BurmaNet News, August 29, 2008

[Editor]

August 29, 2008 Issue # 3545

INSIDE BURMA
Mizzima: Aung San Suu Kyi continues to refuse food supplies
Irrawaddy: Soldiers still watch Suu Kyi
Irrawaddy: NLD criticizes Gambari
DVB: Ten jailed for September 2007 protests
DVB: Security stepped up in Pakokku
DVB: Rangoon authorities collect monks’ personal data

HEALTH / AIDS
Mizzima: Twenty seven children poisoned by physic nuts

INTERNATIONAL
Mizzima News: Suu Kyi 38th most powerful woman in world
AP: U.S. concerned about detained Suu Kyi's diet

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: It’s a process perhaps, but a failed one - Aung Zaw
VOA news: Burma's activists still in prison (Editorial)

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

August 29, Mizzima News
Aung San Suu Kyi continues to refuse food supplies - Zarni

Burma's detained opposition leader and democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
continues to refuse food deliveries, even after nearly two weeks of
receiving her last supply on August 15, her party leaders said.

"As far as we know, she has not yet accepted any food supplies," Nyan Win,
spokesperson of her party – the National League for Democracy – told
Mizzima on Friday.

However, it is still not clear why she is refusing food supplies.

"Everything is still unclear, and we are still trying to get confirmation
about her situation and why she is refusing supplies," Nyan Win added.

But meanwhile, the government has refuted the information that Suu Kyi is
refusing to accept food supplies saying it is rumour. Besides, the
military junta also said Suu Kyi has not submitted any demands.

But news that Suu Kyi is fasting is spreading and causing great concern
both at domestic and international levels.

Aye Thar Aung, an ethnic political leader and secretary of the Committee
Representing the Peoples Parliament, formed with elected members of
parliament in Burma's 1990 election, said, "It is hard to speculate as
even her party members are not able to communicate with her. But I think
it could be that she is demanding her rights."

Similarly, Nyo Ohn Myint, foreign affairs in-charge of the NLD in exile
said, "I think her main demand will be about politics but it could also
include a meeting with her lawyer."

The US Department of State on Thursday said it is concerned over the
information that she is refusing to take food deliveries.

Robert Wood, Deputy Spokesman of the Department of State, told reporters
in Washington, "We're obviously concerned. We've seen reports that she is
not taking food deliveries."

But Wood said he was unable to confirm the information as Aung San Suu Kyi
is under house arrest.

"But it's very hard for us to be able to confirm the information, but
obviously her situation is an ongoing concern to us," Wood added.

Meanwhile, a political activist in Rangoon said Suu Kyi has demanded that
the government allow a meeting with her lawyer and her family doctor.
Earlier this month, she was allowed to meet her lawyer twice and her
family doctor once.

"It is true that she is demanding another meeting with her lawyer, though
we are not sure whether she will be allowed it," Nyan Win said.

____________________________________

August 29, Irrawaddy
Soldiers still watch Suu Kyi - Min Lwin

Although the Burmese generals don’t want military personnel to show
interest in domestic politics, detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi’s surprise snub of the UN special envoy last week has become a popular
talking point among soldiers and officers in Burma, according to several
military sources.

“We are interested to know why Suu Kyi did not meet Gambari,” said an
officer based in Naypyidaw military region command who declined to be
identified for security reasons.

“We were surprised that the officials were so impolite—shouting with a
loudspeaker outside the gate of Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence,” he said,
referring to an incident last week when two of Gambari’s aides,
accompanied by Burmese officials, stood outside her house at Inya Lake in
Rangoon and called in vain for her to come out and greet the UN envoy.

The officer told The Irrawaddy that most soldiers believe that the
political situation in Burma cannot improve without Suu Kyi’s involvement
and that even officers admire her as the daughter of independence hero Gen
Aung San, who was the founding father of the Burmese armed forces.

The officer said that many Burmese soldiers pay attention to the news,
either from state-run media or through foreign-based radio stations.
However, senior generals don’t usually allow military personnel to listen
to or watch Suu Kyi’s political speeches.

“During the 1990 election, we recorded Suu Kyi’s speeches and secretly
listened to them,” said a retired army captain.

In the 1990 general election, polls showed that soldiers and their family
members throughout Burma voted for her party, the National League for
Democracy, despite its anti-military stance.

Nowadays, most soldiers are still suffering from economic hardships: the
government has suspended rations and stipends to family members of
soldiers and officers.

“Like many people, we also are facing hard times,” said the 24-year-old
son of a warrant officer in the 77tth Light Infantry Division. “Military
personnel and their families also want political and social changes,” he
added.

Meanwhile, VCDs of a well-known comedy troupe, Thee Lay Thee & Say Young
Sone A-Nyeint, are widely available in military barracks and among
soldiers’ family members. The VCDs of the troupe’s political satire
performances both inside Burma and in exile are very popular among troops.

A sergeant in his early 30s from Rangoon regional military command said
that soldiers made copies of the comedy performances and distributed them
among themselves, despite a ban on Thee Lay Thee & Say Young Sone A-Nyeint
VCDs.

In November 2007, the comedians performed at Rangoon’s Kandawgyi Lake
drawing a large audience, including military officials, intelligence
officers and police, all of whom seemed to enjoy the show.

Jokes about the junta, Burma’s increasing economic hardships and UN envoy
Gambari’s failed mission were generally well received by audiences, the
officers said.

____________________________________

August 29, Irrawaddy
NLD criticizes Gambari - Wai Moe

Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD),
has slammed UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari’s mission to Burma
as a failure.
In a public statement released on Friday, the NLD said that although
Gambari came to Burma representing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the
mission had been unsuccessful.

The statement said that, during his most recent trip, the UN envoy met
mostly with people who were chosen by the ruling junta.

“Mr Gambari has made six visits to Burma, but nothing has happened. We
consider it a waste of time,” NLD spokesman Win Naing told The Irrawaddy
on Friday.

Gambari visited Burma from August 18-23 but failed to meet with leaders of
the junta or Aung San Suu Kyi, who repeatedly canceled meetings with him.

Observers have wondered aloud whether Suu Kyi has grown frustrated by the
inaction of the world body.

The NLD statement also said that during previous meetings between the NLD
and Gambari, the opposition party had made clear that unless the 1990
election results were honored, it could not accept another election in
2010 as proposed by the military junta.

Despite the NLD’s stand, the special envoy repeatedly told its
representatives to endorse the 2010 election, promising that the UN would
ensure the election was “free and fair,” the NLD statement said.

In the general election of 1990, the NLD, led by Burmese democracy icon
Aung San Suu Kyi, won more than 60 percent of popular votes and as much as
80 percent of the seats.

Also on Friday, state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported that
the UN, Asean, the international community and regional organizations had
expressed their support for the junta’s “seven-step roadmap” and had urged
the Burmese regime to hold free and fair elections.

Meanwhile, NLD spokesman Nyan Win told The Irrawaddy that Suu Kyi’s
lawyer, Kyi Win, had repeatedly attempted to meet with Suu Kyi in recent
days, but the Burmese authorities had denied the lawyer’s request.

____________________________________

August 29, Democratic Voice of Burma
Ten jailed for September 2007 protests

Ten people, including Bogalay township National League for Democracy
chairman U Aung Khin Bo, have been sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment
for their involvement in public protests last September.

Aung Khin Bo was sentenced by Pyapon township court along with Bogalay NLD
secretary U Maung Maung Chit, joint secretary Daw Mi Mi Sein, treasurer
Daw Khin Lay, and organising committee members U Thet Tun and U Thein Tun,
according to lawyer U Aung Thein.
The six were arrested after Bogalay township NLD members led by Aung Khin
Bo held mass demonstrations last September against the rise in fuel and
commodity prices.

They were charged with unlawful assembly and disturbing the public order
under sections 143 and 505(b) of the penal code, and have been held in
Pyapon prison since their detention.

Aung Thein said he would be working on an appeal against the judgment.

Four other activists, including one from Hinthada township, were also
jailed for 30 months yesterday for their involvement in last September’s
demonstrations.

The other three, Ko Aung Moe Win, Ko Htay Win and Ko Kyi Then, were
arrested after leading a demonstration in Laputta township on 3 September
which was joined by more than 1000 people.

____________________________________

August 29, Democratic Voice of Burma
Security stepped up in Pakokku

Barbed wire barriers erected by armed government soldiers on the streets
of Pakokku in an effort to prevent demonstrations have brought traffic to
a standstill, local residents said.

Authorities have stepped up security out of concern that monks will stage
protests on the streets as the first anniversary of last September’s
Saffron Revolution approaches.

This latest increase in security by soldiers came as monks from lecturing
monasteries continued to maintain their religious strike by refusing
donations from the Ministry of Communications, Post and Telegrams.

Last Monday, communications minister major-general Thein Zaw came to
donate materials to some teaching monasteries but the monks at Anauk-taik
threw away all the donations, leaving them in a pile outside the monastery
compound.

Even local residents refused to take the rejected donations and the
authorities had to come and collect them, eyewitnesses said.

Donations were only accepted by Ashayt-taik monastery, which is inhabited
by members of the official Naingngandaw Sangha Mahayaka, while Aleh-taik
monks also refused to accept any offerings, local residents said.

Since the monks began their religious boycott, they have completely
refused to accept government donations and have thrown away any donations
from ministers which they were forced to accept.

The day after Thein Zaw’s visit to the area, two army trucks packed with
soldiers arrived at Pakokku police station and intelligence agents have
also been keeping a close watch on religious colleges since then, local
said.

The troops are particularly concentrated in the Khantaw market are near
Anauk-taik and have taken up positions at temporary checkpoints set up
around the town.

“[The soldiers are being] positioned at the exit of Pakokku and Shwechaung
village. That’s why no one is going out after ten,” a local resident said.

The tightening of security coincides with the run-up to the first
anniversary of the violent suppression of monk-led protests in Pakokku.

On 5 September last year, Pakokku monks came out of their monasteries and
took to the streets in a protest against rising commodity prices.

As the monks marched, chanting prayers, armed government troops fired
warning shots into the air and beat, arrested and disrobed three monks.

Locals said the latest security measures are aimed at the monks from
carrying out memorial protests.

____________________________________

August 29, Democratic Voice of Burma
Rangoon authorities collect monks’ personal data

Authorities in the four Dagon townships in Rangoon have begun collecting
the full personal details of monks staying in local monasteries, according
to residents.

There are hundreds of monasteries in the four townships, including Myin
Chan and Ywar Ma lecturing monasteries, each of which houses hundreds of
monks.

A local resident said it was usual for the authorities to collect the
monks' personal details every year, but this year they have been
collecting more detailed information from each monk.

"Normally, a [government-nominated] Sangha leader would just sign a
notification of the monks staying in the monastery for Buddhist lent and
that would be it – but this year, they are collecting more thorough
personal information," said the resident.

"They are making profiles of each monk with details such as where their
families live and what they do and if they have any political background."

He claimed the process is also taking place in many townships across
Rangoon including South Okkalapa, Tharkayta, Daw Pon and Shwe Pyi Thar.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Rangoon with military units
circling the city in trucks late at night and troops patrolling the
streets.

Rangoon residents have speculated that the increase in security is to
prevent public demonstrations commemorating the one-year anniversary of
last year's September protests which ended in a violent crackdown.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

August 29, Mizzima News
Twenty seven children poisoned by physic nuts - Than Htike Oo

Twenty seven Burmese children fell ill from food poisoning after eating
physic nuts in 2007, a Rangoon based weekly journal reported.

Dr. Kyi Kyi Thin from the Institute of Medicine 1 (IM 1) revealed this in
a lecture on 'World Crises in Food, Water and Energy' held at the Myanmar
Medical Doctors Association.

"The children fell ill from food poisoning after eating physic nut planted
in their residential areas to produce bio diesel. The children like to eat
them as it looks like betel nut and has a sweet taste. After the food
poisoning they suffered from diarrhea, vomiting and low blood pressure.
Some children had to be admitted to hospitals and clinics," the 29th
August issue of 'Weekly Eleven' reported quoting Dr. Kyi Kyi Thin.

The severity of food poisoning suffered by the children was in varying
degrees. Some recovered from the illness within 48 hours. About 56.5 per
cent of 27 children who suffered food poisoning from physic nuts were in
the age group of 10 to 15, the journal reported citing medical records.

The regime ordered the whole country to grow physic nuts in December 2005.
It was a brainchild of Snr. Gen. Than Shwe for fuel self-sufficiency. In
this nationwide campaign, physic nuts were grown on seven acres of land in
all 14 States and Divisions.

The concerned regional military command commanders put pressure on the
people to grow physic nuts. But the extraction of bio-diesel from physic
nuts has not yet materialized significantly but the planting of saplings
continue in some areas.

Destruction and removal of physic nut plantations around the Mandalay
palace moat was witnessed in early August. But government officials
usually avoid commenting on this sacred physic nut plantation project.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

August 29, Mizzima News
Suu Kyi 38th most powerful woman in world

Burma's democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is the 38th most
powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

The annual listing, which incorporates factors such as media mentions,
financial clout and job title, sees the Burmese Nobel Laureate come in as
the 12th most powerful female politician.

In an accompanying article which asked various female personalities who
their top three choices would be, Vogue editor Joan Juliet Buck ranked
Aung San Suu Kyi first, "because she's a living martyr under house
arrest."

As alluded to in the brief biography of Suu Kyi which accompanies her
selection, the ranking is very much a reflection of the media attention
afforded Burma over recent months, especially with regard to Cyclone
Nargis.

However, her status is also a reflection of the magazine's preferred job
title for the embattled National League for Democracy leader, that of
"deposed prime minister."

United States Senator and former presidential candidate, Hillary Rodham
Clinton, received the highest 'media' score, and finished just ahead of
Suu Kyi at number 28 in the poll.

Current U.S. First Lady and staunch supporter of the detained Nobel
Laureate, Laura Bush, is listed 44th by Forbes.

Release of the rankings came just ahead of the latest appeal from the
United States State Department for Burma's military junta to honor the
calls of the United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement of
last October, which demands a time bound dialogue between the government,
Suu Kyi and other opposition elements, as well as a general release of all
political prisoners.

"The United States is deeply disappointed that once again the Burmese
regime has failed to cooperate with UN Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari's
efforts to promote political dialogue and progress," reads yesterday's
statement from State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Wood. Gambari
had visited Burma for six days last week.

"Improved relations between Burma and the international community depend
on the Burmese regime taking concrete and sincere steps in this
direction," concludes the media release in reference to the needs of an
inclusive dialogue process and the release of political prisoners.

For the 2006 and 2007 Forbes surveys, Suu Kyi placed 47th and 71st,
respectively.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel again topped the list for the third year
running.

____________________________________

August 29, Associated Press
U.S. concerned about detained Suu Kyi's diet

The United States said Thursday that it was concerned that Burmese
detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi may not be retrieving food
delivered to her home but has not been able to confirm such reports.

Suu Kyi's supporters believe the Nobel Peace Prize laureate may be on a
hunger strike to protest the military-run government's refusal to hold
talks on democratic reforms. They said Tuesday she has failed to retrieve
food for nearly two weeks.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters that Suu Kyi and
other political prisoners in the military-run country, also known as
Burma, should be released.

Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years,
relies on her National League for Democracy party's food deliveries for
sustenance. In 2003, there were reports that were never confirmed that Suu
Kyi staged a hunger strike to protest her detention conditions.

Suu Kyi repeatedly canceled meetings with U.N. Special Envoy Ibrahim
Gambari during his six-day visit to Burma that ended Saturday. Supporters
have speculated that she has grown more frustrated with the U.N. failure
to bring about change in the military-ruled nation.

Wood said in a statement that the U.S. is "deeply disappointed" that the
Burma government failed to cooperate with Gambari. He did not mention Suu
Kyi's reported complaints with the U.N.

Wood called on Burmese generals to "live up to agreements made with U.N.
representatives during prior trips. Improved relations between Burma and
the international community depend on the Burmese regime taking concrete
and sincere steps in this direction."

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

August 28, Irrawaddy
It’s a process perhaps, but a failed one - Aung Zaw

UN special envoys to Burma have come and gone over the past 20 years, each
time leaving the country empty-handed.

There have been eight of them, starting with Japanese diplomat Sadako
Ogata, who was appointed in 1990 as an independent expert of the UN
Commission on Human Rights, and ending now with the secretary-general’s
personal envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

At least one, the Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail, quit in sheer
frustration over the problems of dealing with an uncooperative and
obstructionist regime. Now there are calls for Gambari to give up his job
after the total failure of his latest mission to Burma.

To be fair, the UN has done its best. But, as in life itself, sometimes
“best” is not enough.

The UN envoys all met Burma’s political stakeholders—the regime's decision
makers and their supporters; opposition members and respected ethnic
leaders. But to no avail.

Burma remains a diplomatic graveyard, which now maybe awaits its latest
incumbent—Gambari.

Despite UN attempts to put a gloss on Gambari’s latest mission, the plain
fact is that it was a complete waste of time and energy—not to mention the
cost of such failed ventures that has accrued over the past 20 years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Deputy Spokeswoman, Marie Okabe, denied
the mission had failed. Gambari’s mission to Burma was a "process, not an
event,'' she said.

“Process” was the description used by Gambari in an interview with The
Irrawaddy early this year.

There’s no denying that it is a process. But a process also demands
progress and a discernable forward movement that inspires confidence and
trust.

Gambari’s mission can, in no way, be described in those terms. It’s a
failed process, which could lead to disaster.

Some observers found comfort in Gambari’s meetings with Prime Minister
Thein Sein, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

But the Burmese people and the international community want to hear honest
statements from the UN and Gambari, instead of attempts to defend a failed
mission. Gambari and Ban Ki-moon need urgently to take action on Burma's
political deadlock.

Interestingly, detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared to
refuse a meeting with Gambari during his latest visit to Rangoon, the
first time she has snubbed him. The reason isn’t known and observers are
asking themselves whether the snub was a sign of frustration or a
political maneuver.

There was even a suggestion that Suu Kyi could be on a hunger strike after
her National League for Democracy colleagues said she had instructed them
to stop deliveries of food and supplies to her home. This is a situation
that must be monitored closely.

Suu Kyi is a prisoner of the regime, which has detained her in her own
home for 13 of the past 19 years. Her detention was recently
extended—unlawfully, according to her lawyer.

If the regime follows the letter of the law, it should lift restrictions
on Suu Kyi’s movements if it sanctions a meeting with Gambari or whomever
else at a government location, for a photo op or whatever other reason.

Gambari could ask for a meeting at Suu Kyi’s house, as Raszali Ismail
accomplished. The meeting would then be in the nature of a prison visit,
as undertaken by UN human rights investigators in Burma. A free and frank
discussion could then be held with Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi’s apparent refusal to meet Gambari could, therefore, be the
expression of a wish to meet him and other envoys, as well as opposition
colleagues and family members, at her home.

Diplomats and visiting UN officials were allowed access to her home during
previous periods of detention. US Congressman Bill Richardson paid a
personal visit in 1993, for instance.

Gambari’s predecessor, Razali Ismail, always managed to meet Suu Kyi,
other opposition politicians and ethnic representatives, after carefully
doing his homework.

Unlike Gambari, Razali did not follow the regime’s schedule faithfully.
Diplomats and Burma watchers say that whatever advice and guidelines they
provided to Gambari have rarely been followed.

During his last visit, Gambari blundered by meeting several pro-regime
political groups and leaving little time for the NLD and ethnic leaders,
creating increased friction among the Burmese and distrust toward his
mission.

The blunder has prompted observers within and outside Burma to charge that
the Nigerian diplomat doesn't do his homework and fails even to understand
the basics of how to deal with Burma’s political complexity. Or were his
actions deliberate?

In previous visits, Gambari was virtually a prisoner of the regime, which
kept him isolated in Naypyidaw, subject to an official itinerary that even
included attendance at a rally in Shan State denouncing last September’s
pro-democracy uprising.

Rumors circulated for months about the true forces behind Gambari’s
mission and the source of the ill advice he was receiving. Perhaps they
warrant some investigative reporting that could result in an interesting
expose.

Some dissidents and opposition members inside Burma are beginning to
suspect that the UN and Gambari are pushing for the 2010 election with or
without the participation of relevant political parties, including Suu
Kyi’s NLD.

That won’t win the UN envoy the regime’s trust and confidence, however.
The regime doesn’t listen to Gambari.

Early this year, after visiting China and meeting Chinese foreign ministry
officials, Gambari said that the Burmese government’s proposal for a May
referendum on a constitution written under military guidance and for
general elections in 2010 was a significant step forward.

"This is a significant step as it marks the first time that we have an
established time frame for the implementation of its political roadmap,"
Gambari said.

He then called for the creation of "an atmosphere conducive to credible
elections," adding that this must include the release of political
prisoners and relaxation of restrictions on Suu Kyi. The opposite has
happened, however.

The regime forced the people to vote in the May referendum and tightened
its reign of terror. There has been no relaxation of restrictions on Suu
Kyi and the prisons admitted a new flow of political prisoners, including
monks.

In my meeting with Gambari in Quebec, Canada, early this year, I
discovered that he is sensitive to criticism and negative media coverage
about his mission to Burma.

I also found out that he was quite clever at defending his mission,
winning praise from some Canadian foreign ministry officials.

Despite these shows of diplomatic support for Gambari’s efforts, there’s
no denying that his mission has lost steam and a new start is required.

The Burmese opposition and pro-democracy forces have virtually no more
confidence in Gambari and the good offices of the UN, which have been
snubbed and exploited at will by the regime.

Things have reached such a pass in Burma, in fact, that the name of the UN
is in danger of falling into nearly as much disrepute as Than Shwe’s.

____________________________________

August 28, VOA news
Burma's activists still in prison (Editorial)

More than a year after pro-democracy demonstrations were violently crushed
by the Burmese military junta, protest organizers remain in prison. Min Ko
Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, among others, are being detained under harsh
conditions for what began as a peaceful protest against skyrocketing fuel
prices.

The August arrests of the student leaders inspired tens of thousands of
Buddhist monks and ordinary Burmese citizens to take to the streets in
cities across Burma calling for freedom, democracy, and respect for human
rights in Burma. Although the demonstrations remained peaceful, the regime
reacted with brutality, killing many and arresting hundreds more.

According to the human rights group Amnesty International, there are still
more than two-thousand political prisoners in Burma. And there seems to be
no end to the arrests. Most recently, Burmese police took Myint Aye into
custody after searching his home. He is a member and founder of the group
Human Rights Defenders and Promoters. Myint Aye has been arrested and
imprisoned at least five previous times since 1988. In April, he was
attacked on the street by two unidentified men. The assault was one of
several perpetrated against opponents of the new constitution backed by
the Burmese regime.

Meanwhile, Burma's most famous political prisoner and pro-democracy
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest. Her latest period of
confinement dates from May 2003. Aung San Suu Kyi has spent more than
thirteen years of the last nineteen years under house arrest.

The United States renews its call for the Burmese regime to release all
political prisoners and end its attempts to intimidate and silence those
who seek the promotion of democracy and human rights in Burma. The U.S.
also continues to urge the military junta to engage in a meaningful
dialogue with Burma's democratic and ethnic minority leaders on a credible
transition to democracy. And finally, the government should lift
restrictions on the operations of all humanitarian organizations in Burma.

http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2008-08-28-voa2.cfm