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Australia refuses to boycott Burmes



Subject: Australia refuses to boycott Burmese conference

Australia refuses to boycott Burmese conference
Wednesday 17 February, 1999 (5:33pm AEDT) 
ABC
  Australia remains one of two non-Asian countries that has not joined a
boycott of an Interpol heroin smuggling conference to be held next week in
Burma.

Three Australian officials will attend, along with a representative from New
Zealand.

Nations from across Europe and the United States have boycotted the
conference, each country saying it is in view of the political situation in
Burma. 

Burma is considered the world's largest producer of heroin, but the military
regime has also been accused of being a major human rights abuser. 

Burma's rulers say the conference will still proceed despite the boycott. 

A Foreign Affairs spokesman says Australia's participation is based on the
recognition that the majority of heroin that enters Australia comes from
Burma. 

Last year's record heroin seizure off the New South Wales mid-north coast is
believed to have originated from Burma. 


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