BI Weekly No. 297

September 14th - September 20th, 2006

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

Inside

Border

Thailand's northern border sealed after the coup in Bangkok
Long-neck refugees concerned to exploit as "human zoo"
Several Burma's battalions mobilzed to stage an attack on Shan Army
Burmese refugees in urban areas to be transferred to border camps
special economic zones project on Thai- burma border step up

International

According to UNSC's decision last week, Burma 's military junta expressed appreciation to China and Russia for having "stood steadfastly on the side of Myanmar ," The New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

The five-page rebuttal praised China and Russia as standouts that "do not want the U.N. Security Council being misused as a tool in the interest of a big nation" a clear reference to the United States .

China led Russia , Qatar and Congo in opposing the move, saying Burma has made strides in solving its problems and doesn't pose a threat to international security the requirement for council consideration.

Meanwhile, Agence France Presse reported the Burmese junta accused the United States of fabricating allegations in order to haul the military-run country before the UN Security Council.

The ruling junta also condemned Japan for reversing its position on Burma , because Japan has previously joined with China and Russia in opposing UN Security Council action against Burma , but was among 10 of the 15 council members which voted last Friday to place the junta on the council's agenda.

" Myanmar thanks China , Russia for support in UN Security Council" Associated Press, September 19, 2006.

"Myanmar slams US, Japan over UN Security Council move: report" Agence France Presse, September 19, 2006.

District heads and secretaries to replaced with civilians

In an order that has taken many by surprise, the head and secretaries of districts through out Burma will be replaced with civilians, a reliable source said quoting an official announcement.

The order from Naypyidaw, the new capital in central Burma distributed to all divisions, state level authorities instructed the Home Ministry to replace future heads and the secretaries of the District Peace and Development Council with civilians. The current heads who have been serving for three years have to retire, the source said.

The new incumbents will be selected from among the directors and deputy directors who work for the General Administration Department under the Home Ministry, the source added.

Though the announcement is not in the form of an internal memo, no government media has reported it so far in the military ruled country.

"Junta to replace district heads with civilians", Mizzima News, September 19, 2006.

Coup leaders in Thailand have sealed the country's northern border with Laos and Burma , Lieutenant Colonel Surin Saengkum, a senior border official said following an overnight military power grab in Bangkok .

"We don't want anyone to take advantage of the situation and slip into Thailand ," Surin said.

Hours after ousting Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup, military commanders tightened their grip over the country, imposing media restrictions and other bans in what they said was a bid to prevent unrest.

"Thai coup leaders seal northern border", Agence France Presse, September 20, 2006.

Long-neck refugees concerned to exploit as "human zoo"

For the past two decades, hundreds of ethnic Padaung "long-neck" people from military-ruled Burma have enjoyed relative peace and security as refugees in the hills of northern Thailand .

But plans to consolidate three Padaung villages into a single refugee settlement are intensifying concerns among human rights workers about their exploitation as a tourist attraction.

Already, busloads of foreigners on "eco-tourism" trips pile into the remote villages every day to pose beside the Padaung "giraffe women", so-called for their elongated necks propped up on layers of brass coils.

Some visitors -- and some Padaung -- say the tours are more akin to trips to a human zoo.

"I'm happy when lots of tourists come here and I have a good time with them, but when I think harder about it, they are coming because we are strange and that gives me mixed feelings," said 21-year-old Ma Ri, who fled the former Burma 10 years ago.

The tourists pay between 250 and 500 baht ($13.30) each to enter Padaung villages. However, the women themselves, who are officially barred from leaving the villages, receive only a fraction of that -- often as little as 1,500 baht a month -- and have to supplement their income selling trinkets and postcards.

"Long-neck refugees get Thai "human zoo" treatment", Reuters, September 18, 2006

At least 14 battalions in eastern Shan State have been mobilized probably to stage an attack on the Shan State Army (SSA) South's Loi Kawwan base, opposite Chiangrai of Thailand, according to resistance sources.

The 14 battalions include Infantry Battalions (IB) 226 and 244 and Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 311, 316, 329, 330, 331, 333, 359, 360, 553, 554, 579 and 580. There are 47 infantry battalions and 10 artillery battalions in the Kengtung-based Triangle Region Command, according to an inventory compiled by an opposition group.

For months, there have been increased reports about impending attack on the SSA South, commanded by Col Yawdserk.

A seasoned Maesai-based Thai security officer however has a different view. “So far, what I see is an attempt to block and contain the SSA's movements,” he said.

"Burma Army beefs up border forces", Shan Herald Agency for News, September 19, 2006

Burmese refugees in urban areas to be transferred to border camps

Kitty McKinsey, a spokesperson for the UNHCR in Asia , told The Irrawaddy that the refugees, who live in the Mae Sot area in Tak province, will be transferred to Noh Poe and Umpium camps before the end of this month, through the cooperation of the UN group and local Thai authorities.

The refugee organization will provide accommodation to the new arrivals in the two camps, where they will be given the opportunity to apply for resettlement. The US, UK , Canada and Australia have agreed to take in Burmese refugees, and about 6,000 are expected to be accepted in 2006.

"Urban Burmese refugees moved to border camps", Irrawaddy , September 18, 2006.

special economic zones project on Thai- burma border step up

Thai officials in Tak province have stepped up their efforts to establish special economic zones in three districts along the border with Burma .

The projected zones being considered—in Mae Ramad, Pob Phra and Mae Sot—are currently under evaluation by scholars from Chiang Mai University , who will determine which areas are most appropriate.

The border project is progressing, and after the political situation in Thailand . This plan includes the Mae Sot Airport development, which will be a new international airport, especially with flights to important cities in Burma , and a logistics center for product transportation.

The project is intended to solve the problem of Burmese migrant workers entering the country illegally by creating job opportunities in the border area. The proposed economic zone is also expected to improve foreign trade by increasing the production of Thai export goods.

Development plans were started in 2004 as part of an agreement reached by the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, but progress has slowed in recent months due to ongoing policy negotiations between Thailand and Burma .

"Thai officials see progress in Thai-Burmese economic zones", Irrawaddy, September 14, 2006.

UN Human Rights Council called for attention to Burma's conflict

The UN Human Rights Council was due to begin a three week session amid calls for it to spotlight the situation in Sudan's conflict-ravaged Darfur region, as well as Lebanon, Burma, North Korea and a host of other countries.

The reformed Council held its first-ever session in June, after replacing the much-criticised UN Commission on Human Rights. Much of the Council's second session, which runs until October 6, is likely to be taken up by reports from a string of UN human rights monitors.

"This session will not just limit itself to keeping the machinery in limbo," said Mexican Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, the president of the Council. "It will be able to send the message that the machinery is fully operational," he told journalists ahead of the meeting.

The previous Commission, which had 53 member nations, was widely regarded as discredited due to the dominant presence of countries with poor human rights records, and riven by power politics and behind-the-scenes bargaining to help states duck criticism.

"UN Human Rights Council and Burma " Democratic Voice of Burma , September 17,2006.

Laura Bush pressures on Burma

Activists and experts on military-ruled Burma urged U.S. first lady Laura Bush to recommend her husband keep up the pressure for human rights in the reclusive Southeast Asian nation.

Bush held a meeting on Burma in a sealed-off room in the U.N. basement minutes after listening to President George W. Bush deliver his annual address to the U.N. General Assembly.

"I can tell you that the United States will work very hard with the other members of the Security Council to get a good resolution about Burma . The sooner, the better it would be," she said.

At the request of the United States , a divided U.N. Security Council last week voted to add Burma to its formal agenda, a move that classifies its junta government a threat to international peace and security.

China , Russia , Qatar and the Democratic Republic of Congo voted against adding Burma to the council's agenda while Tanzania abstained.

"Laura Bush uses U.N. visit to pressure Myanmar", Reuters, September 19, 2006.