The BurmaNet News, August 14, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------     
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"     
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The BurmaNet News: August 14, 1997        
Issue #797

HEADLINES:        
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THAILAND TIMES: TIGHT SECURITY AT BRIDGE OPENING
SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS NO. A-0089 - 91 (I) 
XINHUA: WU YI MEETS WITH BURMESE COMMERCE MINISTER 
THE NATION: GREEN ACTIVISTS PUT PRESSURE ON PIPELINE
THAILAND TIMES: BURMA TV PROMOTES THAI-BURMESE
ANNOUNCEMENT: J.CREW OUT OF BURMA
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THAILAND TIMES: TIGHT SECURITY AT BRIDGE OPENING
August 13, 1997

TAK: The Mae Sot police station is to deploy over 500 officials to safeguard
high-ranking Burmese officials at the opening ceremony of the Thai-Burmese
Friendship Bridge on Friday.

Pol Col Sutheera Poonnabutr, the Mae Sot police chief, said police officers
including those in plain clothes are currently monitoring the movements of
strangers visiting the district in preparation for the security of the
forthcoming ceremony.
     
He said 500 officials from local districts will be deployed to secure the
ceremony as high-level Burmese officials and diplomats from many countries
are expected to attend the ceremony.

The police are cooperating  with the Interior Ministry and the Defense
Ministry in tracking the movements of anti-Burmese junta groups such as the
Karen Nation Union (KNU), exiled Burmese students and political refugees. It
is feared that they will use the ceremony for an assassination attempt.
     
Meanwhile, Tak governor Pongpayom Wasiputi held a meeting with over 40
officials from agencies such as the Police Immigration Office, the Highway
Department and border checkpoints to  prepare for the event.

He confirmed that the province was 90 percent ready for the opening of the
bridge and a permanent checkpoint at Mae Sot-Myawaddy.

The governor said the Thai-Burmese Committee is to discuss as to what extent
people will be able to freely cross the bridge after its opening.

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SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS NO. A-0089 - 91 (I) 
[abridged]

Information Sheet No. A-0089(I)                               Date 11-8-97

(1)   Hearty Welcome Extended to Six KNU Members in Arms-For-Peace Exchange 

On 23 July, six members of KNU No.1 Company, No.10 Battalion, No.4 Brigade,
led by Company Commander Saw Khawra and 16 family members exchanged arms for
peace to local authorities concerned at Taungthonlon military camp in Dawei
Township, Taninthayi Division.

Residents of Phaugtaw, Pyathatchaung and Taungthonlon village-tracts warmly
welcomed them. There are more members of the armed groups who will follow
suit, it is learnt.

(2)   Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning of The Philippines Arrives

At the invitation of the Myanmar Minister of National Planning and Economic
Development, the economic planning delegation led by Secretary of
Socio-Economic Planning Mr. Cielito F. Habito of Republic of the Philippines
arrived Yangon by air on 10 Aug. evening.

(3)   Minister for Foreign Affairs Leaves to Attend Special ASEAN
Ministerial Meeting

Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw left
Yangon by air on 10 Aug. morning for the Republic of Singapore to attend the
Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting to be held in Singapore on 11 August.

                    *********

Information Sheet No. A-0090(I)                      Date 13-8-97

(4) Myanmar, India to Jointly Implement Three-Year Kalay-Tamu Road Project

The Work Committee for upgrading the Kalay-Tamu Road at the Myanmar-India
border held its first meeting at Public Works Head Office on Shwedagon
Pagoda Road, Yangon on 11 August morning.

The project would be jointly implemented by the two countries. It has
been scheduled to complete the project within three years and India would
stand for the costs of the project. This project is related to numerous
ministries. In designating the axis route Public Works would have to
organize coordination between experts of the two countries.

OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 11 AUGUST

(A) The Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning of Republic of the
Philippines Mr. Cielito F. Habito called on the undermentioned Ministers.-
                (i)     Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission and Deputy
Prime Minister Vice Admiral Maung Maung Khin at his office.
                (ii)    Minister for National Planning and Economic
Development Brig. Gen. Abel at his office.
                (iii)   Acting Minister for Commerce Lt.Gen. Min Thein
(iv)    Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay at the
City Hall.

(B) Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win received Executive Director of
Dermajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd Dato Hj. Abdul Razak Hj Muhammad and party at his
office in the morning.

(C) Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig.Gen Maung Maung received
President of Kohap Eng & Const Co. Ltd. Mr Soo Kang Lee and party of Korea
at MIC office in the morning.

(D) Minister for Health U Saw Tun received Professor Nayato Natsume of
Japanese Cleft Palate Foundation and party at his office in the morning.

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

Information Sheet No. A-0091(I)                      Date 13-8-97

(1) Minister for Foreign Affairs Arrives Back From Special ASEAN
Ministerial Meeting

                The Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Foreign Affairs U
Ohn Gyaw arrived back Yangon by air in the afternoon of 12 August after
attending Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Singapore. At the meeting,
participants had a cordial discussion on the meeting of three foreign
ministers of ASEAN and Second Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen on 2 August
and the ASEAN common attitude on current developments in Cambodia.

 (3) Members of NUPA Rakhine Armed Group Exchange Arms For Peace

 (20) members of the NUPA (National Unity Party of Arakan) Rakhine armed
groups have recently exchanged arms for peace in separate occasions at the
local battalion in Paletwa Township. Commanding Officer of the local
battalion and local people extended a warm welcome to those who exchanged
arms for peace and then presented bags of rice and cash sent by the Western
Command to them individually. The men who exchanged arms for peace
previously resided at villages in Paletwa Township. Arrangements are being
made to resettle them in the villages and enable them to engage in
agricultural production. There are more members of the armed groups who will
follow suit.

 (5) LG Electronic (Gold Star) Initiates Free One-Week Trip to ROK

Twelve agents of LG Electronics left Yangon for the Republic of Korea by
air on 11 August evening for one-week study tour there. The trip was
arranged for their record sales.

(6) Lecture on Internet

Zealot Computer Systems and Services gave a lecture on Internet and
Network System at Government Technical Institute in Yangon.

Office Calls in Yangon on 12 August

(A)  Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt received Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning Dr.Cielito F.Habito of
the Republic of the Philippines and delegation at Dagon Yeiktha of the
Ministry of Defence.

(B) Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt received President Mr. Tadashi Sekitawa of Fujitsu Limited of Japan
and Party at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence.

(C) Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime Minister Vice
Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Executive Vice-President Mr. Takashi
Kawa-Hare of Mitsui Marine and Fire Insurance Co Ltd and party at his office.

(D) Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime Minister Vice
Admiral Maung Maung Khin received a delegation led by President Mr. Tadishi
Sekizawa of Fujitsu Ltd of Japan at his office.

(E) Minister for Mines Lt-Gen Kyaw Min received a delegation led by
Managing Director of Laranda Properties Sdn Bhd of Malaysia Mr. Joseph
Vijay Kumar at the Ministry.

(F) Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Thein Win received a delegation led by
Senior Vice-President Mr. Nasir Al Shiha of Delta International Company of
Saudi Arabia at his office.

(G) Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel
received Executive Director of Singapore International Foundation Mr. Chen
Chin Chi and party at the Ministry.

 (H) Minister for Livestock and Fisheries U Aung Thaung received
Vice-President Mr. Arif Widjaja of PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk and party
at the Ministry.

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XINHUA: WU YI MEETS WITH BURMESE COMMERCE MINISTER 
August 11, 1997

Beijing, August 11 (Xinhua) -- Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic
Cooperation Wu Yi, meeting today with Myanmar's [Burma] Minister of
Commerce Tun Kyi, said she hopes that China and Myanmar will increase
border trade to expand bilateral economic and trade co-operation. Wu said
that the two countries' friendship dates back to ancient times, that their
people enjoy a time-honored friendship, and that the Chinese government
places great importance on economic and trade co-operation with Myanmar.
Southwest China's Yunnan province is a neighbor of Myanmar, so the two
sides should make full use of their respective advantages in economic
exchanges to increase mutually-beneficial co-operation, she said, and that
China is willing to make its own efforts in this.
Bilateral trade volume is currently about 700 millions US dollars a
year.  Wu Yi said that the two countries can explore new ways to
co-operate, and expressed confidence in the prospect for bilateral economic
and trade co-operation.
Tun Kyi said that the purpose of his China trip is to enhance Myanmar
and China's friendship, and he hopes that bilateral economic and trade ties
will continue to grow.
He is here as a guest of China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation.

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THE NATION: GREEN ACTIVISTS PUT PRESSURE ON PIPELINE PROJECT
August 13, 1997
Kamol Sukin

Transparency sought from PTT

KANCHANABURI - Environmental groups in Kanchanaburi yesterday
celebrated Her Majesty the Queen's birthday by holding a rally from
Kanchanaburi town to the Sedge of the conservation forest along the route of
a controversial gas pipeline.

Led by a figure of HM the Queen standing on a truck, the groups were joined
by about 300 villagers students from Bangkok and environmental campaigners
who called for greater transparency from the Petroleum Authority of Thailand
(PTT), the project's developer. They also called for the pipeline's route to
be changed so that it does not pass through virgin forest.

The villagers said the PTT should give up its plan to clear a 12-metre wide
path through the forest in order to follow the conservation goals laid down
by HM the Queen.

"Our Queen is really concerned with forest conservation. She has said that
Thai people should realise that conservation does not block development, but
rather will help development succeed in the long term if we conserve in the
right way," said Phiphob Thongchai in a speech made at the pipeline site. 

"She also warned us that people from many countries around the world have
suffered and even died by ignoring conservation of their natural resources,"
said Phiphob, who is an adviser to Kanchanaburi's environmental groups.

The rally was joined by 68 local and national organisations from several
districts within the province. The PTT also sent seven officials to observe
the activities.

Jira Chobhimves, PTT's manager of purchasing and materials, led the
delegation and commented that villagers and environmentalists had a right to
express their opinions. 

"They are doing their duty and so am I," he said. "I am here to give
Kanchanaburi villagers a survival package to cope with the heavy floods in
the province. The PTT is trying to help them as fast as we can."

However, Boonsong Jansongrassami, a leader of the villagers opposing the
project, argued that the charity work had nothing to do with the pipeline
project. 

"That does not solve the problems at hand. It will not help to conserve the
natural resources that will be destroyed," Boonsong said.

PTT's Jira said the state enterprise would continue with construction of the
pipeline even though villagers oppose it. He said the PTT had hired Leo
Burnett, an advertising firm, at a cost of Bt 10 million to help with the
public relations activities in the province from July until the end of the year.

Boonsong said he was not at all concerned with the public relations
campaign. "I don't care how they try to convince us [villagers], because
whatever happens we will oppose the project so long as it is not carried out
with transparency," he said. 

Jira said construction of the project was behind schedule but should still
be finished on time.

Veerwat Theeraprasert, another adviser to the Kanchanaburi villagers, said
the groups would continue their campaign in Bangkok more than in
Kanchanaburi from now on because policy- level issues needed to be addressed.

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THAILAND TIMES: BURMA TV PROMOTES THAI-BURMESE FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE
August 13, 1997
By Asawin Phinitwong

TAK: Television in Burma is currently advertising the opening of the
Thai-Burmese friendship bridge, on August 15, an is encouraging the Burmese
people to join in the opening ceremony celebrations.

The Thai-Burmese friendship bridge links the Ma sod district in the Tak
province of Thailand with the Mayawadee province in Burma, and will be
officially opened on August 15.

Burma TV is now advertising the Thai-Burmese friendship bridge opening
ceremony, which will be held on Friday, and is persuading the Burmese people
to participate in the ceremony by visiting Mayawadee province in Burma.

State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) Lt Gen Khin Nyunt along with
the Thai Deputy Prime Minister Korn Dabbrangsi, will both preside over the
opening ceremony and expect Myawadee province to become a tourist
destination in the near future.

Moreover, the Deputy Foreign Minister Pitak Intrawithayanunt, and
ambassadors from both countries will participate in the opening celebrations.

The cutting of the ribbon will be conducted by Lt Gen Khin Nyunt and Korn at
10:39 am on August 16, after which, both will provide a speech and exchange
souvenirs for the occasion.

However, Tak governor Pongphayom Vasaphuti, plans to invite the media to
attend a press conference at 4:00 pm, at the Customs Office in Mae Sod
district, to also provide a speech.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: J.CREW OUT OF BURMA
August 12, 1997

Regarding J. Crew:  I spoke with Diana Chang, VP of Manufacturing yesterday.
She confirmed that J. Crew decided to place no new orders in
January, the last orders were finished in April, and that all orders were
received in the US before the end of June.  J. Crew is indeed out of Burma.

Larry Dohrs

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