Burma Issues - BI Weekly No.340

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BI Weekly No. 340

Mrach 19th - March 25th, 2008

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

SPDC Minister investigated for corruption

Several key members of the ruling junta are secretly being investigated for corruption, amid growing concerns about the United Solidarity and Development Association role in Burma’s future.

Some members of the ruling regime are becoming increasingly concerned about the prominent role the USDA is playing in organising the upcoming referendum and election, and what their future role will be in Burma.

At the same time the Bureau of Special Investigations is secretly investigating a number of government ministers and members for bribery, kickbacks and illegal smuggling, a source inside the regime said.

Also, many other businesses and businessmen affiliated with USDA members being investigated, including the Managing Director of Asia Light, Soe Myint.

This has not happened in the past and indicates the concern the top military commanders have about corruption and what it is doing to the army's reputation. "It's an effort to distinguish between the government or USDA and the army," a senior military man said.

“Splits emerge in Burma's army over country's roadmap”, Mizzima News, March 21st, 2008

Journalist writing allowed to be published again

Veteran journalist Ludu Sein Win has been informed by the state censor board that his writing can be published again after a brief ban, Ludu Sein Win said.

Three journals which regularly feature Ludu Sein Win’s work were told by the censor board not to publish his articles until further notice.

The writer said he had been told he could resume publication on Monday.

"I was informed by an official from the censor board that I can start writing in publications again from this coming Monday," he said.

Ludu Sein Win said he had been given no explanation for the censor board’s decisions, but assumed the ban was connected to a political speech he made that was disseminated on the internet.

"I think it has something to do with my speech which came out on 8 March,” he said.

In the speech, Ludu Sein Win called on people to use their power to rise up and oppose the military regime.

“Censors allow Ludu Sein Win to publish again,” Democratic Voice of Burma, March 21st, 2008

Vote No Campaign in Burma grows stronger

A vote “No” movement is gaining momentum throughout Burma as the May referendum date—still yet to be announced—draws near.

Various activists and citizens in Rangoon, Mandalay and Kachin and Arakan states are urging the public to take a stand against the military-crafted draft constitution, which has still not been made public.

Nyi Nyi, a businessman in Sittwe in Arakan State, said, “There is no reason to support the junta. I will not vote “Yes” in the referendum because there is no justice.”

A resident in Mandalay, the second largest city, predicted that almost all Mandalay citizens would vote “No” in the referendum.

“It’s not because they don’t understand the constitution,” he said, “but because they dislike the military regime.”

Even government staffers are saying they will vote ‘No,’” he said.

“Referendum: “no” vote gaining momentum”, The Irrawaddy, March 20, 2008

USDA to organize referendum

Burma’s military government has organized township sub-commissions to prepare for the referendum on the constitution in May, staffed mainly with officials from the townships’ ruling councils and regime supporters, USDA sources say.

The junta did not include executive members of its mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), on the local sub-commissions.

USDA sources told local authorities formed sub-commissions recently made up of the head of each Township Peace and Development Council and Village Peace and Development Council. Officials of township administrations will serve as secretaries of sub-commissions across the country.

Sources said USDA executive members from townships were told by authorities they would not be named to the sub-commissions, but regular USDA members would be appointed instead.

Authorities have still not released any detailed information about the May referendum voting process to sub-commission members, said the source.

“Referendum sub-commissions formed by local authorities”, The Irrawaddy, March 20, 2008

Bangladesh pushing new arrivals from Burma back across the border

Bangladesh border security forces have for the last few months been using a new tactic against Muslim migrants from Burma who attempt to enter Bangladesh territory, said a merchant from Teknaf.

In the past, Bangladesh border security forces would take migrants into custody for illegally entering Bangladesh territory and would send them to prison for processing.

Recently, border forces have been avoiding arresting the Burmese Muslim migrants they encounter, and have instead been pushing them back to Burma.

Recently, many Muslim families from Burma have faced similar action by Bangladesh authorities when trying to enter Bangladesh without documents to seek refuge.

Nearly 1,000 Burmese nationals, mainly Muslims from Arakan State, are currently being detained in several Bangladesh prisons for illegally entering Bangladesh.

After being arrested, Bangladesh authorities are unable to deport them because the Burmese authority refuses to accept them on claims that they are not Burmese citizens.

“Bangladesh border security force changes tactics against Burmese Muslims”, Narinjara News, March 25th, 2008

Crack down in Mae Sot

Thai security agencies made surprise raids and checks on border based Karen social organizations on Tuesday morning.

Thai police and army started the search operation at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. They searched the houses of some Thai-Burma border based Karen leaders and pro-democracy NGOs.

"They searched 12 places today. But they have not replicated the operation at other places. I think this is their initial step and don't know what will happen next. As far as I know they are focusing on arms and ammunition during their search operation," Khai Mar Kyaw Zaw, editor of Mae Sod based Karen News.

The rumour of the Thai search operation has been spreading over the last few days but most people did not expect it would happen as early as today. The Thai security agencies came with a detailed list of names, addresses along with photographs.

Security has been tightened ever since unknown assassins shot dead Karen leader Pado Mahn Sharlaphan at his residence in Mae Sod, possibly leading to the currently situation. But most people suspect there is some sort of pressure from the Burmese military regime behind the current operation.

“Thai police raid Karen organizations”, Mizzima News, March 25th, 2008

More economic ties for Burma and Brunei

Major business organizations of Burma and Brunei have reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on promoting trade ties between the two countries, especially in trading of Burma's gems, jade and jewelry, the Myanmar Times, reported.

The MoU has paved way for Brunei entrepreneurs to have access to Burma's gems shows held seasonally in which the Brunei business community has shown interest, the sources said.

Brunei stands the 7th largest trading partner of Burma among ASEAN nations with their bilateral trade volume being expected to grow more.

According to official statistics, Burma-Brunei bilateral trade accounted for about 800,000 U.S. dollars out of Burma's total trade with ASEAN members which stood at 4.06 billion dollars in 2006-07.

“Myanmar, Brunei to promote trade ties”, Xinhua, March 21, 2008

Thailand to quietly support Burma’s evolution to democracy

Thailand to help transform Burma into a democracy through quiet diplomacy, but said that change has to come from within and Western sanctions against its military-ruled neighbor would fail.

Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said, as a start, his country would help Burma organize a May constitutional referendum preceding elections, both of which he emphasized should be "inclusive and credible."

Speaking after talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, where Burma was a key subject, Noppadon said the issue should not be a stumbling block to relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"As things now stand, we should be frank the ASEAN-US partnership has been kept from developing to its full potential in no small part by the issue of Myanmar," said the foreign minister of the newly elected Thai government.

“Thailand to use 'quiet diplomacy' to make Myanmar democratic”, Agence France Press, March 21, 2008

Vietnam supports Gambari and Burma’s sovereignty

A Vietnamese representative to the United Nations said the country supports the UN’s role in resolving the Burma issue and respects Burma’s independence and sovereignty.

Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the Security Council, made the statement at a council meeting where Ibraham Gambari, Special Burma Adviser to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, reported his March 6-10 visit to the country.

The ambassador applauded the Burmese junta for facilitating the meeting between special adviser Gambari and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and committing to keep a channel of communication between the SPDC and Suu Kyi as well as a dialogue mechanism between Burma and the UN.

He cited Burma's seven-step Road Map toward democracy, its announcement to hold a national referendum on the country's constitution in May 2008 and a general election in 2010 as positive progress in the country.

He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to contribute to efforts to resolve the Burma issue that supports the UN’s intermediation role, particularly the role held by special adviser Gambari, and respecting Burma’s independence and sovereignty.

“Nation supports UN role, respects Myanmar sovereignty”, VietNamNet, March 20, 2008

Gambari’s trip to Burma disappointing

Ibrahim Gambari was rebuffed when he suggested that the military junta amend its "roadmap to democracy" to include input from the country's pro-democracy movement and other political parties.

The junta also rejected a U.N. role in its referendum in May on a new constitution, which is to be followed by a general election in 2010, key steps in the seven-point roadmap.

Gambari told the U.N. Security Council that his five-day visit did provide an opportunity to prod the government to engage the opposition to move forward toward "a peaceful, prosperous, democratic Burma with full respect for the human rights of its people."

But during Gambari's visit, which ended on March 10, the junta again rebuffed his efforts to meet with its chairman, Senior Gen. Than Shwe — just as it did during his last visit in November. The U.N. had described a meeting with Than Shwe as one of the main goals of his visit.

Gambari expressed regret that he was not able to meet Burma's senior leadership, the 88 Generation Students group whose street protests ignited last year's massive pro-democracy demonstrations that were put down by the army in September, representatives of ethnic minorities and the 1990s MPs-elect.

“Envoy disappointed with Burma trip”, Time Magazine, March 20th, 2008