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BurmaNet News June 13, 1997



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

The BurmaNet News: June 13, 1997       
Issue #748

Noted in Passing:

By the time they reached the border at least 100 of the porters had died from 
malaria, exhaustion, and starvation. 
- 1 of 500 conscripted porters who escaped to Thailand
(THAILAND TIMES: THE OTHER LOST WORLD)

HEADLINES:       
==========  
THAILAND TIMES: THAI ARMY CONFIRMS BURMA EMPLOYS 
ABSDF: SLORC TROOPS RAPE FEMALE KAREN PORTERS
REUTER: JAPAN ENVOY TO CONVEY AID CONDITIONS TO BURMA
NLD(LA)-AUSTRALIA: MONYWA TIN SHWE (1930-1997)
NATION: LOOKING AT SECURITY REALISTICALLY
THAILAND TIMES: TWO CHILDREN HURT IN DKBA SNEAK ATTACK
BKK POST: PANEL REFUSES TO PUBLICISE GAS CONTRACT 
THAILAND TIMES: BURMA IGNORES THAI OBJECTIONS, BUILDS 
BLOOMBERG: SEMEN CIBINONG TAKES STAKE IN MYANMAR PLANT 
BKK POST: THAILAND EYES BURMESE PORTS
NLM: SUU KYI, CLINTON BLEMISH BILATERAL TIES  
BKK POST: BURMA'S ENTRY TO ASEAN "IS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE"
ALT-ASEAN: BURMA WOMEN'S DAY
ANNOUNCEMENT: PROTEST/VIGIL IN PA AT INTERDIGITAL ON JUNE 20TH
-----------------------------------------------------------------

THAILAND TIMES: THAI ARMY CONFIRMS BURMA EMPLOYS 
FORCED LABOR
June 12, 1997
by Khachorn Boonpat

MAE HONG SON: The Burmese army has forced about 500 villagers to
work as porters in order to make heavy reinforcements to their
troops along the Thai-Burmese border, a Thai border official said yesterday.
     
The official, who requested anonymity, said three of the young
villagers fled into Pangmoo village in Mae Hong Son's Muang
district yesterday to escape the suffering which the Burmese
troops had made them endure.

The three escapees informed the authorities that the Burmese army
has deployed heavily-armed troops from four battalions close to
Thai soil, and are now not far from Pangmoo village, he said.

Soe Tarn, 18, from Sitwe in Arakan State, told the authorities
that he had escaped from a living hell.

He said he was rounded up in late April while he was
asleep and forced to work alongside 500 others, most of whom came
from Mandalay and Arakan states.

The group started their arduous journey from Doikor township near
the Salawin River, from where they were made to carry 40
truck-loads of heavy weaponry, he said.

Soe said that by the time they reached the border at least 100 of
the porters had died from malaria, exhaustion, and starvation.
The porters were fed on nothing but a handful of rice and green
bananas and were brutally beaten if the soldiers felt their work
was not up to scratch, he said.

Thai border sources meanwhile, were divided over why the
reinforcements had been made.
     
Officers from the Army's Intelligence Unit downplayed the
significance of the troop movements, saying' the troops were
being deployed to defend the Burmese base at Ho Mong township.

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

ABSDF: SLORC TROOPS RAPE FEMALE KAREN PORTERS
June 12, 1997
lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Karen women who were forcibly conscripted as porters by the Burmese 
Army have been raped by officers during the military operation against 
the Karen National Union (KNU).

A porter, who escaped from the KNU's 4th Brigade to the Thai-Burma border, 
has told the ABSDF that SLORC troops from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 
431, based at Kaw Thaung in Tenasserim Division, raped a young Karen 
woman when they arrived at Pyatha Chaung village in the Karen area. 

Myint Lwin, a 24 year old from Nat Seik village in Laung Lon Township, 
told the ABSDF he was in Pyatha Chaung at the time of the crime, and was 
taken by the army as a porter. The rape occurred when the Burmese Army 
launched its offensive, code-named 'Operation Thura', against the KNU's 
4th Brigade which began when the 4th cease-fire talks broke down.

Six young Karen women porters were also raped by army officers from LIB 
431 and Infantry Battalion 104.

On February 16 the SLORC soldiers drafted 30 villagers from Pyatha 
Chaung as porters, 25 of whom were women, following a clash with KNU 
troops near the village. The porters were ordered to carry the soldiers' 
back-packs, and the women had to wash the soldiers' clothes and cook 
for them during the fighting and marching. 

SLORC troops also drafted another batch of porters between Pyatha Chaung 
and Phaung Daw, comprising 10 women and a 60 year old Karen man.

The offensive against the KNU began in February this year following the 
breakdown of cease-fire talks on November 23 1996. The SLORC Secretary-1, 
Lt. General Tin Oo. has directed the operations and the offensive against 
the KNU's 4th Brigade has involved 3,500 SLORC troops from 17 regiments 
under the control of Division 55. 

Throughout the offensive, the SLORC has used more than 4,000 porters, 
600 of whom are prisoners. The offensive has also resulted in the influx of 
thousands of refugees into Thailand.

All Burma Students Democratic Front
For more information please call  01 654 4984.

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

REUTER: JAPAN ENVOY TO CONVEY AID CONDITIONS TO BURMA
June 12, 1997

RANGOON, June 12 (Reuter) - A visiting Japanese envoy will
 remind Burma that normalising aid flows will depend on the military
 government's easing of restrictions on opposition activities in the
 country, a Japanese diplomat said on Thursday. 

 Japan's ambassador to Rangoon, Yoichi Yamaguchi, said envoy
 Hiroshi Hirabayashi would convey Tokyo's position on aid when he
 meets Secretary One of Burma's ruling State Law and Order
 Restoration Council (SLORC), Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, later
 on Thursday. 

 Political analysts said Hirabayashi's visit might help improve
 Burmese-Japanese ties, which have been strained since Tokyo froze
 all aid except debt relief grants to Burma after the military crushed
 pro-democracy protests in 1988. 

 Yamaguchi said Hirabayashi, Japan's cabinet chief councillor for
 external affairs, would also discuss Burma's pending membership in
 the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in late July. 

 ``Aid resumption will go ahead in conformity with the development of
 the democratisation process,'' he told Reuters. 

 Hirabayashi met Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw on Thursday
 after arriving on Wednesday for a three-day visit. Japan has long
 urged the SLORC to engage in dialogue with the opposition National
 League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. 

 The military government has kept a tight lid on the party's activities. 

 Burmese analysts said the SLORC showed no sign of budging from
 its policy of not negotiating with the NLD while it was led by Suu
 Kyi. The party won a landslide election victory in 1990 but SLORC
 refused to recognise the result. 

 ``Nothing and nobody can force the SLORC to sit at the negotiating
 table with the NLD if it is led by Suu Kyi,'' one analyst said. ``If Suu
 Kyi is not included, it may be another case. Holding dialogue with the
 NLD without Suu Kyi might be acceptable to SLORC but it is
 something the NLD won't do.'' The analyst said Rangoon would
 express its appreciation that Japan had not followed the United
 States in imposing economic sanctions on the country. 

 Washington, citing ``severe repression'' in Burma, imposed the
 sanctions last month over the SLORC's human rights record and
 treatment of democracy activists. ^REUTER@ 

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

NLD(LA)-AUSTRALIA: MONYWA TIN SHWE (1930-1997)
June 12, 1997
>From ricchie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

      He was born on 17th of April 1930 in Monywa city, Burma. Parents are U
Ba Po and Daw Thaung Yin.
      During 1952-1960,he actively involved in Student's Union movements in
Rangoon and Mandalay universities.
      Later, he earned a living as author and lawyer. At the height of
pro-democracy nation wide uprising in 1988, he served as a chairman of
general strike committee in Insein township, Rangoon.  He also served as a
vice-chairman of lawyer association.
      He was one of the founding members and served as member of central
committee of National League for Democracy.As his main political task, he
worked as N.L.D division organizer in Mandalay.
      He was then arrested in November,1990 by the brutal S.L.O.R.C regime
and sentenced to eight years imprisonment by military tribunal on the 5th of
February 1991.
      Furthermore,the imprisonment was extended to eighteen years within a
few months. In April 1997,while he was suffered from server sickness in
prison he was refused to take proper medical treatment by the S.L.O.R.C regime.
      On 8th of Jun 1997, he sacrificed his life for his beloved people of
Burma at 1:30 PM Rangoon time. The prison authorities sent him to Rangoon
General Hospital just three hours before he died.
      At the age of 67, he left three sons and wife Daw Myat Thu when he died.
      His body was buried at North Okalapa cemetery on 12th of Jun 1997.

Distributed by N.L.D(L.A)Australia.
This information is authorized by Ko Ba Hein Shwe, son of Monywa Tin
Shwe.    

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

NATION: LOOKING AT SECURITY REALISTICALLY
June 12, 1997  (excerpts)
KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN

During the next decade, the military may not encounter any
threats from major powers but lingering regional disputes will
continue to be a thorn in its side. Due to unclear border
demarcations and maritime boundary problems, tensions with
neighbouring states abound. Employing diplomatic measures, not
military might, to settle these differences is the only way the
country will be able to influence, and even deflect, interference
from major powers in border disputes.

A total of 140 Defence Ministry experts recently contributed
their analyses of Thailand's future defence and security needs to
a special report completed in April entitled "Vision 2030".

The report details the military's vision in seven areas:
politics, economics, society and culture, defence, science and
energy, technology, quality of life and the environment. The
views on defence and security are the most interesting.

As far as key countries that are expected to have a direct
bearing on Thailand's future, the US, China, Vietnam and Burma
are singled out in the 222-page report.

The most extensive section was on the US. The report,
commissioned by Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in March,
stressed that the US will continue to maintain its leading role
in settling disputes in the region. 
     
It was also made clear that Thailand must build up its relations
with Burma and help its western neighbour make the transition
into Asean member status if it hopes to reduce the present border
conflicts.

After all, Burma is the country sharing the longest common border
with Thailand.

By assisting Burma's development, Thailand can demonstrate its
sincerity and reduce Rangoon's suspicions of Thailand.

Yet the report also predicted that Burma will continue to
strengthen its arsenal to suppress minority groups and "to
develop and beef-up its armed forces with assistance from China".
This means Rangoon's military leaders will be able to maintain
their hold on the country and their armies will continue to
flaunt their might unabated, despite ongoing demands to return
power to the people, which the report labelled as "not unified enough".

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

THAILAND TIMES: TWO CHILDREN HURT IN DKBA SNEAK ATTACK
June 12, 1997

TAK: Two Karen Thai children were seriously injured when the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) troops launched a surprise
attack in Umphang district near the Thai-Burmese border
yesterday, border security sources said.

Around 15 fully-armed DKBA soldiers, who were on their way to Mae
Chan subdistrict, blocked the house of Cho Chi Po, a Karen Thai
villager, and suddenly rained bullets on his house which caught
two of his children Piya, 11, and Duangchai, 10.

The DKBA troops reportedly came from Burma after separating from
30 other soldiers who launched an offensive in Mo Ko sub-district.

The 30 heavily-armed soldiers forced Mo Ni Tu a 27year-old Karen
Thai viilager, to lead them to Po Pha Do village which was
believed to be a shelter of former Karen National Union (KNU)
soldiers led by Gen Bo Mya. The troops withdrew after two hours
of heavy fighting against the KNU soldiers and released the
captured villager later on.

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

BKK POST: PANEL REFUSES TO PUBLICISE GAS CONTRACT 
June 13, 1997

Deal 'too technical for laymen to understand'

Chakrit Ridmontri 
Kanchanaburi

The panel assigned to monitor the Yadana gas pipeline refused yesterday to
make public the contract between the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT)
and its supplier.

The refusal came after the prime minister agreed on Wednesday that opponents
should see details of PTT's deal with the exploration consortium in Burma
and its own pipeline contractors.

Chavalit Yongchaiyudh told the opponents to receive copies from the panel at
its monthly meeting in Kanchanaburi yesterday.

Kwanchai Wasawong, the panel chairman, produced a copy of the contract but
refused to let the opponents photocopy it. "You can see the copy here but
can't take it for photocopying," he said.

"Sorry, I don't mean to look down on you but it is in English with plenty of
technical terms, so you may not understand it clearly," said Mr Kwanchai,
also the provincial governor.

"Although the premier has told us to reveal the contract, any people wishing
to see it must be supervised by legal experts and under the consideration of
the committee," he said.

Terms would be misunderstood if the opponents were allowed to translate it
themselves, said Mr Kwanchai, who claimed disclosure would damage relations
with Burma and put the PTT at a disadvantage.

The meeting became tense when Suchin Hongsawadee, a headman and project
supporter, said Gen Chavalit had not said the panel should make the contract
public.

"We are the majority of Kanchanaburi and we also want to see the copy," he
said. "Please allow the meeting to proceed smoothly," he said as groups led
by the Kanchanaburi Conservation Club walked out.

Phinant Chotirosseranee, leader of the local conservation group, said: "I
will tell the prime minister the panel did not follow his instructions
unless the governor gives us a copy."

The conservation groups want to see the contract to verify claims by the PTT
and Korn Dabbaransi, the industry minister, that Burma is entitled to
collect a fine of the equivalent of the daily gas delivery if the project is
not finished by July next year.
They also want authority to ensure the contractors stick to the terms and do
not use techniques banned according to the environmental impact assessment.

Suwanant Chatiudompunth, senior vice-president of PTT Gas, said the panel
was setting up groups to monitor construction, revise the impact assessment
and explain the contract to the public.

The groups would answer questions raised by conservation groups and NGOs, he
said, but construction would proceed as planned. The PTT had agreed to
reduce the width of the pipeline route from 20m to 15m, he said, but may
have to blast if digging does not work. The impact assessment suggested
blasting in sensitive areas be avoided.

According to the PTT, 12 percent of the 260km pipeline is finished and will
complete the project before June 1998 to take deliveries of gas from Burma's
Yadana and Yetagun fields.

However, part of the route cuts through 6km of fertile forest in Thong Pha
Phum district and several kilometres in Sai Yok National Park and the
Forestry Department has yet to give its consent. (BP)

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

THAILAND TIMES: BURMA IGNORES THAI OBJECTIONS, BUILDS 
NEW EMBANKMENT
June 12, 1997
by Assawin Pinitwong

TAK: Burma resumes construction of an embankment in Moei River
after completely turning its back to Thai objections which raised
the dispute to upper-level talks of the Joint Border Committee
(JBC) scheduled for the end of the month.

A border source said Burmese authorities continued
to force its villagers to build an embankment opposite Ban Huay
Muang of Tha Sai Luad sub-district in Tak province after the
failure of recent talks on Khok Chang Pheuak islet carried out by
the Thai-Burmese Technical Committee.

The new embankment which is over 40 meters long is only a
kilometer away from the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge.

It was widely believed that the construction of the new
embankment would lead to Burma's real intention which was to
possess the controversial islet in the middle of Moei River since
the new wall would change the river' s course resulting in the
islet's connection to Burmese territory.

Burma's action of building embankments is a gross violation of
bilateral agreements which bar the construction of any-permanent
structure in the shared waterway.

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

BLOOMBERG: SEMEN CIBINONG TAKES STAKE IN MYANMAR PLANT 
June 12, 1997

[JAKARTA] PT Semen Cibinong said it will take a stake in a US$210 million
(S$300 million) cement plant in Myanmar that will triple the country's 
cement output. 

"The economics are good," said Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the President
Director of Semen Cibinong. "I won't say how good, or everyone will go to 
Myanmar. We were lucky to have been chosen." 

The plant will be 60 per cent-owned by Semen Cibinong, while its affiliated
trading company PT Tirtamas will hold 10 per cent. The company will invest 
a total of US$105 million in the project. 

The remaining 30 per cent will be owned by the Union of Myanmar Economic
Holdings, which is owned by the government of Myanmar. 

The plan will make Semen Cibinong one of the largest foreign investors in
Myanmar outside of the oil and gas sector, the company said. 

Semen Cibinong is one of Indonesia's big three cement companies. Its shares
fell 25 rupiah to 5,975 rupiah. -- Bloomberg 

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

BKK POST: THAILAND EYES BURMESE PORTS
June 9, 1997
Nussara Sawatsawang, RatchburiKaren Lowe

Plan to develop west cuts time, expense for Europe-bound goods.

THAILAND is considering using a Burmese port  on the Andaman Sea as 
an alternative route for Thai goods being shipped to markets in Europe, 
Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Korn Dabbaransi.

The ministry is looking at two Burmese ports _Tovay and Bokpyin - and 
the island of Kawthaung as part of a study due of completion by the end of this
year, Mr Korn told a seminar organised by the Ratchaburi Chamber of 
Commerce on Wednesday.

Thailand's choice will depend on economic viability and related
infrastructure requirements, he said.

Burmese authorities had responded positively to the idea and expressed
"readiness" to develop the port which Thailand chose, he said.

Mr Korn will have further talks with his Burmese counterpart this year.

Currently, 75 percent of Thailand's Europe-bound goods go  through the
Malacca Strait. Shipping the goods through the Andaman Sea would save 
time and cost, he said.

The search for an outlet to the Andaman Sea follows a Thai Government
decision to promote social and economic development in six provinces on 
the Western Seaboard: Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Song Khran, 
Petchburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan and Chumphon.

Mr Korn said Tavoy was accessible through either Kanchanaburi to 
Ratchaburi. Bokpyin is opposite Prachuab Khiri Khan's Bang Saphan 
district while Chumphon can link with Burma Kawthaung, or Victoria 
Point, through Marang town over the Kra River.

Two leading Thai firms have already begun looking for outlets in Burma.

Sahaviriya, which has steel industry complex and a deep sea port in Bang
Saphan, recently signed a deal with the Burmese government to conduct a
study for a landbridge to Bokpyin.

Ital-Thai Development Plc also plans to build a deep-sea port in Tavoy.

Meanwhile, Supoj Phothongkham, Ratchburi's vice governor, called on the
government to guild new roads and promote Suan Phung district as a 
special investment zone.

He said Suan Phung had an economic advantage because it was located just 
8-kilometres from Tavoy and 170 kilometres from Mergui.

"We oppose the idea to have only one route from Kanchanaburi (to Tavoy),
which will leave Ratchaburi deserted," he said. (BP)

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

NLM: SUU KYI, CLINTON BLEMISH BILATERAL TIES  
June 7, 1997  (New Light of Myanmar)  (excerpts)
by Kyaw Gaung: "Hegemonism Nearing Downfall"

It is now an era when the State Law and Order Restoration Council is 
writing a new history of Myanmar. 
-- The history of Myanmar-America ties has been blemished by the imposing 
of sanctions. 
-- The faults of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are extremely despicable. 
-- The voices of Myanmar peoples, blaming and denouncing this act, are 
loud and vibrant. 
-- The President Clinton Government's imposing of sanctions was based 
rather on wish than foresight and reasoning. 
-- There had not been any movement in the ruling of Na Wa Ta Generals 
that might have prompted America to impose sanctions. 
-- There is no more suppression on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
-- Washington's action will affect the policy of ASEAN.
-- The United States must be closely watched to consider the question of 
whether it would impose similar economic sanctions on Indonesia. 
-- Many nations have blamed and denounced on the America's action. 

It is now an era when the State Law and Order
Restoration Council is writing a new history of Myanmar. It
is striving all-out for the multisectoral development of the
country. American President Clinton, Secretary of State
Albright and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has downgraded
herself to a national traitor, have blemished the history of
Myanmar-America ties with the imposing of sanctions under
the pretext of democracy and human rights. It is blatant of
the United States Government to enact a law to unilaterally
ban American firms from making new investments in Myanmar.
It is found that the bilateral friendly relations have been
strained by one state and eight cities in the US with their
adherence to the economic sanctions. Certain American
politicians have goaded this action which resulted in
nothing, without benefiting any of the two countries.
Especially, there has been no particular change in Myanmar.

Editors and journalists of The Times of India and The
Jakarta Post assessed and analysed Myanmar's actual
political situation, what the United States did to Myanmar
more than enough, action committed without reason in accord
with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's intent even though they knew it
was illogical, foolishness to impose economic sanctions by
the US alone, difficulty for the South-East Asian nations to
ignore the US's hegemonistic acts, liability to do the same
to Indonesia and Congressman Patrick Kennedy's actions
against Indonesia. Far-sighted US political expert Mr Henry
Kissinger, former Secretary of State Mr Alexander Haig and
former Secretary of Treasury Mr Llyod Benson condemned the
acts of US President Clinton and Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and they even noted that their actions
would have no effect or do no one good. 

Journalists and political leaders of Asia and South-East Asia are 
continuously condemning them. The time for the fall of the US's 
hegemonism is not very far. Many nations are condemning it. 

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

BKK POST: BURMA'S ENTRY TO ASEAN "IS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE"
June 11, 1997  (excerpts)

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO THAILAND H.E. REYNALDO O.ARCILLA

"Constructive engagement" was not invented by Asean. Some of
those same countries from the West, which now criticise, did it.
Their erstwhile advocacy of constructive engagement towards the
now-defunct apartheid regime in South Africa is too recent to be
overlooked and forgotten. Apartheid was an institutionalised
mechanism for the suppression of human rights. It was so
abhorrent and repulsive to man's conscience that the
international community decided to suspend the racist regime's
membership in the United Nations. Certainly, the Myanmar of today
cannot possibly be equated with what South Africa was before
President Nelson Mandela.

Will the admission of Myanmar bring problems to Asean? Maybe, but
not in the way envisaged by those who do not agree with Asean's
decision. As our Foreign Secretary, Domingo L. Siazon, Jr., said
Myanmar, once admitted, will "probably realise there are certain
norms that have to be met for a better world reflection of Asean."

I strongly disagree with the view that the Philippines' support
for Myanmar's admission is inconsistent with our policy and
record on human rights. The Philippines continues to adhere to
the principle of inviolability of human rights everywhere. We
believe, however, that to promote and protect human rights in
Myanmar, one must engage and persuade her officials and people,
rather than isolate them. Besides, Myanmar's entry is not
one-dimensional insofar as Asean is concerned. There are other
strategic realities that had to be considered and I believe the wisdom of 
our decision will be borne out by our perception of those realities.

Thailand and the Philippines, as well as other members of Asean,
have clearly manifested, with the group's decision, their
solidarity and unity in protecting the member countries'
strategic interests. It is important to remember that closer
integration in Southeast Asia is achievable only through Asean. A
larger and stronger Asean is imperative to the maintenance of
peace and stability in the region. The voice of 10 countries
speaking in unison will definitely be louder and better heard.

As the world's only superpower, the United States has a big stake in the
region and for her to adopt a policy towards Myanmar that is apparently
driven more by domestic considerations than by strategic
interests, could be shortsighted. It should be remembered that no
less than the American Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and
Thailand; as well as former US Secretary of State Henry
Kissinger, have voiced support for the policy of constructive
engagement, noting that what is good for China should also work
for Myanmar.

The Thais and the Filipinos have gone through painful experiences
in their quest for democracy. Both, having achieved great strides
in this respect, remain vigilant in their efforts to preserve and
protect it. Let us hope our citizens will continue to enjoy the
fruits of freedom and prosperity as we together traverse the path
to closer cooperation.
                                           
*********************************************************

ALT-ASEAN: BURMA WOMEN'S DAY
June 12, 1997

A.  BURMA WOMEN'S DAY UPDATE
B.  MEDIA RELEASE

* Please note that the text of the book "Burma and the Role of Women",
published by ABSDF last March can beemailed to you upon request by the
ALTSEAN-BURMA Secretariat.

You can do something to support Burma Women's Day - some actions may include:

1. Circulating information about Burma Women's Day to as many groups as possible

2. Organising a silent protest of women wearing Suu Kyi masks outside the
nearest Burmese Embassy or diplomatic mission - or public space.  Ten women
in Suu Kyi masks holding up a banner will make an impact. Using that as a
backdrop for a reading of Suu Kyi's writings ("Freedom from Fear") woudl be
quite dramatic. Try to get media coverage

3. Trying to generate public and media awareness of the situation of women
in Burma.

4. Sending a letter/statement to the editor of your favourite publications
(be sure to send a copy to burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx and
free-burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
________________________________________________________________

For immediate release: June 14th, 1997

MEDIA RELEASE:
SILENT PROTEST, RECEPTION TO MARK BURMA WOMEN'S DAY

Bangkok: Women's organizations will join forces with Burma activists to
organize a silent protest and a reception on Thursday, June 19th to
celebrate the first Burma Women's Day.

A team of "Aung San Suu Kyis" will gather outside the Burmese Embassy 
(132 Sathorn Nua Road) at 11 a.m. (1100) in a silent protest against the
suppression of women in Burma.

They will later adjourn to the Siam City Hotel (Sri Ayutthaya Rd, nr
Phyathai Rd) where a reception to launch Burma Women's Day and celebrate
Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday will begin at 6 p.m. (1800).

Burma Women's Day will acknowledge the essential role of women in Burma in
the promotion of social justice, peace, human rights and democracy.  It will
honor the sacrifices made by millions of women who face military aggression,
abuse, looting, murder, imprisonment, torture, attacks on their person and
character, as well as attacks on their families and colleagues, because of
their commitment to peace.

June 19 is significant because it is also the birthday of Nobel Laureate and
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the most internationally
admired women in contemporary times.  It provides us with an opportunity to
reflect that there are millions of (sometimes invisible) women who not only
participate directly in the movement for positive change in Burma, but also
support the involvement of family members in the struggle.

ALTSEAN-BURMA coordinator Debbie Stothard said that Burma Women's Day
highlights the situation in Burma as a matter of grave concern for all
women: "The safety and equality of women, let alone their rights as human
beings, are a casualty of the brutal oppression perpetuated by Burma's State
Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc).

"Women, whether politically active or not, continue to bear the brunt of the
military dictatorship in Burma.  Economic hardship, denial of health and
education services, forced relocations, forced labor, military abuses
including rape and torture, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, trafficking of women and
girls, and military-oriented advancement all conspire to suppress women in
Burma.

"Gender equality is part of democracy, and women's rights are human rights.
This must be part of the future Burma that we are working towards," said Ms
Stothard.

For more information, please contact the ALTSEAN-BURMA secretariat at tel.
no 66 2 275 1811, fax 693 4515 or email <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>

*************************************************
 
ANNOUNCEMENT: PROTEST/VIGIL IN PA AT INTERDIGITAL ON JUNE 20TH
June 11, 1997

What: A silent vigil/demonstration against InterDigital for selling
	communications equipment to SLORC possibly in violation of the 
	recent sanctions. 

Where: Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel, King of Prussia, PA

When: Saturday June 20, at 12:30pm

Why: Free Burma!

BACKGROUND
SEACers and Free Burma Activists are organizing a silent vigil at
InterDigital's annual shareholder meeting to protest InterDigital's recent
$250 million contract with the SLORC regime to sell them digital wireless
devices. 

InterDigital agreed to the sale weeks after Clinton said he would
impose a ban on new investment in Burma but only days before Clinton 
actually signed the sanctions into law. Interdigital's agreement, 
besides defying the spirit of the law may even be challenged legally.

The south-east Asian country of Burma is ruled by a military junta which
has been internationally condemned for its massive and brutal repression of
human rights, for its campaign of ecological devastation, and for its
connections to the heroin trade.

Come show your support for the people of Burma by being in King of Prussia
on June 20!  Please forward this announcement on and bring as many people 
as possible.

For more information contact Peter Chowla at either 
pchowla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or (215)386-3605.  Or Contact Mike Ewall at 
(215)752-1202 or mxe115@xxxxxxx

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