Weekly Diary, No. 252 (2 – 8 June 2007)

Weekly Diary, No. 252 (2 – 8 June 2007)
 
·         MUST BE OK TO CALL NAYPYIDAW AS PYINMANA!
·         SSA BURNS 1.1 MILLION SPEED PILLS!
·         WHY THAILAND UNDER SURAYUD GOES EASY ON BURMA!
·         FINAL NC SESSION IN JULY?
 
Think Piece
A tree saved is better than a tree planted.
^{U Ohn, General Secretary, Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association (FREDA), Irrawaddy, 5 June 2007}
 
In Thailand, we face difficulties, but at least it's a job. In Burma, there's no work at all.
^{Ya Za, Joint Action Committee for Burmese Affairs, Maesod, Bangkok Post, 5 June 2007}

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The World
2 June 2007
Four people have been charged with planning to blow up New York's John F. Kennedy airport, US officials say. Even the World Trade Center can't touch it, one of the suspects was recorded as saying. "This can destroy the economy of American for some time." (Reuters)
 
3 June 2007
^{Vladimir Putin}
Russian president Vladimir Putin says he will aim his missiles at targets in Europe if US plans to build a missile defense shield near Russian borders go ahead. (Reuters)
 
5 June 2007
^{Gen Vang Pao}
Gen Vang Pao, 77, and 8 other people are being charged with plotting a violent overthrow of Laos' communist government. The arrests have come after a 6-month investigation. The Hmong leaders are said to have agreed to buy $ 10 million worth of weapons. (AP)

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International Relations
1 June 2007
^{Rosario Manalo}
Asean members have agreed to establish a human rights council, says Rosario Manalo, head of task force drafting the Asean charter. Terms of Reference (TOR) for the body will be submitted by July. (Gulf News)
 
2 June 2007
Burmese labor rights activists present a report detailing 3,145 cases of alleged forced labor to the International Labor Conference in Geneva. (DVB)
 
5 June 2007
^{Lt-Gen Thein Sein}
Lt-Gen Thein Sein, Acting PM, is on a 5-day goodwill visit to Beijing starting today. (VOA)

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Thai-Burma Relations
3 June 2007
Thailand is playing a key role in Burma's economic development. Its investment has accounted for $ 7.3 billion or over 53% of the country's total foreign investment received since 1988. (Xinhua)
 
5 June 2007
Therdkiat Shinsoranan, Maesod mayor, says Bangkok is planning to turn the town into metropolis that can link further to India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan through Burma. (Irrawaddy)
 
5 June 2007
Recent crackdowns on restrictions in Chiangmai have effected their daily life style, say Shan migrant workers. Now they are afraid to go out and meet friends and families as usual. Business is also quiet as there are not many customers as before. (Sanloitai Associated Press)

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Politics/ Inside Burma
2 June 2007
^{Su Su Nway}
Su Su Nway, who has been held since 15 May, released this morning. She is still kept under care at the Muslim Charity Hospital. The nature of her medical condition is not known. (DVB)
 
4 June 2007
88 Generation Students calls on Russia and China to join international campaign to release Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta, emboldened by Russian and Chinese reticence, arrested about 60 activists, says its statement. (AFP)
 
5 June 2007
State media reports the National Convention will resume meeting on 18 July. The junta also announces it will wrap up the convention in the next session. (AP) There is pressure from China to restart the process, says a Western diplomat. (AFP)
 
5 June 2007
The 7,000 acre Yadanabon new city construction project in Maymyo, east of Mandalay, has been renamed the Yadanabon Naypyidaw project. (DVB)
 
6 June 2007
Not since the 2003 Depayin massacre has there been so much political activity in Burma. Since February, authorities have more than 130 activists under arrests, beginning with Htin Kyaw who had focused activities around complaints over the economy instead of politics. (DVB)
 
6 June 2007
A new militia, name The Best Fertilizer, will be formed in every township in Rangoon to take on democracy activists, according to an emergency meeting held today. (DVB)

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Shans/ Shan State
6 June 2007
^{Col Yawd Serk}
Col Yawd Serk, Chairman of Restoration Council of Shan State, burns 1.1 million yaba pills seized from pro-junta militia. (SHAN/ Bangkok Post/ The Nation) more under Drugs.

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Economy/ Business
1 June 2007
The salary of a junior clerk is 18,000 kyat ($15) a month. The meals are said to cost 1,500 kyat ($ 1.2) daily. Rumors of extra monthly allowance of 20,000 kyat ($ 17)  month have been on the wind for some time, but no action has been taken. (Irrawaddy)
 
1 June 2007
Ban on private diesel sales announced, fueling increase in transport fee and price of diesel on the black market. (Irrawaddy)
 
4 June 2007
Once one of Southeast Asia's top rice exporters, Burma now relies mostly on exporting natural resources, according to Myanmar Times: oil, natural gas, teak, gems and copper. (Irrawaddy)

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Human Rights
6 June 2007
The SPDC has announced free admission at the primary level thereby putting a burden on school administrations. No funds have been given to schools for covering the admission fees already taken from students. It however permits taking fees for the library, building, sports, school salaries and teachers-parents association, according to a school officer. (Independent Mon News Agency)

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Environment
4 June 2007
Beri-beri, caused by a lack of thiamine or Vitamin B1, largely been eradicated from the developing world, is returning to Burma. More than one in ten children die before their fifth birthday. One reason is that the Burmese favor tea, fish paste and betel nut, all of which inhibit thiamine use in the body. Polished rice is also low in thiamine. (DVB)
 
5 June 2007
Formation of Burma Rivers Network (BRN) on 13 May announced. It can be reached at Email: b_rivers_n_2007@yahoo.com (Statement)
 
5 June 2007
U Ohn, general secretary of the Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association (FREDA), says he has advised the junta to encourage eco-tourism to conserve forest, "but they don’t seem to believe it." (Irrawaddy)

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Drugs
2 June 2007
Two men arrested in Kamphaengphet trying to deliver 17.9 kg of compressed heroin and 15,400 methamphetamine pills in 77 bags. They were hired by Mr Lee to drive from Lampang to Bangkok, they tell police. (Bangkok Post)
 
6 June 2007

The Shan State Army burns 1.1 million speed pills in a demonstration of its intention to help the international community to fight illicit drugs. Col Yawdserk also offers to enter ceasefire talks with the Burmese junta and even to cooperate with them on drug suppression. Kamol Thanyapirom, deputy director of Northern Narcotics Control Center (NNCC) says 10 million speed pills are being kept along the border to enter the country. (Bangkok Post/ The Nation)

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War
31 May 2007
^{Maj-Gen B.K. Chengapa}
Illicit flow of weapons from Burma is fuelling Manipur's insurgency, says Maj-Gen B.K. Chengapa of the Indian Army. (Telegraph Calcutta)
 
4 June 2007
Unidentified rebels operating in Burmese territory open fire on the Indian town of Moreh. (DVB)
 
4 June 2007
Six major armed groups: Arakan Liberation Party, Chin National Front, Kachin National Organization, Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party and the Shan State Army reaffirm their continued cooperation against the Burma Army following a meeting held today. (DVB)

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