Rights in Myanmar

On behalf of the Burmese expatriates and the Burmese community in the Southland, we take this opportunity to thank you for the article “The Myanmar Dilemma” (Aug. 11). Indeed, Burma is a country endowed with natural resources, beauty and history.

But you have revealed to your readers the truth about the sorrowful state of affairs in that little-known country, now renamed by its dreadful rulers as Myanmar. You have done a great service to our cause by exposing the current situation in Burma, where military rule is the rule of the guns.

To some casual readers, the situation in Burma may seem to have improved a little as a result of the release of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and the opening up of the country for foreign investment and tourism. In fact, there has been no change for the better.

U HLA SHWE

General Secretary

Federation for Human Rights

and Democracy in Burma

The article on Myanmar was excellent. Articles in most of the travel media tend to gloss over the human rights abuses committed by the SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council). Amnesty International does not take a position on boycotts such as the one being called on travel to Myanmar. However, if Times readers are looking for another way to have an impact on human rights there, they can join any one of three local Amnesty groups campaigning against SLORC’s abuses by calling (310) 434-5121..

JIM ROBERTS

Southeast Asia Country

Coordination Group,

Amnesty International