[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
The BurmaNet News, May 22, 1997
- Subject: The BurmaNet News, May 22, 1997
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 02:31:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: May 22, 1997
Issue #728
HEADLINES:
==========
REUTER: BURMA ARRESTS AT LEAST 50 OPPOSITION MEMBERS
VOA: BURMA/REACT
REUTER: THAILAND IMPOSES CURFEW ON KAREN REFUGEE
MONLAND RESTORATION COUNCIL: MON INFORMATION
KNU: SKIRMISHES
AP: BURMA INVESTMENT BAN TAKES EFFECT
BKK POST: AMNESTY WORRIED OVER KILLINGS
BKK POST:15,000 LOGS SMUGGLED IN
THE NATION: PANEL PROBES DECISION TO GRANT LI BAIL
BKK POST: THAIS WERE SLOW TO ACT IN LI CASE
BKK POST: COURT ORDERS LI TO STAND TRIAL IN US
USA ENGAGE PRESS STATEMENT: SANCTIONS
CPJ LETTERS: PRESS RESTRICTIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
REUTER: BURMA ARRESTS AT LEAST 50 OPPOSITION MEMBERS
May 21, 1997
By Deborah Charles
BANGKOK, May 21 (Reuter) - At least 50 senior members of Aung San Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy (NLD) party have been arrested by Burma's
military government, a senior NLD official said on Wednesday.
"Our members of parliament (MPs) and some of our members are being arrested
ahead of the (May) 27th election anniversary," the NLD official told Reuters
from Rangoon.
He said the NLD had heard that at least 50 elected MPs or NLD organisers
had been detained over the past few days as they headed to the capital to
participate in a celebration commemorating the 1990 electoral victory of
the party.
He said the NLD expected to hear of more arrests in the next few days.
The NLD won a landslide victory in May 27, 1990 elections but the ruling
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) never recognised the result
of the poll.
Last May about 261 elected MPs and senior members of the NLD were detained
by the government on their way to attend a party congress timed to coincide
with the anniversary of the 1990 election win.
The NLD official said about 200 MPs had been invited to the celebration
this year, and about 100 senior NLD party members were also expected to
attend.
"Some of those who were about to leave for Rangoon were detained and not
allowed to come," he said. "In the Karen State, MPs were asked by the
authorities not to move from their houses. They are using different ways to
stop them from coming."
He said other MPs reported they were followed on a bus from their homes in
northern Burma, and once they arrived in Rangoon were told to return home or
they would be arrested.
Government officials were not immediately available for comment on the
arrests.
Last May the SLORC said it had only detained the NLD members for
questioning and said it was holding them temporarily in order to avoid
anarchy. It later released most of them although some were charged and
given long prison sentences.
The May meeting last year was to be the first time all elected members of
parliament were due to meet Suu Kyi since she was released from six years
of house arrest in July 1995.
In September another attempt by the NLD to hold a party congress was
thwarted by the SLORC, which arrested up to 800 NLD members and supporters
and set up armed barricades to prevent access to Suu Kyi's house, where the
meeting was to be held.
The latest series of arrests comes one day after U.S. President Bill
Clinton imposed economic sanctions on Burma. The United States is the
fourth largest investor in Burma.
Clinton, who announced the sanctions last month, officially imposed the ban
on all new U.S. investment in Burma on Tuesday, citing "severe repression"
in the country.
The United States and many Western nations have criticised Burma's military
rulers of human rights abuses and for failing to recognise the election of
the NLD.
[excerpts from related articles]
---------------------------------------------------------
AP: BURMA ARRESTING SUU KYI SUPPORTERS
May 21, 1997
RANGOON, Burma (AP) --.Several of Suu Kyi's party members are taking
refuge in her lakeside Rangoon compound in hopes of avoiding arrest, said
Kyi Maung, vice chairman of the National League for Democracy.
Burmese intelligence officials, who spoke only on condition of anonymity,
confirmed that arrests were taking place but would not say how many
democratic activists had been detained.
``Arrests of several NLD supporters and members of parliament have started
in various parts of the country,'' Kyi Maung said.
Diplomats said on condition of anonymity that arrests were taking place in
Mandalay, Sagaing and Irawaddy Divisions plus Mon State, all far-flung
provinces of Burma.
Party leaders have told members to stay home and not attempt to make to
Rangoon for the congress.
Attempts to reach Suu Kyi were unsuccessful. Her telephone line has been cut
by the authorities and troops have been blocking the roads to her home for
several months.
Although diplomats and supporters are occasionally allowed in to see her,
aides describe the restrictions on her movements and contacts as virtual
house arrest.
Military intelligence officials said during last year's arrests that they
feared Suu Kyi and her supporters were intending to set up a ``parallel
government.''
NLD officials said they had no such design, knowing it would provoke a
crackdown.
**************************************
VOA: BURMA/REACT
May 21, 1997 [abridged]
Dan Robinson
Amnesty International (Wednesday) called for the immediate and unconditional
release of those detained. A statement said the Burmese military is "bent
on crushing" the peaceful activities of the NLD. Donna Guest is Amnesty
spokeswoman in London:
/// Guest act ///
It is a bit surprising because it seemed as if the military had suppressed
the NLD to such an extent that they were no longer threatened by them. But
this doesn't appear to be the case. It seems as if the Slorc (state law and
order restoration council), the military authorities, still have a lot of
fears about the NLD -- particularly involving meetings which acknowledge
their (the democracy movement's) election victory.
/// end act ///
Referring to Southeast Asian countries -- who may soon admit Burma to their
regional organization (Asean) -- Amnesty says the arrests demonstrate again
that diplomatic and economic engagement has not made Burma's military less
repressive.
The arrests came as President Clinton was issuing the formal order banning
new investment in Burma by US companies -- and about one week before Asean
ministers meet to make a final decision on membership for Burma, Cambodia
and Laos.
Publicly, Asean leaders -- particularly those from Indonesia and Malaysia --
have said neither US sanctions nor pressure from Washington will stop Burma
from being admitted.
The United States, a key dialogue partner with Asean, opposes Burma's
membership. In condemning the latest arrests, State Department spokesman
Nicholas Burns said it was "a shame" Asean has not given more support to the
US position:
/// Burns act ///
You would think that budding democracies in Southeast Asia would want to
stand up for democracy in Burma. You know, if we have to stand alone
sometimes -- in Burma, in Iran -- we'll do it because we are a democratic
country and we do believe in human rights around the world.
/// end act ///
// opt // Donna Guest of Amnesty International says the latest crackdown may
reflect the sense of confidence Burma's military feels. However, she says
the new arrests -- coming so close to an important Asean meeting -- may
subject Rangoon to additional behind-the-scenes pressure.
/// Guest act ///
I think all the Asean countries will be talking to Burma and saying this
really doesn't make any of us look good.
/// end act - end opt ///
In a VOA interview (Wednesday), the head of the exile National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) said the latest arrests show
Burma's military has no intention of easing pressure on the NLD. (signed)
***************************************
REUTER: U.S. SAYS "SLORC ARRESTS SHOW REGIME'S INHUMANITY"
May 21, 1997 [excerpt only]
WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuter) - The United States said on Wednesday Burma's
arrest of some 50 senior opposition figures demonstrated the ``perfidious
and inhumane nature'' of the Asian country's military government.
``This is yet one more example of the perfidious and inhumane nature of the
Burmese regime,'' said State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns. ``It's
another reason why we don't think that Burma ought to be treated as a normal
country.''
**********************************
REUTER: THAILAND IMPOSES CURFEW ON KAREN REFUGEE CAMPS
May 21, 1997
UMPHANG, Thailand, May 21 (Reuter) - The district chief of the Thai border
town of Umphang on Wednesday imposed a curfew banning night access to two
refugee camps which shelter thousands of Karen refugees.
District chief Charoen Singhayahu said he ordered the 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
curfew to maintain order at the Taperu and Nu Pho camps, which house more
than 13,000 Karen refugees.
The order comes a day after Burma refused to take back 1,200 refugees who
wanted to return to their homeland, a Thai army source said.
The refugees had previously informed refugee officials they were willing to
return home and Burma originally agreed to take them back but then changed
its mind, the source said.
Nearly 100,000 Karen refugees, mostly family members and followers of the
rebel Karen National Union (KNU) group, have been living in sprawling camps
in Thailand since 1984.
But thousands of the refugees, used to living under KNU patronage, were
beginning to feel insecure and have left the camps recently after the
guerrilla organisation began to lose power, Thai military and refugee
sources said.
The KNU, which has been fighting since 1948 for greater autonomy from
Rangoon, suffered a major setback earlier this year when Burmese troops
sacked its major mobile bases inside Burma.
Hundreds of refugees have returned to Burma and thousands of others have
left the camps to work as cheap labour in Thai cities, refugee and Thai
military sources said.
Refugees who used to commute freely between the camps are now under strict
supervision by the Thai authorities, who have warned that a lack of order
poses a threat to national security.
The army source said the curfew in the two camps would eventually apply to
all 12 camps in Tak province, which borders Burma.
*********************************************
MONLAND RESTORATION COUNCIL: MON INFORMATION UPDATE
May 21, 1997
After the two Mon refugee camps at the Mergui area were burnt down by
Slorc's troops on April 27, 1997, the New Mon State Party leaders plan to
move these refugees to Halockhanee camp,which is located opposite
Kanchanaburi province. However, those refugees refused to move. They would
like to stay there. Halockhanee camp is also in danger now. According to
the Mon National Releif Committee, the camp is being controlled under
SLORC's troops. The border crossing point is being closed by SLORC. So,
refugees cannot run to Thai soil. SLORC also prohibites the Mon National
Relief Committee from giving aid and assistances to the camp. The MNRC is
worried about the situation of refugees in the camp. Now, the New Mon State
Party is negotiating with SLORC to withdraw its troops from the camp.
Pon Nya
Monland Restoration Council
*************************************
KNU: SKIRMISHES
May 21, 1997
BATTLES NEWS
1.5.97
(KNLA NO.(5)Brigade, KNDO No.(1)BN, Mutraw District Area) KNLA troops
attacked SLORC troops at Ler Mu Plaw. One SLORC soldier was killed.
(KNLA No.(1)Brigade, Thaton district) At 2010 hours, KNLA troops attacked
SLORC troops at Kye Bu village. One SLORC Seargent was killed. KNLA troops
captured one carbine, (29) rounds of ammo, (1) long magazine.
2.5.97
(KNLA No.(2)Brigade, Taungoo District Area) At 1210 hours, KNLA troops
attacked LIB (53) at a position between Ku Ler Der and Naw Soe. Two SLORC
soldiers were injured.
(KNLA No.(5), KNDO No.(1)BN, Thaton district Area) A clash broke out between
KNLA troops and SLORC troops at Sue Khee village. One SLORC soldier was killed.
(KNLA No.(1)Brigade, Thaton district Area) A battle broke out between KNLA
troops and LIR (203) at Ka Ner Khaw Khee. Casualties are unknown.
3.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) At 1445 hours, KNLA troops
attacked SLORC troops at Pain Taw Chaung. Four SLORC soldiers were killed
and four SLORC soldiers were injured. At the same day, SLORC troops stepped
on a KNLA mine. One SLORC soldier was injured.
(KNLA No.(103BN, Area) At 1300 hours, SLORC troops stepped on a KNLA mine at
Au Kay Klo. One SLORC soldier lost his leg.
4.5.97
(KNLA No.(7)Brigade, Paan district Area) At 1245 hours, KNLA troops attacked
SLORC troops at K'ser Klo village. At 1740 hours, a clash broke out between
KNLA troops and SLORC troops at Kaw Klee. At 1920 hours, KNLA troops
attacked SLORC troops at Kaw Kway. Casualties are unknown.
6.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) At 0745 hours and 1200
hours, two clashes broke out between the KNLA troops and SLORC troops at
Paung Seik. Six SLORC soldiers were killed and three SLORC soldier were
injured. At the same day, SLORC troops stepped on a KNLA mine. One SLORC
soldier was injured.
7.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, No.(12)BN, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) At 1430 hours,
a battle broke out between the KNLA troops and SLORC troops at No.(12)BN,
Headquarter. Four SLORC soldiers were killed and five SLORC soldiers were
injured. Including one Second Lieutenant was injured.
8.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, No.(12)BN, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) At 1730 hours a
battle broke out between the KNLA troops and SLORC troops at No.(3) Company
base camp. The battle lasted (30) minutes, three SLORC soldiers were killed
and five SLORC soldiers were injured.
(KNLA No.(1)Brigade, Thaton district Area) At 2030 hours, KNLA troops
attacked SLORC troops at Kyo Waing village. Nine SLORC soldiers were killed.
(KNLA No.(103)BN, Area) SLORC troops stepped on three KNLA mines at the
position between Kwee Ta Au and Kwee Ta Hoe. Three SLORC soldiers lost their
legs.
(KNLA No.(1)Brigade, Thaton District Area) At 0900 hours, KNLA troops
attacked SLORC troops at a position between Htee Pa Doh village and Kyo
Waing. One SLORC soldier was injured.
(KNLA No.(103)BN, Area) At 1300 hours, SLORC troops stepped on a KNLA mine
at Bu Baw Kyo. One SLORC soldier lost his leg.
10.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade,No.(12)BN, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) At 0730 hours, a
battle broke out KNLA troops and SLORC troops at No.(12)BN Headquarter. Five
SLORC soldiers were killed and seven SLORC soldiers were injured.
11.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, No.(12)BN, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) SLORC troops
stepped on three KNLA mines at No.(12)BN HQ. One SLORC soldiers was killed
and three SLORC soldiers were injured.
(KNLA No.(7)Brigade, Paan district Area) SLORC troops stepped on two KNLA
mines at Der Wah Kaw and Par Klu. Two SLORC soldiers lost their legs.
12.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, No.(12)BN, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) SLORC troops
stepped on a KNLA mine at No.(12)BN HQ. One SLORC soldier was injured.
13.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, No.(12)BN, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) SLORC troops
stepped on a KNLA mine at No.(12)BN HQ. One SLORC soldier was injured.
16.5.97
(KNLA No.(4)Brigade, No.(12)BN, Merguie/Tavoy district Area) At 0815 hours
and 1400 hours, SLORC troops stepped on two KNLA mines at No.(12)BN HQ. Two
SLORC soldiers were injured.
KNLA = Karen National Liberation Army
KNDO = Karen National Defence Organization
SLORC = State Law and Order Restoration Council
LIR = Light Infantry Regeiment
LIB = Light Infantry Battalion
KNU Information Center
********************************************
AP: BURMA INVESTMENT BAN TAKES EFFECT
May 21, 1997 [excerpts only]
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- President Clinton's executive order starting the
sanctions was signed Tuesday in Washington.
The president announced the sanctions April 22 because of Burma's increased
repression of its democracy movement. Clinton also accused
Burma of being the world's leading producer of opium and heroin.
Other U.S. companies apparently proceeded with Burmese business deals even
after the sanctions announcement.
Last Friday, InterDigital Communications Corp. of King of Prussia, Pa.,
signed a $250 million digital wireless systems contract with Myanmar
Posts and Telecommunications, Burma's state telephone company.
The signing was not reported by Burma's state-owned press, and the U.S.
Embassy in Rangoon was unaware of it.
************************************
BKK POST: AMNESTY WORRIED OVER EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS
My 20, 1997
AFP
Twenty-nine shot by police in six months
Thailand's human rights record has improved since the May 1992 crackdown on
protesters which left at least 52 dead, but a rise in extrajudicial killings
is cause for concern, Amnesty International said in a report due for release
today.
Some 29 people have reportedly been shot dead since November 1996 in a
"marked increase" in police shootings of criminal subjects,, the human
rights watchdog said in the report.
"Police often appear to operate with impunity, and are widely regarded as
accountable to no one, sometimes even including the government itself,"
while people investigating abuses had been intimidated and harassed, it
added."Corruption among police is common, and reportedly includes largescale
bribe taking," Amnesty said.
Other human rights worries included the forcible return of Burmese refugees
and the continued detention of refugees and asylum-seekers in poor
conditions, "sometimes amounting to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,"
as well as a death penalty remaining on the books.
Amnesty has asked Thailand to set up an effective national human rights
commission, abolish the death penalty and ensure that refugees were "not
sent back to face danger in their home countries."
In a report titled "Thailand: Human Rights in Tansition," Amnesty
International said the government had taken several positive steps to
strengthen protection for human rights in the past five years.
Stronger, more vocal governmental organisations and a relatively free press
had also contributed to curbing violations, it said.
But it urged the government to ensure that law enforcement officers used
force and firearms only " as a last resort in self-defence" and that all
case of extrajudicial killings were "promptly and independently investigated."
The report cited a widespread belief in Thailand that police had instituted
"a de facto shoot-to-kill policy to deal with suspected (drug) traffickers"
and in some case had shot dead suspects who had already sur rendered.
It noted that police officers were "almost never convicted of crimes related
to extrajudicial killings."
The most notorious recent incident took place last November 27 when police
shot dead six men they said were amphetamine traffickers.
The bodies were cremated without autopsy ad the house burned down to
eliminate evidence, the Amnesty report claimed.
It also mentioned the cases of three ethnic Karen refugees from Burma who
were shot dead by Thai forestry officials in August last year, and two
Muslim religious leaders in southern Thailand who were killed by police the
same month. (BP)
*******************************************************
BKK POST:15,000 LOGS SMUGGLED IN
May,20,1997
Cheewin Sattha, from Mae Hong Son
Checkpoint breached after Burma revokes deal with Thai firm
A large quantity of Burmese logs have been smuggled into the Muang district
of this northern border province after Rangoon recently revoked a contract
to sell lumber to a Thai logging company, a border official revealed yesterday.
More than 15,000 logs have been smuggled from Burma into Thailand by a group
of Thai businessmen through Ban Huay Pueng district since last Thursday.
The lumber was transported out of Burma by three trucks covered with
tarpaulin sheets and taken to a warehouse in Mae Sariang district and other
provinces.
The move came after the Burmese government refused to sell more logs to
Chiang Mai Boonsawat & Friend Company which allegedly breached a contract on
the construction of roads in Shan state of Burma, especially a road across
the Salween river to Ban Ho Mong.
On Saturday, local police nabbed two provincial volunteers who tried to stop
two logging trucks which illegally passed Mae Sariang Checkpoint by firing
gunshots at the trucks.
A source, who requested anonymity, said a group of logging business
operators might be behind the arrest of the two volunteers.
In another development, a border official said representatives from Rangoon
and the Karenni National Progressive Party will meet early next month to
negotiate the deliveries of the logs out of KNPP- held areas in Kayah
State.(BP)
*******************************************************
THE NATION: PANEL PROBES DECISION TO GRANT LI BAIL
May 21, 1997
By Opas Boonlom
SUSPENSE is in the air as investigators planning to wrap up the bail jumping
case of key heroin trafficking suspect Li Yun-chung in the next few days are
pondering a sensitive possibility was anyone else involved apart from an
accused judge?
The three-member judicial committee investigating Deputy Criminal Court
Chief Justice Somchai Udomwong is expected to reach a conclusion before Li's
extradition to the United States, scheduled for June 3 or 4.
The panel members have been tight-lipped amid widespread speculation created
by the so-called ''confession" of the heroin suspect. Somchai, who signed
Li's bail request on February 7, strongly defended his decision as having
been made in good faith.
Criminal Court Chief Justice Pradit Ek-manee yesterday declined to comment
on reports that Li's information, which has been tightly guarded, implicated
other senior persons in the alleged bribery scandal.
He urged the public to be patient, saying that Li's two-hours before the
committee on Monday was ''very useful" to the probe and that the
investigation was crucial to improving the image of the Thai judicial system.
Pradit said the panel had to be fair to all parties concerned and would try
to obtain as much information as possible in order to establish the facts.
''Li's testimony concerning whoever he has implicated can be used as
evidence in court. Those who were involved in Li's escape could be
prosecuted and Li Yun-chung does not have to appear as a witness in court,"
he said.
Pradit declined to comment when asked to confirm a report that Somchai and
another deputy Criminal Court chief judge had called on him to tell him that
a ''powerful person" had requested that Li be granted bail.
He said that regardless of whether the motive behind the decision to release
Li was ''bribery or a request, it constituted a disciplinary offence"
because there was an ulterior motive. ''Only the punishment would vary in
those cases," he said.
Informed sources said Li had been very cooperative in providing information
as well as naming persons involved in his flight from the law. The sources
said there were a few more people scheduled to give their testimonies before
the probe was concluded in the next few days.
Pol Lt Gen Nopadol Somboonsub, commissioner of the Police Narcotics
Suppression Bureau, said he had been in touch with the US Drug Enforcement
Administration to coordinate Li's extradition, scheduled for June 3 or 4.
Nopadol said Li had provided crucial information about a major heroin
trafficking network linked to former opium warlord Khun Sa, the way he had
fled Thailand, and the amount of money spent in the process of being granted
bail.
Li's release on bail and his subsequent flight to Burma caused a major
scandal over who was involved in the conspiracy. Li was re-captured in Burma
and extradited to Thailand last Saturday after close coordination between
the drug suppression officers of the two countries.(TN)
******************************************************
BKK POST: THAIS WERE SLOW TO ACT IN LI CASE, SAYS BURMA
May 21, 1997
AFP
First request came in May, says junta
Burma suggested yesterday that Thailand had been less than diligent in
seeking the return of a drug suspect who fled Thai custody to avoid extradition.
Burma also denied Li Yun-chung had almost immediately crossed the border and
had travelled unhindered in Burma, saying he was detained three days after
entering the country.
Li, under US indictment for involvement in a shipment of 486kg of heroin
seized in California in 1991, was granted bail in February, shortly before
he was to appear in a Thai court as part of the extradition process. He then
disappeared.
A Burmese government official said from Rangoon, the Li had been detained
?three days after he entered our country, that is in April.?
?Because no responsible department from Thailand approached Myanmar
authorities for assistance related to the arrest of Li, nothing was done at
that time,? he said.
?Only during the first week of May, authorities from Thailand contacted our
Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control for assisting them in capturing
Li,? he said.
A follow-up visit to Rangoon by a Thai police general led Burma to decide to
hand the suspect over ?with a clear conscience that we are not involved in
anything relating to this matter and we have nothing to do with Li?, he said.
Last Saturday, Burma said it was returning Li in the interest of bilateral
relations and ?with the aim of contributing towards the success and
effectiveness of the fight against narcotics in the region?.
The statements from Rangoon appeared aimed at highlighting the junta's
stated efforts against drug trafficking, analysts said.
Despite a recent US decision to tighten economic sanctions on Burma over its
human rights practices, Rangoon handed over the suspect in full awareness of
the fact he would be extradited to the US, the official said.
Rangoon has, however, consistently rejected US calls for the extradition of
Khun Sa, the former Shan state drug lord.
Thai and Burmese authorities appeared to differ over Li's border crossing.
On March 18, the top police officer in the North of Thailand said he had
witness reports that Li had crossed at the Mae Sai-Tachilek checkpoint
?several times? and that he was staying in Burma. (BP)
******************************************
BKK POST: COURT ORDERS LI TO STAND TRIAL IN US
May 20, 1997
Handover expected after 15-day appeal period has expired
THE Criminal Court ordered the extradition of Li Yun-Chung yesterday to
fight drug trafficking charges in the United States.
The order was issued after the suspect waived his right to fight extradition
proceedings brought against him by the public prosecutors on the request of
the US government.
However, the handover of Li, accused of importing 486kg of heroin into
Hayward, California, will not take place for 15 days in which he has the
right to appeal against the court order.
The verdict was read to Li at 4 pm., two days after Burmese authorities
handed him over to Thailand during Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh''s
visit to Rangoon May 16-17.
In a statement yesterday, Li told the Criminal Court he had waived all
rights to fight the extradition proceedings and asked that he be quickly
sent to trail in the US.
"I am innocent. I believe I will be treated fairly under the US justice
system," said Li on emerging from a courtroom heavily guarded by policemen
and Corrections Department officials.
******************************************
USA ENGAGE PRESS STATEMENT: SANCTIONS DISAPPOINTMENT
May 20, 1997
http://www.usaengage.org/index.html
For Immediate Release
May 20, 1997
USA*ENGAGE Disappointed in Declaration
of National Emergency
Washington, D.C. -- "The use of the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (IEEPA) to implement unilateral sanctions against Burma is extremely
disappointing and will only end up hurting American interests," said Frank
Kittredge, Vice Chair of USA*ENGAGE and President of the National Foreign
Trade Council.
IEEPA allows the president to declare a national emergency when there is an
"unusual and extraordinary threat" to the national security, foreign policy
or economy of the United States. Since 1993, the United States has utilized
IEEPA to declare or continue 37 "national emergencies." During the same
period, the U.S. has imposed a total of 61 unilateral sanctions on 35 nations.
"IEEPA was designed to give the president the authority to protect America
from foreign threats. While many of these emergency declarations are
appropriate - particularly those related to terrorism and other genuine
threats to our national security - it is extremely difficult to see how
Burma represents an extraordinary threat to the United States," Kittredge
continued. "Today's action is unnecessary, and will only serve to continue
the proliferation of unilateral economic sanctions as a primary tool of U.S.
foreign policy."
"The U.S. too often relies on 'go it alone' sanctions that rarely influence
foreign governments in a constructive way, yet always undermine the
competitiveness of American interests -- to the benefit of our foreign
competitors. Unfortunately, the use of IEEPA declarations has made it easy
to impose sanctions with little congressional scrutiny.
"The evidence is clear that engagement is almost always more effective than
unilateral sanctions in promoting positive change. Unilateral sanctions
carry many costs - for American workers, farmers and companies, and for
American cridibility. It is time to start judging sanctions not on emotional
or political grounds, but by whether they will actually help advance our
national interests and accomplish our foreign policy goals. In our view,
only a handful of the dozens of unilateral measures sdopted by the U.S. in
recent years come close to meeting this test," Kittredge concluded.
USA*ENGAGE is a broad-based coalition representing 490 small and large
American businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations. The
organization supports American engagement overseas as the best means to
promote human rights, values and American interests. Coalition members are
undertaking a sustained effort to support greater overseas involvement by
the United States at all levels -- political, diplomatic, economic,
charitable, religious, educational and cultural -- and to seek alternatives
to the use of unilateral economic sanctions.
Contact: Eric Thomas or Kim McCreery at 202-822-9491
***************************************
CPJ LETTERS: PRESS RESTRICTIONS
May 18, 1997
18 May 1997
His Excellency Prime Minister General Than Shwe
Chairman
State Law and Order Restoration Council
Rangoon, Burma
Your Excellency,
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) was dismayed to learn that
Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council urged Thailand to restrict
the movement of Thai journalists in Rangoon on May 15 and 16 to cover the
official visit of Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. In keeping with our
commitment to support freedom of the press, we are deeply concerned that the
Burmese government issued a written request asking that Thailand bar its
visiting reporters from covering the activities of opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi while they were in Burma.
The Nation newspaper of Bangkok also reported that Burmese officials
signaled their intention to closely monitor the 15 Thai journalists covering
Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's visit.
As an organization devoted to the defense of our colleagues around the
world, CPJ believes that such strictures on the press inhibit the ability of
journalists to do their job, in contravention of Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right "to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers."
We respectfully ask that your government work toward relaxing existing
restrictions on the press in Burma in order to promote a climate of free
expression that allows the media to practice their profession freely and
safely.
Thank you for your attention. We welcome your comments.
Sincerely yours,
William A. Orme, Jr.
Executive Director
____________________________________________________________
18 May 1997
His Excellency Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Office of the Prime Minister
Government House
Tahnon Naghon Pathom
Bangkok 10300 Thailand
Your Excellency,
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) was dismayed to learn that
Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council urged Thailand to restrict
the movement of Thai journalists in Rangoon on May 15 and 16 to cover your
official visit. In keeping with our commitment to support freedom of the
press, we are deeply concerned that the Burmese government issued a written
request asking that Thailand bar its visiting reporters from covering the
activities of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Just as disturbing was the reported response of the Thai Foreign Ministry,
which continued a long-standing policy of accepting Burma's strictures on
press freedom as routine. "Each country has its own sovereign right to
introduce rules and regulations it deems appropriate to control the media,"
Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Surapong Jayanaman said, according to a
story in Bangkok's The Nation newspaper. The Nation also reported that
Burmese officials intended to closely monitor the 15 Thai journalists
covering your visit.
As an organization devoted to the defense of our colleagues around the
world, CPJ believes that such strictures on the press inhibit the ability of
journalists to do their job, in contravention of Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right "to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers."
In light of the tradition of press freedom in your own country, we
respectfully ask that your government work with the administration in
Rangoon to ease existing press restrictions in Burma and to promote a
climate of free expression that allows the media to practice their
profession freely and safely.
Thank you for your attention. We welcome your comments.
Sincerely yours,
William A. Orme, Jr.
Executive Director
******************************************************