The BurmaNet News: August 23, 1999

[strider@xxxxxxx]

------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: August 23, 1999
Issue #1342

Noted in Passing: The armed forces "would resolutely annihilate those who
disturb the interests of the nation." - SPDC General Maung Aye (see AP:
MYANMAR GENERAL THREATENS OPPONENTS) 

HEADLINES:
==========
AP: MYANMAR GENERAL THREATENS OPPONENTS 
MIC: "MEANINGFUL AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION" 
AFP: MYANMAR DISSIDENTS CALL FOR RELEASE OF ACTIVISTS 
NATION: JUNTA TWISTS LOGIC IN "DEMOCRATIC GOALS" 
NATION: IGNORE THE SPIN ON MASS ARRESTS 
BKK POST: CHRISTIAN TRIBES FLEEING COUNTRY 
NATION: AGAINST ALL ODDS, KAREN FIGHT JUNTA 
AFP: JUNTA SAYS IT WON'T TIE AID TO UN ENVOY'S VISIT 
ANNC: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR OAK HR FELLOWSHIP 
*****************************************************

ASSOCIATED PRESS: MYANMAR GENERAL THREATENS OPPONENTS 
21 August, 1999 

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- The No. 2 leader of Myanmar's military regime
threatened in reports published Saturday to ``annihilate'' opponents
calling for an uprising next month. 

Both sides are waging a propaganda war before Sept. 9, when the opposition
has urged Myanmar's people to rise up against the military, which has ruled
for nearly four decades. 

Any increased preparedness by security forces has been discreet, but
officials have announced the arrest of at least 36 people accused of
involvement. 

Gen. Maung Aye, army commander and vice chairman of the ruling State Peace
and Development Council, was quoted in official newspapers as saying that
``internal subversive elements'' were losing ground to the Tatmadaw, or
armed forces 

``The Tatmadaw today is superior, stronger and more consolidated compared
to the Tatmadaw in 1988,'' Maung Aye said. ``Joining hands with the people,
we are able to remove any danger that might fall upon the country.'' 

The army crushed pro-democracy protests launched on Aug. 8, 1988. But the
demonstrations led to the end of a quarter-century of socialist isolation
imposed by now-retired strongman Ne Win and vaulted Aung San Suu Kyi to the
forefront of the opposition. Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. 

The new generation of generals has opened up the economy to market forces
but keeps a heavy lid on dissent. Opponents hope the so-called 8-8-88
rebellion will be succeeded by a more successful one on Sept. 9, or 9-9-99. 

Numerology is widely believed in Myanmar, also known as Burma, but there
has been little indication the masses are again ready to face the military. 

Maung Aye declared that the armed forces ``would resolutely annihilate
those who disturb the interests of the nation.'' 

High on their list would be the All Burma Students Democratic Front, a
dwindling band of former students who fled the country after the failure of
the 1988 uprising. 

The front claimed Saturday from its base in Thailand that authorities had
been tightening control over high schools in several areas to prevent their
use as staging areas for protests. The universities have been closed since
demonstrations in 1996. 

On Thursday, the group said, students from two high schools in Tamwe
township near the capital, Yangon, shouted slogans, set off firecrackers
and banged desks to protest a visit by Dr. Khin Win Shwe, wife of the
government's No. 3 man, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt. 

The students reportedly sang pro-democracy songs, called for an uprising on
9-9-99, and complained of excessive tuition and a shortage of educational
supplies and facilities. 

Seven students were detained and handed over to their parents after being
threatened with dismissal, the front said. 

The government called the report a ``fabrication.''

*****************************************************

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE: GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR CALLS FOR "MEANINGFUL
AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION" FROM THOSE GROUPS AT PRESENT ENGAGING IN
NON-CONSTRUCTIVE ACTS
22 August, 1999 from OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx 

Information Sheet No.B-1035 (I)

[Information Sheets issued under the email address OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx match
those issued by the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI) in
Rangoon, and can be assumed to reflect official SPDC opinion.]

The Government noted with interest the aggressiveness of the disinformation
campaign and attempt to create a civil unrest by the anti-government
organizations on their numerically obsessed date of 9.9.99. These
organizations are in the process of waging a desperate disinformation
campaign in attacking the government and in spreading false reports on
religious persecution, drug-trafficking, mass arrest and also the internal
repression of the so-called democratic forces by the government. 

The Government together with the people of Myanmar has been working hard to
develop the nation and sincerely hopes that these organizations instead of
draining their time and energy elsewhere will have to decide in
contributing a positive and meaningful way so that they too can become a
constructive force in helping Myanmar along the path to a strong and stable
democracy. 

Merely engaging in non-constructive acts at a time all Myanmar people are
working hard to face the challenges of rebuilding a new nation, seems
rather frivolous and will not only hamper its development and but also
delay its progress. 

The Government encourages all the anti-government forces to become
responsible members of the Myanmar community and to engage as constructive
forces in helping Myanmar along the path to a strong and stable democracy.

*****************************************************

AFP: MYANMAR DISSIDENTS CALL FOR RELEASE OF 37 PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS 
20 August, 1999 

BANGKOK, Aug 20 (AFP) - Myanmar students in exile called Friday for
Myanmar's military rulers to release 37 pro-democracy activists, arrested
ahead of a planned uprising next month. At a press conference Thursday, the
junta said it had arrested 26 people in the central town of Pegu and seven
more in the southern towns of Ye and Moulmein in connection with the
planned uprising. 

The military said another four people, including members of the opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) had been arrested earlier in the
northern town of Mandalay. 

"The press conference was pure theatre, held only to intimidate the people
of Burma and to serve as propaganda for their own forces," said Aung Thu
Nyein of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF). 

The ABDSF said at least 150 people had been arrested this month in
connection with the planned uprising on September 9. 

"Burma's crisis will not be solved by intimidation, arresting people and
linking them with opposition figures and organisations," Aung Thu Nyein said. 

The ABSDF called for Myanmar's military rulers to enter into dialogue with
pro-democracy groups, particularly the NLD-led by Nobel peace laureate Aung
San Suu Kyi 

The NLD won a landslide victory in 1990 elections in Myanmar but has been
denied power by the military. 

On Thursday the junta accused the NLD of working with dissidents and exiled
students to incite a mass uprising next month. 

"They are acting in a synchronised manner ... they are heading for internal
riots," Junta spokesman Colonel Than Tun told reporters. 

"Most obviously they are doing so with moral and material support from
outside." 

Than Tun said since early July authorities had seized thousands of
"instigative leaflets," cassette tapes, videos and flags bearing the
fighting peacock logo of the democracy movement. 

Despite denials from the NLD leadership, he said party members were
"unquestionably involved" in alleged plans for unrest. 

Exiled pro-democracy activists based in Bangkok have been calling for a
mass uprising against the junta on September 9, or 9/9/99, a day of
numerical significance for many Burmese. 

This month saw the 11th anniversary of a popular uprising on August 8,
1988, or 8/8/88, in which hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators were
gunned down and a junta took power from dictator General Ne Win. 

*****************************************************

THE NATION: JUNTA TWISTS LOGIC IN "DEMOCRATIC GOALS" 
21 August, 1999 by Moe Aye 

Both sides in Burma may claim to be using different tactics to "achieve
democracy", but the military stretches belief in its professed commitment
to this goal, writes Moe Aye.

Khin Nyunt, the powerful general in the Burmese ruling junta, revealed his
perspective on democracy in a recent speech. "A careful and objective study
will reveal that both sides have the same aim - the emergence of a
democratic country. The difference is only in the tactics to reach this
goal," the general told delegates at the opening ceremony of a diplomacy
course at the foreign ministry in Rangoon on Aug 10.

He was reiterating his claim that the ruling junta wants to establish a
democratic country. It may be right - although a common goal may be sought,
the tactics followed to achieve it may differ.

Even among the Burmese exiled groups there are many different opinions and
tactics about how to achieve democracy. Some believe that only the
non-violent way can lead there. Some think that the violent way is much
better. Others claim that both violent and non-violent ways can restore
democracy in Burma.

However, the groups always discuss with each other about how to implement
their strategy. They work together on the issues they agree on. They work
separately on the issues they do not blame each other for their different
ideas and opinions.

In addition, among armed ethnic groups also -- except the Wa -- some groups
believe entering the so-called cease-fire agreements with the junta is the
best way. Some think that entering them means surrender, so they hold their
weapons and continue their armed struggle. However, they respect each other
and are not fighting each other. It shows that they really have the same
goal - the emergence of a democratic country.

Inside Burma, there are only two groups - the junta that staged a bloody
coup in September 1988 and the National League for Democracy (NLD) that won
the May 1990 election. Undoubtedly, the NLD represents its voters, trying
to carry out their desire for democracy.

According to Khin Nyunt, the junta also wants to implement the desire of
the Burmese people for the emergence of a democratic country. This would
mean both are seeking the same goal. If so, they will need to discuss with
each other, in the first place, about where they can agree and where they
cannot. If they do not agree on every issue, it does not matter - they can
compromise until they agree, or someone may help to negotiate those issues.

Sadly, this scenario is so far only an abstract notion. Instead, both sides
accuse each other of refusing to enter into possible dialogue. Finally,
international bodies such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and some
governments such as the US, those of the EU and Australia, have been trying
hard to mediate between the two sides.

Far from holding an official dialogue, nobody has even seen the two groups
hold any talks on any subject, even at a personal or social level. The
question of which tactics each side is pursuing to reach their common goal
- if indeed they really have a common goal - needs to be answered. For the
NLD, its tactic is very clear. It entered into the May 1990 election and
won a landslide victory. Since then, it has been demanding that parliament
be convened. At the same time, it has been calling for a dialogue for the
future of country. When there was no response from the junta, it formed the
Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP).

For the junta, its tactics seemed to be clear as well, at least before the
1990 election. It said all parties should participate in the election so as
to listen to the voters and then it would transfer power to the winning
party. It also said drawings up a constitution would be the task of the
winning party.

After the NLD won the election, the junta changed its tactic by rejecting
the election result and arresting the elected members and activists. Many
NLD members were forced to resign and many NLD offices were forcibly
closed. It still ignores the demands of the NLD to hold talks.

In this context, what is the junta's tactic for moving towards the
emergence of a democratic country? To force the armed ethnic groups to
enter the so-called cease-fire agreements? To allow the Wa armed ethnic
group to continue its drugs trade? To force the NLD members to resign from
their party? Trying to isolate Aung San Suu Kyi from her party and people?
To dissolve not only the CRPP but also the NLD? To close the universities
forever? To keep all activists in prison for a long time? To refuse to
enter a possible dialogue with the NLD? 

For all the above-mentioned questions, the answer at the moment might be
"Yes". All are anti-democratic measures. However, the junta may
counter-argue (as, indeed, it has, in the news release from the Burmese
Embassy in London on Aug 12) that it allowed the International Committee of
the Red Cross to visit prisons, the Australian commissioner for human
rights to exchange views and explore avenues for cooperation in the area of
human rights. The embassy boasted that these are all recent developments in
Burma.

Moe Thee Zun, a former prominent student leader who led the 8-8-88
nationwide uprising said, however, "They [the junta] have to allow these
things, not for the emergence of a democratic country, but to try to reduce
the tension of the people of Burma - and especially to divert attention
from the 9-9-99 action".

Khin Maung Win, spokesman of the All Burma Students Democratic Front
(ABSDF), also asked, "Why did the junta declare in July in a secret order
to its troops and government offices that the NLD is a state enemy, if both
are in the same boat?" Their views suggest that the junta is aiming for a
different goal, not the emergence of a democratic country. If Khin Nyunt
wants to show the junta shares this goal, it is high time for it to be
clear about its tactics.

*****************************************************

THE NATION: IGNORE THE SPIN ON MASS ARRESTS 
19 August, 1999 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Just as one should not judge a book by its cover, perhaps readers should be
advised not to expect an article's title to accurately reflect its content.
 The Aug 16 issue of The Nation ran the headline "Generals Deny Mass
Arrests."  The content of the article correctly pointed out that the junta
fell short of an actual denial. 

Instead of saying they had detained activists in a crackdown, fearing a
Sept. 9, 1999 (9-9-99) uprising, the military calls the accusations part of
a "smear campaign" and "blown out of proportion." In fact, 120 activists
have been detained, and the junta does not deny it, but instead gives it a
familiar spin of "discussions" and "questioning."

The junta attempted a similar spin regarding arrests as it rounded up
hundreds of members of parliament last September.  Over 200 MPs were
detained in what the military called "guest houses."  

They were not free to leave.  They were interrogated and intimidated.  Only
after being coerced into signing pledges to not support the (legitimate)
convening of Parliament were some detainees released.

Those who refused to be bullied into signing the pledges remain under
detention today.  These are the same MPs who were "not detained" but rather
"invited to government guest houses" a year ago.  If people of such status
can stay "not detained" for almost a year, one wonders how long the
lower-profile activists arrested in the recent round-up will be "guests" of
the junta.

Arrest is arrest. "Guest-houses" are detention centres.  The Nation, with
its headlines as in its articles, should stick to the facts and not the spin.

PJ, Chiang Mai

*****************************************************

THE BANGKOK POST: CHRISTIAN TRIBES FLEEING COUNTRY 
21 August, 1999 

Gauhati, India, AP

Hundreds of Christians have crossed into India from Burma, fleeing attempts
by the military junta and Buddhist monks to force them to renounce their
faith, church leaders said yesterday.

At least 1,000 people from eight Naga villages in the Sagaing division of
northern Burma have fled during the past month into India's northeaster
state of Nagaland, the Reverend Zhabu Terhuja, general secretary of the
Nagaland Baptist Church, said yesterday in the state capital, Kohima.

The estimated 20,000 Naga tribespeople in Burma are poor peasants who have
the same language, and similar cultural heritage, to the Nagas living in
India. Many were until recently animists and engaged in headhunting before
converting to Christianity.

"Christian Nagas living in Myanmar [Burma] are being forced by Buddhist
monks, aided by soldiers of the Myanmarese army, to get themselves
converted into Buddhist," Rev Terhuja said. "This had led to an exodus of
people from Myanmar."

Police Chief L.T. Lotha of the Tuensang district in northern Nagaland
confirmed the exodus. "Some of the Nagas from Myanmar are taking shelter at
a village called Pangsa [in Nagaland] on the Indo-Myanmar border, following
alleged persecution by their army," he said.

"People on this side are taking care of them on humanitarian grounds, as
they belong to the same stock," Mr Lotha said by telephone. "But there is
no law and order problem due to the exodus."

Rev Terhuja said most of the churches in the Sagaing division of Burma had
been forced to close.

He said the Baptist World Alliance and the Asian Baptist Federation had
been asked to raise the issue with international human rights groups.

But Gyanpul Bhikku, a member of the Northeast Buddhist Association,
headquartered in Naharkatiya in Assam state, said Buddhism does not
encourage forced conversions.

*****************************************************

THE NATION: AGAINST ALL ODDS, KAREN FIGHT JUNTA 
22 August, 1999 by Don Pathan 

VALEY KEE, Burma -- On the banks of a small river that separates Thailand's
Tak province from Burma's Karen State, a group of rebel troops chat among
themselves and exchange jokes as they wait for the arrival of their greying
yet burly leader Gen Bo Mya. 

In a wooden shack, Karen women prepare food for troops returning from the
front line. Exhausted from the long walk, the soldiers of the Karen
National Union slowly unfasten their heavy loads, down their rucksacks and
head for a small creek to wash for the upcoming ceremony to commemorate
their fallen leaders and comrades. The KNU is the largest armed ethnic
group that has refused to surrender to Rangoon. 

A few minutes later Bo Mya, the fourth highest leader of the KNU, makes his
way down a hill to greet his men. Attired in a pair of blue jeans and a
candy-pink T-shirt-like national costume, the beefy 72-year-old commander
takes a load off his feat to catch his breath. 

He told reporters that he was in good shape and vowed to fight on for the
freedom of the Karen people. 

''It's safe here,'' said a soft-spoken teenage rebel soldier. ''Our troops
have secured the perimeter. The closest Burmese base is six kilometres
away.'' 

The gathering on Aug 12 marked the 47th anniversary of KNU Martyr's Day.
Similar events took place at other KNU camps, most of which are situated
along the rugged Thai-Burmese border. 

Despite numerous setbacks in the past five years, Bo Mya and his men said
they still had the will and the means to continue their struggle for
autonomy. ''A people living under the domination of another people can
never escape from persecution and exploitation,'' said Bo Mya. 

''We, the patriots, must build up our courage and determination and
continue our struggle in order to free our people from oppression, tyranny,
injustice and domination,'' he added. 

But the war for a free and autonomous homeland has not come without a price. 

Some 100,000 Burmese refugees, mostly Karen, have fled to Thailand in the
past years to escape what they say is an ethnic-cleansing campaign by the
Burmese junta. 

Since the armed struggle started just over 50 years ago, the group has
carried on against the odds. Until just four years ago the KNU could stake
a claim to a large area in Karen State. But a breakaway faction, the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, together with Burmese government soldiers,
ousted the KNU from its long-time headquarters at Manerplaw, forcing the
group to turn to guerrilla warfare.

*****************************************************

AFP: MYANMAR JUNTA SAYS IT WON'T TIE AID T UN ENVOY'S VISIT 
20 August, 1999 

YANGON, Aug 20 (AFP) - Myanmar's military rulers said Friday they would not
demand World Bank aid in exchange for allowing a United Nations special
envoy to visit the country next month. 

The UN is believed to be considering offering the junta World Bank
assistance as a carrot to prompt talks with opposition leader and Nobel
peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. 

But Foreign Minister Win Aung told AFP no conditions had been placed on the
visit of special envoy Alvaro de Soto. 

"We don't have any conditions, whether he brings any proposals from the
World Bank or not is not of any concern to us," Win Aung said. 

The international community has suspended all non-humanitarian aid to
Myanmar because of widespread allegations of gross human rights abuses and
Yangon's refusal to recognise 1990 elections won by Aung San Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy (NLD). 

De Soto last visited Yangon in October, when one billion dollars in
non-humanitarian aid was reportedly floated as a way of breaking the
political deadlock and bringing the junta to the negotiating table. 

But the foreign minister said the NLD would need to adopt a more
conciliatory attitude if it wanted to take part in political change inside
Myanmar. 

"We will move forward with or without the opposition because we want a
mature democracy, an endurable democracy, a democracy that will not
collapse," he said. 

Win Aung said human-rights issues would not be off limits during talks with
de Soto, who is due to arrive here in early September. 

"If they want to talk about human rights, we will answer their human-rights
question -- we are also human beings and we respect the rights of human
beings," he said. 

Win Aung said a visit earlier this month by Australian human rights
commissioner Chris Sidoti demonstrated the junta was prepared to accept
foreign scrutiny of its human-rights record. 

He noted that in July, a four-man team representing Finland, Portugal, the
European Union secretariat and the European Commission traveled to Yangon
to hold talks with powerful junta First Secretary Khin Nyunt and Aung San
Suu Kyi. 

Win Aung said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had also
been allowed to inspect conditions inside Myanmar prisons. 

"We are pragmatic people, practical people ... if we have something to hide
we would never allow the ICRC to go and visit our prisons," said Win Aung. 

The ICRC was forced to strongly defend its visit to Yangon's notorious
Insein jail after Aung San Suu Kyi claimed the junta had transferred
hundreds of prisoners ahead of its May inspection. 

Despite his conciliatory tone, Win Aung warned that the junta would not
respond to pressure from its foreign critics, and would introduce democracy
to Myanmar at its own pace. 

"The country is not in a chaotic situation because of this government, the
country is still stable and moving forward, and whether people pressure us
or not, a democratic government will come out surely because that is the
path we have chosen," he said. 

[ ... ]

Despite the calls for a mass uprising and ongoing Western condemnation, Win
Aung said the situation inside Myanmar was much better than in many other
nations. 

"We don't have any mass graves, the people are not disappearing in masses,
we don't have a mass exodus, and you know there are other countries where
there are human-rights violations; we don't have that, we don't have ethnic
cleansing."

*****************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR OAK HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP 
17 August, 1999 from oakhr@xxxxxxxxx 

OAK HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP 
 
The Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights at Colby
College is pleased to issue a call for nominations for the Oak Human Rights
Fellowship. The Oak Institute was made possible through a major grant from
the Oak Foundation and, each year, sponsors a Fellow to teach and conduct
research while in residence at Colby.

The purpose of the fellowship is to offer an opportunity for prominent
practitioners in international human rights to take a sabbatical leave from
their work and spend a period of up to a semester as a scholar-in-residence
at the College. This provides the Fellow time for reflection, research, and
writing. While all human rights practitioners are eligible, we especially
encourage applications from those who are currently or were recently
involved in "on-the-ground" work at some level of personal risk. The Oak
Fellow's responsibilities include regular meetings with students either
through formal classes or informal discussion groups and assistance in
shaping a lecture series or symposium associated with the particular aspect
of human rights of interest to the fellow. The fellow also is expected to
participate in the intellectual life of the campus and enable our students
to work or study with a professional in the human rights field.

The Fellow will receive a stipend and College ($25-30,000), fringe
benefits, plus round-trip transportation from the fellow's home site,
housing for a family, use of a car, and meals on campus. The Fellow will
also receive research support, including office space, secretarial support,
computer and library facilities, and a student assistant.

Nominations for Oak Fellows for the 2000-01 academic year should be sent to
Professor Kenneth Rodman, Government Department, Colby College, Waterville,
Maine 04901 (fax: 207-872-3263/3474; phone: 207-872-3813/3270; e-mail:
oakhr@xxxxxxxxx) no later than November 1, 1999. Completed applications
must arrive no later than November 8, 1999.

Information and application forms are available on the institute's World
Wide Web site at www.colby.edu/oak. The selection of the Oak Fellow will be
announced by February 1, 2000.
 
Ken Rodman 
Professor and Chair of Government 
Director, Oak Institute for the Study of Human Rights 
Colby College 
Waterville, ME 04901 
 
phone: (207) 872-3270 
fax: (207) 872-3263

*****************************************************