The BurmaNet News, May 5, 1997

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------   
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"   
----------------------------------------------------------   
   
The BurmaNet News: May 5, 1997   
Issue #712
 
HEADLINES:   
==========  
AP: SLORC'S USDA THREATENS AUNG SAN SUU KYI 
ASIAN AGE : BURMA RALLY OVER US SANCTIONS
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: US AND EUROPE ACCUSED 
THAILAND TIMES: UN OFFICIAL TO PROMOTE DIALOGUE 
THE NATION: PREMIER TO VISIT BURMA MAY 16-17 
THE NATION: KNU CALLS ON ASEAN TO DELAY SLORC
AP: BURMA REBEL STILL EVADING  CAPTURE 
BKK POST: RESHUFFLE FOLLOWS BORDER INCURSIONS 
BKK POST: STUDENTS SUBMIT PETITION AGAINST PIPELINE
BKK POST: AMMUNITIONS CACHE FOUND NEAR BORDER 
THAILAND TIMES: STRATEGIC BURMA SEEN JOINING ASEAN 
THE NATION: BURMA VOWS TO MAINTAIN COURSE 
THE NATION: ASEAN AND US STAND OFF ON SLORC 
BKK POST: STANCE TOWARDS BURMA IS WRONG 
BKK POST: SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE PLAN FOR MAE SOT 
AFP: SKOREA'S HYUNDAI, SINGAPORE'S SINMARDEV LINK UP 
PRNEWSWIRE : BURMA DENOUNCED  BY OVERSEAS PRESS 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 

AP: SLORC'S USDA THREATENS AUNG SAN SUU KYI 
May 4, 1997

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Members of a military-sponsored mass organization
that participated in a mob attack on Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi's motorcade last year vowed this weekend to punish the Nobel Peace Prize
winner. 
 
More than 30,000 members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association
condemned Suu Kyi and the United States at a mass rally Saturday at the
Thuwanna Sports Stadium in eastern Rangoon, state-run newspapers reported
Sunday. 
 
Naming Suu Kyi and her aides, a Union official, Kyi Kyi Htway, said in a
speech to the crowd that ``external and internal destructionists will be
punished.'' 
 
In November 1996, a mob of Union members who said they had been paid by the
government attacked Suu Kyi's motorcade, smashing car windows with sticks
and crowbars and slightly injuring one of her aides. 
 
After the attack, Suu Kyi compared the organization to the Hitler Youth of
Germany and the fascist brown shirts of Italy. 
 
Suu Kyi and her followers ``who are unpatriotic and bent on subverting the
economy by urging other nations to clamp sanctions on (Burma) and inviting
hegemonic bully politics of the United States should be driven out of the
country,'' Kyi Kyi Htway said. 
 
President Clinton invoked economic sanctions against Burma on April 22
because of stepped up repression against the democracy movement. 
 
The country's military leaders publicly brushed off the sanctions, saying
they would hurt American companies more than Burma. 
 
Since Clinton's move, however, invective against Suu Kyi for allegedly
sabotaging Burma's economy has increased in the state-run press and in
speeches by Union officials. 
 
Suu Kyi, whose movements and activities have been severely restricted by the
military since last September, had been calling for sanctions for many months. 
 
Aides to Suu Kyi have expressed fears recently that the military may be
planning to assassinate her, citing comments by a government minister
calling for someone to kill her, and paramilitary training exercises by
Union members on an island within sight of Suu Kyi's lakeside home. 
 
Military leaders have repeatedly threatened to ``annihilate'' her. 
 
The patron of the Union, which now has about 6 million members, is Gen. Than
Shwe, who heads Burma's military government. 
 
Founded in 1993, it represents ``a significant effort by the military to
mobilize society toward its own end,'' similar to Indonesia's ruling Golkar
party, David Steinberg, a noted author on Asian affairs, wrote in a recent
article in Burma Debate magazine. 
 
Steinberg said many people join because they are frequently coerced, but
membership is also helpful in obtaining jobs and promotions. 
 
``In a sense, membership is a kind of tax or corvee labor charge on
someone's time and energies,'' he wrote. 
 
Union members who attended a mass rally in Rangoon in May 1996, told The
Associated Press they were required to attend or pay fines. The AP was
barred from entering the rally. 
 
Footage of the rally on state-run television showed members with dour
expressions listlessly raising their fists and chanting ``oppose internal
and external destructionists, foreign stooges and enemies of the state.'' 
 
***************************************************** 

ASIAN AGE : BURMA RALLY OVER US SANCTIONS
May 5, 1997 [abridged]

Rangoon, May 4:
 
"This is a blatant interference in Myanmar's (Burma's) internal affairs 
using bullying tactics," a USDA spokesman said calling the US investment 
ban on April 22 and entirely "wrong decision." " The US government 
should understand that authorities here are striving to establish a 
disciplined democratic state," said another spokesman for the USDA, 
which was formed in 1988 and presently boasts a membership of six 
million. 
 
A motion to condemn "internal and external destructionists" was also 
approved by the USDA gathering. The movement also accused the United 
States of failing to curb its own law and order problems, paricularly 
widespread  murder and rape. "We invite the American government, which 
cannot even provide security or guarantee human rights for its own 
people, to come and take some much needed lessons from our government on how
to provide security," one spokesman said. 
 
The rally ended with cries of "Shame, Shame on the United states!" with 
the spokesman accusing Washington of having been swayed by the 
"falsehoods" spread by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ms Suu 
Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won the elections in 1990 later 
overturned by military, has called for investment bans and tourist 
boycotts of Burma as a means of pressuring the military into reform. 
 
Sources said similar mass rallies denouncing the will be held in 16 cities
across the country in the forthcoming weeks. Similar mass rallies were held
last year to denounce the pro-democracy efforts of the NLD.(AFP) 
 
*************************************************

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: US AND EUROPE ACCUSED OVER SANCTIONS  
May 2, 1997 
By Mark Baker, Herald Correspondent in Phuket 
 
The Philippines has accused the United States and the European Union of  
adopting dictatorial tactics by imposing sanctions in an attempt to force  
political reforms in Burma. 
 
The Philippine Foreign Minister, Mr Domingo Siazon, said yesterday Western
countries which sought to punish Burma's military regime were denying the
democratic principles they claimed to promote. 
 
"It's only when you have a dictatorship that when the other party is not in  
agreement with your opinion you ban them or exclude them from all civil  
society," he said. 
 
In a wide-ranging attack, Mr Siazon also indirectly criticised the Burmese  
democracy leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, for calling for sanctions and
regional pressure on the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC). 
 
"It's nothing to do with us. They should settle it there, as we did. We had  
our own peoples' revolution in 1986. We did not ask for any foreign  
intervention," Mr Siazon said, referring to the popular uprising in The  
Philippines which toppled the Marcos regime. 
 
"By asking for foreign intervention, only the people and the poor will
suffer,  not SLORC. So why would you want to punish your own people?" 
 
The US Government last week outlawed new American investment in Burma, while
the European Union this week extended for six months a package of sanctions,
including a ban on travel to Europe by Burmese leaders. However, the latest
uncompromising stance by The Philippines has ruled out any possibility of
regional support for co-ordinated trade sanctions, or backing for US calls
to delay Burma's admission to the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN). 
 
Other key members of ASEAN - Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore -
have also stated their opposition to sanctions and affirmed their support
for Burma to be made a full member of the group this year. 
 
After talks with his Thai and Singaporean counterparts, Mr Siazon said  
countries pressuring for democracy in Burma should recognise the right of  
neighbouring countries to disagree with their tactics - and Burma's right to  
determine its own affairs. 
 
"An essential aspect of democracy is that people may differ in opinions but
we  have to respect each others' opinions and continue to be friends," he
said. "We are exercising our own rights as sovereign countries to take
decisions about which countries we would like to associate with. Those who
are talking about human rights, how can they say we will not talk with you
any more or even meet you at conferences?" 
 
Mr Siazon said ASEAN countries were determined to continue their policy of
"constructive engagement" - encouraging reform in Burma through closer
political and economic linkages. 
 
While the policy may fail, the region could not afford to risk political  
turmoil in Burma by isolating the regime. 
 
"Those of us who are neighbours, we have to take the chance. Those who are
far away, if this particular case should not turn out to be successful, they
do not really suffer the strategic consequences," he said. 
 
"We are involved, we are very near. You cannot leave Myanmar [Burma] to
collapse or to have an internal revolution." 
 
He predicted that the US move to impose sanctions on Burma would strain  
Washington's relations with ASEAN. "I think it will be very hard. If the  
imposition of one's view is the norm in international relations, then I'm  
afraid we are going the wrong way." 
 
******************************************* 

THAILAND TIMES: UN OFFICIAL TO PROMOTE DIALOGUE WITH BURMA 
May 3, 1997
Agence France-Presse 
                                               
PHNOM PENH: Senior UN official Alvaro de Soto yesterday said he would travel
to Burma next week in an effort to encourage dialogue between the country's
military rulers and the opposition. 
                                               
The UN assistant secretary general for political affairs said he would meet
senior officials  in Rangoon for "three or four days" beginning May 7 "to
help in promoting dialogue." 
                                               
De Soto, who last visited Rangoon in late 1995, spoke to reporters on his
arrival in Cambodia for a 24hour inspection visit. 
                                               
Last year, the United Nations and Burma's junta, officially known as the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), were unable to agree on the
terms of an official visit. 
                                                                   
*******************************************

THE NATION: PREMIER TO VISIT BURMA MAY 16-17 
May 3, 1997

Prime Minister Chavalit Yong chaiyudh will officially visit Burma on May
16-17 when the problem of illegal Burmese workers will be raised. 
                                                          
Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn said yesterday that there are now some
700,000 illegal Burmese immigrants working in Thailand. 
                                                          
He said the Thai authorities needed help from the Burmese government to stem
the flow. 
                                                          
Gen Chavalit stated his intention to visit Burma when he came into  office
in November. 
                                                          
**********************************************

THE NATION: KNU CALLS ON ASEAN TO DELAY SLORC'S INCEPTION 
May 3, 1997
Associated Press 
       
ETHNIC rebels still fighting Burma military government appealed 
to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  yesterday not to
admit the Rangoon regime while it still violates human rights. 
        
"We don't want Burma admitted now because of continuing human rights
violations, especially in ethnic areas, and because the political situation
is not resolved," said Ner Dah, assistant secretary of foreign affairs for
the Karen National Union (KNU). 
        
The Karen have been fighting for autonomy from Rangoon since 1949. 
        
Earlier this week the United States urged Asean not to admit Burma because
of the military government's increased repression against the country's
democracy movement and flagrant human rights violations. 
        
Asean nations- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam - have said they are determined to bring Burma into the
grouping, along with Cambodia and Laos, in July. 
                                
Only the Philippines has voiced some reservations, saying the group should
consider delaying membership for three months. 
                                
"We know Burma should be a member but it is not the right time," said Ner Dah. 
                                
"Admitting the Slorc now is the same as encouraging them to violate the
rights of the people," he said, referring to the State Law and Order
Restoration Council, the military government of Burma since 1988. 
                                
A Burmese military offensive launched 4 in March, after ceasefire
negotiations broke down, has dealt a heavy blow to the KNU, based along the
Thai-Burmese border. Refugees said the Burmese army has burned and looted
homes, committed summary executions and gang rapes and forcibly relocated
villagers as it advances through Karen territory. 
 
*************************************************

AP: BURMA REBEL STILL EVADING  CAPTURE 
May 3, 1997
Robert Horn 

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Burma's last rebel leader is living safely inside
that country's rugged, mountainous border region, despite a massive
government offensive aimed at capturing him, a guerrilla leader said today. 
 
Gen. Bo Mya, the aging leader of the Karen National Union, is still
directing rebel attacks on Burmese troops from a highly mobile but
well-protected base camp inside Burma, said his son Ner Dah. 
 
``They won't capture him,'' Ner Dah, the Union's assistant secretary for
foreign affairs, told The Associated Press. 
 
The Karen have been fighting for autonomy from Burma since 1949, but they
have steadily lost ground to the army over the years. 
 
The Burmese broke off cease-fire negotiations in February and launched a
military offensive that succeeded in capturing key Karen bases and large
strips of territory near the Thai border. 
 
They failed, however, to apprehend 70-year-old Bo Mya. Long commentaries in
Burma's state-run media have derided Bo Mya and called on him to surrender
in recent weeks. 
 
Ner Dah said there is no prospect of that happening. 
 
Although the Burmese army says it has secured its border with Thailand, and
many areas are clearly now under Rangoon's control, the rebels say
government troops are afraid to leave their bases for fear of land mines and
guerrilla attacks. 
 
``They are scared to move around,'' said Ner Dah. 
 
He added that the Karen were willing to continue peace talks, and said
they'd had contact with Burmese negotiators in recent weeks. 
 
``But they just want us to lay down our arms and surrender,'' he said. ``We
cannot.'' 
 
A meeting of 15 ethnic groups in January led by the Karen incited the
Burmese army to attack, Ner Dah said. Several of the groups have already
signed cease-fire agreements with the Burmese and are attending the
military-run constitutional convention in Rangoon. 
 
Still, nearly all the ethnic groups signed a communique at the end of the
meeting calling on the military government to scrap the convention and open
three-way talks with ethnic leaders and the Burmese democracy movement led
by Aung San Suu Kyi. 
 
By reaching cease-fire pacts with most other ethnic groups, the Burmese have
been able to concentrate their firepower on the Karen. 
 
The communique revealed that many of the ethnic groups are less than
satisfied with life under the truce terms. 
 
The regime dismissed the meeting as a phony creation of the Karen, claiming
the other ethnic representatives were impostors. 
 
*********************************************** 

BKK POST: RESHUFFLE FOLLOWS BORDER INCURSIONS 
May 3, 1997
Wasana Nanuam 
 
The army has ordered another reshuffle involving, among others,  those
responsible for handling the situation on the Thai-Burmese border under the
jurisdiction of the Third Army Area. 
    
The reshuffle was related to frequent attacks by the Rangoon-backed
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army from Burma on camps holding Christian Karen
refugees in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces. 
     
The reshuffle of some officers was aimed at reorganising units responsible
for combat and intelligence operations along the border. 
     
In the mid-year reshuffle, Maj-Gen Prayuth Thapcharoen was removed as
commander of the 4th Infantry Division responsible for the border area. 
                              
The latest order, issued on May 1 by army chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro,
involved the transfer of 167 officers holding the rank of special colonel,
including those of the 4th Infantry Division and subordinate units. 
                             
Col Decha Sathira-angkoon, commander of the 17th Infantry Regiment, has been
moved to be deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division. 
                              
Col Prasart Thepanual, chief-of staff of the 4th Infantry Division, has been
moved to be deputy commander of Chiang Rai Army Province. He has been
replaced by Col Chawalit Saengsue, chief-of-staff of the 31st Army Circle. 
                           
Co] Suvit Maenmuan, commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment, which 
is responsible for border areas in Tak province, has been moved to be chief
of-staff of the 31st Army Circle. 
                              
*******************************************
   
BKK POST: STUDENTS SUBMIT PETITION AGAINST PIPELINE PROJECT 
May 3, 1997

A students' environmental group yesterday submitted a petition to the prime
minister protesting the planned gas pipeline project that will deliver
natural gas from Burma's Yadana field to a power plant in Ratchaburi. 
      
The Committee for the Conservation of Natural Resources and Environment of
16 Institutes said the project is being condemned worldwide, because it will
help generate foreign currency for the military rulers in Burma. 
      
It accused the Burmese junta of using the money from its gas field to buy
weapons to use in the suppression of its own people, particularly ethnic
minorities. 
      
The United States and some European nations have imposed limited 
economic sanctions on Burma, the group said, but Thailand as well as the
other Asean countries still maintain a relationship with the regime with the
aim of reaping benefits from Burma's natural resources. 
                               
The group demanded that the Thai government halt the gas pipeline project
and cease its relationship with the State Law and Order Restoration Council
the junta to avoid being condemned by the global community for collaborating
with the regime in violation of human rights in Burma. 
                               
It demanded the government allow public participation in making decisions on
the project and review the country's development policy towards sustainable
development in ways suitable for Thailand. 
                               
"Let's not let others condemn Thailand for generating electricity on the
corpses, blood and tears of innocent people and for plundering the world's
natural resources," the statement said. 
 
************************************************************
 
BKK POST: AMMUNITIONS CACHE FOUND NEAR BORDER 
May 3, 1997

TAK- Security forces confiscated a cache of arms and ammunition, believed to
belong to Karen National Union rebels, hidden near the Thai-Burmese  border
in Umphang district on Thursday. 
 
The infantry troopers found two mortars, an anti-tank gun, a HK 33 assault
rifle, 29 RPG rockets and over 805 rounds of ammunition about 800 metres
from the border in Ban Nong Luang in Umphang. 
 
Military sources said they suspected the arms were buried by Karen rebels
after they fled across the border into Thailand ahead of the Burmese
suppression drive in 1995. 
 
Commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment Task Force Col Suwit 
Maenmuen said border officials had already seized several weapons and
ammunition near the border in Tak three times since early this year. 
                    
**********************************************

THAILAND TIMES: STRATEGIC BURMA SEEN JOINING ASEAN DESPITE PROTESTS 
May 3, 1997
Bill Tarrant  
Reuters, Kuala Lumpur 
 
Burma will be duly sworn in as a member of the Association of  South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year despite widespread criticism of its human
rights record and US opposition, analysts and diplomats said. 
 
ASEAN will endure a potential rebuke from the United States and Europe over
the decision because Burma is important to ASEAN for strategic and economic
reasons, they said. 
 
Washington last month banned new US investment in Burma to exert pressure on
the nation' s military rulers who hold hundreds  of pro-democracy activists
in jail and have kept their leader Aung San Suu Kyi under virtual house arrest. 
                   
It stepped up pressure last Friday by openly opposing Burma' s admission to
ASEAN. 
                   
But ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, says Burma' s membership is important for
regional stability. 
                   
"We have all agreed not to leave Myanmar (Burma) behind," Malaysian Foreign
Minister Abdullah Badawi said on Sunday.  "Otherwise, the situation may
deteriorate to a point that will jeopardise the stability of the region." 
                                             
Southeast Asian nations, who were reluctant hosts to hundreds of thousands
of Vietnamese refugees for years, do not want to see a similar exodus from
Burma, analysts said. 
                                      
Burma, which has long depended on China for arms, has kept a distance from
the outside world for decades. 
 
"It's important to have them in before they relapse again in isolationism.
Right now they are too dependent on China," said  Jusuf Wanandi, chairman of
the supervisory board of Indonesia's Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS). 
                                                         
ASEAN also believes "constructive engagement" is the only way to reform
Burma's military rulers. 
                                                         
"You give them a roadmap to help them out politically and economically,"
Wanandi told Reuters in an interview. But Western diplomats caution that
Burma' s entry into ASEAN could strain the group's vaunted unity, undermine
the respect it has earned in the West and compound the problems it faces in
creating an  ASEAN Free Trade Area over the next few years. 
 
It could also lead to a serious rift with the United States, the largest or
second-largest trading partner and foreign investor with almost every one of
the seven ASEAN nations. 
 
Burma could be admitted as early as July at ASEAN' s annual meeting. That
could create a problem for US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who is
to make her first visit to Southeast  Asia during ASEAN' s post-meeting
conference with major powers. 
                    
ASEAN last year decided to admit Burma, Cambodia and Laos as members at the
same time. Malaysia, chairman at this year' s annual meeting, has been
adamant that Burma should enter ASEAN this year as the grouping celebrates
its 30th anniversary. 
                    
ASEAN Foreign Ministers will meet in Kuala Lumpur on May 31 to 
decide whether to admit the three at the July meeting or at an informal
summit in the Malaysian capital in December or later. 
                                       
ASEAN officials and Western diplomats say there is little chance the
admission will be postponed. 
                                       
Some analysts have suggested that political and economic instability in
Cambodia could allow the group to postpone Burma' s admission while saving
face. 
                                       
But Wanandi said the need by Cambodia and Burma to develop their economies
was all the more reason to admit them now. 
                                       
"Our reasoning is opposite," Wanandi said. "If we do not make Cambodia a
member we will never have a commitment to helping them out. That mess they
are in would be better alleviated if they're in than if they're out." 
                                                          
ASEAN officials say the group would withstand pressure from United States,
which strongly backed ASEAN from its inception as an anti-communist
Southeast Asian bulwark during the Vietnam war. 
 
"We don't expect any basic consequences from the decision," Wanandi said.
"Of course we have to take in stride the criticism from Congress, the
administration and public opinion.' 
                                                          
**************************************
 
THE NATION: BURMA VOWS TO MAINTAIN COURSE 
May 4, 1997
Reuter 
 
RANGOON - Burma's military vowed yesterday that it would not change its
current political and economic course despite recent US economic sanctions
which bar new American investment in the country. 
 
Secretary One of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc)
Lt. Gen Khin Nyunt was quoted in the official media as saying Burma was
confident it could overcome the latest hurdle imposed on it by Washington. 
 
He also blamed unidentified groups opposed to the Slorc of being behind the
latest diplomatic setback for Rangoon. 
 
The United States imposed economic sanctions on Burma in April, banning new
investment by American firms, as a condemnation of the military regime's
alleged human rights abuses and its suppression of the pro-democracy
movement led by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 
 
"Destructionist groups within the country are employing various ways to
destabilise the nation, to jeopardise the nation's political and economic
development and to cause difficulties in international relations, Khin Nyunt
was quoted as saying at a meeting with local authorities in Hakha township,
375 kilometres northwest of Rangoon on Friday. 
 
"As the government can overcome all these obstacles, it has no big problem,"
he said. "The [US] economic sanctions will have no result for the US as they
expect nor will they affect Burma."  
 
Burma would never change its current political and economic trend and would
march onward to reach its objectives despite any obstacles and hindrances
that were placed in its way, he added. Slorc vice chairman Gen Maung Aye
said at another function at Bahtoo township, about 312 km northeast of
Rangoon, that there was no need for Burma to be shaken by the latest sanctions. 
 
"A Western power has come to impose economic sanctions on Burma. But the
Slorc government need not tremble at their sanctions and need pay no
attention," he said. "The nation has stood on its own self reliance for
years since before the military government came into power." 
 
********************************************

THE NATION: ASEAN AND US STAND OFF ON SLORC 
May 4, 1997

In the end, what will tilt the balance of arguments is Asean's determination
not to be dictated to by the West. However, it does need to be said that the
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council's actions against its
opponents have not made matters any easier for Asean. 
 
While Asean has no desire to dictate the pace of political change there,
there was hope that political and social accommodation in Burma would follow
from the grouping's accommodating attitude towards it, an attitude which
carries a political cost. 
 
The absence of reciprocity thus far is regrettable. It does not help that
the US stance means that all sides will now dig in and not budge. 
 
The Straits Times 
Singapore 
 
***********************************************

BKK POST: STANCE TOWARDS BURMA IS WRONG 
May 4, 1997
Thongbai Thongpao 
 
Washington last week imposed a trade sanction  on the Slorc government of
Burma. Sanctioning is one measure to penalise foreign governments which have
gone astray and cannot be tamed through legal procedures. The sanction is in
objection to human right violations in the country. 
 
In fact, several countries in Europe and the United States have tried to
exert economic and political pressure to force governments of certain
countries which fail to observe human right such as the case of Saddam
Hussein of Iraq. More recently, attempts were made to reach a consensus to
punish China on the same grounds but they were aborted. 
 
While teaching Burma a lesson, the White House expects Asean to cooperate.
The US hints that Asean should delay the integration of the junta-ruled
country, a move it believes can help bring the Slorc to heel somewhat. 
 
It's hard to expect Asean to comply although the United States is a super
power and very influential. By nature, certain Asean countries have yet to
approve of the concept of human rights. They view human rights as something
belonging to Western standards and alien to Asian traditions. 
 
At the recent International Human Rights Conference in Vienna, some member
countries protested openly against the idea although they are UN members,
subscribe to the UN conventions and pledged to observe the Declarations on
Human Rights. Indonesia, Malaysia Singapore and China belong to this group. 
 
Consequently, it's unlikely that these four countries will agree with
Washington unless a miracle happens. 
 
As for Thailand, although we obediently followed the footsteps of the Big
Brother after the Seato deal had been inked, our policy towards Burma has
always been "constructive." Never once has Thailand challenged the Burmese
junta or uttered offensive remarks against it in connection with human right
violations in the country. On the contrary, we have always tried to be on
good terms with the Slorc until a political critic once accused one of our
military leaders of copying military rule of Slorc. 
 
When it comes to our policy  towards Burma now, Gen Chavalit confirms the
stereotypical view that Burma's military leader and himself are "good
friends."Additionally, Thailand and Burma have established close economic
ties, including a gas pipe laying project from Burma to Thailand, the
construction of a Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge, Thai investments in hotels
in Burma and numerous private construction projects. Thai 
industrialists are also very interested in woods in Burma. 
 
Taking all these factors into consideration, it should come as no surprise
that the Thai leader has made it clear he will not follow in the footsteps
of the US in imposing sanctions against the country or delay the integration
of Burma. This is an independent stance Thailand has towards Burma. 
 
However, that doesn't mean that the stance is endorsed by all Thais,
especially a number of Thai human right groups who view such a policy as an
extension of support to human right violators and an infringement of
international human right principles. 
 
Sins, virtues and justice knows no bounds. Human right violations in Burma
are always wrong and can never be right. It is impossible to deny that such
violations are not against international human rights or violations of UN
conventions. 
 
As a result, the creative relationship policy Thailand has towards Burma is
illegitimate. It equals taking side with and supports a human rights
violator and an enemy of democracy. Such a stance does not represent all
Thais who promote  human rights and democracy.  
 
************************************************************

BKK POST: SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE PLAN FOR MAE SOT BACKED 
May 4, 1997
Mae Sot 
 
Prime Minister's Office Minister Veerakorn Kamprakob has backed the plan to
designate part of the district as a special economic zone to promote border
trade and prevent influx of illegal Burmese workers. 
 
The plan was reportedly initiated by local business groups and the chamber
of commerce. Mr Veerakorn was in the province to observe border investment
activities. 
 
Mae Sot provides a firm investment platform in addition to a high trade
potential for labour-intensive industries, the minister said. 
 
He floated the idea of establishing an industrial estate to promote exports.
The district also has a vast labour market of illegal Burmese workers who
could be legalised so they can work in the proposed economic zone. 
 
This way, the government can control the number of illegal workers while
preventing them from spreading to other provinces. 
 
The economic zone initiative was inspired by a study on the subject
conducted by a private company which was submitted to the Industry Economics
Office in March last year. 
 
According to the study, Mae Sot is an ideal channel hooking up with the
Asian Highway No.1 which links Burma with the Indochina region through
Thailand. 
 
The chamber of commerce felt the western part of the country should be
developed to accommodate investment in agro-industries. Mae Sot is also the
gateway to deep-sea ports in lower Burma's Moulmein and Tavoy.  
 
**************************** 

AFP: SKOREA'S HYUNDAI, SINGAPORE'S SINMARDEV LINK UP FOR BURMA PROJECT 
 May 2, 1997

SEOUL, May 2  - South Korea's Hyundai Corp. said Friday it had formed a  
consortium with Singapore real estate company Sinmardev International Pte
Ltd. to build an international industrial complex in Burma. 
 
The Korean company said construction had already begun on the 300 million
dollar project which includes port development, 18 kilometers (12 miles)
southeast of Rangoon, and was expected to be completed by 2000. 
 
Hyundai did not detail the amount of its investment in the project, which it  
said is backed by Burma's housing ministry. 
 
************************************************ 

PRNEWSWIRE : BURMA DENOUNCED  BY OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB OF AMERICA 
April 30, 1997
  
    NEW YORK,  -- Denouncing the imprisonment of 185 journalists in 24
countries "as violations of all international standards of humanity, free
expression and free press," the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC) has
appealed to the governments holding the newspeople to release them 
now.  The journalists in jail include reporters, editors, photographers, 
radio and TV broadcasters. 
     The countries receiving the appeals are located in Asia, Africa, 
Asia Minor and South America, Norman Schorr and Larry Martz, co-chairmen of
the OPC's Freedom of the Press Committee, reported today.  The sentences of
the jailed journalists range from six months to life, with the average
exceeding 15 years.  A substantial number are held in jail without being
charged or sentenced or even acknowledged, Schorr and Martz pointed out. 
     Heading the list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists as 
of year-end 1996, is Turkey with 78 prisoners, 58 men and 20 women.  Most of
them were arrested for their coverage of the fighting between the government
and Kurds in southeast Turkey seeking independence.  Prisoners are being
held by Turkey for terms of three to 100 years, with 12 and a half years the
most common sentence. 
     Other countries holding journalists in prison include Ethiopia with 
18, China 17, Kuwait 15, Nigeria and Myanmar (BURMA) 8 each, Algeria 7 and
Syria 6.  Countries holding 1-5 prisoners include Burundi, Central African
Republic, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon,
Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Peru, Sudan, Tunisia, Vietnam, Zaire and Zambia. 
     The so-called misdeeds responsible for the arrests and imprisonments 
were "hardly offenses judged by international standards," according to the 
OPC's Schorr and Martz.  The alleged offenses included stories or broadcasts
described as dishonoring or insulting the head of state, inciting ethnic
hatred, attacking the dignity and honor of the president of the 
republic, circulating rumor-mongering leaflets and fomenting a
counter-revolution. 
 
    "These trumped-up charges reveal that many countries are unwilling 
to allow their citizens to learn about opposition movements, corruption or 
other subjects the government wants to conceal,"  the committee commented.
"Or, the government could be paranoid and their leaders could be
exceptionally thin-skinned," the committee added. 
    The Overseas Press Club appeals and protests were signed by John 
Corporon, the club's president, and the three co-chairmen of the club's
Freedom of the Press Committee, Dinah Lee, Larry Martz and Norman Schorr. 
    In its appeals, the OPC pointed out that detention of the 
journalists "is in clear violation of Article 19 of the United Nations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." 
    The messages to the leaders of the 24 countries also stated:  "We 
urge you to respect your people's right to know what is happening in your
country and in the world.  Please act promptly to obtain the release of these 
journalists. For any time that they may continue as prisoners, we ask you to
provide them with their basic human and legal rights:  freedom from torture
or inhumane conditions, the right to a fair trial, the right to engage legal
counsel of their own choosing, and the right to see their family." 
    For more than 50 years, the Overseas Press Club has been defending 
rights of journalists around the world to do their job of covering the news 
without harassment or persecution. 
 
CONTACT: Norman Schorr, 212-935-5555 or Lary Martz, 212-889-5155, 
both for the Overseas Press Club of America 
 
*****************************************