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Weekly Diary, No. 235 (27 January – 2 February 2007)
Weekly Diary, No. 235 (27 January – 2 February 2007)
KAREN MOVEMENT AT THE CROSSROADS!
SO IS THE JUNTA!
OPEN HEART CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING!
Think Piece
We must all be united or we have to look for our country in the graveyard of history.
Nabih Berri, Lebanon Parliament Speaker, quoted by Bangkok Post, 28 January 2007
The World
28 January 2007
Veterans and military families join lawmakers, peace groups and actors rally in front of the US Capitol to pressure the government to get out of Iraq. (Reuters)
2 February 2007
Report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says global warming causing rising seas and fierce storms is "very likely" caused by human beings with a certitude of 90%. (AFP)
International Relations
25 January 2007
A recent press release by US Homeland Security says supporters of 6 Burmese ethnic opposition groups will be exempt from material support provisions, as enshrined in the anti-terrorism laws. They are
Chin National Front (CNF)
Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD)
Kayan New Land Party (KNLP)
Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)
Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
(Narinjara)
28 January 2007
Malaysian authorities detain 176 Chins on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur for illegal immigration. (AP)
29 January 2007
Kolkata court today charges 34 Arakanese and Karen rebels captured in February 1998 with the Arms Act, the Explosive Substance Act and the Foreigners Act. They could face a life time in prison, if found guilty. (Mizzima)
30 January 2007
About 30 people march in silence to the US embassy with posters denouncing Washington's support for the failed UN resolution on Burma in Rangoon. (AFP)
31 January 2007
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu, Nobel laureate who is accepting the Gandhi Peace Prize from President APJ Abdul Kalam in New Delhi urges India to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. (Mizzima)
1 February 2007
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports media abuse was still at "alarming levels" in 2006: 16 journalists killed, 328 arrested and 517 assaulted or threatened. At least 478 media were censored. In Burma, at times more than a third of the articles and illustrations in privately owned publications are banned, as is any reference to Aung San Suu Kyi. (AFP)
Thai-Burma Relations
23 January 2007
The Burmese football team makes early exit from the Asean championship 2007 following a goalless draw with underdogs the Philippines in Bangkok, causing rumors fixed the match. A Burmese football federation official denies there is anything improper. (Mizzima)
30 January 2007
Thai cabinet approves identification process for laborers from Laos, Burma and Cambodia, and 10,000 new job for Burmese workers, plus registration of foreign laborers in 5 southernmost provinces. Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, Songkla and Satun. (Bangkok Post) Yaung Chi Oo Burmese Workers Association comments Bangkok is focusing on shortage of labor in the war zones. (Mizzima)
1 February 2007
220 migrant workers (160 male and 80 female) in Chiangmai's Doi Saket district rounded up by soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment, based in Chiangmai. 54 of them found without legal documents. (Thai News)
Politics/ Inside Burma
22 January 2007
U Gambhira, General Secretary of Young Monks Association-Rangoon warns monks to protect peaceful worshippers. No religion in the world has the right to prevent people from peaceful worship, he says. He is speaking in reference to forced removal of peaceful worshippers on Tuesday, 16 January. (DVB)
24 January 2007
The 7th Brigade faction releases a statement that says they would go ahead with the talks with the junta and would not tolerate any attempt (by the KNU leadership) to derail it. (Mizzima)
25 January 2007
Padoh Mahn ShaKNU internal circular denounces the ceasefire talks between the 7th Brigade and the junta. "It is against the interest of the Karens," says Padoh Mahn Sha, KNU general secretary. (Mizzima)
26 January 2007
Dismantling of Military Intelligence Service (MIS) twice in two decades had hit Burma hard:
On 17 May 1983, its director Tin Oo was fired by Gen Ne Win. Five months later on 9 October, bombs planted by North Korean agents killed 21 South Korean officials including 4 ministers
On 18 October 2004, Tin Oo's successor Khin Nyunt detained. His followers, unlike Tin Oo's, are fighting back by all means available, including bombing campaigns. The MIS replacement, Military Affairs Security (MAS) chief Myint Swe had approached ousted MIS officer Kyaw Thein for help which was turned down by the latter. Myint Swe's successor Ye Myint approached another former MIS senior official Kyaw Win, who is reported to have accepted. (NDD)
29 January 2007
Min Ko Naing
Open Heart campaign is extended with no time limit. It had been planned to end on 4 February a month after it started on Independence Day due to its popularity. Most of the letters written are about economic problems, says Min Ko Naing. (AFP)
29 January 2007
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi was visited by her doctor and a dentist on 25 January and she was found to be in good health, says a source close to her family. (AFP)
29 January 2007
The KNU's 7th Brigade representatives tour areas in Karen State with officers from the Burma Army and the DKBA, says Maj Maung Kyaw, the brigade liaison officer, following ceasefire agreement on 16 January. Those who want to return to the designated "peace areas" can go back anytime they choose. Due to the tension between the group's leadership and the 7th Brigade, the KNU will not celebrate the 58th anniversary of Karen Revolution Day which falls on 31 January. (Irrawaddy)
30 January 2007
The Open Heart campaign, led by 88 Generation, is met with "overwhelming support" in Magwe, says Pyone Cho, who with Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe and Mya Aye, were in the division over the weekend. (DVB)
30 January 2007
Htain Maung
All 6 battalions under the KNU's 7th Brigade remain under colonels Johnny and Tun Kyaing, despite duplicity its by former commander Htain Maung and Nerdah Mya, says General Secretary Mahn Sha. (NMG)
31 January 2007
Than Shwe
Than Shwe is of failing health and in recent months has become increasingly reclusive. He suffered a mild stroke two years ago, and is suffering from hypertension and is a diabetic. For almost the past year, he has not gone to the War Office and has only attended crucial meetings. Singaporean doctors whom he met last month discovered he is suffering from cancer of the pancreas. He may have only 3-18 months left to live, predicted one Burma army doctor. He plans to give up his command of the army to Shwe Mann, retaining only the key post of SPDC chairman. However, Maung Aye is now refusing to retire with him as planned earlier and is causing complications.
The Council is expected to change its name to State Democracy and Development Council (SDDC), which will be charged with overseeing both the military command and the civilian government, what will have split authority structures unlike current administration. (Asia Times)
31 January 2007
Ousted Brig-Gen Htain Maung of 7th Brigade forms Karen National Union/ Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council. (Irrawaddy)
1-4 February 2007
Karen organizations hold Karen Unity Seminar amid tension among KNU leadership. (Mizzima)
1 February 2007
Shwe Mann
Shwe Mann is now doing most of Than Shwe's job but is still required to defer to Maung Aye and PM Soe Win on important issues, according to Burma analyst Win Min. "If he were to become seriously sick, Maung Aye will almost certainly take over." Meanwhile Than Shwe's wife, Kyaing Kyaing, "Queen of Burma", is said to be opposed to the idea of her husband bowing out. She only sees the need to stay in power, says a source close to the general. (The Nation)
2 February 2007
Mons hold 60th anniversary of their national day, commemorating the establishment of Hongsawaddy kingdom on the First Waning Moon of Tabodwe, Buddhist Era 1116. (Network Media Group)
Shans/ Shan State
25 January 2007
Lawyer Aung Thein says arguments for special appeals for 6 Shan leaders will be presented on 8 February. (DVB)
29 January 2007
Khun Tun OoShan leader Khun Tun Oo is cited by Dr Lian Hmung Sakhong, recent winner of Marlin Luther King peace award, as an example of a true national leader because his actions are meant not just for the Shans but the whole of Burma. (DVB)
Economy/ Business
January
A feasibility study for the seaport and road construction, outlined as Kunming-Mandalay-Kyaukpyu-Sittwe, was made in 2005, according to Burma's Ministry of Construction. The Kunming-Kyaukpyu road will be 1,943 km long.
Apart from that an agreement was signed in 2004 by foreign ministers of India, Burma and Thailand to develop a 1,400 km highway connecting to three countries.
China's relations with India, Japan and the USA have a strong bearing on its geopolitical interests in Burma. For instance, as long as tensions exist between Japan and Beijing, it will see it as essential to maintain its influence in Burma. (The Shwe Gas Bulletin)
2 February 2007
India has extended a soft loan of $ 10 million to Burma to cover the expenses of the Kaladan transport project connecting Sittwe with Mizoram. (Mizzima)
30 January 2007
China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) says it has together with Myanmar Oil and Gas Co. (Enterprise?) have launched a feasible study on building a gas pipeline from Burma to Kunming. (Xinhua)
Human Rights
29 January 2007
Naw Ohn Hla, 45, who has gained reputation for her support for the pro-democracy movement, says she has sued 30 publications for portraying her as a prostitute. The article, written under the pseudonym Yan Yan, was forced by the military to run in the papers, says one of the editors. The case is due to be heard on 13 February. (DVB)
30 January 2007
Prisoners in Myingyan "who have served most of their terms" are being forced to work outside the prison without pay for local business. The prison earns about 800 kyat ($0.6) per day for each working inmate. The money is transferred into "national funds", says one official. (DVB)
1 February 2007
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) report titled "The situation of prisons in Burma as of 2006" claims the military regime plans to make prisons self-funded by 2009. It is common practice for prisoners who want relief from beatings and forced labor to pay bribes to prison authorities:
Those being transferred from labor camp to Insein pay own bus fare: 1,000 – 5,000 kyat ($ 0.76 – 3)
To prevent beatings: up to 30,000 kyat ($22)
To sleep on wooden platform: 15,000 kyat ($11)
To use a private bathroom and toilet: 1,500 kyat ($1.1)
Visiting political prisoners: up to 10,000 kyat ($7)
To prevent transfer to another prison: 150,000 kyat ($ 114)
To visit a prison doctor for treatment of illness: 30,000 kyat ($22)
There are 91 labor camps and 42 prisons in Burma. (Irrawaddy)
Environment
31 January 2007
According to a leaked draft report of an Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), rising temperatures by the end of the century will bring water scarcity that will affect up to 3.2 billion people. (Reuters/ Bangkok Post)
Drugs
28 January 2007
The raid by 10-men drug enforcement unit at Namkham township's Panhsay village nets 20 kg of heroin, 1 million yaba pills, 2 million and K 50 million. The owner is a subordinate leader in the Panhsay militia, led by Kyaw Myint and his younger brother Kyaw Htwe. Both have been left alone. (Palaung Youth News and Information)
War
29 January 2007
Burma Army has burnt down the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) Khaplang faction's headquarters and 2 camps, according to a senior member of the group. There are at least 50 camps run by the NSCN-K along the border. 3 of the group's members and 12 of the Burma Army's killed during the action, he says. (AFP)
Shan ceasefire group mum on meeting results
