voa human rights burma

[cd@xxxxxxxxxx]

voa human rights burma, grace de Dawn Star, PARIS
DATE=        MARCH 17, 1996
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-06710
TITLE=       REPRESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
MARCH 17, 1996.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND
LABOR JOHN SHATTUCK RECENTLY POINTED OUT THAT IN BURMA, 
THROUGHOUT 1995, "THE STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL 
CONTINUED TO RULE WITH AN IRON HAND AND TO COMMIT A WIDE RANGE OF
SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS."

    THE STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL, OR SLORC, IS 
ANOTHER NAME FOR BURMA'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIP.  IT REINFORCES 
ITS RULE BY MEANS OF A PERVASIVE SECURITY APPARATUS.  CONTACT 
BETWEEN BURMESE CITIZENS AND FOREIGNERS IS RESTRICTED.  ALL FORMS
OF DOMESTIC MEDIA ARE OFFICIALLY CONTROLLED OR CENSORED.  
POLITICAL ACTIVISTS ARE SUBJECT TO ARBITRARY ARREST AND 
DETENTION.
    ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S RECENTLY RELEASED HUMAN 
RIGHTS REPORT, DURING 1995 THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT 
BURMESE TROOPS "COMMITTED SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, INCLUDING 
EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS AND RAPE," PARTICULARLY IN ETHNIC MINORITY
AREAS OF BURMA.  ANOTHER EGREGIOUS ABUSE IS THE ROUNDING UP OF 
CIVILIANS TO CARRY AMMUNITION AND SUPPLIES FOR ARMY TROOPS.  THE 
REPORT POINTS OUT THAT "THE USE OF PORTERS BY THE ARMY -- WITH 
ATTENDANT MISTREATMENT, ILLNESS, AND EVEN DEATH FOR THOSE 
COMPELLED TO SERVE -- REMAINED STANDARD PRACTICE."

    THE ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA IS THE 
REFUSAL OF THE MILITARY JUNTA TO GIVE WAY TO A DEMOCRATICALLY 
ELECTED CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT.  THE PEOPLE OF BURMA VOTED 
OVERWHELMINGLY FOR JUST SUCH A GOVERNMENT IN A RELATIVELY FREE 
ELECTION IN 1990.  THE MILITARY REGIME RESPONDED WITH MORE 
REPRESSION.  IN JANUARY 1993, SLORC ESTABLISHED A SO-CALLED 
"NATIONAL CONVENTION" TO DRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION.  THE 
DELEGATES, ALMOST ALL HANDPICKED BY THE MILITARY, HAD NO MANDATE 
FROM THE PEOPLE AND SEEMED INTENT UPON DRAFTING A CONSTITUTION 
THAT WOULD GUARANTEE MILITARY DOMINANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
    THE U.S. CALLS ON BURMA'S RULERS TO CEASE THEIR REPRESSION OF
THE BURMESE PEOPLE AND MAKE WAY FOR A DEMOCRATIC, CIVILIAN 
GOVERNMENT.

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, 
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 
20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.  
YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.

15-Mar-96 11:20 AM EST (1620 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America