April 1993 No.4, Volume 4 Burma News: MAUNG AYE NEW CHIEF, KHIN NYUNT HEADS ALL INTELLIGENCE Newly promoted Lieutenant-General Maung Aye, Eastern Military Region Commander, was on 31 Mar appointed concurrently Army Commander in Chief and Vice Chief of Staff of the Defence Service. The two positions were last held by General Than Shwe and had been left vacant for a year. To observers, the vacancy indicated an internal power struggle within the military hierachy. Rumours surfaced in March that Defence Service Intelligence Chief Khin Nyunt who is disliked by line officers, was manoeuvring to get himself appointed Army Chief. The appointment of Maung Aye, a Defense Service Academy graduate and professional soldier, sparked speculations that Khin Nyunt, may have been eclipsed. The resignation from the Burma Army of General Ne Win's daughter Sanda Win, who is close to Khin Nyunt, added grist to the rumour mills. The DSI Chief, however, was also promoted to Lieut-Gen and appointed on 1 Apr to head the newly created Office of Strategic Studies. In theory, this would make Khin Nyunt even more powerful than before with every intelligence agency in the country reporting to him. Nine other State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) members were promoted to Lieut-Generals bringing the number of Lieut-Generals in Burma to 17 [A930414, B930402,0330]. See page 5. SLORC NATIONAL CONVENTION ADJOURNED AGAIN TO 7 JUNE The `National Convention' called by SLORC was adjourned again on 7 Apr until 7 June by Lieut-Gen Myo Nyunt, Chairman of the Convening Commission. He said that time was needed ``to enable delegates to carry out appropriate studies and research regarding chapter headings of the constitution.'' The Convention opened on 9 Jan.93 amidst great fanfare to draw up guidelines for a new constitution. SLORC's 702 hand-picked delegates resisted SLORC's desire to enshrine the military's right to guide the nation in the constitution and, after two days, the Convention was adjourned to 1 Feb. When the Convention re-convened in February, it got bogged down in debates over phraseology. The delays highlight the difficulty SLORC is facing in trying to control the population in spite of its heavy handed repression of any form of political dissent. Others, however, suspect SLORC of deliberately delaying the process in order to postpone the day when it would have to hand over power to an elected government. There is no timetable or deadline for the task of drafting the new constitution [N930409]. NLD LEADERS TIN OO AND KYI MAUNG ALLOWED U.S. VISITORS Former National League for Democracy (NLD) Chairmen U Tin Oo, 69, and U Kyi Maung, 73, under arrest in Insein Prison since Jul.89 and Sep.90 respectively, were visited on 30 Mar by two former US congressmen, Robert Leggett and Seymour Halpern. They are the first foreigners to be allowed to meet with jailed dissidents. Earlier requests by others and two UN human rights investigators to meet with political prisoners including 1991 Nobel laureate and NLD General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, had been denied. Leggett and Halpern were in Rangoon for discussions on narcotics control and human rights, and attended a session of the `National Convention'. They also met with U Win Tin, 63, an NLD Central Committee member and a key advisor to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (arrested Jul.89), Zargana, 32, a popular comedian who was jailed in May 1990 for making fun of former SLORC chairman, Senior General Saw Maung, and U Nay Min, a lawyer and BBC correspondent who was arrested in Oct.88. The prisoners were reported to be in good health. Halpern said that he found Insein Jail to be clean and in much better condition than some jails in the US capital. Referring to torture, Leggett said none of the prisoners he saw and spoke to had broken teeth. Analysts view the prison visit as part of SLORC's campaign to woo the new Clinton administration in Washington, DC. At the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings on 25 Mar, US businesswoman Miriam Marshall Segal attempted to testify in favour of increased US contact with SLORC and Most Favoured Nation status for Myanmar [N930404, US930325]. The above illustrates how well meaning foreigners are manipulated by SLORC. Leggett surely does not believe that torture cannot be administered without breaking a person's teeth. The two men's visit and the visit 9-16 Feb of US Congressman Bill Archer, Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and Richard Quick, president of the Far East Studies Institute, were played up by SLORC to give the public the impression that the US supports the regime. Reports even began circulating that the US Drug Enforcement Agency is resuming aid to Burma - Ed. Burma News: INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION CALL FOR RELEASE OF DAW SUU On 15 Apr, Norwegian Members of Parliament attending the 89th Inter-Parliamentary Conference in New Delhi, led by Labour Party MP Aud Blatt, launched a campaign to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and for parliaments throughout the world to take note of human rights violations in Burma. Although the campaign was not on the agenda, it received a tremendous response. Swedish, Danish and Icelandic MPs were quick to endorse the Norwegian initiative. MP Bengt Harding Olson of Sweden said, ``We are all together in this. She should not be held in captivity any longer than she has already been. This is disgraceful.'' This is the first time IPU has taken up the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi although the IPU has repeatedly made enquires of SLORC about the treatment of elected Burmese MPs. 150 MPs from thirty countries including the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand also supported the move. The IPU is a union of 118 Parliaments out of the 165 elected parliaments in the world [B930415,16]. UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONDEMNS SLORC On 17 Mar, the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva unanimously adopted a resolution condemning SLORC for `continuing extremely serious human rights violation' including torture, arbitrary executions, forced labour including portering for the army, abuse of women and politically motivated arrests and detentions. The Commission called for an accelerated transition to democracy by convening the National Assembly elected in 1990 and ending Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. Much of the resolution was based on the report made by Special Rapporteur Prof Yozo Yokota. The SLORC representative defiantly rejected the claims and hinted that Yokota would not be allowed into Burma again. Rangoon also accused the foreign media of spreading biased, false and groundless propaganda against Burma. Surprisingly, SLORC's main supporter to date, China, voted for the resolution [UN930317]. SLORC `NATIONAL CONVENTION' DELEGATE DEFECTS TO NCGUB Khun Marko Ban, a Democratic Organization for Kayan National Unity (DOKNU) MP elected in May 90, and a delegate to the National Convention in Jan.93, escaped and joined the opposition National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) in Manerplaw on the Thai border in Feb.93. Khun Marko explained that he had travelled to the border to expose to the international commmunity that the National Convention currently being held by SLORC is a fraud. He detailed the various restrictions imposed by SLORC on the delegates which prevented them from voicing any dissent. Infraction of any rules will result in the suspension of the delegate. He pointed out that of the 93 political parties that contested the elections in 1990, only 10 remain. They are only allowed to exist to prove to the world that Burma has a multi-party system. But they exist only because they have been co-opted by SLORC. Finally, Khun Marko said that he did not want to participate in a sham Convention and be remembered in history as a traitor. He called on his fellow delegates to join him and work to remove the military dictatorship. Khun Marko is a Kayan, formerly known as Padaung, and is from the Mong Pai area of Shan State. The DOKNU is a member of the United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD), a coalition of 23 political parties representing various ethnic groups whose objective is the establishment of a federal union with equality and full rights of self determination for all. In Aug.90, the UNLD allied itself to the NLD giving the alliance 457 seats in the 485 seat parliament [DOKNU, B930406]. CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES RAISED AGAIN IN 4 YEARS For the second time since it came to power in Sep.88, SLORC on 1 April increased the salaries of government employees. The lowest wage level of Kyat 450 per month was raised to 600, in effect tripling the pre-1989 wage level of Kyat 215 (US$72, 96 and 35 respectively at the official exchange rate). The highest level of Kyat 2,000 was raised to 2,500 (US$320 and 400). The pre-1989 level was Kyat 1,650 (US$264). The Asian Development Bank estimated Burma's per capita income at US$200 in 1990. Increasing the salaries of Burma's already privileged bureaucrats is, therefore, viewed by many as an attempt to buy their loyalty, given SLORC's increasingly tenous grip on power. Like the rest of the country, the civil servants are combatting severe economic hardships. According to the UNDP, the price of basic necessities has nearly tripled since 1988. Even soldiers are finding it difficult to survive on Kyat 350 a month and are resorting to living off the land. Former Brigadier General Aung Gyi made this claim on 25 Mar explaining why SLORC is now resorting to forced conscriptions for the Army. Every village in the 7 divisions of Burma proper is now required to provide one conscript [F930114, N930326,27]. Foreign Trade & Investments: CHINA: According to Thai Army spokesman Colonel Palangkul Klaharn, Chinese Deputy Minister for the Weapons Industry, Zhang Jun-Jiu, told Thai Army Commander Wimol Wongwanich on 25 Feb in Bangkok that China could not sell weapons to Burma as it was the government's policy to restrict such a practice. ``There is absolutely no such practice'' Zhang was quoted as saying [BWR930312]. INDIA: Indian Narcotics Control Board officials signed an agreement with SLORC's Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control in Rangoon on 30 Mar. The agreement called for cooperation on the suppression of narcotics trafficking across the India-Burma border. The narcotics officials were with a secret Indian Foreign Ministry delegation led by Foreign Secretary J N Dixit, the first such visit by an Indian Foreign Secretary for a decade. Dixit met with Lieut-Gen Khin Nyunt, Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw, Home Minister Lieut-Gen Mya Thinn, Finance Minister Brig-Gen Win Tin and Deputy Foreign Minister U Nyunt Swe. The discussions covered a draft treaty on bilateral trade with emphasis on border trade, smuggling, and `issues of mutual interest'. India is also keen to establish direct contact with SLORC because of growing Chinese influence in the region. Dixit that senior officials of SLORC had assured him that they were working toward a constitution that would provide a multi-party democracy. He said, ``Despite international criticism, the Myanmar government is progressively showing greater regard for human rights.'' A trade delegation led by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Ashoke Jha also visited Rangoon 11-13 Mar. They met with Brig-Gen David Abel, Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, Major-Gen Tun Kyi, Minister for Trade, and Lieut-Gen Sein Aung, Minister for Industry 1. It was the first high-level contact since 1988. Delegates included MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA, TELCO and BOMBAY COTTON representatives [IA930312,0409, N930401,RTV930311,12]. THAILAND: During Foreign Minister Prasong Soonrisi's visit to China, 27 Feb - 3 Mar, three alternate land routes from Sipsongpanna to northern Thailand were discussed. Two of the routes will be through the Shan State of Burma (Alert No.2, Vol.4 - Feb.93). Thailand prefers the Burma routes. Sipsongpanna is eager to develop a tourist industry and wants new land, river and air links with Thailand [BWR930312]. FRANKLIN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Franklin Research and Development Corporation in Boston has approached AMOCO, PEPSICO and APACHE on behalf of its clients, who hold shares, for information on their operations in Burma. Amoco and PepsiCo have agreed to publish a report to shareholders including the following information: 1. The nature and extent of their involvement for 1990, 1991 and 1992, 2. Amount of money paid to SLORC as taxes and fees, 3. Amount of money paid to provide social programs and in support of human rights, 4. Analysis of the pros and cons of continuing business in Burma, and 5. Description of plans to expand or contract operations in Burma. Franklin is the largest US investment management firm devoted solely to socially responsible investing. It manages over US$300 million in assets of clients who believe that a corporation's responsibilities go beyond earning profits. A recent report on human rights and corporate responsibility includes a very good section on Burma and was sent to over 1,000 institutional investors and investment professionals. Franklin is interested in working with other shareholders, activists and Burmese human rights groups in organizinmg a full-scale South Africa-style divestment campaign. ``Burma Alert'' readers are requested to provide additional information on the activities of AMOCO, PEPSICO and APACHE in Burma. Those interested in a meeting in Boston this summer to discuss a coordinated campaign are invited to contact Franklin Research. The ADDB fully endorses this initiative and will participate in the campaign. Contact: Simon Billeness, Research Assoociate, Franklin Research & Development Corporation, 711 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA.0211, USA. Tel: 1 (617) 423-6655, Fax: 1 (617) 482-6179. International Activities: BRITAIN: OXFORD UNIVERSITY on 12 Mar awarded Daw Aung San Suu Kyi an Honourary Doctorate in recognition of her leadership of the democratic movement in Burma. In a departure from tradition, Oxford said that it would hold the Doctorate until she was able to receive the award in person. CZECH REPUBLIC: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL and the BURMA PROJECT IN PRAGUE opened a week-long photo display on Burma on 18 Mar title ``Solidarity with Burma''. Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec attended the ceremony and afterwards a group marched to the SLORC embassy demanding the release of AI student prisoner of conscience Win Naing Oo and an early transfer of power to a civilian government. The INTERNATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS based in Prague has endorsed and is participating in the PEPSI BOYCOTT campaign. Contact: Ali Shuaibi, IUS, POBox 58, 110 01 Prague 01. Tel: 231-2812. DENMARK: ARBEJDERBEVAEGELSENS INTERNATIONAL FORUM (AIF), the Danish Labour Movement's international forum awarded the 1993 Rose Prize to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Copenhagen on 28 Feb for her outstanding work for democracy. The award was accepted on her behalf by Daw Than E. The DANISH-BURMA COUNCIL hosted a delegation from the NCGUB in Copenhagen for a week in March to hold discussions with government officials and NGOs. Delegates included Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister, U Bo Hla Tint, Minister for Construction, Mining & Energy Resources, and U Maung Maung, Secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma. HONG KONG: In Feb.93, the ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION launched its 1993 Burma Campaign to disseminate information on human rights issues in Burma, end foreign investments in Burma, organize visits of Burmese dissidents to Asian countries, and organize for solidarity action on 18 Sep.93. A special report on ``Women in Burma'' was published. For more information: Wong Kai Shing, Asian Human Rights Commission, 4 F, 57 Peking Rd, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 368-6874 and Fax: (852) 369-9885. SPAIN: The FEDERATION OF PROGRESSIVE WOMEN, a coalition of 37 women's groups, awarded the ``Premio Mujer Progresista'' (Progressive Woman Prize) to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 1992 Nobel Peace laureate Rigoberta Menchu in Madrid on 28 Feb for their defence of human and women's rights. THAILAND: Over fifty THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY lecturers signed an open letter to SLORC calling for full democracy in Burma and the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The letter was read at a seminar on Burma at the University on 16 Mar. Speakers were Dr Charnvit Kasetsiri, Dean of Liberal Arts, Dr Chullacheep Shinwanno, former Director of the Asian Studies Institute, Dr Thira Nuchpiam, Dean of Liberal Arts, Silapakorn University, and Bertil Lintner, Far Eastern Economic Review. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: On 11 Mar, 1976 Nobel Peace laureate Betty Williams awarded the CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW's Victor Jara International Human Rights Award to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It was accepted by Alexander Aris in Los Angeles on behalf of his mother. The following day the Center hosted a luncheon and forum on Burma. Participants included Peter Schey, CHRCL, Dr Carol Richards, Burma Forum, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Dr & Mrs Kyaw Win, Burma Bulletin, Mr Frank Thaung Oo, Federation for Humman Rights and Democracy in Burma, Dr Myat Htoo, U Hla Shwe & Daw Ruby, Dr A B Aungkhin, Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma, Mrs Louisa Benson-Craig, Democratic Alliance of Burma representative, and student Nyunt Nyunt Wai. Betty Williams was honoured at a dinner that evening at the residence of Dr Kyaw Win. NEWS SOURCES THIS ISSUE: A = Asiaweek, B = Bangkok Post, BA = Burma Alert, BW = Bangkok Post Weekly, DOKNU = Democratic Organization for Kayan National Unity, F = Far Eastern Economic Review, IA = Indians Abroad, N = The Nation, Bangkok, RTV = Rangoon Television, UN = UN Human Rights Commmission, and US = US House of Representatives. SLORC: UPDATE - MYANMAR DEFENCE SERVICES In Alert No.3, Vol.4, March 1993, the organization of the Myanmar Defence Services was published. Since then, very important vacant posts have been filled, and key members of SLORC promoted. They are: State Law and Order Restoration Council (April 1993) \+RANK: &NAME: &SLORC: &WAR OFFICE: &CABINET: \+01. Lieut-Gen &Maung Aye &Member &VCoS, DS & \+ & & &C-in-C, Army & \+02. Lieut-Gen &Khin Nyunt &Secretary 1 &Dir, DSI & \+03. Lieut-Gen &Tin Oo &Secretary 2 &CoS, Army & \+04. Lieut-Gen &Maung Hla &Member &Army Secretary & \+05. Lieut-Gen &Myo Nyunt &Member &Rgn Command &Religious Affairs \+06. Lieut-Gen &Kyaw Ba &Member &ex-N Command &Hotels & Tourism \+07. Lieut-Gen &Maung Thint &Member &ex-NE Command &Border Areas Dev \+08. Lieut-Gen &Tun Kyi &Member &ex-C Command &Trade \+09. Lieut-Gen &Mya Thinn &Member &ex-W Command &Home Affairs \+10. Lieut-Gen &Aye Thaung &Member &ex-S Command &Labour \+11. Lieut-Gen &Myint Aung &Member &ex-SW Command &Agriculture $$ Notes: SLORC Member & Southern Military Region Commander Major-General Soe Myint was not included in the list of new Lieutenant-Generals attending the Resistance Day Dinner hosted by General Than Shwe and his wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing. VCoS, DS = Vice Chief of Staff; C-in-C, Army = Commander in Chief; Dir, DSI = Defence Services Intelligence; and CoS, Army = Chief of Staff ************** Main Combat Units - Light Infantry Divisions (March 1993) \+POSITION: &UNIT & BASE: &RANK: &NAME: &TRAINING: \+Commander &11 LID Hlegu &Colonel &Khin Maung Than &OTS-31 \+Commander &22 LID Pa-an &Colonel &Tin Ngwe &OTS-30 \+Commander &33 LID Sagaing &Colonel &Tin Htut &OTS-30 \+Commander &44 LID Thaton &Colonel &Tint Lwin &OTS-29 \+Commander &55 LID Aungban &Colonel &Aung Htwe &OTS-29 \+Commander &66 LID Prome &Colonel &Nyunt Tin &DSA-7 \+Commander &77 LID Pegu &Colonel &Sein Htwa &OTS-29 \+Commander &88 LID Magwe &Colonel &Kyi Aung &OTS-32 \+Commander &99 LID Meiktila &Colonel &San Maung &OTS-32 \+Commander &101 LID Pakokku &Brigadier-Gen &Saw Tun &OTS-29 $$ Military Attaches in SLORC Embassies (March 1993) \+POSITION: &EMBASSY: &RANK: &NAME: &TRAINING: \+Military Attache &Washington DC &Colonel &Kyi Tun &OTS-29 \+Military Attache &Moscow &Colonel &Myo Myint &DSA-6 \+Military Attache &Beijing &Colonel &Thein Kyi &OTS-29 \+Military Attache &Tokyo &Colonel &Saw Khin Soe &DSA-4 \+Military Attache &Seoul &Colonel &Aung Thein &DSA-4 \+Military Attache &New Delhi &Colonel &Hla Myint Kyaw &DSA-4 \+Military Attache &Islamabad &Colonel &Aung Nwe & \+Military Attache &Dhaka &Colonel &Tin Win & \+Military Attache &Jakarta &Colonel (Air) &Tin Htay & \+Military Attache &Kuala Lumpur &Colonel &Soe Tint &OTS-29 \+Military Attache &Bangkok &Lieut-Col (Air) &Thein Swe &DSA-10 $$ Petition: On 2 April, Satsuki Eda, leader of the United Social Democratic Party (USDP), a minor opposition Party in Japan, handed letters bearing the signatures of 422 members of both houses of the Diet to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kano. The petitions were accompanied by a letter to United Nations Secretary General Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the text of which is reproduced below: *************** HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DIET OF JAPAN 1-7-1, NAGATA-CHO, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali Secretary General of the United Nations United Nations, New York NY 10017, U.S.A. Date March 1, 1993 Dear Dr. Boutros-Ghali, We wish to express our deep concern regarding human rights conditions in Burma (Myanmar), and to request the United Nations to continue to make strong efforts to promote the improvement of human rights and the swift transition to civilian rule in that country. We are particularly concerned that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, remains under house arrest despite the victory of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), in the general election in May 1990. The United Nations Special Rapporteur Professor YOKOTO Yozo was allowed to visit neither her nor other political prisoners during his visit to Burma (Myanmar) in December 1992. We feel that the free participation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other currently detained politicians in the National Convention is necessary if the will of the Burmese people is to be reflected in a democratic transition to civilian rule. In the light of the above facts, we respectively urge you to do everything in your power to press the State Law and Order Restoration Council to take the following measures: 1. The immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with guarantees for their complete freedom. 2. The swift and complete implementation of a transition to civilian rule as mandated by the May 1990 general election. Yours respectfully, *************** The signatures which account for about 55% of the 764 Diet members included the signatures of 119 members from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 185 from the main opposition Social Democratic Party, 44 from the Komeito Party, 26 from the Japanese Communist Party, 16 from the Democratic Socialist Party, 10 from the Democratic Reform Party, 5 from the USDP, 4 from the Japan New Party, and 13 independents. Mr Eda visited the United Nations on 16 Mar and handed over the petition with 354 signatures to Chinmaya Gharekhan, a senior political advisor to the Secretary-General who was away in Boston to receive an award. At the Tokyo press conference, Mr Eda said he would forward the additional 68 signatures to the UN Secretary General. He said, ``I hope these signatures which represent a majority of both chambers of the Diet, will open the way for Japanese legislators to become more vocal in speaking up against human rights oppression in various Asian nations.'' The Associates to Develop Democratic Burma would like to urge all parliamentarians to follow the example of the Members of the Japanese Diet and assist in restoring democracy in Burma. Thank you.