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The BurmaNet News: October 29, 1999



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The BurmaNet News: October 29, 1999
Issue #1390

HEADLINES:
==========
REUTERS: NO NEED TO WORRY OVER RICE SUPPLY
IRI: PRESENTATION OF FREEDOM TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI
BKK POST: SURIN BIDS TO RESOLVE RESETTLEMENT ROW
JAPAN TIMES: JAPAN URGED NOT TO EXTEND AID
IPU: RESOLUTION ON MYANMAR
SAPA: CASATU MEMBERS EXPELLED FROM TRADE SHOW
SHAN: STATELESS PEOPLE'S UN CHOSE INTERIM SEC-GENL
*****************************************************

REUTERS: MYANMAR SAYS NO NEED TO WORRY OVER RICE SUPPLY
27 October, 1999

YANGON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A senior member of Myanmar's military government
has said the country's rice supplies are plentiful and the government is
selling off surplus stocks to stabilise soaring prices.

Official data shows the price of emahta rice, a 20 percent broken variety
which is the most popular brand among low income consumers, almost doubled
between August 1999 and the same month last year.

"There is nothing to worry about rice as there is more than enough stock for
the people," said Lieutenant-General Tin Oo, secretary two of the ruling
military council.

Speaking at the opening of a cultural show on Tuesday, he said the
government had already purchased 112.6 million baskets of unhulled rice
paddy, enough to provide for military personnel for the next two years. One
basket of paddy weighs about 20 kg.

"The government is selling the surplus rice in hand to ensure stability in
rice prices since they tend to fluctuate within the three or four months
after July," Tin Oo said.

The price of emahta rice jumped to 170 kyats per pyi (two kg) in August
1999, against 95 kyats a year earlier and 65 kyats in August 1997.

Local analysts blame the price increase on galloping inflation estimated at
more than 40 percent a year, panic buying and mismanagement by some
government officials.

One government official said Myanmar had sufficient rice to export if it
wanted to but world prices were unattractive.

"With the prices of rice soaring in the domestic market and stagnating in
the world market, it may no longer be commercially viable to boost rice
exports," he said.

According to official statistics, Myanmar exported 123,000 tonnes of rice in
the fiscal year to the end of March, against 28,000 in 1997/98, 93,100 in
1996/97 and 354,000 in 1995/96.

Myanmar's record export year for rice was 1934 under British colonial rule,
when it shipped out 3.4 million tonnes.

($ - 350 kyat at open market street rate)

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INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE: PRESENTATION OF FREEDOM AWARD TO AUNG
SAN SUU KYI
19 October, 1999 by U.S. Senator John McCain and President Vaclav Havel of
the Czech Republic

Senator John McCain's Presentation of the IRI Freedom Award to Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi of Burma

October 19, 1999 Washington, D.C.

[Excerpts]

During an eight-month period before they were married, Aung San Suu Kyi and
her then fiancee, Michael Aris, were separated by their professional duties:
she in New York as a United Nations official, he in Bhutan as tutor to the
royal family.

Suu Kyi wrote Michael nearly every day during this period. Over the course
of the one hundred eighty-seven letters she sent him, she made only one
request: "That should my people need me, you would help me to do my duty by
them."

Sixteen years later, Suu Kyi has unwaveringly, courageously, selflessly done
her duty by the people of Burma. In doing so, she has been separated from
the man she loved, the children she had hoped to raise, and the comfortable
life they led together at Oxford.

Today, her husband has passed on, her children have grown up, and she
remains a captive in her own country. But for millions of her countrymen,
deprived of their liberty and their humanity scorned, Suu Kyi remains a
beacon of hope in one of the darkest corners of the Earth. [ ... ]

In 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for being what
the Nobel Committee called "one of the most extraordinary examples of civil
courage in Asia in recent decades."

Earlier this year, Suu Kyi made what was probably the hardest choice of her
life. Her husband Michael, dying of cancer, applied for a visa to visit her
for the last time. They had not been together since 1995. Like her, he had
always accepted the sacrifice that service to her people had entailed for
both of them. Now, dying, he wanted to say good-bye.

The generals said no. They cruelly offered to let Aung San Suu Kyi leave
Burma to visit her husband, but they would not pledge to let her come back.
Rightly sensing a trap, she declined their offer, though the decision
tormented her.

On March 27 - his 53rd birthday - Michael Aris died in England. His sons
were by his side. In Rangoon, Suu Kyi held a simple Buddhist memorial
service and quietly resumed her work.

Her twilight struggle continues. She and her followers keep alive the hope
of a free Burma -- the hope that was her father's, and for which he gave his
life.

Her people suffer terribly for their democratic faith in Burma's gruesome
prisons. Across the country, insecurity and fear are palpable among the
people; the influence of the police state is pervasive. A dark shadow has
fallen over their homeland.

Against all odds, one woman's moral courage in the face of evil shines
through the dark as a lantern, lighting the way for all those in her country
who love liberty. Her faith touches millions.

The International Republican Institute awards Aung San Suu Kyi its 1999
Freedom Award:

"For your unwavering commitment and courage in the non-violent struggle for
democracy and human rights in Burma;

"For your tireless efforts and selfless sacrifices to bring the plight of
the people of Burma to the world's attention;

"For your extraordinary strength and faith that sustains your countrymen and
women, and that gives hope for a brighter future for the children of Burma;

"For your colleagues and supporters in the National League for Democracy
who, under your leadership, serve as a beacon of hope for all freedom-loving
people around the world;

"For demonstrating that one woman's resolve is the fiercest threat to
tyranny."

Tonight, as the generals continue to persecute her, we honor Aung San Suu
Kyi because, in the words of former dissident and Czech President Vaclav
Havel, she has lived the truth. She is freedom's gift to Burma. Hers is the
power of the powerless, and it will prevail.

I would like to share with you a special message from President Havel, who
nominated Aung San Suu Kyi for the Nobel Peace Prize only a year after
leading his own people's liberation from decades of totalitarian rule. As a
dissident behind the Iron Curtain, he used the strength he drew from Suu
Kyi's example to help make his people free. As President of a thriving
democracy, where citizens live in freedom from fear, his achievement offers
hope that democracy's light will shine on Burma yet.

Message From President Vaclav Havel

Dear Friends:

I am very glad to learn that the International Republican Institute has
chosen Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi as this year's recipient of its annual award.
Unfortunately, due to my busy schedule, I am not able to join you on this
memorable occasion. However, it is my sincere pleasure to send you my best
greetings and to salute your wise decision.

It has already been ten years since the Burmese military regime placed Aung
San Suu Kyi under house arrest in an attempt to prevent her from restoring
democracy and freedom in Burma. Nevertheless, the people of Burma went to
the polls on May 27, 1990 and voted for the party she had founded and led.
In an extraordinary landslide victory, the National League for  democracy
won more than 80 per cent of the vote. However, the military junta, the
so-called SLORC, did not recognize the election results. Since that time,
Suu Kyi has remained a prisoner of the oppressive Burma regime.

It was my great honor to nominate Suu Kyi for the Nobel Peace Prize almost
ten years ago, and I deeply appreciate the decision of the Nobel Committee
to award her the Prize in 1991. Not surprisingly, she was unable to accept
the Prize personally. Coming to Oslo would have meant accepting permanent
exile from her native land. I can only assume the same logic applies today.

By dedicating her life to the fight for freedom, democracy, and human rights
in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi is not only speaking out for justice in her own
country, but also for all those around the world who struggle for freedom
within their own borders. With her courage, she has nourished the hope of
many freedom-fighters around the world. "It is not power that corrupts, but
fear," sound the refrain of her famous essay.

Exactly ten years ago, the Czech people enjoyed their own experience with
the dismantling of an oppressive totalitarian regime. Without the brave and
shining example of freedom-fighters like Suu Kyi, we would not have been
able to achieve our goals. I am therefore convinced that Suu Kyi's struggle
for democracy deserves our continuing support.

Thank you very much.

Vaclav Havel

[ ... ]

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

THE BANGKOK POST: SURIN BIDS TO RESOLVE RESETTLEMENT ROW
28 October, 1999

HIGH-LEVEL TALKS WITH UN REFUGEE OFFICIAL

Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan left for Geneva last night to discuss
third-country resettlement of Burmese student exiles with a senior UN
refugee official.

According to the ministry spokesman, Mr Surin will raise the issue with
Soren Jessen Petersen, the deputy United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees.

The meeting will follow the signing in Geneva today of an agreement on
Bangkok's hosting of the 10th meeting of the UN Conference on Trade and
Development (Unctad) in February next year. Mr Surin will sign the agreement
with Rubens Ricupero, the Unctad secretary-general.

Before leaving for Geneva, Mr Surin asked the UNHCR representative in
Bangkok, Jahanshah Assadi, to warn Burmese student exiles not to abuse the
hospitality shown them by Thai people.

"We don't want the Burmese at the holding centre to abuse Thailand's
generosity. They should not just wait for the mercy of our society, they
should prepare themselves so as not to be a burden to any society they will
be resettled in," he said.

Mr Assadi, who is due to meet the Burmese students at the Maneeloy holding
centre in Ratchaburi province today, told Mr Surin he had had "quite
satisfactory" discussions with 16 embassies in Bangkok on the issue of
third-country resettlement, the ministry spokesman said.

Mr Assadi also said the UNHCR head office in Geneva was considering
temporarily revoking the diplomatic immunity of its staff at Maneeloy to
allow their questioning by police about the incident on Oct 18.

UNHCR officials and local Thai staff were detained by students at Maneeloy
who were angry over the refusal to pay allowances to those who failed to
report themselves to the officials.

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

JAPAN TIMES: JAPAN URGED NOT TO EXTEND AID TO MYANMAR
28 October, 1999 by Hiroshi Yamagiwa

The visiting leader of a group of ousted Myanmar legislators in exile called
on Japan Thursday not to resume full scale economic aid to the governing
military junta.

"'We are concerned about ODA (official development assistance)," said Sein
Win, head of the Washington-based National Coalition Government of the Union
of Burma. "We know it is not much now, but we are concerned if a large
amount of aid will go in.

Substantial aid would delay democratization by giving the military junta a
sense of security, he warned.

NCGUB was formed in 1990 by a group of legislators from the National League
for Democracy, which won a landslide victory in an election held earlier in
the year. The military, which had staged a coup in 1988 and put opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest in 1989, annulled the election.

Japan suspended fresh economic aid to Myanmar after the coup. But since the
release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in 1995, it has been more
flexible in providing aid.

In March 1998, Tokyo partially lifted its ban on ODA to Myanmar and promised
to give the country ¥ 2.5 billion in ODA to help rebuild Yangon's airport,
Sein Win stressed that Japan cannot use economic aid as a "carrot" to get
the junta to open dialogue with the NLD.

"There is no reason why they should follow (a promise) if they got aid," he
said. "Aid alone will not change either a political or economic situation."

Sein Win is visiting Japan for the first time since 1996. On Thursday, he
met with Foreign Ministry, officials and several Diet members.

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

INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION: RESOLUTION ON MYANMAR
16 October, 1999 from pdburma@xxxxxxxxx

[List of arrested, detained, and deceased Parliamentarians precedes the
following Resolution.]

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union at its 165th session (Berlin, 16 October 1999)

The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Referring to the outline of the case of the above-mentioned elected members
of the Pyithu Hluttaw (People's Assembly) of the Union of Myanmar, as
contained in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of
Parliamentarians (CL/165/12(b)R.1), and to the relevant resolution adopted
at its 164thsession (April 1999),

Recalling that on 27 May 1990 a national election called by the then State
Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was held to constitute a new
Parliament (Pyithu Hluttaw) and that the National League for Democracy (NLD)
won 392 of the 485 seats (about 81% of total seats), all the above persons
being among those elected; that, however, instead of transferring power as
it had pledged before the election, SLORC ruled, in Declaration 1/90, that
the duty of the elected representatives was merely to draft a new democratic
Constitution and convene a "National Convention" to this end; that, under
severe pressure from SLORC, the National League of Democracy participated in
the Convention's work but withdrew in November 1995 thus severing whatever
link there may have been between the Convention and the popular will as
expressed in the 1990 elections,

Considering that, since 1990, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC,
formerly SLORC) not only systematically impeded the functioning of the
National League for Democracy, in particular, but eliminated from the
political process the MPs elected in 1990, first by invalidating election
results, dismissing them from Parliament and banning them from future
elections, by forcing them to resign, orchestrating no-confidence motions
against them and finally by arresting, detaining and sentencing them under
laws (such as the Emergency Provision Act, State Protection Act, Official
Secrets Act, Printers and Publishers Registration Act, Unlawful Associations
Act, etc.) considered by the competent United Nations human rights bodies to
be in breach of international civil and political rights standards,

Recalling that the National League for Democracy, together with the Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy, the Rakhine Democracy League, the Mon
National Democratic Front and the Zo-me National Congress, requested the
authorities to convene the Parliament and, their request being disregarded,
established in September 1998 a body, the Committee representing the
People's Parliament (CRPP), temporarily to represent Members of Parliament
elected in 1990 and prevented by the authorities from exercising the mandate
conferred on them by the people of Myanmar in the democratic elections of
1990; that, as a result of this, scores of MPs elect and other persons
supporting the CRPP were arrested and detained in what the authorities
called "guest houses",

Considering that the CRPP has received support from the leaders of all
political parties represented in the Norwegian Parliament, from five parties
represented in the Danish Parliament, from the National Assembly of Belgium,
which passed a resolution announcing support for the CRPP, and from the
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, which in March 1999 urged the
Canadian Government to recognise the CRPP as "the legitimate instrument of
the will of the Burmese People",

Noting that, according to the sources, 40 of the elected members of the
Pyithu Hluttaw were in detention as at October 1999, and recalling in this
connection that conditions of detention in Myanmar are reported to be harsh
and to include cruel disciplinary practices and torture, lack of proper
medical care and insufficient food; considering that that Aung Min, an MP
elect from Mandalay, died on 24 October 1998 while in custody at a "guest
house" and that, on 31 May 1999, Hla Khin, an MP elect, died while in
custody; he allegedly committed suicide owing, the authorities stated, to
alcohol addiction; recalling further in this connection the death in prison
of Tin Maung Win, Hla Tan and Saw Win in January 1991, August 1996 and
August 1998, respectively,

Bearing in mind the consistent appeals made by the United Nations General
Assembly and Commission on Human Rights in their resolutions on the human
rights situation in Myanmar to the authorities of Myanmar, urging them to
"take urgent and meaningful measures to ensure the establishment of
democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the
democratic elections held in 1990 and, to this end, to engage immediately
and unconditionally in a substantive dialogue with the leaders of political
parties and the ethnic minorities ... to accelerate the process of
transition to democracy, in particular through the transfer of power to
democratically elected representatives and to release immediately and
unconditionally those detained for political reasons",

1. Regrets that the authorities of Myanmar have not replied to the requests
for information addressed to them;

2. Strongly condemns the continuing deliberate policy of the Government of
the Union of Myanmar to disregard the outcome of the 1990 elections and its
unwillingness to hand over power to those democratically elected, and
reaffirms that its refusal to convene the Parliament elected in 1990
constitutes a violation of the principle established in Article 21 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights that "the will of the people shall be
the basis of the authority of government";

3. Reaffirms that in demanding that Parliament be convened and in setting up
the "Committee representing the People's Parliament", the MPs elect are
merely defending the rights of their constituents to take part in the
conduct of public affairs through representatives of their choice, as
guaranteed under Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
and exercising their right to discharge the mandate entrusted to them in
1990;

4. Calls again on its member Parliaments to press for respect for democratic
principles in Myanmar and show, by whatever means they deem appropriate,
particularly through support for the "Committee representing the People's
Parliament", their solidarity with their colleagues from the Pyithu Hluttaw
elected in 1990, and invites member Parliaments to inform it of any steps
they may take to that effect;

5. Is gravely concerned at the death of yet two more MPs elect in detention
and the allegation that this may be the result of the harsh conditions under
which they are held, and wishes to ascertain the exact circumstances of
their death;

6. Strongly urges the authorities to release immediately and unconditionally
all MPs elect detained for political reasons and to put an immediate end to
all practices aimed at preventing the MPs elect from engaging in any
political activity;

7. Formally reiterates its wish to send a mission to the Union of Myanmar;

8. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the
authorities of Myanmar together with the invitation of the ommittee to send
a representative, for the purpose of initiating a dialogue with it, to its
next session (January 2000);

9. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to
continue examining this case and report to it at its next session (April-May
2000).

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

SAPA (JOHANNESBURG): CASATU CHIEF, 30 MEMBERS EXPELLED FROM TRADE SHOW
21 October, 1999

[SAPA is a non-profit press agency.]

Cosatu [Confederation of South African Trade Unions] secretary-general
Zwelinzima Vavi and about 30 members of the trade union federation were on
Wednesday thrown out of the SA International Trade Exhibition (Saitex) at
Nasrec, after calling for the expulsion of the Myanmar delegation.

Cosatu was demanding that Myanmar, formerly Burma, be expelled from the
event because of human rights abuses in that country. "We are asking the
Government to cut all ties with the east Asian country," said Vavi, adding
that they would seek a meeting with both Saitex and Foreign Affairs Minister
Nkosazana Zuma(crt) [as received] to establish why Myanmar had been invited
to the trade exhibition.

However, Saitex exhibition director Johan Theron(crt) [as received] said
this week Myanmar was eligible to participate as it had full diplomatic
relations with South Africa.  Saitex did not invite any country to
participate but "countries who wish to
participate have to approach Saitex".

Vavi said there was no was no way South Africa could invite a country ruled
by a military junta with a poor human rights record. Calling for consistency
in dealing with military governments, Vavi said it was commendable that
Pakistan would not be allowed to attend the Commonwealth meeting in Durban
next month. Logically, "the same should have happened with Burma".

"From 1962 the people of Burma have been living under severe repression. And
in 1990 the military junta overthrew a democratically-elected government,"
added the Cosatu chief.

The military junta has thrown thousands of political activists in jail,
including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. She (who) was
released last year [sic], after six-years of house arrest. He accused the
military of forced slave labour, extra-judicial killings, child labour and
suppression of basic human rights.

The Cosatu protesters demonstrated inside the exhibition area from about
12pm yesterday (Wed). They were then approached by security officials, who
escorted them off the premises. The trade exhibition, with 800 exhibitors,
was officially opened on Tuesday and will continue until Saturday. Forty-two
countries are represented.

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

SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS: STATELESS PEOPLE'S UN CHOSE INTERIM
SECRETARY-GENERAL
28 October, 1999

The UNPO, known as the Shadow UN, elected an acting secretary general last
weekend in an ad hoc session, reported Sai Wansai form the Hague.

The Unrepresented Nations and People's Organization, founded in 1991, under
the auspices of the Dalai Lama of Tibet, held the Steering Committee Meeting
(SCM) Saturday to elect Mr. Erkin Alptekin to replace Mrs. Helen Corbett,
who resigned on 18 November.

Mrs. Corbett is an aboriginal from Australia. She was elected by the
52-member General Assembly in Estonia, 14-20 July 1997.

Mr. Alptekin, 62, is an Uighur from East Turkestan, China. His tenure is six
months and after that the General Assembly would elect a new Secretary
General. Sai Wansai, Shan States Ambassador, told S.H.A.N. many members
"respected" the former Secretary General, Dr. Michael van Walt for his
selfless contribution to the Organization.

Well known members in the UNPO are Acheh (Indonesia), Chechenya, Cordilerra
(Philippines), East Timor, Karenni, Kosovo, Kurdistan, Mon, Nagaland, Shan
States, Taiwan and Tibet, among others.

Of the original members, Armenia, Belau, Estonia, Georgia and Latvia have
gained full independence.

The UNPO was created, according to its bulletin, to offer an international
forum for nations and peoples around the world, who are not represented as
such in the world's principal international organizations, such as the
United Nations.

[Contact information for UNPO:  e-mail: <unpo@xxxxxxx> web:
http://www.unpo.org]

[S.H.A.N. is a non-profit making, independent Shan media group. It is not
affiliated to any political or armed organization.]

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