BurmaNet News: January 6, 2004

[editor at burmanet.org]

January 6, 2004, Issue #2399

INSIDE BURMA
Jakarta Post: Suu Kyi asks for world's patience: RI

ON THE BORDER
VOA: Burma Launches Offensive Against Indian Separatists
BBC: India reinforces Burmese border

MONEY
Xinhua: India to help Myanmar upgrade railroad

REGIONAL
Kaladan: A New Method set up for forced repatriation of Refugee in
Bangladesh Camp
Mizzima: KNPP leader Beheaded by SPDC
Irrawaddy: Mae Sot UNHCR Office Refusing Applications
DVB: Burmese activists stage hunger strikes in Thai prison

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: Myanmar exiles criticise UN chief over democracy comments
AFP: Indonesia urges Myanmar junta to set time frame for democracy

OPINION/OTHER
ICDB: Letter to Kofi Annan - Call for UN Secretary General to Terminate
Special Envoy to Burma

INSIDE BURMA
___________________________________

Jakarta Post, January 6, 2004
Suu Kyi asks for world's patience: RI
By Fabiola Desy Unidjaja

Myanmar's opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has asked
the international community to be patient with the Prime Minister Gen.
Khin Nyut's administration, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda
said on Tuesday.

"She herself said that ASEAN should not push the new government too hard,
because in the end it will only hamper the reconciliation and
democratization processes," Hassan said.

He did not explain how he received information that Suu Kyi had changed
her stance in regards her political rival.

"As a family, we continue to encourage them (Myanmar) to continue with the
reconciliation process," he said, referring to the regional grouping, the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a
member.

ASEAN leaders had set a deadline that Myanmar should release Suu Kyi from
house arrest before their annual summit in Bali last October, but Myanmar
replied only that she could not leave her house due to her health, not
because she was under detention.

After failing to pressure the Myanmar junta to release Suu Kyi from
custody, the grouping tried to persuade the military regime and its prime
minister, elected in 1990, to return to the negotiation table.

Hassan also praised the Myanmar junta for showing more flexibility and
openness in facing its opposition, while declaring that he expected
Myanmar to set a time frame for the reconciliation and democratization
processes.

ASEAN diplomats recently disclosed that the regional grouping had decided
to stop using harsh tactics because the junta had threatened to revert to
a foreign policy of isolation.

"If Myanmar isolates itself, it will be a backfire for ASEAN," said a
senior diplomat on condition of anonymity.

Hassan said ASEAN would not choose sanctions as a means to force Myanmar
toward reconciliation.

"Maintaining its national integrity is a major problem in Myanmar ... it
is pluralistic country with so many ethnic groups. We (ASEAN) are aware of
the condition," he said.

The minister expressed his confidence that the junta would involve Suu Kyi
in the country's ongoing reconciliation process, as was also stated by
ASEAN in Bangkok in December, when it met with Myanmar on the sidelines of
a 12-nation democratic talks and encouraged the acceleration of democratic
reform in the country.

AFP reported at that time that Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung said the
regime would hold a national convention to draft a new constitution in
2004 as a first step in the road map toward democracy.

Suu Kyi has been placed under house arrest by the military government
three times since 1988 for her pro-democracy, opposition stance. Although
her National League for Democracy won an overwhelming victory in the
military-sponsored general election in 1990, the junta refused to hand
over its power to the daughter of Myanmar's founding father, Gen. Aung
San.


ON THE BORDER
___________________________________

Voice of America, January 6, 2004
Burma Launches Offensive Against Indian Separatists
By Patricia Nunan

The Burmese offensive is taking place along the mountainous border region
separating India's Nagaland from Burma's Sagaing region. The area is
believed to be home to dozens of camps set up by Indian separatist groups,
from which they can launch attacks on the Indian military.

Indian officials say Burma's main target in the operation is the National
Socialist Council of Nagaland. The separatists say that they were promised
a separate homeland for ethnic Nagas when Britain gave up colonial rule
over India in 1947. When that did not happen, the group launched an
insurgency in India's remote northeast against rule by New Delhi.



Last month, Bhutan's military also began an offensive against Indian
separatists hiding in its territory - the first modern military exercise
the tiny, Himalayan kingdom has ever undertaken.

Analysts say two nations probably acted because they have strong relations
with India. The rebels also create problems for Bhutan and Burma - which
is also called Myanmar.

"Once they establish themselves on the territory of a neighboring state,
they pretty much become a law unto themselves," says Bharad Karnad, a
security analyst with the Center for Policy Research, a New Delhi
think-tank. "One of the ways of funding is dope-running and so on - and in
Myanmar that is extremely prevalent."

Mr. Karnad says the Naga separatists have been engaged in intermittent
talks with New Delhi to try to hammer out a deal for them to drop their
independence demands in exchange for a degree of autonomy. He says the
military offensive by Burma may help persuade separatist leaders to pursue
a peaceful solution. "That will put pressure on these very elements - the
Naga leaders who are talking with leaders and those who are still reticent
- to somehow come to an agreement or seek solutions."

Indian officials say Bhutan's military has killed at least 90 Indian
separatists, including some leaders, and destroyed about 30 camps in their
operations. Separatists from a handful of groups have been fighting for
greater rights for ethnic minorities in the border states of Assam and
West Bengal.

___________________________________

BBC, January 6, 2004
India reinforces Burmese border

Indian has deployed more troops along its border with Burma to tighten the
net around separatist rebels whose bases in Burma were attacked on Monday.

Burmese troops targeted bases belonging to rebels resisting Indian rule in
the north-eastern state of Nagaland.

Officials say fleeing rebels may try to cross into India - but a spokesman
for the rebels said they are holding out.

In a similar move last month, Bhutanese troops attacked several bases used
by anti-Indian rebels in their kingdom.

The Bhutanese military claims to have destroyed more than 30 rebel bases
in the action.

'Camps overrun'

The Burmese troops are targeting the Khaplang faction of the National
Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), Indian military officials say.
Indian army units in the states of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh - both
of which border Burma - have been re-enforced.

"The border has been sealed," an Indian officer told Reuters. "Our troops
have moved into the interior to look for some rebels who might have
entered and are hiding the thick forest."

Indian officials say they suspect the NSCN rebels may have been joined by
comrades from the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) - the group
which had its Bhutanese bases attacked in December.

This is not the first time that Burma, also known as Myanmar, has attacked
rebels fighting for a tribal homeland in north-east India.

A spokesman for the Burmese Government did not comment on reports of an
assault against the rebels, but said his country's policy was to avoid
breeding "elements that would harm its neighbours".

A spokesman for the NSCN faction in Burma said on Monday that two of its
camps had been overrun.

But he added the rebels were confident of fighting back.

Last week, India said it might launch joint military operations with Burma
against rebels based on Burmese soil.


MONEY
___________________________________

Xinhua, January 6, 2004
India to help Myanmar upgrade railroad

India has agreed in principle to provide a loan of 57 million US dollars
to help Myanmar upgrade railway services between the capital of Yangon and
the second largest city of Mandalay in terms of locomotive and carriage
operation.

The local Myanmar Times reported in its latest issue that the loan will
complement a project launched in 2003 by the MR to upgrade the
620-kilometer (km) railroad linking the two cities.

The project covers track stabilization work for high speed train
operation. Once the first phase of the project is completed, the about
14-hour-journey between the two cities would be shortened by about two
hours.

The upgrading would also involve some of the 800 bridges along the road,
the report said.

The promise for extending the loan was made by India during a visit to
Myanmar by Indian Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat last November.

India had earlier built and inaugurated in February 2001 a 160-km
Tamu-Kelewa highway located in northwestern border area which forms an
important link from the India-Myanmar border to central Myanmar and the
commercial and cultural center of Mandalay.

According to official statistics, Myanmar's railroad now extends as 4,797
km including the 1,635 km added since 1988.

REGIONAL
___________________________________

Kaladan News, January 6, 2004
A New Method set up for forced repatriation of Refugee in Bangladesh Camp

Cox’s Bazar, Jan-06: Recently, the Bangladesh camp officials set up a new
method for forced repatriation in Burmese Rohingya Refugee camp in
Bangladesh, said a refugee from Kutupalong camp.

Mr. Mohammad Yasin, the Camp-in-Charge of the Kutupalong camp, ordered his
clerks and other refugee collaborators (Majees) to count the family
members and to demand Taka 200/- in absence of a person during the queue
of ration receiving from ration distribution center. The Bangladesh Red
Crescent Society (BDRCS) distributes rations to the refugees, which are
provided by the World Food Program (WFP), he further added.

If any refugee fails to pay said bribe, he/she would be signed or thumb
impressions on affidavits for voluntary repatriation. Otherwise, half of
the rations would be cut off from the family members, said another refugee
preferring not to mention him.

A total of 7 majees from 7 shed-blocks in Kutupalong refugee camp are
carrying out all the instructions and methods of the camp officials to
implement the forced repatriation program, he more added.

When asked the UNHCR administration officer Mr. Kader about the
distribution of rations and taking bribes from the refugees while
distributing rations, he tried to ignore the matter and referred it to the
Camp-in-Charge.

Some refugees said, “Rations, which are presently distributing, are not
accurate in their records. For instance, though they record 7 kg of rice
in their lists, in fact, they provide 5 kg per head for two weeks. The
same practice has been applied for other items such as oil, salt, sugar,
pulses, blended food and etc.”

Refugees from Kutupalong are facing inhumanity since early December 2003
under the new method of forced repatriation.
___________________________________

Mizzima, January 5, 2004
KNPP leader Beheaded by SPDC

While the Burmese military government is in the process of offering a
cease-fire peace agreement to the Karenni National Progressive Party
(KNPP), a leader of the KNPP has reported that the group has been attacked
by the SPDC.  During the ensuing battle one of the KNPP leaders was
allegedly beheaded.

The battle took place in the last week of December between military
battalions under the 55th Military division and the KNPP just west of Maw
Chi city in Kaya State.  The military caught U Lwe Mu, Chairman of
Karenni district (2) and he was then reported to have been beheaded.

"The military had offered a cease-fire peace agreement to us. But
meanwhile the 55th military divisions are advancing their attacks towards
us. We had severe battles going on, killing even one of our commanders.
How can we actually trust them?" said Ri Mon Htoo the general secretary of
KNPP.

On December 26, the Rangoon government sent representatives to the Karenni
group offering a cease-fire peace agreement and also inviting them to
attend the National Convention.

The KNPP insist that they are still observing the National Convention.
Locals from Loi Kaw, Pha Song and Maw Chi towns were reported to have been
taken as porters by the military while going into battle and it has been
learnt that even women and seniors were not spared such duties. It has
also been reported that some villagers near Loi Kaw were accused of
supporting rebel groups and their houses were subsequently burnt by the
military.
___________________________________

Irrawaddy, January 6, 2004
Mae Sot UNHCR Office Refusing Applications
By Aung Su Shin

The Mae Sot field office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
stopped receiving applications from Burmese refugee seekers yesterday
afternoon, according to a written statement produced in both Burmese and
Karen language and posted at the UNHCR office.

UNHCR Regional Representative Hashim Utkan confirmed that the policy is in
effect. He said the measure was temporary and would remain in place until
the conclusion of talks between the UNHCR and the Thai government.

An officer from the UNHCR Mae Sot office who spoke on the condition of
anonymity said no new applications will be accepted until a new order is
received from the group’s head office in Bangkok. Previously received
applications are being processed, added the officer.
Yesterday morning about 40 members of the National League for Democracy
(Liberated Area) (NLD-LA) submitted applications for refugee status. Their
applications were received.

In the past, Burmese opposition groups in Mae Sot did not allow to their
members to seek refugee status. But since the beginning of ceasefire talks
between the Karen National Union and the Burmese junta, some groups are
allowing their members to apply for Person of Concern status from the
UNHCR.

Dissidents in Mae Sot say that Thai government policy is changing and so
they need the document to stay in Thailand. They fear that a ceasefire
will result in their expulsion from Thai territory.

___________________________________
Democratic Voice of Burma, January 5, 2004
Burmese activists stage hunger strikes in Thai prison

Burmese activists who have been detained at a Thai prison in Bangkok
started to stage huger strikes from 4 January on Burma’s Independence Day.

The strikes are being staged in protest of the Thai authorities’ plan to
send Burmese activists back to Burma and to highlight human rights abuses
on Burmese activists both in Thailand and Burma, one of the prisoners Ko
Yaza Naing told DVB.

A representative from UN office in Bangkok visited the prison on 5 January
and negotiated with the prisoners but no agreement was reached and the
strikes continue.
Ko Zaw Zaw Naing, a Burmese human rights activist said that activists
would face unimaginable sufferings in the hand of the military junta, the
SPDC if they are sent back to Burma.

Critics are saying that in order to receive economic favours from the
junta, the Thai government is obliging all the demands of the generals in
Rangoon by pressurising Burmese political activists in Thailand and
repatriating them to Burma.

INTERNATIONAL
___________________________________

Agence France Presse, January 6, 2004
Myanmar exiles criticise UN chief over democracy comments

WASHINGTON - Leading Myanmar exiles have told UN chief Kofi Annan they are
"disappointed" and frustrated with his policy towards the military-ruled
state, and demanded the replacement of his special envoy Razali Ismail.

The exiles, based in the United States, Canada and Japan are angry that
Annan last month praised the Yangon government's call for a national
convention to draft a new constitution.

"The military regime has been promising democracy for 15 years," said Aung
Din, policy director of the US Campaign for Burma.

"What we need now are actions -- not promises, and there is no evidence to
suggest that this is anything but another ploy to maintain the junta's
grip on power."

Annan welcomed Myanmar's "intention to reconvene the national convention
and draft a new constitution in 2004," his spokesman Fred Eckhard said in
a December 19 statement.

"The secretary general is also encouraged by the commitment made by
Foreign Minister Win Aung of Myanmar that the Myanmar authorities would
implement their seven-step roadmap for the country's democratic transition
in an 'all-inclusive' manner," he said.

But the exiles told Annan in a letter that previous meetings of a national
convention in Myanmar, the former Burma, disguised "an attempt to
legitimize the regime's brutal grip on power."

A national convention was called in 1993 and then suspended three years
later when the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) withdrew.

The letter said NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi had been unable to make public
comments on the plan for a new convention because she was under house
arrest. Some of her most senior aides are still in jail.

"We are deeply disappointed in you and your envoy Razali Ismail for
lending your words of support to Myanmar's military junta," the exiles
told Annan, writing under the banner of the International Campaign for
Democracy in Burma.

"Rather than putting pressure on the regime, you are effectively diffusing
any international pressure that once existed after May 30 2003, and
contributing to the myth that Burma's regime is serious about change."

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, was detained after an attack on
a convoy in northern Myanmar on May 30.

She was held in a secret location until she was taken to hospital for
surgery in September, after which she was transferred to her lakeside
villa in Yangon.

The exiles called on Annan to make a number of adjustments to his stance
on Myanmar.

"Please stop calling for the NLD to participate. The NLD will decide
whether or not they will attend," the letter said, and asked Annan to
publicly call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political
prisoners.

It also called on him to "terminate" the employment of his envoy to
Myanmar Razali Ismail, claiming he had done little more than praising the
Yangon regime.

Annan was also asked to initiate debate on Myanmar at the UN Security
Council.

"You have the power to discuss Burma at this important forum and we are
disappointed that you have not exercised your authority already," the
letter said.

At a 12-nation meeting in Bangkok last month Win Aung said the junta would
hold a convention to draft a constitution next year as a first step in the
road map plan.

According to Thai officials, he also reportedly agreed to let the National
League for Democracy (NLD) of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi take part
in the convention.

Razali Ismail, who also attended the Bangkok meeting, said last month he
was hopeful about the prospects for democracy in Myanmar.

The NLD won a sweeping general election victory in 1990, but was never
allowed to take power.

___________________________________

Agence France Presse, January 6, 2004
Indonesia urges Myanmar junta to set time frame for democracy

Indonesia on Tuesday urged military-ruled Myanmar to set a timeframe for
reconciliation and democratisation and to involve opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi in the process.

"Obviously what we will have to do in the future is to encourage Myanmar
to make a timeframe for the reconciliation and democratisation process and
to involve all components of Myanmar's population in that process,
including the party of Madam Aung San Suu Kyi and herself," Foreign
Minister Hassan Wirayuda said.

He said solving the issue was a challenge for members of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations, which is currently chaired by Indonesia and
includes Myanmar.

Wirayuda said the junta had shown more openness and change through its
willingness to take part in a 12-nation meeting in Bangkok last month
called by Thailand to try to promote democratic reform in Myanmar.

He said he thought it was still open to the future participation of Aung
San Suu Kyi in the reconciliation process.

Aung San Suu Kyi is currently under house arrest for the third time since
1988, after being detained in the wake of May political unrest which also
triggered a crackdown on her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

At the talks in Bangkok, Myanmar's Foreign Minister Win Aung said the
regime would hold a national convention to draft a new constitution in
2004 as the first step in a "road map" towards democracy.

Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD won a landslide election victory in 1990 but has
never been allowed to take power.

OPINION / OTHER
___________________________________

International Campaign for Democracy in Burma, January 5, 2004
Letter to Kofi Annan - Call for UN Secretary General to Terminate Special
Envoy to Burma

Excellency Kofi Annan
Secretary General, United Nations

Excellency,

On behalf of the people of Burma and Burmese dissidents in exile, we would
like to express our frustration with your comments on the regime's
promised national convention and your special envoy Razali Ismail.

As you know, the people of Burma clearly expressed their desire for
freedom by voting strongly in favor of the National League for Democracy
led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in our country's last democratic election in
1990. Ignoring the will of the people of Burma, the regime refused to
honor the election results by convening a parliament.  Instead, they
called for a national convention in 1993 to provide a distraction from the
election results. The NLD was forced to attend the convention under
circumstances that threatened its existence.

Instead of conducting a fair and open convention, the regime attempted to
legalize its own constitution through a handpicked procedure. 603
delegates were handpicked by the regime, but only 99 representing the NLD
and other political parties were permitted to attend.  The regime
announced a six-point set of guidelines before the convention even began
that enshrined the military's leading role in state affairs.  All public
debates were
banned and all group meetings were controlled and closely monitored by
military intelligence.  The convention did not permit freedom of speech,
expression, or assembly.  The military even went so far as to issue a
decree that guaranteed imprisonment of up to 20 years for anyone who dared
to challenge their agenda at the convention.

The result of the convention was 104 "principles" that are guaranteed to
be included in the future constitution of the country.  These points
almost completely marginalize concepts of freedom, justice, and democracy,
while ensuring the permanent and far-reaching executive powers of the
commander-in-chief of the military. In short, rather than guaranteeing a
transition to a real, functioning democracy--the convention was an attempt
to legitimize the regime's brutal grip on power.

In 1995, senior leaders of the NLD, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo,
were released from house arrest and resumed their position in the NLD. On
November 28, 1995, the NLD sent a letter to the national convention
convening committee requesting to change the convening procedures. The NLD
specifically demanded a repeal to the orders, which both censor debates
and position papers and allow for criminal punishment of those who spoke
against the regime. Since its requests were ignored, the NLD decided to
stop attending the convention for two days. Shortly thereafter, the regime
expelled all of the NLD delegates.  In March 1996, the regime adjourned
the convention.

Now, the military junta is attempting to reconvene this national
convention as a first step towards its "seven points road map to
democracy". While the regime has been making public pronouncements about
its plan, the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have been rendered silent.  The
NLD is not able to even consider the convention, since they are in prison
or otherwise under arrest. As long as the NLD can not meet with its
Central Executive Committee members, its position remains unchanged:  they
will not return to the national convention unless the regime makes
necessary changes, including the
abolishing of these 104 basic principles and six-point guidelines.

To our surprise, some leaders of the international community, especially
Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and your special envoy Mr.
Razali Ismail, are citing the military's "seven points roadmap" and
national convention as "progress". They even urged the regime to include
the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the convention without even pausing to
consult the NLD on whether they support this course of action.

We are deeply disappointed in you and your envoy Razali Ismail for lending
your words of support to the Burma's military junta. We must receive
assurances officially, from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the other NLD
leaders, that they endorse and/or support the notion of a National
Convention. Rather than putting pressure on the regime, you are
effectively diffusing any international pressure that once existed after
May 30th, 2003 and contributing to the myth that Burma's regime is serious
about change.

Our views are shared by many longtime observers of Burma's political
situation, including Amnesty International. At a Bangkok-based press
conference, following their fact-finding visit to the country, Amnesty
International stated: "Claims by Burma's military regime that it is
implementing a 'road map' towards democracy starting with national
convention would remain hollow as long as it keep senior opposition
figures
in jail amidst a spreading 'climate of fear'". A Washington Post editorial
(Dec. 23, 2003) entitled "The Two Burmas" also noted that "...the rest of
the world should not indulge the ruling thugs in their cynical game of
make-believe."

The regime's promised national convention is not a real solution for
Burma. The first step in the right direction toward national
reconciliation is outlined in several consecutive UN General Assembly
resolutions, and says that "tri-partite dialogue", including the military
regime, the NLD, and ethnic nationalities, must sit down and talk.  By
welcoming the regime's handpicked and pre-packaged roadmap scenario, you
are undermining the spirit
of the UNGA resolution.  By allowing Thailand to replace the United
Nations system in providing leadership on Burma, you are diluting the
authority of the UN system.

Despite our frustrations, we maintain our hope that the United Nations can
facilitate a transition to democracy in Burma. We recognize that the key
obstacle to change is the regime, and that any government, organization,
or individual would have a difficult time with such a seemingly impossible
task.  There is still time for you to adjust your course and re-assume
leadership on Burma. With this in mind, we would like to make several
recommendations as follows.

1) Please stop calling for the NLD to participate. The NLD will decide
whether or not they will attend.  One would think that the NLD would need
an opportunity to hold a CEC meeting with all senior leaders, before any
such decision would be made.

2) Please publicly reiterate your call to the military junta to release
all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and to permit the
re-opening of all party offices.

3) Third party intervention in Burma is essential and the United Nations
should not hand over this authority to Thailand.  It must be recognized
that Thailand is working in its own interests--not the interests of the
people of Burma.  Please re-assert your authority and take back your
leadership role from Thailand in helping people of Burma.

4) Please terminate your special envoy Razali Ismail immediately and
replace with someone who is more credible, trustworthy and no business tie
with the regime.  His publicly and repeatedly stated belief that the only
possible route to change in Burma is through constantly praising the
regime is simply not true.  There is an alternative--global, targeted
economic and political sanctions, which has been called for repeatedly by
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.

5) Please state clearly to Burma's military junta and publicly to the
international community that the only solution for Burma is tripartite
dialogue among the military, NLD, and ethnic nationalities. This is the
recommendation of consecutive UNGA resolutions and must be implemented
immediately.

6) Please initiate a real investigation into the Depayin massacre.  The
regime's promises of change have all but completely re-directed attention
from this brutal and heinous act.  Please immediately announce an
international investigation, under the auspices of the Office of the UN
Commissioner for Human Rights, in Geneva.

7) Finally, and most importantly--use your voice at the UN Security
Council. You have the power to discuss Burma at this important forum and
we are disappointed that you have not exercised your authority already,
even though you have received many messages requesting that you do so.

It is not too late for the United Nations to play an important role in
bringing change to Burma.  We hope you take these suggestions seriously
and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Committee Members of the International Campaign for Democracy in Burma

Tin Maung Thaw (Virginia), Han Lin (Ithaca), Moe Chan (NY), Nyein Chan
Oo(Indiana), Nyunt Than (San Francisco), Nai Banya Dean (Indiana), Win
Shwe(Indiana), Ye Htut (Japan), Myat Thar (Canada), Aung Din (Washington,
DC)

[ICDB is a working committee of Burmese pro-democracy groups from around
the world.  It was founded from the "Road Map for Democracy in Burma
Conference" on October 11-12th, 2003 at Fort Wayne, Indiana, the worlds
largest gathering of Burmese democracy activists-in-exile.  ICDB is
authorized by the conference to speak publicly and organize international
support for Aung San Suu Kyi and freedom in Burma under the leadership of
the National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB) and the National Coalition
Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB).]