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Burma News Update, No. 90
Open Society Institute
The Burma Project
Burma News Update No. 90
11 August 1999
Suu Kyi Message to Army
In a message to the members of Burma's armed forces, the leaders of
Burma's National League for Democracy (NLD) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
and Vice-Chairperson U Tin Oo, told Burma's military that democratic
forces are ready to "honor the role" of the military under an elected
government, and urged the "army and the people to work hand-in-hand
to achieve democracy, where the people govern the country." The message,
marking the eleventh anniversary of the violent suppression of countrywide
1988 pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma, was released to journalists
in Bangkok and reported on international broadcasts, but not reported by
Burma's state-controlled media. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that the NLD
wished the army "to know what we are trying to do for our country. To
achieve this understanding we need to have the freedom to communicate
and discuss." The junta has refused to enter negotiations that include NLD
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or to honor the result of 1990 elections won
overwhelmingly by the party.
Bangkok, "Agence France Presse," 07 August
9-9-99 Warning
Burma's army-controlled media has charge that "destructive elements" urged
on by "neo-colonialists" using foreign radio broadcasts are seeking to incite
unrest in Burma on the ninth of September. National unity could be
"disrupted because of division sowed by some traitors, who are maggots that
crawl out from under the skin," warned a commentary in the "New Light of
Myanmar" newspaper. "In our country, the terrifying 8-8-88 unrest [the
massive
pro-democracy uprising on 08 August 1988] disrupted the life of honest
people
and destroyed millions of kyats worth of state assets," the newspaper said.
"But, some radio stations are using some people in exile to fondly reminisce
about the event and are continuously broadcasting them.... But using the
event
as an excuse some expatriates and local destructive elements, who hope to
grab power or opportunities, are thoughtlessly planning to create unrest on
9-9-99."
[The number nine is considered auspicious in Burmese numerology, and Burmese
opposition groups in exiles are calling for nationwide protests against the
country's military regime on 9/9/99--Ed.]
"BBC Summary of World Broadcasts," 03 August
Khun Sa Still Retired: Junta
Burma's army junta has strongly denied reports in Thai media that the
long-time Golden Triangle drug lord and rebel leader, Khun Sa, has resumed
narcotics trafficking since surrendering to the regime in December 1996.
A junta spokesman said Khun Sa and his family are now engaged in gem
trading. On 23 July, the Bangkok Post quoted a senior Thai anti-narcotics
official as saying that Khun Sa's son is now involved in opium trafficking in
Burma's northeastern Shan province, and that there are "signs Khun Sa
is also getting involved." Khun Sa, who lives under official protection in
Burma's capital, Rangoon, is under US federal indictment for conspiracy
to smuggle heroin into the United States.
Rangoon, "Deutsche Presse-Agentur," 07 August
Thais Close "Drug Route"
Senior Thai security officials closed a border checkpoint with Burma in the
northern Chiang Mai province indefinitely because of massive drug
smuggling from Burma. The checkpoint at San Ton Du has become one
of the Golden Triangle's major drug smuggling routes, say Thai authorities,
who charge that armed ethnic minority groups on the Burmese side of the
frontier, which operate freely under ceasefires with the Rangoon regime,
smuggled over 200 million amphetamine tablets into Thailand over the last
year.
Bangkok, "Business Day," 05 August
Junta Rights Commission?
Australia's human rights commissioner defended his recent visit to
Burma, during which he discussed the ruling army junta's reported
interest in creating a national human rights commission. Human Rights
Commissioner Chris Sidoti said that he was surprised by the regime's
willingness to discuss a human rights body during his three-day visit to
Burma, admitting that "I don't know what lies behind it.'' Burma's military
regime is guilty of massive and extreme human rights abuses, according
to international groups. Sidoti did not seek to meet National League for
Democracy (NLD) leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi, but other NLD leaders expressed skepticism that the junta
would permit any independent human rights body.
Sydney, "Reuters," 05 August
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