BNI Weekly News - November 10, 2003
. SPDC Authorities Refuted The News of Muslim Exodus
. A Regional Conference on Protection for Refugees from Burma has completed
. No Rohingyas Camped Across the Naf River to Cross the Border
. Repatriated Burmese workers forced to pay a 1000 baht each for entry
. Student Army honors to those who sacrificed their lives and bodies
. Money for civilian military training disappears, local authority blamed
. Two Deserters Arrested in Arakan State
. Gambling hitting hard on Arakanese Youth
. Muslim Leaders are called up to help the “Road Map”
. U.N. Envoy's Visit Means Judgement Day Is Nearing
. Have President Bush Betrays Democracy and the Burmese People?
. Forced Collection of Money for Conducting Civil Defense Training in Arakan
______________________________________________
SPDC Authorities Refuted The News of Muslim Exodus
10 November 2003:
Burmese Authorities at Maungdaw called rubbish to a piece of news that said
large gathering of Burmese Muslims along Naaf River for an exodus into
Bangladesh, Narinjara Correspondent reported from Maung Daw.
The news appeared in a number of Bangladesh dailies of November 1 issues. In
fear of ripple effect of the Buddhist-Muslim riots in the second capital
Mandalay and other central Myanmar large cities the Rakhine State Muslims
were at the point of making massive exodus into Bangladesh, the news
reported.
“This is a totally baseless and fabricated propaganda”, a Maungdaw NASAKA
officer said. When Maj. General Maung U visited Taungbro heavy security was
posted along the border and sensitive areas. On observation of such security
measure the rumour probably was originated, he opined.
It is said that Rangoon government is underway to upgrade border town
Taungbro into a Sub-Township under the jurisdiction of Maungdaw Township.
“Burma-Bangladesh border was closed on the days of October 29 and 30 as the
Light Infantry Battalion-263 took position for security of the visiting
Western Division Commander Maj. General Maung U”, the source said.
A Maungdaw resident Muslim is confident that there won’t be any
Buddhist-Muslim riot in such Muslim majority area as Maungdaw Township. Any
exodus would only be for an escape from the torture of the ruling
government, he added.
The oppressed Muslims will flee Burma with the excuse of Buddhist-Muslim
riots as per prevailing view along the border area. #
________________________________________
A Regional Conference on Protection for Refugees from Burma completed
9 November 2003:
A two-day long Regional Conference on Protection for Refugees from Burma was
held in Thailand between 6 and 7 November 2003, according to a participant
named Idris.
The conference was organized by Forum-Asia, Altsean, Jesuit Refugees
International and Non-violence International on Protection for Burmese
Refugee. More than 110 delegates from various countries, local and
International NGOs including foreign embassies and UNHCR participated.
Refugee representatives of Burmese Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Chin
refugee from Mizoram State of India, Shan, Karen, Burman refugees from
Thailand also participated to present their testimonies, he further added.
On the first day of the conference, there were 3 panels as overview of
situation of Burmese refugees in Asia. Mr. Jack Dunfard from Burma Border
Concentrum (BBC) overviewed on Thailand side, Ms. Chris Lewa from Forum–Asia
on Bangladesh, especially on Rohingya Refugees and Mr. Victor from Chin
Human Rights Organization on India (Chin refugees).
In the second Panel, Mr. Mohamed Idris from Burmese Rohingya Refugees in
Bangladesh, Ms. Emi from Chin refugee in India, Ms.Zaw Zipphorah Sein from
Karen refugees in Thailand, Mr. Sai Lein from Shan refugees in Thailand and
Mr. Billy from Urban refugees in Thailand presented their effective
testimonies on the violations of refugee rights in host countries and the
Human Rights violations in their homes.
Basing on the above discussion and testimonies, Ms. Kirsten Young, the
Regional Director of UNHCR in Bangkok, Mr. Ravi Nair, the Director of the
South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center in India, and Mr. Sunai Phasuk,
the media affairs in-Charge of the Forum-Asia in Bangkok had made their
presentations on the challenges in protection of refugees. #
_______________________________________
No Rohingyas Camped Across the Naf River to Cross the Border
8 November 2003:
There were no Rohingyas from the Burma Province of Arakan State have camped
across the Naf River for last couple of days with intent to cross into
Bangladesh, according to our correspondent from Maungdaw town.
There were no riots in Akyab (Sittwe), the capital of Arakan State and
Maungdaw Township. Therefore, there was no possibility for Rohingyas to camp
across the Naf River. But they are living in fear-provoking position at
whatever time riot will be broken out between two sisters’ communities by
instigation of SPDC authorities, he further added.
Meanwhile, the villagers of Lemosori of Bangladesh found 9 slaughtered
Rohingyas in the jungle at Nasaka Area No. (1) near the Bandola Nasaka Camp
of Maungdaw Township, while they were going to cut bamboos on November 5,
2003. Bangladeshi people usually go to Burma side to cut wood and bamboos
with understanding of Nasaka (Border Security Force), said a villager of
Lemosori.
It is believed that the non-Arakanese Buddhist settlers (Burman settlers)
with the collaboration of Nasaka slaughtered the said Rohingyas to create
the chaotic situation in Maungdaw Township, said a villager of lemosori, who
formerly lived in Nasaka area No. (1) in Maungdaw Township.
The communal riots have caused unrest in the towns of Myit Tha Town on 11th
October, on 19th October in Kyaukse in Mandalay Division in Burma including
its capital Rangoon on 29th October, although ruling military junta to be
normal officially stated the situation. In Kyaukse, 11 Muslims were killed
in the riot including one famous Muslim Physician named U Than Myint
including with his 8 family members. Earlier, all the Doctor’s family
members were stabbed into death in the house and burnt it into ashes. Three
mosques were completely destroyed and some houses were also burned down, a
trader from Rangoon said to our Press.
On October 31, 2003, a SPDC member Brigdier Khin Maung Than, ex-Commander of
Rangoon Command came at Maungdaw Town and held a meeting with elite of the
town, officials of the all departments and the Chairmen of all Village Peace
and Development Council. In the meeting, he asked the participants to live
peacefully, not create communal riot, sell the paddy any one who pays
current rate and not to sell out of the country, a participant in the
meeting said to our source. #
_________________________________________
Repatriated Burmese workers forced to pay a 1000 baht each for entry
7 November 2003:
After being repatriated by Thai authorities, Burmese migrant workers were
forced by the Burmese border authorities to pay 1000 baht each at Myawady
border gate.
"Over one hundred of us were arrested by the Thai authorities in Bangkok on
4 November and sent to Mae Sot and on to Myawady where Military
Intelligence, DKBA and Mon ceasefire group demanded 1000 baht from each
person. Those who were unable to pay were harassed and detained by them",
said Ko Tun Tun Oo who was himself arrested for not being able to pay. The
relatives of those detained for inability to pay were forced to pay the
required amount as a ransom for retrieving the detainees, he added.
Burmese workers on their way to Thailand are subjected to a similar
procedure and asked to pay Kyats at the check points between Mae Sot and
Myawady.
Reportedly, a border security group named Na Sa Ka was involved in extorting
money from migrant workers. This group was formed by Burma's Military
Intelligence Chief General Khin Nyunt in 2001, while he was still the
Secretary (1) of SPDC. It comprises the police, military, intelligence,
immigration, forest and revenue officials as well as members of ceasefire
groups like the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Association).
According to estimates, out of two million Burmese migrant workers in
Thailand only about 200,000 hold legal work permits.#
______________________________
Student Army honors to those who sacrificed their lives and bodies
7 November 2003:
All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), also known as ‘Student Army’,
on its 15th anniversary honors the members who sacrificed their lives and
bodies for democracy in the country.
The ceremony to give the honor of merit was held at the Headquarters
(Dawn-Gwin) of ABSDF on November 6 near Thai-Burma border.
Salai Yaw Aung, the secretary (1) of ABSDF said they have to arrange this
ceremony for the second time as some former members in exile were not able
to attend on 15th anniversary celebration and the merits will also be
awarded to their former members in exile as well.
“Today, we give the honor of merit not only to those who are staying at
Thai-Burma border but to all our former members in other countries. Some of
them already quit ABSDF and living in third countries. However, we, the
ABSDF, respect and honor to those who sacrificed their lives while they were
serving under the banner of ABSDF,” Salai Yaw Aung said.
The ABSDF Chairman who is currently in America presented merits to those
former members, who are living in exile.
Total 26 members as well as former members who were not able to attend on
ABSDF 15th anniversary on 1 st November are presented and honored on 6th
November, Salai Yaw Aung said.
In the award giving ceremony, one of the former members of ABSDF Ko Than Soe
said “We all will always remember and honor to those who sacrificed their
lives. Further, we will also strive for unfinished desire of those members
that is restoration of democracy and elimination of dictatorship in Burma.”
ABSDF have been honoring its members who sacrifice their lives and bodies
for two times; the first time was on 5th Anniversary and the second on 15th
anniversary. However, the organization did not give the honor of merits to
away-members on its previous 5th anniversary.
The All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) was formed on 1 November
1988 soon after the government smashed 8888 up-rising that comprising of
all-walks-of-lives who fled away due to fear of arrest of government. The
student army is now striving for democracy in Burma by using arms struggle
as well as other diplomatic means.#
___________________________________________
Money for civilian military training disappears, local authority blamed
7 November 2003:
In Paw Taw Township, Arakan, money collected from the citizens for the
civilian military training has been misused by the local Village Peace and
Development Council, (the village level ruling junta), according to an
anonymous local teacher.
Starting from September, the President of Thawon Chaung VPDC, U Shwe Tha,
collected 3,000 kyats from each household, claiming it to be the objective
of the Township Peace and Development Council to fund military training.
The fund was to be used for the 20 trainees from the village, for their
accommodations, food and wages.
The training has been postponed for the time being, since the authority are
busy with other more important tasks such as selling their version of Road
Map for Democracy.
Though the training was postponed, money for the training disappeared in the
hands of officials of Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) , Police
and Village Peace (VPDC) and Development Council , rather than going back to
the contributors.
Thawon Chaung village has about 400 households, out of which about 300
households contributed 3,000 kyats each. #
____________________________________
Two Deserters Arrested in Arakan State
7 November 2003:
Two deserters of the Burmese army were arrested recently by the border
security force (Nasaka) in Maung Daw, bordering Bangladesh, according to a
police official of Kamaung Site Police Outpost under Maund Daw.
It has been revealed that on the 18th of October the Nasaka arrested them,
based on the information received from the village council chairman U Kyaw
Mra Aung of Re Nouk Tha Village of Maung daw Township.
They were identified as Kra Tun Aung ( P.V. No-907421) of LIB No. 525 based
in Linkhey town in the Southern Shan State Command, and Kyaw Naing (
PV.No-964457) of LIB No. 345 based in Buthidaung of the Western Command.
At present, the western command is demanding all local village headmen of
the Arakan state, to inform to the nearest army outpost whenever deserters
arrive in a village, said a village headman of the area.
"The two arrestees were recruited by local military battalion under the law
of the 1995 compulsory recruiting system. They were unhappy in army service
for discrimination policy among the army personnel", said their family, "So,
the two fled to their native village in 1997."
Currently, the numbers of army personnel fleeing from Burmese service are
growing and the strength of the Burmese army is weakening by the day. The
local authorities of the Arakan state are on the look out for deserters to
arrest, who are then taken back to the headquarters of their respective
battalions, said a police official from Maung Daw, who asked not to be
named. #
____________________________________________
Gambling hitting hard on Arakanese Youth
6 November 2003:
A retired education officer complained about the rise of gambling in Sittwe
(Akyab), the capital of the Arakan (Rakhine) state as alarming and a threat
to the future of Arakanese society.
In the condition of anonymity, the retired officer said, “I am worried about
the future of Arakanese youths. Teachers at schools, parents and elders at
home and in the community are playing illegal “Charre” lottery, and the
youth are copying this “bad behaviour,” which leads to the youth’s morality
being corrupted.”
“Charre” lottery is spreading everywhere within the state to all the
townships in Arakan, not only in Sittwe. Everyone, government officials,
business people, ordinary people including Buddhist monks (who are supposed
to restrain from such behaviours of greed), spend their days playing
“Charre.”
Officials from the township police headquarters are busy calculating the
lottery numbers, while some classes are suspended during the drawing of
“Charre” since the teachers are busy waiting for the winning numbers.
There are two ways of playing “Charre,” with either two digit or three digit
tickets. Two digits “Charre” can be played on weekdays (Monday to Friday),
and the numbers are out at 5:15 pm, Burmese standard time. The winning
numbers are the last two digits of the Stock Share daily index from Bangkok,
Thailand. It can be played with tens of thousands of kyats tickets, and if
one plays with 100 kyats, one can bag 8000 kyats.
Three digits Charre based on the last three digits of Thai lottery, which
draws every fortnightly. If one play with 100 kyats, one can win 50,000
kyats.
The same retired education officer said, “the SPDC government ban “Charre”,
but the officials turned a blind eye to it. It is like providing an outlet
from the daily hardship. With the high unemployment rate and huge economic
problems, the government seems to allow everything as long as one doesn’t
engage in opposition activities of an anti-government movement.”
No one who owns the “Charre” agencies risks being arrested, since they bribe
the police and the military intelligence. Well-known “Charre” agents in
Sittwe are Aung Kyaw Win and Maung Zaw Win from Bound Dawat Thar Zu Quarter,
and Tun Tun Oo from Raaw Gyi Mauak.
Since everyone is after the quick cash to solve the problems of high
inflation, the capital city is transforming into “the city of gamblers.”
Said the retired education officer. #
__________________________________________
Muslim Leaders are called up to help the “Road Map”
5 November 2003:
Five Muslim Leaders from Arakan State are called upon by the SPDC (the
ruling State Peace and Development Council), to rouse support for the SPDC’s
Road Map and to gain votes for the SPDC backed Political Party, if there
were election to be held.
The secret instruction was given to the Muslim Leaders by the regional
Military Intelligence (MI), according to Maung Daw resident who is close to
the MI. It is part of the preparation for the election by the central
authority of SPDC.
Three Muslim Leaders are U Anna War, U Kyaw Thein and U Aung Naing. Other
two leaders’ names have not been disclosed, yet. These leaders are secretly
moving among the Muslim communities in Sittwe (Akyab), Buthi Daung, and
Maung Daw regions.
The higher Intelligence Authority issues directives to the local branches to
help the Muslim leaders in their travels between the regions. SPDC promises
the Muslims that they will receive National Identity Card and they will get
recognition as another “race” of Burma.
On the 20th of September, Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation,
Major General Khin Maung, together with President of Rangoon Division of
Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA, the government sponsored
NGO) and other officials, visited Maung Daw and met the community leaders
including 12 Muslims to urge to support the “Road Map.” He promised that in
return Muslims would be issued National Identity Card and guaranteed the
peaceful living within Burma.
It has been said in the Arakan State that the SPDC will realise the Road Map
by themselves without the help of the opposition forces lead by Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi, and there have been some pushes for organising attendance for the
National Convention to help in drawing up the Constitution and to win the
consequent election.#
_________________________________
U.N. Envoy's Visit Means Judgement Day Is Nearing
4 November 2003:
By returning to Burma this week, a U.N. human rights envoy has set the stage
for a political drama that could end up putting the strongest external
pressure so far on Rangoon's military government.
This prospect has animated both Burmese political activists living in exile
in neighbouring Thailand and regional human rights monitors.
Judgement day will be Nov. 12, when U.N. envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro is due
to brief the U.N. General Assembly about the political climate in Burma. He
is now in Burma, and has met Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.
“The report he will deliver to the U.N. General Assembly will be important,
because if very critical, it will put the military government under
tremendous pressure,” said Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners, a group of activists who served time in Burmese prisons
for their political views.
“Pinheiro's report and the response it receives at U.N. sessions will help
clarify world opinion,” added Sunai Phasuk, an analyst at Forum-Asia, a
regional human rights lobby based in Bangkok. “If the Burmese government is
denounced, it will hamper its efforts to be given a second chance to
reform.”
The visit will make it difficult for the Burmese government to deflect
charges against its human rights abuses, Soe Aung of the Network for
Democracy and Development, a group of Burmese exiles based in Thailand, said
in an interview. “Pinheiro is in a position this time to force Rangoon to be
held accountable.”
There are ample hints to suggest that Pinheiro, a Brazilian academic, will
be far from charitable toward the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC), as the Burma's junta calls itself.
When he last visited Burma in March, Pinheiro ended his trip in anger after
he discovered that a room deemed safe for his interviews with political
prisoners had actually been bugged.
On May 30, thugs linked to the SPDC mounted an attack on Burmese opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of her National League for Democracy
(NLD) party in a town north of Rangoon.
This attack, which triggered global outrage, further eroded the SPDC's
credibility and so did its move to place Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi and
NLD leaders in military custody for their ''protection''.
Pinheiro's week-long visit, his sixth trip to Burma, will be the first since
these three incidents.
There are hints that he will test the SPDC's commitments to political reform
and human rights based on where they stand on the freedom for Suu Kyi, who
has since been moved to house arrest, and the NLD members still in prison.
Human rights activists are also confident that Pinheiro will again turn the
heat on Rangoon to release the estimated 1,300 political prisoners,
including close to 100 women, being held in the 39 prisons across Burma.
A year ago, Pinheiro used some of the strongest language to date to
criticise Burma during his report to the U.N. General Assembly. The
political crimes Rangoon had committed up to that point included the rape by
Burmese soldiers of some 625 women and girls in the country's eastern Shan
state.
The human rights violations in this South-east Asian nation include the
forced conscription of child soldiers, the sending of members of ethnic
communities into forced labour camps, the crushing of political opponents
and its holding of political prisoners.
Burma watchers consider that criticism in 2002 -- which was denounced by the
SPDC -- a significant shift when compared with the language used at
discussions on Burma at the U.N. General Assembly over the past 10 years.
Some feel that a more severe critique by Pinheiro at the U.N. sessions this
month may pave the way for a situation the junta has been trying to avoid -
Burma's case being brought before the Security Council.
“From what we understand, Pinheiro is ready to place the Burma issue with
the Security Council,” Bo Kyi told IPS. “That will force the international
community to take serious note of Burma. It will not look good for the
SPDC.”
Currently, Burma is taking a beating on the international stage due to harsh
economic sanctions imposed since August by the U.S. government. In October,
during a review of the political climate in Burma, Washington threatened
Rangoon with more sanctions.
The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on Burma since 1996. But these
measures - ranging from an arms embargo and visa bans on SPDC officials to
freezing of assets - are to be reviewed in May 2004.
Human rights activists believe that a Pinheiro report more damning of Burma
would strengthen Washington and the EU's positions toward Rangoon.
But that would not be the case for a group of Asian nations who critics say
are marching to the rescue of one of South-east Asia's brutal regimes. ''A
critical report at the U.N. this month will be deeply embarrassing for these
Asian nations, since it will come before the Burma Forum for like-minded
countries,'' said Sunai, the human rights analyst.
Bangkok plans to host a meeting of this forum in late November. The
countries in the group are Thailand, its eight South-east Asian neighbours,
China, India and Burma.
“These Asian countries, led by Thailand, are trying to rehabilitate the
SPDC,” added Sunai. “The Thai government, in fact, is trying to get the EU
to lift its sanctions on Burma despite the SPDC's record of abuses. That is
how sympathetic they are.” #
____________________________________
Have President Bush Betrays Democracy and the Burmese People?
By Kanbawza Win
4 November 2003:
Even as the American election draws nearer, the international community as
well as the entire Burmese people are asking themselves whether the leader
of the greatest nation has turned his back on democracy together with the
peoples of Burma. The spate of meetings, first at Bali followed by the
regional dialogue partners and the APEC heads of state convention in Bangkok
attended by none other than the American President George W Bush has
produced nothing substantial for the democratic cause in Burma.
The Burmese thugs have won the war of nerves over the Western countries led
by the US and the Burmese pro democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
together with her retinue of Burmese democratic leaders still lingering in
jails. No doubt the Burmese Generals were clapping their hoofs and
congratulating themselves. What went wrong?
We are afraid; the American diplomacy has miserably failed these days. After
September 11 the entire world was with America but after the Iraq debacle it
seems just the opposite. President Bush high handedness of going it all
alone against the world’s opinion, even though he managed to knock out the
hated Saddam Hussein, has caught the Americans in the quagmire with the
marines paying with their lives every day. So it became a forgone conclusion
that it could not pay much attention to a far away Buddhist country called
Burma in Southeast Asia that has not a drop of oil to whet the appetite of
American consumers.
On the other hand the Chinese President Hu Jintao have approached Southeast
Asia like prosperous and benign businessmen touring a marketplace while
President Bush has come through more akin to a general surveying the
battlefield, with the Burmese porn to be sacrificed in the big game hegemony
of Southeast Asia. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's "charm offensive" in
Bali, finally led to the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation that
vividly indicates the acceptance of Southeast Asian institution's norms and
values, even though it is morally bankrupt as far as Burma is concerned.
It focused primarily upon economic cooperation and mutual gain, as Beijing's
priority is to build up and strengthen trade and interdependence between
China and the region. China's burgeoning and potential economic strength
assure Southeast Asians and Australians, that they can have an important
stake in China's continued economic growth and development. But the crowning
event is that China managed to convince the Southeast Asians that there is
no such "myth" as the "China threat". It must be dispel once and for all.
Beijing has now demonstrated her desire to behave as a responsible and
benign regional power when it declares that it will help solve the Burmese
crisis. How a totalitarian regime, will manage to fulfill the democratic
aspiration of the Burmese people and emancipate the people of Burma from the
shackles of military boots is stil! l yet to be seen.
At the same time the Chinese sense that the American unilateral decisions
have played to their advantage, as some countries evince a preference for
developing better working relations with China as a hedge against American
arrogance and other problems in relations with the United States.
Lamentably we discover that unlike the Chinese, the Americans seem less
sensitive to the critical need to reassure this region about its
understanding of Southeast Asia's concerns and constraints, its appreciation
of common interests and its seriousness in working towards common goals and
mutual benefit. Incidentally, the American President, on a visit to this
region, can find only two cities considered safe enough for him to spend the
night, a Hindu island resort in the midst of the most populous Muslim nation
in the world, and Bangkok a one time “your most obedient servant”
Now to all intent Washington sees the region as the "second front" in the
"war on terror" and that it is not so consumed by terrorism that it has lost
focus on other areas of mutual interest which are of greater benefit to the
region. But China understands, the economic imperative is dominant in the
region and Southeast Asian states want to be respected and treated as
partners by the major powers.
As far as Burma is concerned the US has vowed to keep in place tough new
economic sanctions and in its biannual report the State Department said
Washington would continue to lobby other governments to impose similar
sanctions on Rangoon to force the junta to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
restore democracy. But in Bangkok President Bush never uttered a word even
though in August, he imposed sweeping trade and travel sanctions. Hence,
even though the immediate US policy objective in Burma is to secure the
release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and encourage a genuine dialogue on
democratic political reforms he has not done much when he come face to face
with the Asian leaders.
Sanctions are merely a first step. Sanctions alone will not bring down the
regime, but they may provide leverage to encourage change. The military
regime used American dollars not only for its foreign trade but also to
boost up the army. Enacting sanctions and freezing the regime’s financial
assets in the US has denied them this source of foreign capital. The
sanctions have also forced the Singaporean banks to downgrade the regime’s
credit rating. But sanctions can be measured only when the regime stops
throwing money at the army and starts spending on education and health care.
Unlike FW de Klerk, who in one dramatic sweep ended the ban on the African
National Congress and talked of the end of apartheid, Khin Nyunt the self-
style Prime Minister has tricked the international community with his road
map. To push for change, the US must employ a vast arsenal of policy tools,
from "blunt" sanctions ! to stinging human rights reports. The unkindest cut
was that it was in this critical stage that Darryl Johnson, the American
Ambassador to Thailand, bluntly stated that, “Military intervention has
never been entertained by American government," Nobody will be naïve enough
to expect the US marines landing in Burma but there are several ways to
speak to the Junta in the language they understands as the resistance forces
are doing.
It seems to the Burmese that they will have to wait for another US election
with a new President who will at least recollect that in 1988, the people of
Burma had deliberately chosen to demonstrate against the brutal military
regime in front of the American embassy in Rangoon, where more than 20,000
peaceful demonstrators paid with their lives. We hope that America will
continue to maintain “The Arsenal of Democracy” and do something worthwhile
for the people of Burma. #
________________________________
Forced Collection of Money for Conducting Civil Defense Training in Arakan State
Akyab, November 04:
The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) officials have been
engaged in forcefully collecting money from Rohingya villagers for
conducting short-term military training from across the Akyab (Sittwe)
Township in Arakan State, the western part of Burma, sources in the Akyab
Town said.
On 15th October, 2003, the Township Peace and Development Council Chairman
of Akyab has ordered to the Rohingya villagers of Akyab Township, the
capital of Arakan State, to give money for the support of the defense
training to about 2,500 Rakhine youths. But, Rohingya youths are exempted
from the so called defense training. The money would be given to the
concerned SPDC authorities by the end of this month. The training was
conducted in Akyab from September 9, 2003 in the Buddhist temples and the
primary schools of Rakhine villages, he further added.
The present ruling military junta has planned to fight the foreign invasion
by using people “militia force” under the command of Burmese army. In the
training, the trainer explained that there could be American and its ally’s
forces in one of the neighbor countries, but they didn’t mention which is
the country, a trainee said to our source.
“The SPDC aims to control all people in the country under the guise of so
called basic military training, to form them in various groups of militia
force and then would be slowly introduced or amalgamated with Union
Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), led by Senior General Shan
Shwe. Now, SPDC authorities are campaigning across the country for
supporting the 7 points road map declared by new Prime Minister. In future,
the USDA will be a political party for the ruling military junta,” said a
politician from Akyab.
A SPDC authority said, “People must defense the country while they are
concerning in their livelihood and the people militia force is necessary for
the country when there is a peril poses to the country”, says another
trainee to our source.
Besides, government servants and ordinary civilians are also forced to
attend the basic military training. “The local civilians believe that there
is no external enemy and the Burmese army just tries to extend their troop
number and uproot the activities of rebel force,” said another politician in
Akyab.
The local authorities are collecting money from the villagers for expenses
for the short- term military training such as: Kyat 10,000 from Patali Sik
north, Kyat 30,000 from Daybine(old and new), Kyat 10,000 from Walis Para,
Kyat 30,000 from Moulvi Para, Kyat 10,000 from Plaut Taung, Kyat 120,000
from Nazir Para, Kyat 5,000 from Chiban Kyi, Kyat 4,000 from Rohingya Para,
Kyat 30,000 from Khosi Para, Kyat 30,000 from Haddi Khola, Kyat 10,000 from
Jolta Khana, Kyat 30,000 from Amla Para, Kyat 2,000 from Mizi Ban( Keko
Para), Kyat 30,000 from Bahar Sora, Kyat 30,000 from Santoli, Kyat 10,000
from Sanga Nat, Kyat 5,000 from Khoshi Para and Koo Thun Loon Para, Kyat
4,000 from Rwa Ma ( Thaki Para),Kyat 10,000 from Porana Para, Kyat 10,000
from Tawzanja Para, Kyat 2,000 from Sombonia Para, Kyat 15,000 from Misiri
Para, Kyat 30,000 Gowa Lar Dil, Kyat 15,000 from Bodowar Dil, Kyat 5,000
from Mosona Para, Kyat 4,000 from Khawar Dil, Kyat 5,000 from Gin Tilla
Guna, Kyat 70,000 from Thaki Para, Kyat 5,000 from Sha Pauk( Tun Bin), Kyat
5,000 from Nga Paung, Kyat 10,000 from Gi Gru Para, Kyat 10,000 from Halsin
Para, Kyat 35,000 from Pili Chaung, Kyat 30,000 from Bari Ga Para, Kyat
15,000 from Chisha Para, Kyat 10,000 from Shwe Mangan, Kyat 5,000 from Pauk
Taw Li, Kyat 5,000 from Loga Nanta and Kyat 10,000 from Konkar Para. In
total Kyat 706,000, said a village Chairman.
“We have to pay money for the so called short-term military training without
any Rohingya participation in the training and Rakhine villagers are
exempted from paying money,” said a Rohingya villager.#
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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. #