SPDC Likely Masterminded Assassination: KNU

by Than Htaik Oo
Tuesday, 19 February 2008 00:00

Chiang Mai - A Karen National Union (KNU) official says that the SPDC might be the mastermind behind the killing of its General Secretary, Pado Mahn Sha.

Two unknown gunmen shot the KNU General Secretary dead at point blank range at his residence in Mae Sot on February 14th at approximately 4:30 p.m. (Thai

time). KNU Headquarters Spokesman Pado David Taw speculates that the junta could be responsible.

"According to our sources the junta might be behind this plot, hiring the hit men to kill our General Secretary," he said.

The funeral for Pado Mahn Sha was held yesterday at about 9 a.m. at a KNU controlled area inside Burma but near the Thai border. The ceremony was attended by over 2,000 people, including ethnic dignitaries and leaders from various revolutionary forces.

The funeral was pushed up one day due to the early arrival of his daughters and security reasons, KNU official David Taw revealed. The KNU had received a tip-off of the apparent firing of heavy arms in the region by the Burmese Army and the breakaway Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.

Major Tu Tu Lay, the former Joint General Secretary (1), replaced the slain leader and Joint General Secretary (2), Pado David Tharkapaw, assumed the post of Joint General Secretary (1).

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Air Bagan Flight Overruns Runway, No Passenger Injured

by Maung Dee
Tuesday, 19 February 2008 00:00

New Delhi (mizzima) – A domestic passenger carrier flight broke down at an airport in Northern Burma on Tuesday afternoon after failing to take-off due to engine failure.

The Air Bagan flight, scheduled to take off for Myit Kyi Na to Putao town in Burma's northern state of Kachin, broke down after overrunning the airport's runway for nearly three hundred feet as it fail to take-off, a source close to the airline said.

"It happened as the plane can't take off despite running on high speed. It overruns the runway for three hundred feet," the source said.

The source said the pilot broke his arm, but none of the 57 passengers on board were killed, adding that the plane was damage on left wind and on the main body.

This is the second time that Air Bagan had technical problems. In 2007, the airline's ATR 42 plane landed with its engine on fire at Heho Airport in Shan State. While there were no casualties and major injuries, a foreign tourist was reported suffering from slight injury as he was leaving the Aircraft from an emergency exit.

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NLD Rejects Burmese Junta's Referendum And Election Plan

by Maung Dee
Monday, 18 February 2008 00:00

The National League for Democracy Burma's main opposition political party today, in an official statement, rejected the junta's referendum and election plans, saying it will not lead to democratic reforms but is just another tactic to prolong military rule in Burma.

NLD spokesperson U Thein Nyunt said, "We do not believe that there will be a free and fair referendum and election, because the junta has a tradition of breaking its promises including its promise on the 1990 election. So, we think this is only a violation of human rights and democracy."

The NLD's statement, read out to Mizzima over telephone, is the first official response on the ruling junta's plan. The junta on February 9 announced that it will hold a referendum in May and followed by a general election in 2010.

Holding a referendum on the draft constitution, which is written without the participation of peoples' representatives, only shows it is not heading for democratic reforms but will shower bigger political and social problems in the country, the statement said.

Besides, holding another election without rectifying the 1990 election results only proves that the junta disregards the peoples' popular desire and will do it again, the statement said.

"The NLD, therefore, does not believe that the ensuing referendum will be justly conducted," added the statement.

"If the government genuinely wants to resolve the political crisis in Burma, they should respect the will of the people and the constitution must reflect the peoples will," Thein Nyunt said.

Burma has been ruled by military dictators for nearly half a century, since general Ne Win seized power in a military coup in 1962. Burma once rich in mineral resources and known as the 'rice bowl' of Southeast Asia has gone through severe economic deterioration under the military dictator's economic mismanagement.

The plummeting economic situation forces a majority of the Burmese people to live under the poverty line. The dire living condition of the people brought hundreds, if not thousands, to march on the streets in September last year, when the junta suddenly hiked fuel prices in August, which hit the people hard.

But, the military regime, which has a tradition of coming down heavily on any anti-government protests, brutally cracked down on the demonstrators led by Buddhist monks, killing at least 31 people and arresting thousands, according to the United Nations.

As a cover up to the crackdown, the junta appointed a liaison officer, Aung Kyi, to mediate between detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and junta supremo Than Shwe. It is being viewed as a move to fool the international community as well as the Burmese people that the junta is kick starting a process of political reform.

However, after the fifth round of talks, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said her discussions with Aung Kyi yielded no hope for the reconciliation process and that she is dissatisfied with the talks.

Not long after the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement, the junta on February 9 declared that it will hold a referendum on the constitution, which took 14 years to lay down the guidelines in a national convention, and to hold election in 2010.

Critics, however, slam the junta's announcement as yet another tactic to prolong its rule in the country.

"In order to aim for democratic reforms, the junta must first respect the peoples' will and reflect them in the constitution," Thein Nyunt said.

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"We Need More Rambo"

by Than Htike Oo
Thursday, 14 February 2008 00:00

Chiang Mai- Anti-government slogans of 'We need more Rambo' and 'Free Burma' were recently found in and near the tourist town of Nyaung Oo, according to local residents.

'Down with the military junta', 'Don't cheat people's vote', 'We need more Rambo' and 'Free Burma' were written with a yellow spray gun in English and Burmese along the highway a half mile from Nyaung Oo Township in eastern Burma.

"The slogans were written in the middle of the road. The English words were in square script and the Burmese words were in a circular shape, written on the road diagonally. The words are as big as a round bamboo tray [three feet in diameter]", a local resident said.

The slogans were believed to be written on the night of February 10th and the local police erased them the next day at about 9 a.m.

"The police erased them with petrol as soon as they knew about it. They used sand to erase the words and are investigating who did it. They have also deployed security forces at busy junctions. The security forces consist of three men in each team from the police force and fire brigade", he added.

In Hollywood's "Rambo 4 ", released in January, Rambo comes to the rescue of Christian missionaries kidnapped by a battalion of Burmese soldiers.

The military government announced on February 9th that a referendum will be held in May this year and a new election is to be held in 2010.

Anti-government slogans also appeared sporadically elsewhere in Burma. In Myitkyina, Kachin State, an underground organization calling itself the All Kachin Students' Union distributed pamphlets containing the slogans: 'Resolve the political crisis through tripartite dialogue', 'Totally reject undemocratic drafting process of State Constitution' and 'Release all political prisoners unconditionally'.

Similarly anti-government pamphlets containing the slogan 'Protect Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the country' were found on the Taunkup-Kyaukphyu highway in Rakhine State in western Burma on the 19th of January.

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Nine Burmese Journalists Remain Behind Bars

by Mizzima News
Thursday, 14 February 2008 00:00

Imploring Western governments and international organizations to increase their support for freedom of the press, a rights group says nine Burmese journalists remain incarcerated.

"The spinelessness of some Western countries and major international bodies is harming press freedom," are the strong words of Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Robert Menard.

Reporters Without Borders yesterday released its 2008 Annual Report, in which systematic abuses of freedom of the press inside Burma are chronicled.

According to the group, the working conditions for journalists in Burma significantly deteriorated from mid-August of last year, when the first protests materialized in response to unannounced energy price hikes.

The report notes that 15 journalists were arrested as a result of covering the protests, while Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai was killed and other foreign correspondents closely monitored.

Raising the cost of a satellite license from five to 800 dollars, pulling the plug on the Internet and restricting the sale of foreign periodicals in the days and months following the protests are all listed in the year's summary as examples of infringements against media rights.

Additionally, Reporters Without Borders is concerned as to restrictions on mobile phones, used during the protests and subsequent crackdown to take pictures and video.

Nine journalists are listed as remaining in detention, including the 77-year old Win Tin, who has languished in a cell since 1989.

Others still behind bars include Ko Aung Gyi, former editorial head of 90 minutes, along with Ko Win Maw and Ko Aung Aung, all of whom are being held on suspicion of distributing pictures and information to international media sources during the 2007 uprising.

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Burmese Opposition Groups Challenge Junta's Constitution

by Mungpi
Thursday, 14 February 2008 00:00

Burmese opposition groups in exile today said they have completed drafting a federal constitution and came down heavily on the ruling junta's constitution, which is being drafted by handpicked delegates for an open debate.
The Federal Constitution Drafting and Coordinating Committee, formed with representatives of Burmese opposition groups including armed rebels, said its draft constitution is designed to reflect the peoples' will and will guarantee democracy, equality and self-determination.

The FCDCC, during a press conference in Bangkok today, said it has completed the second draft of the constitution, "Federal Republic of the Union of Burma", which is endorsed by over 90 Burmese democracy and ethnic organizations and more than 120 individuals.

Dr. Lian H Sakhong, Secretary of the FCDCC, said, "We challenge Senior General Than Shwe, Burma's supreme leader, to make the SPDC's 7-step roadmap more inclusive and democratic as we in the FCDCC process have. Our process is free from censorship and control."

With Burma's armed resistance groups including the Karen National Union, Burma's longest operating insurgent group, endorsing, the draft constitution is designed to reflect the views of the many ethnic nationalities of Burma, Sakhong said.

Burma, which has remained without a constitution for nearly two decades, has been plagued by civil war, and ethnic insurgency, since its independence in 1948.

While several groups of ethnic insurgents seek greater autonomy and self-determination, several groups have demanded the right to secede or independence, after decades of political mistrust under successive military regimes.

Though the international community including the United Nations have called on the ruling military regime to implement democratic reforms through a process of national reconciliation, several neighboring countries, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has said it fears that ethnic nationalities' demand for independence will add to greater political turmoil if democracy is in place.

Sakhong, however, said the FCDCC's draft federal constitution has strictly emphasized on the building of a genuine federal system that, however, excludes the right to secession.

"We are saying that if there is a genuine federal system that guarantees democracy, equality and self-determination, ethnic nationalities are willing to remain under the federal umbrella," Sakhong said.

"Since the draft constitution of "Federal Republic of the Union of Burma", strongly guarantees equality and self-determination for all nationalities, we see no need for and in no way, will demand or exercise the right to secession," FCDCC said in a statement released today.

"We conclude that the much trumpeted "without the SPDC military clique, Burma will disintegrate" is nothing but the SPDC's propaganda to instill fear and concern in the international community," the committee added.

While the FCDCC claims that the draft constitution has been endorsed by opposition political parties as well as armed ethnic insurgents, several ceasefire armed groups that have signed peace agreements with the ruling junta failed to add their views.

However, the Kachin Independence Army, one of Burma's longest operating insurgent group, which has signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta, said it is willing to accept any constitution that includes the KIA's proposal.

The KIA/KIO, whose delegates attended the junta's 14 year-long national convention, submitted a 19-point proposal in the last round of the national convention. However, the junta sidelined the KIA's proposal and failed to include them as guidelines for the drafting of the constitution, which is being drafted by a 54-member committee.

Major Gun Maw, spokesperson of the KIO, told Mizzima, "We are ready to accept any constitution drafted by any group as long as it includes our 19-point proposal, because our proposal reflects the true desire of the Kachin people."

Sakhong said, though the KIO has not formally endorsed the FCDCC's draft constitution, as the points mentioned in the KIO's proposal, which points out the necessity for power sharing between the state and centre, is consistent with the draft constitution.

"The KIO's proposal is consistent with the draft constitution," Sakhong said.

Meanwhile, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), another armed insurgent group that has signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta, said it believes that the government should be directly represented by the people.

"We believe that any government should be represented by the people itself. So, we will support any constitution that reflects the peoples' desire," a UWSA spokesperson told Mizzima.

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Shan Faction Urges All Ethnic Armies To Integrate

by Nay Thwin
Tuesday, 12 February 2008 00:00

Chiang Mai- The Shan State Army (South) has urged all ethnic armies fighting against Burma's military junta to unite.

"We can achieve our desired ethnic rights only when we emerge as a unified force under one command and one voice. It's time to be united and so our Chairman has called for unity and solidarity", Sai Lao Sai, a spokesperson for SSA(S) told Mizzima.

The call for unity and solidarity follows an announcement by the junta of a referendum on a newly drafted constitution, which many observers say will guarantee the supremacy of the armed forces in government.

Khun Thurein, the general secretary of an armed Pa-O group which withdrew from a ceasefire agreement with the junta last year, welcomed the call made by the SSA(S).

"Our armed resistance is scattered and not in harmony. Sporadic and scattered movements make our revolution ineffective and don't achieve success. We welcome a proposed united front under one command and one voice, with unity and solidarity", Khun Thurein said.

However he added that equal rights and authority is essential for unity among ethnic armed forces.

"We hope we can regroup and reunite if the current situation changes to some extent. If the junta pushes all of us to abide by the results of the National Convention, the unity and integration of all ethnic armed forces would be sped up", Khun Thurein added.

The strength of the SSA(S) is estimated at over 5,000 personnel.

According to military sources there are also attempts at cooperation between the SSA(S) and United Wa State Army (UWSA), which in the past fought fierce battles.

The two sides have achieved more understanding between them since 2006, Sai Lao Sai confirmed.

Analysts estimate the strength of the UWSA to be at least 25,000 armed troops. The UWSA reached a ceasefire agreement with the junta in 1989.

Since the junta began pressuring the UWSA in 2006 to surrender and demand they withdraw from the Thai-Burma border to the Sino-Burma border, relations between the two Shan State armies has improved, analysts say.

Last year the junta hinted they would attack the UWSA, before eventually backing down. "I think the junta now sees the SSA as their number one enemy rather than the Wa", Khun Sai, editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News, confided to Mizzima.
The junta issued two announcements on the 9th of this month, setting the timeframe for a referendum on a newly drafted constitution in May and for fresh elections to be held in 2010.

The junta has been increasing pressure on ceasefire ethnic armed groups, spawning speculation that the junta intends to disband and disarm all such groups after approval of the new constitution in the forthcoming referendum.

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No More Child Soldiers In Camp: Karenni Army

by Solomon
Tuesday, 12 February 2008 00:00

New Delhi (Mizzima) - An ethnic armed rebel group in eastern Burma said in adherence to its military code it has successfully abolished the use of child soldiers, and requested the United Nations to remove its name from the list of groups that uses child soldiers.

The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), an ethnic Karenni rebel group, on Tuesday said it has abolished the use of child soldiers in its military operations strictly adhering to its military code.

General Bi Thu, of the Karenni Army, an armed wing of the KNPP, said the KA welcomes independent agencies including the United Nations to conduct an investigation in areas where they operate and appealed that the UN remove them from the list of groups that still has child soldiers.

"We, the KNPP, would like to appeal once again to Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the name of our armed force, the Karenni Army, to be removed from the list of non-state armed groups utilizing child soldiers," the KNPP said in a statement released today.

Bi Thu said, the removal of child soldiers from the ranks of KA has been done in accordance with its military code and in this regard the group has twice met representatives of the UN children's fund (UNICEF) in April 2007.

Burma, which is ruled by one of the most brutal military dictators, has attracted a volley of criticism by Human Rights groups as well as the UN for having underage children in military camps.

While the criticism mainly focuses on the 'Tatmadaw', Burma's army, ethnic armed insurgent groups are no exception as far as the use of child soldier is concerned.

According to the Human Rights Watch 2007 report, there are over 60,000 child soldiers in Burma's armed forces, which include armed insurgent groups like the Karenni Army, Shan State Army and the Karen National Union.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in his 2007 report on Child Soldiers puts Burma among those countries that continue to rampantly recruit children into military camps.

However, Bi Thu, admitting that the UN has at least twice cited the KA of recruiting child soldiers, said, "We cannot accept the UN's criticism, which is made without visiting and seeing our areas of operation. And we would like to invite them for checking our places."

Bi Thu, however, admits that the KA earlier had children joining the armed force but said, "they were never allowed to go to battle, though they were given military training."

"Earlier we had over one hundred youngsters, and we called them student soldiers because they were not supposed to go to battle zones, though occasionally they were allowed to visit army camps. They were more like a public army, trained to defend themselves and were only allowed to remain for two years in the camp," Bi Thu added.

Following the use of child soldiers being abolished, the KA has several times requested the UN to remove them from the list of armed groups that has child soldiers, he added.

However, there has been no effort by the UN to verify the KA's claims and they continue to be named as one of the groups that uses child soldiers.

"We have sent our appeals at least three times to the United Nations for removing us from the list," Bi Thu said.

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Burma Sets Date For Feferendum And General Election

by Mungpi
Saturday, 09 February 2008 00:00

The announcement was unexpected because the regime is not known to set a time frame for anything that it is working on.

The announcement, which came in the form of a statement signed by the junta's Secretary (1) Lt Gen Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo was read out in the state-run television.

A referendum on the constitution, which is being drafted by a 54-member committee, will be held in May, the statement said.

The Burmese junta chalked out a seven-point roadmap to democracy in 2003 but there was no time-frame. It took 14 years to complete the first step of the roadmap --- the National Convention.

"Multi-party democratic elections will be held in 2010, according to the new constitution," the statement added.

Burma held its last multi-party elections in 1990, but the ruling military clique refused to honour the results and continues to cling to power, detaining Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the election winning party – the National League for Democracy.

"It is suitable to change the military administration to a democratic, civil administrative system, as good fundamentals have been established," the junta said.

"The country's basic infrastructure has been built, although there is still more to do while striving for the welfare of the nation," added the statement.

While the announcement is the first ever time-frame given by the ruling junta on the different stages of its roadmap, critics said it could be an act to expiate the people, who lived through another bitter experience when the junta brutally crashed protesters in September.

The announcement, which comes after four months of the junta's brutal crackdown on Buddhist monk-led protesters in Rangoon, could also be another move to dilute both internal as well as international pressure, a military analyst said.

"The SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] seems worried about possible mass movements again, so this is to cool down the people so that they do not demonstrate but wait and see," Win Min, a military analyst in Chiang Mai said.

Following the brutal suppression of students-led protesters in 1988, where hundreds if not thousands were killed, the ruling junta held a multi-party election, but failed to honour the results after the NLD posted a landslide victory.

"The SPDC seems to be under increasing pressure from China and India to expedite the roadmap. Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Special Envoy just visited India and he seems to be getting better support from India than he did last year. And he is going to visit China next week," Win Min added.

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Burmese Weekly Kumudra Suspends Publication For Two Weeks

by Solomon
Friday, 08 February 2008 00:00

A Rangoon based Burmese weekly journal, Kumudra, has suspended its publication for two weeks, an official at the Weekly said.

Publication of the weekly journal has been temporarily suspended as the Weekly is awaiting permission from the authorities to allow an addition to the name of the paper, the official said.

While not revealing the additional name that is to be added, the official said, "We have been awaiting permission from the authorities about adding a new name on the old one and after that we will start publishing our journal again."

While the official reason for suspending publication for two weeks, since February 1, seems to be normal in Burma, where authorities have a tight control over the right to print journals, a Rangoon based journal editor said Kumudra has been facing a problem in renewing its license.

An editor of a Rangoon based journal, who wished not to be named, said Kumudra has been facing a problem in renewing its license as the license holder asked for a heftier sum to renew it.

"We heard that they have a problem with the person who owned the journal license but I am not sure of it," said the editor.

In Burma, several Weekly journals run their papers on rented license, as the license to print is mostly given to close relatives or friends of the authorities. Most publishers, who are unable to obtain a license themselves, act on rented license, which is normally leased out for a year, with the price depending on negotiations.

The information, however, could not be independently verified.

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Ethnic Groups Welcome NLD's Invitation For Talks

by Than Htike Oo and Phanida
Thursday, 07 February 2008 00:00

Chiang Mai– Several ethnic organizations at home and abroad welcomed the invitation of the National League for Democracy (NLD) to all ethnic organizations in Burma, including ceasefire groups, to come and discuss differences in policy matters.

He main opposition for the first time, opened up discussions with ethnic organizations on February 5. The meetings are to focus on any differences between the NLD and ethnic communities regarding a statement issued on November 8, 2007, by NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Previously, the Pa-O National Organization, Union Pa-O National League, United Wa State Army, Shan State Special Region (4) Mongla, Kokang, Kachin Defence Army and Shan State Army (North), all ceasefire groups, issued statements saying they did not support Suu Kyi's earlier statement.

"Some ethnic organizations issued statements in state-run newspapers saying they disagreed with this statement. We agree with their statements as they are issued under democratic principles. Similarly, face to face dialogue is also a democratic practice. So we have invited these ethnic organizations, which have different viewpoints on policy from those of the NLD, to come for talks", spokesman Nyan Win said.

But as of yet, no organizations have accepted the invitation, he said.

Some ceasefire groups reportedly said that their statements were issued under pressure and at the behest of the junta. They reportedly were instructed to simply sign pre-prepared statements.

United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) spokesman Pu Sian Tshing Thang said, referring to those organizations that submitted statements opposed to that of Suu Kyi, "I wonder why they protested against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement? Maybe it was not clear what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said or maybe they acted under pressure of the regime? I think the NLD wants them to clarify their positions. If they have actual differences with the NLD, the NLD would like them to come and discuss those differences with them. This is how I see their statement."

"National reconciliation through dialogue is the best way. Otherwise any resolution through other means will give our country bad results rather than good results. This is my view", Nai Ngwe Thein, Vice-Chairman of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) said. The NMSP has issued public support for Suu Kyi's position.

Meanwhile other groups have yet to respond to Suu Kyi's November statement.

"We haven't yet discussed it, as we were preoccupied with the KIO Revolution Day celebration," said a spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), referring to Suu Kyi's original statement. "We haven't discussed anything yet on the matter and as of yet have no official position. We'll discuss it later when we have a meeting." The KIO is another of the ceasefire groups. Revolution Day is honored on February 5.

Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong, General Secretary of the Ethnic Nationality Council (Burma), which supported Suu Kyi's earlier statement, welcomed the most recent NLD statement and urged ethnic organizations inside Burma to accept the invitation and discuss any differences they have with the NLD.

In all, twelve ethnic organizations, including the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), Zomi National Congress (ZNC) and Mon National Democracy, previously announced their support for Suu Kyi's statement.

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Dangers For Journalists In Burma On The Rise

by Mizzima News
Tuesday, 05 February 2008 00:00

An annual report on press freedom around the world by a leading watchdog organization concludes that there was no improvement in 2007 in the working conditions of journalists in Burma. In several respects, the report adds, the situation has worsened in the aftermath of last year's protests and subsequent government response.

Released yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalist's (CPJ) report, entitled Attacks on the Press in 2007, states that 2007 has the potential to be the deadliest year on record for journalists, with the death of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai on the streets of Rangoon in September contributing to the tally.

Though Nagai's death is the only journalist fatality chronicled in Burma in 2007, the report emphasizes that the pervading atmosphere of censorship, threats and arrests contribute to Burma being "one of the world's most repressive media environments".

"Censorship of the media was pervasive, with no improvement since CPJ ranked Burma as the world's second-most censored country, after North Korea, in a May 2006 special report," CPJ says of the situation in Burma.

According to CPJ, six journalists were arrested in Burma for their chronicling of September's protests and the military's response, with one of those detained still remaining in custody. However, inclusive of the continued detention of 77-year old U Win Tin, CPJ ranks Burma as the sixth leading jailer of journalists in the world.

During last year's turmoil, the report states that journalists were subjected to ever increasing forms of repression and intimidation by the state sector. These measures are said to include the cutting of phone lines, pulling the plug on the Internet, the closure of independent journals and news outlets and the arbitrary confiscation of photographic and recording equipment.

CPJ maps an expanding and darkening cloud for media freedom encompassing a large swath of Eurasia and extending from Russia in the west, covering much of South and Central Asia and culminating with China in the east.

The report is highly critical of China, with regard to both the domestic environment and China's influence abroad.

China is often viewed as the dominant foreign actor inside Burma, and several governments and activists are urging the international community to pressure China on foreign policy and human rights reforms or risk an embarrassment at this summer's Beijing Summer Olympics.

"If the Olympic Games occur while China is still the word's leading jailer of journalists, still censoring and controlling access to the Internet, still restricting the global media, then it will have demonstrated that it's possible to join, even lead, the international community without honoring the basic right to express ideas and circulate information freely," reads the report.

However a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. told reporters in October that "irrelevant issues should not be linked to the Beijing Olympic games."

The true number of those killed and detained in Burma last year, due to the lack of transparency inside the country, remains uncertain. The problem of an accurate estimate for journalists is further obfuscated by the role, and classification, of citizen journalists during and after the uprising.

Thus far CPJ recognizes the deaths of 64 journalists in 2007, with 22 additional cases still under investigation. The current high water mark was in 1994, which witnessed the confirmed killings of 66 journalists in the line of work.

The U.S. War on Terror is largely responsible for the spike in journalist deaths around the world since 2002, with CPJ documenting 31 deaths of journalists in Iraq alone for 2007. Somalia places a distant second, with seven journalists killed for their work last year.

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88 Student Leader Mie Mie's Health Deteriorates In Detention

by Maung Dee
Tuesday, 05 February 2008 00:00

The health of a woman member of Burma's prominent 88 generation students group, Mie Mie, is said to be deteriorating in the notorious Insein prison because jail authorities refuse to provide adequate medical attention, an opposition party official said.

Nyan Win, spokesperson of Burma's main opposition party – the National League for Democracy – told Mizzima on Tuesday that Mie Mie, who was arrested along with a fellow 88 generation student Htay Kywe on October 13, is suffering from a heart problem. She is being denied proper medical treatment.

"She is suffering from a heart disease. And we heard she is being denied medical attention," said Nyan Win adding that he was informed by a family member about Mie Mie's health condition.

Nyan Win said, he was informed by a family member, who said Mie Mie had earlier suffered from a heart problem and expressed concern over the situation inside the prison precincts.

Mie Mie, a second rung 88 generation student group leader, was at the forefront during the September protests exhorting and leading students and civilians.

Due to her political involvement, she was arrested and detained in Hantharwaddy prison in 1996.

Mie Mie is married to Hla Moe and has two children -- a son and a daughter.

Like Mie Mie, her colleagues – Thet Thet Aung, No No, and Ni Ni Oo – who were arrested along with her for their involvement in the September protests, are also contending with deteriorating health, Nyan Win added.

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
February 5, 2008

An annual report on press freedom around the world by a leading watchdog organization concludes that there was no improvement in 2007 in the working conditions of journalists in Burma. In several respects, the report adds, the situation has worsened in the aftermath of last year's protests and subsequent government response.

Released yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalist's (CPJ) report, entitled Attacks on the Press in 2007, states that 2007 has the potential to be the deadliest year on record for journalists, with the death of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai on the streets of Rangoon in September contributing to the tally.

Though Nagai's death is the only journalist fatality chronicled in Burma in 2007, the report emphasizes that the pervading atmosphere of censorship, threats and arrests contribute to Burma being "one of the world's most repressive media environments".

"Censorship of the media was pervasive, with no improvement since CPJ ranked Burma as the world's second-most censored country, after North Korea, in a May 2006 special report," CPJ says of the situation in Burma.

According to CPJ, six journalists were arrested in Burma for their chronicling of September's protests and the military's response, with one of those detained still remaining in custody. However, inclusive of the continued detention of 77-year old U Win Tin, CPJ ranks Burma as the sixth leading jailer of journalists in the world.

During last year's turmoil, the report states that journalists were subjected to ever increasing forms of repression and intimidation by the state sector. These measures are said to include the cutting of phone lines, pulling the plug on the Internet, the closure of independent journals and news outlets and the arbitrary confiscation of photographic and recording equipment.

CPJ maps an expanding and darkening cloud for media freedom encompassing a large swath of Eurasia and extending from Russia in the west, covering much of South and Central Asia and culminating with China in the east.

The report is highly critical of China, with regard to both the domestic environment and China's influence abroad.

China is often viewed as the dominant foreign actor inside Burma, and several governments and activists are urging the international community to pressure China on foreign policy and human rights reforms or risk an embarrassment at this summer's Beijing Summer Olympics.

"If the Olympic Games occur while China is still the word's leading jailer of journalists, still censoring and controlling access to the Internet, still restricting the global media, then it will have demonstrated that it's possible to join, even lead, the international community without honoring the basic right to express ideas and circulate information freely," reads the report.

However a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. told reporters in October that "irrelevant issues should not be linked to the Beijing Olympic games."

The true number of those killed and detained in Burma last year, due to the lack of transparency inside the country, remains uncertain. The problem of an accurate estimate for journalists is further obfuscated by the role, and classification, of citizen journalists during and after the uprising.

Thus far CPJ recognizes the deaths of 64 journalists in 2007, with 22 additional cases still under investigation. The current high water mark was in 1994, which witnessed the confirmed killings of 66 journalists in the line of work.

The U.S. War on Terror is largely responsible for the spike in journalist deaths around the world since 2002, with CPJ documenting 31 deaths of journalists in Iraq alone for 2007. Somalia places a distant second, with seven journalists killed for their work last year.

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Illegal Rambo VCDs Circulating Rangoon

by Nay Thwin
Monday, 04 February 2008 00:00

Despite the Burmese government's effort to ban the recently released Hollywood film Rambo, local residents in Rangoon say a downloaded version of the movie is making its way among a circle of friends.

While cinema halls cannot show the movie, which takes as its storyline Burma's current political crisis, and video rental shops in Rangoon are not to posses copies, a downloaded version from the Internet is making its rounds, said a local resident, who wished not to be named.

"Some of the video rental shops have put up a sign that reads – 'We don't have a copy of Rambo 4 released in USA on January 25' - as many people continue to ask for it," the resident told Mizzima.

However, he said that the movie was downloaded from the Internet and burned onto a CD by activist youth and is being circulated among friends and trusted people as it could land possessors of the CD in jail.

The fourth Rambo movie, which is partially shot along the Thai-Burmese border, depicts Hollywood superstar Sylvester Stallone as a Vietnam War veteran who comes out of retirement in Bangkok to rescue Christian missionaries, who were abducted by Burmese army troops while supplying aid to ethnic Karen villagers.

While Burmese political activists both inside and outside cheered the movie as revealing the brutality of the junta in remote areas of the country, viewers in Rangoon are confused as to whether or not the movie contains any real storyline, the local resident said.

According to news reports, Rambo, which opened on January 25, was listed second last week at the North American box office, and had already made $18.2 million in its first week.

Meanwhile over 600 Burmese residents, wearing red shirts, attended a special showing of the movie at Singapore's Bugis Junction Cinema.

Organizers of the event said they had requested all viewers to come in red in commemoration of the September protests, where at least 31 people are reported to have died and hundreds of monks and civilians were arrested by the ruling junta.

As part of the special event, organizers played Burmese revolutionary songs and student movement songs. And as the movie was about to begin the more than 600 viewers stood to salute the Burmese national flag and in all their strength sang the Burmese national anthem.

"But as the movie began there was a great silence and a feeling of sadness and anger filled the hall. As the crowd witnessed rape, mass killings, and the burning of villages, there were sympathetic groans from some of the viewers who had witnessed the 1988 crackdown," according to Kyaw Soe, a member of the Overseas Burmese Patriots group, which organized the event.

A special ticket booth was set up for the event and organizers said all 600 tickets were sold as Burmese activists, veteran politicians, and even migrant workers came to see the show, Kyaw Soe said.

"With Burmese people, ranging in age from the elderly to young children, coming to see the show, the hall was crowded with overseas Burmese," Kyaw Soe said, adding that the event was able to further publicize the Burmese issue as the organizers briefed reporters and correspondents, who were waiting outside the cinema hall, on the situation in Burma.

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Burmese Authorities Take In Another Two NLD Youth

by Maung Dee
Friday, 01 February 2008 00:00

In a continuous crackdown on dissidents, Burmese authorities on Friday morning took in two youth members of Burma's main opposition party – National League for Democracy – for interrogation, a party official said.

Nyan Win, a NLD spokesperson, said Thiha and Htein Win, both in-charges of NLD youth in wards 19 and 94, respectively, of North Dagon Myothit, were taken from their residences by Special Branch Police at about 7:30 a.m. (local time).

"Thiha and Htein Win were taken this morning by a team of Special Branch Police led by sub-inspector Zaw Min Oo. The police said they had reason to interrogate the two youth leaders and took them away," Nyan Win said.

A youth close to the NLD youth leaders said family members remain concerned as it is still unknown where the two are being held.

"Though we don't know what the police want to interrogate them about, I think it might be connected to recent activities, particularly about the bulletin that NLD youth published on Independence Day," the youth told Mizzima.

In a similar incident, a Burmese blogger, Nay Phone Latt, was believed to have been taken by the police on January 29 from an Internet café in Rangoon's Thingan Kyun Township.

Family members Nay Phone Latt also remain concerned, as authorities have denied detaining him and his whereabouts is still unknown.

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Burmese Blogger Nay Phone Latt, Mysteriously Missing

by Mizzima News
Friday, 01 February 2008 00:00

The Burmese blogger, Nay Phone Latt, allegedly arrested by the police on Tuesday has mysteriously gone missing, family members complained.

Daw Aye Aye Than, mother of blogger and writer, Nay Phone Latt, said, the whereabouts of her son cannot be confirmed as authorities including police officers in Thuwana and Thingan Kyun police stations and Ministry of Home Affairs deny detaining him.

Daw Aye Aye Than said her son left home on Tuesday at about noon but when they tried to contact him on cell phone at about 1:00 p.m. he could not be contacted.

"And at around 2:30 p.m. the authorities came to our house but did not ask for Nay Phone Latt. They looked around the house. So I think he must have been arrested before they came to us," Daw Aye Aye Than told Mizzima.

She added that the police team led by Maj. Hein Htet while not mentioning their purpose searched around the house, as if looking for someone in hiding.

"We went to the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tingankyun and Thuwana police stations to inquire about him but all the authorities would tell us was they don't know him and he is not here," Daw Aye Aye Than said.

Daw Aye Aye Than said she is worried for her son and could not understand the reason for his mysterious disappearance.

"I am very sad for this kind of unlawful action, I don't understand why they [authorities] are doing this to my son because he is not involved in any illegal activities and does all his work openly," Daw Aye Aye Than said.

Nay Phone Latt, who has a blogsite www.nayphonelatt.blogspot.com, reportedly disappeared on Tuesday. While many of his colleagues believe he has been arrested by the police, there are, so far no eyewitness accounts.

While earlier, some friends said he was taken away by the police from an internet café in Thingan Kyun township in Rangoon, his mother's version indicates that he was arrested while on the road.

While either version cannot be independently verified, it is still uncertain that the authorities have taken him away, as there are no eyewitnesses.

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