Dec 28, 12:10 AM EST
Pakistan's Bhutto Killed in Attack
By SADAQAT JAN and ZARAR KHAN
Associated Press Writers
AP Photo/B.K.Bangash
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Benazir Bhutto's assassination couldn't come at a more intense time as the country is two weeks away from a general election. Correspondent Roger Kaplinsky reports.
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Bhutto Killed in Suicide Attack
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Benazir Bhutto, 1953-2007
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Pakistan in Turmoil: Bhutto's Death Deepens Political Crisis
Oct 18: Bhutto Returns After 8-Year Exile
Oct 18: Suicide Blast Mars Bhutto's Homecoming
Nov. 9: Bhutto Placed Under House Arrest For One Day
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RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) -- Enraged crowds rioted across Pakistan and hopes for democracy hung by a thread after Benazir Bhutto was gunned down Thursday as she waved to supporters from the sunroof of her armored vehicle. The death of President Pervez Musharraf's most powerful opponent threw the nation into chaos just 12 days before elections, and threatened its already unsteady role as a key fighter against Islamic terror.
The murder of Bhutto, one of Pakistan's most famous and enduring politicians, sparked violence that killed at least nine people and plunged efforts to restore democracy to this nuclear-armed U.S. ally into turmoil.
Another opposition politician, Nawaz Sharif, announced he was boycotting Jan. 8 parliamentary elections in which Bhutto was hoping to recapture the premiership, and Musharraf reportedly weighed canceling the poll.
Bhutto, 54, was struck down amid scenes of blood and chaos as an unknown gunman opened fire and, according to witnesses and police, blew himself up, killing 20 other people.
Musharraf blamed Islamic terrorists, pledging in a nationally televised speech that "we will not rest until we eliminate these terrorists and root them out."
President Bush, who spoke briefly by phone with Musharraf, looked tense as he spoke to reporters, denouncing the "murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy."
U.S. intelligence officials said they were trying to determine the validity of purported claims of responsibility by al-Qaida, stressing they still couldn't say who was responsible.
Bhutto's death marked yet another grim chapter in Pakistan's bloodstained history, 28 years after her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, another ex-prime minister, was hanged by a military dictatorship in the same northern city where she was killed.
Her death left her Pakistan People's Party leaderless and plunged the Muslim nation of 160 million into violence and recriminations, with Bhutto supporters accusing Musharraf's government of failing to protect her in the wake of death threats and previous attempts on her life.
As the news spread, supporters gathered at the hospital where Bhutto had been taken, smashed glass doors, stoned cars and chanted, "Killer, Killer, Musharraf."
At least nine people were killed in violence across the nation.
Musharraf called senior staff into an emergency meeting to discuss a response to the killing and whether to postpone the election, an Interior Ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. Musharraf also announced three days of mourning for Bhutto, with all businesses, schools and banks to close.
The killing appeared to shut off a possible avenue for a credible return to democracy after eight years under Musharraf's increasingly unpopular rule, and left a string of unanswered questions, chiefly whether it could strengthen Musharraf by eliminating a strong rival, or weaken him by sparking uncontrollable riots.
The U.S. was struggling to reformulate its plan to stabilize the country based on a rapprochement between Bhutto and Musharraf. Bhutto had returned in October after nearly a decade in exile hoping for a power-sharing deal with Musharraf, but had become his fierce critic, accusing elements in the ruling party of backing militants to kill her.
Pakistani analysts were plunged into gloom.
"This assassination is the most serious setback for democracy in Pakistan," said Rasul Baksh Rais, a political scientist at Lahore's University of Management Sciences. "It shows extremists are powerful enough to disrupt the democratic process."
Analyst Talat Masood, a retired general, said: "Conditions in the country have reached a point where it is too dangerous for political parties to operate."
Sharif, another former premier who now leads an opposition party, demanded Musharraf resign immediately and announced his party would boycott the elections, seen as vital to restoring democracy. He also called for the resignation of Musharraf, a former army chief who toppled Sharif in a 1999 coup.
"Musharraf is the cause of all the problems. The federation of Pakistan cannot remain intact in the presence of President Musharraf," he said.
Next to Musharraf, Bhutto was the best known political figure in the country, serving two terms as prime minister between 1988 and 1996. An instantly recognizable figure with graceful features under an ever-present head scarf, she bore the legacy of her hanged father and was respected in the West for her liberal outlook and determination to combat Islamic extremism.
It was a theme she had often returned to in recent campaign speeches.
Addressing more than 5,000 supporters Thursday in Rawalpindi, Bhutto dismissed the notion that Pakistan needed foreigners to help quell resurgent militants linked to the Taliban and al-Qaida in the area bordering Afghanistan.
"Why should foreign troops come in? We can take care of this, I can take care of this, you can take care of this," she said.
As Bhutto left the rally in a white SUV, youths chanted her name and supportive slogans, said Sardar Qamar Hayyat, an official from Bhutto's party who was about 10 yards away.
Despite the danger of physical exposure, a smiling Bhutto stuck her head out of the sunroof and responded, he said.
"Then I saw a thin young man jumping toward her vehicle from the back and opening fire. Moments later, I saw her speeding vehicle going away. That was the time when I heard a blast and fell down," he said.
Bhutto was rushed into surgery. A doctor on the surgical team said a bullet in the back of her neck damaged her spinal cord before exiting from the side of her head. Another bullet pierced the back of her shoulder and came out through her chest, he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. She was given an open-heart massage, but the spinal cord damage was too great, he said.
"At 6:16 p.m. she expired," said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Bhutto's party who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital.
Hours later, supporters carried Bhutto's body out of the hospital in a plain wooden coffin. Bhutto will be buried near her father's grave in the family's ancestral village of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Friday afternoon, said Nazir Dkhoki, a spokesman for Bhutto's party. He added that Bhutto's husband and three children have arrived from Dubai to attend.
Bhutto had returned to Pakistan from nearly a decade in exile on Oct. 18, and her homecoming parade in Karachi was also targeted by a suicide attacker, who killed more than 140 people. She narrowly escaped injury.
Rawalpindi, a former capital, has a history of political violence. The park where Bhutto made her last speech is the same one where the country's first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, was shot to death in 1951. It is named after him.
Musharraf survived two bombing attacks here in 2003. Earlier that year, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, was captured in Rawalpindi. In recent weeks, suicide bombers have repeatedly targeted security forces in the city.
Bhutto's father was hanged in 1979 in Rawalpindi on charges of conspiracy to murder - an execution that led to violent protests across the country similar to those that raged Thursday.
Thursday's rally was Bhutto's first since returning to Pakistan, Musharraf having forced her to scrap a meeting here last month citing security fears. Hundreds of riot police manned security checkpoints at the park.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who met with Bhutto just hours before her death, called her a brave woman with a clear vision "for her own country, for Afghanistan and for the region - a vision of democracy and prosperity and peace."
Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., visiting Pakistan with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he was just leaving his hotel room for dinner with Bhutto at her home when he got the news.
"I couldn't believe it," he told The Associated Press by phone. "Her death really dashed the hope of many here in Pakistan and that's why there's so much disillusionment and anger being vented through these protests that are lighting up the sky tonight as people set fires all over the countryside."
U.S. intelligence agencies said it was to soon to say who carried out the attack.
FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said the agency "continues to work with our U.S. intelligence community partners reviewing the al-Qaida claims for responsibility for any intelligence value. The validity of those claims are undetermined."
The statement came after a law enforcement official told the AP that a national FBI and Homeland Security bulletin to law enforcement agencies cited Islamist Web sites as saying al-Qaida had claimed responsibility. The official asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak publicly about it.
Director of National Intelligence spokesman Ross Feinstein said his agency was "in no position right now to confirm who may have been responsible."
One man was killed in a shootout between police and protesters in Tando Allahyar, a town 120 miles north of Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub, said Mayor Kanwar Naveed. Four others were killed in Karachi, two were killed elsewhere in southern Sindh province and two in Lahore, police said.
Karachi shopkeepers quickly shuttered their stores as protesters burned vehicles, a gas station and tires on the roads, said Fayyaz Leghri, a local police official. Gunmen shot and wounded two police officers, he said.
Bhutto's supporters in many towns burned banks, shops and state-run grocery stores. Some torched ruling party election offices, according to Pakistani media.
The U.N. Security Council vigorously denounced the killing and urged "all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country."
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Rome peace prize award for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Friday, December 21, 2007
Aung San Suu Kyi awarded "Rome for Peace and Humanitarian Action" prize
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 20, 2007 - Detained Burmese icon for democracy Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been awarded "Rome for Peace and Humanitarian Action" prize for 2007, sponsored by the City of Rome, Italy for her relentless commitment to and struggle for democracy and human rights in military-ruled Southeast Asian country.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, mostly known as Aunty Suu to the Burmese, has spent over 12 of the past 18 years in Burma in detention for her non-violent campaign for democracy in the country which has been plagued by the military dictators for over four decades.
The City of Rome, in recognition to her commitment, has announced Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the recipient of the 2007 Peace and Humanitarian award.
The prize will be received by Dr. Sein Win, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's cousin brother and also the Prime Minister of Burma's government in exile – the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB) – during a ceremony in Rome on Thursday, as she remains under house arrest in Burma's former capital city of Rangoon.
"I am happy and proud to receive this award on her [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] behalf. I am happy not only for her but for all the Burmese people who are suffering because with this honour it [the city of Rome] is showing its solidarity with us," Sein Win told Mizzima over telephone as he prepares to attend the award giving ceremony in Rome.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Burma's independence hero General Aung San, came to be known as the leading opposition figure during her visit to Burma to see her ailing mother in 1988. The year coincided with the popular uprising for democracy led by students, which the military junta brutally crushed, killing at least 3,000 students, and civilians.
Despite her party – the National League for Democracy – winning a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections the current military clique refuse to hand over power but instead she has been kept under house arrest.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was announced recipient of the US Congressional Gold Medal by the Congress earlier this week, has received several awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her relentless pursuit to the cause of democracy and human freedom.
Following a military coup by Gen. Newin in 1962, which is the beginning of the rule of military dictatorship in Burma, the country has been plagued by severe economic deterioration.
While successive military dictators have suppressed voices of opposition calling for political changes, it has failed to implement economic reforms that brought down the status of Burma, which was once known as the rice bowl of Asia to the United Nations list of Least Develop Countries (LDCs).
In August, the people's suffering quadrupled with the junta's unannounced fuel price-hike leading to the people peacefully taking to the streets demanding economic stability. However, when the country's revered Buddhist clergies led the protests, the junta brutally suppressed the protests killing more than a dozen and arresting at least 4,000 people.
"Burma urgently needs a political solution. The junta must initiate a dialogue with the election winning party and with ethnic groups in order to avoid the country going to deeper despair," Sein Win said.
"
Aung San Suu Kyi awarded "Rome for Peace and Humanitarian Action" prize
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 20, 2007 - Detained Burmese icon for democracy Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been awarded "Rome for Peace and Humanitarian Action" prize for 2007, sponsored by the City of Rome, Italy for her relentless commitment to and struggle for democracy and human rights in military-ruled Southeast Asian country.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, mostly known as Aunty Suu to the Burmese, has spent over 12 of the past 18 years in Burma in detention for her non-violent campaign for democracy in the country which has been plagued by the military dictators for over four decades.
The City of Rome, in recognition to her commitment, has announced Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the recipient of the 2007 Peace and Humanitarian award.
The prize will be received by Dr. Sein Win, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's cousin brother and also the Prime Minister of Burma's government in exile – the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB) – during a ceremony in Rome on Thursday, as she remains under house arrest in Burma's former capital city of Rangoon.
"I am happy and proud to receive this award on her [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] behalf. I am happy not only for her but for all the Burmese people who are suffering because with this honour it [the city of Rome] is showing its solidarity with us," Sein Win told Mizzima over telephone as he prepares to attend the award giving ceremony in Rome.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Burma's independence hero General Aung San, came to be known as the leading opposition figure during her visit to Burma to see her ailing mother in 1988. The year coincided with the popular uprising for democracy led by students, which the military junta brutally crushed, killing at least 3,000 students, and civilians.
Despite her party – the National League for Democracy – winning a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections the current military clique refuse to hand over power but instead she has been kept under house arrest.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was announced recipient of the US Congressional Gold Medal by the Congress earlier this week, has received several awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her relentless pursuit to the cause of democracy and human freedom.
Following a military coup by Gen. Newin in 1962, which is the beginning of the rule of military dictatorship in Burma, the country has been plagued by severe economic deterioration.
While successive military dictators have suppressed voices of opposition calling for political changes, it has failed to implement economic reforms that brought down the status of Burma, which was once known as the rice bowl of Asia to the United Nations list of Least Develop Countries (LDCs).
In August, the people's suffering quadrupled with the junta's unannounced fuel price-hike leading to the people peacefully taking to the streets demanding economic stability. However, when the country's revered Buddhist clergies led the protests, the junta brutally suppressed the protests killing more than a dozen and arresting at least 4,000 people.
"Burma urgently needs a political solution. The junta must initiate a dialogue with the election winning party and with ethnic groups in order to avoid the country going to deeper despair," Sein Win said.
"
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
WHO announced to control H5N1 in Burma
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 17, 2007 - Despite detecting a case of human infection of the deadly avian flu, the World Health Organization said it had contained the H5N1 flu, which has reportedly been spreading in eastern Burma's Shan state since last month.
WHO spokesperson in Rangoon told Mizzima that with culling of birds and chickens and by providing effective awareness training, the spread of the deadly virus has been contained.
"We have been doing all we can, so basically, the situation is under control. And the patient who was confirmed to be affected by the H5N1 disease has recovered and has been discharged from the hospital," the spokesperson said.
WHO said it has collaborated with other organizations including UNICEF and has begun to check on poultry and animal farms. And also conducted awareness training on how to prevent and cure the flu.
"We control the movement of animals and prevent the sick birds from reaching to other areas and on the human side basically we cooperate with UNICEF and other agencies for doing public awareness training and communicate with the people of affected areas. And we are still investigating," added the spokesperson.
The WHO Myanmar praised the Burmese government for cooperating in the culling of birds and containing the disease saying "they [government] have done an excellent job," on the bird flu virus protection mission.
On Saturday, WHO as well as the Burmese government through its state-run media confirmed of a human infection of the deadly bird flu.
Nam Khan Than, a seven year-old girl in Kyaing Tong township in eastern Shan State , was taken to hospital on November 27 after detecting avian flu and developing symptoms of fever.
However, the girl survived as she was quarantined at the hospital and was given timiflu pills. She was discharge from the hospital on December 12.
Contradictory statements
Contradicting the WHO's statement that the disease has been contained, local sources in Shan state said bird flu has been detected in eastern Shan state since last month, and with the authorities concealing the cases, there are possibility of other human infections.
A local resident in Kyaing Tong, who requested not to be named, said there could be other human infection as the disease has been spreading since last month after more than 600 ducks from China was brought in by a local merchant.
"We are worried that there are many people suffering from fever. We cannot be sure that the flu has not infected others," added the local.
With local authorities concealing the case, measures to contain the flu started late after the first case of the death of birds in the region, the local said.
Possible Confusion
However, a Thailand based ethnic Shan reporter, said the locals might be confused between malaria fever and bird flu fever.
Sai Moeng, who followed the bird flu outbreak in Shan State, said while there are reports of local residents suffering fever, the causes could also be Malaria, which is common in the region.
"People suffer from malaria in this season, so it can be that local residents are confusing it with bird flu," Sia Meong said.
However, Sai Meong does not rule out the possibility of more people infected with the flu.
December 17, 2007 - Despite detecting a case of human infection of the deadly avian flu, the World Health Organization said it had contained the H5N1 flu, which has reportedly been spreading in eastern Burma's Shan state since last month.
WHO spokesperson in Rangoon told Mizzima that with culling of birds and chickens and by providing effective awareness training, the spread of the deadly virus has been contained.
"We have been doing all we can, so basically, the situation is under control. And the patient who was confirmed to be affected by the H5N1 disease has recovered and has been discharged from the hospital," the spokesperson said.
WHO said it has collaborated with other organizations including UNICEF and has begun to check on poultry and animal farms. And also conducted awareness training on how to prevent and cure the flu.
"We control the movement of animals and prevent the sick birds from reaching to other areas and on the human side basically we cooperate with UNICEF and other agencies for doing public awareness training and communicate with the people of affected areas. And we are still investigating," added the spokesperson.
The WHO Myanmar praised the Burmese government for cooperating in the culling of birds and containing the disease saying "they [government] have done an excellent job," on the bird flu virus protection mission.
On Saturday, WHO as well as the Burmese government through its state-run media confirmed of a human infection of the deadly bird flu.
Nam Khan Than, a seven year-old girl in Kyaing Tong township in eastern Shan State , was taken to hospital on November 27 after detecting avian flu and developing symptoms of fever.
However, the girl survived as she was quarantined at the hospital and was given timiflu pills. She was discharge from the hospital on December 12.
Contradictory statements
Contradicting the WHO's statement that the disease has been contained, local sources in Shan state said bird flu has been detected in eastern Shan state since last month, and with the authorities concealing the cases, there are possibility of other human infections.
A local resident in Kyaing Tong, who requested not to be named, said there could be other human infection as the disease has been spreading since last month after more than 600 ducks from China was brought in by a local merchant.
"We are worried that there are many people suffering from fever. We cannot be sure that the flu has not infected others," added the local.
With local authorities concealing the case, measures to contain the flu started late after the first case of the death of birds in the region, the local said.
Possible Confusion
However, a Thailand based ethnic Shan reporter, said the locals might be confused between malaria fever and bird flu fever.
Sai Moeng, who followed the bird flu outbreak in Shan State, said while there are reports of local residents suffering fever, the causes could also be Malaria, which is common in the region.
"People suffer from malaria in this season, so it can be that local residents are confusing it with bird flu," Sia Meong said.
However, Sai Meong does not rule out the possibility of more people infected with the flu.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
North Korea started tie with Burmese Junta
North Korean envoy takes up Myanmar post
YANGON, Myanmar — North Korea's first ambassador to Myanmar after a 24-year diplomatic rupture has taken up his post, state media reported Saturday.
Myanmar and North Korea — both Asian pariah states due to their reputations for repression — agreed to resume diplomatic ties when North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il visited the military-ruled nation in April.
Myanmar and North Korea severed their diplomatic relations in 1983, after North Korean commandos carried out a bombing during a visit to Myanmar by South Korea's then-President Chun Doo-hwan. Chun was unhurt, but 21 other people died, including four South Korean Cabinet ministers.
The countries' relations have warmed in recent years as Pyongyang has become a supplier to Myanmar's military. But both countries have chilly relations with the West.
In September, Myanmar's ruling junta violently crushed peaceful street protests and detained thousands of people, sparking international outrage. On Friday, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, a U.N. human rights investigator, said he knew of at least 31 people killed in the crackdown, but that he suspected the toll was far higher.
Meanwhile, recent progress on nuclear disarmament in North Korea has improved the country's relationship with the international community, though it has long been isolated from the West and cut off from much of the world. North Korea agreed in February to disable its nuclear programs in return for energy aid and other benefits.
The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the new ambassador, Kim Sok Chol, 52, presented his credentials to Senior Gen. Than Shwe at a ceremony Friday in the capital, Naypyitaw.
Details of North Korea-Myanmar dealings are hard to verify because the two nations are among the world's most secretive.
Researchers cite impoverished North Korea as a source of last resort for arms buyers who cannot purchase them elsewhere. Most Western nations embargo arms sales to Myanmar due to its poor human rights record and the junta's failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.
The Arms Transfer Project of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute claims Pyongyang delivered 16 large artillery pieces to Myanmar in 1999. Reports in publications such as Jane's Intelligence Review and the Far Eastern Economic Review suggest much more extensive dealings.
YANGON, Myanmar — North Korea's first ambassador to Myanmar after a 24-year diplomatic rupture has taken up his post, state media reported Saturday.
Myanmar and North Korea — both Asian pariah states due to their reputations for repression — agreed to resume diplomatic ties when North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il visited the military-ruled nation in April.
Myanmar and North Korea severed their diplomatic relations in 1983, after North Korean commandos carried out a bombing during a visit to Myanmar by South Korea's then-President Chun Doo-hwan. Chun was unhurt, but 21 other people died, including four South Korean Cabinet ministers.
The countries' relations have warmed in recent years as Pyongyang has become a supplier to Myanmar's military. But both countries have chilly relations with the West.
In September, Myanmar's ruling junta violently crushed peaceful street protests and detained thousands of people, sparking international outrage. On Friday, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, a U.N. human rights investigator, said he knew of at least 31 people killed in the crackdown, but that he suspected the toll was far higher.
Meanwhile, recent progress on nuclear disarmament in North Korea has improved the country's relationship with the international community, though it has long been isolated from the West and cut off from much of the world. North Korea agreed in February to disable its nuclear programs in return for energy aid and other benefits.
The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the new ambassador, Kim Sok Chol, 52, presented his credentials to Senior Gen. Than Shwe at a ceremony Friday in the capital, Naypyitaw.
Details of North Korea-Myanmar dealings are hard to verify because the two nations are among the world's most secretive.
Researchers cite impoverished North Korea as a source of last resort for arms buyers who cannot purchase them elsewhere. Most Western nations embargo arms sales to Myanmar due to its poor human rights record and the junta's failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.
The Arms Transfer Project of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute claims Pyongyang delivered 16 large artillery pieces to Myanmar in 1999. Reports in publications such as Jane's Intelligence Review and the Far Eastern Economic Review suggest much more extensive dealings.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Junta asked money from the local people forcibly
Authorities extort money for road construction in Myit Kyi Na
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 7, 2007 - In rank display of bad governance and arm twisting the Burmese military regime instead of providing for the upkeep of utility services have been forcibly collecting funds from residents in Myit Kyi Na town of Kachin state in northern Burma for road construction.
People are being made to pay as much as 200,000 Kyat (US $ 150) for construction of new roads in the town.
Under the pretext of reconstructing the main road at Dumare quarter of Myit Kyi Na town, capital of Kachin state, authorities as of last week extorting money from residents, locals said.
"Those living along the road are being asked to shell out 200,000 Kyat and for those living away from the road are giving 100,000 Kyat," a resident, who was also forced to pay up, told Mizzima over telephone.
However, the local, who wished to remain anonymous said, the authorities have demand a higher amount from those having a flourishing business. The amount is as high as 300,000 Kyat.
It is not the first time that the local authorities are collecting money forcibly. Besides road construction, authorities also collect money under the pretext of fire security or even for government plantations, he said.
"It is not the first time, all quarters of the town have to give huge sums of money whenever there is any road construction," the local added.
With frequent collection of money by the authorities for various reasons, local residents, particularly those with lower incomes including widows have been hard hit. Those who cannot afford to pay, have to resort to selling of their homes and shifting to other localities.
"It is impossible to give such large sum of money every time. So many people are finding it difficult to solve this problem. Some even have had to sell of their houses," the local added.
People's average monthly income in Myit Kyi Na town could be raging from 20,000 Kyat – 30,000 Kyat (US $ 15 to 20) and having to pay huge sums of money to the authorities is causing severe problems to the residents, who are trying hard to make ends meet.
Despite the huge monetary contribution by locals for the road construction, local residents said, the roads are poorly constructed.
"We will never be satisfied with their work. Because after two or three years all portions of the road are ruined and cannot be used. They [authorities] lack the technique and are careless rushing to finish the job," another local resident, who was also forced to give money, told Mizzima.
Now, the authorities have begun constructing the road in Dumare quarter and will soon complete the half-mile project, the local said.
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 7, 2007 - In rank display of bad governance and arm twisting the Burmese military regime instead of providing for the upkeep of utility services have been forcibly collecting funds from residents in Myit Kyi Na town of Kachin state in northern Burma for road construction.
People are being made to pay as much as 200,000 Kyat (US $ 150) for construction of new roads in the town.
Under the pretext of reconstructing the main road at Dumare quarter of Myit Kyi Na town, capital of Kachin state, authorities as of last week extorting money from residents, locals said.
"Those living along the road are being asked to shell out 200,000 Kyat and for those living away from the road are giving 100,000 Kyat," a resident, who was also forced to pay up, told Mizzima over telephone.
However, the local, who wished to remain anonymous said, the authorities have demand a higher amount from those having a flourishing business. The amount is as high as 300,000 Kyat.
It is not the first time that the local authorities are collecting money forcibly. Besides road construction, authorities also collect money under the pretext of fire security or even for government plantations, he said.
"It is not the first time, all quarters of the town have to give huge sums of money whenever there is any road construction," the local added.
With frequent collection of money by the authorities for various reasons, local residents, particularly those with lower incomes including widows have been hard hit. Those who cannot afford to pay, have to resort to selling of their homes and shifting to other localities.
"It is impossible to give such large sum of money every time. So many people are finding it difficult to solve this problem. Some even have had to sell of their houses," the local added.
People's average monthly income in Myit Kyi Na town could be raging from 20,000 Kyat – 30,000 Kyat (US $ 15 to 20) and having to pay huge sums of money to the authorities is causing severe problems to the residents, who are trying hard to make ends meet.
Despite the huge monetary contribution by locals for the road construction, local residents said, the roads are poorly constructed.
"We will never be satisfied with their work. Because after two or three years all portions of the road are ruined and cannot be used. They [authorities] lack the technique and are careless rushing to finish the job," another local resident, who was also forced to give money, told Mizzima.
Now, the authorities have begun constructing the road in Dumare quarter and will soon complete the half-mile project, the local said.
Thai base burmese refugee become a bad day
Burmese refugees in Thailand face food aid cut
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 6, 2007 - A cut in food provisions has had to be enforced on Burmese refugees by a humanitarian agency working along the Thai-Burmese border due to fund shortfall.
The Thailand Burma Border Consortium, which has been providing food aid to over 150,000 Burmese refugees in 10 camps for nearly two decades, said the shortfall in funding and continuous influx of new refugees has forced the group to roll back its food supplies.
"We are affected by exchange rates (US dollar to the Thai Baht), and we continue to see new arrivals in the camps, even as commodity prices rise," Sally Thompson, deputy Executive Director of the TBBC said.
The strength of the Thai Baht against the US dollar means that the group is losing about 7 percent of around 80 million baht, of its funding. Therefore, the group is being forced to consider cutting off some of the food supplies.
The cut in food provisions began since the beginning of December. While the group continues to provide major staple food, it has reduced a few food items including chilies, and fish paste, Ms Thompson said.
However, Thompson said, the cutbacks are temporary and they will resume normal supply once more funding is received.
"To solve these problems, we are seeking some more funds through our contacts with various communities and are trying to get more funds for 2008," added Thompson.
Saw La Myint, an official of the Karen Refugees Committee, said, "It seems it is not their policy to reduce supplies but because of the situation they have to reduce some of the less important things like soap, chilies and fish paste."
The TBBC provides a refugee with rice, cooking oil, mung beans, chilies, sugar, salt, soap, charcoal, bean cake and fish paste. TBBC also provides food, shelter and non food items to displaced people from Burma.
"It is possible that they have to cutback food provisions as more refugees have come to the border area in 2007," Saw La Myint, said.
However, he expressed concern over the cut back of food provisions saying it will mean extremely hard times adjusting with limited supplies.
Besides, the group, which is also providing food and shelter to Internally Displaced Persons in conflict zones inside Burma, said the cutback will also impact the IDPs living inside Burma.
Pe Sai Leng, a Shan ethnic refugee, while expressing his concern over the cutback, said the hardest hit will be the IDPs, who will now receive only food supplies for four months from the initial six months supply.
The TBBC, which was formed with 11 international non-governmental organizations, said it will strive to garner more support to increase its funding in order to keep up with the needs of the Burmese refugees and IDPs
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 6, 2007 - A cut in food provisions has had to be enforced on Burmese refugees by a humanitarian agency working along the Thai-Burmese border due to fund shortfall.
The Thailand Burma Border Consortium, which has been providing food aid to over 150,000 Burmese refugees in 10 camps for nearly two decades, said the shortfall in funding and continuous influx of new refugees has forced the group to roll back its food supplies.
"We are affected by exchange rates (US dollar to the Thai Baht), and we continue to see new arrivals in the camps, even as commodity prices rise," Sally Thompson, deputy Executive Director of the TBBC said.
The strength of the Thai Baht against the US dollar means that the group is losing about 7 percent of around 80 million baht, of its funding. Therefore, the group is being forced to consider cutting off some of the food supplies.
The cut in food provisions began since the beginning of December. While the group continues to provide major staple food, it has reduced a few food items including chilies, and fish paste, Ms Thompson said.
However, Thompson said, the cutbacks are temporary and they will resume normal supply once more funding is received.
"To solve these problems, we are seeking some more funds through our contacts with various communities and are trying to get more funds for 2008," added Thompson.
Saw La Myint, an official of the Karen Refugees Committee, said, "It seems it is not their policy to reduce supplies but because of the situation they have to reduce some of the less important things like soap, chilies and fish paste."
The TBBC provides a refugee with rice, cooking oil, mung beans, chilies, sugar, salt, soap, charcoal, bean cake and fish paste. TBBC also provides food, shelter and non food items to displaced people from Burma.
"It is possible that they have to cutback food provisions as more refugees have come to the border area in 2007," Saw La Myint, said.
However, he expressed concern over the cut back of food provisions saying it will mean extremely hard times adjusting with limited supplies.
Besides, the group, which is also providing food and shelter to Internally Displaced Persons in conflict zones inside Burma, said the cutback will also impact the IDPs living inside Burma.
Pe Sai Leng, a Shan ethnic refugee, while expressing his concern over the cutback, said the hardest hit will be the IDPs, who will now receive only food supplies for four months from the initial six months supply.
The TBBC, which was formed with 11 international non-governmental organizations, said it will strive to garner more support to increase its funding in order to keep up with the needs of the Burmese refugees and IDPs
Monday, December 3, 2007
Chinese Dam project damage the Local people
China urged to review dam policy
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 3, 2007 - Lack of transparency in constructing dams and hydroelectric projects by Chinese companies in Burma has impacted severely on the environment, villages and local residents, and threatens negative repercussions for China as well, according to a Burmese environmentalist group.
In a press statement released today, the Burma Rivers Network (BRN) discloses the language of a letter it authored to the President of China, Hu Jintao, outlying its case as to why the proposed infrastructure projects should be rethought.
With no proper environmental assessment, dams constructed by Chinese companies have forced thousands of villagers to relocate and caused environmental destruction, says BRN.
"These projects are being conducted with a complete lack of transparency, no environmental or social impact studies, and no notification of intent to local communities," continues BRN.
Campaigners say that within the last five years at least ten Chinese companies have been involved in an estimated 20 major hydropower projects in Burma, with an energy generating capacity of around 30,000 megawatts and costing well over $30 billion.
"Though the local people will see a little progress, like in the construction of roads, buildings and a meager supply of electricity, the junta will gain a large sum of foreign income by selling the electricity, which will prolong military rule in Burma," Aung Ngyeh, secretary of BRN, says.
Ngyeh adds that local residents are neither given prior notice nor asked for their consent regarding construction projects.
"Dam construction spoils the livelihoods of the people as most of the people living around dam sites have to relocate and most of their agricultural lands will be inundated," points out Ngyeh.
BRN further argues that revenue from the projects would go toward the purchase of more arms and lead to the increased suppression of local communities, who already find themselves suffering human rights abuses at the hands of the military in an attempt to secure ethnically dominated regions in proximity to proposed construction sites.
"Any dam construction will therefore compound the suffering of ethnic people living in both ceasefire and non-ceasefire areas, many of whom have already become internally displaced people or refugees," argues the letter.
Ultimately the displacement of human populations will not be confined inside Burma, says BRN, warning that migratory human flows across international borders, including that with China, will lead not only to refugee problems but also to the spread of disease, including HIV/AIDS.
According to BRN the dams will also negatively affect the image of China in the opinion of the international community.
Recognizing the commendable legislation governing dam-building inside China, as well as its stated foreign policy of fostering "peaceful development," activists urge the Chinese government to commensurate standards for its companies operating in Burma.
BRN asks the Chinese government, prior to following through with construction, to implement social and environmental impact studies, while making public the findings of the studies and details of proposed contracts.
Campaigners say Chinese officials at the consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand, refused to accept the petition in person.
The appeal is endorsed by over 120 Burmese and international organizations, as well as receiving support from more than 50,000 persons potentially affected by construction of the dams.
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
December 3, 2007 - Lack of transparency in constructing dams and hydroelectric projects by Chinese companies in Burma has impacted severely on the environment, villages and local residents, and threatens negative repercussions for China as well, according to a Burmese environmentalist group.
In a press statement released today, the Burma Rivers Network (BRN) discloses the language of a letter it authored to the President of China, Hu Jintao, outlying its case as to why the proposed infrastructure projects should be rethought.
With no proper environmental assessment, dams constructed by Chinese companies have forced thousands of villagers to relocate and caused environmental destruction, says BRN.
"These projects are being conducted with a complete lack of transparency, no environmental or social impact studies, and no notification of intent to local communities," continues BRN.
Campaigners say that within the last five years at least ten Chinese companies have been involved in an estimated 20 major hydropower projects in Burma, with an energy generating capacity of around 30,000 megawatts and costing well over $30 billion.
"Though the local people will see a little progress, like in the construction of roads, buildings and a meager supply of electricity, the junta will gain a large sum of foreign income by selling the electricity, which will prolong military rule in Burma," Aung Ngyeh, secretary of BRN, says.
Ngyeh adds that local residents are neither given prior notice nor asked for their consent regarding construction projects.
"Dam construction spoils the livelihoods of the people as most of the people living around dam sites have to relocate and most of their agricultural lands will be inundated," points out Ngyeh.
BRN further argues that revenue from the projects would go toward the purchase of more arms and lead to the increased suppression of local communities, who already find themselves suffering human rights abuses at the hands of the military in an attempt to secure ethnically dominated regions in proximity to proposed construction sites.
"Any dam construction will therefore compound the suffering of ethnic people living in both ceasefire and non-ceasefire areas, many of whom have already become internally displaced people or refugees," argues the letter.
Ultimately the displacement of human populations will not be confined inside Burma, says BRN, warning that migratory human flows across international borders, including that with China, will lead not only to refugee problems but also to the spread of disease, including HIV/AIDS.
According to BRN the dams will also negatively affect the image of China in the opinion of the international community.
Recognizing the commendable legislation governing dam-building inside China, as well as its stated foreign policy of fostering "peaceful development," activists urge the Chinese government to commensurate standards for its companies operating in Burma.
BRN asks the Chinese government, prior to following through with construction, to implement social and environmental impact studies, while making public the findings of the studies and details of proposed contracts.
Campaigners say Chinese officials at the consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand, refused to accept the petition in person.
The appeal is endorsed by over 120 Burmese and international organizations, as well as receiving support from more than 50,000 persons potentially affected by construction of the dams.
Friday, November 30, 2007
War began between KNU and SPDC
Junta launches fresh campaign against KNU
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
November 30, 2007 - Sporadic guerilla warfare has once again shaken eastern Burma's Karen State as the Burmese Army has begun a fresh offensive against the ethnic Karen's main armed resistant group, the Karen National Union (KNU), said the General Secretary of the group.
Padoh Man Sha, General Secretary of the KNU, told Mizzima that sporadic fighting has been ongoing in Kawkreik and Myawaddy Townships in the eastern regions of Burma since September, as columns of the Burmese Army - Light Infantry Battalions 230, 231 and 549 - push into areas controlled by the KNU's 6th Brigade.
"Fighting is continuing. Since they [Burmese army] are using human shields, we [KNU] have to utilize guerilla warfare tactics with sporadic attacks," Man Sha said.
Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw, a Karen journalist based on the Thai-Burmese border, said the Burmese Army is using the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), a Karen armed group which has a ceasefire agreement with the junta, in their campaign against the KNU.
"The current campaign is led by the DKBA, and the Burmese army is joining them. Sources close to the DKBA say they have proclaimed that they will capture areas controlled by the KNU's 6th Brigade within 3 months," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw said.
She added that a source in Kawkreik Township, who is close to the DKBA, has revealed that the current campaign is designed to capture KNU dominated areas so as to clear the way for the construction of the Asian Highway, which is to pass through Kawkreik and Myawaddy Townships in Karen state.
The Burmese Army has joined the DKBA's Brigades 333, 907, 901 and Special Battalion 999 in the new campaign against the KNU.
"A DKBA Captain named Bo Mojo is said to have led the campaign and used villagers for portering as well as for human shields, to prevent the KNU from launching counter attacks," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw said.
However, Man Sha said that counter offensives have killed several attacking troops, with the KNU suffering only a few casualties.
"Since they [the Burmese army and DKBA] are randomly pushing their way in, they suffer more casualties. Our boys launch sporadic guerilla attacks," Man Sha added.
However, Man Sha could not provide a casualty figure for either side.
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
November 30, 2007 - Sporadic guerilla warfare has once again shaken eastern Burma's Karen State as the Burmese Army has begun a fresh offensive against the ethnic Karen's main armed resistant group, the Karen National Union (KNU), said the General Secretary of the group.
Padoh Man Sha, General Secretary of the KNU, told Mizzima that sporadic fighting has been ongoing in Kawkreik and Myawaddy Townships in the eastern regions of Burma since September, as columns of the Burmese Army - Light Infantry Battalions 230, 231 and 549 - push into areas controlled by the KNU's 6th Brigade.
"Fighting is continuing. Since they [Burmese army] are using human shields, we [KNU] have to utilize guerilla warfare tactics with sporadic attacks," Man Sha said.
Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw, a Karen journalist based on the Thai-Burmese border, said the Burmese Army is using the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), a Karen armed group which has a ceasefire agreement with the junta, in their campaign against the KNU.
"The current campaign is led by the DKBA, and the Burmese army is joining them. Sources close to the DKBA say they have proclaimed that they will capture areas controlled by the KNU's 6th Brigade within 3 months," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw said.
She added that a source in Kawkreik Township, who is close to the DKBA, has revealed that the current campaign is designed to capture KNU dominated areas so as to clear the way for the construction of the Asian Highway, which is to pass through Kawkreik and Myawaddy Townships in Karen state.
The Burmese Army has joined the DKBA's Brigades 333, 907, 901 and Special Battalion 999 in the new campaign against the KNU.
"A DKBA Captain named Bo Mojo is said to have led the campaign and used villagers for portering as well as for human shields, to prevent the KNU from launching counter attacks," Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw said.
However, Man Sha said that counter offensives have killed several attacking troops, with the KNU suffering only a few casualties.
"Since they [the Burmese army and DKBA] are randomly pushing their way in, they suffer more casualties. Our boys launch sporadic guerilla attacks," Man Sha added.
However, Man Sha could not provide a casualty figure for either side.
New generation ruler of Than Swe
Junta reshuffles commanders, showcases changes
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
November 30, 2007 - In what, is in all probability a diversionary tactics adopted by the Burmese military junta, it has effected another military reshuffle. Critics feel it is to showcase changes in the regime in the aftermath of the brutal crackdown on September's monk-led protests, which had invited world-wide wrath.
The junta has promoted Brig. Gen Myint Soe, commander of the Taugup based No. 5 Military Operation Command as the Northwest Military Command commander, sources close to the military establishment said.
Rector of the Defence Service Academy, Brig. Gen Kyaw Swe was promoted as commander of the Southwest Command and his position was filled by Brig. Gen Zeya Aung, commander of Light Infantry Division 88.
While Brig. Gen Tin Ngwe of the War Office General Staff was posted as the commander of the Central Command, the War Office General Staff position was filled in by Brig. Gen Sann Oo, commander of the Maingnaung based No. 2 Military Operation Command.
Kale Regional Operation and Strategic Command commander Col Khin Maung Htay was also promoted as commander of the LID 99.
While there are more promotions in the offing in the military hierarchy, secrecy in the military establishment made it difficult to confirm more of the new postings. The newly appointed commanders were told to join their new posts or report to the Military Headquarters on November 28, sources said.
Prior to the appointment of several new commanders, the junta promoted the former Northwest Command Commander Maj. Gen Thar Aye to Commander of Bureau of Special Operation, former Commander of Central Command Maj. Gen Khin Zaw was promoted to Commander of Bureau of Special Operation 6 and former Commander of Southwest Command Thura Myint Aung was promoted as Adjutant General, sources said.
While the Burmese junta has a penchant for reshuffling its commanders from time to time, some critics view the current reshuffle as an effort to showcase that the junta is implementing some changes even within its own military establishment, sources said.
Win Min, a Thailand based Burma affairs analyst, said, it is about time that the junta promoted some of its commanders like Thar Aye and Thura Myint Aung but since the reshuffle came following the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, it could involve an effort to showcase that the junta is implementing changes.
"By reshuffling some of its commanders the junta wants to give hope to the people that there will be more economic and social stability in the country," Win Min added.
Besides, the reshuffle could also mean that the junta supremo Than Shwe is strengthening its stranglehold on the military establishment by promoting his loyalists, Win Min said.
"If we look at the reshuffle, we can see that most of the commanders are close to Shwe Mann (who is a close ally of Than Shwe). So it is like, even while going by seniority, it has been carefully planned to choose Than Shwe and Shwe Mann's allies," Win Min added, citing a rift in the top brass of the junta between Senior General Than Shwe and Vice Senior General Maung Aye.
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
November 30, 2007 - In what, is in all probability a diversionary tactics adopted by the Burmese military junta, it has effected another military reshuffle. Critics feel it is to showcase changes in the regime in the aftermath of the brutal crackdown on September's monk-led protests, which had invited world-wide wrath.
The junta has promoted Brig. Gen Myint Soe, commander of the Taugup based No. 5 Military Operation Command as the Northwest Military Command commander, sources close to the military establishment said.
Rector of the Defence Service Academy, Brig. Gen Kyaw Swe was promoted as commander of the Southwest Command and his position was filled by Brig. Gen Zeya Aung, commander of Light Infantry Division 88.
While Brig. Gen Tin Ngwe of the War Office General Staff was posted as the commander of the Central Command, the War Office General Staff position was filled in by Brig. Gen Sann Oo, commander of the Maingnaung based No. 2 Military Operation Command.
Kale Regional Operation and Strategic Command commander Col Khin Maung Htay was also promoted as commander of the LID 99.
While there are more promotions in the offing in the military hierarchy, secrecy in the military establishment made it difficult to confirm more of the new postings. The newly appointed commanders were told to join their new posts or report to the Military Headquarters on November 28, sources said.
Prior to the appointment of several new commanders, the junta promoted the former Northwest Command Commander Maj. Gen Thar Aye to Commander of Bureau of Special Operation, former Commander of Central Command Maj. Gen Khin Zaw was promoted to Commander of Bureau of Special Operation 6 and former Commander of Southwest Command Thura Myint Aung was promoted as Adjutant General, sources said.
While the Burmese junta has a penchant for reshuffling its commanders from time to time, some critics view the current reshuffle as an effort to showcase that the junta is implementing some changes even within its own military establishment, sources said.
Win Min, a Thailand based Burma affairs analyst, said, it is about time that the junta promoted some of its commanders like Thar Aye and Thura Myint Aung but since the reshuffle came following the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, it could involve an effort to showcase that the junta is implementing changes.
"By reshuffling some of its commanders the junta wants to give hope to the people that there will be more economic and social stability in the country," Win Min added.
Besides, the reshuffle could also mean that the junta supremo Than Shwe is strengthening its stranglehold on the military establishment by promoting his loyalists, Win Min said.
"If we look at the reshuffle, we can see that most of the commanders are close to Shwe Mann (who is a close ally of Than Shwe). So it is like, even while going by seniority, it has been carefully planned to choose Than Shwe and Shwe Mann's allies," Win Min added, citing a rift in the top brass of the junta between Senior General Than Shwe and Vice Senior General Maung Aye.
Student leader Htay Kywe's mother die
Prominent 88 generation student, Htay Kywe's mother dies
Maung Dee
Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com)
November 30, 2007 - Daw Mi Mi Lay (68), mother of Burma's prominent detained activist, Htay Kywe died on Thursday evening at her residence in Rangoon , family sources said.
She died at about 9 p.m. (local time) after suffering from brain tumor and paralysis, Htay Kywe's sister Khin San Myint, said.
"Our mother has been suffering from cancer in the abdomen for four years now. She went to Bangkok for treatment but it seems the malignant cells had spread to her brain. Half her body was paralysed," Khin San Myint, told Mizzima.
Daw Mi Mi Lay will be cremated on December 3 and family members said they will seek permission from prison authorities at Insein to allow Htay Kywe to attend the funeral service.
"We don't know whether he [Htay Kywe] will be allowed to attend the funeral service, but we want him to at least pay his last respects to mother. I feel really sorry for my brother," Khin San Myint told Mizzima even as she began to cry.
Htay Kywe, one of the 88 generation student members, who led the September peoples' protest, was arrested after visiting his mother in Shwegonedine Special Clinic when her health deteriorated.
However, fearing that his mother's health might deteriorate further, Htay Kywe requested family members not to disclose his arrest to her. Daw Mi Mi Lay died unaware about her son's detention.
"Our mother was waiting for her son. Since she was terminally ill, we did not dare disclose the truth about him [Htay Kywe]. We appealed to the authorities to allow him to come to the hospital before mother died but not long after we made the request mother passed away," continued Khin San Myint.
Htay Kywe's colleagues, the 88 generation students and the All Burma Federation of Students Union expressed sorrow over the death of Htay Kwe's mother and said they will offer flowers as a token of their grief.
"I put myself in his [Htay Kywe] shoes and I feel sad. I feel the same way as he is feeling now," said Kyaw Ko Ko from the ABFSU.
Daw Mi Mi Lay leaves behind five children including Htay Kywe.
Maung Dee
Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com)
November 30, 2007 - Daw Mi Mi Lay (68), mother of Burma's prominent detained activist, Htay Kywe died on Thursday evening at her residence in Rangoon , family sources said.
She died at about 9 p.m. (local time) after suffering from brain tumor and paralysis, Htay Kywe's sister Khin San Myint, said.
"Our mother has been suffering from cancer in the abdomen for four years now. She went to Bangkok for treatment but it seems the malignant cells had spread to her brain. Half her body was paralysed," Khin San Myint, told Mizzima.
Daw Mi Mi Lay will be cremated on December 3 and family members said they will seek permission from prison authorities at Insein to allow Htay Kywe to attend the funeral service.
"We don't know whether he [Htay Kywe] will be allowed to attend the funeral service, but we want him to at least pay his last respects to mother. I feel really sorry for my brother," Khin San Myint told Mizzima even as she began to cry.
Htay Kywe, one of the 88 generation student members, who led the September peoples' protest, was arrested after visiting his mother in Shwegonedine Special Clinic when her health deteriorated.
However, fearing that his mother's health might deteriorate further, Htay Kywe requested family members not to disclose his arrest to her. Daw Mi Mi Lay died unaware about her son's detention.
"Our mother was waiting for her son. Since she was terminally ill, we did not dare disclose the truth about him [Htay Kywe]. We appealed to the authorities to allow him to come to the hospital before mother died but not long after we made the request mother passed away," continued Khin San Myint.
Htay Kywe's colleagues, the 88 generation students and the All Burma Federation of Students Union expressed sorrow over the death of Htay Kwe's mother and said they will offer flowers as a token of their grief.
"I put myself in his [Htay Kywe] shoes and I feel sad. I feel the same way as he is feeling now," said Kyaw Ko Ko from the ABFSU.
Daw Mi Mi Lay leaves behind five children including Htay Kywe.
UWSA want democracy and peace
Saturday, December 01, 2007
UWSA defy junta's pressure, refuse to sign pre-written statement
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com )
November 30, 2007 - A Sino-Burmese border based ethnic armed group, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), said it welcomed Burma's pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement on national reconciliation and refused to sign the junta's pre-written statement.
An officer of the UWSA, who requested not to be named, told Mizzima that the group, like many other armed ceasefire groups, was pressured by the junta to sign a pre-written declaration condemning Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement on cooperating with the ruling junta in order to kick-start a process of national reconciliation.
"U Khin Aung Myint [Burmese Cultural Minister] came to us and pressured us to sign a pre-written statement. But we refused because we did not even see the statement. Moreover, we welcome any efforts toward national reconciliation," the UWSA officer told Mizzima by phone.
Reportedly, the Burmese Cultural Minister traveled to places along the Sino-Burmese border in October and November and held meetings with ethnic armed ceasefire groups and pressured them to sign pre-written statements against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, like the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the UWSA was among the few groups that openly defied the junta's request and refused to sign the document.
Speaking from the UWSA's headquarters in Panghshang, eastern Shan State, the officer revealed that the group would like to see democracy and equality among all ethnic groups in Burma.
"We love democracy and peace and we don't want to face any kind of coercion or violence," he added.
UWSA was until recently widely known as one of the Burmese junta's most favored allies, and is reportedly highly involved in the cultivation of poppies and production of amphetamines along the Sino-Burmese border.
However, with the fall of Burma's former Prime Minister and Intelligence Chief, General Khin Nyunt, and the UWSA's Chairman's promise to the Chinese government in late 2004, there has been a drastic fall in opium poppy cultivation.
The UWSA is one of the 17 armed ceasefire groups that attended the Burmese military junta's long and winding National Convention that concluded this past September.
Following the conclusion of the National Convention, the UWSA, along with other ceasefire groups, has come under pressure from a Burmese military junta determined to completely disarm the ceasefire groups.
According to the UWSA officer, the Burmese junta has been pressuring the group and is banning some of its members based along the Thai-Burmese border from traveling freely and conducting business.
The junta also decided in its National Convention that Wa dominated areas in the south, close to the Thai-Burmese border, would fall under Shan administration, he added.
However he reiterated the Wa's relentless desire for self-determination, adding, "the Wa army still has 20,000 strong men and the Wa population is estimated at 500,000."
UWSA defy junta's pressure, refuse to sign pre-written statement
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com )
November 30, 2007 - A Sino-Burmese border based ethnic armed group, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), said it welcomed Burma's pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement on national reconciliation and refused to sign the junta's pre-written statement.
An officer of the UWSA, who requested not to be named, told Mizzima that the group, like many other armed ceasefire groups, was pressured by the junta to sign a pre-written declaration condemning Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement on cooperating with the ruling junta in order to kick-start a process of national reconciliation.
"U Khin Aung Myint [Burmese Cultural Minister] came to us and pressured us to sign a pre-written statement. But we refused because we did not even see the statement. Moreover, we welcome any efforts toward national reconciliation," the UWSA officer told Mizzima by phone.
Reportedly, the Burmese Cultural Minister traveled to places along the Sino-Burmese border in October and November and held meetings with ethnic armed ceasefire groups and pressured them to sign pre-written statements against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, like the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the UWSA was among the few groups that openly defied the junta's request and refused to sign the document.
Speaking from the UWSA's headquarters in Panghshang, eastern Shan State, the officer revealed that the group would like to see democracy and equality among all ethnic groups in Burma.
"We love democracy and peace and we don't want to face any kind of coercion or violence," he added.
UWSA was until recently widely known as one of the Burmese junta's most favored allies, and is reportedly highly involved in the cultivation of poppies and production of amphetamines along the Sino-Burmese border.
However, with the fall of Burma's former Prime Minister and Intelligence Chief, General Khin Nyunt, and the UWSA's Chairman's promise to the Chinese government in late 2004, there has been a drastic fall in opium poppy cultivation.
The UWSA is one of the 17 armed ceasefire groups that attended the Burmese military junta's long and winding National Convention that concluded this past September.
Following the conclusion of the National Convention, the UWSA, along with other ceasefire groups, has come under pressure from a Burmese military junta determined to completely disarm the ceasefire groups.
According to the UWSA officer, the Burmese junta has been pressuring the group and is banning some of its members based along the Thai-Burmese border from traveling freely and conducting business.
The junta also decided in its National Convention that Wa dominated areas in the south, close to the Thai-Burmese border, would fall under Shan administration, he added.
However he reiterated the Wa's relentless desire for self-determination, adding, "the Wa army still has 20,000 strong men and the Wa population is estimated at 500,000."
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
ENC urged to India for support tripartite dialogue
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Ethnic delegates seeks Indian support for tripartite dialogue
Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com )
November 28, 2007 - The Indian government has been urged by the Ethnic Nationalities Council to use its influence over the Burmese military and help kick-start the process of national reconciliation through a tripartite dialogue. The Council is an umbrella group of Burmese ethnics in exile.
A four-member ENC delegation, visiting India's capital New Delhi, said during their meetings with Indian leaders they highlighted the need for a tripartite dialogue between the Burmese military junta, pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders to resolve Burma's long political impasse.
"We believe Burma 's political crisis can be best solved through the process of tripartite dialogue," Dr. Lian H. Sakhong, General Secretary of the ENC said.
The ENC delegates, who are on a three-day visit, from November 25 to 27 to India at the invitation of the Indian Parliamentary Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB), met Indian leaders including members of Parliament, civil societies, journalists and human rights activists.
The delegates said they briefed Indian leaders of the importance of supporting Burma's process of dialogue and argued that India 's interest would be better served by a federal democratic system in Burma.
In response to the ENC delegates' request, Indian parliamentarians said they would highlight the Burma issue at the next parliamentary session.
"We have discussed with some of the Indian Members of Parliament the Burma issue and they agreed to take it up as a Parliamentary debate in the next session," Harn Yawnghwe Director of Euro-Burma office and Adviser of ENC said.
India was one of the few countries that had in the past maintained a hard-line stance against the current Burmese military generals, when they came to power after brutally suppressing the students-led pro-democracy uprising in 1988.
Reportedly, the Indian embassy in Rangoon had sheltered Burmese student activists when the junta randomly cracked down on them and even suggested the activists flee to India for refuge.
However, Indian foreign policy on Burma took a U turn in the late 1990s, with Indian policy makers claiming the need to engage the Burmese generals in their national interest, which included countering Chinese influence on Burma.
"The Indian government should not compete with China for favours from the Burmese junta basically because of two things. Both India and China have a different political system. While India is a democracy, China is a Communist state. India should think of its long term interest, and maintaining a relationship with the junta will only hamper its image," Sakhong said.
The ENC leaders said India 's national interests as well as the interest of regional countries could only be best served with a genuine solution to Burma 's long political stalemate.
Sakhong said, Burma's political crisis can only be genuinely resolve with a tripartite dialogue that will bring an end to military rule, restoration of democracy and establishing a genuine federal system of government based on the1947 Pang long agreement, initiated by Burma 's independence hero Bogyoke Aung San.
Ethnic delegates seeks Indian support for tripartite dialogue
Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com )
November 28, 2007 - The Indian government has been urged by the Ethnic Nationalities Council to use its influence over the Burmese military and help kick-start the process of national reconciliation through a tripartite dialogue. The Council is an umbrella group of Burmese ethnics in exile.
A four-member ENC delegation, visiting India's capital New Delhi, said during their meetings with Indian leaders they highlighted the need for a tripartite dialogue between the Burmese military junta, pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders to resolve Burma's long political impasse.
"We believe Burma 's political crisis can be best solved through the process of tripartite dialogue," Dr. Lian H. Sakhong, General Secretary of the ENC said.
The ENC delegates, who are on a three-day visit, from November 25 to 27 to India at the invitation of the Indian Parliamentary Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB), met Indian leaders including members of Parliament, civil societies, journalists and human rights activists.
The delegates said they briefed Indian leaders of the importance of supporting Burma's process of dialogue and argued that India 's interest would be better served by a federal democratic system in Burma.
In response to the ENC delegates' request, Indian parliamentarians said they would highlight the Burma issue at the next parliamentary session.
"We have discussed with some of the Indian Members of Parliament the Burma issue and they agreed to take it up as a Parliamentary debate in the next session," Harn Yawnghwe Director of Euro-Burma office and Adviser of ENC said.
India was one of the few countries that had in the past maintained a hard-line stance against the current Burmese military generals, when they came to power after brutally suppressing the students-led pro-democracy uprising in 1988.
Reportedly, the Indian embassy in Rangoon had sheltered Burmese student activists when the junta randomly cracked down on them and even suggested the activists flee to India for refuge.
However, Indian foreign policy on Burma took a U turn in the late 1990s, with Indian policy makers claiming the need to engage the Burmese generals in their national interest, which included countering Chinese influence on Burma.
"The Indian government should not compete with China for favours from the Burmese junta basically because of two things. Both India and China have a different political system. While India is a democracy, China is a Communist state. India should think of its long term interest, and maintaining a relationship with the junta will only hamper its image," Sakhong said.
The ENC leaders said India 's national interests as well as the interest of regional countries could only be best served with a genuine solution to Burma 's long political stalemate.
Sakhong said, Burma's political crisis can only be genuinely resolve with a tripartite dialogue that will bring an end to military rule, restoration of democracy and establishing a genuine federal system of government based on the1947 Pang long agreement, initiated by Burma 's independence hero Bogyoke Aung San.
Friday, November 23, 2007
WLB organized worldwide for protecting women rights
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
November 23, 2007 - Burma's women's leadership does not stop with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A new publication profiles and draws attention to the detention and plight of some twenty other women who performed critical functions during the protests of August and September.
Accordingly, a group of rights activists is calling for 16 days of campaigning to bring attention to the plight of Burmese women activists in the country's ongoing struggle for human rights and democracy, from November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day,
"For women of Burma who face and are under state-sanctioned violence this call cannot be more relevant than ever and the international community needs to have strong commitment and will to work harder towards protecting and securing women's human rights," reads a statement from the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Partnership for Burma (APPPB).
APPPB says that international focus and assistance to the struggles of Burma's women is especially important, as there exist no domestic organizations inside Burma to which the women can turn for help. Women's organizations in Burma are said to fall under the jurisdiction of the military and are managed by wives of military personnel.
A majority of the cases that the release studies concern women who have been active since the 1988 uprising and had since joined ranks with the 88 generation students movement.
Women 'fugitives' arrested are subjected to harsh prison conditions with scant medical attention. Some of those that fled arrest are chronicled as having to leave children behind, while others have had relatives arrested in their place.
The report goes on to mention that in addition to the number of arrests made against women activists on the streets of Rangoon and throughout Burma, the regime detained hundreds of nuns who, in their pink dress, participated alongside monks in the mass protests of late September.
Five women still on the run from Burmese authorities, including Phyu Phyu Thin and Ni Mo Hlaing, also yesterday sent a letter addressed to several United Nations officials. The missive calls on the international organization and its representatives to undertake a thorough study of human rights abuses perpetrated against women at the hands of the military junta.
In the run-up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Women's League of Burma (WLB) has initiated a Women's Human Rights Defenders Campaign.
The group is calling on the release of all detainees by December 10. According to a WLB statement released today, 106 women, inclusive of six nuns, remain in custody.
"We are particularly concerned that the women, including nuns, recently detained are facing gender and sexual violence in addition to the other deprivations and unacceptable conditions in the prisons," says WLB spokesperson Paw Hset Hser.
The Campaign was launched this morning at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok. WLB brings together a dozen national and ethnic-based Burmese women's rights groups.
November 23, 2007 - Burma's women's leadership does not stop with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A new publication profiles and draws attention to the detention and plight of some twenty other women who performed critical functions during the protests of August and September.
Accordingly, a group of rights activists is calling for 16 days of campaigning to bring attention to the plight of Burmese women activists in the country's ongoing struggle for human rights and democracy, from November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day,
"For women of Burma who face and are under state-sanctioned violence this call cannot be more relevant than ever and the international community needs to have strong commitment and will to work harder towards protecting and securing women's human rights," reads a statement from the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Partnership for Burma (APPPB).
APPPB says that international focus and assistance to the struggles of Burma's women is especially important, as there exist no domestic organizations inside Burma to which the women can turn for help. Women's organizations in Burma are said to fall under the jurisdiction of the military and are managed by wives of military personnel.
A majority of the cases that the release studies concern women who have been active since the 1988 uprising and had since joined ranks with the 88 generation students movement.
Women 'fugitives' arrested are subjected to harsh prison conditions with scant medical attention. Some of those that fled arrest are chronicled as having to leave children behind, while others have had relatives arrested in their place.
The report goes on to mention that in addition to the number of arrests made against women activists on the streets of Rangoon and throughout Burma, the regime detained hundreds of nuns who, in their pink dress, participated alongside monks in the mass protests of late September.
Five women still on the run from Burmese authorities, including Phyu Phyu Thin and Ni Mo Hlaing, also yesterday sent a letter addressed to several United Nations officials. The missive calls on the international organization and its representatives to undertake a thorough study of human rights abuses perpetrated against women at the hands of the military junta.
In the run-up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Women's League of Burma (WLB) has initiated a Women's Human Rights Defenders Campaign.
The group is calling on the release of all detainees by December 10. According to a WLB statement released today, 106 women, inclusive of six nuns, remain in custody.
"We are particularly concerned that the women, including nuns, recently detained are facing gender and sexual violence in addition to the other deprivations and unacceptable conditions in the prisons," says WLB spokesperson Paw Hset Hser.
The Campaign was launched this morning at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok. WLB brings together a dozen national and ethnic-based Burmese women's rights groups.
Well Know KIO/KIA Intelligent Officer released by Junta
KIO senior intelligence chief released by junta
November 23, 2007
KNG
Senior intelligence chief, Lt. Gala Brang Shawng of the Kachin Independence Organization's (KIO) who had been detained by Burmese military junta authorities was released on Monday after repeated requests by KIO leaders, a member of his family said.
"He is now at the KIO military headquarters in Laiza controlled area. He moved there after his release from jail," said the family member.
Lt. Gala Brang Shawng was arrested with a pistol early last month at Burma Army checkpoint in Shadau village on Myitkyina-Mandalay Highway, 14 miles south of Myitkyina.
The KIO had requested the junta twice by sending official letters appealing for his release to the Northern Military Command Headquarters (Ma-Pa-Kha) in Myitkyina. It made another request early this month when KIO leaders met Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Chief of Military Affairs Security of the ruling junta in Myitkyina.
Meanwhile, the Burmese Army's, Infantry Battalion No.146 detained five KIO soldiers and three office staff yesterday morning at Dingga Controlled Areas Office in Dawhpum Yang region under the KIO's 3rd Brigade.
November 23, 2007
KNG
Senior intelligence chief, Lt. Gala Brang Shawng of the Kachin Independence Organization's (KIO) who had been detained by Burmese military junta authorities was released on Monday after repeated requests by KIO leaders, a member of his family said.
"He is now at the KIO military headquarters in Laiza controlled area. He moved there after his release from jail," said the family member.
Lt. Gala Brang Shawng was arrested with a pistol early last month at Burma Army checkpoint in Shadau village on Myitkyina-Mandalay Highway, 14 miles south of Myitkyina.
The KIO had requested the junta twice by sending official letters appealing for his release to the Northern Military Command Headquarters (Ma-Pa-Kha) in Myitkyina. It made another request early this month when KIO leaders met Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Chief of Military Affairs Security of the ruling junta in Myitkyina.
Meanwhile, the Burmese Army's, Infantry Battalion No.146 detained five KIO soldiers and three office staff yesterday morning at Dingga Controlled Areas Office in Dawhpum Yang region under the KIO's 3rd Brigade.
SPDC tentionly arrested to 8 KIA/KIO servicemen
Eight KIO servicemen detained by Burmese Amy
November 22, 2007
KNG
In a sudden swoop, and in another instance of arm twisting by the military junta, the Burmese Army, Infantry Battalion N0. 146 this morning detained five soldiers and three office staff of the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO), the main ethnic Kachin ceasefire group in the state in Northern Burma, insiders said.
All the detainees are from at Dingga Controlled Areas Office in Dawhpum Yang region under the KIO’s 3rd Brigade, including the office in-charge and second-office in-charge, an accountant and five soldiers, an officer of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), battalion No.(12) near Dingga Office told KNG this evening.
Till the time of writing this report the reasons behind the arrests are not known but the KIA officers in the area admitted that military tension between the KIA and the Burma Army has escalated since last weekend, according to KIA Battalion 12 sources.
The detention of the KIO servicemen comes in the wake of illegal Chinese wireless landline phones being suddenly seized in KIO liaison offices and from homes of officials' in two major cities of Kachin State—Bhamo and Myitkyina by the ruling junta, five days ago.
This afternoon, a convoy of Burmese military trucks crossed Balaminhtin Irrawaddy River Bridge from Myitkyina to Waingmaw, --- areas east of Irrawaddy River where the KIO headquarters is located, eyewitnesses in Myitkyina told KNG.
On the other hand, the three Burma military battalions including Waingmaw based Infantry Battalion N0. 58 and Shwenyaungbin based Light Infantry Battalion No. 321 are operating in the gold mining areas in Nam San Yang near Laiza, the KIO controlled areas. The army has arrested and driven out the gold miners, said locals.
This is the latest in terms of military pressure by the junta on the KIO after it refused to issue a statement opposing Burma's democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's November statement released in Singapore by UN special envoy Mr. Ibrahim Gambari.
November 22, 2007
KNG
In a sudden swoop, and in another instance of arm twisting by the military junta, the Burmese Army, Infantry Battalion N0. 146 this morning detained five soldiers and three office staff of the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO), the main ethnic Kachin ceasefire group in the state in Northern Burma, insiders said.
All the detainees are from at Dingga Controlled Areas Office in Dawhpum Yang region under the KIO’s 3rd Brigade, including the office in-charge and second-office in-charge, an accountant and five soldiers, an officer of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), battalion No.(12) near Dingga Office told KNG this evening.
Till the time of writing this report the reasons behind the arrests are not known but the KIA officers in the area admitted that military tension between the KIA and the Burma Army has escalated since last weekend, according to KIA Battalion 12 sources.
The detention of the KIO servicemen comes in the wake of illegal Chinese wireless landline phones being suddenly seized in KIO liaison offices and from homes of officials' in two major cities of Kachin State—Bhamo and Myitkyina by the ruling junta, five days ago.
This afternoon, a convoy of Burmese military trucks crossed Balaminhtin Irrawaddy River Bridge from Myitkyina to Waingmaw, --- areas east of Irrawaddy River where the KIO headquarters is located, eyewitnesses in Myitkyina told KNG.
On the other hand, the three Burma military battalions including Waingmaw based Infantry Battalion N0. 58 and Shwenyaungbin based Light Infantry Battalion No. 321 are operating in the gold mining areas in Nam San Yang near Laiza, the KIO controlled areas. The army has arrested and driven out the gold miners, said locals.
This is the latest in terms of military pressure by the junta on the KIO after it refused to issue a statement opposing Burma's democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's November statement released in Singapore by UN special envoy Mr. Ibrahim Gambari.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
ASEAN's Charter and establishment of brief History
Media Release
ASEAN Leaders Sign ASEAN Charter
Singapore, 20 November 2007
The ASEAN Charter was signed today, 20 November 2007, by the Leaders of the 10 ASEAN Member States at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore. It comes as ASEAN celebrates its 40th anniversary of its founding in 1967.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ASEAN CHARTER
For the first time after 40 years of regional cooperation, ASEAN Member States have codified organic Southeast Asian diplomacy, listed key principles and purposes of ASEAN.
The Charter represents a momentous occasion for ASEAN Member States to reiterate their commitment to community-building in ASEAN, as can be seen in the Preamble, and to reposition ASEAN to better meet challenges of the 21st century with new and improved ASEAN structure, as shown in Chapter IV.
ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong says that “the ASEAN Charter will serve the organisation well in three interrelated ways, such as, formally accord ASEAN legal personality, establish greater institutional accountability and compliance system, and reinforce the perception of ASEAN as a serious regional player in the future of the Asia Pacific region”.
HISTORIC AGREEMENT
The ASEAN Charter is, therefore, an historic agreement among the ten Member States to establish the legal and institutional framework for ASEAN as the premier inter-governmental organization of the region.
There are 13 Chapters, 55 Articles, and 4 annexes in the ASEAN Charter.
It was drafted by the High Level Task Force on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter, consisting of one representative from each of the 10 Member States.
After its signing, the Charter will have to be ratified (or formally accepted to be bound) in every Member State.
It will come into force on the 30th day after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification (or instrument of acceptance) with the Secretary-General of ASEAN.
After that, the Charter will be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations.
PEOPLE-ORIENTED ASEAN
ASEAN is moving from being State-centric to be more people-oriented. At least 10 of the 15 stated purposes of ASEAN in Chapter I concern the livelihood and well-being of peoples in ASEAN.
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Adherence to democratic values, and respects for human rights and fundamental freedoms are stipulated in three separate places in the Charter : the Preamble, the Purposes, and the Principles.
This is to emphasize that all ASEAN Member States share the same aspiration and common desire to promote democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms, rule of law, and good governance.
ASEAN Human Rights Body
The Charter calls for the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body as a new organ of ASEAN. This is a new and important commitment in ASEAN as far as promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples in ASEAN are concerned.
The terms of reference for the ASEAN human rights body shall be determined by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.
ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLES
The Charter includes these two among the key principles of ASEAN : “shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity“ and “enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN”.
LEGAL PERSONALITY
In Chapter II, ASEAN Member States confer on ASEAN a legal personality, which is separate from theirs.
Details of what ASEAN can or cannot do with its legal personality will be discussed and stated in a supplementary protocol after the signing of the Charter.
MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
The membership criteria are stated in Chapter III, Article 6.
IMPROVED STRUCTURE
There are interesting institutional changes that the ASEAN Charter will bring about include. See details in the attachment.
Essentially, the improved structure will enable ASEAN to improve coordination, ensure prompt implementation of decisions and agreements, and speedy response to new opportunities and challenges.
Important changes include :
Convening ASEAN Summit twice a year, instead of once a year
ASEAN Foreign Ministers to serve as the ASEAN Coordinating Council
Single Chairmanship for key high-level ASEAN bodies
Appointment of Member States’ Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, to form a Committee of Permanent Representatives, in Jakarta
Establishment of an ASEAN human rights body
ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH ASEAN
Chapter V of the Charter concerns engagement with entities associated with ASEAN. Five categories of these entities are listed in Annex 2. First on the list is the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), which is the key partner in government of ASEAN.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN is in charge of updating the list, upon the recommendation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Jakarta.
CONSULTATION AND CONSENSUS
The Charter reaffirms as “a basic principle” decision-making in ASEAN by consultation and consensus.
Where consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide on how a specific decision can be made.
If there is a serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance, the matter will be referred to the ASEAN Summit for decision.
FLEXIBLE PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC SCHEMES
The Charter permits flexible participation in the implementation of economic commitments in ASEAN, including the use of the ASEAN Minus X formula where there is a consensus to do so.
Under the ASEAN Minus X formula, a Member State may opt out from certain economic schemes that it is not yet ready to participate, although it has taken part in determining and approving such economic schemes in the first place.
NEW DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MODALITIES
ASEAN may establish new dispute settlement mechanisms where necessary.
Disputes in the ASEAN Economic Community may be referred to the 2004 ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism for some solution.
The ASEAN Chairman and the Secretary-General of ASEAN can be requested to provide good offices, conciliation or mediation in a dispute. This is a new initiative in ASEAN.
Unresolved disputes shall be referred to the ASEAN Summit for its decision.
SINGLE CHAIRMANSHIP
Chair of the ASEAN Summit will be the same Chair of other key ASEAN bodies, including the three Community Councils, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), as well as their respective Senior Officials Meetings (SOMs), and also the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, to be established in Jakarta.
It is possible that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) may also be included under the Single ASEAN Chairmanship.
The ASEAN Chairmanship will start on 1 January and end on 31 December.
ENGLISH AS THE WORKING LANGUAGE OF ASEAN
The Charter reaffirms that English is the working language of ASEAN.
(This is one of the few things that ASEAN has outdone the European Union, where every official EU document must be written in at least three languages.)
ASEAN IDENTITY
Under Chapter XI, the following will add to the creation of ASEAN identity:
ASEAN Motto : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”
ASEAN flag
ASEAN emblem
ASEAN Day : 8 August
ASEAN anthem (there shall be one)
(Two more things that ASEAN has outdone the EU : ASEAN will have the motto and anthem; whereas the EU has already abandoned its earlier plan to adopt “United in Diversity” as the European motto, and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy as the European anthem.)
ACCREDITATION OF AMBASSADORS TO ASEAN
States that are Dialogue Partners of ASEAN and relevant inter-governmental organizations, such as the EU, may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN. But there is no Jakarta residency requirement for these Ambassadors to ASEAN.
ABOUT ASEAN:
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five founding Member States, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999.
The ASEAN region has a population of about 567.5 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometres, a combined gross domestic product of over US$1 trillion, and a total foreign trade of over US$ 1.4 trillion.
The ASEAN Secretariat is in Jakarta. It was established in 1976, 10 years after the organization was founded.
Its homepage is at www.aseansec.org
The five-year term of the incumbent Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Ong Keng Yong from Singapore, will end on 31 December 2007. He will be succeeded by H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, a former Foreign Minister of Thailand.
Interesting Changes to the ASEAN Institutional Framework
The ASEAN Charter will introduce the following institutional changes to ASEAN:
ASEAN will, for the first time after 40 years of existence, be conferred with a legal personality of an Inter-Governmental Organization. Details will have to be worked out in a supplementary protocol.
ASEAN Leaders shall meet (at least) twice a year : one among themselves to focus on ASEAN Community affairs; the other (the usual one) will include meetings with Dialogue Partners in ASEAN+1 (with China, Japan, RoK, India), ASEAN+3, and EAS.
Three ASEAN Community Councils shall be established
ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC) Council [with 5 Sectoral Ministerial Bodies]
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council [12 ]
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council [12 ]
ASEAN Foreign Ministers will form the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) to assist ASEAN Leaders in preparing for Summits, with support from SG and ASEC.
The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM of Foreign Ministers) will be renamed as “ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting” and will be one of the four Sectoral Ministerial Bodies of the APSC Council.
They will continue to participate in the ARF.
And they will also be Members of the SEANWFZ Commission (SEANWFZ is the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. The Treaty on SEANWFZ was signed in Bangkok on 15 December 1995.)
Single ASEAN Chairmanship
Chair of the ASEAN Summit will be the same Chair of other key ASEAN bodies, including the three Community Councils, the ACC, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), as well as their respective Senior Officials Meetings (SOMs), and also the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN [to be established in Jakarta].
The ASEAN Chairmanship will start on 1 January and end on 31 December.It is possible that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) may also be included under the Single ASEAN Chairmanship.
Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN
Each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN (ASEAN PR), who will reside in Jakarta.
Collectively the ASEAN PRs shall form the Committee of Permanent Representatives.
Essentially the new Committee will take over many of the regional functions of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC), including external relations, supervising the ASEAN Secretariat, etc.
Dialogue Partners and “relevant inter-governmental organizations” may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN (but no residency requirement).
Article 46 reads :
“Non-ASEAN Member States and relevant inter-governmental organisations may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting shall decide on such accreditation.”
ASEAN human rights body
It will be a new organ of ASEAN.
The TOR will have to be formulated after the signing of the Charter, and approved by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.
ASEAN Foundation
The ASEAN Foundation, which is located in Jakarta, will be accountable to the Secretary-General of ASEAN. (It used to be directly supervised by the Board of Trustees, consisting mainly of ASEAN Ambassadors to Indonesia in Jakarta.)
ASEAN Committees in Third Countries and International Organisations
The important role of the ACTC is reaffirmed in Article 43 of Chapter XII : External Relations.
ASEAN National Secretariats
Article 13 of Chapter IV reaffirms the role of the ASEAN National Secretariats in serving as “the national focal Point”.
Decision-Making will continue to be based principally on consultation and consensus (Article 20, Chapter VII: Decision-Making)
“1. As a basic principle, decision-making in ASEAN shall be based on consultation and consensus.”
“2. Where consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide how a specific decision can be made.”
“3. Nothing in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall affect the modes of decision-making as contained in the relevant ASEAN legal instruments.”
“4. In the case of a serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance, the matter shall be referred to the ASEAN Summit for decision.”
As advised by the ASEAN Economic Ministers, flexible participation is permissible under Article 21: Implementation and Procedure, Paragraph 2, which reads:
“2. In the implementation of economic commitments, a formula for flexible participation, including the ASEAN Minus X formula, may be applied where there is a consensus to do so.”
English is reaffirmed as the working language of ASEAN in Article 34, Chapter X : Administration and Procedure.
Under Chapter XI, the following will add to the creation of ASEAN identity:
ASEAN Motto : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”
ASEAN flag
ASEAN emblem
ASEAN Day : 8 August
ASEAN anthem (there shall be one)
Enhanced Mandate and Role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN
The Secretary-General of ASEAN will have enhanced mandate and role in :
Monitoring progress of implementation of Summit decisions and ASEAN agreements;
Ensuring compliance with economic commitments, especially those in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint;
Reporting to the ASEAN Summit on important issues requiring decision by ASEA N Leaders;
Interpreting the ASEAN Charter if and when requested;
Interacting with Entities Associated with ASEAN;
Representing ASEAN’s views in meetings with external parties;
Advancing the interest of ASEAN and its legal personality.
4 Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs)
2 DSGs from the usual national nomination under the alphabetical order, serving a one 3-year term.
2 other DSGs from open recruitment, whose 3-year term may be renewed by another 3-year.
However, these 4 DSGs and the SG will have to come from 5 different Member States – to ensure equitable distribution of the senior posts.
Each of the three ASEAN Community Councils will be served by one of the DSGs.
The fourth DSG may concentrate on ASEC affairs and narrowing the development gap among ASEAN Member States.
No change to the equal sharing of the contribution to the annual operating budget of the ASEAN Secretariat.
In the current financial year, ASEC has been given US$9.05 million. Thus each Member State contributes US$905,000 to the budget.
The ASEAN Secretariat staff now consists of SG, 2 DSGs (from Cambodia and Indonesia—Lao PDR and Myanmar are next in line to nominate theirs), 60 openly-recruited staff from 9 Member States (none from Brunei Darussalam), and about 200 support staff (almost all are Indonesians).
ASEAN Leaders Sign ASEAN Charter
Singapore, 20 November 2007
The ASEAN Charter was signed today, 20 November 2007, by the Leaders of the 10 ASEAN Member States at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore. It comes as ASEAN celebrates its 40th anniversary of its founding in 1967.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ASEAN CHARTER
For the first time after 40 years of regional cooperation, ASEAN Member States have codified organic Southeast Asian diplomacy, listed key principles and purposes of ASEAN.
The Charter represents a momentous occasion for ASEAN Member States to reiterate their commitment to community-building in ASEAN, as can be seen in the Preamble, and to reposition ASEAN to better meet challenges of the 21st century with new and improved ASEAN structure, as shown in Chapter IV.
ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong says that “the ASEAN Charter will serve the organisation well in three interrelated ways, such as, formally accord ASEAN legal personality, establish greater institutional accountability and compliance system, and reinforce the perception of ASEAN as a serious regional player in the future of the Asia Pacific region”.
HISTORIC AGREEMENT
The ASEAN Charter is, therefore, an historic agreement among the ten Member States to establish the legal and institutional framework for ASEAN as the premier inter-governmental organization of the region.
There are 13 Chapters, 55 Articles, and 4 annexes in the ASEAN Charter.
It was drafted by the High Level Task Force on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter, consisting of one representative from each of the 10 Member States.
After its signing, the Charter will have to be ratified (or formally accepted to be bound) in every Member State.
It will come into force on the 30th day after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification (or instrument of acceptance) with the Secretary-General of ASEAN.
After that, the Charter will be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations.
PEOPLE-ORIENTED ASEAN
ASEAN is moving from being State-centric to be more people-oriented. At least 10 of the 15 stated purposes of ASEAN in Chapter I concern the livelihood and well-being of peoples in ASEAN.
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Adherence to democratic values, and respects for human rights and fundamental freedoms are stipulated in three separate places in the Charter : the Preamble, the Purposes, and the Principles.
This is to emphasize that all ASEAN Member States share the same aspiration and common desire to promote democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms, rule of law, and good governance.
ASEAN Human Rights Body
The Charter calls for the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body as a new organ of ASEAN. This is a new and important commitment in ASEAN as far as promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples in ASEAN are concerned.
The terms of reference for the ASEAN human rights body shall be determined by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.
ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLES
The Charter includes these two among the key principles of ASEAN : “shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity“ and “enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN”.
LEGAL PERSONALITY
In Chapter II, ASEAN Member States confer on ASEAN a legal personality, which is separate from theirs.
Details of what ASEAN can or cannot do with its legal personality will be discussed and stated in a supplementary protocol after the signing of the Charter.
MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
The membership criteria are stated in Chapter III, Article 6.
IMPROVED STRUCTURE
There are interesting institutional changes that the ASEAN Charter will bring about include. See details in the attachment.
Essentially, the improved structure will enable ASEAN to improve coordination, ensure prompt implementation of decisions and agreements, and speedy response to new opportunities and challenges.
Important changes include :
Convening ASEAN Summit twice a year, instead of once a year
ASEAN Foreign Ministers to serve as the ASEAN Coordinating Council
Single Chairmanship for key high-level ASEAN bodies
Appointment of Member States’ Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, to form a Committee of Permanent Representatives, in Jakarta
Establishment of an ASEAN human rights body
ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH ASEAN
Chapter V of the Charter concerns engagement with entities associated with ASEAN. Five categories of these entities are listed in Annex 2. First on the list is the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), which is the key partner in government of ASEAN.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN is in charge of updating the list, upon the recommendation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Jakarta.
CONSULTATION AND CONSENSUS
The Charter reaffirms as “a basic principle” decision-making in ASEAN by consultation and consensus.
Where consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide on how a specific decision can be made.
If there is a serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance, the matter will be referred to the ASEAN Summit for decision.
FLEXIBLE PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC SCHEMES
The Charter permits flexible participation in the implementation of economic commitments in ASEAN, including the use of the ASEAN Minus X formula where there is a consensus to do so.
Under the ASEAN Minus X formula, a Member State may opt out from certain economic schemes that it is not yet ready to participate, although it has taken part in determining and approving such economic schemes in the first place.
NEW DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MODALITIES
ASEAN may establish new dispute settlement mechanisms where necessary.
Disputes in the ASEAN Economic Community may be referred to the 2004 ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism for some solution.
The ASEAN Chairman and the Secretary-General of ASEAN can be requested to provide good offices, conciliation or mediation in a dispute. This is a new initiative in ASEAN.
Unresolved disputes shall be referred to the ASEAN Summit for its decision.
SINGLE CHAIRMANSHIP
Chair of the ASEAN Summit will be the same Chair of other key ASEAN bodies, including the three Community Councils, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), as well as their respective Senior Officials Meetings (SOMs), and also the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, to be established in Jakarta.
It is possible that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) may also be included under the Single ASEAN Chairmanship.
The ASEAN Chairmanship will start on 1 January and end on 31 December.
ENGLISH AS THE WORKING LANGUAGE OF ASEAN
The Charter reaffirms that English is the working language of ASEAN.
(This is one of the few things that ASEAN has outdone the European Union, where every official EU document must be written in at least three languages.)
ASEAN IDENTITY
Under Chapter XI, the following will add to the creation of ASEAN identity:
ASEAN Motto : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”
ASEAN flag
ASEAN emblem
ASEAN Day : 8 August
ASEAN anthem (there shall be one)
(Two more things that ASEAN has outdone the EU : ASEAN will have the motto and anthem; whereas the EU has already abandoned its earlier plan to adopt “United in Diversity” as the European motto, and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy as the European anthem.)
ACCREDITATION OF AMBASSADORS TO ASEAN
States that are Dialogue Partners of ASEAN and relevant inter-governmental organizations, such as the EU, may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN. But there is no Jakarta residency requirement for these Ambassadors to ASEAN.
ABOUT ASEAN:
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five founding Member States, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999.
The ASEAN region has a population of about 567.5 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometres, a combined gross domestic product of over US$1 trillion, and a total foreign trade of over US$ 1.4 trillion.
The ASEAN Secretariat is in Jakarta. It was established in 1976, 10 years after the organization was founded.
Its homepage is at www.aseansec.org
The five-year term of the incumbent Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Ong Keng Yong from Singapore, will end on 31 December 2007. He will be succeeded by H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, a former Foreign Minister of Thailand.
Interesting Changes to the ASEAN Institutional Framework
The ASEAN Charter will introduce the following institutional changes to ASEAN:
ASEAN will, for the first time after 40 years of existence, be conferred with a legal personality of an Inter-Governmental Organization. Details will have to be worked out in a supplementary protocol.
ASEAN Leaders shall meet (at least) twice a year : one among themselves to focus on ASEAN Community affairs; the other (the usual one) will include meetings with Dialogue Partners in ASEAN+1 (with China, Japan, RoK, India), ASEAN+3, and EAS.
Three ASEAN Community Councils shall be established
ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC) Council [with 5 Sectoral Ministerial Bodies]
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council [12 ]
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council [12 ]
ASEAN Foreign Ministers will form the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) to assist ASEAN Leaders in preparing for Summits, with support from SG and ASEC.
The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM of Foreign Ministers) will be renamed as “ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting” and will be one of the four Sectoral Ministerial Bodies of the APSC Council.
They will continue to participate in the ARF.
And they will also be Members of the SEANWFZ Commission (SEANWFZ is the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. The Treaty on SEANWFZ was signed in Bangkok on 15 December 1995.)
Single ASEAN Chairmanship
Chair of the ASEAN Summit will be the same Chair of other key ASEAN bodies, including the three Community Councils, the ACC, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), as well as their respective Senior Officials Meetings (SOMs), and also the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN [to be established in Jakarta].
The ASEAN Chairmanship will start on 1 January and end on 31 December.It is possible that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) may also be included under the Single ASEAN Chairmanship.
Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN
Each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN (ASEAN PR), who will reside in Jakarta.
Collectively the ASEAN PRs shall form the Committee of Permanent Representatives.
Essentially the new Committee will take over many of the regional functions of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC), including external relations, supervising the ASEAN Secretariat, etc.
Dialogue Partners and “relevant inter-governmental organizations” may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN (but no residency requirement).
Article 46 reads :
“Non-ASEAN Member States and relevant inter-governmental organisations may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting shall decide on such accreditation.”
ASEAN human rights body
It will be a new organ of ASEAN.
The TOR will have to be formulated after the signing of the Charter, and approved by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.
ASEAN Foundation
The ASEAN Foundation, which is located in Jakarta, will be accountable to the Secretary-General of ASEAN. (It used to be directly supervised by the Board of Trustees, consisting mainly of ASEAN Ambassadors to Indonesia in Jakarta.)
ASEAN Committees in Third Countries and International Organisations
The important role of the ACTC is reaffirmed in Article 43 of Chapter XII : External Relations.
ASEAN National Secretariats
Article 13 of Chapter IV reaffirms the role of the ASEAN National Secretariats in serving as “the national focal Point”.
Decision-Making will continue to be based principally on consultation and consensus (Article 20, Chapter VII: Decision-Making)
“1. As a basic principle, decision-making in ASEAN shall be based on consultation and consensus.”
“2. Where consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide how a specific decision can be made.”
“3. Nothing in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall affect the modes of decision-making as contained in the relevant ASEAN legal instruments.”
“4. In the case of a serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance, the matter shall be referred to the ASEAN Summit for decision.”
As advised by the ASEAN Economic Ministers, flexible participation is permissible under Article 21: Implementation and Procedure, Paragraph 2, which reads:
“2. In the implementation of economic commitments, a formula for flexible participation, including the ASEAN Minus X formula, may be applied where there is a consensus to do so.”
English is reaffirmed as the working language of ASEAN in Article 34, Chapter X : Administration and Procedure.
Under Chapter XI, the following will add to the creation of ASEAN identity:
ASEAN Motto : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”
ASEAN flag
ASEAN emblem
ASEAN Day : 8 August
ASEAN anthem (there shall be one)
Enhanced Mandate and Role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN
The Secretary-General of ASEAN will have enhanced mandate and role in :
Monitoring progress of implementation of Summit decisions and ASEAN agreements;
Ensuring compliance with economic commitments, especially those in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint;
Reporting to the ASEAN Summit on important issues requiring decision by ASEA N Leaders;
Interpreting the ASEAN Charter if and when requested;
Interacting with Entities Associated with ASEAN;
Representing ASEAN’s views in meetings with external parties;
Advancing the interest of ASEAN and its legal personality.
4 Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs)
2 DSGs from the usual national nomination under the alphabetical order, serving a one 3-year term.
2 other DSGs from open recruitment, whose 3-year term may be renewed by another 3-year.
However, these 4 DSGs and the SG will have to come from 5 different Member States – to ensure equitable distribution of the senior posts.
Each of the three ASEAN Community Councils will be served by one of the DSGs.
The fourth DSG may concentrate on ASEC affairs and narrowing the development gap among ASEAN Member States.
No change to the equal sharing of the contribution to the annual operating budget of the ASEAN Secretariat.
In the current financial year, ASEC has been given US$9.05 million. Thus each Member State contributes US$905,000 to the budget.
The ASEAN Secretariat staff now consists of SG, 2 DSGs (from Cambodia and Indonesia—Lao PDR and Myanmar are next in line to nominate theirs), 60 openly-recruited staff from 9 Member States (none from Brunei Darussalam), and about 200 support staff (almost all are Indonesians).
Monday, November 19, 2007
Aung San Suu Kyi's third time meeting with SPDC's representer
ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္ႏွင့္ နအဖ ဆက္ဆံေရး၀န္ႀကီး ထပ္မံေတြ႕ဆံု
NEJ/ ၂၀ ႏို၀င္ဘာ ၂၀၀၇
အမ်ဳိးသားဒီမိုကေရစီအဖြဲ႕ခ်ဳပ္ အေထြေထြအတြင္းေရးမႉး ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္ႏွင့္
နအဖဆက္ဆံေရး၀န္ႀကီး ဦးေအာင္ၾကည္တို႔ တတိယအႀကိမ္ေျမာက္ေတြ႕ဆံုေၾကာင္း
ယေန႔ထုတ္ နအဖ စစ္အစိုးရပိုင္ သတင္းစာမ်ားတြင္ ေဖာ္ျပသည္။
ယမန္ေန႔ညေန (၃) နာရီက ရန္ကုန္ၿမိဳ႕ စိမ္းလဲ့ကန္သာဧည့္ေဂဟာ၌ (၁) နာရီနီးပါး
ေတြ႕ဆံုခဲ့ေၾကာင္း သတင္းဓာတ္ပံုႏွင့္တကြပါရွိၿပီး ေတြ႕ဆံုမႈႏွင့္ပတ္သက္သည့္ အေသး
စိတ္အခ်က္အလက္မ်ားကို ေရးသားထားျခင္းမရွိေခ်။
ၿပီးခဲ့သည့္ ေအာက္တိုဘာ (၈) တြင္ နအဖစစ္အစိုးရက ဦးေအာင္ၾကည္ကို ဆက္ဆံေရး
၀န္ႀကီးအျဖစ္ ခန္႔အပ္ခဲ့ၿပီးေနာက္ ေအာက္တိုဘာ (၂၅) တြင္ တႀကိမ္ ၊ ႏို၀င္ဘာ (၉) တြင္
တႀကိမ္ ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္ႏွင့္ ဦးေအာင္ၾကည္တို႔ ေတြ႕ဆံုေဆြးေႏြးမႈ (၂) ႀကိမ္ျပဳလုပ္ ခဲ့ၿပီးျဖစ္သည္။
NEJ/ ၂၀ ႏို၀င္ဘာ ၂၀၀၇
အမ်ဳိးသားဒီမိုကေရစီအဖြဲ႕ခ်ဳပ္ အေထြေထြအတြင္းေရးမႉး ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္ႏွင့္
နအဖဆက္ဆံေရး၀န္ႀကီး ဦးေအာင္ၾကည္တို႔ တတိယအႀကိမ္ေျမာက္ေတြ႕ဆံုေၾကာင္း
ယေန႔ထုတ္ နအဖ စစ္အစိုးရပိုင္ သတင္းစာမ်ားတြင္ ေဖာ္ျပသည္။
ယမန္ေန႔ညေန (၃) နာရီက ရန္ကုန္ၿမိဳ႕ စိမ္းလဲ့ကန္သာဧည့္ေဂဟာ၌ (၁) နာရီနီးပါး
ေတြ႕ဆံုခဲ့ေၾကာင္း သတင္းဓာတ္ပံုႏွင့္တကြပါရွိၿပီး ေတြ႕ဆံုမႈႏွင့္ပတ္သက္သည့္ အေသး
စိတ္အခ်က္အလက္မ်ားကို ေရးသားထားျခင္းမရွိေခ်။
ၿပီးခဲ့သည့္ ေအာက္တိုဘာ (၈) တြင္ နအဖစစ္အစိုးရက ဦးေအာင္ၾကည္ကို ဆက္ဆံေရး
၀န္ႀကီးအျဖစ္ ခန္႔အပ္ခဲ့ၿပီးေနာက္ ေအာက္တိုဘာ (၂၅) တြင္ တႀကိမ္ ၊ ႏို၀င္ဘာ (၉) တြင္
တႀကိမ္ ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္ႏွင့္ ဦးေအာင္ၾကည္တို႔ ေတြ႕ဆံုေဆြးေႏြးမႈ (၂) ႀကိမ္ျပဳလုပ္ ခဲ့ၿပီးျဖစ္သည္။
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro with Burmese Junta for investigation
UN Human Rights Envoy Visits Myanmar
By AYE AYE WIN
Associated Press Writer
UN Human Rights Envoy Visits Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- A U.N. human rights envoy entered Myanmar for the first time in four years Sunday on a mission to uncover how many people were killed and detained since September's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the U.N.'s independent rights investigator for Myanmar, has said he is determined to gain access to the country's prisons and detention centers as part of an investigation into wide-ranging allegations of abuse committed by the military regime.
Pinheiro had been barred from the country since November 2003. He submitted a proposed itinerary to the ruling junta before arriving in the country for a five-day trip, but it was still being "fine-tuned," Aye Win, the U.N. spokesman in Myanmar, said Sunday evening.
"I hope I will have a very productive stay," Pinheiro told reporters after flying into Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, earlier in the day. He added, "I'm just very happy to be back here after four years."
Pinheiro has a history of prickly relations with the ruling generals. He abruptly cut short a visit in March 2003 after finding a listening device in a room at a prison where he was interviewing political detainees. Later that year, he accused the junta of making "absurd" excuses to keep political opponents in prison.
Accompanied by authorities, Pinheiro's first stop in Myanmar was the town of Bago, 50 miles north of Yangon, the U.N. said in a statement. Buddhist monasteries in Bago were among those targeted by the crackdown after monks joined anti-government street protests.
Pinheiro then returned to Yangon to meet officials at Shwedagon Pagoda, the country's most revered shrine and a flash point of unrest during the protests.
The junta, which has long been criticized for human rights abuses, has come under renewed international pressure since crushing the demonstrations. Myanmar authorities have said 10 people were killed when troops opened fire on peaceful protesters in Yangon on Sept. 26 and 27. Diplomats and dissidents, however, say the death toll was much higher and that an unknown number of people remain in custody.
Pinheiro cited unidentified sources as saying last month that between 30 and 40 monks and 50 to 70 civilians were allegedly killed.
Amnesty International submitted a letter Friday to Myanmar authorities expressing concern over "grave and ongoing human rights violations" committed since the crackdown, including "widespread arbitrary detentions, hostage-taking, beatings and torture in custody and enforced disappearances."
The London-based human rights group said about 700 political prisoners remain in custody. It demanded that Pinheiro be given full and unrestricted access to the country's detention centers.
Pinheiro has said he will abandon his current visit unless he gets full support from the junta.
"If they don't give me full cooperation, I'll go to the plane, and I'll go out," he said last month after getting the green light to return to Myanmar.
He said that since the crackdown he has received "worrying reports of death in custody, torture, disappearances, ill-treatment, and lack of access to food, water or medical treatment in overcrowded unsanitary detention facilities."
The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned the crackdown at an emergency session Oct. 2 and urged an immediate investigation of the rights situation in Myanmar.
Pinheiro's trip comes three days after the departure of U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who attempted during a six-day visit to kick-start talks between the junta and the pro-democracy opposition.
As a result of Gambari's trip, detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet the leaders of her opposition party on Friday for the first time in three years. Suu Kyi said through a party spokesman she was "very optimistic" about the prospects of dialogue with the government.
The regime cracked down on Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party after it won elections in 1990. Instead of honoring the election results, the military stepped up a campaign of arrest and harassment of the party members, and eventually closed most of its offices.
Suu Kyi has been detained for 12 of the past 18 years, and continuously since May 2003.
By AYE AYE WIN
Associated Press Writer
UN Human Rights Envoy Visits Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- A U.N. human rights envoy entered Myanmar for the first time in four years Sunday on a mission to uncover how many people were killed and detained since September's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the U.N.'s independent rights investigator for Myanmar, has said he is determined to gain access to the country's prisons and detention centers as part of an investigation into wide-ranging allegations of abuse committed by the military regime.
Pinheiro had been barred from the country since November 2003. He submitted a proposed itinerary to the ruling junta before arriving in the country for a five-day trip, but it was still being "fine-tuned," Aye Win, the U.N. spokesman in Myanmar, said Sunday evening.
"I hope I will have a very productive stay," Pinheiro told reporters after flying into Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, earlier in the day. He added, "I'm just very happy to be back here after four years."
Pinheiro has a history of prickly relations with the ruling generals. He abruptly cut short a visit in March 2003 after finding a listening device in a room at a prison where he was interviewing political detainees. Later that year, he accused the junta of making "absurd" excuses to keep political opponents in prison.
Accompanied by authorities, Pinheiro's first stop in Myanmar was the town of Bago, 50 miles north of Yangon, the U.N. said in a statement. Buddhist monasteries in Bago were among those targeted by the crackdown after monks joined anti-government street protests.
Pinheiro then returned to Yangon to meet officials at Shwedagon Pagoda, the country's most revered shrine and a flash point of unrest during the protests.
The junta, which has long been criticized for human rights abuses, has come under renewed international pressure since crushing the demonstrations. Myanmar authorities have said 10 people were killed when troops opened fire on peaceful protesters in Yangon on Sept. 26 and 27. Diplomats and dissidents, however, say the death toll was much higher and that an unknown number of people remain in custody.
Pinheiro cited unidentified sources as saying last month that between 30 and 40 monks and 50 to 70 civilians were allegedly killed.
Amnesty International submitted a letter Friday to Myanmar authorities expressing concern over "grave and ongoing human rights violations" committed since the crackdown, including "widespread arbitrary detentions, hostage-taking, beatings and torture in custody and enforced disappearances."
The London-based human rights group said about 700 political prisoners remain in custody. It demanded that Pinheiro be given full and unrestricted access to the country's detention centers.
Pinheiro has said he will abandon his current visit unless he gets full support from the junta.
"If they don't give me full cooperation, I'll go to the plane, and I'll go out," he said last month after getting the green light to return to Myanmar.
He said that since the crackdown he has received "worrying reports of death in custody, torture, disappearances, ill-treatment, and lack of access to food, water or medical treatment in overcrowded unsanitary detention facilities."
The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned the crackdown at an emergency session Oct. 2 and urged an immediate investigation of the rights situation in Myanmar.
Pinheiro's trip comes three days after the departure of U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who attempted during a six-day visit to kick-start talks between the junta and the pro-democracy opposition.
As a result of Gambari's trip, detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet the leaders of her opposition party on Friday for the first time in three years. Suu Kyi said through a party spokesman she was "very optimistic" about the prospects of dialogue with the government.
The regime cracked down on Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party after it won elections in 1990. Instead of honoring the election results, the military stepped up a campaign of arrest and harassment of the party members, and eventually closed most of its offices.
Suu Kyi has been detained for 12 of the past 18 years, and continuously since May 2003.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Democray Hero likely appearing on State run media news
Suu Kyi Is Front-Page News in Myanmar
By AYE AYE WIN
Associated Press Writer
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi received rare front-page billing Saturday in Myanmar's state-controlled press, which said the ruling military junta was "putting energy" into democratic reforms demanded by the international community.
Suu Kyi, under house arrest, was allowed to meet leaders of her opposition party Friday for the first time in more than three years and told them she believes the generals intend to work toward democracy.
The junta, which came under renewed international pressure after it crushed pro-democracy demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in September, allowed the meeting after the latest in a series of visits by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
Immediately before and after talks with her political allies, Suu Kyi met with Aung Kyi, the general appointed as the "minister for relations" with the opposition leader, according to the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
The regime's tightly controlled newspapers published a photograph of Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi, smiling and shaking hands at a government guest house - an indication the government was keen to publicize the meeting even though it has not commented on what was discussed.
It was the third time in a month that Suu Kyi's image has appeared in state-controlled media, which refused for years to print her picture or even refer to her by name. Suu Kyi has been detained for 12 of the past 18 years, and continuously since May 2003.
"While putting energy into the democratization process, the government has been making efforts for the national reconsolidation," the New Light of Myanmar wrote in its front-page story. It did not elaborate.
Outside observers said they were doubtful the meeting was a real sign of change.
"This meeting was conducted in a government-controlled guesthouse, which in all likelihood was bugged by Burmese intelligence services, inhibiting open discussion," Human Rights Watch said in a statement Saturday.
The group added the generals had "yet to release political prisoners and protesters, end military rule or even hold serious discussion with the political opposition."
Suu Kyi, however, told her colleagues she was "very optimistic" about the prospects of dialogue with the government, which cracked down on her National League for Democracy party after it won elections in 1990, said Nyan Win, a spokesman for the party.
"She believes that the ruling SPDC has the will to achieve national reconciliation," said Nyan Win, who attended the meeting at the government guest house. The junta refers to itself as the State Peace and Development Council.
Suu Kyi suggested the military rulers could make a conciliatory gesture by releasing political prisoners, but appeared to concede she herself will remain detained for the immediate future. She told her colleagues she will ask the government for two liaison officers of her choice to communicate with her party's officials on her behalf.
Suu Kyi said she will also ask Aung Kyi to arrange for her to see the other party leaders whenever necessary.
"She is full of ideas," Nyan Win said, adding that the Nobel peace laureate looked "fit, well and energetic like before."
The government says 10 people were killed in the Sept. 26-27 crackdown on pro-democracy protests, though diplomats and dissidents say the death toll was much higher. Thousands were arrested, with the events triggering intense global condemnation.
The roots of Myanmar's crisis are in the military's refusal to hand over power after Suu Kyi's party won a 1990 general election. The junta now says it is following a seven-step "road map" to democracy that is supposed to culminate in free elections, though it has not set a timeline for the process.
Myanmar experts were cautious about the prospects for reconciliation. A previous U.N.-initiated dialogue in 2002-2003, begun when Suu Kyi was serving an earlier term of house arrest, withered without making any headway.
The regime, which is notoriously thin-skinned about foreign criticism, also faces further scrutiny about its human rights record.
The U.N.'s special investigator for human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, has been invited for a five-day visit starting Sunda
By AYE AYE WIN
Associated Press Writer
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi received rare front-page billing Saturday in Myanmar's state-controlled press, which said the ruling military junta was "putting energy" into democratic reforms demanded by the international community.
Suu Kyi, under house arrest, was allowed to meet leaders of her opposition party Friday for the first time in more than three years and told them she believes the generals intend to work toward democracy.
The junta, which came under renewed international pressure after it crushed pro-democracy demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in September, allowed the meeting after the latest in a series of visits by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
Immediately before and after talks with her political allies, Suu Kyi met with Aung Kyi, the general appointed as the "minister for relations" with the opposition leader, according to the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
The regime's tightly controlled newspapers published a photograph of Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi, smiling and shaking hands at a government guest house - an indication the government was keen to publicize the meeting even though it has not commented on what was discussed.
It was the third time in a month that Suu Kyi's image has appeared in state-controlled media, which refused for years to print her picture or even refer to her by name. Suu Kyi has been detained for 12 of the past 18 years, and continuously since May 2003.
"While putting energy into the democratization process, the government has been making efforts for the national reconsolidation," the New Light of Myanmar wrote in its front-page story. It did not elaborate.
Outside observers said they were doubtful the meeting was a real sign of change.
"This meeting was conducted in a government-controlled guesthouse, which in all likelihood was bugged by Burmese intelligence services, inhibiting open discussion," Human Rights Watch said in a statement Saturday.
The group added the generals had "yet to release political prisoners and protesters, end military rule or even hold serious discussion with the political opposition."
Suu Kyi, however, told her colleagues she was "very optimistic" about the prospects of dialogue with the government, which cracked down on her National League for Democracy party after it won elections in 1990, said Nyan Win, a spokesman for the party.
"She believes that the ruling SPDC has the will to achieve national reconciliation," said Nyan Win, who attended the meeting at the government guest house. The junta refers to itself as the State Peace and Development Council.
Suu Kyi suggested the military rulers could make a conciliatory gesture by releasing political prisoners, but appeared to concede she herself will remain detained for the immediate future. She told her colleagues she will ask the government for two liaison officers of her choice to communicate with her party's officials on her behalf.
Suu Kyi said she will also ask Aung Kyi to arrange for her to see the other party leaders whenever necessary.
"She is full of ideas," Nyan Win said, adding that the Nobel peace laureate looked "fit, well and energetic like before."
The government says 10 people were killed in the Sept. 26-27 crackdown on pro-democracy protests, though diplomats and dissidents say the death toll was much higher. Thousands were arrested, with the events triggering intense global condemnation.
The roots of Myanmar's crisis are in the military's refusal to hand over power after Suu Kyi's party won a 1990 general election. The junta now says it is following a seven-step "road map" to democracy that is supposed to culminate in free elections, though it has not set a timeline for the process.
Myanmar experts were cautious about the prospects for reconciliation. A previous U.N.-initiated dialogue in 2002-2003, begun when Suu Kyi was serving an earlier term of house arrest, withered without making any headway.
The regime, which is notoriously thin-skinned about foreign criticism, also faces further scrutiny about its human rights record.
The U.N.'s special investigator for human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, has been invited for a five-day visit starting Sunda
Friday, October 26, 2007
Sending Panties and sap the power of Junta
Panty Power comes into play
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 26, 2007 - Women workers in Philippines today "attacked" the Burmese embassy in Makati by hurling panties in a demonstration against the junta's brutal crackdown on Burmese protesters in September.
The protest organized by Free Burma Coalition-Philippines and Alliance of Progressive Labor, had over 60 women activists on Friday pelting panties at the Burmese embassy condemning it for its brutality against its own people.
Burmese junta officials, are known to be highly superstitious and panties were deliberately thrown to condemn their actions, Jomar Bolo, spokesperson of the FBC, said.
"Some junta members believe that any contact with female undergarments - clean or dirty - will sap them of their power," Bolo told Mizzima.
Throwing panties at the Burmese Embassy is also to remind the junta of its brutal beating, killing in the crackdown last month on tens of thousands of peaceful protesters despite calls by the international community to exercise utmost restraint, the FBC said in its statement released today.
Marlene Sindayen, spokesperson of the Alliance of Progressive Labor, said, "Throwing women's underwear at the Burmese embassy is our way of telling the junta we want democracy in Burma now. Panties also symbolize women's liberation in Burma because the junta is also known for being the world's number one women rights abuser."
The protest called "Panty Power" joins activists' in several countries, including UK, Thailand, Australia and Singapore in sending panties to Burmese embassies.
The Lanna Action for Burma, which launched the "panties for peace" campaign, in its website encourages women to send their panties to the Burmese embassy saying, "This is your chance to use your 'Panty Power' to take away the power from the junta and support the people in Burma."
"You can post, deliver or fling your panties at the closest Burmese Embassy any day from today. Send early, send often!" added the group.
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 26, 2007 - Women workers in Philippines today "attacked" the Burmese embassy in Makati by hurling panties in a demonstration against the junta's brutal crackdown on Burmese protesters in September.
The protest organized by Free Burma Coalition-Philippines and Alliance of Progressive Labor, had over 60 women activists on Friday pelting panties at the Burmese embassy condemning it for its brutality against its own people.
Burmese junta officials, are known to be highly superstitious and panties were deliberately thrown to condemn their actions, Jomar Bolo, spokesperson of the FBC, said.
"Some junta members believe that any contact with female undergarments - clean or dirty - will sap them of their power," Bolo told Mizzima.
Throwing panties at the Burmese Embassy is also to remind the junta of its brutal beating, killing in the crackdown last month on tens of thousands of peaceful protesters despite calls by the international community to exercise utmost restraint, the FBC said in its statement released today.
Marlene Sindayen, spokesperson of the Alliance of Progressive Labor, said, "Throwing women's underwear at the Burmese embassy is our way of telling the junta we want democracy in Burma now. Panties also symbolize women's liberation in Burma because the junta is also known for being the world's number one women rights abuser."
The protest called "Panty Power" joins activists' in several countries, including UK, Thailand, Australia and Singapore in sending panties to Burmese embassies.
The Lanna Action for Burma, which launched the "panties for peace" campaign, in its website encourages women to send their panties to the Burmese embassy saying, "This is your chance to use your 'Panty Power' to take away the power from the junta and support the people in Burma."
"You can post, deliver or fling your panties at the closest Burmese Embassy any day from today. Send early, send often!" added the group.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro will end his mission if Burmese Military doesn't act together with him
Pinheiro Says He’ll End Visit If Junta Doesn’t Cooperate
By Lalit K Jha/United Nations
October 25, 2007
UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro says that unless the Burmese junta cooperates fully with him when he visits Burma in November he will immediately leave the country.
The junta is allowing Pinheiro to visit Burma after refusing his repeated requests for a visa over the past four years. Burma’s ambassador at the UN, U Thaung Tun, has given an assurance that Pinheiro will be accorded full co-operation.
Pinheiro, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s special rapporteur on human rights, said that if he didn’t get full cooperation “I go to the plane and I go out [of the country],”
Speaking after a meeting with a UN General Assembly committee on Wednesday,
Pinheiro said he planned to visit Burma for five days. The visit will probably come immediately after one planned by Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, in the first week of November.
It is hoped that both envoys will be able to complete their visits before the start of an Asean summit meeting on November 17. Pinheiro said he planned to submit his report to the Human Rights Council on December 11.
Pinheiro’s visit was mandated by the Human Rights Council, which asked the envoy to assess the current human rights situation in Burma. It will be Pinheiro’s seventh visit to Burma as UN special rapporteur but his first for four years.
Pinheiro said he would gather information, collect testimonies and data and investigate allegations of ongoing human rights. “I will be particularly concerned to verify the numbers, whereabouts and conditions of those currently detained, as well as an accounting for the numbers killed during the protests,” he said.
“My task is to offer honest, complex and objective picture of the crisis, the origin of the crisis, the crisis itself, the excessive use of force and then what is happening in terms of detainees, deaths of people, those who are injured.”
Pinheiro said he wanted to visit prisons to meet detainees and monasteries for meetings with monks.
Referring to a statement by the Burmese Ambassador to the UN, U Thaung Tun ,that as many as 2,677 detainees have been freed and more releases would follow, Pinheiro said: “I think that the situation of fear prevails. I do not think that the repression has ceased.
“What annoys me that repression has not stopped even for a single moment, despite all this universal appeal by the Human Rights Council [and] the unanimous statement from the President of the Security Council,” he said.
Pinheiro told the UN committee: “I have continuously received worrying reports of death in custody, torture, disappearances, ill-treatment, and lack of access to food, water or medical treatment in overcrowded unsanitary detention facilities across the country.
“Reports are being received regarding night raids during curfew hours with the army and the militia going home by home searching for people and detaining participants in the demonstrations. Relatives of people in hiding have reportedly been taken hostage as a way of pressure.
“I have received reports that from September 26 to October 6, fifty two monasteries had been raided by security forces. I have also received reports of people who have already been charged and sentenced by special courts.”
Pinheiro said he has also received reports “that there have been selective killings aimed at decapitating the incipient movement.”
Asked later about a recent interview in which he was reported as saying the chances of the demonstrations succeeding in their aim were minimal, Pinheiro said he had meant that the situation in Burma could not be compared to the uprisings that overthrew regimes in Eastern Germany and the Ukraine.
“It is not the case here. I said that please do not have any illusion that the protest would have any regime change.
“There are several layers of the protest. The first was against the increase of oil prices. Then joined the common citizens and leaders of the 88 Generation. Then the monks just entered the protest when one of the monasteries was attacked and one of the monks was hurt.
“The first request of the monks was asking the government to apologize. The march of monks was not political. I refused to read the march of the monks as prelude to a revolution in Myanmar [Burma]. I think I was right.”
“Of course the government of Myanmar [Burma] made the terrible mistake by attacking the monks, because as you know the Burmese society, unlike any other society, is very much organized. Buddhism is something that organizes the entire life of people. Monks are interdependent on the society. They do not do anything. They are completely dependent on donations from the society
By Lalit K Jha/United Nations
October 25, 2007
UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro says that unless the Burmese junta cooperates fully with him when he visits Burma in November he will immediately leave the country.
The junta is allowing Pinheiro to visit Burma after refusing his repeated requests for a visa over the past four years. Burma’s ambassador at the UN, U Thaung Tun, has given an assurance that Pinheiro will be accorded full co-operation.
Pinheiro, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s special rapporteur on human rights, said that if he didn’t get full cooperation “I go to the plane and I go out [of the country],”
Speaking after a meeting with a UN General Assembly committee on Wednesday,
Pinheiro said he planned to visit Burma for five days. The visit will probably come immediately after one planned by Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, in the first week of November.
It is hoped that both envoys will be able to complete their visits before the start of an Asean summit meeting on November 17. Pinheiro said he planned to submit his report to the Human Rights Council on December 11.
Pinheiro’s visit was mandated by the Human Rights Council, which asked the envoy to assess the current human rights situation in Burma. It will be Pinheiro’s seventh visit to Burma as UN special rapporteur but his first for four years.
Pinheiro said he would gather information, collect testimonies and data and investigate allegations of ongoing human rights. “I will be particularly concerned to verify the numbers, whereabouts and conditions of those currently detained, as well as an accounting for the numbers killed during the protests,” he said.
“My task is to offer honest, complex and objective picture of the crisis, the origin of the crisis, the crisis itself, the excessive use of force and then what is happening in terms of detainees, deaths of people, those who are injured.”
Pinheiro said he wanted to visit prisons to meet detainees and monasteries for meetings with monks.
Referring to a statement by the Burmese Ambassador to the UN, U Thaung Tun ,that as many as 2,677 detainees have been freed and more releases would follow, Pinheiro said: “I think that the situation of fear prevails. I do not think that the repression has ceased.
“What annoys me that repression has not stopped even for a single moment, despite all this universal appeal by the Human Rights Council [and] the unanimous statement from the President of the Security Council,” he said.
Pinheiro told the UN committee: “I have continuously received worrying reports of death in custody, torture, disappearances, ill-treatment, and lack of access to food, water or medical treatment in overcrowded unsanitary detention facilities across the country.
“Reports are being received regarding night raids during curfew hours with the army and the militia going home by home searching for people and detaining participants in the demonstrations. Relatives of people in hiding have reportedly been taken hostage as a way of pressure.
“I have received reports that from September 26 to October 6, fifty two monasteries had been raided by security forces. I have also received reports of people who have already been charged and sentenced by special courts.”
Pinheiro said he has also received reports “that there have been selective killings aimed at decapitating the incipient movement.”
Asked later about a recent interview in which he was reported as saying the chances of the demonstrations succeeding in their aim were minimal, Pinheiro said he had meant that the situation in Burma could not be compared to the uprisings that overthrew regimes in Eastern Germany and the Ukraine.
“It is not the case here. I said that please do not have any illusion that the protest would have any regime change.
“There are several layers of the protest. The first was against the increase of oil prices. Then joined the common citizens and leaders of the 88 Generation. Then the monks just entered the protest when one of the monasteries was attacked and one of the monks was hurt.
“The first request of the monks was asking the government to apologize. The march of monks was not political. I refused to read the march of the monks as prelude to a revolution in Myanmar [Burma]. I think I was right.”
“Of course the government of Myanmar [Burma] made the terrible mistake by attacking the monks, because as you know the Burmese society, unlike any other society, is very much organized. Buddhism is something that organizes the entire life of people. Monks are interdependent on the society. They do not do anything. They are completely dependent on donations from the society
scape goat released process of Burmese Junta
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Junta showcases release of protesters, activists
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 24, 2007 - The Burmese military junta today released an aging dissident even as it released several other activists who were arrested for participating in last month's protests.
Kyaw Khaing (85), people's representative of the Taungup National League for Democracy in western Burma's Arakan state, was released by authorities from Thandwe jail, a local resident said.
Mr. Khaing, an elected member of parliament in the 1990 elections, was arrested in the last week of September and was sentenced to seven and- a-half years in prison along with the general secretary of Taungup NLD, Min Aung, local residents said.
The local told Mizzima that Kyaw Khaing was released on Wednesday after submitting an appeal to the court but Min Aung continues to be in detention.
Surprisingly, the local, who closely monitored the case of the NLD leader, said a township police official wrote the appeal and after making U Kyaw Khaing sign it, submitted it to the Thandwe township court, which ordered his release.
"On the day they were sentenced to seven and-a- half years, the township police officer himself wrote an appeal and got U Kyaw Khaing to sign it and send it to the township court," the local said.
Meanwhile, authorities in Pakhokku of Magwe division in central Burma on Tuesday night 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 told Mizzima.
In a separate incident, authorities in Mingyan town of Mandalay division released three members of the NLD on Sunday.
Local residents said, the Mingyan township NLD secretary Paw Thein and party members Win Naing and Bo Win, were released from Palate prison, where they had been kept under detention.
While the Burmese junta claims that it has released most protestors and opposition party members, who were arrested and detained for actively participated in the monk-led protests, observers said the junta's is doing it to ease the mounting international pressure.
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.
"By showing to Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Gambari that it is releasing activists, the junta wants to ease international pressure. And they want to prove to the international community that Burma is back to normal and stable now," the local observer, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mizzima.
Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win in a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday formally invited UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, to visit Burma as requested earlier by the Human Rights Council.
Burmese junta's Foreign Minister requested the UN chief to make the rights expert's trip earlier than November 17.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Gambari, who is currently in holding talks with Chinese officials in Beijing as part of a six-nation tour to consult on Burma, said he has been officially invited to re-visit Burma and expects to return to the Southeast Asian country in early November.
Junta showcases release of protesters, activists
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 24, 2007 - The Burmese military junta today released an aging dissident even as it released several other activists who were arrested for participating in last month's protests.
Kyaw Khaing (85), people's representative of the Taungup National League for Democracy in western Burma's Arakan state, was released by authorities from Thandwe jail, a local resident said.
Mr. Khaing, an elected member of parliament in the 1990 elections, was arrested in the last week of September and was sentenced to seven and- a-half years in prison along with the general secretary of Taungup NLD, Min Aung, local residents said.
The local told Mizzima that Kyaw Khaing was released on Wednesday after submitting an appeal to the court but Min Aung continues to be in detention.
Surprisingly, the local, who closely monitored the case of the NLD leader, said a township police official wrote the appeal and after making U Kyaw Khaing sign it, submitted it to the Thandwe township court, which ordered his release.
"On the day they were sentenced to seven and-a- half years, the township police officer himself wrote an appeal and got U Kyaw Khaing to sign it and send it to the township court," the local said.
Meanwhile, authorities in Pakhokku of Magwe division in central Burma on Tuesday night 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 told Mizzima.
In a separate incident, authorities in Mingyan town of Mandalay division released three members of the NLD on Sunday.
Local residents said, the Mingyan township NLD secretary Paw Thein and party members Win Naing and Bo Win, were released from Palate prison, where they had been kept under detention.
While the Burmese junta claims that it has released most protestors and opposition party members, who were arrested and detained for actively participated in the monk-led protests, observers said the junta's is doing it to ease the mounting international pressure.
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.
"By showing to Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Gambari that it is releasing activists, the junta wants to ease international pressure. And they want to prove to the international community that Burma is back to normal and stable now," the local observer, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mizzima.
Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win in a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday formally invited UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, to visit Burma as requested earlier by the Human Rights Council.
Burmese junta's Foreign Minister requested the UN chief to make the rights expert's trip earlier than November 17.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Gambari, who is currently in holding talks with Chinese officials in Beijing as part of a six-nation tour to consult on Burma, said he has been officially invited to re-visit Burma and expects to return to the Southeast Asian country in early November.
China and Russia refused to Myanmar Sanctions
Oct 25, 1:04 AM EDT
China, Russia: No to Myanmar Sanctions
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN
Associated Press Writer
HARBIN, China (AP) -- China and Russia urged Myanmar's military rulers to talk with the country's opposition but said Wednesday that they opposed any U.N. sanctions against the junta.
The two veto-wielding countries on the U.N. Security Council say Myanmar's crushing of pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks was an internal issue, a position that has prevented discussions of sanctions.
Foreign Ministers Yang Jiechi of China and Sergey Lavrov of Russia said at a meeting with India's Pranab Mukherjee that, instead of punishment, they support efforts by U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who was in China on Thursday talking to leaders about the issue, to open talks between the opposition and the ruling generals.
"The initiatives (Gambari) has taken, he should be encouraged," Mukherjee told reporters. "There should not be any sanctions at this stage."
Lavrov warned that sanctions, threats or other forms of pressure on the junta risked "aggravating the situation and generating a new crisis."
Yang echoed that, saying: "We hope that countries concerned will play a helping role instead of applying sanctions and applying pressure."
The junta has also agreed to allow Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the U.N.'s independent rights investigator on Myanmar, to visit the country next month for the first time since in four years. He said he'll arrive on the heels of Gambari's trip.
Pinheiro told reporters at the U.N. on Wednesday that he will demand access to prisons while in Myanmar, and that he'll try to determine the number of people killed and detained by the military during the crackdown.
"My task is to offer an honest, complex, objective picture of ... the immediate origins of the crisis, the crisis itself, the excessive use of force," Pinheiro said.
Meanwhile, activists wearing white prison garb and masks held small protests in cities around the world to mark pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's 12 years in detention in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
"I'm very angry, governments around the world know that people in Burma suffer - and have been suffering for so long," refugee Zoya Phan, 26, said in London. "They know the regime is brutal, but they have done almost nothing to help the people in Burma."
The meeting of China, India and Russia is part of the revival of a loose 1950s alliance against U.S. dominance of global affairs. A joint statement said, however, that the countries' third recent forum "was not targeted against any other country or organization."
India and China want to secure energy supplies and natural resources that Russia has in abundance. In addition, India wants to promote its bid for a permanent veto-wielding seat on the Security Council. The joint statement said China and Russia "support India's aspirations to play a greater role in the United Nations."
China is one of Myanmar's leading trading partners and its communist government has frequent contacts with the junta and provides the military with much of its weaponry.
In Beijing, Gambari called on China to use its influence to help persuade the junta to stop its crackdown. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei told Gambari China backs his efforts, but made no new commitments.
Myanmar security forces crushed the recent wave of protests by shooting and beating demonstrators on Sept. 26-27. The regime said 10 people were killed, but dissident groups put the toll at up to 200 and say thousands of students, Buddhist monks and others were arrested. The crackdown ignited international outrage.
Myanmar state radio and television reported that a top leader of the ruling junta, Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, had been appointed prime minister.
Thein Sein had been serving as acting prime minister since May, filling in for ailing Gen. Soe Win, who died Oct. 12.
The prime minister's job holds little independent power because the military controls the state through the junta, officially known as the State Peace and Development Council.
No change in policy is expected with the appointment, because policy is set by the top leaders of the junta, who - despite rumors of rivalries - act in concert, with no public disagreements.
The military regime alleged that "bogus" Buddhist monks connived with political activists they had previously met in prison to stage last month's mass anti-government protests.
The allegations were made by Religious Affairs Minister Brig. Gen. Thura Myint Aung during a Wednesday meeting with senior monks in Yangon, and reported by state-run radio and television.
Buddhist monks enjoy high respect among the country's population at large, and the violent suppression of their protests has seriously hurt the junta's reputation.
To counter the bad impression, state media have been filled with stories suggesting that the monks taking part in the recent protests were a tiny minority and not properly religious, and reporting virtually daily on junta members visiting monasteries to make donations.
China, Russia: No to Myanmar Sanctions
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN
Associated Press Writer
HARBIN, China (AP) -- China and Russia urged Myanmar's military rulers to talk with the country's opposition but said Wednesday that they opposed any U.N. sanctions against the junta.
The two veto-wielding countries on the U.N. Security Council say Myanmar's crushing of pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks was an internal issue, a position that has prevented discussions of sanctions.
Foreign Ministers Yang Jiechi of China and Sergey Lavrov of Russia said at a meeting with India's Pranab Mukherjee that, instead of punishment, they support efforts by U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who was in China on Thursday talking to leaders about the issue, to open talks between the opposition and the ruling generals.
"The initiatives (Gambari) has taken, he should be encouraged," Mukherjee told reporters. "There should not be any sanctions at this stage."
Lavrov warned that sanctions, threats or other forms of pressure on the junta risked "aggravating the situation and generating a new crisis."
Yang echoed that, saying: "We hope that countries concerned will play a helping role instead of applying sanctions and applying pressure."
The junta has also agreed to allow Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the U.N.'s independent rights investigator on Myanmar, to visit the country next month for the first time since in four years. He said he'll arrive on the heels of Gambari's trip.
Pinheiro told reporters at the U.N. on Wednesday that he will demand access to prisons while in Myanmar, and that he'll try to determine the number of people killed and detained by the military during the crackdown.
"My task is to offer an honest, complex, objective picture of ... the immediate origins of the crisis, the crisis itself, the excessive use of force," Pinheiro said.
Meanwhile, activists wearing white prison garb and masks held small protests in cities around the world to mark pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's 12 years in detention in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
"I'm very angry, governments around the world know that people in Burma suffer - and have been suffering for so long," refugee Zoya Phan, 26, said in London. "They know the regime is brutal, but they have done almost nothing to help the people in Burma."
The meeting of China, India and Russia is part of the revival of a loose 1950s alliance against U.S. dominance of global affairs. A joint statement said, however, that the countries' third recent forum "was not targeted against any other country or organization."
India and China want to secure energy supplies and natural resources that Russia has in abundance. In addition, India wants to promote its bid for a permanent veto-wielding seat on the Security Council. The joint statement said China and Russia "support India's aspirations to play a greater role in the United Nations."
China is one of Myanmar's leading trading partners and its communist government has frequent contacts with the junta and provides the military with much of its weaponry.
In Beijing, Gambari called on China to use its influence to help persuade the junta to stop its crackdown. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei told Gambari China backs his efforts, but made no new commitments.
Myanmar security forces crushed the recent wave of protests by shooting and beating demonstrators on Sept. 26-27. The regime said 10 people were killed, but dissident groups put the toll at up to 200 and say thousands of students, Buddhist monks and others were arrested. The crackdown ignited international outrage.
Myanmar state radio and television reported that a top leader of the ruling junta, Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, had been appointed prime minister.
Thein Sein had been serving as acting prime minister since May, filling in for ailing Gen. Soe Win, who died Oct. 12.
The prime minister's job holds little independent power because the military controls the state through the junta, officially known as the State Peace and Development Council.
No change in policy is expected with the appointment, because policy is set by the top leaders of the junta, who - despite rumors of rivalries - act in concert, with no public disagreements.
The military regime alleged that "bogus" Buddhist monks connived with political activists they had previously met in prison to stage last month's mass anti-government protests.
The allegations were made by Religious Affairs Minister Brig. Gen. Thura Myint Aung during a Wednesday meeting with senior monks in Yangon, and reported by state-run radio and television.
Buddhist monks enjoy high respect among the country's population at large, and the violent suppression of their protests has seriously hurt the junta's reputation.
To counter the bad impression, state media have been filled with stories suggesting that the monks taking part in the recent protests were a tiny minority and not properly religious, and reporting virtually daily on junta members visiting monasteries to make donations.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
New Zealand base exile burmese people urged MP of New Zealand for help burmese issue
New Zealand to step up pressure on Burma
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 16, 2007 - Members of Parliament in New Zealand today decided to form a parliamentary caucus on Burma to exert pressure on the military junta for a peaceful transition to democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.
During a meeting with Burmese activists in New Zealand on Tuesday, Hon Chris Carter, MP of the Conservative Party and Minister of Housing said they would work in the parliament to form a caucus on Burma.
Naing Ko Ko, an activist living in New Zealand said, they held the meeting to seek the support of the New Zealand government by inviting members of Parliament, where the activists placed three requests.
The MP's complied to their request – to send an envoy to Burma bordering areas, to form a parliamentary caucus, and to pass a bill in Parliament to support Burmese democracy movement, said Naing Ko Ko.
"The MP told us that he will follow it up with a discussion at the parliament," Htike Htike, another Burmese activist attending the meeting, told mizzima.
New Zealand, maintaining its stance on the Burmese junta, has never allowed the junta to send a diplomatic mission to the country.
Earlier, New Zealand, a dialogue partner of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), refused talks with the grouping as a protest against the Burmese junta, which is a member of group.
Meanwhile, Parliamentarians from the Southeast Asian nations have called for greater international sanctions including an arms embargo.
In a press statement released today, the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) said, "a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on an arms embargo will serve to protect civilians in conflict-stricken country [Burma]."
The group also urged the ASEAN governments to support a UNSC resolution that will call for an arms embargo to military-ruled Burma.
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
October 16, 2007 - Members of Parliament in New Zealand today decided to form a parliamentary caucus on Burma to exert pressure on the military junta for a peaceful transition to democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.
During a meeting with Burmese activists in New Zealand on Tuesday, Hon Chris Carter, MP of the Conservative Party and Minister of Housing said they would work in the parliament to form a caucus on Burma.
Naing Ko Ko, an activist living in New Zealand said, they held the meeting to seek the support of the New Zealand government by inviting members of Parliament, where the activists placed three requests.
The MP's complied to their request – to send an envoy to Burma bordering areas, to form a parliamentary caucus, and to pass a bill in Parliament to support Burmese democracy movement, said Naing Ko Ko.
"The MP told us that he will follow it up with a discussion at the parliament," Htike Htike, another Burmese activist attending the meeting, told mizzima.
New Zealand, maintaining its stance on the Burmese junta, has never allowed the junta to send a diplomatic mission to the country.
Earlier, New Zealand, a dialogue partner of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), refused talks with the grouping as a protest against the Burmese junta, which is a member of group.
Meanwhile, Parliamentarians from the Southeast Asian nations have called for greater international sanctions including an arms embargo.
In a press statement released today, the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) said, "a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on an arms embargo will serve to protect civilians in conflict-stricken country [Burma]."
The group also urged the ASEAN governments to support a UNSC resolution that will call for an arms embargo to military-ruled Burma.
SPDC still hunting for Democracy and human rights activists
Oct 17, 6:28 AM EDT
Myanmar Junta: 3,000 Detained in Protest
AP News
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Myanmar's military junta acknowledged Wednesday that it detained nearly 3,000 people during a crackdown on recent pro-democracy protests, with hundreds still remaining in custody.
The official statement on the front-page of The New Light of Myanmar, a government mouthpiece, said authorities were still hunting for demonstrators who took part in the recent uprising.
"Those who led, got involved in and supported the unrest which broke out in September were called in and are being interrogated," the junta said. "Some are still being called in for questioning and those who should be released will be."
The statement said that 2,927 people had been arrested since the crackdown started and nearly 500 were still in custody.
In their last tally of arrests, the junta said that nearly 2,100 had been detained.
Everyone released from custody was required to sign "pledges" the statement said, without elaborating.
The announcement came a day after Japan canceled a multimillion dollar grant to protest the bloody crackdown and U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari pressed Asian nations Tuesday to take the lead in resolving the crisis.
China, which has been uncooperative in past efforts to pressure Myanmar's military rulers, said it supported Gambari's mission. As Myanmar's closest ally and a permanent member of the Security Council, China is considered key in pushing for change in the Southeast Asian nation.
Japan had already said it would suspend some assistance in response to the death of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai, among at least 10 people killed when troops fired into crowds of peaceful protesters during the Sept. 26-27 crackdown. Video footage of Nagai's death appeared to show a soldier shooting the journalist at close range on the streets of Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said Tuesday that the government was canceling a grant worth $4.7 million for a business education center slated for the Yangon University campus.
In fiscal year 2006, Japan provided grants and technical assistance totaling $26.1 million to Myanmar, according to the latest ministry figures.
Machimura said the decision was in response to the crackdown and followed a U.N. statement condemning the violence. The U.N. Security Council issued its first-ever statement on Myanmar last week, condemning the junta's actions and calling for the release of all political prisoners.
Gambari was in Malaysia seeking help from Asian nations to resolve the crisis in Myanmar. The U.N. wants the junta to start negotiations with Suu Kyi.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Yang told reporters at the 17th congress of the ruling communist party that Myanmar's recent calm after last month's violence was "the result of hard work and cooperation from all sides."
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations would fully support Gambari's negotiation efforts. But he ruled out sanctions.
Christopher Hill, one of Washington's top diplomats on Asia, said that China and the ASEAN should use their influence to help fix the "atrocious situation" in Myanmar.
Earlier this month, Gambari met with the junta's leader, Gen. Than Shwe, to convey the world's outrage. He also met twice with Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.
But Myanmar's military leaders have rebuffed calls for reforms, saying the only way to bring change is to follow the junta's seven-step "road map" to democracy, which is supposed to culminate with elections at an unspecified date.
So far, only the plan's first stage - drawing up guidelines for a new constitution - has been completed, and that took more than a decade. Critics say the road map is a ruse to allow the military to stay in power.
Myanmar Junta: 3,000 Detained in Protest
AP News
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Myanmar's military junta acknowledged Wednesday that it detained nearly 3,000 people during a crackdown on recent pro-democracy protests, with hundreds still remaining in custody.
The official statement on the front-page of The New Light of Myanmar, a government mouthpiece, said authorities were still hunting for demonstrators who took part in the recent uprising.
"Those who led, got involved in and supported the unrest which broke out in September were called in and are being interrogated," the junta said. "Some are still being called in for questioning and those who should be released will be."
The statement said that 2,927 people had been arrested since the crackdown started and nearly 500 were still in custody.
In their last tally of arrests, the junta said that nearly 2,100 had been detained.
Everyone released from custody was required to sign "pledges" the statement said, without elaborating.
The announcement came a day after Japan canceled a multimillion dollar grant to protest the bloody crackdown and U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari pressed Asian nations Tuesday to take the lead in resolving the crisis.
China, which has been uncooperative in past efforts to pressure Myanmar's military rulers, said it supported Gambari's mission. As Myanmar's closest ally and a permanent member of the Security Council, China is considered key in pushing for change in the Southeast Asian nation.
Japan had already said it would suspend some assistance in response to the death of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai, among at least 10 people killed when troops fired into crowds of peaceful protesters during the Sept. 26-27 crackdown. Video footage of Nagai's death appeared to show a soldier shooting the journalist at close range on the streets of Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said Tuesday that the government was canceling a grant worth $4.7 million for a business education center slated for the Yangon University campus.
In fiscal year 2006, Japan provided grants and technical assistance totaling $26.1 million to Myanmar, according to the latest ministry figures.
Machimura said the decision was in response to the crackdown and followed a U.N. statement condemning the violence. The U.N. Security Council issued its first-ever statement on Myanmar last week, condemning the junta's actions and calling for the release of all political prisoners.
Gambari was in Malaysia seeking help from Asian nations to resolve the crisis in Myanmar. The U.N. wants the junta to start negotiations with Suu Kyi.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Yang told reporters at the 17th congress of the ruling communist party that Myanmar's recent calm after last month's violence was "the result of hard work and cooperation from all sides."
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations would fully support Gambari's negotiation efforts. But he ruled out sanctions.
Christopher Hill, one of Washington's top diplomats on Asia, said that China and the ASEAN should use their influence to help fix the "atrocious situation" in Myanmar.
Earlier this month, Gambari met with the junta's leader, Gen. Than Shwe, to convey the world's outrage. He also met twice with Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.
But Myanmar's military leaders have rebuffed calls for reforms, saying the only way to bring change is to follow the junta's seven-step "road map" to democracy, which is supposed to culminate with elections at an unspecified date.
So far, only the plan's first stage - drawing up guidelines for a new constitution - has been completed, and that took more than a decade. Critics say the road map is a ruse to allow the military to stay in power.
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