Saturday, 23 August 2008
Should Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meet with Mr Gambari?
On Wednesday Mr Gambari was kept waiting for an hour at the government guest house where the scheduled meeting was supposed to take place.
He left the guest house when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi failed to appear according to the reports from Burma.
The UN envoy extended his five-day visit in an apparent effort to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
He left the guest house when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi failed to appear according to the reports from Burma.
The UN envoy extended his five-day visit in an apparent effort to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
ABFSU member’s parents jailed for 6 years
ABFSU member’s parents jailed for 6 years
The parents of one of the leaders of the All-Burmese Federation of Student Unions, Ko Sithu Maung, have been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by Hlaing township court for obstructing police investigations.
U Peter and Daw Nu Nu Swe, who are both in their 50s, were found guilty of three charges, including harassing officers on duty and inciting a riot in their ward.
The couple was arrested in October last year after they delayed answering the door to police who came to their house looking for their son.
In their defence, U Peter and Daw Nu Nu Swe testified in court that the police had knocked on their door late at night with no warrant and had not been accompanied by local officials and so they had not let them in at first because they did not know who they were.
But the court found them to have acted illegally and handed down six-year prison terms to the couple.
Ko Sithu Maung was arrested on 9 October last year from a safehouse along with two other ABFSU leaders.
He is now in Insein prison awaiting trial.
U Myint Aye to be charged with misappropriating aid
Human rights activist U Myint Aye is to be charged with misappropriating relief funds despite the lack of evidence against him, according to a police officer who did not want to be named.
U Myint Aye, a prominent of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network, was arrested on 8 August on the orders of the interior ministry but authorities could not find any incriminating evidence against him, the police officer told DVB.
The interior ministry reportedly issued a directive instructing officials to charge U Myint Aye with misappropriating funds intended for victims of Cyclone Nargis.
At the time of U Myint Aye’s arrest, authorities also seized receipts for donations to cyclone victims and a list of donors and the interior ministry ordered officials to interrogate the donors, the police officer said.
U Myint Aye, a prominent of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network, was arrested on 8 August on the orders of the interior ministry but authorities could not find any incriminating evidence against him, the police officer told DVB.
The interior ministry reportedly issued a directive instructing officials to charge U Myint Aye with misappropriating funds intended for victims of Cyclone Nargis.
At the time of U Myint Aye’s arrest, authorities also seized receipts for donations to cyclone victims and a list of donors and the interior ministry ordered officials to interrogate the donors, the police officer said.
Monday, 18 August 2008
U.N. special envoy arrives in Myanmar, expected to meet with Suu Kyi+
The U.N. special adviser on Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, arrived in Yangon on Monday for a five-day visit to the military-ruled country in an effort to spur democratic change.
Gambari was welcomed upon arrival at the airport by Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu and was scheduled to meet with Yangon-based diplomats later in the day.
This is Gambari's fourth visit to Myanmar since the junta's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in September last year, which sparked a global outcry.
During his visit, the special envoy is expected to meet again with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as he was allowed to in his previous missions.
Suu Kyi has been detained for more than 12 of the past 18 years.
Gambari was initially expected to visit Myanmar in May but the trip was postponed after Cyclone Nargis caused widespread devastation in the country that month.
Gambari was welcomed upon arrival at the airport by Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu and was scheduled to meet with Yangon-based diplomats later in the day.
This is Gambari's fourth visit to Myanmar since the junta's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in September last year, which sparked a global outcry.
During his visit, the special envoy is expected to meet again with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as he was allowed to in his previous missions.
Suu Kyi has been detained for more than 12 of the past 18 years.
Gambari was initially expected to visit Myanmar in May but the trip was postponed after Cyclone Nargis caused widespread devastation in the country that month.
Monday 18th August, 2008
A team of archaeologists has unearthed ancient artifacts from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age in Myanmar.
Found in Thazi township in the central Mandalay division by the Archaeological, Natural Museum and Libraries Department under the Ministry of Culture, the artifacts provide an evidence of transition from Bronze culture to Iron culture in Myanmar.
Foreign archaeologists once considered that in the early history, Myanmar was transferred from Stone Age into the Iron Age without flourishing of Bronze culture.
According to state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar, the thesis was proved wrong when many artifacts were excavated in such regions as Nyaungkan, Myin-U Hle, Hnawkan and Kukkokha that provided evidences of bronze culture in the country, and that was supported by the artifacts found in Kanthitgon village.
Archaeological research was carried out in eight different places simultaneously and among the ancient objects found in Kanthitgon village were nine complete bodies along with some incomplete sets of bodies of all ages, child, middle age and old age.
The bodies were buried together with bronze and iron weapons.
The artifacts of the Bronze Age found in the village also included bronze arrow heads, spears, wire bundles, cups, floral works, stone beads, bone beads, different sizes of pots and plates and iron spears.
Found in Thazi township in the central Mandalay division by the Archaeological, Natural Museum and Libraries Department under the Ministry of Culture, the artifacts provide an evidence of transition from Bronze culture to Iron culture in Myanmar.
Foreign archaeologists once considered that in the early history, Myanmar was transferred from Stone Age into the Iron Age without flourishing of Bronze culture.
According to state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar, the thesis was proved wrong when many artifacts were excavated in such regions as Nyaungkan, Myin-U Hle, Hnawkan and Kukkokha that provided evidences of bronze culture in the country, and that was supported by the artifacts found in Kanthitgon village.
Archaeological research was carried out in eight different places simultaneously and among the ancient objects found in Kanthitgon village were nine complete bodies along with some incomplete sets of bodies of all ages, child, middle age and old age.
The bodies were buried together with bronze and iron weapons.
The artifacts of the Bronze Age found in the village also included bronze arrow heads, spears, wire bundles, cups, floral works, stone beads, bone beads, different sizes of pots and plates and iron spears.
20 Years since 1988 – Japanese Policy Betrays the Burmese People
20 Years since 1988 – Japanese Policy Betrays the Burmese People
By Benedict Rogers
Twenty years ago on August 8, 1988, thousands of Burmese pro-democracy demonstrators were slaughtered by their country’s military regime in a massacre known as “8888”. Since then, Burma ’s illegal junta has intensified its grip on power, and continued its crimes against humanity. In doing so, it has been assisted by the Japanese government. August 8, 2008 was also the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing . China has been the major ally of Burma ’s military regime, providing arms, investment and diplomatic cover. As Japanese people tune in to watch the Games, they should ponder the question: is it not time their government reconsidered its policy toward the Burmese regime, and put pressure on China to stop protecting these thugs?
Since 1988 Burma ’s political and humanitarian crisis has only got worse. Over 2,000 political prisoners are in jail, subjected to daily torture. Burma ’s democracy leader, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under house arrest. The Burmese army has the highest proportion of forcibly conscripted child soldiers in the world. Since 1996, over 3,200 villages in eastern Burma have been destroyed by the military in a campaign of ethnic cleansing that targets civilians. Rape is deployed as a weapon of war, forced labour is widespread and people are used as human minesweepers. Over a million people are internally displaced, on the run in the jungle without food, medicine or shelter. Millions more have fled across Burma ’s borders into exile.
In 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) overwhelmingly won elections, but has never been permitted to take up its rightful place in government. Instead, many elected representatives from the pro-democracy movement have been jailed or exiled. Last September, in a repeat of the massacre 20 years ago, Buddhist monks courageously led peaceful protests – and were once again gunned down. Japanese photo-journalist Kenji Nagai was among those killed.
Cyclone Nargis struck Burma in May this year and caused great destruction. Prior to the cyclone, the regime received over 40 warnings from Indian meteorologists, but failed to notify residents in the Irrawaddy Delta. As the scale of the devastation became clear, the international community rushed to offer assistance, but the regime had the audacity to refuse offers of international aid. It eventually relented, but imposed heavy restrictions. Since then the military rulers obstructed and diverted aid for their own purposes, and now stand accused of stealing millions of dollars from UN aid money through foreign exchange mechanisms. Over 2.5 million people are still homeless, a million people have received no help, and the death toll exceeds 130,000. In the face of such criminal negligence, Japan has said nothing.
Despite the devastation caused by the cyclone, the junta went ahead with its sham referendum on a new constitution, declaring a 99% turnout and claiming that 92.4% voted for the constitution. What did Japan do? Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hitoshi Kimura, said that the fact that Japanese embassy staff were able to observe the poll, albeit in just a few polling stations, “made it a good opportunity from the point of view of improvement of transparency.”
It is difficult to imagine a more absurd position. The referendum law made it illegal to campaign against the constitution or even criticize it. Opponents were subject to a jail sentence of at least three years. Moreover, Buddhist monks and nuns, numbering 500,000, were denied the vote, as were religious leaders from other faiths. Millions in the conflict areas, 700,000 Muslim Rohingyas, and millions of refugees in exile were excluded. Further, the junta rejected international monitors. There are widespread reports of vote rigging, harassment, intimidation and bribery. Most people who voted yes did so not out of belief but from fear. Ballot papers were easily identifiable – so the regime could scrutinise how people had voted, and punish those who voted no. In some areas, the army and local officials cast votes on behalf of people. To hold a referendum days after a cyclone was not just callous, it was a blatant sign that the junta had no intention of holding a free vote. Yet still, Japan stayed silent.
An official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told me earlier this year that Japan ’s priority is to preserve its relations with the junta in Burma . Such a policy is not sustainable. Japan ’s policy on Burma is not just a betrayal of the Burmese people, but of the liberal democratic values on which modern Japan is built.
It is time for Japan to turn up the heat on the junta and end its deafening silence. The constitution, which enshrines military rule and lacks legitimacy, should be rejected. Japan should support efforts through the UN to impose meaningful benchmarks for progress in democratic reform and a universal arms embargo. In addition, with Tokyo being Asia’s financial center, Japan should consider introducing financial sanctions targeting the assets and transactions of the generals. Japan could also support bringing a case to the International Criminal Court, charging the generals with crimes against humanity. The Japanese people must urge their government to awaken its moral senses.
Benedict Rogers is a writer and human rights activist and has made over 20 visits to Burma and its borderlands. He works for the human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and is Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission in the UK . He is the author of A Land Without Evil: Stopping the Genocide of Burma’s Karen People (2004, Monarch Books) and a new report recently launched in Japanese, Carrying the Cross: The military regime’s campaign of restriction, discrimination and persecution against Christians in Burma .
By Benedict Rogers
Twenty years ago on August 8, 1988, thousands of Burmese pro-democracy demonstrators were slaughtered by their country’s military regime in a massacre known as “8888”. Since then, Burma ’s illegal junta has intensified its grip on power, and continued its crimes against humanity. In doing so, it has been assisted by the Japanese government. August 8, 2008 was also the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing . China has been the major ally of Burma ’s military regime, providing arms, investment and diplomatic cover. As Japanese people tune in to watch the Games, they should ponder the question: is it not time their government reconsidered its policy toward the Burmese regime, and put pressure on China to stop protecting these thugs?
Since 1988 Burma ’s political and humanitarian crisis has only got worse. Over 2,000 political prisoners are in jail, subjected to daily torture. Burma ’s democracy leader, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under house arrest. The Burmese army has the highest proportion of forcibly conscripted child soldiers in the world. Since 1996, over 3,200 villages in eastern Burma have been destroyed by the military in a campaign of ethnic cleansing that targets civilians. Rape is deployed as a weapon of war, forced labour is widespread and people are used as human minesweepers. Over a million people are internally displaced, on the run in the jungle without food, medicine or shelter. Millions more have fled across Burma ’s borders into exile.
In 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) overwhelmingly won elections, but has never been permitted to take up its rightful place in government. Instead, many elected representatives from the pro-democracy movement have been jailed or exiled. Last September, in a repeat of the massacre 20 years ago, Buddhist monks courageously led peaceful protests – and were once again gunned down. Japanese photo-journalist Kenji Nagai was among those killed.
Cyclone Nargis struck Burma in May this year and caused great destruction. Prior to the cyclone, the regime received over 40 warnings from Indian meteorologists, but failed to notify residents in the Irrawaddy Delta. As the scale of the devastation became clear, the international community rushed to offer assistance, but the regime had the audacity to refuse offers of international aid. It eventually relented, but imposed heavy restrictions. Since then the military rulers obstructed and diverted aid for their own purposes, and now stand accused of stealing millions of dollars from UN aid money through foreign exchange mechanisms. Over 2.5 million people are still homeless, a million people have received no help, and the death toll exceeds 130,000. In the face of such criminal negligence, Japan has said nothing.
Despite the devastation caused by the cyclone, the junta went ahead with its sham referendum on a new constitution, declaring a 99% turnout and claiming that 92.4% voted for the constitution. What did Japan do? Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hitoshi Kimura, said that the fact that Japanese embassy staff were able to observe the poll, albeit in just a few polling stations, “made it a good opportunity from the point of view of improvement of transparency.”
It is difficult to imagine a more absurd position. The referendum law made it illegal to campaign against the constitution or even criticize it. Opponents were subject to a jail sentence of at least three years. Moreover, Buddhist monks and nuns, numbering 500,000, were denied the vote, as were religious leaders from other faiths. Millions in the conflict areas, 700,000 Muslim Rohingyas, and millions of refugees in exile were excluded. Further, the junta rejected international monitors. There are widespread reports of vote rigging, harassment, intimidation and bribery. Most people who voted yes did so not out of belief but from fear. Ballot papers were easily identifiable – so the regime could scrutinise how people had voted, and punish those who voted no. In some areas, the army and local officials cast votes on behalf of people. To hold a referendum days after a cyclone was not just callous, it was a blatant sign that the junta had no intention of holding a free vote. Yet still, Japan stayed silent.
An official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told me earlier this year that Japan ’s priority is to preserve its relations with the junta in Burma . Such a policy is not sustainable. Japan ’s policy on Burma is not just a betrayal of the Burmese people, but of the liberal democratic values on which modern Japan is built.
It is time for Japan to turn up the heat on the junta and end its deafening silence. The constitution, which enshrines military rule and lacks legitimacy, should be rejected. Japan should support efforts through the UN to impose meaningful benchmarks for progress in democratic reform and a universal arms embargo. In addition, with Tokyo being Asia’s financial center, Japan should consider introducing financial sanctions targeting the assets and transactions of the generals. Japan could also support bringing a case to the International Criminal Court, charging the generals with crimes against humanity. The Japanese people must urge their government to awaken its moral senses.
Benedict Rogers is a writer and human rights activist and has made over 20 visits to Burma and its borderlands. He works for the human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and is Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission in the UK . He is the author of A Land Without Evil: Stopping the Genocide of Burma’s Karen People (2004, Monarch Books) and a new report recently launched in Japanese, Carrying the Cross: The military regime’s campaign of restriction, discrimination and persecution against Christians in Burma .
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Two NLD representatives arrested
Two 1990 elected members of parliament from the National League for Democracy were arrested at their houses in the early hours of this morning, according to NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win.
Nyan Win said the two were taken in by special branch police at around 2am.
"Two of our MPs, U Nyi Pu and Dr Tin Min Htut, were arrested from the houses where they were staying in Rangoon by the special police at around 2am last night," said U Nyan Win.
U Nyi Pu is people's parliament representative in Gwa township in Arakan state while Dr Tin Min Htut is an elected representative in Irrawaddy division's Pantanaw township.
Both men were among the signatories of a letter sent to United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon at the end of July, in which they declared their opposition to the 2010 elections and expressed concern about the UN stance on Burma.
The letter was signed by five 1990 elected representatives and questioned the UN’s change from its original aim of bringing about national dialogue to its current urging of all groups to join the government’s road map to democracy.
Nyan Win said the two were taken in by special branch police at around 2am.
"Two of our MPs, U Nyi Pu and Dr Tin Min Htut, were arrested from the houses where they were staying in Rangoon by the special police at around 2am last night," said U Nyan Win.
U Nyi Pu is people's parliament representative in Gwa township in Arakan state while Dr Tin Min Htut is an elected representative in Irrawaddy division's Pantanaw township.
Both men were among the signatories of a letter sent to United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon at the end of July, in which they declared their opposition to the 2010 elections and expressed concern about the UN stance on Burma.
The letter was signed by five 1990 elected representatives and questioned the UN’s change from its original aim of bringing about national dialogue to its current urging of all groups to join the government’s road map to democracy.
Monday, 11 August 2008
Rights activist U Myint Aye arrested
U Myint Aye, a prominent member of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network, was arrested at his house in Kyi Myint Taing township on 8 August, according to his family.
U Myint Aye's wife Ma Leh Leh said township police chief U Myat Linn and divisional investigation police deputy chief U Kyaw Htin, accompanied by ward authorities, arrived at the house at around 4pm on Friday, the 20th anniversary of the 1988 national uprising in Burma.
U Myint Aye's wife Ma Leh Leh said township police chief U Myat Linn and divisional investigation police deputy chief U Kyaw Htin, accompanied by ward authorities, arrived at the house at around 4pm on Friday, the 20th anniversary of the 1988 national uprising in Burma.
Authorities arrest rights activist and ABFSU members
Three All Burma Federation of Student Union members and a member of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network have been arrested by Burmese government officials.
At least three ABFSU members, including one of the group's leaders Ko Than Naing, who had been in hiding from government arrest, were arrested by authorities last night, according to a member of the group.
HRDP member U Myo Myint from Kyi Myint Taing township was arrested in the early hours of 7 August at his home, U Myint Aye of HRDP told DVB.
“He lives in a village across the river from the main Kyi Myint Taing township in Rangoon and he was arrested at his house at 1am,” Myint Aye said.
“He was taken from his home by the authorities who also seized his camera and three CDs. We still don’t know where he is being held and his family hasn’t heard anything about him either,” he said.
“Our group’s work is nothing provocative; if [the authorities say] something has happened then I can find a way to explain it.”
Myint Aye said that another HRDP member, Ko Tin Maung Oo from Bahan township, who is being held in Insein prison, has still not been allowed a family visit since his arrest in June.
“Ko Tin Maung Oo, a Bahan township resident, was arrested by authorities on 11 June 2008 and his family has only been able to send him food but not to visit him,” Myint Aye said.
Myint Aye added that none of his belongings that he was carrying at the time of his arrest, which included a wristwatch, necklace, three rings, a mobile phone and a camera, had been returned to his family.
At least three ABFSU members, including one of the group's leaders Ko Than Naing, who had been in hiding from government arrest, were arrested by authorities last night, according to a member of the group.
HRDP member U Myo Myint from Kyi Myint Taing township was arrested in the early hours of 7 August at his home, U Myint Aye of HRDP told DVB.
“He lives in a village across the river from the main Kyi Myint Taing township in Rangoon and he was arrested at his house at 1am,” Myint Aye said.
“He was taken from his home by the authorities who also seized his camera and three CDs. We still don’t know where he is being held and his family hasn’t heard anything about him either,” he said.
“Our group’s work is nothing provocative; if [the authorities say] something has happened then I can find a way to explain it.”
Myint Aye said that another HRDP member, Ko Tin Maung Oo from Bahan township, who is being held in Insein prison, has still not been allowed a family visit since his arrest in June.
“Ko Tin Maung Oo, a Bahan township resident, was arrested by authorities on 11 June 2008 and his family has only been able to send him food but not to visit him,” Myint Aye said.
Myint Aye added that none of his belongings that he was carrying at the time of his arrest, which included a wristwatch, necklace, three rings, a mobile phone and a camera, had been returned to his family.
Security forces target Sittwe monasteries
Government authorities beefed up security in Sittwe in Arakan state on Saturday after rumours emerged that monks were planning to stage a protest, according to a local resident.
Troops were deployed around the town and some went into monastery compounds to search the premises, the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
It is not yet known which monasteries were targeted, but soldiers were seen in the town until 9pm on Saturday.
Troops were deployed around the town and some went into monastery compounds to search the premises, the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
It is not yet known which monasteries were targeted, but soldiers were seen in the town until 9pm on Saturday.
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