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(1) An Untold
(2) Canabis seized near Guwahati
(3) Pa-O Democratic Organization Conference Third conference (In Burmese)
(4) Wa lauded by populace
(5) Rice Prices Increase in
(6) Villagers in Chin state earnestly involved in self-support road construction
(7) Youth unaware of Shan National Day's significance
(8) Home grown tyranny was not better than the foreign colonist (Article)
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***Note***
For Burmese Stories Please Read in www.bnionline.net
An Untold
==========================
Surajit Khaund:
Mizzima
Nampong is a small village in
rice and corn farmers earning their
livelihood by dint of hard labor
in the paddy fields.
The villagers are deprived of minimum facilities without
even a single
school for children to learn to
read. Without proper road
communications, it has no link with
mainland
need essential commodities they
simply cross over to the Indian side of
the border to buy their goods.
Most of the houses are made of tree leaves as they have no
proper money
to build concrete houses.
"We have to live under adverse conditions and Burmese
officials hardly
ever visit to see us," said
Lon Nya, an elderly Burmese. According to
him, villagers cultivate rice and
corn for their livelihood and exchange
the produce with the Indians for
salt and other essential items.
The village is opposite Arunachal
Pradesh in North East India near the
famous
recall that during the peak of the
war, Burmese came to the area to help
the soldiers and later they stayed
in Nampong village.
"Our forefathers used to stay in the area so we do not
want to stay
away," said
The villagers have cordial relations with the Indians whose
side of the
border is inhabitated
by the Tangsha, a major tribe of Arunachal
Pradesh. Most of the time Indians
and Burmese exchange items by
bartering. "We generally
exchange our items. That has been continuing
for the last several decades,"
he added.
Without a single hospital or health center, villagers depend
on herbal
medicines whenever available in
nature. The mortality rate is very high
and most villagers die of mokhlong (Burmese name for a disease similar
to malaria).
"If any villager suffers mokhlong
we generally offer traditional
treatment. Sometimes it cures and
sometimes not. We do what we have to
to live," The Burmese youth
said. He also praised the Assam Rifles camp
on the Opposite side of the border
for offering treatment and medicines.
The villagers have been living under very adverse conditions
as Burmese
authorities are not willing to help
them. The villagers main concern is
that their children have to grow up
without education.
++++++
Canabis seized near Guwahati
============================
Surajit Khaund,
Mizzima
Acting on a tip, Indian Customs officials seized 9,733
kilograms of
cannabis (ganja) on Tuesday near Guwahati, the capital of
North East India, and arrested six youths.
The consignments, in polthene
bags, were brought by two trucks from
Imphal, capital of Manipur, bordering
at US$25 million on the
international market.
Immediately after the seizure, Joint Commissioner of Customs
K
Ashikhieya told a press conference
in Guwahati that it
was one of the
major seizures in North East India.
"According to our information, the cannabis was
supposed to be sent to
various states of
posts, but our personnel, who had
prior information in this regard,
arrested them," he added.
Ganja is cultivated in Bishenpur
and Senapati districts in Manipur,
Which are very close to
major ganja producing areas in
Asked if Burmese ganja is smuggled into
a report about Ganja cultivation
in bordering villages of
the customs department is closely
watching the situation. Moreover, our
personnel on the Indo-Myanmar
border have been asked to remain
vigilant to prevent flow of either
ganja or heroin."
This is the second seizure within a month. In January,
Customs seized
2,270 kg, of ganja near Guwahati.
+++++++++
Wa lauded by populace
=====================
S.H.A.N,
The Wa have been turning over a new
leaf since the dismissal of their
Patron Gen. Khin Nyunt last October, report Hawkeye and King
Cobra from
the Chiangmai
border:
Unlike the old days, when most Wa
fighters would be seen loafing in The
villages, gambling or drinking,
very few are spotted today. "Those seen
are more or less
well-behaved," says a shopkeeper in Mongton
township,
opposite Chiangmai's
Chiangdao district. "In fact, many people,
including myself, are saying they
like the Wa soldiers better than the
Burmese and even the SSA (Shan State Army)
soldiers."
Since November, the majority have been spending more time in
their
Mountain bases holding meetings or training, according to
the villagers.
"They also appear to be re-employing their former
indoctrination
techniques passed down from their
erstwhile communist masters," observed
a retired officer from a ceasefire
group.
Another new presence on the landscape are
Wa soldiers with "Police"
shoulder-patches patrolling the
villages under their jurisdiction. "The
Wa police force has been set up in
anticipation of the June 26 deadline
for our total breakaway from
drugs," a friendly Wa officer told
S.H.A.N.'s shopkeeper.
However, another source had pointed out that most members of
the Wa
Police force were chosen from those of the United Wa State Army who have
put down roots, i.e. families, rice
fields, fruit orchards etc. among
the local populace. "This is
in accordance with the decisions taken by
the 171st Military Region at its
Nov. 19 meeting at Hwe Aw (south of
Nakawngmu)," He recalled, "in order to differentiate its
mobile forces
from static forces."
In addition, most of the Was'
important departments including schools
And military training faculty are moving from Base 46 and Wanhong in
Monghsat township
and Hwe Aw to Mongjawd in
the west. "Being out of the
public thoroughfare, i.e. the Mongton - BP1 (Thai border) road and with
mountainous ranges at its rear, the
171st will be able to defend itself
more easily," said the retired
officer.
The Wa have reportedly been going
through a period of uneasy relations
With
The 171st Military Region oversees the border areas opposite
Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai
provinces. Despite reports that he
had been Forced to retire, Wei Hsuehkang, the drug fugitive
from
++++++++++
Rice Prices Increase in
====================================
Kaladan Press Network
Mauungdaw, Feb. 9: The prices of
different varieties of rice have
Increased in a month in the towns of
due to shortages caused by Nasaka blockages of rice brought to northern
Arakan
from the south, which is called the country's rice granary.
The price of a 50 kilogram bag of rice increased from 5,000
to 7,000
Kyats in Maungdaw Townships in
4,500-5,000 kyats in
December. The lowest price in the retail market
is about 115 kyats per kg. and the highest 150 kyats.
Rice is brought to the markets of
Maungdaw and Buthidaung
townships
From Akyab (Sittwe),
Mrauk-U, Pauktaw, Kyauktaw and Minbya towns in
The supply is now less due to frequent obstacles by the Nasaka,
traders in Maungdaw
said. Production is also short due to flooding, and
most rice And paddy was smuggled to
traders in Maungdaw said.
Traders said the poor have been affected by the sudden price
rise, as
they are often out of jobs,
and prices will not come down unless the
harvest begins or SPDC authorities
allow traders to purchase rice from
lower
In March 2004, in
For 3,500-4,000 kyats because the government did not
purchase rice from
the farmers in 2003. (one US dollar = 930 kyats).
Burmese rice is scarce at Teknaf,
a border town of
50 kg. bag of rice is being sold
for 9,000-9,500 takas compared to
5,000-5,500 takas
in the previous month. The people of Teknaf
face
difficulties because they
depend on Burmese rice, said Sidique, a rice
trader from Teknaf.
(one US dollar = 62.4954 takas).
On Jan. 26, Nasaka opened fire on
a boat carrying rice from
others missing, said Zamil from Ann Din village in south Maungdaw.
++++++++++
Villagers in Chin state earnestly involved in
self-support road construction
============================================================================
Khonumthung News Group
Aizawl
Villagers residing in Than Tlang
Township in Chin state,
recently, said to actively involve
in building self-support road.
The self-supporting road connected to Hmawng
Tlang from Cawngthia
village in Than Tlang
Township have been initiated by keenly
participating of Villagers since
the second week of January, 2005, a
villager from Cawngthia
village who requested to be unnamed for security
reason, presently been in Mizoram reported.
As the question was raised to him regarding road
construction, he
explained, " The former road
is muddy, rough and functional only on
summer. The new one will be shorter
and could be serviceable for the
whole years."
The villager further said that multi-denominational Churches
in Than
Tlang township
led by pastor San Ngun Kham
organized the masses
self-support road construction.
Than Tlang construction department
sanctioned Kyats (100) millions as
supporting manner for
self-supported road building efforts, he also
continued.
One week long took masses labor in road construction now
took a week
could complete (2) miles out
of (8) miles long road.
In road building field, over two hundred fifty villagers
from Phaikhua,
Hmawng Tlang,
Leitak (A), Leitak(B), Leitak(C) and Ai Bur villages
have
voluntarily participated. Among
them twenty were female who were duties
for cooking.
It is also heard that multi-denominational Churches in Than Tlang
township association took
responsibilities providing to those who
involved in road building with
rations such as rice, oil, salt, etc.
+++++++++
Youth unaware of Shan National Day's significance
=================================================
S.H.A.N,
During talks with 24 young students coming all over from
yesterday, the 58th anniversary of
Shan National Day, S.H.A.N.
discovered that none of them knew
the event refers to all peoples of
The youth who were studying at the
Youth (SSSNY) on the Chiangmai
border, after poring over leaflets
describing the events that took
place in Panglong in 1947, said they
were surprised at seeing names of
leaders of Pa-O, Palaung, Danu,
Intha
and Wa among the active
participants.
The Palaung prince Hkun Pa Sing was the elected president of the Shan
State Council and the Pa-O prince Hkun
Kyi, one of its 14-men executive
member.
Both Shan and non-Shan students admitted that all along they
had always
thought the day belonged only to Shans and had nothing to do with the rest.
"This is the first time in my life we've been
informed," said a non-Shan
student. "And we were never
invited to participate in the occasion, as
far as I can remember."
Learning that the adjoining
soon, leaders of
1946 and the second in February 1947 at Panglong,
a southern town 53
miles east of Taunggyi.
A rival federal council was formed in rejection
of the one headed by the British
Commissioner of Shan States. The
council, later renamed Shan States
Council, demanded total independence.
The event was designated as the Shan National Day on 11
February, signed
by Hkun
Pan Sing.
On the following day, the Shan States together with leaders
from the
Chin and Kachin hills signed an
agreement with Aung San under the
principles of Full autonomy both
political and financial, Democracy and
Human Rights. The 12th of February
was later celebrated as the Union Day.
Shan National Day, also known as Shan State Day, was for the
first time
celebrated with participants from
all
Thai-Burma border in 2000. The
event was presided over by Hkun Manko
Ban, a Padaung
from Pekhon (Faikhun), a
township west of Taunggyi. The
reason why so far there were only Shans marking the day was commented by
him as the result of
++++++++++
Home grown tyranny was not better than the foreign
colonist
===========================================================
By May Ng,
political affiliations strongly
tied to the origin of
Since then the country has always been dominated by the
strength of the
military and their theme of
patriotism and nationalism. The extreme
racism and Burmese chauvinism that
gave them strength during the
struggle against colonialism and
fascism later evolved into the cause of
the divisiveness that brought
political instability to the newly
independent
take control of
it was conceived. Its reliance on
political and racial persecutions,
along with the use of brutality and
terror, was responsible for the
darkest era during which our
prosperous nation was reduced to one of the
poorest in the world and our
cultures and languages were destroyed.
The junta eradicated towns and villages and uprooted people
in a scale
never seen before in our history.
During a major event like the recent
Tsunami, the rest of the world never learnt the real impact
of the great
event inside
complete and total.
Because home grown tyranny was not better than the foreign
colonist
there is no guarantee that Burmese
people will find democracy simply by
freeing themselves from the rule of
the junta. Unless a new leadership
can redefine the failed concepts of
patriotism and nationalism with more
constructive views, the unity
necessary for our political
freedom will be impossible.
Genuine democracy can be achieved when a country is governed
by people
empowered with true legal authority
and by the greater knowledge and
experiences afforded by wide
representation.
There is no quick and easy way of achieving democracy
because enthusiasm
and political beliefs alone will
not be sufficient to deliver a good
leadership.
In their attempt to prove that it was better for the country
to leave
the power to a few men, the
military made us believe that the force they
used to protect their own power was
used only to protect
The reality was that their guns were pointed at our own
people and their
biggest enemies were the Burmese
student protesters, while their first
target was the historic student
union building. Their biggest catch was
our peaceful leader, Nobel laureate
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
They called racial divisiveness their patriotism and
dictatorship their
nationalism. Their grand economic
plan was nothing more than a cover up
for their greed and corruption.
Their legal institutions were without rules of law. Their
proposals for
a constitution were without merit
or substance. Their arm forces were
without commitment to the safety of
our people. What they could not take
by force they used trickery such as
changing names, calling for
conventions in pretense and
releasing petty criminals instead of
prisoners of conscience. Clearly,
even if they had intended to they did
not know how to govern
democratically. Therefore small bargains brokered
by UN, ASEAN and EU associations
could not bring changes to
us it is just a simple question of
how to trust those who have murdered
our children and robbed our
treasury.
Democracy is not a wishful thinking or a coincidence. It is
a well
planned set of rules to curb human
temptations for power so that we may
live in relative peace instead of
in constant violence. When a group of
rascals rule the land with the
power they take by force, it is called
tyranny.
When a broad based representation takes charge of the power
of
government with the true legal
consent of the people it is called
democracy.
citizens. For this reason alone
there is no economic prosperity.
In a free and equal society one will be protected from the
indefensible
moral, political and racial
persecutions based solely upon the others
whims and opinions. Only when no
one can give away the true and natural
rights belonging to the people,
will a genuine freedom will be
celebrated in our land.
To protect themselves from the 53 millions inhabitants of
military is ever growing larger and
further bankrupting the nation
already plagued with economic
failures.
We should question the wisdom of the Chinese leaders who are
fast
becoming a new global economic
player for staking their reputation for
the bankrupt terror regime of
their knack for unleashing race
riots against Chinese and other ethnics
whenever the excuse was needed for
brutal crackdowns on their political
dissidents. Now that resentment is
rising against the newly arrived
Chinese nationals living lavishly amidst the growing poverty
of ordinary
Burmese, the junta is very well prepared for another
political uprising.
One cannot help thinking what
legitimacy to a military next door
that endorsed drug dealers along
their borders and was involved with
nuclear secrets in
Ever confident that they possessed the politically correct
high
mindedness, the EU, the ASEAN and
other neighboring countries would
rather not offend the pride of
for their share of the plunder. Not
surprising that trade sanctions
against the junta were meaningless
with their blissful selfishness and
It was because of the indifference of the other global
powers, not
because of our ignorance of the
ever-shifting tides of the world
politics, that we welcomed the
spotlight shown on our cause by President
George Bush of
The universal truth about tyranny is that it is a
double-edged sword.
Surrounded by the desperate 53 millions, the
signs of cracks in its seams
because the shadow of oppression and
betrayal has cast doubt and fear
among themselves as well. Ironically,
without the rights and protections
under the rules of law, even the
tyrants could not spare one of
their own like Gen. Khin Nyunt, who was
imprisoned, and his family and
associates persecuted.
After years of suffering and a lifetime of sacrifices, the
leaders of
and worthy cause, while the
military junta has shown only the increasing
madness and naked ambition.
Finally the junta is attempting to switch off all the lights
from our
leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in hope
that she along with our cause will
soon be forgotten by the world.
With our leader in darkness and other
important heroes pressed against
the walls our struggle for freedom is
under the heel of the tyranny even
more. At a time like this it was not
the fault of the ordinary Burmese
that they saw hope in the stern speech
by President Bush but it was the
fault of the rest of the world that
dismissed our plight. We were ever
so humble and grateful to leaders
like George Bush and Tony Blair for
bringing attention to our cause.
If
about a peaceful means towards
democracy. If the conflict in
been divisive, I hope that our
cause will bring unity in the support of
our movement for
in a far corner of the globe should
not be overlooked merely because of
the ideological and political
differences of the various interest groups.
The ignorance of tourists and world leaders and the silence
of the
politically correct cynics sent
louder and clearer messages to the junta
about their own tolerance for
oppression, in spite of what George Bush
said yesterday.
Our goal is for a peaceful means toward democracy for
believe that peace is our true
hope. Therefore my friends, it is your
protests in place of your silence,
your acknowledgements instead of your
denials, and your actions instead
of your irony, combined with our
commitment that will soon bring
true freedom and democracy to our land.
We welcome President Bush for his strong and clear message.
The rest of
the world leaders who make critical
decisions affecting
also realize that we will remember
our true friends and also those who
support the tyrants. We now
have advocates and activists all across the
globe. We would like to
welcome all of you aboard in our quest for
piece that Tyranny, like hell, is
not easily conquered. But we also
believe that it is certainly
possible to overcome the dark tyranny of
Welcome to
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have
this
consolation with us, that the
harder the conflict, the more glorious the
triumph. What we obtain too cheap,
we esteem too lightly: it is dearness
only that gives every thing its
value.
Thomas Paine,
It is time we end all of our sorrow.
Min Ko Naing , 2004.
May Ng is an human rights activist and a member of Justice
for Human
Rights in
*****End*****
Correction and Apologise
Dear Readers,
Mizzima News Group apologise for the wrong quotation attributed to
"Andrew Selth" in the Mizzima News article "
headed for another shake-up"
by Sarbari Bhaumik dated
Mizzima found out later that
Andrew Selth did not make the statement
attributed to him in the news
article.
We apologise Andrew Selth for the mistake we did.
We withdraw this report.
Sincerely,
Editor
Mizzima News &
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By Sarbari Bhaumik
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
is headed for another major purge.
This time, the victim could be none
other General Maung Aye, the
country's army chief and vice-chairman of
the SPDC, number two to the supremo Senior General Than Swe.
Lieutenant General Soe Win, who
replaced military intelligence chief
Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, is
also on his way out.
Foreign intelligence officials monitoring
General Maung Aye is in "huge trouble."
"Maung
Aye has been told not to move out of the capital
intelligence official, citing a
signals intercept. Diplomats trying to
meet him have been told not to
"disturb" the number two leader of the
military junta.
"This could be a prelude to his ultimate ouster," says Andrew Selth,
author of the most authoritative
book on the
"
Mr Selth
has excellent contacts in the Myanmarese military . Besides his
latest book, Selth
has authored scores of very authentic monographs on
the country's defence forces and
intelligence services.
Lt-General Soe Win, who replaced
the deposed military intelligence chief
Lt-General Khin Nyunt, is also on his way out, intelligence
officials
and diplomats say.
Both Maung Aye and Soe Win have fallen
out with Senior General Than Swe,
who is opposed to any dialogue with
pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
Maung Aye and Soe Win advocated
"limited dialogue" with the
pro-democracy leadership , Than Swe
is interested only releasing
prisoners but he is opposed to
allow political parties to function and
not at all willing to release Aung
Sang Suu Kyi .
"Than Swe's recent visits
abroad and diplomatic interaction has
convinced him of the support of his
neighbours,
ASEAN countries. He is therefore
not willing to do too much to change
the ways of the junta,"
says
Jagan, BBC's former chief of
Asia-Pacific region, says Lieutenant
General Soe Win has already been
dropped but the announcement has not
been made.
" That announcement will be
made once Maung Aye has been handled. Either
Maung Aye falls in line or gets the sack," says a
Burmese journalist in
He said Maung Aye is "under effective house arrest".
But he said no
heavy troop deployment near his
official residence has been noticed.
" Military guards and
secret agents in civvies have been placed on his
house. Visitors including diplomats
are told not to disturb the
general,"said
the Burmese journalist.
The only exception may be the Thai commander in chief. He is
scheduled
to meet Maung Aye on Tuesday.
Late last year, Than Swe sacked his military intelligence
chief and
prime minister Lt-General Khin
Nyunt and got him and his businessman son
tried for corruption. Some other
military officials close to him were
also sacked.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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News, Shan Herald Agency for News, Kao Wao News Group,
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Network Group and Network Media Group.
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