1993: COMMUNICATIONS (& THE HEAT)

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written 25 July 6:00am 1995 by DRUNOO@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* -------------" 1992: COMMUNICATIONS (&THE HEAT) "-------------- *

/* Letter from NCGUB (Australia) */
-----------------------------------
NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA
OFFICE OF AUSTRALIA
9 Pollock Street, Chiefley, ACT 2606.

Miss Kribo Ackerman
Burma Action (South Australia)
1st Floor
39 Wakefield Street
Adelaide South Australia 5001

5 March 1993

Dear Miss Ackerman,

Thank you  so much for your lastst report on the Rohingya situation and the
media reports.

For  the  purpose  of restoring democracy to Burma the DAB, NDF, the NCGUB,
and NLd,LA have joined forces under the name of the National Council of the
Union of Burma as they believe only when the country is truly unified  will
the international pro-democracy movement successful.

You  have  my  apologies  if  you believe that the NCGUB has acted in a way
distressing to the Rohingya but also my  assurance  that  Dr  Sein  Win  is
completely  dedicated  to  the  unity  of  all  Burmese regardless of race,
colour, creed or religion and works passionately toward that end.

The issue of vital importance at the moment with all ethnic  nationalities,
political and religious groups suffering the the hands of the SLORC, surely
 is  democracy  for  for  the  country. ONce democracy is restored then the
 individual concerns of  all  people  Burma  born  can  be  considered  and
 solutions found.

It  is  very  important that we all work together for the betterment of all
Burma, not at crossed purposes.

Concerning the Myanmar development Consortium there are two companies  that
we  now  know  of  that  are  inolved  with  this joint venture. Clough and
Uniplax. Both these companies are Perth based and any action  against  them
and  their involvement with the SLORC will be supported by this office. The
N.D. Clough is Mr Don Young and the Perth phone number of  the  company  is
426 8333. The address is 251 St GEroges Terrace, W.A. 6000.

Please  stay  in  touch.  I suggest it may be a good idea for you and me to
discuss further the problems you are concerned about with the Government as
any misunderstanding of the NCGUB can only prolong the suffering of so many
Burmese people.

Internally the NCGUB has achieved tremendous respect  from  government  and
non-government  sectors,  this respect has been well earned and Dr Sein Win
is continuing to lift the profile and legitimach of the NCGUB.

Financial assistance for the Rohingya was secured in March 1992 by Dr  Sein
Win  when  he came to Canberra to meet with Senator Gareth Evaans and other
Ministers of  the  Australian  Government  and  this  office  continues  to
pressure  the  government  to provide humanitarian assistance to all border
areas.

There is no discrimination by us against any ethnic, religious or political
group in Burma, they are all suffering the injustice of the SLORC.  I  know
Dr  Sein  Win  is  very concerned about the plight of the Rohingya and will
continue to do what ever he can to assist them.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours most sincerely,
Sd. Amanda Zappia.

/* Letter to Representative of NCGUB Australia */
U Ne Oo

March 22, 1993

Mrs Amanda Zappia
The Australian representative for NCGUB
NCGUB Office of Australia
9 Pollock Street
Chiefley, ACT 2606

Dear Ms Amanda

I am a Burmese student studying at Adelaide University. Although I have not
contacted to Australia Burma Council or NCGUB, I knew that  you  have  been
working  as  representative  of  the  NCGUB.  For  you,  along  with  other
Australians working for democracy in Burma, I have a deep appreciation  for
your   contributions.   On  behalf  of  many  Burmese  under  the  Military
repression, I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to all of you.

As you may probably aware that I am working in the Burma  Action(SA).  From
the  minute  attached,  please be sure that I and our group morally support
NCGUB and Democratic forces of Burma and, to the best of our ability,  will
find  ways  to  promote  it  to get greater acceptance by the international
community. I also met the prime  minister  Dr  Sein  Win  on  his  tour  to
Australia in March last year.

The  letter  on  Rohingyas, which you reply to our Secretary, is drafted by
me. There is no intention to accuse the NCGUB of discriminating  Rohingyas.
It is not a criticism. But it is a statement of the fact "Rohingyas are not
necessarily  seen  as  one  of  indigenous  Burmese  -Karen  , Kachin, MOn,
Rakhine... etc - which share the same view by all  the  political  factions
inside  (i.e.  SLORC)  and  outside  Burma".  This is the reason that NCGUB
wouldn't likt to include RSO and ARIF in them. As I said in the  letter  to
Ms Ogata the circumstances that drives Rohingyas to become refugee are also
different.

We must therefore dissociate Rohingyas from other refugees. We must address
Rohingyas  as  out  of  Burma's  national  politics  and are the victims of
SLORC's madness. Once the situation can be talked outside the frame-work of
national politics, it is hoped that the international community can be more
involved in solving the problem. It is also hoped that  UN  could  also  be
involved without intervening Burma's internal politics.

Personally,  I  am disappointed that NCGUB and other groups under-represent
Burma-Rohingyas. While, as mentioned in your  reply,  the  NCGUB  has  made
every  effort  for  the  welfare  of  Rohingyas, it still need to show more
compassion toward them. I think this is time to consider Burma-Rohingyas as
one of Burma's ethnic group, such as  Chinese-Burmese  and  Indian-Burmese,
although  they  are  not one of Burma's indigenous group, and accommodating
them in the rightful place of citizens within the constitution.

We  are  witnessing  that  the  NCGUB  increasingly  enjoy   support   from
international   community  within  last  year.  In  order  to  get  greater
acceptance from the international community, as you  have  rightly  pointed
out,  and  I  believe,  the  NCGUB  needs  to  show the solidarity with the
minorities as well as compassion to  Burma's  ethnic  minorities  and  take
responsibilities.   I  hope  NCGUB  use  this  opportunity  to  shows  more
compassion toward Burma-Rohingyas.

I agree much with you that we should work together for  the  betterment  of
all Burma. The point must be made is that we should solve problems one at a
time,  as a matter of technicality. Please do not perceive this approach as
a crossed purposed one. For any  matters  concerns,  please  feel  free  to
contact me or Kribo.

Yours sincerely
SD, U Ne Oo
cc. Miss Kribo Ackerman, The SEcretary, Burma Action(SA).

/* Letter from NCGUB Australia */

24th March 1993

Dear U Ne Oo

Thank you so much for your letter which I received taday.

I  am  wondering  if you realise that another group of Burmese people , the
Arakan, are saying that as the Rohingya receives so much  recognition  from
the   NCGUB   and  the  international  community  that  only  they  receive
international NGO assistance and the Arakan are left out in  the  cold.  It
seems  to me that Dr Sein Win is in a no win situation, no matter which way
he turns someone is going to be very critical.

My heart felt compassion I extend to each and every Burmese citizen  but  I
reiterate  I  do  not  think  that now is the time for people to be pushing
their own wagon. The tiem for all these very sensitive issue  to  be  dealt
with is when the country has democracy. A democratic government will ensure
the safety and self determination of all ethnic nationalities and in that I
include the Rohingyas.

I  do  appreciate  your  position fully as ethnic groups in Burma have been
denied so much for so long and all are becoming  impatient,  but  please  I
urge  you,  realise  that ont one group muct take priority over another. We
must do our best to receive financial support for all that  suffer  and  we
must  ensure  that  the  NCGUB's  success  to  date  continues its mementum
internationaly. Only then can the  country  be  free  to  pursue  the  self
determination it so richly deserves for all its people, regardless of race,
colour, creed or religion.

There  are  a  couple  of  other  issues  I would like to discuss with you.
Firstly the appointment of the Drug Control officer in Rangoon. The  member
organisations  of  the ABC have all writtento Senator Evans to protest this
as an immoral decision. Perhaps your organisation would do the same. If you
would like more information on htis them please let me know.

Secondly, Russell rollanson from ACFOA has just released his report on  the
ICFA Mission to Rangoon. I do not agree with the findings of the report but
it  is  a very interesting document. YOu can write to ACFOA and ask them to
send you the report and then perhaps write to Russell and give your views.

Thirdly, ACFOA is holding a Conference on Burma wihch I have been assisting
with. Only the date is set at  this  stage,  May  28th  1993.  We  will  be
bringing  an  ethnic  leaders from Manaplaw to speak and it will be held in
Sydney. If you would like further information then just let me know.

Finaly I am wondering if Burma Support Group WA would like to join the ABC.
The  council has already 15 organisations working together on the political
lobby and we  have  had  terrific  success.  If  you  and  your  group  are
interested  then  please  let me know and I shall send you our constitution
and further information. We would love to have you on board  and  also  any
other  group  whose  main  aim  is  ridding the world of the SLORC. I shall
include with this correspondence a list of you  member  organisations.  You
will  see they all have very different agendas but one thing in common, out
with the SLORC.

Please take care, I would like to assure you that any one that is concerned
for Burma is a good friend of mine and we do not, necessarily, all agree on
the finer points. You have my respect and support  for  the  work  you  are
doing and I will do whatever I can to be of assistance to you and yours.

Yours most sincerely,
Amanda Zappia

/* Letter from Department of Foreign Affairs and TRade */

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
CANBERRA ACT 2600

17 May 1993

Dear U Ne Oo

Thank  you  for  your  letter  and enclosures of 27 April 1993 addressed to
Senator Evans concerning the situation of the Rohingyas in  Burma  and  the
Australian  Government's  response.  Senator Evans has asked me to rep;y on
his behalf.

The Australian Government is deeply concerned at the serious  human  rights
situation  in  Burma and the refusal of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC) to transfer power to a democratically elected government.

The Australian government has introduced  a  number  of  measures  to  help
maintain  the  momentum of internationa pressure on the SLORC to accelerate
the pace of pollitical reform and to  adhere  to  internationally  accepted
standards  of  human rights. The Australian Government has implemented bans
on bilateral aid and defence exports to  Burma.  We  have  urged  countries
known  to  supply  arms  to  burma  to  discontinue  such  exports. We have
encouraged  the ASEAN countries to use their undoubted influence with Burma
to promote posituve changes. The Government also  initiated  a  seminar  on
Burma  at  GRiffith  University  in Brisband from 3-4 December 1992 to help
focus attention, both in Australia and overseas, on the situation  in  that
country.

Other  measures  implemented by the Australian Government to promote change
in Burma include support for  strong  resolutions  at  last  year's  united
Nations  Genearl  Assembly  and this year's session of the UN Commission on
Human Rights (CHR49). These resolutions focus on the human rights situation
and make specific reference  to  oppressive  measures  directed  at  ethnic
minorities.

In the specific case of the Rohingyas, Australia has actively supported the
efforts of the UNHCR to gain access to Burmese refugee camps in Bangladesh,
and  continues to support the establishment of a UNHCr presence in Burma to
monitor  the  repatriation  process.  UNHCR  has  advised  the   Australian
Government  that it is currently satisfied with the extent of its access to
Burmese refugee camps in Bangladesh.  While  there  were  reports  of  some
involuntary  repatriation of burmese refugees from Bangladesh in late 1991,
UNHCr has indicated that subsequent repatriation from Bangladesh have  been
made  on  a  voluntary  basis.  Australia  will  continue  to  monitor  the
repatriation of the Rohingyas very carefully.

Senator Evans has on several occasions urged the ASEANcountries to put more
substance into their policy of  "constructive  engagement"  with  burma  by
using gheir influence with the SLORC TO promote positive change.

Yours sincerely
Sd. J Pead
Assistant Secretary
South EAst Asia Branch

/* Endreport */