|
#1 Please Sign the Petition to the Secretary-General,
United Nations
http://www.petitiononline.com/1t1h1e/petition.html #2 Please Sign the Petition to the President of the United State of
America
http://www.petitiononline.com/1m8h64/petition.html -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- HEADLINES -------------------------------------------------------------- AFP - US to pressure Myanmar economically for change AFP - Two Myanmar nationals arrested in Bangkok for forging UN documents AP - Groups Mount Web Campaign Against Myanmar AP - US says ASEAN may have to assess ties with Myanmar AP - Myanmar leader's letter says opposition plotted violent rebellion The Star - Special envoy explains situation in Myanmar M & G - Myanmar junta steps up anti-Suu Kyi campaign MT - Burma says democracy, amity with NLD still far VOA News - Democracy Activists Want to Bring Down Government, Claims Burma's Military The Nation - Ethnic leaders say Italy, UK agree to up pressure on Burma The Nation - EDITORIAL:Anti-narcotics pact grows wider Bkk Post - UN ponders giving status to 2 Burmese Asian Tribune - Ghostwritten Article Series of the Burmese Junta: Goebbels - Clean Bowled. -------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday July 12,
11:41 AM
WASHINGTON (AFP) -The United States confirmed plans to
pressure Myanmar's military junta for change using economic measures. -------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday July 12, 7:17 PM Two Myanmar nationals arrested in Bangkok for forging UN
documents -------------------------------------------------------------- Groups Mount Web Campaign Against Myanmar -------------------------------------------------------------- US says ASEAN may have to assess ties with
Myanmar
Fri Jul 12, 8:46 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department's second ranking official said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations may have to rethink its relationship with what he called the ``oppressive and shortsighted'' military junta in Myanmar. ``A country ruled by a military dictatorship is simply incompatible with the norms and aspirations of ASEAN, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Friday after a meeting with the U.N. special envoy for Myanmar, Razali Ismail, a Malaysian diplomat. Armitage said the United States looks forward to the upcoming ASEAN ministerial level visit to Myanmar to encourage democratic change. ``Myanmar's association with the organization increasingly complicates ASEAN's dealings with the international community, particularly as Myanmar is scheduled to take on leadership posts, including the ASEAN chairmanship in 2006,'' Armitage said. -------------------------------------------------------------- Myanmar leader's letter says opposition plotted
violent rebellion
Sat Jul 12, 9:07 PM ET
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Members of detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party were planning a violent revolution, the leader of the country's ruling junta told another Asian leader in a recent letter. In the letter, a copy of which was seen Saturday by The Associated Press, junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe claimed that a ``militant wing'' of the party hatched a plan that ``calls for total collapse of the civil administration and total anarchy to prevail throughout the country.'' It also said detained leaders of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy are in good health and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate ``is being looked after at a safe and comfortable location'' and would be released when the security threat eased. It did not say where she was being held. The source of the letter asked that the recipient not be identified. San Aung, an NLD member who is a minister in the self-styled exile National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, said the allegations were ``totally wrong.'' ``Since 1988, we have been asking for dialogue,'' he said by phone from Sydney, Australia. ``Up until now we are working in a nonviolent way.'' Suu Kyi and the other NLD leaders were detained after a May 30 clash between opposition supporters and a pro-government mob. NLD offices were also shut nationwide. Than Shwe's letter was part of a campaign by the military government to drum up support from other Asian countries and discredit Suu Kyi to counter increasing international criticism. Since the beginning of July, senior Myanmar leaders have traveled to Thailand, Malaysia, China and Japan, Myanmar's biggest aid donor. The moves come as the United States and the European Union _ both of which already have political and economic sanctions against the junta _ have slapped tougher measures against the Southeast Asian nation. On Friday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations may have to rethink its relationship with what he called the ``oppressive and shortsighted'' military junta in Myanmar. Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, along with Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. The junta claims that Suu Kyi's followers sparked the May 30 violence. But accounts by sources sympathetic to the opposition, supported by some independently gathered evidence, allege Suu Kyi's entourage was ambushed by a government-backed mob while the opposition leader was touring northern Myanmar. They say dozens of NLD supporters may have been killed. The government said four people died during the violence. Although the letter does not directly implicate Suu Kyi in the alleged plot, it accuses her of adopting a confrontational style which risked Myanmar's stability. It also says she was ``attempting to lure'' ethnic rebel groups ``to join in the planned uprising.'' The letter also claims to have evidence of the plot in confiscated documents, and that bombings throughout the country prior to the clash were part of the scheme. Myanmar's junta seized power in 1988 after brutally crushing a pro-democracy movement. The NLD won 1990 general elections but was barred by the military from taking power. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Star - Saturday, July 12,
2003 -------------------------------------------------------------- Mail & Guardian
Myanmar junta steps up anti-Suu Kyi
campaign
Bangkok 11 July 2003 16:12 The military government of Myanmar (Burma) stepped up its campaign against democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday, accusing her and her political party of trying to bring down the government in a "show of force". In an article published in a government newspaper, Kyaw Myint Naing wrote that "harmony" had not been achieved between Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party and the government because of its "misconception that only when an authoritarian system has been eliminated can democracy prevail". The junta has been on an offensive against Suu Kyi and her supporters after many Western governments, including Japan -- the country's largest aid donor -- vowed to tighten economic sanctions unless Suu Kyi was released from jail. Suu Kyi was arrested May 20th after a pro-government mob attacked her convoy during a political tour in northern Myanmar. Witnesses say dozens of people were killed in the ensuing melee. The democracy leader was originally housed in the notorious Insein prison in Yangon [Rangoon], but has now been moved to an undisclosed location. The government has given no indication how long she and other NLD members will remain under arrest. The state-published article also took a swipe at the United Nation's (UN) special envoy Razali Ismail, saying it didn't matter how many UN representatives come to Myanmar to talk peace and reconciliation, "these goals still remain far away beyond reach". Razali brokered talks between the government and Suu Kyi in October 2000, which led to her release from house arrest, and the start of a political dialogue that has now collapsed. Razali is the only outsider to see Suu Kyi during his 10th visit to the country last month. He is expected to report on to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the end of July. Editor of the online Myanmar-based newspaper Irawaddy, Aung Zaw, said the government is playing a blame game to save its own skin. Government newspapers have recently shown undated photos of the democracy leader with the ruling junta. "They have stepped up the diplomatic offensive [and] are trying to discredit Aung San Suu Kyi," Aung Zaw said, adding he did not think the tactics would work. "It's a blame game. I think the government is desperate because they really have to counter the pressure from the Western government's and Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations]," Aung Zaw said. In an unprecedented move last month, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations called on the junta to release Suu Kyi and her supporters. Suu Kyi and the NLD won elections in 1990 by a landslide, but were never allowed to take power. She has spent years in and out of house arrest, but this is the first time the Nobel Laureate has been imprisoned. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Manila Times
Saturday, July 12, 2003 Burma says democracy, amity with NLD still far RANGOON?Democracy and reconciliation in Burma remain ?far beyond reach? despite UN efforts, the country?s official press warned Friday as it fired its latest salvo against detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The statement is in an article in the ruling junta?s official publication, New Light of Myanmar. The article, which appears in the midst of a series criticizing Aung San Suu Kyi for her role in events leading up to her May 30 detention, claims the junta has pushed for democratic change in recent years. ?The question now arises as to why national reconciliation and harmony between the present government and [opposition] National League for Democracy [NLD] has not yet been realized,? article author Kyaw Myint Naing writes. ?This is in fact due to the misconception that only when an authoritarian system has been eliminated can democracy prevail,? he wrote, before launching into a stinging broadside against democracy activists. ?Consequently, no matter the numbers of UN envoys who come to discuss and mediate ways and means for a peaceful transition and national reconciliation and harmony, these goals still remain far away beyond reach.? Canada bans Burma?s military leaders from its territory In Ottawa, the government announced on Thursday (early Friday in Manila) that it was banning Burma?s Myanmar?s military leaders from its territory to protest against the regime?s detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. ?Immigration officials will deny visas for Canada to members of Burma?s past and present military juntas, senior government officials and members of the military suspected of involvement in human rights violations,? the Foreign Affairs Ministry said. Ottawa also said it would impose travel restrictions on Burma?s diplomats. Canada is also calling on Canadian business leaders to avoid trade with Burma. It has had sanctions in place against the former Burma for 15 years. -------------------------------------------------------------- VOA News
Democracy Activists Want to Bring Down
Government, Claims Burma's Military
Nancy-Amelia Collins Bangkok 11 Jul 2003, 12:48 UTC Burma's military government says United Nations efforts to foster political reforms in the country are not working because democracy activists want to bring down the government. The government says the armed forces must continue to play a role in leading the country. A government newspaper says Burma has not seen political reconciliation because democracy activists, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, have the "misconception that only when an authoritarian system has been eliminated can democracy prevail." The article takes a swipe at the United Nations and its envoy Razali Ismail, who has been trying to mediate talks between the government and Aung San Suu Kyi. The paper says that because the opposition wants to end the current government, no matter how many U.N. envoys come to Burma to discuss peace and reconciliation, "these goals still remain far away beyond reach." Mr. Razali brokered talks between the government and Aung San Suu Kyi in October 2000 that led to her release from house arrest and the start of a political dialogue that has now collapsed. Aung San Suu Kyi is now back in detention; she was arrested in late May after her supporters clashed with a pro-government group. Most other leaders of her National League for Democracy also have been arrested, and the NLD's offices have been closed. Friday's newspaper report says the delay in reforms is the result of the opposition's desire to "bring down the present government in a show of force." The military has ruled Burma for more than four decades. In 1990, the NLD overwhelmingly won a national election, but the military never allowed it to take power. Instead, it imprisoned most of its leaders and confined Aung San Suu Kyi to her home for most of the past 13 years. The government recently mounted a media campaign against Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters, in part because many Western governments have said they will tighten economic sanctions against Burma unless she is freed. The editor of the online Burmese paper Irawaddy, Aung Zaw, says the government is trying to blame the democracy leader for the country's problems. "They step up the diplomatic offensive, trying to discredit Aung San Suu Kyi, and showing that there were meetings and they had met her secretly and that they were sincere in restoring democracy and to answer a political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi," he said. Aung Zaw says he hopes the effort shows the government is desperate, particularly because even its neighbors have been critical of its crackdown on the opposition. In an unprecedented move last month, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, called on Burma to release Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
Ethnic leaders say Italy, UK agree to up pressure on Burma Published on Jul 12, 2003 Karen and Shan ethnic representatives yesterday said they have made headway in getting the European Union to put more pressure on the military government of Burma for political reform and national reconciliation. Speaking to The Nation by telephone yesterday, Saw Sarky, the Portugal-based official of the Karen National Union for Europe, described his meeting with Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Margherita Boniver as "fruitful". Italy currently holds the presidency of the EU and has vowed to step up pressure on the Rangoon government. In a separate meeting, Saw Sarky said British lawmakers and foreign affairs officials vowed to continue putting pressure on Burma within the framework of the EU but will also work unilaterally for political change in Burma. Among the issues raised were stepping up sanctions against the Burmese junta and the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Saw Sarky said the reconciliation process in Burma has virtually stopped, although his group has not ruled out dialogue with the regime. Any lasting political solution must include the participation of the ethnic nationalities who make up at least 40 per cent of Burma's population and occupy 57 per cent of the land, he said. Years of fighting have displaced hundreds of thousands of villagers, the vast majority of whom are members of ethnic groups including the Shan, Karen and Karenni. Sao Wansai, secretary of the Shan Democratic Union, said armed ethnic groups fighting the Rangoon government would welcome intervention by the international community in setting up a "safe haven" outside Burma for the hundreds of thousands of villagers who have fled the fighting. In another development, Canada has announced that it is banning Burma's military leaders from its territory to protest against Suu Kyi's detention. "Immigration officials will deny visas for Canada to members of Burma's past and present military juntas, senior government officials and members of the military suspected of involvement in human rights violations," a foreign affairs ministry official said. Ottawa is also calling on Canadian business leaders to avoid trade with Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party's 1990 election victory was never recognised by the military junta, was arrested and placed in "protective custody" a month ago. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Nation
EDITORIAL:Anti-narcotics pact grows wider Published on Jul 12, 2003 But the governments participating in the international effort to eradicate the illicit drug trade must still make it work The news that India was joining a loosely connected anti-drug coalition consisting of Thailand, Laos, Burma and China was very much welcomed by their Thai hosts. The five countries came together on the sidelines of the second Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) meeting in Chiang Mai and made a political commitment to work together in eradicating narcotics in this region. That India jumped on board is a testimony to the huge scope of the drug problem. A sizeable chunk of the precursor chemicals needed to make the millions of methamphetamines (ya ba) that flood Thailand on a weekly basis originate in India - as well as in China. Thailand was quick to hail the decision by the New Delhi government as a major step in the right direction. Speaking to the press, the various ministers put on a brave face, telling the world how committed they were to this fight against drugs and how certain they were of victory. And the same message is likely to be repeated at the meeting in Chiang Rai in 10 days' time. But all partners in the new pact must be reminded that the successful conclusion of a new agreement is just the beginning of years of persistent effort at coordinating actions to eradicate the scourge of illicit drugs. It must also be pointed out that decades after the international community committed itself to eradicate drugs from Burma, that country continues to be one of the world's top producers of opium and, of late, methamphetamines. Afghanistan, meanwhile, has effectively made a comeback, resuming its old position as the world's number-one producer of opium. It has been reported that cheap heroin from Afghanistan has effectively flooded the regional market, making the price of the white powder from the Golden Triangle hover at lower levels. About three decades ago when the UN got involved in the counter-narcotics programmes in Burma, opium production was averaging 400 tonnes per year. Today, after millions of dollars spent on opium eradication, that figure has doubled. And besides heroin and opium, ya ba has been added to the list of Burma's illicit exports. Of late, there have been reports about the production of ecstasy along the Thai-Burmese border, but narcotics officers say the local market still prefers the European-made product. In Thailand, where hundreds of thousands of addicts fork out good money to indulge their drug habit, methamphetamines continue to enter the country in large quantities. The government's recently concluded war on drug has resulted in the questionable deaths of more then 2,000 people who the police said were killed by other methamphetamine dealers, body counts having become a new benchmark of the government's success. And so government leaders continue to pat each other on the back, telling the public what they want to hear, that the war on drugs will be sustained. But at the upcoming meeting in Chiang Rai it is hoped that our political leaders will back up their political commitment with concrete action. Lest anyone forget, the desired outcome of any anti-drug campaign is fewer drug-abusers - and not the creation of an ever-expanding drug-war industry. -------------------------------------------------------------- Bangkok Post - Saturday 12 July 2003
UN ponders giving status to 2 Burmese Pair witnessed mob attack on Suu Kyi Bhanravee Tansubhapol The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is considering whether to give ``person of concern'' status to the two Burmese opposition members who fled to Thailand after witnessing the May 30 attack on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Itti Ditbanjong said that if the UNHCR granted the status, it would inform the ministry of the pair's whereabouts. The Interior Ministry would coordinate with the agency to provide appropriate shelter. ``We will not send them [displaced people] back to their countries if they are at risk,'' Mr Itti said. After fleeing to Thailand, Burmese opposition National League for Democracy executive Khin Zaw, 50, and youth-wing member Wunna Maung, 26, gave testimony on the May 30 attack to the senate foreign affairs panel last Friday. The government did not agree with the panel's action. ``Thailand has to carefully consider whether it is appropriate to allow one side to use Thai territory as a stage to attack the other side or urge Thailand to interfere with another country,'' Mr Itti said. ``If we allowed them to do that, it would not be good for our security or national interests.'' No country would allow foreigners to launch inappropriate movements which did not conform to its laws, he said. -------------------------------------------------------------- Asian Tribune
Date : 2003-07-12
Ghostwritten Article Series of the Burmese Junta: Goebbels - Clean Bowled. An abrupt end came to the serialized article that appeared in the Burmese junta?s ?The New Light of Myanmar?. Readers are of the opinion that the Burmese generals must have found out that there are no takers in the international arena for their propaganda ploy. This must have discouraged them to give up their ghostwriting venture to discredit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi the National League for Democracy and the hearts and minds of millions of Burmese pro-democracy activists all over. Up to July 10, a six part ghostwritten series ?Daw Suu Kyi, the NLD Party and Our Ray of Hope? appeared daily in The New Light of Myanmar - the junta controlled daily newspaper. This was said to be written by one Maung Yin Hmaing, claimed to be an important member of the National League for Democracy and one close to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democratic icon of Burma. This article series began to appear suddenly on July 05, illustrating with photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi with the Burmese General Than Shew and other senior junta leaders. This was the cleverest propaganda ploy hatched and adopted by the army generals with the view to confuse the international community. Asian Tribune republished daily the six part series of the said propaganda stuffs to inform to its readership of the propaganda stuff of the junta leaders and to keep them abreast with the thinking and designs of the leaders State Panning and Development Council (SPDC) led by Senior General Than Shwe. Also, Asian Tribune made extensive research on Maung Yin Hmaing, the NLD member and the so-called author of the article series. According to the investigation, Asian Tribune came to the definite conclusion that there was no one existed by the name Maung Yin Hmaing, claimed as a senior member of the NLD and one close to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Furthermore the NLD sources confirmed to the Asian Tribune that there is no one by the name of Maung Yin Hmaing in their party who is being portrayed as a senior and popular member of their pro-democratic party. It became apparent that it was the pseudonym of one or a few of the intelligence agent or agents, belonging to the Defence Service Intelligence Bureau (DSIB), of the Burmese army. Investigation further revealed that the intelligence agent or agents might have written the series or else they would have hired one or a group of writers and would have made them to ghostwrite and publish it in the pseudonym Maung Yin Hmaing. The investigation further revealed that Burmese Junta's newspapers are strictly controlled by the Defence Service Intelligence Bureau (DSIB). The Director General of the DSIB is Gen.Khin Nyunt (Secretary 1) and Deputy Director General is Lt.Gen.Kyaw Win. There are 6 Directors - Brig.Gen.Thein Swe(Air), Brig.Gen. Kyaw Thein, Brig.Gen. Than Tun,Brig.Gen.Khin Aung,Brig.Gen. Myint Zaw, Brig.Gen. Kyaw Han (Former Military Attache in Thailand). Another 7 Colonels are member of the DSIB. So it has 15 members. Lt.Gen.Kyaw Win and Brig.Gen. Than Tun take care of the newspapers and media. Publication of each and every articles and editorials have to be cleared by Kyaw Win and Than Tun. It is further believed, according to NLD sources that, it could be also fair enough to conclude that Maung Yin Hmaing may be a pen name representing the DSIB. Normally, it is the DSIB order to their selected writers to write articles of this nature. The data are provided by them to those selected ghostwriters. It becomes clear that the article series from July 05 ? 10, that appeared in The New Light of Myanmar was written under instruction of DSIB, which also take care of the instruction at times given directly by General Than Shwe. People sometimes assume that, whenever some pseudonym appears as Maung Yin Hmaing in the media controlled by the Burmese junta, as the edict of Senior General Than Shwe. That's the knowledge of Burmese living inside the country and watching the situation very closely. However, according to people inside Burma, who wish to remain anonymous, ?the ghostwritten article series of the Burmese junta was a big fiasco and it is expected heads to roll inside DSIB for the flop.? -------------------------------------------------------------- |