Summary of Radio News on Burma 2007


Summary of Radio News on Burma
(3/5/2007)

Burmese PM returns from Singapore 
(BBC,VOA)
Burmese PM General Soe Win has returned home Thursday after two months of medical treatment at a hospital in Singapore.

Gen. Soe Win, who is reported to be suffering from leukaemia, was taken straight to a military hospital in Rangoon. His current condition is not known although Burmese authorities have said that he is in good health.

Junta leader Sr. Gen. Than Shwe and his deputy Vice Sr. Gen. Mg Aye were seen welcoming Gen. Soe Win. There were reports that Vice Sr. Gen. Mg Aye had to cancel a meeting of the Trade Council, which he is heading, to welcome back Gen. Soe Win. 

It is not known whether Gen Soe Win will be able to resume official duties

NLD members call for UN probe of ASSK's detention
(BBC,VOA)
Burma's main opposition NLD has called for a UN inquiry into the detention of ASSK.
More than 30 members of the NLD made the request in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad.

The letter calls for ASSK's release and asks the UN to investigate the Depeyin attack four years ago when members of NLD were attacked by junta-backed mobs in central Burma.

Improvements for Burmese refugees
(BBC,VOA)
UNHCR said there have been improvements on general conditions of Burmese refugees in Thailand.
The U.N. Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees asked Thailand government to allow the 140,000 refugees from Burma living in border camps to work in the country.

A member of the Karen Refugees Committee agreed with UNHCR's remark on improving camp conditions. He also said many more refugees could resettle in third countries.

Mizzima News named 'Free Media Pioneer 2007'
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
The International Press Institute (IPI) has honoured the Burmese Mizzima News Agency with its 2007 Free Media Pioneer award.

The press institute issued a statement saying Mizzima has continued to provide accurate and timely news and information on Burma despite attempts by Burma's military government to limit media activities.

Mizzima News was founded in 1998 by a group of Burmese journalists in exile with the aim to promote awareness about the ongoing situation in Burma and to promote democracy and freedom of expression in the country.

CSW says aid worker executed in Burma
(VOA)
Christian Solidarity Worldwide says Burmese army has executed a humanitarian worker who was providing assistance in Burma's Karenni State.

The CSW says Saw Lee Reh Kyaw was captured by Burmese forces on April 8th, tortured and interrogated before being shot dead on April 10th.

The aid worker was a member of the humanitarian group Free Burma Rangers.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide says the tragic and brutal death of Saw Lee Reh Kyaw illustrates the brutality of the Burmese regime.


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(4/5/2007~6/5/2007)

Heavy rains, floods kill 5 in Rangoon
(RFA, BBC,VOA)
Burma's state-run newspapers reported Sunday that floods caused by heavy rains have killed five people in Rangoon.
A tropical storm that began late Thursday has brought the heaviest rainfall in 39 years in Rangoon, said meteorological department officials. Floods have submerged hundreds of houses, knocked down walls and toppled trees, the newspapers said.

The newspapers said four members of one family suffocated Saturday after inhaling fumes from a fire caused by a short circuit due to flooding in their home in western Rangoon. A woman also in the same township was electrocuted after stepping on a live power cable brought down by the storm.

Residents of Rangoon blamed the flooding on the city's poor drainage system.

China to help Burma build hydroelectric power plants
(VOA)
Burma's state-run newspapers reported that 7 hydroelectric power plants will be built by the China Power Investment Corporation in northern Burma's Kachin state along the Burma-China border.
The newspapers said the hydroelectric plants are expected to generate more than 13,000 megawatts of power.
It said the seven plants will generate more power than Burma's biggest hydro power project, a joint venture between the Burmese government and a Thai energy firm on the Salween River. Thailand's Thai MDX Group has invested six billion dollars in the joint project. There were no cost figures for the Chinese project.

India begins restoring historic highway to Burma and China
(VOA)
India is rebuilding the historic Stilwell highway that would connect India's northeastern state of Assam with Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan province. A major portion of the road, more than 1,000 kilometers, lies in Burma.

ASSK in good health: Doctors
(RFA,VOA)
Officials in Burma say ASSK is in good health after her doctor and an eye specialist visited her for a routine check-up.
The two doctors visited her on Thursday, and said she was in good condition.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Foreign Minister Sunday made a call for her release.

Singapore PM urged US not to let Burma issue harms relations with the region
(RFA,VOA)
Speaking in Washington Thursday, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged the U.S. not to let ASEAN's relationships with Burma harm U.S. relations with the regional grouping. He said the United States has a broader, strategic interest with the ASEAN and Washington should not allow its complaints with Burma to affect efforts to actively engage with ASEAN countries.


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(2/5/2007)

Attacked human rights activists charged in Burma
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Human rights activists, who were attacked by junta-backed mobs during a human rights awareness campaign at a village in Burma delta division on 18th April, were charged with inciting public unrest and causing defamation to the State.

The Hinthada Township court denied bail on activist Ko Myint Naing and five other villagers.
Ko Myint Naing counter-charges against the local authorities for involvement in causing bodily harm to the human rights activists, but the court did not hear the case.

Participants of May Day event at American centre arrested
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burmese authorities arrested 29 people after they joined the May Day event Tuesday at the American Centre in Rangoon. One of the organisers of the event was taken away while he was on his way to the American Centre. 20 were released Wednesday after they were interrogated about the activities at the Centre. 9 people are still remaining in detention, said sources in Rangoon. 

A new military offensive in Karen State displaced 18 villages
(BBC)
A new military offensive starting last week by the Burmese army against KNU Brigade 5 has displaced about 4000 villagers from 18 villages in Papun Township in Karen State.

Reports say that Burmese army troops attacked and burned villages in the area.

Fund raising event in Sydney for Burmese refugees
(BBC,VOA)
A fund raising event organised by the UNHCR office in Australia was held Wednesday in Sydney in Australia. The event raised Australian dollars 200,000 and the funds will be used for helping Burmese refugees along Burma borders with Thailand, Bangladesh and India. 



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(30/4/2007~1/5/2007)

May Day ceremonies held in Burma
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
May Day ceremonies were held in two towns in Burma despite the ban on public gatherings. About 200 people attended a gathering in Chauk Town in central Burma. Speakers at the gathering urged participants to fight for labour rights in the country.  Similarly, a ceremony was held in a village in Kyauk Gyi Township lower Burma's Pegu Division. About 300 villagers attended the ceremony, where participants protested against forced labour practice in the country.    

An NLD spokesperson said workers in Burma lack labours rights and they are subjected to exploitation.

NLD to launch a new campaign for the release of ASSK
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
NLD members including human rights activist Ma Su Su Nway have launched a one-month campaign beginning 1st May, praying and demanding for the release of ASSK and all other political prisoners in the country.

A group of campaigners wearing T-shirts with the portrait of ASSK were seen visiting Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon on Tuesday.  

NLD appeals for vice chairman release
(RFA,BBC)
The NLD has sent an appeal to the cabinet to free party's deputy chairman U Tin Oo, who has been under detention since May 30, 2003.  U Tin Oo and party general secretary ASSK were detained since their convoy was attacked by junta-backed thugs near Depayin in upper Burma.

Lawyer U Nyan Win of the NLD said the law under which U Tin Oo has been detained provides for the chance to appeal. But he said the military junta has neglected previous appeals. U Nyan Win said the military junta has no respect for the laws in the country.

Burma, Bangladesh agree for a first road link
(RFA,BBC)
Burma and Bangladesh signed an agreement on a direct road link between the two countries in an effort to boost tourism and trade.

The proposed road will stretch from Taungbro to Kyauktaw in Burma via Gundhum to Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, and will be constructed in two phases at an estimated cost of 141.37 million US dollars.

The road would be further extended to link Bangladesh with China and Thailand.

Press freedom declines around the world: Freedom House
(RFA,BBC)
Press freedom around the world deteriorated last year due to coups, attempts to stifle political opposition and regulate the use of the Internet, said a report by the Freedom House.

The watch group said there were particularly troubling trends in Asia, which had two of the world's most restrictive governments, North Korea and Burma.

Villagers attack Chinese Oil Company in Arakan State
(BBC)
Some 40 Arakanese local villagers attacked an oil-drilling site run by Chinese company CNOOC in Kyauk Pru Township in western Burma's Arakan State, on 28 April. According to local reports, the villagers were unhappy with the confiscation of their land by the Burmese authority without compensation. Local police detained 5 villagers for the attack.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(26/4/2007)

Burma, North Korea renew diplomatic ties
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burma and North Korea have restored diplomatic ties during an official visit to Burma this week by North Korea's deputy foreign minister, Kim Yong-il.

Burma's deputy foreign minister, Kyaw Thu, told reporters the agreement to restore diplomatic links was reached Thursday.

Ties between the two countries had severed 24 years ago when North Korea agents staged a bomb attack in Rangoon during a visit by the former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan. The bombing killed more than 20 people, including four South Korean ministers.

China welcomes the agreement saying it marked an improvement in relations between Burma and North Korea.
A spokesperson of South Korea government said Thursday that South Korea respects Burma's decision to restore diplomatic ties with North Korea.

Observers say that Burma's military is willing to purchase weapons and possibly nuclear technology from North Korea.
Burma's military, which faces economic and political sanctions from the West over its human rights abuses, has sought to widen diplomatic ties elsewhere, including Iran.

Pinheiro condemns attack on human rights activists in Burma
(BBC)
The UN special envoy on human rights in Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro expresses his concern on human rights situation in Burma.
Pinheiro said the assault on the two human rights activist had been brutal.

He said the attack highlighted the level of violence in Burma and the lack of intervention by police to protect the victims.

Injured human rights activist summoned by court
(BBC)
Ko Myint Naing, a member of the human rights activist group HRDP network, who was injured in the attack last week in a village in Hinthada Township in Burma delta division has been summoned to the township court to face trials on charges of inciting public unrest.

Meanwhile, more than 40 organisations from the Asia and Pacific region have made an appeal calling on the United Nations for the protection of the human rights defenders in Burma.

New highway between Burma and China border opens
(BBC)
A new highway road linking southwest China Yunan Province and northern Burma Kachin State has been opened. Construction works on the 50-mile road started last year, with over US$ 33 millions financial assistance from China. The highway road links Kachin State capital Myitkyina and Waing Maw border town on China-Burma border. The road will also connect to the Lido highway road in Myitkyina.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(25/4/2007)

North Korean deputy foreign minister in Burma
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
North Korean deputy FM Kim Yong-il arrived in Burma on Wednesday.
Mr. Kim is scheduled to hold talks with Burmese deputy FM U Kyaw Thu to finalise arrangements to restore links between the two countries, diplomatic sources said.

U Htay Aung, a researcher with the Thailand-based Network for Democracy and Development, said both countries are drawn together due to sanctions imposed on them by the West.

UN says report by Karen rights group inaccurate
(VOA)
The United Nations has criticised the Karen Human Rights Group for inaccurate points in a recent report about aid programs in Burma.

The U.N. says many of the points made in the report are either incorrect or outdated.
The report by the Karen Human Rights Group Tuesday accuses international aid donors of overlooking rights abuses in the country.

US, UN condemn attack on Burmese rights activists
(VOA)
The United States and the United Nations are condemning a recent attack on human rights activists in Burma.
The activists were trying to raise human rights awareness when they were attacked by mobs on April 18th in a village in delta division.

The U.S. State Department Wednesday called the attack deeply disturbing. It said the attack is part of a pattern by the Burmese government to intimidate and silence those who peacefully express their opinion.

Two top U.N. human rights officials, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Hina Jilani, said in a statement that the attacks highlight the local police's inability to protect victims. They called on Burma's government to take all necessary steps to protect human rights defenders.

Report on the plight of Burmese migrants in India 
(BBC)
Exiled Human Rights Education Institute of Burma and Women Rights groups compiled and released a report named "Surviving on the Unwelcoming Hills", which highlighted difficult situations Burmese migrants are facing in north-eastern Mizoram state of India

The director of HREIB, Ko Aung Myo Min told the BBC Burmese that about 40,000 migrants from Burma are being discriminated by the locals as well as the employers in Mizoram.

Burma ministry of home affairs to conduct security training courses
(BBC)
Sources from Burma say local ward and village authorities are ordered to recruit trainees among the local residents for the two-week security courses to be conducted by special branch officers from the ministry of home affairs. Each ward or village has to recruit 3 trainees out of the residents and the first training course will begin on 2nd May. The courses will be conducted nation-wide. 

Lone protestor arrested in Rangoon
(VOA)
Veteran protestor U Ohn Than, who staged a lone protest Wednesday in front of the busy Thein Gyi Market in down town Rangoon was arrested by security personnel. U Ohn Than was protesting against economic hardships and demanded for democracy in the country.    

U Ohn Than was detained a couple of times in the past for staging protests in Rangoon, including one in front of the UNDP office.


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(24/4/2007)

Commodity prices increase 60% in Burma
(BBC)
Commodity prices in Burma have risen sharply, a report in the local "Weekly Eleven" news journal said.
The report, based on a household expenditure survey carried out by the weekly journal, said that prices of staple foods have risen by more than sixty per cent over the past year.

The US government has estimated that the rate of inflation in Burma in 2006 was over twenty per cent.
According to the consumers in Burma, commodity prices have risen up sharply within April.
Consumers' price hike in the month of April is approximately thirty percent and it is mainly due to the lack of production and supply of goods during the long New Year holidays, said a retired Rector of the Rangoon Institute of Economics.

Burmese army quartermaster general in India
(BBC,VOA)
Burma armed forces' Quartermaster General Lt. Gen. Tin Aung Myint Oo arrives in India on Monday. The trip of Tin Aung Myint Oo, who is in charge of the supplies of Burma's armed forces, is to negotiate arms purchases from India. Reports say that Burma is trying to purchase assault rifles, pistols and ammunitions from India.    

Cambodian Deputy PM in Burma
(BBC,VOA)
Burma's state-rum media reported that Cambodia Deputy PM Hor Namhong is visiting Burma. The reports said Hor Namhong had talks with Burmese FM Nyan Win on Monday in Naypyidaw.

The Cambodian government has not called for Burma to reform, but a group of lawmakers formed a special caucus last year to call for Burma's military government to move faster towards democracy.

More fighting in Karen State
(BBC)
More fighting between ethnic armed rebels group KNU and combined forces of Burmese army and DKBA troops have broken out in the areas of KNU Brigade 6 near Thai-Burma border.

Karen group warned about rights abuses in Burma
(BBC,VOA)
A report issued Tuesday by exiled Karen Human Rights Group says rights abuses are increasing as foreign-aided infrastructure projects go forward in Karen State.

The report says the building of dams, roads, agricultural schemes, military plantations, education and health projects involves the displacement of people and the use of forced labour.

The KHRG accuses Burma's military of manipulating development programs to expand military control of villages in western Karen State.

The group says foreign donors need to be aware of what is involved in projects run by Burma's ruling military.

Human rights group condemns attacks in Burma
(VOA)
The New York-based Human Rights Watch has called on Burma's military government to investigate and prosecute attacks against political and human rights activists.

In a statement released Tuesday, the group criticised the latest attacks on rights groups in Burma.


Summary of Radio News on Burma
(23/4/2007)

EU extends sanctions against Burma
(BBC,VOA)
The European Union has extended its sanctions against Burma for another year, saying that Burma has made no progress on improving human rights.

EU foreign ministers announced the extension in a statement Monday in Luxembourg.
The sanctions include a ban on travel to Europe for top government officials and EU companies or organisations are not allowed to invest in Burma.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg also called on the Burmese military authorities to end their military campaign against civilians and free ASSK from house arrest.

Malaysian FM says ASEAN committed to democracy in Burma
(BBC,VOA)
Malaysia's foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar says the ASEAN will not stop trying to bring democracy to Burma.
Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency quotes Syed Hamid Albar Monday as saying it will take time to convince Burma's military government to implement democratic reforms.

Syed Hamid said Burma's government has expressed a commitment to democracy, but says it wants to fully prepare for the change to ensure political stability and national security.

He acknowledged that Malaysia's previous efforts to lobby Burma to free ASSK had been unsuccessful, but he said Malaysia is committed to Burma's political reform.

Human Rights groups condemn attacks on Burmese activists
(BBC,VOA)
Human rights groups have condemned the last week's attack on Burmese activists in a village in Burma's delta division and called on the Burmese military government to investigate.

The U.S. Campaign for Burma filed a complaint Monday with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights about the attack.

The 88-Generation Students Group said in a statement Monday that the attack proves there is no security guarantee for the citizens of Burma.

Burmese state media said residents of the village drove out what it called "destructive elements" who were trying to incite public unrest.

Two human rights activists were seriously injured in the attack.

Rangoon protestors to be charged
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
China's Xinhua Newsagency said the 8 protestors detained Sunday in Rangoon will be charged for inciting public unrest. A group of activists staged a rare protest in Rangoon Sunday morning, demanding for better living condition in the country.

A report Monday in Burma state-run newspapers hinted the military government's intention to crack down on activists operating in the country.

The report said the move to restrict activists is aims at fulfilling the wishes of the majority of the public to live in peace.

The government's report said people unwilling to face instability in the country arrested the protestors Sunday but witnesses said it were plainclothes policemen and members of the pro-junta USDA who made the arrests.

The government's news report said 88-generation students were also waging timely campaign with the Sunday protestors.
Ko Mya Aye, one of the 88-generation students group leaders denied the accusation, but said they agree with the protestors against socio-economic problems.

The government's report praised the actions taken by the USDA and other government-backed groups against the human rights activists and the protestors as "preventive measures for ensuring peace and tranquillity".


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(21/4/2007~22/4/2007)

Demonstrators arrested in Rangoon
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burmese police have detained eight people at a rare demonstration in Rangoon demanding for improved living conditions.
About 10 people had gathered in front of a busy market in northeastern Rangoon Sunday morning, holding placards and chanting slogans for cheaper commodity prices and better electricity supplies. The protest ended peacefully within an hour but plainclothes policemen took away the protestors.

Witnesses say about 300 onlookers cheered and chanting slogans together with the demonstrators.
Most of the people detained Sunday had joined a similar rare protest in Rangoon in February.

Amnesty condemns attacks on Burmese human rights activists
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Amnesty international says it is concerned about reports of an attack on Burmese human rights activists.
Burmese exiled media reported that two activists, members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters organisation, were beaten by dozens of people as they left a village in Burma's delta division on Wednesday.

Amnesty said Friday that the two activists had been conducting activities to raise awareness about human rights.
Amnesty called on Burmese authorities to investigate the attack and bring those who carried it out to justice.

North Korea, Burma to resume ties
(VOA)
Diplomats in Rangoon say a North Korean official will soon be in Burma to sign an agreement resuming official ties between the two nations.

The diplomats say North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il will travel to Burma next week for the signing the agreement.

Burma lifts ban on selling chicken in some bird flu affected areas
(BBC,VOA)
Burma state-run newspapers reported Sunday that restriction has been lifted on selling chicken in 5 townships in Rangoon that were affected by bird flu outbreaks. The reports said restriction was lifted after three weeks passed without any new cases of the bird flu virus.

Shop owners protested against increased municipal tax
(RFA,BBC)
Shop owners of Central Myo Ma Market in lower Burma Nyaung Lay Bin Township has raised their objection to the increased municipal tax. Municipal taxes are raised three folds the former rates across the country, prompting objections from shop owners and businesses in some towns and cities.  

Heavy fighting looming in Karen State
(BBC)
Heavy fighting looms ahead in the areas controlled by KNU's 7th Brigade in Karen State. Burmese army troops and cease-fire DKBA troops are reportedly beefing up troops in the area



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(19/4/2007)

Burmese army preparing for a major offensive against KNU
(BBC)
Reports from Thai-Burma border say that Burmese army is preparing for a major military offensive against the ethnic rebels group Karen National Union (KNU).

Recently, hundreds of local villagers from Karen State have been rounded up to work as military porters and sent to the Burmese army units along the Thai Burma border.

Eyewitnesses said a convoy of 20 trucks carrying ammunitions and food supplies was seen driving towards Burmese army bases near the border. Observers say that the Burmese army is preparing for a major attack on KNU's Regiment 202, commanded by Saw Ner Kaw, a son of the late KNU leader Bo Mya.

Commander of Burma's military southeast command Brigadier General Thet Naing Win visited the army units operating near the KNU areas Thursday morning. The Burmese army's tactical commander of the area also inspected troops on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Burmese army troops overran five military camps belonged to the KNU.

The KNU military leaders are closely watching the development in the area and preparing for retaliation to a major offensive from the Burmese army.

Six die during Burma's water festival
(VOA)
Local media in Rangoon reported that six people died during the water festival. The reports said among the fatalities, three victims drowned, one died in a road accident and two others died during a fight among revellers.

Burmese authorities warned revellers to not wear indecent clothing and to not say anything that could harm national unity, during the water festival.

More than 300 persons died during a similar water festival in neighbouring Thailand.

Injured human rights activists transferred to Rangoon hospital
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
The two injured human rights activists have been moved from the township they were attacked to the General Hospital in Rangoon.

Members of the HRDP activists group say the attack was prepared in advance and carried out by the junta-back USDA members, and local authorities were also involved in the attack. They said local police officers were seen watching nearby during the attack.

An executive of the junta-back USDA told the BBC Burmese that the activists were provoking the local people and it was the local people who attacked them.

North Korean delegation to visit Burma
(BBC)
A North Korean delegation will visit Burma next week. The North Korean delegation might discuss with Burmese military leaders on resuming diplomatic tie, which have been halted more than two decades ago.

Illegal teak logs seized in Kachin State
(BBC)
The special branch police and members of Military Affairs Security (MAS) have seized six truckloads of illegal teak logs in northern Burma Kachin State. The teak logs, formerly seized during a recent military operation in the area, were allegedly stolen from the forests and transported to towns by the army officials who are close to the northern military command, an observer on China-Burma border said.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(18/4/2007)

New Delhi reopens Mizzima News Agency
(RFA,VOA)
Indian authorities have reopened the New Delhi headquarters of the Mizzima news agency run by exiled Burmese journalists it had closed earlier in the week.

Municipal authorities of New Delhi reopened the office of the news agency Wednesday after meeting with agency representatives. Mizzima staff members had held a peaceful demonstration outside of the municipal office to protest the closing.

According to a report on Mizzima's web site, editors were told the raid was part of a crackdown against commercial activities in residential areas.

New Delhi officials had conducted similar closures throughout the city.
Mizzima News Agency has produced independent news and commentary on Burma since 1998. It covers Burma's military government, human rights situation and India's policy toward Burma.

Burma's ailing prime minister to retire soon
(VOA)
The Irrawaddy magazine published by Burmese journalists based in Thailand has reported that Burma's PM General Soe Win may retire soon. He is reportedly suffering from leukemia.

The prime minister is known for his role in the bloody crackdown on democracy protesters in Rangoon in 1988 and also believed of being the mastermind behind the Depeyin attack on the motorcade of ASSK in 2003.

An unnamed government source says the prime minister's most likely successor will be Lieutenant-General Thein Sein, who is secretary of the SPDC.

Human rights activists attacked in Burma delta
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
A group of Rangoon based human rights activists led by human rights lawyer U Myint Aye was attacked Wednesday afternoon by thugs near a village in Hinthada Township in Burma's delta region. The activists were returning from a village after conducting a program on human rights education. A crowd, reportedly members of junta-backed USDA, waited and attacked the activists near the village entrance. Two human rights activists were injured and are being treated at the township hospital. U Myint Aye said they have filed a complaint with the local police station.

88-Generation students group leader Min Ko Naing said the attack was deliberate and aimed at silencing the opposition.
    
Fighting continue in Karen State
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Fighting between armed ethnic rebels group Karen National Union (KNU) and cease-fire Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) have subsided near Thai-Burma border areas but fighting between KNU troops and Burmese army forces have intensified in inner areas of Karen State in southeast Burma. Local villagers fleeing the fighting to Thai-Burma border areas said that they daily saw wounded Burmese soldiers transported to hospitals in Pa-An and Kawkareik towns in Karen State.

Thai authorities have tightened security at the refugee camps along the border amidst reports that DKBA troops will attack the refugee camps.

Asia-Pacific economies expected to grow
(BBC)
The developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at 7.4 percent in 2007, says UNESCAP in its annual review of economic and social development.

Rangoon-based economist U Khin Mg Nyo says Burma's economy is also expected to be stable at a double-digit growth rate due to an increase in trade and investment from neighbouring countries.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(17/4/2007)

Britain's Finance Minister praises ASSK
(VOA)
Britain's Finance Minister, Gordon Brown, has praised ASSK by calling her a true hero of our times.
In an extract from his new book, "Courage: Eight Portraits," published in the Guardian newspaper Monday, Mr. Brown says ASSK's struggle since her arrest in 1989 is the absolute expression of selflessness.
Mr. Brown writes that ASSK represents the power of the powerless -- a woman, a prisoner of conscience up against a state with one of the worst human rights records in the world.

India shuts down exiled Burmese news agency
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Indian authorities in New Delhi have shut down the headquarters of Mizzima News Agency, an independent news agency run by exiled Burmese journalists.
Policemen and municipal officials ordered the news agency closed after sealing off its office where computers and other equipment are kept.
According to a report on the news agency's website, editors were told the raid was part of an overall crackdown against commercial activities in residential areas.
Mizzima News Agency has produced independent news and commentary on Burma since 1998. It also covers the human rights situation in Burma, the military government and Indian policy towards the country.

China shuts down border casinos

(BBC,VOA)
Chinese officials say they are shutting down more than one-hundred casinos along China's borders since 2005.
Chinese officials said they were concerned that the gambling operations were being used for money laundering activities.

Gambling is illegal in China but many Chinese travel across the border to Vietnam, Burma or Russia to gamble.
Beijing University has estimated that more than one-hundred-billion dollars was bet illegally or overseas last year.

Karen people flee fighting and forced portering in Burma's Karen State
(BBC)
Hundreds of ethnic Karen villagers have fled to Thai-Burma border and to inland Burma to escape the fighting between armed Karen National Union (KNU) rebels and cease-fire Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). KNU has accused the Burmese military of instigating and orchestrating the fighting between the Karen armed groups, which started since the first week of April.

Villagers said they were forced by DKBA troops and Burmese army to work as military porters in the major offensive against the KNU, which has claimed 4 KNU base camps in the recent week. DKBA denies the allegation, saying that villagers were only asked to participate in regional development works.

Chin people from Burma arrested in southern Thailand
(BBC)
A group of ethnic Chin people from Burma was arrested in southern Thailand. The Chin travellers, 14 men, 6 women and 2 children, were travelling without travel documents. They told Thai police that they were travelling to Malaysia to find jobs, because they were facing economic hardships back home.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(4/4/2007)

UN human rights experts say Burma discriminating against Muslim minorities
(BBC,VOA)
A group of UN human rights experts urge Burma's government to stop discriminations against Muslim minorities in the western part of the country.

The experts said in a statement issued Monday that the Rohingyas minorities are not able to exercise their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

They called on the government to repeal a 1982 law that denies citizenship to the Rohingyas. The UN experts say the law has led to various discriminatory practices including restricted access to medical care, food and housing.

As a consequence, they say, thousands of Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring countries, creating a complex humanitarian situation in the region.

The statement was signed by six UN experts, including the special envoy for human rights in Burma.
Meanwhile, there are reports that Thai marine police on Tuesday detained two boats carrying more than 150 Rohingya men from Burma off the western coast of South Thailand. Recently, increasing number of Rohingya boat people from Burma are arrested in Thailand and Malaysia. Thailand says, since the end of 2006, they have spotted and arrested more than 1200 Rohingya boat people in southern Thai waters.

Burma reopens border gate
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burmese authorities Wednesday reopens the Myawaddy-Maesod border gate, which was shut down since 28th March. Burma closed down the border gate in retaliation for Thailand's decision the previous week to close down the checkpoint following the kidnapping of two Thai border patrol policemen by the ethnic cease-fire Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).

Officials in Thailand say the closure of the checkpoint means losses of up to US$ 1.2 million in border trade each day.

Singapore invites Burmese junta leader for an official visit
(VOA)
Singapore has invited Burma's military junta leader Senior General Than Shwe for an official visit to Singapore.
According to a Singapore Foreign Ministry statement Wednesday, visiting Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo extended the official invitation during a meeting with Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, the secretary of the Burmese military junta. George Yeo is on a three-day visit to Burma.

The statement said the two discussed bilateral ties and exchanged views on forging closer economic exchanges, particularly in the area of trade and investment.

The statement says Thein Sein proposed that Burma could become a long-term supplier to Singapore of construction materials. He also encouraged Singaporean companies to invest in Burma.

Burmese activist freed after nearly a month in detention
(VOA)
Burmese activists say pro-democracy activist Thwin Lin Aung was released Monday after nearly a month in detention on suspicion of joining a US sponsored political training programme in Washington. Thwin Lin Aung was arrested on March 5th as he prepared to leave Rangoon airport.

Thwin Lin Aung said he was questioned about the activities of the American Center in Rangoon.
Thwin Lin Aung is a former political prisoner who spent more than six years in prison for his involvement in a protest in 1996.

Ethnic Shan environmental group protests against Tasang Dam in Shan State
(BBC)
Shan Sapawa Environmental Organisation urges the Thai company MDX, to pull out from the construction of the Tasang Dam on Salween River in eastern Burma Shan State.

A spokesman of the group told the BBC Burmese that around 60,000 villagers from areas adjoining the dam site and the projected flood zone are forced to be relocated in the past years.

The project will not only hurt the livelihood of the villagers but also damage the environment of the river, said the spokesman.

Thailand's MDX company has been preparing for the construction of the Tasang dam since 1989.

Residents of Chauk to protest against tax hikes
(RFA,VOA)
Residents of Chauk Town in central Burma are planning to send protest letters to the municipal authorities concerning tax hikes in the town. Residents say municipal authorities have significantly raised taxes and the town's people are being affected.  


Summary of Radio News on Burma
(30/3/2007~1/4/2007)

NLD accused of taking orders from US and UK
(BBC)
Burma's government-run New Light of Myanmar Newspaper wrote Sunday that Burma's main opposition NLD is depending too much on western powers and the party taking instructions from the US and UK embassies in Rangoon. The newspaper said that there were 29 contacts in March alone between NLD and the two embassies and the party is receiving instructions through letters and parcels sent by the embassies. 

NLD spokesman U Myint Thein denied the government's accusations and said that NLD was only receiving information and publications from the embassies through regular letters and parcels. He said NLD is a legitimate political party and is having contacts with the western embassies according to international relations and protocol.

Ethnic Shan democracy party calls for leaders' release
(RFA,BBC)
The ethnic Shan National League for Democracy is making calls for the release of their leaders including U Hkun Htun Oo, Sai Nyunt Lwin and other party leaders. A special appeal for them to the high court was rejected earlier last week.

U Hkun Htun Oo and party leaders were arrested more than two years ago and they were given long prison sentences for charges including treason. The SNLD won majority of votes after NLD in the 1990 election.

Burma jails two officials over forced labour
(VOA)
The state-run New Light of Myanmar, reported Saturday that two men were sentenced late last month over forced labour practice. The men were jailed just days after Burma signed an agreement with the ILO.
According to the agreement, ordinary Burmese people can report incidents of forced labour to the ILO office in Rangoon. The agreement allows the ILO liaison officer in Rangoon to make a preliminary investigation into allegations and guarantees that the government will not retaliate against those making complaints.
In another case, the government news report said five Forest Department personnel were dismissed from their jobs for forcing villagers to cut down trees.
The report did not mention any ILO involvement.

Mekong youth forum on human trafficking
(BBC)
Young people aged 13 to 19 from Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Vietnam and Thailand took part in the Mekong Youth Forum held in Bangkok

The forum discussed the risks of human trafficking affecting children and young people in the South East Asia region.
Reports say that children from Burma, as young as ten years old, are sold to traffickers by their parents in some cases.

One of the social welfare groups from Maesod, Social Action for Women (SAW),
is helping those children fleeing from Burma due to poverty, and some are rescued from human trafficking.

Ethnic Kachin groups staged protests over rape case
(BBC)
Exiled ethnic Kachin groups held protests in front of the Burmese embassies in Tokyo, London, Washington and Denmark, demanding justice for the rape victims in Putao in northern Burma Kachin State. Four Kachin schoolgirls aged between 14 and 16 were gang raped by Burmese army soldiers in February. The schoolgirls were later arrested and jailed after exiled independent Burmese media reported the case.

 
Burma's Navy Chief visits India
(BBC)
Burma's Navy Chief Vice Admiral Soe Thein is visiting India. Soe Thein is leading a Burmese navy delegation, which will discuss the two countries naval co-operation.




Summary of Radio News on Burma
(29/3/2007)

Leaked report revealed low morale in Burma's Army
(BBC)
"Burma army battalions are poorly managed, lacking resources and are plagued by desertion", according to a report in the latest issue of Jane's Defence Weekly citing a leaked top secret document on the meeting minutes of the Burmese military junta's quarterly meeting held in September 2006 at Nay Pyi Daw.

The report, it is said, details the problems face by the armed forces of the country.
"Battalion commanders are chastised for drinking excessively and for being fixated on profit making and womanising," the report said.

The leaked document revealed that military regiments in the country are undermanned. There are 284 regiments with less than 200 soldiers and there are 220 regiments, which have between 200 and 300 soldiers. A fully structured military regiment has 750 soldiers.

There are 13,700 Burmese soldiers found to have HIV/AIDS virus and thousands of soldiers are affected with Hepatitis B virus.  

Despite all the problems, the leaders of the country have ordered to recruit 7000 soldiers per month out of 7 million youth aged between 18 and 25 in the country. The report said Burmese military leaders are determined to expand the armed forces to reach 500,000 soldiers in the next few years.

Burmese army is also accused of conscripting child soldiers forcibly, to which authorities have denied.

Thai officials voice concern about closure of Burmese border checkpoints
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Officials in Thailand are voicing their concern about the closure of a major border checkpoint between the two countries.

Burma shut its Myawaddy-Maesod border crossing on Wednesday. Officials in Thailand say the closure of the checkpoint could mean losses of up to US$ 1.2 million in border trade each day.

Residents from Myawaddy border town in Burma and Maesod in Thailand said businesses are being greatly affected by the border closure.

The move of Burma appears to be in retaliation for Thailand's decision last week to close down one of its checkpoints following the kidnapping last week of two Thai border patrol policemen by the cease-fire Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).

The DKBA has close links to Burma's military regime.

Woman farmer released from prison
(RFA,VOA)
Daw Khin Win, a Burmese woman farmer who was sentenced earlier this year to 1-year imprisonment for allegedly lodging false complaints against local authorities, was released Thursday after serving 3 months in prison. 

Daw Khin Win said she will continue to lodge complaints against the malpractice of local authorities and will seek legal action against those whom responsible for her false imprisonment.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(28/3/2007)

ILO defers Burma International Court challenge
(BBC,VOA)
The International Labour Organisation will defer a plan to take Burma to the International Court of Justice over forced labour, following a deal reached last month between the ILO and the Burmese military junta that gives victims means of redress.
The junta has promised victims freedom to submit complaints directly to the ILO officer in Rangoon, without retaliation from authorities.
The ILO said it would assess whether the scheme was workable before it decided whether to proceed with the legal challenge.

The Burmese junta has sentenced to six months imprisonment two ward authorities in Aung Lan Township in central Burma for forced labour practice, as a first case after the agreement with ILO.

Pinheiro calls for release of journalist U Win Tin
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
The UN special envoy on human rights in Burma Tuesday appealed to the Burmese military government to release the well-known journalist and poet U Win Tin, who has been in jail for nearly 18 years. Mr.Pinheiro also called for the release of all other political prisoners.

Prof. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said the processes of national reconciliation and democratic transition could be facilitated by the release of all political prisoners.

U Win Tin, earlier this month spent his 77th birthday in prison.

Activists accuse Burma of mounting a state of Terror
(VOA)
Human Rights activists from Burma are appealing to the UN Human Rights Council and the international community to maintain pressure on the Burmese military rulers to end repression on the country's ethnic Karen minority.

The Burmese activists accuse the Burmese military of waging a campaign of terror against people in Karen State in eastern Burma. The activists submit a study titled 'The State of Terror', prepared by the Karen Women's Organisation, which documented about 4,000 cases of human right abuse in nearly 200 villages.

90% of all documented human rights violations in the report are forced relocations and forced labouring or military portering. There are also abuses such as rape, beating, denial of food, water and shelter and denial of the right to legal redress. The author says increasing numbers of Karen are fleeing across the border into Thailand to escape the brutal treatment and many more people have become internally displaced.

U Win Naing, who represents the exiled government NCGUB, says a strong voice is needed from the United Nations to protect the people in Burma.

U Win Naing urges the UN Human Rights Council not to do away with the special rapporteurs that investigate human rights violations in countries around the world.

U Win Naing says his group supports international sanctions against the military government.

Bangladesh mistreats Burmese refugees: HRW
(VOA)
The Human Rights Watch has released a new report alleging that Muslim ethnic refugees from Burma are being mistreated in Bangladesh.

The report says there are about 250,000 Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh, and that many of them are mistreated by Bangladeshi authorities who want them out of their country.

More than 250,000 Rohingya from western Burma were forced into Bangladesh by the Burmese military in 1992 during a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign.

Iran invites Burmese FM to visit Tehran
(VOA)
Iran's Foreign Minister has invited Burmese FM to visit Tehran and expressed his hope that the two sides can boost co-operation.

Iranian state media said that during a meeting with Burma's deputy foreign minister U Kyaw Thu Wednesday, the Iran FM expressed Tehran's desire to strengthen economic co-operations between the two countries.

Iran state media said the Burmese official echoed the interest in strengthening ties, and also noted Burma's desire to open an embassy in Tehran.

Burma closes border gates with Thailand
(BBC)
Large quantities of goods were left stranded along the Burmese border after Burma closed its checkpoints along the border with Thailand, in retaliation for Thailand's earlier closure of two border checkpoints. Burma's closure of its Three Pagodas and Myawaddy checkpoints obstructed trade along the border.

Thai and Burmese traders were told by Burmese troops that the checkpoints would be closed indefinitely.
The move followed Thailand's closure over the weekend of the Three Pagodas Pass checkpoint and the Singkhon border pass, in protest against the abductions of two Thai border patrol policemen by cease-fire ethnic DKBA.

Thailand reopened the border passes after the officers were released on Monday.
There are reports that the Burmese military is unhappy that Thailand negotiated for the release of its police officers directly with the DKBA, not through the Burmese military authorities. Sources on the border said Burma is demanding apology from Thailand for the direct dealing with the DKBA.

Three Chinese anti-drugs police shot dead on Myanmar border
(BBC,VOA)
Three Chinese police officers died and three were injured in a shootout with suspected drug traffickers on the border with Burma, Chinese state media said Wednesday.

The officers were mounting a surveillance operation when they were attacked Sunday in the border county of Yijiang in the south-western province of Yunnan.

The three injured officers were in stable condition.
Yunnan police were hunting for the suspected drug traffickers, who escaped across the border after the gunfight.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(26/3/2007)

Burma making progress toward democracy: Military junta
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burma's information minister Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan says the country is making progress toward democracy.
The minister made the remarks in the new capital Naypyitaw Monday at the first news conference opens to foreign journalists. 

Kyaw Hsan said the remaining parts of the constitution will be adopted at the next national convention which is expected to be held in May or in the later part of this year.

The constitutional convention was established as the first stage of a 7-steps roadmap.
It is intended to help establish power-sharing agreements between a future elected government and the ruling military.
Kyaw Hsan rejected accusations that the military is responsible for human rights abuses in the country. He also denied accusations that authorities mistreated prisoners.

The information minister told journalists that the military junta had no plans to release ASSK from house arrest. He said it depends on ASSK to be released and ASSK should change her mindset against the military government.

He also hinted that the pro-junta USDA (Union Solidarity and Development Association) could participate in elections in the future if that was what the people wanted.

Kyaw Hsan confirmed during the news conference that the Prime Minister General Soe Win is receiving treatment in Singapore. He said the prime minister's condition was good.

Around 50 foreign journalists have been allowed to enter the country to cover celebrations marking Armed Forces' Day on Tuesday.

At the Monday news conference, Burma's police chief Police Brigadier General Khin Yi accused the International Committee of the Red Cross of blackmail, saying the organisation is favouring the country's political prisoners. Khin Yi said the ICRC only visited those prisoners who had harmed national stability and that it refused to be accompanied by Burmese officials.

He suggested the ICRC decision to close two field offices in the country as a result of the prison visit ban amounts to blackmail.
Earlier this month, the Red Cross said its humanitarian work in Burma was at near-paralysis because of obstruction by the military government.

Burma trade surplus reached 1.4 billion dollars in 2006
(RFA)
Burma gained a trade surplus of 1.4 billion dollars in 2006, on total exports worth 3.5 billion dollars, a senior economic official told the press conference Monday.
Myint Myint Soe, director-general of Burma's ministry of national planning and economic development, said total exports amounted to over 3.5 billion dollars and imports over 2 billion as of the end of 2006. She said the country gained a surplus of more than 1.4 billion in balance of trade and 1.9 billion dollars in the current-account balance.
Burma's main export item is natural gas, being exported to neighbouring Thailand.
The economic official told journalists that Burma's inflation rate was 10.7 per cent in 2006, up considerably from 3.8 per cent in 2005.
She said total foreign investments at the end of 2006 amounted to 14.2 billion dollars, with 409 foreign companies from 29 different countries operating in the country.

Demonstration in front of NLD headquarters

(BBC)
Authorities informed Burma's main opposition NLD that some people will stage protest Tuesday against NLD at it headquarters where the party will hold a ceremony to mark the 62nd anniversary of Revolution Day.

Karen rebels release Thai border policemen
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Authorities in Thailand said two border policemen have been released four days after they were kidnapped and taken to Burma by the cease-fire ethnic rebels group Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).

Demonstrations in 15 countries against Shwe Gas project in Burma
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Protests against Korea's Daewoo International, for allegedly selling military equipment to Burma in exchange for energy contracts, took place in 15 countries around the world Monday. Indian government was also targeted for allegedly selling guns and tanks to the Burmese regime to secure energy supplies.
Protests were held across the world including in France, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Malaysia. 

In Bangkok, activists staged protest at the Korean embassy demanding that both Daewoo and India withdraw from deals worth up to 17 billion dollars in taxes and fees to the ruling military regime.
Daewoo International, along with three other Korean and Indian corporations, are stakeholders in the Shwe Natural Gas Project, an offshore field that may hold up 10 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Fourteen Daewoo executives, including Daewoo President Lee Tae-yong, were indicted in South Korea in December for illegally selling military equipment to Burma.
Daewoo told the court earlier that it had no criminal intention in selling the equipment to Burma, and had ultimately acted in the interests of Korea. The case was adjourned until April 12.
The protestors against the project said construction of gas pipelines would also cause human rights abuses, because the Burmese military habitually use forced labour, uproot local communities and confiscate land.

UNHCR welcomes the release of Burmese babies from Malaysia prisons
(VOA)
The UNHCR says it has welcomed Malaysia's decision to release six Burmese babies arrested with their relatives and held for weeks for not having valid travel documents.

The agency said in a statement Monday the babies, all between the ages of four and six weeks, were released along with their mothers into UN custody last Thursday.

The UNHCR thanked authorities in Kuala Lumpur for releasing the babies and their parents from detention, calling it a humanitarian act. In total, 25 people were released.



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(27/3/2007)

Burma held Armed Forces Day
(RFA,BBC,VOA) 
Burma held its annual Armed Forces Day military parade in the country's new capital, Nay Pyi Daw on Tuesday. The ruling military puts on a grandiose show of military might and defiance at the parade. Foreign reporters were invited to attend the annual event for the first time.

Burma's military junta leader Senior General Than Shwe made an address to the 15,000 soldiers on the parade ground. In the nationally televised address, Than Shwe accused "powerful countries" of trying to undermine national unity in the country. He also accused the powerful countries of trying to weaken the armed forces and the civil services. Than Shwe said one of the most important priorities for the country is maintaining sovereignty. He also said the country is making progress toward democracy.

Although Than Shwe reportedly is suffering from ill health, the 74 year old general stood about one and a half hour after he stood up out of the sunroof of his stretch Mercedes as he inspected troops under the hot morning sun.

Many Burmese watchers believe that this will be his final Armed Forces Day before he steps down.
According to one analyst, Larry Jagan, the faces in the military may change but the policies will not; the iron grip of the military will remain. He said personnel changes in the military are not going to change the fundamental nature of the Burmese military rule

NLD held Resistance Day ceremony
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burma main opposition NLD held the annual Resistance Day ceremony Tuesday at the party's headquarters in Rangoon. About 500 opposition supporters, including veteran politicians, 88-generation student leaders and foreign diplomats attended the ceremony.

The NLD party issued a statement on the occasion, urging the military government to convene parliament with elected representatives, to release political prisoners and to solve economic hardships of the people.

The 88-generation students also issued a statement on the occasion, saying that it was not only the military that fought and expelled the invading fascists 62 years ago, but also that students and politicians were involved in the revolution. The 88-generation students urge the military to co-operate with the opposition forces to solve the country's problems.  

ADB report says Burma's economy still facing challenges
(VOA)
A report released on Tuesday by Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Burma continues to face significant economic challenges despite lucrative natural gas exports.

The report said high prices for natural gas exports and a good harvest led to a modest pickup in economic activity. But macroeconomic stability remains elusive with monetized fiscal deficits feeding high inflation.

The report also stressed that inefficiencies in public expenditure management as well as capital spending associated with a shift of the new capital to Naypyidaw have attributed to poor economic performance. The ADB said Burma needs economic reforms.

ILO Governing Gody to discuss Burma issue Wednesday
(BBC,VOA)
The ILO liaison officer in Burma, Mr Richard Horsey, said the ILO Governing Body will discuss Burma's forced labour issue on Wednesday at a meeting of the Governing Body.

KNPP camp under attack
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
A strategic camp of the armed ethnic rebels group Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) in eastern Burma Karenni State was attacked by the Burmese army with heavy artillery shelling on Monday and Tuesday evenings. KNPP spokesman Ramond Khoo said Burmese troops fired altogether 6 heavy artillery shells on the KNPP camp on Thai-Burma border and there was no casualty. He said the shelling might have started after soldiers from both sides were involved in cross-camp exchanges of verbal insults.

India's Mizzoram State stops poultry imports from Burma
(RFA,VOA)
India's northeastern state of Missoram has stopped poultry imports from Burma amidst reports of bird flu outbreaks in Burma.

Burma Tuesday confirmed 5 cases of bird flu outbreaks in the capital Rangoon since the end of February. 




Summary of Radio News on Burma
(22/3/2007)

Lone protester arrested in Rangoon
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Police have detained an activist who staged a solo protest in Rangoon Thursday calling for freedom of religion.
Htin Kyaw was arrested in front of a busy market in Rangoon, while shouting slogans calling for religious freedom in the country.

Friends of Htin Kyaw say he was unhappy that officials prevented him from becoming a monk at a local monastery.
Htin Kyaw has been arrested a few times since last month. He was first arrested in late February after leading a demonstration in downtown Rangoon calling for political freedom and better living conditions. He was arrested two more times after holding a news conference that focused on similar issues.

Thai troops on alert along Burmese border
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
News reports from Thailand said Thai troops at Burmese border are put on alert after an unknown armed group from Burma stormed a Thai army post on Wednesday. One Thai soldier was killed in the clash in northern Thailand Mae Hong Son province.

A spokesman for the ethnic armed Karenni Nationals Progressive Party (KNPP), which operates in the area, said it was Burmese army troops that attacked the Thai army post. He said some Burmese army troops must have mistakenly attacked the Thai army post, since Burmese military columns are currently clearing Karenni rebels in the area. 

A spokesman of the Thai military said the attack might have been a mistake of identity since there is no problem between the Burmese and Thai military forces.

Karenni rebels holding peace talks with Burmese military
(BBC)
Ethnic Karanni armed rebels group Karenni Nationals Progessive Pary (KNPP) is meeting with Burmese military authorities for peace talks, sources from eastern Burma Kayah State said.

UN warned over future availability of water
(BBC)
The United Nations has marked World Water Day Thursday with a warning that, on every continent, supplies of water are coming under pressure.

By 2025, the UN says, two-thirds of people on the planet could be living with water shortages.
A researcher in Burma, Dr. Nyo Maung, told the BBC Burmese that future availability of clean water in Burma depends on conservation of forests and control of pollution in Burma's rivers



Summary of Radio News on Burma
(21/3/2007)

Burmese PM in Singapore hospital with serious health problem
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Reports say Burmese Prime Minister Soe Win is taking treatment in Singapore General Hospital for an unspecified health problem.

An unnamed Burmese embassy official in Singapore Wednesday said General Soe Win arrived in Singapore several weeks ago and his health condition is somewhat serious.

Some news sources reported last week that General Soe Win may be suffering from leukaemia.

FAO wants tougher bird flu controls in Burma
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
The UN's FAO reported a new outbreak of bird flu in Burma on Wednesday and called for more stringent measures to control the spread of the virus.
About 1,600 chickens contracted the virus and died during the weekend at a farm in Nyaunghnapin, about 25 miles north of Rangoon, said Tang Zang Ping, the representative for the FAO.
Authorities slaughtered more than 20,000 birds as a precautionary measure, he said.
Mr. Tan said there should be stricter controls on the movement of poultry and poultry products.
Burmese authorities warned in a statement that despite preparedness and designating restricted zones and controlled zones, there can be more bird flu outbreaks in the country.

Karen villagers return to KNLA-controlled area
(RFA,VOA)
Armed ethnic Karen National Union (KNU) says about 30 villagers who went together with a splinter group of Karen Nationals Liberation Army's Brigade 7 led by Brig. Gen. Htin Maung, which recently entered into a peace deal with the Burmese military, have returned to KNLA-controlled area on Thai Burma border. The villagers say they were forced to work in road construction works and they did not receive proper assistance that were initially promised to them. The KNU says they will welcome those deserters who would like to return to the KNU.   

Authorities arrested two activists for distributing UN human rights leaflets
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burmese authorities on Tuesday arrested two activists in central Burma Pegu Division for allegedly distributing the text of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Local police Tuesday arrested Kyaw Kyaw Oo and Kyaw Swe, staff members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in Prome, while distributing pamphlets of the UDHR. The two were interrogated and were released on Wednesday. They were warned that their actions violate press and publishing laws and they could face prison terms. 


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(20/3/2007)

Burmese PM in Singapore hospital
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burma's Prime Minister General Soe Win is in a Singapore hospital with an unspecified medical problem, an embassy official said Tuesday.

Soe Win arrived some time ago and is in the Singapore General Hospital, said the official who asked not to be identified. The official declined to provide details of his condition. "He is here in a private capacity and it is true that he is here for medical reasons," the official said.

Soe Win is the suspected mastermind of the deadly Depeyin attack on ASSK's convoy four years ago in central Burma.

Burma plans to hold election in later part of 2008: NMSP
(BBC)
An official of ethnic cease-fire New Mon State Party (NMSP) said the Burmese military government is planning to hold elections in the later part of 2008.  

The Mon official, who attended a meeting held early March between Burmese military officials and ethnic cease-fire groups, said they were told by Burmese officials that the military government is planning to hold national referendum in the first six month of 2008 and elections in the later part of 2008. Cease-fire groups are urged to enter the election, said the Mon official.

Thousands of chickens slaughtered in new bird flu outbreak near Rangoon
(BBC,VOA)
Authorities have slaughtered thousands of chickens after discovering another outbreak of bird flu in Rangoon over the weekend. The discovery of bird flue on a chicken farm in Hmawbi, a northern suburb of Rangoon, is the fifth such outbreak in the country this year.

The national consultant at the FAO in Rangoon said officials are taking effective precautionary measures and there is still no report of human case in Burma.


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(19/3/2007)

ASSK honoured in India
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
The Netaji Subhas Foundation in India has honoured ASSK with an award for her struggle for democracy in Burma.
The foundation recognised ASSK on Monday at a ceremony in Kolkata. A representative of ASSK received the award and a cash prize on behalf of her.
The foundation said in a statement that it wants to send a strong message that the Indian people stand behind democratic movements in Burma.
 

UN Chief expresses concerns over lack of democratic progress in Burma
(VOA)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said in an interview with the VOA that he is concerned about the lack of progress in the democratisation process in Burma.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon said he is going to use the experience of UN special envoy for Burma, Mr. Gambari, to help the Burmese people to democratise their systems.

Three Diseases Fund provides 20 million US dollars in Burma
(BBC)
The "Three Diseases Fund" has provided assistance worth of US$ 20 million for new projects to reduce human suffering in Burma.

The fund started their operation in Burma in late 2006 after the withdrawal of Global Fund from Burma.
Mr. Andrew Jacob, a top official from the "Three D Fund", which is organised by donor countries from European countries and Australia, told the BBC that they are confident that their fund will reach to people in need.

He said it is important to maintain transparency and accountability in the "Three D Fund" supporting. He also said whether their support can reach remote areas is still one of their main concerns.

Ethnic Chin rebels group enters peace talk with Burmese military
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Leaders from Chin National Front (CNF), an ethnic armed rebels group based on the border bewteen India and Burma, said they are happy with the outcome of their recent talks with Burmese military officials.

Dr. Shwe Khar, a leader of the CNF said they have agreed with their Burmese counterparts to hold more talks in the near future.

The CNF has been fighting against the Burmese army for almost twenty years to gain autonomy in their areas.

Another bird flu outbreak reported in Rangoon
(BBC,VOA)
An official with the FAO in Rangoon said they have detected another bird flu outbreak in Hmawbi Township, a northern suburb of Rangoon


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(16/3/2007~18/3/2007)

EU and ASEAN agree to boost ties; EU urges ASEAN to pressure Burma
(RFA,VOA)
The EU and ASEAN Friday released a joint statement during a meeting in Nuremberg. In the statement, foreign ministers from both regions pledged to co-operate more on political and economic issues. The two groups' effort to establish a free trade deal is hampered by the situation in Burma.

EU officials urged ASEAN counterparts to pressure Burma to improve its human rights record, and to call for the release of ASSK.

In January, ASEAN agreed to work to establish a free trade zone with the EU by 2015.

ICRC to close two offices in Burma
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
In a statement Friday, the ICRC says it will close two of its offices in Burma because its work in the country is at "near-paralysis." The organisation says its staff members are unable to independently conduct prison visits and trips to sensitive border areas.

The statement says the ICRC will close offices in Mawlamyine in southeast Burma and Kyaing Tong in eastern Burma, and will review whether to keep open its remaining three field offices.

FAO says Burma needs help to fight bird flu
(VOA)
The FAO says that while Burma responded quickly to outbreaks of bird flu last month, it needs more help to continue its fight against the disease in the long term.

The FAO says that the source of an outbreak that spread to four townships around Rangoon in late February is still unknown.

To help prevent further outbreaks, the FAO says that more intensive surveillance was needed around Rangoon. It is also recommending that the country strengthen its lab capabilities, animal health services and public awareness campaigns.

The FAO is providing Burma with 1.4 million dollars in emergency assistance to help fight the disease.

UK expresses concerns about effective use of 3D funds in Burma
(BBC)
The Three Diseases Fund Board is holding a meeting in Burma to give new aid for work to fight HIV, TB and malaria in Burma.

Out of one hundred million dollars aid from Western countries, UK will contribute twenty million pounds.
The UK Minister for Development, Gareth Thomas told the BBC about the concerns for the fund to reach the most in need and asked for an effective monitoring system.

MkOne withdraws clothing from Burma
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
MkOne, the high street value fashion store in U.K, has withdrawn from its stores a range of clothes imported from Burma.

MkOne claimed to have had no knowledge of where the clothes came from and conducted an investigation once The Observer newspaper made them aware that Burma is ruled by military dictatorship, where human rights abuses are rampant, labour unions are banned and forced labour practices exist.

MkOne's chief executive, said suppliers should not source from Burma and the company was not aware of the issues.
Customs figures show that the UK imports tens of millions of pounds worth of clothes from Burma.

Karen villagers call for peace in war zones
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Around seven hundred ethnic Karen villagers Sunday staged a rare demonstration near Maesod on Thai-Burma border.
The villagers called for an end to the fighting between Karen National Union and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
The villagers also blamed the Burmese military government for instigating the fighting between the two rival groups, which erupted in recent weeks.

88-Students call for a stop in harassing the dissidents
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
The 88-generation students group issued a statement over the weekend, calling on the authorities to stop harassing the dissident students. The students group said they are facing mounting harassment from the authorities and some of their members have been either detained, or harass by junta-backed thugs in recent weeks. The students group said dissident students taking courses at the US Information Service (USIS) in Rangoon are facing questionings by the authorities. The group also said a dissident student on his way abroad for further studies was arrested recently at Rangoon airport and being detained since then.  

Burma arrests 328 suspected drug dealers
(VOA)
Burma's state-run "The New Light of Myanmar" reports Friday that the 270 men and 58 women were arrested in raids last month. Police also seized 73 kilograms of opium, 15 kilograms of heroin and various other illicit drugs in more than 100 raids in the country.

Daewoo in court for exporting military equipment to Burma
(RFA, BBC, VOA)
South Korea's Daewoo International faces charges for exporting military equipment to Burma. The Daewoo's representative told the court in the first hearing last week in Seoul that the company has no criminal intention in exporting the equipment to Burma. The representative said that the company has exported the equipment to Burma in the interests of Korea.

Russian firms to explore oil, gas in Burma
(VOA)
Two Russian oil companies will conduct oil and gas exploration and production in an inland area of Burma.
Under production sharing contracts with Burma's state-run Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, the Silver Wave Sputnik Petroleum Pte Ltd and the Silver Wave Energy Pte Ltd of the Russian Federation will carry out the undertakings at an inland block B2, said sources from MOGE.


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(8/3/2007)

Veteran politician U Win Naing & activist Htin Kyaw arrested
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burma's special branch police Thursday took away veteran politician Amyotharye U Win Naing and activist Htin Kyaw after the two held a press conference.

Sources said the two men were taken into custody at about 2pm after they have finished the press conference at U Win Naing's house in Rangoon.

The special police reportedly told family members that some senior officials in Naypyidaw want to ask them some questions.

The press conference began around noon Thursday and was attended by reporters working for local and international media groups.

Sources said the two men talked to the media about the lack of political freedom and poor living conditions in the country.

Htin Kyaw, the leader of a recent demonstration in downtown Rangoon last month, was briefly detained and questioned by special branch on Tuesday.

Man charged in Rangoon for posting signs on his fence wall mocking the government 
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
A man in Rangoon Thingangyun Township was arrested and charged for writing and posting signs on his fence complaining about high commodity prices and mocking the ariticles in the state-run newspapers.

Special police arrested a 65-year-old former sailor U Thein Zan Wednesday after he wrote politically sensitive satirical phrases over official newspaper clippings he had stuck on his fence wall.

He was brought before the township court Thursday and charged for provoking public unrest.
The court hearing was attended by leaders and members of the 88-generation students group. Opposition NLD legal support group is defending U Thien Zan in the court.

Exiled Burmese women marched in Chaingmai
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Exiled Burmese women in northern Thai City of Chaingmai marched on the International Women's day to demand for more security for Burmese women.

The Women League of Burma, an umbrella group of exiled Burmese women organisations, calls on ASEAN to put more pressure on the Burmese military regime to stop violence against women in Burma.

KNU base overran by Burmese and DKBA troops
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
A combined force of Burmese army troops and troops from the cease-fire Karen splinter group Democratic Karen Buddhist Army DKBA overran a base the ethnic rebels Karen National Union, on Thai-Burma border after fierce fighting.

The KNU said the Burmese military has broken a gentleman agreement for cease-fire and attacked a base of KNU Brigade 6. 

About 150 Karen villagers fled the fighting and are now taking shelter across the border in Thailand.


Summary of Radio News on Burma
(7/3/2007)

Burmese authorities detain protesters
(BBC,VOA)
Htin Kyaw, an activist who led a demonstration in Rangoon last month says the government has detained eight protesters who took part in the demonstration.

Htin Kyaw says he and seven others were taken into custody Tuesday night. He said he was released early Wednesday morning but the others remain in detention.

The activists were among about 25 people who rallied in Rangoon on 22nd February calling for lower consumer prices, and improved health care and education.

Burmese authorities earlier had arrested and released nine other demonstrators.
Htin Kyaw said he was warned not to stage anymore demonstration.
Similarly, U Thu Wai, the leader of Democracy Party in Burma, was recently summoned by Special Branch police and warned not to plan to stage demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Veteran Politician Amyothaye U Win Naing said he will hold a news conference Thursday to issue a statement entitled 'a situation threatening peace for the Burmese people'. 

U Win Naing said he hopes the authorities will allow him to hold the news conference.

Burma among world's worst human rights offenders: U.S. report
(VOA)
The U.S. State Department has released its 2006 Human Rights report, naming Burma among the world's worst human rights offenders.

The annual report said Burma's human rights record worsened last year because the country banned aid groups from visiting prisoners, detained opposition leaders and increased attacks on ethnic minorities. The report also said military officials in Burma were also said to have committed murder, rape and torture, abused prisoners and arbitrarily imprisoned citizens for political reasons.

Taxes and licence fees increased in Burma
(BBC)
The authorities have increased taxes and licence fees in Burma, said residents in Mandalay and Bago divisions. Residents in Mandalay said licence fees for butcher licences in their division have increased about 30% this year, causing meat prices to increase significantly. Another resident in Bago Division said transport licence fees including trishaw licence fees were increased significantly this year.

BBC TV documentary shows the plight of displaced Karen refugees in Burma
(BBC)
BBC TV channel 4 broadcasts a documentary entitled 'Cooking in Danger Zone', which recorded and shows the plight of displaced Karen refugees in eastern Burma's Karen State. The documentary shows the BBC TV crew venturing deep inside Burma with a group of Karen rebels, near to the Burmese troops positions in the conflict zones. 


Summary of Radio News on Burma

(5/3/2007)

88-generation students group ends the 'open heart' campaign
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
The leaders of the 88-generation students group said Sunday that the 'open heart' letter campaign initiated by the group has ended successfully. They said they have received over 12,000 letters during the campaign, which started on 4th January. The students group distributed 20,000 envelopes and asked the public to write letters to Burmese military junta leader Senior General Than Shwe about their grievances. The students said they will forward the letters to the Senior General.

High HIV risk for Burmese fishermen
(BBC)
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said in a report that nearly one hundred thousand fishermen from Burma may have been infected with HIV virus. FAO estimates that there are more than six hundred thousand fishermen in Burma.

Dr Edward Allison, one of the authors of the report, told the BBC that fishing communities in some poor countries have the highest HIV rates, a little-known phenomenon caused mainly by fishermen's travels and a custom of trading sex for fish.

Burma's Academy Award ceremony held in Naypyidaw
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burma's 2005 Academy Award Ceremony was held for the first time in the new administrative capital Naypyidaw after a few months of delay due to uncompleted construction works on the venue. People from the country's movie industry flocked to Naypyidaw to attend the ceremony Monday evening. This year top awards went to the movies and casts of patriotic movies, said the industry sources.

Political prisoners health conditions deteriorating in Burmese prisons
(VOA)
Health conditions of political prisoners Ko Nyi Nyi Oo and U Aung Kin are deteriorating in Burmese prisons, family members and Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said Monday. U Aung Kin, who taught with his students about Burma's independence hero General Aung San and ASSK, was given a 3-years prison sentence in 2005 on charges of illegally conducting a private tuition. U Aung Kin has been staging hunger strike since 12th February because he was denied access to medical treatments for his stomach disease.    


Summary of Radio News on Burma
(1/3/2007~4/3/2007)

Burma confirms more bird flu outbreaks in Rangoon: Wild birds blamed for the outbreaks
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Burma's official newspapers confirmed that the outbreaks of bird flu have spread to at least three more townships in Rangoon.

The latest outbreaks were discovered in Hlaing Thayar and Insein township, western suburbs of Rangoon. Earlier this week authorities confirmed a new outbreak of the H5N1 virus on poultry farms in Rangoon's western suburbs.
Burmese officials said crows and sparrows may have carried the H5N1 virus to a poultry farm in the suburbs of Rangoon sparking the latest outbreaks.

Official reports said a few dozens of dead wild birds were also found around Rangoon but they were not infected with H5N1 virus.
Officials said they have imposed restrictions on the infected areas and about three hundred people who had direct contacts with infected fowls are quarantined.

No human cases have been announced in the country.

Malaysian police arrested Burmese boat people
(RFA,BBC,VOA)
Malaysian maritime police said they have intercepted a fishing boat Sunday morning and detained 108 Burmese nationals who were trying to enter the country illegally. Malaysian police said the 20-feet boat was designed to carry only 10 people.

Malaysian police said all the 108 Burmese were males between ages 12 and 52, who had been at sea for 15 days without valid travel documents.

Police are investigating whether a syndicate is behind them to smuggle people into Malaysia.
Meanwhile, human rights activists said Chin refugees in Malaysia are facing a series of crack down by the Malaysian authorities.

Burma's poppy cultivation down, production of synthetic drugs sharply up: US Report
(RFA,BBC,VOA)