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The BurmaNet News, September 24, 19



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------       
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"       
----------------------------------------------------------       
   
The BurmaNet News: September 19, 1997          
Issue #824
  
HEADLINES:          
==========   
NLD: STATEMENT NO. 9/97
SCMP: DETENTION OF MINISTERS-IN-EXILE DEPLORED 
NCGUB: WASHINGTON DC PRESS CONFERENCE SPEECHES
FEER: IT'S OUR PARTY
THE NATION: ACTIVISTS STAGE RALLY AGAINST BURMA JUNTA
BKK POST: SLORC CLAIMS VICTORY OVER 'ANARCHY'
SCMP: GOAL OF JUNTA STILL AN ILLUSION 
SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS
INDEPENDENT REPORT: DEMONSTRATION IN BONN/GERMANY 
EARTHRIGHTS INTERNATIONAL: NEW CONTACT INFORMATION:
ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATIONS ON BURMA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

NLD: STATEMENT NO. 9/97
September 18, 1997

[The Following is the text taken from the original transcript of the
National League for Democracy]

National League for Democracy
97B West Shwegondaing Street
Bahan Township
Rangoon

Statement No. 9/97

1. At about 16:15 hours on 15-9-97, a military intelligence officer came
to the house of the Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD),
U Aung Shwe. The officer started by saying that Secretary (1) of the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) wished to meet the
Chairman at 09:30 hours the next morning (16-9-97). He then said that U
Soe Myint and U Lun Tin, two members of the Central Executive Committee
(CEC) of the NLD would also be included.  He added nothing more about
the proposed meeting.

2. Chairman U Aung Shwe, Deputy Chairman U Tin U and General Secretary
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi met at about 16:45 hours to discuss the matter.  It
was decided that in accordance with the principles laid down by the NLD
elected Members of Parliament and by the organizational committees of
the NLD at various levels, party matters must be handled jointly by the
Chairman and the General Secretary.  Therefore it would not be possible
for the Chairman U Aung Shwe to attend the meeting alone (without the
General Secretary). This decision was conveyed to Deputy Chairman U Kyi
Maung and to Secretary U Lwin and their consent was obtained.

3. In order to convey the decision to Secretary (1) of the SLORC, the MI
officer who had issued the invitation was asked, through the MI unit in
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's compound, to come to see the Chairman.  It was
indicated that the matter concerned was of great importance and that if
the MI officer was unable to come that evening he should come to the
house of the Chairman not later than 08:00 hours the next morning.

4. At about 07:30 hours on 16-9-97, a member of the MI came to the
Chairman's house to find out who had arrived. The Chairman called him
back (as he was leaving) to remind him that the MI officer who had come
the previous day should come by 08:00 hours that morning.  However the
officer did not arrive.  He only came at about 08:45 hours, after CEC
members U Soe Myint and U Lun Tin had arrived, to convey them (and the
Chairman) to the proposed meeting with Secretary (1).

5. The Chairman told the MI officer that he could not come.  As there
were commands and regulations within the army, so also a political party
had rules and principles to which the Chairman himself must adhere.  It
was a policy decision of the NLD that party matters had to be handled
jointly by the Chairman and the General Secretary.  In this instance, as
the Chairman had been invited only with two stipulated members of the
CEC, he would not be able to come.  However, in accordance with the
principle of keeping open the road to negotiation, it had been agreed
that U Soe Myint and U Lun Tin should go to the meeting.

6. U Soe Myint then told the MI officer that he and U Lun Tin would be
attending the meeting to explain to Secretary (1) the reasons why the
Chairman was unable to attend the meeting, to listen to what Secretary
(1) had to say and to convey his words to the CEC.

7. After reporting back to those concerned the MI officer tried to
persuade U Aung Shwe to attend the meeting.  When the Chairman firmly
refused, the MI officer said that plans for the meeting had been
cancelled and left.

8. One of the salient comments made by the MI officer was that in the
statement issued (by the NLD) after the Chairman, U Hla Pe and U Than
Tun (two members of the CEC of the NLD) met Secretary (1) of SLORC on
17-7-97, the Chairman had guaranteed that negotiations carried out with
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would meet with success, but by now refusing to
take the opportunity offered on the present day, the Chairman was acting
in a destructive manner.

9. In the statement issued after the meeting on 17-7-97, not only had
Chairman U Aung Shwe guaranteed that negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi would meet with success, it had also been made clear that party
matters must be handled jointly by the Chairman and the General
Secretary, in accordance with the mandate given by the elected Members
of Parliament of the NLD and the organizational committees of the party
at various levels.

10. Therefore Chairman U Aung Shwe was acting correctly in accordance
with party policy.  In future also, in seeking genuine negotiations, the
NLD will stand firmly by its principles, with the support and
encouragement of the people.

11. It was decided that a statement (on the matter of the proposed
meeting with Secretary (1)) would be issued so that members of the NLD,
the people of Burma and the international community could make a correct
assessment of the situation.  However, in the interests of achieving
harmonious relations, it was also decided that the contents of the
statement should be discussed in advance with the authorities.  With
this end in view, Deputy Chairman U Tin U conveyed the following message
to a member of the MI unit in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's compound at about
11:00 hours on 16-9-97.
	"Tomorrow the NLD will be issuing a statement in connection with the matter
which occurred this morning, 16-9-97.  Before issuing the
statement, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would like Colonel Than Tun to come to
see her in the interests of achieving harmonious relations between the
two sides.  Could we be informed as soon as possible of the time when
the colonel would be able to come".

12. Not only did the authorities fail to send Col. Than Tun, they
unilaterally issued a statement entitled "Meeting Called Off" to foreign
news agencies abroad. The claim made in the statement that Chairman U
Aung Shwe and the two members of the CEC had been "extremely delighted"
with the invitation to the meeting is quite untrue.

13. As the NLD understands very well the nature of genuine negotiations,
we will continue to strive for such negotiations with the support of the
people.

Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

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

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: DETENTION OF MINISTERS-IN-EXILE DEPLORED 
September 18 , 1997
William Barnes in Bangkok 

Human rights activists yesterday lashed out at Thailand's detention of three
ministers in Burma's government-in-exile, saying the move had "opened a can
of worms".

The politicians were last night believed to be near the Thai-Burmese border
and human rights groups hoped they would be quietly released within Thailand.

But the publicity over the arrests sent tremors through the Burmese
community-in-exile in Thailand, which is there under sufferance.

All three were elected to Parliament in the opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi's landslide election victory in 1990 but, like many others, fled the
military's intolerance of any dissent. They were picked up with several
others in an immigration swoop.

"The publicity makes this much harder to resolve quietly. They have been
accused of having false papers - no proper passports. We are optimistic but
concerned," said an observer monitoring the case.

Dapper Thai officials might not be impressed by the unassuming
longyi-wearing MPs-in-exile, but it is hard to believe that the authorities
were unaware of who they were detaining.

Teddy Buri, the Asia-Pacific affairs minister in the National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma, who is frequently contacted by diplomats
and journalists, was detained on Monday night.

With him were minister of health San Aung and minister of justice Thein Oo.

An American named Michael Deer, who apparently had connections with the
exiled groups, was also taken, and five other Burmese.

The Government of Prime Minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has better
relations with the prickly Rangoon regime than its predecessors.

The junta's intelligence chief, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, claimed two
months ago the government-in-exile was behind an attempt to blow up a top
general in Rangoon. His daughter was killed instead.

Meanwhile, a British man who handcuffed himself to a Rangoon school to
protest against military rule in Burma was being deported, a Burmese
government official said yesterday.

James Mawdsley, 24, of London, was cut loose and arrested after
spray-painting Metta or "love and kindness" on school walls.

He was visited in detention by British diplomats who said he was being
treated well.

The Briton's sister in England, Emma Mawdsley, 27, said her brother felt a
lot of sympathy for the Burmese opposition and had spent time on the Thai
border with student-exile groups who had fled after the 1988 uprising
against the military junta.

Burma's main opposition party said any political dialogue with the junta
would have to include the National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

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

NCGUB: WASHINGTON DC PRESS CONFERENCE SPEECHES
September 17, 1997 [excerpts]

PRESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC VIEWS AUNG SAN SUU KYI INTERVIEW 

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma held a press
conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on September 17.
NCGUB Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win and U Bo Hla Tint, minister for South and
North American Affairs, conducted the press conference where a videotape
interview with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was presented.

Freelance journalist Jeanne Hallacy, who recently was in Burma, conducted
the interview.

Dr. Sein Win and U Bo Hla Tint made the following speeches at the press
conference attended by about 40 television and print journalists and people
representing different organizations:

                             oooo

((Dr. Sein Win)) I'd like to take the opportunity to express my thanks
to the members of the grassroots movements all over the world, who by
embracing our cause as their own, have brought democracy closer to Burma.
In particular, I'd like to express gratitude to the people, Congress, and
Government of the United States for all the support given to the Burmese
democracy movement. Selective purchasing legislation introduced by
different cities and the state of Massachusetts have had an enormous impact
on the illegitimate military junta and are a tremendous boost to our effort
to restore democracy.

Economic sanctions imposed by the United States have helped to raise the
level of international pressure on the illegitimate military regime and
also severely weakened the Burmese currency -- in turn making it harder for
the military to pay off its henchmen. My thanks also to Canada and the
members of the European Union which have imposed visa restrictions and
withdrawn GSP and trade privileges from the Burmese military. Scandinavian
countries, Japan, Australia and others are also establishing conditions to
help restore democracy in our country.  Such joint action by the
international community has directly affected the military regime and
created conditions conducive to a dialogue for national reconciliation in
Burma. We are closer to such dialogue now than ever before and I call on
the international community and grassroots organizations to continue their
important support.

On the question of ASEAN, let me say to the member nations that democracy
is in your best interests. Democracy in Burma will bring greater regional
stability, security and openness for economic investment, stem the flow of
refugees and erase the ugly stain that Burma brings to ASEAN in the
international community. I call on the member nations to play a greater
regional role in supporting democracy in Burma. So far ASEAN's constructive
engagement with the Slorc, including granting membership, have failed to
bring any positive change. Now that Burma is a member, I call on ASEAN to
intervene constructively and with seriousness. It is in their best Interest
and the people of the region. As Aung San Suu Kyi said.. one cannot address
the economic problems without addressing the political problems. It is
quite simple.

((Bo Hla Tint)) Thank you prime minister. I think it is important to add
one point about relations with the West, particularly the United States.
Burma with Slorc's approval produces over 60% of the heroin reaching
American streets and children. The Slorc not only has turned a blind eye to
this drug flow but has benefited while filling the military's own pockets
with dollars. This devastating drug flow will continue as long as the
brutal military remains in power.

I can assure you that a legitimate democratic government in Burma will give
highest priority to stopping this drug problem.  Finally, I would like to
end with a look to the future. The illegitimate military is rotten and
crumbling from within. Detested by the people, it is a leading producer of
the world's drugs, a leading violator of human rights, and is destroying a
once proud society and education system once the envy of the region -- all
to fill their own greedy pockets. Imagine a country in today's modern world
that forces its own people, including children, to conduct slave labor at
gunpoint; a country that keeps a Nobel prize winner under house arrest for
six years; a country that slaughters and imprisons thousands of its own
people for wanting a free society; a country where owning a fax machine can
lead to seven years in jail. I say it is time for Slorc to recognize the
legitimately elected government and enter into a serious dialogue with the
democratic forces and ethnic groups toward real national reconciliation.

I pledge to you as one of the legitimately elected members of parliament
that a democratic government will restore democratic rule, respect human
rights and freedom of expression, develop the rule of law to protect
investments, and bring Burma into the community of responsible nations.

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

FEER: IT'S OUR PARTY
September 25, 1997
By Shada Islam in Brussels

Asia, Europe spar over which Asians can join dialogue

When it was launched in early 1996, the Asia-Europe dialogue was meant to be
a cosy arrangement between European Union governments and the richest
countries of East Asia. But suddenly it appears everyone wants to join the
party.

The first formal Asia-Europe Meeting, or Asem, held in Bangkok last
February, brought together 15 EU governments, China, Japan, South Korea and
the seven countries then in Asean. With a second gathering now planned for
London next April, several other Asian and Pacific nations have launched a
high-profile diplomatic campaign to join the club. Australia, New Zealand,
India and Pakistan each say Asem is incomplete. If Europe is serious about
upgrading its presence in Asia, they insist, it must widen its focus to
encompass the entire region.

For these four, Asem membership is partly a question of diplomatic prestige.
But there's more at stake: While the EU and East Asia may bicker incessantly
over human rights, the 18-month-old dialogue s allowed the two regions to
build closer political, economic and trade links.

Asem finance and economics ministers, or instance, will meet in Thailand and
Japan later this month. Senior officials have used the forum to talk about
multilateral de issues, including streamlining customs tariffs and promoting
joint business ventures. An Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore is charged
with boosting exchanges between universities and think-tanks.

" It may have started life as a talking hop, but Asem is now being seen as a
counter weight to Apec" -the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum-says
Rolf Langhammer, head of development economics at the Kiel Institute of
World Economics in Germany.

Hence the nonmembers' public-relations campaign. Australia's deputy prime
minister, Tim Fischer, insisted during a recent visit to Brussels that his
country's " raft of formal and informal linkages with Asian and European
interlocutors" makes it an gal Asem participant. And India's EU envoy,
Chandrashekar Dasgupta, says: We must ask ourselves whether an Asia-Europe
Meeting is not incomplete without the participation of India, the
second-largest country in Asia and the world.

The Subcontinent is one area where many feel expanding Asem could do much
good. The Kiel Institute's Langhammer argues that the participation of South
Asian countries could help narrow the development gap within Asia, and
indirectly intensify economic links between East Asia and South Asia. Manuel
Marin, who deals with Asian policy at the European Commission, is backing
Indian and Pakistani entry into Asem. So is the EU's current president,
Jacques Poos.

But the membership bids have caused dissension in Asem's ranks. Most
European governments, anxious to step up their presence in Asia, favour
enlargement. But Asian members say expansion mustn't be too rapid. "
Enlargement will happen," says an Asean diplomat in Brussels. " But it's a
question of getting the timing right." 

The first big membership issue will almost certainly be Burma, which members
of Asean say should be automatically included by virtue of its recent
admission to the regional bloc. British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has
said Burma won't be invited to the meeting in London because of the. Burmese
leadership's poor human-rights record. This prompted Malaysian Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad to warn of a possible Asean boycott of the
gathering. Although Asean diplomats in Europe don't think things will come
to that, the argument will certainly cast clouds over the expansion issue.

Senior officials from both sides will meet in Luxembourg on October 30 to
hammer out standards for judging membership applications. Many Asians
contend that each side has the right to determine the membership of its
regional group: Asians decide who sits on their side of the table and
Europeans do the same for theirs.

EU officials disagree. Asem enlargement must be decided by " double
consensus," says European Trade Commissioner Leon Brittan. " We have the
right to approve what the other side has decided. No one can force anyone in." 

That message is clearly designed to ensure that Burma doesn't come to the
London meeting. But the issue won't go away that easily. As a Malaysian
diplomat in Brussels warns: " It will be hard for some Asean countries to
support the entry of new members if Burma is not in." 

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

THE NATION: ACTIVISTS STAGE RALLY AGAINST BURMA JUNTA
September 19, 1997
Nation, Agencies 

A GROUP of around 20 Burmese dissidents yesterday marked the ninth
anniversary of military rule in their homeland by burning a banner bearing
the names of the ruling junta in front of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta pro-democracy activists picketed the Thai Embassy to
protest against the arrest and planned deportation of exiled Burmese
activists in Bangkok.

"In the name of democracy and humanity, free the NCGUB officials and
activists, and cancel their deportations which would endanger their lives,"
read a statement from the Pijar Indonesia group which was handed to an
embassy official.

Thai Immigration officials on m Monday arrested three activists from the
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) saying they were
illegal immigrants. Six members of Pijar entered the Thai Embassy and
displayed banners criticising the arrests and demanding their release.

In the statement, Pijar accused the Thai government under Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh of "close cooperation" with the "iron hand" State Law
and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) in Burma.

It said that the arrests "support the Thai government's backing of the
accusation made by Burmese intelligence chief Lt Gen Khin Nyunt last July
that the NCGUB is a group masterminding a terrorist conspiracy against the
ruling junta." The group said that Bangkok's support of Slorc's
"anti-democracy" politics was a "step back" and that the Thai government
should be held responsible for the safety of the NCGUB activists if they
were deported back to Burma.

 .Associated Press reports from Washington: A senior US official criticised
Slorc on Wednesday for refusing again to talk to the leader of a movement to
bring democracy to the country.

Testifying before the House International Relations Committee, John
Shattuck, assistant secretary of state for human rights, said the US goal in
Burma "is to start a genuine dialogue between Slorc and the democratic
opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi and with representatives of ethnic
minorities." 

"Unfortunately, as recently as this week the Slorc has rejected dialogue,"
Shattuck said.

He said the United States would continue working with its allies to isolate
the Burmese regime 'until it ends its widespread repression of human rights'.

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

BKK POST: SLORC CLAIMS VICTORY OVER 'ANARCHY'
September 19, 1997

The military government yesterday lauded its own efforts to restore order to
the country in the nine years since it took power in a violent coup. 

Today, we, the people of this nation, celebrate the anniversary of the State
Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) by glancing back over our
shoulders at what it has been able to achieve in the years since 18
September 1988" said an editorial in all state-run newspapers.

As is the custom on the anniversary, there were no celebrations yesterday.
Pomp and ceremony are reserved for Armed Forces Day on March 27.

About 20 Burmese students in exile burned the national flag outside the
embassy in Bangkok yesterday, along with a banner bearing the names of the
Slorc's top 20 generals.

Yesterday's editorial in the state-run newspapers said " anarchy" had
threatened the country with disintegration before the Slorc took over,
adding that moves for party pluralism would usher in " a new era of
democracy in our own mould, democracy based on discipline" . It said: " We
have today a better nation." 

The Slorc was set up in 1988 after troops crushed seven months Of
unprecedented pro-democracy protests across the country.

Several thousand people who had flocked to the streets to voice their desire
for change were killed or imprisoned during the protests. 

Thousands of others fled to border areas or neighbouring countries like
Thailand and India.

All official newspapers Printed in colour to hail the anniversary carried
special articles on the achievements of the government over the years.

Among other things, the articles mentioned Burmese recent entry as a full
member into the-Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its successes in
negotiating ceasefire agreements with rebels from most of the country's
ethnic groups.

But exiled Burmese activists said the government had made few strides
forward, due to its dismal human rights record and failure to recognise 1990
elections which were won by the National League for Democracy the party
founded by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

" The Slorc has been propagandising. this very seizure of power as if it
were an act of salvation of the country," said the National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), the self-proclaimed
government-in-exile.

" This is nothing but a blatant insult to the people, and taking pride in
the massacre and seizure of power as if it were an act of justice can only
be seen as the act of those without, culture," an NCGUB statement said.

The NCGUB said the Slorc had not improved the situation for the people of
Burma, but instead had stepped up political repression on opposition
politicians and imposed extreme restrictions tantamount to house arrest on
Ms Suu Kyi.

A human rights yearbook released by the NCGUB gives examples of rights
violations the Slorc is accused of committing since 1988. It documents
persecution of NLD members and tells of forced labour, forced relocation and
other abuses.

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

SCMP: GOAL OF JUNTA STILL AN ILLUSION 
September 18, 1997
William Barnes 

Nine years after the formation of a military junta designed to lift a
once-prosperous country out of poverty and isolation, Burma remains poorly
equipped to face a future with few friends.

A senior diplomat in Rangoon has a quick explanation: "Real freedom is
anathema to people used to barking out orders."

But when the State Law and Order Restoration Council was born in the wake of
the anti-democracy crackdown on September 18, 1988, that left thousands of
protesters dead, it was certainly not part of the plan that Burma should
remain poor and lonely.

Months before, dictator General Ne Win had stunned the nation by stepping
down after admitting that a quarter-century of his quasi-socialist rule had
brought the country to its knees.

But the optimism caused by the ageing strongman's calls for free markets and
a multi-party Government was quickly tempered as the unbending nature of his
chosen "transitional" vehicle the SLORC, to use its ugly acronym, became clear.

"It was always inherent contradiction to expect military figures brought up
in the tradition of a very self-reliant ultra-nationalist like Ne Win to
relax their control and allow the markets to work their magic," the diplomat
said.

The generals expected that if they could lift Burma on to the Asia
high-growth bandwagon, greater wealth would reduce the clamour for political
freedom.

But the SLORC's closed military minds were shocked when their political
puppet party was blown out of the water in 1990 elections.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won by a
landslide - even though its leaders had been locked up by the frustrated junta.

The generals have ruled with an iron fist ever since.

Brief construction booms in Rangoon and Mandalay have been unable to
disguise the wretched state of the rest of the economy where "a lot of
absurdities still need to be shaken out", another envoy said.

Foreign economists suspect that only by feeding off drug money can Burma
continue with many of its prestige building projects.

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

SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS
September 18, 1997

Information Sheet No. A-0130(I/L)                          Date.18-9-97

(1)             Trading Arms for Peace

                (A)     On 16 September a group of (40) armed insurgent led
by Soe Way of the Myeik Township Burma Communist Party traded arms for peace
at Taninthayee Division. They also brought (268) family members with them.

                (B)     From 3 to 5 September 12 members of the Kayin
National Union along with (42) family members traded arms for peace in Kayin
State, it is learnt.

(2)             Press Release of Myanmar Embassy in Washington D.C.


             PRESS RELEASE (17 September 1997)

              EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR
2300  S  STREET, NW,  WASHINGTON,  DC 200084089
          TEL: (202) 332 9044 FAX: (202) 332 9046

THE  NATIONAL  LEAGUE  FOR  DEMOCRACY (NLD) BALKS, STAYS AWAY  FROM  TALKS

        Tuesday in Yangon, the second round of meetings between the
officials of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and
representatives of the National League for Democracy (NLD) was abruptly
cancelled as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi vetoed it despite the earlier acceptance
by the NLD Chairman.

        It is regrettable that the positive response of the NLD Chairman and
other
Central Executive Committee members was short-lived. The NLD which had been
clamouring for a dialogue has now decided to spurn the magnanimous gesture
of the government, solely because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains obdurate and
inflexible.

        Who indeed is obstructing the national task of rebuilding a united and
prosperous nation?

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

Information Sheet No. A-0131(I)
Date.18-9-97

(1)             39 Members of Armed Groups Exchange Arms for Peace 1-19 August

                Altogether 39 members of armed groups exchanged arms for
peace from 1 to 19 August 1997. They included ABSDF (All Burma Students
Democratic Front-Central) in Northern Command area, ABSDF No 702 Battalion
in North-East Command area, Chin armed group in North-West Command area,
Kyondoe Defence Group in South-East Command area, No 2 Company of No 7
Brigade of KNU (Kayin National Union) in Southern Command area, BCP (Burma
Communist Party) members and families in Taninthayi Division. Officers of
respective military camps extended warm welcome to them and assisted them by
fulfilling their immediate requirements.

(2)             Myawady Bank Ltd Opened in Mandalay

                Myawady Bank Limited (Mandalay) was opened at 55, 30th
Street, between 74th and 75th Streets, in Mandalay on 17 September. Myawady
Bank was opened in Yangon on 4 April 1993. It offers 14.25 per cent
interest, the highest rate among the private banks, and is now extending
services with 113 financial institutions of 35 countries from Asia, Europe,
Africa, Australia and
America.

(3)             Myanmar, Laos Discuss Border Area Management, Cooperation
(4)             Delegation to Attend ASEAN Senior Financial Officials' Meeting

(5)             Indonesian National Defence College Delegation Arrives

                A delegation led by Brig-Gen Johny P Mandas of the National
Defence College of Indonesia arrived Yangon by air on 17 September.

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

Information Sheet No. A-0132(I/L)                                  Date.18-9-97

The NLD released a statement on 17 September 1997
regarding their failure to accept the invitation
extended by the government to have an open discussion.

                One of the very first responses, NLD issued in their
statement is that
Chairman U Aung Shwe and the other two Central Executive Committee members
were told by an intelligence officer that Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt,
Secretary (1) of the State Law and Order Restoration Council would like to
see them and that they were told to come at 9:30 am on 16 September to meet
him. Secondly, the statement also mentioned that according to their party
principles the general secretary of the party must be present with the
chairman in such undertakings.

                It is quite a shock to learn that the NLD could manipulate
to come up
with such a false statement from the very beginning stating that they were
being verbally instructed by the intelligence officer to meet Secretary (1)
of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt at 9:30
am on 16 September.

                In fact, it is learnt that the Chairman U Aung Shwe held a
meeting at
13:00 pm on 16 September at the NLD headquarters in Yangon where he
explained about the official written invitation from Secretary (1) of SLORC
Lt. Gen Khin Nyunt addressed to Chairman U Aung Shwe of the NLD. The NLD
Central Executive Committee members U Soe Nyunt, U Lun Tin, U Than Tun, U
Nyunt Wai and U Hla Pe were present at the meeting. Besides, U Tin Oo and U
Kyi Maung also attended this meeting.
                To come to the next point- in having official relationship
with the
political parties the government is obligated to directly deal with or
through the officially recognized chairman or the chairperson of the ten
presently and legally recognized political parties. Chairmen/ Chairpersons
are also regarded as the main figure and key spokesperson of the party he
or she represents.

                There are quite a number of differences of concepts and
opinions among the top NLD leadership on the NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe's
refusal to accept an invitation extended by the government to have an open
discussion.

                To cite some prevailing expressed views: "---the NLD has
continuously called for a meeting between the government and its party to
take place but NLD has destroyed the opportunity when the government made it
open and possible."

"---Our party is going against its aims and objectives which are conducive
to bring harmony, national reconciliation and mutual respect."

"---Though accepting the official written invitation and agreeing verbally
to honour the meeting with Secretary (1) Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, especially
when the government liaison officer arrived at his(chairman's) residence
after picking up the other (2) invited NLD top leaders with the transport
provided by the government, Chairman U Aung Shwe's flat refusal to attend
the meeting was not pragmatic and predictable. We have provocatively
insulted the government upon being showered recognition by them."

"---U Aung Shwe being a chairman of a political party should not breach his
given promise. The meeting between our party and the government has nothing
to do with Daw Suu Kyi whether she is included or not in the meeting. We
have made another big mistake again. The other time was when NLD walked out
of the National Convention destroying its own objective."

"---Our party and the SLORC are running on a two parallel lines before and
when the SLORC made the effort for exploration of initiative we ignored it.
It is now very difficult to understand on what track we are running and
what our perspective are."

"---Even if Daw Suu Kyi has been included in the meeting
between SLORC and NLD there is no way that decisions can be made there
without the approval of the party. Everyone understands that her inclusion
is not the essential factor. U Aung Shwe as the chairman of the party
should not be overshadowed by Daw Suu and party's affairs should be given
priority."

                Ironically, Daw Suu Kyi had been preaching democracy since
she first
caught herself involved in party politics since 1988. But in reality she
vetoed the wish of the majority of the top NLD leaders and blocked the
constructive meeting which was to take place between the NLD and the SLORC.
This clearly indicates that hypocrisy prevails in the NLD and democracy
means fulfilling the desires and whims of a single person of that party.
While the SLORC being a military government has been branded dictatorial
and undemocratic by the West but in reality that military government
practices collective decision. It is an opportune time for the world to
realize that a different ultra form of dictatorship prevails in the NLD.

N.B.    The (10) Legally Recognized Political Parties in Myanmar
         1.     Kokang Democracy & Unity Party.
         2.     National Unity Party.
         3.     Union Kayin League.
         4.     Union Pao National Organization.
         5.     Mro or Khami National Solidarity Organization.
         6.     Shan Nationalities League for Democracy.
         7.     Shan State Kokang Democratic Party.
         8.     Lahu National Development Party.
         9.     Wa National Development Party.
        10.     National League for Democracy.

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INDEPENDENT REPORT: DEMONSTRATION IN BONN/GERMANY 
September 18, 1997

Demonstration in front of the SLORC embassy in Bonn

This is the first time in Germany that the school children went to the SLORC
embassy street in Bonn and demonstrated against the ruling military
dictators and drug-dealers of Burma, who recruited fellow school children in
Burma to army and to prostitution as well. The school children, about 50 in
number, stood in front of the SLORC embassy carrying several transparents "
The children are misused here for war ", " Here is the recruiting place for
child-soldiers ". The most spectacle of the day is that these school
children are in uniform. The demonstration was organised and conducted by "
terre des hommes "in cooperation with the Burma Bureau Germany. When asked
by the 
journalists and reporters, Burma Bureau Chairman George Khan said, 
the youngest protester in the demonstration is six month old, whose 
parents have fled to Germany recently due to the cruelty of the SLORC.
The demonstration of the school children aimed to commemorate the 
coming International Children Day, which falls on September 20.

The Burmese community and the Burma Bureau  in Germany expressed 
their gratitude to terre des hommes and the press for the news
transparency.

Nwe Aung
Germany, Sept.18, 1997. 

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EARTHRIGHTS INTERNATIONAL: NEW CONTACT INFORMATION:
September 18, 1997

EarthRights International
PO Box 12
Lard Phrao Junction
Lard Phrao, Bangkok. 10901
Thailand

tel/fax: 66 2 5122051
email: earth@xxxxxxxxxxx

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ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATIONS ON BURMA
September 19, 1997

"Map of Myanmar - Burma (Travel Maps)"

Price: $8.95
Subject: Travel

Publisher: Globe Pequot Pr
Binding: Hardcover
Expected publication date: October 1997
ISBN: 1853687987
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Vanishing Tribes of Burma"
by   Richard K. Diran

List: $45.00 -- Available Price at bookstores: $31.50
Subjects: Photo Essays; ARCHAEOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY; Anthropology

Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications
Binding: Hardcover
Expected publication date: October 1, 1997
ISBN: 0817455590
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Voice of Hope"
by   Aung San Suu Kyi, Alan Clements, Aung San Suu Kyi

List: $24.95 -- Available Price at bookstores: $19.96
Subjects: Aung San Suu Kyi; Democracy; Burma; Pacifism; Religious
          aspects; POLITICS/CURRENT EVENTS

Publisher: Seven Stories Pr
Binding: Paperback
Expected publication date: October 1, 1997
ISBN: 1888363509

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