BI Weekly No. 296

September 7th - September 13th, 2006

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

Inside

Border

India and Burma talks to stop arms reaching Indian rebels
IDPs from Karen State continue fleeing to border

International

The training started on August 20 at the play ground in Pha Neng village in Matupi town. A local said that the authorities have ordered to train one person from each family.

Lieutenant Colonel Ye Lyun, commander of Light Infantry Battalion 140 is leading the training. For the trainees each family has to provide two kilograms of rice and Kyat 1,000 once a week.

Besides, the other family members will have to clean the trainees' farms thrice a week. If they fail to clean, the authorities will punish them, said a local.

According to reports, the villagers from Pha Neng, Nga Leng, Cawng Thia, Ti Baw, Hnaw Te , Va Lang Pi, Tin Lawng, Lei Ring, Khua Ngang, Vu Tu and Tang Ku tracts are to be included in the training which will end in September 17.

"SPDC trains over 200 Chin people" Khonumthung News, September 12, 2006.

Real estate agents' association to form for helping foreign investors

Burma is seeking to form a real estate agents' association (REAA) to help foreign investors engaged in the sector to obtain related information and boost business operation, the local weekly Voice reported in this week's issue.

The REAA is likely to be part of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI)which is known as Burma 's largest private business association, if formally formed, real estate circle was quoted as saying.

The REAA is roughly set to serve for the settlement of complicated issues such as those arising out of sale and lease of real estate, designate uniform rate of charge for commission by the agents and sale and lease prices of real estate, the report said.

"Myanmar to form real estate agents association to help foreign investors" Xinhua General News Service, September 12, 2006

The quarterly meeting of top generals of the military junta begins in Naypyidaw in central Burma . The members of the State Peace and Development Council and high-ranking military officers are attending in the routine meeting.

Major reshuffles in the cabinet and military hierarchy have often occurred after quarterly meetings although it is routine.

Burmese military observers hoped another major reshuffles in regiment commanders and new assigning of ranks of Major would fill the vacancies left in the customs department after a major crackdown in June and August.

Last time the quarterly meeting was held in May.

"Military quarterly meeting on in Naypyidaw" Mizzima News, September 11, 2006.

India and Burma talks to stop arms reaching Indian rebels

India and Burma will discuss how to stop arms and supplies reaching Indian rebels who have bases in Burma , an Indian official said.

The four-day talks in New Delhi will also cover "effective management of our borders, steps needed to curb smuggling of arms and ammunition, and the trafficking of drugs," said the home ministry official.

The Indian side in the talks are to be led by Home Secretary Vinod Kumar Duggal and the Burmese team by Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brigadier General Phone Swe.

The last meeting between Duggal and his counterpart took place in Rangoon in October when "it was agreed there would joint interrogation of people arrested for smuggling drugs and for insurgency-related activities," the official said.

" India , Myanmar to discuss how to halt arms reaching rebels", Agence France Presse, September 13, 2006.

Internally Displaced People from Pegu division continue to flee ongoing military offensives by the Burma Army, say relief workers and ethnic rebels.

More than 300 IDPs arrived at Ei Tu Hta refugee camp in the Papun district of Karen State since early September, according to the Karen Office of Relief and Development.

Gilbert Shu, the director of KORD, said at least 243 IDPs arrived at the camp, located near the Salween River on the Burma side of the border, in the first week of September. Some 74 others arrived in late August. The new arrivals come mainly from Mone township in Nyaunglaybin district. He added that most are children.

Relief workers have expressed concern about poor accommodation at the camp, which currently houses nearly 1,500 refugees.

“Fighting is taking place on a daily basis,” said Mahn Sha, secretary of the Karen National Union. He added that more than 100 clashes have occurred in the last month and daily life in local villages has been disrupted, leading to increasing numbers of villagers to abandon their homes and flee to the Thai-Burmese border.

"More IDPs flee to the Thai-Burma border", Irrawaddy , September 8, 2006

Thai Army chief re-visit Burma

Thailand 's army commander in chief on September 10th departed for neighbouring Burma where he was scheduled to meet with the country's top military leaders to discuss strengthening military ties, according to a report from Bangkok .

Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin told the state-run Thai News Agency (TNA) that he was scheduled to meet with Senior General Than Shwe, leader of the Burmese military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the junta's vice chairman General Maung Aye during his three-day official visit.

Discussion will focus on bilateral cooperation and narcotics' trafficking along the Thai-Burma border, said Sonthi.

An exiled Burma army watcher, Win Min said that in his view, it is quite possible that the economic matters, that started in the recent visit with Thai PM, could likely to be included in this trip. As for the SPDC army group, it tends to do things more seriously when dealing army to army, rather than through the normal channel of foreign ministry.

"Thai army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin visits Burma again" Democratic Voice of Burma, September 11, 2006

Daewoo investigated on selling arms to Burmese Junta

South Korea 's special investigation department revealed that Daewoo, one of the biggest foreign investors in Burma , has been selling military equipment to the ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

The revelation was made during radio and TV broadcasts on September 7th, according to a Burmese who is living in Seoul . As the sale of the equipment was made without the permission of the government, the report said that officials concerned at Daewoo will be investigated as soon as possible and taken action against.

Daewoo is the biggest investor in the exploration of natural gas off the coast of western Burma 's Arakan State near Bangladesh .

"Korea's Daewoo and arms sales to Burma junta", Democratic Voice of Burma, September 8, 2006.

Burma issue raised to AIPO's General Assembly

For the first time parliamentarians from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have raised the issue of Burma and the political stalemate the country is in that has been plaguing the grouping, at its General Assembly being held in the holiday resort city of Cebu in the Philippines.

Philippines ' Congressman Mario Aguja, who is also member of the Asean Inter Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) told Mizzima, that the Indonesian delegation during the opening session of the 27th General Assembly of Asean Inter Parliamentary Organisation on September 10th raised the issue of Burma and its static political reforms.

Though the issue of Burma has never been discussed at the AIPO's General Assembly, with the Indonesian delegation raising it, Burma is likely to feature as an agenda, during the discussion of the committee on political matters, said Aguja.

The move by the AIPO to discuss Burma was pushed by the AIPMC and Burmese parliamentarians in exile, who were elected in Burma 's last general election in 1990 but were never allowed to form a government.

The AIPMC delegation and the Burmese parliamentarians also condemned the AIPO for allowing the Burmese delegation to participate in the Assembly as observers.

"Burma to feature at AIPO general assembly", Mizzima News, September 11, 2006

Burmese activists protest the invitation Burmese FM to ASEM

Activists, staging demonstrations on September 9 - 10, said despite continued human rights violation and lack of democracy in Burma , the invitation of the Burmese representative to the ASEM is contradictory to the European Union's rhetorical stand on Burma .

Finland based Campaign for Democracy in Burma (CDB) said that the EU policy on Burma is fickle as it displays inconsistency in their policy over Burma by granting visa to the regime's representative.

However, Finnish under-secretary of state Markus Lyra told Mizzima earlier that EU's sanctioned policy on Burma includes a possibility for exception to grant visa to the Burmese junta if the reason was to attend inter-government summits.

"Burmese activists hold anti-ASEM protest", Mizzima News, September 11, 2006.