Chronology
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The six centuries-old Czech university awarded a Doctor of Law degree on the 20th anniversary of Prague’s Charter 77 human rights declaration, for Suu Kyi’s "active participation in the fight for democracy, freedom and human rights".
Japan urges Burma to pursue reforms
Japanese Premier Ryutaro Hashimoto urged Burma’s military rulers to pursue democratic reforms and bluntly warned them to play by "international rules" if they gain admission into Asean.
Hashimoto told a news conference on the last leg of a five-nation tour of Asean members that Burma should not use Asean membership as a "smokescreen" for "autocratic rule."
Soros calls for boycott of the junta
US financier George Soros called for an international tourist boycott of Burma and an end to investments there by oil companies.
Soros appealed to the French company Total and the American company Union Oil of California (Unocal) to suspend their investments in the Yadana natural gas field.
The businessman said in a communique, "Nothing would hurt" the Burmese regime "more than the oil companies suspending their operation on the Yadana pipeline under the pressure of public opinion from Europe and the USA.
Hun Sen visits Rangoon
Cambodian Second Prime Minister Hun Sen flew to Burma for a four-day official visit. The two sides discussed their bids to join Asean.
"I think this is an important visit to extend the friendship, understanding and cooperation," Hun Sen told reporters before departing with a delegation of about 30 officials.
The prime minister met Burmese military leader Gen Than Shwe and the two sides signed a cultural agreement.
Pepsi pullout biggest prize for boycotters
The global boycott movement against the military junta and its alleged human rights violations has felled its biggest target yet: PepsiCo, Inc.
The number-two US soft drinks company is one of the lastUS firms to have a significant presence in Burma. In announcing its total withdrawal, the company said it was taking the step "based on our assessment of the spirit of current US government foreign policy".
Pepsi had been one of the primary consumer boycott targets since about 1990, when its move into the country coincided with the junta’s nullification of elections won by the pro-democracy party led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
February 1997
Aung San Suu Kyi murder threat
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi alleged that Railways Minister Win Sein had encouraged junta supporters to murder her.
During an up-country address to members of the pro-junta Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) in late 1996, Win Sein reportedly told the crowd to "weed out" Suu Kyi.
On November 9, Suu Kyi’s motorcade was attacked by a mob which analysts believe was orchestrated by the army and USDA members. The Slorc has repeatedly vowed to "annihilate destructive elements" both inside and outside the country but dismissed Suu Kyi’s allegations saying, "she has been watching too many Alfred Hitchcock movies".
Deportations for two
South Korean opposition member Dr. Kim Sang-woo and Indian journalist Bhuvansewari Sridharan were refused entry into Burma after being detained at Rangoon International Airport.
A Slorc statement on Feb. 8 said that Dr. Kim had visited Burma in June 1996 and "blatantly interfered in the internal affairs of Myanmar [Burma] and also collaborated against the country with the antigovernment elements residing abroad."
Dr. Kim planned to meet Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss the situation in Burma after December’s student protests in Rangoon.
Bhuvaneswari was deported for falsely stating her occupation on her visa application.
Suharto visits Burma
Indonesian President Suharto visited Burma on his tour of the three remaining Asean observer nations.
After visiting Cambodia and Laos, Suharto went to Rangoon to sign two memoranda of understanding on Indonesian investment in Burmese industry and an airline services joint venture, as well as a feasibility study on investment potential in several sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing.
Suharto also had a "purely private" meeting with retired Burmese leader Gen Ne Win. Indonesia has invested a total of aboutUS$200 million in Burma since the junta assumed power in 1988.
Karen offensive
Karen refugees living in Thailand along the 2,500 km border were forced to relocate as a result of attacks from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Slorc soldiers.
The domestic and cross-border forays displaced thousands bringing the estimated number of Karen refugees on Thai soil to 100,000.
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