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Weekly Diary, No. 179 (1 - 6 January 2006)
SHANS DEMAND OBSERVATION OF GENEVA CONVENTION!
Weekly Diary, No. 179 (1 - 6 January 2006)
SHANS DEMAND OBSERVATION OF GENEVA CONVENTION!
Think Piece
In the poorest countries where illiteracy is high, desperate people are subject to government manipulation, and there is a lack of independent control through the media and professional organizations, governments face only weak control by society. They tend to be the most despotic and corrupt because they lack the means to keep their government disciplined and law abiding.
The result is a trap in which poverty causes bad governance and bad governance cause poverty.
Poor countries (however) achieve lower levels of corruption when civil rights are protected.
The data also show that corruption is highest in oil and gas producing (natural resources rich) countries. The natural resources are not only a target of corruption, but also an instrument of holding power.
By strengthening Civil Society, and instituting clear rules to ensure accountability, political despotism and corruption will be brought under control.
Photo courtesy: www.iisd.ca
Jeffery Sachs, Professor of Economics and Director of Earth Institute,
Columbia University
It's not about being independent or brave or bold. It's about being just and trying one's best to be so.
Photo courtesy: www.nationmultimedia.com
Ackaratorn Chularat,
President, Supreme Administrative Court of Thailand,
The Person of the Year according to The Nation,
30 December 2005
The World
Do you know?
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) used to be known as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency).
Time, 14 June 1999
4 January
In Vietnam, 58,226 American troops died at 27 per day between 1966-1969. In Iraq, the death toll averages 2.1. At this pace, US deaths will surpass the Vietnam toll in 2079.
(Bangkok Post)
4 January
According to Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) 63 journalists were killed in 2005 in 22 countries, at least 807 of them arrested, 1,308 physically attacked or threatened, 1,006 media outlets censored and 126 journalists and 70 cyber-dissidents jailed:
China 32
Cuba 24
Ethiopia 17
Eritrea 13
Burma 5
(AFP)
International Relations
29 December 2005
15 Burmese nationals were arrested after the police found 3 copies of a calender poster adorned with Suu Kyi's photo. This happened during the 11th Asean summit, 11-13 December, in Malaysia.
(Malaysiakini)
Thai-Burma Relations
31 December 2005
Karen National Union, in an official statement released last week rejects plans for Hutgyi dam in Karan state. An attempt to encroach on KNU-controlled areas, says executive committee member Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw.
(Mizzima)
2 January
13,827 migrants out of which there are 3,175 Burmese and 6,363 highlanders have been granted citizenship, says Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana.
(The Nation)
5 January
620 teak logs (900 cubic meters) worth 100 million baht ($2.5 million) has arrived in Chiangsaen near Maesai. The lot has been purchased from Burma by Arnond Markmasilp "Sia Ar" of Siva Company. He is expecting another 1,300 teak logs. Thailand has banned import of teak through Maesod but never through Chiangrai. This is the first time the Burmese have allowed to have timber exported through Tachilek-Chiangrai route.
(The Manager Online)
Inside Burma
20 December 2005
Lasang Awng Wa, leader of splinter group from KIO/KIA moves to Gui Htu, 20 miles northeast of Myitkyina following permission from the Burma Army's Northern Region Command.
(KNG)
29 December 2005
Photo courtesy: www.itv.co.th
Fire in Kawsawng (Kawthaung) opposite Ranong, Thailand. The market goes down to ashes. (ITV) The fire destroys nearly 700 shops. It started from an electrical short circuit in a shop. (AP)
3 January
Rangoon, a city of 5 million souls, needs 450 MW of electricity per day, but generating capacity stands at 385 MW, according to Weekly Eleven, quoting Lt-Gen Myint Swe. Since mid-December power rationing has begun and could last until June. However, the rationing does not affect the "VIP areas". Last year's power cut was between 26 March-28 June.
(AP)
4 January
Photo courtesy: www.news.bbc.co.uk
U Lwin, spokesman for NLD, in a speech marking Independence Day today calls for a 'supreme leading body' that will bring together military rulers, political parties and ethnic groups as a prelude to democracy.
(AFP)
Shans
5 January
SDU Logo
Shan Democratic Union, an exiled group based in Germany, calls on Rangoon to observe the rules of the Geneva Convention with regards to Khun Kyaw and his troops, who it says are Prisoners of War to be treated humanely.
(S.H.A.N.)
Economics/Business
15 December 2005
Burma begins constructing 20 km Asian highway road link to Bangladesh, using forced labor. The road is between Taungbro and Bawli Bazar.
(Kaladan)
4 January
Burma has the world's third least free economy, according to Heritage Foundation. It is ranked above only North Korea and Iran.
(Mizzima)
Human Rights
3 January
According to the order by the Ministry of Transportation on 28 December, more than a hundred house space of land west of the Three Pagodas Pass will be acquired for the construction of WWII "Death" railway project. Land acquired from state employees will be compensated but not the others.
(IMNA)
3 January
Major Wunna, chief of aviation maintenance department and writer under the pseudonym 'Mar J', fired after contributing two satirical articles "The tiger that wishes to die moves to another forest" and "Angels' Convention" for the November issue of weekly journal Yangon Times. Wunna started writing in 1995 and became popular in 2000.
(Mizzima)
3 January
The New Light of Myanmar reports Burma had 135,664 mobile phones at the end of 2005: Rangoon 112,792 (83%) and Mandalay 16,355 (12%). The number of fixed phones is 325,280 up from 258,624 in 1988. (Xinhua) Meanwhile, Thailand, with a population of 65.5 million, had 6.656 million basic telephones and 30.42 million mobile phones at the end of the third quarter of 2005. (Bangkok Post) Burma's population is 53 million, according to New Light of Myanmar- Editor.
4 January
The Ministry of Information is considering issuing the Myanmar Times, Burma's only privately-owned English weekly, a daily license.
(Mizzima)
Environment
22 December
Khit Myanmar, a local news journal, reports a retaining wall will be constructed in Laputta Pyinsalu region in the delta division with the fund from the tsunami aid.
(Xinhua)
Drugs
27 December
Sai Pan Mawng, former aide to defunct Mong Tai Army chief of staff Chang Hsuchuan aka Falang, arrested in Tachilek.
(S.H.A.N.)
War
29 December
Motorcycles will not be permitted to operate in Pyinmana beginning 2006. (DVB) It could have been the result of the motorcycle tour by a foreigner, as reported by Bangkok Post, 18 December-Editor.
Obituary
31 December
Brig-Gen Htaw Hla, 74, a former leading member of KNU and ex-commander of Special Battalion 101, passes away in Maesod. He was the last man to leave the doomed Kawmoora stronghold in 1995.
(Bangkok Post)
SHANS DEMAND OBSERVATION OF GENEVA CONVENTION!
Think Piece
In the poorest countries where illiteracy is high, desperate people are subject to government manipulation, and there is a lack of independent control through the media and professional organizations, governments face only weak control by society. They tend to be the most despotic and corrupt because they lack the means to keep their government disciplined and law abiding.
The result is a trap in which poverty causes bad governance and bad governance cause poverty.
Poor countries (however) achieve lower levels of corruption when civil rights are protected.
The data also show that corruption is highest in oil and gas producing (natural resources rich) countries. The natural resources are not only a target of corruption, but also an instrument of holding power.
By strengthening Civil Society, and instituting clear rules to ensure accountability, political despotism and corruption will be brought under control.
Photo courtesy: www.iisd.ca
Jeffery Sachs, Professor of Economics and Director of Earth Institute,
Columbia University
It's not about being independent or brave or bold. It's about being just and trying one's best to be so.
Photo courtesy: www.nationmultimedia.com
Ackaratorn Chularat,
President, Supreme Administrative Court of Thailand,
The Person of the Year according to The Nation,
30 December 2005
The World
Do you know?
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) used to be known as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency).
Time, 14 June 1999
4 January
In Vietnam, 58,226 American troops died at 27 per day between 1966-1969. In Iraq, the death toll averages 2.1. At this pace, US deaths will surpass the Vietnam toll in 2079.
(Bangkok Post)
4 January
According to Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) 63 journalists were killed in 2005 in 22 countries, at least 807 of them arrested, 1,308 physically attacked or threatened, 1,006 media outlets censored and 126 journalists and 70 cyber-dissidents jailed:
China 32
Cuba 24
Ethiopia 17
Eritrea 13
Burma 5
(AFP)
International Relations
29 December 2005
15 Burmese nationals were arrested after the police found 3 copies of a calender poster adorned with Suu Kyi's photo. This happened during the 11th Asean summit, 11-13 December, in Malaysia.
(Malaysiakini)
Thai-Burma Relations
31 December 2005
Karen National Union, in an official statement released last week rejects plans for Hutgyi dam in Karan state. An attempt to encroach on KNU-controlled areas, says executive committee member Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw.
(Mizzima)
2 January
13,827 migrants out of which there are 3,175 Burmese and 6,363 highlanders have been granted citizenship, says Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana.
(The Nation)
5 January
620 teak logs (900 cubic meters) worth 100 million baht ($2.5 million) has arrived in Chiangsaen near Maesai. The lot has been purchased from Burma by Arnond Markmasilp "Sia Ar" of Siva Company. He is expecting another 1,300 teak logs. Thailand has banned import of teak through Maesod but never through Chiangrai. This is the first time the Burmese have allowed to have timber exported through Tachilek-Chiangrai route.
(The Manager Online)
Inside Burma
20 December 2005
Lasang Awng Wa, leader of splinter group from KIO/KIA moves to Gui Htu, 20 miles northeast of Myitkyina following permission from the Burma Army's Northern Region Command.
(KNG)
29 December 2005
Photo courtesy: www.itv.co.th
Fire in Kawsawng (Kawthaung) opposite Ranong, Thailand. The market goes down to ashes. (ITV) The fire destroys nearly 700 shops. It started from an electrical short circuit in a shop. (AP)
3 January
Rangoon, a city of 5 million souls, needs 450 MW of electricity per day, but generating capacity stands at 385 MW, according to Weekly Eleven, quoting Lt-Gen Myint Swe. Since mid-December power rationing has begun and could last until June. However, the rationing does not affect the "VIP areas". Last year's power cut was between 26 March-28 June.
(AP)
4 January
Photo courtesy: www.news.bbc.co.uk
U Lwin, spokesman for NLD, in a speech marking Independence Day today calls for a 'supreme leading body' that will bring together military rulers, political parties and ethnic groups as a prelude to democracy.
(AFP)
Shans
5 January
SDU Logo
Shan Democratic Union, an exiled group based in Germany, calls on Rangoon to observe the rules of the Geneva Convention with regards to Khun Kyaw and his troops, who it says are Prisoners of War to be treated humanely.
(S.H.A.N.)
Economics/Business
15 December 2005
Burma begins constructing 20 km Asian highway road link to Bangladesh, using forced labor. The road is between Taungbro and Bawli Bazar.
(Kaladan)
4 January
Burma has the world's third least free economy, according to Heritage Foundation. It is ranked above only North Korea and Iran.
(Mizzima)
Human Rights
3 January
According to the order by the Ministry of Transportation on 28 December, more than a hundred house space of land west of the Three Pagodas Pass will be acquired for the construction of WWII "Death" railway project. Land acquired from state employees will be compensated but not the others.
(IMNA)
3 January
Major Wunna, chief of aviation maintenance department and writer under the pseudonym 'Mar J', fired after contributing two satirical articles "The tiger that wishes to die moves to another forest" and "Angels' Convention" for the November issue of weekly journal Yangon Times. Wunna started writing in 1995 and became popular in 2000.
(Mizzima)
3 January
The New Light of Myanmar reports Burma had 135,664 mobile phones at the end of 2005: Rangoon 112,792 (83%) and Mandalay 16,355 (12%). The number of fixed phones is 325,280 up from 258,624 in 1988. (Xinhua) Meanwhile, Thailand, with a population of 65.5 million, had 6.656 million basic telephones and 30.42 million mobile phones at the end of the third quarter of 2005. (Bangkok Post) Burma's population is 53 million, according to New Light of Myanmar- Editor.
4 January
The Ministry of Information is considering issuing the Myanmar Times, Burma's only privately-owned English weekly, a daily license.
(Mizzima)
Environment
22 December
Khit Myanmar, a local news journal, reports a retaining wall will be constructed in Laputta Pyinsalu region in the delta division with the fund from the tsunami aid.
(Xinhua)
Drugs
27 December
Sai Pan Mawng, former aide to defunct Mong Tai Army chief of staff Chang Hsuchuan aka Falang, arrested in Tachilek.
(S.H.A.N.)
War
29 December
Motorcycles will not be permitted to operate in Pyinmana beginning 2006. (DVB) It could have been the result of the motorcycle tour by a foreigner, as reported by Bangkok Post, 18 December-Editor.
Obituary
31 December
Brig-Gen Htaw Hla, 74, a former leading member of KNU and ex-commander of Special Battalion 101, passes away in Maesod. He was the last man to leave the doomed Kawmoora stronghold in 1995.
(Bangkok Post)
Shan ceasefire group mum on meeting results
