BurmaNet News, May 1, 2009

[Editor]

May 1, 2009, Issue #3702


INSIDE BURMA
Reuters: Cyclone trauma haunts Myanmar survivors
DVB: Exiled lawyers group declared illegal

BUSINESS / TRADE
Irrawaddy: Weekly business roundup

HEALTH / AIDS
Xinhua: No case of A/H1N1 flu infected to pigs in Myanmar so far: ministry

REGIONAL
Xinhua: Indonesia repatriates Rohingya refugees

INTERNATIONAL
AFP: Burma urged to release aid workers
Associated Press of Pakistan: Britain calls for more political openness in
Burma

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Time for humanitarian dialogue? – Htet Aung
The Seoul Times (Korea): Chin National Day in crisis in Myanmar – John
Smith Thang

PRESS RELEASE
Amnesty International: Cyclone Nargis: One year on, 21 people imprisoned
for helping the victims
Karen Human Rights Group: Food crisis in rural Burma

STATEMENT
ABMA, 88 Generation Students, and ABFSU: Statement on Shwegonedaing
meeting's resolutions and declaration: No. 1/2009




____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

May 1, Reuters
Cyclone trauma haunts Myanmar survivors

Monsoon rains once heralded good things for Nwe Nwe, offering relief from
the stifling heat and clean water for her family in Myanmar's Irrawaddy
Delta.

But as the monsoon season nears, she and other survivors of Cyclone Nargis
are fearful, seeing thunderstorms as a bad omen.

"Now when it rains, I rush over to the school and get my daughter. I don't
want anything to happen to her," said the mother of two children aged nine
and six.

A year ago as the storm slammed into the army-ruled country with 240 kph
(150 mile) winds, Nwe Nwe's family huddled in their bamboo and thatch
home, praying as the roof collapsed.

"I don't go out in the rain anymore. I don't like the wind. It's scary,"
her nine-year-old daughter said.

Aid workers say survivors are showing higher levels of anxiety in the
run-up to the May 2-3 anniversary of the cyclone which killed nearly
140,000 people and left 2.4 million destitute.

Many saw loved ones die in front of their eyes. Stories abound of people
who lost everything -- a boy whose 10 siblings and parents died, a village
chief who lost 37 members of his family spanning three generations.

The psychological scars are less visible than shortages of shelter or
food, but no less important, aid workers say.

"Everyone was saying how resilient people of Myanmar are," Brian Agland,
country director for the aid agency CARE Myanmar, told Reuters.

"While that is true, there are still people who haven't gone through the
process of fully grieving and understanding what happened," he said.

HIDDEN SCARS

Almost a quarter of households in the cyclone zone have reported signs of
psychosocial distress, but only 11 percent have received help, according
to a recovery plan launched in February by the United Nations, the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Myanmar
government.

Children, either orphaned or still living with surviving family members in
makeshift shelters, are among those in need of counselling.

The U.N. estimates more than 2,400 primary teachers have been trained to
give psychosocial support, but it is far from enough.

After more than four decades of military rule, Myanmar's rudimentary
health care system has little capacity for handling trauma victims. Aid
groups are trying to fill the gaps.

The International Federation of Red Cross has trained more than 600
volunteers who make regular home visits in about 600 villages to help
survivors cope with their loss.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which has counselled 56,000 cyclone
survivors, said it takes time to gain their trust and help them understand
why the disaster occurred.

"Buddhists believe in Karma," said MSF psychologist Sylvia Wamser. "It was
important to show that there exists another explanation, a meteorological
and scientific one."

Overcoming a deeply-held fear of ghosts has been a bigger challenge for
counsellors.

"It was important to help them understand that nightmares after a critical
incident are normal, not that your loved ones are restless souls," Wamser
said.

(Editing by Darren Schuettler and Dean Yates)

____________________________________

May 1, Democratic Voice of Burma
Exiled lawyers group declared illegal – Francis Wade and Aye Nai

A Burmese lawyers group who recently called for an end to the Unlawful
Association Act, under which many dissidents have been sentenced, were
today declared an illegal organization by the Burmese government.

The Thailand-based Burma Lawyers’ Council last month called for the
abolishment of the Unlawful Association Act, citing the malleability under
which the government uses it to sentence opposition members, journalists
and activists.

But a statement in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper today said that the
BLC had been declared unlawful.

“The Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council believes and
assumes that the objectives and acts of the Burma Lawyers' Council and its
members, and related organizations and persons are hurtful to the rule of
law in the Union of Myanmar, stability of the State and community peace,”
it said.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma, the
act has so far been used to sentence 365 political activists.

Lawyer Pho Phyu was sentenced in March to four years imprisonment after
representing four farmers arrested in January after complaining to the
International Labour Organisation of land seizures by the military.

U Myo, a legal analyst with BLC, said the law was being used beyond its
remit.

“The SPDC is also jailing people [under the Act] from groups that are not
listed as unlawful associations, such as [opposition party] National
League for Democracy,” he said.

“That is highly inappropriate under legal terms.”

He added that the act, which was endorsed by the British occupiers of
Burma in 1908, was no longer suitable.

According to AAPP there are around 17 lawyers serving sentences in Burmese
prisons.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

May 1, Irrawaddy
Weekly business roundup – William Boot

New Naypyidaw Airport to ‘Handle 10.5 Million People a Year’

The new airport being built in Burma’s capital of Naypyidaw will
eventually be able to handle more than 10 million passengers per year,
according to an industry report.

The airport is being built in three stages by the Burmese company Asia
World, whose boss, Tun Myint Naing, also known as Steven Law, is on a U.S.
sanctions list because of his close connections with the country’s
military leaders.

The first-phase construction will have a capacity of 3.5 million
passengers per year and is due to be completed in mid-2011, according to
the airport construction industry Web site passengerterminaltoday.com.

The Web site quoted Singapore-based CPG Consultants for the figures, and
said CPG designed the new airport.

After all three construction phases are completed, the airport will be
able to handle 10.5 million passengers a year, according to the Web site.
It did not give a date for the final completion.

Bangladesh, China Discuss Railway Link via Burma

The Bangladesh government has confirmed it has held talks with China about
building a connecting railway via Burma.

The Dhaka administration said it is seeking financial support from Beijing
to develop railway track that would link the Bangladeshi Indian Ocean port
of Chittagong with China’s southwest Yunnan Province.

The aid was discussed during a visit to China by Bangladesh communications
minister Syed Abdul Hossain.

“I hope to receive a positive response from the Chinese government,” Abdul
Hossain told The Daily Star in Dhaka.

He has just returned from a visit to Beijing where he met top government
leaders, including prime minister Wen Jiabao, and also went to Yunnan to
met provincial chiefs, the paper reported.

Initially, the Bangladeshis are looking for finance for a 128-kilometer
stretch of railway between Dohazari in Chittagong to Ramu adjacent to the
border with Burma at Cox’s Bazaar.

The railway to China idea coincides with the announcement of plans by
Dhaka to build a deep draft port at Chittagong to handle the world’s
biggest cargo ships and tankers in a bid to become a regional transit hub
for China and northeast India.

Thailand Looks for Gas Sources in Indonesia

A Southeast Asia energy official has hinted that gas production in some of
Burma’s offshore fields may be declining.

The suggestion was made when Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources
Minister Purnomo Yusigantoro disclosed that the Thailand state oil and gas
firm PTT is negotiating to buy large volumes of gas from the still-to-be
developed Natuna-D field in Indonesian waters.

“The gas supply [from Burma] now seems to be declining, so the company is
looking for gas from other sources,” said Purnomo, who did not detail how
much gas PTT might buy.

Purnomo was quoted by the US-based Oil & Gas Journal.

PTT is Burma’s biggest purchaser of natural gas, drawn from the Yadana and
Yetagun fields in the Andaman Sea.

The Thai company’s overseas subsidiary PTTEP is also currently developing
another big field in those waters.

PTTEP has said its exploratory drills so far in the M-9 block in the Gulf
of Martaban indicate gas reserves of more than 50 billion cubic meters.

PTT has previously indicated an interest in co-developing the Natuna-D
field with Indonesia’s state firm Pertamina.

Oil Firms Face ‘High Risk’ to Image by Operating in Burma

Foreign oil companies considering doing business in Burma should factor in
the “high cost” to their reputations when they calculate the risks, said
the human rights group EarthRights International.

They should also understand that any ideas for so-called corporate social
responsibility programs inside Burma will always be flawed because of
military regime involvement.

The warnings were made in an ERI report during an oil industry conference
in Jakarta.

The ERI cited alleged human rights abuses by the military— including land
confiscation, forced labor, rape and torture—associated with the
construction of land pipelines from the offshore Yadana gas field to
Thailand.

“Apart from the ongoing human rights impacts and flawed CSR (corporate
social responsibility) programs connected to these projects, it will
actually cost a company more to develop natural resources in Burma than to
stay away from the country, due to unreasonably high reputation and
material risks,” said Matthew Smith of ERI.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

May 1, Xinhua
No case of A/H1N1 flu infected to pigs in Myanmar so far: ministry

There has been so far no case of A/H1N1 flu infected to pigs in Myanmar, a
statement of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries said on Friday.

As part of its preventive measures against outbreak of influenza A/H1N1 in
pigs of Myanmar, immediately after receiving the news about the outbreak
of A/H1N1 flu in humans in Mexico, the ministry is releasing warning to
different levels of its related departments across the country with
officials making field trips to check the health condition of animals at
pig farms, performing the surveillance of virus and raising biosecurity,
the statement said.

News and information on knowledge about animal health are being announced
to people in time through dailies, radio and TV, it said, adding that the
inspection for safe consumption of pork and related products imported
through border gateways and educative talks on animal health are being
held throughout the country.

The statement also said since April 29, visitors have been screened at the
country's airports, seaports and exits of borders.

According to the ministry, A/H1N1 flu has spread to 27 countries since
April 17 infecting so far 2,962 people and killing160.

There has been no case of H1N1 virus in pig in the regions where A/H1N1
flu breaks out in humans, said a news release of World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE).

____________________________________
REGIONAL

May 1, Xinhua
Indonesia repatriates Rohingya refugees

Indonesia repatriated Rohingya refugees to their origin country after
settling the verification program on refugees sheltered in Aceh province's
Sabang, an official said here on Friday.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said that the
voluntarily repatriation program is assisted by the United Nations High
Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for
Migration (IOM).

"The voluntarily repatriation is underway at the moment. We have contacted
officials of recipient countries regarding this issue," he told a press
conference.

He added that refugees who wished to take part in the repatriation program
were those who sheltered in Sabang.

He said that verification on the remaining Rohingya refugees sheltered in
Idi Rayeuk was underway at the moment.

Indonesia provided shelters for 391 Rohingya refugees in Sabangand Idi
Rayeuk in the northernmost province of Aceh. The refugees were found
drifting over the sea off Aceh waters by Indonesian patrol boats in
January and February this year.

Rohingya people live in Myanmar, near Bangladesh border area. The Muslim
ethnic group has been considered as illegal settlers by Myanmar
government.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

May 1, Agence France Presse
Burma urged to release aid workers

Human rights groups have urged Burma's government to release more than 20
aid workers they say are imprisoned for making donations to cyclone
victims and insulting authorities a year ago.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said the ruling junta had unfairly
jailed at least 21 volunteers, including famous comedian Zarganar, for
helping some of the 2.4 million people affected by Cyclone Nargis, which
hit in May last year.

The storm left 138,000 people dead or missing and, one year on, aid
agencies estimate half a million people remain without adequate shelter.

"Donors and friends of the military government, such as China, should
press Burma's generals to free activists like Zargana(r) who helped the
survivors," said deputy Asia director Elaine Pearson, using the country's
former name.

Exiled group the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners called on regional bloc the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations and the United Nations to pressure the regime to release the
volunteers.

"Their punishment is completely unacceptable. Their 'crimes' were to help
people and tell the truth about the situation," said the group's secretary
Tate Naing.

Burma's junta was heavily criticised in the aftermath of the cyclone last
year for its slow pace in organising aid to the worst-hit Irrawaddy delta
region and not allowing international relief agencies access.

In late May UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon brokered a deal that allowed
a tripartite group of officials from the UN, Burma government and ASEAN to
open up and coordinate aid deliveries to the delta.

But several individuals who distributed aid independently to victims were
arrested by the authorities, including Zarganar who was arrested in June
2008 on various charges, including causing "public mischief".

He was sentenced to 59 years in prison, since reduced to 35 years, and
moved to a remote prison far from the main city Yangon.

____________________________________

May 1, Associated Press of Pakistan
Britain calls for more political openness in Burma

On the eve of the first anniversary of the devastating cyclone “Nargis”
which struck Burma, killing more than 14,000 people, the United Kingdom
has called for more political openness in the south east Asian country in
building its civil society and democratic institutions.

Reflecting on the anniversary, the British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband said the UK has been one of the largest donors to the Cyclone
Nargis relief effort. Its contribution in the form of food, essential
supplies and logistical support has helped more than a million survivors.

He said agreement has been reached to increase  Burma programme by 10
million pound sterling in each of the financial years 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Miliband said the relief operations to which his country has already
contributed 45 million pounds sterling achieved more than ever looked
possible in the dark days of May/June 2008.

“But in many other areas, people continue to endure unacceptable and
unnecessary hardships. And the basic facts of political repression are
unchanged. Burma faces a critical year in the run up to elections in 2010
that exclude key opposition groups.

“More than 2000 political prisoners, including Aung Sang Suu Kyi, remain
behind bars. We have not forgotten the commitments to the Burmese people
that we made during their protests in 2007 and as such it was right for
the EU to extend its sanctions against the regime for a further 12
months.’

Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell who also commented on the anniversary
of the cyclone, spoke of his disappointment over Burmese regime’s stubborn
refusal to work for reconciliation and political progress.

He said instead of building on international engagement and civil society
activism, the regime has pressed ahead with its flawed roadmap process,
which looks set to bring about elections in 2010 that entrench military
rule.

Rammell also noted that the number of political prisoners, which includes
some of those who sought to provide relief in the delta, has doubled.

“Burma remains a top priority for the UK  government. We will continue to
work with our EU partners, the US and the countries of the region to press
for a more fundamental process of peaceful change.

“The Burmese people have suffered from poverty and poor governance for too
long. They deserve a better future.  We are determined to help them
achieve it.’

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

May 1, Irrawaddy
Time for humanitarian dialogue? – Htet Aung

One year on and the nightmare of Cyclone Nargis still haunts the people
living in Burma’s Irrawaddy delta. Those who narrowly survived the storm
have seen their lives changed permanently. Proud farmers and workers are
now vulnerable refugees living in makeshift shelters—their land destroyed;
their livelihoods stolen by a freak storm.

The magnitude of the May 2-3 disaster—the worst in Burma’s recorded
history—challenged the capacity of the military regime to conduct and
control a mega relief operation for millions of its citizens, thousands of
whom were dead, injured, orphaned, traumatized and homeless.

The international community responded unanimously with an outpouring of
sympathy for the cyclone victims and an immediate promise of massive
emergency aid into the affected areas.

The junta thanked the world by coldly rejecting the aid, dragging its feet
on relief decisions and imposing a blockade on the delta region.

The impasse was eventually breached and international non-governmental
organizations (INGOs) were allowed into the country to offer relief and
implement humanitarian programs.

Since last May, the number of INGOs operating in the Irrawaddy delta has
doubled to more than 100 and the numerous field offices around the region
testify to the INGO community’s desire to help people in the delta rebuild
their lives.

However, it is because of the scope and depth of this relief operation
that the situation demands a networking mechanism among the INGOs to
address disaster-related issues.

No such a mechanism has existed before in Burma because the authorities
preferred to create an element of competition between the INGOs, playing
games of favoritism and giving concessions to those who please them.

The treatment the junta dished out to the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) is arguably the best example of how Burmese authorities
have regarded INGOs with contempt.

Renowned throughout the world for its impartiality and apolitical
objectives, ICRC has managed to maintain health projects and treat the
wounded in world wars, civil conflicts and humanitarian disasters since
1863. ICRC has a reputation for keeping its nose out of a country’s
political affairs and has consequently been allowed to operate during
military operations in Palestine, Afghanistan, both recent Iraqi wars,
Rwanda and Yugoslavia.

Yet even the ICRC couldn’t navigate its way through the Burmese junta’s
red tape and restrictions, including a ban on visiting prisoners. In March
2007 it made the decision to close down some of its field offices and
cease some major operations in Burma due to a complete lack of cooperation
from the junta.

“The ICRC's humanitarian work in Myanmar has now reached near- paralysis,”
said ICRC’s Director of Operations Pierra Krahenbuhl in Geneva at the
time.

Save the Children-Myanmar has emerged as the leading INGO in the region
after the cyclone, coordinating a consortium of local NGOs and INGOs, such
as International HIV/AIDS Alliance, the Burnet Institute, Swiss Aid, World
Concern, KDN (Knowledge and Dedication for the Nation) and the Metta
Foundation. Known as “Paung Ku,” the consortium was created to offer
capacity-building support and a small grants service to the emerging local
relief groups which were urgently in need of technical and financial
support.

Save the Children has proven its mettle for its capacity to participate in
broader relief operations, such as health, education, protection of women
and children, shelter and food assistance, livelihood projects and
logistics.

The organization was among 13 INGOs that issued a joint appeal statement
in October 2007 calling for both the Burmese government and the
international community to collaborate toward achieving three demands: to
strengthen public sector policies by increasing public expenditure in
health, education and sustainable livelihoods; to improve operating
environment for local and international humanitarian organizations; and to
significantly scale-up international humanitarian assistance to directly
address the needs of the poor.

The joint statement was a concerted attempt by the INGOs to express their
serious concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Burma
soon after the regime brutally cracked down on the Buddhist monks-led
demonstrations.

Then, in late 2008, another major INGO, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
issued a report titled “A Preventable Fate: The Failure of ART Scale-up in
Myanmar,” criticizing the Burmese authorities.

“MSF can no longer continue to scale-up ART [anti-retroviral treatment]
provision, in the face of so little response by other actors. Therefore,
it has had to make the painful decision to restrict the number of new
patients it can treat
 With growing revenue from oil and gas exports, the
Government must invest more in its ailing health system and specifically
HIV/AIDS care and treatment,” the report stated.

But it has become clear that the demands of the INGOs have not been met by
the military regime. They will take little solace from the fact 10 years
ago and no agency would dare criticize the regime for fear of its projects
being disrupted.

When analyzing the expansion of the humanitarian aid programs in the
region, there is no denying that Cyclone Nargis significantly altered the
capacity of the INGOs in terms of the number of organizations operating
and the structural expansion within those organizations.

For instance, Save the Children employed around 500 staff before the
cyclone; now it has a staff of 1,600. However, now that the emergency
relief period is over, INGOs are scaling down their operations. According
to a source close to Save the Children, the organization will reduce its
staff by 300 in the near future and close down five of its field offices.

Another significant factor in the equation is the expansion of local civil
society organizations (CSOs) despite their having to operate under
numerous restrictions. One major obstacle for these local groups is that
they cannot officially register or open a bank account with the
state-owned foreign exchange bank which is the only conduit in the country
for transacting the delivery of foreign currencies. As a result, they have
to rely heavily on the INGOs inside the country.

What is unforgivable is that the regime has harassed, arrested, detained
and even handed down harsh prison sentences to the selfless citizens who
formed small groups and weathered atrocious conditions to rescue and
support victims of the cyclone.

Take the case of Dr Nay Win, a former political prisoner. He responded to
the disaster along with his daughter and four colleagues by helping
villagers in the delta by cremating corpses. The six were detained by
authorities and sentenced earlier this month under sections 6 and 7 of
Unlawful Association Act.

A litany of human rights violations by the regime in the wake of Cyclone
Nargis was recorded by Thailand-based Emergency Assistance Team (Burma)
with the technical help of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
in a recent report titled “After the Storm: Voices from the Delta.”

However, the report was not fully appreciated by several organizations
working inside Burma. A group of 21 INGOs—including Save the
Children—challenged the credibility of the EAT report and accused the
group of undermining the case for further aid to the survivors. The group
went on to call for dialogue with EAT-Johns Hopkins to solve their
differences.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Bangkok in on April 22, Dr
Frank Smithius of MSF-Holland admitted the restrictions on the activities
of the international aid agencies outside the cyclone-affected areas
imposed by the regime remain unchanged.

At the same panel discussion, Andrew Kirkwood, the country director of
Save the Children-Myanmar reiterated the call for a humanitarian dialogue
with EAT-Johns Hopkins.

In an interview with The Irrawaddy, he said the researchers’ report was
not “balanced.” He went on to say that Save the Children was working
closely with the Burmese junta.

“With their [the government’s] cooperation, we are able to do a lot of
community-based assistance. So it’s really not right to say that all parts
of the government are not being cooperative.”

However, the heads of Save the Children and MSF-Holland stopped short of
calling for the release of individuals who received harsh prison sentences
for undertaking humanitarian work or volunteering their services in
cyclone-ravaged areas.

In short, the last two years have been critical times for INGOs in Burma
and they should be commended for taking on unprecedented projects. They
have stood up and criticized the junta and have made a few rare efforts to
change the junta’s policies. They have also proved that they can operate
even under severe governmental restrictions. Finally, they have been able
to set up a cooperating and networking mechanism to collectively respond
to what they believe undermines the continuation of international aid to
Burma.

However, controversially, they were silent when it came time to publicly
criticize the junta’s repression on local relief volunteers, despite the
impartial and apolitical nature of the humanitarian work involved.

The time has come for the INGOs to reassess their three demands and
exercise their networking mechanism to seek a humanitarian dialogue with
the junta for the promotion and protection of the local CSOs.

International humanitarian aid will follow if the junta genuinely creates
a better operational environment without restrictions and repression.

The author is an independent researcher in International Development
Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

____________________________________

May 1, The Seoul Times (Korea)
Chin National Day in crisis in Myanmar – John Smith Thang

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, was formed an independent multi-nations
state, a combination of different nationalities and their territories. The
ethnic Chin is one of eight major nationalities in Myanmar, the other
seven are Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Arakan, and Burman.

In Myanmar, Chin state lies approximately between North Latitude 21°0' and
24°15' and East Longitude between 93°15' and 94°0. It has an estimated
area of 13,907 sq miles.

The Chin people are obviously involved in freedoms and independent
movement in Union of Myanmar through fighting the British colonization,
Japanese Fascist in World War II and the Communist in civil war. For
example the "Chin Rifles," one of federal govern army made up of Chin
ethnics, and its military hero Capt. Thai Coeng were borth outstanding
fighters again Fascist Japanese in World War II and Communists in Arakan
and Pagu Yomas.

"Chin National Day"

It was the Chin Conferenc held on Feb. 20, 1948 in Falam town, the state
capital of the Chin state, that abolished traditional ruling system such
as chieftainship and feudal system. It was only on the occasion of the
conference that Myanmar stated to have democratically elected leader in
the state followed.

The day of February 20 was designated as "Chin National Day" and it is the
beginning of freedom and democracy in Chin state.

It is the first time democratic ruling system was practiced in Chin state.
In the process of democratization this "Chin National Day" was reaffirmed
by the Chin affair council on Oct 9, 1950. Since then "Chin National Day"
have been widely celebrated as commemorative day.

However, in 1962 a military coup took place and since then Myanmar has
been under the ruthless military rule. The military abolished all the
nationalities treaties and even constitution. Human rights for the ethnics
and their basic freedom were flatly denied,

Subsequently the "Chin National Day" was abolished and Chin people were
forced to observe "Chin state day" on the same day of February 20, which
is meaningless for Chin people. The military turned the Chin territory
into a simple state on Jan. 3, 1974, stripping the Chin people of its
independence.

Nationality of Chin People

The word "nation" comes from the Latin "natio," meaning birth of place or
origin; it was used to refer to a certain group. Likewise the "Chin
National" also symbolizes the origin of Chin people's birth place on the
Chin land and reflects the Chin people's dignity, freedom, and cultural.

Chin people never belonged to Burman nationality. They did not migrated to
the Chin state. They have always been the native residents and owners of
the China territory.

In terms of territorial boundary "the Chin Nationality" is from Matupi,
Palatwa, Mindat, Kanpalet, Hakah, Thantlang, Falam, Tedim and Tuanzang
townships of Chin state. People of these nine towns are the founders of
the Chin territory and native residents.
People living in other areas like Asho, Lushai and Thado in Myanmar are
also Chin nationals but they do not have clear cut territory of their own.

Therefore "Nationality" is very important and meaningful in geographical,
political and historical context. Moreover the term "Nationality" is a
choice of Chin people for their political rights.

It is the rights of Chin people and this rights should be protected.
Myanmar's military government has no legitimacy to abolish and to change
the "Chin National Day."

In fact Myanmar's military government itself is illegal government.
According to UN Declaration on Indigenous People, Article 33, "Indigenous
peoples have the rights to determine their own identity in accordance with
their customs and traditions."

Furthermore "Chin Nationality" compares equally with other nationalities
in Myanmar. Therefore "Chin National Day" is very important day for Chin
people and it is the highlight in the Chin people's identity. Through this
symbolic day of "Chin National Day Chin people want to preserve and pass
down the Chin cultures and customs into the future generation.

Nowadays, military government ruined the cuture and identity of the Chin
people by sending troops to their territoy. The life of the Chin people
was deteriorated.

Chin people are denied religious freedom as well. They are foced to
observe Buddhism instead of Chiristianity. Over 99 percent of Chins are
Christian.

Presently, thousands of solciers are sent to evey towns and villaages in
Chin state to oppress the people there. The soldiers are asked to marry
Chin women by the military government which promisses them for promotion
as part of bio-genocide.

Conclusion

Looking back on the whole story, it is a consequence of aggressive policy
of Myanmar military government. Certainly, the Myanmar military government
neglected the development of Chin people and disregarded Chin sincerity
toward the formation of union country in early time.

The Myanmar military government destroys and ruins the Chin identiry and
their territory by banning "Chin National Day."

They even international aide to the cyclone victims in last year and
brutally attacked monks' peaceful deomostration in September 2007.

Finally, the Chin people in South Korea gathered in front of the Myanmar
Embassy in Seoul early this year, and called for democracy, human rights,
and freedom in Myanmar on the occasion of the "Chin National Day."

They demanded that the military government stop oppressing the Chin people
politically, social-economically, and religiously.

They also called for international community to show staunch support in
their struggle for democracy. They urged the international society to get
involved in their efforts to end the ethinic repression in Burma.

The author - John Smith Thang is Director of "Chin Democracy and Human
Rights Network" based in Korea. He can be reach at cdhrn.kr at gmail.com

____________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

May 1, Amnesty International
Cyclone Nargis: One year on, 21 people imprisoned for helping the victims

One year after Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar, 21 people remain behind
bars for their cyclone relief efforts.  Amnesty International calls on the
Myanmar government to release these prisoners of conscience immediately
and without condition.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should also urge the
Myanmar government, an ASEAN member, to free those who were imprisoned. 
As the driving force behind the Tripartite Core Group, comprising ASEAN,
the government and the UN, in coordinating massive relief efforts it has a
duty to ensure that people delivering aid can do so without fear of
intimidation or arrest.

In the aftermath of the cyclone, Burmese people from all walks of life
have been working together to distribute aid from private donors in order
to rebuild the devastated areas.

 “This is an untold story behind the cyclone.  At the same time as relief
efforts have moved forward, the Myanmar government has penalized people
for assisting,” said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International’s Myanmar
specialist.  “The authorities should immediately release these 21 people,
who are among the over 2,100 political prisoners in Myanmar.”

So far 20 people have been sentenced in unfair trials.  Six are serving
sentences ranging from 10 to 35 years.  All of them were arrested for
delivering aid to the victims, for reporting on the cyclone, and even for
burying the dead.

“One year on, when we mark the first anniversary of Nargis, we should not
forget those prisoners who are serving long sentences for trying to help
their fellow Burmese,” Benjamin Zawacki said.  “Indirectly they have also
become victims of the cyclone.”

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May 1, Karen Human Rights Group
Food crisis in rural Burma

Villagers in rural Burma are facing a severe food crisis, requiring urgent
attention by the international community, according to the Karen Human
Rights Group (KHRG), who today released the report Food crisis: The
cumulative impact of abuse in rural Burma.  The 28-page briefing paper
examines the widespread and sustained human rights abuses at the root of
this crisis and states that the crisis is a direct result of systematic
militarisation and exploitation by the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC), the military junta currently ruling Burma.

In SPDC-controlled areas, the combination of military demands in the form
of forced labour, arbitrary taxation, looting and ad hoc demands for food,
money or other supplies, together with land confiscation, movement
restrictions and forced relocation, have placed an unsustainable burden on
villagers' livelihoods, exacerbated poverty and dramatically increased
food insecurity.  Meanwhile, in areas not under firm military control,
SPDC forces are trying to force villagers into relocation sites by
attacking villages and destroying food stores, fields and livestock. 
Villagers who manage to escape such attacks and flee into situations of
displacement in forest hiding sites face further threats to their food
security, as a shoot-on-sight policy, landmines and restrictions on trade
make it extremely difficult for villagers to leave their hiding site in
order to collect hidden food stores, work their former fields or purchase
food supplies.

According to Saw Albert, a Karen spokesperson for the report, “The food
crisis has been gradually worsening since the beginning of the SPDC's
Northern Offensive in late 2005.  With increased attacks on village
communities and an intensified forced relocation campaign over the last
three and a half years, food insecurity is at an all-time high.  In
military-controlled areas, villagers struggle to both meet the constant
demands of the SPDC and their allied military groups and provide food for
their families.  While in displaced areas, villagers have to share limited
food supplies with each other just to stay alive.”

Recognising the numerous strategies that villagers are already using to
address food insecurity, the briefer gives recommendations to the
international community on actions that can be taken to alleviate the
current crisis and prevent future abuse and malnutrition in rural Burma. 
These recommendations include increased support for cross-border aid and
local civil society organisations which can access affected populations
and support for the local food security protection measures that villagers
in rural Burma have already developed.

KHRG spokeswoman, Naw September Paw called for increased humanitarian aid
to villagers in rural Burma: "Villagers in Karen State are faced with a
serious food crisis as the direct result of military exploitation and
abuse.  In response, villagers have tried to find various ways to address
this crisis, to maintain their livelihoods and resist abuse.  Despite
these strategies, there is a great need for humanitarian aid to be scaled
up to reach these people.  However, it is the locally-driven protection
measures developed by villagers themselves that should first be taken into
account in order to effectively address this crisis."

The report is available online at
http://www.khrg.org/khrg2009/khrg0902.html and hard copies can be obtained
by emailing khrg at khrg.org.  Print-quality photos for inclusion in news
articles and video footage of villagers in Karen State are also available
on request.

About KHRG

The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) was founded in 1992 and documents the
situation of villagers and townspeople in rural Burma through their direct
testimonies, supported by photographic and other evidence.  KHRG operates
independently and is not affiliated with any political or other
organisation.  Examples of our work can be seen on the World Wide Web at
www.khrg.org.

Contact

For interviews in Karen, English or Burmese or more details of the report,
please contact KHRG spokespersons Naw September Paw and Saw Albert via
e-mail at khrg at khrg.org or by phone at +66 (0) 85-2685519.


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May 1, All Burma Monk’s Alliance, The 88 Generation Students, All Burma
Federation of Student Unions
Statement on Shwegonedaing meeting's resolutions and declaration: No. 1/2009

We, the 88 Generation Students, the All Burma Monks' Alliance (ABMA) and
the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) have read the
Shwegonedaing Declaration and resolutions, made and agreed by 28th-29th
April 2009 special meeting of the members of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) including NLD Central Executive Committee, representatives
of the State and Division Organizational Committees, the members of the
Parliament Elect still standing with the NLD, representatives of the
Central Women Affairs Committee and the Youth Affairs Implementation
Committee, held at Head Quarter of the NLD on west Shwegonedaing street,
Rangoon. And we earnestly request the peoples of Burma and international
communities to fully support this Declaration and the resolutions of the
meeting which reinforce the party's firm stand on calls for the
unconditional release of all political prisoners including U Tin Oo and
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the convening of parliament, the review of the draft
constitution (2008); and political dialogue to overcome the country's
political impasse.

Moreover, we pledge our commitment to supporting the following five
specific resolutions unanimously agreed upon and adopted by the 28th-29th
NLD meeting in order to overcome the current political cries.

(1) Agreed the political report, organizational report and report on
review of draft constitution, presented by Central Executive Committee of
the NLD

(2) Agreed to implement proposed political program based on the League's 4
political stands

(3) Agreed to continue to strive for achieving unconditional political
dialogue with the participation of the decision makers for the interest of
the country (4) Agreed to further organizing activities to achieve the
support of the peoples in order to accomplish the League's objectives (5)
Agreed the League's stand regarding to participation in the forth-coming
election as noted in the political report of Central Executive Committee
We also further express our firm support of the following NLD position on
the forth-coming (2010) election.

''If the following conditions are met: (a) All political prisoners
including the leaders of the NLD are
unconditionally released, (b) The provisions of the (2008) constitution
which are not in accord with democratic principles are amended, (c) All
inclusive free and fair elections are held under international
supervision, the National League for Democracy (NLD) intends to
participate in the elections after gravely considering as a special case
and after studying the coming Party Registration Act and the laws relating
to the Elections..

'We believe that the above- mentioned resolutions and recommendations of
the NLD are pragmatic and logical inorder to solve the country’s political
problems and we therefore suggest strongly that every concerned party and
individual shall cooperate with the NLD to meet the League's
recommendations.

We also denounce the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)’s
continuing resistance to cooperating with the NLD. If the SPDC does not
cooperate with the NLD and continues to stubbornly maintain its exclusive
grip on power, all consequences will solely rest with it. Finally, we,
ABFSU, ABMA and 88 Generation Students reiterate our urgent and sincere
request for the whole people and international communities to support the
declaration and resolutions of the NLD's Shwegonedaing Meeting.

All Burma Monks' Alliance (ABMA)
The 88 Generation Students
All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU)