From editor at burmanet.org Wed Jan 13 14:26:48 2010 From: editor at burmanet.org (Editor) Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:26:48 -0500 (EST) Subject: BurmaNet News, January 13, 2010 Message-ID: <34380.63.173.78.131.1263410808.squirrel@webmail2.pair.com> January 13, 2010, Issue #3875 INSIDE BURMA Mizzima News: Three activists sentenced to three years each DVB: Army reshuffle focuses on ceasefire areas New Light of Myanmar: Insurgent group blasts pylon in Pekhon Tsp Damaged tower under repair to resume power supply ON THE BORDER SHAN: Anti-junta spray campaign on Sino-Burma border Mizzima News: IOM helps resettle over 17,000 refugees in 2009 from Thailand REGIONAL Irrawaddy: Clinton, Okada discuss Burma Press Trust of India: India home secretary to visit Burma for talks 19 January INTERNATIONAL DVB: Burma freedom is ?worst of the worst? OPINION / OTHER Irrawaddy: You've got mail, Than Shwe! ? Aung Zaw ____________________________________ INSIDE BURMA January 13, Mizzima News Three activists sentenced to three years each ? Myint Maung New Delhi - A township court in Burma?s former capital city of Rangoon on Wednesday sentenced three opposition party members to three years imprisonment each. The defendants, members of the humanitarian committee of Burma?s main opposition party, National League for Democracy (NLD), were charged with unlawful association and handed three year sentences with hard labor by the Insein Township court, according to their lawyer, Kyaw Hoe, who was present at the court session on Wednesday. Shwe Joe, a resident of Hlaing Township, Sein Hlaing, a resident of San Chaung Township, and Ma Cho of Ahlone Township were accused of communicating with the NLD in exile and accepting cash from an individual named Sein Hlaing in the amount of 15 million kyat (USD 15,000). Kyaw Hoe said the trial took no civilian testimony and that no evidence was provided in support of the guilty charge, a verdict based solely on the police testimony. ?We [the defense] in our argument demanded acquittal. But the prosecution lawyer stood up and said the accused are found guilty based on prosecution witness testimony and should thus be sentenced,? Kyaw Hoe extrapolated. The defendants, however, denied having communicated with the NLD in exile, rejecting all charges. ?In our argument, we demanded the prosecution provide us the witness testimonies that found the accused guilty. But the court did not provide any evidence when handing down the verdict today,? he added. The accused were arrested from their Rangoon residences on March 6, 2009, after which they were detained in Insein prison. ____________________________________ January 13, Democratic Voice of Burma Army reshuffle focuses on ceasefire areas ? Thet Aung Kyaw Part of a reshuffle within the Burmese army has included the promotion of a number of middle-ranking officials to positions in close proximity to a fragile ceasefire area, according to leaked information. At least six Lieutenant Colonels were recently promoted to Tactical Operations Commander (TOC) and Military Operations Commander (MOC) positions, four of these in Shan state, which is largely controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA). Despite holding a ceasefire agreement, relations between the Burmese army and UWSA are growing increasingly strained. The ruling junta has pressured all of Burma?s ceasefire groups to transform into border patrol forces, and thus come under direct control of the junta, prior to elections this year. The refusal by the UWSA and the majority of the 17 other ceasefire groups has led to speculation that fighting will erupt in ceasefire areas in the run-up to polling. Another army official, Lieutenant Colonel Aung Zaw Oo, has been sent to Burma?s western Arakan state, while Lieutenant Colonel Thike Soe will serve as Tactical Operations Commander in Mandalay division?s Light Infantry Division 99. Troops from the LID 99 were sent to fight in the Kokang conflict in Shan state last year. Furthermore, Colonel Win Thein, who previously served in the office of Joint Chief of Staff General Thura Shwe Mann, has become vice commander of the North Eastern (Regional) Military Command, based near the Kokang region. Burmese military analyst Aung Kyaw Zaw said that the recent reshuffle that came after the junta?s quarterly meeting was incongruent with the normal practice of promoting people from TOC and MOC ranks to those higher. ?So we are wondering where the [previous] TOC and MOC commanders have gone,? he said. ?Were they transferred to civilian postings as a preparation for the elections?? He added that the Burmese government was also ?siphoning off officials in the foreign ministry?. Around 30 high-ranking Burmese embassy officials have been reshuffled in what analysts have said could be a diplomatic offensive prior to the elections. But according to Aung Kyaw Zaw, in previous years the military generals have assigned TOC and MOC commanders to the foreign ministry, while current foreign minister, Nyan Win, was formerly a headmaster in the Defence Services Academy. He said that this could account for the ?disappearance? of current TOCs and MOCs from the military following the promotions, although the Burmese government rarely publicises details of army reshuffles. ____________________________________ January 13, New Light of Myanmar Insurgent group blasts pylon in Pekhon Tsp Damaged tower under repair to resume power supply Nay Pyi Taw ? At about 6:30 pm on 9 January, an insurgent group blast Pylon No (199) of 230 KVA Grid near Marseplo Village in Pekhon Township, Shan State (South). The Pylon is located between Lawpita and Toungoo. The attack leveled the tower down to the ground, causing temporary interruption of power supply. The Myanma Electric Power Enterprise is making emergency repair to the facility to resume power supply as soon as possible. ? MNA ____________________________________ ON THE BORDER January 13, Shan Herald Agency for News Anti-junta spray campaign on Sino-Burma border Unidentified activists spearheaded a two-day spray campaign against the ruling Burmese military junta last week, according to sources on the Muse-Ruili border. On January 7, people coming to join the education festival at Muse?s High School No. 2 found several slogans sprayed on the building walls. It said: ? ?We don?t want the 2010 elections!? ? ?Down with Than Shwe!? ? ?Free Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners!? The police arrived soon to wipe out the paint, said a source. Another added ?There was another slogan too that the festival had nothing to do with education but just to raise funds.? The next day, similar slogans were found sprayed on the immigration office building walls and on the town?s helicopter pads. So far, no culprit has been identified and no one has claimed responsibility. The anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) South?s Force 701, commanded by Lt-Col Zawm Mong, is active in the area. ____________________________________ January 13, Mizzima News IOM helps resettle over 17,000 refugees in 2009 from Thailand ? Usa Pichai Chiang Mai - Over 17,000 refugees from Thailand were resettled in a third country in 2009 with support from the International Organization for Migration. The IOM in a press release on Tuesday said that since 2004, the total number of refugees shifted from Thailand?s refugee camps to new homes abroad, accounted for over 74,000. The majority of the refugees over 57,000 or nearly 80 per cent came from Burma, and belonged to the Karen and Karenni ethnic groups. A further 15,000 were ethnic Hmong from the Lao PDR. However, the recent action of the Thai government, which repatriated thousands of ethnic Hmong to Lao, has drawn severe criticism from the international community saying that it may force them to an unsafe situation in their country of origin. ?Over 80 per cent of the 74,000 refugees were resettled in the USA, with the rest accepted by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom,? the statement said. In 2009, 6,800 or nearly 40 per cent of the resettled refugees came from Ban Mae Nai Soi ? a camp located in the north west of the country in Mae Hong Son province, while 3,400 came from Mae La camp, in Thasongyang district of Tak province. ?The rest were resettled from seven other remote border camps located close to Thailand's mountainous jungle border with Myanmar. All but about 300 of the 17,074 refugees moved by IOM Thailand in 2009 came from Myanmar, ?the statement added. The group arranges for preparation for refugees including pre-departure health screening at the request of countries of resettlement. If it is found that they are suffering from a contagious disease, treatment is provided until they are fit to travel. After which, IOM transports refugees by bus from the camps to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport and arranges their onward travel on commercial flights to their final destinations in countries of resettlement. In the latest development, Japan has decided to accept 30 Burmese refugees languishing in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Japan will be the first Asian country to accept Burmese refugees for resettlement. The pilot project will start early this year. Besides, it is also a sign of a policy shift by the Japanese government, which rarely allows refugees to be resettled in their country. Besides, the Japanese government will continue providing assistance in language lessons and professional training to enable the refugees to start a new life. However, migration from Burma to Thailand has continued due to clashes between the Burmese Army and ethnic armed groups near the border, particularly in Karen and Shan States. ____________________________________ REGIONAL January 13, Irrawaddy Clinton, Okada discuss Burma ? Lalit K Jha Washington ? US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada discussed how to influence the Burmese military junta to move toward democracy and to release Aung San Suu Kyi, the popular pro-democracy leader, from detention. They provided no details of their discussion at a joint press conference in Honolulu on Wednesday. Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, left, speaks as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton looks on at a news conference in Kapolei, Hawaii on Jan. 12. (Photo: AP) Before the meeting, a spokesperson said, ?I think it is a broad review of Burma and how we can engage Burma to encourage the junta to change its policies, to change its tactics, to welcome an opposition, to allow the development of a democratic society.? He said the 2010 election and Suu Kyi would also likely be discussed. A fact sheet issued by the State Department that recapped the Obama administration?s policy towards the Asia Pacific Region said: ?The Obama administration has opened up pragmatic engagement with Burma, engaging not only the government, but all stakeholders ? including political parties, ethnic minority groups and the opposition ? to reaffirm the goal of a peaceful, stable, prosperous, unified and democratic Burma that respects the rights of all of its citizens. Secretary Clinton has worked closely with Asean allies and others, including participating in the Friends of Burma meeting at the UN General Assembly.? Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with several generals in the junta in Naypyidaw and Suu Kyi in Rangoon late last year. The meeting was a crucial step ?in beginning pragmatic engagement? between the US and Burma, the statement said. ____________________________________ January 13, Press Trust of India India home secretary to visit Burma for talks 19 January New Delhi ? Cross-border movement of militants and cooperation in other security matters will figure in the three-day home secretary level talks beginning January 19 between India and Myanmar in Nay Pay Taw. The Indian delegation, headed by Indian Home Secretary G. K. Pillai, will hold extensive discussions with the Myanmar contingent led by Brigadier General Phone Swe on issues ranging from border security to cross-border movement of militants of India's northeast and their training camps in Myanmar. The two countries will have dialogue on security related matters, smuggling of arms and narcotic drugs, effective border management, border trade and cross-border projects, Home Ministry sources said. Several insurgent groups like National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) have set up bases along the Indo-Myanmar border and India is likely to press for their eviction. The elusive self-styled 'commander-in-chief' of United Liberation Front of Assam Paresh Baruah is also believed to have been taking shelter in this area. In the past, India has expressed concern over terrorists crossing over to Myanmar after conducting operations in the country and the presence of terrorist training camps in Myanmar among other issues. India and Myanmar share a border of around 1650 kms. ____________________________________ INTERNATIONAL January 13, Democratic Voice of Burma Burma freedom is ?worst of the worst? ? Joseph Allchin A Washington-based NGO has labeled Burma one of the worst countries in the world for ?freedom? in an annual report, released yesterday. Burma ranks alongside nine other countries in the ?worst of the worst? category in Freedom House?s ?Freedom in the World 2010? report, which includes Libya, Tibet, China, Eritrea, North Korea and Equatorial Guinea. The organization, funded largely by the US government and the conservative Bradley Foundation, has been producing the report for nearly forty years, which ?examines the ability of individuals to exercise their political and civil rights in 194 countries and 14 territories around the world.? Determinants of ?freedom? include whether ?people?s political choices are free from domination by the military, foreign powers, totalitarian parties, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group?. It also includes a base alignment system, with countries ranked either ?free?, ?partially free? or ?not free?. This is based on a score system for civil liberties and political freedom, with seven being the lowest and one the highest. Burma predictably scores seven on both counts. This will make worrying reading for the international observers who will be closely monitoring the planned elections this year. Critics of the ruling junta have already labeled them a sham that will enable the military to retain power. ?This report reflects the actual situation in Burma,? said Soe Aung, foreign affairs spokesperson of the Thailand-based Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB). ?Moreover, some international and local groups tend to overlook the real situation in predicting that the elections in Burma will bring an opening for a change. The lives of the people [in Burma] should not be gambled at all.? In terms of population, China?s inclusion in the ?not free? category made it the largest of the three groupings. Freedom House emphasizes in its methodology that it ?does not maintain a culture-bound view of freedom?, whilst noting that ?American leadership in international affairs is essential to the cause of human rights and freedom". Overall the report finds that there has been a ?freedom recession? and an ?authoritarian resurgence? in the last year. ____________________________________ OPINION / OTHER January 13, Irrawaddy You've got mail, Than Shwe! ? Aung Zaw You may have heard we have a little problem with a former postal clerk in Burma. Before joining the army in the early 1950s the young man delivered letters and packages to people in central Burma. We should assume then that as a messenger of the state he learned to appreciate the importance most people put on communication and the social grace to respond in kind when someone corresponds with you. Now head of Burma's military junta, Snr-Gen Than Shwe must receive a lot of mail: official transcripts, secret reports and dossiers, military analysis, international dispatches, petitions, even birthday cards from his relatives. Detained Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi sent two letters to the military dictator in September and November last year. In those letters, we are told, she expressed her willingness to sit down and talk with him. As a further gesture, she indicated that she wanted to work with him to achieve national reconciliation and to discuss a strategy to encourage Western nations to lift sanctions on the country. (I understand that Suu Kyi cannot request the US and the EU to lift sanctions unless she is freed along with other political prisoners, and a meaningful political process is seen to be in progress.) I believe the olive branch that The Lady offered to Than Shwe was an opportunity for him to open a dialogue with the opposition and a gift-wrapped invitation to help untangle Burma from its international isolation. The former postal clerk did not respond to her letters. Suu Kyi was gracious and did not give in. In her second letter, she repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Than Shwe (perhaps hoping that flattery would sooth his stubborn ego) in spite of her extended house arrest and the bogus trial he subjected her to last year. Like a spoilt child sent to his room, Than Shwe remained defiant by demonstrating a sullen silence. Suu Kyi tried another tack??she asked the regime leader to allow her to meet with three senior leaders from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. This time, her wish was granted and she was able to meet with and pay respect to the ailing veterans at a government guest house. However, she was not allowed to meet all the party's senior leaders. I guess Than Shwe must be reading her letters, after all. This is not the first time the junta strongman has been lost for words when dealing with Suu Kyi. Almost a year after her convoy was brutally ambushed in Depayin in May 2003, she sent a letter to Than Shwe stating that the NLD was ready to work with the government. But the former mail-boy refused to reply. Suu Kyi's courage, selflessness and humanity contrasted starkly with Than Shwe's immaturity, pettiness and malice. As if it were a noble gesture, Than Shwe this week magnanimously granted the detained opposition leader a meeting with her lawyers to discuss her upcoming appeal against the extension of her house arrest (as if the rule of law actually existed in Burma), and to address a petty objection by her estranged brother to her performing repairs on her lakeside home. It is therefore clear that Than Shwe reads the letters he receives from the NLD leader. We can imagine him sweating with nerves as he opens the envelope, brooding over her words, his face turning dark with jealousy and fear when he realizes yet again that he is no match for her. He will ponder for days how he can respond to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Lost for words, he will sink into silence. This year, Than Shwe will probably receive more letters from Aung San Suu Kyi. But we wonder whether the former mail-boy will ever get the message.