Kaladan News

Dated: May 23, 2005

Human Rights Violations increased after May 7 Bomb Blast, in Rangoon

Chittagong, May 23: Some Burmese analysts are thinking that after May 7 bombs blast in Rangoon, may lead to increase of Human Rights abuses inside Burma.

“We condemn this cowardly act of terrorism against innocent civilians in Burma, and are worried that the reaction to this incident by the military junta, the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC will lead to more Human Rights violations in Burma”, the politicians further added.”

The junta accused three major ethnic rebel groups such as – Karen National Union, or KNU, Karenni National Progressive Party, or KNPP and Shan State Army, or SSA and Thai based student groups called the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) and National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, or NCGUB. But, information Minister Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan also told reporters that the bombers were trained by foreign experts in rebel control areas near the Thai border.

But, the accused groups mentioned by the SPDC promptly responded within hours to the allegation, not only denying involvement, but also firing back at the SPDC.

It is very cautious for the opposition groups that the junta against jumping to conclusion that the exiled opposition groups were responsible for the bombing. The ruling military junta has a norm, whenever it faces difficulties and problems in politically or economically, it creates riots between two communities or other things to divert the people intention. The junta should refrain from its reckless accusations and senseless finger pointing. This is dangerous because it may lead to another crackdown on the democratic opposition and Human Rights activists, said a politician from inside Burma.

Aman Ullah, a former schoolteacher, urges the international community to closely monitor how the junta proves the progress.

According to a doctor from Rangoon General Hospital, 26 people were killed and injuring 110 innocent civilians. But, according to Burmese TV, 11 people were killed and 162 were injured.

Three time bombs were blown up in the Burma capital of Rangoon on Saturday May 7, the first device exploded at 2:50pm at the Rangoon Trade Center, where the Thai trade fair was in fully swing. The second blast occurred five minutes later at the junction-8 supermarket and the third went off 3: 00pm in the City Mart Supermarket at Dagon Center, according to sources.

The present ruling military junta has a habit that whenever it faces problems; it does something to divert the attention of the people. In future, explosion will be occurred in Burma because the military junta wishes the opposition groups, inside and outside of Burma, to be seen in the eyes of the people as “terrorist groups”, said Nur Kamal the Chairman of the Chittagong Research and Cultural Society, or CRCS.

It may be mentioned that in 1977, the present ruling military junta created riots between Burman and Burmese Muslims in Rangoon, Prome (Pyay), Pyinmana, Taungoo, Taung Gyi and Maulmein. Again in 2001, a similar riot was created by SPDC between Rakhaing and Rohingya communities in Sittwe (Akyab) in Arakan State, to divert the attention of the people. While, the military government faces acute crisis in economically and politically, it creates some problems among the public, which is the characteristic of the ruling military junta.

At present, the SPDC also tries to divert the attention of the people and to find an outlet from the political crisis such as---economic sanction by foreign countries, external pressure and opposing to Burma from obtaining Chairmanship of ASEAN countries in 2006 and the situation of between SPDC and opposition groups including armed groups is going bad to worst---. As a result, the military junta itself blasted bombs to blame others, which is easy to target the enemies, said AFK Jilani, a politician and an organizer of NLD of Maungdaw Township, Arakan State.##

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