July 1994 No.7, Volume 5 MANILA - NO SLORC IN ASEAN On 13 July, Phillipines President Fidel Ramos said that ``the entry of Burma into ASEAN is not going to happen''. The statement was made in response to an appeal by Dr Sein Win, Prime Minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), for the Philippines not to admit Burma's military junta as a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Dr Sein Win was in Manila 10-14 July at the invitation of the Parti Demokratiko-Sosyalista ng Pilippinas (PDSP) headed by Norberto Gonzales. Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo agreed with President Ramos, saying that Dr Sein Win's request would be taken into consideration in making a decision. However, the chairmen of the Foreign Relations committees of both the House of Representatives and the Senate urged the Philippine government to be more active in ensuring that the Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) not be accepted into ASEAN. After meeting with Dr Sein Win, Senator Blas Ople, chairman of the Senate committee, said that ASEAN ``should not grant the Burmese military junta a passport to international respectability.... At the very least, ASEAN hospitality to Rangoon must be premised on a demand for the immediate release ... of Aung San Suu Kyi''. Representative Jaime Lopez, chair of the House committee said that it is ``not appropriate for the Philippine government to recognize the military junta because the prime minister-in-exile has the mandate of the people''. Former Senator Aquilino Pimentel, who called for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release last year, said that the Philippine government could use ``a little pressure to ease the repressive Burmese government's actions against its own people and ...use it as a bargaining chip'' in exchange for international recognition. These statements of support for the Burmese democracy movement contrasted sharply with previous statements by the Philippine government. As recently as 7 July, the Department of Foreign Affairs had stated that ``the Philippines endorses the aspirations of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar to become members of ASEAN''. The change in position followed several high level meetings between Dr Sein Win and senior policy makers in the Philippines. Former President Corazon Aquino, who was instrumental in obtaining visiting rights for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's husband and children, revealed that she has twice requested permission from SLORC to visit her. To date, SLORC has not responded. Mrs Aquino continues to be very concerned for the well-being of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Dr Sein Win's proposal for a tripartite dialogue between SLORC, the democracy movement led by Daw Aung Sun Suu Kyi and Burma's ethnic leaders was favourably received by the leaders and officially endorsed by the PDSP, who also called on ASEAN to recognize Dr Sein Win's provisional government [NCGUB]. SLORC-SUU KYI MEETING? On 11 July, SLORC Secretary 1 Lieut-General Khin Nyunt said that he would be willing to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi if invited but did not set a date. Further deliberations within the junta were needed, he said. NCGUB Prime Minister Dr Sein Win said that he would like to see an official statement of intent from Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of SLORC, and a definite date and timetable for the talks. He said that, in his opinion, there is no need to wait until the National Convention in Rangoon reconvenes in September 1994 to start the dialogue. He also cautioned that a social visit from Khin Nyunt is not sufficient. A dialogue at the official level is required. Dr Sein Win emphasized that pressure from the international community must be maintained. He said that if pressure is relaxed, SLORC will not change and instead consolidate its position by only making superficial reforms [HT940711, NYT940712]. BURMESE LABOUR CALLS FOR EXPULSION OF SLORC FROM I.L.O. On 21 June, Maung Maung, Secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma, called on the International Labour Organization to deny SLORC a seat in the organization. Speaking at the ILO Conference in Geneva, Maung Maung said that SLORC is an illegal regime and does not truly represent the people of Burma. As an example, Maung Maung cited the case of Tun Shwe, the independent workers' representative in the National Convention. Tun Shwe was at that time in attending the ILO Conference in Geneva as a SLORC delegate [FTUB]. Burma News: CONGRESS CALLS FOR TOUGHER U.S. POLICY ON BURMA On 29 June, the US Senate and House of Representatives introduced resolutions calling for the Clinton administration to enact a tougher policy on Burma. Specifically, House Resolution 471 called for the US to 1) urge SLORC to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, 2) maintain ban on all nonhumanitarian aid to Burma, 3) disperse funds to assist Burmese refugees and students along the Thai/Burma border, 4) continue to limit narcotics control assistance, 5) continue to oppose loans to Burma, 6) consider imposing further economic sanctions, 7) elevate the issue of human rights in Burma in the conduct of US relations with the international community, 8) maintain support for a UN Special Envoy for Burma, 9) call on ASEAN to support international consensus by urging release of Aung San Suu Kyi, 10) maintain US arms embargo, 11) encourage others to halt nonhumanitarian aid to Burma, and 12) continue to encourage UN agencies to a) ensure that their activities do not benefit SLORC and b) to work through non-government organizations if possible. In introducing his Amendment No.2126, Senator Mitch McConnell said, ``SLORC is not the legitimate government of Burma.... They are nothing more than drug dealing thugs.... My amendment is designed to send a strong message to SLORC: There is nothing they can do to legitimize themselves to the United States.... SLORC has been hard at work trying to write a new constitution.... Despite their best efforts, we will not be duped by this carefully choreographed sham portrayal of peace and national reconciliation''. Testifying at the Congressional Hearing on Burma, NCGUB Prime Minister Dr Sein Win credited the firm US position for bringing about the limited changes in Burma and urged the US to adopt a tougher position. US Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs testified that ``it is unlikely that the heroin trade can be curtailed without fundamental political change in Burma'' and that the US is exploring the possibility of assisting impoverished farmers in Burma without directly benefitting SLORC. Mike Jendrzejczyk of Human Rights Watch/ Asia called on the US goverment to oppose new or expanded investments by private U.S. companies in Burma [US940729]. SLORC JETS ATTACK KHUN SA Four SLORC jets reportedly attacked eight Merng Tai Army positions on 10 July causing 300 refugees to flee to the Thai border near Mae Chan district. SLORC has been intensifying its attack against Khun Sa's MTA since May [N940713, B940713]. N.D.F. ACCUSES THAILAND The National Democratic Front, the umbrella group of ethnic resistance armies fighting SLORC, has accused Thailand of pressuring the New Mon State Party to sign a cease-fire agreement with SLORC by threatening to repatriate Mon refugees in Thailand. Khaing Soe Naing Aung, General Secretary of the NDF said that Thailand should not use the threat of refugee repatriation to achieve a political objective. The Mons and SLORC are deadlocked over which areas are controlled by whom after 3 negotiation sessions. The Mons also want a political solution to the civil war but SLORC has to date refused to address any political questions. In a related development, the UN High Commission for Refugees for the first time undertook a fact-finding tour of the Thai-Burmese border from 12-18 June. The UNHCR Chief Ruprecht von Arnim concluded that any repatriation of Burmese refugees should be voluntary and monitored by the UN. An aid worker commented that a cease-fire in the border areas alone is not a sufficicent condition to repatriate refugees. There must be guarantees that SLORC will not harass the returnees and international agencies must be given full access to monitor the repatriation [N940630, 0705, NCGUB940703]. 150 ARAKAN VILLAGERS KILLED According to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), SLORC killed 150 villagers in Arakan State in June in response to attacks mounted by the RSO in the Maungdaw area beginning in April [N940624, BBC940706]. NEWS SOURCES THIS ISSUE: AP = Associated Press, B = Bangkok Post, CCDB/PS = Chicago Coalition for Democratic Burma/Project Synapses, DAB = Democratic Alliance of Burma, FTUB = Federation of Trade Unions, Burma, IHT = International Herald Tribune N = The Nation, Bangkok, NCGUB = National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, NYT = New York Times, and US = US Government. Burma News: US DIPLOMAT TRANSFERRED OVER BURMA BORDER TRIP? According to news reports, US Deputy Chief of Mission in Bangkok, Matt Daley, was ordered transferred to India for making a controversial trip to the Thai- Burmese border. Daley was to have become Acting Ambassador until December while President Clinton selects a replacement for Ambassador David Lambertson who is leaving. Lambertson will now delay his departure until a replacement can be named by Clinton. On 27 April, Daley is reported to have travelled by Thai Army helicopter in the company of a Thai businessman named Xuwicha Hiranyapruek to the border village of Pwe Baw Lu. They met with senior officials of the Karen National Union. Daley allegedly questioned Karen Deputy Commander General Hla Htoo and Prime Minister Saw Ba Thin about their contacts with Khun Sa and warned them not to cooperate with him. The White House was apparently upset with Daley because his presence with Xuwicha gave the impression that the US is working with SLORC on drug eradication programmes and that the US supports Thailand's policy of pressuring Burma's ethnic groups to negotiate cease-fires with SLORC. Although Xuwicha is a businessman, he is believed to be the architect of Thailand's current Burma policy of close cooperation with SLORC. He is said to be the personal advisor to Lieut-General Charan Kullavanijaya, Chief of the Thai National Security Council. Informed sources allege that Xuwicha has been trying to discredit the Burmese democracy movement by planting stories that the students and ethnic groups are involved in drug trafficking. Xuwicha even travelled to Washington DC earlier this year to try and dissuade the US government from supporting the Burmese democracy movement and to recommend the resumption of aid to SLORC to fund anti-narcotic programs. This was reportedly rejected by the US [B940703]. DR MAUNG MAUNG DIES Dr Maung Maung, 69, died of a heart attack on 2 July. Although he was an international lawyer educated in the UK and the Netherlands, Maung Maung was a staunch supporter of General Ne Win and a keen apologist for his 26 years of misguided rule. Maung Maung was responsible for the Burmese Socialist Programme Party's (BSPP) 1974 one-party constitution. He was elected President of Burma by the BSPP on 18 Aug.1988 at the height of the pro-democracy demonstrations. It was hoped that, as a civilian, he would be able to quell the civil unrest. As the disturbances continued, he was deposed by SLORC on 18 September 1988. Maung Maung is said to be part of the old guard around Ne Win who still have a say in how SLORC should run the country. He is survived by his wife and 4 children [N940703, AP940703]. CHANGES AT D.A.B. The Central Executive Committee of the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) at its special meeting in Manerplaw on 27-28 June, accepted the resignation of its Vice-Chairman~3, Ye Kyaw Thu, on grounds of ill health. The meeting also named Nai Shwe Kyin, chairman of the New Mon State Party and the DAB's Vice-Chairman~2 to the position of Vice-Chairman~1. The position had been vacated by Brang Seng, Chairman of the Karen Independence Organization, after the KIO signed a cease-fire with SLORC. Tin Maung Win, Chairman of the Committee for the Restoration of Burma and publisher of the New Era Journal, was appointed to the position of DAB Vice-Chairman~2. Thant Zin, Chairman of the Peoples Patriotic Party was appointed as a member of the DAB's Central Executive Committee and the Joint Secretary of its Finance Committee. At the meeting, the Shan Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization was also inducted into the DAB as a member [DAB940629]. International Action: FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI 20 JULY 1994 On the fifth anniversary of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's illegal detention, Burmese activists and friends held rallies, demonstrations and vigils world-wide. The following are excerpts from some of the statements made: ``I urge the Burmese military regime to heed the will of its own people by releasing unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi .... I also call on the regime to honour the results of the 1990 election .... The regime should begin a substantive dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi aimed at achieving a political settlement...'' US President Bill Clinton ``The military regime thought that physical confinement would break her will ... and that the people would forget her.... She remains strong, courageous and defiant as ever .... Recently, General Khin Nyunt disclosed that he wishes to hold talks with (her).... To prove that they are sincere... (she) should be released immediately''. NCGUB Prime Minister Dr Sein Win ``A woman whose faithful devotion to the ideal of peaceful resistance ... has checkmated a repressive military. A woman whose defiance of authority wrongfully wielded has inspired her people .... Let us ... pledge unceasing hostility to the forces of tyranny that, in Burma ... are so obdurate that they cannot tolerate the existence of even a lone woman crying out for freedom''. Gary Ackerman, Chairman US House Subcommittee - Asia and the Pacific ``There is no question that the SLORC routinely rounds up villagers ... to build roads, railways and other infrastructure ... The business community ... justifies it by claiming that the people in chains are criminals. In a country where everyone who speaks out for his or her rights is a `criminal', this ...is hardly comforting...On behalf of the American labor movement, I join with you in calling for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi ... and in urging immediate respect for the results of the 1990 elections...'' President Lane Kirkland, AFL-CIO ``The Democratic Alliance of Burma ... has remained steadfast .... We will continue our strugle with Aung San Suu Kyi. We will not surrender. We are not afraid''. Vice-Chairman Tin Maung Win, DAB ``Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called on the military regime... to enter into a dialogue with her .... We firmly believe ... that the best way to save our nation from the present crisis is ... through sincere dialogue...'' National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) ``The long and unjust incarceration of Aung San Suu Kyi belies the SLORC's declared intention to allow a transition to civilian rule .... She must be set free'' - signed by Nobel Peace Laureates: Institute for International Law 1904 American Friends Service Committee 1947 Linus Pauling Institute 1962 Mairead Maguire & Betty Williams 1976 Adolfo Esquivel 1980, Lech Walesa 1983 Archbishop Desmond Tutu 1984 Intn`l Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War 1985 Elie Wiesel 1986, Oscar Arias 1987 The Dalai Lama 1989, Mikhail Gorbachov 1990 Rigoberto Menchu 1992 ``HRCP strongly condemns the regime of terror in (Burma).... It ... urges the Government of Pakistan to join its voice in the demand for Aung San Suu Kyi's release. It should also help mount international pressure towards that end''. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan ``As she has written, the only real loss of freedom comes from fear. And by that standard, she is free and her jailers are trapped.... At the end of the difficult road she has chosen is freedom ... Each day that passes brings that inevitable result one day closer''. US Senator Max Baucus (Dem), Montana ``Although SLORC and its military predecessors have been responsible for serious damage to Burma's institutions and environment, I am heartened ... that the people of Burma have preserved their rich and sophisticated culture against the odds. How else could the National League for Democracy have won so handsomely after three decades of repression and serious interference with its right to campaign? That is a real reflection of the strength and resilience of the people of Burma''. Howard Berman, US Congressman (Dem), California ``Let the word go out to Rangoon, we do not accept SLORC's cosmetic embrace of civility ... We know the situation is as bad as ever for the overwhelming majority of the Burmese people... It is my hope that there are those in the military who have the same courage and commitment to freedom that Aung San Suu Kyi has. We need more patriots in Burma, patriots who understand that real freedom is not the sterile `order' of repression, and that patriots do not enslave citizens for privilege, prestige, or possessions''. Dana Rohrabacher, US Congressman (Rep), California ``Despite the power of her jailers, she remains the rightful leader of Burma. That fact cannot be erased by bayonets or obscured by repression''. Neil Abercrombie, US Congressman, Hawaii ``The US should continue to seek the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to Burma.... There could be no more appropriate time for this Congress to urge the military leaders in Rangoon to unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi...'' US Congressman James A Leach ``Amnesty International has welcomed some improvements which SLORC has made relating to human rights ... These concessions do not however represent a fundamental change in the SLORC's repressive policy and practice on human rights. The solidarity shown by ordinary people all over the world ... must tell SLORC that it is time for change''. Amnesty International ``SLORC has now held Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for five years. And for more than four years, SLORC has effectively held democracy itself under house arrest in Burma ... The US Committee for Refugees once again call on the SLORC to unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi''. US Committee for Refugees ``Many see 1988 as the year that nonviolent action failed in Burma. This, in fact, was the beginning of the `second struggle for independence,' that has changed Burma forever.... Led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a people power victory is inevitable in Burma'' Nonviolence International ``The time has come for stronger action by governments of the free world ... and for all governments to take appropriate measures whereby negotiations leading to a political settlement between the SLORC and the democratic opposition can begin.'' Institute for Asian Democracy International Action: S. E. ASIA LABOR NOTES In March, the Asian-American Free Labor Institute launched ``Southeast Asia Labor Notes'' to explode the myth that Asia, or any part of the region, should operate under different labor standards. The inaugural issue focuses on Burma where `unions are banned but slave labor is not'. AAFLI, 1125 Fifteenth St NW, Suite 401, Washington DC.20005-2707. Tel. 1 (202) 737-3000. Fax: 785-0370. ROHINGYA REPATRIATION In June, Refugees International issued a 9-page report on the Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh. The report concludes that the repatriation of refugees `although agreed upon to be voluntary, has in fact not been voluntary'. For copies contact: RI, 21 Dupont Circle NW, Washington DC.20036, USA. Tel: 1 (202) 828-0110, Fax: 828-0819. SHAN STATE ASSOCIATION (USA) The Shan State Association (USA) was formed on 4 July 1994 by Shans living in the US to: a) inform the world of SLORC's abuses in the Shan State, b) assist refugees from the Shan State, c) seek international assistance for Shan State, d) find a political solution to the problem in the Shan State, and e) promote dialogue with other groups. The interim Secretary, Sai Khun Pha, can be contacted at POB 1144, Washington Grove, MD.20880-1144, USA. Tel: 1 (301) 963-2937, Fax: 208-8012. MASSACHUSETTS CAMPAIGN On 19 July, the Massachusetts Campaign for a Free Burma protested against the support given to SLORC by US businesses. Participants rallied at the Texaco stations at Fenway and at Cleveland Circle, and at Taco Bell (owned by Pepsico) at Boston University. On 20 July a candlelight vigil was held at the Massachusetts State House. Inside Burma: SUMMITVILLE 2 ? Burma Alert No.4, Vol.5, April 1994, reported that Ivanhoe Corporation of Canada Chairman Robert Friedland called on SLORC in Feb.94. Frustrated by SLORC's indiscriminate sale of Burma's natural resources, an employee of the SLORC Ministry of Mines has alleged that: 1. On 25 March, Friedland signed a contract with the SLORC's No.1 Mining Enterprise to undertake a feasibility study and to develop the Monywa Copper Complex. The complex includes the Sabetaung, Sabetaung 99 South, Kyisintaung and Letpandaung copper deposits, a floatation plant, a small smelter and a pilot refining plant to produce cathode copper. 2. Ivanhoe is currently negotiating for rights to the Kyaukpahto Gold Mine. 3. The contract for the Monywa Copper Complex was signed because Friedland made an illegal payment of US$500,000 to SLORC Deputy Minister of Mines U Myint Thein, plus another US$1 million to SLORC member and Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin. The US$1 million was allegedly shared with other SLORC members. ******************* The Burma Alert has confirmed the contract but it is not in a position to verify the other allegations. Deputy Minister of Mines U Myint Thein led a team to Canada at the invitation of Ivanhoe in Nov.92, to study gold extraction methods. Even if the payments were not made, the SLORC-Friedland connection is disturbing: - Friedland, 43, was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Galactic Resources, a Canadian company that developed the Summitville gold mine in Colorado's Rocky Mountains in the 1980's. - Summitville is a public relations disaster for the mining industry and to environmentalists, it epitomises the worst aspects of modern mining. Based on the Summitville experience, environmentalists are calling for an end to the use of sodium cyanide which is essential to some forms of gold and copper mining. ``They take the gold. We keep the cyanide'', is a phrase coined by those opposed to cyanide mining. Summitville has also led to tighter mining legislation in Latin America. - The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spent about US$30 million in 1993 to clean up the 6.5 tonnes of dangerous toxic mining waste (a mixture of cyanide and heavy metal) from Summitville. It is estimated that the final bill for cleaning up Summitville will be more than US$100 million. - US law enables the EPA to reclaim the cost of cleaning up a polluted site but Vancouver-based Galactic Resources declared bankruptcy and may escape having to pay. - Had the EPA not acted, the waste would have contaminated the Rio Grande River. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating reports that within 6 days of going into production, Summitville leaked cyanide and heavy metal-contaminated water into the Alamosa River, which flows into the Rio Grande. Within a year, it had poisoned fish 15 miles downstream and was corroding irrigation equipment. The Colorado Bureau of Mines is also carrying out a separate investigation to see ``if there have been violations of criminal laws at Summitville''. - Friedland claims that his primary role in Galactic was financial and that he was not aware of any improper activity by any employee that was environmently damaging. The SLORC Ministry of Mines employee is concerned about i) the environmental damage Friedland's Monywa copper operations will cause, ii) SLORC's corruption, and iii) the possibility that Friedland will use the Monywa contract to raise the value of Ivanhoe stock which he will later sell at a profit and leave Burma with an environmental disaster and shareholders with worthless stock. Most of the above information about Summitville is from the Financial Times, 8 November 1993 - Ed. Foreign Investment: U.S.A.: EDDIE BAUER, a sportswear company with almost 300 stores in the US and Canada is marketing a number of items manufactured in Burma. Write: Rich Feroch, President, Eddie Bauer, 15010 N.E. 36th St., Redmond, WA.98052, USA [Source: CCDB/PS] LIZ CLAIBORNE, a New York City-based women's wear company is marketing a number of items manufactured in Burma. Write: Jerome Chazen, CEO, Liz Claiborne, 1441 Broadway, New York, NY.10018, USA [Source: CCDB/PS].