BurmaNet News: August 14

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August 14, 1994

TOP MONK SAYS JUNTA LEADERS READY FOR TALKS WITH SUU KYI
The Nation
Yindee Lertchareonchok

Two Burmese junta leaders have agreed to begin a dialogue
"very soon" with detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi--a process which could eventually lead to her freedom
from house arrest.

The meeting could take place "some time very soon", according
to an exiled senior Buddhist monk, Sayadaw Rewata Dhamma, who
met Suu Kyi twice daring a six-day visit to Rangoon last week.

Sayadaw Rewata Dhamma, spiritual director of the Birmingham
Buddhist Vihara in England also met junta leaders Gen. Than
Shwe and Lt. Gen Khin Nyunt, who called on him at agues house
on Inya Road.  The visit was the monk's second to Burma in 30
years of exile.  His first trip was in May.

Khin Nyunt called on the monk alone twice, then again, on Aug
10, in the company of Than Shwe.  According to Buddhist
custom, it is customary for people to call on a monk, said the
65-year old Sayadaw.

In a telephone interview yesterday with the Nation, the
Sayadaw said that on Aug 7, he had requested Khin Nyunt to
allow him to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he had known since
she was 11 years old but had not seen for five years.

Gen. Khin Nyunt promptly arranged my meeting with her on the
"same day [Aug 7].  [In response] Aung San Suu Kyi said she
wanted to offer me lunch," said the senior monk.

He talked with Suu Kyi for about three hours, but "we did not
discuss political matters".  He said Suu Kyi remained firm in
her determination not to go into exile in exchange for her
release.

The Sayadaw said he had advised Aung San Suu Kyi, Than Shwe 
and Khin Nyunt to open talks.  "Both sides have responded
positively," he said.

There was a "mutual understanding now."  They had not settled
on a date for their first meeting, but he believed it would
take place "some time very soon."

Aung San Suu Kyi was quoted as saying that she was prepared
"to call on Than Shwe as he is a more senior person".

"I think it is an important time to begin a dialogue now, and
I advised them both to do so.  Both sides said they will do it
very quickly" he said.

The Sayadaw said he was "very optimistic," but believed the
talks should be "very secret" as it would take time for the
two sides to reach agreement.

The monk said Than Shwe and Khin Nyunt, the tow most powerful
figures in the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council,
"have a lot of sympathy for Aung San Suu Kyi, and they respect
her because she is the daughter of [Burma's independence hero
Gen] Aung San."

The Sayadaw is the first Burmese outside her immediate family
and her minders to have met Suu Kyi since she was put under
unlawful house arrest in July 1989.  He said Suu Kyi was "very
cheerful and happy" and that "the military has looked after
and supported her well".

He said both sides had wanted him to stay longer in Burma, but
he could not, as he dad duties awaiting him in England.

Sayadaw Rewata Dhamma said that after 30 years of absence he
found "the situation is good in Burma now.  SLORC is trying to
do something good."

It is not the first time that SLORC leaders have announced
their readiness to meet Suu Kyi, who they have always charged
is under strong foreign influence due to her marriage with Dr.
Michael Aris, a British citizen and a professor of Tibetan
studies.

In February, Khin Nyunt told US Congressman Bill Richardson,
the first foreign outsider to visit Suu Kyi, that he would
meet Suu Kyi, and made a similar statement last month during
an interview published in the Japanese press.  No meeting has
yet materialized.

The Burmese opposition criticized Khin Nyunt's agreement as a
mere political ploy to ease international pressure on SLORC
and expressed doubts that the talks would take place soon.


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CONDITIONS AT REFUGEE CAMP PRECARIOUS
Bangkok Post

Health conditions for Burmese refugees staying at a makeshift
camp in wester Thailand are "precarious" with increasing cases
of diarrhea, respiratory diseases and vitamin deficiencies
being diagnosed, a volunteer doctor said yesterday.

About 6000 members of the Mon ethnic minority last month fled
to the site just inside the Thai border after Burmese troops
attacked their settlement at the Halockhani Camp last month.

Conditions at the temporary Thai site--dubbed New Halockani--
are extremely difficult, mainly because of heavy rains that
have turned the area into a sea of mud.

The refugees' plight was further complicated last Wednesday,
when Thai authorities hoping to force the refugees to return
home blocked the road to the site to keep supply trucks from
entering.

Thai officials say it is safe to return, but the refugees
claim they are still vulnerable to attack by the Burmese army. 
A large contingent of Burmese soldiers was reported to be
within two kilometres of New Halockhani itself on Thursday
night.

[Abridged]

As soon as you have a lot of people in a very limited space
there is the potential for a diarrhea epidemic, said Dr Irena
Benech of the French-based medical organisation Doctors
Without Borders, who works at the camp.

Benech, 31, from Berlin Germany, said that the number of
patients with diarrhea she has treated since the refugees were
uprooted on July 231 has increased two to three times, and
there has been a fourfold increase in respiratory ailment.

In recent days, cases of vitamin deficiency have appeared, she
said, because the situation is so unstable that people are
unable to cultivate or harvest any food.

Benech said four refugees had did since the move three weeks
ago across the border.  Two died from diarrhea,.  She said 15
percent of the camp's population is children under five.