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BI Weekly No. 323

October 20th - October 26th, 2007

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

Nobody confirmed the arrests Monks

Moulmein city residents from Mon state, Burma are anxious about monks who were sent back to their home towns in upper Burma because they did not reach home but were detained by the military junta authorities.

The 200 monks were sent by trains with travel documents from the Military Southeast Command based in Moulmein.

The command also arranged for two rooms for the monks. Two hundred monks from Moulmein were arrested in Thaton last months protest. "But nobody confirmed the arrests. They just heard that the monks were arrested" an abbot in Moulmein aaid.

Almost all the monasteries the capital Mon state were investigated by the authorities for their involvement in the protest.

According to travelers, many monks who traveling by bus and train were dragged down and arrested in Thaton.

"Moulmein residents worried about monks", Independent Mon News Agency, October 23, 2007

Women activists hiding in Burma call for the safety of all women

Women activists hiding in Burma have called for the safety of all women living in fear and in hiding, by sending a report to the United Nations Security Council on day the Security Council discussed and expressed concern over gender-based violence.

Women in Burma have suffered discrimination, abuse and violence from the Burmese military government during the recent political unrest.

Nilar Thein, who had to leave her baby behind when she went into hiding, said that the Burmese soldiers and their security forces were hunting down women and taking them to undisclosed locations.

She said those arrested include women up to seven months pregnant.

“The military regime has been hunting down women activists women like common criminals. Several women are subjected to sexual harassment, Nilar Thein said.”

“We fear for the lives of the women who were arrested by the Burmese authorities.”

“According to a cemetery caretaker, one pregnant woman was attacked by soldiers, bayoneted and then burned alive in the Yayway Cemetery in Rangoon,” Nilar Thein said.

The Security Council itself on Tuesday urged member countries, including offices within the UN institution, to increase female participation in the decision-making process and to take specific steps to protect women and girls from gender-based violence during conflicts.

"Women activists call for rights, protection", The Irrawaddy, October 24, 2007

Release of Protesters, In Burma

The Burmese military junta released an aging dissident and several other activists who were arrested for participating in last month's protests.

Following Mr Khaing an elected member of parliament in the 1990 elections, arrest last week a township police official wrote the appeal and after making U Kaw Khaing sign it, submitted it to the Thandwe township court, which ordered his release, a National League for Democracy leader said.

Mean while, authorities in Pakhokku of Magwe division in central Burma released nine protesters, who were arrested for actively participating in the recent monk-led protests.

"They were released last night at about 9 p.m. (local time). Authorities brought them back to their respective residences," a local resident of Pakhokku said.

Local residents said, the Mingyan township NLD secretary and party member were released from palate prison, where they had been kept under detention.

The recent release of several activists and opposition party members is part of the junta's preparation for the visit by United Nations Human Rights expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and the Secretary General's special advisor to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, a local observer in Mingyan said.

"Junta showcases release of protesters, activists", Mizzima News, October 24, 2007

SPDC appoints contact point for Suu Kyi

Early this month the government announced that junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe was willing to meet with Suu Kyi—but only if she met certain conditions, like renouncing support for foreign countries' economic sanctions against the military regime.

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi—under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years—met for about one hour with a Burmese military government official.

A retired major general Aung Kyi's, was appointed to the post to hold talk with Suu Kyi.

Aung Kyi's appointment, the junta said it hoped to achieve "smooth relations" with Suu Kyi.

Appointing a liaison officer was suggested by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari during his September 29-Oct. 2 visit to Burma, state media said.

Aung Kyi's exact duties have not been detailed, but it appeared he would coordinate all of Suu Kyi's contacts with both the regime and the United Nations, which is seeking to end the political deadlock between democracy advocates and a military that has ruled since 1962.

Aung Kyi has a reputation among foreign diplomats, UN officials and aid groups as being relatively accessible and reasonable compared to top junta leaders, highly He has had the delicate task of dealing with the International Labor Organization, which accuses the junta of using forced labor.

"Suu Kyi Meets Junta's Official", Associated Press, October 25, 2007

Only one monk receive the donations

Only one monk from each monastery will be invited to the ceremony to receive the donations. The rest of the alms will be taken to the monks at their monasteries.

The annual rice donation ceremony in Magwe division is to go ahead with some restrictions, despite local authorities’ earlier concerns that monks would boycott the event.

The rice donation has been held annually for the past five years to mark the end of Buddhist lent, and has always been a popular event, but local authorities were worried that this year monks would refuse to accept alms from government supporters.

The local Peace and Development Council refused to organise the ceremony, so it will now be planned by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and its local offices.

Township authorities still appear cautious about the event, which will be widely publicised, and have issued restrictions on monks attending in an apparent attempt to prevent large groups of monks assembling.

"Monks kept away from rice donation", Democratic Voice of Burma, October 25, 2007

Yellow colour clothes and candles for peace

A month after the monk-led protests' in September, several people in yellow clothes gathered today in the Shwedagon pagoda in Rangoon, eyewitnesses said.

Several people came to Shwedagen with yellow coloured candles and yellow clothes are pray for peace.

"They just come in pairs or even singly, they were not in groups," said the eyewitness.

The spirit of the protests seems to remain as several people were seen today in yellow clothes to mark one month of the brutal crackdown on protesters.

"Yellow colur worshippers in Shwedagon", Mizzima News, October 26, 2007

The conflict in Burma is not a fight among ethnicities

The General-secretary of the Karen National Union said "the conflict in Burma is not a fight among ethnicities. We are only fighting against the military rulers, not against the army."

Influential Burmese leaders have dismissed a possible “nightmare scenario" raised by some Burma experts who say that—should the junta fall—the country might collapse because of a lack of civilian leaders with experience in government.

Mahn Sha disagreed, saying all people in Burma have a common ground.

"Political reform and democratization is now needed in the country. If democratization and a genuine federal union prevail in the country, we will be very happy. We will be very happy. We don't need to fight against a government such as that."

“If Burma changed, I'll go back and work for the people voluntarily, I don't need a position in the government. I will serve the country any way I possibly can,” Burmese scholar in Singapore said. "It is amazing. Many people (foreign experts) make comments on Burma, but they have never been to our country.”

"Ethnic leaders dismiss talk of Burma's collapse should junta fall Saw yan Naing", The Irrawaddy, October 26, 2007

Burma sends Bangladesh monks back

Twelve young Bangladeshi monks were handed over by Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) in western Burma to Bangladesh Rifles personnel soon after the monks arrived in Burma’s border town Maungdaw from Rangoon, a Nasaka official said.

The monks left for Bangladesh from Rangoon last week as many monasteries had refused to accept them after the military junta pressurized many monasteries in the former Burmese capital not to allow student monks to study in residence.

About 2,000 Bangladeshi monks, mostly from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, had been studying in monasteries across Burma.

The monks from Bangladesh must now return to their home country because they are not being allowed to study in Burma’s monasteries.

In the last couple of weeks, the Nasaka had not assisted monks returning to Bangladesh, but has instead forced monks to travel to Bangladesh illegally via row-boat across the Naff River.

“Burma hands over monks to Bangladesh”, Narinjara News, October 26th, 2007

Half a million displaced in eastern Burma

Attacks and destruction carried out by Burma’s armed forces on ethnic minority villages have displaced up to 500,000 people, Human Rights Watch said.

“The Burmese army continues to destroy civilian villages in its counter-insurgency operations”, the group said, citing surveys by Thailand Burma Border Consortium.

“It (the Burmese army) often uses depopulated areas for military-controlled business concessions and infrastructure projects such as gold mines and hydro-electric dams, three of which are planned close by on the Salween River, near the Thai border”, a Human Rights Watch report said.

The Thailand Burma Border Consortium said up to half a million people were displaced because of attacks and the destruction of their villages in eastern Burma.

Human Rights Watch said it received reports of ‘serious abuses’ by the country’s armed forces in July in Karen State, which displaced tens of thousands of people. Some of the displaced moved across the border into Thailand to refugee camps.

“Half a million people displaced by Myanmar army attacks”, Deutsche Presse-Agenture, October 26th, 2007

Protestor organisers flees Burma

A 24-year old Buddhist monk who says he was one of the leaders of the recent protests in Burma escaped to Thailand last week.

The monk, Ashin Kovida, said he was involved in planning and organising the protests that led to a nation wide uprising.

He said he was elected as the leader of a group of 15 fellow monks and led daily protests in Rangoon for 19 days from September 18th to September 27th, the day after the authorities began raiding monasteries.

Kovida said he was inspired by the popular uprisings in Yugoslavia against the government of Slogodan Milosevic.

Eight members of his organising committee are “missing” and six others are hiding in Rangoon, he said.

Kovida said he escaped to Thailand by traveling using false documents, dying his short hair blond and wearing a crucifix.

Many details of Mr Kovida’s account could not be independently confirmed, but his role as an organiser is well known among many non-governmental organisations in Burma.

“A monk’s tale of protest and escape from Myanmar”, New York Times, October 26, 2007

More pressure and sanctions needed

A week fact-finding mission to the Thai-Burma border has reported that every organization consulted has concurred that the international community needs to increase pressure on the Burmese regime, while also standing in strong support of increased sanctions.

The mission, conducted by the International Federation for Human Rights and the International Trade Union Confederation recently filed their preliminary findings.

According to delegates they were repeatedly informed that “sanctions hurt the regime and the crony elite, not the people, living from agriculture or the informal economy”.

Additionally, the delegation reports that the European Union sanctions, even if minimal in terms of economic significance, still succeed in sending a strong and valuable moral signal to the generals.

The delegation said that the junta’s offer to enter into dialogue was only made to “save time in order for the media attention to phase down”.

“This is the stalling tactics the regime has played over the years,” Olivier De Schutter from the International Federation for Human Rights said.

“Unanimous support claimed for increased pressure, sanctions”, Mizzima News, October 24, 2007

Thousands gather in India for Prayer Campaign

More than 20 thousand Christians in over 100 churches in Manipur, India have participated in a prayer campaign for freedom and democracy in Burma.

The campaign also expressed solidarity with political prisoners and with National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The campaign, organized by the Myanmar Christian Fellowship comprising of Burmese Christians in exile, will include mass prayers for Burma every Sunday.

“The aim of the campaign is to pray for peace, restoration of democracy and for the release of all political prisoners in Burma,” Ko Lay, General Secretary of the Myanmar Christian Fellowship said.

He added the campaign also prayed for “the Burmese military generals so that they change their mind and abandon their evil ways”.

“Over 20 thousand Christians gather in Manipur to pray for Myanmar”, Asia News, October 23, 2007

Junta agree to Pinheiro Visit

The ruling generals in Burma have agreed to the first visit by the UN's top human rights official in four years, the United Nations spokesperson said.

The announcement comes in the aftermath of a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters that left at least 13 people dead and intensified international criticism of the military junta.

The junta agreed to a visit by Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the UN special rapporteur on human rights, and suggested that it take place before a regional summit in Singapore next month, UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

The UN's top envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is also scheduled for a return visit to the country next month amid a flurry of diplomatic efforts to put pressure on the junta.

Pinheiro has not been allowed to visit the country since 2003. The UN spokeswoman said Burma had suggested that he come before November's summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win confirmed the offer in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, she said.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), which won elections in 1990 but was never allowed to govern, said it welcomed Pinheiro's visit.

"We hope to meet him," NLD spokesman Han Thar Myint said.

“UN says Myanmar agrees to rights visit”, Agence France Presse, October 23rd, 2007

Gambari to return to Burma earlier than planned

Bowing to international pressure, Burma's rulers agreed to bring forward to early November a return visit by UN mediator Ibrahim Gambari.

Gambari, currently on a six-nation Asian tour, "expects to visit Myanmar in the first week of November as the Myanmar government agreed to bring forward his standing invitation to the country," UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

Last week Gambari said that he had been invited to return to Burma in the third week of November.

But the United States and its European allies made it clear that they wanted the UN emissary back in Burma as soon as possible.

The UN Security Council earlier this month slammed the junta's crackdown and called for the "early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees" to pave the way for national reconciliation and a transition to democracy.

France and the United States then warned the military regime that failure to comply with the council demands would lead to unspecified punitive measures.

“Myanmar bows to world pressure over UN envoy visit”, Agence France Presse, October 24th, 2007

UNSC discusses gender violence in conflict zones

The UN Security Council on Tuesday expressed concern over gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse in conflict zones, with some nations singling out the role of the military junta in Burma.

The Security Council had an extensive discussion on gender-based violence, including the use of rape as an instrument of state policy. The United Kingdom representative mentioned Burma, which has been accused of using rape as an instrument of state oppression and intimidation.

The Burmese representative, Maung Wai, refuted allegations that rape was being used as an instrument of violence against ethnic groups and political prisoners.

“Myanmar [Burma] takes exception to the unfounded allegations of sexual violence leveled at its armed forces by the representative of the United Kingdom,” Wai said.

Karen Pierce of Britain said the Security Council had a key role to play in protecting women against violence, which was occurring in greater proportion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Darfur, Burma.

“Horrible sexual cruelty has been reported in those situations, and such acts must be reported and followed up by concrete action on the ground,” she said.

“UN Security Council discusses gender-based violence”, The Irrawaddy, October 24th, 2007

Burma’s protest death toll may reach 110

Burma soldiers may have killed as many as 110 people during a crackdown on anti-government protests last month, said a United Nations official tasked with probing alleged human rights abuses by the military regime.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who will travel to the Southeast Asian nation next month, said he had verified ``allegations of the use of excessive force by the security forces, including live ammunitions, rubber bullets, tear gas, bamboo and wood sticks, rubber batons and catapults.''

Thirty to 40 monks and 50 to 70 civilians may have been killed in the crackdown, Pinheiro, who is the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur on human rights in the country formerly known as Burma, said.

General Than Shwe's regime has faced global condemnation since it deployed soldiers Sept. 26 to crush the biggest anti- junta protests in almost 20 years.

Reports continue of deaths in custody, torture, disappearances, ill-treatment and lack of access to food, water and medical treatment for those in detention, Pinheiro told a General Assembly committee, according to a statement on the UN's Web site.

The army and militia are reportedly ``going home by home searching for people and detaining participants in the demonstrations,'' Pinheiro said. ``Relatives of people in hiding have reportedly been taken hostage as a way of pressure.''

“Myanmar junta may have killed 110 protesters, UN says”, Bloomberg, October 25th, 2007