PFB

[sayagyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Peoples' Forum on Burma:
A Tokyo Based Non-governmental Organization 
To promote democracy in Burma
By Kei Nemoto

The peoples' Forum of Burma (PFB) is a Tokyo based non-governmental
organization aimed at promotion and advancement of democracy in Burma. It
was founded in December 1996 and came to have 226 members as of the 22nd of
April 1999. Among those members, there are 181 Japanese, 34 Burmese and 11
people from other countries. Mr. Hiroshi Nagai, a professor at Kanda
university of International Studies (who was former senior editorial staff
of Japanese news paper "Mainichi Shinbun"), serves as a president, and Mr.
Shogo Watanabe, an energetic lawyer, take responsibility for the
Secretariat, working with two young staff members.

PFB's activities can be divided into 4 categories. The first one is to
assist the Burmese people who seek refugee status in Japan. Since the
Japanese government has been quite rigid in granting refugee status to any
foreigners except those from Indochina, a lot of Burmese have faced legal
difficulties to stay in Japan. The PFB, under Mr. Wantanabe's leadership,
has continuously supported the Burmese refugee problem and after its two
years of effort, was able to produce fruitful outcomes. Up until the 22nd
of April 1999, twelve Burmese were provided official refugee status and
more people were recognized as special foreign residents of Japan. The
government's policy towards refugees has been clearly changed by the PFB's
continued endeavors.

The second PFB activity is to provide Japanese language training programs
for the Burmese residing in Tokyo. The PFB observes a language class in
which activists and ordinary peoples of Burma learn Japanese. The class has
now nearly 30 students and many Burmese were willing to join the class.

The Third is to continuously encourage members of Japanese Parliament to
keep supporting democracy in Burma. PFB, in cooperation with international
groups, has sent the latest information about Burma to the MPs who have
shown their interest In Burmese politics and it human rights situation. The
members of parliament are also occasionally invited to the related seminars
held by PFB.

Last but not least, PFB has organized seminars and conferences on the
topics of Burmese affairs in Tokyo. These events are opened once a month,
and invitations are given to not only Burmese experts and MPs, but also

government's officials in charge of Burma.

Approximately 60 to 100 people participate in these activities and exchange
their mutual concerns. The events provide translation services in Japanese
and Burmese languages.

I am currently a member of a steering committee organized by PFB. The
committee members meet once or twice a month to discuss the recent issue of
Burma and direction of future activities of the organization. PFB also
issue the newsletter titled "Alin-Ypung" (which means 'light' in Burma) on
bi-monthly basis. PFB warmly welcomes anyone who interested in
participating.  We can be contacted at the following address:

Peoples' Forum on Burma (Burma Shimin forum)
Hayabusa Horitsu Jimuso, 6th Floor, Shimizu Building
3-19 Hayabusa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0092
Japan
Phone 81332635299(Staffs can speak English)
Fax 81332633882
Email QYN02403@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website http://www2.com/users/rutledge/pfb/
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