The BurmaNet News: February 11, 199

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Subject: The BurmaNet News: February 11, 1999

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 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: February 11, 1999
Issue #1205

HEADLINES:
==========
REUTERS: MYANMAR RAPS BRITAIN, US OVER BOYCOTT 
SCMP: DRUG BARON 'COVERS HIS BACK IN DEAL' 
BKK POST: NAVY WANTS JETS TO DETER RAIDS 
ANNC: FREE BURMA DINNER 
ANNC: INVITATION TO UNION DAY CEREMONY 
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REUTERS: MYANMAR RAPS BRITAIN, U.S. OVER DRUG TALKS BOYCOTT
10 February, 1999 

YANGON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government said on Wednesday it
greatly regretted decisions by the United States and Britain to boycott an
Interpol conference on heroin production and trafficking to be held later this
month.

The plan to hold the conference in Myanmar, one of the world's leading heroin
producers, raised eyebrows among many diplomats and provoked condemnation by
critics of the Yangon government. The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have
also
said they will not attend.

Yangon said Britain and the United States, as two of the largest markets for
heroin in the world, had a ``special responsibility'' to take part.

``The Government of Myanmar greatly regrets the British and American
refusal to
participate in this important conference and urges them to put politics aside,
for the sake of the millions of people around the world whose lives are
theatened by the drug trade,'' it said in a statement.

``Their huge markets fuel a global narcotics trade which threatens to infect
many countries in the developing world, including Myanmar,'' it said.

On Wednesday a Sydney-based non-governmental organisation criticised
Australia's planned participation, saying it would merely serve the propaganda
interests of a ``brutal, incompetent and corrupt'' government.

The Australia Burma Council said in a statement seen in Bangkok that most of
the heroin sold in Australia originated in Myanmar.

``Australia's attendance and support of this conference will be an obnoxious
admission of a softening of national policy and will bring no good to the
people or Burma, nor will it aid us in our bid to have a drug-free society,''
it said.

In October last year Australian authorities seized 400 kg (880 lb) of heroin
that came from refineries in northern Myanmar. It was one of the biggest hauls
ever made.

Myanmar has published a slew of rosy drug suppression statistics in recent
weeks, but overseas officials working to stem a flood of narcotics from its
refineries have expressed doubts about its commitment to eradicating the
menace.


On Wednesday, newspapers said authorities had destroyed 6,182 acres (2,472
hectares) of opium fields since November.

According to official statistics, Myanmar seized 404 kg (890 lb) of heroin,
5,394 kg (12,086 lb) of opium, 381 kg (838 lb) of marijuana and more than 16
million stimulant tablets in 1998.

The government says a 1998 survey showed 151,201 acres (60,480 hectares) of
poppy plantations produced 665.28 tonnes of opium from which 66.52 tonnes of
heroin could be produced.

U.S. estimates put production about four times higher.

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SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: DRUG BARON 'COVERS HIS BACK IN DEAL WITH RULING
JUNTA'
10 February, 1999 by William Barnes in Bangkok

Suggestions that Burma will "quickly arrest" the Golden Triangle drug baron
Wei
Hsueh-kang have elicited many knowing smiles in the narcotics world.

For, according to observers, Wei - touted as the successor to the "retired"
drug warlord Khun Sa - appears to have struck a protective deal with the
ruling
junta.

A senior member of Thailand's Narcotics Control Board, Prasit
Cheewinnittipanya, has claimed in the Thai press that the Burmese are
"searching" for the man experts describe as the most important heroin and
amphetamine entrepreneur with the United Wa State Army.

The Drug Enforcement Agency describes the Wa as the "dominant heroin
trafficking group in Southeast Asia, and possibly the world". Wei was indicted
in an Eastern New York Federal Court in June - and the State Department has
put
a US$2 million (HK$15.4 million) bounty on his head.

The Wa agreed to a ceasefire with Rangoon a decade ago which effectively left
them free to pursue their drug business - as long as they kept out of
politics.

The junta's generosity extended to the likes of Wei who it has described as "a
leader of the nation's races". The Yunan-born leader of the United Wa State
Army's southern command - who is believed never to have held a Burmese
passport
- nevertheless thought it wise to check that his back was still covered after
the American indictment.

Jane's Intelligence Review reported recently that on a trip to Rangoon he
obtained a guarantee against arrest or extradition from the intelligence chief
Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt.

"What he offered in exchange is not immediately clear," the Review said.

The capital has controversially been chosen to host this month's annual
Interpol conference on drugs - although it offers freedom of the city to
several wanted traffickers including Khun Sa.

Several European countries have boycotted the meeting.

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BANGKOK POST: NAVY WANTS JETS TO DETER RAIDS
11 February, 1998 by Wassana Nanuam

AIR FORCE MAY BE ASKED TO DEPLOY F-5s 

The navy might ask the air force to deploy F-5 interceptors to deter
attacks on
trawlers by Burmese and unidentified gunboats.

A navy source said tension in the Andaman Sea was rising to a point that might
make an air presence necessary.

The move came after gunboats, some of them thought to be Burmese, fired on
Thai
trawlers in overlapping maritime territory and sometimes in Thai waters.

In a stand-off early last month, the navy's Tor 99 patrol vessel clashed with
Burmese boats. F-5 planes were about to be dispatched but were called off at
the last minute to avoid diplomatic repercussions.

Since then there have been frequent reports of Thai trawlers coming under
attack.

The source said senior officers agreed the F-5s would prove effective in
preventing intrusions but military action was considered too drastic.

The Foreign Ministry plans to settle the issue in talks with its Burmese
counterpart in Phuket next month.

Officials will inspect the disputed islands of Koh Kan, Koh Lam and Koh Keenok
this week to gather first-hand information.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: FREE BURMA DINNER
9 February, 1999 from: <ajsloot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 

An evening full of culture and political information

As part of the worldwide Free Burma acitvities, Amnesty International Alkmaar
and the Burma Centre Netherlands are organising a fund raising event on March
6th, 1999. The purpose of the evening is firstly to provide thorough
information about the political and human rights situation in Burma and
secondly to raise money for Dr. Cynthia?s clinic in the Thai-Burma border
region where many refugees receive basic medical help. Many cities participate
in the Free Burma Dinner fund raising campaign amongst which are Los Angeles,
Washington D.C., San Diego, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Boston. Dr. Cynthia
herself
will be present at the Free Burma Dinner in Boston.

Where? assembly hall of the former Elisabeth hospital in Alkmaar,
Everdingenstraat 18 When? March 6, from 7 PM


Program: 

* Introduction 

* Burmese dance Buffet Dinner, catering by Restaurant Chada Thai, Alkmaar 

* Burmese Songs 

* Songs about Burma in English 

* There will also be a fund raising auction of works of art and craft from and
about Burma. Our auctioneer will be deputy mayor of Alkmaar Henk Eggermont.
Furthermore, you can admire a slide show presenting "Land and People of
Burma".
An exposition of photographs gives yet another impression of the immensely
rich
Burmese culture on the one hand and the atrocious human rights situation on
the
other. 

* A video presentation illustrates the work of Dr. Cynthia Maung and her
hospital. Here you can get an excellent idea on what the money raised this
evening will be good for. 

* Additional information, books and brochures can be obtained at the
information booths of Amnesty International and the Dutch Burma Centrum.

You are cordially invited to join the Free Burma Dinner in the Assembly Hall
("Aula") of the former Elisabeth hospital, van Everdingenstraat 18, Alkmaar,
starting at 7 PM on March 6, 1999.

This event is recommended sincerely by Mr. Bandell (mayor of Alkmaar), Mrs.
Maij-Weggen (former cabinet minister and Member of European Parliament), Mr.
H.F. Hoogervorst (member of the board of governors, Medical Centre Alkmaar),
and singer, television presentor & cabaratier Angela Groothuizen.


Tickets will be fl 75,- and include the Buffet-Dinner and three drinks. To
make
the event accessible for as many people as possible, we have kept the costs
low. Can you contribute more? Your donation will be highly appreciated.

By taking part in the auction you can also contribute. Interested? Please
inform us with your reservation, and we will send you the list of items to be
auctioned, as soon as it is available.

For more information please contact Amnesty International Alkmaar (Tel: +31
(0)
72-5121294, E-mail: ajsloot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) or Burma Centre Netherlands (Tel:
+31 (0) 20-6716952, E-mail: bcn@xxxxxxxxx). Ticket reservations: Tel: +31 (0)
20-4709090, Fax: +31 (0)20-6713513.

Info at:
<http://www.angelfire.com/al/homepageas/FBDe.html>http://www.angelfire.com/a
l/homepageas/FBDe.html

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ANNOUNCEMENT: INVITATION TO UNION DAY CEREMONY
10 February, 1999 from: <image@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 

We, Burmese Community in Victoria, are please to inform that the 52nd
anniversary of the Union Day of Burma will be celebrated on 12th of February
1999. To commemorate the anniversary, Union Day ceremony will be held in the
light of consolidating unity among the people of Burma.


Burmese people inside cannot possibility celebrate the anniversary with the
genuine spirit of the historic event of the Burma as the general populate has
been forced to or recruited by threat to participate in mass demonstration
under the name of National Solidarity and Development Council (NSDC). Under
such a group force people of Burma could not exercised the freedom of
expression and freedom of assembly.


National unity nurtured by the People Conference had provided Burma a concrete
foundation in achieving independence form Britain in 1948. Also the spirit of
union is crucial in today's struggle for our "second independence", the
struggle for democracy and liberation from the military dictatorship.
Architecture of the national leader, Bogyoke Aung San and pay historic
agreement and Penlong Agreement where different ethnic nationalities of Burma
were seek independence. Burma was rule by British coloniser over the period of
century under the divided rule policy. Burma proper and frontier areas will
put
under separate administration

That ceremony participates by people of Burma composing of different ethnic
nationalities. First part of the ceremony will be participating of the
statements and letters from different organisations and speeches. Following by
the second part will be presentation of traditional performances and dances.


Invitation to Union Day Ceremony

February 12th, 1999 marks the 52nd anniversary of the Union Day of Burma. To
commemorate the anniversary, Union Day ceremony will be held in the light of
consolidating unity among the people of Burma.

National unity nurtured by the Penlong Conference had provided Burma a
concrete
foundation in achieving independence form Britain in 1948. Also the spirit of
union is crucial in today's struggle for our "second independence", the
struggle for democracy and liberation from the military dictatorship.

Our warm  invitation to all friends to participate in this important occasion
in the history of Burma.

Date:  February 12, 1999 
Venue: St. Mark's Anglican Church Corner Burke Rd. and Canterbury Rd.,
Camberwell.

Note: Features traditional dances and foods for dinner. 
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