1992 BURMA ACTION(SA) REPORT TO UNG

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: 1992 BURMA ACTION(SA) REPORT TO UNGA.

/* Written Sat 22 Jun 6:00pm 1996 by DRUNOO@xxxxxxxxxxxx in soc.culture.burma */
/* -------------" Burma Action(SA) report to UNGA'92 "--------------- */

[Following report and related materials in this
 connection may also be found in the home page

        http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~uneoo

With best regards, U Ne Oo.]

----------------------------------------------------------------------
BURMA SUPPORT GROUP(SOUTH AUSTRALIA)
1ST FLOOR 39 WAKEFIELD ST. ADELAIDE, SA5001.
Thursday 8 October 1992

TO:
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------

RE: CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BURMA(MYANMAR)

The Burma Support Group(SA) invites you to join in calling for the United
Nations resolutions on Burma's political problems to be addressed. You and
your group are invited to express a similar concern [1] to the Australian
delegate to the UN. Your statement may be forwarded directly to:

H.E. Mr Richard W Butler AM
Australian Mission to the United Nations
885 Second Avenue
New York NY10017
United States of America

Outlined are our concerns regarding Burma with relevant details   for
your information. We recognize that the various committees  e.g. CRDB,
CDB [3] and DAB [4], are looking to each other for  solidarity and continued
communication in working towards democracy and the restoration of Human
Rights in Burma.

The  Burma Support Group(SA) [5] wishes  to work with other like-minded
groups and we would appreciate you contacting our secretary Ms Kribo
Ackerman [(08)210 8172].

United Nation Resolution on Human Rights violations in Burma
------------------------------------------------------------
Serious  Human Rights violations occuring in Burma since the military took
over the state power in September 1988 have been reported. Concerned with
grave Human Rights abuses in Burma/Myanmar, the United Nations has
appointed a rapporteur in October 1991.

In the 46th session of United Nations General Assembly, the resolution
on Human Rights abuses in Burma was adopted without a vote(meaning  all
votes are counted) and it has becomes a United Nations Recommendation.

SLORC's (the Military Government of Burma) response to the resolution was,
not surprisingly, <I> non-adoption and not a party to it </I>[6]. SLORC
ignored the resolution (A/C.3/46/L.43) and showed no sign of transferring
power to the elected National League for Democracy(NLD). Grave Human Rights
abuses continue to occur throughout the country. Especially, at Thais-Burma
border and Bangladesh-Burma border  of killing, torture and rape by
soldiers on unarmed-civilian population.

Burma-Rohingyas in Bangladesh
-----------------------------
In the mid-December 1991, the  Burma-Rohingyas cross the Naf river and
began entering the Bangladesh territory [8]. The SLORC response to the
refugee problem was <I> ``There are no refugees, only insurgents in
disguise''</I>[9]. This response is blatantly unjust, especially for
Rohingyas who haven't been engaged in armed struggle [10].

There is no  foundation for SLORC to persecute Burma-Rohingyas. There
are assumptions that SLORC has made a political diversion; SLORC attempted
to incite a religious conflict between Buddhist-Burmans and
Muslim-Rohingyas[11]. After the UN resolution in November 1991 and the
strange behavior of the army chief General Saw Maung [12] there is
embarrassment within the army which may have led to a breaking point.
Therefore, such a political diversion was createed. the Rohingyas
are traditionally known as illegal immigrants to Burma and persecutions
of the Rohingyas may have helped to justify the army's role. However, the
atrocities committed by the army to Rohingyas are so uncivilised that a
political diversion as such for its motive is simply inadequate. There
is no explanation to SLORC's madness and brutality.

In March 1992, Australian government commissioned the Hon. Justice Marcus
Einfeld to visit the trouble spots and refugee camps in Asia, including
Thailand and Bangladesh. In his report [13], Justice Einfeld described
the  extent of problems for Rohingyas.

The year 1992-1993 has been described as <I> year of repatriations</I>.
Despite apparent lack of resources, the Government of Bangladesh has
shown  grave concerns for Burma-Rohingyas and treated the situation very
humanely. As yet, no Rohingyas so far has been forced to return to Burma
against their will.  Unsupervised repatriation is simply immoral, knowing
the record of human rights abuses by SLORC. The UN body must observed and
monitor the process of repatriation.

Although SLORC has conducted the persecution over Rohingyas in the form
of racial or religious grounds, it must point out that the entire
population of Burma is also under oppression. The refugee problem is the
symptom of Human Right violations of Militay being the illness. One needs
to make efforts to relieve the symptoms, while at the same time curing its
illness. We must give attention to both Burma-Rohingyas repatriation/
resettlement and the peaceful process in transfer of power to NLD.

IN CLOSING
----------
With these objectives, Burma Support Group(SA) has been active in
encouraging the Australian Government to take stronger stand  against
SLORC [14]. Any Government with a conscience and concerns about Human
Rights violations ought to be working towards a resolution in  the civil
strifle in Burma. While UN General Assembly is still in progress [15],
we request the Australian Government to sponsor following issues:

(a) <I>Concerning with Rohingyas refugees in Bangladesh:</I> The Rohingyas
safe and early return to Burma is recommended. The United Nations bodies
should supervised repatriation for Rohingyas, guaranteeing their safety.

(b) <I>Concerning with the establishment for a democratic state:</I>
The Burma (Myanmar) Military Government  must give a firm date on the
transfer of power to the elected National League for Democracy party.
A fair and just constitution for the people of Burma must clearly be
presented.<P>

(c) <I>To ensure the Burma(Myanmar) Military government to comply with
the recommendation (A/C.3/46/L.43):</I> The non-compliment of the
resolution will incur an immediate international trade  embargo.

Footnotes:

[1] A.1 The letter to the Foreign Affairs from the Secretary of BSG(SA)
[2] Committee for Restoration of Democracy in Burma.
[3] Committee for Democracy in Burma.
[4] Democratic Alliances of Burma.
[5] A.1 SA Catholics, July 1992.
[6] A.2 The press-release from Embassy of the Union of Myanmar(Burma) and
the resolution (A/C.3/46/L.43) attached with.
[7] National Refugee Weeks presentation 17-June-1992 by the Hon. Justice
    Marcus Einfeld : This comprehensive report is available from AUSTCARE,
    The Refugee Council of Australia, International Commission of Jurist
    Australian Section,$ 20 a copy.
[8] A.3 JRS Report, August 1992.
[9] Burma Resource and Action Kit from Australian Council of Churches:
    This informative publication is available from Australian Council of
    Churches, 379 Kent Street, Sydney, Box C199 Clarence Street PO,
    Sydney 2000.
[10] Though there have been some insurgency prior to 1970.
[11] Burma Resource and Action Kit by Australian Council of Churches.
[12] Far Eastern Economic Review, 13 February 1992.
[13] In his report, Justice Einfield describe
     "..... refugees arrived with minimal possession ... many people,
     especially the children and elderly, are in poor condition and
     malnourished .. most may not survive ..."
[14] Adelaide University Students Weekly, 3-August-1992.
[15] Usually held from 3rd week of September to Middle of December every year.
</HTML>