Suu Kyi urges britons to boycott Bu (r)

[tinkyi@xxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Suu Kyi urges Britons to boycott Burma

Independent 
in co-operation with The Yomiuri Shimbun
Sunday March 24 1996
( article by Harriet O'Brein )

	Aung San Suu kyi, the symbol of resistance to Burma's military regime,
has called on British tourists to stay away from the country in a toughening of 
her previous stance on foreign investment and tourism. The State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) has declareed 1996 " Visit Myanmar Year," Myanmar
being the official name for Burma. But Ms Suu Kyi, who have previously taken
the attitude that some foreign investment and tourism would help to ease the 
military's grip on the country, has changed her mind. "Make 1996 a year for 
not visiting Burma," she said in a interview with the Independent on Sunday, 
at her crumbling home on the banks of Inya Lake in Rangoon, Burma's capital.
She was appalled that a British trade delegation recently visited Burma, saying
" It is not right for the British government to do all it can to support human 
rights here and then to promote trade with Burma against democracy. The sort of 
involvement being suggested won't help to bring about sustained economic and 
social development."
	The Department of Trade and Industry said it organised the British 
mission so that "companies could gauge the market for themselves", and stressed 
that the Government had consistently called on Slorc to show greater respect for 
human rights. The British-based Burma Action Group, which campaings for 
democracy for in Burma, maintains that Britain has invested more than 48 
millions pounds in the Burmese hotel industry. For most of its 34 years 
in power, Burma's xenophobic military authorities have sought to isolate
the country, actively discouraging tourism.
	Ms Suu Kyi, daughter of Burma's independence hero, Aung San, was 
place under house arrest after a democracy movement was crushed at the cost 
of thousands of lives in 1988. The restriction on her have been eased as the 
price for bringing Burma out of diplomatic quarantine, and the junta is now
actively promoting foreign contracts. The fanfare for "Visit Myanmar Year" 
is due to begin when the new tourist season starts i October, and Rangoon,
Mandalay and Pagan- Burma's principal tourist destinations reverberate 
with the sound of concrete mixers as hotels pop up at a frenetic rate.
	"Burma will always be here," Ms Suu Kyi said. "Visiters should
come later." Believing that tourism is being used to give the appearance
of a thriving, stable country, she is indignant about the amount of money
being pumped into hotels and restaurants rather than schools and hospitals.
"So much has been concentrated on the tourist industry...but beyond the 
tourist areas much of it is the same as ever." Even in the heart of Rangoon,
most side streets look depressingly rundown.
	"Most materials for hotels are imported," Ms Suu Kyi explained. "The 
result is that each hotel signifies a lot of money, but really only for 
overseas suppliers. Some construction companies have even been bringing in
workers from abroad. Within the country there's really only one privileged group 
making money."
	 There years ago tourism hardly exited in Burma: Mandalay had just 
three hotels at the end of 1992. Today it has at least 60, and many more
under construction. Although official figures show that at least 50,000
tourists are expected this year, compare with only 9,000 in 1992, it seems 
highly  unlikely that all these will be even half-filled over the next few 
years. Many Burmese, however, say that is irrelevant. The aim is to be able 
to buy land and ship in foreign goods, such as air conditioners, fridges, 
and furniture, tax-free. "You can import very cheaply far more than you 
actually need, and then sell all the surplus for a vast profit," a Rangoon
resident said. "That way you can recover your building costs, and more,
before the hotel is even completed."
	Tourism has rapidly become one of the biggest potential earners, 
and doctors and engineers are finding it more profitable to become taxi 
drivers and tour operators. 

Information Committee
Burma Youth Volunteer Association- Japan.