Press Release - OPEN SOCIETY INSTIT

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Subject: Press Release - OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE

OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE

BURMA PROJECT

Press Release   


September 12, 1994  Contact:    H. J?rgen Hess
September 12, 1994  Contact:    H. J?rgen Hess
        Soros Foundations - New York
For Immediate Release       Tel:  212/887-0602
        Fax: 212/757-2409
 

Open Society Institute Launches Publication on Burma
Features first interview with Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi 

The Open Society Institute, the newest entity in the Soros Foundations network,
 
launches Burma Debate, a bimonthly forum for commentary on issues concerning 
Burma (also known as Myanmar).  Highlighted in the first issue are:

?  excerpts from the verbatim transcript of Aung San Suu Kyi's first interview
since her arrest in 1989; 

?  a provocative assessment by British journalist Martin Smith of the pros and
cons of providing humanitarian assistance to Burma; 

?  an analysis of the country's growing incidence of AIDS by health specialist
David Winters;

?  a critique of constructive engagement by Burmese activist Harn Yawnghwe.  

The magazine's debut period, the summer of 1994, marks the sixth anniversary of
 
the democracy movement in Burma and its silencing by the current junta, known as 
the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), on September 18, 1988.  
The SLORC has been isolated by many nations for keeping Aung San Suu Kyi under
The magazine's debut period, the summer of 1994, marks the sixth anniversary of
 
the democracy movement in Burma and its silencing by the current junta, known as 
the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), on September 18, 1988.  

The SLORC has been isolated by many nations for keeping Aung San Suu Kyi under 

house arrest and refusing to acknowledge the results of elections in 1990 won by 
her opposition party, the National League for Democracy.  Recently, however, 
investor nations, particularly from the Asian region, stress that only 
"constructive engagement" with the SLORC will hasten political reform. 

The Open Society Institute, which is dedicated to the development of open 
societies around the world, hopes that BURMA DEBATE will be an important forum 

for examining critical issues on Burma.  The new magazine is part of the 
Institute's Burma Project.  Maureen Aung-Thwin, the Project's director, oversees 
a broad range of educational and informational programs on Burma.  

Subsequent issues of BURMA DEBATE will look at such topics as narcotics, tourism 
and environmental preservation.  

BURMA DEBATE:  Editor: Mary Pack ? Frequency: bimonthly ? Pages: average 30, 
sample issues available

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