AMNESTY/BURMA ...VOA

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=7/21/97
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-37033
TITLE=AMNESTY / BURMA
BYLINE=KHIN MAUNG HTAY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

                           (UNVOICED)

// EDS:  EMBARGOED UNTIL 7:01 P-M MONDAY, ACTS AVAILABLE IN 
BUBBLE //


INTRO:  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS RELEASED A REPORT ON BURMA THAT
FOCUSES ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY THE RULING MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT AGAINST ETHNIC MINORITIES.  AS KHIN MAUNG HTAY (PRON: 
KIN MOUNG TAY) OF V-O-A'S BURMESE SERVICE REPORTS, AMNESTY IS 
URING THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) -- WHICH
IS ABOUT TO ADMIT BURMA AS A NEW MEMBER -- TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS
TO HELP ADDRESS THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY.


TEXT:  AMNESTY SAYS ITS 25-PAGE REPORT -- "MYANMAR: ETHNIC 
MINORITY RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK" -- IS LARGELY BASED ON DOZENS OF 
INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED IN APRIL AND MAY OF THIS YEAR WITH  MEMBERS 
OF THE KAREN, KARENNI, MON AND SHAN ETHNIC MINORITIES IN 
THAILAND.

AMNESTY SPOKESWOMAN DONNA GUEST SAYS ASEAN, WHICH IS MEETING IN 
MALAYSIA THIS WEEK, CANNOT IGNORE THE REPORT'S FINDINGS AND 
SHOULD ACT UPON THEM.

                                    // GUEST ACT  //

         REPRESSION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IS CONTINUING. WE ARE 
         SEEING MASSIVE FORCED RELOCATIONS THROUGHOUT EASTERN 
         MYANMAR (BURMA).  WE ARE SEEING MASSIVE FORCED LABOR, 
         FORCED PORTERING, KILLINGS BY THE ARMY.  WE ARE ALSO 
         HEARING STORIES -- VERY RECENT STORIES OF PEOPLE FLEEING
         INTO BANGLADESH BECAUSE OF FORCED LABOR.  IT BEHOOVES 
         ASEAN TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND TAKE SOME POSITIVE 
         STEPS.

                        /// END ACT  ///

AMNESTY SAYS THAT, AT A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE, 200-THOUSAND 
REFUGEES FROM BURMA LIVE IN THAI CITIES AND IN CAMPS ALONG THE 
BORDER.  MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND OF THEM BELONG TO ETHNIC MINORITY
GROUPS.  AMNESTY WANTS THAILAND TO CONTINUE ITS POLICY OF SAFE 
REFUGE AND TO COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEAL WITH THE 
PROBLEM.

                        /// GUEST ACT ///

         WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE THAIS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY
         TO STICK WITH THEIR POLICY OF ALLOWING SAFE REFUGE. JUST
         BECAUSE FIGHTING HAS STOPPED DOES NOT MEAN THAT HUMAN 
         RIGHTS VIOLATIONS GO AWAY.  IT'S JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE. 
         THEY CONTINUE AND I THINK THAT THAILAND REALLY NEEDS TO 
         ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND TO ALLOW THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE 
         BORDER, AND SEEK HELP FROM OTHER NATIONS. CERTAINLY, 
         IT'S A BIG BURDEN FOR THAILAND. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. I 
         THINK OTHER PEOPLE THERE ARE READY TO HELP THEM.

                         /// END ACT ///

DONNA GUEST SAYS FORCED RE-LOCATION IS A MAIN CONCERN THAT 
AMNESTY HAS UNDER PRESENT CONDITIONS. 

                        /// GUEST ACT ///

         I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON FORCED RELOCATION BECAUSE THIS IS
         HAPPENING IN THE SHAN STATE AND THE KARENNI STATE -- 
         EVEN AS WE SPEAK.  IT WAS HAPPENING LAST YEAR. IT'S 
         STILL HAPPENING NOW. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING 
         RE-LOCATED ON THEIR OWN SAFETY OR BECAUSE OF IMPERATIVE 
         MILITARY REASONS. THEY'RE BEING MOVED AROUND TO BREAK UP
         ALLEGED LINKS WITH INSURGENTS, AND THEY ARE BEING 
         TREATED VERY, VERY BADLY.

                         /// END ACT ///

REGIONAL SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS -- AND THE HOPE THAT ASEAN MIGHT
MORE EASILY INFLUENCE THE RULING MILITARY IN RANGOON -- ARE 
BEHIND THE ASEAN DECISION TO ADMIT BURMA.  HOWEVER, AMNESTY 
SPOKESWOMAN DONNA GUEST SAYS ASEAN NEEDS TO DO MORE TO ENSURE THE
OBJECTIVE OF REGIONAL SECURITY.

                                 // GUEST ACT // 

         WE DON'T OPPOSE ITS (BURMA'S) ADMISSION. NOW THAT YOU'VE
         TAKEN THE DECISION, WHAT YOU (ASEAN) NEED TO DO IS TO 
         BRING UP HUMAN RIGHTS IN EVERY MEETING AND TO REALLY BE 
         STRONG WITH THE SLORC (THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT) ABOUT 
         THIS.  PRESSURE THEM TO ALLOW THE U-N SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
         INTO THE COUNTRY AND TO ENSURE THAT ASEAN INVESTMENT 
         DOES NOT LEAD TO ANY KIND OF FORCED LABOR.

                                 // END ACT //

IN ITS REPORT, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ALSO CALLS ON SLORC TO 
ENGAGE IN A TRIPARTITE DIALOGUE WITH THE THE DEMOCRACY PARTY OF 
AUNG SAN SUU KYI, WHOSE 1990 ELECTION VICTORY HAS BEEN IGNORED BY
THE MILITARY -- AND WITH ETHNIC MINORITY LEADERS.

                         // REST OPT //

AMNESTY ALSO SAYS COMPANIES FROM ASEAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS 
MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, AND THAILAND WHO ARE INVESTING IN BURMA 
SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF "HUMAN RIGHTS CODE" TO HELP THE BURMESE 

MILITARY IMPROVE THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION. (SIGNED)       

EAP/KMH/DAR/RRM