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REPORT ON COMMUNICATIONS (21/8/95)
* Written 28 Aug 6:00am 1995 by DRUNOO@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* -------" REPORT ON COMMUNICATION( WE'RE NOT HOME AND DRY!) "------- */
TRIBAL REFUGEE WELFARE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
PO BOX 215, MIRRABOOKA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6061
Dated 11th August 1995
Dear Dr U Ne Oo,
Greetings from Western Australia and many many thanks for your information.
Have you received any news in the formation of a Contact Group which Bill
Richardson wanted to form ?. We think it is a good idea but we are vay out
in the West so we are not too convenient in many ways.
I did get about 100 signatures and by the time I was supposed to send it,
Daw Suu was released so I did not bother to send the petitions back to you.
I do not know how to thank you for the Burmanet News which you sent me, our
computer is working but our printer has gone on the blink so for some time
I have not been able to read the print outs. Deborah is in charge of the
Computer, she prints out the information for me as I do not have much time
to work on it.
The "Inside the Walls" was so enlightening on what ASSK had to bear with
these past six years. We are happy that she has been released, she is very
smart and she is walking slowly but surely towards the goal of peace and
democracy. The big problem is that the SLORC Military thugs don't want to
loose the power they have enjoyed all these years, perhaps they are afraid
of the Burmese public retribution, but they should havbe thought abouth
that a long time ago, since 1962 March. To me, they should all be tried for
crimes against humanity. I read all the Human Right Reports and wonder how
they could be classified as "human beings"!
On the 17th June we held a Birthday Celebration Dinner for ASSK which went
off well. Our monthly Food FETE are not bringing in much funds, most of our
funds are bieng used on postage, so much so that we have had to request for
donations as we are unable to send out our mail, due to lack of funds.
We are sending our information packets to 8 groups in India, 1 in
Bangladesh adn 15 groups in Thailand, that is 24 packets a month at $7.00
per packet which costs us $168 a month! so we are really hard up
financially.
Our refugees form Thailand are also beginning to arrive and we are trying
to raise funds for their ari fares, this too is a very difficult job. We
wrote to our got. for Travel Loans and they replied to say they do not have
the funds! Can you believe it"\? So small groups like ours are killing
ourselves trying to raise funds and it is worse still, when our own
community does not support us at all.
At the moment I have been receiving a lot of human right violation reports
on the Chins and am trying to do as much as I can from this end. I would
liket to request you DR to please look into the Chin problem and pledge on
their behalf to the many contacts you have. I think if we fight from both
sides, the international community will have to look into the Chin problem.
I have sent you some reports on the Chins and will be sending you some
more, some reports are included in the Burma Issues also, at least some
news in now leaking out.
Due to pressure from the Thais, our pro-democracy groups based in Thailand
like the NLd, NCUB, ABSDF etc may have to shift their headquarters to
INdia. We are hoping the Indian govt. will not turn out like the Thai govt.
which is catering to its own business-generals.
Many thanks once again Dr for all the information you sent us, please do
keep in touch.
Yours sincerely
CV Allmark, SECRETARy
*****
Dr U Ne Oo
48/2 Ayliffes Rd
ST MARYS SA 5042
August 21, 1995.
Mrs C.V. Allmark
Secretary
Tribal Refugee Welfare
Dear Ms Allmark,
Thank you so much for continuing to send me information packets and
enclosed letters from Tribal Refugee Welfare. I also received letter
from U David regarding the Burmese students who were detained in SDC
in Thailand few weeks earlier.
Firstly, we will have "Beyond Rangoon" screened in Adelaide in
September. It is primarily organized by the Amnesty International
here in South Australia. We burmese in adelaide are trying to
support as many people to came to see and planned to set up stall
etc from Burma Action. We had meeting about this on last Saterday.
Othermatter is regarding the trafficking of Burmese women into
Thailand. I have been trying to contact the so-called the
International Women Development Agency in Melbourne - without
success. It is said that the Agency is run by volunteers. Eventhen,
the failure to reply (which I just requested some of their pamphlets
for redistribution) is rather curious. In anycase, this fight is for
Burmese fight and we must not be too much relied on Australians when
there are dirty fights. We should rather use our own guts for this
kind of campaign.
Although Aung San Suu Kyi have been released, there is still no
promise of proper dialogue and political settlements for the ethnic
minorities. I was informed that there will be some discussion about
this on the last ASEAN meeting - still no concrete result have been
reported. I am still waiting for response from our usual sources
about this. Though UN officials have meet with her for the first
time last week, we will keep track of this news.
Meanwhile, SLORC has stepped up campaign against the Thais and their
business interests. Recent reported beating of two Burmese fisherman
have been one example. We continue to watch with alarm of that
trend. As you know, with the new Thai government and Ministers, the
attention to the situation is more important than ever before.
For this years UNGA, from people of refugees concerns, the main
priority would be promoting the Memorandum of Understanding with
respective governments, including Australia. I am now preparing
action letter surrounding this issue and will be sent promptly when
finished.
One good news. As you know, I have been unemployed for very long
time (since 1992). The CES finally come to rescue to that I have
been put in place of Job training programme. The CES pays me alittle
more than Social Security allowance. Though I am glad I definitely
escaped from the danger of being homeless (it is not exaggeration),
the work is eating up most of my time. The work has been
suppressing my usual activities of reading and writing: I sometime
cannot read some of messages on the network. I am being trained as
computer technician - which an interesting work anyhow. Hopefully,
these skills be of some use later sometime in my life.
I am hoping to contact you regarding various issues in next few
weeks. Please continue to help us and your support has been most
appreciated.
Yours sincerely
/* --------- Letter from TRW to Coordinator of Women Working Group ---*/
TRIBAL REFUGEE WELFARE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA(INC)
PO BOX 215, MIRRABOOKA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6061.
TO: The Co-ordinator
Coalition to end trafficking of Burmese Women & girls into Thai
Brothels.
West Australian Working Group
99 Hay Street
Subiaco WA 6008
DATed 1st June 1995
Dear Co-Ordinator,
At your initial meeitng held on 21st February 1995 in the Community Aid
Abroad/Overseas Service Bureau, tow of our board members attended and it
was agreed that Tribal Refugee Welfare would participate in the National
Tour on the trafficking of Burmese women and girls into forced prostitution
as it was in our interest and we have assisted in the rescue of some of
these girls at the border.
We also flet that due to the large number of migrants from Burma in Western
Australia, it was imperative to raise awareness in our community.
The importance of working group members taking responsibility for the
coordination of the Western Australian leg of the tour and net working
within our own community to ensure success was taken seriously.
As TRW has in the past offered accomodation to visitors from Thailand,
accomodation and transport from arrival to departure and to various media
outlets, workshops etc was offered for the two researchers.
It was felt by our committee that our representatives had carried out their
duties to the best of their ability o behalf of TRW. but are disappointed
to note that in your final Evaluation MInutes of 23rd May 1995, no mention
was made of TRW's involvement in the program, nor did TRW receive any sort
of thanks foor their efforts. This reflects very poorly on the attitude of
large organizations such as Community Aid Abroad and Overseas Service
Bureau. We feel that we ahve been used to the fullest without any
recognition of our efforts, which involved a lot our time, mone and
manpower.
An account of the Burmese Community Dinner is enclosed for your
information.
Your sincerely
KW Allmark
Copy to: International Women's Development Agnecy, P.O.Box 1680,
Collingwood , Vic 3066.
BURMESE COMMUNITY DINNER FUNCTION HELD IN HONOUR OF ASIAWATCH RESEARCHERS
AT THE AUSTRALIAN-ASIAN COMMUNITY CENTER ON 12TH AY 1995.
RECEIPT:
Sale of Dinner tickets $300.00
EXPENDITURE:
Dinner (See List) $ 106.83
Refreshments 8.00
Hire of Hall 40.00
Petrol Expenses form
arrival to departure
10/5 to 13/5/95 65.00
$219.83
-------
$ 80.17
BILL
EXPENDITURE INCURRED AT DINNER HELD ON 12TH MAY 1995 AT THE AUSTRALIAN
ASIAN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
Vegetables $ 5.65
2 Lt Vegetable Oil 4.35
2 pack of Split peas 2.38
10 Kilos of rice 10.50
1 packet sugar 1.99
i bottle garlic 2.09
1 bottle ginger 2.69
5 Nos Zucchini 3.95
5 Nos Brocccoli 4.95
4 Kilos of Brown Onions 4.72
1 Kilo White Onions 1.24
5 packets paper Napkins 3.95
10 Kilos Beef(Diced) 54.00
Pataks Currry paste 4.37
--------
TOTAL: $ 106.83
SD. C.V. Allmark
*********************
ENDnote:: The reason such details are sent out to you is not to embarrassed
anyone. However, it is to appreciate how difficult the circumstances that
the Burmese democracy groups - large or small or individuals - have to put
their efforts at the works. -- U Ne Oo.
/* Endreport */