From: BurmaNet ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: September 11, 1995 Issue #223 Noted In Passing: Khin Nyunt expressed the belief that the SLORC had broad public support, and observed that the Burmese people smile a lot. I said that it has been my experience, in a lifetime of studying, repressive societies, that dictators often delude themselves into believing they have popular support, but that people often smile not because they are happy, but because they are afraid. The future of Burma must be built on hope, not fear. - US Ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright (see PRESS STATEMENT OF US AMBASSADOR) HEADLINES: ========== PRESS STATEMENT OF US AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MADELEINE , K. ALBRIGHT THE NATION: SLORC MOOTS DIALOGUE WITH SUU KYI THE NATION: BURMA SIGNS WITH TNT BKK POST: POLICE KEEP AN EYE ON VIOLENT BURMESE BKK POST: MTA SABOTAGE LIKELY BKK POST: THAI MERCHANTS ARE SUFFERING BKK POST: STALLS ON MOEI RIVER MUST GO, SAY TAK AUTHORITIES ---------------------------------------------------------- Produced with the support of the Burma Information Group (B.I.G). The BurmaNet News is an electronic newspaper covering Burma. Articles from newspapers, magazines, newsletters, the wire services and the Internet as well as original material are published. The BurmaNet News is e-mailed directly to subscribers and isalso distributed via the soc.culture.burma and seasia-l mailing lists and is also available via the reg.burma conference on the APC networks. 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Sutcliffe" World Wide Web: FreeBurma@POBox.com Volunteering: christin@ksc.net.th [Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage] ---------------------------------------------------------- PRESS STATEMENT OF US AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MADELEINE , K. ALBRIGHT Statement of Madeleine K. Albright United Sates Ambassador to the United Nations September 9, 1995 --------------------------------------------------------------- I m pleased I was able to visit Burma on my trip to the region. During, my visit, I had meetings with LTG Khin Nyunt, a key member of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), U Ohn Gyaw, the Foreign Minister, and representatives of United Nations agencies active in the country. I was also honored to be hosted at a breakfast by Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Prize Winner and the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement. In all my meetings, I affirmed the strong support of the United States for progress towards genuine freedom and democracy in Burma and respect for human rights of the Burmese people. While welcoming the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and some other political prisoners, I said that fundamental change in U.S. policy towards Burma would depend on fundamental change in the SLORC's treatment of the Burmese people. Towards this end, I urged SLORC officials to begin a meaningful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic leaders for the purpose of reconciliation and broadening the space for political discussion within the country. In my two- hour meeting with Gen. Khin Nyunt, I delivered a tough message, telling him that his country's isolation would only deepen unless concrete steps towards political freedom were taken. I urged the SLORC to choose the path of true democracy, rather than continued repression and dictatorial control. I said that the democratic path may seem harder and more risky, but a bright future for Burma cannot be shaped without the participation of the Burmese people. I urged repeatedly that a dialogue be initiated with Aung San Suu Kyi and did not accept Khin Nyunt's characterization of the National Convention as a meaningful process for dialogue. In this regard, we were modestly encouraged to hear that the SLORC is now considering the possibility of engaging in a political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi. But my government does not believe that such a dialogue should be delayed any longer. As Aung San Suu Kyi put it later, "the sooner the dialogue begins the better." Khin Nyunt expressed the belief that the SLORC had broad public support, and observed that the Burmese people smile a lot. I said that it has been my experience, in a lifetime of studying, repressive societies, that dictators often delude themselves into believing they have popular support, but that people often smile not because they are happy, but because they are afraid. The future of Burma must be built on hope, not fear. During the meeting, I also stressed, more generally, U.S. concern with respect to human rights, including the need for the further release of political prisoners, an end to the attacks on ethnic minorities, an end to forced labor and forced porterage, and the value of allowing the International Committee of Red Cross to visit prisons within the country. In the areas of counter-narcotics, I noted the steps taken by the SLORC, including cooperation with U.S. on customs training and conducting opium yield surveys. But I also urged that government step up efforts to eliminate opium cultivation and trafficking. I was particularly pleased to exchange views on the situation in Burma with Aung San Suu Kyi, in her role as representative of democratic forces in is country. Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed the news of my straightforward discussion with Khin Nyunt on the importance of beginning a dialogue with those forces as the first step to bringing the country back to the community of democratic nations. She reiterated to me her well-known readiness to begin that dialogue quickly. The international community did not call for her release from house arrest simply so that the gate to her compound could be opened and friends could visit. It was on the assumption that she would then be allowed to begin work on the goals that she has so bravely pursued as representative of the democratic opposition. We also discussed the continued importance of keeping the attention of the international community focused on the situation in Burma. We agreed on the particular importance, as the 50th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opens this month, that the resolution on the situation on human rights in Burma reflect accurately the situation on the ground here. The government's release of Aung San Suu Kyi was just one of many steps the UNGA called on the government to take. It is now time to take the many other steps necessary to restore democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990. I promised Aung San Suu Kyi that I would work toward that goal upon my return to New York. In summary, I believe this was a successful visit in making fully clear America's position with respect to the future of our relations with Burma. America stands ready to develop friendly and constructive relations with the Burmese government, but that can occur when and only when fundamental progress towards democracy and respect for basic for human rights is achieved. The SLORC faces a choice between its present isolation and reintegration into the international community. As a result of my visit, the SLORC leadership can have no doubt about what it must do. The choice is theirs. Place: Oriental Hotel, Bangkok Date : September 9, 1995 (Typing: contributed by the ABSDF-MTZ) ********************************** THE NATION: SLORC MOOTS DIALOGUE WITH SUU KYI September 10, 1995 (abridged) THE Slorc has for the first time said it is considering opening a political dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but only after "internal consultations" within its leadership. The United States' Ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright, on two day official visit to Burma, said yesterday that powerful military Lt Gen Khin Nyunt had informed her of this during two hours of talks. "They are considering such a dialogue but it is difficult to understand the Slorc's decision making process. Khin Nyunt said it will come after leadership," said Mrs Albright at a news conference in Bangkok. "In this regard, we were modestly encouraged to hear that the Slorc is now considering the possibility of engaging in a political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi," Mrs Albright said, "but my government does not believe such a dialogue should be delayed any longer," she added. "As Aung San Suu Kyi put it later, "the sooner the dialogue begins, the better." Mrs Suu Kyi, who has been released from house arrest for two months, has already said she is ready to open a dialogue with the military junta and has called for national recon- ciliation. Mrs Albright said she strongly doubted whether the Burmese people were able to participate in the process of demo- cratisation in a meaningful way through the so-called National Convention, as claimed by the Slorc leader. "I urged the Slorc to choose the path of true democracy, rather than continued repression and dictatorial control," she told an earlier news conference at Rangoon airport. She said the thought Burmese military and opposition leaders were "quite far apart" regarding their views on what democracy means. "but we believe that if they begin to have a direct dialogue... perhaps some of the differences can be worked out. On the Japanese government's decision to resume official assistance to Burma following the release of Mrs Suu Kyi, the envoy said the latter's release was not enough and that for now, applying pressure was a better approach in dealing with the Slorc. Mrs Albright is the highest ranking US envoy to visit Burma since the military took over in 1988. She said her visit had two primary objectives: to call for democratisation and support the role of Mrs Suu Kyi as a pro-democracy leader. Narcotics were also on the agenda. The envoy said she had noted the steps taken by the Slorc, including cooperation with the US on customs training and the conducting of an opium yield survey, but urged them to step up efforts to eliminate opium cultivation. (BP$TN) *************** THE NATION: BURMA SIGNS WITH TNT September 10, 1995 BURMESE authorities and a private Singaporean firm signed a contract on Thursday in Rangoon to build more cargo terminals in Burma, official Burmese radio reported. The contract was signed by Burma's Port Authority and Singapore's TNT Holding Pte Ltd, and the ceremony was presided over by Lt Gen Tin Oo, the Slorc second secretary. The terminal will be built at the Thilawar Container Port in Syriam, located east of Rangoon, in an area planned to become an economic zone. But it neither mentioned the quantity nor cost of the project. TNT and Burmese authorities signed a similar agreement earlier this year to build two cargo terminals for the same port. Singapore is one of the major investors in Burma, with current in vestments of nearly $300 million. (TN) *************** BKK POST: POLICE KEEP AN EYE ON VIOLENT BURMESE SPECIAL Branch police have been keeping a close watch on a group of exile Burmese students who prefer violent means to oppose Rangoon, Special Branch Bureau commissioner Veera Visuthakul said yesterday. Pol Lt Gen Veera made the comment in the wake of police reports that Burmese dissident students would possibly engage in violent means to oppose the Rangoon government in order to push for political reform following the release of Burma pro- democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. If their movements are not within the framework of Thai law, Special Branch police will take action against those students, the commissioner warned. "Regardless of whether they are Burmese or other nationals, they are not allowed to use our territory to stir up political trouble against their government" stressed Pol Lt Gen Veera. The All Burma Basic Education Student's Union (ABBESU) and Action Group for Human Right in Burma (AGHRB), which reportedly headed the groups, would call on a meeting with their allies on Sep 17, before staging a protest. Commenting on this matter, a leading Burmese student, who declined to be named, said there are different views on the protest strategy among the Overseas National Students' Organization (ONSOB) and the AGHRB. (BP) *************** BKK POST: BURMA: MTA SABOTAGE LIKELY September 10, 1995 BURMESE forces are expecting Khun Sa's MTA to try to sabotage celebrations of the anniversary of King Burengnong in Tachilek. Several senior Burmese officers, including the deputy commander-in-chief Gen Maung Aye will be at the Sep 15 event, to which Thai officers and officials in Chiang Rai have also been invited. Burmese authorities are unlikely to reopen the Mae Sai border to let Thais in due to fears that Khun Sa's men might sneak into Tachilek to carry out attacks, sources said. Burmese troops and MTA rebels have clashed at Doi Pa Daeng, 25 kilometres south of Tachilek. Early this week, rebels ambushed a Burmese unit in Ban Wiang Kan, near Tachilek, killing about 10 soldiers. (BP) **************************** BKK POST: THAI MERCHANTS ARE SUFFERING September 10, 1995 (slightly abridged) THE recent killing of three Burmese employed by a Thai fishing trawler has caused already sour relations between Thailand and Burma spoil further. The real issue at stake, however, has been on waiting in the dark for some time. This is the issue of Burmese labourers in Thailand. The number of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand has been estimated by different government agencies at somewhere between 300,000-500,000. Thailand is a transitional economy, experiencing a metamorphosis from being a labour exporter to a labour importer, but at present practise both. Thai workers still travel to Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei in search of profit while Burmese, Indochinese, Chinese and South Asians travel to Thailand to do the same. Burmese workers have come to Thailand to take the dirty, demanding and dangerous jobs that the Thai no longer wish to undertake. Such tasks include factory work, construction, fishing and prostitution. Most workers are illegal immigrants and receive salaries, on average, much lower than what a Thai labourer doing the same task would receive. Because of economic disparities, the Burmese in turn, are willing to take the position as they will receive a considerably higher salary than what is available at home. Burmese workers earn a salary at least an estimated three times higher in Thailand. In Rangoon, this has been a magnet for Burmese from all over Burma, not just the border area. Ranong is a unique border town in that it lies in an area free of combat, unlike Mae Sai or Mae Sot in the North. It is thus, much safer and convenient for migrants from Rangoon or Mandalay to travel to Victoria Point and cross into Thailand than it would be for them to attempt the same passage further north. The problem arises from the fact that these workers, because of their illegal status, are denied, or at least uninformed of, their rights under Thai law. Others may be afraid to complain for fear of being reported and then deported or imprisoned. As a result of these circumstances, workers are vulnerable to abuse. It was an extreme manifestation of this abuse that led to the entirety of the Thai-Burmese border being closed to official trade. Certainly, the perpetrators must have felt a sense of betrayal had snitched in them; there are engough Thai sailors in Burmese prisons to warrant concern. By no means,through, did the group have the right to take life or even to physically abuse the Burmese crew. Thailand is the country that has been hurt most by this action. The closing of the border to commercial trade probably does not affect the Burmese much. They can purchase consumer goods elsewhere and there would certainly be other investors ready to swoop and claim the raw materials Thailand needs. Some may ask then, if the Burmese are causing Thailand such problems, why not remove them? The answer is that the Thai border economies are irrevocably tied to cheap labour from their neighbour. To remove the Burmese would be economically and politically disastrous. There are moves to legalise migrant labour by providing work permits for specific tasks, time periods and locations along the Burmese border. The problem has been, not with the Thai side, but with the Burmese. To receive a permit a person must have the proper travel documents. The Slorc has refused to issue these; therefore, the majority of workers crossing into Thailand are illegal immigrants and emigrants. It is also unlikely the illegal nature of Burmese migrant labour to Thailand will be remedied soon. In fact, the workers status is also beneficial to the Thais- they get cheap labour and need nor worry about providing benefits and care. In this light, Thai business should take heed to care for its valuable commodity lest a sequence of events that forces Thai merchants to suffer occur again. Though relations at present are poor, they will change and improve in the near future as the Slorc needs capital from whatever source possible. This is perhaps merely a display of sovereignty. What will not change in the near future through, is Thai reliance on Burmese labour and Thai interest in Burmese markets. Gary Risser is a research fellow at the Asian Research Centre for Migration of the Institute of Asian Studies, Chula- longkorn University. The views expressed in the article are his own. (BP) BKK POST: STALLS ON MOEI RIVER MUST GO, SAY TAK AUTHORITIES September 9, 1995 Mae Sot, Tak THE provincial authorities here have insisted that shop houses and stalls which encroach onto the Moei River be removed. The presence of the shop houses has caused the Burmese authorities on Wednesday and demanded that the order for the removal of the shop-houses be executed promptly, a source said. An appeal by merchants for a relaxation of the order so that they might carry on doing business there for another year went unheeded. The Interior Ministry issued the order two months ago, requiring that the relocation be completed by July 7. Earlier in June, Burma told Thailand's Highways Department to suspend construction of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge over the river linking Mae Sot and Myawaddy. It demanded the removal of all buildings before talks were held to complete the construction of the bridge. According to the Chief of the Tak Provincial Office, Vinij Chantaropas, the relocation is necessary since Article 7 of the Land and Act prohibits encroachment on public property.