WEEKLY NEWS PACKAGE
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ON THE BORDER
INTERNATIONAL
EDITORIAL AND STATEMENTS
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INSIDE
NLD decides not to attend National Convention
The reason for this decision is that the NLD’s
attendance could bring no benefit for the people, central executive committee
member Thakhin Soe Myint told Network Media Group, quoting the NLD
spokesperson, U Lwin.
The NLD had asked the government to make changes to the aims and basic
principles of the National Convention, which were established ten years ago.
However, there has been no satisfactory response from the government, an NLD
source said.
Though the military regime had invited some NLD members to the National
Convention, the main leaders of the party, Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice Chairman U
Tin Oo, are still under house arrest.
The reconvening of the National Convention is the first and major step of the
seven-step "Road Map" recently announced by Prime Minister General
Khin Nyunt.
Though the military junta announced that the National Convention would
reconvene on May 17, cease-fire talks between the government and a major ethnic
rebel group, the Karen National Union, are still going on. So the KNU cannot
participate in the National Convention, though some of the other ethnic groups
will be sending representatives to the
convention.
*** *** *** ** *
Former BBC Stringer jailed
for 15 years in
The statement said that a special court inside the notorious Insein Jail handed out long prison terms to five democratic
activists, including U Ne Min, accusing them of links
to exile anti-government groups.
The names of these activists are U Maung Maung Lat, U
Law Lwin, U Ne Min, U Ye Thiha and Ko Ne
Lin Aung. Among them Ko Ne Lin Aung got the longest sentence, of up to 22 years in
prison.
Ko Tate Naing of the AAPP
said “These five people are all accused of the same crime, and they all were
charged with processing illegal documents that were published by
anti-government organizations in the border areas.”
He added that the military government (State Peace and Development Council) had
already sentenced U Ne Min to up to 20 years on a
charge of reporting fabricated news to the BBC in 1989, and he was released in
1998.
U Ne Min and four other activists were arrested by
*** *** *** *
Curfew on Monks Harmful,
says Chairman of ABYMU
Monks in
“Because of order PC 144, it is difficult for Sanghas
to survive not only in urban cities but also in remote villages. And there is
no exam for monastic schools while these schools suffer due to the government’s
law which does not accept more than 50 Sanghas in a
monastic schools (Parirati Sasana),”
U Khaymar Sara said.
Ashin Tayzaw Tharya, who had already completed six Buddhist lents, was arrested last December
around
“The military authorities arbitrarily make arrests whenever they come across Sanghas at night, charging them with political activities.
In a recent scenario, one monk was arrested and sentenced to a long term of
imprisonment while he was going out to buy something, even though he was not
involved in politics,” Rev Khaymar Sara explained.
One monk who recently arrived at the Indo-Burma border, and who does not want
to be named, told the NMG that many Sanghas had gone
missing after being arrested by authorities while traveling.
A total of fouteen monks, including six from Tamarpin-Kauk village, Yinmarbin township in Sagaing Division -
namely U Thawpita, U Kawainda,
U Kawthala, U Pyinyar Satka and U Vilatha, along with
several monks from the Insein-Zeekone monastery in
These monks from at Insein-Zeekone monastery were
arrested in February while they were going out at night. Though the head of
monastery addressed the authorities himself, they are still missing till now.
“Monks are not allowed to go out after
The military authorities are tightening security and keeping a close eye on
monks at
The authorities asked the monks who were arrested whether they wanted to stay
in jail or join the Army. If the monks opted to keep out of the army, they were
sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
The curfew was issued after military authorities cracked down on demonstrations
on 27 October in which hundreds of monks protested against the imprisonment of
Rev. U Visitta (a) U Vithura.
At this time, the government also issued an order not to accept over fifty
monks in a monastic school (Parirati Sasana).
*** *** ***
ON THE BORDER
Bangladesh Earns US$5.5 Million in Seven Months from Border Trade with Burma
Cox’s Bazar, May 9 KALADAN NEWS:
Bangladesh has earned 330 million Taka (US$ 5.5 million) in revenue in just
seven months from trade on the Burma-Bangladesh border, according to a local
newspaper, The Daily Bashkhali, on May 6.
Mr. Abdul Gafur, a Teknaf
customs official, said that after the beginning of trade, their revenue
increased every day. The figures were: 34.1 million Taka in October 2003; 33.5
million in November; 42 million in December; 50.9 million in January 2004; 53.2
million in February; 54.4 million in March and 61 million in April, a total of
around 330 million Taka from October 2003 to April 2004.
Mr Gafur added that their
target was to earn an average of Taka 27.8 million per month, but they have
earned double and triple the target revenue. They have both fulfilled their
target and earned an extra 150 million Taka in 7 months, from October 2003 to
April 2004.
With the cooperation of the police, the Bangladeshi Rifles (BDR), the port
authorities, reporters, the CNF agent, businessmen and local people, they get
the opportunity to earn extra income from the border trade. Otherwise,
such earnings could not be achieved, said the customs officer.
However, up to now, the customs officials have some internal problems to be
resolved, for which they are seeking a solution. If the problems can be solved,
the customs official expects that they will be able to earn 100 million Taka
per month.
When a trader in Teknaf was asked to comment, he said
that the border people are an important source of revenue for the
government, but those on the Burmese side of the border are not able to
participate in the border trade, thus losing a lot of potential revenue for
Burma.
*** *** ***
Fleeing Burmese Muslims
arrested by Bangladeshi Police
Cox’s Bazar, May 9 Narinjara News: Bangladeshi
police have arrested a group of about two dozen Burmese Muslims who were
fleeing
Amongst those arrested were 5 men, 7 women and 10 children, all of whom came
from Akyab, the capital of Arakan.
The Bangladeshi patrol police arrested them near
According to an unconfirmed source, many Muslim families have been left their
homeland of
There are still about 15,000 Burmese Muslim refugees in Bangladeshi refugee
camps, many of whom arrived in
*** *** ***
Smuggled Longyis
Seized at Cox’s Bazar
Cox’s Bazar, May 10 Kaladan
News: Four hundred and forty eight (448) Burmese longyis
being smuggled from
On May 4, 2004, at about
The taxi came from Himsori, on the southern side of
Cox’s Bazar, and the taxi driver named Shudor Shon (Barowa)
was also arrested by the BDR. The BDR handed over all seized goods and the
driver to the police at Cox’s Bazar, who filed a case
against the driver.
Though administrators on both sides of the border are planning to speed up the legalization
of import and export, local merchants still get involved in illegal trade, said
a custom’s official in Cox’s Bazar.
From the Burmese side of the border, table salt, Ajino
Moto, fishing nets, cigarettes and cigarette-papers,
carbon paper, fresh water fish, slippers, spices and Posta
Dana (a kind of white small seeds), pulses, clothes, drugs and beer have been
smuggled into Bangladesh.
From the Bangladeshi side, kerosene, edible oil, fertilizer, medicine, petrol,
some kinds of food and constructions material have also been smuggled into
*** *** ***
Nasaka
Troops Rape and Strangle 12-Year Old Girl
Maungdaw, May 12 Kaladan
News: On April 27, 2004, a member of Nasaka (the
Border Security Force) from the Nasaka Headquarters
in Kyi Kan Pyin (Kawa Bill)
village of Maungdaw north, Arakan
State, raped and killed a 12-year old girl by strangling her.
The victim’s name was Shajeeda, daughter of Noor Kalam, who hailed from Kyi
Kan Pyin
On 27 April, the victim, accompanied by a 10-year-old girl from the same
village, went to a grazing ground with their 12 cattle to graze their herds on
a nearby hillside. At about
When Shajeeda didn’t return, the other girl went home
with all the cattle and informed the victim’s
father about the incident, the relative added.
Onhearing the news, the victim’s father hurried to
the Nasaka headquarters to report the incident, but
he was refused entry at the gate by a Nasaka guard.
From there, he went to inform the village Chairman and Secretary of the
incident. They gave him an assurance that the next day they would go to Nasaka headquarters to report the incident, said the
victim’s mother.
Early the following day, 28 April, the village Chairman and Secretary,
accompanied by the victim’s father, went to Nasaka
headquarters to inquire about the event. A Nasaka
representative insisted that no member of the Nasaka
force had been linked with this matter. So the victim’s father went to the mountain
where his daughter had been taken by the member of Nasaka,
and searched there the whole day, but he failed to find his daughter and
returned home.
On the morning of
He took his daughter’s corpse to the village and informed the village Chairman
and Secretary, and they went together to Nasaka
Headquarters with the dead body to report the event. The Nasaka
authority ordered them to bury the body immediately, and again denied any
involvement of their forces in the murder case. Clearly they were not prepared
to listen to any allegations against Nasaka forces.
They warned the victim’s father not to come again to vilify their soldiers.
A village elder commented, “ This is a great tragedy,
as a 12-year-old girl has been raped and strangled by a member of the Nasaka force. It is just unbearablet.
How do the victim’s parents feel? I cannot imagine it.”
The incident was reported to the police and Military Intelligence (MI), but no
action has been taken yet against the culprit.
*** *** ***
Nagas
Appeal for Protection to Burmese and Indian Governments
May 13, 2004 Mizzima News: A human rights
organization, the Naga International Support Centre
(NISC), has appealed to the Indian and Burmese governments to protect the lives
and property of the Naga people living in Burma.
In a media statement, the NISC alleges that hundreds of Naga
families living in western
"In the name of bringing peace to the country, the Junta has started a
reign of terror in various areas, which has caused Naga
families to start fleeing their homeland." The statement also mentioned
that not even teenagers are spared by the Burmese soldiers.
Hundreds of Burmese families have been taking shelter in
The media release not only appealed to the Burmese junta to stop harassing Naga families, but also called on the international
community to take note of their plight.
*** *** **
KIA Arrests Five SPDC Soldiers
May 13, 2004 Mizzima News: Five armed State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) soldiers,
led by a sergeant from Battalion 320 based in Myothit,
Moemauk Township, Kachin
State, were arrested on the Bamaw-Laiza highway on 10
May by ten Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers.
The KIA are accusing the SPDC soldiers of planning to
loot timber traders.
"They (Burmese army soldiers) admitted that they were robbers, said they
were not afraid to die, and threatened to explode a grenade," said a
timber trader on the condition of anonymity. He went on to say that some of the
SPDC soldiers were wearing plain clothes and held an American-made grenade and
a home-made gun.
"The KIA soldiers pointed their guns at (the SPDC soldiers). Some were
even arrested at knifepoint," he added.
A source close to the KIO confirmed that some injured Burmese soldiers are
receiving medical treatment and investigations are going on.
SPDC soldiers from the Markhwe-based Battalion 438
and Kunlaw-based Battalion 387 are known to demand
money from timber transporters and have even been said to extort food from the
truck drivers.
Cease-fire groups such as KIO and Wa are hunting
timber looters because most timber traders are their members or supporters.
On 9 May, Wa groups arrested SPDC soldiers from the Markhwe-based battalion 438 for the same reason.
*** *** ***
INTERNATIONAL
Britain Urges Burma Regime to Reconsider NLD Requests
May 15, 2004 Mizzima News: Britain’s Foreign
Office Minister Mike O'Brien has said that he fully respects the decision of
the National League for Democracy (NLD) not to participate in the
Constitutional Convention due to start in Rangoon on 17 May.
'I fully respect the NLD's decision, which will not
have been taken lightly. I believe that the reassurances they sought from the
regime concerning the conditions under which the Convention would be held were
entirely reasonable”, Mr. O’Brien said.
“As I have said before, without the full participation of the NLD, the
Convention lacks any credibility. I firmly believe that the NLD's
requests to the regime which included the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
her Vice Chairman and the reopening of all their offices were wholly
justified”, the British Minister added.
He urged
'For the sake of
The National League for Democracy (NLD) has announced that it would not
participate in the National Convention following the military junta's refusal
to accept the NLD’s minimum conditions.
*** *** ***
EDITORIAL
AND STATEMENTS
National League for
Democracy
" Statement"
Aspiring towards the construction of a democratic union of
the National League for Democracy wished to cooperate in the National
Convention organized by the SPDC. Therefore the NLD intimated to the
authorities the following minimal conditions that would enable the
party to participate in the National Convention.
(1)
tions to be considered in the drafting of the
constitution.
(2)
to be
considered for the drafting of the constitution, not
as binding
principles.
(3)
parties,
including the NLD, should be able to choose their
own
representatives freely.
(4)
and party
signboards restored where they have been forcibly
removed.
(5)
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be
released from detention.
(6)
point (3)
above but with regard to the others:-
(7)
and (2),
there may be discussions through syndicate meetings,
there has
been no clear declaration of how the authorities
intend to
handle these issues.
(8)
The NLD does not believe that under these circumstances it will
be able to benefit the nation by participating in the National
Convention. Therefore it has been decided that the NLD will not
attend the National Convention.
C E C
*** *** ***
STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
National Convention will be successfully
reconvened with the current delegates attending
The 86-NLD member group led by U Aung Shwe attended the National Convention
launched in 1993. In November 1995 when the National Convention was moving into
top gear, all the NLD delegates made a demand for political meeting and walked
out of the National Convention after sending a letter to the chairman of the
National Convention Convening Commission which said they would never return to
the National Convention again so long as their demand is not met. The NLD
delegates were biased against the rules and regulations of the National
Convention, and consequently, the Commission had to terminate their representatives
in the National Convention in accord with the rules and regulations of the
National Convention.
With a view to ensuring national reconsolidation, the government invited the
NLD to attend the National Convention which will resume on
Though the NLD did not make any application, in all magnanimity and goodwill to
the NLD to attend the National Convention and to ensure the Convention to be a
plenary meeting, the government invited the NLD delegates to the Convention.
And the government made every arrangement for five NLD members representing the
political parties and 49 NLD representatives-elect, altogether 54, to attend
the National Convention.
The NLD gave a reason for their refusal of the government's invitation in the
declaration that U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have no right to travel
freely and the party has not obtained permission for reopening of its offices
yet.
Chairman of the National League for Democracy U Aung Shwe did not receive the
invitation when it was sent by officials to his house respectfully. Knowing
their demands would not be met they intentionally asked for them. When their
demands were not met they issued an announcement to the effect that they would
not attend the Convention. The Government addressed and fulfilled the demands
of the NLD to the most possible degree. Moreover, as emphasis is being placed
on prevalence of peace and stability at a time when the National Convention is
being reconvened officials held discussions with U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi to retain their status quo with patience. But the NLD did not accept it and
announced that they would not attend the Convention. As a matter of fact, U Tin
Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were not included as delegates to the National
Convention when it was held in 1993.
Though the NLD does not attend the National Convention, it will resume with
delegates including delegates of political parties, delegates of
representatives-elects, delegates of national races and delegates of mass and
class organizations. The government will successfully continue reconvening the
National Convention, the first step of the seven-point Road Map of the State,
as it has announced previously.
*** *** *** ***
NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF UNION OF BURMA
Don’t Give Credence to the Generals’ Convention
The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma fully supports and
understands why the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) -- the two together with their
affiliated parties together won over 95 percent of the Parliamentary seats in
the 1990 elections -- had decided not to attend the sham National Convention
staged by the generals in the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
The NCGUB also endorses the demand by the ethnic ceasefire groups for a review
of the "sixth political objective" which concerns the
"participation of the military in the leading role of national
politics" and the 104 constitutional principles stipulated by the SPDC, as
well as the repeal of Law No. 5/96 that restricts freedom of speech at the
National Convention, among others.
Once again, the generals with their uncompromising attitude have refused to
respond to the fair requests by the NLD and the SNLD and hence, missed another
rare opportunity to achieve national reconciliation and bring peace and harmony
to the country. Until now, the generals, particularly the shortsighted
Senior General Than Shwe, believe in the "might
is right" thinking and expect everyone, apart from them, to make
concessions.
The generals failed to give any tangible reason to either the NLD or the SNLD
to achieve a compromise, but they instead wanted the parties to give up their
democratic principles and the pledges they had made to the people. Since
no self-respecting party that loves the country and its people will ever do
that, these two parties were forced to make the decision to boycott the sham
National Convention.
The sole responsibility for failing to bring about national reconciliation,
therefore, lies squarely on the shoulders of the generals who have also reneged
on the promise to the international community to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
and U Tin Oo and to make their convention an equitable and fair process.
The NCGUB calls on all governments, the United Nations, and other international
institutions and organizations not to lend any credence to the so-called
National Convention of the SPDC and but to give full support to the NLD and
SNLD in light of the unyielding attitude of SPDC towards their legitimate
concerns.
*** *** *** ***
To
The Chairman
National Convention Commission
Dated
Subject . The
standpoint of the Cease-fire Groups in relation to the National Convention.
Being convinced that political issues must be solved through political
and not military processes, the ethnic nationality groups reached “cease fire”
agreements with the current rulers in order that a true and genuine Union of
Burma can be established through a change to a democratic system which will
bring about unity, equal status and the right to self government that will be
for the good of all the ethnic groups. As occasion and opportunities
arise, we have declared this to be our standpoint to the current rulers and all
the people of the nation.
“ The standpoint of the Cease-Fire groups in relation
to current events” was the first statement issued on
1.
(a)
(b)
2. New
3. Karenni Nationalties People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF)
4. Shan Nationalties People’s Liberation Organization (SNPLO)
5 Kayan New Land Party (KNLP)
6. Palaung
State Liberation Organization (PSLO)
“ Greetings from the “Cease Fire” groups on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of National Day” on 12
February 2002 was the 2nd
statement signed by the following:-
1. Kachin
2.
3. New
4. Karenni Nationalties People’s Liberation
Front (KNPLF)
5. Shan Nationalities People's Liberation Organization (SNPLO)
6. Kayan New Land Party (KNLP)
7. Palaung State Liberation Organization (PSLO)
“The standpoint of the “Cease-Fire” groups
regarding the current political situation” was the third statement issued on
1. Kachin
2. Kayan New Land Party (KNLP)
3. Karenni Nationalties People’s
Liberation Front (KNPLF)
4.
5. New
6. Shan State Peace Council (SSPC)
7. Shan Nationalities People's Liberation Organization (SNPLO)
After meeting and consultation a statement in relation to the proposed National
Convention was issued by the following on the 6th October 2003
1. Kachin
2. Kayan New Land Party (KNLP)
3. Karenni Nationalties People’s
Liberation Front (KNPLF)
4. Palaung
State Liberation Organization (PSLO)
5.New Mon State Party (NMSP)
6.Shan State Peace Council (SSPC)
Also, on the 15thOctober 2003 a joint news release of three leaders was issued
by
1.
2.
3.
They expressed their standpoint on the current political situation and
emphasized that unity, stability, peace, love and friendship between all the
ethnic groups and democracy was the desire of all. Any deeds and
utterances to the contrary are wrong. They accepted the notion that the
main purpose of the National Convention was to achieve this. They would
welcome an invitation to this convention to solve the current political
problems if the democratic process is adopted with equality and cooperation.
That is why when the “Cease Fire” groups met with the Prime Minister, General
Khin Nyunt they believed that his ‘road map’ would achieve the change to
democracy and welcomed it.
The above clearly states the standpoint of the “Cease-Fire” groups.
Every group that accepted the “cease-fire” agreement was assured by General
Khin Nyunt who was then Secretary (1) that they could raise their political
concerns at the National Convention. We want to freely express our
political concerns. On the 19th
April, 2004 Lt General Thein Sein,
Chairman of the National Convention stated that this National Convention would
adopt the same 6 political objectives and pursue the same 104 basic principles
as the previous convention. Those 6 objectives and 104 principles are
contradict the concept of a Union of Burma built on unity,
equality and self government that we have in mind.
This is why we declare our position and stand with regard to the convening
of this National Convention as hereunder:-
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Signatories to this Statement of our Standpoint.
1) Head of delegation to NC, Kachin
Independence Organization (KIO)
2) Head of delegation to NC, New Mon State Party (NMSP)
3) Head of delegation to NC, Shan State National Army (SSNA)
4).
5).
6). Kayan New Land Party (KNLP)
Copy to-
(1) Prime Minister (Union of Burma)
(2) Military Intelligence HQ (Defence Ministry)
(3) Alliance organizations under Cease-fire
*** ***End*** ***
Burma News International is a network of seven
exiled media groups such as Mizzima News, Khonumthung News Group, Narinjara
News, Kaladan Press Network, Independent Mon News
Agency, Karenni Information Network Group and Network Media Group.
For more information, contact duty editor of BNI at:
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E-mail: [email protected]