------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: December 17, 1996 Issue # 593

HEADLINES:
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ABSDF STATEMENT: CURRENT SITUATION
NYT: EDITORIAL - DOING BUSINESS IN MYANMAR
AFP: SUU KYI WILL NOT ACCEPT GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS
BKK POST: SECURITY LIFTED AT DOWNTOWN MEDICAL SCHOOL
AP: NOBEL WINNER: BOYCOTT BURMA
FEER: HOLDING FIRE
REUTERS: FOOD PRICES SOUR IN RANGOON AFTER UNREST
UPI: BURMESE STUDENTS PROTEST CRACKDOWN
NLM: TIN U SAYS REPEAT OF 1988 SITUATION NOT ACCEPTABLE
ICN: ALAMEDA COUNTY PASSES BURMA ORDINANCE
THE NATION: CONTROVERSIAL INVESTOR EYES BURMA'S RICHES
XINHAU: WOOD-PROCESSING FACTORY SIGNED WITH BURMESE
ANNOUNCEMENT: 6 ACTIVISTS SPEND 4TH DAY IN LA COUNTY JAIL
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ABSDF STATEMENT: CURRENT SITUATION
December 16, 1996

It's Time For The International Community To React On the
Suppression Of The Burmese People By The SLORC

1) Former Activists Being Rounded Up

As the blockade of the University Avenue leading to Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi's house enters its 10th consecutive day, the military government is
continuing its crackdown on the pro-democracy activists.

ABSDF sources inside the country reported as of yesterday that
Wai Lin, former Central Executive Committee (CEC) member of the Democratic
Party for New Society (DPNS), Ko Toe, a leading member of the All Burma
Federation of Students Union (ABFSU - Upper Burma), Dr. Hla Myint who was
involved in the 1975 U Thant Funeral Strike, and Cho Seint, grandson of
Thakin Ko Daw Hmine (late famous poet and freedom fighter against the
British colonial rule), have been detained. Another activist named U Hla
Shwe was detained for questioning and released one day later. He has been
detained
and cast in jail on an uncountable number of occasions for his activism.

The ABSDF believes that the detention of Ko Toe and Wai Lin is due to their
close association with Moe Thee Zun, Vice-Chairman of the ABSDF.

Other former activists who have been jailed previously are also being
rounded up and questioned in an attempt to connect to the current
demonstrations.

2) More Than 100 RIT Students Are Being Treated At the RGH

According to an unconfirmed report from sources in downtown
Rangoon, more than 100 students are being secretly treated in a special ward
in Rangoon General Hospital (RGH) for wounds sustained during the violent
crackdown on their peaceful protests. Sources close to the RGH told ABSDF
that groans can be heard the special ward. Hospital visitors, who were
previously free to come and go are now being strictly checked, since the
arrival of the students. No house surgeons (medical students interns) are
allowed to go into this ward; only senior doctors are permitted entry.

3) Schools Remain Closed, Exams, National & International Sports
Meets Postponed

As of yesterday the schools and universities remained closed with the
exception Institute of Medicine 1 (IM1) (Lanmataw Campus). A report said
that students of the MI1 demanded that dates of the closure and reopening of
the schools be officially announced and that an independent student union
be formed.

Students who go to their educational institutions are turned away by the
security forces. To date the military regime has made no official
announcement regarding the closure of the universities and colleges.

Students from provincial towns have been forced to go home, and as of
yesterday only about 15-20 students remained at the Institute of Medicine 2
(IM2).

Schools exams scheduled for 14th-15th have been postponed for fear of
further protests.

An international marathon meet and a national traditional boxing
championship scheduled for the same period have been postponed indefinitely.

4) The SLORC Is Investigating Biographies Of the Children Of Teachers And
Civil Servants

In an effort to prevent the participation in the protest of the children of
teachers and civil servants, who are students at various educational
institutions, the military regime has been checking their biographies. It is
easier for the military to curb the activities of these students by putting
pressure on their parents.

It is learnt that the SLORC also distributed free rice and other materials
to civil servants. This was seen by the residents of Rangoon as another
attempt to woo the civil servants in order to encourage them not to identify
with the student
movement.

5) Ardent Supporters Waited In Vain For The Lady

For two days, supporters of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gathered at the Gwittalit
Intersection to see her and hear her speech on the latest situation of their
country. ABSDF sources in the area reported that a large number of people,
including tourists and reporters, waited for her both on Saturday and
Sunday. They left at about 5 PM when they were convinced that Daw Suu would
not be able to make it for the day because of the continuation of the road
block.

6) Tanks Remain Parked And Troops Patrolled Streets Of Rangoon

Four tanks remained parked in the compound of the city hall as another day
passed without any sign of demonstrations in Rangoon. Another batch of 6 tanks
were parked in front of the Jubilee Hall where an historical exhibition
about the Burmese military is on show. Jubilee Hall is situated near the
newly-opened Burmese market to promote 'Visit Myanmar Year'.

SLORC soldiers in 6 military trucks, including a Bren Carrier, continue to
patrol the streets of the capital, particularly the areas deemed to be troubled
spots. Neither police nor the feared Lon Htein (riot police) are said to be
included in these patrols.

As of yesterday, the road between Hlatan and Insein remained whereas Prome
(Pyi) Road was reopened to the public

7) State Of Fear In Burma

A tourist who arrived in Bangkok this morning told the ABSDF that tourists
cannot visit Sule Pagoda which is located in the heart of downtown Rangoon
opposite of the city hall. A couple of Australian tourists who tried to
visit the Pagoda were turned away by the soldiers stationed near the shrine.

He also informed the ABSDF that Rangoon is full of military intelligence
service (MIS) personnel. An owner of a hotel asked the tourists not to talk
politics while in hotel for fear of being overheard by the MIS.

'Everyone is afraid', he said. 'They can now detain anyone they wish'.

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NYT: EDITORIAL - DOING BUSINESS IN MYANMAR
December 16, 1996

Politics should not be an issue for international corporations,
says a spokesman for the California-based energy compay Unocal, the single
largest American investor in the Southease Asian nation of Myanmar. He was
replying to suggestions that Unocal pull out of Myanmar. Business
executives as they like to point out, are not social workers. But at
times a government is so repressive and a company's support of it so
significat that its presence cannot help but political. South Africa under
apartheid was such a country. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is
another, and Unocal should not be doing Business there.

For sheer nastiness, few governments can compete with Myanmar's.
It winks at heroin trafficking. It forces citizens to provide slave labor
to build bridges and railroads. In 1990 the Government lost elections,
then imprisoned and harassed activistes of the victorious party, led by
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Last week the Government confined her to her house,
detained more of her colleagues and shut down secondary schools to stop
student protests. She has called for sanctions on her country.

Myanmar, which has hard-currency reserves that can sustain the
country for less than three weeks, is vulnerable. Hence the importance of
Unocal's 28 percent interest in a pipleline that will pump gas from an
off-shore field through Myanmar to Thailand. The French company Total will
build the pipeline, and the Thai and Myanmar Government energy companies
also have stakes. Texaco and Arco also recently signed deals to drill
nearby.

As of last year, Unocal had paid the Government $6.6 million in
signing bonuses. Such fees are normal, but what is not normal was the
bailout Unocal gave Myanar in November. The company provided $7 million
worth of fertilizer on credit to be paid back when the pipeline is
runing -- a small but important lifeline for the Government.

Unocal may also be indirectly making profits from reprehensible
labour practices. The railroad that will transport Government troops to
protect the pipeline was built by thousands of forced laborers. Human
rights groups have charged that the Government relocated villages around
the pipeline and used forced labour to clear the land. Unocal denies those
charges. The Government has not yet permitted an independent
investigation.

Unocal is spending $1.6 million to build projects such as schools,
animal-breeding farms and a hospital, and has brought 12 doctors to the
area. These projects are welcome, but their good does not outweigh the
harm of Unocal's support for a government that does not do them on its
own.

Unocal argues that an Asian company would simply pick up its share
of the project if it pulled out. That is plausible, and underscores that
need for the United States to do more to lobby Japan and the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations, which has said it will admit Myannmar.

But even this does not justify Unocal's continued engagement with
Myanmar's Government. Other American corporations, including Macy's and a
Disney clothing subsidiary, have already pulled out, responding to
publicity and laws approved by Massachusetts and eight cities that bar
contracts with companies doing business in Myanmar. Congress has passed a
law banning new investment if the crackdown intensifies, but the Clinton
Administration has not yet invoked it.

The $200 million in annual revenues expected to flow to Myanmar's
Government when the pipeline is runing will dwarf the benefits produced by
other American investments. The pipeline's importance, and Unocal's
apparent willingness to help sustain the Government, undercut the argument
that constructive engagement can change the policies of the Burmese
leadership. Unocal may make a handsome profit in Myanmar, but it cannot
claim it is bringing change to this blighted nation.

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

AFP: SUU KYI WILL NOT ACCEPT GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS
December 16, 1996 (abridged)

Rangoon, Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has indicated that she will not
accept restrictions on her movements as she spent ninth consecutive day on
Sunday inside her Rangoon residence, following the most defiant civilian
protests here since 1988.

With security still tight around the city following the demonstrations, her
National League for Democracy fired back against official claims the the
Nobel Peace Prize laureate had failed to cooperate with authorities in
measures designed to insure her own safety.

" A serious request should not take on the nature of a restrictive order nor
should it entail the placement of physical barriers ," said a statement
signed by the NLD central executive committee .

Her residence on Rangoon's University Avenue has been blockaded since the
demonstrations for students' right began on the city's streets two weeks
ago. The NLD leader has not left has house since last Friday.

In response to a government statement circulated to embassies on Rangoon
earlier in the week, the Opposition leader, who was confined by the ruling
junta to her own home for six years until her release last July, denied she
had said her current confinement constituted house arrest.

" At no time did she claim that she had been put under house restriction,
however she pointed out that restrictions placed on her movement amount to
unlawful restraint," said the statement.

The statement further rebutted accusations from the ruling State Law and
Order Restoration Council that the NLD was connected to the students unrest.
High-ranking junta officials have compared the recent demonstration to the
civilian pro-democracy demonstrations of 1988 which were crushed by the
military. "The NLD supports all calls for justice and human rights and we
sympathise with the grievances of the students but we strongly protest against
unsubstantiated accusation," said the statement.

Rangoon was quiet Sunday although there were still a high security presence
and restrictions on access to the Yangon (Rangoon) Institute of Technology
in the north of city and at the Institute of Medicine downtown.

Armed troops have been patrolling the city at nighttime and five tanks that
were driven into the city Friday were still parked in front of city hall,
with combat-ready soldiers. Burmese observers said that the tanks were
intended as show of force to deter students still staying in the city.

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

BKK POST: SECURITY LIFTED AT DOWNTOWN MEDICAL SCHOOL
December 16, 1996
Rangoon, AP

Heavy security was lifted around a downtown Rangoon medical
school yesterday as the government has sent nearly all students
back to their homes in the countryside to quell demonstrations.

Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whom the government has
accused of fomenting the recent unrest, was still confined to her
home yesterday, disappointing about 200 of her followers who
hoped she would appear on the streets and speak to them.

Students have denied any link to Suu Kyi or her political party while they
staged demonstrations in Rangoon and Mandalay earlier this week.

Medical University No. 1, where security was lifted yesterday, was the site
of several sit-ins during the last few days. Students said police had
arrested three of them and the students were demanding their release.

The school's dormitory appeared to be empty yesterday.

Burma's military government responded to the week-long
demonstrations by closing most schools, arresting some students
and members of Suu Kyi's party, sending students back home,
blocking off roads with troops and riot police and stationing
tanks in downtown Rangoon.

Despite some skirmishes with students during protests around the
city last week in which rocks were thrown and some youngsters
were beaten, the military's response was mild compared with the
brutality it unleashed in 1988, gunning down more than 3,000
protesters, jailing thousands and closing schools for three years.

Some analysts, while giving the military credit for restraining
itself, still cautioned against assuming its leaders had changed
their ways.

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

AP: NOBEL WINNER: BOYCOTT BURMA
December 12, 1996

RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- Aung San Suu Kyi's family will protest the military
regime's tourism campaign by not visiting her in Burma for Christmas, the
pro-democracy leader said Thursday.

The military government, which renamed the country Myanmar, has covered the
capital with posters advertising ``Visit Myanmar Year '96.''

Despite its name, the campaign didn't begin until last month, and is to
continue through November 1997. State-run media said this week that Burma
aims to have 300,000 visitors by then -- well below targets announced earlier.

Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, has called on tourists to
boycott Burma to protest the regime, which seized power in 1988 by killing
hundreds of demonstrators.

On Thursday, she told The Associated Press her family will stay away.

``We've decided not to support Visit Myanmar Year, and I don't want them
coming during Visit Myanmar Year,'' she said in a telephone interview.

Suu Kyi is married to Briton Michael Aris, an Oxford professor. The couple
have two sons.

Aris and on