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BurmaNet News December 13, 1995



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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: December 13, 1995
Issue #300

Noted in Passing:

	It is not that I am patting myself on the back, but I am 
	recognized throughout the world as being the strongest 
	and most influential person with the government of Myanmar.
	- Miriam Marshall Segal in a memorandum to Michael 
	Dobbs-Higginson.  (see BURMANET: THE SAGA OF 
	MIRIAM AND MICHAEL OF MYANMAR)

HEADINGS:
=========
BKK POST: DEMOCRACY GROUP SLAMS VOA'S REPORTS ON BURMA
INDEPENDENT REPORT: HELP THE VOA INVESTIGATION
BURMANET EDITOR: SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN VOA BROADCASTING
BURMANET: THE SAGA OF MIRIAM AND MICHAEL OF MYANMAR
REUTER: UN PANEL REBUKES BURMA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
US: STATEMENT ON BURMA TO THE UNGA
ARAKAN LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY ( EXILE ): A CALL TO  BOYCOTT  SLORC
ABSDF (MTZ): STATEMENT ON THE FIFTH ASEAN SUMMIT
ABSDF(MTZ):BURMESE PASSPORT HOLDERS ARRESTED IN THAILAND
YOMIURI SHIMBUN: JAPAN GOVERNMENT POSTPONES YEN LOANS 
ABSDO (AUSTRALIA): HUMAN RIGHTS FOR BURMA FORUM
BKK POST: ASEAN BRINGS HOPE AND CONFUSION
BURMANET: BRIEF NEWS REPORTS
ANNOUNCEMENT: ASIATRAVEL'S MYANMAR PAGE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BKK POST: DEMOCRACY GROUP SLAMS VOA'S REPORTS ON BURMA
December 12, 1995

(Note the Bangkok Post also ran Doug Steele's article "Bad News at the
Voice of America" on December 12, 1995.  This article appeared in BurmaNet
Issue #298)

               Analysis(Bad news at the voice of America)

DEMOCRACY advocates in Burma claim the Burmese-language service
of the Voice of America has been issuing reports sympathetic to
the military government.

"They report almost nothing about the democracy movement," said
Tin Maung Win vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance of Burma,
a pro-democracy group.

Joe O'Connell, a spokesman for the VOA, said on Sunday that it
was unlikely that any of the 12 members of the Burmese-language
service, most of whom are based in Washington, was sympathetic to
the Burmese government.

"We regard the content of our broadcast very seriously," he said
from Washington. "We have a reputation around the world for
credibility. It's hard earned."

He said all recent reports by the Burmese-language service will
be reviewed. O'Connell said the US government-supported radio 
network is investigating the allegations in response to media queries 
two weeks ago.

Myint Zaw Lwin, head of the Burmese-language service in Rangoon,
has been recalled to Washington, said O'Connell. He would not elaborate. 

Democracy advocates who monitor the broadcasts say that while
VOA's English-language service is balanced and accurate, the
Burmese-language service reflects the opinion of Burma's dictators.

The government controls the media in Burma, prompting some
Burmese to turn to foreign shortwave broadcasts for their news.

The US government often criticises Burma's military government,
even refusing to post an ambassador in Rangoon.

The United States cut off aid to Burma after the military government violently 
crushed unarmed pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988.

The military government has also refused to honour the results of
a 1990 election won by the party of pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi, who was released after six years of house arrest in July.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch/Asia have accused
the regime of gross human rights violations.

But almost nothing of such criticism is included in reports by
two Burmese-language VOA correspondents, the advocates allege.

The critics cite a VOA report on human rights was an example of
their claims of bias. They said the report quoted Burma Gen Khin
Nyunt as saying his government had not committed human rights
violations. But they said it never mentioned that several groups,
including the United Nations, have criticised Burma's human
rights record.

"Most people who listen to the VOA here believe it is
pro-government," said Win Min, a Bangkok-based leader of the All
Burma Students' Democratic Front, a dissident group.

They say it's unclear if the reports purposely favour the
military government or the reporters simply lack the journalistic
expertise to provide balanced reports.

**************************************************************

INDEPENDENT REPORT: HELP THE VOA INVESTIGATION
December 12, 1995

After reading Douglas Steele's editorial, I called VOA and asked what was
the agency was doing in response to the allegations against Myint Zaw Lwin.
I spoke with Mr. Jeffrey Cowan (note: NOT Jesse Cowan, as written in the
article), Director of VOA.  He said that these allegations are now being
investigated by USIA and several other agencies (he wouldn't say which
ones).  He said he did not know about the specific allegations against Myint
Zaw Lwin (which include national security issues beyond the scope of the
USIA), but he did feel that the accusation that VOA programming in general
has a pro-SLORC bias was unfair.  While he does not deny that some Burma
Service employees may be SLORC sympathizers and some questionable pieces
have been aired, Mr. Cowan insists that most of the Burma Service is
sympathetic to the democracy movement and has produced a good deal of VOA
programming devoted to, for example, human rights issues.

Mr. Cowan says he is carefully reviewing reports broadcast recently, but he
asked me to ask listeners to VOA's Burmese broadcasts to submit their
evidence and opinions about this matter.  For how many years and how often
do you listen to VOA?  Do you think that VOA programming is pro-SLORC?  If
so, which stories were biased?  Do you believe what you hear on VOA?  If
not, have you stopped listening?

Your answers to these questions are important to the current investigation,
which Mr. Cowan expects will be concluded in a short time.  If you have an
opinion or other evidence that would affect this investigation, please fax
it to Mr. Jeffrey Cowan at the following number: (202) 401-1327.

P.S. Many thanks to Douglas Steele for helping launch the investigation.

************************************************

BURMANET EDITOR: SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN VOA BROADCASTING
December 13, 1995

The Editor of BurmaNet has heard from various sources in Thailand that the
VOA Burmese-language broadcast on the evening of December 12, 1995
was a welcome departure from previous broadcasts.  For the first time, the
better part of the program was devoted to pro-democracy issues and viewpoints.

Subjects that were covered include the latest UN Resolution which condemns 
Burma for continued human rights abuses and Aung San Suu Kyi's views on
the National Convention.  Yesterday, the VOA also called a member of the 
NCGUB for his opinion of the National Convention and of the ASEAN summit 
which is taking place in Bangkok this week.  

Burmese inside Burma and in exile in Thailand listen to the VOA along with the 
BBC and the DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) in order to find out what is
really happening in Burma.  People also rely on these radio stations for coverage
of international events related to Burma (such as the UN Resolutions, the McConnell
Bill, etc). Because all other sources of news inside Burma are heavily censored by 
the military government, these radio stations  provide a critical service to the people.  
DVB is known to provide the most extensive coverage of pro-democracy activities
and human rights abuses in Burma.  The BBC offers fairly even-handed coverage,
but the VOA has been disappointing to most pro-democracy activists because of
its generally pro-military slant.

The shift in VOA coverage has been gladly welcomed by the Burmese in exile in
Thailand.  Their only question is: how long will it last?

****************************************************************

BURMANET: THE SAGA OF MIRIAM AND MICHAEL OF MYANMAR.
December 12, 1995
by Strider

     As regular BurmaNet readers may be aware, Miriam Marshall Segal is
a businesswoman operating in Burma and is well known apologist for the
SLORC. Ms. Segal got herself into a bit of legal trouble recently which
is explained in the following document. Michael Dobbs-Higginson, who has
appeared in several recent net articles, shows up in this document as an
alleged co-conspirator of Ms. Segal's. 

     What follows is the full text of an action taken by a Federal Judge
in New York. This case has not gotten to trial and won't for a long
time. This is just one motion by Ms. Segal arguing why the case should
be dismissed right away (she lost). 

     To set the stage: It's 1994 and Ms. Segal is doing business in
Burma. Her business does so well, that a Hong Kong investment house
(Peregrine) joins up with her to form a new company (Peregrine Myanmar)
and she become the chief executive. The Hong Kong investors own 80% of
the company and she owns the other 20%. 

     It appears that Ms. Segal decided to cheat on her partners however.
Enter Mr. Dobbs-Higginson and the Japanese company he represents:
Mitsui. The scam is a bit complicated but the interesting part is that
Ms. Segal's personal assistant (Ms. Duke) accidentally faxes a memo meant
for Dobbs-Higginson to, of all people, the partners in Hong Kong.
Mistake. The investors, presumably after getting over their surprise,
contact Ms. Duke and ask to help in nailing Ms. Segal. After consulting
her own attorney, Ms. Duke agrees and she download the contents of the
office computer's hard drive for the partners to read and also begins
spying on her boss for them. 

     The representative for the investors, Hector Lwin, comes to Burma to 
oust Ms. Segal.  Ms. Segal rings up Gen. Maung Maung (referred to 
elsewhere by Ms. Segal as "my general.") Ms. Segal, according to court 
documents, tells Gen. Maung Maung: 

          "Hector is very active--pin something on him,
          frame him--anything...I would raid Hector's house!.." 

In a later fax to her General, she writes:

          "regarding Hector, why can't his visa
          revocation be implemented--undesirable
          citizen, mistreatment of local staff,
          suspicion of illegal actions, too many lost
          passports, etc. My job is difficult enough
          without his undermining everything." 

Hector is promptly detained and thrown out of Burma for
"travelling on an illegal passport." In a fax to Mr.
Dobbs-Higgenson, Ms. Segal writes: 

          "I'm am making sure that nothing is achieved
          by PCM [the investors] in Yangon. They are
          getting in deeper and deeper, and I think the
          time will soon come when they will have had
          enough."

     The investors had had enough. In July 1995, they
finally fire Ms. Segal, but she just won't go. She
still tells people that she owns the company and
through her influence with the government, thwarts the
investor's efforts to get rid of her and get their
company back.

     The investors file an action in a New York court
in October 1995, alleging that Ms. Segal cheated them,
broke her employment contract. This is a civil case,
so if Segal loses, she doesn't go to jail--she only pays damages.

     Ms. Segal asks the court to dismiss the case for
three reasons. The first reason is that it would be
more appropriate (convenient) to try the case in Hong
Kong (doctrine of forum non conveniens). The second
reason she gives for dismissing the case is that the
investors forgot to name as co-conspirator an essential
party: the SLORC. Ms. Segal's third reason for
dismissing the case is that if it is in the US, it
should be in a state court rather than a Federal court. 

     By US rules, for the case to be in a Federal
court, the plaintiff (Peregrine) would have to be from
one state and she from another. Segal claims to be a
resident of Burma, which is not a state at all.

     The court looked at Ms. Segal's arguments and
said: you lose. A couple of observations the court
didn't make (but which apply) are these: if it is
"inconvenient" to try this case in New York, it is only
inconvenient for the people suing her. Segal lives in
New York. How much more convenient can you get? The
real issue is that a court in New York is far more
likely to make her pay than one in Hong Kong or Burma.

     The SLORC probably doesn't employ a lot of
American lawyers, which is to Ms. Segal's advantage. If
they knew that she tried to have them named as co-defendants, 
they might ask her some uncomfortable questions the 
next time she's in Burma. To be precise, Segal didn't exactly 
ask that the SLORC be joined to the suit. What she argued is 
something along the lines of this: the Burmese government 
should have been named along with her in order for it to be 
valid, and since they weren't, it has to be dismissed.

     Anyway, Judge Patterson threw out Ms. Segal's
motion on December 5th and some day this thing should
get to trial. It could be long time until this gets to
a trial, but it will probably be even longer before the
investors see their money again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 PEREGRINE MYANMAR LTD. and PEREGRINE CAPITAL MYANMAR
LTD.,Plaintiffs, -v- MIRIAM MARSHALL SEGAL, Defendant. 
95 Civ. 8286 (RPP)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT
OF NEW YORK

1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18179

December 5, 1995, Dated 
 December 7, 1995, FILED

COUNSEL: [*1] For PEREGRINE MYANMAR LTD., PEREGRINE
CAPITAL MYANMAR LTD.,
plaintiffs: Russell E. Brooks, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, New York, NY.
 
For MIRIAM MARSHALL SEGAL, defendant: Bruce C. Kramer,
Western Dist. of Tennessee, Western Divis.

JUDGES: Robert P. Patterson, Jr., U.S.D.J.

OPINION BY: Robert P. Patterson

OPINION: OPINION AND ORDER
ROBERT P. PATTERSON, JR., U.S.D.J.,

 Plaintiffs Peregrine Myanmar Ltd. ("PML") and Peregrine Capital Myanmar Ltd.
("PCM") have sued Defendant Miriam Marshall Segal seeking damages and 
injunctive relief. Plaintiffs contend that Defendant breached her employment 
contract and fiduciary duties, tortiously interfered with their prospective 
economic advantage by seeking to undermine their investments in a business 
venture in Myanmar, the Southeast Asian nation formerly known as Burma, 
and has engaged in unfair competition. Defendant has moved, Pursuant to Fed. 
R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and (7) and the doctrine of forum non conveniens to dismiss 
Plaintiffs' claims.

EXCERPTS (full text already posted on burmanet-l) 

On June 21, 1995, in a memorandum to Mr.
Dobbs-Higginson, Ms. Segal wrote "it
is not that I am patting myself on the back,
but I am recognized throughout the
world as being the strongest and most
influential person with the government of
Myanmar." (Dukes Aff. Ex. 8) In a June 22,
1995 memorandum to Mr.
Dobbs-Higginson, Ms. Segal stated: "I am
making sure that nothing is achieved by
PCM in Yangon. They are getting in deeper and
deeper, and I think the time will
soon come when they will have had enough."
(Dukes Aff. Ex. 9)

 On or about July 10, 1995, the Board of
Directors of PML terminated Ms.
Segal's employment contract for cause and her
services as one of its directors.
(Mercer Aff. P19) PCM removed Segal as a
director, effective July 11, 1995.
(Mercer Aff. P19)

 Plaintiffs assert that, despite PML's June
1994 acquisition of 100% of
MMAFFCL, which owns 50% of MAFCo, and the
July 1995 removal of Ms. Segal from
her employment and from her positions on the
boards of directors of both PML and
PCM, Defendant has continued to portray
herself and act as beneficial owner of
MAFCo. (Mercer Aff. P21) Plaintiffs further
contend that Defendant has used her
personal influence with the Government [*9]
of Myanmar to thwart the efforts
of Plaintiffs' new appointees to run MAFCo
and to harass Plaintiffs' employees.
(Mercer Aff. P21, 20)

Defendant contends that the 1990 Joint
Venture Agreement entered between
MMAFFCL and the Ministry renders the
government of Myanmar an indispensable
party to the current litigation. The
litigation before this Court concerns Ms.
Segal's obligations under the employment
contract she entered with Peregrine
when she sold her interest in MMAFFCL. This
litigation does not concern
ownership of shares in MAFCo. That ownership
has remained [*21] the same as
it was when the Joint Venture Agreement was
entered. Resolution of Ms. Segal's
employment dispute with Plaintiffs will not
affect the ownership interests of
the Ministry in MAFCo. The Ministry is not a
necessary party to the dispute between Plaintiffs 
and their former employee, Ms. Segal.

In sum, Defendant has failed to satisfy her
burden to show that Hong Kong is
the more convenient forum for litigation of
this action.

 Conclusion

 For all of the reasons stated above,
Defendant's motion to dismiss pursuant
to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and (7) and the
doctrine of forum non conveniens is denied.

***************************************************************

REUTER: UN PANEL REBUKES BURMA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
December 11, 1995  By Evelyn Leopold

    UNITED NATIONS, Dec 11 (Reuter) - A U.N. General Assembly panel on Monday
deplored human rights abuses in Burma and called on the Rangoon government to
begin a proper political dialogue with Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu
Kyi.

    But the United States, represented by Ambassador Madeleine Albright, said
Washington supported but did not sponsor the draft resolution because the
language was too weak on the military's human rights violations and other
provisions.

    The draft was adopted by consensus by the General Assembly's social,
humanitarian and cultural committee without a vote. The committee's decision,
which includes all U.N. members, means the full assembly will rubber-stamp
the draft.

    The 20-point resolution ``deplores the continued violation of human
rights'' in Burma, which calls itself Myanmar, and welcomes the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

    The resolution urged the government to enter at the earliest possible
date into a dialogue with her and other political leaders in an effort to
restore democracy.

    Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won elections in 1990
but the military stayed in power.

    The resolution said the government should stop ``torture, abuse of women,
forced labour and forced relocations and to the enforced disappearances and
summary executions.''

    It was based on a report from a U.N. human rights rapporteur, Yozo Yokata
of Japan, who said Burma may be using forced labour to spruce up landmarks
for foreign tourists in an effort to promote 1996 as ``Visit Myanmar Year''
and pointed to summary executions, torture and rape by the army.

    The document also urged the government to release other prisoners, to
restore fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly and to end forced
labour and to allow Red Cross officials access to the country's jails and
prisoners.

    Burma's representative, U Win Mra, said the draft did not recognise the
country's positive developments and he rejected allegations of human rights
violations.

    ``It has never been the policy of the government to condone the
violations of human rights,'' he said, adding that ``allegations of forced
labour have no basis of truth.''

    ``The true situation in Myanmar is not accurately conveyed in the
international media,'' he said.

    In response, Albright said the resolution welcomes cease-fires with
ethnic groups but failed to note that the Burmese army did not always honour
them.

    She also said the language on forced labour was not strong enough and
that the resolution was not specific on the withdrawal and subsequent
expulsion from the National constitution convention of delegations from the
NLD.

    ``My government also wants to express its very great concern about recent
statements from Rangoon that brand Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters as
'traitors' and speak of 'annihilating' those who criticise the National
Convention,'' Albright said.

************************************************************

US: STATEMENT ON BURMA TO THE UNGA
December 12, 1995

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT, 
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS 
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THIRD COMMITTEE
                    
 HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN BURMA
DECEMBER 11, 1995
 
 
Mr Chairman, I appreciate this opportunity to discuss my
Government's decision to join consensus on the resolution
concerning the human rights situation in Burma, despite some
reservations that prevented us from cosponsoring.
 
The resolution reflects a tremendous effort by the Swedish
mission to develop a strong consensus text, and my government
endorses strongly the purposes and recommendations contained in
that text.
 
We join with the other members of this Assembly in urging the
Burmese Government to cease its violations of internationally
recognized human rights. And we urge the government to begin a
substantive political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, other
democratic leaders and representatives of ethnic groups
concerning the future of the country. These recommendations are
at the heart of the Assembly resolution, and we believe the
Government of Burma should respond favorably to them.
 
The United States was not able to cosponsor the resolution
because of three issues that we believe could have been dealt
with more precisely or urgently. 
 
First, we would have tempered the language in paragraph 17, which
welcomes the cessation of hostilities between the Government of
Burma and various ethnic groups, because the Burmese Army has not
fully honored these ceasefires.
 
Second, we believe the resolution should have included language
similar to that adopted by the UN Human Rights Commission last
Spring, encouraging the Secretary-General to hold discussions
with the Burmese Government for the purpose of stimulating
progress towards democratization and national reconciliation.
 
Third, we believe specific mention should have been made of the
International Labor Organization's decision last June to condemn
Burma's continued use of forced labor and forced porterage,
especially of members of ethnic minorities, for military and
civilian infrastructure projects. The ILO recommends, and my
government strongly agrees, that Burma should bring both its laws
and its practices into compliance with internationally recognized
standards of workers' rights.
 
Finally, we believe that more specific and urgent attention
should have been given in the resolution to important events that
occurred in Rangoon near the end of last month. I refer, of
course, to the withdrawal and subsequent expulsion from the
National Convention of delegates from the National League for
Democracy.
 
The Governing State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC,
has asked the world to view the Convention as a representative
mechanism for drafting a new constitution and facilitating a
transition to democracy.  Clearly, it is not that if the National
League for Democracy, which received 60 percent of the votes in
the 1990 election, is not free to participate openly, freely and
without fear of intimidation. We must remember that the SLORC
handpicked all the delegates, greatly under-representing those
from the democratic movement.
 
Following the release from detention last July of Aung San Suu
Kyi, there were hopes that the National Convention would, in
fact, become a meaningful forum for discussion about Burma's
future. Instead, the Government has maintained its habit of rigid
control, and the few representatives of the democratic movement
and of the various ethnic groups have been prohibited from
voicing dissenting views.
 
The SLORC has said that its goals for Burma include economic
prosperity and multiparty democracy. Burma's democratic leaders
share those goals. The General Assembly should continue to
express strong and unyielding support for actions that would
close the great divide that now exists between what the SLORC
professes to want and what it has thus far been prepared to do.
 
In this connection, my Government also wants to express its very
great concern about recent statements from Rangoon that brand
Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters as "traitors" and speak of
"annihilating" those who criticize the National Convention.  The
SLORC should have no doubt that it will be held responsible for
any actions that result in physical harm or unjust punishment
against those who have simply engaged in the peaceful exercise of
internationally recognized rights.
 
In closing, Mr. President, let me once again congratulate the
Swedish mission for its leadership on this resolution.  Let me
re-state my Government's strong endorsement of its core
recommendations in support of human rights and a substantive
political dialogue.  And let me re-emphasize my Government's
concern about recent events and its hope that the Government of
Burma will reconsider its policies and begin now to move down a
democratic path.
 
Thank you.

******************************************************

ARAKAN LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY ( EXILE ): A CALL TO  BOYCOTT  SLORC'S  
PUBLIC RALLIES,  REFERENDUMS  AND  ELECTIONS
December 12, 1995

Arakan League for Democracy, the winner of the 1990 General Election in 
Rakhine State, being empowered with due people's mandate and, in turn, 
cherishing due loyally to the people, call upon all people of Burma to boycott
any sort of mass rallies, referendums or elections that may be held or sponsored,
now and in future, by the Burmese illegitimate military SLORC government.

The SLORC -
- Brutally stopped the 1988 nation-wide democracy movement by killing not less
than 10,000 peaceful demonstrators.
- Imprisoned more than 7,000 democracy activists and leaders, including 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
- Let Burmese people to form political parties and go for the election in 1990
 under their supervision.
- Treacherously trashed the 1990 General election results and banned 
or dissolved the winning political parties and imprisoned the elected Members
 of Parliament.
- Held the so-called National Convention, at gun-point intimidating entire
 nation including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
- Forced the nation, in this National Convention, at gun-point, to approve a
 National Constitution which was drafted by themselves to serve their greed
 of power and military supremacy over people's rights and will.

Thus, the Burmese military defacto, but still illegitimate, government SLORC 
uncannily displayed its mega-dishonesty and showed great disrespect to the 
people of Burma.

What can we do?????? 

We are unarmed! But we can encounter the SLORC with our strength of honesty,
 political rights and political will for freedom and equality.
We can boycott all referendums and elections which may be or going to be held
 under the pretext of this and illegitimate national convention and subsequent 
national constitution.

Therefore, we, the Arakan League for Democracy ( Exile ) URGE you and
 all Burmese people:

To boycott all SLORC-sponsored Public rallies, Referendums and Elections,
 what-so-ever form and dimension these may be.
To simply vote the unmarked blank ballot if they surround you and drive you
 to the ballot-boots by force.
To prepare to revolt and overthrow the SLORC military illegitimate government
 once and for ever if the Slorc, just like in 1974 Constitution Referendum, force 
you to vote for " YES ".

Get ready now !

Central Committee, Arakan League for Democracy ( Exile )
December 5, 1995

*******************************************************************

ABSDF (MTZ): STATEMENT ON THE FIFTH ASEAN SUMMIT
December 12, 1995

We, the ABSDF students have learnt that "peace and security will
continue to be ASEAN's prime concern because they are fundamental
to our development in all fields", said by the Prime Minister
Banharn Silpa-archa interviewing with Bangkok Post on 12 December.

General Than Shwe, the Chairman of State Law and Order
Restoration Council will attend the fifth Asean Summit on
Thursday in Bangkok. At the same time, the Slorc military regime
is, after all, the most brutal in Southeast Asia with a record of
human rights abuses.

We would like to say that we are very surprised of the invitation 
to the Slorc military regime by the Royal Government of Thailand
to attend the fifth Asean Summit as a guest. Because, Royal 
Government of Thailand was democratically elected by the entire
people of Thailand.

We firmly believe that to achieve peace and security in Southeast
Asia, which mainly depends on the stability of political
situation, and like Burma being ruled by the military regime can
not bring genuine peace and benefit not only for the whole region
but also even for its own people.

Respectfully, we appeal to the all members of Asean Nations to
make use of every contact it has with the Slorc to urge the
military junta to:

1. Unconditionally release Student leader Min Ko Naing and all
political prisoners;

2. Cancel all unjust laws;

3. Abolish the sham National Convention, and

4. Open dialogue with democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and leaders of ethnic nationalities in order to bring
national reconciliation, democracy and peace to Burma.

Central Leading Committee
ABSDF
Headquarters, 8888 Camp

**************************************************

ABSDF(MTZ):BURMESE PASSPORT HOLDERS ARRESTED IN THAILAND
December 12, 1995

About noon of yesterday(11.12.95), 25, real and valid passport holders
were rounded up by Thai immigration officers at Oscar Apartment
in Petchburi Soi 39 and they were brought up to IDC  but not in
the cells there. Among them 9 were released because it found
after interrogation that their ships have been anchoring in
Thailand at present. The remaining ones have been kept up to late
evening although they testified their valid visas and documents.
Immigration officers threatened that they must whether be sent
back to Burma or be forced to leave the country unless they
comply to pay 3000 Baht for each. Among those 16, two were women.
But all of them defied not to pay the ransom and they all didn't
realized why they were being asked for. May be they were first
victims of ASEAN summit here. 
     
At late evening, they all were released without giving complaint why 
they were being detained for. Moreover they couldn't get any sympathy 
and assistance from Burmese Embassy in Bangkok. How to do Burmese 
Embassy staffs take care of their own people? 

VOICE OF THE PEACOCK
ABSDF, 8888 CAMP

*****************************************************

YOMIURI SHIMBUN: JAPAN GOVERNMENT POSTPONES YEN LOANS 
TO MYANMAR TIL NEXT YEAR
December 12, 1995

	The government has decided to postpone scheduled yen loans to Myanmar 
until 1996 because of stalled efforts to democratize the country, a government 
source said Monday. However, a grant to expand a nursing college in Yangon will 
still be provide because a contract for the work was already singed, the source 
said. Moreover, additional official development assistance( ODA )grants that 
directly affect the daily lives of the Myanmarese will not be frozen, he said.
	According to the source, the Japanese government was preparing to resume 
yen loans for eight projects that it suddenly pulled out of in 1988 when Myanmar 
underwent a military coup. The eight projects include a 4.87 billion yen, plan 
to up grade electrical supply to infrastructure in  Yangon. The yen loans have 
been called off a second time because it has become unclear when the military 
junta ruling Myanmar will hold direct talks with the country's top dissident, 
pro- democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
	Suu Kyi's political group, the National League for Democracy, boycotted 
a national convention late last month, saying the event was to be strictly 
controlled by Myanmar's military leaders. Because the boycott has cast doubt on 
the future of democratic reform in Myanmar, the Japanese government has decided 
not to resume yen loans within this year, the source said.

( Information Committee )
Burma Youth Volunteer Association-Japan.

*****************************************************

ABSDO (AUSTRALIA): HUMAN RIGHTS FOR BURMA FORUM
December 12, 1995

On 9th December 1995, the All Burma Students' Democratic Organization 
(Australia) organized a forum for "Human Rights for Burma" in Melbourne.
The forum was to mark the International Human Rights Day on 10th December 
and discussed the current political situations of Burma. About 70 
people including the guest speakers from Amnesty International, Community 
Aid Abroad and an academic from the Melbourne University attended the 
forum. ABSDO called to the Australia government for economic sanction, 
arms embargo and boycott "Visit Myanmar Year 1996" and urged the Burmese 
and Australian community in Australia to be ready for an urgent action 
against SLORC if there is people uprising occurred again in Burma. The 
ABSDO also called to the Burma's military regime for immediate release of 
over 3,000 political prisoners including student leader Min Ko Naing, to
abolish the sham National Convention and hand over the power to the elected 
people representatives.

******************************************

BKK POST: ASEAN BRINGS HOPE AND CONFUSION
December 12, 1995
Report: Supamas Kasem and Nussara Sawatsawang

Asean remains a remote, if not alien, "something" for 
ordinary people in Burma, Cambodia, Laos and even Vietnam 
which became part of the seven-member club four months ago. 
Inside Indochina combed the region to hear the views of 
those supposed to benefit from Asen's professed goal of 
common prosperity.

"Is Asean one of the groups in the eastern part of the 
region? Does it comprise India, China and Pakistan? I don't 
know how many countries there are. Is Brunei included?" Khin 
San Yi, 33, fired these questions off the top of his head.

"I know the government wants to join Asean next year. I read 
about it last month. The government wants to improve 
economic ties with Asean as well as strengthen relations 
with neighbours like Thailand," said the Burmese, who works 
with the Rangoon representative office of the Thai Farmers Bank.

Burma's economy would grow and the country would receive 
advanced technology. "I agree that Myanmar should join 
Asean, and some superpowers like China and India, and 
Thailand, which is our closest neighbour, support that bid," she said. 

San Yi's views are typical of those from the business sector 
in Rangoon, which associates Asean with a more advanced 
level of development that their country should strive to join.

Cherry, 28, an assistant manager of a trading company in 
Rangoon said: "I am not very interested in politics, but I 
know that Myanmar is going to be a member of Asean; the 
government media said so. Honestly, I cannot guess when that 
is going to happen, but as quick as possible I would hope."

****************************************************

BURMANET: BRIEF NEWS REPORTS
compiled and edited from information provided by mbeer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

KHIN NYUNT RECEIVES KACHIN AND SHAN LEADERS

 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, chairman of the Working Committee for the Development of
Border Areas and National Races and Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order
Restoration Council SLORC , received U Za Hkun Ting Ring, a national leader from
Special Region 1 in Kachin State; U Pauk Yu Chan, a national leader from Special
Region 2 in Northern Shan State; and U Sai Lin, a national leader from Special
Region 4 in Eastern Shan State, at the Defence Services Guest House on Inya Road
in Yangon Rangoon on the 9th of December ... At the meeting, they held talks on 
regional development programmes.

JAPAN TO GIVE MEDICINE TO BURMA

The Japanese government will grant 34,000 US dollars worth of medicines to
Myanmar's Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA), said the official
newspaper "the New Light of Myanmar" today.  According to an agreement signed
here on Friday, the Japanese grant will be made under the grassroots grant
assistance program.  The MMCWA was formed in 1991 one year after the SLORC
promulgated the MMCWA law, and has worked together with women at the grass-roots 
level.  According to the 1993-94 census, the life span of Burma women is 64.7 years. The 
maternal mortality rate for Burma women is one per thousand births in 1993, while infant
mortality is 47.4 per thousand births in urban areas and 94 per thousand births
for rural areas.

*************************************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: ASIATRAVEL'S MYANMAR PAGE
December 12, 1995

AsiaTravel's new Home page on Myanmar has WWW postcard service with scenes
from Myanmar. Check this URL:
 http://asiatravel.com/myanmar.html

They too have page of new The Central Floating Hotel, YANGON
http://asiatravel.com/centralfloating/hotel.html

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