Protest in BKK

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxx]

Students protest ASEAN policy on Burma
Thailand Times
July 20, 1996

Bangkok: Burmese and Thai student organization gathered in front of the
Indonesian embassy in Bangkok yesterday to protest the Association of
Southeast Asian Nation's (ASEAN) granting of observer status to Burma at
their place this weekend in Jakata.
	Twenty-two student protesters raied banners and distributed
pamphlets calling for ASEAN to review its policy of constructive
engagement with the Burmese government and to suspend the process of
preparing Burma to become a member nation.
	"Halt foeign investment in Burma", "Stop supporing Slorc for
humanity's sake," and "Democracy has not been born in Burma yest" read the
banners.
	The students also asked ASEAN to press the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) to release the remaining politicians who were
detained in May prior to the annual meeting of the National League for
Democracy (NLD). The NLD was democratically elected in a landslide victory
in 1990 but the Slorc never handed over the reins of power.
	This is the first time the Burmese junta has participated in the
29 years of ASEAN's existence. Burma will be an observer in the Jakata
meeting starting today.
	According to protesters, "Because of the constructive engagement
policy, the Slorc has the opportunity to strengthen its hold on power and
at the same time has the opportunity to have investments which are
benefiting only their families."
	The students said that if the organization does not change its
policy, ASEAN members will be perceived as collaborators in defending a
dictatorship. 
	The Action Gorup for Human Rights in Burma (AGHRB), a non-student
activitis organization, will stage another protest at the embassy today to
ask ASEAN to pressure the ASEAN to have a dialogue with the NLD and its
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
	AGHRB plans to ask ASEAN to assist the various anti-Slorc
organizations to join together and protest the military regime on a united
front.
	However, AGHRB's demonstration may be obstructed as authorities
reportedly plan to round up protesters before they can gether. 
	the student protesters who assembled yesterday were
representatives of the Student Federation of Thailand (SFT), the All Burma
Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), the All Burma Basic Education Student
Union (ABBESU), the Overseas National Students Organization of Burma
(ONSOB), the Burmese Students Association (BSA) and the Federation of
Trade Unions- Burma (FTUB).
	Protesters dispersed after halt an hour.