ABSDF OPINION REGARDING THE CURRENT

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: ABSDF OPINION REGARDING THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION

                                  ABSDF
                ALL  BURMA  STUDENTS'  DEMOCRATIC  FRONT
                                    
      Welcoming and appraising the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
 
          Our opinion regarding the current political situation
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                      Date: July 16, 1995

The ABSDF warmly welcomes the news of the release of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace laureate, from house arrest on July 10,
1995.
 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was unconditionally freed after six years of
house arrest however there has so far been no announcement about 
her release by the Slorc controlled  media inside Burma, neither
radio to nor newspaper.
 
Undoubtedly, the entire country is exceedingly happy. The
international community also honours Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's firm
commitment to democracy. At her press conference on July 11, she
urged that "the future stability and happiness of our nation
depends entirely on the readiness of all parties to work for
reconciliation". 
 
Regarding the solving of political problems by political means
through a critical dialogue, she said, "the establishment of
certain principles, recognition of critical objects to be
achieved and joint approaches to the ills besetting the country
would be the main items on the agenda."

" The ABSDF respects and honours Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
dedication to the country. Her release is a positive move but it
is difficult not to have doubts about the Slorc's motives. The
following facts strengthen these doubts:
     
1. The final date for there being a legal basic for continuing to
detain Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was July 11, even in accordance with
the Slorc's own unjust law.
  
2. The prevailing condition of political, economic and social
turmoil were such that another uprising could occur, and Slorc
was afraid of this.

3. The World Bank, IMF and ADB all have refused to approve loans
and the international  community has halted development
assistance to the Slorc since its 1988 suppression of the pro-
democracy uprising. 

4. The Slorc was also worried about the consequences of the movie
"Beyond Rangoon"  which will reach a wide audience all over the
world beginning on August 28, 1995.

5. Calls for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would have been
put on the agenda at United Nations-sponsored Beijing Women's
conference to be held in September 1995.  

6. The United States government warned the Slorc that if there
was no progress in democratic reforms, particularly release of
Aung San Suu Kyi by July 11, 1995 and if critical dialogue
between the Slorc and opposition groups was not begun, effective
action would be taken against the Slorc. It did not give details,
but hinted that it would send the Burmese ambassador in
Washington back to Burma, and would reduce US funding for UNDP 
assistance to Burma. 

7. Regarding the narcotics problem, the US government has found
the result of drug-suppression activities by the SLORC is not
satisfactory, and the US Congress decided not to resume DEA
assistance to the SLORC.

8. The most important thing is the strength, utmost vigour 
and perseverance of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the struggle of
democracy.

9. Slorc was also concerned about current US efforts to implement
international economic sanctions against the Slorc, similar to
previous actions against South Africa.

The above mentioned factors had all put the Slorc in a tight
spot. 
 
Regarding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, two different opinions
arose among senior Slorc officials. A power struggle between
these two groups led to Khin Nyunt announcing at a July 7 Slorc
meeting on social, political and economic affairs that Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi would not be released. But on the evening of July 10,
1995, Colonel Kyaw Win went to the residence of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and informed her that he received a written order bearing the
signature of Senior General Than Shwe to release her
unconditionally. 
 
It is clear that there are two different opinions in the Burma
army. The attitudes of Senior General Than Shwe and Khin Nyunt on
the release of Aung San Suu Kyi are totally opposite. Therefore,
perhaps the future of Senior General Than Shwe is uncertain.
 
Whatever the reasons for her release, it is very hard to believe
that the Slorc was acting from sincere motives. It is therefore
vital to fully support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and continue to
struggle until we fully achieve democracy and national
reconciliation.
 
We call on our friends, the monks, the students and the people to
demand that the Slorc:  
 
1. Unconditionally releases Min Ko Naing and all political 
prisoners.
 
2. Stops its brutal war against the Karen, Karenni and all
opposition forces and declare a nation-wide cease fire.
 
3. Cancels its unjust laws and repressive measures.
 
4. Abolishes the sham National Convention.
 
5. Begins tripartite dialogue with leaders of the prodemocracy
movement and the ethnic nationalities to achieve national
reconciliation.
 
6. Sets up a interim National Coalition government led by 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
 
 
At the same time, we urge the international community to
cooperate with us to:

1. Continue support for the restoration of democracy and 
human rights in Burma.
 
2. Impose economic sanctions and an arms embargo against the
Slorc.
 
3. Strongly discourage foreign investment in Burma.
 
4. Withhold the international development aid particularly
Japanese ODA until the democratic government and national
reconciliation is obtained through genuine tripartite dialogue.

  
We urged the ASEAN countries to use all of their available
influence to persuades the Slorc, to follow up the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi with the further steps necessary to allow the
achievement of democracy and national reconciliation in Burma. 

We urge the representatives elected in the May 1990 election to
boycott the sham National Convention being held by the SLORC.

We urge the ethnic resistance forces who made cease-fire
agreements with the SLORC to carry on the struggle for the rights
of ethnic people, genuine peace and for democracy.
 
We cordially welcome the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a
first step towards promoting democracy in Burma and urge the
Burma Army to cooperate with the people for the restoration of
peace, democracy and human rights, and for the sake of the
country and for the reputation of the Burma Army.
 
 

(signed here) 
Moe Thee Zun
Chairman
Central Leading Committee 
ABSDF Headquarters
8888 camp, Southern Command


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               Foreign Affairs, Central Committee, ABSDF.
       Mailing: P.O Box 42, Hua Mark P.O, Bangkok 10243, Thailand
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