SLORC MUST BE STOPPED

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

PRESS RELEASE
14 February 1997

SLORC MUST BE STOPPED!

The military junta in Burma -- the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC) -- which earned its notoriety by being one of the most
brutal regimes in the world, has once again outdone itself.  On January
28, SLORC troops and the renegade Karen faction, DKBA, attacked and
burned down three Karen refugee camps, leaving thousands of people
homeless.  Two weeks later, on February 11, SLORC sent in thousands of
troops to launch an offensive against the bases of the Karen National
Union because the KNU refused to give in to one-sided demands for a
cease-fire agreement.  The attacks created thousands of new refugees who
fled into Thailand.

To back up its offensive, SLORC troops also rounded up at gunpoint
several thousand people from Kawkareik, Moulmein, Mudon, Thaton, Papun,
and other townships.  The rounded up people were forced to carry
military supplies for the troops at the frontline.  People who were at
markets, theatres, bus stops and other public places suddenly find
themselves being conscripted as porters to work at the frontline.  In
previous attacks on ethnic forces, SLORC troops used porters to walk in
front as minesweepers.

In the meantime, SLORC launched a massive intimidation campaign in
Rangoon against the supporters of the National League for Democracy
(NLD).  Hundreds of NLD supporters who came to Rangoon to attend the
50th Union Day Anniversary celebrations at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s
residence on University Avenue on February 12 were prevented from
attending the event.  Barricades were set up miles away from Daw Suu?s
home and those permitted to go to the event were made to take a long
walk amidst battle ready soldiers who lined up the streets and
sidewalks.  Several hundred NLD supporters, termed as ?riff-raff? by the
junta?s media, were denied of their right to participate in the event.

Soldiers of non-Burman origin, who spoke little or no Burmese, were made
to man the University Avenue on that day to intimidate the people. 
People were made to remember 1988 when soldiers of non-Burman origin
were brought in to massacre the protesters during the popular uprising. 
In addition, in a move to decimate the NLD, SLORC arrested, tortured,
summarily tried and gave harsh jail terms to scores of NLD supporters
and organisers in recent months.

We call on Australia, the United States, the European Union and the
ASEAN to take effective measures to curb SLORC.  We also urge the world
nations to urgently provide humanitarian assistance to the thousands of
Karen people displaced by SLORC?s massive onslaught.

Burma Office in Sydney and all the people fighting for democracy in
Burma congratulate the wife of Australian Charge d?Affaires, Ms Rosalind
Eva Ransome, in Rangoon for refusing to allow the present of the Union
of Myanmar flag on her property.  She obviously support Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and we thank her for that.

Burma Office also thanks Australian Foreign Minister Mr Alexander Downer
for his statement issued today in support of the democratic forces of
Burma, however, calls from the Australian government to implement tough
policy options such as sanctions in view of the increasing repression in
Burma and the revival of civil war.


	
Contact:	Prime Minister Dr Sein Win (1-202) 3937-342
		Ms Amanda Zappia (06) 297-7734
		U Daniel Aung (02) 9264-7694
		Minn Aung Myint 041-2230-737







Burma News Update
12 February 1997

CHINESE MILITARY HARDWARE ARRIVES:  BATTLES IN KNU AREAS

Rangoon -- A Chinese ship carrying military hardware was seen berthed in
Rangoon harbour.  Between January 27 and February 4, heavy weapons,
tanks and armoured cars were seen being offloaded from the ship.  The
discharging of the military hardware was done only around midnight and
in the wee hours.

Martaban (Mottama) --On February 7, a convoy of 300 military trucks
arrived in Martaban opposite Moulmein.  The troops are expected to join
the regional forces poised to attack KNU headquarters.  A large number
of people in and around Moulmein, Pa-an, Kawkareik and Myawaddy regions
are being conscripted as porters to carry military supplies.  Some
people avoided being conscripted labour by paying up to 20,000 kyat per
head.  The conscripted porters are currently camped at the headquarters
of No. 35 and 62 Infantry Regiments.

Offensive -- SLORC troops have arrived around Shoklee village areas,
inside Burma, where the KNU No. 6 Brigade is stationed.  As of today,
three battles have been reported in Ngapyawtaw area between Naungtaman
and Wetdon villages.  SLORC troops have reported to have make advances. 
The areas where the battles are taking places is just 1½ hours walk from
Sakhan Thit where KNU leaders are based.  Women, children and the aged
have been evacuated from Sakhan Thit.  Only KNU troops remain stationed
in the area.

Analysis:

Different sources confirm SLORC deployment of seven Light Infantry
Divisions along the Thai-Burmese border.  This could mean SLORC is
intent on making cross border incursions to attack No. 4, 6 and 7 KNU
Brigades and preparing for any counter move by Thai troops.

The latest round of SLORC offensive is meant as a ?punitive action?
against the Karens still refusing to give in to demands by SLORC as a
prerequisite to enter into a cease-fire agreement.  The attack is also
seen as a warning to the others, particularly the ethnic forces that
have entered into cease-fire agreement with SLORC but who recently
attended the Ethnic Forum with the ethnic forces that are still fighting
the military junta.  The forum, among others, issued a declaration in
support of the democracy movement, opposed SLORC?s National Convention
and expressed support for the role being played by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
and the National League for Democracy.