Burma Issues - BI Weekly NO.301

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BI Weekly No. 301

October 12th - October 18th, 2006

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

Death of Political Activist Mourned

Nearly 300 friends and sympathizers attended the funeral of a 34-year-old pro-democracy activist who had been imprisoned by the military junta and died this week in jail, a colleague said Wednesday. Thet Win Aung, who had been serving a 59-year sentence since 1998 after protesting for educational reform, died earlier this week in a jail in central Burma .

Amnesty International called on Burma to launch an independent investigation into his death, saying he was tortured during his imprisonment and suffered from health problems, including malaria. By 2005, he was reported to have been unable to walk without assistance. Burma 's military government said he died of natural causes. "Torture is not our policy and we have strict rules and regulations which forbid abuse of prisoners," Ye Htut, an Information Ministry official, said in an e-mail.

The funeral, held at Kyarnikan cemetery in the central city of Mandalay , was attended by Thet Win Aung's parents and elder brothers, as well as scores of friends and members of the National League for Democracy.

Another of Thet Win Aung's brothers, Pyone Cho, who is still detained, was among the leaders of a 1988 nationwide uprising, which the military crushed before seizing power. He served nearly 14 years in prison and was released in 2003. Casey, the U.S. spokesman, also denounced the detention of Pyone and the others arrested with him and demanded their immediate and unconditional release along with Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.

"300 mourn death of Myanmar activist", Associated Press, Thursday October 19, 2006.

Thein Sein Complains "Big Nations" Are Threatening Burma 's Culture

A leading member of Burma 's military junta has warned that "some big nations" are threatening the country's culture and nationalist spirit, state-run media reported.

"The big nations are making attempts overtly or covertly to shape the country as they wish using various tricks such as persuasion, pressure and penetration in economic and cultural aspects," Lt. Gen. Thein Sein was quoted saying by the New Light of Myanmar and other newspapers. He did not identify which nations he was talking about. Thein Sein, Secretary One of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, was speaking Sunday at the opening of the 14th Myanmar traditional cultural performing arts competition at the new administrative capital of Pyinmana.

"In the process of globalization, some big nations misusing their superiority in wealth, technology and domination of the world media for political gains are making attempts to dominate the developing countries like Burma politically and culturally while instilling (them) with their ways of thinking, customs and social system or lifestyle," he said. Thein Sein appeared to be referring to Western nations, particularly the United States , with which the military government has very poor relations. Western governments are critical of the junta's poor human rights record and its failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.

"Leading member of Myanmar junta says 'big nations' threaten national culture" Associated Press, Monday October 16, 2006.

New Funds for the Seriously Ill In Burma

An injection of fresh funds to aid military-ruled Burma 's long suffering people get relief from three killer diseases may help raise the level of engagement between the international community and the secretive junta. Primarily, ''Three-Disease Fund'' (3-D Fund) to combat AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria worth 100 million US dollars will put to test a view gaining ground in some Western capitals that humanitarian assistance to Burma should be detached from the South-east Asian nation's troubled politics.

The fund, which becomes operational early next year under United Nations supervision, is backed by the European Union, Australia , Britain , the Netherlands , Norway and Sweden . It is expected to fill a void created after the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria pulled out of Burma in August 2005 due to the barriers placed by Rangoon that undermined its programmes worth 98.4 million dollars.

According to reports, the MoU also guarantees the officials, overseeing the fund, complete access to all parts of Burma , including states along the border embroiled in ethnic conflict. The Geneva-based Global Fund was not as fortunate, however, since Rangoon placed severe travel restrictions on non-governmental groups working on some of the Global Fund's programmes in rural areas. Such impediments were imposed on other humanitarian and relief agencies too, prompting some of them, like the France-based Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) to pull out early this year.

"Engaging Burma with Funds for HIV, TB, Malaria", Marwaan Macan-Markar Inter Press Service Thursday October 19, 2006.

Better Standards for Burmese Refugees

Thailand 's new government said that improving the living conditions of thousands of Burmese refugees in camps along the country's border with Burma is its third highest priority. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said at a press conference in Geneva on Tuesday that the agency is encouraged by Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's promise to improve the welfare of 140,000 mostly ethnic Karen refugees from Burma , after meeting with representatives of UN agencies in Bangkok .

The new Thai government has said its top priorities are national reconciliation and a solution to communal unrest in the south of the country. Surayud said he had long been sympathetic to refugees and that during his military career he had worked with refugees at both the Cambodian and Burmese borders.

“Prime Minister Surayud's comments encourage us to hope that the Thai government will now move ahead with issuing identity cards to all camp residents and will permit residents to move freely outside the camp to work legally,” said the UNHCR. “These steps would be in line with accepted standards and would also meet the genuine needs of Thailand 's growing economy for a bigger workforce.”

" Thailand to improve the living conditions of Burmese refugees" Democratic Voice of Burma , Wednesday October 18, 2006.

Workers Demand Rights For Humane Treatment And Wages

Over 200 workers have been demanding their rights in terms of wages and humane treatment from the management in Mea Sot in BB Top Co Ltd (also known as Wool Co Ltd) since this morning. “The workers are angry mainly with the factory manager who beat up two girls and threatened to kill them. The manager has been treating them badly so now they want to be insured,” said Paw Gyi, vice secretary Young Chi Oo Migrant Workers Association.

The two girls Ma Gyi Gyi Thein and Ma Hnin Aye Thin came to work late, so the manager took them off their work and also tried to kill them on October 7. The incensed workers demanded their rights, he added. The girls avoided police checking and arrived at the work place an hour late. The manager took them off their duty without paying any insurance. While they were going back, the manager tried to crush them under his car and also hit them. The workers nearby intervened and rescued the two girls, he added.

“We are dissatisfied with not only the case of the two girls, but there are many such cases as they (employers) do not care for our work conditions. They also treat us badly so we can no longer be patient and have begun to protest,” said Min Htat a worker at the BB Top Co Ltd. Since many workers are dissatisfied with the manager, the factory management tried to move its machines and equipment as of October 9 and close down totally yesterday, Min Htat added.

Now the Young Chi Oo Workers Association has organized things for them temporarily and will raise the issue with the Thai Labour Protection Organization. “Most factories in Mae Sot when they need workers, they order what they want. But when they do not need their services, they are not willing to negotiate with the workers. They ask the police to threaten workers and create a conflict,” Moe Swe head of the Young Chi Oo Migrant Worker Association said. This apart, 42 workers from the Progress Ceramic Co Lt also demanded their rights and the factory management took them off work. They are being temporarily looked after by the YCO organization. They have asked the Thai Labour Protection Organization to ensure their rights.

"Workers protest demanding rights in Mea Sot", Banyol Kin, Independent Mon News Agency, Sunday October 15, 2006.

UN Rapporteur Calls For Action In Karen State

Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma , is set to recommend that the UN General Assembly consider calling on the Security Council to act on the continuing conflict in Karen State . In a report to the 192 members of the General Assembly, which may be delivered as soon as this Friday, according to a provisional UN schedule, Pinheiro will recommend: “That the General Assembly consider calling on the Security Council to respond to the situation of armed conflict in eastern Myanmar [Burma] where civilians are being targeted and where humanitarian assistance to civilians is being deliberately obstructed,” says a printed version of the report released in New York on Monday.

This year, the area has seen the heaviest fighting for nearly a decade, resulting in the displacement of 20,000 people, some of which have fled to Thailand . Clashes in the area remain sporadic, reports say. Instances of killings, torture, rape, the destruction of villages and forced labor have been widely documented. Pinhiero also recommends that the General Assembly, with other relevant UN bodies, consult with the junta “to explore ways and means of deploying a fact-finding mission comprising representatives from relevant United Nations agencies to look into the humanitarian and human rights implications” of the conflict in Karen State. The Burmese government should allow such access and guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers, he added.

"UN should call for Security Council Action on Karen, says Pinheiro", Clive Parker, Irrawaddy , Tuesday October 17, 2006.

Burma Candidate Confident Of Gaining Top WHO Job

Dr Nay Htun, Burma 's candidate for the top World Health Organization post, told The Irrawaddy that he is the right choice if the world body is to develop a more complete approach to tackling global health issues. When the list of 13 candidates was announced last month, eyebrows were raised at the inclusion of the Burmese diplomat alongside doctors with years more medical experience. While Nay Htun is considered an expert in many areas, particularly the environment and conflict resolution, his résumé does not show the same level of experience in medicine.

“My track record underscores my extensive knowledge of and experience in determinants of global public health… particularly environmental, social, economic and developmental, and the ability to integrate them,” he said. The public does not seem to agree. A posting on the blog HIV Information in Burma says: “[I] cannot see that he has any experience in health at all. Nay Htun for DG director-general? I don't think so.” The media has largely ignored Nay Htun, instead focusing on higher-profile candidates such as Dr Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi, the former prime minister of Mozambique and sole representative from Africa , and the Mexican Health Minister Julio Frenck, who appeared on the short list during the last election for the position three years ago.

However, backed by the foreign ministers of ASEAN, Burma's candidate hopes that WHO's desire to evolve will make him the obvious choice in a field of medical specialists that also includes Dr Shigeru Omi of Japan, the current head of the Western Pacific arm of the world health body, and Dr Margaret Chan of China, WHO's top official for pandemic influenza preparedness. Past director-generals have almost always had such expertise.

The late Dr Jong Wook Lee, previous director-general of WHO prior to his death in May and the man Nay Htun is seeking to replace, had 19 years of experience at the Geneva-based health body, working on tuberculosis and immunization. The World Health Assembly votes on who will fill the vacant position on November 9.

"Burmese candidate says he is future of WHO"- Clive Parker, Irrawaddy , Monday October 16, 2006.