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BurmaNet News Aug 3 1995
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The BurmaNet News: AUGUST 3, 1995
BURMESE GOVERNMENT REARRESTS THREE REBELS
BURMESE LEAVE FOR CHINA
THE ENVOY TO SEE SUU KYI DESPITE WARNING
KASEM REJECTS CLAIM OF WESTERN PRESSURE BEHIND SUU KYI'S RELEASE
BURMA, CHINA INVITED TO JOIN PANEL
AIRWAVES: OUT AND IN
LAGACY OF FEAR
ASEAN DEFENDS STRATEGY FOR BURMA
BURMA, CHINA INVITED TO JOIN PANEL
ACTIVISTS REPORTEDLY REARRESTED IN BURMA
DAB APPEAL
MA THIDA'S FATE
EVENS: ASEAN SHOULDN'T RUSH TO HUG BURMA
POLICE RAID CHURCH, HOLD ILLEGAL BURMESE IMMIGRANTS
THAI ENVOY TO SEE SUU KYI DESPITE WARNING
KASEM REJECTS CLAIM OF WESTERN PRESSURE BEHIND SUU KYI'S RELEASE
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===== item =====
BURMESE GOVERNMENT REARRESTS THREE REBELS
3 August 1995, The Nation
THREE Burmese pro-democracy leaders who had already been imprisoned were
arrested again by the Slorc during June and sentenced to seven year terms,
AI said in a statement seen yesterday.
They were sentence after a "summary trail.. that may not have conformed to
international standards, said the AI statement received in Bangkok.
The organization had no details about what the activists were charged with,
but noted that they were arrested after regularly meeting foreigners.
They were Thu Way, former chairman of the now-defunct Democracy Party, and
Tun Shwe and Htun Myint, veteran activists, said the statement.
The three were sent to Insein Prison in Rangoon, where "political prisoners
are generally not given access to proper medical treatment and are sometimes
held in solitary confinement," the statement said.
Pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi has repeatedly called for the release of all
political prisoners in Burma, noting that despite her release from house
arrest on July 10, several hundreds of her colleagues are still
incarcerated.
She said in a weekend interview that if she could begin negotiations with
Burma's government today, the first issue would be freeing all prisoners of
conscience.
The International Committee of the Red Cross is in the process of pulling
out of the Burma because it has been denied access to political prisoners.
"After a certain number of years of negotiations with the authorities on the
issue with no advancement, we feel it is time for us to withdraw," said
Erich Aellen, deputy director of ICRC in Bangkok.
The AI statement said that surveillance of critics of Burma's government by
military Intelligence is pervasive.
"Burmese citizens who meet with foreigners are particularly vulnerable to
such surveillance activists," it said.
"Many political prisoners who are now free have been warned by the
authorities not to become involved in politics, and are also watched by the
MI. (TN)
===== item =====
BURMESE LEAVE FOR CHINA
3 AUGUST 1995, The Nation
A total of 150 Burmese businessmen and officials left Rangoon for the
northern border with China on Tuesday to take part in a trade fair.
The team was headed by Burmese Trade Ministry Lt Gen Tun Kyi and is expected
to cross the border on August 5.
The delegation was invited to participate in the trade fair in Kunming, the
capital of southern China's Yunnan province, by Chinese Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation Minister Wu Yi.
The Kunming Fair, said to be one of the four biggest trade fairs held
annually in China, is scheduled to open on August 8.
Burmese products to be displayed include gems and jewelry, leather-ware,
silverware, agricultural goods, wood produced jointly by Burmese companies
and the Southern Korean firm Daewoo.
Before his return to Rangoon the Burmese trade minister will visit Hong Kong
with senior Chinese officials for a meeting with Hong Kong's's businessmen
to promote bilateral trade between the two countries. (TN)
===== item =====
THE ENVOY TO SEE SUU KYI DESPITE WARNING
3 AUGUST 1995, The Nation
THAI Ambassador to Rangoon Poksak Nillubon will visit opposition leader Suu
Kyi this afternoon, despite being warned off by the Slorc last week,
according to the informed Asean diplomatic sources.
At the instruction of the Foreign Ministry, Poksak last week made
arrangements to meet Suu Kyi, but was warned last Tuesday by the Burmese
Foreign Ministry to reconsider.
The sources said that as matter of courtesy, Poksak had informed a senior
Burmese officials of his planned meeting with Suu Kyi, but was told to think
again. The Burmese said the timing was "inappropriate" because it would
clash with the meting of Asean foreign ministers in Brunei.
At that time Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw was attending the Asean
meeting as the guest of Brunei.
According to the sources, Poksak will call on Suu Kyi at 3 pm today, become
the first ambassador from an Asean country to establish direct contact with
her.
Poksak, according toone source, had explained to the Burmese official that
the meeting with Suu Kyi was a "Thai goodwill gesture" and pointed to
similar meetings other Rangoon-based ambassadors had with the Suu Kyi.
Malaysian Ambassador to Rangoon John Tenewi Nuek, dean of the Asean
diplomatic corps in Burma, had extended a luncheon invitation to the
50-year-old pro-democracy leader on behalf of Asean countries.
Suu Kyi had accepted, but was later informed that the luncheon must be
postponed, according to the sources, who declined even to be identified by
their respective countries.
Officials from one Asean country yesterday denied that the regional grouping
had completely backed down after the Malaysian envoy last Thursday to
received an aide-memoire and verbal protest over the planned meeting with
Suu Kyi.
Ambassador Tenewi was not available for confirmation yesterday. A Malaysian
embassy official said by telephone that the envoy had returned to Malaysian
and would not return to work until today.
Thai Foreign Ministry officials in Rangoon and Bangkok yesterday declined
to comment on Poksak's meeting and the Asean luncheon. They said all
questions should be addressed to higher authorities or to Foreign Minister
MR Kasem Kasemsri. (TN)
===== item =====
BURMA, CHINA INVITED TO JOIN PANEL
3 AUGUST 1995, Bangkok Post
CAMBODIA, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam adopted rules of procedures for the
council of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) yesterday and said they would
formally invite Burma and China to join as full members.
The four country also agreed to endorse a report made at an informal council
meeting in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai in March.
"We will invite China and Burma to join as within the framework of the great
family of the Mekong .. in the capital of full members," council chairman
Ing Keith said. (BP)
===== item =====
KASEM REJECTS CLAIM OF WESTERN PRESSURE BEHIND SUU KYI'S RELEASE
3 August 1995, The Nation
FOREIGN Minister Kasem Kasemsri yesterday told Asean members and their
dialogue partners that Aung San Suu Kyi's release was not the result of
Western pressure but reflected the Burmese military junta's confidence it
could maintain control.
Kasem also defended Asean's constructive engagement policy with Burma and
warned that the continued application of pressure by the West would work
against the national reconciliation process in the country.
Trade and arms sanctions like those applied to Bosnia-Herzegovina should
not be used on Burma as there was no guarantee that Burma's State Law and
Order Restoration Council (Slorc) would bow to the pressure, Foreign
Ministry spokesman Suvidhya Simasakul quoted Kasem as saying.
No one can guarantee that if the sanctions are applied to Burma and the
Slorc, the Slorc would kowtow to that pressure, Kasem was quoted as
telling Asean and its seven dialogue partners.
The Burmese should be allowed a chance to reconcile among themselves
without interference by outsiders, he said.
Asean foreign ministers yesterday began sessions without their dialogue
parters, including the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the
European Union and South Korea.
The political situation in Burma was a major point raised in the
international meetings. The military junta has been criticized for not
giving up administrative power to the National League for Democratic
(NLD) party which won the general elections in 1990.
In a surprise move, the Slorc in early July released Aung San Suu Kyi,
the leader of the NLD party, from nearly six years under house arrest.
Asean has vowed to continue what it calls a policy of constructive
engagement with Burma.
The release of Suu Kyi happened not because of pressure from the West and
other countries but because the Slorc is can now handle the situation,
Kasem said.
Kasem told the conference that no country, including immediate neighbour
Thailand, actually knows Burma, which has its own cultural background and
way of thinking.
Asean has never expected rewards from the release of Suu Kyi or said that
her release was the result of the constructive engagement policy. Other
countries should be aware that despite her release, Burma still has
internal problems, Suvidhya quoted Kasem as saying.
Kasem added that one of the most important points to consider now was how
to help the Burmese people.
Asean dialogue parters yesterday also praised Suu Kyi's release, but said
they would wait to see if there are subsequent improvements in Burma.
Kasem's remarks on Burma were apparently in response to Australian
Foreign Minister Gareth Evans' remark that recent political developments
in Burma represented only one of ten bench marks for progress proposed by
Australia to the Asean ministerial meeting in Bangkok last year.
Australia also called for the release of political prisoners in general,
International Red Cross access to prisons, and broad engagement of
elected members of parliament in the process of drafting a constitution.
(TN)
===== item =====
AIRWAVES: OUT AND IN
27 July 1995, FEER
Burma ' s official media haven ' t yet reported the release of Aung San Suu
Kyi. Even so, some TV owners in the country have been treated to extensive
coverage of the event courtesy of their own national TV channel.
It happened because of a fortuitous combination of circumstances: the coming
to Burma of modern satellite communications and the lack of anything more
than the most basic transmission control in Rangoon.
Since 1990, TV Myanmar has been available on the Star TV network via a
transponder on the Asia Sat satellite. At the time it was made, the linkup
allowed the junta to broadcast its views to the outside world.
But that same link also allowed the news and views of the outside world to
get into Burma at least to anyone with a satellite dish. With rules for
private satellite dish ownership unevenly enforced, thousands of people all
over the country can watch the BBC, MTV, Star TV and other international
channels.
The contradictions became even more tangled when drovers of TV crews
descended on Rangoon in the second week of July to cover the release of Aung
San Suu Kyi. TV Myanmar ' s transponder was the only link between Burma and
the outside world through which it was possible for foreign news crews to
send and receive TV images. Thus, during the periods before and after
regular state TV programming, foreign TV crew were busy feeding their
footage to their home stations on TV Myanmar ' s Asia Sat frequency.
The problem was: Asia Sat also transmits TV Myanmar to all owners of a Star
TV satellite dish. Thus, Burmese dish owners could watch the unedited
material on Suu Kyi ' s release in its entirety including scenes of
commentators fixing their hair on TV Myanmar ' s Asia Sat channel.
Enterprising individuals were quick to see a new opportunity for profit in
the state ' s lapse. Especially upcountry, where controls seem to be more
lax, some quickly taped the material and sold the Video cassettes to those
not connected to satellite dishes.
===== item =====
LEGACY OF FEAR
27 July 1995, FEER
Despite the release of democracy campaigner and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi, there are signs Burma ' s military overlords are tightening, rather
than relaxing, their political control.
Fear still pervades the country, where the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council, o Slorc, calls all the shots. Rangoon residents have
noticed military intelligence agents taking pictures of those who gathered
outside the gate of Suu Kyi ' s house over the past week. Some residents of
the capital even report that civil servants have been told by their
superiors to stay away from that house.
Most people are happy with Suu Kyis release, says a foreigner who lives in
Rangoon, but very few dare to express their feelings openly. Indeed, there
were only a few hundred people gathered outside the gates of Suu Kyi ' s
house following the news of her release. Back in the heady days of Burma ' s
pro democracy movement in 1988 89, she attracted tens of thousands of
admirers even in small upcountry towns.
This has led some Rangoon residents to suggest that many of those who
supported Suu Kyi before her house arrest nearly six years ago now prefer
to stay clear of politics. Says the foreign resident: At that time, many
business people were behind her in the belief that democracy would also mean
an open economy with business opportunities. The Slorc may not have
permitted any political freedoms, but it has opened up the economy. People
who are now making money don ' t really want to change the status quo.
A glance at the newspapers gives a good indication of what that status quo
is. More than a week after Suu Kyi ' s release, the official media were
still full of reports about army officers signing contracts, to purchase
equipment for shipyards, visiting newly constructed flood prevention
embankments, and the like.
Many column inches were also devoted to the latest activities of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association, a mass organization set up by the
military in 1993 to provide it with a civilian support base.
In mid June, the military led government expanded. It now comprises 36
ministers and 24 deputies, most of whom are either serving or retired army
officers. A number of hard line field commanders, meanwhile, were promoted
to prominent posts within the military, emphasizing the army ' s intention
to maintain its absolute grip on power. Seven commanders of the Burmese
army's battle hardened light infantry divisions were promoted to regional
commanders, giving them administrative control through local law and order
restoration committees as well as the Union Solidarity group.
The military also has let it be known that it wants a permanent share of
power, if not the dominant role, in any future Burmese government. Burma ' s
generals clearly admire the dwifungsi, or dual function ideology of the
Indonesian military, which would let them play a role both in defence and
government.
An easy in the military controlled newspaper New Light of Myanmar said the
military should be given a role in the future political leadership. Many
analysts believe the piece, written under a pen name, was the military ' s
opening position on the draft of a new constitution.
But through Suu Kyi might be willing to live with a role for the generals
in the short term, she has made it clear her final goal is a fully
democratic government. Nonetheless, the democracy leader has taken a
remarkably conciliatory line since her release. She has made several
reference to South Africa, evidently hoping that her freedom will lead to
national reconciliation similar to that between the white minority regime
and Nelson Mandela after his release from jail.
Once bitter enemies in South Africa are now working together for the
betterment of their people. Why can ' t we look forward to a similar
process? she asked on July 11, the day after her release.
But observers point out that there are some very fundamental differences
between South Africa and Burma. Within days of his release after 27 years
of incarceration,Mandela met South African President Fredrik Willem de
Klerk. The white leader then announced publicly that the time for
negotiations has arrived. The event was well covered by the South African
media, which made clear that the process of dismantling the apartheid system
and replacing it with a new democratic order had begun.
In Burma, however, Suu Kyi ' s release has not received a line in the
official press, and there is absolutely nothing to indicate that the Slorc
is about to dismantle military rule, say a Rangoon based Asian analyst. An
information Ministry official even called Suu Kyi ' s release a private
affair, refusing to make further comments to reporters in Rangoon.
While Mandela returned to lead the well organized African National Congress,
Suu Kyi has no similar structure to back her. Her National League for
Democracy once had branches all over Burma, but following its victory in the
May 1990 poll the military regime closed its offices and cowed its activists
into silence and submission.
Only if Slorc surprise the world by holding official talks with Suu Kyi
could all this change. In South Africa, the authorities quickly discovered
the benefits of openness, which encouraged them to continue their
political reform programme says a Bangkok based African diplomat.
Those hoping for something similar in Burma might have taken heart on July
17 if they saw the long line of National League for Democracy MPs marching
into the compound of Suu Kyi ' s house. The MPs,who were elected in 1990 but
prevented from taking power, came dressed in the clothes that marked them
during the pro democracy campaign five years ago: dark longyis traditional
Burmese jackets and badges with the party emblem.
At the same time, a new telephone line was being installed in Suu Kyi ' s
house to replace the one that was cut on July 20, 1989, the day she was
placed under house arrest. Those who wish for democracy in Burma can only
hope that when lines of communication are restored, anything is possible.
===== item =====
ASEAN DEFENDS STRATEGY FOR BURMA
by Supapohn Kanwerayotin
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bkk post/3.8.95
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations yesterday again
defended its controversial strategy to bring about position
changes in Burma, saying it was good for the whole of Burma,
including the cause pursued by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.
Foreign Minister Kasem S.Kasemsri defended ASEAN's conciliatory
approach and intention to carry on with its own way of inducing
more openness in Burma as some of its allies expressed concern
the junta should not be rewarded too much too soon. The European
Union and Australia are calling for more solid evidence of
genuine political and human rights improvement.
"Although the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in an encouraging sign,
we should expect more substantial progress towards the
normalisation of Burma's political life, which is Becoming an
urgent necessity," said Spain's Foreign Minister Javier Solona,
who leads the 15-member European Union delegation at this year's
meeting with ASEAN.
The European Union is one of the dialogue partners that ASEAN
meets with once a year. Others are Japan, South Korea, Canada,
the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
They began their annual consultations yesterday with the ASEAN
foreign ministers.
The Spanish minister appealed for ASEAN to support the necessary
national reconciliation and human rights promotion in Burma.
Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw last week sough the country's
accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, coupled with an
immediate application for observer status with ASEAN.
ASEAN is inclined to make Burma an observer as soon as at next
year's ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia of political
conditions in Burma bode well. As observer, Burma will
automatically be given a place in the 19-country ASEAN Regional
Forum which involves virtually all the world powers.
Indonesia Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, who will chair next year's
ASEAN ministerial Meeting, said yesterday that recent
developments in Burma including the release from house arrest of
Aung San Suu Kyi and indications that she dialogue "demonstrate
the seriousness of the State Law and Order Restoration Council in
its efforts to further improve the political and socio-economic
conditions of the Burmese people.
Alatas appealed to the international community to embrace Burma
rather than isolate or impose sanctions, because constructive
engagement is the "best way to assist it in its reconciliation
and development efforts."
But Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans urged the would
community not to relax the grip yet.
"It's vital that none of us in the region should now send a
message to the military leadership of Burma that it has now done
enough simply by releasing Aung San Suu kyi, that it simply has
to wait out international disapproval for a year or two more, and
that it will be accepted into regional organisations without need
for further change," Evans remarked at yesterday's opening of the
dialogue sessions during which Burma was discussed.
Australia is disappointed with the Japanese Government's decision
to resume official development aid to Burma, he said.
===== item =====
BURMA, CHINA INVITED TO JOIN PANEL
Phnom Penh, Reuters
bkk post/3.8.95
CAMBODIA, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam adopted rules of procedures
for the council of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) yesterday
and said they would formally invite Burma and China to join as
full members.
The four countries also agreed to endorse a report made at an
informal council meeting in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai
in March that clarified the goals of the river body.
"We have adopted the rules of procedures for the council and we
have endorsed the report of the joint committee on the Chiang Rai
meeting, so I think that is a good sign today _ now we can work
faster," council chairman Ing Keith said.
"Tomorrow (Thursday) we have to consider some sensitive questions
such as the chief executive officer, the contributions of the
countries and some internal questions related to the activity of
the Mekong," Kieth said.
He said the presence of Burma and China in the body was
important.
"We will invite China and Myanmar (Burma) to join us within the
framework of the great family of the Mekong... in the capacity
of full members.
The mighty Mekong River rises in Tibet and flows south passing
through southern China.
Along its 4,184-km course it serves as the boundary between Laos
and Burma, most of Laos and Thailand, before passing through
Cambodia and southern Vietnam to the South China Sea.
Kieth, Cambodia's deputy prime minister, said the two-day meeting
was aimed at setting up the framework needed for economic
development utilising the Mekong.
"There are many, many projects related to the Mekong River and we
have to get them connected," he said.
Future projects named in the Chiang Rai agreement include ones on
hydroelectric power, irrigation, fisheries, navigation and
transport.
Kieth said Cambodia was interested in hydropower schemes.
"We are depending on each other for economic development of the
region," he said.
===== item =====
ACTIVISTS REPORTEDLY REARRESTED IN BURMA
Bkk Post/3.8.95
THREE Burmese pro-democracy leaders who had already been
imprisoned were arrested again by the military government during
June and sentenced to seven-year terms, Amnesty International
said in a statement seen yesterday.
They were sentenced after a "summary trial ... That may not have
conformed to international standards," said the Amnesty
International statement received in Bangkok.
The organisation had no details about what the activists were
charged with, but noted that they were arrested after regularly
meeting with foreigners.
They were Thu Wai, former chairman of the now-defunct Democracy
party, and Tun Shwe and Htwe Myint, veteran activists, said the
statement.
The three were sent to Insein Prison in Rangoon, where "political
prisoners are generally not given access to proper medical
treatment and are sometimes held in solitary confinement," the
statement said.
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called for
the release of all political prisoners in Burma, noting that
despite her release from house arrest July 10, several hundreds
of her colleagues are still incarcerated.
She said in a weekend interview that if she could begin
negotiations with Burma's government today, the first issue would
be freeing all prisoners of conscience.
The International Committee of the Red Cross is in the process of
pulling out of Burma because it has been denied access to
political prisoners.
===== item =====
DAB APPEAL
The Nation/2.8.95
On behalf of the democratic Alliance of Burma, I would like to
express my concern over the recent remarks made by Mr Winston
Lord, your Assistant Secretary of State, regarding the political
situation in Burma. Mr Lord, in an appearance before a US Senate
subcommittee, spoke put in opposition to proposed economic
sanction against Burma.
Mr Lord told the subcommittee that the imposition of economic
sanctions on the military dictatorship in Burma would be counter-
productive. I found this position to be quite surprising from
someone who is supposedly an expert on foreign affairs and the
use of power in pursuit of national interests. Sanctions,
effectively enforced, provide the incentives for recalcitrant
governments to conform to international norms of behaviour. To
suggest that economic sanctions are uncalled for punishment in
remarkable for its absurdity when discussing one of the most
repressive regimes in the world today.
It was my understanding that President Clinton supported the pro-
democracy movement in Burma and has recognized the leadership of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy as
representing the will of the foreign policy of the United States
should reinforce here call for a dialogue. Economic sanctions, as
proposed by Senator McConnell will provide the leverage she needs
at this critical time in the struggle. It would be very easy to
lift these sanctions should Daw Aung San Suu Kyi so request.
I would ask that you reconsider your opposition to Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and to the imposition of economic sanctions. As you know,
we are attempting to achieve our goals of restoring democracy
through nonviolent struggle. Economic sanctions are powerful
weapons in the nonviolent arsenal.
Tin Maung Win
Vice Chairman
Democratic Alliance of Burma
===== item =====
MA THIDA'S FATE
We have learned with dismay that Dr Ma Thida, a hospital doctor
and well-known writer in neighbouring Burma is still detained in
Insein Prison in Rangoon solely because of her activities within
the National League for Democracy (NLD).
We are very concerned with her health as a prisoner of
conscience, detained solely because of the peaceful expression of
her political beliefs. As members of Amnesty International, we
will work for her immediate and unconditional release.
Women's Group
Amnesty International
Greece
===== item =====
EVENS: ASEAN SHOULDN'T RUSH TO HUG BURMA
Bangkok Post / 1.8.1995
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] should not
rush to embrace Burma as a member of the grouping, Australian
Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said yesterday.
" We are delighted that [Aung San ] Suu Kyi has been released but
the proof will be in the months ahead as to what this actually
signifies," he said.
The Australian Foreign Minister is here to attend the ASEAN
foreign ministers as a dialogue partner tomorrow .
He hoped that serious discussions should be held with the Rangoon
government, and one of the topics should include access to
political prisoners by the International Committee of the Red
Cross, he said.
Burma acceded to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and
applied for observer status in the letter delivered by Burmese
Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw to his Brunei counterpart, Prince
Mohamed Bolkiah, on Thursday.
Mr Ohn Gyaw met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono at the
airport yesterday before returning to Rangoon.
Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Hiroshi Fukuda refused to
disclose details of the 25-minute talk, saying only that recent
development in Burma had been encouraging.
" In general terms we talk of better relations with Burma in the
very near future because we are encouraged by developments in
that country in recent weeks," he said.
Mr Fukuda said Japan welcomed but our minister expressed his
feelings to his Burmese counterpart that he was very happy with
Burma's decision and expected better relations with the country,"
he told reporters.
The two foreign ministers did not discuss in detail the
resumption of the Japanese Official Development Assistance [ODA]
to the Burmese government, according to Mr Fukuda.
Japan is expected to officially announce a decision to offer a
grant aid worth 1.5 billion yen to Burma.
Takeshi Nakane, spokesperson of the Japanese delegation to the
ASEAN foreign ministers, meeting told reporters last night that
Burma had earlier approached Japan to help upgrade and expand the
Rangoon Institute of 1.5-2 billion yen .
For the time being, Japanese " cooperation " with Burma will be
to resume aid projects committed before 1988, primarily in the
area of humanitarian aid, water supply, primary education and
health , he said.
Nakane also emphasised Tokyo will be closely monitoring the
developments in Burma following the release of Mrs Suu Kyi in
accordance to its ODA Charter in which aid is linked to
democratisation and protection of human rights.
" We're not placing any conditions on the Myanmar [Burmese]
government, but such is our ODA Charter, " said Nakane.
He denied that Yen loans were being considered. Tokyo halted aid
in 1988, the year the military regime -the State Law and Order
Restoration assumed power.
Japan was then Burma's largest aid donor with loans totalling
4.029 billion yen in addition to technical assistance cooperation
worth 162.17 million yen.
After 1988, Japan extended four billion yen to the country
annually through the United Nations and non-government
organisations for HIV/AIDS preventions and medical assistance
including a five-year programme with the UN International
Children's Fund [UNICEF].
Japan, as a dialogue partner, is attending the ARF today and is
scheduled to hold talks with ASEAN tomorrow.
===== item =====
POLICE RAID CHURCH, HOLD ILLEGAL BURMESE IMMIGRANTS
Bangkok Post / 1.8.1995
Police waiting outside a church to check the identification
papers of its Burmese parishioners hauled 45 away for being
illegal immigrants , the church's pastor said yesterday.
Pastor Allen Barnes said he was seeking assurances from police
that there would be no repeat of the action against people
arriving for Sunday Burmese-language services at his Calvary
Baptist Church on Sukhumvit Soi 2.
About 20 police who arrived at the church compound about 7.30 am,
some 45 minutes before the Sunday service, started checking the
identification papers of arriving worshippers without consulting
with church officials, said Barnes, who came to Thailand three
years ago from Chico, California.
Parishioners who arrived early to socialise before the service
locked themselves inside the worship centre when they saw police
checking identification papers, he said.
Between 250 and 325 people usually attend the services, which
started about two-and -a -half - years ago, said Barnes.
When Barnes, who lives in the church compound, was summoned to
the scene, he asked police "if they couldn't do this some other
day.:
"They said No," he said, "but assured us they would not go inside
the worship centre."
Forty-five Burmans and Karens were found to be illegal
immigrants, and were taken away: Barnes said adding that most
were now in the police Immigration Detention Centre at Soi Suan
Plu.
===== item =====
THAI ENVOY TO SEE SUU KYI DESPITE WARNING
YINDEE LERTCHAROENCHOK
The Nation/3.8.95
THAI Ambassador to Rangoon Poksak Nillubon will visit opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi this afternoon, despite being warned off
by the Burmese junta last week, according to informed Asean
diplomatic sources.
At the instruction of the Foreign Ministry, Poksak last week made
arrangements to meet Suu Kyi, but was warned last Thursday by the
Burmese Foreign Ministry to reconsider.
The sources said that as a matter of courtesy, Poksak had
informed a senior Burmese official of his planned meeting with
Suu Kyi, but was told to think again The Burmese said the timing
was "inappropriate" because it would clash with the meeting of
Asean foreign ministers in Brunei.
At that time Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw was attending
the Asean meeting as the guest of Brunei.
According to the sources, Poksak will call on Suu Kyi at 3pm
today, becoming the first ambassador from an Asean country to
establish direct contact with her.
Poksak, according to one source, had explained to the Burmese
official that the meeting with Suu Kyi was a "Thai goodwill
gesture" and pointed to similar meetings other Rangoon-based
ambassadors had with the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate since
her unexpected release on July 10.
Asean diplomatic sources, however, said Asean ambassadors had to
postpone a planned joint luncheon with Suu Kyi last Friday after
a strong verbal and written protest from the Burmese junta, who
warned that the gathering was an interference in the country's
internal affairs.
John Tenewi Nuek, dean of the Asean diplomatic corps in Burma,
had extended a luncheon invitation to the 50-year-old
prodemocracy leader on behalf of Asean countries.
Suu Kyi had accepted, but was later informed that the luncheon
must be postponed, according to the sources, who declined even to
be identified by their respective countries.
Officials from one Asean country yesterday denied that the
regional grouping had completely backed down after the Burmese
Foreign Ministry summoned the Malaysian envoy last Thursday to
receive an aide-memoire and verbal protest over the planned
meeting with Suu Kyi.
Ambassador Tenewi Nuek was not available for confirmation
yesterday. A Malaysian embassy official said by telephone that
the envoy had returned to Malaysia and would not return to work
until today.
Thai Foreign Ministry officials in Rangoon and Bangkok yesterday
declined to comment on Poksak's meeting and the Asean luncheon.
They said all questions or to Foreign Minister M R Kasem
Kasemsri.
Since her release, Suu Kyi has had a busy schedule, meeting her
political colleagues in an attempt to consolidate her political
party, the National League for Democracy. Her schedule has often
been interrupted by media interviews and meetings with diplomats
from Western and Asian countries, including Japan.
===== item =====
KASEM REJECTS CLAIM OF WESTERN PRESSURE BEHIND SUU KYI'S RELEASE
The Nation/3.8.95
FOREIGN Minister Kasem Kasemsri yesterday told Asean members and
their dialogue partners that Aung San Suu Kyi's release was not
the result of Western pressure but reflected the Burmese military
junta's confidence it could maintain control.
Kasem also defended Asean's constructive engagement policy with
Burma and warned that the continued application of pressure by
the West would work against the national reconciliation process
in the country.
Trade and arms sanctions like those applied to Bosnia-Herzegovina
should not be used on Burma as there was no guarantee that
Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) would bow
to the pressure, Foreign Ministry spokesman Suvidhya Simasakul
quoted Kasem as saying.
"No one can guarantee that if the sanctions are applied to Burma
and the Slorc, the Slorc would kowtow to that pressure," Kasem
was quoted as telling Asean and its seven dialogue partners.
The Burmese should be allowed a chance to reconcile among
themselves without interference by outsiders, he said.
Asean foreign ministers yesterday began sessions with their
dialogue partners, including the United States, Australia, Japan,
New Zealand, the European Union and South Korea.
The political situation in Burma was a major point raised in the
international meetings. The military junta has been criticized
for not giving up administrative power to the National League
Democratic (NLD) party which won the general elections in 1990.
In a surprise move, the Slorc in early July released Aung San Suu
Kyi, the leader of the NLD party, from nearly six years under
house arrest.
Asean has vowed to continue what it calls a policy of
constructive engagement with Burma.
" The release of Aung San Suu Kyi happened not become of pressure
from the West and other countries but because the Slorc is sure
that it can now handle the situation," Kasem said.
Kasem told the conference that no country including immediate
neighbour Thailand, actually knows Burma, which has its own
cultural background and way of thinking.
"Asean has never expected rewards from the release of Aung San
Suu Kyi or said that her release was the result of the
constructive engagement policy. Other Countries should be aware
that despite her release, Burma still has internal problems,
Suvidhya quoted Kasem as saying.
Kasem added that one of the most important points to consider now
was how to help the Burmese people.
Asean dialogue partners yesterday also praised suu Kyi's release,
but said they would wait to see if there are subsequent
improvements in Burma.
Kasem's remarks on Burma were apparently in response to
Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans' remark that recent
political developments in Burma represented only one of ten bench
marks for progress proposed by Australia to the Asean ministerial
meeting in Bangkok last year.
Australia also called for the release of political prisoners in
general, International Red Cross access to prisons, and broad
engagement of elected members of parliament in the process of
drafting a constitution.
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