Young Mizo

Barak Valley students’ memo to Mizo CM

2011-09-25T22:07:00.001-07:00

KARIMGANJ, Sept 26 – The ACKHSA and MYSA have submitted a memorandum to Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla demanding protection of non-Mizo people residing in the State of Mizoram.

The memorandum informed the Chief Minister that non-Mizo people who are living in Mizoram for last 40 years are being harassed by some NGOs like Young Mizo Association, Mizoram Business Organisation, etc. In view of developing situation in Mizoram, ACKHSA and MYSA sought protection of non-Mizo and urge the Chief Minister to take effective steps to restore normalcy in the State so that victims of physical and mental torture can resume their business and sundry works.

The student organisations also requested the Chief Minister to see that trade licences and inner line permit of non-Mizo, which have been snatched away, are returned soon and that adequate security is provided to them.

Mizoram sympathises with Sikkim quake victims

2011-09-22T20:40:00.001-07:00

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today expressed his sympathy to the people of Sikkim affected by the devastating earthquake that rocked the Himalayan state on Sunday. In a letter to his Sikkim counterpart Pawan Kumar Chamling, Lal Thanhawla said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage to property that the recent earthquake had caused. He hoped that under his (Chamling s) Chief Ministership, rescue and rehabilitation process would go on unabated. Mr Lal Thanhawla pointed out that the Mizos sympathised with the quake-affected people and were willing to extend all possible help to them.

Mizoram cm extends helping hand to quake-hit Sikkim

2011-09-22T20:05:00.001-07:00

Aizawl, Sep 23 (PTI) Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawlatoday sent a letter to his Sikkim counterpart Pawan KumarChamling extending all possible help to the people of Sikkimand condoling the deaths due to sunday's powerful earthquake. In his letter, Lal Thanhawla expressed hiscondolences for those who had lost their loved ones in thequake and said that rescue work would be carried on smoothlyunder the able leadership and guidance of Chamling. The Mizoram chief minister also said that the stategovernment and the people of Mizoram were ready to render anyassistance possible for the people of Sikkim.

One dies in Mizoram landslides

2011-09-21T23:31:00.001-07:00

Aizawl, Sep 22 : At least one person was killed, several houses damaged and many roads blocked following incessant heavy downpour since yesterday.

A heavy mudslide buried two of three villagers who were on their way back home after collecting crabs.

Official sources said Zarzosanga, who was spared by the mudslide, managed to pull out one of his friends Hruaitluanga from the mounds of mud. Their friend Lawmvela, who hailed from Parbung village in Manipur, remained buried in the mud.

Leaving the seriously injured Hruaitluanga behind, Zarzosanga rushed to their village Sailutar (in Serchhip district) and sought the help of the villagers. After working for the whole night, the villagers retrieved the body today, the sources said.

IIMCs to award degrees

2011-09-21T10:31:00.001-07:00

New Delhi, Sept 21 (PTI) Government is working towardsupgrading Indian Institute of Mass Communication to awarddegrees and a draft Bill is being finalised in this regard, atop official of Information and Broadcasting Ministry saidtoday."A draft Bill is being finalised so that it can bepresented before Parliament and enacted at the earliest sothat IIMC is empowered to grant degrees," I&B Secretary RaghuMenon said.Speaking at the IIMC's 44th convocation function herewhich saw 318 students being conferred PG diplomas injournalism and advertisement and public relations, he saidgovernment is in discussion with the state governments ofJammu & Kashmir and Kerala for opening regional centres ofIIMC.Two new regional centres of IIMC at Aizawl, Mizoram andAmravati in Maharashtra have started functioning from thisacademic year.They are at present functioning from temporary campusesprovided to IIMC by Mizoram University and the Sant GadgeBaba Amravati University but the Institute will be goingahead with the construction of its own permanent campuses atthese places, for which land has been identified, he said.Menon said the Indian media and entertainment industry,which is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, isregistering a positive growth after a slowdown during theglobal recession.23 students of PG diploma courses 2010-11 in Hindi,English, Oriya, radio and TV journalism and advertisement andpublic relations were also given awards on the occasion.

Deepak Sura steals the show

2011-09-14T04:46:00.001-07:00

The Services Sports Control Board boxers contested nine of the 13 finals spread across various weight categories and won eight titles, their only loss coming in the 70 kg final. Over to Nandakumar Marar.

SSCB's Manjeet (right) lands a punch on Neeraj (Chandigarh) in the final of the 63 kg category. Manjeet won the bout on points.
Mizoram's Lal Dinmawia (bantam weight) received the Best Boxer award, while Maharashtra's Kallicharan Kharare (feather weight) was named the ‘Best Loser' as the under-16 boys from Haryana, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh vied for top honours with the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) pugilists in the 27th National Junior Championships recently.
SSCB contested nine of the 13 finals spread across various weight categories at the Balewadi indoor stadium in Pune and won eight titles, its only loss coming in the 70 kg final, where Deepak Kadian went down to Deepak Sura of Haryana on points (13-15).
SSCB's champions were Ankur Banswal (46 kg), P. L. Prasad (48 kg), Naveen Kumar (50 kg), Sandeep Badri (52 kg), Manjeet (63 kg), C. Dadu Singh (6 kg), Sandeep Sharma (75 kg) and K. N. S. Rathore (80+ kg).
Deepak Sura gave up cricket to become a boxer upon watching the action from the ringside for the first time. According to his father Sukhbag Sura, Deepak took to boxing when he was in Standard IX and he hopes to represent India in major championships some day. “My role is to provide Deepak the backup; he has to do all the punching,” added Sukhbag.
With Akhil Kumar and Vijender Singh as their icons, the kids in Bhiwani and Sonepat are now familiar with boxing. Deepak enrolled himself in the Universal Boxing Academy in Hissar to further his career in the sport under coach Rajesh Sheoran.
That Deepak chose boxing ahead of cricket — which offers a lucrative career — does not bother Sukhbag. “Children today have many choices. There is money in cricket, but money isn't everything. If boxing continues to fascinate Deepak, he may end up realising his dream of representing India one day. The prestige associated with boxing in India is more valued in our society,” he explained.
SSCB's C. Dadu Singh (welterweight champion) initially faced some resistance at home for choosing boxing. “My father felt boxing was dangerous for children and he asked me to think again (over my decision),” said the Manipur lad, who played football and trained in judo like most kids from the north-east.
“The army unit I joined had facilities for boxing,” said Dadu Singh, a trainee at the Army Sports Institute (Pune). He underlined his dominance in the ring in Balewadi, unleashing a flurry of punches to his opponent Akshay Rawal's head in the 66 kg final before the referee stopped the contest.
Dinmawia is a good example of the natural boxing talent available in the north-east. Four other boxers from Mizoram — N. Lalbiakkima, Ronusanga, C. Lalchhanthuanga and Lalramtana — won bronze medals in the championship after entering the semifinals.
The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) is attempting to spread its target area by planning coaching clinics in states on a zonal basis.
“India's first world champion, Zoram Thanga, was from Mizoram. The performances of the Mizo youngsters are due to the work done by the Sports Authority of India centres there. We want to assist the state coaches, update techniques and prepare better teams by conducting zonal clinics,” informed Brig Muralidharan Raja, Secretary-General of IABF.
“We are trying to involve the National coach, G. S. Sandhu, now part of the AIBA Coaches Commission, and the Cuban coach, B. I. Fernandez, in the zonal clinics that are being planned,” he added.

THE RESULTS (FINALS)
46 kg: Ankur Banswal (SSCB) bt Amit Pangal (Haryana) 11-4
48 kg: P. L. Prasad (SSCB) bt K. Shyam Kumar (AP) 16-10
50 kg: Naveen Kumar (SSCB) bt Rakesh (Haryana) 10-6
52 kg: Sandeep Badri (SSCB) bt A. Silambarasan (TN) 11-7
54 kg: Lal Dinmawia (Mizoram) bt Arun (Uttarakhand) 17-8
57 kg: Deepak Pahal (Haryana) bt Kallicharan Kharare (Maharashtra) 9-8
60 kg: Sukhdev (MP) bt Sanjay Thapa (Uttarakhand) 8-7
63 kg: Manjeet (SSCB) bt Neeraj (Chandigarh) 10-9
66 kg: C. Dadu Singh (SSCB) bt Akshay Rawal (Uttarakhand) RSC
70 kg: Deepak Sura (Haryana) bt Deepak Kadian (SSCB) 15-13
75 kg: Sandeep Sharma (SSCB) bt Deepak Sheron (Haryana) 9-2
80 kg: Gurwinder Singh (Punjab) bt Jay Sayena (Uttarakhand) 18-11
80+ kg: K. Navneet Singh Rathore (SSCB) bt Rishabh Purohit (MP)

Chin Refugees Robbed, Their Shelter Burnt Down in Malaysia

2011-09-11T22:30:00.001-07:00

Kampar, Malaysia (Source: Google Map)
11 September 2011: A group of six Chin refugees working in a farm were robbed in their sleep by a gang of 'unknown' thugs in Kampar, Perak State of Malaysia in the early morning of last Monday.
The Chins, Bawi Thang from Matupi, Ling Bu, Näng Khäng, Ling Ling, Bawi Näng and Zo Hlei Thang from Mizo Community, were forced to sit down and threatened to give all their belongings by a group of thugs with weapons, according to one of the victims.
"The door was knocked in the middle of the night, and we thought it was the Malaysian authority on patrol trying to arrest us. On answering, one of our friends was beaten up with hoes," one of the victims told the Voice of Chin Refugees.
The victim said four of them managed to escape and run away while the thugs were busy shouting at and beating up Niang Khaing inside their shelter.
A total amount of 250 Malaysian Ringgits and mobile phones were taken away, according to the victim, who is currently living with one of the Matu Community leaders in Kuala Lumpur.
Later in the morning, their shelter, farm tractor and other vehicles belonging to their employer were set on fire.
The Malaysian police are known to be investigating the incident after their employer made a report to the authority.
One of the Chin community leaders said the Chin refugee men are physically in good health but still mentally distressed and tired.

25 Years of Peace in Mizoram Since Mizo Accord

2011-07-07T22:31:00.001-07:00

The Mizoram Assembly today unanimously adopted an official resolution expressing happiness over 25 years of peace and tranquility in the state since the signing of the Mizo Accord.

State home minister R Lalzirliana said that the Mizo Peace Accord was the most successful one in the country as real peace followed its signing and Mizoram became one of the most peaceful states in the country.

During a discussion on the resolution, moved by parliamentary affairs minister Lalsawta, ruling Congress members praised Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla for sacrificing his chief ministership in 1986 for the sake of peace.

Lalduhoma of the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) urged all political parties not to use militant groups during elections to ensure that peace in the state was not disrupted.

Mizoram To Restrict Entry Of Burmese Nationals

2011-06-17T21:16:00.001-07:00

People entering from Burma into Mizoram state in northeast India are being screened by Mizoram authorities. Entry will be granted up to 16 kilometers of the Indo–Burma border.
The Telegraph, an Indian newspaper reported on 13 June that the mizoram government worried over the unending influx of Burmese nationals across the Indo-Burma border into Mizoram, has been told by the Centre to restrict entry of people within a 16 kilometers radius of the border areas.
New Delhi has issued an alert to Aizawl because the Union Home Ministry is alarmed over unchecked infiltration of Burmese nationals, particularly Chins and Burmese Mizos, into Mizoram in search of jobs and to escape the junta’s oppression.
The newspaper added that the Indian central government has relaxed the norms for the movement of Burmese nationals up to a radius of 16 kilometers from the international border with Mizoram, to enable the people of both countries to trade in local produce, particularly food and edibles.
Recently, India’s central authority notified the Mizoram government that if any Burmese national intends to travel beyond the limit of the radius, he or she will have to obtain permission from the Centre.
And the Centre has directed the Mizoram police and the Central Intelligence Department to instruct the Mizoram State Foreigners’ Registration officer to check travel permits of nationals from the neighboring country.
Sources in the Young Mizo Association, the biggest NGO in Mizoram estimates that Burmese nationals mostly Chins and Mizos are being hosted by Mizo people in Mizoram because of the similar cultural and historic background.
Traders from Burma will be affected if the Mizoram authorities restrict entry to only 16 kilometers from the Indo-Burma border to Mizoram. - Khonumthung News

PC gives assurance for displaced Mizos rehab

2011-06-14T08:22:00.003-07:00

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has assured that the issue of displaced Mizos in Tripura is being looked into.

In his letter to state Home Minister R Lalzirliana today, Mr Chidambaram said he had received a memorandum submitted by NGOs and political parties of Mizoram demanding rehabilitation of the 80 Mizo families driven out of their homes in Sakhan hill range in Tripura by Bru militants in 1998, and assured that the rehabilitation issue is being looked into.

The state government had called off the fourth phase of Bru repatriation scheduled for June 7, demanding rehabilitation of the displaced Mizos. Lalzirliana, who announced the governments decision, said that the government also submitted separate memorandum to the Union home ministry.

Delhi alert on Myanmarese

2011-06-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

Aizawl, June 14 : Worried over the “unending ingress of Myanmarese nationals across the Indo-Myanmar border into Mizoram”, the Centre has again issued a reminder to the state government to stop the movement of people within a 16km radius of the border areas.

This is the second time since last January that New Delhi had to issue an alert to Aizawl as the Union home ministry is alarmed over the unchecked infiltration of Myanmarese nationals, particularly Chins and Burmese Mizos, into Mizoram in search of jobs and to escape the junta.

The Centre has relaxed the norms for the movement for Myanmarese nationals up to a point in a radius of 16km from the international border with Mizoram to enable the people of both countries to trade in local produce, particularly food and eatables.

In a recent notification to Aizawl, the Union home ministry made it clear that if any Myanmarese national intends to travel beyond the limit of 16km radius, he or she will have to obtain permission from New Delhi.

The Mizoram government in a follow-up to the Centre’s directive, has authorised the superintendent of police, CID, in Aizawl to also act as the Mizoram State Foreigners’ Registration officer to check the travel permits obtained by the nationals from its eastern neighbour. The influx of the Myanmarese people across the 404kmborders it shares with India is a big headache for Mizoram.

Police sources in Aizawl today said there were over 5,5000 Myanmarese nationals are working in shops and as domestic help in Mizoram.

From time to time Mizoram police had launched drives to detect and deport illegal migrants from Myanmar and even detected over 300 infiltrators.

The Mizoram government is concerned that these illegal migrants were involved in drug peddling and prostitution.

Burmese tightrope

2011-06-13T23:08:00.001-07:00

By Shankar Roychowdhury

India must look away for a moment from the turmoil in the country’s western vicinity and spare a glance eastwards towards the “other border” as well, the one which India shares with another significant neighbour, Burma. Burma, formed part of Britain’s Indian empire till 1937 when it was declared a separate colonial entity. There is little ethnic or cultural connectivity eastwards, between the dominant Indo-Gangetic civilisation of India and that of the Irrawaddy heartland of Burma. In Burma, the traditional Indian presence has been of petty traders and subordinate-level bureaucracy of British Burma who did not endear themselves to the locals. Memories linger and, surprisingly, Indians even now are not generally well regarded.

The internal political and civil structure of Burma is fluid and complicated. There is Tatmadaw — the Burmese defence forces — in total charge of all aspects of governance, through the State Peace and Development Council (SDPC), which is a military junta of 11 generals, serving as well as retired, whose political fortunes fluctuate with their internal equations. With an estimated strength of 450,000 to 500,000, the Burmese Army is predominantly a light infantry force. Reputed as capable and professionally competent, it is combat-hardened by long experience of almost unbroken counterinsurgency and jungle operations against separatists almost since independence in 1948.

But its record of human rights has been severely criticised by the Western countries, particularly the United States, which regards the SDPC government as a rogue regime and is putting pressure on India to dissociate and condemn the country’s military junta. Burma carries the reputation of an enigmatic and somewhat prickly hermit kingdom which prefers to keep to itself. Inside the country, 19 major and minor ethnic groups are in distinctly uneasy diversity amongst themselves. The predominantly Christian tribal minorities along Burma’s mountainous, densely jungled outer periphery bordering Thailand, Laos, China, India and Bangladesh, are in almost permanent mutiny against the ruling Burman majority in the central heartland, who profess Buddhism and constitute 69 per cent of the population. The 1,643 km of porous, densely- jungled border shared by the two countries is comparatively loosely controlled, particularly on the Burma side and slow-burning; separatist tribal militancies of various persuasions against both New Delhi and Yangon smoulder across the entire region. Two-way traffic in border crime, drugs, weapons and other categories of smuggling have reinforced these insurgencies into a fairly major narco-conflict drawing sustenance from the Golden Triangle, in which Burma is the geographical pivot.

On the Indian side, the Indo-Burma border is, as usual, the relatively “forgotten frontier” in comparison with its western counterpart. Inter-sectoral priorities for allocation of resources are lower in the east and the Assam Rifles, that constitutes the Indian border guarding forces here, faces the usual paucity of troops. This, coupled with extremely difficult terrain and debilitating climate, makes effective border management tenuous, though still relatively better than on the Burma side.

Ethnic and cultural commonalities between the Naga, Mizo and Kuki tribes on the Indian side of the border in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, and those inhabiting the contiguous western and northwestern border regions of Burma add to the complexities of the situation, typified by the anti-India Naga insurgent group, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) in Nagaland and Manipur, which operates in India but is based in Burma and headed by S.S. Khaplang, a Hemi Naga from that country.

Relations between India and Burma are relatively low-key but on a generally even keel. India has no military problems with Burma and the focus is towards establishing a viable Indian politico-economic presence in the country. However, Burma is an area of well-entrenched Chinese interests and influence, and Indian interests must contend with strong adverse factors, which transcend purely economic or corporate rivalries. Nevertheless, it remains a geo-political imperative for India to engage as closely as possible with Burma’s military dictatorship to progress its own entry into the region.

Association with an authoritarian military government whose record of human rights has been internationally criticised draws the disapproval of the US and the West, besides that of the growing internal movement for democracy within Burma led by student and liberal activists, centred around the personality of Aung San Suu Kyi. Her party, the National League for Democracy, swept to an overwhelming victory in the national polls in 1990, which was disregarded by the military rulers who placed her under house arrest in 1992. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1991, and many of her followers have escaped to India where they have been accorded sanctuary and are attempting to carry forward their movement from exile.

India for its part has to keep channels of communication open to both, the junta government and the democracy movement, using official as well Track II channels. It is an unenviable tightrope and for the present India has chosen to be pragmatic, becoming Burma’s fourth-largest trading partner (after Thailand, China and Singapore), besides involvement in major infrastructural projects in that country, including the 160-km Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road, completed in 2001 and funded totally by India, and the ambitious Sittwe-Kaladan river-Lawngtlai multi-mode sea-river road transport corridor scheduled to be completed in 2013, connecting Sittwe port in Burma with National Highway 54 at Lawngtlai in Mizoram.

However, for India, the real cloud on the horizon is Burma’s nascent nuclear programme. Burma as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty reached an agreement with Russia in 2007 for acquiring a 10-megawatt nuclear reactor for research purposes and generation of nuclear power. This cannot be a reason for concern in any manner, but there are more diffused reports of a clandestine nuclear weapons partnership with North Korea, with which Pakistan’s rogue nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan’s nuclear network is also allegedly associated. If true, this would definitely be a matter of concern for India, which hopefully has the means and capabilities to keep itself informed and prepared vis-a-vis such developments next door.

Meanwhile, it is to be hoped that the Burmese junta has taken note of the Arab Spring far away in West Asia, and may be considering options to ease the internal conditions within the country.

* Gen. Shankar Roychowdhury is a former Chief of Army Staff and a former Member of Parliament

India’s Help Sought For Burmese Cause

2011-06-09T04:52:00.001-07:00

By Nava Thakuria
Burma (Myanmar or Brahmadesh) may have officially transformed into a democracy after the 2010 November general election, but the ground realities for the poor Burmese remain the same. And the outcome is the continuous fleeing of Burmese to neighbouring India, Bangladesh and Thailand. If the earlier exodus was of pro-democracy political activists, now more and more common Burmese are leaving the poverty stricken country.
For India, the burden of refugees primarily from Chin State of Burma is carried by Mizoram. With its around10 lakh population, the Burma and Bangladesh bordering Indian State gives shelter to nearly 80,000 migrants. Leaving aside two thousand Burmese recognized by the UN High Commission for Refugees and staying in New Delhi, the rest are scattered in Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
“The people outside Burma start believing that the country has changed after the polls. But in reality, the election was fought and won by mostly the military men. So even after the military brand State Peace and Development Council, which ruled Burma for decades, is dissolved and the Parliaments are functioning, the common people are suffering a lot,” said a Burmese youth, now staying in Indian bordering town Saiha.
The youth, who migrated from Chin to Mizoram few months back for a better life and presently working as a daily labour, also added that there are serious crisis of food in Chin State after the phenomena of bamboo flowering last year. The Burmese government in Nay Pie Taw remains reluctant for the relief and rehabilitation of Chin people.
“When some parts of Mizoram also faced the bamboo flowering in early 2010, there were constant flow of relief from New Delhi and also international aid agencies. But for our people in Chin, neither the government initiated to send relief nor it allowed the outside aid agencies to serve the people in distress,” asserted the educated youth, who wanted anonymity, during an interview with this writer at Aizawl recently.
Pu Kim, a Burmese political activist who is recognized by the UNHCR and now based in New Delhi, argues that the so-called change of Burma for democratization is useless, as the military clout remains powerful and the judiciary has still no jurisdiction over the armed forces in the country.
“Many historic political events may take place in Burma in the last few months including the November election, release of pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, running Parliament sessions at Nay Pie Taw and the demolition of the SPDC, but these changes are seemingly not adequate for the people and hence many of them have fled the country,” commented Mr Kim, while speaking to this writer from New Delhi.
Meanwhile the pro-democracy Burmese activists and their well-wishers around the world have appealed to the Indian Union government for taking an initiative ‘for restoration of peace, justice and human rights in Burma’ as well as in its adjacent Northeast India. They also urged New Delhi to continue supporting the Burmese peoples’ struggle for democracy and human rights in their country. Among other requests to the Indian government, allowing the UNHCR to establish its office in Mizoram (or somewhere in the Northeast) for the benefit of thousands of Burmese refugees taking shelter in the region, also included.
The appeal came alive in a memorandum submitted to the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on May 24, 2011 by a pro-democracy group Burma Centre Delhi. The memorandum conveys important messages on the recent historic political events which occurred in Burma such as 2008 (Nargis) Constitution, November 2010 Election, release of Burmese democracy movement leader Suu Kyi, convention of Nay-Pie-Taw Parliament and demolition of the State Peace and Development Council and installation of the New Regime, the military controlled civilian uniform type.
But India does not have a refugee policy and hence it often emerges as a major challenge for both the authority and the civil society groups in a situation like that of Mizoram. For the Chin people, Mizoram emerges as a place of their choice, as both Chin and Mizos share similar religious identity and food habits.
Moreover they are almost look alike and Mizo people in general embrace the Chin as their brother and sisters. But in some occasions, when few Chin youths were found involving in petty crimes, the majority Mizo civil society groups get irritated. Even the most influential Young Mizo Association had warned the Chin people to leave Mizoram as they were polluting the Mizo society.
The resentment of Mizo civil society had compelled a senior Burmese political leader to tender apology in front of the people of Mizoram.
Addressing a consultation meeting on the ‘implication and consequences of regime change in Burma’ after the November 2010 elections at Aizawl on May 6, Dr Tint Swe, a former Burmese MP seek apology for all anti-social activities carried out by a section of Chin people.
The senior member of National League for Democracy (led by Suu Kyi), Dr Tint Swe also claimed that the recently concluded election in Burma has not brought any changes to the common people and they are still ruled by the same group of military under the camouflage of a democratic regime. Hence he urged the government of India and the citizens of Northeast to continue supporting the Burmese peoples’ struggle for real democracy.
Organized by Burma Centre Delhi in collaboration with Chin Human Rights Organizations, Aizawl and Grassroot Development Network, Mizoram and hosted by Zo Indigenous Forum the consultation meeting was attended by various civil society groups, journalists and activists of the region.
Addressing the gathering, Vanlal Ngaia, Chairman of Mizoram Committee for Democracy in Burma reiterated that the regime change in Burma does not seem to bring any change in the condition of pro-democracy activists and general people of Burma. “The only change we have seen is the military uniform into civil dresses. Therefore people preferring for democracy around the world should work persistently for full restoration of true democracy in Burma,” he added.
Muanpuia Punte, vice-president of North East Students’ Organization commented, “The people of Mizoram have a deep relation with Burma as our Chin brother and sisters live there. My understanding is that Mizo, Chin and Kuki are the same people with same religious and linguistic identity. That is why we feel pain when our Chin brothers face problem and suffer under the regime of Burma.”
He also added that both the Burma polls and its 2008 Constitution were criticized and condemned by the UN, the EU and Burmese pro-democracy campaigners for adopting undemocratic norms and rejection of democratic principles and human rights.
Dr. Alana Golmei, advocacy coordinator of BCD also urged the people of northeast to have a closer people to people contact and work together for peace and human rights in the region and Burma. She further said that both the Burma polls and its 2008 Constitution were criticized and condemned by the UN, the EU and Burmese pro-democracy campaigners for adopting undemocratic norms and rejection of democratic principles and human rights. So, she added, no change is taking place in Burma after the technically new and elected government as the human rights
situation in Burma remains the worst.
The memorandum to Indian premier particularly mentioned about the presence of nearly one hundred thousand Chin Burmese population in India where Mizoram carries the larger burden of refugees.
“Though India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol, it hosts and accommodates large number of refugees under the protection of the UNHCR. Since India has not yet ratified or acceded to this law, the Burmese refugees in Delhi are treated under the Foreigners Act without clear state’s policy which results in risking their lives as they are vulnerable to insincere and unfair conduct of the concern officials,” said the memorandum.
It also insisted that New Delhi should engage the Burmese Government as well as Suu Kyi and other ethnic groups of Burma. Burma is ethnically diverse and the failure to address the legitimate rights and aspirations of Burma’s ethnic groups is a root cause of instability and dictatorship in Burma, it asserted.
The copy of the letter was also sent to the Union Home Ministry, National Human Rights Commission of India, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with the New Delhi based embassies of United States of America, Republic of Canada, Australia, Czech Republic, Norway, United Kingdom and Indonesia.
Other resolutions included supporting the Global Arms Embargo against Burma and proper impact assessments before implementation of developmental projects in the region in line with Free, Prior and Informed Consent-FPIC. It also maintained that any current and future Indian investments in Burma should be both fair and responsible such that local participation in those development projects in Burma is ensured.
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Eurasia Review

Initiative for Upliftment of Burmese refuges by IIT Delhi students

2011-05-31T05:24:00.001-07:00

I am writing to you on behalf of a student group in IIT Delhi namely SIFE IIT Delhi (www.sifeiitd.org), seeking collaboration in public outreach of our community endeavors.

Since November 2010, our team has been working closely with the Burmese refuge community in Delhi. India being a neighboring country hosts a large and growing number of 100,000 Burmese refugees. Even with Burma attracting international attention and the President of the United States acknowledging the plight of the Burmese community settled in West Delhi, there are very few Delhites, let alone Indians who know of their existence. A nearly 10,000 strong community continues to exist in the obscure margins of our lives without anyone taking much notice.

Each day is a challenge for them - be it the lack of legal protection, work permits, education or the challenges of discrimination, abject living conditions, and poor health conditions. Ignorance of their cause amongst the Indians has been a major factor. Their continuous struggle to survive in this home away from home, made us dedicate ourselves to this cause. Under the name of Project Aarambh, we are making a fresh attempt for the cause of overall development of the Burmese refugees.

Our project looks to economically empower these people through sustainable income generation. We have been working with women based small handicraft entrepreneurial units in the refuge community, promoting their traditional arts – wherein we have even collaborated with DASTKAR (http://www.dastkar.org/). We have also established a platform for the community (Placement Cell) to get sustainable far pay work in the unorganized sector. Besides that, our efforts have included initiatives for holistic development such as health camps and awareness programs.

We seek your collaboration in order to increase the awareness and sensitivity regarding this issue in the city, and also to improve the effectiveness of our efforts. Public outreach will be instrumental in fulfilling these objectives. Please find attached a brief article on our activities : http://sifeiitd.org/PressRelease.doc and a flyer about our project : http://sifeiitd.org/flyer.pdf

Kindly let me know, how we could best take this forward.

Thanking you

Abhishek Jain

+91 9717577473

President, SIFE IIT Delhi

www.sifeiitd.org

About SIFE IIT Delhi

SIFE (Student In Free Enterprise www.sife.org) - is an international non-profit organization that aims to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities and become socially responsible business leaders. SIFE IIT Delhi (www.sifeiitd.org) is the student chapter of SIFE in the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Established in July 2010, it comprises of a team of 23 dedicated students working under faculty supervision, and has now grown into one of the most dynamic student initiatives while working on its inaugural project.

SIFE IIT Delhi is one of the most comprehensive extra-curricular activities involving components from societal knowledge and community sensitivity to building sustainable social enterprises to management skills. In the long run it aims to create a pool of student leaders who use their technological and business skills to make the world a better place.

Myanmar national murdered

2011-04-17T02:01:00.000-07:00

KOCHI: A Myanmarese worker was found murdered in the room, where he was staying in the city. The Palarivattom police have arrested another Myanmarese in this connection.

According to the police, Joseph, 27, who was found murdered on Thursday early morning, had met Thomas, 31, at a Bible College in Bangalore, where they were both studying theology. Together they moved to another Bible College in Thiruvalla for higher studies a couple of years ago. They were working as part-time employees at a hotel in Palarivattom during vacation. The two were staying at Palarivattom along with three others from West Bengal and one from Mizoram, all employees of the hotel. Under a sudden provocation, Thomas smashed Joseph's head with concrete blocks and iron bar. The incident occurred at 2.30 a.m. The roommates panicked and fled on seeing the attack. They were later questioned by the Palarivattom police for gathering information about the crime.

Even though Thomas confessed the crime, the police are yet to form a clear idea on what made him do it. The body of Joseph was shifted to General Hospital here for autopsy, and his relatives were alerted. Thomas was produced before Aluva Judicial First Class Magistrate court.

Myanmar national murdered

2011-04-14T22:53:00.001-07:00

KOCHI: A Myanmarese worker was found murdered in the room, where he was staying in the city. The Palarivattom police have arrested another Myanmarese in this connection.

According to the police, Joseph, 27, who was found murdered on Thursday early morning, had met Thomas, 31, at a Bible College in Bangalore, where they were both studying theology.

Together they moved to another Bible College in Thiruvalla for higher studies a couple of years ago. They were working as part-time employees at a hotel in Palarivattom during vacation.

The two were staying at Palarivattom along with three others from West Bengal and one from Mizoram, all employees of the hotel. Under a sudden provocation, Thomas smashed Joseph's head with concrete blocks and iron bar.

The incident occurred at 2.30 a.m. The roommates panicked and fled on seeing the attack. They were later questioned by the Palarivattom police for gathering information about the crime.

Even though Thomas confessed the crime, the police are yet to form a clear idea on what made him do it.

The body of Joseph was shifted to General Hospital here for autopsy, and his relatives were alerted. Thomas was produced before Aluva Judicial First Class Magistrate court.

Chin: Refugees Abandoned By Thailand

2011-04-14T21:51:00.001-07:00

Thailand wants to close the refugee camps for over 100,000 Burmese refugees, who have fled the country over the past twenty years

Below is an article published by Council on Foreign Relations:

According to reports by AFP and other news agencies, Thailand’s National Security Council head, Tawin Pleansri, told reporters after a meeting of the council that Thailand wants to close the refugee camps for over 100,000 Burmese refugees, who have fled the country over the past twenty years. Most of the Burmese refugees live in camps on the western Thailand-Burma border; their housing is basic, but it is better than living in eastern and northeastern Burma, where they are prey to regular campaigns of attacks and even mass rape by the Burmese military, and retribution attacks by armed ethnic militia groups. In one comprehensive report, a group focusing on Chin State in Burma documented the use of rape as a weapon of war by the Burmese military.
Thailand has never really wanted to house the Burmese refugees, but over successive administrations Bangkok has tolerated the refugee presence. Undocumented Burmese also frequently enter Thailand itself, providing a source of cheap and easily exploitable labor for many Thai companies. Now, however, Bangkok appears willing to use the fiction that Burma had a real election last fall to repatriate these refugees, most of whom will return against their will. Though the election last year may improve the quality of governance in Burma marginally, it was hardly a free or fair poll, or suggestive of the kind of dramatic change on human rights that would make it safe to return refugees.
There are other reasons for Thailand’s suddenly harder line. Leading Thai company Ital-Thai is in the process of making the largest-ever Thai investment in Myanmar, at over $13 billion. And overall, the government of PM Abhisit has tried to foster rapprochment with its neighbor. Too bad that over 100,000 refugees are going to be treated as a pawn in this relationship.

Mizoram: Complaint To Stop Forcible Eviction Of The Myanmar Origin From Phaibawk Of Vaphai Tract Group In Champhai District Of Mizoram

2011-04-12T00:29:00.000-07:00

Hon’ble Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishanan
Chairperson National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg New Delhi, PIN 110001
Tel. No. 23384012 Fax No. 23384863
E-Mail: covdnhrc@nic.in, inohrc@nic.in
Subject: Complaint to stop forcible eviction of the Myanmar origin from Phaibawk of Vaphai tract group in Champhai district of Mizoram.
Dear Justice Balakrishnan,
I am writing to seek urgent intervention of the National Human Rights Commission to stop forcible eviction of the Myanmar origin settling in Phaibawk of Vaphai tract group in Champhai district of Mizoram by the Police officials and the Vaphai VC (village Council) and YMA (Young Mizo Association). Please find enclosed family ordered to eviction at Annexure I and their children who were at the school in Annexure II
The authorities have ordered Burmese origins belonging to 23 families settling in Phaibawk area under the Vaphai village council area of Champhai district, who are not on the electoral rolls (voter’s list), to leave Mizoram by April 9. The reason is villagers in Phaibawk of Vaphai tract group in Champhai district had requested for a separate voting booth to the local authorities said by a news report.
These entire household have ration card and the Vaiphai Store keeper (Pu Rinpuia) asked the Phaibawk villagers to submit their Ration Card for issuing of new card, but those who do not have Voter ID were asked to leave their village by the Police officials according to the locals.
The eye witness said that “Champhai Police Officer-in-Charge came to us last Sunday and told us those 23 Burmese families not on the electoral rolls will be driven out of the village. Although 143 members from 23 families will not be allowed to live in the village, but the rest 43, who are children attending schools, will be allowed to continue their schooling.
Although the Vaphai VC (village Council) and YMA (Young Mizo Association) had tried to destroy the houses of those who are not on the electoral rolls in the village, Champhai OC has banned them from staying on reports by the Khonumthung News.
It is not a very fair manner that these children were allowed only to attend the school without their parents who will feed them and they will not have security and will become target and vulnerable to sexual and physical assault. It has violated the rights of the child, please take the action urgent and give their child their rights to live with their parents and their right to continued education.
Zo Indigenous Forum appeals to the NHRC to intervene by taking following measures:

Direct the State government of Mizoram to immediately halt forcible repatriation.
Direct the State government of Mizoram to initiate appropriate action against those individuals or organisations that were responsible for forcible repatriation of the Chin refugees under relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code;
Create a separate division within the NHRC to deal with the refugee problems in India;
Invite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to submit its comments and views to the NHRC on the issues raised in the complaint;
Take any other measures that the NHRC deems fit for protection of the refugees;

Looking forward to your urgent intervention.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely
C.LALREMRUATA Director +91-9862373371/8575186174
Source: Indigenous People Issues & Resources

Burmese Army deserter stabbed in Mizoram

2011-04-03T06:13:00.001-07:00

A deserter from the Burmese Army was stabbed by Enga while seeking refuge from Chin state in Puicheri bock of Sairang, Mizoram in northeast in India. He was admitted to the civil hospital in Aizawl capital of Mizoram with serious injuries on 13 March.

Zaw Lin (22) son of Mr. Sein Maung and Mrs. Tin Tin Kyunt was stabbed with a knife following a quarrel with Enga. He was seriously injured in his back and left hand.

“I am working as a mason and my employer sent us to gather firewood in the jungle. I requested Enga to help gather firewood so as to finish early but he refused. And then he took the firewood collected by me and prepared to return home. Suddenly he came back and stabbed me,” said Zaw Lin.

Enga escaped but the local authority and police are searching for him.

Zaw Lin was recruited into the Burmese Army, in Insein Township of Rangoon the former capital of Burma by the junta military in 2002 and he was posted in the Light Infantry Battalion (304) of Matupi, the second capital of Chin state from 2003 after military training.

Zaw Lin told Khonumthung News that he managed to escape from the Burmese Army in Matupi town to Lawntlai district of Mizoram and was ekeing out a living with odds job.
From Lawngtlai district, he shifted to Sairang village near Aizawl, this year and got a mason’s job.

“I arrived just two weeks ago in Aizawl and got a job as a mason. I am dejected because of not knowing the local dialect lying in the hospital. I am being cared for by the son of my employer, but I cannot communicate with him, because of the language problem” said Mr. Zaw Lin.

It learnt that Zaw was operated upon on 25 March and he is recovering.

Myanmar: new President sworn in, junta disbands

2011-03-30T07:17:00.001-07:00

Yangon: Myanmar's new president was sworn in on Wednesday, officially launching a new administration to replace the military junta that has ruled the country for the past two decades.

Thein Sein was sworn in as Myanmar's new president in a ceremony held in Naypyitaw, the country's capital since 2005. He replaces Senior General Than Shwe, Myanmar junta chief since 1992, as the new head of state.

Vice Presidents Tin Aung Myint Oo and Sai Mauk Kham were also sworn in to their posts.

"The State Peace and Development Council will be immediately dissolved after the swearing-in ceremony," Than Shwe said in a noon announcement on state-controlled television.

The new cabinet lineup was announced, including a host of ex-military men, many of whom were cabinet members under the junta, starting with General Thein Sein, who was former prime minister.

Major General Hla Min was named the new defence minister, Lieutenant General Ko Ko as home minister, and Major General Thein Htay became minister of border affairs.

The new foreign minister was Wunna Maung Lwin, information minister was Kyaw Hsan and finance minister was Tin Naing Thein, all former military men.

Myanmar has been under the junta's rule since 1988 when the army crushed a pro-democracy movement, killing up to 3,000 people.

The junta held a general election on November 7 that voted in a new government, led by the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party.

The polls were widely criticised by western democracies for excluding opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest at the time of the election, and her National League for Democracy party that won the previous election of 1990 by a landslide.

India offers help to quake-hit Myanmar

2011-03-27T01:37:00.001-07:00

Ahmedabad, Mar. 27 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday offered "every possible help" to a quake-struck Myanmar where over 75 people have died and over 100 have been injured.

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck on Thursday, caused extensive damage to hospitals and buildings in the country.

In his condolence message to the chairman of State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar, Singh said, "On behalf of the people and government of India, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Myanmar on this tragic natural disaster."

"As your Government rallies to provide relief and other assistance to people in the earthquake affected region, I would like to assure you that India stands ready to render any assistance that your government may require of us,” he added.

Mysterious disease kills 5 in Mizoram

2011-03-25T22:53:00.001-07:00

Guwahati, Mar 26 : A mystery disease has killed five persons in a remote tribal village in southern Mizoram. A forum for the tribe has rapped local authorities for delayed response to the epidemic-like crisis. Officials in southern Mizoram's Lunglei district confirmed the death of five persons at village Thanzamasora during the past fortnight. They suspect the cause of the disease to be acute respiratory infections including pneumonia, but are not very sure.

Thanzamasora is a Chakma tribal dominated village.

Underlining the seriousness of the issue, the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) on Friday sought Lunglei deputy commissioner M Zohmingthangi's intervention. It also asked the medical officers concerned to provide immediate medical facilities to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

"Apart from the five who died many others are sick but there is total lack of healthcare services. A medical team distributed some medicines but this is not enough. Worst, the superstitious villagers believe that deaths are due to black magic cast upon them. At least 13 families have already fled the village and more families are likely to flee if the situation is not brought under control immediately," said MCDF president Hemanta Larma.

He added, "Although the situation is taking a serious proportion, there is delayed response from the authorities. There seems to be some problem as Thanzamasora village is under the administrative control of Lunglei district but healthcare services falls under the chief medical officer of adjoining Lawngtlai district."

At least 25 dead in Myanmar quake

2011-03-24T23:34:00.000-07:00

Mar 25, 2011

At least 25 people were killed and twenty injured in the strong earthquake that struck Myanmar near the Thai border last evening. Dozens of buildings were also destroyed in the Quake.

Tremors were felt as far away as Bangkok, almost 800 kilometres from the epicentre, Hanoi and parts of China. The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.8 on the richter scale.

A Myanmar official said many more casualties are feared in the town of Tarlay, close to the epicentre.

Five monasteries and 35 buildings collapsed in the town. The official confirmed that 10 men, a boy and 13 women had been killed in Myanmar when the quake struck.

Twenty people were injured in Tarlay in the district of Tachileik, the main road into the area was closed after being damaged in the quake. Across the border from Tachileik, Thai authorities said a 52-year-old woman was killed in Mae Sai district after a wall of her house collapsed.

Terrified residents across the region fled their homes, tall buildings swayed and hospitals and schools were evacuated during the tremors.

The quake had struck 90 kilometres north of Chiang Rai and 235 kilometres north-northeast of Chiang Mai, Thailand's second city and a popular tourist destination.
Its was epicenter close to the borders with Thailand and Laos. Thailand's also experienced six large aftershocks following the initial quake.

Navy captures Myanmarese poachers

2011-03-14T23:12:00.001-07:00

Indian naval ship Batti Malv intercepted three boats with Myanmarese poachers off the Interview Island on the Andaman Islands last Tuesday and marine police apprehended 23 poachers, a Defence press release announced on Monday.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that the poachers had planned to extract sea cucumber and sea shells, for which their boats were equipped with deep-sea diving and harvesting gear.

The large quantity of diesel, drinking water and food items seized indicated their “intentions of prolonged poaching activity in Indian waters.”

Sea cucumbers weighing about 25 kg were found during a search of the boat.

“The warship sighted the suspicious boats and approached them at high speed. On sighting the ship, the poachers attempted to flee using the cover of darkness. However, the ship pursued the boats for over two hours on the high seas and finally apprehended the poachers. ,” the note said.

Opium worth Rs 36 lakh seized from Burmese trader in Mizoram

2011-03-14T01:31:00.001-07:00

Opium weighing 818 grams with a value of Rs 36 lakhs was seized from a Burmese trader by Mizoram authorities in northeast India on Wednesday.

Special branch police in the state capital of Aizawl were tipped off that the carrier was transporting drugs on the No. 2 Indo-Burma Trade Road to Aizawl. They seized the drugs in the Thuampui Block of Aizawl in the evening, reported Mizoram’s Aizawl Post.

The dealer has been identified as Lallianmawi, the son of Luankham, from Saihmun Village in Falam Township of Chin State. A case against Lallianmawi for trading in drugs was filed at the Bawngkawn Block Police Station of Aizawl.

The Mizoram Narcotics Department said the opium seized was a large haul.

Other Burmese traders have recently been detained for involvement in drug peddling and smuggling, including a Burmese man arrested with opium worth Rs 10 lahks by Mizoram authorities on February 15.

With the news of Burmese drug traders being caught in Mizoram, the people of the state have a growing resentment of the presence of Burmese settled in Mizoram as illegal refugees, said a Burmese youth in Mizoram.

"We (Burmese) people are always arrested in cases, so they (Mizo people) dislike us. It is worrying that our people are involved in incidents of drug trading, murder, theft, and alcohol production in the state.”

The Young Mizo Association, a large non-government organization, recorded last year that nearly 100,000 Burmese people are staying as refugees in the state without legal refugee status.

China to launch construction of rail line to Myanmar This Year

2011-03-10T01:41:00.001-08:00

BEIJING: China is set to begin construction of a railway line to Myanmar this year. The move is expected to help Beijing in its competition with India in acquiring infrastructure development and other business contracts in Myanmar.

China has also entered into an agreement with the Russian government to resume freight train services on a railway line, which was closed down six years back due to differences among its stake holders. The 100-km railway line connecting Hunchun in China with Makhalino in Russia is scheduled to reopen next May.

Construction of the rail line to Myanmar has been delayed due to elections and some political problems in that country.

"We originally wanted to start as soon as possible but because the (new) Myanmar government has just been formed and because of their internal problems, we have had to wait," Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said Tuesday "We want to start construction this year," he said.

One of the challenges facing the new line would be mismatched gauges in the two countries. The two governments have signed an agreement to sort out this problem. China is offering several sweeteners like help in establishing power grids, telecommunication networks, oil and gas pipelines and ports.

Myanmar faces wide ranging sanctions from Western governments and is keen on getting assistance from Beijing. The country saw its first election in 20 years in November but it has been condemned by critics as government controlled voting exercise.

China Is Your Special Friend

2011-03-03T06:28:00.001-08:00

March 3, 2011: The new democracy in Myanmar is very much the same old military dictatorship. The recent elections were rigged and the parliament is full of supporters of the generals. Thus the military has gotten 23 percent of the government budget for the next year. The generals expect to get more for their money, mainly because North Korea just lost a lot of its weapons customers with the overthrow of several Arab dictatorships. As a result, Myanmar can demand more for less from a desperate North Korea. The trade has been going on since 2007, when diplomatic relations were resumed with North Korea, and a barter trade (rice from Myanmar for weapons and other goods from North Korea) established. This avoided problems with international embargos on North Korean arms exports. Cargo ships coming from North Korea had cargos described as "cement" and "general cargo." These ships were unloaded in heavily guarded, military controlled, port areas.

The extra cash for the military is going to pay for new weapons from China and Russia. Later this month, Russia is expected to begin delivering 20 MiG-29 fighters that were ordered two years ago. Indian firms will provide maintenance and technical support. India has long used MiG-29s and has built an infrastructure to support this aircraft. While most Indians do not approve of the generals running Myanmar, they do appreciate the cooperation of the generals in defeating tribal separatists and communist rebels in India's northeast. India is also building a road to connect with Myanmar in the northeast, to encourage trade and help build the economy in the thinly populated area that borders China and Myanmar.

China has replaced Thailand as the largest foreign investor in Myanmar. The Myanmar generals see China as their economic savior, and China is eager to have an ally so close to India. Increased maritime trade with Myanmar is but the beginning of a process that will lead to Chinese warships eventually operating out of Myanmar ports. This is a nightmare for India, which is trying to make nice with the Myanmar generals, in an attempt to halt the growth of Chinese influence, and presence, in the area.

February 27, 2011: A bomb exploded in the capital, wounding four people. No one took credit for it.

February 19, 2011: Tribal rebels in the east killed four civilians, during an encounter with troops.

Locals cultivate poppy on 1000 acres in Chin state

2011-02-25T22:54:00.000-08:00

25 February 2011: Instead of normal farming activities 1000 acres of land are being brought under poppy cultivation by local people in Northern Chin state, Burma.

“The poppy field was cut down by local people; it will be burnt down in May, 2011,” said local on condition of anonymity.

Local authorities have been collecting taxes from cultivators regularly in the region for the past few years, so local people cultivate poppy which leads to more income than jhum (shifting) cultivation.

“Local army and police collect tax. The army collected one kilogram per household into poppy cultivation, but the police have no fixed taxes. They collect anything between 10,000 to 30,000 Kyats per household” said a local.

Similarly, Cannabis, also known as marijuana (locally called Kanza) is being planted in farm land to get more income in Tonzang Township, Chin state, an area which is mostly controlled by rebel groups from Northeast India.

Presently, one viss of opium is Kyat 6 lakhs locally and the opium is being collected to be sold to Chinese drug traders from Chin state. Some sources say that opium is being turned into heroin in Tamu Township in Sagaing division.

Indian rebel groups paid taxes to the local junta authorities to cultivate poppy in this area last year.

The first attempt at poppy cultivation was said to have begun in the period of Ne Win, former Burmese military ruler. But the project failed due to the intervention of a Chin students group and now the authorities seem to have resumed Ne Win’s, policy in Burma , which still remains the second largest opium producer in the world after Afghanistan. Khonumthung News

Guerrilla leader and kin killed in Mizoram

2011-01-13T02:07:00.001-08:00

Silchar, Jan. 13 : Guerrilla leader Atabur Rahaman and his cousin Aklasuddin were found murdered at separate places in Mizoram’s Kolosib district yesterday.

Both the bodies were bullet-riddled and their hands were tied with long ropes. Rahman’s body was found in a hamlet in Panbangkhal village while Aklasuddin’s body was found in the Bilkwathtlir area.

Police sources in Hailakandi said Mizo passersby saw the bodies yesterday morning and informed the nearby Kolosib, Bilkhathlir and Bhairabhi police stations.

Rahaman, who escaped from jail twice in 2003, was the head of United Democratic Liberation Tigers. The outfit has been responsible for many killings, kidnappings and extortions in Hailakandi district.

It comprised Muslim and Bru youths who joined the gang to eke out a living. Intelligence sources said the gang comprised around 75 criminals.

Atabur, a resident of Jhalnacherra village in Hailakandi, joined the United Democratic Liberation Army in 2003 and was trained in guerrilla warfare. He left the outfit after differences with its chief Dhanyaram Reang and formed the United Democratic Liberation Tigers in 2004.

The official sources claimed that after the deployment of the army’s 33 regiment in Hailaklandi to contain terrorism, members of the outfits had been lying low and most of them were hiding in Dholai block of Cachar district.

Security forces in Cachar claimed that internecine rivalry between the two groups had led to the gruesome killings.

15 Reang families repatriated

2011-01-13T02:06:00.001-08:00

Silchar, Jan. 13 : The third phase of repatriation of Bru refugees to Mizoram from refugee camps in adjacent Tripura started today after a gap of two months.

Official sources in Aizawl said at least 15 Bru families were transported to the Mizoram-Tripura inter-state boundary in a bus under adequate security arrangements. The refugees were allowed to pass into Mizoram through the Mamit border.

It was a joyous homecoming for this batch of refugees, who had left their homes in Mizoram in 1997, in the wake of an ethnic clash between Mizos and the minority Reang community in October that year.

The repatriation process will continue for the next three days, and more Bru families are expected to cross the border and go back to their homes during this period, the sources added.

Police to re-arrest Mizo girl attackers

2011-01-04T00:30:00.001-08:00

Guwahati, Jan. 4 : Police are initiating action against the accused in the December 28 Mizo girl assault case by clubbing the two FIRs lodged by two different parties.

The police today said they have to club the two FIRs lodged separately by the caretaker of the guesthouse where the girl had put up, and women’s organisations, to initiate action against the accused.

“The second FIR, lodged by the women’s organisations, was registered under non-bailable sections and we are looking for the three persons we arrested earlier, as they are absconding. Now we will club both FIRs to initiate further action,” said a police officer probing the case.

The 23-year-old girl from Mizoram, who was in the city to attend a wedding, was assaulted when she knocked on the door of one of the accused at Nabagiri under Chandmari police station for directions, after apparently losing her way while returning to the guesthouse.

But instead of helping her, the woman, along with two other women and an unidentified man, hit the girl, accusing her of being inebriated, sources said.

The three women — Juri Das (the BJP office-bearer, since suspended, who also runs a city-based NGO), Monimala Das and Mini Das — were arrested on December 29 based on the caretaker’s FIR. They were, however, released on bail the same day.

This angered local activists, who lodged a fresh FIR on December 31 demanding re-arrest of the three women, who were seen beating up the Mizo girl and snatching her mobile and purse, in video footage of a local TV channel.

“Three days have passed since we lodged the fresh FIR, but no arrests have been made so far. We suspect the police’s role and think they are deliberately delaying arrests,” said writer and social activist Maini Mahanta. “If strong action is not taken against those involved, we will launch a public protest and if necessary, will sit on a dharna,” she added.

Apart from Mahanta, those who signed the FIR included Manisha Behl and Anurita Hazarika of North East Network (NEN), Sumitra Hazarika of Nirjatan Birodhi Aikya Mancha, social activist Akhil Gogoi and few other city residents.

Govt lifts PAP in three NE states

2011-01-03T01:11:00.001-08:00

NEW DELHI: In a New Year gift to Manipur , Mizoram and Nagaland, the government has decided to do way with the requirement of Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreigners visiting the three states.

The three north-eastern states were excluded from the Protected Area Regime notified under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, for a period of one year beginning January 1, 2011. However, the foreign nationals entering Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland would still be required to register themselves with the foreigners registration officer (FRO) of the district they visit, within 24 hours of their arrival.

Incidentally, the citizens of some countries, primarily Pakistan and China, would still be required to seek prior approval of the Union home ministry before visiting any of the three north-eastern states.

Also, foreign visitors would still need to apply for PAP to visit Arunachal Pradesh.

Indian Missions/Posts have also been authorised to issue missionary visa to foreign missionaries visiting these three States as per the extant guidelines of the government.

While doing away with the PAP for foreign visitors to the state is unlikely to boost international tourist arrivals in a major way, the move is expected to go a long way in addressing the feeling of alienation among the people of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Revised Cost Estimates of Tuirial Hydro Electric Project (60 MW) in Mizoram-Restarting of project works by NEEPCO

2010-12-30T21:24:00.001-08:00

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the revised cost estimate of Tuirial Hydro Electric Project (60 MW) in Mizoram by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited amounting to Rs.913.63 crore including Interest During Construction (IDC) of Rs.36.57 crore at March, 2010 Price Level. The financial pattern of the total cost of Rs.913.63 crore comprises of (i) equity of Rs.137.04 crore, (ii) loan from financial institutions amounting to Rs.184.63 crore, (iii) subordinate loan from Government of India amounting to Rs.291.96 crore and (iv) Grant from DoNER amounting to Rs.300 crore. The CCEA also approved conversion of Government of India loan of Rs.15.30 crore into equity and waiver of accumulated interest and penal interest of Rs.16.13 crore on Government of India loan. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in 36 months from the date of investment approval of Revised Cost Estimate (RCE).

The Government of Mizoram have signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the purchase of power from this project at CERC rates. The project will help the State of Mizoram / North Eastern Region in mitigating the power shortage with a clean source of energy. Apart from benefits due to power generation, the storage created due to project would contribute to economic development through promotion of fisheries, navigation, tourism etc. The project will improve the hydro-thermal mix in the North Eastern Region and the country.

Mizoram governor for census of migrants

2010-12-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

Silchar Dec. 21 : Mizoram Governor Lt Gen. (retd) M.M. Lakhera has advocated a comprehensive census of Myanmarese nationals staying illegally in the state.

The suggestion came at a recent meeting with delegates of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee in Aizawl and stemmed from concern over a sudden spurt of crime and narcotics peddling.

Mizoram chief minister Lalthanhawla could not attend the meet, as he was undergoing a stomach operation in Aizawl.

Sources said these incidents of crime are mainly attributed to the Myanmarse migrants who have been entering the state through its 404km border with Chin state in northwest Myanmar.

It is difficult to identify the Myanmarese Mizos as they share similarities of features and language with the Mizos of Mizoram.

A recent case of rape and murder of a five-year-old girl allegedly by a Myanmarese Mizo had sent shock waves in the state.

Henry Vaneichung was accused of raping and killing the girl in a secluded forest groove near her village on November 8. He was later caught by villagers and handed over to police.

The number of Myanmarese Mizos in the state is estimated to be between 40,000 and 75,000.

They mostly earn a living by doing odd jobs in automobile workshops, laundries and as domestic helps in Aizawl and other towns.

Many of them engage in drug-peddling and bootlegging in Mizoram, where sales and consumption of drinks is prohibited since 1997.

Myanmarese Mizos and Chin nationals are permitted to engage in border trade within a 15km radius in Mizoram and then return, but a majority of them choose to remain in Mizoram for a longer period.

Aizawl on a Reang rebound

2010-12-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

by JB Lama

ONE can only imagine what it has cost the Tripura government to look after Reang (known locally as Bru) refugees, so its desire for a lifting of this burden is very understandable. For more than a decade the state provided shelter to 55,000 Chakma refugees from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts and just when the final phase of their repatriation was about to resume in October 1997, there was a sudden exodus of 12,000 Reangs from Mizoram, triggered by the ethnic clashes in the aftermath of the killing of a Mizo forest warden by suspected Bru militants. This incident merely added to the already surcharged atmosphere created by the Bru National Union’s demand for an autonomous district council and the Mizo Zirlai Pawi — a students’ organisation — whipping up passions against the Reangs.
Over the next few months, the number of refugees swelled to more than 40,000. Several attempts to disperse them failed because the Mizoram government insisted, and continues to do so, that all those huddled in Tripura refugee camps are not its citizens and that it would take back only those with documents to prove their required status.
After verification, the refugees were to leave in November last year but a day before their scheduled departure Bru militants killed a Mizo youth in what seemed an organised move to stall the process.
However, Union home minister P Chidambaram visited Mizoram in October this year and was able to persuade chief minister Lalthanhawla to start repatriation from the last day of that month. The first batch left in early November and the second was to start two weeks later. But now comes the unpleasant news that the Mizoram government has suspended the operation after a faction of refugees blocked passage. The Mizoram Bru Displaced Welfare Organisation now wants the state government to fully implement the rehabilitation package for the first group before more refugees are allowed to leave. The organisation’s major demand – that the refugees be resettled in a compact area for security reasons — has not been met.
Well, Aizawl will have to take the refugees into confidence. Under the Mizo Accord, it is committed to protect the interests of minorities. And unless there is an assurance of sorts for those who do not “qualify” for resettlement, there is little prospect of the problem being solved once and for all.

Monita and Mamta made to sweat

2010-12-07T01:42:00.001-08:00

M.R. Praveen Chandran
— Photo: H. Vibhu

TIGHT CONTEST: Monita overcame Sarjubala's challenge in the second round. Thrissur: Hot contenders Monita Devi (Arunachal Pradesh) and Mamta (Bihar) had to sweat it out but defending champion Vanlal Duati had it easy in the second round of the 48kg category in the 11th National senior women's boxing championship at the Lulu International Convention Centre here on Monday.
National junior champion Sarjubala Devi (Manipur) went down fighting to Monita, a silver medallist behind Mary Kom in the 46kg section in the 2008 National championship. Sarjubala, who is taking part in her first senior National, lost the closely-contested bout 0-1.
Not overawed
The Manipur boxer was not overawed by her opponent and it was sheer inexperience which cost Sarjubala a victory. Monita connected with a straight left in the first round, but after that she was busy ducking and weaving out of Sarjubala's punches.
Despite being the aggressor, Sarjubala could not nail the crucial point as Monita used the hit-and-run tactic to good effect in the last three rounds.
Last year's runner-up Mamta found unexpected challenge from Assam's Jahnabi Gogri after leading by a point at the end of the second round. Jhanabi went all out in the third but Mamta managed to evade most of Jahnabi's punches.
Mamta, however, ran out of steam in the fourth round as Jahnabi equalled the scores by connecting with a left hook. The scores were tied 1-1 at the end of that round. However, the judges ruled 3-2 in favour of Mamta.
Defending champion Vanlal had a smooth passage against Khalda Wali of Maharashtra.
The results:
48kg (second round): Monita Devi (Aru) bt Sarjubala Devi (Man) 1-0; Aarti (Del) bt Sarita Vishvkarma (AP) 9-1; Roshni Bhushal (Meg) bt Sharda (Cht) 8-0; Vanlal Duati bt Khalda Wali, RSC; Krishna Thapa (Bih) bt A. Punyavati (AP) 11-2; Mamta bt Jahnabi Gogri (Asm) 3-2.
51kg (second round): Daljeet Kaur (Pun) bt Poonam (Raj) 9-2; P. Nirosha (AP) bt Anajali Chauhan (HP) 8-3; Rebecca Lalimawii (Miz) bt Hema Yogesh (Ker) 10-1; Vinita (Utr) bt Karpagavalli (TN) RSC; Suman (Har) bt Sashi Kiran (MP) 2-0.
57kg (first round): Pavitra (Har) bt Savita Rawat (Delhi) 14-1; Shylaja Reddy (RSCB) bt Anjali Krishnan (Ker) 14-1; Minu Basmatary (Asm) bt Mona Unnikrishnan (Guj), RSC; Margareth Nongrum (Meg) bt Aren Imsong (Ngl) 14-10; Kumari Nisha (HP) bt Roshni Bisht (Utr), RSC; Priyanka Kumari (Jha) bt Uma Maheshwari (AP), RSC .

Mizo woman gang-raped in Assam

2010-12-05T06:00:00.001-08:00

A 30-year-old Mizo woman was reportedly gang-raped by a group of youths in Assams Cachar district, police said Saturday.

"A woman from Mizorams Champai district was raped by ten youths, including six students, at Silchar in southern Assam late Thursday night," a police official told reporters.

Police, quoting the Mizo woman, said that she had no money to return to her home in eastern Mizoram when she unexpectedly found another Mizo woman, Malsoama Sanga, in Silchar and sought assistance.

"Malsoama took the victim to a house at the outskirts of Silchar city, where the girl was gang raped," the official said adding that the girl escaped from the place and went to the Mizoram Circuit House and informed the liaison officer about the incident.

Police arrested the seven people, including Malsoama, and are probing the incident. During interrogation, the youths admitted that they had paid Malsoama for bringing the victim to them.

The Assam Police have informed their Mizoram counterparts of the incident.

Aizawl One Step Ahead

2010-12-02T23:37:00.000-08:00

Aizawl is the largest city as well as the capital of the state of Mizoram in India.
Mizoram is basically a one step ahead for rising the literacy rate. The government really triedto work on this specific areas and several challenges are also come across it..

Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana told reporters in Aizawl that‘Our state government has decided to suspend the ongoing repatriation of Reang refugees from six relief camps in Tripura in the wake of protests by anti-repatriation groups,’

‘The anti-repatriation groups, backed by suspected militants, not only blocked roads to prevent the refugees from returning to Mizoram, but even obstructed state government officials from identifying bonafide residents of Mizoram among refugees.’

The home minister R. Lalzirliana said , There are armed extremists who have been trying to sabotage the government’s programme to repatriate refugees from Tripura. Security forces would not hesitate to use their weapons against such armed elements,’ .

Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana said these militants are intimidating the tribals, locally called Bru, against returning to their villages in Mizoram and warning them of dire consequences if they disobey.

Make Delhi safer for northeast women: NGOs

2010-12-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) Scores of people from various NGOs, students from the northeast and others participated in a protest rally in the capital Wednesday demanding speedy justice in the gangrape of a BPO staffer from Mizoram last week.

They also demanded that the Delhi government issue a set of guidelines for BPOs so that the safety of their women employees is not compromised.

The protest was organised by NGO Nirantar. A similar protest was organised Monday by the Mizo Students Union and the Mizo Welfare Association, voicing their anger over the rape and other similar cases of harassment against northeastern women in the capital.

A member of Nirantar said: 'We are shocked by the repeated incidents of sexual assault on women from the northeast in the capital in recent months. The rape of a northeastern woman in Dhaula Kuan has again pointed to the failure of the Delhi government to ensure safety of women and especially of women from the northeast.'

In a statement they said: 'Often it is assumed that they (northeastern) are 'available' and (these) women are of 'loose character'. The sexual assaults on women from the northeast are even justified by saying that they 'asked for it' because of the way they look and dress.'

'We demand that the Delhi government take appropriate measures to address and curb sexual assault on women, and in particular women from the northeast who have been particularly targeted in the recent past. The Delhi Police must be more responsive or else its claims to make Delhi safe for women will be proved entirely hollow,' it added.

'The Delhi government must issue guidelines to BPOs and other employers in order that they increase security measures when women staff members are dropped to their residence. Also police patrols should be ensured in all areas and all roads should be well lit, including the bus stops,' it further said.

Madhu Chandra of the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline who participated in the protest at Jantar Mantar Wednesday said: 'The safety of northeastern women in Delhi is a very serious issue. Every other day you hear of girls from the region getting harassed here, and all because they look different.'

'A team of Delhi Police officials was supposed to come and meet me to discuss a plan to make the city safer for the women of the region today, but it didn't work out. They are now coming tomorrow (Thursday) and I hope something concrete comes out of it,' Chandra told IANS.

The victim of the Nov 24 gangrape was a 30-year-old woman from Mizoram working in a BPO. She was abducted by four men and gangraped in a moving goods carrier.

Increase patrolling, L-G tells cops

2010-11-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, Dec 1 : Delhi lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna has directed the city police to increase their presence on routes frequented by call centre cabs and be "more vigilant towards safety of women" working in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in and around the city. Following last week's rape of a female BPO employee, Khanna held a meeting with Delhi Police and representatives of 21 BPO companies in Delhi and the NCR.

"All call centre cabs should have a company-employed guard at all times. No woman employee should ever travel in the cab alone," said a spokesman from the L-G House.

The L-G after discussing the matter with the police and the BPO officials has asked Delhi Police to send awareness SMSes on women's safety on the lines of traffic advisory messages.

It was decided that from now on, more PCR vans will be manning city roads as the BPO officials insisted on more "police visibility" as a safety measure.

The L-G has also said cab drivers should not pick up strangers on the way as they may commit carjacking or other crimes. "There should be effective check and control of vehicles' movement to check the unwarranted activities of the cab drivers. The installation of GPs system and issuance of RFID cards to cab drivers to effectively check the movement of the cabs was also suggested," said the official.

Police meet with representatives

On Wednesday, the Delhi Police would meet representatives of the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline to draw up a plan for making the city safer for women from the region.

Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of the support centre, said: "A team of Delhi Police officials will come to meet me tomorrow (Wednesday) to discuss how the city can be made safer for the northeastern community, especially the women."

A delegation of activists and lawyers, led by Chandra, had earlier met the joint commissioner of police (southern range), Amulya Patnaik, to press for speedy justice in the rape case as well as draw up a concrete plan of action to make the city safer for women.

Meanwhile, the northeast community in the capital submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking compensation for the victim under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act) since she belonged to the ST category.

On the lines of the Monday protest at Jantar Mantar organised by Mizo Students Union and Mizo Welfare Association, a similar protest will be organised on Wednesday.

(With agency inputs)

Mizoram postpones return home of refugees from Tripura

2010-11-30T03:59:00.001-08:00

Aizawl/Agartala, Nov 30 (IANS) The Mizoram government announced it was suspending taking back of tribal refugees from six relief camps in Tripura, claiming obstacle from a section of the refugees and suspected militants, officials said Tuesday.

“Our state government has decided to suspend the ongoing repatriation of Reang refugees from six relief camps in Tripura in the wake of protests by anti-repatriation groups,” Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana told reporters in Aizawl.

“The anti-repatriation groups, backed by suspected militants, not only blocked roads to prevent the refugees from returning to Mizoram, but even obstructed state government officials from identifying bonafide residents of Mizoram among refugees.”

“There are armed extremists who have been trying to sabotage the government’s programme to repatriate refugees from Tripura. Security forces would not hesitate to use their weapons against such armed elements,” the home minister said.

Lalzirliana said these militants are intimidating the tribals, locally called Bru, against returning to their villages in Mizoram and warning them of dire consequences if they disobey.

Over 41,600 Reang tribals have been living in six camps in north Tripura’s Kanchanpur sub-division since October 1997. They fled western Mizoram after ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos following the killing of a Mizo forest official.

officials in Tripura said they were unaware of the Mizoram government’s decision to stop the repatriation process and their claim about the militants’ activity in the refugee camps.

“We are not aware about the Mizoram government’s decision to suspend the repatriation process. We are providing logistical help to them after the repatriation process began on Nov 3,” North Tripura district magistrate Saumya Gupta told IANS by phone.

“We have no specific reports of militants intimidating the home-bound willing refugees,” she said, adding that the Tripura government wants the refugee imbroglio to end at the earliest.

The repatriation of 41,600 Reang tribal refugees from North Tripura district’s Kanchanpur sub-division to their villages in western Mizoram began Nov 3. Since then, only 400 refugees have returned to their homes.

When 66 families were ready to return home Nov 19, hundreds of other refugees put up a blockade on the Tripura-Mizoram highway, protesting non-settlement of their eight-point demands, which includes signing of a four-partite agreement between the centre. Tripura and Mizoram and refugee leaders over the repatriation.

“The police arrested 655 protesters and cleared the blockade. Subsequently, 48 refugee families left Tripura for their homes,” a Tripura official said.

In April 2005, the Mizoram government and the militant Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) signed an agreement after 13 rounds of talks to solve the decades-old ethnic crisis, leading to the surrender of about 1,040 militants of the BNLF and Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM), another separatist outfit.

Both the rebel outfits have been fighting for setting up an autonomous council for the Reangs.

How unsafe ‘the women’ are in New Delhi

2010-11-28T23:10:00.001-08:00

NEW DELHI – Ever since a Mizo woman was pulled into a vehicle near her house at Moti Bagh and gang raped by four men on November 23, people from the Northeast have been alleging that they are being discriminated against. While every networking site has people denouncing the act, many blogs and web portals have also come out strongly against the lack of safety measures for women from Northeast states in Delhi.

“When the rapists saw the woman alighting from the office cab, they did not check to see if she was Mizo or Manipuri or Arunachali. She was simply Northeastern, and therefore an easy target,” says Madhu Chandra, the spokesperson of NE Helpline, highlighting how people from the seven Northeastern states are categorised under one definition in Delhi.

Incidents of Northeastern women being eve-teased are common, and it has often been alleged that the police do not bother to look into their complaints. Jasmine Rupini from Tripura, who has been living in the city for the last five years, says, “We are here to study and work, not harm anybody. Yet, we are the ones who are targeted.”
While the ‘Stop discriminating against people from the North-East regions’ community on Facebook has over 162 people demanding stringent action against the guilty, news portal ‘Mizoram Express’ has urged politicians to make Delhi a safer place for women. The Mizoram Student Union is also planning a demonstration on Monday to demand justice for the girl.
Though security has been increased in Nanakpura, where the incident occurred, residents do not expect it to remain for long. “Whenevesomething terrible happens, they post policemen at every corner to make us believe that they are doing their job well. But as time passes, the administration forgets about the crime,” says ST Jha, a resident of Nanakpura.
“Nothing has changed since 2005. I feel as vulnerable as I felt then,” says Asha, a Manipuri girl. However, 21-year-old Jasmin, a student of Motilal Nehru College, does not believe that Northeastern girls are specifically targeted. “That’s not correct,” she says, “I feel that all the girls are unsafe in the city. Whenever I go out at night, I take male friends along.”

Bus plunges into Chin ravine, 14 dead

2010-11-26T21:23:00.001-08:00

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Fourteen passengers died and more than 30 were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine near Tedim in the west of Chin State in northwestern Burma yesterday afternoon, a passenger said.

Trucks negotiate the steep valley roads of Chin State in late November, 2010. The Indian government promised early this year to provide Burma with US$60 million to pave the notoriously treacherous roads of the state. Photo: Mizzima

The bus carrying 80 passengers from Tonzang to Tedim to the south plunged into the 100-foot-deep ravine (30 metres) about eight miles (12 kilometres) from Tedim, a town near the border with Mizoram State, India. Twelve passengers reportedly died instantly and two died after they reached hospital in Tedim.

“The bus was heavily overloaded and the driver going too fast so the bus plunged into the ravine at a curve in the road,” Kam Lian from Tedim told Mizzima.

The injured and dead were first taken to hospital in Tedim, then the 14 dead, all from Tonzang, were returned to their hometown at about 5 p.m. on Friday, a resident said.

A heavily loaded jeep struggles at a crawl along a muddy road near Tedim in Chin State in late November, 2010. The Indian government promised early this year to provide Burma with US$60 million to pave the notoriously treacherous roads of the state. Photo: Mizzima

Most of those on the bus were travelling to Tedim to attend a Chin literature ceremony, according to residents.

“Relatives of the passengers had arrived in Tedim … [and realising family members were missing, went to] rescue the passengers using cars reserved for the ceremony, and motorcycles,” Kam Lian said.

The bus, named Chin Mountain, is owned by Cin Pu of Tahan Ward in Kalay, Sagaing Division.

Mynamarese national suspected of rape, lynched

2010-11-09T04:59:00.001-08:00

Aizawl: A 35-year-old Myanmarese national, suspected of raping and murdering a five-year-old girl on Monday was lynched by an irate mob near here on Tuesday in the second such incident in just over three weeks in Mizoram, police said.

Police said the girl belonging to Muallungthu village near here was lured by Henry Vanneichung of Chungling village in Myanmar's Kalemyo district on the pretext of taking her to her mother who was fetching firewood from the nearby jungle.

Tipped off by the victim's friend, the villagers sent a search party in and around the village as the girl did not return home even after her mother returned to the village at around 5:30 pm on Monday.

The villagers found the battered body of the victim this morning near the village and forensic reports indicated that she had been raped before being killed.

The Muallungthu village search party received information that the suspect was detained at nearby Sateek village and rushed to Sateek where the accused was lynched by an angry mob.

Vanneichung succumbed to his injuries while being brought to Aizawl Civil Hospital by the police.

Is change possible in Burma?

2010-11-08T21:18:00.000-08:00

Danielle Sabaï

In Burma, more than twenty years have passed since the last election on May 27, 1990. The military junta refused to recognize the outcome of the elections, won overwhelmingly by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party formed two years earlier by the Burmese oppositionist Aung San Suu Kyi.

Burma: is change possible? Danielle Sabai.

In Burma, more than twenty years have passed since the last election on May 27, 1990. The military junta refused to recognize the outcome of the elections, won overwhelmingly by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party formed two years earlier by the Burmese oppositionist Aung San Suu Kyi.

The people of Burma suffer from its strategic position - between China and India, between the Indian Ocean, the Malacca Straits and the China Sea - and its abundance of natural resources: gas, oil, rare wood, precious jewels and so on. These riches are coveted by neighbouring countries with few scruples (China, Thailand and India in particular) who do not hesitate to do business with the junta, helping to limit the effects of international pressure and allowing the military to maintain power through coercion and repression with their main aim being their personal enrichment.

It is in this context that the military junta will organise new parliamentary elections on November 7, 2010. The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC-official name of the junta) will organize the fifth stage of the "roadmap to democracy" of which the seventh and final step is to "build a modern, developed and democratic nation".

Behind the facade of this discourse, the military seek to perpetuate their power through parliamentary elections and the establishment of a civilian government. There is no doubt that their goal is not to give power to civilians but to change their green khaki clothes for civilian garb. In a remodelling of an unprecedented scale, in late August most senior officers left the army in order to stand in the elections. They will be candidates alongside 26 members of the government.

These elections are held in the wake of two major political crises during which the regime of the Burmese generals has persisted despite international pressure and condemnations: the “Saffron Revolution” led by Buddhist monks in September and October 2007 [1] and the holding of the referendum on the new constitution even though the Irrawaddy delta was devastated by cyclone Nargis in May 2008 [2]. More than ever, the junta seems to control the Burmese political landscape.

The November 7 elections are thus a major political event. The majority of voters are aged under 38 and have never been involved in an election (just three in 50 years). The question is raging among oppositionists and activists in Burma and among exiles as to what extent they could provide opportunities for change. These elections being neither free nor fair, the question arises of whether to participate in the electoral framework proposed by the Burmese junta or to boycott it.

Without trying to resolve this debate, this article tries to give an overview before the vote and describe the issues at stake.

Transfer of power?

Begun in 2003 and relaunched in 1993, the "roadmap to democracy’ fuelled fears in the ranks of the military junta that power might escape them during the process of transfer to a civilian Government. [3]. The junta has therefore done everything to conserve power, and in particular in May 2008 it forced through the adoption of a preliminary draft of a new customized constitution.

Among the most prominent elements of the constitution which should take effect after the elections, 25% of the seats in the two national parliaments (upper and lower chambers) will be filled by soldiers nominated by the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The assemblies will appoint a President who must "have military experience" and does not have children of foreign nationality (which excludes the possible candidacy of Aung San Suu Kyi). The ministers for Defence, the Interior and Foreign Affairs will be appointed by the President from a list submitted by... the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The constitution provides no right of scrutiny over military affairs or control over their expenditure. The amendment of the constitution will require a vote of 75% by members followed by a referendum validated by at least 50% of people of voting age. In other words with 25% of designated military members in both houses, it will be impossible to amend the constitution against their wishes. The Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces is empowered to declare a state of emergency if they perceive a threat of “disintegration of national solidarity”. As for the military junta, article 445 guarantees that no legal action can be taken against members of the SLORC ( State Law and Order Restoration Council) and SPDC, the two successive names taken by the junta since it took power in 1988 [4]. Finally, sub section (a) of article 121 of the constitution stipulates that persons who have been imprisoned or convicted are not entitled to stand in the elections. This article excludes from the outset more than 2,171 political prisoners including the main oppositionists and ethnic leaders (379 members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) including Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest since 2003; 40 members of the 88 Generation Students including Min Ko Naing , Ko Ko Gyi and Nilar Thein; 200 ethnic leaders and activists including the spokesperson Hkun Htun Oo and secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin of the League of Shan Nationalities For Democracy imprisoned since 2005 for respectively 93 and 85 years) [5].

The actions taken leave little doubt as to the role that the military intend to play in the future civilian disposition. Unfortunately, these elections do not set Burma on the road to democracy.

A controlled process

The electoral process is itself closely controlled by the junta which does not want to see a new major setback as in 1990. The stakes are high: 1,157 seats are to be filled with 326 for the People’s Assembly (lower house), 168 for the National Assembly (upper house) and 663 for representatives of the 7 regions (Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay, Pegu, Irrawaddy, Rangoon and Tenasserim) and 7 States (Kachin, Chin, Shan, Arakan, Karen, Karenni and My) distributed between the people’s assemblies and the regional or state assemblies [6] .

Out of 47 requests, 37 parties obtained permission to run in the elections. Existing parties, including the NLD, which did not apply for registration were dissolved by the electoral commission. In fact, only the two parties close to the Government, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) led by Prime Minister Thein Sein and the National Unity Party (NUP-formerly the Burma Socialist Programme Party founded by dictator Ne Win in 1974) will be able to compete on a national scale. These two parties will present three times more candidates than the other 35 parties put together. In many constituencies with a Burmese majority, there will only be USDP and NUP candidates. But in nearly 20 constituencies, including Rangoon, a number of opposition candidates will be in competition [7]. This should provide the two pro-government parties with a large majority in the upper and lower chambers as well as in the regional parliaments, the seven regions being populated predominantly by Burmese. According to this one round electoral system already in place in 1990, the winner is the candidate who gets the most votes irrespective of turnout. Finally, in contests where there is only one candidate, the latter is declared elected without an election being held.

Among the opposition parties, only three have the means to run in a significant number of constituencies: the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP-157 candidates), the Democratic Party led by the oppositionist Thu Wai (DP- 49 candidates) and the National Democratic Force (NDF-163 candidates) led by former NLD leaders. The barriers are financial and organizational. In this country where a third of the population lives below the poverty level and where an employee earns $50 per month, each candidate must, in order to stand in the election, pay the sum of 500,000 kyats which is equivalent to approximately $500, non-recoverable. No opposition party has $580,000 for the financing of candidates at the national level, without counting the cost of the campaign.

At the organizational level, the Burmese opposition is weak and divided. The national council of the NLD, the main opposition force, met on March 29 and unanimously decided to boycott the elections. But in practice, a part of its leadership has formed a new party, the NDF. For them, the absence of NLD candidates leaves no obvious anti-governmental choice for voters. Many parties have been constituted for the elections, their electoral base is weak, or indeed not yet established. The SPDC has wished to see a multiplicity of political parties in order to reduce the votes for the opposition parties. It is possible that for tactical reasons or through political weakness a number of these small parties will not differentiate themselves from the military junta. With the approach of the elections the latter seems to be manoeuvring: funding of the NDF by somebody close to the junta has destabilized the alliance of 6 [8] opposition parties formed in October to oppose the pro-government candidates and work together inside the future parliament. These manoeuvres cast doubt on the independence of the different candidates and political parties and the risk is great of increasing abstention or the division of the vote among several opposition parties.

Neither just nor fair elections

To say that these elections are neither fair nor fair is not mere verbiage. The rules laid down by the electoral commission drastically restrict freedom of expression, assembly and organization of political parties. The publications of parties are subject to censorship and election material must not oppose the regime or the army. The organisation of public meetings is not free either. An application must be filed one week in advance specifying the number of participants expected. Finally, in this country where there is no independent press, opposition parties suffer a serious disability.

The restrictive measures do not equally apply to all parties. The USDP represents the transformation into a political party of the powerful USDA (Union Solidarity Development Association), a mass association formed in 1993 one year after the inauguration of General Than Shwe as head of state. The USDA has since fulfilled the function of control of society and repression of social mobilization. Members of the USDA attacked the convoy of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2003 near Depayin with the objective of killing her, and they attacked the monks during the demonstrations of autumn 2007. The USDP therefore receives the political support of the USDA and its financial resources. It also enjoys support from the government and army of whom most high placed members are among the USDP candidates. Its transformation into a political party has not changed its methods. There are accounts of intimidation by USDP members against opposition candidates and voters [9]. The NUP represents the old guard of dictator Ne Win, the head of the State in 1988. The party also has powerful support and financial resources.

The ethnic question, a central question

No democratic Burmese State will emerge without taking into account the demands of ethnic minorities which represent nearby one-third of the population [10]. Prior to independence in 1948, the Panglong Agreement (February 12, 1947) drew the contours of the rights of ethnic minorities. The guarantees granted were never really respected and shortly after independence the first armed conflicts broke out with the government, with some persisting today. In 1989, a year after taking power, the junta began negotiations with the ethnic groups at war so as to agree a cease-fire. Most groups signed and the junta pursued a war without mercy against the other groups.

The armies of Wa and Kokang, serving until 1987 the Burmese Communist Party, were among the first signatories. In exchange for a cease-fire, they were allowed to cultivate opium and trade "without interference”. Entire border areas [11] were thus left under the control of armed ethnic militias. The junta exploited the divisions that resulted between different ethnic groups, with some organizations such as the Karen National Union and Kachin Organization for Independence objecting strongly to the cultivation and sale of drugs.

In April 2009 the junta decided to retrieve the territories in the hands of the armed ethnic groups. It ordered that the groups that had signed cease-fire agreements should be transformed into a new border force guard under the authority of the government. Most armed groups agreed but the most important including the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) refused. In August 2009, the situation deteriorated when the Tatmadaw (Burmese regular army) launched an attack against the army of the National Democratic Alliance of Myanmar in Kokang territory. More than 30,000 people took refuge in China. A serious subject of discontent for Beijing whose main objective is the maintenance of stability of 2,192 miles of common border. On his trip to Burma last June, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao let it be known that he wanted to see a broad participation of ethnic groups in the electoral process in order to increase its credibility and reduce the risk of tensions on the borders.

The participation of ethnic groups in the elections was however not agreed. To participate in the elections could mean that the ethnic groups recognize the validity of the constitution of 2008 that denies the right of self-determination and renders armed militias illegal. Participation would also recognize the future organization of the country under the control of a centralized executive against their demand for a Union or a federal state [12]. Since August the UWSA has made it known that it rejected the elections and will not allow their conduct in the territory it controls. During September, as a reprisal for the refusal to integrate into the border guard force, the election commission refused to register three Kachin parties as well as all the independent candidates for members of these organizations, depriving the Kachin of independent political representation. On September 16, the commission announced that the elections would not be held in 3,401 villages in Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan states because it was not possible “to ensure free and fair elections"(sic!). This decision deprives about 1.5 million voters in the regions which do not have a Burmese majority [13]. "An implicit confession of the failure of regime to impose its candidates and elections in the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities" [14]. One of the first consequences of the elections could be the return of war with the various ethnic groups [15]

To participate or not in the elections?

There is little doubt that the conditions in which the November 7 elections take place leave little room for a (happy) surprise as was the case in 1990. The government has done everything to ensure that pro-government parties, primarily the USDP, win the elections, including in the ethnic areas controlled by armed groups. Parliament will consist mainly of pro-government members and appointed soldiers. The share of progressive deputies and independent representatives of ethnic groups in comparison will be relatively very low. An unknown is the balance of power between USDP elected officials and those belonging to the NUP. This latter party is composed of members loyal to the dictator Ne Win, deposed in 1988 and replaced by the current junta. Some believe that its members are relatively independent of the government and may in the context of a parliamentary process gain in autonomy. It remains to be seen to what extent this party is supported by the military.

It remains nonetheless that these elections represent a major political event for an entire generation of Burmese. Any activist involved in Burma political life, in the country or outside, must decide on the ultimate issue; whether or not to participate in the elections.

Although the electoral process is not democratic, a significant number of parties have decided to participate in the elections. The decision to boycott the elections by the NLD and several ethnic parties has been very controversial. The boycott of the election could undermine its credibility if it was accompanied by a very low participation. In this case, the international community would be very much obliged to denounce the masquerade. But the experience of the referendum in 2008 proves that the junta is quite able to falsify the results. The critics believe that not participating in the elections reinforces automatically the number of pro-government deputies having regard to the electoral system in place. In this perspective, for many parties, these elections represent "the only valid option”. And participating does not imply accepting them, but considering them as inevitable. Groups and associations activist in Burma have also argued that it is dangerous to rely on the international community whose divisions over the past 20 years have not allowed the imposition of any change to the current regime.

A number of groups within Burmese civil society think that "elections represent the first opportunity in 20 years to be able to mobilize communities on the issue of their democratic rights". This is a "chance to develop the political consciousness of the people, particularly among young people who have not had the opportunity to vote before" [16]. They believe that the elections will bring a bit of democracy and freedom in the country. The establishment of a Parliament could offer the possibility to express opposition. Knowing that the elections are legislative and won’t bring a change of regime in the immediate future, their stated goal is to work for the mobilization of a base which could lead to new elections by 2015. This position is also defended by “think tanks" and major international non-governmental organisations who see the possibility of a major political transformation with the emergence of new political parties and new leaders [17]. One of the arguments put forward by these groups is "the absence of any results brought about by sanctions" [18]. Instead of continuing on this path, they propose Burma be reintegrated into the international community, which the electoral process could allow, if it is not decried by the international community.

Provisional conclusion

Nobody seriously thinks that elections will bring significant changes in the coming months. The military junta will continue to run the economy for its own benefit and to the detriment of the Burmese people as a whole even after the establishment of a "civilian" Government

It is hard to see too much which could prevent it. Inside Burma it does not feel threatened by a weak and divided opposition. At the international level, economic sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe have fizzled out, especially because states such as France and Germany oppose any sanctions relating to strategic sectors which bring money to the junta and help keep it in power because these sanctions threaten their own interests in Burma [19]. Calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners do not obscure the cynicism and the lack of political will of the Western and Asian states to fight against the military junta.

The Burmese generals do not need to hold fair and democratic elections since other states and international organizations are willing to settle for a parody of democratic elections. Some states wish it to be believed (or want to believe) that supporting the electoral process is equivalent to supporting incremental change towards democracy. In fact, they are looking to the end of sanctions and the opportunity to invest in the country. More and more articles explain that the path of democracy in Burma lies through development (and therefore investments).

The latest victim is the Burmese pro-democracy movement, deeply divided by the difficult question of whether or not to boycott or participate in elections while there is no doubt that the big winner will be once more the ruling junta.

Danielle Sabaï is one of IV’s correspondents for Asia.
NOTES

[1] See Danielle Sabai “Burmese crisis, its foundation and the urgency of solidarity: enough of hypocrisy!” [http://daniellesabai.wordpress.com/2007/09/30/la-crise-birmane-ses-fondements-et-l%E2%80%99urgence-de-la-solidarite-assez-d%E2%80%99hypocrisie-des-actes/

[2] Marc Johnson and Danielle Sabai. “Issues that have little to do with international solidarity”. [http://daniellesabai.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/56/

[3] Larry Jagan and Renaud Egreteau. "Back to the Old Habits." Isolationism or the Self Preservation of Burma’s Military Regime "(Page_44)." Irasec [here-≥http://www.reseau-asie.com/ouvrage/ouvrages/back-to-the-old-habits-isolationism-or-the-self-preservation-of-burma-s-military-regime/]. For an analysis of the 2008 constitution see “The SPDC constitutional referendum: a dead end for democracy in Burma”. Altsean Burma

[4] http://www.altsean.org/Reports/SPDCReferendum.php

[5] "SPDC Election Law Strangle Democracy". Altsean Burma. July 15, 2010 [http://www.altsean.org/Reports/SPDCElectionLaws.php

[6] For details of seats see [Altsean Burma http://www.altsean.org/Research/2010/Key%20Facts/At%20stake%20in%20these%20elections.php] For details of the political parties and their platform see [Mizzima http://www.mizzima.com/election2010.html

[7] The Irrawaddy Magazine. [A Foregone Conclusion http://www.Irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19642&page=2

[8] The Irrawaddy. October 18, 2010. [Donor Dispute Shakes 6-Party Alliance http://www.Irrawaddy.org/election/interview/524-donor-dispute-shakes-six-party-Alliance.html

[9] The Irrawaddy, 22 October 2010.[ Rohingya Party Prevented from Campaigning http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19801] Voters "Urged to Cast Advance bundles". [The Irrawaddy http://www.irrawaddy.org/election/news/565-voters-urged-to-cast-advance-ballots.html

[10] In the absence of a census we do not know the exact composition of the population of Burma. Identified ethnic groups are Karen, Shan, Akha, Chin, Chinese, Danu, Indian, Kachin, Karenni, Kayan, Kokang, Lahu, Mon, Naga, Palaung, Pao, Rakhine, Rohingya Tavoyan and Wa

[11] Most ethnic minorities live in mountainous areas on Burma’s borders established during the British settlement between 1824 and 1948

[12] China’s Myanmar Strategy: Elections, Ethnic Groups and Economics. International Crisis Group. Asia Briefing N ° 112. Update. http://www.crisisgroup.org/ /media/Files/asia/north-east-asia/B112%20Chinas%20Myanmar%20Strategy%20%20Elections%20Ethnic%20Politics%20and%20Economics.ashx

[13] Burma Bulletin Issue n ° 45 - September 2010. Altsean Burma. http://www.altsean.org/Reports/Burma%20Bulletin/BBSeptember10.php

[14] Info Burma - analysis September elections 2010 http://www.info-birmanie.org/

[15] “Burma’s ethnic Minorities Prepare for War”. Denis D. gray. The Irrawaddy. November 2, 2010. http://www.Irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19915

[16] Report of the workshop PRIVÉES: The Emerging Role of Civil Society in Burma and challenges and Opportunities of the 2010 Elections. October 3, 2010. http://Euro-Burma.EU/doc/Report_-_AEPF_workshop_notes_-_FINAL.PDF

[17] See e.g. FFT: Burma’s 2010 Elections: challenges and Opportunities. June 2010. http://www.tni.org/briefing/burma%E2%80%99s-2010-elections-challenges-and-opportunities-0 International Crisis Group: Elections in Burma (Myanmar) won’t be fair, but they will be significant. Jim Della-Giacoma, The Christian Science Monitor. http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/burma-myanmar/dellagiacoma-elections-in-burma-myanmar-wont-be-fair-but-they-will-be-significant.aspx

[18] For a review of sanctions and why this policy did not obtain the expected results read: The European Union and Burma: The Case for Targeted Sanctions. Burma Campaign UK (March 2004). http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/reports/title/the-eu-and-burma-the-case-for-targeted-sanctions EU & Burma, briefing and recommendation (March 2008). http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/reports/title/EU-Burma-briefing-and-recommendations-March-2008

[19] French diplomacy did not hesitate to support the Total company, one of the most important investors in Burma, accused of having recourse to forced labour

Mizoram observes diwali sans fireworks and crackers

2010-11-08T06:33:00.001-08:00

Aizawl, Nov 8 : For the first time, Mizoram is observing a diwali sans fireworks and crackers. Basically, this is due to a significant absence of fireworks and crackers during the last Christmas and New Year festival, following a prohibition imposed by the Mizoram government with the backing of influential bodies such as the churches and the Young Mizo Association.

Following the example of their Mizo Christian brethren, the Hindu community in Mizoram has restrained from displaying fireworks and crackers in the festival of light though the government has not officially announced any fresh prohibition.

''In respect of our Mizo Christian brethren who had kept away from fireworks and crackers during their biggest festival, we have decided not to display fireworks and crackers. Nobody has told us to avoid fireworks and crackers,'' said P Chakraborty, the state law secretary and president of Hindustan Club of Aizawl.

''After all, fireworks and crackers are just a waste of money and cause air pollution,'' he added.

''We all know firecrackers release harmful gases in the atmosphere but we do nothing about it. People blindly follow things that everyone participates in. The true essence of Diwali is lost in the noise and smoke of crackers,'' commented a 28-year-old IT professional who is on a holiday with his parents in Aizawl.

However, the traditional lighting up of houses and mandirs are not absent. The diwali revellers have their homes and worship places lit up beautifully.

UNHCR Affiliates Accused of Refugee Corruption

2010-10-02T05:25:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR—Several Burmese organizations in Malaysia, which are affiliated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), are selling resettlement registrations for profit to refugees, according to victims of the scheme and witnesses in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
The groups in question include the Chin Refugee Committee (CRC), the National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Malaysia (NLDLA), the Burma Refugee Organization (BRO) and the Arakan Refugees Relief Committee (ARRC). But sources say other affiliated groups, including several ethnic representatives, are also involved.

Burmese refugees protest in front of the UNHCR offices in Kuala Lumpur in 2009. (Photo: AFP)

Earlier this year, the UNHCR began delegating the authority for issuing resettlement registration documents to Burmese groups based in Malaysia. Refugees who are recommended for resettlement by the agencies are then interviewed by the UNHCR. The exception is the CRC, which was first authorized to register its people for resettlement in 2001. The UNHCR began issuing registration documents for Burmese refugees on Aug. 17 in a process that ended on Sept. 19. According to the sources, some 6,000 refugees from Burma were recommended for resettlement during that period.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy, Ko Maung, a member of both the BRO and NLDLA, said, “I became a member of two organizations doing business with the Burmese refugees. I have paid a so-called 'membership fee' of 60 Malaysian Ringgit (US $20) per month to each group for one year now. But when the UNHCR began registering refugees, I was overlooked for others who had paid more money.
“I’ve no document to live in Malaysia,” he added. “I am frustrated that the UNHCR passed responsibility [for the registration process] to other organizations and that it is not involved directly with the refugees.”
Possession of UNHCR registration documents are highly prized among Burmese refugees in Malaysia because it offers them some protection if they are arrested by the Malaysian authorities. Registered refugees also qualify for half-price medical services at several local hospitals.
Fees to register with brokers such the CRC, the BRO and the NLDLA have gone up since the process began from 310 Ringgit ($100) to 700 Ringgit ($225), say sources. In each case, the Burmese groups then promise to put the paying refugees on a priority list with the UN, the sources said.
“I heard that the BRO was charging 500 Ringgit ($160) to register a refugee while the NLDLA was charging 700 Ringgit,” said Sunny, a Burmese migrant worker who came to Malaysia with a work permit. “I cannot decide whether I should register or not.”
Burmese refugees who are registered for resettlement by the UNHCR frequently wait for up to one year or longer for resettlement toa third country.
“In general, many Burmese migrants think that the Malaysian-based NLDLA is organizing a boycott for the upcoming election, but what they are really doing is cheating money out of people who want refugee registration.” said Kyaw Htoo Aung, a social worker who works with illegal Burmese migrants. “I cannot stand it. I have interviewed victims of the scheme and posted their testimonies on my blog.”
Both the NLDLA and the ARRC refuted the accusations when contacted by The Irrawaddy. The BRO said it has no spokesperson who can comment on the matter.
Ethnic Burman and Arakanese people were not recognized as “refugees” by the UN until this year. About 50 Arakanese protested on June 6 outside the UNHCR office in Malaysia, saying the UN was discriminating between different Burmese ethnic groups and religious affiliations.
Yan Naing Tun, the editor of Thuriya, a bi-monthly journal based in Kuala Lumpur, said, “The UNHCR give first priority to Chins and Rohingyas. They discriminate against other ethnicities. It has become very difficult for real refugees to get registered.
“As far as I can remember, the UNHCR employed a Chin translator when it started the operation,” he added. “However, they did not employ translators for other ethnicities, including Burmese.”
The UNHCR did not respond to the accusations when contacted by The Irrawaddy.
The CRC said that in 2001 several Chin leaders urged the UNHCR to grant refugee registration to their people and that the process began that same year.

Mizoram thanks Centre for NLUP

2010-09-28T05:47:00.001-07:00

Aizawl, Sept 28 (PTI) The Mizoram Assembly today unanimously adopted an official resolution expressing gratitude to the Centre for providing funds for the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the Congress government led by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.The resolution, moved in the state legislature by law minister Lalsaawta.

"The Congress party came to power with a thumping majority in the 2008 state assembly polls with the NLUP as its main plank after being out of power for a decade," he said.Sources in the government said that the NLUP would be implemented during this year.

Indian Government dispels fears of n-weapons in Myanmar

2010-08-26T01:28:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) There is no nuclear threat from Myanmar, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Thursday, adding that strict vigil was being maintained and admitting that nuclear weapons in neighbouring countries were a matter of concern.

'Myanamar asserts that it has no nuclear programme on its anvil. The government of India will have to believe,' Krishna said while replying to a supplementary in the Rajya Sabha Thursday.

The minister, however, added that information was being gathered through intelligence networks as well.

'We will also gather through our own intelligence what is happening. The government always monitors development closely because it concerns our security,' Krishna said.

He stated that nuclear weapons in neighbouring countries were a matter of concern and that the Indian intelligence was keeping tight vigil on the situation.

'We know Pakistan has nuclear weapons, China also has. We also know there has been a clandestine proliferation effort that Libya and other similar countries are making. We know A.Q. Khan network is very active. (The) government is monitoring the situation and will take steps to see India's security is not jeopardised,' he said.

Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962 under a government known as the military junta. Its leader Senior General Than Shwe visited India in July.

©Indo-Asian News Service

No one should take law into his hands: Mizoram CM

2010-08-16T00:16:00.001-07:00

Aizawl : Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla today said the state government remained firm in its commitment that no one should be allowed to take law into their own hands and there was no place for militancy.

While the government remained sensitive to complaints, dissatisfaction and misgivings of the people, no one should break the law, Lal Thanhawla said at a public meeting at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tri-colour on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Independence Day.

"Nothing is achieved by indulging in violence and destroying public properties," he said.

Highlighting the policies and programmes of the government, the chief minister said that the flagship programme of his government, the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) would soon be launched and the Centre has approved Rs 2,873.13 crore under additional central assistance for implementation of the NLUP during five years for reconstruction of the rural economy.

Lal Thanhawla said 1,20,000 families would be covered by the NLUP which aimed at ending the slash and burn way of shifting cultivation (jhum) and creation of permanent settlement for the cultivators.

The state government had been able to provide 95 days of employment to 1,80,140 households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said.

As part of the endeavour to make Mizoram a preferred tourist destination, construction of 'Institute of Hotel Management' was in progress at Bung Picnic Spot and aero-sport equipment had been procured to launch adventure tourism in the state.

He made special mention that the two wine vineyards have been established at Champhai and Hnahlan which would provide economic boost to the grape growers.

The CM said that incompetence and corruption in public administration would not be tolerated.

There should be stringent legislation against drug menace

2010-08-13T09:12:00.001-07:00

Aizawl, Aug 13 (PTI) Mizoram's state level apex coordination committee on drugs today proposed that a stringent 'Mizoram Drugs Control Act' be legislated to effectively combat the drug menace in the state.

The committee, headed by Van Hela Pachuau, the chief secretary, was of the opinion that the Assam Drug Control Act, 1950 and the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940 in force in the state, were ineffective to fight drugs problems.

It also proposed to approach the Centre for amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 as the act had lost its teeth.

More than a thousand youth have died in the state due to drug abuse since 1984 when the first drug-related death was reported.

The highest annual death was 149 in 2004. Around 90 per cent of the vicitms died due to abuse of spasmo proxyvon, a painkiller.

Aizawl municipality polls in October

2010-08-10T08:23:00.001-07:00

Aizawl, Aug 10 (PTI) The first election to 19-ward Aizawl Municipal Council would be held in late October, an official statement said here today.

A meeting of Municipal Authority held at the office chamber of P Lianhrima, Secretary for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation yesterday decided to organise awareness campaign for the village council members (to be dissolved after the formation of municipality) and the general public, the statement said.

Meanwhile voters'' lists for the election to Aizawl Municipal council have already been published by the state election commission in which there were around 1.6 lakh voters. Out of the 19 wards, six seats would be reserved for women in accordance with Mizoram Municipality Act.

UN warns of worsening famine in central dry zone

2010-08-07T01:50:00.001-07:00

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Drought-ridden areas of central Burma that have suffered food shortages and low rainfall for three years are facing an even more severe famine in what is one of the poorest areas of the country, the World Food Programme says.

However, Burmese government meteorologist Dr. Tun Lwin says the areas will soon receive monsoonal rains, because of the La Niña effect.

Burma’s central “dry zone” covers nearly 10 per cent of Burma’s total area and is densely populated, underdeveloped and poor, and suffers constant food shortages.

“It’s a slow-burn problem but evidence would suggest it is getting worse”, Reuters AlertNet quoted outgoing World Food Progamme country chief Chris Kaye as saying.

“Firstly rains were delayed. Then rains did begin to kick in and farmers started the planting,” he said. “Since then there’s been a break and now that first set of inputs into the ground is withering and dying.”

But the water needed for crops grown in the dry zone might still become available from monsoon rain later in the year, according to Tun Lwin.

“There may be two times in October, one time in November and up to December if not in September. There will be monsoon rains in these four to five months,” he said.

A heatwave in April hit Magway, Sagaing, Mandalay, Pegu, Rangoon divisions and Mon, Shan and Arakan states and led to severe water shortages, and in some areas the daily death rate doubled, Mizzima reported in May, citing reports from the region’s free funeral services.

Even tropical plants such as palm and Shah trees were affected by the temperatures in Magway, which reached record highs of more than 104 degrees Farhenheit (40 Celsius).

Burma, once known as the rice bowl of Southeast Asia, was facing a worsening food crisis, which the UN agency blamed on the restrictions the ruling Burmese junta had imposed on WFP work. It had allowed only limited access to the region, rules that had made assessment of the food amounts needed, and distribution, very difficult, the WFP said.

A resident of Yenangyaung confirmed the WFP reports of food shortages already being suffered by local people.

“Some could have only one meal a day. Some could cook only two-three empty condensed milk tins of rice for a family of four instead of normal requirement of four tins,” an opposition activist working for farmers said. “Families have to share the limited resources available to them. Sometimes they would have to skip dinner and have a meal only on mornings that they could find rice.”

Another consequence of the food shortage was that more young people were being forced to migrate away from homes in search of work, he added.

According to local residents contacted by Mizzima, a lot of sesame fields were also recently damaged in central Burma.

Sesame is the main crop grown in the parched region that includes Chauk, Kyaupadaung, Meiktila, Yenangyaung, Magway, Taungdwingyi, Pakokku, Yesagyo and Pauk, and minor crops are peanuts and green mung beans.

Farmers who lost their sesame harvest this season are depending on the monsoonal rain for their remaining groundnuts, which are to be harvested in the next two months.

“The La Niña will begin in August and it has started in the Pacific [Ocean]. If this La Niña becomes moderately stronger, the entire Indochina region will experience wet and humid climate including Burma so that Burma will get a late rainy season especially storm water”, Dr. Tun Lwin said.

La Niña translates from the Spanish as “The Child Girl” and meteorologically is the opposite of the more well known El Niño. The term La Niña refers to the extensive cooling of the central and eastern Pacific.

Globally La Niña, in very general terms, will mean that those parts of the world that normally experience dry weather will be drier and those with wet weather will be wetter. Atlantic and Pacific hurricane activity will increase with La Niña and the effects of severe droughts are likely in those already dry parts of the world.

The Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry commissioned a UN food security survey in 11 states and divisions including areas hit by Cyclone Nargis and Chin State. The report said more than five million people in Burma go hungry every day.

Queen''s baton rally

2010-07-27T07:27:00.001-07:00

Imphal, July 27 (PTI) Manipur hockey Olympian Nilakomol Singh today led Queen''s baton rally flag for commonwealth games 2010 in Manipur leg today.

The rallyists, flagged by Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh, marched through all important points of Imphal city before they ended up at Khuman Lampak sports stadium complex.

Official sources said the the flag of the queen''s baton rally would be organised in Mizoram tommorrow.

Cancer hospital to come up in Aizawl

2010-07-27T07:26:00.001-07:00

Aizawl, Jul 27 (PTI) Prompted by high incidence of cancer, the Mizoram government today said they are planning to establish a 200-bedded cancer hospital here in the city.The facility is expected to function soon, state health minister Lalrinliana Sailo said.

The cobalt therapy unit installed at the cancer treatment centre at Zemabawk is treating an average of 30 patients a day, but the availability of only one radiotherapy technician has made it impossible to cater the needs of more patients as around 50 patients are usually in the waiting lists.

Fake NBFCs defrauding people in Mizoram

2010-07-19T02:31:00.001-07:00

AIZAWL, July 19 – There were 21 fake financial institutions in Mizoram having offices in the State capital Aizawl indulging in financial fraud, Chief Secretary Van Hela Pachuau said yesterday.

Such non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) have cheated the people taking advantage of their ignorance, Pachuau told a seminar of government and police officials on the Regulation of Unauthorised Elements of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Un-incorporated Bodies (UIBS) in Mizoram.

“Majority of these institutions are from outside the State and we, the Mizo people, help them in their surreptitious intentions due to our greed,” he said.

He urged the law enforcement officials to strictly enforce the laws prohibiting such nefarious activities by unauthorised institutions.

The seminar was jointly organised by the State Finance department and the Reserve Bank of India and attended by RBI officials, top Finance department officials and senior police officers.

Bharat bandh: Life normal in Mizoram

2010-07-05T03:46:00.000-07:00

Aizawl: The country-wide bandh called by the NDA and other opposition parties in protest against hike in oil prices did not have any impact in Mizoram barring cancellation of some Kolkata-Aizawl flights today.

All the government offices, educational institutions and shops remained open and vehicles plied as usual.

However, except for the Air India morning Kolkata-Aizawl and Guwahati-Aizawl flights, Air India Airbus and Kingfisher flights between Kolkata and Aizawl were cancelled, airport sources said.

There is no other national party in the Congress-ruled state.

Conflict and Displacement in Burma

2010-06-18T21:57:00.001-07:00

Bertil Lintner
[former correspondent with the Far Eastern Economic Review and the author of ten books on ethnicity and politics in Burma and other countries in the region. He is currently with the Asia Pacific Media Services www.asiapacificms.com]

Decades of civil war, insurgencies and counterinsurgency campaigns as well as gross economic mismanagement by successive military-controlled regimes have driven millions of people from their homes in Burma, either as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or as refugees or stateless migrant workers to neighbouring countries. The total number of IDPs is impossible to ascertain, but refugee organisations which are engaged in cross border relief operations on the Thai-Burma frontier believe they number in the hundreds of thousands. On the Thai side of the border, at least 500,000 people are living in refugee camps and less formal, makeshift settlements which resemble squatter villages. Many of them are ethnic Karen, who have fled fighting between ethnic Karen guerrillas and the government’s forces, or ethnic Shan who have escaped to Thailand because of the civil war in their part of the country. Fighting between various separatist rebel movements and the central government broke out shortly after Burma’s independence from Britain in 1948, and is still continuing.

In addition, migrant workers from Burma rank the highest in numbers of human-trafficking victims in Thailand. On June 4 this year, the New Delhi and Kolkata-based Burmese news group Mizzima quoted Sompong Sakaew, director of the Thai NGO the Labour Rights Promotion Network, as saying that 700,000 foreign workers have registered officially with Thai authorities. A recent estimate, however, put the actual number at more than three million, and they are mainly from Burma. Many are employed in Thailand’s fishing industry, on construction sites or as lowly-paid factory workers. Others are street vendors, and many young women are kept in slave-like conditions in Thailand’s many urban and rural brothels. Transnational networks use Burmese children as beggars in the streets of Bangkok — and most of the money they are able to collect ends up in the hands of the criminals, not the children.

There is also an unknown number of mostly ethnic Chin refugees in the north-eastern Indian state of Mizoram. In January 2009, Human Rights Watch released a 104-page report titled “We Are Like Forgotten People: The Chin People of Burma: Unsafe in Burma, Unprotected in India,” which states that “the Chin Population in Mizoram is estimated to be as high as 100,000, about 20 per cent of the total Chin population in [Burma’s] Chin State.” The Chin call themselves Zomi, or Mizo the other way round, and the two peoples are closely related, which often makes it difficult to tell a Burmese Chin from a Mizo from India. But once settled in India, the Chins, or Zomis, nevertheless remain stateless. According to Human Rights Watch, “the Chin face discrimination and threats of forces return by Mizo voluntary associations in collusion with the Mizoram authorities.” Only about 1,800 Chins have made it to New Delhi, where the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, has an office, which makes it possible for them to have their refugee claims decided and be considered for resettlement in third countries.

Human Rights Watch also states that as many as 30,000 Chins have fled to Malaysia hoping to obtain UNHCR recognition — in addition to the tens of thousands of Muslim Rohingyas who already are there as cheap labour. Even more of Rohingyas, natives of Burma’s Arakan or Rakhine State, are living in south-eastern Bangladesh, in camps or small villages near the border. Both the predominantly Christian Chins and the Muslim Rohingyas complain about religious discrimination in their homeland. They claim they are often driven from their land, and used as forced labour by the Burmese army.

The Rohingyas especially are vulnerable in a predominantly Buddhist country, where they have been made scapegoats for the government’s failed economic policies. Even many pro-democracy activists in Burma refuse to recognise the Rohingyas as an “indigenous people”, claiming they are “illegal immigrants” from Bangladesh. While the Rohingyas speak the Chittagonian dialect of Bengali, they have been living on what now is the Burmese side of the border for centuries. In Chin State, Christian pastors have been forced to worship in Buddhist temples, and the refugees allege that the authorities are destroying churches, crosses and other religious symbols as well as restricting the printing and importing of Christian bibles and literature.

The number of refugees and migrants from Burma in China is unknown, but there are substantial communities of Burmese of various nationalities living in the south-western province of Yunnan, mainly in border towns such as Ruili, Tengchong, Mangshih and Jinghong. Most of the refugees and migrant workers there are Kachin or Shan, and can quite easily mingle with their ethnic cousins in China, called Jingpo and Dai respectively.

There is no easy solution to Burma’s multitude of refugee problems. Repatriation is not an option as long as the civil war continues in several parts of the country — and, some would argue, as long as the country remains under repressive military rule. A general election, scheduled for this year, is unlikely to change Burma’s military-dominated power structure; rather, the election is designed to legitimise the military’s hold on power, perhaps with a few token civilians in the new national assembly.

Further, Thailand does not recognise people from Burma as refugees but refers to them as “displaced persons”, which makes their situation extremely precarious. India, although reluctantly tolerating the presence of refugees from Burma, has not signed the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, which means that Burmese refugees in India lack basic protection of their rights under international agreements.

In recent years, some Western countries such as the United States, Canada, Sweden, Norway and Finland have accepted substantial numbers or people from the camps in Thailand — and some from India as well — for resettlement in their respective countries. But a lasting solution to the problem cannot be found until and unless there is a meaningful political settlement inside Burma, between the military government and the pro-democracy opposition, and between whatever government is in power and the country’s many ethnic minorities. On the other hand, it is not realistic to expect a solution to any of these problems within the foreseeable future. Burma’s refugee problem is here to stay for many years to come, perhaps even decades.

Blood donation marks YMA raising day in CCpur

2010-06-15T23:13:00.001-07:00

Churachandpur, June 16 : As part of their 75th years of raising Day ie Platinum Raising Day celebration, the Lamka Branch of the Young Mizo ssociation,YMA, volunteers organised a blood donation camp at Churachandpur district hospital.

The Blood Bank at the district hospital here run out of stock since the past many years and it remain only as a nameshack. The blood donation camp organised by the YMA, CC Pur branch has revived the blood bank.

The YMA has been the first organisations of its kind among the NGO who have donated blood beyond the banks capacity at the hospital which is stated to have been 30 litres capacity sources from the district hospital has said adding altogather 26 males and another 4 females from volunteers of the YMA have donated in todays philnthropic act.

The secretary of the YMA Lamka Branch said to this correspondent the non availabilty of blood at the banks since the past many years has been a cause of concern for them . Which is why we took this decision in favour of donating blood to atleast lessen the difficulty facing the publics and the sick people he said.

The Central Young Mizo Association , CYMA, has celebrated the Platinum over the entire length and breath of Mizoram besides all other parts of the country including Manipur in which the Manipur Group YMA leads in the organisation.

As regards to Lamka it was used as an occassion of constructive interaction through the conduct of Games and sport with other literary items

L Lakhera IAS Commissioner IPR/ YAS has attended todays function as chief guest at the YMA hall and gave away prizes .The day has bee observed as YMA Days by the ZO desscendants.

Junta woos people in Chin state with development work

2010-06-13T23:28:00.001-07:00

June 14 : With the general elections in Burma round the corner, the Burmese military junta is going all out to woo the electorate. It is now increasingly getting involved in development work, which it has been ignoring for years. The regime is now constructing bridges, building drains and other public utility services in Hakha town, Chin state western Burma.

“The municipal body has constructed a bridge 20 feet long and 6 feet wide in Nazareth block in Hakha town in early June. The government spent Kyat 20 lakhs for the construction,” said an elder in the town.

Besides, the civic body is building roads and sewerage facilities and carrying out repairs on public utility facilities in the blocks of Kesik, Chin O Si, Pyitawta and Kyawpouh.

Though the public is happy with the work undertaken by the government, they believe that they are being wooed for votes for the forthcoming 2010 general elections.

“We cannot guarantee voting for the political parties backed by the regime though it is good the junta is into developmental works. However, we are afraid it can hinder our freedom later,” a local told Khonumthung News.

A person on condition of anonymity in Chin O Si block also said, “Though it is good for our block but we do not trust the junta. It will exploit us after such work.”

In connection with the development work some people believe that the Chin Tactical Commander Mr. Hung Ngai, who is a Buddhist and had contributed money to three churches in Chin state, is likely wooing people for votes.

The junta has already transformed the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) into a political party to contest the general election in Burma. – Khonumthung News.

http://www.khonumthung.org/news.php?readmore=221

PM’s party appoints Chinese businessman

2010-06-10T01:52:00.001-07:00

Burmese PM Thein Sein [right] sits with Wen Jiaboa (Reuters)

By KHIN HNIN HTET
Published: 10 June 2010

The party headed by Burma’s current prime minister, Thein Sein, has appointed a Chinese businessman with close ties to the ruling junta as an election candidate in the country’s northern Kachin state.
The man, known only as Yawmo, is from China’s southern Yunnan province and, according to a local in Kachin state’s Bhamo, is “business partners” with the Burmese government. He will run for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Momauk town, about 30 kilometres from the China border.
“He is Miao [ethnic Chinese minority group] from Yunnan province,” said the local. “He came and settled in Momauk in 1990 and later moved to Hpakant [a jade mining town] where his brothers-in-law already live.”
Election laws announced in February ban foreigners, and spouses of foreigners, from participating. This factor played a key role in forcing the party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was married to UK-born Michael Aris, to boycott the polls.
But numbers of influential Chinese businessmen close to the government are known to buy Burmese passports and ID cards. Burma has become heavily reliant on China as one of the junta’s principal economic allies; a visit to Naypyidaw by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao last week saw the two countries sign some 15 trade deals.
Burma’s economy has also undergone a significant revamp in recent months, with the government selling off swathes of previously state-owned industry to private businesses, many of whom have close ties to the Burmese junta. It is unclear to what extent Chinese businesses have benefitted from this, but analysts believe that Chinese investment in Burma, at both an entrepreneurial and state level, will continue to rise as Burma’s markets open up.
Many of Burma’s wealthy Chinese elites, including Yawmo, made their fortunes in the country’s lucrative jade mining industry, which is predominantly focused in the north, before moving to Mandalay in central Burma. Now Burma’s second city has an estimated Chinese population of up to 40 percent.
Another USDP candidate in Kachin state has been named as Htun Htun, a Burmese-born entrepreneur who also became rich through jade mining. The choice of candidates by the USDP, which is widely tipped to win what critics deride as a sham election, appears to validate suggestions that businessmen with close ties to the ruling junta will play key roles in the post-election government.
Moreover, the USDP has begun unofficially campaigning in several states and divisions around Burma while the 35 or so other registered parties must wait for official approval from the government before they can begin canvassing.
Ward officials in towns around Kachin and Chin state have reportedly been told by the USDP, which is believed to be an offshoot of the government-proxy organisation, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), to recruit at least 10 percent of voters as party members.
“They are persuading people that they will get privileges for businesses and travelling – they will be prioritised when buying train, buses and air tickets,” said the Kachin local. “They said that even if a party member breaks the law and gets into trouble, senior authorities can speak in his or her favour and soften [the punishment].”

Arakanese allege bias at UN Malaysia refugee office

2010-06-10T00:51:00.001-07:00

New Delhi (Mizzima) – More than 50 Arakanese held a protest outside the UN refugee organisation’s office in the Malaysian capital on Monday, alleging its discrimination against the Burmese ethnic group.

The demonstrators at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Kuala Lumpur called for the office to recognise the more than 10,000 Arakanese in Malaysia as legitimate refugees and supply aid to those in immigration detention camps. They also sought an Arakanese translator at the office.

A day after the protest, the UNHCR reported on its website’s news section that it had recently flown 38 ethnic Kachin Burmese refugees from Malaysia to Romania.

Meanwhile, the New Straits Times reported on Monday that Saturday night’s three-hour riot at an immigration detention camp in Ajil, in the eastern peninsula state of Terengganu was sparked by a fight between two groups of Vietnamese and Burmese detainees, immigration officials told the newspaper on Sunday.

But state police chief Shukri Dahlan reportedly said that almost 200 men from Vietnam and Burma “turned aggressive after what they claimed was mistreatment at the camp”, the paper reported, without details of the abuses.

The 1951 Refugee Convention is “the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of states”, according to the UN.

Article 1 of the convention says a refugee is a person who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country…”

Min Min Htun, one of the leaders of the protest outside the UNHCR offices, told Mizzima: “The UNHCR office in Malaysia has recognised other ethnic people from Burma as refugees but the Arakanese people are being discriminated against … that’s why we are … [here today].

“Moreover, the Arakanese people who have been in detention camps have been ignored by the UNHCR,” he said. “And no Arakanese translator was appointed in the UNHCR office, so we [also] have language barriers to deal with.”

The protesters submitted a letter to the office and UN staff promised to consider their demands “as soon as possible”.

Between 2004 and 2008, Arakanese people had been recognised as refugees but since that period their right to apply for refugee status had been denied, according to the demonstrators.

Just 1,700 of the 15,000 Arakanese in Malaysia have been registered as asylum-seekers (UN definition: a person who has left their country of origin, has applied for recognition as a refugee in another country, and is awaiting a decision on their application) by the UNHCR Malaysia office, and 250 have been resettled in safe third countries, the Arakan Refugee Relief Committee, based in Kuala Lumpur, said. Around 300 Arakanese are in detention camps around Malaysia.

Tun Win Nyunt, a Burmese human rights activist in Malaysia, also accused the UN of bias in dealing with the ethnic group.

“We don’t have even the right to apply for refugee status, so we asked the office [why],” he said. “Their answer is … because we have Burmese passports and we can go back to Burma … Their answer is very general [vague].”

A Chin Refugee Committee (Malaysia) spokesman said: “We [too] have noticed that Burmese and Arakanese people are not being recognised as refugees, but I don’t know the reason.”

Mizzima phoned UNHCR Malaysia but its spokeswoman Yante Ismail was unable to provide answers, citing a lack of detailed knowledge of the situation.

However, the UNHCR yesterday reported in its website’s news section that on May 31 and June 1 a group of 38 Burmese refugees, all ethnic Kachin, had been flown to Bucharest, Romania from Malaysia in a resettlement organised with the Romanian immigration department and Red Cross.

Romania had become one of the few countries in the world to accept refugees for resettlement, it said.

“The refugees, including eight children, flew to Bucharest from Malaysia on May 31 and June 1 under legislation adopted by Romania in December 2008,” the report said. “This provides for Romania to accept up to 40 refugees for resettlement each year.”

In the report, UNHCR officer in Romania Machiel Salomons said it had been forced to enhance its resettlement efforts, adding that “Romania’s contribution in this regard is both timely and very much appreciated.”

The Kachin group were staying at the Regional Centre for Accommodation and Asylum Procedures in Galati, a city in eastern Romania, run by the Romanian Immigration Office, the UN said.

“Romania also hosts a landmark Emergency Transit Centre, which was opened in the city of Timisoara in late 2008 to provide a temporary haven for refugees in urgent need of evacuation from their first asylum countries due to life-threatening conditions,” the report said. “More than 600 refugees have transited the centre.”

Of the 87,700 refugees or asylum-seekers registered with the UN in Malaysia, 81,200 are from Burma, comprising some 39,100 Chins, 18,800 Rohingya, 5,900 Burmese Muslims, 3,800 Mon, 3,600 Kachin, and the remaining are other ethnic minorities from Burma, according to the website of the UNHCR Malaysia.

Other refugees were from Sri Lanka, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Some 70 per cent of refugees or asylum-seekers were men, while 30 per cent were women, the website said. There were some 19,000 children aged less than 18.

Malaysia refused to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention. That refusal and the lack of legislation ratifying the convention of the kind adopted by Romania in 2008 means that the country arrests and jails refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless people. Illegal migrant workers have also been detained.

The junta’s confiscation of lands, recruitment of child soldiers, rape carried out by its army, forced labour, forced relocation, brutal repression of dissent and ethnic minority rights, unjust laws, inadequate infrastructure and abysmal health care are just some of the many reasons that thousands of Burmese people have fled to neighbouring or regional countries for asylum or just a livelihood.

Six soldiers kill Captain desert to Indo-Burma border

2010-05-24T22:12:00.001-07:00

Bandarban, Bangladesh: Six Burmese soldiers deserted the army and fled to the Indo-Burma border on May 17 at noon, after killing a Burmese Army officer following an enmity, said official sources.

Six Burmese soldiers carrying sophisticated arms and ammunition fled to the Indo-Burma border after killing Captain Hlet Aung Htun, who was the camp-in-charge of Mritwa outpost under the Paletwa Township, Chin State, Burma, the source said.

They are all from LIB 232 based in Akyab, the capital of Arakan State.

The soldiers who deserted are Corporal Than Aye, Lance Corporal Zaw Zaw Han, Lance Corporal Maung Maung Naing, Lance Corporal Moe Aung, San Win and Zaw Min Oo.

The soldiers killed the Captain Htet Aung Htun and fled because he harassed them in various ways.

Earlier, many soldiers had deserted the army due to harassment of common soldiers by officers.

Major Kyaw Moe Hein is the Deputy Commander of LIB 232 and Lt. Col Maung Maung Lwin is the Battalion Commander. There are nine army officers and 87 soldiers in the Mritwa outpost. It is near the Indian border.

Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh's volatile hills

2010-05-06T02:38:00.000-07:00

BAGHAICHHARI, May 6 - Bangladesh's southeastern hills are again simmering with ethnic tension, raising concerns that a fragile peace reached 13 years ago will collapse.
Hundreds of ethnic Chakma, a Buddhist tribal group indigenous to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, lost their homes in February when violence broke out between them and Muslim Bengali settlers, prompting a harsh army crackdown.
"With the assistance of the army, the settlers came here to attack us," said Joshna Chakma, who lost her house and says her village has been plagued by violence since Bengali settlers and an army post arrived around two years ago.
"Last year, there were 78 houses burned down by the settlers, helped by the army," said Joshna, who is a member of the local council in the remote Baghaichhari district.
"This year, it was the same: the Bengali settlers came into our village chanting slogans. We know that the chant is a signal, so we ran into the forests, and when we got back the houses were all burned down," she said.
The three-day bout of arson, violence and arrests left three dead and scores injured in the impoverished area, while Joshna said 410 houses and several pagodas were torched.
Two tribal people were killed when the army opened fire on villagers protesting the arson attacks. A Bengali settler from a nearby village was killed in clashes with tribals two days later.
It was the worst violence since a peace deal was signed in 1997, ending the tribal groups' slow-burning insurgency, which official figures say has claimed more than 2,500 lives since the early 1980s.
Villagers say the episode and how it was handled by the Bengali-dominated army, with bullets and mass arrests, is proof tribal people are second-class citizens in Bangladesh.
"The army tell us: if you have courage, live here, if you do not then run away, as for us to kill you is like a tree losing its leaves in the winter," said Ganandu Chakma, who is leader of a land committee in the area.
Joshna's account of settler-led, army-backed violence was supported by Pornomas Bhikkha, a Buddhist monk, who said he was forced to flee when his temple was attacked by 35 settlers with help from around 50 soldiers.
"I could see the settlers, they had sticks, knives and other weapons. The army was just behind them. I went out and they tried to attack me, so I ran away and they broke into the temple and burned it to the ground," he said.
The army had come back after the incident to cut down the teak trees on the grounds of the pagoda, he said.
Villagers say the settlers encroach on tribal land, including ancient burial grounds and fields which are periodically left fallow, and view the arson and army brutality as an attempt to drive the tribal community away for good.
"Where are our rights? Why does the state only respect the Bengali settlers not us?" asked Joshna, lowering her voice to point out the gun-toting army patrols that inspect the dusty, burned-out village on a daily basis.
Bangladesh's sprawling hills and their ethnic inhabitants have for decades been a source of tension in this majority-Muslim nation of 144 million, which is one of the most densely populated countries on earth.
Since the early 1980s, successive governments pursued policies of Bengali settlement in the area, moving poor, landless farmers like Mohammad Abu Hamid, 47, to the hill tracts and giving them five hectares (12.4 acres) of land to farm.
"This land was given to me by the government but the ethnics demand it, saying it was their forefathers' land. But I have documents, they have none, and I have farmed this land for decades," Hamid told AFP.
Such policies meant that by 1991 49.5 percent of the local population was "non-tribal", up from just 2.0 percent in 1947. No figures were given in the 2001 census, but tribal leaders say Bengalis are now likely the majority.
The hundreds of thousands of settlers have been "used by the Bangladesh state as political pawns," said Bhumitra Chakma, a tribal academic who teaches politics at England's Hull University.
The militarisation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Bengali settlement policy means "ethnic cleansing is going on and in a way which is rather indirect and gradual, but effective," he said.
The February violence was a textbook example of the type of army-backed settler-led violence that has for decades underpinned all land grabs in the region, and which goes ignored by central and local authorities, he said.
The key provisions of the 1997 peace deal were to resolve land disputes and dismantle major army camps, but both have faltered, and violence like that seen in February makes implementation harder, tribal leaders say.
The Awami League government, which does not support new settlements and negotiated the 1997 deal, condemned the February attacks and hinted anti-accord elements of the Islamist-allied opposition may be involved.
"There is no question of anything like ethnic cleansing or anyone driving the tribal people off the land -- that's not possible," said Abdus Sobhan Sikder, the most senior official at Bangladesh's home ministry.
"The tribes have been living there with the Bengalis for years and the government is trying to make the region more peaceful," he added.
The government provided rice and construction materials to help the victims of February's violence.
Local police chief, Mohammad Abu Kalam Siddiq, who was moved to his post shortly after the violence as part of a "routine rotation", said that his brief was to attempt to get the community to live in harmony.
"As far as land goes, it is a national problem and it is a problem for policymakers to solve," he said.
Other local officials such as Rangamati's deputy district administrator, Viswajit Bharttagharya, called the fires "an accident, an act of god, like an earthquake".
"Most of the victims are anyway living on land that should not be theirs," he said, adding that it was illegal to live on or own Forestry Administration land.
For Hull University's Bhumitra, who has carried out extensive field work in the hill tract area, the result of such mixed messages and government inaction will be a new insurgency.
"Many (young tribal people) vowed to take up arms again. It is highly likely that violence will become more intense in the coming years," he said. (By Cat Barton/ AFP)

Chin National Party granted political party status

2010-05-06T02:05:00.001-07:00

5 May 2010: The Chin National Party (CNP) has been allowed to contest the forthcoming elections as a political party by the Election Commission of Burma.

The New Light of Myanmar said, the Chin National Party (CNP), led by Mr. Zozam and educated youths has registered with the Election Commission on April 7 to contest the election. It has been political party status and permitted to function as a political party on May 3.

The Chin National Party will be in the election fray but though the Chin Progressive Party (CPP) has registered with the Election Commission, no permission has been given for it to fucntion as a political party for the 2010 general elections in Burma.

There are 28 parties that have applied for registration as political parties for the election, but till date only 14 parties have been granted political party status.

Election in Myanmar - All is Not Well

2010-04-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

by SYED ALI MUJTABA SYED April 04

With the announcement of the Political Parties Registration Bylaw, the scene is now set for the holding of the long-awaited 2010 elections in Myanmar. While some groups are registering parties, many existing opposition parties remain undecided.

The parties do not now have the leisure of debating the legality of the Constitution or the electoral laws since they have to register within 60 days of the announcement of the Political Parties Registration Bylaw. Decisions will need to be made quickly if they want to compete, while at the same time, the parties will need to focus on their election manifestos.

At least seven political groups are now preparing to register with the Election Commission. They include: 1. National Unity Party (NUP) formerly the Burmese Socialist Programme Party, 2. Democratic Party (DPM), 3.Union of Myanmar National Political Force, 4.88 Generation Students Union of Myanmar, 5.Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), backed by the SPDC.

The government-backed USDA and some of its allied parties have been allowed to campaign extensively even prior to the promulgation of the election laws, for over a year now. It is learnt a prominent Shan political leader, Shwe Ohn is also planning to contest the elections.

The Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) led by Dr Manam Tuja, former leader of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) is entering the electoral fray with the requisite 15 Central Committee members and a minimum of 500 party members in Kachin State. The party is now preparing to register itself within the 60 days as stipulated in the party registration law, and its leaders have promised to work for the progress and development of education, health and the social status of Kachin nationals.

The Democratic Party - Myanmar (DPM) headed by veteran politician U Thu Wai along with few alliance partners are gearing up to contest the forthcoming elections. The DPM has been working towards forming a political party since the end of last year to contest the elections but could not do so officially because electoral laws were not announced till recently.

A group of Chin politicians are now preparing to participate in the general elections. It maybe recalled in the 1990 elections, Chin State was divided into 13 constituencies and Chin National League for Democracy won four seats, Zomi National Congress won two seats, Mara People’s Party won one seat, National United Party won one seat and the National League of Democracy won four seats in Parliament. However, as part of a crack-down by the regime on politicians and parties, many parties including the Chin National League for Democracy-(CNLD), Zomi National Congress-(ZNC) and the Mara People’s Party-(MPP) were banned. Now Chin political activists want a new party to contest the election, which can include all politicians in the various townships in Chin State.

Similarly, several prominent Karen nationals are reportedly busy forming political parties to contest this year's general election, while others are preparing to stand individually. Three Karen political parties were formed at the time of the 1990 elections: the Karen State Nationals Organization (KSNO), the Union Karen League, and the Karen National Congress for Democracy. The KSNO won in one constituency while the National League for Democracy (NLD) won in 10 of the 14 constituencies in Karen State.

The ruling Junta have issued the white ID cards used for foreign nationals to Muslim communities in northern Arakan State to vote in the election However, its likely that Muslim communities in Maungdaw and Buthidaung may vote for their Muslim leaders and not junta associates. This is due to their dislike of the regime and the oppression and discrimination of Muslims in Myanmar.

However, Myanmar’s biggest Opposition party the National League for Democracy (NLD) has announced that it would not register for 2010 election because it’s of the opinion the election laws are unfair and unjust. This means Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s party; NLD will have no role in the military-led political process

The NLD is angered by the military junta’s restrictive election laws, which bar current and former prisoners from taking part. Many NLD members are among the 2,100 political detainees in Burma, the most famous of whom is Ms Suu Kyi. The party faces dissolution if it refuses to register. The NLD won the last election in 1990 by a landslide but was never allowed to rule.

Similarly, some of the Kachin, Chin and Karen nationals have taken the decision not to take part in the election. This will allow the ruling SPDC to disband them or take whatever necessary measures against them. However, if the SPDC miscalculates and the ethnic ceasefire groups fight back and the fighting intensifies, the SPDC may change its game plan and use the instability as a pretext to postpone elections indefinitely.

The election in Myanmar has been widely dismissed as unfair. This is because while electoral laws provide for a relatively ‘free’ vote on voting day with representatives of political parties present at the polling station, the extensive powers given to the Election Commission effectively nullifies that ‘freedom’.

In other words, the Election Commission will pre-screen political parties and candidates that will be allowed to run. Only those who are not deemed ‘dangerous’ to the SPDC will be allowed to proceed to the voting stage. At that point, the people will be ‘free’ to choose between SPDC candidates and candidates that are friendly to the regime.

Once again these measures expose the well-orchestrated strategies of the regime and its determination to shape the outcome of the elections. The political parties and the candidates that want to compete and represent their constituencies will have to come up with strategies that will not disqualify them prior to voting day.

The reluctance of the opposition parties and ethnic parties, to participate in the elections suggest it’s a sham electoral process orchestrated by an oppressive military regime that’s in power for nearly three decades.

Similarly it also reflects that Myanmar’s national reconciliation process leading to democratization of the country could not be achieved without the participation of all the ethnic groups and political parties in Myanmar. All this reflects that every thing is not well with the election in Myanmar.

---

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

Burmese refugee woman assaulted, sexually abused in New Delhi

2010-04-01T07:27:00.001-07:00

An ethnic Chin refugee from Burma Ms. Sui Tin Lem (32) with two children was badly assaulted and sexually abused by four local Indian men in New Delhi, capital of India.

The incident occurred on March 29 at 7 p.m. in Old Jangipuri, Uttam Nagar, west New Delhi, when she came back from her work place with two of her friends. She left them and was walking back home alone when four local youths grabbed her from the back and beat her with sticks until she was unconscious and then assaulted her sexually.

“She shouted for help but no one came,” said the victim’s cousin Hram Zing, who is married and has two children.

Sui Tin Lem, who belongs to the Chin tribe was lying in bed with serious injuries on her face and found it difficult to speak.

She was badly injured on her head and forehead and had cuts on her lips.

“She was unconscious after being beaten up and lost her way back home but around 4 am she got home with the help of some young people from our community, who found her on the street,” Hram Zing said quoting the victim.

Ms. Sui Tin Lem, who was divorced in Burma, arrived in New Delhi on February 2010 with two small children both boys, 13 and 10 years of age. She started working just four days ago at a local clothes factory as a cutter on a salary Rs. 2,500 per month.

However, they have decided not to complain and signed when local police came to their house on Tuesday fearing more trouble with local people despite help from the authorities, said the victim’s family member and a Chin community leader.

She was treated in Deen Dayal Upadhyay (D.D.U) government hospital.

“We have had a lot of such experiences in the past, but whenever we complain to the police we invite more problems rather than redressal,” said, Salai David, office in charge of Chin Refugees Committee (CRC) in New Delhi.

A Chin woman refugee Sui Tin Lem mother of two children was beaten and sexual abused by local Indian men in New Delhi, capital India on March 29 at 7 p.m.

He said, they had complained to the police not less than in six cases in the past and on one occasion police arrested the accused locals and the land lord, who sexually abused a refugee women, who rented his house. But the police released him the next day and then all refugees living in the place were forced by their landlords to move out of the area.

Plato, coordinator of refugee care, Burma Center Delhi (BCD) told KNG this is not the first time and Burmese refugees, especially women have faced worse assaults by local unidentified people.

“Last month at least four women faced the same abuse,” said Plato. “They informed the police but there was no action.”

“I would like to suggest that the police and Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC) should create awareness about the danger to all women and give them protection,” he added.

According to the CRC List, in New Delhi more than 5,000 Chin refugees are staying and out of them about 2,000 are recognized by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). There are also Kachins, Burmese, Arakanese refugees in small numbers.

Bangladesh abuses Rohingyas Mayanmar Muslims

2010-02-21T08:34:00.001-08:00

Bangladesh has a history of abusing minorities. It has mistreated and ostracized the Biharis–which it refers to “Stranded Pakistanis”. They have been living in camps for about forty years, without the ability to marry Bangladeshis or work in and around Dhaka. It obviously has abused all Non-Bengalis in the Chittagong Hill tracks. Bangladesh is not a monolith country with only Bengalis. There\ are Bawm, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khumi, Mro, Khyang, Chakma, Marma and Tripura and many other minorities.
It is ironic that Bangladesh which was formed on the alleged abuse of Bengalis has turned on its own in Bangaldesh and beyond. A country formed on Bengali nationalism was unable to bring in the Hindu Bengalis of West Bengal into the new nation. In 195 it became obvious that religion was more important than Bengali language and culture and the bonds of langauge and culture were not strong enough for the Indian Bengalis to join Bangladesh.
The Bengalis of Pakistan left Bangladesh seeking democracy, ”freedom” and Begali secularism–they found none of them in Bangladesh. Right after 1971, Mr. Sheik Mujib Ur Rehman declared himself president for life after banning all other political parties. The same Awami League which constantly harped on the theme of representative democracy and under-representation in the Pakistani government and institutions–created a Stalinist dictatorship in Bangaldesh.
Today the progeny of Mr. Rehman is in charge of Dkaka with widespread charges of electoral fraud and misuse of authority and corruption–the same charges they labeled on the Pakistanis in 1970.
Today’s Sonar Bangla lies tarnished, relations with Bharat (aka) are at an all time low and the creaky economy remains mired in the same malaise that afflicts the rest of South Asia. Bangladesh has not been able to move itself above the other countries of South Asia.
Bangladesh abuses the Rohingyas Muslims who escaped persecution in Myanmar.

Bangladesh-Chittagong Hill Tracts: There are eleven ethnic multi-lingual minorities in the greater CHTs. They are Bawm, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khumi, Mro, Khyang, Chakma, Marma and Tripura. They have been divided in to three groups. The Bawm, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khumi and Mro, Khyang are Kuki-Chin or Kuki group. The Tripura, Riang are Tripura group and the Chakma, Marma, Tonchangya, Chak are Arakanese group. These groups differ from each other in terms of languages. Customs, religious belief and patterns of social organization.The population of the hill people in the CHT are devided as many as 3groups who the numerically superior ones are Arakanese group and the second are theTripura group. The Kuki group are the third in numerical strength.

About a quarter-million Muslim refugees from Myanmar face beatings and forced repatriation to their homeland by authorities in Bangladesh, an international medical group said.
Ethnic Rohingyas, who are not recognised in their homeland, are packed into camps run by the United Nations in Bangladesh. Another 300,000 live illegally in the country and face attacks by the authorities and destruction of their homes, according to medical group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
The group says it has been treating the Rohingyas at makeshift camps in Kutupalong, southeastern Bangladesh, for trauma wounds as a result of beatings by police.
Some had been forced into a river and told to swim back to Myanmar.
“They claimed they’ve been living in Bangladesh for a number of years and their neighbours have turned on them,” said the head of MSF’s mission in Bangladesh, Paul Critchley.
Most Rohingya in Bangladesh have no documentation and struggle to survive, evading the authorities and working mostly as day labourers, servants or pedicab drivers. They have no rights to education or other government services.
“They cannot receive general food distribution,” Critchley said.
Every year, thousands of minority Muslim Rohingyas flee Myanmar in wooden boats, embarking on a hazardous journey to Thailand or Malaysia in search of a better life.
Some find work as illegal labourers, others are arrested, detained and “repatriated” to a military-ruled country that washed its hands of them decades ago.
Rohingyas say they are deprived of free movement, education and employment in their homeland. They are not recognised as an ethnic minority by Myanmar and say they suffer human rights abuses at the hands of government officials.
Many have sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh, living in mud huts covered in plastic sheets and tree branches, which provide poor shelter during monsoon rains that cause mudslides and expose them to waterborne diseases.
Bangladesh says there are about 28,000 registered Rohingya refugees in two U.N. camps near the southeastern resort of Cox’s Bazaar.
Since October last year, a makeshift camp in Kutupalong has grown by more than a quarter, or 6,000 people, with 2,000 of these arriving in January alone.
As the numbers swell, the cramped and unsanitary living conditions pose significant health risks, MSF said.
Three months earlier, Bangladeshi authorities demolished shelters and forcibly removed their inhabitants in an attempt to clear a space around the Kutupalong camp, MSF said.
“MSF witnessed first-hand violence against the unregistered Rohingya, and provided medical care for some of the consequences,” it said in a statement.
MSF said it continued to treat more Rohingyas in the months after for injuries inflicted when they were forcibly evicted.
“MSF has treated patients for beatings, for machete wounds, and for rape. This is continuing today,” it said.
Refugee groups say many impoverished Bangladeshis resent Rohingyas for the pressure they are putting on scarce local services and resources.
David Mathieson, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the Rohingyas had been victims of a “pattern of abuses” in Bangladesh for more than 30 years and the government had made it clear it wanted rid of them.
“It’s not as if these incidents came out of the blue. They’re part of a very long-running brutal process of making life so uncomfortable for the people in the camp that they’ll return to Burma,” he said, referring to Myanmar by its former name.
“They fled some absolutely horrific human rights violations in their own country. They’re justifiably too frightened to return.”have fled from Myanmar, saying they face often brutal treatment by the ruling military regime.
It is sad to see Bangladesh abuse fellow Muslims–the most vulnerable refugees in Asia.

Burma’s junta pulls the wool over the UN's eyes

2010-02-18T00:16:00.001-08:00

By - Zin Linn

Burma’s junta sentenced four women activists to two years imprisonment with hard labor on the same day U.N. special envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana arrived for a five-day visit to evaluate progress on human rights in the country.
The four women were arrested on 3rd October 2009, after being accused of offering Buddhist monks alms that included religious literature, said Nyan Win, spokesman for the opposition National League for Democracy headed by detained Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. “When passing the sentence, the court could not provide strong evidence against them as there is no (reliable) witness,” their lawyer Kyaw Ho said. The women used to hold prayer services at Rangoon's Shwedagon pagoda for release of Suu Kyi.
The current visit of U.N. envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana started a day after the regime jailed an American human rights activist Kyaw Zaw Lwin, to three years in prison on fraud and forgery charges, despite demands from the United States for his release. This will be the envoy's third visit to the country after a previous mission last year was postponed.
The U.N. envoy’s visit comes two days after pro-democracy leader Tin Oo was released following seven years in prison. Tin Oo, vice-president of the NLD was released from prison on 13 February 2010, having been in prison since 30 May 2003. As he visited NLD headquarters on 15 Feb, he said he was optimistic that "things can be resolved" through Mr Quintana's visit.
Former political prisoner who spent 19 years in junta’s jail and NLD’s central executive committee member Win Tin called on Mr Quintana to "be decisive and perform his duties in the strictest manner without falling prey to the lies of the government".
Present sorrowful affairs in Burma confirm that the military junta is determinedly marching along its anti-democracy course. The junta continues to detain and incarcerate approximately 2,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been confined to her residence for 14 of the last 20 years.
For instance, on 30 December 2009, 15 political promoters from three townships in Mandalay Division were given various prison sentences ranging from 2 years to 71 years by a court sitting inside the prison. The special branch of the police arrested the political activists from Myingyan, Nyaung Oo and Kyauk Padaung townships last September and October without attributing any reasons, held them incommunicado, and did not let them to meet their family members during their incarceration period. They have been given thoughtless imprisonments by an arbitrary court in jail without having a lawyer on 6 January.
Besides, a military-controlled township court in Burma has handed down a 20-year jail term to a freelance reporter Hla Hla Win, a young video journalist who worked with the Burma exile broadcaster "Democratic Voice of Burma" based in Norway, as the ruling junta continues its crackdown on the dissent. She was arrested in September after taking a video interview at a Buddhist monastery in Pakokku, a town in Magwe Division, the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres and the Burma Media Association said in a joint statement. For that she was given a seven-year prison sentence in October 2009. Burma ranks alongside nine other countries in the “worst of the worst” category in Freedom House’s ‘Freedom in the World 2010’ report, which includes Libya, Tibet, China, Eritrea, North Korea and Equatorial Guinea.
The 47-year-old musician Win Maw was convicted for “sending false news abroad”, even though it wasn’t false, and there wasn’t any evidence against him to match up with the elements of the charge.
On November 11, 2008, the Mingalar Taungnyunt Township Court sentenced, a leading Burmese musician Win Maw to 17 years in prison for sending news reports and video footage to the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma radio station during the protests in August and September 2007. Win Maw was arrested in a Rangoon teashop on November 27, 2007 and charged under article 5 (j) of the penal code with “threatening national security”. He was held in the notorious Insein prison during trial, and was transferred to a remote Katha prison, following this year’s trial. He won the 2009 Kenji Nagai Memorial Award for his commitment as a freelance journalist in Burma.
Another Reporter of the Norway-based opposition radio station Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Ngwe Soe Lin was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment on 28 January 2010 by the Rangoon Western District Court sitting inside Insein prison. Sources said Ngwe Soe Lin, 28, who lives in Rangoon's South Dagon Township, was charged under section 33(a) of the Electronic Act and section 13(1) of the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, receiving terms of 10 and 3 years imprisonment respectively.
Ngwe Soe Lin had been recently honored with the Rory Peck Award for his work in documenting orphan victims of Cyclone Nargis, which struck Burma in the first week of May 2008.
Moreover, two officials have been sentenced to death by a court in Burma for leaking information, official sources say, in a case reportedly involving secret ties between the ruling junta and North Korea. The men were arrested after details and photos about a trip to Pyongyang by the Burma regime's third-in-command, General Shwe Mann, were leaked to exiled media last year, the website of Thailand-based Irrawaddy News reported.
“Two officials received death sentence and another one was jailed for 15 years for leaking information. They were sentenced at the special court in Insein Prison on Thursday,” a source said. The two men sentenced to death were Win Naing Kyaw and Thura Kyaw, while the imprisoned third person was revealed just as Pyan Sein, with no further details of the case. Win Naing Kyaw is a former military officer and Thura Kyaw and Pyan Sein worked at the ministry of foreign affairs, Irrawaddy said.
Many leaders of the '88 Generation Students, who led a pro-democracy movement in 1988, remain imprisoned with sentences up to 65 years. Ethnic Shan political leader Hkun Htun Oo and prominent comedian Zarganar are still in prison despite their medical conditions.
Su Su Nway, a member of the National League for Democracy, has been in custody in the notorious Insein Jail since November 2007, following a peaceful demonstration. She received the 2006 Humphrey Freedom Award from the Canada-based group Rights and Democracy for her human rights activities. She was arrested in 2005 and 2007.
Many political prisoners are reportedly seriously ailing and receiving no regular healthcare. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been denied free access to conduct confidential prison visits since December 2005. Arrests and intimidation of political activists and journalists in Burma have been going on for two decades.
In 2009, there were three known political prisoner deaths. Salai Hla Moe, Saw Char Late and Tin Tin Htwe all died in prison due to lack of proper medical care. According to the AAPP’s documentation, at least 143 political prisoners have died in prison since 1988. But the list is incomplete, as the military authorities black out information from the prisons.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International warned Burma’s military regime in a major report released on 16 February 2010. The 58-page report - The Repression of ethnic minority activists in Myanmar - draws on accounts from more than 700 activists from the seven largest ethnic minorities, including the Rakhine, Shan, Kachin, and Chin, covering a two-year period from August 2007.
The military authorities have arrested, imprisoned, and in some cases tortured or even killed ethnic minority activists. Minority groups have also faced extensive surveillance, harassment and discrimination when trying to carry out their legitimate activities.
Amnesty International urged the government to lift restrictions on freedom of association, assembly, and religion in the run-up to the elections; to release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience; and to remove restrictions on independent media to cover the campaigning and election process.
Amnesty International called on Burma or Myanmar’s neighbors in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as China, Myanmar’s biggest international supporter, to push the government to ensure that the people of Myanmar will be able to freely express their opinions, gather peacefully, and participate openly in the political process.
“The government of Myanmar should use the elections as an opportunity to improve its human rights record, not as a spur to increase repression of dissenting voices, especially those from the ethnic minorities,” said Benjamin Zawacki, AI’s Burma (Myanmar) specialist.
But, the mood of the junta shows clearly that it has no plan to pay attention to international concerns, release political prisoners or commence a dialogue for reconciliation. According to a Burmese analyst, it is baseless to believe that the military dictators are going to build a democratic country by means of the 2008 constitution.
Zin Linn is a freelance journalist in exile. He is vice president of Burma Media Association, which is affiliated with the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers.

Mizoram police deport 33 Myanmarese nationals

2010-02-08T04:32:00.000-08:00

Aizawl: Mizoram police today deported 33 Myanmarese nationals and handed them over to their Myanmarese counterpart near the border river Tiau in Champhai district bordering Myanmar, police officials said.

The Myanmarese nationals were deported after a local court sentenced them to three days imprisonment and ordered them to be pushed back to Myanmar after the completion of their imprisonment.

The Myanmarese nationals were earlier arrested in Aizawl for staying in the state without valid permits.

Chin Refugee in Malaysia

2010-02-07T02:42:00.001-08:00

There are more than 27000 Chin refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia of which two third of them are not registered by UNHCR office and hiding in jungles and staying separately in urban areas in fear of authority detection and arrest. Since Malaysia is not UN signatory on Refugee Convention, all refugees are arrested as illegal immigrants. To get matter worse, male refugees are caned before they are deported to Thai border. Many women refugees in Malaysia who were arrested and deported to Thai border face serious abuse by human smuggler ring based at the border.

Although UNHCR is the only home refugees can approach for documentation, UNHCR does not register most asylum-seekers which left thousands of Chin asylum-seekers as undocumented aliens in Malaysia. For a person without any kind of document, it is very difficult to approach hospitals and clinics in time of illness. Unregistered refugee are illegal immigrant in Malaysia.

The recent announcement by the Home Ministry of Malaysia to issue Identification for refugee is a good news for the refugee, as they will recognized with refugee status. We anticipated that the difficult situation will changed for better.

Who are the Chin People?

The Chin are one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Myanmar (the Chin State) and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries' intervention, 80%-90% of the population are Christians. However, a sizable minority of the Chin adhere to their traditional tribal beliefs, as well as to Theravada Buddhism. A small group of individuals from Mizoram claimed that they are one of the lost tribes of Israel, that of Bnei Menashe tribe, some have since resettled in that country.

The Chin are one of the large ethnic minority groups in Myanmar. The Chin people are of Tibeto-Burman groups and they probably came to Myanmar, especially the Chindwin valley in the late 9-10 century A.D. Most Chin people moved westward and they probably settled in the present Chin State around 1300-1400 A.D

Why they leave the country?

Chin people are leaving their home-town on a daily basis, the population is decreasing year by year. Human Rights Watch documents a wide range of human rights abuses carried out by the Burmese army and government officials. The abuses include forced labor, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, religious repression and other restrictions on fundamental freedoms. Now most Chin people are suffering the effects of famine, which was brought by bamboo flowering in the state leading to multiplication of rats. Crops have been destroyed by rats, flies and bugs since late 2006.

People are also suffering not only from diseases. Due to the onset of famine, Chin people cannot purchase even mosquito nets, sometimes they are going without food all day long. Most of them are suffering from malaria as they sleep without mosquito nets at night. Some are suffering from gastric since they have been eating roots and leaves.

The teenagers cannot attend formal school as they have to work in other countries for their livelihood as refugee, most of time as illegal refugee. The local leader and pastors are telling Chin people not to leave. The population of Chin State has been decreasing annually, especially after 1989.

Chin people leave for Malaysia, India and other countries like USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark and Australia.

Documentary film: Refugee for sale in Malaysia, documentary by a local TV(in Chinese)

As a member of Asean countries; and neighbor of Myanmar; it is time we give our helping hands to the refugee from Burma, regardless of race and religion. At the same time we hope that political pressure from the world will forced Myanmar's Junta to give power back to civilian government elected by people. This will solved the refugee problem when the livelihood of the people are secured and life become stable.

Related articles

1. "brain food" - Series on the Chin refugee Children of Burma living in Malaysia ,http://www.redbubble.com/people/colinshafer/art/4403798-2-brain-food-series-on-the-chin-refugee-children-of-burma-living-in-malaysia
2. Chin Refugee Committee, http://crc.civiblog.org/blog
3. Chin Refugee Committee Malaysia, http://crcmalaysia.blogspot.com/
4. Without refuge: Chin refugees in India and Malaysia, http://www.fmreview.org/FMRpdfs/FMR30/36-37.pdf
5. http://www.khonumthung.com/kng-news/09-news/church-leaders-politicians-request-chin-people
6. The Chin People of Burma: Unsafe in Burma, Unprotected in India, http://www.sacw.net/article565.html

Poppy field in Chin State destroyed by Burmese police

2010-02-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

1 February 2010: A poppy field in Chin State was destroyed by the Burmese police, in the first week of January.

The poppy field was located 20 miles from Cikha sub-town in Tonzang township of Chin state. It was destroyed by the Burmese police based in Cikha sub-town, a local said.
"An acre of poppy field, 20 miles west of Cikha Town was totally destroyed by the police," said a local.
Poppy cultivation was earlier permitted by the Burmese military regime but the field was destroyed after all the seeds were taken away, added the local.
"As far as I know, all the poppy seeds were taken away in December last year, and the plants were cut down. There were no poppy to be destroyed when the police arrived," he added.
A local from Phaisat village in Tonzang District said “the poppy seed is taken out in December and January each year".
The regime is currently growing 2000 acres of poppy in Tedim and Tonzang district of Chin State. It has ordered many local people to shift to other places to facilitate extension of poppy fields.
The current market price of raw opium from Chin state is about Kyat ten lakh per kilogram.
Earlier, raw opium produced from these areas was bought by Chinese traders and Indian opium smugglers.
The regime had set up an opium refinery factory in November, 2009 in western Tamu, 20 miles from Tamu town in Sagaing Division in Burma.- Khonumthung News

Indian tourists to visit Burma on land route

2010-01-31T05:11:00.001-08:00

Guwahati (Mizzima) - A group of Indian tourists are geared to visit military-ruled Burma, through the border gates of the two countries in Manipur state, India on March, organisers of the package tour said on Thursday.

The Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance (IMFA), an NGO based in Manipur state’s capital Imphal, on Thursday told journalists at the Guwahati Press Club in Northeast India’s Assam state that they are arranging a package tour from the Northeast India to Burma’s ancient capital of Mandalay.

R.K.Shivachandra, President of the IMFA, said the tour is coming about after six years after the Burmese junta lifted travel restrictions from Manipur to Burma. The tour will begin from Moreh on the Indian border town, without having to go through the hassles of obtaining passports and visas from Kolkata.

Shivachandra said the IMFA is organising this trip in collaboration with Diamond Palace Tourism Company in Burma, and at least 70 people from Manipur and Nagaland states in Northeast India have already been booked for the package tour.

“Meities [Manipuris] have their own blood and brothers in Myanmar [Burma]. The same holds true for the Nagas. We appeal to the people of Assam to also join us as Tai Ahoms have very close links with the Shans,” Shivachandra said.

“Media persons can come too but they have to book themselves as tourists, else they will not be allowed to travel inside Myanmar [Burma]. In all we are expecting around 200 to 250 members to register for this trip”, he added.

It is rare for the Burmese junta to provide visas to foreign journalists, as information flow is on a leash.

The IMFA President said, the trip will begin from Imphal town and travel through Burma’s bordering town of Tamu, Kalewa and Monywa and finally to Mandalay city.

It is a seven day trip, at the cost of Rs 12,000 per head would include food, 3 Star hotel accommodation, cruises and entertainment.

“But if there are demands then from Mandalay we can arrange a day long trip to Psipaw (250 kms from Mandalay), the place of the Shans for our Assamese brothers," he added.

Shivachandra said this initial tour will be a sort of root-tracing trip, as there are several roots to be explored in Burma reaching right up to Yunnan in China.

"A strong friendship and trade and economic relations can be fostered between NE India and Myanmar and neighbouring countries like Thailand and Yunnan in China through people to people movement, understanding and collaboration. Opening of border tourism will pave the way for this understanding," he said.

IMFA has also appealed to the Manipur Government to allow Buddhist tourists from Burma and other Southeast Asian countries, wishing to go to Bodh Gaya in Bihar to come through Moreh-Imphal on the land route via Assam for their destination.

"We are not saying this but huge pressure is actually being applied by the Buddhists from the neighbouring countries to make this a reality. Countries like Myanmar are not exactly rich and it costs a religious tourist to Bodh Gaya around Rs 45,000 [Approximately USD 1,000] for air travel via Kolkata. The same will come down to Rs 15,000 through Imphal. The affordability will also increase the volume of tourists,' said the President.

IMFA has also appealed to allow patients from bordering Burma like Tamu town to undergo treatment in Imphal, which is at a distance of 100 kilometres, rather than moving to Mandalay around 500 kilometres away.

"This will not only be convenient but will also bolster friendship and ties," said Shivachandra.

The IMFA, a group formed in 2004 to boost relationship with Burma, has organised periodic tour packages to Burma for North Eastern Indian people. During 2004-2005, the IMFA organised about 15 tour packages to different tourist destinations in Burma including former capital Rangoon, ancient city of Mandalay and hill station Pyin Oo Lwin.

Chin women’s organization holds election on Indo-Myanmar border

2010-01-28T01:14:00.001-08:00

28 January : The Central Chin Women’s Organization (CCWO) in exile held its election on the Indo-Myanmar border area on 17 January.

The representatives, who participated in the elections, were from 12 out of 13 CCWO’s sub-offices while other representatives were from Chin political organizations and Chinland women’s organization. The election was successfully held, a press release said.

“In fact we have to first hold the conference of our organization, and then conduct elections according to the constitution of the organization. However, we conducted the conference since the organization was established for many reasons. Therefore, we decided to conduct elections against the constitution,” said Shalom, secretary of CCWO.

The main objectives of the organization are to empower women, to develop children’s education and to build a federal state in Burma.

“Now we are conducting computer classes to help women, and are providing financial assistance to children abroad. Besides, we conduct educational awareness for Chin women,” said the president of CCWO.
In the elections, Shalom was elected to the post of secretary and Mrs. Siang Chin to the post of President. Four other leaders were elected to other posts.

The Central Chin Women’s Organization (CCWO) was established in 1995 by women’s groups in India.

Khonumthung News.

Mizoram arrests Bru leader to sabotage talks and return of the Brus: Chidambaram urged to intervene

2010-01-24T06:44:00.001-08:00

New Delhi: The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today condemned the arrest of Mr R Laldangliana as an attempt of the State government of Mizoram to sabotage the dialogue with the Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum (MBDPF) and the return of the Brus from Tripura. Mr R Laldangliana, Vice President of MBDPF was arrested by the plain clothes Special Branch personnel of Mizoram Police led by Mr R. S. Liantluanga, Inspector at 3.00 pm today, 23 January 2010 at Kanhmun Police Station, Mamit District, Mizoram. Mr Laldangliana was returning along with Mr Elvis Chorkhy (President), Mr S Sawibunga, General Secretary and Mr Bruto Meska after holding talks with the State government on 22 January 2010.

In a letter to the Home Minister P Chidambaram, ACHR stated that the State government of Mizoram took this condemnable measure after the MBDPF in its letter dated 16 January 2010 clearly urged the State government of Mizoram to take measures for immediate return of the Brus who fled to Tripura in November 2009.

In the talks held on 22nd January 2010, the discussion focused on the return of the newly arrived displaced Brus. The MBDPF requested the State government of Mizoram to take measures to facilitate immediate return of the Brus by May 2010. However, Additional Home Secretary to the State government of Mizoram Mr T V Sambawl stated that the Centre had not allocated any funds for the return of the Brus who fled in November 2009. Further, the Deputy Commissioner of Mamit District, Mr Zothankhuma stated that it will take at least six months to prepare the Mizos of Mamit district whether they would allow the return of the Brus.

“All these years, the State government of Mizoram alleged that the Brus sheltered in Tripura do not want to return to Mizoram as the MBDPF leaders who are allegedly enjoying their lives in luxury in the camps do not want the return. However, when the MBDPF expressed in writing to return, the Mizoram government invited the MBPDF leaders under the pretext of holding talks and arrested Mr R Laldangliana to sabotage the entire dialogue and the return of the Brus to Mizoram.” Stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of the Asian Centre for Human Rights.

ACHR urged Home Minister Chidambaram to intervene with Mizoram government to release Mr R Laldangliana immediately without any conditions; and take immediate measures including release of Central government funds to ensure the return of the Brus who fled in November 2009 could return to their homes before the monsoon which will begin around June 2010.

via http://www.achrweb.org/press/2010/IND03-2010.html

Wa army training ‘thousands’ of civilians

2010-01-18T23:10:00.001-08:00

Jan 18, 2010 (DVB)–Military training is being given by a Burmese ceasefire group to thousands of civilians in Shan state amid tensions between the ceasefire group and the Burmese army, regional sources say.

The 30,000-strong United Wa State Army (UWSA), Burma’s largest ceasefire group, has been training civilians from various townships in the Wa region of Shan state since December last year, military analyst Aung Kyaw Zaw told DVB.

The programme, which includes the training of women in the use of small weapons, is due to end on 20 January.

The UWSA, which controls vast swathes of Shan territory, has a loyal following among ethnic Shan in the region. It also plays a leading role in Burma’s opium market, which is the second biggest in the world behind Afghanistan’s.

Tension has been high between the UWSA and the Burmese army following pressure from the government on ceasefire groups to transform into border guard forces and come under the direct control of Naypyidaw.

“The locals are being trained as militias,” Aung Kyaw Zaw said. “The training is being provided by UWSA brigades in different areas. Among 11 townships in Mong Maw district [in northern Shan state], Aike Chin township has the largest number of trainees with about 700 people.”

Demands made by the Wa army in response to the junta’s requests, such as the expansion of Wa territory and a pledge that only ethnic Wa soldiers will be in the border guard unit, have been rejected by the junta.

Following the rejection, the Wa refused a meeting between their leader, Bao Yuxaing, and government officials, citing health reasons.

Last month however the UWSA drew up a nine-point proposal in response to the government, in which they tabled the idea of having a senior army official act the role of deputy military commander in two Wa-controlled regions.

The majority of Burma’s 18 ceasefire groups have rejected the government’s demands, which appear to be an attempt to strengthen its support base prior to elections this year.

Observers have warned that clashes similar to the Kokang conflict in September last year could break out if the pressure on ceasefire groups, many of whom hold only tenuous truces with the government, does not abate.

YMA to Platinum Jubilee Celebration Planned on June 15

2010-01-11T02:16:00.001-08:00

Aizawl, Jan 11 : The Young Mizo Association (YMA) is to celebrate its Platinum Jubilee on June 15. The organisation was established as the Young Lushai Association (YLA) on June 15, 1935 and later renamed Young Mizo Association in 1947 to bring wider representation of all the major Zo tribes (viz, Lushai, Hmar, Lai, Mara) under one umbrella.

A decision to celebrate the anniversary was taken by the Central YMA Executive Committee meeting held on January 9 under the chairmanship of its president Pu Lalchungnunga.

The meeting authorised the Office Bearers to constitute a Celebration Committee which will draw up the programme and all the branches will be asked to celebrate the anniversary in a befitting manner, according to officials.

The meeting also discussed the programme for inauguration of the campaign theme for the year and the Office Bearers have been authorised to fix the date.

As already reported, the campaign theme selected for this year is, ‘Social Reform’.

Meanwhile, addressing the CEC meeting, Home Minister Pu R. Lalzirliana thanked the YMA for extending cooperation to the Government for fulfilment of its policies and programmes.

Pu Lalzirliana also underlined the need for effective action for social reforms in view of the fast moral degeneration among the people of Mizoram.

Burma’s alliance with Pyongyang, cause of worry for northeast India

2010-01-10T01:01:00.001-08:00

Guwahati (Mizzima) - It is surprising as to why India, one of the strongest global torch bearers of democracy, is so silent on Burma.

Even as pro-democracy forces are fighting a long battle against the despotic military junta in Burma, New Delhi’s silence on Naypyidaw’s growing friendly relationships with Pyongyang, has surprised a lot of Indians, especially in northeast India.

People in northeast India have started questioning as to why New Delhi is so quiet on Burmese military junta’s activities, and especially on its growing relationships with North Korea.

After Burma restored its diplomatic ties with North Korea in April 2007, the Burmese interest to develop nuclear technology has reportedly grown substantially. Even the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said during the ASEAN Summit that the military and nuclear cooperation between North Korea and Burma was a “cause of serious concern”.

“We don’t understand as to why India’s foreign policy is not clear on Burma,” Nagen Saikia, a teacher of political science in Guwahati, capital of Assam State said, adding that New Delhi should immediately make its stand clear on restoration of democracy in Burma, and force Naypyidaw to end its relationship with North Korea.

Concerns were serious in June 2009 when it was reported that a North Korean freighter destined for Burma was suspected of carrying military cargo in violation of UN Security Council’s sanctions. As the US Navy chased the freighter, it returned to North Korea, rather than risk inspections.

Like the people of northeast, several countries in the world want India, which also has an economic interest in Burma, to lend its democratic voice against the autocratic military junta to stop the killing and end its relationship with North Korea.

For people of the northeast, restoration of democracy in Burma is a must. Thousands of people had taken out a candle-light procession in 2007 in Mawphlang in Meghalaya State of India when the junta had unleashed a reign of terror on the Buddhist monks as they were demanding restoration of democracy in the Land of the Pagodas.

“India’s foreign policy on Burma is not to take an active part in the internal matters and is primarily to find a place for itself as China has practically taken over the country,” Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of The Imphal Free Press said, adding that New Delhi is keen to use the country as a trade link to the fast-growing ASEAN region.

Phanjoubam, a senior journalist at Imphal, the capital of Manipur, said India is now desperate to end Chinese supremacy in Burma.

When India’s Vice-President Hamid Ansari visited Burma in 2009, he underlined the importance of economic engagement between the two countries. He had also emphasized the need for increasing the interaction between northeast Indian states and Burma, which occupy a central place in India’s Look East Policy.

Unfortunately, there is no people-to-people contact between the northeastern states and Burma. People, except for the smugglers and insurgents, don’t get to interact with each other. Moreover, people in northeast always look at the military junta with a lot of antagonism and distrust.

But, for New Delhi, Burma is the gateway to ASEAN as it is the only ASEAN country which has land and maritime borders with India. India and the ASEAN signed a Free Trade Agreement in August 2009 which will cover 11 countries, including Myanmar/Burma, with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $2 trillion.

As New Delhi’s relationships with Burma is a necessity, now, people in the northeastern states of India are more worried that any form of cloud-shrouded nexus between Burma and North Korea should not have any serious impact in the region. India and Burma share 1,700 km-long border, which is open and porous. Four Indian states---Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share long international border running through a hostile terrain.

Saikia argued that New Delhi has been spending huge funds for development of modern roads, including the India-Burma-Thailand Trilateral Highway project and ports in Burma, but in return, people of India, and especially in the northeast, have got nothing.

India is funding $ (US) 20 million for establishment of wire manufacturing plant, $ (US) 64 million for three 230 KV transmission lines in Burma “But, in return, the military junta is giving us tensions and problems,” Saikia alleged.

New Delhi has always miserably failed in capturing Burma’s gas reserve as China and South Korean companies outsmarted India to shore up energy deals. Burma has reportedly one of the world’s biggest gas reserves estimated to be more than 90 trillion cubic feet. The dream project of India-Burma gas pipeline has also failed.

The northeastern states are already concerned over the trans-border movement of the separatist insurgent outfits. The ULFA, NSCN and the Meitei insurgent outfits use different areas under Sagaing Division of Burma that borders with India for safe sanctuary and training, and the State Peace and Development Council (regime in Burma) turns a blind eye to the concern. There are also reports that Burmese military officials collect huge amount of “protection tax” from the insurgent outfits for using the territory.

Drug smugglers, in collaboration with the Burmese security agencies, allegedly bring in large consignments of heroin, Amphetamine and Metamphitamine to the northeastern states, and the youth are falling prey to drugs.

“Several thousand Chins from Burma are illegally staying in Mizoram because of the atrocities of the military junta,” Rozika Changte, a Mizoram government official said, adding that New Delhi is not showing any interest to resolve the problem. Changte, who worked for a long time in the border town of Champhai in Mizoram, said many local Mizos are not happy with the Chin refugees staying in their state illegally.

Burma's military regime has been building underground tunnels in various parts of the country with assistance from North Korea and has been buying weapons from countries like Russia and China. Burma has recently signed a contract to buy 20 MIG-29 fighter planes from Russia. The contract is worth close to $570 million, according to media reports in Russia. It also continue to import various weapons and military equipments from China besides $2 billion arms import in the 1990s.

“Why does Burma need to buy arms? Whom will it fight? China or India? Or, is it trying to sell some of the small arms to the insurgent outfits of northeast” Kabya Jyoti Bora, a social activist working against the proliferation of small arms, said, adding that there are ceasefire agreements with most of armed ethnic groups such as Kachin, Shan and Wa, and the military junta does not need too many arms now.

Instead of instability across the India-Burma border and consequences of the lack of democracy and human rights in it neighbour, people in northeast India now want the general elections in Burma to be held democratically, to be free and inclusive, and the military junta should give up power which it had captured forcefully. Will New Delhi be able to play a pro-active role in Burma's 2010 election process to be free and fair? Or will selling weapons and providing arms to the Burmese junta make India's border safe and help stability on the border? These are questions that New Delhi will have to think over.

Authentic Reconciliation Demanded Before 2010 Burma Polls

2009-12-13T23:15:00.000-08:00

On International Human Rights Day this week, a number of civil society and advocacy groups from Burma and other parts of the world came together with consensus in demanding a genuine political reconciliation before the proposed general election the Southeast Asian country and to release all political prisoners including the pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
In a combined statement, over one hundred organizations based in different parts of the globe urged an inclusive dialogue with key pro-democracy stakeholders, ethnic nationalities and also a comprehensive review of the 2008 Constitution designed by the military rulers of Burma.
It also asked for immediate cessation of systematic human rights abuses and criminal hostilities against ethnic groups, political activists, journalists and civil society workers in the country. "We reaffirm the necessity for genuine political reconciliation before the 2010 elections and call on the international community to take immediate action to ensure viable democratic change occurs in Burma. The people of Burma are entitled to have a genuine choice and the international community has an obligation to ensure that the people get this choice," said the statement endorsed by influential organizations like Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), Burma Partnership, Burma Campaign UK, Burma Centre Delhi, Burma Lawyers Council, Burmese American Democratic Alliance, Ethnic Nationalities Council, Shwe Gas Movement, Women League of Chin-land etc.
Even though the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 21) said that the 'will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government', the military regime named State Peace Development Council continues to use coercive measures to hold onto power. "Activists, community leaders, journalists, and monks continue to be arrested and harassed for voicing independent thought.
Villages continue to be subjected to crimes against humanity under the regime's brutal policy of controlling ethnic communities. The regime continues to manipulate the political sphere in order to secure their victory in the 2010 elections - based on the 2008 Constitution that was crafted by the military regime in order to perpetuate impunity and prolong their hold on power," the statement added.
The groups were in apprehension that 'if the election is allowed to go ahead without these changes, it would only serve to institutionalize one-party rule, with military still holding the strings of power'. Even in the unlikely event that the elections are free and fair, they will not bring any real change to Burma because the fundamentally flawed Constitution that allocates vast powers to military, lacks any checks and balances, allows for the ongoing discrimination and persecution of ethnic nationalities, gender discrimination, and lacks protection of human rights, the statement asserted.
The statement, which was also supported by Actions Birmanie - Brussels, All Burma Democratic Lusei Women Organization, Arakan League for Democracy (Exile - India), Arakan Liberation Party, ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples, Austrian Burma Center, Burma Aktion Germany, Burma Campaign Australia, Burmese Women's Union, Chin Students and Youth Federation, Chin Women Organization, Danish Burma Committee, Dictator Watch, All Burma Federation of Student Unions, Foundation for Media Alternatives (Philippines), International Federation for Human Rights, Karen Women's Organization, Kuki Women Human Rights Organization, Naga National League for Democracy, People's Forum on Burma (Japan), Student Federation of Thailand etc concluded urging 'the international community to be united in their support for the will of the people of Burma, and act with firm resolve not to allow this sham election to proceed until national reconciliation is realized'.
Meanwhile on the same day, ignoring the warning from the military junta, the National League for Democracy organized a meeting at their main Rangoon office to celebrate the International Human Rights Day on December 10, stated in a release from the office of Burma Partnership Secretariat. Similarly, in Rangoon, the All Burma Monks' Alliance, 88 Generation Students, and All Burma Federation of Student Union released a statement urging the international community not to recognize the 2010 elections unless there has been sustainable political dialogue with democratic opposition and ethnic nationalities, and national reconciliation beforehand.

Rats cause hunger in Myanmar

2009-12-11T02:47:00.001-08:00

In Myanmar's Chin state as well as some surrounding areas, a heavy infiltration of rats is devastating crops. This man is trying to protect his field by beating the rats with a stick.

Myanmar (MNN/GFA) ― A booming bamboo crop is causing dire problems for people in an area of Myanmar. 50 families in a village in Myanmar's Chin state are facing a severe famine due to the rats eating their food. They are also being afflicted with unknown illnesses, and their children have been unable to attend school.
Gospel for Asia supported national missionary Zaw Dara is ministering to these families in every way that he can. He is also there to offer comfort, a listening ear and words of hope from the Scriptures to these people who are suffering so much.
The heart-wrenching crisis the people of this village and many others throughout Chin state are going through today has a name -- mautam. "Mau" is the Burmese word for bamboo and "tam" means famine. The rat infiltration was triggered by the blooming of a certain species of bamboo plant -- a phenomenon that takes place just once about every 50 years. The most recent blooming began in 2006.
Rats are drawn to the nutritious fruit created by the blooms, which increases their fertility and greatly multiplies their birthrate. They strip the bamboo plants of their fruit and seeds and plow their way through other crops as well, devouring grain, corn and rice. They even dig up and eat the seeds farmers planted in the ground.
The plague of rats has ravaged Myanmar's already impoverished Chin state for two years now, wiping out 75 to 80 percent of its crops, according to some estimates. Families are being forced to scavenge for food such as edible leaves, shoots, roots and tree bark, as their rice harvest and other staples are being devoured by rats.
According to a report published by the Chin Human Rights Organization, more than 54 people have reportedly died from health problems related to the food crisis.
"I have never seen such a huge number of rats," a Burmese farmer told Asia Times Online. "I had thought we could easily drive out the rats and protect our crops. But just before the rice was ready to be harvested, the rats came and ate all the rice in the fields in just one night. We lost all our rice."
Making matters worse, Myanmar's repressive military junta is denying access to international aid organizations who may want to bring in assistance, even in the face of such widespread suffering. But GFA supported national missionaries, who were already in the country before the rat plague hit, are committed to reaching out in whatever ways they can, offering hope and comfort to these people who are hurting so much.
GFA leaders request prayer for the Lord's intervention and protection upon the people in Chin, Myanmar, and that many will find lasting hope in the midst of their suffering.

Close the gap for Burmese refugees

2009-12-10T22:06:00.001-08:00

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Extract
Like Burma's other neighbors, India hosts a large and growing refugee population, the majority of whom are Chin ethnic minorities. India generally tolerates the presence of Burmese refugees, but does not afford them any legal protection, leaving them vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, and deportation. While India's lack of a legal regime for refugees is a major impediment to addressing the needs of Burmese refugees, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and international donors need to explore creative ways to work within the existing framework to provide assistance and increase protection for this population.
Policy Recommendations
The US government and other international leaders should support the Government of India's efforts to develop and approve domestic refugee law to confer legal status and protection to Burmese refugees, among others. The Government of India should also allow UNHCR to access Burmese refugee populations throughout the country.
UNHCR should work to refine its assistance programs in India with the active cooperation of Chin community-based organizations. International donors including the U.S., UK, EU, and Australia should provide additional assistance to UNHCR for these programs.
International donors should explore providing resources to Chin community-based organizations and Indian civil society groups to increase assistance to refugees in Delhi and the Northeast. This funding should include resources to support capacity building for Chin community based organizations.

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Chin: New Evidence of Humanitarian Crisis

2009-12-10T01:56:00.004-08:00

Fresh evidence of the need for humanitarian assistance and international action was presented during a recent fact-finding visit by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) to Chin and Kachin states in Burma.

Below is an article published by Inspire Magazine:

In some areas international funds for emergency food relief channelled through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are allegedly being provided as loans, instead of aid, to malnourished villagers, repayable at 200% interest.

Over the past two years Chin State has been devastated by a chronic food shortage caused by the flowering of bamboo, a natural phenomenon which occurs every 50 years. The bamboo flowering attracts plagues of rats, which then destroy rice fields, rice supplies and almost all means of survival for the local population. The Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO) estimates that at least 100,000 people in over 200 villages are severely affected.

The delegation led by Baroness Cox, Chief Executive of HART was told by representatives of the Chin Famine Emergency Relief Committee that in at least 17 villages in Paletwa Township, the worst affected part of Chin State, the local UNDP have distributed international funds in the form of loans, instead of providing food aid. Villagers claim they have been told they must repay twice the amount they are given, either in cash or in rice bags. CSW and HART have written to UNDP to request an urgent investigation.

The delegation, which also met with Kachin refugees, received evidence from Kachin and Chin states of religious persecution, forced labour and attempted ‘cultural genocide’

Benedict Rogers, CSW’s East Asia Team Leader, said: “The plight of the Chin people of Burma is desperate. They are facing severe poverty, drastically compounded by a chronic food shortage and lack of health care, as well as cultural genocide, religious persecution, rape and forced labour. It is time for the international community, including India, to act decisively to provide political and humanitarian support to the people of Burma, including the Chin.

“India, the world’s largest democracy, must stop siding with one of the world’s most oppressive regimes. The international community must intensify efforts to secure a transition to genuine federal democracy, in which equal rights for Burma’s ethnic nationalities are fully guaranteed.

“We renew our call for a universal arms embargo, a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity, and international humanitarian assistance to the ethnic nationalities who so desperately and urgently need aid to prevent further loss of life and suffering.”

Baroness Cox said: “Burma’s military regime must be called to account for gross human rights violations, and required to immediately release democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all 2,000-plus political prisoners. The junta’s crimes include a campaign of cultural genocide against the Chin people. As part of that campaign, the junta is deliberately denying access to health care and education in many parts of Chin State.

“The humanitarian crisis facing the Chin people is dire and requires urgent action. Furthermore, it is vital that India be persuaded to stop uncritically supporting the regime in Burma and instead provide support to the people of Burma.”

Alcohol consumption drops in Thantlang Township

2009-12-10T01:56:00.002-08:00

9 December 2009: In an interesting phenomenon consumption of alcohol in Thantlang Township, Chin state western Burma has come down making parents of youths happy.

It is learnt that the main reason could be because the license for making local wine is being handled by a Christian church group.

“The church group had purchased the license for making local wine for Kyat 26 lakh for 2009. Although there are some local wine makers in the townships, it is not able to increase wine production and induce drinkers. This has brought peace of mind for parents, especially at night. They can go to church and attend other festivals at night without being afraid of drunks,” said a church leader in Thantlang town.

The church group purchased the license two years ago and it was backed by the chairman of the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) and a local youth group.

“We are religiously supporting this mission to eradicate social evils and drinkers who flout the law. The church group had purchased the license for Kyat 41 lakhs last year. The move was supported by both chairmen of town and block level peace and development councils. Our youth group instituted checks at entry gate in some areas,” said a leader of a youth group in Thantlang town.

Alcohol sellers bring the items from Hakha to Thantlang town. They pay Kyat 2000 for a bottle of RUM, Kyat 1000 for a bottle of OB and then they sell it for Kyat 6000 for RUM, Kyat 5000 for OB in Thantlang township. – Khonumthung News.

Teenager helps Burmese refugees find their way

2009-12-10T01:56:00.000-08:00

Howard Community College student spoke at FIRN event

By Janene Holzberg

(Enlarge) Sui Ngun Hei, an 18-year-old freshman at Howard Community College, was recently recognized by FIRN for her efforts to assist fellow Burmese refugees. Here, Hei works with Bollman Bridge Elementary kindergartners, from left, Fili Na, Zing Hlei and Mercy Famduring a Dec. 1 session of Club Leap, an after-school tutoring program for non-native English speakers. (Staff photo by Nicole Martyn)

Nearly 400 Burmese refugees are carving out an existence in southern Howard County, thanks in part to an unlikely hero.

Though many of these immigrants arrived in Savage from their war-torn homeland in southeast Asia several years ago, the non-English speaking people among them still rely on quiet teenager Sui Ngun Hei.

Ngun Hei, who fled Burma in 2003, has taken it upon herself to act as a community liaison to those refugees who only speak the Chin dialect. She has accompanied them to doctor appointments, classes, trips to social services agencies and the like since she moved with her family to Savage two years ago.

“Sui is an incredible young person who is very humble about her role in these people’s lives,” said Catherine Hester of FIRN, a Columbia-based nonprofit organization that provides resources for the foreign born.

Hester invited the 18-year-old to speak about the Chin community at FIRN’s International Gala last month because of the teen’s unselfish commitment to assisting them.

“Many of these refugees are still in survival mode, struggling to make ends meet,” Hester said, adding they have an ongoing need for such basic items as clothing and furniture.

Since 2006, 225 Burmese refugees have resettled in Howard County, according to data from the International Rescue Committee’s Baltimore office. During the current fiscal year, which will end Sept. 30, 2010, the U.S. government proposes to resettle 80,000 refugees from all nations in states across the country, according to IRC statistics.

Having taught herself to speak English, Ngun Hei said she chose to take on the jobs of interpreter, translator and navigator simply because she is “happy to help.”

“Sui has really blossomed in her role as a community liaison and she is so self-motivated,” said Hester, who became a naturalized American citizen after her parents emigrated from Taiwan.

Not only does the teen assist the older generation, she works with 33 Chin children who belong to a FIRN reading group at Bollman Bridge Elementary School, in Jessup, called Club Leap. The club, which is run by Hester, works with 105 kids in 10 county schools.

Ngun Hei knows firsthand about the conditions in Burma, which is called Myanmar by the government and has been ruled by a military junta for many decades. She described how her father, a farmer, was taken to a non-government-run refugee camp in Malaysia in 1998 when she was only 7. Her mother was left to take care of their six children.

“Later, (the government) confiscated our land and we had no food for a year,” she recalled.

Fleeing a military coup in Burma, her family was reunited in Malaysia in 2003 and lived in the refugee camp for two years, sleeping in beds that often were wet as a result of leaks in their tiny apartment’s roof.

When they first arrived in America in 2005, Ngun Hei and her family lived in Baltimore County for two years. They then moved to Savage to join the other refugees already resettled there and to enroll in the county’s top-rated school system, she said.

“When we lived in the refugee camp, my five brothers and I had no formal schooling,” she lamented. But that, as it turned out, wasn’t an obstacle to her success.

Though she had only completed fifth grade in Burma, she was placed in ninth-grade classes in Baltimore County and excelled. After her family’s move to Howard County, Ngun Hei graduated with honors from Hammond High School in May and is currently a pre-med student at Howard Community College, in Columbia. She also works 20 hours a week at her two jobs.

“Sui is a model citizen, not just a model immigrant,” Hester said. “She has become a natural spokesperson and a strong leader.”

11,000 Myanmars In Malaysia Given Refugee Status By UNHCR

2009-12-03T04:18:00.001-08:00

BANGKOK, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- About 11,000 Myanmar refugees in Malaysia were recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2009, making them eligible for resettlement in third countries, according to The Irrawaddy online portal.

Of the total, the Chin ethnic group numbered about 5,000 people, Mon 1,800, followed by Kachin and Shan at about 1,000, and other ethnic groups, while the Arakan were not recognised this year.

Irrawaddy said it was the first time that the UNHCR had recognised such a large number of Myanmar refugees who had experienced difficulties earlier this year when Thailand launched a crackdown on illegal migrants from the country attempting to enter from the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Quoting the Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR), it said there were about 50,000 Chin currently living in Malaysia, and an estimated 20,000 had been granted UNHCR refugee status in Malaysia since 2001.

Nai Roi Mon, an official with the Mon Refugee Office (MRO) in Malaysia, told The Irrawaddy that it processed about 3,000 Mon for UNHCR refugee status.

According to the MRO, no Mon was granted refugee status in 2007, and only 500 were recognised in 2008. It estimated that there are 20,000 Mon living in Malaysia, many illegally.

"They have given favourable recognition to children under age 18, especially from families with many children but no husband. They also favour older men, over 50, as well.

"If you have a UNHCR card, if you are arrested, the UNHCR can help you during detention. This is an advantage for people who work here," Nai Roi Mon said.

Refugees from Myanmar recognised by the UNHCR may wait up to one year or longer for resettlement to third countries.

The Kuala Lumpur-based Burma Workers' Rights Protection Committee told The Irrawaddy that there were about 500,000 Myanmar migrants working in Malaysia, legally and illegally.

The portal said that at the end of October 2009, about 67,800 refugees and asylum seekers were registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia, of whom 62,000 were Myanmars.

"Many pay 18,000 Thai baht (US$500) or more to enter the country (Malaysia) illegally," it said.

2 Indian women arrested in Nepal with banned currency notes

2009-11-26T04:19:00.000-08:00

Kathmandu, Nov 26 Two Indian women from the northeast state of Mizoram have been arrested in Nepal for carrying banned Indian currency notes.

Lalring Heti, 41, and Lal Moonbami, 37, were arrested Monday at the airport in Bhadrapur in eastern Nepal while trying to catch a flight to Kathmandu, police said Wednesday.

The two women, both of whom are residents of Champai, a district nearly 200 km from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, were carrying Rs.195,000 in Indian currency notes of Rs.500 and Rs.1000 denomination, both of which are banned in Nepal.

The two women have been sent to Kathmandu to undergo investigation by the revenue investigation department, police said.

The arrest of the two Indian women comes less than 10 days after a British national, Venkatraman Jagannathan, was arrested at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for carrying Rs.50,000 in Indian 1,000-rupee currency notes.

Though lower denominations Indian currency notes are accepted in Nepal, the government banned the use of 1,000-rupee and 500-rupee notes more than a decade back following the Reserve Bank of India guidelines.

The step was taken to prevent the growing counterfeiting of Indian currency by organised criminal networks running through several countries as well as to prevent the sponsoring of terrorist activities. However, people in India and other countries still largely remain ignorant about the restrictions, resulting in trouble at Nepal airports.

In June, Indian national Anil Sharma faced a harrowing time after he was found to be carrying Rs.140,000 in 1,000-rupee notes. Carrying large sums in Indian currency, be it in the banned notes or even lesser denomination, is also a punishable offence in Nepal if the carrier is not an Indian or a Nepali national.

New FM radio station to be set up in Shan State

2009-11-25T02:19:00.001-08:00

One more new FM radio station will be set up soon in Shan State East’s Tachilek, opposite Thailand’s Maesai, according sources from the Thai-Burma border.

It is due to start broadcasting as of the beginning of coming year, 2010. However, there have been no further details of how it will be programmed, but it is expected to be similar to the existing Cherry FM program, the source said.

Cherry FM is based at Shan State capital, Taunggyi, started broadcasting in August, targeting to air over a 50 mile radius in every part of Shan State, southern, northern and eastern. It is owned by a private company, Zaygaba. Nevertheless it was jointly operated by the junta military.

The program focuses on entertainment and the junta’s own news features, according to a resident from Taunggyi.

The news section is read in Burmese language and the entertainment focuses on ethnic music especially Shan and Pa-O songs. By serving such entertainment, the program is gaining popularity among the people especially youths. “My sister and brother listen to it every day. We like to listen to the songs rather than the news sections,” he said.

Another one, a Pa-O youth shared the same view. “I just listen to the music, not the news because it is so boring,” he said.
A source who regularly listens to exile radio programs said, “The junta military is trying to counter the influence of the exile media.”

Observers have also said the junta is looking for new campaign strategy for the elections as the number of local FM radio stations is increasing.

The existing FM radio stations in Burma are: Rangoon City FM, Mandalay City FM, Pyinsawaddy FM in Arakan State (Rakhine), Padamya FM in Kachin State, Shwe FM in Pegu (Bago) division and Cherry FM in Shan State.

Shwe FM covers over the Pegu and Tenasserim divisions, and Karen and Mon state. The Cherry FM covers Shan state and Karenni state; Padamya FM across Magwe and Sagaing divisions, and Kachin state and Chin state. Another one Pyinsawaddy FM is covers Rakhine and Irrawaddy Division. However, these are all under the operation of the Ministry of Information.

Radio stations operating outside Burma include Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC and Voice of America (VOA). All the stations are also running weekly ethnic programs in their own mother tongues as well.

Mamit YMA criticises Churches on Bru aid

2009-11-21T23:59:00.001-08:00

Aizawl: Young Mizo Association (YMA) Mamit district headquarters criticised the the churches in Mizoram for donating more than Rs5 lakh to Bru families whose bamboo huts were gutted while giving nothing to the family of Zarzokima gunned down by the Bru militants.

In a press release issued at the Mizoram-Tripura border Mamit town yesterday, the YMA lauded the state government for giving Rs1lakh to the bereaved family as ex gratia.

"Brus have killed 17 Mizos including five of a family on November 24, 1958 and seven policemen in 1999 while no Bru has died in the hands of the Mizos as retaliatory acts to these murders," the YMA district headquarters said, adding that the world should know the patience of the Mizo community.

The press release also emphasised that Bru miscreants and militants have abducted a number of Mizo people for ransom and have robbed a plethora of vehicles without any communal retaliation from the Mizos.

The YMA reaction came in the wake of the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church and the Catholic Church donating to the State Level Relief Committee in aid of the victims of arson during the recent spurt of communal tension in the western belt of Mizoram.

The communal tension was triggered by the murder of Zarzokima (18) of Bungthuam village by suspected Bru militants on November 13.

Mizoram ethnic violence: paramilitary forces deployed

2009-11-16T23:20:00.000-08:00

Aizawl/Paramilitary forces were deployed as tension prevailed in southern Mizoram and northern Tripura Monday after over 300 houses of Reang tribals were set ablaze following the gunning down of a Mizo youth last week, officials here said.

'Central paramilitary Assam Rifles troopers, and Tripura and Mizoram armed police have been deployed in the trouble-torn southern Mizoram and northern Tripura to prevent any fresh hostility between Mizos and Reang tribals,' an official said.

Violent mobs have set fire to more than 300 houses of Reang tribals in 15 villages under Mamit and Kolashib districts in southern Mizoram since Saturday, displacing over 5,000 people.

The displaced tribals have taken shelter in adjacent southern Assam and Jampui in northern Tripura.

'The ethnic violence erupted after the militants shot dead an 18-year-old Mizo youth at Bungthuam village, near the Tripura border, in southern Mizoram on Friday,' said Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana

The youth was shot dead when he and his friends were collecting pig fodder in a forest area. The two gunmen fled the spot soon after the incident.

'It is a little difficult to prevent arson everywhere as the Reang tribal settlements are scattered in inaccessible areas and the miscreants went in groups on jungle roads to torch the villages,' Lalzirliana told reporters in Aizawl late Sunday.

Warning the troublemakers, Lalzirliana said those who disrupt peace would be firmly dealt with and brought to book.

Senior civil and police officials have been camping in the mixed populated Tripura villages adjacent to Mizoram since Saturday.

'Both Assam Rifles and Tripura police in northern Tripura are on alert to prevent any eventuality following the ethnic violence and exodus of Reang tribals from Mizoram,' north Tripura district magistrate Samarjit Bhowmik told IANS.

Mizoram police chief Lalrokhuma Pachuau has been maintaining close contact with his Tripura counterpart Pranay Sahay to tackle the situation jointly.

'Security has been tightened in the Mizo dominated areas in Jampui in north Tripura,' Bhomik added.

Over 35,000 Reang (locally called Bru) tribal refugees have been living in six north Tripura camps since 1997 after they fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos.

The tripartite meeting held in Aizawl Nov 4 between representatives of the central and Mizoram governments and tribal refugees failed to resolve the 12-year deadlock to repatriate 35,000 Reang migrants from Tripura to Mizoram.

'Both the centre and the Mizoram government rejected our major demands. We will not return to our homes unless our vital demands are fulfilled,' said Elvis Chorkhy, who led the seven-member refugee delegation at the meeting.

'We will boycott the repatriation process as both the Mizoram government and the centre are not sincere about conceding our long pending demands.'

A delegation of Mizoram officials was to visit the refugee camps Monday, but they did not turn up in view of the fresh ethnic trouble.

Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), a body of the Reang tribal refugees, has sent fax messages to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla urging them to stop the ethnic violence in Mizoram.

'The tribal refugees Sunday and Monday organised protest rallies in their six camps in north Tripura to protest the mob attacks and burning down of houses belonging to Reang tribals in Mizoram,' said Chorkhy, who is the president of MBDPF.

Obama demands release of Aung San Suu Kyi Source: Obama demands release of Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-11-16T03:12:00.001-08:00

Singapore, Nov.16 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has demanded the release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
In an unprecedented encounter with Burmese Prime Minister Lt. Gen Thein Sein here on Sunday, Obama also pushed for the release of other political prisoners held by the Burmese regime.
According to The Times, the message was delivered across the table to Sein during a meeting with the leaders of the ten countries that make up the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The White House spokesman Ben Rhodes said that the President used the meeting to urge Burma’s rulers to release the opposition leader and all other political prisoners.
Obama’s comments follow last week’s meeting between Suu Kyi and a group of US diplomats who were allowed to visit the pro-democracy leader despite her persistent and widely reviled house arrest that has locked her away from the world for 14 of the past 20 years.

Thousands displaced in ethnic violence in NE Indian state

2009-11-16T01:56:00.001-08:00

NEW DELHI, Nov. 15 -- Over 5,000 tribal people were displaced in the northeast Indian state of Mizoram after mobs set fire to their village following the death of a local youth, reported the Indo-Asian News Service on Sunday.
    The mobs have set ablaze the huts in seven villages inhabited by the Reang tribal people in southern Mizoram since Saturday, the report quoted officials in Aizawl, the state capital of Mizorum which borders Myanmar and Bangladesh, as saying.
    The ethnic violence erupted after members of a local militant group allegedly shot dead an 18-year-old boy Friday, when he and his friends were collecting pig fodder in a forest area, according to the report.
    Local government has warned that those who disrupt peace would be firmly dealt with and punished by law, said the report.

Refugees abroad; windows of survival for Chin people

2009-11-14T08:14:00.001-08:00

Mounting economic crisis is driving out people in Chin state, western Burma by the day, but refugees abroad continue to be windows of survival for Chin people.
Statistics show that there are many Chin people in Mizoram state, India from Chin state, western Burma.
Recently Mr. Hram Uk and his family fled to Mizoram in order to take refuge in New Delhi, India from Mang Kheng village, Falam township in Chin state.
Mr. Hram Uk said, “Usually the Burmese junta authorities call us to work for them and they collect some donation every month. We cannot afford it as we are very poor. We cannot send our children to school. Sometimes, patrolling military personnel demand our domestic animals. So we had to sell our properties and flee to India.”
He told Khonumthung News that there are many villagers, who wanted to go abroad. They are suffering from different kinds of problems in Burma, so they preferred to go to India as refugees.
Now most Chin people are suffering the effects of famine, which was brought by bamboo flowering in the state leading to multiplication of rats. Crops have been destroyed by rats, flies and bugs since late 2006.
Although some Chin people, who are abroad support them, they cannot cover all the villagers in the state. Therefore, they are doing whatever jobs they get to eke out a living. On the other hand, the military junta oppresses them making myriad demands.
A survey report states the population of Chin state was about 5 lakhs in the last two years, but now it has decreased to about 4 lakhs. Some NGOs’ statistics also show that there are about 2,000 Chin people in New Delhi, about 13,000 in Malaysia, United States and other European countries.

3 Myanmarese nationals held, 49 gm heroin seized in Mizoram

2009-11-12T05:02:00.001-08:00

Aizawl, Nov 12 (PTI) Three Myanmarese nationals, including a woman, were arrested and 49 gram heroin recovered from their possession here, police said.

The three were arrested during a raid conducted by Mizoram police and BSF at Thuampui locality here yesterday, SP Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said.

The arrested were booked under Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, he said, adding that the seized drug was estimated to be worth Rs 2.40 lakh in the domestic market.

India-Burma bi-annual military meet in Manipur

2009-11-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

Chennai – The 38^th India-Burma bi-annual liaison meeting is currently being held in Leimakhong in Manipur, with Major General S S Pawar, Chief of Staff 3 corps leading the Indian delegation and Brig Gen Tin Maung Ohnn heading the Burmese delegation.

A 15-member Burmese delegation, including Brig Gen La Aye and other army officials arrived in India on Monday, India’s Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing) said in a statement today.

The statement said matters relating to security of the border areas, particularly measures required to control insurgency in both countries were discussed in the meeting.

The movements of the insurgent groups also came up during the meeting and the delegates mulled over a plan of action to prevent them from indulging in illegal activities.

The insurgent groups on both sides of the border take undue advantage of the terrain to carry out undesirable activities, the statement said.

The meeting also discussed solutions to issues of concern to both the armies, based on the principle of mutual trust and respect.

It also emphasized the need for continuous synergy to meet other challenges that come in the way of cordial relationship between the two countries.

The Burmese delegation will be visiting the Eastern Command headquarters, in Kolkata and Bodh Gaya from November 11 to 13. The delegation is scheduled to return to Burma on November 14.

The People Nobody Wants

2009-11-03T05:35:00.001-08:00

Rohingya refugees in the Nayapara camp
(cc) Ruben Flamarique/Austcare/flickr

The plight of the Burmese Rohingya made headlines in early 2009 when Thai security forces were accused of pushing migrant boats out to sea. With ASEAN establishing a new human rights body and a US delegation visiting Burma, what chance is there for improvement for a stateless people? Simon Roughneen writes for ISN Security Watch.

By Simon Roughneen for ISN Security Watch

At its 15th summit held in Thailand two weeks ago, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations inaugurated the ASEAN Intergovernmental Human Rights Commission. It is the first time that the 10-state bloc has given institutional recognition to human rights.
What that means in practice is unclear. The body will merely promote human rights, and cannot sanction offenders or protect victims. With the Burmese junta nominating a representative to the 10-member commission, along with states such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, which have less-than-stellar records in this area, it seems the new body is there to pay lip service rather than act decisively.
Action for sure is needed. Malaysia does not recognize refugees as a category; communist Vietnam continues to make life hard for religious groups; and the majority of Burmese struggle under a military dictatorship.
Standing out for the wrong reasons
But of all the ethnic groups in the region perhaps one stands out as suffering the most. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in western Burma, living mainly in Rakhine State close to the border with Bangladesh. Muslims make up around 4 percent of the country's total population, and a majority of Burmese Muslims describe themselves as 'Rohingya.'
The Rohingya number about two million people. Approximately 800,000 remain in Burma and 200,000-400,000 in Bangladesh. An estimated half million live in the Middle East as migrant workers, with around 50,000 in Malaysia.
Some are thought to be descendants of migrants who came east from what is now India and Bangladesh during British colonial rule. Others believe the Rohingya descend from Arab traders who settled in Rakhine more than 1,000 years ago. It is impossible to say exactly who came from where and when, but the Burmese junta maintains that the Rohingya are not among the country's 135 recognized ethnic groups.
Since 1982, Rohingya have been denied citizenship. The Rohingya do not have an automatic right to education or work. They need permission to travel even a few miles between villages in Rakhine, much less move freely around Burma. The junta throws a cascade of red tape around marriage, requiring Rohingya to obtain a variety of authorizations before being issued a ‘marriage permit,’ which may take years.
It doesn't end there. Burma's army has targeted almost all of the ethnic groups living along the country's mountainous borderlands, from the Wa and Karen near Thailand, to the Shan on the Chinese frontier, to the Chin living close to India and Bangladesh. These groups have all established powerful militias that have carved out de facto autonomous zones for themselves, in many cases funded by smuggling and drug trafficking, and have to some extent, been able to protect their people from the army.
Defenceless and nowhere to go
However, the Rohingya have remained defenseless. Multiple accounts of torture, summary execution, arbitrary arrest and detention, rape, destruction of homes, forced relocation and eviction, confiscation of land and property and so on, have been given by refugees fleeing to Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia.
The situation for Rohingya gets worse, as the junta's resource wealth increases. Since the early 1990s, the number of battalions in western Burma has jumped from three to over 40. The soldiers often live off the land, expropriating property and implementing forced labor projects. The region is close to offshore oil and gas fields, which the junta needs to boost revenues and fund its military expansion. The junta has the biggest army in Southeast Asia, despite having only around one-fifth the population of Indonesia's estimated 250 million, by far the largest country in the region.
The most important new development is the Shwe gas field off the coast of western Rakhine. In December 2008, the Chinese energy company PetroChina signed a 30-year lease with the Burmese to buy natural gas piped from this field, in a consortium involving Indian, Thai, South Korean, Chinese and Burmese interests. Moreover, another pipeline will run from the coast, into western China, transporting crude oil from the Middle East. China wants that pipeline to avoid sending all its oil traffic from the Middle East and Africa through the Straits of Malacca, which it feels are vulnerable to pirates, and to US naval blockade, should relations between Washington and Beijing get testy.
Bangladesh hosts 28,000 Rohingya in two refugee camps supervised by the UN. An estimated 200,000 – 400,000 live outside camps without access to international protection or humanitarian assistance. Many Rohingya have been pushed back into Burma, only to return to Bangladesh.
In recent weeks, a maritime and land border dispute between Burma and Bangladesh has reopened. The Burmese junta is building a border fence between the two countries, and in a cruel twist, is coercing Rohingya into building the fence. According to Bangladeshi media, the junta is hoping to keep the Rohingya that have fled to Bangladesh from being pushed back by Dhaka.
K Mrat Kyaw, editor of Narinjara, a Bangladesh-based news service for Rohingya, told ISN Security Watch that “Bangladesh authorities would like to push back the Rohingya to Burma before the fence is completed.”
Precarious survival conditions in Bangladesh and the closure of other migration routes to the Middle East have resulted in Rohingya moving by boats toward Malaysia via Thailand. This has led to international outcry over reports that Thailand's ‘push-back’ policy involved security forces pushing boat loads of Rohingya into international waters. Indian and Indonesia naval vessels later found drifters and survivors who said they were sent to sea by Thai security officials.
Thailand believed the Rohingya to be economic migrants, rather than refugees, and many of the men were fined for illegal entry as they had no papers – which of course they could not get in the first place given that Burma does not grant them citizenship.
Malaysia is listed by the US State Department as one of the world's places of concern for human trafficking and refuses to sign any refugee conventions. However, it is the destination of choice for Rohingya fleeing Burma, and that Rohingya are willing to pay to be smuggled there says a lot.
As Shu Shi of Malaysian human rights group SUARAM put it to ISN Security Watch, “Basically, the Malaysian authorities treat all the refugees equally badly.”
Little hope
Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, which lobbies for the Rohingya, tells ISN Security Watch that she “hopes the Rohingya issue will be addressed” when a high-level US delegation visits Burma on 3 and 4 November as part of the new 'engagement' policy with the junta.
ASEAN passed the buck on this issue at its 14th summit in February 2009. With ASEAN chair Thailand in the spotlight over the ‘push-backs,’ the bloc delegated the Rohingya issue to the Bali Process, a regional forum on human trafficking and related issues. However, this grouping has not come up with any solutions so far.
The recent 15th ASEAN summit in Thailand made no mention of the Rohingya issue, which could return to the international spotlight soon. Seasonal winds make it easier to travel from Bangladesh and Burma to Thailand by boat from October onward. It is likely that more Rohingya will arrive on Thailand's shores in the coming months, given the border wrangles between Burma and Bangladesh. However, it is not clear whether neighboring states will be more welcoming of Rohingya this time around.
Despite ASEAN’s new human rights commission, member-states Thailand, Malaysia and Burma have not ratified the UN Refugee Convention nor enacted domestic refugee legislation. The same applies to Bangladesh, which is not an ASEAN member.
This means these host countries do not abide by the principle of non-refoulement – which stipulates that refugees cannot be sent back to their home country if it is clear that they face persecution.
Chris Lewa told ISN Security Watch, “I have little hope that the ASEAN human rights body will make any difference to the Rohingya, or to human rights in general in Southeast Asia – at least not for the foreseeable future.”

UN expert slams Burma impunity

2009-10-23T05:27:00.001-07:00

Oct 23, 2009 –Widespread government impunity in Burma has allowed the country’s “alarming” human rights situation to continue unabated, the United Nations special rapporteur for Burma said yesterday.

Little progress has been made to correct “a pattern of widespread and systematic violations” in the military-ruled country, according to Tomas Ojea Quintana, who was speaking at a press conference.

He also called for special attention to be paid to the plight of Muslim communities in Burma, who face frequent religious persecution.

Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are meeting in Thailand today for the start of the 15th ASEAN summit, where controversial elections in Burma scheduled for next year, are high on the agenda for discussion.

Burma’s presence in the bloc has become increasingly thorny since the imprisonment in August of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose detention was widely seen as a ploy by the government to keep her away from the elections.

An appeal drafted by ASEAN leaders that called for her release was scrapped earlier this week after critics accused it of breaching ASEAN’s non-interference policy. Quintana said that he had urged the Burmese junta on a number of occasions to ensure that the elections are fair and transparent.

“I told the Government that…freedom of speech, movement and association should be guaranteed in the country, and of course that all prisoners of conscience should be released before those elections,” he said.

He also called on the government to “take prompt measures to establish accountability and responsibility” with regard to human rights violations.

The issue of food security in Burma has made headlines in recent weeks, with a human rights group warning that Karen state in the east of the country was facing its worst food crisis in over a decade.

Quintana referred to the “starvation situation” in many regions of the country, including the Arakan, Chin, and Shan states. He also voiced concern over the “dire” social and economic conditions within the country.

Included in a four-point plan outlined by Quintana was the installation of an independent judiciary in Burma, and the reform of the military, “which needs to respect international humanitarian law in conflict areas, as well as the rights of civilians.”

Photo exhibition portrays horrors of Burmese refugees

2009-10-18T01:04:00.001-07:00

Images of refugees in deplorable living conditions, poignant facial expressions, distraught children form the gist of the work of five international photojournalists who documented the lives of Burmese refugees in Malaysia.

A rare exhibition titled ‘No Refuge: Burmese Refugees in Malaysia’ depicting the conditions of refugees was launched yesterday at The Annexe Gallery in Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market.
The exhibition will last until the Oct 25.

“The work of Greg Constantine (USA), Halim Berbar (France), Rahman Roslan (Malaysia), Simon Wheatley (UK) and Zhang Wubin (Singapore) reveals the underside of the most marginalised people in Malaysia,” said Klang member of parliament, Charles Santiago.
In his speech when opening the event, he said that a report had been published by the US Department of State on trafficking activities in Malaysia, where refugees were sold at the Thai and Malaysia’s border.
“In the report, refugees who are now residing in the US, and who once lived in Malaysia, were interviewed and they have one thing in common. All of them have been sold,” he told a crowd of 60 people.
He also accused the government of being in denial on the issues of human trafficking.
Kicking them when down
However, Santiago (right) credited the government for taking some action to arrest traffickers in the last couple of months.
“But this will not solve the problem because trafficking is a systemic collaboration of government officers and syndicates, therefore we need to fix this at the level of structure and enforcement,” he adds.
Arts programme director of The Annexe, Pang Khee Teik, in commenting on the trafficking and the harsh living conditions, said that this was akin to ‘kicking them when they are down’.
“This is what Malaysias are doing to the refugees,” he said.
The audience were also treated to a performance by two Burmese musicians.
Thiam Pui, a refugee from the Chin state sang about how much she misses her country and she was accompanied by Sang Kawn, another refugee from the Mon state who played the guitar.
No protection for refugees

Santiago also launched a nationwide petition campaign by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) entitled “Sign the Refugee Convention and Stop the Arrest, Detention and Deportation of Refugees”.
Suaram is expecting to collect at least 10,000 signatures from Malaysians by May 21, 2010 to be submitted to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
This is a move to ensure that refugees are recognised and given better access to livelihood and to encourage cooperation between the government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR).
Unfortunately, Malaysia is one of the few remaining countries that has ratified neither the 1951 Refugee Convention nor the 1967 Protocol and it has also failed to enact any legislation for the protection of refugees.
Refugees, adults and children alike, are instead treated as ‘illegal immigrants’ and are subjected to harsh penalties, detention and deportation under the Immigration Act.
They risk fines of up to RM10,000 or jail terms of up to five years or both. They are also liable to be whipped up to six strokes of the cane.

Malaysiakini by Christine Chan

Forced Labor Used for Military Outpost Construction

2009-10-12T01:25:00.001-07:00

Pelatwa: The Burmese army has been using local tribal people from the western Burmese border area as forced labor in the construction of army outposts along the Burma-Bangladesh border since the beginning of October, said one villager from the border.

"Our community in the area had been forced by local army officials to work on construction at Latpenwa army outpost, which is being renovated by the army authority as a defensive position," he said.

The Latpenwa outpost is a key strategic outpost for the Burmese army and it is located in Paletwa Township in Chin State on the western border near Bangladesh. The Burmese army has been reconstructing the outposts so it could serve major defensive operations on the western Border.

According to a local source, many Khami villages are located in the area surrounding Latpenwa outpost and the people there are the main targets for use as forced labor by the military authority.

"Villagers from several villages in the area are summoned by army officials every day from 7 am to 4 pm to work on the construction site, and we have to go there with our own food. The army officials have not assisted with payment of wages for the construction," he said.

Khami people from several villages, including Thae Daung, Fyut Chaung Wa, Bu Chaun Phyr, Htut Pin, Chin Letwa, and Shin Ma Tean, have had to work daily at the army outpost.

"Our villagers have been forced by army officials to work at many construction work sites, like bamboo and wood cutting, digging earth for bunkers, constructing barricades, and carrying materials like cement, iron, and tin, for the outpost," he added.

One column from Light Infantry Battalion 538 based in Rathidaung is now posted at the Latpenwa outpost, the army source said.

Many villagers in the area have not been able to attend to their own livelihoods because they've been forced to work on the outpost, and it is currently a crucial period for farmers because the mountain paddy is ready to be harvested.

According to local source, the Burmese army authority has been renovating many army outposts located along the western border, including Kha Mon, Pri Zaw, Toke Pi, Wanet Ron, Kin Tha Lin, Mrit Waa, Kha Mong Wa, and Latpenwa.

Many new temporary outposts are also being constructed along the border and many people are being forced by authorities to work on the construction without pay.

Local sources also say that Burmese army authorities are using locals as porters to transport army equipment from one place to another along the border after a number of army battalions have been deployed to the area.

7 Myanmarese release from jail

2009-10-02T03:49:00.001-07:00

Imphal, Oct 1: State government released seven Myanmarese Nationals yesteday after they were convicted and imprisioned at Sajiwa Jail for one year for illegal intrusion into Indian territory.

According to the official source, seven Myanmarese nationals identified as Aung Tin Win 28, Md Amin 19, Md Majibur Rahaman 20, Swantinthang 39, Tuankinthang 39, Md Abdul Gabar 32 and Nursalinthang 35, who was apprehended by the Assam Rilfes personnel from Moreh areas before one years back after they were found loitering around the Indian border without proper documents and late handed over to the Tengnouple police.

Later the seven Myanmar nationals were convicted imprisionment by the court for their unauthrised movement in Indian territory.

On the other hand the seven Myanmarese nationals with the completion of their one imprisionment at Sajiwa Jail yesterday, they have released from the Sajiwa and jail and handed over to the Myanmar authorities at Moreh yesterday afternoon the official source added.

Myanmar's Chin people persecuted

2009-09-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

By DENIS D. GRAY

BANGKOK,

Thailand (AP) — The Chin people, Christians living in the remote mountains of northwestern Myanmar, are subject to forced labor, torture, extrajudicial killings and religious persecution by the country's military regime, a human rights group said Wednesday.

The New York-based Human Right Watch said as many as 100,000 people have fled the Chin homeland into neighboring India, where they face abuse and the risk of being forced back into Myanmar."The Chin are unsafe in Burma and unprotected in India," a report from the group said. The report said the regime in Myanmar, also known as Burma, continues to commit atrocities against its other ethnic minorities.Myanmar's ruling junta has been widely accused of widespread human rights violations in ethnic minority areas where anti-government insurgent groups are fighting for autonomy.

The government has repeatedly denied such charges. An e-mailed request for comment on the new report was not immediately answered.

Photo- CHRO

Chief Secretary Vanhela Pachau, a top official for India's Mizoram state, said he had not seen the report and could not comment."(The police) hit me in my mouth and broke my front teeth. They split my head open and I was bleeding badly. They also shocked me with electricity," the group quoted a Chin man accused of supporting the insurgents, who are small in number and largely ineffective.He was one of some 140 Chin people interviewed by the human rights group from 2005 to 2008. The group said the names of those interviewed were withheld to prevent reprisals.

A number of people spoke of being forced out of their villages to serve as unpaid porters for the army or to build roads, sentry posts and army barracks.Amy Alexander, a consultant for Human Rights Watch, told a news conference that insurgents of the Chin National Front also committed abuses such as extorting money from villagers to fund their operations.Alexander said Myanmar's government, attempting to suppress minority cultures, was destroying churches, desecrating crosses, interfering with worship services by forcing Christians to work on Sundays and promoting Buddhism through threats and inducements. Some 90 percent of the Chin are Christians, most of them adherents to the American Baptist Church.Ethnic insurgencies erupted in Myanmar in the late 1940s when the country gained independence from Great Britain.

Former junta member Gen. Khin Nyunt negotiated cease-fires with 17 of the insurgent groups before he was ousted by rival generals in 2004.Among rebels still fighting are groups from the Karen, Karenni, Shan and Chin minorities.At least half a million minority people have been internally displaced in eastern Myanmar as a result of the regime's brutal military campaigns while refugees continue to flee to the Thai-Myanmar border. More than 145,000 refugees receive international humanitarian assistance in Thai border camps.Alexander said that some 30,000 Chin have also sought refuge in Malaysia while about 500 were living in Thai border camps.