Burma News Update No. 66

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Open Society Institute
Burma Project

Burma News Update No. 66
15 September 1998

Country in Crisis
   The Burma Project's new publication, Burma: Country in Crisis, is now on
the World Wide Web. It includes 12 Burma backgrounders on current issues,
answers to frequently-asked questions, and resource lists. Please visit at:
 
<http://www.soros.org/burma/crisis>

Mass Arrests
   Nearly 800 members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD),
including over 200 members of parliament elected in 1990 polls never honored
by the country's ruling army junta, have been detained in a sweeping
crackdown aimed at preventing the NLD from convening a "people's
parliament." In a rare telephone interview from Rangoon, NLD leader Daw Aung
Suu Kyi said the party is pressing ahead with its plan to convene parliament
despite continuing arrests throughout Burma. In Rangoon, state media renewed
threats to deport Daw Suu Kyi, as riot police were reportedly deployed
around the NLD headquarters and near university campuses where students have
mounted anti-junta demonstrations during the past two weeks.
BBC World Service, 12 September, Rangoon, Agence France Presse, 13 September

"Invitees" on Web
   Burma's army junta launched an Internet offensive apparently aimed at
persuading world opinion that hundreds of detained pro-democracy activists
are actually voluntarily cooperating with the military regime. The regime's
website posted photos of several men eating and watching television,
captioned: "Here are some photos of the NLD members who have been invited by
the government to ask for their cooperation to help maintain the current
peace, stability and development of the nation." The page may be viewed at
<www.myanmar.com/nld/nld.htm>.
Bangkok, Agence France Presse, 10 September

Military "Seeds of Discord?" 
   Burma's military regime threatened to arrest the deputy head of the
opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), U Tin Oo, for what official
media called "sowing the seeds of discord among the Tatmadaw (armed
forces)." The warning came amidst reports of splits within the armed forces
and detention of 15 senior officers.
Rangoon, Reuters, 13 September

"Avoid Misusing Rights"
   Local judges completing a training course were urged to "avoid misusing
rights" as well as bribery and favoritism, according to the New Light of
Myanmar newspaper. The state-run daily reported that the judges were told
to, "be loyal to the State, to strictly observe the rules and regulations,
to avoid misusing rights and to work in the respective sectors for national
progress placing in the fore the guidelines laid down by high-level
officials of the State." [Human rights reports have repeatedly condemned
lack of fairness in Burma's justice system, which is marked by arbitrary
detention, closed trials, and lack of respect for other international
standards--Ed.]
New Light of Myanmar, 11 September

World Bank Bars Burma
   Burma is now barred from borrowing money or receiving credits from the
World Bank after the country's military regime defaulted for over six months
on repayments on $720 million in loans. Analysts said the World Bank's rare
and severe action is an alarm bell showing considerable investment risk
because of the deteriorating condition of Burma's economy, which is
suffering due to corruption, mismanagement and poor infrastructure.
New York, Bernama (Malaysian National Press Agency), 
05 September; Bangkok, Reuters, 07 September

UNOCAL Image Suffers
   The Financial Times reports that UNOCAL "suffered a public relations
debacle" on 10 September when a coalition of human rights, environmental and
women's groups filed a petition in California asking that the petro-chemical
conglomerate's state license be revoked for causing environmental damage and
violating workers' rights. It focuses particularly on UNOCAL's partnership
with Burma's military regime in constructing a gas pipeline project across
southern Burma, in relation to which forced labor, evictions and other human
rights abuses are reported.
Boston, Financial Times, 11 September

BURMA NEWS UPDATE is a publication of the Burma Project of the Open
Society Institute.
400 West 59th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019 tel: (212) 548-0632
Website:www.soros.org/burma.html