------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: July 28, 1997 Issue #783 Noted in Passing: Burmese FM Ohn Gyaw told Australian FM Downer: There are not any political detainees and as far as refugees are concerned, they are not refugees, they are the families of guerrilla fighters. (see AAP: DOWNER CRITICIZES REGIME) HEADLINES: ========== AAP: DOWNER CRITICISES BURMESE REGIME ON REFORM PACE NATION: WEST COOL TO AID REQUEST FOR BURMA INDEPENDENT REPORT: VIEWS OF A BURMESE STUDENT INDEPENDENT REPORT: BACKGROUND ON SITUATION IN SHAN STATE INDEPENDENT REPORT: SLORC WILL NOT SIGN ANTI-MINES ALTSEAN: ACTIVISTS URGE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM NLM (PERSPECTIVES): NEW INDUSTRIAL ZONES ABSL: MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA ANNOUNCEMENT: SOLIDARITY FAST ANNOUNCEMENT: JOIN IN PLANTING SEEDS OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AAP: DOWNER CRITICISES BURMESE REGIME ON REFORM PACE July 26, 1997 By Gordon Feeney, AAP South-East Asia Correspondent KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 AAP - Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today condemned the "snail's pace" of political reform in Burma - and announced a special envoy would visit to assess the situation and meet Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr. Downer told reporters after a meeting with Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw that he believed political reform in Burma was progressing "at snail's pace" - the speed of "glue up a hill". And Mr. Downer was forced to telephone U Ohn Gyaw after he reportedly told the media Mr. Downer had not raised human rights at their meeting. "I wouldn't have rung him if I wasn't a little surprised to hear what he'd said," Mr. Downer said. Mr. Downer said senior Australian diplomat John Dauth, a former Ambassador to Malaysia, would travel to Burma in the next couple of months to probe the human rights' situation and to meet Suu Kyi. "Constitutional reform in Burma is travelling at about the pace of glue up a hill," he said. Mr. Dauth would meet the Slorc to emphasise Australia's wish to see political reform, along with other key figures, including a proposed meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi. "I made the point to the foreign minister that the National League for Democracy had received overwhelming support from the Burmese people in the election that took place in Burma. "He made the point to me that the SLORC did not run candidates in that election so you couldn't judge the popularity of the National League for Democracy against the SLORC. [BurmaNet Editor's Note: The SLORC did support a party - the National Unity Party - but it received very few votes and even lost to the NLD in several areas primarily inhabited by military personnel.] "I have to say that I find that as a disappointing response." Mr. Dauth is likely to travel to Burma some time around early September. Mr. Downer said U Ohn Gyaw had agreed to facilitate the trip by Mr. Dauth - also Special Envoy to Cambodia. Mr. Downer said he told U Ohn Gyaw that he had seen almost no progress on political and constitutional reform since he had met with the Burmese regime one year ago. "I said that I thought the constitutional reform process was proceeding at a snail's pace. "Last year when we raised the question of constitutional reform in Burma the minister had told us that there was a process under way and that the process was evolving. "I said to him that we got the impression 12 months later that very little had happened and he assured me that the constitutional reform process would proceed. "I asked him whether it would proceed quickly or whether this was something that was going to take five to ten years. He made it clear that it would happen in Burma's own time, but he didn't think it would take that long, Mr. Downer said. "I said that in Australia and in other countries around the world there was deep concern about reports of political detainees held without trial - that there were refugees and that internationally there was a great deal of concern about the man rights' situation in Burma. "The foreign minister denied that there were any political detainees and said as far as refugees were concerned, they were not refugees these people were the families of guerrilla fighters," he said. "I have to say at the end of the discussion I formed the view that there is a long way to go in terms of the constitutional reform process in Burma. "The Burmese government suggests that it is making progress towards reform but the experience of the last 12 months is that none has taken place," Mr. Downer said. "I am concerned that the meeting that took place last week between the National League for Democracy and the SLORC was according to the foreign minister - not a meeting that should be seen as a first step towards dialogue between the SLORC and the National League for Democracy." **************************************** NATION: WEST COOL TO AID REQUEST FOR BURMA July 26, 1997 KUALA LUMPUR - Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) yesterday urged dialogue partners to increase funds for development cooperation to assist new members reinforcing the policy of nondiscriminatory assistance to Burma. "The foreign ministers reiterated the principle of non-discrimination in the pursuit of development cooperation in Asean. In the wake of the admission of new members, the ministers stressed the need for additional funding in view of an anticipated increase in the requirement for development assistance," said a joint statement, released at the conclusion of the two-day 30th ministerial meeting yesterday. The European Union, the US and Canada have indicated that they are not prepared to extend such funds to cover the Burmese regime whose human rights record is still a grave concern among the international community. Informed Asean sources said the regional grouping will raise the issue with its dialogue partners when they hold their annual two-day consultations beginning on Monday, but will try to avoid confrontation. The sources said Asean insisted that Burma be assisted unconditionally under Asean frameworks. Outgoing Asean Secretary-General Ajit Singh said yesterday that the EU has informed Asean that entry to the group's development cooperation agreement is conducted on an individual basis for each country. Burma and Laos - the two new Asean members - will have to accede to the agreement individually, he said. Nay Htun, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assistant administrator and regional director for Asia and the Pacific, yesterday met Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Kyaw and Lao Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad to discuss technical assistance programmes that will help them meet Asean obligations, in particular those of the Asean Free Trade Area. The UNDP has so far assisted Laos, Burma and Cambodia in their preparation to join Asean and in national development projects such as infrastructure and agriculture. Despite the delay in Cambodia's membership, the UNDP will continue with its programme of assistance to the country. Laos has more problems than Burma, in terms of human resources and capital, in meeting the requirements of Asean programmes. The UNDP's assistance to Burma has been conducted through non-governmental organisations. Asean agreed that 2015 be the deadline for the two new member countries to phase in their products from their respective sensitive lists to their inclusion list for tariff reductions. For the six founding Asean members the deadline is 2010 and for Vietnam 2013. ***************************************************************** INDEPENDENT REPORT: VIEWS OF A BURMESE STUDENT July 23, 1997 This is the point of view and opinion of Ma In Gyin Naing, a 2nd year honors Chemistry student at the Rangoon University who actively participated in the recent December Students' demonstration, upon the last December Students' demonstration and the situation of students and youth including young women in Burma She was born in Rangoon in 1974. She started her primary school at the No. 2 State High School in San-chaung township (Rangoon) and then, she continued her secondary school at the No. 1 State High School in Mon-ywa township in Sagaing Division. While she was studying at the No. 2 S.H.S in San-chaung as a 9th standard student, she joined with the 1988 Students' Demonstrations and she was a member of the Basic State High School Students' Union. After 1988 uprising, she joined with the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) and she became a core member of DPNS. She actively participated in the political activities of DPNS in Rangoon and Mon-ywa. In 1991, she tried to continue her education at the No. 2 S.H.S in San-chaung, but she was rejected because of her involvement in the students' movements. So, she had to continue her studying at the No. 1 S.H.S in San-chaung and she passed the secondary school ( 10th standard ) in 1992. In 1994, she started her higher education at the Rangoon University (Hlaing Campus) by studying Chemistry as a major subject. In 1996 when she was studying as a 2nd year honors student, she joined with the All Burma Federation of Students' Unions (ABFSU) and performed as a student activist in Rangoon. On December 7, 1996, she was arrested because of her participation in the December Students' demonstration. She was temporarily detained just for interrogation by MIs in Rangoon. After that, on 14-12-96, her house was searched by authorities due to suspicion of her connection with ABFSU and the underground movements. Therefore she had to hide inside Burma for 6 months and, in June 1997, sneaked out to the Thai-Burma border. And then, she joined with her mother political organization, the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS). # Whether, in the December Students' Demonstration, there is any involvement of political organizations or not. - It was not related with any political party and, during the demonstration, there was no involvement of political organizations. It was merely that the students themselves demanded the rights of students what they really need to be practised. And also, they contributed their views, opinions and needs in the movement and fearlessly asked for their rights. The groundless accusation of the Slorc __ as of Slorc it was due to the destructive elements of political parties and various groups both inside and outside the country __ is to ignore the tradition of Burmese students, the role of students in the national politic and the struggles of students for the sake of the people. By using such distortions, they (the Slorc) tried to denigrate the students' movement, they disregarded it, and they abased it. The real destructive element of the students' movement was the performance of the Slorc's MIs during the movement. They (Slorc's spies among students) disseminated some leaflets signed by the name of " the group of students who need the peaceful studying" which made distraction and confusion some students. The demands are as follows; - to allow the Students' Union to be formed freely. - to unconditionally release all detained students and political prisoners. - to announce the real events and allow the freedom of press. # The opinion of the students upon the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. - At present, the Slorc are trying to cut out the support given by other political groups including ethnic nationalities to the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. So, some of students and youths are afraid to associate with the activities of NLD and some are being concerned for that. But, most of students actually understand that the political deadlock and dilemma in Burma is because of the Slorc. And also, the lack of sincerity of SLORC make unstablity in the country politically and economically. Most of students and youths understand the role of NLD in politic and regard the NLD as a political party which won the support of the people in Burma. And also, they support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the people's leader who are trying her best to reach the will of the people in Burma. Especially, women are proud of her stance on the side of people. The students agree with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the matter of the current educational system. Her criticism on the present educational system and the pointing out of the weaknesses of educational performance of Slorc is the real suffering of the students and the same opinion as of students. # The political awareness of young women and views on culture. - After the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the political awareness of Burmese young women are more and more than ever. Especially, it can be seen that there were the performances of girls __ some were in the leading role __ in the last December Students' demonstration. At present, internationally, the sharing and spreading culture each others in the global village are increasing. Both advantages and disadvantages are being comprised under this circumstances. In Burma, the ways of other cultures which, even in their countries, can not be accepted are imported into the country instead of sharing exemplary habits and behaviours. The current social and educational conditions of Burmese young women are quite lower than of other countries. But, in our thought, we love freedom. We want to be as others in various fields. But, " What is freedom? How to reach it? " the unsolvable questions arise from their lives in a straitened social and economic circumstances. It mislead them to the calamity when they can not find any proper way to ease their difficulties. So, it can be seen that there are some women under such calamitous lives. # The awareness of youths and students in politics and the deception of SLORC on them. The youths and students have been growing up under the BSPP government as well as the Slorc with the lack of democratic rights. They have had no opportunity to study what they want, and to participate in politic. And also they had to survive in the straitened circumstances. After the 1988, the people movement opened their eyes and they actively participated in politic despite being the crucial oppression of the military regime. But they used to be with fear. Though they love their country, they are still afraid of the threaten of the military regime. They are not freedom from fear. They are not familiar in a sacrifice for their country. Some are still afraid of the government's action because of their involvement in politic. But the tradition and spirit of Burmese students in the history of Burmese politic should not be forgotten. It is the historical heritage for students. The Slorc well know about that. They (the Slorc) are fear the students and youths would get the progressive ideas and ways of thinking against the military regime. So, the military regime inveigles the youths in others such as going to night clubs, discotheques and pubs, drinking alcohol, using drugs. It is clear that they systematically destroy the lives of youths and their future by using such deception. # To join with the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), the threat and lure of the Slorc. - In the secondary schools, the students are forced to join with the USDA and participate in its activities. Students of secondary schools do not know the purpose of Slorc for creating the USDA and they just know it as an organization of students. As the nature of youths, the students are very interested in the organizational activities. The Slorc understands the nature of youths and applies well it as an advantage for the USDA's activities. In the public rally controlled by the Slorc, the USDA uses the students by force in marching there. Most of students are disappointed for it but they have no choice. # The effect of economic declination of the country on the students in their education. - The present economic situation of Burma is quite low and the daily incomes of ordinary people can not reach the basic needs for their survival. Even for their living, people hardly have to survive. It effects the education of their children. Due to the high cost of learning and the economical hardship of the parents, most youths have to lose their education. Some have to give priority to their subsistence instead of their education. It is also the danger of the country for future. The following are some facts that the students are facing in their schools. - the collection of so-called donations by authority in the primary and secondary schools, various colleges and universities. But they are not donations and every students must pay. ( for example __ in the secondary schools, to set up computer department, 500 ks for each student in the 5th standard and 1,000 ks for each. And also there are some donations for various reasons such as for new building, for construction of new roads and etc. ) - the students have to buy the curriculum books published by government from black market with unreasonable prices. It can be seen that the comparison between the basic cost of the university students and the income of people as follows; the cost of a university student: 5,000 ks per month (for day student) 10,000 ks per month (for hostel student) the income of a person: 1,000 to 2,000 ks per month ( for government employment ) 100 ks per day ( for hand-to-mouth person ) Therefore, some teenagers are more interested to get income than to learn for their education under this situation. # The students' movements in future. - The students' movements will be more strong. Among the students, they are still disgruntled on the measures of the military regime in general. Especially, the consequences of the December Students' movement have not come to end and the student activists are being more active. They are looking forward to any possibility for the next movement. Due to the system of using divide and rule by the military regime among the students, there are also some students who like to stay away from any movement against the government. However, if the Slorc can not follow as the demands of the students, they (the Slorc) will have to face the students' movements in near future. It will be happening soon. *********************************************** INDEPENDENT REPORT: BACKGROUND ON SITUATION IN SHAN STATE July 25, 1997 by Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe Ethnic Cleansing began in the early 1990s, which we -- Shan and non-Shan observers alike -- thought at first was merely a more brutal kind of atrocity and isolated land-grabbing by individual Slorc (i.e.,military) officers. We are wrong. It is now clear that there is a deliberate, systematic campaign to make life unbearable for villages, thus compelling them to flee, upon which their villages and fields are taken over by the Slorc army. The land are then redistributed to Burman army veterans and families, and choice plots sold to Chinese, or those with money to pay the asking price. The modus operandi is to make life intolerable for the villagers. They are, for example, constantly impressed into "voluntary" service as slave-labor on various projects -- erecting fences and digging trenches around and in military outposts, constructing houses and barracks, and working on fields (corn, garlic, peanut, etc.) belonging to local army units or officers, doing menial tasks for soldiers (fetching water, hewing wood, etc.). In addition, villagers are subject to the usual atrocities: they are beaten, detained, killed, robbed, etc., at will. Also womenfolk are subject to rape with impunity and at will. Money is also extorted from the village for various "charities" and "project". As a result of the above treatment, villagers have had to flee, abandoning their fields and villages. Slorc officers have also repeatedly told the villagers that they are not wanted, that they would be killed, life made unbearable, and that if the villagers cannot endure being treated thus, they can move to Thailand -- i.e., flee or die. There are now will over 100,00 rural villagers in Thailand -- i.e., whole families, including the very old and infants. Being very rustic, it is very difficult for them to adapt to life as underpaid, highly exploited laborers in both urban and semi-rural areas. And those who work (at half the Thai minimum wage rate), do not make enough to support their dependents Consequently, many women (wives and mothers) are compelled to work as prostitutes -- from time to time, when someone in the family falls ills, or the head of the family is injured on job site. The UN does not recognize displaced persons, DPs, from Shan State as refugees or DPs -- nor does the Thai government. They are "invisible" or non-existent as far as the UN and Thai authorities are concerned. As a result international NGOs cannot help Shan DPs. They are left on their own, to fend for themselves in a very difficult, and, for Shan DPs, totally strange environment. We do not know why Shan DPs are treated by the UN as non-existent and "invisible". Nor do we understand why this is so. UN personnel in Bangkok blame this state of affairs, unofficially, on the Thai government. But Thai authorities deny that is a policy not to recognize Shan DPs as such, or as refugees. In the meantime, more and more Shans are being driven into Thailand to suffer a worst fate than the Karenni, Burman, Mon, or Karen refugees -- which is, as everyone is aware, horrible enough. We, the Shan people, would be very grateful for further efforts in illuminating the crime against humanity -- as in Bosnia -- being perpetrated by a regime noted for its brutality. Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe Associate, ADDB (Associates to Democratically Develop Burma) and Adviser, SDU (Shan Democratic Union) *************************************************** INDEPENDENT REPORT: SLORC WILL NOT SIGN ANTI- PERSONNEL MINES TREATY July 21, 1997 From: 9605673z@Levels.UniSA.Edu.Au "Myanmar will not sign the treaty to ban anti personnel mines", said the SLORC's representative during the colloquium on anti personnel mines(APMs) at Sydney on 17 July, 1997. U Ko Ko Sein from Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Burma needed land mines for her defence purposes. He said that Burma was situated between India and China. Since these two countries were not signing the treaty, Burma was not going to sign it, he said. Among South East Asean nations, Philippines, Cambodia and Malaysia have expressed their support to ban the use, stockpiling, transfer and production of APMs. Worldwide, 100 countries have expressed their support. The treaty to ban APMs will be signed at Ottawa, Canada in December this year. Apart from U Ko Ko Sein, Lt. Col. Soe Thein from Ministry of Defence and U Hau Do Suan, First Secretary of Burmese Embassy in Canberra attended the conference organised by International Campaign to Ban Land Mines(ICBL-Australia and New Zealand). Governmental and non governmental delegates from 27 countries of Asia Pacific region attended this conference. *********************************************************** ALTSEAN: ACTIVISTS URGE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM: GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER July 28, 1997 From: altsean@ksc.th.com MEDIA RELEASE Kuala Lumpur: A network of more than 40 Asean-based organisations today renewed their call for members of the Asean Regional Forum to implement with determination and firmness a co-ordinated and comprehensive strategy to ensure a prompt cessation of human rights violations and a restoration of democracy in Burma. "Back-biting and negative criticism of each other's approach is pointless. Ego clashes are not going to benefit the 48 million people of Burma who continue to suffer behind the facade staged by an oppressive military regime," said ALTSEAN-BURMA Coordinator Ms Debbie Stothard. ALTSEAN-BURMA (Alternative Asean Network on Burma) is a network of activist groups, NGOs, academics and political leaders. The Network pointed out that Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) have failed to honor the outcome of the election it held in 1990, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 82% of the seats while the Slorc-backed National Unity Party won only 5%. Burma's military junta has steadily increased military expenditure at the expense of health and education. More than 40% of the budget is spent on arms and soldiers while a paltry 4% is allocated to health. Universities and schools remain closed by the military regime. More than half the country's children are experiencing severe malnutrition. The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues unchecked. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 500,000 Burmese infected with the virus. Burma remains the world's largest producer of heroin and opium. In Burma's frontier areas, the military continue to attack Burman and ethnic communities, causing more than 200,000 people to flee into neighboring countries. An estimated 2 million people continue to be used as forced labor - a significant number of them are children. The past year has also seen unprecedented harassment of the government-elect by the Slorc and NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under virtual house arrest. Despite the inflow of foreign investment, the Slorc's mismanagement of the economy has precipitated a massive foreign exchange crisis which has seen the market rate of the kyat plunge from 180 to 300 kyat per US dollar in the past month. The market rate is seen to be the most realistic rate in comparison to the other 3 rates of exchange maintained by the Slorc. (Official: 6 kyat per US dollar, Foreign Exchange Certificate rate: 180 kyat per US dollar, Customs rate: 150 kyat per US dollar). "It is a matter of urgency that the Asean Regional Forum facilitates tripartite dialogue between the Slorc, the democracy movement and ethnic nationality groups. The so-called National Convention to produce a new constitution is a grossly inadequate forum since only 3% of the convention is elected. "Tripartite dialogue is the way forward out of Burma's troubles. It is the responsibility of Asean and its dialogue partners to ensure this happens as soon as possible," stressed Ms Stothard. The Asean Meetings in Kuala Lumpur have been a target of widespread protest because of the Slorc's formal acceptance as a member. Protest actions have taken place in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan and other parts of the world. For more details please call Bangkok tel: 662 275 1811 / 693 4515 or Kuala Lumpur 60 10 224 3016 / 010 224 3016 *********************************************************** NLM (PERSPECTIVES): NEW INDUSTRIAL ZONES July 17, 1997 From: Thinzar Khine Thanlyin-Kyauktan Industrial Zone, which is the second industrial zone in Myanmar being implemented with foreign partnership, is the largest such project in Myanmar. Located south of Yangon, the project is being implemented with an investment of $166.1 million under the agreement reached between the Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development and Sinmardev International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore. The first foreign joint venture industrial zone in Myanmar is Mingaladon Industrial Zone. The main contractor, Mitsui & Co. Ltd. of Japan, has invested $12 million in this project, which is located in Mingaladon Township, north of downtown Yangon. Hlinethaya Industrial Zone in the north-west of Yangon is the third foreign joint-venture industrial zone. Rojana Industrial Park Co. Ltd. of Thailand has reached an agreement with DHSHD to set up the zone, pouring $ 14 million into this project. DHSHD is also implementing other industrial zone projects in Shwepyitha and Dagon Myothit. Apart from Thanlyin-Kyauktan Industrial Zone, the others are being set up mainly for national industrialists with the aim of boosting domestic products, to facilitate proper export-import ratio for the national economy and to generate more jobs for regional people. Some of the factories in local industrial zones have started operation and some factories are starting to export their products. And among them, Hlinethaya Industrial Zone is the most successful at present. Extended production at local industries will ensure sufficiency in domestic consumption and also boost exports. Thanlyin-Kyauktan Industrial Zone, which is being jointly implemented by Sinmardev of Singapore and Genting Sayen Berhad of Malaysia on mutual interest, is only for foreign companies, said Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt during his inspection of the zone recently. One of the advantages of this giant industrial zone is its location near another mammoth project, the Myanmar International Terminal Project (Thilawa). It was initiated at the Meeting on Implementation of Special Projects. Myanma Port Authority and C&P Holding Pte Ltd of Singapore signed BOT contract on 28 June 1995 to build the first container facility on a 75-acre plot at the terminal, which is 500 metres long and 750 metres wide, with a total investment of $ 66,635 million. Another agreement was reached between the two on 7 September 1995 to build the second container facility on a 500-metre by 750-metre plot, with total investment of $ 62.75 million. A number of foreign companies are also engaged in infrastructural development of this project sectorwise. It will handle 500,000 containers per year when completed. We are sure these industrial zones and the terminal will help develop industries in Myanmar and their production which may lead to generation of many new job opportunities, regional progress and national economic development. ************************************************** ABSL: MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA July 25, 1997 (All Burma Students League, India) From: shar@league.unv.ernet.in Today 25th July 1997, Mr.K.R Narayanan was elected as the thirteenth president of India. He belong to Kerala State of India. He was ambassador to Burma. He was Minister of Industry and Education in past years. He is married to Daw Tint Tint who is of Burmese Nationality and was a lecturer at Rangoon University. He was served as president of Friends of Democracy in Burma which was formed after 1988 in India. After he was elected as Vice President of India, in accordance with the Indian Constitution he had to leave his position with Friends of Democracy in Burma. He is a supporter and lover of peace, justice and human rights. Mr. Kyaw Than, Vice President of All Burma Students League North-Eastern Based, gives a heartfelt message to Shri Narayanan, President of India, as follows; Shir K.R.Narayanan, His Excellency the President of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Your Excellency Sir, We heartily congratulate you for assuming the highest office of the President of India on this day, the 25th July 1997. You have distinguished yourself by your scholarship, leadership and your great contribution for the preservation of peace, harmony, democracy and human rights, not only in India but also in the whole world. Sir, we are a group of Burmese refugee students residing in different parts of Northeast India with the moral and material support of the native people here. We are not getting any governmental, U.N, NGO or any other formal support from any quarters. We are sure, you Excellency, that you will use your good offices to support for our cause of peace and justice, democracy, human rights and national reconciliation in our country not only within India but from outside also. Once again, we express our heartfelt congratulations to you. With highest regards, Your fraternally Kyaw Than Vice President All Burma Students League. News and Information Bureau, All Burma Students League ****************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT: SOLIDARITY FAST July 25, 1997 From: Paul Dear Free Burma Supporters, Last night the group of Uniting Church people who meet about Burma decided to hold an event in solidarity with the students on a hunger strike over Burma's admission into ASEAN. This coming Wednesday, 30th July, we will fast from sunrise to sunset. The beginning of the fast will be marked by prayers for Burma in the city square in Melbourne at 7am. From there we will walk to the Thai consulate for some more prayers and then disperse. During the day participants will pray for Burma wherever they are at morning tea time, lunchtime and afternoon tea time. At 5:30pm will we regather for prayers in the city square and then go on to another venue (probably the Uniting Church Office 130 Little Collins Street) to break the fast with a meal. Anyone wishing to join us would be most welcome. Wednesday 30th July Fast in Solidarity with Thai Burmese students over Burma's admission into ASEAN 7am City Square Personal prayers: Morning tea time, Lunchtime, Afternoon tea time 5:30pm City Square 6pm Break the fast together (venue to be confirmed) If you can't come either in the morning or the evening you can still participate by praying throughout the day. ****************************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT: JOIN IN PLANTING SEEDS OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA July 25, 1997 From: Ken and Visakha Kawasaki PLEASE JOIN IN PLANTING SEEDS OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA To commemorate Burma's August 8, 1988 pro-democracy uprising, and support the ongoing struggle for human rights, please participate in this mail action: Tape a seed or seeds (sesame, pumpkin, or any other kind) to a piece of paper. On the paper, write a message telling the SLORC regime that the Seeds of Democracy are planted and growing in Burma, and SLORC's army will not be able to stop the flowering of freedom. You can decorate the paper with trees, flowers or rice pictures. Send it, during August 1997, to the Burma (Myanmar) Embassy in your country. [US address: 2300 S St. NW, Washington DC 20008]. You need not use a return address. Ask your friends & family to send "democracy seeds" as well. Project Maje 7/97 maje@hevanet.com http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm **********************************************************************