The BurmaNet News: July 24, 1998 (p (r)

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The BurmaNet News: July 24, 1998
Issue #1056 (Part 1 of 2)

HEADLINES:
===========
(Part 1)
NCGUB: PM CONDEMNS BLOCKADE 
THE NATION: IF NOT A HANDSHAKE, WHAT? 
ABFSU: STATEMENT ON JUNTA ATTACK 
PORG: MYANMAR BARTERS TO BUY CRUDE 
THE NATION: THAIS DEFEND PROPOSAL 
(Part 2)
THE NATION: BLOODIED BUT STILL STANDING 
THE NATION: DECLARE VICTORY AND RETREAT 
BSGM: ASEAN URGED TO IMPLEMENT 
ANNOUNCEMENT: "DEMOCRACY TREES" COMMEMORATION 
ANNOUNCEMENT: RFA MATERIALS ON THE WEB
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NCGUB: PM CONDEMNS BLOCKADE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI  
23 July, 1998 

But Welcomes Regime's Willingness To Negotiate End To Standoff

For Immediate Release: July 23, 1998 For More Information, Contact NCGUB
Press Office: +1 (202) 393 7342

"If the path to a peaceful, open dialogue begins on the road to Pantanaw,
so be it.  It is better for the military to talk with the N.L.D. on the
road than for soldiers to shoot students on the streets." -- Prime Minister
Sein Win. 

The N.C.G.U.B. today condemned Burma's military junta for blocking N.L.D.
leaders from traveling outside Rangoon but welcomed the junta's
willingness, for the second time in two weeks, to negotiate with Aung San
Suu Kyi in reaching a peaceful compromise end to a standoff.  Prime
Minister Sein Win said today, "[a]ny sign that the junta is capable of a
peaceful, open dialogue is welcome.  But now is the time for the
international community to do its part to accelerate the process of
dialogue.  The international community should support the N.L.D.'s call for
Burma's parliament to be convened by August 21st."

On Monday morning in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her party were
stopped by military authorities 32 kilometers from the capital.  Daw Suu
was en route to Pantanaw township, 80 kilometers from the capital, to meet
with a local official of her party, the National League for Democracy.
After stopping the car, authorities put up barricades to prevent her from
proceeding further.  Although military authorities refused to allow the car
to proceed, they ultimately agreed to a compromise and made arrangements
for Daw Suu to meet Dr. Tin Min Htut, an NLD member of Pantanaw Township,
at Anyarsu village. After the meeting, the party returned to Rangoon.

Prime Minister Sein Win went on to say that "this road blockade 'incident,'
like the one two weeks ago, was resolved through reasonable discussion,
through negotiation and through compromise between the military authorities
and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  We have long called for a tri-partite dialogue
to resolve our national crisis.  If the path to a peaceful, open dialogue
begins on the road to Pantanaw, so be it.  It is better for the military to
talk with the N.L.D. on the road than for soldiers to shoot students on the
streets."

BURMA CRISIS BRIEFING --
STANDOFF ON THE ROAD TO HMAWBI (July 7-8, 1998):  A car carrying N.L.D.
leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was blocked from travelling to
Minhla township.  At about 10:20 a.m., near Shwe Mya Yar village, 40 miles
from Rangoon, the NLD leaders' car was blocked in front by two military
jeeps and in back by another jeep police vehicle.  As the leaders sat in
the car, about 50 persons directed by the military literally lifted the car
off the put it down by the roadside.   Later, the military ordered these
people to carry the car from the roadside into the compound of the police
station. Shortly before 3:00 p.m., military authorities ordered the people
to place the car back on the road, but this time facing towards Rangoon.
Three hours later, the car was again lifted off the road and placed along
side it, this time damaging the headlight and bumper.  The NLD leaders
remained in their car throughout the night. Although military personnel
refused to allow the N.L.D. party to proceed to Minhla, they gave their
word that the N.L.D. leader from Minhla Township could come to Rangoon on
July 10th.  Trusting that the military authorities would honor their
promise, the N.L.D. leaders agreed to the compromise offered by them and
returned to Rangoon that morning.

STANDOFF ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HOME (June 25-26,
1998): After being slightly hurt during an assault by military police on a
group of students Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was trying to escort past police
lines into her home.  To protest the students' treatment, Aung San Suu Kyi
and U Tin Oo, another senior N.L.D. leader joined them as they staged a
sit-in demonstration during monsoon rains in the street outside her home.
The students had been regularly coming for study sessions for some months
and had planned to read a book on how democracy functions in the United
States.

IMPENDING SHOWDOWN OVER CALL TO CONVENE PARLIAMENT:  On May 27, 1998 the
National League for Democracy set a deadline of August 21 for the military
junta to convene parliament based on the 1990 election results.  Daw Suu
has said that "[w]e are only asking for what is due to the people of Burma.
That should not be looked upon as a provocation or a confrontation,
particularly in view of the fact that we have waited patiently for eight
years."

ARRESTS, DETENTIONS AND THREATS INCREASING:  On June 27, military
intelligence agents began detaining scores of elected Members of Parliament
and two days later, an article printed in the junta's official paper
implicitly threatened NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with death.  The article
warned that she could end up like South Vietnamese leader Ngo Dinh Diem if
she did not learn her lesson.  Diem was murdered on the orders of South
Vietnamese generals in 1963.  Approximately 80 Members of Parliament have
been subjected to restrictions akin to house-arrest.  They have been
ordered not to travel and to report twice a day to local police stations.
The travel restrictions violate Burma's law (1) and are contrary to
international law. (2)
ASEAN RECONSIDERING NON-INTERFERENCE POLICY:  This week, Foreign Ministers
from around the world arrive in Manila for the Association of South-east
Asian Nations' (ASEAN) 31st ministerial meeting and fifth regional forum.
Asian delegates, who will be joined by US secretary of state Madeleine
Albright and her counterparts from Russia, Canada, and the EU, will also
address issues including a move to drop ASEAN's  hear-no-evil, see-no-evil
policy of members not criticizing other members.  This move, proposed by
Thailand and the Philippines comes as ASEAN members are increasingly
critical of Burma's military junta for a host problems caused for the
region because of regime's misrule.

Footnotes:
1 The Burma Code.  Criminal Act 339  and Criminal Act 340 (unlawful
confinement). 
2  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 9, Chapter (13)(1).  

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

THE NATION: IF NOT A HANDSHAKE, WHAT?
24 July, 1998 by Aung Zaw

AS TENSION RISES IN RANGOON AMIDST A DETERIORATING ECONOMY, THE JUNTA SEEMS
TO BE TAKING THE OPPOSITION HEAD-ON. AUNG ZAW REPORTS ON THE DEMANDS FOR
CHANGE AND THE STUBBORNNESS OF THE GENERALS.

BURMA'S authorities again stopped pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
from travelling to Pantanaw township, 75 km from Rangoon. This was the
second trip by the Nobel Peace prize winner this month.

Rangoon authorities who put Suu Kyi under house arrest for almost six years
accused her of disturbing stability and tranquility by adopting a
confrontational stance. But it seems despite threats and harassment,
leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) are making more planned
trips inside and outside of Rangoon.

Since last month, the political heat in Rangoon has been rising again. In
May of this year Suu Kyi urged the ruling junta known as the State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) to convene parliament saying the junta must
recognise her party's victory in the 1990 general elections.

In June the NLD laid down a 60-day deadline. It sent a letter to the
chairman of the ruling junta asking to convene parliament before Aug 21.
The NLD's demand was backed by leaders from the Shan, Mon, Chin and Arakan
states.

The junta's refusal to implement the results of the elections remains as a
black mark in the history of Burma, the ethnic leaders said in a statement.

"To erase that black mark," the statement said, "there is no other way but
to implement the results of the elections and to convene parliament."

Shortly after setting the deadline, Suu Kyi and NLD chairman Aung Shwe went
to Min Hla township to meet supporters. Not surprisingly, their car was
blocked and the NLD leaders remained by the roadside overnight in a
stand-off with security forces before a local supporter was brought to see
her. Though Suu Kyi was freed from her house arrest in 1995, she wasn't
allowed to travel outside the capital.

Burma watchers believe that the NLD's recent movements surprised the
military leaders who refused to sit down with Suu Kyi.

"This is a fresh political offensive and a clever move," said a veteran
journalist in Rangoon. "The centre is now in the NLD", he said.

But he acknowledged the fact that the ball is still in the SPDC court.

"They have several options to counter NLD's activities," he said.

The junta's response was neither new nor positive. The demand for dialogue
with the junta is "black magic" and the work of the "superpower
colonialists bloc", the official media responded. The junta sent troops to
the cities while saying there is no room for talks.

At the same time, the junta warned of a possible head-on collision. The
state-run newspapers are filled with anti-Suu Kyi articles. In addition, it
stepped up the crackdown and harassment of the NLD MPs and supporters
throughout the country. The SPDC required all NLD MPs to register in the
mornings and afternoons.

"Those who refused to sign such pledges are arbitrarily put in prison while
those who are forced to sign such pledges are obliged to report to township
authorities twice a day," the opposition group said.

The NLD said that as many as 80 of its members had been detained after
refusing to sign pledges that restrict their travel.

"What they are doing is clipping the wings of the bird without intending to
kill the bird," said a diplomat in Bangkok.

The SPDC later threatened to take legal action against the NLD and Suu Kyi.
It said people can no longer tolerate the acts of Suu Kyi who has ignored
the interests of the nation and people.

"The irony is that people hate the current government and it is less and
less popular, so this is just a joke in Rangoon," said a merchant who is
closely monitoring the current political deadlock in Rangoon.

In Thailand, Burma watchers and opponents are watching Burma carefully.

"The country is edging toward total disaster," laments a senior Karen
leader. Food shortages, starvation and chaos are impending dangers for
Burma, the opponents say.

ECONOMY DETERIORATING

BURMA'S political situation has always been closely linked to the fate of
its economy which is deteriorating seriously. The generals concede that the
call for change is rising among local and foreign businessmen. Ordinary
people and government servants complain about corruption, nepotism, low
wages and inflation.

"Under the banner of an open market economy, the military and their
families monopolise everything," said activist Ko Ko Naing who came to
Bangkok recently. Thus political analysts and exiled dissidents believe
that the situation inside Burma can explode soon unless the junta makes
wide-ranging changes including negotiating with the NLD.

Ko Ko Naing said the Burmese people support Suu Kyi's call for a parliament.

"People are so excited to see positive changes taking place in Burma," he
said.

But Burma's road to democracy will take time. Some Rangoon-based dissidents
rather want to see rapid and dramatic changes.

"We have been under this repressive regime for so long now and we want them
to step down," said an activist.

They are asking Suu Kyi to go to the City Hall in Rangoon instead of going
outside of Rangoon.

"Thousands will turn up within seconds if she goes there," said Hla Min,
not his real name. Ko Ko Naing said the Burmese are frustrated with the
junta but, "we are just scared because they have guns. We know that we are
all hostages in our own country except for the military leaders and their
families."

Given the current impasse and unpredictable future, some veteran
politicians in Rangoon fear that street violence and chaos may take place
in the near future. But there are ways to avoid a repeat of the bloodshed
in 1988 and the incidences in Jakarta's streets in May. Opposition groups
say dialogue is the best way to solve all long-standing problems in Burma.

While the generals are inflexible and intransigent, it seems Suu Kyi is
willing to tango with the junta, though the generals are unwilling to get
on the dance floor. In her recent interview with Bangkok-based NGO
Alternative Asean (Altsean), Suu Kyi said the NLD is open to suggestions
and flexible.

"We have always said that we don't want a zero-sum solution."

Since her release in 1995, many people have kept their fingers crossed,
hoping to see a historical handshake like the one that took place between
the antagonists in the Middle East and South Africa. But so far, Suu Kyi
has found no Burmese De Klerk.  Recently, the junta angrily said Suu Kyi is
not Burma's Mandela.

So the question now is: what else, if not a handshake? 

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

ABFSU: STATEMENT ON JUNTA ATTACK 
26 June, 1998 

All Burma Federation of Student Union (ABFSU) 

Central Organising Committee (Acting)

Announcement No 3/98 June 28, 1998

26 June, 1998

The All Burma Federation of Students' Union (ABFSU) regrets to learn that,
on June 25, 1998, four National League for Democracy  (NLD) members
suffered head injuries as junta's riot police violently attacked 50 NLD
members, particularly youths and students, who came to attend a reading
secession which has been organised at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi residence every
weekend. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly was also injured in the military's
renewed attack on pro-democracy movement. These youths who were attacked
were not allowed to enter Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's compound by the military
and engaged in a stand-off  in the rain from 2:00 PM until 9:00 AM the next
morning.

The ABFSU believes that the NLD, which overwhelming won the general
election of 1990, has the legal rights of free speech, organising,
activities and publications. However, the SPDC does not respect these
rights but marginalises the NLD by the consistence practices of imposing
unjust restrictions, intimidation, arrests, and jailing its members,
including honorable elected MPs. We strongly denounce the SPDC Generals for
their continuation of such illegal practices which are contrary to their
rhetoric of prevailing democracy and for maintenance of law, justice and
equality in the country.  We demand that junta immediately discontinue this
harassment and guarantee the political rights of the NLD.

We, the ABFSU, hand in hand with the people of Burma, commit ourselves to
the unfinished struggle.  We join with other unions -- workers, farmers,
monks, and literature and arts unions - as well as with ethnic groups and
other pro-democracy groups which have for too long been deprived of their
rights, in calling for an end to military dictatorship, a restoration of
democracy, and respect for human rights.

The ABFSU is the historical student organisation founded on May 8, 1938,
amidst the struggle for independence, under the leadership of independence
heroes of Burma including Gen. Aung San. The ABFSU has a long history of
working together with people of Burma from different walks of life.  We
struggled to resist fascism, to gain nation independence, to create an
internal peace movement, and now we continue in the pro-democracy struggle.
The ABFSU went under ground when its headquarters at Rangoon University
(main campus) was demolished on July 7, 1962 during the Gen. Ne Win-led
military coup against the democratically elected U Nu government. Despite
violent attacks by successive military juntas, the ABFSU continues its
struggle for students' rights, academic rights, educational rights and the
establishment of student unions.  Our struggle will go on until these
goals, for which our previous generations sacrificed, are completely
fulfilled.

Central Organising Committee (Acting) ABFSU Rangoon 

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

PLATT'S OILGRAM PRICE REPORT: MYANMAR BARTERS TO BUY MALAYSIAN CRUDE
1 July, 1998

Singapore -- Myanmar will begin taking delivery of Malaysian crude and
products under a proposed partial barter trade deal from August or
September, a senior official in Myanmar's energy ministry told Platt's
Tuesday.

Myanmar, which is already buying 500,000 bbl/month of Tapis from Malaysia's
state-owned Petronas, is negotiating to buy an extra 2.5-mil bbl of Tapis
and 1.5-mil bbl of products in exchange for agricultural products such as
rice and beans, he said.  This revises the 4-mil bbl of Tapis purchase
reported earlier.  The agricultural products will pay for 50% of the
crude's value.

"The delivery contract is likely to be signed within the next few weeks,
and the contract is for a one-year term," the official said.  The need for
additional crude comes on growing domestic demand and a lack of other
import supplies.  "Also, our domestic crude production is slowing down due
to diminishing reserves, so we need more imports for our two refineries
up-county," the official said.

A source in Myanmar's commerce ministry said Yangon was approached by
Malaysia for barter trade.  This is because Malaysia has a huge trade
surplus with Myanmar.  "Malaysia wants to trim its trade surplus, and also
they need some agricultural products," Khin said.

Myanmar has a total of three refineries: one 25,000 b/d and one 6,000 b/d
capacity refinery in the up-country, and one 25,000 b/d refinery in
Thangying.  Myanmar needs a total of 6-mil bbl of crude and 4.8-mil bbl of
diesel annually, an energy ministry official said.

Petronas was unavailable to comment on the barter trade negotiations.

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THE NATION: THAIS DEFEND PROPOSAL ON ASEAN SWITCH  
23 July, 1998 

THAILAND'S "flexible engagement" initiative can serve as an early-warning
system for Asean members of the gravity of certain domestically generated
transnational or international problems, Deputy Foreign Minister
Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

His statement came as the Philippines, the host of the Asean Ministerial
Meetings, also defended the initiative saying that it was the same flung
Singapore elder states man Lee Kuan Yew had tried to practice.

The Thai proposal, which encourages Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) members to criticise one another on domestic policies which have a
regional impact, has sparked a debate ahead of the ministerial meeting
which officially begins tomorrow.

Sukhumbhand said that this approach can also provide policy options and
facilitate the pooling of scarce resources for addressing such problems.
These problems include the financial crisis, haze and environment issues
and transmigration.

The minister was speaking to journalists from Laos and Thailand attending a
seminar, hosted by the Reporters Association of Thailand, on the role of
the media in promoting Thai-Laos relations.

He said many domestic affairs have obvious external and trans-national
dimensions which can adversely affect neighbours, the region and its
overall relations with others.

The Asean foreign ministers will meet tonight to discuss the Thai proposal.
Their senior officials could not reach a consensus during their two day
meeting earlier this week.

The Philippines has been the only country that has openly supported the
Thai plan.

Other countries have said that Asean should stick to its principle of
non-interference enshrined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

In a separate interview, Sukhumbhand said that Asean could no longer rely
on its status quo policy because of the changes that have taken place in
the region and the world.

"Asean needs to be dynamic and catch up with the trend," he said.

In Manila, Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said that
Singapore's Lee had launched "flexible engagement" in Asean when he urged
Manila to fix its power outages in 1992.

Siazon said that when Fidel Ramos became Philippines president in 1992,
"Lee called up president Ramos and said, 'president Ramos, you better fix
your power shortage -- seven, eight hours a day. No power, no good'.

"Well Ramos, of course, felt a little slighted, but he understood the
message and because of that, he [became] determined to solve the problem in
12 months," Siazon said.

Siazon said he did not know if Lee could be called the "father" of the
controversial concept, which has been strongly opposed by Indonesia,
Malaysia, Burma and Vietnam.

"In fact this type of frank exchange has been going on in Asean for many
years now, but generally in private, but more and more in recent times
because of changes within the region and also because of the growing
integration of the countries of the region."

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

(End Part 1)