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AMNESTY/BURMA ...VOA
- Subject: AMNESTY/BURMA ...VOA
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997 22:29:00
DATE=7/21/97
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-37033
TITLE=AMNESTY / BURMA
BYLINE=KHIN MAUNG HTAY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
(UNVOICED)
// EDS: EMBARGOED UNTIL 7:01 P-M MONDAY, ACTS AVAILABLE IN
BUBBLE //
INTRO: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS RELEASED A REPORT ON BURMA THAT
FOCUSES ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY THE RULING MILITARY
GOVERNMENT AGAINST ETHNIC MINORITIES. AS KHIN MAUNG HTAY (PRON:
KIN MOUNG TAY) OF V-O-A'S BURMESE SERVICE REPORTS, AMNESTY IS
URING THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) -- WHICH
IS ABOUT TO ADMIT BURMA AS A NEW MEMBER -- TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS
TO HELP ADDRESS THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY.
TEXT: AMNESTY SAYS ITS 25-PAGE REPORT -- "MYANMAR: ETHNIC
MINORITY RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK" -- IS LARGELY BASED ON DOZENS OF
INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED IN APRIL AND MAY OF THIS YEAR WITH MEMBERS
OF THE KAREN, KARENNI, MON AND SHAN ETHNIC MINORITIES IN
THAILAND.
AMNESTY SPOKESWOMAN DONNA GUEST SAYS ASEAN, WHICH IS MEETING IN
MALAYSIA THIS WEEK, CANNOT IGNORE THE REPORT'S FINDINGS AND
SHOULD ACT UPON THEM.
// GUEST ACT //
REPRESSION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IS CONTINUING. WE ARE
SEEING MASSIVE FORCED RELOCATIONS THROUGHOUT EASTERN
MYANMAR (BURMA). WE ARE SEEING MASSIVE FORCED LABOR,
FORCED PORTERING, KILLINGS BY THE ARMY. WE ARE ALSO
HEARING STORIES -- VERY RECENT STORIES OF PEOPLE FLEEING
INTO BANGLADESH BECAUSE OF FORCED LABOR. IT BEHOOVES
ASEAN TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND TAKE SOME POSITIVE
STEPS.
/// END ACT ///
AMNESTY SAYS THAT, AT A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE, 200-THOUSAND
REFUGEES FROM BURMA LIVE IN THAI CITIES AND IN CAMPS ALONG THE
BORDER. MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND OF THEM BELONG TO ETHNIC MINORITY
GROUPS. AMNESTY WANTS THAILAND TO CONTINUE ITS POLICY OF SAFE
REFUGE AND TO COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEAL WITH THE
PROBLEM.
/// GUEST ACT ///
WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE THAIS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY
TO STICK WITH THEIR POLICY OF ALLOWING SAFE REFUGE. JUST
BECAUSE FIGHTING HAS STOPPED DOES NOT MEAN THAT HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS GO AWAY. IT'S JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE.
THEY CONTINUE AND I THINK THAT THAILAND REALLY NEEDS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND TO ALLOW THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE
BORDER, AND SEEK HELP FROM OTHER NATIONS. CERTAINLY,
IT'S A BIG BURDEN FOR THAILAND. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. I
THINK OTHER PEOPLE THERE ARE READY TO HELP THEM.
/// END ACT ///
DONNA GUEST SAYS FORCED RE-LOCATION IS A MAIN CONCERN THAT
AMNESTY HAS UNDER PRESENT CONDITIONS.
/// GUEST ACT ///
I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON FORCED RELOCATION BECAUSE THIS IS
HAPPENING IN THE SHAN STATE AND THE KARENNI STATE --
EVEN AS WE SPEAK. IT WAS HAPPENING LAST YEAR. IT'S
STILL HAPPENING NOW. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING
RE-LOCATED ON THEIR OWN SAFETY OR BECAUSE OF IMPERATIVE
MILITARY REASONS. THEY'RE BEING MOVED AROUND TO BREAK UP
ALLEGED LINKS WITH INSURGENTS, AND THEY ARE BEING
TREATED VERY, VERY BADLY.
/// END ACT ///
REGIONAL SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS -- AND THE HOPE THAT ASEAN MIGHT
MORE EASILY INFLUENCE THE RULING MILITARY IN RANGOON -- ARE
BEHIND THE ASEAN DECISION TO ADMIT BURMA. HOWEVER, AMNESTY
SPOKESWOMAN DONNA GUEST SAYS ASEAN NEEDS TO DO MORE TO ENSURE THE
OBJECTIVE OF REGIONAL SECURITY.
// GUEST ACT //
WE DON'T OPPOSE ITS (BURMA'S) ADMISSION. NOW THAT YOU'VE
TAKEN THE DECISION, WHAT YOU (ASEAN) NEED TO DO IS TO
BRING UP HUMAN RIGHTS IN EVERY MEETING AND TO REALLY BE
STRONG WITH THE SLORC (THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT) ABOUT
THIS. PRESSURE THEM TO ALLOW THE U-N SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
INTO THE COUNTRY AND TO ENSURE THAT ASEAN INVESTMENT
DOES NOT LEAD TO ANY KIND OF FORCED LABOR.
// END ACT //
IN ITS REPORT, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ALSO CALLS ON SLORC TO
ENGAGE IN A TRIPARTITE DIALOGUE WITH THE THE DEMOCRACY PARTY OF
AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHOSE 1990 ELECTION VICTORY HAS BEEN IGNORED BY
THE MILITARY -- AND WITH ETHNIC MINORITY LEADERS.
// REST OPT //
AMNESTY ALSO SAYS COMPANIES FROM ASEAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS
MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, AND THAILAND WHO ARE INVESTING IN BURMA
SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF "HUMAN RIGHTS CODE" TO HELP THE BURMESE
MILITARY IMPROVE THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION. (SIGNED)
EAP/KMH/DAR/RRM