BI Weekly No. 266

February 9th - February 15th, 2006

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

Inside

Torture and imprisonment after gas pipeline explosion
Released after one year house arrest
Win Aung to face imprisonment
SSA-N base attacked by SPDC troops

Border

International

Burma keeps on ignoring requests by Bangladesh
Is Burma a threat to international peace and security?
Burmese-Chinese Friendship: Stability matters


* denotes BI commentary

After the explosions on the gas pipeline in Mudon Township , Mon State , 96 people where forced to guard it. Some people have also been arrested and tortured by an electricity machine. The arrested people, mainly village leaders, will not released be until the real attackers are found.

In the case of new bomb attacks SPDC troops said they will burn down the villages. New restrictions along with forced aggression, frightens the people so they stay in their houses.

Before the bomb detention, photos have had been hung up by the SPDC. Those show ‘dangerous men', Muslim and Karen. This is not the first time the gas pipeline became attacked. Several times explosions had damaged the pipeline in the area since 2002.

‘Human rights abuses as result of gas pipeline explosion in Mon State ', Kaowao News, 8 th February 2006  

Shwe Ohn, a Shan leader, was released after he was put under house arrest since 9 February 2005 . Shwe Ohn was arrested on dinner marking the Shan State Day.

He and other 9 Shan leaders, including Khun Htun Oo, leader of the SNLD, have been sentenced under the notorious political act number 10. This is an act to protect the nation from harassment. 8 people had been given long term stay in prison.

During the trial they weren't allowed to select a lawyer. They persisted on the fact that they didn't commit any crime. The house arrest ended on the 8 th February.

‘Shan leader Shwe Ohn released from house arrest in Burma', Democratic Voice of Burma, 10 February 2006

Win Aung to face imprisonment

During the last week the former foreign minister Win Aung was arrested and put into trial. There is hold a secret trial at a special tribunal inside Rangoon Insein prison. The SPDC accuses Win Aung for corruption and if so, he will face a long term imprisonment for probably 7 years.

The case of Win Aung is probably connected to the ousted Prime Minster Khin Nyunt. Win Aung shall helped Khin Nyunt's close ministers and security officers to leave the country, for example, Maj- Gen David Abel to flee to Israel and other intelligence agents to other countries.

‘Former Burma FM Win Aung on trial', 10 th February 2006 , Democratic Voice of Burma

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SSA-N base attacked by SPDC troops

On the 10 th of February the SSA-N came under attack of SPDC troops, despite having a ceasefire agreement with them.

The SSA -N Brigade-3 Mong Kher region in Northern Shan State came under attack while a meeting was being held. The duration of the attack has been 15 minutes and was held by Burmese soldiers from a battalion under the command of Northeast Command. Before, no provocation had taken place. The SSA is outrageous about this incident.

Similarly, on 2 January, the base of another ceasefire group, Kachin Independent Organisation (KIO) at nearby Mu-se came under unprovoked attack from Burmese soldiers. Six KIO members who were having dinner have been killed. This shows, according to Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese military observer, that the SPDC seriously tries to disarms all the ceasefire groups by restricting their political, commercial and military activities and intimidating and attacking them.

‘Burmese troops attack a SSA-N base in Shan State', Democratic Voice of Burma , 10 th Feb 2006

Rights groups, which oppose the Salween dam project along the Thai Burmese border, have put pressure on the Thai government not to invest in the project.

Pianporn Deetes from the South East Asia River Network said the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand who is officially in charge should make an announcement about the impact of the dam building on surrounded areas because Thai citizens have the rights to access to the information and to participate in the decision making of the projects.

In December Burma and Thailand had agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of a 1400 to 2000 megawatt dam in Hatgyi, Karen State . 10,000 refugees from Karen, Karenni and Shan States had already fled to Thailand because of the projects but far more will follow.

‘Rights groups urge end to Salween dam projects', Mizzima News, 10 th February 2006

The US Dollar remains high in the Burmese Bangladesh border area. In the border market, the US dollar exchange rate is at 1.00 Dollar to 1250 Burmese Kyat, and 69.6 Taka per one US Dollar today. The lowness of the Kyat gives advantages to Burma in the cross-border trade.

As the Burmese Kyat price is still low compared to the Bangladeshi Taka, Burmese goods being exported to Bangladesh are earning more profits, said a trader. On the borders to China , Laos , India , Thailand , and Bangladesh the SPDC has introduced the Euro but the border trade between Bangladesh and Burma is still utilizing the US Dollar for account trades.

‘Dollar Remains High on Bangladesh-Burma Border', Narinjara News, 13 th February 2006

Trading zone between Thailand and Burma will increase trade

According to the Myanmar Times, another border trade zone in Burma 's Myawaddy along Burma - Thailand border will be opened later this year.

The Myawaddy border trade zone is situated in the Southeast of Karen state and will be the second largest after Muse trade zone along Burma-China border, which is also expected to be inaugurated soon.

Thailand is Burma 's largest trading partner making up 38% of Burma 's whole foreign trade. Border trade makes about 70 percent of the bilateral trade between the two countries. The trade is expected to rise 20% for 2005. It is expected that once the two border trade zones are established, Burma 's bilateral trade with Thailand and China will be further enhanced.

Sino-Burma bilateral trade has been worth 1.209 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, and rose up 5.6 percent from 2004. China 's exports to Burma took 935 million dollars, while its imports from Burma stood at 274 million.

‘Myanmar to open second largest border trade zone', Xinhua General News Service, 13 th February 2006

Burma keeps on ignoring requests by Bangladesh

Bangladesh recently disclosed again their desire to continue the construction of a road link between Burma and Bangladesh to promote trade between the two countries, as well as trade between China and Bangladesh via Burma . The announcement was made by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan when he met with a delegation of China 's Communist party in Dhaka on 7 February, 2006 .

The Burmese authority, however, is currently staying away from discussions of the road link between Bangladesh and Burma . Consequently, the construction of the road link is uncertain and the plan may be hindered down the line.

According to the agreement, which has been made for the construction of the road, Burma was required to construct the 110 km section stretching from Bawli Bazar (Kyin Chaung), to Kyautaw inside Arakan , Burma at its own expense. But Burma has changed its mind and made it known to Bangladesh that Rangoon has no interest in financing the construction of the road in the second phase. Several previous requests by the Bangladesh authorities remained unanswered.

“ Burma Keeps Away from Road Link”, Narinjara News, February 13 th , 2006

Is Burma a threat to international peace and security?

UN Security General Kofi Annan said at an informal meeting of the Security Council in December 16 th , 2005 that military-ruled Burma may threaten international peace and security if the country's current situation is not addressed properly, Security Council sources told Kyodo News on Monday. The meeting was over whether the Burma should be formally put on the council's agenda after an effort by the United States and other countries.

Annan expressed the view on Burma in the meeting when British Ambassador to the United Nations Emyr Jones Parry asked Annan whether he considers Burma a threat to the maintenance of international peace and security as stipulated in an article of the U.N. Charter, the sources said.

Article 99 says, "The Secretary General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security."

“Annan says Myanmar may threaten international peace, security”, Kyodo News, February 13 th , 2006

Burmese-Chinese Friendship: Stability matters

Burma 's Prime Minister Soe Win officially visits China in a sign that Beijing remains willing to foster close ties with the military junta even as it comes under rising pressure from the west and south-east Asian nations to relax its dictatorial rule.

China , long one of Burma 's biggest patrons, sees itself as having broad economic and strategic interests in its southern neighbour, including a desire to tap into the regime's vast supplies of natural gas to power its own economy. Burma also has military bases and a port that would potentially allow Beijing to project its naval power into the Indian Ocean .

Zhai Kun, of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing , said the most important issue remained Burma 's “stability”, to ensure that China was not forced to police any troubles on its border with its neighbour. The Chinese border town adjacent to Burma , Ruili, has been the centre of Chinese efforts to control the spread of HIV/Aids and stop an influx of illicit drugs.

For its part, Burma's military wants to shore up Chinese support to help it withstand mounting international pressure – not just from traditional critics like the US, but also from friendly south-east Asian countries which have grown impatient with the lack of progress on long-promised political reforms.

“ Burma 's stability a concern for China ”, The Financial Times, February 14 th , 2006