------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News:  December 11, 1996
Issue # 589

Noted in Passing: 

                ...the absence of rights pertaining to democratic governance 
                is at the root of all the major violations of human rights in                   Myanmar -
Mr.Rajsoomer Lallah, UN's rapporteur for 
                Burma (see: THE NATION: HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASIA                    DESCRIBED AS DECLINING)

HEADLINES:
==========
ABSDF STATEMENT: UPDATE IN BURMA 
AP: GOVERNMENT CLOSES SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
REUTERS: BURMESE STUDENTS PLAY HIDE-AND-SEEK GAME
BBC: REPORT FROM BURMA   
THE ASIAN AGE: SUU KYI REFUTES CHARGES OF NLD IN PROTESTS
KYODO: MYANMAR ASKS MEDIA NOT TO COVER PROTESTS
SOUTH EAST ASIA BUSINESS WORLD: ROCO SUPPORTS SUU KYI. 
UPI: AUSTRALIA SLAMS BURMA
KYODO: NOBEL LAUREATES URGE DEMOCRACY 
ASIAWEEK:  NO, NOT YET, MYANMAR
THE ASIAN AGE: RANGOON'S MILITARY JUNTA WOOING MONKS 
THE NATION: HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASIA DESCRIBED AS DECLINING
ASIAWEEK: WILL THEY COME
BKK POST: BURMESE REFUGEE POLICY INFLUENCED BY KHMERS
STATEMENT: PROTEST RALLY IN CANBERRA (AUSTRALIA)
FBP ANNOUNCEMENT: YEARNING FOR FREEDOM IN ASIA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------

ABSDF STATEMENT: UPDATE IN BURMA 
December 9, 1996                         

1. On December 7, 1996, the owner of "Sein Ba Bu" laundry in
Railway Station St, Kamayut Township, was arrested and beaten to
death by riot police. The man has two children.

2. Two people from National League for Democracy (NLD), Han Win
Aung (Insein NLD) and Ko Hla Aung (Sanchaung NLD), were arrested
on December 8, 1996.

3. On December 9, some students tried to stage a rally at the
Sule Pagoda, in the centre of Rangoon, but their attempt failed
when riot police stopped them by closing the doors of the Sule
Pagoda and deploying 4 army trucks loaded with soldiers in a
"stand-by position".

4. Today, colleges and universities are closed despite no
announcement by the State media or radio. Arrangements were made
for students who live far from Rangoon to return homes by special
trains. Students who live near Rangoon were returned home by the
trucks of the Slorc's Road, Transport and Administration
Department.

5. Telephone lines are getting difficult to access.

6. There have been reports that students in Mandalay, Moulmein,
Magwe and Taunggyi have also attempted to stage demonstrations.

*****************************************************************

AP: GOVERNMENT CLOSES SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
December 10, 1996 (abridged)

   RANGOON, Burma (AP) _ One day after shutting down universities
in Rangoon, Burma's military government closed boys and coed
secondary schools in the capital Tuesday to quash student protests.
   
Students and riot police clashed over the weekend and on Monday.
Army troops were stationed at the Kyimyindine and Botataung
campuses of Rangoon University on Tuesday, two hot spots of student
protests since last week.
   
Barbed wire barricades blocked streets near the Ministry of Defense and the
capital's railway station. More were piled along the sides of main roads in
case the army decides to close them.
   
   The government's failure to address the students' grievances has
sparked street demonstrations that have mushroomed into the largest
show of civil dissent since 1988.

   No students took to the streets Tuesday morning, but a statement
by Human Rights Watch Asia, an international human rights group,
said that protests had spread to Mandalay, Burma's second largest city.
   
Both the Institute of Medicine and the Institute of Technology
in Mandalay were shut down by the government on Sunday following
demonstrations there, the group said.

On Tuesday, she was permitted to meet with leaders of her political party at
her home. Seven members of her party were arrested over the weekend on
suspicion of taking part in the demonstrations, Human Rights Watch Asia said.
   
On Monday, riot police chased hundreds of student protesters
through the streets of Rangoon. Hundreds more from Dagon University
across the Rangoon River, attempting to reach the site of the
protests by buses, were turned back by troops.
   
Late at night, troops also chased people gathered at a downtown
Rangoon intersection near the medical school. Students could be
heard chanting their demands from inside a school dormitory.
   
Witnesses saw no arrests, but many said they had fled before the
troops and so were uncertain if anyone had been taken into custody.
   
Attempts to reach government spokesmen have been unsuccessful. Intelligence
officers detained an Agence France Presse reporter who had been following
the demonstrations and interrogated him for four hours, seizing his film.
   
At least three freelance journalists have been deported by the authorities
as they search for whoever has been filming the student demonstrations for
Cable News Network. A Japanese journalist and his Burmese reporter were
badly beaten
by police last week.

****************************************************************

REUTERS: BURMESE STUDENTS PLAY HIDE-AND-SEEK GAME
December 10, 1996
By Vithoon Amorn
        
        RANGOON, Dec 10 (Reuter) - Groups of students played
        hide-and-seek with Burmese authorities on Tuesday in scaled-down
        protests as security was tightened in the tense capital and
        universities remained sealed.
        
        In contrast to last week's large, noisy demonstrations, the
        students staged small, brief protests and scampered away before
        police moved in, witnesses and diplomats said.
        Between 100 and 200 high school students gathered briefly on
        the streets in a residential district, while more than 100
        medical school students gathered at the main gate of their
        campus in a central district.
    
        The medical students chanted slogans against the authorities
        under the eye of anti-riot police, but they did not leave the
        campus grounds. The students vowed to repeat the protest on
        Wednesday.
    
        The latest demonstrations contrasted sharply with marches
        last week from the troubled Yangon Institute of Technology and
        the Yangon University in northern Rangoon.
    
        "The government is in a dilemma as the students are
        determined to carry out wildcat protests. The authorities tried
        to exercise restraint but they could not afford to let the
        situation deteriorate," a Rangoon-based diplomat said.
        Witnesses said police had set up more roadblocks at some
        river bridges linking central and eastern Rangoon to check the
        identity papers of commuters.
    
        Burma's tightly controlled state media has not reported the
        student protests over the past week.
        All classes in the two campuses were canceled on Monday
        after hundreds of boarding students left for home indefinitely,
        fearing more unrest and that the government would close the
        universities.
        The university has over 40,000 students at its three
        separate campuses in the capital. The institute has nearly 5,000
        students.

        The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
        has sealed off access to the university and the institute and
        tightened security in the capital to contain potential protests.
    
        A diplomat said last week's demonstrations did not carry the
        same political implications as those in 1988 when opposition
        leader Aung San Suu Kyi was more involved.
        "We still have not seen signs that the demonstrations this
        week have any hidden political objectives," the diplomat said.

*************************************************************

BBC: REPORT FROM BURMA   
December 9, 1996

A transcription of another news report carried by the BBC English Language
World Service Radio

Aung San Suu Kyi has accused the Burma's military rulers of victimizing the
National League for Democracy at the first sign of public unrest. The
National League for Democracy statement said that the demonstrations arose
because the students' legitimate grievances have been ignored by the
government. The only solution is, it said, for the regime to  talk to  the
students and address their grievances urgently. The NLD party has also
called on the authorities to lift the
restrictions imposed on their leader - Aung San Suu Kyi. And it demanded
that its members arrested during the protests be  released. Exile opposition
sources in Bangkok said that at least 15 ( or 50 - the voice not very clear)
have been detained since last Friday. In the BBC interview Aung San Suu Kyi
said that
she heard that the students' demands were becoming overtly political and
although she denied direct links with them she said that  she shared their
desire for more freedom:

( ASSK's voice:) " The students are calling for  justice, human rights and
democracy. We are obviously after the same things. Even  the SLORC can not
say that they are not after the justice, peace and democracy. Because they
have always said that they were heading for multi-party democracy." 

There are no sign that the authorities' decision to suspend University
classes have dampened the students' apparently growing defiance. The foreign
diplomats described the situation in Rangoon as highly volatile. One senior
envoy said that he distrusted the military leaders not to crack down with
great force if they sensed that  they were losing control. The two
demonstrations 
last week were the biggest in Burma since the army crushed the student-led
democracy uprisings 8 years ago. With the likely prospect of more protests
to come the foreign missions in Rangoon are hoping this time the generals
will exercise greater restraint.'

*****************************************************************

THE ASIAN AGE: SUU KYI REFUTES CHARGES OF NLD IN PROTESTS
December 10, 1996
 
Rangoon, Dec. 9: Burma's Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi 
rejected government charges on Monday that her party was 
linked to spreading student protests and called on the country's 
military rulers to seek new solutions to the unrest.
 
Responding to accusations by a spokesman for the ruling State 
Law and Order Restoration Council that some members of her 
National League for Democracy, Communist elements its and 
exiles, were, linked to the demonstrations.
 
"We have evidence that not only some National League of 
Democracy members but also members of the All Burma 
Students' Democratic Front and underground elements of the 
Burma Communist Party are deeply involved in this unrest," a 
spokesman for the military government said.
 
The Bangkok-based ABSDF's membership is made up of 
students who have fled the country since an abortive uprising in 1988.
 
The BCP is outlawed in Burma.  "We are trying to flush out  these elements
as they come out to the front of unrest," the  government spokesman added.
"We expect after a short period of time, things will return to normal."
 
Nobel Peace Prize winner Sun Kyi rejected the charge that the 
NLD, was involved in the protest.
 
"This is absolutely ridiculous. They should deal with their 
problems instead of trying to rind someone else to blame," she 
said on telephone.
 
"They are never prepared to accept their responsibility as a 
government.  This theory of conspiracy is totally out of date."
 
"We want some more modern approach (to deal with the 
problems)," the Opposition leader added.

***************************************************************** 

KYODO: MYANMAR ASKS MEDIA NOT TO COVER PROTESTS
December 10, 1996

     TOKYO, Dec. 10 Kyodo - Myanmar's military government has asked
foreign journalists not to attempt to cover student demonstrations,
the top government spokesman said Tuesday.
     Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama told a press conference
that Myanmar's junta made the request through foreign diplomatic
missions in Yangon.
     Kajiyama said Japan was ''concerned'' about the situation in
Myanmar and ''carefully watching'' developments there.
     Kajiyama was speaking in the wake of last week's beating and
detention of a Japanese correspondent by security forces while he was
covering the country's largest street demonstration in years.
     Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Yoichi Yamaguchi urged Myanmar's
Foreign Ministry earlier in the day to take steps so that journalists
could safely cover happenings, Kajiyama said.
     He said Japan has not yet received a ''sufficiently convincing
explanation'' from the junta as to why the daily Yomiuri Shimbun
newspaper's Bangkok correspondent, Shigefumi Takasuka, was beaten and
temporarily detained by security personnel Friday night.
     The newspaper has reported that although Takasuka repeatedly
identified himself as a reporter, he was hit on the head and in the
stomach with wooden clubs before being taken to a military
interrogation center, where he was questioned for several hours
before being released.

*****************************************************************

SOUTH EAST ASIA BUSINESS WORLD: ROCO SUPPORTS SUU KYI. 
December 9, 1996

Senator Raul Roco yesterday urged the Philippine government as well as the
public to exert pressure on Myanmar to restore democracy. Mr. Roco will file
today a resolution expressing support for Myanmar's freedom from military
dictatorship.

In a statement, Mr. Roco said "Filipinos and other freedom-loving people in
the world" should pressure the Myanmar government to restore democracy by
supporting Myanmar National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
He said his new resolution "will supplement Senate Resolution 448 expressing
support for Ms. Suu Kyi in her fight for the democracy of Myanmar."
The first resolution, filed last May, has yet to be acted upon by the Senate.
The supplementary resolution came after the recent "wave of repression" in
Myanmar where Ms. Suu Kyi was reportedly placed under house arrest by the
State Law and Order Restoration Council.
"Despite later reports that Ms. Suu Kyi has been released from confinement,
this latest wave of repression makes it imperative for the Senate to express
support for her," Mr. Roco said.

*****************************************************************

UPI: AUSTRALIA SLAMS BURMA
December 9, 1996
By BILL PERRY

SYDNEY, Dec. 9 (UPI) _ Australia on Monday slammed Burma, accusing it of
having total disregard for human rights and political freedoms.

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer condemned the use of water cannons
and batons by Burmese authorities to break up peaceful pro- democracy
student demonstrations.

Downer said on his instructions the Australian embassy in Rangoon had
already made strong representations to the authorities there expressing
Australia's ``serious concern at the suppression of the right to demonstrate
peacefully'' and at the detention of members of the National League for
Democracy (NLD).

``The SLORC (the ruling military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration
Council) again demonstrated its total disregard for human rights and
political freedoms by heavy-handedly breaking up a peaceful gathering of
students who were demonstrating in Rangoon on December 6-7 for the right to
form a union, '' Downer said in a statement Monday.

``The Burmese authorities used water cannons and batons on the students and
temporarily detained over two hundred students. There are reports of a
number of injuries occurring.

``The authorities claim that those detained were released on December 7. Our
embassy in Rangoon is seeking confirmation of this.

``This latest incident followed a similar one on December 2-3 in which
authorities temporarily detained over six hundred people. Five NLD Youth
members were later detained, apparently for questioning in relation to this
demonstration, and four of these remain in detention.

``I strongly condemn these oppressive actions by the SLORC and I call on the
SLORC to allow the people of Burma to engage in peaceful political action
without fear of intimidation'', Downer said.

****************************************************************

KYODO: NOBEL LAUREATES URGE DEMOCRACY 
December 10, 1996 (abridged)

     OSLO, Dec. 10 Kyodo - The two East Timorese joint winners of the
1996 Nobel Peace Prize called Tuesday for restoration of democracy in
Myanmar and for China to release political prisoners and improve the
situation in Tibet.
     Roman Catholic Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and East Timor
resistance leader Jose Ramos-Horta, made the calls in separate
acceptance speeches at the award ceremony in the Norwegian capital.
     Belo, who has championed human rights in East Timor, called for
''justice'' in Myanmar and hailed efforts being made to that end by
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, winner the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.
     
Belo accused leaders of the seven-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which Myanmar seeks to join, of
''conniving'' with the military junta in Myanmar ''to deny the people
of Burma their democratic victory.''
     The allusion was to the junta's refusal to honor the 1990
election victory by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
     While praising the United States and the European Union for
their efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar, Ramos-Horta urged them
to ''escalate the pressure'' on the junta with additional diplomatic
and economic sanctions.

*****************************************************************

ASIAWEEK:  NO, NOT YET, MYANMAR
December 13, 1996
By Ajay Singh and Keith Loveard/ Jakarta

THE question of when to admit Myanmar to Asean has been one of the  more
divisive to face the grouping. But last weekend, Asean's consensus style
produced agreement during a one-day informal summit of the seven members in
Jakarta. The result, it appears: Myanmar will not be admitted to the
grouping in 1997. Asean set new conditions for entry that meant Myanmar -
currently scuffing with the pro-democracy forces of Aung San Suu Kyi - would
have to wait until Cambodia and Laos are ready to join.

Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia had been expected to join at the grouping's 30th
anniversary summit in Kuala Lumpur next July. The summiteers did not
indicate that there was any change in that informal schedule. But they
stopped short of giving an admission date. Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali
Alatas said only that the grouping was strongly committed to the "speedy
realization of an Asean comparing all 10 Southeast Asian nations," and that
the timing of that process would be announced "in due time." The three will
also have to show that they can participate in the Asean Free Trade Area.

Disappointing those who favour isolating Myanmar, the summiteers agreed that
it should join Asean. But the continuing crackdown on pro-democracy
activists there had an effect: some Asean nations were uncertain about entry
as early as next year. Recently, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines
have opposed membership on the grounds that Myanmar isn't technically
prepared. In the past two weeks, the United Nations and President Bill
Clinton have castigated Slorc, the ruling junta, for suppression of
democracy and forced labour.

Western nations say that admitting Myanmar to Asean would be tantamount to
endorsing Slorc's abuses. Asean stands but its policy of "engaging" Myanmar.
"If anyone says constructive engagement had not had a constructive effect,"
said Malaysian Prime minister Mahathir Mohammad in Jakarta, "they must be
thoroughly blind." He said "the Myanmar of today is very different" than
before, though he gave no specifics. The Philippines' Fidel Romos said that
as with Vietnam, Asean's newest member, Myanmar must go through
"step-by-step" joining process. Ramos also pointed out that Slorc boss Gen
Than Shwe had said Yangon working to end hostilities with minority
separatist groups.

In keeping with Asean's tradition of non-interference, the summiteers
refrained from quizzing Yangon on its human rights record. But Thailand's
new Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has said he will visit Myanmar soon
to explain the importance of adjusting to the changing world. An ex-general,
Chavalit could be persuasive; he has done some adjusting himself. 

*****************************************************************

THE ASIAN AGE: RANGOON'S MILITARY JUNTA WOOING MONKS 
December 10, 1996

Widely ostracized by Western governments and opposed by its own  people for
its human rights violations, Burma's military regime is turning to Buddhist
in the hope of winning over the country's thousands of Buddhist monks.
 
However, seven years after soldiers killed several dissident Buddhist monks
and arrested hundreds more while brutally putting down a pro-democracy
movement, Burma's clergy is still wary of the generals.  On the streets of
Rangoon, the evidence of government tinkering with religion is everywhere.  
An example is the glittering, golden 11th-century Shwedagon pagoda the heart
of Rangoon which is being renovated at much cost  and other spruced up for
both local and foreign visitors.  It was not too long ago that the same
building was desecrated beyond the expectations of this predominantly Theravada 
Buddhist nation.  In July 1989, the ruling regime also known as the State
Law and Order Restoration Council, erected  barricades in order to search
all pilgrims.
 
The ensuing unrest resulted in the death of 11 monks and 17 students and the
five-day shutdown of the pagoda.  Slorc's more recent pampering of the
clergy -- through increased donations to temples special privileges to monks
and other favours -- is seen to be part of its "alternative strategy" aimed
at weaning 
away the religious order front "wrong" political influences.
 
Buddhist monks, through Gen.  Ne Win's military rule from the 
late 1960s to 1988, have supported democratic movements, and 
in the 1990 elections, they openly supported the National 
League for Democracy, (the party of Nobel Peace Prize 
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.  Slorc is now trying to ensure that 
this support base is finally wiped out.
 
Not only does Slorc hope that offering financial incentives will 
lure the estimated 300,000 to 500,000 monks and nuns in the 
country to their side. It is also, critics, say trying, to convince 
highly-devout Buddhist population that it intends to protect its 
religious institutions and leaders.
 
Daily, the regime's state controlled television station beams out 
broadcasts of senior and military leaders visiting and praying in 
temples across the country, and meeting religious leaders.
 
Trying to improve its badly tarnished reputation is another 
reason for this "new gentle face" to an otherwise repressive 
regime which has killed and arrested scores of people since 
taking power in 1988.  "The only purpose of such activities," 
say Zou Win, a university-educated taxi-driver in Rangoon, "is 
to try to show the people that the tatmadaw (armed forces) is 
very religious.  No one believes them.  The people know that 
the main purpose is to stop the monks' political leanings." To 
those who refuse the carrot, there is always the stick.
 
Since 1988, or two years before the national polls were the 
NLD won an overwhelming majority but could not get Slorc to 
give up power, monks, in Burma have been systematically 
tortured and abused by the regime. (IPS)
 
**************************************************************

THE NATION: HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASIA DESCRIBED AS DECLINING
December 10, 1996
YINDEE LERTCHAROENCHOK   

The human rights situation in Asia and the Pacific has not
improved and in many countries such as Burma, China,   and
Indonesia the overall situation has deteriorated in the past year.     

As the world celebrates Human Rights Day today, the Bangkok-based
United Nation's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (Escap) and a number of human rights watch groups   
in Thailand have condemned Burma for having one of the worst
human rights records.

"On this Human Rights Day, the debate about human rights in
Myanmar (Burma) is at its highest at the United Nations," said a 
press statement released by Escap yesterday. 

"The (UN) General Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution
criticizing Myanmar for suppressing opposition to its military 
government ," it added . Myanmar is the name given to Burma by
the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc). 

Debbie Stothard, of the Alternative Asean (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) Network on Burma , told a press
conference here yesterday that overall human rights and 
democracy in having one of the worst human rights 
Burma have drastically deteriorated in the past year while the
Burmese junta has intensified desperate attempts to gain
legitimacy.

She said wrongful arrests and detentions and restriction of
freedom of expression, movement, and communication have escalated
since May when the Slorc began a series of serious crackdowns on
the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Nobel
Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The statement by the UN and regional campaign groups reflect
their concerns over the unfolding political and human rights
situation in Burma, especially the latest use of force in the
past week to break up student protests.

The Escap press release noted that Judge Rajsoomer Lallah, who
was appointed the UN's special rapporteur for Burma earlier this
year, was not allowed to visit Burma to investigate human rights
conditions in the country.

In his preliminary report to the UN General Assembly, Lallah
nevertheless reported that "a culture of impunity prevails in the
military and public sectors" and concluded that the absence of
rights pertaining to democratic governance is at the root of all
the major violations of human rights in Myanmar".

*****************************************************************

ASIAWEEK: WILL THEY COME
December 13, 1996

HUNDRED of youngsters danced to choreographed routines. A troupe of Kayan
girls, their necks stretched by brass rings, paraded past the audience. This
was the official launch Nov 18 of Visit Myanmar Year, the much-delayed and
controversial campaign initiated by the ruling Slorc. The opening-day
festivities were marked by a massive outdoor party with fireworks and free
food in the People's Park. An elaborate re-creation on Kandawgyi Lake of an
1841 naval expedition by King Thayawaddy gave a taste of attractions lined
up for the year. The aim: to attract 220,000 tourists and $100 million in
hard currency.

Not everyone is celebrating. Slorc's critics have condemned the use of
"slave gangs" to refurbish monument and repair roads top make ready for
visitors. Still others accuse Slorc of creating an "ethnic zoo". Opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi urged foreigners to stay away. "We don't want our
people turned into exhibits," she said. Will she prevail? Or will the
undeniable attractions of this little-known country prove too enticing?

*****************************************************************

BKK POST: BURMESE REFUGEE POLICY INFLUENCED BY KHMERS
December 10, 1996
SARITDET MARUKATAT

Bangkok's improved ties with Rangoon and the fear of the burden of unskilled
dependents are proving the dividing line between Thailand and the United
nations High Commissioner for Refugees on approaches to Burmese now en
camped along the western border.

Thailand insists the 100,000 Burmese living largely on non-governmental,
Thai and international aid are "illegal immigrants" under the terms of the
1979 Immigrations Act.

Thai authorities justify the use of the act on the grounds that the Burmese
entered the country after 1983 mainly, they claim, for economic reasons, not
as a result of war or threat of persecution.

Hence, Thai authorities are legally entitled to send the Burmese back across
the border whenever they consider the situation in Burma safe enough.

For the government in Bangkok, this stance has helped dispel suspicions
harbored by Burmese leaders that it is sheltering anti-Rangoon insurgents
in the guise of refugees.

During talks in Rangoon in September 1995, Burmese prime Minister Than Shwe,
who is concurrently chairman of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration
Council (Slorc) showed his concern over the issue when he urged then Defence
Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to solve "the border problem".

Now that Gen Chavalit is prime minister, and has publicly professed close
ties with Slorc leaders, Thailand has the chance to change its position.

"Thailand has always facilitated their return. There is no need to talk
about voluntary return because, if we did, nobody would volunteer," said
National Security Council Deputy Director-general Kachadpai Burusphat at a
recent seminar titled "Status of Thai Immigration Law in the post Cold War
period with Respect to Displaced Persons".

The UNHCR and non-governmental organisations have a different concept of
safety. They believe the Burmese will be punished by authorities if they are
pushed back.

The UNHCR can do virtually nothing to help because it is given access to the
border area only on a case by case basis. Moreover, Thailand is not a party
to the 1951 Convention on the protection of Refugees, which subjects
signatories to certain obligations.

"Yet, however they are perceived, those who would face serious persecution
or danger if forced to return home must be protected," UNHCR representative
to Thailand Amelia Bonifacio told the seminar organised by Chulalongkorn
University's Asian Research Centre for Migration and the UNHCR.

Thailand believes UN involvement will encourage more Burmese to flood across
the border, and the country might be confronted with a situation similar to
that of a decade ago when it played host to some 1.3 million refugees,
380,000 of them Cambodians in camps along the eastern border.

"If we allow the UNHCR to help them, many more Burmese will come," said
Lt-Gen Sanan Kajornklam of the Supreme Command, a veteran of the Cambodian
border problem.

The experience of the Indochinese refugee days has left Thai authorities
with the impression they will be left with a backlog of unskilled dependents
after the Western countries have taken the skilled and the educated for
resettlement.

Gary Risser, of the research centre, sees Thai policy on the Burmese as
being propelled by security and other interests as well as compassion
fatigue stemming from the experience with Indochinese refugees 20 years ago.

"Understandably, the Thai emphasis has been on ending the refugee situation
along its border," said Risser.

But Thailand is meeting with resistance from Rangoon, which refuses to take
back its refugees on the basis that they have no evidence to prove they are
Burmese citizens.

Lt-Gen Sanan said the problem would continue as long as there is not a
ceasefire agreement between Slorc and the Karen National Union, the last
minority group still fighting Rangoon.

But he was confident the two sides could reach a settlement within the next
few years.

Thailand could then start clearing the camps along the border and the UNHCR
could play a role in ensuring safe areas inside Burma as well as monitoring
the situation there, he said. 

*****************************************************************

STATEMENT: PROTEST RALLY IN CANBERRA (AUSTRALIA)
10 December 1996

        On, 9 December 1996, the Burmese students, the Burmese
organisations, community and their supporters of about 100 people held a
protest rally in support of thousands of students and workers who
courageously held protests against the military regime in Rangoon on Monday,
Tuesday and Friday, last week. This protest rally was actually organised by
the Anti-SLORC action committee formed with All Burma Students' Democratic
Front, National League For Democracy (Liberated Area) Australia, Committee
For Restoration of Democracy in Burma, Karen Youth Organisation, Burmese
Family Sydney, Australian National Union of Students and Free Burma
International Students' Solidarity Network.

        The rally started at 13:00 O'clock at the Burmese Embassy (No. 22
Arkana Street, Yarralumla, Canberra).  Speakers at the rally included Maung
Maung Than of All Burma Students' Democratic Front, Ko Mahn Htun of All
Burma Students' Democratic Front, Dr. Aye Kyaw of National League For
Democracy (Liberated Area, Australia), Dr. Htin Kyaw of Committee for
Restoration of Democracy in Burma, Ko Benya of Anti-SLORC Action Committee
and Ko Than Zaw Htwe of Karen Youth Organisation.

        The Demonstrators expressed their support for recent demonstration
in Burma the protest denounced the SLORC's crackdown on the students'
peaceful protest in Rangoon.  Then demonstrators proceeded to the Federal
Parliament at 14:30pm and held a protest there.

        The Burmese rally called on the Federal Coalition Government of
Australia to impose economic Sanctions on Burma and demanded the SLORC
- to immediately release all detained students and political prisoners
- to meet the desires of the students
- to enter into an honest tripartite negotiation with the opposition groups
- to hand over the power as SLORC has promised before the election to the
National League for Democracy lead by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that won the 1990
election.

For further information contact the ABSDF on 0411 337 816, Dr Aye Kyaw on
9789 2121 and Banya on 0419 977 737.

*****************************************************************

FBP ANNOUNCEMENT: YEARNING FOR FREEDOM IN ASIA
December 10, 1996 (Foreign Bases Project)

Saturday, December 14
1:30 pm-5:30 pm
Learning Alliance, 324 Lafayette St., 7th flr.
New York City, USA

$10/$15/$25 (sliding scale)
Info and registration (212-226-7171

>From Beijing to Jakarta, Asia's autocratic rulers argue that universal human
rights standards should not apply to them -- that Asians must give up their
rights to get economic development. Torture, "disappearances" and
repression, they say, are the inevitable (and acceptable) price of
stability, growth and the enforcement of "consensus" from above.

Western governments and corporations criticize that rhetoric -- while they
support it. Corporations sign contracts; the U.S. government supplies arms
for repression. But must most lose, so that some can prosper? What is the
price in human suffering of sneakers and stereos? How can we support those
struggling for human rights and freedom for Tibet, Kashmir, East Timor and
Burma?

Join us for an in-depth look at those countries as we also explore regional
issues of child labor, sweatshops, prostitution, the links between human
rights and development and U.S. policy toward the region's dictators. There
will also be cultural contributions from the region.

Speakers include:
Amy Goodman (WBAI and Pacfica Radio), Constancio Pinto (National Council of
Maubere Resistance), Jamyang Norbu (Amnye Machen Institute), Dr.
Miraj-ud-Din Munshi (Kashmiris for Independence), Jeff Ballinger (Press for
Change (Nike Campaign)), Stephen R. Shalom (Campaign for Peace and
Democracy), Yodon Thonden (Int'l Committee of Lawyers for Tibet), Zar Ni
(Free Burma Coalition)

Co-sponsors (list in formation):
Campaign for Peace & Democracy, East Timor Action Network, Free Burma
Coalition, Kashmiris for Independence, Learning Alliance, Students for a
Free Tibet, U.S. Tibet Committee.

John M. Miller                Internet:fbp@igc.apc.org
East Timor Action Network
PO Box 150753                 
Brooklyn, NY 11215-0014 USA   Phone: (718)788-6071
Send a blank e-mail message to timor-info@igc.apc.org to 
find out how to learn  more about East Timor on the Internet

