Statement dated 18th November '96

[bcn@xxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Statement dated 18th November  '96 about Visit Myanmar Year

A CALL UPON TRAVELLERS AND TRAVEL AGENTS NOT TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION OF THE=
=20
BURMESE GENERALS DURING THE VISIT MYANMAR YEAR 1996

18 November 1996 marks the official launch of the Burmese military regime=92=
s=20
=91Visit Myanmar Year 1996=92. The generals hope that their tourist=
 promotion=20
year campaign will attract 250,000 travellers whose dollars will fill the=20
state coffers and refurbish its international image.=20
In Burma, the build-up of the tourism-industry is closely connected with=20
human rights violations.
The National League for Democracy - which won a landslide victory in the=20
1990 election, the results of which were never respected - calls for a=20
boycott of the Visit Myanmar Year 1996.
The preparation of the tourist infrastructure involves massive human rights=
=20
abuses. The so-called Burmese =93holiday paradise=94 is built by forced=
 labour.=20
Throughout the country the people, particularly ethnic minorities and=20
members of the democratic opposition, are subject to constant repression by=
=20
the junta.=20
Forced labour is used to build roads, railways, bridges and airports and to=
=20
construct the kind of historical or picturesque sites that attract tourists.=
=20
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forcibly relocated to provide=20
space for new hotel complexes, business centres and other projects in time=
=20
for the tourist year; an unknown number of people, including women, children=
=20
and the elderly, have been conscripted as forced labourers.
The profits from the opening of the country to tourism will go mainly to the=
=20
military regime and foreign investors, with hardly any benefit for the=20
suffering people of Burma; neither will the Tourist Year help the process of=
=20
democratisation or the implementation of human rights, as democratic leader=
=20
Aung San Suu Kyi  does not tire of saying.=20
At the beginning of the Tourist Year, therefore, we would like to repeat the=
=20
appeal Aung San Suu Kyi made on several occasions to the international =20
community and all potential tourists: =93Wait. Don=92t visit Burma yet. It=
 would=20
be a mistake to support the policies of the military regime at this time=94.=
=20

TRAVELLERS are strongly urged not to go to Burma at this time.

TRAVEL AGENTS are urged not to promote Burma at this time.



LIST OF SIGNATORIES:

Belgium
KWIA - Werkgroep Inheemse Volkeren

France
Info Birmanie / Agir ici / R=E9seau Jeunes Solidaires / Fractures / France=
=20
Libert=E9s / F=E9d=E9ration Internationale des Ligues de Droits de l=92Homme=
 (FIDH)

Danmark
Dannish Burma Committee

Ireland
Burma Action, Ireland

The Netherlands
J.R.M. Maij-Weggen MEP /Groen Links /Netherlands Trade Union Confederation=
=20
FNV / Stichting Oecumenische Hulp - Kerken in Aktie (SOH, Dutch Interchurch=
=20
Aid) / XminusY Solidarity Fund / International Fellowship for Reconciliation=
=20
(IFOR) / travel agent Ashraf / Burma Centrum Nederland

Norway
Norwegian Burma Council

Sweden
Sweden-Democratic Burma Friendship Association

Switzerland
Association Suisse-Birmanie / Arbeitskreis Tourismus und Entwicklung /=20
Society for Threatened Peoples (Switzerland) / Bread for all - Pain pour le=
=20
Prochain - Brot f=FCr Alle / FIZ - Centre d=92Information pour les Femmes du=
=20
Tiers-Monde

United Kingdom
Glenys Kinnock MEP / James Moorhouse MEP / Burma Action Group / Tourism=20
Concern / Anti-Slavery International=20

International
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) / International=20
Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied=
=20
Workers=92Associations (IUF) / Comit=E9 Syndical Europ=E9en du Textile,=20
Habillement et du Cuir (ORE-THC)

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BCN is onafhankelijke stichting. Doel: Nederlandse samenleving informeren=20
over Burma. Het initieert en co-ordineert aktiviteiten die democratisering=
=20
en duurzame ontwikkeling bevorderen. Het geeft een positieve bijdrage aan=20
een constructieve dialoog tussen de diverse groeperingen.

BCN
Paulus Potterstraat 20
1071 DA AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS
(31)20-6716952 (tel)
(31)20-6713513 (fax)

LIST OF BURMA WEB RESOURCES

Just remember one website:

http://FreeBurma.org

This single page serves only as an easy to remember URL and departure
point to resources promoting the establishment of democracy in Burma.