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BurmaNet News November 11, 1995
- Subject: BurmaNet News November 11, 1995
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 07:05:00
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"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: November 11, 1995
Issue #275
Noted in Passing:
If they really want drug imports into the United States to go
down, the answer is simple : Stop SLORC from fighting us
and put more pressure on it to apply tighter measures in its
own controlled areas instead. - Mong Tai Army customs
official (quoted in: S.H.A.N. : SLORC CONTROLS DRUGS
BUT US IS STILL OUT FOR KHUN SA'S SCALP)
HEADLINES:
==========
ABSDF-MTZ: NEWS FROM INSIDE BURMA
ABSDF-MTZ: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN KAREN TERRITORY
ISBDA: JAPAN'S RULING PARTY SEEKS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE NLD
S.H.A.N. : SLORC CONTROLS DRUGS BUT US IS STILL OUT FOR K.S.
BKK POST: UN REPORT ON BURMA ABUSES NEEDS ACTING ON
BKK POST: AUNG SAN SUU KYI TALKS POSSIBLE IN FUTURE
ABSDF-MTZ: STATEMENT ON THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABSDF
INDEPENDENT APPEAL: TOTAL ACTION ALERT
----------------------------------------------------------
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***********************
ABSDF-MTZ: NEWS FROM INSIDE BURMA
November 6, 1995
Detained student put in solitary confinement
--------------------------------------------
A Burmese student, Maung Myat San, a member of Three Color Flag
group (former personal bodyguard group of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)
and NLD youth member, who has been serving his 7 years prison
term in Insein (Rangoon) jail wrote a letter to Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi after her release in July this year.
Unfortunately, that letter was seized by the prison authorities
at the gate of the main jail and the warder who took out that
letter was discharged and sentenced to 5 years in prison with
hard labour. Maung Myat San was put in tiny cell for solitary
confinement for 5 months.
*******************************
Maj. Nay Soe gives warning to students
--------------------------------------
Col Than Htun directed Maj. Nay Soe to give a warning Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, saying students inside her home are planning a
poster and pamphlet campaign against the Slorc. Maj. Nay Soe is
the head of the MI security guards at the gate in front of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi's residence.
Voice of the Peacock
ABSDF
************************************************
ABSDF-MTZ: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN NORTHERN KAREN
TERRITORY November 6, 1995
Human Rights violations in Northern Karen Territory
---------------------------------------------------
In the southern part of Papun township, Kler La, Kaw Thaway Do,
Klay Sho Koh, Ler Joot, Wah Tho Koh, Ku Ler Doy, Maung Koh Do,
Pae Kaw Doh and Maung Sho Koh villages, each household has to pay
200 Kyat every month for ammunition basket fees. If anybody from
a family tries to run away, his or her family will be fined
double fees each month. These villagers have been forced to carry
excessive loads of ammunition and arms without being given any
food.
On October 18, 1995, Slorc battalion No. 26, commanded by Major
Myat Aung, went to Saw Wah Do area and started shooting the
villagers while they were harvesting rice in the fields. They
killed a girl and 7 men and injured 5 others. Seven huts, 27
paddy stores and also rice paddy fields were burnt down by the
Slorc troops. After that they went into Saw Wah Do village and
seized everything which belong to villagers. They killed 5 cows
on that day for their army rations. The Slorc soldiers were
ordered to destroy every rice field which was planted by Karen
villagers.
On October 22, 1995, Slorc regiment No. 233 led by Major
Win Tin Oo, under the direct command of Lt. Col. Aung Naing
Htun, a strategic commander of strategy No. 2, opened fire
on Karen villagers in the paddy fields called Mu Khee near Khaw
Mu Dae village. That area is located in Taungu district of Pegu
division. A village man named Saw Bar Balu was shot dead and all
the paddy fields were burnt down by Slorc troops. On October 23,
1995, all paddy fields and belongings of Khaw Bu Htow
villagers were destroyed by Slorc regiment No. 26 led by
Major Aye Kyaw.
On October 23, 1995, nearly 100 Karen students from Kha Layar and
Kaw Thae Dae Guin villages were arrested by Slorc troops
commanded by Lt. Col Aung Naing Htun, for porterage, sweeping
land mines and building new roads. The same day, three bulldozers
were sent to Kaw Thae Dae village to build a new road from Kaw
Thae Dae to Bu Sar Khee village. On October 25, 1995, Brigadier
Gen. Kyi Aung, commander of Southern command, ordered Major Aung
Naing Htun, a strategic commander of strategy No. 2 to forcibly
relocate all the villages between the area of Dae Lo and Ray Khat
Guin to a new location 13 miles away at Than Daung township in
Taungu district. At the moment, all the village leaders who were
forced to relocate are being forced to join basic military
training there on the orders of Brigadier Gen. Kyi Aung.
On October 25, 1995, Major Aung Naing Htun summoned the Baw Tali
Gyi village headman Khaw Thaba Phawt (50) and an old woman to
serve him as his personal servants and later the village head man
was killed, but the villagers found his dead body in the
jungle. The same day, the Kha Laela village headman's house was
dismantled by Slorc soldiers on the orders of Major Aung Naing
Htun. At the same time, all the houses from Wabo Kho, Kalay So
Khee and Ka Pudae villages were dismantled and moved to Kha Laela
village.
[Sources from Chairman of KNU Taungu district/ Translated by the
ABSDF]
*********************************************
ISBDA: JAPAN'S RULING PARTY SEEKS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE NLD
November 8, 1995
Japan's ruling party New Party Sakigake has sent a delegation to Burma to
establish political partnership with the National League for Democracy
(NLD), Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun reported.
Representative Mr. Noboru Usami and Mr. Muneharu Wada of Sakigake's
Headquarters have visited Rangoon from November 3 to 5 and they met Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders to discuss underlying issues in the
process towards democratization and the securing of basic human rights in
Burma. Both parties have achieved certain agreements on closer and
effective collaborations in the future.
At the press conference held at the Sakigake Tokyo Headquarters yesterday,
Party Secretary General Mr. Yukio Hatoyama said that his request for visa
to visit Myanmar was denied by giving a reason that the situation in Burma
is quite delicate and tense. It was unveiled that, in the letter to his NLD
counterpart, Mr. Hatoyama suggested to initiate collaborative programs
with an ultimate aim of human rights improvement in the Asia region. He
also commented that it is quite unrealistic at this moment to regard Burma
as a country with significant progress towards democracy and human rights.
*****************************
S.H.A.N. : SLORC CONTROLS DRUGS BUT US IS STILL OUT FOR
KHUN SA'S SCALP
5 November , 1995
Shans are shocked by reports about American approval of SLORC's military
campaigns against Shans despite growing evidence that the bulk of opium and
heroin convoys are passing through SLORC controlled territories.
One customs official of Mong Tai Army, whose name is withheld here by
request, says : Since communist affiliated organisations went over to
the SLORC's side six years ago, less and less drugs are coming into
MTA-controlled areas . Accordingly we are getting less and less revenue,
in sharp contrast to our increase in troop strength. Drug operations are
cheaper, easier, faster, and more profitable in SLORC's areas. So why
should the traders, except for a few, want to come through us? And yet
the Americans are still enlisting SLORC and its allies help to destroy
us. I cannot understand why they are doing this. If they really want
drug imports into the United States to go down, the answer is simple :
Stop SLORC from fighting us and put more pressure on it to apply tighter
measures in its own controlled areas instead.
He adds drily : If it weren't for assistance from some of our old
friends, the Shans cause would be as good as finished.
S.H.A.N. asked the opinion of Khwanmong, Secretary General of the Shan
State Restoration Council's Central Executive Committee, who denied that
the situation was that bad. " We are taking steps to open peace talks
with the SLORC which, if sucessful, will allow us the opportunity to
make more revenue. I hope Thailand will exercise a little more patience
with us ", referring to reports that Thais are preparing for more severe
sanctions against the Shans.
**************************************
BKK POST: UN REPORT ON BURMA ABUSES NEEDS ACTING ON
November 9, 1995
The report on Burma by the special United Nations human rights
investigator Yozo Yokota is the most shocking on Southeast Asia
since the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The charges
of abuses and cover-ups by the Rangoon junta deserve careful
study by both governments and citizens in this part of the
world.
Charges if killings, torture and arbitrary arrests are not new
against Burmese authorities. Mr Yokota's report demands study
and action because of its detail. It is a serious report by one
of the most respected and objective observers of Burma.
Mr Yokota is a Japanese academic with an expertise in human
rights. He was engaged by the United Nations' office of the
secretary-general several years ago for one task: to investigate
and to report on human rights in Burma.
He took the job seriously. He has travelled to Rangoon and the
provinces, talked with government officials and other sources.
Despite roadblocks tossed in his way by Burma's ruling State Law
and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), he worked carefully at
his report.
It takes a strong stomach to read the report with the care and
attention it deserves. The Burmese army is reported
killing_wanton, sadistic and random by turn civilians. The
reasons range from a slave-labourer asking for a drink of water
to suspicion of rebellion.
The shaming, raping and gang-raping of women and female
labourers are detailed. A disturbing description of the death of
a 56-year-old man suspected by soldiers of collaboration with
rebel forces: "His ears were cut off, nails were driven through
his hands and legs and his tongue was cut out. The victim died
when nails were driven through the crown of his head."
The expert released several interim reports before his explicit
and disturbing final summary from the United Nations on Tuesday.
Each reported general and specific human rights abuses against
Rangoon. None was taken seriously or acted upon by the junta.
Throughout the investigation, Mr Yokota has acted in a
scrupulously diplomatic manner. The last public report before
this week gave guarded praise to Burma for talks it held with
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in short, Mr Yokota has from
the beginning bent over backwards to be fair to a government
many view as simply vicious.
Slorc was given opportunity to view Mr Yokota's final report
before it was released. Sadly if predictably, Rangoon went into
deep denial. According to the regime, none of the events
graphically pictured in Mr Yokota's report happened. All Burmese
soldiers treat women with respect. All female labourers are paid
(no mention at all of forced porterage of men by Slorc).
Burma will not investigate any specific or general charge made
in Mr Yokota's sickening summary unless victims bring them
personally to Rangoon police notice. The junta asks, "How can
anyone from this society commit such outrageous crimes..?" This
is an important question.
The world should, and must, demand an answer. The UN report says
such crimes took place. Eye-witnesses who do not know each other
lend their own recollections. Other reports, un-connected in any
manner with Mr Yokota's tight and gruesome study, jibe with the
UN representative's conclusion.
Our own government should try to find out how such crimes can
occur in Burma and should also determine a course of action
based on the answer. No civilised government would tolerate such
acts. Why the Burmese regime refuses to investigate Mr Yokota's
reports is a serious question demanding equally serious study.
The repression in Burma since 1962 is well-known to Burma's
neighbours.
Mr Yokota's report focuses, properly, on the human rights abuses
in Burma but makes no sweeping recommendations. This, however,
should not stop governments and citizens. The horrific violence
which has taken place in Burma and which continues must stop.
The Burmese government cannot assume a place with other
governments in a civilised world. The atrocities reported by Mr
Yokota should demand the attention of Slorc. The junta must be
made aware it has no credibility and will earn none simply by
denying the many horrifying details in the Yokota report.
Slorc must talk with its opposition, particularly with Ms Suu
Kyi, for there can be no reconciliation in Burma. It must also
deal seriously with the subject of human rights abuses. The UN
report is a warning to Rangoon of a serious diplomatic problem,
as well as notice to the world of terrible events still taking
place in Burma. If Slorc fails to heed this dual warning, it
will reap severe consequences. (BP)
***************
BKK POST: AUNG SAN SUU KYI TALKS POSSIBLE IN FUTURE, SAYS
SLORC MINISTER November 9, 1995
Tokyo, AFP
Visiting Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw yesterday said the
ruling military junta would consider talking with pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the future.
According to Jiji Press Ohn Gyaw told his Japanese counterpart
Yohei Konoat: "I will consider it at an appropriate time in the
future," if Aung San Suu Kyi pledges to make a "constructive
contribution" to the country.
The Burmese foreign minister said "the process to enact a new
constitution now stands at a sensitive stage." And he added:
"The Burmese government places top priority on national reconciliation."
Konoat was quoted as telling Ohn Gyaw that Japan wanted Burma
"to attach importance to democratic views and procedures" when
drafting a new constitution. A national convention is to be held
by Burma's military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (Slorc), later this month to draft a constitution.
Meanwhile, Ohn Gyaw said Burma would send "a highest-level
delegation" to a summit in Bangkok of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in December.
Burma has been invited, along with Cambodia and Laos, to the
summit of top leaders from Asean's seven member nations Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.
Japan last month resumed its grant-in-aid to Burma with a first
aid of 1.6 billion yen_ US$16 million following Aung San Suu Kyi
's release on July 10 after six years of house arrest.
Tokyo also announced its willingness to resume economic aid to
Burma on a case-by-case basis based on democratisation moves by
the Burmese military junta. But Burmese dissidents have called
on Japan to hold back its aid to pressure Rangoon's junta.
Japan virtually halted its aid after the junta's take-over in
1988. General Maung Aye, vice chairman of the Slorc, came to
Japan earlier this month but his visit remained low-key. The
Burmese foreign minister arrived in Tokyo on Sunday for a five-
day visit. (BP)
*****************************************
ABSDF-MTZ: STATEMENT ON THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE FOUNDING OF THE ABSDF
November 5, 1995
STATEMENT ON THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING
---------------------------------------------------
OF THE ABSDF
------------
Date: November 5, 1995
November 5, 1995, is the seventh anniversary of the founding of the ABSDF
(All Burma Students' Democratic Front). Throughout the history of Burma, since
the period of British colonial rule, students have been taking a leading role
in national independence movements and anti-military dictatorship struggles.
Given the current situation in Burma, we have reached what could be a critical
turning point in the struggle to topple the military dictatorship and to
restore democracy and human rights to all the people of Burma. We, the ABSDF
students, together with the ethnic resistance groups and all democratic
forces, are in readiness for the coming struggle to reach a political
settlement in our country.
We the ABSDF firmly believe that the best chance for the implementation of
democracy in Burma and the establishment of federal union lies in the
maintenance of strength and unity and a clear resolute determination by all
ethnic resistance groups and Burmese democratic organizations; we must all
grasp the cause of freedom in unison.
On the auspicious occasion of the seventh anniversary of the ABSDF, we would
like to appeal to the people of Burma and the international community to join
hand in hand with us to demand from the Slorc military regime:
1. The unconditional release of student leader Min Ko Naing and all political
prisoners;
2. The cancellation of all Slorc's unjust laws;
3. The abolition of the Slorc's sham National Convention;
4. The opening of dialogue with the democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and the ethnic national leaders so that national reconciliation and
internal peace may be achieved.
Central Leading Committee
ABSDF
Headquarters
88 Camp
*******************************************
INDEPENDENT APPEAL: TOTAL ACTION ALERT
November 6 1995
original from: Pamela Wellner <pwellner@xxxxxxxxxxx>
this corrected version was posted by David Arnott
ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT
(David Arnott's Re-Working of the French Text)
The following is a letter that has been translated for Project
Maje by Info Birmanie, a French Burma activist organization. It
should be sent to the following members of Total's Board of
Directors. Please excuse the French version, accents were lost
in the email transmission, if you know French please add them, or
send without.
Total's address:
Board Member c/o Total S.A.-- Conseil d'Administration, Tour
Total, 24, Cours Michelet Cedex 47, 92069, Paris, La Defense,
France
Board Members (Membres du Conseil d'Administration):
Monsieur Thierry Desmarest, Monsieur Francois-Xavier Ortoli,
Monsieur Guy Arlette (French government representative), Monsieur
Bernard Esambert, Monsieur Michel Francois-Poncet, Monsieur Jean
Syrota, Monsieur Antoine Jeancourt-Galignani, Monsieur Jean
Peyrelevade, Monsieur Jerome Monod, Monsieur Jean-Claude Preval
(French government representative)
French version
Cher Monsieur________
Je vous ecris pour protester fermement contre le projet de
construction d'un gazoduc au sud de la Birmanie de la societe
Total.
La region traversee est une zone de guerre avec guerrilla, et des
employes de Total y ont deja perdu leur vie. Tous les contrats
ont ete faits sous la loi de l'Etat birman et avec le Conseil de
restauration de l'ordre, une junte violente. Les peuples
indigenes dont la terre est traversee par le gazoduc ne sont ni
consultes ni dedommages. Beaucoup d'entre eux sont expulses de
leur terres et de leurs villages par la force quand le regime
assure la securite de la route du gazoduc.
Le gazoduc met en danger les especes rares et la foret
tropicale, et la Birmanie n'a aucune loi de protection de
l'environnement. Les mesures de securite prises par l'armee
birmane ont ete violentes et on a eu recours a l'esclavage pour
la construction de routes et des bases militaires dans la region
du gazoduc.
La route du gazoduc traverse une region seismique jonchee de
mines. Ce projet ne va apporter benefice pratique ni financier a
Total. Au contraire, cela a noirci l'image publique de la
societe Total, qui se trouve identifiee aux violations des droits
de 'homme en Birmanie. Etant donne que Total est aujourdhui le
principal investisseur etranger en birmanie, cette societe est
percue comme le soutien d'une junte condamnee par les Nations
Unies et par l'Union europeenne. Apres six ans de detention, le
prix nobel de la paix Aung San Suu Kyi a reclame la pursuite des
campagnes contre la junte.
Nous vous prions d'exercer votre meilleure influence aupres de la
societe Total, pour mettre un terme a ces odieux investissements
en Birmanie.
------------------------------------------------------ English
Translation
Dear Mr. _____________,
I am writing to strongly object to the construction of a gas
pipeline in the south of Burma by Total. The region crossed by
the pipeline is a guerrilla war zone, and employees of Total have
already lost their lives there. All of the contracts have been
made under Burmese government law, with the State Law and Order
Restoration Council, a brutal junta. The indigenous people whose
land is crossed by the pipeline have not been consulted, nor
compensated. Many have been forced from their lands and villages
as the regime secures the route for the pipeline.
The pipeline endangers rare species and tropical forest, and
Burma does not have any environmental protection laws. Security
measures by the Burmese Army have been violent, and are using
slave labor for the construction of roads, and military bases in
the pipeline region. Additionally, the route of the pipeline
crosses an earthquake zone full of land mines.
This project will not bring any practical benefit or financial
profit to Total. On the contrary, it has brought about an image
problem, as Total has been identified with violations of human
rights in Burma. Because Total is currently the prime foreign
investor with the Burmese regime, the company is perceived to be
involved with a junta condemned by the United Nations and the
European Union. After six years of detention, the Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has appealed for the
continuation of campaigns against the junta.
We request that you use your best influence with Total to put an
end to this odious investment in Burma.
Sincerely yours,