Myanmar salt prices soar amid China panic buying
Myanmar salt prices soar amid panic buying in China over nuclear fears
On Sunday March 20, 2011, 7:45 am EDT

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Prices of iodized salt in Myanmar’s biggest cities have tripled amid a wave of panic buying in neighboring China, where worried shoppers are buying up stocks due to fears of fallout from Japan’s nuclear crisis.

Myanmar media on Sunday quoted grocers and salt wholesalers in Yangon and Mandalay saying the prices of iodized salt have soared since Friday when vendors started shipping large quantities of salt to China.

Shoppers in Beijing, Shanghai and other parts of China have stripped stores of iodized salt in the false belief that it either wards off radiation injuries or that the nation’s supply would be contaminated by fallout from a crippled Japanese nuclear power plant.

China intensifies condemnation of Libya air strikes
By Chris Buckley | Reuters – Mon, Mar 21, 2011 1:01 PM IST

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s official newspapers on Monday stepped up Beijing’s opposition to Western air attacks on Libya, accusing nations backing the strikes of breaking international rules and courting new turmoil in the Middle East.

China’s strongest condemnation yet of assaults on the forces of Libya’s leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared in the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, and showed how the conflict could become a fresh point of contention between Beijing and Washington.

The paper accused the United States and its allies of violating international rules, although China had refrained from blocking the United Nations Security Council decision last week that effectively authorised the air attacks.

The People’s Daily likened the assault on Libyan sites to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and suggested it followed a pattern of Western overreaching in other countries’ affairs.

“The blood-soaked tempests that Iraq has undergone for eight years and the unspeakable suffering of its people are a mirror and a warning,” said the commentary in the People’s Daily.

“The military attacks on Libya are, following on the Afghan and Iraq wars, the third time that some countries have launched armed action against sovereign countries,” it said.

“It should be seen that every time military means are used to address crises, that is a blow to the United Nations Charter and the rules of international relations.”

The commentary appeared under the penname of “Zhong Sheng”, which in Chinese sounds like “Voice of the Centre” or “Voice of China”, suggesting it is reflecting high-level government views.

The Foreign Ministry has expressed “serious reservations” about military action. On Monday, the Ministry said its Middle East envoy would visit Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar and Palestinian-controlled areas this week.

Although Beijing is unlikely to go beyond verbal sparring with Western governments over the strikes, its opposition could win points with Arab and other nations that may become more alarmed if the air attacks continue and bring more casualties.

“Criticising the military interventions is largely meant to gain diplomatic points among the developing world,” said Li Mingjiang of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
China’s criticism was echoed in other official newspapers.

The overseas edition of the People’s Daily, a small offshoot of the main edition, said Western nations used concern about Libyan civilians attacked by Gaddafi’s forces as an “excuse”, and said the attacks could open a “Pandora’s Box” of chaos.

A GROWING STAKE, A GROWING VOICE

China’s handling of Western pressure on Libya has laid bare the quandaries facing Beijing in the Middle East.

The Middle East is an important source of oil for China. On the weekend, Saudi Arabia’s Aramco announced its latest proposal to supply crude to a refinery in the southwest of China, where Beijing is building an oil pipeline that slices through Myanmar.

About half of China’s crude imports last year came from the Middle East and North Africa. China wants to diversify supplies, but Arab countries and Iran hold so much of global reserves that they are sure to remain major suppliers.

“China’s influence in the Middle East has grown steadily, reflecting its economic growth, and that will oblige China to speak out more about regional affairs,” said Guo Xian’gang, vice president of the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing.

On Saturday, Libya’s top oil official said Tripoli was considering offering oil block contracts directly to China, India and other nations it sees as friends in its month-long conflict with rebels.

Yet Beijing has had relatively limited diplomatic sway in the Middle East, and no major military role. It has tended to bow, sometimes begrudgingly, to Western demands, while pursuing its commercial and energy interests.

China’s handling of Libya reflects that awkward balance: both accommodating and criticising Western demands.

In abstaining on the Security Council resolution, it cited calls of Arab countries for prompt U.N. action.

Beijing has rarely used its veto as a permanent Security Council member to block resolutions, but has sought to dilute Western proposals by using the threat of veto. It abstained from the resolution that preceded the 1991 Gulf War.

Russia, which also abstained on the resolution, called on Britain, France and the United States at the weekend to stop the air strikes, describing them as “non-selective use of force” against non-military targets.

Asian Correspondent – Who is Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese army?
By Zin Linn Mar 20, 2011 8:45PM UTC

According to the Burmese calendar, Saturday  was the Fullmoon Day of Tabaung when customarily the Burmese people build pagodas made of sand on beaches dedicated to the Lord Buddha. Buddha Pujaniya festivals have been held at pagodas, stupas and temples throughout Burma.

The Burmese junta or State Peace and Development Council offered religious titles to venerable members of the Sangha at home and abroad, nuns and laypersons on Saturday.

The SPDC issued Notification No. 1/2011 of SPDC on 4 January to announce the winners of religious titles.

The ceremony was not merely a religious traditional practice but to show who are on top positions of the ruling junta. The state New Light of Myanmar newspaper has to publish the ceremony as the most important cover story on this traditional day. As usual, the paper headline says “Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing attend ceremony to confer religious titles on venerable Sayadaws (Senior Monks).”

The ceremony highlights who is the most powerful or who is running the country at the top job. Then, as the New Light of Myanmar mentions, the people understand clearly that although there is an elected body, Senior General Than Shwe is above the legislative body and the president.

Afterward, the paper has to publish the names of the high-ranking officials in accordance with their power status based on seniority.  So, observers can easily see who the powerful bureaucrats of the country are.

Also present at the occasion were Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in- Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San, Member of the State Peace and Development Council Thura U Shwe Mann and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet, Prime Minister U Thein Sein and wife Daw Khin Khin Win, Secretary- 1 of the State Peace and Development Council Thiha Thura U Tin Aung Myint Oo and wife Daw Khin Saw Hnin, Member of the State Peace and Development Council U Tin Aye, General Min Aung Hlaing of the Ministry of Defence and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Nyan Tun, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and wife, ministers and their wives, the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, the Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, deputy ministers, senior military officers and departmental heads.

Thus, Than Shwe is in status quo as ‘Head of State’. On the other hand, people become aware of the right-hand man of Than Shwe. As the New Light of Myanmar mentions, General Min Aung Hlaing of the Ministry of Defence becomes Than Shwe’s choice for commander-in chief of the armed forces among the uniformed generals.

The newspaper has officially confirmed for the first time in the news General Min Aung Hlaing was accompanying Senior General Than Shwe inspecting the 48th Gem and Precious Stones Emporium held in Nay-pyi-daw on March 10, 2011.

Unofficial hearsay said Lieutenant General “Thura” Myint Aung, who previously served as the adjutant general, was  to be commander-in chief of the armed forces. Myint Aung, who was on a list to be appointed defense minister in February has reportedly declined the cabinet post and was placed under house arrest in Naypidaw. He refused the ministerial position because he believed it as a downgrading.

Myint Aung graduated from the Defense Services Academy (DSA) Intake 18 while Min Aung Hlaing was from DSA Intake 19. So, Myint Aung is one year senior to Min Aung Hlaing. Sources in Burma Armed Forces agree that Myint Aung was admired and cherished among his peers and subordinates while Min Aung Hlaing is generally seen as “supercilious.”

Thus, observers believe that there may be disagreement among military privileged category in regard to the promotion of commander-in chief post.

The Hindu – Nine Myanmarese poachers arrested
Special Correspondent
Monday, Mar 21, 2011

Kochi: In a multi-agency effort, INS Baratang of the Tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command arrested nine Myanmarese poachers off Sir Hugh Rose Island in the Andaman group of islands on Thursday.

With this, the total number of Myanmarese poachers arrested so far this year has reached 154. Fifty-three poachers were held by the forces during the corresponding last year.

The latest batch of poachers on a boat was sighted by the naval detachment on Neil Island. Though naval sailors chased the boat, the poachers sailed away to Sir Hugh Rose Island.
While the Navy informed the A&N Command about the poaching activity, the local police was alerted by an islander.

Soon, INS Baratang, which was patrolling the area, was asked to locate the poachers. A Coast Guard Dornier maritime patrol aircraft was directed to undertake aerial surveillance.

The Dornier located the boat and passed on the information INS Baratang, which nabbed the poachers and seized their boat. The boat was towed to Port Blair, where the boat and the poachers were handed over to the police.

People’s Daily Online – Over 500 pigs die of blue ear disease in Myanmar second largest city
15:19, March 21, 2011

Over 500 heads of pig have died of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) disease in Myanmar’s second largest city of Mandalay, a local weekly reported Monday.

The PRRS disease is also known as blue ear disease occurring with pig for the first time in Myanmar recently.

The 500 pigs were among the 2,000 bred in 200 poultry farms in five townships in Mandalay, the Weekly Eleven News said.

So far, the disease, detected from the dead pigs, has not spread to other animals or human but infect other pigs, it said.

Veterinary surgeons are exploring the cause of the disease, the report added.

The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) has warned the public to take bio-security measures and report to the authorities on suspected death of livestocks.

Meanwhile, avian influenza (H5N1) struck Sittway, western Rakhine state and Tantsle township, northwestern Sagaing region in the first two months of this year respectively and thousands of chickens, suspected of carrying virulent avian influenza, were wiped out following the discovery of their unusual death.

Myanmar was first struck by bird flu H5N1 in 2006. Source: Xinhua

GroundReport – India has abandoned Aung Sun Suu kyi, Indians have not
by  SYED ALI MUJTABA SYED for The Ground Report India    March 20, 2011

India has abandoned the Aung Sun Suu kyi, the democratic icon of Myanmar is the startling revelation that WikiLeaks has made with regards to Myanmar, courtesy, “The Hindu”, India’s national newspaper since 1878.

According the expose, India’s Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Mitra Vasishtha told Political Counselor Geoffrey Pyatt on November 2, 2004 (22299: confidential) describing the Nobel laureate, Aung Sun Suu kyi as someone whose “day has come and gone.”

The WikiLeaks reveals that India has no problem dumping old friend Aung San Suu Kyi  to romance Myanmar’s generals. Its clear that democratic leader of Myanmar particularly Auug Sun Suu kyi  do not aspire those in the mandarins of power in New Delhi.

The Indian foreign office seems to disagree with the Indian consensus on the pro democracy leader in Myanmar once diligently nurtured as Nelson Mandela of Myanmar.

According to Ms Vasishtha, the world had made democracy in Myanmar synonymous with Ms. Suu Kyi, but this may “backfire,” meaning the pro democracy leader has lost relevance to India.

The author of the cable, Embassy Chief of Mission Carmen Martinez, commented that India’s “pragmatic” approach was “a severe blow to the leaders of Burma’s beleaguered democratic opposition, most of whom draw their inspiration from India’s historic struggle for independence and democracy.”

It’s indeed a sad commentary as the world looks upon India as bacon of democracy. It appears, on the alter of ‘pragmatism’, ’democracy is bei8ng sacrificed when it comes to dealing with Myanmar.

One needs to ask those making policies on behalf of India, whether the common Indians will abandon the democratic icon of Myanmar Auug Sun Suu kyi. Can a referendum be held on this count and if that happens its a foregone conclusion that such uncouth rulers will be unseated by the ordinary folks of this country.

The other revelation that WikiLeaks makes is India’s refusal to deny that it not supplying arms to the military junta in Myanmar. In a cable sent on November 7, 2007 (129067: confidential). American Political Counselor Osius suggested Joint Secretary T.S. Tirumurti, to make a public declaration of New Delhi’s policy of s ban on arms sales to Myanmar, he offered no response.” The joint Secretary however acknowledged that a Myanmar request for military equipment had been turned down by India.

This again is something puzzling. Indian Army Vice-Chief Lt. Gen. S. Pattabhiraman in a interview to the Force magazine stated that in the past India had supplied 75/24 Howitzers to Burma though the numbers were not “much” they were neither “symbolic”. He also disclosed that 105-mm Indian field guns were given to Myanmar.

The Indian Navy, transferred two BN-2 ‘Defender’ Islander maritime surveillance aircraft and deck-based air-defence guns and varied surveillance equipment to Myanmar.

According to sources, as part of the agreement reached at the Home Secretary level talks,   India supplied 98 truckloads of arms and ammunition to Myanmar. India also offered unspecified number of T-55 tanks that the Indian army is retiring, armored personal carriers, 105-mm light artillery guns, mortars and the locally designed advanced light helicopters to Myanmar.

All this was part of the deal struck with the military junta to cooperate in flushing out militant groups operating from its soil in the northeast region of India. It’s also to neutralize Myanmar’s dependence on Chinese arms.

One has to recall the story of “operation leach” in Adman islands that revealed that India was officially supplying arms to the pro democratic forces in Myanmar to carry out the struggle for freedom. Then India made a 360 degree turn around and arrested the same people whom it supplied arms slapping charges on them of treason, and gunrunning.

The issue snowballed into a major controversy and the rift between then Naval Chief Visnu Bhagwat and then defense minister George Fernandez came in open leading to the sacking of the Naval Chief by the Defense Minister.

What an irony, India’s policy of supplying arms to the pro democratic forces in Myanmar is changed to provide arms to the junta; apparently to flush out the insurgents operating in north-eastern India but in actual fact is being used to crush the ethnic groups and democratic forces raising standard of revolt.

Mohan Kumar, MEA Joint Secretary dealing with Myanmar, is reported in a cable sent on February 20, 2007 (97303: confidential) saying to the American diplomat that engagement with the Myanmar junta was an imperative for India for several reasons.

First India’s ‘Look East Policy’ to reach out to the ASEAN. Second coordinated effort with Myanmar is required to develop India’s northeast region and to tackle insurgency there, third is the strategic necessity to contain Chinese influence over Myanmar.

In India’s look east policy, the trilateral highway between India, Myanmar and Thailand plays a major role to reach the South East Asian countries. So is the Trans Asian railway that is to connect New Delhi with Hanoi.

A deep economic relationship with Myanmar in India’s view would give a tremendous boost to the development of its northeast region. The planned infrastructure development of road, rail and waterways are all steps in this direction. This includes, Kaladan multi-modal transport project in the Rakhine State and road project to improve access to a border-trade crossing opened in January 2004 IN Chin State.

According to Mohan Kumar, MEA Joint Secretary, “Bangladesh’s stubbornness in allowing access to transit routes for trade leaves India with Burma as the only alternative to connect the northeast to ASEAN markets.”

The MEA joint secretary says insurgency in the northeast region is another reason to engage Mayanmar. “The ULFA guys are hiding in Burma and screwing the hell out of us and Burma is the only one helping us to tackle the northeastern insurgency.”

“India is also trying to deal with the insurgency by creating economic opportunities in the northeastern region, and Myanmar was crucial for this, the economic incentive may lure the ULFA to lay down arms”.

India sees China’s involvement in Myanmar having geo- strategic implications for the region and may like to engage Myanmar through greater economic strategic cooperation, so the Chinese do not have a free run.

Reflecting the India’s worries about China, Ms. Vasishtha said “what you hear about the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Burma is only the tip of the iceberg. The U.S. intelligence must surely know this. China took Myanmar for granted and this was why Myanmar wanted to engage with India, she said.

Ms. Vasishtha confirmed Indian grant of $20 million to the junta for the development of energy and gas infrastructure, however, she offered no conclusive answer why Myanmar sold it gas to China.

Indian- Myanmar relationship faces the pangs of proximity. The Indian government faces the moral dilemma whether to listen to the call of the conscience that demands to side with the democratic forces, or adhere to the rules of real politics and align with the military rulers in Myanmar.

Indian government was believed to have resolved this moral dilemma by following the middle path, giving moral support to the democratic forces, at the same time engaging the Military junta for geo strategic reasons.

The WikiLeaks expose however has revealed that idealism has no place in the modern state craft of India. The sentiments and emotions that bind India and Myanmar relations are of little consideration in the current policy framework that tantamount to sidelining Aug Sun Suu Kyi.

What is apparent is there is a total disconnect between India and the Indians in dealing with Myanmar. Can a government makes policies opposed to the wishes of its people. Can India afford to abandon Aug Sun Suu Kyi annoying millions of Indians who admire her as an icon of democracy?

If the answer is no, then it’s high time that such policy is changed immediately or the current dispensation making such policy may pack off its bags.

Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

Monday, March 21, 2011
The Irish Times – Hopes for a new beginning in Burma

Madam, – I refer to Magan’s World (Go, March 5th). Mr Magan wonders how the 50 million Burmese people “can allow themselves be kidnapped by a tiny military elite for half a century”. The answer is that the “tiny military elite” commands an army of oppression which, along with police and militia, totals close to half a million tightly-controlled and heavily armed “terrorists”, who ruthlessly carry out the generals’ policies. Their modus operandi is well documented and includes imprisonment, torture, killing, rape and ethnic cleansing. At present there are more than 2,000 political prisoners in Burma.

And yes, in light of the above and the recent sham elections, rightly condemned by worldwide democratic bodies including the UN and the EU, Mr Magan is being “naive to hope that Aung San Suu Kyi’s release from house arrest on November 13th, 2010 may have marked a new beginning”. Would that it were not so, but the overwhelming evidence does not support his hope. – Yours, etc,

GEAROID KILGALLEN,
Burma Action Ireland,
PO Box 6786, Dublin.

Radio Australia – Burmese travellers tested for radioactivity
Last Updated: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:16:00 +1100

Burmese passengers arriving from Japan are being tested for radioactive contamination, as the crisis continues in the Fukushima power plant.

The scans are being carried out at Rangoon’s international airport by officials from the Health, Science and Technology Ministries.

Arriving passengers are also being questioned on their movements in Japan.

Kyodo news agency says officials are also monitoring rainwater in Rangoon for any signs of radioactivity, but no contamination has been detected so far.

The price of iodised salt has tripled in Burma’s main cities. It follows panic-buying in China where many have been wrongly convinced that iodised salt can protect against radiation sickness.

Burmese vendors began shipping salt to China on Friday, and Burmese media outlets say grocers and salt wholesellers in Rangoon and Mandalay have reported a sharp rise in the price of salt since then.

Donation

Meanwhile, the Burmese government has donated US$100,000 to victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Foreign minister, Nyan Win, gave the donation in cash to the Japanese Ambassador to Burma, Takashi Saito in a ceremony late last week in Rangoon.

Burma’s Prime Minister Thein Sein has also sent a message of sympathy to his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan for the loss of life and property caused by the earthquake and tsunami.

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has also given her condolences to the families of victims of the March 11 disaster.

AI – Aung San Suu Kyi Speaks to Amnesty International Activists
Asia, General Amnesty, United States | Posted by: Jungwon Kim, March 19, 2011 at 9:43 PM

27ShareThere is an antidote to the weariness, cynicism and paralysis perpetuated by the heartless churn of our 24-hour news cycle: Just listen to the voices of those who walk the razor’s edge each day as they fight to change the world. Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi addressed Amnesty activists by phone at the end of Day 2 of our 50th anniversary conference, graciously acknowledging the role of grassroots activism in her release after 15 years of detention by the military junta and encouraging us not to forget the 2,000-plus political prisoners who remain locked up in Burma.

Her brief address was followed by a riveting speech by Jenni Williams, co-founder of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, a group of women who have been jailed, tortured and persecuted for their non-violent demonstrations to demand social justice. Williams recalled one August night when police abducted seven WOZA members. “The phone calls started at 3 a.m.

We heard our members had been arrested in suburbs, so we called Amnesty International. By 12 noon, all seven members were delivered back to their homes by the same police officers who had abducted them,” said Williams.

Earlier in the day, I spotted New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof listening to similarly harrowing tales at the well-attended panel discussion, “Muzzling the Watchdogs,” featuring Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho, Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam and Iranian American journalist Roxana Saberi. All three had been arrested, imprisoned and persecuted for their work to expose injustice, and each was the subject of Amnesty International urgent actions and/or international letter campaigns demanding their freedom.

Lydia Cacho, the woman Mother Jones called “Mexico’s most wanted journalist,” thanked Amnesty International members for throwing her a lifeline time and time again. From the beginning of her career in journalism, Cacho focused on women’s and children’s rights—”before they were called human rights.” She fought editors to get her stories published and even opened a shelter for women and children fleeing violence—a move that put her life in peril repeatedly. The danger of Cacho’s work intensified after she published The Demons of Eden, her 2004 book exposing a Cancun child pornography ring involving prominent businessmen with connections to high-level government officials. Since then, she has been hunted and persecuted by powerful forces within Mexico’s government and criminal underworld.

Cacho, who has survived kidnap, torture, multiple assassination attempts and judicial persecution, emphasized how grassroots human rights work reinforces our interdependence.

“Every time you take a stand for anyone—and you have saved the lives of everyone at this table in some way—you are being a true defender of free expression,” Cacho told the large audience who attended the panel. “Your voice is so powerful. It not only makes your rights valuable, it makes our rights valuable.”

I had the immense privilege of interviewing Cacho earlier in the day, and her account of her 2005 kidnapping at the behest of the governor of the state of Puebla was chilling. Her response to my question of how she kept herself from unraveling during that ordeal of torture and threats is something I wish every activist here could have heard. “When you have looked into the eyes of an eight-year-old girl who tells you about being raped and tortured repeatedly on videotape—not to save herself but solely in order to save other girls from ever having to live through such unspeakable horror—there is nothing else you can do but continue the fight. She gave me strength.”

After spending nearly two full days interviewing human rights defenders I have admired for years, I have come away with this observation: These people who dedicate their lives to fight seemingly insurmountable odds share in common a luminous sense of purpose that comes from the surrender of the individual to the collective. This connection with a larger purpose has sustained them through unspeakable hardships most of us cannot imagine. And while most of us may not be cut out for the kind of danger or hardship they face on a daily basis, each and every one of us can offer an act of solidarity that may, at that critical moment, tip the scales in favor of life over death.

The Irrawaddy – State Media Calls Shan State Army-North ‘Insurgents’
By KO HTWE Monday, March 21, 2011

A Burmese state-run newspaper for the first time in twenty years described the Shan State Army-North (SSA-North) as “insurgents” committing “terrorist acts” following recent clashes between government troops and the SSA-North after which the regime accused the armed ethnic group of attacking bridges.

“While the government is striving for ensuring better transport across the nation, insurgents are constantly carrying out terrorist acts and destructions,” said an article in The New Light of Myanmar on Monday.

The article reported that on Sunday morning the SSA-North planted mines and damaged bridges on the Mongshu-Mongnawng Road in Mongshu Township and the Mongyai-Seinkyawt-Hsaungkye Road in Hsipaw Township.

Meanwhile, another report in The New Light of Myanmar said a 13-member SSA-North group led by Sai Mon exchanged arms for peace in the Burmese military’s North-East Command region on Sunday.

The report came following a Burmese army ultimatum for the SSA-North to move its headquarters from Kyethi Township at the end of March.

According to military sources, the government intends to run three military fronts—in Karen, Kachin and Shan states—and the headquarters of the SSA-North will be attacked if not moved.

The SSA-North denied being a terrorist organization and urged the new government to treat ethnic national groups with equality and fairness, according to an SSA-North statement released on Friday.

“The use of arms is to protect our public and we always urge that problems be solved in a political way,” the statement said. “We will continue to fight to reach the goal.”

The ongoing clashes between Burmese troops and the SSA-North, as well as the Burmese Army ultimatum to move the SSA-North headquarters and plan to mount a full-scale assault, frightened many residents and caused them to leave their native land, according to sources.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Monday, residents of Mongshu said that many people who heard the sound of explosions at night are worried about the situation.

“At night we have to close our shop so early. The price of commodities is also high. Although people are celebrating the traditional novitiate ceremony, they are not happy,” said a resident of Mongshu.

On Friday, government troops fought with the SSA-North in MongShu Township for nearly five hours. Clashes in the last week killed civilians, including a monk, and forced thousands to flee their villages.

After the ultimatum, many villagers fled their land and the price of transportation jumped from 15,000 kyat (US $17) to 35,000 kyat ($40), according to Hseng Khio Fah of the Shan Herald News Agency (SHAN).

“Few buses go there. Pregnant women and the elderly have to avoid villages near SSA-North headquarters,” she said.

There has been continuous fighting between junta troops and the SSA-North in Mongshu and Tangyan townships since last month.

The SSA-North controls territory in Kyethi and Monghsu townships in southern Shan State and Mongyai and Tangyan townships in the northern part of the state.

Brigade 1, led by Col Pang Fa, is the strongest of the SSA-North’s three brigades, with an estimated 3,000 troops. The former cease-fire group’s other two brigades, 3 and 7, have joined a Border Guard Force (BGF) under Burmese military command, but Brigade 1 refused to accede to the scheme.

The Burmese regime has pressured 17 cease-fire armies to accept the BGF plan, but only a few have joined. The others, including the largest groups—the United Wa State Army (UWSA), with 30,000 troops, and the 10,000-strong Kachin Independence Army (KIA)—have refused.

The UWSA and the Shan State Army-South, a non-cease-fire armed group, have offered support to SSA-North Brigade 1 since it resumed hostilities with the Burmese Army.

The Burmese junta also described the KIA, a cease-fire group, as “insurgents” in state-run-newspapers in October. The KIA signed a cease-fire agreement in 1994.

The Irrawaddy – Legal Action On Cards for NDF Leadership
Monday, March 21, 2011

Burma’s Election Commission (EC) is reportedly planning to take legal action against top leaders of the National Democratic Force (NDF) party for alleged misappropriation of funds during last year’s election.

Sources at the EC said that cases against three senior NDF members—party leader Khin Maung Swe, Dr. Than Nyein and Dr. Win Naing—have been prepared for their alleged abuse of election funds. Action against them could commence when the current parliamentary session is completed at the end of the month.

This report, however, cannot be independently verified by The Irrawaddy.

Than Nyein, the chairman of the NDF—a breakaway faction of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party—said that he had no knowledge of any legal action being taken against them.

He said that NDF leaders already resolved allegations regarding the supposed misuse of election funds with the commission three month ago. It also concerns receiving funds from overseas, which is prohibited under election rules.

Despite a previously tense relationship resulting from their contrasting views on the November elections, Suu Kyi and senior NDF members recently had a private meeting at the home of NLD deputy leader Tin Oo in Rangoon. But Than Nyein said these discussions were simply of a personal nature and there are no plans for any political cooperation yet.

Asked if there is any concern about a possible government crackdown on the party due to increased interactions with Suu Kyi, Than Nyein said, “Many people are meeting Daw Suu these days. I don’t think we would be singled out and punished for this.”

Mizzima News – Will the Internet help trigger the next uprising in Burma?
Monday, 21 March 2011 13:44 Mandalar Maung

Rangoon (Mizzima) – As the Internet and social media spread news of civil unrest and demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya, the military junta in Burma is afraid that the young generation here will follow suit. All news is suppressed and–as the best indicator of the junta’s concerns–Internet speed is down to a trickle.

But can the Internet-driven revolution in the Middle East really be replicated in Burma? If we take a close look at the situation in Burma, and look at its rather unique characteristics and backwardness, we see that there is little chance of the Internet playing a significant role in stirring up anti-government protests. If there is to be radical change, other factors will have to come into play.

Let’s look at the Internet and communications in Burma. Internet access is largely confined to the two major cities, Rangoon and Mandalay. Most of the Internet usage takes place in Internet cafes, which under government regulation have had to install URL-tracking software and CCTV cameras to keep customers under close surveillance. It goes almost without saying that all Internet outlets prohibit access to banned and blocked sites.

The number of Internet users reflects Burma’s depressing reality. In 2010, only 110,000 users or 0.2 percent of a population of 55 million Burmese used the Internet, whereas in China 30 percent of the population uses the Internet regularly. Even taking the most optimistic claim that there are a total of 500,000 users in the country shows the dire picture. And using the Internet as an information source is very limited. All sites and pages critical of the regime are banned and blocked, including the seemingly innocent pages of the Financial Times and the Bangkok Post, and, most importantly, Twitter and YouTube. Facebook can be viewed but being able to send messages from one’s Facebook account is like winning the lottery–mostly the sent messages do not get sent.

Internet Usage and Population Statistics:
YEAR – Users – Population – % Pen. – GDP p.c.* – Usage Source
2000    1,000    54,021,571  0.002 % US$ N/A       ITU.
2008  40,000    47,758,181  0.1 %      US$ 479      ITU.
2009 108,900   48,137,741  0.2 %      US$ 459      ITU.
2010 110,000   53,414,374  0.2 %      US$ 469      ITU.

Note: Per Capita GDP in US dollars, source: International Monetary Fund.

Source: Internet World Stats, June 2010

Although young Internet users know how to access banned sites, government surveillance is frightening, the painstakingly slow Internet speed discouraging, and the frequent power blackouts very frustrating. Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who recently had installed what is advertised as a ‘high-speed’ broadband Internet connection talked of the need ‘… to increase the Megabytes’.

Glass-fiber cables are being installed in Rangoon but the advertised capacity of 30 Mbps has never been experienced. The installation fee of US$ 990 and monthly charges of US$ 35-110 for one line are clearly outside the reach of ordinary citizens who live of an average income of about US$ 30 a month.

Other communication devices also illustrate the backwardness of Burma’s infrastructure. All around the world mobile phones are an essential part of daily life. Not so in Burma. The most favorable statistics estimate the mobile phone penetration at 3.7 percent of the total population, which equals 2 million phone users. This by any standard is ridiculously low. Mobile phones are prohibitively expensive and do not allow access to e-mail or the Internet. The few government controlled operators do not support international roaming and even the international SMS service is blocked. The market price of a GSM SIM card came down recently. A GSM SIM card without a handset is now US$ 1,400-1,600 on the black market. The official price for a SIM card is about US$ 170 but nobody is willing to sell at that price. A new scheme has been announced in which pre-paid CDMA SIM cards will sell for US$ 600. But let’s see what the market price will be.

Even fixed-line phones are an unaffordable luxury. Only a small number of households have a phone line. The monthly rent for an average apartment in Rangoon is about 50 percent higher if it comes with a phone line compared to an apartment without an installed phone. The latest official data talk of 1 percent penetration.

The government does everything it can to keep its population in the dark by restricting what is shown on TV and in the press. As more than 80 percent of Burma’s GNP is generated in the agricultural sector and most of the population lives in villages and agricultural areas, no sources of information are available other than the government approved TV and press. Of course, the national press and the government TV do not report anything about the protests and uprisings in the Middle East. Fortunately, in the major cities and hotels across the country satellite TV is available although it is not officially allowed. The subscription costs are about US$ 400 a year.

Given these depressing statistics, the Burmese government does not have to be afraid of an uprising triggered by the Internet and social media.

Given the unlikelihood of an Internet-sparked uprising, what will it take to bring Burmese onto the streets as seen in 1988 or the monk-led “Saffron Revolution” of 2007?

It is dangerous to make comparisons with the Middle East. The major differences between the Arab countries and Burma make it very hard to imagine another uprising in Burma in the near future. Although the share of young and unemployed is higher in Burma than in the Middle East, the culture and education could hardly be more different. Western and Islamic nations have grown up in the Christian or Islamic tradition of violent conflict solution over the last 1,000 to 2,000 years. In contrast, 90 percent of the Burmese population is Buddhist, a culture that at heart is more peace-loving and less violent.

Many of the leaders of the Middle East protests have been educated at schools and universities in Britain, France or the United States, whereas only a handful of Burmese students have studied abroad and even fewer are willing to return home after finishing their education. The formal school education in Burma has gone downhill since the private and missionary schools were nationalized in 1965. The quality of school and university education is catastrophic and has resulted in generations of poorly educated students without any political mindset.

Most importantly, the violent military crackdowns of the earlier uprisings in 1988 and 2007 have left the Burmese population in fear. Many Burmese were afraid to listen to Aung San Suu Kyi’s first speech after her recent release from house arrest. They were afraid of being filmed by secret police, identified and later arrested at home at night as happened in the weeks after the 2007 demonstrations. Many young people refrain from any open defiance of the regime as their arrests could be followed by the arrests of ‘complicit’ family members. And the 2,200 political activists who still linger in prison are a constant remainder of the brutality of the regime.

Many Burma experts claim that cracks, discontent and envy among the military ranks might topple the ruling junta. But as past experience in Burma shows, a new military dictator is more likely to follow a military coup than a democratic revolution. The military has established a parallel society and economy with its own schools, universities, hospitals and living quarters. The military officers feel they are an elite class who are the only ones who can prevent the Union of Myanmar from disintegrating. They feel superior and look down on the people as lower class citizens.

The Burmese have learned after the mass demonstrations in 1988 that it is very hard to get rid of an old dictator, Ne Win, without inviting in a new one, General Than Shwe. This still echoes in a common Burmese saying: ‘Be careful when you kick out the old ruler, the new one might be worse’. This is certainly true for Burma. Will this be true for Tunisia, Egypt or Libya?

There is hope that the people in the Middle East will ultimately replace their authoritarian regimes. But in Burma, it is hard to look to the ‘new world’ of Facebook and Twitter to inspire a new uprising. If there is a spark, it may be more grounded. After all, it was a dramatic rise in petrol and food prices that sparked the revolt in 2007.

Mandalar Maung is a pseudonym for a foreign resident in Rangoon.

Mizzima News – Military training of selected civilians underway in Irrawaddy Division
Monday, 21 March 2011 20:44 Kyaw Kha

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Officials with division Fire Brigades in Burma say that one-month firefighting training courses for civilians will now include military training at the township level in Irrawaddy Division.

Previously, basic firefighting training was conducted in some areas in Irrawaddy Division each year, but this is the first year that basic military training has been included along with firefighting training.

Each village and ward is required to send three trainees between age 20-30 to a one-month basic training program.

‘The trainees have to attend a one-month course of both fire fighting and military training’, an officer in the Irrawaddy Division Fire Brigade told Mizzima. There are 100 trainees in each batch, he said, and meals and lodging are provided to the trainees.

Previously, the firefighting training was conducted by fire departments under the supervision of the divisional branch at the village tract and ward levels. This time the basic training is being conducted at the township level under the supervision of the Northwest military command.

‘The military training is basic level: how to aim, how to fire, how to crawl and how to march’, said an officer in the Fire Department.

Fellow villagers are required to pay compensation to the trainees for the time away from their workplace and other expenses at the rate of 1,000 kyat (US$ 1.14) per household.

A resident in Myaungmya Township said villagers selected the trainees from among unemployed youth.

According to the Military Service Law enacted on November 4, 2010, by the State Peace and Development Council, males between ages 18 and 35 and females between ages 18 and 27 shall be called for mandatory military service for three and two years, respectively.

Mizzima News – ‘We see the sanctions as a political weapon’
Monday, 21 March 2011 15:04 Myo Thant

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Recently, Burmese political parties gave the EU delegation a letter, signed by 10 political parties, calling for an end to sanctions against Burma.

And the EU ambassadors and deputy ambassadors held talks with the leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, and five political party leaders in the Italian Embassy in Rangoon on March 15 about the possibility of lifting of sanctions.

Political party leaders who attended the meeting said that Suu Kyi did not make any comments about the sanctions during the meeting.

The European Union (EU) will decide in April whether to modify or lift sanctions against Burma or not, according to the political parties.

Mizzima conducted an interview with National League for Democracy’s central executive committee member Win Tin about the sanctions against Burma.

Do you think the sanctions against Burma should be lifted or not?

I think the sanctions should be extended. I support Aung San Suu Kyi’s idea that is to review the sanctions only if it harms to the people. I don’t want people to be harmed. It is not just a matter of the junta and the opposition. We need to think about the welfare of the people.

Some said that targeted sanctions should still be imposed. What do you think?

The targeted sanctions should be focused on the generals and their cronies. The targeted sanctions should be imposed. Otherwise, they will be scared of nothing and continue to do anti democratic actions. We have two things, the blanket sanctions and the targeted sanctions, to be considered. I support Aung San Suu Kyi’s idea that if the blanket sanctions can harm the people, we want it to be overhauled. I agree. But, I strongly support the imposition of the targeted sanctions against the junta.

On the other hand, some people are worried that if the targeted sanctions against the Burmese junta were extended, the junta may feel that they were besieged and they will be worse.

Do you think that the targeted sanctions can also harm the people?

As for me, I think that the sanctions against the junta are essential. The targeted restrictions should be focused on them (the top generals), and it cannot harm the people. The targeted sanctions will harm the top generals including Senior General Than Shwe, government leader Shwe Mann and their cronies such as Tay Za. But on the other hand, if the blanket sanctions or non-targeted sanctions can harm the people, we need to review it. This is also Aung San Suu Kyi’s idea.

The sanctions have been imposed against Burma because of the Burmese junta’s violation of human rights. What is a clear example of their serious violations of human rights?

In the country, the junta’s serious violations of human rights killed many people. That’s why some countries imposed the sanctions against Burma. If the junta really wants the countries to lift the sanctions against Burma, they must try to stop the violations of human rights. Moreover, they need to allow us the freedom of expression including press freedom. To answer your question, Burma has more than 2,000 political prisoners and that is a serious violation of human rights.

A few days ago, the EU ambassadors and deputy ambassadors held talks with Aung San Suu Kyi and political party leaders about the sanctions. What did Aung San Suu Kyi say about the affair?

As I mentioned above, if the sanctions harm the people, she wants them to be reviewed. She has the same idea like us.

Do you have any plan to carry out a survey to examine whether the sanctions harm the people or not?

We are always listening to people’s voices. So, people from across the country informed us of their feelings and attitudes communicating this to our party via letters.  So, if the sanctions harm the people, we will be informed.

And we have some experts including professors and PhD holders.  We often invited them to take advice from them.

So, we can know whether the sanctions can harm the people or not. So, without considerable evidence and without people’s demands, we cannot accept the idea to urge the countries to lift the sanctions. Aung San Suu Kyi also said the same thing.

We heard that the NLD conducted Division and State level meetings in the party headquarters. In the meetings, did you discuss the sanctions?

Yes, the members form the States and Divisions said they saw the sanctions as a political weapon. But, they cannot know whether the sanctions can harm people or not because the junta put them on the blacklist, so they cannot have the right to examine the people’s opinions freely. But the things they can see are the junta’s serious violations of human rights. The human rights violations occurred in the rural areas, too.

Other things they can see are lack of democracy and the authorities’ serious threats to the activists and the people. And there are many political prisoners. So, they support the idea not to lift the sanctions.

We heard that some political parties urge western countries to lift the sanctions against Burma. What is your attitude on that?

Our idea is different from those political parties. Aung San Suu Kyi and ourselves talked about our attitude about the affair to the NDF leaders when we met. We want the countries to extend the targeted sanctions, but they could not agree. In fact, the NDF leaders are just following the ideas of some countries only after the NDF was formed. In the past, some of the NDF leaders also accepted that the sanctions needed to be imposed and it was a political weapon. So, in our meeting with them, they could not complain against us. They told that they could understand our idea, too.

If the economic sanctions are lifted, foreign investment will increase. If so, can that benefit the people?

We accept it. We see the sanctions as just a political weapon because of the junta’s serious violations of human rights. In fact, our country is an underdeveloped poor country, so we need huge foreign investment. We can understand. If we want to enjoy the benefits from the foreign investment, they (the foreign investments) need to be useful investments. We don’t know whether those foreign investments conflict with the sanctions. Some investments may need to violate the sanctions. On the other hand, some foreign investments may not violate the sanctions. So, we need to consider what kind of investments can benefit the people.

We heard that some countries, which help with trying to establish democracy in Burma, were considering lifting the sanctions against Burma as they want to invest in Burma. What is your attitude on that?

Those countries really helped Burma’s pro-democracy movement a lot, so I think that they will not oppose our ideas.

DVB News – Sanctuary eludes ex-political prisoners
By FRANCIS WADE
Published: 21 March 2011

Former Burmese political prisoners who have fled their country are struggling to access UN or Thai “avenues for protection” and are confined to a life in limbo away from their homes, a letter sent to the European Commission (EC) today warns.

Signed by Ex-PPACT, a group of former political prisoners who fled to Thailand and which offers counselling and advocacy work on behalf of new arrivals, the letter urged the EC to develop a better safety net for a community it claims suffer deep psychological trauma as a result of their time in prison and the insecurity of their new lives in the Thai border town of Mae Sot.

“Despite our well-founded fear of persecution, we have been unable to access UNHCR or Thai avenues for protection because of variety of reason related to Thai government policies,” it said, referring to the UN’s refugee agency.

“We live in constant fear of deportation and suffer from the psychological after-effects of torture and extended imprisonment in harsh condition.”

It also warned Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who last week visited Burmese refugees in Thai camps, that Thai authorities were “always looking…to find the best and quickest way of how to repatriate Burmese migrants” following Thailand’s warming relations with the so-called new Burmese government.

Aye Min Soe, a co-founder of Ex-PPACT, spent more than four years in incarcerated in Burma, having first been imprisoned following the 1988 uprising. He has lived in Mae Sot since he fled Burma in December 2008, but in that time has not been able to leave the small border town.

“It’s like I’m staying in another prison,” he told DVB. “There are a lot of army checkpoints and so I cannot move around outside of one kilometre from the town. I don’t have a chance to get a job and there is no form of education for our children; also there is no healthcare system for us.”

He said that the group of around 20 former political prisoners were unlikely to be admitted to the refugee camps, which predominantly house victims of the decades-long civil war in Karen state.

“We are worrying day by day about our situation and about getting arrested by police – it’s a kind of psychological torture,” said Aye Min Soe. “We are hopeless. In Burma when we were in prison we knew the official release date, even if it was 10 years ahead; here we don’t know the release date.”

Nearly 2,200 political prisoners are behind bars in Burma, some serving sentences of more than 100 years. Apart from groups like Ex-PPACT and the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners–Burma (AAPP), there is little to support those who flee to Thailand after their release.

DVB News – Monks condemn Germany’s sanctions line
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
Published: 21 March 2011

Two monks representing the All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA) will present an open letter to the German foreign ministry today and lead a silent protest outside its Berlin headquarters.

Ashin Sopaka, who will present the letter alongside Ashin Kovida, told DVB that he was calling on the German people to oppose their government’s alleged lobbying of other EU nations to remove sanctions on the country. “They are more interested in business with this regime; they said this is a new government so they want to work together – this is their interest. That’s why they want to lobby and work with the junta, and they don’t want to hear criticisms from other countries.”

Activist group Burma Campaign UK corroborates that the German government as well as Italy and Spain have been lobbying other EU nations to support the removal of the EU’s weak sanctions on Burma. This allegation also appeared in a leaked Wikileak cable, where a British diplomat told his US counterpart that the Germans had “‘heard what they wanted to hear’ about the situation in Burma and therefore ‘have subsequently started discussions within the EU about relaxing the current measures’.”

Since the junta held an election in November last year there have been renewed calls for an end to sanctions. Sopaka however told DVB of the protest: “We want to tell the story that is going on behind – how they organised the election and formed the new government. We want to tell them that they changed only their clothes, their uniforms, from soldiers to normal; they didn’t change their policies. We want to tell them that there are more political prisoners now, and the monks are still in jail.

“We wish that they stay with the EU common position; that is our hope. I hope they understand and hear our voice.”

Germany has a long history of business dealings with the Burmese junta, and following the September 2007 monk-led protests German campaigners noted that slain Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai was in all probability murdered by a German-made G3 assault rifle, which has been the primary battle assault rifle of the Burmese army since the 1960s.

Moreover, in a major investigation by DVB a Burmese defector alleges that the German machine parts company Deckel Maho Gildemeister (DMG) had supplied parts for Burma’s nuclear program.

Reflecting what activists allege to be an attitude of appeasement by the German government, a large EU delegation of some 30 diplomats met with Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon to discuss sanctions. This was also joined by a plea from parties, including the National Democratic Force (NDF), which split from the National League for Democracy (NLD) in order to take part in last year’s elections, to remove sanctions.

Sopaka will lead the silent protest today outside the foreign ministry in central Berlin from 2pm to 6pm GMT.

The junta meanwhile responded to the NLD’s continued support of sanctions with the threat that the party, including Aung San Suu Kyi, could meet a “tragic end”.