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17/11/98:LETTER TO UN SECRETARY GEN (r)



Subject: 17/11/98:LETTER TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL

/* Written Tue 17 Nov 11:00pm 1998 by
            drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma
                                     Maykha-l */
/* ------" 17/11/98 Letter to UNSG "--------- */

LETTER TO U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL(17/11/98)
********************************************
[Following is letter to UN Secretary-General regarding
with recent reshuffle in Burma. It is evident that the
reshuffle has been made by SPDC simply to side-step the
international community's overwhelming demand for peace
and reconciliations in Burma. Your immediate attention
in this matter is most appreciated as strong UNGA
resolution for Burma being required. Letters to the
world's leaders such as President Bill Clinton and Prime
Minister Tony Blair may also help with regards to strong
UNGA resolution for Burma. --Regards, U Ne Oo.]

Dr U Ne Oo
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia.

17 November 1998.

Mr Kofi Annan
UN Secretary-General
United Nations Headquarters
New York N.Y. 10017
United States of America.
(Fax:+1-212-963-1395, c/-UN dept.of political affairs.]

Dear Secretary-General:
re: Cabinet Reshuffle in Burma
-------------------------------
I call Secretary-General's attention to the recent
cabinet reshuffle in Burma by the State Peace and
Development Council(SPDC). The SPDC announced the
reshuffle of its cabinet on Saturday 14 November 1998.
As a result of the reshuffle, the former Foreign Affairs
Minister, U Ohn Gyaw, was resigned and, the Hon. U Win
Aung, Burma's Ambassador to United Kingdom, is appointed
by SPDC as the new foreign minister.

I like to inform the UN Secretary-General and,
particularly, to the United Nations General Assembly
that the State Peace and Development Council is not a
legitimate government of Burma and, therefore, the SPDC
appointed foreign minister, Hon. U Win Aung, is not a
legitimate representative of Burma. As such, the 53rd
Session of UN General Assembly should refuse to give the
floor to the SPDC appointed Foreign Minister unless such
appointment is endorsed by the Parliament in Burma (or)
Committee Representing People's Parliament(CRPP). In
this connection, I should like to referred to my letter
to the President of 53rd Session of UN General Assembly,
Hon. Didier Opertti, on 21 September 1998.

We have been watching with intense interest on the
developments in Burma since the Assistant-Secretary Mr
de Soto's visit to Rangoon in late last month. Current
cabinet reshuffle is a clear indication that the SPDC
has not been taking the proper path to reconciliation
with the opposition National League for Democracy. I
therefore urge the Secretary-General and UN General
Assembly to put the strong resolution on Burma.

The Burmese military authorities have continued to
detain the elected representatives and NLD supporters.
Reports indicate these elected representatives are being
held in separate locations in different parts of the
country. It is also reported that the Burmese military,
especially the intelligence services, has been putting
pressures on the detained-Members of Parliament to
resign from their posts. I urge the UN General Assembly
condemn such actions by Burmese Military Intelligence
Services.

In closing, I thank you for your kind attention to this
matter. Continuing efforts made by the United Nations
and international community to bring peace and
reconciliation to Burma are greatly appreciated by the
Burmese people.

Yours respectfully and sincerely
Sd. U Ne Oo.

/* Endreport */
AAP NEWS 15/11/98

BURMA-IMAGE ASIA: BURMA CABINET CHANGES AIM TO POLISH
IMAGE
DATE 16:57 15-NOV-98

ASIA: Burma cabinet changes aims to polish image BURMA
IMAGE

RANGOON, Nov 15 Reuters-- Burma has sought to improve
its poor image abroad with the appointment of a career
diplomat as foreign minister at the weekend, government
sources said on today.

The elevation of Burma's ambassador to Britain, Win Aung
, to the foreign ministership in yesterday's cabinet
reshuffle marks a government effort to ease
long-standing pressure on military-ruled Burma from
Western nations, the sources said.

Win Aung, a diplomat for at least 10 years and former
Burma envoy to Germany, replaced Ohn Gyaw who retired
after serving in the post since the early 1990s.

"The change comes as Burma needs to improve its foreign
image," one government sources said.

"Win Aung is a man capable of playing an active role and
taking initiatives. We don't know if Burma foreign
policy will change but it will be conducted in a
different style."

Ohn Gyaw was regarded as a conservative in the
government, which is criticised by the international
community for its human rights record and heavy-handed
treatment of opposition political activities.

"It cannot be because of his age. There are many as old
as him in the cabinet," the source said. Win Aung is 54.

The surprise reshuffle include the addition of a third
deputy prime minister, Lieutenant General Tin Hla, who
would continue to serve as minister of military affairs.

Tin Hla has overseen the military's interest in tow
local banks, various businesses as well as industrial
joint ventures partly owned by the army.

The reshuffle did not affect deputy Prime Minister Tin
Tun, 68, who is expected to retire soon because of frail
health.

Lieutenant General Tin Ngwe was named Minister of the
Prime Minister's Office, and former Minister of
Industry-2 Hla Myint Swe became new transport minister.

Four new deputy minister and four supreme court judge
were also named to succeed retiring senior colleagues.

Government sources said they regarded new Foreign
Minister Win Aung as a rising star, partly due to his
close ties to Lieutenant General Khin Nuyunt, the
powerful Secretary One of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council.

"It is good that a person who has to implement the
policy is close to the person who lays down the policy,"
a political analyst said.

Win Aung  has occasionally contributed articles to
state-run newspapers under a pseudonayn to express his
political and foreign policy views, the government
sources said.

As ambasssador to Britain, he had the tough job of
maintaining relations with London as it tried to force
Burma out of the International Labour Organisation and
discouraged Britons from visiting burma, the sources
said.

Reuters bjm.