Reuters-Sweden to host democracy co

[tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Reuters-Sweden to host democracy conference on Myanmar 

Sweden to host democracy conference on Myanmar
11:54 a.m. Aug 20, 1999 Eastern
STOCKHOLM, Aug 20 (Reuters) - A conference backed by the Swedish government
on promoting democracy in Myanmar will be held in Stockholm on September 25
and 26, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

``The purpose of the conference is to highlight the struggle for democracy,
peace and human rights in Burma and discuss the role of the international
community,'' Foreign Ministry press secretary Pekka Johansson said.

The conference will be attended largely by scholars from around the world,
said the organisers, the Centre for Pacific Asian Studies at Stockholm
University.

It will also be attended by representatives of the U.N. High Commission for
Human Rights and members of the self-styled Burmese government in exile --
the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB).

No representatives have been invited from Myanmar's military government,
which has been isolated by Western nations for its treatment of the
pro-democracy opposition, the Centre for Pacific Asian Studies said.

``The situation in Burma is getting worse and there's not enough
international attention on this country,'' Johansson said. ``This is a rare
conference which will try to help boost democracy in the country.''