Burma Net News: June11, 1996. #440

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The BurmaNet News: June 11, 1996 
Issue #440

Noted in Passing:
		I find it very surprising that people see my life as a kind of 
		a drama. I have no melodramatic tendencies at all. 
		My life seems very ordinary to me."
		-Aung San Suu Kyi
		(See INTERVIEW WITH ASSK)
HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: ASEAN TO PUSH RANGOON OVER RISING TENSION
THE NATION: DO NOT MISTAKE RESTRAINT WITH LENIENCY - SLORC
THE NATION: BURMA ALARMS US
BKK POST: TOURIST PLAN FOR SALWEEN RIVER
THE ECONOMIST: INVISIBLE HANDS ON THE DOLLAR
PRESS RELEASE: A.C.T. TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL PLACES
12 HOUR GOODS AND SERVICES PICKET ON BURMESE EMBASSY.
STATEMENT BY THE MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENTARY 
OPPOSITION LEADER 
TELEGRAPH: INTERVIEW WITH ASSK
THE ASIAN AGE : THE PARANOIA OF JACKBOOTS
INTELASIA : BRITISH GOVT'S ADO ON ARRESTS IN BURMA

FBC Update News 5/25-6/10 (1/2)
----------------------------------------------
A CHALLENGE FOR FREE BURMA SPIDERS
BURMA ACTION COMMITTEE STRATEGY ON BURMA SANCTIONS
UPDATE ON FAST FOR A FREE BURMA
FREE BURMA PRODUCTS AVAILABLE
"INSIDE BURMA: LAND OF FEAR" FINALLY AVAILABLE
THE PEPSI BOYCOTT
PASTE FREE BURMA WEB PAGE TO PEPSI MACHINES
SELECTIVE PURCHASING IN CARRBORO, NC
MASSACHUSETTS BURMA BILL
OIL CORPORATION CAMPAIGN
QUESTION ASKED AT UNOCAL MEETING
BURMA QUESTION AT JUNE 4 TOTAL MEETING
FREE BURMA ON THE INTERNET
------------------------------------------------------------

THE NATION: ASEAN TO PUSH RANGOON OVER RISING TENSION
Historic meeting planned with Suu Kyi

June 11, 1996
YINDEE LERTCHAROENCHOK
The Nation
BUKITTINGGI, Indonesia - The Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations is planning to dispatch Indonesian Foreign minister Ali 
Alatas to Burma to express its concern over" the growing 
political tension" between the Burmese junta and pro-democracy 
forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The decision was made by senior Asean officials at their informal 
meeting on Sunday in preparation for the second Asean-China 
consultative meeting in Jakarta next month.

Saroj Chavanaviraj, the deputy permanent secretary of the Thai 
Foreign Ministry, said Alatas, who is the Asean chairman, will 
express the regional association's concern over the recent 
tensions to both the leaders of the Burmese junta and to Suu Kyi.

If a meeting with Suu Kyi takes place, it will be the first 
official Asean contact with the popular Burmese leader.

Last year, Asean diplomats based in Rangoon tried to arrange a 
working-lunch with Suu Kyi two weeks after her release from house 
arrest but failed after the Slorc leaders strongly protested 
against the planned meeting.

Asean officials said their countries have been "very concerned" 
with the sweeping arrests last month of more than 260 NLD members 
by the junta. They also fear that the ongoing confrontation 
between the NLD and the Slorc could lead to a violent crackdown 
and bloodshed.

Asean officials said yesterday they did not know if Alatas will 
accept the assignment, which is expected to take place before the 
Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) July 19 to 21 in Jakarta.

The officials said Asean does not want to see a renewed breakout 
of violence as a result of "growing political tension" in Burma, 
as the country is attending the AMM as an observer.

Asean's plan to send Alatas to Burma come as US President Bill 
Clinton dispatched former ambassador to Thailand William Brown 
and Stanley Roth, the former senior director of the National 
Security Agency, to Japan and Asean countries "to consult on 
coordinated responses" to the developments in Burma.

The recent activity in Burma has put its seat in the upcoming 
Asean Regional Forum (ARF) in jeopardy as ARF members will have 
to decide whether to admit the Burmese military junta or not. 
Senior Asean officials have recommended that the ARF take in 
Burma for the upcoming meeting.

Indonesia, as host of the meeting, has asked ARF members to state 
their opinions by June 10 on whether to let Burma and India join 
them. According to Izhar Ibrahim, director general of the 
Indonesian foreign ministry's political affairs department, Asean 
has not received any objections from the ARF members.

But Asean officials are still concerned that Slorc's repeated 
threats to crack down on the pro-democracy movement and a 
potential eruption of violence would make it difficult for Asean 
to admit Burma to the ARF.

Meanwhile, Japan and the US agreed yesterday to seek a regional 
approach to stabilising the political situation in Burma although 
they differed slightly on measures to be taken, Japanese 
officials said in Tokyo.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda told the two US envoys 
that Tokyo shared Washington's goal of preventing the situation 
in Burma from deteriorating after Rangoon cracked down on the 
pro-democracy political forces, according to Reuter.

Ikeda told his US visitors, however, that it would not be 
productive to single out Burma as a political issue in the ARF, 
the official said. Instead, Tokyo and Washington should take 
advantage of the AMM and post-ministerial meeting to raise the 
issue on the sidelines, he said.

In a related development, Britain yesterday expressed 
apprehension that some 30 opponents of Burma's military rulers 
who remain in detention may be tried in secret, including an aide 
to Suu Kyi.

A Foreign Office spokesman said Britain had condemned the arrests 
last month of 250 members of the NLD. (TN)
**************

THE NATION: DO NOT MISTAKE RESTRAINT WITH LENIENCY - SLORC

June 11, 1996
AFP
RANGOON - The Burmese government warned yesterday that its recent 
show of restraint towards opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and 
the public meetings of her supporters should not be mistaken for 
leniency.

For two days in a row over the weekend, thousands of people 
turned up in front of Suu Kyi's house to hear her speak - with a 
record number of 10,000 people showing up on Sunday despite 
arrest threats.

Analysts said the gatherings were in open defiance of a law 
passed last Friday declaring such open meeting unlawful, with 
violators facing five to 20 years jail terms, confiscation of 
property and fines.

Despite the new law, which could effectively shut down the 
political opposition, the authorities have so far not moved in to 
disrupt the meetings. "Before the week's end a law was made in 
response to the needs of the times, more specifically to act to 
curb those looking for trouble by making preservation of public 
order more difficult," the official English-language New Light of 
Myanmar said in an editorial.

"Leniency shown should not be taken lightly, much less ignored," 
it added.

The newspaper also printed pictures of two large billboards which 
were erected near Suu Kyi's house on Sunday expressing the 
"desires" of the Burmese people.

The signs, which read "Crush all internal and external 
destructive elements as the common enemy" and oppose those trying 
to jeopardise stability," were unveiled in a ceremony attended by 
Rangoon's mayor and hundreds of people, mainly students from a 
nearby high school.

"The posters are a remainder of what the people would want to and 
will do," the editorial said.

The editorial accused the NLD of disturbing the country's peace, 
saying that students, workers and peasants warned to proceed with 
their normal activities. (TN)
***************

THE NATION: BURMA ALARMS US

June 11, 1996
US PRESIDENT Bill Clinton expressed deep concern over the 
situation in Burma in a letter to prime Minister Banharn Silapa-
archa, a senior Foreign Ministry official said yesterday.

Saroj Chavanaviraj, deputy permanent secretary for foreign 
affairs, said that Clinton sent a letter to Banharn last week 
informing him of the upcoming visit by two special envoys, 
William brown and Stanley Roth to the countries in the region.

In the letter, Clinton said his government had been "deeply 
concerned" by the recent political development in Burma and, "in 
particular, the potential for violence and loss of life that 
might accompany a renewed government crack down against its 
citizens."

The US president said he would appreciate if the two special 
envoys would be allowed to meet Banharn or other "most senior 
(Thai government) officials." Brown and Roth will arrive in 
Bangkok on Saturday.

"My (US) government has been deeply concerned by recent events in 
Burma and, in particular, the potential for violence and loss of 
life that might accompany a renewed government crackdown against 
its citizens," said Clinton.

Saroj said yesterday he believed Clinton had sent a similar 
letter to all Asean leaders. (TN)
******************

BKK POST: TOURIST PLAN FOR SALWEEN RIVER

June 11, 1996
Mae Sot
PLANS to develop Salween River as a tourist attraction are among 
issues to be proposed with Rangoon authorities this month.

The issue is to be discussed at the 13th meting of the Regional 
Thai-Burmese Border Committee in Phitsanulok on June 18-21.

Third Army Commander Lt-Gen Thanom Watcharaput will discuss the 
proposal with Southern Force Commander Maj-Gen Khet Sein during 
the four-day meeting.

The 1,000km river, which flows from south China and passes Shan, 
Kayah and Karen states and enters the sea at Martaban Gulf at 
Moulmein, Mon State, has been identified as having tourist 
potential.

Under the proposal, an area linking Mae Hong Son with Shan state 
could be developed, with tourists flying from Chiang Mai or 
Bangkok to Kentung and travelling by land the 160km to the river 
in Ta-kaw.

During the talks, the Rangoon side will also be asked to make 
Three Pagoda Pass in Kanchanaburi a permanent crossing so 
tourists and traders can drive across the border.

Talks on the repatriation of Burmese refugees, the removal of 
stakes and a concrete dyke along the Moei River and the dredging 
of a channel will also be held in an effort to break the deadlock 
over the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge between Mae Sot and 
Myawaddy. (BP)
**************

THE ECONOMIST: INVISIBLE HANDS ON THE DOLLAR

June 14, 1996
Yangon
ONE of the many mysteries about Myanmar in recent years has been 
the curious stability of its currency, the kyat (pronounced 
chat). So when the black-market price of the currency fell 
sharply last month, residents of Yangon were taken aback. Nobody 
knew the reason for the fall; everybody, however, had at least 
one theory.

There have long been two exchange rates. Now there are three. The 
official one laughably overvalues the kyat at 5.8 to the dollar. 
Since June 1st, import duties are being calculated at another 
"official" rate, of 100 kyats to the tended for the past three 
years to fluctuate between 120 and 125 to the dollar. It has held 
its value despite inflation, which even the government has put at 
25-30% annually.

Late last month the street kyat fell at one point to 140 to the 
dollar, before bouncing back to around 135 by May 31st. The same 
rate is available at the few officially authorised counters that 
trade foreign-exchange certificates (FECS), which serve as a 
proxy for dollars.

The obvious explanation is that too many kyats were chasing too 
few dollars. One factor may have been an unusually large print 
run for banknotes. To ease the lot civil servants, many of whose 
salaries are too low to live on unless supplemented by bribes, 
the government has been making subsidised loans. Or it may have 
been a surge in demand for dollars. There have been auctions of 
gems and of goods confiscated by the customs. An international 
industrial exhibition put high-price foreign goods on sale. Some 
of Myanmar's few rich people needed dollars to buy smart cars. 
And the telephone monopoly announced that it was going to bless 
4,000 more Yangon residents with telephone lines, in exchange for 
1,500 FECS each.

Another theory is that the government was to blame, because of 
its arrest of several illegal currency traders at their 
workplace, the street outside the Foreign Trade Bank. It was 
whispered that the generals who run Myanmar might try to curb 
inflation by making some banknotes worthless and hoarders broke. 
Since a similar decision in 1988 helped set off a revolt, that 
seems unlikely.

Myanmar's economy is still tiny, and any or all of the above 
events might have been enough to move the currency. More 
surprising is the rarity of the market turbulence. Here again, 
opinions differ. Some suggest the value of the dollar has been 
kept down over the past year by an inflow of counterfeit bills. 
Others point to the huge volume of illegal trade out of Myanmar, 
which helps to sustain the supply of dollars. The country is 
thought to produce 60% of the heroin sold in the US. You will not 
find the proceeds in the balance-of-payments figures, and it is 
not clear how much the government benefits. It is a fair bet, 
however, that Myanmar's drug dealers do not accept payment in 
kyats. (TE)
***************************************

STATEMENT BY THE MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENTARY 
OPPOSITION LEADER 

(It is a press statement issued by the Malaysian Parliamentary 
Opposition Leader, Lim Kit Siang, on June 8, 1996 on the Burmese
situation:) 

"Press Statement

By Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Democratic 
Action Party  Secretary-General and MP for Tanjong, Lim Kit Siang, in Petaling 
Jaya on Saturday, June 8, 1996:

DAP condemns Myanmese military junta for its proposal to ban National League
for Democracy and threat of mass arrest of pro-democracy leaders
-------------------------------------------
DAP condemns the Myanmese military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration 
Council (SLORC), for its proposal to ban the National League for Democracy and
threat of mass arrest of pro-democracy  leaders.

Myanmese Senior General Than Shwe has signed an order authorising the Home 
Ministry to ban Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) and ban 
its members.

The order gives the ministry power to ban any organisation violating laws 
against unlawful gatherings or "obstructing the development of a constitution 
through the government's National Convention".

Effective immediately, members of a banned organisation could be given prison 
sentences of five to 20 years and fines if found guilty of encouraging or 
instigating activities which "adversely affect the national interest".

The draconian SLORC order is aimed at Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League 
for Democracy for its party congress last week, which adopted a resolution to
draft an alternative constitution and continued to hold public meetings.

It is clear that one reason why the Myanmese military junta had been
encouraged to embark on more undemocratic measures is because of the
"acquiescence" of the ASEAN governments to the mass arrest of the NLD
leaders prior to the NLD party
congress.

SLORC must have interpreted ASEAN's "acquiescence" and "constructive 
engagement" policy as condoning and even as a "blank cheque" for the Myanmese 
military junta as far as domestic policies on repression of dissent and
suppression of the democratisation process are concerned.

In view of the strong evidence that SLORC is on the eve of a new dark age of
civil and political repression in Myanmar, the ASEAN nations must disabuse the 
Myanmese military junta of any misconception that ASEAN  nations would condone 
the further violation of democratic rights and civil liberties, as in the ban 
on the NLD and the mass arrests of pro-democracy leaders. 

ASEAN nations must make it clear to SLORC that it risks the rupture of 
diplomatic relations if the Myanmese military junta should turn the clock back 
on launching on a new wave of repression in the country.

The Japanese Government is also beholden to the international
community to issue a clear warning to SLORC to cancel all Japanese aid 
programmes if there is any relapse  in Myanmar to undemocratic practices."
******************************************
PRESS RELEASE: A.C.T. TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL PLACES
12 HOUR GOODS AND SERVICES PICKET ON BURMESE EMBASSY.

Wednesday, June 12 th.		6.00am to 6.00pm
Speeches at noon

Following on from representations from the exiled Burmese Federation of  
Trade Unions, the A.C.T. Trades and labour unanimously voted to impose 
a picket on the Burmese Embassy to demonstrate to that country's military 
regime that the Australian union movement has deep concerns about the 
human rights abuses and political violations in their country.

TLC secretary Jeremy Pyner said today: "The Australian union movement 
has a proud tradition of supporting oppressed workers anywhere on the 
globe, for an attack upon one is an attack upon all. The military regime in 
Burma has an unenviable record of human rights abuses, the denial of 
basic political rights including the right to associate in trade unions. 
The recent arrests of members of the NLD and the continued restrictions 
on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, only highlight the military's on-going campaign 
against social and political justice."

The TLC will continue rolling pickets on the embassy in a demonstration of 
solidarity with Burmese workers, and to bring pressure on the 
Federal Government to cease formal relationships with a military regime 
which has blood on its hands.

"On matters such as this, there is no room for platitudes; either you 
approve of the Burmese military junta, or you don't. If you don't, then 
statements need to be made", Jeremy Pyner concluded.

For further information, please contact the undersigned on 00-2477844


Jeremy Pyner
Secretary/Treasurer

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

TELEGRAPH: INTERVIEW WITH ASSK

June 10, 1996
Jasmine in her hair, steel in her heart 
Burmese leader defies military

Philip Sherwell in Rangoon talks to the woman pitting flower power 
against the might of Burma's military junta

IF IT were a boxing match it would be all over in the first round. In one 
corner stand the grim-faced heavyweights: generals laden with medals. In 
the other is their flyweight opponent, the fragile-looking figure of an 
Oxford don's wife.

But in Burma's battle between the beauty and the beast, pro-democracy 
leader Aung San Suu Kyi is showing no signs of wilting under the pressure 
of the military junta.

Defying an order to shut up or face jail, she was back at her gate this 
weekend addressing her supporters, immaculately turned out in a violet 
and black wrap-around longyi, a spray of white jasmine, pink roses and 
violet orchids tucked into her hair. 

Those flowers have become her hallmark. By cultivating a look of 
traditional Burmese elegance, she is giving a subtle but clear message: she 
is proud of her heritage (her father was the country's assassinated 
independence hero) and she is not going to let her dignity slip during the 
struggle for the nation's soul.

For her domestic audience, these are important impressions. The junta 
rarely misses an opportunity to denounce her British links - her husband, 
Michael Aris, is a Tibet scholar - or to vent its spleen about the 
"democracy sorceress".

Released from house arrest at her dilapidated lakeside villa last July, her 
freedoms remain severely curtailed. Politically, the opposition movement 
is shackled. Personally, she is still separated from her immediate family: 
Dr Aris and their two sons, aged 18 and 23.

Circumstances have left her a bizarre mix of modern working wife and 
traditional oriental female. At Easter, her husband applied for a visa to 
visit her, but the Burmese authorities did not reply, so contact is limited 
to a one hour phone call each Sunday from the family home in Oxford.

Her younger son, Kim, is about to take his A-Levels, and I ask if it is at 
times like this that the separation really hits her. "We all take it in our 
stride," she says. "I know that Michael can cope. I give Kim a pep talk 
occasionally, but we don't make a song and dance about these things."

Suu Kyi may look slight, but she copes with the absence of her family 
with the same resolve and inner fortitude that saw her through long years 
of detention

Further inquiries about personal matters hit a dead-end. What do she and 
Dr Aris chat about on the phone? "Oh, you know, family things, private 
things."

How have her sons coped, spending their teens thousands of miles from 
their mother? "I'd rather you didn't write too much about them. They do 
not like to be exposed."

Suu Kyi may look slight, but she copes with the absence of her family 
with the same resolve and inner fortitude that saw her through long years 
of detention. Neither in East Asia nor in Middle England are emotional 
outpourings the done thing. She defends her privacy fiercely and finds idle 
chat about such matters inappropriate. Better to have a cup of tea and get 
on with life. Indeed, she gave a tea party at her lakeside compound for 
foreign correspondents and diplomats at the height of last month's military 
round-up of her supporters.

In her usual longyi, with jasmine and roses in her hair and looking a good 
decade younger than her 50 years, Suu Kyi glided through the assembled 
crowd with the attentive eye of the good hostess.

Chatting in soft-spoken measured tones more suited to after-dinner 
discourse at an Oxford high table than challenging a military dictatorship, 
she was equally happy answering questions about the nuances of a new 
constitution or checking if a jaded journalist wanted another slice of cake.

Only Suu Kyi herself, it seems, regards her life as unremarkable. It is 
not false modesty but down-to-earth frankness when she grins and says: "I 
find it very surprising that people see my life as a kind of a drama. I have 
no melodramatic tendencies at all. My life seems very ordinary to me."
*****************************

THE PARANOIA OF JACKBOOTS

EDITORIAL
The Asian Age (New Delhi), June 19 1996.
The inspiring battle for democracy in Myanmar has again brought to
attention the very special persona of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, both
its general and foot soldier. Myanmar is not the only country to be
ruled by fear but the degree of repression and fear exercised to keep
the populace in check is extraordinary high , even by the standards
of autocracies. The State Law and Order Restoration Council is
peeved that all its elaborate attempts at legitimising the rule by a
caucus of generals have been undone by a frail 50-year-old woman
whose only weapons are fearlessness and sweeping public support.
Times have changed a little in Myanmar that allows Ms Suu Kyi to
speak in public and the people to attend her Yangon meetings. Most
of the millions who marched in 1988 demanding nothing more than
a democracy in their country remain paralysed with fear but, more
significantly, thousands among them are learning to cast it off. The
result is that the jackboots have begun to display the familiar signs
of paranoia all over again. The mysterious cancellation of trains to
thwart Ms Suu Kyis Mandalay visit, The arrest of her National
League for Democracy members and their torture in prison and the
campaign of calumny against the countrys most famous citizen
shows up the weaknesses of a regime that has more gun than what is
good for it. It will not be surprising if another wave of repression
hits Myanmar. There are ample signed of the stare-controlled media
trying to whip passions against Ms Suu Kyi on the orders of the
generals. The Opposition leader is being used to call names such as
axe-handle and puppet princess and the steady stream of personal
attacks against her is an ominous sign given the unpredictable
nature of the military regime there.

The Myanmar of 1996 is, to be optimistic, a little different from its
self in 1988. Though the country was then intoxicated with the
dream of achieving a civilised life, the entrenched military caucus
was psychologically unprepared to accept the whittling of their
powers and privileges. The savage repression of the pro-democracy
activists and the battle against the ethnic rebels gave the regime only
a illusory victory. The bloated armed forces became an economic
bloodsucker. The generals had to open up their country to foreign
investors to keep the instruments of repression in order. But an
economic calling thriving country cannot be built on the shaky
foundation of a frightened  citizenry. Economic and social
institutions develop an autonomy and resilience that even controlled
societies such as China and Iran have had to accept. The junta needs
a sustained economic boom to keep the people away from politics
and to offer a working alternative to Ms Suu Kyis political vision.
The small businessman from Thailand and rapacious gangs from
China plundering Myanmars natural wealth do not provide
anything more than immediate relief for the ruling class. True
prosperity will elude Myanmar till it remains an international
pariah. This is the most potent weapon against the military regime.
A sustained campaign might educate the military to accept the
inevitability a voice of moderation and reason. Though unarmed,
she is the one to hold advantage in the war of nerves. This, and only
this, is the fragile shield behind which thousands of Myanmarese
have taken cover in the unequal fight for democracy. If wishes can
somehow be horses, the cavalry of international outrage will prove
stronger than all the tank columns of discredited fascist state.
***********************

BRITISH GOVT'S ADO ON ARRESTS IN BURMA

LONDON, 10th June[INTELASIA] - Britain expressed concern on Monday that
around 30 opponents of Burma's military rulers remained in detention and some
may be tried in secret, including an aide to pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi. 

A Foreign Office spokesman said Britain had condemned the arrests last
month of 250 members of the opposition National League for Democracy and was
pleased that many had been released. 

``We...remain concerned that as many as 27 may still be detained (and
possibly more),'' the spokesman said. 

``We are also concerned by reports that some have been charged and may be
put on trial behind closed doors, including one of Aung San Suu Kyi's close
personal aides, U Win Htein.'' 

The Foreign Office said it had urged Burma's military leadership to show
restraint and allow Burma's pro-democracy groups freedom of speech, movement
and association. 

The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was pressed
``to begin a dialogue with all Burma's political and ethnic groups and take
meaningful steps towards national reconciliation and multi-party democracy.''

In a Rangoon speech on Sunday, Suu Kyi adopted a softer line in her
campaign for change but said victory was inevitable with the support of the
people. 

The ruling military government however gave no indication it might open
talks with the opposition. 

The military kept up its verbal attacks on Suu Kyi and her National
League for Democracy (NLD) party and repeated a warning that it would not
tolerate any dissent. 

Tension has been rising in Burma since late last month when Suu Kyi
called a meeting of the NLD, the first party congress since her release from
house arrest last year. 
****************************************

A CHALLENGE FOR FREE BURMA SPIDERS
>From Zarni, Free Burma Coalition organizer

Here is perhaps the biggest challenge yet confronting our US Spiders.
People who work in the policy circles and high places urge us to do another
round of congressional lobbying at the grassroots level.

Please target your home state/town congressmen and women, as well as
senators. Mobilizing your community members to contact your congressional
representatives to support and co-sponsor the Burma Freedom and Democracy
Act will be a very effective way to get our message across to the
lawmakers, who won't lift their fingers unless they know there is a
considerable number of potential *voters* from their hometown/state.
Instigate local editorial boards to write about Burma and portray Burma as
political liability for the re-elections of their lawmakers.

We probably won't be able to move the oil corporations directly through the
same methods we have used successfully against Pepsico. That's where the
grassroots lobbying comes into play. Our brothers and sisters who did
tremendously successful work during the anti-apartheid South Africa
movement could make many US corporations stop their support for the
apartheid. We are following in their footsteps. If they could, we can do it
too, and we will.
************************************

FBC STATEMENT AT "STAND FOR CHILDREN RALLY"
>From Zarni <zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Following is the statement by FBC on child slave labor, SLORC, and
corporate support which was read at the "Stand for Children" rally in
Washington DC on June 1. Thanks are due to Alex Turner for his help in
writing the statement and John Tann (SEAC) for making it possible to
present our case at the gathering.

Statement on the abuses of children by military dictators in Burma:

It is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of this historic gathering
dedicated to the well-being of children. All communities care for their
children. It is often argued that the unconditional love we bear for our
children is universal across diverse cultural and historical traditions.
And it is this love that constitutes the foundation of a caring humane
society. One need only look at how a society treats its children to gauge
the spiritual health, political and economic justice or lack thereof of
that society.

In my native country of Burma, Buddhist philosophy teaches people the
virtues of compassion, universal love, tolerance, and patience. In this
cultural milieu, children should expect to receive an abundance of love and
care. Historically our children did receive the kind of love and care they
needed in joining the society as decent members of the community.

But often times totalitarian regimes such as Burma's dictatorship the State
Law and Order Restoration Council, also known as SLORC, make it impossible
to nurture children. Within Burma's well-entrenched authoritarian system,
children are often perceived not as tender young who need protection and
the best possible care, but rather they are treated as a source of cheap
labor. John Pilger, the internationally acclaimed documentary film
producer, has recently released "Inside Burma: Land of Fear" that exposes
among many other human rights abuses the pervasive and state-sanctioned use
of child slave labor on military-run economic projects. Little girls as
young as eight are being forced to carry basket-loads of rocks under the
blistering heat all day long--in conditions no better than those enjoyed by
prison chain-gangs here in the United States. In the name of economic
development the physical well-being and the future of these children are
being sacrificed by Burma's ruthless dictators.

All too often after working at gun point these children are gang-raped by
their soldier-guards. Needless to say, there is no recourse in a society
where might makes right and where naked power is buttressed by corporate
dollars. Regrettably the multinationals seem unable to resist SLORC's
sweetheart deal of easy profit at the expense of Burma's children. Sad but
true, once again profit overrides conscience. These corporate leaders who
otherwise are good family men find themselves aid and abet Burma's brutal
military regime.

Pepsico is one such corporation that tacitly endorses Slorc's heinous
crimes against Burma's children. SLORC's survival and its continuing crimes
against the children is made possible by its corporate sponsors such as
UNOCAL, Pepsico, Heineken, ARCO, Texaco, and Total. The hypocrisy of
Pepsico advertising Pepsi stuff for kids in the United States while
continuing to make profit from child labor in Burma in spite of their
so-called withdrawal from my country must not go unchallenged. Certainly
Pepsico should NOT be the choice of our generation, unless they stop their
unethical business dealings with thugs in Burma.

A handful of US corporations still doing business with Burma's dictators
provide dollars for the guns and bullets used to force children into child
slavery. But the corporate support of child slavery can and must be
stopped. Already corporations like Levi's Strauss, Liz Claireborn, Columbia
Sportswear, Oshkosh B'Gosh have withdrawn in the face of mounting pressure
from human rights groups.

The recent crackdown of pro-democracy leaders in Burma points to the
intransigence of the military junta. In defiance of the military's orders,
the people of Burma have once again stood up for their rights and those of
their children. Indeed the advancement of freedom, justice and democracy
will guarantee a better future for the children of Burma as it has in so
many other countries. Burma's struggle for freedom and democracy must be
seen as a struggle, in part, to protect her children from state-sanctioned
brutality. Support for Burma's freedom struggle is critical at this time
and will go a long way as far as the children of Burma are concerned.
***********************************

AUSTRAILIAN TV STATION BROADCASTS "INSIDE BURMA"

John Pilger's INSIDE BURMA: Land of Fear was screened throughout Australia
on the night of Wednesday, June 5, stirring debate about potential
Australian sanctions. Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer made some fuss
 about the mention in the
documentary that he believes Burma "is headed for democracy." He is a
proponent of constructive engagement with the regime.

Highlighted by the awarding this month of the honorary Companion of the
Order of Australia to Aung San Suu Kyi, awareness and admiration is rapidly
growing in Australia of her and her country's struggle. The Australian
Democrats have pointed out to the government the hypocrisy of their overt
support for Suu Kyi while giving tacit support to the SLORC. They have
called for Australian sanctions (our trade is worth $30 M I think) and an
official warning against tourism to Burma. Last Saturday the Sydney Morning
Herald published a headline three-page story on Burmese child-labour by
Pilger as exposed so shockingly and graphicly in his documentary. It
started with a half-page picture of a Burmese child-worker weighed down
heavily with a load of dirt.
*****************************************

BURMA ON FRENCH PRIME TIME TV NEWS
>From Dawn Star <cd@xxxxxxxxxx>

Paris, June 6 1996 -  TF1, the most popular television channel in France,
tonight a story on the struggle for demoncracy against the Slorc military
regime in Burma. The news feature included was delivered while showing a
large photo of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and and cited the NLD's political
campaign. It was short, but there she was, before the entire French
nation of millions of viewers.
*******************************************

FREE BURMA PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

PRODUCTS FROM THE BURMA ACTION COMMITTEE
>From Brian Schmidt <Brischmidt@xxxxxxx>

1. Pepsi boycott stickers: see the Free Burma websites for examples and
ordering information. Sometime this summer we'll revise the sticker and
change the printing to read as follows:

Stop Pepsi and the Gas that Goes With It Boycott Pepsi and Unocal 76 - Free
Burma! (Pepsi logo same as before)
(address info same as before)
info: http:// freeburma.org - Boycott Heineken too!

2. Human Rights Abuses Photographs: Burma Action Committee (BAC) has
received color photocopies of human rights abuses in Burma. We've taken 8
photographs, mounted one to a page plus an explanation on each page, with a
one page introdution. Cost is $8 sent to anywhere in the US, $9 sent
anywhere else. Send checks to Burma Action Committee, PO Box 1926, Portland
OR 97207.

3. Boycott on a disk: BAC has documented as much of the Columbia Sportswear
boycott as possible on a disk, as an example of a successful boycott. The
disk includes 90% of anything BAC wrote on the boycott, and about 50% of
anything anyone else put on the Net about Columbia. Also includes some
Columbia Sportswear documents on its operations and some publications on
the issue. Begins with a timeline and an evaluation of the boycott by Brian
Schmidt of BAC. In MS-DOS format. Not professionally designed, but could be
useful for other boycotts. Costs $3.50 in the US $4.50 anywhere else
*******************************************

"INSIDE BURMA: LAND OF FEAR" FINALLY AVAILABLE
>From Zarni <zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

The FBC is  distributing John Pilger's film "Inside Burma: Land of Fear"
for use in the Free Burma movement. Please send a donation of $15 for the
actual cost if you are intersted in obtaining a copy. The film is a
brilliant and graphic portrayal of life under SLORC. Check should be made
out to the Free Burma Coalition. The address: 225 North Mills St., Madison,
WI 53706 If you want the tape ASAP, please email me.
***************************************

THE PEPSI BOYCOTT

PEPSI/KFC CHALLENGE IN CANADA

Pepsi-Cola Canada is preventing the sale of over 400 KFC restaurants in
Canada by Scott Hospitality to A & W, unless they meet certain conditions
(regarding marketing, profit share etc). This has caught the parties in
question by surprise and put them in a very tight spot, since this is part
of a larger sale of Scott to Laidlaw, another Canadian company.

We at OPIRG-Carleton are encouraging Scott and A & W to challenge Pepsi's
presence in Burma, since whoever buys the KFCs is saddled with the Pepsi
boycott. This may give them some leverage in negotiating with Pepsi.
********************************************

SARACASTIC PEPSI PRESS RELEASE
>From Brian Schmidt <Brischmidt@xxxxxxx>

The Burma Action Committee is trying this sarcastic approach for the June 4
Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon, which is being sponsored by Pepsi:

PEPSI FANS AT ROSE FESTIVAL SAY EVIL TWINS ARE WRONG ABOUT BURMA
Violating Human Rights Is Just "No Big Deal," Supporters Say

Portland OR (June 4): Members of P.E.P.S.I. (People Evincing Pepsi Support
Intravenously) will attend the Saturday Rose Festival Parade dressed as
giant Pepsi cans and thank the Rose festival for accepting sponsorship by
Pepsi, despite the corporation's purchase of slave labor production in
Burma and financial support for that country's dictatorship. P.E.P.S.I.
blames the "antics" of their identical evil twins at the Burma Action
Committee for disrupting Pepsi's corporate progress and for advocating a
boycott of Pepsi products.

"Carbonated beverages and fast food are more important than human rights
anyway," said Bryan "Skippy" Schmidt of P.E.P.S.I. "Pepsi proved this when
it refused its shareholders the right to vote on the Burma issue last year
because the human rights concerns were not of economic importance to the
company's business. And by the way, I deny I am the evil twin - it's my
brother who's evil," referring to a member of the Burma Action Committee,
which supports divestment from Burma.

Skippy continued, "The fact that Pepsi refuses to give meaningful answers
to questions about the slave labor issue means only that it relies on
supporters like us to speak out, and NOT that it is stonewalling the issue.
P.E.P.S.I. repeats to our evil twins the challenge laid down by a CEO of
Pepsi- show your evidence! And we think the fact that Pepsi refuses to
reveal evidence it has on the products and suppliers it used in Burma MEANS
NOTHING. So what if products that Pepsi is known to have purchased are the
same types that are sold by military front companies and produced by forced
labor - I'd hardly call that proof. Anyway, what if they're involved with a
little slavery - at least they're giving people work experience."

Mattttttt Donahue of P.E.P.S.I. said "First, it's my twin Matt who's evil,
not me! And this democracy stuff is really unfair to Pepsi. The company was
invited into Burma by the military in 1991, and THEY RUN THE COUNTRY. I
don't think it matters that Burma's elected leaders were denied power in
1990 and called for a trade boycott, and Pepsi obviously doesn't think so
either or they wouldn't be there. After all, we're talking about a culture
too primitive to appreciate Taco Bell - they need Pepsi's help! And Pepsi
will help just as it helps democracy in America, spending millions to
defeat bottle bill initiatives in Oregon and across the country - that's
democratic participation!"

Judee Wasserman of P.E.P.S.I. said "I am not a crook! And Pepsi is not in
Burma anyway - it just sold its ownership of a factory and set up a
teensy-weensy franchise. Pepsi says it's now in the same position as other
companies and I think WE ALL SHOULD BELIEVE PEPSI. Never mind that neither
Coca-Cola nor any other major competitor has similar arrangements in Burma,
never mind that Burma's dictators use Pepsi's continued presence in Burma
to legitimize their rule, and never mind that Pepsi's arrangement is
defined by legislation as doing business with Burma - Pepsi isn't there!"

P.E.P.S.I. activists are available for interviews, and they may have future
demonstrations.

The acronym P.E.P.S.I. derives from the group stating it loves Pepsi so
much, members would be willing to ingest it by intravenous drip. "Drink
Pepsi, Forget Burma," is the group's motto.
****************************************

HIGH SCHOOL ACTION IN MADISON, WI,

On Thursday, May 30,West High students had a phone blitz of 101.5 and 92.1
FM radio stations to complain about their Pepsi Stuff advertisements, which
will be played on those stations all summer. At the June 3 Madison School
Board Meeting, Nathan Culwell-Kanarek from Madison West High and Aaron
Stark from Madison East High informed the School Board about the connection
between PepsiCo and the SLORC, and asked them to consider a Selective
Purchasing Ordinance which would remove PepsiCo from the Madison schools.
The board members expressed interest, and the Madison students will be back
with more information and a concrete proposal at a later meeting.
*****************************************

PASTE FREE BURMA WEB PAGE TO PEPSI MACHINES

It has been suggested that the Boycott Pepsi web page is perfect  for
pasting on some "innocent" Pepsi machine near you-- it's formatted for easy
reading and includes a photo of a Burmese refugee in a "Pepsi" t-shirt.
Here's the URL again for anyone who would also like to decorate a nearby
Pepsi machine:
http://sunsite.unc.edu/freeburma/boycott/pepsico/pepsico.html
************************************

SELECTIVE PURCHASING ORDINANCES

THE VALUE OF SELECTIVE PURCHASING LAWS
>From Simon Billenness < simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

I would like to stress the value of lobbying for Burma at the city council
and provincial level. I am sure that you have heard of the consumer
boycotts of companies such as
PepsiCo, Heineken, Unocal and Texaco. The impact of consumer boycotts can be
dramatically increased when city councils enact legislation that bars the
city's purchasing managers from buying goods or services from any company
doing business in Burma.

These Burma "selective purchasing" laws have been enacted in six US cities,
including San Francisco. Legislation is pending in New York City and the
state of Massachusetts, where the bill has passed the legislature and is
awaiting the signature of the Governor.

I think that the time is ripe for Burma "selective purchasing" to spread
outside the United States. I think that Canada, Britain and Australia may
well be the next countries for this powerful tactic.

Burma selective purchasing laws have multiple impacts:

1. They cause companies doing business in Burma to lose thousands of dollars
in revenues. (Unocal's 1996 sales to San Francisco: $97,000. Unocal's
expected 1997 sales to San Francisco: $0.)

2. They build political support at the local level for national economic
sanctions legislation. (The fact that the Massachusetts legislature has
passed a Burma selective purchasing law is putting pressure the
Massachusetts Congressional delegation in Washington (DC) to support federal
sanctions legislation.)

3. They give people an opportunity to take action in their home town or home
state. (Local legislators are more accessible to activists. Activists can
more readily see the impact of their lobbying work.)

4. They provide an excellent campaign by which a local Burma action group
can be organized.

5. They generate publicity and press interest in Burma both locally and
nationally.

Selective purchasing laws were perhaps the most effective tactic against
companies doing business with the former apartheid regime of South Africa.
Now they are increasingly being used effectively to support the Burmese
democracy movement.

If anyone would like material on how to start a Burma selective purchasing
law campaign, just email me your snail mail address and I'll airmail you a
packet of materials to anywhere in the world
****************************************

SELECTIVE PURCHASING IN CARRBORO, NC
>From Zarni <zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

[BurmaNet Editor's Note: the following is a paraphrase of an article by
Jonathan Bloom in the May 21 edition of the Chapel Hill Herald.]

Johnn Tan, an organizer for the Student Environmental Action Coalition has
asked the Carrboro Board of Aldermen to divest itself of companies with
interests in Burma, and to not knowingly purchase
goods or contract services from Pepsico, Texaco and Unocal. Tan also has
asked the town to draft a letter to businesses in Carrboro suggesting that
they restrict their purchasing in the same manner. The aldermen took no
action on Tan's request last week and referred the matter to town staff for
review.
******************************************

MASSACHUSETTS BURMA BILL
>From Simon Billenness < simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Sponsored by state Rep. Byron Rushing, the Massachusetts Burma Bill, H2833,
would effectively bar the state's purchasing managers from buying goods or
services from any company doing business in Burma. The bill would put
billions of dollars of state purchasing power behind all of the boycotts of
companies doing business in Burma.

Following the June 5 passage of the H2833 in the Massachusetts, the bill is
now on course to the desk of Governor Weld. Rep. Rushing expects H2833 to
actually reach Governor's Weld's by Thursday, June 13.

When the bill reaches the Governor's desk, he has ten days to take one of
four actions:
1.  Sign the bill
2.  Take no action and let the bill become law automatically
3.  Veto the bill
4.  Veto the bill but send back to the Massachusetts legislature an amended
version of the bill

We are not sure whether we have the two-thirds majority in both the House
and Senate to override a veto. If signed by the Governor, H2833 would be
the FIRST state-wide Burma law and the LARGEST in terms of purchasing
power. This will be the most significant Burma selective purchasing law
passed this year. To help, you can call, write, or fax Governor Weld at the
address below. But please do it before June 13!

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

(617) 727-6250
(617) 727-9725 fax
*************************************

OIL CORPORATION CAMPAIGN

PROTEST AT JUNE 3 UNOCAL SHAREHOLDER'S MEETING
>From Pamela Wellner  <pwellner@xxxxxxxxxxx>

On Monday, June 3, 1996 at 9:30am Unocal shareholders and human rights
activists, including actress Adelle Lutz of "Beyond Rangoon", spoke out
against Unocal's controversial gas pipeline project in southern Burma.
Crowds of noisy demonstrators, the majority of whom were from Burma, had a
dramatic demonstration depicting the forced labor and other abuses
resulting from Unocal's pipeline project during Unocal's 1996 shareholder
meeting in Brea, California.

Inside the meeting outraged shareholders confronted Unocal CEO Roger Beach
about documented human rights abuses committed by Burmese military due to
the pipeline project. "My family is from the pipeline area and your
military security is talking people away for labor, murders, and rapes,"
said refugee Mr. Pon Nya. Adelle Lutz, challenged Unocal on their
complicity with the regime. "Either you are in cahoots or you are not, you
can not have it both ways,"  said Lutz.
*************************************

QUESTION ASKED AT UNOCAL MEETING

The following question was asked of Unocal CEO Roger Beach at June 3's
contentious shareholder's meeting:

1) Numerous US companies, including $30 billion PepsiCo, have divested from
Burma. The United Nations and US State Department cite credible evidence of
the massive and systematic use of forced labor on infrastructure projects
in Burma. This forced labor is accompanied by rape, torture, forced
relocation and extrajudicial execution, according to a UN report from just
this past February. The UN is very careful and cautious in researching and
reporting such disturbing facts.

Unocal is a partner with the Burmese military in the largest infrastructure
project in Burma since the violent suppression of Burma's democracy
movement, yet you have repeatedly denied that there is any forced labor
related to your project, including the construction of roads and barracks
for nine extra battalions of pipeline security forces. A report released
this past week in Rangoon quotes refugees and clandestine observers as
directly contradicting Unocal's denials. A one hour documentary called
"Inside Burma, Land of Fear" aired in Britain last month, and will air in
the US this year. This report also contradicts Unocal's denials. If we were
talking about allegations of beach pollution in Mexico, would anyone accept
your denials at face value? Obviously not. Instead, scientists would be
sent into the area to confirm the facts, and make public their conclusions,
subject to peer review of the methodology and conclusions of the study.
That's how good science is done. You often cite Unocal or Total "studies"
that conclude only "we saw no evidence of human rights violations" but do
not say who did the study, where they looked, or how the study was done.

Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Asia have offered to
provide experienced human rights monitors to examine the situation in the
pipeline zone. You use an outside accountancy firm, and inspector of
election (to tally shareholder votes) for credibility. Why not do the same
regarding evidence of forced labor, etc. in the pipeline zone? There is a
need for independent, scientific examination of the situation in the
pipeline area, subject to peer review.

Will you commit Unocal to assist and support such a study?

Beach said Unocal would like to do this, but had two problems, he said.
One, he felt the human rights groups would be unwilling to focus only on
the Unocal project, but would want to broaden the inquiry. Two, he said the
"Myanmar government was 'skittish' on this issue. Mr. Beach said follow-ups
should be made through Pres. John Imle's office. Interfaith Center for
Corporate Responsibility is seeking a meeting with Imle on this issue in
the near future.
***************************************

BURMA QUESTION AT JUNE 4 TOTAL MEETING

Dietrich, of UVI/ Euro-Burmanet, asked Mr. Thierry Desmarest (President of
TOTAL) about the TOTAL-Burma connection :

" Regarding your publicity in the French press yesterday on TOTAL South
Africa, let me briefly say that it was the Nobel Peace Prize laureate,
Bishop Desmond Tutu, of South Africa, who called Burma  "the South Africa
of the 90's." TOTAL's investment in Burma raises the question of the
company's strategic investment interest on its billion dollar Yadana
pipeline project, of which some US$400 million a year is to go to the
anti-democratic military regime each year for the next  thirty years -
actually your own corporate spokesman Joseph Daniel says that the actual
sum is 'more or less half that amount'. Now you know that during the last
two weeks, the military has arrested hundreds of democratic supporters of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she too winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Allegations
in the world press - Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times,
AP, ...and press here in France, over the use of forced labor by TOTAL on
the pipeline have gone unanswered by TOTAL. "

" Now the world is waiting for you, Mr. President, to speak about this
alleged use of forced labor, documented by human rights organizations
around the world, including the UN Commission for Human Rights. In the face
of these allegations, and the appeal by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to stop
foreign investment in Burma, what is the position of TOTAL on the use of
forced labor on the TOTAL pipeline project, and are you going to continue
investment in the military regime in Burma? "

Mr. Desmarest responded in understatement and contradiction. "We stayed in
South Africa when it was not popular to do so," explained TOTAL's
president. "We implemented social programs and community works which have
since found an important place there. And I recently met South African
leaders who praised our commitment and what we did."

"It was expected that the question of Burma would be raised ", he replied
to  the packed auditorium near the Great Arch, in Paris, La Defense.  "But
we never comment on the internal politics of a country.  This is true about
Burma or wherever TOTAL is engaged in business..." Neither a denial nor
affirmation. A virtual no-comment  and guarded response.  Shareholders were
waiting for more. On the esplanade of the entrance to  shareholder
convention hall, InfoBirmanie volunteers had passed out "Letter to Total
shareholders: What is Total doing in Burma" citing the crimes and
allegations that has engulfed the Yadana pipeline in endless controversy.

"Concerning our implementation," TOTAL's President  added,  "we follow all
international laws, and the laws of the country we invest in.  In Burma we
have given fair salaries and medical treatment aimed at improving the
welfare of the people. "

TOTAL's reasoning was that embargoes -  " Cuba and Asia thirty years ago "
have produced contrary results, and do not contribute to the development of
a country. "That never happens to a country left in isolation ". A large
part of the shareholder audience then exploded in applause, the most
enthusiastic uproar from a crowd otherwise muted by the litany of corporate
facts and figures.

No, Burma was not forgotten today at TOTAL's annual dividend rendezvous
between shareholders, journalists and the top corporate management. But
while Thierry Desmarest held on to the standard TOTAL line, he went even
further away from the truth of allegations of human rights violations and
TOTAL complicity in the crimes of the Burmese generals, while the people
become more isolated and impoverished under the tyranny of a regime that
can count once again on the tacit approval of the state-owned multinational
oil company.
************************

FREE BURMA ON THE INTERNET
           Dawn Star <cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
           Gorazd Sveticic <gsveticic@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Some new sites dealing with Burma and the Free Burma movement:

The Nando Times has compiled a series of current Burmese news at its web site:
http://www2.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/world/052696/world4_2368.html

The Euro-Burmanet site: http://www-uvi.eunet.fr/

The Burmese Refugee Project Homepage:
www.kiss.uni-lj.si/sou/mp/slomsic/burma/burma.html

----------------------------------------------------------
BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST

BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different 
topics related to Burma. If you have questions on any of the 
following subjects, please direct email to the following 
volunteer coordinators, who will either answer your question or 
try to put you in contact with someone who can:

Campus activism: 	zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Boycott campaigns: [Pepsi] ai268@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     
Buddhism:                    Buddhist Relief Mission:  
brelief@xxxxxxx
Chin history/culture:        plilian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fonts:                  		tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
History of Burma:            zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
International Affairs:	Julien Moe: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Kachin history/culture:      74750.1267@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Karen history/culture: 	Karen Historical Society: 
102113.2571@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mon history/culture:         [volunteer needed]
Naga history/culture: 	Wungram Shishak:  
z954001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burma-India border            [volunteer needed]
Pali literature:            	 "Palmleaf":  c/o 
burmanet@xxxxxxxxxxx
Rohingya culture		Kyaw Oo: myin@xxxxxxxxx   
Shan history/culture: 	Sao Hpa Han: burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shareholder activism:       simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Total/Pipeline		Dawn Star: cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  
Tourism campaigns:      	bagp@xxxxxxxxxx     "Attn. 
S.Sutcliffe"   
World Wide Web:              FreeBurma@xxxxxxxxx
Volunteering:           	christin@xxxxxxxxxx  

[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]
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