BI Weekly No. 304
November-2nd - November 8th, 2006
The BI Weekly archive is available on our website: www.burmaissues.org
Inside
Burma military threatened student activists
NGOs face tight from Regime.
Border
Hollywood start visit
Passport office open in Border.
International
UN-Bambari to return to Burma
UNSC discuss rights in Burma
* denotes BI commentary
Burma military threatened student activists
Burma 's military government has warned the 88 Generation Students group of action against its recent political activities, according to state-run The New Light of Myanmar on Friday.
The report follows comments made by the director general of Burma 's police, Brig-Gen Khin Yi, who said in a press briefing on Thursday that authorities will monitor any campaigns by activists such as the 88 Generation that might jeopardize community peace and tranquility.
He added that authorities will act swiftly on those participating in social or religious campaigns sponsored by the group if they receive complaints about their activities. Khin Yi said that member of the students group were forcing people to get involved in their political campaigns to demand the imposition of investment, trade, and export and tourism sanctions against the country that would result in greater poverty for Burmese.
The student group dismissed government criticisms of their actions and motives. They use the signature campaign because it was a way for all people to participate in the national reconciliation process.
The most recent effort, called Multiple Religious Prayer, began on October29th and will run until November 4. It calls on people of all faiths to pray for peace and reconciliation in Burma .
"junta warns of action against student group,"
Irrawaddy , November 3.
NGOs face tight from Regime.
Students say Shwedagon Pagoda Trustees have made a complaint about the prayer service due to the government's pressure. Non-governmental organisations can not operate freely from the government's pressure, claims the 88 Generation Students group. Ko Mya Aye, one of the student leaders, told the BBC Burmese Service that the Trustees of Shwedagon pagoda made a complaint with the police about the students' prayer service after the chief of police mentioned the event in the press conference.
The students group managed to hold Kathina ceremony at a Rangoon temple but they were denied to perform the ceremony at sacred place. Ko Mya Aye said this was unusual and the monks were being careful not to disappoint the authorities.
"Burma 's NGOs face pressure from the government,"
BBC Burmese Service. November 4.
Hollywood star visit
Angelina Jolie, Hollywood actress and goodwill ambassador of the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) met Burmese refugee women on Saturday on her visit to India . Ms. Jolie was told by a Burmese woman that they fled military-ruled Burma after her husband was arrested by the junta, said a press statement released by the New Delhi UNHCR. The actress also visited the Khalsa Diwan Welfare Society, an organization run by and for Sikh Afghan refugees in west Delhi . Meanwhile, her son Maddox, 5-years old played with refugee children from Burma.
"I am grateful to the refugee families who spent time with me today and shared their stories. They are remarkable, courageous people. I want to thank the people and the Government of India for their longstanding hospitality to refugees," the press statement quoted Ms. Jolie as saying.About 1,750 refugees from Burma have been living in New Delhi .
The Hollywood star discussed refugee related issues with Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. Anand Sharma for about an hour.Ms. Jolie is in India since last month for shooting the film 'A Mighty Heart, about the slaying of Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl by Islamic militants in Karachi in 2002.
"Angelina Jolie meets Burmese refugee women,"
Mizzima New, November 6.
Passport office open in Border.
Yangon: Myanmar 's military government has opened three temporary passport-issuing offices on the Thai-Myanmar border aimed at people hoping to work in Thailand , state-run media reported Tuesday.
"Temporary passports will be issued in a day for Myanmar citizens who wish to work in Thailand only," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. The three temporary passport offices were opened simultaneously Monday in the border towns of Myawady, Kawthoug and Tachilek, the paper reported.
In August this year, Thailand and Myanmar announced they planned to grant special passports for 10,000 workers in an effort to prevent illegal migrants flooding into Thailand . At the time, they said Myanmar workers would need the passports in order to apply for a visa to work in Thai-land. Between 500,000 and 600,000 Myanmar workers are registered in Thailand , while about one million illegal migrants -- 80 percent of them from Myanmar -- are thought to be in the kingdom.
"Myanmar opens passport offices in Thai border towns",
Agence France Presse, November 7.
UN-Bambari to return to Burma
A top United Nations official is likely to return to Burma in early November for high-level talks to try to convince the Asian country to make serious progress in human rights, political freedoms and humanitarian assistance.
Under-Secretary-General for Political Ibrahim Gambari told reporters today, after a briefing the Security Council behind closed doors in New York , that Burma has confirmed its invitation to him to visit in early November.
Mr Gambari said he hopes to hold talks with all the key figures during his trip, including those he spoke to when he last visited, in May this year. That would include detained democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi.
He said he told Council members that Myanmar has made progress recently on some areas, including the release of a prominent political prisoner and reforms on the issue of forced labour.
But Mr Gambari added that much more progress is still required from the Burmese regime on various fronts, including democracy, improving humanitarian access to those in need, and agreeing to a cessation of hostilities with rebel forces in Karen state. (UN press release)
"UN official invited back to Burma",
The Bangkok post
UNSC discuss rights in Burma
Members of the U.N. Security Council met yesterday behind closed doors to discuss the political situation in Burma for the first time, and afterward the U.S. ambassador, John R. Bolton, said the United States would push for a resolution on human rights and freedom for political prisoners to be voted on later this year.US will consult fully with other members of the Council, and hope all of them can support a resolution at the appropriate time."
The Bush administration is considering pushing for sanctions further down the line, but the United Nations and the Europeans favor a more balanced diplomatic approach that would include providing Burma , also known as Myanmar , with some financial assistance to address health issues. In comments at the closed meeting, Ibrahim Gambari, an undersecretary for political affairs and envoy to Burma , said the world body was expecting results on prisoner releases, democratization, human rights and greater access for humanitarian organizations to do their work inside Burma , as well as political reconciliation. Gambari did say that there was measured progress on some fronts. A Washington Post reporter saw a portion of a transcript of the closed session.
State Department officials testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, border security and citizenship, urging Congress to fund President Bush's budget request for 70,000 refugee admissions for fiscal 2007, which begins Oct. 1.
"U.N. Security Council takes up discussion of rights in Burma"
The Washington Pos, September 30.
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