---------------------------------BurmaNet----------------------------------- ----- "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- The BurmaNet News: October 3, 1996 Issue #530 Noted in Passing: ASEAN Governments should caution SLORC that its membership of ASEAN cannot be taken for granted and must be contingent on its avoidance of repressive actions against Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD - Opposition Leader of the DAP Malaysia, Lim Kit Siang (see: STATEMENT: DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY (MALAYSIA) HEADLINES: ========== STATEMENT: DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CANADA STATEMENT: DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY (MALAYSIA) THE NATION: AQUINO LAUDS SUU KYI FOR PRO-DEMOCRACY EFFORTS... REUTERS: EU CALLS FOR RELEASE OF BURMESE DETAINEES REUTERS: DEFIANT SUU KYI SAYS GOV'T ARRESTED 800 ACTIVISTS REUTERS: ASEAN MAY REVIEW BURMA STANCE - RAMOS REUTERS: ASEAN STATES FACE DILEMMA OVER BURMA'S MEMBERSHIP SCMP: WE'LL CRACK DOWN REGARDLESS, SAYS JUNTA... REUTERS: BURMESE ETHNIC GROUPS URGE RECONCILIATION NEWS INSIDE BURMA: TV MYANMAR FBC UPDATE: LIST OF SCHOOLS AND ENDORSEMENTS REUTERS: BANGLADESH AWAITS SIGNAL FROM BURMA TO SWEEP MINES. THE SOUTH PACIFIC REVIEW: BUSINESS IN ASIA NATION: BOPPING WITH UNCLE AUNG AT THE YAZANA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- STATEMENT: DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CANADA Sept 30, 1996 From: Canadian Friends of Burma Axworthy calls for release of Burmese detainees Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today called on Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to release immediately all detained members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and to allow the NLD party congress to be held without further interference or intimidation. "This latest crackdown is further evidence that the international community needs to work harder and co-operatively to encourage Burma's military regime to commit itself to a genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and the pro-democracy movement," said Minister Axworthy. "This dialogue is an essential step toward national reconciliation and democratic reform in Burma". Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan called on the military regime "to stop its repressive tactics that prevent the people of Burma from exercising their basic political rights". Canada has repeatedly expressed its concern over the actions taken by Burma's military rulers against Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the pro-democracy movement. At the Jakarta ASEAN meetings last July, Mr. Axworthy proposed the establishment of a contact group under United Nations or other auspices, to open the lines of communication with the SLORC and make it more accountable to the international community. ********************************************************** STATEMENT: DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY (MALAYSIA) September 28, 1996 From: DAP National Homepage Press Statement by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Tanjong, Lim Kit Siang, in Petaling Jaya ASEAN Governments should caution SLORC that its membership of ASEAN cannot be taken for granted and must be contingent on its avoidance of repressive actions against Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- The latest repressive actions by the Myanmese military junta, SLORC, detaining 109 pro-democracy activists and blocking all roads leading to democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's house to stop a three-day congress of the National League for Democracy on the occasion of its eighth anniversary must be a cause of international concern. The latest repression, following intimations from SLORC that Aung San Suu Kyi would be charged with "political crimes" in the immediate future, seem to indicate that SLORC had been encouraged by the complicity and compliance of ASEAN governments to previous SLORC crackdowns against pro-democracy workers, and that its membership of ASEAN is a foregone conclusion. SLORC's latest repression against pro-democracy forces, and its refusal to embark on a policy of national reconciliation, should be highlighted in the United Nations General Assembly so that international pressure could be mobilised against SLORC for Burma to move towards democratisation and national reconciliation. ****************************************************************** THE NATION: AQUINO LAUDS SUU KYI FOR PRO-DEMOCRACY EFFORTS... October 2, 1996 (abridged) FORMER Philippine president Corazon Aquino said yesterday that Burma's pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi should be fully supported because of her sacrifices on behalf of the Burmese people in attempting to bring about democracy and respect for human rights. Aquino, in Thailand for a five-day visit, also called for a dialogue between the Burmese government and the opposition to address common problems through peaceful means. Aquino was the Philippine president from 1986 to 1992. She is a strong supporter of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Burma where the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) has so far refused to initiate any dialogue with the opposition National League for Democracy party led by Suu Kyi, who has repeatedly expressed her readiness to do so. In an exclusive interview with The Nation yesterday, Aquino said that after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Singapore in 1992, she wrote a letter to the Slorc leaders urging them on humanitarian grounds to allow Suu Kyi's family and husband, Dr Michael Aris, to visit her in Rangoon. Although she never received an answer from the Slorc, Aris was eventually allowed to visit her. Aquino also yesterday revealed that at the second meeting of the Forum of Democratic Leaders in Manila next month, Aris, a professor at England's prestigious Oxford University, will deliver Suu Kyi's speech in her place. Two years ago at the forum's first meeting in Seoul, Aquino read Suu Kyi's speech on her behalf. The forum, which promotes democratic values and respect for human rights, was founded by Aquino, Kim Dae-Jung of South Korea, former Costa Rican president Oscar Arias, and Sonia Gandhi, widow, of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. She said the plight of Suu Kyi will once again be taken up by the forum. As the next millenium approaches, Aquino is confident that more and more countries and peoples will turn to democracy. "Global communication lets you know what is happening in other parts of the world and you can see things differently. We will be able to learn from each other and it will be easier to communicate." Tomorrow she is scheduled to give the keynote speech at the fifth annual Academics' Conference on "The Quality of Life and Human Rights: In Commemoration of October 6, 1976" at the Dusit Thani Hotel. She will address the issues of human rights, democracy and the quality of life. ***************************************************************** REUTERS: EU CALLS FOR RELEASE OF BURMESE DETAINEES October 1, 1996 From: DVB LUXEMBOURG, Oct 1 (Reuter) - The European Union called on Tuesday for the immediate release of more than 500 people detained by Burmese military rulers in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists. EU foreign ministers released a statement saying they were very concerned at the situation in Burma and calling on its ruling State Law and Order Restoration Committee (SLORC) to lift a blockade on the home of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma's military government said on Tuesday it had released 88 of the 559 supporters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party held since Thursday but roadblocks around Suu Kyi's remained in place. Senior Burmese officials said detained activists were being held temporarily to prevent unrest and would be released soon. The EU foreign ministers said: "The European Union wishes to emphasise the need for a genuine dialogue to commence without delay between SLORC and the NDL as being the only possible credible way forward for national reconciliation." *********************************************************** REUTERS: DEFIANT SUU KYI SAYS GOV'T ARRESTED 800 ACTIVISTS October 2, 1996 From: DVB By Deborah Charles RANGOON, Oct 2 (Reuter) - Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, defying Burmese government attempts to gag her, slipped by police barricades barring access to her home on Wednesday and told reporters up to 800 democracy activists had been arrested. Her estimate was sharply higher than that of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which said 559 of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party members and supporters had been arrested since last Thursday. "We think it is nearer 800," the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate said when told of the number of detentions declared by the military government on Tuesday. The Burmese embassy in Bangkok said late on Tuesday that 88 of the 559 detained ahead of an NLD congress planned for September 27-29 had already been released. Suu Kyi, who joined in on an elaborate plan to meet about a dozen reporters at a house just outside the police barricades blocking access to her University Avenue home, said she was not downhearted by the latest action taken by the SLORC. "The level of response is always a reflection of the extent of their fear, their nervousness," she said when asked what she thought of the SLORC's efforts to block the party meeting. The SLORC ordered arrests and barred people from travelling on University Avenue since early on Friday to prevent the party meeting from taking place. It said the detentions were only temporary and claimed the NLD was trying to create instability and incite riots with its gathering. Suu Kyi said the latest crackdown was not a surprise to the party and said it would help boost the NLD's legitimacy. "What has happened over the last week has been a great help to us," a relaxed-looking Suu Kyi said. "People are fed up with this kind of stupid behaviour and the international community agrees now the SLORC is getting worse not better." The United States, the European Union and international human rights groups have condemned the latest Burmese detentions and called for immediate release of the detainees. A defiant Suu Kyi, who said she was housing 31 people in her compound including eight NLD representatives who came to Rangoon to attend the congress, vowed to hold another party congress without seeking permission from the SLORC. SLORC officials have said the NLD congress was illegal in part because the party did not have permission to hold the meeting. Suu Kyi says meetings are a regular and necessary part of the work of a legitimate organisation like the NLD. "We will continue our plans for our party. We will eventually convene another congress, but that won't be right away," she said. "We certainly are not going to ask for anybody's permission." She said she and party chairman Aung Shwe asked the SLORC on Friday to sit down and negotiate with the party. "None of this would have happened over the past few days if we had dialogue," she said. "Dialogue would be much more pleasant than all of this nonsense." SLORC says the forum for dialogue is a national convention, which has been meeting since 1993. Suu Kyi angered the SLORC last year by pulling the NLD out of the talks where hand-picked SLORC delegates are drafting guidelines for a new charter. ************************************************************ REUTERS: ASEAN MAY REVIEW BURMA STANCE-RAMOS October 2, 1996 From: DVB MANILA, Oct 2 (Reuter) - Philippine President Fidel Ramos said on Wednesday the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) might review its policy of "constructive engagement" towards Burma at the ASEAN summit in November. Ramos said the consensus among ASEAN foreign ministers remained that the group may eventually admit Burma as a member provided it made progress on trade and political reforms. But ASEAN may review its policy of refraining from directly challenging Burma on its human rights record, Ramos told his weekly news conference. "The ASEAN leaders will have their summit in late November 1996 and maybe the matter can be reviewed at that stage," Ramos said in response to a question on the ASEAN response to Rangoon's latest crackdown on democracy activists. The seven-member regional grouping has previously resisted pressure for international sanctions to be imposed against Burma's military rulers. It has instead preferred a policy of what it calls "constructive engagement", hoping to bring about democratic reforms in Burma through quiet persuasion rather than confrontation. *************************************************************** REUTERS: ASEAN STATES FACE DILEMMA OVER BURMA'S MEMBERSHIP October 2, 1996 From: DVB By Ian MacKenzie JAKARTA, Oct 2 (Reuter) - Western hostility towards Rangoon's military rulers poses Southeast Asian nations with a dilemma over how quickly to admit Burma to full ASEAN membership, diplomatic analysts said on Wednesday. Burma's membership was discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in New York last week, ASEAN Secretary-General Ajit Singh said. "But because there is no government in Thailand at the moment, the ministers decided to postpone that decision until a new government in Thailand is formed," he told Reuters in Kuala Lumpur. Diplomatic analysts said clear differences had emerged within the seven-nation group over Burma, highlighted by comments by Philippines President Fidel Ramos to reporters in Manila on Wednesday. He said ASEAN might review its policy of "constructive engagement" towards Burma which has been aimed at influencing rather than forcing policy changes by the country's military rulers. "That view was also put cross by the Philippines foreign minister in New York. There were others who stated their positions," Singh said. ASEAN comprises Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei. So far, they have endeavoured to show a united front over a variety of issues, including Burma. Diplomats said Western concern over Burma had heightened over the past week with a further crackdown on opponents of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday the government had arrested up to 800 members and supporters of her National League for Democracy (NLD) since Thursday last week. Washington has threatened sanctions against Burma over its record on human rights and democracy. The United States, the European Union and other Western powers have made no secret of their distaste for Burma's current rulers. "What concerns us is how you could sensibly cooperate between the European Union and ASEAN with someone like the SLORC actually across the table," one diplomat commented. Analysts said the Philippines and Thailand before the collapse of its last government wanted ASEAN to take a cautious approach to Burma's membership to take account of "Western sensibilities". Singapore and Malaysia had advocated admitting Burma quickly, possibly at the annual foreign ministers' conference in Kuala Lumpur in July next year -- the 30th anniversary of the organisation. Burma said on Tuesday it had submitted its application to join ASEAN, in which it gained observer status at a meeting in Jakarta in July -- a move which prompted Western criticism and an angry reaction in turn from ASEAN states. The other two Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia and Laos, are due to become full members next year. Officials and diplomats in the region said there was unlikely to be a decision on Burma's application until heads of government of the seven ASEAN nations hold an informal summit in Jakarta at the end of November. ************************************************************** SCMP: WE'LL CRACK DOWN REGARDLESS, SAYS JUNTA... October 2, 1996 (South China Morning Post) BY WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok The Burmese opposition may have lost its voice in the most severe repression by the military authorities since opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's release after six years' house arrest in July 1995. The National League for Democracy (NLD) leader has been under virtual house arrest for the past four days. The State Law and Order Restoration Council, as the junta styles itself, said yesterday 559 NLD supporters had also been brought in for questioning, of which 88 had been released by last night. Political activists and the press have been prevented from seeing or talking to the Nobel Peace laureate whose house has been a democratic oasis for 14 months. The junta said yesterday it was prepared to renew its crackdown if the NLD tried holding another party congress, a military intelligence official said. Colonel Kyaw Win, deputy chief of military intelligence, said such pre-emptive action against the NLD would be less damaging to the country than the negative publicity it attracted abroad. "Letting them go ahead with meetings like that would have serious ramifications, making it more difficult for the authorities," he said. Ms Aung San Suu Kyi was prevented from leaving her home at the weekend and her telephone was cut off, but it is not clear how isolated she will be in the future. Junta spokesmen claimed yesterday that only close colleagues would be allowed to visit her at the moment, although she was free to move around. Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters are paying the price for attempting to plan a political future from her home on the eighth anniversary of the NLD - which won an election in 1990 by a landslide, only to be ignored by the military. The weekend crackdown was harsher than that in May when 260 elected NLD representatives were detained after announcing a party congress. But Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's house was not closed off then and her weekend public speeches from her gate were allowed to continue. The NLD's announcement on Thursday that its supporters would meet to discuss such provocative subjects as a rival constitution unleashed the latest reaction. The SLORC does not appear to care much if its repression helps provoke a ban on new investment from the US and restrictions on textile exports to Europe. Friday's move by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to cool expectations that Burma would obtain full membership in time for the organisation's 30th anniversary next summer may also not mean much. Deputy Foreign Minister U Nyunt said the question of when Burma would join ASEAN was up to its Southeast Asian neighbours. U Nyunt said the Government might "take action" against a US diplomat for meeting Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. He said the actions of US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Marilyn Meyers in the lead-up to the planned weekend congress had strained the tolerance of the Burmese Government. Ms Meyers and another Rangoon-based American diplomat, Mark B. Taylor, were accused of active participation in planning the NLD's congress. ************************************************************** REUTERS: BURMESE ETHNIC GROUPS URGE RECONCILIATION October 2, 1996 From: DVB RANGOON, Oct 2 (Reuter) - Leaders of two ethnic rebel organisations that have signed ceasefire agreements with Burma's military regime urged on Wednesday all groups to cooperate with the government to help the country achieve democracy. "We want to establish peace in our country. It is not a time to confront each other because we need national reconciliation," said Nai Shwe Kyin, leader of the Mon New State Party. "We have reached ceasefire agreements and the next step is political dialogue." "We must establish trust. After bloodbaths lasting nearly one half a century we must establish trust with the view that one day reconciliation will come about," said the Mon leader who at 83-years is the oldest rebel leader in Burma. The Mon, one of Burma's 16 armed rebel groups, signed a ceasefire agreement in May 1995. All the rebel groups except the Karen National Union have signed ceasefires with the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Kyi Myint, general secretary of the National Democracy Alliance Army from eastern Shan state bordering China and Laos, said his organisation was participating in a government-sponsored National Convention which is drafting guidelines for a new constitution. "There is a national convention where we can discuss and argue. Not all things we propose are accepted but some of our proposals were accepted, especially regarding self administrative areas and economic development matters," he said. Kyi Myint said the constitutional talks were the best forum for discussion between various ethnic groups, the opposition and the government. Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi angered the SLORC last November when she pulled her National League for Democracy (NLD) party out of the constitutional talks, claiming the talks were a sham and did not represent the will of the people. The SLORC launched a new crackdown on the democracy movement late last week, arresting hundreds of activists and setting up police-manned barricades to bar access to Suu Kyi's house and prevent a three-day NLD congress from taking place. *********************************************************** NEWS INSIDE BURMA: TV MYANMAR October 1, 1996 - The Chief of the Police Anti Narcotic Dept: Col. Ngwe Soe Tun explained that there are 3 main strategies being undertaken at present: 1. Reduction of opium production Eradication of opium production and development of the border areas is being emphasised. It was stated that opium growing has occured in Myanmar for many years and will take time to stop. There are 18 special opium eradication teams formed. Khun Sa's surrender has made the implementation of opium eradication programs much easier as the army is now able to patrol areas that were previously controlled by his troops. Therefore there will be a greater reduction in opium growing in the coming opium season. 2. Reduction in Drug Usage There are 56847 drug addicts registered in Myanmar, 62% of which are addicted to opium, 29% to heroin and 9% to other drugs. The registered participants in the governments drug abuse reduction plan are entitled to free rehabilitation, cured at 6 special hospitals for addicts and are then sent to training sites. Preventive measures in relation to drug abuse occurs through: - Education Dept including education materials in the school syllabus -The Information and Army Public Relation Departments are undergoing education programs in TV broadcasting and other information networks. 3. The SLORC is also working with the regional and international agreement committees on the prevention of drugs and is also working hand in hand with regional and neighbouring countries in this aspect. THE POLITICAL SITUATION: In current situation, on 27-28 September, 259 NLD members were taken to state guest houses; 236 in Rangoon and 23 in other areas, for questioning. The NLD arranged the meeting in an attempt to break the existing laws and are trying to agitate the people who will attend the regular weekend talks. To prevent this disturbance from becoming uncontrollable, the meeting has been prevented After her release from arrest, ASSK has had 13 press conferences and almost daily interviews. In general, all of the information released was aimed to the international community, causing them to misunderstand the state and also to hamper the aims and objectives of the state. ASSK has also written letters to the leaders of neighbouring countries in which she urged them to isolate Myanmar and boycott investment. She has written 42 articles in the Japanese newspaper Mainichi up to date and generally these can cause the readers to look down on the people of Myanmar and the state. She has recieved $17000 for the articles, a Japanese Company has paid her $4054 for the translation of her articles, and a British Book company has also paid her $3700 for publishing her articles. ASSK has an account at Myanmar Foreign Exchange Bank. She has recieved financial gains with awards, but none of the money or awards have been transfered into her account. So it is evident that she has recieved support from organizations from other countries who would like to interefer in the internal affairs internal of Myanamr for their varying interests. In the manual for the political defiance courses run by the NLD, there is noted many ways in which to disrupt the army, adminstration and stability of the country. They are the same tactics that were used by the Burma Communist Party in the past. To hold these personal development training courses, Soros Foundation, IRI, Albert Einstein Foundation and The Burmese Border Consortium are supporting the NLD. The exiles have even hired lobby firms to lobby for them. Therefore ASSK and the exiles are working closely. She is hostile towards the SLORC who is trying to pass the transition period smoothly on it's way to democracy. In Myanmar, democracy exists in all periods of the past. In the AFPFL era, there was Parlimentary Democracy and in the BSPP era, Socialist Democracy. A different Democracy has occured, according to the political ideology of the time. Now SLORC is leading the country in a transition process towards a multiparty democracy. So all should move within the frame laid out by SLORC. If people do not move within this framework and attack or damage the programs and projects, necessary action will be taken. TV MYANMAR NEWS October 2, 1996 Among the 159 NLD members withheld, 88 have been released. In Rangoon,414 people of notority have been arrested. Among them 75 have been released already. Nai Shwe Kyin, Chairman of NMSP and Kyi Myint, Secretary of UWSP donated 50000kyats each to the Myanmar anti-narcotic organisation. Nai Shwe Kyin and U Kyi Myint gave a joint press conference today. U Kyi Myint: "SLORC has assisted us. We decided upon a ceasefire, due to the fact that we do not want to continue war." We have already decided not to grow opium but READER's DIGEST have portrayed the Wa falsely. Concerning the constitution, it would be more beneficial and will produce a stronger constitution if more ethnic groups can participate. We do not accept or agree with some people requesting foreigners not to invest ,trade or travel in Myanmar. The country needs to be prosperous. People need to eat. Nai Shwe Kyin: ASEAN is helping SLORC, China is providing loans and grants. So the international and regional situation cannot allow an armed struggle. There will be no possibility of us taking up arms again. Today, confrontation is not the thing to do, but instead reconciliation and reconsolidation are needed. This transition period is needed. We have to look forward positively not negatively. SLORC has liberalized the economy and there are a lot of department stores. If you go restaurants, the waiters are busy all the time. These are the signs that the country is starting to prosper. In religion also SLORC is doing a lot of renovations to pagodas and antiques. In the past there was no water in the dry zone. Now a lot of dams and double crops of paddy are growing. Planting summer paddy has been introduced there. We must look at these developments in positive view, not in negative view. The NMSP has not participated in the national convention, but has been studying the documents produced by that NC. *************************************************************** FBC UPDATE: LIST OF SCHOOLS AND ENDORSEMENTS October 1, 1996 (abridged) From: zar ni Harry Wu, a well-known Chinese dissident has agreed to be part of the Free Burma Fast press conference to be held in the Bay Area on October 8. Quotes from Harry Wu: On the leadership of Burma's democracy movement "I think Aung San Suu Kyi is not only a freedom fighter for Burma, but also for the whole world. She is enlightening the Chinese as well. I applaud the people of Burma who, under the leadership of AUng San Suu Kyi, are fighting for their freedom and democracy." On China's backing of Burma's thugs: As a Chinese, I fell very sorry that Chinese government is backing Burma's military dictatorship that is killing its own people. We have to let the whole world, particularly the Chinese, know about it and stop the evil things that are happening in Burma. We are expecting support statements from several prominent US lawmakers including Senator Mitch McConnell. Here is the list of colleges, high schools, and community groups in various countries that will be participating in the fast. III. The list of participating colleges and high schools: a) U.S.A 1-Santa Monica College 2-University of Houston 3-University of Wisconsin-Madison 4-Stanford 5-Harvard/Radcliffe 6-Princeton 7-UCLA 8-San Francisco State University 9-Boston College (to be confirmed) 10-Northwestern University 11-University of Chicago 12-Warren-Wilson College 13-Tufts University 14-University of Michigan 15-Penn State 16-University of Washington 17-New York University 18-Iowa State University 19. Texas A & M University 20. University of Minnesota 21. Georgetown University 22. Texas Southern University 23. University of Oklahoma 24. East Tennessee State University 25. Baylor College of Medicine 26. Stephen F. Austin University 27. University of Texas at Austin 28. Texas Women's University 29. Conneticut College 30. University of North Carolina-Greensboro 31. University of Georgia 32. Syracuse University 33. SUNY-ESF 34. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 35. Wesleyan University 36. San Fransciscon State University 37. Hampshire College 38. Rice University 39. Portland State University 40. Reed College 41. Lewis & Clark College 42. Swarthmore College 43. Cornell University 44. Siena College 45. Collehe of the Atlantic (ME) 46. University of Arizona 47. New Jersey Medical School 48. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 49. American University 50. Raritan Valley Community Collge 51. University of New Mexico (to be confirmed) 52. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 53. Saint Rose College 54. UC Santa Barbara High Schools: 1. Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Twshp., New Jersey 2. Lab Schools, University of Chicago 3. Lamar High School, Texas 4. West High School, Madison, Wisconsin 5. East High School. Madison, Wisconsin 6. W.P. Clements High School, Sugar Land, Texas 7. Lexington High School (Oklahoma) 8. Lake Forest High School (Illinois) 9. High schools in the Bay Area (the exact number not received yet) 10. St. Louis Visual and Performing Art School (high school), MO Community Group: Westerville Social Action, Westerville, Ohio Chicago Free Burma Coalition b) Canada Lakehead University at ThunderBay, Ontario University of Western-Ontario Canadian Friends of Burma The Burma-Tibet Group of OPIRG-Carleton Carleton University McGill University (to be confirmed) c) South Africa The University of Durban-Westville d) Japan Burma Relief Center-Japan e) Thailand Aung Myo Min (All Burma Students Democratic Front) Refugees (in the camps to be confirmed) University of Houston-20 Stanford-20 (High schools near Stanford-25) Warren-Wilson College - 30 Texas A&M Universtiy - 5 Texas Southern University - 1 Rice University - 5 Baylor College of Medicine - 1 Texas Women's University - 1 Penn State - 25+ U. Washington-8-9 College of the Atlantic-20 University of N. Carolina at Greensboro-30 Harvard-Radcliffe-3 Tufts-4 U. of Arizona-9 U. of Chicago/Lab Schools-3 Northwestern U.-10 U. Wisconsin at Madison 15+ U. of North Carolina at North Carolina-8-9 New York University-10 American University-5-10 *********************************************************** REUTERS: BANGLADESH AWAITS SIGNAL FROM BURMA TO SWEEP MINES. October 2, 1996 CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, Oct 2 (Reuter) - Bangladeshi security forces have asked their couterparts in Burma to help sweep hundreds of anti-personnel mines dotting the no-man's land and other areas along their 250 km (155 miles) frontier, military sources said on Wednesday. They said the request followed the death of six Bangladeshis, including a border guard, and two elephants from landmines at Naikhayangchhari last month. "Bangladesh security forces are awaiting clearance from Myanmar (Burma) authorities to conduct the mine sweeping. The clearance is needed to avoid misunderstanding between border forces of the two countries," Lieutenant-Colonel Shawkat Jamal said. "Myanmar security forces have also been requested to cooperate with us in this regard," he told Reuters. "We hope that Myanmar will soon give go ahead to the sweeping as lives of civilians and forces on both sides are threatened." Police last week said the mines were believed to have been laid by Burmese troops to prevent cross-border insurgents, but Bangladesh was not consulted or aware of such a move. But Jamal said the mines could have been planted by Burmese insurgents. "The large number of mines have been planted crudely...but they can be removed or defused by experts only," he said. There was no word on the issue from Dhaka's foreign or defence ministry ministry. ************************************************************* THE SOUTH PACIFIC REVIEW: BUSINESS IN ASIA Aug-Dec 96 Issue From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" published by Commonwealth Communications Ltd.London Tel 44 171 937 8177 Fax 44 171 376 1420 To date, this magazine has done its best to promote trade between Western companies and the nations in the Asia Pacific region which it reviews. But when we came to look at Burma, the anti-democratic character of that country's regime, and its human rights record, were just too much to stomach. The junta ignored a landslide election defeat in 1988 (sic), they still refuse to talk to the leader of the party which won, they lock up their opponents, and they extract forced labor from many ordinary citizens - including children. Almost the only argument that can be advanced in favour of doing business with the junta is that they are very firmly in power. But the risks of doing so, given growing talk among Western governments of applying sanctions, must weigh heavily in the minds of even the most pragmatic. The rest of this issue of the magazine is in our more usual optimistic tone. We applaud Western companies seeking to expand trade with Asia - none more so than those of Australia, whose commitment to the region continues to set a fine example. Joe Adams Editor (This issue has 14 pages on Burma, and a 7 page interview with John Imle, President of Unocal.) ********************************************************* NATION: BOPPING WITH UNCLE AUNG AT THE YAZANA September 27, 1996 Rangoon's modern-day dance halls make an interesting study on freedom, lost youth and the power of money, BJ Lee writes. Uncle Aung," the Saturday night disco king at the Yazana Garden has a gold watch, a Mercedes Benz parked outside, and a sexy girlfriend young enough to be his granddaughter. Though his whiskey belly, golf shirt, 50plus years of age and stiff dance moves aren't likely to get him on MTV, "Uncle Aung", rules the dance floor along with other men of his age. "I come here every Saturday and Sunday, and sometimes week nights too," says the inebriated Uncle Aung, ordering a whiskey at the Yazana disco in central Rangoon. Sitting bored at street-side tea shops on a recent Saturday night, a group of young male students in Rangoon complain about how rich elder businessmen, both foreign and local, are dominating the handful of discos that have opened in Rangoon in the last few years. Though steeped in respect for elders, they resent their uncles "stealing" the women of their generation. "The older men have got the money, so they get to have the fun," said a Rangoon university student sipping on free tea. "I would like to go dancing tonight also, but I can't afford the cover charge." Cover charge at most discos is US$10 (Bt250) for foreigners, and 100 Kyat (about $6) for locals. "We would like to hear our own Burmese bands playing at the clubs,' says another young unemployed male, referring to clubs such as Escapade and The Cave. "But these places are owned by foreigners and they only hire bands from the Philippines. It's because most of the customers are businessmen from Singapore and other Asian countries. They are used to hearing Philippine bands playing the same old songs, and they don't want to hear anything different." Even fans of green, pagoda-studded Rangoon say the night scene doesn't compare to Tokyo or Rio. Though the Yazana Garden Hotel is usually more lively, for many still seems like an evolved brothel. One local resident jokes that if you have become a millionaire in -a-month by making an arms deal and "you feel the need to give a diamond to a lady", then the Yazana is the place to go. Women dressed in everything from hipster fashion to Kachin hilltribe dresses don't want to be seen dancing or chatting with the younger guys with hiphop clothes and their parents' cars because it might cheapen their value and blow their chances at hooking a company president. Young security guards in proper white-collared shirts stand around the octagonal dance floor at the Yazana like gargoyles in front of pagodas, strictly enforcing no-smoking rules on the dance floor When a group of grungey young guys smelling of teen spirit began slam dancing to a rare Nirvana song recently, the DJ immediately cut the music and warned them over the speakers in English, "If you dance like that I won't play rock anymore." Though Kurt Cobain's kids behaved, Nirvana wasn't heard from again. Never mind say the "uncles" who see the emergence of clean, spanking-new discos in Rangoon as a sign of a new era in Burma. One local writer in his forties says the discos give his generation the chance to make up for the juvenile delinquency they missed during the strict anti-entertainment policies of the military government. Many women in Burma, however, don't share his enthusiasm. They say they still feel disco dancing is improper Burmese behaviour, regardless of wealth. As in Thailand before the economic boom of the last 10 years, a women in a club is often branded as a prostitute by both men and women. Many Burmese men agree that disco dancing is not part of their proud Burmese tradition. During his first visit to Yazana, a former student activist now in his late twenties said: "Many of the people at Yazana are Kukang Chinese from the north They have more money than us Burmese and they don't respect our traditional culture as much. They just want all the western fashion they can buy." Later, with an iced beer in hand, looking at grooving teenagers dressed in basketball shoes, knee-length shorts and baseball caps turned backwards exactly like their heroes on a big MTV video screen looming above the dance floor, he did admit, however, that discos in Rangoon were a kind of freedom. "I don't think the government likes this, but there's money involved so they have to permit it". He also noted that there's a generation gap not just between himself and the old men on the dance floor, but also with his juniors five to 10 years younger. "We never had something like this when I was a student. May be this is why today's students aren't out protesting. They 're just trying to make money so they can come here and dance instead of waiting until they're old men."