BNI Weekly News - December 8, 2003
. DA BYU CHAUNG – PALAY DAUNG ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH FORCED LABOUR
. Rangoon-Kyauk Pyu Road under construction people’s cultivated land confiscated
. Arakan Alliance Signed Deed of Commitment Under Geneva Call
. Burma outgoing ambassador calls on Bangladesh opposition leader
. Villagers are exposed to sun for interrogations
. Outgoing Burma ambassador meets Bangladesh PM
. Village set ablaze by the army
. Rice smuggled from Bangladesh
. 18 more Burmese Muslim Refugees repatriated yesterday
. Arson Attack to a Mosque and Its Guesthouse
. Military Junta western commend collects taxes from black trading vessels
. Are the Burmese People Fit for Democracy?
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DA BYU CHAUNG – PALAY DAUNG ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH FORCED LABOUR
8 December 2003:
A 16 kilometers long road from Da Byu Chaung to Palay Daung is being under
constructed in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State with forced labour of
villagers, according to our correspondent.
The road is being constructed from Da Byu Chaung Military Operation Command
(MOC)-15 to Palay Daung Battalion No.535 through the Krama Taung, San Nyin
Way, Mori Chaung villages of Buthidaung Township. The neighboring villagers
have to pay about 200 forced labors daily for construction of road, he
further said.
Some soldiers from Krama Taung Battalion and Palay Daung Battalion No.535
have also participated in road construction. This road is 18 feet wide and
was previously constructed with forced labor later on it was destroyed by
rain, said a villager who was once participated in forced labor.
Qyuan Daung village Tract of Buthidaung Township has to pay 20 labours daily
to the Battalion No.565 for their construction works. Another Palay Daung
village Tract of Buthidaung Township has also to pay forced labors for
construction works of Battalion No. 535. The laborers have to cut bamboos
and pillars from the deep forest and have to carry it to the army Battalion,
he further added.
For the Military Operation Command (MOC)-15 of Buthidaung Township, the
nearby villages have to pay labors daily, but they have been paid Kyat 500/-
per head daily while outside labor is Kyat 1,000 per day, said another man
to our source.
But the SPDC authorities have declared, “There is no forced labor across the
country.” #
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Rangoon-Kyauk Pyu Road under construction people’s cultivated land confiscated
8 December 2003:
Cultivated land owned by local people lied right on the Rangoon-Kyauk Pyu
road being constructed and its surrounding was confiscated by the military
junta (SPDC) without being compensated, the report said.
A reservoir with a capacity of 3,00,000 gallons of water is being
constructed near Maii Village, Ann Township, Arakan State and military
authorities have confiscated 30000 acres of land which have been reclaimed
along newly constructed Rangoon-Kyauk Pyu road, local people said.
The military authorities forced the local people living in Ann, Toung Goup
and Rambree townships to work in the road construction site batch by batch.
They are filling their pocket by being paid fewer wages than pay roll.
A woman had fled Bangladesh since Rangoon-Kyauk Pyu road construction
started said, “I had been once a victim as a forced labor in the mentioned
road construction. All labors including myself taking food for one month or
two had to work at soldiers’ disposal. As a result of drinking water
shortage, the laborers usually suffered from diarrhea. The labor that worked
in salt water and swamp area suffered the worst, as there was no fresh water
to drink and bathe. They had been thirsty due to burning sun and hard work
but only salt water they used to. Under pressure of hard living condition,
hard work and scarce medical treatment, many laborers fell ill and dead soon
without getting any reparation. These are everyday atrocity of unfortunate
Rakhine people under barbarous military rule”.
SPDC (military junta) is now speedy up to construction infrastructure needy
for gas extraction to export gas to foreign countries.
The junta has no ideas of using gas for internal development. Kyauk Pyu-
Rangoon road is built urgently with the objective of delivering securely
needy export materials to Kyauk Pyu- all year round and all weather.
The people are in serious troubles crippling under forced labor and land
confiscation, without being unable to voice against repression in the midst
of total suppression. #
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Arakan Alliance Signed Deed of Commitment Under Geneva Call
7 December 2003:
Recently the Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) and the National
United Party of Arakan (NUPA), the two component organizations of the Arakan
Independence Alliance (AIA), had separately signed the Geneva Call Deed of
Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban on Anti-personnel Mines and for
Cooperation in Mine Action (DoC), according to our source.
Talking to Kaladan Press, Khin Maung, President of the NUPA said, “Many
innocent people have been killed and suffered in Burma. Even AP mines caused
untold sufferings to the innocent people and wild animals on both sides of
the Burma-Bangladesh border areas. So, it is important to end all use of AP
mines”.
“Burmese military uses AP mines killing many civilians or non-combatants,
most of whom are poor people like woodcutters, porters used by military,
internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees fleeing persecution of the
Burmese military. The mined areas are not marked and most victims have no
access to treatment or assistance. There are many victims in the border
areas of Burma-Bangladesh who need immediate assistance,” Nurul Islam,
President of ARNO said.
The ARNO and NUPA with their Armies respectively of Rohingya National Army
(RNA) and Arakan Army (AA) are the first rebel groups in Burma to sign the
Geneva Call DoC, he further added.
Both government forces and ethnic armed groups had planted mines that have
injured and killed not only enemy combatants, but also their own troops,
civilians and animals. Nine (7 States and 2 Divisions) out of 14 states and
Divisions in Burma are mine-affected with many concentrations in Eastern
Burma. Burma army also lays mines close to areas of civilian activity
allegedly to prevent people from returning to their native villages after
forced eviction during counter insurgency campaigns.
Burma’s military forces have used landmines extensively throughout the long
running civil war. It has been producing at least three types of
anti-personnel mines: MM1, MM2, and Claymore-type mines. It has obtained and
used anti-personnel mines of Chinese, Israeli, Italian, Russian, US, and
unidentified manufacture.
There are many mines that were planted by the Nasaka forces along
Burma-Bangladesh border still posing danger for the passersby. Some of them
were swept by the RNA. #
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Burma outgoing ambassador calls on Bangladesh opposition leader
6 December 2003:
Out going ambassador of Burma, U Own Thwin gave a farewell visit on Sheikh
Hasina, the leader of opposition in the Bangladesh parliament and president
of Awami Leaguse at her Shudha Sadan residence of Dhaka yesterday.
U Own Thwin expressed his thank for her assistance and cooperation during
the period of Awami League government in conducting his duties and mentioned
his efforts to strengthen bilateral relation between the two countries.
He also mentioned that Burma was one of the first countries that recognize
to Bangladesh independence after the liberation war.
Hasina replied that since long there has been friendly relation between
Burma and Bangladesh and many Bangladeshi sheltered in Burma during the
Bangladesh liberation war in 1971.
She also added that, as Burma and Bangladesh are members of regional
umbrella organization BIMSTEC and should work together to improve the people
fates. She also mentioned the continuing promotion of bilateral relations
between the two countries.
During Sheikh Hasina’s tenure (1996-2001) as prime minister of Bangladesh,
she gave her warm supports to Burma democracy movement led by Aung San Suu
Kyi. As a result there had been strained in the bilateral relations between
Burma and Bangladesh. #
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Villagers are exposed to sun for interrogations
5 December 2003:
Villagers were arrested after setting their village in fire and they were
facing rough interrogation in connection with killing of an army officer,
according to report sent as rejoinder.
The villagers were mercilessly beaten and dried in sun for interrogation to
extract the information about the death of the said officer, a relative of
the victim of the village said.
One villager told, “Everyone including women and children were exposed in
sun heat dawn to dusk. They were called one by one into a chamber for
interrogation. In fact, they are questioning the villagers as to where they
have hid the killer, it is reported".
The real story of the incident is that, an army officer from LIB 263 base in
Buthe daung was in love with a girl of that village and when the officer
went to meet the girl secretly in the night, her perturbed brother stabbed
to death the officer and fled to avoid the arrest, it is said.
Military people set the said village, Sinn Thing Rwa ablaze in the first
week of November after nearly three days later of the incident (that took
place in the last week of October).
Sinn Thing Rwa village under the Buthe Daung Township, 80 miles north of
Arakan state capital Sittwe, has 22 houses and most of the villagers are
poor day laborers.
The army reports said the victim was not an officer but a soldier; a vested
quarter is circulating the false news for unknown reason.
Corrigenda: In the news sent by Narinjara yesterday, name of the village was
written mistakenly as “Sinn Rwa” should be read “Sinn Thing Rwa”.#
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Outgoing Burma ambassador meets Bangladesh PM
5 December 2003:
U Own Thwin, Burmese outgoing ambassador, met Bangladesh Prime Minister
Khaleda Zia at her office yesterday.
It was a farewell courtesy call on Bangladesh PM before his departure from
Bangladesh, according to local news agency BSS.
In the meeting, U Own Thwin disclosed that Burma side would expedite the
construction of the bridge linked Burma and Bangladesh at Goung Doon,
Bangladesh side, and Taung Bro under Maung Daw Township, Burma side.
He stressed that this Rangoon-Dhaka road via Goung Doon of Bangladesh and
Maung daw of Burma would enhance trade and commerce for both countries and
friendly relation among peoples of both countries.
Repatriation of Burmese Muslim refugees will be expedited soon, the outgoing
ambassador assured the prime Minister of Bangladesh.
He also hoped bilateral relations would reach new highs in future.
Bangladesh PM thanked envoy and sent an invitation to her counterpart in
Burma to visit Bangladesh. #
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Village set ablaze by the army
4 December 2003:
An Arakanese Village in Buthe Daung Township, 80 miles north of Sittwe, the
capital of Araka state, was destroyed by the local troops in November.
Soldiers from the Light Infantry Battalion 263 set the village on fire. The
Sinn Rwa village is located near the base of LID 263 and the villagers were
mostly dependent upon work provided by the LID 263.
A villager from a nearby village said he cannot confirm whether the burning
had anything to do with a captain from the Battalion being murdered a week
before the Sinn Rwa village was destroyed.
The location of LIB 263 is nearby Buthe Daung- Maung Daw motor road.#
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Rice smuggled from Bangladesh
4 December 2003:
Since the rice price in Arakan is high, the northern villages in the western
border township of Maung Daw, have to survive on the rice smuggled from
Bangladesh.
Though, it is the time of rice cultivation, the rice price remains
especially high in the northern part of the township. The reason has been
that the Burmese border security Nasaka is taxing 500 kyat per 50 kilos rice
bag, at the Nasaka Three Mile Gate of Maung Daw, said a local lorry driver.
Due to this taxing, it is more profitable to import rice across the border
than buying it from other places in the country. In Krine Caung and Nga Khu
Ra village markets, the northern part of Maung Daw Township, a lower class
rice bag costs 11,000 kyat while in Bangladesh it is only 7,500 kyat (500
taka).
Rice can be freely traded in other parts of Burma now, but its trade is
restricted in Buthe Daung and Maung Daw Townships.
A political commentator said that this restriction is due to political
manipulations by the junta, and it is meant to create hardship under the
Muslim populace of the townships in order to encourage them to migrate to
Bangladesh.
The two townships have a high population density and underdeveloped roads
and infrastructure; this further contributes to the townships having the
highest commodity prices in the whole of Burma.#
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18 more Burmese Muslim Refugees repatriated yesterday
3 December 2003:
18 Burmese Muslim refugees belonging to three families returned to Burma
yesterday (on Tuesday), official sources said.
Bangladesh and UNHCR officials saw them off on the bank of Naaf River at
Karountali Departing Gate in Teknaf Township. Burma immigration officials
and UNHCR officials received them at KaningChaung reception centre in Maung
Daw Township, Burma.
With this, 2,36,238 Rohingya refugees have so far returned to Burma till
yesterday morning, sources said.
Meanwhile, another 9,591 Burmese refugees are expected to return to Burma.
It is known that the repatriation process had been not workable for sometime
for getting no consensus between Burma and Bangladesh authorities. But it is
the first batch of repatriation after sometime break.
About 2,500,00 Burmese refugees crossed the border and took refuge in
Bangladesh in 1991 to escape persecution by Burma military regime.#
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Arson Attack to a Mosque and Its Guesthouse
1 December 2003:
On November 04, 2003, some Rakhine youths made an arson attack to a mosque
and its guesthouse at around 9:00 pm in Buthidaung Town, Arakan State,
according to our correspondent.
The mosque is established in Zabor Para village of Buthidaung Town and the
name of the mosque is Abdul Salam Dowashi mosque, he further added.
Four Rakhine youths on said day backed by police and the Union Solidarity
and Development Association (USDA) members came and secretly enter the
mosque compound and torched it and its guesthouse while the mosque goers
were praying inside the mosque. The guesthouse was completely gutted by fire
before the fire could be extinguished after half an hour. But the prayers
brought the blaze of the mosque under control after a few minutes struggle,
said a man, who is participated in prayer.
Most of the villagers believe that SPDS authorities and USDA members
instigated this arson attack. So, the villagers did not inquire about this
matter, and are living patiently and cautiously to avoid untoward incidents
in future, he further said.
The Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) members of local
branches are behaving like they are the Military Intelligence (MI) and the
local authority. They engaged in criminal activities in order to increase
the funds of the organization, and are doing social welfare activities in
local areas to gain public supports. SPDC authority formed this
organization, particularly by Senior General Shan Thwe in the late 1990s to
support their rule. Such incidents were taking place every now and then
since SPDC came to power in1988,” said a senior schoolteacher.
He also criticized “ government’s all-out attempt to create the incident
into a communal riot between two sister communities. He also
condemned police for their indifferent attitude in probing the case. Neither
any real culprit was arrested nor any clue has been unearthed so far. The
number of such incidents would continue to rise as long as the military
junta stay in power.”#
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Military Junta western commend collects taxes from black trading vessels
2 December 2003:
It was reported that the Western command H Q. charged tax on all illegal
trading boats coming from Bangladesh and boats from Burma going to
Bangladesh with contraband goods.
It was reported the Western command organized a toll collection office in
Golden Mungan river port, which is about 10 miles to the north of Sittwe.
All the boat trading contraband goods between Burma and Bangladesh are taxed
from this office.
This tax office has been operating for some time. Former divisional
commanders, Major General Win Myint and Major General Aung Htwe started
illegal taxations by establishing black trading boards. A businessman said,
there is nothing that stands in the way of a black trader after he had paid
the amount charged by the toll. Hence, a black trader import and export
contraband goods freely to any country.
Allegedly, two hundred and fifty dollars are charged for a boat, which is an
export, Burmese goods to any other country. Charges are made in dollars
because the Euro is substituted for American dollars and Kyat and Taka are
not accessible.
Usually Bangladeshi black traders carrying fertilizer, cement, and medicine
come across the Bay of Bangle to Shwe Mungan river port and in their return
to Bangladesh they carry salt, London cigarettes, 555 cigarettes, and all
kinds of alcohol to Bangladesh.
All Burmese businessmen already know that Burmese products are going out of
the country illegally and that black traders are paying tax to the Military
toll collection office.
A businessman said that medicine and fertilizer exports are contraband
materials in Bangladesh, and also Burmese salt, cigarettes and alcohol are
contraband materials in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh government confiscates the above-mentioned contraband
materials if they are found on any trading vessels. However, in Burma these
contraband materials can come in and out freely.
As Shwe Mungan is a dollar accessible river port, the military regime still
has not shown to take any action against black trading based in this port.
Shwe Mungan is ten miles far from down town Sittwe. It was established as a
river port to act as a centre for legal border trade. Now it has become the
centre of black trading, as many boats dock and depart. #
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Are the Burmese People Fit for Democracy?
By KanbawzaWin
5 Decembr, 2003
The news that the KNU representatives have eaten a humble pie by going to
Rangoon to shake the bloody hands of Khin Nyunt (instead of the Junta’s
representative coming to the liberated area) for talks has struck me under
the belt. Looking at the national and international scene, the possible
conclusion seems to me, is that if Karen is lost, everything is lost. I hope
and pray that I will prove it wrong. The very fact that the delegation,
instead of representing the five (Karen, Karenni, Shan, Chin and Arakanese)
non cease-fire group only Karen was single out and has accepted the
invitation pointed to the fact that the Junta’s policy of Divide and Rule is
successful. No doubt the Junta will continue to pressure one by one until
its goal is achieve and the dominos has fallen completely, in spite of their
grandiose rhetoric of tripartite talk. This is but one step of the Junta
driving a wedge between the ethnic nationalities and the pro-democracy
group! s while marginalizing the latter.
The postmortem will reveal that the two groups did not see eye to eye, the
Myanmar group is obsessed in their democracy while the nationalities is for
autonomy. Hence even though it is a coin, one see it as a head and the other
tail and could not comprehend that it is one and the same. Daw Suu herself
has approached the nationalities concern in vague terms only, while the pro
democracy groups that joined the ethnic fighters in the peripherals made it
worst. Many of the Myanmar pro democracy groups are chauvinist and upheld
the theory of Myanmar chauvinistic ideas in their hearts of heart even
though they would give lip service to “Pyidaungsu”. Their actions speaks
louder than words, as they feverishly drive for their cherish goal of
democracy without addressing the aspiration of their ethnic nationalities.
The NLD itself has recognized only the CRPP, effectively leaving out the
Karen and those who are at the peripherals. At the same t! ime Daw Suu had
captivated international community and the ethnic national cause became
marginalized in the international arena.
From the perspective of ethnic nationalities they have tasted democracy
prior to 1962 and their fears were confirmed by the actions of the Myanmar
Diaspora and this time try their level best to push for autonomy. All the
ethnic nationalities are determined not repeat the same mistake again,
similar to eating an egg without a salt (having democracy without autonomy).
But the unkindest cut comes from Nagote, (referring to NCGUB) in Burmese
meaning a bull, with a curved horn that can gored not to the other bull but
to itself, that have effectively blocked all the Burmese intelligentsia who
are well equipped to lead the revolution. Being unqualified leaders of the
Burmese cause they have effectively devise a way that anyone who is capable
to do the job must be stopped. A classic example is the result of the voting
of the 58th session of United Nations General Assembly where the Junta with
the support of its sympathizers has eff! ectively blocked it from putting it
in the Security Council agenda. Once the Security Council passed the
resolution than it will take action including the United States and it will
be end of the Junta (so also no place for Nagote). The simple question is
since we have our UN representative Thoung Htun, who is supposed to be an
expert, as he is working full time, why didn’t we put our case to the UNSC
instead to the UNGA. Did he know how to approach the permanent members and
sound out their attitude, who are (or will be) the rotating members in the
UNSC and how to approach them diplomatically with charm and wisdom? We
cannot blindly draw the conclusion that because China is a permanent member
is bound to video the agenda and so on. Did he work out on the history of
the UN responses to the Burmese cause of how each country voted for it and
ever discuss on the strategy of how to penetrate the UNSC? Even at the
height of the UN lobbying session he and Dr Sein Win ! are away in Europe
and Scandinavian countries that are already on our side. Of course like the
Junta they know how to deceive people and at the Fort Wayne Conference they
came out with another bombastic rhetoric not only to soften the critics but
also to get more funds to travel around the world, live in hotels and hold
unnecessary conferences leaving out the grass root representatives,
pretending to be very busy, doing nothing. The barometer being in one and
half decades using all the donated money what substantial aspect has they
achieve other than off and on media outburst? It is high time that they
should be pensioned off and takes a leaf out of the Junta by pumping in new
fresh blood.
The ethnic nationalities on the other hand are mediocre and often cannot nib
the problem the bud until it is too late. Most of the ethnic groups have
splinter groups working for the Junta or staying neutral while the Wa, later
the Kachin together with some smaller groups had come out solidly behind
Khin Nyunt’s road map. By their action every body knows that they can be
taken one by one. The Junta who saw the strength of NLD in Daw Suu’s tour
clearly see the writing on the wall that the entire people are behind Daw
Suu and is a real threat to them now plow wow with the ethnic nationalities
and won them by one by one. Studying the structure of each ethnic group one
can clearly see that they did not care much about democracy e.g. KNU would
not tolerate any other group like KSO as it is a one party dictatorship
something akin to BSPP. The same can be said with Mon (Hongsawaddy group),
Karenni (Ka La La Ta) and others. So in their hearts of hearts how ! can
they align with the democracy groups? Perhaps the saying that if we put two
Burmese in a cell they will form three political parties seems to be true.
Then comes the resourceful Myanmar group (calling themselves Burman) are
hopelessly divided with various segments and strata. The majority are
residing overseas and jokingly label as D4B (Dam four B i.e. Bae Htaing {sitoutside} Baing Kya (no money to travel to the peripherals of Burma to
witness the struggling ethnic nationalities} Bu Pyaw {always tend to quarreland criticize others} and Ba Hma Ma Loke Bu {will do nothing}. But there arepearls among the swine i.e. there are few well-educated, dedicated and
capable persons that are implementing things. It was these kind of persons
and intelligent ethnic nationalities that Nagote was able to shut off unless
they join their clique. So looking at this picture we may have to ask
ourselves, are we fit with democracy? The world is looking at us of what
will be a democratic Burma like with the Burmese people behaving in such a
way. A ! Caucasian friend commented, “I agreed that the Junta is pulling the
country down but if you all become a government it will be worst.”
While we are bickering at each other, the scenario now is that Khin Nyunt
has now got the upper hand. Half a year after the infamous Depayin
assassination attempt, the Junta is now inching towards its own road map
with a new constitution to be followed by a free and fair elections, very
much aware of the fact that 2006 is a dateline for Burma’s ASEAN presidency
where Khin Nyunt is determine to present a more favorable picture to the
audience. Kofi Annan has also given the same dateline and of course the
Generals are conscious about it. That is one of the reasons why the Junta is
working hard to get the consensus of all the ethnic nationalities for its
discipline democracy. Even now on the ides of December ten countries
including the West led by the US, China, India, Indonesia and some Asian
countries will be discussing Khin Nyunt’s road map. Albeit, Burma was ruled
by Nga Yuu (insane Than Shwe), Nga Mu (drunkard Mg Aye) ! and Gan Du (Khin
Nyunt, a women like person), they are well advanced under a single command
while we are trying to discredit each other.
I am quite positive that I will get the wrath from all parties concerned for
writing this feature article, but I am willing to pay the price as I am an
old man and have survive several assassination attempts (not only from the
Junta but also from the thugs hired by multilateral corporations working in
Burma) and my days are very much numbered. But these are my thoughts even
though I won’t claimed to be an exclusive truth.
However, two years is still an ample of time and now that the NLD inside the
country has been very much marginalized and if the Diaspora could
revolutionaries their thoughts there is still time. Once and for all the
Nagote must be retired especially the UN group stationed in America, for we
will have to tackle the Security Council without which US could not come in.
The seasoned think tank people especially the Shan brothers must recruit the
sparkling pearls like Zarni, Aung Din and the likes including other
intelligentsia as Saya Aung Khin and professor KMK etc. The old ABSDF
students who have successfully help the students from 20,000 to 200 must be
dropped off from their entrenched position and work vigorously as a new
team. The ethnic national leaders must also realize that both Nagote and the
Junta are not really working in their interest and must encourage younger
and more ed! ucated youths to take the lead in working with the new team. If
not, we might as well bite the bullet and go along with Khin Nyunt
discipline democracy and shake the bloody hands and forget our dear comrades
who all have made a supreme sacrifice for our cause. #
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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. #