Burma Issues - BI Weekly No.335

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BI Weekly No 335.

4-8-2008

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

Farmlands confiscated for tea plantation in Burma

For the Burmese military junta confiscation of land of the people is a by word. The landowners seem to have no rights and all land is up for grabs by the military. Over 1000 acres of farmland on the hill side in Chin state, Burma has been seized for tea plantation. Farmlands confiscated for tea plantationThe confiscated farmland located on the Hakha¬Falam road was owned by locals in Taal village, 20 miles from Falam town. After the local authorities seized the farmland the villagers became unemployed and have no more land to cultivate the main crops such as maize and beans.

"It is a ruthless tactic adopted by the regime to drive out Chin people from their homeland," a villager from Chin state alleged his voice laced with bitterness.The military regime in Burma initiated tea plantation projects under the motto "Chin state must be a Tea State" in 2003.Since then, the authorities had reportedly confiscated farmlands of locals in Chin state and forcibly engaged the locals to spend most of their working hours in tea plantations.The authorities have planted 14188 acres of tea in Chin state.

"Farmlands confiscated for tea plantation", Khonumthung News, February 5, 2008

The population of northern Karen State is now displaced

A report from the FBR, a humanitarian aid organization working in the conflict zones of eastern Burma, “much of the population of northern Karen State is now displaced”. Over 24,000 civilians are in hiding close to their old villages, and at least 6,000 have fled to the Thai-Burmese border. “For those remaining, continual attacks, patrols, and the close proximity of new Burma Army camps has made returning to villages and fields impossible,” the Free Burma Rangers report claims.

On 29 January, the Burma Army attacked a valley near Saw Wa Der,Toungoo District, with mortars and machine-gun fire, causing internally displaced people (IDPs) in the area to flee again. On 24 January, troops from Burma Army Infantry Battalion 231 arrested and killed Maung Ga Shwey, the headman of Na Shwe Mo village, in Dooplaya District, central Karen State,“The displaced people here remain steadfast in their hope for a better future and their struggle for freedom against Burma’s dictators,” the Free Burma Rangers report states.

“At the same time they ask us for help and ask us to tell our friends around the world that they need help … The dictators of Burma have no interest in stopping the oppression of the ethnic peoples or relinquishing their power, and until the dictators are stopped, no amount of food or medical relief is enough to solve the human crisis now existing in northern Karen State, eastern Burma. The people here need protection from the Burma Army.”

"Karen state civilians appeals to international community to save them from Burmese army before being decimated", Asian Tribune, February 6, 2008

Several ethnic organizations welcome NLD's invitation for talks

Several ethnic organizations at home and abroad welcomed the invitation of the National League for Democracy (NLD) to all ethnic organizations in Burma, including ceasefire groups, to come and discuss differences in policy matters. The meetings are to focus on any differences between the NLD and ethnic communities regarding a statement issued on November 8, 2007, by NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Some ethnic organizations issued statements in state-run newspapers saying they disagreed with this statement. We agree with their statements as they are issued under democratic principles. Similarly, face to face dialogue is also a democratic practice.

So we have invited these ethnic organizations, which have different viewpoints on policy from those of the NLD, to come for talks", spokesman Nyan Win said.

"National reconciliation through dialogue is the best way. Otherwise any resolution through other means will give our country bad results rather than good results. This is my view", Nai Ngwe Thein, Vice-Chairman of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) said. The NMSP has issued public support for Suu Kyi's position.Meanwhile other groups have yet to respond to Suu Kyi's November statement.

"We haven't yet discussed it, as we were preoccupied with the KIO Revolution Day celebration," said a spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), referring to Suu Kyi's original statement." General Secretary of the Ethnic Nationality Council (Burma), which supported Suu Kyi's earlier statement, welcomed the most recent NLD statement and urged ethnic organizations inside Burma to accept the invitation and discuss any differences they have with the NLD.

"Ethnic groups welcome NLD's invitation for talks ¬ Than Htike Oo and Phanida", Mizzima News, February 7, 2008

Shan are silenced, as Burma’s Chinese celebrate New Year

The Shan National Day and Chinese New Year fall on the same day in Burma this year. But while the country’s Chinese residents are celebrating on Thursday, the native Shan are officially barred from publicly marking the occasion.The regime banned the Shan festival, also known as Shan State Day, in 2001, apparently because it was worried about growing political awareness among the Shan.The festival commemorates the day when the Shan nation adopted its own flag and national anthem on February 7, 1947.

A resident of the Shan capital, Taunggyi, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that no celebration of the Shan festival was being held there. Many Chinese residents were gathering to celebrate Chinese New Year, she said.

“We are celebrating so that our [Shan] people do not forget our culture, tradition and religious customs. We also want the young generation to love and uphold our culture.” The day's program included dance and music and in evening by Shan performers, including the famous Shan singers.

Outside Burma, Shan migrants working and living in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, also celebrated the festival. Despite the ban on Shan National Day observances in Burma, the regime permitted celebrations of the Shan New Year festival in Taunggyi in December.

"Shan are silenced, as Burma’s Chinese celebrate ¬ Saw Yan Naing", Irrawaddy, February 7, 2008

Land seized for rubber plantation in Burma

Three thousand acres of privately-owned land has been seized from Ngwe Saung township farmers by family members of a State Peace and Development Council general, according to locals. Daughter and son-in-law of SPDC general Khin Maung than, seized the land from farmers in Ngwe Saung township in Irrawaddy division in February 2007, giving them no compensation. One of the previous owners said that the land was to be used for a rubber plantation.

“Three thousand acres of land owned by local residents along the highway to Ngwe Saung beach resort was seized without compensation for a rubber plantation,” he said. “So far they have cultivated around 500 acres of land.”

A cashew nut farmer said that the cashew trees he had been growing on his land for decades have now been cleared. “They should compensate us 4 million kyat, and they said they would pay us, but it hasn’t happened so far,” the farmer said.The seized lands have now been walled in and a sign posted up warning people not to trespass, which has caused difficulties for local farmers

who need to cross the land to take their cattle to pasture. Carpenters who want to cut through the area have to give 20 blocks of wood to the owners. "if you just want to go your self, then you have to cut 100 bamboo stalks so you don't have to pay, but you have to contribute labour."

"Land seized for rubber plantation", Democratic Voice of Burma, February 7, 2008

People of Burma are risking jail to catch a glimpse of Rambo ¬ Andrew Buncombe Why

Rambo star Sly Stallone may not be to everyone’s taste. But on the streets of Rangoon, people are willing to risk jail just to catch a glimpse of the ageing action hero as he takes on the junta. Despite efforts by the Burmese authorities to ban the Stallone’s recently released movie, Rambo 4, reports suggest there an underground trade in downloaded versions of the film in which he rescues missionaries from the clutches of the military.

While cinemas are prevented from showing the film, the downloaded version Burned onto DVDs - is being passed around by groups of trusted friends. “Some of the video rental shops have put up a sign that reads ‘We don't have a copy of Rambo 4 released in USA on January 25’, as many people continue to ask for it,” one Rangoon resident told the Indian-based website Mizzima.

Stallone’s fourth adventure as the action hero was shot along the Thai-Burmese border and features the Vietnam War veteran coming out of retirement to rescue Christian missionaries abducted by the authorities while supplying supplies to the ethnic Karen, who have long been the victims of clashes and attacks from government troops.

While political activists both inside and outside of Burma have celebrated the film for revealing the brutality of the junta, the Rangoon resident said that many people were confused as to whether the film was fictional or portrayed genuine events.

Either way, the 61-year-old actor, who first portrayed the mentally unstable veteran John J Rambo in 1982, recently claimed the film was inspiring people to take action against the Burmese regime and had prompted a backlash from the government. He also said that two of the film’s Burmese-born actors had told him that members of their families had been arrested in apparent retribution for their participation in the movie.

"Why the people of Burma are risking jail to catch a glimpse of Rambo ¬ Andrew Buncombe", The Independent, February 7, 2008

More Karen refugees flee to Thai-Burmese border

Over 250 mostly Karen villagers from eastern Burma fled recently to the Thai-Burmese border to escape forced relocation, according to a Karen relief team leader. Secretary of the Karen Office of Relief and Development, based at the Thai-Burmese border, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that 255 people had arrived on February 1 at two villages about one day’s walk from Ei Tu Hta camp on the Burmese side of the Salween River.

The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are now camped at the former villages of Per Ler Der and Lay Ther Koh. The relief team is not in a position to provide any food or other supplies for them at present, Htoo Klei said. However, on February 2 the relief team was able to transport some plastic sheets to the villagers to shelter them from the rains. Some 4,000 refugees from northern Karen State and Pegu Division-however they are not sure how long they can stay at their present locations because they believe the tatmadaw (Burmese army) are planning to cleanse the area of villagers.

The Burmese military government commenced offensives against civilians in northern Karen State and Pegu Division in late 2005. Since then, they have consistently burned down homes and killed dozens of villagers. On January 29 report by the Free Burma Rangers relief team, more than 30,000 Karen villagers were violently displaced in 2006 and early 2007. Of those, over 6,000 have since fled to the Thai-Burmese border, it said. The other 24,000 villagers remain in hiding as they are continually under attack by Burmese troops.

"More Karen refugees flee to Thai border - Shah Paung", Irrawaddy, February 5, 2008

Thailand’s “Long Necks Padaung people” face resettlement obstacles

The Thai government is being accused of barring so-called “long-necked” Padaung people from emigrating to Finland and New Zealand because they are valuable tourist attractions.

About 20 members of Burma’s Padaung ethnic group living in Thailand were offered the opportunity of resettlement in Finland and New Zealand. But they are being denied exit visas, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok.Kitty McKinsey, the UNHCR’s regional spokeswoman, said Padaung people approved for resettlement should be treated in the same way as the 200,000 Burmese refugees who have left Thailand since 2005. “If the Thai governments do not want to issue exit visa for them, then it should offer the same rights they would have in New Zealand, which means they should have Thai citizenship and full rights as Thai citizens,” she added.

New Zealand’s Immigration Department has asked Thai authorities to explain why they have refused to allow the Padaung to leave Thailand. A department official said no response had yet been received. The padaung families were included in the 2007/2008 resettlement programmer. “Further consideration of these families for resettlement will depend on whether it might be possible to obtain the necessary exit permits.” Some observers say the Padaung families are being kept in Thailand because of the role they play as tourist attractions in northern Thailand.

The editor of the Karenni newspaper The Kandarawaddy Times, said "I think the Thai local authorities do not want to allow Padaung people to resettle elsewhere because they do not want to lose tourist business". The largest Padaung village in Thailand, Nai Soi, is visited annually by about 1,200 tourists, who pay 250 baht (about US $8) to view the long-necked residents. About 500 long-necked Padaung live in Huay Pu Keng and two other Mae Hong Son villages, Huay Su Htauk and Nai Soi.

The Padaung people, renowned for the coiled brass rings that many wear around their necks, are native to Burma's Karenni State, but many fled to Thailand in 1990 after reportedly being drafted by the Burmese military for forced labour.

"Thailand’s “Long Necks” face resettlement obstacles - Violet Cho", Irrawaddy, February 5, 2008

Four Burmese migrant workers found dead in Thai police

Four Burmese migrant workers have been killed execution-style on a rubber plantation in southern Thailand, police said Tuesday.Two men and two women were bound with their hands behind their backs and shot at point blank range in Surat Thani, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of the capital Bangkok. About 540,000 migrant workers are registered to work in Thailand, most of them from Burma, according to the labour ministry.

But as many as one million undocumented workers are believed to be in the kingdom, where they often face exploitation by their employers, according to rights groups.

"Four Myanmar migrant workers found dead in Thailand: police", Agence France Presse, February 5, 2008

Villagers in Karen refugee Mae La are fear attack

Villagers in Mae La refugee camp near Thailand’s Mae Sot border town fear a potential attack by the newest Karen National Union (KNU) breakaway Army.The breakaway group of ethnic Karen is led by Maj-Gen Htein Maung, according to camp sources.

Fear increased recently after the assassination of Col Ler Moo, a son-in-law of Maj-Gen Htain Maung, head of an armed group known as the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council, which split from the Karen National Union in February 2007.

Residents in the Mae La camp have been ordered by camp authorities not to use lamps, candles or electronic lights after 9 pm curfew and student in the camp said "we were also told to be on alert and to be ready to escape it are attacked" and some former KNU soldiers who live in the Mae La Refugee camp have joined with Thai soldiers to strengthen camp security, sources said.

Col Ler Moo was killed in a bomb explosion while he was sleeping on a bed in the communications office near the group’s headquarters. Sources say he may have been killed because of his timber business dealings. In 1997, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, a KNU breakaway faction formed in 1995, attacked Mae La camp with support from the Burmese army. More than 45,000 villagers live in the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand’s Tak Province, according to a report by the Thailand Burma Border Consortium.

"Mae La villagers fear attack ¬ Saw Yan Naing", Irrawaddy, February 6, 2008

Shan representative office inaugurated to mark 61st National Day

In commemoration of the 61st National Day and in order to highlight the struggle of ethnic Shans for freedom, equality, democracy and human rights, a Shan representative office was inaugurated today in Germany.

"The main purpose of the embassy [liaison office] is to represent the Restoration Council of the Shan State in Europe and in other countries politically," Ganz told Mizzima news."The situation in Shan State is really one of despair because the whole Shan state is occupied by the ruling Burma Army and it has unleashed real war on them so the people are really suffering a lot," said Ganz.

In his statement on the inauguration of the Shan representative office released on Wednesday, Ganz said, "Now it is time, to transform some of the bullets into words and spread the words around the world. Words, that Speak about the desire for freedom, equality, democracy and self determination and the culture of the Shan people." Shans in Thailand and other countries today held separate ceremonies in commemoration of the National Day, which symbolizes the unity of the people of Shan State.

"This is a significant day in the history of the people of Shan State. Wherever we are, we will always maintain the same spirit and observe this day," a Shan youth told Mizzima on the sidelines of the National Day ceremony in Chiang Mai, Thailand.However, the people of Shan state were among the earliest ethnic groups that rose against the Rangoon regime, when the spirit of the Pang Long agreement was violated after the death of General Aung San, who is regarded as the Independence father of Burma.

"Shan representative office inaugurated to mark 61st National Day ¬ Solomon & Phanida", Mizzima News, February 7, 2008

US expands sanctions on Burma regime family, tycoon

The United States said Tuesday it was tightening financial sanctions against a network tied to Burma's military junta, citing continuing human rights violations and political repression.The Treasury Department said its action targets the financial network of Tay Za, identifying him as a "Burmese business tycoon and regime henchman"who is an arms dealer with "close ties" to Burma's military junta.

President George W. Bush "has made clear that we will continue to take action against the military junta and those who prop it up so long as human rights violations continue and democracy is suppressed," Szubin said. Bush recently warned the United States would spearhead a global campaign to step up sanctions against Burma's military regime if it continues to ignore calls for a democratic transition.

The son of General Thura Shwe Mann, said Tay Za has used his business relationship with Aung Thet Mann to win favorable business contracts from the Burmese Junta, the department said. OFAC also designated Thiha, Tay Za's brother and business partner, and U Kyaw Thein, a director of Tay Za's business ventures in Singapore.The companies designated include Burma Avia Export Company Ltd., Ayer Shwe Wah Company Limited and Pavo Aircraft Leasing Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.

The deparment's designation action against the individuals and firms freezes any assets they may have under US jurisdiction and bars Americans from conducting business with them at the risk of heavy fines and prison time.

"US expands sanctions on Myanmar regime family, tycoon", Agence France Presse, February 5, 2008

United Nations special rapporteur dismayed by ongoing rights abuses

United Nations special rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro expressed his “dismay” at the Burmese regime’s continued detention and sentencing of activists, in a statement issued yesterday. Pinheiro criticised the ongoing crackdown on demonstrators and political activists, who continue to be arrested, detained and given long-term prison sentences.

The special rapporteur also expressed concern about the physical and psychological health of those in detention, and urged the Burmese government to ensure that detainees urgently receive any necessary medical treatment.Pinheiro visited Burma in November 2007 with a mandate from the Human Rights Council to investigate the September public protests and the Burmese regime’s violent response. He presented a report to the Human Rights Council on 11 December in which he said that at least 31 people had died and up to 4000 had been detained in the crackdown.

The Burmese government rejected Pinheiro’s findings, claiming it “did not reflect the true situation on the ground and lacked objectivity and impartiality”.The UN Security Council also criticised the Burmese government’s slow progress towards genuine dialogue and democratic reform in a statement released three weeks ago.

"UN rapporteur dismayed by ongoing rights abuses ¬ Sian Thomas", Democratic Voice of Burma, February 6, 2008

Complainant threatened not to disclose truth to ILO

New Delhi ¬ Threats and strong arm tactics are being brought to bear by the Burmese military junta on people who are being investigated by International Labour Organisation (ILO) officials. Local authorities have told them not to disclose the truth about the complaint lodged on forced use of labour, local residents from Taungdwingyi.

A local resident Ko Bo Tun lodged a complaint to the ILO on forced labour resorted to by the local authorities. ILO official Steven Marshall came to Taungdwingyi on January 31. Before his arrival, the local authorities threatened local residents not to disclose the truth to the investigating ILO official regarding forced labour.

"The government backed USDA members Swanahshin and Township Peace and Development Council (PDC) came to the place in anticipation of the arrival of the ILO investigating official to meet Ko Bo Tun. The local authorities told the ILO official to do his job freely but USDA members and Swanahshin were deployed around the house where the ILO official and Ko Bo Tun met. So he did not dare say anything," a local resident told Mizzima.

"The local authorities then called them to their office and asked who first lodged the complaint. Pressure was put on them indirectly in various ways. The complainants felt cornered and did not dare say anything to the ILO investigating official," a local resident close to Ko Bo Tun said.

Moreover the Township PDC Chairman did not let the complainants show the places mentioned in their complaint to the visiting ILO official and also did not let him meet local residents who had to perform forced labour also, the local resident added.

"Complainant threatened not to disclose truth to ILO ¬ Htein Lin", Mizzima News, February 6, 2008

Christian Freedom International calls for universal attention on Burma

Christian Freedom International (CFI), a U.S.-based humanitarian organization, is urging the global community to call on Burma’s government to end the ethnic cleansing violence that has caused the deaths of thousands of its own citizens, with thousands more swarming into refugee camps.

The challenge comes as one of Hollywood’s latest films, Rambo IV, is being released in theaters around the world -- a movie where its writer, producer, and leading actor, Sylvester Stallone, began work on the script shortly after the devastation of the September 11, 2001 U.S. terrorist attacks. In the early stages of the script’s development, Stallone consulted with Soldiers of Fortune magazine and asked one crucial question: where is the one place on earth where the worst atrocities are taking place and getting the least amount of attention?

In the latest installment of the 20-year-old Rambo movie franchise, Stallone attempts to revive his protagonist character, John Rambo, where the Vietnam veteran is living a solitary, peaceful life in Bangkok, Thailand -- until the day he’s summoned to escort a group of Christian missionaries up the Salween River to deliver relief aid to war-weary refugees in Burma.

CFI anticipates that the movie’s recent release will draw more attention to the grim reality of the world’s oldest civil war, in a country where Karen and Karenni Christians have been especially suffering for decades. Since 1996, Christian Freedom International has built schools, orphanages and field hospitals, as well as provided food, medicine and Bibles for thousands of suffering Christians in Burma.

The organization has also remained as an active voice in the political arena on behalf of Burma’s refugees, and in recent months worked closely with the U.S. State Department to assist with the resettlement effort that is allowing many of the country’s exiles to begin new lives in the United States.

"Christian Freedom International calls for universal attention on Burma - Melane Bower", CFI News, February 7, 2008