BurmaNet News, April 15, 2009

[Editor]

April 15, 2009, Issue #3690

INSIDE BURMA
Mizzima: KNLA fights Burmese Army and DKBA

ON THE BORDER
Kaladan: Nasaka injures 32 Bangladeshi fishermen, loots goods worth Tk 2
million

BUSINESS / TRADE
SHAN: Junta sanctions gambling operations to raise fund

REGIONAL
SHM: Rohingya not our problem, Burma tells Bali meeting

INTERNATIONAL
Jakarta Post: RI expects Myanmar to speak up on Rohingya issue at Bali
meeting
BrisbaneTimes: Australia vows more aid for Rohingya

OPINION / OTHER
The American Chronicle: Myanmar: The refugee factory - Joe Fleishman

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

April 15, Mizzima News
KNLA fights Burmese Army and DKBA

Mae Sot - Fighting broke out tonight at the Karen National Liberation
Army's base camp in Wah Lay Kee between the KNLA’s 201st Brigade, the
Burma Army and its allies the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

Speaking at a border location at about 7.15 pm Colonel Nerdah Mya said the
fighting was expected to carry on into the night.

For months now the camp has been on tenterhooks, with both DKBA and junta
troops maintaining forward positions nearby.

The KNLA lost the camp once last year, but reclaimed it within a matter of
days.

Colonel Nerdah said the Burmese Army and DKBA troops were now maintaining
forward posts armed with heavy armour that was capable of hitting the main
base camp at any time.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

April 15, Kaladan News
Nasaka injures 32 Bangladeshi fishermen, loots goods worth Tk 2 million

Teknaf, Bangladesh: Burma’s border security force, Nasaka, injured 32
Bangladeshi fishermen, and looted goods worth Taka 2 million from them on
April 12, while they were fishing in the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh’s
territorial waters, near Saint Martin island of Bangladesh, Abdu Zalil one
of the boat owners said.

“Suddenly, a group of Nasaka came in a boat to our fishing boats and
surrounded us and climbed into our boats and arrested all the fishermen of
five fishing boats. They tortured them and demanded money and mobile sets
and other things. Later, all the fishermen were wounded by the Nasaka.
However, the Nasaka did not take the fishing boats,” said one of the
fishermen.

The Nasaka robbed diesel, battery, mobile sets, fishing nets from the
fishing boats worth Taka 2 million.

The owners of the fishing boats are Khobir Ahmed of Kurer Mook from
village of Sabran Union of Teknaf Upazila, Abdul Zalil and Md. Shoffique
Ahmed of Mistri Para of Shapuri Dip, Abu Ahmed and Abul Khasim of Fosim
Para of Shapuri Dip, of Bangladesh.

The fishermen had gone with five boats to the Bay of Bengal, near the
Saint Martin Island for fishing at night.  They were fishing in the Bay of
Bengal in Bangladeshi territorial waters. However, the Nasaka suddenly
attacked them at mid-night and tortured them and looted goods from the
fishing boats.

Regarding the matter, the fishing boat owners informed the concerned
authority of Bangladesh, to take action against Burma’s border security
force, said Shoffique, the boat owner.

Recently, the Nasaka disturbed the Bangladeshi fishermen, while they were
fishing in the Bay of Bengal, Khobir Ahmed, a fishing boat owner said.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

April 11, Shan Herald Agency for News
Junta sanctions gambling operations to raise fund - Hseng Khio Fah

The junta authorities in southern Shan State have been openly allowing
people to operate gambling dens and taxing millions of Kyat from gambling
syndicates citing the need to raise fund for regional development,
according to sources from Shan State.

During late March, Laikha Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC)
sanctioned locals to open gambling dens in order to raise fund to dredge a
stagnant lake named “Nawng Kham”, a local resident said.

The gambling dens were opening at the football field of the town and it
was started on 29 March, for 10 days. Gambling contracts was given to
Thein Oo, General Secretary of the police force of Laikha.

“There were several games at the gambling field such as Lay Gaung
Gyin(four animal dice),” said a villager.

There were 20 kinds of gambling dens such as Gonggin, Hilo and Thone Gaung
Gyin(three animal dice). Each had to pay Kyat 110,000 (US$ 110) per night
and the other kind of gambling like Lay Gaung Gyin (four animal dice), 36
animal- lottery and dominoes had to pay Kyat 6,000,000 (US$6000) per
night. Moreover each vendor was charged Kyat 15,000(US$15) per night.

The taxes were collected by Thein Oo.  He then had to share them with
authorities from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) # 515 and Infantry
Battalion (IB) # 64 based in Laikha and Kyat 110,000 (US$ 110) for the
TPDC.

Likewise, Chairman of Kehsi Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC)
U Khin Latt gave gambling permit to Captain Ye Myint Aung from Infantry
Battalion (IB) # 131 in order to remunerate Loi Khaw monastery, said a
local resident.

Gambling bosses had to pay Kyat 15 million (US$ 1,500) to the Captain.

Moreover, nearby villages were ordered to provide 70 to 100 of bamboos to
build gambling houses and shopping houses, a local villager said.

“People’s lives especially those of the young people have been destroyed
by gambling,” she said, “Crimes have been increasing gradually.”

Some analyzed that the reason could be connected to the elections and the
other aim is to make people less interested in the political situation of
the country.

In addition, in accordance with the order from Nay Pyi Daw, every
department has to raise fund themselves, said a Burma watcher.

“It shows that the top officials themselves could not provide enough
salary and supplies,” he said. Gambling dens have been increasing around
Shan State since early 2009, according to many sources.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

April 15, Sydney Morning Herald
Rohingya not our problem, Burma tells Bali meeting

A lasting solution to the plight of Burma's Rohingya minority remains
elusive after Burma yesterday continued to deny they were its citizens or
acknowledge they were persecuted.

Burma's police chief made the comments at the Bali Process meeting, a
people-smuggling summit involving more than 40 regional nations and
heralded as the forum that would address the Rohingya problem after
several aborted attempts to tackle the issue.

The Rohingya came to global prominence this year when Thailand's military
was accused of towing the boats of as many as 1000 asylum-seekers out to
sea and leaving them to drift at the mercy of the currents without
adequate food and water.

Those incidents in January also refocused attention on Burma's treatment
of the Rohingya. Hundreds of thousands have fled to refugee camps in
neighbouring Bangladesh or attempted the perilous sea crossing to
South-East Asia.

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, was among the leaders
to hold talks with Brigadier-General Khin Yi, the deputy minister for home
affairs and police chief of Burma (also known as Myanmar). Mr Smith
pledged $3.2 million to aid programs for the Rohingya.

"Australia put to Myanmar all the human rights, democratic and rule of law
issues that we have in the past," Mr Smith said of their discussions.

"The response from the police chief was 
 the traditional response of
Myanmar not to accept the notion of citizenship."

Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, said he and others at the
summit had told Brigadier-General Yi that "social and economic problems"
were behind the exodus of Rohingyas, some of whom have washed ashore in
Indonesia's province of Aceh. "Myanmar denied [the flight of the
Rohingyas] was because of human-rights violations," he said.

Asylum-seekers from Myanmar have said they suffer beatings by Burma's
security forces and had their property stolen while having punishing taxes
levied on them.

Meanwhile, Thailand avoided scrutiny for its treatment of the Rohingya
altogether after its foreign minister failed to turn up due to the
political crisis in his homeland. He was represented by a deputy secretary
from the Thai Foreign Ministry.

As well as towing out at least four boatloads of Rohingyas who had landed
in Thailand, the Thai military is also accused of administering severe
beatings to some of the asylum-seekers.

An ad hoc working group from Bali Process nations may address the Rohingya
issue at a later date but any recommendations it makes will be
non-binding.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/rohingya-not-our-problem-burma-tells-bali-meeting-20090416-a7md.html

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

April 15, The Jakarta Post
RI expects Myanmar to speak up on Rohingya issue at Bali meeting

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Wednesday that Indonesia
expected Myanmarese delegates to speak up about the Rohingya refugee
problem to help settle people smuggling issues during the Bali meeting in
Nusa Dua, Bali.

"Although the main agenda of the Bali Process will be to discuss the
bigger picture of the three issues [people smuggling, human trafficking
and related transnational crimes], I really hope representatives from
Myanmar and Bangladesh will make a statement in order to seek a way out
for Rohingya refugees," Hassan said on the sidelines of the two-day Third
Bali Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Human
Trafficking and Related Transnational Crimes.

A Foreign Ministry team has verified the nationality of the first group of
nearly 200 Rohingya refugees who arrived in Sabang in January, but refused
to disclose how many  would leave Indonesia voluntarily.

The team said that of the refugees, around 60 were from Bangladesh and
nearly 140 from Myanmar, with one individual's identity yet to be
determined.

Rohingya refugees have presented a significant diplomatic and humanitarian
quandary for many countries, mainly because of their persecution by
Myanmar's military junta. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in
predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, and the military regime refuses to
recognize them as one of the country's 130 minorities.

Hassan said that the Bali ministerial meeting would also make use of an
ad-hoc team to establish why the refugees decided to illegally migrate.

"We have to conduct a thorough study to determine whether they were
looking for asylum due to political pressure from their government or
because they sought a better living due to economic pressure."

The Bali meeting is currently being attended by 41 Asia-Pacific country
members, 19 observing countries and 13 international organizations. (dre)

____________________________________

April 15, BrisbaneTimes
Australia vows more aid for Rohingya - Adam Gartrell

Australia pledged more help for Burma's persecuted Rohingya people on
Wednesday as Foreign Minister Stephen Smith pressed for improved treatment
of the Muslim minority.

He met bilaterally with Burma's deputy minister for home affairs and
police chief, Brigadier General Khin Yee, on the sidelines of the Bali
Process meeting on people smuggling and transnational crime.

Mr Smith, who co-chaired the Bali summit, pressed the Burmese
representatives on the Rohingya issue.

"Australia put to Myanmar (Burma) all the human rights, democratic and
rule of law issues that we have in the past," he told reporters later.

"The response I got from the police chief was along the lines... of the
traditional response of Myanmar to not accept the notion of citizenship."

The Rohingyas are denied citizenship in mainly Buddhist Burma and human
rights groups say they face repression and poverty.

Thousands have fled the junta-ruled nation to neighbouring Bangladesh,
while others have sought safety in other South-East Asian countries.

Their plight gained international attention earlier this year when
Thailand's military was accused of towing hundreds of the refugees out to
sea in poorly-equipped boats with scant supplies after they fled Burma.

Although the conference failed to agree on concrete solutions to deal with
the problem of Rohingya asylum seekers, Mr Smith said the summit helped
"focus" affected countries on the problem.

"It's an acute problem and I don't think anyone is under any illusions
that this problem can be solved overnight, or in one season," he said.

Mr Smith announced Australia would provide an extra $3.2 million in
humanitarian aid to Rohingyas living in Burma's northern Rakhine State, to
improve their living conditions and give them better economic
opportunities.

"Australia is concerned about the deteriorating living conditions and
increasing marginalisation of the Rohingya people in Burma and in refugee
camps in Bangladesh," Mr Smith said.

"Their already parlous situation has been exacerbated by poor rice
harvests, the rising price of basic food items and enforced restrictions
on their movements."

The conference agreed to establish an "ad hoc group" to intervene in
regional migration crises and emergencies, at the request of affected
countries.

During his opening address to the conference, Mr Smith said the
circumstances driving people smuggling had changed and the region had to
keep up.

"The current global financial and economic crisis may well also encourage
more people to seek economic opportunities outside of their own borders,"
he said.

Earlier, Mr Smith welcomed news that Indonesia had agreed to extradite
accused Afghani people smuggler Amanullah Rezaie who was arrested on
Monday.

"I welcome very much the provisional arrest," he said.

"That particular individual is wanted for people-smuggling charges in
Australia."

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-world/australia-vows-more-aid-for-rohingya-20090415-a74n.html

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

April 15, The American Chronicle
Myanmar: The refugee factory - Joe Fleishman

Myanmar – the largest nation in South East Asia and one of the poorest
nations in the world. But it was not always like this. It had a bright
past which ends up in the darkness of poverty. All the wealth that Myanmar
had has swollen by their military lead government. To make their way
unhindered they have done whatever is needed. They brutally suppressed
country´s movement for democracy, kept democratic leader and Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi captive for many years. Yet there is any sign of
releasing her.

Day by day Burma´s military government is causing trouble not only in
their country its neighbors are also facing significant trouble handling
Myanmar refugees. In 1991 more than a million Rehinga refugees from
Myanmar´s northern region flee to the neighboring Bangladesh. At that time
Bangladesh and Myanmar were about to start a war. Fortunately that
conflict was solved by dialog but still more than 30 thousand Myanmar
refugees are living in Bangladesh. They are causing huge social and
political problem for that country. People of Northern Myanmar speak
Bangla - the official language of Bangladesh. They are Muslim like
Bangladeshi people and they look like Bangladeshi people. So they can
easily camouflage with the society –hiding their identity, make it
difficult for the government to separate who is refugee and who is not.
These refugees are hired for low payment by the local companies resulting
local people to face trouble to get standard payment.

Another dangerous part of these Myanmar refugees is those who are not
getting any job or don´t have a certain future -they are shaking their
hand with the Islamic terrorists. Islamic militants are selecting them
increasing growing concern for the country.
Another group of these people of Northern Myanmar took to the ocean. They
use small boat to cross Bay of Bengal to reach another Muslim nation
Malaysia. Some of them are use Thailand as their transit point. Thai
authorities reacted very offensively to prevent flooding of refugees. CNN
and some other news media have focused how Thai officials push Myanmar
refugees in to the open ocean without any food and water. Most of these
refugees are never seen again. Many countries and United Nation has
expressed their concern about this incidence. Thai government has rejected
the accusation but also said they would investigate. However only a
handful of people could ultimately made it to Malaysia.

These movements of refugees are an agonizing issue for its neighbors. For
the international rule they cannot do much but it is also very difficult
to stay quite. Some sources said, Myanmar is once again accumulating
troops in northern Arakan region threatening once again another outbreak
of refugees to the neighbors. Myanmar sounds they have little headache for
the feelings of the neighbors.

Myanmar is isolated from the international community. There are many
sanctions have imposed on this impoverish nation. Sanctions came from west
and United Nations –which has little effect on Myanmar government.
Diplomatic effort does not work here. Some countries like China are behind
the Myanmar government. Myanmar has no problem to work with its fellow
ASIAN nations –many of which are ruled by such dictators. Military rulers
are having not problem to deal with sanctions. Without the effort from all
the courtiers miseries in Myanmar is far from over.