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The Position of BAIJ



THE POSITION OF BURMESE ASSOCIATION IN JAPAN(BAIJ)

                                                    October, 1998

On September 11, 1988, Burmese Association in Japan, BAIJ, was born: the
birth place, being at the memorial stone pillar, which is the
commemoration of General Aung San and General Suzuki( Bo Mo Gyo): it is
situated at Kanzanji in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture in Japan. 

>From the very beginning of foundation year 1988, BAIJ had been unresting
with the activities of democracy movements with might and main, for the
future of our country and people, thus BAIJ was amazingly successful
symbol of democracy movements in Japan especially.

In the year of 1994, BAIJ had changed its position from " confrontation"
to "constructive-dialogue and negotiation". In the year of 1996, BAIJ
resolved and emphasized to follow the path of welfare of Myanmar
nationalities in Japan in their daily-life-difficulties which are the
greatest problems they have to face daily unavoidably. Now, BAIJ is
carrying out only the activities which will directly benefit the Myanmar
nationalities in Japan, and in our mother country; Myanmar. 

We, BAIJ, request to the cooperation of Japanese people while BAIJ are
going to work for the welfare of Myanmar nationalities in Japan. We also
request to all Myanmar nationalities to help us while we are trying to
implement our aim to be successful in every corner.

With best regard,
Executive Committee members
Burmese Association in Japan(BAIJ)
557-27, Sanada, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken
JAPAN
Tel/Fax (+81)-463-59-8249

( BAIJ had recently reported its  position and attitude to the officials
of Foreign Ministry of Japan in November, 1997.)

*********************************************************
 
 <<  RELATED NEWS  >>

(No.1) .... <Informal translation> 
< The Asahi Newspaper, November 17,1994 >
Expect the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, BAIJ is active.
Convert it with a confrontation to a constructive dialogue.

Before that a time limit of the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
approaches it in January next year, the movement of Burmese Association
in Japan, BAIJ, who aims at the democratization of their mother country
becomes more active. Win Naing, president of BAIJ, visited an
anti-government forces* front-line base near Thai-border, and then
proposed "settlement through a constructive dialogue and negotiation
instead of confrontation". In Tokyo, Win Naing established a
Japanese-Diet-members-group named "Diet members* league for release of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi". On the other hand, he made a restaurant as a
"base" for Myanmar people in Tokyo. The persons concerned with Myanmar
are expecting of release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
By Burmese Association in Japan(BAIJ), high priest Dr. Rewata Dhama of
England-residence who is intermediate between Myanmar government and Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, will visit Japan at the end of this month. After that,
Dr. Rewata Dhama will go to Myanmar, so people pay attention to his
movement as "directing for a concrete negotiation" for the release.
During this moment, Win Naing visited to Manapalaw which is the base of
democratic forces in a mountains of near Thai-border at the middle of
October. He participated in the whole train of formal an informal
meetings. He said, " I became aware that anything doesn*t change greatly
just confrontation.  Now, the international society starts recognition 
of the Myanmar government by means of the increase of the investment
toward Myanmar, and economic reformation of government is at the
starting point of smooth-running". Moreover, Win Naing suggested a
compromise-plan that "if the government would guarantee liberty for Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and democratization, then similar assurance would be
given for the allotment of a certain number of seats in diet for
military, and the present economic policies of government should be
maintained and continued."  Then Win Naing said, "Myanmar people are
mostly suffering injury by Black-or-White-confrontation." A constructive
dialogue is necessary for democratization.
BAIJ had established in 1988; its office placed in a small hotel named "
Biruma" which is managed by a relative of Win Naing in Ito city,
Shizuoka prefecture. From that place, BAIJ had led the anti-Myanmar
government activities in Japan.
  
(No.2) ... < Informal translation >
< The Asahi Newspaper, August 18, 1998 >
EX-CHAIRMAN OF BURMESE IN JAPAN RETURN POLITICAL REFUGEE STATUS AND GO
BACK HOME.
         
On 17th, the ex-chairman of Burmese Association in Japan Win Naing (39)
who received political refugee status from the Japanese government as an
activist for democratization movements in Myanmar (Burma) had a press
interview at the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo and disclosed that he return
the refugee status and temporally go back home country in the end of
this month. His 2 relatives who also have refugee status will go
together with him.
 It seems that some delicate change started to come out on surface among
activists who escaped to Japan and have been carrying on the
anti-government movements.

(No.3) ... < Informal translation >
< The Tokyo Newspaper, August 18, 1998 >
MYANMAR IN JAPAN RETURN POLITICAL REFUGEE STATUS
     
On 17th, Mr. Win Naing (39), an investment consultant who received
political status first time as Myanmar citizen in Japan and 2 others
announced that they return the refugee status and temporally go back to
home country. Because, for democratization of their mother country, they
think that not only confrontation against the military government but
also having dialogues is important. While criticism against oppression
on human rights of the military government is rising, this incident may
create a stir.
In 1988, when he was studying at Department of Information Science of
the Chiba University, he organized "The Burmese Association in Japan" to
support democratization movements in Myanmar and stood against the
military government. So he could not go back to Myanmar. Then, in '92,
he received the refugee status together with his aunt Mya Mya Win (53)
who is managing an lnn at Ito city, Shizuoka prefecture and her eldest
son Moe Min Oo (22).
However, since around '94, he thought that in order to demand some
renovation to the military government, they should have more softness or
flexibility and begun to stay out from Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi and her
group which stand face to face with the military government.
In this day, Mr. Win Naing had a press interview at Myanmar Embassy in
Tokyo and said "If the democratization group request direct dialogue,
the government must be accepted it. As a political refugee, I have been
living in Japan safely, but I venture to return the status so that I can
send my message to them."
Recently, the Myanmar military government is getting severe
international criticism, because they restricted Mrs. Suu Kyi from going
out or deport foreigners who delivered democratization supporting
leaflets. But Mr. Win Naing explained that he decided to return the
refugee status by his own will, and there are no deal behind the screen
with the government and said "If it is good for my mother country, I do
not care even I was used as a material of propaganda of the government."

(No.4) ... < Informal translation >
< The Nihon Keizai Newspaper, August 18, 1998 >
MYANMAR EX-ACTIVISTS RETURN JAPANESE REFUGEE STATUS.
GO BACK HOME FOR DIALOGUE.
   
Three ex-activists of Myanmar in Japan who had been doing
democratization movements returned their refugee status which they got
from Japanese government, and will return to Myanmar temporarily in the
end of August. The Myanmars who returned the refugee status are Ms. Mya
Mya Win (53), the present Chairman Of the Burmese Association in Japan,
Mr. Win Naing (39) and one another. In March '92, while they were
staying here as anti government activists, Japanese government gave them
refugee status. It was the first case to Myanmar civilians in Japan. An
official of the Ministry of Justice said that they never
heard the case of returning refugee status before. On 17th, Mr. Win
Naing had a press interview at the Myanmar Embassy
in Tokyo and emphasized "We were neither threatened nor given any
benefits by the government.", and explained "For our people, the
forward-looking dialogue is necessary than confrontation against the
military government. 
To appeal dialogue to the democratization groups, we took most
impacted means as one of the people of Myanmar." And, indirectly he
criticized  the democratization measures of Aung San Suu Kyi, the
Secretary General of NLD who is continuing the sitting-in a car. In
September '88, Ms. Mya Mya Win and Mr. Win Naing established the Burmese
Association in Japan because "For the development of our mother country,
overthrowing of the military government is essential". In December of
the same year, the Myanmar government canceled of these two and Mr. Moe
Min Oo (22), then ll years old, the son of Ms. Mya Mya Win.
They already recovered their passports and will temporary return to
Myanmar for about 3 weeks from the end of August. They do not decide
where they set their head office yet, but it will be either in Japan or
Myanmar.  Ms. Mya Mya Win make the "Volunteer operations for welfare and
education" as main subject of her future operations, and Mr. Win Naing
will work for "Attract of investment from the overseas."

(No.5)
Myanmar exiles to go home, cite ``positive change'' 
09:14 a.m. Aug 17, 1998 Eastern 

TOKYO, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Two exiled Myanmar opposition activists on
Monday renounced asylum in Japan and said they would return home, citing
a positive change in Myanmar's military rule. 
Win Naing and Mya Mya Win, formerly leaders of the Burmese Association
in Japan (BAIJ), called a news conference in Tokyo to announce their
decision to surrender their refugee status. 
``This, I believe, is sufficient proof that there has been a positive
and constructive change in the government's position,'' said Mya Mya Win
of her decision to return home. 
Both activists have been living under Japanese asylum since 1988 when
they were awarded refugee status, which is not easily attained and
rarely renounced. 
Neither Mya Mya Win, who has taken part in many pro-democracy protests
outside the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo, nor Win Naing have ever been
members of Myanmar's main opposition group, the National League for
Democracy  (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi. 
 Win Naing said Myanmar's pro-democracy movement should be more
flexible and, when asked if his move amounted to a publicity coup for
the Myanmar government, added Japanese media coverage of events in his
home country appeared one-sided. 
He said Myanmar had offered no enticements for the pair's return and had
set no limits on their activities back home. 
`It seemed to us that if we really wanted a peaceful solution, rather
than just asking democracy activists for flexibility, we ourselves would
have to give up our refugee status,'' Win Naing said. 
``We were in Japan with the stance of political refugees and leaders of
anti-government groups. But it seemed to us that calling for peace from
this stance had become a meaningless activity,'' he added. 
Mya Mya Win said she was eager to see two daughters she left behind in
Myanmar and that her 22-year-old son, Moe Min Oo, was also renouncing
his refugee status and would return to Myanmar. 
 All three would return late this month, she added. Win Naing said he
held ``deep respect'' for human rights but that economic prosperity was
also important and he resolved to help boost
``sound and honest economic investments'' in Myanmar. 
But a spokeswoman for Amnesty International in Japan sounded a note of
caution about returning to Myanmar. 
``Amnesty remains very concerned about the situation in Myanmar and our
view is that it may be dangerous for former refugees to return,'' the
spokeswoman said. 
Shogo Watanabe, a lawyer and member of a lawyer's group working for
Myanmar asylum-seekers in Japan, said the timing of the announcement was
regrettable. 
``Choosing this time, in particular, was a pity,'' he added. 
International attention has refocused on Myanmar over the past month as
opposition leader Suu Kyi tests restrictions imposed on her travel
around the country by the military. 
Suu Kyi was on Monday spending her sixth straight day in a minivan
stopped at a roadside about 30 km (20 miles) southwest of the capital,
Yangon. She and three others were trying to visit supporters in the west
of the country when they were stopped.

(No.6)
Myanmar exiles call for opposition flexibility 
03:24 a.m. Aug 20, 1998 Eastern 
By Aung Hla Tun 

YANGON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - A group of returning Myanmar exiles called on
the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi to show flexibility on Thursday
as the military government faced condemnation from human rights groups. 
At a Yangon news conference sponsored by the government, former
political exile Win Naing said more than 45 million Myanmar people were
longing for peace. 
``The opposition factions, in the interests of the future welfare of
Myanmar, should pursue a more flexible approach instead of persisting in
confrontation with the government. 
``I sincerely believe that the government will in turn extend a warm
welcome,'' he said. 
Win Naing is one of three dissidents who left Myanmar in 1988 after a
pro-democracy uprising that led to a bloody crackdown by the military
government. 
They have been living in Japan for the last 10 years and became
leaders of the Burmese Association in Japan (BAIJ). But on Monday they
announced they would return home because of ``a positive and
constructive change in the government's position.'' 
Their return has been attacked by other exiles as a stunt to deflect
attention from what they say are widespread human rights abuses and
growing political tension in the country. 

( No.7)
DISSIDENTS RETURN AFTER STRIKING PEACE DEAL WITH JUNTA

YANGON, Aug 20 (AFP and BNN) -- Two Myanmar dissidents who returned from
10 years exile in Japan this week pledged to maintain their struggle for
democracy despite their "rapprochement" with the country's military
rulers.
 Speaking at a junta-organized press conference here, Mya Mya Win, 53,
and Win Naing, 39, said they had given up their refugee status in Japan
and returned home to help establish a "sound democratic system" in the
country.
In a statement in Tokyo earlier this week Mya Mya Win said that she was
giving up "party politics" and would dedicate herself in the future to
seeking assistance from foreign governments and NGOs for Burma's
"electrical power needs, improving roads and communications,
constructing schools for orphans and primary schools, homes for the
aged, hospitals for drug rehabilitation, providing aid to the disabled".
Win Naing said in a statement he was determined to "help in any way I
can to increase sound and honest economic investments for the future
prosperity" of Myanmar.

(No.8)
Vast majority of public in Myanmar wish to avert unrest and disturbances
like  those in 1988

YANGON, 21 Sept ...Chairperson Dr Daw Mya Mya Win and member Dr Win
Naing of the Burmese Association in Japan (BAIJ), which opposed the
Myanmar in the past, met the Press in the Passenger Lounge of the Yangon
International Airport at 6:00 pm yesterday prior to their departure for
Japan. They arrived back here on 19 August 1998.
It was attended by Chief Editor of Myanmar News Agency (Internal) U Zaw
Min Thein and Patron U Sein Win, President U Sao Kai Hpa, Secretary U
Nyunt Tin and members of the Foreign Correspondents Club.
Dr Daw Mya Mya Win told the mediamen that she had stayed in Myanmar for
one month and one day freely after her return from Japan. She said
during her stay she traveled to different parts of the country including
far-flung border areas. She witnessed true and objective economic,
social and political situations there, she said.  Dr Daw Mya Mya Win and
Dr Win Naing answered the-questions of  the mediamen.
Concerning prevailing economic, social and political situation and their
attitude towards the NLD's formation of the Representative Committee,
they said they learned the public are more desirous of living peacefully
and earning their livelihood in peace of mind than the terms human
rights and democracy. They said it is the wish of the vast majority of
ordinary public in Myanmar to avert unrest and disturbances like those
in 1988. NLD, they said, maintains tense relations and that tension will
be harmful to the public. They said that peace now prevails in Myanmar
and they do not wish such peace should be undermined after securing it
with great efforts. They went on to say that it would not be acceptable
for them if peace is undermined by acts of NLD. They said they had
opportunities to freely travel to different parts of Myanmar and meet
people. They learned that public would like to live in peace and earn
their living in peace of mind. The majority of them desire
stabilization of commodity prices and their children's peaceful pursuit
of education, they said.
In reply to questions on whether they had been permitted to meet Daw Suu
Kyi, whether they had met her and why they had not met her, Dr Daw Mya
Mya Win and Dr Win Naing replied that they are not interested in party
politics and they cannot do politics. They did not meet Daw Suu Kyi
because they would have
to  discuss politics in which they are not experienced. They are more
interested in engaging in social and business fields to serve national
interests rather than meeting Daw Suu Kyi. They said they had given up
their refugee status in Japan, a rare opportunity for them, to show
their desire for peace. A study of the declarations issued by NLD shows
that NLD has not
realized their desire for peace. They said they see tension and
confrontation instead of peace. So, they said, it is not the right time
to see her. Moreover, they said, if they went there to meet Daw Suu Kyi
or NLD, they would be able to explain their attitudes to only three or
four Central Committee members. They said they also felt that it would
be better for them to let all NLD members, those interested in Myanmar
affairs and those inside and outside the country know their desire for
peace through the mass media instead of meeting them. That was why they
did not meet them, they said.
Replying questions on their programme when they arrived back in Japan
and the persons they were going to meet, they said they are interested
in humanitarian affairs, they have won membership of Myanmar Maternal
and Child Welfare Association, they would hid talks with the Japanese
Government and non-governmental organizations to  carry out humanitarian
activities and try to make the Japanese Government and  public there
know the real attitude of Myanmar public they had  learned.

(No.9)
TWOSOME RETURN TO JAPAN TO PROMOTE HUMANITARIAN CAUSES

RANGOON, Sept 21 (BNBC) -- Two exiles, who returned to Burma amid much
fanfare a month ago, have decided to go back to Japan and raise support
for humanitarian activities in Burma. Dr. Mya Mya Win and Dr Win Naing
said they had been able to win  membership in the Myanmar Maternal and
Child Welfare Association during their short time in the country and
would
dedicate their efforts to promoting this important cause in the future.
The pair also indicated that they would endeavour to enlighten the
Japanese government and public about "the real attitude of the people of
Myanmar". Dr Mya Mya Win said that they were not interested in politics
and had spent their time in Burma telling all whom they met about their
desire for peace.
 The two, who gave up hard won refugee status in Japan last month, did
not reveal to the press what kind of official visa status they would
enjoy when they returned to Japan.

End.