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LETTER OF THE ABSL TO THE ASEAN MIN



Subject: LETTER OF THE ABSL TO THE ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING

    
_______________________________________________________________
                                  ABSL
                        All Burma Students League
   
________________________________________________________________

                                            Date: 27 July, 1995

To  

ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING
BRUNEI


      Review of Burmese Internal Affairs Under the Ruling Military
                                  Junta


Background history
------------------

In March 1988 students at Rangoon University began to demonstrate
against the authoritarian government led by Ne Win, which had
ruled the country since a military coup in 1962. The non-violent
demonstrators were suppressed violently by the Burmese army. This
led to further demonstrations against the government in Rangoon,
Mandalay and other cities until August 1988. Unrest spread across
the country and the army continues to kill thousands of
demonstrators. In September, the army imposed martial law and
restricted the freedom of expression and assembly. Bur we
understood he September 18, 1988 coup, as the event that slightly
changed in name only, from BSPP to SLORC.

Human Rights violations In Burma 
-------------------------------

The continuing imprisonment of political activists is part of a
persistent and ongoing pattern of Human Rights violations
committed by the SLORC since it took power in September 1988.
Hundreds of political prisoners have been subjected to torture
and ill-treatment, which is common in Burma's prisons and
detention centres. Almost (20) winning candidates of 1990
election and about (2500) political prisoners are still being
imprisoned in lnsein, Tharawaddy, Thayet, Mandalay, Moulmein,
Toungoo, Myitkyina, Bassein, Mergui and Tavoy prisons, About (20)
concentration camps have been set up for torture and
interrogations for political prisoners in Burma. The political
prisoners have lost their rights in prisons.

According to the regional development programmes, SLORC used the
Burmese people as porters, to work in areas such as Loikaw, Aung
Ban, Pakkoku-Kalay, Nyaung Shwe, Nam San and Ye-Tavoy railway
constructions areas. Among the porters, some were children and
some were old people and they were forced to work as hard
labourers. Many young women porters were raped, beaten or
tortured and many others were killed. We also learned that many
porters contracted serious malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery and
jaundice.

In Mandalay, the second city of Burma, during May 1994 to March
1995, SLORC used (230,000) people as forced labourers to
reconstruct the Mandalay Palace moat.


Cease-fire Negotiations with Ethnic Dissidents 
----------------------------------------------

SLORC entered into ceasefire agreements with armed ethnic forces,
without an aim for genuine peace, as shown by holding separate
negotiations. The development programmes of the regions are also
stagnant and the SLORC forced the people to serve as soldiers in
the army to increase its strength.

On September 3, 1994 five ethnic affiliations led by the United
Wa State Party formed the Peace and Democracy Front as they did
not trust SLORC. The reason was, Wa found out that SLORC smuggled
G3 and G4 guns into Wa guerrillas' area by hiding them inside
3000 sacks of rice against the bilateral agreement.

On the other hand, in the Karens' area, SLORC stopped its
offensives as a unilateral cease-fire on April 28, 1992, to
promote national reconciliation.

Nevertheless, SLORC attacked Manepalaw and Kaw Moora in January
and February 1995 with heavy weapons, breaking its promise of
cease-fire . There were some evidences also that SLORC used
chemical weapons during the attack on Kaw Moora.

On the other hand SLORC entered into cease-fire with the Karenni
National Progressive Party (KNPP) on March 21, 1995. But SLORC
back-tracked on the agreement within three months and fighting
broke out between the two parties.


Investment in Burma
-------------------

The market economic policy under the control of SLORC increased
in trade with foreign countries. However, Burmese people's living
standard went low since the military took power.

The main concessions in foreign investment are hotel and tourism,
timber, fishery, banking and natural-gas, SLORC spends billions
of dollars for buying weapons and ammunition in order to increase
their power, while neglecting education, health and social
welfares for the people.

In 1991  SLORC purchased weapons from China worth U.S $ 1.4
billion. SLORC continued to buy jet fighter in 1992, anti-
aircraft missiles in 1993 and various military wares worth $400
million from China.

According to official information, SLORC bought weapons from
China, Pakistan, Singapore, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland,
Yugoslavia and former USSR. A large foreign investment in Burma
since September 1988 to March 1994, evidenced SLORC's military
expenditure. Since the beginning of 1995 SLORC spent
(10,036,937,170) Kyats for military purposes.

For us we would like to request the foreign investors, investing
in Burma, to reconsider their ventures in Burma for the time
being.


Current Political Situation in Burma
------------------------------------

Since after the seizure of power in 1988 by SLORC, it ruled the
country harshly and was criticised by the international
community, including the United Nations. Because of such an
enormous pressure, SLORC has no option but to release Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi on July 10, 1995. But, we still cannot see the return
of human rights and democracy in Burma in the near future as
SLORC is still controlling the country tightly.

SLORC continue to practice the unjust laws, and control the
freedom of speech, literature and newspapers etc. There are no
signs to release political prisoners or solve the problem of
national reconciliation until now.


Constructive Engagement 
-----------------------

Burmese people oppose SLORC and international Community also
condemn it as an illegitimate government. Therefore, SLORC is
looking for supporters to defend its position.

Thailand's attempt to introduce SLORC to ASEAN does not help
Burma to achieve democracy. Its attempt only prolongs the
stability of the military government.  According to present
circumstances, ASEAN is handing the Burmese situation without
looking for the long run and based on that the bad results can
emerge in future.

As a result, the ASEAN should carefully review its Constructive
Engagement policy on Burma. We, Burmese student patriots, request
the ASEAN to put pressure on SLORC until it returns the power to
the people then pursue the Constructive Engagement policy on
Burma.

                                                        Central Committee
                                     All Burma Students League (THAILAND)