BurmaNet News, September 8, 2004

[Editor]

September 8, 2004, Issue # 2554

INSIDE BURMA
Kyodo News: Myanmar to introduce human trafficking law
Irrawaddy: Cholera detected in Mandalay
DVB via BBC: Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi sends message to party youth members

DRUGS
Narco News Bulletin: DEA Agent’s whistleblower case exposes the “War on
Drugs” as a “War of Pretense”
SHAN: One Win could be losing

BUSINESS / MONEY
International Oil Daily: China's Sinopec targets Bolivia, Myanmar for
overseas investments

REGIONAL
FEER: Push for Burma Caucus in Asean
Reuters: Malaysia immigrants end hunger strike - U.N. body
Inter Press Service: Anwar's release spurs calls for Nobelist's freedom

INTERNATIONAL
FT: France opposes Burma sanctions
Agence Europe: EU and ASEAN want to get non-tariff issues out of way
before starting on free trade agreement

PRESS RELEASE
Ascribe News: Free Burma Coalition update

______________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

September 7, Kyodo News
Myanmar to introduce human trafficking law

Myanmar's government is drafting a new law to suppress human trafficking
with suggestions from U.N. and regional experts, official media reported
Tuesday.

At a two-day workshop in Yangon that started Monday, Myanmar officials
consulted with U.N. and regional experts on the drafting the Suppression
of Trafficking in Persons Law, the New Light of Myanmar reported.

The law would bring Myanmar's anti-human trafficking efforts into line
with international human rights standards and the United Nations
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which Myanmar acceded to
last March.

The workshop is jointly organized by Home Affairs Ministry and U.N.
Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong
Sub-Region, which was established in June 2000 to tackle human trafficking
in the region covering Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and
Vietnam.

High-ranking Myanmar officials including Chief Justice Aung Toe, Attorney
General Aye Maung and Deputy Minister Maung Aung from immigration and
population ministry attended the workshop, the report said.

Myanmar is to host a regional conference on human trafficking in the
Greater Mekong in October this year.

According to statistics published on the Foreign Ministry's website, a
total of 540 human traffickers were arrested in 294 cases between July
2002 and December 2003, of which 314 were imprisoned.

Myanmar has taken issue with its inclusion in the U.S. State Department's
list of ''Tier 3'' countries whose governments ''do not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so.''
The latest report, released last April, says that in 2003, the Myanmar
government took some steps to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation,
but significant state-sanctioned use of internal forced labor continues,
especially by the military.

It acknowledges that the government has improved cooperation with U.N.
agencies and nongovernmental organizations in efforts to address
trafficking in persons, but says the ''complete failure to make progress
on its large and serious forced labor problem entirely offsets the modest
improvements in combating trafficking in persons.''

The Myanmar government has also been repeatedly censured by the
International Labor Organization over forced labor.

____________________________________

September 8, Irrawaddy
Cholera detected in Mandalay - Nandar Chann

An outbreak of dysentery in Burma’s second largest city, following massive
flooding in central Burma in late July, has been caused by the bacterium
Vibrio cholerae, or cholera, said a local doctor today.

Yuu Yuu May, a doctor in Mandalay, said that since last week medical
experts at hospitals across the city have detected about 10 new cases of
cholera each day. Scores of residents have checked in to government and
private hospitals with severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Several
people have died, although it is not clear yet if cholera was the cause of
death in any of the cases.

The deputy divisional head of the Health Department in Mandalay, Dr Yin
Thandar Lwin, said that the city’s drainage system has been badly damaged
by the flood, adding that sewage has flowed into the streets and several
homes. She also said that most of those who have fallen ill are residents
who live near the Irrawaddy River.

But when asked for estimates of detected cholera cases and deaths, Yin
Thandar Lwin replied by saying that the authorities are taking necessary
action to contain the problem. She also said that news reporters must
first get official permission before writing about the outbreak.

A local resident said that health officials have closed several roadside
noodle stalls until they can be proven sanitary and safe.

Other news reports have attributed the deaths to contaminated fruits and
vegetables.

_____________________________________

September 7, Democratic Voice of Burma via BBC
Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi sends message to party youth members

It has been learned that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, sent a formal message to
honour all the winners of the 57th Martyr's Day Newspaper Competition
organized by the NLD [National League for Democracy]. The message was sent
to various states and divisions along with the formal message of U Aung
Shwe, NLD chairman. It has been learned that the message is to honour the
endeavour of the youth members.

This is the first time that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who was been detained
since 30 May last year, is able to send an encouraging message to the NLD
party members.

Although there was no restrictions on her sending messages like this, the
authorities up till today have not responded to the request of the leaders
of the NLD headquarters to hold a meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

_____________________________________
DRUGS

September 7, The Narco News Bulletin
DEA Agent’s Whistleblower Case Exposes the “War on Drugs” as a “War of
Pretense” - Bill Conroy

Agent’s Sealed Legal Case Dismissed on National Security Grounds; Details
Leaked to Narco News

Former DEA agent Richard Horn has been fighting the U.S. government for
the past 10 years trying to prove the CIA illegally spied on him as part
of an effort to thwart his mission in the Southeast Asian country of
Burma.

After being removed from his post in Burma, Horn filed litigation in
federal court in Washington, D.C., in 1994 accusing top officials for the
CIA and State Department in Burma of violating his Fourth Amendment
rights.

After languishing in the federal court system for some 10 years, Horn’s
case was dismissed in late July of this year after crucial evidence in the
case was suppressed on national security grounds. Because the entire court
record had been sealed by the judge, no one would have even known that
Horn’s case was torpedoed, if it were not for the fact that an anonymous
source leaked the judge’s ruling to Narco News.

Horn served in the early 1990s as the DEA country attaché to Burma – which
ranks as one of the top opium poppy producing countries in the world.

As the highest-ranking in-country DEA representative in Burma (also known
as Myanmar), Horn was charged with overseeing the agency’s mission in that
country of eradicating the opium poppy, which is used to produce heroin.

For the full text of this article, please visit:
http://www.narconews.com/Issue34/article1063.html

_____________________________________

September 8, Shan Herald Agency for News
One Win could be losing

After more than two weeks of unconfirmed reports, it now appears that one
of the generals in Rangoon bearing the name of Kyaw Win has been laid off
for keeps in connection with the seizure of unprecedented amount of heroin
in southern Burma last July, reports S.H.A.N. correspondent Hawkeye from
Maesai:

"We heard that it was definitely the (Maj Gen) Kyaw Win who had been
acting chief of the National Intelligence since Gen Khin Nyunt was
appointed as prime minister (25 August 2003)," said a businessman who was
recently in Rangoon. "According to in-house gossips," (Senior Gen) Then
Shwe was already considering a transfer order for him when he handed in
his resignation."

There are four generals each of whom answers to the name of Kyaw Win,
according to an opposition directory:

Brig-Gen Kyaw Win - Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industry #1
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win - Deputy Chief of Logistics
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win - Acting Chief of Military Intelligence Directorate
Lt-Gen Kyaw Win - Chief of Armed Forces Training

She said the surprise move originated in the 500-kg (some reports say 600
kg) drug haul on 9 July in a fishing village in Ye township, Tenasserim
Division, 600-km southeast of Rangoon. "He and several other officers were
said to be implicated in the scandal," she added.

Meanwhile S.H.A.N. sources who are based in Tachilek say two men, Ai Ti
and Ai Yi, who are brothers and natives of Kengtung, had been arrested in
Rangoon's Shwe Gondaing township. "The two are brothers-in-law of Ta Way,
an associate of Wei Hsuehkang and electricity supplier for Tachilek (since
April 2003)," an ex-Khun Sa follower and "chemist" said. "Ta Way himself
is still intact although he has a home in Rangoon. He hasn't been back to
Tachilek since being informed that his name was on the Thai blacklist (of
drug suspects)."

Another source told S.H.A.N. he was invited to one of the brother's home
last year when he was informed they had "a very good pawliang (employer)"
in Hong Kong.

Both sources maintained that the actual amount of drugs seized in southern
Burma was more than a ton. "1,600 kg, we were told," said one. "Can you
imagine a consignment that big coming from Shan State, reaching Rangoon
and then loaded on a boat without top-level authorization? Can you also
imagine an individual operator trying to smuggle out a payload of that
size? Even Khun Sa, during his prime, never shipped out more than 200 kg
for each delivery. Only a big, big organization can afford to run an
operation this big."

The two believed it was a joint effort by Rangoon's top-ranking officers
and the United Wa State Army that somehow came to grief.

S.H.A.N. however could not obtain confirmation from other sources.

_____________________________________
BUSINESS / MONEY

September 8, International Oil Daily
China's Sinopec targets Bolivia, Myanmar for overseas investments - Sophie
Tan

China's state-owned Sinopec is taking further steps abroad in energy,
forming joint ventures in Bolivia and Myanmar.

Singapore: In Bolivia, Sinopec subsidiary Shengli International last week
signed a preliminary agreement for a joint venture with state oil company
Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) that could invest $1.5
billion in oil, gas and petrochemicals, according to local reports.

Shengli International and YPFB will hold 49% and 51% respectively in the
40-year joint venture, through which Shengli international would provide
much needed capital to fund exploration, production, refining,
thermoelectric power generation and manufacturing equipment for providing
gas to households and as transportation fuel.

Sinopec confirmed to International Oil Daily that the joint venture
agreement had been signed but declined to give any further details.

Shengli International Vice President Zhang Wei Dong was quoted as telling
Bolivia's state media that the Chinese company is looking to export
products to the US, Canada, Argentina and Cuba.

Terms of the joint venture would be finalized once Bolivia's new
hydrocarbons law is passed (IOD Aug.31,p5).

Bolivia's Energy Minister Guillermo Torres told International Oil Daily in
an exclusive interview last week about the country's plans to depend on
neighboring South American countries to buy its 52.3 trillion cubic feet
of natural gas reserves now that an export project to the US and Mexico
may not materialize (IOD Sep.2,p5).

In Myanmar, Sinopec subsidiary Dian Qian Gui Petroleum Exploration Bureau
signed a production sharing contract Friday with state oil company Myanmar
Oil and Gas Enterprise on conducting oil exploration at the onshore Block
D in Rakhine state covering an area of 12,000 square kilometers in western
Myanmar, reported China Daily last Friday.

Sinopec also declined to give further detail on this contract.

Among its other overseas ventures, Sinopec is setting up a well drilling
and servicing joint venture with Egypt's state oil company EGPC.

_____________________________________
REGIONAL

September 9, Far Eastern Economic Review
Push for Burma Caucus in Asean

Intelligence

Malaysian parliamentarians plan to host a meeting of elected
representatives from around Southeast Asia in a bid to press the military
government in Burma for political change. Among those who have agreed to
attend the Kuala Lumpur meeting in early October are legislators from
Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines, according to one invitee. The
Malaysians hosting the meeting want to "set up a network pushing for
democracy among Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations]
parliamentarians," says Thai opposition MP Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who
plans to attend the meeting. The move follows the formation in June of a
cross-party Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma that has adopted a
pro-democratic stance. The Malaysian caucus is led by Mohammed Zaid
Ibrahim, an MP from the United Malays National Organization (Umno), the
leading party in the country's ruling coalition, and the deputy chairman
is Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, an opposition leader and the wife of jailed
former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. When launched, the caucus
called upon the Burmese junta to return to "the mainstream of responsible
international norms and behaviour." On a visit to Malaysia in early June,
Burma's Prime Minister Khin Nyunt was urged by his Malaysian counterpart,
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, to speed up the process of political reform and
move towards democracy.

_____________________________________

September 8, Reuters News
Malaysia immigrants end hunger strike - U.N. body

Kuala Lumpur: More than 100 illegal immigrants, many of them thought to be
asylum seekers from Indonesia and Myanmar, have ended a hunger strike
begun two days ago at a Malaysian detention camp, a U.N. refugee official
said on Wednesday.

"It was stopped at noon today," Volker Turk, Malaysia representative for
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told Reuters.
"They realised that the hunger strike doesn't help and it can be
counter-productive."

Rights groups said the detainees began their fast on Monday morning to
protest against cramped and dirty conditions at the Semenyih centre, one
of the country's largest immigration detention complexes, near the
capital, Kuala Lumpur.

The UNHCR said the centre housed about 1,500 immigrants who are to be
deported.

Malaysia's population of 25 million is richer than those of more populous
neighbours Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, and attracts tens of
thousands of illegal workers each year from those countries.

_____________________________________

September 7, Inter Press Service
Anwar's release spurs calls for Nobelist's freedom - Sonny Inbaraj

Chiang Rai: The release of jailed ex-Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar
Ibrahim could now spur regional efforts, before the start of an
Asia-Europe summit, to pressure Burma's military regime to free detained
Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Late last week Anwar was released by the Federal Court exactly six years
after former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad - long accused of dismissing
democratic procedures - fired him as his heir-apparent in a power struggle
and jailed his deputy under sodomy and corruption charges.

"Politically, the release of Anwar Ibrahim has set a precedent in the
region and this in turn will translate for calls within ASEAN (Association
of South-east Asian Nations) for the freeing of Suu Kyi," Kobsak Chutikul,
a regional foreign policy analyst, told IPS here at the Thai-Burma border.

"Suu Kyi is the only Nobel Laureate that is in custody and that creates a
lot of tensions in this region and for the forward movement of ASEAN,"
said Kobsak, who was also Thailand's former ambassador to the Czech and
Slovak republics and ex-economic adviser to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra.

The Association of South-east Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is a 10-member
grouping of countries in the region. They include Brunei, Burma, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Burma joined the club in 1997 despite misgivings by some governments and
activists in and out of the region, but ASEAN countries said membership
would allow their 'constructive engagement' policy to slowly encourage
Rangoon to open up its political system.

The European Union announced over the weekend it will attend a summit with
key Asian states next month after resolving a row over military-ruled
Burma while insisting it stands firm against Rangoon.

EU foreign ministers, who hammered out a compromise at talks in the
Netherlands said they did not want to see Burma's top leaders at the Oct
8-9 Asia-Europe (ASEM) summit in the Vietnamese capital, but settled for a
low-level delegation. The Asian component of ASEM includes ASEAN, Japan,
South Korea and China.

But the EU is threatening to tighten even further sanctions already in
place against Burma unless the junta makes progress towards the path of
democracy, including the release of Suu Kyi.

"The release of Suu Kyi is a pre-condition for the international
acceptance of Burma. And the international acceptance of Burma means the
continuing acceptance of ASEAN as a key player on the international
stage," said Kobsak.

At the heart of the matter is the torch of leadership of ASEAN, which
Malaysia passes over to Burma in 2006.

In early June a Malaysian parliamentary caucus, comprising government and
opposition MPs, was formed for Burma with the parliamentarians calling on
Rangoon to "respect ASEAN and international opinion and return to the
mainstream of responsible international norms and behaviour" while also
calling for the release of Suu Kyi.

Among the parliamentarians in the caucus is Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan
Ismail, who is an opposition MP.

"Malaysia is pressing for change in Burma so that when Kuala Lumpur hands
over the ASEAN chairmanship to Rangoon, it is done under positive
circumstances," said Debbie Stothard, of the regional human rights lobby
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN) in an interview.

Stothard said Malaysia, previously, faced a dilemma in calling for Suu
Kyi's release because of Anwar's incarceration and stood accused by the
Burmese junta of practicing double standards

"Now that Anwar is free, the Malaysian parliamentary caucus will have
credibility in calling for Suu Kyi's freedom and we can expect regional
pressure to build up as ASEM approaches," added the lobbyist.

Suu Kyi was first placed under house arrest by the military junta months
before the 1990 national elections, where her National League for
Democracy (NLD) won the majority of seats. She was released briefly in
1995, but her movements outside the capital Rangoon were restricted by the
junta.

But Suu Kyi has spent the last year in detention after pro-government
thugs attacked her convoy, and her party has since endured a renewed
crackdown.

In a bid to ward of international criticism, the Burmese junta last August
announced what they called a road map towards democracy. On May 17, the
junta restarted a national convention to draw up a new constitution that
they said would lead to free and fair elections in the country.

But its credibility has been criticised because of the absence of Suu
Kyi's NLD.

According to Win Naing, managing editor of 'The New Vision' - a Burmese
newspaper published at the Thai-Burma border - there is optimism among
activists in Burma that Suu Kyi could be free following Anwar's release.

"It's timely, now, with this Anwar thing. Also, it's good timing for ASEAN
to initiate a more effective policy with regard to Burma," he said.

"If no changes happen and Burma assumes the ASEAN chair in 2006, tell me
which Western country would want to come to Rangoon and shake hands with
the head of state who is military general in a regime responsible for
gross human rights abuses?" asked Win Naing.

But ex-Thai diplomat Kobsak was more forthright.

"The question of Burma becoming the chairman of ASEAN poses a lot of
questions for ASEAN. What if Burma holds an ASEAN ministerial meeting in
Rangoon or even a post-ministerial meeting or a summit, and nobody from
outside shows up?" he also asked.

"ASEAN's credibility has been based on the fact that everybody (both from
the West and Asia) wants to come and meet with the regional grouping once
a year - it's not based on wealth, it's not based on cohesion or
solidarity, but it's based on the fact that ASEAN has an image, has a
brand and has a position on the international stage," Kobsak pointed out.

"But if that custom or habit is broken because of Rangoon, then perhaps
wherever the (ASEAN) meeting is held the following year, the non-Asian
world would not attend."

_____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

September 8, Agence Europe
EU and ASEAN want to get non-tariff issues out of way before starting on
free trade agreement

Brussels: In Jakarta, Pascal Lamy and the ASEAN trade ministers have
agreed to re-launch the "Trans-Regional EU-ASEAN Trade and Investment
Initiative" (TREATI), and have identified four areas for priority action.
The EU and the 10 countries of ASEAN have decided to open negotiations on
the standardisation of sanitary and phyto-sanitary rules for agro-food
products and fishing, and standards on electronics and forestry, but have
not set a date for negotiations to start. These subjects are also among
the key sectors identified by ASEAN (Association of South East Asian
Nations) as part of the economic integration the States of the region hope
to have achieved by 2020.

The European and Asian partners hope to conclude a free trade agreement
removing trade barriers, but do not intend to cut corners. Pascal Lamy
said on Monday, during a speech before the European Chamber of Commerce in
Indonesia, that he had chosen to tackle the difficult issues first,
because this was the most sure-fire way of reaching agreement. The
Commissioner stressed that the other partners of ASEAN (Japan and
Australia notably) had adopted a different approach, deciding to "launch
all negotiations together and to postpone discussions on the trickiest
points". The EU, on the other hand, has decided to focus on the more
technical non-tariff issues, because "our experience has shown that these
are the subjects which create the most constraints to an increase in trade
and investment". Mr Lamy pointed out that the "EU, for its part, remains
convinces that trade negotiations in the 21st century centre around
standards and rules in fields such as safety, health and consumer
protection", and that TREATI is an essential instrument to deal with these
non-tariff questions.

Aside from future negotiations on a free trade agreement with ASEAN 'en
bloc', the Commissioner and Vietnamese trade minister, Mr Tuyen, also
discussed the EU-Vietnam agreement with a view to WTO accession. The
forthcoming technical negotiations will take place on 20 September.

When asked about the Burmese question which has divided the EU and ASEAN,
Pascal Lamy said that the compromise reached by the EU would be acceptable
to the Member States of the association, which call for Burma to be
present at the ASEM summit in Hanoi. The EU made official its position on
Burma's participation in this meeting, to be held in Vietnam on 8 and 9
October, on Friday.

_____________________________________

September 8, Financial Times
France opposes Burma sanctions - Daniel Dombey

European Union plans to impose new sanctions on Burma have been challenged
by France, which has yet to be convinced of the need for such a step. Like
all other EU countries, Paris wields a veto over EU foreign policy.

At an informal meeting at the weekend, EU foreign ministers agreed to ban
investment in state-controlled Burmese groups if Burma did not improve its
democratic and human rights record before an Asia-Europe summit in
October. The ministers said the EU would go to the summit as long as Burma
did not send its prime minister.

But Michel Barnier, French foreign minister, did not attend the EU
conclave because of his efforts to free France's hostages in Iraq.

At an EU officials' meeting in Brussels yesterday, France made clear it
needed to be persuaded of the need for additional sanctions. TotalFinaElf,
France's oil giant, is active in Burma. EU foreign ministers will discuss
the issue at a meeting early next week. Daniel Dombey, Brussels

_____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

September 7, Ascribe News
Free Burma Coalition update

Free Burma Coalition forges ahead with its citizens' initiatives to engage
Burmese military regime; FBC clarifies its position on sanctions,
isolation, reiterates its commitment toward national reconciliation

Berkeley: The Free Burma Coalition (FBC) issues a statement today
announcing its decision to forge ahead with the Second Track Diplomacy or
citizens' initiatives aimed at national reconciliation in Burma (Myanmar).
The coalition's statement calls on all major parties in conflict,
specifically the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and its
arch-opponent the National League for Democracy (NLD) to show flexibility
and commitment to seek a compromise solution to resolve the country's
14-year political deadlock.

Further, the FBC clarifies its position on sanctions and isolation: "In
our view, the National League for Democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
still remains one of the most legitimate voices, representing the vast
majority of people who voted for it, even after 14 years since the
elections were held. As the party that has called for international
sanctions and isolation against Burma, we believe it is up to the NLD to
decide as to when and under what conditions it may deem suitable to end
the sanctions and isolation."

The coalition reiterates its commitment toward national reconciliation
through the Second Track Diplomacy efforts, engaging directly with the
SPDC and expressing its deep concern about continued detention of
political activists including the NLD leaders, as well as human rights
abuses throughout the country. The coalition raises awareness about its
efforts among grassroots supporters, within and without Burma and educates
Burmese citizens about the importance of participation in, and
contributions toward, the process of national reconciliation in their
country.

Today's statement points out a clear distinction between the coalition's
ongoing efforts for national reconciliation and pressing for cooperating
unconditionally with the junta.

Amidst criticisms from the hardliners among fellow dissidents who oppose
compromise with the generals, the FBC will continue to engage directly
with the Burmese regime.

This statement, reflecting the majority view of the FBC's leaders and
advisors, was made after deliberations among FBC Executive Working Group
and Burma Strategy Group, the decision-making body and an advisory
network, respectively.

The coalition is confident that the changes will enable its leaders to
pursue effectively its initiatives.

The FBC report on recent political developments in Burma and prospects for
change is now re-scheduled to be published later this month.

THE FREE BURMA COALITION: OUR VISION, MISSION, APPROACH AND VIEWS

OUR VISION

Our vision for Burma/Myanmar is a country where all citizens live under
rule of law, enjoy human security and cherish equality, regardless of
gender, ethnicity, religion and creed.

OUR MISSION

A long-time opponent of the military rule in Burma, the FBC is a voluntary
network of Burmese citizen exiles and international supporters. It is
committed to working toward democratic change and national reconciliation
in that country. Our revised mission is to help realize popular democratic
aspirations of the country's multi-ethnic peoples through diverse
approaches and venues.

OUR APPROACH

By engaging with friends and foes alike, our coalition intends to work
toward the development of a culture of civic dialogue and national
reconciliation in which different perspectives, ideas and approaches are
welcomed. We believe this approach will help bring an end to our country's
vicious cycle of violence, intolerance and chauvinism as it is likely to
re-inject civility, decency and respect in divergent efforts toward a
common mission.

OUR CURRENT VIEW TOWARD UNILATERAL SANCTIONS

Since its founding in 1995, our coalition has worked successfully to get
international sanctions against Burma or Myanmar, specifically from the
United States and led successful divestment of companies with ties to the
ruling military junta.

However, the FBC has, at this juncture, been forced to review its original
stance toward sanctions against, and isolation of, the de facto government
in Rangoon. This critical review has been necessitated by our country's
progressively impoverished citizenry, the obvious lack of support from
Burma's Asian neighbors for such punitive approach, and the absence of
prospects for economic recovery -- so long as the political deadlock,
already in its 14th year, remains in place.

Unlike the case of apartheid South Africa where there was a near
international consensus on sanctions against Pretoria, key governments in
the Asia-Pacific region, including, but not limited to, China, India,
Japan, Australia and members of the Association of South East Asian
Nations or (ASEAN), have refused to join the call for multilateral
sanctions toward, and isolation of, Burma, led by the United States and
the United Kingdom.

OUR VIEW TOWARD DIVERSITY

In pursuing the coalition's mission, we hold it self-evident that the
diversity of ideas and approaches will complement and enrich our
collective efforts, pushing for democratic change in our homeland. We
believe firmly that no single individual, organization, institution, or
party possesses a monopoly over how to bring about change in our country.
In our view, diversity is our nation's strength, not its threat.

OUR VIEW TOWARD THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY

In our view, the National League for Democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
still remains one of the most legitimate voices, representing the vast
majority of people who voted for it, even after 14 years since the
elections were held. As the party that has called for international
sanctions and isolation against Burma, we believe it is up to the NLD to
decide as to when and under what conditions it may deem suitable to end
the sanctions and isolation.

OUR VIEW TOWARD THE RULING STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

We do not perceive the SPDC as a monolith. With Nelson Mandela, we believe
there are "good people in all organizations and parties, without
exception." Therefore, we refuse to participate in the mutually
destructive practice of demonizing indiscriminately all citizen soldiers.
At the same time, we denounce categorically any act of dehumanization in
the forms of rights abuses, forced labor and torture against Burmese
citizens committed by the State's security apparatus.

OUR VIEW TOWARD NATIONAL RACES OR ETHNIC NATIONALITIES

We embrace all ethnic communities for whom Burma is their/our ancestral
home. We call for fair representation and the inclusion of all in any
efforts aimed at resolving our country's long-standing fundamental
problems, including poverty and ethnic conflict.

OUR VIEW TOWARD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

We believe it is imperative for all citizens, organizations and parties to
strive toward national reconciliation at all costs. We therefore urge all
citizens in whom our nation's sovereignty resides to embrace the culture
of dialogue and tolerance and work toward national reconciliation at all
levels.

Here, we wish to make clear unequivocally that we do not advocate for
cooperating unconditionally with the ruling military junta; but we endorse
genuine national reconciliation at all costs.