Burma Issues - BI Weekly No.327

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BI Weekly No. 327/328

November 24th - December 7th 2007

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

Dry Season Offensive against ethnic rebels

Many military analysts said that the Burmese authorities have dispatched a large number of soldiers from Arakan State to the eastern frontlines to start the dry season offensives against ethnic rebels such as the Karen and Shan.

Over 1000 soldiers from several battalions under Sakakha 15 based in Buthidaung, 80 miles north of Arakan State’s capital Sittwe, left recently for the eastern frontlines to wage war against ethnic rebels, reports a source close to the army.

“The army column left from Buthidaung jetty to Sittwe on 18 November, proceeding to the eastern frontline in several ships,” the source said.

The army column is led by Brigadier General Aung Naing, who is commander of Sakakha 15, and 105 army officials are present in the army column.

The source said most of the soldiers in the column are from Light Infantry Battalions 551, 552, 354, 535, and 352, all of which are stationed in Buthidaung Township.

Sakakha 15, or Military Operation Command 15, is comprised of 10 army battalions stationed in Buthidaung and Rathidaung in the north of Arakan State.

"Over 1000 soldiers leave for Eastern Frontlines", Nariniara News, November 27, 2007

SPDC does not want Petrie to continue to serve in Burma

The government of the Union of Burma does not want Charles Petrie, the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, to continue to serve in Burma, especially at this time when cooperation between Burma and the United Nations is crucial, the junta said in its statement handed to Charles Petrie.

Charles Petrie, the United Nations in-country coordinator in Burma, will leave the Southeast Asian nation on Tuesday after the ruling junta refused to renew his accreditation last month, a UN official in Rangoon said.

The Burmese military junta, on November 2, summoned Mr Petrie to its new capital, Naypyidaw, and handed him a statement stating their displeasure with the UN coordinator’s actions, stating they did not want him to continue serving in Burma.

The UN official, who declined to be named, said “Petrie will leave tomorrow,” adding that an acting resident coordinator has been appointed.

While the official declined to give further details, a report by AFP said Dan Baker has been appointed as the acting resident coordinator of the UN in Burma.

The Burmese junta, in early November, said it had reached an agreement with UN Special Envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, to appoint a temporary resident representative in Rangoon. The UN Secretary-General condemned the move by the Burmese junta and expressed his support for Mr Petrie.

Petrie has led the UN country team in Burma since 2003.

"UN Burma chief to leave country", Mizzima News, December 3, 2007

The offensive has forced some Karen villagers along the Thai border

Local residents said that the offensive has forced some Karen villagers near the Thai-Burma border to flee into Thailand.

Twelve regiments of the ruling State Peace and Development Council army are heading for Karen National Union territory to launch an offensive, according to a KNU official.

The offensive will target territory held in the KNU's 6th brigade, Karen State. The KNU secretary said that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd KNU brigades were also being targeted.

Three regiments each from the 12th Military Operations Command, 8th Military Operations Command and the 22nd Light Infantry Division are taking part in the offensive, along with troops from the SPDC-backed Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

Major Saw Hla Ngwe said sporadic clashes had already taken place and claimed that the SPDC and the DKBA had taken casualties.

In later November a DKBA unit lobbed 10 shells into Lan Pha billage, where around 50 DKBA soldiers later took up positions. They burnt down the rice storage facilities located in the village.

"Government troops prepare KNU offensive", Democratic Voice of Burma, December 4, 2007

Burmese authorities demean Nickname "orange" for Monks

In a bid to demean monks in the aftermath of the demonstrations Burmese authorities in Arakan State have been widely referring to monks with the nickname “orange”, rather than using the appropriate term, said a monk from Sittwe.

He gave an example of how the nickname is being used by saying that if three monks are traveling from Buthidaung to Sittwe by ferry, the authorities would refer to them as three oranges traveling to Buthidaung.

“Now the authorities call us orange,” he said.

The junta has been trying to destroy the reputation of monks in several ways, including sometimes publicizing accusations that monks have sexually abused women, he said.

Such behaviour on the part of he junta not only damages the image of monks, but also the image of Buddhism around the world, the monk said.

And we are unable to accept such attacks on monks by military authorities in Burma, he added.

It was learnt that many elder monks in Burma are now worried about the state of Buddhism and Buddhists in Burma, as the religion will be threatened with extinction if the junta continues to attack monks.

"Burmese authorities demean monks with nickname", Nariniara News, December 7, 2007

Shan New Year in Burma and many cities around the world

Shan New Year also will be held in many cities around the world such as New York, London, Singapore, Jiegao and Ruili in the Yunnan province of China, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Thai-Burma border towns such as Fang, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sai.

Shan New Year celebrations from December 7 to10 in several towns in Shan State will be monitored closely by Burmese junta authorities. A signed letter is mandatory that the celebrations will not become intermingled with any political activity, according to sources from the Shan communities in Shan State.

"For many years, we have played traditional games, racing and Shan dancing all day without restrictions. We meet each other and be in a close relationship with our Shan people, But this year the people are upset by the order from the authorities. We will be allowed to celebrate only one night", said a local resident in northern Shan State.

The presidents of Shan Literature and Culture Committees have been told to sign affidavits by Brig-Gen Aung Than Tut, the Commander of Northern Region Command and Chairman of Shan State North Peace and Development Council, that there will be no political uprising, gathering of the people connected to politics, a Muse resident says.

Meanwhile, the 80th anniversary of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday and Shan New Year will be cerebrated at the same time in Loi Tai Leng, the headquarters of Shan State Army (SSA) on the Thai-Burma border, according to a source close to SSA.

"Shan New Year faces restriction in Burma-Kwarn Lake", Shan Herald Agency for News, December 7, 2007

Solving the violence in the family is like solving the violence in the state

A workshop focused on the way to reduce violence against women held on Monday, 26 November, on the Thai-Burma border was attended by 28 participants, including 12 men. Throughout the workshop participants compared family violence and state violence.

U Maung Maung Gyi said to prevent violence, it depends on the state. "Deputy Senior General Maung Aye said our domestic problems don't concern our neighbours. Doesn't he know his people are running away to the neighboring countries?"

“The state ought to have a law for preventing violence not only for a men also women,” said a female attendance. “This law must be very powerful and effective for women,” added another attended woman. “From now on we men will try the best to stop violence against women,” male participants promised before closing the workshop.

The workshop was organized by Regional Women Against Violence (WAV) team which is one of the branches of the Thai-based Women’s League for Burma (WLB). It comprised 12 different ethnic women organizations. Its mission is to work for women’s empowerment and advancement of the status of women, and to work for the increased participation of women in all spheres of society in the democracy movement, and in peace and national reconciliation process through capacity building, advocacy, research and documentation, according to its statement.

"Men join workshop on women's rights", Shan Herald Agency for news, November 28, 2007"

KNU not take any responsibility for those passing through the Three Pagoda Pass to Thanpyuzayart road

The Karen National Union, in a letter to the Three Pagoda Pass Township Peace and Development Council authorities, has announced that it is not going to work in tandem with the Burmese military authorities to reopen the highway from the Thai-Burma border town of Three Pagoda Pass to Thanpyuzayart, Mon State.

In the past the KNU has allowed businessmen and traders the use of two roads but not TPP to Thanphyuzayart route because there are thousands of Burma Army troops using the road. “They are the enemy and KNU have said they will shoot at any car, boat or people they see on this route,” a person who read the letter said.

He added that KNU will take off its gate after its water trip at the end of this month and will have a meeting on December 4 to let car owners and the traders know which route they will be allowed to use.

A car owner who used to drive from the Thai-Burma border town to Thanpyuzayart said that this will affect the local people badly because the ban and restriction is not only from KNU but also from the Burma Army’s side.

"KNU not to reopen Three Pagoda Pass-Thanphyuzayart highway", Independent Mon News Agency, November 29, 2007"

Funding shortfalls in Burmese refugees

A humanitarian agency working on the Thai-Burma border has been forced to make cuts in food provisions to Burmese refugees because of funding shortfalls.

The Thailand Burma Border Consortium has been providing food aid to over 150,000 refugees in ten camps along the Thai-Burma border for around 20 years.

But now funding shortfalls and increasing numbers of new arrivals have meant that the group has been forced to cut back its provisions. In particular, supplies of fish paste and chilli, staple ingredients in Burmese cooking, are to be cut by half.

Shelly Townsend from TBBC said that a number of factors had led to the funding shortfall.

The strength of the baht against the US dollar has meant that the group is losing about 7 percent, around 80 million baht, of its budget from foreign funders.

“Cutting down on these supplies will leave us with a food shortage problem, since we are living inside the refugee camps and we can’t go out and earn money for ourselves, she said.

Ms Townsend said that TBBC is concerned about the possible need for further cuts and the problems they could cause for refugees.

“If we have to make further cuts, the concern is how that might impact on their health,” she said.

"The other area of concern is that if we are unable to provide for their basic needs,they will try and find work to support themselves and therefore they run the risk of being arrested because they're outside of the camps."

"Food aid to refugees faces cuts", Democratic Voice of Burma, December 6, 2007

Burma border road that connects Chin State and Mizoram State

The Burmese Army has directed locals in the rural areas of Chin State, Burma to destroy a 10-mile long Indo– Burma border road that connects Chin State and Mizoram State, in the northeast India.

The road which is about two-three feet wide links Sabawngte village in Matupi township in Chin state to Capui village in Saiha district in Mizoram state and was constructed by locals from rural areas in both countries under a self reliance programme without the approval of the military authorities.

Because the construction is illegal, Major Thein Win Myint from Light Infantry Battalion (304) recently posted in Sabawngte village in Matupi Township issued orders to destroy the road.

Moreover, the soldiers arrested village head U Li He and two other members of the Village Council and took them into custody for a night.

Later, the village head and the members were released after villagers paid Kyat 300,000 and 5 kilograms of pork to Major Thein Win Myint.

The so called illegal Indo–Burma road was constructed by locals from both countries to allow people from Mizoram state to go over to Burma to participate in the centenary ceremony that marked hundred years of the arrival of Christian missionaries among the Mara tribe in Chin state.

The construction of the road was begun on the first week of November and completed in the end of November this year.

"Burmese Army orders destruction of Indo-Burma road", khonumthung News, December 6, 2007"

Special Award for lifetime Achievement in Politics

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been awarded a Special Award for Lifetime Achievement in Politics by the Political Studies Association, PSA of the United Kingdom.

The awards are given at the Institute of Directors in London. Zoya Phan of Burma Campaign UK received the prize on behalf of her since she is under house arrest.

The prize is to mark the achievements of politicians, academics and journalists during 2007.

"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wins Lifetime Achievement in Politics", Burmese Service November 27, 2007

A larger number of people continuing in detention

UN special rapporteur for human rights in Burma said he did not believe that only 93 people are still being held in detention by the SPDC following the mass protests earlier this year.

"I don't think this number corresponds to reality," Pinheiro said. "Ninety-three is too low.”

A U.N. human rights investigator who recently returned from Burma said he believes there are more political prisoners detained in the country than the SPDC says, although he would not estimate how many.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro visited Burma for five days this month to look into allegations of abuse by the ruling military junta and to determine how many people were killed or detained in the September crackdown on a series of pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks.

Security forces killed at least 15 people and detained nearly 3,000 protesters, Diplomats and dissidents say the death toll was much higher

He declined to provide his own tally and said he expects to give a more detailed report to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva next month.

Pinheiro has said at least 15 people died in Rangoon, Burma’s largest city, a number based on post-mortem reports and other official information. He has said he was continuing to investigate the overall number of deaths and did not provide an updated count on Tuesday.

"UN investigator says number of political prisoners in Burma larger than government says", Associated Press, November 28, 2007

The United States calls on the SPDC to release political prisoners

The United States has reiterated its call for Than Shwe to release Aung San Suu Kyi and countless other detainees and political prisoners as a necessary condition for a genuine dialogue with democratic and ethnic minority groups on a transition to a civilian, democratic government in Burma.

The Government of the United States issued the following statement through its State Department spokesman Sean McCormack on November 29 in Washington reiterating the U.S. position toward Burma.

“The United States condemns the Burmese regime’s continued arrest of democracy activists and harassment of Buddhist monks. Recent reports of monastery closings by Burma’s ruling generals also are deeply troubling,” Mr McCormack said.

“This repression belies the regime’s claims to cooperate fully with the United Nations, which has repeatedly sought an end to the detention of political activists. These continuing arrests bring into serious question Senior General Than Shwe’s commitment to a genuine dialogue on a transition to democracy in Burma,” he said.

"United States reiterates opposition to ongoing arrests of political activists in Burma" Asian Tribune, November 30, 2007

Burma was not likely to be discussed during UN Secretary-General Ban visit to Thailand

Ban’s spokesperson’s statement is in contrast to one made by the Thail Prime Minister, Surayud Chaulanont, who was quoted in The Nation newspaper last week that Burma was not likely to be discussed during Ban’s visit to Thailand.

Burma and the efforts initiated by the special UN envoy for the country, Ibrahim Gambari, will be one of the major items on the agenda of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when he meets with Southeast Asia leaders during the Bali meeting on climate change.

Ban is expected to use the opportunity to discuss Burma with regional leaders and the recent efforts to establish democracy, ensure human rights and speed the release of political prisoners including the democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Throughout the region, in his bilateral meetings with most heads of state and governments, the secretary-general will not talk only about climate change. Burma will be an issue discussed,” said a spokesperson.

During the Bali conference from December 12 to 14.Ban Ki- moon is expected to meet with a number of leader's basis. Besides his trip to Indonesia, Ban will visit Thailand and Timor-Leste as part of his trip to the region.

Thailand will be Ban’s stopover in Southeast Asia. During his visit to Thailand from December 9 to 11, he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and to have an audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

"Burma on UN Secretary-General's agenda during Thailand, Bali visit", Irrawaddy, December 3, 2007"

U.S.ASEAN talking about Burma

There is a lot of common ground between the US and ASEAN members in regards to what needs to be done to rectify the situation in Burma, a US government official said.

The Under Secretary did say he wished Burmese representatives would have come to November’s ASEAN summit in Singapore with a more open mind, proceeding to tell reporters that the current status of Burma is an “embarrassment” for the region.

Though tactics may differ, the United States shares the same vision for Burma as does Singapore and the ASEAN community, according to an American official.

It is possible for partners to work perhaps with different tactics while agreeing on the same strategic objective, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said at a press Conference yesterday in Singapore following a day of meeting with Singaporean officials.

In talks with Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, Burns expressed the United States’ support for both ASEAN and the United Nations roles in trying to kick start a dialogue process between the Burmese junta and opposition forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

United Nations Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari’s scheduled briefing to ASEAN leaders in Singapore last month, Burns said that the United States has “great respect for the way that Singapore acted as ASEAN Chair and in hosting the meeting.”

"U.S.-ASEAN share same goal for Burma: U.S. official", Mizzima News, December 4, 2007

The U.N refugee agency has welcomed the European Commission's (EC)

The U.N. refugee agency has welcomed the European Commission’s (EC) donation of 3.9 million euros (over USD $ 5.7 million) over the next two years to end the plight of refugees from Burma languishing in the southeastern part of Bangladesh over a long period of time.

The EC has long been the largest donor to UNHCR’s operations in Bangladesh, which cost $54 million since the arrival of the Rohingya refugees from Burma in 1991 and 1992, according to the UNHCR.

Most of the Muslim refugees from northern Rakhine state went back home to western Burma soon after seeking refuge in Bangladesh, but 27,000 remain in two refugee camps - Nayapara and Kutupalong – near Cox’s Bazaar district of Bangladesh.

The UN agency said the UNHCR won an agreement from the Bangladesh government for significant improvements over the past year in the two camps.

New shelters are being constructed for all the refugees, adding that the UNCR, with its partners, has also been able to provide literacy training for adults, enhanced skills training and improved medical care in the two camps.

“But just as important has been the solidarity of the European Community in working together with UNHCR and other donors to help the Bangladesh government find lasting solutions for the refugees. It’s clear to everyone that these people cannot go on living in refugee camps forever,” Phiri observed.

Worldwide, the EC is UNHCR’s third-largest donor, having contributed more than $79 million to the agency’s global budget of $1.45 billion in 2007.

"EU provides 3.9 million euros for Rohingya refugees", Mizzima News, December 7, 2007