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Burma Focus, Jan-May 94(860 lines)
- Subject: Burma Focus, Jan-May 94(860 lines)
- From: absdf@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 08 Jun 1994 16:31:00
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* BURMA FOCUS *
* *
* Published By the All Burma Students' Democratic Front *
* (Europe Office) *
* Bi-monthly News Letter *
* *
* Vol.5 No.2 Jan 16 - May 31 1994 *
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Burma's Road to Peace Dashed?
Allowing the American Congressman Bill Richardson to visit detained
Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi created the hope
among Burma's watchers, that would be a possible negotiation
between her and her captors.
In a speech on the House floor of the Congress on Feb 20, Bill
Richardson praised Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as "a woman of
conscience, a tower of intellectual strength," and said he
believed the military could hold a "full political dialogue" with
her in the near future. Congressman Bill Richardson, the first
non-family member to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi since she was put
under house arrest in July 1989, held separate discussions with
the powerful Burmese military intelligence chief Maj-Gen Khin
Nyunt for four hours and with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for six hours
during his visit in mid-Feb.
However, in the minds of the Burmese military generals, they see no
reason to talk with her. "We don't see any reason why we should
have to talk with her about the country's political future or
economic status," military intelligence chief Khin Nyunt said in
an interview with the New York Times on March 6.
Bertil Linter, an expert on Burma, explained in the Thailand Time
on Feb 20 why the Burmese general allowed an outsider to visit Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi after all, "Last year, the UN Human Rights
Commission's Special Rapporteur submitted a report which was
extremely critical of the regime in power in Rangoon. As long as
they're being condemned like this, billions of dollars worth of
aid, money and loans from the IMF and other international
monetary institutions will remain blocked. The Burmese
government has realized that it's costing them quite a lot to
keep Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest."
By refusing to talk with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma could become
the next country after China to come under pressure from the
Clinton Administration.
"We are disappointed by the decision not to enter into discussions
with the detained opposition leader," State Department Spokesman
David Johnson said on March 7 after Burmese generals ruled out
possible talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
In a meeting during the second week of March, US officials agreed
to pursue several measures aimed at the military regime opening
dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. These measures include a US
campaign in the United Nations for an arms embargo against Burma
and for a special UN envoy to intercede on Daw Suu Kyi's behalf
with Burmese authorities. Other possible measures include
economic sanctions against Burma, whether or not to fill the
vacant ambassador's post in Rangoon, an increase in humanitarian
aid to some 71,000 displaced Burmese along the Thai-Burma border
and an increase Burmese-language broadcasts on the Voice of
America and include Burma in the Radio Free Asia's programming.
On March 4 in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Commission called for the
immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and voted to condemn
Burma for human rights violations. The Commission also extended
the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for one more year in order
to observe the human rights situation in Burma and requested the
Secretary-General to provide his full assistance to the Special
Rapporteur. The action from the UNs is moving in the right
direction, but how many times does the UNs have to call for the
immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
In the meantime, nearly US $1 billion in foreign investment has
been pumped into the junta's pocket from the US, Thailand, Japan,
South Korea, and the Netherlands, as well as from Hong Kong
investors. Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong visited Burma
on March 28. Relations between the Burmese junta and the
Indonesian Government are getting closer. The Association of
South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) has agreed to invite Burma to its
annual ministerial conference in July, aiming at breaking Burma's
isolation.
Squeezing the junta's pocket is the only road to peace in Burma.
Without outside pressures, both economic and political, Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi would not have been allowed to meet with anyone--even
including her immediate family members. Without continued and
increasing pressure from the rest of the world, the Burmese army
generals will certainly find no reason to constructively talk with
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi about solving country's appalling situation.
(Sources: New York Times, March 7 & 8 Christian Science Monitor,
March 15; The Nation, March 17)
Human Rights Violations
Burma:Repression Continues
Amnesty International published a 16 page-report in January 1994
regarding Human rights developments in Burma between July to Dec
1993. Amnesty International said it welcomes certain incremental
improvements which the SLORC have made in regards to the human
rights situation, but the organization remains concerned that a
system of repression is still in place which is being used to
violate the fundamental human rights of the people of
Myanmar(Burma).
Special Reporter Reports
Professor Yozo Yokota, Special Reporter of the Commission on Human
Rights addressed the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in
Geneva on Feb 24. The following are excerpts of his speech.
"There were many consumer goods in market places where many
shoppers crowed. There were many more cars on the street.
Nevertheless, I was informed that only a small portion of the
population enjoy the improved life and the majority who were poor
rather suffered from higher prices of basic necessity goods such
as rice and medicine."
"I am still concerned about the serious restrictions imposed upon
people in the enjoyment of civil and political rights. My personal
experience, observation and reports from reliable sources indicate
that people do not enjoy freedoms of thoughts, opinion, expression,
publication and peaceful assembly and association."
"...the National Convention to draft the guide lines and principles
for the new constitution does not appear to be the steps towards
the restoration of democracy, fully respecting the will of the
people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990."
"I am also gravely concerned at the continued reports of forced
porterage, forced labor, forced relocation, arbitrary killings,
beatings, rapes and confiscation of property by the Army soldiers
which are most commonly occurring in the border areas where the
Army is engaged in military operations or "regional development
projects."
UN Condemns Rights Abuse in Burma
The United Nation Commission on Human Rights in Geneva adopted a
resolution on Burma without a vote on March 9. The resolution
called on the military junta in Burma to respect the will of the
Burmese people as expressed in the democratic elections held
in 1990
and strongly urged the junta to release immediately and
unconditionally Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as other detained
political prisoners.
The Commission also decided to extend for one year the mandate of
the Special Rapporteur to observe the human rights situation in
Burma and requested the Secretary-General to provide the Special
Rapporteur with all necessary assistance. (Note#Anyone who wish
to obtain the documents of the UN Commission on Human Rights
meeting in Geneva regarding Burma can be ordered from the ABSDF's
Europe Office in Norway).
Forced Prostitution
The United States and Japan should pressure the Thai and Burmese
authorities to end forced prostitution of Burmese women sold as
sex slaves in Thailand, according to a report released on Jan
31st by Human Rights Watch.
The 160-page report called "A Modern Form of Slavery:Trafficking
of Burmese Women and Girls into Brothels in Thailand, based on
three missions to Thailand by Asia Watch and Women's Rights
Watch, said that Thai police and local officials were actively
involved in the trafficking of Burmese girls and women into
Thailand as prostitutes.
The report documents some 50 cases of Burmese women lured across
the border by promises of well- paid jobs, only to find
themselves forced into prostitution to repay the cost of their
travel, or money given to their families in advance. (Note#Copies
of the report are available from the Publications Department,
Human Rights Watch, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017-6104 for
$18.00(including shipping and handling).
Forced Labor
Bangkok Post, May 22 - Around 120,000 to 150,000 villagers are
being forced to work on the construction of 160 km railroad track
between the southern coastal towns of Ye and Tavoy.
Conscription of workers for the railway began at the late last
year. Military supervisors provided neither food nor medicine for
the workers, and reports of beatings were common, the refugees
worker said. If somebody failed to contribute labor he would have
to pay a fine of 2,000 or 3,000 Kyat.
Lt-Gen Ket Sein, commander of the Southeastern Military Command,
said that he had money(30 million Kyat) to use on the project, but
said that it would instead be used for future development projects
in the areas such as hospitals and schools. The result has been
local villagers becoming workers for the railway project without
pay.
To escape the forced labor, hundreds of villagers have already fled
to the border. There are currently 60,000 refugees from Burma in
camps in Thailand.
@HEADLINE1 Inside Story
Burma Leadership Changes
Army chief Lt-Gen Maung Aye was promoted to the vice chairman of
the State Law and Order Restoration Council(Slorc), according to
the Burmese radio report on April 27.
Former Eastern Military Commander, Maung Aye was first appointed on
31 March last year and given two important position; Army Commander
in Chief and Vice Chief of Staff of the Defence Service plus a
promotion to Lt-Gen.
"Maung Aye is very close to Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, so when the Slorc
appointed him vice chairman, this clearly indicated that Than
Shwe's time is running out," a Rangoon based diplomat said. The
Slorc chairman Than Shwe has been locked in a power struggle with
council's Number One Secretary Khin Nyunt for several months, the
diplomat said. The reshuffle showed that the hardline faction in
the military junta was consolidating its grip, some Burma-watchers
in Bangkok said.
However, a Burmese freelance journalist Aung Zaw wrote in Bangkok
Post that the Maung Aye is believed to be close to Gen Than Shwe
and other senior military officers such as Lt-Gen Tun Kyi, Lt-Gen
Kyaw Ba and Lt-Gen Nyan Lin who were at loggerheads with Khin
Nyunt.
Maung Aye is from the Defence Service Academy's(DSA) Batch 1 and
served in the army for several years while Khin Nyunt is from the
Officer Training School(OTS) Batch 25 and has only a little combat
experience. It is widely believed that Khin Nyunt was a protege
of former dictator Gen Ne Win and that his close relation with Ne
Win led him appoint as Slorc Secretary and Chief of Military
Intelligent, Aung Zaw wrote in his article.
Burma expert Bertil Lintner wrote in the Far Eastern Economic
Review that "it is not that some officers are hard line and others
are moderate." According to the Rangoon-based observer, "they
just have different enemies and act in different ways to counter
them," he said.
For Khin Nyunt, enemy No.1 is the country's urban-led democracy
movement and to suppress it, he has been willing to make overtures
to the ethnic insurgent groups who sheltered political dissidents.
For the field army commanders who share power with Khin Nyunt,
however, the biggest priority is crushing Burma's ethnic guerilla
groups.
The Slorc chairman, Gen. Than Shwe, is supposed to be above these
divisions - and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future,
analysts believe. "But it is clear that factionalism, once non-
existent within the Burmese armed forces, is beginning to appear.
This is the thing to watch," says Rangoon-based diplomat.
(Sources#The Nation, April 29, Bangkok Post, May & Far Eastern
Economic Review, May 19)
National Convention Resumes
The National Convention resumed its meeting on Jan 18 after a four
month break to discuss the three sensitive issues of the state
presidency, the state and its structure.
<N>It is clearly detailed in the speech by Chief Justice Aung Toe,
Chairman of the National Convention Work Committee, that all the
guidelines for a new charter have already excluded Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi from running in the presidential elections.
The Burmese junta initiated the convention in Jan 1993 to draft the
new constitution and to legalize its rule on power. One NLD
delegate said the military was adopting tactics like those of
military in Indonesia to entrench and legitimize their influence.
When the Convention resumed again during the third week of March,
ethnic minorities demanded that the country be divided into semi-
autonomous states under a central government.
On April 8, the delegates to the Convention agreed on country
official name to be Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and
designate it as a union of seven states and seven regions. States
are areas dominated by ethnic groups.
For the head of state chapter, a majority of delegates agreed with
government proposals that an executive president with two vice
presidents be elected by an electoral college.
Guidelines approved for the presidency stipulate that candidates
must be at least 45 years of age, must be rich in political,
administrative, economic and military experience and must have
resided continuously in the country for at least 20 years.
The president and his or her parents, spouse, children and their
spouses must not be citizens of foreign powers, and must not be
entitled to the rights and privileges of subjects or citizens of
a foreign power.
The ABSDF denounced the ongoing National Convention and said in a
statement issued on April 7 that "such a constitution is merely
backbone for the continued existence of military rule and the
political system(being drawn up)is no more than a military
dominated one."
An elected parliament from Shan State and delegate to the National
Convention, Daniel Aung walked out from the Convention in Rangoon
and arrived to the opposition headquarters in Manerplaw in late
April. He said he had "lost faith" in the National Convention,
now adjourned until September, because its aims had been pre-set
by the Slorc, and the ideas of those attending were never taken
into account. (Sources#Bangkok Post, Jan 18, April 2 & 8; The
Nation, Jan 23, March 26, April 9 & Reuter, May 26)
Opium War
Heavy fighting was continuing between opium warlord Khun Sa's army
and Burmese troops in Shan State, close to Thai border since mid-
May.
"We hope to capture Tachilek," an official of Khun Sa's army said
on May 29. During the last week of May, Khun Sa's troops stormed
three Rangoon government bases near Tachilek and blew up a dam at
the town's main reservoir.
Tachilek is the main border trade link to the northernmost Thai
town of Mae Sai, 1,165 km north of Bangkok. Slorc troops had been
reinforced in the area in recent months in anticipation of major
offensive, but the Khun Sa's troops launched a series of attacks
two weeks ago that appeared to put Rangoon troops on the
defensive. The rebel said 700 government troops tracked in
Tachilek and faced food and water shortages.
Casualties on the government side were 500 killed and more than
1,000 wounded and 300 of Khun Sa's troops died and injured 600
others.
Many porters are being killed and injured as fighting intensifies
between the Slorc and Khun Sa's army. Civilian porters, who had
been seized by government forces in their hometown and villages,
were forced to carry heavy loads of ammunition.
Burmese junta deployed more than 20,000 troops against Khun Sa's
army in southern Shan State late last year. Opium warlord Khun
Sa(a)Chang Si-Fu, 60 is the half-Chinese, half Shan commander of
the 20,000 Mon Tai Army and indicted by a US court on heroin
trafficking charges in 1990.
However, on December 17 last year, Khun Sa paid Thai Baht 10
million(US $400,000) to the Ministry of Defence in Rangoon to halt
an offensive against him which was launched in early December,
according to the article published in the Far Eastern Economic
Review dated Feb 3. Despite accepting the cash, Burmese army
relaunched its attack on Khun Sa's forces in January.
(Sources#Bangkok Post, May 30; Reuter, May 26; Matichon- Bangkok,
May 21 & Far Eastern Economic Review, Feb 3)
Money for Nothing
Far Eastern Economic Review, March 17 - The Burmese junta is
pressuring the Wa hill tribe along the Yunnan frontier to provide
opium for use in staging an opium-burning ceremony for the benefit
of international drug enforcement agencies. In 1993, opium was
also demanded by the Burmese authorities in order to make a
similar drug-burning show at Na Wi in the northern Wa Hills. At
that time, the Wa had to provide Kyats 3 million(US $484,000)
worth of opium, but were in return given only 100 bags of rice,
worth of about Kyats 100,000. "Such actions will only force us to
increase our production instead of reducing it," a Wa official
said. Wa tribesmen grow opium as a cash crop with which to buy
rice from the plains.
Cease-Fire Talks
KIO Signs Cease-Fire Agreement
Kachin Independence Organization(KIO) signed a cease-fire agreement
with the Burmese junta on 24th Feb in Myitkyina, the capital of
Kachin State in northern Burma. Three KIO's representatives led
by acting head of KIO and Chief of Staff Maj Gen Zau Mai and three
Slorc's representatives led by Northern Commander Maj-Gen Saw
Lwin attended the signatories to the peace pact. Slorc's
Secretary 1 Maj-Gen Khun Nyunt attended the ceremony as a witness.
The final agreement on Feb 24 followed after several meetings
held between SLORC and KIO since 1990.
In a statement issued by KIO on Feb 25th, the KIO expressed it
concern over cooperation with other ethnic groups and
organizations committed to peace and democracy in Burma.
In a interview with the Nation newspaper, Col Kyaw Win, deputy
director of DDSI said the Kachin will have to disarm itself if it
wants to participate in the National Convention. (Sources#The
Nation, Jan 23 & Feb 25, Bangkok Post, Feb 26)
Slorc Forces, Karenni Battle after Talks Fail
On Jan 26, Burmese army attacked Karenni rebels in eastern Burma,
10 days after the second round of bilateral talks failed to make
any progress. Karenni and Slorc representatives met on Jan 12
and Jan 16 about 40 miles from Loikaw, the capital of Karenni
State. The Karenni spokesman said Slorc rejected their four-point
proposal, while the Karenni could not accept Rangoon's demand
that they drop political claims for independence. (The Nation,
Jan 30)
Another Karenni rebel group, the Karenni National Peoples
Liberation Front(KNPLF) which has about 1,800 fighters operating
in Karenni State signed the ceasefire agreement with Slorc on May
9. The signatory ceremony held in Loikaw in Karenni State was
attended by 300 rebel officers and several senior Slorc military
officials including Secretary 1, Khin Nyunt.
The group is the 11th rebel group to give up fighting. (The Nation,
May 10).
Mon Report Progress in Talks with Slorc
Mon groups said on March 31 that there had been "slow progress" in
its ceasefire talks with the Burmese junta and several more rounds
of meetings will be needed to reach a truce.
The second round of talks took place from March 20 to 28 at the
Burma Army's Southeast Command Headquarters in Moulminem, the
capital of Mon State in southern Burma. Mon rebels and Burmese
army also met for the first time in Molumine in southern Burma
from Dec 29 to Jan 3 and second time on March 28 but no progress
was made in the talks.
Two Mon members of the Mon negotiating team said both meetings
focused on the military demarcation on line separating territories
controlled by Mon forces and Burmese troops. "So far no agreement
has been reached, but slowly we have made some progress," he said.
A date for next meeting has not been fixed. (The Nation, April 1)
Karen delegates to Meet Slorc for Peace Talks
The Karen National Union(KNU) is planning to appoint a five-man
team to meet representatives of the Slorc for possible peace
talks, according to a Karen guerrilla source. The KNU, the
strongest of the minority fighting forces had earlier accused
rebels who have held separate talks with Rangoon of surrender.
SLORC insists on separate talks with each ethnic army and has
rejected collective talks with the DAB, or with the KNU as a
representative of the DAB. But the KNU chairman Gen Bo Mya,
pressured by the Thai to talk with the SLORC say "even if the KNU
is forced to negotiate separately, it will be for all the
people(opposed to Slorc's rule)." The Karen leader also insisted
peace talks should be held outside Burma and the discussion
should include political as well as ethnic nationalities issue.
The KNU and Slorc officials have already held preliminary talks in
Thailand. (Sources#The Nation, Jan 22, 23 & Feb 1; Bangkok Post,
April 9)
Conflict of Peace Talks
According to the BBC's Burmese program, Mon Thee Zun, former
chairman of the ABSDF and 11 members of his group were taken into
detention on Jan 16 by KNU for vehemently protesting against the
planned unilateral peace talks between the KNU and Slorc.
However, the KNU released the students on Jan 19. A statement
issued by the National Council of the Union of Burma(NCUB) the
same day said the students were detained to avoid
misunderstanding about the KNU's talks with Slorc
About 2,000 students are still in Karen, Karenni and Mon areas and
1,000 stranded in areas controlled by the KIO. During the third
week of Jan, the Karenni rebels, seeking peace with the Burmese
junta, confiscated weapons from 300 students who had fought
alongside them for five years. (Sources#The Nation, Jan 22,
Bangkok Post, Jan 19).
"The problem(with the cease-fires) in the long run...is that they
are not solving any political issues," says Bertil Lintner, a Burma
expert. Under the terms of other cease-fire agreements, the ethnic
armies have not been required to turn in their weapons as this
would have been considered a "deal breaker". But, with the
absence of Slorc as the unifying enemy, the agreements have led
to the rapid disintegration of the rebel movements. (The Nation,
Feb 1)
ABSDF's Position on Peace Talks
In a statement issued by the ABSDF regarding ceasefire talks
between ethnic rebels and Slorc, the ABSDF says that although the
ABSDF welcome the peaceful solution of political problems through
political means, there must be a broad-based discussion on
current political problems, creation of a harmonious atmosphere
and presence of international observers.
At the talks between KIO and Slorc, the Burmese junta repeated
that unconditional surrender is the only way to political
discussion, the statement said. Slorc does not accept that the
democracy and ethnic rights are indivisible and Slorc is not only
refusing to meet the Democratic Alliance of Burma but also
excluding Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the peace talks, it said.
However, the ABSDF said it understands the difficult situation of
the ethnic nationalities and regards them as allies until final
victory. (Source#Bangkok Post, Feb 20)
Foreign Relations
Chinese Are Coming!!!
"The people who put up these new buildings say they are Burmese,
but we know they are really from China," an ethnic Burmese
shopkeeper in Mandalay said. "They are taking over our business
and pushing us out of our homes."
The growing Chinese trade, lugging everything from textiles to
toys, curry powder to condoms to computer software, all made in
China, is changing the face of Mandalay, the last capital of
Burmese kings and the site of some of Burma's most sacred
religious shrines.
Some of the biggest new investors in Mandalay have a lot of trouble
explaining exactly who they are and where they come from. "They
are Chinese," said a foreign businessman. He said a Burmese
identity card - effectively citizenship - can be bought for as
little as 30,000 Burmese Kyat(US$300). "With a card, you are
free to do business, buy a house," the businessman said.
Burma - China ties warmed in 1988, when other nations cut off
relations with the ruling junta to protest the brutal crackdown
on pro-democracy demonstrators.
Last July, the 2.9 km Rangoon-Syriam Road-Rail Bridge across the
Pegu River constructed with a 265-million yuan interest-free loan
from China was inaugurated in Burma's capital. While China has
tried to portray the bridge as a genuine Chinese assistance to a
friendly neighbor and physical proof of good bilateral ties
between the two countries, local Burmese people, however, are
convinced that Beijing has hidden motives to use the new wharves
as its short-cut for Chinese products to penetrate new markets in
Asia and Africa.
China has long been known for its desire to find an exit to the
South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Some diplomats believe
Beijing is hoping its involvement in Burma will give it direct
access to the Indian Ocean.
Informed estimates of the value of the weapons that have poured
into Burma from China in the past four years worth over US $1.2
billion.
In exchange for the arsenal, the Burmese military has reportedly
given China access to military installations along the Bay of
Bengal. At a Burmese radar post in the Coco Islands, not far from
India, newly installed Chinese equipment is reportedly allowing
Beijing to monitor maritime traffic in some of the world's most
heavily trafficked sea lanes. (Sources#New York Times, March 29;
Bangkok Post, Jan 31; The Nation, Feb 26)
Japan Aid to Burma to Resume
Japan will resume financial aid to Burma but the aid will be on a
small scale and not be channeled through the Burmese government,
Japanese Foreign Ministry source said on Feb 17. While beginning
to extend aid again as early as the end of March, Japan will
continue its freeze on loans to Burma, which in addition to
refusing to allow civilians to take over power, continues to hold
opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.
Meanwhile, about two thirds of Japanese legislators in Japan's
parliament have signed a letter demanding that Burma' military
junta release Nobel Peace Prize Winner Daw Aung Suu Kyi and turn
over the power to civilian rulers. Legislator Shoke Arai said 508
of the 763 legislators in the lower and upper houses of Japan's
Parliament signed the letter, addressed to UN secretary- general.
(Sources#Asahi Evening News, Feb 18; Bangkok Post, May 20) -
ASEAN Agrees to Invite Burma to Meeting
The Thai Government's attempt to bring Burmese junta out of
isolation has won the support of all ASEAN partners after the
Brunei Foreign Minister confirmed that it is in favor of inviting
Burma to an annual meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers taking
place in Bangkok in July this year. Senior officials of the
ASEAN countries agreed to invite Burma as a guest of the host
country, not as the Asean's Standing Committee. Asean members are
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Phillipines, Singapore and
Thailand.
Earlier, the Indonesia Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said that when
the Asean was formed it was planned to encompass all 10 countries
in Southeast Asia - including Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
He said Asean's policy of influencing the Burmese regime though
"constructive engagement" was better than economic sanctions or
isolation. Alatas arrived in Rangoon on Feb 21 for his first
official visit. A senior Indonesian military source said that
Jakarta was keen to end Burma's isolation in the region. "I worry
about the close relationship between Burma and China."
The Indonesia delegation led by Coordinating Minister for Industry
and Trade Hartarto visited Burma at the end of May and offered to
cooperate with Burma in various fields, including development of
Burma's hotel sector.
In contrast, Malaysia appears to have take the hardest line among
Asean members towards Burma. Malaysia took strong exception to
Burma's expulsion of some 300,000 minority muslims in western
Burma in 1992. Malaysian trade unions, political parties and
human rights organizations urged the ASEAN to cancel its
invitation to Burma to attend the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting.
The group which represent 51 Malaysian organizations said it backs
a call by National League for Democracy(NLD) to cancel the
invitation.
In Singapore, diplomats say many local businessmen see more
opportunities for investment in Burma than in Cambodia. Official
Singapore figures show total bilateral trade stood at US $456
million in 1993 against US $382 million in 1992 without including
the arms sales. Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chock Tong arrived
in Rangoon on March 28, becoming only the second prime minister
to visit Burma since 1988. The first was the Laotian Prime
Minister in 1992. (Sources#Bangkok Post, March 8, 9, 29 & May 20;
The Nation, Feb 24 & April 26; Far Eastern Economic Review, March
3; Reuter, May 26)
Thailand Blocks Assistance to Burmese Opposition
Medical supplies worth 830,000 baht for ethnic minorities in Burma
were stopped and confiscated by Thai authorities on Jan 17. The
medical supplies are for ethnic minorities groups including the
Karen, Mon and Karenni. The supplies, paid for by the National
Coalition Government of Union of Burma, was purchased in
Thailand.
Meanwhile, Thai National Security Council(NSC) has threatened to
clamp down on non-governmental organizations aiding Burmese
minorities in border camps. "We are now gathering evidence to
prove our suspicions. NGO's whose staff are found to have been
illegally slipping into Burma to help the minorities will be
subject to legal action and will be ordered to stop working in
the camps," said deputy chief of the NSC. "Thailand has a clear
policy of not allowing any group to use its soil as a base for
anti- Burmese government campaign," he added.
Besides, Thailand has agreed to arrest Burmese "terrorists"
travelling on false passport and Burma has agreed to open a border
checkpoint to take back illegal Burmese immigrants. The agreement
was reached during the Thai-Burma border meeting in Moulmein in
Burma during the third week of April. Burma gave Thailand a
report on the false passport and travel documents.
(Sources#Bangkok Post, Jan 26 & April 24; The Nation, Jan 31)
US Slams Burmese Junta's Record
There was no marked increase in the level of human rights abuses in
1993, in large measure because the Slorc had already been so
successful in intimidating the Burmese people," the February 3
the US State Department report said.
The US State Department is preparing to make official diplomatic
protests to Singapore, Portugal and Poland as well as to China on
the shipment of arms sale to Burma, the administration officials
said.
In a resolution passed by US Senate on Feb 1 unanimously declared
that it does not recognize the military junta in Burma known as
Slorc since the people of Burma gave the National League for
Democracy a clear victory in the election of May 27, 1990. The
Senate resolution also called on Clinton's administration to have
clear policy toward Burma and Thai Government to show more
sympathy toward Burmese democratic forces and prosecute those
responsible for the trafficking, forced labor and physical and
sexual abuse of the Burmese women in Thailand. (Sources#Bangkok
Post, Feb 6 & March 25 and the US Senate Resolution, S.1281. Feb 1)
Socialist International Call for Change in Burma
The Congress of the Socialist International passed a resolution on
Burma at its general assembly held in Tokyo, Japan from May 10 and
11. The Congress strongly condemned the Burmese military junta for
its human rights violations in Burma and called for the
international community to impose trade and arms embargo against
Burma.
The Congress attended by several Heads of States including the
Prime Minister of Norway and Cambodia second Prime Minister Hun
Sen, was hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Tautoma Hata.
The Chairman of the National League for Democracy(Liberated Area)
U Win Khet was invited and asked to give a speech at the congress.
"1994 is a very critical year for Burma. We may be on the verge
of bringing about real political change in Burma, or we may see
the dictatorship succeed in legitimizing and consolidating its
power," he said in the speech.
The Socialist International's resolution also called on the UN
Secretary General to appoint a special envoy for Burma to
facilitate the transition to democracy.
Amoco to quit Burma
The Nation, March 5 - AMOCO Production Co said its Amoco Myanmar
Petroleum Co subsidiary won't exercise its option to continue oil-
exploration in Burma and will exit the country before mid-year
because of its assessment of its economic exploration potential
given the current forecasts for the price of crude oil. Some of
the Amoco shareholders had pressured the company to pull out of
Burma because the country is ruled by a brutal military junta.
Meanwhile, shareholders of Unocal Corp. voted on April 15 to reject
a proxy resolution calling on the company to make a comprehensive
report on conditions in Burma, where allegations of human rights
violations have stirred controversy over a Unocal gas pipelline
project. The sponsors of the Burma resolution said the results of
the proxy ballot - a 14.1% yes vote - was large enough to ensure
that they would file the measure again next year.
"This is not going to go away," said a spokesman for the Interfaith
Center on Corporate Responsibility, the initiative's sponsor. At
the shareholders meeting, several human rights advocates denounced
Unocal's willingness to work with the military junta that rules
Burma with a iron fist .(Los Angeles Times, April 26)
Opinion
Don't Appease Rangoon
The Nation(New York Times), March 16 - Following an eight- month
policy review, the Clinton administration has reportedly decided
to increase pressure on Burma and to ask other nations of the
world to stop ending arms to its brutal military regime. That
would be a just and honorable response to the regime obstinate
refusal to hold talks with its democratic opponents.
Burmese general Khin Nyunt told the New York Times journalist that
he would not meet with, or grant any political standing to, Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi. That flat statement seemed to dash the hopes
of some Westerners who thought that the Burmese junta might be
easing its stance. Then too, the regime has been seeking trade
and diplomatic relations with Japan and the West. But Gen Khin
Nyunt, head of Burmese military intelligence, seemed determined
to keep her under arrest. Why not free her and hold another
election? The answer is self- evident.
The regime has no confidence in what 42 million Burmese think
about it.
Until Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is liberated and able to speak for
herself, there is no reason for anyone to reward the generals
with better trade and diplomatic relations.
Notes from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
The Burma Focus received the transcript of the whole interview
with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Rp. Bill Richardson, UNDP Resident
Representative Jehan Raheem and New York Times Correspondent
Philip Shenon, on Feb 15th 1994 from BurmaNet, an electronic
media network. If anyone wishes to obtain the whole interview,
please don't hesitate to contact us. What follows are excerpts
from the interview:
...I don't want personal support. What we want to be supporting is
the movement for democracy and human rights...
...My health is, in general, good. I have been told, though, that
I have spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the spine. I have
discomfort in my shoulders all the time; I've also had various
infections recently, nothing too bad. There is nothing I want for
myself...
...I think the National Convention is a farce. If people can't
speak, if they are just there to nod their heads, then that is
not a convention. I cannot accept it as seriously representing
the will of the people. The role of the political parties needs
to be highlighted. They should be allowed to exist, to move and
act as real political parties. This point has to be pushed...
...They(SLORC) brought me notice in January that my detention had
been renewed until Jan of 1995. I told them they could not do
that. They explained that under the law, the Central
Committee(which I have never heard of) made the decision to put
me away for the initial year. I told my Colonel Than Tun that
all existing norms of international law forbid such a procedure,
that the term of detention must be conducted from the initial
date of incarceration unless explicitly stated otherwise...
...They tried to pressure me to leave the country with ways no
self-respecting government should employ....
...I would like to see a clear-cut posture from the US on Burma. If
you want to support a movement that is being attacked from all
sides, you must be clear-cut. I very much appreciated the terms
set by the Senate in it recent Burma resolution....
....Talking about sanctions, there are two schools of thought on
them, and the controversy seems never to have been resolved.
People don't want to do anything that would be harmful to
ordinary people. But is existing trade with Burma really helping
the people or allowing the government to dig in its heels? Which
examples do people cite of economic development preceding
democratic development? People cite the ASEAN countries, but
their pattern of development is different from Burma's. Take
Indonesia as an example. Suharto came into power under different
conditions. Confidence here in Burma is low because they way the
election results were not respected. That kind of thing shakes
confidence. Nothing similar has happened in ASEAN. In those
countries confidence in the government existed. Suharto was even
able to cut military expenditures...
...I get up at 4:30 a.m, meditate, listen to the radio, do
exercise, spiritual reading, bathe, read, and do household
chores. After lunch I mediate, read, and listen to music. I
listen to the news at fixed times. I keep myself on a rigid
routine. I go to sleep at 9:25 p.m, after the Democratic Voice
of Burma(DVB) stops broadcasting...
....Please keep making demands on the SLORC. Pressure always
works. International pressure does have an effect and helps a
lot...
....Please don't think of helping me as a person, think of helping
the democratic process. The only way to achieve progress is to
have a dialogue....
........................
Dear Readers,
We sincerely apologize for the long interruption in the publication
of the Burma Focus. We trust and hope that this delay has only wet
your appetite for up-to-date information on Burma.
The Editor
..........................
The Burma Focus is published by the All Burma Students' Democratic
Front(ABSDF) and anyone who wish to get information on Burma are
welcome to contact its offices.
ABSDF-Head Office ABSDF-Europe Office
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