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Burma Net News #425, 426, 427
- Subject: Burma Net News #425, 426, 427
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 07:57:00
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Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 07:56:51 -0700 (PDT)
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: May 29, 1996
Issue #425
HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: WALKING THROUGH THE BARRICADES
THE NATION: SIKH SUPPORT
THE NATION: TRADE SANCTIONS
REUTER : BURMA PARTY MEETING ENDS WITH NEW CHARTER MOVE.
REUTER : BURMA GOVT LASHES OUT AS OPPOSITION CONGRESS ENDS.
REUTER : MOVEMENT OF THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
MICHAEL DWYER . DOWNER TO MAINTAIN LABOR
POLICY STANCE ON BURMA REGIME.
AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW : THE VOICE OF COURAGE.
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD : FIRST SIGNS OF SOFTENING IN
REGIME'S CYCLE OF REPRESSION
REUTER : MOVEMENT OF THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
AP : 10,000 ATTENDED SUNADY'S NLD FORUM
ABSDF : BURMESE STUDENTS NABBED AFTER THEIR RALLY
REUTER : SEAN SECRETARY GENERAL INVITED TO BURMA
REUTER : MALAYSIA OPPOSITION SAID ASEAN SHOULD SEE
ABOUT BURMA SITUATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WALKING THROUGH THE BARRICADES
28.5.96/The Nation
It is traditional to release caged birds or fish on Burmese New
Year's Day as an act of merit. In April 1989, the last Burmese
New Year I celebrated before my house arrest, we released some
doves, launching them into the emptiness above Inya Lake on which
my house stands.
The poor creatures had become used to captivity and fluttered
about in a dazed way before they gained enough confidence to take
off. One fell into the reeds at the edge of the lake and had to
be rescued and relaunched. It hovered uncertainly near us for a
few minutes before soaring away into the distance. We hoped that
its flight would not end in the snare of a bird catcher. Many
released birds are caught again and again and sold and resold to
those who wish to gain the merit of freeing caged creatures. I
could not help wondering how much value there could be to a
gesture of liberation that does not truly guarantee freedom.
This year the women's wing of the National League for Democracy
(NLD) decided they would like to arrange a fish-releasing
ceremony on New Year's Day, April 16. They were to gather at my
house and walk in procession to a pond near the Shwedagon Pagoda
where the fish could be released to swim their lives out in
peace. The Rangoon Division Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) was informed of our plan before the beginning of the
water festival which precedes the New Year.
On April 15, the authorities reacted. A number of township NLD
offices received letters from their respective Lorcs forbidding
them to go ahead with the ceremony. In addition U. Aung Shwe, the
chairman of the NLD, and two of the members of the executive
committee were asked to come to the office of the Bahan Township
Lorc. A statement was read out: The government could not allow
the NLD ceremony to take place; as the ceremony would be
conducted in the form of a public gathering organised by a
political party, it would have to be considered a political
activity and the authorities could not allow political benefit to
be derived from a traditional ceremony.
Further, such a gathering would be detrimental to peace and
harmony, to the rule of law and to the prevalence of order. It
would disturb and destroy peace and harmony in the nation and
incite fear and alarm. U Aung Shwe countered that the whole
statement was based on mere assumptions a written protest.
The reaction of the authorities was both nonsensical and
revealing. Slorc makes repeated claims that it has succeeded in
restoring law and order and peace and harmony to the land. How
fragile must be the law and order that can be seriously
threatened by a procession of women taking part in a traditional
religious ceremony. How insubstantial must be the peace and
harmony in a country where such a procession is expected to throw
the populace into a panic.
We knew that what the authorities really feared was not so much a
public disturbance as a demonstration of public support for the
NLD. However, New Year's Day should be an auspicious occasion and
we wished it to be a day of happiness rather than confrontation,
so we cancelled our plans for the releasing of fish. We would
listen to the chanting of protective sutras and pay our respects
to our elders. But the authorities had other plans.
On New Year's Day at about 11.30 in the morning, the street in
front of my house was blocked off with barbed wire barricades.
Nobody was allowed to come in or go out except members of the
security forces and numbers of awkward-looking men in civilian
clothes, each with a handkerchief tied around one wrist.
We discovered later that these were members of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association (Usda). They had been
collected from various townships and told to beat up those
members of the NLD who came in through the barricades. Usda was
assured that the authorities would be behind them. Once serious
fighting had erupted, all those involved_ would be taken away to
prison (there were several prison vans waiting at the local
police station), but Usda members t would soon be released.
The NLD members would no doubt be given substantial prison
sentences. Thus, Usda was promoted from mere tomato throwers to
that of thugs.
The planned violence did not materialise because the NLD members
took a firm, disciplined stand. They did not rush to the
barricades but they refused to leave on the orders of the
security forces. They waited for a decision to be taken by
members of the executive committee who had been allowed to come
to my house. We decided that the ceremony of paying respects to
the elders must go ahead; if our people were prevented from
coming to us, we would go out to them.
Accordingly, we walked out through the barricades to where our
people stood and thus an auspicious New Year's Day ceremony took
place in the middle of the street, near a crossroad. It seemed an
omen that the NLD would not lack public attention during the
coming year.
Aung San Suu Kyi
Letters from Burma is a series of weekly articles containing Aung
San Suu Kyi's reflections on the social, cultural political scene
in Burma today.
*****************************************
SIKH SUPPORT
28.5.96/The Nation/Letter
A government that has to rely on special laws to suppress the
press, that bans hundreds of organisations and keeps people in
prison without trial, ceases to have even a shadow of
justification for its existence. That is the government in Burma
today. The ruling military junta in Burma is a model of
antidemocratic power that does not have any legitimacy in the
country.
The arrests of over 200 members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy clearly shows that the military junta is
frightened of the popularity of the Nobel Peace laureate. They
are aware that her public support is strong. But no matter what,
despite these arrests, the NLD conference will certainly boost
the morale of the Burmese people in their struggle against
military dictatorship.
We, the Sikhs in Thailand, support our Burmese brothers and
sisters in their fight for' democracy and freedom. We stand
together with them in their hour of need. We are indeed
disappointed that the government of India chooses to ignore Aung
San Suu Kyi, and has accorded recognition to the Slorc instead.
That the world's largest democracy chooses to do this is
shameful.
Above all, apart from the sincere efforts of the Burmese people,
the Western capitalist powers - who untiringly proclaim
themselves as paragons of democracy and freedom for all peoples
of the world - must impose a near-total embargo on Burma to force
democratic change. Only trade, and nothing else, is the effective
tool to pressure the junta to restore democracy back to Burma.
The high-handed military action against the lady's nonviolent
campaign for democracy, just goes to show that butchers are
incapable of being humans.
Kanwaljit Singh
Bangkok
*****************************************
TRADE SANCTIONS
28.5.96/The Nation/Letter
It is obvious that the Burma situation is getting critical. To
most of us who are used to hearing only of warfare among the
various people of Burma, the latest development is a clarion call
to action, especially in re-examining the relations between
Asean, ARF, etc and Burma, or more precisely Slorc. '
What more evidence does the international community need to see
that Slorc has no intention of adhering to accepted standards of
behaviour while dealing with their own people, their neighbours
and the rest of the world when they ignore convention, by
brazenly arresting the elected representatives of the Burmese
people who wish to gather for a conference at Aung San Suu Kyi's
residence. This pussy-footing by the international community has
to stop immediately.
Many apparently feel squeamish about economic sanctions,
especially those whose private sector has much at stake in
exploiting Burma, and wish to continue the shop-worn
"constructive engagement" policy as though that was the only
infallible approach to handling a dictatorship.
It is my opinion that democracies which maintain diplomatic
relations with this lawless regime should indicate their profound
displeasure by downgrading their embassies. In this the US has
shown remarkable leadership by understaffing their Rangoon
embassy for several years. Asean should follow suit.
MPadang
Chiang Mai
*****************************************
BURMA PARTY MEETING ENDS WITH NEW CHARTER MOVE.
RANGOON, May 28 (Reuter) - A congress of Burma's National League for
Democracy (NLD) ended on Tuesday with the party adopting a series of
resolutions that could infuriate the military government. NLD leader Aung
San Suu Kyi said the party's leadership would draw up a new draft
constitution for Burma, ignoring a government-sponsored constitutional
convention from which the NLD withdrew last November.
(c) Reuters Limited 1996
REUTER NEWS SERVICE
************************************
BURMA GOVT LASHES OUT AS OPPOSITION CONGRESS ENDS.
By Deborah Charles
RANGOON, May 28 (Reuter) - Burma's military rulers launched a personal
attack on Tuesday on democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as her National
League for Democracy wound up a three-day congress against the backdrop of
mass detentions. The ruling military body, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), attacked Suu Kyi and the NLD in the official
media after holding a massive public rally on Monday to denounce
"destructionist forces" in Burma. Sources in Rangoon said the government was
expected to stage another rally on Tuesday. The government attacked Suu Kyi,
the NLD leader and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, in a commentary for allowing
herself to be a "puppet of the colonialist groups", calling her an "enemy of
the people" and a "traitor". "Aung San Suu Kyi, the wife of Englishman
Michael Aris, and daughter of General Aung San, the architect of Myanmar's
(Burma's) independence, is serving as a puppet of the colonialist group,"
said the commentary in Burmese-language newspapers. "The entire populace
from all across the country are now shouting to crush whoever spoils the
progress of constructive activities, whoever protests against the National
Convention, by designating them as a people's enemy," it said. Suu Kyi and
the NLD defied government intimidation and the detention of pro-democracy
politicians and began a party congress on Sunday.Suu Kyi opened the
congress, which the government tried to scuttle by seizing at least 258 NLD
members who were planning to attend, by vowing to increase the momentum of
the democracy movement. On Saturday about 5,000 people flocked to the gates
of Suu Kyi's lakeside home, where the meeting was held, and on Sunday about
10,000 showed up to underscore their support for the NLD. The government
countered with its own public rally in Rangoon on Monday, where 40,000
people chanted slogans and denounced "the traitors' acts to destabilise the
country and to spoil progress", official media reported. The military often
forces citizens to attend government-sponsored public rallies, diplomats and
opposition sources say. The fledgling democracy movement was set to end its
three-day congress on Tuesday with Suu Kyi detailing some of the party's
main policy decisions at the closing ceremony. The newspaper commentary also
denounced Suu Kyi's connections with foreigners, accusing her of dealing
with "meddling diplomats and journalists". Over the past week, Suu Kyi has
held daily news conferences for foreign journalists, issuing information
about NLD members she said had been arrested by the military government.
On Monday, Suu Kyi told reporters at her lakeside Rangoon home she was
worried about the fate of the detainees because at least two had been
charged. The SLORC has denied arresting the NLD members, saying it has only
detained them for questioning to avoid "anarchy" or unrest that could result
from the congress. The arrests have drawn international condemnation, with
many nations urging the SLORC to release the people it has detained.
(c) Reuters Limited 1996
REUTER NEWS SERVICE
*******************************************
DOWNER TO MAINTAIN LABOR POLICY STANCE ON BURMA REGIME.
By Michael Dwyer.
AUSTRALIA
The Federal Government yesterday conceded that Australia's policy stance
towards Burma had failed to encourage the country's military regime to
embrace democracy. The admission came amid mounting tension as Burma's
opposition National League for Democracy begins a concerted push for a new
Constitution. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, told
Parliament that the Coalition would maintain the previous Government's
policy on Burma. "This Government is continuing with this policy because we
see it at this stage being the most appropriate way forward," Mr Downer said.
ASEAN countries agreed to a process of constructive engagement with Burma at
their ministerial conference of 1994, prompting Australia to outline a
"benchmark" approach to its own relationship with the military regime.
Australia has established a series of "benchmarks" for Burma's governing
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) under which it would be
prepared to accept the nation's re-entry into international forums. These
benchmarks involve progress by SLORC on both human rights and
democratisation. But Mr Downer conceded that the approaches adopted by both
ASEAN and Australia had failed to shift SLORC. "As far as Burma is
concerned, we look for outcomes and policy approaches which will encourage
the process of democracy and which will encourage (opposition leader) Aung
San Suu Kyi," Mr Downer said. "This will, we hope, lead to a greater process
of liberalisation by the SLORC.
***********************************
AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW 28/5/96 P9
EDITORIAL - THE VOICE OF COURAGE.
THE SLORC is confused, and like all insecure regimes it is becoming both
weaker and more dangerous. Last week the ruling military junta in Burma
(Myanmar), which bears the Orwellian title of State Law and Order Council,
arrested more than 250 members of the National League for Democracy. It did
so to prevent the NLD members from holding an entirely peaceful party
meeting. This went ahead anyway, with a huge crowd of undeterred supporters
cheering the NLD's leader Aung San Suu Kyi. "Giving in to bullying", she
told them, "is not good for... the bully or those who are bullied." The
official press has denounced Ms Suu Kyi as a "poisonous snake" and a
"sorceress." Then yesterday one tame newspaper published a commentary
addressing her in more respectful terms, and claiming that the regime
supported the "democratic principle" of freedom of association. It also
returned to the theme of dialogue between the SLORC and the democratic
forces. The NLD, we should note, though described as being "in opposition",
must by virtue of the 1990 election which it won overwhelmingly be regarded
as Burma's rightful government.
The junta has played word-games several times before, but the effect of
international pressure and adverse publicity upon it now should not be
under-estimated. Ms Suu Kyi herself deserves most of the credit: refusing to
be exiled from her native country she sat out the generals under house
arrest until they sought to regain credibility by releasing her. Since then
she has gradually found her voice while avoiding any over-provocative move.
Her strength, and that of the democracy movement, lies in the simplicity of
its demands. These are set out very clearly in a recent interview with John
Pilger - whose own work on Burma, with David Munro, has refocused our
attention on the horrors of the SLORC.* "We want a system that will
guarantee our rights so that we can live in security," she says, "so that we
do not have to wonder from day to day what will happen to us if we do
something that will annoy those in power." It should not be too much to ask.
It is not always easy to decide just how far to intervene in another
country's internal politics. But the case of Burma/Myanmar - like that of
South Africa under apartheid - is overwhelming. The only question to be
asked is what can be done most effectively. Western governments greeted Ms
Suu Kyi's release from house arrest as a signal for relaxing pressure and
encouraging trade contacts: this, as the junta's behaviour shows, sends
exactly the wrong message. The regime in Rangoon should be told that it
faces international isolation and sanctions, and that its first step must be
to release the detained NLD members. Whether or not some of these have been
sent to the Insein prison camp, conditions there for hundreds of political
prisoners, as reported by Amnesty International, are also a matter for
serious concern. Whatever governments choose to do, individuals can all make
their own decisions. No reputable travel agent or tour operator should allow
travel to Burma to remain in its brochure and the independent tourist should
stay away. No business firm should fall for the absurd and callous
proposition of a recent British trade conference that Burma will become "the
next Asian tiger." With railways and construction projects being built by
forced labour, it neither deserves to, nor does it possess the necessary
popular dynamism. Nor is it a safe bet either (as Ms Suu Kyi shrewdly
argues) so long as the brutal, but baffled, generals remain in charge.
*******************************
FIRST SIGNS OF SOFTENING IN REGIME'S CYCLE OF REPRESSION
May 28, 1996
Sydney Morning Herald
By MARK BAKER, Herald Correspondent in Rangoon
Burma's military leadership has given the first hints that it might be ready
for a political solution to its bitter, seven-year conflict with the country's
democracy movement.
As Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi continued to stage a congress of her
National League for Democracy (NLD) in defiance of the regime, Burma's
Government-controlled press yesterday outlined conditions for a possible
peace dialogue.
A commentary published in the country's two Burmese language newspapers
denied the regime was opposed to a dialogue with Ms Suu Kyi and conceded
that the majority of Burmese wanted national reconciliation.
It indicated the regime might be prepared to open talks, provided the NLD
accepted a continuing central political role for the military and agreed to a
process of "mutual confidence building".
It said that if Ms Suu Kyi were prepared to "build national reconciliation
with a sacrificing spirit" the dialogue would be smooth and fast.
But the commentary also warned that if she attempted to drive the
authorities into a corner through domestic and international agitation "the
country and people will have to remain in trouble for a long time to come".
Political analysts said the article - expressed in unusually polite and
conciliatory language - was the first formal acknowledgment by the regime
of Ms Suu Kyi's demand for dialogue.
But they were uncertain whether the comments signalled a genuine shift in
the regime's hard line, or were simply an attempt to deflect mounting
international criticism.
Other articles published in the official press yesterday continued the
regime's usual belligerent rhetoric against the democracy movement. One
described Ms Suu Kyi and her supporters as "bastards who stink like slaves."
Another described them as "maggots in the flesh".
The developments came as several hundred NLD officials held the second day
of a congress which the authorities have attempted to block by detaining
more than 260 party members.
The arrests have been denounced by Western governments and the United
States has announced that it will lobby for tougher international action
against Burma in response to the crackdown.
On Sunday Ms Suu Kyi - released last July from six years' house arrest -
announced a renewed campaign to force the regime to honour the NLD's
landslide 1990 election win.
While she has previously accepted the military's important role in Burmese
society, her delegates walked out of a convention last year which is drafting
a new Constitution that would entrench the military's grip on power and bar
her from leading the country.
Yesterday's commentary stressed that Ms Suu Kyi must declare her
willingness to engage in a reconciliation process that accepted the "key" role
of the armed forces in politics.
It said differences needed to be negotiated with tolerance and Ms Suu Kyi's
failure to define the kind of dialogue she wanted had complicated the
process.
***********************************************
MOVEMENT OF THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
RANGOON, May 28 (Reuter) - Burma's military government lashed out on
Tuesday at democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, calling her a "puppet" of
colonialist groups and an "enemy of the people."
"Aung San Suu Kyi. the wife of Englishman Michael Aris, and daughter
of General Aung San, the architect of Myanmar's (Burma's) independence, is
serving as a puppet of the colonialist group," the military-led government
said in a commentary in Burmese-language newspapers.
"The entire populace from all across the country are now shouting to
crush whoever spoils progress of constructive activities, whoever protests
against the national convention, by designating them as a people's enemy,"
it said.
It is the first time Burma's government has made a clear statement
since Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party defied
government intimidation and forged ahead with a three-day party congress
due to end late on Tuesday.
The NLD won a landslide victory in a May 1990 general election but the
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) refused to honour
the result.
A defiant Suu Kyi, shrugging off the government's detention of more
than 250 party activists last week, opened the congress on Sunday vowing to
increase the momentum of the country's democracy movement.
On Monday the government held a massive public rally in Rangoon to
denounce "destructionists" in the country.
About 40,000 people from 14 townships chanted slogans and denounced
"the traitors' acts to destabilise the country and to spoil progress,"
official media reported.
Dagon University Rector Kaung Nyunt, the main speaker at the rally,
said recent moves by the democracy movement were intolerable.
"Just as the momentum of constructive development is being achieved,
the instigation to cause instability and unrest by destructive elements has
become very intolerable," he was quoting as saying.
"That is why the people have turned out en masse today to support the
government's constructive development works, and to denounce the
destructionists."
Government-sponspored public rallies are often staged with the
military forcing people to attend, diplomats and opposition sources say.
The government was expected to hold another rally on Tuesday, sources said.
****************************************
10,000 ATTENDED SUNADY'S NLD FORUM
By ROBERT HORN
Associated Press Writer
RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- When pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
denounced Burma's ruling junta and vowed to fight it, millions of Burmese
too frightened to attend the speech listened to tape recordings distributed
by her supporters.
As long as the generals rule the country, Burmese will never read a
speech by Suu Kyi in the daily newspapers. So her supporters are spreading
Suu Kyi's words on their own.
As many as 10,000 people appeared outside Suu Kyi's home Sunday for her
weekly speech -- the largest crowd since her release last July from six
years of house arrest -- and dozens of them held as many as six cassette
recorders in their hands.
The tapes made it around Rangoon by Monday morning, and others should
reach the countryside in a few days.
"It was a fantastic speech. She was more defiant than usual," said Thein
Nyunt, a 30-year-old mechanic. "I was too afraid to go. But my father went
and taped it, and I think it was great."
The tapes also reached the desks of the military regime formally known
as the State Law and Order Restoration Council. On Monday, the
state-controlled press called Suu Kyi a "maggot" and tool of a U.S.
conspiracy to colonize Burma by introducing democracy and human rights. The
people, the press says, love and support the regime.
The people of Burma appreciate the defiance of the petite,
Oxford-educated Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her
nonviolent promotion of democracy.
But they're afraid to show too much open support, remembering that the
military dictatorship gunned down hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators
in 1988.
Fear runs so deep in Rangoon that the army hasn't even felt compelled to
call out extra soldiers, despite the political tension. As monsoon rains
swept the palm-lined roads Monday, people in the city went about business
as usual.
But some of the few Burmese willing to speak to foreigners commented in
the dank shops and crowded tearooms that the only topic of conversation was
Sunday's speech. Like Thein Nyunt, they'd heard it on tape.
On Sunday, Suu Kyi and fellow leaders of her National League for
Democracy rebuked the authorities for arresting at least 262 people --
nearly all the delegates to the party's most important conference in six
years. They demanded that the opposition victory in parliamentary elections
in May 1990 finally be recognized.
"Giving in to bullying is not good," Suu Kyi said. "We must have the
courage to face the bully's challenge."
Speaking to reporters Monday, Suu Kyi predicted the military regime
would detain some of her jailed supporters indefinitely and said her
personal assistant had been thrown into a prison known for torture.
The climate of fear is reflected in Burma's primitive financial
institutions. There's not much of a stock market, but the currency black
market is a fair barometer.
The official exchange rate for Burma's currency, the kyat, is 6 to $1.
On the black market, the kyat was recently trading for 139 to the dollar.
Rumors that the military had blocked streets to Suu Kyi's home caused the
kyat to plummet.
"Business is bad. I lost 100,000 kyats this weekend," said a woman who
changes money in the back of her grocery shop. She refused to be
identified. Though the black market is no secret, it remains illegal.
"People liked the speech, but they don't expect any change," said the
currency trader. "Nobody can make this government do anything they don't
want to do. They have all the guns."
****************************************
FIGHT ON TILL WE REACH DEMOCRACY, SUU KYI TELLS BURMESE
THOUSANDS STILL FLOCKING TO MEET
"The Asian Age", New Delhi (28 May 1996) {Page-6}
Rangoon, May 27: Burmese Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her
National League for Democracy lunched the second day of a party congress on
Monday which ahead despite the detention of more than 250 NLD activists in
the military junta's attempt to stop it.
The opening day of the conference on Sunday culminated in a massive show of
support for the NLD as a record number of people turned out in front of Ms
Aung San Suu Kyi' house to hear one of her twice weekly addresses.
Some 10,000 people cheered and applauded as she pledged to 'march on until we
reach our goal of democracy'. and appealed for the 'full support of the people'.
The military junta has arrested some 257 NLD activists---mostly party
candidates who won seats in the abortive 1990 elections---in a bid to foil the
landmark party meeting.
The meeting was originally intended to the elected representatives together to
mark the sixth anniversary of the elections, but the detentions have forced the
NLD to take a different tack.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi has announced that the meeting will be the first in a
series of party congresses which will adopt positions on a new constitution,
economic policy and issues such as human rights.
The official press has unsurprisingly failed to comment on Sunday's meeting and
the unprecedented rally outside Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's house, but aimed
several darts Monday at the Opposition in thinly veiled editorials.
The Opposition rounded-up has been roundel condemned by Western countries, in
particular the United States. (AFP)
** end **
***********************************************
Press Release
May 29, 1996
BURMESE STUDENTS NABBED AFTER THEIR RALLY
Twenty-to Burmese students including three female students and one
six-year old child were rounded up by the Thai policy on their way back
from the demonstration in front of the Burmese embassy on May 27, 1996.
the demonstration marked the sixth year anniversary of 1990 multi-party
general election in Burma.
About 200 students from different organizations joined the
demonstration on May 27 rally in Bangkok. Both plainclothes and uniform
Thai police were present but did not intervene during the rally. However,
a bus with 23 students from the "safe area" in Ratchaburi Province was
stopped by the Thai police and arrested them on their way back from the
rally. Only one Buddhist was released later, but all other 22 including
six-year- old child with his mother were detained at the Naung Khen police
station on that night. They were transferred to Immigration Detention
Center (IDC) on the next day, on 28 May 1996, it is learnt.
All of these 22 students are the residents of "Safe Area" in
Ratchaburi Province, run by the Thai Ministry of Interior. This camp is a
holding center for the Burmese students who fled after the 1988 bloody
coup to Thailand. All Burmese students had to register at the Thai MOI and
stay only in the designated "safe Area." Beginning in June 1995, the
monthly allowance by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has
been cut off and forced the students to enter into the "safe area." There
are currently about 700 students in the camp including their family
members.
These 22 students came to Bangkok on May 27, to join the
demonstration with their fellow students in Bangkok.
Joint Committee from five different student organization in
Thailand who organized the daily demonstration between 23-29 May released
an open letter to Thai Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa requesting him
to release all these 22 students and send them back to the "safe area."
The letter said " we are greatly concerned their plight and request the
Thai authorities not to send them back to Burma, but transfer to the safe
area." Thai students from Student Federation of Thialnd also ask their
government to transfer their Burmese fellow to safe area today.
ABSDF News Agency
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)
List of th students arrested on May 27, 1996
1. Saw Thet Oo 2. Ma Htwe (female) 3. Aung Myint 4. Maung Win 5. Khine Soe
Myint 6. Mu Mu (female) 7. Win Min Htun 8. U Tin Pe 9. Htun Shwe 10. Than
Hteik 11. Win San 12. Saw Lu 13. Myint Zaw (a) Gwa Tho 14. Saw Khike 15.
Sanny 16. Moe Pyan 17. Thein Thein Oo (Female) 18. Chit Oo lu
(six-year-old son of Thein Thein Oo) 19. Win Shwe 20. Saw Thar War 21. Ah
Bai Gyi 22. Maung Maung Win (They all are right now in IDC. Not charge or
sentence yet.) Please take any any that would help their release. e.g.
writing to PM, MOI and UNHCR.
************************************************
SEAN SECRETARY GENERAL INVITED TO BURMA
JAKARTA, May 28 (Reuter) - ASEAN Secretary-General Ajit Singh said on
Tuesday officials were discussing the timing of a visit Burma had invited him
to pay to Rangoon.
``The government of Myanmar (Burma) has invited me to pay an official
visit to Yangon (Rangoon). We are currently working out the details,'' he
told an Indonesian Executive Circle lunch of diplomats and business leaders.
The chief executive of the seven-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations later told Reuters he expected to make the trip ``in the latter part
of the year.''
An ASEAN official said the Burmese government had extended the invitation
last year.
Singh declined to comment on the current confrontation in Burma between
its military rulers and the opposition National League for Democracy other
than to say: ``As far as ASEAN is concerned, we do not interfere in each
other's internal affairs...that is a basic tenet of ASEAN.''
He said Burma was expected to get observer status in the 19-nation ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) -- set up to promote regional security -- at a
ministerial meeting in Jakarta in July.
Singh said Burma had applied for observer status with ASEAN itself with
the intention of eventual membership.
Thailand is the only ASEAN member to have commented officially on the
confrontation between Burma's military rulers and the NLD, headed by Nobel
Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman last
week expressed concern over the crackdown on the opposition in Burma.
Other ASEAN members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam,
Philippines and Brunei.
******************************************
MALAYSIA OPPOSITION SAID ASEAN SHOULD SEE ABOUT BURMA SITUATION
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Reuter) - Burma's neighbours should break their
silence on mass political arrests by Rangoon's military government,
Malaysia's opposition leader said on Tuesday.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should ``add their
voice to the international demand for the immediate release of all political
detainees,'' said Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang of the
Democratic Action Party.
``The continued silence of the ASEAN governments to the latest crackdown
against pro-democracy leaders in Myanmar (Burma) would be construed as
support and sympathy for the Myanmar military junta's policy of repression,''
Lim said in a statement.
Of the seven ASEAN members -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam -- only Thailand has voiced concern
over the arrests and their political consequences.
Western countries condemned last week's arrest of more than 250 Burmese
dissidents by the military government, which had sought to block a three-day
party congress of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi's National League
of Democracy.
Suu Kyi ended the congress on Tuesday with the party adopting a series of
resolutions that could infuriate the govrnment.
Last year, Burma took the first step towards ASEAN membership by acceding
to its founding treaty. ASEAN leaders said they hoped Burma would join by the
end of the decade.
ASEAN members make a point of not criticising each other.
ASEAN Secretary-General Ajit Singh on Tuesday declined to comment on the
current confrontation in Burma other than to say: ``As far as ASEAN is
concerned, we do not interfere in each other's internal affairs...that is a
basic tenet of ASEAN.''
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The BurmaNet News: May 29,1996
Issue # 426
Asean countries have taken the view that constructive engagement
is the best way to bring about change, I think it is now time to
admit that change in the right direction has not taken place.
-Aung San Suu Kyi
(See SUU KYI SAYS SOFT LINE ON JUNTA A FLOP)
HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION:SUU KYI STEPS UP CHALLENGE AGAINST SLORC
THE NATION:SLORC HOLDS MASS RALLIES AS NLD CONGRESS ENDS
THE NATION:SUU KYI SAYS SOFT LINE ON JUNTA A FLOP
BKK POST: KHUN SA'S ASSOCIATES ORDERED TO HALT LOGGING
BKK POST: BOMB BLASTS WOUND SEVERAL AT KAREN REFUGEE CAMP
UPI : BURMA'S MILITARY JUNTA CRITICIZED
VOA : BURMESE REPRESSION
VOA: WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL
CNN : BURMESE OPPOSITION PROPOSALS STING GOVERNMENT
HOUSTON CHRONICLE : SUU KYI TAPES CIRCULATED
AUSTRALIA : PROTEST SLAMS BURMA.
ISBDA : HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS IN BURMA BESIDES THE NLD MEMBERS
PAUL J. WILLIAMSONS : IS IMPOSING ONES VALUES &
CONCEPTS ON OTHERS - DEMOCRATIC.
LOS ANGELES TIMES : MYANMAR LEADERS DENOUNCE PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS
-----------------------------------------------------------
THE NATION: SUU KYI STEPS UP CHALLENGE AGAINST SLORC
May 29,1996
AP
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi stepped up her challenge to the
Burmese military regime yesterday, announcing plans by the pro-
democracy opposition to draft a constitution separate from the one
being debated by a government-stacked panel.
The declaration on the closing day of an opposition congress
opened a new front against the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (Slorc) and signalled that Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy would not return to the constitutional conference it
walked out of last November.
The three-day party conference marked the biggest step against the
junta for Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her
non-violent promotion of democracy, since she was released from
six years of house arrest last July.
Taking her battle into the constitutional arena would allow Suu
Kyi a long-term vehicle to build on the victory she scored over
the weekend by defiantly carrying on with the congress despite the
arrest of 238 delegates and 24 party members.
An opposition-drafted constitution _ even with no means of
enforcing it _ would provide Burma's people with a clear contrast
between s system emphasising democracy and human rights versus one
weighted toward a paramount military.
Asked how ordinary Burmese, armed only with courage, could prevail
against the military, Suu Kyi replied, "That's exactly why there
will be change, because all they have is guns. They regard
everything we do as confrontational, but there's nothing in the
law that says you have no right to draft a constitution."
With Burmese music playing in the background, Suu Kyi closed the
session by reading resolutions adopted by the 18 conference
delegates who eluded arrest. The resolutions demanded the
immediate release of all the detainees by Slorc.
The resolutions called for the sitting of Parliament, a dialogue
with the junta and said only elected representatives should sit in
Parliament, with the military under civilian control.
The resolutions stated that the military was "a necessary
institution" that should become an "honourable" one by sticking to
national defence and helping bring about democracy. (TN)
***************
THE NATION: SLORC HOLDS MASS RALLIES AS NLD CONGRESS ENDS
May 29,1996
Agencies
As pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi prepared to wrap up an
arrest-depleted opposition congress yesterday, Burma's military
junta staged mass rallies of government employees in a bid to
demonstrate popular support.
The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) also
stepped up its denunciation of Suu Kyi and said some 100,000
people had turned out in rallies across the country in support of
the regime.
Government sound-trucks cruised the streets of poor Rangoon
neighbourhoods on Monday night, urging people to turn out early
yesterday to a rally at a playground. Similar rallies were
expected to be held in other parts of the country.
The rallies tried to counter perceptions of public support for Suu
Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD), which closed a
dramatic three-day congress yesterday by adopting resolutions
which included a call for Slorc to free the more than 260 NLD MPs
and members who were arrested and detained since last Monday.
The congress marked the sixth anniversary of the May 1990 general
elections in which the NLD won 392 of 485 seats. It posed a
symbolic challenge to Slorc, which refused to honour the vote.
The meeting was to bring together the winning candidates not
already killed, jailed or driven into exile. Only 18 delegates
eluded arrest and were able to attend the meeting.
Though the regime detained 238 delegates and 24 other party
supporters to derail the meeting, Suu Kyi scored a triumph on
Sunday by pledging in her opening speech to step up opposition
activities and hold more congresses.
Suu Kyi implicitly dared the regime to crack down again and reap a
new whirlwind of international condemnation that has thrown a
negative spotlight on its attempts to crush dissent while quietly
cutting deals with international corporations.
The speech marked the most defiant challenge yet offered by Suu
Kyi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, since her release
from six years of house arrest last July.
State controlled newspapers reported yesterday that 90,000 people
_ far higher numbers than visible on government television reports
_ attended government-orchestrated rallies to denounce the
opposition as "destructionists" bent on causing anarchy.
They added that mass rallies have been held in various areas
including Rangoon since Monday. The media, however, has not
mentioned the NLD congress. The newspapers said rallies had taken
place in Dagon township in Rangoon and in Pegu, 80 kilometres
north of Rangoon.
Speaking at the Dagon rally on Monday, Kaung Nyunt, chairman of
the rally, praised Slorc's achievements in social, economic and
security sectors and said progress has also been made in
reconciliation with armed groups in the jungle and in development
of border areas.
Kaung Nyunt said the "destructionists" under foreign sponsorship
were trying to disrupt developments in the country and also called
for the annihilation of such groups that were trying to bring the
country back into anarchy.
The rally then passed a resolution supporting the government's
development works and condemning the "distructionists". Similar
resolutions were passed other rallies as well.
Suu Kyi said that both rallies were organised by the authorities,
and said their messages were "awash with hatred and vindictiveness
". Most in attendance at the rallies were state employees.
Their glum faces and polite clapping contrasted with the cheers
and chants Suu Kyi drew on Sunday when 10,000 ordinary Burmese
braved pervasive fear of the secret police to hear her speak
outside her home.
The size of that crowd _ four times larger than usual for her
weekend addresses _ marked a swell in overt support. Far more of
Rangoon's 4 million people heard her on clandestine tapes, and
many expressed approval.
Suu Kyi predicted on Monday that the regime would detain some of
her jailed supporters indefinitely and said her personal
assistant, Win Htein, had been thrown into Insein Prison near
Rangoon, notorious for torture.
Some of the delegates had apparently been charged with violating
emergency powers laws, which give the military authority to hold a
detainee indefinitely for reasons of national security, she said.
The location of the detainees is unknown.
The regime claimed last week that they were only being "questioned
... as guests of the government". None are known to have been
released.
The crackdown brought new criticism of foreign companies eager to
profit by helping the junta develop Burma's economy, destroyed
during nearly 34 years of military rule.
The newspaper quoted organisers as saying that unidentified
"minions ... with foreign masters" were trying to destabilise the
country and destroy the government's development efforts.
The organisers urged the Burmese people to "unitedly crush
destructionists ... who are trying to destabilise the nation and
create riots under the influence of foreign masters". (TN)
***************
THE NATION: SUU KYI SAYS SOFT LINE ON JUNTA A FLOP
May 29,1996
Agencies
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said yesterday that a
wave of detentions of pro-democracy activists pointed to the
failure of the soft-line approaches to the junta taken by
neighbouring countries.
"Asean countries have taken the view that constructive engagement
is the best way to bring about change," she said at her lakeside
compound. "I think it is now time to admit that change in the
right direction has not taken place," she said.
Despite Western pressure to isolate Burma, Asean has adopted the
policy of constructive engagement based on the idea that gradually
drawing Burma into the international fold was the best way of
bringing about democratic reform.
At least 262 activists of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy
(NLD) were arrested and detained since last Monday in the run up
to one of the most important pro-democracy meetings since the
abortive 1990 elections in a measure the junta said was taken to
prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate, said the situation in
Burma also represented a threat to stability in other countries,
making it all the more necessary for foreign governments to exert
pressure on the junta.
"We believe threats to justice anywhere and threats to justice
everywhere and as long as there is injustice and instability in
Burma, it will constitute a threat to justice and stability in the
whole region," she said.
The Asean countries _ Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam _ have tried to avoid
any comments on the internal affairs of other countries.
But the Philippines yesterday became the second Asean country
after Thailand to express concern about the political situation in
Burma.
In a press statement, the Philippine Foreign Department called for
restraint by both the junta and the opposition forces, warning
that a showdown could undermine stability in Southeast Asia.
Manila urged both sides to "step up their efforts at national
reconciliation in order to avoid the already tense situation from
destabilising the situation in Myanmar [Burma]."
The statement "also expressed concern over its possible disruptive
effect on the peace and stability in the Southeast Asian region."
In an interview with Singapore television on Monday, Suu Kyi
likened her country to the Philippines under late dictator
Ferdinand Marcos.
The Philippine statement, however, went with the official line of
the ruling Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc)
that the detained NLD members were only "invited by the government
for questioning."
In Jakarta, Asean Secretary-General Ajit Singh said yesterday that
officials were discussing the timing of a visit Burma had invited
him to pay to Rangoon. "The government of Myanmar [Burma] has
invited me to pay an official visit to Yangon [Rangoon]. We are
currently working out the details," he told an Indonesian
Executive Circle lunch of diplomats and business leaders.
The Asean chief executive later said he expected to make the trip
"In the latter part of the year". An Asean official said the
Burmese government had extended the invitation last year. Singh
declined to comment on the current confrontation in Burma other
than to say: "As far as Asean is concerned, we do not interfere in
each other's internal affairs ... that is a basic tenet of Asean."
He said Burma was expected to get observer status in the 19-nation
Asean Regional Forum (ARF) _ set up to promote regional security _
at a ministerial meeting in Jakarta in July. (TN)
***************
BKK POST: KHUN SA'S ASSOCIATES ORDERED TO HALT LOGGING
May 29,1996
The Burmese government has ordered associates of drug warlord Khun
Sa to cease logging operations in Ho Mong, according to a source
in the Mong Tai Army.
The Slorc has also told them to stop trading in lumber directly
with Thai businessmen, the source said.
Slorc Second Secretary-General Gen Tin Oo and Trade Minister Lt-
Gen Tun Kyi visited the former MTA headquarters on May 21-24, a
source in Ho Mong said. After talks with Khun Sa's son Chao Cham
Huang, they ordered MTA members to wind up their logging business.
The Burmese junta is thought to have formed the view that it had
not getting any benefit from the sale of logs by MTA people to
Thai merchants. They must sell all existing logs to the Burmese
government. (BP)
***************
BKK POST: BOMB BLASTS WOUND SEVERAL AT KAREN REFUGEE CAMP
May 29,1996
Several Karen National Union refugees were wounded in explosions
on Monday night after a group of Karen troops planted four bombs
at a refugee camp.
A woman identified as Pho Phu was seriously injured. She and a
number of children were taken to Mae Sariang Hospital.
The blasts went off at Ban Mae Kong Kha camp in Tambon Mae Yuam,
Mae Sariang at 8.p.m. on Monday. The Karen soldiers are thought to
have entered Thailand illegally and to be members of the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
DKBA troops often cross the Salween river to look for food
supplies in Mae Hong Son. On the other hand, the attack may have
been the result of clashes between the bandits and certain KNU
refugees.
Songkhram Sirisrisakul, a security volunteer in the camp, said the
explosions occurred while some 5,000 KNU refugees were performing
religious rites.
Mae Hong Son Governor Somjate Viriyadamrong said the authorities
were investigating the incident. Mr Somjate has ordered border
officials in Mae Sariang and Sop Moei districts to watch out for
illegal entries or exits. (BP)
***************
BURMA'S MILITARY JUNTA CRITICIZED
WASHINGTON, May 28 (UPI) - The Washington post commented editorially
on Burma's authoritarian military junta Tuesday, saying:
"The thuggish military men who rule Burma have rounded up more
than 200 democracy activists who were planning to meet last weekend.
Again the rulers show their regime, which goes by the appropriately
unappetizing acronym SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration
Council), to be worthy only of international contempt.
"To the extent that Americans are at all familiar with Burma's
plight, it is thanks to the courage of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of
the nation's democracy movement. Her National League for Democracy
won an overwhelming victory in parliamentary elections in 1990, but
SLORC refused to give up power, putting her under house arrest and
jailing many of her colleagues.
"Although Aung San Suu Kyi was nominally freed last July, after
winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the regime has refused even to begin
talks on a transition to democratic rule.
"It was to celebrate, as it were, the sixth anniversary of those
betrayed elections that Aung San Suu Kyi called a meeting. In fear
of the democrats' popularity, SLORC rounded up many of her
supporters, including should-be members of parliament.
"This is far from SLORC's only abuse. Even before the latest
events, hundreds of political prisoners remained in jail, according
to Human Rights Watch/Asia.
"The regime promotes forced labor, press-ganging citizens to act
as porters in areas of armed conflict and to build roads, according
to the U.S. State Department. It has built a massive army, equipped
mostly by China. And Burma is the world's chief source of heroin.
"The United States already has barred official aid or government
loans to Burma and has influenced the World Bank and other
multilateral organizations to follow suit. Now Sen. Mitch McConnell
of Kentucky wants to bar private investment as well, a step
supported by many of Burma's democrats.
"U.S. firms are the third-largest investors, McConnell said, led
by Unocal Corp., which is helping develop Burma's natural-gas
fields. The structure of the dictatorship ensures that much of the
benefit of foreign investment goes into the generals' pockets.
"The most active proponents of trade, investment and engagement
with Burma have been its neighbors in Southeast Asia. A nation of 42
million with high literacy rates and abundant natural resources,
Burma cannot be ignored. But after SLORC's latest abuses, the burden
is on those advocates of "engagement" to show what they have
achieved and explain why sanctions should not be tightened.
"As much as South Africa under apartheid, Burma deserves to be a
pariah until SLORC has given way."
Copyright 1996 United Press International. All rights reserved.
******************************************************
BURMESE REPRESSION
content=this is the second of two editorials being released for
broadcast may 29, 1996.
anncr:
The voice of america presents differing points of view on a
wide variety of issues. next, an editorial expressing the
policies of the united states government.
Voice:
This month marks the sixth anniversary of the general
election in which the people of Burma voted overwhelmingly for an
end to military rule and the establishment of a democratic
civilian government. Because of increased repression by the
burmese military regime, this goal now seems more distant than
ever.
For six years, Burma's military junta has prevented those
elected in may 1990 from assuming office. In an effort to
deflect popular unrest and international pressure, the junta
released some political prisoners last year and freed democracy
leader aung san suu kyi from house arrest.
This past week, over two-hundred members of the National
League for Democracy party were detained. Most of them had been
elected to the unseated Burmese parliament. The mass arrests
were part of the military junta's attempt to block a political
conference of the National League for Democracy called by Aung
San Suu Kyi.
The united states condemns efforts by the Burmese junta,
known as the State law and order restoration council, or Slorc,
to prevent the citizens of Burma from exercising their basic
political rights. Because of concern about the actions of slorc
and the potential for violence, Americans have been warned to
curtail nonessential travel to burma.
The u.s. calls for the immediate release of all political
prisoners in Burma and renews its call for a dialogue between the
Burmese authorities and democratic opposition leaders and
representatives of the country's ethnic groups. it is the only
path to a solution of burma's crisis.
anncr:
that was an editorial expressing the policies of the united
states government. if you would like to be heard on this issue,
please write to editorials, voice of america, washington, d-c,
20547, u-s-a. you may also send us a fax at (202)619-1043. your
comments may be used on the air.
*********************************************
VOA: WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL
May 28, 1996
Text: The washington post, meanwhile, is eyeing the latest
crackdown on political activism in burma, noting:
Voice: "The thuggish military men who rule Burma have now
rounded up more than 200 democracy activists who were
planning to meet last weekend. Again they show their
regime, which goes by the appropriately unappetizing
acronym Slorc (State law and order restoration council),
to be worthy only of international contempt. [opt]
..... Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Nation's democracy
movement ..... won an overwhelming victory in
parliamentary elections in 1990, but slorc refused to
give up power, putting her under house arrest and
jailing many of her colleagues. ..... it was to
celebrate, as it were, the sixth anniversary of those
betrayed elections that Aung San Suu Kyi called a
meeting. In fear of the democrats' popularity, Slorc
rounded up many of her supporters, including should-be
members of parliament. ..... after Slorc's latest
abuses, the burden is on those advocates of 'engagement'
to show what they have achieved and explain why
sanctions should not be tightened. As much as south
Africa under Apartheid, Burma deserves to be a pariah
until Slorc has given way. " [end opt]
********************************************
BURMESE OPPOSITION PROPOSALS STING GOVERNMENT
Tue, 28 May 1996 12:26:28 -0800
John Scherb < CNN News Briefs 5/28 >
RANGOON, Burma (CNN) -- Aung San Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy approved several proposals sure
to enrage the ruling State Law and Order Restoration
Council as the opposition party wrapped up a
controversial meeting Tuesday.
Delegates to the three-day congress voted to let
senior members draw up a draft constitution and
proposed a constitutional conference representing the
Burmese people. The NLD pulled out of
government-sponsored constitutional talks last
November, angering the council.
Suu Kyi said the NLD wants any future government to
be ruled by an elected parliament, with the armed forces taking a limited
role. The current constitution calls for the military to have a leading role.
The NLD also seeks the release of all political prisoners in government
custody.
*******************************************
SUU KYI TAPES CIRCULATED
Houston Chronicle 5/28
(John Scherb )
RANGOON, Burma -- When pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi denounced Burma's
ruling junta and vowed to fight it, millions of Burmese too frightened to attend the
speech listened to tape recordings distributed by her supporters.
The junta will not permit publication of Suu Kyi's speeches so her supporters spread the
word.
As many as 10,000 people appeared outside Suu Kyi's home Sunday for her weekly speech
-- the largest crowd since her release last July from six years of house arrest -- and
dozens of them held as many as six cassette recorders. The tapes made it around
Rangoon by Monday morning, and others should reach the countryside in a few days.
Tapes also reached the desks of the State Law and Order Restoration Council. On Monday,
the state-controlled press called Suu Kyi a "maggot" and a tool of a U.S. conspiracy to
colonize Burma by introducing democracy and human rights.
***********************************************
PROTEST SLAMS BURMA.
May 28, 1996.
Protest slams Burma
-------------------
In Melbourne, Burmese Students went on a march through the city streets
yesterday demanding sanctions be imposed on the military regime in their
homeland.
The students chanted "Democracy for Burma" as they stormed to the steps
of Parliament as part of a national day of protest.
They called on international leaders to impose trade sanctions and a
world-wide arms embargo on Burma.
They attacked the military-backed State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) which clings to power in Burma despite widespread dissent.
The All Burma Students' Democratic Organization (ABSDO) in Australia has
written to Australian Prime Minister John Howard asking for support,
including "discouraging trade" and closing the Austrade office in Rangoon.
------------------------------------
In Canberra, more than 100 protester called on the Federal Government to
impose trade and economic sanctions on Burma.
In a rally outside the Burmese Embassy, the protesters said Australia
should take the lead by lobbying other countries to also impose sanctions.
One man was taken into police custody during the protest.
Meanwhile, in Rangoon the military rulers denounced pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi and her followers as "dupes" and "maggots" after she
defiantly opened an opposition congress despite the arrest of hundreds of
people.
The opposition claimed an unknown number of the 262 people
detained last week have been transferred to the notorious Insein Prison.
(Herald Sun, 28.05.96)
***************************************
HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS IN BURMA BESIDES THE NLD MEMBERS
Released by ISBDA on May 27, 1996.
A Rangoon University teacher said that about 200 student activists have
been arrested by the authorities during the current crackdown against the
democratic forces of Burma. As these students are not the members of NLD,
the number of recent detainees reaches to at least a total of five hundred.
On May 24, two young monks were arrested in public because they were
holding pro-democracy placards at a bus-stop nearby Sule Pagoda.
Many of the NLD MPs and other detainees including monks were already
transferred to Insein Jail. Eyewitness could not identify the detainees
because their faces were covered by blankets.
Meanwhile, a rumor spreads in Rangoon that a violent clash broke out
between some students from Medical College No. 2 and a group of heavily
drunk SLORC soldiers at N. Okkalapa town.
***************************************
SLORC spokesman defends Brookes on soc.culture.burma
Reply-To: ingameeik@xxxxxxx (Inga Meeik)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.burma
Subject: Is Imposing Ones Values & Concepts on Others -
Democratic
Date: 23 May 1996 07:25:55 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Message-ID: <4o1i03$87p@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
IS IMPOSING ONES VALUES & CONCEPTS ON OTHERS - DEMOCRATIC.
Paul J. Williamsons (Hong Kong)
I have been going Through some of the articles in the internet
regarding ASIAN countries and Myanmar also came to my
interest because my frequent travels in the region made me
realize that something is not right or in another words
something is very wrong regarding Myanmar.
When I read Mr. Stephen Brookes' article on Myanmar and his
candid comment an NLD and her leadership I cannot but
admire him for his sincerity and straight forwardness which is
rare characteristic in today's media world. I also knew that he
would be attacked and into giving up his belief intimidated by
those extremist who refuses the facts because it goes against
their interest. Well, My prediction came true and I now read in
the internet articles branding Mr. Brookes with various names.
To be on the more objective side, who are these guys and what
right do they have to impose their beliefs and concepts on other
people. The sincere, straight forward and unbiased people have
the every right to say white when they see white, brown when
they see brown not something that will satisfy the extremists.
The ed communication systems at work nothing can be kept in
the dark for long. In addition to that Myanmar has opened it
doors to the outside world and the people who go in to visit the
country are not illiterates. They can judge the situation by
themselves without anybody's so called assistance or
intimidation.
My colleagues and I now come to realize that the dyke which
prevents facts from reaching the outside world has now
beginning to show cracks and in a short period of time it will be
broken beyond repair. No wonder the extremists are
undermining the Visit Myanmar Year 1996, with all out
strength. Maybe they may still say that all the thousands of
tourist which visited Myanmar during the visit Myanmar year
were misled by the Myanmar Government.
In my conclusion I would also like to humbly present my views
on the usage of the internet. I believe it should be used for the
exchange of information which is beneficial to all users. But
regretfully, this system today is being used as a political
platform where are user attacks the other. Worst of all, all other
users who have installed the system to exchange information of
class have to also take the trash.
************************************************
THE NLD CONGRESS RESOLUTION URGED SLORC TO TALK
By AYE AYE WIN
Associated Press Writer
RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ended a daring
meeting of pro-democracy forces Tuesday by urging Burma's military regime
to honor the results of a 1990 election and return the country to civilian
rule.
Taking the challenge to Burma's ruling junta a step further, Suu Kyi
announced opposition plans to draft an alternate constitution to one being
drafted by a government-stacked panel.
An opposition-drafted constitution -- even while unenforceable -- would
provide Burma's people with a clear contrast between a system emphasizing
democracy and human rights versus one weighted toward a paramount military.
"They regard everything we do as confrontational," Suu Kyi told
reporters, referring to the government. "But there's nothing in the law
that says you have no right to draft a constitution."
The three-day meeting, which opened on the sixth anniversary of the 1990
parliamentary election, posed a symbolic challenge to the legitimacy of the
junta, which arrested 238 of the delegates in a nationwide roundup last
week. Only 18 eluded arrest and attended.
Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to bring
democracy to Burma, appealed to the military Tuesday to free the detained
delegates.
The delegates were opposition candidates who competed in the May 27,
1990 parliamentary elections that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy
won by a landslide. The junta refused to let the parliament convene.
Suu Kyi pledged in her opening speech Sunday to step up opposition
activities and hold more conferences -- implicitly daring the regime to
crack down again and risk a new round of international condemnation.
Reading the congress' resolutions to reporters Tuesday, Suu Kyi also
urged the government to open a dialogue with the opposition and said the
powerful military should be subject to control by a civilian parliament.
Offering an olive branch to the military, the resolutions stated that
the armed forces were "a necessary institution in this country and we
endorse the view that the armed forces should be an honorable institution
which will take care of the defense of the nation and help bring about
democracy."
Burmese music played as Suu Kyi walked to the podium to read the
resolutions before about 200 supporters under a specially built
bamboo-and-thatch meeting hall draped with the fighting peacock banners of
her National League for Democracy.
The meeting was the most important gathering of opposition activists
since Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent
promotion of democracy, was freed from six years of house arrest in July.
Newspapers reported Tuesday that 90,000 people -- far higher numbers
than visible on state-run television reports -- attended
government-orchestrated rallies in Rangoon on Monday to denounce the
opposition as "destructionists" bent on causing anarchy.
Banners at the pro-government rallies bore slogans such as: "Those who
create disturbances are our enemies. Those who destroy law and order are
our enemies. Those who let themselves be used by foreigners are our
enemies."
The junta's reaction to the meeting has swung between calling Suu Kyi a
"maggot" and politely but firmly refusing any dialogue with her. The tone
is harsher in the English-language press, with the apparent aim of
countering foreign criticism of the regime.
*******************************************
MYANMAR LEADERS DENOUNCE PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS
>From Associted Press
Los Angeles Times, May 28, 1996.
YANGON, Myanmar-- This nation's military rulers denounced pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her followers as dupes and "maggots" for going
ahead with the most important opposition meeting since the junta quashed
1990 elections.
The regime has arrested 238 conference delegates and 24 other party members
to try to block Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy from opening its
three-day conference Sunday. But even though only 18 delegates made it, the
meeting has proceeded as scheduled.
Suu Kyi and her followers said Monday that an Unknown number of the
activists recently arrested were transferred to a prison nortorious for
torture.
In published remarks Monday, junta leader Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt denounced the
meeting and accused the opposition of falling prey to the United States and
other Western nations that he claims seek to colonize Myanmar, formerly
called Burma.
The conference's ultimate objective is to get Burma's military rulers to
accept the results of 1990 parliamentary elections that Suu Kyi's party
overwhelmingly won.
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The BurmaNet News: May29-30, 1996
Issue #427
The future of course is democracy for Burma. It is going to
happen, and I'm going to be here when it happens.
-Aung San Suu Kyi said confidently
(See YANGON KEEPS UP CRITICISM OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN MEDIA )
HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION:BURMA'S ASEAN AMBITIONS CLOUDED
THE NATION:SLORC ADAMANT IT WILL 'NEVER GIVE UP POWER'
THE NATION:DETENTIONS RESULT IN A NO COMMENT
BKK POST: REBEL RAIDS CONTINUE ON RANGOON FORCES
BKK POST: ELEPHANTIASIS HIT REFUGEES
THAILAND TIME : BURMESE STUDENTS PROTEST DETENTION OF
COLLEAGUES
LONDON TELEGRAPH : BURMESE LEADERS STAGE RALLIES TO
ATTACK OPPOSITION
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD : STOOGE PROTEST RALLIES
AIMED AT SUU KYI
HONG KONG STANDARD : SUU KYI DISMISSES BURMA
GOVERNMENT RALLIES AS FARCICAL
ABSDF : NEW FORMATION OF NCUB
S.H.A.N : SUMMARY OF NEWS ABOUT KHUN SA / MTA IN
THE PAST MONTH
USA TODAY : DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES NEED TO KEEP
A COOL HEAD
REUTER : FILIPINO PROTESTERS ARRESTED
REUTER : BURMA INVITED TO JOIN ASEAN POLICE FORCES
(AWSJ): U.S. MAY TIGHTEN ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON BURMA
HONG KONG STANDARD : SUU KYI'S ACTIONS ONLY
MAKING THINGS WORSE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE NATION: BURMA'S ASEAN AMBITIONS CLOUDED
May 30,1996
Asean-Burmese relations have been shaken by last week's crackdown
on opposition activists and this could affect Burma's membership
in regional forums, a senior Asean diplomat said.
"It is no longer smooth sailing," the diplomat who asked not to be
identified said. "Observer status in Asean is not an automatic
thing," he added. "Burma's recent action suggests that it would
not be logical to allow the country into Asean."
The diplomat also urged the grouping to develop a common position
with regards to Burma, and added that he could not see how the
country could contribute constructively to international forums,
such as the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), Asean Free Trade
Agreement, or any others if Rangoon continued with its present
course of action.
"Asean has yet to develop a common definition of what
'constructive engagement' is, and now it is time to come up with a
common stance towards Burma," he said. "We have agreed on the
words [constructive engagement] only, but not on its contents."
Asean foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Jakarta in mid-
July to discuss their relations with Burma, which has applied for
observer status in Asean, as well as a seat in ARF.
He said Asean can help Burma achieve democracy and national
reconciliation by facilitating a forum where the military junta,
known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), can
talk to its opposition, namely the National League for Democracy
and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the various armed
ethnic groups in the country.
When asked if such a forum means that Asean is formally
recognising the existence of the minority groups, he said the fact
that Slorc signed a ceasefire agreement with them, or was in the
process of doing so, means that Rangoon acknowledged their
existence.
He said a ceasefire between Slorc and the armed ethnic groups,
expect for the Karen National Union, was a positive development
towards stability. He, however, said that Rangoon had to go beyond
a simple truce and establish a full and constructive dialogue with
the groups in order to achieve reconciliation.
"You can't have democracy and stability without national
reconciliation," he said. "There has to be some dialogue that goes
beyond a simple ceasefire," he added. (TN)
***************
THE NATION: SLORC ADAMANT IT WILL 'NEVER GIVE UP POWER'
May 30,1996
AP
The ruling military regime fired back yesterday at pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, declaring that the armed forces would
never accept a back seat in Burmese politics.
Pro-government rallies also continued to denounce Suu Kyi, packed
with people under orders to go and cheering only on command from
organisers.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) rejected
resolutions adopted during a landmark opposition conference that
Burma _ ruled by the military since 1962 _ be governed
exclusively by an elected Parliament, with the armed forces
assuring only national defence.
The vehement rejections via state-run newspapers indicated that
Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) touched a raw
nerve among the ruling military elite and that any near-term shift
to civilian rule was unlikely.
The New Light of Myanmar ran an editorial that accused the
opposition of trying to "alienate the Tatmadaw", or armed forces.
"It would be folly to think of sidelining the Tatmadaw, with all
it noble traditions," it said. "The Tatmadaw must always be in the
know, for without such vigilance, it would not be able to work
together with the people in the long-term national interest."
Suu Kyi, the 1991 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, threw down a
gauntlet to the regime by going ahead with a three-day party
conference even after the authorities arrested 262 of her
supporters to prevent it from occurring. Only 18 delegates eluded
arrest and attended.
The meeting was to reunite those NLD opposition candidates not
already killed, tortured or driven into exile who won 392 of 485
seats in parliamentary elections in May 1990. The regime rejected
the result and the gathering challenged its legitimacy.
The opposition closed yesterday that only two detainees were known
to have been released, one because his wife had died. An unknown
number have been reported transferred to a prison near Rangoon
notorious for torture.
The congress closed on Tuesday with resolutions demanding the
release of detainees, the convening of Parliament, and for the
military to stick to an "honourable" role of national defence.
Suu Kyi also announced that the opposition would draft an
alternate constitution separate from one being considered by a
government-stacked panel.
Though unenforceable, an opposition constitution would show
Burmese a clear contrast between a system emphasising democracy
and human rights and one weighted toward marked a paramount
military.
The recent congress marked the most important opposition challenge
to the junta since Suu Kyi was released from six years of house
arrest last July. The heavy-handed attempts to stop it reaped
international condemnation and fresh scrutiny of the government's
crushing of dissent while quietly doing business with foreign
corporations.
The Burmese media yesterday portrayed business as usual, with
Slorc officials attending the lunch of an IBM seminar, receiving
business delegations from Thailand, Singapore and Germany, and the
opening of a representative office of Deutsche Bank AG.
Slorc tried to counter perceptions of a swell in overt support for
Suu Kyi by staging the mass rallies. Reporters were barred from
one on Tuesday at a sports stadium in Thalyin, near Rangoon,
attended by 10,000 people.
Participants said outside that local leaders had required three
people from each household to attend. They cheered only when
organisers said, "Please cheer."
In London, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that a
live broadcast of Suu Kyi beamed at Burma "disappeared off the
airwaves" halfway through the scheduled programme on Monday.
Implying that Slorc was responsible for cutting off the telephone,
Marcia Poole, head of the BBC's Burmese service said, "Although
this was not an entirely unforeseen occurrence, we are of course
very disappointed that it happened.
Speaking by telephone from her home in Rangoon, Suu Kyi was taking
part in the broadcast with two studio guests in London. Listeners
were able to call in via the link-up to ask her and the two people
in London questions on air.
The BBC quoted Suu Kyi as saying afterward, "I hope another live
discussion programme can be organised again. After all, I believe
in perseverance." (TN)
***************
THE NATION: DETENTIONS RESULT IN A NO COMMENT
May 30,1996
Agencies
The detention of more than 200 democracy activists in Burma was
"an internal affair," Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas said
yesterday, adding that he held "no value-judgement about what is
going on."
"We are not making any comment on the internal situation in any
country," said Alatas, on the margin of the opening of an
international seminar on humanitarian law.
"This is a principle we stick to religiously, even as we would not
want any foreign country to intervene in out internal affairs,"
said Alatas, whose country holds the presidency of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). "What is going on in Burma is
an internal affair and we hope they can overcome it," he added.
Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc)
began a crackdown on members of the opposition National League for
Democracy (NLD) ahead of the sixth anniversary of the 1990
elections won by the NLD. The junta had refused to relinquish
power.
The detentions have aroused international condemnation outside
Asia, with only muted reaction from most Asian countries. In
Sydney, Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Wiryono Sastrohandoyo
said that his country would not condemn Slorc, preferring to
pursue the constructive engagement policy with the ruling Burmese
regime.
"We believe in Southeast Asia that we simply cannot join Western
countries in condemning our neighbour and we think a more
constructive way is a better way of trying to be helpful to this
country," he said. (TN)
***************
BKK POST: REBEL RAIDS CONTINUE ON RANGOON FORCES
May 30,1996
There has been no let-up in attacks by Karenni National
Progressive Party rebels on Burmese government troops in Kayah
State, according to a high-level KNPP source.
The rebels have been pursuing guerrilla warfare against Burmese
forces for the past two months. The source claimed the KNPP had
killed 14 Burmese soldiers and detained three, while only three of
their own had been killed and two injured.
During April-May 1996, KNPP troops clashed with the Burmese forces
three times. The first was in Fuso on April 18, the second on the
western bank of the Salween River on April 24, and the third on
May 1 in Sato, a town on the west bank of the Salween.
In response, more than 3,000 Burmese government soldiers have been
dispatched to its strongholds along the border opposite Muang and
Khun Yuam districts of Mae Hong Son.
Burmese troops of Division 99 in Loikaw Province are now ready to
attack the Karennis in the forests of Kayah State near the border.
(BP)
***************
BKK POST: ELEPHANTIASIS HIT REFUGEES
May 30,1996
Some 27 Burmese workers have been found to be suffering from
elephantiasis. Dr Chuchart Pornnimitr of the provincial health
office said the discovery was made after a total of 1,200 Burmese
and Mon workers were living in 22 refugee camps in three
districts.
There had been reports that the influx of refugees had spread
malaria to border provinces. Elephantiasis is also spread by
mosquitoes. (BP)
*****************************************
BURMESE STUDENTS PROTEST DETENTION OF COLLEAGUES
Thailand Time
May 30, 1996
About 50 Burmese students yesteray stged a demonstration in front
of the Burmese embassy in Bangkok to protest the detention of 22
anti-Rangoon protesters by Thai police.
The student Federation of Thailand also delivered an open letter
to Prime Minister Banharm Silpa-archa demanding the immediate release of
the students.
In the letter to the PM, the studnets asked Banharm to send the
dissidents back their refugee camp in Ratchaburi province.
The camp has been financed by the Thai governmen ever since the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees reduced its funding to Burmese
students in Thailand, who fled from the bloody 1988 massacre in Rangon.
There are about 700 students in the camp.
The demonstrators also demanded that the Thai government review
the "Constructive Engagement" policy of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), saying that they policy does not take into account the
volatile political situation in Burma.
" ASEAN has to stop all aid and investment to pressure the State Law
and Order Restoration Council's (Burma's military junta) to stop human
rights abuses," said the leader of the demonstration, Moung Pain.
The Burmese students were arrested on the way back from a
demonstration in front of the Burmese embassy on Monday. the protest
marked the sixth year anniversary of the 1990 general elections in Burma.
*****************************************
BURMESE LEADERS STAGE RALLIES TO ATTACK OPPOSITION
By Philip Sherwell in Rangoon
London Telegraph 5/30
CAREFULLY-orchestrated rallies are being staged across Burma by
the country's military junta in response to the pro-democracy
congress at the house of Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader,
this week.
The gatherings have an Orwellian air. Local people are being
brought in to chant slogans, hold banners and hear pro-regime
speeches and denouncements of "destructionists" and their
"neo-colonialist" strategies. The New Light of Myanmar, the
government mouthpiece, has given front-page coverage to several
such rallies. They have officially been attended by about 40,000
people and identical speeches have been given at each meeting.
The newspaper reports all concluded: "The public in attendance
expressed their ardent support with tumultuous chanting of slogans
after which the mass rally came to a close." The events are also
given extensive coverage on state television. About 10,000 people
turned up early yesterday for the latest rally at a sports stadium in
the southern Rangoon suburb of Thanlyin.
Although foreign journalists were denied entry, many participants
said the local authorities had told them that at least three
members of every household had to attend.
But after they had registered with officials, several young men
hitched up their wrap-around longyis then jumped over a wall and
slipped away. It is standard practice for locals to be press-ganged
into attending government meetings under the threat of punitive
fines or forced labour.
Observers say the current spate of rallies appears to be a direct
response to the National League for Democracy congress which
ended on Tuesday. Delegates of Ms Suu Kyi's party agreed that a new
Burmese constitution should be drawn up, a clear act of defiance at
a time when the regime is drafting its own official version.
Similar rallies were staged in November after the NLD pulled out of
the junta's National Convention, its rubber-stamping constitutional
forum. The meetings have heard exhortations to "support the state's
nation-building endeavours" and the denunciation of those "who are
trying to oppose and destroy the nation's developments". Ms Suu Kyi
and the opposition have been portrayed as the minions of foreign
powers and the international media.
Meanwhile, about 260 NLD activists remain in detention after being
rounded up by the authorities last week in an attempt to prevent
the congress taking place. Several have been charged under harsh
security laws, according to the opposition.
***************************************
YANGON KEEPS UP CRITICISM OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN MEDIA
May 30, 1996
Straits Times 5/30
YANGON -- Myanmar's military junta kept up a war of words with opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday by denouncing her and the democracy
movement in official media.
News of mass public rallies held to support government actions and to protest
against the democracy activists took up several pages in the state-run
newspapers.
The newspapers said tens of thousands attended two rallies on Tuesday,
chanting slogans against Ms Suu Kyi's democracy movement.
They said medical superintendent Dr Hla Pe delivered a speech to a rally of
40,000 people in Yangon, calling for "collective efforts to destroy the
axe-handles trying to thwart developing conditions and stability in the
country".
The term "axe-handle" is used by the Myanmar media to refer to Myanmar
citizens who are seen as helping foreigners attack the country.
His speech was similar to those made at rallies on Monday and Tuesday. More
rallies will be held in the next few days, said officials.
Diplomats say these government-sponsored gatherings are usually staged, with
the military forcing people to attend.
In an interview published yesterday in the Asia Times, Myanmar's Finance
Minister, Brigadier-General Win Tin, assailed Ms Aung San Suu Kyi for urging
investors to stay away from the country. He also defended the ruling junta's
efforts to develop democracy the way it saw fit.
Interviewed on Monday in Yangon, Mr Win Tin said: "The Americans may try to
block our country, but they'll try in vain. . . . We have been isolated since 1988,
and we have grown with our own resources, so we are not bothered by any
boycott.
"It has no effect on our economy," he said, noting the rising numbers of
businessmen setting up in Myanmar, which showed their faith in the country's
economic growth, policies and its political and economic stability.
Meanwhile, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi vowed yesterday to bring democracy to her
country, now ruled by fear.
"The people of Burma are very, very frightened. They are ruled by fear. Slorc's
weapon is fear," she told Reuters in an interview. Slorc is the State Law and
Order Restoration Council.
"The future of course is democracy for Burma," she said confidently. "It is
going to happen, and I'm going to be here when it happens." -- Reuter, AFP.
*******************************************
STOOGE PROTEST RALLIES AIMED AT SUU KYI
Sydney Morning Herald 5/30
May 30, 1996
By MARK BAKER, Herald Correspondent in Rangoon
Burma's military regime is forcing thousands of people to attend mass
rallies in an attempt to answer the growing campaign of the democracy
leader Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
A series of rallies has been staged in Rangoon over the past two days to
attack Ms Suu Kyi and defend the record and legitimacy of the ruling
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
Officials have been ordering city residents to attend, providing banners
with slogans and even telling the crowds when to chant and when to raise
their fists in choreographed protest.
At one rally at a sportsground on the outskirts of Rangoon yesterday -
where foreign journalists were refused entry - arriving demonstrators
said local neighbourhood committees had ordered every household to send
three members.
State television has been carrying extensive coverage of the meetings,
with grossly exaggerated crowd estimates, and speeches by officials
accusing the democracy movement of undermining national stability and
being manipulated by foreigners.
Many of those attending are members of the Union Solidarity and
Development Association, a mass political movement established by the
regime two years ago. It has recruited students and young workers with
incentives including cheap travel on public transport, computer classes
and paid excursions.
Diplomats and local observers see the rallies as a direct response to this
week's congress of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), at
which she outlined plans to intensify her campaign to force a return to
civilian rule.
"It is clear that the SLORC is really starting to feel the pressure and
their response is to stage-manage these rallies," one diplomat said.
Despite the arrest of more than 260 NLD members and official threats
against the congress, a record crowd of about 10,000 people turned out
last Sunday to cheer Ms Suu Kyi during the weekly speech she gives from
the gates of her home.
On Tuesday she ridiculed the latest rallies and the use of banners
indirectly accusing the NLD of being enemies who wanted to destroy
Burma's stability and development.
"They seem to think they are surrounded by enemies," she said. "It's all
about enemies and destruction, very negative and absolutely awash with
hatred and vindictiveness. Not nice."
A similar series of anti-NLD rallies was staged across the country late
last year after the party decided to boycott a national convention which
is drafting a military-dominated constitution.
Despite government claims last week that those detained before the NLD
congress would be held temporarily, only two - a female member of the
party's youth wing and another elected MP whose wife is seriously ill -
are believed to have been released so far.
Party officials say at least 10 of the detainees have now been charged
under tough internal security laws and they expect others to receive long
jail sentences.
********************************************
SUU KYI DISMISSES BURMA GOVERNMENT RALLIES AS FARCICAL
Hong Kong Standard 5/30
RANGOON: Burma's military government organised another mass rally on Wednesday to
denounce Aung San Suu Kyi's revitalised democracy movement, but the opposition leader
dismissed the gathering as a farce.
A public rally of about 43,000 people was held in a southern Rangoon district with crowds
chanting slogans and speakers accusing Ms Suu Kyi's and her pro-democracy supporters of
being traitors bent on destabilising Burma.
News of the mass rallies, staged in various parts of the country for three consecutive days
now, has been widely-reported in state-run local newspapers.
But Ms Suu Kyi, in an interview with Reuters at her Rangoon home, laughed at the military's
show of its people power.
``It's funny. They claim that they are peoples' rallies, well then we should be allowed to
hold public rallies too. Why can't we go and hold a public rally?'' she asked.
Under current law, meetings of more than five people in a public place are prohibited
without government permission.
``They stop us from organising a simple...ceremony on the grounds it will upset public order,
so why have they allowed these people to hold public rallies?'' she asked.
``Of course they are all bussed in, forced to come.''
``It's a blatant piece of comedy, it's a farce.''
Diplomats claim government-sponsored rallies are usually staged by the military which
forces people to attend.
An information ministry official told Reuters similar rallies would continue to be held in
various places. They were meant to show support for the government's current programs
and to denounce recent actions by the democracy movement.
The rallies are part of a war of words the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
is waging against Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which defied
intimidation in the form of the arrest of 261 party activists, and went ahead a three-day
congress of senior party members.
Some demands made by Ms Suu Kyi at the end of the three-day NLD meeting on Tuesday drew
sharp retorts from editorials in state-run newspapers on Wednesday.
The editorials said democracy forces were moving towards a repeat of 1988 democracy
demonstrations when ``all hell let loose, unleashed by those selfishly causing a
conflagration in their shortcut to power''.
``The very group which did that is today seeking a replay of that macabre scenario,'' an
editorial said.
The SLORC came to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy uprising. Thousands of
people were killed or imprisoned.
The newspaper editorials stressed the importance of the armed forces in the Burmese
government, and said only a strong military would make a strong country.
Ms Suu Kyi has said a resolution passed by NLD members during the meeting was that the
next government of Burma should be ruled by an elected parliament and the military should
play an ``honourable'' but not dominant role.
She also said the NLD planned to draw up a draft constitution for Burma.
Contrary to the NLD's demands, the SLORC which is sponsoring a convention to draft the
guidelines of a new constitution, wants the armed forces to play a ``leading role'' in future
politics. _ Reuter
********************************************
NEW FORMATION OF NCUB
PRESIDIUM
1) Chairman : General Mya (DAB/KNU)
2) Voice Chairman (1) : Dr. Sein Win (MPU/NCGUB)
3) Voice Chairman (2) : General Tarmalar Baw (NDF/KNU)
4) Voice Chairman (3) : U Win Khat (NLD- LA)
5) Member : U Tin Maung Win (DAB/CRDB)
6) Member : U Maung Maung Aye(MPU/NCGUB)
7) Member : Saline Myo Aye (NDF/CNF)
8) Member : U Aung Saw Oo (NLD/LA)
SECRETARIATS
9) General Securatary : U Tin Aung (NLD-LA)
10) Joint GS : U Moe Thee Zun ( DAB/ABSDF)
11) Member : U Myint Zaw ( DAB/DPNS)
12) Member : Dr. Naing Aung (DAB/ABSDF)
13) Member : U Khon Var Ko Bann (MPU/NCGUB)
14) Member : U Maung Maung Lat (MPU)
15) Member : U Khine Soe Naing Aung (NDF/APL)
16) Member : U Khon Oakar (NDF/PAO)
17) Member : U Than Thut (NLD-LA)
18) Member : Pado Mann Shar (DAB/KNU)
*****************************************
S.H.A.N : SUMMARY OF NEWS ABOUT KHUN SA / MTA IN THE PAST MONTH
May 28, 1996
In mid April ( 15-16/4 ), Khun Sa's second son Zao zarm Hurng ( who has taken
over the responsibility from Khun Sa and Fah Lang to see that the remaining
1,600 ex-members of the MTA and 300 disabled soldiers still have their monthly
allowance of rice and money ), who had gone to Rangoon to see his father
returned to Ho Murng. He had gone to see his father with the hope of getting
some of the business concessions or contracts such as for timber, mining, gems,
gem factories, road construction, etc.which they had asked from SLORC generals.
But Zao Zarm Hurng said that he had waited in vain for over a month without
gaining anything as yet. SLORC officials kept on telling him to wait a little
more and if urged they would suggest him to go to so and so person or to apply
at this or that office. It had been a waste of time, he said, and the only
worthwhile thing was that he had the opportunity to visit Mandalay, the gem
mines of Murng Su, Murng Kut ( Mokok ) and jade mines of Phar Karnt and Ta Mark
Kharm.
But, in his speech to some remaining 7-8 officers and military trainers, he
urged them not to lose heart, and not to trust any rumors and go away. He said
that he had arranged to ask the SLORC Division Commander of Ho Murng for
permission to open up factories to make chopsticks, toothpicks, paper,
limestones etc. And if they were not permitted to do this, they would go to work
in gem mines in a group.
When Zarm Hurng went to see him, Khun Sa was staying at a small house on an
island in Inyar Lake.
Since February, most of the former MTA officials who are Chinese nationals (
Khun Sa's men of the original SUA ) have moved to live in Burma proper. They did
not want to live in Ho Murng nor dare to live in Shan State, as if they were
afraid of Karn Yord's group, SSNA, or others. ( There has been widely spread
news that Shan soldiers often rob and kill Chinese nationals. ) When they left
Ho Murng in 3-4 groups, though safe in their own cars, they dared not leave
until there were 7-8 cars to form a group.
Gem cutting machines and equipment which Khun Sa's men had taken to Taunggyi are
being piled there ( at the newly expanded quarter called Myo Thit ). There is
still no place to use them.
Khun Seng, Khun Sa's uncle, and a group of Loi Maw Chinese, consisting of 10
households, have gone to live in Rangoon at an extended V.I.P quarter called
Shwe Pyi Than Myo Thit. Some have gone to buy or rent houses and live at Sein
Mya Karn Thar quarter in the outskirts of Rangoon. Khun Seng and Fah Lang (
former chief of Staff of MTA ) can rent house and live freely, not like Khun Sa
who is under the control of the MI. Khun Seng is said to be trying to set up a
brick factory on the road to Mingaladon. Of the gem mining concessions they have
requested, SLORC have granted them 10 plots at Phar Karnt jade mine and 10 plots
at Murng Kut ( Mokok ) ruby mine ( nothing has been heard about Murng Su ruby
mine ). But the granted plots are places which are not wanted by others and they
would have to go and choose by themselves.
Contracts which Khun Sa and his group have been granted and are in the process
of registering are trading companies ( tranportation, gem mining, ore mining )
etc. They are looking for places in Pegu, Mandalay and Lashio to open up
branches. Timber and road construction contracts have not been given to them but
to Lo Shin Han ( former famous opium warlord ) and his group in association with
other 5 companies. They have been given the contract to build, repair and
improve roads from Mandylay to Muse.
At the moment the Khun Sa and Khun Seng group does not look very financially
strong ( perhaps because they have not yet drawn enough money from their bank
accounts in Thailand ). In early May, a man from Ho Murng ( a reliable source ) who had
been near to Khun Sa said that SLORC had agreed to pay ( as compensation )
500,000,000 Kyats for the surrender of the Ho Murng area and 200,000,000 Kyats
for the areas of Mai Sung, Murng Taw and Murng Thar. A former Shan junior
officer under Khun Sa had the following remark, " This SLORC money will only go
to Khun Sa, and a group of his relatives. It won't go to anyone else . "
On 22-23/4/96, Khun Sa sent for 4-5 of his old followers and trusted men to go
and work for their group in Rangoon : Khun Sa has formed a 25-member-committe in
Rangoon and they are to take the leading posts in business and military affairs
( according to their plan to recruit men and establish home-guard paramilitary
unit called Kar Koy Yay. )
The 4-5 men which he sent for were mostly Chinese of his original SUA group. A
Shan Lt. Col. Zai Lurn Sau was also called, but could not go because he was not
one of those who had surrendered. He said " My life is not in their hands. Khun
Sa himself had made a pledge in front of the spirit-house that he would not
betray our national cause and kowtow to the Burmese as long as he was alive. But
now he has duped the people of Shan State. How could we continue to work with
them ? ". Khun Sa had sent word to Zai Lurn Sau to go to him in Rangoon and to
Maj. Zai Kham Phar to lead his 4-500 men to surrender at Tachilek. But Zai Kham
Phar said he could not surrender. If he could not stand on his own feet, he
would have to go and seek help from UWSA at Parng Sarng.
Col. Suu Lai, who had been the commander of the areas north and west of Tachilek
and who has not surrendered, was approached by Lt. Col. Lurn Sau and Maj. Kham
Phar to join their force. But he refused, and even told them not to come near
him. He said that at the moment he would not work with any other group, because
he had worked with Khun Sa as his follower for so long that he could not do
anything that would hurt him.
inside sources
28/4/96
*****************************************
DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES NEED TO KEEP A COOL HEAD
USA Today: Editorial Roundup
About 90 have been arrested (in Burma), and there are fears for the freedom of the
National League for Democracy's leaders, including (Aung San) Suu Kyi. The situation
is disconcerting.
Arresting people just because they intend to join a peaceful assembly must be
regarded as being counter to development of democracy. Such forcible action cannot
be condoned.
The cause for concern is that Suu Kyi and other leaders of the democracy movement
are seen to have changed their approach, adopting a desperate effort to mobilize the
masses to press for a breakthrough. This pent-up discontent could erupt and very
suddenly get out of control. The tragedy of 1988 proves that.
And because of that, we urge the democracy advocates to be cool-headed.
*****************************************
FILIPINO PROTESTERS ARRESTED
MANILA, May 29 (Reuter)
Filipino protesters on Wednesday called for
an international arms embargo on Burma and a Manila newspaper said Rangoon's
recent crackdown on Burmese pro-democracy activists showed it was panicking.
A small group of protesters from the Free Burma Coalition picketed the
Burmese embassy in Manila and demanded to see ambassador U San Thein. Guards
refused to admit them.
In a statement, the group denounced the arrests last week of more than
250 pro-democracy activists from the National League for Democracy led by
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
``The Free Burma Coalition...calls on all Burma's neighbours and the
international community as a whole to impose an embargo on arms and war
supplies to SLORC,'' the statement said, referring to Burma's ruling State
Law and Order Restoration Council.
The statement also urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) to withhold action on Burma's application to join. ASEAN comprises
Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam.
``Myanmar's (Burma's) military dictatorship is panicking,'' the
Philippine newspaper Today said in an editorial, denouncing the arrests as a
``blatant show of dictatorial force.''
The daily accused the Philippine government of failing to respond
swiftly to Rangoon's crackdown, saying it was only on Monday that Manila
issued a statement expressing concern about the situation in Burma.
02:22 05-29-96
*****************************************
BURMA INVITED TO JOIN ASEAN POLICE FORCES
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Reuter) - Burma will be invited to join the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations conference of police chiefs to help
fight problems such as heroin trafficking, the Malaysian news agency Bernama
said on Wednesday.
Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Rahim Noor said the three-day
ASEAN national police chiefs (Aseanapol) conference that ended on Wednesday
agreed to make Burma a full member. Burma currently has observer status
within ASEAN.
Malaysia has long been a conduit for heroin, smuggled from Burma, Laos
and Thailand, and destined for Australia and Western countries.
Rahim said Burma could share intelligence about heroin trafficking with
other members through the conference.
Burma is slated to become a full member of ASEAN -- which groups Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- by
the end of the decade.
It was not clear if Burma's mass political arrests were discussed at the
police chief's conference.
ASEAN members have refrained from criticising Rangoon over its
suppression of a pro-democracy movement led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung
San Suu Kyi.
ASEAN has said it is trying to influence Burma into becoming more
democratic through a policy of ``constructive engagement'' at various ASEAN
conferences.
Rahim said Aseanapol is growing in strength and widening its networking
among member countries. It officially launched a computer-linked database
system during the conference which will be connected to all Asean police
forces, except Vietnam's, by the end of the year.
Vietnam's police director-general Le The Tiem said his police force could
not link up with the database system yet because of financial problems.
********************************************
(AWSJ): U.S. MAY TIGHTEN ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON BURMA
By Eduardo Lachica and Laurie Lande
WASHINGTON (AP-Dow Jones)--The U.S. has warned that it may tighten
economic pressure on Burma if the ruling military junta continues to harass and
arrest the followers of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, reports Monday's
Asian Wall Street Journal.
The threat surfaced last week when a senior State Department official told
the Senate Banking Committee that the administration is willing to apply
certain 'discretionary sanctions' on Rangoon if necessary.
At the same time, the Clinton administration is reaching out to other
countries to see whether a concerted effort can be made to moderate Rangoon's
behavior.
In a statement issued Saturday, White House press secretary Mike McCurry said
a special envoy will be sent to 'consult with European, Asian and other friends
and allies on a coordinated response' to the widening crackdown on Burma's
democratically elected opposition.
The White House indicated that it wanted to see how events unfolded over the
weekend before deciding on the details of the trip. The detentions, which
began last week, were apparently aimed at disrupting a convention held by Suu
Kyi's National League of Democracy (NLD) on Sunday.
The number of arrests rose to 256 by Saturday. The meeting, the NLD's first
full party conference since it won national elections six years ago, was held
without further incident on Sunday.
It isn't clear at this point whether further unilateral U.S. action would
have any effect on the regime, or whether the European Union and Japan will be
sufficiently responsive to U.S. suggestions to a multilateral approach.
The U.S. already denies Burma export financing and loan guarantees and
routinely votes against World Bank and Asian Development Bank loans to that
country. But such restrictions haven't deterred U.S. companies, including
Texaco Inc. and Atlantic Richfield Co., from seeking to cash in on Burma's rich
natural resources.
In Tokyo, Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda on Friday urged Burma's regime to
release all detainees in its custody and to refrain from jailing more of Suu
Kyi's followers.
However, Ikeda didn't raise the possibility of cutting off Japanese economic
assistance to Burma. Japan was one of the few countries to resume aid to Burma
after Suu Kyi was released from six years of house arrest last July; Tokyo said
the recent flows are solely humanitarian in nature.
In Washington, Kent Wiedemann, deputy assistant secretary of state for East
Asian and Pacific affairs, told the Senate panel last week that the administration
wants to broaden its range of policy options.
Wiedeman said so in reference to the more narrow legislative proposal of
Senator Mitch McConnell, who has been a longtime advocate of sanctions against
Burma.
However, Suu Kyi, who previously has shied from seeking such intervention,
has said that she wouldn't oppose mandatory U.S. sanctions as drastic as those
proposed by the Kentucky Republican.
Among other things, the McConnell bill would ban U.S. nationals from
investing in Burma and virtually deny members of the ruling junta and their
families the right to visit the U.S.
McConnell, who heads the Senate panel that oversees foreign aid disbursement,
has had impeccable timing this year. Just days after he announced he would try
to push his bill through Congress, news reports surfaced of the mass arrests of
democracy advocates in Burma.
McConnell also has gotten Senator Alfonse D'Amato, a New York Republican and
chairman of the Senate Banking committee, to co-sponsor the bill.
The legislation would put at risk an estimated $241 million of U.S. private
investment - most of it energy-related - according to 1994 Burmese government
statistics.
(END) AP-DOW JONES NEWS 26-05-96
0007GMT
***************************************
SUU KYI'S ACTIONS ONLY MAKING THINGS WORSE
EDITORIAL
May 29, Hong Kong Standard Editorial
THE conservative backlash is under way in Burma. No, it is not the kind of backlash that has
seen leading intellectuals being purged with surprising speed.
Instead, some leading intellectuals have denounced recent moves by the democracy
movement.
On Monday, the military government held a massive rally in Rangoon to denounce
``destructionists'' in the country. No surprise there.
What was surprising was that about 40,000 people from 14 townships chanted slogans and
denounced ``the traitors' acts to destabilise the country and to spoil progress''.
It would, surely, be impossible for the government to force 40,000 people to take part in a
rally.
Dagon University rector Kaung Nyunt, the main speaker at the rally, said recent moves by
the democracy movement were intolerable _ especially at a time when ``the momentum of
constructive development is being achieved''. By implication, he accused the pro-democracy
activists of woolly-headed thinking.
Meanwhile, the military government weighed in with a less surprising verbal assault on
``the colonial puppet'', Aung San Suu Kyi.
We certainly do not view Ms Suu Kyi as a woolly-headed idealist, but we believe she made a
mistake when she attacked the soft-line approach towards the junta taken by neighbouring
countries.
She claims that the constructive engagement practised by the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean) countries has not worked. But the confrontational stance adopted by
the West has not only failed, it has been counterproductive in Burma and elsewhere. All it
has done is make matters worse.
By aligning herself with the West in this way, she only reinforces the government's
description of her as ``the handle of the axe'' being wielded by ``the colonialists''.
Yes, Ms Suu Kyi is courageous. Yes, her party won a landslide victory in a May 1990 general
election but the military leadership refused to acknowledge the result. Yes, the arbitrary
arrests of her supporters were deplorable and unpardonable.
In an editorial last week, we pointed out that the military leaders in Burma have definitely
not governed their country well, caring for their people and striving for their support. We
agreed that Asian countries must provide a government of the people through democratic
means.
But we stressed that Americans and Europeans must not mistake that determination for
uncritical acceptance of their own value systems.
We sympathise with Ms Suu Kyi's ideals. But she has gone about things the wrong way.
Appeals to the West and uncritical acceptance of Western values will not bring democracy
to Burma, but only make matters worse.
******************************************
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