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BURMA RELATED NEWS - January
25, 2002.
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HEADLINES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - Myanmar Muslims invade UN agency in
Malaysia to seek asylum
Reuters - Myanmar Muslims occupy UN office in
Malaysia
Reuters - Southeast Asia ministers insist region
safe for tourists
BBC - Burmese seek refuge in UN
office
Independent (Bangladesh) - UN body, Myanmar groups to fight drug
abuse
The Star - Police probing cause of beat base
fire
The Star - Dept axes work permits of 401
Indons
Space Daily - US Warns Myanmar On Nuclear
Reactor Aspirations
Bkk Post - Buddhas found
FEER - Terror War Targets Burma Drug
Lord
SHAN - Burmese troops move into
Mongyawn
Irrawaddy online - Student Leader's Sentence Increased
Irrawaddy online - Petition to the Government of Myanmar
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday January 25, 2:17 PM
Myanmar Muslims invade UN agency in Malaysia to seek asylum KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (AFP) -
More than two dozen Muslim illegal immigrants from military-ruled Myanmar on
Friday invaded the grounds of the UN refugee agency in Malaysia to seek
asylum.
A total of 28 immigrants from Myanmar's minority Rohingya Muslim community
entered the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) centre here at dawn and
camped in the compound.
Police were called and kept guard outside the UNHCR building.
"We came here to ask them to help us find a solution to our situation, to
find a way to ensure our lives are safe," Abib Peter, 36, told reporters through
the centre's fence.
Abib said he had been living in Malaysia for the past eight years as an
illegal immigrant and hoped the UNHCR could grant him and his family asylum in a
third country.
"Right now, wherever we go, we are in danger. Our kids cannot even go to
school," he said. "It doesn't matter where they send us, we just want our lives
to be safe."
He claimed some 2,000-3,000 Rohingyas were staying in Malaysia after
fleeing persecution and torture in military-ruled Myanmar.
Many of those deported by the Malaysian authorities have "just
disappeared," he alleged.
UNHCR officer Yoshiteru Tsuji told reporters he would interview the 28
immigrants individually and record their requests but the group would not be
allowed to stay at the centre.
He declined to say whether they would be granted asylum.
Around 2,500 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar in 1991-92 alleging persecution
by the army, but most were later repatriated with the help of the United
Nations.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday January 25, 5:11 PM
Myanmar Muslims occupy UN office in
Malaysia
By Jalil Hamid KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Three
Muslim families from Myanmar occupied the grounds of a U.N. refugee office on
Friday in a bid for asylum.
The 28 men, women and children, from three ethnic Rohingya families, were
let into the compound of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) in Kuala Lumpur early in the morning.
They said they entered Malaysia illegally several years ago to escape
persecution in their homeland but an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants in
Malaysia has exacerbated their plight.
"We are stateless, we can't go back to Burma (Myanmar) because of the
oppression," Habib Peter, 36, told Reuters across the fence of the UNHCR
compound.
"We can't stay in Malaysia either because of the constant police crackdown.
Seven of our family have been arrested and we are asking for help from the
UNHCR," he said.
Yoshiteru Fuji, officer in charge of the Malaysian UNHCR office, said some
of the Rohingya occupying his office had had earlier requests for refugee status
rejected.
He said the U.N. body would consider their appeals on a case-by-case basis.
He gave no further comment.
Twenty more Rohingya, who come from western Myanmar, arrived later in the
morning but fled as more than a dozen police patrolled the entrance to the
building.
Police caught two of them.
Habib estimated there were between 2,000 and 3,000 Rohingyas living in
Malaysia.
"We have no documents so we can't find regular work here. My children can't
go to school" said Habib, who first arrived in Malaysia in 1992 and returned
after being deported to Thailand.
Zainal Abidin Jalaludin, 30, cradled a 20-month old baby as he recounted
how he spent four years in jail for illegal entry.
Another man called Hassan said his wife and two of their four children were
in jail.
In February last year, about 450 Rohingyas were killed in clashes with
Buddhists around Akyab town in Myanmar, according to a statement released by
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation.
Malaysia, with a population of 23 million, has two million immigrants, less
than half of whom are legal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday January 25, 6:04 PM
Southeast Asia ministers insist region safe for tourists By Dean Yates YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters)
- Southeast Asian tourism ministers insisted on Friday the region was safe for
travel despite the discovery of alleged Muslim terrorist groups, adding
governments were serious about tackling the threat.
Meeting in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, ministers said they had
discussed the impact on tourism from the September 11 hijack attacks on the
United States.
But they played down fears the region's image would take another hit
following the recent arrests of dozens of Muslim militants in Southeast Asia.
Tourism is crucial for the 10-member Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN), employing millions of people and raking in precious foreign
exchange for struggling economies.
"We are running after anybody who is involved in terrorism," Philippine
Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon told Reuters after President Megawati
Sukarnoputri officially opened a travel forum and trade fare to coincide with
the two-day meeting of ministers.
"What would be worse is that if we were hiding it under the carpet and not
doing anything about it," he said.
Ministers conclude talks later on Friday and are expected to send a message
to potential visitors that they have little to fear visiting a region that
boasts treasures such as Indonesia's resort island of Bali and Cambodia's
ancient Angkor Wat temples.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
While Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines have rounded up militants,
Indonesia has yet to make similar arrests even though some analysts believe its
woes and the presence of small radical Muslim groups make it a prime target for
terrorist groups.
Southeast Asian governments say one group, Jemaah Islamiah, is at the heart
of regional terrorism and has been linked to a plot to bomb U.S. targets in
Singapore.
Another Muslim group, Abu Sayyaf, professes to fight for an Islamic
homeland in the southern Philippines but has mainly kidnapped Western tourists
and Filipinos for ransom. Both organisations are suspected of having links to
the al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.
SERIOUS ABOUT SAFETY
Gordon along with Malaysia's Minister of Culture, Arts & Tourism, Abdul
Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, defended Indonesia, saying Jakarta was cooperating in
efforts to root out regional terror.
In her speech, Megawati made no mention of the difficulty the world's most
populous Muslim nation has had attracting tourists since local Islamic militants
threatened to attack U.S. assets in retaliation for Washington's air strikes on
Afghanistan.
Yogyakarta in central Java, famed for its Javanese culture and nearby
Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist monument, has been hit particularly
hard, local travel agents have said.
Abdul Kadir said perceptions created by negative media headlines about
alleged terrorists should not cloud the fact that ASEAN was one of the safest
regions in the world to visit.
"Governments here are very serious in ensuring the safety and welfare of
our guests," he told Reuters.
Foreign media coverage of possible regional links to al Qaeda has soared in
recent weeks.
Washington has blamed bin Laden for the September attacks on the United
States that killed some 3,000 people and launched its war on Afghanistan to hunt
down the Saudi-born militant.
VISITORS STILL COMING
Most key ASEAN members felt the impact on tourist arrivals from the
September 11 attacks, although they still notched up solid visitor numbers
overall last year.
For Indonesia and Malaysia, tourism is their second biggest foreign
exchange earner.
An estimated 5.15 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia last year,
short of a target of 5.4 million. Foreign exchange receipts were more than $5
billion in 2000, according to the latest data available for earnings.
Tourist arrivals in Malaysia grew more than 24 percent to a record 12.78
million last year compared with the previous year. Revenue for 2001 was
estimated at 20 billion ringgit ($5.3 billion).
Officials said had it not been for the September attacks, a target of 14
million arrivals for 2001 would have been reached.
Singapore has annual arrivals of more than seven million and tourism
receipts of more S$10 billion ($5.44 billion) each year.
Meanwhile, Vietnam appears to have actually benefited since the September
attacks. Industry officials said they had enjoyed some success in marketing the
country as a safe destination.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC - Friday, 25 January, 2002, 13:06
GMT
Burmese seek refuge in UN office A group of Burmese Muslims has taken refuge in the grounds of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in the Malaysian capital,
Kuala Lumpur.
The group of 28 men, women and children said they were seeking asylum after
fleeing persecution in Burma.
They are all members of the Rohingya community in Burma's western state of
Rakhine, across the border from Bangladesh.
"We are stateless, we can't go back to Burma because of the oppression,"
one of the refugees, Habib Peter, said across the fence of the compound.
"We can't stay in Malaysia either because of the constant police crackdown.
Seven of our family have been arrested and we are asking for help from the
UNCHR."
Cases considered
Mr Peter said the group entered Malaysia illegally several years ago, and
were now scared of being deported back to Burma.
Yoshiteo Tsuji, a senior UNHCR official in Malaysia, said the group would
be allowed to stay temporarily while their cases were being considered.
He said that some of the refugees had previously applied for asylum, but
their requests were rejected.
Another group of Burmese refugees, who later tried to enter the UNHCR
office, was stopped by the Malaysian police.
Persecution
Thousands of Rohingya Muslims from predominantly Buddhist Burma still
remain in refugee camps in Bangladesh, a decade after 250,00 fled there to
escape alleged persecution under the Burmese military, including killings and
rape.
International human rights groups have said recently that Burma must
improve the treatment of Rohingyas, who face discrimination, forced labour and
arbitrary confiscation of their property.
In a report two years ago, Human Rights Watch accused the Burmese
Government of refusing to recognise the Rohingyas' claim to Burmese citizenship.
It said many refugees had a well-founded fear of persecution if they
returned to Burma.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Independent-Bangladesh
January 25, 2002.
UN body, Myanmar groups to fight drug
abuse
YANGON, Jan 24: The United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and eight
Myanmar non-government organisations have agreed to form a consortium to fight
drug abuse, reports AFP.
A memorandum of understanding on the "Civil Society Initiative" was signed
Wednesday at a ceremony witnessed by members of the eight groups, government
representatives and local financial institutions, officials said.
The eight NGOs include religious organisations who pledged to establish a
drug-free society in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.
"Myanmar’s civil society further reiterates its firm determination to
realising the common goal of a drug-free society," they said in a statement.
The consortium includes the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia, the
Border Areas Development Association, Myanmar Anti- Narcotic Association, the
Myanmar Council of Churches and the Young Men’s Buddhist Association.
In a keynote address, UNDCP resident representative Jean-Luc Lemahieu said
the agency would act as the group’s secretariat but it would have its own
decision-making executive board.
"UNDCP will (also) assist approaching potential donors such as the private
sector to engage actively in the civil society initiative," he said.
Lamahieu said Myanmar, which is considered to be the world’s leading
producer of illicit drugs after Afghanistan lost the top spot, has been affected
by "serious and complex drug problems," he said.
"After five years in the second spot, the country has regained its title as
the largest producer of opiates in the world, representing almost 70 percent of
the world’s production in 2001," he said.
Drug abuse is rampant in Myanmar and the spread of the HIV- AIDS epidemic
was closely linked to increase of injecting drug users, he added.
"Against this challenge stands the political and social complexity of this
country and the lack of human and financial resources which hinder the impact of
the drug control efforts undertaken by the government and cooperating agencies
such as UNDCP," he said.
Myanmar has said it aims to eliminate drugs within 15 years "with or
without the international community’s assistance," but that assistance from
"friendly countries" and the United Nations would speed the process.
A 2001 report from the International Narcotics Control Board showed opium
production in Myanmar had fallen some 40 percent in the past decade.
But the 2000 ban on opium production in Afghanistan, laid down by the
now-defeated Taliban regime, made Myanmar the world’s top drug producer last
year by default.
Lamahieu said that to fight drug abuse in Myanmar, it was vital to
"convince and engage" grassroots groups, parents, and children of the dangers of
narcotics.
The UNDCP last year launched the "Stars Against Drugs" initiative in
Myanmar, mobilising the nation’s singers, actors and sporting heroes to get
involved in the ongoing fight against illicit drugs.
A member of the NGO panel at the ceremony said that while the consortium
was a new concept with no previous models to follow, it could be very effective.
"We are entering a new area with little experience and no role model to
follow but in principle it could be a very effective effort," he said.
"After all the role of the civil society which is too often neglected can
make a tremendous impact in addressing the drug issue."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Star
Thursday, January 24, 2002
Police probing cause of beat base fire KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating whether the burning of the Selayang
Municipal Council operations beat base here three days ago was done by Myanmar
traders who were unhappy with the enforcement action taken against them.
The beat base, believed to have been torched around midnight, is located at
the Selayang wet market and acts as a control centre for enforcement officers.
Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Massari Hashim confirmed that a police report had
been lodged by the council, adding that investigations were on going.
He said that police have yet to ascertain whether the arson was the work of
Myanmar traders as reported in
a Bahasa Malaysia daily yesterday.
ACP Massari said police would investigate all angles and was not ruling out
the possibility that Myanmar traders were responsible.
About a month ago, police launched a massive operation, dubbed Ops Padu, to
clean up the Selayang market area off undesirable elements, especially
illegals.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Star
Friday, January 25, 2002
Dept axes work permits of 401 Indons By R.S.N. MURALI
SEREMBAN: The Immigration Department has cancelled the work permits of the
remaining 401 Indonesian workers of a textile factory in Nilai who were involved
in a riot on Jan 17 and immediately approved 600 new ones.
Immigration director-general Datuk Mohd Jamal Kamdi said the cancellation
was made at the request of the management of Hualon Corporation (M) Bhd.
The new permits were issued to workers from Thailand, Nepal and Myanmar.
State police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Yunus Othman said the
workers who had their permits cancelled were those living in Block G of the
hostel and worked during the 11am shift on Jan 17.
He said 639 factory workers had returned after the shift on that day.
Ninety-one were women.
“Only the 548 male workers were found to have been involved in the riot,’’
he told reporters after attending the second joint meeting between the
Immigration Department and the police’s Public Order and Internal Security
Department here yesterday.
SAC I Mohd Yunus said 22 of the factory workers were deported yesterday,
bringing the total repatriated so far to 91 while the rest would be sent back in
stages.
He said 56 workers were still under remand before being charged in court.
A midnight operation by anti-drugs officers at the factory hostel turned
ugly on Jan 17 after some 500 Indonesian immigrants attacked the officers.
Secretary-general to the Home Ministry Datuk Seri Aseh Che Mat said illegal
foreigners would find it hard to elude the authorities when enforcement efforts
are stepped up. He said at least two operations would be carried out monthly.
He said the Immigration Department and the police would jointly conduct the
operations.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Space Daily Fri Jan 25
US Warns Myanmar On Nuclear Reactor Aspirations Yangon (AFP) Jan 22, 2002 The United States warned Myanmar on Tuesday that it must honor its
obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, after Yangon signalled that it
intended to build a nuclear reactor with Russian help.
The military-ruled state, often a target of US ire for suppressing a democracy movement and its much-criticised human rights record, said earlier Monday that it wanted to erect a nuclear research reactor. "We expect the government of Burma to live up to its obligations and to not
pursue production of weapons grade fissile material," said a State Department
official on condition of anonymity using the country's former name.
The official declined to say if Washington was concerned over Myanmar's
capacity to maintain a safe, secure nuclear site, or whether US officials would
address the project in discussions with Russia.
Washington's response to the Myanmar nuclear plan was a marked contrast to
its frequently unflattering appraisal of the country's human rights record and
political situation.
Some observers in Southeast Asia have questioned whether the ruling junta,
which already has trouble maintaining its creaking electricity grid has the
expertise and scientific base necessary to safeguarding nuclear materials.
In a statement issued late Monday, Myanmar's Deputy Foreign Minister Khin
Maung Win said the junta had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) of its intention to construct the reactor which would be used "for
peaceful purposes".
Russia said last February that it planned to enter talks with Myanmar on
building a nuclear reactor in the Southeast Asian country. Media reports have
said hundreds of Myanmar scientists are now in Russia receiving training.
Khin Maung Win said that under the Non-Proliferation Treaty which Myanmar
signed in 1992, it had the right to pursue "the peaceful use and application of
nuclear technology".
He denied reports that Myanmar has secretly brought two Pakistani nuclear
scientists into the country to help it fulfill its nuclear ambitions.
Thailand's Bangkok Post has reported that the Vienna-based IAEA was
concerned about the plans to build a reactor in Myanmar and had asked Moscow to
provide details of the negotiations.
During an inspection last year, an IAEA mission found that the country's
safety standards were "well below the minimum the body would regard as
acceptable," it quoted an unnamed official with the agency as saying.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - January 25,
2002.
Buddhas found
Mae Hong Son _ More than 80 Buddha images illegally smuggled from Burma
were seized near a border checkpoint here.
Images worth about 200,000 baht were abandoned by Burmese traders close to
the Huay Phueng checkpoint in Muang district.
The gang apparently planned to sell the images to tourists.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Far Eastern Economic
Review
INTELLIGENCE
Issue cover-dated January 31, 2002
Terror War Targets Burma Drug
Lord
The United States has begun to target the assets of suspected Burmese drug
lords because of possible links between terrorism and the proceeds from
narcotics trafficking. Western anti-narcotics officials say the move is
supported by the Thai authorities. During raids in late December, the Thai
police seized 100 million baht ($2.3 million) worth of assets, including cash,
houses, vehicles, jewellery, land deeds and bank accounts belonging to people
close to fugitive drug lord Wei Xuegang. Wei, who is wanted by both Thailand and
the United States, jumped bail in 1990 and escaped to Burma where he runs a
business congolmerate and heads the drug-trafficking United Wa State Army. In
1994 a Thai court sentenced him in absentia to life imprisonment for drug
trafficking. Money changers in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai have also
come under scrutiny. Western and Thai police believe they are fronts for
underground Chinese banks, which transfer millions of dollars every year without
leaving any paper trail, and which may be used by terrorists and drug lords to
transfer their funds. "This is the first time I have seen such high-profile
people and institutions being targeted," says one Western anti-narcotics
official.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shan Herald Agency for News
25 January 2002 No: 01 - 11: -Burmese troops move into Mongyawn Burmese troops have entered Mongyawn, a hitherto exclusively Wa territory
since 1996, said several border sources on Wednesday (23 January).
Two companies from IB 65 (Mongton) took up positions in 361, the former
Southern Wa HQ, and the border pass opposite Santondu (Mae Ai District,
Chiangmai province), according to a Border Patrol Police source. The arrival of
two other companies from LIB 333 (Monghsat) were also reported.
The two units from IB 65 companies 2 and 4, were commanded by Capt. Maung
Myint and Lt-Zaw Aye respectively and those from LIB 333 were commanded by Maj.
Nyo Win.
The date of their arrival was 16 January according to one source, but the
BPP source put it earlier.
Sources from Maehongson also reported the increased presence of Burmese
forces in Homong. "Before there were only Infantry Battalions 66 and 99 and
Light Infantry Battalions 429 (Bawlake) and 510 (Taunggyi), but now we are also
seeing battalions 422, 511, 524, 248 and 249," he said.
Unconfirmed reports said the Wa force in Sankarng (opposite Loi Tai Leng,
the Shan State Army stronghold opposite Maehongson) was being ordered to move
back to Mongtaw-Monghta area, opposite Wianghaeng district, Chiangmai province,
and those in Mongyawn to move into its place. "The 171th Division had been there
for over a year and hadn't done any fighting. Maybe the Burmese want Wei
Hsaitang's 894th Brigade to do something concrete," said one source.
This was the second time in five years that the Wa were being ordered to
move out of Mongyawn. "The meeting between Wei Hsiaokang and Gen Khin Nyunt in
Tachilek on 17 January and the latter's whirlwind visit to Mongton and Monghsat
two days later might have something to do with the latest move," commented a
border watcher.
Although details of the directive were not clear, the Wa along the border
were noticeably disturbed. The next day on 20 January, a Wa officer told
S.H.A.N. source that he had just received orders form Panghsang "to put our
troops on the alert."
A Lahu source in Nakawngmu, Mongton township, opposite Chiangdao district
of Chiangmai, was also reported to have been informed by Wa friends, "You might
not be celebrating your New Year if trouble breaks out between the Burmese
(army) and us."
The Lahu New Year falls on 12 February.
Some Thai border watchers however were not bothered by the reports. "I
don't see why the Burmese should choose to get tough with the Wa at this time,"
said one. "The only reason that I can think of is that Rangoon must be badly in
need of funds. So if the Wa are ready to hand over a sheaf of greenbacks, I'm
sure everything will quiet down in a while."
Meanwhile, the Wa southern commander Pao Yuyi, was reported to have met
again with MR Ditsanadda Ditsakul, director of the royal project in Mae Fa Luang
District, Chiangrai, on 22 January at Tonnam Guesthouse in Mae Fa Luang,
although no details were made available. It was reported later yesterday that
the Thai survey team had been escorted to the Yawngkha project site across Mae
Fa Luang yesterday by Pao Yuyi.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrawaddy Online
Student Leader's Sentence
Increased
By Kyaw Zwa Moe
January 25, 2002— Student democracy leader Min Ko Naing recently had
another year added to his sentence by Burma's military government, according to
a reliable source in Burma.
Already imprisoned for 13 years, Min Ko Naing’s sentence was extended
another year under the State Protection Law 10 (a), the source says.
According to the State Peace and Development Council’s State Protection Law
10 (a), any prisoner’s term can be extended by one-year intervals for up to five
years by order of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The source says that this was the third extension for the student leader
since 1999, when he had completed his ten-year term. He remains detained without
any new charges brought against him.
Contrary to persistent rumors that the harsh prison environment has badly
affected his health, the source says that Min Ko Naing remains in good physical
and mental condition.
During Burma’s 1988 democracy movement, Min Ko Naing served as chairman of
the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), reviving the organization
that was disbanded in 1962.
Min Ko Naing (aka Paw Oo Tun) was incarcerated on March 23, 1989. In
September 1991, he was sentenced to an additional 15 years under Burma Penal
Code (124) and 17(1) Printing Act by a military tribunal.
Then in 1992, his sentence was reduced to ten years by the limited amnesty
of the military government, then known as the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC).
In 2001, he and the ABFSU were awarded the Student Peace Prize for their
"courageous, enduring and non-violent struggle against one of the world’s most
brutal regimes." The Student Peace Prize Committee is based in Trondheim,
Norway.
There are approximately 2,000 political prisoners still languishing in
Burma’s notorious gulags. Fifty-two prisoners, including Min Ko Naing, are still
being held under the State Protection Law 10 (A) even though they have all
served their original sentences.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irrawaddy Online
Editor’s note: This is an unabridged and unedited copy of the statement
written and distributed by Dr. Salai Tun Than in Rangoon in December of last
year. The distribution of the letter led to his arrest, and it is believed that
he is currently being detained at Rangoon’s Insein Prison. The Irrawaddy
obtained the letter from a very reliable source inside Burma.
Petition to the Government of Myanmar
January 23, 2002
Citizens of Myanmar, I am Dr. Salai Tun Than, a retired professor, who
belongs to a minority race called Asho Chin. I am here to request Myanmar
military government five petitions, which are inalienable rights of Myanmar
people. They are
No. 1. Hold the multiparty general election within one year.
No. 2. Let the election be held by a civilian interim government as soon as
possible.
No. 3. Let the election be supervised by ASEAN and UN officials.
No. 4. Let all the eligible Myanmar citizens who want to contest in the
election be able to complete including our military authorities as civilians.
No. 5. Transfer the state power to any winner organization as soon as
possible without any condition.
Let me add a remark here. This as that I will be here between Myanmar
Independent Monument and Yangon city hall until either the government agrees to
my petitions or simply kills me. I am here offering my life for the cause of the
rights of Myanmar citizens. I have neither to add nor to subtract from my
petitions.
I would like to plead the military government to consider my petitions
seriously whether they are just or biased toward anybody or organization except
Myanmar people. Perhaps you already have contemplated on granting the matter
before my petitions. If it were the case my I utter sadhu thrice and God bless
you all. If not convene your military junta and scrutinize my petitions with
soul searching intellectual faculties and the love of your country. If you
cannot grant my petitions at any rate you simply kill me and I am ready to die
for the rights of Myanmar citizens.
Of course many potential intellectuals of high school and university
students had already been killed. It is about the time that you kill an old
professor.
I am appealing to all armed forces: army, navy, air force, security force
and police to consider the fairness of my petitions with concern. If it is for
the benefit of Myanmar citizens I want you to act intelligently and courageously
like the armed forces Indonesia and the Philippines. Do you still want to kill
your flesh and blood who are demonstrating for the rights of Myanmar citizens
because the authorities order you so? It is about the time to stop killing your
kinsfolk. If you join us you all will be adored by the people. Let us rewrite
our tarnished history together.
If you consider that you cannot agree with me, please don’t hesitate. Go
ahead and kill me. I will be here all the time. I will forgive my killers from
the bottom of my heart.
If we happen to meet together in one of the extensive existences of
Sansaya, and if I were a mighty person and you all were weaklings and if I find
you naked, starved, stricken with soars and diseases and get lost in the
darkness of your existence in tears, may I kindly wipe away your tears and feed
you, clothe you, and make you whole form your diseases and soars and give you
hope with reality of well being in your lives, May God bless and forgive my
killers.
May I appeal to the citizens of Myanmar including Sanghas, students,
teachers, labourers, artistes, farmers, intellectuals, doctors, nurses,
engineers, lawyers, judges, housewives and people from all walks of life, please
consider my proposal thoroughly and thoughtfully. If you agree with me join me
in the demonstration. Go into the streets wherever you are and chant the slogan.
I want no one sitting on the fence and the opportunists. It is the fight for our
rights and to the finish. The time is now or never. Let us show the military
government that we are one and united solidly. Be courageous. Do the right and
fear none. But I beseech you citizens of Myanmar. Let us have no violence, no
profanity, and no vulgar acts. Don’t break to loot or hit anything. We had been
trapped once on looting the leftover warehouses. Take lessons from this and let
us not be trapped again. Looters, violent people, abusive people, and people
showing vulgar acts are not ours. Avoid them I plead you. Demonstrate in the
streets though you may be in tens, hundreds, or thousands. Do not tardy! let us
act now. I trust that you all will dare to continue demonstration with boldness
even after my death. If you are stopped by the authorities on the way to join me
please reason with them to join us. If the authorities release prisoners and
send intoxicated and drugged people please explain the reason with them what we
are fighting for. Let them join us willingly. It is better to die than to live
under the military boots without freedom. The lives you lost will not be in
vain. Later Myanmar historians will honour you indeed. Don’t be insecure and
afraid. Righteousness is on our side.
Generals, I am doing this on my own accord. No one urge me or bribe me or
threaten me to do this, either underground or aboveground, individually or in
groups, within the country or overseas. I am accountable for myself — no one
else.
You all will see that I am wearing a doctorate gown, which I earned it. It
is not to brag but to prove that I am a genuine old professor and I want to use
it as a shroud for my dead body.
May I request ASEAN officials to convince or military government not to
stay in power without consent of the people. If the military government holds
the general election soon enough as requested their exit will be graceful.
Otherwise their fate will be unimaginable and ASEAN’ s non-interference
policy will be soiled and jeopardised. Likewise I would like to request the UN
officials to intervene as you did in Yugoslavia before much lives are lost
especially after my death. Myanmar people especially youths have suffered
enough.
Again I would like to appeal Myanmar media people to carry on your duties
normally and inform the people of Myanmar and the world what is actually
happening now. It is your cardinal duty to defy the government’s order
courageously to report the truth. Let us also chant the slogan of our petitions,
the leader will say " hold the multi party general elections" and the mass will
respond " within one year. Within one year." The leader will say, " let the
election be held by" and the mass will respond " the civilian interim
government, the civilian interim government". The leader will say " let the
election be supervised by" and the mass will respond " ASEAN and UN officials,
ASEAN and UN officials". The leader will say " let any eligible person be able
to contest in the election" and the mass will respond " including generals as
civilians, including generals as civilians". Lastly the leader will say, "
transfer the state power to any winner organization without any condition" and
the mass will respond " as soon as possible, as soon as possible." That is all
for the slogan.
I thank you all and may God bless Myanmar people richly. The right of the
people must be victorious indeed.
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