Weekly Diary, No. 299 (26 April – 1 May 2008)

• PM THEIN SEIN ON MAXIMUM SECURITY VISIT TO THAILAND!
• VOTING IRREGULARTIES EMERGE!
• REPORT ON JATROPHA OUT!
• WATCH OUT FOR CYCLONE NARGIS!

Think Piece
Burma’s democracy (will be) similar to Thai democracy in the past 30 years, which began with a half-democratic constitution.

_{Samak Sundaravej, Thai Prime Minister, Irrawaddy, 29 April 2008}
 
Junta:               If you don’t like the military, vote Yes, because approving the draft constitution will end military rule. (Mizzima, 26 April)
Opposition:     If we vote Yes, democracy will never come to Burma. (Irrawaddy, 28 April)

The World
25 April 2008
_{Dalai Lama}
China says it will soon open fresh talks with Dalai Lama’s aides in response to pressure from world leaders. (AFP)
 
27 April 2008
_{Hamid Karzai}
Afghan president Hamid Karzai escapes assassination attempt for the 4th time. (New York Times)
 
30 April 2008
Thai PM Samak Sundaravej says he has floated the idea of forming the Organization of Rice Exporting Countries (OREC) starting with 4 countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. (Bangkok Post)
 
30 April 2008
US-based Freedom House reports annual survey:

• Gains in Thailand and Malaysia
• Vietnam and Laos continue to fair poorly
• China made some progress by allowing investigative journalists to carryout their work but offset by an elaborate web of regulations
• In Burma as many as 15 journalists were detained

(BBC)

International Relations
24 April 2008
Draft resolution proposed by the US, UK and France to call for an inclusive national reconciliation in Burma is opposed by China and Russia. (Irrawaddy)
 
26 April 2008
Mohammed Karim, 56, of Bangladesh arrested in Bangkok for forging passports. His accomplice Tin Oo, a Burmese citizen, is on the run. (Bangkok Post/ Mizzima)
 
26 April 2008
Indian political parties call for release of 34 Burmese rebels in Kolkata’s Presidency jail. Detaining people for 8 years without charges is illegal, says Nandita Haksar, member of the Solidarity Committee. (Mizzima)
 
28 April 2008
Protests are being launched by Burmese nationals at their respective embassies in several countries: Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the United States. (Irrawaddy)
 
29 April 2008
European Parliament passes a resolution calling for European Union to support a global arms embargo against Burma. (Burma Campaign UK)

Thai-Burma Relations
28 April 2008
_{Col Yawd Serk}
Col Yawd Serk, commenting on PM Thein Sein’s visit to northern Thailand, says Thai authorities need not concern about his safety because the SSA will do nothing to damage Thailand’s reputation. (SHAN)
 
28 April 2008
Thailand and Burma will also try to conclude a second Thai-supported alternative development project to wean communities away from poppy cultivation, says Pittaya Jinawat, deputy secretary general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board. The project is to be launched at Wanyin (Banyen) near Taunggyi, home to the PaO. (Bangkok Post)
 
29 April 2008

PM Thein Sein arrives in Bangkok. His schedule:
29 April     -           Dinner at PM Samak Sundaravej’s residence
30 April     -           Official talk with Samak
                             Audience with HM King
                             Signs agreement on contract farming
1 May        -          Trip to Chiangrai
(Irrawaddy)
 
29 April 2008
There will be 3 parties to contest in the 2010 elections in Burma, says Thai PM Samak Sundaravej. (Irrawaddy)
 
29 April 2008
_{Noppadon Pattama}
Thailand and Burma sign two agreements: on natural gas production and joint drug suppression. On the estimated 2.2 million Burmese people in Thailand, FM Noppadon Pattama says Thailand will not push them back, but will provide assistance on a humanitarian basis. (The Nation) Thailand thinks it is OK if Aung San Suu Kyi is put on the shelf, says PM Samak Sundaravej. (Reuters)
 
1 May 2008
Migrant representatives join forces with Thailand’s Northern Industrial Community to present an 8 point proposal to the government in Lamphun where May Day is being observed. The proposal includes non-discrimination against the migrant workers, among others. (SHAN)
 
1 May 2008
May Day march in Bangkok joined by 50 Burmese workers. (Mizzima)
 
2 May 2008
Around 1,000 Burmese laborers in Surat Thani have gone hiding following rumors that Burmese soldiers have been sent to round them up to participate in the 10 May referendum. (Bangkok Post)

Politics/ Inside Burma
20 April 2008
_{Brig-Gen Phone Swe}
Deputy home minister Phone Swe orders release of 13 Muslim Council members of Maungdaw who were arrested 30 March-1 April. He is on a visit to Arakan to campaign for the referendum. (Kaladan)
 
28 April 2008

Detained 88 Generation Students health worsens:

• Ko Ko Gyi has stomach problem
• Min Ko Naing continues to have eye problem
• Hla Myo Naung has already gone blind in one eye

Another activist who is having health problem is Than Naing. Half of his face is paralyzed. He cannot close his left eye. When he eats he has to chew with the teeth on his right side. (DVB/Mizzima)
 
29 April 2008
Gen Than Shwe, 74, is seriously ill from diabetes, hypertension and coronary problems. His kidneys are failing and he has to go dialysis every day. He spends more than 6 hours a day resting, according to a source inside the general’s staff. “He is effectively dead,” according to one Asian diplomat close to the old general. (Larry Jagan, Bangkok Post)
 
29 April 2008
Thai-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) says over 70 activists have been arrested trying to stage demonstrations over the last three days. (Mizzima)
 
Referendum
26 April 2008
NLD says 6 party members have been attacked and 20 jailed ahead of next month’s vote. (AFP)
 
26 April 2008
The junta is resorting various means to win support:

• At a meeting in Rangoon, attendees were told every vote is being registered with code numbers. The system will help authorities to trace the voters
• Policemen are casting their votes in advance so they can take charge of security during actual polling
• Civil servants are to vote in advance in front of military authorities’ eyes

(Mizzima)
 
26 April 2008
150 demonstrators stage rally at the Burma embassy in Tokyo, demand Burmese residents be allowed to cast their ballots. At least 12 go to hospital after clashes with police. (AFP)
 
27 April 2008
Citizens over 50 in Bhamo who have lost their ID cards forced to cast Yes votes. Among the some 20 people only a granny casts a No vote. (Mizzima)
 
27 April 2008
Owners of over 100 beauty and massage parlors called to a meeting by Rangoon’s township authorities. Told they and employees must vote Yes if they want their businesses to continue. (DVB)
 
28 April 2008
Riot police carrying batons deployed at major road junctions and Buddhist monuments ahead of the referendum. 
 
28 April 2008
Junta plans to block flow of information by controlling the internet during the referendum, according to an official from the communications, by dividing internet users into 3 categories:

• Public Access Center category will be blocked first
• Commercial Usages will be next if information continues to leak
• Hotel and Tourism sector may likely remain untouched

They might also use total cut off of reduction of band width to slow down information flow, he says. (Mizzima)
 
28 April 2008
U Tar, 1990 MP for Salin township, says a female teacher due to leave advanced training was told by township officials that they already cast Yes for her and three other people in her family. (DVB)
 
28 April 2008
_{Aung San Suu Kyi}
A lot of people in Yenangyaung, Magwe division, are going to vote No after Col Zaw Min, Minister for Electric Power#1, made a derogatory remark about Aung San Suu Kyi, calling her a Kala Maya (Indian’s wife). (DVB)
 
28 April 2008
Local authorities in Chin State are said to have allowed persons who need to travel for further studies or for emergencies to cast their votes in advance since 15 April. (Khonumthung)
 
28 April 2008
Brig Gen Thein Zaw, Post and Telegraph minister, who has been campaigning in Kachin State since 22 April is using cloth bales to bribe voters. He has said, “All the votes will be turned to Yes, even if they are casting No.” (Mizzima)
 
29 April 2008
Several ceasefire groups have been asked to provide security during the referendum. They include the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Karen Peace Front (KPF) and PaO National Organization (PNO). (Irrawaddy)
 
30 April 2008
12 ethnic parties call on the people to “boldly express your true wishes” at the upcoming referendum. (Statement)
 
30 April 2008
A Rangoon-based journalist, citing an official from Ministry of Information, says journalists will not be allowed to cover the May referendum. No reasons mentioned. (Mizzima) Some journalist’s visa applications have already been turned down, according to Southeast Asian Press Alliance – Editor
 
30 April 2008
Advance voting in Myawaddy, opposite Maesod, began on 28 April for people holding temporary ID cards. Some voters claim they were issued ballots that had already been ticked Yes. “My duty was just to put it in the ballot box,” says a worker. Advance voting is due to continue until 8 May. (Irrawaddy)
 
1 May 2008
Rangoon-based United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD) calls for referendum boycott. (Irrawaddy)
 
1 May 2008
_{Gen Than Shwe}
Gen Than Shwe’s May Day message urges workers to vote Yes for the draft constitution. (AP)
 
1 May 2008
Seven Alliances, made up of National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB), Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB), Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) and Women’s League of Burma (WLB) among others urge people to vote No. (Statement)

Shans/ Shan State
22-25 April 2008
33 representatives from Lahu organizations hold conference to form a new organization: Lahu Democratic Union (LDU). Its leadership: Ja Bo Long, Khu Hsa and Na Mi Shaw. (SHAN)
 
1 May 2008
Tai Coordination Committee (TCC) an umbrella Shan group based in Thailand, calls for Vote No. (Statement)

Economy/ Business
28 April 2008
Weekly Eleven quotes fishery department saying Burma’s marine exports hit $561 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year, up from the previous fiscal year’s $234 million. China topped Burma’s marine export countries, followed by Thailand, Japan and Singapore. (Xinhua)
 
30 April 2008
Astral Asia, Malaysian palm oil producer, has cancelled plans to invest $200 million in palm plantation development in the southern tip of Burma. It announced 6 months ago that it had signed an MoU for a joint venture. No reason for its decision given. (Irrawaddy)

Human Rights
29 April 2008
Earth Rights International, says US-based Chevron Corp that bought Unocal, one of the Yadana gas pipeline partners, in 2005 should shoulder the responsibility of the ongoing rights abuse by Burmese soldiers. (Mizzima)
 
30 April 2008
Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) says it is making an emergency appeal for addition $7.5 million to supply food to 145,000 refugees. Positive response from the Netherlands and Ireland. (The Nation)
 
1 May 2008

Ethnic Community Development Forum, an umbrella organization of 7 groups, launches Biofuel by Decree, a report on the jatropha project in Burma which began early 2006. It is a fiasco, claims ECDF, as soldiers know only about guns but nothing about agriculture. (SHAN)

Environment
1 May 2008
A new cyclone Nargis moving to southern Burma. Similar cyclone killed thousands in Bangladesh. (VOA)

Drugs
See Thai-Burma Relations

War
25 April 2008
A suspicious mail packet spotted by a vendor in a tourist area on Tha Phae Road, Chiangmai. The police found a spray can stuffed with explosive that includes potassium and aluminum and an electric circuit board that supports remote-controlled detonation. (Bangkok Post)

Obituary
29 April 2008

Venerable Kovida, 81, who led an alms boycott of military families in 1990 and founder of Sasana Moli in 2007, passes away in New York. (Irrawaddy)