Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Tue, 6 Oct 1992 13:49:11 PDT
From:         "(Coban Tun)" <tun@QUARK.SFSU.EDU>
Subject:      Burma: getting ready for offensive

           Burma Buying Weapon for Offensive

               Los Angeles Times

Rangoon, BURMA   After a two year shopping spree, for sophisticated
arms from China, Poland and Yugoslavia, Burma's military is gearing
up for a major offensive against insurgence based along the border
with Thailand according to western diplomats.

The military in Burma is building roads and moving up
logistics and ammunition in preparation for the offensive,
which will begin in the dry season that start late this
month. Another sign of preparation for the offensive,
according to the diplomats, is the appearance of military
press-gang rounding up civilians to work as porters
supplying government troops in the border region.

Hundred of porters have dies of diseases and abuse in the
past few years under the harsh conditions prevailing in the
jungle at the border.

In April, military junta announced that it will observed
unilateral cease-fire with Karen and Kachin rebel groups
that have been battling for autonomy virtually since
independent was granted by Briton in 1948.

The government reportedly followed up its cease-fire with a
secret approached to the rebels for negotiations. But Karen
and Kachin rejected the offer, but they used the summer time
lull to launch a new attacks against the junta, capturing
government outposts near Shwegyin and Timukha in the area
near the Thai border.

Last year, government force came dramatically close to
over-runing the main rebel base at Manerplaw but were turned
back at the last minute after heavy loses on both side.
Western diplomats in Rangoon expect this year's offensive to
be even stronger.

The government's hand will be strengthen in part by a large
arms acquisition program that has proceeded despite
opposition of the United State and European countries, which
had imposed an arms embargo on Burma because of human rights
abuses.

According to the long time dissident of Rangoon, the military
has acquired more than $600 million worth of arms in the
past few years, with more on order. The major supplier had
been China, Poland and Yugoslavia.

In order to pay for the arms, Burma spent more than half of its
financial reserves drawing down the treasury by $300 millions
in 1991 alone.

The Chinese have sold $500 millions worth of arms including $150
million in cash order and $350 millions in barter trade.

Perhaps the greatest concern expressed in the West recently was
over the sale of 20 Mi-2 Hoplite attack helicopters by Poland.
The deal reportedly amount to $50 million.

As one diplomats notes angrily, Polish President Lech Walesa
sent an envoy to Burma to express concern about imprisoned
democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi at the same time as
the helicopters were being uncrated for action against
burma's ethnic rebels.

After Poland, Burma's next largest supplier of arms is what remains
of Yugoslavia, which sold six Galeb-4 jets, large attack war planes.
The war planes, equipped with rocket pods and cannons, cost
between and $30 million and $40 million.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU