BurmaNet News: December 3, 1995 #29

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Subject: BurmaNet News: December 3, 1995 #294



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The BurmaNet News: December 3, 1995
Issue #294

Noted in Passing:

	Money motivates men, big businessmen. Their motivation is
	to make money.  If they can make money, why not? They are not 
	worried about what politicians say. - David Abel, SLORC
	Minister for National Planning and Economic Development
	on foreign investors in Burma (see BKK POST: BURMA 
	EXPECTS INVESTMENTS TO RISE)


HEADINGS:
=========
NDF: STATEMENT ON NLD'S WALK OUT
WHITE HOUSE: STATEMENT ON BURMA
U.S. STATEMENT: UNITED STATES 'STRONGLY SUPPORTS' NLD STANCE
ABSDF-DNA: PRESS RELEASE - SPIES ESCAPED FROM ABSDF DETENTION
BKK POST: OPPOSITION GROUPS SEEK DIALOGUE WITH JUNTA
BKK POST: BURMA EXPECTS INVESTMENTS TO RISE
BKK POST: EVANS CAUTIOUS OVER BURMA RECOGNITION
NOTES FROM INDIA: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY IN INDIA ADOPTED 
FBC: MESSAGE FROM DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO STUDENTS IN EXILE
STATEMENT FROM SHWE HTEE: SLORC FLAG DOWN!
SUNDAY HERALD-TIME: HR ACTIVISTS HOPE TO STOP IU ALUMINI TRIP
THE INDEPENDENT: LEADING BLIGHTS OF BURMA
BURMANET: BRIEF NEWS ITEMS
RADIO AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIA "WILL CONSIDER" RESUMING AID TO 
BRC-J: AN APPEAL TO THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT 
ACTION ALERT: WRITE SENATOR JOHN KERRY

**************************************************

NDF: STATEMENT ON NLD'S WALK OUT
December 1, 1995
  
STATEMENT OF NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT (NDF) ON THE NLD'S 
WALK OUT ITS DELEGATIONS FROM THE SLORC'S NATIONAL CONVENTION
 
        The National Democratic Front (NDF) has issued its statement
concerning with the internal peace in Burma in which NDF expressed its
firm belief that only the round- table political dialogue way could bring
the solution of the current political dilemma in Burma. 
        In the NLD's letters dated November 28, 1995 to the Chairman of
National Convention Convening Commission, it stated that NLD has decided
not to participate in the National Convention as they learnt there was no
discussion on the dialogue in the opening speech by the Commission
Chairman.  This decision shows that NLD is shouldering its responsibility
and its firm stand for the sake of the all nationalities and democratic
forces in Burma. 
        In order to find the way of solving the national conflicts that is
main cause of the civil war since 1948 and way of solving the human rights
and democracy problems in 1988, NDF strongly believe that dialogue
proposed by NLD is the only constructive mean and most suitable way. 
        Both some of the members of NDF and some other non-member of NDF
have signed the cease-fire agreements with Slorc somehow.  Slorc not only
has yet to discuss with the cease-fire groups how to solve the political
dilemma but is attempting to reach the surrender agreement by all means. 
        The decision of the NLD to boycott the Slorc's sham National
Convention and call for dialogue to solve the political dilemma clearly
expresses the will of the all ceased-fire groups, the groups has not
signed cease-fire yet, and the democratic forces both inside and
international. 
        If Slorc ignores the will of Burmese people and continues the
holding of National Convention, there will be a bloody turmoil and the
country will be in chaos. Slorc will be the only responsible for all the
consequence of continuing National Convention. 
 
National Democratic Front
December 1, 1995

*************************************************

WHITE HOUSE: STATEMENT ON BURMA
December 1, 1995

Following is text of a White House statement made today (December 1)  
on events in Burma:

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

The United States views with concern recent events in Burma.  
We and other governments have noted that under current circumstances, 
the National Convention convened by the Burmese authorities does not 
offer the opposition a meaningful opportunity to participate in the crucial 
decisions that will determine Burma's political future.  We understand that 
the National League for Democracy (NLD) withdrew from the Convention 
after its repeated requests for dialogue with the authorities were rejected, 
triggering a harsh and threatening response by the authorities.

We urge the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to 
recognize that public discussion in an environment free of intimidation 
is critical to the healthy functioning of any political system.  We further 
urge the authorities to avoid threats or other measures against those who 
seek freely to express their views.  

We continue to believe that it is only through peaceful dialogue between the 
SLORC and recognized democratic leaders that national reconciliation will take 
place in Burma.  We urge the authorities in Burma to agree to such a dialogue.

****************************************		

U.S. STATEMENT: UNITED STATES 'STRONGLY SUPPORTS' NLD STANCE
BY NICOLAS BURNS, US GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN
November 30 1995

AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S PARTY WITHDRAWS FROM NATIONAL CONVENTION

Delegates from Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for
Democracy (NLD), withdrew from the Burmese military authorities'
National Convention on November 28.  The NLD concluded that given
the refusal of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
to address concerns about the conduct of the National Convention,
it could not continue to participate in the process.

The United States strongly supports Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD
in the quest to begin a direct dialogue with the SLORC about the
political future of the country.  We strongly encourage the SLORC,
as we have done in the past, to enter into such a dialogue with
Aung San Suu Kyi, other democratic leaders and the ethnic minorities.
We believe this is key to political reconciliation in Burma.

**************************************************************

ABSDF-DNA: PRESS RELEASE - SPIES ESCAPED FROM ABSDF DETENTION
December 1, 1995

        On the night of November 24, 1995, two spies of Slorc's National
Intelligence Bureau, sentenced to ten years imprisonment by ABSDF escaped
from the jail along with two other detainees. 
        The incidence occurred after they managed to break-out after
cutting the wooden bars of the detention cell.  The security for the
detention was not enough tight as they were detained in the temporary
cells while the ABSDF camp in that Karenni area is in mobile condition. 
        The spies who escaped are Ne Win Aung (Captain, 3635, National
Intelligence Bureau of Slorc) and Soe Lin (Special Agent, P.C. 2784
National Intelligence Bureau).  They were exposed as infiltrated spies who
were assigned to disrupt the stability of ABSDF and to sneak the ABSDF's
information out. They had arranged to close to leadership and they were
found out later after the spy-ring was exposed starting from ABSDF
(Northern Burma). They were charged as spies and sentenced to ten years
jail term by ABSDF judge panel. 
        The two other namely, Htin Kyaw and Myint Oo were arrested for
attempting and organizing other fellows to surrender to Slorc with arms.
They have not been trialed yet due to the current unstable situation. 
        ABSDF could not find out the whereabouts of these escaping 
detainees as the time of this press release.
 
ABSDF Central Executive Committee
ABSDF( DAWN GWIN)
1 December 1995.

******************************************

BKK POST: OPPOSITION GROUPS SEEK DIALOGUE WITH JUNTA
December 2, 1995

Two Burmese opposition groups yesterday called for a dialogue
with military rulers in Rangoon as the sole means of achieving
national reconciliation.

     In statements received here, the National Council of the
Union of Burma and the National Democratic Front backed the
decision by the NLD to boycott the national constitutional convention.

     The NCUB urged the international community to put more pressure on 
the Government in Rangoon to get it to start a dialogue with the Opposition.

     The NCUB said the NLD's call for dialogue was "the most
suitable and righteous way to find a political solution for
issues of restoration of democracy, ethnic rights and human rights.

     "All the democratic opposition, armed revolutionary forces
and ceasefire groups are willing to enter the dialogue, the statement said.

     According to the NDF, only round-table political dialogue
"could bring a solution to the current political dilemma in Burma.

     The NDF, an umbrella group of ethnic parties, noted that
some of its members had signed ceasefire agreements with Rangoon
but said they too wanted dialogue leading to a political understanding.

     In Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono urged the
military rulers to listen to opinions from the pro-democracy camp
when drawing up a constitution.

     "I hope the Government will achieve national reconciliation
or listen to various views in the country," Kono told a press conference.

     "I want many people to voice various opinions actively. But
maybe I cannot say so heedlessly, considering the situation
people are in under the present administration," he added.

     A Foreign Ministry spokesman told a separate press conference that 
the Japanese Government hoped both sides would have a "realistic" attitude. - AFP

***************************************************************
BKK POST: BURMA EXPECTS INVESTMENTS TO RISE
December 2, 1995

      BURMA'S economy is growing and the country's leaders are
confident foreign businessmen will flock to invest despite political and 
human rights problems, a senior Burmese economic minister said.

     Brigadier-General David Abel, minister for national planning
and economic development, told Reuters in an interview that investors 
were coming to Burma because they see an opportunity to make money.
They were not hampered by political concerns, he added.

     "Money motivates men, big businessmen. Their motivation is
to make money " he said on Thursday. "If they can make money, why
not? They are not worried about what politicians say."

     Abel dismissed calls by National League for Democracy (NLD)
leader Aung San Suu Kyi for foreign investors and international
organisations to be cautious about investing in Burma because of
its dismal human rights record and undemocratic military-run government.

     "That's a joke," Abel said referring to Suu Kyi's remarks.
"It doesn't worry me at all. The situation is good, they can make
a sound investment. They can make money."

     Most countries cut off financial aid to the Southeast Asian
nation after the military suppressed pro-democracy uprisings in
1988, leaving thousands dead or in jail.

     The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) which
took power after the uprisings later refused to recognise the
results of a 1990 election won by Suu Kyi's NLD.

     The NLD withdrew from constitutional talks with the
government this week, claiming they were undemocratic.

     Abel said Burma had approved 160 foreign investment projects
worth $3 billion through to October 31 this year.

     Singapore and Thailand have the largest number of projects,
while nations under the United Kingdom flag including many tax
havens in the Caribbean have invested the largest amount of money, he said.

     Abel also said Burma had very positive discussions with the
International Monetary fund (IMF) in August and should reach an
agreement on future loans soon. "We are almost on the verge of getting to 
an agreement now," he said.

 He described the August consultations as "very good" and added
"They see things now much more clearly. Because of the very sound
and positive technical report they have made, I think it is a
strong indicator they will me back."

     Many economic analysts and diplomats had said foreign
investments might flow again Burma following the July release of
Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest for six years.

     The SLORC,-which inherited the legacy of a disastrous 26
years of economic decline following the "Burmese Way to Socialism
Doctrine" adopted by previous rulers, has tried to rehabilitate Burma's 
economy  by encouraging foreign investment and seeking aid and loans.

Abel, who often travels abroad to sell Burma and its array of natural 
resources, said the country needed aid but was managing without it.

     "When we came to government in 1988, the economy was in very
bad shape. GDP was negative, around minus 16.2%, per capita
income was negative, minus 22%," he said.

     "Today, after stabilising the economy, we have an average growth rate 
of 7.5% and per capita income has risen by more than 20% since 1988.

     "We have no aid, no grants, nothing, nothing since 1988," he
said. "We've tightened our belts, looked for investments and with
a prudent and sound policy we've managed to come all this way.
Now the world is opening its eyes to what's happening here."

     Abel said the government was trying to improve
infrastructure and realign the local currency.

     He said some programmes to expand roads, railways,
electricity and telephone lines have been undertaken by the
government. Private investors were helping with projects, such
such as new port facilities and a second airport.

*********************************************************************
BKK POST: EVANS CAUTIOUS OVER BURMA RECOGNITION
December 2, 1995

AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister  Gareth Evans queried Kasem S. Kasemsri 
yesterday on whether ASEAN might be recognising Burma prematurely.
Senator Evans met the Foreign Minister for 20 minutes in Bangkok yesterday.

     The Australian minister will leave for Malaysia today after speaking at a 
business cooperation and investment forum of Pacific Rim countries.

     Burmese leader Gen Than Shwe has been invited along with the Laotian and 
Cambodian leaders to meet with seven ASEAN leaders in Bangkok on 
December 14-15.

     Speaking to reporters after their 20-minute discussion
yesterday, Foreign Minister Kasem quoted Mr Evans as saying ASEAN
has recognised Burma prematurely. The Australian minister
maintained that Rangoon has not yet show any signs of complying
with demands by the international community for democratisation.

     "It is a matter of us seeing things through different
windows," M.R. Kasem said.

     A source said Mr Evans asked Thailand to push for
democratisation in Burma. However, M.R. Kasem reiterated
that the stance of ASEAN and Thailand on the matter was to
respect the internal affairs of others.

     "This is not a matter of experimenting. Burma is a neighbour
that Thailand has to live with. We also prefer diversity, not
uniformity," said the Thai Foreign Minister.

     Australia has proposed a set of benchmarks for the ruling
State Law and Order Restoration Council to comply with before the
world community lifts sanctions on the country.

     The benchmarks include the release of all political
prisoners and the transfer of power to the opposition that won a landslide 
victory in the 1990 general elections. One benchmark already complied with 
was the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

     The Thai and Australian foreign ministers also discussed
Cambodia during their brief meeting.

***************************************************************

STATEMENT FROM SHWE HTEE: SLORC FLAG DOWN!
December 1, 1995

On November 24, 1995, the SLORC  (formerly the Burmese Socialist Programme
Party) flag finally fell at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) in
the United States. This occurred after a successful campaign at TC3 to throw 
out the flag that was hanging in the main atrium's collection of International Flags.

 I started this campaign in the middle of October.  I met with students,
faculty and the President of the University to discuss how the flag
represented the cruel and inhuman military regime in Burma.  The flag that
was in place represented the Burmese Socialist Programme Party.

After the military junta seized power in 1958, they adopted the name
Revolution Council in 1962.  They changed the name again to the Burmese
Socialist Programme Party in 1974.  At this time, they also rewrote the
Constitution and created a new flag.  This was the flag that was grossly
displayed at TC3.

I wrote a letter of protest to the President of the University and started
an aggressive letter writing campaign.  Finally, after one month, they
removed the awful flag.

We cannot let this flag be displayed anywhere!  If you see the flag
displayed anywhere, YOU MUST PROTEST IT! !  This flag does not represent
the Burmese people.  It symbolizes the inhumane and oppressive system of
the Burmese military assholes.

Now that the SLORC is holding the National Convention, it is apparent that
they are not interested in relinquishing any of their power to the people
of Burma.  We must stand in strong opposition to the National Convention by
supporting the boycott by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD party.  We must
urge foreign countries to continue their international embargo on Burma.

This is the just the beginning of the fight!

BOYCOTT!  BOYCOTT!  SLORC NATIONAL CONVENTION!
BOYCOTT!  BOYCOTT!  PEPSI-COLA COMPANY!
BOYCOTT!  BOYCOTT!  TEXACO!
BOYCOTT!  BOYCOTT!  INVESTMENT IN BURMA!

If anyone wants any more information about the flag situation, please
contact me at the above e-mail address.

Shwe Htee (8.8.88)

******************************************************

NOTES FROM INDIA: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY IN INDIA ADOPTED 
A POLICY ON BURMA SUPPORTIVE TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI.
December 2, 1995   (abridged)

While the most popular Congress party in India is trying to defend 
its title in upcoming polls in the second quarter of 1996, the BJP is 
gaining a tremendous success in its campaign. Interestingly, the BJP, 
the key opposition party had adopted a foreign policy on Burma which 
is quite dynamic. In the BJP manifesto, on page 6, it says:

"The BJP has viewed with great sympathy the struggle for restoration 
of democracy in Myanmar under the dynamic leadership of Aung San Suu 
Kyi and will extend its  full support to the task of reconciliation 
and reconstruction in that country with which India has a long border 
and age-old ties of religion, culture and history."

Dr. I.P. Singh, ex-ambassador to Rangoon and of the External Affairs 
Cell of the BJP said in India no matter what political party is, they 
all have a common policy of Burma that is pro-democracy.  But he is 
not happy with the present Indian policy on Burma and commented 
in an article in the "World Affairs":

"The question that arises in one's mind at this juncture is:   Does the 
above picture of Burma have any impact on the thinking of the 
policy-makers in New Delhi? The answer is:  perhaps not. An indicator 
of this was the strange coincidence that at the Nehru Award ceremony 
for Aung San Suu Kyi at Rashtrapti Bhavan, the to persons who were 
conspicuous by their absence were the ambassador of Myanmar and the 
Prime Minister of India."

*********************************************

SUNDAY HERALD-TIME: HR ACTIVISTS HOPE TO STOP IU ALUMINI TRIP
November 26, 1995 (Bloomington, Indiana paper)

This article appeared in the local Bloomington, Indiana paper.  It
features the campaign organizer, Tun Myint of the Indiana Campaign for a
Free Burma.  His color photo also appeared on the front of the Region
section with a caption.  The caption reads "Tun Myint, and Indiana
University student from Burma, is leading and appeal to the IU Alumni
Association to withdraw support for an alumni tourist trip to Burma early
next year.  The appeal was launched because Myint and others do not
believe the military dictatorship acts in a humanitarian way to many of
the Burmese people."

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HOPE TO STOP IU ALUMNI TRIP TO BURMA NEXT YEAR
By Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Local human rights activists are hoping to talk Indiana University out of
sponsoring an alumni tourist trip to Burma early next year.

Tun Myint, an IU student from Burma driven from his country during a
bloody military crackdown seven years ago, is leading appeal to the IU
Alumni Association to withdraw support for the trip on humanitarian grounds.

By sponsoring the trip, IU is lending "institutional support" to Burma's
repressive military government, Myint said. "It empowers the status of
the government, which took power by gun not by public consent."

Long a military dictatorship, Burma - or Myanmar, as the military has
renamed it - launched a brutal crackdown on dissidents in 1988. It is
estimated that more than 3000 people died in those attacks in Rangoon,
the capital.

The military government has declared 1996 "Visit Myanmar Year" and is
courting international tourists to visit the country.

The IU Alumni Association is sponsoring a January trip to several
southeast Asian countries, including Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, and
Singapore. Booked through Intrav travel company of St. Louis, the trip
costs between $6,000 and $8,000 per person.

The U.S State Department's 1994 report on human rights practices in Burma
said that despite "an appearance of greater normalcy fostered by increased
economic activity, in fact the government's unacceptable record on human
rights changed little in 1994."

The report found that Burmese citizens "continued to live subject at
any time and without appeal to the arbitrary and sometimes brutal dictates
of the military. There continue to be credible reports, particularly from
ethnic minority-dominated areas, that soldiers committed serious human
rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and rape."

The report also found evidence that the Burmese army forced hundreds of
thousands of men, women and children to "contribute" their labor under
harsh working conditions to construction projects throughout the country.

Activists such as Myint are concerned about a number of forced labor
projects.

Under pressure from California-based groups, UCLA's alumni association
has withdrawn sponsorship of the same tour.

"Burmese citizens themselves came to us and asked us not to go there,"
said Susan Lewis, director of the UCLA alumni travel program. "We had
never had that happen with any other tour before."

Lewis emphasized that universities must make decision on sponsoring such
trips based on their own constituencies.

"We have in L.A. the largest community of Burmese citizens outside of
Burma, so therefore it stands to reason that that would come up of
concern for them," she said. "We also have foremost expert in the world
on Burma, a UCLA alum who's a professor emeritus at Rutgers."

Burmese students who fled the military crackdown in 1988 began arriving
in the United States in 1991. In that year, Congress authorized the U.S
Information Agency to release money for the students to finish their
degree in this country.

A dozen students came to IU in 1993 and several dozen more settled in
Fort Wayne.

Myint, 25, had just finished high school in 1988 when the crackdown
occurred and he became a student leader in the pro-democracy movement.

Now a political refugee in the United States, he's finishing his college
degree at IU. He has not communicated directly with his family since 1988.

The last time he mailed a letter to his family, "my brother was
interrogated by the military," he said.

Myint met with alumni association director Jerry Tardy on Nov. 14. He
hopes to persuade IU to drop its official sponsorship of the February
trip, then cancel any future alumni trips to Burma.

Tardy said he had a "very healthy dialogue" with Myint and other activists
and will air their concerns at association's board of managers meeting
Nov. 30. He would have more information after that meeting, he said.

Myint encourages individuals to travel to Burma themselves. Alone, he
said, people have a better chance of seeing the reality of the country
for themselves.

"This is not just a political issue, it's a humanitarian issue," Myint
said. "It's about abusing and killing people, about forcing them to work
on tourist projects and railway with no pay."

[the following short note appeared in a side column]

PROJECTS BEING PROTESTED

Human rights activists are protesting the use of forced labor on several
projects or proposed projects in Burma. They include

*The construction of the Ye-Tavoy railway in southern Myanmar. Some
reports say more than 60,000 villagers were conscripted to work on the
project.

*The rebuilding of the 19th century Gold Palace in the City of Mandalay.
Here, the military announced that each family in the city of 500,000
would have to contribute at least three days a month of free labor.

*The proposed construction of a natural gas pipeline across the Burma panhandle.

************************************************************

FBC: MESSAGE FROM DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO STUDENTS IN EXILE
December 1, 1995
>From zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The following message is from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and was taped
during an interview with an American guest on November 30, 1995.
The statement was transcribed by the interviewer and faxed from Bangkok
this morning.  Please re-distribute it among Burmese communities abroad.

"The first thing is they must not lose sight of their goal__to achieve
democracy and human rights for Burma, through non-violent means.  And, I
would like to ask them not to forget the troubles of Burma even if their
life is easy.  It would be quite normal for them not to think too much of
the troubles of those who are left behind.  It is a worthwhile cause.  By
continuing to be involved in the cause, and by contributing to it, they
themselves would gain a lot out of it."

RE: the Free Burma movement abroad:

"I am very glad that they are doing this."

//end the message from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi//

Dear Fellow American activists,

We Burmese students appeal to you at this hour of critical importance to
write or call US senators and Congressmen and -women to express serious
concerns over the recent developments in Rangoon.  Essentially, Slorc has
shown absolutely no sign of desiring any genuine democratic changes or
relinquishing its stranglehold over 45 million hostages it holds at
gunpoint. It accuses Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as being "an axe of the
imperialists" and threatens to "annihilate" anyone who disrupts the sham
National Convention.  And Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD are committed to
fight until freedom and democracy is restored.   The current situation in
Burma is volatile and Slorc will do anything to stay in power, even if it
means another round of massacres.

Collectively we can prevent this from happening by calling our own lawmakers
and urging them to deliver a strong message that the US is carefully
watching the situation and that no more bloodshed in Burma would be
tolerated.  Once they get the message that their constituents care, then
they  will likely call the US State Department which in turn will have to
do something to exert pressure on the intransigent Slorc.

Thank you for your solidarity with, support for, and participation in our
movement.

3).  U of Wisconsin Group Action

Chicago's only public FM (91.5) station will air a 20 min interview with
the FBC.  If you are in Chicago area this week, please tune in to the World
View (12 noon-1 PM) by Jerome McDonald.  For more info, please call
312-832-3359.  (WBEZ has about 300,000 listeners.)

About 50 junior high students out of 110 attendees signed up for the Free
Burma Movement at the yesterday's talk at U. of Chicago's Lab Schools

Amy Goodman, an acclaimed radio  journalists from Pacifica Radio Network,
New York is in town here in Madison and will interview us on the Free Burma
Campaign this afternoon. Will announce the date and time of the interview
as soon as we know of it.         Free Burma!

Free Burma Coalition

****************************************************

THE INDEPENDENT: LEADING BLIGHTS OF BURMA
November 27, 1995  by Miles Kington, London

Earlier this year I was offered a good sum of money by a travel firm to
write a piece about Burma.  Not only that, but I was offered a free flight
out there and a cruise up the Irrawaddy.  All I had to do afterwards was
extol the place as a tourist destination, while carefully avoiding the
political overtones.

The reason they had approached me rather than someone else was not hard to
guess. In 1987, I had gone to Burma with a BBC film crew to make a
programme called "The Burma Road" in the "Great Journeys" series.  I had
fallen in love with the country.  I had written glowingly about the place
and the people.  Who better, the travel people must have reasoned, to send
out as a herald for the tourist invasion?

The travel people may not have noticed that while I liked the place, I
hated the government.  Burma had been under the foot of the grim regime for
as long as most people can remember, a corrupt and greedy regime of thugs
who have crushed racial minorities, bled the economy dry and murdered
students and monks in large number whenever they have protested; they were
doing so before Tiananmen Square set the fashion.  The Burmese regime
combines the less attractive characteristics of the Chinese government at
its most bullyboy and a pseudofascist Latin American dictatorship.

The reason I turned down the invitation to have a free trip and write this
piece was partly honorable (to avoid encouraging the Burmese regime) and
partly cowardly (to avoid getting anywhere where the Burmese regime, who
might have read what I had written about them, could give me a hard time).
But the one thing, more than anything else, that convinced me I should
boycott the place was a chance encounter last year with someone from Burma
who had lived at Pagan.

Pagan (pronounced Pa-GARN) is the most amazing place I have ever seen.  It
was, once, a flourishing medieval city on a plain beside the Irrawaddy
River, full of shops, temples, palaces and houses.  Centuries ago everything 
was destroyed except the temples, leaving a gigantic chess board of brick and 
stone pyramids, stretching for miles between the river and the hills.

Here and there among the temples small villages formed, where farmers and
peasants crept back into the deserted city to set up their small colonies.
I can remember climbing the main pagoda in the village of Pagoda to survey
the great plain as the sun came up over Burma, and being equally surprised
by the sight and by the sounds.  I had expected the world at the top of a
pagoda to be tranquil, but I had forgotten that sound travels well upwards,
and up there on top of the temple I could hear the whole village beneath
me--the dogs, the shouts, the creaking of cart wheels, the singing, the
crackling of fire.  The effect of a lived-in monument was heady.

Not any more, said my contact from Pagan.  To keep it clean and pure for
the tourist trade, that village has been swept away.  It has vanished.  The
inhabitants have been forcibly moved away and left to rot.  Things have
been done to these people as bad as anything in Bosnia, the difference
being that the government is doing it to its people.  Not ethnic cleansing
but touristic cleansing.

All this was unpleasantly confirmed for me on Radio 4 last week, on the
excellent programme called "Costing the Earth", in which the programme's
correspondent revealed that this clearance is now going on in Rangoon
itself, where whole areas are being cracked down to make room for four-star
hotels, and the people are being thrown out of town.  Gangs of slave labour
are being forced to clean out the vast moat of the Palace of Mandalay.

There was a time when the Burmese discouraged tourism, but now they have
discovered the quick profits to be made from it, as they previously
discovered the profits to be made from flogging off their jade, teak and
oil.  So the thugs in charge of Burma have  proclaimed that this should be
"Visit Burma Year" and have started tossing out blandishments to travel
firms, which led, I suppose, to my invitation to visit.

The ironic thing is that the programme we made in 1987, "The Burma Road",
told the grim story of how the Chinese used slavery and forced labor to
build the Second World War supply route into China.  Today, the Burmese
government is doing the same thing to its own people.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the toast--make 1996 "Avoid Burma Year."

********************************************

BURMANET: BRIEF NEWS ITEMS
culled from various sources

FIRST DYNASTY MINES Ltd.  reported that "we have begun exploration for 
gold and other metals on three concessions granted in July in the Union of 
MYANMAR."

First Dynasty Mines was formed in August, 1994. First Dynasty Mines Ltd. is a 
Yukon corporation headquartered in Denver, Colorado whose common stock
trades on The Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq under the symbols FDM 
and FDYMF, respectively.
------------------------------------------------------
KOOR INDUSTRIES, Israel's biggest and most profitable industrial concern,
yesterday reported a 59 per cent jump in net income for its third quarter to
September 30. 

The company would focus on making acquisitions outside Israel, he said,
particularly in East Asian countries such as Indonesia, BURMA, Vietnam, India
and Sri Lanka - all markets which have become increasingly open to Israeli
companies since the peace process began there.
--------------------------------------------------------------
YUNNAN PROVINCE, in the southwest of China, is exporting a batch of 1,000
trucks to neighboring Burma.  The province has already exported 50 "blue arrow"
light trucks to Burma every day since november 17.  The province exported 500
trucks to Burma last year.  the two-ton trucks are manufactured on Isuzu
production lines imported from Japan.
-----------------------------------------------------------
LI RUIHUAN, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's 
Political Consultative Conference, will soon visit Cambodia, MYANMAR , 
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The official goodwill visit is scheduled from 
5th to 27th December, a Foreign Ministry spokesman announced at a
press conference here today.

***************************************
RADIO AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIA "WILL CONSIDER" RESUMING AID TO 
BURMA IF REFORMS ARE MADE November 29, 1995

   Australia says it will consider resuming aid to Burma if the military regime
makes further progress on human rights and political reform. Australia suspended
aid to Burma in 1988 after the State Law and Order Restoration Council or SLORC
brutally suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations.

   Aid Minister Gordon Bilney Minister for Development Cooperation and Pacific
Island Affairs says the release of Aung San Suu Kyi earlier this year was a most
welcome development. He says if there's a further evidence as heard that SLORC
is committed to human rights and political reform, Australia is ready to review
its aid programme. In the meantime, Mr Bilney says Australia will continue to
provide aid funding to organizations which directly assist Burmese refugees in
border camps.



BRC-J: AN APPEAL TO THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT 
December 1, 1995

Burmese Relief Center -- Japan
Tel: (07442) 2-8236  Fax: (07442) 4-6254
e-mail:brelief@xxxxxxx

While the Burmese military is ranting against Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and making vicious
threats to "annihilate'' anyone who tries to disrupt the state, Thai
authorities are moving against Burmese pro-democracy
activists.  These Burmese patriots have sought asylum in
Thailand from the implacable political oppression in their
homeland.  While in the Kingdom they have devoted themselves
to working non-violently to bring peace, democracy, and human
rights to Burma by ending the military dictatorship.

Veteran Burmese journalist U Ye Gaung, 75, and his wife were
recently arrested when Thai police raided the offices of Khit
Pyaing, or New Era Journal, a vital, independent Burmese
newspaper with a worldwide circulation.  Because the official
Burmese media are entirely controlled and wholly unreliable,
Khit Pyaing offers Burmese readers a vibrant, clear, uncensored
alternative view of the world in general and Burma in particular.

The only "crime" of the other detained dissidents was their
intention to undertake a hunger strike to protest the Burmese
military's attempt to enshrine its oppression in the sham
constitution being written by its hand picked minions.  These
students reportedly have already met Australia's stringent requirements 
for refugee status; their protest was to be silent and peaceful.

In recent years over 3 million Burmese refugees have sought
safety in Thailand.  Too many of them have found, however,
that Thailand offers no escape from persecution.  Detainees in
Thai prisons are subjected to conditions far below standards set
by the International Red Cross, with severe overcrowding,
inadequate food, plus the threat of violence by guards, who are
often particularly prejudiced against Burmese.  

The Thai government has a long history of vested interests
inside Burma; the Thai military has strong fraternal ties with
the Burmese military SLORC (State Law and Order
Restoration Council).  Thailand has numerous logging and
fishing concessions in Burma.  Thailand also stands to profit
from hydroelectric dams and gas pipelines soon to be built from
inside Burma.  Thailand calls this "constructive engagement"
while those committed to Burmese democracy call it
opportunism and oppression of their movement.  

We urge the Thai authorities to end their mistreatment of
patriotic Burmese, to free journalist U Ye Gaung and his wife
and all imprisoned Burmese students.  If Thailand cannot
support the aspirations of the people of Burma for democracy,
peace, and human rights, we call on the Thai government to at
least remain neutral by ending its persecution of Burmese
dissidents within the Kingdom.

*****************************************************************

ACTION ALERT: WRITE SENATOR JOHN KERRY
November 30, 1995

You may well have seen the November 16 Boston Globe editorial that slammed
Senator John Kerry for co-sponsoring an amendment to resume anti-narcotics
assistance to the Burmese military junta.  On November 21, Senator Kerry
sent an aggrieved letter to the Boston Globe.  (A copy of the editorial is
enclosed. I can fax or mail a copy of Kerry's letter to the Globe to anyone
who is interested. Just call or email me at the number below.)

We need to let Senator Kerry know that a sizable number of Massachusetts
voters disapprove of his efforts to provide the SLORC with anti-narcotics
assistance. We also need to press Senator Kerry if he would support federal
economic sanctions on Burma.

In your letter, you might want to make the following points, not necessarily
in the order below:

· Tell Senator Kerry about your interest in Burma and support for Aung San
Suu Kyi, the Burmese democracy movement and Burma's indigenous ethnic
minorities.  Mention that Senator Kerry's stance on Burma will affect how
you will vote in his re-election campaign next November.
 
· Remind Senator Kerry that to resume narcotics assistance is to reward the
SLORC at a time when they have refused to even meet with Aung San Suu Kyi
and other representatives of her party, the National League for Democracy.
 
· Ask Senator Kerry to support upcoming legislation that would impose
economic sanctions on the SLORC.

· Specifically, ask Senator Kerry to reply to your letter explaining how he
thinks the United States should assist the Burmese democracy movement.

So that we can gauge the effect of this action alert, please send a copy of
your letter to Senator Kerry to the address below.  Thank you for writing!

Simon Billenness, Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue,
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423 6655		simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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

Boston Globe, Editorial
November 16, 1995, p. 18.

Our Obligation to a Democrat
 
It is not often that moral criteria determine US foreign policy.
One instructive exception was the patient policy of economic
sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. Nelson
Mandela and F.W. de Klerk have each said international sanctions
were the primary force that impelled the ruling white minority to
negotiate a transition to majority rule in a multiracial democracy.
   
If there is today an illegitimate tyranny that deserves the same
quarantining as the apartheid regime of South Africa, it is the
military junta that has usurped power in Burma. For sheer criminality and 
cruelty, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC, 
eclipses every competitor in the world except Saddam Hussein.

It is therefore only logical that the case for international
isolation of SLORC has been made most compellingly by Archbishop
Desmond Tutu of South Africa. As a fellow Nobel Peace Prize
laureate, he has hailed the courage of Aung San Suu Kyi, asking
the international community to use economic sanctions to help
restore as the legitimate government of Burma her National League
for Democracy. When allowed to vote in 1990, the people of Burma
gave Suu Kyi's party 80 percent of parliamentary seats. The junta
thwarted the will of the population and seized power, jailing,
torturing and murdering Burmese democrats and ethnic minorities.

The public position of the Clinton administration has been one of
support for Suu Kyi's elected government and condemnation of
SLORC. But oil companies and other businesses have been trying to
open a breach in the official policy: to cease treating the junta
as a pariah regime.

Recently the State Department backed a Senate amendment that was
proposed, sad to say, by John Kerry and Republican John McCain of
Arizona. Their amendment would have opened the door to
incremental cooperation with despots who are guilty of committing
the most obscene crimes against humanity. Happily, the amendment
was defeated, 50 to 47, with Sen. Kennedy voting against.

The proposed door-opener was to have been the lifting of a
prohibition against even antinarcotics assistance for the junta.
The Kerry-McCain amendment would have provided $2 million in US
taxpayer funds for control of poppy growing and $50,000 more
purportedly for the training of Burmese customs officials.

The perversity of this proposal was made plain on the floor of
the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy. "The SLORC itself is involved
in the drug trade," the Vermont Democrat observed accurately.
"They are an army that violates the human rights of their own
people. They oppress their own people. They stop dissent in their
own people. But also, they take drug money themselves."

Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, expressed in an
analogy the absurdity of the financial assistance Kerry and
McCain were proposing. "Cooperation with SLORC on drugs," said
McConnell, "would be like cooperating with Iran on
counterterrorism."

McCain and Kerry were both instrumental in preparing the way for
normalization of relations with the Communist regime in Hanoi and
the consequent opening of Vietnam to US investment. Burma,
however, is a very different case. To normalize relations with
SLORC is to betray the legitimate elected government of Burma
that is represented by Suu Kyi.

South Africa should be the model for US policy toward Burma:
Commercial interests should be held in abeyance until the
military dictators permit a restoration of democracy.

*************************************************