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News and Views from Myanmar Vol.1 N (r)



Subject: News and Views from Myanmar Vol.1 No.32

      News & Views from Myanmar 
Weekly Brief from MOFA, Yangon, Myanmar 
  Vol.1    18 August 1999     No.  32
  
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     CONTENTS
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INTERNAL    DEVELOPMENTS
------------------------
   
1. Press Conference revealing  the   conspiracy   
by   anti-government organization held in Yangon
 
2 .  15 members of LDF Laha armed  group and 
85 family  members  exchange arms for peace in Mongtung


FOREIGN   RELATIONS 
------------------- 

3.  Deputy  Minister  of  the Ministry of Foreign  
Affairs  leaves for Africa 

4. Myanmar accords Appointment of Portugese Ambassador   

5.  Myanmar and Georgia establish diplomatic relations


GENERAL NEWS 
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6. First-ever  Myanmar  Tile factory opens 

7.  Myanmar to  participate  in Kunming Expo?99   

8.   Yangon    Airways    extends    flights
--------------------------------------------------------


INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS

1.  Press  Conference  revealing the conspiracy by
anti-government organization held in Yangon

    A Press  conference  on  facts  revealing  the
conspiracy by the anti-government  organization in
the  country  as well as those  based  in  foreign
countries to create the 9999 disturbances was held
at  the  meeting  hall  of  the  Myanmar  Radio  &
Television Station in Yangon on 13 August

    The   local   and   foreign    anti-government
organizations  launched  ?  8888  ?  commemorative
movements  every  year  since  1989  by  spreading
rumours,    and    circulating     anti-government
instigative  papers.  They  aim to grab  power  by
creating upheaval in the country which might cause
the government to lose control of the  situations.

    Last year, the Tenth anniversary of 8-8-88 was
orchestrated  and  propagated  by  NCUB  (National
Council   of  the  Union  of  Burma)   under   the
leadership of KNU Bo Mya, NLD expatriate Sein Win,
Moe Thee Zun and Dr.  Naing  Aung of ABSDF and Tin
Maung Win.  Under these groups, there  consist the
NCGUB (National Coalition  Government of the Union
of    Burma)    members,     so-called     student
organizations?   members,   KNU   insurgents,   UG
remnants  of Burma  Communist  Party, MTA  remnant
Ywetsit group and expatriates.  When their attempt
failed, they again headed for 9-9-99 movement with
assistance from BBC, VOA, RFA and DVB.

    Under  the  NCUB,   the   Political   Defiance
Committee  (PDC), led by Moe Thee Zun of ABSDF and
Manshar  of  KNU  was  formed.  It  comprises   11
members  and its  objective  is to  instigate  the
public to cause riots.  In order to bring down the
government, PDC then  supervised the foundation of
9-9-99  committee  in  Chiangmai,  Thailand  on 28
March  1999.  It  is  learnt  that  the  NCUB  has
planned  to launch  armed  movements  and to plant
explosives  by using  local  UGs, so as to  create
instability at 9-9-99 anniversary.

    Director Maureen Aung Thwin (USA) of OSI (Open
Society  Institute).  has assisted  financially to
ABFSU (All Burma  Federation  of  Student  Union).
Branch  offices are opened in Bangkok  and Maesot,
pertaking  UG   activities.  The  ABFSU  was  also
making   arrangements   for  occurence  of  9-9-99
uprising, sending UG members into the country.

    FTUB  (Federation  of Trade  Union  of  Burma)
opened  its  office  in   Bangkok   in  1991.  The
Chairman  was  Hla  Oo  of  Sein  Win?s   parallel
government  and  theSecretary  was Maung Maung (a)
Pyi Thit  Nyunt  Wai, son of U Nyunt  Wai who is a
CEC  member of the NLD.  FTUB  received  financial
assistance of millions of bahts from international
labour  organizations-  some of which was spent on
UG activities within the country and collection of
inforrnation.

    It is learnt that in January  1999, the UGs of
the BCP (Burma Communist Party) remnants and ABSDF
groups  under  the  names of  students  formed  an
allied  democracy  group.  That  group  paanned to
attract and recruit student groups,monks

and the  poor  to  create  riots  citing  rise  in
commodity  prices.  On 10 May  1999, UG  in-charge
Yebaw  Tun (a) Bo Kyin  Maung  met  with  the  BCP
remnants, and duties were assigned individually to
carry out UG activities towards the uprising.  Mya
Maung,  son of  ex-Brig-  Gen Kyaw  Zaw of BCP, in
collaboration  with Yan Naung  Myint and  group of
NLD, planned to publish campaign broadcasts at BBC
VOA and RFA.

    The MTA remnants  group  called  Ywetsit,  who
have regular  contacts with KNU, a leading  figure
in  NCUB,  organized  a  meeting  at a place  near
Thai-Myanmar  border where they discussed plans to
plant  their  hard-core  members as  villagers  or
civilians in towns and villages, then to influence
the local people.

    ABSDF organized the fifth  conference  from 25
February to 17 March  1999, and it is learnt  that
they laid down plans to create a general  uprising
in the  country;  they  decided  that ABSDF  would
protect the NLD,  support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
Hluttaw (Parliament)  Representative Committee and
continue  to  engage  in armed  struggle  and make
coordination with foreign  countries.  Duties were
assigned  to  Aung  Swe  Oo  with  the  rank  of a
commander  of  battalion  701 of  ABSDF  (Northern
Burma)  and Min Htay  with the  rank of a  company
commander  to take care of  bombs.  Plans  were to
sirnultaneously  destroy state-owned and important
buildings   relating  to  the   foreign   exchange
currency earning businesses during the unrest

    Members of ABSDF  (Northern  Burma)  under the
assumed name of  students,  and members of NLD who
are engaging in activities to cause 9-9-99  unrest
were  discovered  and  arrested.  The  information
received  showed  that  the  remnants  of BCP were
taking refuge in other country near the border and
that  NLD   expatriates   were  in  contact   with
anti-government  groups  such  as  NCUB  to  cause
unrest in Upper  Myanmar  including  Mandalay  and
Myingyan.

    The  self-acclairned  ministers  of Sein Win?s
parallel  government  Thein Oo and Maung Maung Aye
often met these  groups  and made  co-ordinations.
It was found  out that  they and  members  of four
groups met with  Chairman  of  Mandalay  Southwest
Township NLD Aung Gyi,  Secretary  Zaw Win and NLD
organizer Tun Kyi.  As the investigation revealed,
these  NLD  members  were  arrested  -  Aung.  Gyi
absconded and Zaw Win and Tun Kyi were caught with
cameras and films given by Thein Oo.  It is learnt
that UGs were sent into the nation, that  contacts
were being made with some of the NLD members.

    As the conspiracy and those  responsible  were
exposed  in time, the peace and  stability  of the
nation remains  unscratched.  The government  will
take necessary action regarding the matter.  It is
obvious  that people of Myanmar  have no desire to
be victims of political  fortune hunters?  plan of
conspiracy towards atrocities.

2 .  15  members  of LDF Laha  armed  group and 85
family members exchange arms for peace in Mongtung

    The  Government  of the  Union of  Myanmar  is
striving for the national  reconsolidation and for
the  emergence of a peaceful and modern  developed
nation.Realizing  the  government?s  good-will and
practical  approach  towards   prosperity  of  the
nation,   remaining   armed   groups   have   been
exchanging arms for peace.

    On 3 August, a 100 - member group including 85
family  members of LDF Lahu armed  group  based in
Ayetone  village of  neighbour  country,  together
with weapons and  amrnunition  exchanged  arms for
peace  at  local  battalion  in  Monehtaw/  Monhta
region  of  Mongtung  Township,   Triangle  Region
Command Area, Shan State (East).

FOREIGN RELATIONS

3.  Deputy  Minister  of the  Ministry  of Foreign
Affairs leaves for Africa

    U Khin  Maung  Win,  Deputy  Minister  of  the
Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  left  Yangon on 14
August to visit Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria,  Ethiopia
and Iran as a Special Envoy of Senior General Than
Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and  Development
Council of the Union of Myanrnar.

4.  Myanmar   accords   Appointment  of  Portugese
Ambassador

    The  Government  of the Union of Myanrnar  has
agreed to the appointment of H.E.  Mr.  Jose Tadeu
da Costa Sousa Soares as Ambassador  Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Portugal to
the Union of Myanrnar in  succession  to H.E.  Mr.
Gabriel Maria da Costa Mequita de Brito.

    H.E.  Mr.  Jose Tadeu da Costa Sousa Soares is
currently serving as Ambassador of Portugal to the
Kingdom  of  Thailand  and  will  be  concurrently
accredited to the Union of Myanmar with  residence
in Bangkok.

5.  Myanmar  and  Georgia   establish   diplomatic
relations

    The Union of Myanmar and  Georgia on 17 August
have    establishe    diplomatic    relations   at
Ambassadorial level.

    The Press  Comrnunique  issued by the Ministry
of Foreign  Affairs  on the  occassion  states:  ?
The Union of Myanmar  and  Georgia,  guided by the
principles enunciated in the Charter of the United
Nations and being desirous to establish  relations
of friendship and mutually beneficial  cooperation
on the basis of the  Principles of equality, non -
interference  in the  internal  affairs of others,
respect   for    independence    and   territorial
integrity,  have decided to  establish  diplomatic
relations    between   the   two    countries   at
Ambassadorial level on 17 August 1999.  ?

GENERAL NEWS

6.  First-ever Myanmar Tile factory opens

Myanmar has industrial raw materials in abundance.
[t is inventions and technology which are required
to make use of raw  materials.  As  Myanmar  gains
momentum  with the growth and  development  of the
region,  the  State  sectors,  like   construction
sector,  is  getting   extended.  In  constructing
modern  housing   buildings,   10.556  million  US
dollars   worth  of  wall  and  floor  tiles  were
imported annually.

    In   Thayarwady,   the  ceramic   factory  was
established  since  1975, but it can only  produce
bowls  and  plates  and  toilet  accessories.  The
feasibility   studies  showed  the  essential  raw
materials  could be obtained  within  reach of the
area and in cooperation  with the Nassetti SPA Co.
of Italy, the first ever tile  factory  in Myanmar
was inaugurated on 3 August 1999.

    The  factory  produces  wall  tiles  and floor
tiles  with the  sizes of six,  eight  and  twelve
inches square - the annual  production of tiles of
eight inches square is 8 million slabs.

7.  Myanmar to participate in Kunming Expo ?99

    Myanmar   entrepreneurs,  joint  ventures  and
companies  will be  participating  in Kunming Expo
?99  which  will  take  place  from  May   through
September.  The   specific   dates   are  set  for
respective  participants  (countries) for display.
Myanmar day is 25  September  and the  discussions
and arrangements are being made to mark this day a
spectacular event.

    Those  who wish to join the Expo  ?99  mission
could  contact  Myanmar  Chamber of  Commerce  and
Entrepreneurs   Association  at  504/506  Merchant
Street, Tel:  246496, 282208.

Myanmar  participated  in Kunming Expo ?99 and won
the Best Display Award.

8.  Yangon Airways extends flights

    Yangon Airways has established,  since October
1996, a joint  venture  with  Myanmar  Airways, in
order to  contribute  toward  ensuring  smooth and
secure  transport.  At present,  Yangon Airways is
operating  regular  and  chartered   flights  from
Yangon  to  Bagan,   Mandalay,   Heho,   Tachilek,
Kengtung,  Dawei Myeik and  Kawthoung.  It has now
extended   frequency  of   chartered   flights  to
Tachilek and Kengtung via Heho on every Monday and
Wednesday beginning 11 August 1999.

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