Burma News Update No. 76

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Burma Project
Open Society Institute

Burma News Update No. 76
05 February 1999



Dissidents Sentenced

Burmese sources report that at least 270 people were sentenced to long 
prison terms by Burma's military junta in secret trials in January for a
dvocating the convening of a parliament based on 1990 election results 
never honored by the military regime. The longest sentence was 52 years, 
and most received 14-year sentences.

Bangkok, "Associated Press," 23 January



Elections Possible

A Burmese junta official told a Tokyo press conference on 27 January 
that a free election could take place in Burma within "two to three years," 
but only after a key chapter of a draft constitution is completed. Lt. Col. 
Hla Min told reporters that the new constitution will reserve a formal role 
for the military in Burma's political structure. The National Convention 
designated by the junta to draft the constitution has not met for more 
than three years. The National League for Democracy, which won an 
overwhelming but never honored 1990 election victory, withdrew from the 
convention in December 1995.

Tokyo, "The Daily Yomiuri," 28 January



Softer Image, Harder Substance?

The Far Eastern Economic Review reported that the Burmese military 
regime's campaign to soften its external image is not reflected at home: 
"The junta is doing its utmost to appear reasonable on the international 
front. It has hired public-relations firms to soften its image in the West, 
and is sending its suave new foreign minister [Win Aung] to regional 
meetings.... [B]ut the rhetoric meant for international consumption 
remains a world apart from the vitriol fed to the Burmese public through 
the military-control-led press and state TV. Inside Burma, Suu Kyi is 
described as an 'axe-handle of the neo-colonialists,' 'a maggot'and 'a 
treasonous element' who deserves to be deported immediately."

"Far Eastern Economic Review," 28 January



No Change, No Aid

A senior member of Burma's army junta visiting Japan was told there will 
be no major Japanese aid with democratic reform. A Japanese analyst 
involved with the visit said the Brigadier General Kyaw Win was "given a 
blunt ultimatum" regarding the need for reform. [The scheduled ten-day 
visit ended two days earlier than planned without explanation, the BBC 
reported on 28 January.]

Tokyo, "Reuters," 30 January




Karen Trapped

Over 4,000 ethnic Karen civilians who have escaped attacks by Burma's 
army junta and are encamped near the Thai border say food and medical 
supplies from non-governmental organizations based in neighboring Thailand 
have been cut by Thai officials. The villagers were blocked from entering 
Thailand where they could seek refugee status. Over 100,000 Karen from 
Burma have already fled to Thailand.

Maela Putha, Burma, "Reuters," 02 February



Asia Society Tour Protested

Human rights groups in Los Angeles protested a planned luxury tour to 
Burma sponsored by the New York City-based Asia Society scheduled 
to depart in late February. The tour promises "privileged access" to sites 
in Burma, which human rights activists charge will provide a propaganda 
boon to the ruling army junta. The Los Angeles Burma Forum charged 
that the tour would promote the interests of the UNOCAL oil corporation, 
which is partner to Burma's military junta in a $1.2 billion natural gas 
project and whose chairman was recently named a trustee of the Asia 
Society. The Asia Society says there is no political or economic agenda 
involved in the visit.

"Agence France Presse," 26 January



Local Sanctions

Washington Post editorial board member Fred Hiatt assessed the debate 
over local sanctions aimed at raising pressure on Burma's military regime, 
and in particular challenges in US Federal Court and the WTO to a 
Massachusetts selective purchasing law: "[T]he push for international 
rules of trade has to leave some room for local initiative, local choice,
local 
democracy. This will always call for balance and political judgment -- the 
good sense not to push uniformity too far -- will have to come into play.
 ... 
This year Clinton plans an uphill battle for fast-track trade authority. He 
will be fighting not only against the skepticism that defeated his trade 
bill in the last Congress but against a rising mood of protectionism. The 
battle surely won't be any easier if the administration sides against
states' 
rights to, as [Secretary of State Madeleine ] Albright said, 'take moral 
considerations into account.'"

"The Washington Post," 31 January