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The BurmaNet News December 18, 1997
- Subject: The BurmaNet News December 18, 1997
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 03:05:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: December 18, 1997
Issue #894
HEADLINES:
==========
NOTE FROM BURMANET EDITOR
BKK POST: AUNG SAN SUU KYI APPEALS FOR SYMPATHY FOR
REUTERS: BURMA OPPOSITION FAVORS UN PUSH OVER MILITARY
KYODO: BURMESE EMBASSY PROTESTS TO TV ASAHI
BKK POST: JUNTA VOWS TO AVOID ANOTHER POWER GRAB
S.H.A.N : THE SHAN STARTS MILITARY OFFENSIVE
MON GROUPS: JOINT STATEMENT ON ARREST OF MON MP
INDEPENDENT REPORT: MON NEWS
KNU: KNU NEWS RELEASES 67/97, 66/97, 67/97
ABSDF: REPORT LINKS ECONOMIC PROJECTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS
ANNOUNCEMENT: COMMITTEE FOR ARAKANESE REFUGEES
MONLAND RESTORATION COUNCIL: ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERNATIONAL KAREN YOUTH CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THAI/BURMA
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NOTE FROM BURMANET EDITOR
December 18, 1997
Apologies. I have been away from the net for the past two weeks and
the staff was not able to put out all the news during this time. Over the next
couple of days, we will be including statements and reports which didn't
make it into earlier issues. This issue includes recent events in ethnic
minority
areas and upcoming conferences.
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BKK POST: AUNG SAN SUU KYI APPEALS FOR SYMPATHY FOR
ILLEGAL WORKERS
December 17, 1997
by NUSSARA SAWATSAWANG
THEY HAVE NO CHOICE, SAYS OPPOSITION CHIEF
Aung San Suu Kyi has appealed to the government to be sympathetic
to the large number of Burmese illegal workers on Thai soil.
These people know their predicament is "very, very bad indeed"
but they have gone to Thailand because jobs are scarce at home,
the opposition leader told Alternative Asean Network on Burma an
NGO, in Rangoon.
"As illegal immigrants, they are subject to harassment by police
or by some forms of extortion as well in order to get permission
to stay on," she said. "And of course, they probably get much
less than Thai workers.
But it's only because they have no choice. They can't get jobs in
Burma or they can't get the kind of job that can earn enough to
feed their. families," she said.
As a long-term solution, Mrs Suu Kyi suggested Thailand "help
Burma to become a country well with enough jobs." She did not
elaborate.
The leader of the National League for Democracy also expressed
concern for refugees along the Thai Burmese border, and urged the
administration to help on a people-to-.people basis.
"We are very concerned about the status of refugees from Burma
who are in Thailand. I think if the Thai government wants a
genuine improvement in relations between the two countries, it
must think of the people of Burma, not the government," she said.
Her comment followed reports that Thai military units beat and
kicked some of 1,000 refugees being deported from Tak province.
Authorities here have indicated that up to one million illegal
immigrants, 700,000 of them Burmese, are expected to be deported
as more Thais face the threat of unemployment from the downturn.
As for the stalemate in dialogue with the State Peace and
Development Council, Mrs Suu Kyi said the ball is now in the
junta's court as the NLD has made known its wish for talks.
The United States has led Western calls for the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, which admitted Burma in July, to engage
both the junta and the NLD in order to break the stalemate.
But Mrs Suu Kyi did not believe outside mediation was necessary.
"The regime has made up its mind to have a dialogue. Once it
decides it wants to talk. to NLD, I do not think there would be a
real need for mediator," she said.
******************************************************
REUTERS: BURMA OPPOSITION FAVORS UN PUSH OVER MILITARY
December 17, 1997
By Sutin Wannabovorn
BANGKOK, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Burma's main opposition party and pro-democracy
students in exile on Wednesday welcomed a United Nations plan to press the
ruling military government to call elections.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who met Burmese leader Senior General Than
Shwe in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, said he would send a special envoy to Burma
to meet leaders of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
Annan said on Wednesday the envoy would monitor the country's democratic
reforms.
``It's a little unusual for the United Nations,'' Annan said of the envoy's
mission. ``We are not going in with a timetable like we did with Cambodia.
What we'd like to see is free and fair elections and freedom of speech.''
Annan said Than Shwe did not indicate when elections could be held in Burma.
The United Nations has previously sent a special human rights investigator to
Burma but not an envoy to discuss democratic reforms. At times over the past
few years the human rights investigator has been denied a visa to enter Burma.
``This is very good news. We regard this as a progressive step and it makes us
see some light (for democracy),'' a member of Nobel peace laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party told Reuters by telephone
from Rangoon.
The NLD is awaiting the visit of the U.N. special envoy but was skeptical
about the SPDC's sincerity in wanting to move toward more democracy, the NLD
member said.
General Tin Oo, the Secretary Two of the SPDC, was quoted by official media as
saying on Monday that the military should lessen its role in politics and
never again seize power.
``I heard such remarks from the radio report, but don't know whether he really
said that,'' the NLD member said.
Suu Kyi's NLD won a landslide victory in a 1990 election but the then-ruling
military State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) ignored the result
and refused to hand over power.
The SLORC changed its name to the SPDC in November and made major changes to
the cabinet although the top leadership remained the same.
``Since they have changed the name to SPDC, we have not yet seen any positive
sign of dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi,'' Saw Min, the joint secretary of the
exiled All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) said in Bangkok.
Saw Min said the ABSDF also welcomed the visit of the UN special envoy but was
skeptical over Tin Oo's remarks.
``The UN move will be seen as a big step in the progress for political
development in our country. I think the envoy will play a major role in
pushing for dialogue between the SPDC and Aung San Suu Kyi,'' he said.
Suu Kyi said in a videotape made earlier this month and released this week
that the NLD did not feel a mediator was necessary for talks with the
government.
``A mediator is not a necessity, but once the military regime has made up its
mind to have dialogue they might want...to use somebody as a mediator,'' she
said.
``I do not think mediators are truly necessary if both sides have decided that
they want to talk to each other. (The NLD) long ago decided we wanted to talk
to the ... SPDC,'' she said.
Suu Kyi, whose tape was released on the sidelines of a meeting of leaders of
the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) also said political change
in Burma was key to bringing about stability and economic development.
``Unless there is development, it means that Burma will be a weak spot in the
region,'' she said.
``ASEAN is so cautious about making any comment that would support our
people,'' she said. ``As for the governments of ASEAN, I think that some of
them do understand that Burma is in need of political change and that we
cannot just go on like this.''
********************************************************
KYODO: BURMESE EMBASSY PROTESTS TO TV ASAHI FOR
INSULTING JUNTA
December 11, 1997 (excerpt)
Tokyo, 11th December: The Myanmar embassy in Japan faxed a letter of
protest Thursday [11th December] to the Tokyo-based Asahi National
Broadcasting Co, saying a newscaster had " insulted" the ruling
junta and it was "disappointed", embassy officials said.
"(Anchorman Hiroshi) Kume should be ashamed of his behaviour which breaches
journalistic ethics and conduct. I should like to take this opportunity to
tell Mr Kume to take back his insults," U (?Zau Goone) [possibly Zaw Gaung],
minister counsellor at the embassy, said in the letter.
TV Asahi's nightly news programme, News Station, aired a videotaped
interview Tuesday [9th December] with Myanmar's pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, in which she made remarks criticizing the junta.
Commenting on the interview, Kume said, "the country's military government
has used economic development to confuse the people. But it is the military
government that is doing the meanest things".
*********************************************************
BKK POST: JUNTA VOWS TO AVOID ANOTHER POWER GRAB
December 17, 1997
Reuters
Rangoon - Burma's military government has vowed to develop the
country so that the nation's armed forces never need seize-power
again, official media said yesterday.
Lieutenant-General Tin Oo, army chief of staff and Secretary Two
of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), was
quoted as making the statement on Monday in a meeting with armed
forces officers.
The meeting was convened to explain the country's present situation.
"The SPDC government is building good political, economic and
social foundations with genuine goodwill in order that the
Tatmadaw [the military] will never take over the state power in
future," Tin Oo was quoted as saying at the ministry of defence.
*******************************************************
S.H.A.N : THE SHAN STARTS MILITARY OFFENSIVE
December 6, 1997 (Shan Herald Agency for News - a Shan resistance
publication)
Starting from 06.11.97 battles have been raging on between the Burmese army
and the SURA ( Shan United Revolutionary Army ) in central Shan States.
Mong Kung, Lai Kha, Kunhing and Mong Hsu are areas where fierce fighting
has been going on. The battles are fought with the Burmese army and the
break away group from SSNA ( Shan Ststes National Army ) - an informal
cease fire group - which the Burmese named the anti-insurgency militia
group, on one side, and the SURA and the larger part of the former
anti-insurgency militia troops that have switched their alliance to the
side of SURA.
It was reported that the Burmese military backed anti-insurgency militia
group headed by Kana and Agga has nearly collapsed, due to the mass
defection. Last year, on 26.09.96 about 900 soldiers headed by Kana and Sai
Lar from the SSNA - informal ceasefire group - defected to the Burmese
military and were given the status of anti-insurgency militia to fight the
Shan resistance.
The SURA, under the command of Commander in Chief Yord Suk launched
an offensive on the 06.11.97 with three columns namely : Hsokhanhpa,
Khunsang Toonhong and Khornzerng. The aims of the offensive are to
cement unity among the Shan revolutionary forces, to expand the military
and organizational territories, to heighten the defence and resistance
capabilities, to sharpen the military skill of the Shan troops, to expel
the occupation enemy forces, to tie down the enemy troops and to campaign
and organize the return of the fighting forces which are treading the wrong
path.
Reports coming from central Shan States reaching the S.H.A.N said that the
SSA, SSNA ( formal and informal ceasefire groups ), UNSSA ( United
Nationalities Shan States Army ) comprising of Lahu, Palaung, Pa-O, Shan,
and Wa are also joining the offensive.
The Burmese army has dispatched 20 battalions to central Shan States to
counter the Shan offensive. These battalions and the anti-insurgency
militias are committing all sorts of human rights abuses and confiscating
properties and foodstuffs of the population.
******************************************************
MON GROUPS: JOINT STATEMENT ON BURMESE MILITARY REGIME'S
ARREST OF MON MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DR. MIN SOE LIN
November 25, 1997
We, Monland Restoration Council of USA, Mon National Association of Canada,
and Australia Mon Association of Australia, strongly condemn the Burmese
military regime for its arrest of Mon Member of Parliament Dr. Min Soe Lin.
Dr. Min Soe Lin was arrested on November 6, 1997 under the Emergency Act
for peacefully organizing the 50th anniversary of Mon National Day
celebration on February 23, 1997. He was elected by various Mon organizations
to the secretary general of Mon State Commission for the Golden Jubilee Mon
National Day. He is also one of Mon members of parliament elected in 1990
general election. However, his party, the Mon National Democratic Front
Party was banned on 19 March, 1992.
The entire Mon nation has become "a people without a country" under the
oppression of the Burmans since 1757. Use of Mon language and practice of Mon
culture are forbidden. The military even bans the celebration of Mon National
Day. Those who organize Mon National Day celebration are arrested, tortured,
and sentenced to long terms imprisonment. Besides, the Burmese military has
systematically destroyed Mon national education system in order to terminate
the existence of Mon literature and culture. The worst of all is that the
military conducts "ethnic cleansing policies" to wipe out diverse ethnic
groups. Human rights violations such as rapes, forced labors, forced
relocation, and summary executions of innocent civilians are widespread all
over Mon State where "ethnic cleansing policy" has been employed.
Ethnic cleansing is not a solution to Burma's current crisis. Neither Peace
nor Development can be achieved under the "ethnic cleansing policies." As
long as we Mons and other ethnic nationalities are denied the rights to
self-determination and equality, Burma will never enjoy peace and freedom.
We strongly demand the Burmese military regime:
To immediately release Mon Member of Parliament Dr.Min Soe Lin and other
political prisoners.
To stop human rights violations in Monland.
We request the international community:
To pressure the Burmese Military regime for a dialogue comprised of elected
representatives, ethnic leaders, and military's representatives.
Central Committee
Monland Restoration Council (USA)
Mon National Association (Canada)
Australia Mon Association (Australia)
Contact:
Monland Restoration Council
P.O Box 50108
Fort Wayne, IN 46805, USA
Tel: 219-471-3961
Email: nyap01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
honsawatoi@xxxxxxx
****************************************************
INDEPENDENT REPORT: MON NEWS
December 4, 1997
(English slightly corrected by BurmaNet)
Thai NGOs meet for follow-up gas pipe line project Thammasart University,
Bangkok, 4 December 1997. A number of Thai NGOs including the Mon
Information Service (MIS) meet today to evaluate their activity of submitting
letters to the Prime Minister Chuan Leekphai and Commander in Chief Gen.
Chettha Thanajaro on 2 Dec.1997. In their 9 pages letter sent to the Prime
Minister, it was widely mentioned about the human rights violations in
Southern Burma where the gas pipeline has been constructed.
Prime Minister Office Minister Ms Supatra Masdit who received the letter
on behalf of PM Chuan, will make a trip to the site of the forest where
the gas pipeline is under construction on 7 Dec. 1997. Kanchanaburi local
NGOs and villagers are preparing for a strike at the site since the government
give no answer of stopping the violation of grade (A) forest of the country.
On December 3, Nai Phisan Paladsinh, Director of Mon Information Service,
sent a package of detailed information concerning human rights violations
by the SLORC in Mon territory as requested by the Minister.
MON NEWS UPDATE
December 7, 1997
National affairs, such social, cultural and political issues.
Publishing Mon Historical Book: Mon High Priest Bhadhanta Uttama will
sponsor for printing 540 pages of Mon Historical Book. While Mon
Unity League (MUL) committees pay respect to Bhadhanta Uttama on
6 Dec.1997, Bhadhanta said he will pay for publishing that book. It was
prepared
by Nai Khun Liah since several years ago. He spent for years in collecting
the text from
old Mon palm leafs at Mon monasteries in Thailand and Burma. And Nai Ock
Pine, Mon Culture and Literature Committee, took responsibility in typing
with new Mon font in computer and Bhadhanta Indhaka, Lwimarnthaw, Kamawak,
took responsibility in editing. This Mon Historical Book will cost about
240,000 Baht for printing 1000 books.
Mon Language Books now available: Prakoh Purana Katha, 109 pages (Mon
ancient Poem) composed by Bhadhanta Siridhippa, De-Krien Village, 1973,
reprinted by Bhadhanta Uttama, Wat Wangwiwekaram, Sangkhlaburi.
Kabya Mon Trim, 171 pages, Ven. Vedhanyana collected from ancient
Mon palm leaves. MUL humbly thanks those who have sponsored for
printing these books, and welcome more sponsorship for printing Tobyakhun
(Traditional Medicine Formula).
*******************************************************
KNU: KNU NEWS RELEASES 67/97, 66/97, 67/97
KNU NO. 65/97: REGARDING THE ONSLAUGHT OF SPDC. (SLORC)
December 2, 1997
Thaton district:
Myint Oo of DKBA, the lackey of SPDC had robbed the house of Saw
Htee Ka Hee in Plaw Po Toe village, Pa-an township on 22-10-97. He
took away 4 gold rings, a pair of gold earring one gold necklace and
Kyats 40,000. More over Myint Oo raped Htee Ka Hee's wife and
brutally killed her.
On 23-10-97, Zar Nee, a follower of DKBA entered the village of Htee
Mae Baw in Pa-an township and arbitrarily beat Naw Mu Naw and broke
her hand . Zar Nee was said to have robbed Moe Toe Plo village on
19-10-97.
Toungoo district:
SPDC local military authorities issued order for Kaw Thay Der
villagers to get ready 250 to 1000 persons everyday to carry military
supplies for IB 39 and LIB 707, regularly to the military camps of Bu
Sah Kee and Naw Soe at the font.
Obliging this order is too stringent for the villagers. They could do
nothing for themselves to earn a living. Therefore they have to hire
250 Burmese villagers from the plain areas to help them. The military
supplies, which they have to carry, are equivalent to 5 trucks load
weight everyday. Women, children and old people are also obliged to
do this.
Two Karen villages, Chin P'taung and Ywama, located at eastern
mountainous area of Pyinmana district were burnt down and destroyed
by LIB 344 military column led by Tin Tun Zaw on 29-10-97.
Papun district:
On 30-10-97, SPDC troop, LIB 704 happened to arrive Htee Mu Lo
village and arrested Saw Say Lar (30).
On 1-11-97, SPDC troop LIB. 703 had arbitrarily shot at the Ta Er
Nah Kee villagers reaping their grains in the field. One villager
(name, unknown) was killed. Two villagers Naw Paw Thee and Saw Kaw
Htee Wah were wounded. The troop took away all their belongings seen
in the field's hut. On the same day, this troop arrived Kau Day
village. They burnt down all the rice barns and took away everything
they had seen, belonging to the villagers.
Pa-an district:
On 10-10-97, DKBA troop led by Ta K'leh, took away 5 oxen and
some other properties belonging to Ler Dah villagers called Saw Keh in
Hlaing Bwe township. Saw Keh had to pay Ks. 49000, as ransom to get
back his belongings. Ta K'leh was known to have done the same deeds
to Ler Dah villagers, Naw Mu Thoo, Say Ler Pu, Saya Loo and Ah Pyeh
to get money.
On 26-10-97, DKBA Pah Maw Soe arrested Yaw Ku villagers, Mg
Kyi Aye in Hlaing Bwe township and took away 5 oxen belonging to Mg Kyi
Aye. Mg Kyi Aye had to give him Ks. 10,000 as ransom for his release and
for getting back the oxen.
--------------------------------------------
KNU NO.66/97 REGARDING THE ONSLAUGHT OF SPDC ( SLORC )
December 3, 1997
Toungoo District
* The southern command commander General Yin Aye has issued order that
the Karen village in Toungoo District are to be uprooted and completely
destroyed. On 10-10-97 the SPDC troops LIB 707 and 708,led by tactical
operation No(2)commander Lt.Col.Thein Maung,had destroyed villages in
Hta-ta-pin township namely,Bu-kee.Ho-kee, Kee-daw-kaw, Shoo-ko, Thay-thu-dai,
Ha-toe-pai,Tha 0-aye-kee and burnt all the houses, the churches and the burns
belonged to the villagers. They took away chickens, pigs,buffaloes,cows and
shot at anybody on sight.They have also carried out the same method of
atrocities
in Tha Daung township.
* On 14-11-97 LIB 708 has burnt down Ka-lay-kee village in Hta-ta-pin
township destroying 30 houses and a church.
* On 17-11-97 LIB 708 burnt down Shoo-ko village.
* On 18-11-97 Lt:Col.Thein Maung and LIB 708 battalion commander Win Tun
arbitrarily shot at the following villagers who were hiding in the jungle
around Shoo-kee village.They were Saw Maw Rae (60),Saw Law Ba-kay (35),Saw
Maw Lay(40),Naw kai Mai(30),Saw khu Say Doe(6)and Naw PoSie(2).
* On 19-11-97 LIB 708 had shot the villagers of Tha-aye-kee village in
Hta-ta-pin township killing four persons,a man,a woman and two chileren.
* On 24-11-97 LIB 707 bttalion commander Kyaw Hla Win took a buffalo
belonging to the people of Ha Toe Pai village in Hta-ta-pin township.
At Kaw Thay Dun village, they slaughtered the buffalo, ate a large
portion of it and sold the remains (35-pait tha) to the villagers.
* Currently, as the result of the SPDC offensive, the Karen villages in
mountainous area of Toungoo District have to face a variety of hardships
which they have never experienced before. The appointment of General Tin Aye
as a commander of Southern command saw the increase in destruction of the
Karen villages.
NOTE: Pait Tha ( System of weight scale commonly uses in Burma )
-----------------------------------------------------------
KNU NO 67/97 REGARDING THE OFFENSIVE OF THE SPDC (SLORC)
December 15,1997
On 10-10-97: the SPDC troops LIB 703 burned down Ka-lar-say in
Pa-pun township.
On 29-10-97: LIB 707 entered Tai-boo-plaw village in Pa-pun township
destroying the entire village by fire, fifty three houses and fifty
three rice barns including 2762 baskets of rice were burned down to the
ground. They had also taken kyat (170) of silver and two gold rings
belonging to Yweh Kler Hai, two boxes of Maung Kya Hai and two gold
rings belonging to Saw Kaw Gay.
On 29-11-97: LIB 704 arrested May Saw Kyay (age 30) who lived in
Pa-La-lar village and brutally killed him.
From 18-11-97 to 20-11-97: the SPDC troops used 9 helicopters to
transport army rations and food supplies to Ler-mu-plaw village in its
preparation to carry out the offensive and atrocity against the
surrounding Karen villages in western parts of Pa-pun township.
LIBs 701, 703, 704, 706 and 710 participated in this operation of
brutality and destruction against the Karen villages in western Pa-pun.
Kaw-ka-reik District
On 21-11-97: LIB 547 company No 3 led by commander captain Ka-choon
arbitrary shot Saw Pai` Pa (age 57) of Sat-ka-wa village in Kaw-ka-reik
township. He suffered a bullet injury.
Nyaung-lin-bin District .
On 27-11-97: LB 48 had arrested and brutally killed U Pa Nya, Min Min
Lat and Thei Pu of Aung Cha-tha village in Mooe township.
Tavoy District
On 24-97: LB 285 company 4 led by captain Maung Lwin burned down 23
houses at Ka-pa-la village, 48 houses at Mee-Kyawn that village and on
26-11-97, they had also destroyed Pa-ti-tor-po house at Pay Cha village
in Tavoy township . LIB 208 battalion commander Khin Maung Win
demanded kyats (5000) from each house in Pay Cha village. On 6-11-97,
battalion commander Khin Maung Win had arrested Saw Kai of Ta Peet Lay
village without any reason and brutally killed him.
Note; kyat = currency note in Burma it also used as weight measurement
for silver or gold. 1 kyat of silver is equal to 15.4 gr
***************************************************************
ABSDF: REPORT LINKS ECONOMIC PROJECTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES IN SOUTHERN BURMA
December 4, 1997
from lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Media Release
Report Links Economic Projects to Human Rights Abuses in Southern Burma
A new report released today by the All Burma Students' Democratic Front
(ABSDF) shows how major economic ventures in southern Burma have led to an
increase in human rights abuses against the local people as a result of a
corresponding military build up in the region.
The 52-page report, 'Terror in the South: Militarisation, Economics and
Human Rights in Southern Burma', is based on information collected by the
ABSDF and the testimonies of local people from Tenasserim Division who have
fled the region into Thailand.
The report has found that human rights abuses against the local population
have increased as a result of the military's heightened presence in the
region to secure large scale infrastructure projects. These economic
projects include the Yadana gas pipeline, in which French oil giant Total
and the American company Unocal have major holdings, the Ye-Tavoy Railway,
eco-tourism ventures, the Yedagon gas pipeline and the construction of roads
and deep sea ports.
As stated in the report, the testimonies of refugees who have fled to
Thailand show that the military has "forced civilians, including children,
the aged and pregnant women, to work as labourers to build the
infrastructure necessary to implement these economic projects. As a result,
ethnic people...have suffered the brunt of forced labour, forced relocation
of villages, extra-judicial killings, rape and torture."
The report goes on to state that "Thailand fails to recognise...the
connection between the human rights violations and its economic projects in
the region....Thousands of refugees have become the victims of the economic
interests of Thailand and Burma's military junta."
To secure these investments from attack by armed opposition groups, the
notorious Coastal Region Military Command has carried out its ruthless "Four
Cuts" campaign in which finance, food, intelligence and recruits are cut off
from the opposition forces. This campaign has led to thousands of civilians
being tortured and killed, or enslaved in forced labour camps.
In February this year the SLORC also launched a major offensive against
Karen National Union (KNU) and ABSDF positions to secure the area and make
it more "attractive" to foreign investors. The report documents the human
rights abuses carried out by SLORC troops during this offensive, which
resulted in more than 1,000 civilians and prisoners being forcibly
conscripted as porters and caused an estimated 20,000 refugees to flee into
Thailand.
The report concludes by making a number of recommendations to Burma's
military regime, the international community, ASEAN members, the Thai
Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
For further information call 01 654 4984 or 01 923 1687.
****************************************************
ANNOUNCEMENT: COMMITTEE FOR ARAKANESE REFUGEES
December 13, 1997
COMMITTEE FOR ARAKANESE REFUGEES RELIEF AND WELFARE
C.A.R.R.W.
630, Pocket (B), L.I.G Hastsal, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi-110059, India.
Statement by Committee for Arakanese Refugees Relief and Welfare
Due to levying heavy taxes, forced labor and porterage; tortures, killings
and various human rights violations conducted by Burmese army along the
Indo-Arakan border, since 1993-94, hundreds of Arakanese refugees have
been fleeing into Parava area of Chhimtuipui District in southern Mizoram
state of India from their native land Platwa township of northern Arakan
hill tracts of present Burma. Currently the number comes up to over two
thousand. But those Arakanese refugees were totally neglected and they
have been passing extremely survival life for years among the remote
hilly area of Mizoram without any help. Due to lack of food and medicines,
in Parava camp alone, over twenty people died during this short period.
In August 1995, Committee for Arakanese Refugees Relief and
Welfare (C.A.R.R.W) was organized among all Arakanese political activists
from Delhi and the border area with a single noble aim in order to
assist those helpless refugees. On behalf of those Arakanese refugees from
the border area, the C.A.R.R.W., since its very beginning, have already made
earnest appeals to the central govt. of India and state govt. of Mizoram
as well as to U.N.H.C.R., international and India Red Cross for help to
meet urgent needs of those refugees.
Present Executive Committee members of C.A.R.R.W. are as follows:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Patrons: 1. Ven. U Rakkhawantha (Monk-In-Charge) World Peace
Buddhist Temple, India.
2. U Tha Noe (MP & Minister for Social Welfare, NCGUB)
3. Dr. Mae Shin (Arakanese Political Exile)
President: U Pru (Arakanese Political Exile)
Gen. Secretary: U Sanda wara [In-Charge, A.B.Y.M.U. (Arakan), India
Office]
Treasurer: U Kyaw Thein Mg (In-Charge, Arakan League for
Democracy, India Office)
In-Charge:
Border Area Ko Rannaine (Refuge Camp Representative)
News & Info. Ko Pre Aye (A.A.S.Y.C.)
Head Office Ko Kyaw Mra
Health & Edu. Ko Soe Win
C.A.R.R.W., again, earnestly requests all concerned and interested
quarters and personages to extend their sympathetic assistance to those
helpless Arakanese refugees in time.
Executive Committee
C.A.R.R.W.
New Delhi, India.
********************************************************
MONLAND RESTORATION COUNCIL: ANNUAL CONFERENCE
December 14, 1997
We, members of the Monland Restoration Council, would like to invite you
to the fourth annual conference of the Monland Restoration Council.
At this conference, we will widely discuss and exchange our views concerning
the following issues:
1) The restoration of Monland, today's lower Burma, which was invaded
and has been devastated by the Burmese since 1757.
2) The plight of the Mon nation under the oppressive Burmese military
regime and the contemporary Mon national political movement.
3) The future activities and movements of the Monland Restoration
Council.
4) The current political and economic situation in Burma
We therefore would like to invite you and those who are sympathetic with our
Mon nation to our conference according to the following schedule:
PLACE: 213 Cumberland Ave.
Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA.
DATE: Friday & Saturday , December 26 & 27, 1997
TIME: From 10 AM To 5 PM
For more information, please call: 219-471-3961
E-mail: nyap01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERNATIONAL KAREN YOUTH CONFERENCE
December 12, 1997 (abbreviated)
Note: If anybody is interested in attending or has a question regarding the
following conference, please address your concern to May Oo the Public
Relation and Communication contact responsible for the conference.
- Nemesis
THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL KAREN YOUTH CONFERENCE
December 22-26, 1997
Metropolitan Community Centre, Ottawa, CANADA
(Tentative Schedule)
CONFERENCE DAY - 1, DECEMBER 22, 1997
Chairman of the day : KYO-Canada
Secretarial panel: KYO-Canada and KYO-USA
Recorder: KYO-Canada
Order of the Day:
Registration, Opening/Welcoming, Conference Rules
Group Introductions: KYO-Canada, KYO.KTL, KYO-India
KYO-Australia, KYO-USA, Thailand, Others
Lunch, Goals and Objectives of Conference
Current International situation -international movement,
-What role WE should play in the movement, International Karen Movement
Australia -Situation, Goals and Objective
Presentation 1: Kawthoolei
Dinner, Fellowship
CONFERENCE DAY - 2, DECEMBER 23, 1997
Chairman of the day: KYO-Australia
Secretarial panel: KYO-Canada and KYO-USA
Recorder: KYO-Canada
Order of the Day:
Agenda and previous day report, Presentation 2: KYO Australia
Presentation 3: KYO-Canada, Lunch, Presentation 4: Thailand
(Thai Karens situation, Human Resources Cooperation: How Karens
can/should coordinate their human resources, Socio-economic cooperation
among Karen groups)
Presentation 5: KYO-USA (Communication, Womens issues and organization,
Preparing for the year 2000)
Presentation(15 min. each) Other groups: Japan, Singapore?
Dinner
CONFERENCE DAY - 3 DECEMBER 24, 1997
Chairman of the day : KYO-Thailand
Secretarial panel: KYO-USA and KYO-Canada
Recorder: KYO-Canada
Order of the Day:
Agenda and previous day report - Secretarial panel,
Break out into session ( 4 groups), Preparing for group presentation
Lunch, Preparing for group presentation, Group 1 Presentation/recommendation
Group 2 Presentation/recommendation, break, dinner
CONFERENCE DAY - 4 DECEMBER 25, 1997
Chairman of the day : KYO-Canada
Secretarial panel: KYO-USA and KYO-Canada
Recorder: KYO-Canada
Order of the Day:
Agenda and previous day report, Secretarial panel,
Group 3 Presentation/recommendation, Decision
Group 4 Presentation/recommendation, Decision
Lunch, Workshop 1, Break, Workshop 2, Christmas Party
CONFERENCE DAY - 5 DECEMBER 26, 1997
Chairman of the day: KYO-Canada
Recorder: KYO-Canada
Media Discussion, Answering Questions, Lunch
Closing message from KYO-Canada, Tour around Ottawa, Closing ceremony
******************
ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THAI/BURMA
BORDER REFUGEE CRISIS
December 6, 1997
Contacts: Mary Beth Brangan, Jim Heddle
OPTIONS 2000 International
Phone: (415)868-1900
Fax: (415) 868-1901
E-mail: opt2000@xxxxxxx
NEW DOCUMENTARY AND TV NEWS REPORT RELEASED
AS THAI ARMY BEGINS BRUTAL FORCED REPATRIATION
OF BURMESE ETHNIC MINORITY REFUGEES
Options 2000 International, an award-winning California-based television
production company, announces release of "BORDERING ON TYRANNY: Thailand's
Dilemma", a 25 minute documentary and a companion 15-minute news magazine
story. The purpose is to alert the international community to the threat of
forced repatriation of the approximately 120,000 oppressed ethnic minority
refugees from Burma currently sheltering in camps along the Thai/Burmese
border and those that are pouring into Thailand daily.
The programs are being released as aid workers, NGO's, news and relief
agencies report that the long-feared forced repatriation back to Burma of
ethnic refugees by the Royal Thai Army has begun. There are increasing
reports of Thai Army troops forcing back into Burma refugees attempting to
flee the mass atrocities being committed against them by the Burmese army's
ethnic cleansing campaign. According to reports, two to six people may
have been killed so far. Also recently the Thai Army raided the offices of
Burmese pro-democracy groups in Sankhlaburi, near the Thai/Burma border,
arresting 20 pro-democracy activists, whom it is feared, may be turned over
to the Burmese military.
BORDERING ON TYRANNY and the related TV news report examine the
multi-million dollar deals and the economic, political and military pressures
on Thailand which are resulting in thousands of men, women and children
being sent back to Burma. Those forced to return will face rape, killings,
forced labor, extortion and state-sponsored terror at the hands of Rangoon's
ruling junta - unless the international community takes immediate action.
The programs contain exclusive footage of conditions in camps lining the
Thai/Burma border that currently house more than 120,000 Karen, Mon and
Karenni ethnic refugees from Burma; coverage of the UNOCAL/TOTAL Yadana
natural gas pipeline; and Thailand's recent governmental shake-up triggered
by the Thai and South East Asian economic crisis. Also included are
interviews with refugees, informed observers, Thai officials and NGO
personnel close to the breaking story.
Key interviewees include: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Laureate and leader of
Burma's pro-democracy movement; Gen. Chettha Tanajaro, Commander-in-Chief of
the Royal Thai Army; Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, recently resigned Thai
Prime Minister; expert Asian economist, Prof. Walden Bello; prominent Thai
social critic Sulak Sivaraksa; Kavi Chongkittavorn, Executive Editor of the
Nation, Bangkok's leading English language daily newspaper: M.R. Sukhumbhand
Paribatra, newly appointed Thai Deputy Foreign Minister: and attorney
Katharine Redford, EarthRights International, a key member of the legal team
representing Burmese plaintiffs in a U.S. law suit against transnational oil
giants UNOCAL (U.S.) and TOTAL (France) for atrocities committed in the
building of the Yadana natural gas pipeline in Burma.
There are four program versions: 1) a 28-Minute Documentary for North
American television and general international cable, broadcast and
educational release; 2) a 15-Minute TV News Report for general network
distribution; 3) a 25-Minute Documentary designed for release in EU
countries; 4) an 18-Minute NGO Briefing version for use with decision-makers,
funders and public education purposes.Tapes are available on request.
VHS cassettes are US $30.00. When ordering, please specify video format
(NTSC, PAL or C-Cam) and which of the 4 versions you want. Please make
checks, money orders or cashier's checks payable in US currancy to:
Options 2000
P.O. Box 1047
Bolinas, CA 94924
Orders will be filled within 5 days of receipt of payment.
Suggestions as to broadcast or cable network contacts for distribution
and/or distribution funding support will be much appreciated. This alert
urgently needs to get the widest exposure possible, now!
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