BI Weekly No. 356

September 16th - September 22nd, 2008

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

Inside Burma

Border

International

UN Credentials Committee to discuss on Burma
Japan provide 3.1m USD to fight malaria in Burma
NGOs and ASEAN members discuss human rights body

Monks gather in Sittwe to mark anniversary of Saffron revolution

Sittwe monks gathering in the Arakan capital of Sittwe yesterday to mark the one-year anniversary of the monk-led Saffron revolution vowed not to give up their fight against the military government.

About 60 monks gathered in Sittwe yesterday to mark the anniversary of the start of the nationwide monks' boycott of military officials on 18 September 2007.

One of the monks who attended said representatives from monasteries around the town had joined the gatherings, which were held in three different locations in the town, and chanted metta for those who were killed in the protests.

"We marked the anniversary of the monks' Pattananeikkujana protest in three different locations in Sittwe today to remember those who were killed in the crackdown and to show that we Sittwe monks will keep on with our movement," the monk said.

He also called for unity and cooperation from monks across Burma in their protest against the military government.

“Monks gather in Sittwe to mark anniversary of boycott”­ Democratic Voice of Burma, September 19, 2008

Burma's detained pro-democracy leader has accepted two deliveries of fresh food supplies after rejecting such offerings for the past month, her party spokesperson said.

Nyan Win, spokesperson of the National League for Democracy, said their group was able to send two food baskets to the party leader's house on Monday night and on Tuesday morning.

Aung San Suu Kyi had previously refused to accept any food supplies for almost one full month, since mid-August, leading observers to speculate she was on hunger strike.

But Nyan Win said she had refused to accept food supplies as a demonstration against the government's intransigence to meet her demands.

Nyan Win said, "She has agreed to re-accept food supplies, after the government partially met her demands."

While he is unclear of the entirety of the demands put forth by Burma's democracy icon, Nyan Win said they included the removal of all restrictions besides detention.

 “Suu Kyi accepts first food delivery in a month” Mizzima News, September 16, 2008

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Trade center to set up in Maungdaw

The Burmese military government has plans to build a trade center in Maungdaw, a western border town, in order to promote trade with Bangladesh, said a businessman.

Western Command Commander General Thaung Aye arrived in Maungdaw on Saturday, and discussed the matter of a trade center with senior officials from
Maungdaw District.

"The Burmese military authority will reportedly use 400 million kyats for the trade center project, and the capital will be lent from the Husbandry and Marine Ministry," the businessman said.

Local business sources in the region said the Burmese military government is now trying to rescue the economy in Arakan State, which has been deteriorating for years now because of a variety of factors. Many businesses and industries in the state have been suffering from heavy financial losses.

According to local business sources, the shrimp industry in Arakan State has been failing the last few years since Singapore refused to import shrimp from Burma after the US government imposed stricter sanctions on Burma.

“Burma to build trade center in Maungdaw” Narinjara News, September 22, 2008

Burmese security forces, including firefighters and members of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and Swan Arr Shin, have been deployed around Rangoon’s main streets and landmarks, wearing red cravats around their necks as a sign of a heightened state of alert.

It is widely believed that security has been tightened to prevent a recurrence of the events of September 18 last year when an estimated 400 Buddhist monks marched from Shwedagon Pagoda to protest the military authorities’ alleged use of violence against monks in Pakokku Township, which led to mass demonstrations across the country.

According to sources in Rangoon, the security forces, including members of the USDA and Swan Ah Shin, were posted around Shwedagon Pagoda and Rangoon City Hall, two of the focal points for last year’s demonstrations.

“Red alert in Rangoon” Irrawaddy, September 18, 2008

Burma and India sign hydro electricity projects

Burma has signed an agreement with neighbouring India to build two hydro electricity projects in the northwest of the country, state media reported.

Myanmar's Hydroelectric Power Department and India's Hydroelectric Power
Corporation Ltd signed the agreement for the construction in Chin state, which borders India, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

The paper said the agreement called for the building of a 1200-megawatt dam in Htamanthi and a 600-megawatt dam in Shwesayay.

The deal was reportedly signed in the reclusive nation's administrative capital Naypyidaw during a ceremony attened by minister for electric power Zaw Min and Indian Ambassador Bhaskar Kumar Mitra.

“Myanmar and India sign hydro deal: report” Agence France Presse, September 19, 2008

To escape relentless persecution and human rights abuse, including forced
labour by the Burmese Army, villagers in Southern Shan State are fleeing to the Thai-Burma border, according to SHAN sources on the border.

Soldiers belonging to the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 524 and Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 246 based in Kunhing have been subjecting villagers to forced labour including security, portering duty and domestic work like collecting firewood and building fences for the battalion, said Sai Panti (28) from Kunhing who fled to Fang district on August 20.

"Each person from every household has to take turns for sentry duty at the local command post five days a week. If we refuse to comply, we will be fined Kyat 1,500 (US $ 1.25) per day," said Sai Panti.

Similar incidents took place in Keng Tawng sub-township, Mongnai Township.

On July 16, a group of Burmese soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 569 based in Keng Tawng, went on patrol around Kunhing area and called on the headman of Hsai Khao village, Hsai Khao village tract, and ordered villagers to carry soldier's weapons and to show troops the shortcut to the location of the rebels, according to a local villager who fled to the border.

“Villagers live and die for Burmese Army” Shan Herald Agency for News, September 17, 2008

An ongoing food shortage in Chin State in western Burma has forced 2,000 ethnic Chin to cross the Indian border to Mizoran to find work, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization in Thailand.

Victor Biak Lian, a board member of the Chin Human Rights Organization, said that Chin refugees continue to cross the border every day. The exodus started about two weeks.

About 50 village elders from different areas of Chin State traveled to Mizoran to appeal for international aid to address the food famine, he said. The Chin Human Rights group previously reported that 31 children have died from a lack of food.

The food shortage was caused by a plague of rats, which ate rice stocks in many of the villages.

Chin leaders say they have not received food relief aid from the Burmese military government. Burmese authorities also have reportedly banned ethnic Chin people from receiving food supplies donated by Burmese in foreign countries.

“Food shortage forces 2,000 Chin into India” Irrawaddy, September 18, 2008

Burmese opposition groups in exile said the first step towards challenging the ruling military junta's membership of the United Nations has proceeded smoothly, as the World Body chief has admitted their petition to the General Assembly.

"The UN General Secretary has conveyed the message and admitted our petition to the General Assembly. There has been no rejection. So the first step is successful," said Myo Win, Joint General Secretary (2) of the National Council of the Union of Burma, an umbrella Burmese group that led the campaign.

"The General Assembly has accepted the petition and it will be discussed by the Credentials Committee," he added.

Burmese opposition groups in exile, including the NCUB, Members of Parliamentary Union (MPU), and International Burmese Monks Organisation or
Sasana Moli on September 9, submitted a petition challenging the credentials of the Burmese junta at the world body.

The 63rd UN General Assembly, which began its session on September 16, has appointed a nine-member Credentials Committee which includes Botswana, China, Cyprus, United States, Russia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mozambique and Saint Kitts, and Nevis on the opening day of the session.

The credential challenge will be first reviewed and discussed by the committee before taking a decision on it. Only if the committee decides to put it forward, will it be submitted to the General Assembly for a final decision.

“Credentials Committee of the UN to decide on Burma” Mizzima News, September 19, 2008

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Japan provide 3.1m USD to fight malaria in Burma

The Japanese government has provided 3.1 million US dollars more assistance to Burma in fighting malaria under its grassroot grant assistance scheme, the local Biweekly Eleven reported.

Medicines for effective treatment, medical care and prevention against the disease as well as mosquito nets will be distributed to malaria-sensitive divisions and state of Bago, Magway and Rakhine under the Japanese grant aid agreed upon recently, it said

In February 2007, the Japanese government had extended similar grant aid of 178,822 US dollars to Burma to help fight malaria in the country's Pegu division covering the region's eastern and western parts, according to earlier official report.

Malaria is among the three diseases of national concern which Burma has been encountering. The other two are HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).

“Japan to give Burma aid to fight malaria” Xinhua, September 18, 2008

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NGOs and ASEAN members discuss human rights body

Representatives of NGOs were among those who took part in ASEAN discussions in Manila on 11 September on the setting up of a body to monitor state compliance with the ASEAN human rights charter.

Aung Myo Min, director of the Human Rights Education Institute of Burma, attended the ASEAN meeting and said there was debate between nations on the source of human rights norms.

"Nations like the Philippines were keen on drawing up a human rights charter based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” he explained.

“But countries like Burma and Laos were against that idea ­ they wanted the charter to be based upon Asian values."

But Aung Myo Min said others had said a charter based on Asian values would not be feasible given the diverse range of cultures and traditions within ASEAN member states.

Aung Myo Min said the forum had also discussed the establishment of a mechanism to hold states accountable for violations of human rights.

“Activists and member states discuss ASEAN rights body” Democratic Voice of Burma, September 16, 2008

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