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The BurmaNet News - 27 January, 199



-------------------------- BurmaNet -----------------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: January 27, 1998
Issue #921

HEADLINES:
==========
ASIAWEEK: A GROWING RIFF WITHIN THE NLD
ASIAN AGE: JUNTA LEADER CRITICISES NLD
SCMP: OFFICIALS STUMPED BY REFUGEE CAMP 'THUGS'
BKK POST: KAREN THREAT PROMPTS SECURITY BEEF-UP
BKK POST: THE SALWEEN CHAINSAW MASSACRE
BKK POST: THAKSIN TRIES TO CLINCH SATELLITE DEAL IN
BKK POST STUDENT WEEKLY: NEW THAI INTERNET LAW
VOA: THAI PIPELINE
BUSINESS ETHICS: UNOCAL BECOMES A COMPANY WITHOUT A
THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: YADANA GAS PIPELINE
PPP: STATEMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S PATRIOTIC PARTY
ABSDF (Western Burma): INDO-BURMA BORDER NEWS
KNU NEWS RELEASE: NO. 2/98 REGARDING ATROCITIES
ANNOUCEMENTS
NLD: STATEMENT WITH REGARD TO RESOLUTION ON BURMA
BURMANET EDITOR: THE GREEN OPTION
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ASIAWEEK: A GROWING RIFF WITHIN THE NLD
30 January, 1998

There are frequent reports about splits and maneuverings within Myanmar's
junta, the State Peace and Development Council, but little has been written
about similar divisions within the opposition National League for Democracy
(NLD). 

Often, information that does emerge is presumed to be fabricated by the
junta in an attempt to discredit the party's high-profile leader Aung San
Sun Kyi. Still, diplomats and businessmen in Yangon who have contacts
within both the government and the NLD are reporting apparent new strains
in the party's hierarchy.

The NLD is ostensibly led by its elderly and somewhat reclusive chairman
Aung Shwe, but real power rests with the charismatic Suu Kyi, who is
increasingly accused of being haughty and intolerant of criticism. Other
NLD leaders are, like Aung Shwe, getting older and there is a feeling among
some younger members that the leadership's attitudes are becoming ossified.
The unease is multiplied by reports from NLD sources within Sun Kyi's
compound about her relationship with a younger party member, David Hla
Myint, 36, who was elected for the NLD from the Irrawaddy division in the
1990 elections. The closeness between the two has reportedly upset senior
party men like vice chairman Kyi Maung, 79, as well as diplomats and local
Burmese sympathetic to her cause. Said one Asian diplomat: 

"It is the policy differences between some of the party leaders that is
really most worrying, but it is the other thing that would make most
headlines and could be fatal to her in my country." Many feel the
allegations may be just another junta attempt to discredit Sun Kyi, while
some with close party ties say they are inclined to believe the claims. "The
information is from normally reliable NLD sources," said another diplomat.

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

ASIAN AGE: JUNTA LEADER CRITICISES NLD
25 January, 1998

Rangoon: A top general in Burma's military government has accused the
opposition led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of unfairly
criticising the educational system, official newspaper reported on
Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, a leader in the ruling state peace and development
council, cited recent prizes won by Burmese students for essay and
posters at association of southeast Asian nations competitions as proof
the Opposition was wrong. He was speaking at Friday's closing ceremony
of a refresher course for 1500 teachers near Rangoon. (AP)

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

SCMP: OFFICIALS STUMPED BY REFUGEE CAMP 'THUGS'
26 January, 1998
by Arshad Mahmud in Dhaka 

Authorities admit they do not know how to end the control of camps for
Burmese refugees by hardline inmates who refuse to allow their repatriation.

Officials claimed nearly 21,000 refugees had volunteered to return to Burma
but were being forced to stay in the camps against their will.

"They're virtual hostages in the hands of a tiny section of the refugees,"
said a Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official, who called them "a bunch of
thugs and terrorists".

The hardliners insist neither they nor the fellow refugees they control want
to return to Burma until democracy is restored there.

But the Foreign Ministry officials said the "terrorists" were just using the
demand as a ploy for their own interests, because they knew Bangladesh was
not in a position to pressure the Burmese junta to restore democracy to the
country.

The Bangladeshi authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees, both involved in the repatriation, appear to be in a quandary on
how to handle the situation.

"We really do not know how to address the problem at this stage," said a
spokesman for the commission in Dhaka.

The refugees are the last of more than 250,000 rohingyas, as the refugees
are known, who fled their homes in Arakan province bordering Bangladesh
during Burmese military atrocities in 1991.

Talks between Dhaka and Rangoon resulted in a deal in 1993 under which
230,000 refugees have gone back during the past four years.

Officials from the Foreign Ministry and the commission held a meeting last
week focusing on the latest crisis but failed to come up with any specific
solutions.

The option of using force to evict the troublemakers from the camps has
been ruled out for fear of a repeat of scenes which provoked international
condemnation in November.

A violent clash erupted when police tried to force their way into the camps,
leaving four refugees dead. Several policemen were also hurt. The police
had to abandon the action as hardliners used children and women as human
shields.

"They're using the same tactics again and again whenever we try to take
action against the terrorists," said the Foreign Ministry official.

Bangladesh blames the situation on what the official claims are vested
interests out to foment trouble for their own gain.

Although he did not name those behind it, it is widely suspected some
fundamentalist Muslim groups, allegedly aided by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,
are in cahoots with the refugee leaders, recruiting cadres from the camps
with the aim of launching a militia similar to that of the Taleban in
Afghanistan.

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

BKK POST: KAREN THREAT PROMPTS SECURITY BEEF-UP
24 January, 1998
by Cheewin Sattha

MAE HONG SON: Security has been beefed up on the border with Burma
following a threat from renegade Karens to loot a Thai village and start
artillery shelling.

The Third Army's Salween Special Task Force transferred hundreds
of people living in Ban Mae Sam Lab, Sob Moei district, to a
safer place on Thursday after more than four artillery shells
allegedly fired by Burmese troops exploded two kilometres from
the hamlet.

However, the villagers were allowed to go home yesterday after
security forces found no serious incidents there.

On Thursday, a number of armed Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
troops were seen scattering in border areas opposite Mae Hong Son
and some local people received letters from the DKBA guerrillas
who threatened to rob the Ban Mae Sam Lab village and torch a
market.
     
Deputy Mae Hong Son Governor Niphon Khampha said all villagers
from Ban Mae Sam Lab were safe and they went home after staying
overnight on Thursday near the Mae Sam Lab stream.

According to him, the Salween Special Task Force is ready to deal
with chaos along the border and more military forces, rangers and
Border Patrol Police have been dispatched to Ban Mae Sam Lab to
ensure safety for the villagers.

Provincial authorities had ordered all-border districts to help
transfer local people from risky to safer areas and assist them
in case of serious situations, Mr Niphon added.

A border official said the DKBA troops might try to instigate
chaos in border areas of Sop Moei district in response to the
Salween Special Task Force's operations to suppress illegal
logging in the  Salween National Park in which they were
allegedly involved. 

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

BKK POST: THE SALWEEN CHAINSAW MASSACRE
25 January, 1998 
by Subin Khuenkaew in Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son

ILLEGAL LOGGING: THAI SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN MOBILISED TO COMBAT ILLEGAL
LOGGERS WHO ARE FELLING TREES IN PROTECTED AREAS IN A NATIONAL PARK.
     
Two weeks after soldiers launched a suppression drive against
them, illegal - loggers are still playing a cat-and-mouse game.

Working under the cover of darkness, Karen refugees under the pay
of influential Thai traders move illegally-cut logs out of the
Salween National Park- and Wildlife Sanctuary, tie them together,
and tow them across I the Salween River into Burma. The secret,
night-time shipment is designed to evade the watchful eyes of
soldiers assigned to protect the fertile forest.

The soldiers from the Internal Security Operations Command
(Isoc) Region Three and the 32nd Ranger Regiment were sent to Mae
Sariang on January 9 to put an end to widespread logging there.
Their presence forced the illegal loggers to lie low, but not for
long. About 1,000 old and freshly cut logs were found, on the
Burmese side of the Salween River during an aerial inspection by
Isoc officials last week.

"We can move in and seize the logs from the river, but I don't
want the situation to turn violent," said Maj Songkram
Duangbangna, head of the Isoc Region Three's special task force.

Thai soldiers might be caught in a territorial dispute with Burma
if they take careless action. "There're international laws to be
looked at. I have to inform higher authorities before taking any
further action," said Maj Songkram.

For the time-being,the soldiers have managed to contain the
loggers' activity.. Forestry Department officials must remove
fallen logs from the forest as soon as possible before they are
taken across the border, he said.. Soldiers will provide safety
for the forestry officials.

The immediate task, however, is the relocation of about 10,000
Karen refugees now residing in the national park.

Why the relocation? According to Maj Songkram, Karen refugees
have been hired by influential entrepreneurs  to cut  trees in-
the lush,  450,950-rai national park, and in 546,875 rai of the
game reserve.       

The refugees fled to Thailand  two years ago when fighting
between Burmese troops and the Karen  National Union (KNU)
intensified in Burma. The fighting zone was near concessioned
areas granted to three Thai logging companies: Thai  Veneer
Industry 999 Co, Ska-B Co, and STB Co. 

Because trees in the concession areas in Burma have been
depleted, dishonest Thai entrepreneurs turned to forests in their
own country. The refugees provided them with a convenient tool to
accomplish the dirty job. 

Since there is a logging ban in Thailand, the illegally-cut logs
have to be moved to Burma to receive "official" seals and
certificates of origins' (COs) to show that they were cut in
Burma. These logs are then brought back into Thailand via Mae Sam
Laeb village in Mae Hong Son's Sob Moei district, and from there
they are taken to sawmills in Mae Sariang.

"They literally strip our logs and cover them with sarong," Maj
Songkram quipped.

Corruption and collusion are the name of the game since bribes
have to  be paid along the way.

First of all, the COs must be issued by Burmese Customs
officials. A-CO specifies the number of logs that were 
purportedly felled in Burma. Each certificate is used several
times to facilitate the transportation of Thai logs from that
country. "This tactic is well known among log traders," said a
former provincial councillor.

In fact, everyone is aware of this practice, but they prefer to
keep their mouths shut.

"A local policeman who tried to stop i them was shot dead," said
the ex-councillor "A local reporter quit his job after receiving
death threats."

According to the source, Thai concessionaires turned to illegal
logging in the Salween forests because there  were fewer trees to
cut in the concession areas and the cost of doing business in
Burma had gone up considerably. "For each tree, they had to pay a
concession fee, a cutting fee, and then protection fees for
minority groups in t hat area," he said. "There are plenty of
trees on the Thai side and a lot o f men to do the dirty job."

He estimated that 30 percent of the; total forest area in the
Salween National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary had been destroyed.
This included more than 10,000 precious teak trees.

Local hands: When the task force 'soldiers entered the national
park area earlier this month, they stumbled on huge piles of logs
within the three-kilometre radius of the park headquarters. 

"Saw dust must have blinded these park officials," a soldier
remarked upon  seeing the destruction.

The tree-felling was done by villagers living on the outskirts of
the national park closer to Mae Sariang district. Unlike the
logs-brought in from Burma, these logs were sent directly to a
sawmill and then on to furniture factories in Mae Sariang.

"The Government should close down this sawmill," a local
conservationist said. "The villagers will stop cutting trees if
there are no buyers."

The Forestry Department received complaints about illegal logging
near the park headquarters early last year, and Salween National
Park chief Jane Tafong was removed in July. Forestry chief
inspector Kitti Siriwallop was sent to Mae Sariang to interrogate
forestry officials. Jane was replaced by Chainarong
Jantarasaratoon, who now has to deal with irate villagers.

When park officials and rangers went to seize illegally-cut teak
logs and planks in Mae Satob village last week, they were
besieged by 200 angry villagers and had to retreat empty-handed.

The villagers claimed they are subsistence wood-cutters and would
face hardship if they are not allowed to exploit the forests.

"We only cut small trees to build homes and make furniture for
sale," a park official quoted the villagers as. saying. "You
should stop the rich traders who cut big trees. They are the real
destroyers of the forests."

Forestry sources, however, suspect that the villagers might have
been incited by log traders to oppose the authorities and make
their job more difficult.

Tough task ahead: Maj Songkram said two things must be done
simultaneously: Relocating all. Karen refugees from the forests
and dealing decisively with influential groups behind the illegal
logging activity. 
     
The  Forest Industry Organisation (FIO) will be allowed to remove
the remaining logs to the FIO office in Mae Sariang after a check
by the Isoc Region Three's special task force. Mae Hong Son
provincial authorities, meanwhile, will be in charge of
relocating the refugees. This is expected to take a month to
complete.

Tanit Nantawong, head of Mae Hong Son's office for illegal
immigrants, said the  provincial authorities had asked the
Interior Ministry to relocate the Karen refugees twice last year,
but said no budget was allocated.

These refugees are now sheltered in the remote village of Mae
Sa-nage in Sao Hin sub-district; and in Mae Sa-kerb, Huay Kadee
and Huay Kroba villages of Mae Kong sub-district. "Most of them
are families of KNU soldiers," said Mr Tanit.

Thai authorities plan to move them to Mae Lama Luang centre,
which is much closer and easier to supervise. The centre now
houses about 4,500 Karen refugees.

Sources said many of these refugees may not want to move to Mae
Lama Luang. Karens now move across the border freely, but they
abandon their arms struggle before entering Thailand. They come
in mainly to cut logs, earning about 500 baht a day, the sources
said.

In fact, fighting between the Karens and the Burmese has died
down. "The Karens may claim the war is still going on to justify
their escape into the national park and game reserve," a source
said. "Their main interest is probably the income from log
cutting."

The next 30 days could be a crucial period for the soldiers  and
provincial authorities - entrusted with the task of protecting
our forests. The loggers may be lying low for the time being, but
their chainsaws could be working at full speed again once the
task force has left the forests. 

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

BKK POST: THAKSIN TRIES TO CLINCH SATELLITE DEAL IN BURMA
24 January, 1998
by Achara Ashayagachat

LEASE OF THAICOM TRANSPONDER URGED

Former deputy premier Thaksin Shinawatra is in Rangoon trying to
clinch a satellite leasing deal with Burmese leaders, sources in
the telecom industry said.

According to a Burmese television report monitored by AFP, the
communications tycoon held talks in Rangoon on Thursday with
First Secretary Khin Nyunt of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council. Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw and other senior
Burmese officials attended the meeting at the Defence Ministry.

Industry sources in Bangkok said Mr Thaksin was trying to
finalise a deal offering Burma the lease of a Thaicom satellite
transponder.  Burma's current lease of the  transponder of Hong
Kong's AsiaSat is due to expire in March.

Mr Thaksin decided to engage in the talks himself because AsiaSat
had made what the sources described as "a good offer" to the
Burmese leadership for a new lease.

According to the sources, the success of Mr Thaksin's mission
depended on how much he was willing to help Burma shoulder the
additional cost of replacing certain equipment in order to change
to the Thaicom system.

A billionaire who left Shinawatra Group in 1994 to become foreign
minister in the first Chuan Leekpai government, Mr Thaksin was
labelled the richest minister in the former governments of
Banharn Silpa-archa and  Chavalit  Yongchaiyudh, which he served
as deputy prime minister. 

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

BKK POST STUDENT WEEKLY: NEW THAI INTERNET LAW
26 January, 1998
student-weekly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Let's take a closer look at the new Internet law that the Thai Chapter of
the Internet Society (ISOC-TH) is soon to forward to the Minister of
Transport and Communications. If this law is passed in its current format,
it may mean a lot of restriction for Thai Internet users. It may also mean
that Thai Internet users will lose their right to freedom of speech.

The proposed Internet law
The draft law to promote the Internet was initiated by the Post and
Telegraph Department. ISOC-TH undertook the task of writing the draft. The
first two drafts of the law needed to be revised, and on January 2, the
Third Draft appeared on the ISOC-TH Web site. A lot of criticism was
directed towards this draft by the media and members of the public. A
fourth and fifth draft were then drawn up.

On January 16 there was a public meeting at ABAC where the general public
could express their views on the proposed law. On January 30 the draft will
be submitted to the Minister of Transport and Communication.

In opposition of the law
The law has gained a lot of opposition, from the general public in Thailand
and members of the main Internet Society in America. Most of the
controversy revolves around proposed bans on free speech and government
licensing of Internet providers.

The law would ban criticism on the Internet of foreign heads of state such
as the prime minister of Burma; discussion of sexual services, such as
treatment of Aids; and writing anything that might show Thailand in a bad
light.

This means people in Thailand could not send out email or build web sites
that criticize the Queen of England or President Clinton or provide
information on Thai politicians who have accumulated great wealth. It also
means that criticism of these people and other heads of state could not be
given out to people in Thailand from people overseas via the Internet.
Okay, so you yourself may not want to say something bad about these people,
but what happens if a head of state is doing something bad -- killing
people in their own country or putting people in jail for doing nothing wrong?

Wouldn't you like to be able to find out what these people are doing and
why? Think of Burma, Israel, The Republic of Congo ... don't you think you
have a right to know what is happening there? Or even to voice your opinion
about it? If the proposed Internet law is passed, people in Thailand won't
be able to do any of this on the Net.

The third draft of the law also meant that things which appear in the
Bangkok Post, and to some extent the Bangkok Post Student Weekly newspaper
editions would not be allowed to be published in its Internet edition. How
will that effect readers, especially Thai readers, working or studying in
other countries.

Due to opposition to the third draft law, the fourth and fifth draft laws
were changed somewhat. Article 21 of the proposed law was removed. This was
the article that prohibited Thai people from sending out information on the
Net that is against public peace and order that may lead to disunity of the
nation; immoral and against the culture norms of the nation; puts religion,
places of worship or highly respected people, places or things in a bad
light; and inappropriate information concerning the King and royal family,
and heads of state of friendly foreign countries.

The article that allows the government to have direct control over ISPs
remains.

The public hearing
Members of BPSW went to the public hearing on January 16. Many interesting
points were raised by both Internet users and Internet provides. One of the
points that was raised was who was the law protecting; Internet users or
the controlling group?

Most people at the hearing believed that there should be another public
hearing before the law is submitted to Minister of Transport and
Communication. President of the ISOC-TH, Mr. Srisakdi, said he would think
about this and put something up on the Net calling for email responses. It
was said that the law would not control what other people were saying about
Thailand, but would try to control what Thai people were sending out.
Things that were against Thai morals, culture and beliefs should not be
sent out over the Net. But it was stated that the law wasn't as yet fixed,
and there could be more changes made to it.

For more information on the proposed law, check out the Bangkok Post
"Internet Alert" web site at http://www.bangkokpost.net
/law_alert/isoc_alert01.html for a more comprehensive view and further
links.

What you can do
Write to a letter to the Bangkok Post Student Weekly
(student-weekly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx), Bangkok Post (postbag@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) or
the Bangkok Post Database section (database@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx), telling us
what your feel. Also cc your letter to the president of the ISOC-TH, Mr.
Srisakdi Charmonman (charm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or charm@xxxxxxxxxx). If you
would like to read the proposed draft law (in Thai), then take a look at
the ISOC-TH Web site at http://www.isoc-th.org.

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

VOA: THAI PIPELINE
24 January, 1998 

MC:   In thailand, tension between groups with opposite views on the
construction of a gas pipeline is running high and reports say there are
signs that violence may break out over the controversial project.

As our listeners may have heard, environmentalists have been camping out in
the forest where the pipeline is being built and people who support the
construction of the pipeline staged a large demonstration on Friday.  Aung
Hla has a report:

Text: The Yadana gas pipeline running from the offshore natural gas fields
of Burma to Thailand is scheduled to be completed by July.  It has been
completed on the Burma side.  However, because of protests by
environmentalists in Thailand the billion-dollar project has been halted.  

Pam Wellner is a spokesperson for the 'No Petro Dollars for SLORC [SPDC]
campaign, which has opposed the multinational deal involving Unocal of the
US, Total of France, and the Burmese military-run oil company as well as
the Thai state oil company.   Ms. Wellner explains how a few people have
been able to stop the construction of the billon-dollar pipeline:

PW: They are at this point.  They are taking a huge risk in doing that. And
basically as far as I know, they have been camping out in the area. And I
think they are physically in the area where the pipeline is supposed to go
is that they are able to suspend the work and they're also trying to
challenge the contract.  I guess somehow they are able to rally the support
in the local area against it.  Because I think there is international
pressure - I think, also, they have been able to be successful at this point.

MC:  Conservation groups say the pipeline will cut through virgin forests
and will severely damage the environment.  And groups opposing burma¹s
military government say the Rangoon military used forced labor and
re-location to get the pipeline finished on the Burmese sides of the border.

However, tens of thousands of protestors staged a rally Friday to demand
that construction of the controversial pipeline resume.

Thai officials said the pro-pipeline demonstrators represented more than 20
different interest groups wanting to show their support for the project.

Burma's National League for Democracy party also opposes the pipeline
because the NLD is against foreign investors working with the country¹s
military government.

Thai police were quoted by AFP Friday as saying there was fear violence
would break out between the opposing groups on the Thai side of the pipline
route.  In addition, activists received a warning that the Petroleum
Authority of Thailand (PTT) that is building the pipeline on the Thai side
might use violence to force the closure of the protest camp.  

Pam Wellner says activists from several countries have sent messages of
protest to the Thai government warning against the use of violence.

Environmentalists in Thailand say a large part of the forest reserve would
be destroyed by the construction. However the Thai state petroleum company
(PTT) says that if the project cannot be completed by July the company
might have to pay a daily fine of 40 million baht.

However, some legal experts say if the government orders a suspension of
the project PTT would not have to pay the fine.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai ordered construction stopped so a study could
be made. Critics charged that foreign environmentalists with 'meddling' in
the controversy.  However, Pam Wellner says this is not true:.

PW: I don't know any foreign people that are there. It's all Thai
environmental groups. And it's all being led by Thai environmentalists such
as Khun Phipob Thongchai. So that is totally false.

MC:  The activists demand that the pipeline be re-routed away from the
forest. They say the government, the army and the PTT are eager to exploit
the resources of neighboring countries.  However, the consortium building
the pipeline says it will benefit the people of Burma.

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

BUSINESS ETHICS: UNOCAL BECOMES A COMPANY WITHOUT A NATION
January/February 1998

It's eery to contemplate -- the idea of a multinational corporation
roaming the globe, "headquartering" itself in a new nation, to avoid
socially responsible requirements at home.  But that's what the $5.3
billion Unocal is doing, as U.S. pressure heats up over its Burma pipeline
and its complicity with the oppressive Burmese regime.

Unocal "no longer considers itself as a U.S. company," corporate
literature says, but a "global energy company."  In April 1997, the company
opened a "twin corporate headquarters" in Malaysia.  And in March, it sold
its U.S. gas stations and refining operations to Tosco Corp. for $2
billion.  Some 62 percent of Unocal revenue is still generated in the U.S.
-- but two-thirds of its capital spending is now in Asia.  If need be,
Unocal is ready to pull out of the U.S. and become a Malaysian corporation.

It's a kind of Bonnie and Clyde maneuver, evading responsibility for crime
by crossing a border.  But consensus is building that Burma's military
regime is as criminal as apartheid in South Africa once was.  In the
three-week period ending Nov. 11, 1997, five new cities passed laws barring
purchases from Burma-related businesses.  Such laws are now on the books in
17 cities -- including New York and San Francisco -- plus the state of
Massachusetts.

An unprecedented lawsuit is also underway in Los Angeles, seeking to hold
Unocal responsible for the torture, rape, and murder being done in the
building of the Burma pipeline.  Such actions have been done by Unocal's
business partner, the Burmese regime, and not directly by Unocal.  "But it
is their money which is allowing this," said Dan Stormer of Hadsell &
Stormer in Pasadena, representing the plaintiffs.  The lawsuit claims
Unocal is in violation of the Torture Victims Protection Act, an
international treaty signed by the U.S.  The case -- apparently the first
of its kind -- has been cleared to go to trial.  In early January 1998, a
federal court in Los Angeles will hear arguments on preliminary injunction
being sought, to stop work on the pipeline.

Meanwhile, pipeline work is proceeding, despite U.S. sanctions enacted in
May, because the sanctions exempted existing projects.  And meanwhile,
Unocal is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. -- for the time being.

[Business Ethics:  Insider's Report on Responsible Business
Vol. 12, No. 1 -- January/February 1998, Pg. 6]

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

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: YADANA GAS PIPELINE COMPLETED CENT PER CENT
25 January, 1998 [abridged]

YANGON, 24 Jan- Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi arrived at Kanbauk
Airport in Yebyu Township, Taninthayi Division, this morning.

In the office of the Kanbauk Base, U Kyaw Nyein and Mr Rafin briefed the
minister on implementation of Yadana Gas Field Project in detail and
activities on social, health and education affairs for residents in the
project area.

The minister attended to the needs and presented gifts to foreign and local
personnel discharging duties in the project.

They then inspected Daminseik landfall area and jetty, Dawei River Bridge,
laying of the Yadana Gas Pipeline and building of pipeline station and
service track.

After the inspection, the minister and party arrived at Nateindaung Military
Camp in Myanmar-Thai border area where they were welcomed by Tactical
Operations Commander of Coastal Region Command Col Khin Maung Myint and
officials.

They inspected laying of the gas pipeline near the camp and building of
metering station and then arrived back here in the evening.

The laying of the 259mile section of Yadana Gas Pipeline in the country has
been completed cent per cent, and now employees of MOGE and foreign
companies are energetically striving for timely completion of the project,
providing necessary inspections.

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

PPP: STATEMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S PATRIOTIC PARTY
26 January, 1998 [English slightly corrected]

The statement of the People's Patriotic Party concerning the re-emergence
of the PDP, headed by Bo Aung Din.


PDP was a party founded by the late Prime Minister U NU in (1969). In
(1973), when (KNU) and other ethnic groups put up the federal issue, there
was a great split of opinion between U Nu and most of the rest of the
central committee members of (PDP). U Nu, who not only strongly denied the
federal issue, also refused to accept the paragraph written in the
constitution of (PDP), concerning the policy over national minorities,
which stated as follow: 

"The (PDP) earnestly desire to work with the national minority groups,
either big or small closely, friendly and on equal status for the benefit
of the Union. We strongly believe that all national minorities and the
national states shall enjoy self-determination, self-rule and the right of
secession. In believing that the national minorities will be more eager to
stay in the Union rather than splitting from it, our party will firmly
strife for the creation of the federal Union of Burma. Our party will
strongly endeavor to the friendly and achieve co-operation with the
national groups such as Shans, Chins, Kachins, Karens, Kayas, Mons,
Rakhines and Burmese."

When the disagreement reached its peak, it was decided to settle by
casting of votes. In so doing, U Nu was defeated and he accordingly
resigned from the party and went to India. From India he went back to Burma
during the time of amnesty issued by U Ne Win  (1980).

In (1974) the party was led by the late vice chairman General Let Ya.
Having reformed the party with sound policy and rules, the name of the
party was changed from (PDP) to (PPP)[People's Patriotic Party] and from
then on (PDP) had disappeared from the political arena.

The announcement by Bo Aung Din of the annual meeting of (PDP) was
unfortunately illegal because Bo Aung Din himself was never a member of
(PDP) nor (PPP). Therefore it can be assumed that the meeting was with a
secret aim. They also declared that they have over (25,000) party members
and elected (83) Central Committee members. It was dishonesty and sheer
bluff, clearly aiming at personal opportunity.

Bo Aung Din also stated that he had talks with the (SLORC) three times and
will be having talks in future. All these proved that Bo Aung Din and his
so called (PDP) and its annual meting were no more than a monkey show for
begging some profits. We (PPP) clearly declare that we have no trust in Bo
Aung Din and his so called (PDP) and our party (PPP) has nothing to do with
it.

Central Committee
People's Patriotic Party
18 January, 1998

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

ABSDF (Western Burma): INDO-BURMA BORDER NEWS
26 January, 1998 [English slightly corrected]

Current situation of Indo-Burma border trade 
 
The border trade between India and Burma officially opened on 
April 12, 1995 to set up fraternal friendship, co-operation and mutual
help. The respective border trade, starting with great suspicions from both 
sides is still inactive. Regarding export-import through Moreh and 
Tamu during 1997, Burma exported a small amount of betel nut, about 
two truckloads weekly, and India sent flour to Burma, around (35-50) 
truckloads weekly on average. In the last quarter of 1997, Burma officially 
and continuously exported a large amount of onion, at least (40-50)
truckloads weekly.                              
 
At the end of December 1997, the businessmen from Tamu said that the 
Burmese authorities would ban exporting onion to India. But this order 
has not been officially released yet. 
 
In December 1997, soldiers and policemen were fully deployed along 
the border at the Burma side to block the unofficial trade across the 
border and a large number of rice and people who crossed the 
border were arrested for a period of one week. On release, the people
crossed the border and sent the rice into India by unofficially paying
bribes of  fifty to hundred Kyats each to army, police and immigration for
a basket (33Kg) of rice. A large amount of onion and rice unofficially
entered India from Burma in January 1998 although the security forces are
being deployed along the border.
 
At present, the businessmen who want to send either onion or betel nut
into India can do so freely by unofficially by paying money (10000) Kyats
each to the Township and District Peace and Development Council and (5000)
Kyats to the Myanmar Export & Import Corporation for a truckload. 
 
People from both sides report that the Indo-Burma border between 
Moreh and Tamu is not so populous and prosperous as before, following the  
opening of the new Nanphalong market inside Burma territory very close 
to the border. The wholesale market of the Sino-Burma border and Thai-Burma
border are directly connected with Nanphalong market complex at Indo-Burma
border. So small-scale businessmen and laborers have lost their earnings
and returned to their original places. A merchant from Moreh reported that
half of the population have left Moreh, compared to early 1997 and 1998,
and that almost all of them are small scale businessmen and laborers. An
immigration officer told that one third of the Burmese 
laborers have already left to their native places because of the tight
economic situation at the Indo-Burma border. 
 
The regional authorities of Tamu are seriously constructing a new bazaar
at the same place of the old bazaar, which was totally burnt in October
last year. A brick wall is being constructed around the bazaar to prevent
arson. At the corners of the bazaar the sentry posts are firmly constructed
with brick, like a military stronghold and painted with dark colored
commando design. Police and soldiers are on security duty both day and
night at the bazaar. 
 
India is also worried about similar activities on the Burma side and the
posts of the Border Security Force are surrounded with sandbags where there
was no protection previously. The present situation at the border area
between Tamu and Moreh is like that of preparing for a battlefield where
the war will be started very soon.   
 
ABSDF (Western-Burma)

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

KNU NEWS RELEASE: NO. 2/98 REGARDING ATROCITIES 
OF THE SPDC TROOPS.
23 January, 1998 [English slightly corrected]

Thaton Township

On 12-1-98: the SPDC troops LIB (540) led by 2nd battalion commander Kyi
Win entered Dun Doe village and burned down 3 huts at a cardamom field
belonged to Saw Klu Htoo, Saw See Pat, and Saw Say Kai saying that the
place was a hideout of the KNU soldiers. Kyats 150,000 worth of rice was
destroyed. Rice, fish paste, salt, pigs, chickens and other belongings of
the villagers were taken by the troops. They also arbitrary arrested
Saw Kwa, accusing him as a KNU and severely beat him.

Hta ta-pin Township

On 14-1-98: the SPDC troops LIB 718 shot several rounds of ammunitions into
Klay Soe kee village while traveling from the main road, creating confusion
in the village and all the villagers fled for their safety. The troops then
entered the village and took all the possessions of the villagers in the
houses.

The same SPDC battalion also took 4 persons, a man, a woman and their two
children, a girl and a boy, along with them while traveling from Naw Soe
village to Clay Soe Kee village. They later killed the man and his son.

Tactical operation no.(2) commander Thein Maung, LIB 707 battalion
commander Aung Hay Mya and LB 39 Battalion commander Oo Myo Lwin forcefully
took 2 cars belonging to Naw Ma Ma of Kaw Thay Dun village and Saw Maung
Htoe of Kler Lar village to carry military supplies for more than one month
without releasing them up to this date. 

On 16-1-98: LB 39 battalion commander Oo Myo Lwin and Tactical operation no
(2) commander Thein Maung took 2 cars belonging to Saw Lu Bway Doe and Saw
Lah yu and asked them to carry food supplies for the troops for 2 days
without any payment to the car owners.

On 17-1-98: the troops once again took Saw Ta Plei's car and asked him to
carry rice for the troops to Kaw Thay Dun village.

On 19-1-98: the same SPDC troops forcefully took several cars belonging to
the villagers and asked them to carry military and food supplies for the
troops. They had to transport military equipment, arms and ammunitions,
food supplies without rest and it was reported that the troops would only
release the cars after they had transported all the supplies for the troops.

On 17-1-98: the SPDC troops LIB 710 battalion commander Thein Lwin and LB
39 battalion commander Oo Myo Lwin arrested the villagers of Kler Lar and
forced them to carry military supplies for the troops as porters
without releasing them up to this date.

They did not feed the villagers enough food, but gave them heavy loads to
carry, as a result some of the villagers escaped and went back to
their village. Knowing that the villagers had escaped, battalion commander
Thein Tun and Myo Lwin went to Kler Lar village and demanded money from the
village chief of Kyats 400,000 as a fine.

The SPDC troops have repeatedly demanded food, money and other things from
the villagers in Kaw Thay Dun and Kler Lar villages.

In the plain areas of Hta ta-pin township the SPDC troops demanded 12
baskets of rice for one acre of farmland which is commonly known as "Ta Woe
Kyay", fulfillment of duty. The troops also give all kinds of trouble to
those who cannot pay the so-called "fulfillment of duty" and closed down
all the rice mills owned by the villagers. The people are not allowed to
transport rice to Toungoo and if they do so the troops take all the rice
from them.

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

ANNOUCEMENTS

NLD: STATEMENT WITH REGARD TO RESOLUTION ON BURMA ADOPTED BY THE AUSTRALIAN
LABOR PARTY
24 January, 1998


The resolution on Burma adopted by the Australian Labor Party at its
national conference held on 22 January, 1998 is warmly welcomed by the
National League for Democracy (Liberated Area), on behalf of the entire
nation. 
          
Central Executive Committee 
National League For Democracy (Liberated Area) 

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BURMANET EDITOR: THE GREEN OPTION
27 January, 1998

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