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In
The News
• Regional Military Commanders, who
were holding brigadier gen-eral ranks and who became officiating maj-or
generals when they were promoted as reg-ional military com-manders, have
now officially become major generals except for the commanders of Triangle
and Coastal Military Commands Brig Gen Khin Zaw and Tha Aye, respectively,
who were appointed regional commanders later than the others. They should
become major generals in a few more months.
•
Commodity prices remain
high in Burma despite the
preventive steps taken by the generals. U.S. dollar price ranges around
1,050 kyat (compared to an official rate of 6 kyat). Meanwhile, on 17 Dec, authorities
who have distributing diesel oil on a quota basis to long distance bus
oper-ators at 160 kyat per gallon has stopped the practice and is now
selling it at 650 kyat per gallon.
Train fares will also cost about three times more beginning 1 Jan.
The rise in diesel prices and train fares will drive prices up again. Bus
fares have already risen by 38-40% since the diesel price hike.
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NLD clarifies stand,
sets conditions
The National League for Democracy (NLD) Central
Committee released a statement on "Independence Day" -- 4 January 2003 -- enunciating its "policies and principles" which NLD says
are "firm". The state-ment described
as "an unequivocal statement of our position" by the NLD sets conditions
for political talks with the generals in the State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC). The salient
points in the statement:
On
Political Prisoners
NLD wants "Unconditional and immediate release of
all political prisoners"\
Election
"NLD will not accept the holding of another election
without the authorities first honoring the results of the 'fair
and free' 1990 elections and abiding by successive annual resolutions
of the UN General Assembly calling on the SPDC to honor the will
of the people."
National
Convention
"On the subject of a National Convention, we recall
that on 18/10/1990 Secretary 1 of the then State Law and Order Restoration
Council (SLORC), now SPDC, made the following statement at the Magwe
Division, Kyunchaung Fetilizer Plant opening ceremony:
'It
is the responsibility of political parties and the successful candidates
of the elections
to convene a National Convention. SLORC will play an
assisting role only'
"Since nothing
has changed about the National Convention and the undertaking as given
above has not been fulfilled, the NLD will not be participating."
State
Constitution
"On the subject of drawing up the state constitution,
on the 3rd July, 1990,
Chairman of the SLORC declared thus:
'It will be necessary to draw
up a state constitution after the multiparty general elections. I have mentioned this in my speech
on the 5th July, 1989. I have already said that the State
Law and Restoration Council will not be writing that document. I cannot allow myself to be the
accused in this matter. The
drawing up of a state constitution is the responsibility of the elected
party to work in consultation with the successful candidates...'
"The National
League for Democracy will not accept any provisions in a constitution
which is written by this National Convention."
Investments,
Humanitarian Assistance
"The limited investments by international organizations
(including financial institutions) are the result of the uncongenial political
climate and impact negatively only a section of the community.
Humanitarian aid and assistance by foreign countries and
governments (for example, control and management of AIDS) must be bona fide and
open. We firmly adhere
to the principle that humanitarian assistance should be transparent,
accountable and independently monitored."
Tourism
"We definitely specify that the time is not ripe
for promoting tourism."
CRPP
"We are firmly committed to the Committee Representing
the People’s Parliament."
The NLD says
"The above policies and principles remain firm and we will continue
to adhere to them. This
is an unequivocal statement of our position."
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