------------------------- BurmaNet --------------------------- "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" -------------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: 6th May 1995 Issue #166 -------------------------------------------------------------- Contents: NINE STUDENTS SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT IN RANGOON BURMESE OPPOSITION SLAMS BUDDHIST KAREN INCURSIONS THAI CAMP RAIDED, POLICE DIE THREE THAI POLICE KILLED IN BURMESE BORDER RAID THAILAND HITS RAIDERS' CAMP IN BURMA BURMESE ARMY ATTACKS DRUG LORD ABSDF STATEMENT ON SLORC'S SAVAGE TREATMENT OF STUDENTS STATEMENT REGARDING SLORC CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS ON REFUGEES SPEECH by Dr. Sein Win. A FOURTH WAY: FORUM ON U.S. BURMA POLICY HELD AT HARVARD EXPLORING SE ASIA'S BURMA THE NATION: Snippets. THAI FORCES POUND KAREN CAMP TANAOSRI CAMP REFUGEES GIVEN 45 DAYS TO GO HOME BURMA 'USING SLAVES TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE' STATEMENT ON RECENT INCURSIONS ON THAI TERRITORY NEWS FROM NEW ERA JOURNAL -------------------------------------------------------------- o-------------------------------o The BurmaNet News is an | | electronic newspaper | Iti | covering Burma. 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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. -------------------------------------------------------------- (at titan.oit.umass.edu) (From News system) Are there any MON people out there? I am very interested in knowing my fellow Mon-Khmer people. -------------------------------------------------------------- NINE STUDENTS SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT IN RANGOON (BBC- 5.4.95, 9:30 PM/ Inside sources) Nine students who joined the funeral procession of Burma's former elected premier U Nu, shouting slogans, singing democratic songs and laying flowers in honour of U Nu for his democratic efforts, and were later arrested by Slorc in February, were sentenced for seven years imprisonment in Rangoon. Other two students who tried to escape were also sentenced for 20 years imprisonment. They are accused of agitating and creating political instability by singing the songs and shouting slogans in the funeral procession. It was just a small demonstration but a brave event. They sang the songs in which hundreds of students and people who were killed by Slorc troops in 1988 demonstration, were also honoured there as heros and martyrs for democratic causes. More then 1000 people joined the funeral procession including diplomats from various embassies in Rangoon. When his body was laid down to ground and buried, almost all the participants were grievingly shouting and crying there. At the same time the songs sung by these young students appeared out and it effected the hearts of the people. It was an event of political defiance against the Slorc and regarded as an unacceptable occasion by the Slorc. (ABSDF) =============== BURMESE OPPOSITION SLAMS BUDDHIST KAREN INCURSIONS 5.5.95/Bangkok Post The Burmese opposition yesterday strongly condemned recent incursions into Thailand by Burmese troops and their Buddhist Karen allies. The Democratic Alliance of Burma said the intrusions by SLORC and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army troops had enraged and embarrassed the Thai authorities. " The DAB greatly shares the anxiety and the concern of the Thai Government over these recent unwarranted developments." the alliance said. "It prays the Government will come up with an appropriate measure to preempt recurrences." The opposition praised Suthin Noppakate, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for urging the Thai Government to review its "constructive engagement " policy with Burma. Mr Suthin of the Palang Dharma Party called on the Government to exclude the regime from observing the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Brunei in July. The alliance described the Thai policy as serving no purpose other than to precipitate chaos and misery for the 43 million people of Brma and to create a huge windfall for the illegitimate military regime. It urges ASEAN and the global community to deal with Burma only when an elected, democratic government is in place in that country. Union of Burma [NCUB] has distributed to the United Nations and ASEAN members its " position paper" on the ASEAN meeting scheduled for July 21 in Brunei. The paper has also been sent to other conference participants such as Laos ,Vietanm, Russia , China , Papua, New Guinea, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union. The NCUB is an umbralla organisation for the DAB, the National Democratic Front , the National League for Democracy [NLD- Liberated Area] and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. =============== THAI CAMP RAIDED, POLICE DIE (AP) MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) -- Burmese infiltrators burned down a camp housing refugees of Burma's Karen ethnic group Wednesday and killed three policemen at a Thai police checkpoint. The attack on the Mae Samlap refugee camp, 400 miles north of Bangkok, was the latest in a series of raids on Karen refugee camps in Thailand over the past two weeks. The refugees are followers of the Karen National Union, which has been seeking autonomy since Burma's independence in 1948. The raiders are Burmese troops and Karen guerrillas allied with the government. A squad of about 20 Burmese troops and allied Karen guerrillas crossed the Salween River along the Thai-Burmese border and burned more than 100 homes in the camp, which houses 5,300 Karen refugees. The 10 guerrillas who attacked the police checkpoint several miles away spoke Karen, Thai border police said, but it is not clear whether they were rebels, Burmese government allies or just bandits. They crossed the Mae Ngao River several hours before the attack on the refugee camp, and skirmished with five Thai Border Patrol police, killing three and wounding two. On Tuesday, Thai authorities said it will move some of the Karen refugees into a new center deeper inside Thailand to protect against incursions by Burmese government loyalists. About 70,000 Karens live in 16 camps near the Burmese border. =============== THREE THAI POLICE KILLED IN BURMESE BORDER RAID (REUTERS) MAE SOT, Thailand, May 3 (Reuter) - Three Thai policemen were shot and killed when a group of 40 heavily armed members of a Burmese rebel splinter faction attacked their checkpoint in northwestern Thailand, police said on Wednesday. Police said members of the Burmese-government backed Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) were responsible for the attack late on Tuesday night. The DKBA has mounted a series of violent cross-border raids into Thailand since it broke away from Burma's Karen National Union (KNU) guerrilla group and joined forces with Burmese government troops late last year. Last week DKBA gunmen attacked and burnt several Karen refugee camps on the Thai side of the border leaving thousands homeless. DKBA leaders later told local reporters they would continue their raids on Karen refugee camps in Thailand until all of the 70,000 Karen refugees in the camps returned to Burma. Thailand has complained to Burma's military government several times about the raids and sent hundreds of troops backed by helicopter gunships and armoured personnel carriers to reinforce the border. Burma has responded to the complaints by saying it is not responsible for the actions of the faction but Thai leaders reject the explanation saying the DKBA is supported by the Burmese army and operates out of areas under Burmese army control. The DKBA was formed by several hundred Buddhist Karen guerrillas who in December mutinied against the predominantly Christian KNU leadership because they said they were unfairly treated. DKBA members helped Burmese government forces capture the KNU's headquarters at Manerplaw in southeastern Burma in late January. =============== THAILAND HITS RAIDERS' CAMP IN BURMA (Reuter / Sutin Wannabovorn) ACategory: international MAE TA WAW, Thailand (Reuter) - Thai forces launched a cross-border attack on Burma guerrillas Friday, hitting their jungle camp in southeastern Burma with salvos of missiles from helicopter gunships, a Thai army spokesman said. Four Thai gunships were involved in the attack on the camp of the Burmese-government-backed guerrillas on the west bank of the Salween River opposite the Thai village of Mae Sam Laep, the army source said. ``More than 10 rockets hit the enemy camp and set it ablaze,'' the spokesman said. There was no information about casualties. Friday's attack followed a Thai warning that its forces would chase the guerillas across the frontier and hunt them down if they continued cross-border raids on Karen ethnic refugees in Thailand. ``If they can enter Thailand, we can enter Burma,'' regional Thai army commander Lt.-Gen. Surachet Daechawongse was quoted as saying in newspapers Friday. The guerrillas, members of a faction that broke away from the anti-Rangoon Karen guerrilla army and joined Burmese government forces last December, have launched a series of attacks on Karen refugee camps in Thailand. Thailand last week issued the latest in a series of complaints to Burma about the attacks by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) but the raids have continued. Three Thai policemen were killed in a clash with 40 heavily armed DKBA members late Tuesday. ``Wherever we know for sure where DKBA forces are located we will not hesitate to wipe them out with drastic and violent means,'' Surachet told a news conference at his headquarters in the central Thai town of Phitsanulok Thursday. Asked if that meant Thai forces would cross the border into Burma in pursuit of the rebels, Surachet replied: ``Why not? They violate our sovereignty. It is the army chief's policy for us to retaliate drastically.'' Thailand has sent hundreds of reinforcements to the border to protect the 70,000 Karen refugees housed in a string of camps along the Thai side of the frontier. DKBA leaders have threatened to continue the attacks until all of the refugees, many of whom support the anti-Rangoon Karen guerrilla force, return to Burma. Burmese military authorities in the southeastern Burmese border town of Myawadi have closed the border with Thailand and broadcast warnings that anyone trying to cross the frontier illegally might be shot on sight. =============== BURMESE ARMY ATTACKS DRUG LORD (AP) TACHILEK, Burma (AP) -- Burma declared a limited victory Friday in a bloody offensive against Khun Sa, the most notorious of the drug warlords in the Golden Triangle, and his army. The campaign began March 11 when the government sent 35,000 soldiers to the eastern province of Shan State to take on Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army, estimated at 14,000 men. On Friday, the government announced the capture of a strategic summit, giving it control of the Pachan mountains west of the Thai border and driving a wedge between the warlord's forces. Col. Kyaw Thein, a senior intelligence officer, said 218 of Khun Sa's fighters and 76 government troops were killed in the campaign. Burmese troops attacked the Mong Tai Army in the hills and jungle between three strongholds. Although they were claiming success, the warlord still has sanctuaries in neighboring Thailand. ``We can't completely blockade Khun Sa,'' Kyaw Thein said. ``But we can limit his activities. The point is to hurt him economically.'' More than 60 percent of the world's opium and heroin originates in Burma. Khun Sa is the most notorious of several drug warlords who control territory in the Golden Triangle -- the region where the borders of Burma, Thailand and Laos meet. But sources say the Wa and Kokang ethnic groups have now surpassed Khun Sa in heroin and opium output, partly because of the Burmese army's continued pressure. Khun Sa portrays himself as a freedom fighter for the Shan people. Kyaw Thein led reporters, U.N. officials and foreign military attaches on a helicopter tour of the area Friday. The helicopter didn't stop at the summit captured in fierce fighting Friday, but touched down at another former hilltop outpost of Khun Sha's army. There, in the lush yet desolate thatched-hut base ringed with trenches, the Burmese army regional commander, Brig. Gen. Kyaw Win, displayed chemicals and equipment Khun Sha has used to refine the opium into heroin. He also displayed a cache of arms -- M-16s, Chinese-made AK-47s, rocket launchers, machine guns and grenades, and angrily pointed out a box of ammunition with a Bangkok, Thailand, manufacturer's address. ``You can see where it comes from yourself,'' Kyaw Win said. Burmese officials in recent months have accused Thailand of giving sanctuary to Khun Sa's guerrillas, a charge Bangkok denies. Khun Sa has exported most of his drugs through Thailand and has enjoyed close relations with local officials and military officers in northern Thailand. ============== ABSDF STATEMENT ON SLORC'S SAVAGE TREATMENT OF STUDENTS 6th May, 1995 On 14th February, 1995, at the funeral ceremony in Rangoon of U Nu, Burma's first and only democratically elected prime minster, 50 students peacefully demonstrating against the Slorc military junta were arrested. There is still a ban throughout Burma on political meetings of more than five persons and the next day more than 20 of the students were arrested and charged with activity aimed at causing political instability. It has now been announced that a special tribunal has sentenced nine of the students to seven years prison terms while two of the students who could not be found have been sentenced in absentia to 20 years prison terms. It is understood more students are still under detention in Rangoon's Insein prison awaiting trial. The nine has been identified as Maung Maung oo, Moe Myat Thu, Moe Maung Maung, Aung Zeyya, Maung Nyunt, Tin Than Oo, Aye Aye Moe, Moe Kalayar and Cho Nwe Oo, the last three being girls. They were charged with instigating political unrest. This incident, and the Slorc savage response, demonstrate clearly yet again that there are still no signs of progress towards democratic change and human rights record under the military regime. The ABSDF, deplores the continuing unwillingness of the Slorc to tolerate any political activity in Burma and demands the immediate release of the students. Central Leading Committee Southern Command ABSDF =============== STATEMENT REGARDING SLORC CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS ON REFUGEES //Begin Statement// The National Coalition Government is deeply concerned over reports from the Thai-Burma border. It understands that the brutal attacks by the SLORC troops and their accomplices on the refugee camps in Thailand are continuing without restraint even as late as several days ago. This is despite the protests from the Thai Royal Government and the international community. It is already common knowledge that SLORC has little regard for human lives and the international community should not act surprised that beneath its mask, SLORC has bared fangs. These sporadic raids, kidnappings and execution of the refugees in the camps will continue unless the international community, particularly Thailand, shows its will to protect the helpless refugees. For Thailand, already much has been lost and there is much more is at stake. It should start to act now and show SLORC that these brutalities will have to end. May 5, 1995 Information Office National Coalition Government, Union of Burma =============== SPEECH by Dr. Sein Win. The following is a speech delivered by Dr. Sein Win, prime minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, at the Launching of a Marshall Plan for Children in Houston, Texas on May 4, 1995. //Begin Speech// DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI by Dr Sein Win, Prime Minister LAUNCHING A MARSHALL PLAN FOR CHILDREN Houston, Texas (4 May 1995) Ms Williams, Nobel laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen I am most honored to be here tonight. It is an honor not only to be asked to speak about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi but also to be among so many of the strongest supporters of the Burmese democracy movement. The Nobel Peace laureates who are invited to this conference Bishop Tutu, President Oscar Arias, Adolfo Esquival, and last but not least, Betty Williams were some of the Nobel Peace laureates who in 1993, focused world attention on Burma by attempting to travel to Burma to visit their fellow laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The laureates' interest in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi electrified the Burmese democracy movement and their visit to the Thai-Burmese border boosted the morale of the refugees beyond measure. And Bishop Tutu and Ms.Williams subsequent visit with President Bill Clinton caused the US government to review its Burma policy. We, the Burmese people have much to thank you for and I want to personally and publicly thank you for what you have done and are continuing to do on our behalf. For example, Bishop Tutu has spoken out and written on our behalf at every opportunity. He has always been there when we need him. When he arrive tomorrow I will offer my gratitude in person President Arias is working to assist us through the International Center for Human Rights and Democratic Development in Canada and through the South Korea-based Forum for Democratic Leaders in the Asia Pacific. And again last but not least, Betty Williams, as Chairperson of the Institute for Asian Democracy, has worked closely with the Institute's most energetic Director, Michele Bohana to support us in our work to keep Burma in focus in the US. I cannot thank you enough and I am confident that one day, we will have an even bigger gathering such as this with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon. I am also doubly proud to be here tonight . On a personal level, I am proud that my cousin has brought honor to the memory of her father and her family. General Aung San was widely respected as Burma's father of independence and as a man of integrity. But Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not take that for granted or abused the trust placed in by her virtue of her birth. Over the years, by her courage and conduct, she has shown that she is the same kind of selfless leader that her father was. To illustrate, let me read you a portion of the first public speech she made at the Shwedagon Pagoda on 26 August 1988. Before that time, she was virtually unknown to the public. She knew she would be judged by what she said. It was a crucial test of acceptance. A politician would have been tempted to speak to please the curious crowds. But what did she do? She said, "Some may not like what I am going to say. But I believe that my duty is to tell the people what I believe to be true. Therefore, I shall speak my mind if my words meet with your approval, please support me. If they are not acceptable, it cannot be helped. I am only doing what I believe to be right". Any politician can tell you that it takes real courage to speak such words. But on hearing her the Burmese people knew that finally, they had found the leader they were looking for not a politician but someone who like her father would really for the benefit of the people and the nation. Her integrity shone through so clearly that although she was placed under house arrest in 1989 and barred from contesting the elections personally, her party won 82% of the parliamentary seats in the 1990 general election. I myself could not ignore her call and agreed to run for parliament. My own father was assassinated together with her father, serving our country. I hope I can be as faithful in carrying out the duty assigned to me. I am also proud of her as a Burmese. Never before has a Burmese received such international recognition. President Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia who nominated Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the Nobel Peace Prize has said, "Aung San Suu Kyi has now been recognized for her struggle against tyranny for freedom and dignity... She has refused to be bribed into silence by permanent exile. Under house arrest, she has lived in truth. She is an outstanding example of the power of the powerless... By dedicating her life to the fight for human rights and democracy in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi is not only speaking out for justice in her own country, but also for all those who want to be free to choose their own destiny. As long as the struggle for freedom needs to be fought throughout the world, voices such as Aung San Suu Kyi's will summon others to the cause. Aung San Suu Kyi cannot be silenced because she speaks the truth." I believe that it is very appropriate that we should be honoring Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the eve of "Launching a Marshall Plan for Children." It is not well known but one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's first political acts was to appeal for a dialogue with Burma's military rulers in August 1988 to resolve the crisis the nation was facing. In that appeal she said that she was making the request "with the good of future generations in mind." She recognized that there could not be much of a future for Burma without ensuring that the children are given a chance to develop to their fullest potential. I am sure that if she could have been here, she would fully endorse and support the proposed Marshall Plan for Children. It is one of Burma's greatest tragedies that several generations of Burmese children especially those in the ethnic states have known nothing but war and suffering. Today, Burmese children are regularly conscripted with their parents to work as slave laborers on infrastructure projects, they are deprived of their homes and forced to flee as a result of the military's policy to suppress Burma's many ethnic peoples, and young girls are increasingly being sold into prostitution, or gang raped by military units. But as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said, "It is not enough merely to call for freedom, democracy and human rights. There has to be a united determination to persevere in the struggle to make sacrifices in the name of enduring truths, to resist the corrupting influences of desire, ill will, ignorance and fear." So if we are really to honor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, we cannot call for freedom, democracy and human rights. We must act. Inside Burma, we are trying to first liberate the minds of the Burmese people from apathy and fear. As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said, it is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. Internationally, I believe we must resist the corrupting influence of desire. Too many nations desiring trade and economic progress are sacrificing truth instead of fighting for it. To justify their action, they claim that they are trying to help Burma develop economically so that the people of Burma will benefit in the long run. But addressing the UNESO World Commission on Culture and Development in Manila last year, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi argues that true development requires democracy or the empowerment of the people, and called for the United Nations to support democratic movements. Therefore , I believe we need to renew our efforts to enact sanctions against the ruthless military dictatorship in Rangoon. It is a crying shame that companies like Unocal from The United States and Total from France can continue to justify their investment in Burma with the weak argument that it benefits the Burmese people. The only ones who will benefit from the gas pipeline they are building are the military junta and Thailand and the oil companies. The truth is that without Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the military will not be able to bring about economic development in Burma. And without economic progress, the military junta will not survive for long. Therefore , I believe that the military must be made to acknowledge and accept Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's leadership. Let us work together to convince the international community that the time to act is now. An important factor is that nobody disputes the facts that the Burmese military has no legal or moral right to rule in Burma. The United Nations General Assembly has for four consecutive years adopted consensus resolutions urging the military to respect the will of the Burmese people as expressed in the results of the 1990 elections. Even Burma's neighbors that advocate trade with Burma support the UN resolutions and claim that they are trading with the junta to encourage it to change. Therefore, let us urge the international community to support the efforts of the UN Secretary General to bring about national reconciliation in Burma. Let us truly honor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by working for future generations of Burmese by bringing about real political change in Burma . Thank you. Contact: WASHINGTON, DC. INFORMATION OFFICE 815 FIFTEENTH STREET, N.W., SUITE 609, WASHINGTON, DC. 20005 TEL : 202 393 7342, FAX : 202 393 7343 =============== A FOURTH WAY: FORUM ON U.S. BURMA POLICY HELD AT HARVARD By G.A. Donovan Cambridge, Mass., May 4 (Special to BurmaNet News) At a Harvard University forum titled "Should the U.S. Have a Diplomatic Roadmap for Burma?" held on the first of May at Harvard University, U.S. Congressman Bill Richardson outlined four options he says the U.S. government must choose from in making policy related to Burma. The event, sponsored by the Institute of Politics at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, also featured comments from panelists Thomas Vallely, Director of the Indo-China Program at the Harvard Institute for International Development, David Dapice, economics professor at Tufts University, and Mimi Myint-Hpun, lobbyist and "humanitarian activist." Dean Graham Allison of the Kennedy School moderated the discussion. Congressmen Richardson began by describing his involvement in Burma. "When you deal with Burma you become addicted to it," he confessed, adding: "in a positive way." Meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi last year -- he was the first western non-family member to meet with her in her captivity -- was "an inspiring event for me," he said. He doubts she will be released in July, and believes the junta has calculated that it has not seen any benefits from the slim liberalization implemented so far and has decided to "tough it out." Evidence of this can been seen in several negative developments, including the failure of Michael Aris to get a visa, obstacles to International Committee for the Red Cross inspections of prisons, arrests at U Nu's funeral, the cross-border pursuit of Karen refugees, the weakness of Thai policy toward Burma on human rights issues, and attacks on Khun Sa. For the sake of comparison, Richardson described the positive developments: the release of over a hundred political prisoners, including two Richardson specifically pushed for, and the two meetings between Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta. Posing the question of what can be done about foreign policy toward Burma on the part of both the U.S. and the international community, Richardson outlined four options: sanctions, constructive engagement, the Clinton policy (carrot and stick), and "The Fourth Way," Richardson's proposal for accelerating postive change. Sanctions have been advanced by human rights groups, a majority in the U.S. Congress, some members of the Clinton administration -- notably in the State Department and National Security Council -- and by editorial writers in papers like the New York Times and the Boston Globe. This option includes downgrading diplomatic relations and witholding narcotics aid. Constructive engagement, familiar from the words and deeds of Singapore and Japan, among other nations, proceeds on the principle that trade can make a difference by giving the junta tangible incentives to change. A few individuals in the Clinton administration, including Lee Brown in the drug policy office, favor this approach. Richardson also included the U.N. in this group by dint of the two teams recently sent into Burma by the Secretary- General. Recent actions by the junta, Richardson was quick to point out, have embarassed the cause of the contructive engagers, and he believes the cold reception given to U.S. Senators Robb and McCainn on their recent trip to Burma may have negative repercussions in the form of a shift in U.S. policy. The third option is basically the prevailing Clinton administration position of carrot and stick -- but not too much carrot -- and wait and see. Under this policy, the SLORC would be rewarded for positive moves like recent meetings with Aung San Suu Kyi but would not receive any narcotics assistance. If this policy is continued Richardson believes a more concerted attempt should be made to raise the profile of the Burma issue; he mentioned a G-7 statement on Burma as a specific step in that direction. In the past Richardson has supported the Clinton policy, but now he feels "the time has come to take a stand." To this end, he outlined what he calls "The Fourth Way." It has two components: forming a contact group to multilateralize pressure on Burma; and setting deadlines for sanctions if specific improvements are not made. He would like to begin with July 11 as the date for the unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi. If the carrot and stick approach is made more concrete and threats are carried out, he hopes there will be positive change. "The last thing I want to see is Aung San Suu Kyi stuck in prison another ten years," Richardson said, "the time has come for individuals like me to start taking a stand." He would like to see the administration raise this issue at the highest levels both domestically and internationally, and increased U.N. involvement as well -- he commented that the U.N. has been holding back due to pressure from the ASEAN countries. Richardson completed his remarks by emphasizing that he does not think Clinton should be criticized for his policy -- he has not caved in to narcotics pressure, for instance. "We can't totally close the door" on the junta, he concluded, "but it's reaching the point where we may have to." After Congressman Richardson's statement, the respondents addressed various parts of his proposal. Tom Vallely said he sensed "a new domino theory" developing out of a nascent Chinese economic hegemony. He would be willing to associate himself with Richardson's "Fourth Way," and definitely believes the U.S. response should be much greater and more serious. Although he is sometimes "offended" by the administration's responses to events in Burma, and bemoans the fact that no one in the White House is even thinking about these issues, he thinks it is a great asset that someone in the Congress is interested in "that not-such-small-country, Burma." However, if the U.S. remains far in the background he fears China -- which "would just as soon the U.S. never had a relationship with Burma" -- will not think twice about moving into the breach. Professor Dapice, a rather hard-headed, cookie-cutter specimen of "realist" thinking, claimed that if economic pressure is to be applied its effects must be understood. He recited the facts of the unamibiuously impoverished state of the Burmese economy and made the claim that nothing the U.S. and the European Community could do would have an effect on this rather emaciated economic structure. Direct trade with the U.S. and Europe accounts for only 7% of the Burmese economy. Dapice also emphasized the size and extent of the heroin economy, which in his view can only be addressed through intensive and large-scale work with the peasants who grow the raw materials. If U.S. policy is going to take account of "reality," he concluded, we have to realize that if trade is cut off the effects are going to be largely symbolic and may push Burma closer to countries like China. There is no rational basis for sanctions, he claimed, and therefore they will be ineffective. Mimi Myint-Hpun, described as a "humanitarian activist," said she has worked as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill and has been blacklisted by the junta since 1989. In her statement she adopted some of the rhetoric of Aung San Suu Kyi, though walking a thin line between democratic reform and economic development. On a recent trip to Burma she noted pervasive moral decay, bribery and corruption: "you can get everything in Burma for a price," she said. If the aim of policy is "to really help the people of Burma," she insisted "a comprehensive social study" be performed first. Because the military establishment is part of Burmese society and will never go away, she believes, it must be part of any solution to Burma's problems. Her conclusion: "if you want to approach the Burmese you have to think like a Burmese -- and maybe a Buddhist." Deadlines for sanctions will not work, as they will serve only to anger and isolate the junta; her prescription is to get involved in and publicize the constitutional process. She came down on the side of constructive engagement, claiming that the economic well-being of 45 million Burmese takes precedence over all other considerations. During the question and answer period Sidney Jones of Human Rights Watch/Asia noted that she saw a great deal of overlap among the four options, and that a combination of corporate withdrawal and an end to investment together with the formation of a contact group is in her view the best course of action. She also advocated following the "road map" presented by U.N. General Assembly resolutions passed in 1993 and 1994. Another questioner, Simon Billenness of the Coalition for Corporate Withdrawal from Burma, pointed out the difference between trade and investment. Although trade between the west and Burma is negligible, investment, and oil investment in particular, disproportionately benefits the regime, and thus, and in other ways, may help oppress the general population. Myint-Hpun disagreed, wanting investment for jobs in Burma. Dapice weighed in with the claim that the test of policy is efficacy. Citing an instance in Iran where U.S. oil companies left and French companies went in to fill the vacuum, Dapice claimed he had spoken to Total officials who expressed a willingness to take over Unocal's work should Unocal pull out of Burma. Richardson disagreed, saying constructive engagement does not work, trade can be cut off but sanctions have to be multilateral to be effective and must be tied to deadlines for positive change. The Congressman made a point of commending Mr. Billennes for the work he has been doing, and also said he too will be trying to convince the U.S. business community to put pressure on the junta. As the event wound down, Richardson expressed concern that the world has just not been paying attention. "Who knows, right? None of us have the answer. What is not acceptable now is current policy. Things are getting worse, there's misery there... Does it amount to the U.S.? Yes, no one else is going to take the lead... Let's try something... use multilateral pressure... set deadlines... At least we've stood for something... I got three political prisoners out of jail... maybe if we go inch by inch..." END =============== EXPLORING SE ASIA'S BURMA (AP) MANDALAY, Burma -- Hurtling down the road to Mandalay, the eugenia leaves attached to our hired car flap wildly as Buddhist insurance against accidents. American rap and Michael Jackson boom from the cassette player. Thank the Lord Buddha for the leaves because our smiling, sarong-clad driver, Khin Maung Aye, tends to take one hand off the wheel to dip into a box of betel nut, the nonhabit-forming stimulant widely used in Asia. Swaying to the music, he misses oncoming, World War II-era trucks by inches. Around us, farmers work the fields with wooden plows. Ox-carts, the prime means of rural transport, stir up swirls of dust across the parched plains. Youngsters flag down passing cars, asking for a little cash to repair the countless pagodas that seem to spring from the very soil. It's a mystic landscape. Behind us, in ancient Pagan, the ruins of 2,200 pagodas, stupas, monasteries and other buildings bear mute testimony to what was once one of Asia's most wondrous cities. Only a few farmers live there now. Nearby looms Mount Popa, abode of both nasty and benign supernatural beings -- the ``nats'' -- to whom even modern day generals and Ph.D.'s pay proper homage. Ahead is Mandalay, Burma's last royal capital, where barbarity and deep piety mingled. ``This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about,'' British author Rudyard Kipling wrote a century ago, and most visitors of today agree. The last of the sacred eugenia sprigs -- fastened to rearview mirrors -- have blown away by the time we reach Mandalay. They served their purpose: cattle, dogs, vehicles and monks had narrowly survived Khin Maung Aye, who suffered only one flat tire. Between Mandalay and Burma's capital, Rangoon, you can now fly in antiseptic comfort on Air Mandalay -- a recent Singapore-Burmese joint venture. Then there's the Burmese way: the so-called express train. It seemed like a bargain: $30 for a 435-mile journey, in an ``upper class'' car no less. The trip was scheduled to take ``about'' 12 hours. Mandalay station at pre-dawn is a medieval scene of candlelight, families huddled under dirty blankets, shadowy figures lining up for scarce seats on antiquated trains. Aboard, the train's halting progress is accompanied by nonstop betel nut chewing, throat-clearing, cheroot smoking and snack eating. Fueling the munchathon is an army of hawkers who descend on the train at every stop, shoving quails eggs, chicken curry, sweets and fruit through the windows. One enterprising man on board rents out Burmese comic books and magazines that feature ``nat'' tales alongside gossip about the love lives of Hollywood stars like Michael Douglas and Julia Roberts. It's five kyat (5 cents) a read. By midafternoon a torpor hangs over the passengers. Heat, dust and a goodly number of insect species invade through the empty windows from the vast spaces of central Burma -- a land of great potential and abiding backwardness. Sunset, nightfall and frequent unscheduled stops in the middle of nowhere. ``Engine failure,'' the conductor explains calmly. ``It happens all the time.'' Finally we limp into Rangoon, after 18 1/2 hours on the track. Burma's capital, the cliche went, was where clocks stood still. But now, with the country's long closed borders opening, the skyline encompasses both satellite television dishes and the golden spire of Shwedagon Pagoda, which legend says was built 2,500 years ago. On Rangoon's streets you can buy edible beetles, have your ears cleaned or get your Macintosh computer serviced. If you're illiterate, a battery of pavement typists will compose your love letters. Economic liberalization, albeit by a dictatorial junta, has ushered in karaoke bars, computer games, credit cards, Filipino bands and traffic jams -- all unheard of just a few years ago. Although eager for foreign cash and tourists, the military regime is fighting a rear-guard action against some of the things that invariably come with opening up. Attacking ``decadent alien culture,'' the generals recently announced a nine-point dress code for entertainers. It bans earrings and shabby long hair for men and decrees that women cannot wear sarongs shorter than six inches above the ankle. =============== NATION: Snippets. _________________ Thai responses to Burmese aggression as the Border mayhem continues 5.5.95/The Nation We can't solve big national problems with anger, emotion or words. If we have to inform reporters of every move we make, there will be no time to act. WIMOL WONGWANICH C-IN-C, ARMY ------------------------- --------------------------- A green light [ to counter-attack the intruders ] need not be granted . The green light is always there. This means the Army has absolute power to respond rationaly to border violations. CHUAN LEEKPAI PRIME MINISTER ------------------------- -------------------------- Thai military intelligence people must be more enthusiastic. It's not all right not knowing anything until intruders pop up in front of your bed. CHATICHAI CHOONHAVAN LEADER, CHAT PATTANA -------------------------- ------------------------- Some interest group must be behind this confrontation between Buddhist and Christian Karen factions. SUTIN NOPPAKHET CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE -------------------------- ------------------------ There are limits to the use of patience and tolerance to solve problems. But extreme caution is required when military force is necessary. MEECHAI RUCHUPHAN SENATE SPEAKER --------------------------- ----------------------- It's easy to take drastic action against the intruders. But we have to weigh the pros and cons. WATTANACHAI WUTHISIRI SUPREME COMMANDER ---------------------------- ------------------------ Now that they have killed some of us, we must kill them. SANAN KACHORNPRASART INTERIOR MINISTER ----------------------------- ------------------------ The people behind the violence may be trying to create a situation leading to a war. We must deal with them carefully and ensure relations with Burma are not affected. POCHANA BUNYACHINDA POLICE CHIEF =============== THAI FORCES POUND KAREN CAMP Wimol turns heat on Rangoon as gunships begin counter -attack 6.5.95/The Nation Thai helicopter gunships raided a Karen camp in Burma yesterday, firing salvos of missiles and setting it ablaze in retaliation for repeated violent incursions into Thailand an Army source said. Senior officials would not immediately confirm the counter-attack. But Army Commander -in - Chief Wimol Wongwanich gave strong hints yesterday that retaliatory action was already underway . Interior Minister Sanan Kachomtrasart said Thai troops had begun retaliatory action and were prepared to pursue the guerrillas into Burma . He gave no other details. The Army source said four Thai helicopter gunships were involved in the attack on the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army camp on the west bank of the Salween River opposite the Thai village of Mae Sam Laep in Mae Hong Son province. " More than 10 rockets hit the enemy camp and set it ablaze ,"he said. There was no information about casualties. Authorities in Mae Sot, in Tak province across a border river from Myawadi , said Burma closed the border on Thursday and began broadcasting warning on loudspeakers . Thailand is currently building a " friendship bridge" across the River Moei between Myawadi and Mae Sot. Wimol yesterday hinted the Army had already taken some retaliatory action against the Karen guerrillas but had not publicized it. "You should ask Burma what the Army has done. Don't ask me anymore, he said. He said Rangoon could not avoid responsibility for the spate of border raids by renegade Karen guerrillas in which several people have died and a number of villages destroyed. "The Burmese government must bear responsibility . Regardless of whether [the intruders ] were Karen , Mon or Chinese , they were all Burmese weren't they?" he said. The Rangoon military junta has denied any responsibility for the violent incursions into Thailand by the DKBA, which split with the Karen National Union last December and reportedly aligned themselves with the Burmese government. " If the Burmese government said they were outlawed then it should not mind if we go and get them in Burma," he said . The Army chief also attempted to counter criticism over the Army's failure to put a stop to the border incursions. "Who wants to be looked at as too aggressive . This is a national, not a personal matter. We can't simply hit someone as soon they make us angry ," he said. Interior Minister Sanan said he did not rule out the importance of diplomacy to settle the matter . But the military option had become necessary because Rangoon had failed to stop the raids . Sanan disputed Foreign Minister Krasae Channawongse's call for the government to stay calm in order to resolve the issue. "We just cannot let outsiders trample on our sovereignty . Three police officers have been killed . How can we remain calm?" he said. Sanan will travel to the areas where the attacks have occurred on Sunday . He said the National Security Council would call a meeting with the governors of the border provinces to formulate a plan of action to deal with any border problems . In a letter to The Nation, the Burmese embassy in Bangkok yesterday denied Rangoon supported the DKBA guerrillas or bore any responsibility for the raids . It said Thai authorities were welcome to retaliate against any further violations. It also described the front page headline of the Nation on May 4, " Burmese raiders kill three policemen ", as misleading" "The raiders the newspaper referred to are , in fact, members of the DKBA, a breakaway faction of the KNU. The recent incursions by the DKBA into Thai soil are neither backed by the Myanmar [Burma] government, nor are Rangoon forces involved in any way . The DKBA is solely liable for these incursions. The Myanmar government is not in the position to control the activities of the DKBA , which still has to come into the legal fold. "At the same time, it is understandable for us that whatever action taken by Thai security forces to defend its territory from the DKBA is within its own rights," the letter said. An Associated Press reported said yesterday that Maj Toe Hlai, leader of the DKBA, denied responsibility for some of the attacks, including Wednesday's raid that left three Thai policemen dead and two others injured. He admitted that the DKBA had set fire to Karen refugee camps last week to encourage the refugees to return to Burma. "Our operations were to release the refugees," Toe Hlai said. " Thailand should not be stubborn about giving shelter to the Karen refugees." He said if the refugees returned to Burma, local authorities would take care personal dispute . According to the source, 17 KNU fighters, led by two men identified as La Swey and Gyaw Mor Lae, raided the police outpost. They lived at Poo Thor Kyi, about 10 kilometres north of the Maetawaw camp , the source said . Meanwhile , about 300 Karen refugees, fearing for their safety in Thailand, yesterday voluntarily returned to the DKBA- controlled Maetawaw camp, opposite Tha Song Yang District in Tak province. They were repatriated by Thai authorities on long tail boats and were blacklisted from re-entering Thailand. DKBA members were seen waiting to receive them on the other side of the Moei river. The Rangoon -controlled camp was being shared by DKBA fighters. It was under the command of Maj Gen Thoon Hlai and U Yannikaja and manned by 700 DKBA guerrillas. About 5,000 refugees are living in Mae Ta Waw camp .The number of returnees has increased to 500 a day over the past two weeks after the DKBA began to burn down their shelters in Thailand. One of the returnees said he wanted to be reunited with his family. " There is no point living in Thailand. My house was burnt down. I dare not move to another camp. I don't know whether it would be safe," he said . Authorities put the number of refugees living in 15 camps in Tak, and 13 camps in Mae Hong Son, at 54,247. Police chief Pochana Boonyachinda has ordered a number of border peace -keeping centers to be set up in Tak and Mae Hong Son to provide better security for both authorities Karen refugees. Pochana will tour the two provinces over the weekend. He will be briefed on the investigation into Wednesday's killing of the three Thai border policemen . Yesterday, three army battalions, backed by three 105mm artillery pieces, were sent to the border in Tha Song Yang District in Tak province. A bout 100 police from the Tak and Phitsanulok border patrol units and a parachute police unit were also sent. =============== TANAOSRI CAMP REFUGEES GIVEN 45 DAYS TO GO HOME 6.5.95/The Nation TANAOSRI REFUGEE CAMP, Kanchanaburi - While the Army has vowed to take " drastic " action in defence of Karen refugees in the North, representatives of the 9th Infantry Division on Monday ordered the inhabitants of Tanaosri refugee camp in Kanchanaburi to return to Burma within 45 days . Camp leaders told The Nation, however, that they would not go back to Burma " until there is democracy there " setting up a possibly tense confrontation between the Army and the 550 ethnic Tavoyan refugees. Tanaosri camp is located in a remote forest reserve south of the border town of Ban I Tong. The only access for vehicles is via a rutted old mining track. The camp sits just 2-3 kms away from the most likely routed for a pipeline which will transport natural gas from Burma's Gulf of Martaban to Thailand and will enter the kingdom at Ban I Tong. An officer from the Kanchanaburi based 9th Division confirmed that the refugees have been ordered to move to Su Ka,an even more remote site just over the border that is roughly a seven hours walk from Tanosri. But the source, wo asked not to be named, expressed surprise upon learning that the refugees had decided not to go. "I understood that the men had agreed to go to Su Ka and start building their new huts [yesterday]," the military officer said. "If they refuse to go, we have several avenues to choose from. But I believe they will go." Deputy camp leader Maung Aye said the refugees had decided in a camp meeting on Wesnesday that it was too dangerous to move to Su Ka, as it was often visited by Burmese troops. "Once there is democracy in Burma, we will go back," Maung Aye said. "But if we are to die, we will die in Thailand." He said the Thai officers gave no explanation for why the refugees had to leave. "They just said, 'This is Thailand and you can't stay here'." according to the deputy camp leader. Border sources believe the move is related to the construction of the gas pipeline. The refugees have already been moved three times," said Glenn Sethbandhu, the manager of Somsak Mining Co Ltd, which has a concession in the enaosri forest reserve. "In the past, I thought this was because they were to be used as cheap labour to build the pipe line. But, over the last 2-3 weeks, the authorities have been very insistent thus they must go back to Burma. "I can see clearly now that they are being moved because of the pipe line,"she said. "The authorities are afraid of refugees will try to obstruct the pipe line." " Why this government being kind and lenient to refugees in Mae Hong Song and Tak, but here they are forced to go, even though the government is not paying a single baht towards their keep," Glen asked. Food and medical support for Tanaosri camp is provided by the non-governmental relief agencies. The 9th Division source explained that refugee policy depended on the locale. "This area is different from the north. There's no more fighting here," he said. " The refugees will still be able to receive supplies from Thailand at Su Ka. And if they have problems ( with Burmese soldiers) there, they can come back. Maung Aye said that more than 500 Karens refugees who used to live at Tanaosri moved to Su Ka last year because they feared Thai soldiers. He said the Karen are now frequently visited by Burmese troops, who have a base one day's walk away. "They have to run up the hill [into Thailand], and then go back to Su Ka when the soldiers have left," he said. "sometimes the soldiers comes as often as three times a month." The Thai military sources also denied that the refugees' repatriation is related to the gas pipeline, pointing out that pipeline's final route has not been decided. However, border sources said that last week around 30 officials from the Petroleum Authority of Thailand(PTT), the military, the police and the Royal Forestry Department(RFD) surveyed a narrow trail which begins along a mining road 2-3 km from Tanaosri and travels through dense forest to Huay Pak Khok on the road to Thong Pha Phum. The source said, this is the most direct link between Ban I tong and Thom Pha Phum, and the most probable route for the pipeline. The forest reserve is likely to become part of Thong Pha Phum National Park, which is expected to be declared next year. Officials from the PTT and the RFD were not immediately available for comment. The leaders of the Tanaosri stressed that the cam's residents are refugees from Tavoy district in Burma and are not rebels. Many of them fled to Thailand after being forced to work on the construction of the Ye-Tavoy Railroad, they said, including 60 new refugees who arrived on Wednesday. Maung Aye and Lein Thin, the chief medical officer, said they were supporters of Aung San Su Kyi during the Burmese election of 1990. When the election's results were nullified by the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, they fled to Thailand to escape arrest. According to Maung Aye, the 9th Division officers told the refugees they would not be allowed any more rice or medical supplies until they move to Su Ka. The soldiers reportedly told the refugees that if they had not left by June 15th, the road to Tanaosri would be closed. The refugees normally stock up with six months of supplies at this time of year in anticipation of heavy rains which will make the road impassible to vehicles within a month of so. Camp leaders said they had about one month's supply of food and medicine remaining. Lein Thin said the camp clinic was currently treating 15 patients, including three children, mostly for malaria. He said six months' worth of medicines for the camp had already arrived at Thong Pha Phum but authorities had not given permission for it to be moved on to Tanaosri. Asked what the refugees will do once their supply of rice runs out, camp resident Pi Yi responded, we are all worrying about it. =============== BURMA 'USING SLAVES TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE' Agence France-press LONDON- The Burmese government is using slave labour on a huge scale in its drive to prepare the country for an expected influx of tourists in 1996, the London-based Burma Action Group UK said on Thursday. " Tourists visiting the country will be using railways and roads built by thousands of forced labourers and will be visiting palaces and cultural sites from which local people have been forcibly removed," said the group's coordinator Sarah Sutcliffe. 1996 has been declared by the Burmese government as " Visit Myanmar[Burma] Year", and in its drive to prepare the country for the hoped-for influx of tourists the government is committing human rights abuses, said the group. Civilians and prisoners in chain gangs are being forced to work as slaves throughout the country to build up the tourist infrastructure, according to the group . It claims that two thousand civilians were forced to work alongside shackled prisoners on a project to restore Mandalay Palace. And it says that the Burmese capital Rangoon has been cleared of thousands of its poorer residents in order to make it into a show -case for tourists. The action group condemned the Burmese government, the State Law and Order Restoration Council [SLORC], saying that it prevented the country's citizens from benefitting from any increase in tourism. " Tourists must be aware that at least every 50 cents in every dollar spent in Burma goes directly to the Slorc," said Sutcliffe. " In a country that has no external enemies, but that spends 40 per cent of its annual budget on the military , the equation is clear," she added. In Rangoon, a special tribunal has sentenced nine young dissidents found guilty of publicly engaging in antigovernment demonstrations to seven year's imprisonment each, according to family sources on Thursday. Over 20 young students alleged to be involved in a flash demonstration during the Feb 20 funeral of premier U Nu, the first democratically- elected prime minister of Burma, were quietly rounded up by the authorities the following day, informed sources said. While the rest were released after interrogation, 14 were sent to Rangoon's central `Insein jail ' and following further questioning nine were charged with instigating political unrest while the rest opted to become prosecution witness, the said. The nine have been identified as Maung Maung Oo, Moe Myat Thu, Moe Maung Maung, Aung Zayya, Maung Nyunt, Tin Than Oo, the last three being girls. They were sent up for trail on April 5 and on April 28 and, after eight days of intermittent hearings, were found guilty as charged and sentenced to seven years each, the sources said. According to the sources, the special tribunal also sentenced in absentia, two official dragnet, to 20 year jail terms. In Burma, a ban is still in effect prohibiting the public gathering of more than five persons with the intention of creating political unrest. In Auckland, the Asian Development Bank is not yet ready to start lending to Burma because of the human rights situation in that country, ADB President Mitsuo Sato said yesterday. " At the moment, it might be too early for us to do that," Sato told a news conference at the end of the ADB's three-day annual meeting here. He said the bank will " take a closer look at what's going on" before lending. Sato cited the case of Vietnam, which began receiving ADB loans in 1993, after the Communist regime made efforts to shift to a `market -based economy and improve its human rights record." I very much hope to be able to do that to Burma," he said. =============== DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE OF BURMA GENERAL HEADQUARTERS STATEMENT ON RECENT INCURSIONS ON THAI TERRITORY House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Mr Suthin Noppakate has urged the Government review " Constructive Engagement " policy on Burma. Also, Mr Noppakate has called on the Government to exclude the wayward regime to observe the forthcoming ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July. The Democratic Alliance of Burma [DAB] greatly share the anxiety and the concern of the ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT on these recent unwarranted developments caused by the arrogant and undisciplined military and their cohorts under the aegis of the SLORC of Burma and pray that the Thai authorities manage an appropriate measure to ensure and preempt further recurrences of the nature. Also, we immensely laud Mr Noppakate's timely and essential step taken to urge the review on the controversial "Constructive Engagement " policy on Burma , as it serves no other purpose than to precipitate in chaos and misery on the 43 million people of Burma and a huge windfall for the illegal ruling SLORC to continue its dynastic rule on the country. In short, it can be clearly stated that the policy has culminated in the recent and prevailing assaults on Thai sovereignty and territorial integrity, not to mention loss of Thai lives and property, and to go further ,the imposing threat on the safety and security of the region in future. We strongly condemn recent infringements on Thai sovereignty and incursions into Thai territory by the SLORC military and their cohorts the DKBA [Democratic Karen Buddhist Army] that has greatly enraged and embarrassed the Thai authorities. Lastly, we stand firmly behind Mr Noppakate's initiatives on the prevailing predicaments on Thailand and the future image if the ASEAN, without the presence of the illegal ruling military oligarchy in Rangoon, a regime infamous for its gross human rights violations continued detention of Burma's popular leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political detainees, amongst many and we, Democratic Alliance of Burma firmly urged the ASEAN and the global community to deal with Burma, when and only an elected and democratic governing body is in place in Burma. Tin Maung Win Vice Chairman [2] Democratic Alliance of Burma Date. May 4, 1995 =============== NEWS FROM NEW ERA JOURNAL Consultation meetings of Democratic Alliance on solidarity and cooperation The New Era Journal (No.33)/ APRIL 1995 In accordance and conformity with the prevailing political developments and trends of Burma, consultations to strive for united, balanced, co-ordinated and concerted political endeavours are being initiated by the members of the Democratic Alliance during the weeks spanning March and April last, at an undisclosed and safe location on the borders. The primary objectives of the consultations are: 1. To review the political situation in the aftermath of the debacle of Manerplaw and other bastions of the Alliances. 2. To review and remedy the prevailing weaknesses in respect to military, political, foreign relation ,social and news propaganda etc. At present , in this state of instability on the part of the Alliance in the wake of the military abuses as exercised by the SLORC recently and find means and ways to reciprocate the enemy duly and essentially. 3. To find the means and end to counter the enemy strategically, organization-wise and region-wise and extend a welcome to all organisations ,not yet affiliated with the National Council of the Union of Burma [NCUB], Democratic Alliance of Burma[DAB], and National Democratic Front [NDF] for consultations to embark upon a course of unified and coordinated endeavours on major political issues. 4. To explore avenues to bolster the image and support the credibility of the combined might of the DAB, NDF, NLD [LA] and NCGUB or known collectively as the National Council of the Union of Burma only, and not to project an image of a front or an organization in the offing in place of the existing NCUB. 5. To enter into discussions with an aim to give understanding and continue to coordinate with the ethnic minorities who, on their own pretext and ends, have entered into ceasefires under SLORC's armed abuses and to continue the their self-determination and equal rights and establishment of a Federal Union in the company of the remaining ethnic nationalities and democratic forces. 6. To affect the freedom of our model leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is still standing against the SLORC military oligarchy unbowed and in detention, for Burma's democracy and human rights and all political detainees held and to seek global pressure to affect to that end and earnestly discussed to render an all unified stand and support behind her. The discussions were held under most rigorous circumstances and situation that it took four meetings to come to the conclusion. Participants include leaders from the DAB, invited dignitaries from organization apart from NCUB, news and media, and renowned literary elites, Rev, U Khemar Sarya [YMU, DAB] U Tin Maung Win [DAB], U Thant Zin [PPP] U Aung Htoo and U Moe Thi Zon of ABSDF, U Ye Gaung [Myawaddy] of Khit Pyaing New Era Journal, U Tint Zaw, author and student leader,U Thaung [Mirror] Chief Editor, New Era Journal , Saw Arthur Shwe and Saw Clyde [Foreign Affairs, KNU], and U Daniel Aung [Elected Representative, Special Guest] amongst others. ================ Consultation meetings of Democratic Alliance on solidarity and cooperation The New Era Journal (No.33)/ APRIL 1995 In accordance and conformity with the prevailing political developments and trends of Burma, consultations to strive for united, balanced, co-ordinated and concerted political endeavours are being initiated by the members of the Democratic Alliance during the weeks spanning March and April last, at an undisclosed and safe location on the borders. The primary objectives of the consultations are: 1. To review the political situation in the aftermath of the debacle of Manerplaw and other bastions of the Alliances. 2. To review and remedy the prevailing weaknesses in respect to military, political, foreign relation ,social and news propaganda etc. At present , in this state of instability on the part of the Alliance in the wake of the military abuses as exercised by the SLORC recently and find means and ways to reciprocate the enemy duly and essentially. 3. To find the means and end to counter the enemy strategically, organization-wise and region-wise and extend a welcome to all organisations ,not yet affiliated with the National Council of the Union of Burma [NCUB], Democratic Alliance of Burma[DAB], and National Democratic Front [NDF] for consultations to embark upon a course of unified and coordinated endeavours on major political issues. 4. To explore avenues to bolster the image and support the credibility of the combined might of the DAB, NDF, NLD [LA] and NCGUB or known collectively as the National Council of the Union of Burma only, and not to project an image of a front or an organization in the offing in place of the existing NCUB. 5. To enter into discussions with an aim to give understanding and continue to coordinate with the ethnic minorities who, on their own pretext and ends, have entered into ceasefires under SLORC's armed abuses and to continue the their self-determination and equal rights and establishment of a Federal Union in the company of the remaining ethnic nationalities and democratic forces. 6. To affect the freedom of our model leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is still standing against the SLORC military oligarchy unbowed and in detention, for Burma's democracy and human rights and all political detainees held and to seek global pressure to affect to that end and earnestly discussed to render an all unified stand and support behind her. The discussions were held under most rigorous circumstances and situation that it took four meetings to come to the conclusion. Participants include leaders from the DAB, invited dignitaries from organization apart from NCUB, news and media, and renowned literary elites, Rev, U Khemar Sarya [YMU, DAB] U Tin Maung Win [DAB], U Thant Zin [PPP] U Aung Htoo and U Moe Thi Zon of ABSDF, U Ye Gaung [Myawaddy] of Khit Pyaing New Era Journal, U Tint Zaw, author and student leader,U Thaung [Mirror] Chief Editor, New Era Journal , Saw Arthur Shwe and Saw Clyde [Foreign Affairs, KNU], and U Daniel Aung [Elected Representative, Special Guest] amongst others. -------------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different topics related to Burma. The scope of the subjects involved is simply too broad for any one person to cover. BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteer coordinators to field questions on various subjects. 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Sutcliffe" World Wide Web: FreeBurma@POBox.com Volunteering: "Volunteer coordinator", c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org -------------------------------------------------------------- Information about Burma is available via the WorldWideWeb at: BurmaNet News webpage: http://taygate.au.ac.th/web/michael/bnn/bnn.htm Burma fonts: http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~lka/burmese-fonts/moe.html BurmaWeb http://www.uio.no/tormodl FreeBurma website http://199.172.178.200/freebrma/freebrma.htm. [including back issues of the BurmaNet News as .txt files] -------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS SOURCES REGULARLY COVERED/ABBREVIATIONS USED BY BURMANET: ABSDF-DNA: ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT [DR. NAING AUNG] ABSDF-MTZ: ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT [MOE THEE ZUN] 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