Weekly Diary, No. 240 (3 – 9 March 2007)

Weekly Diary, No. 240 (3 – 9 March 2007)
 

• HOLDING MEETING ON LITERATURE A CRIME!

• BRIT CALLS A SPADE A SPADE!

• SON OF BO MYA'S CAMP ATTACKED!

 
Think Piece
Dominance is the root of the conflict, not the differences. The differences between us could be worked out rather easily without the dominance-subordination structure and conditioning in which they are imbedded.
^{Dr Naing Aung}
Roberto Chene, Southwest Center for Intercultural Leadership, quoted by Dr Naing Aung, Forum for Democracy in Burma, 7-8 March 2007

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The World
1 March 2007
Nearly 17% of the world's lawmakers are women, according to International Parliamentary Union (IPU):
Rwanda           48.8%
Sweden           47.3%
Costa Rica       38.6%
Finland            38%
Norway           37.9%
(AP)
 
4 March 2007

The world witnesses first total lunar eclipse in 3 years. (AP)
 
6 March 2007
6.3 magnitude quake kills at least 82 and destroys buildings trapping many under rubble in Indonesia's Sumatra. (AFP)
 
7 March 2007
^{Yohei Kono, former chief cabinet secretary}
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says he stands by the 1993 Kono Statement that acknowledged the Japanese military's role in setting up wartime brothels and that many women were taken and kept there against their will. (Reuters)

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International Relations
5 March 2007
350 Kuki people of Manipur State march through Delhi demanding the Indian government to find a long-term peace resolution and to clear the state of its landmines. The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) had killed 33 villagers in just one district, Chandel. (Irrawaddy)
 
5 March 2007
The rates of HIV are higher in fishing communities than any other sector, says Serge Garcia, an expert at FAO's Fishery Resources Division, due to the custom of trading sex for fish. The rates among fishing communities in Burma, Cambodia, Congo, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Thailand and Uganda are between 4-14 times higher than the national average rate for adults aged 15-49. (AP)
 
6 March 2007
^{Grover Joseph Rees}
The US will raise its concern about events in Burma at every possible international forum – "This is our strategy", Grover Joseph Rees, the State Department's special representative for social issues. (Irrawaddy)
 
6 March 2007
^{Dr Col Lakshmi Sehgal}
Solidarity Committee chaired by Dr Col Lakshmi Sehgal of the former Indian National Army urges the Indian judicial system to conduct a fair trial of 34 ethnic Burmese rebels currently held at Presidency jail, Kolkata. (Mizzima)
 
7 March 2007
6,000 Burmese refugees living in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, ordered by the government to move, says UNHCR. (DVB)
 
8 March 2007
Activists gather outside UN High Commissioner for Refugees office in Kuala Lumpur calling for fair treatment for refugees and asylum seekers. The group's statement says UNHCR support is concentrated towards Chins with VIP provisions. (Irrawaddy)
 
8 March 2007

Women of Burma marks International Women's Day in Chiangmai. (Irrawaddy)

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Thai-Burma Relations
2 March 2007
568 Burmese, including 285 women, rounded up in Maesod, an act aimed at discouraging pro-democracy activists from staging a rally. (Bangkok Post) 2 March is the 45th anniversary of Ne Win's coup in 1962 – Editor
 
3 March 2007
A Toyota pickup carrying Pradit Hongto, 50, elder brother to Sanohchoke Hongto, co-owner of the Thana Choke Lanna (TCL) company, and Somboon Hongnimit, runs over a landmine 3 km from the Maehongson province. Pradit killed instantly and Somboon seriously injured. The company is operating an antimony mine in Burma, under the supervision of KNPLF, a rival Karenni group that enjoys ceasefire agreement with Naypyidaw. (Bangkok Post)
The company has been running mining operation for more than three years. Thai authorities have put forward 3 theories about the incident:

• Result of conflict of interest between TCL and another Thai firm

• Conflict within KNPLF leadership

• Burma Army exploiting a conflict between KNPLF and Thai businessmen (Bangkok Post)

Brig Aung Myat, Vice Chief of Staff of the anti-Rangoon Karenni Army says there are several armed groups in the area: Red Star (KNPLF), White Star (KNUSO), Dragon (KNDP) and the Burma Army. (Kantarawaddy Times)
 
6 March 2007
Interim government of Thailand recently agreed to ICJ's request to have a presence in Thailand. A clear shift from the previous government's policy, says ICJ Secretary General Nicholas Hoven. The organization focuses on legal reform and training. (Bangkok Post)

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Politics/ Inside Burma
20 February 2007
Win Kyaing, Min Kyi and Myoe Win Zaw, who had organized a seminar on literature sentenced to 3 months imprisonment each by Prome court. 5 others detained earlier released. (DVB)
 
23 February 2007

U Thugandha, a monk from Sandoway, who is distributing UN declaration on universal human rights, detained at Taunggup, interrogated and released later with a warning he should obtain authorization prior to distribution. (DVB)
 
4 March 2007

Two month long Open Heart campaign ends with more than 20,000 letters. (DVB)
 
6 March 2007
The Burmese military detains 8 activists in connection with 22 February demonstration. One, Htin Kyaw, is released on the next day. About 25 people took part in the demonstration. 9 who were detained earlier were freed on 27 February without charge. (Irrawaddy)
 
6 March 2007
^{Andrew Mitchell}
A statement issued by the office of Andrew Mitchell, Conservative Party, says he had accused the Burmese regime as "wicked and illegitimate" at a meeting with Deputy FM Kyaw Thu in Rangoon. Kyaw Thu had denied the existence of political prisoners and refused to allow him to visit Aung San Suu Kyi. (Irrawaddy)
 
7 March 2007
65-year old Thein Zan of Rangoon's Thingangyun township arrested under Section 505 (b), which prohibits inciting public unrest, after he wrote and posted signs on his fence complaining about high commodity prices. His case will be heard on 14 March, says lawyer Aung Thein who will represent him. (DVB/Irrawaddy/Mizzima)
 
8 March 2007
^{Win Naing}
Win Naing, 70, and Htin Kyaw, 44, taken into custody following a 2-hour press briefing on social and economic crisis in the country. (Irrawaddy)

9 March 2007
Both Win Naing and Htin Kyaw released following separate interrogation at the home ministry. The latter was arrested and released 3 times in three weeks. (AFP)
 
7-8 March 2007
National Reconciliation Programme (NRP) holds annual consultation on the Thai-Burma border. (SHAN)

9 March 2007
Naw Ohn Hla's defamation suit against 123 editors and publishers thrown out of court. Judge Khin San Myint has already postponed trial of the case 3 times before the announcement today. (Mizzima)

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Shans/ Shan State
5 March 2007
^{Yawnghwe palace} 

^{Kengtung palace}
Reports say Burma's minister for culture has recently ordered the overhaul of the Yawnghwe palace: from a historical museum into a religious museum. (SHAN) Kengtung palace was demolished in 1991 – Editor

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Economy/ Business
4 March 2007
Two northeast Indian traders unions and Burma's Border Trade Chamber of Commerce (UMBTCC) sign MoU to boost Indo-Burmese border trade. (Mizzima)
 
6 March 2007
Local Voice journal reports Naypyidaw has started to introduce an e-government system that will link government department. So far it has launched some e-government systems including e-visa, e-passport, e-procurement and e-D (eparture) form. A South Korean consortium comprising Daewoo and KCOMS is helping to build up the system. (Xinhua)
 
6 March 2007
Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production Co.Ltd. reports two successful natural gas wells in its M9 concession in the Gulf of Martaban. It is getting 45 million standard cubic feet of gas per day from them. (Bangkok Post)
 
8 March 2007
Burma opens a 13-day jade auction. The last auction in October earned the military regime $ 125 million. (AFP)
 
8 March 2007
Despite the ban on illegal logging of teak and its export to China, Burma Army units are the main violators of the ban. Logging mainly occurs in the junta-controlled areas, according to businessmen in Bhamo. Local units involved in the illegal teak business are Infantry Battalion 142 and Light Infantry Battalions 320, 319, 387 and 438. (Kachin News Group)

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Human Rights
6 March 2007
Four villages near the Metta Reservoir in Gangaw township, Magwe division, forced to move to Myauk, 70 miles away. (DVB) Metta, a Pali word, means compassion – Editor
 
8 March 2007
A report about Moe Kyaw, a reporter for The Voice, who was beaten by six men, including a woodshop owner, in Kemmendine township on 22 February, banned by Press Scrutiny and Registration Board (PSRB). Moe Kyaw was gathering information for a news story on his business activities. (Irrawaddy)

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Environment
5 March 2007
Some 380 households near the Tamanthi dam project on the Chindwin have been forced to evacuate. The junta has also seized about 17,000 acres of agricultural land from the villagers, says Anti-Tamanthi Dam Campaign Committee. (Mizzima)
 
6 March 2007
^{Serge Pun}
Yoma Strategic Holdings is venturing into the bio-diesel business acquiring a stake in the cultivation of Jatropha in Irrawaddy division, says Serge Pun, Yoma's CEO and chairman. (Business Times, Singapore)

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Drugs
2 March 2007
Susan Pittman, spokesman for US State Department, says there was increase of opium production in eastern and southern Shan State, a result of ban in Wa special region. (VOA)
 
3 March 2007
Neneo Haokip, a former member of Kuki National Army, says Indian insurgents who find themselves by smuggling arms and drugs are sheltered by corrupt Burma Army officers. (The Globe and Mail, Canada)

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War
8 March 2007
A combined force of Light Infantry Division 22 and DKBA's 907th Battalion attacks Mae Kalawkhi, the KNLA 6th Brigade's 201st Battalion post, at 05:30. The 201st Battalion is commanded by Col Nerdah Mya. Some 200 villagers have taken refugee in Thai territory. (Mizzima/ Network Media Group)
 
8 March 2007
According to a Burma Army non-commissioned officer who recently joined the Karenni Army (KA), offensives against the Shan State Army (SSA) and itself will begin in April. "They are already in a state of high readiness for the campaign except for the provisions, which they are required to fill by the end of March," says KA Chief of Staff Bee Htoo. (Kantarawaddy Times)

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