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News from India Newspaper



(1) 'Thai abusing refugees'
(2) 'Burma,Thai deal on isle'
(3) 'UNHCR team rushes to Dhaka'
(4) 'UN special envoy leaves Burma peace bid
(5) 'Junta leader criticises NLD'


(1) 'Thai abusing refugees'

Copenhagen: Some 66 per cent of refugees from Burma now living in
Thailand have been tortured, according to a report by the organisation
Danish Doctors for Human Rights, published on Thursday has said.

Four Danish doctors questioned and examined 200 refugees in a Thai camp
near the border.  The resulting 30page report by the doctors details
forced labour, deportation, pillaging, destruction of villages, various
forms of torture and rape endured by refugees of various ethnic
groupings in Burma. (AFP)

Asian Age
24 Jan 1998


(2) Burma,Thai deal on isle

Bangkok: Burnese troops have agreed to withdraw from a disputed island
on the border with Thailand after the two sides struck a deal aimed at
defusing tensions in the area, officiais said on friday.

Both sides pledged to. deploy troops or workers on the island until the
demarcation dispute is settled.  A Thai official said Thursday's meeting
of local officials in the Burma town of Myawadee, had ended in an
agreement that all activities along the river should cease. (AFP)

Asian Age
24 Jan 1998



(3) UNHCR team rushes to Dhaka

Dhaka, Jan. 23: Offcial, of the UN refugee organisation are rushing to
Dhaka for talks with the government after armed refugees from
neighbouring Burma seized a camp in southeastern Bangladesh, sources
said on Friday.

At the crisis-hit Noapara camp, forces from the pararmilitary Bangladesh
Rifles and the police remained stationed outside the camp, near Cox's
Bazar tourist resort town, awaiting orders for action, officials said.

They accused the refugees of using women and children as a "human
shield" to prevent any use of force.

Sources monitoring the crisis said several officials from the United
Nations High Conimissioner for Refugees will be coming to Dhaka from
Geneva for discussiong with the government as well as the camp rebels.

The Bhorer Kagoj reported that an Official has held talks with the camp
rebels recently and quoted an unidentified government official as saying
the UNHCR was to be blamed for the situation. (AFP)

Asian Age
24 Jan 1998


(4) UN special envoy leaves Burma peace bid

Rangoon, Jan. 23: UN special envoy Alvaro De Soto left Burma on Friday
after a three-day visit during which he met Nobel laureate Aung San Sun
Kyi and military leaders in a bid to end their political stalemate.

Mr De Soto, whose latest visit was arranged by UN Secretary-General Kofi

Annan after he met head of state Than Shwe in December,said he will
report back to Mr Annan on his low-profile visit when he returns to
his     New York headquarters.

However, Mr De Soto, speaking publicly for the first time since he
arrived here on Tuesday, refused to reveal details of his visit which
has been kept under wraps by UN and, Rangoon officials.

Waylaid by members of the press while visiting the tomb of former UN
chief   U. Thant, he would say only that he had talked to Ms Aung San
Sun Kyi and junta strongman Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt about ways of
settling the deadlock.

He said he is seeking ways of easing the situation, including in the
area of human rights.

"I've discussed ways in which the Secretary- General might assist the
Burmese people and the authorities and other leaders in addressing this
concern," he said.

However, he declined to give details of the "good-offices efforts"
saying his talks with the country's leaders are confidential.

Now I'm flying back to New York and I'll be explaining to the
Secretary-General in considerable detail about my talks here," he said.
He added that any comments or reconunendations resulting from his first
visit here since    May will be included in a report which Mr Annan will
submit to the UN Human Rights Commission in about six weeks.

He left on a scheduled flight to Singapore after meeting senior General
Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling junta, the State Peace and Development
Council.

Mr De Soto met on Thursday Opposition figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi and
senior officials of her National League for Democracy for three hours at
her home   in central Rangoon.

Earlier in the day, he spent over an hour with the ruling SPDC
strongman   Khin Nyunt, but no details of either meeting were
immediately available   during the low-key Visit.  He al'so held talks
with foreign minister Ohn Gyaw.

However, sources have said the NLD is likely to request help in pushing
for   a dialogue between the NLD, the niilitary goernment and armed
resistance movements under the terms of a UN resolution on Burma.

Leading NLD figure Tin oo said he will hand over a series of letters and
papers from other political groupings, war veterans and members of the
general public urging a dialogue to end the standoff(AFP)

Asian Age
24 Jan 1998


(5) Junta leader criticises NLD

Rangoon: A top general in Burma's military government has accused the
opposition led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of unfairly
criticising the educational system, official newspaper reported on
Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, a leader in the ruling state peace and development
council, cited recent prizes won by Burmese students for essay and
posters at association of southeast Asisn nations competitions as proof
the Opposition was wrong. He was speaking at Friday's closing ceremony
of a refresher course for 1500 teacheers near Rangoon.(AP)

Asian Age
25 Jan 1998