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The BurmaNet News, March 7, 1997




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

The BurmaNet News: March 7, 1997
Issue #659

HEADLINES:
==========
BURMANET: UPDATE ON THE SITUATION AT PU NAM RAWN
THE NATION: KAREN RECEIVE 'BRUTAL' TREATMENT
SAIN: NLD ARRESTS/FEBRUARY 1997
PRESS RELEASE:NEW STATE BURMA LEGISLATION
ANNOUNCEMENT: GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA
ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA CONFERENCE -KUTZTOWN UNIV. 
CHIN WOMEN'S ORGANISATION: CHIN SCHOOL IN INDIA 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

BURMANET: UPDATE ON THE SITUATION AT PU NAM RAWN REFUGEE CAMP, KANCHANABURI
PROVINCE
March 6, 1997

March 3, 1997

At about 10am, four trucks belonging to a Thai logging company in the area,
arrived at Pu Nam Rawn, populated by 2,300 Karen women, children and elder men.

15 soldiers from the Royal Thai 9th army had also arrived and ordered the
refugees to start filling the trucks with their belongings within ten
minutes. The refugees were told that they were to be taken to a safe place,
approximately 15-20 kilometres south of Huay Nam Khao village and 4-5
kilometres from the Thai-Burma border. 

Believing that they would be safer, the refugees first followed the orders
and filled the trucks up with their belongings. However, when the new site
was about to be inspected, the 9th army commander could not provide the
refugees with a clear idea of an exact site, which immediately caused
suspicion and fear among the refugees, of the risk of being forcibly
repatriated into the hands of the SLORC.

Around noon, the Governor of Kanchanaburi province was called for
clarification of the order and, being surprised that had not been informed,
the Governor asked to halt the relocation immediately. An hour later,
following a meeting between refugees, the 9th army and local
militia/rangers, the refugees decided to unload the trucks and stay until
there could be a decision made by proper channels, including the civilian
Thai authorities.     

The local militia, rangers and Pu Nam Rawn villagers proved their
understanding and sympathy towards the refugees' situation by spontaneously
clapping their hands at the refugees' decision of staying. 

The refugees staying at Htaw Ma Pyu, 5-7 kilometres into Burma are still not
allowed to cross the border into Thailand and as the Burmese army is slowly
moving closer to this site, it is crucial and urgent that these refugees are
allowed sanctuary on Thai soil. It is estimated that the SLORC troops could
be in range of Taw Ma Pyu Hta within 1-2 days.


March 4, 1997

About half of the refugees from Pu Nam Rawn were reportedly moved to a new
site near Ban Po Muang, Kanchanaburi, approximately 4 kilometres from the
border. a dostrict official took an active part in the relocation. The rest
of the refugees are planned to be moved March 5. 

The refugees and observers feel that the new site near Ban Po Muang is
inappropriate as the site lacks of water and is distant from Thai villages.

Meanwhile, visitors to the Taw Ma Pyu site, inside Burma, could hear nearby
shooting, thus again stressing the urgency of obtaining clearance from the
Thai authorities to grant these refugees refuge on Thai soil.    

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

THE NATION: KAREN RECEIVE 'BRUTAL' TREATMENT
March 6, 1997
SA-NGUAN KHUMRUNGROJ 

LOCAL human rights groups yesterday strongly urged the government to scrap
any plan to deport Karen refugees back to the war zone in Burma, saying that
eight of about 900 Karen civilians forced across the border by the Army last
week had died of malaria and diseases of the digestive tract. 
	They also urged members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(Asean) to send their representatives to the border to see the atrocity
being perpetuated by the Burmese junta, which last August made an official
request to join the regional grouping. 
	Speaking in tears, Debbie Stothard of the Alternative Asean Forum, said she
wants Asean countries to see with their own eyes the Burmese junta's brutal
treatment of its own people. 
	She said that the Burmese army's operation against the Karen rebels have
included not only attacks on civilian, noncombatant Karen but also the
destruction of their homes, states and country. 
	Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan yesterday condemned those who have
accused Thailand of forcibly pushing back the refugees. He said the refugees
were being accorded humanitarian principles. His ministry had already sent a
letter clarifying the government's policy on refugees to all Thai embassies. 
	Speaking after a one-day fact-finding tour to western border refugee
shelters, the human rights groups said the 900 refugees ­ mainly women,
children, the elderly and disabled, who were trucked from Bongi Pass to
Ratchaburi and then sent back to Tha Ma Piew last week ­ are living in very
poor conditions and under serious threat of Burmese assault. 
	They said the sound of Burmese machine guns could be heard constantly, very
close to Tha Ma Piew, when the survey team was visiting the returnees. The
health of the returnees was very poor and was deteriorating, as they
received minimal informal assistance from foreign aid agencies. 
	Because of the lack of medicine, eight of the returnees had already died
from malaria and alimentary canal disease, they added. They described the
situation around Tha Ma Piew as very volatile and dangerous. 
	The human rights activists said there is a high possibility the Burmese
troops, who were less than a day's walk away, will soon attack Tha Ma Piew
because there was two Thai-Karen sawmills operating in the area. The mills
were a source of income for the Karen National Union. 
	The number of displaced Karen in the area has risen to about 3,700 because
a number of males initially separated from the females and pushed back into
Burma by the Thai Army have managed to reunite with their families. A number
of them walked from areas deep inside Burma. 
	Relief workers said that local Army authorities had promised to let the
group cross the border into Thailand if the Burmese military operation
breaks out in the area. (TN)

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

SAIN: NLD ARRESTS/FEBRUARY 1997
March 6, 1997

 The following information regards activities against the NLD in Burma
during the month of February. The SLORC is determined to ensure that they
destroy and "crush" all destructive elements, and this is no idle threat.
Attacks on members and MP's have increased and are becoming more menancing.
Lives are being threatened at an unprecedented level with murder now added
to intimidation, arrests and imprisonment. Since December when the army
deployed tanks in downtown Rangoon, the presence of the army within the city
and its suburbs has increased substantially.  General Maung Aye is clearly
in charge of the country and his troops that are deployed in Rangoon are
from other states. Most soldiers do not speak Burmese and are clearly from
the front line areas rather than the usual security Rangoon forces seen in
the past.  This is an urgent appeal for you to lobby your government about
the increasing violence towards the people in Burma who have been elected,
or are speaking out in their support for the NLD. For more information
please contact Southeast Asian Information Network (SAIN)  053 278549.
email: sain@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanatpin Township, Pegu Division
U Soe Hlaing Chairman of the NLD organisational committee of Thanatpin, U
Tin Tun secretary and U Soe Nyuant, joint secretary, were arrested because
they attended the NLD Union Day celebration at 54-56 University Avenue,
Rangoon on 12 February 1997.  U Tin Tun was released but the others were
charged under section 5 (e) and sent to Pegu Jail.

U Win Naing and U Maung Than, farmers of Kywete village were charged under
section 5 (e) and sent to Pegu jail because they had complained to the NLD
that the local authorities had taken cuts out of the money due to them for
paddy sold.

Thaton Township, Mon State  
U Khin Maung, U Chit Than, U Pe Win and U Thein Han were arrested while they
were on the way to attend the NLD Union day celebration at 54-56 University
Avenue, Rangoon on 12 February 1997

Detention of NLD members in the Pegu Division
Eleven men and six women members of the NLD left Prome by train on the
evening of February 11th, 1997 to attend the NLD Union Day celebrations at
Rangoon. When the train stopped at Tharawaddy station, soldiers and
policemen arrived, arrested fifteen of the NLD members (two of the women
were not arrested) and took them away by car to the quarters of the 35th
Regiment. The four women that were arrested were Daw Myint Myint Khin, Daw
Tin Hlaing, Daw Than Than Nu and Daw Aye Mya San.  The men were Aung Myint,
U Myo Thein, u Aung Myo Myint, U Shwe Thein, U Myint Than, U Paik Tin, U
Myint Htwe, U Chit Tin, U Win Naing, U Aung Thein Win and U Thein Zaw.

Seven people who had come from Prome and Kama by car to attend the NLD Union
Day celebration were also arrested in Tharawaddy.

Fifty-eight others including U aye Than and U Ohn Naing, NLD members of
parliament for Paungde; U Khin Maung Myint secretary of Paukhaung township;
U Min Aung of Letpadan, a member of the NLD; U Tin Myint, deputy chairman of
Gyobingauk; U Ohn, a member of the NLD from Thonse, Ko Tin OO, a member of
the Prome NLD youth, Daw Tin Tin Hla, Daw San Yee and Daw San San Myint,
members of the NLD from Shwedaung; Daw Sein Sein , Ma Tin Than Oo and Ma Tin
Than Aye from Natalin; Daw Khin Kyu and Ma Aye Aye Mar from Okpho were also
arrested while they were on their way to attend the NLD Union Day
celebrations in Rangoon.

Nyaungshwe, Shan State
In Minchaung village of  Inle Lake in Nyaungshwe, U Nhuang, U Aung Ba, U Soe
Win and U Chit Pwe were sentenced to two years imprisonment each for
watching a video tape that featured Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Shwebo Township, Sagaing Division
U San Pe, a member of the NLD had allowed the NLD office to be opened in his
house.  His wife Daw Ohn Kyi, had a small eating place in the grounds of
Shwebo College.  She was told that her husband was not free from party
politics and was made to shut down her shop in October 1996.

Wetlet Township, Sagaing Division
A police officer, a policeman and a member of the Farming and Agriculture
Corporation came to Pyin-oo village, Wetlet township, at 11 o'clock at night
on 23 January 1997.  They went to the house of farmer U Nyuant Tin and said
they had come to buy paddy.  U Nyuant Tin's wife replied that her husband
was not in and that they should take the paddy from the storage shed.  The
group who had come to buy rice insisted that as U Nyuant Tin was not there,
his wife would have to come with them and started to drag her to the car. It
was only when her cries brought other villagers running that they let go of
her hand.  The police officer then proceeded to break up the furniture inthe
house, then they all left.

Myingyan Township  Mandalay Division
On 12 June 1996 in Myingyan town, a public denunciation meeting was held.
Thousands of people were forced to attend and told that if they failed to
attend they would be fined kyats 100/- each.  When those who attended could
no longer tolerate what was going on and started pushing their way out
before the meeting  was over, many were hurt.  On June 14th 1996, a
billboard entitled Peoples Desire was put up.  The people were forced to
attend the ceremony: those who failed to attend were fined Kyats 100/- each.

Chanmyathazi Township, Mandalay Division
House owners at Thanlyethmaw Hill Ward were told that they were squatters
and made to dismantle their homes.  Two hundred houses were pulled down and
the occupants made to live in huts.  This was part of a scheme to make
Tetthay-in a scenic beauty spot.

Bohgalay Township, Irrawaddy Division
U Tin Maung chairman of the Bohgalay township NLD organisational committee
was accused of possessing an illegal Thai lottery ticket and sentenced to
nine months in prison.

Zalun Township, Irrawaddy Division
U Myint Kyaing, U Than Nwe and U Soe Myint members of the NLD, were
sentenced to three years imprisonment each under the video act.

Phyapon Township, Irrawaddy Division
U Khin Thaung, a member of the NLD organisational committee was sentenced to
two years in prison, charged with illegal use of electric power.

The case of U Hla Min, NLD Member of Parliament for Kawthaung Tenasserim U
Hla Min was sentenced to seven years in prison under section 5(e).  He was
given no access to counsel and it is still not known what he was supposed to
have done.

The Case of U Saw U Re, NLD Member of Parliament for Phruso, Kayah State. U
Saw U Re was made to resign from the NLD and also his position as an elected
member and then sentenced to seventeen years imprisonment.

The Case of Members of the NLD and others from Pegu Division taken away as
porters for the army.      

On 21st February 1997, at nearly midnight in Taungu, Pegu Division, about
twenty people from the town were taken away by the police and members of the
Ward/Village Law and Order Restoration Councils without any reason given.
Among those taken away were members of the Taungu NLD Township
Organisational Committee: the Chairman, deputy chairman, joint secretary,
treasurer.  The NLD Member of parliament for Taungu U Aung Soe Myint,
managed to get away by jumping down from the car into which the arrested
people had been taken.  Those who were arrested were taken away in army
vehicles on 22 February 1977 to Thandaung.Similarly, eleven people from
Oktwin township and one from Yehashay township, in Pegu Division, were also
taken away.  It is thought that these people have been taken away to act as
porters in the latest military action against the KNU.

The Case of Kyaungon
Dr. Hla Win, NLD member of Parliament representing Kyaungon (2), Mahn Tin
Win, interim Chairman of the NLD organisational committee of Kyaungon
township, and NLD organisational committee chairmen of villages within the
township, U Wa Toke, U San Shein and U Thein Han came to attend the Union
Day ceremony held by the NLD at 54-56 University Avenue, Rangoon on 12
February.  After they went back to Kyangon a township meeting was held on
February 15th.   While the meeting was in progress two carloads of policemen
and military intelligence officers arrived and ran up into the NLD office.
Win Myint, an MI officer, shouted out obscenities and punched and kicked
him.  Then Win Myint proceeded to kick and punch Mahn Tin Win, U Wa Toke, U
Thein Han, U Myint Maung and U saw Lwin, member of parliament for Kyaungon 
(1).  Dr. Hla Win and U Saw Lwin were handcuffed and were taken away to the
police station with fourteen other members of the organisational committee.
A certificate from the NLD office honouring U Thein Han, chairman of the
organisational committee (this is not the same man as the U Thein Han
mentioned above and below), at present serving a sentence in Bassein prison,
minutes of the organisational committee meetings and other papers were taken
away.All sixteen were held at the Kyaungon police station until 17 February,
when all except Dr. Hla Win, U Saw Lwin, U Thein Han, Mahn Tin Win, U Wa
Toke and U San Shein were released.  Charges have been placed against the
six who are still under arrest.

The Enforced Removal of NLD Signboards
The National League for Democracy signboard, put up outside NLD offices, has
been a matter of contention since the founding of the party in 1988.  When
NLD offices with their distinctive signboards mushroomed all over the
country soon after it was registered in September 1988, a regulation was
brought out forbidding village party offices from putting up signboards.
After a discussion between leaders of the NLD and the Multi-Party Elections
Commission in January 1989, it was agreed that signboards could be retained
in village offices where they had already been put up, or where applications
had already been made to the relevant authorities to open an office and put
up a signboard.  In spite of this agreement, the authorities have continued
to harass the NLD over the matter of the signboard, as it is seen as a
strong symbol of public support for the party and of defiance in the face of
intense persecution.  In many cases the putting down of the party signboard
is tantamount to a closing down of the office.

Kachin State
Myitkyina:  On the night of 26 October 1996, U Ba Kyi, a member of the
Kachin State organisational committee and U Kyin Thein, a member of the
Myitkina township organisational committee, were called to the Township Law
and Order Restoration Council.  The chairman of the TLORC told them to take
down the NLD state and Township signboards.  U Ba Kyi and U Kyin Thein
replied that they could not take down the signboards, they would take them
down.  Then the TLORC chairman a magistrate an officer from the legal
department, a police officer and some policemen, with the help of the Ward
Law and Order Restoration Council, took down the NLD signboards.Wainmaw
Township:  On 27 October 11995, NLD member of Parliament from Wainmaw, Maran
Zaw Aung, was summoned by the Chairman of the TLORC and told to take down
the NLD signboard of the township office.  The next day, the signboard was
taken down.

Irrawaddy Division:Ngaputaw:  On 30th November 1995, in Chaungwa village of
Ngaputaw township, the TLORC chairman U Tin Yi, a major and some soldiers of
the 92nd Regiment, Sub Inspector of Police U Than Shwe and some policemen
from Pyinkhayaing village, the whole Chaung-wa VLORC, the voluntary
firebrigade and members of the local Union Solidarity and Development
Association arrived at the house of NLD member of Parliament for Ngaputaw
(1), U David Hla Myint which was also the local NLD office.  The NLD
organisational committee of Chaung-wa had also been brought along.  The
soldiers and policemen had their guns at the ready and forced the NLD
signboard to be taken down.  The members of the NLD refused but they were
forced at gunpoint and under threat of immediate arrest to take down the
signboard.After the signboard had been taken down, the members of the
Ngaputaw NLD organisational committee were rounded up and made to take down
the signboards at village NLD offices within the township: Pyinkhayaing,
Thingangon, Ahtetpyaw. The members of township organisational committee were
then summoned to the TLORC, told that they should take down the NLD
signboards in all the villages and forbidden to hold the ceremony to
commemorate the seventh anniversary of the opening of the Ngaputaw NLD office.  

During the same period, NLD signboards were removed in the following
villages: Kyaukchaung, Kyagan, Phayataung.Ngathaing-chaung:  The NLD
signboard of Ngathaing-chaung had been put up at the house of U Tin Thein,
the chairman of the NLD organisational committee.  Towards the end of 1996,
the TLORC came down and took down the signboard and U Tin Thein put it up
again.  As a result the TLORC tried to arrest U Tin Thein who has since then
been forced to stay away from his home town to avoid arrest.Zalun:  The
TLORC forced the signboard of the Zalun township NLD to be taken down
towards the end of 1996

Kyangin: On 12 September 1996, the NLD signboard at Betye, Khonegyi,
Hseiktha and Yelekyin villages in Kyangin township were taken down on the
orders of the TLORC.Sagaing DivisionButalin:  On 19th August 1996, personnel
from the local military intelligence unit went to the house where the NLD
signboard had been put up and tried, with threats, to force the house owner
to remove the signboard. The owner refused.  On 5th November 1996, Corporal
Tha Hla from the MI came, made threats against the family of the house owner
and tried to force him to remove the NLD signboard.  Again the owner refused.

------------------------------------

TRANSLATION:

C/O The Chairman
Rangoon Organisational Committee
National League for Democracy

ToThe Chairman
National League for Democracy
97/b West Shwegondine StreetBahan Township, 
Rangoon19th February 1997

Reference: Report on Police Case     
I am submitting a report on the case that has been opened at the Thaketa
police station, Rangoon against me, Dr. Than Nyein, deputy-chairman of the
Rangoon Division NLD Organisational Committee.  For the sake of earning a
living for my family, I , a licensed medical practitioner, arranged to open
a consultation room in Thaketa township, Rangoon.

     A relative who lives in 38 Zingama Road in Thaketa township allowed me
to open the clinic free of rent in his house.  Therefore, I went to the
Taheta township health department to make enquiries about the matter.  As
there were no township medical officer (TMO) present, I had discussions with
a lady who was presumably his assistant.  She made arrangements for me to
see the clerk.  I asked (the clerk) how I could get hold of an application
form for opening a consultation room.  He replied that it would not be
possible to get the application form at the moment and that there were
certain preliminary steps to be taken:

1) A clinic registration fee of Kyats 200/- should be put into the account
of the health department at Bank No 3
2) Three passport style photographs of the applicant and-
3) Three photographs of the proposed consultation room were required.

     Consequently, I put into Bank No 3, the Kyats 200/- consultation
registration fee on 20th January 1997. I then proceeded to take care of the
matter of the required photographs of myself and the consultation room.
Although the photographs of myself were easily obtained, the photographs of
the consultation room could be taken only after the consultation room had
been set up.  Therefore, the required medicine cabinet, table, chair, bed,
bench and so on had to be prepared.  Medicines had to be bought.  On 21
January 1997, while preparations were going on for getting the consultation
room ready, some patients came for medical help.  As I have a legitimate
medical practitioners certificate which gives me the right to practice
medicine, and in accordance with  my duty to give medical aid, I attended to
the patients.  On following days as well, I attended to the few patients who
came to the consultation room while I was continuing with my preparations to
open the consultation room.

     I planned to open the consultation room from five 0 clock until eight o
clock every evening except Sunday and public holidays.  Because it was not
light at that time of  day and because there were other tasks to be
performed, I was not able to take photographs of the consultation room. 

     Meanwhile, on 16 February, which was the day when the consultation room
was closed, a group of people including the superintendent of the Thaketa
police station, the township medical officer (TMO) and the ward Law and
Order Restoration Council (WLORC), came to the house where the consultation
room was situated, asked questions and sealed off the medicine cabinet and
the consultation room.  Then the landlord was told to ask me to come on
February 17th at 9 o'clock in the morning.  On 17th February at 9 o'clock in
the morning, I went to the consultation room as told.  At 10 o'clock, the
TMO the superintendent and some members of the WLORC arrived.  The TMO
questioned me with regard to the consultation room and took down my
statements.  I showed the TMO my medical practitioners certificate and the
receipt for the registration fee I had put into Bank No 3.  The
superintendent removed the seal from the cabinet, I asked the TMO why they
were making investigations in this manner and he replied that a case had
been lodged against me at the police station for opening a consultation room
without a licence and that I must close down the consultation room.  I
replied that I would close down the consultation room, locked the cabinet
and walked away.

     On 18 February 1997, I went to the consultation room at the behest of
the landlord and discovered that on the night of February 17th, a group
consisting of fifteen individuals including the TMO and the police
superintendent had come and opened the medical cabinet with a skeleton key,
rummaged through the contents and made a list.  When I went to look into the
matter, I saw that the medicine cabinet was sealed and that the contents
were in a state of disorder.  Therefore I went to the Thaketa police station
and questioned the superintendent on the matter.  He replied that a group
consisting of himself, the TMO and the chairman of the WLORC had been to the
consultation room and sealed the medicine cabinet.  Therefore, I told the
superintendent that as they had acted thus without my knowledge or
permission, I no longer had any responsibility for the contents of the
consultation room or the medicine cabinet and that I could not regard those
contents a my genuine possession.  I also said that I would apply to the
relevant authorities to take action against such a lawless act.  The
superintendent told me that a case had been opened against me under section
9 (1) (c) of the Public Health Regulations of 1972.

By looking at the above occurrence, it is clear that the authorities have
determined with great vindictiveness and in a lawless fashion, to crush all
those working for democracy at different levels of the National League for
Democracy.  I would respectfully like to inform (the Chairman of the NLD),
that whatever I may have to face, until the evil system of dictatorship has
vanished from the face of  Burma and a true democratic system has emerged, I
shall continue with my endeavours and that I am prepared to pay for the
fresh new lives of the future with my own worn existence.

signed. Dr. Than Nyein
Deputy Chairman
Rangoon Division Organisational Committee
National League for Democracy.

------------------------------------

The following document in its original Burmese form was sent to a doctor
with his own consultation room at Syriam.  The doctor sent a copy of the
letter to the NLD to help in the case of Dr. Than Nyein.  It is evident from
this document that there was pre-meditation and careful planning in building
the case against Dr. Than Nyein because he is an active member of the NLD.
(The name of the addressee and the letter number have been omitted to
protect the doctor to whom it was sent)

Union Of Burma
Rangoon Southern District Health Department
People Hospital 
Syriam
Letter no: /kha-ya-ka-ma/ya-ka-ta-kha/tha-la/ka-pa-sa/

date: 21st February 1997

To  ______________


Subject matter:  Registration of Private Consultation Room
Reference:         Decision of meeting of the supervisory board of private
                   consultation rooms held on 21 February  1997 at 9am at
the                    office of the Syriam Township Law and order
Restoration Council

    Although the annual registration fee has been paid for the private
consultation room for which you are responsible, and where you are carrying
out your medical practice, because permission has not yet been received, you
are directed to close it temporarily from 21st February 1997.   



 Signed. Dr. Khin May Nyuant
Hsa-ma- 2769
District Medical Officer
Peoples Hospital 
Syriam

Copy to:
Divisional Medical officer, Rangoon Division, Rangoon
Chairman, District Law and Order Restoration Council. Syriam
Chairman, Township Law and Order Restoration Council, Syriam
Superintendent, Township Police Station, Syrium
Relevant Ward/Village Law and Order Restoration Councils should prevent the
opening of private consultation rooms without registration licenses and
inform the relevant authorities 
Private Consultations Rooms file
Office/floating

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

PRESS RELEASE:NEW STATE BURMA LEGISLATION
March 5, 1997

Douglas Steele    Georgetown University Law Center, 2L
(202) 234-0427    steele@xxxxxxxx

  "The moral arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice."
        M.L. King

Contacts:
- California Assemblywoman Dion Aroner's office (916) 445-7554 (contact:
Hans Hemann)
- Connecticut State Representative Jessie Stratton (860) 240-0449
- Vermont State Representative Mary Sullivan (802) 828-2228
- Bay Area Burma Roundtable:
   Dan Orzech (510) 528-0653; Jane Jerome (408) 467-2721; Pam Wellner (415)
695-1956
- New England Burma Roundtable: Simon Billenness (800) 548-5684
- New York Burma Support Group: Nina Reznick (212) 473-6279; Tom Lansner
(212) 787-3756

California, Connecticut and Vermont legislators propose ban on business
with companies in Burma

At stake: markets worth more than $75 billion

Sacramento, CA -- Following on the heels of laws already passed by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and nearly a dozen U.S. cities and counties,
the California and Connecticut state legislatures recently introduced bills
to ban contracts with companies which do business in the Southeast Asian
country of Burma.
	A similar Burma purchasing bill will be introduced in the Vermont state
legislature shortly. Yesterday, New York City held a second round of
hearings on its Burma purchasing bill, which is co-sponsored by 13 of the
city's 50 city council members.
	If all the legislation proposed so far passes, the total market closed to
companies which do business in Burma would exceed $75 billion dollars.  The
1996-97  California state budget alone is $45 billion.
 	Burma's annual Gross National Product, according to estimates by the U.S.
Embassy in Rangoon, is less than $5 billion.
	A Burma purchasing bill was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor
William Weld in June, 1996.  Similar laws have been passed by San Francisco,
Oakland, Berkeley, Santa Monica and Alameda County, California, as well as
by smaller cities such as Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Takoma Park, Maryland.
	In response to existing Burma laws, many corporations -- including Eastman
Kodak, Hewlett Packard, Apple Computer, Motorola and Phillips Electronics --
have already pulled out of Burma.

CONTRACTS IN THE MILLIONS
The Burma purchasing laws apply equally to all companies doing business in
Burma, regardless of where they are incorporated.  Ericsson of Sweden and
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries both lost multi-million dollar
contracts with the city of San Francisco in part because of their
investments in Burma.
	Other companies which have pulled out of Burma amid consumer and
shareholder pressure include PepsiCo, Amoco, J. Crew, Macy's, Heineken,
Carslberg, Disney, Wente Vineyards, Columbia Sportswear, Liz Claiborne and
Eddie Bauer.  Levi-Strauss & Co., which pulled out of Burma in 1992, said
"it is not possible to do business in Burma without directly supporting the
military government and its pervasive violations of human rights."
	Burma's military dictatorship, one of the most bloody and repressive
regimes in the world, has refused to let the country's democratically
elected government -- which won 82% of the seats in Parliament -- take
office.   The generals in Burma are highly dependent on foreign investment,
both for buying arms and for laundering drug money.  According to the U.S.
State Department, more than sixty percent of the heroin found on the streets
of American cities comes from Burma.
 	The South Africa movement of the 1980s demonstrated the effectiveness of
state and local laws in bringing about political change in another country.
In 1976, Madison, Wisconsin passed the first anti-apartheid legislation. In
1994 -- after 30 states and nearly 150 cities, counties and school districts
in the United States had passed similar laws -- Nelson Mandela was elected
president of South Africa.  California, Connecticut and Vermont all passed
anti-apartheid legislation in the 1980s.

A LUCKY NUMBER
The California Burma bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Dion Aroner of
Oakland on February 21st.  "As an elected official and an American, I am
appalled by the contempt the generals in Burma have shown for democracy,"
says Aroner.  "If corporations choose to do business with these dictators,
they are free to do so.  But the people of California have the right to
freely choose our suppliers, and we choose to do business with companies
that respect democracy."
 	The Burma bill in California is Assembly Bill 888.   Bill numbers in the
California legislature are assigned sequentially, but the assignment of the
number 888 is considered auspicious by the Burmese democracy movement.  The
first pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma began at 8:00 a.m. on August 8,
1988: the eighth day of the eighth month of 1988, and the movement is known
as the 8-8-88 movement.  "The generals in Burma take numerology seriously,"
says Jane Jerome, of the Bay Area Burma Roundtable.  "We hope this bill's
number is a good omen for the cause of democracy in Burma."

MOVEMENT SPREADS ABROAD
The legislation in the three states is a setback to hopes by the Japanese
government and the European Commission to use an obscure World Trade
Organization agreement on government procurement to stifle state purchasing
laws targeting Burma and other countries accused of human rights abuses.
City and county legislation is not affected by the WTO agreement.
	The Japanese and European attack on the Massachusetts Burma bill has drawn
a storm of criticism from the Massachusetts congressional delegation, labor
unions, and citizen groups, and has spurred Burma activists in Holland,
Belgium, Australia and South Africa to announce plans to introduce similar
laws in their countries.  "If the World Trade Organization agreements had
been used against South Africa purchasing laws, Nelson Mandela might still
be in prison today," said Connecticut State Representative Jessie Stratton.

Current Burma Purchasing laws

Berkeley, CA
Madison, WI
Santa Monica, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
San Francisco, CA
Oakland, CA
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Takoma Park, MD
Carrboro, NC
Alameda County, CA
Boulder, CO
Chapel Hill, NC

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ANNOUNCEMENT: GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA, MARCH 16, 1997
February 27, 1997

This is a call for all Burma activists to get the information out on this
Global Day of Prayer.
The national churches in Thailand and Christians Concerned for Burma (an
inter-denominational and international group) invite you to participate.
PLEASE HELP TO MAKE THIS A HUGE EVENT  ALL AROUND THE WORLD!

Materials are available:
*Poster/flyer (beautiful!)
*Prayer and Study Guide "A day without Fear, A Life Without Fear"
  ( a week's worth of reflections on justice, freedom, etc-very universal)
*Suggestions for Worship
*Liturgy
*Children's Messages
*Bulletin insert
Hopefully all faiths, be they Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, etc can
modify these materials to their individual needs.

Hopefully each one of us can get this into the hands of at least 10 people
so that the word may spread. The television stations here are interested
if the day grows into a large event. Many people in Thailand will be
standing and praying at the border also.
Materials will be available by: web site, fax, and mail

Please advise how you wish to obtain them from us.
Rev. David Eubank- Coordinator
Christians Concerned for Burma
P.O. Box 48, Chaing Mai, 50000 Thailand
EMAIL: ccb@xxxxxxxxx

USA contact for materials & updates
Dana Dean
fax 206-842-5557, Ph 206-842-0883
EMAIL: dring@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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ANNOUNCEMENT: SATURDAY CONFERENCE ON BURMA, 
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY,
Kutztown, PA
February 28, 1997

Date:  Saturday, 5 April 1997
Time:  9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Speakers and Panelists:  To be announced
Program:  See attachment
Sponsor: Berks Peace Community, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Note:  Help is being solicited from Burma activists, scholars, students,
labor unions, and the peace and social justice communities in this
region to publicize and participate in this conference.

Purpose of Conference:  The Conference is intended to draw the attention
of the public in Southeastern Pennsylvania and neighboring regions to
human rights violations in Burma, to inform our local public of
the intolerable conditions in Burma, and to facilitate networking of
activists in this region to support movements to secure freedom for the
peoples of Burma.

Call for response:  If you and/or colleagues can attend the conference,
and/or participate in the organizing, speaking, publicity, or other
contributions, please e-mail me, and/or John Abrahall, as soon as
possible. My telephone # (live answering service: 610 286-6787 fax 610
373 6299) and email: >nelham@xxxxxxx<.

The Program is as follows:

>  John Abrahall of the Berks Peace Community and Bullfrog filmshas drawn up
the following program:

9:30  Introduction
10:00 Video "Inside Burma - Land of Fear"  This will be the U.S.
Premiere of this award-winning documentary shown on British television,
written and presented by John Pilger, produced and directed  by David
Munro. Carlton UK Productions.
11:00 Break
11:15 Panel 1           Topic: History
12:15 Lunch
1:15  Panel 2           Topic: Current Conditions
2:15  Break
2:30  Panel 3           Topic: Strategies for Activists
3:30  Conference Closes

Expected registration fee: $5.00<

Furthers details as to speakers, news releases, participants, a map,
dining arrangements, a flyer, etc., will be sent to you as they develop.

In peace,
John Sellers

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

CHIN WOMEN'S ORGANISATION: CHIN SCHOOL IN INDIA 
March 2, 1997

Chin Displaced Women's Primary School has been opened in Aizawl, Mizoram
state, India on 19th October 1996.
More than twenty thousand Chin families have been staying in this north 
eastern state of India since the Burmese Army's take over in 1988. Most 
of the children of these families have been growing without proper 
schooling since then.
At the moment, the school is more like a grammar school. Volunteer 
teachers have been teaching Burmese and Chin so that the children 
can read and write first. (Though we want to teach them English too, we 
cannot afford to hire an English teacher yet.)
As we cannot afford to rent a room, we have been using a small flat of a 
Chin refugee as our class room. The students sit on the floor and write 
on their laps.
Due to limited resouces, we can take only 37 students (29 children and 
eight adults) this year. If you can help us, we would like to take more 
students.
Our aims and objectives are:
1) To give education to the Chin displaced people so that they develop  
   Burma in the future.
2) To teach the displaced people Chin, Burmese and English languages.
3) To promote and preserve our language and literature.
A Chin refugee said that it was too hard to survive in this foreign land 
when she could not read signboards written in English and when she could 
not read, write or speak even "one-two-three" in English.
We would like to request everyone to provide us with assistance for this 
primary school so that we can run it better and continuously.

Zatawni
Chairperson, Chin Womens Organisation
Aizawl, Mizoram, India.

Contact address: Mrs Zatawni
		 C/O Dr. Za Hlei Thang
  		 Down Queen Colour Photo
		 Zion Street, Aizawl,
		 Mizoram 796 001
    		 India

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