**************************BurmaNet*************************** "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ************************************************************* The BurmaNet News: 2 April 1995 Issue #138 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOTED IN PASSING: "This is a moral universe. Right and wrong matter. There is no way that injustice and oppression will prevail forever over their counterparts. The perpetrators of evil have already lost." Archbishop Desmond Tutu comparing Burma now to the Apartheid years in South Africa Contents: ************************TECHNICAL***************************** BURMANET: GROWING PAINS AND A WEB PAGE ************************ARAKAN******************************** OPIRG: "STOP THE REPATRIATION: JUSTICE NOW FOR ROHINGYAS." ********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI******************** BURMANET: A LETTER FROM A KAREN IN AMERICA **************************SHAN STATE************************** SHAN: MTA COMMANDOS RAID TAKHILEK **********************INTERNATIONAL************************** BURMA FORUM: OCC TO HOST FORUM ON BURMA SCB: LION'S LETTER TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI SCB: NO MORE SMUT, PLEASE! -- THAUNG KHI DAILY YOMIURI: TUTU URGES SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA SCB: ABOUT BURMA PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS IN AUSTRALIA ************************************************************** The BurmaNet News is an ********************************* electronic newspaper * Iti * covering Burma. Articles * snotpo * from newspapers, magazines, * werthatcor * newsletters, the wire * ruptsbutfea * services and the Internet as * r.Fearoflos * well as original material * ingpowercor * are published. * ruptsthosewhoare * The BurmaNet News is * subjecttoit...Theef * e-mailed directly to * fortnecessarytoremain * subscribers and is * uncorruptedinanenvironm * also distributed via * entwherefearisanintegralpar * the soc.culture.burma * tofeverydayexistenceisnoti * and seasia-l mailing * mmediatelyapparentto * lists and is also * thosefortunate * available via the * enoughtolivein * World Wide Web at httpn * statesgovern * http://taygate/au.ac.th/ * edbytherule * ~web/michael/bnn/bnn.htm * oflaw...fear * To subscribe, send * is ahab it. * an e-mail message to: * Iam * * no * majordomo@igc.apc.org * taf * * ra * In the body of the message, * id. * type "subscribe burmanet-l" * Aun * (without quotation marks) * gSa * * nS * Letters to the editor, * uu * comments or contributions * Ky * of articles should be * i. * sent to the editor at: ********************************* strider@igc.apc.org In Washington: Attention to BurmaNet c/o National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) Information Office 815 15th Street NW, Suite 609, Washington D.C. 20005 Tel: (202) 393-7342, Fax: (202) 393-7343 In Bangkok: Attention to BurmaNet c/o Burma Issues PO Box 1076, Silom Post Office, Bangkok 10504 Thailand Tel: (066) (02) 234-6674, Fax: (066) (02) 631 0133 [The NCGUB is the government-in-exile, made up of the people who won the election in 1990. Burma Issues is a Bangkok-based non-governmental organization that documents human rights conditions in Burma and maintains an archive of Burma-related documents. Views expressed in The BurmaNet News do not necessarily reflect those of either NCGUB or Burma Issues] ************************************************************** *************THE BURMANET NEWS--APRIL 2, 1995***************** ************************************************************** ************************TECHNICAL***************************** BURMANET: GROWING PAINS AND A WEB PAGE April 2, 1995 If the formatting and numbering of the BurmaNet News has seemed a bit out of sync, chalk it up to growing pains. The News is produced as a collaborative effort by people working at different sites, which can sometimes lead to variations in formatting and numbering. Please bear with us. The News is now available on an experimental basis as WorldWide Web formatted document at: http://taygate.au.ac.th/~web/michael/bnn/bnn.htm This has been done courtesy of javaman@comnet.ksc.au.ac.th Please try it out and let us know how to improve it. ************************ARAKAN******************************** OPIRG: "STOP THE REPATRIATION: JUSTICE NOW FOR ROHINGYAS." 2 April 1995 Ontario Public Interest Research Group >From the Burma-Tibet Group, OPIRG-Carleton, Ottawa CANADA: Time is short: please adapt this letter to your needs and copy as widely as possible. (You may want to change the "ALL CAS" to underline) This letter only scratches the surface of the situ- ation. It is the first in a series of actions. We are pushing this campaign forward through meetings, phone calls, faxes and letters like this, aiming to promote dialogue and positive pressure between refugee/human rights groups, and government/UN agencies. We urge you to do the same. GET THE REPORT referred to in the letter from the US Committee for Refugees. It is well-documented and comprehensive, with excellent photos. It may be on E-mail soon, or you can write USCR at 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 701, Washington DC 20036, USA. tel 202-347-3507, fax 202-347- 3418. Thank you for your efforts. In the long run, we see the need for an "Urgent Action Network" (UAN) targetting Burma and other repressive Asian countries, along the lines of the UAN created by church groups in Canada targetting Central America. Your comments are welcome. --------------------------------------------------- The Burma-Tibet Group OPIRG-Carleton 326 Unicentre, 1125 Colonel By Dr. Carleton University Ottawa ON K1S 5B6 25 March 1995 The Honourable Andr Ouellet Minister for Foreign Affairs Rm 312, West Block Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 BY FAX: 613-996-3443 Dear Mr. Ouellet: We urge Canada to speak out immediately and forcefully against the coercion and abuses committed against the Rohingya refugees that fled to Bangladesh from Burma (Myanmar), under the "volun- tary repatriation" program run by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We have mailed to you the recently released report by the US Committee for Refugees. USCR supports the Sep 94 report by Medecins sans Frontieres - France (MSF-F) that the UNHCR and Bangladesh government engage in "refoulement" of the refugees. As recent as Feb 95, MSF-Holland said, "few refugees seemed to be aware of the possibility and the right to say no to repatri- ation." MSF-F added that the Bangladesh authorities are using less coercion now, but only because the refugees think they have no choice but to repatriate. Since last August, when the abuses reached their peak, just the threat of brutality from the Bangladesh government has proved enough to gain the submission of the Rohingyas. A more subtle pattern of coercion remains. Should refugee protests escalate, undoubtedly so would physical retali- ation from camp authorities. Before last July, all refugees could count on receiving an interview with the UNHCR. Then UNHCR abandoned this practice under pressure from Bangladesh, and commenced "repatriation promotion" seminars and mass registration. At the time, USCR consultant Curt Lambrecht interviewed 49 refugees, who expressed "feelings of frustration and betrayal at what they viewed as UNHCR officials' indifference" to the beatings, torture and threats occurring regularly in the camps. At that point, the rate of repatriation rocketed; it has now reached some 4,000 weekly. By July 1995, all may be repatriated. Both the UNHCR and the Bangladesh government have resisted attempts by NGOs to inspect the camps and gauge the real situ- ation. This has served to stymie action until this very late date, when most of the Rohingyas have been sent back to Burma. Former Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M. R. Osmany, now Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada, brands this program a "foreign policy success." UNHCR asserts the "excellent cooperation" by SLORC - but at what price? UNHCR offers no evidence that the massive human rights abuses in Burma have abated, except that SLORC is now willing to accept refugees back, and allows a UNHCR presence. According to USCR, "IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT ANY ORGANIZATION COULD ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE RETURNEES, GIVEN THE SLORC'S RECORD." SLORC reportedly targets returnees for further mistreatment. For instance, UNHCR mentioned a "tailoring course for 50 returnee girls" as part of its reintegration program. USCR reports that such courses separ- ate girls from their families, "placing them under the control of military forces that are notorious for rape." Canada has a special responsibility since it contributed $1.5M to this program. But your staff at CIDA [Canada's bilateral aid agency] and Foreign Affairs inform us that there can be no bilateral involvement in monitoring the situation inside Burma. Yet the credibility of both UNHCR and the UN Commission on Human Rights (which recently commended the "free and voluntary" Rohingya repatriation) depend on havin another witnessing party sympathetic to refugees. The UNHCR should never have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the two host governments, BOTH WITH A LONG HISTORY OF ABUSING THE ROHINGYAS, unless they provided for independent monitoring agencies in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, and among returnees back in Arakan State in Burma. We applaud CIDA's decision to maintain funds to UNHCR for "care and maintenance" in the refugee camps. But we urge CIDA to continue to withhold funds for UNHCR's repatriation program until it is proven "voluntary" by international standards. Canada must go public with these decisions. We further urge your government to support USCR's recommenda- tions, including that "donor governments insist that repatriation be fully voluntary." Our immediate concern is that Canada: a) CALL ON THE BANGLADESH AND SLORC REGIMES to reaffirm the Rohingyas' rights, and permit independent monitoring to ensure their rights are respected. b) CALL ON UNHCR to cease its "repatriation promotion" sessions, and mass registration of refugees, and return to its former practice of individual interviews with ALL refugees, not just those who speak out against repatriation. We ask you to respond as soon as possible. We are informing our counterparts in other donor countries, with the firm intent of gaining the international support so long denied the Rohingyas. Sincerely, Corinne Baumgarten, Reid Cooper, Terry Cottam, Mike Buckthought Burma-Tibet Group, OPIRG-Carleton cc. Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma M. R. Osmany, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Len Legault, Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN Office in Geneva US Committee for Refugees, and other refugee groups Dave Todd, Southam News, and other media contacts **************************SHAN STATE************************** SHAN: MTA COMMANDOS RAID TAKHILEK SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N) P.O. Box 41 MaeHongSon 58000 Thailand -------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Battle News from Shan State For Immediate Release Monday, March 26, 1995 Contact: Hseng Jern Fax: 66 53 278 152 (Thailand) Fax: (301) 208-8012 (United States) March 18, 1995 -- The Moung Tai Army continues to inflict heavy casualties on the SLORC troops that had come to attack the people in the Shan State. MTA ground forces reported three clashes taking place within a 10-mile range from Takhilek on March 18 -- at Mak O, Phak Koot and Mong Long. A total of 47 SLORC soldiers were killed and 70 were wounded. The MTA also captured nine mules. Seven MTA soldiers lost their lives while 18 others were wounded in the three clashes. The MTA also destroyed the bridges at Nam Ton and Nam Mae Hok and destroyed two trucks about 9 km northeast of Takhilek. March 19: At 1630 today, an MTA defense unit clashed with the intruding SLORC troops at a place 7 kilometers northeast of Takhilek. In this engagement, the MTA killed 29 SLORC soldiers, wounded 41 others and captured a 60mm mortar. The MTA suffered four killed and eight wounded. At 1900, the MTA launched an attack on a platoon from the 5th Kachin Rifles Regiment that was guarding the Yang Hka bridge. Three soldiers were killed and the bridge was destroyed in the attack. March 20: A 70-strong MTA commando unit today launched a raid on the SLORC Army camp of Lieutenant General Saw Tun, Tactical Operations commander of the Eastern Command, in Takhilek. The MTA attack which caught the SLORC Army by surprise killed 12 soldiers and wounded 36 others, including a captain and a sergeant. The MTA lost three men while five others were wounded. Twelve MTA soldiers who mistakenly entered Thai territory were disarmed and released by the Thai troops. Two MTA commandos -- warrant officer Aik Khaung and Private Aik Pauk -- who took part in the raid on the Takhilek base were surrounded by 300 SLORC troops at a village. They fought courageously for nine hours before being killed. The SLORC accusing the village of harboring the MTA soldiers burned down 35 houses. Five villagers -- three men and two women -- were tortured. The three men had their ears cut off and the corners of their mouths slashed open during the interrogation. Six other villagers taken in for further interrogation were all shot and killed. A total of 110 villagers were left homeless and more than 2,000 people fled to the Thai side of the border. Thai authorities are feeding and housing the refugees before they can be sent back. March 21: Around 1800 today, the MTA clashed three times with the intruding forces at Loi Phak Koot, Loi Hai and Loi Mong. The SLORC Army suffered 36 dead and over 70 wounded. The MTA lost two men while 21 others were wounded. March 22: Lull in fighting. March 23: A fierce battle broke out at Ton village today. Five MTA soldiers were killed and 19 were wounded in the two-hour battle. The SLORC lost 41 soldiers while 65 others were wounded. ********************KAREN STATE/KAWTHOOLEI******************** BURMANET: A LETTER FROM A KAREN IN AMERICA 3 April 1995 It is a lengthy process to obtain peace in any country where there is civil war and Burma is no exception. Civil war has been raging in Burma for more than four decades and there is no sign of ending it yet. It may or may not happen during my life time, but I strongly feel that the SLORC can turn things arround if they have the will and the heart to do it. Due to oppressive and inhumane treatment of it's own citizen, SLORC has been condemmed by the world all over, but due to greed of power and wealth, they will not care and will continue to do the same of ill treating the population of Burma. As a Karen, let me mention how the Karen people feel about the SLORC. More than two decades ago there were two group of Karen insurgents. One led by Bo Lin Htin and the other led by Bo Mya. When Burmese military regime declared ammnesty to the insurgents, the group led by Bo Lin Htin and some KNU officials came back from the jungle and some given few cabinet position in Karen state for a few years. One unfortunate thing happened at that time was the regime killed the group leader Bo Lin Htin. What ever the reason for killing given by the military regime, it is very hard for the Karen people to trust them again. A few years ago one of the SLORC commander in the Kayin state mentioned and suggested in a meeting that if you want to see Karen, you will have to go down to Yangon (Rangoon) and see them in the MUSEUM. Quite a chilling remark!. May be that is why SLORC attemped to wipe out the Karen people and force them to flee their home land. More than seventy thousands Karen ended up in refugee camps in Thailand without any future at all. Furthermore, whenever the SLORC commander or their media refer anything about Bo Mya, they never say simply Bo Mya or KNU president Saw Bo Mya but will mention "Nga Mya". Here, let me explain about the Burmese word "Nga". It is the prefix name used only exclusively for the criminals. Bo Mya might have killed his opponent or enemy, but we never heard of him killing innocent villagers. In my point of view, he is not a criminal. On the other hand, the SLORC commanders and their troops destroyed Mon and Karen villges, tortured and raped the villagers, sent them to the front line to clear land mines and enslaved them to hard labor. The SLORC tried to deceive the world and say that there is peace and harmony in the liberated areas and tell refugees to come back. When the SLORC fail to convince the refugee to come back, they kidnap the refugees. There may be time when the refugees have no choice but to come back, but at present, the pain and agony that have been engraved in their hearts and mind still persist and they are so scare of coming back and live under the reign of terror. Even one time Apatheid Government of South Africa did not treat it's people as the SLORC treat the people of Burma. Besides the pain and agony the people of Burma go through, physically and mentally, there is no freedom at all to express one's thought and wishes and the news media is heavily sensored. When you pause for a short moment and think about the physical and mental suffering of the people of Burma as a whole you come to the conclusion that the SLORC is reducing the status of the people of Burma to sub-human species which is no better than bullocks and buffaloes ploughing the field and pulling the carts. Well by the grace of God I am fortunate to be living in the United States of America where I can express my thoughts and fellings. This is the land of Liberty where evey citizen enjoy equal opprotunity. If I am still living in Burma and have this kind of notion and express it, I am certain I will be awarded one way ticket to Insein Jail where I might have to spend the rest of my living life. I salute to all the people of Burma who perished by the oppressive regime and extend my deep heartfelt sympathy for who still survive. Well, those mentioned above are the dark side of the SLORC. But they can turn things arround if they choose to do so. The Karen leadership has expressed willingness to negotiate and Thai Government hinted it's willingness to mediate if SLORC make a move. There has been no better time than this time. By making peace with the opposition and minority groups the SLORC will save alot of resorces as well as human lives and sufferings. The SLORC will not have to spend a great deal on the military hardwares. The ethnic and opposition troops can be integrated into Burma Army without seeking new conscripts. Then Burma will have the most battle harden and experienced army in the world. The young conscripts can go home and seek further education and their future if they choose to do so. Money earned from foreign investment can be used to develop the country to catch up with the rest of the advanced world. The highly educated people will not leave the country and there will be no brain drainage. Look at Malaysia which also has diverse ethnic groups like Burma. There has also been one time tension between different ethnic groups and turmoils occured. Once they learned their mistakes, they correct it and the the country has become prosperous. At present, Malaysia enjoy peace and harmony with diverse ethnic culture. One thing the SLORC needs to do is not be too proud to negotiate with the opposition and ethnic groups to explore the possibility of peace. Even the Berlin wall could crumble down and Isreal could negotiate with PLO, there is nothing that SLORC can not negotiate with the opposition and ethnic groups. Once peace prevailed and military bdget is reduced, we can divert our attentions and energy into improving the standard of living just like Germany and Japan after the end of World War Two. After all every one in Burma share the same destiny. If the country prosper we all enjoy it and if the country degredate, we all suffer. If we all really reconciled, I'm very sure that nothing can stop Burma from becoming prosperous nation. The country is rich in natural resources and with modern technology we will be able to catch up with the advanced world very soon. In conclusion, I ernestly and sincerely pray that the SLORC will take the best opportunity at hand and turn the situation arround for the betterment of the people of burma. Saw Aung Khin "Simon M. Khin" **********************INTERNATIONAL************************** BURMA FORUM: OCC TO HOST FORUM ON BURMA ORANGE COAST COLLEGE NEWS Community Relations Office ______________________________________________________________ __________ 2701 Fairview Road, P.O. Box 5005 Contact: Jim Carnett Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5005 (714) 432-5725 March 29, 1995 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCC TO HOST FORUM ON BURMA Orange Coast College will host a day-long forum that focuses on the Southeast Asian nation of Burma on Saturday, April 29. Titled "Burma: Source of Heroin; Land of AIDS and Terror," the forum will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in OCC's Fine Arts Hall 119. Attendance is by pre-registration only. Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for full-time students. The fee includes lunch. The event is being coordinated by OCC professor of counseling services, Dr. U Kyaw Win. A graduate of Arizona State University, The American University and the University of Southern California, Win is a native of Burma. He's an outspoken critic of the military tyranny that has taken place in that nation for more than two decades. Win edits a bi-monthly newsletter, The Burma Bulletin, that is distributed internationally. The publication reflects his pro-freedom and pro-democracy views. He was founding president of The Burma Association, established in 1973, and has been banned from returning to his native land because of his political beliefs. Forum speakers include actor Mike Farrell; Boston College economist, U Mya Maung; director of the Burma Project, Maureen Aung-Thwin; anthropologist, Carol Richards; Rutgers University political scientist, Josef Silverstein; and BBC reporter, U Oung Myint Tun. Burma -- now called Myanmar by its government -- is mainland Southeast Asia's largest nation, with a population of 42 million people. The outside world knows little of what goes on there because a military dictatorship overthrew its parliametary democracy in 1962 and slammed the doors shut. "The people, led by students, rose up in 1988 to peacefully demand an end to military rule," says Win. "The armed forces responded by killing thousands and sending more than a million people fleeing into neighboring Thailand, India, Bangladesh and China." Win says the nation's ruling generals are now strapped for cash and making deals with foreign companies to exploit the country's rich natural resources. Resources include oil, natural gas, teak and other hardwoods, jade and rubies. "Heroin, which is extracted from raw opium, comes from the 'Golden Triangle' of Laos, Thailand and Burma," Win says. "The U.S. government estimates that 70 to 80 percent of the heroin coming into America originates in the Burmese sector of the triangle." For information about the forum, phone (714) 432-5860 or 831-2000. OCC **********************INTERNATIONAL************************** SCB: LION'S LETTER TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI ***** [Note: The soc.culture.burma newsgroup is currently the scene of a far amount of flaming, baiting and name calling. The current round of flames involves a gentleman with the userid of lion@dircom.co.uk and his detractors. The following letter is one lion posted to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In the unlikely event that she is able to or inclined to respond, her letter will be posted too---Strider] ******* lion soc.culture.burma 2:29 AM Mar 28, 1995 (at dircon.co.uk) (From News system) Dear Madam, How should I address you? Daw Aung San Suu Kyi or Mrs. Aris or Madam Aris or her excellency ? May I wish you very good health and immensely successful life with your family. I am a Burmese who has intense desire to know about the democracy and human right, and never saitsfied exploring the truth of Burma.Thanks to the Internet.I can write to you now. Your beloved husband will pass this message to you, as he issues some statement on your behalf, before. At least you have right to see your husband. My dear madam ,your beloved husband can publish your impression and felling to the whole world and vis-a-vis. I think you are free.I never had a chance like that while I was in Burma.For ordinary Burmese ,this opportunity is beyound any dream. Assuming Dr.Aris is interested in the classified information of Burma such as foreign investment,natural resources, high technology, arms dealing, secret agreement with foreign country and joint military operation with other country, would you be able to prevent him from leaking while you are asleep? He is very intelligent and loyal to his mother land. I admire him very much. I wish all Burmese were similarly intelligent. I do appreciate your sacrifice in the struggle for the democracy and human right of Burmese. But I strongly condemn you for fighting for crucial political seat in Burma.You have never ever issued a statement for denying the status of the in-charge of the nation. May I ask. why? Is it to fulfill the will of 85% of 45 millions Burmese. In a way YES. But how ? Nobel peace prize winners Bishop Tutu,mother Tresa,Dilalamar are also fighting f or human right but not for the political seat. How are you going to draw a line my dear Madam.? Your knowledge in politics is second to none. Your expertise will be invaluable to Burma. You probably know more than I do how to build a strong nation. If your conscious is not clear with Dr.Aris, are you physically and emotionally fit to make political decision for Burma? Would it be fair for Burmese? SLORC has very good excuse for propaganda.They are absolutely right. They may be criminals but they follow the simple rule to defend the nation. Do you sincerely think Dr.Aris would win the MP post in the UK ,by virtue of your marriage? You know about British better than anybody else does. That is why they are superpower. Crystal clear. I am sure you are the worshiper of the prestige and the dignity of the BRITISH which your father respects very highly.So do I. Having known all the basic principle of the politic ,I do not understand the fac t that you are fighting for the democracy as well as for the political seat. Actually, you are prolonging the agony of Burma by increasing the tension betwee n the politically ignorant poor Burmese and dedicated true simple soldiers. That is why SLORC is winning. You are the most responsible person for this agonizing deadlock scenario. Some experienced NLD members advised you not to threaten the integrity of the armed forces.You failed to listen and led the campaign in a very arrogant way.Because you are very popular. The army will never shoot you dead. They know your father's work. If I were in your place I would not be talking today. Burmese love you ,respect you ,trust you .They want you to save the country. They do not understand the politic, constituition, immigration law ,citizenship,national secur ity,industrialization and changing pattern of sociology as you studied in Oxford. I must say with due respect,you really did take advantage of the weakness of Burmese and enjoy the glory. Dr.Aris why can you not edit your wife's strategy to save millions of Burmese.? You did not pull the trigger but your wife gave the image to the Army that she is the only legitimate leader., who is going to command the army. In other words,"surrender uncondition ally to me and to my wife.We ,couple know how to run a nation. like Burma , a piece of cake." Would you point out the majority vote ? Do you think British Government will be unanimously elected in the British Empire? Royal family can veto in theory. Now Burma is battle ground. between the SLORC supported by China and Nobel laureate supported by the West bloc Who will pay this price for the suffering of Burmese . Will you ? living abroad. getting busy in the media warfare. I think we had enough. I am speaking for ordinary Burmese and loyal soldiers.and anonymous political prisoners languishing in the agony. My dear madam,if you truly love Burma and Burmese ,declare to the world that you will never ever take political seat in Burma but continue to fight for democracy and human right . Burmese Army will respect you and listen to the opposition. They need human right too.There are loyal soldiers and officers in the Army who are born to defend the nation with chivalry.They w ill salute you as a patriotic Burmese, the daughter of national hero who can share and bare the pain of Burmese. THEY WILL NEVER EVER SALUTE YOU AS A COMMANDER IN CHIEF WHILE STANDING TO GETHER WITH YOUR HUSBAND,foreign citizen. Self appointed King General Ne win did once. We are fed up with monochary. Why do you want to copy this image? In that case you have gone too far and throw away the dignity of Burmese Army, founded by your father before he was assassinated by so called rival Burmese. Burmese Army will probably award you a medal if you can find out who or which was behind the scene in your father 's assassination by digging up classified files of M I 5 [British secret intelligence organization.] It will be another stimulating story like JFK. BE A MODEL IN BUILDING A STRONG NATION . WE DO NOT WANT TO SUFFER ANYMORE. Please please educate Burmese, in stead of taking advantage. We want to be leveled with British, the dream of your father. One day it will come true. SCB: NO MORE SMUT, PLEASE! -- THAUNG KHI NSFS58C soc.culture.burma 1:41 PM Mar 31, 1995 (at prodigy.com) (From News system) As an elder in the Burmese community, in the United States, who supports and works for the causes of freedom, justice, decency and democracy in our homeland, I would plead with all those who struggle for same values to do so with reason and dignity. Although we are sickned by the brutality and duplicity of the illegal rulers of Burma, a fascist military junta called SLORC (The State Law and Order Restoration Council), we must take care that we do not lower ourselves to their level by the use of smut. I believe our cause is so just that we can do more good and better achieve our objectives by taking the high road. After all, we are the supporters of truth, liberty and democracy and we should act accordingly. Think of what Aung San Suu Kyi would say! **************************************** DAILY YOMIURI: TUTU URGES SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA Posted by brc-j By Rev. Desmond Tutu Special to The Daily Yomiuri Thursday, March 30, 1995 (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the founder and leader of the National League for Democracy which won a landslide victory in the Burmese elections of May 1990, is in the sixth year of house arrest imposed by the ruling junta. Here, the Rev. Desmond Tutu, archbishop of Cape Town and a fellow Nobel laureate, makes a plea for punitive sanctions against the Burma regime.) I have been struck by the fact that the three women who in recent years have received the Nobel Peace Prize share yet another attribute apart from the distinction of the Prize itself. These three, Mother Theresa, Rigoberto Menchu and Aung San Suu Kyi, apart from their gender, are also physically somewhat petite, and yet of course they have a formidable moral stature. Isn't it decidedly odd that someone so very slender in body as Suu Kyi should fill an entire military dictatorship and its cohorts, one that is armed to the teeth, with such trepidation that they must keep her under house arrest these many years? For what reason are they scared of someone so physically fragile and vulnerable? Were it not so tragic for Burma it might strike one as no more than bizarre and ridiculous that a group sporting so grandiloquent a title as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (the ruling junta's name) should transgress every known canon of the rule of law in their arbitrary treatment of my sister Nobel Laureate. One is tempted to ask what "law and order" and what "restoration"?The same Alice in Wonderland treatment of language was our own experience in South Africa under successive apartheid regimes when words were wrenched of their normal every day meaning and twisted to what the users wanted them to mean. And so in South Africa they had an Extension of University Education Act which actually did the precise opposite by strictly limiting the admission of black South Africans to white universities. The apartheid rulers also tried to foist on our people those they wanted to be leaders of the oppressed. They were looking for unscrupulous pliant collaborators who would assist the apartheid government implement their vicious and evil policies. Mercifully, the people always knew who their leaders were, despite all the efforts of the authorities to vilify and discredit them. Despite harassment and banning orders, the people always knew that their real leaders were either in jail, under house arrest, or somewhere in exile. The SLORC tried to hoodwink the world with their May 1990 election in Burma, hoping that the opposition would be too fragmented to pose any real threat. They were certain that they or their surrogates would emerge victorious. Mercifully, the people are not nearly as stupid as some politicians and generals would think. The people knew who their leaders were and they gave Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy a landslide victory. The SLORC was completely confounded and showed their true colors when they did not step down, free Suu Kyi and let her take over the rains of government as was her democratic right. She was thereby prevented from assuming the mantle of her illustrious father, the indomitable Aung San, the people's hero and leader of their liberation struggle. We used to say to our people in the dark days of apartheid's repression: "This is a moral universe. Right and wrong matter. There is no way that injustice and oppression will prevail forever over their counterparts. The perpetrators of evil have already lost." Our faith was fully vindicated when Nelson Mandela became the first democratically elected president of a new, free and democratic South Africa. And white South Africans discovered the truth of what we had tried to tell them -- that they would never be truly free until we were free. Right will prevail in Burma, too. Suu Kyi will be free and all her people will be free. The military junta will then be free as well. Nelson Mandela suffered grievously at the hands of the apartheid regime, but he emerged a moral giant, remarkably and magnanimously working for reconciliation and forgiveness with his former oppressors. For this he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. Aung San Suu Kyi is suffering now and her moral stature has grown. The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize is eloquent testimony of this. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan tried to be nice to our apartheid rulers and attempted gentle persuasion in the form of his "constructive engagement" policy. We condemned it as quite disastrous for our people and called for the imposition of punitive sanctions, especially financial sanctions. We were proved right. Constructive engagement was a dismal failure and sanctions brought us what we had all worked and suffered and prayed for, the end of apartheid and a negotiated settlement. The constructive engagement policies of the ASEAN countries toward Burma are doomed to fail. Only the application of punitive actions will bring about an end to military rule and usher in the democratic government the Burma have already voted for. Suu Kyi will then guide her country as its democratically elected leader. Two years ago I was in a group of Nobel Peace Laureates who were refused entry into Burma, but we made a call from Thailand for such sanctions and the release of Suu Kyi and other political leaders. The international community acted decisively in the case of apartheid in South Africa with spectacular results. It cannot do less in the case of Burma. What is the world still waiting for? **********************INTERNATIONAL************************** SCB: ABOUT BURMA PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS IN AUSTRALIA uneoo soc.culture.burma 12:00 AM Apr 1, 1995 (at physics.adelaide.edu.au) (From News system) /* Written Apr 1 16:53:16 CST 1995 by uneoo@ in soc.culture.burma */ /* ------------" C.R.D.B. in Victoria "----------- */ For those who are not so familiar with the Burmese pro-democracy/community organizations in Australia, the Committee for Restoration of Democracy in Burma (vic.) which its submission posted to the net recently, seems to operate independently from the mainstream C.R.D.B. (Australian Chapter). The C.R.D.B.(Australian Chapter) has their partner organizations throughtout Japan, UK, USA, Germany, Thailand and is a member of the Democratic Alliance of Burma. The C.R.D.B.(Australian Chapter) has produced their own publication called "NEWS AND VIEWS" at every two months. For everyone's information, the C.R.D.B. in Australia have been in active operation throughout 1992-1994, as I received their publications regularly; and recently said by its Editor, "We are here to stay in struggle in 1995". I begin to feel amazement as how such numerous individuals and organizations - which I have never heard of their names - have been involved in the movement. Such diversity of views and strengths have particularly shown in these publications. With regard to the unity within these prodemocracy groups, these people themselves admits there are some minor differences within the groups - a fact often been ridiculed by Burmese military government and worried by some outsiders. However, from my point of view, the unity of these organizations must be defined in terms of their objectives. They have one common objective: to overthrow the military dictatorship in Burma. Quite apart from taking part in an organized formal movement, there are numerous Burmese around who involved in the movement anonymously. One analyst described this situation of movement as "politics of fragmentation" (I'll find that article and posted to the net later). Whilst the precise definition of this term is not known, it started to make sense when such diversity of groups and individuals , most often un-coordinated and somewhat in a chaotic sense, oppose the military dictatorship with whatever available means and resourses to them - and they simply are good at that! As for me, I am very glad to have the opportunity to contacting these people in the movement and sending their views to the net. -- With best regards, U Ne Oo. ENDS\ ************************************************************** NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET: ABSDF: ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT AMNESTY: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AP: ASSOCIATED PRESS AFP: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE AW: ASIAWEEK Bt.: THAI BAHT; 25 Bt. EQUALS US$1 (APPROX), BBC: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION BF: BURMA FORUM BKK POST: BANGKOK POST (DAILY NEWSPAPER, BANGKOK) BRC-CM: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-CHIANG MAI BRC-J: BURMESE RELIEF CENTER-JAPAN CPPSM:C'TEE FOR PUBLICITY OF THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE IN MONLAND FEER: FAR EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW GOA: GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA IRRAWADDY: NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY BURMA INFORMATION GROUP KHRG: KAREN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP KNU: KAREN NATIONAL UNION Kt. BURMESE KYAT; UP TO 150 KYAT-US$1 BLACK MARKET 106 KYAT US$1-SEMI-OFFICIAL 6 KYAT-US$1 OFFICIAL MOA: MIRROR OF ARAKAN MNA: MYANMAR NEWS AGENCY (SLORC) THE NATION: A DAILY NEWSPAPER IN BANGKOK NCGUB: NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA NLM: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR (DAILY STATE-RUN NEWSPAPER,RANGOON) NMSP: NEW MON STATE PARTY RTA:REC.TRAVEL.ASIA NEWSGROUP RTG: ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT SCB:SOC.CULTURE.BURMA NEWSGROUP SCT:SOC.CULTURE.THAI NEWSGROUP SEASIA-L: S.E.ASIA BITNET MAILING LIST SLORC: STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL TAWSJ: THE ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL UPI: UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL USG: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT XNA: XINHUA NEWS AGENCY **************************************************************