BurmaNet News: July 6-7 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

July 6-7 2003 Issue #2278

INSIDE BURMA

AFP: ICRC begins first visit to Myanmar’s Insein prison since start of
crackdown
Australian: Little hope for Suu Kyi’s release
Irrawaddy: MP released after suicide attempt

GUNS

BBC: Burmese army destroys Naga rebel base

MONEY

Irrawaddy: Transport companies targeted
SCMP: British travel firms face pressure over Myanmar trips

REGIONAL

Mizzima: Burma FM to visit India
DPA: Myanmar seeks Bangladesh’s help in ending isolation of Suu Kyi
Nation: Photos of Suu Kyi fail to clear doubts

ON THE BORDER

Irrawaddy: Two more arrests over Mae Sot Massacre

INTERNATIONAL

AFP: Myanmar foreign minister to visit Pakistan
AP: EU imposes tougher sanctions on Myanmar for ‘serious violations of
human rights’

STATEMENTS/OPINIONS

Malaysiakini: Suu Kyi must be released
NCGUB & NCUB: Joint statement
ABFSU: Statement on the 41st anniversary of the July 7th Student crackdown
Washington Post: Burma’s burdened villagers

INSIDE BURMA

Agence France Presse July 7 2003

ICRC begins first visit to Myanmar's Insein prison since start of crackdown

The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) Monday made its first
visit to Yangon's notorious Insein prison since the May 30 violence which
led to the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, an official
said.

The ICRC visit is routine and expected to continue for two weeks, but the
team expects to meet with prisoners arrested in connection with the
clashes in northern Myanmar, ICRC deputy head of delegation Alfredo Mallet
told AFP.

"For us visiting Insein is a really routine thing. It's a jail we used to
visit several times a year and a huge team of ICRC delegates is there
inside," he said.

"Of course after the events of May 30 we are a little more cautious and we
are trying to perform a more careful visit but it remains a routine matter
for the ICRC visiting."

Mallet said all political prisoners at Insein were entitled to be visited
by the ICRC under its agreement with the military government, but its team
would make a particular effort to meet new prisoners.

He added that "nothing very clear from the authorities" had been received
on its request to meet Aung San Suu Kyi. The group has been barred from
seeing the 1991 Nobel peace prize winner, who was being held at Insein
jail before she was moved at the end of June to an undisclosed location.

The ICRC has confirmed that the junta has jailed at least 30 pro-democracy
activists following a nationwide democracy crackdown in the wake of the
violence between Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters and a pro-junta mob.

"With the days going on I think the figure will increase a bit," Mallet said.

Insein prison has a reputation as Myanmar's harshest and most sinister
jail, home to torture chambers used to interrogate political prisoners and
gallows.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won elections in
1990 but has never been permitted to rule by the military.
___________

Australian July 7 2003

Little hope for Suu Kyi's release
By Kimina Lyall, Southeast Asia correspondent

BURMA'S military regime has published a character attack on democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi purportedly written by a close member of her circle which
blames
her "rash judgments followed by blind action" for the breakdown of
reconciliation t
alks between her party and the ruling generals.

The article, in the state newspaper The New Light of Myanmar, was
published with
pictures of the Nobel peace prize laureate dining with military leader
Than Shwe
and was said to be written by National League for Democracy member Maung Yin
Hmaing.

While some diplomats said the article did not augur well for hopes of the
early
 release of Ms Suu Kyi, who has been held in an undisclosed location since
May 30,
some Burma analysts said it was a sign the junta was on the defensive over
continuing international criticism of her detention.

It comes after two witnesses to the May 30 violence, which led to her
detention
and left an estimated 90 NLD members missing, arrived in Bangkok and gave
detailed descriptions of the violence.

Burma's generals, who call the country Myanmar, are also reeling from a
decision
by Japan to freeze new aid until Ms Suu Kyi is released.

One of the undated pictures showing the two leaders shaking hands was
captioned: Exchanging Clear Smiles and Shaking Trustful Hands.

Another described a "family dinner" hosted by General Than Shwe for
Ms Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders.

But the substance of the article was designed to demonstrate that Ms Suu Kyi
was losing the support of her own party.

"The way she considers the NLD as if she owns it, and acts as sole proprietor
of the organisation, is certainly not in tune with the desires of the rest
of NLD
party members," wrote Maung Yin Hmaing, who at one point in the article said
he was "not on close terms with her" but at another described himself as
"a member of the inner circle with access to her compound".

"Auntie Suu is a wilful and hard-headed person, liable to rash judgments
followed
by blind action, in her relations with the present Government. Nevertheless,
whatever the provocation, responsible leaders of the present Government,
preferring to act with forbearance, and on the basis of give and take, have
always chosen to take action in moderation," he said.

He described a situation where Ms Suu Kyi "flew into a rage" after meeting
a Government representative. "We of course as usual had to make ourselves
scarce to cower in corners here and there to escape her wrath. Otherwise we
would bear the brunt of her anger," he said.

In a bizarre conclusion typical of the junta's propaganda machine, Maung Yin
Hmaing, whose name is not familiar to Burma's exiled activists, claimed
Ms Suu Kyi protested at an NLD photographer taking video footage of her
during a particular journey. He said it was unusual for her to object to
being photographed.
_______________

Irrawaddy July 7 2003

MP Released after Suicide Attempt
By Aung Maw Zin

Soe Win, an elected Member of Parliament (MP) from Pegu Division was
released from detention on June 29 after attempting suicide in response to
weeks of interrogation by military intelligence (MI) officers.
Sources close to Soe Win said he took an overdose of diuretics to avoid
further questioning by MI officers. He was taken into custody by MI unit
26 on June 5 and held at an interrogation center until his release. Upon
arriving at his home, Soe Win was unable to walk or speak and had very low
blood pressure, sources say.
After struggling with serious pain, the elected MP was admitted into the
Asia Tawwin private hospital in San Gyaung, Rangoon in the early morning
of July 4. Sources say he suffered a stroke as well as head and eye
injuries while in custody, which some believe resulted from torture. He is
still recovering in the hospital but family sources expect him to be
released soon.
Colleagues report that Soe Win remains strong in spirit. He would try
suicide again if MIs forced him to answer questions he does not want to,
his colleagues recounted Soe Win saying. Friends are able to visit Soe Win
in the hospital, but he is kept under surveillance by MI officers.
Soe Win, 58, was elected as an MP with the National Party for Democracy,
which was banned in December 1990. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
Economic and Industrial Production and has served in the National League
for Democracy’s (NLD) Information Department since 1990.
Despite strong criticism from the international community, the ruling
junta still refuses to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD members
which have been in detention since the May 30 clash and the crackdown that
followed.

GUNS

BBC July 7 2003

Burmese army destroys Naga rebel base

A rebel group in the north-east Indian state of Nagaland says its
headquarters in neighbouring Burma has been destroyed by troops.
A spokesman for the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of
Nagaland (NSCN) told the BBC that Burmese soldiers launched an attack on
the group's headquarters with mortars and rockets last week, forcing the
rebels to retreat into dense jungle.
A BBC correspondent in the region says two previous attempts by the
Burmese army to take over the rebel camps failed, with many casualties.
Earlier this year, India and Burma signed an agreement to cooperate
against terrorism.

MONEY
Irrawaddy July 7 2003
Transport Companies Targeted
By Tin Maung Htoo

 The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is lobbying
shipping companies, cruise operators and airlines to stop doing business
in Burma in response to the May 30 crackdown on Burma’s opposition.
"We call on trade unions around the world to take action against Burmese
registered ships and aircraft," said ITF General Secretary David Cockroft.
The federation targeted cruise operator Carnival, Hong Kong-based
Hutchison Port Holdings, Bermuda-registered Sea Containers and Austrian
airline Lauda Air, which flies between Europe and Burma.
News of the ITF action was featured in the influential transport trade
publication, Tradewinds. According to the magazine, Hutchison is on the
blacklist because it operates a container terminal at Thilawa, outside
Rangoon.
Sea Containers works in Burma through its subsidiary, Orient Express, and
runs a luxury cruises on the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers. Several of the
companies in ITF’s sights, including Orient Express, are also under
pressure from the British government, who last week called on UK-based
tourism operators to end their business in Burma.
Other shipping companies earmarked by the ITF include Cho Yang of South
Korea, Mitsui OSK of Japan and Louis Dreyfus of France.
Peter Lahy, ITF’s Canada Coordinator, says the federation has a prominent
standing in the shipping industry and is confident the campaign will have
a noticeable impact on the Burmese economy. The ITF has been a long-time
critic of the Burmese regime and was instrumental in convincing the
International Labor Organization to implement sanctions against Rangoon.
The federation has also defended labor rights for Burmese seafarers.
"Burmese ships usually trade locally and try to avoid countries with
strong port workers and seafarers trade unions," Cockroft noted. He
promised that Burmese seafarers on foreign flagships would receive strong
support from ITF ship inspectors.
_________

South China Morning Post July 7 2003

British travel firms face pressure over Myanmar trips

BRITISH TRAVEL companies that operate in Myanmar are the next in line to
be targeted by Britain's Foreign Office, which has already forced British
American Tobacco (BAT) to consider pulling its #10 million (HK$ 130
million) investment in the country that is rife with human rights abuses,
reports The Independent.

Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien on Friday began drawing up a list of
travel companies that operate tours to Myanmar. He said he would write to
"all travel organisations with any links with tourism in Burma. If any are
involved, we will target them."

There are around 30 travel companies that operate tours and holiday
packages to Myanmar, including the cruise company Carnival. The threat of
renewed government pressure has already begun to take effect as
Travelsphere Holidays said it would end tours to Myanmar from 2004 for
"commercial and moral" reasons.

Abercrombie & Kent said in light of government calls: "We will review our
position on Myanmar once we receive the letter from the government," and
Kuoni has already pulled its Myanmese holiday packages, citing a falling
off in demand. Orient Express, however, one of the largest tour operators
in Myanmar, refused to comment on whether it would bow to government
demands.

Mr O'Brien's decision to target travel companies came after BAT said it
would consider withdrawing from Myanmar where it has a cigarette factory.
"In light of the formal request by the government, we are now considering
what we are going to do, and we will be looking at all the options
available to us," a spokeswoman for BAT said but Burma Campaign UK said:
"We believe there is no way BAT cannot pull out of Burma. They are under
so much pressure, they cannot continue to try to justify their actions
there."

The pressure on BAT to withdraw has increased following the decision of
Premier Oil to exit the country last week. The British Conservative Party
said that it would support moves to sanction companies that trade or
invest in the Myanmese regime.

Blue move: JetBlue Airways will add more legroom to some of its seats,
imitating the tactic American Airlines began three years ago, writes
Knight Ridder.

It is not designed to flatter the world's largest airline, but rather to
flatten it.

JetBlue will take out one row of seats on its 44 Airbus A320s by November,
giving passengers two extra inches of space and allowing the seats in the
back row to recline.

American became the only big carrier to put two or three inches of extra
legroom throughout its coach cabins in 2000. United Airlines has more room
for the first 10 rows of its coach.

Southern drift: The number of non-African tourists visiting South Africa
rose 15.3 per cent to 153,764 in April from the same month a year ago,
boosted by a surge in arrivals from Britain, France and Germany.

According to Bloomberg, British arrivals leaped 31 per cent to 42,559 and
French tourists climbed 28 per cent to 11,875. The number of German
visitors throughout the month rose 14 per cent to 18,807.

The April increase suggests tourism, which makes up 7.1 per cent of the
economy, may be immune to the rand's 59 per cent rally against the US
dollar since the end of 2001, which has pushed up prices of everything
from hotel rooms to beer for overseas visitors. The rand's strength is
eroding the competitiveness of South African exports and threatening
thousands of jobs in mining and manufacturing.

South Africa's tourism industry employs half a million people and has
overtaken the mining industry on which the wealth of the country was
built.

Attractions such as Table Mountain and the fear of terrorist attacks
elsewhere in the world have protected the industry from the slowdown
affecting the rest of the economy.

Almost two-thirds of the 572,603 foreign visitors to South Africa in April
were from six African neighbours, including 105,875 arrivals from Lesotho
and 84,344 from Botswana.

REGIONAL

Mizzima July 7 2003

Burma FM visit to India

Despite strong criticism among the masses about the recent arrest of world
famous leader Aung San Suu Kyi,Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung will
undertake two-day visit to India  from tomorrow,highly-placed official
sources told this correspondent today. The foreign minister visit  has
created sensation among the political circles at a time when several
political parties have been vehemently opposing the arrest of Aung San Suu
kyi.
   The Burmese Foreign minister is likely to hold a series of talks with
his Indian counterpart covering border dispute and supply of arms and
ammunition to Burma.India and Burma have improved bilateral relations
to a large extent within a span of just three years .
  The sources further stated that India is likely to raise the militancy
issue as it has affecxted the economy of the northeast India to a large
extent .”Militancy certainly figure in the course of discussion between
the two senior leaders”,the sources added.
  It is the second visit of the Burmese Foreign minister within a span of
just four months.
  The sources also said that the Burmese foreign minister is likely to
meet senior ministers of the NDA government of India .
___________-

Deutsche Presse Agentur July 7 2003

Myanmar seeks Bangladesh's help in ending isolation of Suu Kyi

The ruling military junta of Myanmar (Burma) has sought cooperation from
neighbouring Bangladesh to help break the country's international
isolation over the recent detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
diplomatic sources said Sunday.

The cooperation was sought in a letter to Bangladeshi Prime Minister
Khaleda Zia from the head of Myanmar's military government, Senior General
Than Shwe, which was carried personally by the country's Foreign Minister
U Win Aung.

Aung delivered the letter Sunday on the second day of a three-day visit
during which he also reviewed with Bangladeshi leaders bilateral relations
between the two countries, which share a common border.

The contents of the letter have not been formally disclosed but senior
Bangladeshi officials said these concerned the international outcry over
the detention of the Myanmar opposition leader.

Relations between the two countries became close following the signing of
agreements on border trade, coastal shipping and the setting up of a joint
trade commission during Zia's visit to Yangon (Rangoon) last March.

The two countries have vowed to settle an old irritant in bilateral ties
involving the repatriation from Bangladesh of about 20,000 Myanmar Moslem
refugees.

They are the remnants from about 235,000 ethnic Rohingyas who had fled
Myanmar over the past decade, accusing the military regime of persecution
on the religious minority.
____________

Nation July 7 2003

Photos of Suu Kyi fail to clear doubts
By Marisa Chimprabha

Security agencies remain unconvinced that photos taken of Aung San Suu Kyi
are proof she is safe and healthy as claimed by Burmese government, a
senior security official said yesterday.

Last week, Burma's military junta sent Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung
Win to Thailand to meet Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bid to
explain the detention of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been held in custody at unknown location since May 30
following a clash with government-supported protestors.

The Burmese minister showed Thaksin photos of the pro-democracy leader in
a "safe house". Thaksin later said Aung San Suu Kyi looked healthy in the
photos.

But other officials are yet to be convinced, saying there is no proof
about when and where the photos were taken.

The senior security official, who saw the photos, said an album with about
30 photos was presented by the Burmese minister.

"The photos have not convinced us that what Burma has claimed about the
health and safety of Aung San Suu Kyi is to be believed," the official
said.

The official said some were of a house, while others were of Aung San Suu
Kyi either in a room or shaking hands with the Burmese military junta
chairman General Than Shwe.

None looked like they were of Aung San Suu Kyi within the safe house.

"With those photos, we could not believe what Burma claimed," the official
said.

The shots Thaksin saw included Aung San Suu Kyi shaking hands with the
chairman, were published in the state-run New Light of Myanmar at the
weekend.

The security official said he thought the photos were taken in January,
months before Suu Kyi's detention.

Several countries have strongly criticised the detention of Aung San Suu
Kyi and have demanded her immediate release.

Japan has threatened to suspend new financial assistance unless she is
released.

Khin Maung Win and Foreign Minister, Win Aung, have visited several
countries, including Japan, Malaysia and Bangladesh, in an attempt to
clarify the situation.

ON THE BORDER

Irrawaddy July 7 2003

Two More Arrests over Mae Sot Massacre
By Aung Su Shin
July 07, 2003—Officials arrested another two men for the May 14 murder of
six Burmese migrants on Friday but released them the following day after
they paid bail of 500,000 baht (US $11,900), police say.
Somnik Jasunan, 43, an official from Mae Pa village and Boonchawei
Sawasdi, 38, a member of the village protection unit, were charged in
connection with the murders and for destroying evidence.
Tak Police Chief Maj-Gen Sawiet Pinsinchai told reporters that a thorough
investigation led police to the two men, but admitted the search was not
over. "We are carrying out our work until we can bring all the culprits to
the court to be punished for the crime they did," said Maj-Gen Sawiet.
The police chief vowed to sweep all criminals and dark influences from Tak
province before October, and said that one day the province would be a
nice place to live.
On May 14, six Burmese migrant workers were allegedly rounded up and
killed by local officials attempting to extort 2,500 baht from each of the
workers. Police in Mae Sot have already arrested the chief suspect, Mae Pa
village headman Woon Tamingkum. He was released on bail on June 2.

INTERNATIONAL

Agence France Presse July 7 2003

Myanmar foreign minister to visit Pakistan

Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung is due here for talks with Pakistani
leaders, the foreign ministry announced Monday.

Wang will arrive here Tuesday from Bangladesh where he is currently on a
regional tour as a special envoy of Myanmar President Than Shwe, foreign
office spokesman Masood Khan told a weekly briefing.

Khan did not throw light on the purpose of the rare high-level visit here
from Myanmar which has only nominal trade with Pakistan.
_____________

Associated Press July 7 2003

EU imposes tougher sanctions on Myanmar for 'serious violations of human
rights'

The European Union on Monday broadened its arms embargo against the
military regime in Myanmar, accusing the junta of serious human rights
violations.

The 15 EU governments imposed the tougher sanctions in line with an
agreement reached at their summit last month in Greece. They add the
provision of any arms-related technical training and assistance to a
general arms embargo.

In a statement, the EU said it acted "in view of the further deterioration
in the political situation there and the continuing serious violations of
human rights."

The Red Cross last week said the military regime in Myanmar has at least
30 prisoners from a May 30 clash that triggered a crackdown on dissidents
and to the jailing of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who received the
Nobel prize in 1991 for her nonviolent promotion of democracy in the
country also known as Burma.

STATEMENTS/OPINIONS

Malaysiakini July 6 2003

Suu Kyi must be released
By Jose Ramos-Horta

Current events in Burma are deeply disturbing. A very revered monk,
Sayadaw U Satetara, a high-ranking member of the holy Sangha and strong
supporter of imprisoned Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, passed
away last week from what many suspect were not natural causes.

In the meantime, Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her
campaign to restore democracy and civil liberties in Burma by peaceful
means, remains incarcerated and held
incommunicado.

The recent attacks on Suu Kyi, leader of the country's opposition party,
the National League for Democracy (NLD), and her supporters were
orchestrated by hard-liners in Burma's military regime who fear her
enduring popularity and the national reconciliation process supported by
other, more tolerant, members of the ruling junta.

Appeals for Suu Kyi's release from Rangoon's friends and Burma's
neighbours seem to have fallen on deaf ears. This certainly does not augur
well for the country, and Burma could pay a high price internationally for
the hard-liners' intransigence.
Keep up pressure

Burma's most important foreign donor, Japan, until recently excessively
cautious in its approach to human rights issues in the region, has decided
to stop almost all its support for the country.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), must also
keep up the pressure on the Burmese generals.

The foreign ministers of Asean -- of which Burma is a member -- recently
broke a taboo against interfering in what have traditionally been regarded
as the internal affairs of a member state.

Embarrassed that the international reputation of Asean was suffering
because of the gross and systematic human rights violations in Burma, the
ministers demanded at their recent annual meeting in Phnom Penh that Suu
Kyi be freed immediately.

China, as a regional power, too, must take its cue from Japan and act
decisively in pressuring the Burmese junta to release Suu Kyi. While
understandably cautious in its conduct of foreign relations and not
wanting to be misconstrued as a regional bully, China cannot sidestep its
responsibility by avoiding a central role in the resolution of conflicts
on its doorstep.
Undermine influence
There is also a role for India. As Asia's oldest and the world's first
largest democracy, India is in a position to prod the Burmese generals to
loosen their grip on the nation. New Delhi has had diplomatic experience
in dealing with Rangoon within the ambit of the Non-Aligned Movement.
At this crucial moment, India must not eschew its own responsibilities.

As regional powers, China, Japan and India, working closely with Indonesia
in its current position as chair of Asean, must find a solution to this
impasse. Failure to do so will weaken Asean and undermine its
international influence.

In the 1970s, we witnessed regional silence and complicity surrounding the
Cambodian tragedy. It will be tragic if the same attitude is adopted with
regard to Burma.

But the winds of change are blowing through the region, and there are
encouraging signs that Asean is becoming more prepared to address human
rights abuses in its own backyard.

China, too, has opened up even if it continues to be a one-party state.
Only two countries, Burma and North Korea, remain frozen in time.

There is, however, hope for Burma.
Learn from neighbours

Burma's military regime can learn from the positive lessons of its
neighbours, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines,
Indonesia, and Cambodia. These might not be perfect democracies, but they
are relatively open and economically successful.

In working towards a peaceful and stable political transition, the
democracy movement in Burma as well as the international community must
also consider safeguards and incentives for those in power to allow the
evolution to proceed. The military should be offered assurances that there
will be no vendetta against it once democracy is restored in Burma.

Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union should consider
responding to each meaningful step taken by the military government with
measures such as a gradual easing of travel restrictions for regime
members and providing humanitarian aid through non-government
organizations.

There must also be a role for the United Nations in Burma. The UN, in
close consultation with Asean leaders, must be involved in facilitating
and supervising the steps for free elections within three years.

With political reform under way, the World Bank and other institutions,
such as the United Nations Development Program, should step in to help
reform Burma's institutions and economy.

But for all this to happen the military must first release Suu Kyi and her
supporters, reopen the offices of the National League for Democracy, and
accept a clear timetable for restoring democracy in Burma. - IPS


__________________-

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma and the National
Council of the Union of Burma July 7 2003
''Joint statement of the National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma and the National Council of the Union of Burma on present political
situation in Burma''
''The Political Intervention of the International Community is Critical.''

7 July 2003
Among the ASEAN family of countries, Burma's instability in politics that
has led the country into economic and social problems now threatens the
regional peace and stability. It is a fact which leaders of the regional
governments have come to accept and even recently started giving voice to
their concerns about the rapidly deteriorating situation.

Lack of democracy and the waging of genocidal war against the ethnic
nationalities by the military junta create a flow of political refugees
and migrants into neighboring countries. The lack of rule of law gives
rise to the manufacturing of narcotics, which also flow into neighboring
countries and beyond, and create social problems and security issues for
all concerned.

Not satisfied with denying the mandate of the 1990 election and refusing
to hand over power to the NLD party, the junta had been doing their best
to eliminate the NLD party. The recent premeditated attack of (30) May is
proof that the opportunity for progress through "setting up the basic
foundation of a genuine multi-party democratic system" for the people of
Burma is likely to be eradicated, and, we can never allow this to happen.

Stopping the oppression by the military dictatorship of the ethnic
nationalities is imperative to the development, peace and stability of
Burma. The prolonged conflict has broadened and deepened. It is now
evident that these problems can not be solved by just the people of Burma
but need the unavoidable political intervention of the world community.

The premeditated May (30) Depaeyin crime was committed by the SPDC
military junta to bring the country to total chaos and is in total
disregard of the many Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly
on Burma and  shows that military junta has absolutely no respect for a
dialogue process.

The UN Secretary General had tasked his special envoy Mr. Razali Ismail to
execute the UN Resolutions, but sad to say his efforts are not
acknowledged by the junta. This indicates not only the lack of enforcement
in the UN efforts, but also the need for a change in the approach.

We call upon the international community and the United Nations to
coordinate all their efforts and request the United Nations' Security
Council to take an active part in the  "Burma Peace Process".

We would like the UN Security Council to develop and implement an
effective mechanism to convene the people's parliament and hand over power
according to the will of the peoples as expressed in the 1990 election
results.  Only then lasting peace, development, and progress will be seen
in Burma and only then can it become a dignified member of the ASEAN.

Media Contact: U Bo Hla Tint  - Minister- NCGUB - 61-04-42-2812
                         U Aung Moe Zaw  General  Secretary- NCUB- 66 (0)
9 850 3603
____________

Statement on the 41st Anniversary of the July 7th Student Crackdown

Foreign Affairs Committee
All Burma Federation of Student Unions
7 July 2003

1. Today marks the 41st anniversary of the July 7th 1962 student
crackdown. On that day, Rangoon University's students staged a peaceful
protest against restrictions on the university students. Since students
had objected to the military coup in 1962, the regime had harbored a
grudge against students and brutally crushed down the peaceful student
demonstration. Many students were killed, arrested, and tortured by the
military forces. In addition, the regime dynamited Rangoon University's
historic student union building on the morning of July 8th. Since 1962,
Burma's student unions have been forced go underground. The truth behind
the events of July 1962 is still disclosed by the military regime, but we
believe that Ne Win's military group has sole responsibility for that
crime.

2.  The July 7th repression was a state-sponsored terrorist attack towards
a peaceful movement and an abuse of civil rights, committed by Burma's
military regime. Following July 7th, the regime continued to suppress all
peaceful movements calling for the abolishment of military rule, national
reconciliation, and a democratic government. The regime killed,
arbitrarily arrested, and tortured many people including monks, students
and workers during the 1974 student strike, the 1976 workers' strike, the
1976 student march, the mass student demonstrations of March and June
1988, and the country-wide protests of August and September 1988. These
crimes against civilians will not be forgotten by the student masses. On
May 30th 2003, Burma's military junta, led by Than Shwe, plotted and
attempted the assassination of the people's leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
and other democracy activists.

3. The truth of these acts cannot be kept secret and must be revealed by
an independent commission to prevent further violence and crimes against
humanity. All world governments have a moral obligation to prevent and
condemn such inhumane state-sponsored terrorist acts for the sake of world
civilization and peace. We, the All Burma Federation of Student Unions
Foreign Affairs Committee, strongly condemn the inhumane activities of the
military clique in Burma, including assassination, violence against
peaceful political activism, abuses of civil rights, crimes against
humanity, and so forth. These acts should not be forgiven and must be
ended for a future democratic Burma, with a transformed modern army
system.

4. In the current political situation in Burma, the military junta
continues to use its old model to suppress political activism and maintain
its illegitimate rule. It is obvious that the regime has no intention for
national reconciliation and democratization in Burma. We, the student
masses and all democratic groups of Burma, have struggled for a peaceful
political transition to democratic governance, national reconciliation,
and the country's development to ensure a good education system in Burma.
However, the military regime has failed to join in the common task of all
nationalities to work for Burma's national interests. Ignoring the present
economic and social crisis in Burma, the military regime continues to
avoid dialogue with democratic forces and national groups to peacefully
solve the political problems in Burma. Instead, they have tried to
eliminate these groups and establish Burma as a military state. Therefore,
while all Burmese nationalities are striving for democracy in Burma and to
abolish military rule in Burma, the international community should work to
weaken the military and end any assistance to its rule in Burma.

4. We honor and salute the martyrs who scarified their lives for
democracy, justice, and peace in Burma on that unforgettable day in
history, July 7th 1962. We, the student masses, vow to sustain our
strength and mind for the cause of democracy in Burma. We demand, urgently
and unconditionally, of the present military regime:
1. To set up the independent commission to investigate and reveal the
truth of the May 30th terrorist attack on democracy leaders and activists;
2.  To free all political prisoners in Burma, including U Tin Oo,
Vice-chairperson of National League for Democracy (NLD), Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, General Secretary of NLD, and Min Ko Naing, Chairperson of ABFSU;
3. To legalize all political activism in Burma and civil associations,
including student unions;
4. To transfer state-power to the elected body of the 1990 general
elections; and
5. To abolish all military mechanisms in civil administration, and the
military dictatorship in Burma.
Foreign Affairs Committee
All Burma Federation of Student Unions
7 July 2003
_____________

Washington Post July 6 2003

Burma's Burdened Villagers


James R. Schulte [letters, June 24] suggested that Burma's military
government should be excused for using forced labor because it takes place
during the dry season when villagers cannot farm. He overlooked the fact
that for most Burmese villagers, the dry season is not the equivalent of a
long school vacation when they have nothing better to do. Villagers often
find it especially difficult during that period to provide for their
families, and the additional burden of involuntary, unpaid labor makes
matters worse.
While living in Burma for two years, I witnessed year-round forced labor.
Villagers were treated not as community taxpayers but as beasts of burden.
The public works projects Mr. Schulte described were mostly for the
benefit of the military. He defended this practice as a tradition that
"goes back to the pharaohs." Does he feel the same way about slavery?
CRAIG WILLIAMS
Washington