BurmaNet News, May 15-17, 2010

[Editor]

May 15-17, 2010, Issue #3962


INSIDE BURMA
Irrawaddy: Death rate of elderly, children rising with temperatures
Narinjara: "Regional Development Office" opened for election campaign
DVB Radio: Burmese monks said trying to raise political awareness

BUSINESS / TRADE
Xinhua: Myanmar to grant giant private entrepreneurs to run banks
SteelOrbis: Essar to implement giant project in Myanmar
Xinhua:

HEALTH / HIV
Reuters: HIV among gay, bisexual men at alarming highs in Asia

ASEAN
Jakarta Post: Indonesian-Malaysian task force will monitor pact on migrant
workers

INTERNATIONAL
VOA: US extends sanctions on Burma
Asia Times: US engagement with Myanmar falters
Xinhua: Germany to provide full scholarships for Myanmar graduate students

OTHER
Scavenger: Oil and gas firms profit from rape in Burma – Zetty Brake


____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

May 17, Irrawaddy News Magazine
Death Rate of Elderly, Children Rising with Temperatures – Lawi Weng

Record temperatures in Burma have led to an increased number of deaths
among children and the elderly in Rangoon and Mandalay townships,
according to social workers.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Monday, actor Kyaw Thu, who works with the
Rangoon-based charity Free Funeral Services Society (FFSS), said that
organization provides funerals for about 70 people a day now: “The number
of deaths in Rangoon increased after the high temperatures started in
April. Before April, between 40 and 50 died daily.” FFSS provides free
clinic and funeral services in Rangoon.

“Seventy-six people died yesterday,” he said. “Many are elderly and
children who don't have resistance.” Kyaw Thu said that FFSS has a
shortage of drivers. Some drivers provide transport seven or eight times a
day.

About 200 people die daily now at the main government public hospital in
Mandalay, according to a social worker in Mandalay.

“Many patients come to the hospital and there is no accommodation for them
to stay. The medics let them stay outside,” he said. “The funeral car also
isn't allowed to enter the hospital area because there are crowds of
people.”

One source said that some funeral service businesses have a shortage of
cars and some people are using Hilux transport to carry bodies to a
funeral service or cemetery.

Due to the extreme temperatures, many people have suffered dehydration and
heat stroke. Temperatures in Rangoon, Pegu and Irrawaddy divisions and in
central Burma have reached three-decade record highs of up to 45 degree
Celsius, according to official reports.

The excessive heat has dried up water ponds in many villages, leading to a
shortage of water for drinking and hygiene. Many communities in need have
received emergency water supplies from volunteer workers.

State-run newspapers reported on Sunday that “Under the arrangements of
the state, the local authorities, departments concerned, nongovernmental
organizations and local people collaborate to supply adequate drinking
water to the regions facing a shortage of water.”

Sources, however, said that the regime-backed civic group, the Union
Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), has ordered organizations
that provide waster relief to mark their vehicles with a USDA flag.

“USDA members stopped donors’ cars and asked them to place the USDA flag
on their vehicles. If the donors don't place their flag on the car, they
won't be allowed to distribute water,” said a source in Pegu.

Local authorities questioned aid workers and took photographs of people
who distributed water earlier in the week, local sources said.

____________________________________

May 17, Narinjara News
"Regional Development Office" Opened for Election Campaign

Maungdaw - The Union Solidarity Development Association party, or USDA, is
now arranging to open a "Regional Development Office" in order to mobilize
Muslim communities in Maungdaw and Buthidaung for the upcoming election.

Deputy Home Minister U Phone Swe, along with 20 Muslim businessmen living
in Rangoon and elsewhere in Burma, arrived at Maungdaw yesterday to open
the office.

An official from the Maungdaw District office said, "Phone Swe arrived in
Maungdaw yesterday afternoon along with several Muslim businessmen. We
went to the district office to receive them. They're visit is for the
election campaign."

U Aung Zaw Win and U Aung Naing, well-known Muslim businessmen who are
active leaders in the program, also accompanied U Phone Swe.

"U Aung Zaw Win and U Aung Naing have distributed a lot of funds for the
regional development program. The office will be opened to carry out
development in the region with their donations," the official said.

According to a local source, the regional development office in Maungdaw
is likely to open today. During the opening ceremony, Deputy Home Minister
Phone Swe will deliver a speech to the Muslim community calling on their
support for the USDA party.

A businessman from Maungdaw said, "The Regional Development Office is
targeted to the Muslim community in the Maungdaw and Buthidaung area. The
USDA will organize the Muslim community from the office by giving much
assistance like constructing roads, schools, and clinics in the area. But
the funds will be contributed by Muslim businessmen, not the government,"
the official said.

Phone Swe and Western Command Commander General Thaung Aye were tasked by
the high authority in Naypyidaw with mobilizing Muslim people to vote for
the junta-supported party in the upcoming election, said another source.

The government also has plans to issue ID cards labeled as "Myanmar
Muslim" to members of the Muslim community in western Arakan State, in
order to entice them to support the USDA party.

Until now, the military authorities have issued white national ID cards to
Muslims in northern Arakan. They identify the holders as Bengali Muslim
who are not entitled to citizenship in Burma.

Some other Muslim leaders in northern Arakan reportedly have plans to form
a political party called the Democratic Human Rights Party to run against
the USDA party in the election. The party still has to submit its
application to the Election Commission to officially form a political
party.

____________________________________

May 15, Democratic Voice of Burma Radio
Burmese monks said trying to raise political awareness with CD campaign -
U Khin Maung Latt

Text of report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma website,
on 15 May

Monks in Burma have started distributing a CD to the people on 14 May to
protest the transformation of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association (USDA) into a political party.

Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) correspondent U Khin Maung Latt filed this
report.

[Begin recording] [DVB] The All Monks Alliance and the Front to Protect
the Sasana [Buddhism] published a CD on 14 May and started distributing it
in 26 townships of Burma with the goal of raising the political awareness
of the people. [Passage omitted on poorly recorded interview with a monk -
Ashin Dhamma Raja]

The CD was distributed in 26 townships of Rangoon, Pegu, Magwe, and
Mandalay Divisions, said Ashin Dhamma Raja.

A youth from Natmauk Township of Magwe Division who received the CD said:

[Unidentified youth] I am from Natmauk of Magwe Division. We did not have
anyone to guide us. When we received the CD, we became motivated. It gave
us something to do. We received the CD from a monk while he was going
around for alms. We have plans to distribute the CD. We will be taking
further action and will discuss what to do with that monk. We are
encouraged by what is written in the CD [words indistinct].

[DVB] Ashin Dhamma Raja also expresses his opinion about the USDA forming
a political party.

[Ashin Dhamma Raja] They have been committing political injustices,
including ones against our Saffron Revolution [words indistinct]. For them
to be transforming a social organization into a political party is totally
unacceptable. [Passage omitted] [End recording]

That was a report by U Khin Maung Latt.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

May 17, Xinhua
Myanmar to grant giant private entrepreneurs to run banks –Zhang Mingyu,
Editor

Yangon-- Myanmar authorities are considering to grant permission to four
giant private entrepreneurs to open private banks in the country, sources
said on Monday.

The four giant entrepreneurs are U Tay Za (Htoo trading company group), U
Zaw Zaw (Max Myanmar Co.Ltd), U Nay Aung (IGE) and U Chit Khine (Ayedin
Co. Ltd).

There are 14 private banks in operation so far in this country, and 13 of
them are located in the capital city Yangon.

____________________________________

May 17, SteelOrbis via Alibaba.com
Essar to implement giant project in Myanmar

India's leading engineering, procurement and construction company Essar
Projects (India) Ltd announced on May 14 that it has signed a contract
with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to execute port and inland
water transport components of the ‘Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport
Project' in Myanmar.

Essar said that the contract involves the construction of two jetties at
Sittwe and Paletwa in Myanmar, dredging and construction of cargo barges,
etc., to facilitate cargo movement along the river Kaladan, adding that
the construction of a port at Sittwe is a major component of the contract.

This project is being carried out by the government of India under a
framework agreement between the two countries to ease the movement of
goods from mainland India to the northeastern states of India, and also
for the development of infrastructure in Myanmar. .

The contract signed by Essar is to be executed within 36 months and is
worth Rupees 3.42 billion ($75.8 million).

____________________________________

May 17, Xinhua
Myanmar to export more items directly through Mandalay airport

Yangon - The Myanmar authorities are planning to export more items of
commodities directly through the Mandalay International Airport in the
northern city, starting June this year, as part of its bid to enhance
foreign trade, sources with the aviation authorities said on Monday.

The new export items added are meat, marine and timber products and others
in addition to the existing flowers and vegetables only, the sources said,
adding that the direct export will help meet urgent foreign demand for
prompt delivery of the fresh commodities.

Myanmar has started exporting through air route this year in addition to
that through land route and water route.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's foreign trade volume hit nearly 11.8 billion U.S.
dollars in the 2009-10 fiscal year which ended in March, up 24 percent
compared with the previous year's 8.86 billion dollars.

Of the total, 10.5 billion dollars were gained from normal trade while 1.3
billion dollars obtained from border trade.

____________________________________
HEALTH / HIV

May 17, Reuters
HIV among gay, bisexual men at alarming highs in Asia - Tan Ee Lyn

Hong Kong - HIV prevalence among gay and bisexual men has hit alarming
levels in Asia and most of them do not have access to services and care
due to punitive laws which drive them underground, a U.N.-backed report
said on Monday.

Health

The situation may worsen if countries fail to reverse laws that
criminalize sex between adult males and cross-dressing, and selectively
prosecute gay and bisexual men using public order and prostitution
offences, it added.

"Nineteen of 48 countries in the Asia Pacific region criminalize
male-to-male sex, and these laws often take on the force of vigilantism,
often leading to abuse and human rights violations," according to the
report.

"Even where there are no specific offences for male-to-male sex, MSM (men
who have sex with men) and transgender people are subject to police abuses
and are targeted by police for other offences relating to public order,
vagrancy, prostitution and obscenity."

Put together by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asia
Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCPM) and the University of Hong
Kong's Center for Comparative and Public Law, the report said HIV
prevalence among gay and bisexual men has been rising in many Asian
countries.

For example, HIV prevalence among gay and bisexual men in Bangkok was now
30.8 percent compared to 1.4 percent in the adult population in Thailand.
In Yangon, the figure was 29.3 percent versus 0.7 percent in Myanmar;
while in Mumbai, it was 17 percent versus 0.36 percent in all of India.

Over 90 percent of gay and bisexual men in Asia do not have access to HIV
prevention and care services, the report said. It cited examples of
repressive laws or lack of anti-discrimination laws preventing these men
from getting the help they needed.

These include HIV prevention services being interrupted by police
harassment of outreach workers, many of whom are MSM or transgender peer
educators. Condoms and lubricants are also confiscated by police as
evidence of sex work or of illegal male-to-male sex.

The report urged for the repeal of laws that criminalize sex between men
and the enactment of anti-discrimination laws.

"The effectiveness of the HIV response will depend not just on the
sustained scale up of HIV prevention, treatment and care, but on whether
the legal and social environment support or hinder programs for those who
are most vulnerable" said Mandeep Dhaliwal, UNDP Cluster Leader on Human
Rights, Gender & Sexual Diversity.

____________________________________
ASEAN

May 17, Jakarta Post

Joint Indonesian-Malaysian Task Force Will Monitor Pact on Migrant Workers
- Ismira Lutfia and Camelia Pasandaran

A joint task force will be formed to monitor a long-awaited agreement to
protect Indonesian workers in Malaysia after it is signed today.

“There will be a joint committee involving members of the Malaysian Home
Affairs Ministry, Malaysian Police and our embassies,” Indonesian Manpower
and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said on Monday before
departing for Singapore and Malaysia with President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono.

Yudhoyono is scheduled to sign the memorandum of understanding covering
migrant workers in Kuala Lumpur today after visiting Singapore.

The agreement has been in the works for months since Indonesia imposed a
moratorium on sending workers to Malaysia last June. That followed a
string of high-profile cases in which Indonesians were physically abused
by their employers.

As well as dealing with abuse, the agreement aims to address other labor
issues such as the workers’ right to keep their passports while in
Malaysia, their right to a day off each week and the setting of a minimum
wage.

Muhaimin said the agreement that would be signed by the president would
include the passport issue and the right to a day off.

“We’ve agreed to some points, such as passports being held by workers, one
day off a week,” he said. “The salary will be set by each country,
according to the proper wage standard of the market. How much it is will
be defined in the work contract.”

Concerning the cost of placements, Muhaimin said that would be decided by
the private companies that managed the process for the workers.

There are an estimated two million Indonesians working in Malaysia, the
country’s top destination for migrant workers, but only 1.2 million have
legal documents.

Indonesia will resume sending migrant workers after the agreement is signed.

Wahyu Susilo, a migrant worker policy expert from Migrant Care, told the
Jakarta Globe that despite securing some basic rights for workers, the new
agreement did not guarantee their right to form or join a union, which was
a “very important” issue.

“There should also be a commitment from the Malaysian government to
prosecute its citizens who commit violence [against the workers],” Wahyu
said.

Amnesty International said in a report released in March that migrant
workers from countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh and Burma were lured
to Malaysia by promises of high salaries but often ended up being
exploited and abused.

Wahyu said what remained to be seen with the new agreement was whether it
would be effectively implemented.

He said he was not confident the joint task force would be effective in
monitoring the agreement’s enforcement.

“Ideally, it should not consist only of representatives from both
governments, but also from civil society organizations,” Wahyu said.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

May 15, Voice of America
US extends sanctions on Burma

The United States has formally extended sanctions against Burma's military
government for another year.

President Barack Obama informed Congress of the decision Friday, saying
Burma poses a continuing threat to U.S. national security and foreign
policy.

He added that Burma's actions and policies are hostile to U.S. interests.

The existing sanctions on Burma must be renewed annually.  They were set
to expire next week.

Despite the sanctions, President Obama has been making an effort to engage
the isolated country.

Earlier this week, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell visited
Burma for a two-day trip, during which he met with leaders of the military
junta and detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The United States has strongly criticized Burma for upcoming election
plans that effectively exclude Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League
for Democracy party.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
____________________________________


May 18, Asia Times Online
US engagement with Myanmar falters - Brian McCartan

Bangkok - After the only outcomes of a visit to Myanmar by a high-level
United States diplomat were "profound" disappointment over its election
preparations and a stronger line over its nuclear links with North Korea,
President Barack Obama on Friday formally extended sanctions against the
country.

Washington's extension of the sanctions followed the visit of US Assistant
Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Kurt Campbell to
Naypyidaw, the capital, on May 9 for a two-day visit. Campbell met top
officials such as Foreign Minister Nyan Win, Information Minister Kyaw
Hsan, Science and Technology Minister U Thaung - the point man for
US-Myanmar engagement - and Labor Minister U Aung Kyi.

Charged with assessing Myanmar's preparations for elections to be held on
an as-yet unspecified date this year - its first polls since 1991 -
Campbell also met members of the Union Election Commission, officials of
the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and other
government-affiliated political parties. On May 10, Campbell travelled to
Yangon, where he met senior leaders of the opposition National League for
Democracy (NLD), representatives of major ethnic groups and pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Campbell had earlier said he would only visit the country if he could meet
opposition members and Suu Kyi. He previously met the 64-year-old last
November, when he became the highest ranking US diplomat to visit Myanmar
in 14 years.

Before his visit, during a press conference in Bangkok on May 9, Campbell
said the US was concerned with the lead-up to the elections. "We're
troubled by much of what we've seen and we have very real concerns about
the elections laws and the environment that's been created."

Campbell's meetings in Naypyidaw seem to have only confirmed the US's
worst fears, with the envoy telling reporters in Yangon that he was
"profoundly disappointed" in the junta's approach to the elections.

"Unfortunately, the regime has chosen to move ahead unilaterally - without
consultation from key stakeholders - towards elections planned for this
year," he said. "As a direct result, what we have seen to date leads us to
believe that these elections will lack international legitimacy."

The NLD was officially dissolved on May 7, two days before Campbell's
arrival, after it declined to meet a May 6 registration deadline
stipulated by new election laws. The laws, which ban individuals serving
prison sentences from being members, would have forced the party to oust
Aung San Suu Kyi as its chairwoman due to her continued house arrest.

The party's headquarters in Yangon remains open and members are calling
for a boycott of the vote. Some 25 senior members of the party have
decided to form a new party and seek registration with the government,
though no decision has been made on their participation in the polls. The
government is yet to announce a date for the vote, though reports suggest
it could be in October.

Campbell also noted the junta's continued pressure on the country's ethnic
minority groups to disarm before the elections. "The regime has ratcheted
up the pressure on Burma's [Myanmar's] ethnic groups in preparation for
this year's elections, forcing countless innocent civilians to flee. Burma
cannot move forward while the government itself persists in launching
attacks against its own people to force compliance with a proposal its
ethnic groups cannot accept." The last sentence refers to the regime's
proposal that the armed wings of ethnic groups relinquished to army
control before the vote, a move many groups say would deprive them of
leverage against a regime that has frequently resorted to force.

Campbell also questioned Myanmar's relations with North Korea and its
commitment to implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1874, which
among other things bans the export of weapons and nuclear technology from
North Korea and authorizes member states to search suspected cargos.
Campbell mentioned "recent developments" that were likely related to
reports of North Korean involvement in Myanmar's nuclear program.

North Korean military assistance to Myanmar in the past has consisted of
hardware including artillery and surface-to-surface missiles.
Myanmar-exile magazine The Irrawaddy claimed on May 10 that the junta had
purchased mid-range missiles and rocket launchers from North Korea during
the Myanmar New Year in April. In addition, the magazine claimed,
"equipment necessary to build a nuclear capability was reportedly among
imported military supplies from North Korea".

Analysts believe North Korea is assisting the generals with a nuclear
program that includes the development of weapons. Two nuclear reactors are
believed to be under construction in Myanmar. One, at Naung Laing near the
town of Pyin Oo Lwin in central Mandalay Division, is being constructed
with North Korean help. Several thousand Myanmar military personnel have
undergone nuclear training in Russia and North Korea in recent years.
Desmond Ball, a defense analyst at Australia National University, believes
the reactor could be online in 2012 and a deliverable weapon could be
developed by 2020.

In order to build international confidence in Myanmar's commitment to the
UN Security Council resolution - imposed on Pyongyang in 2009 after
conducted an underground nuclear test - Campbell asked the regime to put
in place a "transparent process".

"Without such a process, the United States maintains the right to take
independent action within the relevant frameworks established by the
international community," said Campbell. The US had applauded Myanmar in
July for refusing to allow a North Korean-registered ship believed to be
carrying weapons to dock, forcing the ship to turn back.

The regime's response to Campbell's statement came in a long, rambling
article in the state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar on May 12. The
report was partly a description of Campbell's meetings with government
officials and partly an attempt to justify election laws and paint the
NLD's decision to not re-register as misguided.

The article said the new election laws did not target a specific person, a
reference to Aung San Suu Kyi, and that the banning of convicts to stand
in election is a normal practice in many countries, with all prisoners
grouped together, political or criminal. It also said that if the NLD
wants to carry out its aim of amending the controversial 2008
constitution, it should have joined the election process and tried to make
changes in the new parliament.

The constitution, passed through a referendum that observers say was
rigged, cannot be changed without a majority in parliament, something that
is almost impossible given the number of seats reserved for the military.

In response to a question on the possibility of independent election
monitors, the paper quoted retired Major General Thein Soe, head of the
Election Commission, as saying, "the nation has a lot of experience with
elections. We do not need election watchdogs to come here. Arrangements
have been made to ensure a free and fair election."

Seemingly at odds with this was a request by Information Minister Hsan for
unspecified American cooperation supporting the elections. "We would like
to receive your kind cooperation so that the election can be held
peacefully and successfully."

The New Light of Myanmar article welcomed the Barack Obama
administration's engagement policy and called on the US "to show a
positive attitude towards our internal affairs such as the drafting of the
constitution and measures for holding elections after issuing the
necessary laws for democratization process".

Prior to Campbell's visit to Myanmar there was no sign in Congress of a
"positive attitude" with for increased pressure on Myanmar's military
rulers that reflecting concerns that the Obama administration's
seven-month old engagement policy is not reaping the desired benefits.

On May 7, the senate called on the Obama administration to show solidarity
with the NLD and consider tighter sanctions on the junta. Senators
approved a resolution led by Judd Gregg, a Republican from New Hampshire,
requesting the regime enter dialogue with the NLD, free Suu Kyi from house
arrest and called for stronger US sanctions on Myanmar.

Obama on Friday formally extended sanctions against Myanmar that were
imposed in 1997, "because the actions and policies of the government of
Burma continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security and foreign policy of the United States". The sanctions bar
American firms from investing in Myanmar and bans Myanmar exports to the
United States.

A letter signed by nine senators was sent to Obama on March 26 urging full
implementation of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008 in
response to the widely criticized election laws. The act, which targets US
imports of Myanmar gemstones, also calls for the nomination of a special
representative and policy coordinator for Myanmar and additional banking
sanctions.


>From the outset the Obama administration has said that it would consider

maintaining or even increasing sanctions depending on the regime's
progress towards improving the human-rights situation and progressing
towards an inclusive democracy. Opponents of the Obama's engagement policy
say the generals have given little indication of moving in that direction.

The generals appear unfazed by American criticism and sanctions and most
analysts believe election preparations will continue in the same vein
regardless of international disapproval. The US, noting that a lack of
engagement also produced little benefit, is not likely to revert to its
previous strictly confrontational stance. This is especially so given
Myanmar's clear moves to acquire nuclear technology and North Korea's
perceived hand in the process.

Brian McCartan is a Bangkok-based freelance journalist. He may be reached
at brianpm at comcast.net.

____________________________________
May 17, Xinhua
Germany to provide full scholarships for Myanmar graduate students – Jiang
Yuxia, Editor

Yangon -- Germany will provide full scholarships for Myanmar graduate
students to help the country develop human resources, according to the
German embassy here Monday.

The graduate students will be chosen to attend master degree and doctor of
philosophy degree in Germany for 2011-12 academic year and the quota
offered for the scholarship to Myanmar students will not be limited, the
sources said.

The scholarships will cover studying the subjects of business
administration, political science, economics, science, economic
development, co-operation, engineering and related sciences, mathematics,
regional planning, agricultural and forest science, medicine, veterinary
and sociology, the sources added.

According to the sources, the scholarship application will close on July 31.

The German government provided scholarships for Myanmar students yearly
and in last year, a total of 20 Myanmar students won such scholarships.

____________________________________
OTHER

May 17, The Scavenger (Australia)
Oil and gas firms profit from rape in Burma – Zetty Brake

Foreign investment and income from oil and gas companies have enabled the
military dictatorship in Burma to greatly expand the country’s armed
forces who use rape as a weapon against ethnic women and girls, writes
Zetty Brake.

Burmese soldiers entered Naw Shee Shee Paw’s village looking for a Karen
girl. When told she wasn’t there, they demanded another girl, threatening
to kill the village leader if he didn’t find one.

Naw Shee Shee Paw’s aunt agreed to leave the village with the soldiers
taking her 25-year-old niece with her.

After a short time the soldiers ordered the aunt to turn back.  Naw Shee
Shee Paw said “I didn’t want to stay alone (with the soldiers) because I
was afraid of them”.

“After about 15 minutes walk two of them pulled me into the bushes and
raped me. The other one stood guard.  I tried to shout but they closed my
mouth. They raped me one by one on the ground in the bushes. I was alone
and afraid of them. While one of them closed my mouth, one raped me.  I
pushed them and tried to protect myself but they were too strong and there
were two of them and so I could not defend myself”, Naw Shee Shee Paw
said.

Naw Shee Shee Paw’s story is tragic and all too common for women and girls
in Burma.  Rape is used by the Burmese military as a weapon against ethnic
women and girls. Rape and sexual violence is an abuse that women and girls
face, in addition to the human rights violations that male members of
their community suffer.

Groups run by women from Burma have been extensively documenting evidence
over many years of the systematic rape of ethnic women by state actors. 
One report, License to Rape by the Shan Women’s Action Network, documented
173 incidents of rape and other forms of sexual violence in Shan State,
north-eastern Burma.

It found that 61% were gang rapes; 25% of rapes resulted in death and 83%
of rapes were committed by officers, usually in front of their troops. 
Only one case out of the 173 documented was the perpetrator punished.

Since 2002 the bodies of the UN and international community have
consistently condemned Burma’s military regime for using sexual violence
against women, particularly women belonging to ethnic nationalities.

The UN special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak’s 2006 report noted
“Women and girls are subjected to violence by soldiers, especially sexual
violence, as “punishment” for allegedly supporting ethnic armed groups.
The authorities sanction violence against women and girls committed by
military officers”.

Burma has been ruled by a number of military dictatorships since 1962. 
The latest dictatorship, the State Peace and Development Council, has
denied claims of rape by Burmese soldiers.

“The allegations regarding sexual violence against ethnic women and
children are baseless and aimed at discrediting the Government of Myanmar
[Burma] and Myanmar [Burmese] Military,” said U Wunna Maung Lwin the
SPDC’s permanent representative, during the 7th session of the UN Human
Rights Council in March 2008.

No one believes them. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Myanmar/Burma Professor Paulo Sergio Pinherio report in 2006
said “the failure to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible
for rape and sexual violence has contributed to an environment conducive
to the perpetuation of violence against women and girls in Myanmar”.

This system of impunity among soldiers that currently exists will be
further entrenched under the 2008 military-drafted constitution.  The
constitution offers impunity to all members of the armed forces for
actions they may have taken whilst performing their duties.

This blanket amnesty for members of the armed forces in Burma who have
violated human rights is just the last step in a long line of actions
taken by the military regime to cover their crimes against women.  Victims
who make complaints against perpetrators are often harassed further by
Burmese soldiers and have been detained, fined, tortured and even killed.

The role of oil and gas companies in human rights violations

When she was raped Naw Shee Shee Paw lived in a village close to a gas
pipeline that built by Total and Chevron, in partnership with a
state-owned company Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.

Large infrastructure projects like gas pipelines have meant higher
militarisation in surrounding areas, placing civilian populations at
increased risk of human rights violations.

Australia’s Twinza Oil is currently doing exploration for oil and gas in
Burma.  Should Twinza Oil’s project move forward, it is extremely likely a
pipeline will be built which will cause more Burmese soldiers to be
deployed along the pipeline, resulting increased human rights violations
against villagers.

Like Chevron and Total, Twinza Oil would go into partnership with the
Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. It is estimate that the Myanmar Oil and
Gas Enterprise’ stake in the project will earn the military regime US$2.5
billion.

At present there is nothing to stop Australian companies like Twinza Oil
investing in Burma, despite the negative impacts and direct links to human
rights violations these projects have.  However, targeted sanctions could
stop companies like Twinza Oil, profiting from the oppression of others.

Foreign investment and income from projects like Twinza Oil’s have enabled
the military dictatorship to greatly expand the country’s armed forces,
while neglecting basic public services like health and education.

The dictatorship spends between 40 and 60 per cent of the country’s budget
on the military, the 12th largest in the world.  In comparison less than
US$1 per person per year is spent on health care.  As a result of this
economic mismanagement, Burma is facing a significant, continuing
humanitarian crisis.

This crisis is particularly severe in Burma’s border areas, where the
Burmese army is carrying out military offensives targeting innocent
civilians.  These populations are extremely vulnerable and in urgent need
of humanitarian assistance. In eastern Burma one in five children dies
before their fifth birthday, one in 12 women die during childbirth or from
pregnancy and 12 per cent of the population is infected with malaria at
anytime.

Income from Burma’s extensive natural resources and foreign reserves,
estimated to be at US$5 billion by economists from Macquarie University
Australia, could be used to help address the humanitarian crisis.  However
the regime lacks the political to do so.

Moreover, the military regime actively prevents aid workers inside the
country from reaching vulnerable populations, like those in eastern Burma,
in turn exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Grassroots activism

However members of these communities, who have lived through this crisis,
are doing something about it.

Travelling by foot, refugees from Burma in neighbouring countries are
becoming aid workers; crossing back into Burma to provide urgently needed
assistance, like health care and food.  These cross-border aid workers
help thousands, including survivors of rape and sexual violence. Their
efforts save hundreds, if not thousands of lives each year.

Sadly, Australia’s aid program does not support these activities. Cross
border aid organisations struggle to secure funding for their work, and
when there is a budget shortfall desperately needed services are cut. For
already vulnerable people this can be a question of life and death.

Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi asked, “Please use your liberty
to promote ours”.

Successive Australian Governments have lacked the political will to take
strategic, practical actions that will help the people of Burma. It’s up
to us to answer Aung San Suu Kyi’s call and become a part of this movement
to change through grassroots activism and supporting the Burma Campaign
Australia.

Zetty Brake is the campaign co-ordinator for Burma Campaign Australia.