Zin Linn's Contributions...

Is Burma Army against the President's Peace Plans?

2012-02-26T17:36:00.001-08:00

Mon, 2012-02-27 01:05 — editor

Myanmar

By - Zin Linn

Naypyidaw, 27 February (Asiantribune.com): President Thein Sein led Burmese government and the Shan State Army to sign a ceasefire agreement as a major breakthrough at Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, on 2 December 2011.

However, armed conflicts between the Burmese army and the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) cannot stop simply since Burmese soldiers have been combating uncontrollably so far. The dilemma is that even though there is a truce between the Burmese government and SSA-S, the Burma army becomes visible to move more actively particularly in the Eastern Shan State, where its Triangle Region Command headquarters is based in Kengtung.

According to the Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.), the Burmese army makes use of the ceasefire to renovate its strategic roads and garrisons on the Thai-Burmese border. Its units are also raking through the countryside to drive the SSA forces to their bases. As a result, the two armies encountered one another in a village-tract outside of the Tachilek Township, which lies on the border with Thailand.

Major Sai Lao Hseng, spokesperson for the SSA-S, said to the Democratic Voice of Burma that the fighting broke out after the Burmese army pressured the group to pull back its troops to the border. He claims, however, that there had been no provision for its withdrawal from the Mongtaw and Monghta regions in the ceasefire agreement.

“They threatened to open fire on us if we didn’t leave and then actually did fire at us,” he said. Two personnel from the SSA–S and three Burmese soldiers died in action.

Homong and Monghta have been designated as main offices for the SSA in keeping with the 16 January agreement, Shan Herald Agency for News said. Moreover, the agreement does not include anything about its forces outside the territory. It also emphasizes that the president’s peacemaking envoy, Aung Min, had agreed that Burma army units would be responsible for security on the main roads and towns, and the SSA the rest – at least for the time being.

Furthermore, any difference between the two sides should be resolved through negotiations and not by force, S.H.A.N. reported.

However, there were unavoidable armed clashes between Burmese armed forces and SSA–S troops that refused to be hard pressed. At least 11 clashes have taken place between the two, with 7 of them in the Eastern Shan State; three battles in Mongiang and four in Tachilek also took place. And the clashes in Tachilek, as each day passes, are growing into a long-lasting battle, reports S.H.A.N.

Another inexcusable story has occurred in the northern Shan State. According to S.H.A.N., Lt. Ta Long of SSA was invited to dinner by the Hsipaw-based Infantry Battalion 23 at its foothill camp near the village of Haikwi on 17 February. Candidly, he had appeared there with his wife and their three-year-old son on a motorbike. Ta Long was ambushed by soldiers from IB 23 on his way back. His wife was killed. As for his son, his whereabouts are unknown, while Kawli Media says that he is believed to be at the Lashio regional HQ.

Due to that cunning plot, at least two clashes have taken place between the two sides since the ambush, one on 17 February and one two more days later.

Those clashes after the ceasefire accord spotlight the government’s peacemaking deals to be untrustworthy. While the government is working towards peace deals, its armed forces are doing inconceivable damage.

It is suitable to quote the viewpoint of Shan Herald Agency for News on Friday. It says, “The obvious question therefore is: Are the government and the army playing good guy and bad guy against the armed resistance movements? Or, is the army bent on discrediting the government whenever and wherever the opportunity is given?”

Since the government has publicly declared its reform plans including national reconciliation, it must conscientiously control its armed forces to support the peacemaking efforts. But, right now, the Burma army seems to be disobeying the peace plan made by head of its government. If it was a made-up story, the people would blame the president as an anti-reformist. The consequences of the army’s contradictory acts will push the country into another abysmal of misfortune.

According to some analysts, the government’s democracy plan is similar to imaginary words that do not go with its visible dealings such as overlooking to restore law and order, neglecting to allow creation of trade unions, not allowing public protests and so on.

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.

-Asian Tribune- http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/02/26/burma-army-against-presidents-peace-plans

Burma keeps civil war while promising reforms

2012-02-21T18:48:00.000-08:00

Wed, 2012-02-22 04:56 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

What really happened to people in Kachin State? Why don’t government’s armed forces stop fighting in Kachin State? Who is taking advantage of this unreasonable war? There are lot of questions relating to this inhumane war launched by Burmese government against the Kachin ethnic people.

If current government has genuine political reform plan, first of all, it should announce unilaterally ceasefire to show sympathy on the war victims or innocent civilians. Government must take into consideration that this war actually is wasting many lives of country’s manpower.

In hope of setting up political dialogue, the KIO signed a ceasefire agreement with the central government on February 24, 1994. However, no political dialogue happened in the 17-year ceasefire time and the KIO was intimidated to remove weapons and transform into the Burmese Army-controlled Border Guard Force (BGF) ahead of the 2010 November 7 election. The KIO turned down the BGF plan, saying it cannot accept weakening its armed wing.

KIA officials repeatedly said the civil war will spread across Kachin and Shan states if the government expanded its aggressive offensive against the KIO. The latest series of armed clashes in Kachin state have prompted observers to think that war in the border regions may not be avoidable.

Last week, over 1,500 Kg of rice recently harvested by farmers in war-torn Kachin state were set ablaze by government soldiers in Waingmaw Township on the Myitkyina-Bhamo road, according to eye witnesses report posted in the Kachin News Group.

On February 16 and 17, soldiers from the Meiktila-based Light Infantry Division No. 88 ransacked a great quantity of rice in the Mali Yang village. The arson attack followed heavy fighting in the area between the Burmese army and fighters from Brigade 5 of the Kachin Independence Army.

Looting or destroying farmer's crop is a common policy of Burma Army to carry out it as communal penalty in conflict zones. Recent reports released by Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights show that civilians in Kachin and northern Shan state have put up with the army's nine month offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization.

Although the government described itself as it is on the democratic reform path, but its armed forces continue destroying civilians’ properties and killing unarmed civilians. Fighting has been particularly intense in northern Shan State along the proposed route of the Shwe gas pipeline project.

Peace talks between the two sides which were expected to be held last week failed to take place after the Burmese government delegation objected to meet again in China.

However, the civil war that made the country to be obsolete has been going on for over six decades. Although the government has been attempting through two peacemaking teams, the key ethnic rebel groups, Karen National Union (KNU) and Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) are still unconvinced of the move for political settlement.

The ethnic armed groups do not trust fully on government’s offer for peace talks. The fact is that while offering peace plan, the government has been increasing its deployment of armed forces in the conflict zones. Besides, the Burma Army’s soldiers are on the loose committing lots of crimes and human rights abuses in the ethnic territories.

The difficulties of ending the war against the KNU and the KIO are entwined with the natural resources profits in the respective ethnic states. Myitsone dam venture and Shwe-gas twin pipeline development projects are entangled with war against KIO and Dawei deep sea-port multi-billion mega projects need security guarantee by the KNU.

Moreover, the government wants to show the international community that their peacemaking course is on the progress. By doing so, the regime could earn the trust from the Western democracies and sanctions may lift at the same time.

In February, it seemed more skirmishing between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and government armed forces, even though there were reports about ceasefire or peace talks next week, according to Kachin News Group (KNG).

Since the end of a 17-year ceasefire between the Burmese government and the KIO in June 2010, more than 70,000 war refugees have abandoned their homes in native Kachin and northern Shan state. The huge majority of the refugees have fled to KIO areas where the UN and international NGO's have been unreachable.

Government should not take too much time to end this unnecessary civil war which is the main cause of the country’s economic deficiency. It is illogical to continue a civil war while finding a way for poverty alleviation in the country.

- Asian Tribune – http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/02/21/burma-keeps-civil-war-while-promising-reforms

Will Burma put together a fair press law and an independent press council?

2012-02-18T18:28:00.000-08:00

Sun, 2012-02-19 01:45 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

The people’s parliament session of Myanmar (Burma) continued for the fifth day at People’s Parliament Hall in Parliamentary Building in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday, attended by Speaker of the People’s Parliament (Lower House) Thura Shwe Mann and 346 Pyithu Hluttaw representatives, the state-owned media said today.

At Friday’s session, 11 questions were asked and answered, one proposal was discussed and one proposal submitted, according to the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

MP Tin Maung Oo of Shwe-pyi-tha Constituency tableds a question on “How to deal with the disappearance of one-side features of media houses which is the country’s fourth estate, emergence of journals that can actually reflect the people’s wishes and desires, getting rid of self-interested people for the publication of journals with affordable investments and measures to protect young reporters for promoting their skills and qualifications.”

The Deputy Minister for Information Soe Win replied that since the new government took office, Ministry of Information has controlled the media sector through press scrutiny policies in order to control biased-writings in the country’s fourth estate. He said that journalists on their parts are to do their works with the sense of liberty, accountability and with rationality.

When the press law is promulgated, media have to obey the law and biased articles and news might disappear from media section if journalists and public do not accept it, the Deputy Minister said. Soe Win also said that there should be ‘freedom and accountability’ and ‘freedom and rationality’ in fourth estate publishing unbiased periodicals conveying the people’s wishes with self-respect. Based on national interest, journalists must present issues from various angles for public information.

The Deputy Minister also explained that government has laid down five policies to ensure unity in democracy in the literary world. In the future, a ‘Press Council’ will be formed in harmony with the press law and it will supervise the journalists work. When the new publishing law comes into force, people will have to be in charge of the literary sphere within its framework, he said.

In addition, Deputy Minister Soe Win said that the Ministry of Information and Myanmar Writers and Journalist Association (MWJA) are in cooperation in conducting basic journalism course, and special journalism course. International scholars as well as internal experienced journalists have been invited to give lectures.

According to the deputy minister, three basic journalism courses have produced about 150 young journalists. Two basic writers’ courses have also produced about 100 new writers.

In the future, ‘Press Council’ and ‘MWJA’ will carry out journalism courses, workshops, seminars. Moreover, publishers and printing houses will also contribute to improve criterions of journalists. Journalists themselves will have to try hard with confidence for emergence of a proper fourth estate and professional journalists, the Deputy Minister Soe Win answered the respective questions.

Although Soe Win said about the press law and the press council, he did not make clear of the procedure relating to the law and the council. In actual fact, there is no journalists’ association in the country so as to promote and protect the rights of members of the media field. And the future press council should not be a government appointed club similar to the Myanmar Human Rights Commission.

In January, the new media law, drafted by the Ministry of Information’s Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) was introduced at a two-day media workshop jointly organized by Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association and Singapore-based Asia Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC). Tint Swe, the deputy director general of the PSRD presented some hints of the draft law but not the subject matter of the press law.

However, a source close to PSRD said that the draft law itself was adapted from the Printers and Publishers Registration Act enacted after the military coup by Ne Win in 1962.

If the government has a plan to draw a press law, it should let the participation of experienced journalists, editors, producers and publishers from the respective media fields. Furthermore, the government should invite media law experts, journalism consultants, human rights defenders and members of media watchdog groups from the international circle in order to create a standardized press law and press council to honor the freedom of the press.

Unless the government guarantees human rights including the freedom of expression and freedom of association, the international human rights watchdog groups will not believe that Burma is on the correct path of a democratic reform.

- Asian Tribune –http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/02/18/will-burma-put-together-fair-press-law-and-independent-press-council

Burma’s reform seems fragile, lacking Panglong initiative

2012-02-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

Mon, 2012-02-13 02:03 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

12th February of this year is the 65th anniversary of the Union Day of Burma. It marks the signing ceremony of the ‘Historic Panglong Agreement’ between General Aung San and leaders of the Chin, Kachin and Shan ethnic groups guaranteeing a genuine federal union of Burma. However, Burma’s successive decision makers negleced the political contract between Burmese and the ethnic leaders of independence.

Even in the emergence of President Thein Sein government, the contract has been put aside since the cabinet has been dominated by former generals. Besides, Burma’s new 2008 Constitution contributes many problems for political parties, ethnic cease-fire groups and exiled dissident factions seeking some common initiative between ethnic groups and the current governments.

To address the interconnected ethnic problems, the current government must review the mistakes of past rulings and the political aspirations of the ethnic communities. The root cause of the nation’s ethnic political mayhem is the consecutive governments’ antagonism to a democratic federal union. The late dictator Ne Win, who seized power in a military coup in 1962, opposed sharing equal authority in a series of heated debates in the then legislative body.

Ne Win supported a unitary state over a genuine federal union. The Military Council headed by Ne Win declared that the military coup had taken place because of the “federation topic,” which he said could lead to the disintegration of the nation.

Equality of ethnic minorities with the Burmese majority was to him out of the question. When Ne Win seized power, he demolished the 1948 Constitution. At the same time, the Pang Long Agreement, which promised autonomy or self-determination of the ethnic groups, was broken and abrogated.

In actual fact, it is a fair demand for self-sufficiency among the respective ethnic minorities. No government should use guns to govern ethnic minorities. If one looks back to 1960-61, many leaders from ethnic states criticized the weakness of the constitution as well as the government’s failure to take in the political autonomy of the ethnic minorities.

They pointed the finger at the central government of not allowing the representatives of ethnic states to manage their own affairs in areas of the economy, judiciary, education, and customs and so on. The central government ruled the ethnic areas as vassal states.

Sen-Gen Than Shwe has followed the tradition of his predecessor Ne Win and Saw Maung, who both defended the single unitary state. “All the armed forces in the union shall be under the command of the Defense Services,” says section 337 of the 2008 constitution.” It means ethnic armed troops are under state control.

Under the 2008 constitution, the junta-sponsored Nov. 7 elections there are only 330 civilian seats in the 440-member House of Representatives whereas the remaining 110 seats are taken by military officials appointed by the commander-in-chief. In the 224-seat House of Nationalities, 168 Members of Parliament are elected and 56 representatives are appointed by the chief of the armed forces.

As published in the state-owned newspapers, the list of military personnel to serve as military representatives in the 7 State and 7 Region parliaments totaling 222.

Moreover, the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won a landslide in the polls which declared seizing 882 out of 1154 seats in parliaments. Remarkably, 77 percent of the parliamentary seats have been seized by the military-backed USDP in the 2010 polls which were distinguished for vote-rigging show.

Hence, several ethnic leaders asserted that they don’t have faith in the planned 2010 election where they are likely to have limited opportunities which is not likely to create a genuinely peaceful federal union as the Burmese armed-forces take 25 percent of all seats and also seize additional 77 percent through junta-backed parties in the latest parliaments as set by the 2008 Constitution.

In such a parliament, dominated by the military and former military, ethnic representatives have little or no chance to press the self-sufficiency and equal status issues in parliament. Authentic ethnic representatives, who are willing to push ethnic issues forward, have no opportunity to occupy enough seats in the military faction monopolized-parliament to form an effective coalition.

Without addressing and honoring the ethnic people’s demand for self-determination, the latest parliament-based government seems unable to stop political and civil strife throughout ethnic areas. In reality, ethnic people’s demand of equal rights is not a new one but already mentioned in the 1947-Panglong agreement.

Burma’s sixty-four year-old Historic Panglong Agreement has been ignored by the consecutive Burmese regimes. The said agreement has been disregarded by the military leaders as they did not support the ‘Federalism’since 1962. The Panglong Agreement was signed on Feb. 12, 1947, between General Aung San and leaders of the Chin, Kachin and Shan ethnic groups guaranteeing to establish a genuine federal union of Burma.

National reconciliation and ethnic self-determination are two sides of the same coin, and they must be addressed in the new parliament and in respective regional and state parliaments. If the current government failed to deal with the Panglong initiative or equal rights of ethnic minorities, its so-called political reforms will not be a meaningful process.

- Asian Tribune -http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/02/12/burma%E2%80%99s-reform-seems-fragile-lacking-panglong-initiative

Burma draws a new media law, but based on the old

2012-02-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

Sun, 2012-02-12 01:43 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

Burma Media Association (BMA) released a press statement on 9 February concerning the new media law put forward by the Burmese government last week. BMA says that government’s new media law may not guarantee freedom of press, as well as freedom of expression.

Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association and Singapore-based Asia Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) jointly organized a two-day (January 30-31) media development workshop at Inya Lake Hotel in Rangoon, the state-owned New Light of Myanmar newspaper said on 1 February.

According to Mizzima News, heads of the BBC, VOA Burmese services and editors from Mizzima News participated in this media workshop. Also more than hundred domestic journalists and news editors took part in the conference.

The new media law, drafted by the Ministry of Information’s Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) was introduced at a media workshop jointly organized at the end of January by Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association and Singapore-based Asia Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC).

Even though local journalists, foreign-based Burmese journalists and journalists from Asian countries were invited to the two-day event, the participants didn’t get a chance to thoroughly discuss the fundamental nature of the law.

According to Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Mr. Tint Swe, the deputy director general of the PSRD only presented the Table of Contents of the draft law but not the subject matter of the law.

According to the BMA, sources close to the PSRD told that the draft law itself was adapted from the Printers and Publishers Registration Act enacted after the military coup d’état by Ne Win in 1962.

BMA analyzes the draft media law that it should not be based on the notorious Printers and Publishers Registration Act of 1962 which is a synonym of oppression against the press.
“We need a fresh start,” the BMA’s chairman Maung Maung Myint said.

The BMA urges the government to abolish the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act, and completely overhaul the laws that restrict freedom of expression, such as the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, Article 505/B of the Criminal Code and the 1923 Official Secrets Act.

On 10 February, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a press release in support of BMA’s statement on Burma’s new media law. IFJ says that Burma’s new media law needs to ensure press freedom.

"It is important that any new media laws introduced by the government of Burma improve press freedom, and provide greater freedom and security for journalists", IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

The IFJ joins the BMA in urging the government of Burma abolish the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Act, and associated laws designed to restrict freedom of expression, such as the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, Article 505/B of the Criminal Code and the 1923 Official Secrets Act.”

In its press release BMA also highlights, “Although Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index 2011 ranked Burma a slightly better position (169th) than in 2010 (174th) as a result of political reforms including partial amnesties and a reduction in prior censorship, it remained largely under the control of an authoritarian government run by former members of the military junta reinvented as civilian politicians. At least seven journalists still remain in prison at the start of 2012.”

In August parliamentary session, Thingangyun Township’s Member of Parliament Thein Nyunt submitted a proposal to the People’s Parliament to revoke the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act that was adopted under the pretext of an on-going civil war at the time, along with criminal laws relating to it, according to Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB)’s news dated 31 August 2011.

Thein Nyunt’s proposal was discussed and voted in the parliament; the results showed there were 336 votes against, 8 in favor and 41 abstaining votes, quoting MP Pe Than of Myebon Township in Arakan State, DVB reported.

The said law is widely used by the Burmese government to discriminate against political activists and journalists.

Without ensuring freedom of the press, no one will believe the reform made by the government as a genuine process. As the press is the fourth pillar of a democratic country, Burma must abandon all its unfair laws and regulations that oppressed the freedom of expression.

- Asian Tribune –http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/02/11/burma-draws-new-media-law-based-old

Holding peace talks, Burma try to break economic sanctions

2012-02-03T08:02:00.000-08:00

Fri, 2012-02-03 01:20 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

The civil war between successive Burmese governments and the ethnic armed groups in Burma is one of the longest unending armed conflicts in the world, and it is the most important point that brings the country’s havoc.

For ethnic minority leaders, the key issues were self-determination and equal category to preserve their position in a true Federal Union of Burma. However, the generals of Burma Army who fight this unjust civil war have different mind-sets.

They fight the inhumane war to grab the dictatorial power for life. In addition, the military elites are too greedy to divide up the wealth of the country with millions of populace including all ethnic nationalities.

Up until now, the military-backed government has botched up addressing the key political aspiration of the ethnic ceasefire groups, especially for equal rights.

Before the 2010 polls, the military regime attempted to disarm those armed ethnic groups by pressuring them into Border Guard Forces.

The regime also pushed them to form new political parties to take part in the dubious 2010 elections. They are reluctant to follow the path that was made by the previous regime unless their political demands are met. Today ethnic armed groups are not of yesterday. They will not stop just at the ceasefire entrance since their demand is political equality or autonomy.

The historic Panglong Agreement has been ignored by the successive Burmese military rulers for decades. The said agreement has been overlooked by the generals as they rule the country dictatorially. The Panglong Agreement was signed on Feb. 12, 1947, between General Aung San and leaders of the Chin, Kachin and Shan ethnic groups.

According to several ethnic groups, if not for the historic Panglong Agreement, there would not have been the Union of Burma. The said Panglong Agreement between the non-Burman leaders and General Aung San was the groundwork of today’s Union of Burma or Myanmar.

Many ethnic leaders asserted that they don't have faith in the new 2008 constitution. They consider that it will not produce a genuine federal union in the future. In addition, the Burmese armed forces take 25 percent of all seats in the existing parliament. So, the current constitution will not grant the democratic freedom and the fundamental rights for the ethnic groups of the nation.

For instance, as reported by the Kachin News Group (KNG), the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), which is still engaging in armed conflict with the Burmese government, declares they want a proper ‘political dialogue’ to begin with Burma's retired General Thein Sein's government and they do not want to take part in talks just for transitory "ceasefire".

On January 27, the Chief of Staff of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Major General Gunhtang Gam Shawng Spoke at a public meeting in the KIO's Laiza headquarters. He criticized the breakdown of the KIO's 17 year-long ceasefire agreement with Burmese government as a failure to resolve many key political issues, especially on the KIO's 50-year-struggle for greater Kachin autonomy.

Gam Shawng also said that the lack of a political dialogue during the ceasefire period was a great loss to the KIO in all means and severely hurt the entire Kachin population.

On January12, The 19-member peace-talk delegation of Karen National Union (KNU) had meeting with Burmese government representatives in Pa-an Town, capital of Karen State, Karen News said.

As reported by Karen News, the KNU had talked based on eleven key points including a demand for the Burmese government to stop military operations in ethnic areas, to start a nationwide ceasefire as soon as possible, to guarantee the human rights and safety of civilians, to build trust, to plan development projects that allow full participation and decision making of local villagers, to immediately stop forced labor and to stop excessive taxation and extortion of villagers.

As said by Saw David Thrac Kabaw, KNU’s vice chairman, it is difficult to know what the ‘real agenda’ of Burmese government.

“Our past experience has been that the real power always lies in the hands of the military hardliners and in the past they have not hesitated to use guns against ethnic people. Burma Army’s offensive against the Kachin is very brutal. The Burma Army has moved almost two thirds of its soldiers there,” David Thrac Kabaw told Karen News.

On 28 January 2012, the preliminary peace agreement between government’s Shan State peace-making group and Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) was signed in Taunggyi. According to Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.) referring Maj Sai La, spokesman of SSA North, it would be impossible for the SSA North alone to negotiate with government for peace building in Shan State.

“All groups and all those concerned in Shan State must participate,” Maj Sai La said.

“For this purpose, we have already asked Hkun Tun Oo, who released from jail on 13 January, to take the leading role.”

Hkun Tun Oo, 68, leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), is known to be respected by all Shan movements and other ethnic nationalities.

Meanwhile, Burmese government and ethnic Mon rebels reached a cessation of hostilities on Wednesday, BBC Burmese service radio said. Ceasefire with the New Mon State Party (NMSP) was the latest in a series of skeptical peace agreements.

The ceasefire between the government and the NMSP was the seventh such agreement between the government and ethnic revolutionary groups since former military junta’s premier and now President Thein Sein made a peace call with ethnic rebel groups late last year.

After SSA North and NMSP signed temporary ceasefire with government, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Karenni National Progress Party (KNPP) become potential groups to talk with government’s peacemaking team.

Kachin State is vital to both Burma and China since it has to give room for massive hydropower dams and twin fuel pipelines. So, Kachin’s territory will become a key transportation passage for oil and natural gas flow en route for Yunnan province, China.

So, there is a question that query about the victor after total ceasefire implemented throughout the country. Some analysts believe it will be of benefit to military-backed President Thein Sein government. Furthermore, the real aim of seeking temporary ceasefire by Thein Sein government seems to ease economic sanctions at one fell swoop.

Thus, even though some ceasefire deals are made between the rebel groups and the government, suspicions are at large. Because, the military-backed regime has hastily attempted to escape from sanction punishment and it also wants recognition in the international community in order to get more foreign direct investments.

- Asian Tribune –http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/02/02/holding-peace-talks-burma-try-break-economic-sanctions

Burma's Political dissenters should not be hostages again

2012-01-16T17:40:00.000-08:00

Mon, 2012-01-16 01:45 — editor

Myanmar

By - Zin Linn

16 January (Asiantribune.com):

Burma has been going ahead for a prompt conclusion to Western sanctions with a few remarkable changes after years of military ruling. The current Burmese government has surprised rights watchers with some pro-reform moves, including talk between President Thein Sein and key opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

On Friday, through an amnesty Burma released 302 political prisoners out of 651 in total, including several prominent student activists of 1988 generation.

Such an amnesty had been long demanded by the West democracies and the UN. It was hailed by the international community due to recognition of public opinion. As it is an important move, the United States said that it will consider reinstating full diplomatic ties.

Out of four times releasing of political prisoners, this time is more important along with a number of changes by the President. The home minister said that the government released 302 inmates considered political prisoners by the opposition in its latest amnesty on Friday.

The 651 prisoners were granted amnesty as fourth occasion on 13 January. Even though the quantity is smaller than previous times, it is said that people express their gratitude to the President for the latest release which included prominent figures – such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Khun Tun Oo and U Gambira, a Buddhist monk who led saffron revolution in 2007 etc.

Ex-premier and chief of military intelligence, Khin Nyunt was also released this time. Besides, a number of journalists who belong to the Democratic Voice of Burma who had been in opposition with the government were also freed.

But, some political analysts criticize the government of using the previous junta’s Section 401. The military regime uses Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code as the legal mechanism for those amnesties. Article (1) of Section 401 grants the President the power to suspend a sentence, while article (3) gives power to cancel that suspension and order re-arrest of a person at any time without a warrant, requiring that he or she must serve the remainder of the original sentence. These powers lie with the executive and not the judiciary.

The former political prisoners are constantly under watch by Military Affairs Security, generally known as Military Intelligence and their informers. The ex-political-detainees often face harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrest. They are deprived of education and employment opportunities.

So, many 1988 generation dissidents have been calling the government to get rid of the undemocratic ruling laws including Section 401. Although the political prisoners were released under president’s amnesty, they have to face threats by the undemocratic emergency security laws.

Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Jimmy, Htay Kywe and several 1988-generation student leaders have experienced of repeated detention without warrant for more than two to three times respectively in order to use them as bargaining chips. They have desperately spent their youthful times in prison for nearly two decades in total.

The previous junta’s 2008 Constitution is a barrier to democratic transition since it cements military ruling, differentiates ethnic nationalities and challenges human rights. It also prescribes general pardon to the former military officials. According to the article 445 of the 2008 constitution, no proceeding shall be instituted against any member of the previous military government in respect of any act done in execution of their respective duties.

Therefore, it is critically important to reach its conclusion to impunity for violations of human rights and crimes against humanity with appropriate action from the United Nations and the international community.

On the contrary, political prisoners are still under threat of the Section 401 due to their past participation in the country’s non-violent political progression. After releasing the political prisoners, the current government must guarantee them that they will not be rearrested by using the Section 401. It looked like the political dissidents were held as hostages by the government to bargain for the Western sanctions.

If the government is adamantly holding these unfair laws, people may not believe that it will go along the non-reversible reform path. As a result, the Western democracy governments should not be too hurried to lift the sanctions. The situation needs to watch carefully on Burma’s reform display to become a non-reversible one, including getting rid of repressive laws.

-Asian Tribune- http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/01/15/burmas-political-dissenters-should-not-be-hostages-again

Burma’s sham Amnesty keeps prominent political prisoners behind bars

2012-01-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

Tue, 2012-01-03 01:55 — editor

News Comments

By - Zin Linn

Burma’s state television and radio announced on Monday that President Thein Sein Government has announced to reduce the sentences of some prisoners who received severe punishments such as death sentence, life sentence and more than 20 to 30 years imprisonments. Those inmates will be released beginning on 3 January on humanitarian grounds.

State-owned televisions and radios said Monday that President Thein Sein has already signed a leniency decree in order to mark the country's 64th anniversary of independence.

According to the State-owned MRTV, the decree says that death sentences will be commuted to life term, while some prisoners serving above 30 years will have their punishments reduce to 30 years. The inmates serving between 20 to 30 years must be cut back equal to 20 years. Those serving less than 20 years will have their sentences cut by one-fourth. For instance, 20 years sentence will have to enjoy 5 years cutback.

According to an official from the prison department, those inmates corresponding to the presidential decree will be freed starting from today. It was not clearly mentioned whether the authorities would take account of political prisoners.

It seems the president’s clemency order has been carefully implemented to keep in custody several prominent student activists who had been sentenced 65-year prison terms since September 2007. According to this so-called amnesty the political prisoners such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Jimmy, Htay Kywe, Pyone Cho, Khun Htun Oo and many more will have to spend 30 years behind bars.

If current government were to say that they are the new civilian government, it has to free all political prisoners who were jailed by the previous junta. If the government thinks itself as a democratic one, then it must not allowed keeping political prisoners in prison.

On 15 May 2011, President Thein Sein had signed a “general amnesty” order No. 28/2011 commuting death sentences to life imprisonment and cutting one year from prisoners’ jail terms. Although over 14,600 inmates were released at that time, there were only a few political prisoners who had already served their jail-terms.

Again on 11 October 2011, President Thein Sein government announced releasing 6,359 prisoners under an amnesty for elderly, ailing and obedient prisoners. As of 12 October, the several prisoners were released under general pardon. But, at the end of the day only about 200 political prisoners were freed. Even though prominent political prisoners Gen. Hso Ten, Zarganar and Su Su Nway were released, many other prominent student leaders such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Min Zeya, Htay Kywe and ethnic leader Khun Tun Oo have been languishing in tarnished jails in Burma.

On that occasion, Ojea Quintana, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar (Burma), said some of the most significant dissidents had not been released and more than 1,000 prisoners of conscience remained behind bars. The UN rights investigator for the isolated country wants many more freed without delay.

There are 42 prisons and 109 hard-labor camp under Burma’s prison department. However, until now, President Thein Sein government continues to reject the existence of political prisoners in Burma.

In keeping with this so-called ‘amnesty’, only the prisoners on death row will be commuted to life imprisonment. As for political detainees, there will not be positive deduction from their existing prison terms.

If this is Thein Sein government’s answer to the demand of people of Burma as well as the International Community including the UN, no one on earth will believe its political stance as a reform.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/01/02/burma%E2%80%99s-sham-amnesty-keeps-prominent-political-prisoners-behind-bars

Burma: Shan State Army sticks to Historic Pang-long Agreement

2011-12-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

Thu, 2011-12-22 01:04 — editor

     Article

                     By  -  Zin Linn 
 

Burma’s political deadlock between the ethnic rebels and the  successive governments has been still continues. Burma’s military  leaders, who have been holding governmental power thus far, strongly  defy the decentralization of authoritative power. 

Although the contents  of the cease-fire agreements seem to grant some degree of self-rule, it  appears to be very difficult to arrive at a blueprint for  self-determination that would make happy most ethnic rebel groups.

Recently, Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ spokesman Sai Lao Hseng said  its representatives had made the point clear to its Naypyitaw  counterparts Saturday, 17 December, that the non-secession clause  included in previous agreements with 3 other armed movements would only  hinder the peace process Naypyitaw had initiated, Shan Herald Agency for  News (S.H.A.N.) reported Tuesday.

“On the other hand, we have no problem with the regime’s ‘Three  Causes’,” he said. “We had co-founded the Union and we are willing to  give it a chance, if the regime is sincere about building a genuine  union.”

The said Three Causes are Non-disintegration of the Union,  Non-disintegration of National Solidarity and Perpetuation of National  Sovereignty. It is the regime’s political devotion similar to a  religious faith.

“How we will decide upon continued union will depend on the wish of  the people which will in turn depend on the regime’s sincerity,” Sai Lao  Hseng explained. “For that, we would need time to meet and listen to  the people.” 

According to the Shan Herald Agency for News, some more SSA sources  also said that after the signing of the ceasefire on 2 December the next  step is to discuss development. Political topics such as the secession  issue should be reserved for the third and last step of the process. 

The government negotiators had promised to hold an inclusive  conference for political issues resembling Panglong in 1947. At  Pang-long meeting Burman, Chin Hills, Kachin Hills and Federated Shan  States agreed to form the Union, on the basis of full autonomy in  internal administration including Democracy and Human Rights. 

The result of the 1947 agreement proved nonconstructive when it  reached ten years in 1958, after gaining independence from the British  in 1948. Many ethnic armed rebellions, including that of the Shan, broke  out to stand up for autonomy. The 1947 constitution had granted the  right of secession to Karenni and Shan States.

Despite the fact that the Supreme Executive Council of the United  Hill Peoples was making an effort to amend the union constitution in  1961-62 to reconstruct a true federal union with the Premier U Nu’s  Government of Burma, Burma Army led by Gen. Ne Win made a military coup  on 2 March in 1962 and smashed the Panglong agreement. In that way, all  ethnic states including Shan had been occupied by the treacherous Burma  Army. 

And so, the country has been run by successive Burmese military  dictators using various disguises up to the current date. To reconcile  this political crisis and prevent ethnic conflicts in the future, it  should be solved by way of meaningful political dialogue vis-à-vis equal  status mutually. True reconciliation cannot be done by way of military  might which currently used by the Naypyitaw government.

Earlier, the SSA South had adopted the principle: ‘To struggle for  the rights promised at Panglong’. It later became ‘Total Independence’.  Its later statements show that ‘unless the rights of Panglong are  guaranteed, the group would never give up on Total Independence  principle’.

According to Modern Journal, the information minister Kyaw Hsan  confirmed during a media meeting in Rangoon on 9 December that out of  remaining ten armed groups, two have already signed state-level  ceasefire agreements.     Two others are holding talks at the union  level and five others have agreed in principle for a ceasefire  agreement. Only the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) remained to reach an  agreement.

The next meeting between the Restoration of Shan State (RCSS) and  Naypyitaw’s union level peace building team will take place on a  yet-to-be chosen date in next January, quoting spokesman Sai Lao Hseng,  Shan Herald Agency for News said.

The political disarray of Burma originated with its beginning since  the Panglong agreement came into view in 1947. As a major ethnic group,  the Shan constantly called for putting in a point of ‘secession’ for the  Shan State to nine-point Pang-long agreement. As a result, if sign of  treachery occurred, ‘the right of secession’ after ten years of the  contract was granted to the Shan State in the 1947 constitution.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army  (NDAA) and the ex-DKBA Kloh Htoo Baw have already signed non-secession  agreements with Naypyitaw.

However, SSA-South reminds the government, not to put the  non-secession clause in the to-do list, which would make hindrance the  peace consultation.

- Asian Tribune -  http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/12/21/burma-shan-state-army-sticks-historic-pang-long-agreement 

Burma: Opium cultivation goes up due to political instability

2011-12-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Fri, 2011-12-16 08:43 — editor

News

By - Zin Linn

Bangkok, 16 December, (Asiantribune.com):

UNODC Regional Centre for East Asia and the Pacific launched the report “South-East Asia Opium Survey 2011 - Lao PDR, Myanmar” – Thursday at The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand in Bangkok.

The presentation of the Report was highlighted by Mr. Gary Lewis, Regional Representative, UNODC Regional Centre for East Asia and the Pacific. Suggestion for drug eradication in Myanmar (Burma) was put forward by Mr. Jason Eligh, Country Manager, UNODC Myanmar and implication for Lao PDR was made by Mr. Leik Boonwaat, Representative/Deputy Regional Representative, UNODC Lao PDR.

In 2011, opium cultivation in Burma's war torn Kachin and Shan states was estimated at 43,600 ha, representing an increase of 14 per cent compared to 38,100 ha in 2010. The rising of poppy-growing area started slowly in 2007 after 6 years of decline (2001 to 2006), a United Nations report said Thursday.

According the estimation of the report, opium cultivation took place in 34 per cent of the surveyed villages in Shan State, with high concentrations in East Shan State 44 per cent and South Shan State 46 per cent.

The UN Agency agreed the regional increase of opium poppy cultivation to rising prices for the illicit drugs, and a lack of crop-substitution projects in these remote areas, where in Burma’s question there are ongoing ethnic insurrections. Opium prices in Burma this year, as said by the report, have significantly increased. The average farm-gate price of opium was US$ 450/kg in 2011. It was up 48 per cent from US$ 305/kg in 2010.

The report spotlighted that poppy farmers are very vulnerable to loss of income derived from opium, especially those who count on this earnings source for food security. Moreover, opium cultivation is generally linked to a lack of peace and security, which points out the need for political and economic solutions.

According to Shan Drug Watch program (October 2010) by Shan Herald Agency for News, poppy cultivation was continuing unchecked in 46 of the 55 Shan townships, mostly in areas under the control of the Burma Army and its militias. However, unfavorable weather conditions caused a massive drop in opium output during the last season. But, there is no evidence of constant effort by the Burmese regime to eradicate opium. On the contrary, opium farmers throughout the state are being taxed by Burma Army units, Shan Drug Watch said.

In Kachin State, northern part of Burma, poppy growing areas were up 27 per cent, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s annual South-East Asia Opium Survey 2011 said.

Laos saw its opium poppy cultivation increase from 3,000 hectares in 2010 to 4,100 hectares, up 37 per cent, according to agency estimates.

The agency’s executive director Yuri Fedotov said that the lack of security, political stability and sustainable development are some of the key drivers behind increased opium production. The high prices for opium in Lao DPR and the Thailand, as well as steep price increase in Burma, are also making production attractive to poppy farmers, Fedotov criticized.

Many analysts say that political reforms, improved security and stronger economic growth are needed to shift poppy farmers away from growing opium and to cut drug addiction.

The making of illicit drugs in Burma has considerable international, regional and national end results. At the international level, the opium and heroin produced in the country are consumed in Asia distributed through China and Thailand as well as the rest of Asia, reaching destinations as far away as Australia, North America and Europe.

At the regional level, drugs are at the root of various problems, including the spread of HIV/AIDS fuelled by injecting drug use, corruption of border officials and the large influence of criminal elements seeking on undermining the rule of law and further instability in the border areas.

Some political analysts pointed out, poppy growing and opium production in Shan State have increased over the past two years due to political volatility in Burma and growing economic despondency caused by cronyism, corruption and unprofessional conduct of the military-backed government.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/12/16/burma-opium-cultivation-goes-due-political-instability

No peace talks, No humanitarian aid in Kachin State of Burma

2011-12-09T19:56:00.000-08:00

Sat, 2011-12-10 01:19 — editor

Myanmar

By - Zin Linn

10, December (Asiantribune.com): Burma’s namesake civilian government has been maneuvering war against the Kachin rebels incessantly, even though there are heavy casualties on its side. Starting from 9 June, the six-month long civil war claimed more than a thousand lives of government soldiers. The President Thein Sein government used to say that it has been trying to build a peaceful and developed country; in contrast the momentum of civil war is getting higher. So, the tongue of the government is not in harmony with the work of its armed forces.

What is the government’s goal launching the war against the Kachin rebels? Although, President Thein Sein has been speaking seriously about the national unity for several times, the wars against various ethnic groups carry on increasingly. If these wars go on in this way, the government’s promises of building good governance as well as poverty alleviation seem to be in vain.

Refugees International (RI), an independent humanitarian advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, recently completed an assessment of the impact of the Burma’s political reform on various ethnic communities. The RI team traveled to Kachin, Karen and Mon states to meet primarily with local civil-society organizations, as well as with UN and INGO officials.

The Refugees International’s Lynn Yoshikawa said that during a two-week study tour in Myitkyina (Kachin state), Pa-an (Karen state) and Maw-la-myaing (Mon state) it has come across evidence of widespread human rights abuses especially in Kachin State, where the government armed forces has been fighting the Kachin Independence Organization for the last six months.

The group’s report appeared Friday at a press panel of Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in Bangkok, while international optimism on Burma’s promise to political reforms has been rising.

“Refugees International is really worried over the security of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), thousands of those are living in insufficient camps in KIO-controlled areas where the sanctuaries are sandwiched between the Tatmadaw (the government armed forces) and the KIO positions,” said Lynn Yoshikawa, Refugees International’s southeast Asia advocate.

“The conflict zones in Kachin State seriously need both urgent humanitarian assistance and long-standing aid,” she informed at a press conference in Bangkok, after a recent visit to Burma including Kachin state capital Myitkyina.

Local sources on the ground in the Kachin state say that during past week the Kachin resistance has inflicted a large number of casualties on poorly trained Burmese government conscript troops, as the central government’s offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization enters its seventh month.

Reports from the frontline indicate that the Burmese army suffered significant losses in the Wuhtau Bum area, home to the headquarters of the KIA’s Battalion No. 3. Reached by phone KIA officers in Wuhtau Bum claim their forces have strongly resisted the government’s advance in the area, which is located in the Kachin Independence Army’s Brigade No. 5.

Quoting a Kachin resident in Sadung village under the control of KIA Battalion No. 3, the Kachin News Group said on Thursday that over a hundred government soldiers from Kalaw-based Light Infantry Division (LID) No. 55 were killed in skirmishing and several dozens wounded in the last 24 hours.

He said that earlier in the week many more soldiers from the Magway-based Light Infantry Division No. 88 were killed in the same area, he estimated that at least two hundred Burmese soldiers had been killed in the area during the past week. Several soldiers from Kachin militia groups loyal to Burmese government were also among the dead, the villager added. As KIA has made use of guerrilla tactics, it suffered a few losses thus far.

Last month representatives of President Thein Sein government and the KIO met twice for talks which have yet failed to reach a truce. The Burmese army continues sending troops to the area that seems the government wants to bring about a solution by means of military might.

Aid workers in Kachin State estimated at least 30,000 people have escaped the fighting and are living in shelters with little access to international humanitarian assistance. It’s a tragic that China has been unwilling to allow refugees or to let cross-border relief items to the Kachin area.

According to Yoshikawa, international donors are disinclined to supply aid for cross-border operations due to the absence of the UN agencies in the area.

After US Secretary of State Hillary Canton’s extraordinary trip to Burma (Myanmar), observers and analysts are eager to know about how the nation will reconcile its greatest challenge to make peace with the armed ethnic groups.

Recently, one ceasefire deal has been signed with the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), commonly known as the SSA South which has never beforehand held a ceasefire treaty with the Burmese regime.

But there are many things to be done so as to build a peaceful union of Burma and the way ahead is vague and blurred, especially in the Kachin state.

-Asian Tribune- http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/12/09/no-peace-talks-no-humanitarian-aid-kachin-state-burma

Burma: Suu Kyi starts registering her party while by-election is still undecided

2011-11-26T04:36:00.000-08:00

Sat, 2011-11-26 03:28 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

Burmese people are highly concerned about the issue of releasing political prisoners in Burma. President Thein Sein’s remark in Bali giving serious cause for concern. Speaking to Burmese journalists in Bali, Thein Sein said that he did not agree with the assessment that Burma has been holding several political prisoners, repeating previous military junta’s usual complaint, that Burma only lockups prisoners who violated relevant laws.

In his remarks reported by Radio Free Asia Burmese service and Democratic Voice of Burma, Thein Sein said, "We punished the prisoners since they violated the law. In our prisons, there are lots of people due to breaking the law. So if we give favor some of them by using the term ‘prisoner of conscience’, then it will be unfair for the other inmates.”

The authorities transferred some important political prisoners in mid-November. Well-known student leader Min Ko Naing was transferred from a far-off prison in Shan State to notorious Insein Prison in Rangoon. But next day, he was transferred to Thayet Prison which is 350 km - north of his place of origin Rangoon. Moreover, Buddhist monk U Gambira was transferred from Kale Prison in northern Burma to Myaungmya Prison in the Irrawaddy Delta and a prominent female prisoner of conscience Nilar Thein was transferred from Thayet Prison to Thayarwaddy Prison in Pegu Division. Leader of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) Khun Htun Oo has been transferred from Putao prison in Kachin State to Taung-ngu’s prison in middle Burma.

The transfers carried out after the government-appointed Human Rights Commission appealed President Thein Sein to grant official pardon to Burma's lingering prisoners of conscience. The appeal was made public in an open letter published in a state-run newspapers on 12 November.

However, the letter also urged the president that if he thought some prisoners were not appropriate to be released for reasons of keeping peace and stability, he should allow them transferring to prisons close to their families. Consequently, there are now assumptions that prisoners like Min Ko Naing and Khun Tun Ooo who have now been transferred from remote prisons to prisons closer to their hometown will not be released anytime soon.

Most people think that after ASEAN agreed its chair to Burma in 2014, President Thein Sein seems breaking his promise to release all political prisoners right away.

In addition, the momentum of civil war in Kachin State has been increasing hysterically. People throughout the country are against this war since numerous casualties from both sides were citizens of Burma. As a result, many people do not have trust in Thein Sein government as a sincere administration that guaranteed good governance.

In such a moment, Burma's opposition party the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, submitted its application to Union Election Commission Friday to reregister to contest in forthcoming by-election. Twenty-one senior members as party founders, including Suu Kyi, Tin Oo and Win Tin made the submission in the capital, Naypyitaw, a spokesman for the NLD said.

Although the international community has hailed the NLD’s decision as an essential gesture of rapprochement between the government and the opposition party, some anti-military dissidents are reluctant to support the NLD’s risking political stance.

NLD’s application to return to the political tussle came days before the arrival of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, scheduled to visit Burma next week. Clinton travels to Burma from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, during which she will be meeting top officials of the Burmese government and opposition leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy.

Meanwhile, according to Democratic Voice of Burma, Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann welcomed the NLD's return to parliament politics, after it was dissolved earlier this year for boycotting the 2010 elections. As said by a journalist, Shwe Mann said he welcomes her on behalf of the People's Parliament if she was planning to compete for it.

Nevertheless, the lower house speaker said today in a press briefing in Naypyidaw that three months' notice needed to be given before the polls are held. Since no notice has yet been made, would-be candidates can guess there will be no by-elections for at least three months.

The uncertainty of political prisoners’ release and the inattention of ethnic war in Kachin State provide evidence that current government is still dragging its feet for genuine change. For that reason, some people are worrying for the future of the NLD led by charismatic leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has decided to enter parliament so as to work together with the military-dominated Thein Sein government.

However, one good thing is that majority of people believe in Suu Kyi’s honesty and sacrifice and they also have a clear choice of supporting the NLD as people’s party. So, people consider the upcoming by-elections as the most important point for entering into a new era.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/11/25/burma-suu-kyi-starts-registering-her-party-while-election-still-undecided

Burma: President Thein Sein ought to accept Suu Kyi’s call for peace talk

2011-10-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

Fri, 2011-07-29 02:05 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

Burma’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi made an appeal on Thursday for political talk and an urgent ceasefire between major ethnic rebel groups – Kachin Independence Organization, Karen National Union, New Mon State Party, Shan State Army – and government troops. She highlights the nation as ‘Republic of Union of Burma’ since the country was made up of various ethnicities on the same soil.

In her open letter dispatched to the country’s military-backed new President Thein Sein, Suu Kyi offered to act as a mediator between the government and the ethnic rebels, and said the constant fighting has been damaging the national reconciliation which is so important for the nation that composed mainly of ethnic population.

The open letter pointed out that the prevailing ethnic hostility can spread out into the neighboring counties. It said that currently there are armed conflicts between Burma Army and the ethnic armed groups especially in Kachin, Shan, Karen and Mon states.

“National reconciliation cannot be accomplished by using military might. If stakeholders used the gun to solve out the disagreement, it will make disadvantage for all sides. To establish an authentic national unity, that will make safe the future of the Union, can only be accomplished through political dialogue,” the open letter says.

Burma Army continues to attack the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on irregular intervals since 9 June. The 9-June armed conflict at Sang Gang lasted for three days and nights. The attack prompted the KIO to declare war against the Burmese government since its troops invaded Kachin controlled areas.

The KIO has offered to end warfare if the government will initiate talks for a nationwide ceasefire.
Unfortunately, Burmese government authorities did not positively respond to a recent e-mail regarding this subject, according to La Nang, a spokesman for the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Burma’s 64-year-old Panglong Agreement has been ignored by the successive Burmese regimes. The said agreement has also been ignored by the current President Thein Sein government. The Panglong Agreement was signed on Feb. 12, 1947, between General Aung San and leaders of the Chin, Kachin and Shan ethnic groups guaranteeing a genuine federal union of Burma.

This is not the first time Aung San Suu Kyi calls for peace. Last month, the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi released a statement dated June 20 calling both government and KIO to stop heavy fighting immediately in order to protect people’s lives and properties. It also called for peaceful talks between stakeholders to settle down the decade-long political crisis of the country.

The NLD led by Suu Kyi has long been in opposition with the existing authorities who have run the country since a 1962 coup. Her latest comments are likely to enrage the new nominally civilian government, despite signs of a thawing of ties.

Suu Kyi has called for a “Second Pinlong Agreement”, between the government and ethnic groups. The said agreement is still standing as a key question for over 60 years.

In last December, Burmese junta’s two mouthpiece newspapers criticized dissident politicians who believe genuine national reconciliation and support Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma’s military rulers dismissed the actions of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who tries to revive the spirit of Panglong Agreement providing self-reliance to ethnic nationalities, as a “cheap political stunt”.

“If someone truly wants to engage in politics with the aim of supporting the state’s interest, one should proceed plainly, officially and candidly within the structure of the constitution,” the article said.

On the contrary, Suu Kyi and her party NLD, which has been officially shut down by the authorities, have pushed for a “second Panlong Agreement,” with the backing of some key ethnic groups that oppose the regime’s 2008 constitution.

The idea of Panglong Agreement is no longer suitable to the current country’s situation and is even a threat to peace and stability, the commentaries in the state-owned papers said. It even mocked people suggesting an online conference using the Internet.

Burma’s military-backed government has optimism with 7 Nov. election last year that it will bring all ethnicities together as a union. However it has produced the opposite consequence. Key ethnic armed organizations opposed the 2008 constitution and November’s ballot results as sham and farce.

Some political analysts believe releasing over 2,000 political prisoners and stopping the aggressive wars on ethnic people are the most important topics to be addressed by the new ‘Thein Sein government’.

Releasing political prisoners and calling peace to armed ethnic groups would provide evidence to the international community that government is genuine on bringing about political change and embracing real democratic values.

If President Thein Sein is sincere and clever enough, he should start a bold step to accept Aung San Suu Kyi’s call for nationwide peace talk that alone will not only lift the economic sanctions, but also catapult his government toward the ASEAN chair.

Refusal of this excellent opportunity may lead the government and the nation into another political crisis similar to the Arab Spring-like protest.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/07/28/burma-president-thein-sein-ought-accept-suu-kyi%E2%80%99s-call-peace-talk

Will Aung San Suu Kyi run for upcoming by-elections?

2011-10-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

Mon, 2011-10-31 00:09 — editor

Myanmar

By Zin Linn

31 October (Asiantribune.com):

Burma' Nobel laureate and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi may perhaps contest for a parliament seat in an imminent by-election if her National League for Democracy (NLD) party decided to re-register itself to enter politics, the NLD spokesman Nyan Win said yesterday.

In the contemporary history of Burma, the 1990 General Elections have been recognized as a noteworthy milestone. After 26 years of military dictatorship, the people of Burma got an opportunity to vote for a government of their choice. It was one of the free and fair elections that had taken place in the South-East Asia region at that decade.

But regrettably, the election-results were not honored by the military regime. While pronouncing it has been going for democratic reforms, the junta has been launching a major offensive upon the opposition NLD since the 1990 elections result appeared. Afterwards, by fair means or foul, the junta's has repeatedly targeted to do away with the people's mandate that was given to the NLD in the 1990 General Elections.

On the contrary the 7 November 2010 election, won by the military-backed political proxies, was flawed by widespread complaints of vote rigging and the exclusion of the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest shortly after the polls.

If the President Thein Sein government has the aptitude and readiness to go along the political reform path, it must ensure the existence of the National League for Democracy which won landslide in 1990 and the essential role of its leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi has been barred from politics and under detention for nearly two decades since her homecoming from abroad in 1988.

However, after holding the first controversial polls in twenty years last November, the military junta handed over power to a namesake civilian government in March. Former junta's prime-minister Thein Sein changed his uniform and became President in the new so-called civilian government. Then, Thein Sein has introduced some reforms and started a dialogue with Nobel Peace Prize laureate and General-Secretary of the NLD Aung San Suu Kyi.

Before 2010 polls, the National League for Democracy (NLD) party was officially banned for boycotting last year's election but struggling as an official party through legally recognized process.

Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's Labor and Social Welfare Minister Aung Kyi will meet at Sein Lei Kan Tha state guest house today afternoon. It will be the fourth meeting between them after the new government was formed. Some observers believe that releasing of political prisoners and party re-registration issues likely to be included in this fourth meeting. Suu Kyi also had a rare meeting with President Thein Sein in the capital, Naypyitaw, in August.

The NLD decided not to register as a political party for the 2010 election because it objected to certain laws and obligations involved, including the requirement that a registered political party "preserve and protect" the 2008 Constitution.

The previous junta's political party registration law has been changed in the Parliament on 27 October mentioning that "a political party shall respect the Constitution."

Recently Parliaments passed a suggestion to make changes three clauses of the Political Parties Registration Law. The NLD spokesman Nyan Win said the party was likely to get re-registered under an amended party registration law that removed clauses the NLD had pointed out as inappropriate and undemocratic.

In an interview with Radio Free Asia (Burmese Service), Nyan Win said that he thinks she may stand in a by-election if the law was amended. "I personally want her to do so," he added.

Even though, if she would decide to stand in the by-election after the law was amended, she may need to have the consent of the NLD Central Executive Committee. The next by-elections seem to be held belatedly this year.

According to some analysts, the government's reforms, including a rare meeting between Su yi and President Thein Sein and the recent release of over 200 political prisoners, are intended for shedding Burma's friendless situation and giving it some reliability with the international community, especially the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Burma is a member.

In keeping with one NLD spokesman, the party has welcomed the government's move to engage with its general-secretary. After the fourth meeting with Burma’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday, Labour Minister Aung Kyi read a joint statement that said the two had talked about an issue on amnesty, peace talks with ethnic armed groups, free trade and economic opportunities and free flow of financial disbursement.

In frequent media interviews, Suu Kyi expressed her aspiration to hold talk with the new government to press for some changes to help the people of Burma. Well-informed sources close to the government said the government wanted Suu Kyi and members of her party in parliament to give it legitimacy.

Most Burma watchers believe the participation of some NLD legislators including Suu Kyi in the existing parliament would definitely improve the military-dominated government's image and legitimacy.

Analysts say it is expected that Burma's military-backed rulers are aware of Suu Kyi's influence on the international community and realize her contribution as an essential not only to gain ASEAN Chair in 2014 but also to finish off Western sanctions which squeezes country's economic development since 1988.

-Asian Tribune-

Burma must free all political detainees for real change

2011-10-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

Fri, 2011-10-14 02:17 — editor

Article

By Zin Linn

The President Thein Sein government put on air on Tuesday that it would release 6,359 prisoners under an amnesty based on a condition for old-aged, ailing and obedient. As of Wednesday, the first batch of prisoners was released. But, in the end of the day about two hundred political prisoners appeared to have been freed, according to friends and families of detainees through the media.

A well-known freed prisoner of conscience was Zarganar (alias) Ko Thura who was arrested in June 2008. He had been sentenced to 35 years in a remote prison after criticizing the then-ruling junta for its sluggish response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 140,000 lives when it smashed the Irrawaddy delta in May 2008.

The well-known comedian Zarganar, who was released yesterday morning, commented on the current situation, “If we talk about change in Burma, what I dare say is no change at all and I still don’t accept as true that Burma is really on the reform path. According to my experience, the president is too stingy. What I mean is that only a few political prisoners released.”

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) based in Thai-Burma border, the regime freed only 206 political detainees, but kept most of its almost 2,000 political prisoners – including democracy campaigners, journalists, students, monks and lawyers – incarcerated.

Even though prominent political prisoners Gen. Hso Ten and Zarganar were released, many other prominent student leaders such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Min Zeya, Htay Kywe and ethnic leaders such as U Khun Tun Oo are still languishing in tarnished jails in Burma.

Another well-known female labor activist, Su Su Nway, was also released on Wednesday from remote Hkam-ti prison. She was arrested in 2007 and sentenced to 12 years in prison, later reduced to 8 years and six months for protesting with a poster not far away from a hotel where Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinhero, United Nations Special Raporteur for Human Rights in Burma, was then staying.

Bo Kyi, joint-secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, said that he was very disappointed with the Wednesday amnesty that allowed a small number of political detainees.

“What this Thein Sein government’s prisoner-release stance is the same as the previous military regime,” he said, referring to the releases of a few political prisoners on Wednesday as a sign of starting change to deceive or persuade Western democracies and international community.

Although Government said it released 6,359 prisoners, most of them were ordinary criminals. In addition, the government constantly refuses to recognize that there are nearly 2,000 political prisoners in its notorious prisons.

But human rights organization Amnesty International said authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all remaining prisoners of conscience.

Many political prisoners were sentenced to decades in jail and have endured “torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”, according to Amnesty International, which urged the new nominally civilian government to go further. AI Spokesman Benjamin Zawacki said he was disappointed more political prisoners have not been released.

Ojea Quintana, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar (Burma), said some of the most significant dissidents had not been released and more than 1,000 prisoners of conscience remained behind bars. The U.N. rights investigator for the isolated country wants many more freed before the end of the year.

Mr. Quintana said he expected country’s military rulers to hold by-elections by year’s end, and he would like to see the release of remaining political prisoners by then.

“It’s very important that the government finish with this process of release before the elections,” he told Reuters News Agency in an interview.

In reality, many more important politicians are still languishing in Burma’s remote prisons where daily food and medical care are so poor.

In handling the question of political prisoners, the new President Thein Sein government must get rid of the policy of previous junta headed by Senior General Than Shwe. If the present government has a policy of good governance, it should allow the participation of good oppositions in the nation’s political process as a sign of democratic change.

Keeping the political dissidents in prison and shouting democracy slogans will not win over political supports domestically or internationally. So, it is time for Burmese government to free all political detainees in an attempt to build true national reconciliation plus peaceful and prosperous country in the ASEAN society.

Up to now, Burma keeps in custody more than thousand of political prisoners who have been detained and sentenced for having peacefully expressed their views verbally, for participating in peaceful demonstrations or in activities of political parties. Some of them are punished for having written about human rights or political issues in the country or for reading or possessing written materials judged illegal.

It is very important for Burma’s new government to abolish these unjust laws and orders for democratic Burma en route for the restoration of the rule of law, peace and justice. And political prisoners who have been thrown into jail under such unjust laws must be released immediately.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/10/13/burma-must-free-all-political-detainees-real-change

Burma needs to stop unsympathetic war in Kachin State

2011-10-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Thu, 2011-10-06 02:02 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

Myitsone dam postponement decision made by President U Thein Sein has been notably welcomed by the people of Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi is one of critics of the massive dam together with environmental and human rights activists. The decision was noteworthy because it displeases Burma's influential neighbor and ally, China.

The dam projects in Kachin State are in some ways related to the cause of civil war in this resource-rich province. Hence, many prominent citizens urge the government to seek peaceful talks with the Kachin Independence Organization. But, the government seems inflexible in this matter. Although, political parties and peace-loving people supported the ceasefire talks, government’s armed forces did not stop their offensives against the KIO/KIA.

Political analysts and observers have been deeply concerned about widespread war in Kachin State. People are disappointing with the Thein Sein government for breaking every promise with the ethnic ceasefire groups.

KIA officials constantly said the civil war will spread across Kachin and Shan states if the government starts a war with the KIO. The latest series of armed clashes in Kachin state have prompted observers to think that intentional warfare in the border regions may not be avoidable.

The government’s wrong step of handling the Kachin topic seems to be pushing the nation into an abysmal gorge of tragedies. New military offensives of Burma Army on the Kachin, Karen and Shan armed groups will steer the nation into a ruthless poverty trap.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi released a statement dated June 20 calling for both the government and the KIO to stop heavy fighting immediately in order to protect people’s lives and properties. It also called for peaceful talks between stakeholders to settle the decade-long political crisis of the country.

An open letter dated July-28 released by Burma’s pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remarkably called for a cessation of hostilities between the Burmese government led by President Thein Sein, and ethnic armed groups, including the KIO, Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Shan State Army (SSA).

The current civil war with Kachin State has forced over 20,000 Kachin refugees to flee to the Sino-Burma border fearing continuous clashes, said the KNG referring a doctor helping refugees. The number of refugees has reached 13,000 in five refugee camps in the area of the Laiza headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) on the China-border said the doctor.

However, the government turns a deaf ear to public calling for peace-talks with Kachin ethnic group.
Although government troops have suffered heavy casualties, the decision-makers are still dragging their feet to stop the useless confrontation. They have no sympathy for their fallen soldiers.

Ongoing civil war in Kachin State has been intensifying in various fronts. On Tuesday, Burma armed forces expended their offensive in central Kachin State. The fighting took place around Ja Ing Yang Village, near Sinbo, in central Kachin State.

The People’s Army soldiers under the KIA’s 3rd Brigade in eastern Kachin, geared up for self-protective warfare. During fighting against the People’s Army under the KIA, several government soldiers died in action, referring local residents Kachin News Group said Wednesday.

As the momentum increases in the civil war in Burma’s northern Kachin State, about 40 Burma Army’s soldiers were killed in a single day, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) source in the war zone confirmed on Tuesday.

According to one KIA officer in the frontline, there were no KIA casualties in Tuesday-battle.
Skirmishing between government troops and Kachin people’s armed forces has been taking place daily in different areas in the Shadan Pa Valley, close to Ja Ing Yang, according to local inhabitants.

As said by KIA officials in Laiza, since the last week of September, hundreds of government troops have arrived in those areas likely to launch a new offensive against the KIA headquarters at Laiza.

The KIA strongholds at Laiza – Alen Bum, Laisin Bum, Hpalap Bum and Mai Ja Yang – in eastern Kachin State is in conjunction with the Chinese border. It is situated approximately 25 miles west of the current battle-sites.

The Burma Army is heightening its offensives against the KIA strongholds, since Shadan Pa and Ja Ing Yang are situated at strategic positions, KIA officials said. The fighting continues in the two areas, natives in the war zone said. There are casualties in daily basic on Burma Army side. Soldiers died in this unsympathetic war without a cause.

The President of Burma should take into consideration that all the fallen soldiers – Burmese or Kachin – are citizens of this nation as well as manpower resources of the underdeveloped country. If the new president and the government truly want to reconstruct the country into a democratic and developed society, all the wars with respective ethnic rebels including KIO/KIA must be immediately stopped.

If President Thein Sein has genuine inspiration of poverty alleviation, he must stop all forms of civil conflict that make the country underprivileged in the region. Most analysts agree that allowing civil war and saying poverty alleviation looks like an impractical guiding principle.

So, it is really vital for the president to end the civil war, particularly war against Kachin.

By doing so, president has to show the country is on the right reform path.

Decision to end civil war can also gain wide-ranging supports domestically and internationally.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/10/05/burma-needs-stop-unsympathetic-war-kachin-state

Burma must be vigilant to avoid the disastrous dam on Irrawaddy River

2011-09-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

Mon, 2011-09-19 00:52 — editor

News Comments

By - Zin Linn

It was as early as October 2009, the Thailand-based Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG) published a report – “Resisting the Flood” – highlighting the implementation of the Myitsone dam project on the Irrawaddy River. The report demanded a halt to the project that is sponsored by the China Power Investment Corporation (CPI), its main investor and contractor.

The dam project creates unwelcome impacts like social, environmental, livelihood, cultural and security problems for tens of thousands of people in the Kachin State. The report states that more than 15,000 people in 60 villages around the dam sites are being forcibly relocated without proper resettlement plans by the Burmese military regime. These individuals have lost their means of livelihood such as farming, fishing and collection of non-timber forest products.

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing of the KIA, sent an open letter to Chinese President, Hu Jintao, in March this year, urging a halt to the Irrawaddy Myitson Dam construction, because it will lead to civil war in the country. However, the Chinese communist government has refused the KIO request.

The 500-foot dam has been under construction at the confluence of the Mali Hka River and N’Mai Hka River, 27 miles north of the Kachin capital of Myitkyina. Construction at Myitsone began December 21, 2009, led by China’s state owned China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) in cooperation with Burma’s Asia World Company (AWC) and the Burmese government’s No. 1 Ministry of Electric Power.

Remarkably, AWC owner is former drug lord, Lo Hsing Han. It will cost 3.6 billion dollars and most of the 6000 MW of electricity produced will be sold out to China.

As a result, the KIO warned CPI employees not to enter its area in the dam construction sites north of the Mali-N’mai Rivers. The reason was that the Burmese government discontinued the 1994 ceasefire on 1 September, 2010.

KDNG said that the dam construction is against the choice of local people and violates China’s own dam construction guidelines as well as international standards. Burma’s military junta ordered over a thousand civilians from Tang Hpre, the main village at the dam site, before the end of May 2010.

There was an environmental impact assessment on the Thailand-based Burma Rivers Network website which was conducted by a team of Burmese and Chinese scientists. The 945-page “environmental impact assessment,” fully funded by China’s CPI Corporation and conducted by a team of Burmese and Chinese scientists, recommends that the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dam not proceed. “There is no need for such a big dam to be constructed at the confluence of the Irrawaddy River” says the assessment.

Several complaint letters concerning construction of the Myitsone dam have been sent to the Burmese and Chinese governments by local people, the Kachin National Consultative Assembly (KNCA) and the KIO. However, no action has been taken to tackle the worries expressed by the Kachin community.

KIO have waged revolutionary warfare for self-determination in their state. Since 9 June, skirmishing spread out between the KIA and the government’s troops. The warfare was interrelated to the outsized developmental projects being built by China.

Recently, on 17 September, Workshop No (3/2011) of the Ministry of Electric Power No (1) on Impact of Hydropower Projects on the Irrawaddy River and natural environment was held at the ministry in Naypyitaw.

Union Ministers, deputy ministers, People Parliament and National Parliament representatives, departmental heads, resource persons, entrepreneurs, journalists and guests attended the workshop, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

In his address, Union Minister for Electric Power No (1) Zaw Min explained the purpose of organizing the seminar and introduced six papers that would be read out. He also invited suggestions and discussions over the papers. Chairman Dr Htin Hla of Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) read out the paper on impact on natural and social environments. CPI Chairman Mr Li Guanghua, read on Irrawaddy basin hydropower projects are strategic selection for Myanmar (Burma) electric power industry.

On 10 September (Saturday), Union Minister for Electric Power No (1) Zaw Min said in a meeting with media, the government will carry on construction of the Myitsone Dam on the Irrawaddy River despite severe denigration and environmental and communal risks, some Rangoon-based journals spotlighted.

Zaw Min also challenged the people that the government will not withdraw the project because of any objection.

During the 17 September seminar, the “natural environment report” was made by 250 scholars from six organizations including BANCA. The report will be submitted to the newly reconstituted Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry. It is said that future works depend on the environment report of the ECF Ministry and study report of the engineer group.

According to the report of CPI Company, the structures in Myitsone project will be designed and built systematically to have the resistance of the worst flood in 1000 years and the earthquake of eight Richter Scales. But, as stated by some critics, CPI’s estimation is merely an illogical presumption. No futurist can foretell such a thousand-year calculation.

In his closing address, Union Minister Zaw Min said that, the government has not yet decided to stop the Myitsone dam projects. Zaw Min said at one point: “Impact of Myitsone Project on environment and safety was a hot topic among people. However, hydro-power projects along Ayeyawady (Irrawaddy) river were worthwhile to increase production of power for domestic use and industrial development.”

So, the seminar seemed to be a time-buying method that held against the desire of the people. If the parliament and the government unwisely decided to carry on the massive dam, the people would not tolerate any more.

Hence, local civil societies, as well as watchdog groups around the world, have to keep serious awareness to prevent the continuation of the Myitsone dam project which will tragically spoil the nation’s promising future.

- Asian Tribune -

Burma must consider favourably ethnic people’s proposals for peace-talks

2011-08-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

Wed, 2011-08-31 00:37 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

Burma’s President Thein Sein government broadcasted a statement on 18 August concerning peace talks; it urged all rebel groups to get in touch with regional governments to initiate dialogue. According to the government, it would be forming a body to deal with ethnic armed-groups in quest of peace talks.

The statement is one of several fresh indications of the current controversial civilian government. It is currently attempting to transform its uncompromising portrait. Several ethnic armed groups have been fighting the military-backed government for decades to gain autonomy of groups, such as the Shan, Kachin, Karen and Mon.

Col Sai Htoo, Assistant Secretary General of the Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), said the government’s 18-August peace talks call did not reveal any information concerning any preliminary programs at all. At least, he said, it should be focused on clearing the political atmosphere before any meaningful talks set off, according to Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.).

“President Thein Sein should first create an environment conducive to friendly negotiations,” he told SHAN on Tuesday morning. According to him, it is important to release political prisoners, to start pulling out troops from the conflict zones and to declare a nationwide ceasefire announcement which will greatly brighten up the atmosphere.

However, at the meeting with Union Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo, Mr Quintana (UN’s Human Rights Envoy) put some questions on prisoners serving terms for their beliefs, amending existing laws to meet international norms, and formation and functions of the Constitutional Tribunal. The Union chief justice said that in Myanmar (Burma) there is no prisoner serving a term for his belief, and prisoners are all serving their terms for crimes they have committed. He also added that courts have powers to hand down sentences in the framework of the prescribed laws, and the accused have the right to argue in line with the law under the current 2008 constitution, revealed New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

Col Sai Htoo believes the 1947 Panglong Agreement that guarantees total autonomy, democracy and human rights for the states should be common ground on which peace talks should be conducted, and not the 2008 constitution, drafted and ratified and forcibly adopted by the previous military junta.

According to Col Sai Htoo, there are reasons for the government offering the peace talks. His rationales are as follow. (1) There is a conflict between Thein Sein government and the armed forces. (2) There is another conflict inside Thein Sein cabinet notably between President Thein Sein and his first-vice president Tin Aung Myint Oo. (3) Disciplinary problems are arising out of the Army’s inability to provide food, clothes and supplies for its troops and their families. (4) The government armed forces have suffered heavy casualties in the war in Kachin, Karen and Shan states. (5) The government hopes to break sanctions imposed by the Western bloc. (6) The government has an ambitious plan to chair the 10 member ASEAN in 2014.

Even though, the government’s “Invitation to peace talks” says that any armed group wishing to hold negotiations, it must contact the state government first individually in order to start preliminary discussion. After completion of which, the government will form a team for peace talks.

On the other hand, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) also dismissed the government’s 18-August peace-talk offer. It was sacked by the KIO and the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) since the government uses just two-pronged meeting which in fact is a divide-and rule policy towards ethnic groups devoid of the Panglong Agreement. Talks between the KIO and the Burmese government were also failed in 1963, 1972, and 1980 respectively; they all botched to address the political face-off between the two sides.
Currently, KIO declared that it will talk through the ethnic alliance, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), maintaining the values of the Panglong Agreement.

The SSA has been combating against the Burma armed forces to gain self-determination for decades. Burma Army and SSA reached a ceasefire deal in 1989.

However, after 22 year of armistice, the ceasefire broken down due to Burma Army’s offensive on 13 March this year. The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) is a member of the newly formed United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) as well and it holds that any meaningful negotiations with Burmese government must be with the UNFC and not on the basis of one bilateral talk with individual groups - a provision set by President Thein Sein’s government.

If the government failed honoring the political aspirations of the ethnic groups, it will be pointless to end political and civil conflict all over the ethnic states. As a result, if the Burmese authorities neglected the opinion of the ethnic rebel-alliance, the critics may say that the current government is not heading toward a democratic system; instead it is challenging to pay no attention to the ethnic groups’ self-determination.

Hence, it is time for the government to review its strategy on peace-talks in comparison with the rebel-alliance’s proposal. In such an important time, government should not obstinately take hold of its own ‘modus operandi’ on peace-deal. If the government focused on reconstructing a democratic Myanmar or Burma, it must also respect the proposals of the ethnic people.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/08/30/burma-must-consider-favourably-ethnic-people%E2%80%99s-proposals-peace-talks

Burma needs constitutional rectification to stop civil war

2011-08-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

Fri, 2011-08-26 00:46 — editor

Myanmar

By - Zin Linn

Recently, Burma’s new government has released a number of statements indicating its willingness to reach settlement with ethnic armed-groups and political opponents, domestic and exile. Regrettably, those offers have been considered inconsistent.

According to the speech delivered by President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) U Thein Sein at the first Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament) second regular session, he and his government has been gearing up to work with the international community.

For instance, the president said, “Our government has inherited traditional foreign policy which has never been harmful to international and regional stability and security and it is maintaining friendly relations with global nations. What’s more, we are trying to stand tall as a dutiful member of the global family in international and regional organizations. For this reason, we have officially proposed to take the ASEAN chairmanship in 2014. We are extending the hand of friendship to all global nations and all international organizations including the ASEAN.”

It is obvious that President Thein Sein’s government has set its sights on being allowed to hold the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014, a year before the country’s next scheduled polls.

Although Thein Sein’s government seems to make softer its political stance against its opponents in recent weeks, it fails to do more tangible improvement. For example, the release of political prisoners and approval of settlements with ethnic armed-groups are still delayed as yet.

However, Thein Sein emphasized that his new government was working for “citizen rights.”
“We are ready to co-operate with the international community,” he underlined.

Even though, the Thein Sein government turns a deaf ear to calls for the release of political prisoners. Besides, the government repeatedly declares the National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi, an unlawful party.
In addition, Thein Sein told members of parliament that his government will pay attention to oppositions’ suggestions. He said the government has already prepared to talks on peace with armed ethnic groups since the progress of the frontier areas is dependent on stability.

But, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has rejected an offer of new peace talks from the government. On August 18, the government proposed joining in peace talks towards ethnic armed groups. But, it was dumped by the KIO and the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), because the government uses merely bilateral meeting which really is a divide-and rule policy towards ethnic groups without considering the Panglong Agreement.

Lar Nan, Joint-General Secretary-2 of the KIO, said it will not talk bilaterally any more with the government since such negotiation failed in the past. Talks between the KIO and the Burmese government were also abortive in 1963, 1972, and 1980 respectively; they all failed to get to the bottom of the political standoff between the two sides.

Currently, KIO declared that it will talk through the ethnic alliance, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), keeping on the spirit of the Panglong Agreement.

On the contrary, the military-backed Burmese government announced its rejection of peace talks based on the principles of the 1947 Panglong Treaty to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) on the weekend, according to the Kachin News Group. The government sticks to the 2008 controversial constitution as the guideline for the peace talks.

On August 15, in response to charges during August 12 press conference by information minister Kyaw Hsan, the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) issued a statement urging all parties concerned to revitalize the 1947 Panglong Agreement signed by the Burmese leader Aung San and leaders of the (then known as) Frontier Areas, Shan Herald Agency for News said.

SSPP/SSA says in its statement, “Instead of regarding ethnic peoples as enemies and accusing them as subversive elements, it’s high time national reconciliation was being forget by the present authorities on the basis of equality, justice and the Panglong Agreement.”

The historic agreement basically guaranteed self-determination of the ethnic minorities and offered a large measure of autonomy, including independent legislature, judiciary and administrative powers. However, the dream of equality and a federal union is far from being realized some six decades after signing the Panglong Agreement.

Burma’s new 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 proviso, the 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 daily 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 must also 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.

There is a big gap between the military junta and the NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi. To the military autocrats, allowing the ethnic minorities to enjoy equal political, social and economic rights is a hazard to national unity and sovereignty. To the NLD and ethnic alliance parties, granting equal rights to ethnic minorities will guarantee peace, stability and prosperity of the country.

In his latest speech, President Thein Sein said, “We know what happen to people and what people want. And we are striving our best to fulfill their needs to the full extent. To conclude my speech, I promise that our government as a democratically-elected government will do our best for the interests of the people.”

If the president really knows what people want, he should think about amending of the controversial constitution in which none of the political aspirations suggested by the ethnic representatives was integrated. If the current government truly committed to start political reforms, the first thing it should take into consideration is providing access to debate on constitutional flaws in the parliament.

Without a debate on the 2008 Constitution by all stakeholders, Burma will not win through its political catastrophe.

If the president wanted to do his best for the interests of the people, he should not be a dogmatist sticking to the unreasonable bill which will prolong the ongoing civil war.

- Asian Tribune -

Dams on Burma's Irrawaddy River becomes a national cause

2011-08-13T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sun, 2011-08-14 00:16 — editor

Article
By - Zin Linn

It was noteworthy, the Chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Lanyaw Zawng Hra sent an official letter dated May 16 to Hu Jintao, the President of the People’s Republic of China urging China to stop the controversial Myitsone dam construction on Irrawaddy River in Kachin State of Burma, Kachin News Group (KNG) said on 23 May, 2011.

In the open letter the KIO warned Myitsone and six other hydroelectric power plant projects could lead to civil war between the KIA, the armed wing of the KIO, and the Burmese Army because Burmese troops have been deployed to the KIO control areas to provide security for the dam-construction projects.

According to Kachin News Group, numerous complaint letters concerning construction of the Myitsone dam have been sent to the Burmese and Chinese governments by local people, the Kachin National Consultative Assembly (KNCA) and the KIO. However, no action has been taken to tackle the worries expressed by the Kachin community.

KIO’s official letter to Hu Jintao says, “Except the Dam Project in Mali-N’mai Confluence (Myitsone dam), we have no objections against the other six Hydro Power Plant Projects. However, we have also informed the Asia World Co Ltd to make a decision only after assessing the consequences of the Dam Construction”.

The Kachin Development and Networking Group (KDNG) has warned publicly that the Myitsone dam construction is going to displace 15,000 neighboring Kachin natives and millions of people living downstream of the dam construction location because of inundation.

According to the environmentalist group, thousands of people have been forced to move from their home villages near the 6,000-megawatt dam construction project site. The displaced villagers have to struggle finding new livelihoods, adequate healthcare services and education for their children at new villages, the watchdog group said.

In the past, Kachin people had made an official plea to the former junta’s boss Senior-General Than Shwe to stop the project due to environmental damage. But he always turned a deaf ear to the call. The junta boss regularly obeys the rules of the Chinese authorities over the dam projects.

Construction at Myitsone began December 21, 2009, led by China’s state owned China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) in cooperation with Burma’s Asia World Company (AWC) and the Burmese government’s No. 1 Ministry of Electric Power. Remarkably, AWC owner is former drug lord Lo Hsing Han. As a result, the KIO warned CPI employees not to enter its area in the dam construction sites north of the Mali-N’mai Rivers. The reason was that KIO has stopped cooperating with the Burmese government when the government discontinued the 1994 truce on September 1, 2010.

Environmental activists and researchers say the project will force Kachin villagers to abandon their homes and could face inundation of an area, the size of Singapore, all caused by the government's eagerness to satisfy China as it needs more power for its growing industrial zones.

According to Burma River Network, the Irrawaddy River provides vital nutrients to wetlands and floodplain areas downstream including the delta region which provides nearly 60% of Burma’s rice. Changes to the river’s flow and the blocking of crucial sediments will affect millions farmers throughout Burma and decrease rice production.

The watchdog network also pointed out that the dams will forever change Burma’s main river ecosystem and an important Asian river. Eighty-four percent of the Irrawaddy River’s water originates above the dam sites and will be affected by these dams. The network said that the dam is located 100 kilometers from a major fault line in an earthquake-prone area; if the dam breaks, it will flood Kachin State’s capital city of 150,000 that lies just 40 kilometers downstream of the dam.

In a statement issued on 11 August (Thursday), Burma’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi said the dam endangers the flow of the Irrawaddy River, which she described as "the most significant geographical feature of our country." She warned that 12,000 people from 63 villages have been relocated, although an article in the government-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper Wednesday reported that 2,146 people had been ordered to leave their homes and relocated.

Suu Kyi recently released a letter calling on promoters of the Myitsone dam project to reassess the plan, pointing out concerns that dams on the Irrawaddy River damage the environment, decrease rice production, dislodge ethnic peoples. Besides, it would hurt livelihoods of local communities and there is a risk of possible destructive earthquakes.

“We believe that, taking into account the interests of both countries, both governments would hope to avoid consequences which might jeopardize lives and homes,” Suu Kyi emphasized. “To safeguard the Irrawaddy is to save from harm our economy and our environment, as well as to protect our cultural heritage,” she added.

One can find an environmental impact assessment on Thailand-based Burma Rivers Network web-site which was conducted by a team of Burmese and Chinese scientists. The 945-page “environmental impact assessment,” fully funded by China’s CPI Corporation and conducted by a team of Burmese and Chinese scientists, recommends not proceeding with the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dam. “There is no need for such a big dam to be constructed at the confluence of the Irrawaddy River” says the assessment.

Building of dams has become also a rising political issue in China’s relations with countries in Southeast Asia; a region increasingly dependent on the watercourse of rivers may perhaps reduce their capacity to irrigate paddy fields.

The Burmese government state media has continued saying that the Myitsone dam project will not produce negative impact on the watercourse of the Irrawaddy or on the livelihoods of the native inhabitants.

Local ethnic populace has been displaced from their homes to make way for dams and reservoirs. But construction companies close to the authorities benefit from those dams. They receive millions of dollars for designing and building dams. The government officials also gain black earnings in many ways – illegal taxes, kickbacks and inducement – during building of a dam.

Anyhow, Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s most distinguished opposition figure, may heighten international reaction of the Myitsone dam project which seriously disapproved by environmental and human rights groups. The dam projects are, however, creating widespread political criticism countrywide for the national interest.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/08/13/dams-burmas-irrawaddy-river-becomes-national-cause

Burma forms 'spokespersons and information team' to control news leak-out

2011-08-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Fri, 2011-08-12 03:31 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

The President Office of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) issued Notification No.75/2011 - “Formation of Spokespersons and Information Team” - dated 10 August 2011, the state media announced today.

In accord with Section 24, Subsection (a) of the Union Government Law, Spokespersons and Information Team has been formed with the following persons in order that it can assume the duties of releasing news and information and holding press conferences occasionally regarding the political, economic, security, military and natural disaster affairs of the State, the state newspapers said.

Spokespersons and Information Team has been formed with 11 members and the team leader is Kyaw Hsan, Union Minister, Ministry of Information.

The purpose of the info team seems to bar other government officers and staff engaging the public communication activities. They are already warned not to leak out information to the media especially to exile media. So, the government information team will act as an info filter mechanism which will prevent government confidential facts and statistics from leaking out.

Burma's parliament nominated Thein Sein as the country's eighth president on 4 February 2011. The same day, a Rangoon court sentenced Maung Maung Zeya, a journalist working for Democratic Voice of Burma, an independent exile radio and TV station, to a total of 13 years in prison for violating the Unlawful Association Act, Immigration Act and Electronics Act.

Three journalists - Zarganar, Zaw Thet Htwe and Thant Zin Aung - who were given long prison terms by a kangaroo-court in November 2008, are still in prison.

An information ministry statement to exempt sports and entertainment periodicals from prior censorship by the notorious Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) is just a showcase tactic to deceive the international media watchdogs.

In his inaugural address on 30 March, President Thein Sein portrayed the new cabinet as a constructive body.

"We must also respect the role of the media as a fourth estate," he said. But, in spite of a rhetoric, address was measured to provide the military-backed government a more trustworthy image, as journalists remain under constant close watch. Those suspected of sending video footages or reports on day-to-day situation to exile media are always under close watch by the special branch of the intelligence units.

For instance, during 10 May press conference by the Rangoon regional government, Nyan Tun Oo, regional minister for education, health, foreign affairs and immigration, hinted journalists of the government’s intention that government will not allow media coverage, which they think probably be sensitive to national security.

“On the subject of freedom of press, reporters can record stories if they are not sensitive to the state. If media coverage causes danger to the state or our citizens’ security, no one can cover it,” Nyan Tun Oo said during a press conference at the city’s parliament building.

The press conference was the first official meeting of regional government ministers and the media personnel held by the Rangoon administration since the USDP regime was sworn in on March 30.

According to then “Irrawaddy” news report, when the editor of Snap Shot Journal, Myat Khaing, questioned the minister, he responded by saying that he would stop the press conference immediately if journalists cross-examined him or asked “colored” questions.

The President Thein Sein oversees a cabinet whose 30 members are mostly former army officers and has inherited the "directed democracy" system created by his predecessor, Gen Than Shwe, head of the previous military junta.

Freedom of expression, information and association is controlled by more than half a dozen laws, the violation of which, may be, and in fact is, widely sanctioned by 3 to 20 years in prison.

Burmese People are suspicious on this Formation of Spokespersons and Information Team as the information minister who controlled the PSRD becomes team-leader. This information team will take responsibility to answer the media including private journals through press conference. The team certainly will pay attention to cut questions made by journalists so as to avoid secrets of the government.

It looks like a kind of limitation to the press freedom plus freedom of expression since the hardliner information minister Kyaw San, who also took the same post in previous junta, takes charge of the team.

The Paris-based watchdog, Reporters Without Borders ranked Burma 174 out of 178 countries on its latest Press Freedom Index. More than 25 media workers are in jail, including 17 video journalists for DVB. Burma is "Asia's biggest prison for journalists and bloggers after China," says the watchdog.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/08/11/burma-forms-spokespersons-and-information-team-control-news-leak-out

Burma’s current President should honor 1988 People’s Power

2011-08-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

Sun, 2011-08-07 00:48 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

On this 8 August, 2011, democracy-longing Burmese people around the globe will hold the 23rd Anniversary of the 1988 People’s Democracy Revolution. On the contrary, no remembrances will be allowed to mark the 8888 anniversary in Burma, and heavy police security will be seen in big cities especially in Rangoon (Yangon) around Shwedagon Pagoda to fend off any protests.

In September 1987, Burma's then dictator General Ne Win made mismanagement with downgrading general economy by abruptly revoking certain denominations of the currency notes.

As a superstitious man, he wanted only 45 and 90 kyat denomination notes in circulation. He made such foolish decision, because they were divisible by nine, which he considered a lucky number for his destiny.

However, cancelling existing currency notes which people keep as their savings were done away with overnight. Protests in relation to the swelling economic catastrophe were started by students of Burma, particularly in Rangoon.

On 13 March 1988, students protesting in front of the Rangoon Institute of Technology ran into the security police plus military personnel and a student leader Phone Maw, a fourth year engineering student, was shot dead. His death provoked more and more mass protests, which draw ordinary citizens and Burma's much revered monks together with the avant-garde students.

On 8 August 1988 - well-known as 8-8-88 Democracy Movement - hundreds of thousands of people took part in protests across the country, calling for democracy. During this time, dissenting newspapers were freely brought out, banners of fighting-peacock were flying everywhere, coordinated demonstrations were held and many democratic speakers appeared in public meetings.

On 26 August, Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence icon Aung San who had come back to Burma to look after her ailing mother, made a speech at Shwedagon Pagoda where roughly half million supporters appeared and subsequently she became the public figure of the 1988 democracy movement.

Eventually, General Ne Win resigned as ruling socialist-party boss on 23 July. However, he made a last warning that "when the army shoots, it shoots in a straight line". On 18 September, the military seized power supporting General Ne Win’s words.

Soldiers gunned down protesters using automatic rifle. They sprayed bullets into crowds of dissidents. Hundreds of activists were taken away in army-trucks and most of them were never seen again. According to observers, analysts and Human rights watchers declared that at least 3,000 innocent citizens were killed.

After 18 September coup d'état made by the then military Chief General Saw Maung, Aung San Suu Kyi led shaping the NLD, but she was put under house arrest in July 1989. Despite her detention, the NLD party won staggering 82% of the seats in Parliament in the 1990 parliamentary election, but , the military junta refused to convene the parliament and also refused to recognize the results, and have since ruled the country as the State Peace and Development Council. Since her initial arrest, she has been allowed only a few brief years of freedom.

Since that time on, thousands of political prisoners have been came under arbitrary arrests and thrown into jail under unfair laws and trials in the absence of their lawyers. The military government’s penal code allows imposing excessive sentences against political activists.

For instance, article 5 (j) of the penal code allows authorities to impose 7 to 20 year prison terms on anyone who joined in peaceful protest or showing different opinion against the regime. Another article 505 provides an indefinite prison term for criticizing the authorities’ policies or behaviors.

Besides, the regime time and again prosecuted political prisoners under the Emergency Provision Act, Law to Safeguard the State against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts, Television and Video Act, Unlawful Association Act, Electronic Transactions Law, and Law Relating to the Forming of Organizations. The worst is that the regime usually extended prison sentences under the Law Safeguarding the State from the Dangers of Subversive Elements.

According to international legal standard, all political prisoners have committed no crime at all. So, for the current President Thein Sein government, releasing of political prisoners should be the first and foremost of the political reform urgently requires today. Subsequently, the above mentioned undemocratic laws must be done away with as a necessity for change.

According to critics and watchdogs, the 7 November 2010 election, won by the military-backed political proxies, was flawed by widespread complaints of vote rigging and the exclusion of the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest shortly after the polls.

If Thein Sein government has the ability and willingness to go along the political reform path, it must ensure the existence of the National League for Democracy which won landslide in 1990 and the essential role of its leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Moreover, the NLD has been founded based on the burning wishes of the people participated in 1988 democracy movement. Although the successive military-backed rulers try to eliminate the history of 1988 people’s democracy movement, their attempts are in vain. In the same way, they also do their utmost to abolish the NLD as the party is the symbol of the 1988 movement. But, it is also with little hope as yet.

Therefore, President Thein Sein should have to allow political space for Suu Kyi. It is time for starting a dialogue with the Nobel laureate who is also one of the outstanding leaders of the 1988 uprising.

Thein Sein needn’t take a lot of time for real changes in the country. He must also show goodwill by releasing political prisoners who are one way or another related to the fundamental causes of the 1988 people’s democracy revolution.

Without releasing political prisoners, without honoring the vital role of Suu Kyi and the NLD, Burma’s political crisis may not be addressed.

According to many Burma observers, the country will not step into a democratic phase while sham civilian government has been keeping political prisoners in jail and fighting the ethnic communities.

If President Thein Sein government overlooked the reconciliation process via dialogue with Suu Kyi, Burma has to face next 8-8-88-liked civil strife again in the near future.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/08/06/burma%E2%80%99s-current-president-should-honor-1988-people%E2%80%99s-power

Burma: President Thein Sein ought to accept Suu Kyi’s call for peace talk

2011-07-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Fri, 2011-07-29 02:05 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

In her open letter dispatched to the country’s military-backed new President Thein Sein, Suu Kyi offered to act as a mediator between the government and the ethnic rebels, and said the constant fighting has been damaging the national reconciliation which is so important for the nation that composed mainly of ethnic population.

“National reconciliation cannot be accomplished by using military might. If stakeholders used the gun to solve out the disagreement, it will make disadvantage for all sides. To establish an authentic national unity, that will make safe the future of the Union, can only be accomplished through political dialogue,” the open letter says.

Burma Army continues to attack the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on irregular intervals since 9 June. The 9-June armed conflict at Sang Gang lasted for three days and nights. The attack prompted the KIO to declare war against the Burmese government since its troops invaded Kachin controlled areas.
The KIO has offered to end warfare if the government will initiate talks for a nationwide ceasefire.

Unfortunately, Burmese government authorities did not positively respond to a recent e-mail regarding this subject, according to La Nang, a spokesman for the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Burma’s 64-year-old Panglong Agreement has been ignored by the successive Burmese regimes. The said agreement has also been ignored by the current President Thein Sein government. The Panglong Agreement was signed on Feb. 12, 1947, between General Aung San and leaders of the Chin, Kachin and Shan ethnic groups guaranteeing a genuine federal union of Burma.

This is not the first time Aung San Suu Kyi calls for peace. Last month, the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi released a statement dated June 20 calling both government and KIO to stop heavy fighting immediately in order to protect people’s lives and properties. It also called for peaceful talks between stakeholders to settle down the decade-long political crisis of the country.

The NLD led by Suu Kyi has long been in opposition with the existing authorities who have run the country since a 1962 coup. Her latest comments are likely to enrage the new nominally civilian government, despite signs of a thawing of ties.

Suu Kyi has called for a “Second Pinlong Agreement”, between the government and ethnic groups. The said agreement is still standing as a key question for over 60 years.

In last December, Burmese junta’s two mouthpiece newspapers criticized dissident politicians who believe genuine national reconciliation and support Aung San Suu Kyi. Burma’s military rulers dismissed the actions of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who tries to revive the spirit of Panglong Agreement providing self-reliance to ethnic nationalities, as a “cheap political stunt”.

“If someone truly wants to engage in politics with the aim of supporting the state’s interest, one should proceed plainly, officially and candidly within the structure of the constitution,” the article said.

On the contrary, Suu Kyi and her party NLD, which has been officially shut down by the authorities, have pushed for a “second Panlong Agreement,” with the backing of some key ethnic groups that oppose the regime’s 2008 constitution.

The idea of Panglong Agreement is no longer suitable to the current country’s situation and is even a threat to peace and stability, the commentaries in the state-owned papers said. It even mocked people suggesting an online conference using the Internet.

Burma’s military-backed government has optimism with 7 Nov. election last year that it will bring all ethnicities together as a union. However it has produced the opposite consequence. Key ethnic armed organizations opposed the 2008 constitution and November’s ballot results as sham and farce.

Some political analysts believe releasing over 2,000 political prisoners and stopping the aggressive wars on ethnic people are the most important topics to be addressed by the new ‘Thein Sein government’.

Releasing political prisoners and calling peace to armed ethnic groups would provide evidence to the international community that government is genuine on bringing about political change and embracing real democratic values.

If President Thein Sein is sincere and clever enough, he should start a bold step to accept Aung San Suu Kyi’s call for nationwide peace talk that alone will not only lift the economic sanctions, but also catapult his government toward the ASEAN chair. Refusal of this excellent opportunity may lead the government and the nation into another political crisis similar to the Arab Spring-like protest.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/07/28/burma-president-thein-sein-ought-accept-suu-kyi%E2%80%99s-call-peace-talk

Burma: A true dialogue or a trick to ease international pressure?

2011-07-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

Mon, 2011-07-25 01:21 — editor

News Comments

By - Zin Lin

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will meet with Labour Minister Aung Kyi, the first rare meeting between the Nobel laureate and the new army-backed government, quoting an official Reuters News said on Sunday.

Aung San Suu Kyi has time and again called for dialogue with the government since her release from house arrest a week ahead of November election, which was tarnished by alleged of vote-rigging and the exclusion of her party.

"Aung San Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi will meet at Sein Lei Kan Tha state guest house on Monday afternoon. It will be the first meeting between them after the new government was formed," a Burma government official told AFP, without elaborating.

Ohn Kying, the NLD’s Central Executive Committee member confirmed the meeting arranged by the government to engage with Aung San Suu Kyi at 1 pm Monday.

At the offer of the army-backed Burmese civilian government, Burma’s Nobel laureate would meet on Monday with Labour Minister Aung Kyi, who stands for the ruling generals in earlier talks with the democracy icon.

On the other hand, the Burmese government has warned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) to end "illegal activities", including its agitation and opposition to the newly elected legislative body.

A letter signed by the Home Minister and send to Suu Kyi’s party in June said the NLD had been officially dissolved in September last year. Because, the NLD preferred to boycott election held in last November, while Suu Kyi and two thousands political prisoners were in prison.

The 30 June state-owned newspaper raised the issue in a commentary under the caption of “Right to make choice still in the hand” by a ghost-writer.

In one paragraph, the commentary says, “From the point of law, NLD is defunct. The Union Election Commission issued Announcement (18/2010) dated 9-4-2010 reminding the 10 political parties that still met Article 25 of Political Parties Registration Law at that time that they could apply within 60 days for continued existence as political parties. However, only five of them did so. It is common knowledge that the five political parties did not include NLD.”

It also underscored that the NLD has been removed from the list of political parties and has been dissolved according to Announcement 97/2010 dated 14-9-2010 by the Union Election Commission.

The home minister’s letter also spotlighted that the government was deeply worried that if Aung San Suu Kyi makes political tours to rural parts of the country, there may be anarchy and unrest, as experienced by prior incidents in 2003.

It is not known whether the meeting will be a flexible gesture in stance by the latest government, which is led by members of the junta that controlled the country for decades. The ex-generals in this government were strongly opposed to Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).

A government official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters the meeting would take place early Monday afternoon at a state guesthouse close to Suu Kyi's residence. In his former part as liaison officer for the junta, Aung Kyi met Suu Kyi 10 times while she was under house arrest.

In frequent media interviews, Suu Kyi expressed her aspiration to hold talk with the new government to press for some changes to help people of Burma. The government did not respond.

In its Martyrs’ Day statement, the NLD says, “We have repeatedly said that the NLD is ready to negotiate flexibly for the beneficial results of the people of Burma. But the dialogue should not aim for the benefit of the NLD nor the benefit of the authorities, but for the benefit of the Burmese people. Therefore the authorities should create the fair political conditions by holding meaningful political dialogue towards national reconciliation and releasing unconditionally all the political prisoners.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday called on Thein Sein government to free political prisoners, address non-proliferation concerns and start a dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Clinton, speaking at a regional security forum of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, said Burma (Myanmar) was a major challenge to the regional group and would have to be addressed.

Aung Kyi is regarded as a moderate minister in military-dominated government, and this will be his first meeting with the democracy icon as labor minister in the new government.

Analysts say it is expected Burma's rulers are aware of Suu Kyi's influence on the international community and realize her involvement as a necessity to do away with Western sanctions since 1988.

Some analysts also concerns about the meeting on Monday as they have experienced in the past that the consecutive military regimes typically arrange such show to mislead the international community.

Many people supporting political changes in Burma dare not believe on the reported meeting whether the nominally civilian government is attempting to alleviate tensions with the Western governments.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/07/24/burma-true-dialogue-or-trick-ease-international-pressure

ASEAN must respect the ASEAN Charter to consider Burma for its chair in 2014

2011-07-19T02:55:00.000-07:00

Tue, 2011-07-19 00:50 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

The new military-backed civilian government of Burma is still in a vicious circle to gain ASEAN’s backing for the 2014 chairmanship. If ASEAN endorsed Burma’s chairmanship of the group, it would unquestionably dishonor the name of the regional bloc. Burma under the former military junta missed a chance its turn as chair of ASEAN in 2006, because of strong international disapproval led by Western countries.

In 2004 August, activists in the ASEAN region launched an international campaign calling for Burma to be disqualified from chairing the regional bloc in 2006, saying it would affects the grouping’s credibility and reputation.

At that juncture, a delegation led by Dr Gothom Ariya, the then secretary-general of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) presented Thai Foreign Ministry officials an open letter with signatures by organizations from the region, East Asia, Europe and North America. Copies of the letter addressed to respective ASEAN governments were delivered by a group of activists to member nations’ embassies in Bangkok.

The Then activists underlined the ASEAN diplomats in Bangkok, a very important report – ‘A Licence to Rape’ – released in 2002 by the Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN). It described comprehensively the use of rape or shameful maneuver by the Burmese armed forces. The allegations were scrutinized and confirmed by International organizations and foreign governments that using rape as weapon truly was taking place. As the report exposed concrete evidences, the junta’s denial failed.

Furthermore, the activists also explained about the most atrocious chapter of contemporary Burmese history or the latest assassination attempt by the Burmese military junta on the pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi – leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD) and her entourage at Dapeyin on 30 May 2003. Burmese troops and government sponsored goons and thugs attacked the NLD motorcade led by Aung San Suu Kyi who fortunately survived with injuries, subsequently arrested and put under house arrest.

The officials from the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon visited the site of the May 30 violent attack on Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters and told that there was a premeditated ambush on the Lady’s motorcade. Circumstances and reports from local residents around Dapeyin indicated that the regime-backed thugs conducted the attack.

As a result, Burma lost its opportunity of becoming chairman of the ASEAN in 2006 due to tough international condemnation.

Now, another chance for Burma comes out once more in 2014. Senior diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to think about international opinion when they decide on whether to allow Burma to chair the regional grouping by 2014.

“We live, interact, synergize and benefit from our relationship with the (rest of the) world. Certainly we will be open to hear their sentiments,” Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN secretary-general, told reporters Jakarta on 13 July, as said by Ria Rose Uro (Interaksyon.com).

He highlighted that “ASEAN is where it is (today) because of the goodwill of dialogue partners.”

The secretary-general is attending the ministerial meetings which will run from July 15 to 23. Consideration of the matter is with the foreign ministers meeting (FMM). Earlier, Indonesian parliamentarian Eva Kusuma Sundari, president of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar (AIPMC), warned about the potential backlash from Western governments should Burma (Myanmar) take over ASEAN’s chairmanship.

Sundari said that based on their interactions with government officials in Australia, the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), the would-be impact “will not be good for ASEAN as a whole.”

“You cannot help it. These governments still look at Aung San Suu Kyi as the icon of democracy in Myanmar,” she stressed.

However, most important point to put into consideration for Burma is no other than its human rights record. Human Rights Watch pointed out in its 6 May Statement that Burma has failed to address concerns repeatedly raised by ASEAN leaders in the past summits.

“Rewarding Burma with ASEAN’s chairmanship after it staged sham elections and still holds 2,000 political prisoners would be an embarrassment for the region,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The Kachin Women’s Association Thiailand (KWAT) released a press statement on 21 June denouncing the Burmese government’s armed forces for using of rape as a weapon of war in northern Burma offensive.

According to the press release, at least 18 women and girls were gang raped by Burmese soldiers; four of whom were killed after being raped. The soldiers killed three girls and raped a woman in front of her husband, who was then forced to work for them. In the frontline areas, Burmese soldiers are committing crimes freely as there are no effective or appropriate penalties in place by their senior officers.

A press release has been delivered on 14 July by the Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) condemning Burma Army of using rape as war weapon. The Burma Army is clearly authorizing rape as a terror policy in its offensive against the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), according to information documented by SWAN and SHRF.

In such a situation, ASEAN must consider very thoughtfully to allow Burma at its chair in order to avoid the grouping’s ethical standard. Neglecting Burma’s continuous violation of human rights, ASEAN should not offer its chairmanship to an unclean member like Burma.

Looking at the facts on the ground in Burma, there are more military attacks in the ethnic minority areas, more rape-cases as a terror policy, more forced labor, more child soldiers, more political prisoners, more refugees, more abuses of law, more restrictions toward media, more control on Internet users and civil societies.

In a word, while dealing with the Burma question, ASEAN must stand for the ASEAN Charter that specifies the loyalty “to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance, respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

Hence, ASEAN needs to be very cautious and to put more pressure on Burma until the essential benchmarks for chairmanship are carried out before 2014. It will be better for ASEAN to support a UN-led ‘Commission of Inquiry’ into longstanding allegations of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Burma.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/07/18/asean-must-respect-asean-charter-consider-burma-its-chair-2014

Burma’s Kachin people demand political dialogue instead of war

2011-07-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Sat, 2011-07-16 02:45 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

How much time does Burma need to initiate national reconciliation, a transition to democracy and full respect for human rights? The cost of further delay will be paid in thousands of innocent lives, lost opportunities and prolonged civil war.

The new civilian government – in the namesake, is neglecting its own promises – good governance, national unity, poverty alleviation etc. – made during presidential inaugural ceremony. But the government is actively going on to count the support of China, India and Russia for its grip on power.

The Burmese people feel that it is time for the international community to raise this half-century-long political conflict at the next meetings of the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council. They hope for a global arms embargo against Burma's military junta, and an investigation into crimes against humanity or war crimes committed by the military regime. They have also called for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry proposed by Tomas Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

It is clearly visible to the International Community, the ongoing atrocities, violence and destructions and crimes against humanity unleashed by the Burma’s Army in Kachin, Karen and Shan states. Recently, a two-day meeting of Kachin delegates in Laiza, in Burma’s northern Kachin State, concluded with the denunciation of a truce without political reconciliation with the untrustworthy Burmese government.

According to Kachin News Group [KNG], the July 12-13 meeting was held at the Alen Bum Military Base, in the KIO command center, Laiza, hearing the opinions from Kachin public leaders on the restoration of ceasefire between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the military-backed Burmese government. More than 120 delegates from Kachin State, Shan State and the rest of Burma participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, Maj-Gen Gunhtang Gam Shawng, Chief of Staff of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the military-branch of the KIO, gave details about the KIO’s ceasefire plan to Kachin public leaders at the meeting.

Political analysts and observers were deeply concerned about the widespread war in the Kachin State. Now, people have been blaming Thein Sein government for breaking of every promise with the ethnic ceasefire groups.

The regime’s miscalculation on handling the Kachin issue seems pushing the country into an abysmal gorge of tragedies. Burma’s new military offensives on the Kachin, Karen and Shan armed groups will lead the nation into a severe poverty trap.

According to Maj-Gen Gam Shawng, the KIO will only seek out a transitory armistice with the Burmese government up to six months. However, it can be called a halt at any time if there were no political word of honor. The KIO’s new ceasefire plan was rejected by delegates because of the failure to achieve a political solution over the last five decades, a Kachin News Group (KNG) reporter in Laiza said.

In hope of setting up a political dialogue, the KIO signed a ceasefire agreement with the central government on February 24, 1994 and supported the military-favored 2008 constitution.

No political dialogue took place in the last 16-year ceasefire period and the KIO was intimidated to remove weapons and transform into the Burmese Army-controlled Border Guard Force (BGF) before the November 7 election.

The KIO cast off the BGF plan, saying it cannot accept transformation of its armed wing. Talks between KIO and Burmese government were also abortive in 1963, 1972, and the1980 respectively. But they all failed to get to the bottom of the political standoff between the two sides.

The 22-year military rule of the country ended after November 2010 polls. The President Thein Sein government was sworn in as a new controversial civil government in March 2011. It has not publicly offered a new ceasefire agreement to the KIO, until now. However KIO claims that it has proposed a new ceasefire plan to the President Thein Sein government on July 8, according KIO officials in Laiza.

The public meeting in Laiza was called while the KIO is waiting for the government’s response to its new ceasefire proposal amid growing concern by the Kachin people over ceasefire talks.

As reported by the KNG, the KIO met with peace delegates from the Kachin State Government on June 17, June 30 and July 7. However, the state-level ceasefire effort was rejected by the KIO, Kumhtat La Nan, General Secretary-2, the KIO said.

In such a situation, no one throughout Burma will trust President Thein Sein government’s propaganda of good governance policy, national unity program and poverty alleviation agenda.

At the same time, it seems Thein Sein Government has no inspiration of going along a meaningful dialogue seeking a peaceful and prosperous nation in the ASEAN family.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Myanmar (Burma) was under discussion on 8 June at the 17th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council conference in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 May to 17 June.

Speaking on behalf of the 14 Burmese rights organizations before the Council, one representative said, “With no domestic mechanism available inside the country to effectively and impartially establish justice and accountability, failure to independently investigate those widespread and systematic violations of human rights will only make further abuses inevitable. Therefore, we strongly urge this Council to act swiftly to establish a UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry to look into the violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the country.”

The people of Burma are hoping that the international community, especially the key players – the United States, United Nations, European Union and ASEAN – will push for political change in their country.

The ethnic people of Burma also seriously wish for total ceasefire in order to avoid war crimes in their regions. In addition, they are calling for a meaningful political dialogue among the stakeholders to reinstate peace in the war-torn country.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/07/15/burma%E2%80%99s-kachin-people-demand-political-dialogue-instead-war

Burma acts as neocolonial nationalist on ethnic people

2011-07-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

Mon, 2011-07-11 02:01 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

A 9-page analysis paper revised on 1st July, 2011- Burman Troop’s Offensive War against Kachin: A Postcolonial Nationalistic Interpretation By Zau Lawn - about offensive war against Kachin by Burma Army has been delivered publicly 10 July through Kachin News Group’s online information bulletin.

Amidst constant political insecurity across Burma (Myanmar) due to the Burma Army’s offensive war against the ethnic armed groups, Zau Lawn from ‘The Kachin Research Group’ has written a vivid research-paper explaining the norms of military system in the name of the “Disciplined Democracy” which stands for the policy of the newly civil dressed military government under the leadership of President Thein Sein.

Moreover, the paper underscores the effort and genuine collaboration of Ethnic nationalities - Kachins, Shan and Chin - in view of the 1947 Panglong accord. The paper also criticizes the current situation that the implementation of the Panglong belief in formulation of a Federal Union, has been systematically downgraded till today. The Burmese government in power used to say that “the era of Panglong is over.”

In one clause, the research paper says: “Having manipulated the power to rest only in Burmans and constructed Burman nationalism based on chauvinism and jingoism, the Burman groups grasped both the central and the state power rejecting the provision of sharing power by means of the Federalism. Moreover, all the “rights and privileges” provided are cut off. Instead the Burmans in power are treating Ethnic nationalities as their alien and enemy.”

The researcher recounted about the civil war between Burmese Military and the KIA. As said by the paper, the almost seventeen year old cease?fire agreement between the Burmese Military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) completely collapsed once Thein Sein’s troops invaded the KIO’s territory at Sang Gang and seized the KIA’s Bum Sen post on the 12th of June, 2011.

It occurred amidst having been officially warned repeatedly by the KIO in order to avoid the civil war across the land. The Sang Gang war broke out on 9 June as a defensive action against the Burmese military troops which fired first toward the KIA. The conflict lasted for three days and nights. This war made the KIO declare “civil war between Burmese Military troops and the KIA across Kachinland and beyond”, on 12 June 2011, the paper explained.

It also continues its explanation that for the sake of security, the KIA has destroyed a dozen bridges used for major communication of government troops. As the war has spread out across the area, it is assumed that there is high number of causalities, particularly to the government side.

The paper points out that during the civil war, attention is given towards a particular issue of Burman Nationalism on the bases of the government’s troops’ ill-treatment. Burmese soldiers committed inhumane torture, rape, dehumanization and killing of local Kachins in the war zone, violating the UN Declaration of Human rights and the international law for prisoners of war.

According to ‘The Kachin Research Group’, the analysis is based upon accessible data form radio news, news papers, messages and interviews. The first category is the analytical synthesis to the policy of waging war upon KIO by Thein Sein’s troops as the state?run, the New Light of Myanmar “blames Kachin rebels for fighting” in the aftermath of the week long war. The state-paper claims that the fight at the KIA’s Bum Sen post was its “inevitable reaction to the ethnic Kachin rebels, who fired first, in order to protect a major Chinese?built hydroelectric power project.”

The research-paper says in a place: “This wording “the ethnic Kachin rebels” and “protection of a major Chinese?built hydropower project” is to be considered logically and realistically and reflect the plan and fundamental policy of Burmanization, exercised as Burmese Nationalism. Obviously, it indicates the government troops, sent by Thein Sein, are an official body deployed in order to protect the state?run project for the prospect of economic development with military might and KIA as “the rebels”, which resist the state’s policy and its project.”

It says that Ethnic nations like Kachin, Kayin and so on are not to be condemned by accusing them as “the separatists” from Union of Burma. Rather Kachins have struggled for federal democracy from the hands of consecutive Burmese military nationalists. The current government also represents the neocolonial power within the respective ethnic soil. The spirit of friendship and or brotherhood established between General Aung San and Kachin Duwas could activate the Panglong agreement. But at present, the research-paper says, Kachins are treated as the “enemy” of the Burman majority in various ways.

In conclusion it says: “Therefore, it is not the time to stick too much on a certain nationalism which leads one to be disloyal to one’s country. Instead, the right nationalism has to be the act of revolution, identification of a common political policy which could render hope, security, prosperity, peace and dignity for all. Therefore, the nationalism here has to be a civilized ideology, which is the real power in the contemporary era, resisting all uncivilized manner of discrimination, ethnic extermination and domination, not to love a certain group of people and to campaign on a mission in its interest by misuse of its power, particularly with military might.”

Burma’s sixty-four year-old Historic Panglong Agreement has been ignored by the successive Burmese military regimes up to this day. The said agreement has been ignored by the current President Thein Sein government which is also under military control.

The question of Panglong Agreement nowadays become a key point in the contemporary history of Burma’s politics.

“All the armed forces in the union shall be under the command of the Defense Services,” says section 337 of the 2008 constitution.” It means ethnic armed troops must be under state control and the union government will not allow self-determination of the ethnic people. Equality of ethnic minorities with the Burmese majority was out of the question to the new constitution.

Aung San Suu Kyi told the media a day after her release that she would like to call for a second Panglong Conference that is fitting to the 21st century perspective.

Without addressing and honoring the ethnic people’s political aspirations, the new military-controlled President Thein Sein government will be toothless to stop political and civil strife throughout ethnic areas. National reconciliation and ethnic self-determination are two sides of a coin.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/07/10/burma-acts-neocolonial-nationalist-ethnic-people

Will Burma sincerely cooperate with ICRC once more?

2011-07-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

Fri, 2011-07-08 00:27 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

Many prisoners of conscience have been serving incredibly long prison terms in awfully ruthless conditions in Burma’s notorious prisons. Torture and ill treatment is a well known part of their incarceration and retribution.

The regime’s handling of political prisoners blatantly breaks the 1957 UN standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) carried out its last prison visit in Burma in November 2005. In January 2006 the ICRC suspended prison visits in the country, as it was not allowed to fulfill its independent, impartial mandate.

According to today’s state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper, the Government of Myanmar (Burma) has been carrying the maintenance of prisons in cooperation with ICRC. Water and habitat Engineer Swiss Mr Eric Weissen from ICRC and two officers were allowed to visit Mawlamyine prison on 1st July. There, they inspected site chosen for sinking tube well, storage of water and construction of toilets and septic tanks.

They were conducted round by Director Soe Soe Zaw from Myanmar Correctional Department (Mon/Kayin), prison officer in-charge and engineer. According to the preliminary survey of ICRC in Myaungmya, Hpa-an and Mawlamyine prisons, solar powered water pumping system is installed by Myanmar Correctional Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs in cooperation with ICRC.

As reported by Assistance Association for Political Prisoners - Burma [AAPP-B], at least 159 political prisoners are in poor health due to the denial of proper medical care, harsh prison conditions, torture and transfers to remote prisons where there are no doctors. Political prisoners’ right to healthcare is principally denied by the successive regimes. The prison healthcare system in Burma is totally poor, especially in far-flung jails. There are 44 prisons across Burma, and at least 50 labor camps. Some of them do not have a prison hospital as well as health assistance personnel.

AAPP-B says in its June 2011 report: “The blatant insincerity and unwillingness of the current regime to address grave human rights violations was underscored in the concluding session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Throughout the dialogue, the regime made false claims as to progress made in the field of human rights while continuing to deny serious broad patterns of abuse. Burma accepts to improve relations with Special Rapporteur Quintana, but has denied him entry into the country since March 2010.”

AAPP-B also criticized the behaviors of the Burmese government in the report that if there are no widespread occurrences of human rights violations committed with impunity, as Burma claimed during the first round of the UPR in January 2011, then it should open its doors to not only the Special Rapporteur Quintana, but also to other INGOs such as the ICRC.

Burma also agreed to stop torture, but refuses to investigate allegations of torture, providing further evidence that they are only interested in providing the bare minimum so as to gain political legitimacy.
Zaw Win, Director General of the Prisons Department, brazenly lied to the international community saying there are no political prisoners in Burma. Besides, there have been no deaths in prison arising from conditions of detention, he said.

AAPP-B has documented 146 deaths as a result of ill-treatment and conditions in prison. Given the wall of secrecy surrounding prisons, the number of cases is most likely much higher. There are a total of 1,994 political prisoners in June, said AAPP Burma.

The ICRC offices were ordered to be closed in 2006. Then, ICRC released a press statement on this issue dated 29 June 2007. The statement denounced the military regime for committing human rights violations against detainees and civilians. ''The repeated abuses committed against men, women and children living along the Thai-Myanmar border violate many provisions of international humanitarian law," said Mr. Jakob Kellenberger, ICRC president.

In addition, ICRC also demanded the Burmese government to end urgently of its abuses: "We urged the government of Myanmar to put a stop to all violations of international humanitarian law and to ensure that they do not recur".

The ICRC launched an office in Rangoon (Yangon) starting a limb-fitting and rehabilitation mission in 1986. Since 1999 it has carried out assistance and protection work in places of detention and in sensitive border areas.
Since 1999, the ICRC has called on detainees in prison; in 2005 alone it met more than 3,000 prisoners in more than fifty locations. It provided kits, including basic needs such as soap and medicine for thousands of prisoners. It has been able to assess conditions even in areas of conflict via its five field offices. Under its own strict rules of engagement, the ICRC keeps its findings confidential.

In December 2005, however, the junta said ICRC staff visiting prisoners had to be accompanied by a member of the pro-junta cadres, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (now transformed into ruling party). The junta’s demand was against the principle of confidentiality that the ICRC holds as a non-negotiable condition for prison visits worldwide. It showed obviously the junta’s dislike of ICRC’s prison visits. On 23 October 2006, the junta told the ICRC to shut its field offices.

Now, observers are amazingly watching whether the Burmese government will sincerely cooperate with ICRC once more. The Burmese regime should not make use of ICRC in order to gain its credibility this time.

- Asian Tribune -
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/07/07/will-burma-sincerely-cooperate-icrc-once-more

China should be peacemaker to address armed-conflict in Burma

2011-06-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

Fri, 2011-06-17 01:25 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

The armed conflicts in Kachin State could cause greater insecurity along Sino-Burma border unless the President Thein Sein government takes accountability to find out a peaceful settlement. According to some analyst, agreement among pro-democracy ethnic armed groups has strengthened since Thein Sein government troops showed aggression last week.

According to Kachin News Group (KNG), the Kachin Independence Army’s 8th Battalion of Brigade 4, led by Major Lashi Naw Din hit back to the Burmese Army offensive by capturing six Burmese soldiers including a captain in Northern Shan State this afternoon. The government soldiers were encircled and under arrest without a single shot being fired by the KIA soldiers.

On the other hand, the aggressive war launched by the Burmese government causes tragic consequences for the Kachin people along the Sino-Burma border. Over 10,000 Kachin refugees run off to the China border since the beginning of civil war last three days between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese government soldiers in Kachin State, the Kachin News Group said.

KIO’s civil administration officer Salang Doi Pyi Sa said, “According to yesterday’s list, there are 2,291 refugees who arrived from Burmese government’s territories. There are over 300 in Ura Bum, 4,238 in Loije, over 2,000 in Man Win and over 300 in Maijayang.”

As soon as the conflict broke out this week, KIO opened six temporary refugee-camps in Laiza headquarters. China has not allowed the refugees to cross into its area. Most refugees are inhabitants of villages under government-controlled areas along Myitkyina-Manmaw (Bhamo) road, Manmaw-Loije road and Manmaw-Kai Htik-Nam Hkam-Muse road, said Doi Pyi Sa.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told at a regular news conference in Beijing that China was giving humanitarian help to residents from Myanmar (Burma) who had fled, but he gave no details on their number or condition, Reuters News said.

"We are paying attention to the situation in Myanmar near the border area. We urge the two parties to exercise restraint and prevent the escalation of the situation, and resolve the relevant disputes through peaceful negotiations," Hong Lei said.

In the two KIO towns of Laiza and Maijayang, refugees are being provided food, sanitation and health facilities by KIO. No local and international refugee agency has arrived in the border so far, KNG reported. As said by the refugees, they escaped to the Sino-Burma border fearing of being recruited as porters by Burmese soldiers rather than the fighting.

This armed conflict between KIA and government troops is not a misunderstanding. KIA has expected the government offensive since it turned down the Border Guard Force plan of the Burmese government last year. Besides, China is building two major dams as part of a hydroelectric power plant in the armed conflict zone. As China is the key protector of Burma in the UN Security Council’s meeting, Burmese government has decided to defend the China’s investment in the Kachin region.

There have been reports that hundreds of Burmese government troops have been deploying throughout the northern Kachin State in order to protect major dams as part of a hydroelectric power plant run by the state-owned China Datang Corporation. Government has also a plan to drive out KIA forces after they refused to leave a strategic post near the hydro-power project.

Warfare started after the KIA turned down a deadline claimed by the Burmese Army to follow a complete withdrawal from the KIA’s Bum Sen stronghold in Sang Gang by Saturday, June 11th, at 12 p.m.

And a remarkable fact is that the Burmese army's well-planned offensive comes just weeks after the new President Thein Sein’s visit to China. It was also his first official state visit to reinforce his namesake civilian government's close tie with Beijing.

As a result, there is an interesting question for some observers. The question: “Did Burmese government receive a green light from neighboring China to attack Kachin Independence Army? “

If not, China must take responsibility as peacemaker addressing the armed conflict at its doorstep.

- Asian Tribune -

Burma starts a new civil war with Kachin and Shan

2011-06-14T01:24:00.000-07:00

Tue, 2011-06-14 02:09 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

Warfare has continued for two straight days between the Burmese Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) at Sang Gang position. The post is in N’mawk (Momauk) Township, in Manmaw (Bhamo) District of Kachin State, northern Burma, Kachin News Group [KNG] said.

On June 11 Saturday, the battle took place at 3 p.m. through mid-night. On Sunday June 12, the battle started at 7 a.m. in the morning, said KIA officers at the frontline. Although both sides have casualties, the exact numbers cannot be known.

Local sources said that over and above 500 Burmese troops from more than three battalions have been deployed right through Sang Gang area. Burmese battalions in Manmaw District are also marching into the battle zone so as to reinforce their armed forces.

The Manmaw-based Infantry Battalion No. 237, N’mawk-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 437 and Dawhpumyang-based Infantry Battalion No. 142 are taking position among the Burmese troops in the combating area, according to the KIA source.

Fighting on 9 June ended resulting both sides made an agreement of captives’ exchange. However, the Burmese troops allegedly break a promise on an agreement to withdraw its troops from Kachin territory in Manmaw District. As an alternative, Burmese side insisted that KIA troops located on a nearby mound close to their base have to move away.

As Kachin troops refused to withdraw, heavy artillery fire hit the KIA on Saturday afternoon. Due to heavy artillery bombardment, the the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) decided to close its last liaison office in the state capital, Myitkyinya. According to Kachin officials, the shutting down of its final liaison office indicates the official end to diplomatic contact channel with the Thein Sein government. The liaison officials were called back because of security concerns, KIA said. KIO’s liaison personnel arrived back at their headquarters in Laiza Saturday midnight.

It’s a sign of beginning of an all-out war between KIA and the Burmese government armed forces. In hope of setting up political dialogue, the KIO signed a ceasefire agreement with the central government on February 24, 1994 and supported the military-favored 2008 constitution.

No political dialogue happened in the 16-year ceasefire time and the KIO was intimidated to remove weapons by transforming into the Burmese Army-controlled Border Guard Force (BGF). The KIO’s closure of its liaison office in Myitkyinya indicates that over 16-year old truce has been cancelled to start a new civil war again.

According to some analysts, this incident of breaking a truce by the Burmese government is a total stupidity. Although Thein Sein government has guaranteed democracy, it even does not want to allow equal political rights toward the ethnic people.

More evidences were found also in the Shan State. Yesterday, Burma Army attacked the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) with its MA-10 mortars forcing the SSA to move back from its position, quoting local sources, Shan Herald Agency News (SHAN) said.

The Burma Army reportedly fired dozens of shells on the Kawng Sao Merng base, located one mile east of its former HQ Hsengkaew, Hsipaw township, with its MA-`10 mortars and other types of heavy weapons from around 5:00 to 9:00, said a source from Hsengkaew militia group, formerly SSA base security force.

In the attack, the Burma Army Military Operations Command (1) used three battalions from Kyaukme based to crack down the SSA’s hundred-fighter unit.

It was hard to resist such heavy weapons as the strengths were also lopsided, said Colonel Sai Htoo, Assistant Secretary General-2, Shan State Progress Party, the political arm of the embattled Shan State Army North. SSA also did not want local villagers to be the victims of counter attacks if it did not leave the area first.

According to the SSA, its strategy on war is never to stick to a static defensive. It is instead to be on a mobile defensive as the strengths between the two sides are unbalanced.

To date, the Burma Army side is still reportedly deploying more troops to SSAs new HQ Wanhai, according to local eye witnesses from Kehsi Township, Shan Herald Agency News (SHAN) said. Fighting between the two sides have been three months long since 13 March and had killed dozens of civilians including at least 300 casualties on the Burma Army side in the conflict zones. Most of the civilians were reportedly killed and injured by the Burma Army’s heavy shells, claimed the SSA.

Without addressing and honoring the political aspiration of ethnic people, the new Burmese government seems to be unwilling to end political and civil conflict throughout ethnic regions. So, it is clear that Thein Sein government is not heading toward democracy; instead it is attempting to protect a military-centered sham civilian administration.

- Asian Tribune -

Will ASEAN give chair to Burma despite rights record?

2011-05-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

Wed, 2011-05-11 00:38 — editor

News Analysis

By - Zin Linn

In view of many international observers, the Association of South-East Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) negligence to take firm position on Burma (Myanmar) has become its Achilles’ heel. As usual, the association’s statement proves member-countries’ lack of collective will to take a strong position against Burma. Changing itself into a semi-civilian regime through vote-rigging, Burma makes a mockery of the ASEAN Charter, which states that the region must be more responsive to human rights issues.

The Charter was intended to transform ASEAN into an institution similar to the European Union and to entrust members with strengthening democracy, enhancing good governance and the rule of law, and protecting human rights and fundamental freedom.

A communiqué issued at the end of the two-day ASEAN leaders' summit in Jakarta said: "We considered the proposal of Myanmar (Burma) that it would host the ASEAN summits in 2014, in view of its firm commitment to the principles of ASEAN."

It also emphasized that ASEAN leaders supported the "steady progress and political developments in Myanmar" after it held general elections and formed a new government in March, calling the ballot "successful." But, ASEAN leaders overlook the true story about the 7-November election which unfairly allowed the junta-backed party to rig the votes.

The election, Burma's first in 20 years, was severely criticized by the oppositions and the Western Democracies, as undemocratic polls for not allowing watchdogs and media.

Human Rights Watch pointed out in its 6th May statement that Burma has failed to address concerns repeatedly raised by ASEAN leaders in past summits.

“Rewarding Burma with ASEAN’s chairmanship after it staged sham elections and still holds 2,000 political prisoners would be an embarrassment for the region,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“ASEAN leaders need to decide if they will let Burma demote ASEAN to the laughingstock of intergovernmental forums.”

The Asian Network For Free Elections (ANFREL) released a statement dated 9 November calling attention to ballot counting procedures that made by the Union Election Commission (UEC). It said the counting process was not made transparent to the public and the media beginning with the first advance voting period.

Moreover, ethnic nationalities in Burma that fight for self-determination were prevented from participating in the election. More than 3,000 villages in ethnic nationality areas have also been excluded from the electoral exercise because of continuing armed conflict.

Thus, calling the ballot "successful" means ASEAN supports an undemocratic vote-rigging election in Myanmar (Burma).

Southeast Asian leaders have no objection to Burma or Myanmar's request to chair the 10-member ASEAN bloc in 2014, as long as it continues making progress towards democracy, Indonesia's President said on Sunday after the group's latest summit.

"ASEAN leaders do not object in principle," Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at his closing news conference. "But Myanmar, which is a focus of world attention, is expected to continue progress on democracy so when it becomes chair it does not generate negative views."

However, the Thein Sein government has been reinforcing its troops in several areas where ethnic armed groups that did not follow the border guard force (BGF) plan are based. Armed reinforcements have been reported in Karen State and Shan State in eastern Burma since early this year.

Sporadic armed clashes has been going on recently between the junta’s troops and armed ethnic groups such as the Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Brigade 5, the Shan State Army–North (SSA-North) and Shan State Army-South (SSA-South).

Hence, Burma has been going on with war against the ethnic minorities who are defending their basic civil rights including self-determination. If ASEAN leaders consider offering the chair to Burma in 2014, they should pressure Thein Sein government to stop the unjust war on the ethnic people. They ought to push Burma to end the civil war.

In this ongoing civil war, Burmese soldiers have been committing lots of crimes – lootings, rapes, burnt down villages, destroying the crops, killing innocent ethnic villagers, forced-labor and forced conscription.

Moreover, Thein Sein government still detains over 2,000 political prisoners including important ethnic leaders. To take the ASEAN chair, Burma must not keep political prisoners who really are committing no crime but expose their political beliefs.

In addition, Thein Sein government must allow ‘Freedom of Expression’ and ‘Free Press’. Burma is one of the most autocratic and covered up countries in the world, due to both its restrictive press laws and its practice of punishing journalists. In recent elections, the Burmese junta did not allow press freedom for both Burmese and international news media.

It was a significant hindrance to Burma becoming a free society. So, the analysts state that in the absence of media freedom Burma (Myanmar) should not act as ASEAN chair since there will not be accountability and transparency.

Reporters Without Borders released in its annual press freedom report in October 2010, ranking Burma 174th out of 178 countries. On October 18, Burma announced that foreign journalists would not be granted access to Burma to cover the news on elections.

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) also calls on ASEAN leaders attending the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7-8 May 2011 to reject the application by Myanmar (Burma) to chair ASEAN in 2014 unless real democratic and human rights reforms are made by the Myanmar government.

The AIPMC said in its statement that oppression in Myanmar makes up a black stain on the credibility of ASEAN. It will be an obstacle to efforts by ASEAN to build an ASEAN Community by 2015.

Looking at the fact on the ground in Burma, there is more belligerences in these days, more military attacks in the ethnic minority areas, more forced labors, more child soldiers, more political prisoners, more refugees, more restrictions toward media, more control on Internet users and civil societies.

So, ASEAN has to be very vigilant and to put more pressure on Burma until the essential benchmarks for chairmanship are fulfilled before 2014.

- Asian Tribune -

ASEAN must thoughtfully handle Burma's proposal for chair

2011-05-06T23:16:00.000-07:00

Sat, 2011-05-07 02:07 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been considered granting military-led Myanmar (Burma) the chair of the grouping in 2014, regardless of grave concerns about human rights violations and sham democratic system.

Senior ASEAN officials meeting in Jakarta ahead of a leadership summit at the weekend said Myanmar (Burma) had sought the chair of the 10-nation bloc in 2014, when communist Laos was due to take the job. At the meeting, the Laotian officials said that they would not mind switching with Burma with its chair in 2014. Cambodia and Brunei will the AEAN chair in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The new ex-general Thein Sein-led namesake civilian government of Burma is upset to acquire ASEAN’s endorsement. If it accepted as chairman of the organization would definitely provide them crucial recognition. Burma under the former military junta missed out its turn as chair of ASEAN in 2006 because of strong international objections led by Western countries.

In 2004 August, activists in ASEAN area launched an international campaign calling for Burma to be disqualified from chairing the regional bloc in 2006, saying it would affects the grouping's credibility and reputation.

At that time, a delegation led by Dr Gothom Ariya, the then secretary-general of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) presented Thai Foreign Ministry officials an open letter with signatures by organizations from the region, East Asia, Europe and North America. Copies of the letter addressed to respective ASEAN governments were delivered by a group of activists to member nations' embassies in Bangkok.

Burma abandoned the opportunity to preside over ASEAN in 2006 due to international objections for its lack of political improvement. Burma has often pledged to perform economic and political reforms but all of those promises to ASEAN have been broken.

Human Rights Watch pointed out in its 6 May Statement that Burma has failed to address concerns repeatedly raised by ASEAN leaders in past summits.

“ASEAN leaders need to decide if they will let Burma demote ASEAN to the laughingstock of intergovernmental forums.”

Burma‘s President Thein Sein has already arrived in Indonesia, the current chair of ASEAN, to be present at the two-day summit opening Saturday. He met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday on what is his first journey overseas as president since he was sworn in on March 30.

On the other hand, The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) also calls on ASEAN leaders attending the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7-8 May 2011 to reject the application by Myanmar (Burma) to chair ASEAN in 2014, unless real democratic and human rights reforms are made by the Myanmar government.

The AIPMC says in its statement that oppression in Myanmar make up a black stain on the credibility of ASEAN. It will be an obstacle to efforts by ASEAN to build an ASEAN Community by 2015. ASEAN should rather consider suspending Myanmar from the organization over its flagrant violations of the ASEAN Charter.

The AIPMC underlines: “We urge Thailand in particular to refrain from any considerations to repatriate refugees from Myanmar currently on Thai soil. Most importantly, we call on ASEAN to support the call for a UN-led Commission of Inquiry to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity in Myanmar as a step towards ensuring that this region will no longer tolerate impunity and violations of human rights and to press upon Myanmar the need for tangible steps towards inclusive democracy in the country.”

AIPMC gives a clear message to Burma that genuine political reform was expected before Burma could become the chairman of ASEAN.

However, the chairmanship remains ASEAN’s only influence with the Burmese government and the group should take advantage of it more efficiently. ASEAN ought to take part to start a meaningful dialogue between Thein Sein government and the political dissident groups including key opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

ASEAN should make use of Burma's bid for chair in three years' time as a useful bargaining chip. This opportunity may be a delicate diplomatic attempt for ASEAN to play as a facilitator between President Thein Sein and the democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. All at once, the grouping can take part in addressing relationship between Burma and the Western democracy countries as well.

I n brief, ASEAN should persuade its member Burma to organize a national reconciliation talk among the Burma’s stake-holders. At this point, the most important thing ASEAN has to do is driving the new Thein Sein government to release all political prisoners as a sign of benevolence message not only to its own people but also to the International Community.

In brief, while coping with the Burma topic, ASEAN must abide by the ASEAN Charter that specifies the loyalty “to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance, respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

- Asian Tribune -

Civil Strife will prolong under Burma’s new president

2011-04-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

Sun, 2011-05-01 00:08 — editor

Myanmar

By- Zin Linn

01 May, (Asiantribune):

Burma’s new President Thein Sein gave an address at 1/2011-Meeting held at the President Office in Naypyitaw on 23 April. Thein Sein highlighted that without national unity, the country with more than 100 races cannot have peace and stability. So, the government has to prioritize the national unity, he said.

However, in contrast, fresh fighting between Burmese armed forces have been making lots of hostilities against various ethnic armed troops. Without any external threats, the Burmese army has been expanding its strength over 400,000 soldiers and is one of the strongest in the region. Its armed forces have been engaging in ongoing conflicts with several ethnic rebel groups seeking self-determination since 1948.

Recently, the United Wa State Army and its ally the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) also called Mongla, were informed by the Burma Army yesterday, 28 April, to depart from their bases outside designated territories by tomorrow, 30 April, quoting informed sources from the Sino-Burma border, Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.) said.

The messages were by phone calls by separate regional commands: The order to UWSA in Panghsang was from commanding officer of the Northeastern Region Command (Lashio), while the order to Mongla was from the commander of the Triangle Region Command (Kengtung). According to a source close to the Mongla leadership, the Burma Army would attack Wa and Mongla posts at anytime they wanted if the ethnic troops failed to withdraw their bases by the given time limit.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has reportedly ordered all of its frontline units on 24-hour alert along the Salween river, a shared border with its ally the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’. The UWSA have alerted all of its troops to be ready to defend Wa State, although they do not want war. They will not fire the first shot, said a senior Wa officer.

SSA ‘North’ has been combating Burmese armed forces currently since the junta issued the ultimatum to accept the Border Guard Force program. The SSA ‘North’ has been fighting with the Burmese Army since 13 March. It was given an ultimatum to surrender by the end of March and to pull out from all their bases deploying in areas outside its main base. The latest skirmishes between the two apparently took place twice in Kehsi Township.

The Burmese Army has had at least 30 killed and 100 wounded, while the SSA has had four killed and eight wounded, according to SSA sources.

According to the latest information, SSA-North’s core base Namlao in Tangyan township, the gateway to its ally the UWSA, was seized by the Burma Army on 15 March after heavy fighting between the two sides for almost half a day, according to sources from the SSA.

The Burma Army allegedly accused them of breaching their 1989 agreement that they would not make recruitment or expand their territories. Currently, the UWSA leaders are still holding an emergency meeting to discuss the ultimatum.

In the meantime, the NDAA has already pulled out from two of its tactical bases in Wan Kho and Pong Hiet in Shan State East’s Mong-yawng township by the side of the west bank of the Mekong. Wan Kho base was taken by the Burma Army on 27 April. And NDAA troops in Pong Hiet were reported to have pulled out yesterday, Shan Heral Agency for News said.

According to a source, the Burma armed forces came with the strength of 100 soldiers and enclosed the group in the morning without firing a shot. After the NDAA troops left the area in the evening, Burmese soldiers from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 573 based in Mongphyak took over the post.

In March 2010, Chinese defense officials made an effort to repair the worsening relationship between the UWSA and the ruling military junta which demanded repeatedly the Wa accept its Border Guard Force plan. Despite the fact that details are lacking, sources say China is making another attempt to convince the Burmese junta of the futility of war against the UWSA.

Recently, two of the anti-Border Guard Force groups – United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) – were reportedly advised by China not to join in with any groups opposing the military junta. If not they would be under attacks similar to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Shan State Army (SSA) North, according to a Sino-Burma border source.

The junta doesn’t have the strength to make an offensive towards several ethnic groups at the same time, observers believe. At present, the military junta has spread out more troops along the Salween River to bring to a halt a possible relationship between the UWSA and SSA ‘North’. The SSA is active in the west of the Salween while the UWSA is in the east.

The UWSA and NDAA said they will maintain the four principles: not surrender; not transform into BGF unless their autonomy demands are met; not shoot first; but they are ready to protect themselves.

However, the junta dogmatically insists the homeland must have only one army and that clause has been put in the unfair 2008 constitution which cannot be amended without permission of the armed forces.

In light of the current vote-rigging election scenario in Burma, the armed rebellion is still the only realistic means to accomplish the essential goals of self-sufficiency and self-determination. The NLD – which won the 1990 polls but was not allowed to take power by the military – is boycotting the 7-November election, describing them as undemocratic and counterfeit.

Western nations and human rights groups have also affirmed the election was unfair since the military regime banned the National League for Democracy and Shan National League for Democracy to take part in the latest polls.

As a result, most analysts predict that the current President Thein Sein’s regime will fail to get supports from various ethnic populations; instead it has to face political defiance as well as armed insurrections in the near future.

-Asian Tribune- http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/04/30/civil-strife-will-prolong-under-burma%E2%80%99s-new-president

Burma needs to call off immediately Unjust Laws and Orders

2011-04-23T00:58:00.000-07:00

Sat, 2011-04-23 00:41 — editor

Myanmar

By Zin Linn

An alliance of democratic political parties – Friends of Democratic Parties – pushed the new President Thein Sein’s government to start putting into practice the promises he made in his inauguration speech without delay.
The 10-party alliance – including Democratic Party of Myanmar (DPM), National Democratic Force (NDF) and five ethnic parties - released a statement on 5 April, urging Thein Sein Government to carry out the objectives mentioned by Thein Sein in his speech made on March 30 and 31 concerning reconstruction of the nation and starting of national reconciliation.

However, people have different opinion. They want to restore law and order in the first place. As today judiciary system is totally collapsed due to corruption, the court-verdicts were made by buying-off. In his speech, President Thein Sein highlights to be a clean government and to reinforce the judicial pillar.

He said,” We guarantee that all citizens will enjoy equal rights in terms of law, and we will reinforce the judicial pillar. We will fight corruption in cooperation with the people as it harms the image of not only the offenders, but also the nation and the people. So, we will amend and revoke the existing laws and adopt new laws as necessary to implement the provisions on fundamental rights of citizens or human rights. Here, we will make reviews as soon as possible, and we will submit reports in order that ‘Union Parliament’ can carry out legislative tasks based on the findings.”

So far, the government courts are running along the old bribery path. Underprivileged people are thrown into jail without committing any crime while relatives of military elite are flouting the law by many ways. Especially, the courts always punish severely toward political-minded young citizens for their frankness. The military smashed up the whole judiciary mechanism.

Before the 1962 coup d’état, the judiciary system in Burma was on average, considered to be competent and independent, particularly at the appellate courts. The 1974 constitution designated single party ruling by the Burma Socialist Program Party (BSPP) creating ‘People’s Courts’. BSPP was in command of the judicial system especially in political cases, as the courts acted as another arm of the BSPP government, rather than as a guardian of civil rights. The judicial system continued to exacerbate through the 1980s as party associations instead of professional skills.

After the military takeover on 18 September 1988, the entire civilian government institutions, including the judicial system, were eliminated. The 1974 Constitution was put off and the military regime directly ruled the country by martial law which overruled all executive, legislative and judicial powers.
Military tribunals were set up in July 1989 to try criminal offenses. A vast mass of those brought before the tribunals were students, members of the NLD or other political parties, Buddhist monks and other pro-democracy activists.

The military tribunals were brought to an end in September 1992. The civilian courts do not guarantee the people of Burma a fair trial as most cases are tried in whimsical summary way and most verdicts are decided by the military intelligence officers in advance of the trial.

In his report to the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, Professor Pinheiro discussed the justice system in Burma, focusing on developments since the Judiciary Law was promulgated in 2000. His observations included perplexity among law enforcement and judicial officers, not to mention the public, about what laws are currently in force, to what extent, and how conflicts are to be resolved in practice.
Independence of the judiciary is not respected, Professor Pinheiro identified.

Professor Pinheiro recommends: “a systematic review of all existing legislation that criminalize the exercise of the most fundamental internationally recognized human rights, with a view to amending it or bringing it into conformity with both the principles stated in the Judiciary Law and international human rights standards. Allegations of abuse of power should be investigated and the persons found responsible brought to trial. Special courts should be disbanded – as were military courts.”

Freedom of expression, information and association is controlled by more than half a dozen laws, the violation of which, may be, and in fact is, widely sanctioned by 3 to 20 years in prison.

There are over 2,000 political prisoners who have been detained and sentenced for having peacefully expressed their views verbally, for participating in peaceful demonstrations or in activities of political parties. Some of them are punished for having written about human rights or political issues in the country or for reading or possessing written materials judged illegal.

It is very important for Burma’s new government to repeal these unjust laws and orders for democratic Burma en route for the restoration of the rule of law, peace and justice. And political prisoners who have been thrown into jail under such unjust laws must be released.

Currently, a signature campaign to release political prisoners and begin political dialogue with the opposition in Burma has been launched by reformists plus activists. The campaigners start collecting signatures via National League for Democracy members, ethnic political groups, veteran politicians and 1988 student-generation groups.

The signatures will be directly submitted to President Thein Sein urging to take responsibility for people’s desires. Thein Sein has pronounced in his speech to form a clean government and it will be a good opportunity for the new President to start change by releasing political prisoners who languish under unjust laws.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/04/22/burma-needs-call-immediately-unjust-laws-and-orders

Can Burma create a genuine clean government?

2011-04-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

Mon, 2011-04-18 01:02 — editor

Article

By - Zin Linn

April 17th is the New Year day in Burma or Myanmar. After four-day water-splashing festival – April 13 to 16 – here come to mark the traditional New Year on April 17, which is Burmese New Year day as always in line with the Burmese calendar.

At this moment, with a New Year spirit, Burmese people are waiting for a bright era earnestly how their new government will transform the country as well as its subjects. Burma’s new President Thein Sein made use of his inaugural address last month to illustrate his government’s reform agenda, promising ‘to open doors’ and ‘catch up’ with the outside world. So, people look forward to have the benefit of the fruits of economic development under President Thein Sein’s government.

During the days of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) regime, the International Labor Organization (ILO) called on the military regime to get rid of the practice of forced labor in Burma, which has taken root for several years. However, the regime has no political will to prevent the use of forced labor. The setback is still at large and Thein Sein has the responsibility to end it.

Expressing the internal affairs policy line up, Thein Sein pledged to get better socio-economic conditions for the people, industrialize the economy, combat corruption, reinforce the law-courts and improve public health, education and media policy. However, without eliminating forced labor, it will be impossible for the government to establish economic developments in this poverty stricken country.

Actually, forced labor is a burden on the general population, pulling farmers away from attending to their farm works and children from school. It falls most heavily on landless laborers and the poorer strata of the population, which rely on labor hire for survival. The impossibility of making a living because of the forced labor is a frequent reason for fleeing the country.

So, if Thein Sein truly pledged to get better socio-economic conditions for the people, he should go along with the ILO’s plan and he also must listen to the complaints of the citizens who are still under the forced labor bondage.

Thein Sein also promised to put emphasis on, including amendments to existing laws that are against the constitution, occasionally increasing salaries and pensions, reviewing existing agriculture and employment laws and promulgating and amending laws on environmental protection.

His words are silky enough to pour into one’s ears. But, here comes a question about the Myitsone dam in Kachin state. Irrawaddy Myitsone dam is being constructed by the state-owned China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) jointly with Burma’s Asia World Company and the junta’s No.1 Ministry of Electric Power. The project was set in motion on 21 December 2009, despite heated protests by the Kachin people and environmentalists who fear severe ecological damage.

The Myitsone dam is one of seven dams on the headwaters of the Irrawaddy River in Kachin State. It will produce 6,000 MW of electricity. Most of the electricity produced by the dam projects will be sold to China. The Kachin people repeatedly appealed to the Burmese military leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, to stop the Myitsone dam project. But their request was ignored.

Now, this issue is in the hands of Thein Sein and the Kachin people have to watch his response on this dam issue carefully.

In the most important part of Thein Sein’s speech he said he would like to get along with various political parties, especially with politicians who have different outlooks and views.

He said, “I promise that our government will cooperate with the political parties in the parliaments, good-hearted political forces outside the parliaments and all social organizations. I would like to advise the political parties to work together … although they may have different outlooks and views”.

He also added, “I urge the parliament representatives of various political parties to follow the wishes of the majority and respect the wishes of the minority in accordance with democratic practices.”

On the contrary, he himself as prime minister of the previous junta aggressively banned the basic rights of citizen including freedom of speech, freedom of press and freedom of association.

People hope him of making a true clean government as he mentioned in his speeches. To be a clean government, he must enforce judiciary system first together with freedom of expression plus free press. Without freedom of expression and free press, the president cannot hear the voice of the grassroots or workers and farmers who are the majority of the nation.

According to an investigative report last month by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), there are at least 2,073 political prisoners in Burma’s prisons, reflecting the systematic denial of fundamental freedoms of expression, opinion and association. Burma has sentenced severe prison terms to thousands of political activists, monks, student leaders and journalists for their alleged involvement in politics.

To prove his words – cooperate with the political parties with different outlooks and views – Thein Sein has to think about releasing over two thousands political prisoners first of all in this New Year. Unless he releases political prisoners, people will not accept as true his entire speech.

Additionally, Aung San Suu Kyi has constantly called for a national reconciliation and publicly announced her will to cooperate with the military regime on improving the situation in Burma. She has repeatedly called for the release of all political prisoners as a sign of understanding.

According to political analysts, putting thousands of political prisoners in jail, Thein Sein’s imagination of ‘clean government’ plan will go nowhere. A ‘clean government’ has to allow fundamental human rights guaranteeing proper judiciary system.

- Asian Tribune -
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/04/17/can-burma-create-genuine-clean-government

Thailand should think wisely to repatriate Burmese refugees

2011-04-14T00:44:00.000-07:00

Wed, 2011-04-13 01:08 — editor

News Analysis

By - Zin Linn

Thailand plans to close all refugee camps along its western border and send more than 100,000 Burmese back home now that a constitutional government has been installed in Burma, a news report emerging from Bangkok said on Monday.

According to Bangkok Post, quoting National Security Council Chief Thawil Pliensri, the closure of the refugee camps was discussed at the agency's meeting yesterday chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Thailand has provided shelter for about 140,000 Burmese refugees in Tak, Mae Hong Son, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and newly-appointed Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin discussed the issue during their meeting on the sidelines of the Special Informal Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting at Bangkok's Shangri-La hotel yesterday.

Spokesman Thani Thongpakdi quoted Mr Kasit as saying that the Thai government would take part in running administrative work in nine camps managed by foreign non-government organizations.

Thailand has for decades served as a shelter for Burmese opposition activists fleeing political, ethnic and religious persecution. Border camps in Thailand hold an estimated 150,000 Burmese, thousands of them are unregistered. Another two to three million Burmese have slipped into Thailand proper to escape a shattering economy at home; they have become employees of low-cost labour for Thai businesses.

On the last Burmese Election Day, Sunday November 7th, armed opposition groups engaged in combined military operations against the Burma Army forces in the border towns of Myawaddy and Three Pagodas' Pass, resulting in their temporary occupation.

As a result of the fighting, within 48 hours, more than 10,000 persons found temporary shelter in Thai government-designated locations in Mae Sot district of Tak province, nearly 4,000 in Phop Phra district 60km south of Mae Sot, and a further 3,000 in Sangklaburi district of Kanchanaburi province. Thousands more are thought to have sought safety in Thailand in other border areas through informal networks of friends and relatives.

Rising food prices may prompt the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) an umbrella group of 12 humanitarian organizations working with more than 139,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand, to cut rice rations by up to 20 percent. Additional cuts will be made to salt, sugar, oil and chili rations.

“Higher exchange rates and increased prices of foodstuff have made situation more difficult to buy food," Sally Thompson, the TBBC's deputy executive director said.

Thompson also said that a staple of the Burmese diet, the rice ration, will remain the same for vulnerable groups, including children under the age of five, pregnant and lactating women, and the ill. Helpless inhabitants are still sheltered, and TBBC plans to carry out annual nutrition surveys to screen the health situation.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Thailand currently hosts 96,800 refugees from Myanmar (Burma) who have been registered, and an estimated 53,000 who have not, and are living in nine government-run camps along the 1,400km Thai-Burmese border.

A spokesperson for the UN Relief Agency in Bangkok said it was too soon to send the refugees home, according to the newspaper. ‘But the solution is not forcing people to go back to a country that is still dangerous. What we would really like to see is that the returns are done in safety and dignity, and they absolutely have to be voluntary’, Kitty McKinsey said.

According to “Thailand Burma Border Consortium” TBBC’s latest IDP report, “Protracted Displacement and Chronic Poverty in Eastern Burma/Myanmar”, the main threats to human security in eastern Burma are related to militarization.

Under the guise of state building, the Burmese army’s strength grew from 180,000 soldiers in 1988 to over 400,000 soldiers currently.

The number of battalions deployed across eastern Burma has approximately doubled since 1995. In areas of ongoing conflict, Burmese Army patrols target civilians as a means of undermining the opposition. Land confiscation and extortion are more widespread impacts of the Burmese Army’s so-called ‘self-reliance’ policy.

The junta has announced that if ceasefire groups do not respond regarding the agreement or disagreement on the BGF program, they will automatically be recognized as insurgent groups. While building good relations with Burma, Thailand’s officials should not concentrate only on the economic benefits.

As a leading member of the ASEAN, Thailand should also see the root cause of Burma’s domestic war which produced refugees along the border. Actually, the Burmese military is the culprit of the six-decade-long civil war that hurt ethnic people along Thai-Burma border as well as neighboring Thailand’s business enterprises.

- Asian Tribune -

Burma needs to erase the dictatorial traditions

2011-04-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

Thu, 2011-04-07 00:10 — editor

     Myanmar

                     By Zin Linn         

Burma's military regime has been publicly dissolved, according to  state televisions and newspapers, after the country swore in a new  president on 30 March.

Referring to an order signed by junta’s chief Than Shwe, said “The  State Peace and Development Council will be disbanded after the  swearing-in ceremony for the new government and parliaments."

Besides, the new president also made a speech to his members of Union  Government, heads of Union level organizations at a ceremony to take  heed of presidential address on 31 March.

In his speech, President Thein Sein underlined that the newly formed Union Government “to be a clean government.” 

He said, “To be a clean government, we must abstain from corruption  and bribery, which tarnishes the image of the nation and the people.  Therefore, we have not only refrain from it,  but also ensure that the  organizations stay away from it. What is very important is that we must  not abuse the mandate in the interest of our friends and relatives. Only  then, can our government be recognized as a clean government.”

But all the governmental practices are still continuing the same as  under the SPDC. Even the township and village level administrations  remain the status quo. Corruptions and briberies are at large  constantly. 

On 5 April, An alliance of democratic political parties - Friends of  Democratic Parties - pushed for the new President Thein Sein’s  government to start putting into practice the words made in his  inauguration speeches without delay.

The 10-party alliance - including Democratic Party  of Myanmar (DPM),  National Democratic Force (NDF) and five ethnic parties -   released a  statement urging the Thein Sein Government to carry out the objectives  mentioned by him  in his speeches on March 30 and 31 concerning  the  reconstruction of the nation and starting of national reconciliation.

The eight-point statement signed by party leaders called for a  general amnesty for political prisoners in the country and the convening  of an all-inclusive union conference looking for reconciliation, as  said by Democratic Voice of Burma.

The statement says, “In order to implement the objectives  practically, we are calling for endorsement of a general amnesty decree  for all political prisoners in the country and all those who are in  exile for their different political opinions.  And we call for the new  government to sponsor organizing of all-inclusive union convention, with  everyone involved in the over six-decade long civil war. By that mean,  the government should find a solution to end the conflict, said the  statement.”

The 10-party alliance suggests the new government to do the job as  early as possible proving its true benevolence toward genuine national  reconciliation.

Although the junta officially transferred power to the Thein Sein  government, corruption, forced-labour and land-confiscation cases are  going on throughout the country. Chairman of Democratic Party of Myanmar  Thu Wei recommended that governmental institutions should take the  president’s speeches seriously, while political parties need to be  constantly reminding them. 

All government departments such as administration and judicial bodies  should follow these words precisely for the country, said Thu Wei.

According to Thu Wei, corruption is one of the issues mainly impeding  the people. So, political parties need to keep reminding the new  government about such wrongdoing until action is taken. Political  parties should not just depend on the government; they need to criticize  them simultaneously.

He also urged the Affair Committees in the Parliament to take  responsibilities, scrutinizing the president’s promises and  responsibilities to push for implementation of his pledge. Some of its  members said, the 10-party alliance will keep an eye on the new  government’s measures to find out whether the president takes adequate  measures’ to implement  his promises or not. 

The key question is that the president or the government has not  enough decision-making powers. It is under the control of the National  Defense and Security Council in which the military faction is the  majority and the commander-in-chief has the supreme authority.

So, people cannot enjoy freedom of information, freedom of  association and freedom of communication at all. The new government  cannot start practicing of power sharing among the respective admin  departments. Even a department head or a high-court judge daren’t to  make a decision by themselves rather than waiting an instruction from a  high-ranking official. 

Most of the government officials and employees are used to obey the  instructions of the military officers. They also believe that taking  bribe is a birthright opportunity for government officials.

It is obvious; Burma’s new government has new civilian clothes but it  still keeping on the old inexcusable practices. Burma may not change  straightforwardly into a democratic society without erasing the  dictatorial traditions.

- Asian Tribune -  

http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/04/06/burma-needs-erase-dictatorial-traditions

Is Burma’s new government in military’s sheepskin?

2011-03-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Thu, 2011-03-31 01:56 — editor

Article

                     By  -  Zin Linn 
         

Burma’s Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) announced on  Wednesday  morning that former retired general and Prime Minister Thein Sein, the  head of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, has been publicly  sworn in as the country’s new president.

State broadcasting stations aired just yesterday saying that the  State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), which has ruled Burma in  various disguises since 1988, has been dissolved at state and regional  levels to pave way for new election winning party, the USDP, as the full  transformation has been prearranged.

Quoting the television news of the state media, an order signed by  Than Shwe has been come out and said “since the next cabinet was sworn  in, the SPDC has been officially dissolved”.

The declaration came after an official said a new commander-in-chief  of Burma army attended the inauguration of Thein Sein as president; it  seems that the junta top job had been substituted. 

General Min Aung Hlaing was present at the swearing-in as Commander  in Chief of the armed forces, the post seized by Than Shwe for more than  two decades, according to an official. General Min Aung Hlaing, 54, is  an army cadet of the 19th Intake of Defense Services Academy and a  senior strategic trainee of the 4th Intake of the National Defense  College.

President U Thein Sein released the  cabinet listings comprising 30  ministers, including defense minister Major-General Hla Min, home  minister Lieutenant-General Ko Ko, border affairs minister and  industrial development minister Major-General Thein Htay, and foreign  minister U Wunna Maung Lwin who was former Burma or Myanmar’s ambassador  to the UN in Geneva, according to the official MRTV.

Myanmar (Burma) has been under the military rule since 1962 and again  in 1988 when the army crushed a pro-democracy movement, killing over  3,000 citizens.

According to most political analysts, whoever turn out to be  President, the fate of the people and the country may be maintained the  status quo because military elite have seized all the  business-opportunities and economic privileges prior to the legislative  assemblies.

Moreover, sporadic armed clashes has been going on in recent months  between the junta’s troops and armed ethnic groups such as the Karen  National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Brigade  5,  the Shan State Army–North (SSA-North) and Shan State Army-South  (SSA-South).

In  the state-run media, the junta also condemned the Second Panglong  Initiative or National Reconciliation forum raised by Nobel laureate  Aung San Suu Kyi and some prominent ethnic leaders as an unnecessary  approach.

The nation risks a return of armed conflict due to non-cooperation of  a true federal system in the 2008 Constitution drawn by the Than Shwe’s  military regime.

Prime Minister Thein Sein, who dropped his army uniform to contest  controversial elections, last year, was in February named for the top  job in the new parliament, which critics fear is carrying on military  rule in another guise.

The perspective is clearly apparent that the departing junta’s power  system is still energetic to keep on running the country for not less  than next 5 to 10 years. The military will be at the helm as usual. Even  though the governmental composition has to change, the military-first  policies will be the same as always. And civil war with the ethnic armed  groups will not be stopped beyond a doubt.

Therefore, the greater part of Burmese citizens does not observe  anything good in these results although General Thein Sein changed  himself into a civilian President U Thein Sein.

To the majority of people, the current parliamentary sessions will  make no change to the living standard of the country. So, people will  unavoidably have to hunt for valid political reform.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/03/30/burma%E2%80%99s-new-government-military%E2%80%99s-sheepskin

Burma’s new parliament will activate arguable Conscription Law

2011-03-16T21:20:00.000-07:00

Thu, 2011-03-17 01:33 — editor

News Comments

By - Zin Linn

The first regular session of People’s Parliament or Lower House went on for the eighth days at People’s Parliament Hall of Parliament Building on 11 March. Present were Speaker of the People’s Parliament Thura Shwe Mann and Parliament representatives.

On the Tuesday session’s attendance was 431 out of 433 representatives-elect, and the Speaker of Lower House Thura Shwe Mann declared that the seventh-day session turnout was 99.54 per cent and valid. Of the questions submitted by representatives-elect, acceptable topics were raised. The incumbent junta’s respective ministers replied to the queries.

Soe Win of Sangyoung Constituency raised a question on the recently-enacted civil military service law, whether it has come into force or not; and how young citizens will be called for military service if it comes into force.

Attorney-General Aye Maung quoted the speech by General Aung San at the constituent assembly on 16 June 1947, that in the colonial days, to defend Myanmar (Burma) was the duty of the British, but it was the duty of Myanmar people when the nation regained independence. If the number of servicemen was not enough, a military service law had to be enacted for all healthy adult citizens to serve military service, at least two or three years. They had to engage in battles if there was a war. It was one of the major tasks to be carried out when the nation regained independence.

He went on to say that Civil Military Act (1959) was promulgated on 11 March 1959. The act came into force on 1 July 1962. The Article 171 of the 1974 constitution says, “Every citizen shall, in accordance with law (a) undergo military training, and (b) undertake military service for the defense of the State.”

The Article 385 of the 2008 constitution says, “Every citizen has the duty to safeguard independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.”

Additionally, Article 386 says, “Every citizen has the duty to undergo military training in accord with the provisions of the law and to serve in the Armed Forces to defend the Union.”

Thus, the recently-enacted civil military service law will come into force on the date featured on the notification issued by the President; and that the processes to summon people for military service are stated in the law.

The controversial Conscription Law, which is to be ratified in Burma, has been criticized by the National League for Democracy (NLD) on 19 January. As said by the draft law, it will come into force on the day that the military regime endorses the law by an article in an official decree.

According to NLD, a draft law is related to the whole population in the country and it should be approved through lower and upper houses of the parliaments. Releasing the draft law ahead of the parliament assemblies looks like a deceitful ploy. And it also shows the military is above the parliament, considered a sham lawmaking body.

The military authorities will be misused the rights of the grassroots level people under this law in the name of ‘the State’, NLD pointed out in its statement.

Although the 1959 Public Military Service Act said the state had the authority to order any person who is qualified to serve in the armed forces, the current junta’s draft law prescribes that all male and female adults between selected ages should be subjects to serve in the military, the NLD statement pointed out.

Burma Army has been exercising forced conscription and it has the highest number of child soldiers in the world. As stated by rights groups, there are about 70,000 child soldiers in the Burma Army, some as young as 11, being taken from bus stops and street corners, or on their way home from school, and forced to join the army.

Hence, Attorney-General’s explanation is certainly in agreement with the incumbent junta’s arguable Conscription Law dated November 4, 2010. According to the observers, Attorney-General’s explanation goes against the opinion of the voters and their representatives.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/03/16/burma%E2%80%99s-new-parliament-will-activate-arguable-conscription-law

Unpreventable armed conflicts in Burma

2011-02-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

Fri, 2011-02-25 01:10 — editor

Myanmar

By - Zin Linn

25 February (Asiantribune.com):

Armed conflicts between ethnic rebels and the junta’s troops in Karen State resumed during country’s undemocratic elections last November.

Thousands of civilian fled across the border into Thailand, seeking to escape from the bloodlettings, uncertainty and instability continued. The new parliamentary system created by the military junta is dominated by retired generals who have been rightly criticized as a charade aimed at supporting military ruling.

At the same time, the junta is finding faults with some other ceasefire groups along China-Burma border.

Burma’s military junta had done away with the license of an airline linked to Burma’s largest ceasefire group United Wa State Army (UWSA) since November 2010. It was the Yangon Airways which forced to suspend its operations from 3 December, due to the aviation officials refused to give back its Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC).

The company-owner was Aik Hauk, the son-in-law of Bao Youxiang (Pau Yu Chang), who leads the strongest ceasefire rebel-group, the UWSA. Even though agreeing to a ceasefire deal with the junta in the 1990s, UWSA’s refusal to turn into the junta’s Border Guard Force plan and this has seriously damaged relations.

Then, the junta made a harsh move to beat the Wa. Following its rejection to renew operating license of the Wa’s Yangon Airways in December, Nay-pyi-taw has ordered closure of its Hong-pang bus line that runs between Tachilek, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sai, and Kengtung, 160 km north of the border, according to a report by Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN).

The closure-order of Hong-pang bus line was delivered to the UWSA’s liaison officer Ah Chang in Kengtung on Sunday, 20 February, by General Staff Officer Grade 1 Col Khin Maung Htwe, Shan Herald said quoting a source close to the Wa. There are 2 other bus lines running between the two cities – Shwe Myodaw and Shwe Yegan.

The signs of closures of Yangon Airways Hong-pang bus line owned by UWSA seem gloomier than ever in the Shan state. The military regime has been tightening its grip toward the ceasefire groups those refused to accept the BGF proposal.

Furthermore, 21 truckloads of soldiers and military supplies were sent out to the armed clashes site between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army (SSA) South which took place at night on 22 Feb., according to local and rebel sources, SHAN News said. The night-attack took place after bombardment by an unknown armed group on the Burma Army outpost in Monghta on 18 February. The area has been actively influenced by both the Wa and the SSA, Shan Herald said.

Naypyitaw has designated Monghta, as well as Kali, Kholam and Mongzang villages on the west bank of the Salween River to become new sub-townships. The latter three sub-townships will be directly controlled by the newest Middle East Region Command.

According to the Shan rebel source, the armed clash on 22 February with Monghta-based Burma Army’s Light Infantry Battalion 328 lasted for nearly 90 minutes. The Shan patrol saw three dead and one injured, but they believed there were more casualties on the Burma Army part.

Tensions heightened between the Burma Army and ceasefire groups – the UWSA, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), SSA ‘North’ and the NDAA. Discomforts have been soaring up since the junta raises ultimatum to accept BGFs program. Both sides have been reinforcing their troops on heightened alert after none of them accepted the junta’s plan.

Although the newly formed parliament under President Thein Sein, an ex-general, has been going on with its sessions, there is no discussion on the autonomy issue put forward by the ethnic ceasefire-groups.

It is true that Sai Mauk Kham, a 61-year-old Shan physician, becomes Burma’s new vice-president. But, he will not be allowed to practice effective power within the new government. He cannot be able to fulfill the main necessities of the nation, such as national reconciliation and the ethnic equal opportunity.

Several political observers believe that the military-backed new USDP government will not change its high-handed policy, which constantly goes against the self-determination of the ethnic people.

Meanwhile, Burma’s ethnic groups have made a historical accord in a conference at an undisclosed venue along the Thai-Burma border. The conference held from 12 to 16 February 2011 attracted more than 50 ethnic representatives from 15 ethnic groups. They have reached a unanimous agreement to form an umbrella alliance called the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).

The newly formed UNFC endorsed a 16-page constitution, consisting of 32 articles in nine chapters, during a 5-day conference at a venue on the Thai-Burma border. The alliance also provided for a political department with sub-divisions such as Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, which are expected to serve as political anchor for the grouping.

The opposition non-Burman ethnic alliance has already formed several coalitions. Most noteworthy are the organization-based National Democratic Front (NDF) formed in 1976 and the state-based Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) formed in 2001. On the contrary, the new coalition’s membership will be opened to all groupings, whether they are state-based, organization-based or ethnic-based, according to its constitution.

According to Shan Herald Agency for News , UNFC also welcomes oppositions like the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ that are still playing the waiting game to become associate partners.

The conference was jointly organized by Committee for the Emergence of Federal Union (CEFU), the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD). About 15 groupings participated.

The UNFC has selected six Central Executive Committee members and 10 Central Committee members. Gen Mutu Saypo of the Karen National Union (KNU) becomes Chairman and Lt Gen Gauri Zau Seng of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) Vice Chairman-1, Maj Gen Abel Tweed of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) Vice Chairman-2, and Nai Hongsa of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) General Secretary) respectively.

In a statement issued on last 17 February, the Emergency of a Federal Union (UNFC) said part of its basic principles and aims are to work for a better recognition of the ethnic armed groups, for ethnic equality, rights and self-determination, and for a genuine democratic federal Union of Burma.

Hence, Burma’s civil war may not prevent all along the ethnic areas unless a true democratic government takes the office.

- Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/02/24/unpreventable-armed-conflicts-burma

Burma: A Presidential Election or A Theatrical Show?

2011-02-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Thu, 2011-02-03 05:07 — editor

Myanmar

By - Zin Linn

Prearranged by the Burma or Myanmar’s military junta, the first regular session of the Peoples Parliament (Pyithu Hluttaw) was convened at the Pyithu Hluttaw Building on Naypyitaw Monday.

Burma’s new parliament elected two military men as speakers of the Upper and Lower Houses on Monday in its first session as a consequence of the November elections. The choosing of the speakers of the Upper and Lower Houses looked like a theatrical scene following a rehearsal. It was exactly the same performance under Dictator Ne Win’s totalitarian parliament during 1974-88 period.

Shwe Mann, the third most powerful general in the country’s junta, was voted speaker of the lower house while Khin Aung Myint, the current culture minister, was voted upper house speaker, juntas media said.

The two houses are occupied by the military through the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which won 77 percent of the parliamentary seats, and 166 military-appointed Members of Parliament, who represent for 25 percent of the military quota under 2008 constitution.

According to the agenda 10 of the session, the elected representatives for the Peoples Parliament or Lower House took out the proposal forms from the Master of Ceremony to choose the candidate for the Speaker of the Peoples Parliament (Lower House), filled in the forms and presented them to the chairman of the first regular session.

Current Prime Minister Thein Sein proposed Thura Shwe Mann for the Speaker and the current industry minister Aung Thaung seconded the nomination.

Afterwards, the chairman announced the names of the candidates for the Speaker. As there were two candidates for the Speaker, the elected representatives cast secret ballots for the Speaker. Then, votes cast by the elected representatives for the two candidates were counted and declared.

Thura Shwe Mann won 376 votes while Mahn Maung Maung Nyan obtained 30 votes, and the chairman announced that Thura Shwe Mann was elected as the Speaker of the Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw).

Thura Shwe Mann was former joint chief of staff of the Burmese Armed Forces, and third-highest ranking member of the State Peace and Development Council, after Than Shwe and Maung Aye. Shwe Mann graduated in 1969 from the Defence Services Academy, Intake 11.

According the agenda 11, the Deputy Speaker’s job was also put to vote in line with the rules and regulations for choosing the Speaker, said the state media.

Current information minister Kyaw Hsan proposed Nanda Kyaw Swar, a representative-elect, for the Deputy Speaker and current minister U Thaung seconded the candidacy. A usual act produced by the same script-writer.

Then, the elected representatives cast secrete ballots for the Deputy Speaker. Nanda Kyaw Swar won 368 votes while Nelson (a) Hsaung Hsi obtained 45 votes and Mahn Maung Maung Nyan got 15 votes. So, the chairperson of the first session of the Lower House announced that Nanda Kyaw Swar was elected as the Deputy Speaker.

Nanda Kyaw Swar is the son of Brigadier General Tin Pe, a member of the revolutionary council led by General Ne Win in 1962. Tin Pe was known as close associate of former dictator Ne Win.

Afterwards, Thura Shwe Mann and Nanda Kyaw Swar sworn in by the chairman as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and signed the statement of allegiance in front of the elected representatives.

The new speaker of the Lower House Thura U Shwe Mann received the duty and extended a greeting address likely to be a ready-made wording.

Meanwhile, military’s supreme boss Than Shwe is not among a list of presidential candidates to be nominated by parliament, lawmakers said on Tuesday. But it is uncertain to predict Than Shwe’s role. He is likely to stay in charge of the commanding military or to stay behind-the-scenes - an unbending strongman.

As said by the parliamentarians, the new parliament is predictable to vote on Thursday to select the country’s president by secret ballot following half a century of military rule.

Most analysts and observers guess the presidency nearly certain to go to the current Prime Minister, Thein Sein, the military juntas fourth in command. The 66-year-old career soldier retired from the army in April 2010 to lead the army-backed USDP, which claimed landslide in the poll. Thein Sein was appointed in April 2007 by the nations ruling military junta as interim prime minister, replacing Soe Win undertaking medical treatment. Thein Sein succeeded Soe Win on 24 October 2007 after Soe Wins death in October 2007.

According to one analyst, it’s the same wine in an old bottle, or the military controlled government not changing fundamental policy.

Three groups of the union parliament representatives Tuesday nominated their respective candidates to run presidential election in the current session of the parliament in Naypyitaw, official sources said. The union parliament is combination of the National Parliament (Upper House) and the Peoples Parliament (Lower House).

The candidates include Prime Minister Thein Sein from the military-backed Party (USDP), nominated by the group of elected representatives of the Lower House and First Secretary of the junta’s SPDC Tin Aung Myint Oo from the same USDP, nominated by the group of military representatives, the parliamentary session sources said.

According to the new constitution, the last three candidates, one nominated by the group of the Lower House, another nominated by the group of the Upper House and the third one nominated by the group of military-appointed representatives will run for the presidential election. The one, who wins the most number of votes, will become the president, while the remaining two be vice presidents.

And for the Upper House's vice-presidential selection, Sai Mawk Kham, a USDP representative, and Aye Maung, the leader of Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, were nominated.

The military representatives, who make up 25 percent of both houses, are allowed to select the third vice-president, and they reportedly chose ex-General Tin Aung Mhyint Oo, the secretary-1 of the incumbent junta's State Peace and Development Council.

This means that of the five nominees for the three vice-presidential positions, an opportune three are also members of the USDP. And it seems easy to predict that Thein Sein, Tin Aung Myint Oo and Sai Mawk Kham, all USDP members, will ultimately be selected as the three vice-presidents.

The perspective is so clear that the departing junta’s power network is still active to continue running the country no less than next 5 to 10 years. The military will be at the helm as usual. Even though the ruling structure has to change, the military-first policies will be status quo. And civil war with the ethnic armed groups will not be ceased easily.

- Asian Tribune -
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/02/02/burma-presidential-election-or-theatrical-show

An Up to Date Puppet Show in Burma’s Upcoming Parliament Opening

2011-01-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

Sat, 2011-01-22 01:31 — editor

By - Zin Linn

Before the controversial polls in November 2010, Burma’s military junta says the November 7 elections are essential to the achievement of democracy and civilian ruling in the country. However, Burma-watchers and critics, including the United States, believe the November 7 elections are premeditated to ensure the military remains in power.

On the last October 5 in Brussels, European and Asian leaders at an EU-Asia summit joined forces to urge the Burmese junta to release political prisoners and ensure that the November 7 elections were free and fair.

Subsequently, on October 6, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) called on Burma to immediately release 12 lawmakers. The IPU is an association of 155 parliaments from around the world. But, the junta turned a deaf ear to the international community.

Human rights groups say Burma has one of the world’s worst human rights records, detaining 2,200 political prisoners, systematically destroying ethnic minority villages and using rape as a weapon of war. The military-run nation has been a source of dishonor for more democratic members of ASEAN. However, Western governments and the United Nations constantly urge the grouping to do more to thrust for change. After a long wait, it was a vain attempt to change minds of the Burmese military dictators.

Currently, Burma's military junta has appointed 388 members of parliaments to fill the military share of the three chambers of parliament which will first assemble on January 31, junta’s media said on 21 January.

The junta has appointed 110 military officers for the people’s parliament (lower house), 56 for the national parliament (upper house), and 222 for regional-and-state parliaments, The New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported Friday.

All appointed MPs are military officers in commission, including one brigadier general, 19 colonels; the other 368 officers are majors and captains in ranks.

Under country's new constitution, the military can appoint 25 per cent of all lawmakers in three chambers of parliament. It is enough for the military to veto any legislation and to control the picking of a new president and a cabinet of ministers.

Meanwhile, the controversial Conscription Law, dated November 4, 2010, which is to be ratified in Burma, has been criticized by the National League for Democracy (NLD) on 19 January. As said by the draft law, it will come into force on the day that the military regime endorses the law by an article in an official decree.

According to NLD, a draft law is related to the whole population in the country and it should be approved through lower and upper houses of the parliaments.

Releasing the draft law ahead of the approaching parliament assemblies looks like a dishonest tactic. And it also shows the military is above the parliament, considered a fake legislative institution. The military authorities will be misused the rights of the grassroots level people under this law in the name of ‘the State’, NLD pointed out in its statement.

“If the law comes into force, the authorities will misuse the law as the corruption is prevalent. The law will open the door of evildoings for the authorities and it will put heavy burdens on the people who are under poverty line due to junta’s bad-governance”’, said NLD’s statement dated 19 January.

Burma or Myanmar, under military absolute rule since 1962, held its first general election in two decades on November 7 last year. Parliament is to hold its first session on January 31 to commence the procedure of choosing a new president. The parliament meetings would likely to take at least 14 days and people may only allow perceiving who will be the first president around mid-February, as said by an observer.

Besides the 25-per-cent ratio of appointed military parliamentarians, the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) took 77 per cent of the seats in three chambers of parliament by vote-rigging. Whoever won the presidential throne, there may not be any surprises during the first parliamentary session which will be held under junta’s tightly control.

The 2008 constitution says that the president and two vice-presidents needn’t to be elected members of parliament, except acquaintance with military affairs. Many observers deem that Senior General Than Shwe, 77, boss of the junta since 1992 and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is an expected candidate for the position as President , while ex-Generals Maung Aye and Shwe Mann are likely to be the deputies under Than Shwe.

If Than Shwe decided to take the presidential office, he has to resign from his military position. The president will have the power to shape the new government. Most of the new cabinet members seem to be chosen primarily from the USDP MPs who also were once high-ranking military officers with the junta.

The over 1,000 representatives-elect and 388 appointed military representatives are preparing for the first parliament session on 31 January. All representatives have been cautiously instructed about dos and don’ts in the parliamentary compound including which costume they have to wear, and which kind of things they are allowed not allowed to bring.

The Members of Parliament will not be allowed to carry mobile phones, recorders and laptop computers into the Parliament, as said by Dr. Myat Nyar Na Soe, a representative-elect from the National Democratic Force (NDF) party.

An invitation letter delivered to the representatives-elect calls on Members of Parliament to inform to the security tight office of the parliament in capital Naypyidaw by 27 January.

Although Burma seems to be under a parliamentary system, the prospect is still gloomy. Still Burma lacks enough political power and determination to free people from the yoke of military dictatorship, as all the recently elected members of parliament are string-puppets of the military.

- Asian Tribune -