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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 63 -MARCH 2012
Description: KEY STORY: Violations of election laws; Irregularities; NLD activities obstructed; Daw Suu campaigns; Ethnic voters disenfranchised; Election monitoring... INSIDE BURMA: Parliament fails to review laws; Talks with KNPP and KIO; Tatmadaw violates agreements; UN aid to 6% of Kachin IDPs... HUMAN RIGHTS: Ojea Quintana?s report; HRC resolution; Still no religious freedom; Media censored and intimidated; Burma remains ?Internet enemy?; Karen leader released; Forced labor ok until 2015; Land confiscation victims... INTERNATIONAL: US: More reforms needed; Malaysia: Let?s do business; Canadian FM?s visit... ECONOMY: Myitsone dam project active; Infrastructure projects; Gem sales plummet; Regime to float the kya...t OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2012-02-29
Date of entry/update: 2012-03-31
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Title: BURMA?S BY-ELECTIONS: STILL SHORT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Description: The trouble with the by-elections; Electoral framework not in line with int?l standards; Election laws limit political participation; Election Commission lacks independence and impartiality; Campaign restrictions still in place; Complaint process ineffective and inaccessible; Restrictions, irregularities, harassment, and vote-buying mar pre-election period; Restrictions on NLD activities; Widespread irregularities; Threats, harassment, and vote buying; More voters disenfranchised; Censorship still in place; Election observation falls short of international standards; By-elections who?s who
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2012-03-27
Date of entry/update: 2012-03-27
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 62 - FEBRUARY 2012
Description: KEY STORY: NLD campaign obstructed; Campaign messages restricted; Campaign marred by threats; Daw Suu draws huge crowds... INSIDE BURMA: KIA-Tatmadaw conflict rages on; Peace agreements in jeopardy; Military spending hike proposed... HUMAN RIGHTS: Human rights probe rejected; UN: Serious challenges remain; Monks still harassed; Harassment of activists; Censorship alive and well... DISPLACEMENT: Number of IDPs grows... Rohingya flee... INTERNATIONAL: China calls for stability; Nambiar urges development; ASEAN Sec-Gen visits Burma; EU delivers aid package; EU lifts travel ban... ECONOMY: Investors flock to Burma; Rangoon strike; World Bank to return to Burma... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2012-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2012-03-05
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 61 -JANUARY 2012
Description: Over 300 dissidents released... INSIDE BURMA: ?Peace agreements? signed; Military operations continue; NLD prepares for by-elections; Parliament reconvenes... HUMAN RIGHTS: Regime tightens censorship; Burma in int?l indexes; Regime violates children rights... DISPLACEMENT: Refugees pour into China... INTERNATIONAL: UK sets benchmarks; EU to respond to ?reforms?; US: More needs to be done; US envoy exposes trafficking; Sanctions eased; Thailand & Burma cement ties... ECONOMY: Electricity & gas prices rise; 24-hour electricity campaign; Uncertain foreign investments; Cronies to profit from migrants; IMF, Daw Suu highlight reforms; International aid upped... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2012-02-02
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 60 - DECEMBER 2011
Description: KEY STORY: Hostilities in Kachin State; IDPs and refugees on the edge; Ceasefire meetings... INSIDE BURMA: Burma?s opium production up; NLD re-registers; Daw Suu meets Chinese envoy... HUMAN RIGHTS: Karen leader sentenced; Monk harassed; Union denied registration... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya repatriation; Rohingya exodus continues... INTERNATIONAL: Clinton visits Burma; China welcomes engagement; UNGA condemns regime... ECONOMY: Burma at the bottom of indices... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS ____________________
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2012-01-02
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 59 - NOVEMBER 2011
Description: KEY STORY: US steps up engagement... INSIDE BURMA: Fighting in Northeastern Burma; More crimes in Kachin State; Peace talks with ethnic groups; More regime lies; Parliament?s repressive laws; NLD re-enters political fray; Monks protest; Regime still uses landmines... HUMAN RIGHTS: More arrests and imprisonment; NDSC blocks amnesty; Detention conditions Censorship continues unabated... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya flee Burma... INTERNATIONAL: UNGA Burma resolution; ASEAN gives Chair to Burma; China strengthens cooperation; Nambiar visits Burma... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-12-02
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Title: BURMA?S PARLIAMENT: A TOOL FOR INSTITUTIONALIZED OPPRESSION
Description: • Despite the regime?s claim that an elected legislature was a crucial step towards the emergence of its ?discipline-flourishing democracy,? the Parliament is turning out to be the regime?s key tool for institutionalizing oppression. • The pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)-dominated Parliament refuses to repeal the draconian laws that provided the basis for the imprisonment of several thousand political prisoners in recent years. • The refusal makes the adoption of the much-publicized ?Labor Organizations Law? and ?Peaceful Gathering and Demonstration Law? irrelevant as the regime is still able to invoke the blanket ?security? provisions of draconian laws. • The Parliament?s second session repeats the sham parliamentary debates witnessed during the January- March first session. Important issues, such as national reconciliation and the ongoing conflict in ethnic areas are only marginally discussed. • During question time, regime ministers and officials go to great lengths to categorically deny human rights abuses and to justify repressive measures. • Ruling party and military MPs oppose the adoption of important proposals on the release of political prisoners and the improvement of detention conditions in jails across the country. Instead, they introduce new restrictive laws designed to limit political participation. • Debate and approval of the national budget remain off-limits to MPs because State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe approved the budget for the 2011-2012 financial year before Parliament convened on 31 January. • The laws that govern parliamentary proceedings, enacted by Than Shwe in October 2010, continue to severely restrict parliamentary debate and participation. • Censorship and lack of access continue to characterize the media environment during the Parliament?s second session. • Despite the regime?s claim that local Parliaments would provide some degree of legislative decentralization, most of the Division and State Parliaments fail to introduce or debate any legislation. • In a bogus attempt to show its commitment to reach a ceasefire with ethnic armed groups, the regime forms two parliamentary ?peace-making? committees. However, the committees fail to adopt any initiatives aimed at facilitating peace talks.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2011-11-28
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 58 - OCTOBER 2011
Description: KEY STORY: • Regime uses political prisoners; • Int?l community call for release; • Ojea Quintana report... INSIDE BURMA: • Crimes, conflict in NE Burma; • Peace talks with ethnics groups; • Opium production increases; • Regime?s slow flood response; • Daw Suu, Aung Kyi meet; • Political parties law amended... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Regime detains protesters; • Forced labor continues... DISPLACEMENT: • Regime displaces 112,000; • Burmese refugees in Malaysia... INTERNATIONAL: • India-regime cooperation; • ASEAN 2014 Chair; • Yingluck courts regime; • Mitchell visits Burma... ECONOMY: • Regime angers China... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2011-11-18
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Title: BURMA?S ECONOMY: MISMANAGEMENT AS USUAL
Description: "• Following the nominal transition to civilian rule, the regime maintains the State Peace and Development Council?s (SPDC?s) oppressive economic policies. • The military continues to control the bulk of the budget, with no improvement in transparency. One quarter of the 2011-2012 budget is designated for the military. Additionally, the ?Special Fund? law grants the Commander in Chief of the military access to unlimited discretionary funds without having to be accountable. • The regime maintains a dual exchange rate system in order to siphon off funds into private accounts, starving the national budget of official revenue and inflating the fiscal deficit. • A process of privatization that began in late 2009 has facilitated the transfer of key economic assets in the hands of cronies while lining the pockets of regime officials. The privatization has resembled a ?fire sale? to cronies that include those blacklisted by various governments. Meanwhile, economic competition remains severely constricted. • Despite the suspension of the Myitsone dam project, numerous large scale infrastructure projects continue to spur tensions in ethnic areas, cause massive displacement, and threaten the environment. The projects are not subject to public oversight and provide little benefit to local communities or the economy as a whole. • As a result of increased foreign investment through large scale infrastructure projects, the fall of the US dollar, and the dual exchange rate system, the kyat has inflated in value, hurting export-oriented sectors. • The regime continues to confiscate land and ignore the property rights of Burmese citizens in favor of foreign investors and cronies..."
Source/publisher: Altsean-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2011-11-18
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Title: SERIOUS INTERNATIONAL CRIMES CONTINUE IN BURMA UNDER ?NEW? REGIME
Description: "Since Thein Sein took office as Burma?s President on 30 March, the regime has continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity. Reports of serious international crimes have increased significantly in line with the escalation of the ongoing Tatmadaw offensives in Kachin, Shan, and Karen States. Women and children have been particularly vulnerable. Tatmadaw soldiers raped and killed women during their offensive in Kachin and Shan States. The regime also continued to recruit children into the military in order to offset the steady increase in desertions. In the past six months, the following crimes against humanity and war crimes have been documented: • At least 30 cases of rape and sexual violence perpetrated by military personnel. • Over 400 complaints of children recruited as child soldiers. • At least 35 civilians killed. • Systematic use of forced labor in ethnic areas. • Forced displacement during military attacks that targeted civilians. • At least 11 activists and media persons arbitrarily detained or imprisoned. • Over 100 villagers arbitrarily detained in Kachin and Shan State during ?counter-insurgency? operations. • Continued use of torture. • Systematic persecution of Muslim Rohingya in Northern Arakan State..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-10-13
Date of entry/update: 2011-10-13
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 57 - SEPTEMBER 2011
Description: KEY STORY: Tatmadaw-KIA fighting; Shan State: Civilians targeted; Talks with UWSA, NDAA... INSIDE BURMA: Saffron Revolution 4 years on; Parliament avoids key issues; Burma still top ATS producer; Myitsone dam suspended? Daw Suu and Aung Kyi meet... HUMAN RIGHTS: Arrests and imprisonment; Media freedom restricted; Religious persecution; Political prisoners? health; Pro-regime HRC commission... DISPLACEMENT: IDP situation worsens... INTERNATIONAL: US steps up engagement; AIPA yes, ASEAN Chair maybe; UN calls for reforms; EU calls for more access... ECONOMY: Regime token measures... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS _________________
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-08-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-10-01
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Language: English, Thai
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 56 - AUGUST 2011
Description: KEY STORY: • Kachin State: Civilians targeted; • Shan State: Fighting continues; • Karen State: More desertions... INSIDE BURMAp: • Parliamentary 2nd sessions; • Reshuffles and purges; • 8888 commemorated; • Daw Suu on Myitsone dam; • Daw Suu steps up activities... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Arbitrary imprisonment; • Ojea Quintana?s visit; • Regime denies HR abuses... DISPLACEMENT: • Regime blocks aid to IDPs... INTERNATIONAL: • US concerned over rapes; • Int?l cautious optimism. ECONOMY: • Regime tax cuts insufficient... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: Altsean-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-07-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-09-01
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 55 - JULY 2011
Description: KEY STORY: Kachin State: 20,000 IDPs; Shan State: SSA-N targeted; Karen State: conflict continues... INSIDE BURMA: Regime reshuffles; Diplomats defect; Daw Suu draws crowds; Martyr?s Day demonstration; Daw Suu meets Aung Kyi... HUMAN RIGHTS: Reports of crimes continue; NLD member arrested; Political prisoners denied rights... DISPLACEMENT: Migrant workers strike; Migrant registration in Thailand; Malaysia postpones amnesty... INTERNATIONAL: Burma a thorn in ASEAN?s side; Clinton presses Delhi on Burma; UN urges release of dissidents; Australian FM visits Burma... ECONOMY: Gem sale revenues fall by 46%; Construction projects halted; Oil and gas bids... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2011-08-02
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Title: POST-ELECTION BURMA: IMPUNITY STILL REIGNS, WOMEN & CHILDREN MORE VULNERABLE TO CRIMES
Description: "• Since the 7 November elections, Burma?s regime has continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity. Reports of serious international crimes have increased significantly in line with the escalation of the ongoing Tatmadaw offensives in Kachin, Shan, and Karen States. • Women and children have been particularly vulnerable. Tatmadaw soldiers raped and killed women during their offensive in Kachin and Shan States. The regime also continued to recruit children into the military in order to offset the steady increase in desertions. • Between November 2010 and June 2011, the following crimes against humanity and war crimes were documented:..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-07-19
Date of entry/update: 2011-07-20
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Title: THEIN SEIN?S FIRST 100 DAYS: WORDS NOT MATCHED BY ACTIONS
Description: "• One hundred days after assuming the presidency, former General Thein Sein has failed to take any meaningful steps towards political, legal, and economic reforms. Thein Sein?s policies have been a continuation of the State Peace and Development Council?s programs. • Militarization, fighting, and displacement increased in ethnic areas, where Tatmadaw troops continued to commit crimes against humanity and war crimes with impunity, including the rape of women and the killing of civilians. • Despite being promoted internationally as a ?softliner? Thein Sein ensured that over 2,000 political prisoners remained behind bars while his regime continued to arbitrarily arrest and imprison citizens. • The regime ignored the National League for Democracy?s repeated calls for dialogue and stepped up harassment and threats against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party. • Thein Sein?s regime prioritized political and economic cooperation with China, India, and Russia. Concerns remained about the regime?s military cooperation with North Korea..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-07-08
Date of entry/update: 2011-07-11
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 54 - JUNE 2011
Description: KEY STORY: Kachin State: 13,000 displaced; Shan State: 8 civilians killed; Karen State: Fighting goes on... INSIDE BURMA: Daw Suu turns 66; Daw Suu supports CoI; Regime attacks Daw Suu, NLD; UNODC?s World Drug Report... HUMAN RIGHTS: Freedom of expression; Forced labor continues; Abysmal human trafficking... DISPLACEMENT: UNHCR?s Global Trends 2010... INTERNATIONAL: Regime-North Korea ties; US calls for ?concrete action?; EU: Actions not promises; Ban Ki-moon ?committed?; India-regime cooperation... ECONOMY: Kyat appreciates; India deals; FDI nears US$20 billions... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-07-01
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Title: ETHNIC AREAS UPDATE: BURMA HEADS TOWARD CIVIL WAR
Description: • Despite the 7 November election?s illusory promise of an inclusive democratic system, the situation in ethnic nationality areas continues to deteriorate... • In addition to the ongoing offensives against ethnic non-ceasefire groups, the Tatmadaw increasingly targeted ceasefire groups who rejected the regime?s Border Guard Force (BGF) scheme... • In Shan and Kachin States, the Tatmadaw broke ceasefire agreements signed in 1989 and 1994 respectively... • Ongoing fighting between the Tatmadaw and ethnic ceasefire and non-ceasefire groups displaced about 13,000 civilians in Kachin State, at least 700 in Northern Shan State, and forced over 1,800 to flee from Karen State into Thailand... • Civilians bore the brunt of the Tatmadaw?s military operations, which resulted in the death of 15 civilians in Northern Shan State and five in Karen State... Tatmadaw troops gang-raped at least 18 women and girls in Southern Kachin State... • Desertion continues to hit Tatmadaw battalions, including BGF units, engaged in military operations in ethnic areas... • Reports on the alleged use of chemical weapons by Tatmadaw troops surfaced during offensives against Shan State Army-North forces... • In February, in response to the Tatmadaw?s ongoing attacks in ethnic areas, 12 ethnic armed opposition groups, ceasefire groups, and political organizations agreed to form a new coalition - the Union Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)... • The situation for residents living in conflict zones of ethnic States remains grim as the regime re-launched its ?four cuts? policy which targets civilians... • The situation is likely to continue due to Burma?s constitution and the recently enacted laws, including the national conscription law.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-06-29
Date of entry/update: 2011-06-30
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 53 - MAY 2011
Description: KEY STORY: Bogus amnesty program; Political prisoners protest; Ojea Quintana slams regime... INSIDE BURMA: Conflict and displacement; Pro-democracy activities; NLD on tourism; Military strikes back; Food insecurity in Karen State; Regime neglects aid... HUMAN RIGHTS: Regime jails farmers; Burma?s press ?Not Free?... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya pushed back... INTERNATIONAL: ASEAN defers regime?s bid; ASEAN civil society hijacked; Nambiar visits Burma; US sanctions & engagement; China-Burma relations; North Korea-Burma relations... ECONOMY: Regime?s Illicit financial outflow... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-04-30
Date of entry/update: 2011-06-04
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Title: 100 DAYS OF BURMA?S PARLIAMENT: STRENGTHENING THE STATUS QUO
Description: • In the months leading up to the convening of the Parliament, SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe issues a series of laws designed to maintain the military?s grip on power. • On 31 January, the People?s Assembly and the National Assembly convene amid tight security in Naypyidaw for Burma?s first parliamentary session in 22 years. Many MPs complain about being subjected to detention-like living conditions. • The laws governing parliamentary proceedings gag MPs and restrict civilian access to the Parliament. The regime also bars domestic journalists and foreign correspondents from covering parliamentary proceedings. • Lack of genuine debate characterizes the proceedings. In the parliamentary question time, ministers brush off questions that deal with important issues and refuse to address the substantive issues raised by the MPs. • USDP and military-appointed MPs and the Speakers in both Houses of Parliament blocked 87% of the proposals submitted, including a proposal on national reconciliation. • USDP and military-appointed MPs prioritize the regime?s political agenda above the critical political and socio-economic issues that affect the daily life of the Burmese people. The Parliament approves resolutions to oppose economic sanctions and express gratitude to the SPDC. • After convening the Parliament, the regime continues to commit crimes against humanity and war crimes. Tatmadaw troops attack and forcibly displace hundred of civilians as part of their military offensives in ethnic areas. The regime also continues to arbitrarily detain and imprison dissidents.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-05-11
Date of entry/update: 2011-05-13
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 52 - APRIL 2011
Description: KEY STORY: China, EU, US and the regime; China: Money & good relations; US: Sanctions & engagement; EU: Sanctions extended... INSIDE BURMA: Conflict in ethnic areas; Tatmadaw hit by desertions; Than Shwe still in the loop; Thein Sein?s Advisory Board; Pro-democracy campaigns;... Cyclone Giri six months on HUMAN RIGHTS: New regime?s first arrest; Internet freedom curtailed; US human rights reports... DISPLACEMENT: Refugees detained, deported; Migrant workers abused... INTERNATIONAL: Regime wants ASEAN Chair... ECONOMY: Gas rationing tightened... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-05-03
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Title: LOCKED IN,TIED UP: BURMA?S DISCIPLINED DEMOCRACY
Description: CONTENTS:- WARDROBE CHANGE DOES NOT BRING DEMOCRACY... SPDC STILL IN POWER: Than Shwe calls the shots; New laws stregthen military power; New Parliament: MPs under ?house arrest?; Restrictions dominate parliamentary proceedings; Political Parties Registration Law still threatens parties and MPs; Parliamentary debate a sham; Parliamentary committees to control legislative activity... THEIN SEIN: THAN SHWE?S ?YES MAN? BECOMES PRESIDENT: Vice-President # 1: Tin Aungmyint Oo; Vice-President # 2: Mauk Kham aka Maung Ohn... THE CABINET: 100% ARE MEN, 86% ARE MILITARY MEN... AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: ETHNIC NATIONALITIES UNDERREPRESENTED: Key Positions at Division and State Level... PARLIAMENT WHO?S WHO: STRONGMEN, DRUG LORDS, AND CRONIES: The generals? new clothes; Drug lords and regime cronies elected... ETHNIC NATIONALITY AREAS - CONFLICT ESCALATES: Karen State: Conflict rages; Shan State: Attacks on multiple fronts; Kachin State: Ceasefire broken, militarization increased; Chin State: Hostilities flare up; Mon State: Ceasefire on shaky ground; New ethnic military alliance formed... FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: THE CRACKDOWN CONTINUES: Media persons face harassment and imprisonment; Internet monitoring, phone bugging stepped up; Censorship intensifies... POLITICAL PRISONERS - MORE THAN 2,000 STILL DETAINED: No amnesty for political prisoners; Detention conditions remain abysmal... FLEEING BURMA?S ?DEMOCRACY?- MORE REFUGEES AND IDPS UN says Burma is a regional burden; More Rohingya take to the sea; New arrivals at Thai-Burma border camps; SPDC Army offensives fuel internal displacement... BURMA?S ECONOMY - A BOON FOR MILITARY, CRONIES, & FOREIGN INVESTORS: Prices rise on political uncertainty; Military spending still top priority; Thousands strike in Rangoon; Students protest; Burma has the world?s sixth least free economy; Regime cronies acquire state properties; SEZs line the cronies? pockets; Tavoy projects threaten local livelihoods and exploit workers; China?s looting of Burma continues... NLD & DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI - STILL KEY POLITICAL PLAYERS: NLD, Daw Suu step up political activities; NLD outlines economic policy; Daw Suu - selection of policy-oriented statements... ANATOMY OF THE NEW REGIME
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma (BURMA ISSUES & CONCERNS VOL.7)
Date of publication: 2011-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-04-26
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 51 - MARCH 2011
Description: KEY STORY: New regime takes office; Parliamentary debate a sham; NLD still key political player... INSIDE BURMA: SPDC offensives in Shan State; Fighting in Karen & Chin States; SPDC hinders aid delivery; SPDC profiting from drugs... HUMAN RIGHTS: UN: HR situation ?serious?; HRC condemns SPDC; SPDC outlaws internet calls; Ethnic persecution... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya in Bangladesh... INTERNATIONAL: Int?l community urges reforms; Denmark & Latvia support CoI... ECONOMY: Price hikes hit consumers; Strikes in Rangoon; Gem sales rake in US$2.8 bln... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-02-28
Date of entry/update: 2011-04-02
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Title: BURMA 2011: STILL A MILITARY DICTATORSHIP
Description: • Despite the convening of the newly elected Parliament, Burma?s ?democratically-elected? regime is nothing more than a disguised version of the military dictatorship that has ruled Burma for the past five decades... • The military-dominated Parliament has placed high-ranking SPDC officials at the top of the country?s political system... o SPDC PM Thein Sein is the President... o SPDC?s former third-in-command Shwe Mann and the junta?s Minister of Culture Khin Aung Myint are the Speakers of the People?s Assembly and National Assembly respectively... o Twenty-six of the 30 newly appointed cabinet Ministers (all men) are either retired military officials or outgoing SPDC Ministers... o All State and Division Chief Ministers are MPs from the USDP or the appointed military bloc... • SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe ensures he will continue to ?guide? Burma?s politics by naming himself the leader of a newly created State Supreme Council... • Than Shwe bypasses Parliament and issues a series of laws that are designed to maintain the military?s grip on power... • Parliamentary proceedings take place in a tightly controlled environment. SPDC-imposed procedures for MPs stifle genuine political debate and severely restrict media coverage. MPs denounce detention-like conditions in Naypyidaw... • The NLD steps up its activities in order to promote broad political participation across Burma. The pro-democracy party remains Burma?s best hope for genuine dialogue and national reconciliation... • The situation in ethnic nationality areas continues to deteriorate. The SPDC is targeting ceasefire groups that have rejected the junta?s Border Guard Force (BGF) scheme. Armed conflict between the SPDC Army and these groups has already displaced tens of thousands of civilians... • The situation for communities living in conflict zones is grim as the SPDC prepares to re-launch its inhumane ?four cuts? campaign... • The legal, constitutional, and ground realities of the post-election scenario do not offer evidence that justifies any softening of the existing EU Common Position. Measures must be taken to ensure there is no deterioration in the ethnic areas, particularly where ethnic opposition parties won seats... • The establishment of a CoI is extremely urgent. The creation of a CoI has a strong preventive value because it can hold the regime accountable for human rights abuses, deter future violations, promote respect for the rule of law, and obtain justice for the victims of these crimes.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-03-24
Date of entry/update: 2011-03-24
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 50 - FEBRUARY 2011
Description: KEY STORY: SPDC clique still in power; No debate, no media coverage... INSIDE BURMA: NLD on sanctions; SPDC-ethnic groups tensions; New ethnic alliance formed; Union Day events... UN: Burma is regional burden; More Rohingya boatpeople... INTERNATIONAL: US: Sanctions stay... ECONOMY: Prices rise on uncertainty; China is Burma?s top investor; Natural resources up for grabs; Workers strike in Tavoy... OTHER BURMA NEWS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2011-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-03-03
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 49 - JANUARY 2011
Description: KEY STORY: The SPDC?s new toy; Parliamentary restrictions; Military MPs appointed... INSIDE BURMA: NLD on foreign investment; NLD marks Independence Day; New military draft law; Fighting in Karen State; NLD delivers aid... HUMAN RIGHTS: Crimes in Chin State; Phone bugs and censorship; SPDC under fire in Geneva; Farmers resist confiscation; SPDC forced labor; Political prisoner tortured; Religious persecution continues... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya boat people; Refugees in Thailand... INTERNATIONAL: ASEAN calls for more dialogue... ECONOMY: Index of Economic Freedom; Students protest bus fares; Chinese investment increases... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-02-02
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Title: THE 2010 GENERALS? ELECTION
Description: CONTENTS: BURMA?S ELECTIONS: MORE THREATS, MORE REPRESSION, LESS DEMOCRACY... ELECTION TIMELINE... ELECTION IN NUMBERS... THE PARLIAMENT: MORE RESTRICTIONS USHER IN NEW REGIME: USDP elects Burma?s President; Impeachment impossible; Constitutional amendments monopolized; Parliamentary procedures controlled; Parliamentarians gagged; Public barred from Parliament... LAWMAKERS? WHO?S WHO: SOLDIERS, DRUG LORDS, AND CRONIES: The generals? new clothes; Drug lords and regime cronies elected to office... INSTABILITY INCREASES AFTER POLLS... LEGAL FRAMEWORK: UNFAIR ELECTION LAWS AGAINST INT?L STANDARDS... ELECTION ADMINISTRATION: PARTIES EXCLUDED, VOTERS DISENFRANCHISED: Election Commission ensures SPDC control over elections; Ethnic parties excluded, candidates rejected; Party and candidate registration hindered; Ethnic voters disenfranchised... ELECTION CAMPAIGN: RESTRICTIONS, THREATS, AND INTIMIDATION: Freedom of expression, assembly, and movement heavily restricted; Harassment, coercion, and vote buying; Unfair allocation of state resources... MEDIA: CENSORSHIP, HARASSMENT, AND PROPAGANDA: Private media silenced; Foreign journalists barred, domestic reporters harassed; State-run media: Censorship, threats, and 15 minutes of fame; Propaganda and threats ?yes?; information ?no?... VOTING AND POST ELECTION: FRAUD, IRREGULARITIES, AND RETALIATION: Fraud, irregularities, threats, and harassment; Political parties slam polls; Post-election retaliation... ELECTION COMPLAINTS: NO REDRESS FOR ELECTION VIOLATIONS... ELECTION RESULTS: A VICTORY FORETOLD FOR THE USDP... INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS: POLLS MET BY WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION: ASEAN welcomes the election; Manila and Jakarta note concerns; UN: Election not free, fair, or transparent; US: Election ?unacceptable?; EU: Election in a ?climate of fear? and results ?a forgone conclusion?; Japan: SPDC fails to fulfill ?expectations?; Rest of the ?West? slams the polls; China: Polls a ?critical step?.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma (BURMA ISSUES & CONCERNS VOL. 6)
Date of publication: 2010-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2011-02-01
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 48 - DECEMBER 2010
Description: KEY STORY:- WikiLeaks and the junta: China fed up; India screwed on gas; S?pore talking to dead people; North Korean connection... INSIDE BURMA: War crimes in Eastern Burma; SPDC rejects dialogue; Drug production increases; HIV/AIDS and malaria in Burma; Giri survivors still neglected... HUMAN RIGHTS: Freedom of information; Political prisoners... DISPLACEMENT: Refugee ?ping-pong? criticized; Rohingya push-backs... INTERNATIONAL: UN urges reforms in Burma; US assess Burma situation... ECONOMY: Chinese dam slammed; Deals inked, implemented; Gem sales... OTHER BURMA NEWS REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2011-01-04
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 47 - NOVEMBER 2010
Description: KEY STORY: Election fraud & irregularities; Political parties slam polls; Election results; Int?l community rebukes polls; Parliamentary restrictions... INSIDE BURMA: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi freed; Leaders hail Daw Suu?s release; SPDC harasses HIV patients; UNODC report on ATS; Aid needed in Arakan State; SPDC still uses landmines; IAEA visit urged... HUMAN RIGHTS: Freedom of information; Religious freedom... DISPLACEMENT: 27,000 flee to Thailand... INTERNATIONAL: UNGA resolution on Burma; Nambiar meets Daw Suu... ECONOMY: New deals; Fuel rationing returns... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS _____________________________________
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-12-02
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA 2010 ELECTION RECAP
Description: Election Day; Reactions; Results; Final results; People?s Assembly results; National Assembly results..... Widespread evidence of electoral fraud, irregularities, threats, harassment, and lack of independent monitoring characterized Election Day and the days leading up to it... The election process was met by widespread condemnation inside and outside Burma, with the significant exception of ASEAN and China... In total, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won 883 (or 76.52%) of the 1,154 seats at stake in the election... The USDP?s overwhelming majority in both houses of Parliament, coupled with the 25% of the seats occupied by the military, means that the USDP/military bloc can unilaterally amend the 2008 constitution (which, for ordinary matters, requires the approval of over 75% of the representatives of both houses of Parliament). In addition, the USDP/military bloc can unilaterally elect Burma?s next President.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-11-26
Date of entry/update: 2010-11-25
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Title: BEFORE AND AFTER THE ELECTIONS: THE CRIMES CONTINUE
Description: "In the 48 hours after the SPDC?s rigged elections, over 25,000 civilians fled to Thailand after fighting broke out between the SPDC Army and a breakaway faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army along a 150km stretch of the Thai-Burmese border. The fighting displaced thousands more on the Burmese side of the border. These incidents add to concerns that the regime will expand its offensive against ethnic nationality groups in Northern and Eastern Burma, and lead to even more crimes against humanity and war crimes. The regime may be relying on the sham elections and the ?release? of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to distract international attention from the border situation and buy it time to launch more strikes against ethnic communities. Calling for the SPDC to act with restraint is ineffective, because the perpetration of serious international crimes is a fundamental part of its military strategy. In addition, the 2008 constitution, which will come into effect when the National Parliament convenes, guarantees the military immunity for its past misdeeds. While the international community took a ?wait-and-see? position with regard to the junta?s planned elections, in the two months prior to the 7 November election, the following crimes were documented: * At least six extrajudicial killings. * Systematic use of forced labor in ethnic areas. * At least nine people, including two monks, were subjected to arbitrary imprisonment. * Systematic persecution of Rohingya communities. * At least three cases of rape and sexual violence. A UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma is the most practical step forward to prevent more crimes, obtain justice for victims, and provide the basis for national reconciliation and sustainable peace in the country..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-11-16
Date of entry/update: 2010-11-16
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Title: QUOTABLE DAW SUU
Description: After her release from seven years under house arrest, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has spoken on a wide range of issues concerning the past, present, and future of Burma. What follows is a summary of the statements she made in the 48 hours that followed her 13 November release....On the 2010 elections...On the NLD...On cooperation with other pro-democracy forces...On ethnic issues...On dialogue and national reconciliation...On talks with SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe...On the military...On people?s participation...On her detention...On political prisoners...On democracy, rule of law, and human rights...On politics...On economic sanctions...On the management of Burma?s natural resources...On China
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-11-15
Date of entry/update: 2010-11-16
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 46 - OCTOBER 2010
Description: KEY STORY: UN slams election process; Independent monitors banned; Mass release of prisoners?; NLD boycott campaign; Anti-election protests intensify; SPDC pressures ethnic groups; New flag unfurled; Int?l criticism of election process... INSIDE BURMA: Cyclone Giri strikes Burma; Health emergency in E. Burma... HUMAN RIGHTS: Ojea Quintana calls for CoI; Freedom of information; Detention conditions; Forced labor... DISPLACEMENT: SPDC displaces 73,000 people; Migrant workers in Thailand; Thailand and repatriation... INTERNATIONAL: RP and RI criticize SPDC polls; Daw Suu?s release uncertain; Ban Ki-moon ?frustrated?; Relations with Laos & Thailand... ECONOMY: Tavoy deep-sea port; Burma?s corruption; Toyota pulls out of Burma; Explosion at oil pipeline... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2010-11-02
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 45 - SEPTEMBER 2010
Description: KEY STORY: Ethnics excluded; Activists arrested; Media restrictions and threats; Boycotts and protests; Daw Suu allowed to vote?... INSIDE BURMA: Ethnic groups clash with SPDC; NLD activities continue; SPDC Army woes; SPDC buys helicopters; Nuclear program goes on; Burma behind on MDGs; Militias and drug production... HUMAN RIGHTS: Pegu killing; Monks still monitored; Arrest and prison sentences... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya still pushed back; Burmese migrants protest... INTERNATIONAL: Support for CoI grows; NLD dissolution condemned; Burma-related meetings in NY; SPDC and China cozy-up... ECONOMY: SPDC arbitrary taxation; More privatizations; New deals... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-08-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-10-27
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Thai
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Title: BURMA?S 2010 ELECTIONS: THE STORY SO FAR
Description: "This briefer shows that despite the SPDC?s repeated pledges for ?free and fair? elections, indicators for election monitoring based on EU, UN, and OSCE guidelines point to the contrary. The SPDC election laws and conduct of the SPDC Election Commission have caused the dissolution of parties that won 84% of seats in the last election, and disenfranchised at least 1.5 million voters. LEGAL FRAMEWORK • The SPDC election laws are not in accordance with international standards and prevent the exercise of fundamental freedoms and political rights. • Election laws bar over 2,000 political prisoners from being members of political parties. The NLD and other parties would have had to expel their imprisoned leaders, such as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to be eligible to participate. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION • The SPDC Election Commission has not acted in an independent, impartial, and transparent manner. • A number of political parties and candidates have been barred by the Election Commission?s discriminatory restrictions. • The Election Commission financial requirements and tight deadlines for candidate registration hindered the political parties? ability to field candidates. • The Election Commission has canceled the polls in more than 3,400 villages in ethnic areas, disenfranchising around 1.5 million voters. ELECTION CAMPAIGN • The SPDC has limited the ability of political parties, candidates, and their supporters to campaign. Regime authorities have detained those who have spoken out against the polls. • Regime officials have harassed, intimidated, and coerced party candidates and their supporters and engaged in vote buying schemes. • The junta-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has liberally used state resources and relied on state institutions, civil servants, and SPDC officials for the party?s campaign activities. MEDIA • The SPDC Censorship Board has unjustifiably limited the ability of independent media to report on election issues and developments. • State-owned media has tightly restricted media access of candidates and political parties. • State-run media have failed to provide sufficient information to enable voters to make an informed voting decision."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2010-10-27
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Thai
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Title: BURMA~ WOMEN?S VOICES FOR PEACE "မြန်မာနိုင်ငံငြိမ်း ချမ်းရေးအတွက် အမျိုးသမီးများ၏ အသံများ"
Description: CONTENTS: MAP OF BURMA; FOREWORD Debbie Stothard; INTRODUCTION Janie Conway-Herron; HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Pan Yein Nge; A JOURNEY FOR CHANGE Kham Lay; WAR Mi Nyo; RUNNING TO SURVIVE Preh Mo; AYESHA The Arakan Project; MY EXPERIENCE OF A DIFFICULT LIFE Nay Chi; UNFORGETTABLE LIFE Shar; QUALITY AND STANDARD A Phoo; FORCED TO CHOOSE Laminlay; MY MOTHERLAND AND ME Kay Zin Lin; WAITING TO ESCAPE THE ?GOD OF THE HOUSEHOLD? Lway Shwe Kyae; THE DESERTED DINNER TABLE Kon Chan Gakao; THE RAINY SEASONS THAT PASSED Saung; THE LIFE OF KYAT TU RWAY Kyat Tu Rway; FUTURE RAY OF HOPE Yu Ka Lit; MY SUCCESS The Arakan Project; RESILIENCE Nay Jar Yine; SILENT TEARS, BLEEDING HEART Lack Son Pop Htaw; FROM LADY TO ACTIVIST Yaung Pyan; FOLLOWING MY MOTHER?S FOOTSTEPS Rakhaing Thu; DIARY OF A SUPPORTIVE WIFE Khayay Phyu; BROKEN BOWL Lae Lae; A PLACE CALLED ?BURMA? Han Thu Lwin; PEACE IN BURMA Parrot; THE DISPERSION OF A PEOPLE Sayblumoo; LIFE = CREDIT + DEBT Ki Ki; RAISING THE DRAGON?S HEAD Ki Ki; WOMEN?S HOPE Soe Meh "မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးအတွက်အမျိုးသမီးများအသံ" စာအုပ်ဟာသနပ်ခါးအဖွဲ့ရဲ့ (၇) ကြိမ်မြောက်စုစည်းမှုဖြစ်ပြီး မြန်မာနိုင်ငံက အမျိုးသမီးတွေကနေ ရေးသားထားတဲ့ စာအုပ်ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ "
Source/publisher: Thanakha Team (ed)
Date of publication: 2010-06-10
Date of entry/update: 2010-10-27
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese
Format : pdf
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Title: SPDC ELECTION LAWS STRANGLE DEMOCRACY
Description: "Despite the SPDC?s repeated pledges for ?free and fair? elections, the junta?s legal framework for the polls, including five laws issued in March and Directive 2/2010 issued in June, is repressive and undemocratic. The Election Commission Law empowers the SPDC to handpick the Election Commission, which presides over all aspects of the electoral process. Led by a former military judge, it is authorized to cancel elections in some areas. The Political Parties Registration Law effectively bans political prisoners (leaders of NLD, ethnic nationality parties and 88-Generation Students) from membership of political parties. The Assembly laws reiterate the ban on political prisoners, members of religious orders, and civil servants from standing for election, either as members of political parties or as independent candidates. The laws also ban members of religious orders and those serving prison sentences from voting. Directive 2/2010 imposes severe restrictions on political parties? activities, including gatherings held at their own headquarters or branches"
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-07-15
Date of entry/update: 2010-10-27
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Thai
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Title: THE SPDC?S CRIMES CONTINUE: A UN COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IS STILL NEEDED TO PROTECT BURMA?S PEOPLE
Description: • In March, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Tom?s Ojea Quintana said that the ?gross and systematic? human rights abuses in Burma ?were the result of state policy? and recommended that the UN consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry. • Following Ojea Quintana?s recommendation, Australia, the UK, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the US, Canada, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, and Ireland endorsed the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry on crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. EU and Indonesian MPs also have endorsed the creation of a Commission of Inquiry as well. • Since the publication of the SPDC election laws in March, the regime continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity. These grave human rights violations underscore the urgent need for a Commission of Inquiry. • A Commission of Inquiry, in addition to opening a door for victims? rights to truth and justice, also has a preventive value to discourage more crimes from being perpetrated. • In the six-month period between March and August 2010, the following SPDC war crimes/crimes against humanity were documented: **At least 15 extrajudicial killings. **Systematic use of forced labor in ethnic areas. ** Six hundred people were forcibly displaced in military attacks that targeted civilians. ** At least 14 people subjected to arbitrary imprisonment. ** At least eight cases of rape and sexual violence. ** Systematic persecution of Rohingya communities. ** At least two children were recruited as child soldiers, and another child was killed for resisting. • Ongoing military tensions with armed groups, including anger over disenfranchisement of some ethnic groups over the election, has increased the likelihood of escalated armed conflict and related serious crimes after the 7 November polls.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-29
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 44 -- AUGUST 2010
Description: KEY STORY; Election timeline; Threats and harassment; Additional restrictions; More censorship; Discontent grows; Protests; Pre-election military reshuffle... INSIDE BURMA: NLD boycott campaign; Junta stops aid visas; DKBA splits over BGF... HUMAN RIGHTS: Arrest and prison sentences; Religious freedom; Detention conditions; Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya woes in Bangladesh... INTERNATIONAL: US endorses CoI on Burma; Int?l concerns over elections... ECONOMY: Thailand hedges on gas; US fines Barclays bank; China investment; SPDC suspends visa-on-arrival; SPDC threatens workers... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-07-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-01
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 43 -- JULY 2010
Description: IN THIS ISSUE:- KEY STORY: 2 Unfair resource allocation; 2 Unfair registration process; 2 Censorship intensifies; 3 Coercion and bribes; 3 Acts of defiance continue... INSIDE BURMA: 3 Military offensive continues; 3 Junta and ceasefire groups; 4 NLD marks Martyrs? Day; 4 More restrictions on Daw Suu; 4 Aid still needed in the delta; 4 Dengue spreads and kills... HUMAN RIGHTS: 5 Monks targeted; 5 Arrest and prison sentence; 5 Win Htein released... DISPLACEMENT: 5 Deported migrants in jeopardy... INTERNATIONAL: 5 SPDC in the hot seat at AMM; 6 US turns up the heat on SPDC; 6 SPDC nuclear program; 7 North Korean FM visits Burma; 7 Than Shwe goes to India... ECONOMY: 7 Economic mismanagement; 8 New deals for cronies; 8 SPDC shuts Thai border; 9 Thailand signs new gas deal... 9 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 10 REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2010-08-02
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 42 -- JUNE 2010
Description: KEY STORY: More election restrictions; Forced recruitment of party members; Parties? financial woes; Registration still delayed... INSIDE BURMA: Nuclear program revealed; Junta rattled by leaks; New arms procurement; Junta shelves BGF issue; Daw Suu?s 65th birthday; Daw Suu detention arbitrary; Floods hit Arakan State; Forced relocation continues; Drug production increases... HUMAN RIGHTS: ?Worst of the worst”; Prison sentence; No unions in the Union; ILO says forced labor continues... DISPLACEMENT: Burma on US trafficking list; Rohingya in Bangladesh; Int?l concern over refugees; Thailand migrant crackdown... INTERNATIONAL: Visits to Naypyidaw; US concerned by NK ties; EU initiatives... ECONOMY: Petrol stations open; New deals with China... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-07-04
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Photos of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on tour
Description: Photos of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on tour -- in Arakan, in Chin State, in Magwe and in Mandalay. More on the ALTSEAN website (click on Alternate URL)
Source/publisher: Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN)
Date of publication: 2002-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2010-07-04
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : htm
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 41 -- MAY 2010
Description: KEY STORY: • 2010 elections; • Opposition to election; • NDF applies for registration; • International concern over elections... INSIDE BURMA: • NLD activities; • Cracks in the regime; • New anti-terrorism law; • Dam project fuels abuses; • SPDC recruits local militias; • Aid still needed in the delta; • Child soldiers; • Water shortages hit Burma... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Freedom of information; • Detention conditions; • Prison sentences;... DISPLACEMENT: • Rohingya flee to Bangladesh... INTERNATIONAL: • Campbell meets Daw Suu; • US renews Burma sanctions; • NK supplies technology... ECONOMY: • SPDC issues bank licenses... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-04-30
Date of entry/update: 2010-06-02
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 40 -- APRIL 2010
Description: KEY STORY: Generals in suits and ties; Restrictions on media intensify; Ethnics oppose elections; Election laws condemned... INSIDE BURMA: Fifth BGF ultimatum rejected; NLD to continue its activities; Daw Suu health concerns; Explosive April; SPDC-Belarus cooperation; SPDC still restricts aid... HUMAN RIGHTS: Arrests; Press and religious freedoms... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya in Bangladesh... INTERNATIONAL: ASEAN calls for free & fair polls; EU extends sanctions... ECONOMY: New deals... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-05-01
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Title: SPDC ELECTION LAWS SET THE STAGE FOR SHAM ELECTIONS
Description: "The following paper gives a concrete update since the last report ALTSEAN published on the electoral process in Burma [See ALTSEAN - Burma report on 2010 Elections : a recipe for continued conflict on: www.altsean.org/Reports/2010Electionsbis. php. ] It also explains how the regime is preparing itself for the day after the elections which are organized with only one aim: to ensure that the country will remain still hostage of the military for many more years to come.... Highlights: • The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) issues five repressive election laws that will ensure that the polls held in Burma later this year will be neither free nor fair. • Some of the repressive provisions include: ? Giving the Election Commission the authority to deny or delay elections in ethnic nationality areas for ?security reasons”. ? Excluding those who convicted of a crime and serving a jail term from being a member of a political party. ? Forbidding those associated with armed opposition groups - and potentially including those associated with ceasefire groups that reject the SPDC?s Border Guard Force (BGR) ultimatum - from taking part in the elections. • The SPDC continues to place severe restrictions on freedom and expression and assembly. • In response to the unfair and undemocratic election laws, the National League for Democracy (NLD) announces that it will boycott the SPDC?s elections. • In the meantime, the SPDC prepares to transfer its authority to junta-backed political parties and sell state assets to its loyal cronies. • On the border, ethnic tensions escalate as ceasefire groups refuse to accept the SPDC?s ultimatum that their militaries become BGFs. • In early 2010, SPDC military offensives in Eastern Burma displace more than 4,100 villagers. • UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma recommends the UN consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the SPDC. 4 / • Regardless of how the elections are conducted, the SPDC?s constitution will perpetuate military rule, because it stipulates that: ? The military occupies 25% of the seats in Parliament and controls 3 key Ministries; ? The military has effective veto power over constitutional amendments; ? The National Defense and Security Council further entrenches the military; ? Basic human rights are still threatened..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Date of publication: 2010-04-26
Date of entry/update: 2010-05-01
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 39 -- MARCH 2010
Description: KEY STORY: NLD boycotts elections; SPDC unfair election laws; Restrictions continue; Other election news in brief; Groups condemns SPDC laws; International reactions.... INSIDE BURMA: Ethnic tension escalates; Villagers flee forced recruitment; More Chinese trucks; SPDC still behind drug trade.... HUMAN RIGHTS: Ojea Quintana calls for CoI; UN HRC condemns SPDC; UK & US human rights reports; In and out of jail; Freedom of information.... DISPLACEMENT: Rohingya humanitarian crisis; Migrant workers in Thailand.... INTERNATIONAL: UNSC discusses SPDC laws.... ECONOMY: Strikes continue; Alcatel-Lucent helps SPDC.... OTHER BURMA NEWS.... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-02-28
Date of entry/update: 2010-04-21
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: THE SPDC?S CRIMES CONTINUE IN 2010: A UNSC COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IS NEEDED TO PROTECT BURMA?S PEOPLE
Description: • Since the publication of our briefer ?International crimes in Burma: the urgent need for a Commission of Inquiry,” in October 2009 the SPDC has continued to commit crimes against its own people. • In March, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana said that the ?gross and systematic” human rights abuses in Burma ?were the result of state policy” and recommended that the UN consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry. • In the first three months of 2010, the SPDC continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity, highlighting the urgent need for a UN Security Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. • In the three-month period, the following SPDC war crimes/crimes against humanity were documented: *At least nine victims of extrajudicial killings. * At least four instances of forced labor. * An additional 4,100 people were forcibly displaced in military attacks that targeted civilians. * At least 11 people subjected to arbitrary imprisonment. * The continued use of torture. * At least one case of rape and sexual violence. * Systematic and widespread persecution of Muslim Rohingya communities. * At least two children were recruited as child soldiers.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-04-21
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 38 ? FEBRUARY 2010
Description: KEY STORY: • Displaced people threatened; • 2,100 driven into the jungle; • Thailand repatriates Karen; • Crackdown on Rohingya... INSIDE BURMA: • SPDC releases Tin Oo; • Daw Suu appeal rejected; • NLD activities; • 2010 election news; • BGF talks at an impasse; • 500,000 homeless in the delta... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Junta snubs Ojea Quintana; • Detention conditions; • Prison sentences; • Releases; • Torture and death... DISPLACEMENT: • Migrants threatened... INTERNATIONAL: • Calls for free and fair elections... ECONOMY: • More ?privatizations”; • Strikes in Rangoon... OTHER BURMA NEWS.. REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-03-07
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: EASTERN BURMA: 118,800 DISPLACED IN 18 MONTHS
Description: * In the 18 months spanning July 2008-December 2009, SPDC military operations displaced at least 118,800 (43,800 refugees and 75,000 internally displaced persons) people in Eastern Burma alone. * Of this figure, at least 16,800 were victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes as defined under international law. * Much of the displacement was the result of the junta's program to secure military and political control over ethnic areas in the lead-up to the SPDC's planned elections this year. * Displacement is expected to increase as the regime intensifies pressure on ethnic groups resisting the elections that are predicated on a constitution designed to legitimize the military regime's political and economic subjugation of ethnic nationalities. * At the start of 2010, SPDC Army crimes against humanity and war crimes in Eastern Burma pushed 2,000 Karen into the jungles.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2010-02-03
Date of entry/update: 2010-02-04
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 37 - JANUARY 2010
Description: KEY STORY: 1 Economic mismanagement... 2 SPDC way to privatization... 2 Corruption cripples Burma..... INSIDE BURMA: 3 Election promises... 3 Protests, boycotts, campaigns... 4 NLD marks Independence Day... 4 NLD re-organizes CEC... 5 SPDC toys with Daw Suu... 5 SPDC Army gets new radios... 5 Military reshuffles... 5 Death sentences for officials... 6 Opium cultivation increased... 6 SPDC presses on BGF..... HUMAN RIGHTS: 7 Reports blasts SPDC... 7 Arrests and prison sentences... 7 SPDC-ILO agreement extended..... DISPLACEMENT: 8 Two thousand Karen flee... 8 Rohingya plight worsens... 8 Thailand extends deadline..... INTERNATIONAL: 9 Int?l concerns over elections... 9 US: No progress in Burma... 9 SPDC acts on anti-India groups..... ECONOMY: 9 Civil servants pay hikes..... 10 OTHER BURMA NEWS..... 11 REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-02-01
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 36 - DECEMBER 2009
Description: KEY STORY: 1 China presses SPDC; 2 China & SPDC sign key deals... INSIDE BURMA: 3 Ethnics prepare for conflict; 3 Opium cultivation increases; 3 SPDC snubs Daw Suu; 4 2010 elections news; 4 Officials charged with spying; 4 SPDC dooms Burma?s children... HUMAN RIGHTS: 5 Detention conditions; 5 In and out of prison; 5 Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: 5 Rohingya pushed back; 6 Burmese migrants strike... INTERNATIONAL: 6 MPs call for COI; 7 UNGA condemns SPDC; 7 Goodbye Gambari; 7 US sees no progress in Burma; 7 EU engages SPDC... ECONOMY: 8 Stiglitz offers advice to SPDC; 8 From Russia with love; 8 Power to China; 9 Credit Suisse sanctioned... 9 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 10 REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2010-01-04
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 35 - NOVEMBER 2009
Description: IN THIS ISSUE:- KEY STORY: 1 US presses SPDC on reforms 2 Obama defies ASEAN 2 Clinton holds the line 2 Campbell & Marciel to Burma... INSIDE BURMA: 3 Daw Suu reaches out 4 SPDC reshuffles 4 SPDC extends BGF deadline 4 Drug exports increase 5 New aid initiatives 5 Landmine casualties increase 6 SPDC recruits child soldiers... HUMAN RIGHTS: 6 Arrests and prison sentences 6 Detention conditions 7 Forced labor complaints soar... DISPLACEMENT: 7 Rohingya pushed back... INTERNATIONAL: 7 UN Committee slams SPDC 8 Japan ties aid to reforms... ECONOMY: 8 Constitution?s economic impact 8 Corruption Perception Index 8 Pipeline construction begins 9 Gas sales and revenues grow... 9 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 11 REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2009-12-01
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 34 - OCTOBER 2009
Description: KEY STORY: ASEAN backs off on Burma; ASEAN: No civil rights for civil society; Human Rights Commission inaugurated... INSIDE BURMA: Daw Suu?s appeal rejected; Sanctions talks; Ethnic groups oppose 2010 elections; Ceasefire groups resist BGF ultimatum; Pro-junta groups incorporated into BGFs; ASEAN, US, and EU pledge new aid; Rats reach Kachin and Arakan States; Burmese heroin still a threat to the region... HUMAN RIGHTS: Human rights situation ?alarming”; Arrests; Prison sentences; Custodial death; Freedom of information; Religious freedom; Forced labor... DISPLACEMENT: Number of IDPs rising; Rohingya used as pawns; Burmese migrants in Thailand... INTERNATIONAL: Burma-Bangladesh crisis; Switzerland, East Timor call for arms embargo... ECONOMY: Burmese timber exports to China; Mobile phones in Naypyidaw; SPDC gem sales; Trade with Bangladesh, Thailand, and Sudan... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2009-11-06
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Title: NEW US POLICY: AN ALIBI FOR REGIONAL COMPLACENCY
Description: BURMA?S NEIGHBORS MISINTERPRETING US POLICY REVIEW... WHAT IS THE NEW US POLICY?... SPDC PLACATES NEIGHBORS... COMPLACENCY FUELS SPDC ABUSES: Political prisoners; Displacement; BGF ultimatum has fueled instability in border areas... SPDC THREATENS REGIONAL STABILITY: China; Bangladesh... OPPOSITION TO THE 2010 ELECTIONS GROWS... DAW SUU REACHES OUT TO THE SPDC... RECOMMENDATIONS..... • The new US policy on Burma, combining long-standing sanctions with high-level engagement, has been deliberately misread by Burma?s neighbors and used to justify greater tolerance of the regime?s escalating crimes against humanity and war crimes. The misrepresentation has: o Emboldened the SPDC?s sense that it can placate its neighbors through rhetoric instead of genuine reform; o Created a sense of complacency in the region that conditions in Burma are actually improving; and o Tacitly encouraged the SPDC to jail opposition leaders and persecute ethnic nationalities. • Essentially, the new US policy means: o ?Pragmatic engagement”, aimed at achieving meaningful reforms, will supplement and not replace sanctions; o Discussions on easing sanctions will be possible only if significant advances on core human rights and democracy issues occur; and o The option remains of tightening sanctions on the regime and its supporters if the situation worsens. • Despite the hype over improvements in Burma, the facts reveal the opposite: o As of September, there was a record high of 2,211 political prisoners as a result of the SPDC?s intensified crackdown on political dissidents. The crackdown, coupled with the bogus trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ensures that viable opposition candidates in the 2010 elections are locked up. o Escalating crimes against humanity and war crimes against ethnic communities have led to a sharp spike in displacement. • President Obama must use the ASEAN-US Summit in mid-November in Singapore to reinforce the key elements of the US policy on Burma. President Obama should utilize his Asia trip to draw in governments in the region, in particular China, onto the same page as the US and not the other way around. • In the wake of some governments? rejection of human rights groups at the recent ASEAN Summit, President Obama must speak up forcefully in favor of human rights defenders and the vital role of an independent civil society. • US officials need to clearly articulate a set of benchmarks hinged on human rights and democracy to measure progress in Burma in the run-up to the 2010 elections. It is also critical to ensure: o The election law guarantees participation of all people, including political activists, as voters and candidates; o Changes to the constitutional article on amendments to remove an effective military veto and reflect common practice
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-11-05
Date of entry/update: 2009-11-06
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Title: GUILTY AS PLANNED
Description: The SPDC?s sentence that extended Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s house arrest for another 18 months further demonstrates the military regime's ambitions to silence Burma?s greatest hope for peace and national reconciliation. The sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a vicious part of the SPDC?s ?roadmap” to ensure that the most viable pro-democracy candidates will be unable to run in the 2010 elections..... ?Guilty as planned” covers the trial and sentencing of Daw Aung Suu Kyi, the recent SPDC crackdown on pro-democracy advocates, as well as the broad condemnation of the SPDC?s actions from the international community."• On 11 August 2009, following an 86-day sham trial, the military regime sentences Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to three years in prison with hard labor for allegedly violating the conditions of her house arrest. Shortly after the verdict?s announcement, SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe commutes the sentence to 18 months to be served under house arrest. • On 2 October, the regime denies Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s appeal on her conviction, which effectively bars her from participating in the SPDC?s planned 2010 elections. • The sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a vicious part of the SPDC?s ?roadmap” to ensure that the most viable pro-democracy candidates will be unable to run in the elections. • UN Special Rapporteur on human right in Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana says that the continuation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s house arrest was a ?blow” to the SPDC?s roadmap. • In September, the number of political prisoners reaches a record high 2,211. Over the past 12 months, Burma?s military regime has sentenced 351 dissidents to prison terms, including 86 NLD members, 50 members of the 88 Generation Students group, and 25 Buddhist monks. • With a few exceptions, the the international community broadly condemns the trial and conviction of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.".... 1 DAW SUU CONVICTED; 2 Baseless trial, scripted verdict; 3 SPDC divided under pressure; 4 Climate of fear; 4 Roadmap to prison... 5 INT?L REACTIONS: 5 ASEAN; 6 Thailand; 6 Indonesia; 6 Malaysia; 6 Philippines; 7 Singapore; 7 Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam; 7 China; 7 India; 8 UN; 8 US; 9 EU... 9 THE LADY SPEAKS: 9 Dialogue; 10 Constructive engagement; 11 Sanctions, investment, tourism; 11 Humanitarian aid; 11 Role of the military... 12 TRIAL TIMELINE... 17 INT?L REACTIONS... 22 LEGISLATORS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-10-07
Date of entry/update: 2009-10-07
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 33 - SEPTEMBER 2009
Description: KEY STORY: 1 Mass release of prisoners 2 Arrests and imprisonment 3 Crackdown on monks... INSIDE BURMA: 4 Daw Suu reaches out to SPDC 5 New parties galore 5 Kokang offensive ends 5 Conflict between SPDC and Wa 6 BGF talks go nowhere 6 SPDC Army desertions 7 Bombs 7 Food insecurity continues... HUMAN RIGHTS: 7 Detention conditions... DISPLACEMENT: 7 Refugees remain in China... INTERNATIONAL: 8 US unveils new Burma policy 8 SPDC moans about sanctions 8 UNSG: Free ALL dissidents 9 Thailand crackdown... ECONOMY: 9 Gas deals increase instability 10 Daewoo/CNPC/GAIL deal 10 New 5,000 kyat note 10 Jetstar propping up SPDC?... 10 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 12 REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-08-31
Date of entry/update: 2009-10-02
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 32 - AUGUST 2009
Description: KEY STORY: • Guilty as planned; • Baseless trial, scripted verdict; • International reactions... INSIDE BURMA: • Onslaught in Shan State; • SPDC attacks spill into China; • SPDC targets women; • BGF inflames border areas; • Transitional package; • Pro-democracy campaigns; • Monks harassed; • SPDC dams future... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Arrests and imprisonment; • Prison transfers... DISPLACEMENT: • More Karen refugees; • Malaysia mistreats migrants; • Rohingya die in Thai detention... INTERNATIONAL: • China rebukes the SPDC... ECONOMY: • Trade hits record high; • Burma?s gas balloons; • Korean deals... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-07-31
Date of entry/update: 2009-09-02
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Title: BURMESE UPRISING REDUX
Description: August 8 marks the anniversary of the 1988 nationwide popular uprising against Burma?s military regime. The 1988 uprising represents the Burmese people?s ongoing struggle against the regime?s protracted economic mismanagement and political oppression... Twenty-one years later, the military regime?s misrule has turned Burma into: - One the world?s Least Developed Countries; - The world?s third most economically repressed country, and the second most corrupt; - The world?s third largest source of refugees and asylum seekers; - The worst internal displacement situation in Southeast Asia, and the fourth worst in Asia; - The country with the highest number of child soldiers; and - The top producer of opium and amphetamines in Southeast Asia and the second largest opium producer in the world... The SPDC?s promise of democratic reform, embodied in its ?seven-step roadmap to democracy”, has translated into greater oppression of the regime?s opponents, with the number of political prisoners reaching a record high of 2,160... The expected outcome of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s trial could trigger a new wave of protests across the country, as she commands great trust and respect among the all of Burma?s people... The regime?s backlash against ethnic ceasefire groups? refusal to surrender control of their armies and participate in the bogus 2010 elections has the potential to plunge Burma into renewed conflict.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-08-07
Date of entry/update: 2009-08-07
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 31 - JULY 2009
Description: • The SPDC?s trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi continues. Facing intense international pressure and fearing a new wave of anti-junta street protests, the regime postpones the verdict to 11 August... • SPDC uses UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-Moon?s visit to Burma as a public relations ploy. SPDC Chairman denies Ban?s request to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi... • ASEAN FM meeting in Phuket issues statement calling on the SPDC to release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Meanwhile, the regime jails 87-year old NLD elected MP Kyaw Khaing... • Newly established ASEAN human rights body fails to provide protection and enforcement mechanisms... • US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expresses concern over possible nuclear ties between the North Korean and Burmese regimes at the ARF. • US President Barack Obama extends economic sanctions on the SPDC... • Two-hundred more Karen refugees flee to Thailand, seeking protection from DKBA abuses... • Kachin Independence Organization delegates fail to reach agreement with SPDC on transforming KIA into border guard force. In response, the regime sends reinforcements and more armaments to its military forces in Kachin State... • Rohingya flee SPDC harassment and oppression in Arakan State, only to face violence and expulsion from Bangladesh... • For the first time, Malaysian authorities confirm that government officials were involved in the exploitation of Burmese migrants at its border... • SPDC obstructs aid to the survivors of Chin famine, Kachin landslides, and cyclone Nargis.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2009-08-03
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Title: ACTION NEEDED: BURMESE JUNTA THREATENS COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL SECURITY
Description: "Disturbing recent developments concerning evidence of the Burmese military regime?s close cooperation with the North Korean regime, including acquisition of long-range ballistic missile technology, must serve as an urgent wake-up call to members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It is time for the ARF, which brings together ASEAN member states and regional dialogue partners, to move beyond unconditional diplomacy and reduce the Burmese military regime?s capability to threaten the comprehensive security of the region. Action must include restrictions and greater regulation of transactions and entities implicated in weapons deals with the regime and its proxies. It is particularly crucial that those implicated, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and China, take effective steps to stem the flow of funds and technology needed for such deals. These sanctions are less likely to hurt ordinary Burmese who do not use the formal banking system because of prohibitive commissions and rules on retail customers..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-07-18
Date of entry/update: 2009-07-20
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 30 - JUNE 2009
Description: KEY STORY: • Daw Aung San Suu Kyi trial • International condemnation • Solidarity with Daw Suu • Daw Suu?s birthday... INSIDE BURMA: • Karen State offensive • Ceasefire groups tensions • Child soldiers • SPDC soldiers rape women • Monks harassed • North Korean connection • Aid hard to give • Education out of reach • Diarrhea, cholera, dengue • Heroin use in Kachin State • World Drug Report... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Arrests and prison sentences • Detention conditions • Freedom of information • ILO hammers SPDC • Indexes on Burma • Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: • Karen State exodus • No home for Rohingya • Malaysia pays for abuse • Free to work, not to travel... INTERNATIONAL: • Asian leaders push SPDC • Gambari?s trip to Burma • SPDC strains relations... ECONOMY: • Trade hits record high... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS...
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2009-07-08
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese, Shan, Karen
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 29 - MAY 2009
Description: KEY STORY: Daw Suu?s show trial; Timeline; Solidarity with Daw Suu; International outrage; ASEAN turns up the heat; ASEM & ASEAN-EU meetings; UNSG and UNSC; ASEAN MPs slam SPDC... INSIDE BURMA: A rock and a hard place; Escalating violence; Nargis one year on; War on children... HUMAN RIGHTS: ICC campaign; Freedom of information; Detention conditions; Forced labor... DISPLACEMENT: Chasing the tail; BDR push back; Death in Malaysian camps... INTERNATIONAL: US and EU sanctions... ECONOMY: Empty baskets; Full of gas; Corporate social responsibility... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-04-30
Date of entry/update: 2009-06-07
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 28 - APRIL 2009
Description: KEY STORY: NLD sets elections conditions..... INSIDE BURMA: 2010 elections... Ceasefire talks amid attacks... 88 Generation Students... Thingyan ban... Diarrhea outbreak... Global Fund returns?... SPDC upsets donors... UN report on child soldiers..... HUMAN RIGHTS: Arrests... Prison sentences... Rohingya persecuted... Worst place for bloggers..... DISPLACEMENT: Bali Process fizzles... US report slams Malaysia... Migrant workers in Thailand Chin abandoned in India... Oil exploitation & displacement..... INTERNATIONAL: Calls for Daw Suu?s releases... US sanctions to stay...EU extends sanctions... Frictions with Bangladesh..... ECONOMY: Investment... Economic reality check..... OTHER BURMA NEWS..... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2009-05-02
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Title: THE 14th ASEAN SUMMIT: LITTLE CHANGE DESPITE CHARTER
Description: "ASEAN leaders? promotion of the newly enacted ASEAN Charter as an instrument of change rang hollow at the 14th ASEAN summit because of the organization?s failure to effectively deal with the problems created by the Burmese military regime. The failure was glaring. In the weeks before the ASEAN summit, ASEAN Sec-Gen Surin Pitsuwan delivered promising statements and speeches that indicated significant change for the organization. Surin?s speeches were peppered with the terms ?people-centered” and ?people-caring” to describe the ?reinvented” ASEAN ? an ASEAN with a new guiding charter. Surin said that the Charter made ?all issues relevant”, and ?all issues were on the table” and ?nothing could be hidden”. Of all the provisions in the charter, the most widely heralded was the call for the establishment of the ASEAN Human Rights Body (AHRB). The ASEAN Secretariat?s public relations hype over the summit would have been much easier had it not been for the Rohingya boat people. The plight of the Rohingya fleeing Burma because of religious persecution represented the first test of the ASEAN Charter?s promise to make human rights and the rule of law common currency throughout the region. The test fell flat. Surin was undermined by the Terms of Reference for the ASEAN Human Rights Body and by the inability of ASEAN to unite to confront and resolve the Rohingya problem. .ASEAN leaders have not caught up with the rights and entitlements implemented in the Charter. ASEAN?s failure to address the Rohingya issue and other pressing regional problems caused by the SPDC seriously undermines authority and effectiveness of the ASEAN Charter, and ASEAN itself. ASEAN leaders must realize that the current situation threatens the credibility and the integrity of the organization..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-04-10
Date of entry/update: 2009-04-11
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 26 -February 2009
Description: KEY STORY: SPDC sabotages Summit... Rohingya to be deported... Human rights "paper tiger"... Dialogue with civil society..... INSIDE BURMA: SPDC aid obstruction... New democracy campaigns... 2010 election boycott... SPDC reshuffle... Opium poppy cultivation up... UWSA-SPDC relations... Youth denied..... HUMAN RIGHTS: Ojea Quintana's visit... Arrests... New prison sentences... Prison sentence reductions... Mass release of prisoners Forced labor getting worse..... DISPLACEMENT: Burmese migrant workers..... INTERNATIONAL: Gambari returns to Burma... US to review Burma policy... Chinese flee Burma..... ECONOMY: Layoffs in Burma...• ?Booming” kyat... International trade... Questionable tourism..... OTHER BURMA NEWS..... REPORTS.....
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2009-04-02
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 27 - MARCH 2009
Description: KEY STORY: * HRC condemns SPDC... * Ojea Quintana report... * Daw Suu's detention... * Political prisoners... * Arrests... * Prison sentences..... INSIDE BURMA: * 2010 elections..... HUMAN RIGHTS: * Rohingya and Muslims... * SPDC "internet enemy"... * Detention conditions... * Forced labor...... DISPLACEMENT: * ASEAN and Rohingya... * Migrant crackdown... * More IDPs... * Extra-judicial killing..... INTERNATIONAL: * ASEAN after the Summit... * EU/US..... ECONOMY: * Gems sale... * Sharing the spoils... * Deals with China... * Divestment... * Going, going, gone..... OTHER BURMA NEWS..... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-02-28
Date of entry/update: 2009-04-02
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Title: BURMA IS STILL ASEAN?S SHAME
Description: The Burmese military regime has not improved its behavior since the ASEAN Charter came into force on December 15, 2008. By intensifying repression in the past two months, the regime has directly attacked the integrity and credibility of ASEAN and its Charter. ASEAN is undermining itself by refusing to act against such serious violations.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-02-17
Date of entry/update: 2009-02-19
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 24 ? DECEMBER 2008
Description: KEY STORY: • Ban says ‘no?... INSIDE BURMA: • Daw Suu watch... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Prison sentences; • Prison transfers; • Detention conditions... DISPLACEMENT: • Migrant workers hit; • Deaths, detention, deportation; • Exodus from Arakan State... ECONOMY: • Rice trade and shortages; • Financial crisis; • New deals, more shame... CHRONOLOGY... REPORTS......• The SPDC continues to sentence activists to lengthy prison terms and to transfer political prisoners to Burma?s most remote prisons. Approximately 276 activists have been sentenced so far in this year, some with multiple jail terms. • Ban says ‘no? to calls to return to Burma. • Ethnic nationalities continue to flee to neighboring countries to escape persecution and crippling poverty. • As a consequence of the global financial crisis, migrant workers are fired and deported to Burma. • Farmers report failing harvests. Despite this, the regime continues to increase rice exports. • The SPDC says that Burma?s economy will not be affected by the global financial crisis and that the agricultural sector can employ ?millions” more. • SPDC refuses to let Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meet her lawyer.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2009-02-03
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 25 -January 2009
Description: KEY STORY: • Rohingya boat people..... INSIDE BURMA: • Ethnic groups boycott elections/ • SPDC for Obama? • SPDC Army in disarray; • Trucks from China; • Child mortality; • HIV/AIDS patients; • Five million need food; • Nargis survivors struggling; • Drug smuggling/trafficking..... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Custodial deaths; • Detention conditions; • Arrests; • Prison sentences; • Forced labor..... INTERNATIONAL: • UNGA resolution; • Abhisit?s ?flexible engagement”..... ECONOMY: • Sanctions update; • The squeeze is on..... OTHER BURMA NEWS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2009-02-03
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Title: ROHINGYA, ASYLUM SEEKERS & MIGRANTS FROM BURMA: A HUMAN SECURITY PRIORITY FOR ASEAN
Description: Since October 2006, about 10,000 Rohingya have boarded boats in Bangladesh and Burma and headed for Thailand and Malaysia. The thousands of Rohingya boat people are only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of Burmese have fled the country in the past decade, with two million in Thailand alone... ASEAN must be proactive in pressuring Burma?s military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to cease perpetuating the severe persecution and economic mismanagement that has been forcing millions of people to flee to neighboring countries.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2009-01-30
Date of entry/update: 2009-02-03
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Title: ISSUES & CONCERNS VOLUME 5: BURMA DEFILES THE ASEAN CHARTER
Description: In the year following ASEAN?s member states signing the Charter on 20 November 2007, Burma?s military regime has openly trampled on the values and rights enumerated in the document. The regime has used the ?grace” period for the formal enactment of the Charter as a politically expedient way of engaging in further rights violations and oppression. The briefer summarizes the military regime?s actions in the year since it signed the Charter...... CONTENTS: 2 SPDC DEFILES ASEAN CHARTER... 3 ASEAN says, SPDC does... 4 Burma in numbers... 4 ASEAN still lacks political will on Burma..... INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: 7 ASEAN from revulsion to rescue... 9 UN frustration, more sanctions, and more condemnation... 10 Cyclone Nargis..... DEMOCRACY: 11 SPDC imposes constitution..... HUMAN RIGHTS: 13 Crackdown on dissidents... 14 Detention conditions... 14 Forced labor practices ? no end in sight... 15 Freedom of information..... MILITARY: 17 SPDC offensive intensifies in Eastern Burma... 17 Arms flow into Burma..... DISPLACEMENT: 18 Migrant workers from Burma in the region..... AID: 19 Restrictions on humanitarian aid... 19 Cyclone Nargis... 20 Disaster mismanagement..... WOMEN & CHILDREN: 22 Women ? violence continues with impunity... 22 Children ? the most vulnerable..... HEALTH: 24 Curable diseases turn deadly... 24 Food security ? hungrier than ever... 25 SPDC ? Still Asia?s chief supplier of amphetamines, world?s #2 source of heroin...... ECONOMY: 27 Trade and investment goes forward... 27 Sanctions... 28 Reconstruction... 28 Dams... 30 The year of shame in review.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-12-10
Date of entry/update: 2008-12-23
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 23 - November 2008
Description: KEY STORY: 1 SPDC jails 186 dissidents... INSIDE BURMA: 4 Landmines casualties rising... HUMAN RIGHTS: 4 More arrests; 4 Detention conditions; 5 Forced labor increases; 5 CEDAW conclusions... DISPLACEMENT: 6 Exodus from Arakan State... INTERNATIONAL: 6 UNGA condemns SPDC; 6 SPDC-Bangladesh face-off... ECONOMY: 7 Sanctions; 7 Business with China... 8 ANNEX - 1... 10 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 11 REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-12-12
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 21 - September 2008
Description: KEY STORY: 1 Saffron Revolution one year on..... INSIDE BURMA: 3 Daw Suu appeals detention... 3 Anti-junta protests... 4 SPDC Army... 4 Explosive September... 5 Cyclone recovery... 5 SPDC fails to control drugs..... HUMAN RIGHTS: 5 Arrests intensify... 6 Prison sentences... 6 Mass release of prisoners... 7 Detention conditions... 7 Freedom of information..... DISPLACEMENT: 8 Rohingya..... INTERNATIONAL: 8 SPDC credentials challenged... 8 Gambari briefs UN bodies... 9 ?Group of Friends” meeting... 9 ASEAN and UN on elections..... 9 OTHER BURMA NEWS..... 11 REPORTS. ________________
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-08-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-11-01
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 22 - October 2008
Description: KEY STORY: • Cyclone Nargis cleanup... INSIDE BURMA: • Daw Suu: deained 13 years... • SPDC Army killings... • Offensive in Karen State... • Bombs... • At the monasteries... • Chin food crisis... • Melamine still on sale..... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Arrests... • Prison sentences... • Releases... • Detention conditions... • Freedom of information... • Ojea Quintana?s report..... DISPLACEMENT: • 66,000 new IDPs in 2008..... INTERNATIONAL: • Ban dissatisfed with SPDC..... ECONOMY: • Energy deals... • India deals... • Bangladesh trip... • Rice trade and prices... • Sanctions and boycotts... • Gem Sale..... OTHER BURMA NEWS..... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2008-11-01
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: SAFFRON REVOLUTION A YEAR LATER: IT?S NOT OVER
Description: "On 26 September, one year will have passed since Burma?s military regime began its bloody crackdown on the Saffron Revolution. The spirit of the monk-led Saffron Revolution that moved hundreds of thousands of people to hold protests throughout Burma and inspired hundreds of solidarity events around the globe lives on. This briefer details what has happened in Burma since: repression has intensified, the SPDC has exacerbated another humanitarian crisis, persisted with its gross economic mismanagement and refused to deliver the actual reforms it has been promising for years. Despite this, monks and ordinary people have persevered in their defiance of the SPDC."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-09-22
Date of entry/update: 2008-09-26
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 20 - August 2008
Description: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 20 ? AUGUST 2008... KEY STORY: • August crackdown... • Activists arrested... • Prison sentences... • Monks targeted..... INSIDE BURMA: • 8-8-8 Demonstrations... • Daw Aung San Suu Kyi... • Cyclone Nargis aid... • Cyclone camps close... • SPDC aid windfall... • Floods... • More trucks from China..... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Ojea Quintana goes to Burma... • Rape of ethnic women..... DISPLACEMENT: • Trafficking report..... INTERNATIONAL: • Gambari?s latest visit... • Bush meets activists..... ECONOMY: • Price increases... • Natural gas... • Food shortages..... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-07-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-09-07
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Campaign Kit for 8-8-88 20th anniversary: (1) BURMA 20 YEARS ON: HUNGRY AS EVER FOR DEMOCRACY
Description: "Twenty years after brutally suppressing the inspiring 8888 uprising, Burma?s military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has run the country?s infrastructure into the ground and squandered its natural resources. Instead of investing in the development of Burma, the regime has focused national resources almost entirely on the military, doubling the size of the army and undertaking a spending spree on weapons. Even while the regime pursued its fake ?roadmap to democracy”, it oversaw sharp increases in drug production, displacement, disease, and other threats to human security in Burma and Asia... In September 2007, the people of Burma took to the streets to call for the end of brutal repression, economic exploitation, and the impoverishment of a country gifted with natural wealth and talented peoples. The regime?s sham constitutional referendum, meant to consolidate its hold on power, cannot camouflage the steep decline in economic and social conditions... Burma?s neighbors, and the international community, must work with genuine commitment to support concrete solutions that involve all key stakeholders. Governments of Asia and the world must no longer allow their goodwill to be manipulated by the regime. Burma?s descent into greater instability must no longer be tolerated, for the sake of its people and the people of this region..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-08-02
Date of entry/update: 2008-08-08
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Campaign Kit for 8-8-88 20th anniversary: (2) ?WE WON'T FORGET, WE WON'T GIVE UP!"
Description: AUGUST 8, 1988: Young people in Burma launched massive nationwide rallies, calling for an end to military rule and the establishment of a democratic government... Military response : 3,000 people killed, mostly students and monks. Thousands jailed... The ?8888 generation” has bravely continued work - from prison, in exile, and ?inside”. Since 1988, the movement has grown & diversified. Groups work together across sectors to” * improve situation of communities, * foster reconciliation, and * develop capacity & common frameworks for Burma?s future..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-08-02
Date of entry/update: 2008-08-08
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Language: English
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Title: Campaign Kit for 8-8-88 20th anniversary: (3) AUGUST 8, 2008: WHAT CAN THE WORLD DO?
Description: "Twenty years after the 8888 national uprising, the international community must realize that unconditional engagement, discreet diplomacy, and ASEAN?s so-called constructive engagement has failed. While sanctions are a useful source of pressure and an effective signal to the regime that it will not be rewarded for brutality, these strategies have been undermined by governments that refuse to be pro-active. Such apathy and lack of political will has enabled the regime to perpetuate conditions that harm the people of Burma and intensify threats to regional security. The international community must stand united and deny the regime the means ? weapons, money, and diplomatic protection - to continue oppressing and killing civilians, and causing increasing threats to human security. A strong, united position will ensure that the regime has no choice but to engage in genuine political and economic reforms. Such reforms must begin with: 1. The unconditional release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 2. The cessation of repression and hostilities against ethnic groups. 3. The commencement of tripartite dialogue..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-08-02
Date of entry/update: 2008-08-08
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Title: Campaign Kit for 8-8-88 20th anniversary:: (4) UPDATE: BURMA?S POLITICAL PRISONERS
Description: • 267 - Number of arbitrary arrests in 2008... • 107 - NLD members arrested... • 127 - Individuals arrested for opposing the constitutional referendum... • 17 - Activists arrested for delivering aid to cyclone Nargis survivors... • 12 - Journalist, writers, and artists arrested... • 11 - Monks arrested... • 2 - Political prisoners who died in custody... • 55 - Dissidents sentenced to jail since the ?Saffron Revolution”... • 1,900 - Current number of political prisoners in Burma... • 65.2% - Increase in political prisoners over the past year..."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-08-02
Date of entry/update: 2008-08-08
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 19 - JULY 2008
Description: KEY STORY: 1 Cyclone Nargis... INSIDE BURMA: 4 Martyrs? Day; 4 At the monasteries; 4 Bombs; 5 Food shortages... HUMAN RIGHTS: 5 Arrests and sentencing; 5 Detention conditions; 6 Forced labor continues... DISPLACEMENT: 6 New Rohingya camps; 6 Karen offensive; 6 Safety in Thailand?... INTERNATIONAL: 7 ASEAN ?disappointed”; 7 SPDC ratifies charter; 7 US sanctions; 7 Gambari to visit Burma... ECONOMY: 8 Foreign investment falls; 8 SPDC fundraisers... 8 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 10 REPORTS..... • ASEAN/UN/SPDC Nargis assessment complete: 138,366 dead or missing (61% female); 89% of survivors have less than a week?s food; 800,000 homes damaged; GDP growth projected to lose 2.7%; US$1 billion needed for recovery. • SPDC steals US$10 million in humanitarian aid funds. • Cyclone survivors face eviction and disease. • Seventy percent of farmland in the Irrawaddy delta misses the planting season because of cyclone damage and shortages. • SPDC arrests eight NLD members, nine monks and sentences ten students to jail terms. • Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh relocated, four die. Five-hundred Karen villagers flee to Thailand. Thailand deports 35 others. • ASEAN expresses disappointment over the extension of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s house arrest and calls for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. • SPDC ratifies ASEAN Charter but objects to human rights monitoring body. • UN Special Advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari briefs Security Council members and announces he will return to Burma in August. • Foreign investment in Burma falls 77% over the past year.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2008-08-01
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: UPDATE: SPDC TURNS CYCLONE SURVIVORS INTO HOSTAGES
Description: • Update... • ASEAN assesses needs... • Human Rights Council condemns SPDC... • Conditions for survivors.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-08-01
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 18 - JUNE 2008
Description: KEY STORY: 1 Survivors held ransom; 2 Relief workers arrested; 3 ASEAN assesses needs; 3 Conditions for survivors... INSIDE BURMA: 5 Daw Suu?s birthday; 5 Offensive in Karen State; 6 SPDC reshuffles; 6 Opium cultivation... HUMAN RIGHTS: 7 Ojea: No improvement; 7 HRC condemns SPDC; 7 UNSC Resolution 1820; 8 Forced labor widespread; 8 Arrests and releases; 8 Detention conditions; 9 Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: 9 Nargis survivors in Thailand... ECONOMY: 10 Business as usual. 10 Hunger spreads... 10 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 12 REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-07-08
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 17 - MAY 2008
Description: KEY STORY: 1 Cyclone Nargis hits 2 SPDC downplays death toll 3 Situation "normal" 3 SPDC blocks, steals, sells aid 5 Monks shelter, SPDC evicts 5 Aid trickles in 6 Help us help you 7 ASEAN to the rescue 7 Ban breaks through 8 Food security 8 Children at risk... INSIDE BURMA: 8 Referendum in the rubble 9 Democracy forces reject results 10 Orchestrating a farce 11 Arrests of "No" supporters 11 Daw Suu's detention extended 12 NLD arrests... HUMAN RIGHTS: 12 Custodial deaths 13 Forced labor... DISPLACEMENT: 13 Refugees struggle to survive... ECONOMY: 14 Business as usual... 14 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 15 REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-06-02
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 16 - APRIL 2008
Description: KEY STORY: 1 Referendum; 2 "No" vote campaign; 3 SPDC campaign; 4 Rigging the vote; 5 Atmosphere of oppression; 6 International reactions... INSIDE BURMA: 6 Arms flowing into Burma... HUMAN RIGHTS: 7 Prison sentences; 7 Detention conditions... DISPLACEMENT: 7 Fifty-four die in Thailand; 8 Rohingya flee; 8 Riot in Bangladesh; 8 Riot in Malaysia... INTERNATIONAL: 8 UNSC presidential statement; 9 Pinheiro's remarks; 9 EU sanctions; 9 Thai PM backs SPDC... ECONOMY: 9 India deal; 10 Rice exports and shortages; 10 Gas pipeline leaking... 10 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 12 REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-03
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Type: Individual Documents
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Title: THE SPDC CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM: A DEAD END FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
Description: On 10 May 2008, the people of Burma will vote in an SPDC-manipulated referendum on a draft constitution that is designed to entrench military rule. The likely consequences of a forced "Yes" vote or a majority "No" vote will have serious regional repercussions. A forced "yes" vote will likely intensify unrest in Burma among a population increasingly dissatisfied with the entrenchment of a regime notorious for its abuses and economic mismanagement. A majority "no" vote despite the regime's threats, intimidation, and fraudulent practices would result in a deeper political crisis, since the regime has repeatedly made it clear that it intends to remain in power if the constitution is rejected.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-05-02
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-03
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 15 ? March 2008
Description: KEY STORY: 1 SPDC constitutional referendum 2 ?No” vote gains momentum 3 Monks outside Burma say ?No” 4 International reactions... INSIDE BURMA: 4 Resistance days 4 Monks continue boycott 5 Humanitarian aid restrictions... HUMAN RIGHTS: 5 More arrests 5 Death and suffering in prisons 6 Pinheiro and HRC slam SPDC 7 ILO: Forced labor still a problem 7 Human rights record: US report 7 Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: 8 More boat people 8 Malaysia arrests 8 Displacement along Thai border... INTERNATIONAL: 9 SPDC spurns Gambari - again 9 Thai PM and SPDC cozy up... ECONOMY: 10 Economic failure continues 10 Gems auction 11 Restrictions hit farmers 11 Thailand deals with junta... 11 OTHER BURMA NEWS... 12 REPORTS. _____________________________________
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-02-29
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-01
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA AT 60: TIME FOR CHANGE!
Description: "The briefer is released ahead of Burma?s 60th anniversary of independence on 4 January 2008. 2008 also marks 20 years since the 8888 uprising. The brief socio-economic overview of Burma?s past 60 years presents the grim realization that the past two years have witnessed a sharp decline in Burma on all fronts. Despite public relations efforts aimed at staving off both external and internal pressure, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has perpetrated such serious mismanagement, repression and corruption that the consequences are not only threatening Burma?s stability but that of its immediate region as well."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2008-03-01
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 12 ? DECEMBER 2007
Description: KEY STORY: • SPDC ends year with new repression... INSIDE BURMA: • SPDC?s roadmap; • NLD frustrated; • Daw Suu?s honors; • Pro-democracy activities; • Monks strike back; • Military offensive intensifies; • Tension in Kachin State; • SPDC: Dissent from within; • Bird flu... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Releases... DISPLACEMENT: • Boat people; • Monks flee; • Refugee shot in camp... INTERNATIONAL: • UN initiatives on Burma; • US: More sanctions... ECONOMY: • Nothing to harvest; • Inflation rises... CHRONOLOGY... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2008-03-01
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 13 ? JANUARY 2008
Description: KEY STORY: • Daw Suu slams SPDC; • Persecution of NLD; • NLD activities; • Spain honors Daw Suu... INSIDE BURMA: • Child mortality worse than in Sudan; • Further restrictions on aid; • Anti-junta protests continue; • Monks go global; • Explosive month; • SPDC to step up Karen Offensive; • Chinese trucks delivered... HUMAN RIGHTS: • More arrests; • Detention conditions; • Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: • Arakan State exodus... INTERNATIONAL: • SPDC stalls Gambari?s return; • SPDC in international spotlight... ECONOMY: • Food shortages; • Almost the most corrupt; • Gem show... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-03-01
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 14 ? FEBRUARY 2008
Description: KEY STORY: • Referendum, elections; • SPDC?s plan rejected; • Int?l community critical... INSIDE BURMA: • NLD harassment; • Pro-democracy activities; • Anti-junta protests; • Olympics boycott; • Exiles? draft constitution; • KNU leader assassinated; • Bombs... HUMAN RIGHTS: • Monks still targeted; • Detention conditions; • Freedom of information; • Rohingya targeted; • ILO MoU extended... INTERNATIONAL: • Gambari?s latest gambit; • Thailand?s approach... ECONOMY: • New banking sanction; • Rice to Bangladesh; • Russian gold... OTHER BURMA NEWS... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2008-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2008-03-01
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 11 ? NOVEMBER 2007
Description: IN THIS ISSUE:- KEY STORY: 1 SPDC rejects dialogue; 2 Daw Suu speaks; 3 SPDC muscles ethnic groups... INSIDE BURMA: 3 Protests continue; 4 Monks still targeted; 5 SPDC reshuffles and defections; 6 Child soldiers; 6 Bird flu... HUMAN RIGHTS: 6 UNGA condemns SPDC; 7 Pinheiro?s visit; 8 Arrests; 8 Releases; 9 Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: 9 New arrivals in Thailand; 9 Crackdown in Thailand; 10 More cross into Bangladesh... INTERNATIONAL: 11 UNSC briefing; 11 EU envoy appointed; 11 India: no more arms? 11 ASEAN Charter; 11 China: Envoy briefed; 12 Japan-SPDC relations... ECONOMY: 12 Sanctions; 12 Tay Za; 13 Gem sale; 13 Energy crisis continues; 13 Rice harvest down... 13 CHRONOLOGY... 16 REPORTS. ______________________
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2007-12-29
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA: TIME FOR ASEAN TO BITE THE BULLET
Description: • ASEAN and its dialogue partners must adopt a common position to ensure that the Burmese military regime delivers genuine reforms within a clearlystated timeframe to strengthen and complement UN efforts. • The common position must guarantee an inclusive process that allows key stakeholders such as the National League for Democracy (NLD) and ethnic nationality leadership to work freely as genuine partners with the military regime. • ASEAN and its dialogue partners must publicly support the solutions proposed by the democracy movement that focus on a transitional powersharing formula, and encourage the Burmese junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), to be part of the solution. • The Burmese regime?s oppressive roadmap should be abandoned in its current state - it has intensified the problems besieging Burma, which in turn threaten regional human and economic security. • The roadmap has been a disaster for Burma. Since its introduction in 2003: o Military offensives against civilians in Eastern Burma have intensified and increased crackdowns on ethnic groups have threatened resurgence of warfare in other areas. o Economic mismanagement and rampant corruption have worsened, driving a possible 50% of the population below the poverty line. o Decaying morale, diversion of resources to the army and oppressive interference has gravely damaged public institutions and the rule of law.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-11-18
Date of entry/update: 2007-12-29
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 10 - OCTOBER 2007
Description: KEY STORY: "Situation of fear"... INSIDE BURMA: * Peaceful resistance continues * SPDC propaganda rallies *Daw Suu:12 years of detention *Talks with Daw Suu *Roadmap to nowhere *Arms shopping in Moscow *Drug production up... HUMAN RIGHTS: *Detention conditions *Freedom of information... DISPLACEMENT: *Safety outside Burma? *Displacement in Eastern Burma... INTERNATIONAL: *Global response to brutality *UNSC action on Burma *UNHRC resolution *Gambari on tour * New sanctions... ECONOMY: * Hunger increases * Flights cut * Deals postponed * Money transfers affected... CHRONOLOGY... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-09-30
Date of entry/update: 2007-11-02
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: Burma - Women's Voices for Hope
Description: ?Burma Women?s Voices for Hope” is the sixth edition of the Women?s Voices series. This book is a collection of stories and poems about the diverse experiences of women refugees, exiles and women activists from inside Burma. The contributors, many of who are first time writers, have shared their experiences of conflict and human rights abuses under the Burma military regime. At the same time they speak with determination and hope of the type of future they envisage for Burma ? a future of democracy, freedom and human rights for all. Stories Include: • ?To Save Our People” & ?In The Dam?s Path” ? stories by 2 Yintalai women, sharing their concerns about the future of the remaining 1,000 Yintalai people of Burma and their struggle to stop the Salween dam project that threatens to wash their communities away. • ?With My Own Two Eyes”- tells the story of a Karen woman activist?s journeys inside Karen State to help raise human rights and environmental awareness among her people. • ?Speaking Out Can Make A Difference” and ?Not the Lord of the Rings” - focus on the effects of sexual violence by the military regime, through the eyes of women responsible for documenting cases of sexual violence. • ?Why?” - is one of several stories exploring different situations of women migrant workers in Thailand. ?This new, sixth collection of, ?Women?s Voices” are the voices of women shouting out to the world for an audience. We must open our ears to these voices who courageously dare to speak out. We must open our hearts to the vision that these women tenaciously work for. We must act to support them, as they refuse to give up in the face of danger.” - Excerpt from Foreword by Ms Nursyahbani Katjasungkana - Indonesian parliamentarian and a well known feminist lawyer and activist.
Source/publisher: Thanaka Team, ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-04-30
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-29
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese
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Title: BURMA BRIEFING: ISSUES & CONCERNS VOLUME 1
Description: Issues and Concerns Vol. 1 contains a selection of articles covering background information on a wide range of Burma-related issues. Topics covered in the book include: • Basic Facts on Burma • A Brief History • Reshuffling the SPDC Deck • The National League for Democracy (NLD) • Who?s Who • Burma?s Economy: Soldiers Are Not Economists • Ethnic Diversity: No Barrier to Unity • Federalism & The Union of Burma • The 8888 General Strike • The 1990 General Elections in Burma • The Depayin Massacre • Roadmap To Democracy: Buying Time Burma?s National Convention: Illegitimate, Unrepresentative & Oppressive • Undermining Regional Security • Burma & The International Community • Advancing Regional Interests • Burma: ASEAN?s Shame • The Un Secretary-General & His Special Envoy • Civil Society?s Response to the Crisis In Burma • International Initiatives: Strength Elicits Results • Economic Sanctions: A Consequence of the Regime?s Inflexibility Who Needs the Rule of Law? • Repression of Pro-Democracy Activists • Abuses Against Ethnic Nationalities • Press Freedom Denied • Human Trafficking • Military Rule Is Bad for Your Health • Violence Against Women • Refugees & Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2004-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-29
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: BURMA?S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE ASEAN CHAIR ? RETREAT OR DEFEAT?
Description: On 26 July 2005, the SPDC withdrew its claim to the ASEAN chair, causing a massive loss of face for Snr Gen Than Shwe and his cronies. The move has been followed by intense speculation ? that Than Shwe has been ousted, and that the military leadership will become further isolated from the concerns of the international community. With the military regime in a weakened state, now is the time for ASEAN and the international community to push the junta towards genuine and comprehensive reforms for democratization in Burma. Also in the lead up to the decision, over 200 prisoners were released, apparently in an attempt to appease international opinion. Crackdowns on political dissent continue, and the situation remains tense between the SPDC Army and ethnic groups as the SPDC reinforces its military presence in several territories, and opposition groups resist committing to the junta?s ?road map”. Pressure on the junta leadership has been exacerbated by the humanitarian crisis and failing economy. The delivery of humanitarian aid is severely frustrated by junta restrictions, while widespread food shortages continue.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2005-09-13
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-29
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Title: NATIONAL CONVENTION: THE SPDC DELUSION OF DEMOCRATIC REFORM
Description: The briefer examines the December 2005 ? January 2006 convening of the ongoing SPDC National Convention (NC). The constitution drafting process continues to be illegitimate, unrepresentative, and an exercise in futility. Despite the junta?s repeated claims that the National Convention is nearing an end, the SPDC tells foreign diplomats that the latest session of the NC will not complete new constitution. The slow pace of democratic reform draws criticism from the international community. While the USDA was active in organizing ?forced” rallies in support of the NC process, the NMSP and KNPP pull their delegates from the NC as tensions mount between SPDC and other ceasefire groups. Convention delegates who attend the NC proceedings meet in a climate of fear and intimidation.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2006-02-01
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-29
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Title: ASEAN SHOULD STOP ?PASSING THE BUCK” ON BURMA
Description: • Instead of using China as an excuse for inaction, ASEAN members must exercise their substantial influence on Burma?s military leaders to secure the delivery of genuine political and economic reforms. • ASEAN?s collective leverage on Burma?s junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) stems from the SPDC?s reliance on: • Petrol and diesel supplies from Malaysia and Singapore to keep business running and military vehicles on the road. • Trade with ASEAN which accounts for 51.3% of its total foreign exchange revenue. Gas sales to Thailand, alone, accounts for 43%. • Thailand and Singapore as their biggest sources of new Foreign Direct Investment, constituting 98.61% in the past 2 years. • Singapore?s financial services that the SPDC and their cronies utilize to store and move their ill-gotten wealth away from Burma. • In addition, Indonesia can take the lead for ASEAN in the UN Security Council, the body most feared and respected by the SPDC. Indonesia is set to chair the UNSC in November 2007. • An ASEAN freeze - or even a slowdown on economic, material, and diplomatic support - will shepherd the regime to political dialogue and the achievement of genuine reforms. Actions should include a temporary freeze on all Burmese-held bank accounts and assets in Singapore as part of a money-laundering review. • Such actions will be an incentive for other ASEAN partners, such as China, to actively cooperate with efforts to achieve a durable solution on Burma. ?Passing the buck” to China undermines ASEAN?s credibility and standing. • Despite sitting on immense natural resources, Burma?s military regime is in a vulnerable position. Oil and gas revenue from many long-term projects will not be forthcoming until their completion and actual delivery. Meanwhile, the regime faces financial shortages due to its own mismanagement and irresponsible spending priorities. • The ASEAN status quo (unconditional economic engagement, statements without action) directly benefits the regime, and reduces any incentive for it to implement urgently-needed reforms. It emboldens the regime to further perpetrate economic mismanagement, crackdowns, and offensives that will affect regional stability. • All ASEAN members, as well as India and China, are negatively affected by Burma?s economic instability, drug production, high numbers of refugees, and the transmittal of diseases across borders ? all of which stem from the junta?s misrule and mismanagement.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-10-25
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-28
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Language: English
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Title: BURMA BULLETIN ISSUE 9 - SEPTEMBER 2007
Description: KEY STORY: * Saffron revolution; * Bloggers vs junta; * The crackdown; * Death toll... INSIDE BURMA: * Emergency aid supply blocked; * SPDC Army weak; * Ethnic groups support protests... DISPLACEMENT: * Refugees expected in Thailand; * Migrant workers in Thailand; * Rohingya relocation continues... INTERNATIONAL: * 11 UNSC ready to act: * China's shift; * ASEAN expresses revulsion; * More sanctions... ECONOMY: * Prices; * Food shortages; * Dam project suspended; * Sell-off of resources continues... CHRONOLOGY... REPORTS.
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-08-31
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-28
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: FACE OFF IN BURMA: MONKS vs SPDC
Description: "Between 18 and 24 September, tens of thousands of Buddhist monks led massive anti-junta demonstrations across most of Burma?s States and Divisions. In the largest show of peaceful protests against the military regime since 1988, thousands of Burmese civilians joined the rallies. The military junta faces a ?lose-lose” situation. If they crack down harshly against the monks, they will inflame an already angry population into a sustained uprising. If the army remains passive, it will embolden the population to take a stronger stand for their rights. The mounting protest revived calls for the UN Security Council to increase pressure on the military regime. The current vulnerability of the SPDC will ensure that any positive international intervention is more likely to have an impact. China, India, Bangladesh, as well as ASEAN countries, should be gravely concerned by the regional repercussion of instability inside Burma and work together to pressure the regime for genuine reforms."
Source/publisher: ALTSEAN-Burma
Date of publication: 2007-09-25
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-28
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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