BNN- BURMA PRESS RELEASE

Amnesty International Welcomes Suu Kyi Release but Urges Myanmar to Release Other Prisoners of Conscience

2010-11-14T05:56:00.000+06:30

In 1990, the NLD won 80 percent of the parliamentary seats in a general election. Surprised at the landslide victory, the military junta refused to transfer power to Daw Suu Kyi and the NLD and jailed scores of political activists.
Currently 2,200 political prisoners are still in prison, most of them for exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association.

In the United States, Amnesty International USA members and other activists' efforts to free Daw Suu Kyi included more than 67,000 pleas to U.S. and global leaders urging them to push Myanmar authorities, more than 11,000 petition signatures and thousands of letters urging the Myanmar authorities to release her and approximately 2,200 other political prisoners currently detained.

Hundreds of activists have rallied in front of the United Nations headquarters and Myanmar Permanent Mission in New York calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Suu Kyi and all prisoners of conscience in Myanmar. More than 1600 activists have participated in the Stand with Suu Kyi photo action to support human rights in Myanmar.

"I worked on behalf of Suu Kyi for nearly 20 years, and this news is more than welcomed," said Jim Roberts, Amnesty International USA Myanmar country specialist. "Now that she has been released, Amnesty International calls on the Myanmar government to allow her to freely exercise her right to the freedoms of expression and association."

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

SOURCE Amnesty International

Burma: Suu Kyi Release Spotlights Remaining Political Prisoners

2010-11-13T18:32:00.001+06:30

Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's release should be the first step for Burma's military government to free more than 2,100 political prisoners, Human Rights Watch said today. The government released Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate, from house arrest today, in accordance with Burmese law, under which her house arrest order expired on November 13, 2010.

"Aung San Suu Kyi should never have been imprisoned in the first place," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Her release now is a deeply cynical ploy by the military government to distract the international community from its illegitimate elections."

Aung San Suu's Kyi's release comes soon after the November 7 elections in Burma that the ruling junta designed to entrench military rule with a civilian façade. Burma's military rulers have repeatedly imprisoned Suu Kyi, the daughter of Burma's leading independence figure, General Aung San, for her charismatic promotion of democracy and human rights in Burma and her leadership of the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The party won an election landslide in 1990, but was never permitted to assume power.

As this chronology shows, Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years. She was first arrested by Burma's military government in 1989 and held under house arrest until 1995. The military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), placed her under house arrest a second time in 2000, and she was released in 2002. The SPDC detained her for a third time in 2003 after an attack on her convoy while she was traveling in the country. Her house arrest order was extended by another year in May 2008, and it was expected to be unlawfully extended again in May 2009.

The military government, however, used the bizarre incident in which an American man swam across a nearby lake to her house in May 2009 as an excuse to put her on trial - for the first time during her periods of detention. She was sentenced to house arrest for another 18 months. Political trials in Burma are conducted by judges who are not independent, and the trials do not meet international fair trial standards.

"Suu Kyi has been in a revolving door from detention to freedom for more than 20 years, so the real question is how long she will be free this time and under what conditions." Pearson said. "If the military government is serious about increasing political space after the elections then it will release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally."

Human Rights Watch said that this month's elections were not credible, with access to Burma largely closed to observers, and reports - particularly from ethnic areas - of serious voting irregularities, such as questionable "advance voting ballots" submitted to shore up support for the military-backed parties. Recently released official results from the elections point to an overwhelming victory by the military-formed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), with more than 90 percent of the national upper house seats and 85 percent of the national level lower house seats.

Human Rights Watch's campaign, "2100 in 2010: Free Burma's Political Prisoners," aims to increase international awareness and pressure for the release of all political prisoners in Burma in 2010. Here are key facts about the arrests of civil society leaders, journalists, monks, artists, students, and other critics of Burma's military government.

Human Rights Watch said the focus should turn to the other leading rights defenders and political prisoners still held in Burma's squalid jails. They include:
Zargana, Burma's most famous comedian, who is serving a 35-year sentence for criticizing the military government's slow response to Cyclone Nargis;
Su Su Nway, a female labor rights activist serving an 8½-year sentence after raising a banner criticizing Burma's government at the hotel of a visiting United

Nations special envoy;
U Gambira, a 30-year-old monk who was one of the leaders of the peaceful protests known as the "Saffron Revolution" in August and September 2007 and is now serving a 63-year sentence;
Min Ko Naing, a former student leader currently serving a 65-year sentence; and
Nay Phone Latt, a 30-year-old blogger who used his blog to spread news about the 2007 protests and was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Following the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Human Rights Watch called on world leaders to turn up the pressure to free these and the remaining more than two thousand political prisoners in the country.

hrw

KNU terrorists shell Myawady, Phaya Thonsu, leaving some innocent people dead, injured

2010-11-10T22:10:00.000+06:30

NAY PYI TAW, - The KNU terrorists are committing various subversive acts to disrupt State's stability, community peace and tranquility and rule of law, causing innocent people casualties and public panic.

A group of KNU terrorists from south of Myawady opened fire with heavy weapons at five different places in Myawady at about 8.45 am yesterday. A total of three innocent were killed and 20 injured in the incident.

The injured were rushed to Myawady hospital and provided with necessary treatment by officials concerned.

Due to shootings of KNU terrorists, shells of heavy weapons also exploded near Thai- Myanmar Friendship Bridge and Chinese temple in Maesot in Thailand, leaving some innocent people injured.

In similar incident at noon yesterday, a group of KNU terrorists opened fire of small and heavy weapons from north of Phaya Thonsu in Kayin State, causing one member of Myanmar Police Force dead and four Tatmadaw members and one service personnel of the Township Forest Department injured.

Arrangements are being made for convenience of locals and workers in Myawady and Phaya Thonsu by officials concerned, and the Tatmadaw members are in hot pursuit of the group of KNU insurgents.

reliefweb

UNHCR helps thousands of Karens fleeing fighting in Myanmar

2010-11-10T00:26:00.001+06:30

BANGKOK, Thailand, November 9 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency is coordinating efforts to provide shelter, food and water for thousands of refugees who have crossed into northern Thailand to escape fighting between ethnic Karen rebels and Myanmar government troops.

UNHCR mobilized on Monday, at the request of the Thai authorities, to help an estimated 15,000 Karen refugees who started pouring across the Moei River into Thailand early in the morning on foot and on inner tubes.

Some told UNHCR staff they felt their lives were at risk after their houses were attacked, while others said they fled the sound of fighting. Many collected their children from school and fled with only the clothes on their back. At first only women and children were crossing, but later Monday more men arrived. Among the new arrivals are mothers with newborn babies.

News reports on Tuesday indicated that the refugees had begun returning to their homes in Myanmar after hearing that the fighting had apparently ended.

The new refugees gathered at two locations on the Thai side, but the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Thai military moved them late Monday to a site near Mae Sot airport. There were indications it might be too small to hold the swelling numbers.

"We emptied our warehouse in Mae Sot to provide 90 tents, which Thai authorities and the refugees themselves erected in the evening. Today, UNHCR plastic sheeting is being put up to provide more shelter," a spokesman for the refugee agency said. The Thailand-Burma Border Consortium, which normally distributes food and shelter to 152,000 registered and unregistered refugees in camps along Thailand's border with Myanmar, provided food.

The French humanitarian organization Solidarités worked overnight to build 50 latrines and install tanks for drinking water, and Thai border guards provided medical help. Other non-governmental organizations involved in the relief efforts include Aide Médicale Internationale, the International Rescue Committee, Jesuit Refugee Services and the Thai Catholic refugee aid agency, COERR. All these NGOs normally work in three refugee camps near Mae Sot.

Local people have been pitching in as well, and UNHCR has asked that they coordinate their efforts with the refugee agency to make sure that those who are most in need get helped first. One man delivered 1,000 blankets to the new site, which UNHCR plans to distribute today to the most vulnerable.

"UNHCR staff from our Mae Sot office are at the site again today to monitor the welfare of the new arrivals, and find out more about their needs and why they fled. We are working well with the Thai government and NGOs in coordinating services to the refugees," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, in Kanchanaburi province west of Bangkok, UNHCR staff are working with the Thai authorities at a school at Three Pagodas Pass to assess the needs of some 3,000 refugees who crossed the border there late Monday and early Tuesday.

(UNHCR)

Environmental Abuses Result in Deaths in Kachin State

2009-10-26T02:27:00.000+06:30

At the Hpakant Jade Mine in Kachin State Burma mining companies are causing pollution, erosion, and flooding that results in severe health problems, loss of homes and long term environmental damage.

Firms from Burma, China and other countries conduct jade mining in this area along the Uru River. Mining is taking place very close to the river and the debris and tailings from the mines are often dumped into the river or stacked high along its banks. It is estimated that around 30 people die each year and hundreds of homes are lost from mudslides and flooding along the Uru River as a direct result of this environmentally irresponsible mining. In addition to the destruction brought about by jade, gold, and ruby mining, teak logging is also rampant and threatens the environment. Apart from our own observations, it was reported by 'Kachin News' that after heavy flooding and mudslides in July of this year, the Burmese military made no effort to offer relief services or help the affected civilians. Villages in this area also have a problem with contaminated water, as the amount of silt in the river is so high.
This area used to be controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization but after signing a cease-fire agreement with the Burma Army in 1994, the regime allowed outside companies to mine this area with no repercussions for environmental abuses. There is widespread drug use around the mining communities, with many sharing needles to inject opiates, leading to blood infections including HIV.
In Hkanti Township, Sagaing Division, Burma, the villagers living in this area suffer from a large number of medical problems including malaria, skin diseases and typhoid. This is primarily a result of the Burmese authorities charging such a high rate for medicine that the villagers cannot afford to buy the necessary treatment. The Burma Army in this area uses the villagers as forced labor for the military and this does not allow the villagers to spend enough time to farm. As a result the people are not able to get enough nutrition or sell their crops and buy medicine.
In addition to gathering information we provided medical care and medication for more than 100 patients in the seven villagers we visited on this mission.

FBR/BNN

At least 76 political prisoners released

2009-09-19T19:34:00.000+06:30

(Mae Sot – Thailand)

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
(AAPP) can confirm that so far 76 political prisoners have been released from
15 different prisons in Burma.

The 76 released include 33 members of the National League
for Democracy, including 3 MPs; 15 women; 10 former political prisoners; 4
monks; 4 journalists; 4 members of the 88 Generation Students; and 1 lawyer.

On the evening of September 17, 2009 in Rangoon,
state-run MRTV carried a news bulletin announcing that 7,114 prisoners were to be
released “on humanitarian grounds.”

The list of political prisoners released will be continually
updated at our web site www.aappb.org as AAPP receives more information.

1. Eimt Khaing Oo, Female (Insein prison) – journalist;
Cyclone Nargis volunteer
2. Tin Mya (Insein prison) - National League for Democracy Township chairperson, Former Political
Prisoner
3. Nyi Nyi Min (Buthidaung prison) – NLD member
4. Kyaw Kyaw Thant (Insein prison) – journalist; Cyclone
Nargis volunteer
5. Monywar Aung Shin (a) U Aye Kyu (Insein prison) -
Member of NLD and poet
6. Nine Nine (Insein prison) – NLD MP, Former Political
Prisoner
7. Tin Tin Myint, (Female) (Insein prison) – third year
chemistry student
8. Than Than Htay, (Female) (Insein prison) – student
9. Than Than Sint, (Female) (Insein prison)
10. Thin Min Soe, (Female) (Insein prison) – labour activist
11. Kyi Kyi Min, (Female) (Insein prison) – NLD member
12. Zaw Htet Aung (Kale prison) - student
13. Tin Myo Htut (a) Kyaw Oo (Insein prison) – Generation
Wave; former political prisoner
14. Win Myint (Insein prison) – NLD member
15. Kyaw Maung (Myitkyina prison) – NLD MP
16. Nay Win (Myintkyina prison) – NLD Township Organizer
17. Kyi Lin (Myintkyina prison) – NLD member
18. Soe Wai (a) Than Zaw (Myitkyina prison)
19. Shin Sandaw Batha, Monk (Insein prison) – All Burma
Monks’ Alliance
20. Aung Gyi (Insein prison) - student
21. Mi Mi Sein, (Female) (Insein prison) – NLD Township Joint-Secretary
22. Soe Han (Lashio prison) – lawyer; Chair of the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) legal
advisory body
23. Bo Gyi (Pegu prison)
24. Khin Khin Lay (a) Khin Lay, (Female) (Pegu prison) – NLD member
25. Pe Tin (Pegu prison) – NLD member
26. Tin Myint (Insein prison) – NLD member
27. Cho Mar Htwe, (Female) (Moulmein prison) – NLD member
28. Moe Hlaing (Moulmein prison)
29. Moe Lwin (Moulmein prison) – individual activist
30. Myo Min Lwin (Moulmein prison)
31. Ma Htay (a) San San Myint, (Female) (Insein prison)
32. Thet Oo (Taungoo prison) – Human Rights Defenders and
Promoters member
33. U Pannita (a) Myint Aye (Taungoo prison) – monk; Human
Rights Defenders and Promoters member
34. Zaw Tun (Taungoo prison)
35. Bo Bo (Myingyan prison)
36. Sandar, (Female) (Myingyan prison) – NLD member
37. Pyae Phyo Aung (a) Hnan Mue (Pa-An prison)
38. Wunna Soe (Pa-An prison) – Democratic Party for a New
Society member
39. Ba Chit (Tharawaddy prison) – Ex-captain in the army
40. Aye Min (a) Aye Min Min (Tharawaddy prison) – private
tutor
41. Tin Tun (a) Kyaw Swa (Tharawaddy prison) – UN
Development Program staff (New Era journal distributor)
42. Shwe Thar (a) Tin Win (Tharawaddy prison) – Karen
National Union member
43. Hlaing Aye (Kale prison) - NLD MP, Former Political
Prisoner
44. San Pwint (Kale prison) – NLD member; teacher
45. Thet Zin (a) Maung Zin (Kale prison) – journalist;
former political prisoner; member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions
and the Democratic Party for a New Society
46. Michael Win Kyaw (Kale prison) – 88 Generation Students
member; former political prisoner
47. Nyo Mya (Kale prison) – NLD member
48. Ba Min (Kale prison) – NLD member
49. Aung Gyi @ Aung Thwin (Shwebo prison) – journalist,
former political prisoner, 88 Generation Students
50. Aung Myo (Shwebo prison) – NLD Township Organiser
51. Than Tun (Shwebo prison)
52. Maung Maung Htwe (Shwebo prison)
53. Tin Maung Nyunt (Shwebo prison) – NLD Township
Organiser
54. Tun Tun Oo (a) Nanda Malar (Taungoo prison) – monk
55. Aung Swe (Shwebo prison) - NLD member
56. Khin Maung Thein (Shwebo prison) – NLD member
57. Maw Si (Shwebo prison) – NLD Youth member
58. U Zawana (a) Soe Myint (Taungoo prison) - monk
59. Than Min (a) Tin Tun Aung, (Taungoo prison) – NLD member
60. Tun Oo (a) Ngar Kalar (Taungoo prison)
61. Aung Naing (Insein prison) – NLD member
62. Khin Moe Aye (a) Moe Moe (Female), (Myingyan prison) –
88 Generation Students member; former political prisoner
63. Khaing Kaung Zan, (Thayet prison) – Arakan League for
Democracy in exile member
64. Htay Win (a) Bo Luu, (Thayet prison) – NLD Youth member
65. Thar Cho, (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Organizer
66. Tun Tun Nyein, (Thayet prison) – NLD Youth member
67. Saw Taw Kyi (Thayet prison) – Karen National Union
member
68. Zin Mar Aung (female) (Mandalay prison) – student; NLD member
69. Moe Kyaw Thu (a) Bo Bo (Mandalay prison)
70. Myint Oo (a) Ni Ni (Mandalay prison) – NLD Township organizer; former political
prisoner
71. Tin Mar Swe (female) (Mandalay prison)
72. Yan Naing Min (a) Nan Wai (Mandalay prison) – student; member of the All
Burma Federation of Student Unions, Foreign Affairs Committee
73. Angaelay (Mandalay prison) - student
74. Yan Aung Shwe (Thayet prison) – All Burma Students
Democratic Front member
75. Myint Oo (Thayet prison) – NLD Township Joint Secretary
76. Sandar Min (a) Shwee, (Myaungmya) – 88 Generation
Students, Former Political Prisoner

BNN/AAPP

AAPP(Burma) can confirm that so far 43 political prisoners have been released today from various prisons

2009-09-18T18:13:00.001+06:30

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) can confirm that so far 43 political prisoners have been released today from various prisons in Burma.
On Thursday evening in Rangoon, state-run MRTV carried a news bulletin announcing that 7,114 prisoners were to be released “on humanitarian grounds.”
The list of political prisoners released will be updated as AAPP receives more information.
1. Ma Eik Khaing Oo (Insein) [More Detai]
2. U Tin Mya (Insein)
3. Ko Nyi Nyi Min (Butheetaung)
4. Ko Kyaw Kyaw Thant (Insein)
5. Monywar Aung Shin (a) U Aye Kyu (Insein)
6. U Naing Naing (Insein) [More Detail]
7. Ma Tin Tin Myint (Insein)
8. Ma Than Than Htay (Insein)
9. Ma Than Than Sint (Insein)
10. Ma Thin Min Soe (Insein)
11. Ma Kyi Kyi Min (Insein)
12. Ko Zaw Htut Aung (Kale)
13. U Tin Myo Htut (a) Kyaw Oo (Insein)
14. U Win Myint (Insein)
15. U Kyaw Maung (Myintkyina)
16. U Nay Win (Myintkyina)
17. U Kyi Lin (Myintkyina)
18. U Soe Wai (a) Than Zaw (Myintkyina)
19. Shin Sandaw Batha (Insein)
20. Ko Aung Gyi (Insein)
21. Daw Mi Mi Sein (Insein)
22. U Win Htein (Kathar)
23. U Soe Han( Lashio)
24. U Bo Gyi (Pegu)
25. Daw Khin Khin Lay (Pegu)
26. U Pe Tin (Pegu)
7. U Tin Mya (Insein)
28. Daw Zin Mar Htwe (Moulmein)
29. Ko Moe Hlaing (Moulmein)
30. Ko Moe Lwin (Moulmein)
31. Ko Myo Min Lwin (Moulmein)
32. Ma Htay (a) San San Myint (Insein)
33. Ko Thet Oo (Taungoo)
34. U Pannita (a) Myint Aye (Taungoo)
35. Ko Zaw Tun (Taungoo)
36. Ko Bo Bo (Myingyan)
37. Ma Sanda (Myingyan)
38. Ko Pyait Phyo Aung (Pa-Ai)
39. Ko Wunna Soe (Pa-Ai)
40. U Ba Chit (Tharawaddy)
41. Ko Aye Min Min (Tharawaddy)
42. Ko Tin Tun (Tharawaddy)
43. Ko Shwe Thar (Tharawaddy)

AAPP/BNN

At least 19 Political Prisoners were released

2009-09-18T17:16:00.000+06:30

(Mae Sot – Thailand)
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) can confirm that the regime released nineteen political prisoners today.
On Thursday, state-run MRTV announced that 7,114 prisoners would be released "on humanitarian grounds".
AAPP will update its website www.aappb.org with the latest information. So far, the following political prisoners have been released;
Insein prison
1) Shin Sandaw Batha (All Burma Monk Alliance)
2) U Tin Mya (National League for Democracy Township chairperson)
3) Kyaw Kyaw Thant (Assistant Editor of Eleven Media Group)
4) U Aye Kyu aka Monywa Aung Shin (Member of NLD and Poet)
5) U Saw Naing Naing (Member of Parliament)
6) Soe Wai aka Than Zaw
7) Tin Myo Htut aka Kyaw Oo (Generation Wave - Former PP)
8) Ma Eimt Khaing Oo (Reporter of Eco-vision Journal)
9) Ma Than Than Htay (Student)
10)Ma Than Than Sint
11)Ma Kyi Kyi Min aka Htay Htay (from Bilin Township)
12)Ma Thin Min Soe (Labor Activist)
13)Ma Tin Tin Myint (Third year Chemistry Student)
Myintkyina prison
14)U Kyaw Maung (Member of Parliament)
15)U Nay Win (NLD Township organizer)
16)U Kyi Lin aka Pyi Lin (Member of NLD)

Buthidaung prison
17) Nyi Nyi Min (Member of NLD)
Tharawaddy prison
18)Win Myint (from South Okkalapa Township)
Kale prison
19) Zaw Htet Aung (Member of DPNS – Student)

BNN/AAPP

US Should Complete Policy Review

2009-09-10T03:40:00.001+06:30

(New York, September 9, 2009) – The Obama administration should promptly conclude its Burma policy review and adopt initiatives to make its policies on diplomacy, sanctions and humanitarian aid more effective, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released today.

“Delays in announcing a new Burma policy could encourage Burmese military leaders to believe the US is weakening its commitment to human rights and pluralism,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Although the situation in Burma seems intractable, an energetic and revitalized approach to Burma from the Obama administration could help bring positive change.”

Human Rights Watch recommended that the United States appoint its own special envoy on Burma, who would have a direct line to the secretary of state and specific instructions to engage in a principled way with the Burmese government and key bilateral and multilateral actors. Vigorous diplomacy is specifically needed with China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan.

Human Rights Watch also recommended the establishment of a Burma Contact Group or similar form of multilateral grouping to meet and regularly discuss diplomatic engagement with the Burmese government on a range of issues. This could have the effect of converging the views and policies of China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, the European Union, and the United Nations, and gradually minimize the ability of Burma to play states off against each other. There is considerable common ground on a range of issues, including the need for political reform and credible elections involving the political opposition, concern over Burma’s trafficking in heroin and methamphetamines, and the need for a regional approach to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Such a grouping would demand that the US remain firm on fundamental human rights principles and not engage in diplomatic horse-trading on core issues of reform.

As the UN has long been the focal point for diplomacy on Burma, Human Rights Watch urged the US to support the continuation of a special envoy of the secretary-general. It is crucial that the secretary-general and the special envoy not accept access or high-level meetings as the goal or a sign of progress in Burma, as they have in the past. The envoy should be an individual with the principles, skills, and backing of the international community to make an impact.

“More high-level diplomacy is welcome, so long as the US stands by its principles to uphold the basic rights of the Burmese people and work for a genuine and credible process of political reform,” said Adams. “But there should be no wishful thinking or illusions that more conciliatory talk from the US and others will somehow cause Burma’s generals to alter their plans.”

Human Rights Watch said that generalized sanctions on Burma that have had little or no impact and have not been targeted on key decision-makers and human rights abusers should be reconsidered and phased out at an appropriate time. At the same time, properly imposed, targeted sanctions – such as financial sanctions on individuals and entities, investment and trade sanctions that are specifically focused on companies or economic sectors of greatest concern, arms embargoes, restrictions on military assistance, and travel bans on individuals –should be tightened, as they can be effective in bringing about improvements in human rights.

Human Rights Watch particularly urged the United States to expand, strengthen, and fully implement financial sanctions. The US should take the lead in coordinating efforts among the US, EU, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada to target key individuals, both military and civilian, who bear responsibility for abuses; their business interests; and the individuals and entities whose considerable financial support of the Burmese government could undermine these sanctions. These individuals are at the apex of the system inside Burma and susceptible to this kind of pressure. More effective coordination could also lead to greater support from other key states, such as Japan and Singapore. EU states have been noticeably slow to implement full financial sanctions; the US should take the lead and then press European countries to follow suit. Slow implementation by the US and poor coordination internationally have undermined financial and other sanctions, and kept them from realizing their potential.

“The US has legal tools it is not yet using – for example, to deny foreign banks access to the US financial system if they are holding targeted Burmese accounts or otherwise undermining US measures, and going after transactions by the oil and gas authority, the key revenue-generating entity in Burma,” said Adams. “This requires the dedication of intelligence resources and continual monitoring and adjustment by US officials.”

Human Rights Watch has long called for increased assistance to deal with acute humanitarian needs in Burma. US and other donor funding should increase, but in a coordinated and realistic manner. The military government spends next to nothing on the welfare of its people. Combined social spending is estimated to be a paltry 0.8 percent of GDP for 2008-2009, making public expenditures on health and education in Burma among the lowest in the world. Huge numbers of Burmese live in grinding poverty, resulting from decades of government economic mismanagement and corruption. Donors will need to stress the importance of transparency and accountability in the delivery of humanitarian aid, including the need for approaches that strengthen civil society rather than existing corrupt power structures and that respond to the views and needs of ordinary people.

“The US and other donors offer to provide more humanitarian aid with appropriate oversight, but they should also insist that their contributions are matched by a genuine commitment from the military government to use its vast revenues from natural resources to help the Burmese people,” said Adams.

hrw

More than 5,000 IDPs are on the run from the Burma Army in Arakan State and southern Chin State

2009-09-07T04:33:00.002+06:30

Over 100,000 villagers suffer from food shortages

More than 5,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are living a life on the run in the jungles along the border of Arakan State and in southern Chin State in western Burma, according to a recent report by FBR teams on the ground there. In addition to these 5,000 IDPs, more than 100,000 villagers are suffering from the ongoing famine that stretches through both northern Arakan State and into Chin State.

Isolated from most international aid providers, the people here have little access to medical aid, food relief, or any other assistance typically provided in crisis areas. Free Burma Ranger relief teams are one of the few providers of medical aid in this area. Since the onset of the food shortage, caused by the ongoing infestation of rats that attack the rice crops, the price of rice has shot up from 5 rupees per kilogram (about $0.10 USD) to 32 rupees/kg ($0.67USD). This crisis, relentless for the last three years, is leading to the unraveling of the social fabric of life, with increases in incidences of robbery and kidnapping as well as poaching of wild animals, including elephants, tigers, and buffalo. Additionally, our teams report an increase in the production of opium as the people become increasingly desperate for cash crops.

Far from trying to help the suffering people, the Burma Army in the area requisitions taxes in the form of livestock and forced labor, as well as annexing land at will. In Arpountwa Village, Kyauk Taw Township, the Burma Army annexed two hundreds acres of paddy farm without any payment to build an artillery battalion. When Battalion 375 moved from Nyaung Ban Hla Village, Kyauk Taw Township, to Paneyechawn Village in the same township, they annexed more than 120 acres of paddy farm without payment. They also did not return the land that had been stolen in Nyaung Ban Hla Village to accommodate their original location, keeping this as an army-controlled farm.

Free Burma Ranger teams are one of the few medical providers in much of this area. FBR teams treated 224 patients for sicknesses including diarrhea, malaria, gastritis, fungal conditions, beri beri, and anemia. They also reported the closure of hundreds of schools as the local communities could neither pay teachers, nor pay student fees.

FBR/BNN

Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi Verdict ‘Reprehensible’

2009-08-11T16:26:00.000+06:30

Burma’s Allies Should Increase Pressure for Her Release

(New York, August 11, 2009) – The politically motivated guilty verdict against the Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is a reprehensible abuse of power by Burma’s military government, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on Burma’s allies and other governments to condemn the verdict, demand the Nobel Prize laureate’s immediate and unconditional release, and impose additional targeted sanctions against the military leadership.

On August 11, 2009, a criminal court inside Insein prison in Rangoon sentenced Suu Kyi to 3 years of imprisonment for violating her order for house arrest, with the sentence reduced to 18 months, to be served under house arrest.

“This trial was a farce, a brutal distortion of the legal process,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “By silencing prominent opponents through bogus trials, the generals are clearly showing why the elections they have been touting for next year won’t bring change.”

Police arrested Suu Kyi, 64, and her two assistants, Khin Khin Win, 65, and her daughter, Win Ma Ma, 41, on May 14, 2009, and transferred them to Insein prison in the commercial capital, Rangoon. They went on trial on May 18, charged with breaching the terms of Suu Kyi’s house arrest order by permitting the uninvited visit of an American, John William Yettaw, on May 4 and 5.

Yettaw has been sentenced to 7 years in prison with hard labor, convicted of the same charges of breaching Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention order, and with breaching immigration laws. All four defendants were charged under the draconian State Emergency Act (also known as the Law to Safeguard the State Against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts).

Criminal trials of political prisoners in Burma do not meet international fair trial standards. The judges are not independent, and the defense does not have an adequate opportunity to present its case. Suu Kyi’s trial lasted from May 18 to July 31, with frequent delays. The court permitted 14 witnesses for the prosecution, but only two for the defense, despite several appeals by Suu Kyi’s lawyers to present additional witnesses.

The trial has been closed to the public, with foreign diplomats and the press only permitted to observe the trial on a few occasions. The prosecution claimed that Suu Kyi was jointly responsible with the authorities, who place guards around her home, for the breach of security on her residence, and, therefore, the intrusion violated the terms of her house arrest.

“There was never any doubt that the verdict would be a purely political decision,” said Adams. “Any suggestion that evidence presented or excluded had any impact on the outcome of this fraudulent trial is ridiculous.”

Suu Kyi’s trial had already been widely condemned by the international community. US President Barack Obama called it “a show trial.” The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, visited Burma on July 3 and 4, but was denied access to Suu Kyi. Even a normally close ally of the Burmese government, Singapore, expressed “dismay” at the arrest, calling it “a setback for the national reconciliation process.”

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also called for her release: a statement by the ASEAN chair, Thailand, “expresse[d] grave concern about recent developments relating to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” reminding Burma’s military government that “as a responsible member of ASEAN, [Burma] has the responsibility to protect and promote human rights.”

Human Rights Watch called on ASEAN to use the recently formed ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights, the terms of reference for which were agreed on July 20, to hold the Burmese government to account for its actions.

Burma’s supporters and trade partners – namely China, Russia, India, and ASEAN member states – should denounce this verdict and explore measures to impose targeted financial sanctions against the military leadership in Burma. Countries already imposing targeted sanctions – including the US, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada – should expand and tighten the existing targeted financial sanctions, which focus on individual abusers and companies but not the population at large.

The UN Security Council should condemn Burma strongly and finally move to take meaningful action against Burma’s military rulers. This could include an international arms embargo and other targeted sanctions on Burma.

“Burma’s allies, such as China, Russia, and India, need to exert pressure on Burma’s military rulers to free Suu Kyi immediately,” said Adams. “It’s time for ASEAN, the UN, and concerned governments to match their words of condemnation with action.”

BNN/HRW

Relocation, Forced Labor and Extortion

2009-08-03T15:36:00.000+06:30

On May 18, commander Pa Na Di from DKBA 666 Brigade demanded the relocation of Lui Kee, Kler U Nga, and Nga Per Lay Koh villages to Tha Per Pa village. He threatened to burn the people's homes down if they did not immediately relocate.
On May 9, soldiers from DKBA 666 Brigade entered the area of Nga Kee Lu village and attacked three of the villagers there. Saw Mo Shi, Saw Pah Pye, and Saw Pa Day were each hit "so many times that they couldn't even count".
On May 10, DKBA 666 Brigade soldiers entered Tha Per Pa village and assaulted some of the villagers. Saw Bu Hae was hit in the head with a rifle and slapped. Saw Pa Eh was kicked in the face. Saw Pa Ray was slapped three times. Saw Pa Chi was punched five times in the face and hit in the back three times.

On May 11, DKBA "Ka Saw Wa" Brigade and Burma Army LIB 103 extorted goat meat, pork and more than 50kg of rice from villagers in Tee Doh Hta. On 11 May, the "Ka Saw Wa" commander and LIB 9 commander forced extorted two goats and 28 chickens from villagers in Mae Ngo Hta.

On May 12, these same troops forced five people from Mae Ngo Hta village to carry rice from Mae Ngo Hta village to Ma Taw village. On 12 May, a commander under DKBA 666 Brigade demanded five gold rings, five earrings, one gold necklace and 300,000 Kyat (approximately US$250) from Saw Kae Der, and one radio, 50,000 Kyat (approximately US$42), one long rope, a bag of rice and valuables worth 500,000 Kyat (approximately US$417) from Saw Ka He.

On May 12, a commander under DKBA 666 Brigade demanded 5 gold rings, 5 earrings, 1 gold necklace, and 300,000 Kyat from Saw Kae Der, and 1 radio, 50,000 Kyat, 1 long rope, a bag of rice and valuables worth 500,000 Kyat from Saw Ka He.

©BNN/FBR

New Camps and Forced Conscription

2009-08-03T15:35:00.002+06:30

In Bu Tho Township, Papun District, the Burma Army is building camps in Mae Myea area, at Wa Klu Ko, Ter Per Pa and Wa Tho Bu. Also two camps in the Mae Ku area at Mae Ku Ta and Tee Do Ta.

On July 12, the Burma Army demanded that every village in the Mone plain areas to send 60 men to be trained as militia. Similarly, starting in July, the Burma Army forced 30 men from every village area in the Ler Doh plain areas in Nyaunglebin District to attend military training. After training, 15 men combine with Burma Army soldiers and patrol for one to four months before exchanging with the other 15 recruits.

This policy mirrors a DKBA forced recruitment strategy in Thaton District, where every large village must send five men to become soldiers, every medium-sized village must send three, and every small village must send two. Villages that do not send the recruits face a severe fine.

©BNN/FBR

DKBA Role Increasing as Attacks Continue

2009-08-03T15:35:00.001+06:30

The increased activity of the DKBA in recent months appears to be the result of an SPDC policy to strengthen the DKBA as a proxy force used to carry out its attacks. Their aim is to crush the will of the people to resist, and defeat the pro-democracy KNU resistance. By forcing Karen villagers into this force, the Burma Army hopes to not only boost the number of soldiers fighting on its behalf, but to fuel inter-religious animosity and use intra-ethnic warfare as a means of crushing the will to resist.

The DKBA was formed in 1994 after a split from the Karen National Union and is looking to increase its control over areas of Karen State in alliance with the Burma Army. The DKBA has engaged in widespread and systematic human rights abuses towards this effort, which have been well documented by FBR teams and other human rights organizations. It is currently carrying out widespread forced conscription and forced labor in the areas under its control and has joined with the Burma Army in the recent attacks on the IDP camp at Ler Per Her in Pa'an District, just to the south of Papun District.

FBR teams have also reported that DKBA troops will likely join the Burma Army in attacks in parts of Nyaunglebin District and northern Papun district, two areas where they have not historically operated. The DKBA is now moving from Tha Bo to Muthey, in Nyaunglebin District. FBR previously reported new Burma Army attacks in Mone Township, northern Nyaunglebin District in early July, which forced over 500 villagers to hide in the jungle and left three men dead.

©BNN/FBR

One villager killed and four wounded in DKBA and Burma Army attack

2009-08-03T15:27:00.002+06:30

On June 18, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Burma Army shot five villagers in Bray Day (also known as Paw Ler Loh) village, eastern Karen State, killing one of them.

Saw Toe Lo, 70, was killed in the attack in the village in Bu Tho Township, southern Papun District. The villagers had already buried Saw Toe Lo by the time the FBR team arrived

Naw Wee Shi Paw, 36, Naw Ma Htit, 60, Saw Eh K'Nyaw, 7, and Saw Boh Heh, 38, were all injured.

Naw Wee Shi Paw was shot eight times in the head and arm in the attack, which was carried out using both light machine guns and grenade launchers. Saw Eh K'Nyaw was shot seven times, including in his face, knee and chest
According to the FBR report, the villagers were in front of and inside the house when the attack began. When it started, the villagers shouted out to the DKBA and Burma Army soldiers, "We are not Christians!" But the attack went ahead regardless.

©BNN/FBR

Evidence of Burma Army extortion demands on villagers facing food crisis in southern Chin State

2009-08-03T15:20:00.002+06:30

An FBR team operating in north west Burma has evidence of the demands made upon villagers in Paletwa Township by the Burma Army. (Paletwa Township is considered as part of Chin State but is an area populated by Arakan, Chin and other ethnic groups. Some Arakan consider it as part of Arakan or Rakhine State).

Five letters collected and photographed by the team show the nature of the Burma Army's control over the people living in that district.

One letter from a Burma Army sergeant to a village chairman reads: "when you get this letter, immediately three porters must to come to Upper Armchawn village, the column is located there." Another order from the Burma Army states: "5 members of the village militia and the village Chairman must come to meet the Battalion commander at 7:00 clock on 3 April, 2009." Another states that two monks are to be ordained in Laymorkethi village, so "your village must give a donation of five hundred kyat and one kg of rice from each house."

The FBR teams are operating in Chin State and Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships in Maungdaw District, Arakan State on the border with India and Bangladesh. It is an ethnically diverse area with peoples from the Mro, Khumi, Thar, Daingnet, Bru, Rakhine and Rohingya groups living there.

All have been badly affected by the flowering of the bamboo which attracts rats which then devour rice crops and other food supplies.
The State Peace and Development Council military regime, far from helping these people who are suffering a food security crisis, demands forced labor without pay and extorts food and money from them.

The Burma Army is supervising construction of a 240km long fence along Burma's border with Bangladesh and India. The FBR team reports no compensation is anticipated for those who are displaced by this project.
Villagers are made to carry army rations and equipment, relay information and letters from soldiers, prepare army camps and other works.
FBR teams have observed four Burma Army Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs) in this part of Chin State, each with some 130 men.
LIBs 232 and 344 are based at the Arakan capital and coastal town Sittwe/Akyab. LIB 550 is based in Ponnyagyun Township and LIB 289 is based in Paletwa Township, Chin State.

As well as documenting human rights abuses by the Burma Army, the FBR team has been giving medical relief to IDPs who have fled from the Burma Army into the jungle. They have treated people with conditions including malaria, pneumonia, anemia and dysentery. The villagers in this area are continuing to run some schools in IDP sites despite the difficulties of being on the run and facing an ongoing food security crisis.

©/FBR

At least 30 National League for Democracy members arrested

2009-08-03T15:15:00.001+06:30

The verdict in the trial of Noble Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been postponed to August 11, 2009. Meanwhile, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) has learnt that the regime arrested at least 30 NLD members in the early hours of this morning, between midnight and 1 am. Three of those arrested were later released. The reason for their arrest is not clear.
30 NLD members were arrested;

Magwe Division;
1. (Ko) Myint Ngwe (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
2. (Ko) Tint Lwin (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
3. (Ko) Than Aung (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
4. (Ko) Khin Win (Yenangyaung Township, Magwe Division)
5. (U) Aye Myint (Aunglan Township, Magwe Division)
6. (U) Min Maung (Aunglan Township, Magwe Division)
7. (Ko) Soe (Taungdwingyi Township, Magwe Division)
8. (Ko) Par Lay (Taungdwingyi Township, Magwe Division)
9. (Ko) Kyaw Naing (Taungdwingyi Township, Magwe Division)
10. (U) Tha Aung (MP) (Myothit Township, Magwe Division)
11. (Ma) Zin Ma Ma Tun (Myothit Township, Magwe Division)
12. (Ko) Than Soe Myint (Myothit Township, Magwe Division)
13. (U) Pike Ko (Pakokku Township, Magwe Divison)
14. (U) Kyaw Nyunt (Pakokku Township, Magwe Divison)
15. (U) Tin Myint Aung (Pakokku Township, Magwe Divison)
16. (U) Thaung Soe (Chairparson of Minbu Township, Magwe Division)
17. (Ko) Nay Myo Kyaw (Saku Township, Magwe Division)
18. (Ko) Aung Win (Pwintbyu Township, Magwe Division)
19. (Mg) Thu Ya (Pwintbyu Township, Magwe Division)
20. (Ko) Htay Win (Kamma Township, Magwe Division)
Rangoon Division;
21. (Ko) Htein Win (Dagon Myothit Township, Rangoon)
22. (Daw) Khin Win Kyi (Dagon Myothit Township, Rangoon)
23. (Ma) Khin Myat Thu (Mingaladon Township, Rangoon)
24. (Ko) Nay Lin Kyaw (Dawbon Township, Rangoon)
25. (Ko) Nay Lin Soe (Tharkayta Township, Rangoon)
26. (Ko) Sai Kyaw Kyaw (Tamwe Township, Rangoon)
27. (Ko) Tin Min Naing (North Okkalapa Township, Rangoon)

Three NLD members were arrested then later released;
28. (Daw) Naw Ohn Hla (North Okkalapa Township, Rangoon)
29. (U) Nyunt Hlaing (MP-Aunglan) (Sanchaung Township, Rangoon)
30. (Ko) Myint Aung

©BNN/AAPP

United Nations must demand junta to do national reconciliation first

2009-07-27T19:06:00.001+06:30

United Nations must demand junta to do national reconciliation first

Burma’s elected legitimate leader, Aung San Suu Kyi said on 24 July 2009 that “United Nations should demand the military regime that “2010 election will be lack of credible and un-fair before facilitating to take place the national reconciliation”.

Aung San Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy (NLD), the unanimous victors of the 1990 election, clearly stated their position that need to place in order to have true national reconciliation, i.e.

1. Release of all the political prisoners
2. Review of 2008 Constitution
3. Allow to reopen NLD and ethnic nationalities offices
4. Recognition of the 1990 election result
5. Political dialogue

“These are the fundamental demands requested by legitimate leaders of Burma. If the international community truly wanted to see national reconciliation in Burma, they must find ways to facilitate these demands rather than playing into the junta’s illegal 2010 election,” said Myo Thein, Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC).

If the international community truly wanted to see national reconciliation in Burma, they must take unprecedented actions decisively to the release of Aung San Suu Kyi immediately which is the essential process of implementing to restore justice, peace and human rights in Burma.

“If junta imprison Aung San Suu Kyi or place her under house arrest again, it is tantamount to turning their back on dialogue and ultimately national reconciliation,” added Zin Zin Myo Thant, Campaign Officer at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC).

The free and democratic world has a moral responsibility to intervene on behalf of humanity. The help of the international community does make a difference.

BNN/BDC

Political Prisoners' Rights Group Issues Challenge to Burmese Junta

2009-07-17T04:52:00.000+06:30

[Mae Sot, Thailand] The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) today cautioned UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and members of the UN Security Council not to fall for yet another hollow promise by the ruling military regime in Burma. The call follows the recent announcement by Burma’s UN ambassador U Than Swe that the Myanmar authorities will “grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds with a view to enabling them to participate in the 2010 elections.”

Since November 2004 there have been a total of five amnesties for prisoners. According to the ruling State Peace and Development Council’s own figures, 38,618 prisoners were released under those amnesties. AAPP figures show that only just over 1% of them were political prisoners.

"The regime does not even acknowledge the existence of political prisoners," said Bo Kyi, Joint-Secretary of AAPP. "If they truly want to show the world that they are serious about democratic reform, the first step is to officially recognize political prisoners, and the fact that they have been arrested on political grounds. But words are not enough. We need to see practical implementation of a concrete time-frame for the rapid release of all of Burma's political prisoners."

The organisation today set out its demands to the military regime calling for the release of all of Burma's political prisoners, and their free participation in the country's democratization process:

1. Officially recognise the existence of political prisoners
2. Withdraw the charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and release her unconditionally
3. Immediately release the estimated 136 political prisoners known to be in bad health
4. Allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to resume its impartial mandate to inspect prisons, with immediate effect
5. Immediately cease the practice of transferring political prisoners to remote jails, and return all political prisoners to facilities in their home towns, to allow their family members to visit easily
6. Publicly declare a concrete timeframe for the release of all political prisoners before the end of 2009, to give them an opportunity to participate in the country's democratization process
7. Allow all political prisoners and former political prisoners to freely participate in the country's democratization process, without restrictions.

There are currently 2,160 political prisoners in Burma's detention centres, labour camps and jails. There are some 10,000 former political prisoners in Burma.

BNN/AAPP

Review of the junta’s 2008 constitution

2009-07-13T17:42:00.000+06:30

a MUST before playing into the junta’s illegal 2010 election

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for the international community to pay close attention to what the democratic forces are saying especially the “Shwe-Gone-Dine” declaration by the National League for Democracy (NLD).

Aung San Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy (NLD), the unanimous victors of the 1990 election, clearly stated their position in the “Shwe-Gone-Dine” Declaration.

NLD outlined the five main principles that need to place in order to have true national reconciliation. They are:

1. Release of all the political prisoners
2. Review of draft 2008 Constitution
3. Allow to reopen NLD and ethnic nationalities offices
4. Recognition of the 1990 election result
5. Political dialogue

These are the fundamental demands requested by legitimate leaders of Burma. If the international community truly wanted to see national reconciliation in Burma, they must find ways to facilitate these demands rather than playing into the junta’s illegal 2010 election.

Before we could possible address the junta’s proposed 2010 election we must address the validity of the recently adapted constitution. Drafted by the junta, this document is far from credible or constitutional. Free, fair and all inclusive is not what this document represents.

We would like to draw particular attention on these points:

1. The Junta gave itself amnesty from the crimes against humanity it has perpetrated throughout Burma during their reign of terror.

2. The Military regime systematically took 25% of the parliamentary seats. The military commander in chief was also given absolute authority to dissolve the parliament at any time effectively neutralizing the voice of the people.

The junta’s planned 2010 election is only a charade designed to legitimise the military dictatorship within Burma. The International Community should be aware of the hopelessly irreconcilable contents of the constitution that was adopted in 2008. The referendum was ushered into existence under questionable conditions including extortion and rigged ballots. Giving the military junta 25% of the parliamentary seats, unbridled authoritarian control and a self serving amnesty for the crimes against humanity were truly not the will of the Burmese people. Legitimizing the criminal regime was also not the will of the people and this is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable to the Burmese people.

It should not be forgotten that in spite of promises made by the military junta in the 1990 which they sponsored they did not relinquish power when they lost the election. Even though Aung San Suu Kyi and her party won a landslide victory the junta chose to ignore the election results and the voice of the people of Burma. Further, the junta arrested the victors including Aung San Suu Kyi. Later they also tried to assassinate Aung Suu Kyi and continue to arrest and imprison pro democracy activists.

Now to insure they will not loose the 2010 election they have intensified the arrests of democratic proponents and concocted charges against Aung San Suu Kyi to eliminate her influence in this sham election. Ironically the architects of the 1990 election are the very same generals who’ve plotted this latest scam to nullify the voice of the people in this rigged election. With victory in their sights the junta has already made plans for after the election clearly indicating this election is a sham. Obviously there will be no need to count the votes since it would be an exercise in futility.

For more information please contact Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) at

Myo Thein
00-44-78 7788 2386
00-44-20 8493 9137
myothein@bdcburma.org
myothein19@gmail.com
[United Kingdom]

Khin Maung Win
00 194196126 22
[United States]

Kyaw Lin Oo
00 6684107 9352
[Thailand]

or visit

http://www.bdcburma.org
http://bdc-burma.blogspot.com/
http://www.gcast.com/u/bdcburma/main
http://www.youtube.com/user/bdcburma

NEWS ALERT! Political Prisoners Punished in Insein Prison

2009-06-12T16:42:00.001+06:30

[Mae Sot, Thailand] Five political prisoners in Rangoon's Insein prison have been held in punishment cells [military dog cells] and banned from receiving family visits since 11 May 2009, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) has learned. The reason for their punishment is unknown.

They are U Naing Naing (National League for Democracy Member of Parliament), U Soe Han (NLD member and lawyer), Aung Naing (NLD member), Lwin Ko Latt (student and member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions), and U Sandimar (senior abbot monk).

U Naing Naing is suffering from a hernia and also hypertension. U Soe Han has eye problems. Their families have been banned from visiting, and have been unable to provide them with essential medicines. The families are now very worried for the health of their loved ones.

Due to inadequate healthcare provision in Burma's prisons, political prisoners rely on their family members to bring them medicines and other essential items. The ruling military regime has prevented the International Committee of the Red Cross from conducting prison visits since November 2005.

Security in Insein prison is currently very tight, due to the ongoing trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her two live-in party members Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma, and US citizen John William Yettaw.

Background on their cases:

NLD MP U Naing Naing aka Saw Naing Naing was arrested on 14 September 2000. He was charged with Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, and Section 17/20 of the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act. He was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.

NLD member and lawyer U Soe Han was arrested on 14 September 2000. He was also charged with Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, and Section 17/20 of the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act, and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.
NLD member Aung Naing was arrested on 11 June 2005. The charges against him are unknown, but he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Student and ABFSU member Lwin Ko Latt was arrested on 26 September 2003. He was charged with Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act and Section 17/1 of the 1908 Unlawful Association Act. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

U Sandimar, a monk and senior abbot from Kyar monastery, Pazundaung Township, Rangoon, was arrested on 7 September 2007. He was charged with Sections 17/1 and 17/2 of the 1908 Unlawful Association Act and Sections 5 and 6 of the 1988 Law Relating to the Forming of Organisations (State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No. 6/88 30 September 1988). On 14 November 2008 he was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.

BNN/AAPP

HRW Burma: Free Political Prisoners

2009-06-12T04:42:00.001+06:30

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, released a video message today calling on Burma’s rulers to free the detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Human Rights Watch is part of the online campaign “64 Words for Aung San Suu Kyi” (www.64forsuu.com ), which calls for her release from the notorious Insein prison ahead of her 64th birthday on June 19, 2009. On June 12, her trial on politically motivated charges is due to resume in Rangoon.

“Aung San Suu Kyi has been a symbol of freedom for the Burmese people and a guiding light for the human rights struggle worldwide,” Roth said in the video statement. “Human Rights Watch will continue to pressure Burma’s military leaders to release Aung San Suu Kyi as well as all other political prisoners, such as the comedian Zargana, the protest organizer Su Su Nway, and the activist monk, U Gambira.”

HRW/BNN

DKBA troops threaten to shell Thai villagers if they do not supply food in support of attack on refugees

2009-06-11T01:29:00.003+06:30

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, which fights alongside the Burma Army, has threatened to shell Thai villagers if they do not supply food to them in support of their attack on Ler Per Her refugee camp. Noh Bo village is a few kilometers away from Ler Per Her camp on the Thai side of the Moei River.

The DKBA and Burma Army began an attack on Ler Per Her refugee camp on June 7, raining shells on the area around the camp. The DKBA made the threat to shell Noh Bo villagers after beginning shelling in Burma opposite Noh Bo at 8am on June 8.

On June 7, DKBA soldiers also launched an attack on the KNLA 7th Brigade Headquarters opposite Mae Salik in Tak Province north of Mae Sot. The DKBA and Burma Army soldiers have reinforced at Mae Tha Waw and are expected to continue attacking.

Partners Relief and Development and Free Burma Rangers are providing help to some 3,521 refugees who have fled the camp at Ler Per Her. They are supplying food, clothes, plastic, tarps and mosquito repellant. Villagers who have fled are particularly facing problems with malaria, Acute Respiratory Infections and diarrhea.

24 soldiers from the Burma Army and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army have been killed or injured in the fighting. In three days of fighting, no casualties have been reported among the Karen National Liberation Army soldiers trying to prevent them overrunning 7th Brigade HQ and Ler Per Her refugee camp. FBR received reports that shelling lasted all day on June 9 and began again at 8am on June 10, particularly in the areas opposite Noh Bo and around the 7th Brigade Headquarters.

More Attacks in Northern Karen State

Meanwhile in northern Karen State, the Burma Army attacked in the Ho Kee and Ha To Per villages in Tantabin township, Toungoo district on June 5.
More than 100 villagers have fled into the jungle since the attack began. Khin Maung Sin took over as commander of the Military Operation Command 5 and leader of Kler Ler camp after the previous commander died.

fbr/bnn

People Power for the Freedom of Burma

2009-05-27T00:57:00.001+06:30

Pro Democracy activists inside Burma what the world and their fellow countrymen to know that May 30th is the day the Fighting Peacock will arise in a National Demonstration. The world must know that the trial being held in Burma is a violation of Burma’s law. Than Shwe is making a mockery of his own rules in an effort to “fix” the illegal election on 2010 with his paranoid attempt to silence Aung San Suu Kyi.

Symbolically May 30 marks the 6 year anniversary of the Depaeyin Massacre when the military junta tired to assassinate Daw Aung Suu Kyi. Fortunately she survived only to be placed under arrest. But for hundreds of her followers their fate was met with bloodshed since they were beaten to death by junta thugs.

Sources within Burma request that in a show of solidarity that everyone wear white and gather at tea shops. Suggested places to gather are Shwedagon Pagoda, Hledan Junction and Insein Prison. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stands defiant and strong and has urged that the people overcome their fears. Freedom From Fear and a show of support by the people of Burma will show the world that the flame of democracy still burns brightly in the hearts of millions. The people of Burma call for Ban Ki-Moon to personally engage this growing crisis at this juncture. What is happening to Aung San Suu Kyi is a criminal offence and a violation of human rights and it is time for the UN and the world to make a stand on this issue.

The National League for Democracy clearly does not agree with the premise of this sham trial do to its unconstitutionality and blatant criminality. They urge world leaders to demand a public and open trial at the very least.

For the riot police, soldiers and generals within Burma it is time for you to stand by your people and stand for freedom against tyranny and fear. You can’t murder your own people in order to keep the peace when it is the military junta who has declared war on its own citizens. You can’t be a party to crimes against humanity any longer. The junta is moving troops into position as of this writing. The people of Burma ask their soldiers to stand with them instead of against them on this historic day or remembrance and not repeat the travesties Than Shwe perpetrated on his own people.

If a crisis arises from this peaceful demonstration it is urges that the pro democracy leaders inside of Burma assume their leadership roles that has been prescribed to them. The man of steel, U Win Tin, has been at the gates of Insein Prison from the onset in support of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Exercising Freedom From Fear he stands with thousands of other citizens so that Aung San Suu Kyi does not stand alone. Freedom From Fear means freedom from tyranny and repression.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a victim of a heinous crime and it is being perpetrated before the eyes of the world. With raw courage she defiantly stands up to the junta and it is time for Burma to stand up for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

By request of pro democracy activists it is requested that this message be spread around the world so everyone will be aware that the cause for freedom and democracy is not dead but very much alive. It is time for Ban Ki-Moon, the UN and the world to get involved and demand that Aung San Suu Kyi be released from this criminal detention. It is time to take a stand for the people of Burma and the duly elected leader of this enslaved nation.

For more information please contact;

Burma Democratic Concern at
TeL: 02084939137,07877882386,07727236419
Mail: info@bdcburma.org
myothein19@gmail.com
shinminoo@gmail.com

Voices calling for people power for the change in Burma

30 May Demonstration Solidarity

http://www.bdcburma.org/NewsDetails.asp?id=430

Lightning protest movement should be started: CPB
http://mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/2189-lightning-protest-movement-should-be-started-cpb.html

People power Revolution

http://freeburmafederation.blogspot.com/

ABSDF Statements on SPDC News May 25 2009
http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/absdf-statements-on-spdc-news-may-25-2009/

http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/ethnic-leaders-condemn-suu-kyi-trial/#more-11040

ABFSU STATEMENT
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K3ynrOPS6iE/Shp4-RnR6sI/AAAAAAAAAMk/lp2mbHEIikI/s1600-h/absfu.jpg

30 May Demonstration Solidarity

2009-05-21T18:53:00.000+06:30

Memorial Day Weekend in the United States of American is a day when we remember the fallen that’ve died fighting for our freedom and democracy. These men and women pray the ultimate price so future generations could live with liberty. They are the heroes of our nation. Burma is a land full of heroes that died for the sake of freedom and democracy. The innocent villager who killed while tending his crops is a hero as well fore he died in the service of his family. Both the freedom fighter and the farmer share one desire and that’s only to be free.

For those who don’t know about the Depaeyin Massacre, on 30 May 2003, 2 miles outside of Depaeyin Township a junta lead mob of about 5,000 of anti-NLD protesters assaulted Aung San Suu Kyi’s convoy and a crowd of NLD supported killing hundreds of innocent people. With bamboo sticks organized thugs beat and maimed unarmed supporters who came to listen to Daw Aung Suu Kyi. Government officials directed the assault while police assisted the attackers in this needless blood bath.

Later after the assault police arrested all the survivors including Daw Aung Suu Kyi who was the actual target of this thinly masked assassination attempt. In the bloody aftermath 80 or more NLD members and associates where beaten to death and disfigured in this ghoulish and barbaric junta staged ambush. Everybody who died on that fateful day died for democracy and many died protecting Aung San Suu Kyi. Ironically, America’s Memorial Day falls on 30 May as well.

America’s freedom and democracy was hard fought and many sacrifices were made so future generations could live in a land with liberty and freedom. Our democracy is fiercely guarded and we’ve taken full responsibility for its protection and preservation. American’s all have a stake our democracy fore we are vigilant and know that we may have to pay the ultimate price once again.

At this juncture in time Burma is poised to make history. The dynamics of the current situation in Burma is at a breaking point. It is inevitability and Burma’s future to alter its destiny. The bonds that restrained her have long since rotted away and can no longer repress the desire to be free. Burma is enslaved by an illusion and random acts of tyranny designed to give the illusion of absolute control when in reality it masks the junta’s fear. The junta fears Aung San Suu Kyi fore she has rallied 10’s of millions of people where the military junta has only rallied a fraction of the population. The junta is outnumbered 80/20 in the population and that does not include cease fire groups. It is time for the Fighting Peacock to awaken; it is time for Burma to be free and it is time Daw Aung Suu Kyi is freed from bondage as well as all the political prisoners.

30 May is more than a demonstration it’s a show of solidarity. The eyes of the world are on Burma like never before. Wearing white and gathering in tea shops for peaceful demonstration will show the world that democracy is still in the hearts of Burmese the people. To stand in peaceful demonstration is to stand along side Daw Aung Suu Kyi letting her know she is not alone and her sacrifice is not in vane.

For more information contact;
Burma Democratic Concern
www.bdcburma.org

Tension Mounting between Security Forces and the People at Insein Prison

2009-05-18T13:12:00.000+06:30

May 18, 2009, Rangoon, First Day of the Trial

The Burmese military regime has begun its show case trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and three co accused today at a special court, held inside the Insein Prison, Rangoon. Security is tightened all over the city to prevent the protests.

The regime has deployed hundreds of riot police, fire fighters, and its civilian militias, called Swan Arr Shin and members of USDA, in front of and around Insein Prison. All shops around the prisons are ordered to close their businesses and family visits to prisoners are also not allowed today. Several numbers of Police trucks, fire engines and ambulances are seen around the prison. Barbed wire barricades are placed everywhere.

8:45 AM:
Lawyers U Kyi Win, U Hla Myo Myint, U Nyan Win and Daw Khin Htay Kywe have arrived Insein Prison and they were allowed to enter the Court House. They plan to submit attorney power letter to the Judge to represent Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma. They will also submit a request to the Court to allow public and media to attend.

9:30 AM:
About 50 members of NLD youth managed to reach in front of the Insein Prison, but they are surrounded by the regime’s militias, called Swan Arr Shin, who are holding bamboo rods and canes as weapons, with the backing of police security forces.

10:30 AM:
American Embassy officials also arrived with lawyer and entered the Court House.

11.00 AM:
U Win Tin arrived nearby Insein prison. About 500 people are along with him and many hundreds more are coming toward Insein Prison. But, they are not able to move beyond the barbed wire barricades. Tension is mounting between security forces and democracy activists. While riot police and civilian militias are on the ground with combat gears, soldiers are positioning at the roof top of building around Insein Prison.

©BNN Burma News Network

BREAKING NEWS: Aung San Suu Kyi Framed!!!

2009-05-18T05:40:00.002+06:30

According to the *taxi driver who picked John William Yettaw up at the airport on May 2nd “John did not swim to Aung San Suu Kyi’s home”, John was dropped off at the gate of Suu Kyi’s home. Then the cabbie witnessed as John showed the guards a red document then was allowed to enter the compound where he donned flippers, got wet and pretended to swim across the lake and lied to Suu Kyi’s caretakers. According to John Yettaw’s wife, John was incapable of swimming since he suffered asthma and diabetes. He was also a very timid and fearful man according to his wife. The whole accounting is a fabrication from Naypyidaw to find an excuse to keep Aung Suu Kyi in jail.

With the level of security around Suu Kyi’s home it was all but impossible for anyone to enter her compound or even swim in the vicinity. But if you had permission from the junta you could move around with no restrictions. Either John was extorted somehow or he got a handsome financial reward for working with the junta. It’s a far cry from being a student of psychology. As we speak absolutely everything about John Yettaw is being dissected and his finances will surely be most reveling if there is any intercessions or unusual activity.

If the cabbies accounting is correct, John W. Yettaw will have to answer to US and International authorities on numerous charges including perpetrating fraud, conspiracy, human rights violations and violating US Government sanctions by working with the junta. He will also earn the honor of being one of the most hated men on every continent on the planet.
The desperate Gen. Than Shwe just keeps digging himself a deeper hole as he acts like a man possessed as the 2010 elections draw closer. But it is to no avail since the world has already determined this election to be a sham and a hoax. The only people Than Shwe will convince are his ardent followers who’ve cashed in their morality for the hard currency they enjoy under his regime. Many of them are international corporations and now more than ever it is time to revel all the players who finance Than Shwe’s bloody military junta. It is time to expose the individuals around the world who are lining their pockets with Than Shwe’s blood money. Some of them are affluent, wealthy society people.

Never before has the plight of Burma come into focus as has today. Than Shwe is making blunder after blunder as he tries to rally support for his bogus election. Now he has to do some major damage control since this latest antic has gotten the attention of the world and on all levels. Already many generals are completely at a loss for words as they find themselves in the fish bowl of world opinion. They are coming to realize that the game is all over in Burma. With words like defection, coup and assassination on their lips these days it’s only a matter of time before a consortium of generals make a move. Making deals and pining for immunity is also on their lips and when the rats abandon ship there will be plenty of witnesses to the inner workings of Than Shwe’s crime regime.
It just did not make sense that someone could simply swim to Aung San Suu Kyi’s home anyway.

(Translation by Myo Thein (BDC)

Press release from All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA), The 88 Generation Students and All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU)

2009-05-18T02:42:00.002+06:30

Media Release from All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA), The 88 Generation Students and All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU)

ABMA, 88 Generation Students & ABFSU condemn the Burma’s military government for its imprisonment of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and will oppose by any means including mass protests
No. 2/2009(ABMA+88G+ABFSU)

1. The six-year term of house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is to end on May 27, 2009. Not only the Burmese people but also the international community have been aware of this fact and that the Burmese military regime does not have any possible legal grounds to extending the terms of her house arrest under Article 10 (B) of the Act of “Protection the State from Danger of Subversive Elements”. Therefore, the junta had no choice but to release her.

2. The military regime no doubt felt that if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released, she would inevitably become the vanguard challenger to the junta’s campaign plan and the strongest opposition to the 2010 Elections and the unilaterally enacted 2008 Constitution which ultimately entrenches permanent military rule in Burma.

3. Thus the military government has made an attempt to hush its biggest obstacle and made a political plot against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by charging her under Article 22 relating to the case of a foreigner invading into her home. It is clear that she did not make any effort to break her house arrest, and why would she, when she was so close to completing the terms of her house arrest. If there is any fault to be had in the situation, the total responsibility lies with the military regime failure to take the necessary security precautions.

4. Instead of taking full responsibility for their security breach, the regime is now trying to jail Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and is finding a ploy to detain her without just cause. This is the latest exemplification of the regime’s complete disregard to international law and respect for fundamental freedoms.

5. Furthermore, it is clearly indicative of the military junta’s rejection of holding genuine political dialogue and national reconciliation with the National League for Democracy (NLD) that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and various international bodies such as the United Nations, European Union, The United States, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have consistently asked for. This latest action on the regime’s part is also an obvious and deliberate attempt by the military regime to refrain from the “Shwe-gone-dine Declaration” released by the NLD after its two-day meeting on April 28 and 29, 2009.

6. We stand united with the world leaders who have expressed concern over the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and demand for her release. However, our past 20 years of experience in dealing with the military regime has taught us one thing: it does not respond to any verbal and/or written statements. Therefore, we seriously urge the international community along with the United Nations to act immediately with concrete measures on the Burmese military junta for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

7. We call all political forces for Free Aung San Suu Kyi to mobilize all over Burma, by holding praying sessions in homes, places of worship for her release, and holding silent peaceful rallies in front of Insein Prison each day until she is released from now on to the court hearing.

8. We, the All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA), 88 Generation Students and All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) strongly condemn the military government for its bullying over Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and will oppose this latest atrocity using any means until Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is freed.

All Burma Monks’ Alliance (ABMA)

The 88 Generation Students

All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU)

Junta is Plotting to Imprison Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-17T19:32:00.001+06:30

Junta is Plotting the Ploy to Prison Aung San Suu Kyi
BDC
12 May 2009Aung San Suu Kyi is ailing but junta denied giving proper medical treatment. Junta’s shear brutality has reached epic perorations in senseless crimes against humanity by denying giving proper medical treatment to ailing Aung San Suu Kyi.

The criminal regime of Than Shwe has crossed the boundaries of morality as well as sanity.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, NLD, won landslide victory in 1990 general election but regime still ignore to honour it. Instead put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and she has spent 13 of the last 19 years.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention expired for continuous five years and regime extended another year even though under 1975 Emergency Law Section 10(b) does not allow anyone to detain more than five consecutive years. Junta is violating its own so-called law by extending her detention another year. Aung San Suu Kyi will complete six years of continuous detention on 27 May 2009.

According to the sources close to the military, there would be possibility of charging Aung San Suu Kyi relating to the swimmer incident which could end up imprisonment.

Junta is plotting the ploy to prison Aung San Suu Kyi.

International community has a moral responsibility to intervene on behalf of humanity.

Please see the link. Burma Democratic Concern’s (BDC) voice for Aung San Suu Kyi before junta plotting the ploy. http://www.bdcburma.org/NewsDetails.asp?id=410
Best regards,
–
Myo Thein
Director
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC)
myothein19@gmail.com
myothein@bdcburma.org
+44 208 493 9137
+44 787 788 2386
http://www.bdcburma.org
http://bdc-burma.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/bdcburma

Burma Democratic Concern is the registered company in UK, and register number is 6496926. Register address 2nd Floor, 145-157, St John Street, London, United Kingdom, EC1V 4PY

buffalohair.wordpress

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged !!!!

2009-05-15T15:35:00.002+06:30

(1) (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi and her women companions, (Daw) Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma were brought to Insein Prison today at 7:00 AM, from her residence where she has been detained since May 2003.

(2) They were brought to the special court, under Northern District Court, presided by Judge U Thaung Htun at 9:00 AM. The Court’s Judicial Adviser is U Nyi Nyi Soe and legal adviser is U Myint Kyaing.

(3) Their case number is 47/2009 and plaintiff is Lt. Colonel Zaw Min Aung of Police Special Branch. (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with the Section 22 of the State Protection Act (the Law Safeguarding the State from the Dangers of the Subversive Elements), punishable from three to five years. (Daw) Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma were charged with the Section 22 of the State Protection Act and the Section 109 of the Penal Code. Penal Code’s Section 109 is punishable up to seven year imprisonment.

(4) U Kyi Win, U Hla Myo Myint and U Nyan Win represent (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi and two women. But, U Nyan Win, who is also a spokesperson of the NLD, was not allowed to enter the Court room. U Kyi Win and U Hla Myo Myint were also unable to submit their attorney powers to the Court, as the judge quickly left the Court room, after setting the date of next hearing on May 18, 2009, Monday.

(5) After the preliminary hearing, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and two women companions are being detained at a guest house inside the prison compound.

(6) American citizen, John William Yettaw, was also appeared before the same Court, before the case of (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi. His case number is 49/2009 and he was charged with the Immigration Act Section 13/11 and Section 281 of the Municipal Act.

©BNN

BNN: PRESS RELEASE:Please RT - URGENT! AUNG SAN SUU KYI ARRESTED - TAKE ACTION NOW TO FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI!

2009-05-14T19:51:00.002+06:30

TAKE ACTION NOW!!!!

FREE FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI!

CLICK HERE

SOS : Aung San Suu Kyi !

2009-05-14T19:29:00.000+06:30

Aung San Suu Kyi is now charged and tried in the Insein prison relating to the swimmer incident which could end up at least 3 years imprisonment.

“International Community shouldn’t sit tight and just look; they must act and voice for JUSTICE for Aung San Suu Kyi and voice for Burma”, said Myo Thein, Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United Kingdom.

UN and world leaders must demand that Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest mustn’t be in any case extended and junta must avoid wrongly charging her relating to swimmer incident.

“I would like to call for Mr Barack Obama, Mr Gordon Brown and Mr Ban Ki-Moon to raise your voice and call for the junta to halt any charges against Aung San Suu Kyi”, added Myo Thein.

This is a ploy. This is junta’s cunning act to imprison Aung San Suu Kyi as her 6 years house arrest would be reached on 27 May 2009. Junta wanted to lock Aung San Suu Kyi in jail forever as their rigged 2010 election plan is drawing nearer in which they are setting up everything to win their backed party.

“I couldn’t believe that three most powerful leaders of the free world are unbelievably silent”. As there is a saying in Burmese, “Silencing is agreeing”, and I become doubtful that “Is there any Justice in the world”, said Khin Maung Win, Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United States.

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) warned that in advance on 12 May 2009 that junta is plotting the ploy to imprison Aung San Suu Kyi. Now, the most fearful thing which we anticipated has come true.

The question is “How UN, EU, ASEAN, and International Community will take action to stop injustice going on in Burma”, added Kyaw Lin Oo, Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in Thailand.

bdcburma.org

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged !!!!

2009-05-14T18:43:00.000+06:30

On 14 May 2009, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is in Insein prison now!

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win, Daw Win Pa Pa and An American man, John William Yettaw were charged under section 22.

An American man, John William Yettaw was charged one more under immigration law.

Today, the judge read out them that they are going to be charged under these laws. The judge did not ask any questions for today. The judge said to return to the court again on May 18, 2009.

They are allowed to have lawyers. They are U Kyi Win and U Nyan Win.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Pa Pa were taken to Insein prison from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s home in this morning by arm escort.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Pa Pa were taken to Insein prison from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s home in this morning by arm escort.

Court is located in Insein prison compound. The judge is from Northern district Judge.

As of latest information, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Pa Pa were not sent back to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s home. All of them were sent to Insein prison now.

Peace Zone

Burma’s prisons and labour camps: Silent killing fields

2009-05-11T17:46:00.000+06:30

[Mae Sot, Thailand] The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) today released a report, highlighting the growing health crisis for political prisoners in Burma. The report – entitled “Burma’s prisons and labour camps: Silent killing fields” – outlines the health impact of systematic torture, long-term imprisonment, transfers to remote prisons, and denial of healthcare on the country’s pro-democracy activists.

AAPP Joint-Secretary Bo Kyi said, “The situation for Burma’s political prisoners is dire. Not only are there more political prisoners than ever before, they are facing harsher sentences. Leading activists have been transferred to the most remote prisons, where there are no prison doctors, and they are more likely to contract diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. This is a new cruel and inhumane strategy by the regime.”

According to the report, over 350 activists have been sentenced since October last year, and the majority of them have been transferred to remote jails away from their families. Due to the lack of proper healthcare in Burma’s jails, political prisoners rely on their families for medicine and food. However, the prison transfers make it difficult for family members to visit, and provide essential medicine.
At least 127 political prisoners are in poor health, according to the report, 19 of them require urgent medical treatment. These include; Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, comedian Zarganar, labour activist Su Su Nway and 88 Generation Students leader Min Ko Naing.

“Many political prisoners have already died in prison. This has to stop. The regime must end its cruel and inhumane practices, and release all political prisoners,” added Bo Kyi.
AAPP is currently co-ordinating a global campaign for Burma’s political prisoners, which aims to collect 888,888 petition signatures before 24 May. This is the date that the military junta claims that Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest, despite the fact that the United Nations has recently said her six years under house arrest contravenes the military regime’s own laws.

The petition can be signed at www.fbppn.net

Over 250,000 signatures secured for Burma’s political prisoners

2009-04-23T02:00:00.001+06:30

Over 250,000 signatures secured for Burma’s political prisoners
“We must show them they have not been forgotten,” says Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

A global petition campaign for Burma’s political prisoners has secured over a quarter of a million signatures. Campaign activities are taking place across five continents in 32 countries around the world, from the Czech Republic to South Africa. The campaign - which launched on 13 March Burma’s Human Rights Day - aims to collect 888,888 petition signatures before 24 May 2009, the legal date that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams today called for increased support for the global campaign to free all of Burma’s political prisoners, including fellow Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She is the only Nobel Peace Laureate currently imprisoned, and has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years.

Williams won the Peace Prize in 1997 for her work to secure an international treaty to ban antipersonnel landmines. Speaking on behalf of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, founded in 2006 by six of the seven living women Nobel Peace Laureates, she said, “Many of us struggling for peace around the world can use our freedom to express our views. But the people of Burma risk prison to do this. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder with those democracy activists who have been locked up in the dark. We must show them they have not been forgotten. Please embrace our fellow Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues as heroes for freedom, peace, and democracy, and sign the petition.”

The petition calls on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to make it his personal priority to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, as the essential first step towards national reconciliation and democratization in the country. The target symbolizes 8.8.88, the day the junta massacred some 3,000 people who courageously protested in Burma’s largest democracy uprising.

To sign the petition, visit www.fbppn.net

(Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma)

Cyclone Bijli crosses Bangladesh coast

2009-04-20T22:08:00.000+06:30

Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: Cyclone Bijli crossed the coast of Cox’s Bazar, in Chittagong, Bangladesh, last night killing two boys and injuring six others in Chittagong district, according to our correspondent from Cox’s Bazar.

Cyclone Bijli hit Cox’s Bazar at about 9:30 pm yesterday and crossed the Bandarban District. It also crossed the Chittagong district last evening from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm, destroying some huts and some roofs of houses. It also damaged some trees.

Two children were killed and six others were injured during the storm in Pekuwa of Chittagong District, according to Lalu Meah from the locality.

Cyclone Bijli also crossed Maungdaw Township in Arakan State, Burma, at about noon yesterday with a speed of 45 km to 50 km accompanied by heavy rain. However, there were no casualties due to the cyclone. But, some salt fields and some shrimp projects were damaged due to heavy rain and high tide, a local elder said.

Winds at a speed of 70km to 90 km, within a radius of 54 km of the storm’s eye, lashed the districts. Waves up to 5 to 7 feet higher than usual, hit the shore, according to the Met office in Cox’s Bazar.

The district administration along with other authorities and organizations were busy with evacuation and rehabilitation activities, under the Cyclone Preparedness Program.

Our correspondent from Cox’s Bazaar reported that the sea was rough, while the water level rose 7 to 8 feet higher than the normal tidal water level. Lower parts of the coast were inundated due to the very high tide.

The weather remained bad and it was drizzling in Cox’s Bazar’s coastal areas. Stormy winds blew over different parts of Teknaf and other areas damaging around 12 huts and 50 betel leaf fields.

A vast amount of salt was also damaged in Teknaf, due to incessant rain for two days, a local villager named Hamid said.

A local villager from Taungbro said, “During the storm, my tin sheets were blown away. I have no money to buy them again for renovation.”

kaladanpress

We would like to invite you to join us in a demonstration on 27/03/09

2009-03-26T05:29:00.000+06:30

First Demonstration (Anniversary of Resistance Day):

Date: 27/03/09
Time: 12:00 - 13:30
Venue: In front of Burmese Military Regime
19a Charles Street London, W1J 5DX

PURPOSE:

(1) To reject regime's planned sham 2010 election

(2) To recognize the 1990 election results and the voice of the people.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second Demonstration (Europe-wide Day of Action):

Date: 27/03/09
Time: 14:00 - 15:30
Venue: In front of Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH

Our key demands include:

For the EU to strengthens the Common Position, including banking and financial sanctions, and sanctions halting European companies from providing insurance in Burma,

For the EU to apply more to pressure to the military regime for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma,

For the EU to reject the military regime’s proposed illegal 2010 elections and bogus 2008 constitution in its present form,

For the EU to encourage reconciliation and tripartite dialogue without delay,

For the EU does more to challenge the dictatorship to immediately stop all human rights abuses in Burma.

Please, let your voice be heard for Burma’s freedom and democracy. It’s great to speak out voice your support for Burma.

Please, use your liberty to promote ours and the Crisis in Burma.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon. Please tell your friends who want to support the cause of a Free Burma.

Media Contact Details:
Dr. Win Naing - 07785568154 (Chairman of NLD-LA-UK)

Mr. Myo Thein - 07877882386 (Director of BDC)

In Solidarity,

FBE-UK, NLD-LA and Burma Democratic Concern (BDC).

TWO VILLAGERS SHOT DEAD AND MORE THAN 400 FLEE BURMA ARMY ATTACKS IN WESTERN KAREN STATE

2009-03-20T19:05:00.007+06:30

(Photo:Saw Mu Ra Hai(25).Shot dead in January.)

MONE TOWNSHIP
On January 17, 2009, Saw Cho Phyo from Aung Soe Moe village, western Karen State, was shot dead while he was on his way to farm his crops. A week later on January 24, Saw Mu Ra Hai, 25, from Saw Ki village was shot dead.

On February 6, the Burma Army fired mortars on the villages of Yu Lo and Play Hsa Lo, wounding four villagers from Yu Lo. On the same day, Saw Maung Kya, 23, from Hsaw Mi Lu village, stepped on a Burma Army landmine at Blah Lay Ko and died immediately from his injuries. The Burma Army often plants landmines around villages it has attacked in a bid to stop villagers from returning to live there or collect their possessions.

(Map of Area Recently Under Attack)

KYAUK KYI (LER DOH) TOWNSHIP
In Kyauk Kyi Township, just south of Mone Township, the Burma Army moved into the vicinity of Mu Kee, an area with many IDPs, leading them to fear a fresh attack. Between February 11 and 13, two battalions of Burma Army troops did attack in the Kyauk Kyi area, forcing nearly 300 villagers from Keh Der, Ta Kaw Der and Thaw Nge Der villages to flee to the jungle. They returned to their homes, but remained constantly prepared to flee further attacks.

(Photo:Home burned by down by the Burma Army)

A further patrol on February 15 in Kwi Lah village area at Ka Dee Mu Der and Hti Baw Hta forced these 300 and a further 142 people into hiding. The troops stayed in the area for a few days, searching for the IDPs and their belongings, causing further hardship to the villagers who had already fled numerous attacks.

©2009BNN/FBR

A Monk's Journey

2009-03-18T06:23:00.001+06:30

By Carlos(Buffalohair)Guevara

For those who’ve assisted me in the relocation of Ashin Thila Nanda I want to express my deepest thank you and to report he is in a monastery as of this writing. For me it was an honor to assist one of the champions of the Saffron Revolution. But I could not have done it without the help from “Madam Butterfly”, her son and his significant other. Rest assured he is safe and back in a monastery where he can continue his faith in an atmosphere conducive to his spiritual growth. I must also salute those who’ve managed to spirit him out of Burma as well fore if it were not for them he would have faced imprisonment, torture and death.
For me it was a very educating experience and I’ve learned more about the mechanics of the Buddhist communities that I had the opportunity to endeavor. My search spanned three continents in an effort to find him a home where he would be able to continue his faith as well as keep him out of the tentacles of Than Shwe’s regime. Interestingly enough I’m not Buddhist nor is Madam Butterfly but our particular faiths were of no concern fore it was more important that this holly man found sanctuary.

I was stunned to learn some refugee agencies wanted him to quite his faith and get a job in a sushi kitchen. Others wanted him to join another religion and I found this totally unacceptable to say the least. When he told us of his journey in life as a monk and his participation in Burma’s struggle for democracy it was clear to us what had to be done. Funny what individuals can do if they try. And hopefully this will give others who wonder what they can do for the people of Burma an example. There is no such thing as insurmountable odds and individuals can make a difference. Like the saying goes; “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”.

Likened to an old Humphrey Bogart movie, I was the crusty hard bitten journalist, somewhat worldly and cynical about life in general. And here was this beautiful Burmese missionary who lived in exile from her beloved Burma and a Buddhist monk who dared to stand up for the people of Burma. Truly this was an unlikely cast at best. But we got the job done and one of Burma’s hero’s beat the odds in many ways to continue his struggle for democracy in his homeland. The fighting peacock has awakened and I am a witness to its awesome power fore nothing is impossibly if we try. And for this crusty journalist it is an honor to work with these champions of democracy.

Kabar Ma Kyay Bu!

Your Devil’s Advocate

A global signature campaign for the release of Burma’s political prisoners has been launched today

2009-03-13T03:31:00.001+06:30

A global signature campaign for the release of Burma’s political prisoners has been launched today, on Burma’s Human Rights Day. The campaign aims to collect 888,888 signatures before 24 May 2009, the legal date that Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest. Over 150 Burma exile and solidarity groups are participating in the campaign. Events and activities will take place around the world, including in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, London, Dublin, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, Jakarta, Sydney, and Tokyo.

The petition calls on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to make it his personal priority to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, as the essential first step towards national reconciliation and democratization in the country. The target symbolises 8.8.88, the day the junta massacred some 3,000 people who courageously protested in Burma’s largest democracy uprising.

On 3 December 2008, 112 former Presidents and Prime Ministers from 50 countries sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging him to press for the release of all political prisoners in Burma by the end of 2008. 241 legislators from all over Asia also sent a public letter to the UN Secretary-General on 5 December conveying the same message. Over 2,100 political prisoners remain in Burma’s jails.

Tate Naing, a former political prisoner and secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), said, “Political prisoners are not criminals. They have simply stood up for freedom and democracy. Without the release of all political prisoners, there can be no peace and stability in our country. But we need the UN Secretary General to step in and show strong leadership on this issue. With this signature campaign, we want to show Ban Ki-moon just how many people around the world care about this issue.”

The global signature campaign will run from 13 March to 24 May. To sign the petition, visit www.fbppn.net

©BNN-2009

Thailand's Shame

2009-03-07T02:24:00.002+06:30

By Carlos(Buffalohair)Guevara

After Hillary Clinton’s visit to Asia it would appear her trip bore fruit. Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva decided to join forces with Than Shwe and Gambari by promote the bogus elections of 2010. Further, the Thai government has decided to take a stance against the pro democracy Karen National Union and their military wing the Karen National Liberation Army. Placing restrictions on the KNU within Thailand as well as ordering their military command to leave the country was a clear change of attitude towards the pro democracy organization. Though Abhisit Vejjajiva appeared to be sympathetic to the plight of the Karen in the beginning he turned out to be another ally of Than Shwe. Just what Thailand needed, another Thaksin Shinawatra.

With revelations of absolute cruelty by Thai captains who’ve murdered Burmese sailors and the total disregard for life of Rohingya refugees, Thailand is taking a turn for the worse. Authorities plan to send Rohingya refugees back to Burma to face certain death or slave labor whence they arrive. And it is only a matter of time before the government turns a deaf ear on the people of Thailand as well since the green light of tyranny was given by the free world. Sending the Rohingya to a fate worse then death was a clear indicator that Thailand has changed its position on freedom and democracy. And it would not be a safe country to visit since it is now on the verge of catastrophic revolt from a myriad of factions. The one time “Prince of Peace” Abhisit Vejjaiva has reveled his true corporate colors and Thailand will suffer dearly from this deception.

The vermin from Denmark and Norway (Ulla Toraes and Erik Solheim) are in good company with Than Shwe, Ibrahim Gambari, Hirofumi Nakasone of Japan and Abhisit Vejjajiva as well as Clinton associate Jose Ramos-Horta, president of East Timor. All these boneheads failed to recognize the fact Burma had a legal election in 1990, course Than Shwe did not like the results. Are all these people so corrupt that they chose to ignore the voice of the Burmese people? Or did Than Shwe use his angle of bribery and secret wealth to those who side with him? I was truly surprised to find Hirofumi Nakasone in this group of morons. He has disgraced Japan there is no question.

The notion that Burma would allow election monitors into the country for the criminally illegal 2010 elections was preposterous. This came about in a cozy conversation between Thailand’s Abhisit Vejjajiva and Than Shwe’s thug Thein Sein. They also opted to have the corrupt United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari oversee the elections. This conversation was ludicrous and beyond stupid at best. The United Nations General Assembly already recognized the results of the 1990 elections. And the position of Burma’s National League for Democracy never wavered, “Honor the election results of 1990, free Saw Aung San Suu Kyi and all the political prisoners”

I feel bad for the good people of Thailand, Denmark, Norway, Japan and East Timor fore their nations were disgraced and dishonored. Sadly the US has the greatest cross to bear since it was Hillary who gave her blessings to China and China’s total disregard for human rights. Small wonder Wal-Mart continues to make profits during this economic slump. Slave labor is the advantage China has over other nations. With Hillary Clinton, a former board member of Wal-Mart it is obvious this chain store has become China’s outlet store. Of course that was at the expense of US jobs and sovereignty but that’s another story.

Your Devil’s Advocate

Very few political prisoners released from Burma’s prisons

2009-02-25T20:54:00.000+06:30

On Friday, Burma’s ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) announced that they would release 6,313 prisoners from 21 February 2009. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) can today confirm that so far only 24 political prisoners have been released.
Those released included National League for Democracy (NLD) Member of Parliament Dr Zaw Myint Maung, who spent almost 19 years in prison. Khin Khin Leah, who has been in prison since 1999, was also released. When the authorities were unable to locate and arrest her husband Kyaw Wanna for his role in planning a peaceful demonstration, they instead arrested his wife and daughter. Although her daughter was later released, Khin Khin Leah was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Daw Ponena Mee, the oldest nun in prison at the age of almost 80, was amongst those released. Others included U Thet Wai, who was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for making a complaint to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) about labour rights violations, and U Tin Htay and U Than Htay, who were arrested for distributing DVDs of the lavish wedding of Senior General Than Shwe’s daughter. And 9 monks, who have been detained since 2003, were also released.

Tate Naing, Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), said, “We cannot expect the political situation in Burma to improve just because a few political prisoners were released. This is just a ploy to try and ease international pressure. Actually Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, ethnic nationality leaders, 88 Generation leaders and all other political prisoners must be released in order to make progress towards democracy and national reconciliation. We urge the international community to pressurise the SPDC more effectively for their release.”

©2009-BNN

"WE ARE ALREADY IN TROUBLE EVERYDAY...DON'T WORRY FOR US...YOU JUST KEEP COMING AND TELL THE WORLD ABOUT US"

2009-02-25T02:45:00.002+06:30

While on this mission we were grateful for the help of people in the plains who helped to move relief supplies, support the resistance and put a light on activities of the Burma Army. When we asked them, "Aren't you worried you will get in trouble helping us?" they answered, "We are already in trouble every day from the Burma Army. No, don't worry for us, we will do our part to help. You just keep coming and tell the world about us."

These are just a few of the good things we saw on this last mission that give us hope.

We want people to get to know the people of Burma and to love them. We want you to know that they are beautiful people; with all the good and bad qualities we humans share, but who under pressure have chosen to try to live for what is best.
With or without our help, they will not give up and will keep, as they say, "Brightening the corner where we are".

©FBR/BNN

Karen won't give up

2009-02-25T02:22:00.004+06:30

In many areas that before had been emptied of people by the attacking Burma Army, there were now re-established villages with rebuilt schools and churches.

In one valley that was laid to waste by the Burma Army, two villages have been re-established, as well as a clinic, school and two churches. The KNU (Karen National Union, the ethnic pro-democracy resistance in this area) has built a sprawling community of homes, bamboo offices, sports fields, barracks, and food depots. Almost every organization that assists the Karen people has offices here. Everywhere we went we met hopeful people who continued to work their fields, and, as soon as the Burma Army slows down its operations, they move back into their own villages. While it is true that at any moment the Burma Army could mass enough troops to push the people out, in many areas the Burma Army have yet to do this.

RESILIENCE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESISTANCE

The resistance and villagers work together to slow down and in some cases even stop Burma Army attacks. The ability of the people here to continue to survive and thrive is amazing. With no or very little outside support they hide their food supplies, prepare hiding places, find food where they can, raise and educate their children and rebuild their homes and villages when the Burma Army finishes its operations. When the Burma Army troops have passed by and are out of the immediate area (although they still may be only a few hours away on foot), the people go back to their fields, barns and houses to gather any food supplies or belongings they can. They also go to hiding places where they have stored food for such an emergency. The people are prepared year-round to flee and hide and survive.

Preparation comes at two levels:
First and most importantly, the people help themselves. The Burma Army has been attacking them for over 60 years as a succession of military dictatorships tries to control everyone in the country. On their own initiative villagers make preparations. Rice is put aside and hidden in different places in the jungle. Hiding places for valuables and people, as well as escape routes, are pre-selected.

The second level of preparation is from the ethnic pro-democracy resistance.. These governments represent their people and stand for freedom, ethnic rights and democracy. They attempt to protect their people, provide early warning of attacks, and help conduct political, humanitarian, social and educational programs as well as facilitating support for these needs from outside sources.
The ethnic people continue one of the most positive acts of civil disobedience in Burma. They are building up their people, culture, land and freedom.
The Burma Army is faced with both the armed resistance and with men and women and their families who do not easily give in. The story below about two young mothers who choose to live with their families in an area under direct Burma Army threat illustrate the determination, faith and ability of the people.

©FBR/BNN

Press release! : AAPP confirms release of 19 political prisoners

2009-02-22T19:02:00.000+06:30

By Aung Kyaw Oo

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) can confirm that 19 political prisoners have been released from various prisons in Burma today.

Yesterday the ruling military regime announced that it would release 6,313 prisoners from 21 February.

The list of released:

Myintkyina prison
1. Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Member of Parliament from the National League for Democracy party, was released from Myitkyina Prison. He has been in jail since 1991.
2. U Pe Sein, Township organizer, Mohnyin, Kachin State.
3. U Naw Naw

Insein prison
4. U Kaythara (a) U Kyaw Min Thet
5. U Ingura (a) U Aye Tun Thar
6. U Thireina (a) U Kyaw Moe
7. U Marlaina (a) U Min Zaw Aung
8. U Ardatesa (a) U Aung Ko
9. U Takekanateya (a) U Maung Zaw
10. U Damitika (a) U Tun Tun
11. U Tun Zaw Htay (a) Tun Tun
12. U Khaing Ba Myint
13. U Soe
14. U Nandathiri (a) U Htay Ye Tun
15. U Sandima (a) U Zaw Min Htet
16. Ma Hmwe (a) Ma Kyin Haw
17. Ma Khin Khin Leah
18. U Tin Hlaing
19. U Thet Wai

©BNN

Divide and Conquer, Than Shwe Style

2009-02-20T19:08:00.004+06:30

(Photo KNG)

By Carlos(Buffalohair)Guevara

(BNN)-With dissention throughout Burma over Than Shwe’s latest attempt to legitimize his criminal reign with his proposed 2010 election. It is all too obvious his new publication, The New Lie of Myanmar, is in need of fodder to spread vial propaganda. Already there is news of old rivalries and religious differences springing up around Burma. Clearly this is a tactic to keep a suffering nations divided with old fears and past intercessions. With everyone arguing over forgotten differences his campaign of hate can continue while people are at odds with one another. The Roman’s called it “Divide and Conquer”.

The New Lie of Myanmar already tried to smear the KNU to UN Human Rights emissary Tom Quintana with total falsehoods and blatant lies. This propaganda machine tried to place blame for the rape and murder of the Karen’s on the KNU when in fact it was committed by Than Shwe’s death squads who rape and kill with impunity. With eye witness accounts, volumes of photos and video identifying Burmese Troops as the true perpetrators, it is still odd to me why Quintana needed to go to Burma and investigate. Shades of Gambari I fear.

But nothing highlights this act of divide and conquer than an event that took place on February 10. A military unit of 70 well armed soldiers dressed in camouflaged uniforms, AK-47’s M-22’s and other Chinese ordinance, typical of the Burmese Army, robber a convoy of trucks on the bustling Mandalay-Muse border trade route according to an article in the *Kachin News. This event might have passed as a rouge group if it were not for the fact the Burmese Army has done this kind of operation time and time again. The only thing missing were the unite patches but they clearly were the same players who robbed this trade route before.

Obviously this was an attempt to cause animosity between the different ethnic groups by casting suspicions between them. There is no question The New Lie of Myanmar will identify Shan or Kachin troops or even the KNU in the blatant armed robbery. Maybe they will blame the Free Burma Rangers or me. No matter who this trash liner of a publication tries to identify, it is clear Than Shwe’s psychological warfare tactics will try to divide ethnic groups. With this in mind one must weigh the facts fore the truth will be known eventually.

With many people living in the big cities, this propaganda machine could possibly taint public opinion to show cause for continuing Than Shwe’s war on truth and democracy. The outcome would be the continued wholesale arrests and murders of all opposition to his 2010 election. There is a saying that if you tell a lie long enough people will accept it for truth. By poisoning public opinion and causing dissention between ethnic groups Than Shwe will effectively divide a country with his acts of terrorism and placing blame on others. He would also show the world that he is fighting criminals to keep the peace in Burma and justifying his holocaust. Maybe this is just a show for Quintana and the rest of the UN or an excuse the UN needed to qualify the 2010 elections. We must stand vigil since there will be more events such as the one on the Mandalay-Muse trade route. If it smells like a rat, it most probably is. And we all know Than Shwe will stoop to any level to fool the public and the world.

Your Devil’s Advocate

More on this topic>>

URGENT REQUEST FROM THE JUNGLES OF BURMA

2009-02-19T02:21:00.002+06:30

The angels of mercy within the jungles of Burma, The Free Burma Rangers, have made a personal request for medical supplies. With Than Shwe’s military government of Burma on a campaign of genocide he’s escalated his efforts of killing and maiming by the use of landmines. Scores of refugees fleeing government death squads have lost their limbs and their sight whence they encountered these deadly gifts of modern warfare. The jungles of Burma are riddled with landmines and with devastating effects. Men, women and children are having their bodies mangles, if they survive.

The courageous Free Burma Rangers are getting depleted of critical surgical supplies and are requesting a list of surgical supplies so they can continue their mission of mercy. The marked increase of innocent villagers found on the jungle floor crawling with limbs blown off or simply bled to death force the need for such a worldwide request for supplies.

This is the short list;

Medical instruments
stethoscopes’
BP cuffs
Scalpels
Scalpel blades
Needle holders
Forceps
Scissors
Suture of all kind with needles

Dental equipment
Steel syringes
Upper and lower forceps
Elevators

THESE SUPPLIES ARE CRITICALLY NEEDED NOW!

This is the bare bones wish list and I personally know they need medical supplies of all kinds on a grad scale. But realize the magnitude of the situation and it will stagger the imagination since thousands of people are being disfigured, maimed and crippled by these devastating gifts of genocide. You will save lives by your direct donation to the Free Burma Rangers. Medical suppliers and the medical profession as a whole can make a difference by donating critically needed supplies.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Many of people ask what they can do to make a difference in the plight of the people of Burma. This is a golden opportunity that will have immediate results since the Free Burma Rangers are in the field as of this writing with more medical unites in the wings. They need our help is gathering supplies to accomplish their humanitarian efforts today.

You can make a difference.

Contact the Free Burma Rangers directly;

FREE BURMA RANGERS

P.O. Box 14, Mae Jo
Chiang Mai 50290
Thailand
info@freeburmarangers.org

©BNN

Clinton’s Corporate Agenda

2009-02-18T04:20:00.002+06:30

By Carlos(Buffolohair)Guevara

With thousands of police assigned to keep the peace when Hillary Clinton when arrived in Indonesia due to massive *protests; it is obvious she is not exactly welcome to many people in this region. Protesters filled the streets with signs saying, “Hillary You Are Not Welcome Here” and other sorted statements about Obama’s scurrilous selection for Secretary of State.

As other Asia watchers hope and pray Hillary Clinton addresses the dire situation in Burma I am not so hopeful. History dictates both she and her hubby Bill Clinton was in China’s pockets since his time as president of this country. Fact is China and other dictatorships around the world fill the coffers of his so called “non profit” organization. He singlehandedly sold America to China by giving China “Favored Nation Status”. After this decree industry and American jobs left our nation and on to greener pastures where there are no environmental, labor or human rights laws. China’s edge over America also included the use of 80 million slaves within their Gulag program.
Clearly Hillary is a minion of China as well as Bill and I do not expect this dynamic duo to upset the ox cart of profitability by making real issues out of the plight of Burma, Tibet or any other country China and Bill are invested in. Surely you remember Bill Clinton and George Bush’s investment in the Barrick Gold Mining Company and the egregious acts against indigenous people in Africa, South American and even the USA just for the funny yellow metal that makes people crazy. (Gold) And we should not forget how China, with the help of the Clinton’s, bought up 25% or more of our US Treasury Bills making China part owner of our economy.

Burma with all her natural resources is a target for industries and members of the World Trade Organization. With US and other international corporations still vested in her natural resources it is obvious she is still under attack not only by Than Shwe and his illegal and criminal regime but international corporate terrorists as well. The big picture revels that globalization is the true culprit in the continued assault on the people of Burma. China leads the way in promoting tyranny in this region, all for the corporate bottom line. Walk through any major department store in American or Europe and you will see goods made in China or manufactured by corporations such as Daiwoo who continue to profiteer from tyranny, slave labor and death within Burma’s borders. It’s a no brainer Wal-Mart shows a profit in these dismay economic times. Just read where a vast majority of their goods come from, China. Slave labor pays. China’s secret holocaust is no longer a secret no matter how many constraints she places on freedom of speech.

China continues to incarcerate monks and anyone who opposes her in Tibet with little fanfare from the western media. Falun Gong members continue to die from torture in slave labor camps. Internal organs for transplant are systematic removal from healthy Falun Gong members for fun and profit while the corporate world looks the other way. China continues to rape South Asia of her natural resources throughout the region with impunity. And we expect Hillary to actually promote democracy in Burma? China is her and Bill’s cash cow. Ask an African citizen about the wholesale theft of their natural resources. They will tell you about Clinton/Bush/China connection and all the death that ensured over the years, all for the corporate bottom line. East Timor and Darfur should ring a bell, just to mention a few. Fact is the world is under siege from a cancer called Globalization. The plights of Indigenous people worldwide are not isolated events fore the perpetrators fly the flag of the World Trade Organization.

The sooner we realize we are alone the sooner we will evolve a solution fore we will not garner help from the corrupt politicians who promote corporatism. The true culprits are international corporate terrorists who salivate over natural resources and will bribe their way into the pockets of dictators like Than Shwe. **Chevron is getting spanked by Cambodia for trying to buy influence as we speak. Chevron was also identified by many locals in Burma for using slave labor. It’s all about the money Paisan. It’s all about the money and Hillary is all about the money not humanity.

Your Devil’s Advocate

©BNN

Ethnic cleansing continues right under the nose of UN Human Rights envoy

2009-02-16T02:28:00.005+06:30

by Wiland Roscher

The situation in eastern Burma is tragic. The DKBA and SPDC still hunt villagers and burn houses down every day. One of our contacts (not named for security reasons) who returned from eastern Burma recently, told us that a village was attacked. Mortar and heavy gun fire was reported. Fortunately the villagers escaped.

"The situation in Burma is not good for the Karen people", says our contact, " I escaped, but not without a few close calls. We were forced to flee one village just before it was attacked by the DKBA and SPDC. All of the villagers escaped but seven homes were burned to the ground after the mortars stopped dropping and the machine guns quit spraying indiscriminately into the village from some distance. It was obvious that the SPDC and DKBA did not care whether they killed civilans or KNLA. The Aid Organization, "Quebec-Birmanie" brought food aid and medial supplies to the villagers as quickly as they could. I feel this organization saved lives by giving blankets, clothes, food, medicines and cooking utensils. All of this happened inside the 103 Battalion area. The KNLA was chased for several days through the jungles but there was not adequate manpower or ammunition to strike back at the enemy."

The DKBA and SPDC continued attacks on the villages in Eastern Burma while the UN special Envoy on Human Rights arrived in Burma yesterday. The UN and the rest of the world are standing by and doing nothing for the victimized Karen minority in Eastern Burma. The situation in Eastern Burma deteriorating by the day. People experience lack of security, food, housing and other basic needs. People from some small organisations risk their lives bringing aid to the victims in the form of blankets, food and water.

Our contact says, "The Karen Freedom fighters KNLA are in a bad position. The SPDC, with the assistance of the DKBA, is taking over villages and camps at an alarmingly rapid pace."

Time for action is running out. There will soon be no villages left for the Karen people of Eastern Burma. Has the world learned nothing from the genocide in Rwanda?

(editing by Anna Varney-Wong)

©BNN

Burma Urges Citizens to Report Bombers

2009-02-15T04:29:00.001+06:30

Authorities in military-ruled Burma have called on people to report terrorists, following two explosions and the discovery of a mine in Bago division over the last five days.

The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Saturday blamed the bombings on anti-government organizations and armed terrorist groups.

The paper said a bomb blast occurred Friday night on a wooden bridge near the village of Kyauk-ein-su. That blast was followed about 10 minutes later by an explosion near an empty house in the village of Sar-dan. No casualties were reported in either explosion.

The report also said an improvised mine had been found last Sunday in Kanyutkwin, Phyu township after authorities received a tip.

VOA

Thailand to deport 78 Myanmar boat people: police

2009-01-28T23:56:00.000+06:30

BANGKOK (AFP) — Dozens of migrants from Myanmar who washed up in Thailand this week were convicted Wednesday of illegal entry and will be deported, police said, raising fears that they may face persecution back home.

The 78 Muslim Rohingyas -- 66 men and 12 teenage boys -- were intercepted just after midnight Tuesday and taken into police custody amid accusations that the Thai military have abused other boat people from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Colonel Veerasilp Kwanseng, commander of the Paknam police station where the Rohingya were detained, said the 66 adults were fined 1,000 baht (28 dollars) each for illegal entry, but could not pay so were jailed for five days.

"They will stay in prison until the term is finished and then immigration will take them before processing their deportation," Veerasilp said.

The 12 Rohingya teenage boys who are under the age of 19 will not be jailed, but will be deported with the rest of the group, he added.

Accusations of mistreatment surfaced earlier this month after nearly 650 Rohingya were rescued off India and Indonesia, some claiming to have been beaten by Thai soldiers before being set adrift in the high seas to die.

Hundreds of the boat people are still believed to be missing at sea.

Kitty McKinsey, spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, said the fact that the 78 Rohingya were processed by police rather than the army was positive, but said they continued to press for access to the migrants.

The UNHCR has asked to see another group of 126 Rohingya reportedly detained in Thailand earlier this month, but authorities have denied they exist.

The Rohingya are stateless and face religious and ethnic persecution from Myanmar's military regime, forcing thousands of them to take to rickety boats each year in a bid to escape poverty and oppression, and head to Malaysia.

The Thai foreign ministry earlier Wednesday "categorically denied" reports that it had mistreated any migrants.

google.com

Writer jailed for Thai 'insult'

2009-01-19T21:10:00.001+06:30

Australian writer Harry Nicolaides has been sentenced to three years in a Thai jail for insulting the monarchy.

Nicolaides wrote a novel four years ago, which contained a brief passage referring to an unnamed crown prince. It sold just seven copies.

He admitted the charge of insulting the royal family, but said he was unaware he was committing an offence.

Thailand's monarchy is sheltered from public debate by some of the world's most stringent "lese-majeste" laws.

A 'bad dream'

Harry Nicolaides was arrested as he was leaving the country last August.

His self-published book, called Verisimilitude, was hardly well-received; in fact the only copy which is still known to exist sits on the shelf of the Thai National Library, freely available to the public.

Shackled in leg irons, and wearing standard-issue prison pyjamas, Nicolaides pleaded guilty to the charges against him at Bangkok's Criminal Court on Monday.

He was quickly found guilty, with a judge telling the court: "He has written a book that slandered the king, the crown prince and Thailand and the monarchy."

The court initially sentenced him to six years in jail, but reduced the term because of his guilty plea.

Before the trial Nicolaides had seemed stunned by what was happening to him, describing it is like a ''bad dream''.

But he is just one of a growing number of people being investigated and charged under Thailand's draconian "lese-majeste" law, as the police and army try to suppress what they fear is a rising tide of anti-monarchy sentiment.

More than 3,000 websites have now been blocked, and one political activist was jailed for six years in November for an anti-monarchy speech she made just a stone's throw from the old royal palace last July.

Several other people are now awaiting trial.

As a repentant foreigner, Harry Nicolaides does at least have a good chance of being pardoned by the king, according to the BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head.

The king did the same for a Swiss man given a 10-year sentence two years ago for defacing his portrait.

bbc

North Korea plutonium 'weaponised'

2009-01-19T21:06:00.000+06:30

North Korean has "weaponised" enough of its stock of plutonium to make up to five nuclear bombs, a US arms expert has said.

Selig Harrison, a US researcher who recently held talks with officials in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, said they told him North Korea's nuclear weapons were "off-limits" to arms inspectors and Pyongyang could not say when it would give them up.

"All of those I met said that North Korea has already weaponised 30.8 kg of plutonium ... and that the weapons cannot be inspected," Harrison, the director of the Washington-based Centre for International Policy's Asia programme, said.

"That means North Korea has four or five nuclear weapons, depending on the grade of plutonium, the specific weapons design and desired explosive yield," he told a news conference in the Chinese capital on Saturday after returning from Pyongyang, his eleventh visit to the North since 1972.

He said he had held talks with the North's nuclear envoy, Ri Gun, and other senior officials.

'Nuclear threat'

Harrison said he was also told that "North Korea wants friendly relations with the United States" and that if the Obama administration makes a political decision for improved relations, then "the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and the United States can become intimate friends".

A North Korean foreign ministry statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday the country's priority was to build up its "nuclear deterrent force" to protect itself and not to normalise diplomatic ties with the US.

A spokesman said even if diplomatic relations with the US were improved, North Korea's "status as a nuclear weapons state will remain unchanged as long as it is exposed even to the slightest US nuclear threat".

"We can live without the normalisation of ties with the US, but we cannot survive without the nuclear deterrence," the spokesman said.

The government vowed on Tuesday not to give up its nuclear weapons until the US drops its "hostile" policy, and called for "free field access" to ensure there are no US
atomic weapons in South Korea.

'Frosty' relations

North Korea has pledged several times to get rid of its nuclear programme, but disarmament talks have failed for the past 15 years, despite offers of aid in exchange of disarmament.

Relations between North and South Korea have been frosty since Lee Myung-Bak came to office as president in the South on a promise to "get tough" on the communist neighbour.

South Korea denies taking a confrontational stance and has repeatedly called for dialogue with the North.

The North has threatened to reduce its neighbour "to ashes", but there has not been a major military clash since naval skirmishes killed dozens of sailors on both sides in 2002.

Hillary Clinton, US president-elect Barack Obama's designated secretary of state, has said the new US administration will pursue a "very aggressive effort" against North Korea's alleged atomic weapons proliferation.

She backed six-party talks which began in 2003 with the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan, but has indicated there could also be bilateral contacts.

North Korea tested an atomic weapon in October 2006. State media regularly accuses the US of plotting an attack on the country.

aljazeera

Blaze destroys Indonesia fuel depot

2009-01-19T21:05:00.000+06:30

Police in Indonesia are investigating the cause of a massive fire that destroyed a fuel depot on the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta.

The blaze at the Pertamina national oil company fuel depot broke out late on Sunday and burned through the night before firefighters finally extinguished the blaze on Monday morning.

No injuries were reported from the fire which burned for more than eight hours, but hundreds of residents in the area fled their homes as flames and thick smoke rose high into the night sky.

Abubakar Nataprawira, a police spokesman told the Associated Press news agency that a team of forensic experts were inspecting the site, but "so far there is no indication of sabotage".

Earlier witnesses reported hearing several explosions from the tank at the centre of the fire.

At one point, flames were seen reaching more than 100m, while hundreds firefighters backed up by soldiers were brought in to tackle the blaze.

Anang Rizkami, a spokesman for Pertamina, told local radio the tank holds about 5 million litres of regular gasoline and distributes about 100,000 barrels of fuel to the Indonesian capital every day.

'Enough stocks'

The blaze sparked panic buying at some petrol stations, but Pertamina officials denied that the fire would lead to shortages.

"Our fuel stock is enough, for now we do not need additional imports," Iin Arifin, Pertamina's vice president director, told the Associated Press.

He also said that Pertamina had set up an investigation team to determine the cause of the fire.

Last year, police uncovered a plot to blow up the oil depot, and detained five men who they said were members of Jemaah Islamiyah, the South-East Asian group Indonesian authorities say has links to al-Qaeda.

The group has been blamed for several attacks in the region, including the 2002 Bali bombings where 202 people were killed.

Earlier this month Pertamina was publicly reprimanded by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Indonesian president, following widespread complaints about fuel shortages in the capital.

aljazeera

South Korea raises military alert

2009-01-19T21:04:00.000+06:30

South Korea has put its armed forces on heightened alert following a series of statements from North Korea threatening military action against what it says are South Korean plans to invade.

South Korean officials said that all commanding military officers were at their posts along the heavily fortified border between the two countries, although to date no unusual activities had been seen.

In the latest in a series of threats on Monday, North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said that Pyongyang had "guns and bayonets" aimed across the border, warning that it would "destroy and wipe out" invaders if what it called South Korean "war maniacs ignite the fire of war".

"The Lee Myung-bak group should bear in mind that our guns and bayonets ... are aimed at their throats,'' the paper said, referring to the South Korean president.

It warned that the North did not engage in "empty talk"

'Confrontational posture'

An earlier statement released on Saturday labelled Lee a "traitor" and said his government had "opted for confrontation, denying national reconciliation and cooperation".

As a result, the North said, "our revolutionary armed forces are compelled to take an all-out confrontational posture to shatter them."

That threat was considered particularly pointed and serious because it was delivered by a uniformed military officer - flanked by military unit flags - instead of the usual television newsreader.

Both statements follow months of verbal attacks on the Lee's conservative government which has vowed to get tough on the North and end years of unconditional aid.

Late last year, with relations rapidly deteriorating, Pyongyang announced it was closing most border traffic between the two states and suspending several cooperation projects.

'Rhetoric'

Despite the raised military alert, Won Tae-jae, a spokesman for the South Korean defence ministry, told a news conference that "much of the comments are the usual rhetoric and arguments that have been issued previously".
South Korea has denied it has any plans to invade.

North and South Korea remain officially at wear never having signed a formal ceasefire ending the 1950-53 Korean War.

Both sides have deployed thousands of soldiers along the so-called "demilitarised zone" that divides the two countries, with almost 30,000 US militray personnel based in South Korea as well.

The latest statements from the North came after a US expert returning from talks in Pyongyang said the reclusive state had "weaponised" enough plutonium for four to five nuclear weapons.

Selig Harrison told Reuters news agency that senior North Korean officials had told him that 30.8kg of plutonium it had listed as part of a preliminary disarmament deal had been incorporated into warheads or other weapons.

Harrison said the comments could not be immediately verified, but they underscored a hardening of the state's position, and could pose as an even greater obstacle to international demands that the North dismantle its nuclear programme.

aljazeera

Bangladesh wants to demarcate sea border

2009-01-19T05:40:00.001+06:30

DHAKA: The new Bangladesh government wants to engage neighbours India and Myanmar to demarcate maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal to be able to file its claim before the United Nations by 2011, a media report has said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who convened a meeting of energy ministry officials late on Thursday, said she would coordinate with the foreign office in contacting Delhi and Yangon, but did not indicate when.
She would also confer with the Bangladesh Navy and Geological Survey of Bangladesh.
Hasina’s deputy press secretary Sarwar Alam said that she raised the maritime boundary issue at her first meeting with the officials and wanted to know the latest situation and what surveys the ministry had conducted to demarcate the boundary.
Energy secretary Mohammed Mohsin told the prime minister that India and Myanmar were claiming maritime areas beyond their jurisdiction and often intruded into Bangladesh’s territorial waters and that the foreign ministry was handling the issue, New Age newspaper said on Friday quoting sources present at the meeting.
Mohsin also informed her that Bangladesh would have to lodge its claim over the maritime boundary with the United Nations by 2011 after completing necessary surveys for strengthening the claims.
Maritime boundaries’ delineation became crucial after the finding of hydrocarbon reserves in the bay by India in recent years. Dhaka thinks it has missed the bus with poor response from international oil and gas companies.
Bangladesh is sandwiched between India and Myanmar in the upper reaches of the bay and says survey ships and even naval ships of the two countries cross into what it considers to be its own territory. – IANS

gulf-times

Civilians 'killed' in Sri Lanka

2009-01-19T05:06:00.000+06:30

Medical staff in Sri Lanka say at least 18 civilians have been killed as the military continues its offensive on the northern bases of Tamil Tiger rebels.

Hospital officials said the number killed in fighting around Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu could be much higher.

The military said Mullaitivu - the last major rebel stronghold - was now surrounded, but it denied rebel claims that civilians came under attack.

A military spokesman told the BBC that the allegation was propaganda.

Aid agencies say they are concerned about the fate of the 250,000 civilians living in rebel-held territory in the north of the country.

'Crumbling fast'

According to a Tamil Tiger statement and reports on the pro-rebel TamilNet website, the Sri Lankan military attacked civilians in rebel-held villages around Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

But army spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara dismissed the claims that 18 people had been killed and more than 40 injured in the strikes.

He told the BBC's Sinhala service that the Tamil Tigers' claim was propaganda "as they have been cornered and are seeking international attention".

Earlier, an army spokesman said rebel resistance was crumbling fast.

The Tigers have lost a considerable amount of territory to government forces in the last few months, including key strongholds Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass.

The two sides have differed widely in their reports of casualties.

Independent journalists are prevented by the government from travelling to the conflict zone, so it is impossible to verify the casualty claims made by both sides.

The Jaffna peninsula and its capital have been regarded as the heart of the 25-year-old separatist insurgency.

The Tigers are fighting for a separate homeland. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

bbc

Sri Lanka-based Burmese political weblog wins "Best Asia Blog" award for 2008

2009-01-19T04:34:00.001+06:30

Daya Gamage – US Bureau Asian Tribune

Washington, D.C. 18 January (Asiantribune.com): If one's life is threatened for expressing ones views of one’s country of birth through the mass media get into another country to create a 'weblog' or 'internet newspaper' which can have an impact on the international community.

Here in the United States the Department of States’ research and intelligence unit 24/7 keeps track of all the newspapers published in every corner of this globe and what every weblog and internet media say not only about the United States but also about other nations and their governments. Taking note of what is expressed in the internet the United States Department of State takes note and acts on those. In fact, the Department shares the information with the U.S. Congress.

The Department mainly focuses on weblogs and internet sites that are operating from foreign soils disseminating information about the countries to which the weblog and internet cite operators originally belonged to.

This is exactly what a Burmese (or Myanmar) Buddhist monk did in creating a weblog from a foreign soil with a worldwide impact while engaged in tertiary education in that foreign soil.

The weblog of venerable Burmese Buddhist monk, Ashin Mettacara, based in Sri Lanka for tertiary education, has bagged the "Best Asia Blog" award for 2008.

The weblog, (www.ashinmettacara.org ) is hosted by this Buddhist monk contains political writings on Burma which he is unable to write from his homeland because of persecution and threat to his life from the Burmese military regime.

Asian Tribune is aware that the US Department of State and the foreign relations committees of the Senate and House of the U.S. Congress have taken note of the information disseminated by this weblog to formulate their policies toward Burma.

And, that’s one way Western democracies work to exercise pressure on other countries and their governments on issues that they consider are related to good governance. Democratic norms, human rights, counter-terrorism, refugees, civilian casualties in domestic battles between warring factions etc.

Publisher of the Weblog Awards, which puts up an online poll on various categories of weblogs, Kevin Aylward, says that Ashin Mettacara's weblog has gained maximum votes of 3,383. It stood first with 41 per cent of the total voters voting for it in an online poll conducted since November.

Ashin Mattacara (27), went to Sri Lanka to study Buddhist religious scriptures and created his weblog in 2004, focusing on religious writings. But, the weblog took a decisive turn in September 2007, when Buddhist monks led mass demonstrations in Burma, with the site increasingly filled with political writings on Burma.

"I am proud that my weblog has been selected as the best in 2008, and I would like to attribute the award to both my Burmese and international friends, who have voted," Ashin Mettacara told Mizzima, a premier internet site that operates outside Burma which carry that country’s political news.

In the wake of the public protests in September 2007, several Internet-savvy Burmese youth, both in Burma and around the world, created websites and blogs, and filled them with information on the protests and the subsequent crackdown by the military junta.
Ashin Mettaraca's blog was among the outstanding blogs that provided much needed information on the protests to the Burmese people as well as to the international community.

"I wanted to tell the whole world about the situation in Burma. That is the main reason for creating this blog," Ashin Mettacara had told Mizzima earlier.

Like Ashin Mettacara, several young Burmese bloggers, played an important role in publishing information on the September 2007 protests as well as the humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of the deadly Cyclone Nargis in early May 2008.

It is due to this reason, Burma's military rulers have hunted down bloggers and others involved in the dissemination of information and sentenced them to long prison terms.

Aylward, who hosts the world's largest blog competition, with a total Weblog Awards for 48 categories, said the reason for organizing the competition was to create awareness among the public and draw attention to the blogs that were committed to write about such issues.

Ashin Mettacara has completed his B.A and M.A degrees in Sri Lanka's Buddhist and Pali University.

- Asian Tribune -

Thai government blocks 2,300 websites; 400 more face shutdown

2009-01-19T03:10:00.001+06:30

Thai authorities have blocked 2,300 websites for allegedlyinsulting the country's monarchy, with 400 more awaiting a courtorder to restrict them, media reports said.The Economic Times online quoted Information and Communication(ICT) minister Ranongruk Suwanchawee as saying on January 6 that"The blocking of websites that disseminate content and pictureswhich insult the monarchy is one of the government's crucialpolicies"."We have blocked more than 2,300 websites. We are preparing to askfor court approval to shut down an additional 400 sites and willamend the... law to increase powers of ICT officials as soon asparliament reopens," she said. Ranongruk said the ministry had spent THB 45 million (US$1.28million) to buy equipment for a round-the-clock "war room"targeting inappropriate web sites.The ministry would ask the ministries of justice, interior anddefense to "decisively" prosecute violators, who face imprisonmentand a fine for breaking the law, the minister said. Defaming the royals in Thailand carries a maximum jail sentence of15 years but media groups say the law is often used as a politicaltool. The royal family's role in politics became a sensitive subject lastyear amid protests by a group claiming loyalty to the monarchywhich opposed the previous government for being too close to oustedpremier Thaksin Shinawatra. A court verdict on December 2 effectively dissolved thatgovernment, paving the way for Abhisit to become premier mid-waythrough last month. Parliament is due to reconvene on January 21. New Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, however, defended thecrackdown in a recent interview, saying that there were "historicaland cultural differences" with other countries. "We will respect the rights, but those rights are exercised withinthe same limits that even the most liberal of countries apply,"Abhisit said in the interview on December 26. In a related development, the Thai Netizens Network, composed ofbloggers, online journalists and other Internet users, made anappeal to the Democrat Party and the new prime minister to respectthe right of Internet users.In a statement, the group enumerated their requests as follows:1. The new government led by the Democrat Party...must protectInternet users' rights and liberty of online and mass media.2. The government must respect the freedom of expression asguaranteed by the United Nations Universal Declaration of HumanRights. The government must do so without prejudice or doublestandards, and it must never attempt to silence dissident opinions.3. The government must amend the Computer Crime Act of B.E. 2550,especially on distinguishing rights to online communication fromcomputer crimes. The amendment process should be open to the publicand all other related sectors.4. The government must protect personal information and privacy byestablishing clear, fair laws and ensuring their just enforcementin accordance with international covenants.The Thai Netizens Network said in its statement that "fairprotection of citizens' rights and respect for human dignity are crucial to upholding democracy."On the other hand, it cautioned that "government attempts tocurtail online freedom would lead to more conflict which adverselyaffect national security and the well-being of the Thai people."

prachatai

Is Thailand a new enemy of the Internet ?

2009-01-19T03:09:00.001+06:30

Reporters Without Borders is very concerned about online free expression in Thailand following the new government's decision to make monitoring the Internet a priority in order to prevent insults to the monarchy. Ranongrak Suwanchawee, minister of information and communications technology in the government that took over on 15 December, says more that 2,300 websites have been blocked and 400 are being investigated. Nearly 2 million euros (80 million baht) have been earmarked for web filtering.

"We condemn these measures taken by the People's Alliance for Democracy, which represent a grave attack on free expression for the sake of combating a poorly defined crime," Reporters Without Borders said. "It is surprising that this has suddenly become a priority although Internet access is far from being general in Thailand. It is important the government should agree to debate the online activities of the country's Internet users."

Giles Ji Ungpakorn, a political science professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, was yesterday ordered to appear on 20 January at a Bangkok police station to be charged under the lese majeste law in connection with his book "A Coup for the Rich," which can be downloaded at no cost from his blog, http://www.wdpress.blog.co.uk.

An Australian writer from Melbourne, Harry Nicolaides, has been detained on a lese-majeste charge since his arrest on 31 August as he was about to board a flight back to Australia. He used to teach at Mae Fah Luang university in the northern city of Chiang Rai and wrote for magazines and websites. His four requests for provisional release have all been rejected.

Suwanchawee, the new minister of information and communications technology, announced on 29 December that blocking websites that insult the monarchy would be her ministry's main task. She added that her predecessor in the post was "mistaken in believing that little could be done to control sites originating overseas."

Two days before that, members of the Democrat Party-led government called for the lese-majeste legislation to be made tougher, while the army's commander in chief, Gen. Anupong Paojinda, told his officers to make sure there were no attacks on the king. Speaking to more than 800 battalion commanders, he urged each battalion to monitor one to two websites for negative content about the monarchy.

Thailand has 14 million Internet users, which is about 20 per cent of the population. An association called Thai Netizen is to meet the new prime minister tomorrow in order to submit a petition for the defence of online free expression and propose a compromise on this issue. Created at the initiative of lawyer and media specialist Supinya Klangnarong, Thai Netizen groups bloggers and Internet users who campaign for online free expression in Thailand.

When websites are blocked in Thailand, it is done by means of informal requests from the authorities to Internet Service Providers – request without any legal status.

Lese majeste is defined by article 112 of the criminal code, which says that defamatory, insulting or threatening comments about the king, queen or regent are punishable by three to 15 years in prison. Under a cyber-crime law adopted in 2007, the individual records of Internet users must be kept by ISPs for 90 days and can be examined by the authorities without referring to a judge. The police can also confiscate any computer if they suspect it has been used for illegal purposes.

prachatai

Thai forces using torture in restive south: Amnesty International

2009-01-19T03:07:00.002+06:30

Amnesty International (AI) has called on the government to end the "culture of impunity" in the deep South where the London-based organisation has documented at least 34 cases of authorities torturing suspected Malay Muslim insurgents, four of whom died.

"All the victims were Muslim, all but one were male, and 20 were under the age of 30; the youngest was a boy of six, the oldest 46," said the AI report entitled "Thailand: Torture in the Southern Counter-Insurgency".

Local human rights activist, Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, of the Cross Cultural Foundation, pointed to a January 6, 2009, posting on the Youtube website. It purportedly showed a group of armed Thai soldiers slapping and kicking a teenage boy who appeared to be from the Malay-speaking South.

"We called for a full and open investigation. If wrongful conduct is determined, there must be some sort of disciplinary or legal action, as well as compensation for the detainee," Pornpen said.

"There have been many other suspects who faced similar experiences," Pornpen added.

prachatai

Another Internet user arrested for lese majeste as Internet regulation dialogue gets under way

2009-01-19T03:07:00.001+06:30

Reporters Without Borders deplores today's arrest of Internet user Suwicha Thakhor on a charge of insulting the monarchy (lese majeste), just one day after Thai Netizen Network, a group that defends online freedom of expression, met with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and suggested ways to reach a compromise on Internet regulation, including the issue of lese majeste.

"This arrest gives the government the opportunity to demonstrate its readiness to maintain a real dialogue by keeping a close watch on the conduct of the investigation," Reporters Without Borders said. "We urge the government to do everything possible to ensure that Thakhor is released as soon as the authorities establish that he has not done anything that violates democratic norms."

The Department of Special Investigations said Thakhor was arrested because his computer's Internet address matched the address from which comments about the king and his aides had been sent. He was picked up by the police while visiting friends in the provinces. The authorities say they suspect he knew the police were after him and that he left the capital for this reason.

Thakhor, who is being held at Department of Special Investigations headquarters in Bangkok, has denied the charges.

Supinya Klangnarong, the coordinator of Thai Netizen Network and a media advocate, spoke to Reporters Without Borders after yesterday's meeting with the prime minister. "During this meeting, we were able to express our views and concerns," she said. "Meeting with the PM is the first step to beginning negotiations aimed at seeking appropriate regulation that will uphold cyber-liberty in Thailand."

Political science professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn yesterday called for a national and international campaign to demand the abolition of the crime of lese majeste. On 11 January, Ungpakorn was ordered to report to a Bangkok police station on 20 January to be charged under the lese majeste law in connection with his book "A Coup for the Rich," which can be downloaded at no cost from his blog, http://www.wdpress.blog.co.uk.

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the withdrawal of the charges against him.

prachatai

Activists Welcome New Thai Government's Policy Stance on Burma

2009-01-19T02:55:00.000+06:30

By Ron Corben

Bangkok- Burmese pro-democracy activists have welcomed the stated policy approach by the new Thai government and its call for political change in Burma ahead of Burma's general elections, scheduled for 2010. The Thai Government is also looking to other South East Asian nations to be more active in calling for reform in the military ruled country.

The new Thai Government's policy stance on Burma was set out in a key address by the prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, this week and his warnings about the political situation in Burma have wider ramifications for the whole region.

Mr Abhisit, in an address to foreign correspondents this week, said the government would look to encourage reform in Burma, also known as Myanmar, through a process of "flexible engagement".

The flexible engagement policy, adopted by the then-foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan, now secretary-general of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), called for more open dialogue on issues such as human rights.

"ASEAN to be strong it has to have the credibility and respect from the international community," he said. "So what's happening in Myanmar clearly affects the rest of the region - and I would just point out that it's time for change. As far as we are concerned we need to get ASEAN to become more proactive - it's not easy but I've seen changes and I've seen progress. "

Under the former Thai governments led by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, from 2001 until 2006, priority was given to Thailand's economic and business ties with Burma. Under a policy of "constructive engagement" Thailand and ASEAN had adopted a more low key diplomatic approach in its dealing with Burma.

Naing Aung, a former Burmese student leader and a civic group, the Network for Democracy and Development, welcomed the current Thai government's new move to place greater emphasis on human rights issues and political reform.

"Thailand's new government will be standing on the human rights and then more on the democratic principal," he said. "But in terms of making pressure if they are going through ASEAN it will still be difficult because ASEAN as a whole, they still have a policy of non-interference."

Debbie Stothardt, spokeswoman for the Alternative ASEAN network on Burma, said the Thai government policy also needed to be backed by calls for the release of political prisoners. Stothardt said Thailand, as the current chair of ASEAN, had a role to play to promote political reform. An ASEAN leaders summit is due to take place in late February in Thailand.

"What we need to see really from the other ASEAN governments - including the new Thai government - is sufficient political will to deal with this problem once and for all," she said. "ASEAN needs to realize that this regime has no respect for polite diplomacy - this regime will only respect ASEAN when ASEAN shows that it is determined."

Burma's military government has said its road map to democracy and general elections in 2010 needs the political steps the government is taking. But many analysts expect the military to still retain considerable influence in the new parliament, backed by a constitution seen as favoring the military.

Burma's military has been in power since 1962, with the current government ruling the country since 1988. It ignored the last election result in 1990, won in a landslide by the party spearheaded by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest.

voanews

Thai PM vows to end abuse in south

2009-01-19T02:52:00.000+06:30

Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand's prime minister, has acknowledged human rights abuses are being carried out against suspected Muslim fighters in the south of the country.

On a visit to Pattani, one of four restive southern provinces, on Saturday, Abhisit vowed to end abuses allegedly being perpetrated by security forces against opposition fighters, but denied claims systematic torture was being carried out.

Responding to accusations by Amnesty International, the human rights organisation, that army and police personnel had used beatings, electric shocks and simulated suffocation on suspects, Abhisit said: "In an area with 50-60,000 soldiers, it might happen.

"If it is true, we will prosecute them. From now on, we will not allow human rights violations. If there are more violations, someone must be held responsible," he said.

"I think the people here have suffered for far too long and it is time we get to grips with the problem.

"I will no longer say that the problems in the south are just for the security forces, this is a matter for the government to solve."

It was Abhisit's first trip to the region since becoming leader last month.

Separatist rebellion

A separatist Muslim insurgency in the Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla provinces and subsequent state crackdown has led to the deaths of more than 3,500 people in that last five years, according to a report published by Amnesty on Tuesday.

It also said that four people had died in the south as a result of being tortured.

Amnesty said the government and army chiefs in Bangkok had issued frequent directives against torture but the abuse was "sufficiently frequent and widespread that it cannot be dismissed as the work of a few errant subordinates in isolated instances".

Amin Kaseng, a local resident, told Al Jazeera that he and his father had been taken from their home by soldiers to a nearby Buddhist temple, where his father was singled out for questioning.

"I heard my father cry out 'I can't take it any longer'. When they threw him back in with us, he had bruises all over his body and his breathing was faint.

"We shouted at the soldiers to take him to a hospital but they ignored us, until my brother shouted; 'He's dead'."

Investigation promised

Amnesty also allege that one victim was buried in a pit up to his neck and another had his face submerged in sewage before having a plastic bag forced over his head.

Abhisit has promised to investigate Amnesty's report, but questioned its accuracy.

He said that a 2005 emergency decree in the provinces, giving soldiers and police immunity and allowing detention without trial for up to 30 days, would be reviewed.

Violence ignited in 2004 with a raid on a military base, bombings, arson attacks and shootings.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks and no political demands have been made.

But the targeting of Thai state symbols - including teachers, security forces and government buildings - has led to the violence being described as having a separatist objective.

The provinces have more in common with neighbouring Malaysia than Thailand, having an 80 per cent Muslim population and speaking Malay, rather that Thai.

They were an independent sultanate until being annexed by Thailand about a century ago.

aljazeera.net

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2009-01-16T07:07:00.000+06:30