------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: July 17, 1997 Issue #774 HEADLINES: ========== REUTER: THOUSANDS OF BURMESE MOSLEMS FLEE ABYMU STATEMENT: SLORC ACTION AGAINST MONKS AP: SUU KYI'S PARTY DENOUNCES TERRORISM THE NATION: DISSIDENTS LOBBY ASEAN REUTER: BURMA OPPOSITION PUBLISHES ACCOUNT OF ABUSES THAILAND TIMES: STUDENT ACTIVISTS TO PRESSURE GOVTS THAILAND TIMES: SLORC IMPLEMENTS TOUGH MEASURE SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET A- 0061 BKK POST: OTTAWA WARY ON AID OVER BURMA WOES THE NATION: ASEAN WALKS CAMBODIAN TIGHTROPE THE IRRAWADDY: BURMESE EXODUS THE IRRAWADDY: NO HOME NO FUTURE IMAGES ASIA: BURMA POSTERS AND POSTCARDS FOR SALE AUSTRALIA BURMA COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON LANDMINES ----------------------------------------------------------------- REUTER: THOUSANDS OF BURMESE MOSLEMS FLEE INTO BANGLADESH July 15, 1997 By Mohammad Nurul Islam COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, July 15 (Reuter) - Nearly 15,000 Burmese Moslems, driven by hunger and military persecution, have fled into Bangladesh in the past three months, officials and border guards said on Tuesday. ``It has been an endless trickle,'' Lieutenant-Colonel Rafiqul Hannan of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) border force told Reuters. He said the BDR had arrested some 2,000 non-registered Burmese Moslems, called Rohingyas, over the past three months and pushed them back across the frontier Naf river. The new influx began as Bangladesh was awaiting to repatriate some 21,500 Rohingyas who have been living in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar district, bordering Arakan, for more than four years. More than 250,000 Rohingyas fled to southeastern Bangladesh in early 1992 from Arakan, Burma's only Moslem-majority province, complaining of military persecution and forced labour. Repatriation, supervised by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), began in September that year following an agreement between Dhaka and Rangoon. The process stopped in early April. Bangladesh blamed the ``reluctance'' of Burmese immigration officials in giving clearance to the home-bound refugees. Mohammad Yunus and his 10-member family arrived in Bangladesh from Arakan on July 2, along with 30 other families. They have been living in shanties built illegally on the outskirts of Cox's Bazar. ``We were landless and usually bought our food by selling labour. But in recent months food prices (in Arakan) have more than doubled,'' Yunus, 55, explained. ``And (Burmese) soldiers forced us to work at military sites and often did not pay for it. They imposed restrictions on our movement from one village to another,'' he said. ``We have often been tortured for refusing to give forced labour. Sometimes they detained us and kept us without food.'' Boyerd Solar, UNHCR representative in Cox's Bazar, said his organisation had proposed that Bangladesh allow the 21,500 Rohingyas who entered the country in 1992 to stay. ``The proposal was made in view of lengthy delay and uncertainty we are facing in sending these people back to their homes,'' he said. He said the UNHCR had also proposed that the World Food Program and U.N. Development Program help with the rehabilitation of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh. ``But Bangladesh has rejected the proposals,'' he added. Zafrul Islam Azizi, an official with the government's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Cox's Bazar, said the refugees have grown reluctant to go back to Burma after hearing about the UNHCR proposals. ``They started resisting...and we cannot force them to leave because under the 1992 repatriation treaty (it) has to be voluntary,'' Azizi said. ************************************************* ABYMU STATEMENT: SLORC ACTION AGAINST MONKS July 16, 1997 From: mingla@cm-sun.cm.ksc.co.th Statement of the All Burma Young Monks' Union regarding the current action against the Buddhist monks of Burma by the SLORC military regime Since the Buddhist monks uprising which started on March 16, 1997 and which was sparked by reports that the important Buddha's image of the Maha Myatmuni Pagoda Mandalay had been vandalized and the gems enshrined in it were stolen, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the military regime of Burma, has escalated its oppression against the Buddhist monks by making more arrests and forcibly disrobing the monks. The SLORC failed to solve the problem to the satisfaction of the members of Buddhism, and, in addition it created a religious conflict between the Buddhists and Muslims. 1. In connection with the uprising, the SLORC has: (a) Arrested, up to now, over 400 Buddhist monks particularly in Rangoon and Mandalay and forcibly disrobed them in the prison; (b) Threatened to take action against the Buddhist monks who " fail to abide by the Buddhist Sanghas' precepts "; (c) Banned, all over the country, the Payiyatti Sangha examination of the monks for indefinite period, an action which has never been taken before; (d) Forcibly sent the Buddhist monks studying at the Payiyatti schools back to their native places; (e) Rounded up the Buddhist monks who have been demanding an announcement of the date of Payiyatti examination, by June 20, 1997. 2. Therefore, the All Burma Young Monks' Union strongly protests and opposes the above mentioned actions of the SLORC. 3. In addition, the Buddhist monks are demanding that the SLORC: -- (a) Officially expose the vandalization of the important Buddha's image of the Maha Myatmuni Pagoda; (b) Announce the exact number of detained Buddhist monks during the 1988 uprising, during the 1990 Pattam Nikkujana Kamma boycott, and during the recent 1997 March Buddhist monks uprising relating to the Maha Myatmuni Pagoda case; (c) Unconditionally release all the detained monks. 4. The ABYMU fully supports these demands. The ABYMU would like to remind the SLORC that there is no other way but to comply with the demands by the Buddhist monks of Burma and that continued violence against the Buddhist monks would only bring more disastrous consequences. Unite all Buddhist monks! Join hands with all the people! All Burma Young Monks' Union July 16,1997 =========================================================================== RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION CENTRE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR A NEW SOCIETY =========================================================================== ********************************************** AP: SUU KYI'S PARTY DENOUNCES TERRORISM July 14, 1997 [abridged] RANGOON, Burma (AP) -- The political party of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi denounced terrorism today and pledged to fight it. The party's statement comes less than a month after the chief of Burma's military intelligence accused the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize-winner of accepting money from what he called terrorist groups. ``The National League for Democracy strongly condemns any act of terrorism. It will neither encourage nor support terrorism or will ever use such means,'' the statement said. ``We pledge to efface terrorism from our country together with the people.'' Although the statement from the National League for Democracy, or NLD, was released today, it was dated July 19, which will be the 50th anniversary of Martyr's Day in Burma. On that day in 1947, Suu Kyi's father, Burma's independence hero Aung San, and six of his Cabinet ministers were assassinated by a political rival. Aung San advocated democracy for his country, but his death plunged Burma into a period of instability and insurgencies that culminated in the 1962 military coup. ******************************************** THE NATION: DISSIDENTS LOBBY ASEAN July 16, 1997 Yindee Lertcharoenchok EXILED Burmese dissidents yesterday urged Asean members to use the same "logic and standards" adopted to help resolve the current political situation in Cambodia with Burma. They called on the grouping to persuade the Burmese junta to start dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as end all human rights' abuses and atrocities. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was also called on to delay Burma's membership into the regional bloc and to urge the ruling Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) to transfer power to the NLD, which won a landslide victory in the May 1990 general election. The National Council of the Union of Burma's Tin Maung Win told a press conference yesterday that the Burmese opposition welcomed Asean's decision to help find a peaceful solution to the Cambodian conflict and its call for talks between the two premiers. "These [Asean] actions are right and just. For this very reason, we would like to ask Asean to apply the same logic, the same standards and the same pressure when dealing with Burma, including deferring its Asean membership," he said. "The atrocities committed by the Slorc army are far more numerous than those committed by Hun Sen's forces," he added. Asean countries decided last week to delay indefinitely Cambodia's membership into the grouping after Second Prime Minister Hun Sen launched a violent coup to oust his political rival First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Aung Naing Oo from the All Burma Students' Democratic Front yesterday urged Asean, which earlier told Slorc to initiate dialogue with the NLD, to seriously push for the talks to take place. "They [Asean] should really push for dialogue, which we all want. It should not just be publicity or lip service," he said. Teddy Buri, an elected NLD MP and a minister to the exiled NLD government, said a delay in Burma's admission would save Asean from any future embarrassment. ************************************************** REUTER: BURMA OPPOSITION PUBLISHES ACCOUNT OF ABUSES July 15, 1997 By Deborah Charles BANGKOK - Exiled Burmese dissidents on Tuesday released a book of letters written by the chairman of Aung San Suu Kyi's democracy party to Rangoon's ruling generals protesting against abuses and urging reform. The 33 letters collected in ``Letters to a Dictator'' were written by National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung Shwe between December 1995 and March 1997 and sent to Burma's military leaders. The letters were smuggled out of Burma and compiled as a book by the All Burma Student's Democratic Front. The letters, addressed to the chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), urge reform and protest against human rights violations and repression. The letters were never answered, the dissidents said. The Thai-based Burmese dissidents who released the book said they did so to ensure a public record of the SLORC's human rights violations and to demonstrate the constraints under which the NLD has had to operate. ``This is a book that was never intended to be published,'' said Tin Maung Win, vice-president of the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma. He said the letters were written by the NLD which expected to receive an answer. But since no response was made and repression of the pro-democracy party has increased, the party decided to publish the letters. ``I think we ... have an obligation to spread copies of this book throughout the world and to ensure preservation of this important historical record,'' said Tin Maung Win. ``The SLORC will surely attempt to destroy all record relating to its brutal suppression of the NLD (and) its efforts to bring about non-violent, lawful political change and to end the SLORC's imposed reign of terror.'' The NLD won a landslide victory with more than 80 percent of the seats in a 1990 election. The result was never recognised and instead the SLORC cracked down on elected NLD politicians. Thousands fled the country or were imprisoned. Recently the SLORC, which seized power in 1989 after quelling pro-democracy demonstrations, intensified its attacks on the NLD and its leaders. The letters call on the SLORC to negotiate with the democracy movement. NLD co-founder Suu Kyi has repeatedly asked for a dialogue since she was released from six years of house arrest in July 1995. The book mentions death threats against Suu Kyi and physical attacks on party leaders, forced resignation of top NLD members and various cases of illegal detention and restriction of movement of NLD members and supporters. Teddy Buri, who was elected as an NLD member of parliament in the 1990 election but later fled to Thailand, said the timing of the book's release was important because Burma was about to be admitted to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). ``Once this book gets into the hands of ASEAN leaders, and the international community it may help open their eyes,'' he told Reuters. ``It may help make them think about what way SLORC is repressive, in what way they could...help to bring about changes in Burma.'' ASEAN is due to admit Burma this month, despite protests from the West that acceptance was tantamount to approval of the SLORC's human rights violations. ****************************************** THAILAND TIMES: STUDENT ACTIVISTS TO PRESSURE GOVTS AGAINST BURMA'S ENTRY TO ASEAN July 16, 1997 [slightly abridged] By Boonlom Howattanapanich BANGKOK: The Student Federation of Thailand is to cooperate with other student assemblies from within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in an attempt to pressure their respective governments into objecting to the planned entry of Burma into the regional grouping. Supphalert Kitkhachornphaibul, chairman of Thammasat University student council, said action will be taken before the 25th of this month to prevent Burma, currently ruled by a military dictatorship, from joining the group. The military junta has consistently violated the human rights of men, women, and children, Supphalert said. He added that the situation in Burma is just as alarming as that currently evolving in Cambodia. Supphalert also said the Thai government should take a definite stance and reject or cancel all joint ventures until democracy is restored in both Burma and Cambodia. Thai people he said can voice their opinion and react to the situation by lobbying the Foreign Ministry and boycotting Burmese goods. *************************************************** THAILAND TIMES: SLORC IMPLEMENTS TOUGH MEASURE PRIOR TO BRIDGE OPENING July 16, 1997 By Assawin Pinitwong TAK: Myawaddy authorities yesterday introduced a strict measure to control cross-border activities in a bid to provide tight security for Thai and Burmese leaders who will attend the opening ceremony of the friendship bridge next month. Lt-Col Sai Phone, who supervises security procedures in the nearby township, called for a meeting with Burmese merchants who have commercial links with Thai traders to make them aware of a new order on cross-border trading, a source in Myawaddy said. Under the new order, Burmese merchants will have limited time to engage in cross-border trading between 6.00 am and 6.00 pm, compared with the previous regulation which allowed trade to take place until 10 pm. The new regulation also applies to Burmese residents who wish to cross the border for other purposes. Violators will face two months imprisonment or a fine of up to 78,000 kyat, and their goods will be confiscated. Lt-Col Sai Phone said the new measure which comes into effect immediately stemmed from a direct order from Rangoon and would be in force until after the opening ceremony of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge scheduled for August 15. The source said the strict measure is a direct result of Rangoon's desire to protect the Burmese township from sabotage by ethnic rebel groups prior to the grand opening ceremony to be presided over by SLORC chief Gen Than Shwe and Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Thai merchants will also be subject to the new limit on cross-border trading. ************************************************* SLORC: INFORMATION SHEET A- 0061 July 16, 1997 From: OKKAR66127@aol.com (A) A ferry bus commuting between the town of Myawaddy and Kawkareik was robbed by (3) armed soldiers of the Karen National Union. The incident took place on the 15th. of July at 1:30 pm and in the event Daw Ohn Myint (42) yrs. from Thwe Thaut Village of Mawlamyaine Township was shot in the stomach by one of the terrorist. The (3) armed men later fled with the properties robbed from the passengers. Responsible local security personnel are in hot pursuit of the (3) KNUs, it is learnt. (B) The Ministry of Mines issued an announcement on the 15th. of July on Mineral prospecting and operation in the Third Round consisting of 12 blocks to be permitted to foreign companies. “ The Ministry of Mines, with the power vested by Myanmar Mines Law, under Section 7, is desirous of developing, resources in the country especially gold, copper, lead, zinc, silver and nickel. Therefore, the Ministry of Mines invites foreign companies to conduct mineral prospecting and exploration operations in the third Round consisting of 12 blocks. The most geologically favorable areas include Kyaungle-Mansi Area, Namma-Kangon Area, Katha-Indaw Area, Namhsan Area, Nammilaung Area, Sinbo-Nankesam Area, Bhamo-Myothit area, Mabein North Area, Mwe Taung Area, Kanpetlet Area, Lawksawk Area and Myesay Taung Area. Area coverage of each block is 540 square miles (1,400 sq. km). The initial stage of activity will be prospecting and during a period of one year, a mineral occurrence should be identified using various discipline of prospecting. It is to be followed by a one-year exploration stage. However, 50 per cent of the original area of the block has to be relinquished at the end of prospecting stage and it is to be a contiguous area. Exploration stage can be extended twice of one-year period each and at the end of initial one year and subsequent extensions, mandatory relinquishment is 50 per cent each time. It is to be followed by a feasibility stage of one year and if found economically feasible, joint venture agreement will be signed.” “ All interested parties are to submit sealed bids on competitive basis addressed to the Minister, Ministry of Mines, Kanbe, Yankin, Yangon, not later than 4 pm, local time, 16th. September 1997. Summary of general terms and conditions, instructions and information for bidders are available at the Department of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration and interested parties may contact the Director- General of that department. Preliminary reconnaissance site visit to various interested blocks may be arranged with a request to Director-General of Department of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration.” ******************************************** BKK POST: OTTAWA WARY ON AID OVER BURMA WOES July 16, 1997 [abridged] Help to region could stop short of SLORC Canada will not necessarily assist Burma and Laos when they join Asean in two weeks, a senior Thai Foreign Ministry official said yesterday. Director-General of Asean Affairs Anucha Osathanond said Canada, an Asean dialogue partner, had made it clear recently that it had to consider all aspects before deciding whether to provide help to the new members. Although Canada did not mention either country by name, it is believed to have been referring only to Burma, widely criticised for rights abuses and suppression of democracy. "This is a warning [to Asean]," Mr. Anucha said. The Canadian position reflected problems between Asean and its dialogue partners, whose foreign ministers will meet on July 28 and 29 following the annual meeting of Asean's foreign ministers and the Asean Regional Forum. The European Union has also declined to guarantee that it will endorse Asean projects involving Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council. **************************************************** THE NATION: ASEAN WALKS CAMBODIAN TIGHTROPE July 16, 1997 [excerpts] Yindee Lertcharoenchok The touchy issue of intervention was at the centre of talks held by the regional grouping last week, Yindee Lertcharoenchok writes. Some Asean countries, particularly the Philippines and Thailand, had for some time predicted fighting would break out because of the tumultuous relationship between Cambodia's two prime ministers. Filipino Foreign Minister Domingo Siazon and his Thai counterpart Prachuab Chaiyasan told reporters after their bilateral meeting in Phuket in late April that it was Cambodia's membership in Asean that was in doubt and not that of Burma. At the time, Burma had just been shaken by a parcel bomb explosion apparently targeting a key junta leader, Lt. Gen Tin Oo. Tin Oo escaped the blast but his eldest daughter was killed. Siazon repeatedly implied that the relationship between First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Second Prime Minister Hun Sen was on the verge of collapsing beyond reconciliation. Although Hun Sen's coup d'etat was a clear violation of the 1991 UN-sponsored agreement and thus justified intervention by the 18 signatories who acted as guarantor of the international agreement, Asean countries were extremely reluctant to allow international involvement in the conflict. According to a senior Asean official at the meeting, Asean ministers were divided and had a long debate on whether the 18 Paris signatories should be called in to intervene. Some countries, he said without identifying them, were concerned that renewed international involvement in the Cambodian conflict could set a precedent for allowing similar intervention in the future in Asean member states, most of which have suffered similar internal political turmoil and ethnic strife. Asean, meanwhile, faces its own dilemma. Although Asean ministers have repeatedly stressed the grouping's principle of non-interference and their desire to see the Cambodians resolve their conflicts by themselves, its latest efforts regarding Cambodia are nothing but a direct intervention to help restore the costly peace and stability in the country, something that country's leaders have been unable to do for about two decades. With its intervention in Cambodia, Asean has opened itself to strong calls to take similar action in Burma, where the ruling regime is equally if not more violent and brutal in suppressing democracy activists led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD). ************************************************************ THE IRRAWADDY: BURMESE EXODUS Vol. 5, No. 3 June 30, 1997 Cover Story Recently, outspoken Thai Democrat MP Abhist Vejajiva, expressed his concern over the illegal population in Thailand, saying the problem of illegal workers would become "more severe" in the coming years and could lead to social turmoil if the government does not quickly intervene by producing a viable and widely accepted national strategy. The Democrat MP was invited to speak at a seminar organised by Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research and the Thailand Research Fund. At "The National Seminar on Policy Options for the Importation of Foreign Labour into Thailand: A Study of Interested Parties, Legal Issues, and the State Management System", Thai academics and government officials stated the illegal immigrants pose security risks to Thailand who should immediately develop a comprehensive national strategy to deal with the problem. One year after the Banharn government legalised the employment of foreign workers from neighbouring countries in Thailand, a mountain of problems have resulted from this hasty and poorly thought-out decision. Some Thai labour organisations aren't happy about the move. "The government's decision is meant to allow employers to import cheap labour to replace Thai workers and this will cause a lot of hardship," warned Prathuang Saeng-sang, vice-president of the Labour Congress of Thailand which is the largest trade union congress in the country. Under the new rules, employers are required to make guarantee-payments of 1000 baht [US$40] per illegal worker and register them with the Immigration Police Bureau and the Labour Ministry. The current temporary measure, which allows foreign workers from Laos, Cambodia and Burma to work legally in Thailand for two years, is shortsighted and has failed to achieve its objectives, said observers. "It's just that unlike immigrant labour, the local people are not willing to take up jobs that involve dirty, dangerous or intense manual work," says Dr. Voravidh Charoenmlert, a labour economist at Chulalongkorn University. Thailand's border towns with Burma: Mae Sot, Ranong, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sai, are teeming with Burmese working as waitresses, waiters, cooks, housemaids, prostitutes and construction workers. They receive 800 baht [US$ 32] a month. By comparison, Thai workers cost employers over 3,000 baht. Voravidh said though the daily minimum wage of Thai workers — even in urban areas — is as low as 150 baht [US$6], impoverished migrant workers from Burma will often risk working illegally in Thailand for half that amount. Thein Win, an 18 year-old from Rangoon now working in Mae Sot said: "I received 60 baht a day but sometimes I can not find work." Besides, he risks being apprehended by the police and immigration officials. He has no legal papers to stay in Thailand. But when asked if he is considering to return home in the immediate future he shook his head saying, "Here is better than Burma." It is estimated that Thailand is currently home to one million illegal immigrants, 75 per cent of which come from Burma, and the rest from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. Only about 35 per cent of illegal workers are registered to work in Thailand legally. Dr. Cynthia in Mae Sot said many more people from Burma are coming to the border towns to find odd jobs. "They say they come here just to feed their empty stomachs." Additionally, in Mae Sai and Mae Sot, more and more young girls are crossing the border. "If Burmese brokers can bring girls [from Burma] they get 1,000 baht each," says a local resident in Mae Sot. There are many Burmese women in border towns working at brothels, karaoke, massage parlours, and nightclubs. But for men to come and work in Mae Sot they have to pay 1,000 baht to "brokers." It is becoming apparent that illegal workers are staying longer and looking to reside permanently in Thailand. Lacking any effective protection, these immigrants have been exploited and abused extensively by both Thai businessmen and state agencies. Thai businessmen are not willing to see any policy changes since the country continues to look for cheap labour from its neighbours to maintain their competitive edge in the world market. A joint study by Kusol Soonthornthada and Umphang Pattharavanich from Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research showed that the illegal immigrant movement is following the pattern of migration set by Northeastern Thais who left home to work and settle in Bangkok. The study indicates that 41.5 percent of these workers had traveled to Thailand more than twice and 50.4 per cent had stayed in Thailand more than two years. They have become familiar with the country, learning how to survive, adjusting to difficult situations, and have apparently decided to resettle in Thailand. Thirty per cent of those interviewed stated their wish to live in Thailand permanently, while another 10 per cent said they were uncertain about their future. This group usually brought along their families, or were later joined by their families. Once the immigrants adapt to the country, controlling them becomes difficult. Thai tax-payers also have to bear the cost of health services for these aliens. About a 100 million baht was spent on illegal workers last year, an amount that is likely to increase in subsequent years. Thai industrial operators who benefit most from the cheap foreign labour appear to be free from these burdens. Voravit and Bandit Tanachai-settawut said in their joint study on "Industrialisation and Employment in Relation to Policy on Importation of Foreign Labour" that Thai employers are estimated to be able to save around Bt35 million a day or Bt12.94 billion a year in labour costs because of illegal workers. And if the socio-econo-political situation in Burma persists, that will mean big savings for Thai business. [Sources:The Nation/Bangkok Post/Irrawaddy stringers in Mae Sot] ****************************************************** THE IRRAWADDY: NO HOME NO FUTURE Vol. 5, No. 3 June 30, 1997 As many illegal immigrants wish to live in Thailand permanently, another serious problem arises — the growing number of stateless children. Between 1993 and 1996, the Mae Sot Hospital near the Thailand-Burma border delivered 2,202, 2,026, 2,031 and 2,077 stateless babies respectively. Between 1992 and 1996, 6,209 stateless children were born in 17 provinces in Thailand. Kusol and Umphang also pointed out in their report that the exploitation of illegal immigrant child workers who accompanied their parents to Thailand had become increasingly visible during the past two to three years. The researchers found that about 40 per cent of male child workers in Ranong province had never attended school, and they did not find a single child who possessed more than a primary school education. The child workers surveyed were aged between 6 to 16, though more than half of them were under 10 years of age. Almost 80 per cent of them said they worked to help feed their families while 10 per cent said that they were simply forced to work. In 1994, Laotian children (59.6%) accounted for the biggest number of immigrant child workers, but they were surpassed by Burmese children (51.8%) in 1995. Although they are children, they predominantly work in the three "D" areas like their parents. These are the most dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs such as garbage collection (highest), charcoal packing, household work, fish sorting and other fishery work. Furthermore, many of the children have become beggars in the cities. Statistics show that 54 per cent of child beggars arrested between 1992 to 1995 were illegal immigrant children. These children are a socio-economic problem that will grow, since they have no access to proper education or health care. They will become unskilled illegal immigrants like their parents. They are more vulnerable to exploitation than Thai child workers. For example, if arrested, they will be put in jail with adults. Besides, their poor language skills make their situation worse. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Burma Information Group (BIG) was established in 1992 by Burmese citizens living in exile and is not affiliated with any political party or organisation. BIG produces "The Irrawaddy" newsmagazine and has sought to promote freedom of the press and access to the unbiased information. The Irrawaddy Newsmagazine Email address: ***************************************************** IMAGES ASIA: BURMA POSTERS AND POSTCARDS FOR SALE July 16, 1997 sitthi@cm.ksc.co.th A SET OF 8 BLACK AND WHITE POSTCARDS @ $3.00 A collection of high quality postcards depicting scenes from Burma by Nic Dunlop ONE SET OF THREE POSTERS @ $6.00 Aung San Suu Kyi portrait "There will be change because all the military have are guns" THE GOLDEN LAND, THE GOLDEN LIE. Slorc soldier: military spending THE GOLDEN LAND, THE GOLDEN LIE. Child salvaging brick - forced labour in Burma ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS THE COST OF PRODUCING AN EXHIBITION OF NIC DUNLOP'S PHOTOGRAPHS ENTITLED "CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT" WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TOUR PLEASE MAIL A CHEQUE STATING CLEARLY YOUR REQUEST TO IMAGES ASIA/THAI FARMERS BANK. IMAGES ASIA P.O. BOX 2, PRASINGH PO, CHIANG MAI 50200, THAILAND E-mail: OVERSEAS SHIPPING (Postcards/Posters - US$ 5.00 US/125 Thai baht) THAILAND POSTAGE (Postcards/Posters - 20 Thai baht) Bulk orders of 10 or more sets of postcards and posters receive a 10% discount of the total. ******************************************** AUSTRALIA BURMA COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON THE USE OF LANDMINES July 15, 1997 From: BURMA OFFICE AUSTRALIA BURMA COUNCIL Patron: Mr. C G Woodard, Sir William Keys A.C., O.B.E., M.C. National Office: 15 A, Baron Close, Kings Langley, NSW 2147 Phone/Fax: (02) 9620 7007 Mobile Phone: 0418 610 664 ================================================== STATEMENT BY THE BURMESE DEMOCRATIC FORCES IN AUSTRALIA Date: 15 July 1997 We appreciate the commitment of International Campaign to ridding the world of anti-personnel landmines. If the SLORC delegation is serious of banning landmines in Burma, we would welcome the move. So far they sit in the conference without addressing the landmine problem in our country. These landmines have been planted by the Burmese military junta they are representing. They are designed to maim or kill innocent children, women and men. We have read through the information package the colloquium has provided for the delegates with great sadness. Because you only mention the landmines victims in Africa, Vietnam, Thai-Cambodia border and so on. How about the forgotten ethnic people on Thai-Burma border wounded by the landmines planted by the Burmese military regime. Don’t they deserve to be mentioned in your information package? We believe most representatives of non-governmental organisations must have seen victims of SLORC anti-personnel landmines on Thai-Burma border. You should present the evidence to the conference so that the illegitimate SLORC representatives can find out what they have done to those innocent people they are suppose to be protecting. We do not have civil war in our country and the military regime in Rangoon is saying they have signed peace agreements with all the armed ethnic groups except Karen National Union. In that case why are there large areas along the Bangladesh-Burma border extensively planted with landmines? The puppet of SLORC military regime, Democratic Karen Buddhist Organisation (DKBO) has planted landmines outside the perimeter of the refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. When DKBO attack the camp the refugees have no choice, tortured and killed in the hands of DKBO or maimed and killed in the landmines. SLORC Defence Industries is under the direct control of the Ministry of Defense which is the largest weapons factory in Burma at Sindare, Prome district in lower part of Burma. Then near Prome they have ammunition factories at Tonbo, Nyaung-chi-dauk, Indaing in Pegu district and in suburban Rangoon near Inya Lake. From these factories they produce anti-personnel landmines. From the information we received these anti-personnel landmines produced by the SLORC-owned ammunition factories are not enough, they have to buy from Singapore and China. Why are they not actively participating and discussing with other people if the SLORC delegation is serious in banning landmines? Why do they need a large quantity of landmines? On the front page of the SLORC newspaper and television they will use this kind of invitation as propaganda to show the people that they have been accepted by the international community and make the most of this invitation to their advantage. Don’t let them get away with it. On behalf of 45 million people who cannot express their opinion please ask questions of the SLORC delegates regarding human rights violation, slave labor, child labor, political prisoners, open dialogue with the elected NLD party and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, raping of innocent women on the village by SLORC soldiers. For further information: Mr. Terrell Oung: (02) 9620 7007 Ms Mee Mee: 0418 610 664 Mrs. Pyone: (02) 9621 8543 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PUBLIC RALLY TO PROTEST THE PRESENCE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ILLEGAL MILITARY REGIME IN SYDNEY The Burmese community in Sydney will be rallying to protest the presence of three representatives of the Burmese military regime, who are currently in Sydney to attend the landmines colloquium sponsored by ICBL Australia. We invite you to join hands with us in condemning the brutal regime and show them that human rights violations are not acceptable by the world community. The rally will take place as follows: Venue: 96, City Road, Chipeendale, NSW 2008 Time: 1:00 p.m. Date: 17 July 1997 ******************************************