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BurmaNet News: November 6, 2001
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
November 6, 2001 Issue # 1913
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
INSIDE BURMA _______
*South China Morning Post: Aung San Suu Kyi 'will not be barred from
office'
*Arakan News Agency: Burmese Military Intelligence Carrying out
Cross-Border Smuggling
MONEY _______
*Xinhua: Tourist Arrivals in Myanmar Drop in First 8 Months
*SocialFunds.com: Social Investors Press Unocal to Cut Ties to Burma
*Xinhua: Myanmar Produces Less Fertilizer in First 8 Months
GUNS______
*DVB: Artillery fire cancels highway inauguration ceremony at Thai
border Artillery fire cancels highway inauguration ceremony at Thai
border
*Bangkok Post: Birthday invite for army chief
DRUGS______
*Xinhua: Myanmar, Thailand to Cooperate in Drug Elimination
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*ICFTU: Trade sanctions against Burma fully compatible with WTO rules
*Bangkok Post: Repatriation plan worries rights panel
EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*US State Dept. OIP: Rep. Smith Expresses Support for Measure Honoring
Suu Kyi
*Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma): Statement
concerning seven political prisoners
OTHER______
*Radio Free Asia: JOB ANNOUNCEMENT--Burmese-fluent Journalist(s)
*The Irrawaddy: AAPP Book Release
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
South China Morning Post: Aung San Suu Kyi 'will not be barred from
office'
Tuesday, November 6, 2001
ASEAN SUMMIT
JAKE LLOYD-SMITH
Myanmar's military Government will not prevent opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi from taking national office in future, the head of the
ruling junta has said, according to a senior Japanese official. The
remarks follow a meeting yesterday between Japanese Premier Junichiro
Koizumi and Myanmar's Senior General Than Shwe on the sidelines of the
two-day Asean summit in Brunei.
The comments, from a Tokyo official, appeared to signal a further
commitment on the part of the Yangon administration to continued,
gradual democratic reform.
"We do not care what kind of position Aung San Suu Kyi would hold in the
course of democratisation," the official quoted General Than Shwe as
telling Mr Koizumi. "If Aung San Suu Kyi was elected in votes, it is
democracy and is not what we should meddle in."
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi headed the National League for Democracy (NLD),
which won a national election in Myanmar in 1990, two years after the
military seized power in a bloody crackdown. The election result was,
however, not recognised by the military, which has run the country for
most of the past four decades.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for five years until
1995, but has been back in detention since October last year.
Tokyo has better relations with the military administration in Yangon
than many Western and Asian governments. Despite criticism from human
rights groups, Japan resumed aid donations to Myanmar in 1994, shortly
before Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's release.
Japan has said that the resumption of humanitarian aid to one of
Southeast Asia's most repressive regimes was intended to induce the
junta to accept democratic change, an explanation that was repeated
yesterday.
"We welcome your efforts for freeing political prisoners and we ask for
you to continue. International society is closely watching the role of
Aung San Suu Kyi," Mr Koizumi was quoted as having said. "We hope you
will recognise this and make further efforts for democracy."
In the past year, a special representative from the United Nations has
attempted to liaise with both sides in Myanmar in a bid to promote moves
towards democracy. The junta has released several NLD activists and said
it was committed to a peaceful transition to parliamentary-style
democracy.
In July, Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka told Myanmar
counterpart Win Aung that Tokyo would work to help to improve the
country's antiquated power-generation programme.
___________________________________________________
Arakan News Agency: Burmese Military Intelligence Carrying out
Cross-Border Smuggling
By Our Intelligence Reporter
Maungdaw, Nov. 5: The Burmese Military Intelligence (MI) based in
northern Arakan is regularly carrying out cross-border smuggling through
its agents. The profit of the illegal trade is utilized to finance its
apparatus, particularly to pay its regular sources based in Bangladesh.
The MI branch based at Taungbro left, a township situated just on the
demarcation line of the Burma-Bangladesh frontier has issues permit
letters to its agents, received from its MI-18 Hq. based in Maungdaw, to
buy goods from government cooperatives and carry them from Maungdaw to
Taungbro left 16 times in a month. The finance involved to deal this
transaction runs in millions of Burmese currency, Kyat. From Taungbro
left the MI agents stealthily transport the goods across the border into
Bangladesh and sell them to parties through their agents based there.
The MI is also helping its agents in Arakan to obtain necessary licenses
to carry out legal border trade with Bangladesh. However with their
connivance they are trafficking huge illegal goods of various kinds
across the border not allowed by normal rules. The profit accruing from
this trade is also utilized to finance its various operations.
Executive Editor
Arakan News Agency
______________________MONEY________________________
Xinhua: Tourist Arrivals in Myanmar Drop in First 8 Months
YANGON, November 5 (Xinhua) -- Tourist arrivals in Myanmar dropped by
48.82 percent in the first eight months of this year compared with the
same period of 2000, reaching 77,773, the country's Economic Indicators
said in its latest issue. The decline of tourist arrivals was attributed
to the sharp fall in the number of cross-border tourists from
neighboring countries during the eight-month period, showing a 93.71
percent fall compared with the corresponding period of 2000.
Myanmar depends largely on cross-border tourism in getting foreign
tourists, especially from Thailand and China, the two close neighbors
respectively bordering its southeastern and northeastern parts. There
had been border clashes between Myanmar and Thailand since February,
which lasted for four months until June. According to official
statistics, in 2000, the country registered 234,900 tourist arrivals, of
which 49 percent entered the country by land through border points.
In recent years, Myanmar participated in tourism fairs held in
Thailand, Singapore, China's Hong Kong and Republic of Korea, with the
aim of drawing more tourists for the development of its tourism
industry. Meanwhile, Myanmar is also cooperating with tourism
authorities of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) in regional activities, including cooperation programs
for tourist destinations in the ASEAN region and market promotion
activities of nations in great Mekong region as well as Ganges- Mekong
cooperation program. To develop its tourism, Myanmar has signed
bilateral agreements with China, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Thailand.
___________________________________________________
SocialFunds.com: Social Investors Press Unocal to Cut Ties to Burma
October 24, 2001
by Mark Thomsen
Social investors have become part of a sophisticated, multi-pronged
campaign to keep the Burma issue in front Unocal senior management.
(part II of a two-part article)
Yesterday's article related how a student campaign is working to push
universities and colleges to divest from Unocal (ticker: UCL) because of
the company's business ties with Burma's (Myanmar's) ruling military
regime. Social investor activities to pressure the oil company, which in
the past focused on shareowner resolutions and dialogue, have taken a
step deeper into the investment world to include analyst meetings.
"Investors are realizing the risk of doing business with [Burma's
military junta] simply outweigh the benefits," said Heidi Quante of the
Unocal Corporate Accountability Campaign. The Campaign, which is a
project of Global Exchange, is working with shareowners to get Unocal to
withdraw from Burma.
Shareowner support for resolving the Burma issue was evident at Unocal's
annual meeting this year. One shareowner resolution submitted by the
AFL-CIO, which asked the company to implement International Labor
Organization labor standards in its worldwide operations, received over
23 percent support from voting shareowners. According to the Investor
Responsibility Research Center, that resolution is the third-highest
vote-getter this proxy season.
Another resolution requested that executive compensation at Unocal be
tied in part to the social performance of the company. The resolution,
filed by a member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
(ICCR), included unfavorable mention of the company's Burma operations.
That resolution also received significant support, garnering almost 16
percent of shareowner votes.
Concerned investors are not stopping there, however. In July, the
AFL-CIO sent a report on the company to Unocal investors and analysts.
The report details how Unocal is lagging behind its peers in terms of
financial performance, how income from the company's Yadana gas pipeline
project in Burma remains uncertain, and how the political and legal
risks of Unocal's Burma investments pose a danger to shareowners.
The legal risks have already appeared in the form of lawsuits.
EarthRights International, a human rights and environmental group, is
assisting 12 Burmese in suing Unocal for its complicity in human rights
violations inflicted by Burma's military. The violations include forced
labor, rape, and murder.
A federal court has found that Unocal knew Burma's regime used forced
labor on the Yadana pipeline "as early as its initial deliberations as
to becoming a co-venturer with the military." The court also found that
once involved, Unocal benefited from forced labor.
Despite these facts, the federal court concluded that Unocal could not
be held liable. A subsequent appeal is pending. However, a case filed in
Unocal's home state of California has survived a movement for dismissal
and possibly may proceed to trial next summer. The victims are suing for
assault, battering, false imprisonment, and unjust enrichment.
According to the AFL-CIO report, "Given that Unocal expects at least a
value of $1 billion from the Yadana project, the company may be liable
at a minimum for that amount in this case." This litigation risk should
be a concern to all shareowners, not just social investors.
"Unocal's involvement in Burma is a virtual "poison pill," said Simon
Billenness, Senior Analyst at Boston-based Trillium Asset Management.
"Being linked to a rogue regime is depressing the stock price and
preventing respectable major oil companies from purchasing Unocal."
On behalf of Trillium's clients, Mr. Billenness has been questioning
Unocal senior management about business operations in Burma at analyst
meetings. At a meeting in Boston a few months ago, he discussed the
AFL-CIO report and handed out copies to other analysts.
The Unocal Corporate Accountability Campaign is pushing the Burma issue
even further at analyst meetings. It is taking the extraordinary step of
organizing protests outside the analyst meeting place. Even though
Unocal has stopped posting its analyst meeting schedule on its website,
the Campaign has continued to organize the protests.
Meanwhile, human rights abuses by Burma's military continue today.
According to EarthRights International, light infantry battalions
responsible for patrolling areas around the pipeline still force
villagers to carry supplies for them.
The government officially does not allow such forced labor. The
soldiers, however, have taken to asking the heads of villages to provide
porters, and members of the village are forced to work for the
battalions on a rotating basis. Those who try to refuse are told they
must pay money. Some villagers have reported being beaten and others
have had land confiscated for short periods.
Mr. Billenness said he hopes Unocal's CEO, Chuck Williamson, will see
that it is in Unocal's long-term interest to clear up the company's
tainted reputation.
"When Peter Bijur took over Texaco in 1996, Texaco had a dreadful
reputation. He reached out to concerned investors and stakeholders, took
Texaco out Burma, effectively handled the company's diversity problems,
and left the company with a clean plate" said Mr. Billenness. "I am
hoping that Chuck Williamson will do the same for Unocal."
___________________________________________________
Xinhua: Myanmar Produces Less Fertilizer in First 8 Months
YANGON, November 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar produced 52,596 tons of
chemical fertilizer in the first eight months of this year, a reduction
of 49.56 percent as compared with the same period of 2000, according to
the latest figures of the country's Central Statistical Organization.
Meanwhile, during the eight-month period, the country imported 11.42
million U.S. dollars worth of fertilizer.
In 2000, Myanmar produced 167,599 tons of chemical fertilizer, up 14.8
percent from 1999.
Up to now, the country has only three fertilizer plants which can only
produce urea and are far from meeting its annual demand of over 800,000
tons of chemical fertilizer.
To promote agricultural development, Myanmar government has exempted the
import duties of agricultural implements including fertilizer,
pesticide, improved variety and machinery.
_______________________GUNS________________________
DVB: Artillery fire cancels highway inauguration ceremony at Thai border
Artillery fire cancels highway inauguration ceremony at Thai border
Text of report by Democratic Voice of Burma on 3 November
The inauguration ceremony for construction of Kachanaburi-Tavoy
international highway, a joint Burma-Thailand development project, has
been postponed after heavy artillery fell near the ceremony site. The
ceremony held at the Minthamee camp near the border was attended by Thai
civil and military officials and responsible personnel from the Thai
construction company. While they were waiting for the arrival of SPDC No
3 Tactical Commander Col Khin Maung Myint heavy artillery fell near the
ceremony site. A Thai delegation member who did not want to be
identified said the ceremony was cancelled and the Thai delegation had
to return to Thailand. The same Thai official said Col Khin Maung Myint
and his entourage were also ambushed.
He added although the attackers are unknown, since it is in the KNU
[Karen National Union] 4th Brigade controlled area the group could
possibly belong to the KNU. DVB correspondent Ko Moe Aye contacted Phado
Saw Theo, the information official of KNU 4th Brigade and Mergui-Tavoy
District, and inquired about the incident.
[Ko Moe Aye] While the Thai delegation was there waiting for the
ceremony to begin KNU heavy artillery fell near the site. What can you
comment about that?
[Phado Saw Theo] From what I figured out the road will connect Tavoy
with Minthamee camp. The Thai officials and the Burmese commanders were
supposed to meet there. The fighting and the heavy artillery fire in the
region is a normal occurrence. These areas are battlegrounds and
unstable regions. The fighting is not only at the border region but also
at various places inland so it is not an extraordinary incident.
[Ko Moe Aye] Yesterday we received some news that the SPDC forces were
tipped off the KNU was going to sabotage the gas pipeline in the
Yebyu-Kanbauk region. Subsequently, during the clearing operation the
SPDC forces engaged in a battle with about 40 camouflaged guerrillas.
What would you like to say?
[Phado Saw Theo] I have not heard anything about that. I am also not
aware that the KNU is operating in such numbers at the natural gas
pipeline region.
[Ko Moe Aye] Are you implying that the 40 armed camouflaged guerrillas
are not from the KNU?
[Phado Saw Theo] Yes. We are not operating in such large numbers. If it
is not an important matter we use a very small and effective force.
[Ko Moe Aye] We learned that the villages involved are Khaw Sar and Min
Tun Hla Lay. Are these KNU-controlled areas?
[Phado Saw Theo] We can say that there is no such thing as
KNU-controlled areas because the SPDC is also in control of their bases
just as the KNU and the Mon group are in control of theirs. But where
movements and operations are concerned one group enter another group's
area and vice versa. I think Khaw Sar and Mi Khaw Sar are Mon names. It
is not the KNU but the 4th Brigade has a presence in the region.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 3 Nov 01
___________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Birthday invite for army chief
November 06, 2001
Wassana Nanuam
Burma's army chief Gen Maung Aye will be invited to attend next month's
trooping of the colours to mark His Majesty the King's birthday, an aide
to the defence minister said.
Gen Sanan Kachornklam said he would deliver the defence minister's
invitation during his weekend visit to Rangoon.
Burmese top brass had been invited to the Dec 2 ceremony every year, but
had never attended.
It was hoped the Burmese army chief would set a precedent now that
relations with Burma have improved.
Gen Sanan is secretary of the defence minister's team of advisers, but
will visit Rangoon between Friday and Sunday as secretary-general of the
Thai-Burmese Cultural and Economic Association. He would make
arrangements for a meeting of the association's executives on Nov 28.
Topics for discussion include a joint venture on fisheries between
Thailand and Burma. Thailand will also give 10 oxen to Burma's Livestock
and Fisheries department, he said.
________________________DRUGS______________________
Xinhua: Myanmar, Thailand to Cooperate in Drug Elimination
YANGON, November 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The anti-drug authorities of Myanmar
and Thailand met here on Monday and discussed matters on cooperation
between the two countries in drug elimination.
According to the Myanmar Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control
(CCDAC) Tuesday, the meeting was attended by the Myanmar delegation, led
by CCDAC Secretary Police Major-General Soe Win and the visiting Thai
delegation, headed by Secretary-General of Drug Abuse Control
Organization Kitti Limchaikit.
The discussions covered assistance offer by Thailand for Myanmar's drug
eradication and alternative development tasks in Mongyawng, southern Wa
region of the country's eastern Shan state.
The seven-member Thai anti-drug delegation arrived here on Monday for
the meeting and during their four-day visit in the country, they will
also tour the Shan state and meet with the Wa ethnic leaders, according
to the CCDAC.
In June this year, Myanmar and Thailand reached in Yangon a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in narcotic drugs, psychotropic
substances and precursor chemical control. The MOU also includes
cooperation in information exchange on illicit drug-related issues and
establishment of three anti-drug trafficking border outposts in
Tachilek-Maesai, Myawaddy-Maesot and Victoria Point-Ranong.
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
ICFTU: Trade sanctions against Burma fully compatible with WTO rules
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
5/11/2001 Brussels November 05, 2001 (ICFTU OnLine): The persistence
of forced labour on a large scale in Burma, widely expected to be
confirmed next week by the International Labour Organisation (ILO),
should prompt all Member States to impose binding trade sanctions on the
Burmese regime, says the ICFTU. With the WTO Ministerial Meeting set to
open in Qatar on Friday, the ICFTU has released a 5-page report
affirming that no legal obstacles stand in the way of such sanctions by
virtue of these countries' WTO commitments. The briefing was sent along
with a joint letter to EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, by the
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the ICFTU.
In its letter to the EU Trade Representative, the two Brussels-based
labour groups re-affirm that the International Labour Conference
resolution of June 2000 is fully compatible with WTO rules. It implies
that those members of the ILO, the EU included, who have expressed their
commitment to the eradication of forced labour in Burma are free to
fulfil their ILO responsibility to act in defence of the human rights of
the Burmese people.
Last year's adoption by the ILO's annual conference of a strongly-worded
resolution on Burma opened the way for all Member states, as well as
employers organisations and trade unions, to adopt measures aimed at
ensuring that any links they might have with Burma would not aid or abet
the junta's use of forced labour.
On November 15, the letter continues, the ILO Governing Body is due to
discuss the report of the visit to Burma of the ILO's High Level Team
(HLT). However, this is unlikely to result in any finding that forced
labour is now being tackled effectively in Burma.
The ETUC and the ICFTU consider therefore, that after the November 15
ILO Governing Body meeting, the EU Council should hold an extraordinary
discussion of Burma in order to act on the ILO's findings. The Council
should decide to step up the EU's measures to stop the violation of
human rights in Burma by implementing restrictions on the EU's imports
from and exports to that country and by imposing a ban on investments
from the EU in Burma.
"The time has come for decisive economic pressure to be put on the
Burmese military in order to convince them that they should desist once
and for all from forced labour", says Bill Jordan, ICFTU General
Secretary. The junta's systematic use of forced labour was assimilated
by the 1998 report of an ILO Commission of Inquiry to a crime against
humanity.
While many governments and corporations have hidden behind an alleged
incompatibility of trade sanctions against Burma with WTO rules, the
ICFTU's briefing rejects their claims as "legally unfounded and morally
wrong", Jordan said today.
The legal briefing addresses six issues, including article XX(a) of the
GATT Agreement (General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade) which refers to
"measures necessary to protect public morals" as an acceptable
justification for restrictions on trade. "In this regard", the briefing
continues, "it is clear that a national choice to refuse to undertake
trade with a country employing forced labour is an expression of the
public morals of the country taking such measures."
Additionally, the briefing argues that swift use should be made of GATT
Agreement articles relating to human health - XX(b), prison labour -
XX(e) and the possibility to use the UN Charter for the maintenance of
international peace and security - XXI(c). Such measures, the ICFTU
believes, would put enormous pressure on the junta to cease the present
worsening level of violations of basic human rights, especially forced
labour.
"The legal and the moral cases for action are clear. There is no further
excuse for governments refraining from implementing trade action against
Burma at the earliest possible time", the ICFTU General Secretary
concluded.
___________________________________________________
Bangkok Post: Repatriation plan worries rights panel
Monday 05 November 2001
Returnees tricked into signing forms
Anchalee Kongrut
Forcing 63 Burmese immigrants to return home could put their lives in
danger, said Wasant Panich, a member of the National Human Rights
Committee.
Authorities plan to send the immigrants back tomorrow, by leaving them
at a border village in Burma known to be friendly to the Rangoon
government.
The immigrants faced severe punishment if they ended up being handed
over to Burmese soldiers, said Mr Wasant, who visited the immigrants at
their shelter in Ban Rai Pa, in Thong Pha Phum district on Saturday.
The committee visited the border to investigate the government's policy
towards Burmese immigrants and refugees.
It had received complaints that the immigrants had been tricked into
signing repatriation forms.
Chalida Tajroensuk, from Forum Asia, said the immigrants were under the
impression they would be moved to the United Nations refugee camp in Tha
Song Yang district in Tak.
Burmese soldiers had been recruiting civilians to build roads and
bridges for military operations against the anti-Rangoon Karen National
Union, which has bases along the border.
The villagers said they had walked for more than a month to reach the
Thai border on Oct 25.
Soldiers were forcing civilians to work from dawn to dusk without being
paid, they said. Their food and possessions had been confiscated.
``People who refused were beaten. Those who tried to flee were
tortured,'' one immigrant said.
Most villagers did not know they would be sent back, Mr Wasant said.
One immigrant, who asked not to be named, said sending him back was
tantamount to a death sentence, as the junta kept the names of people
who fled.
Thailand has a policy of repatriating immigrants who enter illegally.
Only people fleeing war are normally allowed into refugee camps.
One humanitarian worker said the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees was willing to accept the villagers at its camp in Tak.
The committee would propose that the government review its refugee
policy, Mr Wasant said.
___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________
US State Dept. OIP: Rep. Smith Expresses Support for Measure Honoring
Suu Kyi
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
02 November 2001
Text: Rep. Smith Expresses Support for Measure Honoring Suu Kyi (H.
Con. Res. 211 calls on Burma to recognize election results) (880)
The House International Relations Committee approved by unanimous
consent November 1 a resolution that honors Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi on
the 10th anniversary of her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Representative Christopher Smith (Republican of New Jersey), had planned
to offer a technical amendment as a substitution for the resolution
during the markup, but decided instead to bring that amendment up when
the full House of Representatives takes up House Concurrent Resolution
211 (H. Con. Res. 211).
H. Con. Res. 211 highlights the struggle by Aung San Suu Kyi for
democracy in Burma, and would invite her to address Congress.
The measure describes "the suppression of freedom and democracy by the
Burmese military junta and the continuing struggle of Aung San Suu Kyi
and the National League for Democracy to assert the rights of the
Burmese people," Smith said in his prepared statement for the committee.
The proposed resolution expresses a sense of Congress that the United
States government "should continue to encourage the Government of Burma
to restore basic human rights to the Burmese people," Smith, the
committee's vice chairman, said in his prepared statement.
The proposed resolution also calls on the Rangoon regime to eliminate
the practice of human trafficking, to address the manufacture of heroin
and methamphetamines in Burma, to continue to release political
prisoners, and "to recognize the results of the 1990 democratic
elections, and to allow Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for
Democracy to enjoy unfettered freedom of speech and freedom of
movement," Smith said.
H. Con. Res. 211 now goes before the full House of Representatives for
consideration.
Following is the text of Smith's statement to the House International
Relations Committee:
(begin text)
Statement of Rep. Christopher Smith
Vice Chairman
House International Relations Committee
November 1, 2001
H. Con. Res. 211, Commemorating Aung San Suu Kyi on the 10th Anniversary
of her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and expressing the sense of
Congress with respect to the government of Burma
Mr. Chairman, I urge a unanimous vote in favor of this resolution, which
makes clear the continued strong support of Congress for freedom and
democracy in Burma and for the struggle of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi and the National League for Democracy to assert the fundamental
rights of the Burmese people.
I want to thank and congratulate Congressman King and the 35 bipartisan
co-sponsors of this timely and important resolution. I do have an
amendment in the nature of a substitute, which makes technical and
drafting changes that have been agreed to by Mr. King, Mr. Leach, Mr.
Lantos, and others.
Mr. Chairman, ten years ago this month the Nobel committee recognized
what the whole world knew: that the only way to restore peace and
prosperity to the once-proud nation of Burma is to restore legitimacy.
Burma is different from most other countries in which power is wielded
by totalitarian dictatorships, in that we do not have to theorize about
what the people would choose if they were allowed to govern themselves.
Eleven years ago the military government did allow an election, which
they figured they would be able to win by fraud and intimidation and by
dividing and conquering the different ethnic groups that comprise the
nation of Burma. To their surprise, the good guys won, with overwhelming
support from all ethnic groups in all parts of the country. So the
dictators simply cancelled the results of the election. Nevertheless, it
laid to rest any doubt about the desire of the Burmese people for
freedom and democracy and about the fundamental illegitimacy of the
military dictatorship that has continued to govern Burma.
This resolution commends Aung San Suu Kyi on the tenth anniversary of
her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. That anniversary occurred on
October 14 of this year. The resolution also describes the suppression
of freedom and democracy by the Burmese military junta and the
continuing struggle of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for
Democracy to assert the rights of the Burmese people. It declares the
sense of Congress that the United States government should continue to
encourage the Government of Burma to restore basic human rights to the
Burmese people, to eliminate the practice of human trafficking, to
address the manufacture of heroin and methamphetamines, to continue the
process of releasing political prisoners, to recognize the results of
the 1990 democratic elections, and to allow Aung San Suu Kyi and the
National League for Democracy to enjoy unfettered freedom of speech and
freedom of movement. Finally, Mr. Chairman, this resolution declares the
sense of Congress that Aung San Suu Kyi should be invited to address a
joint meeting of the Congress. It is my hope that this meeting will
occur when Aung San Suu Kyi has taken her rightful place as the leader
of a free and democratic Burma.
Mr. Chairman, I urge a unanimous YES vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 211
as amended.
(end text)
___________________________________________________
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma): Statement
concerning seven political prisoners
AAPP 012-2001
Statement
November 2, 2001
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in an
opinion dated 12 September 2001 and made public on 26 October 2001, a
copy of which is attached below, that the State Peace and Development
Council (?SPDC?) is arbitrarily detaining the under-mentioned prisoners
contrary to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1948, and has directed that SPDC takes the necessary steps to remedy
the situation:
(1) Aye Tha Aung (Secretary of the Committee Representing Peoples?
Parliament);
(2) Do Htaung (MP-elect for Kale Constituency (1), Sagaing Division);
(3) Khun Myint Tun (MP-elect for Thaton (1) Constituency, Mon State);
(4) Dr Min Soe Lin (MP-elect for Ye-1 Constituency, Mon State);
(5) Saw Naing Naing (MP-elect for Pazundaung Constituency, Rangoon
Division);
(6) Saw Oo Rah (MP-elect for the Phruso Constituency, Kayah State);
(7) Toe Po (MP-elect for Yebyu Constituency, Tenasserim Division).
AAPP HEREBY CALLS UPON SPDC:
1. Unconditionally and immediately to release the above-named political
prisoners pursuant to the legal opinion issued by the UN Working Group
on Arbitrary Detention.
2. To pay full and proper compensation to the prisoners for the period
of their illegal detention up to the date of their release.
3. Unconditionally and immediately to release Aung San Suu Kyi, all
other detained MPs-elect, members of political parties, students and
the many hundreds of other political prisoners who are presently being
held in detention or under house arrest by SPDC.
4. To put an end to its practice of arbitrary and politically-motivated
arrests and detentions and its practice of detention without trial.
5. To ensure that all persons are afforded the minimum guarantees for a
fair trial according to due process of law and in conformity with
international standards, and to end trials of detainees in secrecy
and/or without proper legal representation.
6. To re-introduce democracy to Burma in accordance with the solemn
promises binding the military which were given to the people of Burma in
1988 and subsequently, the 1989 election law and the 1990 election
result, without further delay.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
______________________OTHER______________________
Radio Free Asia: Job Announcement--burmese-fluent Journalist(s)
Radio Free Asia (RFA) seeks journalist(s) with background and experience
in East and South East Asia. Candidates must speak and write Burmese
fluently. Working knowledge of English required. Positions available
immediately in Washington, DC. All qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, sex
or national origin. (Candidates currently residing outside the USA also
encouraged to apply.)
Send cover letter and resume to: P. O. Box 57023, Washington, DC 20036
or fax to 202-530-7797.
RFA is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.
___________________________________________________
The Irrawaddy: AAPP Book Release
November 06, 2001
By Ko Thet
November 06, 2001?Former political prisoners from Burma are set to
release a book today that accurately depicts life inside the notorious
walls of Burmese prisons. The book, titled "Spirit for Survival",
contains one poem and almost twenty essays that vividly describe the
trials and tribulations of prison life in the military-ruled country of
Burma.
The book has been published by the Mae Sot-based Assistance Association
for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP). Mae Sot is a Thai-Burma border
town that is home to a variety of groups fighting for democracy in
Burma.
The authors of the essays are all active members of AAPP and have spent
time in numerous Burmese prisons, including the infamous Insein prison
that lies on the outskirts of Rangoon.
The book also contains two articles from Burmese opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi?s highly acclaimed book, "Letters from Burma". Suu Kyi was
awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.
An excerpt from an essay titled, "Let?s Fight Against the Unjust", by Ko
Tate, states, "Some people were arrested for possessing guns. Later, all
of the Karen villagers near that place were arrested, tortured or
killed. Is this the building of national solidarity?"
The author?s point is that despite the military government?s claim that
it is working towards a democratic system, people throughout Burma
continue to be harassed, tortured and imprisoned for speaking out
against the regime.
Another impressive piece, "Could Mandela Survive Here", was written by
Moe Aye, who was incarcerated in Insein prison. Moe Aye writes, "I
admire Nelson Mandela who spent twenty-seven years in a South Africa
prison, but I wonder whether Mandela could have survived in Insein
prison."
The author goes on to describe the deplorable conditions found at Insein
prison and just how difficult survival is for political prisoners being
held there.
The book also allows us a look at the strong spirit and bravery shown by
the thousands of innocent individuals imprisoned for simply standing up
for what they truly believe in: freedom and democracy.
Although the book only tells the stories of a few courageous
individuals, other former political prisoners who have read the book say
it is an extremely accurate portrayal of just how bad life is inside the
walls of Burmese prisons.
Bo Kyi, joint secretary of the AAPP said, "Whoever can pay the postal
charges for sending the book, we would be glad to mail them a copy."
He also added that the book is not for sale, but donations would be
greatly appreciated. The money will go to a fund to help rehabilitate
former political prisoner.
The AAPP can be contacted at <bkstudent21@xxxxxxxxx>
________________
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