------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: October 29, 1997 Issue #855 HEADLINES: ========== AP: BURMA POLICE SCUFFLE WITH THE ACTIVISTS REUTERS: BURMA GOVT HALTS SUU KYI GATHERING SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS A-0185(I), A-0186 (I / L), A-0187(I/L) BKK POST: SLORC MAY FREE 50 THAI PRISONERS THE NATION: AID FOR THAIS IN BURMA JAILS THE NATION: HEALTH OF 3 SLORC PRISONERS CAUSING CONCERN THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : NEWS BRIEFS BKK POST: PIPELINE FAVOURED OVER OFF-ROADERS ANNOUNCEMENT: U OF COLORADO PASSES BURMA RESOLUTION ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA CONFERENCE AT QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY FBC ANNOUNCEMENT: DEMOCRACY TEACH-IN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: LA SALLE BANK CAMPAIGN -------------------------------------------------------------------------- AP: BURMA POLICE SCUFFLE WITH THE ACTIVISTS [abridged] October 28, 1997 RANGOON, Burma (AP) - Riot police scuffled with Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters Tuesday, surrounding the pro-democracy activist's car during a rare foray away from her home. Suu Kyi left her compound to see young members of her National League for Democracy in Mayangon, a Rangoon suburb. The trip was made in defiance of government orders. As Suu Kyi's motorcade approached the Mayangon office, a dozen supporters rushed past police barricades toward her car. A scuffle ensued with baton-wielding riot police who had put up barbed-wire barricades to block the road. After a two-hour standoff, during which police ringed Suu Kyi's car and surrounded her 70 supporters, police ordered the supporters and reporters onto trucks, and drove them away. They were let off the trucks later. The government said in a statement that Suu Kyi and party elders Aung Shwe, Tin Oo and Kyi Maung had lunch at the Mayangon office but no meeting took place. A party member, however, said about 10 youth-wing members joined the lunch. A government official accused Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, of being confrontational and refusing to hold the meeting inside her compound for her own safety as the government had demanded. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. ****************************************** REUTERS: BURMA GOVT HALTS SUU KYI GATHERING [abridged] October 28, 1997 RANGOON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Burma's military authorities on Tuesday set up barricades and blocked opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from holding a political gathering in a small town outside the capital, an opposition source and witnesses said. The government said Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party were told not to hold the gathering, and said their insistence on trying to hold it despite the warning would only slow down the country's moves towards democracy. The gathering at Mayangon Township, about 11 km (seven miles) from Rangoon, would have been the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate's second political meeting outside the city since she was released from house arrest more than two years ago. Parts of the main Kaba Aye Pagoda road, including the lane leading to the township NLD office, were still blocked with barricades by early afternoon, witnesses said. "They had a plan to hold a ceremony at a township NLD office there at 9:00 (0230 GMT) this morning," a source from Suu Kyi's NLD party told Reuters. "The purpose of the ceremony was to reorganise the township NLD youth wing and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was supposed to attend it. However, access to the venue was barred by barricades by security personnel," he said. Suu Kyi could not be reached for comment. Last week Suu Kyi -- who has been under close surveillance, with her movements limited since last December -- was allowed to meet NLD youth members and speak in a different township a few miles outside Rangoon. Analysts had said the move, which came on the heels of talks between the government and some NLD officials, and after the SLORC allowed an NLD party meeting to take place, could have been a possible easing of tension between the military government and the opposition movement. ****************************************** SLORC: INFORMATION SHEETS A-0185(I), A-0186 (I / L), A-0187(I/L) [excerpts only] From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM INFORMATION SHEET No. A-0185(I) Date 28-10-97 VICE-PREMIER OF STATE COUNCIL OF PRC ARRIVES At the invitation of the member of the State Law and Order Restoration Council and Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin, goodwill delegation led by Vice-Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Mr Wu Bangguo arrived Yangon by air on 26 October morning on an official visit to the Union of Myanmar. Vice-Premier Mr Wu Bangguo was accompanied by Minister for Transport Mr Huang Zhendong, Vice-Minister for the State Planning Commission Mr Ye Qing, Vice-Minister for the State Economic and Trade Commission Mr Zhang Wule, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Mr Shi Xiushi, Vice-Minister for the State Commission for Restructuring Economic System Mr Hong Hu, Vice-Governor of Yunnan Province Mr Liu Jing, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Yang Wenchang, Assistant Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Mr Sun Guangxiang, Vice-Governor of the Bank of China Mr Gao Dezhu and other senior officials. Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Vice-Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Mr Wu Bangguo at International Business Centre at 3 pm on 27 October. Later, the two deputy premiers discussed matters of mutual interest and economic cooperation at IBC. Minister Brig-Gen Abel and Assistant Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Mr Sun Guangxiang signed the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the People's Republic of China on a Preferential Loan with interest subsidized by the Chinese Government to be provided by China for Myanmar. ---------------------- INFORMATION SHEET No.A-0186 (I / L) Date 28-10-97 NLD DEFIES THE FRAMEWORK OF THE LAW The relevant Mayangone Township Authorities in Yangon received some unconfirmed news yesterday that the NLD is planning to hold a rally the next day in their Township. The Mayangone Township Authorities informed the Township NLD representatives if this information was correct. The Township Authorities have reminded them to have this rally conducted within the framework of the law and within established regulations governing such meetings. The NLD representatives have also been advised on ground of security and stability reasons, such activities should be held at Daw Suu Kyi's University Compound where the authorities have permitted and assisted them whenever and wherever necessary in carrying out their political activities. The government security official in charge of Daw Suu Kyi's residential compound also advised her on 27 October not to go out to make political activities where her safety is being exposed. He also suggested her to invite the people she wishes to meet from the respective townships to her residential compound and to carry out the meeting in safety and thus refraining from defying the established laws and regulations. He also reminded her that the government has shown willingness in extending efforts in the previous meetings to be able to carry it out conveniently when NLD conducted the meeting within regulations governing such meetings. Regretfully, this morning at 9am Chairman U Aung Shwe, U Kyi Maung and Daw Suu Kyi arrived at Mayangone Township to carry out their political activities in spite of the reasons and requests made by the relevant authorities. Therefore, the relevant Mayangone Township Authorities again requested them this morning not to hold this rally in their township which they fear that it may lead to disturbing the prevailing tranquility and stability the township people are enjoying.. It is very much regretful that in spite of the efforts the authorities have made in meeting its own commitments the NLD seems to have refused to meet theirs while it has chosen to hold to its rigid and confrontational approach with the authorities and not only to create conditions that would embarrass the government but also to politicize this incident so that their international community would be tricked into exerting pressure on Myanmar Government. ----------------------- INFORMATION SHEET No. A-0187(I/L) Date 28-10-97 Follow up Information of Information Sheet A. 0186(I/L) 28 Oct. NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe and team were requested by the Mayangone Township Authorities to refrain from holding unauthorized rally in their township. On their insistence the township local authorities allowed them to go to the township NLD office. U Aung Shwe and team on arrival at the township NLD office realizing that the township NLD members were not present there the group had lunch at the office and left after having the meal at 1:30 pm. It seems obvious that the NLD is on the line of creating incidents to force the authorities to take a different stand. The government as any other governments in the world has obligations to enforce laws intended to maintain tranquility and stability in its country. The NLD's taking advantage and exploiting this kind of situation will regretfully, prevent Myanmar from becoming a democracy in a reasonable amount of time if conditions necessary to create a fully functioning democracy in Myanmar is neglected and ignored by the NLD. *********************************************** BKK POST: SLORC MAY FREE 50 THAI PRISONERS October 28, 1997 Wassana Nanuam [BurmaNet Editor’s note: Although this article notes that Insein Jail is ‘presumably the best’ in Burma, accounts by ex-inmates indicate that conditions there are extremely unpleasant. Letters from Thai prisoners describing their experiences in Burmese jails have come out in the Thai press and are being translated. The letters will be included in a forthcoming edition of BurmaNet News.] Move to coincide with Gen Chettha's visit Burma is expected to release about 50 Thai prisoners in December, a close aide to army chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro said yesterday. Their release is high on the agenda of Gen Chettha who will travel to Burma in the middle of next month for talks with Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, first secretary of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), said Col Niphat Thongleg. He said currently there are about 170 Thais, mostly fishermen, languishing in Rangoon's Insein prison. "We expect Burma to release about 50 Thais on December 5," he added. December 5 is His Majesty the King's birthday. Col Niphat said the army chief will also explore the possibility of Burma handing over Thai prisoners to Thai authorities so that they could serve out their terms in Thailand. Families and relatives of Thai inmates yesterday appealed to Gen Chettha to negotiate their release, failing which provide them with cash, medicine and other essential items because of the poor conditions in Burmese jail. Army chief of staff Gen Charn Boonprasert pledged to look into the matter and said he will urge Gen Chettha to ask his Burmese host to move all Thai inmates to Insein prison, presumably the best in that country. Rattiya Khojuantiew, wife of Chair at Hunbamrung, a trawler skipper arrested in 1993, produced a letter from her husband which was smuggled out of Insein prison. The letter described his prison ordeal, unhygienic conditions and unhealthy food. Several inmates were suffering from malaria while some had contracted the HIV virus. They were served two meals a day consisting of rice with shrimp paste and boiled beans. "Gen Chettha is our only hope," Mrs Rattiya said. The letter was smuggled out by inmates freed earlier who had to resort to the nastiest of tricks to ensure it would not be detected by the prison warder. ******************************************************* THE NATION: AID FOR THAIS IN BURMA JAILS October 28, 1997 THE Army will this week give medicine and medical supplies to 202 Thais jailed in Burmese prisons, mostly on charges of poaching in Burmese territorial waters Army Chief of Staff Gen Charn Penprasert said yesterday. The supplies provided by the Public Health Ministry would be taken to Rangoon by a C-130 aircraft this week, Charn said. He was speaking after accepting the items from the Public Health Ministry. Meanwhile a senior Army source said the Foreign Ministry is responsible for looking after Thais jailed in foreign prisons but has not taken the matter seriously. "Relatives and families of Thais jailed in Burmese prisons have turned to the Army as the Foreign Ministry refused to help," the source said. As a result, Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro assigned the Army military attaché in Rangoon to take care of Thai prisoners and provide as much assistance as possible, the source added. ******************************************************* THE NATION: HEALTH OF THREE SLORC PRISONERS CAUSING CONCERN October 28, 1997 Aung Zaw Human rights groups have expressed fear over the health of three ageing political prisoners in Rangoon's notorious Insein prison, reports Aung Zaw. Recently, two prominent human rights groups in London and New York issued urgent statements expressing deep concern over the health of three political prisoners in Burma's Insein prison. According to New York-based Human Rights Watch/Asia, U Win Tin, Dr Aung Khin Sint and Cho Aung Than were being transferred from the prison to Rangoon General Hospital (RGH) for medical treatment. London-based Amnesty International called for the three to be given all the medical attention they need and that they not be returned to prison under any circumstances. Two of the three are members of the main Burmese opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). An NLD source in Rangoon confirmed that Cho Aung Than, Aung Khin Sint and Win Tin are currently in RGH. However, the source added that Win Tin and Aung Khin Sint, who are both in their 60s, are no longer considered to be in critical condition. There has been no confirmation on Cho Aung Than's condition. Burmese officials said all three men had been transferred to the hospital to speed up their recovery. It was reported that Win Tin was hospitalised for a cardiac disorder. Opposition sources said they believed the three were hospitalised because of their age, the unhealthy conditions of the prison, and insufficient and delayed medical treatment. Previously, the three were forced to spent time in solitary confinement. CLOSE TO DEATH Normally prisoners are sent to hospitals only when they are very close to death. Three months ago, prominent lawyer, writer and senior NLD leader Tin Shwe died in hospital three days after being transferred from Insein prison to RGH. Aung Khin Sint is a senior NLD member and elected -MP from Mingala Taung Nyunt township in Rangoon division. Ironically, his brother Aung Khin Tint happened to be a staunch supporter of the military regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) and an active member of the government-sponsored constitution drafting committee. Analysts in Rangoon speculated that Aung Khin Sint was transferred to the hospital because of his brother. Aung Khin Sint was arrested in 1993 for distributing anti-National Convention leaflets among the delegates. He was released in 1995. As a vocal critic of the regime, Aung Khin Sint has been frequently arrested. He was last arrested in 1996. It is believed that he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. "He has been in and out of the prison - we admire Aung Khin Sint for his role in the democracy movement as well as his serious support for health education," 30-year-old Htun Htun Aung said in Rangoon. Cho Aung Than, a cousin of the Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested in June this year along with his sister Nge Ma Ma Than. The junta accused Cho Aung Than and his sister of involvement in terrorist activities and raising funds for the NLD from foreign organisations. Later, he was sentenced to a 10-year jail term under provisions of the Unlawful Associations Act and the Emergency Provisions Act. Win Tin, 67, is a journalist and a founder of the NLD. He was imprisoned in October 1989, accused of being a member of the banned Communist Party of Burma. Win Tin is well-known for his writings on paintings, world literature, politics and journalism. In the 1970s Win Tin was chief editor of the Mandalay-based Hanthawaddy newspaper. In 1978, a paper critical of the then Ne Win regime was read at the "Saturday Reading Circle" of which Win Tin was a leading member. Consequently, he was dismissed from his job and the newspaper was shut down. INTELLECTUAL FACTION In 1988, Win Tin joined the NLD and became one of the secretaries of the executive committee. He was also a leading member of the party's intellectual faction. Considered a major architect if NLD policy along with Tin Shwe, Win Tin was arrested before the elections in June 1989. Burma's military intelligence accused him of having pro-Communist sympathies. Officials raided his house, searched his personal possessions and confiscated all his books. Initially, Win Tin received a three year prison term but it was later extended to 11 years. In 1995, he and 27 other political prisoners were accused of breaking prison rules and his prison term was again extended. In fact, Win Tin and his fellow inmates sent out a letter describing prison conditions to the United Nations. In 1994 and 1995, US Congressman Bill Richardson and former UN special rapporteur to Burma, Dr Yozo Yokota, visited Win Tin in Insein prison. Win Tin has been suffering from various ailments including heart disease and spondylitis. Spondylitis is an inflammation of the vertebrae which is often exacerbated by poor nutrition. In addition, he was in need of dental treatment. He was unable to eat even boiled rice. According to recent information, Win Tin was given dental treatment at the RGH. Former fellow prison inmates and friends who visited Win Tin said that while his mind is as active as ever, his health is continuing to deteriorate. Inside Insein, Win Tin has gained the respect of the political prisoners due to his commitment to the democracy movement. Although he branded a "Red" or "communist" by Slorc, Win Tin remains steadfast in opposing all forms of authoritarian regimes. When problems and conflicts arise among the political prisoners, Win Tin often intervenes. According to one former political prisoner, Win Tin no longer considers himself a member of the NLD. "I don't know why he doesn't want to be a member of the NLD but he still admires Aung San Suu Kyi," he said. "I'm just a democrat in the movement," Win Tin was quoted as saying by the source. Win Tin's individualism placed him above party politics. "All rightists and leftists in the prison admire him as he is able to patch things up," the former prisoner added. Previously, Win Tin was offered special privileges such as a bed, newspapers and walking exercise. Though some senior NLD leaders accepted the privileges, Win Tin refused, insisting that officials treat him the same as other political prisoners or provide them with the same special privileges. "The authorities won't free him," another former political prisoner said. Win Tin knows it. He once told his close friends in prison that he will die there. ******************************************************* THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR : NEWS BRIEFS [excerpts only] October 23, 1997 Four members of KNU armed group exchange arms for peace YANGON, 22 Oct- Private Min Lwin Oo (3035) of guard platoon of No 7 battalion, No 3 brigade, of KNU armed group exchanged arms for peace at the intelligence unit in Shwegyin on 9 October. He brought along With him No 36 hand grenade and one China hand grenade. L/cpl Myint Soe, privates Hla Shwe and Zaw Win of Myint Thein' s group of No 2 battalion, No 1 Brigade, KNU armed group exchanged their arms for peace while the Tatmadaw column was combing the area near Laykay Wintapa Village on 11 October. They brought along one carbine, one AK 47 automatic and one M-79 automatic. October 26, 1997 249 JADE LOTS FETCH OVER $ 1.7M YANGON, 25 Oct - Local and foreign gem merchants today bought 25 jade lots valued at $ 385,190 by tender at the Mid-Year Myanma Gems Emporium today. Gems, jewellery and jade figurines which are being sold at fixed prices fetch $ 57,966. The proceeds from the sales of 249 jade lots 23-25 October totalled over $1.7 million. October 27, 1997 33 GEM LOTS FETCH OVER $ 1.5M YANGON,23 Oct - Gem merchants purchased 33 gem lots valued at over $1.5 million through competitive bidding at the Mid-Year Gems Emporium today. Among the sales, 89.83carat sapphire (Lot No 281) fetched $ 504,800 and 289.5 carat ruby also fetched $ 290,000. Gems and jewellery being sold at fixed prices fetched $ 61,329. Pearl lots will be sold through competitive bidding tomorrow. ________________________ to view with photos, pls browse at: English - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm French -http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/fnlm German - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/gnlm Myanmar - http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/mnlm Pls use Win Myanmar fonts. ************************************** BKK POST: PIPELINE FAVOURED OVER OFF-ROADERS October 28, 1997 Editorial The Forestry Department has taken an uncharacteristic stand in support of preserving the nation's forests. At least that is how it appears to the public. But would it have been so firm in barring off-road vehicles from using a national park as a private playground if there had been financial incentive to do otherwise? The head of Mae Wong national park in Kamphaeng Phet is to be applauded for deciding on Saturday to deny entry to the drivers of 120 off-road vehicles. The decision would certainly have been an unpopular one among members of the caravan who had hoped to drive along a 28km trail to Chong Yen, in the centre of the park. The decision, which is absolutely correct, is nevertheless surprising in view of the curious attitude the Forestry Department has shown towards tracts of land that have been placed, for better or for worse, under its protection. The ban was imposed on the off-road vehicles barely a week after the Cabinet decided that tracts of protected forest in Kanchanaburi were not worth protecting any more. There was and is nothing wrong with the forest area in question except that it happens to lie along the chosen path of the Yadana pipeline. As we are beginning to find out, nothing, but nothing stands in the way of projects such as Yadana, which are born of deals between our government and its friends in the junta that clings to control in Burma. The Forestry Department appears to have been profoundly uninterested in the prospect of a pipeline being cut through fertile forest and prime Al watershed in Sai Yok national park. It has shown the same attitude to a host of organisations both here and abroad that have displayed an altogether more positive attitude towards Thailand's natural resources. Its behaviour in Kanchanaburi raises serious questions about the role of the department; is it, for example, in the business of protecting forests or facilitating their removal when some particularly juicy contract happens along? The ban on off-road vehicles in Mae Wong is certainly inconsistent with the welcome mat put out to the Petroleum Authority of Thailand and its oil industry friends in Sai Yok national park. The ban also flies in the face of comments by Sathit Sawintara, the Forestry Department director-general, to the effect that resorts and other such developments built illegally on offshore natural parks should be given legal status for 30 years. What this means is that a department of the state that is entrusted to protect certain lands has found a way to reward private operators who have broken the law by occupying those same lands. Mr Sathit says it is a touchy problem because most of the developers happen to be politicians and influential people. But never mind, given leases of 30 years or so they will become model stewards of the land they have stolen from the people, and what is more, they will make financial contributions to the state. Everybody's happy. There must surely be money-making opportunities in Mae Wong national park apart from such mundane activities as logging and hunting protected species. In the Forestry Department's scheme of things, it is surprising that the park has not already become a centre for off-road rallies, with maintenance centres, fuel stations, tyre warehouses and entertainment areas where people can have a good time after a day's destruction. The Forestry Department presides over vast areas in varying degrees of degradation. Rampant and continuing logging has created ever-expanding areas that are no good to anyone, except, perhaps, off-road enthusiasts who want to face a real challenge. Given the department's enthusiasm for anything involving making money, perhaps it could open up its many man-made disaster areas to off-road vehicles. Why not? The damage has already been done and this might, at least, keep such rallies from causing serious damage. *************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT: U OF COLORADO PASSES BURMA RESOLUTION October 27, 1997 Media Contact: Carmen Rhodes (303) 544-0856 (home) (303) 492-1205 (work) Email: rhodescm@ucsu.colorado.edu University Of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) Unanimously Passes A Resolution To Support The Students Of Burma October 27, 1997 (Boulder, Colorado, United States): A resolution to support the right of students in Burma to organize and attend school was unanimously passed by the University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) legislative council. Students of CU Boulder and community members gathered last Thursday, October 23, to support the Legislative Council Resolution (LCR) #103 which claims: "...the government of Burma is currently an illegitimate military regime, not supported by the people; the illegitimate regime continually suppresses the students of Burma; and the students are not allowed to organize or attend school. Therefore: the University of Colorado supports the students of Burma in their right to organize and to attend school." This resolution was written as a response to the military regime, known as State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), and it's continual repression of the people of Burma. Since the military takeover in 1962, when the student union of the University of Rangoon was bombed and many students killed, the students have been a main target for human rights abuses. In 1988, when the people of Burma began to demand democracy, the SLORC allowed citizens to hold a democratic election; however, they were prohibited from engaging in any type of campaigning efforts. When the people's party, of National League for Democracy (NLD), won with 82% of the votes, the government declared the party and election illegitimate, and would not allow the NLD to take office. Instead, SLORC imprisoned and killed many affiliated with the NLD which included 3000 students and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the NLD. Since 1988, the universities have been closed four of the nine years because of students attempting to form a student union. Currently, the universities have been closed since December of 1996 because of the latest attempt to form a student union. Amid cheers and applause at the resolution's passage, Inge Sargent, former Burmese princess, thanked the students of Colorado for their support of fellow students. "All people should have the right to organize themselves," said student, Lena Potyondy who supports LCR #103. Carmen Rhodes, co-author of LCR #103 and student, believes, "The SLORC's continual suppression of the students' right to organize themselves into a union is a violation of their human rights." ------------------------ 1) Free Burma business resolutions (by Student Governments) Northwestern University U. Chicago Harvard Stanford UC-Berkeley UCLA UC Santa Barbara Penn State College of the Atlantic, ME University of Washington University of Oklahoma University of Wisconsin at Madison University of California (Associated Students of Univ. of California Students representing all 9 campus governments except UCSF) Queen's University (Canada) 2) General resolution University of California at Davis (1990) 3) Burma Divestment The University of Wisconsin System (Dumped stocks in the amount of $239,000 from Texaco April '97) 4) Shareholder Resolutions University of Washington Stanford 5) Burma Free Business Policy adopted by the Trustee American University, Washington, DC **************************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMA CONFERENCE AT QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY October 28, 1997 From: Mark Laura G <4lgm@qlink.queensu.ca> The FREE BURMA! working group of OPIRG Kingston, Ontario is hosting a conference on Saturday, Nov. 8th. BURMA CONFERENCE; Developing Tools for Change. Location: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. SCHEDULE 10:00-11:00 INTRODUCTION Christine Harmston (Canadian Friends of Burma) 11:00-12:30 WORKSHOPS "Constructive Engagement" - Dr. B.T. Win "Financial Ethics" - QPIRG McGill 12:30-1:30 LUNCH 1:30-2:30 SPEAKER "Women and Burma" - Ohmar Khin (Refugees International's Burma Project) 2:30-4:00 WORKSHOPS "Refugee Women and Children of the Thai- Burmese Border" - Rosy Win "Selective Purchasing" - Craig Forcese 4:00 PANEL DISCUSSION "Democracy and the Future" 8:30 KEYNOTE ADDRESS - Bo Hla-Tint (National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma) The cost of the conference is by donation (suggested $5). For more information please contact: FREE BURMA OPIRG Kingston office: (613) 549-0066 home: (613) 549-6343 or E-Mail: 4lgm@qlink.queensu.ca ********************************* FBC ANNOUNCEMENT: DEMOCRACY TEACH-IN CONFERENCE October 28, 1997 From: Free Nigeria Movement You are invited to the Democracy Teach-In Organizing Conference WHAT: Democracy Teach-In Organizing Conference WHEN: Friday-Sunday October 31- November 2nd WHERE: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois WHO: Students, Education Workers, Community and International Human Rights, Democracy and Environmental Activists ** COSPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS ** Alliance for Democracy http://www.igc.apc.org/alliance/ Center for Campus Organizing http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/cco Earth First! Education for the People Free Burma Coalition http://wicip.org/fbc Free Nigeria Movement http://www.FreeNigeria.org Freedom Road Socialist Organization - Student Commission National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest Program on Corporations, Law, and Democracy Speak Out http://www.vida.com/speakout/ Student Environmental Action Coalition http://www.seac.org/ Teachers for Democratic Culture United States Student Association ___________________________________ "In the Belly of the Beast" Chicago evolving SCHEDULE Friday 12-3 Meeting and greeting workshop leaders 2-3 workshop leaders gathering-- to explain goals of conference, suggestions for workshop leading. 3-4 registration 4-6 small group discussions of fascinating topics (if possible) 7-9 RALPH NADER 9 Plenary 1 Saturday 9:30 - 10:45 Workshop Session I 11:00 - 12:00 LUNCH Noon - 2:00 Plenary II - Gathering Plenary 2:00- 2:45 ACTION 3:00 - 4:15 Workshop Session II 4:30 - 5:45 Workshop Session II 6- 7 Dinner 7:00 "Global Immediacy: Campuses in Solidarity" - Tunde Okorondudu (Free Nigeria Movement), Zar Ni (Free Burma Coalition), and Mojgone Azemun (Students for a Free Tibet) 9:00 Poetry/ Music-- Dennis Brutus 9:00 Council Meeting Sunday 9-10:30 Workshop Session IV or strategizing session 10:30- 12:00 Strategizing 12-1:00 Lunch 1-2:30 Richard Grossman 2:30- 4:30 The Plenary to End all Plenaries ? various hugs and good-byes First meeting of new DTI Council on Sunday afternoon, following Summary Plenary. ************************************************* ANNOUNCEMENT: LA SALLE BANK CAMPAIGN October 28, 1997 Sender: jepeck@students.wisc.edu (John E. Peck) Hello friends, LaSalle Bank - "The Bank That Works" according to their ads in the Chicago area where they have 75+ offices - has been wholly owned, since 1979, by the Dutch bank ABN AMRO (Allgemeinebank Nederland Amsterdam Rotterdam). This Dutch parent is one of the largest banks in the world with 1996 assets of $384 billion and 1630 offices in 69 countries. In fact, they are the fourteenth largest bank in the world, and the largest foreign bank in the U.S. One of ABN AMRO's offices is in Rangoon through which they help bankroll the SLORC regime. LaSalle Bank likes to perceive itself as a "friendly civic-minded company", which is why they cosponsored the Chicago Marathon last Sunday (Oct. 19), and are billed as the sponsor of an upcoming Chicago benefit concert to honor Steve Goodman (featuring John Prine, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, and Arlo Guthrie) on Nov. 13 at 7:30 pm at the Medinah Temple. About 20 Free Burma activists held banners along the Marathon route to expose La Salle's largely unknown collaboration with the SLORC dictatorship in Burma. One banner supposedly read "LaSalle Bank Sponsors Chicago Marathon - Hooray / LaSalle Bank Sponsors Brutal Burmese Military - Boo." A similar action will also occur outside the Nov. 13 concert. Folks in the Chicago area who can help with the campaign to get La Salle out of Burma should contact Don Erickson with Synapses at #773/561-2866 or #312/421-5513. Those of us outside Chicago can still join the effort to expose LaSalle Bank and put pressure on its Dutch parent to pull out of Burma. People can call LaSalle's Chicago Marathon Gear hotline (toll-free!) 888-243-3344 and let them know how you feel about Burma. People can also call Ticket Master #312-559-1212 and complain about the fact that La Salle Bank through its "filthy" support of the SLORC dictatorship in Burma is "spoiling" a perfectly good benefit concert honoring Steve Goodman. Enough phone calls of this sort and Ticketmaster will have to contact LaSalle (and the concert promoters!) to tell them of the negative fallout their name is having on advance ticket sales! People can also write/call/fax LaSalle Bank directly to tell them to get their Dutch parent ABN AMRO out of Burma or else! It would be especially effective if people contact them who actually have accounts there, threatening to switch to another bank - but everyone's voice is worth something. Harrison F. Tempest, CEO LaSalle National Bank 135 S. LaSalle St. Chicago, IL 60603 tel. 1-800-217-0963 or 312-443-2000 fax. 312-443-2819 For the Dutch parent contact: PG Kalff, Chair ABN-AMRO P.O. Box 1914 1000 BX Amsterdam, Netherlands tel. 31-20-6299111 fax. 31-20-6298069 and for the truly intrepid, why not contact the Burma office directly!: ABN-AMRO Bank NV Rep. Office Rm #702-703 FMI Centre 380 Bogyoke Aung San Rd. Yangon, Myanmar tel. 95-1-240276 fax. 95-1-240282 Thanks for keeping our corporate elites publicly accountable! - John John Peck, c/o UW Greens, 731 State St., Madison WI 53703 #608-262-9036 *********************************************