Letter to Australian Foreign Minist (r)

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: LETTER TO AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (20/5/97)


/* Written 23 May 10:30pm 1997 by drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* ----------" Letters to Aust. Foreign Minister (20/5/97) "--------- */

TO OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTRALIA:

Following are letters to Minister Downer by me and by Community Aid Abroad
Support Group in Stirling, Adelaide (The CAA Support Group is a local
grassroots independent advocacy group, obviously support CAA but is
independent of the CAA.), calling for Australian Government to take
measures against SLORC/ Embassy in Canberra. 

>From what I have gathered, Australia and Burma do not have a direct exchange
of military attaches. The Australian mission in Bangkok, however, have the
military attache who taken care of responsibility for Burma. Anyway, the
Australian Government should be urged to officially withdraw such
responsibility for Burma.

It reported that there have been quite a few visits of Burmese military
personnel to Australia since 1988. A visa ban would directly effect those
people. There are also un-confirmed reports of military intelligence
entering Australia in the guise of businessmen or student. Lets kick the
hell out of those unsavoury elements from Australia.

PLEASE SEND YOUR FAX TO:
------------------------
FOREIGN MINISTER:             HON. ALEXANDER DOWNER    (06) 273-4112
AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS:         HON. VICKI BOURNE    (02) 9294-9681
(Senator Vicki Bourne is Australian Democrats spokeperson on human rights
and foreign affairs. Add. G.P.O. Box 36, Sydney NSW 2001.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr U Ne Oo
48/2 Ayliffes Road
St Marys SA 5042

May 20, 1997.

Hon. Alexander Downer
Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2601

Dear Mr Downer,

Firstly, I should like to thank you and Australian Government for your
generous financial support to the Karen refugees at the Thai-Burmese
border. Such a kind help from Australians to our refugees in these
difficult time of needs will always be remembered by the Burmese people.

I am writing to you in the support of Australian Government banning the
entry visa for military personnel from Burma. I also urge Australian
Government not to delegate military attache to Burma. There has been
concerns by Burmese community in Australia on the report of Burma military
intelligence arriving  Australia. In the past, it is of my knowledge
that the Burmese Embassy in Canberra had been an instrument in intimidating
the Burmese community who mainly support the democracy movement. I request
you to issue warning to Burmese Embassy for their behaviour and ask them to
send their military intelligence personnal back to Burma.

I am in agreement with you that Australian investment in Burma has been of
a small amount and will not make significant impact by banning the
investment. In anyway, the lack of legal and financial infrastructure in
Burma has also made the situation not conducive to a good investment.
Therefore, it will be appropriate to advise the business community in
Australia not to invest a large sum of money in Burma.

Finally, I thank you for your consideration to these matters. Continuing
help from Australian Government to our refugees and Burma democracy
movement are very much appreciated by the Burmese people.

Yours respectfully and sincerely,
Sd.(U Ne Oo)

**************** LETTER SAMPLE FROM CAA-STIRLING GROUP *************

4.5.97
Community Aid Abroad, Stirling Group
President, Divid Ferrie,
Stirling 5153

Hon Mr Alexander Downer, MHR,
76 Mount Barker Road,
Stirling, 5152.

Dear Minister,
                        THE BURMA CRISIS
                        ----------------
I/we applaud Australia's actions in condemning the military government of
Burma and in supporting refugees at the Thailand-Burma border. The generous
support given recently to the Burmese refugees reflect Australia's humane
and principled stand on the issue of human rights in Burma.

Nevertheless, Australia could do more to help solve the current political
impasse in Burma, by officially supporting the democratically elected party
of Aung San Suu Kyi, and giving formal diplomatic recognition to the
leadership of the National League for Democracy.

We would like to suggest that the first step of this process could be to
expel the military attache in the Burmese embassy in Canberra and to impose
a ban on entry visas for the Burmese military junta's officials. I/we would
strongly support the Australian Government in any action it took against
the military junta in Myanmar.

Yours faithfully,
(**********)

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