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The BurmaNet News: September 9, 199



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: September 9, 1998
Issue #1092

HEADLINES:
==========
REUTERS: 220 MEMBERS DETAINED NOW 
ABSDF: 3 MONKS HURT, 12 ARRESTED IN MANDALAY 
REUTERS: MYANMAR PAPERS SEEK SUU KYI DEPORTATION 
DEPT. OF STATE: STATEMENT ON DETENTION OF OPPOSITION
AUST. FOR. MIN.: PRESS RELEASE ON DETENTIONS 
BKK POST: PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR KAREN TO BE RELOCATED 
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REUTERS: MYANMAR OPPOSITION SAYS 220 MEMBERS DETAINED NOW
8 September, 1998 

YANGON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Myanmar's opposition National League for
Democracy said in a statement on Tuesday that the military government had
detained a total of 220 of its members since the weekend, including 63
elected members of parliament.

The government confirmed on Monday that NLD members had been detained, but
did not give numbers. It said they were detained for questioning over the
NLD's vow to call a ``People's Parliament'' this month. 

[also from Reuters:]

8 August, 1998

[ ... ]

A diplomat in Yangon said some of those NLD members detained since Sunday
had been taken away by military intelligence officers in the middle of the
night.

``We understand some were rousted out of bed at 3 a.m. in the morning,''
the diplomat said.

A government statement seen on Tuesday said it had invited NLD members to
government guest houses to ``present the government's view'' and to
``invite them on their suggestion (of) convening a parliament in the
absence of a constitution.''

``The government is...encouraged by the actively positive response and
understanding of these NLD members and hopes that an understanding can be
realised to work together towards building a multi-party democracy,'' it said.

[ ... ]

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

ABSDF: 3 MONKS HURT, 12 ARRESTED IN MANDALAY PROTEST
8 September, 1998 from <lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 

At least 12 Buddhist monks have been arrested and three others sustained
injuries after riot police violently broke up a protest in Mandalay in
support of the National League for Democracy's (NLD) call to convene a
'Peoples' Parliament'.

Some 200 Buddhist monks from three monasteries in the city staged a rally
last Friday September 4, on the corner of 41st Street in Mandalay. Some 50
students also participated in the protest. The monks and students shouted
anti-military slogans and distributed leaflets supporting the NLD's call to
convene parliament.

Riot police used force to break up the protest and as a result three monks
sustained injuries and at least 12 others were arrested. The monks who
participated in the protest were from the Phaya-Gyi Kyaung-tite, Mya Daung
and Wisok Dayone Kyaung-tite monasteries.

On the same day, smaller demonstrations were also staged in nearby cities
in central Burma including Monywer, Sagaing, Myangyan and Pakkoku. There
were no reports of riot police breaking up these other protests.

The Chairman of the All Burma Young Monks Union (ABYMU), Shin Kemersara,
said that monks have been targeted by the authorities because of their
historically important role in social and political change.

"Buddhists monks have suffered a lot under the military regime. Despite
their status, they have suffered extra-judicial killings, torture, forced
labour under brutal conditions, and been used a porters for the army in
frontline military operations."

Monks played a major role in organising the August 1988 pro-democracy
movement and in maintaining law and order up prior to the military coup on
September 18, 1998, when the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) seized power.

Meanwhile, authorities in Mandalay Division have been instructed to arrest
anyone wearing T-shirts with a picture of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or anyone
in possession of her picture. This order comes amid increasing public
displays of support for the NLD in Mandalay.

ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT (ABSDF)
For more information please contact 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984. 

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

REUTERS: MYANMAR PAPERS SEEK SUU KYI DEPORTATION
8 September, 1998 by Aung Hla Tun 

FOCUS

YANGON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Myanmar's state-controlled newspapers on Tuesday
called on the military government to deport opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, saying she was a foreigner trying to destabilise the country.

The call came a day after Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD)
said the authorities had detained 110 of its members since Sunday in a move
to prevent the party from calling a ``People's Parliament.''

A commentary carried in the Myanmar-language Myanmar Alin (Light of
Myanmar) and Kyemon (Mirror) newspapers was attributed to ``an advocate.''

It accused Suu Kyi of trying to destabilise the country and said her
marriage to an Englishman made her a foreigner. Her husband, Michael Aris,
is an academic.

``Therefore I would like to request the government most humbly on behalf of
the entire people to issue a deportation order for Daw Suu Kyi...,'' it said.

State newspapers usually closely reflect government thinking. Last month an
article suggested Suu Kyi's deportation, but Monday's article was the
strongest direct call for it.

On Monday a government spokesman confirmed that authorities had detained an
unspecified number of NLD members and 

[ ... ]

The newspaper commentary accused Suu Kyi of creating unrest since 1988.

The charismatic Suu Kyi emerged as the main opposition leader that year at
the height of nationwide uprising for democracy which the military crushed
killing thousands of people, according to most independent estimates.

The military held her under house arrest for six years from 1989. In 1991
she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her courage in standing up to
military rule.

The newspaper commentary accused Suu Kyi of ``brazenly violating the
independent sovereign power of Myanmar'' by discussing its internal affairs
with the U.S. and British embassies.

It said Suu Kyi was not a Myanmar citizen as she was married to an
Englishman and Myanmar law did not allow dual nationality.

In addition, she had failed to register the births of her sons with the
Myanmar Embassy or to pay Myanmar taxes on income earned abroad, although
she had declared income while in India to the British Embassy, it said.

``In view of this, it is evident that Daw Suu Kyi is a British citizen,''
it said.

``The prevailing laws in Britain allow its citizens to have dual
nationality. Section 16 of the Myanmar Citizen Law (1982) does not allow
Myanmar citizens to have dual nationality.

``It is clearly prescribed in Section 16 that the citizenship of a citizen
ceases when he leaves the country for good or when he is naturalised or
registered in another country or when he gets a passport or similar
document from another country,'' it said.

The article also blamed rises in prices of consumer goods on Suu Kyi's
confrontational policies.

``People are becoming frightened and panic that the situation will become
like in 1988 as the foreign broadcasting stations are broadcasting their
instigations,'' it said.

[ ... ]

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

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE: STATEMENT ON DETENTION OF OPPOSITION FIGURES 
8 September, 1998 from Julien Moe <moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN
BURMA -- DETENTION OF OPPOSITION FIGURES

The US deplores in the strongest of terms the September 6 detention of well
over a hundred opposition figures, both elected Members of Parliament and
party rank and file. This action is a violation of the basic rights and
freedoms of the Burmese people and of internationally recognized human rights.

Resolution of the political impasse in Burma will require real, substantive
dialogue with the democratic opposition, including Aung San Suu Kyi and
representatives of the ethnic groups. Arbitrary detentions are
unjustifiable and will only worsen rather than solve the political crisis.

We urge the government of Burma to release these individuals immediately
and to take action to solve the nation's serious political problems through
serious, substantive negotiations with the NLD, including Aung San Suu Kyi,
and the ethnic minorities.

We have protested these actions to the Burmese government through our
Embassy in Rangoon. We will continue to work with like-minded countries to
press the Burmese government to take positive action, including the release
of individuals and the initiation of a genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu
Kyi and other NLD leaders.

[From Reuters:]

8 September, 1998

The authorities had responded to Wiedemann by saying that the NLD members
had not been arrested but ``detained to prevent them from attending a
parliament the NLD has announced it will convene this month,'' the (U.S.
Embassy) spokeswoman said.

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

AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: STATEMENT ON DETENTIONS 
8 September, 1998 from Amanda Zappia <azappia@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 

Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer

I am very disturbed about the recent detention of a large number of
representatives of the National League for Democracy, NLD, and others for
merely peacefully expressing their political opinion.  Our Embassy in
Rangoon is urgently seeking further details about the reported detentions.

I reiterate the Australian Government's call for the parties in Burma to
show restraint at this time.  The recent contact between the NLD and the
State Peace and Development Council was a welcome development and we
continue to hope that the parties will enter into substantive discussions
as soon as possible, leading to genuine dialogue and political reform.

The Australian Government has consistently and strongly advocated the need
for change in Burma.  I personally raised our concerns with the Burmese
Foreign Minister, U Ohn Gyaw, during the ASEAN ARF/PMC meetings in Manila
at the end of July.  I also took part in a meeting of like-minded nations
at that forum, designed to pressure the Burmese Government to allow Aung
San Suu Kyi greater freedom of movement in Burma.

Subsequently during the Australia US Ministerial discussions in Sydney, in
concert with the US Secretary of State, Madelaine Albright, I also
telephone the United Nations Secretary General, Koffi Annan, to encourage
him to become personally involved in seeking a solution to the political
problems in that country.

I also note a statement today from Labors Foreign Affairs spokesman, Mr
Laurie Brereton, making a fatuous claim he would impose sanctions on Burma.
Examination of his statement shows his proposed measures would do not such
thing.

Never let it be forgotten that Mr Brereton and the Labor Party had six
years from the over throw of the Burmese Government to the time they lost
office in 1996 to impose sanctions on Burma.  They did not and they will
not now. The only possible measure is a ban on new investment in Burma.  In
the year to March 1998, Australian direct foreign investment in Burma
totalled just 0.124 % of the total approved direct foreign investment in
that country.  Mr Brereton's measure would have absolutely no impact at all.

Mr Brereton also appears to over look the fact that if Australia completely
shuts the door on Burma we would lose all the influences in that country
where we are playing a leading role in putting pressure on the Burmese
military regime to return to democracy while remaining in close
communication with a range of pro-democracy campaigners.

Media contact:  Innes Willox 0419 206 890.

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

THE BANGKOK POST: PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR KAREN TO BE RELOCATED 
7 September, 1998 

MOVE IS FOR OWN SAFETY, SAY VILLAGERS

Local villagers in Muang district are to step up pressure for relocation of
10,000 Karen refugees for their own safety, their leaders said.

Some 100 villagers of Ban Nai Soi plan to submit to the provincial governor
within this week a petition seeking relocation of Karen refugees at a camp
near their village.

The move follows a series of attacks on the refugee camp by bandits and
Burmese soldiers during the past year in which five refugees were killed.

The villagers also claimed that some Karen refugees had moved into the
village and posed a threat.

However, governor Samrueng Punyopakorn dismissed as unlikely the relocation
of refugees from the village.

Mr. Samrueng said there is no other suitable place to accommodate these
refugees and no action can be taken without consulting the matter with
national security authorities.

For the time being authorities from tighten up security for the villagers
and take action against the refugees, who failed to observe the
regulations, he said.

The governor also said authorities from the Third Army area would provide
necessary combat training for the villagers for self-defence. Some of those
in Khun Yuam and Pang Ma Pa districts have already been trained.

He added that villagers in all border districts are expected to receive
training by the end of next year although the Thai-Burmese border is 483
kilometres long.

The refugee camp near Ban Nai Soi is one of the three in the province. It
houses 11,000 Shan and Kayah refugees. The province pays an annual rent of
5,000 baht to land owners.

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