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BURMA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS #5d
/* posted 12 Jan 6:00am 1995 by DRUNOO@xxxxxxxxxxxx on igc:soc.culture.burma */
/* --------------" HRSUB: OVERSEAS BURMA LIBERATION FRONT "----------------- */
[Subject: To inquire into and report on the human rights situation
and lack of progress towards democracy in Myanmar(Burma) by the
Human Rights Sub-Committee of the parliament of Australia.
Submissions made to this enquiry by various people and
organisations are re-posted here.-- U Ne Oo]
# SUBMISSION NO. 5d.
OVERSEAS BURMA LIBERATION FRONT
15A, 2 Beattie Street, NSW 2041, Australia.
26 April 1995.
Ms Margaret Swieringa
Secretary
Human Rights Sub-Committee
Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Defence and Trade
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear Ms Swieringa,
I enclosed following material to be included with our submissions to your
Committee, on its enquiry regarding "human rights and the lack of progress
towards democracy in Burma".
1. APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESTRAINING THE GRAVE SITUATION IN BURMA.
2. SLORC'S MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST KHUN SA AND SLORC'S HIDDEN AGENDA.
Yours faithfully,
Sd. Philip E.Smyth.
Secretary.
APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESTRAINING THE GRAVE SITUATION IN BURMA
*****************************************************************
The recent developments in Burma, that are now leading to dire
consequences, are a major causes of concern to all those who seek
everlasting peace, and prosperity in Burma.
We, on behalf of the silenced and oppressed people of burma, urgently
request the assistance and the indulgence of the Australian Federal
government and the Federal Members of Parliement, by using Australia's Good
offices to strongly urge the United Nations, especially the Secretary
General of the United Nations Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali, to take additional
firm and active measures aganist the ruling military junta, in the current
proces of seeking to urgently resolve the catastrophic crisis in Burma.
The reasons for urgently seeking Australia's assistance and indulgence, in
strongly urging the UN Secretary General to act in this manner, stems from
our fear and concern that, the steps now being taken by the ruling State
Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), to secure power unto itself well
into the future, either deliverat3ly or through its stupieity or ignorance,
amy result in grave consequences for the people of burma, thereby
permaently denying them their aspirations for everlasting peace and
prosperity. Some of the developments that are of grave concern to us, and
the silenced and oppressed people of burma, are highlighted as follows:-
THE CREATION OF RELIGIOUS TENSIONS AND FANATICISM
It is now accepted that, SLORC in attacking Manerplaw has introduced
religion, as a weapon in its strategy against the armed opposition groups,
and has created religious tensions amongst the secular Burmese community,
to justify its cruel acts. The SLORC janta's propaganda machinery, is now
blending an anti-Christian theme into its usual anti-Western propaganda,
and this new potent propaganda mixture is being widely spread throughout
the nation - and polluting the minds of the ill-informed people. SLORC, in
seeking to crush its opponents, has used Buddhism, the religion of mercy,
forgiveness and tolerance - as a political weapon, without considering the
effects of its creation of religious fanaticism in Burmese society. A
society that has always maintained religious harmony and peaceful
co-existence.
The Order of the Sanghas - the Buddhist clergy, and that of the Christian
Clergy, have all been cowered into submission, and silenced by the junta.
Various religious organisations and associations, are now totally under the
tight control of the military intelligence. According to a recently
monitored news broadcast from the junta- controlled radio stationas, even
the executive committee of an insignificant Buddhist welfare association in
Pakoku, a town situated at the junction of the Irrawaddy and chindwin
rivers in central burma - has not been spared. The local army commander was
appointed chairman, and othe rarmy personnel taking up positions of members
of the committee. Although SLORC has loudly declared itself the guardian of
Buddhism, it shows no signs of tolerance for the preaching of the Buddha,
that disapproves of its evil deeds - and in this manner it has no
hesitation, in banning one's freedom to exercise such religious rites and
belief.
Besides using religion as a political weapon, SLORC has abused and
exploited, the genuine efforts of both the Christian and the Buddhist
religious leaders, who have in good faith, acted as honest mediator between
SLORC and Aung San Suu Kyi. The Reverend U Revitta Dhamma, the Birmingham
in the United Kingdom, has perservered for a successful dialogue between
SLORC and Aung San Suu Kyi, but SLORC, with no real intention of searching
ofr any successful outcome, abused these meetings, by only using them as a
photo-opportuinty, to deceive the outside world by its sham indications of,
flexibility and tolerance. Recently, the Reverend Rivitta Dhamma quietly
returned to Bhimingham, without disclosing the events surrounding his
latest trip to Burma. Sources, close to the Reverend has reported that he
had been bribed by SLORC, to persuade Aung San Suu Kyi to abandon her
struggle, and this act of SLORC's unholiness and betrayal, has infuriated -
and caused grievances and frustration to the Reverend.
Similarly, the Anglican Arch-Bishop Andrew Mya Han has also suffered the
same fate, whilst acting in good faith as an honest mediator between SLORC
and the Karen National Union (KNU). At a time when the Buddhist and the
Christian clergy, were trying their utmost to clear up religious
misunderstanding, and to ease religious tentions, SLORC continued to
inflame the situation to its advantage. This has been proven by the
kidnapping of U Ba Nyunt on the 1 March 1995 - a KNU high ranking Buddhist
official, who had been residing in a Thai refugee camp. He was taken back
to Burma at gun-point by SLORC's soldiers, disguised as Karen Buddhist
defectors. The kidnapping of U Ba Nyunt, can only be seen as SLORC's
desperate attempt to invigorate the junta-created Democratic Karen Buddhist
Organisation (DKBO). The newly created DKBO was not gaining popular support
among the Buddhist Karens, due to its apparent lack of a credible Karen
Buddhist leader. This resulted in SLORC resorting to this cross-border
kidnapping operation - even to the extent of sacrificing its friendly
relationship with Thailand.
SLORC's creation of religious tention in the Eastern Karen State, is not
isolated, as it has also created such similar tensions to its advantage,
amongst the Buddhist Arakanese and the Muslim Rohingyas, in the Western
Arakan State. Although declaring its firm commitment to national
reconciliation, SLORC is not desirous in seeing tow different religious
communities co-exist, in a peaceful and a harmonius environment. What it
fears most is that, the Arakanese and Rohingyas from the Burmese side of
the border, will receive aid and assistance from the bangladesh citizens of
Arakanese origin, and from the Bangladesh Muslim organisations. It cannot
be denied that, there has been centuries-old deeply entrenched racial
animosity between the two distinct communities. But, as the time went by,
the two communities buried their past animosity, and they have been living
peacefully and harmoniously, for more than a few decades. The Rohingyas,
joined hands with the native Arakanese , and demanded in unison democracy
and human rights during the 1988 uprising.
To destroy the spirit of reconciliation and co-operation, SLORC has
attempted to stir up the long discarded racial resentment of the Arakanese,
by ordering its troops to carry out atrocious acts against the Rohingyas,
with the sole intention of gaining the strong support of the native
Arakanese - during its natorious "DRAGON KING" operation in 1990-1991. But
the junta's dreams were shattered, due to the political awareness of the
Arakanese and the Rohingyas, and the efforts of the broad-minded clergies
of both religions, the respective leaders of both communities, and the
local politicians. Failing to achieve its aim, SLORC in anger, rounded up
and jailed prominent politicians and leaders of both communities, and some
have been tortured to death.
To many outsiders, the Rohingyas exodus appears to have diminished, but
according to information slowly seeping out of the remote Arakan State,
SLORC is again inciting racial hatred and resentment, and creating
religious tensions. The news of recent incidents, such as the throwing of
fire-bombs into mosques, and the disruption of religious festivals, subtly
by unkinwn vigilante groups, and the forced relocation of Rohingya
villages, are now being received. Both the Arkanese and Rohingyas firmly
believed that, the dreaded military intelligence and their accomplices, are
secretely operating as vigilante groups, to create religious tensions in
the Arakan State.
Today, the world is encountering religious fanaticism and governments are
endeavouring to contain the flames of fanaticism from spreading. But in
Burma, SLORC is creating and exploiting religious faniticism, to gain
short-term political benifits, without seriously considering the long-term
impact of fanaticism upon Burmese society - and in the region.
WARLORDISM AND RACIAL RESENTMENT
We are all aware that, in this years dry season offensive against the Karen
National UNion (KNU) and its coalition forces, SLORC'S troops have shown no
respect for the sovereignty of its neighbour, and for the established
boundary laws. Hundreds of shells have landed on Thai territory. Also from
inside Thai territory, rice donated by aid agencies have been looted by
SLORC's troops, and fleeing Karen refugees have been ambushed and killed.
The kidnapping of Karen activists from refugee camps, deep inside Thai
territory continues to taken place. All these atrocious acts, committed by
SLORC's troops inside Thai territory, have been well documented. After
numerous intrusions by Burmese troops onto Thai territory, the Thai
Government, in losing its patience has finally protested to SLORC, and
SLORC's Secretary (2) and Vice Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Tin Oo on a recent
visit to Thailand, has officially apologised for these breaches. SLORC's
blatant disrespect of common borders, is unlimited and continues to this
day.
Along the North-Western part of the Indo-Burma border, a cross-border
skirmish occurred in the last week of January of this year. It started when
Major Kyi Win from the border town garrison of Tammu, and his soldiers
crossed into Indian territory, to confiscate teak logs that had been
purchased by merchants , who had not paid bribes to the garrison commander.
Indian border security forces rounded up and captured the intruders, and
they were released after being interrogated for twnety four hours. Bribery
and coruption is rampant in the remote border areas, and according to a
recent report, a shoot-out occurred between disgruntled soldiers of the
50th Light Infantry Regiment, stationed at Saya San village in the same
Tammu township - over not receiving their share of the bribes. At least
four soldiers are said to have died , and eleven fled across the border
into India wiht their arms and ammunition , and later surrendered to the
Indian authorities.
Indian securit officials have openly blamed SLORC, for the escalating
unrest and the violence in the Nagaland areas. It is an open-secret that
Naga separatist grous are being supported with arms, ammunition and finance
from the Beijing Government, with SLORC's assistance. The accusations of
SLORC's complexity in the Nagaland rebellion is well founded, as Burmese
dissidents groups operation in the NOrth-West Frontier region, have for
some time been documenting Chinese and SLORC's covert operations in the
area. This is also a clear indiaction that the junta is now actively
promoting unrest and instability, in neighbouring countries.
The incidents mentioned above, also indicate that local area military
commanders act as regional warlords, with absolute power to reign in their
areas of command. SLORC's Foreign Minister, U Ohn Gyaw, in his written
reply to the UN Special Rapporteur, Professor Yozo Yokota, referred to the
1959 Burma Armed forces Act. Unfortunately, this Act never been invoked by
SLORC, as not a single member of the armed forces has been tried by a
military tribunal, and punished or disciplined for human rights or other
abuses, eventhough compelling evidence exisits against members of the armed
forces for their illegal detention, torture, summary execution, rape,
pillage, etc. of innocent citizens.
The Illicit drug trade, involving the production and the trafficking of
heroin, is one of the abhorrent results of the rise of the regional
warlordism. Nowadays in Burma, unestablished byt highly successfully
business practices are firmly entrenched. Whoever renders a bribe ( a term
now substituted locally as a "contribution for protection") to the local
and regional authorities, secures the person or persons the absolute
freedom to undertake any form of business enterprise, even to the extent of
actively participating in the illicit drug trade. It is evident that,
although SLORC has been staging "drug-burning shows", it has neither the
intention to wipe-out the drug trade, nor does it intend controlling and
disciplining its regional warlords. Coupl,ed with the drug trade, money
laundering is also booming in Burma. This has been a source of great
concern for the international financial community, as Burma is now
establishing itself as the haven for regional drug dealers and drug barons.
It is no secret, that almost all provate construction and investment
"booms", as well as the exorbitant real estate purchases, are being fulled
by drug money pouring into major Burmese cities. Over the past six years of
SLORC's rule, abrupt and dramatic changes in Burmese society, has been
witnessed by the native Burmese. Powerful and wealthy army commanders,
their subordinates, their cronies, and the "nouveaux rich" newly arrived
non-assimilated illegal Chinese immigrants, are now Burma's new class of
elites. Whereas, the majority of the native Burmese are now being
categorised as the new have-nots.
The huge difference between the haves and the have-nots, with the gap
widening every day, is creating a new form of class struggle (devoid of the
guidance of Marxism and Lennism) being directed, not only against the
military dictators, but also against those who are supporting and
benefiting from the dictatorial rule, i.e. the Chinese. There is now a
strong anti-Chinese sentiment in Burma, and that the product of such
resentment, has been sighted in locally issued publications and plays, in
spite of SLORC's tight censorship. The anti-Chinese resentment, is now
becoming a topic of common interest for discussion amongst the native
Burmese.
The above mentioned socio-economic impact on Burmese society, is the
results of SLORC's bogus "open-door" and "free-market" economic policy,
which totally ignores the nations political problems, and fails to address
the equal distribution of wealth and opportunities amongst the native
Burmese. SLORC's bogus economic policy, only encourages those who can offer
bribes and kick-backs. Sooner or later, the resentment of the native
Burmese will eventually lead to public outrage, and ugly race-riots. But
until now, SLORC shows no sign of interest, nor is it prepared to even
attempt to defuse the situation. Instead, it has granted the Chinese
nouveaux rich the license to carry arms, and permission to form armed
protection groups. The stupidity of the junta, in its bias towards the
Chinese, has inflamed the resentment, and further aggravates the explosive
situation.
Warlordism, drug trade, money laundering and the anti-Chinese sentiment,
will eventually lead to native Burmese outrage, race-riots, infighting
among the army, loss of innocent people's lives, and finally the
instability of the nation - as well as the region.
DISHONESTY AND INSINCERITY OF SLORC
We are all aware of SLORC's successive condemnation by the United Nations
General Assembly, for not honouring the 1990 General Election result, which
commenced from 1991. The only attempt, made by the junta to appease the
United Nations in this regard, was the holding of the sham national
convention at the beginning of 1993. The focus continued discontent, is one
of the guidelines prescribed by tyhe junta on the drafting of its
constitution - the participation of the armed forces in the national
political leadership role of the future State. More frictions have occurred
at the convention, after the junta disclosed its pre-written constitution,
which contained statements granting the chief of staff of the armed forces,
the legal rights of declaring a state of emergency, and the right to demand
25% of the seats in each of the Upper and Lower House of Parliament,
without the need to contest and election. Many democratic opposition
politicians, together with the ethnic opposition politicians and trivial
leaders, angrily protested and voiced their disapproval of the junta's
draft constitution. The juntal responded by silencing their voices of
dissent, with the arrests of some of the delegates under false accusations,
and the harassment of the rest of the dissident delegates. The
inflexibility of SLORC , has caused some frustrated delegates to abandon
the convention, and flee to the liberated areas.
U Ohn Gyaw, SLORC's mouth-piece, has boasted at the UN General Assembly
that the civil war in Burma had come to an end, because of the signing of
cease-fire accords with thirteen ethnic insurgent organisations. But what
he failed to mention is that, last year, eleven of those organisations,
which had signed the cease-fire accords with SLORC, have all become
disillusioned and formed the "Peace and Democracy Front (PDF)". Most of the
organisations affiliated with the PDF, are former Burma Communist Party's
allies, and they have under their joint control well-equipped armed
followers in the Shan State. Although the eleven organisations of the PDF
have sent representatives to the sham convention, the newly created PDF has
openly declared its disapproval and discontent, and demanded the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners - and political dialogue. The
Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), the last to sign the ease-fire
accord, is now becoming increasingly frustrated and disillusioned, with the
dishonesty and insincerity of SLORC.
The main cause of the decades-old civil war in Burma, was the denial of the
ethnic nationalities rights of self-determination. Successive governments
have ignored and failed to address theis problem seriously, and it can be
stated that the main perpetrator were the two unitary systems of
government, set up under the constitutions of 1947 and 1974. The democratic
opposition parties, including the National League for Democracy (NLD), and
the armed ethnic opposition organasations, have all finally agreed upon the
resolution that - only a genuine federal system of constitution, can bring
the civil war to an end, and achieve ever-lasting peace and harmony in
Burma. The principles for the establishment of genuine Federal Union, which
guarantee the rights of self-determination of the ethnic nationalities, was
endorsed by Aung San Suu Kyi at a meeting before her house arrest on the 15
JUly 1989. This meeting was attended the executive members of United
Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD) and National League for Democracy
(NLD) parties, and she urged the attending members to initiate the process
of drafting the principles for the establishment of a future system of
government. The democratic opposition organisations, including the majority
Burmese and other ethnic groups, have drawn up a new Federal constitution
of Burma, and it has the seals of approval of all political parties, at a
conference held at Manerplaw in October 1994.
SLORC's sole interest is in the signing of cease-fire accords, and it shows
no interest in the issues of self-determination. Whenever the issue of
self-determination is raised, SLORC's convenient reply is to urge the
parties attendance at its sham convention - to discuss the matter at such
convention. The whole nation is aware of the insincerity and dishonesty of
the ruling junta, and of its intention to monopolise the power of the
State, to prolong the reign of its despotic rule. The aspiration of the
entire nation and of its people, is to end the civil war, and establish a
Democratic Federal system of government. All the opposition groups have
fulfilled the aspiration of the nation, by the drafting of a new federal
constitution, and in a favourable situation they are ready to seek the
approval of the people, to such a constitution.
A resolution of the forty-ninth session of the United Nations General
Assembly, contained a statement that it welcomed the meeting between SLORC
and Aung San Suu Kyi. The deception of SLORC has not even lasted a full
year, because the statement of Aung San Suu Kyi, (recently taken out by her
husband) refers to no new developments and she urges the oppositions not to
give up the struggle. The two meetings were nothing more than a public
relation stunt by SLORC. After the fall of Manerplaw, anti-Aung San Suu Kyi
pamphlets were circulated in Rangoon. Diplomatic circles and the public in
Rangoon have accused Khin NYunt and his military intelligence, of secretly
operating a dirty campaign, to discredit Aung San Suu Kyi by circulating
these pamphlets. This is again concrete proof that, although SLORC had
publicly welcomed serious dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, and even regarded
her as a sister, it had no genuine intention of releasing her, and was
prepared to play along with this sham - to prevent her from participating
in any role in national politics.
CONCLUSION
Year after Year, the United Nations General Assembly has made resolution
after resolution, denouncing and deploring the actions of SLORC, but SLORC
instead of adhering to such reforms, has blatantly committed even more
human rights violations - in blatant contempt of these resolutions. It
publicly expresses contempt for the International Community, and shown no
signs of flexibility and tolerance. It is now implicated in the drug trade,
money laundering, and sows religious fanatism, including instability and
unrest in neighbouring countries - all of which has seriously effected the
stability of Burma, and in time effect the region.
We believe that the situation in Burma should not be permitted to continue,
and that it is now time for the United Nations to takes steps to implement,
new tough and firm measures in its engagement with SLORC, to once and for
all put an end to further blood-shed, and suffering of the Burmese people.
We believe that it is now incumbent upon the United Nations, to restore
human rights and democracy in Burma, by initiating the following measures,
and in respect of which we urgently seek Australia's assistance:-
(1) The initiation of a resolution in the General Assembly, to declare
Burma's seat vacant.
(2) The calling for Burma's least Developed Country (LDC) status to be
withdrawn;
(3) The calling for the UNited Nations General Assembly to instruct the UN
agencies to cease all operations in Burma.
(4) The calling for a United Nations trade and arms embargo against Burma;
(5) The initiating of appropriate action in the UNited Nations Security
Council against the SLORC regime.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OVERSEAS BURMA LIBERATION FRONT(OBLF)
-------------------------------------
12 March, 1995.
ENDOFPART 1.\