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BurmaNet News: November 12, 1995 #2
- Subject: BurmaNet News: November 12, 1995 #2
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 04:06:00
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Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 04:05:49 -0800
Subject: BurmaNet News: November 12, 1995 #276
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: November 12, 1995
Issue #276
Noted in Passing:
In the unlikely event that there is any truth in these
allegations, it can only be repeated that unless and until the
alleged victims bring their cases to the notice of the
authorities concerned, nothing can be done to redress what they
claim to have suffered. - SLORC response to UN Human Rights
Report (see INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY: ON THE
YOKOTA REPORT)
HEADLINES:
==========
S.H.A.N. : GLIMPSES OF KHUN SA AND GUNJADE
S.H.A.N.: KHUN SA HAS DIABETES
INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY: ON THE YOKOTA REPORT
CNW: INT'L PANORAMA (ILP.V) ANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW RELEASE VIDEO DOCUMENTARY ON BURMA
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-------------------------------------------------------------
INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA THE WEB AND GOPHER:
Information about Burma is available via the WorldWideWeb at:
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[including back issues of the BurmaNet News as .txt files]
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Burma fonts: http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~lka/burmese-fonts/moe.html
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http://www-ala.doc.ic.ac.uk/~rap/Ethnologue/eth.cgi/Myanmar
TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT BURMA VIA GOPHER:
gopher csf.colorado.edu.
Look under the International Political Economy section, then
select Geographic Archive, then Asia, then Burma.
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Tourism campaigns: bagp@xxxxxxxxxx "Attn. S.Sutcliffe"
World Wide Web: FreeBurma@xxxxxxxxx
Volunteering: christin@xxxxxxxxxx
[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]
***********************
S.H.A.N. : GLIMPSES OF KHUN SA AND GUNJADE
8 November , 1995
Whoever says Khun Sa has yet to learn patience should think again. People at the
monastery are expecting Gunjade to be on time for the annual robe-offering
ceremony, held as usual on the Full Moon Day of the twelfth Lunar Month, which
falls today ( 6 November ) for this year. But when the clock strikes twelve, the
scheduled time for the ceremony to begin, he is still at the Central Executive
Committee's emergency meeting. Some look anxiously at Khun Sa, who in the past
used to preside over such gatherings. However, the General is calm and tells the
Master of Ceremonies, " We have to wait for him " . Twenty minutes later,
Gunjade arrives, The Master of Ceremonies sights with relief and begins the
ceremony. After it is over, the Abbot talks to both Khun Sa and Gunjade about
the new pagoda that is scheduled to be crowned on November 22, which coincides
with the Shan New Year's Day. Khun Sa then takes his leave.
Gunjade is back in shape after ten days rest . And he is eager to know how he
has to go about being a Chairman, after being a Vice Chairman for more than a
quarter of a century to the late Kornzurng and, after his death, to Khun Sa.
He certainly deserved a long recuperation. The last days of his trek back to the
Homong base were engaged in breaking the Burmese cordon that was preventing him
from making a successful crossing of the mighty Salween into the Shans' Free
territory.
To S.H.A.N.'s question about how he fared with his ex-officer Karnyord and his
mutineers, he says, " You'll be hearing some news soon." Good or bad ? " Good,
I hope," adding the inevitable cliche, " Let's hope for the best and prepare for
the worst. " He then says goodbye to S.H.A.N. and goes off for another round of
meetings with a CEC member.
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S.H.A.N. : KHUN SA HAS DIABETES
9 November , 1995
One Thai official recently said Khun Sa might end his days either in a Thai or
Burmese or even American prison. But according to Khun Sa, as he disclosed in a
public gathering, he may cheat his enemies out of any glory they may wish to
claim.
For more than ten years he has been suspected of having diabetes. But the first
time the reports came out, it was discovered that it was not him but his late
boss, kornzurng, who had it and then cured himself by taking generous helpings
of tea made with phuk goom ( three-leaved caper ), a bitter plant, for two long
months. Khun Sa may yet be able to overcome his own share of the malady provided
that he does not allow himself to be pampered too much by his everpresent "
eunuchs " as his critics derisively call his household personnel.
However, that is not how he himself envisages apending the rest of his days,
fighting against his own illness. He wants to do what the Central Executive
Committee, that took power from him in August, is not doing : forget the SLORC,
forget the Was, and just go after the mutineers and blast them out of existence.
In his speech, he denounced the CEC heartily for being " too soft " on the "
traitors ".
As to be expected, his words caught his audience by surprise. Until now, they
have always thought that whatever the CEC did had to have the blessings of Khun
Sa, who, like Ne Win, is being kept behind the curtains. But now they are
learning otherwise.
It may not however necessarily mean that the CEC will from now on need to watch
their backs. They may keep on doing things their own way, as long as Khun Sa
goes along with it. And if he does so with a sneer or a curse now and then, it
may even help to brighten things up. For a Revolution, however exciting and
romantic it may sound, has its share of dull days too.
*****************************
INDEPENDENT COMMENTARY: ON THE YOKOTA REPORT
November 9, 1995 By David Arnott
ON THE REPORTS OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR OF THE COMMISSION ON
HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar requires him to
report to the Commission on Human Rights ("the Commission") and
to the General Assembly ("GA"). He produces four public reports a
year: an oral and a "comprehensive" report to the Commission, and an oral
and an "interim" report to the GA. The reports complement each other.
The report which has just been issued, namely the "interim"
report to the GA dated 16 October 1995, consists of:
1) Introduction to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur;
2) Documents and factual statements regarding the Special
Rapporteur's communications with the Government of Myanmar;
3) A summary of the allegations he received and which he
transmitted to the Government of Myanmar; and
4) The Government's reply to the allegations.
It does not contain views, conclusions or recommendations by the
Special Rapporteur.
The other three reports are based on the most recent visit by the
Special Rapporteur to the country, as well as on materials
received, and may contain views, conclusions and recommendations.
David Arnott
.................................................................
SELECTION OF STATEMENTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF
MYANMAR'S RESPONSE TO THE MEMORANDUM OF ALLEGATIONS
CONTAINED IN THE INTERIM REPORT:
"No instances of summary or arbitrary execution can be permitted
in Myanmar and no provision is made in the law for such." (para 1)
"Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment are also
illegal in Myanmar." (para 2)
"In Myanmar, a person cannot be arrested and detained if it is
not in accordance with the law. ...." (para 9)
"There should exist no anxiety or fear of torture or ill
treatment in detention as such practices are strictly prohibited
in the Prison Manual and the Police Act, and the authorities
concerned scrupulously follow the regulations laid down."
(para 15)
"It has always been a tradition in Myanmar culture to donate
labour in the building of pagodas, monasteries, roads and bridges
and in the digging and clearing of wells, ponds, dams and canals.
A belief exists that doing so leads to mental and physical
well-being. Those who can afford to donate money do so while
those who cannot, donate their labour. This is all part of
community work that raises the standard of living, both
materially and spiritually. As such, the local populace, members
of the local military units, government servants, as well as
members of the armed groups who have returned to the legal fold,
participate enthusiastically and conscientiously. United Nations
agencies, foreign and local non-governmental organizations are
also involved in these projects. The local populace is already
enjoying the benefits of their own endeavours." (para 24)
"The members if the Myanmar Armed Forces are but the sons and
daughters of Myanmar nationals. They emerged from this society in
which they were born and brought up. How can anyone from this
society commit such outrageous crimes that were mentioned in the
summary of allegations? Neither will such acts be knowingly
condoned by persons in responsible positions." (para 45)
"... In the unlikely event that there is any truth in these
allegations, it can only be repeated that unless and until the
alleged victims bring their cases to the notice of the
authorities concerned, nothing can be done to redress what they
claim to have suffered." (para 46)
.................................................................
THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT HAS BEEN POSTED ON REG.BURMA IN THE
IGC CONFERENCES AND ON SOC.CULT.BURMA
*******************************
CNW: INT'L PANORAMA (ILP.V) ANNOUNCEMENT
November 8, 1995
(Full text of press release from Canada NewsWire)
INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA RESOURCE CORP. - EXPLORATION LAUNCHED ON
POTENTIAL BULK MINEABLE GOLD TARGET IN MYANMAR (BURMA)
VANCOUVER, Nov. 6 /CNW/ - ^INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA RESOURCE CORP.@ (ILP)
has commenced a 6 month US$160,000 work program on its Exploration Concession
over Block 9 near Thayetkhone in central Myanmar (formerly Burma). A recent
field assessment of the gold potential of Block 9 by the Company's geological
consultants, Dr. Ian Gray and Dr. Duncan Large, identified an area 1.5km by
1.5km containing a well developed system of quartz gold veins and
stockworking contained in locally sillicified and altered migmatites,
peripheral to an intrusive granite. Individual veins are up to 1km long,
1.5m wide with gold grades to 1 ounce/ton and carry associated chalcopyrite,
tourmaline and fluorite. The deposit has ^bulk mining potential@ with ready
access to water, hydropower and rail transportation. The exploration program
will initially focus on outlining the gold reserve potential of this area.
Block 9 is located on the Shan Fault, a major 2000km long fault zone
which is closely associated with alluvial and hard rock gold mineralization
over a 1,200 km strike length in Myanmar.
Following a gold rush to the southwest part of Block 9 in 1982, extensive
surface work and some shallow drilling by the Myanmar Department of
Geological Survey & Mineral Exploration (DGSE) outlined widespread gold
mineralization east of Thayetkhone. Results from this work established the
basis for subsequent small scale selective near-surface mining and production
from an on-site 50 tpd. pilot gravity flotation mill.
INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA has established a base camp at Thayetkhone and
compilation of extensive DGSE geology and assay data is underway. The
initial program will focus on outlining the gold resource potential at
Thayetkhone.
/For further information: Adrian Hartmann, Chairman of the Board (604)
687-7294/
-- Toronto Bureau 416 941-8100
****************************************
ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW RELEASE VIDEO DOCUMENTARY ON BURMA
November 11, 1995
"CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE"
A video documentary by Images Asia/Thailand
Available on VHS PAL and NTSC systems
=======================================================
Caught in the Crossfire is a stirring short documentary about the
human rights abuses of women in Burma, perpetrated by the Burmese
military. The footage and interviews with Burmese women and Burmese
soldiers, were documented along the Thailand/Burma border between 1994
and 1995. Many of the interviews were conducted after the release of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, and shoe that, as the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
stated: "I have been released. That's all. Nothing elsa has changed."
Told through the voices of the women themselves, this documentary
emphasises the important experiences of women, their suffering, fear and
courage. These testimonies, inter cut with sequences from their everyday
lives in the war zones and refugees camps, clearly portray the reality of
their situation. These are contrasted with United Nations Conventions
concerning women's rights, to further illustrate that women in Burma,
especially in the border areas, are subject to wide-scale human rights
abuses.
Caught in the Crossfire was designed as one in a three-part
documentary video series, with study-guides, to be used as an education
kit about the human rights, devlopment and environmental situation in
Burma. Despite initial problems with the Chinese authorities, the video
was premiered at the United Nations Women's Conference in Biejing in
September 1995. Images Asia is currently in the process of completing
part one and three of the video series, and the accompanying study
guides. Your support in purchasing this video as a lobbying and
awareness-raising tool, will enable IMAGES ASIA to conclude this
important task. It will also enable other people to become interested
and active about the human rights, development and environmental
situation in Burma.
Contact: Images Asia
P.O. Box 2, Phrasingha Post Office
Muang, Chiangmai 50200
THAILAND
or on e-mail above. Thank you in advance.
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