The BurmaNet News, September 23, 19

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------       
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"       
----------------------------------------------------------       
   
The BurmaNet News: September 23, 1997          
Issue #826
  
HEADLINES:          
==========   
ABSDF PRESS RELEASE: USDA POSSIBLE ATTACK ON NLD LEADERS
AFP: TEXACO OFFLOADS BURMESE ASSETS TO AGIP
MYEIK-DAWEI UNITED FRONT: STATEMENT
BKK POST: DKBA REBELS CLASH WITH THAI FORCES
BKK POST: SLORC FORCES CHILDREN INTO ARMY
BURMANET: INTERVIEW WITH AUNG MOE ZAW, DPNS CHAIRMAN
THE NATION: ASEAN ASKED TO DRAFT ELECTRONIC TRADE RULES
BKK POST: AGENCY RATES PTTEP BONDS
THE NATION : ASEAN CURRENCY BID LAUNCHED 
SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET N0.0135(I)                       
FBC-LA: FREE BURMA CONFERENCE UPDATE
ANNOUNCEMENT: "FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WEEK"
ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW AND IMPROVED WEB PAGES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

ABSDF PRESS RELEASE: USDA POSSIBLE ATTACK ON NLD LEADERS
September 15, 1997

Press Release
Date:	15 September 1997

USDA Forms New Group, Plans Attacks on NLD Leaders

The Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) has recently formed
a new youth group which is to be used to attack members of the National
League for Democracy (NLD) prior to a party congress later this month.

According to reliable sources, the Central Executive Committee of the USDA,
an organization formed under SLORC's sponsorship, recently issued an order
to its regional members asking them to collect at least 20 USDA youth
members from each township. These members are to be trained in a special
manner and will be members of the "Pyu-Thut-Swan-Ahr-Shin-Mya-Athin",
meaning people's power group.

The ABSDF has learnt that this USDA youth group will attack NLD members who
are planning to go to Rangoon to attend an NLD party congress scheduled for
27-28 September.

SLORC has been training USDA youth members with the aim to eliminate
opposition movements, especially the NLD. Last November about 200 USDA youth
members attacked NLD senior leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Kyi
Maung and U Tin Oo. 

NLD leaders are expected to discuss the party's future plans during the
upcoming party congress. The NLD Central Executive Committee has invited
regional leaders to come to Rangoon by 25 September. USDA youth members are
under the SLORC's instructions to attack these NLD regional leaders on their
way to Rangoon.


For further information please contact  (01) 9937187.

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

AFP: TEXACO OFFLOADS BURMESE ASSETS TO AGIP
September 22, 1997

   RANGOON, Sept 22 (AFP) - US-based oil giants Texaco have offloaded their
assets in military-run Burma to AGIP International of Italy in a 260 million
dollar swap deal, an informed source here said Monday.
   No official announcement of the deal has yet been made, but it is
expected to be finalised by the year end, the source said.
   Texaco is a major investor in the offshore Yetagun natural gas field in
the Burmese Andaman Sea, which is due to supply gas by pipeline to
neighbouring Thailand.
   US investors in Burma have faced stiff pressure at home to pullout of the
country, because of criticism of the human rights record of Rangoon's ruling
military junta.

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

MYEIK-DAWEI UNITED FRONT: STATEMENT
September 21, 1997

THE STATEMENT OF
MYEIK-DAWEI UNITED FRONT (MDUF)
TENASSERIM REGION

1. It was seen on SLORC's television evening news dated (20-9-97) that Soe
Way and Pe Kyi of Myeit- Dawei United Front has undergone the so-called
exchange of arms with Peace ceremony  held on (16-9-97) at Tenasserim town. 

2. Regarding this news the authentic attitude of MDUF is as follows: 
	Soe Way was a member of MDUF but Pe Kyi had been permitted to withdraw his
membership. They deceitfully organized some of the soldiers from the lower
levels with some of the civilians nearby and surrendered to SLORC according
to their own will. This was done contrary to the decision of MDUF. 

3. So, the deed committed by Soe Way and Pe Lyi is regarded as totally
reactionary and unrelated to MDUF.

4. MDUF regards SLORC's policy of exchanging arms for Peace as merely a
mischievous deed to deceive the people.  In essence, it is the same as that
of AFPFL policy of exchanging arms with Democracy in the late 1950s.
Therefore MDUF solemnly declares that the exchange of arms with Peace is
merely an old tactic which had been practised by the successive reactionary
governments of Burma to deceive the people as well as the international
community. 

Central Committee
Myeik-Dawei United Front

September 21, 1997.

		-----------------------------------
 
                        Research and Documentation Centre
                                        of
                     Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS)

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

BKK POST: DKBA REBELS CLASH WITH THAI FORCES
September 22, 1997

Mae Hong Son - Armed members of the Rangoon-backed Democratic Karen 
Buddhist Army (DKBA) crossed the Salween River into a Thai border district 
Saturday and were engaged in a brief gunfight with a Border Patrol Police unit. 
No casualties were reported.

Col Thawatchai Wattana, commander of the 7th Infantry Division, responded 
by sending a team of Thai officials to notify his Burmese counterpart of the
intrusion.

Seven DKBA fighters crossed the Salween into Ban Mae Samlap of Sop Moei
district at about 11:00 a.m on Saturday when they were spotted by a BPP unit.
As the unit asked for a search, the guerrillas opened fire.

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

BKK POST: SLORC FORCES CHILDREN INTO ARMY
September 20, 1997
Nussara Sawatsawang

Feature/International Children's Day

Burmese children are forced to join the army after being granted free education 
at state-sponsored schools, according to a report published today on the 
occasion of the International Children's Day widely observed in Europe.

In "No Childhood at All", a 70-page report published by Images Asia, the non-
profit organisation promoting human rights in Burma and Southeast Asia cites 
interviews with defectors and gives a detailed account of t he unique military-
style school called Ye Nyunt Youth, meaning Brave Young Leaves. 
     
The report states Burmese boys could be "officially conscripted" into the 
military at the age of 14 under the programme. They are said to receive 
political training and are eventually assigned to serve in the army, in 
intelligence units or as security for high-ranking officers.

Burmese Ambassador to Thailand Hla Maung confirmed the existence of a 
special high school by that name located some 200 kilometres northeast of 
Rangoon.

The ambassador told Bangkok Post the school was set up four years ago to 
provide rural children and orphans with a free education so they grow up with 
"good ambitions".

 The school provides sports and vocational training but the children "stay
under 
military discipline", said the ambassador. They can "do what ever they like", 
including joining the army or going to university, after graduation.

The Images Asia report indicated the school has branches in a number of places 
around Burma. It also focused on the middle school level for younger teenagers.

Khaplang, a former ethnic Naga student who joined the Ye Nyunt middle 
school in the northern Chin state, was quoted as saying most of the 180 
students there were sent for army training after completing the 8th standard.

"When the officers recruit the students from the village, they say the students 
can choose whatever they want to do in the future, but in fact the school
decides 
the students' future," he said in an interview in June.

"I wanted to be an officer. He [the commander] told me 'you can't choose for 
yourself, we'll decide for you'," he said.
     
Khaplang, who escaped after passing the 6th standard, said pupils who fail the 
exams to attend the local high school are transferred to the army. He also
heard 
that those who argued a lot with officers face the same fate.

At school pupils wear military uniforms two days a week and spend Saturdays 
practising parade drills along with regular studies he said.

The exact number of child soldiers in Burma is unknown, but the report said 
the rapid expansion of the armed forces from  170,000 in 1988, when the ruling 
State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) seized power, to 350,000 
today, and the plan to reach 475,000 by the year 2000, has both forced and 
encouraged the recruitment of minors.

Vitit Muntarbhorn, a specialist in child law attached to Chulalongkorn 
University, said children involved in armed conflicts stood to be damaged 
physically and psychologically.

They could be traumatised, become immoral and go mad as well as becoming 
drug addicts while in military service, he said.

The Burmese government acceded to the United Nations Convention on the 
Rights of the Child in 1991 and promulgated the Child Law two years later. 
The UN committee on the rights of the child, however, has expressed concern 
over Slorc's failure to take appropriate follow-up measures and to evaluate and 
monitor the situation, the report said.

The convention prohibits the use of soldiers below the age of 15. Member states 
are expected to give priority to the eldest for youths aged 15 to 18 years.

Prof Vitit is for establishing 18 as the minimum age for recruitment of young 
people into any hostilities, an argument which is still under international 
consultation.

In Burma's case, he suggested that the Thai government use its influence on 
both Slorc and ethnic groups still opposed to the regime to demobilise child 
troops and to provide necessary rehabilitation.

A truth commission should also be set up to reveal casualties, he said.

The Images Asia report urged the Burmese authorities to insert into its Child 
Law specific articles preventing the recruitment of child soldiers, or to
register 
child soldiers now in the armed forces with proof of age. 

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

BURMANET: INTERVIEW WITH AUNG MOE ZAW, DPNS CHAIRMAN IN EXILE
September 19, 1997
BurmaNet Staff

The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) was established on October 14,
1988.  All Burma Federation of Students' Union (ABFSU) members formed the
party in response to a perceived need for a legal, non-violent political
wing to carry on the struggle for democracy and mobilize the people.  

Six months after the founding of the party, DPNS was the second most
powerful political party in Burma, boasting 250,000 members and branches in
hundreds of townships. The success of the party attracted the attention of
the junta, which imprisoned at least 300 DPNS members in 1989.  

The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) continued to arrest DPNS
members and in 1990 finally drove the DPNS underground and into exile.  Many
DPNS members joined ABSDF when they arrived in Thailand.  Others maintained
the DPNS organization.  Inside the country, members of the now illegal party
continue to take an active interest in politics.  Now approaching its ninth
anniversary, the positions and objective of DPNS are as follows:

DPNS POLITICAL STAND

 (1) We shall resolve to work for democracy, national solidarity and peace;
(2) We shall stand, at all times, on the side of oppressed peoples of Burma;
(3) We shall be against any oppressive regime, regardless of its name and
nature, which put our Burmese people under its servitude;

DPNS AIMS & OBJECTVES

	- To abolish the military dictatorship;
	- To achieve democracy;
	- To reach internal peace;
	- To establish the genuine federal union;

Below is an interview with Aung Moe Zaw, the current DPNS chairperson in
exile.  

Q: 	What was the nature of DPNS' participation in the 1990 election in Burma?

SLORC made a rule that a political party had to register at least 3
candidates in order to participate in the election campaign.  We wanted to
campaign among the people, and inform them about the election and their
choices.  We had to register candidates in order to be allowed to hold mass
meetings, distribute pamphlets, give speeches.  So we registered 11
candidates.  Some of them were actually just donating their names at our
request.  They supported our cause but weren't interested in campaigning.
Some were headmasters and schoolteachers.

Q:	Why didn't the DPNS want to win seats in parliament?

The 1990 election was an important battle for the entire nation.  The most
important thing was to defeat the SLORC.  The people supported the NLD and
so did we.  In the future, when there is real democracy, we will want to be
a party contesting with many other political parties.  

Q:	How did DPNS campaign before the 1990 election?

We went around the country.  It was very exciting.  My responsibility was
for the Eastern side of Pegu Division.  I went to many villages - Chin,
Karen, Burman.  The people told me why they hated the present regime.  There
were often no roads - we had to walk to reach villages - no electricity, no
health care, no schools ... and this is in the heartland of Burma! Before I
visited these places I lived close by, but I didn't know what their real
situation was like.

Q: 	Where did you stay when you went to villages?

We would sleep in monasteries, or a friend's house, or in the village head's
house.  I was usually with seven to ten people.  In the future I want to
campaign like that again.

Q:	What reason did SLORC give for declaring the DPNS illegal?

After the 1990 election DPNS demanded that SLORC convene parliament as soon
as possible and hand over power to the NLD, the legally elected government.
These were not only DPNS demands, but had support from all democratic groups.  

The SLORC response was to issue the 1/90 order which stipulated that even
the NLD had to attend the so-called National Convention to produce a
constitution before a handover of power.  We openly objected to the order
and to the National Convention.  Therefore all of the Central Executive
Committee members except for me were arrested, 8 people in all. I hid then
fled.  

Our headquarters and 50 township level offices were raided and closed.
SLORC forced the imprisoned CEC members to agree to the 1/90 order in
exchange for their release and allowing the DPNS party to continue to exist.
The released CEC members called an emergency meeting and reported their
actions in prison.  The CEC members who attended decided to move to the
Liberated Area. 

If we stayed, we wouldn't have even been allowed to issue a political
statement without SLORC permission.  After we moved to the Liberated Area we
were accused of terrorism and collaborating with the KNU.  At that point, in
December 1991, we were declared illegal because SLORC said we were terrorists.

If we had stayed we would have disappeared.  We moved for our own survival.

Q:	Do you think that there were any advantages to your party in being forced
underground?

In some ways we gained credibility and in other ways we lost credibility.
We gained credibility by not working with SLORC. But as a political party
struggling for democracy we should be close to the people, and out here we
are far away.  

We try to create a democratic atmosphere within the constraints placed on
us.  Now we don't have the same level of contact with our grassroots organizers.

Q:	How does your organization represent the diversity of Burma?

The DPNS members are predominantly ethnic Burman.  Around 35 - 40% of our
members are female.  DPNS has a greater following of young democratic
supporters, while NLD attracts more older democratic supporters.  In terms
of ethnic diversity, when we were still above ground in Burma we established
DPNS organizing committees in Karen, Mon, and Rakhine states.  One of our
CEC members was a Karen woman, and we also had 2 Rakhine CEC members.  We
tried to recruit supporters from all ethnic backgrounds, but at the time
when we were promoting democracy it was difficult to cover all of Burma.  We
were concentrating on large towns and urban centers where our use of
resources and people power would have greater impact.  

Now we have a clear cut policy regarding ethnic minorities.  We Burmans have
a responsibility to turn around our history of prejudice and chauvinism.  As
Burmans we have even greater responsibility because we are the majority.  To
establish peace we will need national reconciliation.  The problem now is
that ordinary Burmans don't know the real situation of ethnic people, and
ethnic people don't know about Burmans.  So it's difficult to achieve trust.
We have to rely on disseminating information in Burma through our own
publications and radio broadcasts like VOA, BBC, RFA to inform people about
each other.  

Q:	Are you concerned about the current situation in Thailand for Burmese exiles?

It is getting harder and harder.  SLORC is trying to drive us away, so we
need to pursue the opposite strategy, and move closer to the inside.  We
don't want to see key activists going abroad ... but it is very good for
many of the students.  They can get an education and a broader understanding
of the world, which will be good for the future of our country.

Q:	How does DPNS lobby ASEAN?

We can't lobby directly but there are other channels, such as through the
NCUB, NGOs and the media.  We network with organizations such as Altsean,
the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats [a network including many
prominent Southeast Asian democratic opposition members], and the Forum of
Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific.

Q:	Do you hold any hope that constructive engagement may work in the favour
of Burmese democracy supporters?  

We would welcome any assistance.  We are waiting to see, but we suspect that
ASEAN membership won't benefit either side too much.  Look at the Friendship
Bridge!  What kind of friendship is SLORC offering?

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

THE NATION: ASEAN ASKED TO DRAFT ELECTRONIC TRADE RULES
September 20, 1997
Nitsara Srihanam - The Nation

THE Closer Economic Relations (CER) group which links Australia and New
Zealand has asked Asean to co-operate in preparing regulations for
electronic commerce to code with the move to set up rules for electronic
trade by bigger countries such as Japan, the European Union and the United
States.

Asean countries, including Thailand, seem to agree with the proposal but
they need time to collect the necessary information as well as study details
and the feasibility of setting up Asean-CER regulations. The issue will be
discussed again at the Asean Economic Ministers (AEM) meeting in October
this year.

Karun Kittisataporn, director of the, Business Economics Department, said
after coming back from the Asean Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM)
yesterday that the Asean SEOM had talked with CER officials about the issue. 

He said Japan, the US and the EU plan to set up rules for electronic
commerce in order to facilitate electronic trading and they will probably set
electronic, commerce regulations, for discussion by the World, Trade
Organisation (WTO) later. They may conclude electronic commerce rules 
under the service sector regulations of the WTO.

Karun said Australia and New Zealand also urged Asean to prepare
electronic commerce rules to cope with the fierce pressure from the
developed countries. Thailand, Karun said, agreed with the idea and is
collecting the necessary information and details to create the regulations.

In addition, Karun said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of
Japan (MITI) had proposed that Asean establish a working group on an
Economic Development and Market Integration Council to displace the old
working group which seems to have a reduced role now that Laos and Burma
have joined Asean.

The old working group focused on supporting Laos, Burma and Cambodia,
helping them deal with Asean regulations and implementation, including
developing trade systems and training workers.

Now that Burma and Laos have joined Asean, the role of the working group 
has decreased.

MITI suggested the new working group concentrate on tightening economic
cooperation and marketing.

However, Asean has still not agreed with the MITI idea and will discuss the
issue at the AEM meeting next month.

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

BKK POST: AGENCY RATES PTTEP BONDS
September 20, 1997

Awards an 'A minus'

Standard and Poor's yesterday assigned an "A minus" long-term rating to PTT
Exploration and Production Plc's 23 billion yen (U$200 million) bonds due in
2007.

PTTEP's rating reflects its key public policy role, its close operational
ties to the Thai government and its competitive position in the oil and gas
industry, according to the agency. The funds will pay for the company's
exploration, development and production work.

The company's public policy role stems from its important position in
developing long-term supplies of oil and gas for Thailand. Unlike most other
countries in the region, Thailand has an acute shortage of energy, and the
trend toward greater industrialisation is putting additional pressures on
supplies.

Given the Petroleum Authority of Thailand's charter to explore, develop and
produce petroleum, PTTEP is arguably the authority's most important business
unit. Policies and business activities are co-ordinated strongly between the
two entities, with the governor and three other representatives of the
authority on the PTTEP's board.

The PTTEP is 71% owned by the authority, which has a monopoly on buying 
and selling gas in Thailand. The PTTEP is a mid-size oil and gas company 
with core holdings in the Gulf of Thailand.

At June 30, 1997, net proved reserves were 553 million barrels of oil
equivalent (boe), capable of sustaining annual current production of about
14 million boe in the next 40 years. the production profile is dominated by
natural gas, with the Bangkok field (PTTEP, 40% shareholder) the major
producing gas field.

Output is forecast to rise to about 35 million boe in 2000, reflecting much
higher volumes from Bangkok and new projects coming on stream. The most
significant of these new projects is the Moattama 6.3 trillion cubic feet
gas field in Burma (PTTEP 25.5% shareholder).

There is some political risk involved in this project, but the economic
reality of the pipeline gives Burma a strong incentive to ensure its
successful operation, according to the agency.

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

THE NATION : ASEAN CURRENCY BID LAUNCHED 
September 19, 1997
Surachai Chupaka, Kulchada Chaipipat 

Interest rate pact to kick off initiative 

THAILAND will attempt to lobby other Asean members to adopt a single
currency goal in the Asean Vision 2020 plan due to be announced in December. 
"Separate currencies are unstable and vulnerable," Finance Minister Thanong 
Bidaya told reporters last night. He added that while the region may consider 
adopting the European Union model in managing a common monetary policy, the
goal could be achieved faster than the decades-old attempt to create the 
single European currency. 
But more importantly, according to a top Thai official who asked not to be 
named, in pursuit of closer regional monetary cooperation Thailand will also 
propose a common policy on Asean interest rates to narrow gaps in the region 
as the first step towards closer cooperation in the wake of recent massive 
speculative attacks on regional currencies. 
The Thai initiative for Asean Vision 2020 follows a recent statement by Phisit 
Pakkasem, a former chief of Thailand's National Economic and Social 
Development Board, who foresaw the emergence of an Asian monetary zone. 
Other regional leaders such as South Korea's finance minister and China's vice 
minister for international economics also expressed support for closer 
monetary cooperation in the region. 
By narrowing the regional interest rate gaps, Asean countries would be able 
maintain a consistent alignment of exchange rates, thus instilling more 
regional currency stability. 
Cooperation from Japan and China will have to be sought if Asean is to move 
ahead with closer monetary cooperation, the Thai government source said. 
Thailand will raise the issue with member countries shortly in preparation for 
the Dec 15 Asean summit scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur. 
There will be early negotiations with Singapore for support of the closer 
monetary cooperation as Singapore is seen as the region's financial centre. 
The source said an announcement for the single currency objective would be 
seen positively by financial markets. 
In addition to the Thai initiative for Asean to announce a commitment to the 
single currency goal, the country will also seek support from member countries 
to expand their existing Asean currency swap arrangement, which is currently 
involved with only US$200 million. 
Only five countries signed the original agreement, with each member country 
contributing $40 million to the fund. 
Burma has expressed interest in joining this arrangement, while Vietnam and 
Brunei have yet to give their answers. 
Finance Minister Thanong will urge Southeast Asian countries to make a 
concerted effort against currency speculators at next week's global monetary 
talks in Hong Kong. He said while Europe and North America have seen close 
cooperation among countries when it comes to monetary affairs, "in Asia it has 
been everyone for himself." He added that Japan could serve as a driving force 
in the push toward closer Asean monetary cooperation. 
Supachai Phisitvanich, permanent secretary for finance, said Asean finance 
ministers are preparing the features of Asean Vision 2000, which will be 
announced later this year. They will also release a report on the Asean 
economic outlook for 1997-98. 
Asean finance ministers will today hold talks with counterparts from Japan, 
China, South Korea and Europe focusing on the currency crisis. 
Although Thanong did not spell out clearly what measures should be adopted
by the region to curb speculators, he said yesterday that it is important to 
adopt some mechanics and techniques to stabilise the movements of all these 
currencies. 
Asean is, meanwhile, expected to urge the International Monetary Fund and the 
World Bank at the Hong Kong meeting to devise ways of curbing largely
US-based offshore hedge funds who led the attack. 
Kyodo adds that finance ministers of Asean, in pursuit of preventing a further 
plunge in regional currencies, are looking forward to adopting ways to build a 
system that would prevent future crises such as the one that recently hit 
Thailand and later neighbouring countries, financial sources said. 
Such a system could include establishing an Asian version of the IMF, the 
sources said. 
But it would be difficult to establish the fund in the short term as it would 
be hard to persuade countries such as Japan and China to participate, the 
sources said. 
In August, the IMF, Japan and a group of Asia-Pacific economies crafted a 
financial package worth more than $17 billion to help Thailand out of its 
currency crisis, triggered by the de facto devaluation of the baht on July 2. 
The crisis has somewhat subsided but there are fears that problems could 
re-emerge in view of massive non-performing loans gripping many banks and 
finance companies in Thailand, the sources said. 
The Asean ministers are here to attend a two-day gathering of finance chiefs 
from Thursday of the Asia-Europe Meeting, an initiative launched in March
1996 to deepen links between the regions. 

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

SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET N0.0135(I)                       
September 21, 1997 [abridged]

INFORMATION     SHEET N0.0135(I)
                                                Dated.21-09-97

(1)             Myanmar Delegation Leaves for Russian Federation
                Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Rail Transportation
U Win Sein left Yangon on 20 September for the Russian Federation on a
goodwill visit and to study railways services there at the invitation of his
counterpart.

(2)             Cold Storages, Fisheries Processing Commissioned into Service
                Myanmar Beijing Fisheries Co Ltd and TT International Fisheries 
Co Ltd inaugurated one new cold storage each in Hlinethaya and Insein
Townships on 20 September. Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Livestock
and Fisheries and Beijing Fisheries Corporation of PRC signed an agreement
on 9 March 1995 on formation of joint-venture Myanmar Beijing Fisheries Co 
Ltd. Under the agreement, freezing, producing ice, fishing and breeding
prawns will be undertaken for 20 years. Equipment and materials worth US $
2.2 million were installed in it. Its buildings and roads were constructed at a
cost of K 83.78 million. The cold storage, 150 metres by 108 metres, can
produce 30 tons of ice a day, store 300 tons and freeze 500 kilos of finished
products every three hours. The TT International cold storage, with a storage
capacity of 400 tons, was built on a 2.23-acre plot beginning February 1996.
Test operation took place nine months later, in November. Equipment and
materials installed in the cold storage were purchased form Denmark for US $
920,000. Altogether K 20 million was  spent on the construction and purchase
of parts. The company has exported prawns worth US $ 3.5 million to eight
countries and plans to export to two more countries. Its production capacity
is 6.5 tons by the control freezer and 6 tons by the blast freezer,
totalling 12.5 tons per day.

(3)             Myanmar Trade Fair 98 to be held        27 January to 2 February

Myanmar Trade Fair 98 will be held on grand scale at Yangon Trade Centre in
Mingala Taungnyunt Township from 27 January to 2 February next year with 
the sponsorship of the Ministry of Commerce. Local and foreign companies'
products will be on display at the trade fair to be held with the aims-to
promote foreign trade and investment, to promote Myanmar export, to seek
market for local-made items, to promote production of import substitutes and
to obtain more technical and financial assistance from abroad. It will be the
fifth international trade fair of the ministry.

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

FBC-LA: FREE BURMA CONFERENCE UPDATE
September 22, 1997

Dear conference attendees,

You may be well aware of the fact that Los Angeles is such a difficult place
for a transportation from a place to another. The conference organizing
group is trying hard to make as convenient as possible for you and us. As
you have already known if you come to the conference by Friday, you won't
have any problem with a ride from LAX to hostel. And your housing will
arranged so you won't have any problem during the conference. So let us know
your date and time of arrival and departure when you are registering. 

However, here are buses to take to from LAX to dorm and UCLA campus, hostels
and hotels numbers to call if you are coming after Friday, Oct 3rd.

TRANSPORTATION

You may take shuttle (which will be about $10 a person to UCLA campus) 
or taxi or buses. Following are the directions to take buses.

>From LAX to UCLA:	
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus 3 
This bus will take about 50 minutes and the fare is 50 cents. On the weekend
(Saturday & Sunday) the bus route ends at San Vincente & Barrington a few
blocks away from campus. (But on weekdays, the bus ends at UCLA Bus
Terminal.) You may also transfer to #2 bus at Lincoln & Superba to get to
Venice Youth Hostel.

>From hostel to UCLA:	
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus 1 (OR) Santa Monica Big Blue Bus 2 The bus stop is
at Pacific and Winward. This will take about 40 minutes to UCLA campus and
the fare is also 50 cents. On the weekend, #1 Bus run till 11:52 pm (from
campus to hostel). #2 last bus is 9:50 pm on Saturday and it does not
operate on Sunday.
			
HOTELS:

RAMADA INN
1052 Tiverton, Westwood
(310) 208-6677
$55/1 person + $6 for each additional person (up to four per room)
Description: in Westwood, walking distance to UCLA & Westwood Village 
(restaurants, shops,  night spots)

HOLIDAY INN
Sunset & 405 Fwy
(310) 476-6411 GiGi/476-4850 Anna
[negotiating rates with them]
Description: shuttle to UCLA?, easy freeway access

HOSTELS:

VENICE YOUTH HOSTEL
1515 Pacific Avenue, Venice
(310) 452-3052
$9/night/person
Description: in the heart of Venice Beach, one block from ocean.  Santa 
Monica Blue Bus #1 or #2 to UCLA (40 min. bus ride to UCLA)

SANTA MONICA YOUTH HOSTEL
1436 2nd Street, Santa Monica
(310) 393-9913
$25/night/person
Description: 2 blocks from ocean, near Third St. Promenade with shops, 
restaurants, night spots. Santa Monica Blue Buses #1, 2 or 3 to UCLA 
from bus stop at Santa Monica Blvd & 4th St (2 blocks away) (25 min. bus 
ride to UCLA)

You may want to print this page before your travel. If you have any problem
on your trip, you can refer to the information here. We appreciate your
coodination and understanding. And we hope to see you at the Conference.

peace, love, and hope

Free Burma Coalition - Los Angeles
P.O. Box 341196
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 838-8721
(310) 450-5375
(310) 399-0703 (fax) *pls. call ahead to fax
bfla@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
asmin@xxxxxxxxxxx
aliburma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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ANNOUNCEMENT: "FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WEEK"
September 21, 1997

September 20-27 is Banned Books Week. Read a banned book today!

Suggested books on Burma:
  1.Inked Over, Ripped Out--- Burmese storytellers and the Censors
includes nine short stories by six contemporary writers, giving
outsiders a rare glimpse of Myanmar's current literature.
(Source: EAPI)

  2.A Tyranny of Censors in Myanmar--authored by Sandy Barron, Bertil
Lintner and Chiang Mai
(Source:World Press Review Mar 1994)

For those who understand Burmese,
    Listen one or two Burmese songs banned throughout 35-year
BSPP+SLORC rule.
    Suggested singers: MarMarAye, Ko MyaGyi, Ko MinNaung, MyatLay, Sai
HteeSaing,KhaiHtoo,

Find a copy of one newspaper which was one of over 300 independent
publications mushrooming over different cities of Myanmar during a
short period of freedom between August 8 and September 18. You
will find yourself(if you were a Burmese)as a imprisoned bird which
temporarily escaped from its cage. Suggested copies: Galonni,
Taik-moung, Mee-Maung, Lut-laat-Yay.

And pray for the physical wellbeing of MaThida, Dr.Aung Khin
Sint,including many other victims whose birth-rights are handicapped
by the ruling cultural terrorist SLORC.

Finally, pray for your own long-run freedom of expression.

Shwe Bama

Browse at the following URL:

http://insight.mcmaster.ca/org/efc/pages/chronicle/censor.html
http://world.std.com/~kip/censored.html

"Never acquiesce to censorship.
    If you do, you contribute to the silencing and marginalization of
artists everywhere, beginning with yourself. "
(from Freedom of Expression Websites)

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ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW AND IMPROVED WEB PAGES
September 19, 1997

Main Page  (It isn't finished yet, but cleaned and simplified) links to my
other pages.
       I have a total of 7 or 8 web pages.
http://members.aol.com/BurmaJapan/index1.html

Newpaper & News links
http://members.aol.com/BurmaJapan/news.html

Search for anything
http://members.aol.com/BurmaJapan/search.html

http://members.aol.com/BurmaJapan/missing.html

http://members.aol.com/Thakin/FREEBURMA.html

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