The Position of BAIJ (r)

[kzy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Can you plese specify what kind of activities which will directly be
effective to the people of Burma?  

Yours sincerely,
Kyaw Zay Ya



On 7 Oct 1998 win9@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

> THE POSITION OF BURMESE ASSOCIATION IN JAPAN(BAIJ)
> 
>                                                     October, 1998
> 
> On September 11, 1988, Burmese Association in Japan, BAIJ, was born: the
> birth place, being at the memorial stone pillar, which is the
> commemoration of General Aung San and General Suzuki( Bo Mo Gyo): it is
> situated at Kanzanji in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture in Japan. 
> 
> >From the very beginning of foundation year 1988, BAIJ had been unresting
> with the activities of democracy movements with might and main, for the
> future of our country and people, thus BAIJ was amazingly successful
> symbol of democracy movements in Japan especially.
> 
> In the year of 1994, BAIJ had changed its position from " confrontation"
> to "constructive-dialogue and negotiation". In the year of 1996, BAIJ
> resolved and emphasized to follow the path of welfare of Myanmar
> nationalities in Japan in their daily-life-difficulties which are the
> greatest problems they have to face daily unavoidably. Now, BAIJ is
> carrying out only the activities which will directly benefit the Myanmar
> nationalities in Japan, and in our mother country; Myanmar. 
> 
> We, BAIJ, request to the cooperation of Japanese people while BAIJ are
> going to work for the welfare of Myanmar nationalities in Japan. We also
> request to all Myanmar nationalities to help us while we are trying to
> implement our aim to be successful in every corner.
> 
> With best regard,
> Executive Committee members
> Burmese Association in Japan(BAIJ)
> 557-27, Sanada, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken
> JAPAN
> Tel/Fax (+81)-463-59-8249
> 
> ( BAIJ had recently reported its  position and attitude to the officials
> of Foreign Ministry of Japan in November, 1997.)
> 
> *********************************************************
>  
>  <<  RELATED NEWS  >>
> 
> (No.1) .... <Informal translation> 
> < The Asahi Newspaper, November 17,1994 >
> Expect the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, BAIJ is active.
> Convert it with a confrontation to a constructive dialogue.
> 
> Before that a time limit of the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
> approaches it in January next year, the movement of Burmese Association
> in Japan, BAIJ, who aims at the democratization of their mother country
> becomes more active. Win Naing, president of BAIJ, visited an
> anti-government forces* front-line base near Thai-border, and then
> proposed "settlement through a constructive dialogue and negotiation
> instead of confrontation". In Tokyo, Win Naing established a
> Japanese-Diet-members-group named "Diet members* league for release of
> Daw Aung San Suu Kyi". On the other hand, he made a restaurant as a
> "base" for Myanmar people in Tokyo. The persons concerned with Myanmar
> are expecting of release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
> By Burmese Association in Japan(BAIJ), high priest Dr. Rewata Dhama of
> England-residence who is intermediate between Myanmar government and Daw
> Aung San Suu Kyi, will visit Japan at the end of this month. After that,
> Dr. Rewata Dhama will go to Myanmar, so people pay attention to his
> movement as "directing for a concrete negotiation" for the release.
> During this moment, Win Naing visited to Manapalaw which is the base of
> democratic forces in a mountains of near Thai-border at the middle of
> October. He participated in the whole train of formal an informal
> meetings. He said, " I became aware that anything doesn*t change greatly
> just confrontation.  Now, the international society starts recognition 
> of the Myanmar government by means of the increase of the investment
> toward Myanmar, and economic reformation of government is at the
> starting point of smooth-running". Moreover, Win Naing suggested a
> compromise-plan that "if the government would guarantee liberty for Daw
> Aung San Suu Kyi and democratization, then similar assurance would be
> given for the allotment of a certain number of seats in diet for
> military, and the present economic policies of government should be
> maintained and continued."  Then Win Naing said, "Myanmar people are
> mostly suffering injury by Black-or-White-confrontation." A constructive
> dialogue is necessary for democratization.
> BAIJ had established in 1988; its office placed in a small hotel named "
> Biruma" which is managed by a relative of Win Naing in Ito city,
> Shizuoka prefecture. From that place, BAIJ had led the anti-Myanmar
> government activities in Japan.
>   
> (No.2) ... < Informal translation >
> < The Asahi Newspaper, August 18, 1998 >
> EX-CHAIRMAN OF BURMESE IN JAPAN RETURN POLITICAL REFUGEE STATUS AND GO
> BACK HOME.
>          
> On 17th, the ex-chairman of Burmese Association in Japan Win Naing (39)
> who received political refugee status from the Japanese government as an
> activist for democratization movements in Myanmar (Burma) had a press
> interview at the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo and disclosed that he return
> the refugee status and temporally go back home country in the end of
> this month. His 2 relatives who also have refugee status will go
> together with him.
>  It seems that some delicate change started to come out on surface among
> activists who escaped to Japan and have been carrying on the
> anti-government movements.
> 
> (No.3) ... < Informal translation >
> < The Tokyo Newspaper, August 18, 1998 >
> MYANMAR IN JAPAN RETURN POLITICAL REFUGEE STATUS
>      
> On 17th, Mr. Win Naing (39), an investment consultant who received
> political status first time as Myanmar citizen in Japan and 2 others
> announced that they return the refugee status and temporally go back to
> home country. Because, for democratization of their mother country, they
> think that not only confrontation against the military government but
> also having dialogues is important. While criticism against oppression
> on human rights of the military government is rising, this incident may
> create a stir.
> In 1988, when he was studying at Department of Information Science of
> the Chiba University, he organized "The Burmese Association in Japan" to
> support democratization movements in Myanmar and stood against the
> military government. So he could not go back to Myanmar. Then, in '92,
> he received the refugee status together with his aunt Mya Mya Win (53)
> who is managing an lnn at Ito city, Shizuoka prefecture and her eldest
> son Moe Min Oo (22).
> However, since around '94, he thought that in order to demand some
> renovation to the military government, they should have more softness or
> flexibility and begun to stay out from Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi and her
> group which stand face to face with the military government.
> In this day, Mr. Win Naing had a press interview at Myanmar Embassy in
> Tokyo and said "If the democratization group request direct dialogue,
> the government must be accepted it. As a political refugee, I have been
> living in Japan safely, but I venture to return the status so that I can
> send my message to them."
> Recently, the Myanmar military government is getting severe
> international criticism, because they restricted Mrs. Suu Kyi from going
> out or deport foreigners who delivered democratization supporting
> leaflets. But Mr. Win Naing explained that he decided to return the
> refugee status by his own will, and there are no deal behind the screen
> with the government and said "If it is good for my mother country, I do
> not care even I was used as a material of propaganda of the government."
> 
> (No.4) ... < Informal translation >
> < The Nihon Keizai Newspaper, August 18, 1998 >
> MYANMAR EX-ACTIVISTS RETURN JAPANESE REFUGEE STATUS.
> GO BACK HOME FOR DIALOGUE.
>    
> Three ex-activists of Myanmar in Japan who had been doing
> democratization movements returned their refugee status which they got
> from Japanese government, and will return to Myanmar temporarily in the
> end of August. The Myanmars who returned the refugee status are Ms. Mya
> Mya Win (53), the present Chairman Of the Burmese Association in Japan,
> Mr. Win Naing (39) and one another. In March '92, while they were
> staying here as anti government activists, Japanese government gave them
> refugee status. It was the first case to Myanmar civilians in Japan. An
> official of the Ministry of Justice said that they never
> heard the case of returning refugee status before. On 17th, Mr. Win
> Naing had a press interview at the Myanmar Embassy
> in Tokyo and emphasized "We were neither threatened nor given any
> benefits by the government.", and explained "For our people, the
> forward-looking dialogue is necessary than confrontation against the
> military government. 
> To appeal dialogue to the democratization groups, we took most
> impacted means as one of the people of Myanmar." And, indirectly he
> criticized  the democratization measures of Aung San Suu Kyi, the
> Secretary General of NLD who is continuing the sitting-in a car. In
> September '88, Ms. Mya Mya Win and Mr. Win Naing established the Burmese
> Association in Japan because "For the development of our mother country,
> overthrowing of the military government is essential". In December of
> the same year, the Myanmar government canceled of these two and Mr. Moe
> Min Oo (22), then ll years old, the son of Ms. Mya Mya Win.
> They already recovered their passports and will temporary return to
> Myanmar for about 3 weeks from the end of August. They do not decide
> where they set their head office yet, but it will be either in Japan or
> Myanmar.  Ms. Mya Mya Win make the "Volunteer operations for welfare and
> education" as main subject of her future operations, and Mr. Win Naing
> will work for "Attract of investment from the overseas."
> 
> (No.5)
> Myanmar exiles to go home, cite ``positive change'' 
> 09:14 a.m. Aug 17, 1998 Eastern 
> 
> TOKYO, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Two exiled Myanmar opposition activists on
> Monday renounced asylum in Japan and said they would return home, citing
> a positive change in Myanmar's military rule. 
> Win Naing and Mya Mya Win, formerly leaders of the Burmese Association
> in Japan (BAIJ), called a news conference in Tokyo to announce their
> decision to surrender their refugee status. 
> ``This, I believe, is sufficient proof that there has been a positive
> and constructive change in the government's position,'' said Mya Mya Win
> of her decision to return home. 
> Both activists have been living under Japanese asylum since 1988 when
> they were awarded refugee status, which is not easily attained and
> rarely renounced. 
> Neither Mya Mya Win, who has taken part in many pro-democracy protests
> outside the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo, nor Win Naing have ever been
> members of Myanmar's main opposition group, the National League for
> Democracy  (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi. 
>  Win Naing said Myanmar's pro-democracy movement should be more
> flexible and, when asked if his move amounted to a publicity coup for
> the Myanmar government, added Japanese media coverage of events in his
> home country appeared one-sided. 
> He said Myanmar had offered no enticements for the pair's return and had
> set no limits on their activities back home. 
> `It seemed to us that if we really wanted a peaceful solution, rather
> than just asking democracy activists for flexibility, we ourselves would
> have to give up our refugee status,'' Win Naing said. 
> ``We were in Japan with the stance of political refugees and leaders of
> anti-government groups. But it seemed to us that calling for peace from
> this stance had become a meaningless activity,'' he added. 
> Mya Mya Win said she was eager to see two daughters she left behind in
> Myanmar and that her 22-year-old son, Moe Min Oo, was also renouncing
> his refugee status and would return to Myanmar. 
>  All three would return late this month, she added. Win Naing said he
> held ``deep respect'' for human rights but that economic prosperity was
> also important and he resolved to help boost
> ``sound and honest economic investments'' in Myanmar. 
> But a spokeswoman for Amnesty International in Japan sounded a note of
> caution about returning to Myanmar. 
> ``Amnesty remains very concerned about the situation in Myanmar and our
> view is that it may be dangerous for former refugees to return,'' the
> spokeswoman said. 
> Shogo Watanabe, a lawyer and member of a lawyer's group working for
> Myanmar asylum-seekers in Japan, said the timing of the announcement was
> regrettable. 
> ``Choosing this time, in particular, was a pity,'' he added. 
> International attention has refocused on Myanmar over the past month as
> opposition leader Suu Kyi tests restrictions imposed on her travel
> around the country by the military. 
> Suu Kyi was on Monday spending her sixth straight day in a minivan
> stopped at a roadside about 30 km (20 miles) southwest of the capital,
> Yangon. She and three others were trying to visit supporters in the west
> of the country when they were stopped.
> 
> (No.6)
> Myanmar exiles call for opposition flexibility 
> 03:24 a.m. Aug 20, 1998 Eastern 
> By Aung Hla Tun 
> 
> YANGON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - A group of returning Myanmar exiles called on
> the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi to show flexibility on Thursday
> as the military government faced condemnation from human rights groups. 
> At a Yangon news conference sponsored by the government, former
> political exile Win Naing said more than 45 million Myanmar people were
> longing for peace. 
> ``The opposition factions, in the interests of the future welfare of
> Myanmar, should pursue a more flexible approach instead of persisting in
> confrontation with the government. 
> ``I sincerely believe that the government will in turn extend a warm
> welcome,'' he said. 
> Win Naing is one of three dissidents who left Myanmar in 1988 after a
> pro-democracy uprising that led to a bloody crackdown by the military
> government. 
> They have been living in Japan for the last 10 years and became
> leaders of the Burmese Association in Japan (BAIJ). But on Monday they
> announced they would return home because of ``a positive and
> constructive change in the government's position.'' 
> Their return has been attacked by other exiles as a stunt to deflect
> attention from what they say are widespread human rights abuses and
> growing political tension in the country. 
> 
> ( No.7)
> DISSIDENTS RETURN AFTER STRIKING PEACE DEAL WITH JUNTA
> 
> YANGON, Aug 20 (AFP and BNN) -- Two Myanmar dissidents who returned from
> 10 years exile in Japan this week pledged to maintain their struggle for
> democracy despite their "rapprochement" with the country's military
> rulers.
>  Speaking at a junta-organized press conference here, Mya Mya Win, 53,
> and Win Naing, 39, said they had given up their refugee status in Japan
> and returned home to help establish a "sound democratic system" in the
> country.
> In a statement in Tokyo earlier this week Mya Mya Win said that she was
> giving up "party politics" and would dedicate herself in the future to
> seeking assistance from foreign governments and NGOs for Burma's
> "electrical power needs, improving roads and communications,
> constructing schools for orphans and primary schools, homes for the
> aged, hospitals for drug rehabilitation, providing aid to the disabled".
> Win Naing said in a statement he was determined to "help in any way I
> can to increase sound and honest economic investments for the future
> prosperity" of Myanmar.
> 
> (No.8)
> Vast majority of public in Myanmar wish to avert unrest and disturbances
> like  those in 1988
> 
> YANGON, 21 Sept ...Chairperson Dr Daw Mya Mya Win and member Dr Win
> Naing of the Burmese Association in Japan (BAIJ), which opposed the
> Myanmar in the past, met the Press in the Passenger Lounge of the Yangon
> International Airport at 6:00 pm yesterday prior to their departure for
> Japan. They arrived back here on 19 August 1998.
> It was attended by Chief Editor of Myanmar News Agency (Internal) U Zaw
> Min Thein and Patron U Sein Win, President U Sao Kai Hpa, Secretary U
> Nyunt Tin and members of the Foreign Correspondents Club.
> Dr Daw Mya Mya Win told the mediamen that she had stayed in Myanmar for
> one month and one day freely after her return from Japan. She said
> during her stay she traveled to different parts of the country including
> far-flung border areas. She witnessed true and objective economic,
> social and political situations there, she said.  Dr Daw Mya Mya Win and
> Dr Win Naing answered the-questions of  the mediamen.
> Concerning prevailing economic, social and political situation and their
> attitude towards the NLD's formation of the Representative Committee,
> they said they learned the public are more desirous of living peacefully
> and earning their livelihood in peace of mind than the terms human
> rights and democracy. They said it is the wish of the vast majority of
> ordinary public in Myanmar to avert unrest and disturbances like those
> in 1988. NLD, they said, maintains tense relations and that tension will
> be harmful to the public. They said that peace now prevails in Myanmar
> and they do not wish such peace should be undermined after securing it
> with great efforts. They went on to say that it would not be acceptable
> for them if peace is undermined by acts of NLD. They said they had
> opportunities to freely travel to different parts of Myanmar and meet
> people. They learned that public would like to live in peace and earn
> their living in peace of mind. The majority of them desire
> stabilization of commodity prices and their children's peaceful pursuit
> of education, they said.
> In reply to questions on whether they had been permitted to meet Daw Suu
> Kyi, whether they had met her and why they had not met her, Dr Daw Mya
> Mya Win and Dr Win Naing replied that they are not interested in party
> politics and they cannot do politics. They did not meet Daw Suu Kyi
> because they would have
> to  discuss politics in which they are not experienced. They are more
> interested in engaging in social and business fields to serve national
> interests rather than meeting Daw Suu Kyi. They said they had given up
> their refugee status in Japan, a rare opportunity for them, to show
> their desire for peace. A study of the declarations issued by NLD shows
> that NLD has not
> realized their desire for peace. They said they see tension and
> confrontation instead of peace. So, they said, it is not the right time
> to see her. Moreover, they said, if they went there to meet Daw Suu Kyi
> or NLD, they would be able to explain their attitudes to only three or
> four Central Committee members. They said they also felt that it would
> be better for them to let all NLD members, those interested in Myanmar
> affairs and those inside and outside the country know their desire for
> peace through the mass media instead of meeting them. That was why they
> did not meet them, they said.
> Replying questions on their programme when they arrived back in Japan
> and the persons they were going to meet, they said they are interested
> in humanitarian affairs, they have won membership of Myanmar Maternal
> and Child Welfare Association, they would hid talks with the Japanese
> Government and non-governmental organizations to  carry out humanitarian
> activities and try to make the Japanese Government and  public there
> know the real attitude of Myanmar public they had  learned.
> 
> (No.9)
> TWOSOME RETURN TO JAPAN TO PROMOTE HUMANITARIAN CAUSES
> 
> RANGOON, Sept 21 (BNBC) -- Two exiles, who returned to Burma amid much
> fanfare a month ago, have decided to go back to Japan and raise support
> for humanitarian activities in Burma. Dr. Mya Mya Win and Dr Win Naing
> said they had been able to win  membership in the Myanmar Maternal and
> Child Welfare Association during their short time in the country and
> would
> dedicate their efforts to promoting this important cause in the future.
> The pair also indicated that they would endeavour to enlighten the
> Japanese government and public about "the real attitude of the people of
> Myanmar". Dr Mya Mya Win said that they were not interested in politics
> and had spent their time in Burma telling all whom they met about their
> desire for peace.
>  The two, who gave up hard won refugee status in Japan last month, did
> not reveal to the press what kind of official visa status they would
> enjoy when they returned to Japan.
> 
> End.
>