Weekly Diary, No. 265 (1 – 7 September 2007)

Weekly Diary, No. 265 (1 – 7 September 2007)
 
·         NATIONAL 'CONTENTION' OVER!
·         WHAT THE NEW CONSTITUTION PROMISES!
·         THE MONKS RETURN!
·         SHOWDOWN IN PAKOKKU!
 
Think Piece
There are three sides in every story: my side, your side and the truth.

_{Robert Evans, Hollywood producer}

 
The World
1 September 2007
_{Dalai Lama}
New Chinese regulations on religions that go into effect today reassert China's right to name Roman Catholic bishops and government approval of the Dalai Lama. It is in violation of international legal guarantees of religious freedom, says US Commission on International Religious Freedom. (AP)

 
International Relations
1 September 2007
For the first time in years, BurmanNet is working on Saturday. (SHAN)

2 September 2007
_{Gordon Brown}
British PM calls for release of all political prisoners. (AFP)
 
3 September 2007
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is planning a $ 52 million over two years to give food assistance to 1.6 million people in Burma's border areas. (Financial Times)
 
4 September 2007
Pro-democracy activists urge Burma to release Min Ko Naing and others arrested in the recent spate of protests in

• Seoul
• New Delhi

(Mizzima)
 
5 September 2007
Leaflets demanding US and British diplomats stop their "blatant support" of protests in Burma left in front of those countries' embassies, saying they should cease their interference or be driven out. (AP)
 
5 September 2007
_{Ibrahim Gambari}
Ibrahim Gambari, speaking to reporters in New York, says recent crackdown on peaceful protests in Burma is a setback to democratization. (UN News Center)
 
6 September 2007

28 Hollywood celebrities write to UN chief Ban Ki-moon to personally intervene to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. They include Dustin Hoffman, Owen Wilson and Robin Williams. (AFP)
 
7 September 2007
Philippines FM Alberto Romulo delivers assessment to US counterpart on the sidelines of APEC forum summit: Asean policy to engage Burma is not working. (AFP)
 
7 September 2007
_{George W. Bush}
US President Bush invites Asean leaders, including an official from Burma, "whose level of participation is to be determined," to Texas despite his sharp attacks on the country's regime. (AFP)
 
7 September 2007
_{Liu Jianchao}
Chinese spokesman Liu Jianchao tells APEC reporters China hopes "to see reconciliation and improvement in the situation in Burma." (Reuters)
 
Condemnations
31 August 2007
Nobel Women's Initiative, formed in 2006, condemns junta. (Statement)
 
31 August 2007
_{Paulo Sergio Pinheiro}
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, UN Special Rapposteur on Human Rights in Burma, calls for immediate release of detainees and deplores citizens expressing their views peacefully are being severely treated. (UN)
 
31 August 2007
Over 150 protestors have been arrested, says Amnesty International. It calls for immediate and unconditional release. (Statement)

31 August 2007
_{Laura Bush}
Mrs Laura Bush calls on UN chief Ban Ki-moon to take action to prevent further violence and repression in Burma. (Office of the First Lady)

 
Thai-Burma Relations
2 September 2007
An estimated 20,000 people, mostly Burmese, queue up in Maesod to receive free rice from Chinese donors. (Irrawaddy)

3 September 2007
_{Kavi Chongkittavorn}
Kavi Chongkittavorn, SEAPA chairman, named co-recipient of 2007 democracy award. (Mizzima)

 
Politics/ Inside Burma
31 August 2007
"National Convention" to draw up guidelines for the new constitution "completes" its tasks today. (Agencies)
 
1 September 2007
_{Aung San Suu Kyi}
NLD leaders call Pyinmana for dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi. (AFP)
 
1 September 2007
All the decisions have been made at the National Convention, according to a Mon delegate. Step-1 is practically over. Step-2 of the roadmap "is a way for the regime to take more time," says Aye Tha Aung, Chairman of Arakan League for Democracy. (Irrawaddy)
 
3 September 2007
Burma wraps up constitution. No guarantee to promotion of democracy or stability. No protection of the needs of the ethnic groups. Centralized power. (Reuters)
_{Cin Sian Thang}
The new flag has only one star compared to 14 stars in the last national flag. "I feel very sad," says Rangoon-based Zomi leader Cin Sian Thang. (Irrawaddy)

The military is guaranteed 110 seats in the 440 seat parliament. A civilian party that wins all 330 civilian seats will not be able to change the constitution as an amendment bill will need approval of more than 75% (330 seats) of all the members of the parliament. (Irrawaddy)
 
The document ensures that the military will remain the dominant force wherever the roadmap leads:

• It will control key ministries
• Hold large blocs of unelected seats
• The right to declare a state of emergency
• Seize power at any time

(International Herald Tribune)
 
5 September 2007
The junta is choosing 7 people in each township who are respected and accepted by the people for the upcoming elections. (Independent Mon News Agency)
 
Protests and Arrests
3 September 2007
Bus fares for shortest trips decreases from 100 kyat to 50 kyat. The 200 kyat for long distance is still the same: 200 kyat.
 
Laputta. 170 mile north of Rangoon. Over a thousand demonstrate. (Mizzima) Planned protest march from Laputta to Rangoon halted and three of its organizers arrested. (Reuters)
 
Kyaukse, Than Shwe's native town. At least 30 people demonstrate. (Mizzima)
 
4 September 2007

Around 1,000 people stage peaceful protest march in Taunggup, 250 miles northwest of Rangoon, demanding the release of 2 men arrested on 31 August for demonstrating against a sudden rise in fuel prices. (Reuters)
 
Students in Myitkyina University put a poster demanding a roll back of oil prices and scrapping the National Convention outcome. (Kachin News Group)
 
5 September 2007
Mandalay. 84 in Mandalay Tha Ohn Computer University students, most of whom were accused earlier of assembling people to demonstrate, barred from exams, reasoning that they do not have the mandatory 75% attendance. (Mizzima)
 

Pakkoku. Over 500 monks protest. Soldiers fire into the air to disperse the monks, drag some of them away and beat up the onlookers. (Mizzima/DVB)
 

Taunggup. Two protestors arrested on 31 August released. (Mizzima/DVB)
 

Bogalay. Public speech and discussion on fuel and food prices disrupted by USDA men who arrest 3 key organizers of the event. (Mizzima/AFP)
 
6 September 2007
Pakokku. About 20 officials detained by the monks released at 16:00 after 4 of the 6 cars driven to the temple in the morning were set fire. The captors had demanded the release of some 10 fellow monks arrested yesterday. The Mahavisuttarama monastery, known as A Le Tike, has about 700 monks. (DVB/Irrawaddy/Reuters)
 

• Rangoon. Authorities release Ye Thein Naing for treatment after meeting activists who have been on hunger strike for him. (Mizzima)
• Pakokku. Monks destroy two houses owned by USDA members.

 
7 September 2007

• Pakokku. Situation normal. New Light of Myanmar acknowledges clashes with monks there.
• You Tube that features ongoing protests in Burma banned 4 days earlier. (Mizzima)
• More than 20 names of Burmese activists, including Htay Kywe and Su Su Nway, are on a watch list at the Myawaddy border checkpoint. (Irrawaddy)

Shans/ Shan State
20 August 2007
_{Lt-Col Yabay}
Lt-Col Yabay, 54, of Shan State Army (SSA) North passes away in Hsipaw. He was suffering from lung cancer. (SHAN)
 
26 August 2007
_{Bao Youhua}
Bao Youhua, youngest brother of Bao Youxiang, passes away in Kunma, Pangwai township. (SHAN)
 
4 September 2007
Shan Democratic Union supports the recent protests, closely identifies with it and hopes it will be translated into a well-coordinated, massive disobedience movement, paving a way for a change, says its statement. (SHAN)

 
Economy/ Business
27 August 2007
Burmese currency exchange rate goes down to B 2.58 = K100 to B 2.53 = K100 today at Myawaddy-Maesod border trade area. (DVB) It is B2.50 = K100 or B1 = K40 on 1 September in Maesai – Editor
 
3 September 2007
Burma raised domestic airfares to 30% over the weekend. (DPA)
 
6 September 2007
U Myint, a member of the advisory group to the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) had, on 4 April 2006, objected to the proposed fuel price, saying while "it is true the country's fuel prices are lower, it is also true that its incomes are among the lowest in the region." (Irrawaddy)
 
7 September 2007
Air Bagan, owned by Tayza, launches Singapore service beginning today. (AFP)

 
Human Rights
4 September 2007
People pay tax, euphemism for extortion, between Kya-in-seikkyi and Mudon, to six checkpoints over a stretch of 32 miles:

• Car fare                       2,500 kyat
• Tax                              1,000-1,500 kyat at each checkpoint

(Independent Mon News Agency)
 
5 September 2007
The rates for electric bills in Burma double starting 10 September: from 25 kyat per unit to 50 kyat per unit. Meter box maintenance charge is also increased from 500 kyat to 1,000 kyat per month. (Mizzima)

 
Environment
1 September 2007
Jatropha physic nuts were being planted on 1.6 million acres mainly in 3 dry zones: Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe. An acre of land with 1,200 plants can produce up to 100 gallons (454-6 liters) of bio-diesel. (Xinhua)
 
1 September 2007
The length of railroads since 1988 has extended from 3,162 km to 5,031 km an increase of 59%, according to the New Light of Myanmar. (Xinhua)
 
2 September 2007

Two men on a motorbike throw 2 grenades into the Egat (Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand) camp at the construction site of the Hat Gyi dam in Burma. The blast kills Samarn Kanthamuen, one of the 40 workers. (The Nation) Egat evacuates all staff following the killing. (Bangkok Post)
 
4 September 2007
_{Vandana Shiva}
Plans by the German biotech corporation Bayer to introduce a new hybrid rice variety to Burma have run into stiff opposition from environmentalists. Vandana Shiva, internationally renowned Indian scientist, says Burma should learn from Indian experience, when more than 150,000 farmers had committed suicide after being pushed into debt by multinational companies. These companies are creating a dictatorship, she declares. (Irrawaddy)
 
5 September 2007
Salween Watch "express our regret" for the tragic killing of EGAT worker at Hat Gyi. Saying it does not support the use of violence, it nevertheless blames the Egat operations

• For being "shrouded in secrecy"
• Disregard warnings about the lack of security and extensive rights abuses
• For the increase of 50 Burma Army battalions in Karen State contributing to the ongoing conflict

(Statement)

 
Drugs
2 September 2007
Lt-Col Kyi Aung, Commander of Nam Hpak Ka-based Light Infantry Battalion 123, arrested for alleged corruption. He is said to have taken bribes from Kachin Defense Army (KDA) over the seizure of a huge cache of assorted drugs. (Mizzima)
 
4 September 2007
Janya Sramatcha, director of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board's northern branch, says about 9 tonnes of heroin are expected to be produced in Shan State Kokang and Wa groups had hired Shan and Palaung people to grow around 180,000 rai (72,000 acres) of land. (Bangkok Post) The area mentioned appears to be in Mongton and Monghsat townships, opposite Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces. (SHAN)
 
6 September 2007
The poppy cultivation project during the 2006-07 season in Chin State's Cikha area was led by Lt-Col Tint Khine of the Light Infantry Battalion 269. 8 villages were involved in the project. Other areas reported of growing poppies are Kalemyo in Sagaing division and Tonzang and Tiddim in Chin State. (Khonumthung)

 
War
6 September 2007
Four battalions of the United Wa State Army have reinforced the Mongla forces at Hsop Lwe, the mouth of the Lwe on the Mekong. (S.H.A.N.)

 
Obituary
31 August 2007
Maran Zau Nan, Chairman, Kachin National Consultative Assembly, dies of cancer in Rangoon. (KNG)