BI Weekly No. 279

May 11th - May 17th, 2006

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

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Among the newly appointed ministers were the nephew of senior general Than Shwe, Dr Paing Soe and the brother-in-law of vice senior general Maung Aye and former commander major general Maung Maung Swe.

Sources inside Burma told Mizzima the real extent of the reshuffle was much greater with several new changes in the military's top ranks including the promotion of two former commanders to positions of lieutenant general.

Reports have emerged that major general Myint Hlaing, former commander of the Lashio-based Northeast Command was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as chief of staff for air defense.

Sources also told Mizzima the former commander of the Taunggyi-based Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Ye Myint had been appointed as chief of defense security.

Six new military commanders were also appointed: brigadier general Thaung Aye as eastern commander, brigadier general  Aung Than Htut as northeast commander, brigadier general Khin Zaw Oo as costal regional commander, brigadier general Wai Lwin as Nay Pyi Daw commander and brigadier general Thet Naing Win as southeastern commander.

Former southeastern commanders major general Soe Naing and major general Khin Maung Myint were appointed as ministers for hotels and tourism and culture respectively.

Burma watchers had speculated that the widely reported power struggle between Than Shwe and Maung Aye would lead to an internal coup in the near future but the removal of Maung Aye's nephew from the war office has placed the power of the military's number-two man in doubt.

"Military keeps quiet about changes to war office", Mizzima News, May 16, 2006

The oldest rebel group is willing to resolve the country's problems by political means

Ethnic Karen rebels Wednesday issued a new plea for ceasefire talks with Burma 's military rulers, saying the plight of their people was increasingly desperate in the face of a bloody offensive.

The oldest and largest rebel group battling the junta, said the violence had exacted a crushing toll on villages in eastern Burma with thousands people forced to leave from their homes. Moreover, advancing Burma forces had committed a litany of abuses against civilians in their path, including rape, torture, forced labor and burning of entire villages.

"The KNU solemnly call upon the SPDC military regime to immediately stop its current military operations and withdraw its operational troops, hold talks seriously with the KNU, abandon its policy of total obliteration and resolve the country's problems by political means," the statement said.

The two sides had reached a "gentlemen's agreement" to stop fighting until a ceasefire was hammered out.

" Myanmar rebels make desperate call for ceasefire talks" Agence France Presse, May 17, 2006 .

Hundreds of students from the Magwe Government Technology University in central Burma staged a protest against university authorities on over rising bus fees.

About 250 students at the university were protesting the rise of bus fees from 1500 kyat to 2700 kyat and the failure of the university to provide more transport.

Over-crowded buses meant some students were forced to walk home, a student said. Previous calls from the students for the university to address the issue were reportedly met with a response of “manage it yourselves” from the university administration board.

Following the protest, local authorities increased the number of buses and teachers are monitoring students during bus trips to make sure there is no further unrest.

"Magwe students demonstrate against university authorities" Mizzima News, May 10, 2006 .

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Farmers confiscated their land near new capital

Local farmers living in central Burma near the country's new capital Pyinmana Kyappyay are feeling ‘dissatisfied' that the authorities confiscated about 300 acres of farmland from Kyaukket village on E-la, Kyetpye, Yezin Road last month.

A local resident said a long-distance bus depot and shops for the new capital are being constructed on the confiscated land. Although the shops are being sold at around 20 million kyats each, no compensation was offered to the people whose land was confiscated.

Similarly, the western part of (Ywado) village, located west of Pyinmana, was also forcefully relocated.

"Official robbery: Burma authorities confiscate land near new capital", Democratic Voice of Burma , May 11,2006

The message was posted on a tree in an area where the Burma Army had chased villagers into the jungle, surrounding Naw Law Thae Pwa village, Mon township, Nyaunglebin District, Western Karen State, Burma. The sign, written in Burmese, was placed by soldiers of Military Operations Command #16. LIB 370. The English translation is below:

"For the hiding villagers"
1. No one is allowed to live in this area.
2. People must move to Muthey (Burma Army Camp) or beside the car road at the relocation site as soon as possible by 5 May.
3. Our troops do not want to shoot and capture.
4. By this date (5 May) anyone who stays in this area will be shot. This is a command from above.
5. You can come back when this area has peace.

A land mine was found on the avenue of approach that people would take to read the sign, and placed 15 yards before it.

“ Sign and Landmine Placed to Terrorize Displaced Villagers” Free Burma Ranger, May 7,2006

IDPs in Karen State increasing day by day

The Free Burma Rangers has released the current situation of Burma 's offensives in Karen State , reporting that the total number of displaced people is over 16,000 in Western, Northern and Northwestern Karen State as May 16. The population of people displaced is increasing since Burma Army attacks especially in Toungoo District where over 5,000 people are displaced and in hiding.

Moreover, due to the organization of the KNU and the preparation of the villagers themselves, they have enough rice to sustain themselves for two months. It is the aim of the people here to try to stay in their land and not go to Thailand as refugees. However, if the attacks continue and not enough rice, medicine and shelter is provided for these people, then it is possible there will be more people arriving in Thailand as refugees.

The priority of needs for these people according to the leaders and the people themselves are security, rice, shelter and medicine.

“Attacks continue in Toungoo District”, Free Burma Rangers, May 16, 2006

Villagers forced portering in offensives against the Karen

Burma 's military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has been forcing villagers in villages in Shwegyin Township , Pegu Division, to work as corvee labour in launching offensives against the Karen National Union (KNU) troops on the Thai-Burmese border.

Since three months ago, these villagers and the bullock carts from Donzayit, Salu Chaung, Kyunchaung, and other villages in Shwegyin Township have been commandeered into corvee service. These villagers have to volunteer without payment and use their bullock carts to convey food supplies to the frontline and transport ailing SPDC soldiers to Shwegyin and military hospitals on their way back.

“ Burma army orders villagers to do unpaid labour in campaign against the KNU” Democratic Voice of Burma , May 11, 2006 .

British call for displaced Karen people

A cross-party group of British members of parliament tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the government, firstly, to support displaced ethnic Karen, secondly, to push for Burma's inclusion on the United Nations Security Council agenda, and, thirdly, to provide humanitarian assistance to more than 11,000 displaced ethnic Karen people which the number continuously are increasing.

John Bercow, Member of Parliament and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma , said in a statement, “The Burma Army is guilty of the most sadistic savagery against innocent civilians in Karen State ”.

“British MPs call for support for displaced Karen”, Mizzima News, May 11, 2006

Does Burma hinder free trade agreement between the EU and ASEAN?

The European Union (EU) wants to strike a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but human rights issues in Burma could be a problem, EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said.

"The reason why I want to see closer links between the EU and the ASEAN countries is because I want to persuade European business to look beyond China to the wider opportunities of Asia ," Mandelson told reporters.

Mandelson said ASEAN and EU ministers should "find a way through" the problem of Burma if an FTA is to be signed.

"We didn't talk of conditions. We are ready to talk with Europe about an FTA if they are ready," ASEAN secretary general Ong Keng Yong added. On the Burma issue Ong said this would be discussed with the EU representatives on Tuesday, adding: "We'll see what they tell us. We'll take it from there."

“ Myanmar an obstacle as EU pushes for FTA with Southeast Asia ”, Agence France Press, May 15, 2006

Gambari's visit to Burma

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, is scheduled to arrive in Rangoon on Thursday to meet with top junta officials as reports continue of deteriorating conditions in Burma . The UN official will stay in the country for two days, The Irrawaddy understands, beginning his trip with a briefing from the chief UN coordinator in Burma , Charles Petrie.

However, it is still not clear which junta officials will meet with Gambari and, more controversially, whether he will be allowed access to any members of the opposition National League for Democracy.

“UN official to arrive in Rangoon on Thursday”, Irrawaddy , May 15, 2006

UN Human Rights experts call for end offensive on Karen

Six United Nations human rights experts on Tuesday said that military-ruled Burma must halt an offensive against ethnic minority rebels because of its brutal impact on thousands of civilians.

The UN experts said that both sides in the conflict had an obligation to protect civilians. But they reserved their strongest criticism for the government, saying that its "strategy of targeting civilians in the course of its military operations represents a willful abrogation of its responsibility under international humanitarian and human rights law".

The six were: Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the UN's overall Burma watchdog; minority rights monitor Gay McDougall; Manfred Nowak, who probes allegations of torture; and Miloon Kothari, Jean Ziegler and Paul Hunt who report respectively on housing, food and health rights.

“Burma must halt offensive against minority rebels: UN rights experts”, Agence France Presse, May 17, 2006

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Worldwide protests against Burmese junta

Protestors in Thailand , Japan , India and elsewhere held rallies Tuesday demanding Burma 's ruling junta end its bloody offensive against the country's ethnic Karen minority. Organizers said the protests were to be held in a dozen countries around the world to denounce the offensive and urge the United Nations Security Council to intervene.

Around 10 protestors showed up outside Burma 's embassy in central Bangkok , holding banners demanding the release of detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and that the military junta's human rights violations be put on the UN Security Council agenda.

The protestors, part of the Global Campaign for Solidarity and Democracy in Burma , were due to march to the UN headquarters in Bangkok to deliver a letter for Secretary-General Kofi Annan calling for immediate intervention.

In Tokyo , more than 200 protestors took part in the anti-junta demonstration at Burma 's embassy. The demonstration was staged just hours ahead of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's planned arrival in Tokyo .

In the Indian capital New Delhi about 100 Burmese refugees and pro-democracy activists took part in a protest rally near the Indian Parliament.

Protests were also planned for the US , Canada , Britain , India , Belgium , Australia , Norway , New Zealand , Korea and Denmark .

“Protestors demand Myanmar end offensive against Karen”, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, May 16, 2006.

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