BI Weekly No. 248

September 29th - October 5th, 2005

The BI Weekly archive is available on our website: www.burmaissues.org

Inside

Sanctions will ruin private businesses in Burma
Mon call on NMSP not to lay down their arms
Min Ko Naing awarded Civil Courage Prize
Four Cuts policy exercise in Karen areas
Top-secret military complex to resume in central Burma

Border

International

S.Korean and Indian companies sign gas deal on Burma
Suu Kyi beats Clinton
Russia and Burma talk on the nuclear research development
Burma-China relationship might not be as good as before: Thai diplomat
ASEAN will continue to engage Burma , not expel

* denotes BI commentary

The statement came following the release of a report from former Czech president Vaclav Havel and retired South African archbishop Desmond Tutu that urged the United Nations to take tougher measures to press the junta to make democratic reforms.

The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry released a statement that said "the report may bring about strong imposition of international community pressure on Myanmar , depriving Myanmar private-sector businesses and people from the privileges and benefits of international trade and commerce. That means thousands of jobs will be lost ".

Burma is already under sanctions from the US and European Union that were tightened following the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi in May 2003.

US officials have said they want to bring Burma before the United Nations Security Council to find ways of pressing the junta to reform.

" Myanmar business leaders warn against more sanctions", Agence France Presse, October 4, 2005 .

Upon hearing the rumors that the NMSP was going to give up their firearms, Buddhist monks in Mon State directly questioned the NMSP President Nai Htaw Mon on whether the party was going to agree to lay down their arms to the SPDC or not.

The monks advised the NMSP not to give up their weapons.

“We have sacrificed so much for so many years, the SPDC will surely take away what's left of our rights if the NMSP gives up their arms.  In 1958, the Mon Peoples' Front handed over its arms to U Nu's parliamentary government, but we were cheated and all our leaders were arrested.  The Mon movement had to start from zero again,” recalled a senior Mon monk from Ye.

The Mon population in Karen state and Kyaik Mayaw of Mon State is growing increasingly frustrated with the actions of the SPDC toward the NMSP, especially when the party members are prevented from moving around the country.

In late September, the SPDC Township Military Intelligence started investigating the activities of Mon armed groups, collecting members' name and job description.

"Mon urge NMSP not to give up arms", Kao Wao News , October 1, 2005 .

Min Ko Naing, a leader of the 1988 popular uprising against Burma 's dictatorship, was described as “a central figure in the Burmese democracy movement” by the Northcote Parkison Fund (the private foundation that presents the annual award).

Min Ko Naing was arrested by military intelligence agents on March 23, 1989 , and was sentenced to a 20-year prison term, which was later commuted to 10 years under a general amnesty. For most of his imprisonment he was held in solitary confinement.

He was released from prison in November 2004 but remains under government surveillance.

Min Ko Naing said he has declined his portion of the prize money—US $25,000—and instead wants it to be used for humanitarian aid, especially in the areas of education and health assistance for former political prisoners.

The Northcote Parkison Fund is a New York-based foundation which supports economic and political liberalism and honors "steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk."

“Burmese activist wins Civil Courage Prize”, Irrawaddy , October 4, 2005 .

Four Cuts policy exercise in Karen areas

He said road access to the areas have been blocked, people banned from traveling to those places and even forbidden from taking up jobs in certain places.

All these activities put a serious stranglehold on the people's livelihood, the KNU secretary said.

The junta seems bent on exercising the four-cuts policy it once exercised on the ethnic groups, which is, to cut food supplies, to cut communications between the ethnic troops and the local population, to cut contacts among the ethnic groups and finally to cut throats (kill) of the ethnic troops.

“KNU says junta carries out all cuts policy to Karen areas”, BBC Burmese Service , October 2, 2005 .

The construction of the complex, situated among mountains between Lun Kyaw and Taung Taw Villages , Kyaukse Township in Mandalay Division, started in 2000 under the leadership of North Korean technicians, allegedly for the purpose of housing a ‘nuclear' battalion.

The project suspended recently after some high-ranking officials, including the SPDC chairman Gen Than Shwe's confidante, education minister Than Aung were removed from their posts.

“The construction of Burma 's secret army complex to resume”, Democratic Voice of Burma , September 29, 2005 .

His trip to Maungdaw occurred five days after his visited to Bangladesh .

The Commerce Inspector inspected several parts of the friendship road between Burma and Bangladesh . The construction of the friendship road is expected to start at the end of rainy season of this year.  

The agreement of the friendship road was signed by the two countries in the Burmese capital of Rangoon on 27th September 2005 .

He also made a trip on 2 Oct to the new border town, Toung Bro, which is being built by authorities to promote bilateral trade with Bangladesh . The new town is opposite Gaung Doon on the Bangladeshi side of the border.  There is also a friendship bridge being built by two neighboring countries.  

"SPDC Commerce Minister Visited Maungdaw to Promote Border Trade", Narinjara News , October 3, 2005 .

45-Burmese arrested at Bangladesh border

The 45 Burmese citizens were arrested at upar Zilla of Teknaf, Safarang village, Nilla village, Bahar Sara, Domdom Miah makeshift camp, Whykong, under the union of Teknaf town.

After being arrested they were sent to Cox's Bazaar jail through Teknaf Police Station.

This was mass arrest. The Burmese people have been living in Teknaf area for 14 years without any documents. The arrest occurred after the visit of a Burmese high-level delegation in Bangladesh , said Anwar, a Teknaf resident.

“45 Burmese Citizens Arrested in Teknaf”, Kaladan News, October 3, 2005 .

S.Korean and Indian companies sign gas deal on Burma

Daewoo International Corp., a South Korean trading company, signed a formal agreement on October 3 with two Indian state-run oil and gas companies and a South Korean gas corporation to explore a gas field in Burma .

Under the agreement, Daewoo International will have a 60 per cent stake in the project, while India 's Oil and Natural Gas Corp. and the Gas Authority of India will invest 20 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. South Korea 's state-run Gas Corp. is to provide 10 per cent of the investment for the project.

The companies will start exploring the field, called Block A-3, off the northwestern coast of Burma , from next year. Daewoo International received the Southeast Asian country's approval for the exploration in February 2004.

“South Korean, Indian firms sign deal on Burma gas exploration”, Yonhap News Agency, October 3, 2005 .

Suu Kyi beats Clinton

Suu Kyi took 13th position on the list, beating the next most popular woman, former first lady of United States Hillary Clinton by three places.

More than 15,000 people around the world took part in the BBC's interactive Power Play game, in which players choose a team of 11 to run the world from a list of about 100 of powerful political leaders, intellectuals and high-profile candidates, according to a BBC report dated 30 September.

"Suu Kyi ranked top woman in BBC global poll," Mizzima News , October 3, 2005 .

Russia and Burma talk on the nuclear research development

A spokesperson for the Minatom told final discussions were being held on the price and financing of the project. He confirmed that the project had stalled earlier this year as Burma 's generals were unable to afford it.

Minatom will not be involved in the construction of the 10 mega-watt pool-type nuclear research reactor but will supervise and provide the necessary fuel for the facility.

Nuclear research reactors are primarily used to provide a neutron source for research in a variety of areas including environmental science and industrial development. Some are also used to create radio-isotopes for medical research.

“Talks on Burma nuclear facility resume”, Mizzima News, September 30, 2005 .

Burma-China relationship might not be as good as before: Thai diplomat

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out that there had been two obvious signs of the deteriorating relationship between the two sides.

The first being Beijing 's failure to invite representatives of the junta to observe a major military exercise which was held on September 27.

During a military exercise named Iron Fist 2004, Beijing only invited Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) members including Burma and no western country was invited to witness the event.

The diplomat also pointed out that the SPDC minister Gen Soe Win had to cancel a scheduled trip to China in August. Although the exact reason of the cancellation is not known, there could be some points that Beijing doesn't like about the junta, the diplomat added.

“China-Burma relationship might not be as good as before­ diplomat”, Democratic Voice of Burma , September 29, 2005

ASEAN will continue to engage Burma , not expel

The Prime Minister added that taking a confrontational stand with threats of expulsion was not the 10-nation regional bloc's way of dealing with its own members.

"Maybe in the Commonwealth context this is the way you have to work. But in the ASEAN context we have found a different way more suited to our circumstances," the Prime Minister told a private-sector ASEAN forum.

He said ASEAN leaders and officials have discussed the issue of Burma among themselves and agreed to continue engaging their neighbour.

"In the case of Myanmar, we have made our views known to Myanmar from the point of view of people who wish Myanmar well -- that we hope they will be able to overcome their problems," he said.

“Expelling Myanmar from ASEAN will not solve problem”, Agence France Presse, September 28, 2005.