The BurmaNet News: October 29, 1998

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 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: October 29, 1998
Issue #1128

Noted in Passing: "The rate at which these workers run away has decreased
sharply." - Unocal official (see LA TIMES: US BOLSTERS LABOR CHARGE AGAINST
UNOCAL) 

Correction: Yesterday's BurmaNet News (October 28, 1998) should have been
listed as Issue # 1127

HEADLINES:
==========
BKK POST: UN ENVOY'S RETURN FUELS REFORM HOPES
REUTERS: UN ENVOY MEETS MYANMAR INTELLIGENCE CHIEF 
REUTERS: MYANMAR OPPOSITION MEMBER DIES IN CUSTODY 
MIC: INFO SHEET NO. A-0669(I)- NLD MEMBER DEATH 
NCUB: ARBITRARY ARREST AND DETENTION OF NLD MEMBERS 
THE NATION: EU SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA WELCOME 
BKK POST: EU TO LET RANGOON JOIN JOINT SESSION 
LA TIMES: US BOLSTERS LABOR CHARGE AGAINST UNOCAL 
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THE BANGKOK POST: UN ENVOY'S RETURN FUELS REFORM HOPES
28 October, 1998 

RANGOON, AFP

DE SOTO TO MEET JUNTA AND OPPOSITION LEADER

A special UN envoy arrived in the Burmese capital yesterday to meet the
ruling junta and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in what was seen as an
encouraging sign of possible political progress.

Alvaro de Soto, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy to Burma,
was scheduled to meet Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi at her home later
yesterday, UN sources said.

He was also expected to visit leaders of the junta to discuss various UN
General Assembly resolutions on Burma, including one on human rights,
diplomatic sources said.

Mr de Soto, a Peruvian diplomat who last visited Burma in January, made an
unsuccessful attempt to visit in August during a standoff between the
military leaders and Mrs Suu Kyi as she tried to visit provincial supporters.

Extra security was seen moving to positions around the opposition leader's
home yesterday.

Diplomats said Mr de Soto's arrival was an encouraging sign but declined to
speculate on Rangoon's motives for allowing him to come after earlier
rebuffing him.

"It's a positive sign that he is being allowed to come into the country and
that the military government is willing to listen to what he has to say," a
Western diplomat said.

The trip is "part of the dialogue the secretary general is conducting with
Myanmar authorities and others," UN spokesman Yasuhiro Ueki said at a news
briefing in New York on Monday.

Mr Annan will submit a report to the UN General Assembly after Mr de Soto's
four-day visit.

Meanwhile, the government announced yesterday it had released 34 members of
Mrs Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party after
detaining them for an  "exchange of views".

"Members of the NLD have been meeting with the government since September
in an effort to build a stable multi-party democracy and to preserve t the
prevailing peace that Myanmar enjoys," an official junta statement said. 

[from BBC:]

Diplomats say the international community has been working on a road map to
democracy with a schedule of incentives that would be offered for
concession by the ruling State Peace and Development Council. Some
estimates say the carrots available by way of financial assistance for
infrastructure development and humanitarian aid could be as much as a $ 1 bn.

BBC Burma specialist Larry Jagan says the first concession would be talks
between the military government and the NLD at the lowest level. These
would pave the way for a genuine dialogue between the generals and Ms Suu
Kyi. The problem facing the UN is how to kick-start the process. One
suggestion is for UN Sec. Gen, Kofi Annan to meet the head of military
government, Gen. Than Shwe, at the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) summit, in Hanoi in December.

The UN is hoping that Mr. de Soto's visit will secure permission from Burma
for such a meeting. No details have been released on the talks so far, but
UN sources say Mr de Soto has gone to Rangoon with concrete proposals to
discuss with both sides.

[ ... ]

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REUTERS: TOP UN ENVOY MEETS MYANMAR INTELLIGENCE CHIEF
28 October, 1998 by Aung Hla Tun 

YANGON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A top United Nations emissary met Myanmar's
powerful military intelligence chief on Wednesday as part of a mission to
nudge the country's ruling generals towards democracy.

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Alvaro de Soto met Lieutenant General Khin
Nyunt, officially number three in the ruling military council but seen by
many as its most powerful figure.

No details have emerged about the meeting.

[ ... ]

He is expected to meet Suu Kyi again before leaving Myanmar on Friday to
brief her on the result of his talks with Khin Nyunt. He has also requested
a meeting with Senior General Than Shwe, head of the ruling council, a
foreign ministry source said.

[ ... ] 

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REUTERS: MYANMAR OPPOSITION MEMBER DIES IN CUSTODY
28 October, 1998 

YANGON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A member of Myanmar's pro-democracy opposition
died of cancer last week while in custody, the military government said on
Wednesday.

"The government of Myanmar regrets to report that U Aung Min, a member of
the National League for Democracy, passed away in a Defence Services
Hospital in Mandalay on October 21,"it said in a statement.

It said Aung Min, 52, had suffered from cancer of the lymph glands which
had spread all over his body.

The announcement of the death comes during a visit by U.N. Assistant
Secretary-General Alvaro de Soto, who was sent by Secretary-General Kofi
Annan to nudge the generals towards democracy. He arrived on Tuesday.

Eight years ago, a senior member of the NLD, Maung Ko, died in custody
during a similarly high profile visit by U.N. official Sadako Ogata, now
the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, to check reports of human rights
abuses.

The military said Maung Ko committed suicide, but relatives said bruises on
his body showed he had been tortured to death.

Myanmar and U.N. officials have kept up a war of words in recent months
over human rights, in particular the military's treatment of the NLD.

The party says nearly 1,000 of its members have been detained since May,
when it resolved to seek a parliament in recognition of its landslide win
in a 1990 election which the military has ignored.

The government has said an indeterminate number of NLD members have been
"invited" to discuss the party's plans at government guesthouses since
early last month.

In its statement, it said it had released 15 on Wednesday, bringing the
number allowed home in the past few days to 114.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson called this month for
the freeing of Myanmar's political prisoners and urged the government to
halt "repression" of the opposition.

Human rights groups outside Myanmar accuse the generals of massive abuses,
including the use of forced labour, arbitrary detentions and summary
executions. Yangon denies the charges. 

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MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE: INFORMATION SHEET NO. A-0669 (I)
28 October, 1998 from <OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx> 

Government of Myanmar Regrets Passing Away of NLD Member

[Information Sheets issued under the email addresses MYANPERSP@xxxxxxx and
OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx match those issued by the Directorate of Defence
Services Intelligence (DDSI) in Rangoon, and can be assumed to reflect
official SPDC opinion.]

The Government of Myanmar regrets to report that U Aung Min, a member of
the National League for Democracy passed away in Defence Services Hospital
in Mandalay on October 21, with cancer of the lymph glands (Malignant
Lymphoma) spreading all over the body.

U Aung Min, 52, had been exercising daily and appeared to be in excellent
health until October 10, when he came down with a mild fever while staying
in a Government guest house together with other members. He received
immediate attention from a physician, and by October 21 his temperature had
returned to normal and he appeared to be almost fully recovered. On the
afternoon of October 21 he complained of chest pains, and was immediately
taken to the hospital, where he died 20 minutes after arrival.

The Government regrets this sad and unexpected event, and has expressed its
sincere condolences to the family. The Government has been contributing
toward the family's welfare.

The Government has been meeting with NLD members since September, in an
effort to work together toward national peace and stability in Myanmar. The
meetings are being held in a cordial atmosphere in Government guest houses.
Many of those invited for the talks have returned home in recent weeks. On
October 28th, U Maung Aye, U Kyaw Kyaw, U Shwe Htun, U Saw Myint, Daw San
San May, Daw Tin Mya, U Kyaw Nyunt, U Ant Ku, U Tin Soe, U Kan Htun, U Saw
Khine,  U Ye Chit, U Yu Shein, U Myint Oo and U Ban Chein returned home. A
total of (293) persons returned home while several other members went back
home for the weekend.

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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF BURMA (NCUB): ARBITRARY ARREST AND
DETENTION OF NLD MEMBERS 
23 October, 1998 

Press Statement for Immediate Release

On 4 October 1998, at about midnight, U Sein Win, a member of Mindeh Ekin
Ward Peace and Development Council (WPDC) and SPDC military intelligence
(MI) personnel came and took away Ko Ne Lin, a member of the NLD Divisional
Youth Organizing Committee, son of U Si and Daw Yi, from his home in Mideh
Ekin Mya Ye Nan Ward, Aung Mye Thazan township, Mandalay Division.

At the Mindeh Ekin WPDC office, WPDC Chairman Ko Kyi Soe and SPDC MI tried
to force Ko Ne Lin to sign a statement renouncing his NLD membership and
promising to give up all political activities. As Ko Ne Lin refused, he has
since been detained in a lockup at the Ye Htwet military camp, Yankin
Taung, in the east of Mandalay.

Political detainees arrested in Mandalay are no longer kept together in
Mandalay jail. Instead, they are dispersed in the lockups of the SPDC
military camps around Mandalay such as Dagundaing, Myit Nge, Pathein Gyi,
Ye Htwet, and etc.

The NCUB has been informed that the SPDC is detaining some older NLD
leaders at the SPDC Infantry Battalion (4) camp at Pathein Gyi. They have
been tortured systematically. In order to hasten their demise, those who
suffer high-blood pressure, diabetes and old age diseases, have been given
inappropriate food such as highly rich food and sweet candies.

[The National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) functions as a
parliament to the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
(NCGUB), a parallel government set up abroad, to counter the SPDC. It is a
coalition of 4 member-organizations of ethnic and democratic organizations,
the National Democratic Front (NDF), Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB),
National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA) and Members of
Parliament Union (MPU).]

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

THE NATION: EU SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA WELCOME
28 October, 1998 

The European Union has passed its verdict on the situation in Burma by
renewing its 1996 sanctions against the country. The EU foreign ministers
expressed deep concern at the lack of a positive response from the State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to their call for promotion of
democracy and human rights and for national reconciliation.

The new sanctions, which will begin this weekend, will now include bans on
transit visas for military authorities and entry visas for tourism
officials. As such, armed forces officers and members of the SPDC cannot
enter EU member countries to go on to third countries.

This is the first response by the West since the deterioration of the
political situation inside Burma, particularly since the bridge stand off
between the SPDC and the National Democracy League of Aung Sann Suu Kyi in
July. Since then the overall condition has worsened with more intimidation
and political suppression, and over 200 members of the opposition party
have been arrested, though some were released early this week.

Burma's admission to Asean has become the biggest headache for the
grouping. As the oldest dialogue partner of Asean, The EU has been very
generous in providing assistance to Asean since it forged the partnership
in 1977. The EU remains one of the most active partners despite the
lackadaisical attitudes of some key dialogue partners in recent years.

Although the EU has widened the sanctions, it remains conciliatory towards
Asean because the ongoing stalemate on bilateral relations is not a cause
celebre.

Thailand, which is the coordinator for the Asean-EU dialogue, has been
working painstakingly to break the deadlock since July last year, but
neither side has budged. Thailand has been caught in the middle, trying to
accommodate each side's requests. Asean has argued that Burma, as a full
member, should be part of the 1980 bilateral cooperative agreement, but the
EU refuses to admit the pariah state on grounds of gross human rights
violations and continued political suppression.

In this context the latest EU position allowing Burma one-time
participation in the much-delayed 13th Asean-EU Joint Cooperative
Committee, to be held here later this year, is considered an act of
goodwill.  Doubtless it is also due to the EU's respect for Thailand's
effort and contribution. However, when the next meeting comes around in the
next 18 months in an EU member country it will be a different ball game.
Burma's participation will hinge on improvement in its human-rights record.
There will be no more excuses.

The EU also wants to broaden the cooperative framework of the Asia-Europe
Meeting (Asem). If overall Asean-EU ties continue as chilled as they are
today, it will have far-reaching repercussions on future Asem cooperation.
It is not worth rocking the boat.

Apart from the EU, international pressure will come from the UN resolution
on the situation in Burma expected to be passed early next month. The draft
is near completion and awaits input from Alvaro de Soto, an assistant UN
secretary-general who is currently on a four-day visit to Burma. His visit
came about after long negotiations between the SPDC leaders and the UN.
Rangoon has rejected a proposed visit by UN special envoy Ismail Razali, a
former president of the UN General Assembly, for a fact-finding trip on the
treatment of Suu Kyi by the Burmese junta.

But there is one last caveat, whatever the EU decision entails and the UN
resolution details: SPDC brutality and violation of human rights cannot be
condoned.

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

THE BANGKOK POST: EU TO LET RANGOON JOIN JOINT SESSION UNDER CONDITIONS 
28 October, 1998 by Achara Ashayagachat 

ENDS YEAR-LONG STANDOFF WITH ASEAN

The European Union, after a year long standoff with the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, has agreed to let Burma attend a meeting between
the two groupings under special conditions.

The Foreign Ministry said yesterday the Joint Co-operation Committee
meeting between Asean and the European Commission, postponed since
November, would be held this year.

Ministry spokesman Kobsak Chutikul cited a statement from EU foreign
ministers in Luxembourg yesterday.

Burma joined Asean in July 1997 but is yet to accede to the 1980 Asean EC
cooperation agreement under which the meeting is held. The EC is the
external trade arm of the 15 strong European grouping.

Thailand appreciated the EU's recognition of the importance of relations
with Asean that this decision reflected, the spokesman said.

Burma also showed flexibility by offering to refrain from speaking at the
meeting if not necessary, he added.

Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan came up with the formula for the meeting
during talks between Asean and the EU in Manila last July, according to
Saroj Chavanaviraj, the permanent secretary for foreign affairs.

The statement from Luxembourg has been interpreted as meaning the EU sought
to link. Burma's future participation to conditions in the country.

But Mr Saroj said Thailand understood there would be no need for further
talks on the matter for subsequent JCC meetings.

The EU statement said: "It is without prejudice to Burmese representation
at future meetings held under that agreement which will need to be decided
in the light of the situation in Burma."

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LOS ANGELES TIMES: U.S. BOLSTERS LABOR CHARGE AGAINST UNOCAL 
23 October, 1998 by Evelyn Iritani 

Labor Department lends credence to claims of worker abuse on Myanmar
pipeline. Oil firm alleges report is biased.

Allegations that forced labor was used in the early stages of a Unocal
Corp. pipeline project in Myanmar have "substantial credibility" based on
the "preponderance of evidence," according to a new report by the
Department of Labor.

The report says such allegations fell sharply in late 1996 after criticism
of the Unocal project surfaced. But it also cited a U.S. Embassy source
stating it was "plausible" that the military battalions guarding the
pipeline are still using forced labor.

The report, fresh ammunition for critics trying to force Unocal out of
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has touched off a bitter dispute between
Unocal and the Labor Department.

In a letter to Labor Secretary Alexis Herman on Sept. 30, Unocal accused
the department of misusing taxpayer funds and abusing "departmental power
and authority" by publishing the report, which was written in consultation
with the State Department.

Unocal asked Herman to investigate its charge that the report is biased
because one of the authors, Doug Steele, is a well-known critic of Myanmar.
The government of Myanmar is a partner in the $1.2-billion pipeline along
with Total, the French energy company.

Andrew Samet, deputy undersecretary for international affairs at the
Department of Labor, denied those charges and said the Myanmar report was a
"fair and accurate description of a very troubling human rights situation
in Burma" and the conditions at the Yadana pipeline.

Samet said Steele was one of three consultants hired to work on the
111-page report and that his work was reviewed and approved by numerous
government officials. He also noted that his staff was unable to conduct
independent research in Myanmar because the government denied visas for two
of the three staffers.

As evidence of violations, the report quotes a Singapore-based Unocal
official telling a U.S. Embassy officer in January 1996 that "the rate at
which these workers run away has decreased sharply" since the company began
paying the workers directly rather than going through the government.

The report commented that if workers on the project had to "run away" that
might indicate they were not working voluntarily.

Human rights activists hailed the Labor Department report, which was
delivered to Congress last month. It is the latest of several critical
studies on forced labor in Myanmar and the Yadana pipeline, but the first
with the imprimatur of the Clinton administration.

"This . . . shows clearly that the allegations are not irresponsible," said
Robert Benson, a Loyola Marymount University law professor and backer of an
unsuccessful campaign to get Unocal's corporate charter revoked by the
state of California .

The Labor Department report was cited Tuesday when a Los Angeles City
Council committee approved an ordinance prohibiting companies doing
business in Myanmar from receiving city contracts. The proposed ordinance
-- which was forwarded to the full council -- is similar to the selective
purchasing laws passed by 22 other U.S. cities and states.

El Segundo-based Unocal called the Labor Department report "scurrilous" and
"unsubstantiated" and vehemently denied that forced labor was ever used on
the construction of the pipeline project.

The company acknowledges the military may have forced villagers to serve as
porters or in other support roles in the initial phase of the project, but
said it has since demanded that anyone associated with the pipeline is
working voluntarily and is paid.

The government of Myanmar is a partner in the pipeline project, and Unocal
pays the military to provide security for the pipeline.

Unocal has stressed it has no control over what the military does outside
the pipeline region. But Barry Lane, a Unocal spokesman, said the pipeline
operators have made a "concerted effort" to ensure that all villagers hired
by the military guarding the pipeline be paid.

Lane said Unocal's insistence on strict labor standards in Myanmar has
substantially improved working conditions in the area.

"Rather than sitting there taking snipes at us, these activist groups
should be embracing what we're doing," he said.

As the largest U.S. investor still operating there, Unocal has been the
target of an international campaign designed to undermine Myanmar's aging
rulers, who wrested control of the country in a bloody coup in 1988 and
refused to relinquish power after the opposition led by Nobel laureate Aung
San Suu Kyi won a national election in 1990.

The Clinton administration has initiated some of the toughest sanctions
against the repressive regime, including last year's implementation of a
ban on new U.S. investment. A campaign by human rights activists has led to
the pullout of dozens of U.S. firms from Myanmar.

Myanmar's military leaders deny that they force their people to work
without pay. They argue that their people contribute their labor because of
a religious belief in the importance of volunteerism.

But the Department of Labor report cites numerous instances where
villagers, including children and elderly, claim they were forced to work
under inhumane conditions. That included being placed at the heads of
military columns to detonate mines and booby traps and spring ambushes.

The report identified more than 80 major infrastructure projects --
including roads, dams, airfields and tourism development projects -- that
were built with what the Myanmar officials call "voluntary labor."

Similar findings were included in a report on Myanmar issued in July by a
special commission appointed by the International Labor Organization, a
United Nations-affiliated body monitoring global labor issues. That report
states that the government of Myanmar and the military "seem oblivious to
the human rights of the people and are trampling on them with impunity."

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