BurmaNet News, June 7, 2007

[Editor]

June 7, 2007 Issue # 3221

INSIDE BURMA
DVB: Su Su Nway released
Mizzima News: 'Fight fire with fire': junta to form new civilian militia
Irrawaddy: Burma plans a cyber-city near Maymyo
Kaladan News: Curfew imposed in Akyab
IMNA: New system introduced for primary level
DVB: Pro-military group stages ‘anti-stooge’ prayer campaign

ON THE BORDER
Irrawaddy: Serious dengue fever outbreak at Three Pagodas Pass

BUSINESS / TRADE
Irrawaddy: Ban on Burma diesel sales hurts transport sector

HEALTH / AIDS
Irrawaddy: HIV/AIDS activists detained in Rangoon

REGIONAL
Mizzima News: Beijing remains Burma's best friend
Taipei Times: Taiwan can do more to help out in Myanmar
Xinhua: Chinese top legislator meets Myanmar guests

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

June 7, Democratic Voice of Burma
Su Su Nway released

Burma's National League for Democracy said today the well-known activist
Su Su Nway had been released from military custody and was in hospital
suffering from “ill health”.

Party spokesperson U Myint Thein told DVB this evening that the
authorities had held Su Su Nway at the Muslim Charity Hospital on
Mahabandoola Garden Street since May 21. She was reportedly released from
custody earlier today.

“We have been informed that Su Su Nway has been released from detention.
Due to her health condition, she is still kept at the hospital under care.
But the government guards have been removed,” U Myint Thein said.

Su Su Nway was arrested along with a large group of pro-democracy
activists in Rangoon on May 15. While several eyewitness from the hospital
confirmed the activist was there, the nature of her medical condition is
still unknown.

“The release of Su Su Nway is good news and we welcome it. We urge and we
hope that the poople wh were arrested with at the same time and Ko Khin
Htun, who was arrested for visiting Su Su Nway in hospital, will be
released soon,” U Myint Thein said.

____________________________________

June 7, Mizzima News
'Fight fire with fire': junta to form new civilian militia - Mungpi

In what appears to be the latest move to fight fire with fire, the Burmese
junta yesterday decided to form another civilian militia in every township
in Rangoon to take on democracy activists.

A group of youngsters, calling themselves by an absurd name 'the Best
Fertilizer group', in a note sent to the Burmese media exile said,
authorities in Rangoon during an emergency meeting held on June 6, at
Haling Tharyar Township, decided to form a new civilian militia.

According to the note, the new militia, to be formed in every township of
Rangoon , will comprise the police, township peace and development council
members, fire fighters, Red Cross members and civilians.

While the information given by the Burmese group could not be
independently confirmed, reports suggest that the Burmese junta is
launching a rampant crackdown on political dissidents under the banner of
the 'people'.

Last month, the 88 generation student group called on the junta to stop
arresting, detaining and harassing peaceful protestors under the pretext
of "people's" will and also urged the junta-backed civil society groups
such as the Union Solidarity and Development Association and the Swan Arr
Shin, people's militia, groups to stop being stooges of the junta.

Burmese authorities arrested several civilians last month, who staged
protests demanding the release of pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi.

According to the youth group, who could not be reached for confirmation,
orders have been given to respective townships in Rangoon to form a new
militia, which will have 50 members.

The militia will be led by the Township police in-charge as the commander.
The group will comprise the Township chairman, the first member of the
township council, six each from the Red Cross and fire brigade, and 18
each from the Township peace and development council and from among
civilians.

____________________________________

June 7, Irrawaddy
Burma plans a cyber-city near Maymyo - Yeni

A cyber-city is being built close to Maymyo, also know as Pyin U Lwin,
where Burma’s ruling generals have built a luxurious residential area for
themselves.

The new center, called "Yadanabon Naypyidaw," is arising o­n 7,000 acres
of land confiscated from its owners by the Burmese army.

The Irrawaddy obtained pictures showing signboards displaying a complex
combining a software-based industrial zone and residential areas. Work has
begun o­n clearing the land and building roads.

Although the government has kept the project quiet, it comes as no
surprise in view of the importance of developing reliable communications
and a transport infrastructure in Maymyo, a strategic town 67km east of
Mandalay located halfway between Mandalay and China's western Kunming
province.

The historical town is home to the Defense Services Academy, Burma’s
version of the US West Point military academy. The Defense Services
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering School is also located there.

The regime has also upgraded the city's small airport, allowing a regular
service from Naypyidaw to use its 3,000m runway.

Rumors in Maymyo that the proposed gas pipeline between Burma’s Arakan
State and China could pass through the area have further boosted business
confidence there. "The price of land is skyrocketing," a resident told The
Irrawaddy. "But you can't predict what will happen tomorrow. The army can
confiscate your land anytime."

Maymyo was o­nce a thriving colonial garrison town, named after its first
British administrator, Colonel May. When Burma gained its independence in
1948, the name of the town was officially changed to Pyin U Lwin.

____________________________________

June 7, Kaladan News
Curfew imposed in Akyab

Akyab, Arakan: Curfew has been imposed in Akyab and people from Akyab are
not able to go out of their homes after 8 pm to till 5:00 am starting from
June 5, said a local from Akyab.

On June 4, some people working for democracy and to restore peace in
Arakan, put up some posters in a public area, where people could easily
see them.

The poster said: The Arakan natural gas is for Arakanese people; You can't
sell gas without the consent of the Arakanese people; Save our forest;
Don't destroy the forest; Keep Arakan green, etc; said a shopkeeper from
Myoma market.

On the morning of June 5, the authorities tried to find out who were
behind putting up posters in public places, at road junctions, markets,
government offices, and road sides. The authorities have been asking
people and arrested some people they suspected in Akyab, said a school
teacher from Akyab.

As of June 5, people from Akyab are not going outside their homes as the
authorities are arresting everybody on the roads, teashops and other
places after 8 pm to till 5:00 am.

Akyab is under curfew without any announcement or order from the
authorities, sources said.

____________________________________

June 6, Independent Mon News Agency
New system introduced for primary level

The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has announced free
admission at the primary level putting a burden on school administrations.

Top authorities did not allow collecting fees at the entrance levels in
schools, but they have permitted taking fees for the library, buildings,
sports, school salaries, and the teachers and parents association,
according to a school officer in Mon State.
“That’s why the school administrations will give back the admission fee it
has taken from the parents. The Education Department in Mon State also
checked out the schools’ administration,” the officer said.

But no funds have been given by the government to the school for covering
the fees, she added.

Although the SPDC didn’t allow collection of fees, all school
administrations collected some funds for developing schools, she added.

In her school, the administration collected about Kyat 1,000 per student
as school funding from parents. The administration will use the fund for
repairing buildings and developing the school.

Most schools in Burma are managed by the headmaster and the school
committee that is formed with students’ parents and local authorities. All
the school projects such as books, school buildings, desks, computers, and
other supplies for the school is bought from funds which is collected from
the student.

School administrations have to collect funds because they get little
finance from the government. For instance, the administration spent more
than Kyat 25 lakhs for the ceremony to open a multimedia class room when
the members of the SPDC came to their school. The school needed to hire
the equipment from private firms for the ceremony such as art galleries,
computers, domestic science, and sports equipment.

According to the New Light of Myanmar, the SPDC has started implementing
free admission at the primary level from 2007-2008 academic session so
that all children can attend school for the youth to become educated in
the country.

The SPDC has already ordered the education authorities not to take fees
for admissions last year. But the administration of schools took it for
developing schools.

____________________________________

June 7, Democratic Voice of Burma
Pro-military group stages ‘anti-stooge’ prayer campaign

Members of an unknown pro-military group staged their own prayer campaign
in Rangoon yesterday, calling for an end to “destructive elements” in
Burma.

The 20-strong group travelled to the Shwe Bone Pwint pagoda in Pazundaung
township and started praying for an end to political opposition just
before 25 National League for Democracy members arrived to mark the sixth
day of their Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi prayer campaign.

NLD member Daw Leh Leh said she and the party's group arrived at the
pagoda to find a group the group of unidentified civilians armed with a
small loud-speaker. She also said the pagoda was packed with special
police and intelligence officers filming.

“They started paying homage at the same time we started. They did it very
loudly and we were unable to hear our own voices,” Daw Leh Leh said.

“When we started praying they started chanting things like, ‘May stooges
relying on external elements fall.”

Daw Leh Leh said pagoda officials added to the large amount of noise
coming from the compound by playing a recording of what sounded like
someone blowing through a shell. She said neither the pagoda officials nor
the pro-military group tried to harass the NLD members.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

June 7, Irrawaddy
Serious dengue fever outbreak at Three Pagodas Pass - Saw Yan Naing

A major outbreak of dengue fever has hit Burmese communities living at the
Three Pagodas Pass, o­n the border with Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province.

Local sources say the small hospital in the town of Three Pagodas Pass has
been treating an average of around 70 patients a day since the potentially
deadly disease broke out in the area in mid-May. Ten children have
reportedly died so far.

One resident told The Irrawaddy: “The hospital is full. Most of the
patients are children.”

The Three Pagodas Pass hospital has o­nly 50 beds. Medical staff are
restricted by pressure of work from taking medical aid to nearby villages.
Thai health authorities are helping out with medicines and vaccinations.

The area is plagued up to three times a year by outbreaks of dengue fever,
but this is reportedly the worst ever.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

June 7, Irrawaddy
Ban on Burma diesel sales hurts transport sector - Shah Paung

A recent ban o­n diesel sales to private freight companies has fueled an
increase in transport fees and a spike in the cost of diesel o­n the black
market, according to business sources in Pyinmana.

Petrol stations in Burma announced the ban o­n June 1, while no
explanation was provided by government authorities and no mention of the
ban appeared in the state-run media.

The lack of details has created widespread speculation. “The ban o­n
diesel sales might be the result of the government’s inability to import
enough diesel,” o­ne transport company owner in Pyinmana with close
government contacts told The Irrawaddy o­n Thursday.

A Rangoon-based Burmese journalist said the government began reducing its
imports of diesel fuel in 2005, while also promoting the planting of
physic nut as an additive to diesel fuel that would lower the country’s
dependence o­n fuel imports.

Business sources say that larger freight company trucks have been
prohibited from buying diesel fuel for the last two months, while smaller
trucks were not. The June 1 ban now covers all sales to private freight
companies.

The ban, which does not affect diesel sales to public and private
passenger vehicles (cars and buses), has fueled a substantial increase in
the cost of transportation fees and the price of diesel o­n the black
market, to which companies have been forced to turn in order to continue
operating.

A businessman in Pyinmana said fees have increased as much as 25 percent
since the ban went into effect.

“Before the ban, fees for transporting goods from Rangoon to Pyinmana were
550 kyat (44 US cents) to 600 kyat (48 cents) for 30 tons,” the
businessman said. “Now the price is 700 kyats (56 US cents) to 750 kyats
(60 US cents).”

He added that the increase translates into as much as 900,000 kyat (about
$725) for a larger truckload—up from 500,000 kyat (about $400) prior to
the ban.

The black market price for diesel has seen the most dramatic rise. The
freight company owner said the current price of diesel is 4,000 kyat
($3.2) per gallon, compared to 100 kyat (8 US cents) per gallon prior to
the ban.

Supplies of diesel fuel in Burma were said to have been running short even
before the ban went into effect. The Rangoon-based journalist said
residents in rural areas of Burma have had to buy their diesel o­n the
black market due to shortages at government-run stations.

In July 2006, Myint Oo, chief research officer of the state-run Myanma Oil
and Gas Enterprise under the Ministry of Energy, said that Burma planned
to replace 40,000 barrels of its total daily import of 50,000 barrels with
oil produced from physic nuts during a speech at a meeting of Asean energy
ministers in Vientiane, Laos.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

June 7, Irrawaddy
HIV/AIDS activists detained in Rangoon - Aye Lae

Eleven HIV/AIDS patients in Burma have been detained since Tuesday in
Rangoon following the group's demonstrations calling for the release of a
prominent HIV/AIDS activist who was arrested earlier by authorities,
according to a Rangoon-based activist.

The patients are being detained in a room of the Weibagi Hospital, a
contagious disease hospital, in Rangoon, according to Yarzar, an HIV/AIDS
activist.

The patients were taken from their homes to the hospital Tuesday after
being told they would receive proper treatment, Yazar told The Irrawaddy.
They then learned that they were being detained in the hospital.

Yarzar said the patients had held demonstrations from May 22 to 27 in
Rangoon pagodas wearing white shirts and red ribbons while praying for the
release of prominent HIV/AIDS activist Phyu Phyu Thin, who was arrested
o­n May 21. Police gave no reason for her arrest and have not disclosed
where she is being held.

Phyu Phyu Thin worked to help about 30 HIV/AIDS patients through
education, counseling, housing and arranging for medical care. She is a
member of the National League for Democracy.

Yazar, a colleague of Phyu Phyu Thin, said two HIV/AIDS patients in
Rangoon died days after Phyu Phyu Thin's arrest. He said she was assisting
them obtain medicine, and her arrest might have affected their condition.

The prominent pro-democracy activist Min Ko Naing told The Associated
Press that her arrest was a blow to HIV/AIDS victims who regard Phyu Phyu
Thin as a “mountain of hope.” He said she had not violated any laws.

Yazar said that some of the detained patients are being investigated by
authorities.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

June 7, Mizzima News
Beijing remains Burma 's best friend - Larry Jagan

Beijing's support for the Burmese junta has strengthened over the past few
months as China's leaders see Rangoon as a corner stone of their strategy
towards South-East Asia . The recent trip by the acting Burmese Prime
Minister, Thein Sein to Kunming, Beijing and Shanghai underlines the new
relationship which has emerged. Both countries are intent on strengthening
their bilateral trade and investment ties as well as developing social and
cultural exchange programmes.

But on the political front, irritations remain – with Beijing quietly
pressing Rangoon to introduce concrete political reform as soon as
possible. "It is no coincidence that the Generals announced the planned
resumption of the National Convention in mid-July just as the junta's
Prime Minister arrived in south-western China," the Thailand-based
independent Burmese analyst, Win Min told Mizzima.

The National Convention will have drawn up a new constitution by the end
of the year, Than Shwe told a senior Chinese diplomat earlier this year
during a visit to Rangoon . It would seem that the sudden decision to move
forward on the roadmap is a gesture towards Beijing . Thein Sein, who is
also the key person overseeing the National Convention is expected to
brief senior Chinese leaders on the constitution drafting process and the
subsequent referendum, according to a senior Burmese government source.

He is also likely to outline Than Shwe's planned sweeping changes in the
military command and the shake-up in the Cabinet, the source told Mizzima.
"The Chinese have always been informed ahead of time of any significant
planned changes, with the exception of course of the arrest of the former
Prime Minister and intelligence chief, Khin Nyunt," Win Min said.

At the time Khin Nunt was Beijing's main man in the regime, often being
called Burma's Deng Xiaoping – something which also angered Than Shwe. Now
the Chinese have broadened their contacts with the regime – maintaining
close and cordial relations with all three top Burmese generals – Than
Shwe, Maung Aye and Thura Shwe Mann.

For years the Chinese leaders have feared the possibility of Maung Aye
succeeding the senior general as Burma's top leader for they regarded him
as pro-India and relatively anti-China. This attitude has changed in the
wake of a secret mission by Maung Aye to Kunming and Beijing in the middle
of last year. He was hosted by Chinese military commanders and an
understanding was struck at the time, according to a senior Chinese
government source in Beijing.

"Military men understand each other and talk the same language," the
Chinese source told Mizzima. "They sat down together, talked and joked, as
they drank strong liquor and got drunk together," he added.

Senior Chinese party representatives from Beijing also told ethnic leaders
meeting in Kunming recently that they did not have a problem with Maung
Aye.

Many Burmese activists have long feared that Beijing supported Rangoon
unquestioningly, but this has not been the case, especially in the past.
China's leaders have consistently feared that Burma's military junta
lacked real legitimacy and could collapse over night, leaving Beijing
powerless and its military and economic investment in the regime
worthless, according to a senior party cadre who deals foreign policy
issues.

China's greatest fear remains that Burma is extremely unstable, and poses
a security risk, especially along its southern border. More than a million
Chinese, farmers, workers and businessmen have crossed into Burma in the
last ten years and are working and living there. The Chinese authorities
fear that any upheaval in Burma would result in a mass exodus of Chinese
back across the border, resulting in increased industrial and social
unrest in their sensitive border regions.

China's other concern is that Burma's economy, far from expanding and
producing business and investment opportunities for Chinese businesses,
especially those based in bordering Yunnan province, the economy is
actually contracting. Two decades ago, China's leaders and economists saw
that the development of their relatively backward south-western provinces
would rely on expanding bilateral trade with its southern neighbours,
particularly Burma. So far Burma has not fulfilled the early promise.

In past few years Chinese businessmen and government enterprises have
boosted their investment in Burma – Lashio, Mandalay and Muse are
virtually Chinese cities now. Even in Rangoon , over the last two years
Chinese business has expanded enormously. They are also involved in the
building of a special tax-free export zone around the Rangoon port. "The
number of Chinese restaurants in Rangoon has grown and the quality of the
food served there is far better than in Bangkok," a Thai-Chinese
businessman, told Mizzima.

A few years ago, when things looked bad for the economy, Chinese workers
and businessmen left Rangoon, according to a Chinese-Burmese businessman,
who owns one of the best-known Chinese restaurants in Rangoon. "The
clientele – mainly Chinese from the mainland – steadily collapsed; now
it's impossible to get a table without a booking and every evening there
is a long waiting list for reservations," he said.

For the Chinese authorities Burma has also become a strategic transit
point for goods produced in southern-China. They want to transport these
by road to the Rangoon port for shipment to India , the Middle East and
eventually Europe . Repair work is underway on Burma's antiquated internal
road system that links southern China , through Mandalay to Rangoon . Now
there are plans to build a road through northern Burma to Northeast India.
The Chinese have agreed to finance the construction of this highway using
40,000 Chinese construction workers, according to Asian diplomatic sources
in Rangoon. Some 20,000 would remain after the work is completed to do
maintenance work on the road.

"When this happens the northern region of Burma will be swamped by the
Chinese – government officials, workers, lorry drivers and businessmen –
it will no longer be Burma," according to a senior western diplomat-based
in Bangkok who has followed Burmese affairs for more than a decade.

The Chinese authorities have decided that the only way to ensure their
existing investment in Burma, is to strengthen it. "More than six months
ago, China's leaders sanctioned increased economic and business ties with
Burma ," according to a Chinese government official. "This will be in all
areas, but especially the energy sector," he added

China already has major oil and gas concessions in western Burma , and is
planning overland pipelines to bring it to southern China . The Chinese
have also agreed to finance and build several major hydro-electric power
stations in northern Burma.

Trade is also a high priority on Prime Minister Thein Sein's current trip
to China. Many major deals are being signed, according to an Asian
diplomat, based in Rangoon . Many of Burma 's leading businessmen are
accompanying the Prime Minister on this trip.

Despite some irritation last year at Burma's failure to move towards
political and economic reform, China 's leaders realized that Burma was
its strongest ally in South East Asia. For some time Beijing as eyed
suspiciously the growing American influence, especially in its traditional
backyard – Cambodia and Vietnam , and to some extent in Laos as well.
China 's leaders now fear that in Thailand the opposition Democrat party
is going to sweep back into power if elections are held according to plan
in December. The Chinese also see the Democrats as avowedly pro-US and
have already threatened to overhaul or rescind the Free Trade agreement
between Bangkok and Beijing .

Their only trustworthy and truly anti-American ally in the region is
Burma. So strategically the junta has become increasingly important to
Beijing and its relationship with South-East Asia as a whole. While there
may still be irritations between the junta and China's leaders, neither
side is going to allow them to endanger what in the last six months has
become a very special relationship. It is one where Beijing is likely to
increase giving Rangoon all that it wants.

Larry Jagan is a freelance journalist and Burma specialist based in
Bangkok. He was formerly the News and Current Affairs editor for Asia and
the Pacific at the BBC World Service.

____________________________________

June 7, Taipei Times
Taiwan can do more to help out in Myanmar - Sam Lai

Democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest in Myanmar was supposed
to end last month, but the country's military junta decided to extend it
for another year anyway.

This was yet another outrage for people around the world concerned about
Myanmar. Aung San Suu Kyi has spent more than 11 of the last 17 years in
detention despite tireless expressions of support for her from the rest of
the world.

For a long time, I have worked to help refugees from Myanmar at the Thai
border. I have always shared these people's hope that Aung San Suu Kyi
will lead Myanmar toward democracy and peace, and the longing to return to
their land and rebuild their homes.

For more than 20 years, these refugees have lived a life without legal
status, without homes and without freedom of movement or a certain future.
Aung San Suu Kyi not only symbolizes Myanmar's democratic movement, she
also represents hope for displaced Burmese both within the country and
abroad. She isn't willing to abandon her countrymen, choosing instead to
face oppression by the military government.

Her non-violent resistance movement encourages countless Burmese and
people from around the world to persist in their pursuit of democracy and
peace.

The international community -- including the UN Commission on Human
Rights, the EU and ASEAN -- has condemned Myanmar's military government
for its brutishness in extending Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. It has
urged the military to be responsive to the public desire for domestic
unity by lifting tight controls on political activities, respect human
rights and restore civil liberties.

Unfortunately, as with its handling of the Darfur conflict in Sudan, the
Chinese government rejected a UN proposal for humanitarian intervention,
saying it should not violate Myanmar's sovereignty by interfering with
internal affairs.

I received a letter from a Burmese youth studying in Taiwan who wanted to
spend his summer vacation helping Burmese refugees on the border with
Thailand. We chatted on the Internet about the predicament of refugees and
the difficulty of fleeing one's homeland for a foreign country to seek
safety. Despite such hardship, Burmese troops often mercilessly crack down
on minorities and dissidents in border regions.

When the student and I talked about whether or not Aung San Suu Kyi would
be released, he said: "Under the Burmese military regime that I know, this
would be impossible."

Whether she is released or not doesn't seem to be a pressing matter for
many Taiwanese as it does not affect diplomatic or popular agendas.
Because of its international status, Taiwan has limited options in
offering protection to refugees and promoting Myanmar's democratization.
But there is still a group of Taiwanese who care about Burmese refugees
and who are continuing to do their best to help.

As members of the global village, it is an unshirkable responsibility of
the Taiwanese government and public to express support for Aung San Suu
Kyi and assist in Myanmar's democratic development.

Taiwan is striving to be a country built on a framework of human rights
and which pushes for democratization across Southeast Asia. If it really
wants to play a bigger role in the world community, shouldn't it spend
less time arguing over whether it should have a Chiang Kai-shek Memorial
Hall or a National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall and concern itself
instead with human rights around the world? Couldn't it provide practical
support to Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's peace movement?

Sam Lai is a team leader in the Taipei Overseas Peace Service.

____________________________________

June 6, Xinhua General News Service
Chinese top legislator meets Myanmar guests

Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met here Wednesday with a delegation of
Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council led by its First Secretary
Thein Sein.

The two sides both vowed to continue to push forward bilateral cooperation
and support each other on important regional and international issues.

China and Myanmar witnessed continuous expansion of political mutual trust
and steady growth of bilateral cooperation in various fields, said Wu,
chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress
(NPC).

He expressed China's appreciation of Myanmar's long-term coherence to the
one-China policy, adding that China will always respect the path that
Myanmar people choose to develop their country.

China highly values the ties with Myanmar and will continue toboost its
cooperation with the country in fields such as economic and trade, and
fighting against drag trafficking, the Chinese top legislator told Thein
Sein.

He also briefed the guest with the latest development of China' s
socialist construction and the achievements made during the process.

Echoing Wu's views on the bilateral relations, Thein Sein said Myanmar is
also on its way of national construction, expressing the hope that Myanmar
could step up its friendly cooperation with China and learn from the
valuable experience of China in national development.

On same day, Thein Sein also hold talks with Li Tieying, vice-chairman of
NPC standing committee, on inter-parliamentary ties and other issues of
common concern.

Thein Sein is on an official good-will visit to China from June 5 to 10 at
the invitation of the NPC Standing Committee.