From strider@igc.apc.orgFri May 9 13:56:16 1997 Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 03:47:32 -0700 (PDT) From: strider@igc.apc.org Reply to: "Conference reg.burma" To: Recipients of burmanet-l Subject: The BurmaNet News, May 8, 1997 ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: May 8, 1997 Issue #715 HEADLINES: ========== SAIN REPORT: TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS THE DAILY YOMIURI: U.N. ENVOY ARRIVES IN MYANMAR BKK POST: PAPER LINKS SUU KYI TO BOMBING SLORC STATEMENT: RE MAE THA RAW HTA AGREEMENT BERITA HARIAN: BEFORE ACCEPTING MYANMAR INTO ASEAN ABSL: OPIUM CULTIVATION IN NORTHERN BURMA JAPAN TIMES:U.S. WON'T PRESS ASEAN ON MYANMAR KL STAR: OFFICIAL--'US CAN FORGET ABOUT LOBBYING' BANGKOK BUSINESS DAY: US SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA BUSINESS NEWS INDOCHINA: BREAKEVEN ON 14% AFP: CHINA ATTACKS 'FAILED' US SANCTIONS AGAINST SLORC THE NATION: SPECIAL ZONE DEMANDED FOR ILLEGAL LABOUR BKK POST: ASEAN OFFICE PLAN DELAYED WASHINGTON POST:LETTER - SLORC'S RESPONSE NLM: NARCOTIC DRUG SEIZURES IN MARCH ABC ANNOUNCEMENT: AUSTRALIAN SENATE PASSES MOTION ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERNATIONAL TEAK WEEK ----------------------------------------------------------------- SAIN REPORT: TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS May 6, 1997 S O U T H E A S T A S I A N I N F O R M A T I O N N E T W O R K POLITICAL PRISONERS PUNISHED AND TRANSFERRED FROM INSEIN JAIL In Burma, political prisoners who are held in Rangoon's Insein Jail are usually able to receive visits from their families which, apart from being terribly important for morale and emotional support, is also essential for their survival. Needs such as food, medicine and clothing are not provided by the State but by the families of those incarcerated. As a form of punishment political prisoners are transferred to prisons where access is extremely difficult and costly for family members. During the months of March and April this year, 46 political prisoners were transferred from Rangoon's Insein jail to other prisons up-country. These are political prisoners either active in the national League for Democracy (NLD), involved in the student movement inside the country or arrested under false charges for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of the prisoners recently transferred are doctors active in the NLD who were arrested during the State Law and Order Restoration Council's (SLORC's) "Operation Ngwe Byaing Phyu", (a local crane species). They were tried in secret at Insein jail with no right to legal counsel and sentenced to long prison terms. According to local sources the SLORC is about to launch another campaign against members of the NLD. This time their target are lawyers. The code name for this operation is "Operation Crow". The names of the 46 prisoners and where they have been transferred to from Insein jail are: TO MYINKYAN PRISON U Win Htein (Personal Assistant to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Amnesty Prisoner of Conscience) Bo Bo Oo U Myatt Tun Only 3 names have been given although we believe 8 people have been transferred. TO MANDALAY PRISON U Pho Aye (NLD activist sentenced for reporting the failure of the summer rice crop to the NLD) Dr Soe Lin (NLD supporter arrested in the crackdown on activist doctors in February) TO MYITKYINA PRISON Dr Khin Zaw Win (NLD supporter) Ko Htein Lin (Son of U Pho Aye, also convicted of reporting the summer rice crop failure) Dr Zaw Myint Maung (MP elect, Amarapura - 1, Mandalay) Kyi Pe Kyaw (Bogale township, Irrawaddy Division) Aung Naing Maw Kyaw Kyaw Htwe Hla Tun Aung Kyaw Kyaw Htwe Hla Tun Aung Cho Ko Oo (Student) U Pa Pa Lay (Comedian arrested for performing satire at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's compound. U Pa Pa Lay has been trasferred from KyingKringka Labour camp and is reportedly very ill) U Maung Maung One (student) THEYET PRISON Dr Myint Naing U Naing Naing Maung Myo Min (from the Lu Baung Thit Party - DPNS) THAYARWADDY PRISON Dr Zaw Myint (from Hinthada) Dr Hlaing Myint (NLD supporter) U Kyaw Khin (NLD MP-elect Taunggyi) PATHEIN PRISON Thet Min Aung Maung Maung Latt Hla Min Aung Moe Htay Aung Ba Thein Latt U San Myint (fromTwantay) U Thaung Let Ya Min Zaw Min According to our sources 14 prisoners were transferred to Pathein Prison. 4 names are missing from this list. All of the above are from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's compound and some of them are students. MYAUNGMYA PRISON Aung Myo Tint U Maung Maung (Yadana Tun Store owner, he was arrested for giving water to students demonstrating in December) Theya (from Hledan near Rangoon University sentenced in relation to student demonstrations in December) U Han Nyunt (from Hledon arrested for giving water to students during the December demonstrations) U Myo Myint (serving a seven year sentence) TAUNGOO PRISON U Ye Tun (lawyer from Kyimindaung Township, Rangoon) As part of the SLORC's objective to "annihilate the opposition", the intimidation, arrests, torture and continual abuse towards those supporting NLD has reached an unprecedented level. In talking to local sources stories related to the visits of family members leave no doubt that whether the people fighting for democracy and human rights in Burma are out of jail, or in the hands of the State, their commitment, courage and strength of purpose still exists. For those who are related their emotional agony continues. They too should be acknowledged. One family member of a political prisoner who had been transferred last year said that it took a week of travel to get to the prison only to have a 10 minute visit. According to other family members the journeys to other places are usually long and the prisoners transported in heavy chains that cut into their flesh creating injuries and sores that become septic. On arrival at the prison no medicine or health care is given, and family members not notified for weeks, meaning that their usual access to medicine is also denied. Sources state two reasons for the recent punishment of political prisoners, one being associated with the arrival of the United Nation General Secretary's Special Representative Mr De Soto to Rangoon on May 7. The SLORC authorities did not want him to have access to those close and active to the NLD and arrested within the last twelve months. The second reason is an unconfirmed story that prisoners attempted to smuggle out information from Insein jail during the student demonstrations last December. Other related information Dr Than Nyein, Kyauktan Constituency - 1, Rangoon Division (NLD) As part of the operation against Doctors active in the NLD, Dr Than Nyein was arrested in February 1997 and charged with operating a medical clinic without a licence. He has recently been released with a fine. Dr Tin Min Htut, Pantanaw - 1, Irrawaddy Division, charged with illegally holding 2 Singaporean 20 cent coins was also released. Dr Than Aung, Mingalataungnyunt Constituency, Rangoon Division has received 4 years under section 304(A) of the criminal code for culpable homicide through negligence after treating a patient who subsequently died. The members of the Shwe Than Sin music group which includes Win Maw and others, who were arrested for performing at an NLD function at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's compound last year, are still in prison. Myo Myo and one other member of the group were released. These two released members of the singing group have been heavily harassed for their recordings of two songs which were supposedly written in support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. ************************************** THE DAILY YOMIURI: U.N. ENVOY ARRIVES IN MYANMAR May 8, 1997 YANGON (AP)-A special envoy of the United Nations secretary general arrived in Yangon Wednesday to study Myanmar's human rights situation and try to promote a dialogue between the military government and the opposition. The envoy, Alvaro de Soto, was to meet Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw and Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement, during a four-day stay, said diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity. De Soto met with Suu Kyi during his last visit to Myanmar in August 1995, shortly after she was released from six years of house arrest. **************************************** BKK POST: PAPER LINKS SUU KYI TO BOMBING May 7, 1997 AFP Rangoon - The Burmese official press hinted yesterday that Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy was connected to a bomb attack last month in which the daughter of a top general was killed. In the first detailed official account of the April 6 blast at the home of Lieutenant General Tin Oo, the English-language edition of the New Light of Myanmar said in a cryptic commentary: "The entire Myanmar people are vehemently denouncing the womanish and terrorist act. They are guessing who the culprit is." The commentary dubbed Mrs Suu Kyi's party the "notorious league for demons", saying it had the backing of "terrorist groups in the jungles" opposed to the ruling military regime. (BP) ***************************************************** SLORC STATEMENT: RE MAE THA RAW HTA AGREEMENT May 5, 1997 From: Amanda Zappia The following are the facts that were presented by U Tun Aung Chein in a paper dated 31st March 1997 on behalf of SLORC's Peace Negotiators' Group to the Vice President of the Karen National Union. 1. The Mae Tha Raw Hta announcement, dated January 15, 1997, has opposing views for persons interested in peace. Therefore, it is neccessary to annul and withdraw the announcement. Peace talks will continue only after annuling and withdrawing the announcement. 2. Should the National Convention conclude and a Constitution materializes, there would be no permission to hold arms. So it is necessary to consider the demands for land and holding arms. As laying down arms is a must for the future, it is necessary to start this practice now. 3. There will be no action taken for any kind of criminal activities should one return to the legal fold. 4. The state will arrange for the rehabilitation so that the KNU soldiers will not be disarrayed and will be able to live peacefully. 5. It is necessary to be sincere and open-minded in order to have peacetalks. No interference of other countries and other destructive elements are unwelcome [sic]. 6. Political benefit taken through collaboration with political parties that are inside Burma and opposing the State [i.e. the NLD] will not be accepted. ************************ BERITA HARIAN: BEFORE ACCEPTING MYANMAR INTO ASEAN May 2, 1997 [edited, from unofficial translation by Shahrul/ Dr. Kamal] Report by Mohd Shah Abdullah Kota Bharu, Thursday The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia ( ABIM) asked the Malaysian government and ASEAN countries to study the Burmese military junta's behavior more thoroughly before granting Burma member status. ABIM's president Asst. Prof Dr. Mohd Nur Manuty questioned the very unsatisfactory human right record of Burmese junta in general and its ill treatment on Muslims in particular. He mentioned that ABIM has full information about the junta's role behind the recent razing of several mosques in Rangoon, Mandalay and other big cities in central Burma as well as the new exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Arakan State. He also pointed out that the Burmese military junta didn't respect the opinion of the Muslim community and OIC( Organization of Islamic Countries) on the issues related to the Muslims in that country. "Whatever the good result will be (after accepting Myanmar into ASEAN),the ill fate of Muslims must be put into strong consideration ", he told reporters after opening the ABIM's 24 th State Annual General Meeting in Kelantan. ABIM was asked to comment about the American State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns recently lobbying ASEAN to put pressure on Burma and not to accept into ASEAN this year. Burns stated that it will assist the democratization process and improve the human rights record in Burma. However, Malaysian Foreign minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said ASEAN would make an independent decision to bring Burma into the grouping and the American pressure will not effect it. Also present at the meeting was YDP ABIM Kelantan Mostapha Mohammad, Deputy Secretary of the Kelantan State Kassim Mohammad and Deputy YDP of Kelantan Islamic Affairs Council(MAIK) Datuk Ashaari Azmi Abdulla. Dr. Mohd Nur said ABIM is not influenced by Washington's policy but urged ASEAN to be careful about the human right record of Myanmar before reaching a major decision. According to Dr Mohd Nur, ABIM was called for a discussion with the Secretary General of Foreign Affairs on the Myanmar issue earlier. " ABIM is ready to meet again and discuss more details with the Malaysian Foreign Minister, Ambassador of Myanmar in Kuala Lumpur and ASEAN Secretariat about the Myanmar's entry into the ASEAN." " We also believe that the Burmese military junta is censoring and offering misleading information related to the Muslims in Burma". ******************************************** ABSL: OPIUM CULTIVATION IN NORTHERN BURMA May 2, 1997 From: shar@league.unv.ernet.in OPIUM-CULTIVATION IN MANN TONG REGION OF BURMA The opium-cultivation has been increasing year by year in the Mann Tong region which is 37 miles far from Namtu Mine, situated in Northern Shan State of Burma. In the past, opium was extensively grown in the areas adjacent to the infamous "Golden Triangle Area" and Wa and Kokang areas of Northern Burma. However, since the SLORC regime took over power in 1988, opium growing areas have been expanding to the whole of Upper Burma. Especially, after the so-called "peace agreements" were reached between the SLORC and some ethnic armed groups in Northern Burma, the cultivation areas were expanded to Kachin State, Naga Hills, Chin State, Sagaing Division, Northern Shan State and some parts of Mandalay Division. In the north-west of Shan State, although opium was traditionally grown on a small scale for the purpose of medicine in the past, it has been tremendously increasing after the peace truce reached between the government (SLORC) and forces of Palaung National Organization (PNO) which controlled the area. In this region, joint armed forces of the SLORC and PNO are stationed and opium-growing is controlled by self- styled Major General Aik Phone of PNO, being supported by the local commanders of SLORC. It is estimated that Mann Tong area alone has 5,000 acres of opium-growing-land in 1997. According to reliable sources, there is no permanent opium refinery in the region and only in the season (opium-refining season) Chinese merchants from Yu Nan State of China came to the region with necessary equipments and chemicals. They later became Mobile Refineries for turning raw opium into No.4 heroin. The licenses for buying and refining opium in the region are issued by Aik Phone, apparently with the understanding and support of local commanders of SLORC. The refined opium (No.4 heroin) is either sent to or bought by the merchants who came down to the region from Mandalay and Myitkyina. After opium-refining season is ended, the equipments and surplus refined heroin are brought back to Yu Nan State by the merchants. As a result of the negligence of the SLORC towards the increasing opium-cultivation in the region, most of the youth (most are under 12) in Mann Tong region, La Sho, Mu Se, Kut Khaing, Shwe Li, Pan Saing are becoming addicted to heroin. Some of the economically well-to-do families which have adult children are slowly moving to other cities like Mandalay and Myitkyina as they are afraid that their children would be dipped in the hell of heroin consumption if they continue to stay in the region. News by : Information Bureau All Burma Students League Date : 2nd May 1997 *************************************** JAPAN TIMES:U.S. WON'T PRESS ASEAN ON MYANMAR MEMBERSHIP May 8, 1997 WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The United States has no intention of intervening in a decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on whether to admit Myanmar, as a member, a U.S. administration official said Tuesday. "It's up to the ASEAN to decide," the official said, down-playing remarks by State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns last month. On April 25, Burns said Myanmar's "human rights performance is so woeful and so irresponsible that surely it should not be treated as a normal country and should not be rewarded by membership in one of the most prestigious and important pan-Asian organizations." Burns' remarks were intended to express U.S. concern that Myanmar might be given "premature" membership in ASEAN, said the official, who asked not to be named. The official, however, said Washington will not withdraw Burns' comments. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is scheduled to attend a meeting of ASEAN with its so-called "dialogue partners" in Kuala Lumpur in July following a meeting there of ASEAN foreign ministers, at which the admission of Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia is expected to be announced. The three countries currently have observer status in ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ************************************************ KUALA LUMPUR THE STAR: OFFICIAL--'US CAN FORGET ABOUT LOBBYING ASEAN' ON BURMA May 4, 1997 by Harpajan Singh and Azman Awalludin JAKARTA: The United States can forget about lobbying Asean not to admit Myanmar into the grouping, its secretary-general Datuk Ajit Singh said yesterday. Speaking for the first time on the US sanctions on Yangon, Ajit Singh said Washington could also forget about getting Asean to join in imposing investment sanctions on Myanmar "as we have made up our minds to admit Yangon as early as possible." "They (the United States) have not contacted me over this so far. To me, the US move seems to be a political posturing manoeuvre rather than a genuine effort to bring about changes in the country to benefit the yanmar people. "Asean stands by its policy of constructive engagement. We do not believe economic sanctions are going to change anything in Myanmar. We are neither for sanctions nor will we join them. "Asean's efforts are under way to bring Yangon into the grouping as early as possible," he said in an interview at his office here. Ajit Singh was commenting on reports quoting US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns last Sunday that the United States would lobby to get Asean not to admit Myanmar, adding it had had strong concerns over Asean's plan to do so. US President Bill Clinton approved sanctions banning new investments by US companies in Myanmar last month, citing the State Law and Order Restoration Council's human rights and democratic violations. Ajit Singh said the United States had been an ally and friend to Asean and should have known better "whether such public pronouncements would have an effect on Asean." He said he would present a report to the Asean foreign ministers on May 31 in Kuala Lumpur on the preparations made by Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to join the grouping. "I am happy with the progress and state of preparations by Myanmar so far. The KL meeting will look at the report and decide whether a date should be set for the three countries' admission into the grouping," Ajit Singh said. ****************************************** BANGKOK BUSINESS DAY: US SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA SAID TO BENEFIT THAI INVESTORS May 3, 1997 Nareerat Wiriyapong The US economic sanctions on future investments in Myanmar will be beneficial to Thai investors as the move will give them time to strengthen their positions in the country, according to Thai Commercial Counsellor to Myanmar Sriwat Suwarn. Sriwat said Thai companies investing in Myanmar were mostly small and medium-size enterprises compared to big US firms which earlier stampeded into Myanmar and dominated the energy industry. In terms of competitiveness, the companies and investors from Thailand would never be able to compete with those from the US. "The US sanctions on Myamar mean that US investments in the country will slow down. That will provide a good chance for Thai investors to increase competitiveness against US investors," Sriwat said. According to Sriwat, Thailand's investment in Myanmar was ranked third among foreign investors, following England, and Singapore. The total value of more than 30 projects of Thai investors from 1998 [date as published] until March this year amount to approximately US $1.029 billion. "US investments are ranked fourth and are very close to those of Thailand," he remarked. Thai investments in Myanmar are mainly in the areas of hotel, real estate, tourism, fishery, garments, and saw milling, he said. Regarding financial sources for Thai investors interested in investing in Myanmar, Sriwat said financial services were now sufficiently available as six Thai banks were now operating representative offices in Myanmar. He said the Myanmar Government had not allowed foreign banks to operate in form of full branches in the country. However, Myanmar Government had a policy to form joint ventures with foreign commercial banks to set up branches. "After that they will also allow commercial banks to operate full branches,' he said. So far, Siam City Bank had approached the Myanmar Government for a joint-venture deal, Sriwat said. ***************************************** BUSINESS NEWS INDOCHINA: BREAKEVEN ON 14% May 1997 Hoteliers in Vietnam are casting envious eyes at their counterparts in Burma where hotels require just 14% occupancy to break even. With rates of around $ 100 night in Rangoon, running a hotel there is a profitable business. Unlike Saigon and Hanoi where oversupply , a dearth of tourists and businessmen that have tired of the battle, leave luxury properties at less than 40% occupancy. None are making money, and all are fighting for tourist arrivals that have failed to materialize. ********************************************* AFP: CHINA ATTACKS 'FAILED' US SANCTIONS AGAINST SLORC May 7, 1997 BEIJING, May 7 (AFP) - China Wednesday declared US economic sanctions against Burma a failure, and warned that the imposition of such sanctions for political motives was futile in the post-Cold War era. The April 22 ban on new investments in Burma "seem to have failed," the official China Daily said in a signed commentary. The US imposed the investment ban citing rights abuses by the ruling military junta and severe restrictions imposed on opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD). But the China Daily said the Association of Southeast Asian nations had brushed aside the sanctions, saying Burma's entry into the organisation would proceed as expected. "Even Japan and Australia, two close allies of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, said they would not follow the US example," it said. "The isolation in which the US government finds itself on the Myanmar issue may serve as a lesson when considering slapping economic sanctions on others." Myanmar is the junta's official name for Burma. Washington, which frequently criticises Beijing over human rights, imposed economic sanctions on China following the brutal crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations in June 1989. "The United States should understand that in the post-Cold War era, the practice of gaining political interests by randomly making use of economic sanctions is bound to meet increasingly strong resistance," the commentary said. Sanctions against Burma will only aggravate tensions between Rangoon and Washington and "will benefit no side," it added. ***************************************** THE NATION: SPECIAL ZONE DEMANDED FOR ILLEGAL LABOUR FROM BURMA May 7, 1997 AP A top Thai official wants to make four border provinces special economic zones where illegal Burmese immigrants can work legally. Labour Minister Chatchai Erasakul hopes that allowing the migrants to work in the four provinces will deter them from coming to cities and aggravating the already serious urban problems, an aide to the minister said. The provinces are Tak, Ranong, Kanchanaburi and Chiang Rai, and Burmese working there will be entitled to the same wages and benefits as Thais, he said. There are estimated 300,000 illegal workers from Burma in Thailand, and their presence has been a sore point with Thailand's labour unions. The migrants, who the unions believe compete with Thai workers for jobs, are frequently paid will below minimum wage and are subjected to harsh working conditions and abuse. On May Day, union leaders presented Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh with a list of demands that included limiting illegal migrant workers to jobs in agriculture or fisheries. Chatchai said his plan was the only way to cope with the massive influx of Burmese fleeing their country's poor economic situation. There aren't enough prison cells to arrest them all, and feeding them will drain the government budget, he said. Although Burma's military government has opened the door to foreign investment in the last few years, development has been sparse in that country's border areas. A quarter century of socialist isolationism under Gen Ne Win from 1962 to 1988 transformed the once-prosperous country into one of the world's poorest. It was designated a Least Developed Country by the United Nations in 1987. The Thai border is also home to camps sheltering 100,000 refugees who have fled military campaigns launched by the Burmese army. Burma's border areas home to ethnic groups who have fought the government for autonomy for decades. Most have now signed ceasefires, but some resistance and military campaigns continue. (TN) ***************************************************** BKK POST: ASEAN OFFICE PLAN DELAYED May 7, 1997 Burma claims budget problems have delayed the formation of its Asean department, a requirement for all prospective members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a Thai Foreign Ministry official said yesterday. Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw also cited the need for further study of how other countries proceeded, the official added. Mr Ohn Gyaw made the disclosure to Malaysia's Asean Department Director-General Abdul Ajit Ahmed Akhan, who visited Rangoon last week to assess Burma's readiness to join the grouping. The Director-General of Thailand's Asean Department, Anucha Osathanond, also joined the team. Burmese officials earlier spoke of plans to set up an Asean department by April 1, the start of the country's fiscal year. Currently, officials of the Political department are handling Asean affairs. (BP) ***************************************************** WASHINGTON POST:LETTER - SLORC'S RESPONSE May 7 1997 The Post's April 24 editorial "When Sanctions Make Sense"supported the Clinton administration's decision to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar [Burma]. It ignored historical precedent and failed to check the facts in portraying dissident Aung San Suu Kyi as having been "democratically elected." The Post's support for sanctions apparently is based on the assumption that there are widespread human rights violations in Myanmar. The government has negotiated successfully the return to the legal fold of 15 armed groups that had been challenging successive governments, leaving only one, the KNU, in armed opposition. The government continues to leave the door open to that group, which after four rounds of talks last year unilaterally ended the negotiation. With regard to the assertion that Aung San Suu Kyi is a "democratically elected leader," I should like to put the record straight. Aung San Suu Kyi never was a candidate for the 1990 elections, which were held to choose representatives to draft principles for a new constitution. In keeping with the election laws, which were established at the time of our independence from Britain, no citizen married to a foreigner is eligible to be a representative. Thus Aung San Suu Kyi -- who is married to Michael Aris, a British citizen, and who resided in Britain all her adult life, save for the two-year period prior to 1990 -- was not eligible to stand for election. Given the findings of the considerable research carried out on sanctions, I find The Post's conclusion that "rarely has a nation been more deserving of economic sanction" contrived. First and foremost, the Clinton administration's decision smacks of hypocrisy coming as it does at a time when the president has not been able to act on analogous situations. It is unconvincing that Myanmar should stand so starkly apart from other regimes. The political systems of some of the United States' allies are not notable for their concern with individual liberties. Second, the chances that unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States would have a measurable impact on Myanmar are nil. Eighty percent of Myanmar's trade is with other Asian countries, and any void that the United States might leave in the wake of the sanctions would be quickly filled by Asian investors. It should be noted that unilateral sanctions are particularly ineffective. One need only look at U.S. policies toward Cuba, Iraq and Libya. It is time to question the wisdom of the current punitive stance toward Myanmar by members of Congress and the media. At a time when there is significant change and transformation in Myanmar, when it is opening its doors, creating opportunities for other countries to make a difference not only in the economic field but also in other spheres, it is important for the United States not to be influenced by the rhetoric of dissidents. The sooner the United States realizes this, the better its chanc\es of achieving progress on bilateral issues as well as in bringing about positive change in Myanmar. THAUNG TUN Minister-Counsellor Embassy of the Union of Myanmar Washington ************************************ NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: NARCOTIC DRUG SEIZURES IN MARCH April 25, 1997 Yangon, 23 April - Units and regiments of Tatmadaw seized 848.5876 kilos of opium, 2.1645 kilos of heroin, 4.47 kilos of low-grade heroin, 15.26 kilos of opium base, 20 kilos of other chemicals, 810.81 kilos of opium liquid, 6.96 litres of Mesadyl, five gallons of acetic anhydrade, 157 gallons of ether and 1,260 gallons of other chemical liquid during last month. During the same period, Myanmar Police Force seized 312.7787 kilos of opium in 63 drug cases, 1.4576 kilos of heroin in 130 cases, 22.8186 kilos of marijuana in 29 cases, 43.0125 litres of Phensedyl in six cases, 1.2533 kilos of low-grade heroin in nine cases, 16.0248 kilos of opium oil in two cases and 6.96 litres of Mesadyl in one case and exposed one opium base-related case, 90 cases for failure to register for treatment and eight other drug- related cases. Similarly, Customs Department together with MPF seized 0.016 kilo of opium in one case, 0.4647 kilo of heroin in four cases and 0.001 kilo of opium of marijuana in one case. Tatmadaw, Customs Department and MPF exposed 345 drug cases and took action against 485 persons--397 men and 88 women. MPF seized 57.0085 kilos of heroin, 32.6 kilos of opium and 3.5625 litres of Phensedyl in the cases exposed together with Tatmadaw during the period. ****************************** ABC ANNOUNCEMENT: AUSTRALIAN SENATE PASSES MOTION ON BURMA SANCTIONS May 7, 1997 From: Amanda Zappia On the 7th May 1997 Senator Bob Brown, Greens Senator, initiated a Motion in the Senate calling on the Australian Government to impose sanctions and supporting the US decision. This Motion was passed. Further, in a statement to the Senate he condemned Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, calling him "weekkneed and wimpish" for his failure to move with the US on sanctions. If our supporters in the Australian Parliament do not receive our thanks as well as our requests it may not be long before this support falls off. Please take the time to write or fax Senator Bob Brown and thank him for his strong and decisive position. On the 7th May 1997 the Australia Burma Council wrote: Senator Bob Brown Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania The Senate Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Fax: (06) 277 3588 7th May 1997 Dear Dr Brown, Just now Margaret faxed to me yesterdays Hansard, the Senate Motion and your comments. This correspondence is simply to say how grateful we are that you are prepared to take up the issue for the people of Burma. It is vital for the US to know that there are those in the Australian Parliament that believe their actions are justified otherwise I fear sanctions may not last very long. I have taken the liberty of sending the material to the US so that the President, Bill Clinton, will be informed of your actions. I know that Laurie Brereton agrees with you and that ALP policy has moved toward sanctions. Hopefully the momentum will grow to the point where the government has no option but to listen to the people and Australia can then take it's rightful place in damning the SLORC for their brutality and injustice in the most appropriate way. I have enjoyed a very co-operative relationship with your office for some time and for this too I am most grateful. On behalf of the Burma Office in Sydney, the NCGUB, FTUB, ABC and all those who work for the liberty of the people of Burma I thank you most sincerely for the stand you have taken and the strength of you words. This will always be remembered. Yours most sincerely, Amanda Zappia Australian Rep.: NCGUB, FTUB Central Co-ordinator: ABC Australian Liaison Officer: FDL-AP, PD Burma ************************************************* ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERNATIONAL TEAK WEEK From: Rainforest Relief May 7, 1997 We are asking groups interested in Burmese democracy and the forests of Burma to support our Intnational Teak Week by holding some sort of action during the week of July 1 -7 targeting teak originating in Burma. Some likely targets would include Danish furniture manufacturers, who admittedly get much of their teak from Burma, or the stores that retail such furniture. Not having traveled extensively, I don't know it there are teak furniture stores in Japan or how extensive they are in the EU. But other targets are readily available. The largest importers of teak from Burma are Thailand, China and India. But much of this teak is re-exported. So, in India and Thailand, actions directed at the importers or exporters would be very effective. Dr. Sein Win has stated his support of a boycott of teak originating from Burma. Forced labor is well-documented for logging and hardwood exports and I am currently working on a report highlighting this aspect of the SLORC's attrocities. Please contact the Burma UN Service Office or Rainforest Relief for more info or to discuss details of targets or plans for actions. We need to spread this as quickly as possible to have the effect of reducing teak exports, and therefore funds reaching the SLORC and forced labor for wood. Thank you. For Earth, Tim Keating Rainforest Relief phone: 718/832-6775 Burma UN Service Office phone: 212/338-0048 fax: 212/338-0049 INFO REQUEST Are there any spiders in Denmark? I am looking for information on teak imports and exports, and what companies are involved. Danish furniture companies are a primary source of Burmese teak imports into the US. We are targeting them this summer, so I would like to have more specific information, if it is available. Tim Keating ***************************************************