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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 */