Han Journal: Burmese Students Atten

[FreeBurma@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Han Journal: Burmese Students Attend Workshop in Seoul

Han Journal: Burmese Students Attend Workshop in South Korea 
by Hlwan Moe 

	September 1 --- Two Burmese student activists attended a workshop in Seoul,
South Korea ("The Land of Morning Calm"). Khin Ohmar of Refugees
International and Thet Thet Lwin of Burmese Women Union, based on
Thailand-Burma border flew to South Korea to participate in a transnational
training workshop, which was held from August 26 to 31, 1996.  This meeting
was the great rendezvous for young professionals working with 25 foreign NGOs
and 25 Korean NGOs.  The training entitled "the FDL-AP Young Leaders's
Workshop" was sponsored by the Forum of Democratic Leaders in the
Asia-Pacific (FDL-AP).  The FDL-AP is a  non-profit international NGO and was
established in 1994 to promote democracy and human rights in the Asia-Pacific
region under the patronage of Mrs. Corazon Aquino, former President of the
Philipines, Dr. Kim Dae-Jung, Chairman of the Kim Dae-Jung Peace Foundation
and Dr. Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica.  
 	Dr. Kim Dae-Jung delivered a welcome speech at the opening ceremony.  The
themes of the workshop were democracy, Asian identity and values, human
rights, women's rights and development.  Both Burmese student activists
produced their keen participation in the frank and friendly discussions.
 Their penetration into the Asia-Pacific confluence paved the way for better
understanding and closer cooperation among the democratic forces in the
region.  At the conference,  Khin Ohmar made a presentation  on "Political
Conditions in Contemporary Burma". During her presentation, Ohmar raised
various issues ranging from forced labor to uneven and cosmetic changes in
Burma's economy under the present military junta - SLORC and expressed her
grave concern over the growing sentiment of  foreign business operations in
Burma.  She urged the gathering to help strengthen the on-going campaign for
corporate withdrawal from Burma.  
	Back in June of this year, the FDL-AP initiated collecting signatures of 102
opposition parliamentarians, belonging to the  National Congress for New
Politics (NCNP) and the United Liberal Democrats (ULD).  In their statement,
those parliamentarian signatories strongly urged the South Korean government
to enter into a more constructive relationship with Burma in the long run
through supporting the democratic movement.  They also called on South Korean
companies to "either withdraw or at least freeze further investment in Burma
until there is a noticeable improvement in the current situation". The
growing economic relations between the Republic of Korea and Burma bring
South Korean companies, such as Samsung, Daewoo and Hyundai,  into Burma. 
	Another Burmese student activist, Thet Thet Lwin discussed the "Problem of
Constructive Engagement Policy Toward Burma".  Thet Thet Lwin criticized the
Asean nations on the ground that the regional association has practiced the
constructive-towards-Slorc-only attitude and it remains far away from
bringing about a peaceful political settlement in Burma.
	The delegation visited some historic places including Pamunjung Peace
Village, which divides South and North Korea as a political ramification of
Korean War from 1950 to 1953. When they arrived in Kwang-Ju, Khin Ohmar and
Thet Thet Lwin recalled  the tragedy of "Kwang-Ju Uprising".  Kwang-Ju
locates in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula.  In May of 1980,
the citizens of Kwang-Ju City protected the torch of democracy at the cost of
their lives.  They revolted against the then military regime, led by General
Chun Doo-Hwan for the restoration of freedom, peace, and equality.  The
Kwang-Ju Uprising lasted 10 days from May 18 to 27.  The Kwang-Ju Struggle
against the military power was crushed.  Hundreds of Kwang-Ju citizens were
killed by the military.  Reminiscences of the fate of their "8.8.88 Uprising"
could have brought their minds back to the unknown tombs of the fallen
martyrs in the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma.  With other
international participants, both Ohmar and Thet Thet shared their
experiences.

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