The BurmaNet News, May 8, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------    
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"    
----------------------------------------------------------    
    
The BurmaNet News: May 8, 1997    
Issue #715
  
HEADLINES:    
==========   
SAIN REPORT: TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS 
THE DAILY YOMIURI: U.N. ENVOY ARRIVES IN MYANMAR
BKK POST: PAPER LINKS SUU KYI TO BOMBING
SLORC STATEMENT: RE MAE THA RAW HTA AGREEMENT
BERITA HARIAN: BEFORE ACCEPTING MYANMAR INTO ASEAN  
ABSL: OPIUM CULTIVATION IN NORTHERN BURMA  
JAPAN TIMES:U.S. WON'T PRESS ASEAN ON MYANMAR
KL STAR: OFFICIAL--'US CAN FORGET ABOUT LOBBYING'
BANGKOK BUSINESS DAY: US SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA
BUSINESS NEWS INDOCHINA: BREAKEVEN ON 14%
AFP: CHINA ATTACKS 'FAILED' US SANCTIONS AGAINST SLORC
THE NATION: SPECIAL ZONE DEMANDED FOR ILLEGAL LABOUR
BKK POST: ASEAN OFFICE PLAN DELAYED
WASHINGTON POST:LETTER - SLORC'S RESPONSE
NLM: NARCOTIC DRUG SEIZURES IN MARCH
ABC ANNOUNCEMENT: AUSTRALIAN SENATE PASSES MOTION
ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERNATIONAL TEAK WEEK
-----------------------------------------------------------------  

SAIN REPORT: TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS 
May 6, 1997

S O U T H E A S T  A S I A N  I N F O R M A T I O N   N E T W O R K

POLITICAL PRISONERS PUNISHED AND TRANSFERRED FROM INSEIN JAIL

In Burma, political prisoners who are held in Rangoon's Insein Jail are
usually able to receive visits from their families which, apart from being
terribly important for morale and emotional support, is also essential for
their survival.  Needs such as food, medicine and clothing are not provided
by the State but by the families of those incarcerated.  As a form of
punishment political prisoners are transferred to prisons where access is
extremely difficult and costly for family members.

During the months of March and April this year, 46 political prisoners were
transferred from Rangoon's Insein jail to other prisons up-country.  These
are political prisoners either active in the national League for Democracy
(NLD), involved in the student movement inside the country or arrested under
false charges for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Some of the
prisoners recently transferred are doctors active in the NLD who were
arrested during the State Law and Order Restoration Council's (SLORC's)
"Operation Ngwe Byaing Phyu", (a local crane species).  They were tried in
secret at Insein jail with no right to legal counsel and sentenced to long
prison terms.

According to local sources the SLORC is about to launch another campaign
against members of the NLD.  This time their target are lawyers.  The code
name for this operation is "Operation Crow".

The names of the 46 prisoners and where they have been transferred to from
Insein jail are:

TO MYINKYAN PRISON
U Win Htein  (Personal Assistant to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Amnesty
Prisoner of Conscience)
Bo Bo Oo
U Myatt Tun
Only 3 names have been given although we believe 8 people have been transferred.

TO MANDALAY PRISON
U Pho Aye  (NLD activist sentenced for reporting the failure of the summer
rice crop to the NLD)
Dr Soe Lin  (NLD supporter arrested in the crackdown on activist doctors in
February)

TO MYITKYINA PRISON
Dr Khin Zaw Win  (NLD supporter)
Ko Htein Lin  (Son of U Pho Aye, also convicted of reporting the summer rice
crop failure)
Dr Zaw Myint Maung  (MP elect, Amarapura - 1, Mandalay)
Kyi Pe Kyaw  (Bogale township, Irrawaddy Division)

Aung Naing Maw
Kyaw Kyaw Htwe
Hla Tun Aung
Kyaw Kyaw Htwe
Hla Tun Aung
Cho Ko Oo  (Student)
U Pa Pa Lay  (Comedian arrested for performing satire at Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi's compound.  U Pa Pa Lay has been trasferred from KyingKringka Labour
camp and is reportedly very ill)
U Maung Maung One (student)

THEYET PRISON
Dr Myint Naing
U Naing Naing
Maung Myo Min  (from the Lu Baung Thit Party - DPNS)

THAYARWADDY PRISON
Dr Zaw Myint (from Hinthada)
Dr Hlaing Myint (NLD supporter)
U Kyaw Khin (NLD MP-elect Taunggyi)

PATHEIN PRISON
Thet Min Aung
Maung Maung Latt
Hla Min
Aung Moe
Htay Aung
Ba Thein Latt
U San Myint (fromTwantay)
U Thaung
Let Ya Min 
Zaw Min
According to our sources 14 prisoners were transferred to Pathein Prison.  4
names are missing from this list.  All of the above are from Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi's compound and some of them are students.

MYAUNGMYA PRISON
Aung Myo Tint
U Maung Maung (Yadana Tun Store owner, he was arrested for giving water to
students demonstrating in December)
Theya (from Hledan near Rangoon University sentenced in relation to student
demonstrations in December)
U Han Nyunt (from Hledon arrested for giving water to students during the
December demonstrations) 
U Myo Myint (serving a seven year sentence)

TAUNGOO PRISON
U Ye Tun (lawyer from Kyimindaung Township, Rangoon)


As part of the SLORC's objective to "annihilate the opposition", the
intimidation, arrests, torture and continual abuse towards those supporting
NLD has reached an unprecedented level.  In talking to local sources stories
related to the visits of family members leave no doubt that whether the
people fighting for democracy and human rights in Burma are out of jail, or
in the hands of the State, their commitment, courage and strength of purpose
still exists.  For those who are related their emotional agony continues.
They too should be acknowledged.

One family member of a political prisoner who had been transferred last year
said that it took a week of travel to get to the prison only to have a 10
minute visit.  According to other family members the journeys to other
places are usually long and the prisoners transported in heavy chains that
cut into their flesh creating injuries and sores that become septic.  On
arrival at the prison no medicine or health care is given, and family
members not notified for weeks, meaning that their usual access to medicine
is also denied.

Sources state two reasons for the recent punishment of political prisoners,
one being associated with the arrival of the United Nation General
Secretary's Special Representative Mr De Soto to Rangoon on May 7.  The
SLORC authorities did not want him to have access to those close and active
to the NLD and arrested within the last twelve months.  The second reason is
an unconfirmed story that prisoners attempted to smuggle out information
from Insein jail during the student demonstrations last December.

Other related information

Dr Than Nyein, Kyauktan Constituency - 1, Rangoon Division (NLD)
As part of the operation against Doctors active in the NLD, Dr Than Nyein
was arrested in February 1997 and charged with operating a medical clinic
without a licence.  He has recently been released with a fine.

Dr Tin Min Htut, Pantanaw - 1, Irrawaddy Division, charged with illegally
holding 2 Singaporean 20 cent coins was also released.

Dr Than Aung, Mingalataungnyunt Constituency, Rangoon Division has received
4 years under section 304(A) of the criminal code for culpable homicide
through negligence after treating a patient who subsequently died.

The members of the Shwe Than Sin music group which includes Win Maw and
others, who were arrested for performing at an NLD function at Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi's compound last year, are still in prison.  Myo Myo and one other
member of the group were released.  These two released members of the
singing group have been heavily harassed for their recordings of two songs
which were supposedly written in support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

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

THE DAILY YOMIURI: U.N. ENVOY ARRIVES IN MYANMAR
May 8, 1997

YANGON (AP)-A special envoy of the United Nations secretary general arrived
in Yangon Wednesday to study Myanmar's human rights situation and try to
promote a dialogue between the military government and the opposition. 

The envoy, Alvaro de Soto, was to meet Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw and Aung
San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement, during a four-day
stay, said diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

De Soto met with Suu Kyi during his last visit to Myanmar in August 1995,
shortly after she was released from six years of house arrest.

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

BKK POST: PAPER LINKS SUU KYI TO BOMBING
May 7, 1997
AFP

Rangoon - The Burmese official press hinted yesterday that Aung San Suu
Kyi's National League for Democracy was connected to a bomb attack last
month in which the daughter of a top general was killed.

In the first detailed official account of the April 6 blast at the home of
Lieutenant General Tin Oo, the English-language edition of the New Light of
Myanmar said in a cryptic commentary: "The entire Myanmar people are
vehemently denouncing the womanish and terrorist act. They are guessing who
the culprit is."

The commentary dubbed Mrs Suu Kyi's party the "notorious league for demons",
saying it had the backing of "terrorist groups in the jungles" opposed to
the ruling military regime. (BP)

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

SLORC STATEMENT: RE MAE THA RAW HTA AGREEMENT
May 5, 1997

The following are the facts that were presented by  U Tun Aung Chein in a
paper dated 31st March 1997  on  behalf of  SLORC's  Peace Negotiators'
Group to the  Vice President of the Karen National Union.

1. The Mae Tha Raw Hta announcement, dated January 15, 1997, has 
opposing views for persons interested in peace. Therefore, it is neccessary 
to annul and withdraw the announcement. Peace talks will continue only 
after annuling and withdrawing the announcement.

2. Should the National Convention conclude and a Constitution 
materializes, there would be no permission to hold arms.  So it is necessary 
to consider the demands for land and holding arms.  As laying down arms 
is a must for the future, it is necessary to start this practice now.

3. There will be no action taken for any kind of criminal activities should
one return to the legal fold.

4.   The state will arrange for the rehabilitation so that the KNU soldiers
will not be disarrayed and will be able to live peacefully. 

5. It is necessary to be sincere and open-minded in order to have
peacetalks. No interference of other countries and other destructive
elements are unwelcome [sic].

6. Political benefit taken through collaboration with political parties
that are inside Burma and opposing the State [i.e. the NLD] will not be
accepted.    

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

BERITA HARIAN: BEFORE ACCEPTING MYANMAR INTO ASEAN  
May 2, 1997  [edited, from unofficial translation by Shahrul/ Dr. Kamal]  
Report by Mohd Shah Abdullah  
  
Kota Bharu, Thursday  
  
The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia ( ABIM) asked  the Malaysian  
government  and ASEAN countries to study the Burmese military junta's
behavior more thoroughly before granting Burma member status.  
  
ABIM's president Asst. Prof Dr. Mohd Nur Manuty  questioned the   
very unsatisfactory  human right record of Burmese junta in general   
and its ill treatment on Muslims in particular. He mentioned that ABIM   
has full information about the junta's role behind the recent razing of
several mosques in Rangoon, Mandalay and other big cities in central Burma
as well as the new exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Arakan   
State.  
  
He also pointed out that the Burmese military junta didn't respect the
opinion of the Muslim community and OIC( Organization of Islamic  
Countries) on the issues related to the Muslims in that country. "Whatever
the good result will be  (after accepting Myanmar into ASEAN),the ill fate
of  Muslims must be  put into strong consideration ", he told reporters   
after opening the ABIM's 24 th State Annual General Meeting in  
Kelantan.  
  
ABIM was asked to comment about the American  State Department  
spokesman  Nicholas Burns recently lobbying ASEAN to put pressure on Burma
and not to accept  into ASEAN this year. Burns stated that it will assist
the democratization process and improve the human rights record in Burma.
However, Malaysian Foreign minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said ASEAN
would make an independent decision to bring Burma into the grouping and the
American pressure will not effect it.  
  
Also present at the meeting was YDP ABIM Kelantan Mostapha  
Mohammad, Deputy Secretary of the Kelantan State Kassim Mohammad and Deputy
YDP of Kelantan Islamic Affairs Council(MAIK) Datuk Ashaari Azmi Abdulla.
Dr. Mohd Nur said ABIM is not influenced by Washington's policy but urged
ASEAN  to be careful about the  human right record of Myanmar before
reaching a major decision.  
  
According to Dr Mohd Nur, ABIM was called for a discussion with the   
Secretary General of Foreign Affairs on the Myanmar issue earlier. " ABIM is
ready to meet  again  and discuss more details with the Malaysian Foreign
Minister, Ambassador of Myanmar in Kuala Lumpur and ASEAN  
Secretariat about the Myanmar's entry into the ASEAN." " We also believe
that the Burmese military junta is censoring and offering misleading
information related to the Muslims in Burma".   
  
********************************************  
  
ABSL: OPIUM CULTIVATION IN NORTHERN BURMA  
May 2, 1997

OPIUM-CULTIVATION IN MANN TONG REGION OF BURMA  
  
The opium-cultivation has been increasing year by year in the Mann Tong
region which is 37 miles far from  Namtu Mine, situated in Northern Shan
State of Burma.  In the past, opium was extensively grown in the areas 
adjacent to the infamous "Golden Triangle Area" and Wa and Kokang areas of
Northern Burma. However, since the SLORC regime took over power in 1988,
opium  growing areas have been expanding to the whole of Upper  Burma.
Especially, after the so-called "peace  agreements" were reached between the
SLORC and some  ethnic armed groups in Northern Burma, the cultivation
areas were expanded to Kachin State, Naga Hills, Chin  State, Sagaing
Division, Northern Shan State and some  
parts of Mandalay Division.  
  
In the north-west of Shan State, although opium was  traditionally grown on
a small scale for the purpose of  medicine in the past, it has been
tremendously  increasing after the peace truce reached between the  
government (SLORC) and forces of Palaung National Organization (PNO) which
controlled the area.  
  
In this region, joint armed forces of the SLORC and PNO are stationed and
opium-growing is controlled by self- styled Major General Aik Phone of PNO,
being supported  by the local commanders of SLORC. It is estimated that
Mann Tong area alone has 5,000 acres of opium-growing-land in 1997.
According to reliable sources, there is  no permanent opium refinery in the
region and only in  the season (opium-refining season) Chinese merchants
from Yu Nan State of China came to the region with  
necessary equipments and chemicals. They later became Mobile Refineries for
turning raw opium into No.4  heroin. The licenses for buying and refining
opium in  the region are issued by Aik Phone, apparently with the  
understanding and support of local commanders of SLORC.  The refined opium
(No.4 heroin) is either sent to or  bought by the merchants who came down to
the region  from Mandalay and Myitkyina. After opium-refining  season is
ended, the equipments and surplus refined heroin are brought back to Yu Nan
State by the  merchants.  
  
As a result of the negligence of the SLORC towards the increasing
opium-cultivation in the region, most of the youth (most are under 12) in
Mann Tong region, La Sho,  Mu Se, Kut Khaing, Shwe Li, Pan Saing are
becoming addicted to heroin. Some of the economically well-to-do  families
which have adult children are slowly moving to  other cities like Mandalay
and Myitkyina as they are  afraid that their children would be dipped in the
hell of heroin consumption if they continue to stay in the region.  
    
News by :  
  
Information Bureau  
All Burma Students League  
Date : 2nd May 1997  
  
***************************************  

JAPAN TIMES:U.S. WON'T PRESS ASEAN ON MYANMAR MEMBERSHIP
May 8, 1997

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The United States has no intention of intervening in a
decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on whether to admit
Myanmar, as a member, a U.S. administration official said Tuesday. 

"It's up to the ASEAN to decide," the official said, down-playing remarks by
State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns last month. 

On April 25, Burns said Myanmar's "human rights performance is so woeful and
so irresponsible that surely it should not be treated as a normal country
and should not be rewarded by membership in one of the most prestigious and
important pan-Asian organizations." 

Burns' remarks were intended to express U.S. concern that Myanmar might be
given "premature" membership in ASEAN, said the official, who asked not to
be named. 

The official, however, said Washington will not withdraw Burns' comments. 

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is scheduled to attend a meeting
of ASEAN with its so-called "dialogue partners" in Kuala Lumpur in July
following a meeting there of ASEAN foreign ministers, at which the admission
of Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia is expected to be announced.

The three countries currently have observer status in ASEAN, which groups
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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

KUALA LUMPUR THE STAR: OFFICIAL--'US CAN FORGET ABOUT LOBBYING ASEAN' ON BURMA
May 4, 1997
by Harpajan Singh and Azman Awalludin

JAKARTA: The United States can forget about lobbying Asean not to
admit Myanmar into the grouping, its secretary-general Datuk Ajit Singh
said yesterday.
Speaking for the first time on the US sanctions on Yangon, Ajit Singh
said Washington could also forget about getting Asean to join in imposing
investment sanctions on Myanmar "as we have made up our minds to admit
Yangon as early as possible."
"They (the United States) have not contacted me over this so far. To
me, the US move seems to be a political posturing manoeuvre rather than a
genuine effort to bring about changes in the country to benefit the yanmar
people.
"Asean stands by its policy of constructive engagement.  We do not
believe economic sanctions are going to change anything in Myanmar.  We are
neither for sanctions nor will we join them.
"Asean's efforts are under way to bring Yangon into the grouping as
early as possible," he said in an interview at his office here.
Ajit Singh was commenting on reports quoting US State Department
spokesman Nicholas Burns last Sunday that the United States would lobby to
get Asean not to admit Myanmar, adding it had had strong concerns over
Asean's plan to do so.
US President Bill Clinton approved sanctions banning new investments
by US companies in Myanmar last month, citing the State Law and Order
Restoration Council's human rights and democratic violations.
Ajit Singh said the United States had been an ally and friend to Asean
and should have known better "whether such public pronouncements would have
an effect on Asean."
He said he would present a report to the Asean foreign ministers on
May 31 in Kuala Lumpur on the preparations made by Myanmar, Cambodia and
Laos to join the grouping.
"I am happy with the progress and state of preparations by Myanmar so
far.  The KL meeting will look at the report and decide whether a date
should be set for the three countries' admission into the grouping," Ajit
Singh said.

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

BANGKOK BUSINESS DAY: US SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA SAID TO BENEFIT THAI INVESTORS
May 3, 1997
Nareerat Wiriyapong

The US economic sanctions on future investments in Myanmar will be
beneficial to Thai investors as the move will give them time to strengthen
their positions in the country, according to Thai Commercial Counsellor to
Myanmar Sriwat Suwarn.
Sriwat said Thai companies investing in Myanmar were mostly small and
medium-size enterprises compared to big US firms which earlier stampeded
into Myanmar and dominated the energy industry.
In terms of competitiveness, the companies and investors from Thailand
would never be able to compete with those from the US.
"The US sanctions on Myamar mean that US investments in the country
will slow down. That will provide a good chance for Thai investors to
increase competitiveness against US investors," Sriwat said.
According to Sriwat, Thailand's investment in Myanmar was ranked third
among foreign investors, following England, and Singapore. The total value
of more than 30 projects of Thai investors from 1998 [date as published]
until March this year amount to approximately US $1.029 billion.
"US investments are ranked fourth and are very close to those of
Thailand," he remarked.
Thai investments in Myanmar are mainly in the areas of hotel, real
estate, tourism, fishery, garments, and saw milling, he said.
Regarding financial sources for Thai investors interested in investing
in Myanmar, Sriwat said financial services were now sufficiently available
as six Thai banks were now operating representative offices in Myanmar.
He said the Myanmar Government had not allowed foreign banks to
operate in form of full branches in the country.
However, Myanmar Government had a policy to form joint ventures with
foreign commercial banks to set up branches.
"After that they will also allow commercial banks to operate full
branches,' he said.
So far, Siam City Bank had approached the Myanmar Government for a
joint-venture deal, Sriwat said.

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

BUSINESS NEWS INDOCHINA: BREAKEVEN ON 14%
May 1997

Hoteliers in Vietnam are casting envious eyes at their counterparts in
Burma where hotels require just 14% occupancy to break even.   With rates of
around $ 100 night in Rangoon, running a hotel there is a profitable business.
Unlike Saigon and Hanoi where oversupply , a dearth of tourists and
businessmen that have tired of the battle, leave luxury properties at less
than 40% occupancy.  None are making money, and all are fighting for tourist
arrivals that have failed to materialize.

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

AFP: CHINA ATTACKS 'FAILED' US SANCTIONS AGAINST SLORC
May 7, 1997

BEIJING, May 7 (AFP) - China Wednesday declared US economic sanctions
against Burma a failure, and warned that the imposition of such sanctions
for political motives was futile in the post-Cold War era.

The April 22 ban on new investments in Burma "seem to have failed," the 
official China Daily said in a signed commentary.

The US imposed the investment ban citing rights abuses by the ruling
military junta and severe restrictions imposed on opposition leader Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD).

But the China Daily said the Association of Southeast Asian nations had 
brushed aside the sanctions, saying Burma's entry into the organisation
would proceed as expected.

"Even Japan and Australia, two close allies of the United States in the 
Asia-Pacific region, said they would not follow the US example," it said.

"The isolation in which the US government finds itself on the Myanmar issue
may serve as a lesson when considering slapping economic sanctions on others."

Myanmar is the junta's official name for Burma.

Washington, which frequently criticises Beijing over human rights, imposed
economic sanctions on China following the brutal crackdown on the Tiananmen
Square pro-democracy demonstrations in June 1989.

"The United States should understand that in the post-Cold War era, the 
practice of gaining political interests by randomly making use of economic 
sanctions is bound to meet increasingly strong resistance," the commentary 
said.

Sanctions against Burma will only aggravate tensions between Rangoon and
Washington and "will benefit no side," it added.

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

THE NATION: SPECIAL ZONE DEMANDED FOR ILLEGAL LABOUR FROM BURMA
May 7, 1997
AP

A top Thai official wants to make four border provinces special economic
zones where illegal Burmese immigrants can work legally.

Labour Minister Chatchai Erasakul hopes that allowing the migrants to work
in the four provinces will deter them from coming to cities and aggravating
the already serious urban problems, an aide to the minister said.

The provinces are Tak, Ranong, Kanchanaburi and Chiang Rai, and Burmese
working there will be entitled to the same wages and benefits as Thais, he said.

There are estimated 300,000 illegal workers from Burma in Thailand, and
their presence has been a sore point with Thailand's labour unions.

The migrants, who the unions believe compete with Thai workers for jobs, are
frequently paid will below minimum wage and are subjected to harsh working
conditions and abuse. On May Day, union leaders presented Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh with a list of demands that included limiting illegal
migrant workers to jobs in agriculture or fisheries.

Chatchai said his plan was the only way to cope with the massive influx of
Burmese fleeing their country's poor economic situation.

There aren't enough prison cells to arrest them all, and feeding them will
drain the government budget, he said.

Although Burma's military government has opened the door to foreign
investment in the last few years, development has been sparse in that
country's border areas.

A quarter century of socialist isolationism under Gen Ne Win from 1962 to
1988 transformed the once-prosperous country into one of the world's
poorest. It was designated a Least Developed Country by the United Nations
in 1987.

The Thai border is also home to camps sheltering 100,000 refugees who have
fled military campaigns launched by the Burmese army.

Burma's border areas home to ethnic groups who have fought the government
for autonomy for decades. Most have now signed ceasefires, but some
resistance and military campaigns continue. (TN)

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

BKK POST: ASEAN OFFICE PLAN DELAYED
May 7, 1997

Burma claims budget problems have delayed the formation of its Asean
department, a requirement for all prospective members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, a Thai Foreign Ministry official said yesterday.

Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw also cited the need for further study of
how other countries proceeded, the official added.

Mr Ohn Gyaw made the disclosure to Malaysia's Asean Department
Director-General Abdul Ajit Ahmed Akhan, who visited Rangoon last week to
assess Burma's readiness to join the grouping.

The Director-General of Thailand's Asean Department, Anucha Osathanond, also
joined the team.

Burmese officials earlier spoke of plans to set up an Asean department by
April 1, the start of the country's fiscal year. Currently, officials of the
Political department are handling Asean affairs. (BP)

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

WASHINGTON POST:LETTER - SLORC'S RESPONSE
May 7 1997

	The Post's April 24 editorial "When Sanctions Make Sense"supported the
Clinton administration's decision to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar
[Burma]. It ignored historical precedent and failed to check the facts in
portraying dissident Aung San Suu Kyi as having been "democratically elected."
	The Post's support for sanctions apparently is based on the assumption that
there are widespread human rights violations in Myanmar.
	The government has negotiated successfully the return to the legal fold of
15 armed groups that had been challenging successive governments, leaving
only one, the KNU, in armed opposition. The government continues to leave
the door open to that group, which after four rounds of talks last year
unilaterally ended the  negotiation.
	With regard to the assertion that Aung San Suu Kyi is a "democratically
elected leader," I should like to put the record straight. Aung San Suu Kyi
never was a candidate for the 1990 elections, which were held to choose
representatives to draft principles for a new constitution. In keeping with
the election laws,  which were established at the time of our independence
from Britain, no citizen married to a foreigner is eligible to be a
representative. Thus Aung San Suu Kyi -- who is married to Michael Aris, a
British citizen, and who resided in Britain all her adult life, save for the
two-year period prior to 1990 -- was not eligible to stand for election.
	Given the findings of the considerable research carried out on sanctions, I
find The Post's conclusion that "rarely has a nation been more deserving of
economic sanction" contrived. First and foremost, the Clinton
administration's decision smacks of hypocrisy coming as it does at a time
when the president has not been able to act on analogous situations. It is
unconvincing that Myanmar should stand so starkly apart from other regimes.
The political systems of some of the United States' allies are not notable
for their concern with individual liberties.
	Second, the chances that unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States
would have a measurable impact on Myanmar are nil. Eighty percent of
Myanmar's trade is with other Asian countries, and any void that the United
States might leave in the wake of the sanctions would be quickly filled by
Asian investors.
	It should be noted that unilateral sanctions are particularly ineffective.
One need only look at U.S. policies toward Cuba, Iraq and Libya.
	It is time to question the wisdom of the current punitive stance toward
Myanmar by members of Congress and the media. At a time when there is
significant change and transformation in Myanmar, when it is opening its
doors, creating opportunities for other countries to make a difference not
only in the economic field but also in other spheres, it is important for
the United States not to be influenced by the rhetoric of dissidents. The
sooner the United States realizes this, the better its chanc\es of achieving
progress on bilateral issues as well as in bringing about
positive change in Myanmar.

THAUNG TUN
Minister-Counsellor
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
Washington

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

NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NARCOTIC DRUG SEIZURES IN MARCH
April 25, 1997

Yangon, 23 April - Units and regiments of Tatmadaw seized 848.5876
kilos of opium, 2.1645 kilos of heroin, 4.47 kilos of low-grade heroin,
15.26 kilos of opium base, 20 kilos of other chemicals, 810.81 kilos of
opium liquid, 6.96 litres of Mesadyl, five gallons of acetic anhydrade, 157
gallons of ether and 1,260 gallons of other chemical liquid during last
month.
During the same period, Myanmar Police Force seized 312.7787 kilos of
opium in 63 drug cases, 1.4576 kilos of heroin in 130 cases, 22.8186 kilos
of marijuana in 29 cases, 43.0125 litres of Phensedyl in six cases, 1.2533
kilos of low-grade heroin in nine cases, 16.0248 kilos of opium oil in two
cases and 6.96 litres of Mesadyl in one case and exposed one opium
base-related case, 90 cases for failure to register for treatment and eight
other drug- related cases.
Similarly, Customs Department together with MPF seized 0.016 kilo of
opium in one case, 0.4647 kilo of heroin in four cases and 0.001 kilo of
opium of marijuana in one case.
Tatmadaw, Customs Department and MPF exposed 345 drug cases and took action
against 485 persons--397 men and 88 women.
MPF seized 57.0085 kilos of heroin, 32.6 kilos of opium and 3.5625
litres of Phensedyl in the cases exposed together with Tatmadaw during the
period.

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ABC ANNOUNCEMENT: AUSTRALIAN SENATE PASSES MOTION ON BURMA SANCTIONS
May 7, 1997

On the 7th May 1997 Senator Bob Brown, Greens Senator, initiated a Motion in
the Senate calling on the Australian Government to impose sanctions and
supporting the US decision.  This Motion was passed.

Further, in a statement to the Senate he condemned Australia's Foreign
Minister, Alexander Downer, calling him "weekkneed and wimpish" for his
failure to move with the US on sanctions.

If our supporters in the Australian Parliament do not receive our thanks as
well as our requests it may not be long before this support falls off.

Please take the time to write or fax Senator Bob Brown and thank him for his
strong and decisive position.

On the 7th May 1997 the Australia Burma Council wrote:

Senator Bob Brown
Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania
The Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Fax: (06) 277 3588

7th May 1997

Dear Dr Brown,

Just now Margaret faxed to me yesterdays Hansard, the Senate Motion and your
comments.  

This correspondence is simply to say how grateful we are that you are
prepared to take up the issue for the people of Burma.  It is vital for the
US to know that there are those in the Australian Parliament that believe
their actions are justified otherwise I fear sanctions may not last very
long.  I have taken the liberty of sending the material to the US so that
the President, Bill Clinton, will be informed of your actions.

I know that Laurie Brereton agrees with you and that ALP policy has moved
toward sanctions.  Hopefully the momentum will grow to the point where the
government has no option but to listen to the people and Australia can then
take it's rightful place in damning the SLORC for their brutality and
injustice in the most appropriate way.

I have enjoyed a very co-operative relationship with your office for some
time and for this too I am most grateful.  

On behalf of the Burma Office in Sydney, the NCGUB, FTUB, ABC and all those
who work for the liberty of the people of Burma I thank you most sincerely
for the stand you have taken and the strength of you words.  This will
always be remembered.

Yours most sincerely,



Amanda Zappia

Australian Rep.: NCGUB, FTUB
Central Co-ordinator: ABC
Australian Liaison Officer: FDL-AP, PD Burma

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ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERNATIONAL TEAK WEEK
May 7, 1997

We are asking groups interested in Burmese democracy and the forests
of Burma to support our Intnational Teak Week by holding some sort of 
action during the week of July 1 -7 targeting teak originating in Burma.

Some likely targets would include Danish furniture manufacturers, who 
admittedly get much of their teak from Burma, or the stores that retail
such furniture.

Not having traveled extensively, I don't know it there are teak furniture
stores in Japan or how extensive they are in the EU.
But other targets are readily available.

The largest importers of teak from Burma are Thailand, China and India. But
much of this teak is re-exported. So, in India and Thailand, actions
directed at the importers or exporters would be very effective.
 
Dr. Sein Win has stated his support of a boycott of teak originating from
Burma.

Forced labor is well-documented for logging and hardwood exports and I am
currently working on a report highlighting this aspect of the SLORC's 
attrocities.

Please contact the Burma UN Service Office or Rainforest Relief for more
info or to discuss details of targets or plans for actions.

We need to spread this as quickly as possible to have the effect of reducing
teak exports, and therefore funds reaching the SLORC and forced labor for wood.

Thank you.

For Earth,
Tim Keating
Rainforest Relief <relief@xxxxxxx>	phone: 718/832-6775
Burma UN Service Office <burma1un@xxxxxxx>	phone: 212/338-0048
fax: 212/338-0049
  
INFO REQUEST

Are there any spiders in Denmark? I am looking for information on
teak imports and exports, and what companies are involved.

Danish furniture companies are a primary source of Burmese teak
imports into the US.

We are targeting them this summer, so I would like to have more
specific information, if it is available.

Tim Keating

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