BNI News Weekly – September 8, 2003
. S.Korea and Burma businessmen meet
. ‘100 killed in attack on Aung San Suu Kyi convey’
. Ethnic Nationalities of Burma announce a new Road Map
. 2858 Rohingya Refugees Returned Home in August and till 4th September
. Why is Dollar increasingly smuggled into Burma?
. The Unfolding Tragedy
. Indian MPs launch South Asia Forum, wants Burma to be included
. Activist's plea George Bush to arbitrate in Burma affair
. Delhi Based Pro-democracy Groups Urge Protest for the Release of ASSK
. BRC and UNHCR Don’t Take Responsibility If Political Refugees of Burma
. Money collected for civil defence training in Chin.
. Muslim youth’s repatriation stirs controversy
. Manipur to import 50,000 tonne rice from Burma
. Two Burmese newspapers to be published from Sittwe
. Buddhist rites to prevent foreign invasion!
. Karen National Union denounces Burmese PM’s statement
. Exiled Burma activists seek punitive actions against military junta
________________________________________
S. KOREA AND BURMA BUSINESSMEN MEET
7th September 2003:
South Korean products recently have found ready market in Burma said a
Rangoon businessman, according to Burma Times.
Dr. Sabai (female) from Hein Burma Company Limited said disposable syringes
and needles from South Korea are popular in Burma because of their good
quality and reasonable price.
Despite the fact that the prices of many South Korea products are a
marginally higher than those of similar goods from China, the quality is
much higher, she said.
A business meeting was held between about 40 Burma companies and 7 companies
from South Korea organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency
(KOTRA) last week.
Besides disposable syringes and needles, a diverse variety of other products
were presented by South Korea companies attending the meeting, included
industrial products such as agricultural hose piping, generators and gas
cutting torches, together with home appliances and bathroom accessories,
optical frames and shrimp feed. #
_____________________________________
‘100 killed in attack on Aung San Suu Kyi convey’
7th September 2003:
Up to 100 people were killed and an unknown number of women raped in the
area of northern Burma where pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi’s convey was attacked on May 30, Radio Free Asia said Friday, according
to today The Independent quoted from AFP.
A pro-government activist interviewed by the US based station said the
Rangoon junta organized a cover-up to conceal the number of dead, and that
the strike on the Nobel laureate’s convey was carefully organized.
The man, who was paid to take part in the accident, said on the night of May
30, the junta official hired men to dig makeshift graves in Depayin
Township, northern Burma.
“Later, they brought the bodies, may be 100 there, including people who were
alive with serious injuries,” the man said in the interview.
Scores of bodies were later taken to a local crematorium, RFA said. Sources
in Rangoon told AFP in early June that the death toll from the clashes was
around 80.
Narinjara learned that there are a number of local newspapers in Bangladesh
have mentioned this news story in their papers today respectively.#
_______________________________________________
Ethnic Nationalities of Burma announce a new Road Map
September 6, 2003.
Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Cooperation Committee (ENSCC),
representing the majority of ethnic groups from Burma, explained a new 'Road
Map' to make changes in Burma at the press conference held at 10 am on
September 5 at the International Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Sao Harn Yawnghwe, the main speaker in yesterday press conference said on
the possibility of the 'Road Map', "This road map is coincided with the UN
resolution made in 1994. Our 'Road Map' recognized the role of the military
and result of the 1990 election as well as the role of ethnic nationalities,
who built up the Union of Burma. So, it's more likely to be accepted".
The road map, explained by ethnic nationalities, mentioned 6 basic
principles and 6 years plan in 2 stages with time frames. The principles
mentioned were as followed:
1. A peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Union,
2. The resolution of political problems through political dialogue,
3. Respect for the will of the people,
4. The recognition and protection of the rights of all citizens of the Union,
5. The recognition and protection of the identity, language, religion,
and cultural rights of all nationalities,
6. The recognition and protection of the rights of the constituent
states of the Union through a federal arrangement.
Sao Harn, advisor of ENSCC and director of the Euro-Burma Office, stated
that the release of new 'Road Map' did not mean the total rejection of the
'Road Map' proposed recently by Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt but this
'Road Map' was more practical and included time frame relevant to UN
resolutions. He said, "It is not rejection. We found that the 'Road Map'
proposed by General Khin Nyunt has some weaknesses in implementation. We
like to propose the way which is more practical to implement".
General Khin Nyunt, who was recently appointed as Prime Minister of Burma,
announced a 'Road Map' on August 30, which included reconvening the National
Convention started in 1993, drawing up a Constitution and holding up a new
general election.
The 'Road Map' proposed by ethnic nationalities mentioned 2 stages of which
included 5 different steps.
In the first stage, which was estimated to last 2 years, a "Congress for
National Unity" which would be comprised in equal proportions of
representatives of the 1990 election winning parties, representatives of the
SPDC, and representatives of ethnic nationalities, mentioned in the paper
distributed at the press conference.
Through this congress, a "Government of National Unity" (an Interim
Government) would be formed under a "National Accord", which would recognize
the results of the 1990 elections, a political role for the military and the
rights of ethnic nationalities.
The congress would also constitute the National Constitution Drafting and
State Constitution Drafting Commissions, mentioned in the paper distributed
at the press conference.
The role of International community was mentioned as a mediation sought to
break any 'deadlocks' in the decision making process which would be made by
consensus in the 'Congress of National Unity'.
Also mentioned was that the international community would be called upon to
increase humanitarian aid to the people of the Union with the successful
convening of the 'Congress for National Unity'.
The second stage, which was framed for 4 years, included the formation of an
interim government (Government of National Unity), lifting of sanctions by
international community, calling upon the funding for development, holding
the referendum on the newly drawn constitution and holding of the general
elections.
"We are not calling as a political trick. We are calling based on the truth.
According to our analysis, this is the best way for the Union and the people
(of Burma). We are calling the 'Road Map' on the basis of what we really
believe as the truth," said Salai Lian Sakhong, general secretary of ENSCC
and also of the United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD), explaining
on the proposing the 'Road Map'.
In answering the question of possibility of accepting the 'Road Map' by
Burmese regime, Lian Sakhong said, "I think they (Burmese generals) also
don't want to be the traitors in the history. I think they love the country
and the people (of Burma). I think they will love their children. Those, who
love their children and the future, need to find many ways. We are not
proposing as a political trick. We believe in the saying that 'The truth
shall make us free'".
Sao Harn Yawnghwe, director of Euro-Burma Office and advisor of ENSCC, Salai
Lian Hmung Sakhong, general secretary of ENSCC and also of UNLD and Khun
Okker, PaO leader from National Democratic Front (NDF) acted as speakers in
the press conference explaining the 'Road Map' of ethnic nationalities
finalized on September 2.
ENSCC comprised of NDF, alliance front of armed ethnic organizations based
on different borders, Karenni National Progressive Party and United
Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD), the alliance front of the ethnic
parties formed in Burma before the 1990 election.
The 'Road Map' proposed also got the agreement of Shan State Army- South of
saying that they could support, said Sao Harn on answering the questions of
the reporters at the press conference.#
_______________________________
2858 Rohingya Refugees Returned Home in August and till 4th September
6th September 2003:
Some 2858 Rohingya refugees returned to Burma in August and until 4th
September from Kutopalong and Nayapara refugee camps of Cox’s Bazaar
District, according to our sources.
Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan yesterday said, 6,000 of the 23,000
refugees had already returned home and the rest go soon, while talking to
journalists at a “
Face- to- Face” programme at the local press club organized by Chittagong
Reporters Council.
The refugees returned to Burma through Teknaf border under the supervision
of the UNHCR. But, the repatriation is not voluntary, source said.
A total of 238, 443 Rohingyas have so far returned home, while some 17,000
refugees awaiting repatriation at makeshift camps at Kutupalong of Ukhia and
Nayapara of Teknaf Upazila, according to our correspondent.
“ The government of Burma assured us for taking some confidence building
measures so that the returnees don’t trek to Bangladesh in future,” Foreign
Minister said.
Referring to Bangladesh’s relations with neighbors, he said Dhaka wanted
peaceful co-existence with neighboring India and Burma.
Referring to the “ look-east diplomacy” of the present four-party alliance,
he said Bangladesh with the East Asian countries like Burma, Thailand,
China, Malaysia, South-Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam and through increased
trade, business and investment. #
_____________________________________
Why is Dollar increasingly smuggled into Burma?
5th September 2003:
The smuggling of dollar has gone up since the imposition of US sanctions on
Burma, according to sources in the Burma-Bangladesh border. Recently in an
emergency meeting of the National Smuggling Prevention Committee under the
Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh a decision was taken to curb the
illegal money laundering and transfer business and smuggling rampant on the
Bangladesh Burma border, reported the Ajker Desh Bidesh, a Bengali daily
published from the southeastern Bangladeshi town of Cox’s Bazar on 27
August.
A list of smugglers and illegal money traders has been compiled to this
effect under the supervision of the Ministry. There are reports of a number
of international syndicates engaged in the illegal trade of smuggling US
dollar into Burma. The dollar is being smuggled regularly from the chief
seaport of the country in Chittagong to the western Burmese Rakhine State
via Ukhia and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazaar district. Though the exact figure of
the smuggled dollar in not available, a rough estimate would be between
one-third to a half-million dollar a week, which is being conducted by
managing the border guards and administrations on both sides of the border.
The paper also mentioned that there are eight dollar traffickers in Teknaf
municipality, 3 in Sabrang, 4 in Shah-pari Island, 13 in Hnila Bazaar and 5
in Ukhia under Cox’s Bazaar district. They are alleged to have maintained a
strong international syndicate of dollar traffickers.
From another source it has been known that there is a famine going on in the
western part of Rakhine State of Burma, especially in Buthidaung and
Maungdaw Townships, which sent the price of a 50 kg bag of rice to 12,000
kyat from the previous price of kyat 8,000 just a month ago in Sittwe, the
state capital. Besides rice has also vanished from the open market from last
month. Meanwhile many of the traders are offering advance money in dollars
for hording rice. This has created a famine like situation, especially in
the border areas.#
_____________________________
The Unfolding Tragedy
By Kanbawza Win
September 5, 2003
Idi Amin, Osama Bin Laden, Sadam Hussein have all taken their turns to mock
at the world and have make their exists but the Burmese Military Junta is
still calling the shots, Why? Of course one can understand China, India and
the ASEAN countries hiding under the facade of the Asian values to maintain
the status quo but what is paradoxical is the Western countries led by the
US claiming to be the custodian of democracy is still looking on with
folded arms.
Pop music stars, world le! aders, exiled dissidents and human rights groups
have joined the chorus of support for Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, who is protesting with hunger strike.
Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
have expressed concern for her health and safety. The petition calls on the
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Security Council’s five permanent
members to help bring justice to Suu Kyi and the people of Burma.
Chris Martin of Britain simply says. "The world’s leaders aren’t doing
enough to rectify the situation in Burma and call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s
release."
The UN’s human rights envoy to Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, said he was
deeply disturbed by the reports about Suu Kyi and called on Rangoon to free
her immediately and unconditionally. Several world leaders, such as US
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Foreign Minist! ers from Australia and
Belgium, had called for her immedia te release.
Our intelligence sources clearly indicated that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is
being held in the Ye Mon compound of SPDC Light Infantry Battalion in the
outskirts of Rangoon. The source added Suu Kyi’s health has deteriorated to
the point where military authorities had asked for an ambulance, nurses and
a female doctor to visit her.
A coalition of exiled opposition groups, including the ethnic nationalities
and Burmese intelligentsia at the Fort Wayne meeting, have issued a
statement urging action from the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.
And yet the Western World is still not responding to this clarion call. Is
it waiting for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to die a martyr’s death as her father?
Then they will shed the crocodile tears for the one and only Asian Women
Peace Nobel laureate. We simply could not comprehend the words and actions
of those people who have declared th! at they sympathise our cause.
The uniform thugs in Rangoon will stop at nothing. Lying being their
standard norm they will not dare produced the wounded Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
to proof that she is not on hunger strike even though they may have a loud
rhetoric.
If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ever expired, what would be the likely scenario? We
dared not contemplate on it and is very much worried, in view of the fact
that American led international community is not doing enough. There is a
Burmese saying “Wet Phyit Hma Chee Ma Chauk Poo” literally translated means
that the pig is not afraid of the dung. That is once the people’s hope is
gone than it becomes a free for all. Up to this day the Burmese in Diaspora
both Myanmar and Non Myanmar has carried on the non- violent struggle but
once our hope is taken away then come what may we are ready to face.
We would ardently request the civiliz! ed nations of the world not to lead
the Burmese thugs extinguish ed the flickering light of hope that can
solidify the nation under the federal democratic banner.#
__________________________
Indian MPs launch South Asia Forum, wants Burma to be included
5th September 2003:
Indian Members of Parliament today launched a South Asia Forum, which aims
to create awareness about India's neighboring countries and to promote
greater interaction between the civil society and the political class of the
countries of South Asia.
Although the forum is at present focusing on the seven countries of South
Asia such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka, it intends to extend to Burma (Myanmar) and Afghanistan in near
future.
The Forum's inauguration, held at the Parliament House in New Delhi this
evening, was keynote addressed by India's External Affairs Minister Mr.
Yashwant Sinha and participated by the Members of Parliament, diplomats from
South Asia and other countries and special invitees.
Reiterating his call for movement towards a South Asian Union, the Indian
foreign minister outlined his vision for a South Asia with a single economic
area or one system/seven countries.
"I believe that a South Asia with one currency, one tariff regime and free
movement of goods, services and people is well within the realm of
possibility…South Asia should emerge as a region with comprehensive
transport linkages by air, rail, road and sea. It must become a region where
pluralism, tolerance, democracy and human rights flourish."
"India is willing to move forward rapidly with a South Asia strategy that
has as its primary focus the economic integration of the sub continent. We
would like to create in collaboration with our neighbors a South Asia growth
alliance which will be a compact for an affluent sub-continent", the foreign
minister added in his address.
Mr. Eduardo Faleiro, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the South Asian
Forum said that the Forum has two-fold objectives. These are: to create
awareness and improve relations on cultural, technological and economic
fields in the countries in South Asian region and to encourage visits of
lawmakers, opinion makers and media personnel to each other country".
The Forum currently has thirty one Members of Parliament, former Members of
Parliament and experts across the political sections in India.
"It is our view that in not too distant future, Myanmar and Afghanistan
should also become truly a part of South Asia. At the moment, there are some
internal problems in the two countries. So, the idea can only be kept for as
earliest as possible in the near future", said Mr. Faleiro.
"Myanmar has been part of South Asia for centuries. What is happening really
at this point of time is there are internal problems, as we all know. We
have been urging the Government of Myanmar for the release of Aung San Suu
Kyi and also for the restoration of democracy there. This is the interest of
the peoples of Myanmar and interest of everybody else in this region", Mr.
Faleiro told Mizzima News.#
____________________
Activist's plea George Bush to arbitrate in Burma affair
4th September 2003:
Pro-democracy activists of Burma request the US President George W Bush
today for intervening in current political crisis in their motherland. " We
strongly request and urge President Bush to take a significant step towards
solving the alarming political situation in Burma by immediately appointing
a Special Envoy to travel to Burma and conduct a field mission", said exiled
based groups' press release.
Moreover, the groups appeal to Senator Lugar, Chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee of the US Congress to convene an emergency of the
Committee to address regarding Burma. Ethnic Nationalities Youths and
Intelligentsia, National League for Democracy (Fort Wayne), Justice for
Human Rights in Burma, Free Burma Coalition, All Burma Federation of
Students' Union (Exiled Members in US) and Civil Society for Burma signed
for press release. Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader of Burma is on
hunger strike against her detention by military junta, reported the US state
department on Sunday. Rangoon rejects the US claim " groundless", as they
called. But State Department spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed again
yesterday and called for immediate release of Mrs. Suu Kyi and all political
prisoners.
The Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights on Burma, Paulo
Sergio Pinheiro also said today that he was " gravely concerned" by the
continued detention of Mrs.Suu kyi as well as for her safety and health.#
___________________________________
Delhi Based Pro-democracy Groups Urge Protest for the Release of Aung San
Suu Kyi
4th September 2003:
Delhi-based pro-democracy groups held a demonstration in central Delhi
today, urging the Indian government to put more pressure on the SPDC to
release Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. While accurate
information is impossible to verify from the unnamed military prison where
she is being held by the SPDC, it is suspected that Suu Kyi is on a hunger
strike inside the prison.
Hundreds of Burmese pro-democracy protesters shouted slogans such as 'Down,
down, military rule', 'Release, release, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi' and 'Release,
release, all political prisoners'. The many Burmese groups involved did
not let pouring rain dampen their spirits as they marched across Jantar
Manta! Rd in central Delhi holding colourful placards.
Dr. Tint Shwe, an MP from the National Coalition Government of Union of
Burma (NCGUB) said: "We are demanding the immediate release of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi, who is holding a hunger strike inside the SPDC's gaol. We are also
opposing the speech by Gen. Khin Nyunt on August 30, where he mentioned
introducing a "Road Map" in a bid to revive the 1995 National Convention
where the NLD had protested and walked out."
The military Junta, unwilling to reveal the location of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi's detention, once again denied the hunger strike protest by Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and instead claimed that she is fine and healthy.
Dr.Tint Shwe also said that the unchanging policy of the Junta indicates
that they are confident of maintaining their dictatorship by introducing the
'Road Map' policy which is supported by all neighboring countries
including India, China, Thailand and Bangladesh.
President of the All Burma S tudents League, Mr. Kyaw Than, also said;
"Keeping aside the 1990 peoples' representatives, the military is taking the
Prime Ministership with guns. And by openly denying democracy after the
1988 uprising, the Junta is insulting the International Community and
especially insulting all Burmese people." "Therefore, we must jointly fight
the military regime who is our common enemy" added Mr. Kyaw Than.
Delhi-based democracy forces in their statement to the Prime Minister of
India and the Burmese Embassy called for International Communities including
the United Nations to continue exerting pressure upon the military Junta
to immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to immediately engage in
meaningful political transition in Burma.
Burmese democracy forces in America, Japan and South Korea were also said to
have held recent demonstrations demanding the release of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi. #
________________________
BRC and UNHCR Don’t Take Responsibility If Political Refugees of Burma Sent
to Mae Sot
3rd September 2003:
On September 2, 2003, a press release was released for the security of
political refugees of Burma, by (BRC), which takes care of political
refugees, who are living in Bangkok, Thailand, according to Muslim Agency
for News.
In which, Burma Refugee’s Centre (BRC) mentioned that if the political
refugees of Burma were arrested by Thai police and immigration and were sent
to the IDC (jail of immigration), they may ask helps from UNHCR through the
prison leaders who are putting on with red color shirts. UNHCR recently has
opened an office in the CID jail. But, UNHCR has not facility to provide any
helps to the political refugees of Burma who were sent to Mae Sot.
According to a political refugee family, last week, when Thai police went to
a refugee quarter in Bangkok to inquiry the political refugees, they asked
helps from BRC and UNHCR through phone calls, but they didn’t give any
response.
An agreement was reached between Thai and Burma governments to eject 400
Burmese nationals from Thailand to Burma every month. Therefore, for the
safety of political refugees of Burma, the BRC has released a press release,
said a BRC officer to another political refugees.
After BRC’s press release, the political refugees of Burma who are living in
Bangkok are more upsetting for the arrest of Thai police and immigration. #
_______________________________________
Money collected for civil defence training in Chin
3rd September 2003:
The ruling military Junta’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
officials have been forcibly collecting money and rice for conducting civil
defence training from the Paletwa township in western Burmese state of Chin,
sources in the town said.
Since the last month when the military junta began compulsory defence
training for the civilians “to prevent war from outside”, the township
people have been ordered to give Kyat 500 and 25 kg of rice for the training
programme. The food for the entire training will be realized from the town
people, sources added.
Besides, the civil defence training has created other difficulties for the
people as it is being carried out during the monsoons when the staple food,
rice is cultivated.
The hill people including mostly Khami, Mrung, Mro, Daingnet, Chins and also
Rakhine have been conscripted for attending the training in the township.#
______________________________
Muslim youth’s repatriation stirs controversy
3rd September 2003:
The repatriation of Saiyadul Amin, a Muslim youth, has stirred up
controversy between the two neighboring countries of Burma and Bangladesh
regarding his nationality.
The matter has put the Bangladeshi officials in a fix, sources said. Though
the youth with the Burmese Refugee Card 17434 is officially recorded as
living in Nayapara Burmese refugee camp, he has been living for a long time
in the Teknaf municipality on Bangladesh side in a rented house with his
mother and two brothers.
Besides, Saiyadul Amin had procured the nationality certificate of
Bangladesh and used to travel regularly to Maungdaw in Burma to do business.
He was also drawing his food ration from the refugee camp with the help of
his refugee card.
On August 17, he was deported along with his family members after a lady
immigration officer at Maungdaw identified him as the one travelling to
Maungdaw using a Bangladeshi certificate. The immigration officials declined
to accept him as a Burmese citizen.
When interrogated, Amin admitted to the charges. The Burmese authority then
sent the entire family back.
Such incidents have turned the repatriation process into a difficult affair,
said an immigration official.#
________________________________
Manipur to import 50,000 tonne rice from Burma
By Surajit Khaund
2nd September 2003:
After a long wait, the Indian Food Ministry has granted permission to the
Manipur government to import 50,000 metric tonne of rice annually from
Burma.
All the formalities in this regard have been completed and the first
consignment is likely to reach the northeastern Indian state within a couple
of months.
The Food Ministry’s move came following the recommendations of an expert
committee on long term export and import. The committee in it’s report
recently suggested import of rice in order to maintain the buffer foodgrain
stock in the country.
Moreh in Manipur, which is said to be the nerve center of border trade
between India and Burma, has a rice market where the Burmese come early
morning to sell rice. The market has been on for the last 10 years and is
emerging as a major rice market in the northeast India where hundreds of
people come from various northeastern states to buy rice known for its
quality.
Recently the Mizzima correspondent conducted an extensive tour of the
bordering areas of Burma and found that Burmese Rice was more popular than
the Indian varieties. Three varieties of Burmese rice available in the
market -- Tilly-1, Kabocheng and Tilly-II -- have great demand among the
people.
Talking to this correspondent, a Burmese trader said that about 200-300
tonnes of Rice are sold in the market. “We collect our rice from various
parts of Tamu and Namphalang area,” he added.
What is more interesting is that 50 per cent of the demand for Rice is met
by Burmese rice in the northeast India. Despite the potential, the rice
productio in the northeast is dwindling due to floods. Moreover the Burmese
rice can be stocked for a long time owing to lack of moisture content.
Burma is known as one of the major rice producing countries in Asia and
earns a huge chunk of revenue by exporting rice.
Hailing the decision of the Food Ministry the Officer on Special Duty (OSD),
Indo-Myanmar Trade, Dwiju Mani Singh said that the import of rice would
definitely improve the relations between India and Burma.
Asked when the first consignment would reach Manipur, he informed that the
government is in close touch with the Food Ministry to bring the consignment
as
early as possible. In this context he added that it was a long pending
demand of
the Manipur government to import rice from Burma in order to curtail the
transportation costs.#
________________________________
Two Burmese newspapers to be published from Sittwe
2nd September 2003:
A sub-printing house was inaugurated on August 26 in Sittwe to start
publishing two Rangoon-based dailies - Myanma Alin and Kyemon - known to be
the mouthpieces of the military junta in Arakan state.
An administration source said that the move was aimed at stepping up the
military junta’s information campaign in the area.
Inaugurating the sub-printing house, Chairman of Rakhine State Peace and
Development Council Major General Maung Oo said that the Rakhine people had
to wait for flights to read the dailies, but now they could get the dailies
on the same day like any reader in Yangon and Mandalay. He noted that with
this development the people of Rakhine can contribute towards development in
economic, social, educational and health sectors.
Rakhine has a population of five million people while there is not a single
locally published newspaper in the state. Since the Ne Win regime took over
power in Rakhine in 1962, the people of the state have been left without a
newspaper of their own. The earliest daily published from Sittwe in 1853 was
named as the Akyab Commercial News, which later changed its name to the
Arakan News and was published in English.
The Rakhine language dailies like the Rakhine Razwang Athung Thadangza
(1929), Rakhine Taing Thadangza (1949), Lan Hman (1949) and Rakhaing Athan
(1955) were published before the Burmese military came to power through a
bloodless coup in 1962. Since then all kinds of publications have been
censored heavily by the successive military juntas. #
_________________________________
Buddhist rites to prevent foreign invasion!
Maungdaw, Sep 2:
Burma’s military junta’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
conducted a Buddhist religious ceremony at the border town of Maungdaw on
the Naaf River in the western part of the country on August 27. Sources said
that the ceremony began at 0441 hours and ended at 1745 hrs (local time).
The ceremony was initiated by the Abbot of Alodawbreh Monastery U Pandithara
and 15 other monks. For the first 35 minutes they chanted the Upakathindhi
Sutta while nine other groups of people chanted the sutta in chorus.
The ceremony was conducted on a stage constructed in front of the Mroma
market and facing Bangladesh. The cost of building the stage and the entire
ceremony was collected from the town people forcefully, sources said.
According to a Buddhist monk attending the function, the ceremony will be
held for nine months and nine days each month for nine hours. The monk added
that the number nine so used to sequence the ceremony shows that the event
is aimed at lengthening the rule of the military junta.
The ceremony attended by about 600 people including Brigadier General Maung
Oo, Chairman of the Rakhine State Peace and Development Council.
The military junta believes that the sutta helped the ancient Burmese kings
to prevent war with China on many occasions. #
_______________________________________
Karen National Union denounces Burmese PM’s statement
1st September 03:
The Karen National Union (KNU) today denounced the newly “self-appointed”
Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt’s ‘Road Map’ based on the military junta’s
presently stalled ‘National Convention’.
The KNU, terming Nyunt’s speech as not a “roadmap but a road-lost speech”,
rejected outright the demands made by the “so-called Prime Minister of
Burma” as an absolute lie.
“Without resolving such matters as release of all the political prisoners
including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, investigation into the Depeyin Massacre,
democracy issue and resolution of the economic crisis, Nyunt has lied that
there has been progress during the military junta era,” a KNU statement
said.
The statement also said that the junta’s State Peace and Development Council
has only aggravated the situation in Burma and has ignored the pleas of the
United Nations, the ASEAN and world at large to restore democracy. The junta
has rather tightened its grip by brutal repression of the people and
threatening peace and stability in Burma.
The KNU also called upon the world democracies to put continued pressure on
the Burmese junta and urged the Burmese and opposition groups to step up
their struggle against the rulers. #
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Exiled Burma activists seek punitive actions against military junta
Fort Wayne (USA),
1st September 2003:
Burmese democracy activists and ethnic nationalities have sought punitive
action against the ruling military regime in Burma for keeping pro-democracy
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in captivity and not taking measures towards
restoration of democracy in Burma.
The decision to seek stronger punitive action from the international
community and also to intensify their campaign against the military regime
was taken at their two-day strategic meeting on Burma held on August 30-31
at Fort Wayne, USA.
Activists and ethnic nationalities representing various Burmese democracy
campaign networks and organizations from across the world participated in
the meeting, which focused on future course of action for democracy in
Burma.
The participants also denounced the recent cabinet reshuffle in Burma and
the regime’s so-called road map for “democratic changes” in the country.
“The road map is nothing but a ploy to prolong the tyrannical military rule
and to hoodwink the international community,” Mr Win Moe from the US-based
Justice for Human Rights in Burma said.
The exiled activists have also appealed to the international community
particularly the neighbouring countries of Burma to support their struggle
to end the military dictatorship.
“Instead of releasing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she was made a scapegoat for all
the country’s evil by Gen. Khin Nyunt and his regime,” they said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of National League for Democracy
(Fort Wayne), Justice for Human Rights in Burma, Free Burma Coalition,
Ethnic Nationalities Youths and Intelligentsia, and exiled members of All
Burma Federation of Students’ Union and Civil Society for Burma.
Meanwhile, Burmese activists have today called for a worldwide hunger strike
to show solidarity with their imprisoned leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who
was reportedly on a hunger strike.
“We want an unconditional release of all the political prisoners including
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The regime must immediately step down from power,”
Zarni, a democracy campaigner from Washington-based Free Burma Coalition
said.#
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Burma News International (BNI) is a network of six Independent Burma Media
organizations: The Mizzima News, The Narinjara News, the Kaladan Press
Network, the Khonumthung News Group, the Network Media Group and the
Independent Mon News Agency.#