BI Weekly No. 283

June 8th - June 14th, 2006

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

Inside

Border

International

Over 4,100 Karen people are now displaced from new attacks by the Burma Army in Papun (Muthraw) District, northern Karen State, Burma. These new IDPs bring the total number of newly displaced people in Karen State to more than 16,000 as 9 June, 2006.

Meanwhile, there have been three major clashes between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Burma Army as the KNLA tries to protect the IDPs.

These new attacks follow attacks that occurred throughout Nyaunglebin and Toungoo Districts between February and May 2006. During the height of the earlier attacks more than 18,000 Karen villagers had fled their homes into hiding. The numbers fluctuate from 10,000 to 18,000 displaced. In some areas, when the Burma Army's attacks finished, the people try to move back to their villages. The numbers of displaced people then change depending on the intensity of the attacks.

“4,100 Displaced in New Attacks as Total Number of IDPs Rises to over 16,000”, Free Burma Rangers Report, June 9, 2006.

Suu Kyi's health condition

Burma's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was feeling better after suffering from stomach troubles and remained at home under the care of her personal physician, said Nyan Win, a spokesman for her National League for Democracy.

Nyan Win said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been briefly hospitalized on June 9 for treatment.

But later he said "it was a misunderstanding," and that the party was still trying to confirm whether she had been taken to hospital.

Burma 's police chief, Major General Khin Yi, said that the doctor had treated her at home for digestive problems and that she had not left the house.

Aung San Suu Kyi's doctor could not be reached for comment on her condition, but Nyan Win said the physician could still be caring for her inside the lakeside home where she is under house arrest.

“Aung San Suu Kyi feeling better after illness: party”, Agence France Presse, June 11, 2006.

An army column from a battalion stationed in Rathidaung, 16 miles north of the Arakan State capital, Akyab, left from their headquarters for Karen State on 10 June, 2006, to provide reinforcement.

The battalion is Light Infantry Battalion 536, one of among three battalions in Rathidaung Township . The total number of soldiers who have left for Karen State , including the officers, is 108.

This column is the third batch of soldiers to be sent to Karen State to wage war, previously, a large column of soldiers from Arakan State had marched to the east of Burma near the Thailand for battle.

However, there is surprise among the local people that soldiers are currently being sent to provide reinforcements, as the army authority does not typically send its soldiers to the front lines during the rainy season.

“Another Battalion for Reinforcement in Karen State ” Narinjara News, June 14, 2006

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Tribal villagers face food shortage in border areas: Arakan

Villagers, primarily from tribal communities, have in recent times been facing acute food shortages in the border areas of Buthidaung Township , 10 days after the onset of monsoon in Arakan State this month.

A Mro tribal leader said that they have submitted an appeal to the nearest Burmese authorities to distribute some rice to hungry villagers. There has not been any response yet from the authorities.

The tribal people in the border areas did not receive permission from the local army authorities to cultivate rice on the hillsides early enough and their cultivation was pushed beyond the ideal date. Because of that, they were unable to store any excess rice for this rainy season

In rice markets in Buthidaung Township , the price of rice has been going up by the day, to the point where people from the border villages cannot easily afford it. According to market sources, the price of ordinary quality rice is now Kyat 16,250 for a 50-kilogram sack, while standard rice like Pawsan Mwe is priced at Kyat 22,500 per sack.

“Hunger stares people in the face in border areas”, Narinjara News, June 13, 2006.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has permitted Burma 's ‘long-neck' Kayan people in Thailand to apply for resettlement in third countries.

Though UNHCR has since early this year allowed Karenni refugees to apply for resettlement without any restraint but there were restrictions on brass coil wearing Kayan people who had fled Burma like other refugees. These restrictions have now been lifted, giving them the rights to apply for resettlement like others, said a source from the Thailand-based UNHCR office.

The UNHCR has early this week interviewed brass coil wearing families from three villages in Mae Hong Son. When asked regarding the tradition of wearing brass rings, his wife said she wanted to take the tradition to a third country if there is no restriction. “We were interviewed but are not sure if we will be given the opportunity to go to a third country. We really want to go,” the man said.

Kayan families interviewed by UNHCR compromise 61 people. Last February, six families from Kayan Tharyar village received letters of approval from UNHCR for resettlement in Finland .

“Kayans can apply for resettlement in third countries”, Kantarawaddy Times, June 8, 2006.

Ethnic armed group assure no longer child soldiers

Leaders of the Karen National Union and the Karenni National Progressive Party say they have assured UN officials at meetings in northern Thailand that they no longer recruit child soldiers.

The KNU and the KNPP appealed to be removed from the list of countries and organizations employing child soldiers in a meeting earlier this month, but the KNPP said no decision had been taken.

It's also assured the UN representatives that inquiries would be made into the possibility that children were serving still in units of the Karen National Liberation Army.

According to a report by the London-based Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers in 2004 some 6,000-7,000 child soldiers were serving in ethnic armies in Burma .

“Ethnic leaders assure UN on child soldiers”, Irrawaddy , June 14, 2006.

China gives US$200 million loan to Burma

China has signed an agreement to provide Burma with a special low-interest loan, state-run newspapers reported.

The pact was signed in Rangoon by Central Bank Governor Kyaw Kyaw Maung and Vice-Chairman of China Export and Import Bank of the People's Republic of China Su Zhong, reported The New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

A Chinese embassy official said the loan was for US$200 million (€165.2 million) in buyer's credit, and had been agreed upon during a visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Gen. Soe Win in February this year.

The loan is earmarked for five different government ministries, but no details were available on what it would be used for, said the official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

“ China signs pact to provide Myanmar with US$200 million loan”, Associated Press, June 10, 2006.