Date:
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(1) Researcher to Opposition: Provide ice-breaker
before Convention
(2) NMSP replaced its delegates to NC
(3) 54 Burmese Muslims arrested while illegally
entering
(4) People forced to paint fences or walls for bridge
opening
(5) Wa freighters ply the
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Researcher to Opposition:
Provide ice-breaker before Convention
===============================================================
S.H.A.N,
Activist turned academic Aung Naing Oo today dropped what could possibly
be a bombshell by urging the Opposition, particularly the democracy icon
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and the United
Nationalities
government ahead of the National Convention that will resume on 17
February.
Instead of rejecting the junta's Six Political Objectives and 104
Constitutional Principles off-hand and coming up with counter proposals,
Aung Naing Oo, who was launching his 288-page booklet, "Compromising
with the Generals," counselled them to seriously take up
"6/104 proposal" and declare which are acceptable and which are not. "As
for the 6th Objective of the generals", he said, "you could say it is
welcome as long as there is a time limit to it."
The basis of his thinking, he claimed, was that both the junta and the
Opposition need each other. "Without the Opposition's participation, the
military government may not be able to do anything about improving the
country's economic, social and political conditions," said Aung Naing
Oo, a Harvard master graduate. "On the other hand, without the
cooperation of the military government, the opposition forces may not be
able to run the country."
He also warned the generals in
concessions in order to avoid fates identical to Pinochet and Ne Win
themselves.
He did not wish the Opposition to become "pragmatic' by forsaking their
commitment either, he declared. "But it's all too clear we cannot just
rely on the good will of the rest of the world to achieve our ends,"
said he. "We have to make do with what we have."
Nonetheless, he reminded those present at the press conference in
Chiangmai how
government tentatively giving up only 35% of their legislative seats.
However, the time period to put his ideas into practice, he admitted,
was short. "If the NLD and the UNA can accept the ideas proposed here,"
he said, "the time to apply them is now. I'm reasonably sure the rest of
the Opposition will follow suit, if they do. But certainly not after the
National Convention, when the generals would say, 'The carnival is over'."
Aung Naing Oo had, from 1992-99 served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Department of the All
research officer of the Washington-based Burma Fund.
The Opposition has so far been demanding that there be a tripartite
dialogue before the National Convention. The last round of the
constitutional gathering held near
boycotted by both the NLD and the UNA.
++++++++++
NMSP replaced its
delegates to NC
=========================
Independent Mon News Agency
New Mon State Party (NMSP) replaced the head of its delegation to
National Convention that will resume on
spokesperson Nai Thein Win.
"Gen Aung Naing (NMSP's Central Executive Committee) replaced Nai Chan
Toik (Joint-Secretary of NMSP) to lead the delegation comprised of Nai
Tala Mon, Nai Tin Hla, Nai Januu Mon and Nai Chay Mon for the
forthcoming National Convention", added Nai Thein Win.
Last time, NMSP appointed Nai Chan Toik to lead the delegation including
Gen Aung Naing, Nai Myit Swe, Nai Tala Nyi and Nai Tin Hla for attending
NC in 2004.
“Our party decided to replace some of the delegates because of the
party's work. Last time the delegates from our party carried out their
responsibilities. At this moment, the party has some important works
for them,” Nai Thein Win continued.
Although the NMSP cited the reason of replacement for party's work, but
“NMSP reduce the standard of its delegation , may be the NMSP sees that
even SPDC leaders didn't pay much attention and sincere to this NC" said
Nai Sunthorn, Mon Unity League's General Secretary who is observing Mon
politic.
“NMSP was not satisfied with the previous NC held by SPDC last year. It did
not has a chance to make presentation and discussed what they prepared
for solution of ethnic
nationalities in
made by ceased fire groups were denied and no freedom of discussion in
the NC. The replacement of NMSP's delegates has meaning.
The SPDC's NC has no essence, no advantage for the people and not to
discuss about federalism, democracy
or constitution for peaceful
Nai Chan Toik
is one of those in the NMSP who has learned abut
Constitution as well as federal constitution of
explained.
"We had predicted that the NMSP would attend the NC again, but believe
it would not sign any agreement for SPDC designed constitution. If the
NC finally become useless or wasteful for the country the NMSP's
delegation should withdraw from it." Nai Sunthorn exposed his opinion.
According to NMSP leaders, NMSP conducted survey from Mon people whether
they should join the NC or not. NMSP held a meeting for the NC and the
decided step by step that they are going to join NC. They also prepared
to apply their view in the NC and they also planned to apply its
standing with others ethnic cease-fire groups according to Nai Thein Win.
++++++++++
54 Burmese Muslims
arrested while illegally entering
===============================================================
Narinjara, February 1
54 Burmese Muslims were arrested by the Bangladesh Rifle (BDR) in a
border town of
Base’s Bangle newspaper, The Daily Ajker Desh Bidesh, on 28 January.
According to local sources, BDR arrested the 54 while they were trying
to cross a border pass near the Marit Tha BDR outpost, under the Okia
Township of the Cox's Bazaar District, to
enter
The group came from
were not disclosed in the paper.
The
throughout the Burma-Bangladesh border in order to prevent Burmese
Muslims from entering
concerned authority to prevent the entry of Burmese Muslims at a meeting
of the
Cox's Baazar District Law and Order Committee that was held last week.
Bangladeshi authorities has received information that many in the
Muslim community are
preparing to leave for
religious riot that recently broke
out in
from Cox's Bazaar.
There was not confirmation as to whether the arrestees were entering
It is possible that the Muslims came to Banagladesh for fear of the riot
that recently broke out in the
a religious teacher from Cox's Bazaar.
+++++++++++
People forced to
paint fences or walls in front of houses for bridge
opening
====================================================================
Nai Jorn, Independent Mon News Agency
Intent on welcoming
for the longest bridge in
along the main
fences or walls white and clean up the bush along the roadsides.
"The Burmese regime, trying to open the 11,575-foot Mawlamyine-Mutama
bridge, will visit Kyaikkami pagoda," local authorities stated.
To have a nice, clean view during the Burmese top leaders' long road
trip, police led local authorities to order people to clean up the bush
in front of their houses and plantations, authorities said. Villagers,
from Zar-tha-pyin, in Pha-an township, Karen State, to the Kyaikkami
Pagoda, where Burmese military leaders will visit, were ordered to
paint, and clean up the bush.
"If you can't work on painting, and cleaning bush, we will do the work
for you. But you have to pay us for the work," village PDCs told people
during the announcement. Now people
in Mawlmyine, the
have been busy painting walls and fences since they received the order
about a week ago.
According to local authorities who received invitation letters to attend
the bridge opening ceremony, higher ranking authorities did not give the
date of the opening ceremony. "This means we are not sure when they will
open it, and they covered up the news of the opening. They are trying to
open it immediately when they are ready," said a local authority.
The regime tried to have the bridge opening on Jan. 4,
Independence Day, but because of security reasons and lack of
preparation, the regime delayed the opening ceremony for the bridge.
A rumor also broke out about car seizures. The slogan "Car Yuu
Malar.. Darr Yuu Malar" means that if the government is going to seize
unlicensed cars owned by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, the DKBA
armed group will fight back against Burmese local authorities seizing
the cars.
This is one reason for delaying the opening; another one is the bomb
that was exploded in Pha-an.
For the opening ceremony, the regime planned to put more security in the
area. The No. 19 Military Operation Management Commander (MOMC) was
ordered to take security measures in Mawlamyine and Kyaikkami where the
top leaders will visit. MOMC troops in Ye retreated from the area and
were placed in Thanpyuzayart and Kyaikkami.
+++++++
Wa freighters ply the
Salween
=============================
S.H.A.N
For two years in a row, Wa cargo vessels have been traversing the
exchange for machinery and dry goods greatly in demand in southern Shan
State, according to several sources.
Among the incoming cargo docked at Kunhing township's Wan Ing village,
10 miles north of
then loaded teak logs waiting at the landing weighing 20-23 tons each,
and worked their way back to where they started, the Ta Weun Nawng
Ferry, roughly between Pangyang on the east bank and Monghsu on the west
bank, about 100 miles upstream.
"The
April to October," said an officer of the Shan State Army "North," a
ceasefire group. "But during the two years 2003 to 2004, they have been
able to help make short work of the teak forest in Kenglom (south of
the Kunhing-Takaw road)."
As a result, the once teak-green area is left barren in most places.
No more than 10-15 percent of the forest remains, a 10-wheel truck
driver estimated. One of the logging companies that won a concession in
the township is Law Hsinghan's Asia World.
The "shipping company" is said to be jointly owned by the Chinese
businessman and Ta Hsarm, commander of the United Wa State Army's 418th
Division, who was implicated in a 354-kilogram heroin haul in April
2002, according to the June 2002 issue of New Era.
However, sources are not sure whether the business will resume this
year. "Things have changed," said a trader visiting Chiangmai. "For one
thing, the area is almost denuded of trees. For another, relations
between Panghsang
and
Khin Nyunt's departure (in October 2004)".
***End***
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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
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