BI Weekly No. 285

June 22nd - June 28th, 2006

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

Inside

Border

International

Reporters Without Borders and Burma Media Association voiced disgust at the sentencing of four young pro-democracy activists to prison terms of between seven and 19 years for publishing poetry and called for their release.

The activists are accused of publishing an "anti-government" book of poems called Daung Man -- "The Strength of the Fighting Peacock" (a symbol of the Burmese pro-democracy movement).

Two of the four, NLD member Aung Than and Pegu University student Zeya Aung, were also accused of unlawfully crossing the border with Thailand and working with "illegal organisations."  They were each given 19-year prison sentences.

Maung Maung Oo, who owns the workshop where the book of poems was printed, was sentenced to 14 years. Sein Hlaing, accused of helping to distribute it, was jailed for seven years and was also convicted of printing t-shirts showing a raised clenched fist, a symbol of struggle.

Aung Than, Zeya Aung and Maung Maung Oo were sent to Rangoon 's Insein prison and Sein Hlaing was in prison in Pegu.

"Four Young Activists Given Heavy Prison Sentences For Publishing Poetry" Reporters Without Borders/Burma Media Association, June 23, 2006

Punish for taking Pyinmana's photos

The Mandalay regional court's decision upholded three-year prison sentences for photojournalist U Thaung Sein (also known as U Thar Cho) and columnist Ko Moe Thun (also known as Ko Kyaw Thwin), who writes for the religious magazine Dhamah-Yate ( Dhamah's Shadow ), who were accused of taking photos of the new capital, Pyinmana. The court issued its ruling on June 21 without hearing any witnesses.

The sentences were imposed in March by a court in Yamaethin, which found them guilty of violating article 32 (A) of the Television and Video Act for taking still photographs and video footage of Pyinmana.

"Court upholds three-year sentences for journalists who photographed new capital" Reporters Without Borders/Burma Media Association, June 27, 2006

The meeting was scheduled to be held at Shwegu on 26 June and NLD leaders notified the authorities concerned two weeks in advance but they were told four days before the scheduled day that they are not allowed to go ahead with the meeting.

However, NLD members will continue to carry out their activities after having consultation Rangoon customs officials replaced with NLD HQs in Rangoon .

"Kachin State NLD forced to cancel meeting" Democratic Voice of Burma , June 27, 2006

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Several Muslim villages raided: Arakan

Nasaka, the border security force, raided a number of Muslim villages in Buthidaung Township on 24 June in order to investigate such matters as the lists of family members, unlicensed construction of mosques, and marriage licenses, according to reports of local residents.

According to a source close to Nasaka officials, during the raids authorities examined 220 Muslim families, including 803 males and 863 females, from several villages within Nasaka area 9.

Nasaka uncovered 3 mosques and one religious school which were illegally constructed by local Muslim people in the area. The authorities also located 2 illegally married couples and 18 families who had moved from one village to another without permission.

"Nasaka raids Muslim villages in Arakan" Narinjara News, June 27, 2006

Refugees in Mae La Oo camp in Mae Hong Son Province of Thailand were ordered recently not to go out of the camp and not to allow new arrivals in the camp.

Thai authorities did not explain the reason for taking such measures but it is believed that they were concerned over the Karen refugees who are now across the border poised to enter Thai territories.

Thousands of Karens have fled their homes in recent months following the offensives launched by government troops in their areas. Many have arrived Thai-Burma border.

"Thai authorities tighten security around Maelaoo camp" BBC Burmese service, June 26, 2006

Malaria increase in Thailand 's Tak province

A malaria warning was issued to tourists planning to visit the Burmese-Thai border area near Mae Sot in Thailand 's Tak province.

In early rains were increasing the risk of contracting malaria and dengue fever. Although Thailand 's public health program was reducing the annual incidence of malaria cases, migrant workers and villagers living along the border are still at high risk from mosquito-borne diseases.

Around 900 cases of malaria were treated in May at Dr Cynthia's Mae Tao Clinic, near Mae Sot. It expects once the heavy rains start in July and August to be swamped by people coming from Burma with malaria.

The clinic treats up to 80,000 Burmese people a year for malaria, workplace accidents, landmine injuries, malnourishment, birth complications and respiratory infections.

"Malaria warning on Thai-Burmese border" The Irrawaddy , June 26, 2006

China and Thailand sign MOU to build Hutgyi dam

China and Thailand have recently signed an MOU for joint investment in the construction of the $ 4 billion Hutgyi dam on the Salween in Karen State ..

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Kraisri Kanasut, Governor of Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Huang Baodong, President of Sinohydro Corporation, said Viset Chupiban , Thailand 's Minister of Energy.

Apart from boosting energy security, Egat, Sinohydro and Burma 's Ministry of Electricity # 1 would jointly conduct social and environmental impact assessments and design a suitable agricultural project for the local people.

The dam is expected to be constructed in 2007-2008 and ready to sell power to Thailand by 2012. Thailand 's quota in the investment will be 50%, China 40% and Burma 10%.

"China cashes in on Hutgyi", Shan Herald Agency for News, June 28, 2006.

Swiss government tighten sanctions against Burma

The government will tighten sanctions against Burma because of the "precarious human rights situation" in the south-east Asian country. The decision also puts Swiss policy in line with the European Union which introduced harsher measures in April.

The ban on weapons exports and "instruments of repression" will be extended to include any services related to these or any other military activities in Burma .

Financial sanctions will no longer be limited to the freezing of funds belonging to members of Burmese military regime and the blocking of transactions.

They will be extended to include all "assets". The list of government members and their relatives affected by the sanctions is being increased from 270 to 392.

Swiss firms will be forbidden from taking stakes in 39 state-controlled enterprises or from issuing credit. However, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said this did not amount to a general ban on investing in Burma , since existing contracts would not be affected.

"Switzerland tightens Myanmar sanctions " ,swissInfo, June 28, 2006

Australia to take more Karen refugees

Australian Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says more refugees will be accepted from Burma because they are in the "most in need" category.

Senator Vanstone has been visiting the Mae Lah refugee camp on Thailand-Burma's border. Most of the refugees are Karen people, an ethnic minority which has fought and fled Burma 's military regime.

The minister says Australia could take up to 1,400 Karen refugees in the next financial year.

"Australia to accept more Burmese refugees," ABC Asia Pacific TV / Radio Australia, June 26, 2006