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The BurmaNet News: April 2, 1999



------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: April 2, 1999
Issue #1242

Noted in Passing: "They will be there, but they will not speak." - German
Ambassador to Thailand, Hermann Erath, on Burma's Participation in the
upcoming Asean - EU meeting (see THE NATION: EU SADDENED AT ARIS' TREATMENT) 

HEADLINES:
==========
ARIS FAMILY: MESSAGE TO BURMESE AND BUDDHIST COMMUNITIES 
THE NATION: EU SADDENED AT ARIS' TREATMENT 
IPS: EU'S AMBITIOUS GOALS FOR COOPERATION WITH ASIA 
KAREN NATIONAL LEAGUE: LETTER TO THE EDITOR 
RFA: EXTENSIVE SERIES ON AIDS IN BURMA 
ANNOUNCEMENT: ENGLISH TEACHERS NEEDED 
ANNOUNCEMENT: BOOK - MENTAL CULTURE IN CRISIS POLITICS 
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ARIS FAMILY: A MESSAGE TO ALL BURMESE AND BUDDHIST COMMUNITIES 
31 March, 1999 

The family of Michael Aris are overwhelmed by the response from the Burmese
and Buddhist communities world-wide to the news of Michael's death. The
cremation service was interfaith, including representatives from various
religions.

The cremation service was held at the Oxford Crematorium on Wednesday 31
March 1999 at 4 pm. It commenced with a prayer by Benedictine monks to whom
Michael was a personal friend.  A Theravada Buddhist monk performed the
standard Theravada Buddhist funeral rites and distributed metta. The
service concluded with Tibetan Buddhist cremation rites. Short speeches
were also given by Michael's brother, Anthony Aris, by Michael's sons,
Alexander and Kim, and by Michael's colleague and friend Peter Carey. Karma
Phuntsho, Michael's and Anthony's Bhutanese colleague and friend, gave the
last address and chants. A reception was subsequently held at St. Antony's
College where Michael was Senior Research Fellow.

The family of Michael Aris are aware that it was not possible for all who
would have liked to pay their last respects to Michael to attend the
service. The family invites all Buddhists and monasteries to distribute
merit and to commemorate Michael Aris in their own traditional Buddhist
manner. The family invites all members of other faiths and persuasion to
also commemorate Michael Aris in their own traditional ways. 

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THE NATION: EU SADDENED AT ARIS' TREATMENT
1 April, 1999 

THE European Union (EU) is saddened by the death of Michael Aris, the
husband of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and believes the
Burmese junta's refusal to grant the Oxford don a visa will not improve the
country's relations with Europe.

German Ambassador to Thailand Hermann Erath told a press conference
yesterday that the Burmese military's treatment of the dying man's last
wish to see his wife in Rangoon could discourage some EU member countries
which had supported establishing a dialogue with the regime.

"This treatment confirmed to many that this is a pretty hopeless state of
affairs. It certainly didn't encourage those who think let's talk to these
people [Burmese junta]," said the envoy, whose country currently chairs the
EU presidency.


Last October, the EU extended its visa ban on Burmese officials and
expanded it to cover transit visas for officials in the tourism industry.
The Burmese regime retaliated by imposing a visa ban on Denmark's
government officials, the second European country to face the restriction
after Britain.

While some EU countries, particularly certain Nordic nations, have called
for tougher measures against Rangoon, other leading members oppose such
actions.

The German envoy said he believed Asian countries shared the EU's opinion
of the junta's treatment of Aris' visa request and its subsequent attempts
to have Suu Kyi travel to visit him in England.

In refusing to issue Aris the visa, Burma's ruling generals cited the
country's lack of medical facilities and expertise to handle his serious
condition.

Suu Kyi has over the past decade resisted mounting pressure by the regime
for her to leave Burma, believing that she would never be allowed to return.

"I think the Asians feel very similar to what we feel [about the visa
refusal], although they don't come out in public [and say it]," said Erath.

He said the EU is concerned about human rights in Burma and has tried to
persuade the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Burma
is a member, to influence the regime to improve its human rights record.

"We're also concerned about the human side and the human [rights] record of
Burma. We have to deal somehow with them (military junta) and we have to
try to impress upon Asean member countries that they themselves will have
to try to influence Rangoon in this matter," he said.

On the upcoming meeting of Asean-EU senior officials, which has been
stalled for more than two years due to European opposition to Burma's
participation, the envoy said the technicality of Burma's attendance has
been resolved, allowing the forum to take place on May 26-28 in Bangkok.

The EU, out of its "goodwill" gesture, will allow Burmese representatives
to have a "passive" presence in the gathering, where they will not speak.

"They will be there, but they will not speak. They will take part, but not
as an active member of the cooperation," said the envoy.

The 15-member EU is opposed to Burma attending the Asean-EU Economic
Cooperation Committee, arguing that despite its Asean membership, Burma was
not a signatory to the EU-Asean cooperation agreement. 

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IPS: EU'S AMBITIOUS GOALS FOR COOPERATION WITH ASIA 
30 March, 1999 

BONN, IPS - Despite persistent differences on human rights, the European
Union (EU) has made it clear it has ambitious goals for closer and
sustainable cooperation with Asia.

This, according to German foreign minister Joschka Fischer, might in the
long run also lead to the creation of "a stable world financial and
monetary system" and the establishment of a "Euro-Asian free trade zone."

Fischer chaired a one-day meeting in Berlin today of 15 EU foreign
ministers and their counterparts from ten Asian countries: Brunei, China,
Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea,
Thailand and Vietnam.


Overhanging the discussions was the fact that NATO warplanes went into the
sixth day of their offensive against Yugoslavia, which has been opposed by
China and Russia, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

The U.S.-led allies that have joined the air strikes include Britain and
France, the two other permanent Security Council members, as well as
Germany, Italy and Spain.

Fischer explained that NATO's main concern was to put an end to the human
tragedy in Kosovo which had been unleashed by the actions undertaken by the
government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

This was the second so-called Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of foreign
ministers convened by Germany which holds the six-monthly EU presidency
until the end of June.

ASEM was set up in Bangkok in 1996 by the heads of state and government of
10 Asian and 15 European countries, together with the European Commission,
with a view to fostering political dialogue, reinforcing economic
cooperation, and promoting coordination in a wide range of other issues.

Stressing the significance of ASEM -- which held its second summit in
London last year under the British presidency -- Fischer said the enlarged
EU and East Asia, taken together, would account for almost 50 percent of
the world population and more than half of the global economic output.

"Both regions will thus be among the heavyweights of the multi polar world
of the 21st century," he added. "The more we coordinate and cooperate with
one another, the more we will be able to make our mark on the world's
destinies," the German foreign minister pointed out.

"Our approach is not about excluding anybody and, lest of all, as some
suspect, about creating a counterweight to the United States," he
explained. "Rather, we aim to establish an open partnership which will
benefit not only our two regions but will also make a contribution towards
mastering the global and momentous tasks facing humankind."

Observers noted that Fischer -- a member of the Green Party which, while in
opposition, has been vocal on human rights -- was at pains to take into
account Asian sensitivities on human rights, without avoiding the
controversial issue.

The European Union insisted that Burma be kept out of participating in the
EU-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting because of the treatment meted out to
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

This plea was rejected by the ASEM members of the ASEAN. Subsequently the
meeting scheduled for tomorrow was cancelled.

Suu Kyi's husband Aris died on Mar. 27 in a London hospital on his 53rd
birthday. He was not permitted to visit his wife, a Nobel Prize laureate in
Burma.

The German foreign minister said the key lesson to be learned from the
Asian economic crisis was that good governance based on human rights, the
division of power, a functioning legal and constitutional democracy as well
as the protection of environment, were the best prerequisite in Asia for
peace and successful economic development.

Those East Asian countries which had a firm democratic foundation in place
when the crisis hit, or who launched democratic and rule-of-law reforms in
its wake, either had felt relatively few repercussions of the crisis or
recovered from it sooner than expected, Fischer noted.


"When we Europeans keep underlining the importance of human rights, this
has nothing to do with interference or Western arrogance," Fischer said.

His words, according to observers, were an attempt to bolster discussions
with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Yiaxuan who has been in Germany since
Mar. 26.

Bonn Foreign Office sources said that Tang had admitted "deficits" in the
rights situation in his country, but had stated that "the situation was
improving with every passing day."

The Chinese plea for adherence to mutual respect while talking in
particular about human rights was backed by the Thai foreign minister Surin
Pitsuwan, who is one of the two ASEM coordinators along with his South
Korean counterpart Hong Soon-Young.

South Korea was scheduled to host ASEM 3 next year, building upon the
agreements achieved last year in London which envisaged openness and
transparency, a commitment to financial restructuring -- both domestically
and internationally, and the keeping open of markets in both Europe and Asia.

ASEM 2 adopted an Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework to guide, focus and
coordinate ASEM activities towards ASEM 3 and beyond.

With venues alternating between Asia and Europe, the fourth ASEM will be
held in Europe in 2002. The meeting also decided to continue discussions on
the possible expansion of ASEM membership in the future.

The Asia-Europe Vision Group was commissioned by ASEM 2 to help develop a
medium to long-term vision to guide the ASEM process.

The Group set up three working groups: man and society, market and governance.

According to official sources, the ASEM discussions in Berlin revealed "a
greater proximity" on economic and financial questions than on foreign and
security policy.

Nevertheless, the two sides discussed many of the "new" security issues
such as terrorism, drugs, the security of computer networks, the green
house effect.

The expectation at the German presidency of the EU was that Europe and Asia
would increasingly share the same agenda in foreign policy. "This includes
traditional threats to security, as shown by the nuclear tests on the
Indian subcontinent, Fischer declared.

"In this field in particular, we urgently need joint action to effectively
curb the horrific dangers inherent in a further proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction and their delivery vehicles worldwide," the German foreign
minister said.

Three of the ASEM members -- Britain, France and China -- are nuclear power
states, having a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council,
which was instituted to prevent war and strengthen worldwide diplomacy.

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KAREN NATIONAL LEAGUE: LETTER TO THE EDITOR 
22 March, 1999 from KNLcomm@xxxxxxx 

RE:  Concerning the term "separatist"

[BurmaNet Editor's Note: This letter refers to an article by BBC entitled
Rebels Say No Peace Agreement In Sight that appeared in The BurmaNet News
on March 15, 1999, Issue @1227.]

In a very recent report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on
the death of 10 immigration officers, the Karen National Union (KNU) was
depicted as a "separatist" organization.  We must adamantly declare that
this term "separatist" is quite wrong.  The KNU has resisted the central
Burmese government which has now evolved into the ruthless and
unconscionable State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) regime for more
than 50 years. Throughout this time, the intent has always been for an
autonomous state within the federation, and not at all for a completely
separate state or country, and this was repeatedly affirmed by the KNU
President Bo Mya. We, the Karen National League (KNL) therefore feel
strongly the necessity of this clarification.


Department of Political Affairs
Karen National League (KNL)

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RADIO FREE ASIA: EXTENSIVE SERIES ON AIDS IN BURMA TO AIR 
1 April, 1999 

For more information, Contact: Pat Lute at Radio Free Asia, 202 530-7774
e-mail: lutep@xxxxxxx

Washington D.C. - Despite the fact that UNICEF has warned that Burma faces
an "Africa-like" AIDS epidemic unless it takes firm action against the HIV
virus, the prevailing Burmese belief is that the virus exists somewhere in
the world but not in their country.

Radio Free Asia's (RFA) Burmese service has launched a 30-part series
focussing on the AIDS problem in Burma.  RFA collected material for the
programs through extensive interviews and research conducted on the
Thai-Burma border in January.  The aim of the new series is to help
overcome the silence, denial, and misunderstandings that have contributed
to the spread of AIDS among the Burmese people.  This series is a
continuation of Radio Free Asia's efforts to provide programming that will
promote the health of its listeners.

Topics for the programs in this series include the following:

- An interview and depiction of daily life with an AIDS sufferer.
- Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
- Male sexual behavior.
- Cultural norms for female behavior that can put women at risk.
- The problems facing Burmese sex workers.
- Rape in Burma.
- Political repression, social disruption, and civil strife contributing to
the spread of HIV among the Burmese people.
- Needle sharing and the spread of HIV.
- A frank interview with Dr. Chris Beyrer, author and epidemiologist at
John Hopkins University, expert on HIV and AIDS in Southeast Asia.
- A trip to a hospice run by a Buddhist monk.
- An AIDS workshop in the middle of a refugee camp.
- An interview with a Karen (ethnic minority) guerilla fighter on the
Thai-Burma border.
- The latest research findings and drugs: facts and myths about HIV and AIDS.

"Under this regime Burma is not only becoming a narco-state but its people
and those of its neighbors are facing two devastating epidemics:
intravenous drugs use and HIV/AIDS," said Chris Beyrer, author of "War in
the Blood" and an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University in the United
States.  Dr. Beyrer served as a consultant for the series.

Burma, the world's major heroin producer, has a severe HIV epidemic in
addition to its serious addiction problem.  The World Health Organization
(WHO) reported in 1996 that 475,000 people were infected with HIV in Burma,
mostly contracted by intravenous drug use. The Burmese military regime
refuses to admit the problem and the state-owned newspaper has been pushing
the line that the HIV epidemic in Burma is slowing down. "There are also
very few public health billboards that describe how the HIV is
transmitted," said one health worker who visited Burma recently.

The first program features a member of the Kachin Burmese ethnic minority
group dying of AIDS in Thailand.  He feels betrayed by the authorities
because they have not provided sufficient information about HIV/AIDS.  "I
feel so lost.  My parents don't know what's happened to me ... I want to go
home to my mum, I cannot go home, I feel very lost," he said.


The AIDS series on RFA airs in Burma on Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. and repeats
Sundays at 7:00 a.m. and can be heard at 11750, 11590, 13710, 17525, 13820,
15695 and 17540 kHz.  Rebroadcasts of the series are also accessible
through audio files at RFA's Web site, www.rfa.org/burmese/audio.cgi.

Radio Free Asia is a private corporation that was established in 1996 to
provide news and information to listeners in China, Tibet, Vietnam, Burma,
North Korea, Laos and Cambodia.  It is funded by grants from Congress.
RFA's mission is to be a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from
within Asian nations whose people do not have full freedom of expression.
Listener confidence in the quality and credibility of its broadcasts is
RFA's highest priority.  RFA is a journalistically independent organization
whose autonomy is key to providing objective domestic news and information.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: ENGLISH TEACHERS NEEDED 
1 April, 1999 from bsc98@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

Experienced Teachers of English Required for Burmese Refugees

An international NGO is seeking to place a number of qualified and
experienced teachers of TEFL to work in Thailand and China with ethnic
minority refugees and democracy activists from Burma. In addition to
teaching the successful applicants will be required to undertake some
administrative and reporting responsibilities. Contracts will be for one
academic, or one calendar year depending on the position. Living stipends,
and for some positions basic food and accommodation will be provided. Visa
costs will be covered but transport to Thailand or China will not be included.

Applicants should have a qualification in TEFL, a minimum of two years'
English teaching experience, and some experience of working with people
from a non-Western culture. They should also be capable of organizing and
planning their own work schedule without close supervision, and of working
as part of a team.

For further information please contact Sara at bsc98@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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ANNOUNCEMENT: BOOK RELEASE - MENTAL CULTURE IN BURMESE CRISIS POLITICS 
29 March, 1999 

Gustaaf Houtman. Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics: Aung San Suu
Kyi and the National League for Democracy. Study of Languages and Cultures
of Asia and Africa Monograph Series No. 33. Tokyo University of Foreign
Studies, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and
Africa, 1999, 400 pp.

This book deals with the Buddhist dimensions underlying the politics of
Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese democracy movement in general. Today, Aung
San Suu Kyi is identified in the international arena as an icon of
democracy hemmed in by conservative military forces. Within the country,
however, the military manipulates this 'foreign' sentiment as a welcome
addition to its propaganda armoury. It portrays Aung San Suu Kyi as a
puppet, an honorary ambassador of the foreigner who is driven by foreign
interests in disregard of her own native traditions. This book argues that
neither the international image of her, nor the military misuse of her
international image within the country come to terms with Burmese political
values as expressed in the Burmese language.


Gustaaf Houtman analyses military politics as a politics of authority
(ana) and confinement that emphasises the local delineation of boundaries
under the guise of benevolence, using the discourse of culture, archaeology
and race, and the threat of imprisonment. By contrast, he analyses the
democracy movement as a politics of influence (awza) that aims to transcend
these boundaries. This elaborates on political terminology in terms of
Buddhist mental culture leading to 'non-self' (anatta), promising freedom
from imprisonment and confinement. The ideals of the four byama-so taya in
particular loving-kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna) stand for
democracy, just as they have stood for ideal true socialist government. The
senior NLD leaders all closely identify with this and with the practice of
Buddhist mental culture in general. Furthermore, though the lower forms of
magic are more common amongst the military, many retired military
responsible for imprisoning and disqualifying the NLD from office also
proclaim to be engaged in the practice of mental culture and patronise the
same Buddhist meditation centres. Mental culture, while strongly
represented as democracy politics, thus plays a role as a conciliatory
third force in Burmese politics.

The author decodes the present political situation in terms of continuities
with past colonial politics and assesses commonalties between the two
sides. The book argues that, through association with Buddhist ideas
emphasising substantive commonalties in all forms of life, Burmese
political vocabulary itself has the promise within it to promote
reconciliation in this divided polity.

Gustaaf Houtman is currently Assistant Editor of Anthropology Today at the
Royal Anthropological Institute. He was Visiting Professor at the Institute
for the Study of Languages and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies between
1997-98 and held the first Leach-RAI Esperanza Trust post-doctoral
Fellowship in Manchester between 1991-92. After completing a first degree
in Burmese language and literature and anthropology in 1980, he was awarded
a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies on the anthropology
of the Buddhist traditions of vipassana contemplation practice in 1990.

A copy of Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics along with an index
will shortly be placed as PDF for free downloading from the Internet at:


http://victorian.fortunecity.com/picasso/314 (it will later also be placed
somewhere within the http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/rai page).

Further information may be had from the author:  Dr. Gustaaf Houtman,
ghoutman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, 11 James House, Wolfe Crescent, London SE16 1SH,
United Kingdom, tel +44-171-394 6927, fax +44-171-231 2857.

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