BurmaNet News: November 25 2002

[editor at burmanet.org]

November 25 2002 Issue# 2128

INSIDE BURMA

DVB: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s speech
Irrawaddy: NLD member arrested for making a democracy symbol
Xinhua: Myanmar says national reconciliation process moving forward
Xinhua: Crime cases in Myanmar increase
AFP: Myanmar prisoner release fails to mollify junta’s critics

GUNS

AFP: Shan rebels dismiss reports of threatened Myanmar junta offensive
DVB: Over 200 military trucks bought from China arrive in Mu-se

INTERNATIONAL

AFP: Myanmar rejects US ‘tongue-lashing’
AFP: No decisions on Myanmar’s drug status: US

DRUGS

AFP: Myanmar junta says aiming to cut opium production by half next year

REGIONAL

Irrawaddy: India to block Burmese gem smugglers

STATEMENTS/OTHER

Bangkok Post: Trying to get by without sincerity
WLB: Tomorrow, the 25th of November is the International Day of
Elimination of Violence against Women
Stanford Daily: Dictatorship impedes freedom in Myanmar

___INSIDE BURMA______

Democratic Voice of Burma
November 21 2002

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Speech

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has given a public speech at Taunngyi's Minn Kyaung
Monastery and according to local people; it was attended by nearly 3000
people. The said Buddhist monastery is famous for being a boycott base in
the 1988 uprising of the people against the military government. The NLD
spokesman U Lwin said that she also met veteran politicians including U
Shwe Ohn and local elders between 9am and 10am and paid her respect to a
famous abbot who was involved in the 1988 uprising.
Then, she gave approximately an hour long speech urging people to be
united for the State and the union. She also said that of the Burman did
not fulfil their duties, as a Burman she likes to apologise to ethnic
nationalities. There were a considerable number of youths and students and
she discussed with them youth and educational matters. Then, she discussed
matters with local elders of ethnic nationalities.
A local man who attended the public meeting also said that she urged the
people to be united for the union and especially for democracy, freedom of
speech and the like.
Here is part of the speech she gave in Taunggyi:
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi : We have to build our home. It is very tiring to
build own home, the home we want to live in. But, if we look at it another
way, we have an opportunity to build our own home where we want to live
with the form we want it. [Applauds] Therefore, rejoice in it. Therefore,
draw up your plan with architects; We want this design. This one is for
our father. This one is for our mother. This one is for our little sister.
This one is for our old brother and thus saying we have the right to build
up a home for the conveniences of all the members of our family. Don't
misuse this opportunity. Grasp it. Don't feel miserable because you have
to build your own home and don't think it as tiring because you have to
build your own home. Think of it as a special opportunity to build for
several new generations so that we can live peacefully together in the
great union may I plead you thus. [Applauds]
In this effort, the Shan State plays a vital role. The reason is it has
many ethnic nationalities and they have many differences. And we could
learn how to harmonise different views from each other in many ways. May I
call the people of Shan State members of the union. Members of the union
in Shan State work hard. Always keep in your hearts that you are the
forerunning foot soldiers for the emergence of a democratic union and the
survival of the union. If you have this kind of spirit, we will surely
achieve the success quickly. I believe that we will achieve. The reason is
the king of union we want and the things we want are for the good of the
majority. It is not the kind of activity with the intention of harming
people. Therefore, it is a matter of wanting to help the people. It is
also for the interest of the people. Therefore, I believe that it will
surely be successful. [Applauds] But here time matters. The question is
will we succeed quickly or slowly? We will all have to work hard to
succeed quickly. [Applauds] If all work hard together, we will succeed
quickly. If most people just say that this organisation will do the job,
it will be slower. As I often said, like rowing, everyone in unison. If
there are 200 people and every one rows, we will get to our destination
sooner. But only two people rows and the rest, 198 people just sit then,
it won't be easy. [applauds] Row the boat as best as you could. Only then
we will reach our desired destination.
Question from an audience : But if someone says 'could you follow us for
awhile' [words used by military agents when they arrest people in Burma]?
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi : You must not be afraid of that kind of thing.
[applauds and cheers] That is just a temporary matter. What we are talking
is not a temporary matter. We are talking about the future of our country.
As long as this world exists, it is a matter of what kind of shape we want
our country to be in. You can't compare this matter with 'could you follow
us for a while'. [Applauds and cheers] If they asked you to 'follow' them
for a while, just do it. If I have to mention that kind of thing, there
are some people who 'followed' them not for a while but many years.
[Laughs and applauds] There is no one standing around me haven't done
that. What happens after 'following' them is you become more mature?
Wherever you are, if you have the will and desire, this will help you
achieve what you want to do. When you 'follow' them, you have many
opportunities to strengthen your sprit. [Applauds] This is not a normal
opportunity. In the end, it all depends on whether you are going to
strengthen your resolve or let your spirit shaken. Whether you are afraid
or not afraid it depends on yourself. It doesn't depend on the people who
threaten you. However they try to make you afraid, if you are afraid, you
will be afraid and if you are not afraid, you won't be afraid. [Applauds
and cheers]
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and group are planning to visit northern Shan State
tomorrow. As they are unable to go there directly, they will be travelling
from Taunggyi through Meikhtila, Kyaukse, Mandalay, Maymyo, Naungcho and
Thibaw [Hsipaw]. They are expected to be in Thibaw about noon tomorrow to
open a new NLD office. From Thibaw, they are continuing the journey to
Lashio.
_________

Irrawaddy
November 25 2002

NLD Member Arrested for Making a Democracy Symbol
By Aung Su Shin/ Mae Sot

An opposition party member was arrested for making a symbolic gold-coated
copper hat earlier this month, Mandalay residents said.
Known as kha mauk (hat worn by Burmese farmers), the hat is a recognized
symbol of the opposition National League for Democracy and was gold-coated
as a gift for NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
U Shwe Maung, who made the hat with other party members in Htun Done, a
satellite town outside Mandalay, was arrested on Nov 7.
"The reason we made kha mauk was to show our confidence and support for
Aung San Suu Kyi," U Shwe Maung said in a tape-recorded message for
reporters outside Burma. "We wanted to warn the SPDC [State Peace and
Development Council] not to ignore the results of the elections [in 1990],
to stop their foolish actions and to transfer power to the elected party."
According to Mandalay residents who came to Mae Sot on the Thai-Burma
border, many people in Htun Done are suffering in poverty and can only eat
boiled rice every day. They say local people in Htun Done want a change of
politics to help end their hunger. Party members called on the SPDC to
hold meaningful dialogue and transfer power to the elected party.
Par Par Lay, a famous comedian who spent five-and-a-half years in prison
and was released in July last year, also helped produce the hat. "Kha mauk
gives shade. It means we are able to provide shade for the people of
Burma. We believe kha mauk will stand up for the people of Burma," Par Par
Lay said.
Par Par Lay plans to take the hat to Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon on Friday
this week. "We will leave Mandalay for Rangoon by car. Those who are
interested are welcome to join us on the way," Par Par Lay said on the
tape-recorded message.
Merchants from Mandalay said people on the Mandalay-Rangoon highway are
excitedly waiting to welcome kha muak.
With a radius of more than 50 centimeters, the hat is on a throne-like
pedestal rounded by three dancing peacocks, symbolic of those who fought
with Gen Aung San for Burma’s independence in the 1940s. It features two
fighting peacocks on the side, a symbol associated with pro-democracy
students in Burma, as well as a big star on the top of the hat which
represents Burma.
_______

Xinhua News Agency
November 25 2002

Myanmar says national reconciliation process moving forward

A Myanmar government spokesman said Wednesday that his country's national
reconciliation process is moving forward.

In a statement extending the government's appreciation to a recent visit
to Myanmar by UN Special Envoy Razali Ismail, government Spokesman Hla Min
described Razali's efforts in the process as "persistent and patient".

Noting Razali's balanced approach and determination to assist in the
ongoing dialogue in the process, Hla Min said, "Razali's frank discussion
with State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Chairman Senior-General
Than Shwe, Vice Chairman Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and Secretary-1 of
the SPDC General Khin Nyunt helped clarify issues and continued to expand
confidence". "We very much appreciate the hard work of UN special envoy
Razali and hope that friends of Myanmar worldwide will support this
process with patience and understanding of the complexity of the
situation," he went on to say, adding that the government is encouraged
after Razali's five-day visit last week.

Hla Min cited one of the facts that since 1990, the Myanmar government has
achieved much in its progression toward national unity, concluding
agreements with 17 anti-government armed groups and bringing them into the
legal fold.

He pledged the government's commitment to working with all national races
to ensure an enduring national reconciliation and steady progress toward
building a more unified and peaceful nation.

In a renewed effort to speed up Myanmar's national reconciliation process,
Razali made an official visit to the country from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16,
which was also the ninth since his appointment as the envoy in April 2000.

During his trip, Razali also met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
(ASSK), General Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD), in
addition to the government leaders.

However, no details of their talks were disclosed by both sides.

At the end of his visit on last Saturday, Razali said he was disappointed
with little progress in restoring dialogue between the government and the
opposition, adding that "I can't expect good results all the time."

He expressed continued belief that "dialogue on substantive issues is
essential if lasting endurable national reconciliation in Myanmar is to be
achieved".

Razali was believed to have initiated the confidence-building talks
between the two sides since October 2000 which resulted in the release of
ASSK and 334 NLD members and its activists.

However, no timetable has been set by the government to further the talks
after ASSK's release despite repeated calls by the NLD to start a
substantive dialogue on the future of the country.

Meanwhile, the international community including the UN has also been
calling for such a dialogue between the government and the opposition to
bring about national reconciliation in the country as early as possible.

The NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 general election sponsored by
the military, gaining 396 parliamentary seats out of 485.

However, the NLD complained that it has not been allowed to take office
until now although the election has ended for more than 12 years.

Meanwhile, the government insists that it is a care-taker or transitional
one with no intention to hold on to power for long.
________

Xinhua News Agency
November 25 2002

Crime cases in Myanmar increase

The number of  crime cases in Myanmar, especially the
international-organized ones, has increased, said the local weekly Myanmar
Times Monday.

Quoting a high-ranking Myanmar police officer, the report said the Myanmar
authorities exposed 84 human trafficking cases, involving 248 women and 23
children, from 1999 to the end of October this year. These cases had
brought about the conviction of 120 traffickers receiving prison terms of
ranging from three years to the maximum penalty of 14 years.

According to the report, there was a sharp rise in human trafficking cases
from eight in 1999 to 37 in the first ten months of this year.

The report added that there were many more unexposed cases involving job
seekers who were being exploited in neighboring countries.

According to the police sources, 5,722 Myanmar illegal workers including
2,156 women had returned from Thailand in the nine months to the end of
October this year.

In February this year, Myanmar formed a leading committee, headed by the
first secretary of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council,
General Khin Nyunt, on receiving illegal Myanmar workers in Thailand. It
opened a reception camp in its border town of Myawaddy then for the
returnees.

It was reported that there are 140,000 Myanmar refugees and more than
400,000 Myanmar illegal immigrants in Thailand.
_______

Agence France-Presse
November 25 2002

Myanmar prisoner release fails to mollify junta’s critics

YANGON: The Myanmar junta’s announcement of a major release of political
prisoners has failed to appease its critics, with the United States and
rights group Amnesty International labelling the move inadequate.

The prisoners began making their way home from jails around the country on
Thursday, in the largest release since the regime began a UN-brokered
dialogue with the democratic opposition two years ago.

But Amnesty said in a statement that most of the dissidents, among an
estimated 1,200-1,300 behind bars in the country, had already served long
jail terms for minor crimes. “We welcome these releases but stress that
they are long overdue, and must be followed by the unconditional release
of other prisoners of conscience who have been suffering in Myanmar’s
prisons for too long,” it said. “Among those already released are
individuals who have served six or more years for acts which not be
considered crimes under international law, such as talking to foreign
journalists about torture of political prisoners.”

Amnesty also said the junta must ensure that the dissidents, including 57
members of the opposition National League for Democracy, would not be
forced to serve the rest of their terms if they were arrested again.

“The (government) must ensure that these releases are unconditional, and
that prisoners are not subjected to harassment after their release,” it
said.

Stinging criticism also came from the United States, with the State
Department’s senior Asia policymaker James Kelly saying the government’s
move was “welcome, but highly incomplete and inadequate”.

“Burma’s population continues to be denied basic human and political
rights across the board,” he said Thursday, using the country’s former
name which was ditched by the military government.. Kelly hit out at the
junta’s handling of claims this year by two Thailand-based groups that its
troops were guilty of mass-rape of women in Shan province where an
insurgency has raged for decades.

____GUNS______

Agence France-Presse
November 25 2002

Shan rebels dismiss reports of threatened Myanmar junta offensive

Ethnic Shan rebels Monday dismissed reports the Myanmar junta was
preparing a major offensive against its forces in the next few months.

"Myanmar soldiers are moving regularly but there are no indications of
preparing a major assault in the near future," said Shan State Army (SSA)
spokeswoman Nam Khur Hsen. "However, we are always prepared and ready to
defend our positions," she told AFP by telephone from a base camp near
Thai border.

The Bangkok Post on Sunday quoted Thai army task force commander
Major-General Nakorn Sripetchphand as saying a massive buildup of troops
and heavy weapons had begun, with the dry-season assault expected to go
ahead in December or January.

Nakorn reportedly expressed concern that a new round of fighting with the
SSA, which Myanmar accuses Thailand of supporting, could intensify border
tensions.

"Any cross-border operation would be dealt with in accordance with the
army's rules of engagement," he told the daily, stressing that border
incursions would not be tolerated.

Nam Khur Hsen said hundreds of Myanmar troops were currently deployed in
Shan state, but that most were assigned as security to road-repairing
projects after damage caused during the rainy season.

However, 10 days ago, government soldiers attacked an SSA frontline
position located opposite Thailand's Chiang Mai province, she said.

"It was minor; I think just psychological warfare from Yangon."

Relations between Thailand and Myanmar sank to a new low earlier this year
when a Myanmar offensive against the SSA -- one of the few rebel groups
still fighting Yangon's rule -- resulted in stray shells landing in
Thailand.
_____

Democratic Voice of Burma
November 23 2002

OVER 200 MILITARY TRUCKS BOUGHT FROM CHINA ARRIVES MU-SE

It has been learned that over 200 Chinese made Dongfeng six-wheel military
trucks bought by the SPDC State Peace and Development Council from China
have crossed the border on 20 November and arrived at Mu-se. The trucks
were driven from (?Shiangong) in China by military truck drivers in
civilian clothes. Of those, 50 trucks were driven towards Mandalay on 21
November. All the trucks were handed over after careful maintenance and
inspection at the car yard in Shiangong. It has been learned that SPDC
bought over 300 military trucks (?with fog lights) from China last year
mid year. Whenever the SPDC bought weapons and military equipment from
China the Burmese side always settle the account with jade, timber, and
farm produce. It is not clear how the present deal will be settled. DVB
Democratic Voice of Burma has also learned that the SPDC bought 30
truckloads of weapons and ammunition from India on 2 November.

_____-INTERNATIONAL_______

Agence France-Presse
November 25 2002

Myanmar rejects US "tongue-lashing"

Myanmar's military rulers on Monday rejected a "tongue-lashing" meted out
last week by a senior US official, but seized on signs that the United
States attaches increasing credibility to its anti-narcotics drive.

Junta spokesman Colonel Hla Min also said in a statement, released through
the junta's Washington-based lobbying firm, that Myanmar would stand with
the United States in its anti-terror campaign and would continue to
release political dissidents.

His remarks referred to a speech by Assistant Secretary of State James
Kelly last week, the most detailed accounting yet of Bush administration
Myanmar policy. Kelly told Yangon's rulers they should "hang their heads
in shame" over their buckled economy and criticised the slow pace of a
rapprochement dialogue with the opposition, but did note that Myanmar's
campaign against drugs production had progressed.

"We fully accept the fair credit, and regret the 'tongue-lashing' we
received in the Assistant Secretary's remarks, said Hla Min.

"In either case we recommit ourselves to the serious work of narcotics
control and cooperation in the war on terror as it is not only threatening
our two nations but the entire world community as well."

In the statement, which played up the few uncritical sections on Kelly's
remarks, Myanmar drug czar Kyaw Thein said "we very much appreciate this
recognition of our serious effort to cut opium production.

"We are making progress and aim to reduce the total opium crop by another
50 percent next year," he said in remarks similar to those released
earlier on Monday in Yangon.

The Washington Post last week reported that some mid-level US officials
were considering removing Myanmar from a list of "major" drugs producers
-- a key goal of the military government in Yangon.

Human rights activists are dismayed by the idea as they say the regime
would use the decision to claim wider legitimacy, despite being pilloried
for political repression.

Hla Min also said that Myanmar's release of dissidents would "not be
affected by the Assistant Secretary's dismissal of the largest-ever
release of political detainees" announced last week.

Amnesty International has already criticised the scope of the release,
saying many dissidents had served long jail-terms for political offenses
not recognised under international law.

Kelly said in a speech to a forum of Myanmar experts last week that the
releases were "welcome, but highly incomplete and inadequate".
________

Agence France-Presse
November 25 2002

No decisions on Myanmar’s drug status: US
US officials said Friday that no decisions had been taken on downgrading
Myanmar’s status as one of the world’s top drugs exporters, following a
report that the military state could be taken off a US list of major
narcotics producers.

“It is under review. There has been a certain amount of progress,” said a
senior State Department official on condition of anonymity.

“Nobody has come to any conclusions about Burma and narcotics
certification, but it is under review,” said the official, using Myanmar’s
former name.

State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said later that President
George W. Bush would make a final determination on Myanmar’s status in the
next few months. “I certainly couldn’t speculate, as some have done in the
press, on possible outcomes,” he said.

The Washington Post reported Friday that State Department officials were
close to recommending Myanmar’s removal from the list of major drugs
producers, a move that would need to be reviewed by the White House.

Myanmar has made strenuous efforts in recent times to prove that it is
serious about eradicating opium production in the country, sending
anti-drugs czar Colonel Kyaw Thein to Washington to meet senior US
officials earlier this year.

The United Nations said in August that opium production in Myanmar, the
world’s biggest producer of the drug in 2001, had declined to 828 tonnes
in 2002 from 1,097 tonnes in 2001.

US officials have long admitted privately that certain members of the
military regime in Yangon are sincere about the anti-drugs drive, despite
their fierce criticism of the government’s record on human rights,
economic management and political repression.

James Kelly, the State Department’s top policymaker for East Asia and the
Pacific said in a major speech on Myanmar on Thursday that Yangon had
continued to cooperate with the international community. “Over the past
year, the area under poppy cultivation has declined by 26 per cent and
opium production in the country as a whole is now less than one-quarter
its level in 1996,” he said.

But he warned that “unfortunately, methamphetamine production, which
strikes worst at Burma’s Southeast Asian neighbors, has likely increased.”

Any decision to remove Myanmar from the major drug producers list would
open the way to possibly significant anti-drugs funding.

But it would likely be resisted by supporters of the embattled opposition
of Aung San Suu Kyi in the US Congress and the non-governmental
organisation community.

Campaigners fear that the junta would showcase its new status and portray
it as international acceptance of its rule. The issue came to the fore as
a closed door meeting of analysts and policymakers on Myanmar went ahead
in Washington.

Panelists included Myanmar’s ambassador to the United States, but
dissident groups complained that no one from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National
League for Democracy (NLD) was invited to take part, though some party
members were in the audience. Kelly said at the forum on Thursday night
that signs of tentative progress in a UN-brokered government-opposition
dialogue over the past six months stood out only because the country’s
plight was so “bleak.”

__DRUGS_____

Agence France-Presse
November 25 2002

Myanmar junta says aiming to cut opium production by half next year

Myanmar's junta says it plans to cut opium production by half next year,
and rejected a prediction that a record one billion "speed" pills would be
trafficked into Thailand in 2003.

The United Nations says opium production in Myanmar, the world's biggest
producer of the drug in 2001 when Afghan production slumped under a
Taliban ban, had declined to 828 tonnes in 2002 from 1,097 tonnes in 2001.

The military government's anti-narcotics spokesman Colonel Kyaw Thein said
in an official information sheet that Myanmar aimed to reduce the opium
crop by another 50 percent next year, down to about 400 tonnes.

"We have achieved much progress by implementing a multi-pronged narcotics
control program on our own with limited resources to eliminate opium
production which is threatening the youth of today," he said.

The junta also hit out Monday at the Thai army's comment that it was
braced for the flood of methamphetamines manufactured in Myanmar
laboratories to increase from about 700 million pills believed to have
been trafficked in 2002.

"It is not only regretful but perplexing to know how a responsible Thai
institution can come up with amazing speculation on how much
methamphetamine pills... came and will come across the border from
Myanmar," a spokesman for the regime said in a statement.

"If that institution is so effective and efficient in gathering
intelligence ... why is it that Thailand managed only to catch a mere
small fraction of the drugs sold inside the country," he added.

The border drugs trade, which Thai and US authorities say is masterminded
by the Yangon-allied United Wa State Army (UWSA), is a perennial irritant
to relations between Thailand and Myanmar.

Both countries trade accusations that the other supports ethnic armies
accused of involvement in the trafficking business.

After decades of programs to eradicate opium production in the famed
"Golden Triangle" region which takes in parts of Thailand and Myanmar,
heroin production has fallen off, only to be replaced by methamphetamines.

The cheap and highly addictive pills are responsible for a massive
addiction problem in Thailand where an estimated four percent of the
population is estimated to be hooked on "yaa baa" or "crazy medicine".

Myanmar has made strenuous efforts to prove that it is serious about
eradicating drug production on its soil.

The Washington Post reported Friday that US State Department officials
were close to recommending Myanmar's removal from a list of major drugs
producers, a move that would need to be reviewed by the White House.

But US officials said no decisions had been taken yet on downgrading
Myanmar's status, although the move was under review.

__REGIONAL_____

Irrawaddy
November 25 2002

India to Block Burmese Gem Smugglers
By Moitreyee Khaund

November 25, 2002—India’s customs authorities have stepped up operations
along the India-Burma border after increasing discoveries of gems smuggled
from Burma, Indian officials said.
"Burmese stones are in high demand in the Indian markets because of their
quality and are also are cheaper compared to gems from other countries,"
an official said.
Burma is one of the world’s richest sources of precious stones. Burma’s
northwest, particularly Kachin State and Sagaing Division, is noted for
its jade reserves, as well as gold and rubies.
During the last couple of years, several seizures along border points in
northeast India have caused concern for the Indian government. With
increasing demand for Burmese gems in India, smuggling activity in the
area has intensified and sources say smugglers have found different
routes. Officials admit that with the mountainous terrain in the area, it
is impossible to completely seal all points along the India-Burma border.
In 1996, seven states in northeast India demanded the national government
deploy more forces to contain the menace, but New Delhi has failed to
respond until now.
Sources also revealed that members of underground groups are mired in the
trade. Militant groups in Kachin State and others across the border in the
state of Manipur maintain a strong presence in the area and have been
implicated in several smuggling operations. Indian officials have already
arrested smugglers who they say are members of the United National
Liberation Front, a Manipur-based group fighting for independence from
federated India.
Officials say smugglers hire young Burmese men to help dispatch
consignments to different points in India. "Burmese men are given very
little money to transport goods for the smugglers. They are forced to
follow the instructions of the smugglers," officials said.
Authorities in India say they have identified new smuggling routes and
have already seized several shipments on route from Burma.

___MISCELLANEOUS_______

Bangkok Post
November 25 2002

TRYING TO GET BY WITHOUT SINCERITY

The military junta ruling Burma is stuck in a particularly cruel and
vicious circle. We saw another example of this last week. The United
Nations envoy stepped up diplomatic pressure on Rangoon to keep its
promises to negotiate for democracy. The generals reached into a literally
bottomless supply of political prisoners and released another 115 of these
hapless people. This process has been going on for 11 years now. The
regime is clearly never going to run out of such prisoners.

The current military dictatorship seized control of Burma in 1988 in one
of Asia's worst bloodbaths. After killing thousands of Burmese in August
of 1988, the regime locked up thousands more. Since then, an unaccountable
system has continued to jail peaceful opponents of the regime, and then
release them to pacify sensitive but conventional diplomats. This process
began in early 1992. After officially lifting martial law, the regime
released 500 political prisoners. Because the Rangoon regime refuses to
account for its activities to its citizens, no one knows how many
prisoners the generals hold on strictly political charges. The world does
know however that the junta lies about it and counts on the short memories
of the diplomats charged by the United Nations with replacing its harsh
regime. Rangoon said last week's promise to release 115 prisoners was the
biggest ever. But in the 1992 release, 500 were supposedly set free.

The size of such releases is one of many tactics the Rangoon dictators use
to avoid discussing their responsibility to the world body _ to negotiate
a regime change with democracy leaders. The UN has wisely refrained from
setting any preconditions on what form of government Burma should have
after the dictatorship. That is up to the Burmese. What a shame the
generals refuse to allow them to choose.

It is appalling in this year 2002 that Burma holds any political
prisoners. Many of those still locked up are members of opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. Their crime was to win
election to parliament in 1990. That occurred in stunningly honest
elections run by the generals in order to identify their political
enemies, and to deal with them. But it is not difficult to go to jail for
political reasons in Burma. Three weeks ago, law student Thet Naung Soe
received a 14-year prison sentence for _ ironically? _ calling publicly
and peacefully for the release of political prisoners.

The promise last week to release 115 political prisoners represents
little. It digs only casually into the vast store of people to release. By
the lowest of estimates by the UN, Burma holds 1,200 to 1,500 such
unfortunate people. Amnesty International believes there are 1,500 to
2,000. Ms Suu Kyi believes more than 2,000 are held, including many locked
into their homes, as she was on three different occasions.

The Burmese regime has many responsibilities it fails to meet. It has
taken no discernible action to stop its drug trafficking Wa allies from
soiling and eviscerating Thai youths and ethics. It cows its people rather
than protect them, and fosters a huge, seething unrest that threatens
major internal violence once again. Burma has most spectacularly, and most
importantly, failed its promises and responsibility to be a civilised and
responsible member of the world community.

The United Nations has charged a special envoy and a human rights office
with convincing Rangoon to negotiate a peaceful change of political
system. Burma promised to participate and broke its promise. Rangoon's
actions threaten regional and world instability. Last month, Europe
promised to punish Asean economically if Burma refuses to negotiate with
democratic forces next year. Thailand must join the world in putting
forceful diplomatic pressure on Burma to act responsibly or pay the price
of other recalcitrant, unsociable regimes.

______

Women’s League of Burma
November 25 2002

Press Release:

Tomorrow, the 25 November is the International day of Elimination of 
Violence against Women.

The WLB produced posters to use in its activities on elimination of
violence against women in communities.

Saying on the poster is " MEN CAN STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN".
There are 13 languages of the same meaning on the poster. The languages
are: Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Chin, Palaung, Pa-O, Mon, Burmese, Rakhaing,
Shan, Lahu, English and Thai.

WLB members will distribute the poster to organizations in Burma's
movement and organizations in our network. Some WLB members will join
friends from Thailand to commemorate the Day and some members will
organized gatherings to commemorate the International day of Elimination
of Violence against Women.

WLB hope all members will have chance to join the international sisters
and friends on the day to call for an end to violence against women which
plague every community.

One of the attach file is background story of the day which was sent by
Migrant Action Program based in Chiang Mai.The other is programs in
Bangkok and Chiang Mai for your information.
_______

Stanford Daily
November 25 2002

Dictatorship impedes freedom in Myanmar

Zaw Lin Hteik is currently the only Stanford undergraduate from Myanmar, a
country of 46 million people in Southeast Asia that is also known as
Burma. He’s a freshman struggling through the normal adjustment to college
life, with the additional burden of living 36 hours and three plane rides
from Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, where he had lived his entire life
before coming to Stanford.
Although the military government that took control of the country adopted
the name Myanmar in 1989, the United States has never recognized the
current government, and still officially calls the country Burma. While
Zaw Lin Hteik bears a passport from Myanmar, his U.S. visa identifies him
as being from Burma.
Myanmar has recently had a slight loosening of restrictions with the
release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner and arguably the
world’s most famous political prisoner. Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy party won the democratic elections in 1990, but the military has
never allowed her party to take power. Still, there is no thriving
democratic movement. The last peaceful protests in Myanmar took place in
1988 and were crushed by the military, resulting in about 3,000 deaths.
Yesterday, The Daily sat down with Zaw Lin Hteik to talk to him about his
experiences at Stanford and his take on politics at home.
The Daily: What’s it like being the first Burmese student here?
Zaw Lin Hteik: First of all, I feel kind of proud, you know, for my
friends and my country. Another thing is I feel kind of lonely because I
don’t have any Burmese students to talk to in my language.
TD: What made you want to come to the United States?
ZLH: Nowadays most of the students from my country go abroad after their
high school education, at least to Malaysia, or Singapore, or another
Southeast Asian country for education. Also, many students go to the
States because they believe that it’s the best place for education. People
in my country, like parents, they are very proud when their students come
to the United States.
People are now more interested in coming to the United States. When I took
the SAT, there were about 40 students who took the test. Then, this year,
there are more like 150-200 students in the whole country taking the SAT.
It seems like it is becoming more popular. Three or four years ago there
were just two or three people taking the SAT.
TD: Why do students leave Myanmar for an education? Does that have to do
with your government?
ZLH: [The government] is trying to change policies and improve the
education system; however, in my country we don’t have much technology,
even compared to Thailand, our neighboring country. Technology is very
different. [Students] are quite sure [they] will get a better education
abroad.
TD: Do you think the education will improve in Myanmar? Do you think there
will be a time in the future when people stay?
ZLH: I don’t think there will be many bigger changes because we don’t have
technology.
TD: Tell us a little about the government. It’s a military dictatorship,
correct?
ZLH: Yes, but when I left my country, two or three months ago, the
political situation was not very stable; people were kind of expecting a
change. As far as I know, there hasn’t been a change yet. People are also
quiet; they don’t take any initiative. At the moment, it’s kind of stable,
but people are expecting a change. Usually [at home] we do not talk about
politics at all.
TD: What’s the economic situation in Burma?
ZLH: Well, currently, two months ago, inflation was very, very high.
TD: Did that make it hard to save, and hard to have a stable income?
ZLH: Yes. Prices really were rising faster than incomes.
TD: So, the people generally don’t support the government, but no one
wants to speak out against it?
ZLH: The media is somewhat controlled. It’s kind of the nature of the
Burmese people. Even in history, Burmese people were very content with
their life. They don’t try to change things. They will just focus on their
life. Even when our country was a British colony, it was the same. It’s
kind of a Burmese trait; people are very content with what they have. They
just focus on their own life. It may be kind of the religion [Buddhism],
as well.
TD: Do you have access to any media besides the state-controlled press in
Myanmar?
ZLH: There are some weekly newspapers these days; they seem to be very
informative. But they’re not for everyone. They’re a little expensive.
Only the middle class can buy them, not the lower class.
TD: Do you have access to the Internet in Myanmar?
ZLH: They are trying to give us more access. Both the government and a
private company are trying to give us access, but access is very
expensive. We can’t get access to some sites, especially adult sites,
gambling sites and maybe some political sites; I’m not sure. Most people
still don’t have Internet access.
TD: What was it like coming to a country and speaking a language you’d
never spoken before?
ZLH: It takes some time to get used to it. I often get lost. When I’m
talking with a person one-on-one, it’s OK. When I’m talking at a dining
table with four or five native speakers, I usually get silent. Because the
stuff they’re talking about, I’m usually not very familiar with. I really
miss talking in my language. When I talked on the phone with Burmese
friends in other colleges, I was so, so happy. I’d never spoken English in
school before I got here. I just learned it.