BurmaNet News, June 4, 2004

[Editor]

June 4, 2004, Issue # 2489

‘ "Khin Nyunt said that Suu Kyi had every freedom except to meet with
diplomats," Thaksin said. "She can make telephone calls, she can meet with
her party members at her home." ‘
- Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, quoted in Agence France Press,
June 4, 2004


INSIDE BURMA
AFP: 700 delegates leave controversial Myanmar convention on weekend break
Irrawaddy: Karen Groups Support KNU Ceasefire Talks

ON THE BORDER
Mizzima: More funds injected to develop Indo-Burma trade points

REGIONAL
AFP: Thailand presses visiting Myanmar PM to release Aung San Suu Kyi
Bangkok Post: Govt urged to adjust stance towards junta
Irrawaddy: Panel Criticizes Thai Stance on Burma
AP: Thailand Rules Out Sanctions against Burma

OPINION/OTHER
Mizzima: Burmese rest high hopes on new government in India
Bangkok Post: Than Shwe unmasked as roadblock to democracy

PRESS RELEASE
RSF & BMA: Call for investigation into kidnapping of exiled Burmese
journalist


INSIDE BURMA
______________________________________

June 4, Agence France Presse
700 delegates leave controversial Myanmar convention on weekend break

Yangon: About 700 delegates to Myanmar's constitutional convention
returned to Yangon late Friday in the first weekend break since the
opposition-boycotted forum began last month, delegates said.

"There were about 700 of us driven to Yangon by bus," one elderly delegate
told AFP upon his arrival from the convention venue, a military camp north
of the capital where more than 1,000 delegates, mostly hand-picked by the
ruling junta, have been ensconced since the forum opened on May 17.

"Everything was provided for us there, even my medicines," the delegate
said, declining to elaborate on the political proceedings.

But rumours have swirled in Yangon since late last month that delegates,
particularly those representing various ethnic groups in the talks, would
stage a walk-out and not return in order to protest over the process,
which has been completely discredited.

Government officials were not immediately available to confirm whether the
delegates had been issued weekend passes by the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC).

_____________________________________

June 4, Irrawaddy
Karen Groups Support KNU Ceasefire Talks - Aung Su Shin

Mae Sot: Nineteen Karen organizations voiced their support for the ongoing
peace talks between the Karen National Union, or KNU, and the Burmese
junta, a Karen spokeswoman said after the conclusion of a three-day
meeting that finished on Wednesday.

The Karen national unity seminar kicked off Monday at a KNU base near the
Thai-Burma border to discuss the ceasefire negotiations between the junta
and the KNU, which has been fighting the government for 55 years. Many
Karen groups have voiced doubt over the motives—of the junta and Karen
leaders—behind the negotiations, which began in December.

“Upon the ceasefire talks we have changed our view and are prepared to
speak as one,” said spokeswoman Nant Wah Wah Soe Thein.

She added that the 99 representatives of the 19 Karen groups in
attendance, from inside and outside Burma, have all supported the
negotiations with Rangoon, not because of the military weakness of the
Karen but for the future of the country.

The Karen State Peace Committee from Pa-an in Karen State took part in the
meeting with the junta’s permission. But military leaders blocked the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, or DKBA, from attending. The pro-junta
group broke away from the KNU in 1994 and has repeatedly attacked KNU
military units and several camps in Thailand which hold Karen refugees.

KNU secretary general Padoh Mahn Sha said they will send another
delegation to Burma for the next round of talks for an undecided date in
June.

At the KNU’s central executive committee meeting from May 17 to May 25,
members discussed the ceasefire talks. They also decided to postpone the
election for next year’s committee members due to the ill health of KNU
vice chairman Gen Bo Mya, who has been hospitalized in Bangkok for months
with complications related to diabetes.


ON THE BORDER
_____________________________________

June 3, Mizzima News
More funds injected to develop Indo-Burma trade points - Surajit Khaund

Guwahati: In a bid to boost cross-border trade between India and Burma,
India's Commerce Ministry has approved Rs 1.70 crore (17 millions) for the
Longwa trade point in Nagaland. The funds have been approved for the
development of the township and improvement of the existing roads in the
area.

The Nagaland Government has been pushing to have Longwa declared an
official trade point in order to increase the volume of legal trade with
Myanmar in the area. In 2003, India's Customs and Foreign Trade
departments conducted a feasibility study that suggested improving the
transportation system in the area to facilitate trade with Myanmar. On the
basis of the feasibility report, the Commerce Ministry has approved funds
to start preliminary work at Longwa.

The Longwa trade point, located 32 km from Nagaland's Mon district, has
traditionally been a point of barter trade among local people living along
the international border. To explore the trade potential, the Nagaland
Government had already constructed a temporary shed in the area to
encourage the smooth running of trade between traders of both countries.
Commonly, Indians exchange salt, herbal medicines and rice while the
Burmese exchange tea, gold and garments.

Commenting on the recent approval of funds, the Joint Director of Foreign
Trade, MK Mero, told this correspondent that the Commerce Ministry is keen
to open more trade points along northeast India's borders with its
neighboring countries to increase the volume of trade. "We have so far two
trade points with Myanmar and if Longwa is opened, traders of the region
would be benefited," he said. "Cross border trade can change the scenario
of the northeast India," Mero observed.

Mero also commented that the Commerce Ministry had already released Rs 6
crore to accelerate ongoing work related to the Zokhuthar trade point in
Mizoram.

"The Commerce Ministry is in the process of releasing more funds to
northeast India to improve the present condition of the trade points. In
spite of having vast potential, there are only 12 trade points functioning
which we have decided to upgrade," he added.

The Federation of Industry and Commerce for the North Eastern Region
(FINER) president, Subhash Agarwal, has welcomed the decision of the
Commerce Ministry saying that this would encourage the traders of the
region to become involved in export and import business. He also said that
the Commerce Ministry should open more trade points in northeast India to
tap into the growing Southeast Asian market.

Hailing the initiative of the Commerce Ministry, the general secretary of
the Indo-Myanmar Traders Union (IMTU), Y K Kapoor, said that this region
could be made a major trade hub with Southeast Asian countries by opening
of more trade points.

"We need more trade points with Bangladesh, China and Burma in order to
expand our business and to sell our products," he said.


REGIONAL
_____________________________________

June 4, Agence France Presse
Thailand presses visiting Myanmar PM to release Aung San Suu Kyi -
Boonradom Chitradorn

Bangkok: Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday pressed his
Myanmar counterpart Khin Nyunt for the release of democracy icon Aung San
Suu Kyi, conveying global concern over Yangon's approach to democratic
reform.

Thailand rolled out the red carpet for the general on his first official
visit to the kingdom as premier, and the two men held closed-door talks on
a variety of issues including Myanmar's self-proclaimed "roadmap to
democracy".

"Thailand asked when they would release Suu Kyi and Myanmar said Suu Kyi
would be released at a suitable time," Thaksin told reporters after the
talks and a luncheon he held for the general. Khin Nyunt gave no date for
any future release.

"Myanmar must realise that this issue is at the centre of the
international community's attention," Thaksin added.

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, and several top leaders of her
National League for Democracy (NLD) party were detained over a year ago
during a political tour of northern Myanmar, when they were attacked by a
junta-backed mob. She and her party deputy Tin Oo remain under house
arrest.

The incident prompted a crackdown on the NLD including the shuttering of
its offices nationwide, and led to widespread international condemnation
and increased US and European sanctions on the regime.

Thaksin said Khin Nyunt explained to him that Aung San Suu Kyi was
enjoying several freedoms despite her detention.

"Khin Nyunt said that Suu Kyi had every freedom except to meet with
diplomats," Thaksin said. "She can make telephone calls, she can meet with
her party members at her home."

The powerful general, who took on the role of premier last August, was
undertaking a traditional introductory tour by new leaders of the
10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

It comes amid scathing international criticism that the democracy roadmap
which kicked off last month with a national convention has sidelined the
country's opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Thaksin said Khin Nyunt informed him that the entire national convention
process would take two years, although Khin Nyunt did not address
reporters and it was not immediately clear if Thaksin was referring to the
roadmap as a whole, which is billed as concluding in free elections, or
the convention.

Myanmar is scheduled to assume the rotating presidency of ASEAN in 2006
and has set its own goal of achieving significant steps in the roadmap by
then.

In his luncheon speech Thaksin hinted at concerns surrounding Yangon's
lack of progress in effecting a democratic transition in the military-run
state.

"I am fully aware of the complexity of the situation surrounding Myanmar's
transition towards democracy and the difficulties you have been facing,"
Thaksin told Khin Nyunt.

"Myanmar stands poised at a delicate juncture of transition," he added. "I
am convinced you will be able to find a win-win solution to the present
situation."

Thailand had positioned itself as a key facilitator by hosting
international talks on prospects for democracy in Myanmar, but Yangon
backed out of the latest round of the "Bangkok Process" talks planned for
late April.

The main thrust of the talks between Thaksin and Khin Nyunt focused on
Thai-Myanmar cooperation, which Thaksin said had "expanded swifly in
virtually all areas."

The neighbour states have had historically testy ties, with recent issues
including Myanmar migrant workers and refugees, border spats, and the
massive flow of drugs such as methamphetamines from Myanmar into Thailand.

_____________________________________

June 4, Bangkok Post
Govt urged to adjust stance towards junta - Achara Ashayagachat

Activists claim vested interests benefit alone

Pro-democracy activists called for change in the government's foreign
policy toward Burma yesterday, on the eve of high-level bilateral talks.

Campaign for Popular Democracy secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila urged
the government to use the talks between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
and his Burmese counterpart, Gen Khin Nyunt, to bring about a shift in
policy.

Mr Suriyasai criticised foreign policy toward Burma, saying it benefitted
only a few vested interest groups with close government links.

He said Khin Nyunt's son had interests in telecoms and satellite
businesses in Burma, a country in which Shin Corp had invested for several
years. Telecoms giant Shin Corp is controlled by Mr Thaksin's family.

Student federation leader Pichit Chaimongkol said the ``Bangkok Process''
had failed to spur change in Burma.

It was the government's responsibility to explain to the international
community how Burma had gone astray in its national reconciliation
process, he said.

Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a member of the Thai Action Committee for Democracy
in Burma, said the soft approach toward Rangoon must be altered to allow
the government to regain its reputation as an advocate of human rights.

The activists planned to take their campaign to Government House today,
during the meeting between Mr Thaksin and Gen Khin Nyunt. The Burmese
leader will be accompanied by his foreign, industry, hotel and tourism,
and agriculture ministers.

_____________________________________

June 4, Irrawaddy
Panel Criticizes Thai Stance on Burma - Aung Lwin Oo

The Thai government should rethink its position on Burma, a panel made up
of a leading Thai politician and international analysts said on the eve of
Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt’s visit to Thailand.

The panel, entitled “Progress or Setback: The National Constitutional
Convention of Burma”, was organized by Forum Asia and hosted by the
Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on Thursday night.

It comprised deputy chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Kobsak
Chutikul, secretary-general of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and
Development Dr Gotham Arya, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs’ Department of East Asian Affairs Apichart Chinwanno and UN
representative of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
Dr Thaung Htun.

Speakers urged the Thai government to stand more firmly with the
international community rather than with Burma’s military regime. Some
commented that the situation in Burma could lead to regional instability
if neglected.

“Rangoon has breathing space because neighboring countries choose to
accommodate the regime,” Dr Thaung Htun told The Irrawaddy. “Such behavior
needs to be changed because Burma’s problems could impact neighboring
countries.”

The panelists agreed that Thailand has been embarrassed by its failed
attempts to work with Burma’s military government in the past.

They said that Thailand should demand a legitimate road map to democracy
during Gen Khin Nyunt’s visit. They also discussed the regime’s National
Convention, tasked with drafting a new constitution, which reconvened on
May 17.

Critics were surprised by Gen Khin Nyunt’s visit amid the National
Convention and speculated that it might be an attempt to ease
international pressure on the junta.  Leading Thai politician, Kobsak
Chutikul from the Chart Thai party dismissed the National Convention as
undemocratic and lacking major political forces.

_____________________________________

June 4, Associated Press
Thailand Rules Out Sanctions against Burma - Uamdao Noikorn

Thailand expressed concern Friday at Burma’s failure to bring democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party to a constitution drafting convention, but
ruled out imposing punitive sanctions on its neighbor.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he made known his feelings to
Burmese Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt, who arrived here earlier Friday on
a one-day visit.

Thaksin said “I also expressed my concern” about the National League for
Democracy boycotting the convention to protest against the continued
detention of Suu Kyi who was arrested one year ago.

Critics have described the convention, which began on May 17 with the
government’s hand-picked delegates, as a sham and an attempt by the junta
to cover up its failure to allow democracy in the country.

“I would like the NLD to participate in the process and [Khin Nyunt] said
the NLD may have their own compulsions,” Thaksin said.

The current junta in Burma came to power in 1988 after crushing a
pro-democracy uprising. It held elections in 1990, but refused to give up
power when Suu Kyi’s party won in a landslide. Khin Nyunt unveiled a
seven-point “road map” last August, soon after taking over as the prime
minister. The first step of the road map was the convening of the National
Convention.

Many governments and rights groups worldwide have attacked the
constitutional process, saying it lacks full representation.

Thaksin said he asked Khin Nyunt about Suu Kyi’s release, but refused to
say what the Burmese general’s response was. “I have to be careful not to
intervene” in Burma’s domestic affairs, he said.

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said Thailand has no intention of
imposing economic sanctions on Burma as the US and European countries have
done in a bid to force the junta to speed up democratic reforms.

“We don’t see any need to cut aid or stop any ties whatsoever. We even see
that our continuing economic cooperation will do good for everyone,”
Jakrapob told reporters.

He said past sanctions by other countries have done “no good at all.”

“We are not going to stop (promoting) the national reconciliation process
but Thailand is not taking the approach of forcing Burmese,” he said.

On Tuesday, Khin Nyunt visited Malaysia, where he assured Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that his government was moving toward democracy, but
did not say when Suu Kyi would be freed. Khin Nyunt is expected to visit
Laos and Cambodia later this month.

The Bangkok-based human rights group Forum Asia said in a statement that
Khin Nyunt’s tour is an attempted “apology for a sham convention.”

A UN special envoy to Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, told reporters this
week in Bangkok that the junta had missed a unique opportunity by breaking
promises to free Suu Kyi before the convention, which began May 17.

Thailand is the third largest investor in Burma, with investments of about
US $1.3 billion after Singapore’s $1.6 billion and Britain’s $1.4 billion.


OPINION/OTHER
_____________________________________

June 4, Bangkok Post
Than Shwe unmasked as roadblock to democracy - Larry Jagan

One man holds the key to Burma's future, and he seems to be styling
himself as his nation's, increasingly despotic, monarch.

General Khin Nyunt visits Bangkok today as part of his familiarisation
tour of fellow member countries of Asean after his appointment last August
as prime minister of Burma.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Gen Khin Nyunt are no strangers.
They have met many times before, and several times since Gen Khin Nyunt
was named prime minister. The key issue likely to be discussed when the
two meet again will be the lack of progress on the Burmese government's
``road map to democracy''.

Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai has been at the centre of the
region's attempts to encourage Rangoon to release opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi from house arrest and introduce economic and political change.
Thailand established the Bangkok Process as a forum of Asian and European
ministers designed to support the Burmese government's plans to introduce
political reform.

The Burmese leaders have rebuffed Thailand's support in recent months,
pulling out of a second Bangkok Process meeting at short notice. But the
real issue to be discussed when the two prime ministers meet will be the
Burmese government's failure to keep its promise to release Ms Suu Kyi and
include her party, the National League for Democracy, in the National
Convention which began meeting last month to draft a new constitution.

``Unfortunately, Burma's future lies in the hands of only one man,'' said
a western diplomat based in Rangoon. ``And that is not the prime
minister.''

There is no doubt now that Burma's paramount leader Senior General Than
Shwe is calling all the shots. Gen Khin Nyunt cannot do anything without
Gen Than Shwe's approval. The senior general has become known throughout
the army and the nation as a whole as the ``king''.

Gen Than Shwe has reportedly told UN envoy Razali Ismail on several
occasions that ``Aung San Suu Kyi is only one person in 52 million and her
views cannot hold the country to ransom''. In fact, it is the senior
general who is the single obstacle to change in Burma.

Gen Khin Nyunt understands the need for the national reconciliation
process to involve Ms Suu Kyi and the pro-democracy parties. But under the
orders of Gen Than Shwe, the National Convention reconvened without the
participation of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, or NLD.

There is no doubt that there are major differences between the top
generals over how to deal with the pro-democracy leader and her party,
according to Asian diplomats.

Ever since the Asean summit in Bali last October, Gen Khin Nyunt and
Foreign Minister Win Aung have assured their neighbours and Mr Razali that
the National Convention would be inclusive and Ms Suu Kuyi would be
released before the convention opened.

``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 the Bangkok Post in an exclusive
interview in Phuket in February. ``The NLD will also be allowed to re-open
their offices before the convention gets under way.''

Burma's leaders are now trying to blame the NLD for not participating in
the National Convention. The NLD leaders were just too uncompromising and
intransigent, a senior military intelligence officer said.

``They should have agreed to participate,'' he said. ``They could always
walk out again later; that would actually strengthen their position.''

But Burma's opposition leaders dismiss this interpretation and insist they
had compromised and done everything they could to clear the way for the
NLD to attend the National Convention. It was the military that reneged on
its promises, a senior opposition figure said.

Ms Suu Kyi even wrote a personal letter to Gen Than Shwe, according to
western diplomats in Rangoon, suggesting that they ``turn a new page'' and
move forward using the road map as a basis for discussion.

In early May, the detained NLD leader was told indirectly by Gen Khin
Nyunt that everyone, including Gen Than Shwe, had agreed in principle to
Ms Suu Kyi's release and the opening of her party's divisional offices
before the National Convention convened on May 17.

But only days later, the regime's negotiators told her the deal was off
because Gen Than Shwe had changed his mind. The three envoys continued to
ask the NLD leader to participate in the convention, meeting with her on
three successive days before the NLD central executive made its final
decision not to attend.

While the government-controlled media continue to insist that the National
Convention marks a significant and historic moment in Burmese history,
neither Gen Than Shwe or Gen Khin Nyunt was at the ceremonial opening
session. Diplomats in Rangoon believe one of them was originally scheduled
to give the opening speech. It would appear that neither wanted to be
associated too closely with it _ or be seen publicly to own the process.

Given Gen Khin Nyunt's close participation in the process to date,
convincing ethnic minority groups that have declared a ceasefire with
Rangoon to attend, his absence may have been his way of distancing himself
from the National Convention.

``Khin Nyunt does not want to discuss the progress of the National
Convention nor have the National Convention used to criticise him,'' said
a western diplomat based in Rangoon. Nor is the prime minister keen to
answer questions about Ms Suu Kyi's continued house arrest.

His message to Prime Minister Thaksin, as it was to Malaysian Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi earlier this week, is that the National
Convention has started and the region should defer judgment until it has
finished its work.

Until something emerges from the National Convention, nothing is likely to
happen in Rangoon. It is even possible that the regime is considering
disengaging from the international community and Mr Razali's role as a
facilitator may also be in danger. Gen Than Shwe has always been
xenophobic in the extreme and may now opt for shutting the door to the
international community even further.

This political stalemate is likely to continue while Gen Than Shwe has his
way. While there is growing resentment within the army over his attempt to
establish himself as a new Burmese monarch, this is unlikely to lead to a
power struggle to oust him. The pragmatists including the prime minister
who favour involving Ms Suu Kyi in the national reconciliation process and
engaging in a dialogue with the international community are in retreat and
worried about their future.

``There is extreme unease and nervousness within the senior ranks of
military intelligence,'' said a UN official who regularly deals with the
military. ``It seems everyone is running for cover in anticipation of a
backlash against them.''

Recently Gen Khin Nyunt, who is still nominally head of military
intelligence, warned his senior intelligence officers to be careful as he
could no longer protect them.

One senior military intelligence officer confided recently that he
suspected that his phones were being bugged. With this kind of paranoia
now prevalent in the senior ranks of the army and military intelligence,
it is unlikely that there will be any significant political progress in
the near future, and certainly no early end to Ms Suu Kyi's detention.

This is only going to lead to increased pressure from Burma's neighbours
to release the pro-democracy leader and implement some political change.
Washington is certain to consider even tougher economic sanctions against
the military regime. Life is going to get even tougher for most of the
country's 52 million people, and in the end there is only one person to
blame: Senior General Than Shwe.

_____________________________________

June 4, Mizzima News
Burmese rest high hopes on new government in India - B.K Sen

India's new foreign minister Mr. Natwar Singh, a veteran of politics,
signaled broadening the country's foreign policy agenda. He said that his
government would pay close attention to having cordial relations with its
neighbors in the South Asia region. Burma falls in this category.

Close attention is indeed required for Burma and its unique features must
not be lost sight of. Coming straight to the heart of the problem, the
past policy perused by the previous government must be changed.

The BJP-led NDA government made an effective shift in the policy that late
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had laid down in respect of India's policy to
Burma. The BJP policy befriended the military regime and entered into
constructive engagement with the ruling junta. It did not express a word
of support for democracy movement in Burma, nor for the release of its
icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Even the leaders of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the latter who
presently Chairs ASEAN, who are friendly to the present regime, have
requested for her release.

I do not argue that India should reverse its policy on Burma to result in
sanctions along the line that the EU and US are following.

What I argue is that India should neither follow a policy of Constructive
engagement such as China is following, nor a policy which the US is
implementing. It is a big challenge for the world's biggest democracy to
design its policy to support democracy and the peoples of the two
countries. In this context it can be submitted that India has a special
role to play to facilitate the process of transition in Burma.

India's Special Role because of Historical Ties

About 80% of people in Burma follow Buddhism, which spread from India, its
birthplace. Pagan, a township in Central Burma, was the central place
where Buddhism thrived. Researchers have found close cultural links
between India and Burma. The religious doctrine, known as Dhamata, which
guides the conduct of Buddhists in Burma, is the Hindu religion. Dhamatha
is also the source of customary law. Pious Buddhists, who can afford it,
come in hundreds for pilgrimage to Buddha Gaya, in India.

Politically, the two countries were 'brothers-in-arms'. Burma was fully
conquered in 1896 and was made a province of India. There was a great
migration of labor, including professionals. Burma's first generation
under colonial rule had its higher education in Calcutta University, as
there was no university in Burma till 1920. These graduates reached high
ranks in the administrate set up made by the colonialists. They later
became High Court and Supreme Court judges when Burma attained freedom.

The legal system in Burma was entirely similar as in India, except for the
customary law, based on common law. Even today customary law continues
with inclusion of some special laws. It is the fact that at independence
from colonial rule, Burma's constitution was drawn by an Indian, Sir. B. N
Rau, a constitutional expert.

Freedom, which both countries wrested from the colonialists, was the
product of joint efforts of the peoples and leaders of the two countries.
In fact the freedom struggle brought the leaders of the two countries
closer. When the countrywide civil disobedience movement was launched
under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the second front was   opened in
Burma and was known as the Saya San rebellion. Both the movements shook
the stability of colonial rule.

In 1940 when the Ramgargh congress of the National Congress was held,
leaders of Burma's independence movement were invited to attend its open
session. An eleven-man delegation headed by U Aung San attended the
session. Moreover, he was invited to address the session.

Mahatma Gandhi himself, with Pandit Nehru, conferred with the delegate
members to evolve a common strategy of anti-colonial movement for the two
countries.

During World War II, Netaji based his Azad Hind Fouz in Burma's capital,
Rangoon, under Japanese occupation. When the Aung San-Attlee Agreement
started the transfer of power to the leaders of Burma, Aung San, at that
time a national hero on his way to London, stopped in Delhi to confer with
Pandit Nehru.

The latter saw that the former was without a coat in the bitter winter and
gave his coat to U Aung San. U Aung San, wearing that coat became the
national symbol. After In dependence the first Prime Minister U Nu became
a personal friend of Pandit Nehru. These two leaders, together with other
emerging post-colonialist leaders, became founders of the politically
non-aligned movement.

Burma's democratic government was toppled by General New Win and U Nu was
put behind the bars. After his release when then Prime Minister of India,
Indira Gandhi, went on an official tour of Burma.

She managed to meet and talk with U Nu in spite of the disapproval of the
then dictator, Ne Win. U Nu fled the country and in exile founded the
resistance movement against the military dictatorship.

Later U Nu came to India and sought asylum. Indira Gandhi, then in
Power, readily made available to him the Bungalow of the Maharaja in
Bhopal. U Nu spent five years there studying Buddhism. He returned to
Burma, still under the control of Ne Win military dictatorship, having
given up politics. Rajiv Gandhi also went on official visit to Burma to
demonstrate the sustained friendship between the two countries.

When the historical uprising of 8.8.88 took place and brought down Ne
Win's direct rule, Rajiv Gandhi, India's then Prime Minister, gave his
full support to the democracy movement. He initiated a policy of
non-engagement with the military rule. However, after his death, India's
policy on Burma began shifting toward friendly relations with the military
dictatorship. Thereafter, further shifts in this direction occurred under
the BJP-led government, including the introduction of constructive
engagement.

Now, a new coalition government, led by the Congress Party, has come to
power in India. This government has to face many challenges.

One of the challenges will be to bring a shift in its policy on Burma away
from the direction of the previous government, not immediately but as it
settles down into its governing role. The new government has released
statements concerning its policy towards its neighbors, namely Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal, China and Sri Lanka.

Importantly, Burma is conspicuously absent from this list for obvious
reasons. Although the pro-democracy movement in Burma is under terrible
stress and strain, the India's new coalition government understands the
complex difficulties of Burma's military junta, Burma's present ruling
power, to immediately switch over its policy.

However a symbolic beginning has to be made to keep the credentials of
India's democracy. And that is to request the junta in Burma to release
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and enter into a dialogue for political reform. Some
of the coalition partners of the present government have already made
declarations in support of Burma's democracy.

Even the UN has passed resolutions to that effect. Some leaders, however,
may hesitate, thinking their comments may amount to interference in the
internal affairs of the country. That theory has long been destroyed.
Burma's movement is for all human rights, including political and civil
rights, guaranteed under the United Nations charter.

The will of the people shall determine the formation of government. The
people of Burma have expressed this will in the election held in 1990 by
the junta itself. The new Indian government must also meet the aspirations
of the Indian people on this issue. The people of India are in full
support of the aspirations of the people of Burma.

India has reached a crucial point in her history. If the leaders can
steer its course successfully both in its domestic sphere and the
international domain, it will be a tribute to India's leaders.

It is the world's greatest democracy and now it will be the greatest
democracy with a human face. In the past India faced many challenges from
its neighbors, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh even Nepal. Burma is
the exception. Through negligence of its immediate past leaders, the
Indo-Burmese relationship has taken a wrong course.

India's foreign policy in respect of Burma has to be based on the common
aspirations of the two peoples: namely democracy. Credibility, democratic
legitimacy and development of the two peoples on the basis of their
respective empowerment and decision-making power can only be the basis of
good neighborly relations. For this reason, Burma's peoples rest high
hopes on the new government of India.


PRESS RELEASE
______________________________________

June 4, Reporters Without Borders and Burma Media Association
Call for investigation into kidnapping of exiled Burmese journalist

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) and the Burma Media
Association (BMA) called today for an investigation into the kidnapping of
exiled Burmese journalist and pro-democracy activist Minn Kyaw in Malaysia
on 1 June and his detention for 12 hours by supposed members of the
Malaysian police special branch.

He was seized on his way to Kuala Lumpur airport to cover the arrival of
Burmese prime minister Gen. Khin Nyunt and interrogated by Burmese agents
about his political and journalistic activities in Malaysia.

“It would be shocking if, as well as ceremonially receiving the head of a
tyrannical and illegitimate regime, the Malaysian authorities were
preventing journalists from doing their work for fear of offending a
Burmese general,” the two organisations said in a letter to prime minister
and internal security minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Another Burmese journalist, Sein Mar, is currently being held in Malaysia
for demonstrating against the Burmese regime.

Minn Kyaw¹s Malaysian wife, Yassra Sahril, said her husband, who is editor
of the magazine Burma Media Link and represents the BMA in Malaysia, had
been kidnapped by men who said they were members of the police special
branch as he and she were driving to the airport. Two vehicles forced
their car to stop.  A man ran towards it, opened the door and shouted “We
want Minn Kyaw!”  He was dragged out, handcuffed and a hood placed over
his head.

He was taken to a southern suburb of the city and shut up in a container.
After several hours without food or water, he was interrogated by a
Burmese woman. His captors, who beat him during his detention, asked about
his local campaigning for democracy in Burma and his support for Burmese
refugees in Malaysia.

The woman criticised him for “insulting Burma” in articles he had written
and in comments on local radio stations. She also asked where he got the
money to publish Burma Media Link.

His wife filed a complaint with police. The officer in charge of the
investigation said the case was a “delicate matter” and refused to say if
the kidnapping had been ordered by the authorities, adding only that “the
enquiry is continuing.” On 3 June, Minn Kyaw's lawyer was not allowed to
be present during a police interview of the journalist.

Journalist Sein Mar, editor of the newsletter Yaung Chee Oo, has been held
in Kuala Lumpur since 17 May. She was arrested after demonstrating in
front of the Burmese embassy against the “national convention” staged by
the Burmese regime. She has UN refugee status in Malaysia and her
seven-year-old daughter has been taken in by a local UN centre. Reporters
Without Borders and the BMA have called for her release, pointing out that
she was simply protesting peacefully in favour of free expression.