From editor at burmanet.org Tue Aug 19 17:22:17 2003 From: editor at burmanet.org (editor@burmanet.org) Date: Tue Mar 9 07:32:42 2004 Subject: BurmaNet News: August 19 2003 Message-ID: <25705.63.173.78.131.1061328137.squirrel@webmail.pair.com> August 19 2003 Issue #2308 INSIDE BURMA DVB: Gen Khin Nyunt meets ceasefire groups? leaders DVB: Ex-NLD MPs sent an open letter to General Than Shwe DVB: Policemen were arrested for their opinions Kao Wao: Buddhist Monks: Stay Away from Politics Kaladan: Money Extorted From Farmers for Model Village MONEY Guardian: PricewaterhouseCoopers involvement in Burma REGIONAL DVB: Where would the new Road Map Plan lead to? STATEMENT SUARAM: Burmese Asylum Seekers Arrested in Malaysia INSIDE BURMA Democratic Voice of Burma August 19, 2003 Gen Khin Nyunt meets ceasefire groups? leaders Sr Gen Maung Aye, the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) deputy commander in chief of the Defence Services, and party has been visiting China, while Gen Khin Nyunt, the SPDC chief of military intelligence, met and held talks with the leaders of the cease-fire groups in Rangoon on 18 August. The leaders of nine ceasefire groups are being seen individually and mainly regional development issues are being discussed, said one leader of a ceasefire group. When asked if the general explained to him May 30 Dipeyin incident to him, the same leader said that he is unable to say the details of the discussion. According to earlier reports, the ethnic national leaders were summoned to Rangoon to meet the general because seven ceasefire groups sent a letter to the SPDC?s leader general Than Shwe on the 1st of July in concerning with Dipeyin incident. The seven are Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Kayan New Land Party (KNLP), Karenni Nationals People Liberation Front (KNPLF), Shan State Nationalities People?s Liberation Organisations (SSNPLO), Palaung State Liberation Organisation (PSLO) and Shan State Peace Council (SSPC). According to today?s Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN), all the ceasefire groups were met by the deputy military intelligence chief, Maj Gen Kyaw Win on Saturday. Quoting a Shan delegate who attended the meeting, SHAN said that the general didn?t say a word about the joint statement of the seven groups but elaborately explained to them about the 30 May Dipeyin incident. _____________________ Democratic Voice of Burma August 19, 2003 Ex-NLD MPs sent an open letter to General Than Shwe Twenty MPs dismissed from NLD party sent open letter to SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe to form interim government. The letter, dated 7 August, contained seven points and the main point is to form an interim government as soon as possible. The letter suggested those that should be in the interim government are persons selected by the military government, political party representatives from the CRPP (Committee Representing People's Parliament), and ethnic national leaders who signed ceasefire agreements. All political parties should be allowed to be members of the CRPP, urges the letter. Moreover the military and the CRPP should jointly find means to allow all armed groups that have not signed cease-fire agreements to participate in the interim administration, the letter suggested. The letter also proposed that the three tasks of the interim government should be - to release all the political prisoners immediately - to grant amnesty for all the atrocities committed by the military government in the past 15 years, and - to convene a peoples' assembly based on the results of the 1990 elections. The letter was posted to SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe and copies were also sent to National League for Democracy (NLD), Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), National Unity Party (NUP), and the other seven legally-standing political parties. A representative from an ethnic national party told the DVB that it hasn?t received the letter and it is assumed that it was confiscated by the postal authority but the contents of the letter were informed to them by phone. The signatories to the letter on behalf of the expelled 20 NLD MPs : - Daw Khin Aye Myint, the MP of Yankin Township, Rangoon Division - U Kyi Win the MP of No.1, Mingaladon Township, Rangoon Division - U Tin Tun Maung the MP of No.2 Mingladon Township in Rangoon - U Than Tun, the MP of No.2, Daydayae Township in Irrawaddy Division - U Tin Win the MP of No.2, Kyaiklat Township, Irrawaddy Division - U Tun Shwe the MP of No.2, Moenyo Township, Pegu Division. We have reported that a meeting was held at Daw Khin Win Myint?s house on the 1st of August to discuss this matter, but it was not known then that the MPs were going to send a letter thus but it was rumoured that the MPs were having a meeting for anti-Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD activities. The observers on Burmese politics are surprised by the MPs? change of tactic from being anti-Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD to anti-military government. The observers are at the same time puzzled by the exclusion of the demands for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the enquiry into Dipeyin incident. On the other hand, they are also questioning the timing of the MPs? action as the letter comes out almost at the same time as that of Thailand?s road map proposal. ______________________ Democratic Voice of Burma August 18, 2003 Policemen were arrested for their opinions Six policemen were dismissed and sent to one year imprisonment with hard labour for expressing their dissatisfaction with the Tabayin incident on 30 May. In June, some policemen from Khamaunggyi police station, Kawthaung Township, discussed loudly and openly their opinion when they were drunk. ?Although senior police officers warned them, they talked back instead of being quiet,? said some local residents. ?As a result, they were detained on 13 June and the police tribunal heard the final hearing on 3 August and dismissed them from services.? Although there have been some reports about the dissatisfaction with the Tabayin incident on 30 May among the police and the defense services, it is the first time that someone have been charged and punished. Another similar accident happened on 5 August. Military intelligence personnel arrested Ko Yu Lwin from Monywa, for participating in the 30 May incident and his mother Phwa Tin. Those dismissed from police services - Thein Win (the Police Superintendent) - Tin Tun (Sergeant, Police Corporal) - Khin Maung Win (Police Privates) - Zaw Zaw (Police Privates) - Zaw Zaw Aung (Police Privates) - Myo Zaw Oo (Police Privates) According to our source, authorities are planning to transfer them from Kawthaung to Mergui jail. ______________________ Kao Wao News Group August 14, 2003, Buddhist Monks: Stay Away from Politics By Banya Hongsar Bangkok?The Rangoon regime recently ordered Buddhist monks in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, to stay away from engaging in politics. Ministry of Home Affair warned that Buddhist monks must remain in the temples if there is a ?people strike? in towns. Army Generals lack understanding of Buddhist monks? role in national reconciliation and civil society building process. For over ten years, the Rangoon regime has routinely killed, jailed, mistreated, and disrobed leading Buddhist monks who support peace, democracy, and human rights in the country. Members of the Sangkha led by the Supreme Monk Council in Rangoon are powerless to influence the Rangoon regime to not attack democracy activists in Burma, instead they are preached at and threatened by Senior Generals to shut up and are manipulated to sign documents saying they will stay away from politics. Pro-democracy Buddhist monk communities especially in Mandalay, Rangoon, and Moulmein and other major cities remain active in cooperating with young students and politicians to bring about a ?Regime Change?. In the last week of July, Burmese secret agents searched for hard evidence linking anti-Rangoon activities to the Suvannabumi Mon Temple in Thaketa Town, a source from Rangoon said. The Rangoon based Mon Young Monks Organization works to enhance the role of civil society in the context of religious teaching. A few Mon monks have published annual ?Magazines? both in Mon and Burmese languages as well as opening free ?Summer Classes?? to Mon children in Rangoon and the surrounding area. The Burmese Secret Police keep a close watch over such activities for many years but the Monks? community carefully conducts teaching classes in line with Buddhist rules. Last year, the Rangoon based Mon youth monks were restricted to publish an ?annual magazine? instead they hand copies to local New Mon State Party members for publication and distribution. The magazine contains no political content but the publication is aimed to encourage Mon children who do not have enough reading material during the school holiday. According to a media release by ?Central Mon Literature and Culture Association? on June 2002, 34 senior representatives of a language committee has a policy to foster the teaching and learning of Mon language with a collective effort of local Buddhist temples and community halls. The Department of Religious Affairs never acknowledges the existing Mon Civil Society led by senior monks in the Mon Territory. The pro-democracy Buddhist monk community has been involved in a ?People Uprising? along with their fellow layman in all important historic events, in 1947, 1988 and 1990 democracy campaigns. Local Buddhist monks do not seek power in Burma. Leading senior Buddhist monks have always played a key role in shaping civil society and harmony based on the teaching of the Buddha Gotama. The Rangoon regime led by Senior General Than Shwe distorts the image of the Buddhist community while he uses his thug groups to beat up people and attack leaders of the National League for Democracy and democracy activists. Former Dictator General Ne Win acted like Saddam Hussein in oppressing a religious community and anyone who criticizes his government. Senior Buddhist monks are banned from publishing public statements of social concern to the nation, a practice that has been part of Buddhism for at least 2 thousand years. The Ministry of Home Affairs employs thousands of military personnel as informers in major temples in Rangoon, Mandalay, Moulmein and other major cities in the last ten years to keep an active ?Watch? on the activities of young monks in the temples. Informers work as ?Temple Men? in major temples including even Burma?s temples abroad to obtain information. The Rangoon Regime fools the public by holding its own ceremonies and religious events while joining in the gathering in full uniform. Moreover, Pro-Regime senior monks are offered television sets and other luxury items for the temple as a bribe. Some Buddhist monks have gone to great lengths and have risked their lives in promoting national reconciliation. The role of senior monks and monk scholars cannot be overlooked and must have a place in the future of Burma or the transition to peace and stability may be disrupted for decades to come. Thousands of pro-democracy monks in Mandalay, Rangoon and Moulmein have the capacity to lead peace and promote civil society in their respected towns and villages. Rev Uttama, Rev Wisara and their fellow monks were against British rule and the monks in Bangkok played a leading role in assisting the Burma Independence Army (BIA) led by General Aung San in a Bangkok Buddhist Temple in the 1940s to achieve independence. Senior Mon monks located at Yannawa in Bangkok now administer the temple. For many years, leading senior monks have distanced themselves from the corrupt Rangoon regime but focus instead on Buddha?s teaching. However, the Generals obsessed with their grip on power seek out those who fall prey to ?Honorary Titles.? There was a well-recorded history of Monk?s initiatives in the Burmese political context but its track record has been removed from the archives. The Buddha once said: ?A man without moral principles should not receive homage of others?. However, the Rangoon Generals have forced ordinary people to ?worship? them in public events. The Rangoon Generals treat the Buddhist monk as a religious worker and receives no social access to government services. Educated monks have left to other countries for further studies because they are excluded from participating in society. ________________________ Kaladan News August 19, 2003 Money Extorted From Farmers for Model Village Buthidaung, August17: The Buthidaung Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) Chairman had extorted Kyat 250,000/-from five farmers under the pretext of establishing a model village for Buddhist settlers, according to our correspondent. On August 9, 2003, by the order of TPDC Chairman, a survey team headed by an officer named San Mya Kyaw went to the village of Nanragoon in Buthidaung Township of Arakan State and made a field survey of the farmland measuring about 22 acres to establish a model village for the new settlers, he further added. Then the TPDC had seized a total of 22 acres of farmland belonging to five Rohingya farmers of the village as follows: 4 acres from Mohamed Yunus, son of Fayas, 3 acres from Mohamed Tayub, son of Golam Hussain, 4.6 acres from Farid Ullah, son of Gulam Hussain, 6 acres from Abul Hussain, son of Hussain and 4.4 acres from Gura Meah, son of Hussain, a villager said to our source. After a few days, when the five farmers approached to the Chairman of the TPDC with request to spare their farmland from the project of the model village, the victims had to pay a bribe of Kayats 250,000/- in demand for the purpose, he further said. MONEY The Guardian (London) August 19, 2003 City diary (excerpt) By Richard Adams The Burma Campaign UK is preparing its latest "dirty list", naming and shaming those companies prepared to take filthy lucre from doing business in Burma, home to the world's most brutal military regime. In the process of checking its facts, the campaign wrote to those with an active involvement in Burma for an explanation. Last week it had a reply from a senior partner at accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers. "The UK member firm of the PricewaterhouseCoopers network of firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has no presence in nor any associations with any organisation in Burma," wrote Kieran Poynter. Excellent. "Further, the PricewaterhouseCoopers network of firms does not have a member firm in Burma." Hats off . . . hang on, what's this? "One member of the PricewaterhouseCoopers network does have an ownership interest in an entity operating in Burma . . ." oops! ". . . but we understand that such interest is in the process of being re-evaluated." To recap: PwC does not do business in Burma - except for the part of PwC that does do business in Burma. Simple. REGIONAL Democratic Voice of Burma August 18, 2003 Where would the new Road Map Plan lead to? The Road Map plan consists of two parts. The first one involves dialogues within Burma and between the international communities. The plan is for SPDC to take the advice from opposition groups inside Burma and international communities. Then the military junta is expected to discuss and implement those advices, according to DVB?s source. The plan was split into two parts because SPDC said that it is unable to accept the interference of the international community in the domestic affairs of Burma, said a source who is close to the circle. Also, our source told DVB that the Thai government particularly wants the SPDC to attend an international meeting and to accept Thailand to. In order to implement the plan, the Thai government is also planning to organise an international conference on Burma before the upcoming ASEAN meeting in October which would be attended by China, Japan, EU and the US. At the moment, Thailand is persuading the SPDC to attend the meeting, said our source. There may also be meetings to let Burmese opposition groups to discuss the road map informally. Some Thai foreign officials, Burmese experts and some opposition leaders met at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok to discuss the topics behind closed doors. The road map was mainly envisaged and drafted by Mr Phutrakul from the Thai foreign ministry. He was the Thai ambassador to Burma in the early 90s and is a top Thai diplomat. He went to Burma last weekend and discussed the road map plan with the SPDC leaders. According to our source, some contents of the plans concern the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, rebuilding of trust, writing of a constitution, distribution of power and to hold election. The plan also includes reduction of international communities? sanctions on Burma by means of setting standards of reform and the rate of change. Although it is not known how long it will take to restore democracy in Burma, the purpose is ending the military rule in Burma by 2006 when Burma will become the president of ASEAN. STATEMENT Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) August 19, 2003 URGENT ALERT Today starting at 7 am, the Malaysian police arrested more than 300 asylum seekers at the vicinity of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Liaison Office (UNHCR).The majority of those arrested were Acehnese but there were also other nationalities including Burmese. Of those arrested, there are 17 women and 4 children. Currently, the arrested persons are being detained at the Brickfield Police Station in Kuala Lumpur. UNHCR recently change the registering system of new asylum seekers to only a day on Tuesday and this has resulted in the swelling of numbers of asylum seekers converging at UNHCR. Last Tuesday saw more than 650 asylum seekers at UNHCR. The police had previously monitored the situation with numerous police officers and personnel filming and photographing the asylum seekers. UNHCR officers are currently in contact with the Malaysian authorities to resolve the situation. They were given access to the asylum seekers at the police station. A SUARAM coordinator was denied access to the asylum seekers at the police station. Please voice your concerns and protests at the arrest and continuing detention of these asylum seekers. Dato Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister's Office, Federal Government Administration Center, 62502 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA Fax: +603 8888 3444, E-mail: ppm@smpke.jpm.my Dato Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, Minister of Home Affairs & Deputy Prime Minister, Aras 13, Blok D1, Parcel D, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 65202 Putrajaya, Malaysia, Fax: + 603 8886 8014, E-mail: tpm@smpke.jpm.my Stanley Augustin Deputy Public Prosecutor's office, Timbalan Pendakwa Raya, Jabatan Peguam Negara, Tingkat 16, Bahagian Pendakwaan, Bangunan Bank Rakyat, Jalan Tangsi 50512, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Fax 603-2698 4457 Tan Sri Gani Patail Attorney General's office, Peguam Negara, Jabatan Peguam Negara, Aras 3, Block C3, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia, Fax 603-8888 9377 Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) 29th Floor Menara Tun Razak Jalan Raja Laut 50350 Kuala Lumpur Fax: 603-2612 5620 E-mail: humanrights@suhakam.org.my Tan Sri Norian Mai Chief Inspector of Police Ibu Pejabat Polis DiRaja Malaysia Bukit Aman 50502 Kuala Lumpur Fax: 603- 2273 1326 / 2272 2710 OCPD Zul Hasnan Brickfield Police Station Kuala Lumpur Fax: 603- 2273 0885 Released by: Eric Paulsen Coordinator SUARAM