BI Weekly No. 300

October 5th - October 11th, 2006

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

Inside

Border

International

It's Official: India Arms Burma
New Hopes To Fight Deadly Diseases In Burma

* denotes BI commentary

Burmese authorities have reportedly ordered victims of the Mandalay floods to return to their homes although much of the city is still under water. “The water is still up to 3 ft deep, but the authorities have ordered people to return to their homes,” said Shwe Maung, who had to abandon his home because of the rising waters. Another flood victim said rice had been provided by the charity World Vision and some traders and had been distributed by the authorities. Flood relief donations were being collected.

Shwe Maung said appeals had gone out to relief organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, but nothing had yet been heard from them. The ICRC was not available for comment because Friday is a public holiday in Burma . An estimated 20 people have died in the floods in and around Mandalay , and more than 3,000 people were forced to flee their homes. It has been reported in some areas that up to 3.9 inches have fallen in 24 hours.

" Mandalay flood victims ordered to return home", Shah Paung, Irrawaddy , October 6, 2006.

Factory Waste Damaging Rangoon's Health

Chemical wastes dumped and toxic fumes emitted from factories owned by businesses close to the Burmese army generals are causing health problems and damages to local residents in Rangoon . Wastes thrown away and odours emitted from palm oil factory at Rangoon Thaketa Township owned by Yuzana Company recently killed two children and have been causing bloating, headache and dizziness to adults who live near the area.

“The factory is quite big. Because of that factory, the odours have been churning the whole area of our Thaketa Township ,” a local resident said. “When the public complained about them, they told the public to move out of the area if they could not bear it.”

The factory was opened three months ago and local residents reported their plight to higher authorities but no action has been taken so far. When we contacted officials concerned at the factory and officers from the local police station for comments, no one was willing to talk to us. Similarly, chemical wastes dumped in the streams and gutters by breweries and distilleries at Mingaladon and Htaukkyant Townships , caused severe health hazards to local residents in previous years.

"Factory wastes in Rangoon damage health of local residents" Democratic Voice of Burma , Wednesday October 4, 2006.

Environmental activists in exile have refused to accept that the protection laws for water sources and maintenance of rivers of the Burmese military government would benefit people. The Karen River Watch (KRW) organization said, “We rejected the law because it does not involve any organizations and the people.”

Moreover “We didn't see the environment impact assessments (EIA) in the protection law for water resources. EIA means a study of how much the environment will be affected, how to protect it and the manner in which we can protect relocated people if they build a huge dam,” said Laueh Roland, the deputy director of KRW.

According to the New Light of Myanmar, the four clauses in the law are to ensure maintenance of water resources for people's use, saving the rivers for transportation, to develop water resources and rivers for improving the economy of the nation, and to protect the environment from damage.

According to Laueh Roland, the environment and the Kathit brook in Taungoo District, Pego (Bago) Division, were destroyed after the government built the dam on the brook. He said the residents who stay on both sides of rivers face huge problems because sometimes they receive a lot of water and sometimes they do not. Now they can't plant on both sides of the sandbank. Earlier they could cultivate on the sandbanks of the river.

Most of the vegetables eaten in Moulmein , Mon State used to come from cultivation of the sandbank of the Salween River . If they can't cultivate, they will be jobless and relocate to another place, said Mon environmental activists

"Environmentalists in exile critical of law to protect water sources", Mi Kyae Goe, Independent Mon News Agency, Thursday October 5, 2006.

Death Of Veteran KNU Leader

A veteran leader of the Karen National Union, Pu Tah Eh—also known as Maj-Gen Tin Oo—died on Thursday at his home on the Burmese-Thai border, at the age of 83.

Born in 1923 in Palaing Chaung village, Nyaungdon Township , Irrawaddy Division, Pu Tah Eh was active in Burma 's independence struggle, and joined the KNU and the Karen National Defense Organization in 1948. One year later, he became a captain in the KNU-controlled area of Irrawaddy Division, and was later promoted to company commander because of his exemplary military service. He was vice chief-of-staff at KNU headquarters from 1964-1972.

In 1980 he took command of the KNU's Sixth Brigade in the Du Playa Province, a position he held until 2000. He retired at the KNU's 13 th congress in 2004 but retained the position of adviser. KNU General Secretary Mahn Sha paid tribute to his military and political contributions and said: “We are losing a good leader.” The funeral was being held on Friday.

"Veteran KNU leader dies", Irrawaddy , Friday October 6, 2006.