[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
BurmaNet News: July 28, 1997
- Subject: BurmaNet News: July 28, 1997
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 17:21:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: July 28, 1997
Issue #783
Noted in Passing:
Burmese FM Ohn Gyaw told Australian FM Downer:
There are not any political detainees and as far as refugees are
concerned, they are not refugees, they are the families
of guerrilla fighters.
(see AAP: DOWNER CRITICIZES REGIME)
HEADLINES:
==========
AAP: DOWNER CRITICISES BURMESE REGIME ON REFORM PACE
NATION: WEST COOL TO AID REQUEST FOR BURMA
INDEPENDENT REPORT: VIEWS OF A BURMESE STUDENT
INDEPENDENT REPORT: BACKGROUND ON SITUATION IN SHAN STATE
INDEPENDENT REPORT: SLORC WILL NOT SIGN ANTI-MINES
ALTSEAN: ACTIVISTS URGE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM
NLM (PERSPECTIVES): NEW INDUSTRIAL ZONES
ABSL: MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA
ANNOUNCEMENT: SOLIDARITY FAST
ANNOUNCEMENT: JOIN IN PLANTING SEEDS OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
----------------------------------------------------------------------
AAP: DOWNER CRITICISES BURMESE REGIME ON REFORM PACE
July 26, 1997
By Gordon Feeney, AAP South-East Asia Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 AAP - Australian Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer today condemned the "snail's pace" of political
reform in Burma - and announced a special envoy would visit to
assess the situation and meet Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Mr. Downer told reporters after a meeting with Burmese Foreign
Minister U Ohn Gyaw that he believed political reform in Burma was
progressing "at snail's pace" - the speed of "glue up a hill".
And Mr. Downer was forced to telephone U Ohn Gyaw after he
reportedly told the media Mr. Downer had not raised human rights at
their meeting. "I wouldn't have rung him if I wasn't a little surprised to hear
what he'd said," Mr. Downer said.
Mr. Downer said senior Australian diplomat John Dauth, a former
Ambassador to Malaysia, would travel to Burma in the next couple of
months to probe the human rights' situation and to meet Suu Kyi.
"Constitutional reform in Burma is travelling at about the pace
of glue up a hill," he said.
Mr. Dauth would meet the Slorc to emphasise Australia's wish to
see political reform, along with other key figures, including a
proposed meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi.
"I made the point to the foreign minister that the National
League for Democracy had received overwhelming support from the
Burmese people in the election that took place in Burma.
"He made the point to me that the SLORC did not run candidates
in that election so you couldn't judge the popularity of the
National League for Democracy against the SLORC.
[BurmaNet Editor's Note: The SLORC did support a party - the National
Unity Party - but it received very few votes and even lost to the NLD in
several areas primarily inhabited by military personnel.]
"I have to say that I find that as a disappointing response."
Mr. Dauth is likely to travel to Burma some time around early
September. Mr. Downer said U Ohn Gyaw had agreed to facilitate the
trip by Mr. Dauth - also Special Envoy to Cambodia.
Mr. Downer said he told U Ohn Gyaw that he had seen almost no
progress on political and constitutional reform since he had met
with the Burmese regime one year ago.
"I said that I thought the constitutional reform process was
proceeding at a snail's pace.
"Last year when we raised the question of constitutional reform
in Burma the minister had told us that there was a process under
way and that the process was evolving.
"I said to him that we got the impression 12 months later that
very little had happened and he assured me that the constitutional
reform process would proceed.
"I asked him whether it would proceed quickly or whether this
was something that was going to take five to ten years. He made it
clear that it would happen in Burma's own time, but he didn't think
it would take that long, Mr. Downer said.
"I said that in Australia and in other countries around the world there
was deep concern about reports of political detainees held without trial -
that there were refugees and that internationally there was a great deal of
concern about the man rights' situation in Burma.
"The foreign minister denied that there were any political
detainees and said as far as refugees were concerned, they were not
refugees these people were the families of guerrilla fighters," he said.
"I have to say at the end of the discussion I formed the view that there is a
long way to go in terms of the constitutional reform process in Burma.
"The Burmese government suggests that it is making progress
towards reform but the experience of the last 12 months is that
none has taken place," Mr. Downer said.
"I am concerned that the meeting that took place last week
between the National League for Democracy and the SLORC was
according to the foreign minister - not a meeting that should be
seen as a first step towards dialogue between the SLORC and the
National League for Democracy."
****************************************
NATION: WEST COOL TO AID REQUEST FOR BURMA
July 26, 1997
KUALA LUMPUR - Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean) yesterday urged dialogue partners to
increase funds for development cooperation to assist new members
reinforcing the policy of nondiscriminatory assistance to Burma.
"The foreign ministers reiterated the principle of non-discrimination in the
pursuit of development cooperation in Asean. In the wake of the admission
of new members, the ministers stressed the need for additional funding in
view of an anticipated increase in the requirement for development
assistance," said a joint statement, released at the conclusion
of the two-day 30th ministerial meeting yesterday.
The European Union, the US and Canada have indicated that they
are not prepared to extend such funds to cover the Burmese regime
whose human rights record is still a grave concern among the
international community.
Informed Asean sources said the regional grouping will raise the
issue with its dialogue partners when they hold their annual
two-day consultations beginning on Monday, but will try to avoid
confrontation.
The sources said Asean insisted that Burma be assisted
unconditionally under Asean frameworks.
Outgoing Asean Secretary-General Ajit Singh said yesterday that
the EU has informed Asean that entry to the group's development
cooperation agreement is conducted on an individual basis for
each country.
Burma and Laos - the two new Asean members - will have to accede
to the agreement individually, he said.
Nay Htun, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
assistant administrator and regional director for Asia and the
Pacific, yesterday met Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Kyaw and
Lao Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad to discuss technical
assistance programmes that will help them meet Asean obligations,
in particular those of the Asean Free Trade Area.
The UNDP has so far assisted Laos, Burma and Cambodia in their
preparation to join Asean and in national development projects
such as infrastructure and agriculture.
Despite the delay in Cambodia's membership, the UNDP will
continue with its programme of assistance to the country.
Laos has more problems than Burma, in terms of human resources
and capital, in meeting the requirements of Asean programmes. The
UNDP's assistance to Burma has been conducted through
non-governmental organisations.
Asean agreed that 2015 be the deadline for the two new member
countries to phase in their products from their respective sensitive lists
to their inclusion list for tariff reductions. For the six founding Asean
members the deadline is 2010 and for Vietnam 2013.
*****************************************************************
INDEPENDENT REPORT: VIEWS OF A BURMESE STUDENT
July 23, 1997
This is the point of view and opinion of Ma In Gyin Naing, a 2nd
year honors Chemistry student at the Rangoon University who actively
participated in the recent December Students' demonstration, upon the last
December Students' demonstration and the situation of students and youth
including young women in Burma
She was born in Rangoon in 1974. She started her primary school
at the No. 2 State High School in San-chaung township (Rangoon) and then,
she continued her secondary school at the No. 1 State High School in Mon-ywa
township in Sagaing Division. While she was studying at the No. 2 S.H.S in
San-chaung as a 9th standard student, she joined with the 1988 Students'
Demonstrations and she was a member of the Basic State High School
Students' Union.
After 1988 uprising, she joined with the Democratic Party for a
New Society (DPNS) and she became a core member of DPNS. She
actively participated in the political activities of DPNS in Rangoon and
Mon-ywa.
In 1991, she tried to continue her education at the No. 2 S.H.S in
San-chaung, but she was rejected because of her involvement in the
students' movements. So, she had to continue her studying at the No. 1
S.H.S in San-chaung and she passed the secondary school ( 10th standard )
in 1992.
In 1994, she started her higher education at the Rangoon
University (Hlaing Campus) by studying Chemistry as a major subject. In
1996 when she was studying as a 2nd year honors student, she joined with
the All Burma Federation of Students' Unions (ABFSU) and performed as
a student activist in Rangoon.
On December 7, 1996, she was arrested because of her
participation in the December Students' demonstration. She was
temporarily detained just for interrogation by MIs in Rangoon.
After that, on 14-12-96, her house was searched by authorities due
to suspicion of her connection with ABFSU and the underground
movements. Therefore she had to hide inside Burma for 6 months and, in
June 1997, sneaked out to the Thai-Burma border. And then, she joined
with her mother political organization, the Democratic Party for a New
Society (DPNS).
# Whether, in the December Students' Demonstration, there is any
involvement of political organizations or not.
- It was not related with any political party and, during the
demonstration, there was no involvement of political organizations. It was
merely that the students themselves demanded the rights of students what
they really need to be practised. And also, they contributed their views,
opinions and needs in the movement and fearlessly asked for their rights.
The groundless accusation of the Slorc __ as of Slorc it was due to the
destructive elements of political parties and various groups both inside and
outside the country __ is to ignore the tradition of Burmese students, the
role of students in the national politic and the struggles of students for the
sake of the people. By using such distortions, they (the Slorc) tried to
denigrate the students' movement, they disregarded it, and they abased it.
The real destructive element of the students' movement was the
performance of the Slorc's MIs during the movement. They (Slorc's spies
among students) disseminated some leaflets signed by the name of " the
group of students who need the peaceful studying" which made distraction
and confusion some students.
The demands are as follows;
- to allow the Students' Union to be formed freely.
- to unconditionally release all detained students and political prisoners.
- to announce the real events and allow the freedom of press.
# The opinion of the students upon the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
- At present, the Slorc are trying to cut out the support given by
other political groups including ethnic nationalities to the NLD and Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi. So, some of students and youths are afraid to associate
with the activities of NLD and some are being concerned for that. But,
most of students actually understand that the political deadlock and
dilemma in Burma is because of the Slorc. And also, the lack of sincerity
of SLORC make unstablity in the country politically and economically.
Most of students and youths understand the role of NLD in politic
and regard the NLD as a political party which won the support of the
people in Burma. And also, they support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the
people's leader who are trying her best to reach the will of the people in
Burma. Especially, women are proud of her stance on the side of people.
The students agree with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the matter of
the current educational system. Her criticism on the present educational
system and the pointing out of the weaknesses of educational performance
of Slorc is the real suffering of the students and the same opinion as of
students.
# The political awareness of young women and views on culture.
- After the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the political
awareness of Burmese young women are more and more than ever.
Especially, it can be seen that there were the performances of girls __ some
were in the leading role __ in the last December Students' demonstration.
At present, internationally, the sharing and spreading culture each
others in the global village are increasing. Both advantages and
disadvantages are being comprised under this circumstances. In Burma,
the ways of other cultures which, even in their countries, can not be
accepted are imported into the country instead of sharing exemplary habits
and behaviours.
The current social and educational conditions of Burmese young
women are quite lower than of other countries. But, in our thought, we
love freedom. We want to be as others in various fields.
But, " What is freedom? How to reach it? " the unsolvable
questions arise from their lives in a straitened social and economic
circumstances. It mislead them to the calamity when they can not find any
proper way to ease their difficulties. So, it can be seen that there are some
women under such calamitous lives.
# The awareness of youths and students in politics and the deception of
SLORC on them.
The youths and students have been growing up under the BSPP
government as well as the Slorc with the lack of democratic rights. They
have had no opportunity to study what they want, and to participate in
politic. And also they had to survive in the straitened circumstances.
After the 1988, the people movement opened their eyes and they
actively participated in politic despite being the crucial oppression of the
military regime. But they used to be with fear. Though they love their
country, they are still afraid of the threaten of the military regime. They
are not freedom from fear. They are not familiar in a sacrifice for their
country. Some are still afraid of the government's action because of their
involvement in politic. But the tradition and spirit of Burmese students in
the history of Burmese politic should not be forgotten. It is the historical
heritage for students.
The Slorc well know about that. They (the Slorc) are fear the
students and youths would get the progressive ideas and ways of thinking
against the military regime. So, the military regime inveigles the youths in
others such as going to night clubs, discotheques and pubs, drinking
alcohol, using drugs. It is clear that they systematically destroy the
lives of
youths and their future by using such deception.
# To join with the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA),
the threat and lure of the Slorc.
- In the secondary schools, the students are forced to join with the
USDA and participate in its activities. Students of secondary schools do
not know the purpose of Slorc for creating the USDA and they just know it
as an organization of students. As the nature of youths, the students are
very interested in the organizational activities. The Slorc understands the
nature of youths and applies well it as an advantage for the USDA's
activities.
In the public rally controlled by the Slorc, the USDA uses the
students by force in marching there. Most of students are disappointed for
it but they have no choice.
# The effect of economic declination of the country on the students in their
education.
- The present economic situation of Burma is quite low and the
daily incomes of ordinary people can not reach the basic needs for their
survival. Even for their living, people hardly have to survive. It effects
the
education of their children. Due to the high cost of learning and the
economical hardship of the parents, most youths have to lose their
education. Some have to give priority to their subsistence instead of their
education. It is also the danger of the country for future.
The following are some facts that the students are facing in their
schools.
- the collection of so-called donations by authority in the primary and
secondary schools, various colleges and universities. But they are not
donations and every students must pay. ( for example __ in the secondary
schools, to set up computer department, 500 ks for each student in the 5th
standard and 1,000 ks for each. And also there are some donations for
various reasons such as for new building, for construction of new roads and
etc. )
- the students have to buy the curriculum books published by government
from black market with unreasonable prices.
It can be seen that the comparison between the basic cost of the
university students and the income of people as follows;
the cost of a university student:
5,000 ks per month (for day student)
10,000 ks per month (for hostel student)
the income of a person:
1,000 to 2,000 ks per month ( for government employment )
100 ks per day ( for hand-to-mouth person )
Therefore, some teenagers are more interested to get income than
to learn for their education under this situation.
# The students' movements in future.
- The students' movements will be more strong. Among the
students, they are still disgruntled on the measures of the military regime
in general. Especially, the consequences of the December Students'
movement have not come to end and the student activists are being more
active. They are looking forward to any possibility for the next movement.
Due to the system of using divide and rule by the military regime among
the students, there are also some students who like to stay away from any
movement against the government. However, if the Slorc can not follow as
the demands of the students, they (the Slorc) will have to face the
students' movements in near future. It will be happening soon.
***********************************************
INDEPENDENT REPORT: BACKGROUND ON SITUATION IN SHAN STATE
July 25, 1997
by Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe
Ethnic Cleansing began in the early 1990s, which we -- Shan and non-Shan
observers alike -- thought at first was merely a more brutal kind of
atrocity and isolated land-grabbing by individual Slorc (i.e.,military)
officers.
We are wrong. It is now clear that there is a deliberate, systematic campaign
to make life unbearable for villages, thus compelling them to flee, upon which
their villages and fields are taken over by the Slorc army. The land are then
redistributed to Burman army veterans and families, and choice plots sold to
Chinese, or those with money to pay the asking price.
The modus operandi is to make life intolerable for the villagers. They are,
for example, constantly impressed into "voluntary" service as slave-labor
on various projects -- erecting fences and digging trenches around and in
military outposts, constructing houses and barracks, and working on fields
(corn, garlic, peanut, etc.) belonging to local army units or officers,
doing menial tasks for soldiers (fetching water, hewing wood, etc.).
In addition, villagers are subject to the usual atrocities: they are beaten,
detained, killed, robbed, etc., at will. Also womenfolk are subject to rape
with impunity and at will. Money is also extorted from the village for
various "charities" and "project".
As a result of the above treatment, villagers have had to flee, abandoning
their fields and villages. Slorc officers have also repeatedly told the
villagers that they are not wanted, that they would be killed, life made
unbearable, and that if the villagers cannot endure being treated thus,
they can move to Thailand -- i.e., flee or die.
There are now will over 100,00 rural villagers in Thailand -- i.e., whole
families, including the very old and infants. Being very rustic, it is
very difficult for them to adapt to life as underpaid, highly exploited
laborers in both urban and semi-rural areas. And those who work (at half
the Thai minimum wage rate), do not make enough to support their dependents
Consequently, many women (wives and mothers) are compelled to work as
prostitutes -- from time to time, when someone in the family falls ills,
or the head of the family is injured on job site.
The UN does not recognize displaced persons, DPs, from Shan State as refugees
or DPs -- nor does the Thai government. They are "invisible" or non-existent
as far as the UN and Thai authorities are concerned. As a result international
NGOs cannot help Shan DPs. They are left on their own, to fend for themselves
in a very difficult, and, for Shan DPs, totally strange environment.
We do not know why Shan DPs are treated by the UN as non-existent and
"invisible". Nor do we understand why this is so. UN personnel in Bangkok
blame this state of affairs, unofficially, on the Thai government. But Thai
authorities deny that is a policy not to recognize Shan DPs as such, or as
refugees.
In the meantime, more and more Shans are being driven into Thailand to suffer
a worst fate than the Karenni, Burman, Mon, or Karen refugees -- which is,
as everyone is aware, horrible enough.
We, the Shan people, would be very grateful for further efforts in illuminating
the crime against humanity -- as in Bosnia -- being perpetrated by a regime
noted for its brutality.
Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe
Associate, ADDB (Associates to Democratically Develop Burma)
and Adviser, SDU (Shan Democratic Union)
***************************************************
INDEPENDENT REPORT: SLORC WILL NOT SIGN ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES TREATY
July 21, 1997
"Myanmar will not sign the treaty to ban anti personnel mines", said the
SLORC's representative during the colloquium on anti personnel
mines(APMs) at Sydney on 17 July, 1997.
U Ko Ko Sein from Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Burma needed land
mines for her defence purposes. He said that Burma was situated between
India and China. Since these two countries were not signing the treaty,
Burma was not going to sign it, he said.
Among South East Asean nations, Philippines, Cambodia and Malaysia have
expressed their support to ban the use, stockpiling, transfer and
production of APMs. Worldwide, 100 countries have expressed their support.
The treaty to ban APMs will be signed at Ottawa, Canada in December this
year.
Apart from U Ko Ko Sein, Lt. Col. Soe Thein from Ministry of Defence and
U Hau Do Suan, First Secretary of Burmese Embassy in Canberra
attended the conference organised by International Campaign to Ban Land
Mines(ICBL-Australia and New Zealand). Governmental and non governmental
delegates from 27 countries of Asia Pacific region attended this conference.
***********************************************************
ALTSEAN: ACTIVISTS URGE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM:
GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER
July 28, 1997
MEDIA RELEASE
Kuala Lumpur: A network of more than 40 Asean-based organisations today
renewed their call for members of the Asean Regional Forum to implement with
determination and firmness a co-ordinated and comprehensive strategy to
ensure a prompt cessation of human rights violations and a restoration of
democracy in Burma.
"Back-biting and negative criticism of each other's approach is pointless.
Ego clashes are not going to benefit the 48 million people of Burma who
continue to suffer behind the facade staged by an oppressive military
regime," said ALTSEAN-BURMA Coordinator Ms Debbie Stothard. ALTSEAN-BURMA
(Alternative Asean Network on Burma) is a network of activist groups, NGOs,
academics and political leaders.
The Network pointed out that Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council
(Slorc) have failed to honor the outcome of the election it held in 1990, in
which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 82% of the seats while the
Slorc-backed National Unity Party won only 5%.
Burma's military junta has steadily increased military expenditure at the
expense of health and education. More than 40% of the budget is spent on
arms and soldiers while a paltry 4% is allocated to health. Universities and
schools remain closed by the military regime. More than half the country's
children are experiencing severe malnutrition. The HIV/AIDS epidemic
continues unchecked. The World Health Organization estimates that there are
500,000 Burmese infected with the virus. Burma remains the world's largest
producer of heroin and opium.
In Burma's frontier areas, the military continue to attack Burman and ethnic
communities, causing more than 200,000 people to flee into neighboring
countries. An estimated 2 million people continue to be used as forced labor
- a significant number of them are children. The past year has also seen
unprecedented harassment of the government-elect by the Slorc and NLD leader
Aung San Suu Kyi remains under virtual house arrest.
Despite the inflow of foreign investment, the Slorc's mismanagement of the
economy has precipitated a massive foreign exchange crisis which has seen
the market rate of the kyat plunge from 180 to 300 kyat per US dollar in the
past month. The market rate is seen to be the most realistic rate in
comparison to the other 3 rates of exchange maintained by the Slorc.
(Official: 6 kyat per US dollar, Foreign Exchange Certificate rate: 180 kyat
per US dollar, Customs rate: 150 kyat per US dollar).
"It is a matter of urgency that the Asean Regional Forum facilitates
tripartite dialogue between the Slorc, the democracy movement and ethnic
nationality groups. The so-called National Convention to produce a new
constitution is a grossly inadequate forum since only 3% of the convention
is elected.
"Tripartite dialogue is the way forward out of Burma's troubles. It is the
responsibility of Asean and its dialogue partners to ensure this happens as
soon as possible," stressed Ms Stothard.
The Asean Meetings in Kuala Lumpur have been a target of widespread protest
because of the Slorc's formal acceptance as a member. Protest actions have
taken place in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan and other parts of the
world.
For more details please call Bangkok tel: 662 275 1811 / 693 4515
or Kuala Lumpur 60 10 224 3016 / 010 224 3016
***********************************************************
NLM (PERSPECTIVES): NEW INDUSTRIAL ZONES
July 17, 1997
Thanlyin-Kyauktan Industrial Zone, which is the second industrial zone in
Myanmar being implemented with foreign partnership, is the largest such
project in Myanmar.
Located south of Yangon, the project is being implemented with an investment
of $166.1 million under the agreement reached between the Department of
Human Settlement and Housing Development and Sinmardev International Pte.
Ltd. of Singapore.
The first foreign joint venture industrial zone in Myanmar is Mingaladon
Industrial Zone. The main contractor, Mitsui & Co. Ltd. of Japan, has
invested $12 million in this project, which is located in Mingaladon
Township, north of downtown Yangon.
Hlinethaya Industrial Zone in the north-west of Yangon is the third foreign
joint-venture industrial zone. Rojana Industrial Park Co. Ltd. of Thailand
has reached an agreement with DHSHD to set up the zone, pouring $ 14 million
into this project.
DHSHD is also implementing other industrial zone projects in Shwepyitha and
Dagon Myothit.
Apart from Thanlyin-Kyauktan Industrial Zone, the others are being set up
mainly for national industrialists with the aim of boosting domestic
products, to facilitate proper export-import ratio for the national economy
and to generate more jobs for regional people.
Some of the factories in local industrial zones have started operation and
some factories are starting to export their products. And among them,
Hlinethaya Industrial Zone is the most successful at present.
Extended production at local industries will ensure sufficiency in domestic
consumption and also boost exports.
Thanlyin-Kyauktan Industrial Zone, which is being jointly implemented by
Sinmardev of Singapore and Genting Sayen Berhad of Malaysia on mutual
interest, is only for foreign companies, said Secretary-1 of the State Law
and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt during his inspection of
the zone recently.
One of the advantages of this giant industrial zone is its location near
another mammoth project, the Myanmar International Terminal Project
(Thilawa).
It was initiated at the Meeting on Implementation of Special Projects.
Myanma Port Authority and C&P Holding Pte Ltd of Singapore signed BOT
contract on 28 June 1995 to build the first container facility on a 75-acre
plot at the terminal, which is 500 metres long and 750 metres wide, with a
total investment of $ 66,635 million.
Another agreement was reached between the two on 7 September 1995 to build
the second container facility on a 500-metre by 750-metre plot, with total
investment of $ 62.75 million.
A number of foreign companies are also engaged in infrastructural
development of this project sectorwise. It will handle 500,000 containers
per year when completed.
We are sure these industrial zones and the terminal will help develop
industries in Myanmar and their production which may lead to generation of
many new job opportunities, regional progress and national economic
development.
**************************************************
ABSL: MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA
July 25, 1997 (All Burma Students League, India)
Today 25th July 1997, Mr.K.R Narayanan was elected as the
thirteenth president of India. He belong to Kerala State of
India. He was ambassador to Burma. He was Minister of
Industry and Education in past years. He is married to
Daw Tint Tint who is of Burmese Nationality and was a lecturer
at Rangoon University. He was served as president of Friends
of Democracy in Burma which was formed after 1988 in India.
After he was elected as Vice President of India, in accordance with
the Indian Constitution he had to leave his position with Friends of
Democracy in Burma. He is a supporter and lover of peace,
justice and human rights.
Mr. Kyaw Than, Vice President of All Burma Students League
North-Eastern Based, gives a heartfelt message to Shri
Narayanan, President of India, as follows;
Shir K.R.Narayanan,
His Excellency the President of India,
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Delhi.
Your Excellency Sir,
We heartily congratulate you for assuming the highest
office of the President of India on this day, the 25th
July 1997. You have distinguished yourself by your
scholarship, leadership and your great contribution for the
preservation of peace, harmony, democracy and human rights,
not only in India but also in the whole world.
Sir, we are a group of Burmese refugee students residing in
different parts of Northeast India with the moral and
material support of the native people here. We are not
getting any governmental, U.N, NGO or any other formal
support from any quarters.
We are sure, you Excellency, that you will use your good
offices to support for our cause of peace and justice,
democracy, human rights and national reconciliation in our
country not only within India but from outside also.
Once again, we express our heartfelt congratulations to
you.
With highest regards,
Your fraternally
Kyaw Than
Vice President
All Burma Students League.
News and Information Bureau, All Burma Students League
******************************************************
ANNOUNCEMENT: SOLIDARITY FAST
July 25, 1997
Dear Free Burma Supporters,
Last night the group of Uniting Church people who meet about
Burma decided to hold an event in solidarity with the students
on a hunger strike over Burma's admission into ASEAN.
This coming Wednesday, 30th July, we will fast from sunrise to
sunset. The beginning of the fast will be marked by prayers for Burma in
the city square in Melbourne at 7am. From there we will walk to the
Thai consulate for some more prayers and then disperse.
During the day participants will pray for Burma wherever they are at
morning tea time, lunchtime and afternoon tea time.
At 5:30pm will we regather for prayers in the city square and then go on
to another venue (probably the Uniting Church Office 130 Little Collins
Street) to break the fast with a meal. Anyone wishing to join us would be
most welcome.
Wednesday 30th July
Fast in Solidarity with Thai Burmese students
over Burma's admission into ASEAN
7am City Square
Personal prayers:
Morning tea time, Lunchtime, Afternoon tea time
5:30pm City Square
6pm Break the fast together (venue to be confirmed)
If you can't come either in the morning or the evening
you can still participate by praying throughout the day.
******************************************************************
ANNOUNCEMENT: JOIN IN PLANTING SEEDS OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
July 25, 1997
PLEASE JOIN IN PLANTING SEEDS OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
To commemorate Burma's August 8, 1988 pro-democracy uprising, and support
the ongoing struggle for human rights, please participate in this mail
action:
Tape a seed or seeds (sesame, pumpkin, or any other kind) to a piece of
paper. On the paper, write a message telling the SLORC regime that the
Seeds of Democracy are planted and growing in Burma, and SLORC's army
will not be able to stop the flowering of freedom. You can decorate the
paper with trees, flowers or rice pictures. Send it, during August 1997,
to the Burma (Myanmar) Embassy in your country. [US address: 2300 S St.
NW, Washington DC 20008]. You need not use a return address. Ask your
friends & family to send "democracy seeds" as well.
Project Maje 7/97
maje@xxxxxxxxxxx
http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm
**********************************************************************