Army recruits youths by providing money and food to families

Paletwa: Tribal youths are being recruited by the Burmese Army on the Indo-Burma border from the southern part of Chin State by providing opportunities including food to the youth’s families, said a local source.

The army stationed in border areas has been recruiting many tribal youths including Khami, Mro and Chin to serve in the Burmese Army by providing opportunities including food to the youth’s family members, the source said.

If a youth agrees to join the army, it gives 100,000 kyats cash to him as well as food supplies like rice, oil, and salt, chilly to the family of the youth, he said.

The recruitment is being done by some battalions including LB 35, LIB 289 and LIB 550 on the Indo-Burma border.

Three Khami youths from Prin Dai village in Paletwa Township joined the LB 34 last week after they were given such opportunities by the army. They were identified as Pro Aung, (21) son of late Kho Ret, Tun Lin (19) son of Owe Lan and Rarmu (20) son of U Kri Daung.

Village residents said that families have been facing famine since the beginning of the rainy season. So they are pushing the youths to join the army in order to get food.

Even though the army authorities are providing opportunities to the youths, many tribal youths are unwilling to join the army.

“We have bitter experiences regarding the Burmese Army. The army has used our people as porters, tortured and sometimes soldiers have raped women in the area for decades. Therefore many youths refused to join the army,” an elder said.

According to source close to the army, the number of youths joining the army has fallen in recent years. So the army authorities are trying to lure and recruit Burmese youths by providing many opportunities.

At present, some tribal families on the Indo-Burma border are facing a famine situation and there is shortage of rice. So the army authorities are taking advantage to recruit youths by supplying food to their family members.

Free Burma Rangers — Reports- Evidence of Burma Army extortion demands on villagers facing food-Chin State

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US Lawmakers Renew Import Ban on Burma for one More Year

A ban on imports from Burma has been renewed for one year by the US House of Representatives.

The ban affects a range of products but especially Burmese gemstones via third countries, said the Voice of America radio station.
The house action seeks to renew the import bans contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act, which was due to expire on July 26.
It comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that the United States would consider resuming investment and other economic links if the Burmese regime freed Aung San Suu Kyi.

The sponsor of the renewed import ban, New York Democrat Joseph Crowley, said it was justified because the “junta has also rejected recent diplomatic outreach” on the Suu Kyi issue.
Republican Kevin Brady of Texas was quoted by VOA as saying that although he regarded sanctions with “great skepticism,” they are “crafted to maximize their ability to effect change.”
The renewal was backed by the American Apparel & Footwear Association.
Under the act, however, President Barack Obama has the power to lift the trade sanctions if he considers that steps have been taken by the Burmese junta to improve human rights.
Aid for Burmese Nuclear Reactor Complies with Rules, says Moscow
Russia’s state-controlled Novosti news agency has declared that Moscow’s cooperation with Burma on commercial nuclear development does not contravene international treaties on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
The agency this week quoted a Russian foreign ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko, on the issue at the same time the US expressed concerns about a possible liaison between the Burmese and North Korean regimes.
Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, signed an agreement in 2007 to help construct a nuclear research center in Burma, and Moscow will stand by this agreement, Nesterenko said.
The deal, which is supposed to cost tens of millions of dollars, envisages developing a reactor with an energy capacity of 10 megawatts.
However, Novosti also noted that there had been virtually no practical development of the agreement since it was signed.
Burma Says it Wants More Trade with India and Bangladesh
Burma, Bangladesh and India have met to discuss trade expansion between the three countries.
Kyaw Nyunt Lwin, the first secretary of the Burmese mission in New Delhi, represented Burma at the talks this week in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, according to the Indian newspaper The Telegraph.
The Burmese envoy called for increased trade with India to include more Burmese imports of machinery, cement, fertilizer and consumer goods. In return, he said, Burma wanted to export more teak, fish and pulses to India.
Little was reported on the details of any improvement in Burma-Bangladesh trade.
India is one of Burma’s biggest customers for pulse crops.
New Delhi state funding is financing a US $120 million transport and port improvement inside Burma, connecting Mizoram with the Burmese port of Sittwe via the River Kaladan.
India is Burma’s fourth biggest trading partner, but still lags far behind Thailand and China. However, it is catching up with Singapore in third place.
Nepal Seeks to Improve Ties with Burma
Nepal is planning to reestablish direct air links with Burma after a 20-year break.
The plan comes as a result of the two countries’ membership in BIMSTEC—the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
Nepal and Burma are among seven member countries of the organization, which also includes India and Thailand.
Landlocked Nepal severed previous air links with Burma in 1988 and there have been virtually no economic ties between the two countries since.

State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2009 - Burma (Myanmar)

Following the anti-government protests of September 2007, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets daily, and the following a brutal government crackdown, the security situation within Burma has remained tense. The US-based Freedom House, in its 2008 global report on Freedom in the World, has ranked Burma among the 'worst of the worst' countries, 'where civilians enjoy negligible political and civil liberties'.
The military regime held a constitutional referendum in May 2008, just weeks after Cyclone Nargis had struck, despite pleas from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to postpone it and focus on humanitarian relief. The referendum – part of a 'roadmap' to democracy – ensures a pivotal role for the military, with enough seats in parliament to block any further reform without its agreement.
Minorities were widely excluded from this process. The draft constitution, written by a committee hand-picked by the government and boycotted by the National League for Democracy and ethnic parties, was only available in Burmese and English, and had not been translated into any of the 135 other languages spoken by an estimated 40 per cent of the Burmese population. According to government sources there was a 92.5 per cent approval rate of the constitutional referendum.
In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, the government failed to provide relief to hundreds of thousands of victims and blocked international aid efforts for weeks. One month after the cyclone struck, UN estimates placed the number of dead at 78,000, with 56,000 still missing; 2 million people were still in need of relief. There were reports that minorities were being systematically excluded from assistance in the hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta.
The Karen, who account for nearly 7 million of Burma's 57 million people, have their own distinctive culture and language and count Buddhists, Christians and animists among them. Throughout the year an increasing number of Karen refugees crossed over the border to northern Thailand from Karen State, where South East Asia's longest separatist conflict is being waged between Burmese troops and the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU).
The current phase of the military campaign appears to be the most intense. In 2008 Amnesty International classified attacks by Burmese troops overtly targeting civilians as crimes against humanity. According to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium, around 66,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to the armed conflict and human rights abuses.
Education in state schools in Karen areas, even where they are the majority of the population, is exclusively provided in the Burmese language, and government offices provide no access to services in Karen languages. Government jobs in Karen areas appear to be increasingly the reserved domain of ethnic Burman.
The assassination of the general secretary of the KNU, Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, on 14 February 2008, was a major setback for their cause. Observers suspected that the assassins were either rival Karens or were dispatched by the Burmese government.
The Chin, 90 per cent of whom are Christian, account for about 1 per cent of Burma's population and live in the mountainous region near the Indian border. The Chin National Front armed group is engaged in a long-running battle with the military junta.
The UN reports that 70 per cent of the people in Chin State live below the poverty line and 40 per cent lack access to adequate food sources. Since 2006, the region has been plagued by a severe food crisis, which is compounded by the military regime's repressive economic policies. According to a Chin Human Rights Organization 2008 report, the use of unpaid civilian labour is widespread throughout Chin State and farmers are forcibly ordered by the regime to substitute their staple crops for cash crops. The organization also documents the arbitrary collection of 'donations' and taxes by the Burmese authorities from Chin households in major towns.
Human Rights Watch reports ongoing religious repression against the Chin in mainly Buddhist Burma. The Tatmadaw (Burmese military) has burnt down churches, demolished crosses and prayer rooms to make way for military buildings and infrastructure. Chin also describe torture and beatings by Burmese soldiers, arbitrary arrest and being forced to work as army porters.
Cheery Zahau, of the Women's League of Chinland, says Burma's military government continues to use rape as a weapon to subdue ethnic minorities.
There is a dire lack of school facilities in many villages in Chin State, forcing Chin children to walk to distant towns and villages or pay expensive boarding fees to attend classes. The quality of education is extremely poor and classes are taught in Burmese. The authorities continue to close down Chin private schools.
The construction of two dams along the Salween River is threatening the existence and livelihood of the Akha, Karen, Karenni, Lahu, Lisu, Mon, Padaung, Palaung, Pa-O, Shan and Wa minorities who live along the river. In 2008 the NGO Society for Threatened Peoples reported that the Ta Sang Dam in Shan State has already caused the forced relocation of about 300,000 people (most of whom are Shan) and the military have expelled around 15,000 people during the construction of the Hut Gyi Dam in Karen State.
The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority living in northern Rakhine State, western Burma, are unable to qualify for citizenship and their freedom of movement is severely restricted. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma, in an April 2008 statement, also cited extortion and arbitrary taxation; land confiscation and forced evictions; restricted access to medical care, food and adequate housing; forced labour; and restrictions on marriages.

Restoring Democracy in Burma, Supporting-hands from Northeast India

Nava Thakuria

July 19, 2009

Contrary to New Delhi´s policy on Burma (Myanmar), the civil society and advocacy groups of Northeast India continue supporting the pro-democratic movement in the military ruled country. If the Central government is willing to engage the Burmese junta for various strategic and trade relationship, the student-youth-journalist and also political party workers of the region maintain their demands to snap all ties with the brand of dictators of Nay Pyi Taw (the new capital of Burma after Rangoon).

They are also in unanimous in various public meetings taking places in the region that the pro-democracy Burmese icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be released and allowed her to continue the political activities.

The latest interaction between a group of Burmese exiles and local citizens of Guwahati revolved around those issues. The meeting at Guwahati Press Club on July 4, where an exile Burmese Parliamentarian participated, concluded with a number of resolutions in support for the democratic movement in the Southeast Asian country.

Organised jointly by Burma Centre Delhi and Journalists´ Forum Assam, meeting on ´India´s Policy on Burma: A Northeastern Perspective´ also witnessed the discussion on the probable ways, by which the people from Northeast can extend support for the movement led by Suu Kyi.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Tint Swe, an exile Member of Parliament, National Coalition Government of Union of Burma, argued that New Delhi should play a major role in democratization of Burma. The elected Parliamentarian (in 1990 general election of Burma), who has been living in India for more than a decade, did not forget to mention about the help and cooperation from Indian people in general and the Northeastern in particular in their endeavor.

"India being the largest democracy in the globe should review its policy on Burma and make it as pro-democratic movement," insisted Dr. Tint Swe adding, "New Delhi should also review its Look East Policy, as the military dictators of Burma will never support the initiative to be successful."

"Burma and India has a strong historical and geographical link where Northeast shares a very close connection in terms of trade, political beliefs and culture. In 1988, during democracy uprising in Burma, New Delhi as well as the people of India strongly supported the movement and provided shelter to those who fled to Indo-Burma border by setting up refugee camps in Mizoram and Manipur," highlighted M Kim, another Burmese exile in India. Kim, who is living in New Delhi for two decades, also added, "However, from the mid 1990s, a shift took place in New Delhi´s attitude when it launched its Look East Policy and began engaging the military junta in bilateral cooperation."

Today New Delhi maintains a sustained strategic relationship with the ruling State Peace and Development Council, under which a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed. More over, the government of India remains silent on the issue of Suu Kyi´s re-arrest and trail, even though the great Lady was hounoured with Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose award. The daughter of Aung San, the father of modern Burma, Suu Kyi was also awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mentionable that Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for nearly 13 years out of 19 years stay in her country. More recently, Suu Kyi was shifted to the Insein prison of Rangoon, where she has been tried at a special court with the charge of violating rules under her house arrest. Suu Kyi is recognised as one of the world's most renowned freedom fighters and the SPDC is understood to try its best to prevent her (with her party National League for Democracy) participating in the forthcoming General Election during 2010.

"Asia had given birth to many great women leaders. But it can be said without doubt that Suu Kyi will be regarded as one of the greatest heroic women not only of Asia but of the world. While presenting the Congressional Medal of honour to Suu Kyi, Washington formally recognised her a status equal to other non-American recipients of the medal like Sir Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa," commented Rajen Barua of Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS).

Speaking to this writer from Houston, Barua also added, "For the Burmese people, Suu Kyi represents their best and perhaps only hope that one day there will be an end to the country's military repression. Today, from the isolation of her house arrest Suu Kyi radiates a moral authority that exposes the illegitimacy of the Burmese regime and all of its pretensions to appear different from what it really is."

Earlier in an official message to the organisers, the FASS argued that the people of Northeast´ as a neighbour of Burma need to keep in touch with the people of Burma and especially the enlightened Burmese who are living outside their counrty´.

"We in the Northeast have more important roles to play. After all, we are very much concerned about the hardship that Suu Kyi is going through. We also urge the government of China, Russia and other countries with strong ties with Burma, to pressurise the military rulers for immediate release of Suu Kyi, so that she can freely move in Burma for advancement of democratic values and human rights," the message, which was read out by Jayanta Barman in the Guwahati meeting, added.

Meanwhile, in a message sent to the organisers of Guwahati meeting, the All Assam Students´ Union and the North East Students´ Organisation leader Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya expressed their support to the pro-democracy movement in Burma and demanded release of Suu Kyi.

The meeting urged New Delhi to stop forthwith sales of all arms to the military rulers of Burma, who use the weapons to suppress the ever-growing movement for democracy in the country. It also demanded immediate release of over 2000 political prisoners in Burma including Suu Kyi. India should have a non-discriminatory refugee policy as early as possible, another resolution said.

The speakers including Dr Alana Golmei, Htun Htun from Burma Centre Delhi and journalists Rupam Baruah, Hiten Mahanta, Biman Hazarika, RK Goswami with others were of the opinion that trade relations between India and Burma should not be at the cost of the democratic movement in that country. Mentionable that both the neighboring countries did business to the tune of nearly US $ 900 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year.

The major outcome of the meeting was the proposal to form a regional forum to pursue democracy in Burma. The proposed ´Northeast India Forum for Democracy in Burma´ is supposed to provide space for the people of Northeast and Burma to join hands with an aim to continue the campaign against the military junta.

Similarly, few days back, hundreds of Mizo and Burmese activists organised a demonstration at Aizawl with the primary demand for an early release of Suu Kyi. Initiated by Mizoram Committee for Democracy in Burma, the programme on June 25, also included the decision to send a memorandum to the Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, through the state government of Mizoram-bordering Chin State of Burma-with an appeal to pursue with the Burmese government for the release of Suu Kyi and also restoration of democracy in Burma.

Mentionable that over 50,000 Chin people have been taking shelter in Mizoram. Most of them are economic migrants, who crossed the Indo-Burma border for a better future in India. Many of them are activists, who fled their country to escape the repression of the junta. Amazingly, the Chin and Mizo people share similar historical, cultural and religious backgrounds. But time to time, the state witnesses resentment against those unwelcome guests from Burma.

Representatives from the ruling Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee, Mizo National Front (the main opposition party of Mizoram), Zoram Nationalist Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Mizoram Peoples Conference with Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Mizo Students' Union, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl, Mizo Women Association, Human Rights & Law Network, People Union for Civil Liberties etc joined the programme.

Earlier more than hundred Indian MPs, including those from Northeast, called on the Union government to intervene for the release of Suu Kyi and for the restoration of democracy in Burma. The lawmakers under the banner Indian Parliamentarian Forum for Democracy in Burma submitted a petition on 10 June to the Indian Prime Minister urging him to take personal interest to resolve the issue amicably.

Raising Support for Democracy in Burma

By Nava Thakuria


Talk on India's Policy on Burma
It was an intense and intriguing session, where a group of conscious people got together and discussed about the present socio-political turmoil in Burma (Myanmar) and also the probable ways, by which the people from Northeast India can extend support for the cause of democracy in the neighbouring country.
The meeting on ‘India’s Policy on Burma: A Northeastern Perspective,’ was organized jointly by Burma Centre Delhi and Journalists’ Forum Assam at Guwahati Press Club on July 4, where Dr. Tint Swe, exile member of parliament, National Coalition Government of Union of Burma, joined as a main speaker.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Tint Swe, an exile Member of Parliament, National Coalition Government of Union of Burma, argued that New Delhi should play a major role in democratization of Burma. The elected Parliamentarian (in 1990 general election of Burma), who has been living in India for more than a decade, did not forget to mention about the help and cooperation from Indian people in general and the Northeastern in particular in their endeavor.
“India being the largest democracy in the globe should review its policy on Burma and make it as pro-democratic movement,” insisted Dr. Tint Swe adding, “New Delhi should also review its Look East Policy, as the military dictators of Burma will never support the initiative to be successful.”
It may be mentioned that New Delhi maintains a sustained strategic relationship with the ruling State Peace and Development Council, under which a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed. More over, the government of India remains silent on the
issue of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s re-arrest and trail, even though the great Lady was hounoured with Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose award. The daughter of Aung San, the father of modern Burma, Suu Kyi was also awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize.
However, contrary to New Delhi’s policy on Burma, the civil society and advocacy groups of Northeast continue supporting the pro-democratic movement in the land of dictators. If the Union government is willing to engage the Burmese junta for various strategic and trade relationship, the student-youth-journalist and also political party workers of the region maintain their demands to snap all ties with the junta of Nay Pyi Taw (the new capital of Burma after Rangoon). They are also in unanimous in various public meetings
taking places in the region that the pro-democracy Burmese icon Suu Kyi must be released and allowed her to continue the political activities.
Mentionable that Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for nearly 13 years out of 19 years stay in her country. More recently, Suu Kyi was shifted to the Insein prison of Rangoon, where she has been tried at a special court with the charge of violating rules under her house arrest. Suu Kyi is recognized as one of the world's most renowned freedom fighters and the General Than Shwe led regime understood to try its best to prevent her (with her party National League for Democracy) participating in the forthcoming general election during
2010.
Earlier in an official message to the organizers from Houston, Rajen Barua of Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters argued that the people of Northeast ‘as a neighbour of Burma need to keep in touch with the people of Burma and especially the enlightened Burmese who are living outside their country.’
“We in the Northeast have more important roles to play. After all, we are very much concerned about the hardship that Suu Kyi is going through. We also urge the government of China, Russia and other countries with strong ties with Burma, to pressurize the military rulers for immediate release of Suu Kyi, so that she can freely move in Burma for advancement of democratic values and human rights,” the message, which was read out by Jayanta Barman in the Guwahati meeting,
added.
Meanwhile, in another message, the All Assam Students’ Union and the North East Students’ Organization leader Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya expressed their support to the pro-democracy movement in Burma and demanded release of Suu Kyi.
The meeting urged New Delhi to stop forthwith sales of all arms to the military rulers of Burma, who use the weapons to suppress the ever-growing movement for democracy in the country. It also demanded immediate release of over 2000 political prisoners in Burma including Suu Kyi. In another resolution, the participants argued that India should have a non-discriminatory refugee policy as early as possible.
The speakers including Dr Alana Golmei, M. Kim, Htun Htun from Burma Centre Delhi and journalists Rupam Baruah, Hiten Mahanta, Biman Hazarika, RK Goswami with others were of the opinion that trade relations between India and Burma should not be at the cost of the democratic movement in that country. Mentionable that, both the neighboring countries did business to the tune of nearly US $ 900
million in the 2007-08 fiscal year.
The major outcome of the meeting was the proposal to form a regional forum to pursue democracy in Burma. The proposed ‘Northeast India Forum for Democracy in Burma’ is supposed to provide space for the people of Northeast and Burma to join hands with an aim to continue the campaign against the military junta.
Similarly, few days back, hundreds of Mizo and Burmese activists organized a demonstration at Aizawl with the primary demand for an early release of Suu Kyi. Initiated by Mizoram Committee for Democracy in Burma, the programme on June 25 also included the decision to send a memorandum to the Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, through the State government of Mizoram-bordering Chin State of Burma-with an appeal to pursue with the Burmese government for the release of Suu Kyi and also restoration of democracy in Burma.
Mizoram gives shelter to over 50,000 Chin people from Burma. Most of them are economic migrants, who crossed the Indo-Burma border for a better future in India. Many of them are also activists, who fled their country to escape the repression of the junta. Amazingly, the Chin and Mizo people share similar historical, cultural and religious backgrounds. But time to time, the State witnesses resentment against
those unwelcome guests from Burma.
Representatives from the ruling Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee, Mizo National Front (the main opposition party of Mizoram), Zoram Nationalist Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Miozram Peoples Conference with Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Mizo Students' Union, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm
Pawl, Mizo Women Association, Human Rights & Law Network, People Union for Civil Liberties etc joined the programme.
Earlier more than hundred Indian MPs, including those from Northeast, called on the Union government to intervene for the release of Suu Kyi and for the restoration of democracy in Burma. The lawmakers under the banner Indian Parliamentarian Forum for Democracy in Burma submitted a
petition on 10 June to the Indian Prime Minister urging him to take personal interest to resolve the issue amicably.

Advocate Democracy in Myanmar

By John Smith Thang Members of the Chin Democracy and Human Rights Network staged a rally against the Myanmar government in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Korea on July 5. The protest was in memorial of a pro-democracy leader ― an ethnic Chin student, Salai Tin Mg Oo, who was killed by Myanmar's military government on June 24, 1976. Salai Tin Maung Oo was popular among university students in 1974-75 for his dedicated fight against the brutal military regime in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. He and his colleagues organized a ``U Thant Uprising'' there in honor of U Thant, a former U.N. secretary general. After the military government prohibited the public from holding an honorable funeral for U Thant, Salai Tin Maung Oo and students led demonstrations to protest the dictatorial military rule. Apart from the uprising, Salai Tin Maung Oo organized a ``labor strike anniversary day'' and ``Mai-yar-pih events.'' The military arrested him for his role in the uprising and pro-democracy movement. Before Salai Tin Maung Oo was executed, military intelligence officers tried to persuade him to pledge to follow their authority in exchange for freedom. But he refused to do so and shouted, ``I shall never kneel down under your soldiers' boots.'' And he continued to shout in jail, ``Comrades, they are killing me secretly.'' Finally he was secretly hanged at Insein Jail on June 24, 1976. His death brought great shock and anger to the whole country and particularly to ethnic minorities who were yearning for freedom and democracy. Salai Tin Maung Oo belonged to one of these groups. In Myanmar, oppressing activists is routine. Since, the Myanmarese military government massacred student activists on July 7, 1962. Subsequently there were several repressive acts against Salai Tin Maung Oo and students in 1974. And then there was a nationwide mass uprising in 1988 when the government forces brutally fired on the crowd ― killing about 3,000 innocent people. The Depayin massacre took place in May 2003 when the military alleged killed hundreds of people. Again in September 2007, the military attacked and killed innocent people and monks who peacefully protested ― and many more people have ``disappeared.'' Allegations have it that the military regime still continues to arrest pro-democracy and human rights activists. In recent days, the military took into custody pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Su Kyi after 13 years of house arrest, without honoring the Nobel Peace Prize she won. There are around 2,100 political prisoners in Myanmar. And many ethnic minorities and Christians continue to be persecuted by the military regime. At the moment, Myanmar's military government is escalating its war in peripheral ethnic regions using weapons supplied by its closest allies, China and North Korea. Innocent people are suffering and tormented, and thousand of refugees have had to flee their homeland due to the military government's policy, The military regime is preparing for 2010 elections in order to tighten its grip on power, which is ostensibly supposed to be transferred to a democratic government. A democratic government should have the following basic elements: a people's constitution, judicial independence, free media, and free and fair elections. But the military government has failed to introduce any of these elements. The government is reluctant to acknowledge the multiethnic fabric of Myanmarese society. There should be guaranteed ethnic-civil rights through mutual agreement, however, the military regime has adopted an ethnic cleansing policy. The military government has neither guaranteed civil rights nor ethnic rights. It will never bring true democracy to Myanmar. The military government should stop oppressing pro-democracy activists. The international community, particularly the United Nations, must make concerted efforts to ensure free and fair elections next year. Also it is necessary for China to stop supporting Myanmar's military regime. Additionally, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should do more to promote democracy in Myanmar, and not support the military government. Finally we urge the international community to work to advocate democracy and freedom in Myanmar.

Two new FM radio channels soon

New Delhi – Two new FM radio channels will begin broadcasting in Burma as of August, according to sources from the Music Association and FM stations.

The FM radio stations in operation now are Rangoon City FM, Mandalay City FM, Padaukmyay FM and Pyinsawadi FM. Two more FM radio stations called Cherry FM and Shwe FM will be inaugurated in August, they said.

The Music Association Secretary Maung Thit Min said that the FM stations are gaining popularity among the people and there is need for modernizing to international standards and expanding to other States and Divisions.

“Our country will see more progress if there are many more FM stations in our country broadcasting both entertainment and information programmes. This is my belief and opinion. Now in some places, they hear news only after a long time. So these FM stations will be convenient for people,” he said.

Shwe Than Lwin Co. and Zaygabar Co. will take charge of setting up and broadcasting of Shwe FM and Cherry FM stations respectively. These new stations will lay more emphasis on entertainment programmes besides airing general feature programmes, it is learnt.

When contacted for verification of the news, the concerned companies declined to answer questions as they are not authorized to do so. They asked to be contacted when the stations start broadcasting programmes.

An official from Forever Group, which currently airing the Pyinsawady FM, said that though they know two more FM radio channels will be inaugurated soon, they don’t know when.

Pyinsawady FM is based in Rakhine State started broadcasting in March this year. It will be expanded to Irrawaddy Division soon, he said.

“Our current programmes are 75 per cent entertainment and the rest information and educational programmes,” he told Mizzima.

The Cherry FM’s broadcasting radius will be 50 miles in eastern, southern and northern Shan State. The other station Shwe FM will broadcast over a radius of 50 miles in Tanintharyi, Mon, Karen States and Divisions and Pyi in Bago Division.

The Music Association Secretary said that the reason behind inaugurating more FM radio stations is its popularity among people and profitability through commercial advertisements.

“The Music Association welcomes such FM stations. As is known the production of music albums is badly hit by piracy. We cannot produce these albums anymore. Now we can get royalty for our art works from these new media of FM radio stations”, he said.

The ‘Collective Management Committee’ (CMC) under the Music Association currently negotiates and mediates between artistes (singers, song writers, producers and musicians) and owner of these FM radio stations.

Rangoon City FM was inaugurated on January 1, 2001 and could earn over Kyat 600 million annually, the Rangoon City Development Committee (YCDC) Public Relation and Information Department Chief Hla Myint Swe said.

According to Music Association sources, new FM stations based in Monywa and Chin State will also be inaugurated soon.

Stop human rights violations on ethnic minorties in Burma

The Chin Democracy and Human Rights Network reports on a protest outside the Burma embassy in Korea against the persecution of ethnic minorities in Burma.  

We are a group of Burmese/Myanmar “Ethnic Chin” people based in Korea; our organisation is called Chin Democracy and Human Rights Network.  Today (5 July 2009), we are protesting - at what has happened to our democracy and at the violations of our ethnic civil rights - in front of the Myanmar embassy, in memory of our leader, the Chin student hero Salai Tin Mg Oo, who was deliberately killed by the Burma/Myanmar military junta due to his democracy and freedom movement. This is the 33rd anniversary of Salai Tin Mg Oo's assassination; the Burma/Myanmar military junta killed him at 4.00am on 24 June 1976.  We, the Chin Democracy and Human Rights Network, strongly condemn the Burma/Myanmar military government’s action. Also, we strongly condemn the Burma/Myanmar military government for the arrest of - and the bad prison conditions experienced by - Chin ethnic prisoner Hla Moe, who was found dead in Pakkoku last month.

Similarly, the military regime massacred student activists on 7 July 1962 and ordered the destruction of the Student Union Building.  Afterwards, there was a nation-wide mass uprising in 1988. The government responded by brutally firing into the crowd – leading to about 3,000 people killed. Then, there was the Depayin massacre in May 2003 in which the military allegedly killed hundreds of people. Also, there was the people's revolution in September 2007, in which the military killed and 'disappeared' hundreds of people again.

In the latest May 2008 cyclone disaster, in conjunction with a military authority-made political disaster, where the government's lack of responsiveness to the disaster victims, like that inept early warning and the delaying and halting relief aid to the victims, millions of people suffered and hundred thousand died.  Here the situation in Burma/Myanmar – the massive human rights violations and the lack of safety - was clearly revealed.

Particularly in Burma/Myanmar, ethnic minorities are threatened, oppressed and persecuted.  There was permanently conflict between ethnic groups and military government in border areas.  Subsequently, the military authority ignored the ethnic Chin people's freedom and fundamental rights; those rights are virtually absent in ethnic regions. 
Therefore, we demand that the  Burma/Myanmar military government:

• Stop human rights violations and religious restrictions among the ethnic Chin people.
• Release arrested ethnic Chin students and political prisoners immediately.  Presently, the remaining Chin political activists prisoners are Pu Cin Sian Thang, Salai Aung Thang, Salai Pa Thang and others.
• Provide ethnic Chin people freedom from political and economic suppression.

And we ask the South Korea government and the international community to support the cause of our democracy movement and help to end the ethnic oppression in Burma/Myanmar.  Also, we ask them to support and help out the ethnic Chin victims inside the country and the asylum seekers outside the country.

Citizens urge Govt to stop arms sales to Burma

A roundtable meeting at Guwahati Press Club on Saturday urged the Government of India to stop forthwith all arms sales to the military rulers of Burma, who use these weapons to suppress the ever-growing movement for democracy in the country. The well-attended meeting, organized by the Burma Centre Delhi and Journalists’ Forum, Assam, also demanded immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners in Burma. In a resolution, the meeting urged New Delhi to review its policy on Burma to facilitate restoration of democracy in the South East Asian country.

The speakers were of the opinion that trade relations between India and Burma should not be at the cost of the democratic movement in that country. They urged New Delhi to allow the Burmese exiles to continue with their political activities in India. India should have a non-discriminatory refugee policy as early as possible, another resolution said.

The participants decided to get organized in a forum titled “North-east India Forum for Democracy in Burma.” The forum will provide space for the people of Burma and Northeast India to join hands to continue the campaign against Burma’s military rulers. Meanwhile, in a message sent to the organizers, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) expressed their support to the democracy movement in Burma and demanded release of Suu Kyi with other political prisoners. The message was conveyed by Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, AASU advisor and NESO convenor.

Those, who attended the meeting, included Dr Alana Golmei, Htun Htun and M. Kim from Burma Centre Delhi, Rupam Baruah, Hiten Mahanta, Biman Hazarika, Nava Thakuria, Ranen Kumar Goswami, Sabita Lahkar, Anita Kalita Goswami from Journalists’ Forum, Assam, social activists Jayanta Gogoi, Jayanta Barman, Chakreswar Goswami, Kishore Giri, Dr Jagandindra Roy Choudhury, Anup Sarma, Mitali Konwar, Gitali Saikia and Kaveri Mahanta.

hailand : 4,000 Burmese Migrants Arrested in June

Some 4,000 Burmese migrants were arrested by the Thai authorities in Thailand in June, according to a Thai Web site, Manager Online.

The Thai news and entertainment Web site said that the Burmese migrants were arrested in different regions by the Thai authorities, but the majority were arrested in Phop Phra District in Tak Province.


Burmese migrants sit on a Thai police van after arriving at Ranong provincial court to hear charge of illegal entry in Ranong province, southwestern Thailand on January.
(Photo: AP)

It is believed that many of those arrested were sent back to Burma, while others are being detained or were released.

A Thai police officer in Phop Phra told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that many Burmese are coming to Thailand in the hope they can get new work permits, because a fresh registration of migrants in Thailand begins in early July.

The Thai government announced in June that the country needed some two million foreign workers for the multitude of jobs available, including those jobs known as the “3 Ds”—dirty, dangerous or degrading—which most Thai workers refuse.

There are up to five million Burmese migrants living and working in Thailand, says the Migrant Assistance Program (MAP) in Chiang Mai. However, only 500,000 registered at the Thai Ministry of Labor last year.

The Thai government is currently offering new one-year work permits to those who registered last year.

However, Jackie Pollock, a founding member of MAP, said that some migrants cannot afford to pay the 3,800 baht (US $112) fee for registration because they don’t have jobs due to the economic crisis in Thailand.

Moe Swe, the head of the Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association in Mae Sot in Tak Province, said that many of the Burmese migrants in Mae Sot couldn’t afford to pay the registration fees due to poor wages.

Burmese workers generally get paid about 1,500 baht ($44) per month working at a factory in Mae Sot, he said.

Thailand has recently tightened its border security to prevent an influx of Burmese migrants into the county. Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai, police have set up nighttime roadblocks as part of an ongoing campaign to crack down on Burmese migrants.

Meanwhile, the Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia and MAP Foundation in Thailand have called on the Malaysian and Thai governments to protect the rights of Burmese migrants and ensure that migrants can exercise their labor, social, cultural, economic and political rights.In a joint statement released last week, the groups called for a halt to unjust, discriminatory and unconstitutional policies on migrants.

A report released by the US State Department in June claimed that Thailand had not complied with international labor laws and that Thai authorities frequently abused migrants’ rights.

Junta bans travel between Indo-Burma border

Paletwa: The Burmese military junta has banned local villagers from travelling on the Indo-Burma border, especially the southern part of Mizoram state of India and south of Chin State in Burma, after seven villagers from two Indian villages died of an unknown disease, said a local resident.

“The Burmese Army has banned travel from Mreit WA village in Paletwa Township, located in southern Chin state, to India, after seven people died of an unidentified disease in two Indian villages,” he said.

Seven people, six among whom are children, and one elderly person, died recently in Maung Pu Taung and Scota Lan villages in India, opposite Mreit Wa village in Paletwa Township, of an unknown disease. However, a rumour is circulating that they might have died due to Swine Flu.

“All the deceased were Burmese, but they lived in Indian villages. Local people believe that they died due to Swine Flu. Following the deaths, the Burmese Army prohibited local people from travelling between the Indo-Burma border,” he said.

A village elder from Mreit Wa village confirmed the incident, but the cause of the deaths is still unknown.

“Some people die of diarrhea, in the same area every year, but this time it was different and they did not succumb to diarrhea. The Burmese authorities suspect that they died as a result of Swine Flu. All the villagers have been worried since the deaths occurred in the area,” the villager said.

Villagers, who are living in the border area on both sides, have avoided travelling from one side to another between the two countries, after the ban on travelling was imposed by the Burmese military junta.

According to locals, border trade in the area has also come to a standstill after the Burmese Army banned people from travelling in the area.