------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: November 21, 1997 Issue #873 HEADLINES: ========== HONG KONG STANDARD: LANDLORD HELD AS ASSK GETS OFFICE SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET No.A-0218(I/L) ABSDF: TYPHOON LINDA DAMAGES YADANA GAS PIPELINE BKK POST: 49 ILLEGAL BURMESE IMMIGRANTS AND KARENS HELD KNU: STATEMENT ON CURRENT SITUATION OF KAREN REFUGEES UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORT: RIGHTS THE TABLET: "HEAVENLY ABODES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT" REUTERS: BURMA SHAKEUP AIMS TO FIX IMAGE, NOT CHANGE S.H.A.N.: A COUP WITHIN A COUP THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS THE NATION: JOINT DRUG TALKS PLANNED REUTERS: ASEAN-WIDE MILITARY LINKS TO OFFSET CHINA -------------------------------------------------------------------------- HONG KONG STANDARD: LANDLORD HELD AS SUU KYI GETS OFFICE November 20, 1997 RANGOON: The military government has arrested a landlord who agreed to rent an office to democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's political party. Thaung Aye, owner of a building in the South Okkalapa township of Rangoon, was arrested on Wednesday. The chairman of the Okkalapa branch of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), Chit Khin, was also held. Ms Suu Kyi had visited the township on Sunday to find a party office. The military government, which has ruled since 1962, says it is promoting democracy in Burma. It did not respond to queries about the arrests. The military has blocked recent attempts by Ms Suu Kyi to conduct meetings at various NLD offices around Rangoon by barricading the locations, detaining her supporters and confining her movements. She is permitted to travel around the city provided she is not conducting political work. The military has said it insists she conduct political meetings inside her compound. Ms Suu Kyi has invited 800 members, families of political prisoners and diplomats to attend a celebration at her home on Monday for Burma's national day. The holiday commemorates a student uprising against British colonial rule in 1920. In advance of the holiday, the NLD issued a statement on Thursday renewing its call for the military government to engage in a dialogue with the party aimed at solving Burma's political, social and economic problems. ``Almost 50 years have passed since Burma gained independence, but Burma is still lacking in democratic freedoms and human rights,'' it said. It urged the people to support the NLD in its struggle to bring democracy to Burma. The recent shake-up of the military government weeded out corrupt ministers and promoted some army officers, but was unlikely to yield major policy changes soon, analysts and diplomats said. Burma's surprise creation of a new ruling body, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), replacing the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), was more of an effort to change the government's image than to revamp its policies. ``The name change is better and some people here are quite hopeful,'' one Rangoon-based diplomat said. ``There are a lot of reasons for the changes. But we haven't seen anything on new policies at all.'' _ Agencies **************************************** SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET No.A-0218(I/L) November 20, 1997 From: OKKAR66127@AOL.COM With effect from 1st October 1995 National League for Democracy Party rented the No. 302, Thanthumar Road, No.(5) ward South Okkalapa Township to open its Township Head Quarters. The landlady Daw Tin Myint agreed to the lease of her house for one year. At present, the lease as exceeded one year, the landlady wishes to sell her house, she requested that her house be vacated by the NLD. But, up to now the NLD South Okkalapa Township Head Quarters have refused to comply with her request, as a result of which the landlady is very much annoyed. It is learnt that if the NLD continues to violate the term of the agreement she is making arrangement to bring a suit against them in court. ******************************************* ABSDF PRESS RELEASE: TYPHOON LINDA DAMAGES YADANA GAS PIPELINE November 20, 1997 From: lurie@mozart.inet.co.th Typhoon Linda which flattened homes and killed a number of people in its wake in southern Thailand, has substantially damaged an underwater section of the Yadana gas pipeline and damaged two ships that were laying the pipeline for the French oil giant Total. According to local people who recently crossed the border into Thailand, the typhoon which passed through Burmese waters in early November cut loose some underwater sections of the pipeline. Some 22 people on board the two ships sustained injuries, some serious, including four foreign engineers. According to the sources, the four engineers were sent to a hospital in Rangoon. The typhoon destroyed most of the deck on both ships, and a helipad on one ship was rendered useless. Some of the 36-inch pipeline piled up on the ships' decks was also blown away by the typhoon. The damage to the pipeline and the ships has not been revealed by either Total or the Burmese military regime. It is understood that if the typhoon had hit while gas was flowing through the pipeline the damage would have been enormous. The two damaged ships are owned by an Italian company known as SAIPEM which won the contract to lay the pipeline for the project. A 63 kilometre onshore stretch of the pipeline laid by Total, from the shoreline to the Thai-Burma border, has already been completed. According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between SLORC (SPDC), Total and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTTEP), the gas is supposed to be transported to Thailand from July 1, 1998. The company Total estimated that the laying of the 346 kilometre offshore pipeline would be finished by the end of this month. However, it is understood that because of Typhoon Linda, the laying of the pipeline is unlikely to be completed on time. There have been delays to the project on the Thai side of the border because of repeated protests by the local community and environmental groups who are concerned about the impact of the pipeline. All Burma Students' Democratic Front For more information please call 01-923 1687 or 01-654 4984. *********************************************** BKK POST: 49 ILLEGAL BURMESE IMMIGRANTS AND KARENS HELD IN RAIDS November 20, 1997 [abridged] Supamart Kasem, Tak Refugees forced back to their camp A total of 49 illegal Burmese immigrants and Karen refugees were arrested yesterday in three separate raids. In the first swoop, a combined border patrol and local police team surrounded a forest reserve in Tambon Khanecheu, Mae Ramat district where they found 105 illegal Burmese immigrants living in 30 makeshift shelters. The Burmese, including men, women and children, were caught and sent to the immigration office before they are repatriated. During the search, the team found three sets of dynamite at the shelter of a Burmese man, Naing Di, who also faced another charge of possessing explosives. In the second raid, another 70 Karen refugees living in Ban Khanecheu near the forest reserve were caught. The Karens, who had escaped from Mae La refugee camp in Tha Song Yang district to earn their living, were sent back to the camp. In the third raid, the same team arrested 320 Karen refugees along the Mae Sot-Mae Sariang route. They were sent back to Mae La refugee camp. Pol Lt-Col Paisarn Suravasri, who led the three raids, said the influx of illegal immigrants had posed a threat to national security, adding the immigrants and Karen refugees had also cleared forests to build shelters. *************************************** KNU: STATEMENT ON CURRENT SITUATION OF THE KAREN REFUGEES November 20, 1997 From: OFFICE OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS KAREN NATIONAL UNION KAWTHOOLEI The Karen National Union (KNU) Statement on Current Situation of the Karen Refugees Following is the KNU statement regarding the shooting and forced relocation of the Karen refugees at Kwee Ler Taw on 15-11-97. 1. Over two thousand Karen refugees who are residing at Kwee Ler Taw, Lay Taw Ko, Htee Saw Shee in the vicinity of Umphang are escaping from the brutal suppression by State Peace and Development Council, formerly known as State Law and Order Restoration Council, of Cha-in-seik-jee township. The majority of the refugees are elderly persons, women and children. 2. The shooting of the Karen refugees at Kwee Ler Taw by the Thai army battalion No(44) on 15-11-97 that resulted in the death of several refugees, the forced relocation of the said refugees to Baw Ner Hta and the remaining refugees at Lay Taw Ko, Htee Saw Shee who are also to be relocated forcefully are great mistakes and inhumane practices. The KNU expresses its grief and deeply concerns over the current shooting and killing of the Karen refugees which have never occurred in past. On this current situation the KNU would like to express its concern to the Thai government and the Thai army. 3. Currently, among the Karen refugee camps in this region, there have been prevailing conditions of confusion, fear, instability. Reports of refugees running away from the camps are worrisome. Therefore, the KNU would like to appeal to the Thai government and Thai army to immediately stop this kind of treatment of the refugees, not to forcefully return the refugees to Burma, to render protection to the refugees according to the international law, to give access and freedom to the rescue workers and organizations concerned with helping the refugees, and to avoid the forced turnover of the Karen refugees to Burmese control against the wishes of the refugees. KNU Information Center **************************************** UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORT: RIGHTS PERTAINING TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE October 16, 1997 [excerpts only] Mr. Rajsoomer Lallah, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights [BurmaNet Note: This report was posted in its entirety on burmanet-l by darnott@igc.apc.org, and will also be posted to the burmanews-l list. Here the BurmaNet News is reproducing excerpts from the ‘Rights pertaining to democratic governance’ section, which offers details on the situation political opposition members working in Burma face. In a forthcoming issue the section on citizenship will be included in BurmaNet News. The UN report also offers a lengthy treatment of other subjects such as human rights abuses in ethnic areas and forced labour. Please consult the full text for more information.] A/52/484 Fifty-second session Agenda item 112 (c) Note by the Secretary-General The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the members of the General Assembly the interim report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, prepared by Mr. Rajsoomer Lallah, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 51/117 of 12 December 1996 and Economic and Social Council decision 1997/272 of 22 July 1997. III. RIGHTS PERTAINING TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE 13. In the absence of any improvement in the overall situation of human rights in Myanmar, the Special Rapporteur must state with regret that his previous conclusions relating to the causes of human rights violations in Myanmar remain valid. The Special Rapporteur had previously emphasized that the core of the problem in Myanmar lay in the absence of respect for rights pertaining to democratic governance insofar as that absence implied a structure of power that was autocratic and accountable only to itself, thus inherently resting on the denial and repression of fundamental rights. 14. The politico-legal structure of Myanmar has not changed in the past year, and the exercise of power under such a structure continues to be used in a manner and to an extent that persistently violates basic and universally accepted civil and political rights. The laws in place in Myanmar, on which the Special Rapporteur commented in his previous reports, continue to be used together with a host of executive orders to criminalize many aspects of normal civilian conduct, especially political activities. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur continues to receive information that gives rise to grave concerns. 15. Members of political parties are not allowed to leave their locality without prior permission from the authorities, otherwise they risk arrest and interrogation by the police or military intelligence agents. 16. Numerous reports indicate that although Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is no longer under house arrest, her freedom of movement, association and expression nevertheless continue to be severely curtailed by the presence of military roadblocks outside her residence. The objective of the roadblocks is to prevent or deter people from seeing her and to put a stop, since the end of last year, to her weekly meetings and addresses to the members of NLD, its sympathizers and the citizens of Myanmar generally. The reports further indicate that she is subject to vilification and unsubstantiated allegations by certain officials of the regime and the government-controlled media without the possibility of defending herself. 17. It was reliably reported that 11 men and 6 women members of NLD left Prome by train on the evening of 11 February 1997 to attend the NLD Union Day celebration at Yangon. When the train stopped at Tharawaddy station, soldiers and policemen arrived, arrested 15 NLD members (two of the women were not arrested) and took them away by car to the quarters of the thirty-fifth regiment. The four women arrested were Daw Myint Myint Khin, Daw Tin Hlaing, Daw Than Than Nu and Daw Aye Mya San. The men were U Aund Myint, U Myo Thein, U Aung Myo Myint, U Shwe Thein, U Myint Than, U Paik Tin, U Myint Htwe, U Chit Tin, U Win Naing, U Aung Thein Win and U Thein Zaw. Seven people who had come from Prome and Kama by car to attend the NLD Union Day celebration were also reportedly arrested in Tharawaddy. 18. Fifty-eight others, including U Aye Than, U Ohn Naing, U Khin Maung Myint, U Min Aung, U Tin Myint, U Ohn, Ko Tin Oo, Daw Tin Tin Hla, Daw San Yee, Daw San San Myint, Daw Sein Sein, Ma Tin Than Oo, Ma Tin Than Aye, Daw Khin Kyu and Ma Aye Aye Mar, were also arrested while they were on their way to attend the Union Day celebration in Yangon. U Khin Maung, U Chit Than, U Pe Win and U Thein Han were also arrested while on the way to attend the Union Day celebration. U Thaung Aye, a member of the NLD Irrawaddy Division organizational committee, was told to sign an undertaking not to go outside Maubin. Because he refused, he was sentenced to three months in prison. 19. Gatherings of political parties are routinely repressed; NLD members and their sympathizers are prevented from attending the gatherings. They are methodically arrested either on their way to such meetings, as mentioned above, or after attending the gatherings. 20. U Soe Hlaing, Chairman of the NLD organizational committee of Thanatpin, U Tin Tun, Secretary, and U Soe Nyunt, Joint Secretary, were reportedly arrested because they attended the NLD Union Day celebrations. U Tin Tun was released, while the others were charged under section 5(e) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act and sent to Pegu jail. 21. Dr. Hla Win, NLD Member of Parliament representing Kyaungon, Mahn Tin Win, interim Chairman of the NLD organizational committee of Kyaungon township, U Wa Toke, U San Shein and U Thein Han attended the Union Day ceremony. After they went back to Kyaungon, a township meeting was held on 15 February 1997. While the meeting was in process, two carloads of policemen and military intelligence officers arrived and ran into the NLD office. Hla Win and U Saw Lwin were handcuffed and taken to the police station with 14 other members of the organizational committee. A certificate and other papers were taken away. All 16 were held at the Kyaungon police station until 17 February, when all except Hla Win, U Saw Lwin, U Thein Han, Mahn Tin Win, U Wa Toke and U San Shein were released. Charges were brought against the six, who are reportedly still under house arrest. 22. According to reports from a number of sources, the harassment and arrests culminated during the third week of May 1997 when more than 300 NLD members were arrested as a pre-emptive attempt by Myanmar authorities to prevent a party congress commemorating the seventh anniversary of the NLD victory in the 1990 elections. Those arrested included at least 60 elected Members of Parliament and senior party members. Many of the arrests took place in the Mandalay and Sagaing divisions as the NLD members were preparing to travel to Yangon to attend the congress. In other parts of the country, such as Ayeyarwadey Division and Shan, Mon and Kayin (Karen) states, it was further reported that a dozen others were detained in their homes and have been told that they would be arrested if they attempted to go to Yangon. The congress was due to take place on 27 and 28 May 1997 at the home of the NLD General Secretary, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. "26. Distribution of party literature to the public is not allowed, and political parties are generally forbidden to use any means such as videotapes or printing equipment for the reproduction and distribution of their bulletins, pamphlets and statements. In this situation, it is difficult to assume that open discussion can possibly take place in Myanmar. The expression of political views is not permitted unless it is in support of the present military regime. Thus, in Minchaung village of Inle Lake in Nayungshwe, U Nhaung, U Aung Ba, U Soe Win and U Chit Pwe were reportedly sentenced to two years' imprisonment each for watching a videotape that featured Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 27. U Hla Myint, NLD Member of Parliament representing Maubin, was given a prison sentence of two years on the ground that he had spoken disrespectfully to Township Law and Order Restoration Council (TLORC). U Win Shein, chairman of the NLD township organizational committee, was kept in prison for six months for making a speech and flying the NLD flag. U San Myint, NLD Member of Parliament for Laymyetnha, was sentenced to two years in prison under the videotape act. 28. The Special Rapporteur continues to receive reports alleging that SLORC continues to harass and keep the NLD supporters under pressure by sentencing their members under made-up charges when they decline to resign. Thus, U Khin Tun was reportedly told by SLORC to resign from his position as Secretary of the NLD organizational committee in Maubin. He refused to resign and was consequently sentenced to three months in prison. 29. U Saw U Re was reportedly forced to resign from NLD and also from Parliament and then sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment. 30. NLD members who refused to resign and who have not been arrested, and their families, are reportedly facing other harassments, such as being forced to vacate apartments. 31. U Nyunt Win, an NLD Member of Parliament representing the Yeki constituency, was told by SLORC to resign from his position. Because he refused, he was told by the Town and Village Housing Development Board, which claimed that its action was in accordance with the directive dated 6 November 1996 of the Irrawaddy Division Law and Order Restoration Council, to vacate the State-owned apartment where he and his family lived. 32. U San Pe, a member of NLD, had allowed an NLD office to be opened in his house. His wife, Daw Ohn Kyi, had a small restaurant on the grounds of Shwebo College. She was told that her husband was not free from party politics and was made to shut down her shop in October 1996. U Aung Kyaing, NLD Member of Parliament representing Nyaungdon, was pressured to resign from NLD and from Parliament. His daughter, a schoolteacher, was threatened with dismissal if her father did not resign. 33. It would appear that, as a result of harassment or pressure from the authorities, a considerable number of NLD Members of Parliament have resigned in the period from 1991 to 1996. 34. The following NLD Members of Parliament have reportedly resigned since the beginning of 1997: U Aung Tin, representing Shadaw, Kayah, and U Boe Thin, representing Loikaw, Kayah, on 13 January; U Thaung Ye, representing Danubyu, Irrawaddy, on 21 January; U Maw Ni, representing Yesagyo, Magwe, on 11 February; Daw Sein Tin, representing Shwegu, Kachin, on 23 February; Dr. Thaung Tin, representing Wundwin, Mandalay, on 25 February; U Saw Htun Lwin, representing Hlaingbwe, Karen, on 5 March; U Pu Htwe, representing Bhamo, Kachin, on 17 March; U Tin Ohn, representing Padung, Pegu, on 21 March 1997; U Kyaw Win, representing Htigyang, Sagaing, on 8 May; and U Than Kywe, representing Hlaingthaya, Yangon, resigned on 18 June. 36. The Special Rapporteur has received information that on 21 February 1997, in Taungu, Pegu Division, 18 members of the Taungu NLD Township Organizational Committee were taken away by the police and members of the Ward/Village Law and Order Restoration Councils without any reason given. Those taken away were U Myat Thu, U Saw Tun Nwe, U Maung Win, U Myint Thein, U Thet Tun, U Kyaw Win, U Tin Thaung, U Kyaw Myint, U Tun Tin, U Tin Soe, U Pe Win and U Kyaw Win. Those arrested were taken away in army vehicles on 22 February. According to reports dated 24 February, the arrested people were seen in an army camp near Tabye village in Htandabin township. Later, U Saw Tun Nwe was found dead at a roadside in the vicinity of his native village. 37. The following members of NLD in Kyaungon township have, according to information received by the Special Rapporteur, been sentenced to prison: U Tin Aung (NLD Member of Parliament for Wakema), U Kyaw Din (Chairman of NLD Organizational Committee), U Ko Wai (Secretary), U Aung Kywe (Joint Secretary), U Win Kyi, U Tun Shwe, U Tin Nyein, U Maung Kan, U Yu Wai, U Pe Tin and Daw Khin Yee are reported to be serving time in Maungmya Jai. They were charged under section 5(e) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act for having taken a prominent part in the funeral of a one-time member of the NLD Organizational Committee. Due process of law 38. The Special Rapporteur, in his previous report to the General Assembly (A/51/466, paras. 62 to 71), analysed the notion of due process of law in Myanmar. He came to the conclusion that neither is due process of law respected nor is the rule of law upheld. The information received during the past year confirms that there is consistent failure to respect due process and the rule of law, as the following examples demonstrate. 39. In January 1997, the trial of 20 people was, according to reports received by the Special Rapporteur, held in a closed session in Yangon and the accused were denied access to legal counsel. The group, which included six NLD members was jailed for seven years for allegedly "inciting students and non-students during December 1996 student demonstrations". 40. It was reported that U Thaung Tin, the Chairman of the NLD Organizational Committee at Palaing village in Shwebo township, was arrested, summarily tried on the same day and given a two-year prison sentence. He was accused of inciting farmers to refrain from selling rice to the authorities. 41. The Special Rapporteur has received information that U Hla Min, an NLD Member of Parliament for Kawthaung, Tenasserim, was denied access to legal counsel and was not informed what he was accused of. He was sentenced to seven years in prison under section 5(e) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act. 42. Another reported case of an unfair trial has been brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur. At Insein prison, 22 political prisoners were refused access to legal counsel. There were also reports that beatings and torture were used as a means of obtaining confessions for use as evidence against some of the accused. The prisoners (Myo Myint Nyein, Zaw Tun, Nyunt Zaw, Soe Htet Khaing, Aung Kyaw Oo, Zaw Min, Phyo Min Thein, Win Thein, Aung Myo Tint, Htay Win Aung, Yin Htway, Win Tin, Hla Than, Ko Ko Oo, Kyi Pe Kyaw, Kyaw Min Yu, Myat Tun, Sein Hlaing, Zaw Myint Aung, Soe Myint, Ba Myo Thein) were charged under section 5(e) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act for writing and distributing allegedly false information. They all received an additional sentence of seven years with hard labour. ****************************************** THE TABLET: "HEAVENLY ABODES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT" November 8, 1997 Buddhist heroine gives CAFOD lecture "Heavenly abodes and human development" was the theme chosen by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi for this year's Pope Paul VI Memorial Lecture in London. In it she described the Buddhist approach to charity and social justice. It is the first time that a non- Christian has given the lecture. As the leader of Burma's pro-democracy movement she is not permitted to travel abroad by the country's military regime, so the lecture, organised by the Catholic aid agency CAFOD and sponsored by The Tablet, was delivered by her husband, Dr. Michael Aris, of ST. Anthony's College, Oxford. >From a Buddhist perspective, Aung San Suu Kyi said, compassion and common sense should underlie the struggle for social justice. She sincerely believed that "all peoples and creeds can coexist in peace, that whatever our race or religion we can all learn to agree on certain basic values essential for the development of human society". She spoke, she said, as an "ordinary, imperfect human being with an ordinary, average knowledge of the religion into which she was born". But though not an expert, she was "a concerned participant in the process of human development". Besides its economic, social and political aspects, true development should include spiritual cultivation, she argued. She described the "heavenly abodes" or divine states of mind which Buddhists recognize. The first, metta, or loving kindness, she linked to Christian love. It was, she said, "a love that seeks to give and to serve, rather than to take and demand". Those with responsibility for development projects should bear in mind that people need "the balm of loving-kindness to withstand the rigours of human existence". "Projects undertaken for the sake of upping statistics", she said, "or for love of grandiosity or praise, rather than for the love of live human beings with bodies that can be hurt, minds that can be damaged and hearts that can be bruised, seldom succeed in fostering the kind of development that enhances the quality of life." "Charity" meant "love" she pointed out, and nothing could make up for the lack of it — "no amount of money or technical expertise or scientific knowledge or industry or vision." Perfect metta could not fail, for it implied a balance, "a state of mind that embraces all beings with loving kindness, favouring neither oneself nor others." The second "heavenly abode" was compassion, karuna. It had been defined as "the quivering of the heart in response to others' suffering, the wish to remove painful circumstances from the lives of other beings". It was one aspect of Enlightenment; the other was wisdom. "Compassion must be balanced by wisdom and wisdom must be balanced by compassion." She told the Buddhist story of a dragon-king who lived at the foot of the Himalayas. One day, a holy man, or Bodhisattva came by who showed no fear of the dragon-king's penchant for turning people to ashes, and gave him "a brief sermon on the joys of non-violence and compassion". The dragon- king was converted. When the children who lived nearby learned how peaceful the dragon-king had become, they grew in confidence and began to ill-treat him. When the Bodhisattva came again, the dragon- king complained how unhappy he had become as a result of his new-found non-violence. The Bodhisattva replied that "this had come about because the dragon had not balanced compassion with wisdom: when the children became unruly he should show his fire to stop them from proceeding to cruel acts." Aung San Suu Kyi noted that in the world of charities and development work, compassionate people who lack wisdom can be taken advantage of. The third "heavenly abode" was sympathetic joy or mudita. Aung San Suu Kyi said that development projects should lead to greater happiness, and that those who planned them should feel mudita about the good fortune of the beneficiaries. Fundamental to the sort of development which enhances the quality of life is justice, she said; hence the importance of the struggle for human rights in which she had been so deeply engaged. Democratic development meant "development of the people, for the people, by the people". It was "the antithesis of the idea that development should be defined and directed by governments". There were people in East and West, she said "who think the worth of a society is measured by its material wealth and by impressive figures of growth, ignoring the injustices and pain that might lie behind them". But development "must be measured in terms of human happiness, of peace within the community and of harmony with the environment". She declared: "All barriers of race and religion can be overcome when people work together on common endeavours based on love and compassion. Together we can help to develop a happier, better world where greed and ill will and selfishness are minimised. This is not impractical idealism: it is a down-to-earth recognition of our greatest needs." It might be necessary to defy despotic governments, to stand up to oppression. The planet could be made a better place "by constructing the heavenly abodes of love and compassion in our hearts". Beginning with that inner development, people could go on "to the development of the external world with courage and wisdom." The annual Paul VI Memorial Lecture was started by CAFOD to commemorate Pope Paul VI's encyclical letter Populorum Progressio ("On the development of peoples") Previous lectures have included the then President of Ireland, Mary Robinson; Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns of Brazil; ;the then president of the European Commission, Jacques Delors; the liberation theologian Jon Sobrino SK; and the late Archbishop Derek Worlock of Liverpool. ***************************************** REUTERS: BURMA SHAKEUP AIMS TO FIX IMAGE, NOT CHANGE POLICY November 20, 1997 [abridged] By Deborah Charles BANGKOK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Burma's surprise creation of a new ruling body, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), replacing the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), was more of an effort to change the government's image than to revamp its policies. ``The name change is better and some people here are quite hopeful,'' one Rangoon-based diplomat said. ``There are a lot of reasons for the changes. But we haven't seen anything on new policies at all.'' Most diplomats agreed the main thrust of the changes was to improve the image of a government accused of rampant corruption as the country suffered a severe economic slump. But although several new ministers are seen as capable, the fact few technocrats were given portfolios showed the generals' main motive was not to change economic policy. ``If they'd wanted a solution to the economy they would have promoted more technocrats,'' the first diplomat said. Four of the country's more prominent ministers dealing with financial issues were removed from the ruling council and put on a newly-created 14-member Advisory Council. They include ex-SLORC member Lieutenant General Kyaw Ba, the former tourism minister. He was often used as a spokesman for the SLORC as he worked to make tourism one of the biggest money-making sectors for the country. The other three were former trade and commerce minister Lieutenant-General Tun Kyi, former forestry minister Lieutenant-General Chit Swe and the previous agriculture minister Lieutenant-General Myint Aung. ``All those ministries had a lot of possibility for kick-backs and payoffs,'' said another Rangoon-based diplomat. ``Even within the government here they were considered corrupt.'' Diplomats and analysts said the role of the Advisory Council -- made up of several former SLORC members, most of whom were over the age of 60 -- was not certain. ``Nobody's sure what the Advisory Council will do but it includes 14 people who were not wanted in the government,'' the second diplomat said. ``It will be interesting to watch not only the Advisory Council but what happens to these people. There's talk here that they are under house arrest, and talk they are in total shock and don't know which way to turn.'' The main question after the shake-up was whether or not the hardliners within the old SLORC -- said to be at loggerheads with Than Shwe and powerful military intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt -- had gained ground. ``It's still a bit too early to say who's who and who's in which camp,'' the second diplomat said. But the newly created post of Secretary Three was given to Lieutenant General Win Myint, who was seen as loyal to General Maung Aye, the hardline vice-chairman of the SPDC. The new government had not given any hint as to any changes of policy, and the SLORC's old objective and policy statements were being run as usual in official media. Diplomats said a key test for the government would be next week when the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, holds a party gathering. ``Under this new lot it is more likely that it will be held,'' the first diplomat said, noting that could help relations on both sides. The SLORC has cracked down on Suu Kyi's activities recently, leading to fresh condemnation from abroad. ***************************************** S.H.A.N.: A COUP WITHIN A COUP November 20, 1997 From: shan Coup Within a Coup The recent change in Rangoon has been dubbed by the local people as a coup within a coup, according to a S.H.A.N. source. Some of the ministers and commanders were still doing their jobs when, out of the blue, they learned they were already out of their jobs. Many expressed anger at being dismissed without warning, not to mention a formal meeting beforehand. Some were being informed on their way to their offices that they had been occupied by their successors. There wasn't any instances of formal handover of duties and responsibilities between the outgoing and the incoming ministers and commanders. Consequently, some of the most powerful "ex-es" are definitely looking for trouble now, said the source. Meanwhile, another problem pops up between the SPDC and the cabinet. The SPDC is made up of officers junior to those in the cabinet that is supposed to implement the policies formulated in the former. "That is one thing quite hard to swallow for the ministers", said the source. However, the source concluded all sides might come to terms at least on account of the 'Old Man', Ne Win, whose idea, as most believe, it was that started the bedlam. S.H.A.N. ******************************************** THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NEWS BRIEFS [excerpts] November 14, 1997 JAPAN-MYANMAR FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION PRESENTS $ 23,640 FOR RESTORATION OF ANCIENT PAGODAS IN BAGAN YANGON, 13 Nov-Japan-Myanmar Friendship Association today presented $ 23,640 for restoration of ancient religious monuments in Bagan. Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt delivered an address at the ceremony which was held at Sedona Hotel at 6 pm. November 20, 1997 PURCHASE OF PADDY HARVESTED IN 1997-98 THROUGH SEALED TENDERS CLARIFIED YANGON, 19 Nov-Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than clarified points on purchase of paddy harvested in 1997-98 through sealed tenders at the Ministry this afternoon. The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Col Kyaw Shwe, advisers, the directors-general, managing directors and officials. The Minister said bidders could submit their tenders for purchase of paddy at minimum 10,000 baskets. They would have to submit their tenders for the prescribed amount of paddy for certain areas, he said. He went on to clarify that bidders are to deposit K 100,000 at the Finance Section of the Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading or at the respective States and Divisions. The deposit will be refunded to the unsuccessful bidders, he said, adding successful bidders are to carry on work after paying earnest money equivalent to 5 per cent of the total amount within three days. *********************************** THE NATION: JOINT DRUG TALKS PLANNED November 20, 1997 Agence France Presse. THAI and Burmese narcotics officials will hold talks early next month on suppressing the trade in chemicals used to produce amphetamine-type drugs now rife in Thailand, officials said yesterday. Some 28 officials from Thai and Burmese border provinces will attend a seminar on Dec 1-2 in the northern Thai province of Chiang Rai. Pornthep Iamprapai, narcotics chief in Chiang Rai, said that the meeting would focus on how to suppress the flow of ephedrine, used to manufacture methamphetamine which is a growing drug menace in the region. "Ephedrine is the most common precursor chemical. It comes from China, via Burma and Laos into Thailand, sometimes down the Mekong River. Some is also produced in Bangkok," he said. Stopping production of ephedrine is complicated by the fact that it has legal commercial uses, such as in medicinal inhalants. The meeting, during which officials will exchange information and be trained in how to identify and test for precursor chemicals, will focus on suppressing trafficking across the border in three northern Thai provinces. Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son are Thailand's blackspots for production and smuggling of drugs, including heroin and increasingly methamphetamine, which has been dubbed 'crazy drug" in Thailand. ***************************************************** REUTERS: ASEAN-WIDE MILITARY LINKS TO OFFSET CHINA EXPERT November 20, 1997 [abridged] By Rene Pastor SINGAPORE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - ASEAN countries should set up formal links between their armed forces so ASEAN can serve as an effective counterweight to China, an Indonesian security expert said on Thursday. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, of the Centre for Political and Regional Studies, said in a paper at a roundtable on the expansion of ASEAN it was time to consider a region-wide security forum where all nine members of the group can take part in joint military exercises. Anwar, who is head of regional and international affairs at the centre, told reporters formal ties linking the military establishments of all ASEAN countries ``will go a long way to reducing existing divisions'' among members. Establishment of an ASEAN-wide security structure will improve the ability of military forces in the region to work together as a collective unit even though the region is still not ``able to stand up to China,'' she said. ``But at least it could make it harder for China or Japan or the United States to divide and rule ASEAN and to push it around,'' Anwar added. Under current arrangements, there is no ASEAN-wide security arrangement. Most countries conduct bilateral or trilateral military exercises with one another. At the moment, military officers only attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) but do not take part in other activities of the group. ``Why don't we also bring military people into our ASEAN discussions?'' she said. ``Close cooperation among military personnel is the most effective way to remove mutual suspicions and promote transparency,'' the expert added in her paper. Anwar said it would take much time and resources to create security arrangements to cover all nine members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). ******************************************