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Press Release: National Coalltion G (r)



Subject: Press Release: National Coalltion Government of the Union of  Burma 

November 9, 1998
Press Release

National Coalltion Government of the Union of Burma



NCGUB condemns army's massacres, drug collusion in Shan State
PM welcomes China's move to combating regime's druglord allies


The NCGUB today, citing new reports by the Washington Post and Jane's
Intelligence Review, a widely respected defense publication, condemned the
racially motivated massacres of at least 670 persons in Burma's Shan State
by Burma's military government as well as its collusion in the same area
with heroin warlords.

The Washington Post is reporting that the U.S. and Chinese governments have
jointly opened a listening post along the China/Burma border to monitor
communications by heroin warlords in Burma who have been operating freely
there since 1988 when the current junta seized power.   NCGUB Prime
Minister Dr. Sein Win said "the joint U.S. and Chinese intelligence
listening post is a positive response to the regime's collusion with
druglords who are producing more than 90% of heroin flooding China as well
as more than half entering the United States."

Jane's also reports "substantial evidence" of "racially-motivated genocide"
by Burma's military in the Shan State.   In one incident, the Review
reported the Army's "orgy of rape and murder of Shans in the Kun Hing area
that left 215 Shan civilians killed, including 43 who were beheaded and
left  on the side of the road as a warning to others.  The article
identified specific battalions as being responsible for the worst abuses,
with Light Infantry Battalion 524 being responsible for killing 193,
including the  massacre of almost an entire village during July 1997, which
left 96 dead.  U Bo Hla Tint, Minister for American Affairs added "the
regime isn't just trafficking in heroin, it is murdering hundreds of Shan
men, women and children.  Therefore, we want to ensure that any
intelligence gathered by the U.S. and China is shared with appropriate U.N.
authorities so that one day, the murderers of the Shan people can also be
brought to justice."

The UN's Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma warned in his most
recent report that because human rights abuses in Burma were likely "the
result of policy at the highest level" those policymakers bear "political
and legal responsibility." 

-end-