BI Weekly No. 278

May 4th - May 10th, 2006

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

Inside

Border

International

U Myint Than, 59, who was arrested in February 2005, died after chest pain and a stroke in Thandwe General Hospital , on May the 2 nd . Two other political prisoners already died this year, another seven in 2005. Than was the leader of the New Generation Shan State and was arrested with other Shan leaders. After being sentenced to 79 years he was deported to Arakan State where he stayed in Thandwe Prison.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) believes he had unreasonably bad conditions (which might have caused his death) because of the imprisonment with hard labour, the deportation far away from his family, the insufficient medical treatment, the physical and psychological torture during his interrogation, the insufficient nutrition, and the missing support from his family which had no possibility to see him.

‘Shan Political Prisoner Arrested in 2005 Dies; Third Political Prisoner to Die in 2006', Shan Herald Agency for News, May 4, 2006

Junta plans erasure of the NLD

There is a new crackdown of the SPDC on their opponents of the NLD. It is speculated that the junta tries to eliminate them within the next twelve months. According to notes from a January meeting between Burma 's police chief Major-General Khin Yi and top commanders the SPDC police are instructed to use stealth and intelligence instead of brutality.

Young NLD member have been detained and questioned, other have been sentenced to several years in prison. Some key leaders of student groups have been attacked and one recently died from the injuries. But instead of smuggling drugs into the NLD members pockets to charge them afterwards they now used psychological pressure.

The strategy worked out 50 members have already quit from the NLD. The public warning that the junta would know about relations between the NLD and ethnic terrorists has built up further pressure. It is speculated whether the elimination of the party and the undermining of the popularity of Aung San Suu Kyi is part of the SPDC's so-called "national reconciliation" process. The junta will hand parts of their power to their civilian incarnation next November insofar the Convention has finished till then. The NLD was not part of it. The SPDC uses the NLD's non- attendance to make them part of the problem.

Win Min an analyst from Burma reckons that till the Constitution is finished all opposing parties shall be eliminated. Already two years ago Than Shwe ordered the USDA to "eliminate the activities of the opposition; destroy the opposition's business so that they lose their property and market; create splits among opposition family members; get opposition members to sever their relationship with the group; and frighten and intimidate the most stubborn members of the opposition to flee from its membership".

Aung Lynn Htut, Burma 's ambassador to Washington, former top- diplomat has also said that he has reliable information that the junta plans to erase the NLD. Shwe is scared of an eventual uprising in Rangoon , one of the reasons for his move to Pyinmana, especially after the people uprisings in Nepal and Thailand . The NLD has moved to a new strategy of activism during the last months ending with the offer to let the SPDC organize the new government according to the election 1990. The SPDC denied as they would not talk with the NLD outside of the Convention. Shwe outrageous might have called for an action similar to 1990 when NLD members became eliminated, put in prison, had to leave the country, or to resign, and offices became raided.

The international community, even China and Thailand , are not amused, especially after the junta's announcement the NLD would play no role in future Burmese politics. Among the disrupted Burmese population the NLD remains the hope for democracy and a symbol for a common goal.

‘ Myanmar's junta goes for the kill', Asia Time, May 5, 2006

On May the 5 th , a bomb exploded on the railroad in the northeast of the former capital of Burma and caused minor damage but no injuries. The explosion damaged a transformer and a fence on a rail line to the towns of Penwegon and Kyaukkyi, according to the New Light of Myanmar. The rail traffic was not affected one rail official said under anonymity. All happened after the SPDC had announced that they expect terrorist attacks in major cities of Burma and they had tightened security in Rangoon . Six explosions had already hit Rangoon earlier this year also with no injuries.

Rebel groups and separatists had been blamed for these explosions by the SPDC. The explosion on railway happened two days before the anniversary of the first bomb attack in Rangoon on May 7, 2005 , when at least 23 people were killed and more than 160 injured in explosions at two supermarkets and a convention center.

‘Bomb explodes on rail line in Myanmar ; no injuries reported', Associated Press, May 6, 2006

.

Ongoing border-trade after 10-hour stillstand

Border trade between Burma-Bangladesh was resumed after a 10-hour standstill on May 2, reports our correspondent. On April 30, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) seized a truck at the “Morisha Check Post” while it was going to Chittagong after loading goods from Border Trade Port in Teknaf, because the driver did not comply with the BDR's order. The driver and helper were severely beaten up by the BDR. As a result, the Bangladeshi importers agitated against the BDR from early morning to 4:00 pm on May 2.
 
The Businessmen Committee of Border Trade Port, Teknaf Clearness & Forwarding Agent (C&F), Truck Owners Association, Truck Committee of Cox's Bazaar District complained to the District Commission (DC) of Cox's Bazaar.
 
The truck, which was held by BDR, was being loaded with Burmese pickles and was cleared at the Teknaf Land Port. But BDR said that the import documents were not original. The importers and truck committee members tried to a talk with the commander of BDR of Cox's Bazaar but in vain.

“Burma-Bangladesh border trade resumes after 10-hour halt”, Kaladan News, May 4, 2006

Trying to escape from the Thai Navy, 20 migrant workers form southern Burma drowned while they were crossing the river from an island near Ranong in southern Thailand . They came from Lamine city of Southern Mon State to work in Thailand and were ferried by a boat. But the owner dropped them off, when he noticed that the Thai Navy was on patrol duty. He let the passengers walk through the shallow water to the mainland, but they were caught when the tide rose. Only seventeen were rescued by the Thai search team.

“Twenty migrants die in border crossing”, Kaowao News, May 2, 2006

Junta threats to ban NLD

Malaysia warned Burma 's junta that the credibility of its "roadmap to democracy" would be at risk if it banned the opposition party of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, after the military rulers threatened the National League for Democracy (NLD) to do so, accusing it of links to "expatriate groups, terrorists and destructive groups".

"Any action they take, like closing down NLD, or not releasing Aung San Suu Kyi, these are all impediments and obstacles to creating visible signs of credibility in terms of the movement towards democracy," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters.

“ Malaysia warns Myanmar ( Burma ) against move on opposition”, Reuters, May 4, 2006

New Chief of UNODC in Burma wants to expand its program

The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) in Burma is planning to expand its alternative development assistance project in the country's Wa special region- 2 in northern Shan state to help eradicate drug, a local weekly reported .

The agency will make the move, while inviting support from international donors, Shariq Bin Raza, new UNODC chief in Burma , was quoted by the Myanmar Times as saying.

Shariq stressed the need for sustainability of opium production reduction in the country, saying that the sustainability can only come when poppy growers can sustain the livelihood without depending on illicit crops.

“UNODC to expand anti-drug aid project in Myanmar”, Xinhua, May 8, 2006

Junta fears Thai military attack

As the Burmese military government continues an expansion of its air defence network along the Thai-Burmese border and near the Andaman Sea , Thai officials seem keen to calm Rangoon 's apparent paranoia, according to the latest newsletter from Thailand-based Network for Democracy and Development. Htay Aung, a Burmese researcher and military analyst, explains the paranoia with the ongoing insecurity of the junta about Thailand 's military activities. Since December last year the junta strengthens basic military commodities, such as munitions, weapons, fighter jets and air defence systems, mostly received from Russia . Additional fears are coming about Thailand 's annual “Cobra Gold”, a military exercise with the US , which is held later that month.

“Paranoia in the air”, Irrawaddy , May 9, 2006

NLD members accused for attending free language courses at Western embassies

Burma 's military regime accused the US and British embassies in Rangoon of violating diplomatic codes of conduct by “interfering blatantly” in the international affairs of the nation, according to the state-run daily newspaper The New Light of Myanmar.

Furthermore, the article states that members of the NLD, among them some are named, are having contacts with the Western embassies by attending agreed free language curses. Having in mind the recently started series of attacks against the NLD, the article can be surely seen as a further step to put pressure on NLD members

Meanwhile, a British embassy spokesperson told The Irrawaddy that a wide range of people—students, business people, teachers, journalists NGO and UN staff—attend the language courses and have access to the library facilities in the cultural section. Also, he admitted that the embassy offers a limited number of bursary places to deserve people who cannot afford the full fees.

“Junta criticizes two western embassies”, Irrawaddy , May 9, 2006

Situation in Burma is ad definite not genocide

The UN appeared to be under increasing pressure to take firm action against Rangoon on Wednesday as it became clear that top officials at the world body had previously acknowledged to the UN Security Council their concern in a document that the situation in Burma effectively amounts to genocide. This document was authorized by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and delivered by Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari.

Although the UN did not directly call the situation genocide, its evaluation appears to closely coincide with the definition used in the Genocide Convention of 1948, which states that genocide is the committing of acts—including the killing of ethnic group members—“with the intent to destroy the group, in whole or in part.” Rangoon ratified the treaty in 1956.

“UNSC knew of genocide concerns in Burma”, Irrawaddy, May 3, 2006