BI Weekly No. 308
November 30th - December 6th, 2006
The BI Weekly archive is available on our website: www.burmaissues.org
Inside
Burma National Convention continues
Burma to collect voters' name
Border
Thousands Fleeing Violence Army Forced
Washed Up Thai Shores : 114 Burmese Refugees Arrested
More Wa Troops On The Border
International
Norway offers fund to fight diseases in Burma
Than Shwe to skip Asean Summit
* denotes BI commentary
Burma National Convention continues
The Plenary Session of the National Convention continued in Pyidaungsu Hall at the Nyaunghnapin Camp in Hmawbi on December 2, with four members of delegate group of national races presenting reports on the detailed basic principles to be included in the drafting of the chapters on "Election", "Political Parties", and "Provisions on State of Emergency ".
The session was attended by Lt-Gen Thein Sein, secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council and chairman of the National Convention Convening Commission, and commission members; Chief Justice U Aung Toe, chairman of the National Convention Convening Work Committee, and work committee members; Auditor-General Maj-Gen Lun Maung, chairman of the National Convention Convening Management Committee, and management committee members; chairmen and responsible officials of subcommittees; representatives of political parties; elected representatives; delegates representing national races, farmers, workers, intellectuals and intelligentsia, public service personnel, invited guests, and national race groups which have returned to the legal fold.
“Burma: Delegate Group of National Races tables proposals at convention”, Burma Radio via BBC Monitoring, December 2, 2006
Burma to collect voters' name
Burmese military government will this month begin preparing voter lists possibly for a referendum on a constitution being drafted by the ongoing National Convention, it was learned.
Homes in Rangoon and other towns and villages will be asked to show their family lists mentioning the ages of family members. Citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote.
However, the purpose of collecting voters' names was not mentioned.
“Myanmar junta to begin registering voters”, Japan Economic Newswire, December 5, 2006
Thousands Fleeing Violence Army Forced
More than 200 Burmese civilians fleeing Burmese army operations have arrived at a refugee camp near the Thai border on Wednesday after a gruelling17-day march and a further 3,000 are on their way.
The refugees are enduring hunger and severe hardship to reach the safety of Ei Tu Hta camp on the Burmese side of the Salween River . Causing Burmese military attacked villages, used civilians for forced labor and stole their food and money, people were forced to flee.
The UN's special envoy to Burma , Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari told reporters in New York earlier this week that during his recent talks in Naypyidaw with Burmese regime leaders he had urged a cessation of hostilities against the ethnic minorities.
Political observers believe Gambari returned from his four-day visit to Burma with empty hands.
"Thousands fleeing army campaign in Eastern Burma - Shah Paung" Irrawaddy , November 30,2006
Washed Up Thai Shores : 114 Burmese Refugees Arrested
At least 10 days afloat at sea, from the Maungdaw town near the border with Bangladesh to southern Thailand 's Phang Nga province for finding jobs, over 100 Burmese refugees were arrested when their boat washed up on Thai shores.
The men as well a-ten-year-old boy were ethnic minority Rohyinga Muslims from Burma 's Arakan state. Oppressed by the Burmese military regime, they pooled their money to buy the boat to escape.
The rights worker said unfortunately their boat was damaged so they were charged with illegal entry and the case is expected to be submitted to court on the next day.
"114 Myanmar refugees wash up on Thai shores" Agence France Press, December 5, 2006
More Wa Troops On The BorderThe latest move by the Burma Army occurring a week, new battalions have been despatched by the Burmese Army to the border opposite Chiangrai province, Thailand , prompting both Thai and Shan forces to keep an eye on further moves.
This was in addition to previous reports on the movement of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) that currently has a ceasefire status with Burma 's ruling junta and has participated in the Burma Army's operations against the Shan State Army (SSA) on several occasions.
"Increase in Burmese troops on the border" Shan Herald Agency for News, November 29, 2006
Norway offers fund to fight diseases in Burma
Norway has offered around 770,000 U.S. dollars to a new Myanmar 's Three Diseases (3D) Fund to help the country fight AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.
Quoting sources with the Norwegian Embassy, the report said the Norwegian
The Norwegian donation constitutes part of a 99.5 million dollars' joint donor program for five years under a memorandum of understanding signed between the Myanmar Health Ministry and the UN Office for Project Services in the new capital of Naypyidaw in October.
The 3D Fund was set up by a group of six donors which comprises the European Commission, Sweden 's Sida, the Netherlands , United Kingdom Department for International Development, Norway and Australia 's Aus AID to compensate for grants which were suspended in August 2005 by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
“ Norway to aid Myanmar fight three diseases” Xinhua General News Service, December 1, 2006
Than Shwe to skip Asean Summit
Burmese junta leader Senior General Than Shwe will again skip the annual leaders' summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Philippines this month.
Than Shwe informed Philippines officials that he could not attend the 12 th Asean Summit on December 11-13 on Mactan Island , because he was preoccupied with Burma 's national convention for the drafting of a new constitution. Still, Burma would instead be represented by Prime Minister Soe Win in the meetings.
Than Shwe has also skipped previous Asean leaders' summit and is usually represented by Soe Win or Foreign Minister U Nyan Win.
“Burma leader skips Asean – again”, Bangkok Post, December 1, 2006
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