BurmaNet News: June 19 2003

[editor at burmanet.org]

June 19 2003 Issue #2264

INSIDE BURMA

AP: Suu Kyi held at Myanmar’s Insein jail
DPA: Myanmar renewed country’s commitment to civilian government
Kaladan: Two men in detention by Nasaka with false case
Kaladan: 48 more refugees repatriated
Narinjara: What is the law for shrimp cultivation

BUSINESS

The Nation: Profits at gupoint: Unocal’s pipeline in Burma becomes a test
case in corporate accountability

INTERNATIONAL

Irrawaddy: O’Brien unable to call Suu Kyi
AFP: Report calls for UN Security Council action on Myanmar
AP: McConnell wants Myanmar ambassador expelled

REGIONAL

DPA: India calls for release of pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi
Kyodo: Protesters rally in Japanese capital over Suu Kyi’s release
Chinland Guardian: Pro-democracy activists held demonstrations on Suu
Kyi’s birthday in Malaysia

STATEMENTS/OTHER

FCO: Concerns for ASSK continue: O’Brien
WLB: Statement on the occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday
Euro-Burma Office: Torchlight procession through city of Rome to support
Aung San Suu Kyi

INSIDE BURMA

Associated Press June 19 2003

Suu Kyi Held at Myanmar's Insein Jail
By AUDREY WOODS

LONDON (AP) - Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is being held
under her country's ``most draconian'' law at Insein Jail near the capital
Yangon, where she is confined to a ``two-room hut,'' Britain's Foreign
Office said Thursday.
Despite international protests, Myanmar's military government has refused
to release Suu Kyi in the nearly three weeks since she was taken into
``protective custody'' on May 30 after an attack on members of her
opposition National League for Democracy party.
Military authorities said four people were killed and 50 were injured, but
unconfirmed reports from dissidents claimed far more people may have died.
Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien did not say how he learned of Suu
Kyi's location. The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who turned 58 on Thursday,
is being held incommunicado at an location undisclosed by the military
junta.
``I am appalled to learn today, on her 58th birthday, (that she) is being
held in the notorious Insein Jail on the outskirts of Rangoon in a
two-room hut,'' he said. ``I understand that she continues to wear the
clothes in which she was arrested.''
O'Brien said she is being held under ``the most draconian of the Burmese
military regime's laws.'' The 1975 state protection law allows for
detention without access to family or lawyers for 180 days at a time, up
to a total of five years, with no prospect of appeal. This completely
discredits the regime's claim that she is being held in 'protective
custody,''' he said.
Suu Kyi is a former British resident and widow of British academic Michael
Aris, who died of cancer in 1999 without having won permission from the
junta to visit his wife. She feared that if she left Myanmar to visit him,
the military would not allow her back into the country, which also is
known as Burma.
Government officials in Yangon, also known as Rangoon, were not available
for comment on the statement, issued late at night in Myanmar.
O'Brien called for her immediate release and that of ``all other political
prisoners.''
``The international community will not stand idly by while the military
regime continues to abuse the democratic and human rights of Aung San Suu
Kyi and the people of Burma,'' he said.
The Foreign Office said later Thursday that it is in contact with the jail
and pressing for Suu Kyi's release.
Myanmar's military junta, which came to power in 1988, refused to step
down after Suu Kyi's party won a 1990 general election. She was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her nonviolent democracy campaign and
has spent most of the time since then under house arrest or strict
surveillance.
Some feared Suu Kyi may have been injured in last month's clashes because
the government has refused to let her appear in public. But U.N. envoy
Razali Ismail, who met with Suu Kyi June 10 in a Defense Ministry
guesthouse, said she was unhurt and in good spirits. It was unclear at the
time whether Suu Kyi was being kept at the guesthouse or was taken there
for the meeting.
A Myanmar dissident based in Thailand, Zin Linn, who was in Insein prison
from 1991 to 1997, told The Associated Press he believes Suu Kyi is being
kept in a special cell, which is similar to a bungalow with a sitting
room, bedroom and a toilet. He said it was about 13 by 13 feet square.
John Jackson, director of Burma Campaign U.K., said the location of Suu
Kyi's detention was ``incredibly worrying'' and indicated the authorities
might be considering holding her for a long time. ``It is critical that
the U.N. Security Council now takes the issue up.''
The Burma Sanctions Coalition, whose members include Burma Campaign U.K.,
Friends of the Earth, the Co-operative Bank, Unison, and Archbishop
Desmond Tutu, called for targeted investment sanctions to cut the regime's
economic lifeline.
Although Britain does not encourage trade, investment or tourism links
with Myanmar, some Western companies are engaged in joint business
ventures in the country.
The European Union has agreed to extend its travel ban and assets freeze
on members of the Myanmar regime, their families and associates, and to
tighten its arms embargo.
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved economic penalties
against Myanmar.
___________

Deutsche Presse Agentur June 19 2003

Myanmar renewed country's commitment to civilian government

Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Win Aung renewed his country's commitment to
a civilian government on Thursday, but refused to say when Myanmar's
(Burma) leading dissident would be released from "protective custody".

The foreign minister said his country was committed to democracy and a
civilian government, and that the May 30 clash between supporters of
pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi and pro-government groups wasn't a
sign they had abandoned their efforts and were moving in the opposite
direction.

"We're like a patient coming out of an ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and don't
want to go back in there," Aung told reporters after a meeting with New
Zealand's ASEAN Regional Forum delegation.

"Let me assure again what we are working for is a civilian government, not
a military government to prolong its stay in power," he said. "We are not
working for that. We are working for the emergence of a constitutional
civilian government.

"Even though our government is not a representative government, we are
working for the people, not for the sake of power," he added. "Power is
nothing to enjoy, it is a responsibility."

When asked again when Suu Kyi would be released, U Win Aung said he had to
report back to the junta on the ASEAN meetings that has been going on
since Monday, and that he was still unable to give a date for her release.

"If I can say, then maybe I am a very happy people, but all I can say is
that when we are saying, on record, temporary measures, it will be
temporary," U Win Aung said.

Diplomats at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), who are pushing for sanctions
and other tough measures against Myanmar, have complained that the junta
has made assurances many times in the past, and that now they will be
looking for swift action if the country is to avoid some of the measures
being proposed against them.

U Win Aung defended his country against the criticism and against remarks
by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday night that his
country's rulers were "brutal".

"We are not brutal people," the foreign minister said. "We are not the
heartless people."

The ARF consists of ASEAN nations and 13 other countries including
Australia, Canada, European Union, India, New Zealand, Russia and the
United States and focuses on regional political and security issues.

ARF delegates were attending the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC)
on Thursday, at which the Southeast Asian alliance holds joint meetings
with foreign ministers from individual countries.
________

Kaladan Press June 19 2003

KALADAN NEWS
Dated-June 19, 2003

TWO MEN DETENTION BY NASAKA WITH FALSE CASE

Chittagong, June 19: The commander of Nasak Area No. 6 detained two men on
12th June 2003, by accusing of involvement in human trafficking in
Maungdaw Township in Arakan State, said our correspondent.

The arrested victims are Mogul Ahamed, 75, Son of Mohamed Ali and Hussain
Ahamed, 48, Son of Noor Mohamed, both of them, hailing from Hla Bawza
(Boksho Para) village Maungdaw Township, source further added.

On unfaithful day the said Nasaka numbering in five went to the victims
village and proceeded to their houses with a guide and called them out of
their houses and asked them whether they involved or not in human
trafficking.But, the victims replied that they have no involvement in that
case.
The Nasaka said, “ whether you involved or not in that matter is not
important for us. Money is important for us.” Then the victims were taken
to the Nasaka camp and detained. It also threatened them that if they did
not pay Kyat 4,000,000/; the victims will be sent for six years jail.

Nevertheless, on 15th June 2003, the victims Mogul Ahamed and Hussain
Ahamed were set free after giving Kyat 1,800,000/- and Kyat
600,000/-respectively. Besides, they have to pay six big cocks and two
goats to the officer of the Nasaka for picnic, said sources to our
correspondent.

“A close relative of one of the victims said to our correspondent that it
was an undocumented allegation to extract money from them without proper
inquiry. Frequently, Rohingya people were lodged various false and
fabricated cases by the SPDC authorities.”

"It is compulsory to comply fully with their mandate, what the authority
command to the villagers, there is no alternative way to choose," said a
villager to our correspondent.
__________

Kaladan Press June 19 2003

KALADAN NEWS
Dated-Wed, June 19, 2003

48 MORE REFUGEES REPATRIATED

Chittagong, June19: Forty-eight more Rohingya refugees of 8 families went
back to Burma from two existing refugee camps yesterday, according to our
correspondent.

Officials of Bangladesh and UNHCR saw them off on the bank of Naaf River
at Teknaf, he further said.

In Burma side, Burma immigration officials received the refugees at
Kayaung Chaung reception Center of Maungdaw Township, source said.

Before repatriation, the Bangladesh Government provided to the refugees 9
items of goods per family such as one blanket, 3 pieces of waterproof, 3
rice bags of 50 kgs per bag, 3 pots, one dozen of plastic
plates, 6 pieces of water glass, one mat, one lamp and 12 packets of
biscuits, said our source from Teknaf.

From Burma side, the repatriated refugees were provided 2 items of goods
such as 50 kgs of rice, one mosquito net and Kyat 15,000/- per family.

It is reported that the repatriated refugees have to go their villages
with their own expenses and a recommendation letter was given to the each
family referring to the Village Peace and Development Councils of
villages, said sources.

With this, a total of 2,34, 297 refugees of 46,826 families have so far
returned to their motherland, according to our sources.
_________

Narinjara News June 19 2003

What is the law for shrimp cultivation?

 The shrimp farmers of Pauktaw Township in the western part of Burma are
facing difficulties arising from the constantly changing policies on
shrimp farming.

A businessman said that Shrimp farming has brought millions of dollar into
Burma since it was introduced in the 1990s.

Quoting a source in the shrimp export sector our correspondent said that
beginning 2001 the ruling military regime of Burma issued warnings about
the hazards of shrimp cultivation, including the depleting flora and fauna
in and around the shrimp farms causing environmental disaster, including
loss of farming lands.

Last year the State Department of Embankment and Irrigation took action
against twenty-one shrimp farmers of Rwa-chhaung-gri Village under Pauktaw
Township charging them of destruction of agricultural land resulting from
shrimp cultivation.  The charges were brought against twenty-one persons
including the village chairman Maung Than Tin, Shwe Phaw Thu, and U Than. 
All of them are spending one year’s prison sentence in the Sittwe Prison.

It was learnt from a close associate of them that they bribed Brigadier
Kyaw Thein, the Chairman of Sittwe District, a very large sum of money to
get a permit for shrimp farming.  After Kyaw Thein was transferred the new
District Chairman overruled the permit and brought charges of the
destruction of environment against them last year.

Large shrimp farms around the village including those in Thawangchhaung,
Taungphu, Nagwe, Punnagri, Nan-dak-kyun, etc. have been left behind.  It
is alleged that all the shrimp farm owners of these areas have been forced
to pay millions of kyat as bribe to the military intelligence and the
Embankment and Irrigation Department officials just to keep the business
going.

Two prominent shrimp farmers in the area said that they are facing the
threat of big financial loss if they destroy the farms and if they
continue shrimp farming they have to bribe the military intelligence and
other law enforcing agencies.

BUSINESS

The Nation June 19 2003

Profits at gunpoint: Unocal's pipeline in Burma becomes a test case in
corporate accountability; Articles; forced labor
By Daphne Eviatar

U Maung Maung was no stranger to the brutality of the government of Burma
(called Myanmar by its military rulers). A former geologist and leader of
the national mineworkers' union, Maung was forced to flee the country in
1988 when, following a massive citizens' uprising, a new military
government began to arrest, torture and execute thousands of pro-democracy
demonstrators. But Maung was nevertheless surprised when, nine years ago,
he came across hundreds of Burmese crowded into a cluster of straw huts
along the Thai-Burma border, a makeshift village that sank in the mud when
it rained.

Why had they fled Burma's lush Tenasserim district, a peninsula of
coastline, farmland and thick forests, to live here like cattle? In a
series of interviews with Maung, founder of the exiled Federation of Trade
Unions of Burma, the villagers de-scribed armed military men expelling
indigenous fishermen from their homes and farmers from their land, razing
villages and enslaving their inhabitants. They reported that soldiers
forced everyone from children to the elderly into labor, making them cut
through thick swaths of jungle, build military installations and haul army
equipment. All of this, Maung later learned, in order to prepare the area
for a new gas pipeline.

One woman said soldiers came to her home as she was cooking over an open
fire. When her husband attempted to flee, they shot him and shoved her and
her baby into the flames, killing the baby and leaving her with disabling
scars. Others described seeing their neighbors executed

when they refused to leave their homes. Many who joined forced-work
details collapsed from exhaustion or disease after weeks of toiling under
a scorching sun with little food or water. Two girls said they were raped
by soldiers at knifepoint.

Many of these victims are now plaintiffs in two landmark lawsuits against
Unocal, part of a consortium of companies behind the gas pipeline. The
outcomes may well determine whether American corporations will ever be
forced to account for the brutal human rights abuses being committed
around the world in their interests.

As has now been well documented by EarthRights International, a human
rights group co-founded by former Burmese student activist Ka Hsaw Wa, the
military began clearing the land and enslaving locals only after the oil
companies initiated negotiations with the Burmese government to build the
$ 1.2 billion project in 1990. The accounts collected by Ka Hsaw Wa and
Maung are corroborated by volumes of sworn deposition testimony from
villagers, filed under seal but cited in several court opinions. According
to the testimony, plaintiffs' lawyers and further interviews conducted by
such independent human rights organizations as Human Rights Watch,
hundreds of villagers were driven from their homes and farms, and forced
to work at gunpoint to prepare the area for the pipeline.

Led by the French oil company Total (now TotalFinaElf), the consortium
entered into a joint venture with the Burmese government around 1995 to
transport vast quantities of natural gas from the offshore Yadana field in
the Andaman Sea through a pipeline that would extend east to Thailand. The
pipeline would have to pass through Tenasserim, a region whose ethnic
groups opposed military rule. Because its agreement with the companies
required the Burmese government to protect the pipeline from sabotage, the
government increased its military presence along that thirty-nine-mile
stretch. According to testimony from villagers, many of those forced into
service--cutting down trees, digging out stumps, building barracks and
helipads--were beaten regularly by guards. Some of these same helipads
were used to ferry Unocal officials when they came to inspect the
project's progress.

To prevent workers from fleeing, the military took extreme measures.
"There was a guy who had his hands and feet bound with seven people with
rope," says Maung, who met the man while interviewing the villagers who
had fled to the Thai border. "They were put in a pit to keep them from
running away."

It was Maung who first brought the idea of suing the oil companies to
attorney Terry Collingsworth, then an AFL-CIO representative in Nepal and
a leader of the Washington, DC-based International Labor Rights Fund.
Collingsworth, together with Burmese activists, decided to try using an
obscure 1789 law known as the Alien Tort Claims Act, which grants
noncitizens access to US courts in cases involving violations of
international law. That act had been used before to prosecute torture by
foreign military officers, but it had yet to be successfully used against
a corporation whose officers hadn't personally perpetrated the abuses. In
1996 Collingsworth and the Labor Rights Fund used it to sue
California-based Unocal on behalf of four Burmese villagers for
encouraging and profiting from murder, torture, rape and slavery in Burma.
About a month later, EarthRights International filed a similar lawsuit on
behalf of fourteen others, targeting Unocal, Total and the state-run
Burmese and Thai gas companies. (The plaintiffs in both cases remain
anonymous to protect them from retaliation.) Although the court ruled that
it had no jurisdiction over the foreign companies, the cases, remarkably,
went forward against Unocal, and are now being considered together in
California and federal courts.

The claims against Unocal are straightforward. The villagers argue that
because the California company was a business partner of the Burmese
government, whose military is notorious for using forced labor, the
company is responsible for the systematic human rights violations the
military committed in order to complete the company's pipeline. While
charging an American company with slavery is controversial, there's
nothing unusual in American courts holding a company responsible for the
acts of its business partner. And international criminal tribunals have
often held individuals responsible for "aiding and abetting" international
crimes like genocide. Either of these grounds could allow the court to
rule in the villagers' favor, forcing Unocal to face a trial.

On June 17, after years of legal wrangling--during which the case was
dismissed, reinstated and then appealed--the US Court of Appeals for the
Ninth Circuit will reconsider whether the company can be held responsible
for forced labor and murder committed by the Burmese military in
connection with the pipeline. Its decision will have implications far
beyond Unocal and the Burmese villagers. Although the Alien Tort Claims
Act, originally enacted to prosecute piracy, lay dormant for almost two
centuries, human rights and labor activists are increasingly using it to
charge American corporations with egregious violations of international
law. The Labor Rights Fund alone has half a dozen such cases pending in
federal courts around the country, claiming human rights abuses by Exxon
Mobil in Indonesia, Coca-Cola in Colombia and Del Monte in Guatemala,
among others. The New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights has used
the law to charge Royal Dutch/ Shell and ChevronTexaco with complicity in
murder and military attacks in connection with their oil projects in
Nigeria.

The rising tide of these cases has alarmed American corporations. They're
fighting back hard, filing briefs in support of the defendants and
lobbying Congress to repeal or amend the Alien Tort Claims Act. Still,
most courts' substantive decisions have favored the plaintiffs, and the
cases are slowly marching ahead, with the case against Unocal taking the
lead--and thus promising to set a precedent. If the Ninth Circuit rules
that Unocal must face trial for collusion in murder, torture, rape and
slavery, it will confirm that human rights activists have hit upon a
powerful tool for holding corporations legally accountable for profiting
off of the most despicable practices of abusive governments overseas.

The US government is working to prevent that. In May, Attorney General
John Ashcroft filed a brief with the Ninth Circuit court denouncing the
villagers' attempt to use the alien tort law to sue Unocal and arguing
that every court that has allowed such claims for the past twenty years
has been wrong. In a sweeping argument against legal accountability for
human rights violations, the Administration argues that all suits filed
under that law should be dismissed because they interfere with US foreign
policy and undermine America's war on terrorism. Kenneth Roth, director of
Human Rights Watch, calls Ashcroft's intervention "a craven attempt to
protect human rights abusers." So far, no court has endorsed the Justice
Department's view.

Unocal has fought this case every step of the way, refusing to acknowledge
even basic facts surrounding the pipeline's construction. The company
denies, for example, that under its contract with the state-owned Burmese
gas company, the government had pledged to provide security for the
pipeline. Yet Unocal's own documents, produced for the lawsuit, state that
"the government of Myanmar is responsible for protecting the pipeline."
Unocal's representative in Burma told the US Embassy that "the companies
have hired the Burmese military to provide security for the project."
Additional documents reveal that Unocal officials on the pipeline project
held daily meetings with army commanders to tell them where they needed
roads, military installations and security. And villagers have testified
that Unocal officials regularly visited the pipeline site.

Unocal claims that it was unaware that the Burmese military regularly used
forced labor. Yet Unocal's own consultants warned the company, according
to court documents, that "throughout Burma the government habitually makes
use of forced labour to construct roads." Even the US State Department
reported at least as early as 1991 that the military government routinely
uses forced labor. The United Nations issued more warnings of serious
human rights abuses in 1995.

With the evidence mounting, Texaco, which had large investments in a Burma
gas field, pulled out of the country in 1997. But Unocal retained a 28
percent interest in the pipeline, and then-Unocal president John Imle was
defiant. At a January 1995 meeting with human rights organizations, he had
argued that locals were threatening sabotage, adding, "If you threaten the
pipeline there's gonna be more military. If forced labor goes hand and
glove with the military, yes, there will be more forced labor. For every
threat to the pipeline there will be a reaction."

If there remained any doubt, in March of that year Unocal's Burma
representative, Joel Robinson, confirmed that he had received information
from human rights groups that "depicted in more detail than I have seen
before the increased encroachment of [the Burmese military's] activities
into the villages of the pipeline area." Robinson concluded that Unocal's
insistence that the military had not used forced labor on the company's
behalf "may not withstand much scrutiny."

By the end of 1995, Unocal consultant John Haseman, a former military
attache at the US Embassy in Rangoon, added to the chorus in a report to
Unocal: "Based on my three years of service in Burma, my continuous
contacts in the region since then, and my knowledge of the situation
there, my conclusion is that egregious human rights violations have
occurred, and are occurring now, in southern Burma," he told Unocal. "The
most common are forced relocation without compensation of families from
land near/along the pipeline route; forced labor to work on infrastructure
projects supporting the pipeline...and imprisonment and/or execution by
the army of those opposing such actions"--exactly the core charges of the
plaintiffs. "Unocal," Haseman continues, "by seeming to have accepted [the
Burmese military's] version of events, appears at best naive and at worst
a willing partner in the situation."

Unocal nonetheless adamantly maintains that no abuses occurred. In June
2002 the company released a statement saying that the pipeline "was
constructed and is being operated according to high ethical standards and
modern business practices," and that despite "the challenges" of investing
in a country "ruled by an authoritarian military government," it is
"confident that no human rights abuses have occurred in the construction
or operation of the pipeline." Even if some abuses did occur, says Daniel
Petrocelli, the lead lawyer defending Unocal, "no Unocal person
participated in any of the alleged wrongdoing. Unocal has no control over
the Myanmar military."

With the pipeline now completed and producing profits for Unocal, the
company insists that the project benefits Burma. The pipeline is currently
producing 700 million cubic feet of gas per day, well above early
projections of 525 million, according to Unocal spokesman Barry Lane, who
says the project is "exceeding our investment objectives." After a large
group of shareholders asked Unocal in May to reconsider its continued
involvement there, Unocal chief executive Charles Williamson maintained
that the company would not withdraw from the project.

Lane calls the project "a good investment for the company, and a good
investment for the people of Myanmar. Our disappointment is that there
aren't a hundred such projects in the country." Unocal says that because
of its project, infant mortality in the region is down, school attendance
is up and close to 600 people have pipeline-related jobs. The company does
not calculate how many farmers and fishermen lost their livelihoods as a
result of the project's construction.

The June 17 arguments will determine whether Unocal's claims will ever be
tested at trial. If the federal court affirms its earlier decision, it
will be a major victory not only for the villagers, but for the hundreds
of victims in other countries waiting for their day in court. But even if
they lose this round, the Burmese villagers have a chance through a second
case, filed under state law in Los Angeles. Despite repeated maneuvers to
delay by Unocal's lawyers, that trial is now set to start in July.

To Maung, it's about much more than a court verdict. "When I told the
villagers that we could sue Unocal, they thought I was crazy," he says.
"We're trying to say that corporations can't just come in and do what they
want. They have to answer to the law."

Unocal is still hoping for a way out. Last August, it asked the State
Department to intervene, claiming that a trial might interfere with US
foreign relations. The company was inspired by a case pending against
Exxon Mobil for alleged human rights violations in connection with its
operations in Indonesia. There, the State Department asked the federal
judge to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that it would interfere with
the US war on terrorism. But that's a harder case to make with Burma. In
1997, the United States imposed sanctions against Burma, and the State
Department's latest reports state that "the government of Burma severely
abuses the human rights of its citizens" and has "severe and pervasive
forced labor problems." It remains to be seen whether Unocal can make a
credible case that despite more than a decade of documented evidence to
that effect, it had no idea that its business partner was doing anything
wrong--and that in any event, a corporation can't be held responsible.

Daphne Eviatar, a Brooklyn-based writer and attorney, is a contributing
editor at The American Lawyer.


INTERNATIONAL

Irrawaddy June 19 2003

O’Brien Unable to Call Suu Kyi
By Aung Maw Zin

British Foreign Office Minister Mike O’Brien said he has been unable to
speak to Burma’s detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and wish her
a Happy Birthday.
"I particularly wanted to telephone Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday. It
is her birthday—and by chance my own too," O’Brien said in a statement.
He said he regretted that Suu Kyi should have to spend another day in
detention, especially on her birthday. "I am also deeply concerned about
the welfare of Aung San Suu Kyi’s deputy, U Tin Oo," he said. No one has
seen NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo since May 30, but some believe he is being
held in a prison in Sagaing Divison.
O’Brien has made repeated attempts to telephone Burma’s Deputy Foreign
Minister Khin Maung Win to ask for a number with which to reach Suu Kyi,
but Khin Maung Win claimed he was unable to take O’Brien’s call.
This is not the first time O’Brien has had problems getting through to Suu
Kyi. In January this year, Britain’s Foreign Office alleged that a
telephone conversation between O’Brien and Suu Kyi was cut short because
of "constant interference" and the cutting of the phone line.
Also in London, the British-Burma society is planning a march to call for
Suu Kyi’s release. The demonstration will start in front of the parliament
building at Westminster and then move to the Prime Minister’s Downing
Street residence before moving onto the Burmese Embassy. They plan to
celebrate Suu Kyi’s 58th birthday in the evening.
________

Agence France Presse June 19 2003

Report calls for UN Security Council action on Myanmar

A newly-issued report Wednesday calls on the United Nations Security
Council to hold an emergency session on Myanmar to condemn the military
government's recent crackdown on the democratic opposition.

"Burma: A Time For Change," a 60-page document published an independent
task force convened by the New York based Council on Foreign Relations,
calls on the UN Security Council to impose targeted sanctions on Burma,
including denying visas to leaders of the military regime, freezing their
assets, banning new investments and the ending the import of goods from
Myanmar, also known as Burma.

The Task Force also recommends that Washington impose an immediate import
ban on goods produced in Myanmar, even if the United Nations fails to do
so. "The Burmese regime has repeatedly broken its promises to begin
substantive dialogue with the democratic opposition," said Mathea Falco, a
former assistant secretary of state who led the task force.

"It is time for the UN and the international community to take action,"
she said at a press conference held at a US Senate office Wednesday to
unveil the work.

The recommendations come as senior US senators called Wednesday for the
United States to downgrade diplomatic relations with Myanmar to pressure
the country's military junta to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mynmar's junta said has it placed Aung San Suu Kyi under "protective
custody" after May 30 clashes that broke out on a political tour in the
north of the country.

Dissident groups have said dozens were killed when Aung San Suu Kyi
supporters were attacked by hundreds of what the US State Department has
described as "government-affiliated thugs."

The Council on Foreign Relations report called on Washington to redouble
its efforts to influence other Asian governments -- particularly China,
Japan Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia -- to ostracize the military regime
in Yangon.

The report also urges the United States to increase its humanitarian
assistance to Burma to help relieve that country's massive refugee crisis
and public health emergencies, particularly the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
_____________

Associated Press June 19 2003

McConnell wants Myanmar ambassador expelled
By KEN GUGGENHEIM

A leading senator called on the Bush administration Wednesday to send back
Myanmar's ambassador until Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and
other political prisoners are freed.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the No. 2 Senate Republican, also endorsed an
independent task force report calling on the U.N. Security Council to hold
an emergency session to discuss the crackdown on political dissidents in
Myanmar, the Asian country also known as Burma.

McConnell, of Kentucky, was part of the task force, which included other
lawmakers, human rights activists, former government officials,
journalists and business people. It was created last year by the New
York-based Council on Foreign Relations.

Another member of the task force, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called
for international pressure on Myanmar's military rulers.

"This government clearly is not going to move unless the strong views of
the world are brought down on its shoulders," she said.

Suu Kyi was arrested May 30 after a clash between her supporters and
government backers. The junta says four people died, but the opposition
says up to 70 people died. President Bush and other world leaders have
urged Myanmar to release Suu Kyi.

World leaders, including President Bush, have urged Myanmar to release Suu
Kyi.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, urged Myanmar's
military rulers Tuesday to free the pro-democracy leader. McConnell called
for the regional bloc to take stronger action. "It seems to me that's not
nearly enough."

Since Suu Kyi's arrest, McConnell has used the weight of his office to
pressure Myanmar's military rulers to set her free. He sponsored a bill
calling for economic sanctions on Myanmar and pushed it through the Senate
in an amazingly speedy seven days. A similar bill is also being considered
by the House.

McConnell said he has discussed Myanmar with President Bush. "I'd be
shocked if he didn't sign such a bill."

Myanmar "has moved from being sort of nowhere on the American agenda in
recent weeks to near the top," he said.

In an appearance later before the Senate Foreign Relations' East Asian and
Pacific affairs subcommittee, McConnell said America alone can't change
Myanmar.

"If the international community has the political will to stand for
freedom in Burma, change can come to that beleaguered country," he said at
a hearing on Myanmar

At the hearing, an official from the State Department said it "supports
the goals and intent" of the sanctions bill.

Lorne W. Craner, assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and
labor, said Secretary of State Colin Powell was discussing Myanmar was at
the ASEAN regional forum in Cambodia. "It is time for member countries to
act decisively and firmly to address the problems in Burma that affect
their region," he said. He praised its statement on Myanmar as "a good
first step" and supported plans to send a delegation to Rangoon, the
capital. "The oppression of an entire nation must not stand," he said.
"The international community should pull together as never before to put
an end to the unchecked abuse perpetrated by this illegitimate and brutal
junta."

REGIONAL

Deutsche Presse Agentur June 19 2003

India calls for release of pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi

India's Minister for External Affairs Yashwant Sinha has written to his
counterpart in Myanmar (Burma) asking for the release of democracy
campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi, it was reported Thursday.

In his letter to Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Win Aung, Sinha also said a
dialogue must be resumed to restore democracy in that country, the
Hindustan Times newspaper reported.

While Suu Kyi's detention sparked off protests in many countries and
reactions from several world leaders, India has so far not commented on
the issue.

Analysts told the Hindustan Times, one of the reasons for India's silence
has been the co-operation between the two countries to tackle insurgency
and drug trafficking in India's strife-torn northeastern states, which
share borders with Myanmar.

India and Myanmar had launched a joint operation codenamed "Golden Bird"
in the northeast to tackle the militant and drug menace.

Observers said India continues to engage Myanmar in an attempt to balance
any influence from China.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, however, is scheduled to visit
Beijing next week, and China's envoy said recently the two countries are
partners, not rivals.

Sources in India's Foreign Office told the Hindustan Times they were
forced to take a stand on the issue, following discussions "on whether to
support the junta blindly or to take a principled stand on upholding
democratic norms".

Officials said it was important for India "not to maintain double
standards" as it has spoken out on several occassions against Pakistan's
"sham democracy", the report said.
_________

Kyodo News June 19 2003

Protesters rally in Japanese capital over Suu Kyi's release

Tokyo, 19 June: Protesters marched in Tokyo calling for the immediate
release of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday 19
June , her 58th birthday.

The demonstration, organized by the Japanese branch of Myanmar's Burma's
National League for Democracy (NLD), began with a march in the evening
from a park in Roppongi, an entertainment district in Minato Ward.

An official of the People's Forum on Burma, a citizens' group, said he
hopes to be able to convey a message to the Myanmar government to swiftly
release Suu Kyi and will urge the Japanese government to stop giving
economic aid to the military government.

"We want the Japanese Foreign Ministry to freeze the official development
aid (ODA) to Myanmar," he said. "In order to truly promote democracy in
the country, Tokyo must adopt a strong stance on a government that
continues to detain a person who stands for democracy," he said.

Calls are growing internationally for Myanmar to immediately release Suu
Kyi and other NLD members, who were placed in "protective" custody
following clashes between supporters of the NLD and pro-junta
demonstrators in northern Myanmar on 30 May.
___________

Chinland Guardian

Pro-democracy activists held demonstration on Suu Kyi’s birth Day in Malaysia
By Salai Za Ceu Lian

Malaysia: While the international community especially foreign ministers
from the 10 member countries of the Association of South East Asian
Nations (Asean), taking part in the recently-concluded Asian Regional
Forum meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, voiced their grave concern over the
unlawful detention of Daw Suu by military hawks and their failure in
restoring democracy in the Union of Burma, more than 30 Burmese
pro-democracy activists also waged the protest against the military Junta
in front of Burmese Embassy located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on this
19th June of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s birth day.
Despite the tight security posted outside Burmese embassy in Malaysia, a
group of Burmese pro-democracy activists based in Kuala Lumpur, carried
out their demonstration today in condemnation of the ruling military
junta.
All, taking part in the demonstration, were wearing the white shirt during
their 30 minute-long protest from 11:00 A.m to 11:30 A.M local time. The
protesters were highlighting and raising awareness among the international
community about the brutal cracking down on pro-democracy activists
constantly taken place and worsening human right violations in day-to-day
situation under the regime in Burma. Especially, as the demonstrators
commemorated Daw Suu's birth day, they were carrying along Daw Suu's photo
as their poster during their procession.
Due to the constant intimidation and posed by riot policemen on the
demonstrators and forceful cessation of our protest, the protest lasted
only half an hour ,” said one striker, participated in the protest, adding
, “ the Policemen were also furthermore threatening us with our illegal
status here in this country, Malaysia.
As of now, six demonstrators including leaders of protest are arrested and
they are still under detention.
As today, 19th June, 2003 marks the 58th birth day of an opposition leader
and Noble peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, in commemoration of her birth
day simultaneously, all peace and Democracy loving Burmese activists based
in exile held a special prayer for Daw Suu in difference places such as
Belgium, England, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and India. The demonstrators
on this day were all demanding the quick release of Aung San Suu Kyi
including all the political prisoners and the restoration of Democracy in
Burma.

STATEMENTS/OTHER

Foreign and Commonwealth Office June 19 2003

PRESS RELEASE WEDNESDAY 18 JUNE 2003


CONCERNS FOR ASSK CONTINUE: O'BRIEN

To mark Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday tomorrow, Mike O’Brien today tried to
make contact with her. He said:

“I particularly wanted to telephone Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday. It
is her birthday - and by chance my own too. But while I can go out and
celebrate my birthday with my family, Aung San Suu Kyi does not have that
choice. However despite repeated attempts today to contact the Burmese
Deputy Foreign Minister, Khin Maung Win, to ask for Aung San Suu Kyi’s
telephone number, he has claimed to be unavailable to take a call.

"Last week I asked the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister why, if the
military regime keeps telling the outside world that she is being detained
'for her own safety', am I unable to speak to her? He could not come up
with an answer and said he would get back to me with the telephone number.
He has failed to do so.

"I deeply regret that Aung San Suu Kyi should have to spend another day
under military detention, especially on her birthday. She has been seen
only once since the violent events of 30 May. We do not know where she is
being held. I am also deeply concerned about the welfare of Aung San Suu
Kyi’s deputy, U Tin Oo. No one has seen him since 30 May.

"We now have credible information that the appalling events of 30 May were
a deliberate and pre-meditated attack on Aung San Suu Kyi and her National
League for Democracy.  This is deeply disturbing.

"The principles of democracy, freedom and respect for human rights that
Aung San Suu Kyi has fought for so strongly are dying in Burma. The
international community must stand firm together and show the regime that
their actions are unacceptable and will not prevail.”
_________

Women’s League of Burma June 19 2003

WLB's Statement on the Occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Birthday

Today, June 19, 2003 is the 58th birthday of Burma's democratic leader Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi. On her birthday, the Nobel Peace Laureate and General
Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
is being detained forcefully by the Burmese military regime.
During her organizational tour in Upper Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
her party members were violently attacked by the supporters of the
military regime near Depaeyin township and later she and the NLD leaders
have been detained. International governments have expressed their anguish
and concerns over such an ugly act of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council and urged for the immediate release of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi.
	The US Secretary of State Mr. Colin Powell has asked for the release of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and he strongly criticized the Burmese military
government's actions against the democratic forces and for ignoring to
hold the political dialogue in Burma.
The Association of the South East Asian Nations (Asean), in its meeting on
16 June, has also urged the representative of the Burmese military
government, U Win Aung to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from detention as
soon as possible.
Though there have been international outcry and condemnations, the Burmese
military government has been repeatedly saying that "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
has been put under protective custody for her own security and she will be
released when the situation becomes normal".
	During his recent 10th visit to Burma, the United Nations Special Envoy
Mr. Razali Ismail's demand for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi was not fulfilled by the Burmese regime.
By looking at the episode of the 30th May and the intimidation and
disturbances imposed by the SPDC and its thugs like Union Solidarity and
Development Association (USDA) on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during her
organizing tour in Mandalay Division, Arakan State, Chin State, Kachin
State, we don't see any willingness on the part of SPDC generals towards
democratic transition and they have been trying to continue to hold on
power by any means possible.
Since this is the crucial moment for the people of Burma, the strong
support and immediate actions of the international community are much
needed. We would like to request the democracy loving citizens of the
world to put pressure on the SPDC in various ways for the release of Nobel
Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained NLD members, to punish
those who were involved in the May 30 attack and to call on the UN
Security Council to intervene in Burma for emerging political dialogue
which can bring a democratic solution in the country.
Similarly, we urge the people of Burma who voted for a democratic
government in the 1990 elections, especially the Burma women folk, to
stand firmly beside Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and stick to their belief and
struggle with strength until we achieve our goal for democracy.
__________

Euro-Burma Office June 19 2003

Torchlight procession through city of Rome to support Aung San Suu Kyi,
June 20th 2003

On June 20th 2003, there will in Rome an event called “Festa dell`Unita`”
.. It is the national annual celebration of the Left Party, Democratici di
Sinistra, and thousand of people from all over Italy will be attending it.

During the celebration the people will march with torches through the city
of Rome to express their support to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ask the
release of all political prisoners in Burma. This action is linked to the
global action campaign on Burma for Aung San Suu Kyi`s birthday (19th June
2003)