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BurmaNet News: October 27, 1995 #26
- Subject: BurmaNet News: October 27, 1995 #26
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 28 Oct 1995 10:42:00
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Date: Sat, 28 Oct 1995 10:42:44 -0700
Subject: BurmaNet News: October 27, 1995 #263
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: October 27, 1995
Issue #263
Noted in Passing:
This wanton disregard for Aung San Suu Kyi will certainly augur'
ill for ... much-needed national reconciliation and democratic
reforms in the country. - ABSDF Statement on Rangoon's refusal
to allow Aung San Suu Kyi's reinstatement as NLD Secretary-
General. (quoted in : NATION: REBELS SLAM SLORC FOR SUU
KYI BAN)
HEADLINES:
==========
KNU REPORT: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN N. KAREN TERRITORY
ABSDF-MTZ: STATEMENT ON THE SLORC'S REFUSAL TO NLD
INDEP. LETTER: RE: DR.NE OO'S PROPOSALS FOR REPATRIATIONS.
DAILY YOMIURI: GOVT TO RESUME ODA TO MYANMAR
NATION: REBELS SLAM SLORC FOR SUU KYI BAN
BKK POST: BPP ARREST FOUR KARENNI SOLDIERS
BKK POST: A CLEAR SLORC MESSAGE TO UN
BKK POST: BOOKS ON KHUN SA ON SALE 'ILLEGALLY'
NATION: STORNG QUAKE SHAKES BURMA
NATION: NKK BRANCH IN BURMA
NATION: BURMA TYRE PLANT
BKK POST: GIRL SNAPS UP PRIZE IN FOCUS ON REFUGEES
PAC: NEW ZEALAND AMBASSADOR CALLS ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI
**************************************
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************************
KNU REPORT: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN NORTHERN KAREN
TERRITORY October 26, 1995
On 15/10/95 the SLORC'S division commander Gi Aung ordered his
strategic commander Aung Nang Tung to gather all the villagers who
lived in Tha Daw district and Taw Ta Tuh in order to relocate them. They
wanted to move these villagers to a place where they have full control. The
SLORC has been sending more troops to take control over the villagers,
and they are also ordered to shoot and kill any of the villagers who refuse
their order.
In the southern part of Papun Township at Kler Ka, Kaw Thaway Do, Klay
Sho Koh, ler Joet, Wah Tho Koh, Ky Ler Doy, Maung Koh Do, Daw Doh, Ku
Plaw Do, Maung Pah Do, Pae Daw Do, and Maung Sho Koh villages, each
household has to pay 200 baht every month for ammunition baskets' fees. If
anybody in the household attempts to run away, his or her family will be fined
double fees for each month. These villagers have been forced to carry heavy
loads of ammunition and arms without food.
On 4/10/95, the SLORC brigadier commander Aung Gi and his troops captured
school girls and boys to carry ammunition and heavy loads for them. On 18/10/95
the SLORC's Battalion No. 26, which is commanded by Myet Aung, went to thet
Saw Wah Do area and started shooting the villagers while they were harvesting
rice in their fields. They killed one girl and seven men and wounded five. They
also burned down 7 huts and 27 slash-and-burn rice fields. After that, they went
into Saw Wah Do village and took away everything that belonged to the people.
They killed 15 cows on that day for a big feast for themselves. The troops are
also ordered to shoot, kill, and destroy every rice field that belongs to Karen
civilians.
A Warning to All Readers:
The release of Aung San Suu Kyi has not guaranteed the safety of pure civilians
who are living in the border areas. The SLORC is still abusing its power. We
can only say that human rights violations are far too much in Burma. Please be
wise and never trust the SLORC.
************************
ABSDF-MTZ: ABSDF STATEMENT ON THE SLORC'S REFUSAL TO
NLD REINSTATEMENT
October 25, 1995
ABSDF STATEMENT ON THE SLORC'S REFUSAL TO NLD REINSTATEMENT
___________________________________________________________
As publicised and known worldwide, the SLORC is only an illegal ruling military junta,
that came into being, through a bloody coup on September 18, 1988 in Burma. It has
added much incredulity on its already tarnished image by reneging on its promised to
empower the elected people's representatives, giving mandate in May 1990 elections.
Recent SLORC refusals to acknowledge the designated leadership posts of Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung in National League for Democracy(NLD),
citing a decision by the so-called Election Commission, has earned out great
consternation and frustration in particular and the global community in general.
ABSDF views SLORC's denial of Aung San Suu Kyi's role in the NLD as antagonizing
the will of the 43 million people of Burma who are embracing her as their sole legitimate
leader representing the Nation. This Wanton disregards of Aung San Suu Kyi will
certainly augur ill for the much needed national reconciliation process and democratic
reforms in the country.
SLORC's non-acknowledgment of the present distinguished prodemocracy leaders and
founders of the NLD is viewed by ABSDF as derailing the peaceful efforts for political
reforms in Burma, which draw grave concerns from us, and also , we profess this as an
affront and disregard on the people of Burma and democracy loving Burmese
communities overseas.
ABSDF also views this is an indication of a SLORC's ploy to push for it dynastic military
oligarchy in the country via the sham national convention participated by hand-picked
SLORC stooges, in complete disregard to the democratic aspiration of the political
parties and the Burmese people.
As the result, rights of ethnic and political leaders to participate freely in discussions and
in decision making in the country's interest, become non-existence and realization of a
genuine reconciliation can be deemed as illusory also.
With a view to reclaim the once illustrious image of the armed forces under Gen Aung
San, father of the nation, ABSDF vehemently exhorts the leading members of the
present Burma Army to initiate a meaningful dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for
the sake of the people and the country.
Also, ABSDF appeals in great earnest, to the internal (sic: international?) community
to withhold cooperation or association with the SLORC in any guise and form,
that will enable the regime to put a hold on the country and to activate economic
sanctions and arms embargoes on the SLORC that will bear pressure on the regime
to heed the will of the Burmese people and the global community.
Lastly, ABSDF reiterated the call, on the students and the people in Burma and
overseas to forge a more united front against the ruling regime and multiply efforts,
in the struggle to restore democracy in Burma.
Central Leading Committee, ABSDF Date: October 25, 1995
8888 Camps
********************************
INDEP. LETTER: RE: DR.NE OO'S PROPOSALS FOR REPATRIATIONS.
October 25, 1995
Re: Dr.Ne Oo's proposals for repatriations of refugees from Australia and
Thailand.
To all Burmanet readers,
Let us introduce ourselves first. We are Burmese students who
participated in 88 Demoracy Uprising in Burma and also had been under
UNHCR mandate in Bangkok. Now we are on AIDAB (AusAid) scholarship and
studying in Melbourne. We just want to point out a few things concerning
refugee and students issues which Dr. Ne Oo's experience and knowkedge do
not cover.
Firstly we would like to point out that Dr. Ne Oo's understanding
of the refugee issue needs to be updated. He does not understand the
reality of refugee's lives and feelings. In his words "it has been the
refugee's dream that one day we will be able to return to Burma". It is a
wish out of many others which are more important for refugees. No one can
deny that anyone who is away from their home land always wants to go
back. But the important fact here is to the home land which is safe for
them. Dr. Ne Oo's understanding of the present Burma situation is difficult
to understand. He said, "the cease-fires that follow by the political
settlement by various parties to the conflict as the important factor for
building a long-lasting peace". Dr. Ne Oo needs to understand that actual
peace can not last by temporary fake cease-fires without solving the
political matters. Present real situation in Burma is totaly different
with Dr. Ne Oo's views.
As the Editor of Burmanet pointed out, arrests of activists and
numerous political prisoners in Burma continue as is known by anyone who
is carefully watching the human rights and political current situation in
Burma. There is still no guarantee for any Burmese people's safety in
Burma as the military government continues to supress anyone who opposes
their rules. Dr. Ne Oo's view to repatriate refugees from Thailand and
Australia is imappropriate for this time and this situation. This can only
be done when Burma is free from military oppression and there is a guarantee
of human rights and democracy in Burma. Moreover, what he said, "our
refugees communities share the view" is totally false. No one had been
consulted or discussed with him and no one shares this view with him.
He just did it on his own in order to gain personal popularity. His
proposal to repatriate refugees is the one which SLORC wants to happen
and if this happens many lives will be in unthinkable situation under
military brutality.
Dr. Ne Oo's understanding of the Rohingyas repatriation issue
needs to be expanded because it ignores the reality of the Rohingyas people
who had been repatriated to Burma. They had been interrogated and tortured
by the military soliders and intelligence and finally they had to flee
from the area.
Secondly, we like to point out that Dr. Ne Oo's understanding
Burmese students is totally poor. Dr. Ne Oo's views on the age of student
activists is insulting as he said "These Burmese students are still at
young age and the previous administration had taken action against their
youthful behaviour in protesting the Myanmar military government". Dr. Ne Oo
needs to realise those Burmese students who participated in 88 democracy
uprising were also young and they are the ones who changed the evil system
which oppress the people of Burma, and continue fighting for democracy and
peace in Burma. Unlike Dr. Ne Oo they know which action should be taken at
which time in which situation although they are young. Moreover, they have
more experience in politics than Dr. Ne Oo. Therefore, they know which way
is going to bring about peace and democracy in Burma. We do not understand
what Dr. Ne Oo really wants and what he is doing. We strongly reject his
proposal and deny that he has any representative role as he claims.
We strongly believe that Dr. Ne Oo should not put forward any
proposals as he does not understand the political and social situation in
Burma. All in all, we regard Dr. Ne Oo as nothing but an opprtunist who is
looking to build up his own reputation. We request all Burmanet news readers
to completely disregard his proposals as they lace any credibility
whatsoever.
Ko Soe Soe and Ko Moe Myint
Burmese Students (Melbourne, Australia)
***************************
DAILY YOMIURI: GOVT TO RESUME ODA TO MYANMAR
October 25, 1995
The Japanese government said Monday it had decided to
resume official development assistance (ODA) to Myanmar,
in the form of a yen loan, for the first time since the country
was taken over in a military coup in 1988.
The loan will be used to improve electricity supply networks
in Yangon within this year at the earliest, government
officials said. They added that Japan will carefully monitor
the pace of democratic reform in the country as a
prerequisite for further ODA assistance.
The yen loan to upgrade electrical infrastructure was one of
eight ODA programs which were suspended at the time of
the coup. The first loan worth 4.87 billion yen.
Japan selected to restart the program first since electrical
power has become an essential requirement in Yangon,
which is undergoing a construction boom due to an inflow
of foreign capital from mainly Singapore.
*****************
NATION: REBELS SLAM SLORC FOR SUU KYI BAN
October 26, 1995 Agence France-Presse
THE refusal of Burma's junta to reinstate Aung San Suu Kyi as
head of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) is a
blow to hopes for political reform, a Burmese dissident a group
said in Bangkok yesterday.
Rangoon's refusal to allow Aung San Suu Kyi's reinstatement as
NLD secretary-general was against the will of the Burmese people,
"who are embracing her as their sole legitimate leader," the All
Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) said.
"This wanton disregard for Aung San Suu Kyi will certainly augur'
ill for ... much-needed national reconciliation and democratic
reforms in the country, the Thailand-based dissident group said.
in a statement.
A five-member elections commission set up by the junta to
supervise general elections in 1990 has rejected Aung San Suu
Kyi's reappointment to the post she held when she was put under
house arrest in 1989, NLD sources said.
Aung San Suu Kyi was released after almost six years on July 10.
*****************************************************************
BKK POST: BPP ARREST FOUR KARENNI SOLDIERS
October 26, 1995
Mae Hong Son
BORDER Patrol Police yesterday arrested four Karenni rebel
soldiers and confiscated more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
Acting on a tip-off, a BPP unit surrounded a house at Ban Huay
Deua in Tambon -Pha Bong in Muang District after hearing there
would be a delivery of ammunition allegedly smuggled in from
Cambodia to members of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).
At about 1.30 a.m. four men allegedly went into the house carrying three
plastic sacks. The BPP men asked for a search and uncovered 12,300 rounds
of M16, AK47 and M60 ammunition worth more than 200,000 baht.
*****************************************************************
BKK POST: LETTER - A CLEAR SLORC MESSAGE TO UN
October 26, 1995
SIR: Burma sent a clear message to the United Nations during the
50th Anniversary Special Commemorative Session attended by 140
heads of state. This message, however, was not delivered by
General Muang Aye who is heading the SLORC delegation. This
message was delivered by someone in Rangoon who was not included
in this very important delegation.
SLORC announced in Rangoon on October 23rd that Aung San Suu Kyi,
leader of the Burmese democracy movement, will not be permitted
to resume her position as secretary-general of NLD. This was done
the same day General Maung Aye was telling the United Nations in
New York that Burma would "pledge to cooperate with" the United
Nations. The United Nations has passed resolutions calling on
SLORC to "honour the results of the 1990 elections and to
accelerate the pace of democratization in Burma."
It is rumoured that some dissident officers in the Burma army did
this deliberately to embarrass General Maung Aye in the presence
of the world community. These dissident officers are attempting
to sabotage meetings in Washington DC with several senators and
congressmen that General Maung Aye's delegation had planned to
meet with later this week.
Myint Thein
Dallas, Texas
*****************************************************************
BKK POST: BOOKS ON KHUN SA ON SALE 'ILLEGALLY'
October 26, 1995
AMID report of division in the Central Executive Committee which
took over Khun Sa's Shan State Restoration Council two months
ago, the drug warlord's supporters had put hundreds of books
accounting Khun Sa's own story and his thought on several
bookstores in Bangkok aimed at boosting his image.
"Khun Sa: His Own Story and His Thoughts" is the name of the book
which seemed to be illegal as it does not mention its publishers
and its printing house.
It is still unclear how the books had been put on shelves in
several bookstores.
The book, of rather poor quality and costs 250 baht a copy, is in
two parts. The first compiles Khun Sa's stories printed
previously in many news magazines. The second is extracts from
Khun Sa's speeches and interviews which has been divided into ten
categories including this sentence aimed at appeasing Thailand:
"With the independence of the Shan State, the country which will
benefit the most will be Thailand."
Khun Sa had stepped down two months ago as president of the Shan
State Restoration Council. However there was report of division
among the new leaders who differ on how to strive forward for
their independence struggle.
"There is much possibility now that Khun Sa might come back to
lead the organisation," noted one insider closely monitoring
Thai-Burma border development.
*********************
THE NATION: STRONG QUAKE SHAKES BURMA
26 October 1995
A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale shook
Burma just before a total solar eclipse, the New Light of
Myanmar officials newspaper reported yesterday.
The earthquake struck at 5.20 am Local time on Tuesday. Its
epicentre was 1,712 km north of Rangoon, scientists at the Rangoon
Seismological Station said. There were no reports of casualties.
Across Asia there were fears that the eclipse of the sun on
Tuesday morning would bring out evil forces, and the newspaper
appeared to corroborate that by reporting in the same story that the
eclipse was visible throughout Burma from 8.44 am to 10.42 am. (TN)
***************
THE NATION: NKK BRANCH IN BURMA
26 October 1995
NKK Corp, a leading Japanese steelmaker, announced on Wednesday
that it has set up a branch office in Rangoon, Burma to
enhance the company's overseas engineering operations.
NKK said the opening of the new office on Oct 18 makes it the
first Japanese manufacturing and engineering company to open
a branch office in Burma. (TN)
*****************
THE NATION: BURMA TYRE PLANT
26 October 1995
INDONESIAN-LISTED tyre maker PT Gadjah Tunggal and the
government of Burma will invest US$100 million in a tyre
factory in Burma, a newspaper reported yesterday.
"We project the factory will be able to operate next year,"
Gadjah Tunggal's president director, Syamsul Nursalim, was
quoted by the Bisnis Indonesia daily as saying. (TN)
*****************
BKK POST: GIRL SNAPS UP PRIZE IN FOCUS ON REFUGEES
26 October 1995
A TALENTED young Thai girl has snapped up top prize in a
photographic competition run by the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees.
Montriya Mangsuwan, 14, a ninth grade at Sappawitthayakhom
School in Tak's Mae Sot District, wins a trip to Laos where
she will see a refugee camp in Khammuane Province.
Montriya's colour picture of a Karen refugee warming her one-
year-old baby by using a bathing cloth to blind it around her
bosom impressed the panel by the way it captured the loving
mother-child relationship.
She took the picture at Mae La camp in Tha Song Yang District,
Tak, last month.
Montriya is the daughter of Manop and Mrs Payao Mangsuwan.
Her father is owner of a souvenir and stationery shop while
her mother is a teacher.
The UNHCR sponsored the contest with the theme of "Caring for
Refugees" as part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of
the United Nations. Students aged between 14-21 years were eligible
to enter the contest. (BP)
**************
NATION: NICHIMEN GOES TO BURMA
25 October 1995
JAPAN'S Nichimen Corp is considering establishing an
agricultural chemicals venture in Burma, possibly next year,
with a Burmese state-linked concern, a spokesman said yesterday.
Nichimen president Akira Watari plans to visit Burma in November to
reach a cooperation accord, the spokesman for the trading house said.
The joint venture to manufacture and sell agricultural chemicals in
Burma is part of the company's efforts to expand its agricultural
chemicals business in Asia, the spokesman said.
Beside Burma, the company is planning to upgrade officers or
set up sales companies for agricultural chemicals in South
Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam, the spokesman said.
Nichimen's current annual agricultural chemical sales stood at
US$2 million in Burma, $70 million in South Korea, $8
million in Vietnam and $4 million in Indonesia. (TN)
THE NATION: ECLIPSE SEPARATES THE CURIOUS FROM THE SUPERSTITIOUS
25 October 1995
RANGOON residents either came outdoors to witness the partial solar
eclipse here or sought refuge in pagodas to guard against any calamities
which might accompany the phenomenon, observers here said.
Numerous astrologers here had made dire predictions of disaster ranging
from famine to political upheaval. Prayers and sacrificial offerings
were presented by high-ranking officials at prominent pagodas, witnesses said.
The real danger of viewing the eclipse, damage to the eyes, did not merit
a mention in the state media. One media official said such publicity
was unnecessary as the Burmese were "quite well educated" in this respect.
A large number of telescope and camera-toting tourists and residents of
Rangoon were also sighted in Pagu, some 80 kilometres north of here,
where a total eclipse was visible, reports from the city said. (TN)
*****************************************
PAC: NEW ZEALAND AMBASSADOR CALLS ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI
October 18, 1995 From: Dr U Ne Oo <uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
(Editor's Note: The editor does not know what PAC stands for, but assumes it's
a Newspaper in New Zealand)
WELLINGTON, Oct 18 AFP - A New Zealand diplomat has called on
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the request of
foreign minister Don McKinnon, the minister's office said today.
New Zealand's Ambassador to Burma, Phillip Gibson, who is based
in Bangkok, was charged with assessing the country's progress
"towards accepted standards of democracy," a statement for McKinnon said.
"Mr Gibson has reported that while Suu Kyi was in good heart she
remains concerned about the wider economic and social situation of
her country and the need to address these issues urgently,"
McKinnon said.
She confirmed she had just assumed the position of general
secretary of the National League for Democracy.
"Her message was for the international community to keep up the
pressure for liberalisation in Myanmar (Burma)," McKinnon said.
*******************