The BurmaNet News, May 30, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------       
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"       
----------------------------------------------------------       
       
The BurmaNet News: May 30, 1997       
Issue #736 
     
HEADLINES:       
==========     
THE NATION: POLICE BAR ENTRY TO SUU KYI'S HOUSE
SLORC: INFORMATION  SHEET NO-A-0050
THE NATION: BURMA ARRESTS THAIS FOR ILLEGAL LOGGING
BKK POST: SLORC TROOPS DEFECT WITH THEIR GUNS 
INSIDE REPORT: SLORC ARRESTS OVER 800 VILLAGERS 
THAILAND TIMES: SURA ACCUSES BURMESE TROOPS THE WASHINGTON POST: THE BURMA
DILEMMA
BKK POST: ISLET DISPUTE TO BE RAISED IN RANGOON
BKK POST: NATURALISATION OF BURMESE OF THAI ORIGIN
BURMA OFFICE NEWS RELEASE: AUSTRALIAN SENATOR CALLS
THE NATION: BURMA PLACES ASEAN IN A DIFFICULT POSITION  
IPU RESOLUTION: DETENTION OF PARLIAMENTARIANS
ALTSEAN REQUEST: RE RECENT ARRESTS 
-----------------------------------------------------------------     
 
THE NATION: POLICE BAR ENTRY TO SUU KYI'S HOUSE
May 29, 1997
Reuter

Rangoon - Security blocks remained around the home of Burmese democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi to stop her party gathering to mark the anniversary
of its unrecognised 1990 election win, the military government said on
yesterday.
	The order that only certain people can enter Suu Kyi's house remains in
place and we don't think the NLD members will attempt to hold any
gatherings," a government spokesman said.
	Thwarted on the first day of its planned two-day meeting on Tuesday, the
National League for Democracy (NLD) slammed the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) for its blockade.
	"Although the Slorc has said it will build the nation under a democratic
system, their actions are contrary to building democracy," the party said in
a statement.
	Slorc, using armed riot police, on Tuesday cut off access to the lakeside
home of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and other possible locations for
the meeting.
	Only 10 executive committee members of the party were allowed into Suu
Kyi's house.
	The NLD had hoped to bring together several hundred party members and
elected parliamentarians to mark the seventh anniversary of its landslide
election victory, which was not recognised by Slorc.
	"The situation is calm and we don't think anything untoward will happen,"
the government spokesman said yesterday. He said security blocks would
remain around Suu Kyi's house and that checks would be made on those going in.
	Senior NLD officials and Suu Kyi's house could not be reached by phone
because the lines had been cut by authorities.
	The NLD says Slorc has detained up to 316 party members, including about 50
members of parliament, nationwide to stop the gathering from taking place.
There was no word yesterday of whether any had been released.
	Slorc denies charges it has detained party members and has asked the NLD to
prove its claims.
	The United Nation's special investigator for human rights in Burma on
Tuesday called for the immediate release of NLD members and asked Rangoon to
explain the legal basis of the detentions.
	In a letter to Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw, special rapporteur Rajsmoor
Lallah and the head of a UN experts working group on arbitrary detention
urged the government to "do its utmost to ensure the right to physical and
mental integrity of the detained NLD members and to consider their immediate
release".
	Diplomats say Rangoon's record of cooperation with the UN on human rights
issues is mixed at best. It has not allowed the special rapporteur for human
rights in Burma to visit the country since 1995. (TN)

*******************************************************

SLORC: INFORMATION  SHEET NO-A-0050
May 28, 1997

(I)             Rumours seems to be working its way to again create
misunderstanding between Islamic and the Buddhist faith not only
inside Myanmar but outside the country as well.
                In Yangon at Kamayut township there is a Buddhist,
Christian, Hindu and Islamic cemetery all located in one area.This cemetery
in the olden days used to be at the outskirts of the city but today it is in
the heart of the capital.The cemetery area was not properly maintained and
squatters were living there while trash from the vicinity were dumped in
this grounds.
                To remedy the situation the government has allocated new
burial grounds for all religions and is also constructing a new orphanage
for the (100) orphans currently staying at a religious edifice in the
cemetery grounds.The orphans will eventually move to a new facility when the
construction works are finished in their (100'x100') compound.This new
compound has been donated to the orphanage and the Yangon City Development
Committee is taking the responsibility for construction of a new building in
that donated compound.
                It is learnt that, the Kyandaw cemetery grounds has been
cleared up and will be turned into a " Multi Religion Square" where all
religions will have the role to establish objects of landmark. This former
cemetery will not be used for any other purpose but only for a Multi
Religion Square where the (4) relegions will establish objects of landmark
in designated areas. Also the (14) families living in the religious edifice
on the Kyandaw grounds were given appropriate monetary assistance and each
family was given a (40'x.60') free plot of land to build new houses and
appropriate
compensation were also given for the existing buildings on the cemetery
grounds.       Before implementing this project relevant authorities from
all religions involved were invited to have discussion and implementation
took place after consent from all were reached. The concerning foreign
Ambassadors in Yangon and Myanmar Ambassadors abroad have been informed of
the situation by the relevant authorities so that the project and its
objective can be fully appreciated while all negative rumours created to
bring misunderstanding among religions be effectively pushed away.
(II)            On the 17th. of May in Mong-Pyat Township (Southern Shan
State) a clash took place between drug traffickers and a government patrol.
It is learnt that (2) traffickers were caught dead with (6) AK- 47 rifles in
the clash.The patrol discovered a number of paraphanelia in a hut hidden in
the forest and also uncovered a hidden rocket propelled grenade launcher.
After a further search (816.50 ) kilos of opium and (5)gallons of Sulphuric
Acid were also found hidden in a small cave in the vicinity.

***********************

THE NATION: BURMA ARRESTS THAIS FOR ILLEGAL LOGGING
May 29, 1997
AP

Rangoon - Burmese troops arrested 38 Thais and six Burmese for allegedly
smuggling timber from Burma's eastern Shan state to Thailand, the state-run
newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported yesterday.
	The 44, arrested Saturday and Sunday in seven locations near the town of
Pungpakyem, 448 kilometres northeast of Rangoon, were caught with eight
tonnes of sawn teak, 39 teak logs, two elephants, five cars and one tractor,
the paper said.
	Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials in Tak province, which
borders the area near Pungpakyem, had no knowledge of the arrests.
	Timber has long been smuggled across the Burma border into Thailand, which
has been severely deforested by its own logging industry.
	Diplomats in Rangoon, however, have credited Gen Chit Swe, Burma's current
forestry minister, with taking a conservationist viewpoint and cracking down
on Thai loggers cutting illegally or harvesting more than their contracts
allow. 
	The border with Shan state is also a major transit point for smuggling of
opium and heroin out of Burma, the world's largest producer of those illicit
drugs.(TN)

*******************************************************

BKK POST: SLORC TROOPS DEFECT WITH THEIR GUNS TO ANTI-RANGOON FORCES
May 29, 1997
Ralph Bachoe

	Five Burmese army soldiers defected to the All Burma Students' Democratic
Front during a recent military offensive against the students, the Karen and
other anti-government forces.
	The five were under the command of an infantry regiment based in Pa-pun in
Karen State. They defected with their weapons and handed over ammunition, a
carbine, a G-3 machine gun, and five G-5 machine guns to the Democratic Front.
	The Democratic Front yesterday named the defectors as Sergeant Zaw Ye
Naing, Corporal Pe Soe, Lance-Corporal Nyi Nyi Aung, Private Soe Naing and
Private Yan Naing. All belonged to Unit 1 of Platoon 1, under the command of
Company 3 of Infantry Regiment 19.
	The defectors said superior officers had mistreated them, extorting pay via
various. Means. They also said that the State Law and Order Restoration
Council had issued a new directive banning soldiers from leaving the army
after 10 years of service.
	They told the students that many others wanted to desert to escape the
fighting and unfair treatment by officers. The defectors said that soldiers
were not granted proper home leave and were forced to carry out human rights
abuses against civilians.
	They also hated the discriminatory way in which soldiers were treated. They
gave the example of an army captain flown for treatment via helicopter but
when a private was wounded in the same battle he did not receive the same
treatment and later died from loss of blood.
	According to a report from Tenasserim Division in southern Burma, a number
of Slorc troops from military divisions 44, 55, 88 and the Coastal Region
Military Command have deserted their units.
	Four Burmese soldiers from Slorc's Tactical Command 883, who defected to
the KNU, told the Democratic Front that more than 50 soldiers had deserted
since the beginning of the offensive in February. (BP)

*******************************************************

INSIDE REPORT: SLORC ARRESTS OVER 800 VILLAGERS IN KAYAH STATE
May 28, 1997

On May 21, 1997, over (800) villagers from Pankan village and Sanpya Chauk
Mile village, in Loikaw towship, Kayah State were arrested at midnight by
the soldiers from the LB 54, LIB 250 and MI 27.
According to reliable source, the SLORC's reason was that the villagers
linked with the attack of KNPP soldiers to the office of the Regional
Military Command and the Loikaw airport at 10:00 pm on (22-5-97). The TLORC
( Township level SLORC ) said that the arrested villagers were just under
interrogation.
At the time being, the arrested villagers are still under detention at the
military camp in Loikaw.

RELOCATION OF VILLAGES IN PHRUSO TOWNSHIP, KAYAH STATE

The Phruso Township Law and Order Restoration Council ordered on (19-5-97)
to the villages _ Moso, Marcraw Shae, Doeprel and Tawkhu _ to move to the
relocation sites within 5 days.
According to the order signed by the Chairman of Phruso TLORC, it was for
the reason of regional security.

*******************************************************

THAILAND TIMES: SURA ACCUSES BURMESE TROOPS OF MASSACRING KARENNI VILLAGERS 
May 25, 1997
Report by Khachorn Boonpat

Mae Hong Son -- Burmese troops have entered a Karenni village and
systematically slaughtered 79 innocent villagers, including children and
elderly, sources from a renegade Shan faction said yesterday.
Sources from the Shan United Revolutionary Army (SURA), who asked to
remain anonymous, said the Burmese soldiers entered Hua Lam village on
April 8 in the hope of gaining information on the whereabouts of SURA
forces.
The villagers protested their ignorance, and the soldiers departed
with the warning that anyone who had told a lie would be killed.
Soon afterwards, the Burmese troops came across eight SURA soldiers
not far from the village. The troops opened fire, killing two of the SURA
men and injuring another, the sources said.
As soon as the clash was over the Burmese troops returned to the
village, where they summarily executed 79 of the residents, throwing the
bodies into the Teng River.
The massacre was one of the worst atrocities committed by the State
Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) since it seized power in 1988, the
sources said.
A Burmese official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted to
the slaughter but insisted that the death toll was only 19.
Karennis, many of the now sheltering in Thailand, have documented a
litany of human rights abuses carried out by the military junta.
A Karenni refugee named Lan Reh, speaking recently with camp
officials, told of how he had been tortured under the hands of the SLORC
troops last year.
"On June 20, 1996, at about 4:00 pm, 60 SLORC soldiers came into the
village and seized eight people, including my son and myself. We were tied
up with rope and dragged out of the village.
"The soldiers questioned us, but as I did not understand what they
were saying they stabbed me with a knife on my right hand and under my left
eye. Five of them then surrounded me and holding me at gunpoint, pulled me
onto the ground.
"The next thing I knew was that three of them were trampling on my
back and another was tying a rope around my neck. I could hardly breath for
ten whole minutes. They then tied me to a tree, where I remained for the
night until being untied the next morning and ordered to carry a sack full
of bullets."
SURA sources said the increasing human rights abuses in Karenni States
have prompted minority groups led by SURA to launch an unprecedented attack
on Burmese troops based near the townships of Nam Jang and Khun Hing.
The attack by SURA troops in collaboration with the Wa National
Organization, the Lahu Democratic Front and the Palaung State Liberation
Front was carried out shortly after the massacre in April.

*******************************************

THE WASHINGTON POST: THE BURMA DILEMMA
May 29 1997
By Peter W. Rodman

	The Clinton administration's economic sanctions against Burma have been
criticized as a cop-out by human-rights advocates for whom China is the
target most deserving of challenge. Burma is a tiny country, and its
heavy-handed military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC), has no defenders (including this writer). Therefore it was an
easier target to go after. China got a pass.
	Whatever the merits of that debate, there is another China-Burma connection
that is even more interesting.
	Burma, as the West isolates it, is rapidly developing closer ties with
China. Political, economic, military and intelligence links between the two
are expanding. China is wooing Burma, with a likely aim of achieving naval
access to the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean -- a quantum leap in China's
strategic position in Asia.
	In June 1994 Japanese sources reported that China had completed
construction of radar bases on Burma's two islands in the Indian Ocean --
Great Coco and Little Coco -- which are on lease to China. Work was also
about to begin on a port.
	In January 1996, SLORC Chairman Gen. Than Shwe visited Beijing, where he
and Chinese President Jiang Zemin had "warm and friendly" talks reflecting
their "extensive consensus on major regional and international issues."
	 In April 1996 Gen. Zhang Wannian, vice chairman of China's Central
Military Commission, paid a six-day visit to Burma and hailed the
"good-neighborly friendship" between the two countries.
	In October 1996 Gen. Zhang invited Gen. Maung Aye, vice chairman of SLORC,
for a return visit to Beijing. Premier Li Peng received him and praised the
expansion of military exchanges between China and Burma.
	The Far Eastern Economic Review reported early this year that Gen. Maung
Aye's October visit produced a concrete agreement to expand military
cooperation. China is to train 300 Burmese air force and naval officers and
provide additional staff places in Chinese staff colleges. The two sides
pledged to exchange intelligence on threats to their respective
countries. China is also to provide "fiscal assistance" to Burma, which
could mean weapons supplies at "friendship prices."
	All this is one big reason why our friends in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) disagree with the policy of isolating Burma and are
eager to bring Burma into their group -- to counter the Chinese attempt to
suborn it as a military ally.
	The West's sanctions on Burma are thus a great strategic boon to China. The
law of unintended consequences is at work here, as in so many other
instances where Americans seek moral ends without all that much care as to
the practical effects.

The writer, a former White House and State Department official, is director
of national security programs at the Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom and
a senior editor of National Review.

*************************************

BKK POST: ISLET DISPUTE TO BE RAISED IN RANGOON
May 29,1997

	Thailand will raise its dispute with Burma over an islet in the Moei river
at border demarcation talks that may take place in Rangoon next month,
Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn said yesterday.
	Mr Prachuab said the current border conflict would be tackled at the
meeting in Rangoon by a Joint Border Committee formed to demarcate the 2,400
- kilometre - long Thai - Burmese border.
	Bangkok and Rangoon are working on the date of the talks, which will be
co-chaired by Thai and Burmese deputy foreign ministers.
	Thailand has proposed the meeting be convened from June 30 to July 2,
according to Mr Prachuab.
	The ministry has assigned its legal expert, Somboon Sa - ngiambutr,
director - general of the Treaty and Legal Affairs Department, to defuse the
conflict in talks with his Burmese counterparts.(BP)  

*****************************************

BKK POST: NATURALISATION OF BURMESE OF THAI ORIGIN APPROVED
May 29, 1997

But Chavalit claims further study needed

	The cabinet has approved the National Security Council's proposal to
naturalise 7,849 displaced Burmese of Thai origin.
	Based on an Interior Ministry report, these Burmese have lived in Thailand
for more than 20 years, having Thai relatives and sharing the same
traditions, culture and language with Thai citizens.
	Also, they have posed no threat to national security, according to the report.
	Government spokesman Varathep Rattanakorn said the former government led by
Chatichai Choonhavan had already agreed to naturalise displaced Burmese who
had moved into Thailand since 1962.
	The 7,849 displaced people are divided into two groups. The first comprises
4,641 people who fled suppression of ethnic minority groups to Tak. The
second consists of 355 people in Prachuab Khiri Khan, 704 in Chumphon and
2,149 in Ranong.
	These people were of Thai origins but became Burmese after Britain annexed
Tavoy, Mergui and Tanaosri as part of Burma. They later moved back into
Thailand.
	Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said that yesterday's cabinet approval
was only "in principle", adding that further details would be worked out by
agencies concerned.
	Regarding Thailand's policy on illegal workers, Gen Chavalit yesterday
stood firm on a cabinet resolution requiring them to be officially
registered before they are allowed to work in 43 provinces for a total of
two years after which they will be deported.
	The majority of illegal workers in Thailand are Burmese.
	Legal action was being taken against those who failed to register
themselves, Gen Chavalit said.
	Asked if Burma would accept these illegal workers back after the two-year
limit, Gen Chavalit said he had raised the issue with Burmese government
leaders during his last visit to Rangoon during May 17-18, and they had no
objection to it. (BP)

*******************************************************

BURMA OFFICE NEWS RELEASE: AUSTRALIAN SENATOR CALLS FOR SANCTIONS
May 27, 1997

[The following is News Release from Senator Vicki Bourne Calling the
Australian Government to impose Sanctions.]

PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA · THE SENATE

SENATOR VICKI BOURNE
Senator for New South Wales
Australian Democrats Whip

27 May l997

NEWS RELEASE

7th Anniversary of SLORC Junta in Burma -
Australia Must Impose Sanctions NOW

The Australian Democrats Senator Vicki Bourne today urged the Federal
Government to contact the Association of South East Asian Nation's
foreign ministers to point out the disadvantages to ASEAN member nations of
Burmese admission to the group.

Senator Bourne, Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Spokesperson for the
Democrats, was speaking to members of Australia's Burmese community at a
protest outside Parliament House in Canberra this afternoon.

The protest coincides with the seventh anniversary of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi's National League for Democracy landslide election victory in Burma.
As the anniversary approached, SLORC, Burma's brutal ruling military
junta, has pushed ahead with a crackdown against supporters of Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi. So far at least 250 people have been detained.

Senator Bourne said "ASEAN foreign ministers are about to hold a special
meeting to discuss Burmese admission to the Association. Australia's
Government should point out to these ministers, in no uncertain terms
that ASEAN credibility would be seriously undermined if Burma is allowed to
become a member.

"ASEAN can readily gauge the strength of international concern about
SLORC human rights abuses by the imposition of United States and
European Union economic sanctions against Burma.

'The EU and US have shown the way. It is time for Australia to also
accept its role as principled international citizen by following their
example, We should also impose visa restrictions on SLORC and members of
their families.

"Seven years of diplomatic niceties have failed dismally: a multilateral
approach is the only way to stop the hardline rule of SLORC.

'Australia must heed the request of Burma's democratically elected
leader and Nobel Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, by imposing sanctions
against SLORC now."

(Senator Bourne moved a notice of motion in the Senate today on the
current situation in Burma.  Copies are available on request.)

For more information, please contact Senator Bourne: 06 277 3820 W or 06 297
3830 H 
Commonwealth Parliament Offices 56-70 Phillip Street  Sydney, N.S.W.
Postal Address: GPO. Box 34, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000
Telephone: (02) 247 3377 Facsimile (02) 247 9681

*************************************************

THE NATION: BURMA PLACES ASEAN IN A DIFFICULT POSITION  
May 26,1997  
Yindee Lertcharoenchok  
  
The lack of political progress in Rangoon is causing headaches for the  
regional grouping after it boldly declared last year it would accept the  
isolated state as a member.   
  
	Last December when the Asean heads of government declared they would admit
Burma, Cambodia and Laos into the regional grouping   
simultaneously they deliberately omitted saying exactly when. Their   
apparent intention was to kill two birds with a single stone.  
  	In the Asean leaders' minds, 1997 was the most appropriate year for the
entry of the three new members simply because the grouping will be  
celebrating its 30th anniversary. The high-point of the occasion will be the  
realisation of the group's founding fathers' dream in August 1967 of seeing  
all the 10 Southeast Asian nations in the Asean family.  
  	But today's leaders are aware that their plan is not without obstacles,
externally more than internally, because of the strong opposition from  some
leading Western dialogue partners of the grouping, particularly the United
States, to granting membership to Burma.  
  	Burma's admission into the regional club in the absence of progress on
democratisation and human rights will certainly upset the US, the strongest
opponent of the Slorc but also the key political, security and economic ally
of virtually all the Asean members.  
  	But as a self-styled regional power, Asean cannot be seen as giving in to
Western, especially American, pressure in its conduct of foreign diplomacy
and in its decision on the fate of Asean.  
  	Asean also bet that the one-year interval between Burma's official Asean
membership request last August, and the annual meeting in July would allow
enough time for the political situation in the country to improve to as
satisfactory stage.  
  	Burma has been a painful thorn in the relations between Asean and its
Western dialogue partners since the junta in Rangoon, known as SLORC, rose
to power after a brutal and bloody coup in September 1988. The Slorc's
blatant refusal to recognise the results of the general election of   
May 27, 1990 in which the pro-democracy National League for Democracy   
(NLD) won a landslide victory prompted Asean to hastily adopt, in fact   
borrow, the policy of "constructive engagement" to defend their relations -   
apparently for purely economic reasons - with the regime in Rangoon.  
  	The controversial policy, which was pronounced officially by Asean for
the first time at the meeting of their foreign ministers (AMM) in Kuala
Lumpur in 1991, was intended to ward off strong European and American
criticism of Asean's indifference to the political developments in Burma and
its continuing engagement with the intransigent Slorc which had rejected the
aspirations of the Burmese people by refusing to step down.  
  	Although over the years several dialogue partners such as Australia,
Canada, Japan, New Zealand and some members of the EU have swayed to support
Asean's constructive engagement policy with Burma, the US has remained the
toughest critic of both the Slorc and Asean policy.  
  	With the arrival of US Secretary State Madeleine Albright - a stridently
vocal opponent of the Slorc and a vocal supporter of the Burmese   
democratic cause - at the helm of American foreign policy, Asean countries   
know that they cannot take repeated American threats lightly.  
  	They know that Albright might walk out if Burma, as an Asean member,
participates in the Post-Ministerial Conference, an annual forum where
foreign ministers of Asean and their dialogue partners meet after the AMM in
July.  
  	Similarly, Burma's bid for Asean membership is not free from internal
Asean and Burmese opposition.  
   	While Asean governments - despite the initial reluctance of the
Philippines and Thailand - have thrown their support behind Burma's entry
into the political and economic bloc, non-governmental organisations,
individual politicians, and academics in the region have joined hands with
their colleagues across the globe and pro-democracy Burmese activists to   
campaign against what they call the premature integration of Burma into   
Asean in the absence of political and human rights reforms.  
  	Expect for Brunei and Vietnam, the dissenting voices are growing stronger
in the five other Asean members states, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.  
  	In the island republic, the opposition Workers Party on Thursday   
applauded US President Bill Clinton's economic ban on new American   
investments in Burma.  
  	The party's secretary-general. JB Jeyarenam, also urged the Singapore an
government to follow suit.  
  	In Thailand, the normally dormant House Committee for Foreign Affairs
earlier this month urged the government to reconsider the Asean decision on
the simultaneous admission of Burma, Cambodia and Laos, and Burma's  request
for Asean membership this year.  
  	In a May 14 letter submitted to Foreign Prachuab Chaiyasarn, committee
chairman Bichai Rattakul urged the government to reconsider of domestic
Burmese political unrest justifies Burma's admission into Asean.  
  	He pointed out that while the panel supported Asean's non-interference
stance, the Burmese political conflicts have had a direct impact on its
neighbours particularly Thailand which has faced repeated territorial
violations by the Burmese army, incessant and large Burmese refugee influxes
and military spill-overs from Burmese military operations. Bichai. Also
former deputy premier, warned that Burma's admission this year could
seriously and strong interests with Washington. He also warned that there
has been growing criticism of Asean as "a dictatorial association" - a
condemnation which could tarnish the image of the grouping including
Thailand. At the grassroots level across the region, there has been a rising
awareness of the Slorc and its atrocious behaviour against the Burmese
people. The regime's brutally has effectively boosted popular Asean and Thai
sympathy, if not support, for the Burmese oppositions and ethnic movements.  
  	The sight of thousands of Burmese ethnic refugees desperately fleeing
sweeping government military offensive to push them out of economically
important areas in southern Burma's Tenasserim Division coincided with a
local Thai campaign against the mammoth Yadana pipeline that will transport
Burmese natural gas from the Andaman Sea through Kanchanaburi province to a
power plant in Ratchburi.  
  	While the seven-member Asean grouping could not simply retract their
consensus on the simultaneous admission this year of the three prospective
members, it seems they have now realised the question of Burma's membership
is a ticking time-bomb that could make or break the   
grouping's relations with the world's remaining superpower. The issue has   
been further complicated by Slorc's latest crackdown on the NLD ahead of   
the party's planned congress to celebrate the anniversary of its election   
victory.  
  	Ironically, Burma - the last of the three to submit a request for Asean
membership - appears to be more ready and capable than Cambodia and Laos of
fulfilling its membership obligations and participating in the   
Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) process and other  Asean activities if it is   
admitted this year.  
  	According to the grouping's assessment of the three countries'
preparations to join Asean, Burma is a participant in the Asean-Mekong Basin
Development Co-operation; the Conference on Economic Co-operation on the
Greater Mekong Subregio which was sponsored by the Manila-based Asean
Development Bank; and the Asean Regional Forum.  
  	Most important of all Burma is a party to GATT and a member of the World
Trade Organisation and will have no difficulty meeting all Afta  
obligations including the extension of most-favoured nations treatment,  
national treatment for Asean products, transparency and the 10-year time- 
frame to complete the Asean tariff reduction scheme. Burmese laws, trade  
and investment regulations and custom tariff rates are also in place and  
published in English.  
  	Burma has no difficulty in following Asean activities as English is
widely spoken and the country also has vast human resources to deal with the
numerous year-round Asean activities.  
  	To save Asean's face and to find a viable alternative way out, Asean
foreign minister apparently rescheduled their agenda for a special meeting
on Friday and Saturday on Kuala Lumpur to discuss and evaluate the progress
made by Burma, Cambodia and Laos towards their integration   
into Asean. The gathering had been initially planned to officially announce   
the admission of the three countries in July when the foreign ministers   
hold their annual regular get-together.  
  	During a recent meeting in Phuket, Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn
explained that the Kuala Lumpur meeting was being held merely to discuss the
membership issue and make a recommendation for Asean leaders to make a final
"political decision".  
  	In an about-face, Prachuab surprisingly told reporters on Thursday after
a meeting in Japan with his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Badawi - the host
of this week's consultations, that he had suggested that Asean study the
possibility that Burma, Cambodia and Laos do not necessary have to join the
grouping at the same time. "If any of the countries say they are not ready
to join yet, we should keep our door open for them to enter at a later
stage," he said.  
  	While Asean diplomats have been vague about how to deal with the dilemma,
it seems Asean countries still have many open options on how to avoid
embarrassment.  
  	They could skirt the unwanted US confrontation and backlash in July by
rescheduling the admission of the three countries to August when Asean
celebrates its 30th anniversary or to December when its leaders hold their
informal summit in Kuala Lumpur. Either option would allow all parties' to
keep face including the two major antagonists - Burma and the US. (TN)  
  
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IPU RESOLUTION: DETENTION OF PARLIAMENTARIANS
April 15, 1997

                   INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
               PLACE DU PETIT-SACONNEX GENEVA 19
  
                 Human rights of parliamentarians
  
MYANMAR
 
Parliamentarians still detained:
 
Case No. 176; myn/01 - Ohn Kyaing
Case No. 176; myn/04 - Khin Maung Swe
Case No. 176;/myn/09 - U Sein Hla Oo
Case No. 176; myn/10 - Win Hlaing
Case No. 176; myn/13 - Naing Naing
Case No. 176; myn/26 - Hla Tun
Case No. 176; myn/28 - Tin Aung Aung
Case No. 176; myn/36 - Myint Naing
Case No. 176; myn/41 - Zaw Myint
Case No. 176; myn/42 - Mya Win
Case No. 176; myn/50 - Wan Maung
Case No. 176; myn/60 - Zaw Myint Maung
Case No. 176; myn/71 - Kyi Myint
Case No. 176; myn/72 - Saw Win
Case No. 176; myn/73 - Fazal Ahmed
  
Parliamentarians deceased:
 
Case No. 176; myn/53 - Hla Than
Case No. 176; myn/55 - Tin Maung Win
Case No. 176; myn/66 - Win Ko
Case No. 176; myn/67 - Hla Pe
 
 
Parliamentarians newly arrested or rearrested:
 
Case No. 176; myn/68 - Aung Khin Sint
Case No. 176; myn/83 - Kyaw Min
Case No. 176; myn/84 - Soe Thein
Case No. 176; myn/85 - Khon Myint Htun
Case No. 176; myn/86 - Aye San
Case No. 176; myn/87 - Do Htaung
Case No. 176; myn/88 - Chit Htwe
Case No. 176; myn/89 - Myo Nyunt
Case No. 176; myn/90 - Hla Myint
Case No. 176; myn/91 - Saw Oo Reh
Case No. 176; myn/92 - Hla Min 
Case No. 176; myn/93 - Tin Aung
Case No. 176; myn/94 - Than Aung
Case No. 176; myn/95 - Tin Min Htut
Case No. 176; myn/96 - Kyaw Khin
Case No. 176; myn/97 - Saw Lwin
 
Case No. 176; myn/98 - Hla Min
Case No. 176; myn/99 - San Myint
Case No. 176; myn/100 - Than Nyein
Case No. 176; myn/101 - Hla Win
 
 
Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary
Council at its 160th session (Seoul, 15 April 1997)
 
The Inter-Parliamentary Council,
 
Referring to the outline of the case, as contained in the report of the
Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/160/14(a)-R.1), and to
the resolution adopted at its 159th session (September 1996) concerning the
above-mentioned elected members of the Pyithu Hluttaw
(People's Assembly) of the Union of Myanmar, 
 
Taking account of the information provided by one of the sources on 7 April
1997,
 
Recalling that, in connection with a planned meeting of the National League
for Democracy (NLD) convened by Mrs.Aung San Suu Kyi, a wave of arrests of
NLD MPs-elect took place in May 1996 resulting in the detention of 235
MPs-elect, some of whom have still not been released,
 
Considering that, since then, new arrests of NLD Mps-elect have been
reported, namely those of U Tin Aung, Dr. Than Aung, Dr. Tin Min Htut, U
Kyaw Khin, U Saw Lwin, U hla Min, U San Myint, Dr. Than Nyein, Dr. Hla Win;
that most are  charged under the Emergency Provisions Act giving SLORC wide
discretionary power to arrest anyone it considers "to disrupt the security
or reconstruction of the stability of the Union",
 
Recalling that, shortly after the May 1996 crackdown on the NLD, SLORC began
to put pressure on the NLD MPs-elect to resign from their positions as
MPs-elect and from the party itself; that members of military intelligence
have reportedly threatened and harassed MPs-elect, telling them that they
and their families would lose their jobs if they did not resign; that in
early September 1996, 20 NLD MPs-elect reportedly
resigned; that, according to the report which the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Myanmar submitted to the 53rd session of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/1997/64), "NLD members of Parliament ...
continue to submit their resignation as a result, it is widely believed, of
the continual harassment and the pressure they are facing
from the authorities", 
 
Considering that one of them, U Hla Than, died in Yangon General Hospital on
2August 1996; that, according to reports, he had asked to be allowed to die
at home but the military authorities denied the request unless he resigned
from the NLD, which he refused to do,
 
Recalling that, according to the sources, there are consistent reports of
inhuman and degrading treatment in Myanmar prisons; that Saw Naing Naing
(MYN/13), Dr. Myint (M)Aung (MYN/60), Myint Naing (MYN/36) and U Hla Than
(MYN/53) were sentenced to additional jail terms of five to twelve years
each under the Emergency Provisions Act for "causing or intending to disrupt
the morality or behaviour of a group of people or the general public, or
disrupting the security or reconstruction of the stability of the Union",
apparently on account of attempting to pass information about prison
conditions to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, 
 
Bearing in mind that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, in
his report to the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights (April 1997), expressed deep regret that he had not been granted
authorization to visit the country; that his predecessor, during his last
visit to the country in  October 1995, had been denied access to any
of the political prisoners, 
 
Recalling that the Inter-Parliamentary Council has constantly requested the
Government of the Union of Myanmar to authorize an on-site mission of the
IPU to the country in order to collect objective and precise data on the
situation of the MPs-elect concerned and that the authorities refused to do
so in 1992, arguing that the United Nations Special Rapporteur had carried
out a visit in October 1991; that they have since consistently ignored the
Union's request to carry out an on-site mission, 
 
Recalling also that the authorities have remained silent, in particular as
regards the specific requests for information on the conditions of detention
of the MPs-elect concerned, 
 
Recalling further that the MPs-elect belonging to the NLD may no longer
participate in the work of the National Convention; stressing in this
connection that the authorities have always affirmed that the
representatives elected in 1990 would be responsible for drawing up the new
Constitution, 
 
Bearing in mind that, in his report to the 53rd session of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on the situation
of human rights in Myanmar stated that "the National Convention, by reason
of its mandate, composition and procedures ... has not proved a positive
step and is devoid of democratic credibility. The political process
continues to appear deadlocked, with sweeping restriction in law and
practice on the exercise of virtually all human rights and freedoms",
  
1.   Reaffirms its indignation that the authorities of the Union of Myanmar
continue to ignore the outcome of the election of 27 May 1990, and considers
in this respect that the National Convention convened by SLORC on 9January
1993 is designed to prolong and legitimize military rule against the will of
the people as expressed in the 1990 elections, and thus violates the
principle established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the
"will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government";
2.   Deplores the fact that the authorities of the Union of Myanmar have
remained silent on the serious allegations regarding prison conditions in
Myanmar and have not seen fit to respond to the repeated requests for an
on-site mission which the Inter-Parliamentary Council and its Committee on
the Human Rights of Parliamentarians have constantly addressed to
them, most recently in July 1996;
3.   Can only conclude from the persistent silence of the authorities, in
particular as regards prison conditions, and their de facto refusal to
authorize the visit of an independent mission, that the allegations of human
rights violations are well-founded, and that the authorities of the
Union of Myanmar are guilty of manifest violations of human rights;
4.   Remains deeply concerned at the persistent reports of inhuman prison
conditions, involving cruel and degrading treatment, prolonged shackling,
lack of proper medical care and insufficient food for both common and
political prisoners, and the practice of solitary confinement of the latter; 
5.   Urges the authorities to release all MPs-elect still in detention
immediately and unconditionally, and to guarantee their physical integrity
and respect for their right to freedom of expression, assembly and
association, as their duty commands; 
6.   Expresses concern at the allegation that pressure is exerted on NLD
MPs-elect to resign and that the release of those still detained may depend
on their accepting such a condition;
7.   Urges the authorities to allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
the human rights situation in Myanmar to enter the country and grant him
free access to all the detained Mps-elect he may wish to meet;
8.   Recalls that the Union of Myanmar, a member of the United Nations, is
bound to respect the rights established in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, which is recognized as a general standard on human rights;
9.   Requests the Secretary General to convey these concerns to the
authorities, inviting them once again to provide the requested information,
and to seek their agreement to the visit of a mission;
10.   Calls on those member Parliaments whose countries are members of ASEAN
to be duly cautious about admitting a State in breach of the most
fundamental human rights norms;
11.   Calls on all National Groups and member Parliaments to use every
available means to press the Union's concerns with the Myanmar authorities;
12.   Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the
authorities of the Union of Myanmar, inviting them once again to supply
information regarding those NLD Mps-elect currently detained;
13.   Further requests the Secretary General to resume contact with the Thai
National Group with respect to the investigation of the murder of Hla Pe;
14.   Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to
continue examining the case and report to it at its next session (September
1997).

********************************************

ALTSEAN REQUEST: RE RECENT ARRESTS 
May 28, 1997 
altsean@xxxxxxxxxx 
 
If you are aware of any journalists (incl. former journalists and people who 
have written articles) who were arrested in the recent crackdown in Burma, 
please alert the Centre to Protect Journalists.  The contact is: 
 
Mr. Lin Neumann 
Center to Protect Journalists 
fax: 1 212 465 9568 
email <lneumann@xxxxxxx> 
 
Please keep this contact on record for any alerts concerning writers and 
journalists. Thanks. 
 
***************************************