We Should Roll Red Carpet for Prime

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Subject: We Should Roll Red Carpet for Prime Minister Sein Win

                               The Vancouver Sun

                       June  12, 1992, Friday, 1* EDITION


 We should roll out red carpet for PM in exile

BYLINE: ROD NUTT; VANSUN

    BURMA'S LEGITIMATE prime minister,  Sein Win,  won't get the standard red
carpet treatment usually accorded heads of state when he visits Vancouver today 
but at least he will bring attention to the plight of his countrymen.

   The National Coalition Government headed by  Sein Win  is a government in
exile - hence the lack of diplomatic niceties.

   There's no question it is the legitimate government of Burma but the military
thugs running the country are still recognized by most other governments -
including, to its shame, Canada.

   Even more shameful, federally owned Petro-Canada is still active in Burma,
looking for oil and gas.

   The military junta running Burma refused to step aside after the election of 
1990 - the first vote since Gen. Ne Win and the army seized control of the
country in 1962.

   In fact, the story of Burma over the last 30 years is almost as sad as the
"killing fields" of Cambodia.

   In some ways it's a sadder tale. The people are suffering a slow lingering
"death" as Ne Win squeezes the country dry. From the richest country in Asia
after independence in 1947, Burma is now bankrupt - despite a rich resource base
of oil, teak, gems and rice.

   A couple of years ago, the United Nations designated Burma as one of the
poorest countries in the world with per capita income of less than $ 100 US a
year. The Vancouver Sun, June 12, 1992                        
                                                                                
    Sein Win  represents the best and, at the moment, the only chance for 40
million repressed Burmese.

   He was elected to the People's Assembly of Burma representing the
constituency of Paunk-kaung in May 1990.

   But the State Law and Order Restoration Council (the very acronym SLORC sends
shivers down the spine) refused to transfer power, despite the National League
for Democracy winning 392 of the 485 seats contested - an overwhelming victory
totally unexpected by the military when, in an uncharacteristicly weak moment,
it allowed the election.

    Sein Win  and other elected officials fled to Manerplaw, a town controlled
by Karen rebels near the Thai border, and with the support of Buddhist monks in 
Mandalay he was selected to head the National Coalition Government of the Union 
of Burma.

   For the last couple of years,  Sein Win  has travelled widely with the
unenviable task of publicizing the plight of the Burmese people and attempting
to win recognition for the National Coalition Government.

   He was in Australia in March (where I happened to meet him) and is heading
for Norway on Sunday.

   The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development in
Montreal headed by Ed Broadbent is sponsoring  Sein Win's  visit to Canada.

   He has met with business leaders and government officials across Canada.

   In Vancouver he will meet Deputy Premier Anita Hagen.

   For a change, Ottawa should take a lead role and officially recognize the
National Coalition Government as the legitimate government of Burma.