Indo-Burma border news (r)

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One died in truck accident at Mandalay
 
The Thai workers are workings at international Airport construction 
project, Mandalay second capital of Burma. There was a truck accident 
around noon on 12th September 1997. A ten-wheeled truck model 91/93 
including watching machine carrying Thai-workers on the way to then 
barrack from work site for lunch, reached aside out at the road and 
became up side down position at right angle town 200 yards away 
towards northwest from main building of Airport. Mr. Pardesh, 42 
years perished on the spot and one out of the 19 injured was seriously 
hurt and hospitalized at surgical Unit (2) of Mandalay General 
Hospital.
 
 
 
News and Information Unit
ABSDF (Western-Burma)
 
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By a staff reporter
Imphal, September 13.
 
Burmese monks plan countrywide protest
 
Buddhist monks in neighboring country of Burma will organize a 
countrywide protest against harsh measures adopted by the State 
Law and Order Restoration Council, SLORC government nationwide 
on the occasion of 9th anniversary of military coup in Burma on 
September 18, 1988.
 
According to a statement issued by Central executive Committee 
of Galon Ni Sangha League, Upper Burma, so far 323 monks have 
perished in military crackdown in Burma since 1988 crackdown 
on democratic uprising.
 
Sixteen monks died in jails, five hundred monks have been 
arrested and 162 are still languishing in jails, the statement 
said adding that they are forced to shed Buddhist-rob and also 
to work hard labour inside jails.
 
It also said more than 30,000 changed their dresses and 
converted to the laity after the military coup only to 
avoid harassment by the Army.
 
The Burmese military is also accused of forcing people in 
remote and border areas to convert to Buddhism creating 
ethnic clashes and also causing religious clashes.
 
It said Burma has collapsed in all aspects within 9 
years of SLORC rule as the people are sinking in the ocean 
of price rise. Buddhist monks repeatedly hear the voice of 
disappointment from the people who ask for donation of food. 
They come back to monasteries with empty bowls, the statement said.
 
We believe that there will be no political stability in Burma 
as long as the dictatorship is there. We can not keep peace 
without political stability and without peace economic stability 
is impossible. It is the responsibility of Buddhist monks to over 
thrown the military junta and restore democracy in the country, 
it said. It appealed to all monks to join the protest by not 
going outside the monasteries to protest repressive measures.
       
 
 
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Fernandes lauds UGs for drive against drugs
 
By a staff reporter
Imphal, September 13.
 
The Samata party will observe a Satyagraha, and set up a human wall 
on the Indo-Burma border at Moreh indefinitely from October 2 
onwards to drawn the attention of the world to the problem of drug 
trafficking along the border, according to the president of the party, 
George Fernandes.
 
Talking to reporters, the SP president said many NGOs and women's 
organization would take part in the Satyagraha. While pointing out that 
drug money posed the greatest threat to national security in the region, 
Fernandes expressed appreciation for the campaign carried out by some 
of the underground organizations in the state, including the UNLF and 
the PLA against drug smuggling.
 
The SP president also observed that along with drug smuggling, the 
border opening has become the road to export AIDS into India. The 
tentacles of HIV have imprisoned the youths of the northeast with the 
blessings of Burma, according to Fernandes.  The number of people 
afflicted with AIDS has reached frightening proportions in Manipur 
making it he virtual AIDS capital of the world, Fernandes said.
 
The SP leader, who criticized the Center's policies towards this region, 
stated that the economic condition of the states of the northeast has 
worsened with the increasing trend of unemployment.
 
The NE is neglected in every way by the Center and the PM's economic 
package was meant to hoodwink the people of the region and not for 
their welfare, he said.
 
The Samata Party would also organize state and district level 
conventions to express solidarity with and support to Aung San Suu 
Kyi and the Burmese people in their struggle for the restoration of 
democracy in the country, Fernandes added.
 
Earlier yesterday, the SP president visited Moreh to prepare the 
groundwork for the Satyagraha. Fernandes who held meetings with 
several people, including the president of the Marwari Dharamsala, and 
secured assurances that they would provide accommodation for those 
taking part in the Satyagraha.
 
A coordinating committee, including representation of several NGOs 
has already been formed to make preparations for the Satyagraha.
 
Fernandes, who left Imphal today, also held meetings with O.Joy, MPP 
president, H. Bhubon, state BJP president and Prof. Gangmumei 
president of the FPM before his departure.     
 
 
Imphal Free Press, Imphal
Manipur State, India