News Related to Burma (r)

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The Straits Times
Asean urged to help Myanmar conform 

By Hau Boon Lai 

THE United States hopes that Asean will use its influence to get Myanmar 
to conform to the political and economic standards that members of the 
regional grouping have developed, according to a senior US official 
yesterday. Ms Sandra Kristoff, who is a Special Assistant to US 
President Bill Clinton, also said that the US did not oppose Myanmar's 
entry into Asean and that it was an internal decision for Asean to make. 

Asean foreign ministers had decided to admit Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia 
on July 21 at a special meeting on May 31 in Kuala Lumpur, in spite of 
Western pressure to delay the admission of Myanmar due to its human 
rights record. 

Speaking at a Worldnet dialogue beamed to participants from Singapore, 
Hongkong, Sydney and Manila, Ms Kristoff, who is also Senior Director 
for Asian Affairs in the National Security Council, said: "Let me make 
quite clear that the US did not oppose the entry of Myanmar into Asean 
-- that was an internal decision for Asean to make. The US will not 
criticise that decision." 

Asked if there would be any problems on the part of US Secretary of 
State Madeleine Albright in attending next month's Asean Regional Forum 
meeting in Kuala Lumpur, she said: "I would not think there would be any 
difficulty or embarrassment for Mrs Albright to sit at the table with 
other Asean Foreign Ministers, and engage in a discussion on what are 
after all common regional problems." 

On Indonesia, she warned that US ties with Jakarta would not be able to 
reach its full potential unless Indonesia improved its human rights 
record in East Timor. 

The US House of Representatives passed an amendment last Wednesday 
condemning alleged human rights abuses in the Indonesian province. 

Indonesia announced on June 6 that it was abandoning its plan to buy 
F-16 airplanes from the US and that it was withdrawing from its 
participation in the US-sponsored International Military Education 
Training Programme (Imet). 

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said that the decisions were 
taken to ensure that Mr Clinton's efforts to develop ties with Jakarta 
would not be hampered. 

Asked about the US reaction to the Indonesian decisions, Ms Kristoff 
said: "We certainly view the decisions Indonesia has taken as quite 
proper." 

Despite the events of the last two weeks, she maintained yesterday that 
US-Indonesia relations were good: "There is a close relationship between 
Jakarta and Washington, there is a close relationship between the US 
President and President Suharto, who, after all is the elder statesman 
of the region. 

"We will continue to work to develop that relationship even while we 
have differences on such issues as East Timor."

Washington Post
Burma Leader Reduces Workload 

Tuesday, June 17, 1997; 7:14 a.m. EDT 


RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- Burma's Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi 
has reduced her daily workload while she recovers from a fall down the 
stairs of her Rangoon home, according to a statement released by her 
political party today. 

Rumors had been circulating around Rangoon about the opposition leader's 
health. Her aides said she had been suffering from diarrhea, diplomats 
said she appeared extremely underweight and word had spread of an 
accident. 

``Aung San Suu Kyi slipped and fell from the stairs while descending 
from the first floor of her house on May 21 evening, hurting her back, 
neck and shoulder,'' the statement said. 

``Because of her earlier spondylitis problem, the fall ruptured some 
cervical muscle causing intense pain from the injury,'' it said. 

Spondylitis is an inflammation of the spine. 

Suu Kyi's health is critical to the ongoing struggle for democracy in 
Burma, which has been ruled by military governments since 1962. 

Although her party is organized throughout the country, she is the 
movement's galvanizing figure. Suu Kyi is perhaps the only member of the 
democracy movement capable of consistently capturing international 
attention because of the clarity of her messages and considerable 
personal charm. 

``The condition has improved satisfactorily after treatment, but she is 
taking rest at the advice of the doctor,'' the statement said. 

Suu Kyi is usually reluctant to speak about physical ailments or family 
life with reporters. An aide at her home told The Associated Press, 
``she can work as usual now, but she refrains from doing strenuous 
work.'' 

Suu Kyi meets with her party officials as regularly as possible 
considering the military has been blocking access to her home for most 
people since October 1996. 

Another aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Suu Kyi's 
friends and supporters had persuaded her to temporarily give up her 
vegetarian diet and resume eating meat until she could regain her weight 
and strength. 

A diplomat in Rangoon, who requested anonymity, said that the military 
had offered to send Suu Kyi a doctor, but she refused. 

Suu Kyi's aides said they were unaware of any offers, except the usual 
offer of transportation from military intelligence officers stationed at 
her gate. 

They would not reveal the name of her physician, but said it was a 
woman. 

© Copyright 1997 The Associated Press


European Parliament gives unanimous support to American Burma Law 


Burma Action Group UK
Press Release 6/16/97 

On Thursday 13 June the European Parliament (EP) unanimously adopted a 
resolution urging the European Commission (EC) "not to take action 
against the act regulating state contracts with companies with or in 
Burma passed on 25 June 1996 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under 
the dispute settlement procedure of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)." 
The resolution also drew attention to the "policy of complete disregard 
for human rights" employed by Burma's military dictatorship and 
condemned the accession of Burma to the Association of South East Asian 
Nations (ASEAN). 

The Burma Law of Massachusetts currently bars companies (including 
European companies) doing business in Burma from receiving local 
government contracts. New York City, twelve other American cities and 
one county have also enacted what is termed 'Selective purchasing' 
legislation. The EC is pressuring the United States (US) Government to 
invalidate the Massachusetts law arguing that it violates a 1995 
government procurement agreement sanctioned by the WTO. Should the US 
fail to repeal the law, the EC threatens to take a formal complaint to 
the WTO, which would then rule on the dispute. 

The EC's efforts to overturn American local selective purchasing laws 
against Burma's military dictatorship have drawn a sharp response from 
European Burma support groups and American lawmakers and activists. "The 
EC meddling in American legislative decisions is interfering with the 
democratic process in the US," stated Thomas Lansner, an adjunct 
professor at New York's Columbia University and member of the New York 
City Burma Support Group. "We view the EC's activity as an arrogant 
dismissal of American public support for Burma's democrats." 

Yvette Mahon of the Burma Action Group UK said "On May 20, 1997 
President Clinton signed an executive order prohibiting new investment 
in Burma. The European Union would be better advised to set its own 
house in order and implement its own economic sanctions against Burma. 
Appropriate multi-lateral action against Burma would render unnecessary 
such unilateral but laudable acts of conscience as that taken by the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts." 

In 1996 American papers reported that the Massachusetts' law blocked the 
Dutch Banks ING Barings and ABN AMRO from buying the Bank Boston. Dutch 
electronics manufacturer Philips ceased export to Burma due to the Burma 
Selective purchasing Law.

Desperate Muslims in exodus 



BURMA by Agence France-Presse in Dhaka 
The UN warned yesterday of a volatile situation as Burmese Muslim 
refugees trekked into Bangladesh, driven by forced labour, high rice 
prices and alleged discrimination.

Beat Schuter, UN High Commission for Refugees' representative in Cox's 
Bazar, said: "The trickling will continue, although we do not foresee 
any major influx."

He said the Muslims, known as Rohingyas, were being propelled back into 
Bangladesh by economic factors and discrimination by the military junta 
in Rangoon.

Mr Shuter added: "These people face different problems, including 
excessive rice prices, forced labour and excessive taxation, besides 
discrimination in their freedom of movement, forcing them to return to 
Bangladesh."

Up to 400 Rohingyas tried to cross into Bangladesh last weekend across 
the Naaf River. Most were turned away by soldiers, while some sheltered 
in a United Nations camp or with relatives.



"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE 
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE.  ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING 
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE 
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION."  "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR 
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."



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