BI Weekly No. 298

September 21st - September 27th, 2006

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

Inside

Border

Burmese migrant workers decline to fill in new ID papers
Thai-Burma border reopen

International

The two page statement, signed by Lt-Gen Thein Sein, secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council, announced the changes on September 18, one day after a military leaders' quarterly meeting in Naypyidaw ended. It said the new structure of the administrative bodies for local level will be fixed with representatives from the General Administration Department and Ministry of Home Affairs and Planning Department and Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.

According to the document, army chiefs will continue to chair most administrative groups. But it said Thein Sein urged new civilian representatives to learn to prepare to take those positions in future.

Last Friday, reports emerged saying Burma's top leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe and Snr-Gen Maung Aye, had handed over their positions to Gen Thura Shwe Mann, currently army chief-of-staff, and former military commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung.

But both Than Shwe and Maung Aye appeared in reports in The New Light of Myanmar on Saturday as normal.

However, Burmese observers believe that the reshuffling among local administrative bodies is a hint of coming changes at the top.

"Local admin changes hint of top-level shuffle", Irrawaddy , September 25, 2006.

Three pro-democracy activists arrested again

Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe who served lengthy prison sentences of a decade or more and were released along with hundreds of dissidents in late 2004 were picked up by police early Wednesday morning before the party began its anniversary celebrations in Rangoon .

Meanwhile, dozens of activists descended on the National League for Democracy headquarters to celebrate the party's anniversary. Some 70 activists sat in front of the party offices amid tight security chanting "Free Aung San Suu Kyi," while foreign diplomats, reporters and activist attended the event inside.

"Myanmar detains three activists as opposition party celebrates anniversary", Associated Press, September 27, 2006

It also welcomed the United Nations Security Council's move to put the Burma issue on its permanent agenda.

The NMSP spokesman, Nai Aye Mon said “The best way to solve our country's problems would have been within the country. But, with the problem still not solved we welcome the United Nations involvement in resolving the political stalemate. We want to solve it peacefully” .

The NMSP will send three senior leaders to observe the national convention and it will be led by Nai Thin Hla a former party representative.

The NMSP has also demanded that the military government change some parts of the drafted constitution at the NC. It raised the demand with 12 other ethnic armed groups in 2004. The NMSP led the demand but it was ignored.

"NMSP to join NC as observer while welcoming UNSC move" Independent Mon News Agency, September 27, 2006

Burmese migrant workers decline to fill in new ID papers

The ID forms, due to be handed in by September 29, are the result of an agreement reached between Thailand and Burma in August to provide special visas for Burmese working illegally in Thailand. But the information in the forms will be sent back to Burma —something which few migrants like.

Pranom Somwong, of the Chiang Mai-based Migrant Assistance Program Foundation, said that the Burmese authorities will verify the information. Any migrant workers Burma recognizes as its citizens will be issued a passport to legally work in Thailand .

Sai Norm, a Shan who works at a construction site in Chiang Mai, said: “I did not fill the form because I am worried my family back in Shan State could be in danger if the authorities knew my details and home address.” He is one of many thousands who left Burma illegally to find work in Thailand .

"Burmese workers fear Thai ID papers", Irrawaddy , September 27, 2006

Among crossings reopened are by both sides are Mae Sot, Mae Sai and Ranong in the far south.

An immigration officer in Mae Sot said the checkpoint there is again permitting the movement of people and goods.

But Banpot Korkiatcharoen of the Chamber of Commerce in Tak province said although wood products were again flowing into Thailand from Burma, the export of Thai products were blocked by the Burmese.

" Thailand - Burma border crossings reopen", Irrawaddy , September 25, 2006

UNSC to discuss on Burma's situation

On Friday, Ibrahim Gambari, U.N. undersecretary general for political affairs, will report on the latest situation in Myanmar at the 15-member council, Bolton said.

Gambari visited Burma in May and tried in vain to persuade the military junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest since May 2003.

The United States wants to see the Security Council approve a resolution condemning Burma , and is expected to determine what to do after examining the report from Gambari and his fresh visit to Burma scheduled for this fall.

"U.N. Security Council to discuss Myanmar on Friday", Japan Economic Newswire, September 26, 2006.

Burma has done nothing to undermine peace and security: says FM

Burma says it poses no threat to regional peace and security and therefore should be removed from the U.N. Security Council's agenda.

The Foreign Minister U Nyan Win told the U.N. General Assembly, Security Council members have misused their mandate by placing the former Burma on the agenda.

Speaking during the annual general debate, he said "the attempts by some strong and powerful states to impose their will on developing countries" had created an environment of hostility. This was a clear reference to the United States , which called for the Southeast Asian nation to be discussed by the 15-member panel.

Win said Burma enjoyed close relations with all of its neighbors and had done nothing to undermine the peace and security of any country.

Therefore it was a "glaring abuse of the mandate" to suggest that it poses a threat to the region.

He urged other member states to help Burma or other countries in the same situation "resist attempts by those powerful states to influence the Security Council."

"Myanmar to U.N.: Remove us from SC agenda", UPI, September 27, 2006.

Political persecution prevents democracy's transition

Independent U.N. expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro told the Human Rights Council, the global body's 47-nation watchdog, that the junta had authorized grave abuses, such as the targeting of ethnic minorities by its armed forces and a total crackdown on opposition leaders and activists.

He said the Southeast Asian country's disregard for fundamental freedoms had made political change nearly impossible.

"The persecution of members of political parties in the opposition and human rights defenders shows that nowadays the road map for democracy faces too many obstacles to bring a genuine transition," said Pinheiro, who was appointed by the former U.N. Human Rights Commission in 2001 to monitor the situation in Burma.

"Political persecution prevents democracy in Myanmar , U.N. rights envoy says" Associated Press, September 27, 2006.