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BurmaNet News: May 28, 2001
______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
May 28, 2001 Issue # 1812
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
NOTED IN PASSING: "Sexy but prickly"
The caption of postcards showing a woman in a barbed wire bra. The
postcards urge a boycott of Triumph, a lingerie manufacturer the sources
from Burma. See AFP: Dutch group: target Triumph bras from Myanmar
INSIDE BURMA _______
*Mizzima: Aung San Suu Kyi not allowed to participate in the NLD
function
*Shan EU News: Leader of the Shan Sangha passed away
*DVB : SPDC blames internal, external destructive elements for Toungoo
religious riots
*DVB: Inter-religious clashes spreading
*DVB : Junta claims Toungoo riots "not instigated" by Military
Intelligence
*The Hindu (New Delhi): India to maintain Myanmar road
*New Light of Myanmar: e-English Summer Courses launched
MONEY _______
*Burma Courier: Cooking Oil Queues Stir up Consumer Resentment
*Kyodo: Keidanren, Myanmar begin talks on trade, investment
*AFP: Dutch group target Triumph bras from Myanmar
GUNS______
*DVB: Burma-- Pro-government Karen, Wa "urgently" drafting new recruits
*AP: Myanmar cancels border talks with Thailand
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*AFP: Thai PM says goodwill visit should help end Myanmar spat
*Mizzima: MP asks UN to help Burmese asylum seekers
*Times of London: Veterans of Burma on parade for last time
EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma): On the MPs
elect in Burmese Prisons
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
Mizzima: Aung San Suu Kyi not allowed to participate in the NLD function
May 27, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
Leader of the Burmese democratic movement Aung San Suu Kyi was not
allowed to take part in her party function today, which celebrates the
NLD?s victory in the general elections held eleven years ago, sources in
Rangoon said.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the
1990 elections, winning more than 82 percent of the parliamentary seats.
However, the military government refuses to recognize the result of the
elections. More than a thousand political prisoners and over a thirty
Members of Parliament remain jailed while the regime continues to
violate fundamental rights of the people including using the people for
forced labor throughout the country.
To mark the 11th anniversary of the general lections, the NLD held a
low-profile ceremony this morning at its headquarters in Shwegondine,
Bahan Township in the capital. Most of the NLD leaders and their
supporters participated in the function. However, Aung San Suu Kyi did
not participate in the function. ?Daw Suu was not allowed to participate
(by the authorities)?, said the source close to NLD.
In the function, there was no discussion on the current ?talks? between
Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese regime. Some sources say that the NLD
will issue an official announcement on the ?talks? on coming June 19,
Aung San Suu Kyi?s birthday.
The military junta and Aung San Suu Kyi have been reportedly holding
?talks? since October last year but both sides remain silent on the
details and development of the talks.
___________________________________________________
Shan EU News: Leader of the Shan Sangha passed away
26 May 2001
A reliable source from inside Shan State reported the untimely departure
of Sao Sra Guna, a well known and respected Shan monk. Venerable
Gunapiya, known among his disciples as Sao Sra Guna passed away
yesterday morning (26.5.01) in Pubbarama Buddhist Institute, Loikaw,
Kayah State. He was just over seventy years of age.
He was the president of the Tai Tipitaka Translation Association founded
by the late Venerables Pannyabhoga of Mongsu, Aloka of Senwi, the
spiritual tutors of Saopha Mongsu and Senwi respectively. The
Association was supported by two of the most wel known Shan leaders, Sao
Shwe Thaik of Yawnghwe who was the first President of the Union of Burma
and Sao Noom of Laikha, also a signature of Panglong Treaty.
Sao Sra Guna studied in leading Buddhist institutes like Ale-tawya, in
Rangoon where he gained in degree in Buddhist literature with honours.
After his study, he was trying to set up a Buddhist institute in
Mongpan, his hometwon to promote advance study of Buddhism. He was
opposed by conservative members of the monastic community there for the
reason that he was trained in Burma. Mongpan was then dominated by the
Lanna tradition of Buddhism.
He went to Loikaw to set up an institute, camed Pubbarama in 1970; The
institute has now more than two hundred students studying Buddhist
scriptures. He was one of the state acclestiastical judges at the
highest court housed in the Kabha-aye compound, Rangoon.
He was conferred on the Aggamahapandita (An Excellent Great Scholar)
tiltle by the government of Burma. He was very strict in his practice of
monastic disciplines and was reputed as tough but compassionate teacher,
whose achievement reaches national standard with many students all over
Karenni and Shan States seeking for admission in his institute, the
largest of its kind in Karenni State. Much respected and loved by his
pupils and followers, his demise left a vacuum among tha Sangha in both
Shan and Karenni States.
___________________________________________________
DVB : SPDC blames internal, external destructive elements for Toungoo
religious riots
The SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] authorities have issued a
notification urging various townships to hold ceremonies to explain that
the religious riots which erupted in Toungoo and other towns were
instigated by internal and external destructive elements. The
notification issued a few days ago noted that at a time when the Defence
Services Government is mainly concerned with defending the nation from
an external threat, internal and external destructive elements are
collaborating to instigate unrest and instability inside the country.
Their destructive acts include instigating religious riots, planting
bombs, and spreading fabricated rumours. The responsible township
authorities are advised to hold public rallies urging the people not to
believe the rumours but instead join hands with the Defence Services.
Furthermore, the authorities are ordered to closely monitor monasteries
and mosques, to list the monks who do not follow the code of conduct,
and to closely watch activities of the people from out of town. These
are to be carried out by the Kyant Phut [derogatory term for the Union
Solidarity and Development Association] members.
According to latest reports, Muslim brethren from Mergui were summoned
to the Mergui District Peace and Development Council Office on 18 May
where the District police chief explained about the notification. They
were made to sign an undertaking. Similar meetings were held at
Thayetchaung in Tenasserim Division and Tamu in Sagaing Division on 21
May. This report was filed by DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma]
correspondent Sai Pyi Aye.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 23 May 01
___________________________________________________
DVB: Inter-religious clashes spreading
Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 22 May
DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] has already reported on Saturday [19
May] about the religious riots which broke out between Muslims and
Buddhists in Toungoo [Pegu Division, in central Burma]. A few people
died and several were wounded. A curfew was imposed and many were
detained by the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] Military
Intelligence [MI] personnel.
Today, an SPDC spokesman issued a statement and admitted that the news
was true. The SPDC statement noted that a night curfew is still in force
today in order to control the situation. They have also studied the
circumstances and investigations are under way. According to latest
reports received by DVB, although the situation is calm in Toungoo, the
riots have spread to Swa [north of Toungoo], Pyu [south of Toungoo] and
other rural towns.
The riots in Toungoo started near the Yantha Mosque when a group of
Muslim youths that harassed a young Buddhist nun going on her alms
collecting rounds clashed with a group of Buddhist youths. Altogether 24
monks died and about 50 were injured but the number of those detained at
the Southern Military Command is not yet known.
A Toungoo resident remarked that it is strange for the authorities
especially Toungoo-based Southern Military Command to let the riots
continue instead of controlling the situation. Meanwhile, exiled
opposition groups attributed the riots to the SPDC MI's carefully
planned ploy to divert the people's attention away from the current
political impasse, economic hardship and border tensions. In the past
too, the SPDC have used similar tactics to divert attention from
political and other problems.
DVB contacted a leader of an exiled Muslim liberation organization at
the Thai-Burma border and an exiled Buddhist monk and asked them about
their views.
[U Kyaw Hla] According to the news we received about Toungoo, on 6 May
Capt Khin Maung Yin from MI Unit No. 3 met with some MI officers and
planned this plot. They used the Kyant Phut [derogatory term for Union
Solidarity and Development Association] members disguised as bogus
Buddhist monks and they protested to destroy (?Yantha) mosque in
Toungoo. We felt sad about the whole thing because the nationalities
regardless of the religious belief, are our own brethren. If only the
government intervened in this matter it would have been solved earlier.
Because of the government's neglect the problems are occurring. There
was a similar riot in Arakan State some time ago and now here in
Toungoo. This goes to show that no effective action has been taken by
the government.
[Ashin Uttara] The most important thing is not to become a religious
extremist. Both the Muslim side and the Buddhist side, avoiding the
extremes, should find the root cause of the problem, discussed it with a
cool head and you will definitely find the right answer. But if a person
did it and you labelled it as a group or a religious organization or a
social organization then it is a problem. There could be no problems in
Burma if we solve them in an unbiased and unprejudiced manner. But
unfortunately in Burma all the problems are not solved in that manner so
it is a very sad situation. [end of recording]
Those were the views of U Kyaw Hla, chairman of the Muslim Liberation
Organization of Burma, based at the Thai-Burma border and Ashin Uttara,
abbot of Waterloo Monastery in London, urging all to solve the problems
in Toungoo by peaceful means and not to be easily influenced by the MI's
flattery.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 22 May 01
__________________________________________________
DVB : Junta claims Toungoo riots "not instigated" by Military
Intelligence
DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] correspondent Myint Maung Maung filed
the following report concerning the riot control meetings held at Mergui
and Kawthaung in Tenasserim Division.
[Begin Myint Maung Maung recording] Lt-Col Myat Tun Saing, chairman of
Kawthaung District Peace and Development Council, met with Muslim
clerics and mosque elders from five mosques in Kawthaung Township at
0900 [all times local] today [23 May].
At the meeting Lt-Col Myat Tun Saing said the Toungoo riot has no
connection with the destruction of the Buddha Statutes in Afghanistan
and it was not instigated by the Military Intelligence. It happened
because it was meant to happen. He told the Muslim clerics and mosque
elders to take necessary precautions and threatened them with immediate
arrest if anything should happen.
Similarly, Lt-Col Khin Maung Kywe, chairman of Mergui District Peace and
Development Council, met with Muslim clerics and mosque elders from
seven mosques in Mergui Township at 0900 today and threatened them in a
similar manner.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 23 May 01
__________________________________________________
The Hindu (New Delhi): India to maintain Myanmar road
May 26, 2001
By Amit Baruah
SINGAPORE, MAY 25. India and Myanmar today signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) for the maintenance of the 160 km-long
Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa road, inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister,
Mr. Jaswant Singh, on February 13.
"Under the terms of the MoU, the Government of India has undertaken the
responsibility of maintenance of the road for the first six years by
providing the services of an Indian Road Maintenance Force, along with
necessary material and manpower," a statement from the Indian Embassy in
Yangon said. After six years (in 2007), the Government of Myanmar would
maintain the road itself, the release said.
Ms. Leela Ponappa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs,
who signed the MoU on India's behalf, said through the road project
India had "demonstrated its commitment to developing all-round
cooperation with the Government and people of Myanmar". The
Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa road, she siad, would benefit people of both
countries and facilitate travel, trade and tourism links. "This (road)
and other projects such as the construction of the bridge over the Tiau
river could contribute to the development and strengthening of friendly
relations between both countries" the official added.
___________________________________________________
New Light of Myanmar: e-English Summer Courses launched
Yangon, 22 May?The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the
Ministry of Information has been creating new learning environment with
the use of electronic data broadcasting system at e-Education Learning
Centres all over the country.
Under the national education promotion programme, the e-English Summer
Course was launched at e-Education Learning Centres in High Schools and
Education Colleges today. The courses are being broadcast from the main
studio of the University of Distant Education of Myanmar Education
Research Bureau from 9 am to noon except Sunday till 31 May.
Students are attending the course at 163 learning centres all over the
country including centres at No 4 BEHS, Hlaing Township, No 1 BEHS,
Kamayut Township, No 2 BEHS, Bahan Township and No 4 BEHS, Ahlone
Township in Yangon Division and No 1 BEHS, Myeik in Taninthayi Division.
______________________MONEY________________________
Burma Courier: Cooking Oil Queues Stir up Consumer Resentment
By Min Zin in Irrawaddy On-line (edited with additions): Updated to May
24, 2001
RANGOON -- In the latest sign of Burma's dire economic straits, cooking
oil has joined petrol and electricity on the list of essential items
being rationed by the country's military regime.
Sources inside Burma report that the parlous state of the country's
foreign exchange reserves has forced hundreds of consumers into the
streets, as the authorities attempt to conserve rapidly diminishing
supplies of this staple of the Burmese diet.
"Since the government hasn't allocated any hard currency for the import
of cooking oil, the distribution system has suddenly become quota-based,
forcing people to wait in long queues to buy their rations," said one
cooking-oil dealer in Rangoon.
Imported palm oil, an indispensable ingredient in oily Burmese curries,
has been in short supply for several weeks now, according to business
sources in Rangoon. Major distributors around the country say they
can't meet demand because supplies from the Myanmar Economic Holdings
(MEH), a military-owned corporation, have virtually dried up. MEH holds
a monopoly in edible oils and other imported commodities.
According to vendors, the MEH has ordered distributors to sell rationed
oil at 350 kyat (US$ 0.45) per viss (approximately 1.5 kg), in an
apparent bid to avert the threat of social unrest over rapidly rising
prices. Until recently, palm oil sold on the open market for around 400
kyat per viss, but has since more than doubled to over 800 kyat per
viss. The rationed oil, drawn from MEH reserves, is available only to
consumers who present household registration documents and certificates
issued by local authorities.
"The worst thing is that now we have to wait in long queues of over 400
people during the hottest time of the day just to get our half-viss
ration per household," complained one housewife in Rangoon's Bahan
Township. "The country is going straight to hell. Everyone is frustrated
with living here."
Such sentiments have been gaining force in recent months, as a growing
number of goods and services become increasingly inaccessible to the
general public. Since last month, strict limits on the availability of
petrol and electricity have been imposed, fuelling speculation about how
far recent public dissatisfaction with the state of the economy might
go. "No one can rule out the possibility of street protests against the
current economic catastrophe," remarked one Rangoon-based political
analyst. "It might have nothing to do with politics, but people's daily
hardships have pushed them to the limit."
Cooking oil has served as an indicator of Burma's economic health in the
past. Since the early 1990s, palm oil has largely replaced the more
traditional -- and healthieR -- peanut oil as a cheaper alternative.
According to one health ministry official, after the privately held
military company took over as the sole importer of palm oil in the late
1990s, doctors and other medical professionals were instructed not to
warn their patients about the health risks of excessive palm oil
consumption.
Burma imports about half of its annual consumption of a half million
tonnes of edible oil from Malaysia at a cost of about US$ 100 million.
Corporate farming in southern Tennasserim is expanding the acreage of
palm oil trees under cultivation, but it will be years before the
initiatives taken there come to fruition. Major new investment in
refining plants is also needed. Estimates of the capital required to set
up a mill range between US$ 4-10 million.
According to the state press, Malaysia's Minister of Domestic Trade was
in Rangoon this week for consultations with officials of the military
government's Ministry of Commerce.
___________________________________________________
Kyodo: Keidanren, Myanmar begin talks on trade, investment
YANGON, May 28 Kyodo
Japan's Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), its most
powerful business lobby, and the Myanmar government began a two-day
meeting Monday to explore ways to promote economic cooperation between
Tokyo and Yangon.
The talks follow Tokyo's decision last month to provide a grant to
repair an aging hydroelectric power station in Myanmar after the Yangon
junta last October resumed dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi for the first time in seven years.
The meeting is meant to step up private-sector economic cooperation,
especially in the fields of trade and investment, and help push the
regime to hold dialogue with Suu Kyi, Keidanren officials said.
Delegates from Keidanren and the Myanmar government are scheduled to
discuss how to promote information technology-related businesses in
Myanmar and accelerate Japanese firms' trade and investment in the
country, the officials said.
___________________________________________________
AFP: Dutch group: target Triumph bras from Myanmar
AMSTERDAM, May 28 (AFP) - Several Dutch humanitarian organisations and
the main trade union FNV launched a campaign on Monday against lingerie
made in Myanmar by the Swiss firm Triumph International.
The organizers are distributing around 240,000 postcards showing a
woman in a barbed wire bra for their "Sexy but prickly" campaign.
"The barbed wire represents the military regime in Myanmar that uses
forced labour to build roads and military objects," the FNV said in a
statement.
"Myanmar is one of the worst dictatorships in the world. Foreign
investments help the military regime", the union added.
The organizers also asked the Dutch retail group Vendex KBB to stop
selling lingerie made in the southeast Asian country.
The Dutch action is part of a larger campaign against Triumph started
in January by the Clean Clothes Campaign, a non-governmental
organisation that works to improve the working conditions in the garment
industry world-wide.
___________________________________________________
Kyodo: Keidanren, Myanmar begin talks on trade, investment
YANGON, May 28 Kyodo
Japan's Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), its most
powerful business lobby, and the Myanmar government began a two-day
meeting Monday to explore ways to promote economic cooperation between
Tokyo and Yangon.
The talks follow Tokyo's decision last month to provide a grant to
repair an aging hydroelectric power station in Myanmar after the Yangon
junta last October resumed dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi for the first time in seven years.
The meeting is meant to step up private-sector economic cooperation,
especially in the fields of trade and investment, and help push the
regime to hold dialogue with Suu Kyi, Keidanren officials said.
Delegates from Keidanren and the Myanmar government are scheduled to
discuss how to promoteinformation technology-related businesses in
Myanmar and accelerate
Japanese firms' trade andinvestment in the country, the officials said.
_______________________GUNS________________________
DVB: Burma-- Pro-government Karen, Wa "urgently" drafting new recruits
Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 21 May
Amid growing criticisms over the People's Republic of China [PRC]
premier's visit to Thailand, the PRC government's displeasure over the
Thai and US troops' joint military exercise near the Thai-Burma border,
and increasing tension at the Thai-Burma border over anti-narcotics
activities, the remnant Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, DKBA, and the
drug-producing United Wa State Army, UWSA, have been spending lots of
money for the urgent conscription of new recruits. Thailand-based DVB
[Democratic Voice of Burma] correspondent Maung Tu filed this report.
[Maung Tu] A Karen State resident told DVB that the DKBA, the remnant
Karen rebel group, and the UWSA, the Wa armed group, are urgently
drafting new recruits by giving 100,000 kyat [Burmese currency unit] and
a gold chain weighing one tical [16.4 g] to every new recruit in Pa-an,
Hlaingbwe, Kawkareik and Myawadi townships in Karen State. Not only were
the new recruits given incentives but those who brought along the new
recruits were also rewarded with 2,000 kyat per person. Due to this
method of recruiting new blood, the DKBA managed to get 500 new recruits
in 20 days - from early May to date.
The DKBA forces split from the Karen National Union, KNU, and joined
hands with the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] in 1994.
Similarly, the Wa troops laid down their weapons to the SPDC earlier
than the DKBA. Later, the SPDC military clique granted all the national
races groups with cartes blanches to engage in any business. News began
to emerge that the DKBA and the Wa group started engaging in all kinds
of businesses, from ordinary trading to illegal drug trafficking.
Earlier this month there were some incursions into Thailand by the DKBA
and Wa troops. Meanwhile, the Thai army is becoming very anxious and is
keeping a close watch on the DKBA and the Wa group's urgent conscripting
of new recruits.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 21 May 01
___________________________________________________
AP: Myanmar cancels border talks with Thailand
May 28, 2001
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) _ Myanmar refused to attend a scheduled round of
border talks with Thailand Monday, an official said, leaving relations
between the two countries at high tension following weeks of skirmishes
between their armies.
Maj. Udomsak Kamsaisaeng, the chief Thai coordinator for the border
talks, said he called the Myanmar officials Monday morning to remind
them of the talks, scheduled to be held later in the day in the northern
Thai border town of Mae Sai.
``But they said they wanted to cancel the meeting. They gave no
reason,'' Udomsak told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
``They also said they will send a formal letter informing that they
want the meeting to be canceled and that they will schedule the next
meeting soon,'' he said from Mae Sai, about 740 kilometers (450 miles)
north of Bangkok.
Myanmar officials did not immediately confirm the report.
The Thai-Myanmar Regional Border Committee, meant to convene every six
months to iron out border problems, held its first meeting in three
years only on April 2.
That meeting, in the Myanmar border town of Keng Tung, failed to make
much headway. Since then relations have plunged even further because of
intensifying border fights. The two sides have been firing at each other
since February.
The strain in ties is principally over Thai allegations that Myanmar's
military regime allow an ethnic Wa army, which has reached a cease-fire
with the junta, to produce the illegal drug methamphetamine at the
border and smuggle it for sale in Thailand. Myanmar denies the charge.
The relations hit the lowest point in years last weeks after Myanmar
shelled a border area in Chiang Rai province, narrowly missing a royal
villa.
On Thursday, Thailand's Foreign Ministry summoned Myanmar's ambassador,
Myo Myint, to formally protest articles that appeared in a state-run
Myanmar newspaper that Thai officials say insulted their monarchy, a
revered institution.
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
AFP: Thai PM says goodwill visit should help end Myanmar spat
BANGKOK, May 28 (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said
Monday he was optimistic that an escalating row with Myanmar will be
resolved when he makes his first visit to the military-run neighbour.
Thailand's ambassador to Myanmar briefed his colleagues on the
bilateral relationship during a meeting Monday of all the nation's top
diplomats who gathered here for the first time since the new government
was sworn in.
"During the meeting Thailand's ambassador to Yangon expressed concern
over the situation but said he was confident the problem will be solved
when I go there," Thaksin told reporters.
"There is no better way (to solve problems) than to have the leaders
talk to each other ... I am ready to go, but I must wait for diplomatic
procedures to be sorted out."
Thaksin has been talking about paying a visit to Myanmar virtually
since he came to power in the January general elections. However, no
date has yet been set for the trip.
His Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai travelled to Yangon earlier
this month for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting
and a tagged-on official visit but the war of words raged on regardless.
Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh joined in the spat between the
two neighbours Saturday, saying that an article in the state-run press
which criticised the revered Thai monarchy was an "insult".
"The Thai people will not tolerate such insults against our beloved
institution," Chavalit said of last week's New Light of Myanmar article
which took aim at mid-19th century monarch King Mongkut.
"We will fight if we have to," said the former prime minister and army
chief who in the past has risen to Myanmar's defense.
Chavalit said Monday that he would visit Yangon in the next few weeks
to tackle the
brewing row.
"I expect to go to Myanmar by early or mid next month to discuss the
serious problems we have," he told reporters.
Chavalit said the two neighbours should come to grips with the
contentious issue of narcotics trafficking along their common border,
which originally sparked off the angry exchanges earlier this year.
"We should stop complaining to each other about the drugs issue, and
instead we should find a way to solve the problem," he said.
___________________________________________________
Mizzima: MP asks UN to help Burmese asylum seekers
New Delhi, May 28, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
A Member of Parliament from India has recently written to the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in India to
"sympathetically" consider the plight of 24 Burmese asylum seekers for
the refugee status. Mr. S. Ramachandran Pillai, a Raja Sabha (Upper
House) MP also requested the UNHCR-India Chief of Mission Mr. Augustine
Mahiga to expedite the interviews of the Burmese.
"Given the internal situation in Burma, their request for refugee status
should be sympathetically considered. I therefore request you to
expedite the interviews and other formalities in this regard", said the
letter dated May 22.
Twenty-four Burmese asylum seekers staged a hunger strike in front of
the UNHCR office in New Delhi early this month, claiming that UNHCR has
neglected their plight for protection. They said that they left their
native places in Burma due to the repression of the military
government. All of them belong to Chin ethnic nationalities of Burma.
After a week of the hunger strike, UNHCR office has agreed to interview
all the 24 asylum seekers for their refugee status. Mizzima has learnt
that UNHCR has been interviewing the 24 Burmese over the last two
weeks. The interviews will be completed tomorrow and the results are
expected to follow soon.
___________________________________________________
Times of London: Veterans of Burma on parade for last time
MONDAY MAY 28 2001
BY ALAN HAMILTON
OLD soldiers never die; they just become pensioners who increasingly
find an annual reunion weekend in London too taxing and too expensive.
Yesterday the Burma Star Association, survivors of the forgotten war of
the Far East, marked their 50th anniversary with the usual annual parade
and wreath-laying at the Cenotaph and a service in Westminster Abbey. It
will be their last.
Comradeship will endure to the last man among the association?s 170
local branches around the country, and a few overseas, whose combined
surviving membership of 13,000 represents a tiny fraction of what was
the largest British army ? a million men of many nationalities ? ever
assembled for one campaign.
But, like the Dunkirk veterans who last year abandoned regular
pilgrimages to the French beaches, the men of Burma are getting too old
to sustain a major annual commemoration.
The Burma Star is among the commonest of all campaign medals, given to
men of all three services who fought the Japanese in the Burmese theatre
between Singapore?s fall in 1942 and the enemy?s defeat at Rangoon in
1945.
But the medal is also one of the proudest. Yesterday the Duke of
Edinburgh, president of the association and a bona fide Burma Star
holder because he was serving in the destroyer HMS Whelp off the Burmese
coast, walked down Whitehall to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph before
taking the salute of his comrades.
Viscount Slim, the president of Burma Star and son of the popular
general who commanded the British 14th Army in the Burmese jungle, said
yesterday: ?These men felt isolated and forgotten. They were far away
and bottom of the list for manpower and supplies because everything was
being concentrated on the invasion of Normandy in 1944.?
Bill Towill, now aged 80 and living in Tadworth, Surrey, was a
23-year-old adjutant with the 9th Gurkha Rifles in 1944 when he was
recruited for General Orde Wingate?s legendary Chindits and spent five
months in the jungle behind enemy lines blowing up Japanese supply
routes. ?We were starving for days at a time and desperately short of
ammunition. And we were never sure where the enemy was; quite often he
would just come out of the jungle at us.?
Douglas Burford, 79, was a Royal Engineers lieutenant who travelled most
of the 1,000-mile retreat from Singapore to the Indian border, and back
again to the eventual capture of Rangoon. ?Our greatest fear was of
falling ill; malaria and typhoid claimed far more men than enemy action.
In the early months of the campaign at least, we had virtually no drugs
to combat these jungle diseases.?
Roy Miller, 77, was a leading seaman in the aircraft carrier HMS
Indomitable, dodging Japanese kamikaze raids off Burma. He was sad that
yesterday?s national parade was the last, though he believed he would
find comradeship at his Burma Star branch in Epsom for years to come.
?The strain of these parades is becoming too much; we are getting too
old to carry our standards.?
___________________________________________________
___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma): On the MPs elect
in Burmese Prisons
May 27, 2001
After the general election in 1990, hundreds of Members of Parliament
(MPs) were detained and imprisoned, there are currently (88) MPs in
prison, military camps and under house arrest. Since the military
refused to create a People's Parliament for the elected representatives
and return to their military barracks, many MPs-elect were given long
prison terms because of their continuing activities to promote democracy
and human rights.
At present, (50) MPs-elect are imprisoned. (See the Appendix-). Some
were released and then re-arrested and imprisoned. (eg. Dr. Aung Khin
Sint, U Min Swe, Daw San San (female), U Soe Thein @ Maung Wuntha).
The authorities detained hundreds of MPs elect before the NLD and other
ethnic political parties founded the Committee Representing the Peoples'
Parliament (CRPP) on September 18, 1998. The CRPP was founded as a
result of the military ignoring the general election results for 8
years. In some cases MPs were detained but the authorities claimed that
they had only been invited to stay at guesthouses for dialogue. There
are now, (37) MPs in military camps around Burma although many have been
conditionally released. (See in the Appendix-).
According to our information, 3 MPs-elect died in prison
between 1990 and 1999 due to torture and ill treatment, poor prison
conditions and inadequate medical care. (See in the Appendix-). Some
died soon after they were released. (eg. Architect U Kyaw Min)
Therefore, we are very concerned about the health of the MPs staying in
prison and military camps, which the authorities call guesthouses, as
they have been living in poor conditions for years.
We want the international governments and organizations to know that the
current Burmese authorities have been putting the MPs elect in prison
rather than calling parliament according to the 1990 election results.
We also request the International governments and organizations to put
more pressure on the military regime to free the MPs elect.
We urge the Burmese authorities to release the MPs that have been
imprisoned for years because of their peaceful activities. We also urge
them to release the MPs that have been held in military camps for the
past two years with the excuse that they are being held for the purposes
of holding dialogue.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
APPENDIX
MPs-elect in prisons
(1) Aung Khin Sint, Dr., Constituency - Mingala Taungnyunt (1), Sentence
Duration-12 Years, Current Prison - Insein (2) Aung Kyin (U),
Myaungmya (1), -- Years, -- Prison
(3) Aung Myint (U), Letpadan (1), -- Years, Insein Prison
(4) Aye Kyu, Dr., Labutta (2), 2 Years, Myaungmya Prison
(5) Aye Than(U), Paung-de (2), -- Years, -- Prison
(6) Chit Htway (U), Myothit (2), -- Years, -- Prison
(7) Doe Htaung (U), Kalay (1), -- Years, Mandalay Prison
(8) Duwa Zaw Aung, Waingmaw, 7 Years, Mandalay Prison
(9) Hla Min (U), Kawthaung, 7 Years, Myingyan Prison
(10) Hla Myint (U), Maubin (2), -- Years, -- Prison
(11) Hlaing Aye (U), Pakokku (2), -- Years, -- Prison
(12) Khin Maung Swe (U), Sanchaung, 7 Years, Myingyan Prison (13) Khin
Maung Win (U), Oaktwin (2), 20 Years, Taungoo Prison (14) Khun Myint Tun
(U), Thaton (1), 7 Years, Kalay Prison (15) Kyaw Khin (U), Taunggyi
(1), 10 Years, Thayet Prison (16) Kyaw Min (U), Buthidaung (1), --
Years, -- Prison
(17) Kyaw San (U), Taze (1), 7 Years, Insein Prison
(18) Kyi Lwin (U), Ngape, -- Years, -- Prison
(19) Kyi Myint (U), Latha, 20 Years, Myingyan Prison
(20) Kyi Win (U), Labutta (1), 10 Years, -- Prison
(21) Kyi Win, Dr @ Min Kyi Win, Mu Don (2), -- Years, Moulmein Prison
(22) Kyin Thein (U), Kya-in-Seikkyi (2), -- Years, Taungoo Prison (23)
May Win Myint, Dr. (female), Mayangon (2), 7 Years, Insein Prison (24)
Min Soe Lin, Dr., Ye (1), 7 Years, Moulmein Prison
(25) Min Swe (U), Pyapon (2), 3 Years, -- Prison
(26) Myint Naing, Dr., Kanbalu (2), 25 Years, Thayet Prison (27) Myo
Nyunt, Dr., Dedaye (1), 7 Years, Tharawaddy Prison (28) Naing Tun Thein
(U), Thanbyuzayat (2), 7 Years, -- Prison (29) Nine Nine (U),
Pazundaung, 21 Years, Insein Prison
(30) Nyunt Aye (U), Letpadan (2), -- Years, -- Prison
(31) Nyunt Hlaing (U), Myede (1), 5 Years, Thayet Prison
(32) Ohn Kyaing (U), Mandalay Southeast (2), 17 Years, Taungoo Prison
(33) Ohn Maung (U) @ Sai Ohn Maung, Yaunghwe (2), 12 Years, -- Prison
(34) Ohn Maung (U), Nyaunglebin (1), 7 Years, Tharawaddy Prison (35) Ohn
Naing (U), Paung-de (1), -- Years, -- Prison
(36) San San (Daw) (female), Seikkan, 25 Years, Insein Prison (37) Saw
Oo Reh (U), Hpruhso, 10 Years, Insein Prison
(38) Sein Hla Oo (U), Insein (2), 7 Years, Myitkyina Prison (39) Soe
Myint (U), Minbu (1), 7 Years, Bassein Prison
(40) Soe Thein (U) @ Maung Wuntha, Waw (2), -- Years, Insein Prison (41)
Than Lwin (U), Madaya (2), 9 Years, Mandalay Prison
(42) Than Nyein, Dr., Kyauktan (1), 7 Years, Insein Prison (43) Thaung
Myint (U), Khin-U (2), -- Years, -- Prison
(44) Thein Zan, Mye-de (2), -- Years, -- Prison
(45) Tin Aung (U), Wakema (1), 4 Years, -- Prison
(46) Toe Po (U), Yebyu, 7 Years, Insein Prison
(47) Tun Kyi (U), Mogaung, -- Years, -- Prison
(48) Tun Win (U), Mindon, -- Years, -- Prison
(49) Yaw Hsi, Puta-O, -- Years, -- Prison
(50) Zaw Myint Maung Dr., Amarapura (1), 25+7+5 Years, Myitkyina Prison
MPs-elect under detention in the so-called guesthouses
(1) Aung Moe Nyo Dr., Pwintbyu (2) Constituency
(2) Aung Myint Thein (U), Natmauk (2)
(3) Aung Soe (U), Magwe (2)
(4) Aung Soe Myint (U), Taungoo (1)
(5) Aye (U), Gyobingauk (2)
(6) Ba Swe (U), Kawhmu
(7) Han Zaw (U), Sinbaungwe
(8) Hla Thein (U), Tamwe(1)
(9) Kan Oo (U), Salin (2)
(10) Khin Kyaw Han @ Kyaw Kyaw (U), Yenanchaung (2)
(11) Kyaw Myint (U), Magwe (1)
(12) Kyaw Myint (U), Zalun 1
(13) Maung Aye (U), Tharawaddy (2)
(14) Myint Kyi (U), Katha
(15) Myint Thein (U), Chauk (1)
(16) Myint Thein (U), Kyaikmaraw (1)
(17) Myo Win, Dr., Kawa (1)
(18) Nyan Win (U), Paung (1)
(19) Pike Chon (U), Shwedaung (2)
(20) Saw Hlaing (U), Indaw
(21) Saw Mra Aung, Dr., Mrauk-U (1)
(22) Sein Win, Dr., Seikkyi Kanaungto
(23) Soe Maung (U), Phyu (2)
(24) Tar (U), Salin (1)
(25) Tha Saing (U), Twante (1)
(26) Tha Aung (U), Myothit (1)
(27) Tha Maung (U), Okpo (2)
(28) Thein Myint (U), Tamwe (2)
(29) Thein Nyunt (U), Thingangyun (1)
(30) Thein Oo, Oaktwin 1
(31) Tin Htut Oo (U), Lewe (1)
(32) Tin Shwe (U), Waw (1)
(33) Tun Kywe (U), Nyaunglebin (2)
(34) Tun Tun Hein (U), Nawngcho
(35) Win Myint (U), Danubyu (1)
(36) Win Myint Aung (U), Tebayin (2)
(37) Win Naing, Dr., Tanyin (1)
MP-elect in house arrest
Aung Shwe (U), Mayangon (1) Constituency
MPs-elect died in prisons
(1) Hla Than (U), Coco Island Constituency
(2) Saw Win (U) @ Kyaw Zaw Lin (U), Htilin
(3) Tin Maung Win (U), Kayan (2)
______________________OTHER______________________
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