BurmaNet News, Feb 12, 2004

[editor at burmanet.org]

Feb 12, 2004 Issue # 2422


INSIDE BURMA
BBC: Burma denies N Korea ties
BBC Monitor: Burma establishes diplomatic relations with Ireland
Mizzima: Signs of Breakthrough Pick up, Scepticism Lingers

ON THE BORDER
DVB: Bird flu in Burma

DRUGS
Xinhua: China active in int'l drug-control cooperation

BUSINESS / MONEY
Korea Herald: Daewoo International finds potential jackpot
Asia Pulse: Daewoo expects US $86 mln in annual profit from Myanmar gas mine

REGIONAL
BBC Monitor: Thailand to relocate Burmese refugees from cities to border
camps
Hindustan Times: Arunachal Govt orders ban on poultry movement from Myanmar

INTERNATIONAL
Hindu: Religious freedom
New Zealand Herald: War, violence forces millions to flee

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: The National Convention: The Bait on the Hook
IFI – Burma: Call for Consultations on DFID’s Burma Country Plan

PRESS RELEASE
NCGUB-USA: International Conference on Democracy in Burma



INSIDE BURMA
___________________________________

Feb 12, BBC
Burma denies N Korea ties

Burma has rejected a suggestion by a senior US congressional adviser that
it might be seeking nuclear technology from North Korea. Keith Luse warned
that the US should pay special attention to what he called a growing
relationship between the two.

He was part of a US delegation that visited North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear
plant in January.

In a statement, the Burmese government said it did not require nor want to
develop weapons of mass destruction.


Mr Luse, who works for Senator Richard Lugar, the chairman of the US
Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, did not give any details about
alleged contact between Burma and North Korea.

During a speech in Washington he said that the relationship needed to be
monitored and he asked the open question: "Is North Korea providing
nuclear technology to the Burma military?"

Burma said the comments raised "a false and disconcerting alarm."

North Korea has exported Scud missiles to other countries, and claims to
have developed nuclear weapons technology.

Russia agreed to help Burma build a nuclear reactor for research purposes
in 2002, though it is not clear how far the project has advanced.
____________________________

Feb 12, BBC Monitor
Burma establishes diplomatic relations with Ireland

Text of Information Sheet No C-2932 (I) issued by the "Myanmar Information
Committee" in Rangoon on 12 February, entitled "Myanmar and Ireland
Establish Diplomatic Relations", carried in English by Myanmar Information
Committee web site on 12 February

The Union of Myanmar (Burma) and Ireland, desirous of establishing
friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of the
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and norms of International
Law in accordance with the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and
on Consular Relations, decided to establish diplomatic relations between
the two countries at ambassadorial level with effect from 10 February
2004.

The agreement to establish diplomatic relations between the Union of
Myanmar and Ireland was signed by the ambassadors of the two countries in
Kuala Lumpur on 10 February 2004.

Source: Myanmar Information Committee web site, Rangoon, in English 12 Feb 04
____________________________

Feb 11, Mizzima
Signs of Breakthrough Pick up, Scepticism Lingers

Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung's remarks that dissident leader Aung San
Suu Kyi will be freed soon and that the constitution-writing process will
be restarted have raised hopes for a breakthrough, but there is little
real evidence yet of genuine progress in Burma's political deadlock.

BANGKOK, Feb 11 (IPS) - ”Aung San Suu Kyi will be fully free, able to meet
other members of her party, and conduct normal political activities before
the national convention convenes,” Win Aung told journalists at a weekend
regional meeting in the southern Thai city of Phuket.

”I cannot say exactly when the national convention will start, but I can
say it will be in 2004, and it won't be late in the year,” said Win Aung.
But he hinted strongly that it would probably be held in June or July.

Win Aung also privately told his Thai counterpart, Surakiart Sathirathai,
that the convention would start sometime in June, according to Thai
officials.

But the scepticism that greets his statements if also reflected in remarks
by some diplomats. As one senior Asian diplomat in Rangoon told IPS, ”If
the Burmese regime really wants us to believe them, it's time for deeds,
not just words.''

At the same time, there may be some further tentative steps in the
direction of change in the next few weeks.

For instance, two more senior members of Aung San Suu Kyi's party -- U
Aung Shwe and U Lwin, who are currently under house arrest -- may be
freed. The other senior member of the NLD leadership -- U Tin Oo -- may be
transferred to Rangoon from the prison he is being held at in the
north-west of the country.

Win Aung also said Suu Kyi's political party, which won majority of the
votes in the election, will be allowed to function normally and to reopen
its offices in the lead-up to opening of the national convention.

This was all part of the on-going confidence-building between the two
sides in preparation for the start of the convention, according to the
foreign minister.

In August, Burma's Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt announced plans to
reconvene the national convention to draw up the guidelines for a new
constitution when he outlined his seven-stage 'road map to multi-party
democracy'. The national convention is the first stage of this process.

”Everyone, including the political parties will be involved in the
political process through the National Convention,” said Win Aung. ”There
is no foundation for the exclusion of the National League for Democracy --
it is still a legal political party,” he said.

But because the NLD walked out of the convention in November 1995, Burma's
military leaders insist it up to the NLD to ask to be return to the
convention. For weeks now, Burmese government officials have been hinting
that the government is talking to Aung San Suu Kyi, including discussing
participating in the national convention. Pro-democracy activists in
Rangoon though dismiss this suggestion as being out of hand.

”We working on creating a good atmosphere between us,” said Win Aung.
”Before we fought, now we talk,” he added. But he declined to reveal what
the two sides were discussing or whom the opposition leader was meeting
from the government.

”There is good, regular contact between Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese
government,” said the Thai foreign ministry spokesman Sihasak
Phuangketkeow.

Last month, the Thai foreign minister told journalists that the level of
contact between two sides had recently been raised significantly. ”It is
no longer the military liaison officer Brigadier General Than Tun,” he
said.

It seems certain now that the deputy head of military intelligence Maj Gen
Kyaw Win is conducting the talks with Aung San Suu Kyi. He met her for the
first time in the middle of December, according to Burmese military
sources.

Since then, he and the education minister are believed to have continued
to meet her -- though not regularly. Diplomats in Rangoon believe that
this may mean that the country's top leader Senior Gen Than Shwe is taking
a closer interest in the national reconciliation process, as both men are
known to be loyal to him.

Diplomats dealing with Rangoon throughout the region are cautious about
the extent of contact between the two sides.

”The Burmese generals are obviously on a charm-offensive again,” said an
Asian diplomat who deals with Burma. ”Win Aung's performance in Phuket (at
the summit meeting of south and south east Asian countries) -- talking
freely to journalists and giving the impression that there is movement on
the political front -- is all part of that strategy.”

”The generals are past masters at creating a sense that there is movement
when nothing is actually happening,” said a diplomat based in Rangoon.
”It's in their (the generals) interest to make the international community
believe that there are serious talks going on between with them and Aung
San Suu Kyi.''

''The reality though may be quite different -- what is needed is
independent verification of the contact between the two sides,'' he added.

The U.N. envoy Razali Ismail is anxious to return to Burma to try and
facilitate talks between the two sides. During the international meeting
of Asian and European ministers on Burma in December, there was a clear
understanding that Razali was an essential catalyst in Burma's
reconciliation process and that he should return as soon as possible. Two
months later, Razali is still waiting for permission to visit Rangoon.

”We are working on a date -- in principle he can visit -- we are not
denying him permission to visit,” Win Aung told journalists after meeting
the U.N. envoy in Thailand over the weekend. ”Although we have not set a
date, he should be visiting not so long from now.''

”Thailand and the U.N. envoy are working closely together on Burma --
their efforts are mutually reinforcing each other,” said Thai foreign
ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow after the Thai foreign minister
met the U.N. envoy. Thailand is working on convening another international
forum on Burma of Asian and European ministers, known as the Bangkok
Process.

”The issue is should it be held before there is significant progress in
the national reconciliation process or afterwards,” Surakiart said
recently.

Now Thailand has indicated that it will only host such a meeting when
there has been some real progress. ”We hope to hold the next Bangkok
meeting by the middle of this year,” Sihasak told journalists in Phuket.
”But this is subject to some positive development.”


ON THE BORDER
_____________________________________

Feb 12, Democratic Voice of Burma
Bird flu in Burma

The central veterinary department of India has recently alerted the local
authorities of the states bordering Burma that the bird flu virus which is
raging on in Thailand and Vietnam is also spreading in Burma, but further
investigations are being made to confirm the report.

Therefore, imports of eggs, chickens and ducks from Burma into Manipur and
Mizoram States are being blocked tightly.

Burmese authorities are still denying that the flu is occurring in Burma.
But a vet from Mandalay who doesn’t want to be identified told DVB that
the virus might already be spreading more or less in lower Burma bordering
Thailand, and not depend on the official departmental reports as they
don’t tend to tell the truth.


DRUGS
_____________________________________

Feb 12, Xinhua
China active in int'l drug-control cooperation

BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) --China's active participation in international
anti-drug cooperation has been effective in curbing the illegal
trafficking of narcotics at home, a senior police officer said here
Thursday.

Last year China launched 38 anti-drug campaigns in joint efforts with
Myanmar and Laos, seizing 281 kg of heroin, 8 kg of methamphetamines ice
and 429 kg of opium, said Luo Feng, deputy director of National Narcotics
Control Commission, at a meeting of the commission.

China also trained 115 drug-fighting professionals for Myanmar and Laos in
the past two years and held bilateral anti-drug meetings with neighboring
countries, such as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar in 2003.

"China will continue to collaborate with these countries and play a bigger
role in the international community this year," said Luo, also
vice-minister of public security.

Luo said China will further promote the development of regional mechanisms
such as the anti-drug action plan it signed with the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, the memorandum of understanding on anti-drug
cooperation in the East Asia sub-region, and the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization.

While joining in the international campaign against terrorism and AIDS,
China will contribute to resolving the drug problems in the "golden
triangle" and "golden crescent" regions, and continue helping farmers in
Myanmar and Laos to plant crops instead of opium traditionally grown in
their farmland so they can still sustain a living.

China will also promote information sharing with the Philippines, Japan,
the Republic of Korea, Australia Europe and the United States, and join
hands with them in fighting against cross-country drug trafficking, he
said.


BUSINESS / MONEY
_____________________________________

Feb 12, The Korea Herald
Daewoo International finds potential jackpot

Daewoo International Corp. believes that its gas exploration project in
Myanmar may be an energy jackpot.

"According to our most conservative estimates, 100 billion won to 150
billion won annual profits are expected from the gas reserve project, at
least for the next 20 years after gas production begins in 2009," said Lee
Tae-yong, the company's chief executive officer and president, in a news
conference in Seoul yesterday. The discovery helps place Daewoo
International, the former trading arm of the defunct Daewoo Group, on a
growth path just as it emerges from its debt workout with creditors. It
hopes to increase revenue 160 billion won to 4.29 trillion won this year,
and raise its operating profit 5.5 billion won to 83.5 billion. Daewoo
International's debt equity ratio - the percentage rate of debt divided by
net worth - is expected to fall to 184 percent by the end of this year,
compared to 214 percent in 2003.

By 2007, Lee projects sales to be at 7.5 trillion won and operating profit
at 250 billion won. A Daewoo International-led consortium discovered a
natural gas reserve in Myanmar in mid-February. The gas field is estimated
to hold between 4 trillion and 6 trillion cubic feet of gas, equivalent of
700 million and 1.1 billion barrels of crude oil, Daewoo told the stock
exchange. Daewoo International owns 60 percent of the Myanmar A-1 project
and Korea Gas Corp. has a 10- percent stake. India's Oil & Natural Gas
Corp. has a 20-percent stake, while GAIL (India) Ltd. has 10 percent.
Daewoo International also said that it found signs of gas in nearby areas
which could produce an additional 7 trillion to 12 trillion cubic feet of
gas. Those areas are to be explored later this year to determine their
commercial value. "GAIL of India is bidding for gas purchase and Korea Gas
Corp. is known to be thinking of it. We will continue negotiations and
choose buyers in a manner most profitable to us," Lee said. He also said
the company is not considering selling any of its 60-percent stake but
sales of small stakes might occur if circumstances change.

Daewoo International, a spun-off from the now defunct Daewoo Group in late
2000, completed workout last December. Its shares have risen nearly 25
percent this year, from 7,200 won on Jan. 2 to 8,950 yesterday. It is a
general trading company. It exports and imports steel, cement, crude oil,
heavy machinery, automobile parts, and textiles. Daewoo also manufactures
synthetic fabrics for footwear, garments, and car seats, and operates a
department store in Masan. Daewoo said that it wants to sell its
department store unit by 2008.

____________________________

Feb 12, Asia Pulse
Daewoo expects US $86 mln in annual profit from Myanmar gas mine

he head of Daewoo International (KSE:047050), the former trading arm of
now-defunct Daewoo Group, said Thursday he expects 100 billion won (US$86
million) in annual profit from a gas mine in the seas northwest of Myanmar
for twenty years from one year after operations begin there in 2009.

"We'll complete a feasibility study in Shwe of the A-1 Block, and start
gas production in 2009," Daewoo International President Lee Tae-yong said
in a news conference.

"We expect annual net profit from the Shwe mine to be around 100 billion
to 150 billion won from 2010 for 20 years according to our most
conservative estimate," Lee said.

The anticipated profit could grow further if gas layers in the same block
prove thicker than the one at this first mine, he suggested.

"At present, gas reserves in Shwe are estimated at 4 trillion to 6
trillion cubic feet, and we also expect mines in Shwe Phyu and Ngwe of the
A-1 Block to contain 7 trillion to 12 trillion cubic feet in deposits,"
Lee said.

The Daewoo International president said his company also recently acquired
from the Myanmar government a right for oil exploration in the M Block,
and is making last-minute negotiations with it to obtain rights to explore
the A-3 Block.

He said Daewoo International expects 4.29 trillion won in sales and 47
billion won in ordinary profit this year, and 7.5 trillion won in sales
and 250 billion won in ordinary profit in 2007.

Lee said the company will try to lower its debt-to-equity ratio to 184
percent this year from 214 percent at the end of last year.

Daewoo International will streamline its overseas operations by bringing
down the number of its branches from 47 to 45 and that of its subsidiaries
from 53 to 35.

Daewoo International trades primarily in chemicals, textiles, metals and
steel.


REGIONAL
____________________________

Feb 12, BBC Monitor
Thailand to relocate Burmese refugees from cities to border camps

11 February, 2004 - The Thai government has ordered that Burmese refugees
living in urban areas be relocated to three existing camps near the
Thai-Burma border at the end of this month, according to refugee sources.

Khin San Nwe, who lives in Bangkok and is recognized by the UNHCR as a
Person of Concern (POC), said the Thai administration's decision to
relocate the urban-living refugees was made last October when it came to
an agreement with the Bangkok-based UN High Commissioner for Refugees to
move them to the camps by the end of February 2004. The action will affect
all POCs and asylum seekers.

The UNHCR office in Bangkok declined to comment on the relocation plans.
The agency recognizes more than 1,800 Burmese refugees as POCs, each of
whom receives a monthly allowance from the UNHCR.

In January, at the request of the Thai government, the UNHCR temporarily
stopped accepting applications from Burmese asylum seekers. The moratorium
on political asylum applications was lifted on 1 February.

An NGO worker helping Burmese refugees said that the Thai and US
governments had agreed that Burmese refugees already recognized by the
UNHCR will be resettled in America.

In January the American embassy in Bangkok started calling Burmese
refugees for interviews to determine eligibility for the resettlement
programme. The embassy has been interviewing about 40 refugees a day for
resettlement in America, according to Khin San Nwe.

Source: Irrawaddy web site, Bangkok, in English 11 Feb 04
____________________________

Feb 12, Hindustan Times
Arunachal Govt orders ban on poultry movement from Myanmar

Arunachal Pradesh government has directed the concerned department to
continuously monitor and enforce ban on the movement of poultry and
poultry products in the state through international entry points to
control bird flue disease.

State chief secretary Ashok Kumar also directed that all concerned staff
should immediately report any case of poultry deaths, a press release in
Itanagar said on Thursday.

He assessed the steps taken to control the outbreak of bird flue in the
state at a review meeting attended among others by the secretary of animal
husbandry and veterinary department in Itanagar on Wednesday.

Special attention has been given to the border districts of Lohit,
Changlang and Tirap as these are on the border with Myanmar where this
disease was reported. Informal trade is in vogue between the people of the
two sides, the release added.


INTERNATIONAL
____________________________

Feb 12,  The Hindu
Religious freedom: U.S. panel lists India among violators'

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has
recommended to the Secretary of State that 11 countries including India be
designated as "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPCs) on account of the
"systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom that
the governments are responsible for or have tolerated."

The 11 countries the commission wants in the designated category are:
Myanmar (Burma), North Korea, Eritrea, India, Iran, Pakistan, China, Saudi
Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.

Last May the United States designated Burma, China, Iran, Iraq, North
Korea and Sudan as CPCs.

"It is the opinion of the commission that with the exception of Iraq,
nothing has changed to warrant the removal of these countries from the
list of CPC designations," the commission chair, Michel Young, has said in
the letter to the Secretary of State.

"In addition to the five countries previously designated by you as CPCs,
the commission finds that the Governments of Eritrea, India, Pakistan,
Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Vietnam have engaged in or tolerated
particularly severe violations of religious freedom and recommends that
they be designated as CPCs this year," Mr. Young said in the letter.

Three members of the commission, including the chair, have dissented with
the recommendation placing India in the list of CPCs. One commissioner is
on record that India should be placed on the Watch List instead.

"In India violence including fatal attacks against Muslims and Christians
continues and the government has yet to address adequately the killing of
an estimated 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat in 2002," Mr. Young wrote.

"Several Ministers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have publicly
allied themselves with extremist Hindu organisations known collectively as
the Sangh Parivar whose members regularly employ hate speech against
religious minorities, have been implicated in violence against them and
seek legislation to prohibit the religious conversion of Dalits and others
from Hinduism," the commission has said.

"The designation of countries of particular concern is one of the most
important human rights acts taken by the U.S. Government. We strongly urge
the State Department to name those countries that have not yet been
designated," said Mr. Young.

He has further cautioned the Secretary of State that merely designating
the countries would not do and that specific actions would have to be
taken under the provisions of the International Religious Freedom Act
(IRFA) of 1998.

In critical observations of the action taken by the State Department thus
far, the commission said: "For every country named as a CPC to date, the
only official actions taken have been to invoke already existing sanctions
rather than to take additional action to advance religious freedom
pursuant to IRFA."
____________________________

Feb 12, New Zealand Herald
War, violence forces millions to flee

GENEVA - Twenty-five million people around the world have fled conflicts
or have been forced out of their homes by their Governments and are living
in another part of their country, says a United Nations report.

Of these, three million were uprooted in 2003, most of them in Africa, and
nearly all are exposed to serious human rights abuses, the report by the
Norwegian Refugee Council said.

"Internal displacement is one of the great tragedies of our time, with
millions of people every year being forced to flee within their own
country from war and violence."

The report said the United States-proclaimed "War on Terror" had made
things worse by encouraging Governments to seek military solutions to
conflicts "and undermining respect for international humanitarian and
human rights standards".

The council said, "Labelling rebel groups 'terrorists' allowed a number of
regimes to intensify counter-insurgency campaigns, attract foreign
military aid, and avoid international criticism of human rights abuses
against civilians."

Council Secretary-General Raymond Johansen said the survey showed "the
victims of internal displacement often cannot count on their Governments
for protection ... in several cases the Governments themselves are
responsible for the forced displacement of their citizens".

Internally displaced people, or IDPs in relief agency terminology, are
people who remain within their home country's borders - often living in
makeshift camps - after escaping conflict.

They are present in 52 countries.

Refugees are those who flee into other countries. The UN refugee agency
UNHCR, which looks after them, says there are 20 million around the world
- also mainly in Africa.

The council report, compiled by its Geneva-based Global IDP Project, said
Sudan had the highest number of IDPs with a total of four million.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia had three million each, and
Uganda, Iraq and Myanmar each had about one million.

More than nine million, or more than a third of all IDPs, are trapped in
desperate conditions where their lives are in constant danger from
fighting near their place of refuge or from dismal conditions.

Other regions with notable IDP problems were Burundi, Ivory Coast,
Indonesia's Aceh province, Liberia, Russia's rebel Chechnya region, and
Somalia.

Worst six
Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Uganda, Iraq, Myanmar.


OPINION / OTHER
_____________________________________

Feb 12, Irrawaddy
The National Convention: The Bait on the Hook - by Wai Moe

It is healthy to approach political debates rationally and with an open
mind. Additionally, it helps to understand a debate within its historical
context.

The Free Burma Coalition’s December 9 press release has caused much debate
among the various Burmese opposition groups. The release stated that the
groups welcomed, in principle, Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt’s proposal to
re-launch the National Convention.

The news from the SPDC came as no surprise to me; I have heard many
similar stories from Burmese history. The opposition groups splinter every
time that Rangoon baits them. This phenomenon dates back to the colonial
era. In fact the Burmese junta continues to use colonial methods to divide
the opposition.

A quick recounting of events suggests that history may be repeating itself.

The British used a divide and rule strategy to derail the opposition
movement, in the same manner as the current military junta uses now.

A quick recounting of events suggests that history may be repeating
itself. When the first nationalist movements started in the early
twentieth century, the British played political games to weaken them.

The General Council of Burmese Associations (GCBA) led opposition to
British rule in the 1920s. But then the colonial regime declared a diarchy
rule, a so-called democracy in practice. That development caused the GCBA
to split into two factions, and later into more groups against, or in
support of, the British proposals. The GCBA became ineffective.

Later, in about 1927, the colonial regime asked the Burmese to choose
whether their country should continue to be a part of India or not. This
was another political game the British played with the nationalists. It
provoked a lot of debate within the Burmese opposition and caused further
splits. Whatever the Burmese debated on the issue, the colonial regime
went its own way. In 1935, Burma was separated from British India.

Again, at the end of colonial rule, the British divided the Burmese by
distinguishing ethnic minorities from Burmans.

The game-playing by the military since independence has followed in the
same vein. When Gen Ne Win, the father of military rule in Burma, seized
power in 1962, he called for a socialist revolution, and named his junta
the Revolutionary Council. I don’t think that he genuinely believed in
socialism, but used it to try to legitimize his rule.

At that time Burmese politicians thought that Gen Ne Win could transform
the country into a socialist state. On March 4, 1962, he explained the
reasons for his coup and his socialist agenda to leading politicians,
including U Ba Swe, U Kyaw Nyein, Bo Khin Maung Kalay and Widuya Thakin
Khit Maung. When Ne Win founded the Burmese Socialist Program Party
(BSPP), many politicians took part; some were even members of socialist or
communist parties.

Politicians such as U Chit Hlaing and Thakin Tin Mya joined and helped
write the BSPP’s theory and constitution. The period 1962-88 was the worm
on the regime’s hook—a socialist dream.

 The junta will not give up easily. Sometimes the opposition is like fish
at the junta’s hook.
—Thakin Own Myint

In 1964, Ne Win called for peace negotiations with all insurgent groups.
But it was only a faux peace process. Later the talks broke down and all
the anti-Rangoon parties returned to the jungle. Before the ceasefire
deadline, according to a former member of the Communist Party of Burma,
the army tracked rebel delegates and attacked them, killing a number of
members of the CPB, the most prominent being Bo Zeya.

Moreover, the generals mounted another coup in 1988 that derailed the
democracy movement. Since that coup, the junta has been busy with
political games because it faces a stronger opposition than during the
BSPP era. Their first game was the general election, held in 1990.

But before the election took place, the junta issued a decree that limited
freedom of assembly and of expression. In July 1989, National League for
Democracy (NLD) Secretary General Aung San Suu Kyi called for civil
disobedience against the unjust laws of the regime while an ex-army
faction preferred a policy of appeasement, in which the party would focus
only on the election. A division between the intellectual and the ex-army
factions of the party became apparent—evidence that the junta had played
the game effectively.

In May 1990, the regime was unhappy with the election result (the NLD took
90 percent of the seats) as it had expected the pro-junta National Unity
Party to win, or at least that the votes would be scattered among many
parties. The real face of the junta became obvious when it refused to
transfer power to the NLD.

After the election, the junta continued with political maneuvers to trick
opposition groups and the international community. In August 1990, as the
NLD tried to call the assembly, the regime issued the 1/90 decree, which
prevented the People’s Parliament from meeting.

The decree divided the NLD into two—the core faction and an appeasing
group. One of secretaries of the party, U Kyi Maung, other intellectuals
and the NLD Youth were in the core group, while the ex-military officials
led by U Aung Shwe were in the appeasement camp. Later that year, the
junta arrested most of the individuals in the core group. Some later died
in prison.

In April 1992, the junta appointed a new chairman and played a new card—a
National Convention to be set up to write a new constitution. The
convention opened in January 1993. At that time, the generals were happy
with the NLD’s participation, which was led by U Aung Shwe.

In 1995, however, after Aung San Suu Kyi’s release, the NLD walked out of
the convention.

The SPDC has been facing stronger pressure and tighter sanctions since the
junta ambushed Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy in Sagaing Division in May
last year. So the junta named a new Prime Minister. The new PM, Gen Khin
Nyunt, revealed his so-called "Road Map to Democracy," and called for the
National Convention to be reconvened. His proposals have caused divisions
among the opposition.

Most of the political games in Burma are played by the junta. The
opposition groups have not usually counterattacked; they have only
followed the rules set in place by the junta.

In the months that followed the 1990 election, there were rumors that the
junta would give up power and release all political prisoners as soon as
possible. One day, a young activist told Thakin Own Myint, one of Suu
Kyi’s close aids and a colleague of Aung San, of the rumors.

Thakin Own Myint immediately dismissed the rumors, replying to him: "The
junta will not give up easily. Sometimes the opposition is like fish at
the junta’s hook."

Today, Thakin Own Myint’s warning is as relevant for the Free Burma
Coalition as it was then.
___________________________

Feb 12, IFI - Burma
Call for Consultations on DFID’s Burma Country Plan

Compiler's Note:
U.K.'s Department for International Development (DFID) is soliciting
comments to its draft country plan for Burma.  The text of the call for
comments (please use the links provided below) is pasted below.  The
deadline for comments is February 20, and comments can be sent by post
(see below for address), or by email to P-Marker at dfid.gov.uk.

DFID Letter – www.burmanet.org/DFID_letter.doc
DFID Country Plan – www.burmanet.org/DFID_country_plan.doc

**********
Dear Colleague,

CONSULTATIONS ON DFID'S DRAFT COUNTRY PLAN FOR BURMA

I attach DFID's draft Country Plan for Burma. This is the start of a
consultation period that will end on 20 February.  During this time we
welcome comments, ideas and suggestions on the draft Country Plan.  Please
send in written comments at any time before Friday, 20 February, by post
to Phil Marker, Programme Manager at our Bangkok address on the
letterhead or e-mail at P-Marker at dfid.gov.uk.  We have sent the draft to
NGOs, donors, diplomatic missions and others we think may be interested,
but please feel free to pass it on to others who may wish to comment.  I
would particularly welcome your advice on what DFID should do (in
practical terms) over the next three years to tackle poverty in Burma.

In addition to receiving written comments, we are organizing consultation
events in Rangoon on 13 February and in Bangkok on 17 February, with the
objective of gathering ideas and suggestions on the draft Country Plan,
and views on priorities for implementation.  The agenda for the events and
other details are attached.  If you can attend either of these events,
please let Khun Monrudee know in advance (e-mail: Monrudee at dfid.gov.uk,
Tel: 02 3058364).

Given the need to make best use of time and to optimise the space
available, may I also request that just one person from your organisation
attends the meeting.

Mark Mallalieu
Head of DFIDSEA
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PRESS RELEASE

Feb 12, NCGUB-USA
International Conference on Democracy in Burma - to be held on March 26, 2004

Dr Sein Win, prime minister of the National Coalition Government of the
Union of Burma (NCGUB), and members of parliament in exile, and
representatives of Burmese Diaspora around the world will join the
International Conference on Democracy in Burma to be held in Washington ,
DC , on March 26, 2004 .

"Burma needs an urgent solution to resolve the ongoing political deadlock
which stems from the military's refusal to acknowledge the mandate of the
1990 elections," says Dr Sein Win.   "[My] Government has adopted in
collaboration with the National Council of the Union of Burma, an umbrella
alliance of ethnic and democracy organizations, a framework of ideas on
how to achieve a peaceful political settlement between the military,
ethnic nationalities, and the democratic forces.   We will inform this
conference regarding strategies and plans that can make these ideas into
reality."

The International Conference on Democracy in Burma, jointly sponsored by
the NCGUB and The Burma Fund, will facilitate town-hall style discussions,
debates, and frank exchanges of ideas among the elected representatives
and democracy activists representing the Burmese Diaspora.

The participants will also enjoy the advantage of participating in a
back-to-back Conference organized by the United States Campaign for Burma
on March 27-28 at George Washington University in Washington DC .   The
USCB's Conference will focus on US policies toward Burma and the
strategies activists and grassroots organizations should adopt.

The conference will be held at the American University in Washington DC
will be conducted in Burmese.   Journalists are welcome to a press
conference at 1700 on 26 March, Friday.   A press kit will be distributed
on the occasion.

For more information and R.S.V.P for the conference on 26 March, 2004 ,
please contact: Steven Moe, NCGUB, Tel: +1 (202) 639-0639 e-mail:
ncgub at ncgub.net , or Zaw Oo of The Burma Fund, Tel: +1 (202) 639-0636
e-mail, zawoo at burmafund.org
____________________________

Participate in "WALK FOR FREEDOM", an 8 kilometer walk-a-thon to benefit
the international struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma.

When:  Saturday, April 17th, 2004, 9:30 am
Where: Beginning and ending at the Jefferson Memorial, Washington DC Who
Can Participate: Professionals, students, homemakers, and anyone else can
participate as an individual or form a team.

Get more information and register online at www.uscampaignforburma.org

ABOUT BURMA
The Southeast Asian country of Burma is ruled by one of the world's most
brutal military regimes.  1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu
Kyi, the legitimate leader of the country, has been locked up for most of
the past 15 years.  Over 1,600 political prisoners languish behind bars,
while the regime commits unimaginable abuses to maintain its grip on
power. Women are systematically raped, and innocent civilians are forced
into modern-day slavery.

Use your feet.  Raise your voice.
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