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1993: COMMUNICATIONS (& THE HEAT)
/* Written 25 July 6:00am 1995 by DRUNOO@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* -------------" 1992: COMMUNICATIONS (&THE HEAT) "-------------- *
/* Letter from NCGUB (Australia) */
-----------------------------------
NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA
OFFICE OF AUSTRALIA
9 Pollock Street, Chiefley, ACT 2606.
Miss Kribo Ackerman
Burma Action (South Australia)
1st Floor
39 Wakefield Street
Adelaide South Australia 5001
5 March 1993
Dear Miss Ackerman,
Thank you so much for your lastst report on the Rohingya situation and the
media reports.
For the purpose of restoring democracy to Burma the DAB, NDF, the NCGUB,
and NLd,LA have joined forces under the name of the National Council of the
Union of Burma as they believe only when the country is truly unified will
the international pro-democracy movement successful.
You have my apologies if you believe that the NCGUB has acted in a way
distressing to the Rohingya but also my assurance that Dr Sein Win is
completely dedicated to the unity of all Burmese regardless of race,
colour, creed or religion and works passionately toward that end.
The issue of vital importance at the moment with all ethnic nationalities,
political and religious groups suffering the the hands of the SLORC, surely
is democracy for for the country. ONce democracy is restored then the
individual concerns of all people Burma born can be considered and
solutions found.
It is very important that we all work together for the betterment of all
Burma, not at crossed purposes.
Concerning the Myanmar development Consortium there are two companies that
we now know of that are inolved with this joint venture. Clough and
Uniplax. Both these companies are Perth based and any action against them
and their involvement with the SLORC will be supported by this office. The
N.D. Clough is Mr Don Young and the Perth phone number of the company is
426 8333. The address is 251 St GEroges Terrace, W.A. 6000.
Please stay in touch. I suggest it may be a good idea for you and me to
discuss further the problems you are concerned about with the Government as
any misunderstanding of the NCGUB can only prolong the suffering of so many
Burmese people.
Internally the NCGUB has achieved tremendous respect from government and
non-government sectors, this respect has been well earned and Dr Sein Win
is continuing to lift the profile and legitimach of the NCGUB.
Financial assistance for the Rohingya was secured in March 1992 by Dr Sein
Win when he came to Canberra to meet with Senator Gareth Evaans and other
Ministers of the Australian Government and this office continues to
pressure the government to provide humanitarian assistance to all border
areas.
There is no discrimination by us against any ethnic, religious or political
group in Burma, they are all suffering the injustice of the SLORC. I know
Dr Sein Win is very concerned about the plight of the Rohingya and will
continue to do what ever he can to assist them.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours most sincerely,
Sd. Amanda Zappia.
/* Letter to Representative of NCGUB Australia */
U Ne Oo
March 22, 1993
Mrs Amanda Zappia
The Australian representative for NCGUB
NCGUB Office of Australia
9 Pollock Street
Chiefley, ACT 2606
Dear Ms Amanda
I am a Burmese student studying at Adelaide University. Although I have not
contacted to Australia Burma Council or NCGUB, I knew that you have been
working as representative of the NCGUB. For you, along with other
Australians working for democracy in Burma, I have a deep appreciation for
your contributions. On behalf of many Burmese under the Military
repression, I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to all of you.
As you may probably aware that I am working in the Burma Action(SA). From
the minute attached, please be sure that I and our group morally support
NCGUB and Democratic forces of Burma and, to the best of our ability, will
find ways to promote it to get greater acceptance by the international
community. I also met the prime minister Dr Sein Win on his tour to
Australia in March last year.
The letter on Rohingyas, which you reply to our Secretary, is drafted by
me. There is no intention to accuse the NCGUB of discriminating Rohingyas.
It is not a criticism. But it is a statement of the fact "Rohingyas are not
necessarily seen as one of indigenous Burmese -Karen , Kachin, MOn,
Rakhine... etc - which share the same view by all the political factions
inside (i.e. SLORC) and outside Burma". This is the reason that NCGUB
wouldn't likt to include RSO and ARIF in them. As I said in the letter to
Ms Ogata the circumstances that drives Rohingyas to become refugee are also
different.
We must therefore dissociate Rohingyas from other refugees. We must address
Rohingyas as out of Burma's national politics and are the victims of
SLORC's madness. Once the situation can be talked outside the frame-work of
national politics, it is hoped that the international community can be more
involved in solving the problem. It is also hoped that UN could also be
involved without intervening Burma's internal politics.
Personally, I am disappointed that NCGUB and other groups under-represent
Burma-Rohingyas. While, as mentioned in your reply, the NCGUB has made
every effort for the welfare of Rohingyas, it still need to show more
compassion toward them. I think this is time to consider Burma-Rohingyas as
one of Burma's ethnic group, such as Chinese-Burmese and Indian-Burmese,
although they are not one of Burma's indigenous group, and accommodating
them in the rightful place of citizens within the constitution.
We are witnessing that the NCGUB increasingly enjoy support from
international community within last year. In order to get greater
acceptance from the international community, as you have rightly pointed
out, and I believe, the NCGUB needs to show the solidarity with the
minorities as well as compassion to Burma's ethnic minorities and take
responsibilities. I hope NCGUB use this opportunity to shows more
compassion toward Burma-Rohingyas.
I agree much with you that we should work together for the betterment of
all Burma. The point must be made is that we should solve problems one at a
time, as a matter of technicality. Please do not perceive this approach as
a crossed purposed one. For any matters concerns, please feel free to
contact me or Kribo.
Yours sincerely
SD, U Ne Oo
cc. Miss Kribo Ackerman, The SEcretary, Burma Action(SA).
/* Letter from NCGUB Australia */
24th March 1993
Dear U Ne Oo
Thank you so much for your letter which I received taday.
I am wondering if you realise that another group of Burmese people , the
Arakan, are saying that as the Rohingya receives so much recognition from
the NCGUB and the international community that only they receive
international NGO assistance and the Arakan are left out in the cold. It
seems to me that Dr Sein Win is in a no win situation, no matter which way
he turns someone is going to be very critical.
My heart felt compassion I extend to each and every Burmese citizen but I
reiterate I do not think that now is the time for people to be pushing
their own wagon. The tiem for all these very sensitive issue to be dealt
with is when the country has democracy. A democratic government will ensure
the safety and self determination of all ethnic nationalities and in that I
include the Rohingyas.
I do appreciate your position fully as ethnic groups in Burma have been
denied so much for so long and all are becoming impatient, but please I
urge you, realise that ont one group muct take priority over another. We
must do our best to receive financial support for all that suffer and we
must ensure that the NCGUB's success to date continues its mementum
internationaly. Only then can the country be free to pursue the self
determination it so richly deserves for all its people, regardless of race,
colour, creed or religion.
There are a couple of other issues I would like to discuss with you.
Firstly the appointment of the Drug Control officer in Rangoon. The member
organisations of the ABC have all writtento Senator Evans to protest this
as an immoral decision. Perhaps your organisation would do the same. If you
would like more information on htis them please let me know.
Secondly, Russell rollanson from ACFOA has just released his report on the
ICFA Mission to Rangoon. I do not agree with the findings of the report but
it is a very interesting document. YOu can write to ACFOA and ask them to
send you the report and then perhaps write to Russell and give your views.
Thirdly, ACFOA is holding a Conference on Burma wihch I have been assisting
with. Only the date is set at this stage, May 28th 1993. We will be
bringing an ethnic leaders from Manaplaw to speak and it will be held in
Sydney. If you would like further information then just let me know.
Finaly I am wondering if Burma Support Group WA would like to join the ABC.
The council has already 15 organisations working together on the political
lobby and we have had terrific success. If you and your group are
interested then please let me know and I shall send you our constitution
and further information. We would love to have you on board and also any
other group whose main aim is ridding the world of the SLORC. I shall
include with this correspondence a list of you member organisations. You
will see they all have very different agendas but one thing in common, out
with the SLORC.
Please take care, I would like to assure you that any one that is concerned
for Burma is a good friend of mine and we do not, necessarily, all agree on
the finer points. You have my respect and support for the work you are
doing and I will do whatever I can to be of assistance to you and yours.
Yours most sincerely,
Amanda Zappia
/* Letter from Department of Foreign Affairs and TRade */
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
CANBERRA ACT 2600
17 May 1993
Dear U Ne Oo
Thank you for your letter and enclosures of 27 April 1993 addressed to
Senator Evans concerning the situation of the Rohingyas in Burma and the
Australian Government's response. Senator Evans has asked me to rep;y on
his behalf.
The Australian Government is deeply concerned at the serious human rights
situation in Burma and the refusal of the State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC) to transfer power to a democratically elected government.
The Australian government has introduced a number of measures to help
maintain the momentum of internationa pressure on the SLORC to accelerate
the pace of pollitical reform and to adhere to internationally accepted
standards of human rights. The Australian Government has implemented bans
on bilateral aid and defence exports to Burma. We have urged countries
known to supply arms to burma to discontinue such exports. We have
encouraged the ASEAN countries to use their undoubted influence with Burma
to promote posituve changes. The Government also initiated a seminar on
Burma at GRiffith University in Brisband from 3-4 December 1992 to help
focus attention, both in Australia and overseas, on the situation in that
country.
Other measures implemented by the Australian Government to promote change
in Burma include support for strong resolutions at last year's united
Nations Genearl Assembly and this year's session of the UN Commission on
Human Rights (CHR49). These resolutions focus on the human rights situation
and make specific reference to oppressive measures directed at ethnic
minorities.
In the specific case of the Rohingyas, Australia has actively supported the
efforts of the UNHCR to gain access to Burmese refugee camps in Bangladesh,
and continues to support the establishment of a UNHCr presence in Burma to
monitor the repatriation process. UNHCR has advised the Australian
Government that it is currently satisfied with the extent of its access to
Burmese refugee camps in Bangladesh. While there were reports of some
involuntary repatriation of burmese refugees from Bangladesh in late 1991,
UNHCr has indicated that subsequent repatriation from Bangladesh have been
made on a voluntary basis. Australia will continue to monitor the
repatriation of the Rohingyas very carefully.
Senator Evans has on several occasions urged the ASEANcountries to put more
substance into their policy of "constructive engagement" with burma by
using gheir influence with the SLORC TO promote positive change.
Yours sincerely
Sd. J Pead
Assistant Secretary
South EAst Asia Branch
/* Endreport */