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BurmaNet News May 12, 1996



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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: May 12, 1996
Issue #405

HEADLINES:
==========
WALL STREET JOURNAL - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
INDEPENDENT REPORT: SLORC FORBIDS TEACHING CHIN 
THE NATION: SUU KYI BAGS DEMOCRACY AWARD 
THE NATION: PEPSI IS STILL DRINK OF CHOICE FOR BURMESE
BKK POST: REMNANTS OF KHUN SA FORCE STILL RETURNING
BKK POST: BURMESE RESISTANCE MEETS KNU FOR TALKS
BKK POST: ARF ACCEPTS NEW MEMBERS INDIA, BURMA
MNOC: STATEMENT ON THE 239TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL
INTELASIA: SIAM CITY BANK IN BURMA VENTURE
INDEPENDENT REPORT: SENATE HEARING
ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMEESE STUDENT WANTED!
ANNOUNCEMENT: THINGYAN FESTIVAL / BACA INVITATION
ANNOUNCEMENT: ESCAPE MAGAZINE - BURMA ARTICLE
ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW NLD VIDEOS AVAILABLE [S-8 --> S-11]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WALL STREET JOURNAL - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
May 6, 1996

In his April 9 editorial page article: "Forget MFN, the Consumers Are
Coming!" David Birnbaum correctly points out that consumers punish companies
that remain indifferent to abuses of human rights. Unfortunately he missed
the fact that, after a three-month consumer boycott, Columbia Sportswear has
joined Eddie Bauer, Levi Strauss, Liz Claiborne and Macy's in stopping the
purchase of apparel made in Burma. PepsiCo has just announced the sale of
its 40% equity interest in its Burmese bottler and acknowledged the growing
pressure from its customers. 

But consumers are not just individuals; they include cities, states and
institutions such as universities. Harvard University recently pulled back
from awarding Pepsi a five-year $1 million contract after students objected
to PepsiCo's presence in Burma. Six cities -- Ann Arbor (MI), Berkeley (CA),
Madison (WI), Oakland (CA), Santa Monica (CA) and San Francisco -- have
already enacted laws barring municipal purchases of goods or services from
any company doing business in Burma. ARCO, Texaco, Total and Unocal now face
losing lucrative contracts for heating and fuel oil as Alameda County,
Massachusetts and New York City debate similar purchasing restrictions.

During the campaign against apartheid, municipal and state purchasing
restrictions played a principal role in forcing corporations out of South
Africa. As cities and states join individual consumers in shunning companies
that do business in Burma, they prove Birnbaum's thesis that effective
action in support of human rights can take place in the free market and
outside of the Beltway.

Simon Billenness
Senior Analyst
Franklin Research & Development 
Boston

*********************************************************

INDEPENDENT REPORT: SLORC FORBIDS TEACHING CHIN 
LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS
May 10, 1996

We have just been informed by sources inside Burma that teaching
Chin language in schools in Chin State is now forbidden (by SLORC).

In Chin state, Chin language, whose written form was invented or
introduced by the British using Roman (?) alphabets (i.e. A..Z,
a..z), has always been taught in primary schools, from preschool
year to year 4. Text books were usually supplied by local
Christian churches. Parents paid fees to cover teachers' salaries.

If the language can no longer be taught, even writing one's name
could become a problem. Most of Chin names can NOT be spelled
correctly using Burmese characters (try writing names like "Hrang
Tlir" or "Dar Kio" in Burmese).

***********************************************************

THE NATION: SUU KYI BAGS DEMOCRACY AWARD FOR 
COURAGEOUS FIGHT
May 10, 1996

THE Washington-based National Democratic Institute will in 
August present its 10th annual W Averell Harriman Democracy 
Award to Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her 
"courageous struggle" to restore democracy in Burma.

Madeleine Albright, US ambassador to the United Nations, who 
made a brief visit to Burma last year where she held talks with the 
Burmese pro-democracy leader, will present the award at a special 
luncheon on Aug 26, a press statement from the NDI said.

Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel laureate, will not be able to travel 
to Chicago to receive the award in person but has recorded a 
brief videotaped speech that will be shown. The award 
ceremony will be attended by administration officials, 
members of Congress, business leaders and diplomats.

The event will take place during the NDI's International Visitors' 
Programme at the Democratic National Convention, a week-long series 
of seminars on the US election process and foreign policy issues.  More 
than 600 political and government leaders from nearly 100 countries are 
expected to participate in the convention programme.

"Aung San Suu Kyi's tireless campaign for democracy reflects the hopes 
and aspirations of the Burmese people, and is an inspiration to democrats 
throughout the world," Kenneth D Wollack, the NDI president, said.

Last November, Wollack led an NDI delegation to Burma where they tried 
to examine the political developments and discuss how the international 
community might best support a genuine democratic transition.

The team, which included Chile's former minister of the presidency 
Edgardo Boeninger and NDI programme officer Derek Mitchell, held 
meetings with the leadership of three Burmese political parties, UN 
development agencies and the Rangoon-based foreign diplomatic corps.

In each meeting, Boeninger was able to discuss how Chile managed 
civil-military relations during its successful transition to democracy after 
nearly two-decades of military rule under Gen Pinochet.

They also met Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence hero Aung 
San, who reiterated her determination to pursue a dialogue 
with the Burmese junta as a means to restoring democracy in her country.

During the meeting, Suu Kyi also urged the international community not 
to engage in economic and political activities that would confer legitimacy 
on the ruling Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc).

Past recipients of the NDI's Democracy Award include Czech President 
Vaclav Havel, Ambassador Albright, Northern Ireland political leader 
John Hume, South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, former US 
president Jimmy Carter and South Korean President Kim Young-sam.

This year the NDI will also honour former US vice president 
and current ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale for his 
leadership in fostering democracy around the world.

The NDI, which was established in 1983, presents the award annually to 
two individuals who exemplify NDI's commitment to strengthening 
democratic institutions and the protection of human rights, the statement said.

The non-profit organisation maintains field offices in Africa, Asia, Central 
and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, the 
former Soviet Union and the Baltic states.

The organisation, which has supported the development of democratic 
institutions in more than 70 countries, focuses its programmes on six 
major areas: political party development, election processes, legislative 
reform, local government, civil-military relations, and civic organisation 
and education. (TN)

*******************************************************

THE NATION: PEPSI IS STILL DRINK OF CHOICE FOR BURMESE
May 10,1996
Consumer boycotts have had limited success inside the junta-
ruled country, Aung Zaw writes.

Burmese activists cheered last week as newspaper headlines 
trumpeted "Pepsi's plan to withdraw from Burma."

However, while the US company says it is pulling out, the drink will 
still be widely available. PepsiCo has agreed to sell its 40 percent stake 
in a joint venture partnership in Burma, apparently because of pressure 
from consumer groups upset over the US-based firm's ties to the military 
government in Rangoon.

Pepsi products though will continue to be sold in Burma because the 
franchise agreement remains. Under this set up, PepsiCo won't have any 
assets and will not employ any employees in Burma, according to Thein 
Tun, who said last week that his company, Myanmar Golden Star Co, had 
agreed to buy PepsiCo's shares.

Zar Ni, a Burmese student in the United States who organised 
the Free Burma Campaign (FBC), expressed doubts on this. "We 
refuse to swallow Pepsi's lies about its operations in Burma. 
They claim they are leaving Burma, but in reality they're not."

Pepsi entered Burma in 1991 with an inititial investment of 
$1 million. The US soft drink company declared that its joint 
venture with Myanmar Golden Star earned $8 million last year.

Zar Ni dismissed Pepsi's recent move as a public relations exercise 
and his FBC has announced a plan to stage an international hunger 
strike aimed at convincing Pepsi and other companies, including Unocal, 
Texaco, and Heineken, to suspend operations in Burma.

"We aim to create an international outcry against the regime 
and their corporate supporters. And of course, PepsiCo will 
be a major target." He said they will start during the first 
week of October. "Many of us [American students and Burmese 
activists] will fast for a minimum of three days. Others will 
join us later. We will also make effigies to portray the 
Slorc's brutality and corporate complicity in it," Zar Ni added.

Zar Ni and other activists have organised and ad hoc hunger strike 
committee but say they don't know how many people will actually 
participate.

He said their aim is to get at least 20 major schools to join them. So far, 
Stanford, UCLA, North-western, Indiana University, Wisconsin, 
University of Washington, some colleges in the Washington DC and 
Maryland areas as well as some high schools have expressed their 
commitment to the planned hunger strike.

The US-based campaign is getting noticed. The Washington Post 
said "Pepsi Co Inc, once applauded for refusing to operate in then
white-ruled South Africa, is in danger of losing a new generation of 
customers over its sale of soft drinks in military-ruled Burma."

But what about the internal Pepsi boycott in Burma?

Many Burmese openly admit they like Pepsi. Students in 
colleges and universities in Burma still drink Pepsi. "Pepsi 
in Burma will survive," said a Western diplomat in Rangoon. 
"I don't see any internal boycott here. This is the only 
thing they can get. One bottle is about 15 kyat (4 Baht)," he noted.

He doesn't think an internal boycott is going to work. "Even the people 
in [Aung San] Suu Kyi's compound drink Pepsi," he added.

A coordinator with Burma Net said the Burmese people still 
don't see the connection between their sufferings and Pepsi. 
"The day they realise this they will stop drinking Pepsi," he said.

But Zar Ni said otherwise. "I have heard that young students in Burma are 
boycott Pepsi." "Actually the people should practice the old "consumer 
boycott tactics," which were used during the Wunthanu period when the 
country was under British colonial rule. Wunthanu means nationalism or 
patriotism. When the Burmese turned against the British, they wore traditional 
Burmese outfits called themselves Thakhin [master] and started boycotting 
foreign products," he stressed.

"I think the Burmese people should come to terms with the fact that a 
consumer boycott is an effective method to underline protests against 
corporate support. In due time, they will realise that the struggle will 
not be over so long as the Slorc is there and that they must have the will to 
free themselves from fear and apathy, as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said," 
said Zar Ni. Zar Ni and the FBC will continue pushing for Pepsi's total 
withdrawal from Burma. (TN)

*******************************************************

BKK POST: REMNANTS OF KHUN SA FORCE STILL RETURNING TO 
THE FOLD
May 11, 1996
Rangoon, AFP

REMNANTS of former opium drug lord Khun Sa's Mong Tai Army are
continuing to surrender to government forces in - Burma's eastern
Shan State, a report in the New Light of Myanmar said yesterday.

A total of 54 MTA fighters gave themselves up to government
forces during the second 'week of April together with some small
arms and ammunition, the official English-language newspaper reported.

Burmese authorities have said that there are some 2,000 members
of the MTA still at large in Shan State, four months after Khun
Sa and the ethnic Shan force surrendered unconditionally to the government.

The surrender cleared Shan State of Burma's most formidable
anti-government ethnic insurgency which had battled Rangoon for
almost five decades, analysts here said.

Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, Burma's intelligence chief who has
been credited with orchestrating Khun Sa's surrender, said during
a visit to Shan State last week that the entire state was now
free of insurgency.

He added that development plans were now underway to narrow the
gap between the more prosperous areas of central Burma and the
border areas.

Khin Nyunt said the government had spent over three billion kyats
($25 million at the market rate) in the past seven years on
development projects in the border areas.

He said the development programs included substitution schemes to
replace poppy cultivation in the region; which, along with areas
of Thailand and Laos, forms the Golden Triangle, where most of
the world's opium originates.

Burma on Wednesday hosted a six-nation anti-narcotics meeting
during which participants agreed to reduce the spread of illicit drugs.

Some 30 delegates from Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and
Vietnam attended the meeting.

************************************************************

BKK POST: BURMESE RESISTANCE MEETS KNU FOR TALKS
May 10, 1996

Burmese resistance groups met yesterday at the Karen National 
Union stronghold opposite this district to discuss a recent ceasefire 
discussion between the KNU and the Rangoon government.

KNU leader Gen Bo Mya, in his capacity as chairman of the 
Democratic Alliance of Burma, called the meeting after six 
KNU representatives returned from Rangoon, where they had 
held ceasefire talks with the State Law and Order Restoration 
Council on May 4, according to a KNU source.

Attending yesterday's meeting were leading figures from the 
DAB, KNU and other representatives from allied groups such as 
All Burma Students' Democratic Front chairman Dr Naing Aung, 
All Burma Muslim Union president Dr Abdul Razak, some former 
politicians of the National League for Democracy who have been 
seeking political asylum and other pro-democracy Burmese activists.

The progress of the third round of ceasefire talks between 
the KNU and the Slorc was revealed at the meeting, said the 
source. Tighter security has been beefed up at the venue of 
the five-day meeting, which concludes on Monday. (BP)

***********************************************

BKK POST: ARF ACCEPTS NEW MEMBERS INDIA, BURMA
May 11, 1996
YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA, AFP

INDIA and Burma have been approved to become new members of the
19 member ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), dealing with Asian security
issues, officials said here yesterday.

"India and Myanmar [Burma] were on the agenda, and they have been
accepted," Francesco Scarlata, head of the European Union delegation 
told AFP.

The two-day ARF meeting, involving senior officials, accepted
these bids for membership by consensus and will now forward them
for approval by the ARF ministerial meeting to be held in Jakarta in July.

The ARF yesterday also discussed a US proposal for four way talks
on the future of the Korean peninsula and more transparency on
arms purchases and military training.

"Transparency to a certain degree is useful, but not transparency
for transparency's sake," warned Chen Jian, head of the Chinese delegation.

Analysts have said the Americans will be arguing for increased
transparency of these issues plus the creation of a regional arms
register as part of the ARF's confidence building measures.

"Due consideration should be given to equal security to all
countries whether they are wording of that treaty to  defensive
or offensive," Chen Chen reaffirmed that China had a defensive
military posture and said there would be "no change" to that policy.

But the disputed Spratly Islands would not be discussed, Chen
said, because that issue was being dealt with in talks between
the various countries involved.

The 19 member ARF groups the seven nations of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with Australia, Cambodia, Canada,
China, the European Union, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

The members of ASEAN are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Issues surrounding a proposed comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty 
and the South East Asian Nuclear Free Zone (SEANFZ) were also high 
on the agenda, according to New Zealand and Indonesian officials.

The United States delegation, headed by Winston Lord assistant
secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, is expected
to come under pressure here to sign SEANFZ.

The United States will be lobbying for changes to the sure easy passage 
through the region for its nuclear fleet, one defence analyst said.

"We will also be talking about landmines,, chemical weapons and
maybe biological weapons," Neil Walter, deputy secretary of the
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

Scarlata said the EU still had to discuss applications by France
and Britain to join the ARF as individual members. Scarlata said
the two Europe an nations only placed their formal bids a few
days ago, an he admitted there were still "problems" because the
EU already holds two seats at the ARF.

"However, I think the [France and Britain] will accepted next
year," Scarlat said.

Indonesia, as president of the membership committee, unveiled a
draft list of criteria for new members yesterday.

Any new partners must already play an "important role in the
security of the region," according to Izhar Ibrahim, leading the
Indonesian delegation here.

One delegate said they were "very broad" terms, and that [ the
details would be worked out during the course of the talks.

*****************************************************************

MNOC: STATEMENT ON THE 239TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FALL OF MON KINGDOM HONGSAVATOI (abridged)
May 10, 1996   (Mon National Organization of Canada)

As the 239th  anniversary of the  Mon kingdom Hongsavatoi is
on May 9 , 1996, we, the Mon National Organization of Canada,
have released this statement to express our deep concern for
the Mon people and the present situation in Burma.

The Mon kingdom, which was situated in the lower part of Burma,
had flourished in peace and prosperity for several centuries
until it was occupied by the Burman dynasty in 1757. At that
time the last kingdom was devastated and tens of thousands of
Mons including learned Buddhist monks, pregnant women and
children were being killed by king U Aungzeya of Burma.
After this massacre many Mons fled to the southern most part 
of Burma and into Thailand to escape further oppression, 
persecution and enslavement by the conqueror.

Apparently, the Mon National Organization of Canada understands
that the agreement reached between NMSP and SLORC is not the
right process for a genuine peace and it does not represent
the wishes of the Mons and majority of the other people still
living in Burma as well as overseas Mons. As the human rights
violations and oppression by the SLORC continue the suffering
of all peoples in Burma also continues

On this tragic day of the 239th anniversary of the fall of
Mon kingdom Hongsavatoi we, the Mon National Organization of
Canada, urgently recommend the international communities to
take the following action:

1) Stop the project of constructing a 500 mile gas pipeline
   from Monland.

2) Stop the conscription of forced labour for constructing of
   Ye-Tavoy railway and forced relocation of the villages.

3) Call a tripartite dialogue among the military regime of
   SLORC, opposition democratic political parties and the
   ethnic leaders,

4) Permit international human rights observers and the United
   Nations access to Burma to all prisons, detention centres
   and ethnic areas.

5) Boycott companies doing business with the military regime.

6) Stop all arms trade with the military regime and pass a UN
   resolution forbidding member states all military support to Burma

May 9 1966

Mon National Organization of Canada
Fraser Street 6416  Suite 142
Vancouver, BC V5W 3A4, Canada.
Tel/Fax ( 604 ) 321 9871

*******************************************************

INTELASIA: SIAM CITY BANK IN BURMAVENTURE
May 10, 1996
from: julien moe <moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

BANGKOK, May 10[INTELASIA] - Thailand's Siam City Bank said on Friday it
was due to sign a memorandom of understanding with a Burmese bank to set up
a joint venture bank there.

A signing ceremony on the agreement was due to be held in Bangkok later
on Friday in the presence of Burma's Finance Minister, Brigadier-General Win
Tin, the bank said in statement.

The new bank will have registered capital of $10 million, with Siam City Bank 
holding a 70 percent stake and Burma's Myanma May Flower Bank holding
the rest, it said.The new bank is scheduled to start operations in September, 
Siam City Bank said.

**********************************************************

INDEPENDENT REPORT: SENATE HEARING
May 10, 1996

The Northwest Coalition for a Free Burma is holding meetings with staffers
from Sen. Patty Murray's (D-WA) Seattle and Spokane offices.  We are in
contact with her Washington DC office as well, and urge all Washington
people to contact Sen. Murray's offices via mail (hurry!), fax, phone and
e-mail.

Sen. Murray is on the Senate Banking Committee, which has a hearing on the
Free Burma Act (S 1511) at 10 am on Friday, May 17.  She should 1) Be
there, 2) co-sponsor the bill or give it her strongest support.

Murray's Seattle # 206-553-5545, fax 206-553-0891
        Spokane #509-624-9515
        Wash DC # 202-224-2621, fax 202-224-0238

Fellow citizens, please voice your support for this bill!

******************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: BURMEESE STUDENT WANTED!
May 9, 1996
by jastefan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, originally posted on soc.cult.burma 

We are a small community college located in a beautiful rural area of
Northern Michigan.  We are trying to internationalize our student body,
and would very much like to have a student from Burma on our campus.

Our college offers a wide variety of subjects including several unique
academic programs at a very low tuition cost. The catalog is available
upon request.  Please, respond to Tanya Puchkova, Languages and Cultural
Exchange Facilitator at puchkovt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
fax. (517) 275 6710, 275 8745

***********************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: THINGYAN FESTIVAL / BACA INVITATION
May 11, 1996

Burmese Association of Capital Area invites you & your friends to their 
annual Thingyan Festival in Silver Spring, Maryland.  An opportunity to 
make new friends & reach out to others...

Mokhinga, Kaukswe & other ethnic food will be served.  If you live in 
the Baltimore or Metropolitan Washington D.C. area, please bring food 
enough for your family and guests.  Soft drinks, paperware and 
tableware will be provided by them.  ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE NOT 
ALLOWED.

Since most of the activities will take place indoors, the weather 
should not affect our plans.  Outdoor facilities include tennis courts, 
soccer and football fields and baseball diamond.  The outdoor 
facilities are for public use, so come early if you want to use them.  

Some water-throwing is a norm, (after all it is a water festival) 
therefore to avoid going home wet, packing extra clothes is advisable.  
Bring your own bucket to celebrate the Thingyan.  Please do not, 
however, throw water inside the building and please make sure that 
children under your care understand this requirement.  Water will be 
privided outside the building for water throwing.  

There will be ENTERTAINMENT consisting of dances, songs and thangyats.  
If you wish to participate which they strongly encourage, please call 
the area representative.  

In the Metro D C area, call:
-Daw Iris @ 301-340-9137 or Daw Mary @ 301-530-8041
In the Baltimore area, call:
-Dr. Cecilia @ 410-321-6030
In Virginia, call:
-U Kyaw Win @ 703-641-8553
For volunteers, please contact one of their Representatives mentioned above.

DATE:  Sunday May 19 1996
PLACE:  Good Hope Community Center, 14715 Good Hope Road, Silver 
Spring, MD 20904
TIME:  11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
DIRECTIONS:  Fr D.C.,  Take Route 29 <Colesville> North, Left on Briggs 
Chaney
Fr Baltimore, take 29 <Colesville> South, Right on Briggs Chaney

***********************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: ESCAPE MAGAZINE - BURMA ARTICLE
May 10, 1996

There is an article on travel in Burma in the July '96 issue of Escape
Magazine, which is out already, called "Way Beyond Rangoon" or "Fear and
Loathing in Burma."  Also included is a debate on the go or not go
question, which quotes Dr. Carol Richards of the LA Burma Forum, but
doesn't really characterize Aung San Suu Kyi's feelings very accurately.
- Larry Dohrs

***************************************************************

ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW NLD VIDEOS AVAILABLE [S-8 --> S-11]
May 9, 1996

Released by ISBDA on May 11, 1996

Dear Friends: 
        Information Service on Burmese Democracy Affairs would like to announce
that we have received new NLD videos documentaries for distribution. Since audio
sound tracks of some tapes obtained are not clear, ISBDA has applied the
technique of Simulated Stereo Sound Effect to produce pretty good quality copies
for you. 
After request of the non-Burmese speaking friends, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has
allocated a few minutes to summarize her forum speeches in English. We will make
sure (English Summary) labels to be included in the descriptions for these
tapes. 

Please find the Ordering Information after the  list of all available video
tapes.

Kyaw Tint
ISBDA
====================================
_NEWLY ARRIVED SPECIAL SERIES_

Volume # S-12 (New Arrival)   < A L L   I N   E N G L I S H >  

"NLD Press Conference regarding Withdrawal from the SLORC Sponsored National
Convention"
This 38 minutes record is fully in ENGLISH. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appeared at the
conference room of NLD office to explain to foreign journalists about the
party's decision to withdraw from the fake convention.
Recording Date: November 22, 1995.

Volume # S-11 (New Arrival)
"Fascist Resistance Day Part II"

[The celebration was opened by keynote speech of U Kyi Maung, vice Chairperson
of the NLD.
Bo Mhu Aung (1910- ), member of the 30 Comrades, was the first invited speaker.
He accounted his involvement in arranging first rendezvous of General Aung San
and the Allied forces during early stage of fascist resistance movement in
Burma.
The following speakers were U Maung Maung Gyi, and U Tin U, who were in the
Burma's army formed under Japanese administration. 
>From the supporting role of ordinary citizens, well-known writers U Khin Maung
Latt (1915 - ) and Daw Khin Myo Chit (1915 - ) accounted their experiences
during the nation's Independence struggle.] In this part U Khin Maung Latt
finished his talk and Daw Khin Myo Chit told about her adventurous works to help
the resistance movement. 
U Kyi Maung made concluding remarks before the end of lecture program.
Recording Date: March 27, 1996.

Volume # S-10 (New Arrival)
"Fascist Resistance Day Part I" 

The celebration was opened by keynote speech of U Kyi Maung, vice-Chairperson of
the NLD.
Bo Mhu Aung (1910- ), member of 30 Comrades, was the first invited speaker. He
accounted his involvement in arranging first rendezvous of General Aung San and
the Allied forces during early stage of fascist resistance movement of Burma.
The following speakers were U Maung Maung Gyi, and U Tin U, who were in the
Burma's army formed under Japanese administration. 
>From the supporting role of ordinary citizens, well-known writers U Khin Maung
Latt (1915 - ) and Daw Khin Myo Chit (1915 - ) accounted their experiences
during the nation's Independence struggle. In this tape (S-10), only the first
part of U Khin Maung Latt's talk was covered. Since his talk was so interesting
and humorous, ISBDA is quite certain that you will be watching Part II as soon
as Part I is finished. 
Recording Date: March 27, 1996.

Volume # S-9 (New Arrival)
Burma's Human Rights Day: Lecture by U Khin Maung Kyi.  

The celebration was opened by  keynote address of U Kyi Maung, vice-chairperson
of the NLD.
Lecturer U Khin Maung Kyi, CEC member of the NLD, is one of Burma's human right
experts. (He worked as General Manager of Department of Social Security, Burma
until 1987. He chaired an International Conference on Social Development and
National Security which was jointly sponsored by ILO and Norway in 1979.)
Focus of his lecture is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Burma's
connection to the UN and other international organizations.
Discussions, questions and answers. (105 min.)
Recording Date: March 13, 1996.

Volume # S-8 (New Arrival)
Celebration of Burma Children's Day :: Aung San's Birthday.

Opening Songs: "Bo Aung San" and famous "We Are the World" with beautiful
Burmese words. 
The celebration was opened by  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
Performance Program by the Children:  Nearly ideal Burmese "Yodayar" Dance by Ma
Thida Cho Myint; "Nabanzan" Dance which is admired by Daw Suu was performed by
Ma Thandar Yin Tun's troupe; Aung San Poems by the children and Birthday
presents to the kids. (80 min.)
Recording Date: February 13, 1996.

=====================================
_NEWLY ARRIVED  REGULAR VOLUMES_

Volume # 40 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum:  Speeches and answers to the questions for the people who
assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung. In this
volume, U Tin Oo criticized routine  practices of injustice trails and  routine
tortures especially to the political prisoners.
Recording Dates: February 3, 4, 1996.

Volume # 39 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum:  Speeches and answers to the questions for the people who
assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung. 
In this volume, U Kyi Maung revisited the constitution and programme of the NLD,
especially emphasizing in the economic policies. He promised to publish a series
of books on the NLD programme once there exists right of free publication in
Burma.
Recording Dates: January 27, 28, 1996.

Volume # 38 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum:  Speeches and answers to the questions for the people who
assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung. In
response to a question regarding the call for dialogue,  Daw Suu ridiculed by
suggesting that maybe the question should be asked to U Kun Sa because his
method was proved to be successful at least until now. 
Recording Dates: January 20, 21, 1996.

Volume # 37 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum:  Speeches and answers to the questions for the people who
assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung. Daw Suu
described the concept of National Reconciliation. One question pointed out
SLORC's child abuse pattern to force school children to march to the meetings
that feign having mass support to their national convention.
Recording Dates: December 9,10, 1995.

Volume # 36 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum:  Speeches and answers to the questions for the people who
assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung. In his
speech,  U Kyi Maung shared his experience of how he answered a repeating
question by young military intelligence askers when he was detained briefly. The
MI interrogated him the whole night with a question why did he joined the NLD.
His auto-reply was, "Because it is for you."
Recording Dates: November 25,26, 1995.

Volume # 35 (New Arrival)
NLD People's Forum:  Speeches and answers to the questions for the people who
assembled at weekends by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung. There
was a question regarding pricing tactics exercised by a world famous drink
company (obviously, PEPSI): The prices of soft drinks are deliberately increased
as soon  rainy season ends in Burma. 
Recording Dates: November 5,11, 1995.

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ORDERING INFORMATION

Unless otherwise specified the price for each Volume  is US$15.00 which includes
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Friends who interested in sharing these tapes must send return address  to
ISBDA, 108 N. Hidalgo #305, Alhambra CA91801, USA  with enclosed check or
international MO payable to Htay H. Kyi.
Please clearly mention the tape Volume  numbers in your order and
we will immediately air-mailed  after knowing your payment. 
Remember that a short email notice to ktint@xxxxxxxxxxxxx as you mail the order
quicken the process.

All video tapes are recorded by home video camera system on NTSC VHS format.
(For Camcorder players, 8 mm Video Copies are also available here at ISBDA upon
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Burmese students and refugees  should send a written request to ISBDA for
getting these videos at high discount rates. 

Note: Several more regular series volumes are to be anounced within a few days.

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