FW: Burma News Update, No. 72

[HMarciniec@xxxxxxxxxxx]

> Open Society Institute
> Burma Project
> 
> Burma News Update No. 72
> 8 December 1998
> 
> 
> UN FLOATS BILLION DOLLAR PLAN
> 
> A United Nations proposal to link one billion dollars of World Bank and
> other technical and humanitarian assistance to political reform and
> respect for human rights in Burma has met a mixed reception. A UN
> spokesman in Rangoon confirmed that the plan had been raised by UN
> special envoy Alvaro de Soto in private talks with junta intelligence
> chief Lt. General Khin Nyunt, but that its reception by the junta was a
> "billion dollar question." The Bangkok Nation said on 05 December that
> Burma's junta would have to free political prisoners and allow the
> opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) to operate freely, while
> the NLD would drop its demand for the convening of the parliament
> elected in the 1990 election which it overwhelming won. The increasingly
> desperate economic situation inside Burma could convince the generals to
> accept the plan, diplomats said. Singapore's Straits Times gave the
> proposal a cautious endorsement, but warned on 05 December: "If dollar
> diplomacy is implemented... it must be monitored closely so that the
> generals are not in a position to pocket the money and rebuff the
> sponsors. It must be recognized, too, that they have much more to
> concede than the NLD; indeed, there is a fundamental iniquity in
> equating oppressor and the oppressed." The Washington Post was even less
> enthusiastic in a 30 November editorial, saying under the "thuggish,
> drug-tainted, corrupt generals who wield power", "any loans will further
> enrich the corrupt few. Long at the trough, they don't need any carrots
> from U.S. taxpayers."
> 
> Bangkok Nation; Singapore Straits Times, 05 Dec., Washington Post, 30
> Nov.
> 
> 
> BURMA: "NO SERIOUS AIDS PROGRAM"
> 
> UNICEF has warned that Burmese authorities have not initiated programs
> to stem the spread of HIV that could create an AIDS epidemic of
> "Africa-like proportions" in the country. According to UNICEF director
> for East Asia and the Pacific Kul Gautam, Burma does "not yet have
> serious programmes," to address an HIV infection rate that may be as
> high as 2.4 percent of the population. NGO officials say the junta is in
> "denial" over the HIV/AIDS health crisis, dismissing the military
> regime's claims that it has organized measures to deal with the disease. 
> 
> Bangkok, Reuters, 02 December
> 
> 
> 
> JAILED WRITER HONORED
> 
> At a ceremony in Toronto, the Canadian Journalists For Free Expression
> awarded imprisoned Burmese writer San San Nwe its International Press
> Freedom Award. San San Nwe is serving seven and three year sentences
> after being convicted by Burma's army junta of  allegedly "writing and
> distributing false news that could jeopardize the security of the
> State." Accepting the award on her behalf was U Win Pe, a Burmese
> journalist, writer, director and musician now living in the United
> States, who appealed for continued international pressure on the Burmese
> military regime.
> 
> P.M. News newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria, 26 November
> 
> 
> 
> UNOCAL WANTS MORE
> 
> The American UNOCAL company is seeking to build a new pipeline from
> Burma across Bangladesh to India to export Burmese natural gas, and has
> approached the Indian Oil Company regarding the potential project.
> [UNOCAL is currently facing suits in U.S. federal court in California
> regarding reported human rights abuses related to the building of a
> pipeline in southeastern Burma in which it is a partner with France's
> TOTAL and Burma's army junta.-Ed.]
> 
> Chemical Business NewsBase, 30 November 
> 
> 
> 
> BRITONS, DANES BARRED
> 
> Burma's military regime announced that retaliatory bans on visas to
> Burma for members of the British and Danish governments would be
> extended. A junta statement said it "had been compelled to adopt these
> measures owing to the negative actions of both Britain and Denmark."
> Britain and Denmark are among the 15 European Union nations imposing
> visa bans on Burmese junta officials, but have also made very public
> criticisms of the junta's abuses. Britain also plans to back Burma's
> suspension from the International Labour Organisation because of its use
> of forced labor and human rights violations.
> 
> The Nation, Bangkok, 03 December