News on Dec.12

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Re: News on Dec.12


Burma moves towards wider privatisation

    RANGOON, Dec 12, Reuter - Burma's Minister for National Planning and
Economic Development Brigadier-General David Abel has presented a list of
state enterprises to be privatised, state-run newspapers and television
reported. 

    The Myanmar Privatisation Committee, meeting on Friday, fixed prices for
enterprises to be sold to private businessmen or to cooperatives and
discussed the issuing of shares. 

    The official media did not disclose a detailed list. 

    Lieut-General Khin Nyunt, Secretary One of the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), chaired the committee meeting which was also
attended by the ministers of heavy industry, light industry, communications,
post and telegraphs, labour, mines, health, cooperatives, information and
broadcasting. 

    In his address, Khin Nyunt quoted SLORC chairman Senior General Than Shwe
as suggesting extensive privatisation to promote national production and give
more rights and better terms to local entrepreneurs. 

    Khin Nyunt said some essential services would remain in public hands. 

    The Burmese government, which switched in 1988 from a
centrally-controlled, socialist economy to private enterprise, has already
transferred a number of small and medium-size factories and plants to the
private sector. 

    Banking, transport, tourism and the hotel industry have also been opened
to private ownership.


Transmitted: 94-12-12 02:29:15 EST
***********


Thai-based Burma students in blood protest at junta

    BANGKOK, Dec 10 (Reuter) - A small group of Burmese students in exile in
Thailand protested on Saturday against human rights abuses by the Rangoon
junta, demanding the release from house arrest of the 1991 Nobel Peace
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. 

    Members of the All Burma Basic Education Students Union used blood from
self-inflicted cuts on their arms to daub posters demanding: ``Free Burma, my
country.'' 

    Statements issued by 11 dissident organisations said their action was
timed to mark International Human Rights Day and the third anniversary of the
Nobel award to Suu Kyi. 

    The Burmese democracy leader has been under house arrest in Rangoon since
July 1989. Members of her family received the prestigious award on her behalf
in Oslo three years ago. 

    ``Burma is without human rights because the military junta is in power
there,'' student Thit Noing told journalists at the demonstration in a
Bangkok church hall. 

    The students union in a statement denounced the army-backed State Law and
Order Restoration Council, which seized power after the brutal suppression of
a democracy movement in 1988. 

    Senior generals of the SLORC have met twice, in September and October,
with Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy victory in a 1990 election
was ignored by the SLORC. 

    ``But now as time passes by, we all know that (the meeting) was a ploy to
divert the international pressure... ,'' the statement added. 

    The demonstrators urged governments planning to assist Burma to work for
the removal of its ``illegitimate rulers'' to press for democracy and human
rights, and demand the release of Suu Kyi and other prisoners of conscience. 

REUTER
Transmitted: 94-12-10 05:13:19 EST
*****


Bonn agrees new list for ``dual-use'' export controls


    BONN, Dec 9 (Reuter) - Bonn has agreed a new list of countries subject to
stringent export controls for goods that could be used either militarily or
for civilian purposes, paving the way for EU harmonisation, the Economics
Ministry said on Friday. 

    The ministry said in a statement that controls would apply to exports of
so-called ``dual-use'' goods to Afghanistan, former Yugoslavia, Libya, Iraq,
Iran, Burma, North Korea, Somalia and Syria. 

    The new list replaces a previous list of 32 countries. 

    German Economics Minister Guenter Rexrodt said the changes balanced both
the need to control such exports and the interests of German firms. 

REUTER
Transmitted: 94-12-09 14:29:00 EST

**********


Human rights over trade or vice versa?
By Carol Giacomo 

    MIAMI (Reuter) - From Manchuria to Miami, President Clinton is playing
down human rights in favor of trade. 

    Is it wise or accurate to rely so heavily on free markets as a guarantor
of social justice and democracy? 

    Critics say no but Clinton sympathizers argue that human rights'
advocates need to take a fresh look at the real world.     ``What President
Clinton apparently has in mind for Latin America is the same Republican
trickle-down economics that he bashed in his electoral campaign,'' said Larry
Birns of the left-leaning Council on Hemispheric Affairs. 

    ``The same narrow economic sector which has dominated Latin America for
centuries will continue to do so under Clinton's free trade proposals because
nothing is being done to modify existing structures,'' he added. 

    Human Rights Watch/Americas and 44 other organizations have faulted the
U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas, which opened Friday in Miami, for
sacrificing human rights to trade. 

    ``We believe that strong, stable and lasting economic cooperation is not
possible among governments which violate human rights, guarantee impunity for
those who order or commit violations or ignore their international human
rights obligations,'' they said in a statement. 

    The complaint is being raised in Miami but it is not new. 

    Although Clinton made expansive comments about human rights in the 1992
presidential campaign -- he accused former President George Bush of coddling
dictators, for one -- he has modified this position since taking office. 

    The most dramatic example was his decision earlier this year to back off
a threat to withdraw trade benefits if China did not take specific steps to
improve human rights. 

    Ultimately a trade rupture with one of the world's largest and
fastest-growing markets was too much to risk. 

    Similarly, while in Jakarta last month for an Asian economic summit,
Clinton sent a mixed message. 

    While warning that Indonesia's much-criticized rights record could hurt
ties between the two countries, his administration refused a top-level
meeting with non-governmental advocacy groups and signed a multi-million
dollar natural gas deal. 

    U.S. officials said Washington cannot let concerns over Jakarta's rights
record overshadow basically good relations with a key Muslim nation and
growing regional economic power. 

    Clinton won election on the vow of rebuilding the United States
economically. His ability to deliver on this pledge is critical to his
re-election prospects. 

    This kind of practical thinking also prompted the administration to
soften its policy of strictly isolating Burma in hopes of encouraging
cooperation on fighting narcotics trafficking. 

    The administration insists that while it continues to press for -- and
highly value -- improved human rights, ``commercial engagement'' that raises
living standards and facilitates interaction among peoples is, in the long
run, the best way to foster democracy and political pluralism. 

    Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen underscored the practical thinking
behind this view: ``If we don't work with our hemispheric neighbors in
building this relation on trade with the Americas, then we're going to find
that the Japanese and the Europeans are going to work to become their
partners...'' 

    Enrique Baloyra of the University of Miami said human rights groups too
often do not appreciate Latin America's advances and do not realize that
government and political institutions in many countries are taking over the
functions of these private groups in ensuring human rights. 

    In an interview with Reuters, he acknowleged the region's economic burst
has left many people behind. 

    But he argued that free trade must be pushed as a long-term goal in
tandem with more immediate improvement in laws guaranteeing equality and
preventing abuse of government power. 

     U.S. officials admit the  human rights sections of the summit
communique, to be issued Sunday, is not as specific as critics would like. 

    But they note that it acknowledges ``serious gaps'' in implementing human
rights concepts and commits the leaders to ''strengthen laws for the
protection of the rights of minority groups and indigenous ... (and) to
guarantee full and equal protection under the law.'' 

    Nevertheless, the official summit emphasis, at least so far, has been on
creating a hemispheric free trade zone. The administration's lead human
rights policymaker, Assistant Secretary of State John Shattuck, was not
expected in Miami. 

REUTER
Transmitted: 94-12-09 14:48:29 EST


END