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REPORT ON COMMUNICATIONS (24/11/199
Subject: REPORT ON COMMUNICATIONS (24/11/1995)
/* Written 26 Nov 6:00am 1995 by DRUNOO@xxxxxxxxxxxx(DR U NE OO) in igc:reg.burma */
/* -------------" Report on Communications (24/11/1995) "------------- */
Following is the letter to Professor Yokota, urging him to give assistance
by the U.N. in the process of writing constitution in Burma. The U.N.
involvement in drafting Burma's constitution is considered as essential
element in building peace in Burma.
With regards to the supports for the Burma's dialogues and ceasefires, much
more help from the international community been needed. As of my recent
postings would shows, the Australians within the political and human rights
circle have been working hard on the issues regarding Burma and that, of
course, is much heartening to the Burmese. However, Australia is only a
small country and it alone will not be able to do the task; the
help must be sought from U.N. as well as the international community. Our
pro-democracy friends on the net, especially from U.S. and Japan, can help
in urging their governments to get into the action - if you perhaps have
not already done so. I myself is writing to the Hon. Secretary of State
Warren Christopher for help from the Government of United State in this
matter and that letter will be posted to the net shortly.
With best regards, U Ne Oo.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LETTER TO U.N. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR (24/11/95)
********************************************
Dr U Ne Oo
48/2 Ayliffes Road
St Marys SA 5042
AUSTRALIA
November 24, 1995.
Professor Yozo Yokota
Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar
Palias de Nation
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Dear Professor Yokota
RE: National Convention in Myanmar
----------------------------------
I should like to call the Special Rapporteur's attention to the National
Convention in Myanmar that is to be reconvened on 28/11/1995. With this
letter, I have enclosed the statement by the National League for Democracy,
which express their concerns about the current process of framing
constitution. I have the knowledge that the Special Rapporteur, in your
various reports to U.N. forums, has already pointed out the shortcomings in
the writing of constitution in Myanmar. There have not been any proper
consultation with the Burmese populace in general and the ethnic minority
groups in particular in writing of the constitution. Furthermore, the
elected representatives of the people of Burma and the National League for
democracy have not been allowed to participate fully in writing the
constitution. Therefore, the present process of writing constitution should
not be considered as a legitimate one.
I particularly wish to draw the Special Rapporteur's attention regarding
the absence of the true representatives of the ethnic nationalities. The
Military Government of Myanmar have made various ceasefires with the ethnic
nationality freedom fighters. It appears that those ethnic rebel groups,
which have concluded ceasefires with Myanmar Military Government, have not
been able to participate properly in the writing of constitution.
I therefore appeal the Special Rapporteur to make initiatives to ratify the
process of writing constitution in Myanmar. With the aim of building a long
lasting peace in Burma, the rights of ethnic nationalities should be
incorporated in the new constitution and the elected representatives of the
people of burma must be able to perticipate fully in this process. I urge
the UN Committee for Human Rights and respective U.N. Agencies to supervise
the process of writing constitution.
I believe the supervising role for the U.N. in writing Burma's constitution
will help create the trust between ethnic nationalities, elected
representatives and the military authorities of Myanmar. This will also
assure the ethnic nationalities that the constitution will be fair and just
for all people of Burma. Such initiative by the U.N. will also encourage
the remaining ethnic rebel groups, such as Karen National Union that seeks
genuine political settlement, to enter into ceasefire with Burmese
military.
Finally, I should like to thank the United Nations and the Special
Rapporteur in particular for your relentless efforts that have been made to
improve human rights situation in Myanmar. Yours continuing efforts for the
progress of democracy and improvement of human rights in Burma are most
valuable to us, the Burmese.
Yours respectfully and sincerely
U Ne Oo
cc: 1. Ms Sadako Ogata, UN HIgh Commissioner for Refugees, Case Postale
2500, CH-1211 Geneva 2 Depot, Switzerland.
/*-----------"Letter to the UN Secretary General (reposted)"-----------*/
January 31, 1995.
Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali
The Secretary-General of United Nations
38th Floor, U.N. Secretariat
UNited Nations New York 10017
United States of America.
Dear Secretary-General
RE: CONTINUING DETENTION OF DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI
AND BURMESE MILITARY'S RECENT ATTACK ON OPPOSITIONS
I wish to call the Secretary-General's attention to the Burmese military's
recent attack on the opposition forces at the Manerplaw, Karen State in
eastern part of Myanmar. As a result of this fighting, there has been a
further outflows of refugees into Thailand, which creating another
added-burden to the international aid agencies supporting refugees in
Thailand. Within Karen State, reports indicate that the intensifying
military operation by Burmes army is resulting in the forced porterage of
civilians.
I also wish to not the Military Government of Myanmar's failure to fulfill
the international community's request to engage in a substantive dialogue
with, and also the release of, the opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
These requests had already been made at the 1994 U.N. General Alssembly by
the international community (clause 4 and 5). This failure to comply the
international community's request, together with the recent offensive on
the ethnic opposition indicate that the MIlitary Government of Myanmar is
not sincere in its effort in promoting peace and reconciliations. Clearly,
the current trend is not leading towards a peaceful transition to
democracy. Therefore, a stronger action from U.N. and international
community are neeed to ensure that the Military Government of Myanmar
comply with the U.N. resolutions.
I therefore call upon Secretary-General of U.N. and the international
community to take measures regarding recent attack on the opposition camps
and continued detention of the opposition leaders:
1. The attack on the ethnic opposition, the Karen National UNion which
seeks the peaceful political settlement with Burmese army, has been the
proof of insincerity of SLORC on ethnic minorities issues and also a
revelation of the true intention in making ceasefire with the rebels. The
Military Government of Myanmar evidently fails to take the opportunity to
make political settlement with the ethnic minorities. Therefore, current
ceasefire agreement with the ethnic minority forces are intended only for
temporary halt in military assault on the opposition forces, which will not
gove a lasting peace in Burma. Such an attack indicate that burmese
military will seek to destroy these ethnic opposition whenever there is an
opportunity.
The military operation against the opposition forces also induce an attack
on the refugees and internally displaced people. In July 1994, there has
been an attack on the civilian refugee camp at Halockhani at Thai-Burmese
border. the international community had already expressed its concerns in
such incidences in the 1994 U.N. General Assembly resolution (clause 17).
Therefore it is necessary to prevent such attacks repeating in Burma.
Therefore, I call upon the Secretary-General and the U.N. Security council
to implement the nation-wide ceasefire in Myanmar/Burma.
2. Continuing military conflicts and the delays in implementing political
settlements with oppositions indicate that the human rights violations will
continue to occur, especially, in the minority areas. Burma's neighbouring
countries - especially Thailand - have been inundated by refugees and
displaced people because of the continuing human rights aubses in Burma.
Therefore, it is necessary to create a condition in which human rights
situation can speedily be ratified.
Therefore, I call upon the Secretary-General and U.N. Security Council to
create the special zones, which are similar to security zones created in
Northern Iraq in 1991, particularly in Karen and Mon States, Kachin State,
Tenasserim divisions, and Arakan State where refugees are repatriating. In
such special zones, no armed forces should be allowed to build their
military capacities, to provoke confrontations and to make aggression
against one another. In order to make a speedy improvement to human rights
situation in those special zones, the human rights bodies and humanitarian
agencies should be permitted of unhindered access to those areas.
3. I also wish to draw the Secretary-General's attention to the lack of
progress in drafting of the constitution. The impositions of guidelines and
lack of participations by true representatives of the people of Burma has
made this process of writing constitution an illegal. Furhtermore, such
constitution at its completion will unlikely be having the approval by the
people of Burma when the national referendum is made. Therefoer present
process of drafting constitution need to be modified.
The new constitution will also need systematic inclusion of the monority
rights in order to encourage reconciliation between Burman majority and
ethnic minorities. the presence of respective U.N. Agencies in drafting
such constitution is required to provide impartial judgements in
incorporating these minority rights. Therefore, I wish to call upon the
Secretary-General and U.N. agencies in assisting the writing of the
constitution.
The present Military Government of Myanmar insists that the constitution
must provide the military to have the prominent role in furure national
politics. the people of Burma do not allow any organization to have special
role in their future constitution. However, as a requirement for the
national reconciliations, the elected parliamentarians, in consultation
with present military leaders, may define the role of army only for an
immediate future in accordance with the benchmarks policy.
4. Within Thailand, there have been repeated incidences if the conflicts
between Thai authorities and Student refugees in Bangkok as well as the
ethnic refugees at the border. The protections given to the displaced
burmese by the Royal Thai Government are inadequate at present. Therefore,
the U.N. and international community should encourage the Royal Thai
Government to grant temporary asylum to all burmese nationals on the Thai
soil. To assist the ethnic refugees, the UNHCR should urgently set-up their
offices at the refugee camps at the Thai-Burmese border.
Finally, I should like to thank the UNited Nations and the
Secretary-General for the efforts that has been made to promote human
rights and democracy in Burma. My sincere thanks are also to you for your
helps in promoting reconciliation in Myanmar and , in particular, your
kindness to the people of Myanmar/Burma.
Yours faithfully and sincerely.
(U Ne Oo)
copy to:
1. Ms Sadako Ogata, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Case Postale 2500,
CH - 1211 Geneva 2 Depot, Switzerland.
2. Senator the Hon. Gareth Evans, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Parliament
House, Canberra ACT 2600.
3. John Shattuck, Assistant Secretary of State for Human rights and
Humanitarian Affairs, Room 7802, US Department of State, 2201 C Street NW,
Washington DC 20520, UNited States of America.
/* Endreport */