From editor at burmanet.org Wed Nov 19 14:18:32 2003 From: editor at burmanet.org (editor@burmanet.org) Date: Tue Mar 9 07:32:48 2004 Subject: BurmaNet News Nov 19, 2003 Message-ID: <20708.63.173.78.131.1069269512.squirrel@webmail.pair.com> Nov 19, 2003 Issue # 2372 INSIDE BURMA NCGUB: Preparing for 'National Day' NMG: The Largest gathering at Shwedagon Pagoda after May 30th bloodshed ON THE BORDER Shan: Ceasefire leader upset by Rangoon proviso Shan: Landmines kill two on the border Shan: Paddy fields inundated without notice REGIONAL Xinhua: Thai border police officer arrested for human smuggling CHRO: Suu Kyi Suporter Passed Away While on the Run INTERNATIONAL BBC Monitor: Burma's Karen rebels say national convention designed to propagate junta BBC Monitor: Burmese ethnic coalition spokesperson denies rift with cease-fire groups World Markets Research: Release of Prisoners Unlikely to Satisfy Myanmar's Democracy Campaigners OPNION / OTHER Nation: The second Burmese empire Sun Sentinel: Democracy here, dictators abroad STATEMENT Kuki Forum: KIF remembers victims of 1967 "Khadawmi Operation" INSIDE BURMA ____________________________________________ Nov 18, National Coalition Government of Burma, News Desk Preparing for 'National Day' A few weeks before the 83rd National Day on 18 November, the "veteran politicians" group invited all "political colleagues" to come commemorate the event at "No 3, Parami Road in Mayangon Township, Rangoon." The National League for Democracy (NLD), students, and democracy activists, had also arranged to celebrate the event in Rangoon and were expecting members from all over the country to join it. The preparations for the celebrations were proceeding relatively without a hitch until a few days before the actual commemorative event when authorities started summoning people and monks and warning them against holding political rallies. "We have learned about the National League for Democracy's (NLD) plan to hold political rallies and you are not to allow your place to be used for political purposes," SPDC officials warned the hosts. The hosts reportedly told authorities that the NLD wanted to visit Pagodas, offer food to the monks, and to listen to the sermons of the monks to commemorate National Day and there was nothing political about the whole exercise as the NLD always commemorated the event every year. SPDC officials particularly objected to the NLD members wearing traditional Burmese Pinni jacket and Kachin longgyi or sarong (generally recognized as NLD uniform) when they offer food to the monks and gather en masse at prearranged places. NLD members insisted that they were not committing any crime by wearing traditional dresses and said they were determined to go ahead with the celebrations. The D-Day NLD youths numbering in the hundreds started rallying at Thwe Say Kan near the Shwedagon Pagoda at around 1000. Wearing their traditional NLD uniform ? white collarless shirts, Pinni (orangey) jackets, and dark longgyis and sarongs -- they later marched in pairs, ascending the stairs of the Shwedagon Pagoda entering it from the Northern Entrance. They were joined by other NLD youths who had come to the Pagoda from other entrances. The youths then circled the Pagoda clockwise, offered flowers and lit candles at the "Tuesday Corner" (Aung San Suu Kyi was born on a Tuesday), and marched to the monument marking the 1920 Students Strike and "made pledges to continue the struggle until Burma attains democracy." While the NLD youths were gathering at the monument, about 100 security personnel, military intelligence agents reporting with cellular phones, and Pagoda security people arrived with batons and started videotaping and photographing the scene. The intelligence agents rudely told the youths to disperse, telling them that no more than five could gather together under the law, that the Pagoda was a place of worship and they could not assemble at that place wearing uniforms. The students left in pairs, exited the Pagoda from the Northern Entrance, and marched on to Sasana Gonyi Monastery at Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda where people along the way greeted them. Some followed the youths alongside under the watchful eyes of the security personnel who continued to videotape and photograph the youths. At the monastery, Rangoon Division NLD executives welcomed the youths who joined the religious ceremony attended by hundreds of people who offered food alms and recited "freedom prayers" for the NLD leaders. NewsDesk sources in Rangoon said the NLD youths were determined to continue acting en masse and wearing the NLD uniforms for three days. "Our colleagues in Irrawaddy, Pegu, Tenasserim, Mandalay, and Magwe Divisions will be doing the same today. They have kept our leaders under detention and our offices closed for too long, and they have done nothing about the Tabayin incident. Although our activity today is not much, it empowers us, we are determined to step up our activities," said a youth leader. The 'Veteran Politicians' The National Day commemorative event hosted by the veteran politicians became a political venue for pro-democracy parties to call on the military regime to change its position with political parties, including the NLD, reading out statements directed at the regime. The calls urged the generals "to release all political prisoners in jail as well as others under house arrest, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders" and "to begin a sincere dialogue on political reform" as it was "the only path to peace and national reconciliation" in the country. In a joint statement the political veterans said, "We firmly believe that a tripartite dialogue involving the military, the NLD, and ethnic nationalities is the one and only way to peace and national reconciliation We would like to remind the present leadership that procrastination and dragging its feet will only lead the country into further depths of poverty." Elected NLD Members of Parliament and representatives of the ethnic nationality organizations and forces were also present at the event. NLD MP U Thein Myint was critical of the fact that the NLD leadership was being detained and he called for their unconditional release. "We have traditionally held National Day commemorative ceremonies throughout the years but are unable to do so this year due to obvious reasons," he said. The statement by the veteran politicians also noted that many years had passed since the 1990 elections won by the NLD and that "the people's pro-democracy ambitions remained unfulfilled." _____________________________ Nov 18, Network Media Group The Largest gathering at Shwedagon Pagoda after May 30th bloodshed Over 350 NLD members from 35 townships around the country gathered at the corner of famous Shwedagon Pagoda to mark 83rd anniversary of Burma?s National Day. Youth members of Aung San Suu Kyi?s National League for Democracy take an oath for democracy in their country after paid tribute to their ancestors in 1920 who sacrificed their lives for Burma?s independence, one NLD Youth member from Rangoon said. At 10 am this morning, over 350 activists from 35 townships ie. 25 townships from Rangoon division, 3 from Irrawaddy division, 1 from Pegu division and 3 townships from Magwe division gather at Shwedagon platform, paid tribute and took oath at National Day Stone Pillar, a symbol of national sentiment and independence. One of NLD Youth members told NMG the purpose on paying tribute and gathering on this 83rd National Day. ?Our aim is to pay homage to our ancestors who gathered in this historic place and boycotted education policy of Colonialist in 1920. Likewise, we the Youth members of National League for Democracy take an oath in the same corner of Shwedagon Pagoda and pledge for democracy in our country with all of endeavors,? NLD Youth said. At 10 am, nearly 200 Youths wearing NLD uniforms who were gathering at Thway-Say-Kan walked hand-in-hand through from North stairway and prayed for their leader Aung San Suu Kyi at Tuesday corner of Shwedagon pagoda. Though there was no report of arrest on NLD members, the situation was almost outbreak when NLD Youths met heavy security personals and military intelligences this morning. However, both sides were able to control the situation peacefully. ?Nearly seventy polices and the Military Intelligence (MI) were monitoring us with still camera and video cameras. Authorities put iron-sieve around National Day Stone Pillar. Because the General Assembly in the United Nations is convening for the time being, we are lucky and not been arrested. But I?m not sure they may come my home and arrest me at night,? one NLD members said. NLD Youths walked around on stairway of Shwedagon and marched two-in-a-role up to Thar-tha-na-gone-ye monastery in Chauk-Htat-Kyi Pagoda and attended alms-offering to mark this 83rd ?National Day?. Although Rangoon government officially laid down the principles for the National Day, there is no report on celebration of National Day in Rangoon. Meanwhile Burmese military government officially issued the objectives of 83rd anniversary of National Day. These are (a) Keeping national spirit alive and dynamic and uplift of national prestige and integrity (b) Uplift of national education (c) Perpetuation of independence and sovereignty of the State (d) Success of seven-point future policy programme of the State. Democratic activists and the United Nations are widely criticizing the seven-step road-Map proposed by military government due to lack of time-frame and one-sided approach in the road map. Network Media Group ON THE BORDER ____________________________________________ Nov 19, Shan Ceasefire leader upset by Rangoon proviso Leaders of Mongla have been worrying over recent instructions from Rangoon concerning its representation at the impending reconvening of the 'National Convention' that has been adjourned since 1996, according to Mongla sources. The sources, who are members of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State, designated by Rangoon as Special Region#4 with its administrative seat in Mongla, opposite China's Daluo, said Burmese authorities wanted the same representatives that had attended the Convention before its abrupt interruption 7 years earlier. Sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, told S.H.A.N. how it was "a real headache to our chairman" Sai Leun a.k.a Lin Mingxian, better known as U Sai Lin to Rangoon authorities: The 4 former participants from Mongla at the NC were Sai Leun himself, Khun Hsanglu, Hsarmper and Chaypi a.k.a Kham Maw. However, Kham Maw had been executed after finding him guilty of treason in 1999. "The directive in effect requires us to bring him back to life," one of the officers quipped. Khun Hsanglu, one of Sai Leun's vice chairmen, understands very little Burmese, and no official interpreters in different languages are expected, if past experience is of any value. Moreover, together with the Shan State Army "North" and the United Wa State Army, the NDAA-ESS had, among other things, demanded the right to choose its own representatives on 15 October. Sai Leun, 54, according to the sources, has been very active since his recovery from a year long paralysis. All the battalions, under his order, have been beefed up to full strength, 250 each. Battalion commanders older than 35 have been moved up to either active or inactive posts, depending on their abilities. "A battalion commander must not be a day younger or older than 30-35," he was quoted as saying. Despite his current focus on military buildup, his relations with Rangoon appears to be normal. Last month, he was awarded a second medal from Senior General Than Shwe for Outstanding Social Activities, "meaning he has kept Mongla clean from drugs" despite the withdrawal of Chinese financiers in July. The first medal was presented to him by Gen Khin Nyunt. He has also been careful not to lose support from his ethnic Shan units. "I've been called a Chinese every place I go", he told the 369th Brigade, the majority of whom are ethnic Shans. "But both my parents were northern Shans (Tai Neua). I therefore hope you will believe me when I say I will never betray the cause of Shans." Sai Leun, a native of Panghsai, the northern Shan town, opposite China's Wanding, served with the Communist Party of Burma as one of its ablest field commanders. He was in charge of the 815 War Zone that centered around Mongla when the 1989 mutiny against the CPB leadership broke out. He is married to the daughter of Peng Jiasheng, leader of Kokang, Special Region. _______________________________ Nov 18, Shan Landmines kill two on the border Unidentified landmines laid by an unidentified armed group had resulted in the death of two Shan civilians on their way from Thailand to visit their homes, said sources from Chiangmai's Fang district. The incident took place on 8 November when villagers of Loiwiang, Kholam tract, Namzarng township, who had fled to Fang in 1999 following Rangoon's forced relocation campaign (1996-98) crossed the border into Mongton township, Fang's adjoining neighbor in Burma's Shan State. The blast resulted in 2 killed and 4 injured. The two that died were Sai Nyunt and Sai Pang and one seriously wounded was Sai Ho, who is being treated at Chiangmai's Pa Nge Hospital. Shans in Fang said they had decided to take the matter to Col Yawdserk, leader of the Shan State Army, whose units are active across the border. Lt-Col Awng Kham, Commander of the SSA's Special Force, with base at Hpabawng, opposite Fang, regretted the event and asked that travelers consult the SSA first about the safe paths they could take before embarking on their journey. "With years of fighting between us and the Burmese-Wa alliance, no one can tell whose landmine it really was that the villagers ran into," he told S.H.A.N. this morning, "and it would be unfair to place the blame solely on us." Apart from the SSA, the Burma Army and the United Wa State Army have bases along the border. According to Landmine Monitor Report (2002), at least 14 armed groups, including the Burma Army, are believed to use antipersonnel mines. The others are Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO); Chin National Army (CNA); Shan State Army (SSA); Karenni Army (KA); Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA); Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA); All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF); People's Defense Forces (PDF); Mergui-Tavoy United Front; United Wa State Army (UWSA); Pa-O People's Liberation Front (PPLF); All Burma Muslim Union (ABMU); and Wa National Army (WNA). Burma is not a signatory to the Mine Ban Traty of 2001. It has also not attended any of the annual meetings of State Parties to the Treaty. Vietnam, another non-signatory, had at least participated in a meeting to discuss the issue of landmines within Asean context held in January 2002. _______________________________ Nov 18, Shan Paddy fields inundated without notice More than a hundred acres of paddy fields in Lashio, Shan State's northern capital, went underwater without warning after outflowing water from a dam was diverted for the exploration of a coal mine along its previous channel, reported sources from the border this morning. Approximately 150 acres of paddy, newly harvested, were affected by the man-made flood that took place on 5 November, near the AT Bridge, north of Lashio. "Before, we were forced to sell most of produce to the Army," wept a woman from Hsonloi village. "Now we don't even have any rice to eat." The locals blamed the authorities for not notifying them in advance "so we could move our piles of reaped paddy plants to safety." Maj Gen Myint Hlaing, Commander of Lashio-based Northeastern Region Command, on whose orders the dam water had been reportedly rerouted, had on 14 November tried to make amends by repaying the victims 18,000 kyat per acre. "That was less than half of what we could get at the market price," said a farmer from the nearby village of Khurhkham . "But the underprivileged like us can't really complain." Most of the affected farmers are from the three villages in the area: Hsonloi, Khurhkham and Kawngkha. "What happened there questions the authorities's self-proclaimed regard for the people's welfare," commented a ceasefire group officer. The incident was the outcome of a plan implemented by Rangoon's official firm, Myanmar Economic Holdings Company, better known as "Oo Paing', to prospect and extract coal deposits in the area, they said. REGIONAL ____________________________________________ Nov 19, Xinhua Thai border police officer arrested for human smuggling A Thai Border Patrol Police officer was arrested along with two other people on charges of smuggling 14 illegal Myanmar immigrants into the country, the Bangkok Post reported Wednesday. The 14 immigrants, eight men, five women and a child, were found in a search of a suspected pick-up truck parked in Muang district of Kanchanaburi province, 150 kilometers west of Bangkok, by police on Monday night. Driver Prasert Phumphiew, 40, attached to the 13th Border Patrol Police Division, and a couple working as his helpers were detained and arrested on charges of engaging in illegal labor activities. The officer confessed he and the couple had smuggled alien workers from designated areas along the border to Nakhon Pathom province and Samut Sakhon province several times. They received 5,000 baht (125 US dollars) for each people-smuggling trip, he said, adding that about 100 immigrants were being smuggled into the country each day through Kanchanaburi province. The report quoted a source as saying that border areas in Kanchanaburi are popular people-smuggling routes. Gangs collect between 3,000 baht (75 dollars) to 5,000 baht (125 dollars) per head from immigrants, depending on the distance between the border areas to their destination. Once the Myanmar immigrants reach Thailand, they mainly seek factory jobs in the central provinces of Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi, the source said, noting the illegal alien workers often try to sneak back into Thailand again when they were arrested and sent back to their country. ______________________________ Nov 19, Chin Human Rights Organization Suu Kyi Suporter Passed Away While on the Run Chin Human Rights Organization has received a report that Secretary of Thantlang Township?s National League for Democracy party passed away in a small town in India?s northeastern province where he had been hiding since escaping arrest by Burmese military intelligence. Mr. Than Ngai died of malaria yesterday, 18 November at Serchip hospital in Mizoram at about 8 o? clock local time. Mr. Than Ngai headed Thantlang Township National League for Democracy party. The NLD Township office in Thangtlang was reopened along with many other party offices in Chin State when Suu Kyi visited Chin State in April of 2003. Than Ngai was responsible for organizing a welcoming ceremony for Suu Kyi and her entourage. During Suu Kyi?s brief stay in Thantlang, Than Ngai hosted a lunch for NLD leaders at his house. Suu Kyi later addressed a crowd of nearly ten thousand people who were gathering in a football field despite threats by local authorities that anyone participating in the event would face the consequences. Soon after Suu Kyi and her entourage left Thantlang, Mr. Than Ngai was interrogated and threatened repeatedly by the military intelligence service. He later fled to India?s Mizoram state for fear of arrest. He was on hiding in rural Mizoram, unable to approach the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New Delhi for protection, which has not been accepting political asylum seekers from Burma. A dozen local NLD leaders from Chin State who have escaped arrest by the military regime are currently seeking protection from UNHCR in New Delhi. Chin Human Rights Organization -- www.chro.org INTERNATIONAL ____________________________________________ Nov 19, BBC Monitor Burma's Karen rebels say national convention designed to propagate junta DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) would like to present the views of border-based national races and democratic forces on the matter of national races ceasefire groups preparing to attend the National Convention. DVB correspondent Naw Nanda Chan compiled this report: (Reporter) As the ceasefire groups including the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization) are preparing to attend the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council)-sponsored National Convention, Phado Mahn Sha, spokesperson for the KNU (Karen National Union), one of the ethnic armed groups at the Burma-Thailand border, said the National Convention is neither free nor fair and does not include genuine representatives. (Phado Mahn Sha) The National Convention has been lacking in freedom and fairness. The convention should include genuine representatives as well as key players. If the key players are not included and the delegates are puppets handpicked by the junta, then I do not think it is right. Besides, we opposed the convention from the very beginning because it is designed to propagate military dictatorship. Our view remains the same as before and we are against the convention. We believe the convention will be fair only if we are able to fulfil the desires of our people and the national races with the participation of the key players. That is all. (Reporter) Ko Win Minn, a Thailand-based researcher on Burmese army and civilian relations, said if the SPDC did not see the broader picture of a long term benefit, but tried to perpetuate its grip on power, then it would not lead to national reconciliation, but will create more problems instead. (Ko Win Minn) It seems the military government is focusing its actions in order to perpetuate its existence. It does not seem to plan for future development. That is the major problem. If the National Convention include only the delegates selected by the military and does not include others, then the absence of democratic forces will make the convention illegal. If the ceasefire groups and the people do not participate, it would not get the vital representation it needs. If there are no legality and vital representation, then the new constitution that would emerge from the National Convention would face problems in future. The military government, after holding talks with the NLD leaders, should hold talks with the ceasefire and active ethnic armed groups and obtain some form of agreement. Then only they should find ways on how to reconvene the National Convention. Currently, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) might support the constitution that would emerge from the convention, but western nations, including Japan and many countries that practice democracy, might not support it. Thus, lifting economic sanctions and receiving aid from international monetary institutions for the future development of the country might not be possible. Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 17 Nov 03 ______________________________ Nov 19, BBC Monitor Burmese ethnic coalition spokesperson denies rift with cease-fire groups On the matter of national races cease-fire groups preparing to attend the National Convention, DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) contacted U Khun Tun Oo, spokesperson for the UNA, United Nationalities Alliance, an ethnic coalition formed with nine political parties that won seats in the elections. (U Khun Tun Oo) It is premature to give a general view but as far as we know their intention to attend the National Convention is that they believe the forthcoming National Convention will be different from the previous one and more beneficial to the national races. They also feel that the new one will be convened with revised principles. In their terms, they are trying to taste it whether it is sweet or bitter. They are trying to attend the National Convention with an expectation that it should become much better. (DVB correspondent) In that context, the UNA representing the ethnic groups has called for a tripartite dialogue and rejected the National Convention if it is to be convened in the same manner as before. On the other hand we could not obtain the view of the NLD (National League for Democracy) because the leaders are incarcerated. Since the cease-fire groups decided to attend the convention contrary to UNA's decision, would that imply to a rift among the national races as alleged by the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council)? (U Khun Tun Oo) No, that is not true. Well, every party has its own right to make its own decision. We respect that. They decided to attend the convention with a firm belief that it will alleviate the country's crisis. There is no rift among us. All their objectives are the same as ours - unity among the national races, freedom to hold discussions, freedom to select their own delegates, and to decide their own fate. You cannot say there is a division among the national races over a decision to attend the National Convention. (DVB correspondent) Well, the cease-fire groups have issued statements recommending changes in National Convention procedures and to involve all parties concerned. What is the possibility of that? On the other hand, has the SPDC approached the alliance or hinted on such a move? (U Khun Tun Oo) On the first question, those that decided to attend hope things will be better. On the second question, the SPDC has not approached us. We are not invited as yet so my answer will be we do not know. (DVB correspondent) Yes. You have been constantly discussing about the road map and the National Convention. Now that the cease-fire groups have decided to attend the convention and we heard that the SPDC is secretly selecting delegates, what is your expectation about a tripartite dialogue taking place? (U Khun Tun Oo) It is very hard for me to predict at this point. Most national races believe the SPDC would be compromising and cooperating in the matter and amend the principles. They decided to attend believing in change. I think it is premature for me to comment at this time. Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 17 Nov 03 ______________________________ Nov 19, World Markets Research Release of Prisoners Unlikely to Satisfy Myanmar's Democracy Campaigners The ruling Peace State and Development Council (SPDC) junta has today announced the release of 58 prisoners. The move was reportedly taken on humanitarian grounds, with those released including a number of elderly people and pregnant women. It is unclear, however, whether they were political prisoners. The move follows a recent visit by United Nations (UN) envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who called for the release of all political prisoners. Opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) campaigners used the opportunity that National Day (commemorating the first student boycott against UK rule) afforded them yesterday to echo this call. As part of their campaign, the NLD asked the ruling junta to implement sincere dialogue on political reform, arguing that tripartite dialogue involving the military, the NLD and the country's ethnic minorities was essential for peace and reconciliation. Furthermore, it warned that without such moves, the country would continue to descend further into poverty. Significance: The NLD called for the release of 1,300 prisoners, which puts into context the small number that were given their freedom. This, however, remains the reality of the situation. Any moves the junta makes towards democracy will remain both small and slow-paced. Positively, however, the continued engagement of figures such as Pinheiro appear to be having some beneficial effect, albeit small-scale. OPNION / OTHER ____________________________________________ Nov 19, Nation The second Burmese empire After the Mongol invasions of Burma and the subsequent collapse of Pagan, the kingdom split into a number of smaller states, among these the principalities of the ?Three Shan Brothers? in the Kyaukse area, which were established circa 1310. In 1364, a half-Burman, half-Shan dynasty was founded at Ava, on the left bank of the Irrawaddy River (to the south of what is now Mandalay). In the south, the Mon were under Wareru (later known in Thai as Makatho, or King Fa Rua, a son-in-law of King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai), a Mon hero of Tai Yai blood who declared himself king in 1284 and established Martaban as the Mon capital. In 1365, the capital was moved Pegu by Binnya U, his great-grand-nephew and the leader of the Hongsawady or Hanthawaddy dynasty. Lower Burma was ruled by the Hongsawady dynasty until around 1492, when it came under the influence of Toungoo. The most important rulers of the Hongsawady dynasty before it merged with Toungoo include King Razadarit (a son of Binnya U, known in Thai as Rajadhiraj, 1385-1425), Queen Shin Saw Bu (1453-1472), a daughter of King Razadarit, and King Dammazedi (1472-1492), Shin Saw Bu's successor and son-in-law. Their neighbours, among them Ava, Chiang Mai, Kampaengphet and Ayutthaya, praised King Razadarit as the great warrior who managed to save the Mon kingdom from raids. Queen Shin Saw Bu built relations with Ava by marrying one of its kings. According to Burmese legend, the queen was interested in Buddhism. She studied Tripitaka (Three Baskets of Buddhist Discipline) from two novices in Ava: Dhammaceti and Dhammapala. On completion of her studies she fled Ava and became the great queen of Hongsawady. Shin Saw Bu was loved and respected by her Mon subjects. She supported Buddhist construction including the famous Shwedagon (literally the golden pagoda of Dagon or Yangon [Rangoon]. Known as Takoeng in ancient Thai, Shwedagon was reconstructed during her reign. The sacred pagoda is believed to enshrine hair relics of the Lord Buddha and dates back more than 2,500 years. It is the prototype or the Shwezigon pagoda in Pagan. During the reign of King Binnayakyan (1450-1453), the pagoda was raised in height by 92 metres. Queen Shin Saw Bu also ordered additions to the precincts of the pagoda, and it is remained very much the same as it looks today. Dammazedi was a monk chosen for succession by Shin Saw Bu, and accordingly made to leave his cloisters and marry her daughter. He is considered one of the greatest Mon kings. During his reign, which coincides with that of King Tiloklacha of Lanna and King Boromtrailokanat of Ayutthaya, Hongsawady was the centre of Tharavada Buddhism derived from Lanka (Ceylon). Buddhist literature written in Mon, Pali, Sanskrit and Burman flourished in this era. A collection of the monk?s rulings, the Dammazedi Pyatton, still exists. Unfortunately, after the death of Dammazedi in 1492, conflicts developed between the new king of Hongsawady, Binnya Ran, Dammazedi's son and Minkyinyo, the then King of Toungoo, and a succession of wars ensued. Finally, Minkyinyao's son King Tabinshweti (1531-1551) successfully extended his powers to Martaban, Hongsawady, the Tenasserim area, Tavoy and also the mid-Irrawaddy basin. A few years later, Bayinnaung (1551-1581), Tabinshweti's successor and brother-in-law established Hongsawady as the capital of the second Burmese Empire after Pagan. He unified the country and conquered the Shan States and Siam, thus making Burma the most powerful kingdom in mainland Southeast Asia. In his reign the Mon, Burmans, Shan and other ethnic tribes became subjects of the single Toungoo-Hongsawady kingdom. Bayinnuang, better known as Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahtha and also Hanthawaddy Shinbhyushin, which literally translates as Lord of the White Elephant, was not only considered the great king of Burma but also a legendary ruler in Southeast Asia?s popular history. He is mentioned in Thai literature. It is said that he was born in a small village in Pagan to a family of palm cultivators. His former name Cha Thet, which literally means a man with creeping termites, was bestowed on him as hundreds of termites covered his skin since his birth but never harmed him. Bayinnaung was a patron of Buddhism: He built pagodas, gave generous donations to monasteries, and maintained extensive diplomatic relations with the Buddhist kingdom of Ceylon. In the late 16th century, Honsawady was in chaos. Bayinnuang's sons fought against each other. The Mon and Arakanese joined revolutions with Prome, Chiang Mai (which had been under Burmese suzerainty since 1551) and also Toungoo. There was no single victor. Hongsawady slowly closed its curtains. (Correction: we apologize for the mistake that appeared in yesterday?s newspaper. The town where the Pyu first settled before moving to Srikshetra should be Tagaung, not Dagon. Dagon is in the south and is now called Yangon or Rangoon and is the present capital of Burma.) A series of articles on "The Wonders of Three Cultures" will be published in The Nation every weekday until November 28. The series is a part of "The Wonders of 3 Cultures? festival being held in Chiang Mai from November 28-30, which is sponsored by Thai Airways International and a number of other organisations and companies including the Nation Group. Highlights include seminars and a spectacular celebration of art, crafts and culture. For more information please visit www.thaiairways.com. _______________________________ LETTER Nov 19, Sun Sentinel Democracy here, dictators abroad BYLINE: Lakshmeshwar Dayal Southwest Ranches I am amused to read the Nov. 11 letter, "Present chapter in eternal struggle." The brave narration of America's self-sacrificing missions to save freedom the world over is somewhat out of focus. The USA has supported and strengthened oppressive and despotic rulers such as the Shah of Iran, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, Zia-ul-haque of Pakistan and Jean-Claude Duvalier of Haiti. America did not intervene in the continuing apartheid and minority rule on racial bias in South Africa. Nor has it intervened in the military dictatorship in Myanmar, against which a lone woman has been fighting relentlessly. America's foreign policy is frequently dubbed as one of "democracy at home, and dictatorship abroad." Let us frankly admit the USA, like all countries, has had a foreign policy that is exclusively in its own national interest, having nothing to do with a moral duty toward all mankind. _______________________________ STATEMENT Nov 18, Kuki Forum KIF remembers victims of 1967 "Khadawmi Operation" The Office of the Kuki International Forum, based in the United States of America, remembers the victims of the infamous 1967 ?Khadawmi Operation? on its 36th anniversary. Talking to the media at his residence, the Forum?s president recalled the hardships and untold miseries faced by his people at the hands of the Burmese regime. A spate of heinous crimes was unleashed upon the innocent Kuki people in their land by the then Revolutionary Council Government of Burma under Newin's leadership. Ever since that year, November 18 has been observed as a day to remember the victims and to consolidate the Kukis' demand for justice. The president narrating the episode to the media said, ?A total of about 40 Kuki villages with a population of more than 20,000 (twenty thousand) people were uprooted from their hearths, villages and lands in that particular operation. Some of the uprooted villages were Napalang, Kongkan, Bollen, Tongmana, Tuidim, Wetsophai, Nunkam,Tuijangphai and et al. The dastard inhuman crime dictated that no one should be allowed to carry his or her belongings, except what they worn to cover their pathetic bodies. The wailing sounds of few handicaps and old weaklings who were left to face their death destiny and domestic fowls and cattle echoed the entire region. Parents and siblings, husbands and wives, and near and dear ones were separated. Taking advantage of the Burmese government's gruesome acts, the uprooted Kuki villages chiefs were murdered by the Tangkhul Naga home guards at Nampisa (Manipur, India), which was a violation of human rights. It was just before harvest time that the crook found peace to punish the innocent and harmless citizen who in their helplessness had to leave their ripened corns and paddy fields. The Kukis? hard toil of a year sweats and tears were bruised, robbed, and raped unethically by the Burman Government. It was pitiful that even the then government of Manipur did not render helps to the hapless Kukis. The evicted Kuki villagers had to survive by collecting paddies during at nights. If they were happened to be arrested by the Burmese police, they were meted with all sorts of torture. The memory of this tragic event will continue to rein the hearts and minds of the Kukis forever. In the deserted villages, ethnic Burman slum dwellers were brought in and thereby, all properties were happily distributed among the new intruders." The Forum appeals to all peace loving citizen of this world to condemn these horrendous punitive deeds of Burman Government upon the Kuki people and calls international communities to intervene for the rightful rehabilitation of the Kuki in their land. The president went on to say that till today, these victims have not been rehabilitated yet. The successive governments of Burma have been turning deaf ears to the several appeals and demands made by Kuki bodies including national and international organizations. It may be recalled that the Burman government continue to marginalize the Kuki population by forcing them to comply with the former?s directives. However, till very recently, the Kuki population in the Burman populated areas in Sagaing Division came to realize their true identity and their perennial homeland. Noting all these facts, the Kuki International Forum urges the present Burman Government to stop playing double standard political games to hide its evil deeds among international communities, instead resolve to find amicable and lasting solutions to the Kukis of Burma, particularly in the Upper Sagaing Division. It may be mentioned here that the Kuki of today are scattered in three countries - Bangladesh, Burma and India after they were colonized by the British colonialist regime. In this regard, one can find more information on the Kukis by visiting the Kuki International Forum website at http://www.kukiforum.com.