Aung San Suu Kyi has been found guilty by a Rangoon prison court of breaching conditions of her house arrest and will face a further 18 months under house arrest, it was announced today.
At the end of a trial which has strecthed over three months, the judge initally handed down a sentence of three years with hard labour, before a “direct order” from junta chief Than Shwe to communte this to a year-and-a-half.
Her co-defendant John Yettaw, the US citizen whose visit to Suu Kyi’s compound sparked the trial, was given seven years with hard labour, while her two caretakers, Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma were sentenced to three years imprisonment each.
A reporter at the hearing said that following the initial judgement by the court, the government’s minister of home affairs, Maung Oo, arrived with an order from Than Shwe “which pardons half of her term and appoints her to just stay in her house for remainder of the term.”
Suu Kyi’s US-based legal counsel, Jared Genser, issued a statement today “deploring” the sentencing.
“The outcome of this trial has never been in doubt,” he said. “The real question is how the international community will react – will it do more than simply condemn this latest injustice?”
“The junta remains deeply concerned about Ms. Suu Kyi’s popular appeal, especially leading up to the 2010 ‘election’ that it hopes will legitimize the regime.”
British prime minister Gordon Brown said that the verdict is “further proof that the military regime in Burma is determined to act with total disregard for accepted standards of the rule of law and in defiance of international opinion”.
“The façade of her prosecution is made more monstrous because its real objective is to sever her bond with the people for whom she is a beacon of hope and resistance,” he added.
The Thailand-based Assistance Associaiton for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP) said the trial was “yet another travesty of justice”.
“There is no justice, no rule of law, and no independent judiciary in Burma,” said Tate Naing, secretary of AAPP. “The continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the jailing of Burma’s future. She is the true leader of Burma.”
AAPP called on the US and UK governemnts “to show international political leadership on Burma” at the United Nations – the UK takes up the revolving chair of the UN Security Council this month.
Along with AAPP, the Burma Partnership (BP) group and the Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB) called on the UN to pass a binding resolution on Burma, including a “global arms embargo and [establishment of] a commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity”.
Debbie Chan from the Hong Kong Coalition for a Free Burma, said the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) must “respond to these flagrant violations of its new Charter and place the issue of democratization, systematic human rights violations, and Burma’s threat to regional security on the agenda of the 15th ASEAN Summit in October 2009”.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Burmese Muslims attack government office
Around 40 Muslims in western Burma were detained for allegedly ransacking a local immigration office after officials there assaulted a local Muslim man for not paying a fine.
A resident in Arakan state’s Kyauk Ni Maw village said the dispute started after a local Muslim man who returned from travelling refused to pay a fine for exceeding stay outside of the village as shown in his travel permit.
Muslims in Arakan state are required to get a document known as the Form-4 from government immigration if they want to travel outside of their region.
“He said he couldn’t pay the money they asked for as he had already paid a lot acquiring the [permission] document and the officials [at the immigration office] beat him up,” said the village resident, adding that he was left with a broken arm and vomiting blood.”
News on the attack quickly spread to Kyauk Ni Maw village where 75 percent of the population are Muslim. Some local villagers, including the man’s relatives, were enraged.
“They went to the immigration office and beat up the people who beat up the man. They also tore down the office building and broke some flag poles,” he said.
Following the incident, authorities arrested around 40 people, including some who were not involved, the villager said, and detained them in nearby Yanbyal township jail.
The detainees are due to appear in court on 10 August where they will face charges for breaching peace.
“They just arrested random people, but all Muslim, in the village without identifying who was involved in the attack,” said the villager. “Some people had already fled in fear of getting arrested in connection with the case.”
Muslims living in Burma have long been marginalized by the military government.
Three prominent ‘anti-Muslim’ riots have erupted in Burma in the past 12 years following heightened tension between Muslims and Buddhists.
Their situation was thrown into the spotlight earlier this year when around 1000 Rohingya refugees washed up in boats on Thailand’s shores, only to be towed back out to sea and set adrift by Thai authorities.
The Rohingya, who are a minority Muslim population, are not recognized by the Burmese government and suffer frequent discrimination due to their lack of legal status.
A resident in Arakan state’s Kyauk Ni Maw village said the dispute started after a local Muslim man who returned from travelling refused to pay a fine for exceeding stay outside of the village as shown in his travel permit.
Muslims in Arakan state are required to get a document known as the Form-4 from government immigration if they want to travel outside of their region.
“He said he couldn’t pay the money they asked for as he had already paid a lot acquiring the [permission] document and the officials [at the immigration office] beat him up,” said the village resident, adding that he was left with a broken arm and vomiting blood.”
News on the attack quickly spread to Kyauk Ni Maw village where 75 percent of the population are Muslim. Some local villagers, including the man’s relatives, were enraged.
“They went to the immigration office and beat up the people who beat up the man. They also tore down the office building and broke some flag poles,” he said.
Following the incident, authorities arrested around 40 people, including some who were not involved, the villager said, and detained them in nearby Yanbyal township jail.
The detainees are due to appear in court on 10 August where they will face charges for breaching peace.
“They just arrested random people, but all Muslim, in the village without identifying who was involved in the attack,” said the villager. “Some people had already fled in fear of getting arrested in connection with the case.”
Muslims living in Burma have long been marginalized by the military government.
Three prominent ‘anti-Muslim’ riots have erupted in Burma in the past 12 years following heightened tension between Muslims and Buddhists.
Their situation was thrown into the spotlight earlier this year when around 1000 Rohingya refugees washed up in boats on Thailand’s shores, only to be towed back out to sea and set adrift by Thai authorities.
The Rohingya, who are a minority Muslim population, are not recognized by the Burmese government and suffer frequent discrimination due to their lack of legal status.
Philippines backs US condemnation of Burma
Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday said her country backed the United States in its condemnation of the Burmese junta, prior to today’s would-be verdict on the Aung San Suu Kyi trial.
Arroyo was at the White House yesterday to discuss with US president Barack Obama the political crisis in Burma as well as fears over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
"We stand ... behind the United States on the position that it has taken with regard to Burma and with regard to North Korea's nuclear adventurism," she told Reuters.
Obama replied that the US was grateful for its support and praised the Philippines for “[punching] above its weight” in the international arena.
In April, Arroyo hailed the Philippines’ democratic transition as a model for Burma and urged the ruling junta to follow the political reforms carried out by her administration that signaled the end of military rule in the Philippines.
A statement released in May by the Philippines foreign affairs secretary, Alberto G Romulo, said the country was “deeply troubled and outraged” by the “trumped up” charges faced by Suu Kyi.
“These recent incidents will surely impede the process of national reconciliation and the Roadmap to Democracy in Myanmar,” it said.
The trial, which has stretched over nearly three months, wrapped up on Monday with an announcement from the judges that a verdict would be delivered today.
It was announced this morning however that the verdict has been delayed until 11 August, while the court reviews certain legal issues surrounding the case.
The US has repeatedly condemned the trial, and earlier this week renewed its package of sanctions on the regime.
Arroyo was at the White House yesterday to discuss with US president Barack Obama the political crisis in Burma as well as fears over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
"We stand ... behind the United States on the position that it has taken with regard to Burma and with regard to North Korea's nuclear adventurism," she told Reuters.
Obama replied that the US was grateful for its support and praised the Philippines for “[punching] above its weight” in the international arena.
In April, Arroyo hailed the Philippines’ democratic transition as a model for Burma and urged the ruling junta to follow the political reforms carried out by her administration that signaled the end of military rule in the Philippines.
A statement released in May by the Philippines foreign affairs secretary, Alberto G Romulo, said the country was “deeply troubled and outraged” by the “trumped up” charges faced by Suu Kyi.
“These recent incidents will surely impede the process of national reconciliation and the Roadmap to Democracy in Myanmar,” it said.
The trial, which has stretched over nearly three months, wrapped up on Monday with an announcement from the judges that a verdict would be delivered today.
It was announced this morning however that the verdict has been delayed until 11 August, while the court reviews certain legal issues surrounding the case.
The US has repeatedly condemned the trial, and earlier this week renewed its package of sanctions on the regime.
Suu Kyi verdict delayed until 11 August
The verdict in the trial of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which was due to be delivered today, has been postponed until 11 August, according to her lawyer.
The trial, which has stretched over nearly three months, wrapped up on Monday with an announcement from the judges that a verdict would be delivered today.
However, according lawyer Nyan Win, the courtroom announced this morning that the decision would be delayed until 11 August while the judges review the case.
Diplomats from five countries who have been allowed to witness the trial in recent days have reportedly left the courtroom.
Suu Kyi will remain in her unit inside Rangoon’s Insein Prison, where she has been held since 14 May on charges of breaching conditions of her house arrest.
Meanwhile, six members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Magwe division were arrested last night by government authorities at their houses, according to fellow NLD members.
A member of the NLD, Kyaw Nyein, said the motives were unclear, but could have been to detain the members for a short time to prevent protests from breaking out if Suu Kyi had been jailed.
The trial, which has stretched over nearly three months, wrapped up on Monday with an announcement from the judges that a verdict would be delivered today.
However, according lawyer Nyan Win, the courtroom announced this morning that the decision would be delayed until 11 August while the judges review the case.
Diplomats from five countries who have been allowed to witness the trial in recent days have reportedly left the courtroom.
Suu Kyi will remain in her unit inside Rangoon’s Insein Prison, where she has been held since 14 May on charges of breaching conditions of her house arrest.
Meanwhile, six members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Magwe division were arrested last night by government authorities at their houses, according to fellow NLD members.
A member of the NLD, Kyaw Nyein, said the motives were unclear, but could have been to detain the members for a short time to prevent protests from breaking out if Suu Kyi had been jailed.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Suu Kyi receives Gandhi peace award
Burma’s detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was yesterday awarded the Mahatma Gandhi prize in a ceremony in South Africa attended by her cousin.
The award was handed to Sein Win, Suu Kyi’s cousin and prime minister of the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.
Former South African MP and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Ela Gandhi, told DVB that the awarded carried with it a call for Suu Kyi’s release.
“We would like the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all the political detainees and to come to negotiated settlement,” she said. “A military solution is not a good solution.”
The Gandhi trust had previously sent a notification letter to the Burmese embassy in South Africa acknowledging the award, but the embassy declined to accept the letter and returned it to the trust.
“We are very disappointed with this very impolite response,” said a member of the Gandhi trust.
Sein Win said that the award was appropriate given that Suu Kyi had long advocated Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence.
“She has always been calling for peace and national reconciliation, and she always urged non-violent struggle,” he said. “We think that [this award] is a very appropriate thing and we are very proud of her.”
The chairperson of the Free Burma Campaign (South Africa), Dr Thein Win, drew a parallel between the struggle for democratic transition in Burma and in South Africa during apartheid.
“A lot of people who were involved in South Africa’s apartheid revolution told us they never expected the revolution to end this quick,” he said.
“But sometimes, under particular circumstances, history can be changed in a sudden moment. We are [keeping hope] that truth will win one day.”
The award was handed to Sein Win, Suu Kyi’s cousin and prime minister of the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.
Former South African MP and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Ela Gandhi, told DVB that the awarded carried with it a call for Suu Kyi’s release.
“We would like the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all the political detainees and to come to negotiated settlement,” she said. “A military solution is not a good solution.”
The Gandhi trust had previously sent a notification letter to the Burmese embassy in South Africa acknowledging the award, but the embassy declined to accept the letter and returned it to the trust.
“We are very disappointed with this very impolite response,” said a member of the Gandhi trust.
Sein Win said that the award was appropriate given that Suu Kyi had long advocated Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence.
“She has always been calling for peace and national reconciliation, and she always urged non-violent struggle,” he said. “We think that [this award] is a very appropriate thing and we are very proud of her.”
The chairperson of the Free Burma Campaign (South Africa), Dr Thein Win, drew a parallel between the struggle for democratic transition in Burma and in South Africa during apartheid.
“A lot of people who were involved in South Africa’s apartheid revolution told us they never expected the revolution to end this quick,” he said.
“But sometimes, under particular circumstances, history can be changed in a sudden moment. We are [keeping hope] that truth will win one day.”
ASEAN calls for Burma prisoner release
A meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations yesterday urged the release of prisoners in Burma as a prerequisite to “free, fair and inclusive” elections next year.
Foreign ministers spoke yesterday on the second day of the two-day ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, prior to the start of the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AAM) beginning today in Thailand.
A joint communiqué released by Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya acknowledged the visit to Burma earlier this month by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
The statement reiterated ASEAN’s calls “to immediately release all those under detention, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi” in order to create “genuine reconciliation and meaningful dialogue involving all parties concerned”.
The Burmese foreign minister told the UN Security Council earlier this month that the government was setting in motion plans to release some political prisoners so that they can “participate” in the 2010 elections.
Critics have said however that the move is aimed at easing mounting international pressure on the regime, and perhaps to avoid the threat of Security Council action.
The controversial elections in Burma next year must be “free, fair and inclusive… thereby laying down a good foundation for future social and economic development,” the statement continued.
It also addressed the issue of ASEAN’s much-criticised policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Burma, preferring instead to “constructively engage” with the junta.
Thai prime minster Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday reiterated his anti-sanctions stance on Burma, following comments made to Ban Ki-moon earlier this month that Western sanctions were “not useful”.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Thailand today to meet with Mr Vejjajiva.
Tomorrow she will take part in the ASEAN Regional Forum, which will also be attended by China, which has on a number of occasions defended Burma against US-led Security Council pressure.
Foreign ministers spoke yesterday on the second day of the two-day ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, prior to the start of the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AAM) beginning today in Thailand.
A joint communiqué released by Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya acknowledged the visit to Burma earlier this month by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
The statement reiterated ASEAN’s calls “to immediately release all those under detention, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi” in order to create “genuine reconciliation and meaningful dialogue involving all parties concerned”.
The Burmese foreign minister told the UN Security Council earlier this month that the government was setting in motion plans to release some political prisoners so that they can “participate” in the 2010 elections.
Critics have said however that the move is aimed at easing mounting international pressure on the regime, and perhaps to avoid the threat of Security Council action.
The controversial elections in Burma next year must be “free, fair and inclusive… thereby laying down a good foundation for future social and economic development,” the statement continued.
It also addressed the issue of ASEAN’s much-criticised policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Burma, preferring instead to “constructively engage” with the junta.
Thai prime minster Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday reiterated his anti-sanctions stance on Burma, following comments made to Ban Ki-moon earlier this month that Western sanctions were “not useful”.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Thailand today to meet with Mr Vejjajiva.
Tomorrow she will take part in the ASEAN Regional Forum, which will also be attended by China, which has on a number of occasions defended Burma against US-led Security Council pressure.
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Bangladeshi police attack Rohingya camp
Hundreds of makeshift homes belonging to Rohingya refugees in a camp near to the
Bangladesh-Burma border were destroyed by “aggressive and abusive” Bangladeshi police, according to a medical aid group.
The incident was witnessed by staff working for Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF), which provides medical aid to the estimated 300,000 Rohingya of Burmese descent who have sought refuge on the Bangladesh side of the border.
According to MSF, around 30 Bangladeshi police and officials arrived at the Kutupalong camp near to Cox’s Bazaar on 14 July and destroyed 259 homes.
“Other residents of the makeshift camp were told that they have 48 hours to clear their homes or they will be burnt down,” the statement said.
The Kutupalong camp is adjacent to a camp run by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Officials taking part in the incident reportedly claimed it was being done to create a buffer zone between the two camps.
“The systematic use of intimidation, violence and forcible displacement against residents of the makeshift camp is absolutely unacceptable,” said MSF’s head of mission in Bangladesh, Paul Critchley.
“This vulnerable population has fled persecution and discrimination in Myanmar [Burma], only to be left unrecognized and unassisted in Bangladesh.”
In June, Thailand and Bangladesh pledged to help aid the repatriation of Rohingya back to Burma, where they have long suffered persecution at the hands of a government who don’t officially recognize them.
Their plight hit the headlines in January this year when around 1000 Rohingya refugees landed ashore in Thailand, only to towed back out to sea by Thai authorities. Around 550 were thought to have died.
The Burmese government has been reluctant to grant repatriation to Rohingya who had fled the country’s western Arakan state, claiming they would have to prove they came from Burma in the first place.
This would be almost impossible, however, given that Rohingya in Burma are denied legal status.
Bangladesh-Burma border were destroyed by “aggressive and abusive” Bangladeshi police, according to a medical aid group.
The incident was witnessed by staff working for Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF), which provides medical aid to the estimated 300,000 Rohingya of Burmese descent who have sought refuge on the Bangladesh side of the border.
According to MSF, around 30 Bangladeshi police and officials arrived at the Kutupalong camp near to Cox’s Bazaar on 14 July and destroyed 259 homes.
“Other residents of the makeshift camp were told that they have 48 hours to clear their homes or they will be burnt down,” the statement said.
The Kutupalong camp is adjacent to a camp run by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Officials taking part in the incident reportedly claimed it was being done to create a buffer zone between the two camps.
“The systematic use of intimidation, violence and forcible displacement against residents of the makeshift camp is absolutely unacceptable,” said MSF’s head of mission in Bangladesh, Paul Critchley.
“This vulnerable population has fled persecution and discrimination in Myanmar [Burma], only to be left unrecognized and unassisted in Bangladesh.”
In June, Thailand and Bangladesh pledged to help aid the repatriation of Rohingya back to Burma, where they have long suffered persecution at the hands of a government who don’t officially recognize them.
Their plight hit the headlines in January this year when around 1000 Rohingya refugees landed ashore in Thailand, only to towed back out to sea by Thai authorities. Around 550 were thought to have died.
The Burmese government has been reluctant to grant repatriation to Rohingya who had fled the country’s western Arakan state, claiming they would have to prove they came from Burma in the first place.
This would be almost impossible, however, given that Rohingya in Burma are denied legal status.
Soaring investment in Burma 'could hurt' population
Foreign investment in Burma has soared in the past year, with China’s ramped up economic interest in the country accounting for the majority of the rise, said a Burmese government report yesterday.
According to the report, released by the Ministry of Planning and Development, investment leaped from $US172.7 million in the 2007/08 fiscal year to $US984.9m.
The ministry announced that 87 percent of the total investment had come from China, with the majority of its investment focused on the extractive sector.
Reports show that small Chinese companies are focusing on Burma’s hydropower, mining and oil industries.
Economic analysts are concerned however that the extra investment will have no valued impact on the economy as Chinese companies attempt to yield quick results.
Burma expert and economist Sean Turnell, from Macquarie University in Australia, said that the Burmese economy is too risky for investment in infrastructure sectors, with the level of poverty in Burma so extensive that there is no attraction to consumer sectors.
“Burma attracts wild cat companies who come in and out to make dirty money,” said Turnell.
“Burma is at the grip of a resource curse; the extra investment will help the generals stay in power but will not benefit the local people.”
Environmental groups are also concerned that the increased investment will further worsen human rights violations occurring as a result of the resource extraction project.
It is believed that a large chunk of the investment will be going to build the Shwe Gas fields over the coming years.
Spokespeson for anti-pipeline campaign group Shwe Gas Movement, Win Aung, believes that the extra investment from China is only adding to the difficult situation that many people in Arakan state, where the pipeline will begin, already face.
A significant proportion of the Arakan population rely on fishing, and in times of gas or oil exploration, the government often cuts off fishing areas.
“Fishermen are restrained from fishing so they are unable to feed their families,” said Win Aung.
“Military battalions are sent into protect the construction and they create many problems as they confiscate land.
“The government should be directing foreign investment into education and health so the people of Burma will benefit in the future”.
According to the report, released by the Ministry of Planning and Development, investment leaped from $US172.7 million in the 2007/08 fiscal year to $US984.9m.
The ministry announced that 87 percent of the total investment had come from China, with the majority of its investment focused on the extractive sector.
Reports show that small Chinese companies are focusing on Burma’s hydropower, mining and oil industries.
Economic analysts are concerned however that the extra investment will have no valued impact on the economy as Chinese companies attempt to yield quick results.
Burma expert and economist Sean Turnell, from Macquarie University in Australia, said that the Burmese economy is too risky for investment in infrastructure sectors, with the level of poverty in Burma so extensive that there is no attraction to consumer sectors.
“Burma attracts wild cat companies who come in and out to make dirty money,” said Turnell.
“Burma is at the grip of a resource curse; the extra investment will help the generals stay in power but will not benefit the local people.”
Environmental groups are also concerned that the increased investment will further worsen human rights violations occurring as a result of the resource extraction project.
It is believed that a large chunk of the investment will be going to build the Shwe Gas fields over the coming years.
Spokespeson for anti-pipeline campaign group Shwe Gas Movement, Win Aung, believes that the extra investment from China is only adding to the difficult situation that many people in Arakan state, where the pipeline will begin, already face.
A significant proportion of the Arakan population rely on fishing, and in times of gas or oil exploration, the government often cuts off fishing areas.
“Fishermen are restrained from fishing so they are unable to feed their families,” said Win Aung.
“Military battalions are sent into protect the construction and they create many problems as they confiscate land.
“The government should be directing foreign investment into education and health so the people of Burma will benefit in the future”.
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