BurmaNet News, May 26-28, 2007

[Editor]

May 26-28, 2007 Issue # 3213

INSIDE BURMA
AP: Myanmar junta thugs confront Suu Kyi supporters demanding her release:
witnesses
AFP: Myanmar pro-democracy activists rally in Yangon
AFP: Myanmar arrests six Suu Kyi supporters

ON THE BORDER
The Nation: Women outraged over Suu Kyi detention

BUSINESS / TRADE
Mizzima News: Sealing of Indo-Burma border hits trade
Xinhua: Myanmar trades with Asian countries most in 2006-07

HEALTH / AIDS
DVB: HIV patient avoids arrest by threatening to bite officials

REGIONAL
AP: Indonesia concerned about Suu Kyi’s extended house arrest

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: Myanmar criticised over Suu Kyi detention
AAP Newsfeed: Australia calls on Burma to release Suu Kyi

OPINION / OTHER
Financial Times: Darfur syndrome and Burma's grief
The Nation: Suu Kyi must be set free, or else

STATEMENT
88 Generation Students: The 88 Generation Students' announcement on the
17th anniversary of the 1990 multi-party general election
Asian NGOs: 11 years is enough!!!

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

May 28, Associated Press
Myanmar junta thugs confront Suu Kyi supporters demanding her release:
witnesses

Pro-junta thugs confronted hundreds of supporters of pro-democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar, threatening and preventing them from marching
to a prayer vigil for the detained Nobel laureate, witnesses said.

Holding photos of the 61-year-old, about 500 members of her National
League for Democracy party shouted "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" as they staged
a rally Sunday outside the party's headquarters in Myanmar's largest city,
Yangon.

The supporters had intended to go on to a Buddhist pagoda in downtown
Yangon to pray for Suu Kyi's release, but were blocked by about 100
supporters of the junta, leading to a tense stand off, witnesses said.

The junta supporters shouted abuse at the other side for about 15 minutes,
and one NLD elected member was dragged away by them, witnesses said,
asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

"Please understand that we are not frightened by your threats ... we will
proceed with peaceful gatherings," Min Ko Naing, a prominent
anti-government activist, was quoted as telling the junta supporters. "We
can pray for her from here," he said from outside the NLD head office.

Police vans were parked nearby. The rally ended peacefully.

The junta is also believed to be holding about 1,200 political prisoners,
most of them elected members of the NLD.

"Release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners of
conscience including members of parliament who are imprisoned for their
beliefs," the NLD said in a statement.

The rally came two days after the junta extended Suu Kyi's house arrest
for a fifth year. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has spent more than 11 of
the past 17 years in detention.

Authorities have since beefed up security near Suu Kyi's lakeside
residence and extended barbed wire barricades on her street. Her street
was closed to traffic and police with batons were deployed near
roadblocks.

Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists urged the military junta to accept the
results of the 1990 election on Sunday the 17th anniversary of the ballot,
in which Suu Kyi's party won an overwhelming victory. The results were
rejected by the military regime, saying it first needed to draft a
constitution. It has never been completed.

Suu Kyi has been held continuously since May 30, 2003, when her motorcade
was attacked by a pro-junta mob during a political tour of northern
Myanmar. The government considers her a threat to public order.

The military took power in 1988 after crushing vast pro-democracy
demonstrations in Myanmar, then known as Burma. When Suu Kyi's party won a
general election by a landslide on May 27, 1990, junta leaders refused to
hand over power, insisting the country first needed a new constitution.

____________________________________

May 27, Agence France Presse
Myanmar pro-democracy activists rally in Yangon - Hla Hla Htay

Hundreds of pro-democracy activists supported by foreign diplomats rallied
Sunday near the home of Myanmar's detained Nobel peace laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi, lighting candles to mark the election her party won in vain in
1990. Members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), some wearing
T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi, gathered at party
headquarters, not far from the lakeside home of the democracy icon.

They were joined by former student activists, and the crowd of about 350
people lit candles and chanted "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" as they released
more than 100 balloons carrying the same slogan into the skies above
Yangon. Aung San Suu Kyi was on Friday informed that she would spend yet
another year confined to her house, which police barricaded with barbed
wire late Saturday, witnesses said.

On May 27, 1990, the NLD won elections here by a huge majority, but
Myanmar's military rulers did not allow it to take power, and Aung San Suu
Kyi has since spent most of the last 17 years in detention. Diplomats from
countries including the United States, France and Australia joined the
pro-democracy activists at their headquarters at midday for a ceremony
marking the NLD victory.

About 300 activists then tried to march to Yangon's famous Shwedagon
pagoda to hold a prayer vigil for Aung San Suu Kyi, but witnesses said
they were blocked by a pro-junta group, provoking tense scenes before they
decided to turn back. "We decided to turn back to the NLD headquarters
because we don't want to waste out strength for no reason," said one
activist who declined to be named.

He told AFP that three pro-democracy activists had been arrested in the
morning as they headed to the NLD ceremony. No further details were
available. The NLD on Sunday again called for the release of Aung San Suu
Kyi and other detained party members, but made clear its wish to hold
talks with the junta, which calls itself the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC).

 "Frank and honest dialogue" should be held between the SPDC, the NLD and
the nation's many ethnic minority groups for the "destiny of the
country," it said in a statement released during the commemorative
ceremony.

The 88 Generation Students, a group of former student activists who led a
pro-democracy uprising in 1988, also said they were willing to engage the
junta. "(We) seriously urge the State Peace and Development Council to
create a situation in which all political actors ... can be able to
participate in the process of national reconciliation," the group said in
a statement.

Security was tight at the gathering, with about 50 plainclothes police on
guard, many taking photographs and videos of the activists, witnesses told
AFP. At least 60 pro-democracy activists have been arrested in the past
two weeks as they went to pagodas to pray for Aung San Suu Kyi's release,
with 54 people still in custody. Britain said Saturday it was deeply
saddened by the extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest, joining the
chorus of condemnation from the United States,  European Union and the
United Nations. Neighbouring Thailand said Sunday it was "disappointed" by
the extension.

____________________________________

May 26, Agence France Presse
Myanmar arrests six Suu Kyi supporters

Military-run Myanmar has arrested six members of detained democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi's political party, an activist said Saturday.

The six people, including a woman, were taken by authorities late Friday
after going to pagodas in Yangon to pray for the release of the
61-year-old Nobel peace laureate, he said.

"They were arrested for no reason," said the activist, who declined to be
named.

Aung San Suu Kyi's detention was extended Friday by the junta for another
year despite international calls demanding her freedom.

She has spent most of the last 17 years under house arrest at her lakeside
Yangon home and has little contact with the outside world apart from a
live-in maid and visits by her doctor.

The activist said the six arrested were members of Aung San Suu Kyi's
opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The party won a
landslide victory in 1990 polls but the military never allowed it to
govern.

Around 60 activists have been arrested in the past week as they went to
pagodas to pray for Aung San Suu Kyi's release, and the latest arrests
brought the total number of people in custody to 51.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

May 27, The Nation
Women outraged over Suu Kyi detention

Ignoring the global call for her release, the Burmese junta continues to
hide "The Lady" from the eyes of the world for another year.

"This is a crime, a crime against humanity. I am really concerned for her
safety. I hope that there will be some 'brave soldiers' in the Burmese
army to stop such crimes and protect her," Hseng Noung of the Shan Women's
Action Network said yesterday.

These "brave soldiers", Hseng Noung said, should also engage in a dialogue
with the democratic opposition that includes ethnic nationalities to work
out a political solution.

The longer the State Peace and Development Council holds absolute power,
the cycle of suffering in Burma will continue. It is also about time for
the international community to find coordinated approaches to deal with
military dictatorship in Burma, she said.

Hseng Noung was speaking from the Thai-Burma border, where many other
women from Burma are struggling for peace and democracy to be seen in
Burma as well.

"The extension of her detention is unlawful. She shouldn't even be under
house arrest in the first place. She is defending human rights, not
committing a crime," Nang Yain, secretary-general of the Women's League of
Burma, said from the border.

As news of the extension of Suu Kyi's house arrest arrived at the border,
Charm Tong also felt she and other women might have to work longer to
build peace and open a road to democracy in Burma.

"The Burmese military regime's decision to extend the detention of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi shows their contempt for the rule of law and their
unwillingness to end all forms of systematic human-rights violations and
oppression of the people and their fear to engage in genuine dialogue with
the political opposition, including the ethnic nationalities, to bring
about peace and democracy in Burma," said the young Shan activist, who has
joined the struggle against the Burmese military regime.

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma also warned the
junta that its decision to keep the opposition leader under house arrest
would give birth to more national heroes and heroines like Suu Kyi, who
are dedicated to realising democracy through peaceful means.

In her nearly two decades of fighting for democracy, she has spent more
than 11 years sacrificing her personal freedom, but with freedom from
fear.

While hundreds of thousands of people fled the military regime to fight
from outside the country, Suu Kyi chose to trade off her personal freedom
in order to remind the world of the ongoing suffering of people under the
Burmese junta.

"I'm not the only woman detainee in Burma; there have been - and there
still remain - many other women imprisoned for their political beliefs,"
she has said.

In her address to the Hague Peace Conference in May 1999, she said a
battlefield is not necessarily a place where people are shooting each
other.

"In a civil society, where basic human rights are ignored, where the
rights of the people are violated every day, it is like a battlefield
where lives are lost and people are crippled, because people can lose
their lives. And the development of their lives can be crippled by a lack
of basic human rights.

"So when we talk about peace, we cannot avoid talking about basic human
rights, especially in a country like Burma where people are troubled
constantly by a lack of human rights and a lack of justice and a lack of
peace."

Suu Kyi has devoted her life to peaceful struggle against the Burmese
junta that ignored her landslide victory in the general election of May
1990.

She was first placed under house arrest in 1989 and confined without
charges for six years. Her second house arrest began in September 2000 and
lasted for 18 months.

Although her freedom is long overdue and no one knows how she leads her
life in confinement, she firmly believes that prison walls in Burma cannot
prevent political prisoners like her from fading out of the concern of the
world, as she wrote in "Letters from Burma" several years ago.

"Prison walls affect those on the outside, too."

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

May 27, Mizzima News
Sealing of Indo-Burma border hits trade - Subhaschandra M

For the third consecutive day on Sunday, border trade between Myanmar and
India through Moreh and Nangphalong border towns remained suspended with
Burma sealing the border on Friday following a bomb explosion in
Nangphalong market. Eight people including two Indian were injured.

In a separate incident the bullet ridden body of Burmese national was
found in Tamu on Sunday.

India's border gate number 1 and 2 in Moreh remained closed paralysing
trade between the two countries. Many Indian importers are stranded in
Moreh. Uncertainty prevails as the Burmese military junta are yet to share
information regarding opening of the border gates.

Traders here had experienced as similar situation last year when the Burma
Army sealed the border for almost a month following a bomb blast.

Unofficial reports, however, said the border may reopen from May 29. But
this could not be confirmed till Sunday night as the Burmese authorities
reportedly believe that Friday's blast in its territory was the handiwork
of people from the Indian side.

Tension escalated after the discovery of a bullet ridden body of a Burmese
national on Sunday morning. The body of the Burmese national, Khaing Thu,
a resident of Tamu town's ward number 12 was found on the international
border on the Indian side.

The military junta decided to seal the border gates as a precautionary
measure.

Security measures have been stepped up, with Indian and Burmese forces
conducting intensive patrolling on the international border.

Two Indian nationals of the eight injured in Friday's blast were
identified as Ramu Chhetry (21) and Soibam Abung (26), both residents of
Moreh ward No. 7. They are in a serious condition and have been admitted
to a hospital in Kalemyo after initial treatment in Tamu, a source said.

Another unofficial source, however, said Ramu succumbed to his injury in
the subsequent firing as he sustained five bullet wounds in the chest and
abdomen, while Abung was hit by three bullets.

Meanwhile Indian police officials deployed in Moreh are investigating the
killing of two Indian citizens across the border.

None of the Indian rebel outfits operating in Moreh has border town so far
claimed responsibility for the blast and subsequent firing till the filing
of this report.

Regarding the reopening of the sealed Indo-Burma border, a senior Indian
immigration official stationed at Moreh said that they did not have any
official information about it.

____________________________________

May 28, Xinhua General News Service
Myanmar trades with Asian countries most in 2006-07

Myanmar traded most with Asian countries and regions in the fiscal year
2006-07, which ended in March, the local Weekly Eleven News reported
Monday.

Thailand stood as Myanmar's top trading partner during the year with a
bilateral trade volume of 2.659 billion U.S. dollars between Myanmar and
Thailand in 2006-07. Thailand also stood as Myanmar's largest exporting
country with an export figure of 2.409 billion dollars, the Ministry of
Commerce was quoted as saying.

After Thailand, Myanmar's other main trading partners were lined up as
China with 1.274 billion dollars, Singapore (1.217 billion dollars), India
(895 million dollars) and China's Hong Kong (424 million dollars).

In its bilateral trade with Thailand, India and China's Hong Kong, Myanmar
gained a trade surplus especially with Thailand for exporting natural gas.
But it suffered a trade deficit in bilateral trade with China and
Singapore as it had to import goods for investment and office use as well
as consumers goods which the country mainly needs, the report said.

With China representing as Myanmar's main border trade partner, the two
countries' border trade volume was more than the normal trade's.

In Myanmar's border trade partners line-up, China (721 million dollars)
was followed by Thailand (248 million dollars), Bangladesh (25 million
dollars) and India (17 million dollars), the report added.

According to the ministry's latest released figures, Myanmar's foreign
trade hit 8 billion U.S. dollars in 2006-07, exceeding the original target
of 7 billion dollars.

Of the total which stood a new record high in 18 years since 1989,
Myanmar's exports accounted for 5 billion dollars, while the imports took
3 billion dollars, registering a trade surplus of 2 billion dollars, the
figures show.

In 2005-06, the country 's foreign trade volume reached 5.54 billion
dollars, up 12 percent from the previous fiscal year, and enjoyed a trade
surplus of 1.6 billion dollars.

The Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development attributed the
trade surplus gained in the last two years mainly to the export of natural
gas, followed by that of agricultural, mineral and marine products.

Myanmar only enjoyed trade surplus in the past five consecutive years
since 2002-03, before which it suffered a trade deficit for many years.

Sharing 90 percent with Asian countries, Myanmar's foreign trade with
European nations took up 4.8 percent of the total and with American
countries 1.5 percent.

Myanmar's trade with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations accounted for 51.3 percent of the total.

Myanmar mainly imports machinery, crude oil, edible oil, pharmaceutical
products, cement, fertilizer and consumers goods.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

May 28, Democratic Voice of Burma
HIV patient avoids arrest by threatening to bite officials

Political activist Ko Tin Ko, who has tested positive for HIV, narrowly
avoided arrest yesterday by threatening to bite the officials who dragged
three of his friends from a teashop.

As opposition protestors marched through Rangoon, Ko Tin Ko and his
friends Ma Zin Mar Htun, Ko Kyaw Oo and U Than Aung sat at a teashop in
the Kyaikkasan pagoda compound.

They were approached by a group of sector peace and development council
officials who grabbed the four friends and attempted to drag them away,
according to Ko Tin Ko.

“They twisted my arm but let me go after I threatened to bite them . . .
They stole my watch as well,” Ko Tin Ko said. He told DVB the officials
were scared to touch him because they knew he was living with HIV and
feared infection.

As HIV can not be contracted through exposure to the saliva of someone
with the virus, it is highly unlikely that Ko Tin Ko could have infected
the officials even if he had bitten them.

Ko Tin Ko first came into the public eye when he staged a solo
demonstration outside Rangoon’s Dagon Centre, calling for increased access
to antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients.

Since then he has been arrested and released several times by the Burmese
authorities for trying to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS issues.

Ko Tin Ko and the three other activists who were at the teashop yesterday
have staged a number of peaceful prayer campaigns in the past week calling
for the release of arrested HIV/AIDS activist and National League for
Democracy member Ma Phyu Phyu Thin.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

May 28, Associated Press
Indonesia concerned about Suu Kyi’s extended house arrest

Indonesia expressed concern Monday over Burma's decision to extend the
house arrest of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying it
undermined claims the junta was serious about human rights and democracy.

Burma also was tarnishing the reputation of the 10-member Asean,
Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kristiarto Legowo said in a
statement.

Suu Kyi has been held continuously since May 30, 2003, when her motorcade
was attacked by a pro-junta mob during a political tour of northern Burma,
and the junta last week extended her house arrest by another year.

Many nations have condemned her confinement, including Burma's fellow
members in Asean. Although bound by an edict not to interfere in each
other's affairs, some have become blunter in their criticism of the junta.

Indonesia is “deeply concerned” by Burma's decision, Legowo said, adding
that it “ignored appeals made by Asean member countries as well as the
international community” to release the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

May 26, Agence France Presse
Myanmar criticised over Suu Kyi detention

The United States and the European Union have led international
condemnation of Myanmar's decision to extend the detention of opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, calling for her immediate release.

On Friday, the military rulers of the Southeast Asian country ordered that
the Nobel peace laureate -- who has spent much of the past 17 years in
detention -- be kept under house arrest for another year, police sources
said.

The decision came despite mounting calls for the junta to free the
61-year-old, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide
victory in 1990 elections but was never allowed to govern.

The extension was widely expected, with observers saying the junta is
fearful the hugely popular democracy leader could threaten its rule.

"The United States condemns the generals of the State Peace and
Development Council of Burma for the extension of the house arrest of
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi," said White House national security
spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

"The regime's unjustified continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and
repression of other democratic activists must end."

Germany, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European
Union, urged Myanmar's ruling junta to rethink its decision, deploring
that "all international appeals... have once more gone unheard."

Officials visited Aung San Suu Kyi at her lakeside home in Yangon to
inform her of the junta's decision to extend her detention. The most
recent period of house arrest, which began four years ago, was due to
expire at the weekend.

Aung San Suu Kyi has little contact with the outside world, apart from her
live-in maid and visits from her doctor.

The last time the opposition leader -- the only Nobel peace laureate in
detention -- was able to leave her house was in November 2006, when the
junta allowed her to meet visiting UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari for one hour.

Gambari told the BBC in an interview broadcast Saturday that he would
touch base with leaders in key Asian countries such as India and China to
see how they could work with the world body to "re-engage" Myanmar on the
issue.

"India has a role, South Africa has a role, China has a role, Russia has a
role and of course, the ASEAN countries also have a role," Gambari said.

"I intend as part of my duties to touch base... to see how they can work
with us and with the secretary general to really re-engage the government
of Myanmar to deliver on these very concrete issues."

Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokeswoman said he "deeply
regrets the decision."

"He strongly believes that the sooner restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi and
other political figures are lifted, the sooner Myanmar will be able to
move toward inclusive national reconciliation, the restoration of
democracy and full respect for human rights," said the spokeswoman,
Michele Montas.

Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD expressed disappointment, with spokesman Myint
Thein saying it was "not good for the country."

"Our government totally ignored domestic and international calls demanding
her freedom," he said.

Political figures from across the world have ramped up calls for her
release, with ex-US president Bill Clinton and 58 other former world
leaders sending a joint letter last week to junta head General Than Shwe.

Citing Myanmar's rights violations, including Aung San Suu Kyi's
detention, the United States last week renewed sanctions against the
regime for another year, as did the European Union in April.

In the past week the junta has detained at least 60 pro-democracy
activists as they went to pagodas to pray for Aung San Suu Kyi's release
and 45 people, mostly NLD members, remain in custody.

The United Nations has estimated there are 1,100 political prisoners in
the country formerly known as Burma, which has been ruled by the military
since 1962.

____________________________________

May 28, AAP Newsfeed
Australia calls on Burma to release Suu Kyi

Australia has called for the release of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung
San Suu Kyi from house arrest, saying the political situation in Burma
remains bleak.

Supporters of the 61-year-old, who has most recently been under house
arrest since 2003, have been rallying outside the headquarters of the
National League for Democracy after the Burmese regime announced plans to
extend her incarceration.

The only Nobel peace laureate in detention has spent most of the past 17
years under house arrest and has little contact with the outside world,
apart from her live-in maid and visits from her doctor.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said there was no justification for her
continued detention, nor the imprisonment of more than 1,000 political
prisoners.

"I am saddened and disappointed by the decision of the Burmese regime to
once again extend the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for a further
year," he said in a statement.
"The situation in Burma remains bleak and I continue to be very concerned
by the lack of genuine political reform and any move towards
reconciliation."

Mr Downer urged Burmese leaders to demonstrate genuine progress towards
democratic political reform.

"It is important that all Burmese can work together to build a stable and
prosperous nation in which they can all participate and flourish," he
said.

"We will continue to work with the Burmese people, the United Nations and
international community to secure that aim."

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

May 27, Financial Times
Darfur syndrome and Burma's grief

Burma is suffering from an acute case of Darfur syndrome. Like the people
of Sudan, the people of Burma are victims of their own government's
cruelty and have fled their country in the thousands. As in Sudan,
international efforts to protect the innocent and restore human rights are
hampered by China for selfish commercial and political ends. Any outsider
hoping to end Burma's nightmare must work, however reluctantly, with
Beijing.

The plight of Burma, also known as Myanmar, periodically comes into the
public eye because the military junta regularly renews the detention order
for Aung San Suu Kyi, a pro-democracy leader. The junta extended her
detention for another year on Friday in spite of pleas from the United
Nations, the US and other western governments and human rights groups.

Ms Suu Kyi has been detained for 11 of the past 17 years. Her crime is to
call for dialogue between the armed forces, ethnic groups and her National
League for Democracy, the party whose overwhelming election victory in
1990 was ignored by the country's ruling generals.

Being right about how to rescue Burma has done Ms Suu Kyi no good. Nor do
western governments have much to show for years of economic sanctions and
other forms of pressure applied to Burma. Rarely have the country's
military rulers seemed so secure.

An important reason for the junta's strength is the high price of natural
resources and China's particular need for those that Burma produces,
including natural gas and timber. Another source of strength is the eager
adoption by China and Russia of client states to counter the global power
of the US. (Russia has unhelpfully offered to build Burma a nuclear
research reactor.) Even democratic India and Washington's allies in
south-east Asia have mostly turned a blind eye to the junta's human rights
abuses in their quest for resources and investment opportunities in Burma.

Western governments know the pointlessness of economic sanctions when not
universally applied. They have therefore started to ask China to use its
influence in Burma to encourage the government as Margaret Beckett, UK
foreign secretary, put it in Beijing this month "to behave with greater
regard for democracy and for freedom".

China's rulers, unfortunately, have no great regard for either. Without
Chinese pressure, and without effective sanctions, the junta has little to
worry about from abroad. What the generals rightly fear are the Burmese
people, including Ms Suu Kyi. Change, when it comes, will come from
within.

____________________________________

May 27, The Nation
Suu Kyi must be set free, or else

Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has now been spent nearly 12 years
in incarceration under Burma's military. Ahead of the expiry of her latest
one-year period of detention on Saturday nearly 60 current and former
leaders around the world joined hands to press for her release from house
arrest. But, as expected, the military junta in Burma decided to extend
her detention for another year out of fear that her freedom would threaten
the survival of their dictatorial rule.

Asean has become more vocal on the issue lately and has repeatedly urged
its member state to set her free. It was rather unusual that the
Philippines, speaking on behalf of Asean, was so blunt this time around.
In more ways than one, Asean seems to have learnt the lesson that it can
no longer remain polite in its dealings with Burma's military leadership
without risking the future of the organisation and its reputation.

This year is an auspicious one for Asean as it is celebrates its 40th
anniversary in Singapore. The host country has already made efforts to
make this occasion special. It has sought the participation of US
President George W Bush for an inaugural Asean Plus One summit. If Burma
continues to behave intransigently, it is possible that a way out must be
found to ensure that the summit with the US will be realised. Burma's
level of representation might have to be downgraded.

So far, Rangoon has not shown any interest in the matter - an attitude
that does not go well with the spirit of Asean. The wish of the founding
fathers of Asean to have all Southeast Asian countries come together under
one umbrella has materialised. But the inclusion of Burma has only been
problematic in the 10 years since it was admitted unconditionally in 1997.

As long as one the world's most famous political figures remains
imprisoned by one its member states, it will be hard for Asean to stand
proudly in the international community, especially at the United Nations,
where the grouping was made an observer last year. Asean members need to
further unify their position and use whatever peer pressure is necessary
for positive changes in Burma. Asean members should not wait until the
completion of its charter to deal with the Burmese quagmire. Asean leaders
must press Burma at the Singapore summit to free Suu Kyi and help open up
the country.

At the same time, it is paramount that Asean convince China to exert its
influence on Burma. In recent months China has used its considerable
diplomatic power in Sudan to ease tension in Darfur. China has political
clout that can be used to great advantage for Asean, especially on Burma.
Rangoon and Beijing have close relations since the former is dependent on
the latter's goodwill. And for decades Beijing has benefited from Burma's
strategic location and rich natural resources, much to the chagrin of the
international community.

China has said time and time again that it supports Asean's position on
Burma. Now, when Asean is urging the junta to free Suu Kyi, Beijing has
kept mum. The time has come for both Asean and China to coordinate their
efforts to help resolve the impasse in Burma. Now that China has shown
international responsibility in Darfur, it should also play the Good
Samaritan in Burma.

At the moment, a group of charter drafters is working on the content of an
Asean constitution. They are aiming for a charter that will oblige members
to follow rules and regulations and thus improve the grouping's
efficiency. The Asean charter drafters are mindful of the situation inside
Burma and have called for further changes. Indeed, Asean nations want to
assist their fellow member to overcome deadlock. The problem is, Rangoon
does not trust its peers. Asean knows full well that without a good
charter, compliance with the grouping's rules and regulations will follow
exactly the same pattern as has been seen in the past four decades of its
existence. But then, questions remain about whether even a good charter
will be of any use if a member state continues to behave as though it
doesn't really belong.

____________________________________
STATEMENT

May 27, 88 Generation Students
The 88 Generation Students' announcement on the 17th anniversary of the
1990 multi-party general election

(1) Election is the major back-bone of the multi-party democracy system.

(2) Election is one and only to choose the real representatives of the
peoples.

(3) The elected People's Representatives from the 1990 elections have
tried to reach national reconciliation in Burma by many ways, including
participation in the national convention, offering the State Peace and
Development Council to rule the country as de jury government recognized
by the People's Parliament, and extending olive branch to have political
dialogue without any prejudice.

(4) This is obvious that calling for a political solution based on the
1990 elections result does not mean to demanding power, but intend to
achieve national reconciliation and democratization.

(5) This is also to understand that they (People's Representatives)
recognize and accept the political role of the Tatmadaw (Armed Forces) in
transitional period.
(6) Honoring the elections result while solving the political and general
crises in Burma shall mean paying respect to the dignity of the Tatmadaw
that held the 1990 elections and citizens of Burma, who voted in the
elections.

(7) Therefore, we, the 88 Generation Students, seriously urge the State
Peace and Development Council to create a situation, in which all
political actors, including Members of Parliament-elect, can be able to
participate in the process of national reconciliation.

Press Release 11/ 2007 (88) from
The 88 Generation Students
88generation at gmail.com
Rangoon (Yangon), Burma (Myanmar)
Date: 27th May 2007 Ref: 11/2007 (88)

____________________________________

May 25, Asian NGOs
11 years is enough!!! Asian NGOs demand the release of Aung San Suu Kyi

Bangkok: More than thirty national and regional human rights organisations
in Asia are reiterating their demand for the immediate release of Burma’s
pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, as part of the global campaign to
pressure the government of Burma to release her. Aung San Suu Kyi’s house
arrest terms are coming to an end on Sunday, 27 May 2007.

While UN bodies, fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureates, heads of states,
ASEAN member states, and international human rights groups call for her
release, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and General Than
Shwe remain tight-lipped about this issue. Last week, more than 30
pro-democracy activists were detained while praying for the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi in temples across Rangoon.

“Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately. 27 May is the day to
lament the collapse of democracy in Burma. The ‘deaf-ear’ approach used by
the SPDC will be a big slap not only for Burma but for ASEAN, which will
commemorate its 40th anniversary in August. Burma’s continued detention of
Aung San Suu Kyi completely discredits ASEAN’s efforts to establish
democracy and the rule of law in the Southeast Asian region,” stressed
Anselmo Lee, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.

“Since Burma is a member nation, ASEAN has the responsibility to stand
collectively and take concrete action to help democratise Burma. It needs
to send a clear message to the Burmese generals that if they are going to
democratise the country as they claim, they must release Aung San Suu
Kyi,” asserted Khin Ohmar, the Coordinator for Asia-Pacific People’s
Partnership for Burma (APPPB).

Subodh Pyakurel, Chairperson of FORUM-ASIA, also urges the Burmese
government to finally heed the call for democracy by the international
community and the people of Burma. As he said, “The voice of the people,
through free, fair, periodic, and participatory elections, must be heard,
as the foundation of a lasting and sustainable democracy. The world must
unite for this cause; countries supporting the junta should understand
that recognition and support of the people must come before economic
benefits”.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
won 82 percent of the parliamentarian seats in the 1990 election. The
victory was short-lived after the Burmese military regime rejected the
election results and launched a massive crackdown on the pro-democracy
movement, leaving thousands of civilians killed, maimed, tortured,
harassed and intimidated. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate continues her
non-violent campaign for democracy despite being under constant
surveillance since 2003 and enduring 11 years of a 17 year term of house
arrest in Rangoon.

The human rights organisations calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi
also demand that the SPDC respect the resolution adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly on 28 February 2002 (A/Res/56/231). This
resolution urged the Burmese government “to take urgent and concrete
measures to ensure the establishment of democracy in accordance with the
will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990
[and] to extend the talks initiated with Aung San Suu Kyi
 with the aim of
achieving national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy”.

For more information, please contact:
Anselmo Lee, Executive Director, FORUM-ASIA, +66 (02) 391 8801,
anselmo at forum-asia.org
Khin Ohmar, Coordinator, Asia-Pacific People’s Partnership on Burma
(APPPB), +66 (08)1 884 0772, freeburm at loxinfo.co.th

The statement is co-endorsed by:
Activist Society for Change (ASC), Thailand
Alternative ASEAN Network for Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma)
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), Burma
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
Cambodia League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Mongolia
Commission for the “Disappeared” and Victim of Violence (KONTRAS), Indonesia
Ethnic Community Development Forum (ECDF), Burma
Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) Burma
Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB)
HAK Association, Timor Leste
Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB)
Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) Indonesia
Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (IMPARSIAL)
Indonesia Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Nepal
Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP), Timor Leste
Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), South Korea
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)
Network for Environment and Economic Development Burma (NEEDB)
Paglingkod Batas Pangkapapatiran Foundation (PBPF), the Philippines
Paralegal Training and Services Center (PTSC), the Philippines
People Coalition Party (PCP), Thailand
Philippines Alliance for Human Rights (PAHRA)
PILIPINA Legal Resources Center (PLRC)
Resource Integration Centre (RIC), Bangladesh
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Student and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB)
Student Federation of Thailand (SFT)
Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR)
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
Thai Labour Campaign (TLC)
Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI)
Youth Network for Peace in Southern Thailand (YNPST)