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______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
        An on-line newspaper covering Burma 
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________

May 30, 2000

Issue # 1540



*Inside Burma

KNU: BURMA ARMY HAS FORCIBLY SOLD THE CARDS OF HEALTH CARE FOR 
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN FOR THEIR MILITARY FUND 

MIZZIMA: STATE OF FEAR: THE FOURTH ESTATE IN BURMA

DVB : SOLDIERS KILL THREE DESERTERS IN CLASH

NATION:  A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR THE SHAN

KNU: KAREN FAMILY KILLED

ICFTU: REPORT ON BURMA FROM THE ANNUAL SURVEY OF VIOLATIONS OF TRADE 
UNION  RIGHTS 

WALL STREET JOURNAL: UNOCAL CEO DENIES ABUSES DURING PIPELINE 
CONSTRUCTION IN MYANMAR

MIC:  SECRETARY-1 INSPECTS BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT AND NARCOTIC DRUG  
ERADICATION IN SHAN STATE (EAST)


*International


MIC: MYANMAR DELEGATION LEAVES FOR GENEVA

AFP: FORCED LABOUR IN MYANMAR, AIDS AT WORK, MAIN ISSUES AT GENEVA 
FORUM 

NATION: EU TURNING UP THE HEAT ON BURMESE LEADERSHIP 


THE NATION: COVERT FUND BEING SOUGHT

LE SOIR (Belgium): BELGIUM LAUNCHES AN ASSAULT AGAINST THE BURMESE 
JUNTA

BURMA ACTION GROUP (SEATTLE): BAG MEETS JAPANESE CONSUL ON SUPPORT 
FOR BURMA FORCED LABOR


*Economy/Business

MIZZIMA: GOVT. SHOULD WORK FOR FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH BURMA, SAYS 
FBCCI CHIEF

			
*Opinion/Editorials

NATION: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: THAILAND MUST PUT PRESSURE ON THE JUNTA

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS FEDERATION: CALL TO SUPPORT ILO BURMA 
SANCTIONS

MIZZIMA: VOICES FROM BURMA: JUNTA RULES THE PEOPLE WITH TERROR



__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
	

KNU: BURMA ARMY HAS FORCIBLY SOLD THE CARDS OF HEALTH CARE FOR 
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN FOR THEIR MILITARY FUND 

KNU Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department

May 29, 2000


In the beginning of May 2000, Burma army's Light Infantry Battalion 
406, 407, 408, 409, 410 forcibly sold the cards of health care for 
mothers and children to the local villagers in Yebyu Township, Tavoy 
District, Tenasserim Division, Burma. One card cost 100 Kyat, and 
every family forced to buy this card without fail.   
 

According to the information, Burma army's Operation Commanding HQ 
No. 8 which base in Kanbauk village, in Yebyu township has ordered 
it's under controlled battalions LIB 406, 407, 408, 409, 410 to sell 
the card of health care for mothers and children to the local 
villagers for their military fund.  
 

On March 24, 2000, Associate Press (AP) has reported that Japan has 
donated dollars 5.5 million for a UNICEF program to improve health 
care services for mothers and children in Myanmar (Burma).  
 

According to AP, UNICEF deputy director for the East Asia and the 
Pacific, Carroll Long said that with the new grant, 319 townships in 
Myanmar would receive essential drugs and basic medical equipment, to 
be distributed to township hospitals and rural clinics with the help 
of the Myanmar government 
 

Last year, Japan gave dollars 2.7 million for the same project.   


____________________________________________________


MIZZIMA: STATE OF FEAR: THE FOURTH ESTATE IN BURMA


New Delhi, May 26, 2000
Mizzima News Group

A group of writers and novelists in Burma said that military rulers 
have stepped up surveillance over the writers and persecution of the 
intellectuals after they secretly formed an association in Rangoon in 
February this year.

In the first week of this month, Major Aye Tun, a director in the 
Home Ministry summoned editors and publishers of magazines and 
journals and threatened that those periodicals which publish 
materials that violate the policies of the military junta would be 
closed and the author, editor and the publisher would be sentenced 
minimum one year and maximum seven years of prison term, the 
Litterateurs Association said in a statement received in New Delhi.

Major Aye Tun is also the Chairman of Press Scrutiny Board (PSB) 
which was formed in 1962 by the then military regime as official body 
responsible for censorship.

According to the statement, the editors and publishers were forced to 
fill up the forms in the meeting itself giving their bio-data in 
details, undertaking not to print or publish articles, poems, and 
cartoons critical to the military government and even pledging to 
disclose the bio-data and activities of those authors wanted by the 
military intelligence.

The Litterateurs Association has accused the junta of trying 
a "sinister attempt" to break the fraternity of the writers in the 
country. 
The statement further said that since after news of the formation of 
their organization is leaked out, the publishing industry in the 
country has been facing ever-increasing surveillance from the 
powerful military intelligence.

It has to secure clearance not only from Press Scrutiny Board but 
also from the military intelligence causing heavy expenditure, 
harassment and delays. Even after obtaining clearance from the censor 
board, books and magazines are subjected to cuts of entire paragraphs 
by the military intelligence if they feel that they contain materials 
critical to the government.

In many cases, the printing of the book has to be repeated and 
clearance again sought from the military intelligence as the cuts 
were so badly made that the books cannot appear without torn pages 
and pasting. This process results in delays by weeks and months, said 
the statement. 

Moreover, it said that Burmese literature fraternity is in the worst 
era in history, being struggling hard for survival "against the 
ruthless aggression, strict and draconian rules laid down and the 
verbal or written decrees issued by the junta from time to time".

Mizzima News has learnt that some writers, poets and novelists met in 
Rangoon in February and formed the Litterateurs Association to resist 
the junta's persecution of the intellectuals in the country. 

Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) on Thursday issued a 
release condemning the junta for depriving the Burmese people of any 
objective news and violating the rights of Burmese and foreign 
journalists to practice their profession freely. It said Burma is 
still the country, which is keeping the most journalists in prison.

Four journalists have died in prison in the last ten years and more 
than 20 journalists are still imprisoned.

"No criticism of the army or the junta is tolerated. The government 
aims to control journalists right down to the words they writeà", 
said RSF.

____________________________________________________


DVB : SOLDIERS KILL THREE DESERTERS IN CLASH

26.05.00 BURMA: SOLDIERS KILL THREE DESERTERS IN CLASH.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 24 May 
00 Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 24th May

Three defectors who fled with weapons from Tavoy-based SPDC's [State 
Peace and Development Council] 280th Light Infantry Battalion [LIB] 
in southern Burma had been killed in a clash with soldiers who 
pursued them. Those killed were Lance Corporal Soe Wai and Privates 
Aung Ko Oo and Myint Thu from the 280th LIB based in Zayetni in Tavoy 
Township near the Thai-Burma border.

The three fled along with three G-3 rifles because they could no 
longer tolerate the abuse by their superiors on 17th May. The clash 
between the defectors and the SPDC troops pursuingburma them lasted 
for some time. Lance Corporal Soe Wai and Pvt. Aung Ko were killed 
during the clash and Myint Thu, who was wounded, was captured. Later, 
he was shot dead on the spot by the SPDC troops.

Translation by BBC

____________________________________________________


NATION:  A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR THE SHAN
  
May 28, 2000

  Loi Tailang, Burma - On the peak of a misty mountain last Sunday, 
Shan people of all   ages gathered to remember the day 42 years' ago 
when they first stood up to whom they   called "the oppressor".
  
  Though the ceremony was short on extravaganza, the atmosphere was 
charged with   emotion. The remembrance ceremonies started in the 
chill of the early morning, with the   newly-graduated soldiers of 
the Shan State Army taking an oath before a spirit house,   vowing to 
fight until their last breath to liberate their beloved homeland from 
the evil   force.
  
  This was followed by blessings from the monks and then a military 
parade.   
  Alongside the soldiers, stood lines of Shan women dressed in 
colourful traditional garb.   They had joined their male compatriots 
to commemorate what to them is a very special   day.
  
  Every year, hundreds of young Shan men join the armed resistance 
group to fight for   their homeland.
  
  Most are recruited from villages. Many of them are orphans, whose 
parents have either   been killed by the Burmese Army or forced to 
work as army porters.   
  "The SSA often finds these youngsters hiding in the jungle because 
their parents are   either captured or killed by the tatmadaw 
[Burmese Army]," said a leading member of   the movement. "The SSA 
has no choice but to help them"
  
  He insisted that the movement has no policy of sending these 
youngsters to fight on the   frontline before they turn 18.
  
  For these often-bereaved youngsters, joining the SSA is a noble 
deed as well as being   their patriotic duty. Above all, it is the 
only way they can think of to exact revenge and   heal the wounds 
inside their hearts.
  
  Among this year's crops of graduates is Sai Sai, who used to be a 
teacher at Kae See   township in central Shan State. At 28, he is 
considered a little overage in an army whose   members usually become 
fully-fledged soldiers before they turn 20.   
  So what inspired him to swap his chalk and blackboard for a rifle 
and grenades? His   answer is brief and to the point: "It is for our 
Tai people, our nation, and our religion."   
  His answer may seem simple but his reasons for it are not. Sai Sai 
has witnessed   unspeakable cruelty and suffering, such as extra-
judicial killings, houses being burned,   routine extortion, 
arbitrary punishments and unpaid forced labour. This was more than   
enough to motivate the former teacher to trek for three days and 
three nights through the   jungle to join the SSA.
  
  He and his fellow recruits know full well that one day they will be 
sent deep inside the   rugged valley of the Shan State where a bloody 
war has been going on for almost half a   century. He may not survive 
to return to the base, but he considers that a sacrifice worth   
making. At present, the SSA is one of the few remaining major armed 
ethnic minority   groups still fighting against Rangoon for the right 
to self-determination in accordance   with the spirit of the 1947 
Panglong Agreement. 
  
  The agreement, which was made between Burmese nationalist leader 
Aung San and   representatives of the Shan, Kachin and chin before 
the country gained independence,   guaranteed the ritghts of ethnic 
minorities in return for their agreement to stay within the   Union 
of Burma at that time.
  
  It also stipulated that after being a part of the union for 10 
years these groups would have   the right to pull out if they were 
not happy. But the Burmese government's apparent   refusal to honour 
the Panglong agreement prompted the Shans to take up arms in 1958.   
  From then till now, it has been an uphill battle in which the Shan 
rebels have had to fight   against great odds. Despite this, the 
rebels have always made it clear that the word   "surrender" does not 
figure in their vocabulary and that laying down their arms is not 
an   option.
  
  This does not rule out a ceasefire, however.
  
  The current SSA leader, Colonely Yawd Serk, recently stated his 
willingness to enter   formal ceasefire negotiation with Burma's 
ruling State Peace and Development Council   (SPDC). But, he says, so 
far there has not been a single sign of goodwill from the   generals 
in Rangoon.
  
  And so Shan State Continues to reverberate to the sound of the 
endless fighting between   those trying to uphold what they see as 
territorial integrity and those struggling to free   themselves from 
the yoke what they see as their oppressors.   
  In the light of such complexity, it is sad that political middle 
ground has been found in   this predominantly Buddhist land. Instead, 
blood-for-blood is the name of the brutal   game.
  
  Nobody knows how many lives will be lost, how many houses torched 
and how much   blood will soak into the soil before genuine peace is 
achieved in this pristine land.   
  The situation in the Shan State appears to be deteriorating day by 
day, with numerous   reports of humanrights violtions.
  
  Many people live in a permanent state of fear, having known little 
else, and spend most   of their time praying and making merit. By 
doing so, according to Buddhist belief in   reincarnation, they can 
avoid suffering in their next life.   
  "So long as the Burmese are here, we can never live in peace," said 
28-year-old Nang Wa   from Lai Kha. She, like a multitude of others, 
was displaced after Burmese troops razed   her village to the ground 
and rounded up the people living there to be used as porters. "If   I 
went back now, the Burmese would kill me for sure," she said.   
  The practice of forced labour goes hand in hand with the policy of 
forcible relocation of   ethnic minority civilians. This is aimed at 
depriving the insurgency groups of their   grassroots support.
  
  Once people are moved into a designated vieng, or town, they find 
themselves with   nothing to do, and become sitting targets for 
Burmese military who force them to work   on infrastructure projects 
or as porters for the troops. In several cases, such victims have   
included women, children and those too disabled to fight.   
  Many countries and international organisations have condemned 
Rangoon for allowing   such violations of human rights and urged the 
junta to put a stop to the violations. But   their pleas have fallen 
on deaf ears.
  
  Shan people just want to live happily without the fear that the 
Burmese military will   come to repress them, said Nang Wa who 
carried her three little children for 10 days   through the jungle 
before seeking refuge with the SSA.
  
  Asked what he expected of the SSA in the future, Sai Sai said 
emphatically: "We want to   be like East Timor."
  
  But only time will tell what will transpire in this land of 
uncertainty ruled by a group of   grim-looking men in green uniforms.
  
  The Nation (May 28, 2000)






____________________________________________________


KNU: KAREN FAMILY KILLED

KNU Mergui-Tavoy District Information Department

5/25/00


On the 9th of May 2000, a Burmese patrol from Light Infantry 
Battalion 377, under the command of No. 9 Operational Commanding Head 
Quarter's No.1 Tactical command, met a Karen family at 8 AM while the 
troop was patrolling the surrounding area of their Tactical Command 
Headquarter. 
 

Spotting the family 500 yards from the headquarter as the family was 
heading to work on their rice field, the troops accused the family of 
attempting to supply food to the rebels and killed all of them on the 
spot. 

The family was from the village of Kataungni where the No.1 Tactical 
command had set up its headquarter in the east of Tavoy Township. 
The victims were:

(1) Saw Wah Htoo, 25 years: Son of Saw Sanet
(2) Naw Spider, 20 years: Wife of Saw Wah Htoo with 4 months 
pregnant. (3) Saw John, 3 years: son of Saw Wah Htoo.
(4) Saw Joy, 2 years: son of Saw Wah Htoo.

 
They were shot to death and abandoned on the footpath to their 
plantation. Though knowing that the family was killed and abandoned 
on the path, their relatives from the Kataungni village were afraid 
to retrieve the bodies because of the Burmese soldiers. 
 

Kataungni is a village east of Tavoy on the bank of Banchaung River. 
In February 1997, the village was deserted as the SPDC troops 
launched a massive offensive against KNU Mergui/Tavoy district (KNLA 
4 Brigade area). Due to difficult living conditions in the jungle 
brought on mostly by the incessant Burmese ArmyÆs search and destroy 
operations against them, the villagers eventually returned to their 
deserted village. There the SPDC troops grouped them up and ordered 
them to live at the center of the village along with other relocated 
people. 
 
The villagers have to live under strict rules arranged by the 
military. They are forbidden to leave the relocation site without 
permission from the troops there (No.1 Tactical Command Headquarter). 
Those who attempt to leave are shot on sight. 
 
According to one Kataungni villager who escaped the relocation center 
and arrived at the border on May 21st, at least 70 of his fellow 
villagers have been killed or have disappeared over a stretch of 4 
years while serving as porters. Some of those victims were also from 
nearby villages including Maw Ma Tru, Kyauk Hton, Thebyuchaung, Maw 
Ler Kay, and Myintmolekka. 
 

____________________________________________________


ICFTU: REPORT ON BURMA FROM THE ANNUAL SURVEY OF VIOLATIONS OF TRADE 
UNION  RIGHTS 

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

May 2000

BURMA (MYANMAR)

All basic trade union rights are denied. Burma's military 
dictatorship cracks down on anyone taking part in independent trade 
union activity, including strike action. They are likely to be 
arrested, tortured and imprisoned.

No union rights

There are no legally functioning trade unions in the country, no 
trade union law and no legal structure whatsoever to protect trade 
union rights. 
There is no legal framework to protect collective bargaining or to 
protect workers against acts of anti-union discrimination. The 
authorities do not promote collective bargaining and there is no 
evidence that it takes place. 

Union in exile

The Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) is forced to operate 
from outside the country. The FTUB was founded in 1991 by former 
trade union leaders and members who were fired from their jobs and 
persecuted by the military regime for their trade union activities. 

The FTUB co-ordinates its activities with the banned National League 
for Democracy (NLD), which won the 1990 elections but was prevented 
from taking office by the regime. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi has 
expressed her support for the FTUB and for independent trade unionism 
in Burma.


Military surveillance

The FTUB maintains underground structures linked to workplaces inside 
the country. Its activists are under constant surveillance by the 
police and military intelligence and live in permanent fear of arrest 
and torture. The FTUB also works with ethnic groups in border areas, 
some of which have their own trade union structures, particularly in 
health and education.



Intimidation of seafarers

The Seafarers' Union of Burma, which forms part of the FTUB, works in 
exile to help Burmese seafarers. The regime controls the employment 
of seafarers through the Seaman's Employment
Control Division, and there have been many cases in which it abused 
and intimidated seafarers who complained about underpayment and poor 
working conditions on foreign ships.  


Arrest, imprisonment and torture

Two members of the FTUB executive committee, arrested in June 1997 by 
intelligence officers, remained in prison.  U MyoAung Thant, a member 
of the All Burma Petro-Chemical Corporation Union, was arrested with 
his wife and children. After a secret trial, he was given life 
imprisonment for "high treason", plus ten years imprisonment on other 
charges in August 1997. He was accused of trying to smuggle 
explosives into Burma. He was imprisoned in an isolated cell in 
Insein Prison.  U Kyin Kyaw, an official of the Seafarers' Union of 
Burma, was arrested with his wife. He had been detained for trade 
union activities in 1993 and had been tortured in detention. His fate 
remains unknown - he has not been brought to trial.

____________________________________________________


WALL STREET JOURNAL: UNOCAL CEO DENIES ABUSES DURING PIPELINE 
CONSTRUCTION IN MYANMAR
 
 

 May 29, 2000 
 
 
 Dow Jones Newswires
 
 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Unocal Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive 
Roger Beach said Monday Unocal didn't commit any human-rights 
violations in Myanmar 
 during the construction of the Yadana Gas Pipeline.
 
 "There were absolutely no human rights violations" in connection 
with the Yadana project, Mr. Beach said. "There were no villages 
relocated, no slave 
 labor."
 
 Mr. Beach spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the Asia Oil and 
Gas Conference organized by state Petroliam Nasional Bhd., or 
Petronas, being held in Kuala Lumpur May 28-30.
 
 Unocal is facing a class action suit filed in the U.S. by human-
rights activists on behalf of Myanmar refugees. It is the first suit 
to try to hold 
 a U.S. company liable for human-rights abuses abroad.
 
 However, Mr. Beach thinks the human-rights activists have overstated 
their case. "We will prevail in court," he said.
 
 Human-rights groups claim that the 416-mile natural-gas pipeline, 
which starts at the Yadana gas field in the Andaman Sea offshore 
Myanmar, also know 
 as Burma, and connects with a pipeline in Thailand, couldn't have 
been built 
 without assistance from the military junta in power in Myanmar. 
Thus, the rights groups say, Unocal and its partners were complicit 
in human-rights abuses by Myanmarese forces. The abuse allegations 
against the military include charges of slave labor, property 
seizures, rapes, beatings and numerous deaths.
 
 Mr. Beach denied the allegations against Unocal and said that he 
is "proud of 
 what we've accomplished there."
 
 He said he has heard of human rights abuses in Myanmar, but none are 
connected to the pipeline project. "I can't control the Myanmar 
military any more than I can control the Los Angeles Police 
Department," Mr. Beach said.  "We don't believe in the isolationist 
approach of the NGOs (non-governmental organizations)," he said, 
explaining that Unocal "believes in an engagement  approach" that 
will put money in the hands of the masses and eventually bring 
 democracy to nations such as Myanmar.
 
 France-based Total Fina Elf is the operator of the $1.2 billion 
Yadana pipeline, with a 31.2% stake. Unocal has a 28.3% stake; the 
Petroleum Authority of Thailand, 25.5%; and Myanmar Oil and Gas 
Enterprise, 15%.

____________________________________________________


MIC:  SECRETARY-1 INSPECTS BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT AND NARCOTIC DRUG  
ERADICATION IN SHAN STATE (EAST)

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE, YANGON

[BurmaNet adds?MIC is part of the Ministry of Information]

Information  Sheet
No.B-1390 (I)           

27th May 2000

    
    Chairman of Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and 
National  Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development 
Council Lt-Gen Khin  Nyunt and party proceeded to Museum on Narcotic 
Drug of Shan State (East)  Special Region-4 and inspected display of 
booths on endeavours of narcotic  drug eradication before 1988 and 
endeavours of narcotic drug eradication  after 1988. Leaders of 
Special Region-4, U Sai Lin and U Min Ein highlighted  that the tenth 
anniversary marking the achievement of peace in the region  will be 
completed during this year. A new hotel and a new market are under  
construction. A project is in progress to supply clean water, which 
is in  accord with the standard prescribed by WHO, for the growing 
population. The  project to extend roads in Mongla and to build a new 
road in addition to the  two existing facilities will be completed 
this year. More roads will be built  in the region; agriculture 
especially cultivation of poppy substitute crops  is being extended. 
Kokang region, Wa region and the regions in the eastern  Kengtung are 
gaining significant progress due to prevalence of peace and  
stability. Due to the assistance of the government and the efforts of 
the  national race leaders, the region is achieving market 
development and the  people's living standard is improving. U Sai Lin 
pledged to prevent  recurrence of drug trafficking in the region and 
to uphold the dignity of the  opium free zone. Then,The Secretary-1 
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt presented quality  paddy and corn seeds to U Sai 
Lin. 
    
    In Pangsan, the Secretary-1 and party met Wa national race 
leaders led by  U Pau Yu Chan. Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt emphasized the fact 
that at present, there  are exaggerated and slanderous accusations 
against Myanmar with negative view  concerning narcotics. The 
Government is implementing the 15 -year project to  wipe our narcotic 
drugs. Wa national leaders are also implementing a project  to 
totally free the Wa region from drugs by the year 2005. In spite of 
their  accusations, Myanmar will continue to wipe out the drug 
trafficking as  projected. The government will take necessary 
measures to prevent occurring  of misunderstanding between Myanmar 
and her neighbours. U Pau Yu Chan said  there was not a piece of 
development in Wa region in the 20years during which  it was under 
the domination of the unlawful Burma Communist Party. It has  
developed with greater momentum during the ten-year period since 
achieving of  regional peace. As Wa national races are practically 
enjoying the fruits of  peace, they will never accept any scheme to 
destroy peace and sow seeds of  mistrust between the Wa national 
races the the government. 

      As they have already understood the danger of narcotic drugs 
toward the  mankind, they are striving to totally wipe out the drugs 
from their region by  the year 2005. 
    
    In Monghsat ,the Secretary-1 and party met Wa national leader U 
Pau Yu Yi  and party at Wanhom Farm and discussed matters related to 
regional  development and drug eradication. U Pau Yu Yi reported on 
agriculture of the  region, transport and trade of lychee and other 
crops and building of roads  and bridges for development of the 
region. The Secretary-1 pointed out the  fact that  it is necessary 
to strive for success of agricultural undertakings  and spoke of the 
need to make efforts to attain the goal of eradicating  narcotic 
drugs in Wa region in 2005, according to the programme of Wa  
national group. Narcotics is a menace to the mankind and narcotic 
drug  traffickers are using the border between the two countries as 
the area to  gain advantages as well as making attempts to create 
misunderstanding between  the two neighbouring countries. In order 
that there may be no  misunderstanding between the two countries, 
utmost efforts are to be made to  guard against production and 
trafficking of narcotic drugs and stimulant  tablets in the region. 
The government as well as Wa nationals are to take  special care in 
preventing drug traffickers and unscrupulous persons from  exploiting 
them.




__________________ INTERNATIONAL __________________
	

MIC: MYANMAR DELEGATION LEAVES FOR GENEVA

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information  Sheet
N0. B-1393(I)                30th May 2000


    Sub-leader of Myanmar delegation Director-General of Labour 
Department together with Director-General of the Attorney-General's 
Office, Director-General of Central Trade Disputes Committee of 
Ministry of Labour, Director -General  of International Organizations 
and Economic Department and Deputy Director-General of Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs left Yangon by air on 28 May to attend the 88th 
Annual Assembly of International Labour Organization to be held in 
Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 May to 15 June. 
	

____________________________________________________


AFP: FORCED LABOUR IN MYANMAR, AIDS AT WORK, MAIN ISSUES AT GENEVA 
FORUM 

GENEVA, May 30 (AFP) - Combatting forced labour in Myanmar, 
protection for working mums and dealing with HIV/AIDS in the work 
place are among the issues facing some 3,000 delegates at a labour 
conference starting here Tuesday. 

Steps to oblige Myanmar to stop the use of forced and compulsory 
labour will be presented to the International Labour Conference which 
runs until June 15.  If delegates adopt them, the measures will call 
on any organisation connected to the International Labour Office 
(ILO) to review their dealings with Myanmar to ensure that through 
their involvement they are in no way contributing to the continuation 
of forced labour. 

Namibian President Sam Nujoma will address the Conference on June 8 
on the the issue of AIDS in the workplace, as a followup to last 
October's meeting in Windhoek on the same issue. 

In Geneva, the ILO is expected to join other international agencies 
by signing an accord outlining its cooperation with the United 
Nations's specialised body in the fight against the disease, UNAIDS. 



____________________________________________________


NATION: EU TURNING UP THE HEAT ON BURMESE LEADERSHIP 

May 30, 2000

THE European Union last week published for the first time the list of 
Burmese leaders, including their family members, banned from entering 
the 15-member community to strengthen sanctions previously issued 
against the junta-led country, an EU source confirmed in Bangkok 
yesterday. 

The list, issued on Wednesday, contains 140 names of high-ranking 
Burmese officials, including all members of the ruling State Peace 
and Development Council (SPDC) as well as its three most powerful 
members, chairman General Than Shwe, vice chairman Maung Aye and 
first secretary Khint Nyunt. 

The list contains all cabinet members, including Foreign Minister U 
Win Aung, Minister of Industry U Aung Thanung and Minister for 
Economic Development U Soe Tha. It also covers all former cabinet 
members, former military commanders and all former members of the 
State Law Order and Restoration Council (Slorc), the predecessor of 
the SPDC. 

Coupled with the list, the EU also issued a regulation, dated May 22, 
to freeze the assets in the EU of all those blacklisted and to ban EU 
exports to Burma of equipment that could be used for internal 
repression and terrorism, the source said.  The regulation will be in 
effect until October 26 when the EU conducts a six-month review of 
the sanctions and the political situation in Burma.  According to the 
source, the new regulation and the publication of the list are new 
elements to reinforce existing EU sanctions against Burma, which 
centre on visa bans and bans on high-level meetings between EU 
countries and Burma.  "In the past we were open to public 
interpretation over who among the Burmese officials were on the EU 
blacklist," the source said. 
The union's political and economic sanctions on Burma have affected 
Asean-EU relations, especially since Burma was admitted as an Asean 
member in 1997.  An Asean-EU ministerial meeting was suspended in 
1998 when the EU broke off contacts with Burma. The meeting was to be 
held in a European country, but the EU banned Burmese officials from 
entering EU countries. Asean insists Burma, as one of its members, 
has the right to attend European-based meetings. The EU countered 
that Burma's right to attend such meetings was not automatic as an 
Asean member since it had not yet signed a 1980 Asean-EU economic-
cooperation agreement.  The sanctions will, however, not affect Asean-
EU meetings that take place in an Asean member country, since the 
Burmese are not banned from joint meetings that occur within the 
region. 

According to the source, EU countries would like to reactivate the 
meetings to resume cooperation between the two regions on economic 
and non-economic issues. 



____________________________________________________


LE SOIR (Belgium): BELGIUM LAUNCHES AN ASSAULT AGAINST THE BURMESE 
JUNTA

 MAY 26. 

	Translation of an article by A. Gorissen and Ph. Regnier

Parliamentarians are being spoilsports in Paris, a resolution  is 
voted in the Belgian senate: Elected politicians take a strong stand.

Pinochet, the Austrian far-right..everywhere Belgium sets the pace in 
the fight for justice and democracy. So, why not Burma too? Such were 
perhaps the thoughts of ten Belgian senators proposing a resolution 
on human rights violations by the junta in Rangoon. They were 
convincing: The resolution has been adopted yesterday by the Senate. 
51 voiced their approval and 6 abstained (the far right Vlaams 
Block), and the resolution will be transmitted to the Parliament

The resolution demands, in particular, that the Belgian government 
-	urge the junta to respect the freedom of trade-unions and end 
the practice of forced labour;  
-	insist that the military begin a tripartite concertation with 
ethnic minorities and the NLD - which won elections just ten years 
ago and whose victory was never recognized by the junta
-	insist that Belgian companies and travel agents end all trade 
links, investments, and tourism
-	insist that Europe take stronger sanctions.

"Burma is THE case in Asia where we witness a deep cohabitation 
between the military regime and large companies", had declared before 
the vote Anne-Marie Lizin (Socialist party). Targeting TotalFinaElf. 
While she acknowledged that, for many years the Belgian foreign trade 
machine has been backing Fina, the Senator deemed necessary "to 
trigger a mechanism within TotalFinaElf", and in particular to avoid 
that the company "transfer its activities to subcontractors".

Josy Dubie (Green party)  directly attacked Albert Frere, 
as "TotalFinaElf' s main shareholder. "There is one man in Belgium, 
certainly the wealthiest in the country, who, if he so wished,  could 
put pressure on Burma to stop what is happening there."

Yesterday TotalFinaElf was being "targeted" by Belgian 
parliamentarians, not only in Brussels. Three of them - Senators 
Philippe Mahoux (Socialist Party) and George Dallemagne (Social-
Christian Party) and the parliamentarian Murielle Gerkens (Green 
party) - had travelled to Paris to call on the leadership of the 
petroleum company at their shareholders' general assembly. "We are 
very concerned that TotalFinaElf  remains in Burma even though the 
Burmese democrats tell us that this investment hurts the population 
and is profitble to the junta only", explained M. Mahoux during a 
press conference.

In the offices of  Danielle Mitterand's Fondation France Libertes, 
together with Burmese exiles, the Belgians insisted : "TotalFinaElf 
say they are not concerned with politics. But remaining in Burma is a 
political act!"  They also recalled a recent declaration by Nobel 
Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi  in an interview published by 
the French magazine Nouvel Observateur (May 18) : She is opposed to 
foreign investments in the country, including Total's, "because of 
the political situation and because they benefit only the militaries 
and a small business community gravitating around them."



____________________________________________________


THE NATION: COVERT FUND BEING SOUGHT 

 May 29, 2000. 


THE Defence Ministry will today seek Cabinet approval of its request 
for a Bt35million covert fund to counter what it calls the volatile 
situation along the Thai Burmese border and in the Muslim dominated 
South.  

In the ministry's report to the Cabinet, the fund, already approved 
by the National Security Council, will have a three pronged 
objective.  A copy of the report has been obtained by The Nation. 

First, it will be used to bankroll an escalated military and social 
drive against drugtrafficking rings that operate along the 
ThaiBurmese border in the North as well as a socioeconomic and 
propaganda campaign to defend and regulate the border area.  

Second, it will be used to process the safe return of the Karen 
refugees in Tak and Mae Hong Son and ensure they are not exploited by 
any political groups inside or outside Burma.  
Third, the fund will be used for a propaganda campaign to discourage 
Muslims in the five Southern provinces from supporting armed 
separatist movements still operating in the area. The ministry argued 
that the security problems along the Thai Burmese border and in 
Muslim dominated southern Thailand were still critical, complex and 
volatile and that normal bureaucratic procedures could not adequately 
address them, the report said.  

BY Piyanart Srivalo 



____________________________________________________

BURMA ACTION GROUP (SEATTLE): BAG MEETS JAPANESE CONSUL ON SUPPORT 
FOR BURMA FORCED LABOR

>From Seattle, May 26, 2000.

As rain-soaked demonstrators held signs and passed leaflets on one of 
the busiest corners in downtown Seattle, a representative of local 
supporters of Burmese democracy met with Japanese Senior Consul Mr. 
Shoji Sato and Assistant for Political Affairs Mr. Hiroaki Tojo.

Speaking on behalf of the Free Burma Coalition and the Seattle Burma 
Roundtable, labor and community groups, Larry Dohrs expressed 
gratitude for the Consul's willingness to meet without prior notice.  
Though the atmosphere was cordial, Japan's pattern of political, 
diplomatic and economic support for the Burmese military regime came 
under strong criticism.

Of particular importance were the efforts during the week by Japanese 
Foreign Minister Kono to undermine the mission of the International 
Labour Organization's delegation visit to Rangoon.  Though the 
delegation's mission was exclusively to ensure junta compliance with 
ILO demands for an end of the use of forced labor, Mr. Kono 
disingenuously muddied the waters by suggesting that it was meant for 
dialog and/or for investigation.

The work of the ILO is far too important for the world to be 
distracted by ignorant remarks from the Japanese Foreign Minister.

Senior Consul Sato was requested to forward a copy of this week's 
statement by the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma on Mr. Kono's 
remarks to his superiors in Tokyo.  He was also asked to convey the 
strong feelings of the Seattle community in support of Burma's 
legitimate, elected leadership and against the brutal Burmese 
military dictatorship.  While Japan is free to set its own policy, 
Seattle citizens are free to voice objections to pro-junta Japanese 
actions.  It is expected that Seattle citizens will continue to do 
so, at the corner of 6th Avenue and Union, where police first fired 
teargas at hundreds of protesters at 9:20 AM on the morning of Nov. 
30, 1999, the first day of the ill-fated WTO Ministerial.

Suzuki was criticised for its direct partnership with the junta, and 
Mr. Kono was informed that on Friday afternoon, a local Suzuki dealer 
would also be the site of a demonstration.

Mr. Kono said that he would certainly meet the requests to forward 
information.  He expressed further willingness to engage in 
discussions.  He had not received any directives from Tokyo on the 
issue, and thus was not able to offer a position.


_______________ ECONOMY AND BUSINESS _______________
 

MIZZIMA: GOVT. SHOULD WORK FOR FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH BURMA, SAYS 
FBCCI CHIEF

Dhaka, May 29, 2000
Mizzima News Group

Extension of visa up to 15 days and permission for free movement of 
Bangladeshis within the Arakan State of Burma should be discussed 
immediately with the Burmese government, President of FBCCI urged the 
government yesterday.

Speaking to BSS, Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo, the President of the 
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) 
said that the government should work for a fresh free trade agreement 
with Burma for boosting the existing bilateral trade.

He said the government should take up the matter of opening of one 
more border trade route at Miyaku near Bandarban, apart from the 
existing Maungdaw and Sittwe trade points. He also said that road 
connections between Sittwe-Maungdaw, Maungdaw-Ukhia and Ukhia-Sittwe 
should be completed immediately and the existing Dhaka-Rangoon air 
links should be strengthened further.

Burmese government should provide landing rights to Bangladeshi 
airlines to Sittwe and Bangladesh private airlines should be allowed 
to operate on Chittagong-Sittwe and CoxÆs Bazar-Sittwe routes, he 
said. 
Mr. Mintoo urged the government to take up the issue of allowing 
operations of full-fledged branches of Bangladesh banks in Rangoon 
with the Burmese government to facilitate the bilateral trade.

According to Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh exported goods worth 
1.09 million dollars to Burma during July-March of 1998 while the 
import was about 9.78 million during the same period. Bangladesh 
imports shrimps, wood, bamboo and cane from Burma and exports cement, 
flour, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing goods to Burma.

Meanwhile, the visit of Burmese military leader Senior General Than 
Shwe to Bangladesh has been postponed due to his sudden illness. 
General Than Shwe was scheduled to arrive Dhaka today.


_________________OPINION/EDITORIALS________________


NATION: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: THAILAND MUST PUT PRESSURE ON THE JUNTA 

May 29, 2000

Everybody who is anybody in the Foreign Ministry knows that there is 
a lack of leadership in implementing a comprehensive approach towards 
Burma. With only a few months remaining before the next election, the 
ministry risks seeing its policy in tatters. 

The saddest part is that the ministry, which has overall control over 
Burma policy in the past three years, has failed to implement its 
well-laid plans, especially in bringing pressure to bear on the 
Burmese junta leaders in Rangoon. 

At the same time, frustration in Thailand has increased over Burma's 
empty cooperation on suppressing the drug trade along the Thai-
Burmese border. On a recent inspection tour of the border, Deputy 
Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra said that Thailand is willing 
to do whatever it can to stop drug trafficking. 

Rangoon has recently rejected Thailand's proposal for a joint patrol 
operation along the volatile border. It was understandable. As the 
general election draws near, Rangoon is wilfully playing a waiting 
game, knowing full well that the Thai policy will undergo a severe 
test again with a new incoming government. It is a high-risk 
manoeuvre that Rangoon has mastered. As of now, it is hard to predict 
whether the Chuan government will be able to make it. But if it stays 
on, the Thai policy on Burma will be further strengthened. 

For that reason, the junta leaders have chosen not to cooperate with 
Thailand over the Wa minority, even though in the past two years 
there was an agreement to assist the Thais. 

It is not hard to see that Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan and Deputy 
Foreign Minister MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra are facing a dilemma in 
handling Burma. Both of them are eager to carry forward the country's 
high principle-oriented policy, but reality fails them. 

Surin and Sukhumbhand are now caught walking a tightrope to keep the 
Thai policy intact and running as the Asean ministerial meeting 
approaches. To appease Asean, the foreign minister has taken a softer 
approach, hoping to bring Burma further into Asean's fold while his 
deputy is taking a tougher stand, especially on the drug issue. It 
was a far cry from the past when Sukhumbhand was more accommodating. 

As chairman of Asean, Surin can only do so much on Burma. When the 
Chuan government was installed back in November 1997, Surin was at 
the forefront trying to engage Burma through new diplomatic 
initiatives. Asean did not support them. Of late, he has spent more 
time on non-Asean issues that have global appeal and wider support 
with few hassles. He criss-crossed the world forging friends and 
alliances with the liberal West and Muslim countries, which he has 
scored points. He did much to persuade North Korea to join the Asean 
Regional Forum. 

On balance, Thailand has been much more assertive on Burma following 
the recent reshuffle in the ministry that resulted in a new permanent 
secretary for foreign affairs and director for East Asia. Judging 
from recent press releases related to Burma, the ministry has 
fingered the junta as the main cause of the present agony inside the 
besieged country. This kind of bold message demonstrates the 
ministry's belief that Burma has itself to blame. 

As such, Thailand must muster all of its courage and overcome its 
fear of Burma's sabotage and to do what is right. In the upcoming 
deliberation in Geneva at the International Labour Organisation 
meeting in June, Thailand's support of an Asean member is no longer 
automatic. If Burma fails to meet the demands made by the ILO to halt 
the systematic exploitation of child labour, Thailand must abstain or 
vote against Burma. 

It was a national disgrace when Thailand voted last year in support 
of Burma at the ILO meeting after Surin was talking tall about how 
the country should stand up for its principles. If the voting pattern 
follows last year. It will be time to strongly condemn the Thai 
government and its hypocrisy. 

Some Asean members are keen to vote individually because the ILO 
finding of Burma's grotesque human rights violations has become a 
moral question. The Philippines and Indonesia are prepared to vote 
the non-Asean way. The Asean bloc vote in Geneva this time is highly 
unsustainable. 
If ministry does not have the political leadership, it should draw 
its strength from Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who has yet to visit 
Burma. Even though he has welcomed the Burmese junta leaders during 
their visit here, Chuan insists that he will not go until there is a 
satisfactory political change there. He has also kept a watchful eye 
on the situation in Burma. Given the remaining months, Chuan could be 
the only Asean leader who has not gone to Burma. Chuan is considered 
as a thorn on the side by the junta leaders. 
Never before in our history since the destruction of Ayudhya is 
Thailand in such a good position to counter Burma's malignant intent. 
Previously, we could say we lacked unity among various governmental 
organisations and that provincial authorities remained non-
cooperative, not to mention the security forces. The list goes on. 
For now, the Chuan government has the unprecedented opportunity as 
well as support from all sides in Thailand to address all relevant 
issues surrounding Thai-Burmese relations. As time is running out, 
the ministry will need strong political leadership to turn around and 
make progress. 

BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN 


____________________________________________________


INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS FEDERATION: CALL TO SUPPORT ILO BURMA 
SANCTIONS

                                
London, 27-28 April 2000
                                
                                
The Executive Board of the International Transport Workers' 
Federation, meeting in London from 27-28 April 2000:

Welcomes the decision of the ILO Governing Body in its 228th Session 
to set in motion a discussion in this year's International Labour 
Conference which could result in an appeal to its 174 member states 
to review their relationship with the Government of Myanmar (Burma) 
and to take appropriate measures to ensure Burma's compliance with 
international labour standards especially on forced labour; 

Notes the fact that this action is unprecedented in the ILO's 80 year 
history, invoking for the first time article 33 of the ILO 
Constitution which is designed for use only in the event of a country 
failing to carry out the recommendations of an ILO Commission of 
Inquiry;

Recalls the recommendations of the ILO Committee on Freedom of 
Association on the ITF's complaint on behalf of Burmese seafarers, 
which strongly urged the Government of Myanmar (Burma) to ensure 
freedom of association and the right to organise;

Condemns the Burma's military government for having failed to take 
any positive measures to rectify the violation but instead further 
jailed trade union leaders of the Federation of Trade Unions - Burma 
and the ITF affiliated Seafarers' Union of Burma;

Calls upon ITF affiliates to organise whatever protest action 
possible against the military government during the period of the 
International Labour Conference from 30 May to 15 June 2000 and to 
lobby their respective national delegation to the Conference to 
support the ICFTU/ITF initiative; and  

Further calls upon the ICFTU and all other International Trade 
Secretariats to step up their campaign against Burma's military 
regime and to restore democracy in the country, and if  possible to 
organise a joint campaign during the International Labour Conference.


____________________________________________________


MIZZIMA: VOICES FROM BURMA: JUNTA RULES THE PEOPLE WITH TERROR 


By Aung Khaing, Mandalay
May 28, 2000
(Translated by Mizzima News Group)

I am neither a writer nor a politician who can skillfully use 
political terms. One may not appreciate the vocabularies I use in 
expressing my views. As I am so eager to write the following article, 
I request the reader to try to understand the basic theme and essence 
of it. 
Let me start with the question of "who is the real terrorist". 

Irresponsible, shameless and one sided utterances of the ruling 
military junta that we the democratic elements are terrorists 
prompted me to write this rejoinder with all frankness. That the 
democratic organizations and the democratic forces fighting for 
democracy are branded as terrorists is baseless.

In fact, the junta now names as State Peace and Development Council 
(SPDC) is the terrorist organization indulging in following terrorist 
activities in Burma.

1. Terrorism against Religious Bodies
2. Terrorism against the Buddhist Sanghas (Monks)
3. Social Terrorism
4. Violence on Modesty
5. Intellectual Terrorism
6. Propaganda Terrorism


1. Terrorism against Religious Bodied

They terrorize the trustees of pagodas in Burma. For example, a 
Burmese indigenous medical practitioner U Aung Nyunt (father of 
township youth organizer Ko Htun Kyi of Mandalay South West who is 
under detention for 9999 strike) who is a trustee of Kyauk Taw Gyi 
pagoda, on the foot hill of Mandalay Hill has served the pagoda for 
the last 20 to 30 years spending his own money for the upkeep of the 
religious edifice was sacked from the board of trustees for his 
refusal to welcome the military rulers with folded hands.

Another evidence of the abuse of religion is demanding money by force 
form the people unmindful of their economic hardships in the name 
of "contribution to religious shrines". Everybody in Burma knows this 
religious terrorism of the junta.

2. Terrorism against the Buddhist Sanghas

The military junta imprisoned and tortured venerable monks including 
Tipidakadhara U Thu Mingala, Mandalay Ma So Yein Taik Haung monastery 
abbot U Kaw, Ma So Yein Taik Thit Monastery abbot U Rajadhamma and 
Khin Ma Gan monastery abbot U Rewata and young monks over the past 
twelve years. They even shot many monks dead during and after 1988 
uprising. 
Tipidakadhara U Thu Mingala was first imprisoned by the regime at 
Myit Kyina (capital of Kachin State, northern Burma) Jail and 
subjected to torture. After he was released, the junta shamelessly 
offered a new monastery building and TV sets in appeasement.

The venerable monk, who wants peace accepted overtures. However he 
had to face the wrath of other monks who accuse him of becoming a 
stooge of the military junta.

This act of the military junta is tantamount to 
committing 'parazikam' i.e. breaking the unity of the Sangha which is 
one of the four gravest sins according to Buddhism.

The junta also imprisoned and tortured Sayadaw U Rajadamma, the abbot 
of Mandalay Ma So Yein Taik Thit monastery in Mandalay jail. The 
Venerable monk is highly respected by 1500 inmate monks of the 
monastery and all monks residing in Mandalay and very influential.

The military rulers offered the Aggha Maha Pandita tittle to the 
monk. As he did not want other monks misunderstand him, the venerable 
monk did not want the title and declined to give his bio-data to the 
junta as required for the conferring of the title. However the junta 
stole the bio-data of the monk and conferred the title to the monk 
with an aim to subjugate him.

Nowadays, the ruling SPDC is conferring varieties of titles to well 
known monks and making them members of the Sangha Maha Nayaka 
Committee (Junta-appointed apex body of Buddhist monks to control the 
Sangha) and forcing them to spread pro-SPDC propaganda. This act of 
the junta can be branded as terrorism against the Buddhist Sangha for 
abusing the religious institutions to promote its political 
interests. 

3. Social Terrorism

Red Cross Societies, Volunteer Fire Brigades and local social 
associations were voluntary organizations devoted to the benefit of 
the local people by rendering selfless service before the military 
junta came to power. Now the junta is trying to merge these voluntary 
organizations with its stooge, Union Solidarity and Development 
Association (USDA) by force to subjugate them. Some of the volunteers 
resigned from respective organizations. Only those who are extremely 
keen to serve the people under any dispensation stayed back. But they 
are totally disgruntled with the junta.

Some years back, arguments broke out between U Myo Nyunt the leader 
of Voluntary Fire Brigade of Kyauksit locality in Mandalay and 
members of the local administration. The administration wanted to 
engage volunteers of the Fire Brigade in scavenging work and 
welcoming functions for visiting VIPs. U Myo Nyunt declared that his 
volunteers were organized only for security of the locality.

Still the local chief sticked to his gun and demanded that the 
volunteers be placed at his disposal for such jobs. Then U Myo Nyunt 
asked the chief whether he would take responsibility if fire broke 
out in the locality in the absence of the volunteers. The chief could 
not make further arguments and left with a grudge.

4. Violence on Modesty or physical Terrorism

The regime claims that they love the country and the people from the 
rooftop. But, many high ranking military officers in reality seduce 
the young and innocent girls of ethnic minorities from border areas 
and spoil their honour. These girls then find their way to brothels 
in the neighboring countries. They fell victims to the physical 
terrorism of the soldiers of the junta.

Besides, the junta employed forced labour of the common people of 
towns and villages and extort money from well-to-do persons in lieu 
of forced labour. This is an evidence of physical terrorism practiced 
by the government.

5. Intellectual Terrorism

The junta offered perks and privileges to retired officers, retired 
doctors and retired school teachers and ask them to denounce National 
League for Democracy (NLD) which got landslide victory in 1990 
general election, and democratic elements and to praise the military. 
It also forced the artists, singers, theatricians, painters, etc. to 
join respective associations formed by the junta itself.

The artists and other fine art professionals have to follow suit for 
their livelihood despite their disillusion with the junta. Forcing 
the writers and editors to write disparaging articles against the pro-
democracy forces is also an evidence of intellectual terrorism in 
Burma.

6. Propaganda Terrorism

The SPDC is spreading slanderous propaganda against the democratic 
forces through their controlled-Voice of Myanmar, Myanmar TV, Kyemon 
Daily and Myanma-Alin Newspaper without break. Their propaganda 
machineries are not meant for intellectual development of the people 
but for spewing venom against the democratic forces.

In October last year, being conscious of such terrorism adopted by 
the junta, Venerable Pegu Kyahkhatwine Sayadow and Venerable Maha 
Gandhayon Sayadaw of Amarapura town had to appeal to the people of 
Burma and the comity of nations to strive for dialogue between the 
government and the opposition of Burma to restore peace in the 
country.

Whatever the junta says, I am sure that the people of Burma and the 
international community know who are the real terrorists. This is 
high time that the real terrorists stop their various acts of 
terrorism. 

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led NLD and democratic 
forces only want implementation of the result of the 1990 election 
and dialogue for democracy transition in the country. People in Burma 
knows that democratic forces do not support any type of terrorism and 
they condemn the junta who rules with terrors.



________________


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