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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMA RELATED NEWS - SEP 28, 2000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - Myanmar refutes accusations that jailed
British activist was beaten
NSTP - National: Man denies engaging in
sadomasochism
Voila News - Britain
summons Myanmar envoy after jailed activist beaten
Independent News -
Burma told of UK 'fury' at beating of jailed
campaigner
The Times of India - Albright pledges to
fight on for Suu Kyi
The Age - Democracy supporters find the road to Mandalay
barred
The Age - Anger
at Burma cell bash report
IHT - Burmese Opposition Party Marks a
Hard-Earned Anniversary
Daily Express - Jail guards beat Briton
who dared to protest
Washington File - U.S.
Presses Burma Issue in Security Council Talks
SCMP - Democrats kept in check as party anniversary slips by SCMP - US undeterred in bid to put Aung San Suu
Kyi on UN agenda
FEER - SPOTLIGHT - Burmese Rifts
Thursday, September 28 11:32 AM SGT
Myanmar refutes accusations that jailed British activist was beaten YANGON, Sept 28 (AFP) -
Myanmar's junta Thursday strongly refuted Britain's accusations that a jailed
British pro-democracy campaigner was badly beaten up by prison guards in a
remote northern Myanmar prison.
"It is regretful to learn that the British Foreign Ministry has come up
with an unsubstantiated allegation claiming that Mr James Mawdsley has been
severely beaten," the Yangon regime said in a statement.
"This ridiculous claim was made more dramatic and sensational by a
statement made by Mr David Mawdsley stating that his son was beaten up by
fifteen men with bamboo sticks and that irreparable damage may have been done to
his internal organs."
"The Government of Myanmar appreciates the concerns and interest the
British Government ... may have on Mr James Mawdsley's health and conditions
while he is serving his prison sentence."
But Britain is "making irresponsible remarks and groundless accusations
merely to discredit the Government of Myanmar," it said.
James Mawdsley, 28, had previously told Britain's vice-consul to Myanmar
that he had sustained several days of beatings at the hands of his guards at the
Keng Tung jail in northeastern Myanmar.
The vice-consul, Karen Williams, visited Mawdsley on Tuesday "and saw that
he had two black eyes and a suspected broken nose," a British spokeswoman
said.
"He said he had been beaten over several days by prison guards and thought
it was because of his protest about his continued solitary confinement."
Mawdsley's father David has claimed that the alleged beating of his son was
ordered by senior individuals of Myanmar's ruling junta.
The Yangon regime had previously said that Mawdsley's wounds were
self-inflicted, a charge Britain dismissed as "utterly implausible."
Mawdsley, who has British and Australian nationality, is serving a 17-year
jail sentence after being arrested near the border with Thailand last year in
possession of pamphlets denouncing Myanmar's military regime.
Britain on Wednesday summoned Myanmar's ambassador to London to the Foreign
Office to express its outrage at Mawdsley's treatment.
"I have made our fury crystal clear to the Burmese (Myanmar) authorities,"
Junior Foreign Minister Baroness Scotland said after meeting the
ambasador.
"They cannot treat a British national in this way. It is a gross abuse of
human rights, and we will not tolerate it.
"I asked the Burmese ambassador to tell his government that James must be
released immediately or transferred to Rangoon (Yangon) where consular staff can
watch over his welfare and ensure that this barbarism is not repeated."
The British ambassador in Yangon, John Jenkins, also wrote a letter
Wednesday to the junta's foreign ministry demanding that either Mawdsley be
released or he be moved to a jail in Yangon.
In a statement, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he was "shocked
and appalled" to learn Mawdsley had been badly beaten, and said he understood
prison authorities had also removed his food and possessions.
"This is an outrageous violation of his human rights.
"It is yet another example of the Burmese regime's lack of respect for the
standards of the international community.
"The Burmese cannot treat our nationals like this."
The Yangon junta has resisted all attempts to force it to relinquish power
to the National League for Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi, which won 1990
elections.
New Straits Times Press (Malaysia)
Thursday, September 28 6:30 PM SGT National: Man denies engaging in sadomasochism KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - A credit analyst, allegedly kidnapped by five
foreigners, denied in the Sessions Court today that he was a person who engages
in sadomasochism.
Chow Thim Kwong, 51, of Bandar Sri Damansara, made the denial when a
suggestion was put to him by the defence during cross-examination.
(Sadomasochism is the practice of getting sexual pleasure from hurting
someone or being hurt.)
Chow also denied he had watched a pornographic film depicting homosexuality
with two of the accused - Jagjeet Singh and Muhammad Asghar - when they stayed a
night at his house on one occasion.
The five accused are three Pakistanis - Sikandar Ali, 28, Muhammad Asghar,
26, and Raja Muhamad Ishhaq, 28 - Myanmar national Muhamad Amir Iskandar, 25,
and Jagjeet, 24, an Indian national.
They claimed trial on March 29 to kidnapping Chow at No 61-3-2, Jalan
Selinsing, Taman Kok Lian between Jan 29 and Feb 4.
They also face a second charge of robbing Chow of RM600, an ATM card,
credit card and watch at the same place about 12.20am on Jan 30.
Asked by counsel Datin Seri N. Saraswathy Devi, who is representing the
five, if he had watched pornographic films before, he replied: "A long, long
time ago."
To a question whether he had seen such acts being carried out in the
pornographic films before, he said: "Never seen this before."
To another question, Chow said he was not kidnapped and forced into the
flat at Jalan Ipoh by any of the five men.
He denied requesting Jagjeet and Muhammad Asghar to look for a flat so that
they could spend time together during the Chinese New Year holidays.
During re-examination, Deputy Public Prosecutor Anuar Abdul Rahman asked
Chow why he gave permission to Jagjeet and Muhammad Asghar to stay at his
house.
He replied he found it natural to be hospitable to people.
"The second accused (Muhammad Asghar) and fifth accused (Jagjeet), they
have never misbehaved and were never unreasonable.
"I never considered them a threat to my security," he said.
He also denied that he had "sexual affairs" with the accused.
When questioned by Sessions judge Akhtar Tahir whether he had attempted to
escape, Chow said the flat had grilles and the accused had a dagger.
Voila News -
Britain summons Myanmar envoy after jailed activist beaten LONDON (AFP) - - Myanmar's
ambassador to London was summoned to the Foreign Office after a jailed British
pro-democracy campaigner said he had been beaten up by his prison guards.
James Mawdsley, 28, sustained several days of beatings at the hands of his
guards at the Keng Tung jail, he told Britain's vice-consul during a visit, a
Foreign Office spokeswoman said.
"I have made our fury crystal clear to the Burmese (Myanmar) authorities,"
junior foreign minister Baroness Scotland said after meeting the
ambasador.
"They cannot treat a British national in this way. It is a gross abuse of
human rights, and we will not tolerate it.
"I asked the Burmese ambassador to tell his government that James must be
released immediately or transferred to Rangoon (Yangon) where consular staff can
watch over his welfare and ensure that this barbarism is not repeated."
The Foreign Office said Myanmar authorities claimed Mawdsley's wounds were
self-inflicted, but the minister reject the idea as "utterly implausible" and
without evidence.
The vice-consul, Karen Williams, visited Mawdsley on Tuesday "and saw that
he had two black eyes and a suspected broken nose," the spokeswoman added.
"He said he had been beaten over several days by prison guards and thought
it was because of his protest about his continued solitary confinement."
The British ambassador in Yangon, John Jenkins, then fired off a letter to
the junta's foreign ministry demanding that either Mawdsley be released or he be
moved to a jail in Yangon.
Mawdsley, who has British and Australian nationality, is serving a 17-year
jail sentence after being arrested near the border with Thailand last year in
possession of pamphlets denouncing Myanmar's military regime.
The junta has resisted all attempts to force it to relinquish power to the
National League for Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi, which won 1990
elections.
Independent News
Burma told of UK 'fury' at beating of jailed campaigner By John O'Connor in Rangoon 28 September 2000 Britain protested to Burma yesterday about the brutal attack on a British
human rights campaigner that was described as an "outrageous violation" by the
Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook.
James Mawdsley, 27, who is serving a 17-year prison sentence, suffered a
broken nose and two black eyes at the hands of prison guards after he complained
about being held in solitary confinement. His parents said he was beaten by up
to 15 men wielding sticks.
The Foreign Office minister Baroness Scotland yesterday summoned the
Burmese Ambassador to express her "fury" over the beating. She said: "I have
made our fury crystal clear to the Burmese authorities. They cannot treat a
British national in this way. It is a gross abuse of human rights.
"I asked the Burmese Ambassador to tell his government that James must be
released immediately or transferred to Rangoon where consular staff can watch
over his welfare and ensure that this barbarism is not repeated.''
Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary, has already said that he was "shocked
and appalled" by the beating.
Mr Mawdsley was arrested in August last year and jailed for distributing
pro-democracy literature inside Burma. He is being held in a remote
north-eastern prison where access by embassy officials is difficult, requiring
at least a week's notice.
A senior British diplomat in the capital, Rangoon, said the kind of beating
suffered by Mr Mawdsley was a common punishment in Burmese jails. "It is quite
common in prison here and people die quite frequently during interrogation" he
said.
Prisoners are usually forced to lower themselves into a squat and put their
heads between their feet whenever guards approach, he added. "It exposes their
backs and sensitive areas like the kidneys to beating with bamboo".
Opposition supporters in Rangoon meanwhile revealed details of the wave of
arrests of National League for Democracy party members following last week's
attempt by their leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to leave the city. An estimated 140
NLD supporters were rounded up by police and military officials at Rangoon
railway station last Thursday.
The Times of India - Sep 28,
2000.
Albright pledges to fight on for Suu Kyi
WASHINGTON: US secretary of state Madeleine Albright has pledged she would
not admit defeat in her diplomatic campaign in support of Myanmar opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Albright said in testimony to senator Jesse Helms, chairman of senate
foreign relations committee, that she had raised the issue with foreign
officials "consistently and systematically."
"I can assure you that I will not let this issue drop. We are trying to
make the others move. It's not easy," said Albright who has taken a close
personal interest in Suu Kyi's struggle.
The US is one of the most consistent critics of Myanmar's junta and is a
strong supporter of Suu Kyi, who has been locked in a bitter political battle
with the ruling generals.
"I think this is one of the saddest cases where, 10 years after she, her
party and she, were elected they are not allowed to take their rightful position
and there is no dialogue between her and the Burmese government," she
said.AFP
The Age
Democracy supporters find the road to Mandalay barred RANGOON - Thursday 28 September 2000 At their small shopfront office, surrounded by Burmese military
intelligence operatives, National League for Democracy supporters told of the
wave of arrests of party members after last week's attempt by their now silenced
leader Aung San Suu Kyi to leave the capital Rangoon.
In this year's most severe crackdown, an estimated 140 supporters of Ms Suu
Kyi were rounded up by police and military officials at Rangoon railway station
last Thursday and a standoff ensued. Another 29 league members, who had intended
to meet the leader in the country's second city, Mandalay, were arrested the
same day. Another 10 were arrested a day later.
As word spread in Rangoon of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's intention to
test the ruling military junta's claim that she would be allowed to travel
freely, supporters gathered at the station.
Before her arrival, 21 were arrested and taken away in a truck by the
military, which had organised a massive security operation to cordon off the
area.
According to an elected league member of parliament - now in charge of the
party's headquarters because all senior members are under house arrest or
detained at government "guest houses" - once news of the standoff between Ms Suu
Kyi and the authorities was broadcast on Voice of America radio, hundreds of
people began to converge at the railway station to show their support.
They were met by an overwhelming security operation that, according to
Western diplomats, included "everything the military had under their power, riot
police, ordinary police, military, USDA (a pro-junta civilian organisation) and
military intelligence".
About 8pm, according to the league, three truckloads of supporters were
rounded up and driven to the capital's Insein prison. No one has heard from them
since.
At the party headquarters, the senior league spokesman, who declined to be
named, said "the only thing we have heard is that military intelligence went to
the homes of some of those taken and demanded clothing, money and medicines for
those arrested. That indicates to us that they will not be released soon".
National League for Democracy supporters had compiled a list of 51 names of
those known to have been arrested.
More arrests of league members have followed in the towns along the route
of the Rangoon-Mandalay railway that Ms Suu Kyi had intended to follow.
Ms Suu Kyi was forcibly removed from the station at 1am on Friday,
apparently carried to her vehicle by five police. She was taken to her house
where she remains incommunicado. Her deputy, the aging former general U Tin Oo,
was, according to the league, handcuffed and gagged and is now in detention in a
government "guest house" - or interrogation centre, 30kilometres from the
capital. All 10 members of the league central executive committee are now under
house arrest and their phones have been cut.
"They've been threatening to de-register us in their paper (The New Light
of Myanmar) for months. Maybe this is it. Maybe they are going to declare the
1990 election result invalid" said the spokesman.
The league won the last free election in 1990, and the military junta has
suppressed it ever since, refusing to acknowledge the result.
The Age
Anger at Burma cell bash
report
By JASON KOUTSOUKIS
CANBERRA - Thursday 28 September 2000 Australia has joined Britain in condemning the alleged bashing of
British-Australian human rights activist James Mawdsley in his Burma prison cell
earlier this week.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the
Federal Government was outraged by the reports.
"The Australian Government is obviously appalled at those reports that Mr
Mawdsley has been physically mistreated and we have an active interest in his
welfare and we will be taking it up again with the Burmese authorities," the
spokesman said.
Mr Mawdsley's condition was revealed by British embassy officials in Burma
after they visited him in his Kengtung prison cell on Wednesday and found him
"black and blue" after being allegedly beaten with bamboo poles by some 15
prison officers for rattling the bars in his solitary cell.
Britain's vice-consul to Rangoon Karen Williams said Mr Mawdsley had a
broken nose and two black eyes.
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has lodged a stern protest with
Burmese authorities and called for Mr Mawdsley's immediate release.
The Department of Foreign Affairs' spokesman said the government would not
reveal what action it was going to take, but was monitoring the situation.
Mr Mawdsley, 27, from Southport, Lancashire, has been in solitary
confinement since he was imprisoned for 17 years in August last year for
illegally entering the country and engaging in unauthorised political
activities.
According to the London-based Jubilee Campaign - which is fighting for Mr
Mawdsley's release - he was sentenced within 10 hours of his arrest and denied
legal representation.
Mr Mawdsley believed he had entered Burma legally to make a peaceful
protest against the ruling junta's genocide of the Karen ethnic minorities and
the suppression of democracy. But he had been previously detained by Burmese
authorities for illegal entry and unauthorised political activities in 1997 and
1998.
In 1998, he served 99 days of a seven-year sentence before being pardoned
on condition he would not return to Burma. After his release, he said he had
been tortured.
But he returned last year and was arrested soon afterwards. He lost an
appeal against his conviction and sentence earlier this year.
Mr Mawdsley's Australian mother, Diana, who is in Rangoon to see her son,
said she was worried the beating may have ruptured his internal organs.
"James has protested because he was never sentenced to solitary confinement
in the first place. James is no physical threat to anyone in prison yet it is
clear they have completely lost their minds," Mrs Mawdsley said.
Mrs Mawdsley has previously expressed her disappointment at the lack of
effort taken by the Australian Government to secure her son's release.
But the department spokesman said Australia's ambassador to Rangoon had
visited Mr Mawdsley as recently as September 15. "Both Australian and British
embassies made a joint consular visit to Mr Mawdsley on 15 September," he said.
"At his request the British embassy assumed full consular responsibility for him
although we are again contacting him to offer our assistance."
The International Herald
tribune
Paris, Thursday, September 28, 2000 Burmese Opposition Party Marks a Hard-Earned Anniversary BANGKOK (The Associated Press) - Twelve years of defiance have won
worldwide recognition for the Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
But with her country still under military rule, she is struggling to keep her
decimated party alive.
Her National League for Democracy, which marked its 12th anniversary Wednesday, has been weakened by resignations forced by the government. Party offices have been closed and members arrested. Dozens of its elected lawmakers who refuse to resign are detained in state ''guest houses'' until they change their minds. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 55, recently raised the stakes in her war of wills
with the government by defying, twice in one month, the restrictions on her
movements - most recently last Thursday.
Yet in doing so, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient has pushed her party
to the brink in its confrontation with a government that has weathered decades
of international isolation and criticism.
''Over the past two and a half years, the NLD has managed a series of
planned confrontations with the government to test how far it could go and to
generate international support,'' said David Steinberg, director of Asian
Studies at Georgetown University in Washington. ''This has been an effective
strategy,'' he said in a telephone interview.
''But at some point,'' he added, ''the military may say, 'Enough is
enough,' and declare the party illegal.''
On Monday a government statement denounced ''the so-called 'war of
endurance' and 'stop me if you dare' campaigns orchestrated by NLD.'' It said
that every government step had been ''challenged, ridiculed and impeded,''
delaying Burma's ''orderly transition to a multiparty democracy.''
The regime came to power 12 years ago and maintains that it is
transitional, but shows no tolerance of dissent. The National League for
Democracy insists it will draft a constitution for Burma, but the government
regards that as a crime punishable by up to 21 years in prison.
Daily Express - Sep 28,
2000.
Jail guards beat Briton who dared to protest From Aung Hla Tun in Rangoon BRITAIN yesterday protested to Burma over the "outrageous" treatment of
jailed human rights campaigner James Mawdsley.
The Burmese ambassador in London was summoned to see Foreign Office
Minister Baroness Scotland after reports that James had been savagely beaten in
prison.
James's father yesterday described the attack as an "act of barbarism".
David Mawdsley said: "He was beaten up by 15 men with bamboo sticks. He got a
broken nose. He has blackened eyes.
"But what we are really concerned about is the rest of his body because
they could have damaged his liver, his kidneys or his spleen." The attack was
carried out after James, of Southport, Merseyside, protested at being
transferred to solitary confinement.
Vice consul Karen Williams reported that he had a broken nose and two black
eyes when she visited him at the prison in Keng Tung, 400 miles north east of
the capital Rangoon. James's mother Diana has gone to Burma to see her son but
has been unable to speak to him about the attack face to face because
authorities insist that he must talk to visitors only from a specially
constructed glass case, which he refuses to do.
Mr Mawdsley said: "I think James was protesting about his solitary
confinement. There is no doubt in my mind, no matter what they say, the junta
has ordered this.
"No one does anything in Burma unless it comes right from the top and I
have no doubt at all that this was a deliberate act."
He called for international pressure to help his son. "Burma is looking for
credibility and this is another case of them losing credibility," he said. "This
junta has to go and it has got to be through outside pressure." James, who had
been deported from Burma twice, was arrested last September. He was charged with
carrying anti-government literature and given a 17-year sentence. He is hoping
that an appeal against his conviction will be heard in November.
The Foreign Office confirmed yesterday that Ambassador John Jenkins had
"protested in the strongest terms" to the Burmese authorities.
Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said: "I am shocked and appalled to learn that
James Mawdsley has been badly beaten in prison in Burma. I understand the prison
authorities have also removed his food and possessions.
"This is an outrageous violation of his human rights. It is yet another
example of the Burmese regime's utter lack of respect for the standards of the
international community.
"Baroness Scotland, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, is urgently
summoning the Burmese ambass-ador in London. The Burmese cannot treat our
nationals like this."
But the Burmese government, which calls the country Myanmar, denied the
attack. "This ridiculous claim was made more dramatic and sensational by a
statement made by Mr David Mawdsley, stating that his son was beaten up by 15
men with bamboo sticks and that irreparable damage may be done to his internal
organs," it said.
"Making irresponsible remarks and groundless accusations merely to
discredit the government of Myanmar and feel good about it should be avoided."
The opposition National League for Democracy, led by Nobel peace prize
winner Aung San Suu Kyi, won elections in 1990 by a landslide but has never been
allowed to govern.Suu Kyi has been under de facto house arrest since early last
Friday, when she was forcibly returned home after trying to travel outside
Rangoon by train.
Washington File
26 September 2000 U.S. Presses Burma Issue in Security Council Talks (Soderberg: U.S. wants briefing on Aung San Suu Kyi) (430) By Judy Aita Washington File United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- For the second day in a row the United States has raised
the issue of Burma in closed Security Council meetings.
U.S. Ambassador Nancy Soderberg said the United States is deeply concerned
that Burmese democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been forcibly
returned to her home and that 80 to 100 members of her support network and the
vice chairman of her group have been taken away to unknown locations.
"This comes less than two weeks after the secretary general welcomed the
lifting of the restrictions on access" to the opposition leader, Soderberg told
journalists after the council meeting September 26. "Now we appear to be back at
square one."
"We strongly condemn these actions by the government of Burma and we once
again call on that government to lift the restrictions against Aung San Suu Kyi
and her supporters. They are violating the most basic of human rights -- freedom
of access in your own country -- and we hope they will lift these restrictions
and enter into dialogue with her," she said.
"It is of great concern to our delegation and other members of the council.
We will continue to raise this issue within the Security Council," the
ambassador said.
There is opposition among the 15-member council on how to proceed, however.
Some council members feel the issue is an internal matter for Burma, also known
as Myanmar, and therefore not an issue for the United Nations or the Security
Council. On his own initiative, Secretary General Kofi Annan has sent a special
representative to meet with the government.
Soderberg said the Security Council's rules of procedure are such that "a
delegation can ask for a briefing on any subject." The U.S. delegation is
talking with other council members to find an appropriate way to have such a
briefing.
"The situation in Burma is of great concern to the international community.
The secretary general is personally involved (as are) his envoys, his staff and
secretariat," the ambassador said. "What we would like is to have the
secretariat come and explain what is happening."
"It is of great interest to us," she said. "We will continue our
consultations and continue to raise it in the council."
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
South China Morning Post
Thursday, September 28, 2000
Democrats kept in check as party
anniversary slips by
AGENCIES in Rangoon Military authorities yesterday set up roadblocks on the approaches to the headquarters of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, although the party said it had scrapped plans to celebrate its 12th anniversary. The National League for Democracy (NLD) usually commemorates September 27 with a large party meeting, but an official said on Tuesday it had cancelled this year's event because Ms Suu Kyi and other party leaders were confined to their homes. The NLD has been hit by a wave of arrests following attempts by its leader
to leave the capital, Rangoon.
In the most severe crackdown this year, about 140 party supporters were
rounded up a week ago by police and troops at the city's railway station as Ms
Suu Kyi attempted to break the ruling junta's stranglehold on her movements and
travel to the northern city of Mandalay. Another 29 NLD members, who had
intended to meet the leader in Mandalay, were arrested the same day. Another 10
were detained a day later.
A senior NLD spokesman said that when news of the stand-off between Ms Suu
Kyi and the authorities was broadcast on Voice of America radio, hundreds of
people began to converge on the station to show their support. They were met by
an overwhelming security force.
About 8pm, the NLD said, three truckloads of supporters were rounded up and
driven to the capital's Insein prison. No one has heard from them since.
The spokesman said: "The only thing we have heard is that military
intelligence went to the homes of some of those taken and demanded clothing,
money and medicines for those arrested. That indicates to us that they will not
be released soon."
NLD supporters have compiled a list of 51 names of those known to have been
arrested.
Ms Suu Kyi was forcibly removed from the station at 1am on Friday and
carried to her vehicle by five police. She was taken to her house, where she
remains incommunicado. Her deputy, the ageing General U Tin Oo, was said to have
been handcuffed, gagged and detained at a government "guest house" - or
interrogation centre - 30km from the capital.
All 10 members of the NLD central executive committee are under house
arrest and their phones have been cut. The NLD won the last free and fair
election in 1990, and the ruling junta has jailed and suppressed it ever since,
refusing to acknowledge the result.
British officials have summoned Burma's ambassador in London to protest against the "outrageous" prison beating of a British democracy campaigner. James Mawdsley, 27, was beaten with bamboo poles for protesting about his solitary confinement, his father said yesterday. "He was beaten up by 15 men. He got a broken nose; he has blackened eyes," said David Mawdsley. South China Morning Post
Thursday, September 28, 2000 US undeterred in bid to put Aung San Suu Kyi on UN agenda WILLIAM BARNES Washington's proposal that Burma's heightened restrictions on opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi be discussed by the UN Security Council - a move ignored
by Beijing, Moscow and Kuala Lumpur - underlines international unease over the
political stalemate, according to observers.
The United States would "try to work out a way" of sliding Ms Suu Kyi on to
the council agenda, said Nancy Soderberg, deputy US ambassador to the United
Nations. "There's a feeling the cycle of repression has gone on too long," said
Debbie Stothard, co-ordinator of the Alternative Asean Network on Burma.
Beijing and others did not want the issue raised because it could set a
precedent for discussing "domestic matters", analysts said.
There were signs that some members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations, which Burma controversially joined in 1997, were happy to see the US
make the moves they found politically difficult, according to one Asian diplomat
in Bangkok.
"Problems in Burma have a way of affecting neighbouring countries," said
Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra in Washington this week.
Far Eastern Economic Review
October 5, 2000. SPOTLIGHT - Burmese Rifts By Bertil Lintner While the outside world has been focusing in recent weeks on the stand-off
between Burma's ruling generals and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, serious
problems within the junta, the State Peace and Development Council, have also
been making themselves apparent.
It began with the "voluntary resignation" on August 28 of naval chief and
SPDC member Vice-Adm. Nyunt Thein. Two week later, another 17 high-ranking naval
officers were removed. Many naval officers, loyal to Nyunt Thein, are also
reported to have submitted resignations.
Analysts believe the navy shake-up reflects the larger rivalry between Gen.
Maung Aye, the army chief and SPDC vice-chairman, and intelligence boss Lt.-Gen.
Khin Nyunt. Resentment has also been growing over the increasing authority army
officers have in coastal areas.
But potentially even more serious are signs of a rift over the junta's
economic policies. In an amazingly outspoken address to academics at Rangoon's
Institute of Economics on July 7, Brig.-Gen. Zaw Tun, deputy minister for
national planning and economic development, revealed that official data for
growth had been grossly, and deliberately, exaggerated.
He called the Myanmar Investment Commission "too protective" and accused
the government of spurring inflation by printing money. Zaw Tun has since been
dismissed and placed under house arrest. But silencing him may not hide Burma's
woes. In his speech he used an English phrase to describe economic-policy
failures: "Killing me softly with the system."
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