Burma calls for peace while its military continues war

Tue, 2013-05-14 07:46

By - Zin Linn 

Since the government has publicly declared its reform plans including national reconciliation, it ought to carefully control its armed forces to support the peacemaking efforts. But, presently, the Burma armed forces seem to be going against the peace plan made by the President.

If it was a fabricated story, the people would blame the President as an anti-reformist. The cost of the army’s improper acts will ram the country into another abysmal of calamity.

It seems the government and its armed forces have been playing good guy and bad guy against the armed ethnic groups. Otherwise, is it the military’s intention to change its direction to harm the reputation of the government wherever the bright opportunity emerged?

However, the government should not mislead the people’s hope for change. The ethnic armed groups do not completely trust the government’s peace talks. The fact is that while offering the peace proposal, the government has been increasing its deployment of armed forces in the conflict zones. Above and beyond, the Burma army has been constantly carrying on combating the ethnic rebels which may lead to damaging the president’s reform aspiration.

According to a press release dated April 1, 2013 by Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization, the Burmese Army has given an ultimatum to the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) to clear its troops from the west bank of the Salween River in an area where Chinese companies are planning a mega dam.

On March 26, the Burmese Northeast Regional Commander ordered SSA-N troops to pull out immediately from east of the Tangyan-Mong Kao road or face attack. SSA-N had been permitted to operate in this area under their original 1989 ceasefire agreement as well as under their new 2012 peace agreement.

Thousands of Burmese troops, artillery and tanks have been brought in since February from central Burma and Lashio, to Tangyan and Mong Hsu, south of Mong Kao. Tangyan lies 20 kilometers southwest of Nong Pha, where one of six planned dams on the Salween in Burma is proceeding, as announced in Burma’s parliament on February 27. 

Little is known about the project except for an announcement in December 2009 that Burma’s Ministry of Electric Power No. 1 had signed an MOU with China Hydropower Engineering Consulting Group (HydroChina) to develop two dams, one at Nong Pha and one at nearby Man Tung, on the Nam Ma tributary of the Salween, which will together produce 1,200 Megawatts, says the press release.

As said by Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.) on 9 May, it was reported that Thursday early morning Burma Army launched an attack against Shan bases on the Mao (Shweli) valley on the Sino-Burmese border, resulting in local people over 800 to flee for their safety across the border, said local news sources.

“We did not start the fight. Units of Burma army which are involved in today’s fighting are under the direct command of the Military Operations Command (MOC) 16 based in Namkham. They [Burma army units] are advancing towards areas under our control from 6 directions. Now the fight is still going on. We suffered one death. We have seen 11 Burma army soldiers dead bodies. Some of them have been captured alive by our troops,” said Shan State Army (SSA) Task Force commander Lt-Col Zawm Mong, speaking from the frontline.

The latest clashes broke out after 4 men from the military disguised as portrait photo sellers went missing in the fourth week of April, quoting some local people, Shan Herald News said. Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) is one of the ethnic armed groups that signed ceasefire agreement with Thein Sein government for peace talks in December 2011.

Regional peace talks in Taunggyi, Shan State (South), were held between the government’s Union-level peacemaking group and SSPP/SSA peace-making group on 28 January this year.

The government’s media published a five-point foundation agreement between the two teams. Both teams have agreed peace-building and non-disintegration of the Union through the 28-January agreement.

The RCSS/SSA and Naypyitaw’s Union Peacemaking Work Committee met in Kengtung to sign a 12 point union level agreement on 19 May 2012. In general, the two sides have signed 3 agreements on 31 points in total since 2 December 2011, according to SHAN.

“So far only two of them have been successfully implemented,” said, leader of the RCSS/SSA.

Some 80 clashes have taken place since the signing in December 2011 due to the fact that the Burma Army, in most cases, has failed to notify the SSA of its planned movements, according to Lt-Gen Yawdserk.

If the President Thein Sein government took no notice of addressing this fragile political topic by way of genuine political dialogue, the ongoing civil war in ethnic territories may not be put out simply.

- Asian Tribune – http://www.asiantribune.com/node/62568

Will Burma welcome a constitutional reform?

Thu, 2013-04-18 02:18 — editor

By - Zin Linn 

Wednesday, 17 April, is the New Year day of Burma/Myanmar. Burmese New Year, also known as the Thingyan festival, is an immeasurably admired celebration of all walks of citizens wherein people splash water at each other as a symbol of washing away the bad lucks of the previous year. 

                              Myanmar's democracy leader Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, left, shakes hands with                                 Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida prior to their talks at the Iikura guesthouse in Tokyo on Tuesday.  

President Thein Sein spoke in a radio address broadcast to mark a traditional New Year holiday, AP News said. In his message, Thein Sein said, “We have achieved successes that we had not hoped for and also experienced shocking and saddening events we had not expected.” … But “during this long road toward democracy, we have to sustain our successes and take lessons from the losses, and be prepared to face the challenges ahead,” he said.

People of Burma have been hopefully looking forward to see a new dawn of democracy in this New Year, as the charismatic democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has been working in the parliament together with other ethnic and democratic parties to transform the country into a promising free state. 

Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the NLD, was, along with 43 parliamentarians, elected from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party in April by-elections last year. Suu Kyi has said one of her priorities as an elected parliamentarian is to advocate an amendment of the 2008 constitution, under which 25 per cent of the parliament seats are reserved for unelected military officials.

In frequent media interviews, Suu Kyi expressed her ambition to work together with the new government to drive for some changes reducing social difficulties of the grassroots people. Well-informed sources close to the government also said that the government eagerly wants Suu Kyi and members of her party sitting in parliament to give itself more legitimacy. Most Burma watchers believe that the participation of 43 NLD legislators, including Suu Kyi in the existing parliament, positively improve the military-dominated government’s image and legitimacy.

For the time being, Nobel laureate of Burma Aung San Suu Kyi is spending her New Year holidays in Japan in order to meet with Japanese leaders as well as hundreds of her supporters living there. During a meeting with her compatriots from Burma at a hall in Tokyo, she answered their questions with a happy manner. 

Concerning the question about constitutional knowledge, first of all, members of the constitutional drafting committee requires to be well-regarded by the citizens and the works of the drafting committee must be crystal clear, Suu Kyi explained in front of the audience on April 13 in Tokyo. 

Most important fact is that if the citizens have undesirable articles in it, there must be the right to disapprove of them. In quest of the agreement from the citizens is a key point ahead of drafting the charter, she said. The complete video footage of this important meeting with her compatriots on 13 April in Tokyo has been spreading through the Internet including the social media such as Face Book.

According to Aung San Suu Kyi’s explanations, even the existing constitution must be revised prior to 2015 General Elections in order to become free and fair polls. Although 2015 ballot may be free, it will not be fair under the current undemocratic 2008 Constitution, Suu Kyi said.

In this Burmese New Year, another unfinished constitutional crisis is peace question related to the ethnic communities of the country. Recently, 13 groups of Kachin civil society organizations based in Burma issued a statement criticizing Chinese government’s intervention in peace process on April 6, according to the Kachinland News. Kachin public sees Chinese government’s intervention during a meeting between KIO and Burmese government on March 11-12 as an obstacle for progress in peace dialogues, said the statement.

On March 29, KIO sent a letter to Minister Aung Min, leader of Burmese government’s peace delegation, requesting the presence of UN, US, UK and PRC (Chinese government) representatives if the meeting were to be held inside the country. Aung Min agreed to KIO’s demand and a meeting was scheduled to be held in Myitkyina on April 6. However, it has been postponed because of Chinese government’s objection for inclusion of UK and US representatives on April 3, the Kachinland News said.

As a result of ongoing civil war that has been waged for more than sixty years, Burma has become a largely dilapidated country in the region. Civil war in Burma has taken place since the country achieved its independence from British colonial rulers in 1948. Regrettably, the country lost its liberty in 1962 since the military led by the late dictator Gen. Ne Win seized power and cracked down on all democracy institutions, including free press in Burma.

Furthermore, consecutive military regimes never change their war policy against the ethnic rebels who defend just for their self-determination. Those military rulers have no intention of building a democratic federal union state; instead they ordered the ethnic armed-groups to surrender. 

At present, brutal warfare launched by the military-backed President Thein Sein government goes on and on mainly in ethnic areas, especially in Kachin State. 

According to the Kachinland News, on April 8, KIA’s 2nd Battalion under 4th Brigade fought against Burmese army’s 136th Light Infantry Regiment near Man-Lau-Bum in northern Shan State. Another battle occurred on the same day between KIA’s 36th Battalion under 4th Brigade and a combined force of Burmese army’s 242nd LIR and 507th LIB under 16th Military Operation Command at a mountain located between Lai-Lawm and Man-Se-Pa in northern Shan State. On April 10, a combat took place between KIA’s 1st Battalion under 3rd Brigade and Thein-ni-based government’s 240th Light Infantry Battalion between Mansi and Nazaret.

Much of the recent fighting between the Burma Army and the KIA has occurred in areas where large-scale natural resources and infrastructure projects are carrying out, including the controversial Myitsone Dam which was suspended at present. Besides, the most important Chinese project – 771-kilometer-long gas-and-oil twin pipeline across Kyaukphru in Rakhine state to Ruili on the China border – also passed through the northern Shan State under KIO controlled region.

The development of these large-scale natural resource and infrastructure projects has exacerbated the decades-long conflicts between Burma Army army and ethnic Kachin armed groups that seek greater autonomy under Pang-long Agreement. Burma Army is trying to control over these areas to exploit the natural resources and to catch the attention of larger foreign investment.

Due to China’s ravenous claim on development-projects in Burma, several people doubt whether China involved in Kachin war by some means. Some analysts believe that the Burmese government has been escalating military pressure on the KIO to reduce their contradictory view concerning natural resources and the dam-projects in Kachin State.

Notably, President Thein Sein received Zhang Guoqing, who is the President of China North Industries Corporation- NORINCO, at the Presidential Palace in Nay-Pyi-Taw, on 24 December 2012, according to the state-run media. Zhang Guoqing’s visit seemed closely related with the country’s natural resources which China is keen to exploit. The government mustn’t allow China to put its oar in the country’s internal affairs. 

Most clashes occurred in ethnic territories today are not because of the political question but because of money-making concentration in reality. On the other hand, the root question of armed conflicts in this country is intertwined with the constitutional imperfection. Many analysts see the conflicts as unbalanced distribution of power between major ethnic communities and the ruling military-dominated regime.

Ethnic minorities have been suffering through five decades of immoral military operations in the name of national disintegration. There is a constant demand from Burma’s ethnic groups to enjoy equal political, social and economic rights. The Constitution must guarantee the rights of self-determination and of equal representation for every ethnic group in the Parliament. It is also required to include provisions against racial discrimination.

Hence, the government needs to declare nationwide general amnesty with cessation of hostilities and rush towards an all-inclusive peace conference allowing all opposition groups to take part. To start a genuine reform, in this Burmese New Year, Burma critically requires revising its military-favored constitution in quest of true democratic social contract without delay.

- Asian Tribune  http://www.asiantribune.com/node/62308

Under uncertainty, private daily newspapers restart in Burma

Tue, 2013-04-02 04:09 — editor

By - Zin Linn

As citizens of Burma are demanding freedom of expression and freedom of the press, the current quasi-civilian government invited applications for private dailies starting from 1 February 2013. Those publishers who were allowed for publication of daily newspapers have to start issuing their respective papers on 1 April 2013.
It’s really a great risk for the publishers, editors, correspondents and even also the distributors of the dailies in such a time of uncertainty. They are taking part in a movement for press freedom in the country which infamous for its restrictions on the media.

According to the media news, altogether 16 dailies have been allowed to bring out their circulations. They are namely The private daily newspapers granted authorization are: Khit Moe, Pyidaungsu Daily (Union Daily), Shwe Naging Ngan Thit (The Golden Fresh Nation), The Emperor, The Messenger, Mizzima, Myanmar Newsweek, Nout Sone Nay Sin Htote Thadinsar (Daily Update), The Daily Eleven, San Taw Chein, Khit Thit Daily, Yangon Times, Myanmar Dika, D Wave, Pyidaungsu Athan and 7 Day Daily.

Out of sixteen private daily newspapers, four dailies - Pyidaungsu Daily (Union Daily), Shwe Naing Ngan Thit Daily (Golden Freshland Daily), San Taw Chein Daily (Standard Times Daily) and Voice Daily – have already started their circulations on Monday. The private daily newspapers in Burma had disappeared since 1964 under the military junta run by the late Gen. Ne Win. The then privately owned newspapers including The New Light of Myanmar (Burmese version), The Mirror (Burmese version) and The Guardian (English version), were nationalized by the military regime in 1964.

The Pyidaungsu Daily (Union Daily) is published by the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

A dozen more remaining permitted daily newspapers are probable to come out on soon after in this year. They include Khit Moe Daily, Empire Daily, The Messenger, Daily Update, Myanmar Newsweek Daily, Mizzima Daily, Eleven Daily, Khit Thit Daily, The Yangon Times, Myanmar Dika, Union Athan, The 7-Day Daily and The D-Wave.

Currently, some state-run newspapers have also been circulating daily in Burma/Myanmar. They are namely Myanmar Alin (Burmese version), Kyemon (The Mirror, Burmese version), Myawaddy (Burmese version), The New Light of Myanmar (English version) and Yadanarpon (Burmese version).

If one looked into the first 1947 constitution of Burma, he could find that it had promised citizens the right to enjoy freedom of expression and opinions. It made Burma the extraordinary status in South-East Asia region for embracing press freedom. During 1948-1962 period, the then Prime Minister U Nu’s government had no press censor board office similar to PSRD.

Journalists and reporters were even allowed to enter the PM’s office and parliament without any limitation. The country had the benefit of a free press without a censorship office. As many as three dozen newspapers, including English and Chinese dailies, existed between 1948 and 1962 under the civilian government. Even the offices of the ministers and the prime minister were never closed to reporters and journalists in those days.

The situation changed in 1962, when the military seized power. All newspapers were nationalized by the then junta led by Gen. Ne Win. The junta established a Press Scrutiny Board to enforce strict censorship practices on all forms of printed matter, including advertisements and obituaries. ‘The Printers and Publishers Registration Law’ was introduced shortly after the 1962 military-coup.

Burma (Myanmar) dissolved the press censorship board officially known as Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD) in January. According to the state-run New Light of Myanmar, the termination of PSRD had approved during the cabinet meeting held on 24 January 2013.

“The division under the Printing and Publishing Enterprise has stopped functioning since 20 August, 2012 to pave ways for freedom of press,” according to the news report. However, in place of PSRD, “Copyrights and Registration Division” will be shaped under the Information and Public Relations Department, NLM newspaper said.

The Myanmar government also renewed its core press council into interim Press Council in September 2012 to deal with media issues before a press media law is formally enacted by parliament.

Earlier March 2013, the media groups of Burma – Myanmar Journalists’ Association (MJA), Myanmar Journalists’ Network (MJN) and Myanmar Journalists’ Union (MJU) – protested against the draft of the Printing and Publishing Law drawn up by the Ministry of Information (MOI) submitted to Parliament on 27 February, 2013. They protested because MOI did not consult with the other stakeholders before it put forward the draft bill to the House.

The MOI’s draft bill maintains government power over the media. Journalists are angry due to the fact that it is no different from the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Law that was enacted by the late Gen. Ne Win, the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma.

Even though private dailies are allowed, the unsettled media law is still in the way of the press freedom.
Moreover, the government has a duty to amend media oppressive laws such as the undemocratic 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act, article 505-B of the criminal code, the 1975 State Protection Law, the 1996 Television and Video Act, the 1996 Computer Science Development Act and the 2004 Electronics Transactions Law.

Without amending those laws, the daily newspapers may not live to tell the tale in the long run.

- Asian Tribune -  http://www.asiantribune.com/node/62172

Will Burma agree with ethnic rebels for flawless peace?

Sat, 2013-03-23 03:34 — editor

By - Zin Linn 

 

Government of Burma has released a number of statements indicating its willingness to reach agreement with ethnic armed-groups and political opponents, domestic and exile. Unfortunately, those offers have been considered contradictory.

Aung San Suu Kyi supports all equal rights for the ethnic nationalities

Ethnic minorities have been suffering through five decades of brutal military maneuvers in the name of national unity. Attacks on these rural civilians continue on a regular basis. There is a constant demand from Burma’s ethnic groups to enjoy equal political, social and economic rights. The Constitution has to guarantee the rights of self-determination and of equal representation for every ethnic group in the Parliament. It is also required to include provisions against racial discrimination. 

Peace setting may not be established if the government and its troops hesitated making a genuine decision to reach a total end of civil war as well as total pulling out of armed forces from the ethnic territories. 

As people throughout the country denounced war for genuine peace, some groups of people launched peace march toward Laiza, the HQ of Kachin Independence Organization. Peace marchers mentioned in their respective statement that Burma needs a lasting peace to start a tripartite political dialogue in relation to various representatives of ethnic nationalities plus democratic forces and Burmese military. 

In the statement, they urge to set a date for a forum where equal rights and autonomy of ethnic nationalities need to be discussed. 

According to Kachinland News, Peace-Marchers of Myingyan, a town in the Mandalay Division, arrived Kachin administrative capital Laiza on 13 March at 2 pm. Peace-Marchers were stopped at Lajayang by Burmese army on 9 March and waited authorities’ permission for five days to enter Laiza city by sleeping on the road sides and fasting in protest of the blockage by Burmese soldiers. The soldiers finally removed the barrier to cross the creek in early morning of 13 March, said a local resident.

In fact, Peace-Marchers began their peace journey on 7 February, 2013 at Myingyan. It took 34 days for them to reach to Laiza. Laiza residents, KIO officials and ABSDF troops welcomed a total of 54 participants including 9 monks, 11 women and 34 men.

Thant Zin, head of the peace-marchers, said “We, Burmese, think that Burmese army’s activities were nothing to do with us. 

Even though, we too are responsible to help solving the injustice. We will donate 14.8 millions kyats to IDPs via KIO officials.” 

The peace marchers originated from 15 different towns in Mandalay Division, Sagaing Division and Kachin State and they urged in their statement both government and Kachin troops to end of hostilities. They also urged to respect and recognize the suffering of local Kachin civilians. They demanded reconstruction of the native communities by using psychological and physical healings as necessary. 

The second group of peace-marchers arrived in Laiza on March 18. They began their journey from Yangon on Jan 21. 130 peace-marchers including 16 monks and one nun traveled 56 days on foot to reach Laiza in favor of lifelong peace. Peace-marchers were welcomed and greeted by thousands of Laiza residents and IDPs, KIO/KIA personnel and its allied troops from ABSDF, Palaung, Ko Kang and Arakan Army as they enter Laiza city on 18 March, Kachinland News said.

Yan Naing Htun, leader of the group, said, “Our main demand is to end civil war. It’s required to restore peace not only in Kachin state, but also in the whole country”. 

Another group of peace activists led by a famous song-composer and guitarist Ye Lwin and former Capt. Nay Myo Zin arrived in Laiza on 15 March. They encouraged local residents and ABSDF troops by singing songs and making donations, Kachinland News said referring a resident. 

During June2004 National Convention, 13 ceased-fire groups submitted a political proposal demanding their equal rights to the plenary session. But, the junta’s National convention convening committee rejected the proposal by reasoning as an inappropriate time and situation to be accepted at the plenary session. When the 2008 constitution came out as a text, none of the proposed political aspirations counseled by the ethnic representatives was included. 

Aung San Suu Kyi supports all equal rights for the ethnic nationalities, while the military leaders are unwilling to do so. The military inflexibly declines to work together with Aung San Suu Kyi who continues collaborating with the ethnic political parties and ceased-fire groups. To the military autocrats, allowing the ethnic minorities to enjoy equal political, social and economic rights is a risk that could lead to ‘non-disintegration of the union’.

Nevertheless, the NLD and its ethnic alliance parties strongly support equal rights to ethnic minorities that will guarantee peace, stability and prosperity of the country. 

Even though some limited ceasefire deals are made between the rebel groups and the government, there has been little real progress on flawless peace. Some critics say, Burma army plays around as if there were disturbances going on all along the ethnic areas. By doing so, it make excuse to reinforce military power. By reinforcing military muscle, the Burma armed forces are capable of amplifying its power and authority of control in the ethnic territories.

It seems the military-backed government has been attempting to obtain more international recognition through make-believe peace-talks with the ethnic rebels. In contrast, Burma Army launches offensives against the ethnic armed groups frequently in order to control resource rich ethnic areas.

In reality, ethnic people’s voice for autonomy is not a new one but already mentioned in the 1947-Panglong agreement. Many ethnic leaders asserted that they don’t have self-confidence in the new 2008 constitution. 

They believe that it will not produce a true federal union since the Burmese military take 25 percent of all seats in the existing parliament. 

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/node/62066

Burma: Will constitutional review meet Suu Kyi’s dream for president?

Wed, 2013-03-20 02:05 — editor

By - Zin Linn 

Parliamentarians from Burma's ruling party markedly started on 15 March the first step concerning the feasible revision of the constitution which was drawn under previous military junta and intentionally vetoes the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency.Aung SanSuu Kyi has already declared her willingness to serve as her country’s president and her party’s intention to amend the undemocratic clauses in the constitution to allow her to do so, according to 8 October 2012 AP News.

The constitution says that candidates whose spouses or offspring are citizens of a foreign country shall not run in the presidential and vice-presidential selection since they are disqualified. As Suu Kyi's late husband Michael Aris and their two adult sons are British, people can easily see such clauses in the bill are targeted for the opposition leader.

The worst term is that the draft bill has been endorsed following a rigged and undemocratic 2008 referendum. Another ugly point is the constitution also set aside 25% of parliamentary seats for military personnel chosen by the armed forces chief.

As mentioned in the Eleven Media Group’s Sunday news, the revision proposal was submitted as an important issue to the lower house by Thura Aye Myint, vice chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and it was approved without any disagreement. Military appointed parliamentarians also voted in support of the proposal.

“I believe that the 2008 Constitution now requires reviewing according to the current situation of the country though it was written with a good cause for the future of our country,” Thura Aye Myint said at the parliament.

“A committee or commission will be formed comprising of law experts, academics and professionals,” he added.

Since taking office in March 2011, Thein Sein has introduced a series of remarkable political and economic reforms after almost five decades of authoritarian rule by military dictatorship. A major reform was giving political space for Suu Kyi's party so as to take part in the by-electoral process through which the NLD won 43 of 44 seats last year.

Although USDP’s MPs submitted a constitutional amendment, it is not expected to meet Suu Kyi's dream for presidency; the presentation sends a warning sign that the government party is pragmatic and most likely willing to deal with hot ethnic bids before the 2015 general election.

Burma’s current Constitution, approved in a May 2008 referendum, is inundated with misleading principles. It says the country must be united under one military command. To bring the ethnic groups in line with this term, the previous military regime has ordered all armed rebel groups to become part of Burma’s border guard force ahead of the 2010 election.

Ethnic minorities have been suffering through five decades of brutal military operations in the name of national unity. Attacks on these rural civilians continue on a regular basis. There is a constant demand from Burma’s ethnic groups to enjoy equal political, social and economic rights. The Constitution must guarantee the rights of self-determination and of equal representation for every ethnic group in the Parliament. It is also required to include provisions against racial discrimination.

At the June-2004 National Convention, 13 ceasefire groups submitted a political proposal demanding equal access to the plenary session. But the convention’s convening committee dismissed the proposal as improper. When the 2008 Constitution came out, none of the political points proposed by the ethnic representatives were included.

Ethnic revolutionary groups in the five states which are generally situated along China and Thailand borders have been looking for increased freedom from successive Burmese governments since the country’s independence in 1948.

So far, no one knows whether the incumbent regime has genuine intention to provide autonomy toward ethnic minorities with the aim of making national reconciliation. No opinion of the ethnic representatives was taken into account during the national convention (1993 – 2007) in which the principles of the 2008 constitution were laid down.

The junta has taken 14 years to draft the current constitution which was boycotted by opposition parties, the National League for Democracy (NLD) and others ethnic democratic parties who gained a landslide victory in the 1990 elections.

Actually, the national convention was filled with the handpicked the delegates. So, most citizens consider the constitution was not drafted by true representatives correspondingly. During the National Convention, the military junta also banned free discussion and rejected the demand of 13 ethnic ceasefire groups for power sharing between the state government and the central government.

On Monday, Aye Aye Win of Associated Press said, a lawmaker from Suu Kyi's NLD party, Phyo Min Thein, suggested the ruling party constitutional amendment proposal was meant to reward Suu Kyi for her moderate position in a dispute over the Letpadaung copper-mine in upper Burma.

However, the lower house speaker Thura Shwe Mann has confirmed by saying that a commission of intellectuals and law experts will be formed shortly to review the Constitution in order that it can be consistent with the current reform process.

Suu Kyi has already declared her willingness to serve as her country’s president and her party’s intention to amend the undemocratic clauses in the constitution to allow her to do so, according to 8 October 2012 AP News. Suu Kyi said it is her duty as leader of the NLD to be willing to take the executive office if that is what the people want. She said a clause in the constitution effectively barring her from the job is one of several her party seeks to change.

During a visit to India last year, Suu Kyi addressed an audience in Delhi on November 16 that the general election to be held in 2015 will not be fair, even though it is free, lacking compulsory amendments of the constitution.

As a prominent opposition leader Suu Kyi told Radio Free Asia (Burmese Service) that all parties in Burma, not just parliament, should make efforts to amend the country’s constitution, warning that the current charter cannot ensure credible elections in 2015.

She also urged Burmese people inside and outside of the country ought to endeavor bringing amendments to the constitution as she totally agreed the task.

- Asian Tribune -

Suu Kyi urges her associates to sustain “the spirit of unity”

Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the key opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), Saturday pronounced publicly towards her fellow members to be united in the midst of fuss that could weaken the league in the upcoming historic elections in 2015.The NLD is holding its first all-party congress in Rangoon this weekend.

Mon, 2013-03-11 02:51 — editor

By – Zin Linn

Burma’s once outlawed opposition party has launched its first ever historic party congress in front of the diplomats, journalists and leaders of other political parties, on 8-9-10 March 2013 in Rangoon. 

There were all together nearly 900 delegates in the first NLD congress.

The First NLD congress, which opened Friday, is a major step toward making the party more close to the grassroots and more likely to become a democratic association. As Burma has been trying itself to be converted into an open society with a free market, the first NLD congress is agreed to convene without any limitation. It’s not only a test for the NLD, but also a measurement for the future of the country which starts changing itself from a military-dictatorship to a normal democratic nation ahead of the approaching historic General Elections in 2015.

Speaking at the congress's opening ceremony at the Royal Rose restaurant in Rangoon, Suu Kyi urged the 862 party members assembled at the congress to use their vote in a right way. 

She suggested choosing the right representatives for the people to work for the country’s future without considering personal bias or prejudice. 

Even though the NLD has been under suppression for 25 years, it is the strongest opposition party in contemporary Burma. The party which has above a million members throughout the country was founded on 27 September 1988 and won landslide victory in the 1990 General Elections. Although the NLD swept the 1990 parliamentary elections, the junta refused to recognize the result. It has inflexibly refused the NLD representatives-elect to participate in the drafting of a new constitution of Burma.

After making a decision to re-register as a political party in November 2011, the NLD began its process of reform in January 2012. At that time, the Central Executive Committee of the NLD nominated Aung San Suu Kyi as the Chairperson. 

The NLD had declared to contest all 45 vacant parliamentary seats in April 1-2012 by-elections, including four seats in capital Naypyitaw which is the stronghold of the military-backed government’s party. Suu Kyi had made a landslide victory in the 2012 by-elections. 

Although Suu Kyi’s party won 44 seats out of 660 lower house, it was not enough to challenge amending the undemocratic clauses of the 2008 constitution fortified by the government’s ruling party.

After voting results showed the NLD’s big triumph, the party’s chairperson, Suu Kyi released a kindly statement intended for all NLD candidates and supporters to be polite in their success, and to be prepared to cooperate in the presence of other opposition parties and the ruling administration.

Speaking at the first ever historic party congress, Suu Kyi said that in her mind there was no idea of classifying her fellow members as bad or dull persons as well as good or intelligent persons. But, there may be people that can be educated and that cannot be educated, she said.

She also said that during 25 years under the junta, she heard criticism by members and non-members on the NLD as a centralized party. It’s true that the NLD had to make some decisions by central executive committee members in accordance with the situation under military rule, Suu Kyi confessed. But, situation has been changing now and the NLD has started choosing its ward-ship-and-village level leaders to central executive committee positions by democratic means, she emphasized.

But she accepted "there was some quarrelsome" within the party as expected in a way to democracy. According to the political analysts, democratic style politics is not a flawless one, but it is the most appropriate way for human beings so far, she explained.

Some observers said that there would be distrust between the veteran members and the impatient younger generation. The NLD’s chairperson told the party members that they should take part in the movement in favor of responsibility rather that hunting for positions. She urged her party members not to fight over positions.

Suu Kyi made three extraordinary suggestions to her delegates that they must be honest to the people, they must be be loyal to each other and they must not brush aside the value of the gratitude.

She also highlighted her thanks to the ethnic parties and organizations that strongly supported the NLD. She urged her members to keep “the spirit of unity” as a major strength for the country is being a union. The NLD has been tough and robust in the past as a result of this spirit, she said. 

On Saturday, the congress elected 85 representatives for central working committee including many new well-educated members as well as female members. On Sunday, the congress has voted 15-member central executive committee. The CEC has re-elected Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, 67, as chairperson of the party. She has been leading all for the democratization movement in Burma for a quarter of a century since 1988. 

According to the NLD’s political report to the first congress, the party has decided to help addressing the problems in Kachin and Rakhine States. It has also made a decision to restore rule of law as well as peace and stability in Burma. It also says that the party will endeavor amending the undemocratic constitution as its first priority.

Suu Kyi is determined to win national elections in 2015 by adding up the party with "new blood" and spread out the power for decision-making.

The first ever congress of the NLD is the most up-to-date indicator of the remarkable changes appeared in Burma since ex-general Thein Sein took power as president in March 2011, expecting international aid and recognition to the pariah state.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/node/61923

Burma President broadcasts a hypothetical radio message

Sun, 2013-03-03 02:13 — editor

By - Zin Linn 

President Thein Sein of Myanmar (Burma) has broadcast a radio message from 1 to 3 March. Nay Pyi Taw Radio Myanmar, Mandalay FM Pyinsawady FM, Shwe FM, Cherry FM, Padamya FM, FM Bagan and Thazin broadcast the message at 7 am, 11 am, 6 pm and 8 pm respectively. Padauk Myay Radio will air the speech at 5.30 am, 7 am, 6 pm and 8 pm respectively, the state-run media said on Friday.

He was on the air to inform public of his government’s policies and undertakings as bringing up to date of country’s developments. Firstly, he recalled significances of the 66th Anniversary Union Day dinner on 12 February. Thein Sein strangely revealed about the historic day— 12 February, 1947. It was marked as the country’s union day as national leader General Aung San and ethnic leaders signed Panglong agreement amidst various challenges building a Federal Democratic Union on the world stage.

He said that this year’s Union Day is noteworthy because potentials for national reconciliation are seen in the current peace process. Ethnic leaders, parties and organizations came face to face at the Union Day dinner. The dinner strengthened mutual trust among leaders in peace talks, Thein Sein said.

President Thein Sein also said, “My meeting with leaders of ethnic armed groups on internal peace making process on 13 February coincided with the birthday of General Aung San. I would like to convey a message to you that we have made a firm step towards the national reconciliation which would be the best possible birthday present to our national leader by the people of Myanmar.”

He said that he had invited KIO/KIA leaders to attend Union Day dinner. Yet, they could not attend it due to remaining various difficulties and reasons. Except, KIO and Union government have had extra optimism during Shweli peace talks held on 4 February, President said. He said that he believed a truce would be reached and a sustainable peace process could be created. He also said that he cared for KIO’s stance on genuine peace, equality and self-determination of national races stated on the press release about Shweli peace talks. 

While working for reconciliation, President said, there will be free spaces not only for participation of individual organizations but also for citizens in the peace process. On 7 February, he said, there was a progress forming a scrutiny committee of remaining prisoners. It was composed of the representatives from the government, the civil societies and political parties to enable the rest political prisoners to take part in future national politics, Thein Sein said. 

According to the President, the committee will work transparently and will manage family reunion of the prisoners of conscience jailed by the then regime, to help them enjoy their freedom like any other citizens and participate in future reforms.

He also mentioned that plans are in progress to sale low-priced cell phone devices in coming April which can help extend current communication infrastructures. Besides, he also informed struggles to create more job opportunities for youths. 

Reform progress depends on local strength and government is working hard to shape a modern country on the basis of the globalization, the President aired through radio waves. The goal of his European trip is to fetch necessary assistances for the country’s reform processes, he highlighted.

In conclusion, he urged people to be at one with fast and forceful reforms. Finally, he called every citizen for forgiveness, mutual understandings, sympathy and cooperation.

President Thein Sein has pledged to bring about ‘transparency’ and ‘good governance’ in the military-monopolized rundown country, since taking office in March 2011. But questions hang around unbeatably whether Thein Sein knows how to control the scandalously inscrutable armed forces, which is known grabbing major financial interests in Burma’s money-spinning natural resource industries.

It is also illogical that the unlimited ‘Special Funds’ open to the commander-in-chief of the military is completely unbalanced. The worst is that the ruling says the military commander-in-chief will not be subject to questioning, explanation or auditing by any individual or organization concerning the use of ‘Special Funds’.

According to Democratic Voice of Burma, the country’s tarnished armed forces will maintain to seize the largest portion of next year’s national budget, despite criticisms from a number of MPs over the lack of transparency in the ministry’s expenditures and policies.

The defense ministry has been allocated 20.86 percent – or over one fifth – of the fiscal year 2013-2014, which is currently being debated in parliament. It represents an incremental decrease from the previous year, when it received around one quarter of the national budget.

Even though the deputy defense minister, Maj-Gen Kyaw Nyunt promised to consider the issue raised in parliament corresponding to the constitution. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with like-mined MPs called for amendments to the 2013-2014 National Planning Bill, insisting that the budget must “reflect the people’s desire”.

But, it is still out of question to amend the military primary constitution. For instance, Burma’s Union Parliament approved the government’s US $1.15 billion military budget on Friday with an overwhelming majority. In a joint vote by the Upper House and Lower House in Naypyidaw, 445 parliamentarians voted for the proposed military budget, 60 voted for a reduction of the budget and 7 MPs abstained, according to The Irrawaddy.

Then, there are questions for President Thein Sein. If President preferred creating peace and national reconciliation, why did his armed forces need over-spending for military hardware? If there is poverty alleviation in the president’s reform agenda, why did his government distribute smallest share of budget for health and education?

Some analysts deem armed conflicts in Burma probably will not settle down easily since more ethnic armed groups refuse to accept the 2008 new constitution which says Burma Army is the only military institution in the country.

The armed ethnic groups also believe the existing seemingly civilian government which loyal to the 2008 constitution will not let their basic rights or self-determination in accordance with the 1947 Panglong Agreement.

Therefore, if President Thein Sein truthfully wants to change the conflict-ridden country into a peace and prosperous nation, he needs guts to follow the Panglong Agreement path rather than to be stuck on the 2008 constitution. 

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/node/61839