BI Weekly No. 313

January 8th - January 14th, 2007

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

Inside

Border

International

Ban Ki-moon call for release of political prisoners
ASEAN summit in Philippines
US submits UN resolution

* denotes BI commentary

Kyauk Pru, the largest naval base in western Burma locating on Rambree Island along the Arakan coast, has already been earmarked for a free trade zone in the near future by the Burmese military government.

A weekly journal from Burma reported the free trade zones would be established and enacted in the future under a new special economic zone law and foreign investment would be exempt from taxation for a minimum of one to a maximum of eight years.

Foreign investors will be allowed to invest in many sectors such as production, high technology, agriculture, livestock breeding, forestry, transportation, banking services and communication.

The military had fully intended promoting economic development by foreign investment.

“Burmese military government to set up free trade zone in Arakan”, Narinjara News , January 9, 2007

Proxy sites banned by military

The junta military ruled net users increasing the list of sites to be banned.

Since last Monday, the Burmese junta banned proxy sites such as www.polysolve.com , www.glite.sayni.net , www.3proxy.com , www.unipeak.com . Internet users who want to use free emails and messengers like Google mail, Google Gtalk are now looking for new proxy sites.

Internet experts suggest there are ways and means to get over this problem. Aung Kyaw Myo, the New Delhi based manager of Burma Information Technology said there are many proxy sites and a software called "Freedom" which is useful to Burmese Internet users.

Burma with two Internet Service Providers- Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications and BaganNet, officially allow only government controlled e-mails in which your password is given by the authority.

“Internet policing in Burma stepped up”, Mizzima News , January 10, 2007

Five leading activists detained at the end of September by the Burmese military regime were freed early Thursday.

The freed men said they had been released unconditionally, and that it was now clear to the authorities that they had not planned to create unrest or launch terrorist attacks.

The five freed activists, all of them leading members of the 88 Generation Students group, are Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe, Min Zeya and Pyone Cho. All were repeatedly accused by the regime of plotting terrorist attacks at a time when the US was pushing for Burma to be placed on the UN Security Council agenda.

Freed activists also welcomed the US draft . Min Ko Naing, a well-known former student leader said they warmly welcome what the US submitted.

“I believed it's for the good, but it is also important that action, not just words, must follow.” ,Min Ko Naing said.

“Detained Burmese activist leaders released” Irrawaddy , January 11, 2007

Under negotiation: KNU and Burmese officials

Thai traders look forward to increased border trade in Karen State in Burma and Tak Province in Thailand , if negotiations between the Karen National Union and Burmese officials are successful.

Ampol Chartchaiyaruek, Tak Province Chamber of Commerce said the situation in Karen State , which lies opposite of Tak province, following the recent death of General Bo Mya may offer a renewed chance for successful negotiations.

However, an agreement may not be possible, because Burmese officials do not want to give additional power to the KNU, the most hardcore ethnic resistance group which now administers affairs within its territory.

Suchart Triratwattana, a trader in Mae Sot, said a breakthrough may be possible because of new KNU leaders who want to make a deal with the military government.

“Thai traders hope KNU talks will succeed”, Irrawaddy , January 8, 2007

Malaysia as destination

The majority of Burma migratory workers were destined to Malaysia with about 300 heading for the Southeast Asian member nation per day for a recent period. Burma workers are working in factories, restaurants and construction projects in Malaysia enjoying a basic pay set by the Malaysian government.

According to Malaysian official sources, which the report quoted, Burma workers accounted for the majority out of 1.84 million overseas workers working in Malaysia .

In 2005, Burma allowed for the first time overseas job seekers to work in Qatar in the Middle East, a region once the country considered too dangerous and too susceptible to unrest for Myanmar workers.

More than 500 Burma workers were expected to initially arrive in Qatar annually since then where demand for labor is high.

“Most Myanmar migratory workers destined to Malaysia ”, Xinhua General News Service , January 8, 2007

Bombs attack on Indo-Burmese border

A series of explosions at noon on Sunday rocked the Indo-Burmese border town of Moreh .

Loud explosions were heard by residents over a period of half an hour. Residents said the four bombs were detonated by Assam Rifles troops deployed in the border town.However, the reason behind the bomb blasts is still unknown.

The tourist said he learnt from local residents that there were four explosions. However, a senior police officer at the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) headquarter in Mantripukhri, 7 kilometres north of Manipur's capital Imphal, denied knowledge of the explosion.

The series of explosions, however, did not hamper normal business in the commercial hub as traders and tourists continue usual business. The inflow of traffic along the Indo-Burmese road also remained normal.

“Bomb explosions on Indo-Burmese border”, Mizzima News , January 9, 2007

Ban Ki-moon call for release of political prisoners

A week after taking over as the new secretary-general of the UN, Ban Ki-moon last Monday called on Burma to release all political prisoners, including National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Welcoming the release of nearly 3,000 Burmese prisoners last week, including a number of prisoners of conscience, Ban urged the regime to go beyond this first step by releasing all other political prisoners in the country.

The statement by Ban's spokesperson also called on the junta to make further concrete progress on all of the issues raised in the context of his the secretary-general's good offices.

The statement is the first on Burma by the incoming head of the UN and follows similar calls by his predecessor, Kofi Annan, who in May last year appealed directly to the head of the regime, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, to do the right thing by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi. A few days afterward, however, the Burmese authorities ignored the request, choosing instead to extend the opposition leader's period of house arrest by one year.

"New UN chief calls for release of Burma 's political prisoners", Irrawaddy , January 9, 2007

ASEAN summit in Philippines

Activists and politicians from several ASEAN organisations yesterday welcomed a statement from Indonesia confirming the situation in Burma would be discussed at the 12th annual ASEAN summit.

Press reports quoted Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda as saying delegates at the summit—to be held in the Philippines city of Cebu on Saturday—would take Burma to task over its unsatisfactory progress toward democracy. It is unclear if the talks will be held officially or on the sidelines of the summit.

Roshan Jason, a spokesperson for the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Burma Caucus, said the group was encouraged by the Indonesian foreign minister's statements and that talks on Burma were welcome as long as they were meaningful.

"ASEAN activists welcome plans for talks on Burma ", Democratic Voice of Burma , January 10, 2007

US submits UN resolution

The United States introduced a revised draft resolution in the UN Security Council urging Burma 's rulers to initiate democratic reforms, release all political prisoners.

The US draft also urges an end to military attacks against civilians in ethnic minority regions and in particular to desist immediately from the use of systematic rape of women and girls as an instrument of armed conflict.

But Russia and China , two fellow veto-wielding members of the 15-member council, immediately questioned the need for the text -- even though it does not call for sanctions -- insisting that they did not view the situation in Burma as a threat to regional peace and security.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who chairs the council this month, said Burma was not a proper issue to discuss in the Security Council. Asked whether he was prepared to veto the text, he replied he didn't want to use big words until he get instructions.

"US submits UN resolution slamming Myanmar junta's policies", Agence France Presse , January 10, 2007