----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)
(2) AIDS in
(3) Mon Monks maintain themselves as an
organization
(4) Sons reunited with Khun Sa
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
=======================================
Mizzima News
A senior staff member of the Myanmar Times said its critical
role has
been relatively downgraded with its
so-called 'protector,' the
National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), demolished.
The NIB was a well-established body which gathered
intelligence in all
areas of life throughout the
country. It facilitated the Myanmar Times
in sourcing news developments and
provided influence with many public
and private organizations. All
individuals and organisations were
supposed to respond to all Myanmar
Times' investigations in a
collaborative manner. "The
mandate it enjoyed is no longer clear,
claiming a status marginally above
other weeklies," the staff member
said.
The Myanmar Times' top-level management had successfully
lobbied the
intelligence body to get
differential treatment over other news
publications. However, this is now
proving a worrisome position for
the proprietors now that the NIB
has been dissolved.
For example, suppose the newspapers carried an item
sensitive to
higher-level government authority,
even though it was passed by
censorship bodies. Without the
tacit support of the NIB, full
responsibility for publishing the
article would fall on the publisher
and could lead to closing down the
publication.
So the Myanmar Times may find it hard to exercise its previously
privileged position for the time
being. This reminds us that a
newspaper's viability does not
depend on investment volume but on
political 'right,' which is no
longer in the Myanmar Times' hand.
An informed source said there had been personal clashes
between the
newly appointed PM and Brig-Thein Swe, father of Myanmar Times
partner, Sonny Swe. That has
resulted in the PM's dislike of the
publication.
The source added that Vice Senior General Maung Aye
appreciated the
content of the Myanmar Times.
Additionally, the source said, a new
press scrutiny body would be
reorganized under the Ministry of
Information, which has already taken over authority to issue
permission for publishing licenses.
This will automatically scrap the
Home Affairs Ministry's existing division.
The Information Ministry has begun to scrutinize the Myanmar
Times'
reports while other publications
are still under the scrutiny of the
Home Affairs Ministry, the source said. The source also
quoted the
papers' editor-in-chief, Ross
Dunkley, as saying the publication was
already efficient enough to push
forward its business and one more
edition was well underway to come
out.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AIDS in
======================
Shan Herald Agency for News
A presenter at a two-day workshop on HIV/AIDS in
Chiangmai, has tagged the problem
in
crisis, said women participants at
the Nov. 13-14 meeting.
The presentation, Update on HIV in
Uhrig, a researcher who had worked
in
prevalence of the epidemic
"The Crisis in
According to his paper, over 80% of injecting drug users (IDUs) in
Lashio, most of
whom.inject heroin, were found HIV-infected,
and many
of them have died.
Dr Chris Beyrer, an American authority
on HIV/AIDS who had
conducted "Sentinel
Surveillance" in September-October 1999 in
also estimated the 2004 HIV
prevalence in
Lashio -
Northern
Muse - Sino-Burma border ---------- 92.3%
Taunggyi -
Southern
Total
----------------------------------------- 42.0%
In addition, the 1999 survey came across high HIV prevalence
rates
among ante-natal clinic (ANC)
pregnant women:
Lashio
Northern
Muse Sino-Burma border --------- 6.5%
Taunggyi
Southern
Tachilek
Eastern
Uhrig's paper noted that the
military government has begun small-scale
activities in
outreach, needle and syringe
programs, life skills training, and a
minimum package of care and
prevention of HIV infection in mothers and
young children, with $50 million in
total committed funding.
However, crackdowns on sex work and human trafficking have
disrupted
HIV prevention programs and led to greater vulnerability of
sex
workers to HIV.
1.31% of all adults in
according to the National AIDS
Program's official estimate, revised in
September.
The Far Eastern Economic Review reported July 15 that 5% of
the 7
million people living with HIV/AIDS
in the Asia-Pacific Region are in
in other countries.
"The Burmese (generals) need not worry about destroying
the Shans," a
woman social worker told S.H.A.N.
"AIDS is already doing the job for
them."
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Mon Monks held
meeting to maintain themselves as an organization
================================================================
Independent Mon News Agency (
The Mon Monk Community in
yesterday with the intent of
maintaining itself as a newly formed
organization to exist in the future
as the Mon Organization Front,
according to a monk leader.
A lot of Mon organizations disappeared after they were
formed for
awhile because they lacked
commitment and were not systematically
formed. We senior monks in
organization exist long term in the
future, said Ajar Youdsa, senior
leader of the organization.
The organization, founded four months ago, was formed by
monks and Mon
migrant workers in
being killed, raped, or other such
abuses, he added.
At the moment we are raising funds from 500 members paying
30 baht
per month and we will use this
money for migrant workers who need
help, Ajar Youdsa
continued.
Nai Aung Min, a migrant worker,
said, We needed such an organization
for migrant workers, although there
are a lot of Mon organizations,.
but no special organizations for
migrant workers that are really
helping them.
We are grateful more migrant workers could join it, Nai Augn Min
continued.
As first we are going to help our members that have joined
our
organization for six months, Ajar Youdsa said.
The senior monk's objection for the organization was very
respectful
and we needed such an idea: to
maintain a Mon organization that does
not constantly exit, said Nai Kon Chan Nai,
Hongsarwatoi Restoration
party spokeman,
who attended the meeting .
In
leaders took asylum in a third
country. Some organizations such as Bop
Htaw, Overseas Mon National
Student Organization, Mon Migrant Worker
Organization and some other Mon organizations have
disappeared for
many reasons.
To prevent that, about 300 people, including senior monks
from
Maharchai, central
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sons reunited with Khun Sa
=======================
Shan Herald Agency for News
As ex-warlord Khun Sa strives to cope with his shaken position
stemming from the fall of his
patron Gen. Khin Nyunt, three of his
sons have returned to
him, reports Tai Touch from Chiangrai:
The 70-year old Khun Sa, said a source close to his family, was last
seen in
Changtrakul a.k.a
Nay Aung; Zarm Myat a.k.a Paisarn
Changtrakul a.k.a
Myo Aung; and Kob
a.k.a Pithak Changtrakul a.k.a Than Kywe.
Khun Sa
is still at the house located in Ye Kyi Aing, a
former
Military Intelligence post, near
his close relatives.
The three brothers had leased their businesses in the Hpakant
jadeland,
Mogok rubyland and Myawaddy, where Kob has the
Club Casino, to "friends" in order to be able to
spend more time with
their ageing father, whose health,
though good at present, is apt to
be unpredictable.
"Also, with Khin Nyunt gone, it is feared he might also
be losing his
monthly 600,000 kyat ($600)
allowance too," said the source.
Zarm Hurng,
Khun Sa's
second son, with his wife
Khun Sa,
who surrendered to
three daughters, among whom the
most well-known is the second son,
Zarm Hurng
a.k.a Chang Weikang a.k.a Pathai Changtrakul
a.k.a Yan
Aung, who is living in Tachilek.
He had been reportedly tipped to
become Khun
Sa's successor before the 1995 mutiny that had
finally led
to his surrender in 1996.
.......................................................................
Burma News International is a network of nine exiled media
groups
such as Mizzima
News, Shan Herald Agency for News, Kao Wao News Group,
Khonumthung News Group, Narinjara News, Kaladan Press
Network,
Independent Mon News Agency, Karenni Information
Network Group and Network Media Group.
.........................
Contact: Duty Editor
+66 9 54 94 296