BurmaNet News, March 31, 2009

[Editor]

March 31, 2009, Issue #3681


INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: More NLD members receive lengthy prison sentences
DVB: Villagers afraid to report forced labour to ILO
Kachin News Group: Russian firm after Uranium not gold in Kachin State

ON THE BORDER
The New Nation (Bangladesh): Border fencing: Bangladesh seeks official
version from Myanmar
DVB: Burmese migrants arrested at Bangkok charity gig
Kaladan Press: Stop the killing of Rohingyas, activists demand

BUSINESS / TRADE
AFP: Myanmar posts 2.5 billion dollar trade surplus: PM

ASEAN
Bernama (Malaysia): Myanmar to host Asean energy meeting In july

REGIONAL
Mizzima News: Burmese democracy a daunting task: Abhisit
New Light of Myanmar: Myanmar delegation discusses regional cooperation
for disaster risk reduction in Bangkok

INTERNATIONAL
Press Trust of India: UN appeals for continued support for Nargis-hit Myanmar
Irrawaddy: Suu Kyi climbs higher in Time Magazine poll

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Than Shwe’s election plans – Yeni



____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

March 31, Irrawaddy
More NLD members receive lengthy prison sentences – Min Lwin

A court in Rangoon’s Thingangyun Township sentenced six members of the
National League for Democracy (NLD) to five years in prison on Monday and
extended the sentence of another party member to 18 years, according to
sources close to Insein Prison.

It was unclear what the charges were against Tin Mya, the chairman of the
NLD’s Thingangyun office, and five other local party members who received
five-year sentences. Observers suggested, however, that the timing of the
court’s decision was intended to link the six to recent bombings in the
former capital.

There were also no details available concerning the ten-year extension of
Thingangyun NLD member Ye Zaw Htike’s prison sentence. He was initially
sentenced to eight years last November.

Meanwhile, Burma’s military government transferred two other political
detainees from Mandalay Prison to prisons in more remote parts of the
country.

Than Lwin, the vice-chairman of the NLD’s Mandalay Division headquarters
and an elected member of parliament, was transferred to Loikaw Prison in
Karenni State on Saturday, while Win Mya Mya, a female NLD party activist,
was sent to Putao Prison in Kachin State.

Than Lwin, who is suffering from a serious injury to his left eye, has
been serving an eight-year prison sentence since 2007, when he attempted
to file assault charges against members of the junta-backed Union Solidity
Development Association.

He accused the pro-junta thugs of attacking him in June 2007 while he was
returning from a pagoda in Madaya Township, Mandalay Division, where he
prayed for NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s release from house arrest.

____________________________________

March 31, Democratic Voice of Burma
Villagers afraid to report forced labour to ILO – Francis Wade and Naw Say
Phaw

The International Labour Organisation has stated that complainants of
forced labour in Burma are at greater risk of imprisonment if they have
affiliations with political opposition groups.

The comment came after reports surfaced that villagers in Irrawaddy
division had been forced to work on the reconstruction of a road, and were
afraid to make a complaint to the ILO for fear of imprisonment.

"We heard about two men from central Burma who were recently thrown into
prison for reporting a case to the ILO,” said one of the villagers.

Labour activist Zaw Htay was sentenced to ten years imprisonment in
January after helping farmers in Magwe divison file a report to the ILO on
land seizures.

His lawyer Pho Phyu, was subsequently sentenced earlier this month to four
years imprisonment after defending him at the trial.

“So we are scared we might end up the same way if we complain about what
happened in our villages," the villager added.

Steve Marshall, ILO liaison officer in Rangoon, said that, although the
vast majority of complainants received no subsequent action from the
government, there were some that had.

“The ILO is of the belief that in those cases it is because they are
firstly politically active, but are secondly active within the ILO’s
supplementary framework as well,” he said.

The supplementary framework is the mechanism which deals with complaints
to the ILO in Burma. It stipulates that the government must not harass or
arrest people who report forced labour to the ILO or collect information
on such practices.

“If someone who has got affiliations and is active in other political
activity takes action then the risk of them having some retaliation taken
against them increases,” he added.

The ILO reported last month that there has been no reduction in forced
labour over the past year, despite ongoing attempts to tackle the problem.

____________________________________

March 31, Kachin News Group
Russian firm after Uranium not gold in Kachin State

Uranium is being explored on the pretext of searching for gold and
associated minerals by a Russian company, which arrived in Burma's
northern Kachin State, last year, said local sources.

Russian mineral experts working for the company Victorious Glory
International Private Ltd. based in Hpakant (Phakant) jade mining areas
are exploring mainly Uranium, according to ethnic Kachin residents of
Hpakant jade mining city.

Local eyewitnesses told KNG recently, they have seen strange-faced Russian
people in Hpakant jade mining city since last year.

The Russian company is stationed in areas around Tarmakhan and Hongpa
mountains where Uranium was explored during Burma's first elected Prime
Minister U Nu's tenure from1948 to 1962, said a Kachin geologist in
Hpakant.

On February 15, last year, Burmese ruling junta's Director-General U Win
Ti of the Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration Department and
Chairman Krivoshey Pavel of Victorious Glory International Private Ltd
signed an agreement in the new jungle capital Naypyitaw for the
exploration of such minerals along Uru River or Uru Hka between Hpakant in
Kachin State and Homalin in Sagaing Division, according to the state-run
"New Light of Myanmar".

The Russian geologists arrived in Hpakant one year before the agreement
and a Russian geologist died of Malaria in Hpakant public hospital in
early 2007, said sources in the hospital.

Jade miners in Hpakant said Chinese jade companies have been permitted to
mine jade along Uru River for a long time. Here precious water-jade is
produced.

The fact that the Russian company agreed to explore for gold and
associated minerals in Uru River with the junta is a load of nonsense
because all the companies in Hpakant jade mining areas are only mining
jade, according to local jade miners.

At the moment, no one except workers of the Russian company is allowed to
visit the Russian base in the mountains and disturb Russian mineral
explorers by Burmese army soldiers who stand guard, residents of Hpakant
said.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

March 31, The New Nation (Bangladesh)
Border fencing: Bangladesh seeks official version from Myanmar

Bangladesh yesterday sought official version from Myanmar on its planned
fencing along the border professedly to stop smuggling, as confusion arose
over the move.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud told reporters that
they sought the official version about the construction site of the
fencing as Yangon gives varied versions about the location of the border
fencing.

On Sunday, Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka U Phaethoan met with Bangladesh
Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain and verbally communicated his
government's plan undertaken to stop illegal cross-border trade.

During the meeting, the Ambassador informed Touhid that the fence would be
constructed 13 kms inside the Myanmar territory from the zero point, but
later he said the distance would be 13 meters.

And today the Myanmar Ambassador informed the Foreign Ministry that the
distance of fencing from the zero point will be 100 meters into the
Myanmar territory. In view of this situation, Hasan said, "we sought
official communication about the location of the fencing".

Hasan said if the fence is constructed 100 meters inside Myanmar from the
zero point, then it will be "within diplomatic norms and we wont have any
concern".

Bangladesh and Myanmar have a 180-km common border. Myanmar authorities
have planned to construct barbed-wire fences along a 40-km stretch.

Asked how he visualizes the fencing by India and Myanmar surrounding
Bangladesh to stop smuggling, the State Minister said, without
elaboration, that the smuggling of contrabands like drugs takes place from
Myanmar.

____________________________________

March 31, Democratic Voice of Burma
Burmese migrants arrested at Bangkok charity gig – Naw Say Phaw

Nearly 400 Burmese migrant workers were arrested in Bangkok last week when
Thai immigration officials raided a charity rock concert held to raise
money for HIV/AIDS sufferers and orphaned children.

Over 1000 Burmese migrant workers were thought to be attending the concert
on 29 March given by popular Burmese group Iron Cross.

Thai officials stopped hundreds of people en route to the concert to check
for identification.

“Around 400 migrants who failed to show their identification cards were
arrested by the immigration who took them away in four trucks,” said a
Burmese migrant who witnessed the incident.

Another Burmese national at the concert told DVB that Thai officials also
ordered the concert to be shut down after they discovered that singers and
band members were performing on tourist visas without official permission
from the Thai government.

“It happened just about when [frontman] Lay Phyu started playing,” he said.

“The Thai officials demanded the show end because the band didn’t get
permission from authorities to perform.

“The show ended around 11pm after Thai authorities let Lay Phyu and three
other singers, yet to perform, sing one song each.”

____________________________________

March 31, Kaladan Press
Stop to killing of Rohingyas, activists demand

Activists of the Neeti Gobeshona Kendra on Monday (March 30) demanded
ceasing the oppression and killing of Rohingya people by the Burmese
Government, as well as a permanent solution to the boat-people crisis,
according to our correspondent.

The activists formed a human chain in front of the Chittagong Press Club,
ahead of the Asian Summit and declared that the Rohingya crisis was not
only a problem between Burma and Bangladesh, but it now had international
ramifications. Frequent killings and oppression of the Rohingya people by
the Burmese government, over the last few decades, had compelled them to
flee to neighboring countries.

Recently, the Rohingya were trying to move to the countries of South and
Southeast Asia, as the military government of Burma, had increased its
degree of repression on them, the activists said.

The Burmese government has been trying to define the crisis as having
arisen from human trafficking, but in reality its aim was to exterminate
the minority Rohingya group in Burma, they added.

Mahbubul Haq, Director of the organization, Najimuddin Shyamol, General
Secretary of the Chittagong Reporters Union and Rohingya leader Ayub
(alias) Tin Maungng were present during the demonstration.

Over 100 people participated in the demonstration holding banners. It
began at 12 noon and ended at about 12:30 pm.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

March 31, Agence France Presse
Myanmar posts 2.5 billion dollar trade surplus: PM

Myanmar's prime minister Tuesday said the military-ruled country recorded
a trade surplus of 2.5 billion dollars over the past fiscal year in spite
of the global economic crisis.

Speaking to businessmen in the remote administrative capital of Naypyidaw
in central Myanmar, Thein Sein said trade was significantly up despite the
global downturn and a cyclone sweeping the country last year.

"We can see that the trade surplus has increased to 2.5 billion dollars on
foreign trade worth more than 10 billion dollars (since last April). It
was higher than last year," Thein Sein said.

Myanmar's fiscal year runs from April 1 to the end of March.

"Although we have many difficulties, we have seen a four percent increase
in trade," he said, adding that total trade was worth 9.8 billion dollars
for the previous 2007-08 fiscal year.

The prime minister said Myanmar's exports had grown by more than six
million dollars on last year, while imports had increased by more than 465
million dollars, but declined to give exact figures.

Thein Sein also said average income in the Southeast Asian nation had
increased to 498,000 kyats (489 dollars) in the 2008-09 fiscal year from
405,817 kyats (405 dollars) across the previous year.

Myanmar is among the world's least developed countries, lagging behind
wealthier neighbors like China, India and Thailand. Cyclone Nargis
devastated the south of the country last May, leaving 138,000 people dead
or missing.

Many of its exports are raw materials like natural gas, teak wood, or
gemstones sold to neighbouring countries which eschew the sanctions
imposed by the United States and other Western nations.

The current junta seized power after crushing a pro-democracy uprising in
1988, ending a socialist dictatorship and slowly opening up the economy.

____________________________________
ASEAN

March 31, Bernama (Malaysia)
Myanmar to host Asean energy meeting In july

Myanmar will host the 27th Meeting of Energy Ministers of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Energy Business Forum in the second
largest city of Mandalay in July this year, Xinhua news agency quoted
Myanmar's sources as reporting.

The four-day meeting from July 27-30 will be the first of its kind hosted
by Myanmar and it will focus on global energy issues including ASEAN's.

Besides, a meeting of energy ministers of ASEAN+6 will also take place
involving Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and
New Zealand.

More than a month ahead of these meetings, Myanmar will also host the
ASEAN Energy Award competition from June 10 to June 11.

ASEAN groups together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

March 31, Mizzima News
Burmese democracy a daunting task: Abhisit – Mungpi

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says Burma remains a hideous
blight on an Asian map of otherwise expanding freedoms and growing
economies.

Abhisit, during a speech at the 15th anniversary of the Council of Asian
Liberals and Democrats (CALD), held in Bangkok from March 27 – 30, said
while democracy and freedom are expanding in Asia, the struggle in several
countries, including Burma, remains daunting.

Abhisit said even as detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi’s unwavering fight for democracy in Burma continues to provide great
inspiration and hope for members of CALD and freedom fighters the world
over, the struggle for democracy in Burma remains the largest obstacle in
the regional expansion of democracy.

“Some of our struggles are more daunting than others. Burma's repressive
regime remains a hideous blight on Asia's map of expanding freedoms and
growing economies,” Abhisit countered.

The Thai Premier said several countries in Asia are in a transitional
stage of economics and governance, and affirmed the challenge for liberal
democratic parties is to ensure that such competition occurs within the
parameters of credible and free elections, accountable and transparent
governance, and the rule of law.

“As liberals, we must tirelessly continue to promote dialogue and seek
common ground in mediating disparate interests and opposing positions,”
said Abhisit.

____________________________________

March 31, New Light of Myanmar
Myanmar delegation discusses regional cooperation for disaster risk
reduction in Bangkok

YANGON, 30 March — At the invitation of Under Secretary-General of the
United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Dr Noeleen Heyzer, a
Myanmar delegation led by Chairman of Tripartite Core Group Chairman of
Civil Service Selection and Training Board U Kyaw Thu participated in the
High-level Round Table on Regional Cooperation for Disaster Risk Reduction
in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, from 25 to 27 March.

The Chairman of the TCG was elected as a Vice-Chairman of the Meeting held
at the hall of the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) on 25 March.
Chairman of TCG U Kyaw Thu delivered an address on highlighting of
Myanmar's experience in disaster risk reduction and its disaster
management strategy.

The TCG Chairman met with Dr Noeleen Heyzer in a separate meeting, and
cordially discussed issues concerning ESCAP's role in assisting the Post
Nargis Early Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) and providing of
technical support for the Civil Service Selection and Training Board in
its capacity as the ASEAN Resource Centre.

On 26 and 27 March, the Myanmar delegation continued to participate in the
First Session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR) and
Expert Group Meeting on Information and Communications Technology (CICT)
at the same venue.

The Myanmar delegation led by Chairman U Kyaw Thu arrived back here by air
on 28 March.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

March 31, Press Trust of India
UN appeals for continued support for Nargis-hit Myanmar

People in Myanmar affected by last year's devastating Cyclone Nargis need
considerable help in restoring their lives, a UN-backed group assisting
reconstruction of the South East Asian nation has said and appealed to the
international community for continued support.

"Experience from natural disasters of similar scale of destruction has
shown that recovery support will be required for years to come," said
Bishow Parajuli, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar.

In this context, he noted that recovery efforts in the wake of the massive
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami are only beginning to be phased out now.

International assistance, therefore, is urgently required for early- and
medium-term recovery efforts outlined in the three-year Post-Nargis
Response and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP), which was launched earlier this
year by the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), comprising the UN, the Myanmar
Government and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The USD 700 million plan provides the blueprint for the reconstruction of
communities devastated by the cyclone, which battered the country last
May, leaving around 140,000 dead or missing and displacing 800,000 from
their homes.

____________________________________

March 31, Irrawaddy
Suu Kyi climbs higher in Time Magazine poll – Wai Moe

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ranks 25th in this year’s poll
by the US magazine Time listing the 100 most influential people in the
world.

Suu Kyi, 63, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, received 306,684 votes, not very
far behind US President Barack Obama, who got 335,732 and came in 16th in
the poll. She just pipped Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who
ranked 26th with 302,874 votes.

Other influential women who came high in the poll included US House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 27th with 254,785 votes, and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, who was placed 36th, with 243,496 votes.

Time said that “thanks to the anti-junta demonstrations in 2007, more
people are listening to her [Suu Kyi] than ever before.”

Time reminded its readers: “The famed Burmese activist—she has spent much
of the past two decades under house arrest because of her pro-democracy
stance—is pushing the U.N. to take action against her country's
human-rights violations.”

In 2004, Suu Kyi won Time Asia’s Asia Hero on-line poll, receiving 37,617
votes (40.4 per cent of the 93,022 votes cast.)

Suu Kyi is also a favorite among Internet bloggers and facebook members.
More than
31,000 facebook users are currently Suu Kyi fans.

“Facebook is an excellent way to reach new people and let them know about
Aung San Suu Kyi and the situation in Burma,” said Zoya Phan,
international coordinator of Burma Campaign UK, in a statement earlier
this month.

“The regime in Burma has detained Aung San Suu Kyi because they want the
world to forget about her. This is another way of ensuring they don’t
succeed,” Zoya Phan said.

Suu Kyi has spent more than 13 of the past 20 years under house arrest.
Her party, the National League for Democracy, won 80 percent of
constituencies in the election in 1990. However, the junta, which is
planning to hold another election in 2010, refused to honor the 1990
result.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

March 31, Irrawaddy
Than Shwe’s election plans – Yeni

Without Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s say-so, Burma can’t make a move. That was the
subtext of his message to the nation on March 27, Armed Forces Day. It was
a sobering reminder to the world and the Burmese people that this is a
general who sees no need for compromise, and who expects the whole country
to fall in line with his plans with the same unquestioning obedience as
the 13,000 troops who paraded past him in a display of military might.

In his 17-minute speech, delivered at his new “royal” capital of
Naypyidaw, Than Shwe rejected calls from the opposition National League
for Democracy (NLD) for a review of a new constitution approved last year
in a referendum widely denounced as a sham. There will be no review, the
general said, because the “constitution [was] adopted by the people.”

In defiance of diplomatic pressure to engage with the NLD and other
pro-democracy forces, Than Shwe has made it abundantly clear that he is in
no mood for reconciliation. After nearly twenty years of relentlessly
persecuting the winners of the last election in 1990, he now believes that
he is close to achieving his ultimate victory: an electoral outcome that
guarantees his perpetual grip on power.

So far, the junta has disclosed few details about the election it has
promised to hold sometime in 2010. No date has been set, and no candidates
have been named. But in his speech, Than Shwe left no doubt about his
intention to keep a firm hold over the proceedings. Political parties that
carry out “mature party organizing work will receive the blessing of the
government,” he said, implying that those who are “immature” enough to
question the military’s right to rule as it sees fit can expect to be
sidelined, or worse.

The regime has made no secret of the fact that “disciplined democracy” is
essentially an extension of the current political arrangement, which
elevates the armed forces above all other institutions.

Under its new constitution, the commander-in-chief of the armed
forces—currently Than Shwe—is entitled to appoint military officials to 25
percent of the seats in each of the country’s two legislative assemblies,
the 440-seat People’s Parliament and the 224-seat National Parliament. And
if this is not enough to guarantee that other political forces march to
his tune, there is another provision which permits the commander-in-chief
to reinstate direct military rule at his discretion.

It was not surprising, then, to hear in Than Shwe’s speech this year a
note of growing confidence that was absent from his last Armed Forces Day
address, in which he reassured any who cared to listen that he was not
power hungry and would, in due course, hand over power to an elected
successor.

A lot has changed since then. A year ago, Than Shwe was still under
intense international pressure following the brutal crackdown on peaceful
demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in late 2007. But by May, he had
successfully pulled off a rigged constitutional referendum that delivered
more than 90 percent approval. And while this farce was playing out in the
background, the world’s attention was transfixed by a humanitarian
catastrophe that also, ultimately, played directly into the hands of the
generals. Unlike the killing of untold numbers of monks in 2007, the
regime’s callous disregard for the suffering caused by Cyclone Nargis was
easily redeemed by belated and grudging cooperation with international aid
groups.

This year, there was no need to talk about transferring power. Instead,
Than Shwe used his speech to issue a series of warnings. Politicians
should “refrain from inciting unrest [and] avoid personal attacks and
smear campaigns against other parties.” And, most importantly, candidates
must not follow the example of another, unnamed opposition group that went
astray because it looked to foreign countries for “guidance and
inspiration [and] followed the imported ideologies and directives
irrationally.”

At the moment, Than Shwe seems quite certain that he will achieve his goal
of legitimizing perpetual military rule. But if his plans hit a snag,
don’t be surprised if the election is suspended indefinitely. Even as he
approaches his moment of triumph, he appears to be wary of raising
expectations. That is why he quoted a well-known Burmese proverb—“a
recently dug well cannot be expected to produce clear water
immediately”—and concluded his speech with these words: “Democracy in
[Burma] today is at a fledgling stage and still requires patient care and
attention.”

Keeping the hopes of the Burmese people at bay while satisfying the
international community’s perfunctory calls for something resembling
democracy in Burma are all part of the delicate balancing act that Than
Shwe has had to perform over the past two decades. Now, however, he
appears to be reaching the end of his tightrope. But one small misstep—or
a sudden gust of outrage from a nation that is more at the mercy of
economic forces than almost any other—and he could soon find that the
heights that he now commands are not as unassailable as he imagines.