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ABSDF: News and Views (Octo 95-Jan



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Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 11:57:43 -0800
Subject: ABSDF: News and Views (Octo 95-Jan 96)


   
_________________________________________________________________
                                  ABSDF
                  ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT
   
_________________________________________________________________
                                    
                      *****************************
                          VOICE OF THE PEACOCK 
                      *****************************
                                    
 ________________________________________________________________
OCT, 1995- JAN 1996        NEWS & VIEWS              VOL.3, NO.1
_________________________________________________________________

                                EDITORIAL
                                .........

100% Support for the NLD
------------------------

Almost 6 years after the 1990 elections, the picture in Burma
remains largely the same. The release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
from house arrest has proven to be nominal--the Slorc has in fact
placed many subtle (and some not so subtle) restrictions on her.

To most observers the Slorc seems to have no sense of direction.
Since they came into power after a bloody crackdown on peaceful
demonstrators, they have had one and only one aim: to maintain a
permanent hold on power, without any transition to democracy. To
justify their rule, they have put forward and defended in the
last six months a series of 12 'objectives'. General Khin Nyunt
and General Than Shwe have used these objectives as a way of
defending the Slorc, knowing that they have no medium- or long-
term plans whatsoever.

How long can they keep up this charade? The SLORC boasted of
having spent 36 million Kyat on the elections they held. What is
the relevance of the cost of elections whose results were never
honoured. The Slorc is essentially boasting about how much public
funds it wasted. It is an insult to the country.

The Slorc made similar boasts in a meeting with Yozo Yokota,
reportedly saying that they are using half a million Kyat a day
to convene the national convention. It is now more than three
years since the opening of the convention on 9 January 1993,
though it has not been running continuously. How much pubic funds
have been wasted on what amounts to just another useless public
relations stunt, and how much more is the Slorc prepared to spend
to achieve its ends? The people of Burma have shown time and
again that they cannot be fooled. To continue wasting time,
energy and money on things which will ultimately achieve nothing
is sheer folly.

General Kyaw Ba, Slorc's Minister for Tourism recently told a
press conference that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Burma's
independence hero, lacks experience in the country and the
historical background of the independence struggle. Given the
current political stalemate and Slorc's unwillingness to
compromise with the democratic opposition, what are we going to
do? 

Bearing all this in mind, it is imperative for the youth,
students and people of Burma to give complete support to Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and the NLD. Without this, the SLORC will still have
a free hand to continue to plunder the nation. Everyone must seek
ways to solve the problems that will be faced.

Let us unite and give complete support to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
and the NLD.

================================================================
                                    
                                  NEWS
                                 ......
                                    
7th anniversary of the ABSDF

The Seventh Anniversary of the founding of the ABSDF was held at
8888 camp on 5 November, 1995. Joint General Secretary Win Min
presided the ceremony while Yebaw Than Lwin served as master of 
ceremonies. Win Min delivered a speech current political events
inside Burma and the development of the organisation over the
last 7 years. 

Kyaw Ko Ko Win, from the Central Executive Committee read the
statement regarding the significance of the anniversary. Htun
Kyaw discussed the history of  the student movement and Thet
Naing, CC of ABSDF discussed the 12 Immediate Demands of People.

The rank and file membership then held a series of discussion
groups concerning the future direction  of the ABSDF and current
political issues within the country.

The ceremony was concluded with sports and fun activities. 

==============================================================

DTP training held in Bangkok

The 1996 Diplomay Training Program(DTP) for the Asia-Pacific
region was held in Bangkok on Jan 9-Feb 2, 1996. 

22 representatives of different regional organisations from 10
countries attended. Training was held at Tamasat University in
Bangkok in co-operation with the Asia Forum of Thailand and the
University of New South Wales. 

Subjects covered included human rights, International Law and UN
systems. The Graduation Ceremony was held on February 2, 1996 at
the Student Christian Centre of Thailand. The ceremony was
attended by Mr. Withaya Kaewpareda(Chairman of the House
Committee on Justice and Human Rights Committee, Thailand), Dr
Gothom Arya(The Program for the Promotion of Non-violence in Thai
society), Lawyer Somchai Honolaor(Secretary General of Forum
Asia). Many Thai NGOs also attended the ceremony. Mr. Lasari
Fernando and Ms Alison Tate(Coordinator of the DTP) presented
certificates  to the participants who successfully accomplished
the training.

Differents organisations from Burma, Thailand, India,
Bangaladesh, Combodia, West Papua, East timor, Nepal, Sri Lanka
and Australia send their representatives to the training.
 
Zaw Win Lwin from ABSDF attended and successfully accompished the
diplomacy training as a Burmese opposition representative.

===============================================================

ABSDF Questions ASEAN's Invitation to the Slorc

The suitability of inviting General Than Shwe, the chairman of
the Slorc, to fifth Asean summit held in Bangkok, was questioned
by the ABSDF. The participation of Slorc in the meeting is not
conducive to regional peace and security - things that the
grouping is seeking to achieve. The Front released a statement on
12 December, appealing for Asean to persuade the Slorc to open a
dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the leaders of ethnic
nationalities in order to being national reconciliation,
democracy and peace to Burma.

===============================================================

ABSDF Supports NLD Boycott of Slorc's National Convention

The ABSDF fully supports the National League for Democracy in
walking out of the National Convention. It believes that NLD
representatives have clearly demonstrated their courage in
carrying out their appointed task in the restoration of democracy
and human rights for the people of Burma.

=================================================================

Slorc's Deputy Prime Minister Visits Thailand

During the visit of Slorc's deputy prime minister General Maung
Maung Khin in November, the ABSDF warned the Royal Thai
Government to be cautious in dealing with the Burmese military
regime, in part because it does not keep its word and also
because of its appalling record of human rights violations.  

=================================================================


Karenni Group Urges Slorc to start Dialogue with NLD

In a statement in Burmese released on 21 January, 1996, the KNPLF
(Karenni National People's Liberation Front) urged the Slorc and
NLD to find a solution to their problems through dialogue.
"Regarding the National Convention, we hope and believe that if
there is a dialogue between the Slorc and the NLD to address
their differences...it will have good consequences for the future
of Burma", the statement read.

=================================================================

Slorc Rejects Change in NLD Leadership

The ABSDF released a statement on 25 October, reacting to a
decision by the Slorc 'Electoral Commission' not to accept the
reinstatement of the NLD's leadership. The ABSDF stated: "This
wanton disregard of Aung San Suu Kyi augurs ill for the much-
needed national reconciliation process and democratic reforms in
the country".

=================================================================
Tamu village support the National Convention with bomb blast

After the NLD's boycott of the Slorc's National Convention, the
junta forced people throughout the country to show public support
for their National Convention. In Tamu township, they planned to
hold this ceremony on December 7, 1995 and ordered one person
from each home in the village to attend the ceremony without
fail. Failure to attend would result in a 100 Kyat fine for each
person. 

Before the ceremony, there was a bomb blast, which prevented it
from going ahead. The India-Burma border was also closed the next
day. 

There was also a movement of Slorc troops along the India-Burma
border and Slorc arrested six Indian people. In response to this,
Indian authorities also arrested one Slorc official and six
civilians, said people from the border.

In other areas people have had to attend the ceremonies
supporting the National Convention, even though they did not
agree with them.

==============================================================

Villagers fear of their lives

In December, Slorc's LIB 224 informed Anie village and Mayan
Chaung village in Mergui Island township that if there is a
movement of rebels or fighting with rebels, the village will be
set on fire or destroyed totally. For this reason people are
living in fear of their lives.

There are 150 people in Anie village and 500 in Ma Yan Chaung
village and most of the people are Roman Catholics. In those
areas there are movements of ABSDF troops and KNU troops.

============================================================

Diamond Jubilee of Rangoon University held under tight security

Slorc-sponsored celebrations of Rangoon University's 75-year,
diamond jubilee, took place on 1 December 1995. Security was
tight in order to prevent anticipated student protests, with army
troops stationed both inside and outside the university campus.
The opening ceremony was attended by Khin Nyunt and several other
high-ranking Slorc officials.

Although journalists and various news agencies were invited to
the ceremony, only a small number of foreign press
representatives were allowed onto the campus and all were
prevented form taking photographs. Military Intelligence officers
moved conspicuously through the assembled students to prevent any
protest action or disruption.

A small number of students from the All Burma Federation of
Student Unions chanted anti-Slorc slogans, and distributed
protest leaflets throughout the ceremony, appearing briefly then
disappearing into the crowds before security forces could take
direct action.

Following the opening ceremony, troops withdrew from the campus,
but maintained their presence on the streets outside, while MI
officers remained on the university grounds.

On 5 December, a small group of students gathered to shout
protest statements near the site of the former student union
building, destroyed by Ne Win's troops shortly after the coup in
1962. While Slorc troops broke up the protest, there were no
arrests reported.

One reporter was heard to say that students attending the opening
ceremony looked more like forcibly paraded prisoners of war than
active celebrants.

Students had also planned to hold a ceremony for the martyrs and
heroes of Burma's struggle for independence and democracy.
However, Slorc detained 20 student activists before the planned
ceremony, and warned them not to hold it. Since the MI
demonstrated a detailed knowledge of the plans for the ceremony,
it had to be cancelled. 

===============================================================

More military excercises

Slorc recently held large-scale military excercises along its
southwest coast.

Slorc has been practising the use of recently-acquired Chinese
weapons including jet fighters and other sophisticated hardware
in a joint army, navy and airforce military exercise. It is the
first time that such joint excercises have been held, and it
appears that a great deal of finances and ammunition were
expended.

Reports say that 2,000 enlisted men from the Army, Navy and
Airforce gathered at Mingaladon military base before the
excercises. This may be the first in a series of such excercises,
but the exact objective is not known.

================================================================

Forced Labor in Tenasserim Township

As of January, 1996, a total of 383 from 10 villagers have been
forced to work on various forced labor camps. These villages in
the Tenasserim township - Than Law, West Than Law, Ban Laung, Tha
Kwet (6) mile, Kywel Htein Gonn, Taung Wein, Yei Pho, Lamu, Sin
Kaung and Ganan Gwin - have had to send 80, 40, 50, 30, 25, 13,
60, 25, 30, 30 villagers respectively for the forced labor.

===============================================================

Unfair Trial for a SLORC Officer's Son

Htut Kyaw Win is the son of Colonel Kyaw Win, former personal
physician to junta strongman General Ne Win.

One day Htut Kyaw Win, a medical student, went out drinking and
then attempted to drive home while very drunk. Unfortunately,
while driving down Prome Road by Inya Lake he ran over student
from Rangoon Institute of Economics. The infamous "red bridge",
where more than two hundred students were beaten to death by Lon
Htein security forces in March 1988, is just fifty metres away.
The student, Ko Ye Win from Ye Oo in Sagaing Division, was killed
on the spot. The body was flown out overnight on a military
aircraft and returned quickly to the family. The military
authorities blacked out the news and forced the family to hold a
brief funeral service.  

Why did they try to hush up this incident? Why was the body flown
home to Ye Oo overnight? The following answers seem likely. 

Htut Kyaw Win, the driver of the vehicle, is the son of Colonel
Kyaw Win, former director of medical services under Defence
Ministry. He served as the personal doctor of U Ne Win for many
years. Htut Kyaw Win is also a closed friend of Ye Naing Win, son
of Lt. General Khin Nyunt.  

 Htut Kyaw Win was sent to trial over the death. During the trial
period he was kept at one of the small houses in front of the
Special Cell-Block in Insein Prison, where usually only
politically sensitive people are kept (such as the North Korean
operative arrested for involvement in the 1983 bombing of
visiting South Korean leaders). Since Htut Kyaw Win's arrival,
the house has been furnished with air-conditioners and other
luxury facilities. He even had to take his final-year exams from
prison, and it when the results were announced, he had come
first. After a trial process which lasted nearly one year, he was
acquitted of drunk driving and of killing Ko Ye Win.

After that incident Col. Kyaw Win, despite his closeness to Ne
Win and Khin Nyunt, was criticized by other Generals, including
General Maung Aye, most of whom are professional soldiers and not
from the Military Intelligence faction.

Finally, in order to get rid of any remaining internal problems
and to please the other generals, Khin Nyunt contrived to send
Colonel Dr. Kyaw Win to Canada as the Burmese Ambassador, which
was done in the middle of 1994. Sending someone abroad as an
ambassador has been a punishment traditionally used by Burmese
military regimes. However, his son Htut Kyaw Win became a doctor
and opened a shop at Scott Market (Bogyoke Aung San market) in
Rangoon called "Living Color Boutique", which sells expensive
western-style clothes and other items.

Now Dr. Mya Thein Han has taken over from Dr. Kyaw Win as the
personal doctor of Ne Win.

================================================================

Human Rights violations in Northern Karen Territory

In the southern part of Papun township, Kler La, Kaw Thaway Do,
Klay Sho Koh, Ler Joot, Wah Tho Koh, Ku Ler Doy, Maung Koh Do,
Pae Kaw Doh and Maung Sho Koh villages, each household has to pay
200 Kyat every month for ammunition basket fees. If anybody
from a family tries to run away, his or her family will be fined
double fees each month.

These villagers have been forced to carry excessive loads of
ammunition and arms without being given any food.

On October 18, 1995, Slorc 26 IB, commanded by Major Myat Aung,
went to Saw Wah Do area and started shooting the villagers while
they were harvesting rice in the fields.

They killed a girl and 7 men and injured 5 others. Seven huts, 27
paddy stores and also rice paddy fields were burnt down by the
Slorc troops. After that they went into Saw Wah Do village and
seized everything which belonged to villagers. They killed 5 cows
on that day for their army rations. The Slorc soldiers were
ordered to destroy every rice field which was planted by Karen
villagers.

On October 22, 1995, Slorc 233 Battalion led by Major Win Tin Oo,
under the direct command of Lt. Col. Aung Naing Htun, a commander
of 2 strategic Command, opened fire on Karen villagers in the
paddy fields called Mu Khee near Khaw Mu Dae village. That area
is located in Taungu district of Pegu division. A village man
named Saw Bar Balu was shot dead and all the paddy fields were
burnt down by Slorc troops. On October 23, 1995, all paddy fields
and belongings of Khaw Bu Htow villagers were destroyed by Slorc
26 Battalion led by Major Aye Kyaw.

On October 23, 1995, nearly 100 Karen students from Kha Layar and
Kaw Thae Dae Guin villages were arrested by Slorc troops
commanded by Lt. Col Aung Naing Htun, for porterage, sweeping
land mines and building new roads. The same day, three bulldozers
were sent to Kaw Thae Dae village to build a new road from Kaw
Thae Dae to Bu Sar Khee village. 

On October 25, 1995, Brigadier Gen. Kyi Aung, commander of
Southern command, ordered Lt. Col. Aung Naing Htun, a commander
of 2 strategic Command to forcibly relocate all the villages
between the area of Dae Lo and Ray Khat Guin to a new location 13
miles away at Than Daung township in Taungu district. At the
moment, all the village leaders who were forced to relocate are
being forced to join basic military training there on the orders
of Brigadier Gen. Kyi Aung.

On October 25, 1995, Lt. Col. Aung Naing Htun summoned the Baw
Tali Gyi village headman Khaw Thaba Phawt (50) and an old woman
to serve him as his personal servants and later the village head
man was killed, but the villagers found his dead body in the
jungle. The same day, the Kha Laela village headman's house was
dismantled by Slorc soldiers on the orders of Lt. Col. Aung Naing
Htun. At the same time, all the houses from Wabo Kho, Kalay So
Khee and Ka Pudae villages were dismantled and moved to Kha Laela
village. (Source:KNU)

================================================================

Human rights abuses by Slorc troops in Tongu District

On the 26th December, 1995 the commanding officer of 55 Infantry
Battalion, Khin Maung Win, gave notification of re-location to
the inhabitants of Mueelo, Palaw bordare, Saw Pholo, Sikaedare,
Laiekalardare, Tarparkhee and Huemudare villages, The deadline
was set at 30th December, 1995 after which date any remaining
civilians would be regarded as enemy personnel and treated
accordingly.

================================================================

Slorc troops behead Karen villagers

On September 15, 1995, in Taungoo district of the KNU Second
Brigade area, two male villagers from Wade Kho village, Saw
Parhar (42) and Saw Sein Win (30), were arrested and beheaded by
a Slorc column from the 233rd Regiment led by Major Soe Win Tin. 

On September 24, 1995, Saw Gadon Shwe from Sidaw Kho village was
also beheaded by the same Slorc column.

On September 16, 1995, domestic animals and rice owned by 
Karen villages on Bosar Khee range in Taungoo district of KNU
Second Brigade area were seized by a Slorc column from the 48th
Regiment led by Major Myint Han, without any compensation.

On September 17, 1995, a Slorc column from the 35th Regiment was
ambushed by the KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army) near Htee 
Law Thae village in Paphun district of Karen State. After that,
the Slorc troops accused the villagers of informing on them to
the KNLA and shot into Htee Law Thae village.  A female villager,
Naw Ngwe Htu, (45), was killed, and four others were seriously
injured. The same day, Baw Naw Htar and Ah Le Gaw Htar village
were burned down and all the belongings of the villagers were
taken by the same Slorc column.

On September 25, 1995, Bale Gaw village was burned down and the
belongings of villagers were also seized by a Slorc column from
the 60th Regiment. Three female villagers, Naw Kalu Htu (60), Naw
Thawl Htu (40) and Naw Yi Mae (68), were beheaded outside of the
village by the Slorc troops.

Source: KNU

================================================================

Over One Hundred Die at Boke Pyin Prison Labor Camp

Reliable sources inside Burma informed the ABSDF that 108 out of
530 prison inmates have died at a prison labor camp in the south
of Burma in one year. According to the sources from that area,
530 inmates were sent to Boke Pyin Prison Labor Camp last year.
As the new year began the statistics for 1995 showed that 108
people have died of hunger, lack of proper medical care,
worsening living conditions and the severity of word load. An
increase in the number of escape attempts by prisoners has also
contributed to the increasing death toll as Army troops open fire
on escapees.

The report also mentioned the use of prisoners as porters in the
military operations. At the time of reporting, 80 out of the
remaining prisoners were being used as porters.

===============================================================

Forced Labor used for Mergui-Moe Taung-Kaw Thaung (Victoria
Point) Road construction 

Forced labor is being used for the construction of a motor road
connecting Mergui-Moe Taung-Kaw Thaung (Victoria Point), reported
the sources from the area in Tenasserim Division in the south of
Burma.

The report also confirmed that battalions 358,224 and 103 of
regional Burmese Army have been rounding up the villagers in the
area for use in the construction. It said that each family in the
area is required to dig 10 x 70 feet for the road. The villagers
are ordered to bring their own food and tools. It is said that
there is no proper medical care. The villagers are said to have
fled their villages since October 1995.

================================================================

DKBO Sets Up Their Own Radio Station

The DKBO (Democratic Buddhist Karen Organization), the breakaway
faction of the Karen rebels, has set up a radio station with the
help of the Burmese military, sources which monitor foreign and
local radios in Burma said.

'Thapyay' or the eugenia tree as the station is called by the
Buddhist Karens is known to be operating under the direct
supervision of the Burmese Army's Psychological Warfare
Department. In Burmese the name symbolizes auspicious victory. 

It is broadcast three times a day: from 07:00 to 08:30 in the
morning, from 12:00  to 13:00 in the afternoon and from 19:00 to
20:00 hours in the evening. It can be monitored at 6354 MHZ. The
base or the whereabouts of the radio station is not known to the
public.

The radio station is said to have broadcast slanderous attacks on
the KNU (Karen National Union) and the ABSDF (All Burma Students
Democratic Front). It also airs reports that are conspicuous
attempts to urge these groups to 'return to the legal fold'. 

In a separate report, another source informed the ABSDF that the
SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) is preparing to
launch an offensive against the 4th Brigade of the Karen National
Union (KNU) in February 1996. This military operation is
codenamed "Pyi Lone Nyein" or the peace-in-the-whole-country.
Burmese army's LID 44, 66 and regional troops are believed to be
deployed for the offensive.   

================================================================

Restriction of Travel Routes
                          
On the 26th December, 1995, car owners in Bawgalate and Kaw-
Thae-Dare villages were ordered by the Tactical Commander, Myo
Hla, to return their vehicles from Tongu Township and restrict
their travel to the Bawgalate-Si Kae Dare road, recently
constructed by SLORC.

================================================================

Complete Thai goods boycott?

Since Thai-Burmese border trade was banned by Slorc seven months
ago both Thailand and Burma have suffered. Thai merchants have
lost profitable markets while the cost of even basic necessities
such us seasoning powder have skyrocketed and Burmese people in
border towns such as Myawadi and Kaw Thaung who depend on the
border trade are now facing unemployment.

While Slorc proceed with an aggressively anti-Thai propaganda and
trade boycott campaign it is asking US $ 100 million as
compensation from Thailand for the loss of border trade.

Meanwhile in South-East Command the Kaw Thaung Law and Order
Restoration Council was order to purchase and send chandeliers,
fluorescent tubes and soft grass for the Moulmein District
Command Golf Club. The obvious source of these items was
Thailand. A Slorc official from Kaw-Thaung said he couldn't
imagine why the required good weren't ordered from Rangoon
markets.

============================================================

Flood in Burma

Due to the increased water level of the Irrawaddy, Doke Htarwadi
and Salween Rivers at the end of September, 1995, people in 
Middle Burma and the Kachin State have faced with floods on three
separate occaisions. Many growing fields were destroyed by the
floods with local farmers incurring serious financial losses. (
The average farmer pays 2,000 kyat, per viss, for sesame seeds,
12000 kyat, per viss, for ground nut seeds, 10,000 kyat, per
viss, for winged bean, and 1,200 kyat for butter bean.)Although
it is known that some people  were killed in the floods no
official statements have been released yet.  

The Japanese Government has donated blankets, eating utensils and
other emergency relief materials worth $150,000 to Burma for
victims of the flooding.

================================================================

Former conspirator Against General Ne Win now a close associate
of Gen. Khin Nyunt

Sources within Burma have reported that Captian Win Thein,
formerly a state witness after in a case concerning a failed
assassination plot against Gerneral Ne Win in 1975, is now a
close associate of Lt. General Khin Nyunt, SLORC Secretary (1)
and military intelligence chief.

Captain Win Thein was one of a number of junior officers who were
involved in an attempt to overthrow the then ruling party, the
Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP) headed by General Ne Win. 
In the case, Captain Ohn Kyaw Myint, leader of the group, was
sentenced to death and General Tin Oo, then army-chief of staff
and now Vice-chariman of the National League for Democracy, was
implicated and subsequently sentenced to 7 years imprisonment all
on the evidence of captain Win Thein.

 The Captain has since become the senior manager of General Khin
Nyunt's private construction business, sources said.

================================================================

International Delegation Denied Entry To Burma

An international delegation organized by Worldview International
to visit Burma was denied entry to the country. The delegation
had planned to visit Burma in the period of 17-22 January. The
purpose of the trip was both to collect up-to-date information
concerning the situation in Bumra, and to contribute to
hanstening the transition from dictatorship to democracy in Burma
by drawing attention to the situation.

The delegates included Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, a Norwegian
Member of Parliament; Former Foreign Minister of Sweden and
current ambassador Lennart Bodstrom; Japanese Member of
Parliament Yasuko Takemura; Sri Lankan Member of Parliament
Neelan Tiruchelvam and other representatives from Bangladesh,
Sweden, and members of Worldview International.

In a statement released on January 16, the leader of the
delegation, Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, said: "By denying a
friendly-disposed delegation entry to Burma, the Burmese military
regime has yet again shown little willingness to support a
transition from dictatorship to democracy in their country. We
interpret the denial as a sign that the military regime intends
to retain dictorial control over Burma in the future. On the
basis of this, we will now attempt to put more pressure on the
military regime in Burma. The military dictatorship must be
forced to enter into a dialogue with the Burmese opposition and
international politicians."

The delegation also met members of the NCUB (National Ccouncil of
the Union of Burma) and discussed the current situation in the
country. After the meeting a special hearing on human rights
violations was held, in which five victims of forced labor and
other abuses gave testimonies of their experiences in front of
reporters and members of the delegation.

================================================================

Burma Constitutional Seminar held in Philippines 
 
An international seminar on the future democratic constitution in 
Burma was held in Manila, on October 23-27, 1995. 
 
About 40 Leaders, Representatives from various Burmese ethnic and 
democratic forces and elected representatives from the May 1990 
elections, along with international constitutional experts
attended the seminar and exchanged ideas on how to improve and
refine the 1993 draft of the proposed constitution for the
Federal Union of Burma.  
 
Protection of individual human and civil rights, the 
establishment of a responsible multi-party democracy, the
creation of policy to safeguard minority rights were all
discussed at the seminar. 
 
Zaw Min, Joint-Secretary of Foreign Affairs attended as 
representative for the ABSDF. 
 
===============================================================

International Convention for the Restoration of Democracy in 
Burma held in India 
 
An International Convention for the Restoration of Democracy in 
Burma was held in New Delhi, between 4-6 January. 
  
The convention was attended by over 100 representatives. It
sought to bring together those involved in or supporting the
struggle of the Burmese people including the leaders of the
democratic movement in Burma, ethnic representatives of Burma,
Parliamentarians, Nobel Peace Laureates and Burma support groups,
Burmese members of parliament, lawyers, activists and students
living in exile and leaders of public opinion from all over the
world.

The convention discussed Constitutional Issues, Human rights, the
theory of Constructive Engagement, the China-Burma axis and peace
in South Asia. George Fernandes, a well-known Indian Member of
Parliament, was the Chairman of the Convening Committee and Sri
B.N. Pande, eminent historian and Indian Member of Parliament,
was the Chairman of the Reception Committee. Sri Chandra Shekar,
former Prime Minister of India inaugurated the convention. Burma
popular democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sent a
felicitation message to the convention. 
 
Zaw Min, Joint-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, joined the
convention as the representative of the ABSDF. 
 
===============================================================
 
Student and Youth Conference for Burma held in India 
 
The Student and Youth Conference of Burma was held in New Delhi
on January 7-8, 1996. 
 
35 Leaders and representatives from different student 
organisations of Burma, democratic and ethnic organisations and 
international supporters joined the conference.  
 
The All Burma Student's Democratic Front (ABSDF), The All Burma 
Students League (ABSL), Karen Youth Organization (KYO), All 
Arakan Students and Youth Congress (AASYC), Democratic Party for 
New Society (DPNS), Chin Students Union (CSU) participated 
in the conference. 
 
A joint statement issued by the conference members said that in
order to solve the political problems of Burma and achieve 
national reconciliation, a substantial political dialogue 
involving the leaders of the ethnic nationalities, democratic 
forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council (SLORC) was necessary. 
 
The conference reached a consensus to stand against SLORC's
National Convention,  to support the activities of the National
League for Democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to resist the
economic and military repression of SLORC, promote awareness of
democracy and human rights for all people, support
self-determination for all ethnic nationalities in Burma 
and to encourage solidarity among all revolutionary forces by 
strengthening unity and understanding between various ethnic 
students and young people. 
 
During the two-day meeting, the leaders of respective
organizations unanimously agreed to establish "Students and Youth
Congress of Burma", as an umbrella group, in order seek
collective and coordinated action for the restoration of
democracy and human rights in Burma.  
 
The conference demanded the release of student leader Ko Min Ko
Naing and all political prisoners immediately and
unconditionally, to stop the illegitimate National Convention 
process, to set up tripartite dialogue and for SLORC to initiate 
a nation-wide cease-fire. 
 
It called on the international community to withdraw the various
forms of aid which are directly or indirectly fuelling 
SLORC's repressive machinery and to impose practical and
effective trade and arms embargoes on the regime. 
 
Zaw Min, Joint-Secretary of the Foreign Affairs of the ABSDF
attended the conference as the representative of the ABSDF.

================================================================

DAB holds CEC meeting 

DAB's Central Executive Committee meeting was held 7-8 November,
1995.

The meeting was presided over by General Mya, Chairman of the DAB
and U Tin Maung Win, Vice President of DAB with U Myint Zaw,
acting General Secretary of DAB serving as the Master of
Ceremonies.

The CEC agreed to give support calls for SLORC to hold 
tripartite dialogue for National reconciliation.

The CEC also agreed to expel NMSP after it concluded a ceasefire
agreement with SLORC. U Moe Thee Zun and U Naing Aung were
assigned as Acting DAB CEC members. Pado Arther Shwe was
appointed the Acting Head of Foreign Affairs of the CEC to
replace Dr. Em Marter.

Vice Chairman Aung Thu Nyein attended the meeting as
representative for the ABSDF.

=================================================================

Harsh investigation being held in Insein Prison

Since the publication of Professor Yozo Yokota's report on Human
Rights in Burma, SLORC has been conducting a brutal investigation 
within Insein Prison. The UN Rapporteur's report, submitted
recently to the UNHCR meeting in Geneva, contained references to
conditions inside the prison known to have come from letters
secretly provided by political detainees.

Since mid-November SLORC has begun a series of ruthless
interrogations of prisoners in order to discover the identities
of those involved in both writing and smuggling the letters. 

Water and food supplies have been denied those being interrogated
and they have been forced to sleep on concrete floors without
mats or blankets. The  in between sessions prisoners under
interrogation were kept in the 'military dog cells'. Permission
to meet the prisoners has been refused since the investigations
began in the middle of November.

Included among the prisoners being interrogated are Saw Nai Nai
(elected representative from Pazun Daung township in Rangoon
Division), U Win Tin (member of Secretariat of the NLD and
currently suffering severe spondilytis), Myo Myint Nyein, Dr.
Myint Naing (elected representative from the NLD) and Mon Ywar
Tin Shwe (elected representative from the NLD).  
 
================================================================

Internal Pressure on SLORC to Begin Talks

Twenty-three senior Burma politicians, including Bo Hmu
Aung(Thirty Comrade), Dr. Maung Maung Kyaw, Wi Du Ra Chit Maung
and Thakhin Khin Aung, have sent a joint letter to SLORC
urging them to start a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic
leaders.

U Tin Oo, Vice Chairman of the NLD has many times asked the Slorc
to release all political prisoners.  

The Slorc started to take measures against the crowds of
supporters that gather every weekend outside Suu Kyi's home.
Three students who were working with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after
her release and asked the gate authorities to move the barbed
wire barricades were arrested on November 24 and sentenced to two
years' imprisonment. Despite the barbed wire,
increased security and the arrests of the students, over 5,000
people gathered that weekend to hear Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speak.

U Sein Hla Aung of Mandalay was recently arrested for
distributing NLD video tapes of the same gatherings. Khun Myint
Tun, Tin Tun Oo (both youth members of NLD), Saw Tin Win (Central
committee member of NLD), and Mann Htay Shein were also arrested 
for taking Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to a Karen new year festival in
Rangoon.

While SLORC is aware of the public relations boost the release of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has given them, she is still considered a
threat to them. Although it is highly unlikely they will
re-arrest her in the near future they seem bent upon cutting off
her base of support and attempting to marginalise her by
harassing and arresting her supporters and party members. 

In light of this and the complete lack of progress in any
dialogue toward national reconciliation a confrontation between
SLORC and grass roots pro-democracy supporters seems inevitable.
Perhaps this is the intended outcome of SLORC's campaign of
continual delay in serious dialogue and harrasment of NLD members
and supporters.

===============================================================

Burmese passport holders detained before ASEAN meeting

About noon of December 11, 25people holding real and valid    
Burmese passports were rounded up by Thai immigration officers at
Oscar Apartment in Petchburi soi 39 and were taken to the IDC.  
Initially 9 were released as it was found came off ships anchored
in Thai ports. The other 16, including two women, were held until
late that evening although they possessed valid visas and
documents.

In the meantime, Immigration officers threatened to have them
deported to Burma  unless they paid a bribe of 3000 Baht each.
All refused to pay the ransom and were eventually released. No
assistance or redress was offered by the Burmese Embassy in
Bangkok. Is this how the Burmese Embassy staff takes care of
their own people? 

================================================================

Detained student put in solitary confinement

A Burmese student, Maung Myat San, a member of Three Color Flag
group (former personal bodyguard's to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) and
NLD youth member, who has been serving a 7 year prison term,  
wrote a letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after her release in July
this year. 

Unfortunately, that letter was seized by authorities at Insein
Prison. As punishment Maung Myat San  recieved 5 months solitary
confinement while the warder who attempted to smuggle the letter 
past the main gate was discharged and sentenced to 5 years in
prison with hard labour. 

================================================================

Third Meeting of the DAB's First Congress held

The third meeting of the DAB's First Congress was held on January
9-12, 1995.

The the meeting was presided over by General Bo Mya while U Myint
Zaw of the DPNS (Democractic Party for New Society) acted as
Master of the ceremony.

Over fifty representatives from 15 different member organizations
of DAB attended the meeting respectively.

The organisations attending the meeting were as follows:

Karen National Union (KNU)
Committee for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (CRDB)
All Burma Young Monks' Union (ABYMU)
All Burma Students'Democratic Front(ABSDF_MTZ & DNA)
Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS)
People Liberation Front (PLF)      
National United Front of Arakan(NUFA)
All Burma Muslim Union (ABMU)
Muslim Liberation Organisation (MLO)
Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)
Pao National Organisation (PNO)
Wa National Organisation (WNO)
Lahu Liberation Organisation
Palaung State Liberation Party (PSLP) 

DAB General Secretary U Myint Zaw(DPNS) submitted a report on the
current political situation and the DAB's activities. 
The meeting also adopted a new future strategic plan for the DAB.
Reunification of the ABSDF was also put as an agenda item and
dicussed. The Committee which was formed with Gen Tamalabaw(KNU),
Abbot Khae Mar Saya(ABYMU), U Khine Soe Naing Aung(ALP) and Myint
Zaw(DPNS) will continue it's efforts for the reunification of the
ABSDF.

DAB expressed sympathy for the difficult circumstances facing 
ethnic groups forced to sign ceasefire agreements with SLORC
despite the fact that they were expelled from the Alliance
according to agreed principles.

The Conference also assented to the admission of the People's
Prograssive Front, Pao National Organisation and Mergui Tavoy
United Front to the Alliance. ABSDF Chairman Moe Thee Zun was
appointed as a Joint-Secretary for the DAB Committee on Military
Affairs.

Win Min, Thu Rein and Ba Saw Htun attended the DAB meeting as the
representatives of the ABSDF.

=================================================================

KNU's Health and Welfare Seminar held

The Health and Welfare Conference of the Karen National Union was
held on January 17-19, 1996 at Baw Naw Hta camp opposite Um
Phang. 

The seminar was presided by Padoh Shwe Yar Hel and Dr. Em Marter
of the KNU while Dr. Poh Thawda performed as master of
ceremonies. 

Organisations represented at the seminar included the National
Health and Educational Committee(NHEC), Medicine San
Frontier(MSF), AMI, the Burmese Relief Centre(BRC) and Mae Taw
Clinic.

Win Min (ABSDF Joint General Secretary) submitted a paper on the
Ideal Health Care System on behalf of the NHEC. 

KNU, MSF, AMI, BRC and Mae Taw Clinic also made submissions on
various issues.

================================================================

NHEC formed

National Health Committee(NHC) and National Educational
Committee(NEC) meeting was held 20-23 December, 1995.

An agreement was reached at the meeting to merge the NHC and NEC
to form the National Health and Educational Council(NHEC). Dr.
San Aung of the NCGUB was elected as the Chairman of the new
organisation. 

Representatives from the NCGUB, KNU, NMSP, ABSDF, DPNS, NLD_LA
and BMA attended the meeting.

=================================================================

Forced Portering

In order to support escalating SLORC operations in the KNU 2
Brigade area Government troops have recently rounded up 500
villagers to act as porters. SLORC troops involved in the
forcible recruitment were led by Tactical Commander Myo Hla and
Military Intelligence officer Tin Moe. The breakdown of numbers 
of people seized and their respective villages is as follows:

Bawgalate- 190 persons
Kaw Thae Dare- 100 persons
Pae Kaw Dare- 70 persons
Kaw Soe Kho- 60 persons
Daredo- 30 persons
Lare Kaw- 10 persons 

===============================================================

Battle news (Tenessarim Division)

KNLA: On the 15 September, 1995, units from the KNLA's 11
Battalion and SLORC's 103 LIB clashed at Tha Baw Laik Gyi,
Tenessarim township. Two Slorc troops were killed and one
wounded. 

ABSDF:  In a clash around Bartaung and Set Pu villages in  
Tenessarim Division on 2 October, 1995, a combined force of ABSDF
and MTUF ( Mergui-Tavoy United Front ) killed five SLORC troops
from 224 LIB. 

In another clash in early October, troops from the ABSDF ambushed
SLORC troops at Tha Gyet village, Tenasserim township, killing
three and wounding five. 

=================================================================

Maj. Nay Soe gives warning to students

Maj. Nay Soe, officer in charge of the MI security detachment at
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's residence, given a warning to Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi not to allow students inside her home to proceed with a 
plannd anti-government poster and pamphlet campaign. The Major
was directed to give the formal warning by his direct superior,
Colonel Than Htun. 

=================================================================

Power 54

In November Power 54, the latest album by Burmese singer Lay Phyu
was released by music producer Kyi Thaung. Lay Phyu rose to fame
in 1993 with songs such as "Roaring of the Sea" (pinlay ohr than)
and "Moon in the Desert" (kandaa ya la min). To advertise the new
album, a large billboard was erected on the corner of 34th street
(middle block) and Anawrata road.

In December, Slorc forced the producer Kyi Thaung to change the
name of this album. The producer at first refused, but in the end
reached a compromise with the authorities to ink out only the 54,
so the title would become just Power. The producer then put an
advertisement in the Slorc-controlled Myanmar Alin newspaper
announcing the name change.

It was only at this point that most Rangoon residents worked out
what was going on. There had been some discussion of the title,
but no one, it seemed, had realised the significance of the
title. 54 is the number of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house on
University Avenue. People soon worked this out when they heard
about the Slorc censorship of the album, and saw the newspaper
advertisement. [Incidentally, if you do a bit of numerology, 5
plus 4 is 9, which just happens to be the lucky number of Old Man
Ne Win himself.] With evereyone talking about it, the album
became very popular.

As a result of this the Slorc forced producer Kyi Thaung to stop
producing the tapes, and stocks were confiscated from shops all
over Burma.

===============================================================

Zaw Win Htut's latest album receives cool response

Burmese rock star Zaw Win Htut has just released a new album
entitled Maha (which means 'great'). Normally his albums are very
popular, and most have been bestsellers, especially among
students and young people.

However, students, youth and people have this time shown their
dissatisfaction by not buying the new tape.        

The reason is that the songwriter for Maha is Mya Than San, who
is one of the main composers and writers of the Burmese military
regime. He is an army captain working with the psychological
welfare and public relations department of Burma's Military
Intelligence service. The Burmese people are showing their
contempt of the Slorc by refusing to buy the album.

================================================================

Zargana's Latest Joke

The well-known Burmese comedian Zargana (meaning tweezers, a
reference to the fact that he is a dentist; his real name is Dr.
Thura), made a very subtle joke against the Slorc's "Visit
Myanmar Year 1996" during the shooting of a video movie in Burma 
recently.

In Rangoon, in front of a propaganda billboard promoting "Visit
Myanmar Year 1996" Zargana displayed some traditional Burmese
boxes, weaved out of bamboo. The word for these boxes in Burmese
is phaa, which also happens to be the word for "prostitute". He
had arranged the boxes in front of him, in the manner of a
street-side hawker, and there were signs with the prices of each
of the different boxes on them--2500 kyats, 2000 kyats, etc. The
prices did not match the current price of the woven bamboo boxes,
but did match the current price of prostitutes in Rangoon. Under
the billboard he raised a big banner which read Myanmar phaa
myar, kabaa ko hlwan sei ya myee (Burmese phaa have to be made
famous all over the world). This is a parody of the common Slorc
propaganda slogan Myanmar aah kasaa, kabaa ko hlwan sei ya myee
(Burmese sports have to be made famous all over the world).

While this video was being shot, many people came to watch and
the area became very crowded. Slorc forced the filming to stop,
summoned Zargana and intimidated him. He was detained for one
night and released on the next day. The video has been banned by
the Slorc, but the joke has spread all over Burma by word of
mouth.

================================================================

Myawaddy's Mirror Media 

The Burmese military has recently set up a new theatrical troupe
known as the Myawaddy Cultural Threatrical Troupe of the Army. It
is to replace the now-defunct Burma Cultural Troupe. The Burmese
Army already owns Myawaddy Radio and Myawaddy Television Station.
The establishment of the troupe is seen as a SLORC attempt at
setting up its own mass media organisation to parallel the
already State-owned newspapers, Radio Myanmar and TV Myanmar.
This quite possibly indicates an attempt by the current military
leaders to guarantee a strong voice in the Burmese media should
they ever have to cede power to a civilian government, something
they perhaps learned from their counter-parts in the Thai
Military. 

=================================================================

A Man of Broken Promises

The ceremony for the Diamond Anniversary of Burmese Cinema was
held at the National Theater (formerly known as the Jubilee Hall)
in Mine-da athletics field, Rangoon from 17 October to 5 November
1995. It was attended by SLORC Secretary-1 Gen. Khin Nyunt, other
officials, Burmese actors and actresses and invited guests.

After the formal speeches were given by various dignitaries, a
play entitled "A Man of Broken Promises" was performed. This play
was very popular with the audience and received loud applause.
Two well-known performers, Than Pe Lay and Kyaw Ye Aung, played
lead roles in the play. Very soon after the play finished, Lt.
General Khin Nyunt left the Theater, grumbling and saying he was
not so stupid that he did not understand what the play meant.
People were shouting "a man of of broken promises" and clapping
noisily.

The next day all the performers involved with the play were
summoned by the authorities who demanded that they not try
anything similar again. Than Pe Lay was banned from acting for
three years and Kyaw Ye Aung was banned for six months.

Performers and artists use puns and elaborate word-plays in their
works in order to escape strict government censorship. They often
subtely ridicule or make fun of the military authorities in this
way.

=================================================================

BBC, DVB broadcasts jammed

Since the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Slorc has begun
jamming the news braodcasts of the British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) and Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB). Both are
strongly critical of the Slorc regime and are among the few
sources of accurate news available to the Burmese people. They
also broadcast Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's speeches, particularly the
DVB.

The mass media in Burma - newspapers, Radio Myanmar, TV Myanmar,
Myawaddy Radio station - is run wholly by the Slorc. The people
of Burma are very bored with listening to usual propaganda and
false and distorted news aired and published by the State media.
The jamming of these two radio stations could make it difficult
for the Burmese to get any kind of access to accurate news. Since
the jamming started, however, the BBC have been broadcasting on
several wavelengths to make jamming more difficult. Rangoon
residents report that it is almost impossible to get DVB
broadcasts.

================================================================

Birthday Present for Lu Htu Daw A Mar

      "Finally I would like to ask you not to bring me any
birthday
      presents, like you are giving dolls to a child. I am old
and
                     there is nothing that I need." 

On 27 November last year, a birthday ceremony marking 80th
birthday of celebrated writer and pre-independence activist Lu
Htu Daw A Mar was held at Taung Lay Lone Monastery of Amara Pura
township. Celebrations were attended by nearly 300 writers from
around the country.

SLORC MI chief, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt sent a Cross Fountain Pen to
her as a birthday present, which she reportedly wrapped with 
paper and discarded in a garbage bin immediatly after it was
presented to her.

===============================================================

Increased Gatherings

After the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the gatherings in
front of her residence have increased up to 4,000- 6,000 people
at a time. This has risen significantly from only 100 people on
the day after her release. The crowd reached a maximun of over
6,000 on the weekend after the NLD's boycott of SLORC's National
COnvention. U Tin Oo and U kyi Maung also speak  at the
gatherings. The Question and Answer sessions are of particular
interest to the people.

===============================================================

Assistance to the political prisoners

The NLD has established a Social and Supply Committee which
provides assistance to political prisoners and their families.

===============================================================

SLORC's Deal With Apple Computer

The SLORC recently cut a deal with Apple Macintosh Computer
Company to buy one billion Kyat worth of computers from the
company for use in schools. But high school students are caught
in the dilemma of a classic example of SLORC's creative funding
policies as the military regime has ordered the students
themselves to provide 3000 Kyat each to buy the Apples than the
Ministry of Education providing the necessary finance. 

================================================================

River Boat sinks with the loss of more than one hundred lives

A river boat carrying over 200 passangers sank near Letpangone
village near the confluence of Twante Canal and Irrawaddy river,
killing more than 100 passengers. Many others were reported
missing. The boat left from Phone Gyi Street jetty in Rangoon at
4 o'clock in the afternoon on October 3, 1995. The boat, named
'Tainnan', was carrying more than 200 passengers on board, and
there are rumours that the real number of passengers may have
been 500. The accident happened when the boat was caught in a
whirlpool after racing with another boat at the entrance of
Twante canal in the Irrewaddy Delta. The captain of the boat
jumped off and swam ashore when it capzied in the whirlpool.

Although rescue teams were sent to the area, more than 100
passenger had already drowned. Many other passengers were also 
reported missing. Among the survivers was a 45-day-old baby from
South Oakkalapa township in Rangoon.

A few days after the incident, there was more than the usual
number of "sudden deaths" reported in the obituary sections of
Burmese newspapers.[From: Yanant Thit magazine, November 1995]

================================================================

It Never Rains But It Pours

It has become very common in Burma to hear appalling stories of
stranded or injured train or bus passengers being robbed after an
accident, before rescue teams arrive. Previsouly this dreadful
looting was confined to shipwrecks, but now it is also happening
to bus and car passengers who have accidents or engine failures
on desterted stretches of road.

Owing to news of such incidents, most people shun away from
shipwrecks and other acidents fearing they might be accused of
looting from the dying and injuried, even though they are near
the scene at the time of the accident. This has also contributed
to higher death tolls after accidents as onlookers are afraid to
help the passengers.

A few months ago, the son of a well-known trader and his driver
were on their way back to Rangoon from Pegu, when they were
robbed after they had an accident. Most of these incidents
reportedly taken place along the road between Mandalay and Pyin
Oo Lwin (Maymyo), where car accidents are common because the road
is full of sharp curves built around a steep mountain.

It is tragic to hear such stories; at the same time, an
investigation should be launched into why these take place. 

================================================================

Head-on train collision goes unreported
5/11/95

The No. 16 Mandalay-Rangoon Express train collided with another
train carrying sugar cane near Pyinmana. The accident took place
near Laya a few miles from Pyinmana town when the express down
train from Mandalay had a head on collision with another train
carrying sugar cane at 11:35 pm. Two drivers, Ko Than Oo, driver-
in-charge, and Ko Maung Maung, assistant driver-in-charge, both
from Ma Hlwagone Diesel Engine office, were killed in the
accident. No other passengers were reported to be killed or
injured. It was also reported that the engine of the sugar cane
train was smashed. No injuries or casualties were reported from
the freight train.

================================================================

Abuses of Power by Slorc

In the first week of December 1995, a car being driven by the
daughter of Rangoon Division Police Chief San Thein was hit by
another car, being driven by Sanda Win, daughter of none other
than Ne Win himself. The Police Chief's daughter became very
angry and took Sanda Win to the Traffic Police Office at
Botataung township in Rangoon. Sanda Win refused to go to the
police station and asked instead for the police to allow her a
telephone call. The police refused, but when she got to the
police station she called Khin Nyunt and told him who she was.
Suddenly, the Police Chief's daughter apologized, saying that she
had not realised who Sanda Win was.

There was never any investigation, and no charges were ever
brought.  

=============================================================

Farmers, Rice and the Local Slorc

In the first week of January 1995, the Slorc announced that all
farmers must 'double crop' by planting summer paddy. Because of
the higher costs involved with planting a second crop, the
farmers have to spend about 50,000 Kyat, but can only sell the
final harvest for about 30,000 Kyat, a net loss of 20,000 Kyat.
Because of this, most farmers choose to give a 20,000 Kyat bribe
to officials, so they do not need to plant the summer paddy. They
loose the same amount of money they would have if they had
planted the crop, but do not need to all the work they would
otherwise have to do.

===============================================================
                                    
                                ARTICLES
                               ..........

Burmese Tourist Police

One day recently, while I was out browsing for second-hand books
on the side walk stalls near Bogyoke Aung San Road, I felt a tap
on the shoulder. I turned around to see an old man looking at me,
he looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place him until he
asked if I was U Ba Aung San' son. Then in a flash I realized he
was my father's close friend, U Mya Maung from Pegu, the town of
my birth, which we had left before I finished my studies at the
local college. Since he hadn't seen our family for a number of
years I invited him to join us for dinner. As he had done during
our days back in Pegu, he enlivened our evening with his
interesting stories, that never failed to reveal a new
perspective on current events.

As "Visit Myanmar Year 1996" is about to kick-off, I feel that I
would like to share one of his stories with the foreigners who
are considering visiting our country. As usual, the story was
based on his own personal experience.

"About two o'clock one Thursday afternoon, although it was my day
off, as I had nothing to do at home, I decided to visit the
hotel, to have a chat with Maung Maung Kyi, receptionist. Ours is
a small hotel, but the only hotel in town, but one which is rich
in historical sites. We don't get may tourists, but those who do
come usually appreciate the slow pace of life, peace and quiet,
and the friendly smile of the local people. Anyway as Maung Maung
Kyi and I chatted about many things, our conversation was cut off
by a German couple who left their key and asked directions to one
of the local pagodas. they must have recognized me from my
performance the night before as they smiled and said goodbye to
me."

"A few moment later, I noticed two men come in through the side
door. They looked like tourists guides or perhaps private
teachers; neat and tidy. One of them was wearing sun-glasses.
Although they looked familiar, I couldn't place them. They headed
straight for the reception. As soon as Maung Maung Kyi saw the
two of them coming, he turned to me and said, " Uncle, can you
please leave now. I'll explain why tomorrow." I was perplexed,
but sensing the urgency in his voice I said goodbye to him and
left. Yet this strange reaction from Maung Maung Kyi troubled me,
and for the rest of the day, I couldn't get the two men out of my
mind, as I waited in anticipation for Maung Maung Kyi to
explain."

The following day before I had a chance to talk to Maung Maung
Kyi, I saw the two men striding across the lobby. They went
straight to the reception and talked to Maung Maung Kyi as they
had done the previous day. I was so curious and I leaned over and
pointed out the men to the barman who was standing beside me. 
"Oh yeah, I have seen them here many times as well, he said. "and
you know what is strange, they seldom order anything when they
come. But I don't know who they are. Every time I see them, they
simply come in, talk to Maung Maung Kyi and then leave again." 

"I had to wait until late afternoon before both Maung Maung Kyi
and I were free. I leaned over the reception and said, "So why
did you ask me to leave yesterday? Who are they?"
Grinning he replied, "They are Burmese tourist police. Don't you
know about them?"

"Tourist police? We don't have tourist police here in Burma." I
answered in disbelief. "I've heard of other countries that have a
police force to protect and help tourists, but we don't even have
many tourists here. Why do they come to talk to you so often?"
"Don't you understand?" he replied. "This is Burma. Things are
different here. They are not here to help tourists, but to spy on
them. In fact, they are not even real police; they are military
intelligence. Their work is to keep track of where tourists go,
what they do, and whom they talk to. So whenever they see
tourists leave the hotel, they come and question me about them.
Even when there in no reason for suspicion, they sometimes follow
them. This is the way the Burmese government welcomes tourists to
Visit Myanmar Year 1996."

(Naing Luu Aung)           

================================================================

Political Culture
by Dagon Taya
translated from Burmese by Maung Zan Min (Australia)

 "Equality of human rights is very important. It is vital
  to have equal rights and freedom. If there is no equality
  and human rights, there can be no unity. If peace is
  achieved, then equality and freedom will follow. At the
  present time, if people had equality and could use their
  strengths in unison, the country could have prosperity
  and happiness. At that time, we would have civilized
  politics." 

Everyone knows the popular meaning of  politics : not for the
sake of one person, for the sake of everyone; prosperity not just
for one person, but for everyone. Also, everyone knows that 
culture means a civilized situation arising out of an uncivilized
one. The present era is one of a developing political culture or,
if you prefer, of cultured politics. After millions have died,
after their houses and their valuables have been destroyed,
intellectual people will come to understand what kind of hell
they are living in, and they will come to regard peace as the
most important thing. But not only the intellectuals; the
political leaders who talk to intellectuals will also come to
understand this. And if for this reason they come to prefer using
words of peace, we would have to say that is augurs well for the
future.

However, peace is not sufficient for achieving  political
culture  it is also necessary to struggle against selfishness so
that politics is for the benefit of all the people. If we
struggle against personal selfishness we will achieve
egalitarianism. Indeed political culture  can be defined as
egalitarianism; egalitarianism is concerned with the masses. And
it is with the masses that the possibility of unity lies. Only
after such a struggle do I consider we will be able to achieve
political culture.

So: political culture entails the idea of unity.

We will have to consider the current situation in order to be
able to achieve the lasting peace promised by the prospect of a
 political culture of peace . And in order to get peace, the
situation must be one of equality, freedom and unity. But only if
there is equality and freedom can there be unity. And only if
there is unity will there be peace. Similarly, if there is no
peace it is because there is no unity. And if there is no unity,
it is because there is no freedom and equality. It can be seen
that all these separate problems are interrelated. Of course,
disunity is natural. But is imperative that we struggle all-out
so that we can overcome disunity. It is precisely because we do
not have equal rights and freedom that we are plagued by
disunity.

In any country, there are the rulers and the ruled. There is no
other way. But without rulers, the people can work together
themselves to build a government of their choosing, and thus
attain a high level of political culture. But it will only happen
if everyone understands this; if everyone undertakes to talk
peace. This may not be realistically possible at the moment, but
if we are not united, how will it be achieved? Only if we have
the spirit of equality and freedom, only if we have an
environment of freedom can these problems be solved. We can say
that if we can just be united in our approach to these problems,
then we can get peace.

There are two paths to the solution of these problems, though.
One way is to solve the problems through an armed struggle; the
other way is to struggle peacefully. However, only if there is a
peaceful struggle can there be unity in the long run.

Equality of human rights is also vital only then can there be
freedom. There is no way there can be unity without freedom and
equal rights. When we have peace, it will be because we have
gained freedom and human rights. At the present time, the
strength of the people must be put into securing a prosperous and
happy country, with unity and human rights. At that time, we will
have civilized politics.

Political culture is not about selfish individuals. It is not for
the sake of any one individual; not for any one individual to
demonstrate their power; not for one person to monopolize power;
not for personal attachment to political power; not for one
person to monopolize power; not for personal grudges the tree of
selfish individualism has many branches. But selfish
individualism has an opponent in egalitarianism. There is more
than one kind of person in the world. There are many different
groups of people in the world. But unity comes about when these
different groups of people come together. Then egalitarianism
follows. Is it possible to be united in this way? It surely is.
It is especially possible in the present climate. The situation
is not like it was in olden times. In those days, communication
was poor and people tended to stay in their own areas and have a
very parochial outlook.

But now we can join together through our words and our
experiences. The world is united. It has been partly united by
modern science, particularly modern telecommunications. The
international community has achieved unity. There may be people
who do not cherish such unity. But there is everywhere unity
between the inexperienced and the worldly, the young and the old,
the hawks and the doves. We may have to try many different ways
in the struggle for unity. But I believe that political culture
can be achieved.

[from Yenan Thit Magazine (6-5-95)]

=================================================================

ANSWER
------
1.

After he felt as if he was violently hit in the face with
something, until the moment he fell down, he was able to control
himself not to lose consciousness. For a moment his eyes can not
adjust to the light due to his long confinement in the dark cell.
He blinks in an attempt to make his eyes recognize what's around
him. He is feeling dizzy. Before his eyes can make out what he is
seeing, his ears have easily recognized an undesirable voice.

"We'll let you go from the confinement. If you Behave properly in
prison you will have no trouble. I am telling you this in good
faith. Let's move now. Come with me. I know you can walk."

He tries to say something but it is in vain. He knows that this
man who rudely pulled his hand to help him stand on his feet has
no humane feeling. He examines the definition of the word
"goodwill". He has to steady himself with other hand on the wall
as he almost falls over again, and tries to get his balance for
awhile. 

His moves are clumsy as he was forced to live on a cold cement
floor. He was concerned about himself at first. Fortunately, his
diligent exercising has saved him from becoming a disable person
who could barely walk. Though his body is still numb, he notices
that someone hand-cuffs him. With great effort he follows a
Military Intelligence Personnel and a prison warden whom he can
see clearly now.

Two weeks ago he was forced into confinement on an alleged charge
of instigating a prison revolt. Now he found himself released
from the dark cell. He is happy at the thought that he will be
allowed to live together with other fellow political prisoners
again.

In fact, it will be just a permission to live a little more
comfortably than he did when his body and mind were confined. The
luxury is merely to live together with fellow prisoners again. He
was a prisoner yesterday, and he still is today. He grits his
teeth at the thought and forces an excruciating smile.

Is there a difference between sitting in a park and a prison life
in a country where freedom is zero? He fully realizes the meaning
of  his costly experiences and he does not need to probe the
situation further to perceive the confinement in a situation
where one cannot practice one's beliefs.  

The hand-cuffs are taken off and he is thrown into the cell. 
 
2.

An ugly night with banging of doors and sounds of combat boots. A
night like this is harrowing yet familiar. Without wanting to, he
often hears scream-like sounds from a distance. In horrifying
night like this, military intelligence personnel had taken him
out of the cell; he had gritted his teeth, with blood all over,
in a museum of military dictators who try to suppress his beliefs
by physical torture. With wounds all over, he had held his head
high. 

For whom would tonight be? A struggle for superiority between a
resister and executioners of power-that-be would be held tonight
so that the winner will be remembered in history. The banging of
doors always make him worry for someone unknown. Even though the
outcome of  the conflict between those with gritted teeth and
heads held high and the torturers does not depend on remaining
alive, he does not wish the young lives to be lost. At the same
time he knows that his worries do nothing to stop inhuman evils.

"Can't you sleep, my friend?" His train of thoughts is cut off by
a whisper from a cell mate beside him. 

"Yeah. Just thinking this and that. Aren't you asleep yet?"

"I woke up after a dream. It was a very bad dream. All my teeth
were broken and I saw them strewn on the ground. Do you have any
idea what happens when you had a dream like this .. a dream of
broken teeth?"

"Oh. Come on. A dream is a dream. People dream dreams. You are
just thinking and worrying for nothing."

"That's not it, my friend. I've heard that if you had a dream of
broken teeth, a relative will die."

"I don't believe it. I did not dream of broken teeth when an aunt
of mine passed away. In fact, I didn't dream anything."        

"What an example!"

"Stop. Don't worry about nothing. I don't really believe that
kind of stuff. By the way, why don't you again recite the poem
that you recited to me this evening? I forgot it already. 

                      "Towards the road of freedom,
              The red, red fighting peacock has just flown,
                         Overcoming a heap of ash
                             A sob, a bullet,
                          The smell of cordite,
                     A skeleton of a man, a cemetery
                            And prison walls."
                                    
 The title is "Happy in the Struggle" written by an old student.
He recites the poem to himself. Although he expels his friend's
worry by changing the subject, from time to time, he himself
feels the same way. He has not been allowed to get in touch with
home since he was locked away. He is concerned about his siblings
still facing the daily struggle at home. In this place everyone
possesses a tragic family story.

The creaking of combat boots make him stop thinking and be
attentive. The sounds that are breaking the quietness of the
night are getting closer and closer. Just as he has worried
before, "For whom tonight be?" Will they take someone away to
torture? The mere thought tires him out.

He focuses his eyes on two military intelligence personnel who
are standing in front of the cell. What he confronts are the
devouring eyes of wolfs. He holds his friend's hands tightly.
"They are going to take one of my cell mates away", he is
thinking.

He stands up and walks to the door. He has heard his name called
out clearly. If only he had known before that tonight would be
for himself, he would have consoled those who might be worrying.
That would relieve him from worrying for some one unknown. They
take him out of the cell and pull a mask over his head.    
 
 
3.

Just like that. People are always be masked even in an
environment with all those limitations and "don'ts", cutting off
the capacity of eyes to see things. At that moment when they
think that an inmate is broken, they will ask him one question
after another, they will torture him. This is a formula of
selected executioners who form the pillars of a system that has
gone wrong. They have had him walk a fair distance and tell him
to stop.

"Unmask him."

He hears an order. A military intelligence pulls the black mask
off  his head. This time, his eyes are able to adjust to the
light in a very short time. He sees a clock, an ash tray, a pack
of cigarettes and a lighter on the table before him. "Why did
they take me here to this room without torturing me yet? What are
they going to do?" He cannot make out what is going on,
confusedly looking at the MIS major puffing away a cigarette
behind the table.        

"Sit down."

He sits down on the chair facing the major who is preparing to
say something.

"Your mother has passed away."

"What!"
He feels as if the whole room were spinning around. No. It is not
true. It can't be. It is true that his mother had not been very
well before he was thrown into prison. But it cannot be true that
mother passed away in such short time. The faces of his father
and siblings appear before him. How distressed and lamentable
they must have been! How mother must have particularly wanted to
see him before she took her last breath because he was her eldest
son. "You can't even wait for the time I'll be out (of the
prison)".

"Your mother passed away yesterday. The funeral service will be
held tomorrow afternoon."

Unable to say anything, he gazes into the face of MIS major. 

With a heartless face, he snuffs out the cigarette butt into the
ash tray and says, "I think you should go to your mother's
funeral."

Sure. It is not necessary to tell me that. A son should go and
see her off on her final journey. It is one of the social customs
that all those who are humane and sympathetic accept as
fundamental. This is what he is saying in his mind.

"But I'll have to make a deal with you. We'll let you go before
the funeral service begins. On your part, you'll have to promise
that you will never work against us in future and ...that you are
required to inform us in advance if your colleagues plan to defy
us. If you agree to that, sign up this paper." 

The major throws two typed sheets of paper on the table and
lights a new cigarette. He feels as though the major's cold and
feelingless words were burning his heart. Although he tries to
accept the harsh truth of having to part with someone because of 
death, he feels so upset at knowing that that someone is his own
mother. He feels as if something is piercing inside of his body,
even though he tries not to utter a cry.

"Is it very difficult for you to decide? I can't give you much
time. Make your decide in five minutes, and if you don't agree,
they'll send you back to your cell. You'll not only go to your
mother's funeral, but you'll be able to live outside freely. Make
your decision carefully. Five minutes. Look at this watch and
decide, OK?"

If only he got the chance to consult with colleagues in the cell, 
in soothing tones they definitely would say, "Go if you want.
Don't think about us. We understand you." They will not stop or
inhibit his personal desires because everyone has joined the
resistance by their own will. They would understand and help him.
He does not know what to decide. He clinches his fist, grits his
teeth and stands still.

4.      

"One minute".

He hears the warning like the cry of a bird signalling a bad
omen. There are no words for justice and sympathy in the
dictionary of those who take advantage of the weak at their
weakest moment. They will not hesitate to destroy the social life
of many families so as to enjoy power and the wealth acquired by
unjust means. He feels like shouting something if possible, but
he is chocked in his chest.

"Two minutes have passed. As a son, you should go to your
mother's last trip. I know your mother loved you very much."

Mother..."Work hard, son, so that you'll become an educated
person. Because you are the eldest, you are responsible for your
brother and sister". Mother who often told me these words is not
in this world anymore. Mother who sent us to school by working as
a vendor... Mother who worked laboriously to support the family.
Mother has died now. Lying in her sick bed, mother would
repeatedly call his name out loud. Mother must have suffered
twofold because of financial constraints that would not permit
her to receive proper medication and his incarceration. He
reflects on the moments when he was with his mother.

"Three minutes is up. Sign it or you'll regret it. I am telling
you for your own good."

He'll have to decide. His mother's last journey. The sweated face
of mother with her basket of merchandise steadied on her head...
Father sobbing beside his wife's dead body... His brother and
sister on their way to school...Screaming of fellow students in
the torture chamber... Banging of prison doors... Corpses of
students lying dead on the streets... Mother calling out his name
softly in her sick bed... Mother... Mother... He is jumping from
one thought to another. He can see endless images of things
through his closed eyes and hears noises incessantly. He wishes
he could get away from here. He wants to throw the clock on the
table against the wall. He wants to snatch the cigarette from the
MIS major, grind it in his hands and scratch the face of his
torturer. He wants to cry and wail like a madman.

"Four minutes". One more minute left. Mask and take him back to
the cell if he does not make up his mind." At the end of the
order, two MIS come forward and stand by him. He tries to
concentrate his wavering mind and breaths regularly. He'll have
to give them an answer in one minute. Slowly, he releases his
clinched fist and clinches it tightly again.

He hopes that mother will not make a bad judgement from her life
beyond death on the love and respect that he has for her -
whether he goes to her funeral service or not. "I take the
sacrifice that I am making for the liberation of so many people
as a merit and share it with you, mother."Please say "Well done"
from the life you are in now. Please take pride in having born a
son who loves truth and fights for justice." He is laboriously
overcoming the last seconds of this ordeal.

"Five minutes is almost to up. You don't want to sign it, do you?
You aren't going to see her off on her last trip. Look up, you
idiot! Do you know that your mother has died because of you.
Because of you."

"No. What you are saying is not true. Don't talk nonsense." He
tries to struggle out of the grip of two MIS personnel who have
grabbed him by his arms and shouts back at the top of his lung.
Then he feels his eyes become warmer and his sight has become
blurred. This time he cannot control the tears that are rolling
down on his cheeks.

5.

Mother... Mother... Mother, isn't it true that you have died
because of me?"  
      
(Hteik Thu Naing)

================================================================

Title (English): You Idiot
Title (Burmese): Nga Tone
Written by Nyo Oo
Published by Ma Hei Thi Magazine
One page story session, No-121, November issue, 1994


You Idiot
---------

people are talking about a kid who was run over by a car. It is
tragic.

Is it so? Who is he? Where? And how did it happen?

It happened at the intersection. On my way up here to see you.
The kid was a vendor selling candies, cigarettes, etc. at the bus
stand  near the intersection. You might have seen him. I don't
know how it happen because I didn't see it. But the betel nut
seller told me what he saw while I was buying some betel nut from
him.

it is true? Tell me more. I know that place is always busy with
cars and buses, and the drivers drive carelessly and swerve
recklessly. The people do not pay attention to the traffic. I
foresaw that something would happen someday. 

Yes. I agree with you. What happened is this: a cyclist with a
rice sack lost control and fell over at one of many potholes in
the road while trying to avoid a jaywalker. The rice sack came
untied and the rice spilled out onto the road. The cyclist tried
to lightly skim the rice of the road, and he firmly tied the sack
up again and left. Then the kid requested an old plastic bag from
the betel nut shop and tried to scoop up the leftover rice which
was mixed with sand and pebbles. At that moment, a line bus
pulled up to the stop, and the kid, out of eagerness to sell his
merchandise, ran across towards the stop. The kid was knocked
down by a speeding car coming from the other direction. Is it
clear enough?

Poor kid! And it was such bad rice mixed with sand and pebbles..

You idiot! He did it because it would help him out.

How so? 

It was to eat, you stupid! It was to eat! it was to eat!

================================================================

Talk of the Town
----------------

Latest information has it that the USDA were celebrating the new
year in especially grand style this year. It seems that USDA
officials are being given more 'perks' in an attempt to
strengthen the organisation and ensure loyalty.

Fishermen in Pya Pone township in the Irrawaddy delta region made
especially generous 'contributions'. All of the 200 or so
fishermen in the area were required to pay 3,000 Kyat for a
fishing licence for the season. Where did this 600,000 Kyat go?
Where else but to the CEC members of Pya Pone USDA. A happy new
year indeed.

*****

Meanwhile, the Pya Pone farmers were also making generous
'contributions'.

The Slorc have recently been trying to increase rice production
by requiring farmers to plant second crops of 'summer paddy'.
More rice exports means more foreign exchange for the generals,
of course. Good for the generals, but not so good for the
farmers, it seems.

In order to plant summer paddy, the farmers need to replenish the
soil with expensive fertilisers. Not only this, but they need to
buy water pumps and set up irrigation to keep the fields flooded
in the dry season. All this costs each farmer about 50,000 Kyat.
Quite a lot of money, considering that the summer crop can only
be sold for about 30,000 Kyat--a net loss of 20,000 Kyat plus
quite a lot of hard work.

Keen to have their own new-year party, the local Ya Wa Ta (Suburb
Law and Order Restoration Council) have come up with the perfect
compromise. In Pya Pone (and, we suspect, elsewhere too) the
farmers can simply 'donate' 20,000 Kyat to the Ya Wa Ta instead
of planting the summer paddy. A perfect solution all round. The
Ya Wa Ta get their new-year party, and tell their superiors in
the Ma Wa Ta (Township Law and Order Restoration Council) that
the paddy has been planted. The Ma Wa Ta boys carry on like
nothing happened, and announce great success with the double-
cropping scheme. The farmers get to take a rest in preparation
for the coming season, while losing the same amount of money that
they would if they had done all that hard work.

But the generals seem to have lost out on their foreign exchange,
and perhaps they won't be too happy when they find out.

*****

Outside Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house, the crowd continues to
grow. On Saturday 13, over 5,000 people gathered in front of no.
54 to hear The Lady speak. Regulars say it was the biggest crowd
since the NLD's decision to withdraw from the National
Convention.

Not everyone, though, is there for the speech. Those in the know
say that the rowdy group always near the front that seems to be
supporting Daw Suu most loudly are actually members of Military
Intelligence 'Column 5'. These are the same people are trained to
joined oppositions groups and cause internal problems. Perhaps
they are just big fans of the NLD? 

(Mg. Zan Min in Rangoon, 18/1/96)

===============================================================

MAY WE BE STRONG WITH HAPPINESS AS OUR ONLY REWARD
--------------------------------------------------
( by Swe Swe Thet Tun)

'Moe Oo' unconsciously undertook a task without anyone giving it
to him, although his hands were always awfully full. There must
have been a spur from his unconscious mind. One thing is for
sure, while he was not so into beautiful girls, he was very
interested in this particular group of girls.

When his friend 'Thet Pai' noticed his friend's interest, he
said: "Come on, Moe Oo. You always say you are not into girls,
and now when you say you are interested in girls, it is not just
one girl, but a whole bunch of girls."

"Don't jump to a conclusion not knowing everything, Pai. If you
knew something about these girls, you'd be more interested."

"Sounds very strange. What's going on?"

"It is this, Pai. I didn't notice it at first, because there are
more than a hundred laborers at our fish farm, digging new ponds.
And at work when they carry the waste, they are boisterous with
their own groups. It is even worse on payday. Then on one payday,
I began to notice a group of tidy and polite girls. Unlike other
groups of girls, these girls from this group didn't talk noisily
or use abusive language. I had noticed it earlier. And when I
handed them their wages, they politely took it with two hands. I
started to notice them because I respect them for their
politeness and the respect that they have for older people, which
is our tradition."

"What else did you see when you began to notice them?"

"Pai, when the work is done in the evening, the other girls take
showers, put on makeup and go to watch videos. But these girls,
they read books that they brought with them and have discussions.
I saw one of these discussions on my way back from U Aung Ba's
place, after taking him the water pump. So I went to check it out
because it is a kind of sight that we seldom see here in the Shwe
Taw area." ...

                                   ***

"So, why don't you go to watch videos like the other girls?" When
I asked them this question, the girl with long hair who seemed to
be the oldest replied, "No. We've got many books to read. We can
lend you some if you want to read them."

So I took a look at the books they were reading, I saw one of
them reading 'The Pelican Brief' by John Grisham, another 
reading Daw Khin Swe Oo's 'Our Country', another was reading one
of Sommerset Maughan's novels translated into Burmese by U Ba
Than, and another reading Lt. Colonel Aung Naing's (Ko Daung
Aung) 'The Sweetest Smile, The Brightest face'. I was greatly
surprised at their education level, and so I said, in a friendly
way, "If you resell your books, you'll get a lot of money. Please 
lend me some if it not a problem. Because you are going to work
here only for a little over two months this summer, are other
places offering you more money? Can you tell me frankly?"

"No, they are not," they said in unison.

"Oh. Now you are all talking to me in unison."

"Please sit down. First, I'll introduce you to our group. This is
Khaing Sabe, this is Aye Aye Soe, this is Swe Thet Hta, Khin Khin
Oo and my name is Mya Mya Moe."

The other girls broke in, "Because we did not buy any snack,
we'll have to offer you what we have. Please have some fried
peanuts."

"Thank you. We also have to eat what little food we have. But can
you please answer..."

Then Aye Aye Soe said, "The reason we are staying here only a
short time is not because we are paid less here, but it is
because we'll have to go back on March 24; we'll have to be there
to receive the students."

"What! Then you are...?"

"Yes. All of us are junior assistant teachers. We have all come
to work here so as to earn some extra money during this summer
holidays. Some of our friends do a little trading because they
can afford it. We have no money to trade, so we've come here to
take this job which does not need any capital."

"Are you from the city?"

"No. We are from a small town."

"In this town, teachers teach private classes in the summer
holidays; and when the new term starts, they get more money for
teaching extra classes; and also they earn money from secret
private teaching. No teacher would think about doing the kind of
work you are doing."            

"We don't want to tell our troubles to anyone. But this is not
just a problem that concerns us; it is what is happening with all
primary, junior and senior assistant teachers in most small towns
these days. We earn about 35 Kyat a day and when we withdraw our
salaries, we'll only get about a thousand after various cuts such
as compulsory subscription to newspapers, life insurance, and so
on."

"Yes. It is true. I, Sabe, hold the remaining money tight in my
hand and hand it over to my mother. But I cannot give them all
the money. We are at the top of the list of people who have to
contribute to the different occasions of joy or grief--weddings, 
novice ceremonies, funerals, etc.--that go on in the town."
 
"Soe's elder sister always grumbles: 'I feel so sorry for you,
Soe. For four or five years long, we sent you to college with
what little money we had, and being very thrifty, surviving on
very little food. Now look at you. Your friend, San Sha, who
dropped out at the fourth grade, sells Mont Pya Thalet [a kind of
traditional snack] , and she makes between 90 and 100 K a day.
She earns more than you do.'"

"Whenever my elder sister says this, I always say, 'Sister, I
don't want to sound lofty, but I have to remind you that we are
teachers. If we quit because we don't earn enough, there will be
no one who will take our place to nurture the next generation.
The garden will become a wild forest.' I always have to explain
this."

"The more we think about it, the more upset we feel. In villages
and small towns, the parents have become less and less interested
in the education of their children. They know that a seedling
transplanter earns about 80 Kyat a day during the first planting,
and about a 100 during the rainy season, the rice planting
season. Besides, the land owner provides them with a meal, so
they can earn twice as much as we do." With this logic in mind,
many parents ask their children to drop out from school. We
cannot ask the parents to consider their children's education,
and we cannot try to pretend that an education is vital to
getting anywhere, because we ourselves earn only 30 or 40 Kyat a
day. So we always stop short of encouraging them to keep their
children in education. When we were at Phuang Gyi, the teachers
from the big towns were generally better off because they were
paid in advance for teaching overtime and could borrow money from
the school fund as well."

"Moe Moe, don't make it sound like we get paid for teaching
overtime."

"O yes, I almost forgot this. We don't get paid for teaching
overtime at all. Instead, parents in our area complain about
extra classes because their children are not free to help the
parents so much. But the State has declared that we all have to
teach extra hours after school in order to do away with the
private tuition system. Since the majority of people in small
towns and villages are not well-off, they cannot pay school fees
regularly and eventually the school has had to stop collecting
fees for extra teaching. Yes. It is true. The result was, the
relation between the students and the teachers became somewhat
similar to that of debtor and creditor. We don't want this to
happen. That's why no matter what kind of hardship we face in our
daily life, we've decided to preserve the teacher-student
relationship."

"So you don't get paid for teaching extra classes. But my elder
sister is a teacher too, and I know something...you know what I
am saying."

"What is that? What do you mean?"

"The membership in the co-operative corporation of all civil 
servants. How much do you get from that a month?"

"It is nothing to speak of. Our salaries were cut 100 K a month
for five consecutive months for membership of the collective.
It's been almost a year since that happened. We have not seen any
profit yet. If we borrow money, say 500 Kyat with interest,
because we worry that our salaries will not be enough to make
ends meet, it will be double after one year."

"Well, it's nice talking to you. It's time to eat. Would you
please join us for dinner." Only then did I realize that I had to
be going.

All the way back I felt like choked in my chest after hearing
this. Since that day, I have undertaken a task that no one gave
me, to secretly provide them with some small things that they
need, Pai.

                                   ***

"It's you, Thet Htar. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"It is this: Doctor told us that you paid for medical treatment
when I stepped on broken glass. I want to give your money back."

"Oh, that? I said I was very pleased with what you are doing for
the kids, that you buy books, pencils, etc., with your own money.
In the same way, I should help you in any way I can. I have no
ulterior motive."

"Don't you?", she exclaimed and continued, "We understand that
you are helping us with sincere goodwill. But we are women, and
besides, we are the ones who have to preserve our dignity. That's
why I cannot accept your kind help. One more thing, could you
please not come to our little hut, if you respect us as teachers.
I hate to say this."

"I promise. I'll stop visiting you. By the way, when are you
going home. It is already the 18th."

"We'll go back on the 20th, the day after tomorrow."

"Will you be strong enough to teach after you have spent your
energies here?"

"Our energies never run out so long as we are in the classrooms.
It is true. When we teach, we often teach more than our quota of
time so accidentally annoying the teachers in tandem. But it is
while we are resting, when all our troubles of daily life
reappear, that we become tired."

"We are never tired while we are teaching. All of us friends,
since we were kids, have come to understand the important
knowledge imparted by our teacher Daw Khin Sein Win, and our own 
desire is to teach the children to grow up polite and educated as
world class and became teachers with this."

"Moe Moe, tell him that saying you often tell us."

"Why me, Khin Oo? You can you can explain it."

"Yes, that's true, Khin Oo. But you've not said a word. You are
the loudest in the class when you teach. Now it is your turn to
speak."

"Come on, Sabe. You are always like this. Ok! Ok!. I'll explain
it. Please listen carefully. I learnt this motto when I went to
the primary teachers' training school. When I first heard it, I
felt goosebumps all over. If you understand the importance of
this motto, the new generation that you will bear will be the
strength of the nation. If you can repeat it to others, it
certainly would help. It is this: 'The future destiny of a
country rests on education'. As we are teachers, and bearing this
in mind, we take our teaching duties seriously."

"We have to draw strength from that motto, stuck up on the wall
of the teachers' room, whenever we face day-to-day difficulties."

"Now I feel like I want to send any children I might have to your
school, because you are such good speakers. Please leave me your
addresses."

"We will. We are indebted to you, friend. But we are going to
teach in underdeveloped areas next year. We've put in
applications already."

"Is that so? It appears that I'll have to send my kids to
wherever you teach."

"It does not matter which school you send your children to. Every
teacher will try his or her best so that their pupils can be
clever and educated. But I always feel inside of my mind that as
architects who are building for the new generation we would be
able to contribute more for the country, if only we did not face
the dire problems that we do. We always emphasize the importance
of education because we don't want them to come to the conclusion
that, although they study hard and even obtain a degree, they
would only earn 30 or 40 K a day. And many times, we have had to
give examples on the importance of education from books and
stories such as '550 birth stories of Buddha' that we have read
and heard before. This is one happiness we feel we are rewarded
for."

"Now I realize more of the debt of gratitude that I owe to my
teachers."

"Yes. Are we the teachers not one of the members of five greatest
jewels [According to Burmese Buddhist tradition, there are five
things that deserve the highest respect of the people, viz. Lord
Buddha, Dharma, the Sangha, teachers and parents], after all?"

"I believe that you have completely accepted the practical life
of teachers. I wish you great success  and the inner strength
that you derive from being teachers in classrooms."

"May your wish come true, friend. As for us, although we can be
strong with happiness as our only reward, our families..."

"We are going home the day after tomorrow, so we say goodbye now.
We have to go."

                                   ***

Only when the teachers left, did I pore over their final words.
What did they mean? "...As for us, although we can be strong with
happiness as our only reward, our families..."

So I hope all the teachers are strong with happiness as their
reward.


[TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: The title of this essay is a line from a
famous Burmese poem, which Khin Nyunt quoted in a speech to a
refresher course for teachers.]

================================================================

To the readers,

The ABSDF received this request letter, which was written in
Burmese and undersigned by 23 senior politicians from inside
Burma. The following is the direct translation from Burmese to
English. ABSDF apologised for any mistakes in translation.

                     ............

   A Request to Slorc and NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to open a
                dialogue for the national reconciliation

                                                 Date: November 24, 1995

1. We, the undersigned veteran politicians who had contributed in
the successive stages of the struggle for Burma independence,
hereby jointly  request the Slorc and the NLD led by Daw Aung San
Suu kyi, with sincerity and goodwill, to hold a dialogue for the
sake of the people and the country. 

2. We believe that Burma gained her independence because of the
collective endeavours of people of Burma, monks, political
parties and Tatmadaw, with solidarity and cooperation, in the
period of the independence struggle. Not only to safeguard her
independence but also to construct a peaceful, democratic and
developed country, all the people of Burma must work togetner for
the cause. 

3. Now is the most relevant time for establishing national
solidarity in Burma.

4. In order to establish the national solidarity, the first
requirement is national reconciliation. In the present
international scene, there are numerous examples of longstanding
national and regional conflicts being solved through negotiation.

5. We sincerely believe that the only way to achieve "National
reconciliation," the foremost inspiration of entire people of
Burma and the international community in accordance with the
current situation, is dialogue between the Slorc and the NLD led
by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Therefore we would like to request the
Slorc and the NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to immediately hold
the dialogue. 

Signed by:

1. Bo Hmu Aung                
2. Tha Khin Chit                           
3. Tha Khin Thein pe              
4. Bo Aung Naing             
5. Bo Thar Htun              
6. Bo Tin Hla Oo              
7. U Aung Myint               
8. U Nyunt Thein
9. Nai Ngwe Thein
10. U Min Lwin
11. U Tin Tun
12. Tha Khin Chit Maung
13. Tha Khin Khin Aung
14. Tha Khin Lwin
15. U Than Sein
16. Bo San Thar Kyaw
17. Bo Sein Aung Lin
18. U Ba Tun
19. Dr. Maung Maung Kyaw
20. U Ye Myint
21. U Thar Ban
22. U Myint Aye
23. Bo Nyo
                                   
================================================================

The SLORC Threatens 23 Burmese Independence heroes
--------------------------------------------------

Discussions from the Meeting Between 23 Prominent Politicians 
Who Signed the Proposed Paper for the National Reconciliation 
and the Representati        ves of the SLORC


On 26/11/95, the representatives of the SLORC (State Law and
Order Restoration Council) - Lt. Colonel Tin Hlaing, deputy-
minister for the Home Affairs, Colonel Kyaw Win, deputy-director
for Burmese Military Intelligence Service, U Soe Win, chief-
director for People's Police Force, Colonel Ba Hein, in-charge of
Criminal Investigation Department - summoned and met with 23
prominent politicians and freedom fighters who signed a paper
on 24/11/95 calling for SLORC to open dialogue with the NLD
(National League for Democracy) led by Aung San Suu Kyi at the
earliest possible opportunity. The following is the direct
translation of the discussion.


LT. COLONEL TIN HLAING, DEPUTY-MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS SAID,
"We are telling you what the SLORC leaders have ordered us to
tell you. We received your letter. We the State Law and Order
Restoration Council or the military government are going to tell
you the matters that are related to you.

"You attended the ceremony held to pay homage to the elders on
October 8. You also attended the National Day celebrations held
on 16/11/95.

"At this moment we are convening the national convention. At the
same time, discussions are being held for the unity of all
nationalities. You'll have to consider whether what we are doing
is meaningful or not. 

"Your demands are identical with those of the US, the Mr. Nosey.
People from the US embassy visit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house on
daily basis. Mrs. Albright also treated us harshly. It looks like
we'll have to work in accordance with the will of the Americans.
We do not want ourselves to become a stooge of the Americans. We
cannot do everything as they wish us to do.

We are working for the emergence of a constitution with a set of
guidelines. You can see what we are doing for the national cause.
Now 15 out of 16 armed groups have returned to the legal fold. We
are also striving for the remaining group so that they can do the
same. We hope and believe that in a very short time they will
return to the legal fold. We are working hard to achieve this
goal. 

We are carrying out the three main national causes and 12
objectives. We wish to know if there is anything (among these)
that you cannot accept.      

We cannot tolerate stooges meddling in between. The strength of
the nation can be found only in the nation. We cannot rely on the
foreign (countries). We'll be in trouble if we rely on the
foreign (countries). 

The US is setting out guidelines. We know that other embassies
are interfering in our affairs. 

We want all of you who have political traditions to remain
neutral. It wouldn't be any good if there were violent political
confusions. All of you are old. We would like you to live
peacefully. We are ready to take care of you on social and
humanitarian grounds. We believe that the NLD is using you. We
want you to stay out if political movements become more violent.
We want you to remain neutral.

People from the US, Britain and Australian Embassies visit Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi every day and give her instructions. Her husband
is also instigating the situation from abroad.

We do not wish you to get involved in this. We'll help you if you
need anything. Do you want to say anything on the existence and
duties that the Tatmadaw is carrying out?"

   
BOHMU AUNG SAID, "Let me tell you something. We are not stooges
of anyone. We never were. We work and say in accordance with
our own sincere beliefs and will. We want to see everyone united
before we die. Nobody forces us to do it. We do not want any
outside interference. We'll have to prevent it from happening
with a united force. We'll fight along side with the Tatmadaw if
there is a foreign invasion. There has been proof of this. We
are just doing what should be done for the restoration of peace,
and prosperity of the country because we want to see these things
happen before we pass away. 

We attended the ceremony held inside Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house
because the students wanted to pay homage to us, believing that
there would be no problem. National Day celebrations were held as
a part of our tradition. These used to be held in my
premises. Now that there was no place available, we held it where
a place was available.

There is no outside interference or instigation in writing you
this letter. We do not accept any interference at all. We wrote
to you because we want to be friendly with you before anything
becomes tangled. We don't want to see the situation change for
the worse. You can use the letter if you wish. We'll wait and see
if you say so. We'll take oath that we wrote the letter with
utmost sincerity. We consulted (among us) and wrote it because we
(you and us) should not hold grudges against each
other. We just made this request of you because we believe that
we still have a duty to the country. We don't like bloodshed. We
are ready to lay down our lives along with the Tatmadaw should
danger befall the country."

LT. COLONEL TIN HLAING SAID, "What you are doing is identical
with what the US has said. We are working for the country as
well. Is there anything wrong with our work? It appears that
there is foreign interference. It also appears that the NLD has
dragged you along."

BOHMU AUNG SAID, "We want to see our people happy and peaceful
with plenty of food and materials before we die."

LT. COLONEL TIN HLAING, "Is there anything that you don't like
among the tasks the Tatmadaw is carrying out? The Tatmadaw really
wants peace. We are performing the tasks which no other
government have ever been able to do. Why did you have to write
this letter?"

BOHMU AUNG, "It comes from our heart. There is nothing that we
can do if this is similar to other people's opinions." 

LT. COLONEL TIN HLAING, "If we don't do anything, people will
blame us, and when we are doing something, we are concerned that
someone will meddle with our work. We summoned you to explain
this so that you can see and understand what we are doing. We are
telling you this so that you can stay out of trouble when the
situation becomes chaotic."

M.I COLONEL KYAW WIN SAID, "The Senior General and group read the
letter the day it was received. Like we said earlier, it doesn't
do any good for the country when you are used for this. And we
believed so, that is why we are trying to explain this to you. We
believe that what is contained in the letter is nothing but your
opinions. We'll report to our leaders that you did it with
sincere goodwill. We learned the spirit of imperialism from the
books. Mrs. Albright treated us very rudely. We cannot tolerate
this. What she said is related to your request letter. We'll
report back that you wrote the letter without any foreign
influence and with a sincere desire to have everyone united. Our
leaders have ordered us to treat you with respect. We can talk
again if there is a confusion."

BOHMU AUNG SAID, "If there is dead meat, the flies will swarm
around it. We wrote the letter because we don't want this to
happen. We neither want a dead meat nor flies. The opinions are
of the same identical nature, but I assure that we have nothing
to do with it. We have nothing but goodwill. I can take oath for
that."

LT. COLONEL TIN HLAING SAID, "We want you to know our stance."

BOHMU AUNG SAID, "I fought against the imperialists and their
oppression. We had to remain under the British until we lost the
hair knot that was our tradition (meaning for along time). Only
because we weren't killed in the struggle, we can talk to you
now. I used to live near the Mandalay, but because my grandma
told me not to go near that Kular Town, I did not even know what
it looked like. (Kular is a derogatory word for Indians and
British. Kular town here means Mandalay palace). I sacrificed
everything and I will not hesitate to sacrifice again.

===============================================================

                         POEM
                        ......
                       
                          
                          Neo-Spartacus
                          -------------
                    
                               I 
                          AM the poet
                               He
                          is a computer
                    
                          He can not compose a poem,
                          But he can save the poems.

                          One day
                          He requested a gun from me

                          He 
                          Has been to Burma
                  
                          (Maung Lwanni)
                     
================================================================

ONLY CONTACT ADDRESS :   Editor
                         VOICE OF THE PEACOCK
                         P.O Box 42, Hua Mark P.O
                         Bangkok 10243, Thailand   
                  
                    E,mail: ABSDF-MTZ <lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

================================================================  


END.....