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The Nation & BKK post (11-12-99)

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<font size=5><b>Junta has the right to change the name of Burma<br>
</font></b><font face="arial" size=3>PAUL Fost's letter on Myanmar
(Burma) (The Nation, Dec 6) -- is a typical example of Western arrogance,
ignorance and hypocrisy all compounded to form a meaningless babble.
<br>
Myanmar is made up many ethnic groups besides the Burmese and it is the
right of any country to rename itself to reflect its diversity. The
British named Myanmar ''Burma'' and by changing that name, the government
of Myanmar has probably corrected a historical wrong. That does not need
the sanction from the likes of Fost, the BBC etc. <br>
The main thrust of Fost's letter is that only a democratically elected
parliament has the right to change the name from Burma to Myanmar. Were
such principles applied when Peking became Beijing and Saigon became Ho
Chi Minh City and Formosa became Taiwan ? Or is there a special form of
democracy practised in these countries which is endorsable by Western
standards? <br>
I believe that democracy must flourish worldwide but democracy per se is
not the end-all solution for any country's problem. That is because
nobody can govern a country if they do not have the people's support, as
Gandhi showed with his Non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement against
the British; not because it always ushers the best governance. <br>
This should be something that is left to the people of Myanmar, in
Myanmar, to decide in the way they deem it fit, without outside
interference. The Thai government's policy on this is most commendable
and pragmatic and the likes of Fost should try to understand this before
shooting off their mouths. And yes, The Nation should be changing from
Burma to Myanmar, if you agree with me. <br>
A Samut Prakan resident<br>
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<font size=5><b>Shan chief seeks shelter for refugees<br>
</font></b><font face="arial" size=3>LOI TAILANG, Burma -- The military
leader of ethnic Shan rebels in Burma has urged Thailand and the
international community to set up refugee camps along the Thai-Burma
border to shelter tens of thousands of Shan refugees who have been
displaced by a Burmese military offensive. <br>
Col Yawd Serk told of the plight of the refugees to a group of Thai and
foreign journalists on Wednesday, the first day of the Shan new year.
<br>
Yawd Serk, leader of the Shan State Army (SSA), said he had pleaded with
the Thai authorities on several occasions to set up camps for the ethnic
Shan people who have been forced out of their villages and are currently
living in desperate conditions along the border. <br>
The Thai government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), however, have been tightlipped over the matter. <br>
But official sources said the issue is being discussed quietly among the
relevant government agencies and the UN. <br>
International human rights organisations said several hundreds of
thousands of Shan people have been displaced from their villages within
Shan state under a campaign launched by the State Peace and Development
Council, the Burmese military government's highest decision-making body,
to place them in areas under their control. <br>
SSA secretary-general Turn Zang said the programme is aimed at depriving
the SSA and other armed rebel groups the support they usually receive
from the villagers. <br>
He said ethnic Shan people are living along the Thai-Burmese border,
while others are taking refuge in the SSA camps, also along the border
area. <br>
''They are a burden to our troops but we cannot turn our backs on them,''
said Turn Zang, pointing to scores of Shan people who arrived at this
camp just a few days ago. <br>
''Some have come from as far as the Salaween River,'' Turn Zang said.
<br>
Yawd Serk accused the Rangoon government of trying to ''Burmanise'' all
ethnic groups by systematically breaking up their homes and families.
<br>
Once the Thai government officially recognises the presence of the Shan
refugees along the border, it is hoped that the refugees can have access
to relief aid as well as education, Turn Zang said. <br>
Unlike the Shans, over 100,000 ethnic Karens and Karennis refugees are
currently living along the border camps assisted by foreign aid workers.
<br>
Aung Mart, chairman of the newly-created Restoration Council of Shan
State, of which SSA is a part, said more diplomatic offensive was needed
in order to obtain the much needed foreign aid for the displaced Shan
people. <br>
Aung Mart had recently abandoned his executive post at the Shan National
League for Democracy in Rangoon and fled to the jungle to join the SSA,
believing that he could contribute to the cause of the Shan people. 
<br>
The SSA was once a faction within the now defunct Mong Tai Army, which
was headed by opium warlord Khun Sa. <br>
In January 1996, Khun Sa surrendered to the Burmese government in return
for amnesty but Yawd Serk and his men continued the fight for complete
independence from Burmese rule. <br>
Although Yawd Serk has declared war on drugs, and launched a campaign to
make the area under his control drug-free, the stigma of the old days
still remains. <br>
BY DON PATHAN <br>
The Nation<br>
</font>------------------------------------------&nbsp; <br>
<font size=7><b>We support Suu Kyi, say fighters<br>
</font><font size=3>Ralph Bachoe<br>
</font><font size=5>T</font></b><font size=3>he leader of the Vigorous
Burmese Student Warriors yesterday denied the group opposed Aung San Suu
Kyi.<br>
Ye Thi Ha said the comments made by Kyaw Ni, or Johnny, leader of the Oct
1-2 raid on the Burmese embassy in Bangkok, did not represent the
group.<br>
In a telephone interview, Ye Thi Ha said the leader of the embassy raid
was expressing a personal view. To affirm the group's position, it issued
a statement that read: &quot;We support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
non-violent way to democracy, and her leading role in the Burmese
democracy movement.<br>
&quot;We reiterate that we will not criticise, personally or politically,
any person fighting for democracy, including Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi.&quot;Kyaw Ni told the Associated Press from the jungle base of God's
Army that Suu Kyi did not really care for the Burmese people.<br>
He condemned her for her non-violent approach. &quot;I don't like Suu Kyi
because I don't think she really loves her country,&quot; he said. Her
marriage to the late Michael Aris, a Briton, proved she did not love her
country, and he would oppose her if she came to office.<br>
In the statement, the group said Kyaw Ni's comments had been
misinterpreted, possibly through a language problem. If any member of the
group did make such a statement, &quot;it was in a personal capacity and
does not represent the views of the Vigorous Burmese Student
Warriors&quot;.<br>
Ye Thi Ha, with another student, was sentenced to seven years in prison
in Thailand after they hijacked a Union of Burma Airways plane from
Rangoon to Bangkok in 1989. They demanded democracy be restored and that
Suu Kyi be released from house arrest.<br>
The leader of the 20-strong group said it will always stand for people
fighting for democracy and that God's Army strongly supports Suu
Kyi.<br>
Bangkok post <br>
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