BurmaNet News April 1, 1996

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Received: (from strider@localhost) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id KAA20552; Mon, 1 Apr 1996 10:44:02 -0800 (PST)
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 10:44:02 -0800 (PST)


------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: April 1, 1996 
Issue #373

HEADLINES:
==========
NDF: STATEMENT ON THE URGENT NEED FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION
PEOPLE PROGRESSIVE FRONT: PRESS RELEASE NO. 1/96
ABSDF: SLORC USE OF SWISS MADE PILATUS PC-7S
BURMA ACTION GROUP: DON'T VISIT BURMA YEAR 1996
NATION: LIFE IN THE DOG CELL
BKK POST: SLORC CHIEF ACCEPTS PM'S INVITE
DVB MANAGEMENT: BBC MISINFORMED ON DEMOCRATIC RADIO
INDEPENDENT REPORT: REI'S BOARD ENCOURAGED TO DROP COLUMBIA
LA TIMES: LETTERS 
NATION: LETTER - STUDENT'S WOES
MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: READER'S FORUM
ANNOUNCEMENT: NATIONAL BUREAU OF ASIAN RESEARCH
ISBDA: BEYOND RANGOON POPULAR IN KACHIN STATE
AP-DOW JONES: FRANCE'S TOTAL FINDS NEW GAS FIELD IN BURMA
MASSACHUSETTS BURMA ROUNDTABLE: APRIL 8TH
BRC-J: A BURMESE BENEFIT DINNER
WWW: ASIAWEEK'S BURMA NEWSMAP PAGE
------------------------------------------------------------

NDF: STATEMENT ON THE URGENT NEED FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION
March 31, 1996

NDF's STATEMENT ON THE URGENT NEED FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION

It is necessary that the political stand and true aspiration of
the nationalities of Burma be known both at home and
internationally. It is also necessary that problems be solved by
cooperative effort. Therefore we wish to issue the following statement:

1. Burma is a country which has been inhabited by various
nationalities since time immemorial. According to the Panglong
Agreement, signed on February 12, 1947, all the nationalities
have the right to live together on an equal basis in a federation. It was 
on the basis of this agreement that independence was gained from the 
British government on January 4, 1948. Therefore, all political solutions 
regarding the nationalities must be based on these historical facts and the
Panglong Agreement.

2. In any negotiations addressing the question of the
nationalities, true representatives of the nationalities must be
included, and there must be a comprehensive political solution.
Only then will lasting peace and genuine national unity be realized.

3. The political situation of present day Burma has not improved,
and as a result the economic and social conditions have continued
to deteriorate. If a comprehensive political solution cannot be
made, it is certain that Burma will slide towards a very dangerous situation. 
The question of the nationalities and the question of democracy are the 
main basic problems of the country that cannot be ignored.

4. All of us unanimously support and welcome the 1995 UN resolutions 
on Burma and we earnestly call upon the UN to effectively actualize 
these resolutions, especially to involve itself in the realization of a 
"tripartite dialogue" in Burma, as called for in Resolution No.6, without delay.

5. We earnestly demand that the SLORC cooperates fully with the
UN Secretary General as called for in Resolution No.7. The SLORC
should announce a nationwide ceasefire, and agree to and participate 
in the realization of a tripartite dialogue without delay.

Central Executive Committee
National Democratic Front(Burma)

******************************************************

PEOPLE PROGRESSIVE FRONT: PRESS RELEASE NO. 1/96
March 25, 1996

1. The Central Organising Committee's annual meeting and
coordinating with Department and Camps had been held at the
Golden Hill beginning from 16 March 1996. During that time, U Zaw
Win Maung, Chairman of the C.O.C was permitted to leave from the
meeting to receive his visiting family at a border area on 20 March 1996, 
he did not come back to the contact point on 24 March, 1996.

2. We had learned that U Zaw Win Maung had left for Slorc's Three
Pagoda pass on that day to join his ailing mother in Burma. He had gone 
there without permission from the Central Organising Committee(C.O.C).

3. U Zaw Win Maung was dismissed from all his responsibilities
for the Chairman of the C.O.C and from his status of membership
in the people's Progressive Front, which effected from 24 March 1996.

4. We determine to consolidate our Front to carry out our tasks
in antimilitary dictatorship in Burma and to build a Peaceful Federal Union.

 (signed here)
Dr. Kyaw Nyint
General Secretary
Central Organising Committee
People's Progressive Front
 
*****************************************************************

ABSDF: SLORC USE OF SWISS MADE PILATUS PC-7S
March 27, 1996

Statement of the ABSDF on use of Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7 in the
bombing attack to the ethnic groups and students

After the Slorc took power in a bloody military coup in 1988,
Slorc has been oppressing the people in Burma under its iron-
fished rule People have been arrested, tortured and forced to
flee the country for their political views against the military
regime in Burma. On the areas where the student dissident and
ethnic armed groups are residing and fighting against the regime,
Slorc launched the major offensive military operation to
eliminate the rebellion against the regime.

In order to carry out the military offensive attack to the ethnic
groups and the democratic forces, Slorc bought an extensive arms
import mainly from China and other countries. Since it became in
power in 1988, Slorc has bought 1.5 billion US dollar worth of
arms. These weapons were primarily suited to the counter
insurgency operation, the Burmese army was carrying out in ethnic
areas of rebellion.

Among the weapons Slorc has bought to launch the counter
insurgency operation to the ethnic groups and student dissident,
Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7 were sold to Burma by Pilatus as a
trainer only, but are heavily loaded with rockets and bombs and
widely used during the major offensive attacks to the ethnic
groups and the students dissidents.

Not only the ethnics groups, but also the local civilians living
in the border areas of Burma were among casualties of attacks
when the planes bomb and rocket the region destroying houses and
killing villagers.

During the military offensive to Manerplaw in Feb-April 1992, PC-
7s were used repeatedly in bombing and rocketing the headquarters
of all dissident groups along the border. Recently, Slorc used
PC-7s again in the attack to the Karenni National Progressive
Party headquarter and the camps of the All Burma Students'
Democratic Front. Slorc's PC-7s bombarded on March 9, 1996 with
shells on the Naw Kaw Ki range where the alliance forces were
stationing. Four PC-7 fighter planes bombarded shelled through
the region at 5:00pm on that day and returned and seven bombs
during its 25 minute attack on the area at 11:10am and returned
back. At 2:30pm, in its second attack, six rockets and eight
bombs were again shelled within 15-minute attack of three PC-7s.
Another five PC-7s again with seven rockets and eight bombs
during 40-minute attack at 4:51pm.

Burma has been suffering more than four decades of civil war.
Millions of people were killed during the civil war with many
casualties. Arm sales to Burma remain a major obstacle to ending
the nearly five decades old civil war in Burma.

ABSDF strongly condemns the Slorc for its use of PC-7s which are
sold as the training purpose, during in its counter insurgency operation.

ABSDF also believes that selling arms to Slorc only lead to prolong the 
civil war and support Slorc to kill the civilians in the war zones.

ABSDF also requests the Swiss Government not to supply these
planes or other arms to Slorc for any reason or purpose. The
Swiss Government should follow the arms embargo against the
Burmese military due to a wide range of human rights abuses
against its own people.

ABSDF
(Dawn Gwin)
March 26, 1996

***************************************************************

BURMA ACTION GROUP: DON'T VISIT BURMA YEAR 1996
March 27, 1996

PRESS RELEASE

The Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Derek Fatchett and the Burma
Action Group are today calling on tourists to think again about
Burma as a holiday destination.  1996 has been deemed Visit Burma
Year by the repressive military junta that controls the country.

The call coincides with the publication of the Burma Action
Group's Alternative Guide  to the region.  The report documents
the links between the development of the tourism industry and
wide-scale human rights violations being carried out by the State
Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

The report exposes:
*SLAVE LABOUR A massive programme of development is being carried
out to make the country ready for tourists. An estimated two
million people - including children - have been forced into slave
labour alongside prison chain gangs.  Scores have died.

*FORCED RELOCATION Thousand of ordinary Burmese people are being
forcibly removed from their homes to 'clean up' tourist sites or
to make way for new developments.One such development is the
Myanmar Golf Club in Rangoon.  At first, the army blockaded the
area, home to people who had been living there for decades. When
this failed, the SLORC arrested one member of each family and sent
them to jail.The remaining families were then forcibly moved to a
new 'town' 25 kilometres out of the city. No compensation was paid.

*THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN BUSINESSES The SLORC is pushing tourism
to increase its legitimacy and to draw in hard currency.  This
money goes into the pocket of SLORC, or straight back out of the
country to foreign businesses. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of
Burma's democracy movement, has said: "Those foreign businessmen,
who come here to strike up deals while ignoring the reality,
should know that we are all suffering...they need to be reminded
that this is one of the most brutal military regimes in the world
and putting money into the country now is simply supporting a
system that is severely harmful to the people of Burma."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi  has urged tourists to "make 1996 a year for
not visiting Burma" to demonstrate their support for democratic
reforms. The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
and other Burmese opposition groups, have also asked tourists to
boycott Burma until true democratic reforms have taken place.

Yvette Mahon, Co-ordinator of the Burma Action Group, said "Burma
isn't going anywhere, so please visit it later, once conditions
for its people have genuinely improved. We can understand the
attractions, but people should be aware that by visiting Burma now
they are lending legitimacy to a cruel and greedy military dictatorship, 
damaging the democratic movement that struggles to combat it, and 
sanctioning the continued abuse and suffering of Burma's people, many 
of whom have lost their lives in the name of tourism."

Derek Fatchett MP, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, said: "Burma
stands condemned by the United Nations for its human rights
abuses. The regime is clearly one of the worst in the world. The
development of the tourist industry has been at a price to the
local community which every decent person would regard as
unacceptable.  I would strongly urge tourists to think carefully
before booking a holiday in Burma.  The price of an exotic holiday
could be someone else's life."

1. For more information, contact:  Derek Fatchett MP
(0171-219-3458/6807) or Yvette Mahon, Burma Action Group

2. Burma: The Alternative Guide, #3.99 +P&P from the Burma Action
Group.

Article in The Times, 28 March 1996
Harvey Elliott
Visitors urged to boycott Burma

Tourists were yesterday urged to boycott Burma in protest at the
ruling military junta's abuse of human rights.

Labour's shadow foreign minister Derek Fatchett described the
Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) which had
designated 1996 as Visit Burma Year as "evil".

"The regime is clearly one of the worst in the world. The development of 
the tourist industry has been at a price to the local community which 
every decent person would regard as unacceptable.  I would strongly urge 
tourists to think carefully before booking a holiday in Burma."

The Burma Action Group, which is pressing for the restoration of
human rights in the country, launched an "Alternative Guide" to
the region in which they claim that the main tourism developments
are being carried out by up to two million "slave labourers" including children.

Thousands of ordinary people are being forcibly removed from their
homes to clean up tourist sites or to make way for new developments, it claims.

Yvette Mahon, Coordinator of the group said: "By visiting Burma now, 
people are lending legitimacy to a cruel and greedy military dictatorship."

The 38 British tour operators who organise visits to Burma were
also urged to drop it from their brochures, or at least to explain
to potential customers what was happening in the country at
another meeting held yesterday by Tourism Concern.

But most are convinced they should not become involved. "We do not
get involved in politics," said Alan Flook, secretary general of
the Federation of Tour Operators. "Members of the public must make
up their own minds where they want to go." About 2,000 Britons
visited Burma last year out of a total of 95,600 foreign tourists.

***************************************************

NATION: LIFE IN THE DOG CELL: TALES FROM BURMA'S MOST 
INFAMOUS PRISONS
March 29, 1996

Aung Zaw talks to Tay Za, who was released last year after
serving a five year sentence for political activism.

Nearly all forms of political dissent are regarded as criminal
acts in Burma This can range from activities such as distributing
anti-government leaflets, to participating in peaceful rallies or
making fun of government officials.

The penalties for such "crime" are heavy.

Last week, four members of the opposition National League for
Democracy (NLD) were given long jail terms. Par Par Lay, Lu Zaw,
U Htrway and U Aung Soe were all sentenced to seven years
imprisonment in Mandalay. They were arrested on Jan 7 after
participating in NLD-organized performances staged at Aung San
Suu Kyi's residence in Rangoon.

Those who saw the performances, said officials of the ruling
State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) were not
subjected to any jokes.
     
The four arrested were not given access to lawyers and were not
allowed to call defence witnesses. Burmese sources said their
sentences were read to the accused when they were already behind bars.

Such proceedings are not unusual for a military regime that has
been repeatedly condemned by foreign governments and
international agencies for its failure to respect human rights.

One former political prisoner recalled his bitter experience in
prison. Tay Za, 26, was a member of the Democratic Party for a
New Society before he was jailed for nearly six years after being
accused of participating in the democracy movement and
distributing anti-Slorc leaflets.

In July 1989 Tay Za and three other activists were arrested after
delivering a copy of their party's statement to a local government office.

"As soon as we arrived at Insein prison, we were subjected to
solitary confinement," he said. "I appeared before a military
tribunal twice, but they [military officials] only asked me one
question," he recalled.

Military judge Lt Col Ton Oo asked him if he would admit his
guilt. Tay Za replied that he wasn't guilty of anything. "That
was it," he said. Soon after, he was sentenced to seven years
imprisonment with hard labour.

While in jail, he and other political prisoners organized their
own discussions. Reported by military agents Tay Za and 10 others
were confined to a small cell, previously used as a kennel for
army-trained dogs. "Four people occupied an 8' by 10' cell and
they were given only two mats," said Tay Za. "The cell was
infested by fleas."

But this did not break them. She food was so bad that we refused
to work," he said. "Even as prisoners, we had rights. We asked
them [prison officials] to feed us properly. We demanded access
to health care. We were not even allowed to take a bath, nor were
our family members allowed to visit us. Finally, about 26
political prisoners were transferred to Thayawatty prison," he said.

Political prisoners considered "trouble makers" in Insein prison
are routinely sent to Thayawaddy or Myin Chan prisons in central Burma.

Conditions in Thayawaddy prison were appalling, Tay Za said, and
skin diseases, gastro-intestinal disorders and jaundice were
prevalent. The food was not only bad; it was in short supply.

Prisoners were not allowed to talk to each other. But Tay Za
refused to obey the rules, forcing the authorities to confine him
to solitary quarters again. I was sent there twice when I was in
Thayawaddy, said Tay Za. If the political prisoners refused to
work, they were severely punished.

Those in solitary confinement received harsh treatment. A 1.5' by
2' iron rod was placed horizontally between their shackled legs,
forcing them to stand with their legs astride. No blankets or
mats were provided; they slept on the concrete floor. Tay Za
was locked in a tiny cell during this period and was not allowed to wash.

Small urine pots were put in the cell. But most of the time these
pots were full. Ever day one prisoner was taken out of his cell
and beaten. "It was real hell," he recalled.

"Harsh treatment," said Tay Za, was not something new to us." "We
were forced work and if we disobeyed we were severely beaten."

While in Thayawaddy prison, he an other prisoners marked the
anniversary of their Aug 8, 1988 uprising. Because of their
defiant attitude, their mats were taken an they were transferred
to another small cell For 14 days they were not allowed to take a bath.

Finally, they were forced to work.

The health of many prisoners declined because of the conditions.
On Jan 1, 1991 NLD member Than Win died. On that day, more troops
were ordered to guard the prison gate. "The only thing we could
do was hold a religious ceremony for Ko Than Win," said Tay Za.
"Tin Maung Htay also died in prison as a result of torture," said
Tay Za, referring another activist. According to the Slorc, he
was arrested in Rangoon after coming back from the jungle where
he had allegedly met members of armed groups. He was said to be
the one who gave military training to student groups in Rangoon.
At least seven more political prisoners are said to be mentally
ill now due to the trauma of undergoing such harsh treatment.

In 1991, Tay Za was sent to Myin Chan prison. It was the worst
yet. All political prisoners had to work. They [prison officials
I didn't provide blankets. If people were sick, they were sent to
the hospital only when they were close to death. "Sometimes," he
said prison officials did not even provide water and sleeping mats."

In Myin Chan prison, Tay Za was sent to solidarity confinement
five times. Prison officials conducted searches almost every
of a picture of the fighting peacock, a symbol of the student
union in Burma. He was beaten up, thrown into a tiny cell and denied water.

The Slorc rewards those who do their duties, including wardens
and prison heads. One of them was U Lu Hla, the director of Myin
Chan prison, who was subsequently transferred to Insein prison.

Tay Za recalled that Sgt Thein Myint, the deputy warden of the
prison hall, was another one of those who were always looking for
chance to beat up prisoners. "He did it all the time," Tay Za
recalled. If political prisoners took a bath, they had to walk out of their 
cell with their heads down. If not they were clubbed, he said.

Tay Za said had seen three NLD members during his detention in
Myin Chan; U Kyee Myint, U Khin Maung and U Tin Htun. They were
all serving 20-year prison terms for boycotting the
Slorc-sponsored National Convention. Their actions, however, were
not related to the recent NLD boycott in November.

Tay Za also met students and other politicians. Among them were
Zaw Han, Nyi Nyi Kyaw, Thet Htun, Ne Tin Myint, Ne Win, Ne Myo
Kyaw, Ba Htoo Maung, San Htun Kyaw, Myat Ko Ko, Thu Ya Soe,Aung
Aung, Aung Lwin Oo, San, Saw Khway Ne and U Khin Maung Win.

U Khin Maung Win is from the Kachin National League for Democracy
in Myintkyina. He was sentenced to eight years in jail for
defying the Slorc's order to relocate.

On June 21, 1994, 12 political prisoners from Insein arrived in.
Myin Chan. They were bound, blindfolded and clubbed before being
thrown to a tiny cell. Prison officials destroyed all their possessions.

The most dreadful incident Tay Za witnessed in Myin Chan prison
occurred in 1992. Hundreds of Karen were sent there after a fierce battle 
broke out between them and government Slorc troops in Bokalay, in the 
Irrawaddy delta. All the Karen villagers, former members of the insurgent 
group and other suspected rebels were subjected to severe torture and 
beaten up savagely. As a result, 93 Karens died in prison.

Tay Za is now in exile. He was released in early 1995 after
spending five years and eight months in prison. He said he went
to Thailand since he doesn't want to stay in Burma anymore. Seven
days after his release, he went to see Suu Kyi. "Our movement is
not dead," he emphasized. He believes change will soon come to
Burma. He continues to support the movement but dreads the
prospect of going back to prison. "I'm still suffering from contusions."

*****************************************************************

BKK POST: SLORC CHIEF ACCEPTS PM'S INVITE
March 29, 1996

BURMESE Prime Minister Than Shwe has accepted an invitation to
pay an official visit to Thailand.

The announcement was made yesterday by the head of the Armed
Forces Information Office, Rattana Chalermsanyakorn.

Lt- en Rattana said an exact date has not yet been fixed.
Gen Than Shwe is also chairman of the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council.

Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa extended the invitation during
the visit he made to Burma recently in the company of Supreme
Commander Viroj Saengsnit.

Since Mr Banharn's trip the Mae Sai-Tachilek, Mae Sot-Mawaddy and
Ranong-Kawthaung border checkpoints have reopened. They had been
closed for about a year.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the "sub-committee for the maintenance of
peace and order along the Thai-Laotian border" will be held at
Wang Kham Hotel in Chiang Rai on March 29-31.

*******************************************************

DVB MANAGEMENT: BBC MISINFORMED ON DEMOCRATIC RADIO
March 28, 1996

STATEMENT REGARDING BBC REPORT ON D.V.B. RADIO 
March 26, 1996 

A British Broadcasting Corporation Special Report on Clandestine and Other 
Selected Broadcasts, datelined March 21, 1996, Thursday. stated: 
 
"Democratic Voice of Burma began broadcasting on 19 July 1992, when it 
announced that it was operating on behalf of the National Coalition 
Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). However, it is believed that the 
station is now run by Burmese student activists accountable to the 
Norwegian Burma Council but without any formal control by NCGUB." 
 
The same report goes on to state that, "Thabye Radio, a pro-government 
radio station, appear(s) to be aimd at a Karen audience and reflect 
the positions of Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council 
(SLORC), which is opposed to the activities of the Karen National Union 
(KNU)." 
 
Another BBC report on the same day, quoted a Radio Netherlands report of 
14 March 1996 which stated that the Voice of America Burmese Service is 
being jammed again by SLORC but that the DVB Radio transmission from 
Norway, and the BBC are not being jammed. 
 
The juxtaposition of the three reports may be a mere coincidence. 
However, taken together, they could imply that SLORC is not jamming DVB 
Radio because it is now under the control of SLORC and not the NCGUB. A 
cursory reading of the reports could also give the impression that DVB 
Radio is broadcasting programmes opposed to the activities of the Karen 
National Union. This is far from the truth. 
 
If the reports had been filed by any other organization but the BBC, 
suspicious Burmese democracy activists would be justified in thinking 
that the reports are the work of a clever SLORC disinformation campaign. 
 
While the juxtapositioning of the three reports may be unintentional. it 
is very unprofessional for the BBC to have published the report that DVB 
Radio is no longer under the control of the NCGUB without verifying the 
rumour directly with DVB Radio in Oslo. Former BBC Burmese Service staff 
are currently providing technical advice to DVB Radio. A single 
telephone call to a former colleague could have clarified matters. 
 
For the record, DVB Radio is not 'run by Burmese student activists 
accountable to the Norwegian Burma Council but without any formal 
control by NCGUB.' DVB staff members are appointed by and accountable to 
a Management Committee which is chaired by the Prime Minister of the 
NCGUB. The chairman of the NBC is also a member of the Management 
Committee. 
 
The objective of DVB Radio is to provide the people of Burma with 
accurate news and information, in support of the Burmese democracy 
movement. It aims to reflect all ethnic groups in its programmes and 
the Radio is currently broadcasting programmes in Karen, Karenni, Kayan 
and Shan. For further information regarding DVB Radio, contact Oslo - 
Tel/Fax: 47 2236-2525. 
 
Harn Yawnghwe 
DVB Radio Management Committee

**********************************************************

INDEPENDENT REPORT: REI'S BOARD ENCOURAGED TO DROP COLUMBIA
March 28, 1996
<jimbabwe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

 On Monday, 3/25/96 in Seattle, the Seattle Burma Interest Group
attended the annual Members meeting of Recreational Equipment 
Incorporated (REI) a nation-wide co-op/retailer.  Of six people to stand and ask
various questions of the entire board of directors, 4 of us spoke on behalf of 
Burmese human rights and protested REI continuing  relationship with Columbia 
Sportswear Inc. of Portland, OR.  The meeting was not confrontational, to the 
contrary; all efforts were made to be polite and concilliatory, raising this as a 
legitimate issue for REI's board continued discussion.

REI, upon hearing of Columbia's joint venture with Myanmar Economic
Holdings, via a Korean concern, has notified Columbia and asked that no
articles made in Burma be shipped to any of REI's nationwide outlets. 
While this gesture is a laudable one, those of us present at Monday's
board meeting encouraged REI to drop (or threaten to drop) Columbia's
entire line, and eliminate Columbia from it's list of suppliers, until
such time as Columbia reverses its "made in Burma" policy.

Predictably, many of REI's board were tenative and non-committal, 
but cordial; and some members individually, after the meeting, approached
members of Burma Interest Group (all REI members) and thanked them for
their input and diplomatic tone.  

In addition, B.I.G. requested that the board also might want to consider 
formulating a company policy which would better deal with members 
exercising their free speech rights by leafleting REI stores nationwide 
so as to avoid an unfortunate situation recently in Illinois where an REI
manager tried to revoke the memberships of protesting REI members 
outside the store.  This request to establish a better policy was favorably
recieved by REI's board.

James Krall
Seattle, Washington

******************************************************

LA TIMES: LETTERS 
March 17, 1996

To call Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
"repressive" is an understatement.  Travel articles about Burma ought to
focus on published reports that thousands of Burma's citizens have been
conscripted into forced labor to build tourist sites.  "Visit Myanmar Year
1996" is the junta's answer to a public relations problem created when it
massacred thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988.  Today,
tourists may be discomforted to learn that SLORC agents may follow them,
or that Burmese people with whom they converse may later be interrogated,
or that the Red Cross has found it impossible to operate in Burma.  Luxury
ships such as Radisson's "Song of Flower" pay large docking fees to the
SLORC, which is conducting a terror campaign against Burma's ethnic
groups to gain land, resources and free labor.  SLORC hasn't changed since
1988.  People considering spending money in Burma in 1996 should heed the
words of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and "jolly well wait."

David Wolfberg, Director
LA Campaign for a Free Burma

***********************************************************

NATION: LETTER - STUDENT'S WOES 
March 27, 1996

In my capacity as an Italian journalist, I am deeply disturbed by the news 
of the disconcerting case of Han Myint as well as that of thousands of other 
students, who were arrested in 1991 following peaceful demonstrations in 
Rangoon and Mandalay.

Han Myint was subsequently sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment by 
a military tribunal for merely having expressed his right of non-violently 
calling for the release of Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

We would like the international media to focus their attention on 
the dreadful human rights  situation in Burma in general and the 
tragic plight of Han Myint and other students in particular.

Last March 13 marked the anniversary of the death of
Maung Maw, the first student killed in the 1988 uprising.

Giorgio Cirillo
Rome

*******************************************************

MAINICHI DAILY NEWS: READER'S FORUM
March 29, 1996
from brelief@xxxxxxx

To the Editor:

On March 20 the Burmese Relief Center -- Japan, a Nara -
based NGO supporting the struggle for democracy in Burma,
organized a peaceful protest on Dotonbori Bridge in south
Osaka to publicize the cozy relationship between Mitsubishi
Corporation and Burma's democratically unelected military regime.

I am surprised that your respected newspaper, which has had
the courage to print weekly installments of Aung San Suu Kyi's
"Letter from Burma," did not report this newsworthy incident. 
Her letters cannot be read, I believe, independently from the
political circumstances in Burma where the lives of more than
40 million people are under systematic control through state -
organized terror, torture, murder, censorship and so on. 
Likewise, the cynical business practices of Mitsubishi in
consorting with the regime cannot be viewed separately from
the country's social and political crisis.  The deals cut between
SLORC and Mitsubishi affect the lives of all people in Burma. 
This is why the Burmese Relief Center - Japan, of which I am
not a member, organized the protest and boycott.

The group is asking consumers in Japan to boycott all goods
and services provided by companies in the Mitsubishi
conglomerate, including Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi
Motors, Mitsubishi Oil, Mitsubishi Bank, Kirin Beer and Nikon
Camera.  Among other things, the conglomerate is guilty of
lining the pockets of the generals in return for heavy logging
access to the country's hardwood forests.

In February, Mitsubishi President Minoru Makihara personally
visited Burma to discuss further business prospects with the
regime.  Human rights groups and other NGOs have interpreted
this as a sign of Mitsubishi's contempt for the human rights of
the Burmese people and for their struggle to free themselves
from corporate - backed tyranny.  In a recent statement, U.N.
human rights investigator Professor Yozo Yokota condemned
the SLORC regime for its "arbitrary killings of innocent
villagers, executions without trial, slave labor, theft of property,
forced relocation and rape."  

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi may be the voice
of sanity and peace in her enslaved country, but as long as
corrupt companies like Mitsubishi are allowed by consumers
and governments to deal with the thugs who run the country,
her voice will be effectively silenced, no matter how often the
MDN carries her "Letter from Burma."

Eric Blair
Osaka

******************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: NATIONAL BUREAU OF ASIAN RESEARCH
March 28, 1996

The National Bureau of Asian Research has a Feb. 1996 report called "US
Burma Policy at the Crossroads" which can be obtained by calling
206-632-7370.

They released a draft of the report last fall, and the new version
contains very few changes.

I am interested in receiving anyone's comments on this report.
Thanks in advance

Larry Dohrs
Seattle, WA

******************************************************

ISBDA: BEYOND RANGOON POPULAR IN KACHIN STATE
March 30, 1996

After several reports of wide acceptance among Rangoon residences since
late last year,  the movie "Beyond Rangoon" receives high popularity in
Kachin State as well, a reliable source said. A copy of this  movie was
brought into Northern Burma by a group of American tourists and was
delivered to their Kachin friends in January 1996. Since then, the movie
naturally spreads all the way to Myitkyina, the largest city of Kachin State. 
After first show of Beyond Rangoon there in Kachin State, a well-known 
Kachin gentleman reportedly commented that the current political deadlock 
in Burma should immediately be solved by means of sincere dialogues. 

*******************************************************

AP-DOW JONES: FRANCE'S TOTAL FINDS NEW GAS FIELD IN BURMA
March 27, 1996

PARIS (AP-Dow Jones)--French oil and gas company Total SA 
said Thursday it had discovered a gas field in Burma.  The cumulative flow 
produced by the Badamyar-1 gas well was 32 million standard cubic feet per 
day, and confirms the presence of a gas field located immediately northwest 
of the Yadana field currently under development, Total said.  Total is the 
operator of an exploration program on blocks M5 and M6 in partnership with 
Unocal and two other local companies. 

************************************************************

MASSACHUSETTS BURMA ROUNDTABLE: APRIL 8TH
March 28, 1996

March Burma Roundtable  .  .  .  .  .  Back to Monday!

The next Roundtable will take place on Monday, April 8. The meeting will
start at 7pm at the office of Franklin Research & Development at 711
Atlantic Avenue 4th floor, just across the street from South Station and
opposite the Greyhound Bus terminal.  

*	At the Roundtable, we will be showing the video:
		"Caught in the Crossfire"

The video was made by Images Asia, an NGO based in Thailand. The video
details the capture by the Burmese army of Manerplaw, the headquarters of
the Karen National Union and the Burmese democracy movement.

*	It's Make or Break for the Massachusetts Burma Bill ! ! !

On March 27, the second reading vote of the Massachusetts Burma selective
purchasing bill (H2833) was delayed for one more week.  Consequently, the
bill should come up for its second reading vote on Wednesday, April 3.

It is vital that every Massachusetts Burma Roundtable participant contact
their state senator immediately to register their support for H2833 before
it comes to a vote!

1.	Call and ask your state Senator to vote in favor of H2833 when it comes
up for its second reading in the Senate.  

2.	Write Governor Weld to ask him to sign the bill into law when it reaches
his desk  (Use the sample letter below.)

(If don't know who your state Senator is, contact CPPAX at (617) 426-3040 or
the State House switchboard at (617) 727-2121.)

Simon Billenness, Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue,
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423 6655 x 225		
simon_billenness@ cybercom.net

*************
Governor William Weld
State House
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Boston, MA 02133-1053

Dear Governor Weld:

I am writing to ask your support for H2833, Representative Byron Rushing's
bill that would bar state purchasing managers from buying goods or services
from companies doing business with the ruling Burmese military junta. The
bill has already passed the lower House and is close to passage in the
Massachusetts Senate.  Specifically, I request that you sign the bill into
law as soon as it reaches your desk.

(Include a personal paragraph here. If possible, mention your extensive
personal and family history in Massachusetts. Explain your interest in Burma.)

The ruling military junta in Burma is cracking down on the democracy
movement. On March 20, Human Rights Watch/Asia issued a press release
condemning the unfair trial and harsh sentences of five supporters of the
Burmese democracy movement.  The sentenced men are part of a group of
comedians, dancers and musicians that had performed political skits.  Aung
San Suu Kyi attempted to attend the trial in Mandalay but was prevented from
doing so by the junta.

Aung San Suu Kyi has asked that companies not invest in Burma at this time.
However, many corporations - including US-based ARCO, PepsiCo, Texaco and
Unocal -  have chosen instead to side with the generals.  Passage of H2833
would send a clear signal to the Burmese military junta and the corporations
with which it does business that Massachusetts supports the Burmese
democracy movement just as it supported the campaign against apartheid in
South Africa.

When legitimately elected representatives of the Burmese people
unequivocally call for economic sanctions, I think it is incumbent on
elected officials, who enjoy the benefits of democracy, to support that
call.  I hope that you will indeed support that call for economic sanctions
on Burma by signing H2833 into law as soon as it reaches your desk.

Please write back and let me know what position you intend to take on this bill.

Please send a copy of your letter to Citizens for Participation in Political
Action (CPPAX), 25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111.  If you have any
questions, contact Julia Carpenter at CPPAX at (617) 426 3040 or cppax@xxxxxxxx

**********************************************************

BRC-J: A BURMESE BENEFIT DINNER
March 29, 1996
from brelief@xxxxxxx

Sunday, May 26, in Kyoto
Time:  3 PM
Cost: 8,000 yen  (Seniors over 60 eligible for a 1000 yen discount.)

For Reservations contact:
Burmese Relief Center -- Japan

Refugee Bazaar --  Admission Free!
11 AM - 3 PM outside the dining room
Hundreds of unusual and exotic items from Thailand, Burma,
and refugee camps for sale.  With all proceeds going to refugee relief.  

Place:   Kyoto Co-op   Shimogamo Center 2F
     37 Takagi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto

This gala event will include a full - course dinner of delicious
and authentic Burmese dishes, classical Burmese music,
traditional cultural performances, and a spirited auction of
Burmese arts and other choice items.  All proceeds will benefit
Burmese students and refugees on Burma s borders. 

This is the sixth anniversary of the 1990 elections in Burma,
won overwhelmingly by the National League for Democracy,
but nullified by the military junta, SLORC.  Burmese Relief
Center -- Japan is commemorating the occasion with a call for
the restoration of democracy in the country, under the
leadership of  the winner of the elections, Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  

There are currently more than 100,000 Burmese students and
refugees along the Thai-Burma border alone.  Most of them
suffer from malaria and shortages of food and medicine.  Last
year BRC -- J provided more than three million yen in relief supplies.

Join us for a delicious dinner! Contribute to a worthy cause!

Burmese Relief Center -- Japan
266-27 Ozuku-cho, Kashihara-shi, Nara-ken 634
Tel: (07442) 2-8236  --  Fax: (07442) 4-6254
e-mail: brelief@xxxxxxx

To reach the Co-op:
>From Subway Kitaoji Station: 
City Bus (green) 204 or 206 
(for Kyoto Eki) Kyoto Bus (cream and red) 14
>From Keihan Demachi Yanagi Station: 
Kyoto Bus 32, 34, 35, 36, or 37  Get off at Takagi-cho.

************************************************************