BurmaNet News: December 22, 1999

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---------------- The BurmaNet News ----------------
 December 22, 1999 
 Issue # 1428
---------------------------------------------------- 

 ========== 
 HEADLINES: 
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Inside Burma-
 SCMP: End grudges and rebuild nation, abbot tells junta, opposition
 AFP: JUNTA ACCUSES WEST OF FUELLING HEALTH SCARE
 Bangkok Post: Junta troops launch raids on Shan base
 DVB: Meeting of Karen National Union 
 NLD: Statement 173 on illegal detention


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End grudges and rebuild nation, abbot tells junta, opposition
WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok

A prominent Buddhist monk has called for national unity and
reconciliation between the military and the opposition.

 In a series of letters, the chief abbot of Mahaghandharon monastery in
Mandalay, Ashin Kundalabiwuntha, has tapped a well deep in history and
moral purpose. It is a central pillar of Burma's political culture that
the country's political leaders should strive to bind the nation
together - preferably on Buddhist principles. He is in effect sending a
powerful reminder to the ruling generals - and also opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi - that leadership should have a higher purpose in Burma
than mere secular power.

 The abbot sent letters dated November 25 to former dictator General Ne
Win, junta leader General Than Shwe
 and Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.

 "I appeal to you to set aside old grudges and take up a clean slate,"
he wrote to General Ne Win.

To General Than Shwe, he wrote: "You have been slandering each other.
That saddens us." The state-controlled media and officials regularly 
taunt, tease and criticise Ms Aung San Suu Kyi in crude terms.

But to the opposition leader, the abbot said: "I appeal to you all to
start a clean slate and strive hand in hand in building the nation."

Excerpts from South China Morning Post (Wednesday, December 22, 1999)

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Junta accuses West of fuelling health scare
Agence France-Presse

RANGOON - Burma's ruling military has accused powerful
 western nations and organisations of inventing a health 
crisis in the country to pressure the junta to reform.
The claim follows a World Bank report which points to 
malnutrition as a "silent emergency", as well as a 
significantly lower life expectancy and a child mortality
rate twice that of the region.
"It is found that some big western nations are citing
 wrong data and figures sent by. anti-Myanmar (Burma)
 organisations in their reports and publications with
 the intention of putting pressure on Myanmar,"
junta first secretary and intelligence tsar Gen Khin
 Nyunt said in a speech published in the state-run
 media.

"These organisations are attempting to mislead the
 international community into thinking that the
 life expectancy of Myanmar people is getting
 lower as hospitals are outdated. . . and that
 the mortality rate of children is high.
"it is also found that organisations which do
 not want to see the interests of Myanmar are
 also sending such data and figures to some UN 
agencies."

Earlier this year the United Nations Aids programme
 warned of a growing epidemic in Burma and said the
 junta was largely ignoring it, a charge that was
 greeted by Rangoon's generals with loud indignation.
The UN said Burma was one of the danger zones in
 the region, with an estimated 440,000 Human 
Immune-deficien Virus (H1V) positive people out of
 a population of about 48 million.
On Monday the junta said the World Bank's report,
 which says political reform, including an improvement 
in human rights is essential to economic success, was
 "exaggerated" and contained inaccurate information.
The statement represented the first public response 
by the junta to the secret report compiled by a World
 Bank team earlier this year and leaked to a newspaper
 last month. The controversial report was written with
 unprecedented cooperation from the government.

Economics Minister Brig-Gen David Abel met a World Bank
 representative in response to the assessment to point
 out a number of "irregularities", a junta spokesman said.
"The irregularities of the report regarding figures,
 statistics and analysis were pointed out to him and
 the world Bank mission was invited for further discussions," 
he said in a faxed statement.

"Obviously the World Bank report was over-exaggerated."
The document represents continued cooperation between
 the World Bank and the UN, which last year were 
reported to have unsuccessfully offered the junta
 substantial aid in return for dialogue with the
 democratic opposition.


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Bangkok Post: Junta troops launch raids on Shan base
Subin Khuenkaew
Dec. 22, 1999

Tension is mounting on the border after 4,000 Burmese troops
 attacked the Shan State Army's stronghold opposite Ban
 Therd Thai in Chiang Mai, on Saturday.

Lt-Col Pha Muang, chief of the SSA's Suadam battalion, said 
the attack was a reprisal for a raid by his men on drug plants
 run by the pro-Rangoon Wa.

A source said five Muser guards at the plant were killed in 
the raid in which the Shan seized more than 400,000 methamphetamine 
tablets.
Rangoon units had also attacked the Shan base on Dec 13 and 15,
 said the source. Lt-Col Chainarong Klaewkla, commander of the 
Phamuang Force's  135th battalion, believed Burmese troops would 
ontinue to attack Shan rebels operating opposite Chiang Dao and 
Wiang Haeng districts, Chiang Mai.

Thai authorities are preparing for an influx of Shan villagers.
Sources said about 5,500 Shan rebels, led by Col Yod Suek,
 have set up bases near the Thai border.

A base opposite Mae Hong Son is under the command of Lt-Col
Kham Laeng. Lt-Col Tuen Kheu commands troops based opposite
Chiang Rai while Lt-Col Pha Muang heads troops encamped opposite Chiang 
Mai.
The SSA had been under the command of Khun Sa until Feb 12, 1996, when 
Col 
Yod Suek too over.

*****************************************************************
DVB: Meeting of Karen National Union 

Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 20 Dec 99 


A statement issued today by the Karen National Union, KNU,
states that a meeting of the KNU Central Committee was held 
from 9th to 17th December at a KNU location on the Thai-Burma 
border. The meeting was attended by 38 Central Committee members
 and alternates. 

The meeting extensively reviewed the domestic and international
situation and the situation of the Karen revolution. The meeting
viewed the international situation as marked by decline of military 
dictatorship and genocide and growth of inter-racial solidarity and 
friendship, peace, democracy, and progress. 

Reviewing the state of the Karen revolution, the statement says the 
SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] committed the worst military 
offensive, killing, and prosecution of the Karen nationals in the Karen 
history and that despite the sustained enemy onslaught, the Karen 
revolution continues to maintain its morale, and its political and 
organizational strength. 

The statement says the SPDC is continuing to wage war against the 
national races and prosecute the democratic forces despite its 
claims of promoting democratic reforms and national solidarity in 
order to ensure domination by the military dictatorship. 

The statement says the KNU remains committed to establishing 
democracy and a federal union in Burma. 


*****************************************************************
NLD: Statement 173 on illegal detention

National League for Democracy
NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon

Statement No: 173 (12/99) Translation

Contents of letter dated 14 December 1999 from the Chairman of 
the National League for Democracy to the Chairman of the State 
Peace and  Development Council is herewith published and 
distributed for information.

Start -

" Subject - In the matter of the appeal from the wife of U Thi Ha (a)
U Tint Swe, a prisoner in the Myaungmya  jail.

1. Ma Aye Aye Myint, wife of U Thi Ha (a) U Tint Swe forwarded her  
letter of appeal sent to the Minister for Home Affairs with the 
request that we take up the matter.

2. U Thi Ha (a) U Tint Swe who was sentenced by the relevant court 
has had to suffer a term of 10 years imprisonment (1.11.89 to 31 10.99).
He was denied the period of remission that all prisoners are entitled 
to.

3. Ma Aye Aye Myint received notice from the prison authorities 
that at the next visitation date he would be set free. She joyously 
prepared food, clothing and medicines and went to meet him. On 
arrival at the jail she was notified that in accordance with orders 
from the Home Ministry given under Section 10 (d) of the Law to 
Prevent Disturbance to the State, he was to be kept in custody for 
another 60 days. Can a person who has not had the chance 
to step out into the outside world contravene the provisions 
of this Section 10 (d)? This is most unjust and publicly testifies 
to the flagrant abuse of power by the authorities.

4. The application of this law unjustly victimizes the prisoner
 and his whole family. The latest information which we have 
received is that the prisoner has deteriorated in health and is 
suffering severe depression, mental derangement and hallucinations 
even to the extent of not remembering his own children.

5. His wife and children have suffered socially and physically. The wife 
is having uterus and kidney problems proof of that can be read in the 
medical certificate which is herewith attached. (Not attached to this 
statement).

6. This continued detention alleged to be under the orders of the 
Minister reflects the lack of compassion for a fellow human being and is 
extremely unjust. We strongly denounce the continued imprisonment of U 
Thi Ha (a) U Tint Swe and demand that as soon as possible orders be 
issued to immediately and unconditionally release him. Should his mental 
and physical health further deteriorate the authorities that continue to 
hold him illegally and unjustly will be held accountable and solely 
responsible." 				

Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
Rangoon

15 December 1999


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