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______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
        An on-line newspaper covering Burma 
_________September 8, 2000   Issue # 1616__________

INSIDE BURMA _______
DVB : Letter to ruling council chairman demands release of democracy 
leaders
South China Morning Post: Rulers announce opposition defections
The Myanmar Times (SPDC): NLD disruptive says Govt
SHAN: Kokangs Moving To Shan-Burma Border

REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
AFP: European parliament demands freedom of movement for Aung San Suu 
Kyi 
AFP: US rebukes Myanmar for "ridiculous" claims 
AFP: Canada calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi

ECONOMY/BUSINESS _______
Reuters: Unocal cleared of human rights liability in Myanmar
Xinhua: Burma border trade zone opened in Yunnan
		
OPINION/EDITORIALS _______
Maritime Union of Australia: Maritime Workers call for release of 
Burmese leaders 

OTHER _______
Mae Sot English Programme: Volunteer Positions on the Thai-Burma 
border


The BurmaNet News is viewable online at:
http://theburmanetnews.editthispage.com


__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
	

DVB : Letter to ruling council chairman demands release of democracy 
leaders

AS1-BURMA-LETTER
Burma: Letter to ruling council chairman demands release of democracy 
leaders

Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 4th September 

According to latest reports Rangoon Division NLD [National League for 
Democracy] members have said to have collectively signed a letter and 
sent to SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] Chairman Sr Gen 
Than Shwe. They demanded that the restrictions imposed on Daw Suu and 
party be lifted. DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] correspondent Myint 
Maung Maung filed this report.

[Myint Maung Maung] Reliable sources have reported that NLD members 
from Rangoon Division have collectively signed and sent a letter to 
SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe this morning. The letter demanded the 
immediate withdrawal of SPDC riot police from the occupied NLD 
headquarters and the immediate release of NLD leaders from house 
arrest. At the same time, the letter strongly condemned the SPDC's 
use of force on a legally standing political party. The letter also 
called on the authorities not to interfere in the political party's 
routine activities and to allow freedom of movement to NLD party 
members. It has been reported that over 30 SPDC riot police are still 
occupying the NLD headquarters and the Military Intelligence 
personnel are said to be still searching for documents and other 
evidence. Furthermore, NLD members from various states and divisions 
are also prevented from going to Rangoon. [end recording]


____________________________________________________


South China Morning Post: Rulers announce opposition defections

Wednesday, September 6, 2000 Updated at 12.40 pm:

 Burma's military rulers intensified their campaign against Aung San 
Suu Kyi's pro-democracy movement, announcing on Wednesday that 24 
members of her party have deserted her.  State-run newspapers 
reported that the members resigned from the National League for 
Democracy party in Mandalay, Burma's second largest city, and an 
important constituency for Ms Suu Kyi.  

The New Light of Burma daily said the resignations were submitted to 
the Election Commission in March. But making the news public now 
indicated that the government wants to convey the impression that Ms 
Suu Kyi's movement is losing popular support as it falls under 
increasing restrictions by security forces. 
 
The resignations could not be immediately confirmed as NLD's offices 
and headquarters have been shut down since Saturday by the 
government, which accused the part of links with terrorists. 
 
NLD's top nine leaders including Ms Suu Kyi, 55, are under virtual 
house arrest and their telephone lines have been disconnected. No one 
is allowed in or out, and guards are posted outside the gates of 
their homes.  

Burma's authoritarian government has kept the NLD on a tight leash 
since 1988 when Ms Suu Kyi led pro-democracy demonstrations. The 
military government allowed national elections in 1990 but refused to 
honour the results when the NLD won a landslide. Ms Suu Kyi was 
awarded the 1991 Nobel peace prize for her work.  

Ms Suu Kyi's latest confrontation began on August 24 when security 
forces blocked her vehicle as she tried to drive out of Rangoon to 
the countryside for party work. She camped out in the open for nine 
days before being forcibly returned to Rangoon.  

In the following days, the state press lunched blistering attacks on 
her and the NLD. The government has ignored international 
condemnation and accused the West of meddling its affairs.  

In comments published on Tuesday, Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, the 
head of military intelligence, said ''two Western countries'' 
are ''creating unrest in the country by agitating a handful of 
disruptive and subversionist groups''.  

The government has also been irked by British ambassador John 
Jenkins' attempt to go to the house of one of the NLD leaders, Tin 
Oo, over the weekend. 
 
A government statement said on Tuesday that Mr Jenkins had 
overstepped ''universal diplomatic norms''.  

''It is difficult to understand why a foreign ambassador was so 
adamant to intrude into the internal affairs of an independent and 
sovereign nation,'' it said.  

The government says the restrictions on the NLD are an internal 
affair, and that most Burmese people support it.  

In the past, the government media have frequently reported 
resignations from the NLD, but the party dismisses the reports as 
propaganda.  

The latest resignations in Mandalay were apparently of ordinary 
members and not elected representatives. In the 1990 elections, the 
NLD won 392 of the 485 seats at stake.  

The Election Commission, however, says the victories of only 109 NLD 
candidates remain valid as the rest have either resigned or were 
disqualified, or have died or are in exile.  

Ms Suu Kyi does not accept the disqualifications or the resignations. 
The government has also detained a number of elected representatives. 
 
According to official figures more than 60,000 ordinary party members 
had resigned so far, a figure disputed by Ms Suu Kyi who says the 
resignations were forced under coercion. 


____________________________________________________


The Myanmar Times (SPDC): NLD disruptive says Govt

September 4-10  ,2000, Volume 2, No.27


FOREIGN governments with an interest in Myanmar's wellbeing should 
encourage the National League for Democracy (NLD) to positively 
engage in the nation's future, rather than heed the calls of its 
leader for the country to be internationally isolated, according to 
the Government. In a series of statements issued last week in 
response to the situation in Dala û where NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu 
Kyi and supporters were continuing their impasse with authorities û 
the Government said the NLD's activities were damaging the country. 

The Government "urges the international community to encourage the 
NLD to become a responsible and constructive force in the Myanmar 
community and to contribute and participate meaningfully in our 
transition to a democracy," the Government said. "The Government of 
Myanmar is striving to be a flourishing member of the international 
community, anchor of regional stability and a source of opportunity 
for global economic development." This is certainly time for the NLD 
to cooperate in a responsible and meaningful way in the march towards 
the national goal, instead of flashing symbolic gestures designed 
merely to attract attention."Regretfully, Daw Su Kyi's insistence on 
foreign governments to impose economic sanctions and trade boycotts 
have resulted in having a number of foreign investors pull out of 
Myanmar.

"Although the party claims to be promoting human rights, in reality 
the rights of the people of Myanmar to enjoy a better and fuller life 
have been violated by the very same people." Unfortunately, some of 
the western media and governments have continued portraying Daw Su 
Kyi as a person who is supported by all the Myanmar people. The 
Government said it had "requested Daw Su Kyi not to travel beyond 
Dala at this time" but that she and her supporters were free to 
return to Yangon whenever they wished.Its press statements named and 
quoted various Dala residents - including a student, a tea-shop owner 
and a public servant - who said the NLD's strategy was disruptive.


____________________________________________________


SHAN: Kokangs Moving To Shan-Burma Border

7 September 2000


Are Chinese coming along too?

Reporter: Saeng Khao Haeng

While the Was are preparing to move yet another wave of resettlers 
from the  Chinese border to the Thai border, Kokangs, the Was' 
neighbors in the  north, appear to be set on moving 800 families 
towards the border between  Shan State and Burma proper, sources in 
northern Shan State told S.H.A.N.  recently.

On 21 June, an unidentified official from Peng Jiasheng's faction of 
Kokang  met with local government surveyors in Nawngkhio, Kyawkme 
District,  northern Shan State and requested them to set apart 1,000 
acres of land  near the village of Yewun, between Banbway and Ohn-
mati for 800 families  from Lao-Kai and Chinshwehaw, Special Region 
No.1 (Kokang). He said Lt-Gen  Khin Ntyunt, Secretary 1, had already 
approved the project.
 
Sources told S.H.A.N. although official policy was to 
encourage  "development of fallow land", there were several instances 
where cultivated  land from the local people was arbitrarily taken. 
No figures were available. 

It was also predicted that Chinese nationals, at least 15-20%., 
would  mingle with the Kokang resettlers who are of Chinese origin, 
although they  speak a distinct dialect of their own. (Kokang 
means "9 village headmen".  There is another area in Kengtung called 
Petkang "8 village headmen".) "It  will be different with the Wa 
resettlement project only in scale," said a  source.

There are already 500 plus families living southeast of Nawngkhio who 
were  displaced by the internecine war between Yang and Peng clans 
that broke out  on 29 November 1992.

Another two hundred families are to be found along the Thai border, 
said  sources.

Resettlement of poppy growers to non-poppy growing areas is included 
in the  1998 master-plan of SCOPE (Strategy for Coca and Poppy 
Elimination) that  aims to eradicate drug-linked crops by the year 
2008.

However, it is feared that the planned movement shall only result in 
the  so-called balloon effect (drug-linked crop cultivation in 
previously  untouched areas) that SCOPE seeks to prevent, given the 
situation in  Burma,  said observers in Thailand.

Kokang is due to be declared drug-free sometime this year, according 
to the  New Light of Myanmar, 23 July issue.



___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________



AFP: US rebukes Myanmar for "ridiculous" claims 

WASHINGTON, Sept 7 (AFP) - The United States on Thursday accused 
Myanmar of concocting a "ridiculous" misinformation campaign to 
obscure what it described as the blatant violation of opposition 
leader Aung San Suu Kyi's human rights. 

 US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called on the junta to 
release the democracy figurehead and her colleagues from effective 
house arrest following her roadside standoff with security forces. 

 "The Burmese government now claims that American and British 
diplomats somehow orchestrated recent events in order to embarrass 
the regime," Boucher said in a statement. 

 "This is a self-serving fabrication. It represents a cynical attempt 
by Burmese authorities to deflect attention away from its blatant 
violation of Aung San Suu Kyi's human rights." 

 "We reject these ridiculous claims and call upon the Burmese 
government to end its policy of misinformation," he added. 

 The US statement came after Myanmar's junta charged that the global 
media was collaborating to conduct a synchronized campaign against 
the Yangon regime. 

 "It is no secret that a negative media campaign against the 
government of Myanmar has been tailored to coincide with several 
important events such as the UN Millennium Summit," it said. 

 The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper meanwhile claimed that 
Aung San Suu Kyi was a neo-colonialist stooge being confined for her 
own safety. 

 US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair 
blasted Myanmar's junta Wednesday at the UN Millennium Summit over 
the affair. 

 Blair called Aung San Suu Kyi's treatment a "disgrace," while 
Clinton likened the situation in Myanmar -- formerly Burma -- to 
those in Serbia and Iraq, where human rights and democracy were also 
under siege. 

 In its statement, the junta dismissed the allegations by Blair, 
Clinton and others that Aung San Suu Kyi's rights were being 
suppressed, saying that such allegations were "groundless" and "blown 
out of proportion." 

 Myanmar authorities raided the National League for Democracy (NLD) 
headquarters and seized what they called "incriminatory material" and 
documents early Saturday, just before they officially announced that 
a nine-day showdown between Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta was over. 

 The Nobel peace laureate and a dozen NLD members had been camped out 
in their cars on the outskirts of Yangon since August 24 when they 
were blocked from travelling to a party meeting outside the capital. 

 The NLD won a landslide general election victory in 1990, but the 
junta has never recognised the result and is accused by foreign 
critics and human rights groups of severe repression of opponents. 

 Myanmar's Foreign Minister Win Aung meanwhile used a speech to the 
UN millennium summit to issue a veiled attack on Aung San Suu Kyi and 
her Western allies. 

 He said Myanmar's military rulers had worked hard to seal peace 
deals with the country's myriad ethnic groups and was committed to an 
eventual transfer to democracy. 
 "The government is taking a constructive path while opposing forces 
are embarking on a path of destruction," he said. 

 "Confrontational and destructive actions could only impede the 
process of democratization of our country." 



AFP: European parliament demands freedom of movement for Aung San Suu 
Kyi 

STRASBOURG, Sept 7 (AFP) - The European parliament on Thursday called 
on the Myanmar authorities to grant opposition leader Aung San Suu 
Kyi and all citizens of the country "immediate freedom of movement." 

 The Nobel laureate and leader of the opposition National League for 
Democracy (NLD) has been detained by authorities in Yangon since 
Saturday. 

 In a resolution voted in Strasbourg, the parliament said 
it "unreservedly condemns the attacks on freedom of movement, speech 
or assembly" of Aung San Suu Kyi as well as "intimidations directed 
at her and threats to members of the NDL". 

 The text calls on the European Commission, the executive body of the 
European Union, and its top representative for common EU security, 
Javier Solana, to "intensify efforts to meet Aung Sun Suu Kyi." 

 


	



AFP: Canada calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi

OTTAWA, Sept 8 (AFP) - Canada called on Myanmar to release detained 
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, rejecting Yangon's claim that the 
Nobel laureate's political party is involved in terrorist activities. 

 In a statement issued Thursday, Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said 
that "Canada demands that Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her party 
be released and permitted to meet with diplomatic representatives." 

 The statement noted that the ruling junta in Myanmar had "alleged 
that members of Aung San Suu Kyi's party are involved in terrorist 
activities," and added, "we categorically reject allegations." 

 Myanmar has come under fire during the ongoing United Nations 
Millennium Summit for its treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD 
leaders from the United States, Britain and other world leaders. 

 The Nobel peace laureate and a dozen NLD members had been camped out 
in their cars on the outskirts of Yangon since August 24 when they 
were blocked from traveling to a party meeting outside the capital. 

 The NLD won a landslide general election victory in 1990, but the 
junta has never recognized the result and is accused by foreign 
critics and human rights groups of severe repression of opponents. 
	


  


____________________________________________________



____________________________________________________




____________________________________________________



_______________ ECONOMY AND BUSINESS _______________


Reuters: Unocal cleared of human rights liability in Myanmar

By Jill Serjeant 

 LOS ANGELES, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A Federal judge has cleared Unocal 
Corp., one of the largest remaining U.S. investors in Myanmar, of 
responsibility for alleged human rights abuses during the 
construction of a $1.3 billion pipeline in the southeast Asian 
nation. 

 Unocal (UCL.N) on Thursday hailed the decision as long-overdue 
vindication but human rights groups vowed to appeal to the Supreme 
Counrt if necessary. Some experts saw the ruling --- handed down last 
Friday -- as a setback for activists opposed to Myanmar's military 
government. 
 U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Lew dismissed the case brought by 
15 Burmese villagers in 1996. They had sought to hold El Segundo, 
Calif.-based Unocal liable for the use of forced labour, torture and 
other crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the Myanmar 
military regime during the pipeline project. 

 ``We are extremely pleased with the court's ruling. We have gone 
through four years of intense investigation,'' said Unocal spokesman 
Barry Lane. 

 ``Finally the federal court has ruled that there is no evidence of 
any Unocal participation in human rights abuses in Myanmar. We are 
proud of our involvement in the project and the benefits it has 
brought,'' said Lane. 

 The pipeline, which takes offshore natural gas on a 60-mile (96 km) 
stretch through Burma to Thailand, was completed in 1998 and is 
already in production. 

 However lawyers for the villagers, who say they were either forced 
by the Myanmar military to work on the project or were terrorised for 
not doing so, said they would appeal and predicted the case could end 
up in the Supreme Court. 

 ``This is the type of case that could end up in the Supreme Court 
because of the issues involved,'' said Dan Stormer, one of the 
lawyers representing the villagers. 

 ``We are disappointed at the judge's ruling. But what was very 
heartening was the judge's finding that Unocal knew of these 
atrocities but continued to fund the pipeline being very well 
aware that the foundation of this project was terrorism,'' Stormer 
added. 

 Several reports by the United Nations and human rights watchdogs 
said that forced labour was imposed on the civilian population of 
Myanmar for portering, building and maintenance of military camps, 
roads, railways and bridges. 

 Lane said Unocal did not dispute the assertion that it was aware 
that human rights abuses were being committed by the host government 
during the pipeline project. 

 Judge Lew however ruled that the plaintiffs had failed to prove that 
the oil company had conspired with the military or controlled 
military decisions or sought to employ forced labour for the project. 

 ``We argued that we cannot be held responsible for the actions of 
the (Myanmar) government any more than if we invested in Los Angeles 
and were held responsible for the actions of the Los Angeles 
police,'' said Lane. 

 Stormer said he was confident the plaintiffs would eventually win 
the case. An appeal is being filed and a separate case in state court 
claiming unfair competition is also planned. 

 ``We are very confident we will prevail. Essentially this judge's 
finding is that they (Unocal) relied upon acts of terrorism as the 
foundation for this profit-making venture,'' he said. 

 ``These are flesh and blood human beings whose lives were ruined, 
whose child was killed, who were raped, whose family members have 
been murdered. I want something done on behalf of these people,'' 
Stormer added. 


Xinhua: Burma border trade zone opened in Yunnan

September 6, 2000


Kunming, 28th August: The Jiegao Border Trade Zone was set up today 
at the  Dai-Jingpo
Autonomous Prefecture of Dehong in southwest China's Yunnan Province. 
The  aim of the move is to open an outlet to Southeast Asia, promote 
border trade and expand economic  and trade cooperation with south 
and southeast Asian countries.

Jiegao is an important trading port on the China-Myanmar [Burma] 
border. It  handles half of the trade volume in Yunnan annually. The 
trade zone covers 1.92 sq.km. It has four  districts catering to 
commerce and trade, processing, tourism and warehouses.

Yunnan strives to turn the border trade zone into an investment 
centre and  a cross-border sightseeing area in three to five years.


_________________OPINION/EDITORIALS________________


Maritime Union of Australia: Maritime Workers call for release of 
Burmese leaders 

Media Release (7/9/00)


Protest in Canberra , Friday 8th 

National Secretary John Coombs has condemned the recent house arrest 
of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and parliamentarians in 
Rangoon.  The Nobel Laureate and leader of National League for 
Democracy is being held armed guard in her home.  . NLD won an 82 per 
cent majority in the 1990 elections, but the military refused her 
party to take government .

"The military junta in Rangoon makes the likes of Fijian coup leader 
George Speight appear a relatively nice guy, " said MUA national 
Secretary John Coombs. " We join the Burmese community in expressing 
outrage over the recent crackdown." 

too frightened to call for help. The australian government can not 
stand back and let this abuse of human rights continue."

Meanwhile, the International Transport workres Federation and the MUA 
port officials in Darwin  successfully rescued 4 Burmese crew 
stranded on board two cattle boats, last week. The crew had not been 
paid for four months and were made to work on shore while the boats 
lay in the mud at a private berth in Darwin. The seafarers were 
threatened with being taken to the local police station if they 
complain about conditions . 

" Accomodation on board was appalling ," said ITF Australia co-
ordiantor Trevor Charlse." Seafarers were packed into stuffy cabins 
in the stifling tropical heat with no airconditioning. They were fed 
a meagre ration of chicken wings and rice which they had to share 
between themselves and seven Indonesian seafarers . They were forced 
to work onlocal building sites." 

A local member of Burmese community contacted the ITF Australia co-
ordiantor , which then launch a rescue mission. The Burmese have now 
revieved $20,000 in back pay and compansation . " The crew know know 
how the Burmese junta treat seafarers seeking outside help, said Mr 
Coombs. " They fear returning to their homeland. It is not just 
democracy leaders that are imprisoned and tortured in Burma, but 
workers and unionists. The Australian Government is just not doing 
enough. But the union movement is closely monitoring the situation." 



_____________________ OTHER  ______________________


Mae Sot English Programme: Volunteer Positions on the Thai-Burma 
border

September 8, 2000

'The Mae Sot ESL programme is a new education programme set up to 
help students on the Thai-Burma border. It works with a variety of 
groups and provides them with an opportunity to further their English 
Language skills for use in communicating to the international 
community.

Volunteers are constantly needed and must be able to commit 
themselves for a period of not less than three months. Accommodation, 
monthly food allowance, and visa extension is provided.  

People who are interested can view the website at

http://geocities.com/mesotesl or can contact me via email at 
maesotel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'

Co-ordinator
Mae Sot ESL Programme




____________________________________________________

________________


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