Burma News Update, No. 90

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Open Society Institute
The Burma Project

Burma News Update No. 90
11 August 1999


Suu Kyi Message to Army

In a message to the members of Burma's armed forces, the leaders of 
Burma's National League for Democracy (NLD) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 
and Vice-Chairperson U Tin Oo, told Burma's military that democratic 
forces are ready to "honor the role" of the military under an elected  
government, and urged the "army and the people to work hand-in-hand 
to achieve democracy, where the people govern the country." The message, 
marking the eleventh anniversary of the violent suppression of countrywide 
1988 pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma, was released to journalists 
in Bangkok and reported on international broadcasts, but not reported by 
Burma's state-controlled media. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that the NLD 
wished the army "to know what we are trying to do for our country. To 
achieve this understanding we need to have the freedom to communicate 
and discuss." The junta has refused to enter negotiations that include NLD 
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or to honor the result of 1990 elections won 
overwhelmingly by the party.

Bangkok, "Agence France Presse,"  07 August



9-9-99 Warning
   
Burma's army-controlled media has charge that "destructive elements" urged 
on by "neo-colonialists" using foreign radio broadcasts are seeking to incite 
unrest in Burma on the ninth of September. National unity could be 
"disrupted because of division sowed by some traitors, who are maggots that 
crawl out from under the skin," warned a commentary in the "New Light of 
Myanmar"  newspaper. "In our country, the terrifying 8-8-88 unrest [the
massive 
pro-democracy  uprising on 08 August 1988] disrupted the life of honest
people 
and destroyed millions of kyats worth of state assets," the newspaper said. 
"But, some radio  stations are using some people in exile to fondly reminisce 
about the event  and are continuously broadcasting them.... But using the
event 
as an excuse  some expatriates and local destructive elements, who hope to 
grab power or opportunities, are thoughtlessly planning to create unrest on
9-9-99." 
[The number nine is considered auspicious in Burmese numerology, and Burmese 
opposition groups in exiles are calling for nationwide protests against the 
country's military regime on 9/9/99--Ed.]

"BBC Summary of World Broadcasts," 03 August


  
Khun Sa Still Retired: Junta

Burma's army junta has strongly denied reports in Thai media that the 
long-time Golden Triangle drug lord and rebel leader, Khun Sa, has resumed 
narcotics trafficking since surrendering to the regime in December 1996. 
A junta spokesman said Khun Sa and his family are now engaged in gem 
trading. On 23 July, the Bangkok Post quoted a senior Thai anti-narcotics 
official as saying that Khun Sa's son is now involved in opium trafficking in 
Burma's northeastern Shan province, and that there are "signs Khun Sa 
is also getting involved." Khun Sa, who lives under official protection in 
Burma's capital, Rangoon, is under US federal indictment for conspiracy 
to smuggle heroin into the United States.

Rangoon, "Deutsche Presse-Agentur,"  07 August

 
Thais Close "Drug Route"

Senior Thai security officials closed a border checkpoint with Burma in the 
northern Chiang Mai province indefinitely because of massive drug 
smuggling from Burma. The checkpoint at San Ton Du has become one 
of the Golden Triangle's major drug smuggling routes, say Thai authorities, 
who charge that armed ethnic minority groups on the Burmese side of the 
frontier, which operate freely under ceasefires with the Rangoon regime, 
smuggled over 200 million amphetamine tablets into Thailand over the last
year.

Bangkok, "Business Day,"  05 August


Junta Rights Commission?

Australia's human rights commissioner defended his recent visit to 
Burma, during which he discussed the ruling army junta's reported 
interest in creating a national human rights commission. Human Rights 
Commissioner Chris Sidoti said that he was surprised by the regime's 
willingness to discuss a human rights body during his three-day visit to 
Burma, admitting that "I don't know what lies behind it.'' Burma's military 
regime is guilty of massive and extreme human rights abuses, according 
to international groups. Sidoti did not seek to meet National League for 
Democracy (NLD) leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi, but other NLD leaders expressed skepticism that the junta 
would permit any independent human rights body.

Sydney, "Reuters,"  05 August



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