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The BurmaNet News, October 29, 1997



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------          
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"          
----------------------------------------------------------          
      
The BurmaNet News: October 29, 1997             
Issue #855

HEADLINES:             
==========      
AP: BURMA POLICE SCUFFLE WITH THE ACTIVISTS
REUTERS: BURMA GOVT HALTS SUU KYI GATHERING
SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS A-0185(I), A-0186 (I / L), A-0187(I/L)
BKK POST: SLORC MAY FREE 50 THAI PRISONERS
THE NATION: AID FOR THAIS IN BURMA JAILS
THE NATION: HEALTH OF 3 SLORC PRISONERS CAUSING CONCERN
THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : NEWS BRIEFS 
BKK POST: PIPELINE FAVOURED OVER OFF-ROADERS
ANNOUNCEMENT: U OF COLORADO PASSES BURMA RESOLUTION
ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA CONFERENCE AT QUEEN?S UNIVERSITY
FBC ANNOUNCEMENT: DEMOCRACY TEACH-IN CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCEMENT: LA SALLE BANK CAMPAIGN 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------   

AP: BURMA POLICE SCUFFLE WITH THE ACTIVISTS
[abridged]
October 28, 1997

RANGOON, Burma (AP) - Riot police scuffled with Aung San Suu Kyi's
supporters Tuesday, surrounding the pro-democracy activist's car during a
rare foray away from her home. 

Suu Kyi left her compound to see young members of her National League for
Democracy in Mayangon, a Rangoon suburb. The trip was made in defiance of
government orders. 

As Suu Kyi's motorcade approached the Mayangon office, a dozen supporters
rushed past police barricades toward her car. A scuffle ensued with
baton-wielding riot police who had put up barbed-wire barricades to block the
road. 

After a two-hour standoff, during which police ringed Suu Kyi's car and
surrounded her 70 supporters, police ordered the supporters and reporters
onto trucks, and drove them away. They were let off the trucks later. 

The government said in a statement that Suu Kyi and party elders Aung Shwe,
Tin Oo and Kyi Maung had lunch at the Mayangon office but no meeting took
place. A party member, however, said about 10 youth-wing members joined the
lunch. 

A government official accused Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize,
of being confrontational and refusing to hold the meeting inside her compound
for her own safety as the government had demanded. The official spoke on
condition of anonymity. 

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

REUTERS: BURMA GOVT HALTS SUU KYI GATHERING
[abridged]
October 28, 1997

    RANGOON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Burma's military authorities on Tuesday set
up barricades and blocked opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from holding a
political gathering in a small town outside the capital, an opposition
source and witnesses said.  The government said Suu Kyi and her National
League for
Democracy (NLD) party were told not to hold the gathering, and said their
insistence on trying to hold it despite the warning would only slow down the
country's moves towards democracy.
    The gathering at Mayangon Township, about 11 km (seven miles) from
Rangoon, would have been the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate's second political
meeting outside the city since she was released from house arrest more than
two years ago.
    Parts of the main Kaba Aye Pagoda road, including the lane leading to
the township NLD office, were still blocked with barricades by early
afternoon, witnesses said.
    "They had a plan to hold a ceremony at a township NLD office there at
9:00 (0230 GMT) this morning," a source from Suu Kyi's NLD party told Reuters.
    "The purpose of the ceremony was to reorganise the township NLD youth
wing and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was supposed to attend it. However, access to
the venue was barred by barricades by security personnel," he said.
    Suu Kyi could not be reached for comment.
    Last week Suu Kyi -- who has been under close surveillance, with her
movements limited since last December -- was allowed to meet NLD youth
members and speak in a different township a few miles outside Rangoon.
    Analysts had said the move, which came on the heels of talks between the
government and some NLD officials, and after the SLORC allowed an NLD party
meeting to take place, could have been a possible easing of tension between
the military government and the opposition movement.

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

SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS A-0185(I), A-0186 (I / L), A-0187(I/L)
[excerpts only]

INFORMATION SHEET No. A-0185(I)                   Date 28-10-97

             VICE-PREMIER OF STATE COUNCIL OF PRC ARRIVES

                At the invitation of the member of the State Law and Order
Restoration Council and Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin,
goodwill delegation led by Vice-Premier of the State Council of the People's
Republic of China Mr Wu Bangguo arrived Yangon by air on 26 October morning
on an official visit to the Union of Myanmar. Vice-Premier Mr Wu Bangguo was
accompanied by Minister for Transport Mr Huang Zhendong, Vice-Minister for
the State Planning Commission Mr Ye Qing, Vice-Minister for the State
Economic and Trade Commission Mr Zhang Wule, Deputy Secretary-General of the
State Council Mr Shi Xiushi, Vice-Minister for the State Commission for
Restructuring Economic System Mr Hong Hu, Vice-Governor of Yunnan Province
Mr Liu Jing, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Yang Wenchang,
Assistant Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Mr Sun
Guangxiang, Vice-Governor of the Bank of China Mr Gao Dezhu and other senior
officials.

		Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Vice-Premier
of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Mr Wu Bangguo at
International Business Centre at 3 pm on 27 October. Later, the two deputy
premiers discussed matters of mutual interest and economic cooperation at IBC.

                Minister Brig-Gen Abel and Assistant Minister for Foreign
Trade and Economic Cooperation Mr Sun Guangxiang signed the Framework
Agreement between the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Government
of the People's Republic of China on a Preferential Loan with interest
subsidized by the Chinese Government to be provided by China for Myanmar.
			----------------------

INFORMATION SHEET No.A-0186 (I / L)		Date 28-10-97

NLD DEFIES THE FRAMEWORK OF THE LAW

        The relevant Mayangone Township Authorities in Yangon received some
unconfirmed news yesterday that the NLD is planning to hold a rally the next
day in their Township. The Mayangone Township Authorities informed the
Township NLD representatives if this information was correct. The Township
Authorities have reminded them to have this rally conducted within the
framework of the law and within established regulations governing such
meetings. The NLD representatives have also been advised on ground of
security and stability reasons, such activities should be held at Daw Suu
Kyi's University Compound where the authorities have permitted and assisted
them whenever and wherever necessary in carrying out their political activities.

        The government security official in charge of Daw Suu Kyi's
residential compound also advised her on 27 October not to go out to make
political
activities where her safety is being exposed. He also suggested her to
invite the people she wishes to meet from the respective townships to her
residential compound and to carry out the meeting in safety and thus
refraining from defying the established laws and regulations. He also
reminded her that the government has shown willingness in extending efforts
in the previous
meetings to be able to carry it out conveniently when NLD conducted the
meeting within regulations governing such meetings.

        Regretfully, this morning at 9am Chairman U Aung Shwe, U Kyi Maung
and Daw Suu Kyi arrived at Mayangone Township to carry out their political
activities in spite of the reasons and requests made by the relevant
authorities. Therefore, the relevant Mayangone Township Authorities again
requested them this morning not to hold this rally in their township which
they fear that it may lead to disturbing the prevailing tranquility and
stability the township people
are enjoying..

It is very much regretful that in spite of the efforts the authorities have
made in
meeting its own commitments the NLD seems to have refused to meet theirs
while it has chosen to hold to its rigid and confrontational approach with
the authorities and not only to create conditions that would embarrass the
government but also to politicize this incident so that their international
community would be tricked into exerting pressure on Myanmar Government.

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

INFORMATION SHEET No. A-0187(I/L)                   Date 28-10-97

                Follow up Information of Information Sheet A. 0186(I/L) 28 Oct.

                NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe and team were requested by the
Mayangone Township Authorities to refrain from holding unauthorized rally in
their township. On their insistence the township local authorities allowed
them to go to the township NLD office.

                U Aung Shwe and team on arrival at the township NLD office
realizing that the township NLD members were not present there the group had
lunch at the office and left after having the meal at 1:30 pm.

                It seems obvious that the NLD is on the line of creating
incidents to force the authorities to take a different stand. The government
as any other
governments in the world has obligations to enforce laws intended to maintain
tranquility and stability in its country.

                The NLD's taking advantage and exploiting this kind of
situation will regretfully, prevent Myanmar from becoming a democracy in a
reasonable amount of time if conditions necessary to create a fully
functioning democracy in Myanmar is neglected and ignored by the NLD.

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

BKK POST: SLORC MAY FREE 50 THAI PRISONERS
October 28, 1997
Wassana Nanuam

[BurmaNet Editor?s note: Although this article notes that Insein Jail is
?presumably the best? in Burma, accounts by ex-inmates indicate that
conditions there are extremely unpleasant.  Letters from Thai prisoners
describing their experiences in Burmese jails have come out in the Thai
press and are being translated.  The letters will be included in a
forthcoming edition of BurmaNet News.]

Move  to coincide with Gen Chettha's visit

Burma is expected to release about 50 Thai prisoners in December, a close
aide to army chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro said yesterday.

Their release is high on the agenda of Gen Chettha who will travel to Burma
in the middle of next month for talks with Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, first
secretary of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc),
said Col Niphat Thongleg.

He said currently there are about 170 Thais, mostly fishermen, languishing
in Rangoon's Insein prison.

"We expect Burma to release about 50 Thais on December 5," he added.
December 5 is His Majesty the King's birthday.

Col Niphat said the army chief will also explore the possibility of Burma
handing over Thai prisoners to Thai authorities so that they could serve out
their terms in Thailand.

Families and relatives of Thai inmates yesterday appealed to Gen Chettha to
negotiate their release, failing which provide them with cash, medicine and
other essential items because of the poor conditions in Burmese jail.

Army chief of staff Gen Charn Boonprasert pledged to look into the matter
and said he will urge Gen Chettha to ask his Burmese host to move all Thai
inmates to Insein prison, presumably the best in that country.

Rattiya Khojuantiew, wife of Chair at Hunbamrung, a trawler skipper arrested
in 1993, produced a letter from her husband which was smuggled out of Insein
prison.

The letter described his prison ordeal, unhygienic conditions and unhealthy
food. Several inmates were suffering from malaria while some had contracted
the HIV virus. They were served two meals a day consisting of rice with
shrimp paste and boiled beans.

"Gen Chettha is our only hope," Mrs Rattiya said.

The letter was smuggled out by inmates freed earlier who had to resort to
the nastiest of tricks to ensure it would not be detected by the prison warder.

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

THE NATION: AID FOR THAIS IN BURMA JAILS
October 28, 1997

THE Army will this week give medicine and medical supplies to 202 Thais
jailed in Burmese prisons, mostly on charges of poaching in Burmese
territorial waters Army Chief of Staff Gen Charn Penprasert said yesterday.

The supplies provided by the Public Health Ministry would be taken to
Rangoon by a C-130 aircraft this week, Charn said. He was speaking after
accepting the items from the Public Health Ministry.

Meanwhile a senior Army source said the Foreign Ministry is responsible for
looking after Thais jailed in foreign prisons but has not taken the matter
seriously.

"Relatives and families of Thais jailed in Burmese prisons have turned to
the Army as the Foreign Ministry refused to help," the source said.

As a result, Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro assigned the Army
military attaché in Rangoon to take care of Thai prisoners and provide as
much assistance as possible, the source added.

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

THE NATION: HEALTH OF THREE SLORC PRISONERS CAUSING CONCERN
October 28, 1997
Aung Zaw

Human rights groups have expressed fear over the health of three ageing
political prisoners in Rangoon's notorious Insein prison, reports Aung Zaw.

Recently, two prominent human rights groups in London and New York issued
urgent statements expressing deep concern over the health of three political
prisoners in Burma's Insein prison.

According to New York-based Human Rights Watch/Asia, U Win Tin, Dr Aung Khin
Sint and Cho Aung Than were being transferred from the prison to Rangoon
General Hospital (RGH) for medical treatment.

London-based Amnesty International called for the three to be given all the
medical attention they need and that they not be returned to prison under
any circumstances. Two of the three are members of the main Burmese
opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).

An NLD source in Rangoon confirmed that Cho Aung Than, Aung Khin Sint and
Win Tin are currently in RGH. However, the source added that Win Tin and
Aung Khin Sint, who are both in their 60s, are no longer considered to be in
critical condition. There has been no confirmation on Cho Aung Than's condition.

Burmese officials said all three men had been transferred to the hospital to
speed up their recovery. It was reported that Win Tin was hospitalised for a
cardiac disorder.

Opposition sources said they believed the three were hospitalised because of
their age, the unhealthy conditions of the prison, and insufficient and
delayed medical treatment. Previously, the three were forced to spent time
in solitary confinement.

CLOSE TO DEATH

Normally prisoners are sent to hospitals only when they are very close to
death. Three months ago, prominent lawyer, writer and senior NLD leader Tin
Shwe died in hospital three days after being transferred from Insein prison
to RGH. Aung Khin Sint is a senior NLD member and elected -MP from Mingala
Taung Nyunt township in Rangoon division.

Ironically, his brother Aung Khin Tint happened to be a staunch supporter of
the military regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) and
an active member of the government-sponsored constitution drafting committee.

Analysts in Rangoon speculated that Aung Khin Sint was transferred to the
hospital because of his brother. Aung Khin Sint was arrested in 1993 for
distributing anti-National Convention leaflets among the delegates.

He was released in 1995. As a vocal critic of the regime, Aung Khin Sint has
been frequently arrested. He was last arrested in 1996. It is believed that
he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

"He has been in and out of the prison - we admire Aung Khin Sint for his
role in the democracy movement as well as his serious support for health
education," 30-year-old Htun Htun Aung said in Rangoon.

Cho Aung Than, a cousin of the Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, was
arrested in June this year along with his sister Nge Ma Ma Than.

The junta accused Cho Aung Than and his sister of involvement in terrorist
activities and raising funds for the NLD from foreign organisations. Later,
he was sentenced to a 10-year jail term under provisions of the Unlawful
Associations Act and the Emergency Provisions Act.

Win Tin, 67, is a journalist and a founder of the NLD. He was imprisoned in
October 1989, accused of being a member of the banned Communist Party of
Burma. Win Tin is well-known for his writings on paintings, world
literature, politics and journalism.

In the 1970s Win Tin was chief editor of the Mandalay-based Hanthawaddy
newspaper. In 1978, a paper critical of the then Ne Win regime was read at
the "Saturday Reading Circle" of which Win Tin was a leading member.
Consequently, he was dismissed from his job and the newspaper was shut down.

INTELLECTUAL FACTION

In 1988, Win Tin joined the NLD and became one of the secretaries of the
executive committee.

He was also a leading member of the party's intellectual faction. Considered
a major architect if NLD policy along with Tin Shwe, Win Tin was arrested
before the elections in June 1989. Burma's military intelligence accused him
of having pro-Communist sympathies. Officials raided his house, searched his
personal possessions and confiscated all his books.

Initially, Win Tin received a three year prison term but it was later
extended to 11 years. In 1995, he and 27 other political prisoners were
accused of breaking prison rules and his prison term was again extended. In
fact, Win Tin and his fellow inmates sent out a letter describing prison
conditions to the United Nations.

In 1994 and 1995, US Congressman Bill Richardson and former UN special
rapporteur to Burma, Dr Yozo Yokota, visited Win Tin in Insein prison. Win
Tin has been suffering from various ailments including heart disease and
spondylitis.

Spondylitis is an inflammation of the vertebrae which is often exacerbated
by poor nutrition.

 In addition, he was in need of dental treatment. He was unable to eat even
boiled rice. According to recent information, Win Tin was given dental
treatment at the RGH. Former fellow prison inmates and friends who visited
Win Tin said that while his mind is as active as ever, his health is
continuing to deteriorate.

Inside Insein, Win Tin has gained the respect of the political prisoners due
to his commitment to the democracy movement. Although he branded a "Red" or
"communist" by Slorc, Win Tin remains steadfast in opposing all forms of
authoritarian regimes. When problems and conflicts arise among the political
prisoners, Win Tin often intervenes.

According to one former political prisoner, Win Tin no longer considers
himself a member of the NLD. "I don't know why he doesn't want to be a
member of the NLD but he still admires Aung San Suu Kyi," he said.

"I'm just a democrat in the movement," Win Tin was quoted as saying by the
source. Win Tin's individualism placed him above party politics. "All
rightists and leftists in the prison admire him as he is able to patch
things up," the former prisoner added.

Previously, Win Tin was offered special privileges such as a bed, newspapers
and walking exercise. Though some senior NLD leaders accepted the
privileges, Win Tin refused, insisting that officials treat him the same as
other political prisoners or provide them with the same special privileges.

"The authorities won't free him," another former political prisoner said.

Win Tin knows it. He once told his close friends in prison that he will die
there.

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

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : NEWS BRIEFS 
[excerpts only]

October 23, 1997

Four members of KNU armed group exchange arms for  peace

YANGON, 22 Oct- Private Min Lwin Oo (3035) of guard platoon of No 7 
battalion, No 3 brigade, of KNU armed  group exchanged arms for peace at the 
intelligence unit in Shwegyin on 9 October. He brought  along With him No 36 
hand grenade and one China hand grenade. L/cpl Myint Soe, privates Hla  
Shwe and Zaw Win of Myint Thein' s group of No 2 battalion, No 1 Brigade, 
KNU armed group  exchanged their arms for peace while the Tatmadaw 
column was combing the area near Laykay  Wintapa Village on 11 October. 
They brought along one carbine, one AK 47 automatic and one  M-79 
automatic.

October 26, 1997

249 JADE LOTS FETCH OVER $ 1.7M

YANGON, 25 Oct - Local and foreign gem merchants today bought 25 jade 
lots valued at $  385,190 by tender at the Mid-Year Myanma Gems Emporium 
today. Gems, jewellery and jade figurines which are being sold at fixed prices
fetch $ 57,966. The proceeds from the sales of 249 jade lots 23-25 October 
totalled over $1.7 million.

October 27, 1997

33 GEM LOTS FETCH OVER $ 1.5M

YANGON,23 Oct - Gem merchants purchased 33 gem lots valued at over $1.5
million  through competitive bidding at the Mid-Year Gems Emporium today.
 Among the sales, 89.83carat sapphire (Lot No 281) fetched $ 504,800 and
289.5 carat ruby also  fetched $ 290,000. Gems and jewellery being sold at 
fixed prices fetched $ 61,329. Pearl lots will be sold through competitive 
bidding tomorrow.
 ________________________

to view with photos, pls browse at:

English - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm
French -http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/fnlm
German - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/gnlm
Myanmar - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/mnlm

Pls use Win Myanmar fonts.

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

BKK POST: PIPELINE FAVOURED OVER OFF-ROADERS
October 28, 1997
Editorial

The Forestry Department has taken an uncharacteristic stand in support of
preserving the nation's forests. At least that is how it appears to the
public. But would it have been so firm in barring off-road vehicles from
using a national park as a private playground if there had been financial
incentive to do otherwise?

The head of Mae Wong national park in Kamphaeng Phet is to be applauded for
deciding on Saturday to deny entry to the drivers of 120 off-road vehicles.
The decision would certainly have been an unpopular one among members of the
caravan who had hoped to drive along a 28km trail to Chong Yen, in the
centre of the park.

The decision, which is absolutely correct, is nevertheless surprising in
view of the curious attitude the Forestry Department has shown towards
tracts of land that have been placed, for better or for worse, under its
protection. The ban was imposed on the off-road vehicles barely a week after
the Cabinet decided that tracts of protected forest in Kanchanaburi were not
worth protecting any more.

There was and is nothing wrong with the forest area in question except that
it happens to lie along the chosen path of the Yadana pipeline. As we are
beginning to find out, nothing, but nothing stands in the way of projects
such as Yadana, which are born of deals between our government and its
friends in the junta that clings to control in Burma.

The Forestry Department appears to have been profoundly uninterested in the
prospect of a pipeline being cut through fertile forest and prime Al
watershed in Sai Yok national park. It has shown the same attitude to a host
of organisations both here and abroad that have displayed an altogether more
positive attitude towards Thailand's natural resources. Its behaviour in
Kanchanaburi raises serious questions about the role of the department; is
it, for example, in the business of protecting forests or facilitating their
removal when some particularly juicy contract happens along?

The ban on off-road vehicles in Mae Wong is certainly inconsistent with the
welcome mat put out to the Petroleum Authority of Thailand and its oil
industry friends in Sai Yok national park. The ban also flies in the face of
comments by Sathit Sawintara, the Forestry Department director-general, to
the effect that resorts and other such developments built illegally on
offshore natural parks should be given legal status for 30 years.

What this means is that a department of the state that is entrusted to
protect certain lands has found a way to reward private operators who have
broken the law by occupying those same lands. Mr Sathit says it is a touchy
problem because most of the developers happen to be politicians and
influential people. But never mind, given leases of 30 years or so they will
become model stewards of the land they have stolen from the people, and what
is more, they will make financial contributions to the state. Everybody's happy.

There must surely be money-making opportunities in Mae Wong national park
apart from such mundane activities as logging and hunting protected species.
In the Forestry Department's scheme of things, it is surprising that the
park has not already become a centre for off-road rallies, with maintenance
centres, fuel stations, tyre warehouses and entertainment areas where people
can have a good time after a day's destruction.

The Forestry Department presides over vast areas in varying degrees of
degradation. Rampant and continuing logging has created ever-expanding areas
that are no good to anyone, except, perhaps, off-road enthusiasts who want
to face a real challenge. Given the department's enthusiasm for anything
involving making money, perhaps it could open up its many man-made disaster
areas to off-road vehicles. Why not? The damage has already been done and
this might, at least, keep such rallies from causing serious damage.

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: U OF COLORADO PASSES BURMA RESOLUTION
October 27, 1997

Media Contact:
Carmen Rhodes (303) 544-0856 (home)
	      (303) 492-1205 (work)
Email: rhodescm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

University Of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) Unanimously Passes A
Resolution To Support The Students Of Burma

October 27, 1997 (Boulder, Colorado, United States): A resolution to support
the right of students in Burma to organize and attend school was unanimously
passed by the University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) legislative
council. Students of CU Boulder and community members gathered last
Thursday, October 23, to support the Legislative Council Resolution (LCR)
#103 which claims:
		"...the government of Burma is currently an illegitimate
		military regime, not supported by the people; the
		illegitimate regime continually suppresses the students of
		Burma; and the students are not allowed to organize or
		attend school. Therefore: the University of Colorado
		supports the students of Burma in their right to organize
		and to attend school."
	This resolution was written as a response to the military regime, known as
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), and it's continual
repression of the people of Burma. Since the military takeover in 1962, when
the student union of the University of Rangoon was bombed and many students
killed, the students have been a main target for human rights abuses.
	In 1988, when the people of Burma began to demand democracy, the
SLORC allowed citizens to hold a democratic election; however, they were
prohibited from engaging in any type of campaigning efforts. When the
people's party, of National League for Democracy (NLD), won with 82% of
the votes, the government declared  the party and election illegitimate, and
would not allow the NLD to take office. Instead, SLORC imprisoned and
killed many affiliated with the NLD which included 3000 students and Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the NLD.
	Since 1988, the universities have been closed four of the nine years
because of students attempting to form a student union. Currently, the
universities have been closed since December of 1996 because of the latest
attempt to form a student union.
	Amid cheers and applause at the resolution's passage, Inge Sargent, former
Burmese princess, thanked the students of Colorado for their support of
fellow students.
	"All people should have the right to organize themselves," said student,
Lena Potyondy who supports LCR #103.
	Carmen Rhodes, co-author of LCR #103 and student, believes, "The
SLORC's continual suppression of the students' right to organize
themselves into a union is a violation of their human rights."

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

1) Free Burma business resolutions (by Student Governments)

Northwestern University
U. Chicago
Harvard 
Stanford
UC-Berkeley
UCLA
UC Santa Barbara 
Penn State
College of the Atlantic, ME
University of Washington
University of Oklahoma
University of Wisconsin at Madison
University of California (Associated Students of Univ. of  California
Students representing all 9 campus governments except UCSF)
Queen's University (Canada)

2) General resolution

University of California at Davis (1990)

3) Burma Divestment

The University of Wisconsin System  (Dumped stocks in the amount of $239,000
from Texaco  April '97)

4) Shareholder Resolutions

University of Washington
Stanford 

5) Burma Free Business Policy adopted by the Trustee

American University, Washington, DC

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA CONFERENCE AT QUEEN?S UNIVERSITY
October 28, 1997

The FREE BURMA! working group of OPIRG Kingston, Ontario is hosting a
conference on Saturday, Nov. 8th.

BURMA CONFERENCE; Developing Tools for Change.
Location: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

SCHEDULE

10:00-11:00    INTRODUCTION  Christine Harmston (Canadian Friends of
                                                 Burma)
11:00-12:30    WORKSHOPS "Constructive Engagement" - Dr. B.T. Win     
                          "Financial Ethics" - QPIRG McGill
12:30-1:30     LUNCH
1:30-2:30      SPEAKER "Women and Burma" - Ohmar Khin (Refugees
                                      International's Burma Project)
2:30-4:00      WORKSHOPS "Refugee Women and Children of the Thai-			Burmese
Border" - Rosy Win
                         "Selective Purchasing" - Craig Forcese
4:00           PANEL DISCUSSION "Democracy and the Future"
8:30           KEYNOTE ADDRESS - Bo Hla-Tint (National Coalition
                                 Government of the Union of Burma)

The cost of the conference is by donation (suggested $5). For more
information please contact:

FREE BURMA OPIRG Kingston
office: (613) 549-0066 
home: (613) 549-6343
or E-Mail: 4lgm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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

FBC ANNOUNCEMENT: DEMOCRACY TEACH-IN CONFERENCE
October 28, 1997

You are invited to the Democracy Teach-In Organizing Conference

WHAT:  Democracy Teach-In Organizing Conference
WHEN:  Friday-Sunday October 31- November 2nd
WHERE: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
WHO:  Students, Education Workers, Community and International Human
Rights, Democracy and Environmental Activists

                     ** COSPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS **

Alliance for Democracy    http://www.igc.apc.org/alliance/
Center for Campus Organizing    http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/cco
Earth First!
Education for the People
Free Burma Coalition    http://wicip.org/fbc
Free Nigeria Movement      http://www.FreeNigeria.org
Freedom Road Socialist Organization - Student Commission
National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest
Program on Corporations, Law, and Democracy
Speak Out      http://www.vida.com/speakout/
Student Environmental Action Coalition     http://www.seac.org/
Teachers for Democratic Culture
United States Student Association
		___________________________________
	                         "In the Belly of the Beast"
 	                                    Chicago

evolving  SCHEDULE

Friday

12-3 Meeting and greeting workshop leaders
2-3 workshop leaders gathering-- to explain goals of conference,
suggestions
for workshop leading.
3-4 registration
4-6 small group discussions of fascinating topics (if possible)
7-9 RALPH NADER
9 Plenary 1

Saturday

9:30 - 10:45 Workshop Session I
11:00 - 12:00 LUNCH
Noon - 2:00 Plenary II - Gathering Plenary
2:00- 2:45 ACTION
3:00 - 4:15 Workshop Session II
4:30 - 5:45 Workshop Session II
6- 7 Dinner
7:00 "Global Immediacy: Campuses in Solidarity" - Tunde Okorondudu (Free

Nigeria Movement), Zar Ni (Free Burma Coalition), and Mojgone Azemun
(Students for a Free Tibet)
9:00 Poetry/ Music-- Dennis Brutus
9:00 Council Meeting

Sunday
9-10:30 Workshop Session IV or strategizing session
10:30- 12:00 Strategizing
12-1:00 Lunch
1-2:30 Richard Grossman
2:30- 4:30 The Plenary to End all Plenaries
? various hugs and good-byes

First meeting of new DTI Council on Sunday afternoon, following Summary
Plenary.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: LA SALLE BANK CAMPAIGN 
October 28, 1997
Sender: jepeck@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (John E. Peck)

Hello friends,

        LaSalle Bank - "The Bank That Works" according to their ads in the
Chicago area where they have 75+ offices - has been wholly owned, since
1979, by the Dutch bank ABN AMRO (Allgemeinebank Nederland Amsterdam
Rotterdam).  This Dutch parent is one of the largest banks in the world
with 1996 assets of $384 billion and 1630 offices in 69 countries.  In
fact, they are the fourteenth largest bank in the world, and the largest
foreign bank in the U.S.  One of ABN AMRO's offices is in Rangoon through
which they help bankroll the SLORC regime.  LaSalle Bank likes to perceive
itself as a "friendly civic-minded company", which is why they cosponsored
the Chicago Marathon last Sunday (Oct. 19), and are billed as the sponsor
of an upcoming Chicago benefit concert to honor Steve Goodman (featuring
John Prine, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, and Arlo Guthrie) on Nov. 13 at
7:30 pm at the Medinah Temple.

        About 20 Free Burma activists held banners along the Marathon route
to expose La Salle's largely unknown collaboration with the SLORC
dictatorship in Burma.  One banner supposedly read "LaSalle Bank Sponsors
Chicago Marathon - Hooray / LaSalle Bank Sponsors Brutal Burmese Military -
Boo."  A similar action will also occur outside the Nov. 13 concert.  Folks
in the Chicago area who can help with the campaign to get La Salle out of
Burma should contact Don Erickson with Synapses at #773/561-2866 or
#312/421-5513.

        Those of us outside Chicago can still join the effort to expose
LaSalle Bank and put pressure on its Dutch parent to pull out of Burma.
People can call LaSalle's Chicago Marathon Gear hotline (toll-free!)
888-243-3344 and let them know how you feel about Burma.  People can also
call Ticket Master #312-559-1212 and complain about the fact that La Salle
Bank through its "filthy" support of the SLORC dictatorship in Burma is
"spoiling" a perfectly good benefit concert honoring Steve Goodman.  Enough
phone calls of this sort and Ticketmaster will have to contact LaSalle (and
the concert promoters!) to tell them of the negative fallout their name is
having on advance ticket sales!

        People can also write/call/fax LaSalle Bank directly to tell them to
get their Dutch parent ABN AMRO out of Burma or else!  It would be
especially effective if people contact them who actually have accounts
there, threatening to switch to another bank - but everyone's voice is worth
something.

                Harrison F. Tempest, CEO
                LaSalle National Bank
                135 S. LaSalle St.
                Chicago, IL  60603
                tel. 1-800-217-0963
                or 312-443-2000
                fax. 312-443-2819

For the Dutch parent contact:

                PG Kalff, Chair
                ABN-AMRO
                P.O. Box 1914
                1000 BX Amsterdam, Netherlands
                tel. 31-20-6299111
                fax. 31-20-6298069

and for the truly intrepid, why not contact the Burma office directly!:

                ABN-AMRO Bank NV Rep. Office
                Rm #702-703  FMI Centre
                380 Bogyoke Aung San Rd.
                Yangon, Myanmar
                tel. 95-1-240276
                fax. 95-1-240282

        Thanks for keeping our corporate elites publicly accountable! - John

John Peck, c/o UW Greens, 731 State St., Madison WI  53703 #608-262-9036

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