News & Articles on Burma, Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Jun 24th, 2009
Burma acts the bully on Thailand
Burmese Army Still Recruiting Under-age Soldiers
North Korea threatens United States
UK Brown: UK Open To New Sanctions Against Myanmar
Suu Kyi lawyers urge court to allow witnesses
Wa leaders meet on Thai-Burma border
Burmese junta uses n Korean expertise to build secret tunnels
Burmese junta expel officials over tunnel photos
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Burma acts the bully on Thailand
Larry Jagan
June 24, 2009 (DVB)–Relations between Thailand and Burma are set to deteriorate dramatically following Bangkok’s warning that the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi could all but destroy Burma’s already fragile credibility.
Thailand’s current position on Burma is stronger than usual, bolstered by concerns that Burma’s behaviour, by implication, would also impact on the credibility of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc. The junta of course dismisses these concerns, citing the ASEAN mantra of non-interference in its defense. But this time Burma’s political games are certain to be met with more pressure from its Asian allies and neighbours, especially Thailand.
The vexed issue of Burma is high on the agenda of Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s current visit to Beijing. He will certainly discuss the issue with his counterpart, Wen Jiabao, and the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, according to Thai government officials. The junta’s antics are all the more pressing now with detailed information emerging on the regime’s connection to Pyongyang; and now the North Korean ship en route to Rangoon has increased the temperature.
Apart from North Korean missiles and possible nuclear technology, there is much for Bangkok and Beijing to discuss during this trip. A key issue will also be the preparations for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers retreat in Phuket, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) where the problems in Burma will also overshadow other important issues at time when the region is reeling from the effects of the international financial crisis and credit crunch.
A statement prepared for the meeting by the Indonesians is likely to be endorsed by China. China understands that at present its best strategic position is to strongly support Thailand as the ASEAN chair, as later this year Vietnam takes over and Hanoi will be less inclined to engage the Chinese.
Under the Thai chairmanship, ASEAN has begun to take a more aggressive position on Burma, and issued a strongly worded statement after Aung San Suu Kyi was put on trial last month. “With the eyes of the international community on Myanmar at present, the honour and the credibility of the Government of the Union of Myanmar are at stake,” the statement said.
But the Thais went a step further and specifically raised the issue of the pro-democracy leader’s detention. “The Government of the Union of Myanmar is reminded that the ASEAN Leaders had called for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” said the statement. This was a reference to the Chairman’s statement at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh in July 2003, after she was attacked by pro-government thugs and detained in May that year. It was later endorsed by the ASEAN leaders at their summit on the Indonesian island of Bali in October.
The Burmese government, as expected, reacted angrily. “Thailand’s statement is not in conformity with ASEAN practices, incorrect in facts, and interfering with the internal affairs of Myanmar,” was the official response.
But behind the scenes, relations between the countries are in free-fall, according to diplomats based in Bangkok and Rangoon. “There is no doubt that the offensive against the Karen [along the border with Thailand] is in part intended to be a warning to Thailand not to interfere,” the Burmese academic based at Chiang Mai University, Win Min told DVB.
While it may not be in direct response to the Thai statement, it is clearly aimed at sending a cautionary message to the Thai government that any interference in Burmese affairs will bring about a strong Burmese reaction. Gone is the conciliatory approach in discussions between the country’s two foreign ministers in April, when the Thai foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, went to Naypyidaw and was asked to help broker peace talks with the Karen National Union.
Now Thailand is increasingly alarmed at Burma’s plans to acquire nuclear technology, including for military purposes. Recent revelations of the myriad of tunnels being built by North Korean engineers and workers in Naypyidaw and along the Thai border in Shan state, has given the Thai authorities a significant jolt. But even more disturbing is the news that North Korea may be about to provide Burma with medium-range missiles, sophisticated anti-aircraft and radar systems, including surface-to-surface (SCUD) missiles with a 700 kilometer range, that can only be aimed at Thai territory. It is highly likely that the cargo of the North Korean Kang Nam ship includes missiles, according to South Korean intelligence sources.
Thailand of course is still searching for a means to maintain the pressure on Burma, while trying to find ways to lessen the tension between the two countries. Thailand’s position on Aung San Suu Kyi, and the national reconciliation process, will not weaken, even under the Burmese blackmail threats.
In a recent interview, the Thai prime minister made the government’s position clear: “Clearly our stance has been and will always be that the political process in Myanmar will have to be inclusive to gain the acceptability and respectability of the international community. Otherwise, obviously, Myanmar’s credibility and ASEAN’s credibility will be affected.”
When the former Thai foreign minister, Surakiart Sathirathai, tried to support the Burmese regime’s plans for political reform – Khin Nyunt’s roadmap to democracy — through his creation of the Bangkok process in 2003, he was roundly condemned by the junta’s top leaders.
“We reject Thailand’s ‘mega-phone’ diplomacy”, the deputy leader of Burmese military intelligence, Major General Kyaw Win told me. This was a reference to the Thai foreign minister’s frequent briefing of Thai and foreign journalists on the progress of negotiations and talks – sometimes elaborating his views which were not always directly communicated to his counterpart beforehand.
But of course the regime has no qualms about resorting to a megaphone approach when it suits them. Its latest tirade against the Thai government was an article by Kyaw Ye Min accusing the Thai authorities of aiding and abetting the insurgent movements – especially the Karen – by allowing refugee camps in Thailand.
The junta was irritated by the Thai foreign minister’s suggestion that jailing Aung San Suu Kyi was in effect a threat to the region. “At present relations between the two countries are under [a] strain which is unprecedented in history,” said the writer in the state-mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar newspaper. He suggested the only way for harmonious relations to be reestablished was for Bangkok to “cooperate with us in genuine goodwill”. In other words, stop publicly criticising and pressuring Burma – something the Democrat-led government is unlikely to do.
http://english.dvb.no/news.
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Burmese Army Still Recruiting Under-age Soldiers
By LAWI WENG Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Burmese army is still recruiting under-age soldiers in contravention of a United Nations call to stop the practice, according to child labor activists in Burma.
In the latest incident, a 16-year-old youth was taken late at night by an army truck from Light Infantry Division 77, based in Pegu.
Aye Myint, a leading labor activist in Pegu Division, said the youth was taken from a local restaurant where he worked. His parents were told by an officer at the Pegu army base that the youth had been sent to a recruitment center in Rangoon’s Mingalardon Township.
Aye Myint said the youth’s family has lodged a letter of complaint with the International Labour Organization (ILO) office in Rangoon on June 17. The Irrawaddy tried
unsuccessfully to contact the office on Wednesday.
Kyin Toe, chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Twante Township, said another family had complained to his office that their under-age son had been recruited by the army.
Burma’s state-run media maintains that the government is screening recruits and releasing any found to be under age. It reported that 68 children were detected recently in various military training schools and were released to their parents or guardians.
The ILO says it has been instrumental, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross, in the release of 12 under-age recruits. A further 14 cases are still being processed.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch has said that 70,000 under-age soldiers are serving in the Burmese armed forces.
The UN also says in its latest report on the situation that the Burmese military junta is still recruiting child soldiers. The report on “Children and Armed Conflict” was released this month.
Human rights groups say children are recruited at train stations, bus depots, tea shops, outside video halls and movie cinemas or even while walking home at night.
The groups say the young recruits are threatened and beaten if they refuse to agree to undergo military training. After their training, many are sent to areas where the army is in conflict with ethnic groups.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/
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North Korea threatens United States
Hyung-Jin Kim
Seoul, South Korea — Associated Press, Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009 09:31AM EDT
North Korea has threatened to wipe the United States off the map as Washington and its allies watched for signs the regime will launch a series of missiles in the coming days.
Off China’s coast, a U.S. destroyer was tailing a North Korean ship suspected of transporting illicit weapons to Myanmar in what could be the first test of UN sanctions passed to punish the nation for an underground nuclear test last month.
The Kang Nam left the North Korean port of Nampo a week ago with the USS John S. McCain close behind. The ship, accused of transporting banned goods in the past, is believed to be bound for Myanmar, according to South Korean and U.S. officials.
The new UN Security Council resolution requires member states to seek permission to inspect suspicious cargo. North Korea has said it would consider interception a declaration of war and today accused the U.S. of seeking to provoke another Korean War.
“If the U.S. imperialists start another war, the army and people of Korea will … wipe out the aggressors on the globe once and for all,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.
The warning came on the eve of the 59th anniversary of the start of the three-year Korean War, which ended in a truce in 1953, not a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in state of war. The U.S. has 28,500 troops in South Korea to protect against an outbreak of hostilities.
Tensions have been high since North Korea launched a long-range rocket in April and then conducted its second underground atomic test on May 25. Reacting to UN condemnation of that test, North Korea walked away from nuclear disarmament talks and warned it would fire a long-range missile.
North Korea has banned ships from the waters off its east coast starting Thursday through July 10 for military exercises, Japan’s Coast Guard said.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported today that the North may fire a Scud missile with a range of up to 500 kilometres or a short-range ground-to-ship missile with a range of 160 kilometres during the no-sail period.
A senior South Korean government official said the no-sail ban is believed connected to North Korean plans to fire short- or mid-range missiles. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
U.S. defence and counter-proliferation officials in Washington said they also expected the North to launch short- to medium-range missiles. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.
South Korea will expedite the introduction of high-tech unmanned aerial surveillance systems and “bunker-buster” bombs in response to North Korea’s provocations, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said, citing unidentified ruling party members.
Meanwhile, a flurry of diplomatic efforts were under way to try getting North Korea to return to disarmament talks. Russia’s top nuclear envoy, Alexei Borodavkin, said after meeting with his South Korean counterpart that Moscow is open to other formats for discussion since Pyongyang has pulled out of formal six-nation negotiations.
In Beijing, top U.S. and Chinese defence officials also discussed North Korea. U.S. defence undersecretary Michele Flournoy was heading next to Tokyo and Seoul for talks.
South Korea has proposed high-level “consultations” to discuss North Korea with the U.S., Russia, China and Japan.
http://www.theglobeandmail.
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UK Brown: UK Open To New Sanctions Against Myanmar
Wed, Jun 24 2009, 12:00 GMT
LONDON -(Dow Jones)- U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown reiterated Wednesday that his government would tighten sanctions against Myanmar over what he called the “sham trial” of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
“At the last meeting of the European Council we sent a very powerful message that unless action is taken in Burma to free Aung San Suu Kyi, then we are prepared to take further sanctions against the regime,” Brown said in the weekly question and answer session in parliament.
Brown also called on U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to visit Myanmar.
The prime minister said the actions of the Myamnmar regime were “completely unacceptable.”
-By Laurence Norman, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-207-842-9270; laurence.norman@dowjones.com
Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today’s most important business and market news, analysis and commentary:
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 24, 2009 08:00 ET (12:00 GMT)
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Suu Kyi lawyers urge court to allow witnesses
AFP : Wed Jun 24, 4:56 am ET
YANGON (AFP) – Lawyers for democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi have urged Myanmar’s top court to allow two key aides to testify at her trial, despite efforts by the ruling junta to bar them from the witness box.
In a case that has drawn international condemnation, the Nobel laureate faces up to five years in jail on charges of breaching her house arrest after an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May.
A court at Yangon’s Insein prison last month barred two senior members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) from giving evidence, but the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal against the decision.
“We gave our arguments to the Supreme Court for about one hour today. They could make a decision any time, we have to wait and check the court list every day,” NLD spokesman and defence lawyer Nyan Win said.
The two barred witnesses are Win Tin, a journalist who was Myanmar’s longest-serving political prisoner until his release in September, and detained deputy NLD leader Tin Oo.
Nyan Win said the prosecution argued it was “impossible” for Tin Oo to appear because he was being held under a security law, while Win Tin had given interviews to foreign media “which they said would affect the judgement.”
“So I replied to them that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appears at the court while she is in detention, so why can Tin Oo not appear at the court?” Nyan Win told reporters.
“Regarding Win Tin I said it was his right to speak freely and has nothing to do with the court, but his speech might be disturbing for the authorities.”
Security was tight for the hearing, with around 20 police trucks patrolling streets near the Supreme Court building in Yangon.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers earlier this month successfully appealed against a ban on a third witness, while a fourth has already testified.
The prosecution has so far called 14 witnesses, adding to opposition and international claims that the proceedings are a show trial designed to keep the democracy icon locked-up ahead of elections scheduled by the regime for 2010.
US national John Yettaw and Aung San Suu Kyi’s two live-in aides are also on trial and face a similar sentence. All are being held at Insein jail, Myanmar’s most notorious detention centre.
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention since Myanmar’s ruling junta refused to recognise the NLD’s landslide victory in the country’s last democratic polls in 1990.
The UN envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, may visit the country later this week ahead of a possible trip by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in early July, officials and diplomats say.
“We hope to meet Mr Gambari when he comes, as we did on his previous visits,” Nyan Win said. “We always welcome the United Nations envoy as it means we can hope for something.”
Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday thanked people around the world who sent her birthday wishes and called for her immediate release as she turned 64 in jail last week.
The charges against Aung San Suu Kyi come amid a wide-ranging crackdown on the opposition that has been carried out since the ruling generals crushed protests led by Buddhist monks in 2007.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been ruled by the military since 1962.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/
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Wa leaders meet on Thai-Burma border
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 19:42 Hseng Khio Fah
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) leaders reportedly coming from Panghsang in 18 four-wheel cars had arrived in Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai province yesterday to hold meetings with their officers and men to discuss about its deteriorating relations with the Burma Army, according to sources on the Thai-Burma border.
The group arrived in Hwe Aw, 25 miles north of the Chiangmai border, in the morning and held a meeting there. But there has been no further information of who were at the meeting, but it is believed to involve some top officers in their southern command, said a source.
“Today, they [Wa] met at Namyoom (5 miles north of the border) and they are going to Mongjawd, west of Hwe Aw tomorrow,” he said.
Since the Burma Army ordered them to return to its original area on the Sino-Burma border in May, the Wa have been in preparation for their defense in many areas like Loi Hsarmhsoom Base, Base 46 and Maihoong between Mongyawn and Piangkham, opposite Chiangmai’s Mae Ai district.
An unidentified Wa divisional commander said, “Relations between us is like an axe without the handle and vice versa. Like the handle, they used to manipulate us, the axe, in the past. But they can no longer enjoy that privilege.”
In the meantime, the Burma Army has also reportedly been sending more troops to Pianghsa –Piangkham and every base opposite that of the Wa. In addition, it has also been training all militia units in Mongton and Monghsat townships from 21 June.
“There were 15 Shan men forced to join the militia units in Nakawngmu,” a local resident said. As for veteran members of Kyapikwe and Tin Win militias, they are being trained in Mongton, the township seat.
There are three strong militia units trained by the Burma Army in Monghsat alone: Loi Tanghseng group led by Kya Hey, Loi Hsao group led by Kya Kaw and Kyadey group led by Ya Der. There is also an 80-men Nampong group led by Yishay in Tachilek township.
“The things they [junta] can seize from us are what we have established in towns. Nothing more,” a source quoted the Wa officer as saying.
A border watcher said the three day visit of Sri Lankan President to Burma earlier this month seemed to have stimulated the junta to copy the winning strategy of the Sri Lankan Army against the Tamil Tigers.
The Tamil Tigers announced its defeat on 17 May, after Colombo’s all-out offensive involving naval blockade and massive bombings and air strikes which resulted in devastating civilian casualties.
http://www.shanland.org/index.
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Burmese junta uses n Korean expertise to build secret tunnels
By THE NATION
Published on June 24, 2009
Several senior military Burmese officials have been dismissed in recent weeks following the recent publication of photographs of secret tunnels built by North Korean experts between 2003-2006 inside Burma, sources revealed.
The sources, who asked not to be identified because the information they gave could endanger their lives, said that Burmese intelligence officials have began massive investigations to identify the source of the leak. They have combed the city of Rangoon and interviewed associates of former intelligence chief, Lt-General Khin Nyunt, to search for persons who might have leaked one of their most secretive programmes. They have already arrested several suspects, including journalists, who might have got access to these sensitive photos and documents.
Swedish journalist, Bertil Litner, detailed Pyongyang’s efforts in helping Rangoon to build underground bunkers in various locations. The author said the photographs, which were obtained by the Democratic Voice of Burma, showed an extensive network of underground installations that was built near Burma’s fortified new capital, Naypyidaw, 450km north of Rangoon.
The photographs, which first appeared in YaleGlobal Online on June 8, have puzzled the Bangkok-based diplomatic community. “We are interested in the news and we are following it closely,” said a senior diplomat from an Asean country, who asked not to be identified.
A Thai intelligence source yesterday confirmed the existence of the tunnels but did not express any serious concern. “The Burmese generals fear outside attacks, so they are building these underground hiding places,” he said. Thailand is also watching closely Burma’s efforts to build its nuclear capacity.
These tunnels are equipped with underground facilities, including communications and strategic rooms, which would enable the Burmese leaders to survive any attack from their peoples and the outside world. Some tunnels are big enough for military and transport vehicles to go through. Sources also revealed that dozens of tunnels are also dug near the Thai-Burma border. They said the construction of these tunnels were disguised as part of the country’s plan to lay fibre optic cables throughout the country
Bertil wrote that a well-hidden complex ensures there is no danger of angry civilians storming government buildings as they did during the massive pro-democracy uprising in August-September 1988. It could also serve as their deep bunkers in case there are air strikes of the kind that the Taleban faced in Afghanistan.
According to the author, it is not clear how North Korean experts got paid. The payment could have been in the form of food or goods that Burma has. The country is rich in mineral wealth and agricultural products.
http://www.nationmultimedia.
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Burmese junta expel officials over tunnel photos
By The Nation
Several senior military Burmese officials have been dismissed over the weeks followed the recent publication of photographs of secret tunnels built by North Korean experts between 2003-2006 inside Burma, according informed sources.
The sources, who asked not to be identified because the information they gave could endanger their lives, said that the Burmese intelligence officials have began massive investigations to identify the sources of leakages.
They have combed the city of Rangoon and interviewed associates of former intelligence chief, Lt Gen Khin Nyunt to search for persons who might leak one of the most secretive programs.
They have already arrested several suspects including journalists who might have accessed to these sensitive photos and documents.
Swedish journalist, Bertil Litner, detailed Pyongyang’s effort in helping Rangoon to build underground bunkers in various locations.
The author said the photographs, which were obtained by Democratic Voice of Burma, showed an extensive network of underground installations that was built near Burma’s new, fortified new capital Naypyidaw, 450 kilometers north of Rangoon.
The photographs which first appeared in Yale Global Online on 8 June 2009 have puzzled Bangkok-based diplomatic community.
“We are interested in the news and we are following it closely,” said a senior diplomat from an Asean country, who asked not be identified.
A Thai intelligence source yesterday confirmed that existence of the tunnel but does not express any serious concern.
“The Burmese generals fear outside attacks, so they are building these underground hidden places,” he said. Thailand is also watching closely about Burma’s effort to increase its nuclear capacity.
These tunnels are equipped with underground facilities including communications and strategic rooms, which would enable the Burmese leaders to survive any attack from their peoples and the outside world. Some tunnels are big enough for military and transport vehicles to go through.
Sources also revealed that dozens of tunnels are also dug near Thai-Burma border. They said the construction of these tunnels were disguised as part of the country’s plan to lay optic fibers throughout the country
Bertil wrote that well-hidden complex ensures there is no danger of angry civilians storming government buildings as they did during the massive pro-democracy uprising in August-September 1988. It could also serve as their deep bunkers in case there are air strikes of the kind that the Taliban faced in Afghanistan.
According to the author, it is not clear how North Korean experts got paid. The payment could be in the form of food or god, which Burma has. The country is rich in mineral and agricultural product.
Tunnels, Guns and Kimchi: North Korea’s Quest for Dollars : Yale Global Online
http://www.nationmultimedia.
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