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PM Sein Win's speech



ERRORS-TO:INET:strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
FROM:NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burmese Relief Center--Japan
DATE:April 6, 1995
TIME: 5:45PMJST
SUBJ:Prime Minister Sein Win's Speech

>From Burma Alert, Vol. 6, No. 3 
March 1995

Speech by Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win:

BURMA IN 1995

On 10 March, Prime Minister Dr Sein Win of the National
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)
spoke at the NGO Forum of the UN World Social Summit in
Copenhagen, Denmark.  The Burma Session was organized by
the Danish Labour Movement's International Forum and the
Danish Burma Committee, in cooperation with the Norwegian
Burma Council, the Olof Palme International Centre in
Sweden and the Finnish Burma Committee.  Excerpts:

"The State Law and Order Restoration Council (has) changed
its tactics ... SLORC's main emphasis in 1994 was to convince
the international community that it is seeking national
reconciliation... (But today,) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ... is still
under detention... SLORC attacked and seized the
headquarters of the Karen National Union ... And in February,
SLORC also captured Kawmoorah, another KNU base on the
Thai border.   Life along the Thai-Burmese border has been
seriously disrupted.. and there are now over 80,000 refugees in
Thailand...  Armed men crossing the border to harass the
refugees, kidnap leaders and seize relief supplies have created
a climate of fear and uncertainty.

The events leading up to and the subsequent loss of
Manerplaw and Kawmoorah have also raised concerns about
the KNU and about the future of the Burmese democracy
movement ... However, SLORC did not defeat the KNU at
Manerplaw.  Realizing that SLORC was using Karen defectors
to spearhead the attack, the KNU decided to abandon the base
 ... to prevent heavy casualties on both sides... KNU
headquarters have now been re-established in another area ...
Therefore, although Manerplaw was important, the remaining
liberated area under KNU control is still largely intact.

It must also be remembered that the democracy movement in
Burma did not begin in Manerplaw and it will not end with its
loss. The KNU provided the democracy movement with much
needed protection and support, but the movement never
intended to restore democracy in Burma through an armed
struggle.  The main strength of the movement lies with the
people of Burma who are currently living under SLORC. 
Therefore, as long as the people inside Burma keep on
resisting SLORC's suppression, the movement for democracy
in Burma will continue.  Similarly, the NCGUB was formed
mainly to make the international community aware of the
situation in Burma ... Since the end of 1993, the main
international effort of the NCGUB has been operating out of
Washington, DC.  Therefore.. the loss of Manerplaw, although
serious, will not materially affect the effectiveness of the
NCGUB.

But why did SLORC change its tactics?... In 1994, the
response from the international community to SLORC was
positive.  Australia proposed a 'Benchmark Policy', the
European Union adopted a  Critical Dialogue' policy, and even
the U.S. offered SLORC, 'Two Visions' for the future.   Lastly,
the UN began a dialogue ... SLORC, however, saw these steps
as a sign that the international community was weakening its
position on human rights... and Japan's renewal of its
humanitarian aid program to Burma convinced SLORC that it
had succeeded in obtaining acceptance.  The second reason is
that SLORC was never really prepared to grant any political
concessions to the ethnic peoples ... SLORC also became
worried when groups that had previous signed cease-fire
agreements began calling for a political settlement.  SLORC
felt that it should act immediately to strengthen its military
position.  Therefore, when the opportunity presented itself,
SLORC attacked Manerplaw.

If the international community does not protest SLORC's
attack against the Karens, and continues to seek a dialogue,
SLORC will become bolder in 1995 and more ruthless.  It will
abandon all pretence of trying to seek a political solution to
Burma's problems.  In addition to protesting publicly,  like-minded nations sh
ould call on the UN Secretary General to
exercise his mandate to help facilitate national reconciliation in
Burma.  The UN should call on SLORC to stop all military
action immediately.. (otherwise,) all multilateral funding ...
through UN agencies should be suspended.   A UN Security
Council embargo on arms to SLORC should also be
considered.  Finally, Burmese refugees should be given
adequate protection.  It is just not acceptable that the refugees
in Thailand are still being harassed by SLORC.  An
international presence is needed on the border

---------------------------------------


Speaking on behalf of the Danish Government Helle Degn,
Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee
and former Minister of Development, said that Denmark is
prepared to walk together with the people of Burma for as long
as necessary until democracy is won.  Addressing SLORC
directly, she said, "Although we live far away, we are watching
you closely".  Degn ended her speech by saying that the
Danish people have only one word to describe their feeling for
SLORC - "Contempt".

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