BurmaNet News, October 9, 2007

[Editor]

October 9, 2007 Issue # 3315

INSIDE BURMA
Reuters: Demand for Suu Kyi’s release rejected
AP: NLD resists preconditions for talks with junta
Irrawaddy: Monastery raided for fourth time in Rangoon
New York Times: Myanmar appoints liaison to dissident
Mizzima News: Junta restarts Internet lines, only at night
DVB: PMLC threatens to call for Chinese Olympics boycott
Irrawaddy: Chinese Consulate in Mandalay attacked
DVB: ABFSU leaders arrested in Rangoon
Mizzima News: KIO gearing up for elections, toying with change in name
Narinjara News: Two monasteries in Sittwe defy orders

BUSINESS / TRADE
The Age (Melbourne, Australia): Army leaders get rich on fuel rorts

REGIONAL
IPS: Planned aid cuts won't trouble Burma's junta - Mutsuko Murakami
Financial Times: Arrests in Singapore for Burma protest

INTERNATIONAL
DPA: China opposes UN sanctions, supports mediation in Myanmar
BBC News: Diplomat resigns over Burma monks
Cape Times: Gary Player snubbed for links to Myanmar

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: It's game time again for the generals - Kyaw Zwa Moe
Asia Times: Why Russia’s mum on Myanmar
Irrawaddy: Burma’s business partners can promote change [Editorial]
Irrawaddy: Fate of ethnic groups overlooked in current crisis

STATEMENT
ABFSU: Statement (Unofficial Translation)

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

October 9, Reuters
Demand for Suu Kyi’s release rejected

Myanmar’s military junta suggested on Monday that opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi would remain under house arrest until a new constitution was
approved -- a dim and distant prospect, according to most analysts.

A commentary in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper, the generals’ official
mouthpiece, also gave short shrift to the demands of the thousands who
joined last month’s protests.

“The three demands of the protesters -- lowering consumer prices, release
of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, and national reconciliation
-- cannot be satisfied through protest,” the paper said.

“Now, those responsible are making arrangements to draft the state
constitution and collect the list of voters,” it said. “When the state
constitution is approved, the fulfilment of the three demands will be
within reach.”

Holding a referendum on a new constitution is the fourth stage in a
seven-step ‘roadmap to democracy’.

For Ms Kyi, who has spent nearly 12 of the last 18 years in prison or
under house arrest, the omens are not good.

Stage one of the roadmap -- a national convention to draw up the ‘detailed
basic principles’ of the charter -- took 14 years.

Stage two -- “step-by-step implementation of the process necessary for the
emergence of a genuine and disciplined democratic state” -- is so unclear
that few know what it means.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/09/top19.htm

____________________________________

October 9, Associated Press
NLD resists preconditions for talks with junta

The party of Burma's detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi issued a
statement Tuesday calling for no preconditions for dialogue with the
military junta.

The junta's leaders have offered to meet with Suu Kyi, who is under house
arrest, but only on condition she renounce calls for international
sanctions against the military regime for its bloody crackdown on
pro-democracy protests.

"The success of a dialogue is based on sincerity and the spirit of give
and take," said the statement by the National League for Democracy. "The
will for achieving success is also crucial and there should not be any
preconditions."

The statement, which follows similar statements by NLD figures, came after
the junta said it hoped to achieve "smooth relations" with Suu Kyi, a day
after suggesting that her release from house arrest was unlikely anytime
soon.

Protests erupted August 19 after the government raised fuel prices, but
anger mushroomed into nationwide marches by tens of thousands demanding
democratic reforms.

The junta's troops crushed pro-democracy demonstrations with gunfire on
September 26 and 27. The regime said 10 people were killed, but dissident
groups put the toll at up to 200 and say 6,000 people were detained,
including thousands of monks who led the rallies.

Global outrage was directed at the junta, with the international community
condemning the crackdown and calling for the release of the 62-year-old
Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate who has been under house arrest for 12 of
the past 18 years without trial.

The government announced last week that junta leader, Senior Gen. Than
Shwe, was willing to meet personally with Suu Kyi, but only if she met
certain conditions, including renouncing support for economic sanctions by
foreign countries against the junta.

Than Shwe has only met with Suu Kyi once before, in 2002, and the talks
quickly broke down.

____________________________________

October 9, Irrawaddy
Monastery raided for fourth time in Rangoon - Shah Paung

Burmese soldiers raided Maggin Monastery in Rangoon’s Thingangyun Township
for the fourth time on Monday night, taking away one computer, some
unidentified documents and a small amount of money.

The raid took place from 9 p.m. to around midnight, according to a source
close to the monastery.

Earlier on Monday, authorities released two monks and two laypeople that
had been taken from the monastery on September 26, along with four other
persons.

U Kaytu, the 84-year-old father of the monastery's abbot, Sayardaw U
Indaka, and a monk, U Nandiya, were released along with two laypeople,
Aung Zaw Win, and an unidentified man. The four were being held
in the Government Technology Institute in Insein Township.

They had been arrested along with Abbot U Indaka, one unidentified monk,
and two laypeople, Than Htike Aung and Aung Than. They are all in
detention now at an unknown location, according to the group that was
released.

A source said the security forces were probably looking for physical
evidence that they could use against those still being held. They said
about 360,000 kyat (US $266) was taken from monastery funds.

Maggin Monastery is known as an important location for the treatment of
HIV/AIDS patients who come to Rangoon to receive medical treatment. After
the monastery's monks were arrested in earlier raids, all the patients
were taken to Wai Bar Gi Infectious Diseases Hospital in North Okkalapa
Township.

The monastery is now open, said a source, and is home to two monks, nine
novices and a woman housekeeper.

____________________________________

October 9, New York Times
Myanmar appoints liaison to dissident - Seth Mydans

The military junta in Myanmar said Monday that it had chosen its deputy
labor minister to act as a liaison with the opposition leader, Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi.

It said the minister, Aung Kyi, a retired general, would act as ''liaison
minister'' but did not elaborate on what this responsibility would
involve. State television said the appointment came after a recommendation
by a United Nations envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, during a visit to Myanmar last
week.

Rights activists and others have expressed concern that the junta would
take cosmetic steps to deflect international anger over its violent
suppression last month of huge pro-democracy protests in Myanmar, formerly
Burma.

An unknown number of people were killed during the peaceful uprising, and
hundreds were arrested. Since the demonstrations were crushed, the
government has been carrying out nighttime searches and arrests, and the
state news media said arrests were continuing.

In an earlier concession to international demands, the junta's leader,
Senior Gen. Than Shwe, said last week that he would meet with Mrs. Aung
San Suu Kyi, but only if she renounced some of her democratic demands,
including her support for international sanctions against Myanmar's
government.

It remained unclear whether any real dialogue would begin between the
junta and Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of
the past 18 years.

A commentary on Monday in the government's English-language newspaper, the
New Light of Myanmar, indicated that the government was not planning to
release her any time soon, despite widespread demands from abroad.

''The three demands of the protesters -- lowering consumer prices, release
of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, and national reconciliation
-- cannot be satisfied through protest,'' the paper said.

It added: ''Now, those responsible are making arrangements to draft the
state Constitution and collect the list of voters. When the state
Constitution is approved, the fulfillment of the three demands will be
within reach.''

The drafting of a new constitution is one of the steps on a ''road map''
that the junta says will lead to a form of ''disciplined democracy,'' but
the constitutional guidelines it adopted in August assured that the
military would play the dominant role in any government.

The completion of a constitution and its approval in a referendum could
still take many months or years, some analysts have said.

In Singapore, which has issued unusually harsh statements against the
crackdown in Myanmar, a group of a half-dozen demonstrators was arrested
outside the presidential palace when they tried to protest the nation's
extensive trade ties with Myanmar's junta.

Singapore does not permit gatherings of more than five people without a
permit. One of the demonstrators, Chee Soon Juan of the opposition
Singapore Democratic Party, has been jailed in the past for speaking in
public without government permission.

____________________________________

October 8, Mizzima News
Junta restarts Internet lines, only at night - Ko Dee

Probably confident that it has contained the widespread protests in Burma
the military junta has relaxed curbs on information flow since Saturday.
The junta has reopened internet lines in Burma but it is accessible only
at night.

However, the relaxation comes in bits and pieces as most internet users in
Rangoon said the lines were accessible only after curfew hours from10 p.m.
to 4 a.m. (local time).

"Since we cannot go out during curfew hours and the internet is
inaccessible during the day time, we are not able to access the internet.
Only a few who have net connection at home can use the internet," an
internet savvy youth in Rangoon told Mizzima.

Most internet shops in Rangoon remain closed as the internet is not
accessible during day time A few shops that allow computer games continue
to survive on gamers.

"Just now I am checking the internet connection and it is still
inaccessible, because it is not yet 10 p.m. It comes only at night during
the curfew hours," an internet shop owner told Mizzima.

In keeping with the availability of the net, a few private companies,
which mainly rely on internet for communication, have requested its staff
to work night shifts, the youth told Mizzima.

In a move to stop information flow in Burma, while it's troops opened fire
on peaceful protesters killing several people, the junta in the last week
of September cut-off several phone lines including mobile phones and
blocked one of the only two internet service provider (ISP), Myanmar
Teleport, which was earlier known as Bagan Cybertech.

The junta maintained the other ISP run by the Myanmar Post and
Telecommunication, as it mainly provides internet services to limited
government servants.

____________________________________

October 9, Democratic Voice of Burma
PMLC threatens to call for Chinese Olympics boycott

The People’s Movement Leader Committee has threatened to call for a
boycott of the 2008 Olympics if China uses its veto in the United Nations
Security Council again to block action on Burma.

The group issued a statement which said that China’s protection of the
Burmese military government has enabled the junta to continue its
suppression of demonstrations.

"If China continues acting in this way, we would like to warn them we will
campaign to get all six billion people of the world to boycott the
upcoming Beijing Olympics
and also all Chinese products," the statement
said.

"[China] doesn't care if it sees millions of Burmese people sinking into
poverty - in fact they are only interested in making profits for
themselves by dealing with the Burmese government. We will do what we can
to the best of our abilities. The Burmese people would not tolerate it
this time if China uses its veto again," the statement continued.

Some political and human rights groups have already called for a boycott
of the 2008 games in response to China’s refusal to condemn the actions of
the Burmese government in suppressing recent demonstrations.

____________________________________

October 9, Irrawaddy
Chinese Consulate in Mandalay attacked - Saw Yan Naing

While the Chinese government has been attacked verbally by the
international community, the Chinese consulate in Mandalay was the scene
of a hit and run gunshot attack by an unknown motorcyclist on Sunday,
according to sources.

A local resident said that gunfire was heard early on Sunday morning.
Several shots hit the embassy, but nobody was wounded, the resident added.

Security around the consulate has been beefed up since the attack and the
authorities are currently investigating the incident, according to sources
in Mandalay.

Critics and local residents alike view the isolated attack as a sign of
growing discontent among the Burmese people in Mandalay against the
Chinese government. However, it is not clear what the motive behind the
attack was.

When asked about the attack, Chinese consulate staff refused to comment.

A veteran politician and former Burmese ambassador to China, Thakin Chan
Htun told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the growing opposition to China is
based on its support for the Burmese military regime.

“If Burmese people can’t control their annoyance against the Chinese
people,” he said, “it could lead to riots between Chinese and Burmese
people, just like the riots in the past.”

In 1967, a major riot occurred between Burmese and Chinese residents in
Rangoon. The Chinese embassy in Rangoon was attacked by thousands of
Burmese demonstrators, while more than 1,000 Chinese people were detained
by police. All Chinese technicians were ordered to leave Burma, as well as
a correspondent for the New China News Agency. Official Burmese sources
say over 50 Chinese were killed; however, the Chinese authorities claimed
that several hundred died.

In the wake of the 1967 riots, all Burmese students studying in China were
recalled and China's aid program to Burma was suspended. The Chinese
foreign minister also accused Burmese aircraft of intruding into Yunnan.

However, 40 years later, Sino-Burmese relations have warmed considerably.

Thakin Chan Htun added that China should not look out only for its
business interests in Burma, but that it should discuss Burmese affairs
openly with the other permanent members of United Nations Security
Council.

International pressure on and discontent with the Chinese communist
government has been growing since China vetoed the Burmese agenda from the
UN Security Council in January.

The Chinese government still maintains that the violence inside Burma is
an internal affair.

The Chinese ambassador to Thailand, Zhang Jiuhuan, told viewers on
Thailand’s Channel 9 television on Monday that the future of Burma depends
on the Burmese people. He said he had no right to speak out or express his
opinion on behalf of the Burmese people.

Zhang Jiuhuan also said that China was not afraid of any Olympic boycott.
He criticized the international media for reporting “unrelated issues”
such as an international boycott of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks urged people around
the world to boycott the Olympic and goods from China, in a statement
released on Monday. The statement also warned China that Buddhist monks in
countries around the world would lead the boycott against the Olympics
which are scheduled to be held in Beijing in August 2008.

Meanwhile, Burmese people across the globe have been demonstrating against
the Chinese government, calling for a halt to its investment in Burma and
its support for the Burmese regime.

China is currently the largest importer to Burma and the third largest
market for Burmese exports. Analysts estimate that Chinese investment
helps maintain the junta’s grip on power and finances its military
arsenal.

____________________________________

October 9, Democratic Voice of Burma
ABFSU leaders arrested in Rangoon

Three leaders of the All-Burmese Federation of Students’ Unions have been
arrested in Rangoon today.

Ko Kyaw Ko Ko, Ko Sithu Maung (also known as Yar Pyit) and Ma Han Ni Oo
were arrested by the Burmese authorities today at around 3pm, according to
an ABFSU member who managed to escape.

The group members were hiding at a safehouse when it was raided by
security forces.

The ABFSU member who escaped was not able to say if the raid had been
violent, or where the leaders had been taken.

Arrests and raids have continued in connection with the recent mass
demonstrations despite the Burmese regime’s claims that the situation has
now returned to normal.

Daytime raids have become common in Rangoon, and the houses of suspicious
or high profile characters are all under close watch by government agents.

In a separate incident, about 10 youths who live in the 30th Street area
of Pabedan township, Rangoon, were arrested by police on Sunday afternoon.

Sources close to the youths told DVB that the township police officers who
made the arrest claimed the youths were detained for their involvement in
protests staged in the former capital at the end of last month.

____________________________________

October 9, Mizzima News
KIO gearing up for elections, toying with change in name

The Kachin Independent Organization (KIO), an ethnic armed rebel group is
toying with the idea of changing the name of the organization and its
character so as to participate in the Burmese junta's planned general
election.

A meeting to this effect will be held among the top level leadership next
week.

The high level meeting to be held on October 15 at Laiza, the KIO
headquarters, will discuss whether the group should change its name and
character to contest the elections, part of the junta's seven-point
roadmap, KIO sources said.

Senior officers from the rebel groups armed and political wings will attend.

"I will also attend the meeting, but I cannot give any more details before
it takes place. This is not a personal matter. We are going to meet at the
headquarters," James Lumdau, a KIO spokesperson told Mizzima.

Meanwhile, an officer of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed
wing of the KIO, said the meeting that will debate changing the name of
the 46-year old rebel group is likely to throw up diverse opinions and
disagreement.

"This is the result of attending the junta-organized mass rally in support
of the National Convention. I don't know what turn things will take. We
will have to wait and see what happens at the meeting. It will be
difficult to change the name (of KIO). But we'll know by October 15," said
the officer who requested anonymity.

The move to change the name of the KIO and to contest the junta's planned
election came after the group's general secretary, Dr. Tooja and vice
chairman Gauri Zau Sang attended a mass rally in support of the junta's
National Convention in Myitkyina, capital of Kachin state last month.

"If the people do not agree then even KIO cannot change its name. And
since the election will come only after the constitution is completed,
there will be enough time for other political parties to come up, so I
think we do not need to change it now," the officer added.

While the junta concluded the first step of its declared seven-point
roadmap, National Convention, after 14 years, it failed to provide any
time-frame for the other steps to be completed.

The KIO, which entered into a ceasefire agreement with the junta in
January 1994, has been attending the junta's National Convention since its
inception in January 1993. While the KIO, during the convention, had
submitted proposals on the rights of ethnic nationalities, the junta has
never made an attempt to discuss the matter in the convention.

____________________________________

October 9, Narinjara News
Two monasteries in Sittwe defy orders

Burmese military authorities ordered all monasteries in Sittwe to send
back all student monks to their respective villages and not allow more
than ten monks to stay in any one monastery in Sittwe.

However, two monasteries in the Arakan State capital have refused to
follow the authority's orders and have not sent any monks away.

A town elder said that the two monasteries are Myoma Kyung and Laraung Won
Kyung, located in downtown Sittwe. Each monastery has about 100 monks in
residence studying Buddhist scriptures.

Moreover, abbots from the two monasteries have allowed monks from other
monasteries to stay there if they are in need of accommodation in the city
after being forced to leave for their villages.

A monk source said the abbot from Myoma monastery was summoned last week
by the army authority to the state SPDC office and was asked to follow the
government's order, but the abbot continued to refuse.

Despite the act of defiance, the authority has yet to arrest the abbot,
who is the former chairman of the Rakhine State Monk Council.

Many monks in Sittwe left their monasteries to return to their native
villages after the order was issued by authorities, by some monks have
chosen to stay at the two monasteries defying the military's orders.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

October 9, The Age (Melbourne, Australia)
Army leaders get rich on fuel rorts - Connie Levett

The glass bottle sitting on a brick by the roadside is the only sign that
petrol is sold here. With a quota of two gallons (7.5 litres) per day per
person at official petrol stations, Burma runs on blackmarket fuel, and
like everything else in this country, the men in green take their cut.

The recent spotlight on Burma has focused on the savage repression of
public protests, but beyond the control of political expression is an
economic meltdown, with 25 per cent of the population living below the
poverty line.

A surgeon in a public hospital earns the equivalent of $A16.50 a month,
and runs private clinics after hours to make ends meet. Heads of
government departments earned the equivalent of $A15.50 a month until late
2005, when the Government increased salaries tenfold to stem dissent about
the move to new capital Naypyidaw in central Burma.

The tenuous economic position of most Burmese families has made fuel a
trigger issue. The current unrest dates back to August 15, when the
military junta increased the official price of fuel without warning -
compressed natural gas increased 500 per cent, diesel doubled and petrol
rose 67 per cent - leading to protests by pro-democracy activists.

When they were arrested the monks took over - at first, calling for relief
for the people from economic hardship, only later for greater democratic
freedoms.

The taxi driver who queues each day in Rangoon has a receipt book that
allows him two gallons a day (60 gallons - 227 litres - a month); in
Mandalay, the next biggest city, the quota is smaller, only six gallons a
week. A government official gets a three gallon per day quota. At the
military depot, the Rangoon regional commander gets more than he needs - a
quota of 90,000 gallons a month.

"Regional commanders get rich because they sell their quotas," said a
Rangoon-based economic analyst. "They have their own fuel reserves, but
they get 90,000 gallons a month, and at least 50 per cent of that is sold
on the black market."

They would share the profits with their senior commanders, he said.

Burma has significant natural gas resources but it imports all its petrol
and diesel.

And while the military reaps rich profits from selling their quotas on the
black market, the Ministry of Energy subsidises the price of petrol - and
manages to lose money on each transaction.

This is because the ministry buys fuel internationally in US dollars but
sells in the local currency, the kyat. The problem for the ministry is it
cannot then use the internationally worthless kyat to buy the next round
of fuel, so is forced to buy US dollars on the black market in Burma at
inflated prices.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

October 9, Inter Press Service
Planned aid cuts won't trouble Burma's junta - Mutsuko Murakami

While the video footage of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai dying on the
streets of Rangoon, as soldiers fired on demonstrating monks and civilians
on Oct. 27, may trigger drastic cuts in aid to Burma from its biggest
donor Japan, the ruling junta is unlikely to be moved.
In fact, the planned cuts are not expected to be anywhere near the strict
sanctions imposed on Burma by the United States and other western
countries.

‘’Japan needs action to demonstrate protest," a source at the foreign
ministry told IPS. ‘’But the Japanese government does not want to shake
the junta too harshly either,’’ he hastened to add.

On Thursday, foreign minister Masahiko Komura renewed his pledge of
punitive action after getting a first-hand assessment of the situation
from his deputy Mitoji Yabunaka, who had flown to Rangoon to investigate
Nagai’s death and meet with military leaders. "We have already limited our
economic assistance to humanitarian projects, but we will screen them
carefully again," Komura told presspersons.

Japan, which generously provided aid to Burma over decades, imposed cuts
in 2003 when pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house
arrest. Yet, during 2006, Japan’s grants amounted to 1.35 billion yen
(11.1 million US dollars), besides technical assistance worth 1.73 billion
yen (14 million dollars).

Historically, the financial flow goes back to the two-billion-dollar war
reparations paid by Japan to Burma for having invaded the country during
World War II. Gen. Ne Win, who engineered a coup in 1962, successfully
developed pro-Burma sentiments among Japanese leaders and reaped huge aid
programmes. Japan was among the first countries that approved the State
Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), set up by the military junta
that seized power in l988.

Komura said he would not cut humanitarian aid linked directly to the
people of Burma, such as for polio prevention and treatment, but planned
to cancel a 550-milion-yen (4.7-million-dollar) project to building a
training centre at Rangoon University.

Japan’s aid to Burma has been criticised by pro-democracy activists who
say it helps secure natural gas and promotes business opportunities. In
fact, dozens of Japanese corporations and companies -- ranging from banks,
hotel operators to traders and manufacturers -- do business in Burma
thanks to the goodwill of the military rulers.

Some top government leaders who worry about Burma’s close tie with China
have cautioned against going down the path to sanctions.

When Burma is developing close ties with China, should Japan go hand in
hand with western nations in favour of sanctions, asked chief cabinet
secretary Nobutaka Machimura last week. "Is it good if Myanmar (the name
used by the junta for Burma) should come closer only to China because of
that?"

According to a report released last week by a research group from the
Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) economic sanctions will have
little effect on Burma. "Burma will not have an economic crisis," conceded
the report, pointing to support from China and foreign exchange earnings
from export of natural gas the price of which is rising.

One official admits that as Japan has already cut economic and technology
assistance new action will have little impact. "Now that we have already
suspended yen loans, we will not be able to have effective results
anyway," he told IPS.

Adding to the pressure on the government has been demonstrations by
Burmese people living in Japan urging action and protests by ordinary
Japanese horrified by Nagai’s gruesome death, the video of which has been
repeatedly aired over TV channels.

No less than 10 broadcasting companies issued an appeal early this week to
the Burmese government about Nagai’s death. "We strongly demand no
hindrance or oppression should be made on journalists of any nationality
seeking truth," it reads.

Nagai, who worked for the Tokyo-based APF News, was shown facing a
pitiless military attack while hanging onto his video camera and
continuing to use it as he fell. He was taken away by several soldiers and
the camera apparently confiscated.

There were more poignant scenes when Nagai’s body landed in Japan. "Kenbo
(Nagai’s pet name), oh poor Kenbo, you came back like this," cried his old
mother, peering at his face through a little window cut into his coffin.
His father stood up bravely from his wheelchair and stared at his face,
muttering a few words.

Japanese police announced after an autopsy that Nagai had been shot from
behind, with the bullet damaging his liver and causing fatal bleeding.
They found no evidence that he was hit from close range but more
investigations are being conducted.

The Japan Buddhist Federation has also callied for immediate release of
imprisoned monks and civilians. "As the same (kind of) Buddhists as the
Myanmar people, we are in deep resentment and sadness at the report of
many deaths, including (that of) a Japanese, and the injured or
imprisoned," it says.

____________________________________

October 9, Financial Times
Arrests in Singapore for Burma protest - John Burton

A Singapore opposition leader and three of his party members were arrested
on Monday for protesting against the city-state’s ties with Burma after a
week of unprecedented demonstrations outside the Burmese embassy.

Chee Soon Juan, head of the Singapore Democratic party, had sought to
deliver a petition to the office of Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister,
asking the government to disclose its dealings with Burma’s military
leadership.

Singapore’s relations with Burma have come under scrutiny since it is
current chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations, which is
trying to take a leading role in the international response to Burma’s
recent violent crackdown on the democracy movement.

Although Singapore has condemned Burma’s leaders, it has been criticised
by human rights group for being Burma’s third largest trading partner
after China and Thailand.

Singapore has also allowed Than Shwe, the Burmese leader, and Soe Win, the
prime minister, to receive medical treatment there.

Suggestions that Singapore should deny entry to Burma’s leaders for
medical treatment would amount to “petty indignities” and would be
inhumane, Mr Lee told CNN at the weekend.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore, the central bank, has said that
allegations that Burma’s leaders are using the city-state as a financial
haven to hide money are “completely baseless”.

Police decided not to disperse the illegal public protest in spite of laws
that normally ban outside political gatherings of five persons or more due
to apparent political sensitivity over the issue.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

October 9, Deutsche Presse-Agentur
China opposes UN sanctions, supports mediation in Myanmar

China on Tuesday said it does not support UN sanctions against Myanmar's
ruling junta but favours continued mediation by a UN envoy.

"We believe that sanctions and pressure are not helpful to resolving the
issues in Myanmar," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

"We believe that any actions adopted by the UN Security Council should be
prudent and responsible, and conducive to the mediation work of the UN
secretary-general," Liu told reporters.

Any action must also help the "stability, reconciliation, democratization
and development" of Myanmar, he said.

China welcomed the "relaxation" of tension in Myanmar after the army
crackdown on protestors and would not change its policy of economic
engagement with the military government there, Liu said.

He praised the visit to Myanmar by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who
said last week he plans to return to South-East Asia in early November to
continue his diplomatic efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar.

Liu repeated China's call for all parties in Myanmar to "exercise restraint."

The UN Security Council on Monday drafted a statement that would condemn
Myanmar's military junta's "violent repression" of pro-democracy
demonstrators and demand the release of political prisoners, including
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The draft was being considered by the council's legal experts, but there
was no timeline as to when the statement would be adopted and issued.
China and Russia viewed the turmoil in Myanmar as an internal matter and
would oppose interference by the council.

The draft called for a full account of "those jailed, missing or killed
during the demonstrations, asking the government to allow the
International Committee of the Red Cross to meet the detainees and
investigate those reported missing.

____________________________________

October 9, BBC News
Diplomat resigns over Burma monks

A Burmese diplomat has told the BBC how "appalling" treatment of Buddhist
monks during last month's protests prompted him to resign from the
military regime.

Ye Min Tun, a foreign ministry official for 10 years, said Burma's
generals had ignored the people's desire for them to negotiate with
opposition activists.

At least 10 people died and thousands were arrested when troops used force
to end peaceful anti-government marches.

Burma's leaders have now appointed a go-between for opposition talks.

An official had been charged with liaising with detained pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, state media reported on Monday.

Ms Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, welcomed the
appointment, saying: "Finding a solution through dialogue is the natural
way to help the people and the country."

The party won a landslide election victory in 1990, but the ruling
generals have never allowed them to govern.

Correspondents say the move, recommended by UN special envoy Ibrahim
Gambari when he visited the country last week, seems to be a concession to
international pressure.

Countries including the US, UK and France are campaigning for sanctions
against the regime, but Burma's neighbours oppose such action.

On Tuesday, China's foreign ministry reiterated its position, saying
"sanctions or pressure will not help to solve the issue".

'Decisive factor'

The government's crackdown has seen curfews imposed in Burma's main
cities, and frequent night-time raids on monasteries and private homes.

Ye Min Tun, who describes himself as a "good Buddhist", sent a letter of
resignation to the Burmese embassy in London.

In an interview with the BBC, he described the crackdown on the September
protesters as "horrible".

"I have never seen such a scenario in the whole of my life. The government
is arresting and beating the peaceful Buddhist monks."

He said he had hoped that the protests would force the generals to come to
an agreement with the opposition.

"This revolution, this incident seemed to be the decisive factor that
could persuade the government to go to the negotiation table.

"But actually the government ignored the reality," he said.



____________________________________

October 9, Cape Times (South Africa)
Gary Player snubbed for links to Myanmar - Deon de Lange and Wendy Jasson
da Costa

It's official. Gary Player will not be included on this year's guest list
for the Nelson Mandela Invitational Golf Tournament because of his links
with the military junta in Myanmar.

Yesterday, the event owner, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF),
said it had asked the world-renowned golfer to stand down, and that he
would not be invited "in any specific capacity".

A spokesperson for the fund's board of trustees, Oupa Ngwenya, said: "The
trustees have decided that his participation would deviate attention from
the good cause of the event." He added that the event was an ongoing,
independent initiative and that Player had, traditionally, been the host
and guest of honour only because of his links to other golfers and his
"willingness" to help.

The decision follows an appeal to former president Nelson Mandela by
influential South Africans, to distance himself from the iconic golfer
because of his business links with the controversial Myanmar (Burma)
regime.

Struggle stalwarts such as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Allan
Boesak were responding to a plea by Tutu's fellow Nobel laureate and
Myanmar opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, for a boycott of foreign
companies doing business in Myanmar.

Player's company was involved in the construction of the Pun Hlaing Golf
Club, where junta generals are said to spend their leisure time striking
business deals.

"It is with great disappointment that I note Nelson Mandela's negative
response to calls for him to disassociate himself and his name from Gary
Player's Nelson Mandela Invitational," Boesak told Beeld newspaper on
Sunday.

Sources close to Mandela were yesterday quoted as saying it was
unreasonable to expect the 89-year-old retired statesman to respond to
every human rights issue in the world.

Tutu first responded to Aug San Suu Kyi's plea by calling for a boycott of
Player's company and appealing to Mandela not to lend his name to the
tournament.

He was, however, quick to point out that he did not want to put Mandela
"on the spot".

However, Ngwenya yesterday said there was no direct relationship between
the NMCF and Player, and that the company in charge of marketing the event
had, in the past, called on Player because it thought he would "leverage
greater participation".

"Though not fully aware of the extent and nature of Mr Player's
involvement in Burma, nor of the political impact of this involvement, the
Children's Fund takes note of the international campaign in support of
greater freedom in that country," said Ngwenya.

He said Player and the NMCF shared the desire to protect Mandela's "good
name" and that should nothing be allowed to detract from the potential
success of a prestigious event aimed at improving the lives of South
African children.

Meanwhile, the SA government has over the last year increased its trade
with Myanmar dramatically, importing goods and services worth R35.6
billion - up 210% from the previous year.

Over the same period, exports to Myanmar totalled R846 million, according
to figures provided by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Player was not immediately available for comment.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

October 9, Irrawaddy
It's game time again for the generals - Kyaw Zwa Moe

It’s time for Burma’s ruling generals to play the game again. Since 1988,
they have played three significant political games: the cancelled
election, the National Convention and the seven-step roadmap to democracy.

Each time, its aim is clear: find a way to defuse mounting international
and internal pressure to change the status quo.

Now, it's game time again. On Monday, the junta appointed a deputy labor
minister, Aung Kyi, to be a "Minister of Relations," a liaison officer to
work with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The international community will see the appointment as a significant
move. Yes, it seems to be significant because it's the first time a
"minister for relations" has been created since 1988 when the military
junta took power. But, there have been three military officials who have
played the liaison officer game with Suu Kyi.

The three high-ranking military intelligence officers, Brig-Gen Than Tun,
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win and another Brig-Gen Than Tun (known as Than Tun Lay),
ran messages between the junta and Suu Kyi. But they never brought
anything significant to the dialogue table.

Is it a joke or is it cause for hope? Let's look at the past.

Soon after the military regime took power in 1988 after crushing the
pro-democracy movement, it announced it would hold the elections to move
toward democracy. The proposal was made when international pressure and
political tension inside the country was high following the junta’s brutal
crackdown which killed some 3,000 demonstrators across the country and
imprisoned thousands of political activists.

At the time, the junta needed to do something to find a way around the
international pressure. It held elections, and they looked serious and
genuine. Many political parties, including Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy party, ran candidates, and the NLD won by a landslide.

However, the election was simply nullified, and 17 years later the
military regime is still in power. Next, to deflect the international
outrage over the fraudulent election, in
1993 the regime initiated the National Convention to draft a constitution
which has gone on now for 14 years. The junta announced that the National
Convention was successfully concluded in early September but nothing
fruitful can be seen from the entire process. Rather, it's viewed as a
document through which the regime can hold on to power in a so-called
"democratic" system.

Again in 2003, the junta faced a serious political obstacle. Actually, it
created the problem. In May of that year, the junta-organized mobs of
thugs brutally attacked Suu Kyi’s motorcade in Depayin in Sagaing
Division. Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, the vice chairman of the NLD, narrowly
escaped the attack while dozens of her supporters were beaten to death.
Many people viewed it as a failed attempt to murder Suu Kyi.

Again, international outrage mounted against the military regime. So, the
generals played the game again.

Then Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt announced the seven-step road map for
national reconciliation. So far, only the first step of the roadmap, the
National Convention, has been completed. The regime never announced a
timeframe. Anyway, international clamor eventually faded away, and the
junta managed to escape that crisis.

So, now we have the current international outrage following the
pro-democracy demonstrations led by monks. It's game time again.

In fact, appointing a “Minister for Relations” will buy diplomatic time.
You can see it happening already. The state-run newspaper, The New Light
of Myanmar, said, “In respect of  Ibrahim A Gambari’s recommendation and
in view of smooth relations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Deputy Minister for
Labor U Aung Kyi is assigned duty as Minister for Relations." Here we go
again.

The move is just a bribe for Gambari and the UN. At the same time, it is
another delaying tactic. Hours after the announcement, some diplomats and
activists said the move was quite significant. If they did their research,
they might find that it was “significant,” but not for the reason they
think.

What kind of messages did the former liaison officers carry to Suu Kyi?
Nothing was ever seen and that is another way to say, they brought
nothing.

Having a liaison officer in itself is rather quaint. In fact, how hard
could it be to open dialogue between the military leaders and Suu Kyi?

It needs only one condition: the generals must really want to talk. The
only thing that's needed is political will. That, unfortunately, is what
is lacking.

In 1994 and 2000, Than Shwe met Suu Kyi a couple of times. According to
NLD’s members, the dinner discussions were no more than social encounters.
At that time, both sides agreed to keep the meetings confidential. The
game, again.

No one ever knew if they were really discussing issues or not. People
outside the meeting rooms assumed they were talking about important
matters of concern to the country. But they were little social encounters,
amounting to nothing. Except, they were part of the game.

Appointing a liaison officer is nothing more than a diplomatic card to
find a way to escape from the current political pressure, inside and
outside Burma.

The international community and Burmese dissidents groups shouldn’t see
the junta’s recent move as significant.

If you do, don’t blame the junta for playing games, for tricking you—blame
yourself. People have been fooled many times by the generals whom they
called “stupid.”

Barring a miracle, you need to be prepared to continue to deal with the
generals' games in Naypyidaw for the next twenty years.

____________________________________

October 9, Asia Times
Why Russia’s mum on Myanmar

The current civil and political situation in Myanmar presents an
opportunity for several major powers, namely Russia, China, India and the
United States. Of these, Moscow has been working in concert with China to
maintain the military-led status quo in Myanmar in order to preserve
Russian interests.

For Russia, Myanmar is of growing economic interest since entering into
various arms-for-energy access deals with the poor Southeast Asian
country. In May, for example, Russian nuclear equipment export monopoly
AtomStroyExport forged an agreement to construct a nuclear research center
in Myanmar – an arrangement both sides say would be dedicated to only
civilian uses, but one that has raised possible proliferation concerns
among some Western countries.

Meanwhile, leading foreign energy trade company Zarubezhneft, natural gas
producer Itera, and Silver Wave Sputnik Petroleum are all currently
producing from Myanmar's off-shore oil deposits - often working alongside
the Chinese energy giant PetroChina. Myanmar purchased 15 Russian MiG-29
Fulcrum fighters for approximately US$150 million in 2001 and it is now
negotiating with Russia's state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport
for the establishment of an air defense system using the Russian-made
Tor-M1 and Buk-M1-2 missile systems.

These business dealings - with a special emphasis on the energy-related
deals - are important to Russia’s broad geo-strategic designs. Russia,
which is currently one of the world’s leading exporters of natural gas, is
on the path to achieving a near monopoly on the fuel source throughout
Europe. It is most likely utilizing its growing access to Myanmar’s oil
and natural gas deposits to drive forward its apparent aim of monopolizing
Europe's energy industry and possibly expanding its economic and political
interest further into Asia.

A recent Russian foreign ministry statement in the wake of recent street
protests and security forces’ armed response warned that "urgent steps
must be taken to prevent the escalation of tensions" in Myanmar. The
statement inferred that Russia supported the government’s crackdown to
stop the escalation of hostilities and restore stability. Russia has also
made it clear that it does not support the imposition of new economic
sanctions, which many Western countries have recently advocated to hit the
military regime’s finances.

Opposition to Moscow’s non-interference policy has come from several
sources, including, predictably, the US, which has called for harsh action
and already imposed new sanctions against the regime, including new travel
bans on senior junta members. One possible reason for the US’s strong push
for political change in Myanmar is to undermine Russia’s and China’s
growing economic and strategic interests there.

If the current regime were eventually deposed through popular pressure,
it’s possible that a new democratic government would seek better relations
with the United States and its European allies. That diplomatic
realignment would likely come at China’s and Russia’s expense due to their
close ties to the current military regime. Despite Beijing’s call for more
democracy in Myanmar, China clearly favors a political transition where
the current regime still has political control and explains its and
Russia’s opposition to any new economic sanctions that would potentially
weaken the military’s grip on power.

India is also a factor in the strategic struggle for influence in Myanmar.
India has bid to build better bilateral relations with Myanmar towards the
aim of securing new energy deals. Yet New Delhi was recently stripped of
its "preferential buyer" status for certain offshore oilfields off
Myanmar’s western coast.

Soon after removing India’s preferential buyer status, the junta entered
into negotiations with Russian and Chinese oil companies. Possible Indian
interests are limited at best since it has been pushed aside by China. It
is most likely that the Indian government opposes Russia and China in an
attempt to maintain some form of business relations with the country.

What actions and strategies Russia may adopt as the global call for action
against Myanmar’s regime grows is still a wildcard. It is not clear
whether Moscow would back an active international intervention that still
preserved its interests or a more passive campaign of noncommittal
rhetoric.

It is also still difficult to tell whether the US’s call for change will
be able to generate a global consensus at the United Nations that leads to
new multilateral sanctions against the regime, although with Russia’s and
China’s veto powers on the UN Security Council that seems unlikely. It is
clear, however, that Russia has recently extended its economic interests
into Myanmar and hence has a vested interest in maintaining the status
quo.

Published with permission of the Power and Interest News Report, an
analysis-based publication that seeks to provide insight into various
conflicts, regions and points of interest around the globe. With
additional reporting by Asia Times Online.

____________________________________

October 9, Irrawaddy
Burma’s business partners can promote change [Editorial]

Thailand has formally protested to the Burmese regime over its bloody
crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, Thai Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont, told reporters on Monday. His stand sounds encouraging and must
be welcomed. But it is too early to conclude that Thailand’s policy on
Burma is at a turning point.

Since Burma's current ruling generals seized power by suppressing
demonstrations calling for democracy and human rights in 1988, Thailand
has never exercised its attention with the question of how to respond to
the unrelenting repression of the Burmese people by the country's ruling
generals.

On the contrary. Thailand has won many business contracts with the
cash-strapped military generals to buy Burma's natural resources,
including natural gas. Last year, Burma sold Thailand natural gas to the
value of US $2 billion.

Thailand's Burma ambitions have progressively driven other countries in
the region, notably China and India, to compete for the country's natural
gas, timber, seafood, minerals and gems.

For this reason, those countries with the most leverage over Burma have
always suggested a softly-softly diplomatic approach towards the junta.
Now is the time for a change of approach.

Asean, the regional grouping that includes Thailand, has publicly
expressed its unhappiness about the Burmese regime’s inhumane crackdown on
peaceful demonstrations. This is the first time since 1988 that there has
been a regional outcry over a crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

The Thai prime minister called the crackdown in Burma unacceptable,
following a similar line to Asean’s.  "Amid international pressure,
Thailand will monitor the situation and will discuss within Asean what
kind of action should be taken," he said.

On September 27, Asean foreign ministers issued a strong statement on the
crackdown in Burma. The upcoming Asean summit, scheduled for November
19-21 in Singapore, could face problems in initiating concrete action,
however.

It will not be easy for Asean to push for democracy in Burma while China,
which holds veto power in the UN Security Council, is calling on council
members to avoid using strong language in the text of a common statement
on Burma.

It seems that the ball is in China's court now. Some reports say that
Burma activists are pushing for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Anger over China’s inaction is so high in Burma that unknown gunmen fired
on the Chinese consulate in Mandalay at the weekend.

The attack cannot be condoned, but it came as no great surprise. It is a
warning that pressure on China will only increase if China continues to
support Burma’s ruling generals.

Along with Asean, which includes Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia—Burma's
first, third and fourth largest foreign investors—China could play a key
role in developments in Burma, using its considerable political and
economic weight.

Modern thinking says that businesses must consider the interests of
society by taking responsibility for the impact on customers, employees,
shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their
operations. It is shameful to do business with a brutal regime that kills
and oppresses its own people. Good business must be built on ethics and
morality.

____________________________________

October 9, Irrawaddy
Fate of ethnic groups overlooked in current crisis - Zo Nun Chin

The four-day mission of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari has been long
awaited with the hope that it would pave the way to tripartite dialogue,
peace and national reconciliation, while also bringing an end to the
current crackdown against the pro-democracy movement in Burma.

It was good that Gambari met with Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr-Gen Than Shwe,
but it was unfortunate that he failed to meet with leaders of ethnic
political groups.

Two prominent ethnic leaders are now detained.

Cin Sian Thang, whose is in ill health, was detained for the seventh time
on September 28 at 4:15 a.m. As the chairman of the Zomi National
Congress, the spokesperson for the United Nationalities Alliance and a
member of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament, he and his
colleague, Thein Pe (National League for Democracy), wrote an important
article, "In Burma: A Cry For UN Help,” that was published in the
Washington Post on October 26, 2006.

Thawng Kho Thang, also a member of the CRPP and the United Nationalities
League for Democracy, was detained for a second time on the same day at 1
a.m. While attending the junta's National Convention in 1993, Thawng Kho
Thang walked out of the proceedings when he saw it would lead to a form of
authorized dictatorship.

Both ethnic leaders are being held at an unknown location.

Even though Aye Thar Aung, the secretary of CRPP and joint-secretary of
the Arakan League for Democracy, and Nai Htun Thein (a member of CRPP, a
spokesperson of the United Nationalities Alliance and chairman of the Mon
National Democratic Front) were not detained, both leaders are threatened
by the current unrest.

Other ethnic leaders, including Hkun Htun Oo, the chairman of the Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy, along with eight Shan leaders were
accused of attempting to form the “Shan State Academics Consultative
Council” and have been under unlawful arrest by the military government
since 2005. They were sentenced to more than 100 years imprisonment. While
serving his sentence, Myint Than of the New Generation Shan State group
died of torture in Sandoway Prison on May 2, 2006.

Two months ago, on August 1, 2007, some 92 members of the parliament-elect
and CRPP wrote a paper: “National Reconciliation and Democratization in
Myanmar/Burma” as a proposed way to modify the junta's seven-step road map
and the proposal has been sent to Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general.
The statement has been widely accepted by a wide range of pro-democracy
activists.

However, for now we must leave the problems of the past behind.

Now is the time for the UN to play a role, to help stop  the crackdown and
to facilitate a new process of national reconciliation before it is too
late.

The best way for that process to succeed is for the talks to include the
major elements of the pro-democracy movement and ethnic political leaders.

Zo Nun Chin is a leading ethnic activist in Burma

____________________________________
STATEMENT

October 9, All Burma Federation of Student Unions
Statement (Unofficial Translation)

All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) stood firmly with revered
monks, Member of Parliaments (MPs), 88 Generation Students, artistes, film
stars and the people from all walks of life in non-violent national
movement which took place in September 2007.

In this movement, the pagan military dictators brutally and inhumanely
cracked down the peaceful demonstrators by killing monks, students and the
people. Many students sacrificed their lives in this bloodshed for our
country.

We firmly reaffirm our commitment to continue the unfinished task of our
fallen brothers and sisters and will preserve their brave fighting peacock
spirit.

We hereby profoundly declare that ABFSU will strengthen and solidify all
student unions, student fronts to be a unified front to wage our
unfinished uprising and strive for the general strike with all the people
from all walks of life.

Central Organizing Committee
All Burma Federation of Student Unions