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LETTER TO U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL (2



Subject: LETTER TO U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL (26/2/96)

/* Written Sat 9 March 6:00am 1996 by DRUNOO@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* -------------" Letter to the UN Secretary-General "--------------- */

Dr U Ne Oo
48/2 Ayliffes Road
St Marys SA 5042
AUSTRALIA

February 26, 1996.

Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali
The Secretary-General of the United Nations
38th Floor, U.N. Secretariat
United Nations New York 10017
United States of America.

Dear Secretary-General:

RE: INTERNATIONAL ARMS EMBARGO,
    NATION-WIDE CEASEFIRE AND SECURITY ZONES IN MYANMAR/BURMA
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    As a follow-up to the communication made to the Secretary-General on
31 January 1995 and to the members of United Nations Security Council on 20
February  1995  and 12 October 1995, I appeal the U.N. Secretary-General to
make appropriate measures in solving Burma's refugee problem and  mediating
political  and  military  conflicts  in Burma. These political and military
conflicts must be solved urgently so that it  will  create  an  environment
conducive  to the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Myanmar. Although
Daw  Aung  San  Suu  Kyi  has  been  released,  there  have  not  been  any
improvements  in  human  rights situation which may create safe environment
for the Burma's refugees to return. We continue to receive reports  of  the
further outflows of Burma's refugees and displaced people into neighbouring
countries,    especially   Thailand.   Therefore,   I   appeal   the   U.N.
Secretary-General and Security Council to demand the Military Government of
Myanmar (GOM) to take necessary steps, as the  GOM's  contribution  to  the
international  peace  and  security,  towards  the improvement of the human
rights situation and solving refugee problem in Burma.  Followings  are  my
observation  about  the  developments  in  the  human  rights and political
situation in Burma since the communication to you in January last year.

I. Armed Attacks on Refugees and Displaced People
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the fall of Karen National Union's headquarters Manerplaw in  January
1995,  we  continue to receive reports of armed attacks on the refugees and
displaced people by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organization (DKBO) - the
breadaway faction of the Karen National Union(KNU).  Various  international
human  rights organizations have reported of the abductions and killings of
refugees; and attacks on displaced people and refugee  camps  on  the  Thai
soil by the DKBO [1,2]. The motive of the abduction of refugees and attacks
on the camps appears to be to force the Karen refugees back to Burma.

The  Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar, Professor Yozo Yokota,
has also reported above incidents to  the  U.N.  General  Assembly  in  his
interim  report on 16 October 1995 [3]. According to the SLORC, the Burmese
army has provided logistics supports to the DKBO since its  defection  from
the  KNU  in  December  1994.  However,  the  SLORC  denied  Burmese army's
involvements in abducting refugees and attacking refugee camps [4].

Although the DKBO is reportedly responsible  for  those  attacks  on  Karen
refugees,  it  has  been  revealed  at the closer investigations that those
border incursions were actively supported by the Burmese army. The  reports
by  Amnesty  International [5] and Far Eastern Economic Review [6] indicate
that Burmese regular army is responsible for the  attacks  on  the  refugee
camps  in  Thailand.  Refugees  from the camps said that the attackers were
Burmese soldiers wearing the uniform and insignia of the  Democratic  Karen
Buddhist Army.

Continuing  incidents  of  violent  conflicts by these disputing parties as
well  as  the  attacks  on  refugees  attract  attention  from   the   Thai
authorities.  Often,  these  conflicts  create tensions between the Burmese
army and Thai security forces.

In recent months, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army has stepped  up  their
campaign in terriorizing Karen refugees and displaced people, and attacking
on  refugee  camps along the Thai border [7]. The fighting between DKBO and
KNU has also been reported [8]. These incidents led to  the  deployment  of
Thai security forces along the Thailand-Burma border in early February 1996
[9,10].

Such  frequent  occurrence  of  tensions  between  Thai security forces and
Burma's armed forces; and repeated attacks on refugees and displaced people
call  for  your  urgent  attention  to  the  situation.  The  international
community  must  help  in  promoting  a  peaceful  solution to the problems
between DKBO, KNU and the Burmese army.

II. Treatment to the former combatants in Shan State
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On 5 January 1996 the drug warlord Khun Sa and his Mong Tai Army in Burma's
eastern Shan  State  have  surrendered  to  the  Burmese  army.  After  the
ceasefire, the former combatants from the Mong Tai Army were forcibly taken
to work on government road projects [11].

The  rebel  sources  have  indicated  that  the ceasefire terms include the
amnesty as well  as  rehibilitation  for  the  rebel  soldiers  [12].  Such
degrading   treatments  to  the  former  combatants  by  Burmese  army  are
unacceptable and therefore the international community must  make  measures
to ensure these former rebels are treated fairly.

III. Refusing to make reconciliation with the Opposition
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On  10 July 1995 the leader of the opposition National League for Democracy
(NLD) party, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was  released  after  numerous  requests
made  by the international community. Since her release from the detention,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has made several appeals  to  the  leaders  of  ruling
military  council, State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), to make
reconciliation with civilian opposition. In spite of those appeals and  the
U.N.  General  Assembly resolutions [13], the ruling military council still
refuse to hold talk with the opposition leader.

The opposition party, NLD, has also made request to redress the process  of
drafting constitution. Current process of framing constitution do not allow
the  full  participation  of  elected  people's  representatives.  The  NLD
therefore  said that such constitution will not gurantee to meet democratic
aspiration of the people of Burma [14]. On 29 November 1995,  the  National
League  for  Democracy  formally  withdrew  their  support for the Military
Government sponsored National Convention.

I  believe  a  constitution which accommodate the democratic aspirations of
all indigenous nationalities of Burma is  essential  for  future peace  and
stability  in Burma. Recently, the opposition National League for Democracy
has voiced its views that a federal form of constitution  may  be  suitable
for  future  Burma  [15].  The ethnic nationalities, particularly the Karen
National Union, has been requesting for their participation at the National
Convention as necessary  condition  to  formally  end  the  armed  struggle
against the central government. Therefore, the U.N. agencies should provide
the necessary helps in drafting Burma's constitution.

IV. Humanitarian Situation in Burma
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Burma  is  known to have been at the stage of developing internal crisis by
the U.N.D.P. since June 1994 [16]. In this year,  there  appears  to  be  a
sharp  decline  in  people's  living standard due to inflation, scarcity of
work opportunities and high price of basic food items  such  as  rice.  The
poor  Burmese families who cannot afford normal meals are reportedly having
the 'Rice Water'[17] - reflecting the extent of poverty.

Burma's large army and its spending on the  purchase  of  weapons  are  the
major  contributing  factors  in  this economic decline. Burma spend 35 per
cent of its national budget in maintaining the army  (300,000  personnels).
For  a  longer  term  stability  and  economic  growth,  it is necessary to
transform those  army  personnel  to  normal  work  force.  I  believe  the
influence  by  the  U.N. Security Council will be most essential to achieve
this objective.

V. Voluntary Repatriation for Refugees
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the Burmese army took over Manerplaw in January  1995,  10,000  Karen
refugees  have  fled  to  the  camps  in  Thailand,  totaling  the  refugee
population to 74,000. Furthermore, the Burmese people at their  desperation
inside  the  country  have  also  been  pouring  into  Thailand  as illegal
immigrants throughout the year. The total number of  displaced  Burmese  in
Thailand is now more than 300,000.

The  State  Law and Order Restoration Council is refusing to cooperate with
the United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Refugees  for  the  safe  and
voluntary  return of the Karen and other refugees from Myanmar. The Burma's
refugee community have given support to the UNHCR's voluntary  repatriation
programme.  On  January  1996, the Mon National Relief Committee have again
requested the assistance from the UNHCR in  repatriation  [18].  The  Karen
refugee  community  have  express  their willingness to repatriate to Burma
with the assistance of international communicy once peace  is  restored  in
Burma  [19,20].   The Royal Thai Government has also requested the UNHCR to
help solve the Burma's refugee problem [21].

I believe the Military Government of Myanmar has an obligation  to  redress
the   mistakes   made   on  Burma's  refugees  and  displaced  people.  The
international community must demand the Military Government of  Myanmar  to
solve  its  refugee problem. First and foremost, the Military Government of
Myanmar must make reconciliation with the civilian  opposition  and  ethnic
rebels  as  its  contribution  to  the regional and international peace and
security.

I therefore call upon the United  Nations  Security  Council,  through  the
Secretary-General's  office,(1)  to promote a nation-wide ceasefire, (2) to
impose the international arms embargo and (3) to set up Security Zones  for
returnees and refugees in Burma.

NATION-WIDE CEASEFIRE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I call upon the U.N. Security Council to,

1.  DEMANDS all parties to the military conflict in Burma immediately cease
hostilities.

Currently, 15 rebel  groups  have  signed  ceasefire  agreements  with  the
Burmese  army.  The  remaining  rebel  groups include Karen National Union,
Karenni National Progressive Party and DKBO [22].

2. RECOMMENDS the International  Committee  of  the  Red  Cross  (ICRC)  to
monitor the existing ceasefires between Burmese army and the ethnic rebels.
Particular  attention  should be given in monitoring the rehabilitation and
humane treatment to the former combatants.

The Burmese army signed ceasefire with the Wa and Kokang rebels in 1989  in
Shan  State.  The  ICRC  should  especially  monitor the ceasefire by those
rebels.

3. RECOMMENDS the ICRC to monitor the ceasefire between DKBO/SLORC and  KNU
in  Karen State, and Burmese army and Karenni National Progressive Party in
Kayah State.

4. REQUESTS all rebels and Burmese army to formulate appropriate strategies
to reduce army personnels and to demobilize and disarm their armies.

INTERNATIONAL ARMS EMBARGO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I call upon the U.N. Security Council to,

1. INSTITUTES an international arms embargo that applicable to all  parties
to the conflict in Myanmar/Burma.

2.  ENCOURAGES  neighbouring  States  to make measures to stop illegal arms
flows to the rebels, especially to the drug warlords, in Myanmar/Burma.

SECURITY ZONES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I call upon the U.N. Security Council to,

1. DEMANDS the Military Government  of  Myanmar,  as  its  contribution  to
promote  peace  and stability in the region, to end the repressive measures
against Burmese people and take  immediate  step  to  solve  political  and
military conflicts by dialogue.

2. DEMANDS Military Government of Myanmar allows free and unhindered access
to  the  United  Nations  High Commissioner for Refugees, independent human
rights monitors and Non-Government Organizations to the  people  of  Burma,
particularly, internationally displaced people, returnees and refugees.

3.  REQUESTS  Burmese  Army,  the  rebels  in  Shan  State  and the elected
representatives to cooperate fully with U.N.  Agencies  and  Non-Government
Organizations in eliminating drug problems.

4. RECOMMENDS the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and appropriate
U.N. Agencies to supervise the process of drafting federal constitution.

5.  RECOMMENDS  the  United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Refugees  to
supervise the voluntary repatriation of returnees and refugees to Burma.

6. RECOMMENDS all U.N. agencies and NGOs engaging in  Burma  to  promote  a
greater respect for human rights in Burma.

Yours respectfully and sincerely,
Sd. U Ne Oo.

copy to:
-------
1.  Ms  Sadako  Ogata,  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Case
Postale 2500, CH-1211 Geneva 2 Depot, Switzerland.
2. Mr  Alvaro  de  Soto,  U.N.  Assistant-Secretary-General  for  Political
Affairs,  U.N.  Department  of  Political  Affairs, United Nations New York
NY 10017, U.S.A.
3. Mr Jan Eliasson, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs,  U.N.
Department of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations New York NY 10017, U.S.A

Footnotes:
---------
[1]  Amnesty  International,  "Myanmar:  No  Place  to Hide", AI INDEX: ASA
16/13/95, June 1995.

[2]  Human  Rights  Watch/Asia,  "BURMA:  ABUSES  LINKED  TO  THE  FALL  OF
MANERPLAW", Vol. 7. No 5, March 1995.

[3]  Professor  Yozo  Yokota, Interim report to General Assembly by Special
Rapporteur, General Assembly A/50/568, 16 October 1995.

[4] ibid., para 31, 32.

[5] Amnesty International, "Myanmar: No  Place  to  Hide",  AI  INDEX:  ASA
16/13/95, June 1995.

[6] Far Eastern Economic Review, "Burma: It's Rangoon, NOt Rebles", May 18,
1995 pp21.

[7]  The  Nation,  "Karen rebels threaten to attack Thai refugee camps", 21
January 1996.

[8] The Nation, "Reuters: 20 Killed as rival Karen groups clashes in  south
eastern Burma", 23 January 1996.

[9] The Nation, 30 January 1996.

[10] Bangkok Post, "Rival Karen factions in fierce fighting near border", 3
February 1996.

[11] Reuters, 30 January 1996.

[12] Far Eastern Economic Review, 25 January 1996; Bangkok Post, 26 January
1996.

[13]   United   Nations   General   Assembly,   Fiftieth   session  (1995),
A/C.3/50/L.52.

[14] The press release by the National League for  Democracy,  22  November
1995.

[15] Bangkok Post, "Different Roads to Unity", 21 February 1996.

[16] Associated Press, 1 June 1994.

[17]  Rice  Water  (Hta-min-ye in Burmese): A form of rice-gruel, extracted
out when the rice is cooked. Burmese people do not  normally  consume  Rice
Water, but use it to feed domestic animals.

[18] Mon National Relief Committee, January 1996.

[19]  Karen Refugee Committee, "Statement of the Karen Refugee Committee on
the present situation with regard to the Karen Refugee Problem and Question
of Repatriation", 20 June 1995.

[20] Bangkok Post, 8 February 1996.

[21] Bangkok Post, 13 January 1996.

[22] According to Burmese army, the DKBO haven't still signed a  ceasefire,
although its defection to the government.

/* Endreport */