from the 
Department of Human Settlement & Housing Development 
Industrial Zone at Hlaingthayar. The initial lease term will be 20 
years with an extensions of an other five years, two times. The land 
rent will be paid according to the rate which be fixed in accordance 
with the duration. This factory will produce sanitary products of which 70%
will 
be exported and the remaining 30% will be for local market. 
	Director-General U Arnt Kyaw and Deputy Director-General 
U Soe Lwin of DHSHD and directors of the company Mr. J 
Marcielle and Daw Khin Swe Yu signed the contract.  Maj-Gen Saw Tun
presented the MIC permit to Mr. J 
Marcielle.---MNA

NO 2 MINING ENTERPRISE, HOLY S PIN CO SIGN PROFIT-SHARING CONTRACT FOR GOLD
PRODUCTION

	Yangon, 30 Jan --- The No 2 Mining Enterprise of the 
Ministry of Mines and Holy S Pin Co Ltd of Kachin Special Region 
1 signed a profit-sharing contract for production of gold at Malikha 
and Maykha Rivers region at Thiri Yadana Hall of the Ministry of 
Mines today.
	The signing ceremony was attended by Minister for Mines 
Lt-Gen Kyaw Min, Deputy Ministers U Hlaing Win and U Myint 
Thein, heads of department under the ministry, Chairman of Holy S 
Pin Co Ltd U Za Hkun Ting Ring, officials concerned and invited 
guests.
	Speaking on the occasion, Minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Min said a 
policy has been laid down for launching survey and mining of gold 
and copper deposits in joint venture inviting foreign investment and 
expertise in accord with the third economic objective of the State 
"Development of the economy inviting participation in terms of technical 
know-how and investments from sources inside the 
country and abroad".
	In carrying out the works after this policy had been adopted, 
he said, 23 mineral exploration plots were designated and permitted 
under the supervision of the Department of Geological Survey and 
Mineral Exploration and exploration works now being carried out 
by No 2 Mining Enterprise at Phayaung Taung Mines and 
Kyaukpahtoe Kawlin Block were permitted in joint venture with 
foreign organizations. 
	Managing Director of No 2 Mining Enterprise U Tin Win and 
Chairman of Holy S Pin Co Ltd U Za Hkun Ting Ring also made 
speeches. After the contract had been signed, Lt-Gen Kyaw Min 
presented the metal production permit to U Za Hkun Ting Ring.

CHAIRMAN OF STRAND HOTELS INTERNATIONAL (HONG KONG) DONATES K 10M FOR
RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL SECTORS

	Yangon, 30 Jan --- Mr. Anthony Gaw, Chairman of Strand 
Hotels International (Hong Kong), today donated K 10 million to 
be used in religious, educational and social sectors in Myanmar.
	The donation ceremony at Inya Lake Hotel was attended by 
Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council 
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Ministers, officials and specially invited guests.
	He handed over the donation to Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin 
Nyunt. He said K 3 million of his donation will be used for general 
renovation of the Shwedagon Pagoda, K 2 million for restoration 
and reservation of Bagan pagodas, K 3 million for education, K 1 
million for Kandawgalay Little Sister's Home for the Aged and K 1 
million for the youth training schools under the Ministry of Social 
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
	Mr. Anthony Gaw has made investments in Myanmar's hotel 
services since 1991 when foreign investments were legally 
permitted. --- MNA.

SECRETARY-1 RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF MULTINATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF MALAYSIA

	Yangon, 30 Jan --- Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Chairman of 
Multinational Consortium (Mekon/Triarms Group) of Malaysia 
Lt-Gen (Retd) Raja Dato Abdul Rashid Bin Raja Badiozaman at 
Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 4 pm today.
	Present together with the Secretary-1 were Minister for 
Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and Director-General Thura U Aung 
Htet of the Protocol Department.
	The guest was accompanied by Defence Adviser to the 
Embassy of Malaysia Lt-Col Shahrir Bin Hashim. --- MNA

 MINISTER FOR HOTELS & TOURISM RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF MCG 
    YANGON INTERNATIONAL HOTEL

	Yangon, 30 Jan --- Members of the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen Kyaw 
Ba received Chairman of MCG Yangon International Hotel Mr. 
Kokoi Onodera at his office at 3 pm today. 
	They discussed measures for opening Yangon International 
Hotel in April this year. It is being built at the corner of Ahlon and 
Pyay Roads.
	Myanmar Information Centre has been opened in Japan for 
increasing Japanese tourists' arrivals here.
	Present also were Director-General  U Khin Maung Latt and 
officials of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism. --- MNA

 MIC SECRETARY RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF MINOR ENTERPRISE ASSN

	Yangon, 30 Jan --- Minister at the Office of Deputy Prime 
Ministers Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen 
Maung Maung received a 23- member delegation led by Chairman 
Mr. Akoi Saiki of Minor Enterprise Association of Miyagi 
Prefecture, Japan, at the Commission office at 1 pm today. 
	The minister explained investment opportunities in Myanmar 
and Foreign Investment Law to the guests.
	Officials of MIC office were also present. ---MNA

MIC SECRETARY MEETS OFFICIALS OF DELTA INTL

	Yangon, 30 --- Minister at the Office of Deputy Prime 
Ministers Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen 
Maung Maung received Executive Director Mr. Christopher P 
Harney, Project Manager Mr. Paul L Blanton and party of Delta 
International, Saudi Arabia, at the Commission Office today. They 
discussed cooperation in building bridges in Myanmar.
	Present also were officials of MIC Office. ---MNA

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

RANGOON RADIO MYANMAR : THAN SHWE WARNS USDA EXECUTIVES TO WARD OFF
DESTRUCTIONISTS
January 29, 1997
translated from Burmese

Senior General (Sr. Gen.)Than Shwe, patron
of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association [USDA], chairman of the State Law and Order
Restoration Council [SLORC], and commander in chief of the
Defense Services, addressed the opening ceremony of
Management Course No. 8 for USDA Executives, held at the
Pyidaungsu Hall of the Central Public Relations Unit in
Hmawbi at 0900 today.
Regarding the reasons for forming the association, he
said it was formed to join hands with the Tatmadaw [Defense
Services] and guard valiantly against dangers to the nation
and the people, so as to serve the long-term interests of
the State and the people. He pointed out there are three
important national tasks--the nondisintegration of the
Union, the nondisintegration of national solidarity, and the
perpetuation of national sovereignty--which are to be always
upheld and safeguarded with care at present and in the
future.
The SLORC chairman said all the national races must
strive in unison to achieve urgently needed progress and the
success of the 12 political, economic, and social objectives
that are the national tasks, and to ward off--with constant
vigil--internal and external destructive elements out to
break up the unity of the national population.
He remarked that if there is any lapse in implementing our
three main national causes, the nation will lose its
independence and fall into servitude--so it is the main duty
of the association to steadfastly safeguard our three main
national causes so that no one can harm them in the future;
and as of right now they need to understand this, and carry
out this duty with strong conviction.

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

RANGOON KYEMON : ALBRIGHT'S INTERFERENCE QUESTIONED
January 28, 1997 
translated from Burmese

While the State Law and Order Restoration Council
[SLORC] is performing its duties by upholding its three
cardinal causes, there have been external interference in
Myanmar's internal affairs militarily, politically, and
diplomatically from 1988 up to January 1997. Meanwhile, the
BBC and the VOA, which are a skyful of lies, have been
continuously broadcasting unfounded reports. In his special
news briefing on 31 December 1996, SLORC Secretary-1
Lieutenant Khin Nyunt said it could be clearly seen that
internal traitor axe handles and neocolonialists are
striving to undermine the peace and tranquility of our
Myanmar
I shall mention the news concerning the permanent
representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Madeleine
K. Albright carried by the BBC broadcast of 9 September 1995
and the VOA broadcast of 10 September 1995. This ambassador
had made statements which amounted to internal interference
in Myanmar
VOA broadcast of 9 September 1995 [subheading] 
It has been learned that the permanent representative
to the UN Ambassador Madeleine Albright has held a news
conference at the [Yangon] airport and issued a statement in
Bangkok after meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit
to Myanmar from 8 to 9 September 1995. 
It was stated that Ambassador Albright met the
secretary-1 [Khin Nyunt] and urged him to hold talks with
the democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
Ambassador Madeleine Albright's meeting with Daw Suu
Kyi [subheading] 
The ambassador met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to help
bring about a civilian administration and to hold
negotiations with the current government and to show
American support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts.
Although the Myanmar Government released Aung San Suu Kyi to
get a positive impression from the American and Western
governments, Aung San Suu Kyi herself has said her release
alone would not bring about changes to Myanmar's internal
situation. 
VOA broadcast of 10 September 1995 [subheading] 
Furthermore, Ambassador Albright had told the
secretary-1 that Myanmar would remain isolated if
substantial efforts are not made for freedom. She said the
American Government wanted to see democratic reforms being
made before working for friendly relations between the two
countries. 
There were one-sided views of Madeleine Albright on
Myanmar. It has already been stated at the beginning of this
article that the chairman of the SLORC and leaders, together
with the people of Myanmar, are striving to develop the
Union of Myanmar into a democratic state which is modern,
developed, and peaceful. Let me ask Madeleine Albright how
much she knows about Myanar and its people. Our chairman and
the leaders had dismantled a one-part system and socialist
laws and had promulgated the necessary laws and decrees.
They are continuing with the necessary work. The National
Convention was convened and the necessary work was
undertaken. Madeleine Albright: Rome was not built in a
day. Please understand this. A Myanmar national cannot be an
American national. Madaleine Albright, you are not a Myanmar
national. It is necessary for you to know this clearly. 
A journalist asked a following question when U.S.
Ambassador Madeleine Albright held a news conference at the
Yangon Airport on 9 September 1995. 
Question: I would like to know your opinion about
alleged correct and incorrect statements by Aung San Suu Kyi
in the news conferences she held following her release. 
Answer: It is difficult to criticize statements made
by Aung San Suu Kyi. During my meeting with her I felt that
this woman was detained for six years and she may have made
both good and bad comments deliberately or was urged to say
so. She is a patriot and she cares greatly for the people of
Myanmar. She wants the best for the people of Myanmar and
she alone is capable of providing that. She wants the best
for the people. 
In her comments on Aung San Suu Kyi, Madeleine Albright
claimed it is difficult to criticize Aung San Suu Kyi, that
she may have made both bad and good comments, and that she
is a patrioitic person. This is a farce, indeed. 
Aung San Suu Kyi married a descendent of the
colonialists, who killed her father's grandfather and whose
cronies and followers also killed her father. She has done
nothing for the benefit of Myanmar. 
Is calling this type of woman a patriot a compliment or
mockery? This has become a farce for the 45 million Myanmar
people. 
Madeleine Albright also said Aung San Suu Kyi was
concerned about the Myanmar people and wanted the best for
them, and that she is capable of providing the best. 
Dear Madeleine Albright, there is a political saying in
the Myanmar political circle -- ideology without practice is
unproductive and practice without an ideology is visionless.
However, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is blabbing whatever she
wants without any ideology and practice, is neither
unproductive nor visionless and has turned out to be nothing
at all. She has no traditions in Myanmar history and the
social world. What good for the Myanmar people did Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi do in the past and at present? On what grounds
can Madeleine Albright say she is the one who could provide
the best for Myanmar? Please show concrete proof whether it
is economics, politics, military, religion, social,
education, literature, culture, music, performing arts, or
medicine? [passage omitted on patriotic Burmese ladies] 
Think! If you think carefully, all the international awards
and prizes given to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are all poison. Do
you know that poison has been poured into Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi's head for her to hate the Myanmar Government, the
Myanmar Defense Services, and the Myanmar people more. What
did Daw Aung San Suu Kyi do for the Myanmar national cause?.
Nothing so far. However, she has been hampering and
preventing national economic growth and development. Do not
forget till you die that the SLORC [State Law and Order
Restoration Council] is a Myanmar national government. 
At the Yangon Airport news conference on 9 September
1995, Madeleine Albright replied to a journalist that it
will be necessary for the [Myanmar] Government to reach
international human rights standards. 
[29 Jan, pp 5-7] We have a report headlined: 
Violation of Human Rights by United States carried by the
Beijing Radio on 6 December 1996. I shall describe the
broadcast in full. Mrs. Madeleine: read it thoroughly. What
do you have to say about the deterioration of human rights
standard in your United States reported in this news report.
Do no keep mum. It is necessary to speak the truth. 
The United States is Violating Human Rights
[subheading] 
The United States of America, which is criticizing
other countries for the violation of human rights is trying
to cover up such violations in the U.S. However, a a news
conference held in Brussels, Belgium, on 5 December 1996, a
U.S. citizen, Scholl, explained how the U.S. is gravely
violating human rights in its own country. 
Scholl is head of the Electoral and Information
Department of Natural Law Party in the U.S. He said
although the U.S. Government is continuously accusing other
countries of violating human rights, there are records of
grave violations of democratic and human rights in the U.S. 
He said according to the Nature Law Party and 30 other
international organizations, it is found that the U.S. has
been seriously violating the Copenhagen Declaration on Human
Rights ratified in 1990 by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe and committing acts in elections which
are looked down by the international community. 
Madeleine Albright should realize by now that the people
of Burma do not support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Our fatherland
shall never accept imperialist stooges. They fall without
fail in one way or another.

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KSNG STATEMENT :  KAREN REFUGEES CAMPS
February 1, 1997

The Karen Student Network Group (KSNG) is deeply concerned about the attacks
on three Karen refugee camps in Thailand by a State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) backed armed groups.  The three refugee camps
are Huaykaloke (Wankha), Huaybone (Don Pa Kiang) and Mae La (Baeklaw) camps
which situated along the Thai border with Burma.  

Despite reports in Thai media that Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) is
responsible for the attacks, the KSNG is convinced that the attacks also
included SLORC soldiers, by conducting numerous interviews with refugees
from Huaykaloke camp. The Burmese military regime is thereby once again
proving itself a threat to regional security in Southeast Asia. 

The present situation in the camps is critical due to the lack of security and
the lack of education for over 3,200 students in the three attacked camps-
Huaykaloke, Huaybone and Maela.  Together those camps house more than 36,000
Karen refugees.  The refugees in camps are affected daily by the
physiological warfare conducted by the SLORC and DKBA through threats of
repeated attacks on the camps, kidnapping of the refugees and forcing of the
refugees back to Burma by gun point. The refugees in the three affected
camps are now staying outside in the surrounding jungles at night, fearing a
repeat of the violent acts that were committed by the intruders. 

We the Karen Student Network Group

-  regard that the intrusion of Karen refugees camps inside Thai territory by
armed group controlled by State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
violates the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Thailand;

-  regard the attacks of Karen refuge camps by armed groups controlled by
SLORC is a violation of international laws;

-  strongly condemn the ruthless attacks and lawless activities on innocent
civilian refugees by those armed intruders backed by the SLORC;

-  urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Thai
authorities and the international community to ensure increased and adequate
protection of the approximately 80,000 Karen refugees, as well as Karenni, Shan
and Mon refugees along the Thai-Burma border.

For further information, please contact:

In the US:  Naw Shar Loo at  (805) 322-0739
Karen Student Network Group 

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