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The BurmaNet News, May 24, 1997
- Subject: The BurmaNet News, May 24, 1997
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 20:00:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: May 24, 1997
Issue #730
Noted in Passing:
These round-ups have become an annual May ritual.
--Editorial on recent arrests of NLD members
(The Straits Times: Myanmar has to Earn its Keep)
HEADLINES:
==========
SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET NO. A-0045
SAIN: UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
REUTER: PRESSURE MOUNTS ON ASEAN TO DEFER BURMA
THE NATION: ASEAN MINISTERS TO DISCUSS PREPAREDNESS
THE STRAITS TIMES: MYANMAR HAS TO EARN ITS KEEP
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: LIFE IN SHADOW OF DEATH
THE NATION: BIG WELCOME FOR DO MUOI IN RANGOON
BURMA OFFICE: PRESS RELEASE ON MASSIVE CRACK DOWN
SINGAPORE PRESS RELEASE: NLD ARRESTS
THE NATION: RFD OFFICIAL FOUND SLAIN IN HIS HOME
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET NO. A-0045
May 23, 1997
It is learnt from some news agencies that the NLD has stated that (100) of
her party members have been arrested by the government.
The official government authorities concerned have denied any arrest being
made so far.There are instances where local authorities have requested some
invited party members to refrain from taking the course of action which is
geared to create chaos in the country.
It is quite obvious that the NLD has intentions to try to get as much of
their members arrested for propaganda purpose by trying to create a
situation where the government has no choice but to take strong counter
measures.
More importantly, it is very much regretful that the government is being
blamed for trying to maintain law and order as well as stability in the
country. It is universally accepted that appropriate action will be taken by
any government in the world if the law of the country is being challenged by
any person or party for his/her or their own vested interest.
Myanmar is also very much interested to learn how those countries that are
now blaming the Myanmar Government will react when they come across with
similar situation and the world still remembers how they reacted when they
were being challenged.
**********************************
SAIN: UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
May 23, 1997
SOUTHEAST ASIAN INFORMATION NETWORK (SAIN)
UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA
This is the latest information received with regard to students arrested in
December for participating in demonstrations calling for students? rights,
democracy and human rights in Burma. Some of this information is already
known, however this update should help clear some inquiries with regard to
certain individuals.
The following people have been charged under Section 5j: 17/1 (Helping an
undergound organisation) or 17/2 (Member of an underground organisation).
NAME SENTENCE
Thet Oo 26 years
(Charged for collaboration with the underground through the use of a
photocopier)
Phyone Phyone Aye (Wife of Thet Oo) Unknown
Ye Naing Win (aka Ko Ye) 19 years
Ye Kyaw Swar 19 years
(President of the December movement. He was jailed in 1989 and released in
1994. He then continued studying where he left off in 1988 and passed his
matriculation with 3 distinctions at RIT. At the same time he continued
with the struggle for democracy in Burma.)
Ye Maw Htoo 19 years
Ye Ye Tun 19 years
(Ye Ye Tun was in his final year at MSC studying Computer Science)
Saw Robert 5 years
The following people have been charged under Section 5j but 17/1 and 17/2
have not been used against them.
Hnin Hnin Phwe 7 years
Moe Moe Aye 7 years
Toe Toe Tun 7 years
Wai Lin 7 years
Aye Naing 7 years
Aung Zin Min (poet) 7 years
U Tin Oo (engineer) 7 years
Kyaw Kyaw Soe (Final year student RIT) 7 years
Htwe Htwe Maw 7 years
Ko Thet 7 years
Myo Min Naing 7 years
Kyaw Kyaw Htwe 7 years
Aung Gyi 7 years
Maung Zaw (or Aung Zaw?) 7 years
Maung Maung Latt 7 years
Soe Thaung 7 years
Ye Min Thu 7 years
Than Zaw 7 years
Ba Thein Latt 7 years
Phone Thet Naing 7 years
Ye Kyaw Thu 7 years
Sein Hla Oo 7 years
Kyaw San Oo 7 years
Maung Maung Oo 7 years
Myo Mint Naing 7 years
Nyain Myint 7 years
Min Naing Ko (alias Kyaw Kyaw) 7 years
Soe Tun 7 years
Thar Gyi 7 years
Thi Ha 7 years
Saung Win Lat 3 years
(Editor of the magazine for the Rangoon Municipal Corporation)
Ko Htay 7 years
All of those sentenced had their trials held in secret at Insein Jail.
Trials were not held at the same time. Some were tried in January and the
rest in March. All were originally sentenced to Insein to serve their
time; some were held in the main jail and some were incarcerated in the
annex. In 1958 the classification distinguishing between political and
criminal acts was abolished and all prisoners are considered criminals.
Below is the updated list of prisoners transferred from Insein to jails up
country as a form of punishment. Those arrested for their part in the
December demonstrations and jailed in Insein have also now been moved.
Names in capitals are new names to the previous list.
MYINKYAN PRISON
U Win Htein Personal Assistant to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience
Bo Bo Oo, U Myatt Tun, TIN MAUNG KYI (?), BO NI
MANDALAY PRISON
U PhoAye (NLD activist sentenced for reporting failure of the summer crop to
NLD) ZAW MAUNG MAUNG WIN, DR HLAING MYINT, U HLA TUN (NLD MP), KYI MIN DINE
Dr Soe Lin, a NLD supporter arrested in a crackdown on activist doctors in
February has now been released.
MYITKYINA PRISON
Dr Khin Zaw Win (Calvin, NLD supporter), Ko Htein Lin (son of U Pho Aye and
also convicted for reproting the summer crop failure), Dr Zaw Myint Maung
(MP elect, Amarapura-1, Mandaly), Kyi Pe Kyaw (Bo gale Township Irrawaddy
Division), Aung Naing Maw, Hla Tun Aung (video of summer paddy failure), Cho
Ko Oo, U Pa Pa Lay (comedian arrested for performingsatire at Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi?s compound. Amnesty prisoner of conscience. Transferrred from Kying
Kringka Labour camp), Maung Maung One, KHAING KO OO, MYO TINT, PAIK TIN,
KYAW KYAW HTWE.
THEYET PRISON
Dr Myint Naing (Hanzada MP, also a vet), U Naing Naing, Maun Myo Min (Lu
Baung Thit party, DPNS), U KYAW KHIN (MP TAUNGGI), THIN THIN AYE (AKA MIMI,
NLD AND STUDENT), AYE THAN.
THAYARWADDY PRISON
Dr Zaw Myint, Dr Hlaing Myint, KO NGWE LIN, NYEI MYINT, TIN OO, AUNG ZAW
MIN, TOE TOE TUN, KO AYE NAING, U MYA THAN (NLD), MYA SHWE (NLD), KYAW KYAW
SOE.
U Kyaw Khin, who was previously in the list for this prison is not in
Thayarwaddy but in Theyet Prison. It can not be confirmed yet which prison
Kyaw Zaya and Tin Maung Gyi have been transferred to.
PATHEIN PRISON
Thet Min Aung, Maung Maung Latt, Hla Min, Aung Moe, Htay Aung, Ba Thein
Latt, U San Myint, U Thaung (also known as Soe Thaung), Let Ya Min (also Let
Ya Win), Zaw Min, AUNG SOE (COULD ALSO BE AUNG MOE), LAI AI MON
(UNCONFIRMED), KYAW ZAYA (UNCONFIRMED), ZAW THAN, THAN ZAW, MOE JYO, AUNG
MYO KYAW, TIN MAUNG GYI (UNCONFIRMED).
MYAUNGMYA PRISON
Aung Myo Tint, U Maung Maung, Thuya, U Han Nyunt, U Myo Myint, YE MIN, (THE
FOLLOWING NAMES ARE ALL STUDENTS FROM DAGON COLLEGE), PHONE THET PAING, TINT
NAING TUN, THUYA AUNG, THA LIN HTIN, WIN ZAW, LEI LEI MON, AUNG MYO KYAW,
THI HA, TIN MAUNG GYI.
TAUNGOO PRISON
U Ye Tun
There are two students from the December demonstrations who were arrested
but nobody knows where they are; Shwe Zin and Kyi Pe Kyaw
May 27 1997 is the seventh anniversary of the election. In order to prevent
MP?s from coming into Rangoon to celebrate the election the SLORC is
arresting all MP?s and at the same time others who are ?in the way?. In the
Ayerwaddy, MP?s are being restricted to their homes and placed under armed
guard. Names of those arrested will be forthcoming.
*************************************************
REUTER: PRESSURE MOUNTS ON ASEAN TO DEFER BURMA MEMBERSHIP
May 23, 1997
By Bill Tarrant
KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Reuter) - Pressure mounted on the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday to defer giving membership to Burma
after the military regime's latest crackdown on democracy campaigners.
But diplomats and officials say ASEAN, which groups some of the world's
fastest-growing economies and has taken a leading role in Asian security
issues, would not be deterred.
U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright said on Thursday she would
consider ways of adding pressure on ASEAN, expected to admit Burma as a
member in July along with Cambodia and Laos.
``I have written to various (ASEAN) leaders. I would very much like to
slow down the possibility of Burma coming into the ASEAN,'' Albright
said when questioned about Burma policy at a Senate committee hearing.
``We have tried very hard to get the ASEAN countries to follow our
steps, but they don't seem to be interested in it,'' she added. ``I will
relook at whether we should take some further action in encouraging them
further.''
President Bill Clinton, citing ``severe repression'' in Burma, on
Tuesday imposed economic sanctions on Rangoon, banning all new U.S.
investment.
Reports from Rangoon said at least 60 members of Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy (NLD) were arrested this week ahead of a planned
party gathering.
Britain and Germany on Thursday condemned the arrests and called for
action against Burma's military government.
``We are urgently exploring with our EU (European Union) partners the
scope for further action against the SLORC,'' a British Foreign Office
statement said.
In Bonn, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said in a statement: ``The
latest intimidation, threats and arrests represent a new attempt by the
military regime...to silence the democratic opposition.''
Foreign ministers of ASEAN -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- will meet in Kuala
Lumpur on May 31 to decide exactly when to admit Burma.
All indications point to ASEAN's annual meeting on July 24-25, diplomats
say.
``Everything I hear from the Malaysians and others in ASEAN is it's
quite likely to happen in July,'' said a Western diplomat who attended a
senior officials meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Malaysia's
island resort of Langkawi this week.
That would put the United States and the European Union in the ticklish
position of sitting at the same table as Burma when ARF holds its
ministerial meeting following the ASEAN meeting.
All three are members of ARF, a 19-member grouping set up four years ago to
help resolve potential conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region.
Western members tried to raise the Burma issue at the ARF senior
officials meeting, despite ground rules forbidding discussion of any
country's internal affairs.
``The Burmese delegation gave the standard recitation of how things are
getting better all the time,'' one diplomat said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has made a name in
international affairs as an outspoken critic of the West, is determined
to admit Burma this year when Malaysia takes its turn as ASEAN chairman on
the grouping's 30th anniversary.
The Philippines, up to now ASEAN's most reluctant member on Burma, on
Thursday called for its admission.
Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Rodolfo Severino told reporters that
Burma's admission was important for regional stability ``and the people
of Myanmar themselves.''
**************************************************
THE NATION: ASEAN MINISTERS TO DISCUSS PREPAREDNESS OF APPLICANTS
May 23, 1997
Rita Patiyasevi, The Nation
Tokyo - Asean foreign ministers will next week assess the readiness of Laos,
Cambodia and Burma to join the regional grouping, along with the proposal
that they need not all be admitted at the same time, Foreign Minister
Prachuab Chaiyasan said yesterday.
Prachuab said he had told Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi during
their meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday night that the three countries need not
be admitted simultaneously, in the case any of the three do not feel ready
to join.
"If any of the countries say they are not ready to join yet, we should keep
our door open for them to enter at a later stage," Prachuab said.
Badawi had not made any comment on the proposal, but said Malaysia believed
the admission of the three countries, especially Burma, was the right
decision, Prachuab said.
Prachuab's proposal for staggered entry is a departure from the Asean
leaders' decision in December that Cambodia, Laos and Burma be admitted at
the same time.
Thailand suggested a fallback position, as the United States, a key
political, economic and security dialogue partner of Asean, has strongly
opposed Burma's membership into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
President Bill Clinton increased US pressure on Burma on Tuesday by signing
an executive order putting into effect economic sanctions against the country.
Prachuab is likely to put his proposal up for discussion when Asean foreign
ministers meet in Kuala Lumpur on May 30 and 31.
The meeting, which was initially due to work out and announce the timing of
the admission of the three countries, will instead discuss details of each
country's preparations for Asean membership, including progress towards
joining the Asean Free Trade Area.
Prachuab said he and Badawi, who is on a tour of the region, had reaffirmed
Asean solidarity and its position that decisions would not be swayed by
outside influence, particularly the question of the admission of Burma.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to Asean's policy of "constructive
engagement" with Burma.
"We reaffirmed our constructive engagement policy and agreed not to isolate
Burma," Prachuab said. "If we isolate Burma, nobody can guarantee it will
definitely bring change. We think it is better to bring Burma into the Asean
family."
The foreign minister said Badawi, who has just visited China, told him
Beijing supported Asean's decision to admit Burma.
According to the Malaysian minister, Chinese President Jiang Zemin may
attend the informal Asean summit in December.
Asean members want China, Japan and South Korea to attend the summit
meeting, which is expected to be attended by all 10 Southeast Asian heads of
government, including those from Burma, Cambodia and Laos. (TN)
*****************************************************
THE STRAITS TIMES: MYANMAR HAS TO EARN ITS KEEP
May 23, 1997
Editorial
WITH depressing regularity, and deepening embarrassment to Asean,
the Myanmar military authorities have again begun arresting
opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) members for
presumed attempts to disturb the nation's "peace, tranquility and
stability". These round-ups have become an annual May ritual. The
NLD's elected legislators and supporters from all over the
country usually gather in Yangon at this time of the year to mark
the May 27 1990 election that the party won, a victory which
turned out to be hollow because the generals who have long
controlled the state refused to let it take office. Last May,
some 260 members were arrested as they readied themselves for the
anniversary and a party congress. And once again this time, the
ruling junta which calls itself the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) has shown how little it thinks of
Asean and wider Asian opinion by resorting to detention instead
of engaging the opposition in a process of reconciliation. NLD
sources report that some 60 members have been arrested in their
homes or were cut off in the last few days as they headed for the
capital from the provinces. More arrests may follow as the
seventh anniversary on Tuesday nears.
The Slorc says the planned NLD assembly at the home of its
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is a move to create "unnecessary
problems" and force the government "to take strong measures
against them so that the anti-government propaganda can be played
in their favour". Of course, overt demonstrations of organised
resistance are proscribed and NLD die-hards can expect to face
the full wrath of the law. But Slorc deludes itself too by
categorising these gatherings as a public-order matter. There are
graver matters of political enfranchisement and the country's
future path at stake. Myanmar will remain in limbo unless the
clash of wills is replaced by a willingness to compromise. Alas,
Slorc has never cared much about its bad notices internationally,
and has been derisive of the economic sanctions imposed by the
United States.
This is where the members of Asean, which Myanmar expects to join
this year, should exercise peer pressure on Slorc. At the least,
this can be done by expressing distaste at what is going on and
urging speedy political reform, which the Slorc is committed to.
Constructive engagement must remain as Asean's approach to
dealing with the junta, but it must be made clear that this was
never intended as carte blanche to deny the Myanmar people their
popular will. Asean's charter obliges members not to interfere in
each other's political system. Slorc has gained hugely from this
disclaimer to take account of members' differing governing
philosophies. But Myanmar should not be permitted to shelter
under this cover in perpetuity.
As Asean membership for Myanmar is deemed a foregone conclusion
-- Asean foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur on May 31 are
said to be ready to decide on the inclusion of Cambodia and Laos
as well -- the Slorc generals must be apprised of two facts. Far
the more important is that membership is not to be misinterpreted
as Asean forebearance (or worse, tacit approval) for whatever
improprieties the Slorc might inflict on a political opposition
which won 80 per cent of the seats in the 1990 election.
Accepting as a member a country which now numbers among a handful
of regimes ostracised by much of the world will come at no small
cost to Asean's prestige. Myanmar should be left in no doubt of
that. Secondly, its conduct in its internal affairs should be
consistent with Asean conventions for decency. This is no
window-dressing. It is in a manner contractual in that the US,
the European Union and other dialogue partners of Asean's can
boycott consultations and collaborations with the grouping on
what is judged as the unacceptable behaviour of one constituent
member. Myanmar should not bring Asean into disrepute. It has a
period of probation to get past -- and Asean can and must set the
toughest compliance standards.
******************************************
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: LIFE IN SHADOW OF THE DEATH SQUADS
May 21, 1997
William Barnes
Civilians are being murdered by elite units deployed by the Burmese
military junta to clamp down on the guerilla forces of the Shan minority.
The trouble with even the hardest, most loyal soldier is that he can be
troubled by flashes of humanity. Even the most stern-faced servant of the
powerful has been known to weaken at the pathos of humble family life.
Twinges of doubt, perhaps even remorse, are not useful emotions for men
charged with wreaking retribution on their fellow man.
The refugees fleeing the broad plateaux of the Shan state harbour few
fond memories of the Burmese soldiers who have played so freely with their
lives.
But it seems that even the soldiers who reputedly distrusted and despised
them, wrecked their homes, beat them, stole from them, sometimes killed and
raped them, may have been too soft for the job.
For the refugees, still wide-eyed with apprehension, report that special
death squads have been employed to roam the Shan state.
They are the executioners' executioners. Numbering perhaps 80, they are
the least pitying of men from an army not renowned for encouraging kind hearts.
About two months ago four "healthy and respectful" sons, the oldest 30,
the youngest 15, volunteered to cut and bring back the rice harvest that was
in danger of rotting.
The nephews of Sao Geena, the family patriarch, 57, knew this was no
simple or safe thing. Their families had already been kicked out of their
homes at Na Law and moved to virgin scrubland about 30 kilometres away at
the Ko Lam holding camp.
But starvation beckoned if they could not find food quickly. There was
no outside help. So they told their village leader they were going to return
home for a day or two to cut rice, knowing that he would, in turn, warn the
local army unit what they intended to do.
The four men rode out of the makeshift family camp early the next day
hoping to make good time on their green Thai-made bicycles. They were
wearing the usual Shan clothing of bell-bottomed trousers and loose shirts,
the hoes and cutters of their simple trade slung across their shoulders.
They carried enough rice for a night or two in the fields.
A day later a squad of seven Burmese soldiers told the driver of an ox
cart to take four bicycles to the headman of Ko Lam village.
On rare occasions members of the killer teams have been known to wave
away people they see on forbidden territory - knowing what their gruesome
duty must be if they catch them, according to Shan farmers who have lived to
tell the tale.
It seems that no one gave Sao Geena's four nephews a second chance.
Their bodies were found not far away. Their arms fixed in crucifixion poses
by long sticks and cord. They had been stabbed and shot.
Another of Sao Geena's nephews was later ordered to guide the soldiers
from Ko Lam to the market town of Nam Zarng, where the bicycles fetched a
fair price, about $ 160 each.
Sao Geena does not think the owners got a good deal: he says they were
ambushed simply because they happened to be riding shiny, green bikes.
"What a waste - they tried to live like decent people and were killed for
nothing, for bikes . . ." he said.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), as the Burmese
junta styles itself, is unhappy with the Shan people because several hundred
of its younger men insist on resisting the army's embrace by fighting a
guerilla war.
Any ethnic minority that attempts to rebuff the SLORC does so at its peril.
The response, away from the gaze of the world in the long, lonely
stretches of Shan state, appears to have been brutal.
"I do not think it is too far fetched to call this ethnic cleansing . . .
really that seems to be the effect," said Khan Harn Fah, secretary to the
Shan Human Rights Foundation.
"Things are much worse than they have ever been before . . . they kill
on a whim."
Khan Harn Fah said to his knowledge 50 Shan villagers had been killed in
the past three months.
The Shan have learnt the bitter cost of becoming a "suspect" population.
Their empty lands have become free-fire zones for Burmese troops who
appear to act as if there was hardly a check on their behaviour.
One village headman, Sao Moon, 48, makes it his business to record every
family's story as they pass across the border into Thailand.
"Every family has story to tell me. I try not to think . . . I know every
time it will be bad," he said.
If they are lucky they tell only of forced labour and beatings. In early
April two married couples and their pretty young relatives asked permission
to go back to work their gardens near the village of Nam Woo.
The next day they again returned to the gardens - without asking for the
permission which they assumed was still granted.
Their bodies were found by their friends; the women had been raped.
Sao Moon's logbook records that a few days before this two sisters of 15
and 12 were bringing back cows to their village of Lai Ku when they were set
upon by 20 soldiers.
The two officers raped the girls first; the rest took their turn. The girls
did not survive the ordeal.
It should perhaps be pointed out that none of the Shan families who
recall, stony-faced, the horrors they have endured have any particular
reason to lie or exaggerate.
None seem to harbour any hopes of retribution or justice. Their aim
seems to be simply to survive by keeping out of sight and their families
together.
Even without inflicting terror the army makes a quick and efficient job
of wrecking thousands of villages by insisting they pack up and move at a
few hours notice. Scores of communities have been forced to move at least twice.
Sao Geena gave up after his nephews were killed: he moved the 37 members
of his extended family into Thailand - including his 90-year-old mother.
"There is no future in the Shan state," he said.
Only the extreme privations inflicted on his village caused his family to
leave practically all their worldly wealth behind and try to scrape a living
on the illegal fringes of Thai society.
The Shan are ethnic cousins of the Thais with a similar language so they
have a better chance of finding a friendlier reception than some other
minorities.
Khan Harn Fah said the Burmese army had been moving in lowland Burmese
and Chinese migrants to fill the Shan state as it is emptied of its population.
"We know of many, many cases where the soldiers have divided up
confiscated land and tried to sell it or have brought in their friends or
veterans," said Khan Harn Fah.
In the past 12 months at least 50,000 Shan have fled across the border
where they have little prospect of being recognised as refugees now that
Thailand has claimed firmly that it is suffering from "refugee fatigue".
Instead they work for slim wages on building sites, fruit farms or in the
sweat shops that have sprung up near the border to take advantage of cheap
Burmese labour.
None of them appear to blame Sura, the Shan United Revolutionary Army,
responsible for waging a guerilla war for some kind of autonomy.
"If there was no resistance the SLORC would have the freedom to do
anything - to be even worse," said Sao Moon.
The Sura name is decades old - making it a venerable organisation in the
turmoil of the Shan state.
But the organisation that exists today is formed from an energetic, and
generally young, faction that broke away from former drug warlord Khun Sa's
Mong Tai Army when he surrendered to the SLORC at the beginning of 1996.
The surprising ease with which Khun Sa was able to ingratiate with his
old enemies revealed to his more nationalist former colleagues his cunning
and ruthlessness.
The Sura have taken up the cause that Khun Sa used to profess was his
aim: fighting for freedom for the Shan.
A Sura official said they had demonstrated their flexibility by bidding
for a joint cease-fire (with less powerful Shan rivals) with the SLORC late
last year.
"They were not interested. They are scared of any group getting too
powerful," said one senior member of the guerilla group.
As with the ethnic Karen rebels fighting a similarly desperate rearguard
action 480 kilometres to the south, the junta appears to have little
interest in negotiating a lasting political settlement.
The Sura fighters said they have made overtures to the alliance of ethnic
opposition movements that have allied themselves with the Burmese opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
"We are not gunslingers . . . we just want some basic rights," said the
Sura member.
The suspicion that Sura, like many other groups in Shan state, make
money from narcotics trading is a shadow they must endure, although its
members deny it.
What the Shan experience underlines is that the SLORC's ideas of a
political settlement are a long way from providing the country's myriad
cynical minorities with any practical protection against the depredations of
the military.
"They want nothing less than our surrender," said the Sura official.
"Would you do it after what we have experienced?"
The 15 cease-fire agreements that the SLORC has signed with ethnic
minority groups often mean less than meet the eye; especially since the
potential rebels have been allowed to keep their weapons.
Some of the "minority groups" are fronts for drug traffickers who appear
to have little to fear from the SLORC as long as they keep out of politics.
Others, like the Kachin minority, seem to think there is some hope for a
political settlement.
A former member of Nelson Mandela's African National Congress turned
diplomat has pointed out that real peace only came to South Africa after
years of trust -building meetings between the white establishment and the
black opposition.
"Without trust you can do nothing. All you have is rule by the gun," he
argued.
The well of bitterness that the SLORC has been filling in the Shan state,
and everywhere else that it meets any active resistance, shows it thinks that
rule by the gun will do nicely thank you.
***************************************
THE NATION: BIG WELCOME FOR DO MUOI IN RANGOON
May 23, 1997 [abridged]
Agencies
Rangoon - Vietnamese Communist Party Chief Do Muoi arrived yesterday on a
three-day official visit seen as a gesture of support for Burma's Asean
entry bid.
Upon arrival at Rangoon airport, Do Muoi's 65-member delegation was given a
red carpet welcome including a 21-gun salute, and thousands of young school
children in colourful outfits lined the streets waving flags of the two
countries as he drove to the state guest house.
Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of Burma's ruling military junta, the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), later called on Do Muoi,
the party secretary-general and the second high-ranking Hanoi official to
visit since the junta took power in 1988.
Do Muoi was also due to meet Burmese leaders - including Slorc Chairman Gen
Than Shwe - later yesterday to discuss bilateral and regional matters.
Analysts viewed the visit as a gesture of support for Burma's bid to join
Asean this year, a move opposed by the United States which on Tuesday
imposed investment sanctions on Rangoon to protest its human rights record.
"Since 1995, Vietnam has been a full member of Asean and the present visit
is to reiterate its support for Burma to become a full member of the
regional grouping by July this year," a senior foreign diplomat said.
Among full Asean members, Vietnam was strident in its criticism of US
sanctions against Burma, announced last month and formalised on Tuesday. (TN)
*****************************************************
BURMA OFFICE: PRESS RELEASE ON MASSIVE CRACK DOWN BY SLORC
May 22, 1997
BURMA OFFICE
Labor Council Building, Suite 6, 8th Floor, 377-383 Sussex St., Sydney,
NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9264 7694: Fax: (02) 9264 7693 E-mail
burma@xxxxxxxxxx
PRESS RELEASE
NLD Faces Massive Crackdown by the SLORC
What will the Australian Government do?
22nd May 1997
Once again the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the
military dictatorship of Burma, are cracking down on the lawful
activities of the elected people?s party, the National League for
Democracy (NLD).
Responding to the NLD?s intention to hold an anniversary
celebration/meeting for their election victory in 1990, the SLORC have
embarked on mass arrests and intimidatory tactics.
It has been estimated by diplomats in Rangoon that approximately 100
people on their way to Rangoon for the meeting have been arrested mainly
in Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions. People in the Shan, Mon and Karen
States have also been warned not to travel to Rangoon.
It was reported that the telephone of the General Secretary of the NLD,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was cut of for many days but is now back on.
While the USA pushes ahead with economic sanctions against the SLORC the
Australia Government still fails to respond with appropriate policies.
The Burmese Community in Australia are asking, ?What does the SLORC have to
do before Alexander Downer is prepared to impose tougher policies
against them?.
The only appropriate action at this time is for all nations of the world
to join the US and Norway with the imposition of sanctions.
Media Contacts: Minn Aung Myint, BURMA OFFICE
Tel: (02) 9264-7694, Mobile: 041-2230 737
Amanda Zappia, NCGUB / FTUB / ABC
Tel: (06) 297-7734
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The Burma Office is working for the National Coalition Government of the
Union of Burma (NCGUB), Federation of Trade Unions -- Burma (FTUB) and
Australia Burma Council (ABC)
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We must force the Australian Government to come up with tough new policy.
Sanctions, Visa Restrictions and the closure of the Austrade Office in Rangoon.
Please take urgent action by writing to:
Alexander Downer
Minister Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (06) 2734112
Write and fax to:
Senator the Hon. Margaret Reid
President of the Senate
Chairperson
Australian Parliamentary Friends of Burma
The Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (06) 277 3108
Please ask her to get your views to the membership of the parliamentary
Friends of Burma and also ask that they join the push for sanctions.
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SINGAPORE PRESS RELEASE: NLD ARRESTS
May 22, 1997
THE WORKERS' PARTY
1 Colombo Court #09-22 Singapore 0617
Telephone: 337 2371
PRESS RELEASE
The Workers' Party welcomes the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar by
President Clinton following the arrest of members of the National League for
Democracy.
The Party calls upon the Singapore Government to lodge a strong concern with
the authorities in Myanmar. It is the least the government can do, if it
does not wish to support the US move. Myanmar should have no place in ASEAN
so long as the military keeps the people's elected government out.
The Party hopes that the new Labour Government in Britain with its announced
policy to promote human rights will follow the US example.
(Signed)
J B Jeyaretnam
Secretary-General
22nd May 1997
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THE NATION: RFD OFFICIAL FOUND SLAIN IN HIS HOME
May 23, 1997
A SENIOR forestry official in Mae Hong Son's Mae Sariang district was found
murdered in his home yesterday morning with wounds to his head and face, Pol
Lt Manop Pollak said.
Weerawat Chiwaserichol, 45, chief of forest destruction prevention for Mae
Sariang, was found dead in his pyjamas with a 30-centimetre long and
2.5-centimetre thick steel rod splattered with blood lying beside him.
Police said they have two theories behind the C-7 government official's
death one personal and the other that he angered some people when he
recently revealed the illegal logging business operating on the border
between Mae Hong Son and Burma.
Weerawat's claim that trees were being illegally felled in forest reserves
prompted the deputy director general of the Royal Forestry Department (RFD),
Prawat Tanadka, to set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the case
and to order an intensive inspection of the areas.
A high-ranking police officer from Regional Police Bureau 5 has been
assigned to help local police solve the case. Pol Col Suthep Dejraksa,
superintendent of the bureau, said Weerawat may have been silenced because
he knew too much about the illegal logging business on the border.
Satit Sawinyo, director general of the RFD, said Weerawat had a good work
record, and was an honest and decent man. (TN)
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