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A report from India.



Report from India.

Nonviolence International funded by the National Endowment for Democracy
sent Bob Helvey, Dr. Vum Son and myself to India to respond to the request
of pro-democracy groups for a course in nonviolent struggle.=20

We taught a 14 day course in late September and early October which was
attended by 80 participants. Participants came from a large spectrum of
the anti-SLORC groups including:=20
NLD/LA
NCGUB
ABSL- All Burma Students League
ABSDF (Western Border)
Chin Liberation Organization
Chin United Movement
Chin National Front
Overseas Chin Organization
Arakan Students Congress
All Burma Young Monks Union (Arakan)
All Burma Young Monks Union
Arakan League for Democracy
Kachin Student Congress
Federation of Trade Union, Burma (Western Border)
WRWAB-Women=92s Group
Independent Students and people

The number of groups is an indication of the growing strength of the
anti-slorc forces.  Demonstrating in New Delhi is easy as demonstrating in
Washington, DC.  On Sept 18, 1995, 80 Burmese demonstrated on the streets
near the Burmese embassy.  The police were most cooperative and blocked
off a major road to allow the one hour demonstration.  Burmese are not
hassled, jailed, or extorted by the Indian authorities as they are in
other countries such as Thailand.  The course was held in New Delhi where
a few hundred Burmese live.=20

A number of new initiatives are worthy of notice.
1) The Committee for Nonviolent Action in Burma.
This is the first coalition of groups in India. It will facilitate and
coordinate activities on the border and inside Burma in support of Aung
San Suu Kyi.  All of the major groups participate.=20

2) The Computer Coordinating Committee, made up of a coalition of groups
which will coordinate computer and internet resources.=20

3)The Chin National Council, formed a New Delhi chapter at a meeting of
about 50 people.  Swedish, German, US, and other chapters are in
formation.=20

4) The Chin Student Congress formed with more than 40 students attending
an opening congress.=20

5) A number of working committees of the Committee for Nonviolent Action
in Burma have been set up including a refugee committee, (there are 40,000
Chin refugees in Mizoram), a boycott Pepsi committee, a lobbying
committee, and an artists/musicians/poets group.=20

There are conflicts between the different pro-democracy groups in India.=20
This is quite normal and OK. They all support Aung San Suu Kyi.  The
biggest changes going on is the increased communication and cooperation
between the Chin groups and the Burman.  This is what SLORC most fears.=20

Forced labor and many forms of onerous taxation and restrictions continue
in western Burma.  Ethnic Burman have been moved into the Chin Hills as a
provocative attempt at Burmanization.  Border trade increases but not
greatly.=20

Indian authorities are less friendly when dealing with the CNF, the NUPA,
National United Party of Arakan, or the Arakan Liberation Party, ALP.=20
These groups have armed units along the border and have been accused of
cooperating with Indian (and Bangladesh) insurgent groups.  India tortured
and killed a few CNF leaders this April.=20

India is seen as the best ally for the pro-democracy movement because of
the concerns that Burma will increasingly become a client state of China
and that a democratic government in Burma will be good for India=92s
interests. My experience there leads me to the same conclusion.=20

Burmese activists in india need resources. Money, computers, and more money=
 .=20
They deserve the kind of support we have given the Thai side.



Michael Beer
mbeer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx