Weekly Diary, No. 237 (10 – 16 February 2007)

Weekly Diary, No. 237 (10 – 16 February 2007)
 

• 82,000 HOMELESS LAST YEAR!

• PANGLONG AGREEMENT COMPLETES A FULL CIRCLE!

• TELL THAN SHWE AUNG SAN IS 92!

• TIN OO GETS ANOTHER EXTENSION!

 
Think Piece
You can do everything in Burma – just avoid politics.
^{Thaniya Phasuk, a jade trader in Burma, to Thai business people, Irrawaddy, 9 February 2007}
 
A single tongue spoken 150,000 years ago evolved into the estimated 6,000 languages used around the world today.
^{The Story of Human Language, the Economist, 27 January – 2 February 2007}
 
The UN is derided by much of the media as divided, bloated, corrupt and impotent. It would nevertheless be a mistake to give up on the organization. There are two reasons for this. One is that the UN already does a far better job than it is given credit for. The second reason: some aspects of today's global politics make this a good moment for the big powers to work more closely together (such as) failed states, terrorism, proliferation and the chaotic Middle East. Their priorities and tactics differ, but that still leaves room to cooperate.
^{The Economist, 6 January 2007}
 
China is now basically on the same page as the US when it comes to Taiwan. Neither wants independence for Taiwan. Both want peace and stability.
^{Huang Jing of Brookings Institution in Washington, Time, 22 January 2007}
 
China's aid and investments are attractive to Africans precisely because they came with no conditionality related to governance, fiscal probity or other concerns of Western donors.
^{2005 report by US council on Foreign Relations, Time, 22 January 2007}
 
It is far from building a genuine union when we cannot even hold a gathering for dinner.
^{Fu Cin Sian Thang, Chairman of Zomi National Congress and spokesman for United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), after authorities ordered it to call off the Union Day dinner party, Irrawaddy, 12 February 2007}

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The World
13 February 2007
Trials in two African countries, Kenya and Uganda, suggest men who get the snip are less likely to contract HIV. (AFP/Bangkok Post)
 
13 February 2007
North Korea agrees to freeze the reactor at the heart of its nuclear program and allow international inspections to the site at the 6-party talks in Beijing. (Reuters)

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International Relations
9 February 2007
^{Diane Finley}
Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announces Canada will welcome an additional 2,000 Karen refugees from Burma over the next two years. It accepted 810 Karens in 2006 for resettlement. (Government of Canada Newsroom)
 
13 February 2007
^{VK Duggal}
Indian home secretary VK Duggal kicks off a 4-day visit to Burma. India will renew request to Burma to flush out insurgents taking shelter in Burmese territory. (Irrawaddy)
 
13 February 2007
^{Lian Hmung Sakhong}
Chin National Council (CNC) based on Indo-Burma border hosts dinner in honor of Martin Luther King Peace Prize winner, Dr Lian Hmung Sakhong. The CNC is led by Thomas Thang No. (KNT)

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Thai-Burma Relations
9 February 2007
^Thaksin
Washington, despite public line, has scant intention of downgrading bilateral relations with Thailand. US officials instead are leveraging their senior military contacts now in government in a bid to counterbalance China's expanding influence. With deposed PM Thaksin, there were concerns in Washington he was gradually moving Bangkok closer to Beijing. The suspension of $ 14 million military aid has so far been more symbolic than substantive. For Washington, last year's military takeover in Thailand has presented a unique opportunity to steal a march from China. (Asia Times Online)
 
15 February 2007
Some 500 Burmese migrant workers in Maesod arrested. Many of them posses valid work permits, says Moe Swe of Maesod-based Yaung Chi Oo Burmese Workers Association. (Irrawaddy)

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Politics/ Inside Burma
9 February 2007
"First Summit of National Political Forces," held at a monastery. It includes 88 Generation Students led by Aye Lwin, Wunthanu NLD, a splinter group from the NLD, and National Convention delegates. It vows to oppose those who hold negative views instigating sanctions with the aim of disintegrating the union. (Xinhua)
 
12 February 2007

Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) marks 60th anniversary of the Panglong Agreement. Statement calls on junta to jilt its "One blood, one voice and one command" idea of unity and work instead for "unity in diversity". (SHAN)
 
12 February 2007

CRPP marks Union Day. (AP/AFP)
 
12 February 2007
^{Than Shwe and Maung Aye}
Than Shwe attends state banquet in Naypyidaw. His public appearance comes amid widespread concerns about his health. (AFP)
 
12 February 2007
Union Day celebration planned by United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) banned by the regime. (Irrawaddy) The Nice Restaurant in Rangoon's Yankin township where the event is to take place told to close off. (Network Media Group)
 
12 February 2007

Certain powerful countries are stirring up racial conflicts in Burma, Than Shwe says in his Union Day message. (AP) Some 9,000 people, mainly civil servants, gathered for the ceremony in Naypyidaw. The general public is never invited to such events. (AFP)
Than Shwe's claim is refuted by a Kuki researcher who says the regime is to be blamed for "very little tolerance and absolute, dictatorial control" in the ethnically diverse country. (Irrawaddy)
 
13 February 2007
^{Aung San}
Aung San's 92nd birthday that has long been designated as Burma's Children Day falls today. The anniversary is marked by the NLD. (Irrawaddy)
 
13 February 2007
^{Tin Oo}
Officials from the home ministry visit Tin Oo deputy leader of NLD, to read out the order extending by one year for the third time of his house arrest. (AP)
 
14 February 2007
Burma has forced some 800 military officers into retirement. More forced departures of over 3,000 officers are expected in the next 3 years, says a source close to the military. (AFP)
 
14 February 2007
Two more ministries, home and energy, have called for complaints from the public about malpractice of their personnel in a drive to ensure a clean administrative machinery, reports New Light of Myamnar. Others are finance and forestry as well as Rangoon City Development Committee and the judiciary. (Xinhua)
 
15 February 2007
^{Brig-Gen Khin Yi}
Brig-Gen Khin Yi, Burma's police chief, meeting CRPP chairman Aung Shwe and secretary Aye Tha Aung, warns them not to make political statements. He reads regulations and laws for unlawful organizations and the punishment if actions were taken against the group. The event is reported by state media. (Irrawaddy)
 
16 February 2007
Pyinmana authorities have instructed local guesthouse owners to change the names of their businesses to those that sound more traditional or royal. We were told by the City Development Committee  to summit new names by April, one business owner says. (Irrawaddy)

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Shans/ Shan State
7 February 2007
Traveling around northern Thailand it is hard not to be struck by the enormous contribution of migrant Shan workers to the service sector, construction projects and agricultural enterprise. Relatively cheap Shan labor seems to be playing an increasingly important role in Thailand's labor insufficient economy. (http://respas.anu)

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Economy/ Business
12 February 2007
^{Win Naing (Photo:Irrawaddy)}
Win Naing, 70, a follower of the late elected prime minister U Nu, speaks out against corruption and mismanagement that are crippling the economy. The deep water paddy cultivation project of 4 years ago is a good example, he points out. "Billions of kyats were loaned out to many bogus companies who failed to cultivate anything and never repay their loans", he says. "Nobody dared to warn the generals those projects were not feasible." (DPA)
 
12 February 2007
The former Ministry of Information building on Bo Aung Kyaw Road in Rangoon rented to pro-junta Dr Tun Oo, distributor for Myanmar Times. He pays 55,000 kyat ($ 45) per month instead of the minimum standard of 1.5 million ($ 1,225). (New Era Journal)
 
14 February 2007
Thai currency traders in Maesod, following arrest last December of two traders for illegal currency trading, will have to register with Thai finance ministry next month as part of the government's program to combat illegal financial dealings. Thai banks do not exchange kyat because of the difficulty of fixing a stable rate. (Irrawaddy)

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Human Rights
2 February 2007
4 school girls, 14-16, in Putao township, Kachin State, gangraped by 7 soldiers from Infantry Battalion 138. One of them is a Maj Zaw Min Thet and two others Captains Win Myint Oo and Kyaw Zeya. Lt-Col Soe Win, battalion commander, has paid 300,000 kyat ($ 232) in compensation, but the victims' families are seeking 2 million kyat ($ 1,550). (Irrawaddy)
 
7 February 2007
^{Stephanie Bunker}
Stephanie Bunker, spokesperson for UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says $ 1 million will be given to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and a further $ 355,000 to UNAIDS programs in Burma. (DVB)
 
9 February 2007

Chin and Kachin delegates, carrying their report Carrying the Cross on the junta's anti-Christian campaigns, conclude week-long visit to Washington D.C. (Press Release) Benedict Rogers of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, author of the report, travels with the delegation. (Press Release)
 
12 February 2007

Karen Women Organization releases State of Terror, citing cases of 959 Karen women and girls from 1981 until last year. (AP) The joint Sino-Russian veto at the UN Security Council was a death sentence for the Karen Women, says KWO spokeswomen Zipporah Sein. (Network Media Group)
 
13 February 2007
Rangoon's Sanchaung court has postponed its hearing of a defamation case leveled by activist Naw Ohn Hla against more than 123 editors and publishers from 30 publication from today until 15 February. The information ministry had forced them to run articles linking her to a dead Rangoon pimp, she says. (DVB)
 
13 February 2007
A locally run HIV/AIDS awareness center at Kanma township, Pakokku district, Magwe division shut down by officials. Since 10 February Tin Ko,  31 year old AIDS sufferer, has been operating the center opposite a busy market putting out HIV/AIDS educational books and pamphlets from the UNAIDS office in Rangoon. (DVB)

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Environment

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Drugs
9 February 2007
Three suspected drug smugglers killed in midday clash with the Thai military in Chiangmai's Wiang Haeng district. Drug smugglers frequently use the jungle passage despite several arrests, says Col Suthas Jarumanee, commander of the 7th infantry regiment. The area is located opposite the base of  United Wa State Army (UWSA). (Bangkok Post) Until 2003, the area was under patrol by anti-Rangoon Shan State Army troops. They were forced to move out under pressure by the Third Army's deputy commander Maj-Gen Manas Paorik that year – Editor.
 
12 February 2007
^{Pittaya Jinawat}
Pittaya Jinawat, deputy secretary general of Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) tells reporters the area of opium plantations has reached 400 acres up from 280 acres years ago. (Irrawaddy)
 
13 February 2007
Many anti-drug programmes came to an end in 2003, when PM Thaksin Shinawatra declared victory on drugs. That cleared the way for surviving drug peddlers and big shots to resume their activities.
The key to ending the drug trade is cross-border cooperation among governments, and those around Burma all are agreed on the need. The only problem is the foot-dragging of the country's dictatorship. (Bangkok Post)
 
13 February 2007
There has been a marked increase in poppy cultivation in Chin and adjoining Sagaing, result of joint activity between local authorities and businessmen. The main townships are Tiddim, Tongzang and Falam in Chin State and Kalay in Sagaing division. Last year's output in Chin touched around 7.5 tons. (Khonumthung)

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War
11 February 2007
^{Htein Maung}
Burma Army' holds "Victory of peace welcoming ceremony" for 320 members of KNU/KNLA Peace Council led by Htein Maung at Htot Kawkoe village, Kawkareik township. (New Light of Myanmar)

 
11 February 2007
National Unity Party of Arakan (NUPA) makes the 9th anniversary of detention without trial of 36 comrades by Indian troops at the Andaman-Nicobar Archipelogo. Two went missing and the remaining 34 were transferred to Kolkata last year to be tried. (Statement)
 
12 February 2007
The Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) estimates that in 2006 alone violence in Burma forced 82,000 people to leave homes. Since 1996, more than 3,000 villages have been destroyed or abandoned in eastern Burma and more than a million people displaced, according to its most recent report. (AP)
 
13 February 2007
The trial of 14 South Korean executives linked to alleged supply of arms to Burma has been postponed from 28 December to 22 March following delays in arranging their legal defense, Seoul's prosecutor office says. (DVB)
 
14 February 2007
The Burma Army has been setting up people's militias along the western border townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw since 5 February. Each village tract has to form a 30-men militia unit. The two townships will comprise some 1,000 members, about 200 of whom are expected to be solid forces and 800 reserve forces. The Muslim community is not part of this plan. (Narinjara)
 
15 February 2007
New Light of Myamar says Burma and India have held security talks. It offers no further details. The junta last month burnt down headquarters and two camps held by National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang Faction (NSCN-K) operating in its soil. The NSCN-K is observing a ceasefire with New Delhi since 2001, though formal peace talks are yet to start. (AFP)
 
15 February 2007
^{Hassan Wirajuda}
Indonesia will provide training for Burmese military officers which may lead to a joint military exercise in the future, FM Hassan Wirajuda says. (Japan Economic Newsroom)
 
16 February 2007
The Burma Army recently raided the headquarters of NSCN (Khaplang) in Sagaing, bordering Nagaland. The damage was "severe", according to an NSCN-K top functionary, forcing Khaplang to flee to Arunachal. (Indian Express)

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