Weekly Diary, No. 321 (27 September – 3 October 2008)

• WILL US BAIL-OUT PLAN WORK?
• ELECTORAL LAW NOT IN THE OFFING!
• JUNTA PROMISES FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS!
• WHO: BREAST FEEDING SAFEST!

Cartoon
Same with junta army
 

Think Piece
Heaven lasts long and Earth abides.
What is the secret of their durability?
Is it not because they do not live for themselves
That they can live so long?
^{Lao Tzu,
6th century BC. Chinese philosopher}

The World
26 September 2008
^{Cool Paul Newman}
Cool Paul Newman, 83, passes away. One of his rare achievements was a 50-year marriage to actress Joanne Woodward. (Agencies)
 
3 October 2008
US House of Representatives approve financial rescue plan by 263-171 vote. Stocks continue to fall. (The Nation)

International Relations
27 September 2008
Groups of Friends which includes China, UK, USA, EU and Southeast Asian countries call on the junta to release all political prisoners and start talking with the opposition. (AP)
 
29 September 2008
Young Mizo Association (YMA) series serves notice to Burmese migrants for allegedly harassing girls in a village. (The Indian News)
 
29 September 2008
^{FM Nyan Win}
FM Nyan Win tells international community to lift ‘unfair’ and ‘immoral’ sanctions that is hurting the country’s development. The 2010 elections will be free and fair, he says. (Irrawaddy)
 
1 October 2008
Center for Constitutional Democracy at Indiana University’s school of law is launching research based on anecdotal evidence of severe mistreatment by the junta of the ethnic people to determine whether it has committed international crimes. It is headed by David Williams. Only the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) can determine whether such crimes have been committed by a group. There is a good chance that it has, he says. (AFP)
 
1 October 2008
World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urge Burmese mothers to fall back on breast feeding for children below six months to avoid danger from tainted milk. (Mizzima)
 
2 October 2008
^{Navanethem Pillay}
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay urges Burma to release all political prisoners. (Mizzima)
 
3 October 2008
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has ended its “hold” warning to about 60 Japanese companies operating in Burma. (Irrawaddy)

Thai-Burma Relations
26 September 2008
Seminar on “State violence against popular protests: Thailand and Burma” held at Chulalongkorn University. Some comparisons:
Similarity:        Both use violence against popular protests.
Differences:   

• Thai economy became much more integrated into the global market in 1970-80s, something that did not happen in Burma, generating a middle class that began to feel the military would not run the country’s economy.
• The economic factor plays a major part in the Thai military’s decision to refrain from using force against the current protests
• Political changes in Thailand after each popular protests
• The Thai military is more give and take-minded than their counterparts in Burma who don’t understand a win-win situation. The mind set there is either you win or you lose.

(Irrawaddy)
 
1 October 2008
Thailand Earth Observation System (Theos) satellite goes into orbit. It is to be used for natural resources survey. (Bangkok Post)

Politics/ Inside Burma
29 September 2008
250 Sittwe technical college stage demonstrations in protest of school authority’s harsh treatment. (Mizzima)
 
29 September 2008
^{Nyan Win}
Three more political prisoners among the freed, according to NLD spokesman Nyan Win, bringing the total release to nine. (DVB)
 
1 October 2008
NLD leaders in Yenangyaung warned over their use of the words ‘dictatorship’ and ‘dismantling of the SPDC government’ (DVB)
 
1 October 2008
Two more opposition members released on 27 September, says spokesman Nyan Win. (Mizzima) It brings the total release to 11 – Editor
 
1 October 2008
NLD Ohn Kyaing, 64, close friend of Win Tin, taken from his home from the police. No reason known. (AP)
 
2 October 2008
Monk leader Rakhaputta in Sittwe says their demonstrations have not been stopped this year as members of Swan Ar Shin and the riot police are also suffering under the same economic hardships in their daily lives. (Narinjara)
 
2 October 2008
Lawyer Aung Thein says he is to stop representing prominent clients in protest at the court’s refusal to allow him enough time to prepare a defense. It could not be fair to read out accusations and not allow suspects to properly defend themselves, he adds. (DVB)
 
2 October 2008
^{Than Shwe and Maung Aye}
The draft electoral law is still waiting for Gen Than Shwe to be signed, according to sources within the military. He and his #2 Gen Maung Aye have argued recently about which officers should be given parliamentary seats and who would continue to serve in the military. (Irrawaddy)
 
2 October 2008
NLD youth member Myan Than Htike who was hit by a bullet last year during the Saffron Revolution sentenced to 4 years in prison with hard labor. (DVB)
 
2 October 2008
^{Aung San Suu Kyi}
Eye specialist spends about an hour with Aung San Suu Kyi at her Inya Lake home. (AFP)
 
2 October 2008
Senior Gen Than Shwe has been staying at his Rangoon house near the Tooth Relic Pagoda in Mayangone township since late September. He is said to be receiving medical treatment. (Irrawaddy)

Shans/ Shan State
24 September 2008
^{Col Yawdserk}
Col Yawdserk warns Shans in Thailand against meddling in Thai politics. (Statement)

Economy/ Business
28 September 2008
Commerce ministry says it has barred entry of all dairy products from China since 23 September, reports Myanmar Times weekly. (AP)
 
29 September 2008
Survey by Earth Rights International (ERI) published today identifies 69 Chinese companies engaged in oil, gas, hydropower development and mining. There could be more than 70 companies, it says. (Irrawaddy)
 
29 September 2008
FAO resident representative Shin Imai says 97% of all damaged paddy in the delta had been replanted by the end of August. Of 1.3 million hectares of fields in the Nargis hit areas 60% was affected. (Reuters)
 
30 September 2008
Myanmar Ahlin, junta paper, warns people to avoid use of tainted milk powder. But shopkeepers in Mandalay continue to sell imported milk from China. Commerce ministry official says a ban have not been ordered, only stricter vigilance on all goods were ordered. (Mizzima)

Human Rights
30 September 2008
35 Burma nationals including 20 children arrested by Indian Security Force as they are trying cross the border into Pakistan. (Punjab Newsline)
 
1 October 2008
Two publications suspended:

• True News for two months over its child laborer photo
• Action Times for one month for the brief report on the release of journalist Win Tin

(Irrawaddy)

Environment
1 October 2008
A new coal mine in Mongma, operated by AAA, is to open by the end of the year, reports 7 Day News journal. It will be the largest in Burma, according to it. (Independent Mon News Agency)
 
1 October 2008
Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) calls on the international community to help more than 100,000 people in Chin State, who are facing starvation after rats destroyed crops in the area. (Independent Mon News Agency)

Drugs

War
3 October 2008
Flag-level officers have visited Pyongyang during the last three months:
July                  Lt-Gen Myint Hlaing, Chief of Air Defense
August             Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Chief of Defense Industries
September       Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin, current mayor of Rangoon and former deputy minister of Industry $2
(Asia Times)

Obituary
26 September 2008
^{U Han Lin}
Han Lin, 57, who led a long march in 2005, dies from lung cancer in New York. (DVB)
 
29 September 2008
Dr Myo Win, 54, MP, Pegu, passes away in Maesod of liver cancer. (Mizzima)