Burmese protesters residing in Japan holds a huge picture of
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a march demanding
to urge for more action by the international community against
their country's military junta, in Tokyo on November 11. [Photo: Reuters]
No Compromise, Says Junta Mouthpiece
By Wai Moe November 19, 2007
Burmese state-run newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar reported on Monday that there was “no reason to hold further discussions with any person or any organization except at the National Convention,” despite the ongoing meetings between pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese Minister for Relations, Aung Kyi.
Burmese state-run newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar reported on Monday that there was “no reason to hold further discussions with any person or any organization except at the National Convention,” despite the ongoing meetings between pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese Minister for Relations, Aung Kyi.
Suu Kyi was taken on Monday from her Rangoon's villa where she has been held for the past four years to a state guesthouse, a Reuters report said. "They are supposed to be meeting every week," a Western diplomat at Burma's old capital told Reuters.
However, the statement was attributed to so-called “ethnic groups,” slamming detained democracy leader for her role in the national reconciliation process. The state media have been launching similar statements against Suu Kyi since November 14 after she issued a statement following her meeting with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari on November 8.
The newspaper report said that the only dialogue that would resolve the crisis in the country is the National Convention.
The press in Burma is completely controlled by the junta. All articles that appear in newspapers are only published by permission of the state authorities. Publishing without permission can earn those responsible up to 20 years imprisonment under Act 19/20.
On November 17, The New Light of Myanmar reported junta head Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s hardline speech at the 2007 annual general meeting of the Union Solitary and Development Association. In his speech Than Shwe said, “The prevalence of peace and stability of the state, the economic might of the people, and state and human resources development are essential requirements in building a new state. While understanding these requirements we have declared a ‘Seven-Step Road Map’ towards a democratic state. The Seven-Step Road Map is the only means to smooth transition towards a new state.”
He urged people to join the junta’s road map in building a new state.
Than Shwe also claimed that the economic and social standards of people in Burma had improved. He said that the literacy rate had increased to 94.75 percent and that life expectancy of Burmese people had risen due to the development of the military government’s healthcare system.
Than Shwe did not mention the role of the UN in Burma’s inclusive national reconciliation process in his speech, nor did he mention the meetings between Suu Kyi and the junta’s liaison officer, Minister of Relations Aung Kyi,
However, UN agencies and experts say that up to 40 percent of Burmese children leave school every year to work for their family’s welfare, because of poverty. And although hundreds of thousands of people are living with HIV/AIDS, the junta invests only about 2 percent of GDP for education and health. 90 percent of Burma’s population is living on less than US $300 annual income, the lowest rate among all Southeast Asian nations.
However, the statement was attributed to so-called “ethnic groups,” slamming detained democracy leader for her role in the national reconciliation process. The state media have been launching similar statements against Suu Kyi since November 14 after she issued a statement following her meeting with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari on November 8.
The newspaper report said that the only dialogue that would resolve the crisis in the country is the National Convention.
The press in Burma is completely controlled by the junta. All articles that appear in newspapers are only published by permission of the state authorities. Publishing without permission can earn those responsible up to 20 years imprisonment under Act 19/20.
On November 17, The New Light of Myanmar reported junta head Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s hardline speech at the 2007 annual general meeting of the Union Solitary and Development Association. In his speech Than Shwe said, “The prevalence of peace and stability of the state, the economic might of the people, and state and human resources development are essential requirements in building a new state. While understanding these requirements we have declared a ‘Seven-Step Road Map’ towards a democratic state. The Seven-Step Road Map is the only means to smooth transition towards a new state.”
He urged people to join the junta’s road map in building a new state.
Than Shwe also claimed that the economic and social standards of people in Burma had improved. He said that the literacy rate had increased to 94.75 percent and that life expectancy of Burmese people had risen due to the development of the military government’s healthcare system.
Than Shwe did not mention the role of the UN in Burma’s inclusive national reconciliation process in his speech, nor did he mention the meetings between Suu Kyi and the junta’s liaison officer, Minister of Relations Aung Kyi,
However, UN agencies and experts say that up to 40 percent of Burmese children leave school every year to work for their family’s welfare, because of poverty. And although hundreds of thousands of people are living with HIV/AIDS, the junta invests only about 2 percent of GDP for education and health. 90 percent of Burma’s population is living on less than US $300 annual income, the lowest rate among all Southeast Asian nations.
How Many Monks were Killed in the Pro-democracy Uprising?
By Saw Yan Naing November 19, 2007
The death of an abbot, the Ven. U Thilavantha of Yuzana Kyaunghtai Monastery in Myitkyina, is the most recent evidence of monks who sacrificed their lives for the pro-democracy uprising, renewing the question: How many monks died as a result of the demonstrations?
A Sri Lanka-educated Buddhist scholar, U Thilavantha who served as teacher to about 200 student monks, was arrested on September 25. He died in Myitkyina Hospital on September 26 from injuries he received when he was beaten by soldiers and security forces, according to Thailand’s Mae Sot-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).
However, authorities forced a pathologist to record the cause of death as heart disease, said the AAPP.
The regime's newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, earlier reported that 10 protesters were killed in the demonstrations and that no monks were hurt.
However, the generals recently told UN human rights investigator, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, that 15 demonstrators were killed during the September crackdown.
The AAPP says that so far it has confirmed 18 protesters died during the crackdown, based on information it has recorded, including names, age, parent's names, arrest dates, date of death and addresses.
Aung Kyaw Oo of the AAPP said, “In our confirmed list, about 70 monks are now being detained, one is missing and one has died so far. But, we estimate that around 100 protestors, including about 10 monks, were killed.”
Aung Kyaw Oo said information about the number of monks killed in Rangoon and elsewhere is sketchy and usually impossible to confirm with Burmese authorities. “We have information, but it is hard if we ask for confirmation. Witnesses saw three dead bodies of monks floating in a river in Rangoon that were secretly taken away by authorities,” said Aung Kyaw Oo.
According to sources contacted by him, he said at least three monks from monasteries in Rangoon’s Thaketa Township were killed when authorities raided the monasteries on September 30.
Recently, an Arakanese monk, U Sandawara of Aung Dhamma Pala Monastery in New Dagon Township, was beaten and taken away by military-backed thugs, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, on November 15 when they raided the monastery.
However, despite the continuing crackdown on monks, the All Burma Monks Alliance released a statement on Sunday saying it will continue its alms boycott against the military government.
Many monks throughout the country are currently enforcing a patta ni kozana kan, refusing to accept alms from members of the armed forces and their supporters, the statement said.
A Sri Lanka-educated Buddhist scholar, U Thilavantha who served as teacher to about 200 student monks, was arrested on September 25. He died in Myitkyina Hospital on September 26 from injuries he received when he was beaten by soldiers and security forces, according to Thailand’s Mae Sot-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).
However, authorities forced a pathologist to record the cause of death as heart disease, said the AAPP.
The regime's newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, earlier reported that 10 protesters were killed in the demonstrations and that no monks were hurt.
However, the generals recently told UN human rights investigator, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, that 15 demonstrators were killed during the September crackdown.
The AAPP says that so far it has confirmed 18 protesters died during the crackdown, based on information it has recorded, including names, age, parent's names, arrest dates, date of death and addresses.
Aung Kyaw Oo of the AAPP said, “In our confirmed list, about 70 monks are now being detained, one is missing and one has died so far. But, we estimate that around 100 protestors, including about 10 monks, were killed.”
Aung Kyaw Oo said information about the number of monks killed in Rangoon and elsewhere is sketchy and usually impossible to confirm with Burmese authorities. “We have information, but it is hard if we ask for confirmation. Witnesses saw three dead bodies of monks floating in a river in Rangoon that were secretly taken away by authorities,” said Aung Kyaw Oo.
According to sources contacted by him, he said at least three monks from monasteries in Rangoon’s Thaketa Township were killed when authorities raided the monasteries on September 30.
Recently, an Arakanese monk, U Sandawara of Aung Dhamma Pala Monastery in New Dagon Township, was beaten and taken away by military-backed thugs, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, on November 15 when they raided the monastery.
However, despite the continuing crackdown on monks, the All Burma Monks Alliance released a statement on Sunday saying it will continue its alms boycott against the military government.
Many monks throughout the country are currently enforcing a patta ni kozana kan, refusing to accept alms from members of the armed forces and their supporters, the statement said.
Asean Charter Summit Kicks-off Monday; Burma a Major Topic
By William Boot/Bangkok November 19, 2007
Economic development is at the center of a series of high profile meetings of leaders from across East Asia assembling in Singapore for a week of great expectations, capped off by the signing of the historic Asean charter.
The leaders will confer with political and trade leaders to map out ideas for closer economic ties. The Asean-organized gatherings—lasting five days—will include leaders from Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
Russia is attending as an observer, keen to become a full “member” of the so-called annual East Asian Summit, which will take place on the sidelines of the Asean leaders’ summit.
Although everyone is loathe to say it, Burma will figure prominently in many of the sessions—at Asean closed-door ministerial meetings, a dinner on Monday, at a leaders’ summit on Tuesday and at the East Asian Summit on Wednesday between Asean and the six outside countries.
“Burma possibly qualifies as the most backward country in the region economically, politically and socially, but it’s going to play a big, reluctant role at these talks,” said an economic analyst with a European Union country embassy in Bangkok, who declined to be named for protocol reasons.
The Asean charter, whose outline has been cast in some mystery, is intended to open up the ten member countries to full trade, labor and social integration. A contentious element of the proposed charter is a provision for a human rights agency or overseer body—something the Burmese military regime has promised to sign but will keep Asean secretariat officials on tenterhooks until it actually does.
“Asean is committed to narrowing the development gap and to advance integration through building an Asean Community to further [the] peace, progress and prosperity of its peoples,” said a pre-summit statement from the secretariat in Jakarta.
One of the focuses for discussions in Singapore will be a so-called Asean Economic Community Blueprint.
“This is a master plan that identifies the priority measures and actions to be undertaken to transform Asean into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labor and freer flow of capital by 2015," according to a statement. "The blueprint is meant to ensure the full and effective functioning of the Asean Economic Community to generate more growth and create more jobs.”
The regional community will supposedly model itself on European Union lines, but many critics say that given Asean’s poor record over its 40-year history of converting words into action, the prospects are not great.
One thing is certain: Asean will not expel or suspend Burma, said bloc Secretary-General ong Keng Yong this weekend in response to a US call for such action until the junta improves its human rights record. Burma is a member of the “family,” he said.
“Asean remains a very weak economic entity,” said Walden Bello, a professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines and the executive director of Focus on the Global South.
In a report on the dangers of a lopsided trade relationship between Asean and China, Walden said: “Despite the rhetoric of regional integration, Asean’s economies are still largely ten separate economies.
“The vision of creating an integrated market of 450 million consumers expressed by the original Asean plan—one that would have been achieved via increasingly freer trade among member countries, accompanied by high tariffs and quotas against third country products—was never implemented.”
The Asean summit comes as a new report by The Economist Intelligence Unit shows that trade between the bloc’s member countries has actually decreased over the past five years.
Skeptics argue that this same reluctance to act, because of the overriding policy of unity at any cost, could undermine the charter’s visionarie—and also sideline any Asean action against Burma on human rights and other issues.
The independent Singapore Institute of International Affairs says there remain “deep divisions” among Asean members about the charter, which was pushed forward with compromises earlier this year. “Due to high secrecy, it is uncertain what remains tabled after dilution of previous proposals.”
The Singapore member of the Asean Charter Task Force, Tommy Koh, is quoted by the SIIA as saying Asean’s rate of carrying out its commitments was a “dismal” 30 percent.
“With such a poor record of keeping its word, it is no wonder Asean remains reluctant to act further on Myanmar,” notes the SIIA in a report.
Economic development is at the center of a series of high profile meetings of leaders from across East Asia assembling in Singapore for a week of great expectations, capped off by the signing of the historic Asean charter.
The leaders will confer with political and trade leaders to map out ideas for closer economic ties. The Asean-organized gatherings—lasting five days—will include leaders from Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
Russia is attending as an observer, keen to become a full “member” of the so-called annual East Asian Summit, which will take place on the sidelines of the Asean leaders’ summit.
Although everyone is loathe to say it, Burma will figure prominently in many of the sessions—at Asean closed-door ministerial meetings, a dinner on Monday, at a leaders’ summit on Tuesday and at the East Asian Summit on Wednesday between Asean and the six outside countries.
“Burma possibly qualifies as the most backward country in the region economically, politically and socially, but it’s going to play a big, reluctant role at these talks,” said an economic analyst with a European Union country embassy in Bangkok, who declined to be named for protocol reasons.
The Asean charter, whose outline has been cast in some mystery, is intended to open up the ten member countries to full trade, labor and social integration. A contentious element of the proposed charter is a provision for a human rights agency or overseer body—something the Burmese military regime has promised to sign but will keep Asean secretariat officials on tenterhooks until it actually does.
“Asean is committed to narrowing the development gap and to advance integration through building an Asean Community to further [the] peace, progress and prosperity of its peoples,” said a pre-summit statement from the secretariat in Jakarta.
One of the focuses for discussions in Singapore will be a so-called Asean Economic Community Blueprint.
“This is a master plan that identifies the priority measures and actions to be undertaken to transform Asean into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labor and freer flow of capital by 2015," according to a statement. "The blueprint is meant to ensure the full and effective functioning of the Asean Economic Community to generate more growth and create more jobs.”
The regional community will supposedly model itself on European Union lines, but many critics say that given Asean’s poor record over its 40-year history of converting words into action, the prospects are not great.
One thing is certain: Asean will not expel or suspend Burma, said bloc Secretary-General ong Keng Yong this weekend in response to a US call for such action until the junta improves its human rights record. Burma is a member of the “family,” he said.
“Asean remains a very weak economic entity,” said Walden Bello, a professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines and the executive director of Focus on the Global South.
In a report on the dangers of a lopsided trade relationship between Asean and China, Walden said: “Despite the rhetoric of regional integration, Asean’s economies are still largely ten separate economies.
“The vision of creating an integrated market of 450 million consumers expressed by the original Asean plan—one that would have been achieved via increasingly freer trade among member countries, accompanied by high tariffs and quotas against third country products—was never implemented.”
The Asean summit comes as a new report by The Economist Intelligence Unit shows that trade between the bloc’s member countries has actually decreased over the past five years.
Skeptics argue that this same reluctance to act, because of the overriding policy of unity at any cost, could undermine the charter’s visionarie—and also sideline any Asean action against Burma on human rights and other issues.
The independent Singapore Institute of International Affairs says there remain “deep divisions” among Asean members about the charter, which was pushed forward with compromises earlier this year. “Due to high secrecy, it is uncertain what remains tabled after dilution of previous proposals.”
The Singapore member of the Asean Charter Task Force, Tommy Koh, is quoted by the SIIA as saying Asean’s rate of carrying out its commitments was a “dismal” 30 percent.
“With such a poor record of keeping its word, it is no wonder Asean remains reluctant to act further on Myanmar,” notes the SIIA in a report.
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