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BI Weekly No. 322

October 13th - October 19th, 2007

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

First monk sentenced

A Buddhist monk has been jailed for seven and a half years for taking part in mass protests against Burma's military junta which the army put down ruthlessly, a monastic source said.

Eik Darea, 26, was the first monk known to have been sentenced for his part in protests led by monks in several cities around the former Burma, the source said.

"He was arrested in Maungdaw, on the Bangladesh border. He was forced to leave holy orders and sent up for trial at a closed court in Sittwe," the source said.

"He was charged with inciting public unrest and illegal association. I'm so sorry he might be sent to a labor camp."

Other sources said there were other monks in Rakhine jails who were also expected to face trial.

"Manhunts are still going on in Rakhine State. Some are still on the run. Some are missing," one said.

There has been no word yet of closed trials in Rangoon, where soldiers raided more than 20 monasteries, taking most of their monks into custody, in the early stages of the crackdown.

“Myanmar protest monk jailed for seven years”, Reuters, October 17th, 2007

Junta dismisses UN calls

Burma’s military regime dismissed a UN statement calling for dialogue with the pro-democracy opposition, insisting that it would follow its own roadmap toward reform.

The main opposition National League for Democracy, however, hailed the UN declaration and urged the ruling generals to comply with the demands.

State-run TV and radio issued a statement arguing that conditions inside Burma were not the concern of the outside world.

“Myanmar's current situation does not affect regional and international stability,” said the statement, attributed to Col Thant Shin. “However, we deeply regret that the UN Security Council has issued a statement contrary to the people's desires.”

“The government of Myanmar will continue to implement the seven-step roadmap together with the people,” the statement said, referring to the junta's plan that promises a new constitution and an eventual transition to democratic rule.

“Burmese junta dismisses UN statement: opposition demands reform”, Associated Press, October 13th, 2007

Burma’s PM dies

Burma’s Prime Minister Gen Soe Win, who had been blamed with overseeing a 2003 attack against pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, died Friday after a long illness. He was 59.

The fourth-ranking member of the junta, he had been ailing for months with what relatives said were acute leukemia. His death was announced by state media.

He had returned September 30 from extended hospitalization in Singapore and had been warded at Mingaladon Military Hospital on the outskirts of northern Rangoon, relatives said.

His departure was unlikely to cause a ripple in the regime's grip on power. Soe Win had little if any policy-making role as prime minister, and was largely considered a figurehead for the junta.

Lt-Gen Thein Sein, who has been serving as acting prime minister since at least May, was expected to succeed Soe Win.

“Burma’s Prime Minister, “Butcher of Depayin,” dies after long illness”, Associated Press, October 13th, 2007

Internet back online

The Burmese military junta restarted Internet lines for 24-hour access after it was totally cut-off and then partially reopened earlier this month, sources in Rangoon said.

"Yes the net is accessible 24 hours since yesterday. But like my café a few are still closed. But users can begin using the net," said a youth, who owns an internet café in Rangoon.

Observers said the junta by reopening the internet, which was shut-down in late September during the week of protests in Burma, wants to show that it has successfully cracked down on the recent protests.

However, the junta has not totally left internet usage unguarded but put in place policemen, who are trained in Information Technology, to monitor users in cyber cafés, local net surfers said.

Besides, the internet cafés are required to install a screen-shot system that will automatically take a screen-shot of the computers every five minutes, in order to make sure users do not surf political sites and other banned sites.

“Junta restarts internet for 24 hours, reduces security”, Mizzima News, October 15th, 2007

Red Cross still denied access

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was seeking access to thousands of people detained during the recent crackdown in Burma, though authorities there had not yet agreed to talks.

Pierre Kraehenbuehl, the ICRC's director of operations, said the humanitarian agency has not yet been able to re-establish a meaningful dialogue with the ruling generals that have restricted its activities over the past two years.

"The ICRC is deeply worried about the fate of thousands of people who have reportedly been arrested in connection with recent events in Myanmar," Kraehenbuehl said.

Dozens of Myanmar families have contacted the ICRC for help finding relatives thought to have been detained or missing.

"We regret that our efforts have not yet produced any tangible results but we remain determined to pursue them," Kraehenbuehl said.

In late June, the neutral ICRC issued a rare public censure on Myanmar, accusing the junta of serious violations against civilians and prisoners who were forced to serve as army porters walking ahead of soldiers through minefields.

“Red Cross seeks access to Myanmar protest detainees”, Reuters, October 16th, 2007

Bangladesh supports UN efforts

Bangladesh fully backs the initiatives of the United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to amicably resolve the current imbroglio in Burma, Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said.

Gambari, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General in Burma, is currently on a diplomatic mission in the region.

"We are pleased Gambari has been able to engage all sides in his dialogues. He is currently consulting with Myanmar's neighbours," the Foreign Adviser said.

Dr Chowdhury, who had discussed the Burma situation with the UN special envoy in New York recently, said he has confidence in Gambari's capabilities and wished his mission all success.

The adviser also said peaceful efforts should receive the highest international priority in stabilizing the unrest in Burma.

“Bangladesh backs UN efforts to resolve Burma crisis”, Mizzima News, October 17th, 2007

Protestors seek asylum on the border

A group of six Burmese dissidents, including one monk and two members of the 88 Generation Students Group, became the latest newcomers to Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border.

As the military authorities in Rangoon continue their crackdown through nighttime raids on those they suspect of taking part in the monk-led protests last month, more activists are fleeing for safety to the Thai-Burmese border.

The latest six protesters were taken in by exiled Burmese dissident groups. Up to ten demonstrators, including monks have fled to Thailand in recent weeks, according to dissident groups.

A 31-year-old monk who recently fled from a monastery in Burma said “the soldiers raid homes, especially at nighttime. They compare suspects with photos of those who were involved in the protests. Also, they employ an increased number of soldiers when they raid monasteries.”

“In the daytime, it is fine,” he said. “But at night the monks are living in fear. They worry that the troops will raid their monasteries. Some people are afraid of accepting monks in their homes.”

“More dissidents flee to Thai-Burmese border”, The Irrawaddy, October 16th, 2007

Burmese migrants donate money to monks

In a major expression of solidarity over 2,000 Burmese migrant workers in Surat Thani in southern Thailand donated 2 million Kyats (about US $ 1,504) to the All-Burmese Monks Alliance (ABMA) earlier this week.

The funds were raised to support the peaceful demonstrations led by Buddhist monks for restoration of democracy in the military ruled country.

"We donated the money to support the monks who led the demonstrations peacefully and have been striving for democracy," one of the organizers in the fund raising campaign said.

"We want to help the people of Burma who are fighting so bravely for democracy in such a peaceful manner," said a migrant worker in Surat Thani.

The donation was organized by six or seven workers in Surat Thani. There are around 3,000 migrant workers from Burma including ethnic Kayin, Arakan and Shan.

Meanwhile, Burmese people in exile have been demonstrating wherever they are, against the Burmese military junta for its ruthless and violent suppression of peaceful protesters in Burma.

“Burmese migrants in Thailand donate two million Kyats”, Kachin News Group, October 15th, 2007

Who’s supplying Burma’s military?

India and North Korea are both suppliers to Burma's military, and neither has signaled it would stop business after the junta's crackdown on pro-democracy protests last month.

As is the case with the biggest suppliers to Burma Russia, China and Ukraine such arms sales may be widely criticized for helping the regime stay in power, but they don't clearly violate any laws, treaties or international agreements.

The only restrictions on selling military equipment to Myanmar, also known as Burma, are self-imposed. The tightest embargoes are maintained by the United States and the European Union, while several other nations, such as South Korea, have less sweeping or informal sanctions.

The U.S. and European restrictions ban sales and re-sales of virtually all military-related equipment to Myanmar. But it is difficult to stop third parties from selling used equipment and licensed technology.

Between 1988 and 2006 Burma has imported US$1.69 million in military goods from China, including armored personnel carriers, tanks, fighter aircraft, radar systems, surface-to-air missiles and short-range air-to-air missile systems.

Russia comes in second at US$396 million (euro279.4 million), then Serbia and Ukraine.

“Despite poor human rights record, Myanmar easily finds foreign suppliers for its military” Associated Press, October 13th, 2007

EU increases sanctions

European foreign ministers were set to beef up the EU's sanctions against Burma, introducing an embargo on timber, gems and metals.

The import bans, for which no implementation date was specified in the draft text, will notably affect Burma's teak and jade trade.

The Burma sanctions will cover the import of Burma timber, metals, minerals and precious and semi-precious stones, according to the draft text, which adds that the measures are designed to "do no harm to the general population."

The European Union would at the same time confirm the continuation of "substantial humanitarian aid programs aimed at the most vulnerable populations."

While flagging their intentions to boost sanctions in recent weeks, EU officials have stressed that they have a limited effect on a regime already greatly isolated by the West.

More than 90 percent of Burma's business is done with Asian nations, especially China and India.

“EU to step up sanctions on Myanmar, ban timber, gems”, Agence France Presse, October 15th, 2007

US push UN to look at rape as a weapon of war

Saying the Burmese military is using rape as an instrument of systematic repression against ethnic minorities, the US urged the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to conduct an investigation into such cases.

“We want the UN secretary-general to do a very thorough investigation into the cases (of rape by the Burmese army) we receive and report back to the general assembly so that we can be prepared to take action,” Kristen Silverberg, assistant secretary for International Organization Affairs, said.

“We have documented evidence of little girls in Burma as little as eight years old, ten years old being subject to rape by Burmese soldiers. So we want the international community to focus on this issue,” Silverberg said.

The United States plans to introduce a resolution during the current session of the UN General Assembly “condemning the use of rape as an instrument of state policy.”

The draft of the proposed resolution does not name any nation, but it targets countries like Burma and Sudan where the US says there is strong evidence of their security forces using rape as a tool of repression against targeted communities.

“US wants UN to investigate reports of rape by Burmese army”, The Irrawaddy, October 17th, 2007

Burma could be another Iraq: ASEAN head

Pushing through a sudden regime change in Burma could "create another Iraq" and leave the country engulfed in violence, the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) warned.

ASEAN secretary general Ong Keng Yong said regime change in Myanmar would have dire regional implications and that the best outcome was to thrash out a consensus between the military and the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Whether you are in ASEAN or not, if you sit back and understand the constitution and make-up of Myanmar and you say you want to have a regime change, you are going to create another Iraq," he said.

"It's an Iraqi situation because there are at least 17 different major factions making up the population of Myanmar.”

UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari -- currently on a swing through Southeast Asia to push nations in the region to pressure the regime -- met Monday in Bangkok with Thai leaders.

Ong also said pushing Myanmar too hard might drive the junta towards China, which could gain strategic access to the Indian Ocean, a move which would have geopolitical implications for countries bordering the ocean and Western navies.

“Myanmar regime change could 'create another Iraq': ASEAN chief”, Agence France Presse, October 15th, 2007

Thailand calls for multiparty talks

Thailand proposed that the United Nations organise multiparty talks to bring together Burma's neighbours for discussions with the military junta on resolving the nation's crisis.

Thailand's army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he made the recommendation during his talks with UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who is on an Asian tour aimed at winning support among Burma's neighbours for tougher action against the junta.

"We suggested the United Nations should set up talks with ASEAN, China and India to end the unrest in Myanmar unconditionally... in the same way that the UN did for the North Korean (nuclear) talks," Surayud said.

He urged Gambari to bring up the proposal with Chinese and Indian leaders as one way to search for practical solutions to Burma's troubles.

Gambari is set to return to Myanmar in mid-November, but Surayud said he would send a letter to the junta asking that the envoy be allowed to visit before the end of October.

“Thailand proposes UN-backed multiparty talks on Myanmar”, Agence France Presse, October 15th, 2007