tun@phy.ucsf.edu (Coban Tun) (04/23/91)
* Late news PEACENET:SYNAPSES April 14, 1991 The local situation is not so good. The military has decided to dissolve all labor unions in State Enterprises. This are large and powerful unions. The Unions have of course said they will not accept this decision, and have called on all supporting unions around the world to put economic sanctions on Thailand. A strong confrontation is brewing. At the same time, the military leaders will soon be receiving an extra salary for their responsibilities to run the country. Gen. Sunthorn will probably receive 60,000 baht in addition to what he already receives from the military. The next few weeks could see increased tensions in the country. One group of ex-parliament members has gotten together to write an alternative constitution. Sunthorn was angry by this has issued a warning (threat) to them. Martial law still is intact. Concerning the Thai/Burma border, things are also heating up. The Burmese military is starting their offensive against the Karen and student camps. They are now using the word annihilate when talking about their present campaign. About 52,000 refugees are now inside Thai borders, and thousands of more will certainly come. The Burmese military has gotten about US$1 billion worth of weapons from China, including jet bombers. Also, the US has apparently agreed to give Burma approximately US$1 million for the anti-drug program. This is a real shaft, and a total hopeless cause. The Burmese military is very closely linked with the drug lords, and they have no intention of getting rid of their opium. Education On 8 March, Maj Gen. Tin Oo, Secretary No.(2) of the Slorc, said in a meeting with the teachers in Tavoy College in Tennasserin Division, that the military government had set aside about US$28 million (Kyats more then 200 million) for the renovation of all Universities and Colleges all over the country . It is believed that the junta is trying to reopen all the schools soon. Drugs According to the decision of the 17th UN special meeting on drugs, a Burmese delegation led by U Ohn Gyaw, director of the Department of Foreign Affairs arrived in Chieng Mai, Thailand on the 3rd of March. A meeting was held to discuss the joint campaign to suppress the drug trafficking along the Thai-Burma border line. Politics A Singaporean Military Delegation led by Gen Michel Tiyo, Chief of staff-Air force, arrived in Rangoon on 4 March to hod discussions with the junta's senior officials especially Deputy Gen. Tin Tun, Chief of Staff of the Burmese Air force. The Singapore delegation left from Burma on 7 March. The junta did not express elaborately about the discussion. It is believed, that the three-day discussion was about purchasing arms for the Burmese air force from Singapore which is a cheaper arms market for the Burmese. The junta purchased a lot of ammunition such as heavy artillery shells which was brought by State-owned Five Star Cooperation's Ships in 1989. This information was given to us by a Burmese Navy captain who was responsible for one of the ships. Deforestation. The junta estimates that Burma will cut down 350,000 tons of teak wood and another 130,000 tons of hard wood before the end of 1991. Almost all the wood is being imported into Thailand. There is now wide-spread deforestation in Burma. B.U.R.M.A. ================================================================ Edited by Surekha Reddy Gaddam --