BurmaNet Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies
The BurmaNet News: November 10, 1998
Issue #1135
BOSTON GLOBE: BURMA LAW RULING MAY AFFECT
46 STATES
6 November, 1998
AP
BOSTON -- A federal judge's decision to strike down a
Massachusetts law preventing state government from dealing with
companies doing business in Burma could affect purchasing laws in
46 states. The state expects to decide by today whether to appeal
the decision handed down by US District Judge Joseph Tauro on
Wednesday.
"If this ruling stands, taxpayers and local governments
around the country will lose the right to decide whether to do
business that supports brutal regimes like Burma," said
Byron Rushing, the Boston state representative
who wrote the law.
"If selective purchasing had been banned 10 years ago,
Nelson Mandela might still be in prison today," Rushing
said.
Tauro ruled that Massachusetts' Burma law "impermissibly
infringes on the federal government's power to regulate foreign
affairs." The lawsuit was brought by the National Foreign
Trade Council, which represents major US corporations that it
won't name for fear consumers will boycott them. The legal
challenge has been called the first salvo in an international
battle to eliminate local sanction laws. According to Robert
Stumberg, law professor at Georgetown University, 46 states have
laws for domestic, environmental and minority purchasing that
would be affected if the US Supreme Court ultimately upheld
Tauro's decision. Cities in California and Colorado have Burma
laws, while the states that lack purchasing laws are Arizona,
Kentucky, Nebraska and New Hampshire.
In the United States, 23 cities -- including New York, San
Francisco and Portland, Ore. -- have laws prohibiting municipal
governments from dealing with companies doing business in Burma,
also known as Myanmar. The town of North Olmsted, Ohio, has a law
forbidding the local government from buying goods made by slave
labor.
Pennsylvania has a so-called "McBride Principle" law
requiring state pension funds to make sure companies in Northern
Ireland don't discriminate before investing in them.
"If it {the court decision} applies to the Burma laws it
certainly would apply to the McBride legislation," said
Kevin Muldowney, board member of Pennsylvania's Ancient Order of
Hibernians. "I think it's outrageous."
Frank Kittredge, NFTC director, said he shares concerns about
reported human rights abuses in Burma.
"However, our system of government was not designed to allow
the 50 states and hundreds of municipalities to conduct their own
individual foreign policies," he said. Kittredge said at the
outset his goal was to get a decision that would stop state and
local sanctions around the country.
Los Angeles has been considering a sanctions law against Burma,
and opponents routinely mention the Massachusetts lawsuit, said
Kevin Rudiger, spokesman for the Los Angeles Burma Forum.
XINHUA: MYANMAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS,
DEMOCRACY CONCEPTS
7 November, 1998
YANGON (Nov. 7) XINHUA - "Human rights for a third world
country like Myanmar mean the rights to enjoy the basic human
requirements such as security, food and shelter," a latest
Myanmar official report said. The report on the political
situation of Myanmar, issued by the Office of Strategic Studies
of the Defence Ministry, commented that human rights mean to
various nations with different economic, social, historical,
cultural and traditional values.
"Myanmar is at the moment trying to fulfil these basic
essential requirements and after that it will move on to another
set of necessities such as health and education followed by
economic development," the report said.
Challenging the United States in its commitment and obligation in
fulfilling the basic human rights, the report said that security
can never be guaranteed in most of the U.S. cities, citing
security after dark, starvation on streets and death of homeless
people during the winter season there.
The report claimed that Myanmar does not have homeless people who
die of being neglected by their own government which is
implementing the project called "From Huts to Proper Houses
Scheme." It pointed out that the Western's nations theory of
democracy has not only failed in many developing countries but
created instability and chaos.
"Myanmar must and will start to build up her democratic
institution with a solid foundation first and from there on it
will expand and develop into a much higher level," it
stressed, saying that no country in the world can expect to
achieve a functioning democracy in a reverse way like expecting
or forcing a child to run first before learning how to walk
properly.
It also charged that in the U.S. the basic universal human rights
such as security and protection of citizens, properties and lives
have been overshadowed and sidetracked by other individual
rights. Criticizing the sanctions and other pressures imposed by
the U.S. and the European Union (EU) on Myanmar, the report said
these moves indicate the West's real intention, which is
"hypocrisy but not democracy and might is right but not
human right."
The U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar in May 1997,
banning new investments in the country, while the EU restricted
visa issue in 1996 to Myanmar high-level officials, freezing on
contacts at ministerial level and on an embargo on the sale of
military equipment to the country. The EU sanctions were extended
to further six months since April this year.
Regarding the internal political situation in Myanmar, it
predicted that the demand for the freedom to exercise full
political rights will come when Myanmar reaches a more mature
stage where the unity of the 135 ethnic groups living in the
country becomes stronger and when the fundamental needs of the
population have been fulfilled to a much higher level.
"Myanmar must and should be at her very stage of development
prioritizing national unity, peace, stability and developing her
economy with an aim of creating a strong middle class," the
report emphasized.
NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: USDA REFRESHER
COURSE; NLD MEMBERS RESIGN
6 November, 1998
Stability, unity and peace pre-requisite for national development
and progress Endeavors made already yielding benefits being
enjoyed by the people Senior General Than Shwe calls upon youth
to further improve abilities & carry on with might and main
YANGON, 6 Nov-The Union Solidarity and Development Association
SpecialRefresher Course No 3 and Management Course No 15 for USDA
Executives concluded at the Central Public Relations Unit in
Hmawby today with an address by Patron of the USDA Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of
Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe. Also present
were members of the Panel of Patrons of USDA Vice-Chairman of the
State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of
Defence Services Commander-in Chief (Army) General Maung Aye,
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win
Myint and the Council members, Deputy Prime Ministers
Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen Tin Tun, ministers, the
Chief Justice, the Auditor-General, the Chairman of Civil Service
Selection and Training Board, other members of the Panel of
Patrons of USDA, members of the Central Executive Committee of
USDA, deputy ministers, senior military officers,
director-general and managing directors of departments and
enterprises specially invited guests, Course-in-charge Lt Col Myo
Myint, supervisory officers and trainees.
Points from address delivered by Senior General Than Shwe
22 NLD members of Myitkyina resign
YANGON, 6 Nov-Twenty-two members of National League for Democracy
of Myitkyina Township resigned from the party on 30 September
1998. As the 22, members of NLD who are U Phaw Thaw Ladwe, Ahhsi
(2), Daw Ngha Mi, U Lu Kiyo, U Hsa Mu Ri, U Ngha Hta, U Ngha Lu,
U Ngha Pa, U Di Simei, U Si Puche, U Ar Di, U Hi Lu Mei, U Khaw
Hsi, U Kong Kaung, U Laphyaw Dong Kong, U Lahton Dong Ju, U A
Bawm Lein, U Jun Zan Lun Dai, U Yaw Htein, U Houng Zei, U Zi Kong
Htan and U N Khun Naw, have no more wish to participate in
political activities of NLD, they on their own volition had made
the resignation by sending letters of resignation to Township
Multi-party Democracy General Election Commission Office and the
respective party chairman and resigned.
SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.):
ONE SPDC BATTALION OUT OF COMMISSION
7 November, 1998 from <shan@cm.ksc.co.th>
FIGHT BETWEEN THE SSA AND THE SPDC
Reinforcement to an under-strength Shan resistance unit ran into
junta troops' Encirclement and Annihilation campaign which
resulted in the Shans coming out on top, said a SHAN source in
Mongpan. As the rainy season came to a close, part of the Shan
troops that were training and fighting under the command of
Yordserk had been sent to reinforce the 757th Brigade commanded
by Khurhlao in Mongpan, a town about 60 miles north of the Thai
border. They were intercepted by the SPDC units that had prepared
a bloody welcome for them. However, the ambush must have been a
badly prepared one for the ambushers were badly mauled during the
fight and a unit, Battalion 333, reportedly went out of
commission.
According to the source, the local inhabitants of Mongpan, who
for years have not seen a fight, were greatly exulted by the
turnout of the battle. But their exultation might be shortlived,
said the source, because "the Burmese know a hundred ways to
make a Shan's life miserable".
REUTERS: BANGLADESH FORCES KILL ONE AT
MYANMAR COMMUNIST HIDEOUT
7 November, 1998
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Bangladesh security
forces said on Saturday they killed one person and arrested
another during a raid on Myanmar Communist Party hideout near the
country's southeastern border with Myanmar.
"The raid was conducted on definite information... Many
intruders have fled but one was killed and another
arrested," a security official said.
He said a big cache of arms including AK-47 rifles and
ammunitions had been seized during the raid on the hideout of
Myanmar Communist Party at Amchhari. On Friday, Bangladeshi
police arrested two members of an Islamic militant group,
Harkatul Mujahideen at Ukhiya, 30 km (18 miles) from the
southeastern resort town of Cox's Bazar. Police said the two
people had links with international Islamic militants and rep
ortedly fought alongside Talebean forces in Afghanistan.
HINDUSTAN TIMES: QUESTIONABLE STANCE
3 November, 1998 from Chan Mya
The Letters
The Commerce Secretary, Mr. P. P. Prabhu of India and the Deputy
Minister for Commerce of Myanmar, Commodore Myo Tint signed a
bilateral trade agreement on October 30, 1998. What is surprising
and disappointing is that India, the largest democratic country
in the world, and the most repressive military junta in the world
have agreed on a bilateral trade agreement.
Western nations such as the USA and EU are imposing and extending
economic sanctions, arms embargo against the Burmese regime. Even
the Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN is now
reviewing their Constructive Engagement policy towards Burma and
the UN is expected to put pressure on the regime in the ongoing
session.
Amidst all this India's stance is incomprehensible. Why is it so
indifferent to the appeals of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi who
was also conferred the Nehru Award for International
Understanding?
Chan Mya, New Delhi
THE BANGKOK POST: TOUR FIRMS ANGRY AT BID
TO MOVE LONG-NECKED KARENS
8 November, 1998 by Cheewin Sattha, Mae Hong Son
REFUGEES WORRY ABOUT CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS
A planned evacuation of Karen refugees, including long-necked
tribes people, to two refugee camps near the border has sparked
protests from many tourism operators and hoteliers who have
claimed the move will affect tourism. Poolsak Sunthornpanit,
chairman of Mae Hong Son provincial chamber of commerce, voiced
strong objection to the planned evacuation, saying the move would
discourage tourists from viewing the long-necked Karens in new
places located near the border.
Mr Poolsak said the presence of the Karens from the Padaung tribe
helped boost tourism in this northern province.
He said: "All tourism-related businesses such as hotels,
restaurants and transportation services would be badly hit by the
evacuation.
"Long-necked Karens are the star attraction to draw tourists
to visiting our province," he added.
Earlier, the Thai-Burmese border committee resolved in September
to move over 4,000 Karen refugees, of which 100 are long-necked
Karens, from Ban Mai Naisoy camp in Muang district to Ban Pang
Khwai and Pang Tractor temporary shelters for better control and
security reasons.
The two shelters are about three to five kilometres from the old
site and about five kilometres from the border. The United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will finance the
evacuation, which will cost about six million baht. Sources said
tourism operators and long-necked Karens would unite in
protesting against the planned evacuation.
The Karens also fear their lives will be in danger if they are
moved to the new sites, which are vulnerable to border attacks.
Manang, 43, a long-necked Karen woman at Ban Mai Naisoy camp,
said many Karens strongly opposed the planned evacuation.
"We have lived in this camp for more than 10 years. We don't
want to move to the new places," said Mrs Manang.
Mada, 17, a Karen girl, has appealed to Thai authorities not to
move them elsewhere.
"The new sites are very close to the border. If we are
evacuated there, we may soon become victims of border
attacks," said Miss Mada.
Despite protests from tourism operators and Karens, provincial
authorities insisted that they would go ahead with the
evacuation. Amornphan Nimanand, Mae Hong Son deputy governor,
maintained that the evacuation would proceed as planned.
"The move is made for the sake of the national security. Our
province is rich with natural tourism attractions, arts and
culture.
"I see it unnecessary to use the long-necked Karens as a
selling point to draw tourists. If the tourists want to view the
tribes people, they are allowed to see them in the new
camps," said Mr Amornphan.
The long-necked Karens are among 30,000 Burmese refugees who fled
fighting inside Burma about 11 years ago. They are now living in
Ban Nam Phiangdin camp in Pai district, Ban Huay Seuthao camp in
Muang district and Ban Mai Naisoy camp in Pang Moo district.
By tradition, tribal girls aged 10 years begin by putting one or
two brass rings around their necks, arms and below the
knees. More rings are added each year until the number reaches
20-25. It is their unusual long necks which are a curiosity for
outsiders. Tourists reportedly pay between 250-300 baht
each to view the long necked Karens in the three camps.
There are about 50-100 tourists visiting the camps a day. During
the tourism reason, the number of visitors rises sharply to about
200-250 a day. The display of the Karens yields about
12,500-25,000 baht a day or 50,000-75,000 baht during the tourism
season. A tour operator said the income from this business was
shared among tour operators, local officials and the Karens.
"To share the income, tour operators will deduct 750 baht
from 2,500 baht fees received from 10 tourists. The remaining
1,750 baht will go to those who organise the display. The
organisers will pay monthly fees to local immigration, district,
police and military authorities," said the tour operator,
who declined to be named.
The presence of the long-necked Karens has also benefited other
tourism-related businesses. The Reunban Huaydeu Boat Operators'
Club, which operates boat services along the Pai River, earns
24,000-30,000 baht a day from taking tourists to Bah Nam
Phiangdin camp. Restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops also enjoy
huge incomes.