Weekly Diary, No. 295 (28 March – 4 April 2008)

• 2 IC IN DELHI!
• NLD SAYS NO TO DRAFT!
• RISING GLOBAL RICE PRICE HITS BURMA!
• JUNTA GETS MISSILES FROM N.K.!

Think Piece
Not everything (in the draft) is bad, perhaps 80% is okay, says a Western observer. If this were coming out of East Timor, you’d say this was something to work with. But with the SPDC there is simply no trust. Given their record, it is difficult to grant them the benefit of the doubt.
_{The Times of London, 31 March 2008}

The World
22 March 2008
The science of religion. According to scientists:

• Those with Parkinson’s disease had lower levels of religiosity than healthy individuals
• Perceived presence of a supernatural promotes fitness by promoting collaboration within groups
• Compared to secularists, religious people don’t smoke and drink, and are living longer and having the health benefits

(The Economist)
 
31 March 2008
_{Pearl Cornioley}
Secrets of a WWII female spy Pearl Cornioley has been unsealed by Britain’s National Archives following her death on 24 February in Paris. (AP)

International Relations
23 March 2008
35 boat people arrested on 10 March while preparing to go to Malaysia from Sittwe sentenced to jail, 7 years for men and 3 years for women. There are 26 men, 7 women and 2 children. (Kaladan)
 
30 March 2008
Two Tibetan activists hiding in Laiza arrested by Kachin Independence Organization through the insistence of the Chinese government. (Kachin News Group)
 
30 March 2008
A 10-member technical team from Burma arrives in Dhaka to discuss redrawing of sea boundaries between Bangladesh and Burma. (The Independence, Bangladesh)
 
31 March 2008
Committee Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP) urges members of parliament around the world to “declare that they will not accept or recognize the SPDC’s constitution, written without meeting the expectation of ethnic nationalities and urge their governments to do the same.” (Statement)
 
31 March 2008
Senior Chinese and Burmese military officials met in KIO controlled Laiza to discuss security along the border, amidst rumors that Tibetan protesters are planning to flee to Indo-Burma border through the Sino-Burma border. (Mizzima)
 
1 April 2008
_{Vitaly Churkin}
Tentative move by the US to have a new UN Security Council presidential statement on the May constitutional referendum in Burma opposed by Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin. It is somewhat improper to go into describing modalities, because we are not an election board, he says. (Irrawaddy)
 
2 April 2008
Clash between police and refugees in Bangladesh breaks out after refugees obstructed Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) to leave the camp. (Kaladan)
 
2-5 April 2008
_{Gen Maung Aye}
Vice Senior Gen Maung Aye visits Delhi. (Mizzima)

Thai-Burma Relations
29 March 2008
Thailand ranks as the third highest investor in Burma, according to Bangkok’s foreign trade office. Thai investment totaled $1.34 billion in 2007, putting it behind Britain and Singapore. (Irrawaddy)
 
31 March 2008
_{Thaksin Shinawatra}
Thailand’s Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) unanimously votes to press criminal charges against former PM Thaksin Shinawatra for abuse of his authority in the Export-Import (Exim) Bank’s 4 billion baht ($100 million) soft loan to Burma. The Thai government earlier agreed to a 3 billion baht ($75 million at that time) loan for the development of roads and other basic infrastructure there. (Bangkok Post)
 
1 April 2008
Construction of the 22 km road between Thingan Nyinaung and Kawkareik, part of the 1,400 km GMS East West Economic Corridor, which stretches from Myawaddy to Moulmein, has started, reports Voice journal. The prior 18 km Myawaddy-Thingan Nyinaung section was completed last year with the assistance from Thailand. (Xinhua)
 
1 April 2008
‘Burma 2007-Uprising, Crackdown, and Now photo exhibition, co-organized by Burma Information Network, Human Rights Watch and AAPP are at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. (Asia Media Forum)

Politics/ Inside Burma
30 March 2008
_{Gen Than Shwe}
Senior Gen Than Shwe’s 15 minute address on 27 March, according to diplomats:

• Voice weaker than usual
• Speech shorter than usual
• Still it is hard line as usual

(Asia Online)
 
30 March 2008
Ten Muslim community leaders in Maungdaw, Arakan State, arrested. (Narinjara)
 
31 March 2008
Myint Hlaing, Chairman of Rangoon’s Hlaing Thaya NLD, receives three stitches after being hit on the head by an unidentified man. (Mizzima)
 
1 April 2008
At least 700 September protesters are still behind bars and at least 40 of them including 7 monks have been sentenced to prison after secret trials, says Amnesty International. Three were sentenced merely for giving water to monks on the street. (AFP)
 
2 April 2008
Thai-based Network for Democracy and Development (NDD) publishes 100-page report titled ‘USDA Pillar of Military Dictatorship’. (Mizzima)
 
2 April 2008

Ohn Than who staged a solo protest on 23 August 2007 in front of the US embassy sentenced to life imprisonment. Punishment by an unlawful government is unlawful, he remarks. (Mizzima)
 
Referendum
28 March 2008
Draft Constitution surfaces among Burma’s media and opposition exiles:

• It has 15 chapters, 194 pages and 457 articles
• Slight changes from the principles and guidelines laid down by the National Convention
• Yet to be officially made public
• Bars person who is entitled to rights and privileges of a foreign government or a citizen of a foreign country to stand for election
• Also bars anyone with “allegiance or adherence” to a foreign government to become a parliamentary candidate
• The commander-in-chief of the armed forces has the right to suspend the constitution at will
• Enshrines many rights absent for the last two decades
• Cannot be amended for ten years
• Protects junta members from persecution for past actions

(Irrawaddy/Reuters/ Times of London/CNN)
 
28 March 2008
USDA visiting a village in Arakan’s Taunggup summons students who had sat matriculation examinations and tells them any student who did not do well in the examinations should join the USDA and votes Yes. They would be guaranteed to pass the examinations. (DVB)
 
30 March 2008
Six NLD members arrested for holding a demonstration on 27 March to urge people to vote No. (DVB)
 
31 March 2008
_{Nyan Win}
Nyan Win, NLD spokesman, says there are 3 basic points which the party finds unacceptable:

• Power derives from the commander-in-chief
• The constitution will be hard to amend by elected members alone
• Authorization of the military to assume power whenever it deems appropriate

“If this draft isn’t approved, the people will have to struggle for some decades. But if it is approved, they will have to suffer for many generations,” he says. (Irrawaddy)
 
1 April 2008
Leaflets are also across Rangoon urging people to say Yes to the draft. (DVB)
 
2 April 2008
Prison authorities in Insein have told prisoners their sentences could be reduced if they agree to vote in favor of the new constitution after their release. (DVB)
 
2 April 2008
NLD issues statement urging people to cast No vote to the draft constitution. (BBC)
 
2 April 2008
Anti-referendum flyers have been spreading in Taunggup and Sandoway urging people to say No. (Narinjara)
 
2 April 2008
Voters list will be announcement one week before the referendum, says Myitkyina township chairman San Aung. Other details:

• A ballot box will be earmarked for 1,000 voters
• There will be 5 members in the polling broth commission and if the number of votes is between 1,000-2,000, there may be 7 members
• The time for voting is between 06:00-16:00

(Kachin News Group)
 
3 April 2008
Some 40 FAW transport trucks in Rangoon in an effort to beef up preparations for more protests. Another 100 trucks are due to be delivered soon. (DPA)

Shans/ Shan State
30 March 2008
The following ministers have been assigned to secure Yes votes from Shan State constituencies:

• Col Zaw Min                         Electric Power#1         North
• Brig Gen Tin Naing Thein      Commerce                   South
• Brig Gen Phone Sway           Deputy, Home              East

(NDD)

Economy/ Business
30-31 March 2008
Third tri-annual summit of the 6 member Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), held in Vientiane, agrees on 5-year Plan of Action for 2008-2012 to bring the countries closer in a web of economic interests. (Mizzima)
 
1 April 2008
Soaring rice prices across Asia have pushed price hikes of near 14% over the past week from K 22,000 ($19.8) to K 25,000 ($22.5) for a 38 kg bag. Prices have risen 50% over a period of 2 months and more than doubled since 2004. (Irrawaddy)
 
2 April 2008
As rice prices soar, restaurant owners in Singapore are switching to rice from Burma instead of more expensive imports from Thailand. (The Earth Times)
 
2 April 2008

Visiting Senior Gen Maung Aye signs $ 120 million seaport and transportation system deal with Indian Vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari. (AP) 
 
3 April 2008
The price of diesel goes up from K5,000 ($4.5) per gallon to K6,000 ($5.5) causing a rise in the cost of transportation and basic commodities in Rangoon. (DVB)

Human Rights
2 April 2008
81,000 villagers in the Karenni aka Kayah state are internally displaced, representing 27% of the state’s population, says Khu Thaw Reh, Maehongson Area Coordinator for Burma Issues. Between 70-80% are women and children. (Asia Tribune)

Environment
31 March 2008
A brand new tool to help the world’s greenhouse gas emitters cut their emission rates is high on the Agenda of a 5-day Bangkok Climate Change Talks that begins today. (Bangkok Post)
 
2 April 2008
Yetagan gas field’s pipeline is leaking causing a loss of 400-500 million cubic feet per day (cfd), Thai shareholder PTTEP says. (Reuters)
 
3 April 2008
_{Poonpirom  Liptapanlop}
Thai energy minister Poonpirom  Liptapanlop says the leak will be fixed in 5 days. (Reuters)

Drugs
2 April 2008
_{Chalerm Yubamrung}
The Samak government kicks off a new war on drugs. Coordinating center is chaired by Chalerm Yubamrung. The six month war runs until September. (Bangkok Post)

War
25 March 2008
Three clashes between rebel Karenni Army and Burma Army in one day leave 2 dead and 1 wounded on the Burma Army side, according to Karenni spokesperson. (DVB)
 
2 April 2008
NHK reports North Korea is exporting multiple-launch rockets to Burma, in violation of economic sanctions. The export has been handled by an unnamed Singapore firm. The rockets are 24 cm in diameter and about 1 meter long, each with a range of about 65 km. North Korea and Burma agreed in April last year to restore relations. (Nasdaq via AFP)

Obituary
3 April 2008
_{U Thaung, Photo: NEJ}
Respected media figure Kyemon U Thaung, 82, passes away in Florida. (Burma Media Association)