Suu Kyi trial enters final phase in Myanmar
2 hrs 48 mins ago
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – The trial of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was adjourned until Tuesday when her defense team will give their reply to final prosecution arguments, Suu Kyi's lawyer said.
The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest by harboring an uninvited American man who swam to her lakeside home and stayed for two days. She faces a possible five years in prison.
Suu Kyi's lawyer Nyan Win said he anticipated the verdict in two to three weeks.
At Monday's hearing, defense lawyers submitted an application to the court to call a Myanmar foreign ministry official to appear as an additional defense witness.
He said the defense has records that Myanmar's then U.N. representative Nyunt Maung Shein stated that "(Suu Kyi) was not arrested but was detained for her own security."
Defending the regime's continued detention of Suu Kyi, Nyunt Maung Shein made the statement at three meetings of the working group of the U.N.'s Human Rights Council, the lawyer said.
"We have asked the Myanmar foreign ministry to appear before the court with the necessary records, in order to have a fair trial," Nyan Win said.
The lawyer could not be reached for further clarification but it appeared the defense is trying to argue that since Suu Kyi was not under arrest, she could not be punished for allegedly violating the detention order.
During the session, the lawyer for American John W. Yettaw, 53, of Falcon, Missouri, gave his final arguments Monday. Two female companions of Suu Kyi also presented statements before the court.
Diplomats from the United States, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia were allowed to attend the morning session but not the key afternoon one, one of the diplomats told reporters.
However, authorities allowed U.S. Consul Colin Furst to be present in the afternoon because an American was standing trial.
Yettaw is charged with violating terms of Suu Kyi's house arrest — as an abettor — and could be sent to prison for five years. He also faces a municipal charge of swimming in a non-swimming area and is accused of immigration violations.
Yettaw's lawyer had planned to argue that the American only committed criminal trespass, since he entered the house late at night. That charge carries a maximum jail term of three months.
Yettaw has pleaded not guilty and explained in court that he had a dream that Suu Kyi would be assassinated and he had gone to warn her.
"I will try my best to defend my client. I will argue that he did not violate the restriction order and I will try my utmost to get him lesser punishment," Khin Maung Oo, Yettaw's lawyer, said over the weekend.
Tried on the same charges as Suu Kyi are Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma, who have long been Suu Kyi's companions during her house arrest. Both are members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.
The trial has drawn condemnation from the international community and Suu Kyi's local supporters, who worry the ruling junta has found an excuse to keep her behind bars through elections planned for next year.
At an Asia-Pacific security forum last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton offered Myanmar the prospect of better relations with the United States, but said that depended in part on the fate of Suu Kyi.
Myanmar state media accused Clinton and others calling for Suu Kyi's release of "interference." Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962.
In Dublin, human rights watchdog Amnesty International said Monday it was giving Suu Kyi its Ambassador of Conscience Award, hoping its highest honor will help deter the Myanmar regime from imposing any harsh new punishments on her.
Irish band U2 was to publicly announce the award Monday night at a Dublin concert.
2 hrs 48 mins ago
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – The trial of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was adjourned until Tuesday when her defense team will give their reply to final prosecution arguments, Suu Kyi's lawyer said.
The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest by harboring an uninvited American man who swam to her lakeside home and stayed for two days. She faces a possible five years in prison.
Suu Kyi's lawyer Nyan Win said he anticipated the verdict in two to three weeks.
At Monday's hearing, defense lawyers submitted an application to the court to call a Myanmar foreign ministry official to appear as an additional defense witness.
He said the defense has records that Myanmar's then U.N. representative Nyunt Maung Shein stated that "(Suu Kyi) was not arrested but was detained for her own security."
Defending the regime's continued detention of Suu Kyi, Nyunt Maung Shein made the statement at three meetings of the working group of the U.N.'s Human Rights Council, the lawyer said.
"We have asked the Myanmar foreign ministry to appear before the court with the necessary records, in order to have a fair trial," Nyan Win said.
The lawyer could not be reached for further clarification but it appeared the defense is trying to argue that since Suu Kyi was not under arrest, she could not be punished for allegedly violating the detention order.
During the session, the lawyer for American John W. Yettaw, 53, of Falcon, Missouri, gave his final arguments Monday. Two female companions of Suu Kyi also presented statements before the court.
Diplomats from the United States, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia were allowed to attend the morning session but not the key afternoon one, one of the diplomats told reporters.
However, authorities allowed U.S. Consul Colin Furst to be present in the afternoon because an American was standing trial.
Yettaw is charged with violating terms of Suu Kyi's house arrest — as an abettor — and could be sent to prison for five years. He also faces a municipal charge of swimming in a non-swimming area and is accused of immigration violations.
Yettaw's lawyer had planned to argue that the American only committed criminal trespass, since he entered the house late at night. That charge carries a maximum jail term of three months.
Yettaw has pleaded not guilty and explained in court that he had a dream that Suu Kyi would be assassinated and he had gone to warn her.
"I will try my best to defend my client. I will argue that he did not violate the restriction order and I will try my utmost to get him lesser punishment," Khin Maung Oo, Yettaw's lawyer, said over the weekend.
Tried on the same charges as Suu Kyi are Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma, who have long been Suu Kyi's companions during her house arrest. Both are members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.
The trial has drawn condemnation from the international community and Suu Kyi's local supporters, who worry the ruling junta has found an excuse to keep her behind bars through elections planned for next year.
At an Asia-Pacific security forum last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton offered Myanmar the prospect of better relations with the United States, but said that depended in part on the fate of Suu Kyi.
Myanmar state media accused Clinton and others calling for Suu Kyi's release of "interference." Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962.
In Dublin, human rights watchdog Amnesty International said Monday it was giving Suu Kyi its Ambassador of Conscience Award, hoping its highest honor will help deter the Myanmar regime from imposing any harsh new punishments on her.
Irish band U2 was to publicly announce the award Monday night at a Dublin concert.
*****************************************************
Myanmar democracy leader wins top Amnesty honor
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer
Monday, July 27, 2009 - 03:18 PDT
DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- Myanmar's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Monday was named the recipient of Amnesty International's highest honor, the Ambassador of Conscience Award. The human rights watchdog said it hoped this would help protect her as she faces a potential prison sentence.
Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan said the award was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Suu Kyi's initial arrest on July 20, 1989, as she led a campaign to oust Myanmar's military dictators.
Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy, won national elections in 1990 but the military refused to relinquish power. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 but has been under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years.
"In those long and often dark years, Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a symbol of hope, courage and the undying defense of human rights," Khan said.
Suu Kyi, 64, is on trial for allegedly harboring an American who swam out to her residence uninvited. The offense of violating house-arrest rules carries a potential five-year prison sentence, and foreign diplomats have been barred from key parts of her trial. Suu Kyi's supporters accuse Myanmar's junta of seeking to put her behind bars until after elections planned for 2010.
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, a fellow Nobel recipient and the first winner of the Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2003, said foreign recognition probably has deterred Myanmar's rulers from imposing even harsher punishments on Suu Kyi.
"I know from my own experience that international attention can, to a certain extent, protect the unjustly persecuted from punishments that would otherwise be imposed. ... Goodness knows what would have happened if her fate had not been highlighted as it is again today," Havel said in a statement.
Irish band U2 is publicly announcing Suu Kyi's award Monday night at a Dublin concert.
U2 — which won the top Amnesty honor in 2005 in recognition of singer Bono's humanitarian work — has been honoring Suu Kyi at each performance of the band's European tour.
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer
Monday, July 27, 2009 - 03:18 PDT
DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- Myanmar's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Monday was named the recipient of Amnesty International's highest honor, the Ambassador of Conscience Award. The human rights watchdog said it hoped this would help protect her as she faces a potential prison sentence.
Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan said the award was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Suu Kyi's initial arrest on July 20, 1989, as she led a campaign to oust Myanmar's military dictators.
Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy, won national elections in 1990 but the military refused to relinquish power. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 but has been under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years.
"In those long and often dark years, Aung San Suu Kyi has remained a symbol of hope, courage and the undying defense of human rights," Khan said.
Suu Kyi, 64, is on trial for allegedly harboring an American who swam out to her residence uninvited. The offense of violating house-arrest rules carries a potential five-year prison sentence, and foreign diplomats have been barred from key parts of her trial. Suu Kyi's supporters accuse Myanmar's junta of seeking to put her behind bars until after elections planned for 2010.
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, a fellow Nobel recipient and the first winner of the Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2003, said foreign recognition probably has deterred Myanmar's rulers from imposing even harsher punishments on Suu Kyi.
"I know from my own experience that international attention can, to a certain extent, protect the unjustly persecuted from punishments that would otherwise be imposed. ... Goodness knows what would have happened if her fate had not been highlighted as it is again today," Havel said in a statement.
Irish band U2 is publicly announcing Suu Kyi's award Monday night at a Dublin concert.
U2 — which won the top Amnesty honor in 2005 in recognition of singer Bono's humanitarian work — has been honoring Suu Kyi at each performance of the band's European tour.
*****************************************************
Prosecutors give final arguments in Suu Kyi trial
2 hrs 44 mins ago
YANGON (AFP) – Prosecutors for Myanmar's junta gave their closing arguments in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi Monday, as rock band U2 prepared to announce that she had won an award from a leading rights group.
Lawyers for an American man who sparked the trial by swimming uninvited to the pro-democracy leader's house in May, and for Suu Kyi's two aides, also gave their final arguments to the prison court, officials and her lawyers said.
The trial has sparked international calls for the immediate release of the detained 64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate, who faces up to five years in jail on charges of violating the conditions of her house arrest.
Her lawyer Nyan Win said the trial at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison would resume on Tuesday for the defence side to answer the prosecution's points, but that the verdict would be announced at a later date.
"We have to give our reply tomorrow, we have to give further arguments. I do not think the court will give a verdict," Nyan Win, who is also the spokesman for her National League for Democracy, told reporters.
Nyan Win said Suu Kyi's legal team would also ask to call a witness from the foreign ministry, who allegedly said in a written reply to a rights group that she was "detained for her security" and not arrested on criminal charges.
"It was not an arrest, that's why we want to point it out. We assume that this is important for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's case. I think we will get an answer tomorrow," Nyan Win said. Daw is a term of respect in Burmese.
Her lawyers would also seek legal action against the state-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper after it said that she "committed a crime", Nyan Win said, adding that "this kind of words can harm the court's dignity and can influence the court."
Defence lawyers gave their closing statements for Suu Kyi on Friday.
Diplomats from the United States, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines were allowed to attend the morning session of Monday's hearing but not the afternoon. Most of the trial has been behind closed doors.
Critics say Myanmar's ruling junta has trumped up the charges against Suu Kyi as an excuse to keep the opposition icon locked up for elections promised by the regime next year.
Yettaw, a devout Mormon and US military veteran, has said he swam to her house to warn of a "vision" that she would be assassinated. Her lawyers argue that she cannot be held responsible.
The trial began just days before the latest period of her house arrest was due to expire. She has spent most of the last two decades in detention since the junta refused to recognise her party's victory in elections in 1990.
Rights group Amnesty International was set to award Suu Kyi its highest honour later Monday, with the award due to be announced by U2 singer Bono during a concert in Dublin later Monday.
Suu Kyi will be named Amnesty's ambassador of conscience for 2009, a largely symbolic honour previously awarded to the likes of South African former president Nelson Mandela and ex-Czech president Vaclav Havel.
Myanmar's state media Sunday hit back at US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who called for Suu Kyi's release during Asia's biggest security forum, held in Thailand, last week.
"This is really interfering with ASEAN's (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) internal affairs," said the Myanma Ahlin newspaper, referring to the regional bloc of which Myanmar is a member.
Nyan Win said Friday that the legal team welcomed calls for her release from foreign ministers at the Thailand meeting.
2 hrs 44 mins ago
YANGON (AFP) – Prosecutors for Myanmar's junta gave their closing arguments in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi Monday, as rock band U2 prepared to announce that she had won an award from a leading rights group.
Lawyers for an American man who sparked the trial by swimming uninvited to the pro-democracy leader's house in May, and for Suu Kyi's two aides, also gave their final arguments to the prison court, officials and her lawyers said.
The trial has sparked international calls for the immediate release of the detained 64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate, who faces up to five years in jail on charges of violating the conditions of her house arrest.
Her lawyer Nyan Win said the trial at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison would resume on Tuesday for the defence side to answer the prosecution's points, but that the verdict would be announced at a later date.
"We have to give our reply tomorrow, we have to give further arguments. I do not think the court will give a verdict," Nyan Win, who is also the spokesman for her National League for Democracy, told reporters.
Nyan Win said Suu Kyi's legal team would also ask to call a witness from the foreign ministry, who allegedly said in a written reply to a rights group that she was "detained for her security" and not arrested on criminal charges.
"It was not an arrest, that's why we want to point it out. We assume that this is important for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's case. I think we will get an answer tomorrow," Nyan Win said. Daw is a term of respect in Burmese.
Her lawyers would also seek legal action against the state-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper after it said that she "committed a crime", Nyan Win said, adding that "this kind of words can harm the court's dignity and can influence the court."
Defence lawyers gave their closing statements for Suu Kyi on Friday.
Diplomats from the United States, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines were allowed to attend the morning session of Monday's hearing but not the afternoon. Most of the trial has been behind closed doors.
Critics say Myanmar's ruling junta has trumped up the charges against Suu Kyi as an excuse to keep the opposition icon locked up for elections promised by the regime next year.
Yettaw, a devout Mormon and US military veteran, has said he swam to her house to warn of a "vision" that she would be assassinated. Her lawyers argue that she cannot be held responsible.
The trial began just days before the latest period of her house arrest was due to expire. She has spent most of the last two decades in detention since the junta refused to recognise her party's victory in elections in 1990.
Rights group Amnesty International was set to award Suu Kyi its highest honour later Monday, with the award due to be announced by U2 singer Bono during a concert in Dublin later Monday.
Suu Kyi will be named Amnesty's ambassador of conscience for 2009, a largely symbolic honour previously awarded to the likes of South African former president Nelson Mandela and ex-Czech president Vaclav Havel.
Myanmar's state media Sunday hit back at US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who called for Suu Kyi's release during Asia's biggest security forum, held in Thailand, last week.
"This is really interfering with ASEAN's (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) internal affairs," said the Myanma Ahlin newspaper, referring to the regional bloc of which Myanmar is a member.
Nyan Win said Friday that the legal team welcomed calls for her release from foreign ministers at the Thailand meeting.
*****************************************************
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel - As AIDS spreads in Burma, donors rethink sanctions
Growing need trumps old fears that funding only empowers junta.
By The Associated Press
RANGOON, Burma — Shrunken to skin and bones, Ma Moe could barely walk when she arrived on the doorstep of the clinic nearly two years ago. AIDS had killed her husband three years earlier, and it was slowly killing her.
If not for the free medicine she now receives, she would be dead, the 35-year-old widow said. “I had no money, my house was destroyed by (Cyclone) Nargis, I had nowhere else to go.”
The modest one-story clinic is one of two dozen run by the international aid group Doctors Without Borders, which provides more help to AIDS patients than their own government does.
As foreign donors largely shunned this isolated military-run nation, its AIDS epidemic, one of the most serious in Asia, steadily worsened out of the spotlight.
But now Western governments and donors are rethinking their approach after years of tough sanctions failed to yield much progress. The Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a major international donor that pulled out in 2005, may return to Burma, a decision that could triple the number of people getting life-saving medicine.
Donors have long feared that aid would only bolster the military government. Burma, also known as Myanmar, receives only about $3 per capita in aid, compared with $23 for Vietnam and $50 for Laos.
An estimated 240,000 people are infected by the HIV virus that causes AIDS. Of those, about 76,000 are in need of the life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, but less than a quarter of them are getting it. The lack of treatment translates into about 25,000 deaths a year.
At $30 a month, roughly equal to the average monthly salary here, the cost for the medication is beyond the reach of many. A lucky few get it free from Doctors Without Borders, which provides drugs and treatment to some 12,000 people here. The government provides for about 1,800.
“There’s such huge need but so little money from donors that we end up being the main provider of (anti-retroviral treatment),” said Luke Arend, the head of Doctors Without Borders here.
After years of silence and denial, the regime finally acknowledged the AIDS scourge in early 2000.
Some aid groups say government health officials are keenly aware of the problem but that the regime’s priorities lie elsewhere. Burma, with one of the world’s largest armies, spends the least amount of any country on its national health budget — just 0.3 percent of GDP, of which a small amount goes toward AIDS.
Thanks to the anti-retroviral drugs, Ma Moe, the young AIDS widow, has seen her weight go back to normal. She says she didn’t know the disease existed until after her husband died in 2006.
“I was scared to take a blood test. I didn’t know anything about AIDS,” she said. “The doctors warned me ahead of time that if I had HIV, I might die.”
In mid-2007, overwhelmed and beyond its capacity, Doctors Without Borders temporarily stopped taking new patients for more than a year.
“While they waited, some died,” said Dr. Soe Yadanar, who’s worked in the clinics for a decade.
The situation could be very different by next year. The Global Fund, a U.N.-backed fund for three key diseases, is now considering an application by Burma for $320 million in funding, with the goal of treating 42,000 new AIDS cases within five years.
Increasingly, Western nations have realized that broad sanctions are hurting their interests because the military junta is prepared to forego any aid with political strings attached, according to a report last fall by the International Crisis Group.
Even the United States, perhaps the strongest supporter of ever-tightening aid restrictions, has said it is now in the process of reviewing its overall Burma policy.
The shift marks a turnaround in the political climate from even a few years ago, when Burma was treated as a pariah state.
For humanitarian groups, the key shift came in the aftermath of last year’s devastating Cyclone Nargis, which claimed at least 138,000 lives and was impossible for other nations and aid groups to ignore.
After an initial bottleneck by Burmamilitary leaders, aid groups have flooded into the country, said Choo Phuah, country director for the UK-based International HIV/AIDS Alliance.
“I think (Cyclone) Nargis did shift people’s perspective about working in the country,” she said, and now that money “has a momentum of its own.”
Growing need trumps old fears that funding only empowers junta.
By The Associated Press
RANGOON, Burma — Shrunken to skin and bones, Ma Moe could barely walk when she arrived on the doorstep of the clinic nearly two years ago. AIDS had killed her husband three years earlier, and it was slowly killing her.
If not for the free medicine she now receives, she would be dead, the 35-year-old widow said. “I had no money, my house was destroyed by (Cyclone) Nargis, I had nowhere else to go.”
The modest one-story clinic is one of two dozen run by the international aid group Doctors Without Borders, which provides more help to AIDS patients than their own government does.
As foreign donors largely shunned this isolated military-run nation, its AIDS epidemic, one of the most serious in Asia, steadily worsened out of the spotlight.
But now Western governments and donors are rethinking their approach after years of tough sanctions failed to yield much progress. The Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a major international donor that pulled out in 2005, may return to Burma, a decision that could triple the number of people getting life-saving medicine.
Donors have long feared that aid would only bolster the military government. Burma, also known as Myanmar, receives only about $3 per capita in aid, compared with $23 for Vietnam and $50 for Laos.
An estimated 240,000 people are infected by the HIV virus that causes AIDS. Of those, about 76,000 are in need of the life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, but less than a quarter of them are getting it. The lack of treatment translates into about 25,000 deaths a year.
At $30 a month, roughly equal to the average monthly salary here, the cost for the medication is beyond the reach of many. A lucky few get it free from Doctors Without Borders, which provides drugs and treatment to some 12,000 people here. The government provides for about 1,800.
“There’s such huge need but so little money from donors that we end up being the main provider of (anti-retroviral treatment),” said Luke Arend, the head of Doctors Without Borders here.
After years of silence and denial, the regime finally acknowledged the AIDS scourge in early 2000.
Some aid groups say government health officials are keenly aware of the problem but that the regime’s priorities lie elsewhere. Burma, with one of the world’s largest armies, spends the least amount of any country on its national health budget — just 0.3 percent of GDP, of which a small amount goes toward AIDS.
Thanks to the anti-retroviral drugs, Ma Moe, the young AIDS widow, has seen her weight go back to normal. She says she didn’t know the disease existed until after her husband died in 2006.
“I was scared to take a blood test. I didn’t know anything about AIDS,” she said. “The doctors warned me ahead of time that if I had HIV, I might die.”
In mid-2007, overwhelmed and beyond its capacity, Doctors Without Borders temporarily stopped taking new patients for more than a year.
“While they waited, some died,” said Dr. Soe Yadanar, who’s worked in the clinics for a decade.
The situation could be very different by next year. The Global Fund, a U.N.-backed fund for three key diseases, is now considering an application by Burma for $320 million in funding, with the goal of treating 42,000 new AIDS cases within five years.
Increasingly, Western nations have realized that broad sanctions are hurting their interests because the military junta is prepared to forego any aid with political strings attached, according to a report last fall by the International Crisis Group.
Even the United States, perhaps the strongest supporter of ever-tightening aid restrictions, has said it is now in the process of reviewing its overall Burma policy.
The shift marks a turnaround in the political climate from even a few years ago, when Burma was treated as a pariah state.
For humanitarian groups, the key shift came in the aftermath of last year’s devastating Cyclone Nargis, which claimed at least 138,000 lives and was impossible for other nations and aid groups to ignore.
After an initial bottleneck by Burmamilitary leaders, aid groups have flooded into the country, said Choo Phuah, country director for the UK-based International HIV/AIDS Alliance.
“I think (Cyclone) Nargis did shift people’s perspective about working in the country,” she said, and now that money “has a momentum of its own.”
*****************************************************
New York Daily News - Malaysian official accused of human trafficking, plan to sell Myanmar man
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, July 27th 2009, 6:56 AM
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A Malaysian immigration official was charged with selling an illegal immigrant from Myanmar to human traffickers at the country's border with Thailand, his lawyer said Monday.
Rahman Selamat, a senior immigration official from southern Johor state, pleaded innocent to human trafficking charges, his lawyer Wan Mohamad Fadzil Maamor said.
If found guilty, Rahman faces up to 15 years in prison. The court in northern Kelantan state refused bail for Rahman pending trial on Aug. 25, Wan Mohamad Fadzil said. Further details were not immediately available.
Rahman was arrested July 17 with four other immigration officials and four bus drivers, who allegedly helped transport the migrants to the border.
Police said investigations showed the immigration officers sold an unspecified number of Myanmar migrants detained for living in Malaysia without valid travel documents to human traffickers at the Thai border for up to 600 ringgit ($170) each.
The traffickers then allegedly took the migrants into Thailand and told them to pay 2,000 ringgit ($570) each for their freedom, or they would be forced to work in the fishing industry, police said.
It was unclear if the other Malaysian officials or bus drivers accused of involvement would also be charged. The officials did not specify the ethnicity of the migrants, but most Myanmar people who try to enter Malaysia are ethnic Rohingya Muslims.
In April, a report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said illegal Myanmar migrants deported from Malaysia were forced to work in brothels, restaurants and on fishing boats in Thailand if they had no money to buy their freedom.
The United Nations refugee agency has registered more than 48,000 refugees in Malaysia, most from Myanmar. But community leaders estimate the number of Myanmar people in Malaysia is about twice that.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, July 27th 2009, 6:56 AM
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A Malaysian immigration official was charged with selling an illegal immigrant from Myanmar to human traffickers at the country's border with Thailand, his lawyer said Monday.
Rahman Selamat, a senior immigration official from southern Johor state, pleaded innocent to human trafficking charges, his lawyer Wan Mohamad Fadzil Maamor said.
If found guilty, Rahman faces up to 15 years in prison. The court in northern Kelantan state refused bail for Rahman pending trial on Aug. 25, Wan Mohamad Fadzil said. Further details were not immediately available.
Rahman was arrested July 17 with four other immigration officials and four bus drivers, who allegedly helped transport the migrants to the border.
Police said investigations showed the immigration officers sold an unspecified number of Myanmar migrants detained for living in Malaysia without valid travel documents to human traffickers at the Thai border for up to 600 ringgit ($170) each.
The traffickers then allegedly took the migrants into Thailand and told them to pay 2,000 ringgit ($570) each for their freedom, or they would be forced to work in the fishing industry, police said.
It was unclear if the other Malaysian officials or bus drivers accused of involvement would also be charged. The officials did not specify the ethnicity of the migrants, but most Myanmar people who try to enter Malaysia are ethnic Rohingya Muslims.
In April, a report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said illegal Myanmar migrants deported from Malaysia were forced to work in brothels, restaurants and on fishing boats in Thailand if they had no money to buy their freedom.
The United Nations refugee agency has registered more than 48,000 refugees in Malaysia, most from Myanmar. But community leaders estimate the number of Myanmar people in Malaysia is about twice that.
*****************************************************
Orissadiary.com - Myanmar delegation visits Orissa to learn Indian aquaculture
Monday, July 27, 2009
Report by Orissadiary correspondent;
Bhubaneswar: A 15-member Myanmar fisheries delegation led by U Than Lwin arrived at Bhubaneswar on 14.07.2009 on a 8-day visit to Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, Orissa and Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh to study the remarkable aquaculture development in India, the second highest aquaculture producer in the world, next to China. The team included 11 members of Myanmar Fish Farmers Association, 2 members each from Myanmar Fisheries Federation and Aquaculture Division of Myanmar Fisheries Department. Welcoming the delegation at CIFA, Director of the Institute, Dr A.E. Eknath said both Myanmar and India have many things in common since long past.
He expressed happiness that such a large delegation has sought CIFA's technology to help boost its fish production. Giving a comprehensive and informative account of institute's overall growth, Dr. Eknath pinpointed the remarkable achievement of CIFA in development of Jayanti rohu through selective breeding technique. The team evinced keen interest in this improved variety of rohu, which gives 17% higher yield per generation than normal rohu. 'Our main objective in coming here is to learn the best carp (Jayanti) technology available here to increase fish production in our own country', said Mr U Than Lwin, the president of Myanmar Fish Farmers Association. 'Our endeavour would be to increase both quality and quantity of fish without destabilizing our environment', he added.
The members of delegation interacted with all the heads of division and other nodal officers of CIFA. Mr U Hla Win, a retired Deputy Director General of Myanmar Department of Fisheries, who is presently the adviser of Myanmar Fisheries Federation made a power point presentation narrating the overall fisheries activities in Myanmar. 'Mynmar has invaluable and appreciable fishery resources with diversity in marine and freshwater fish species which need to be effectively exploited for raising production capacity', said Mr. Win while underlining the importance of high technologies in building a modern, developed and economically strong nation. Dr Kuldeep Kumar, senior scientist took the delegation on a guided tour of different culture and production facilities in CIFA farm. Aquaculture specialists stationed at different places explained to the guests about the advanced technologies and ongoing research activities and took pleasure in answering their queries. The sprawling freshwater aquaculture farm of CIFA, the largest in the world provided an excellent backdrop for the field programme.
The delegation later visited a number of aquaculture farms and hatcheries in Kolleru lake area of Andhra Pradesh, the carp pocket of India. They had series of interactions with the progressive fish farmers, entrepreneurs and hatchery owners in the area. The delegation studied the whole process of fish production and marketing chain in Kolleru operating through forward linkages of improved post-harvest services like packaging, processing, storage, transport, marketing and backward linkages of providing inputs like seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, feed and aquaculture machineries; which has scripted the success story of aquaculture in the region. 'We are here to learn modern methods and techniques from this part of the world', opined Ms Thuza Maung, a delegation member. The delegation had some more interactions with members of trade bodies with an aim to gain understanding of the whole production and marketing process. Before leaving for Myanmar on 21.07.2009, the delegation expressed hope for transfer of knowledge, better linkages and cooperation, capacity building through training and exchange programs, and strengthen bilateral ties through participation in various programs.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Report by Orissadiary correspondent;
Bhubaneswar: A 15-member Myanmar fisheries delegation led by U Than Lwin arrived at Bhubaneswar on 14.07.2009 on a 8-day visit to Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, Orissa and Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh to study the remarkable aquaculture development in India, the second highest aquaculture producer in the world, next to China. The team included 11 members of Myanmar Fish Farmers Association, 2 members each from Myanmar Fisheries Federation and Aquaculture Division of Myanmar Fisheries Department. Welcoming the delegation at CIFA, Director of the Institute, Dr A.E. Eknath said both Myanmar and India have many things in common since long past.
He expressed happiness that such a large delegation has sought CIFA's technology to help boost its fish production. Giving a comprehensive and informative account of institute's overall growth, Dr. Eknath pinpointed the remarkable achievement of CIFA in development of Jayanti rohu through selective breeding technique. The team evinced keen interest in this improved variety of rohu, which gives 17% higher yield per generation than normal rohu. 'Our main objective in coming here is to learn the best carp (Jayanti) technology available here to increase fish production in our own country', said Mr U Than Lwin, the president of Myanmar Fish Farmers Association. 'Our endeavour would be to increase both quality and quantity of fish without destabilizing our environment', he added.
The members of delegation interacted with all the heads of division and other nodal officers of CIFA. Mr U Hla Win, a retired Deputy Director General of Myanmar Department of Fisheries, who is presently the adviser of Myanmar Fisheries Federation made a power point presentation narrating the overall fisheries activities in Myanmar. 'Mynmar has invaluable and appreciable fishery resources with diversity in marine and freshwater fish species which need to be effectively exploited for raising production capacity', said Mr. Win while underlining the importance of high technologies in building a modern, developed and economically strong nation. Dr Kuldeep Kumar, senior scientist took the delegation on a guided tour of different culture and production facilities in CIFA farm. Aquaculture specialists stationed at different places explained to the guests about the advanced technologies and ongoing research activities and took pleasure in answering their queries. The sprawling freshwater aquaculture farm of CIFA, the largest in the world provided an excellent backdrop for the field programme.
The delegation later visited a number of aquaculture farms and hatcheries in Kolleru lake area of Andhra Pradesh, the carp pocket of India. They had series of interactions with the progressive fish farmers, entrepreneurs and hatchery owners in the area. The delegation studied the whole process of fish production and marketing chain in Kolleru operating through forward linkages of improved post-harvest services like packaging, processing, storage, transport, marketing and backward linkages of providing inputs like seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, feed and aquaculture machineries; which has scripted the success story of aquaculture in the region. 'We are here to learn modern methods and techniques from this part of the world', opined Ms Thuza Maung, a delegation member. The delegation had some more interactions with members of trade bodies with an aim to gain understanding of the whole production and marketing process. Before leaving for Myanmar on 21.07.2009, the delegation expressed hope for transfer of knowledge, better linkages and cooperation, capacity building through training and exchange programs, and strengthen bilateral ties through participation in various programs.
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Myanmar to hold trade exhibition in Yangon next month
www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-27 16:56:54
YANGON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will hold a trade exhibition next month in the former capital of Yangon to boost external and domestic trade, exhibition sources said on Monday.
The four-day 2009 Yangon Expo with 180 booths is scheduled to run from Aug. 20 to 23 at the Tamadaw Hall in the city.
Industrial products, consumers goods, food, cosmetic, electrical goods, furniture housing show, zone car, agricultural and fishery machinery, as well as services relating to education and health will be introduced in the exhibition, they said.
It will be the second of its kinds, and the first one was held in March this year.
Meanwhile, traders of different business sectors from the country will participate in the forthcoming Nanning Trade Fair in China to seek trade promotion between Myanmar and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China.
The 6th Nanning Trade Fair, which runs for five days from Oct. 20 to 24, will showcase Myanmar products in 100 booths.
In a bid to boost the business cooperation with ASEAN member countries and South Korea, the country's foodstuff companies will also attend the ASEAN food and beverages exhibition 2009 in South Korea in November this year.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-27 16:56:54
YANGON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will hold a trade exhibition next month in the former capital of Yangon to boost external and domestic trade, exhibition sources said on Monday.
The four-day 2009 Yangon Expo with 180 booths is scheduled to run from Aug. 20 to 23 at the Tamadaw Hall in the city.
Industrial products, consumers goods, food, cosmetic, electrical goods, furniture housing show, zone car, agricultural and fishery machinery, as well as services relating to education and health will be introduced in the exhibition, they said.
It will be the second of its kinds, and the first one was held in March this year.
Meanwhile, traders of different business sectors from the country will participate in the forthcoming Nanning Trade Fair in China to seek trade promotion between Myanmar and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China.
The 6th Nanning Trade Fair, which runs for five days from Oct. 20 to 24, will showcase Myanmar products in 100 booths.
In a bid to boost the business cooperation with ASEAN member countries and South Korea, the country's foodstuff companies will also attend the ASEAN food and beverages exhibition 2009 in South Korea in November this year.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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Myanmar to take part in int'l children's film festival in Bangladesh
www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-27 14:50:16
YANGON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar film directors will take part in the International Children's Film Festival, which will be held in neighboring Bangladesh next year, sources with the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise (MMPE) said on Monday.
In the festival, directors will have to compete with their short stories films, documentaries and animated movies and the winners will be selected through voting system.
The festival, which is the third of its kind, will take place in the Bangladeshi capital Dacca from Jan. 23 to 29 whereas the second one was held in January this year.
Myanmar and Bangladesh have been seeking cooperation in joint film production and holding of film festivals.
During last month, a meeting on the move was held between officials and famous artists from the MMPE and Bangladesh diplomats based in Myanmar under the cultural exchange program between the two countries.
The Bangladeshi side also proposed to Myanmar for launching a Myanmar film festival in that country.
With English subtitles, seven movies are being selected to be screened in the western neighbor, which are "Never Be Your Slave", "Once the Ayeyawaddy Nights", "Mysterious Snow ", "Upstream Water", "Hexagon", " King Kyansit", and "My Sword, My Blood, My Ayeyawaddy".
www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-27 14:50:16
YANGON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar film directors will take part in the International Children's Film Festival, which will be held in neighboring Bangladesh next year, sources with the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise (MMPE) said on Monday.
In the festival, directors will have to compete with their short stories films, documentaries and animated movies and the winners will be selected through voting system.
The festival, which is the third of its kind, will take place in the Bangladeshi capital Dacca from Jan. 23 to 29 whereas the second one was held in January this year.
Myanmar and Bangladesh have been seeking cooperation in joint film production and holding of film festivals.
During last month, a meeting on the move was held between officials and famous artists from the MMPE and Bangladesh diplomats based in Myanmar under the cultural exchange program between the two countries.
The Bangladeshi side also proposed to Myanmar for launching a Myanmar film festival in that country.
With English subtitles, seven movies are being selected to be screened in the western neighbor, which are "Never Be Your Slave", "Once the Ayeyawaddy Nights", "Mysterious Snow ", "Upstream Water", "Hexagon", " King Kyansit", and "My Sword, My Blood, My Ayeyawaddy".
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The Guardian - Asean's Burmese diplomacy has failed
The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi has highlighted the inability of Burma's neighbours to counter the generals' stranglehold
Tom Fawthrop
Monday 27 July 2009 10.00 BST
The bizarre and protracted trial of Aung San Suu Kyi has just heard the final arguments of the prosecution and defence. The verdict – not expected for another month – will not only decide the fate of Burma's iconic opposition leader, who has been held under house arrest for the best part of 19 years, but will cast a decisive shadow over elections scheduled for 2010.
During the recent visit of UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, junta chief General Tan Shwe promised free and fair elections next year. Indonesia's foreign minister Dr Hassan Wirajuda has made it clear that Burma must release Suu Kyi if those elections are to be credible. Attending ARF, the Asean regional forum in Phuket, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton informed the Burmese delegation that any US offer to improve relations is dependent on releasing Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
And what happens if – as most observers expect – she is perversely found guilty of violating her conditions of house arrest, all because of a mysterious intrusion from an uninvited American guest?
Burma's opposition has already predicted a guilty verdict, expecting the judge to send her to prison or renew her detention order for another five years, thus denying her any role in next year's elections. So what will Asean do about their recalcitrant member? Not too much hope should be placed in the newly approved human rights provision of the Asean charter. The human rights commission has no power to monitor violations, and Burma participated in efforts to water down the provisions to exclude any monitoring or investigation.
Although the Indonesian foreign minister has expressed anger, the misgivings of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, expressed through softly-softly diplomacy known as "constructive engagement" with the regime, have so far made no difference. If anything, it has become routine at major Asean conferences for the Burmese delegation to deflect criticism and carry on as usual. The club of south-east Asian nations operates by consensus and shrinks from suggestions that Burma should either be expelled or suspended. The idea, suggested by parliamentarians from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, of suspending Burma's membership was rejected by Thailand's prime minister, the current Asean chairman. "There are not enough grounds to do that," he said.
Since 1997, when Burma joined Asean, the military regime has been accused of forced labour, systematic torture of political prisoners and shooting protesting monks. Thailand has been flooded with political refugees, especially ethnic minorities such as Karen and Shan, fleeing the burning and pillaging of the Burmese military offensives. A recent report from Harvard law school calls for the UN security council to establish an investigation into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.
Whether or not Burma should be suspended from Asean is one issue, but to suggest there are not enough grounds to even consider it is an insult to the endless sufferings of the Burmese people which Asean has singularly failed to alleviate. Asean's leaders are quick to point out the failure of western sanctions and the futility of isolating a paranoid regime which has already withdrawn Burma's capital from Rangoon to the newly-built secret citadel of Naypidaw, designed to be a "foreigner-free zone".
But it is clear Asean's policy of "constructive engagement" has equally failed to move Burma's generals away from their bunker mentality and convince them of the need for a transition towards democracy. Asean has of course called for Suu Kyi's release. But if the junta takes no notice and the court finds her guilty, after the usual round of polite protest, nothing will happen – it will be business as usual. Indeed those who condemn western sanctions are also countries involved in trade and investment in Burma.
A Thai Democrat MP, Kraisak Choonhavan, concerned that his country has not done enough for human rights in Burma, says one reason is "Thailand is the number one investor in natural gas. We pay 16bn baht a year to Burma." He would like to see his government impose ethical and good governance practices on state enterprises doing business across the border.
The real issue, however, is not sanctions or engagement, but the type of sanctions, and the terms of engagement. But as long as Asean engages in unconditional diplomacy, sanctions are necessary to indicate the diplomatic rejection of a brutal regime. Up to now, the junta has survived thanks to support from China and Russia in the UN security council, and the cynical scramble for Burma's rich natural resources which has united India, Thailand and Singapore with China and Russia. Suu Kyi will continue to languish behind bars (or under house arrest) as long as pressure on the generals is constantly deflected by the competing greed of these nations.
The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi has highlighted the inability of Burma's neighbours to counter the generals' stranglehold
Tom Fawthrop
Monday 27 July 2009 10.00 BST
The bizarre and protracted trial of Aung San Suu Kyi has just heard the final arguments of the prosecution and defence. The verdict – not expected for another month – will not only decide the fate of Burma's iconic opposition leader, who has been held under house arrest for the best part of 19 years, but will cast a decisive shadow over elections scheduled for 2010.
During the recent visit of UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, junta chief General Tan Shwe promised free and fair elections next year. Indonesia's foreign minister Dr Hassan Wirajuda has made it clear that Burma must release Suu Kyi if those elections are to be credible. Attending ARF, the Asean regional forum in Phuket, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton informed the Burmese delegation that any US offer to improve relations is dependent on releasing Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
And what happens if – as most observers expect – she is perversely found guilty of violating her conditions of house arrest, all because of a mysterious intrusion from an uninvited American guest?
Burma's opposition has already predicted a guilty verdict, expecting the judge to send her to prison or renew her detention order for another five years, thus denying her any role in next year's elections. So what will Asean do about their recalcitrant member? Not too much hope should be placed in the newly approved human rights provision of the Asean charter. The human rights commission has no power to monitor violations, and Burma participated in efforts to water down the provisions to exclude any monitoring or investigation.
Although the Indonesian foreign minister has expressed anger, the misgivings of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, expressed through softly-softly diplomacy known as "constructive engagement" with the regime, have so far made no difference. If anything, it has become routine at major Asean conferences for the Burmese delegation to deflect criticism and carry on as usual. The club of south-east Asian nations operates by consensus and shrinks from suggestions that Burma should either be expelled or suspended. The idea, suggested by parliamentarians from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, of suspending Burma's membership was rejected by Thailand's prime minister, the current Asean chairman. "There are not enough grounds to do that," he said.
Since 1997, when Burma joined Asean, the military regime has been accused of forced labour, systematic torture of political prisoners and shooting protesting monks. Thailand has been flooded with political refugees, especially ethnic minorities such as Karen and Shan, fleeing the burning and pillaging of the Burmese military offensives. A recent report from Harvard law school calls for the UN security council to establish an investigation into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.
Whether or not Burma should be suspended from Asean is one issue, but to suggest there are not enough grounds to even consider it is an insult to the endless sufferings of the Burmese people which Asean has singularly failed to alleviate. Asean's leaders are quick to point out the failure of western sanctions and the futility of isolating a paranoid regime which has already withdrawn Burma's capital from Rangoon to the newly-built secret citadel of Naypidaw, designed to be a "foreigner-free zone".
But it is clear Asean's policy of "constructive engagement" has equally failed to move Burma's generals away from their bunker mentality and convince them of the need for a transition towards democracy. Asean has of course called for Suu Kyi's release. But if the junta takes no notice and the court finds her guilty, after the usual round of polite protest, nothing will happen – it will be business as usual. Indeed those who condemn western sanctions are also countries involved in trade and investment in Burma.
A Thai Democrat MP, Kraisak Choonhavan, concerned that his country has not done enough for human rights in Burma, says one reason is "Thailand is the number one investor in natural gas. We pay 16bn baht a year to Burma." He would like to see his government impose ethical and good governance practices on state enterprises doing business across the border.
The real issue, however, is not sanctions or engagement, but the type of sanctions, and the terms of engagement. But as long as Asean engages in unconditional diplomacy, sanctions are necessary to indicate the diplomatic rejection of a brutal regime. Up to now, the junta has survived thanks to support from China and Russia in the UN security council, and the cynical scramble for Burma's rich natural resources which has united India, Thailand and Singapore with China and Russia. Suu Kyi will continue to languish behind bars (or under house arrest) as long as pressure on the generals is constantly deflected by the competing greed of these nations.
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The Guardian - Aung San Suu Kyi 'preparing for worst' as trial nears end
Closing arguments due in trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader
Verdict not expected for at least a fortnight
Justin McCurry
Monday 27 July 2009 10.34 BST
The trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi entered its final phase today, with both sides expected to present closing arguments before a verdict is delivered in two to three weeks.
Aung San Suu Kyi is charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by allowing an American man spend two nights at her home in early May. She faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.
John Yettaw, a Vietnam veteran who was described by his wife as eccentric, said he swam across a lake to her home because he wanted to warn her that she was about to be assassinated by "terrorists."
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention for 14 of the past 20 years, pleaded with Yettaw to leave and relented only after he claimed to be too ill to swim back.
Reports said Yettaw's lawyer was due to defend his client today against a trespassing charge, which carries a sentence of up to three months in prison.
Khin Maung Oo, said at the weekend he would attempt to win Yettaw, 53, a lenient sentence. "I will try my best to defend my client. I will argue that he did not violate the restriction order and I will try my utmost to get him lesser punishment," he said.
Although the prosecution was expected to wind up its case against the Nobel prize winner today, her lawyer said a verdict was not imminent. "I expect all the arguments will be made today but I think the verdict might take as long as two or three weeks," Nyan Win told Reuters.
Nyan Win said his client was "preparing for the worst" at the end of a trial that the junta's critics have denounced as an excuse to keep Suu Kyi incarcerated during national elections next year.
Statements were expected from Aung San Suu Kyi's longtime companions, Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma. The women, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), also face up to five years in prison.
The NLD won a landslide victory in elections in 1990, but the ruling generals refused to recognise the result.
The junta has so far resisted international calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release. Last week, the state-controlled media accused the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, of "interference" after she said a satisfactory conclusion to the trial could lead to better economic ties with Washington.
In demanding her release, western critics of the regime were showing "reckless disregard for the law", the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. "The court will hand down a reasonable term to her if she is found guilty, and it will release her if she is found not guilty," it added.
Most of the trial has been conducted behind closed doors since it began on 18 May.
Diplomats have been allowed to witness four hearings, with observers from the US, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia reportedly granted access to this morning's proceedings.
A diplomatic source said Aung San Suu Kyi, who is being held at Insein prison in the capital, Rangoon, had appeared "fit, healthy and in sparkling form" when she appeared in court last Friday.
The defence does not deny that Yettaw visited her compound, but argues that she cannot be charged under laws that were abolished in 1988. It blames her bodyguards for failing to apprehend Yettaw, who remained undetected inside the compound for several hours.
Closing arguments due in trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader
Verdict not expected for at least a fortnight
Justin McCurry
Monday 27 July 2009 10.34 BST
The trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi entered its final phase today, with both sides expected to present closing arguments before a verdict is delivered in two to three weeks.
Aung San Suu Kyi is charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by allowing an American man spend two nights at her home in early May. She faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.
John Yettaw, a Vietnam veteran who was described by his wife as eccentric, said he swam across a lake to her home because he wanted to warn her that she was about to be assassinated by "terrorists."
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention for 14 of the past 20 years, pleaded with Yettaw to leave and relented only after he claimed to be too ill to swim back.
Reports said Yettaw's lawyer was due to defend his client today against a trespassing charge, which carries a sentence of up to three months in prison.
Khin Maung Oo, said at the weekend he would attempt to win Yettaw, 53, a lenient sentence. "I will try my best to defend my client. I will argue that he did not violate the restriction order and I will try my utmost to get him lesser punishment," he said.
Although the prosecution was expected to wind up its case against the Nobel prize winner today, her lawyer said a verdict was not imminent. "I expect all the arguments will be made today but I think the verdict might take as long as two or three weeks," Nyan Win told Reuters.
Nyan Win said his client was "preparing for the worst" at the end of a trial that the junta's critics have denounced as an excuse to keep Suu Kyi incarcerated during national elections next year.
Statements were expected from Aung San Suu Kyi's longtime companions, Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma. The women, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), also face up to five years in prison.
The NLD won a landslide victory in elections in 1990, but the ruling generals refused to recognise the result.
The junta has so far resisted international calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release. Last week, the state-controlled media accused the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, of "interference" after she said a satisfactory conclusion to the trial could lead to better economic ties with Washington.
In demanding her release, western critics of the regime were showing "reckless disregard for the law", the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. "The court will hand down a reasonable term to her if she is found guilty, and it will release her if she is found not guilty," it added.
Most of the trial has been conducted behind closed doors since it began on 18 May.
Diplomats have been allowed to witness four hearings, with observers from the US, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia reportedly granted access to this morning's proceedings.
A diplomatic source said Aung San Suu Kyi, who is being held at Insein prison in the capital, Rangoon, had appeared "fit, healthy and in sparkling form" when she appeared in court last Friday.
The defence does not deny that Yettaw visited her compound, but argues that she cannot be charged under laws that were abolished in 1988. It blames her bodyguards for failing to apprehend Yettaw, who remained undetected inside the compound for several hours.
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Bangkok Post - A chink may yet be appearing in Burma's obstinacy
Writer: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Published: 27/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
The Burma and North Korea issues have been in the spotlight at Asean meetings for more than a decade. The "issues" vary from meeting to meeting, depending on what is happening with these countries at the time.
Mostly, Burma would be brought up at the meetings because of its strong opposition to human rights within the country.
There seems to be no sustainable solution to the problems although the regime always tries to appease its Asean neighbours by releasing a number of political prisoners prior to the conferences.
The perennial barb, however, is the continued detention of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now facing trial for an alleged violation of her house arrest rules after an American man swam across the river to her home.
Burma has given some hope to the international community by announcing a national reconciliation process and its peaceful transition to democracy, as envisaged in the seven-step road map to democracy, in particular the adoption of the State Constitution of 2008 by referendum which will lead to a general election next year. It will be the first national election after the regime refused the overwhelming victory of Ms Suu Kyi in 1990.
But without Ms Suu Kyi joining in the 2010 election, it will be worthless.
Asean's goal of becoming one community by 2015 is approaching and if the 2010 election in Burma fails, the hopes and dreams for all 10 Asean members to become a homogeneous community might remain just that - a dream.
A diplomat who attended the Asean meeting last week said the grouping's members conveyed to Burma that the atmosphere was not good and Burma had to do something to break its silence.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that in this meeting, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win learnt that "his country is a major factor in moving Asean forward".
"It is the duty of Asean and Burma to push the grouping together to become a community," Mr Kasit said.
For the first time, Asean asked Nyan Win to convey the sentiment to the Burmese leadership.
The action came after Asean foreign ministers felt concerned that their joint call for changes in Burma might not reach the ears of the Burmese leader Snr Gen Than Shwe.
Nobody can tell how receptive the Burmese leaders will be to what the outside world has been demanding. Many demands were made in the past but no actions were taken by the regime.
The many joint communiques of Asean and the chairman's statement from the Asean Plus Three - Japan, China and South Korea - as well as ARF throughout the years reaffirm that the Burmese government must hold a free, fair and inclusive election in 2010 in order to lay down a good foundation for future social and economic development.
They reiterated their calls for the Burmese government to immediately release all political prisoners, including Ms Suu Kyi to pave the way for genuine reconciliation and meaningful dialogue involving all parties.
"Asean ministers were afraid that the Burmese leader might choose to acknowledge only the positive reaction from Asean such as its welcoming of the recent visit of UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon or the thanks for Burma's cooperation in allowing outsiders to help its people after Cyclone Nargis," said a source who attended the meeting.
The source admitted the atmosphere in the meeting rooms was better than the past year as there was not any pressure on Burma.
"The atmosphere was full of cogency and pertinent to the real reason [of the need for change in Burma]. There were more frank discussions than in the past," the source said.
This was reflected in the offer of Asean and members of ARF to work with Burma to promote democracy, human rights and the well-being of her people. At the same time, it was hoped that Burma would also be responsive to the international community's concerns, according to Mr Kasit.
Nyan Win, however, told his Asean counterparts on Monday that pressure from the outside world and economic sanctions were hampering Burma's democratisation and development efforts.
According to the same source, Asean was in the process of persuading Burma to change its situation.
"Having Asean to help Burma in its democratisation is better than fighting it," the source said. This message was released during the ARF meeting in which the US also participated.
Mr Kasit emphasised that Asean members wanted to help one another and resolve internal problems within the bloc's family without recourse to the international community.
Asean's new approach towards Burma at this meeting is its ministers have agreed to take turns to engage the Burmese leadership soon and if the Burmese government would allow outsiders to observe its elections next year, Asean should be the first grouping to do so, the source said.
Asean is expected to receive a positive response from Burma before the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York in September where all Asean foreign ministers will gather, the source added.
If Asean is a pull factor for Burma, the US is working as a push one.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Burma to release Ms Suu Kyi in exchange for direct investment from the United States.
"If she were released, that would open up opportunities at least for my country to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma," she said.
Pornpimon Trichote, a Burmese expert, said she was not surprised at the US shift as new US President Barack Obama used to hint that the US policy towards Burma might change.
"The US might change some approaches towards Burma but its principles would remain the same. However, I believe Burma might not be in a hurry to reciprocate on what the US has to offer as the relationship of both countries has been estranged for a long time," she said, adding that Burma never cared for the US as it is friends with other powers like China, Russia and North Korea.
If things go according to plan, these push and pull factors could eventually help create more space to deal with Burma after the election next year, she said. "The US might face an impasse as the sanctions have produced nothing for many years. If it has not changed its position, it has nowhere to go," she said, adding it was likely condemnation of Burma will be softer after this.
Writer: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Published: 27/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
The Burma and North Korea issues have been in the spotlight at Asean meetings for more than a decade. The "issues" vary from meeting to meeting, depending on what is happening with these countries at the time.
Mostly, Burma would be brought up at the meetings because of its strong opposition to human rights within the country.
There seems to be no sustainable solution to the problems although the regime always tries to appease its Asean neighbours by releasing a number of political prisoners prior to the conferences.
The perennial barb, however, is the continued detention of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now facing trial for an alleged violation of her house arrest rules after an American man swam across the river to her home.
Burma has given some hope to the international community by announcing a national reconciliation process and its peaceful transition to democracy, as envisaged in the seven-step road map to democracy, in particular the adoption of the State Constitution of 2008 by referendum which will lead to a general election next year. It will be the first national election after the regime refused the overwhelming victory of Ms Suu Kyi in 1990.
But without Ms Suu Kyi joining in the 2010 election, it will be worthless.
Asean's goal of becoming one community by 2015 is approaching and if the 2010 election in Burma fails, the hopes and dreams for all 10 Asean members to become a homogeneous community might remain just that - a dream.
A diplomat who attended the Asean meeting last week said the grouping's members conveyed to Burma that the atmosphere was not good and Burma had to do something to break its silence.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that in this meeting, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win learnt that "his country is a major factor in moving Asean forward".
"It is the duty of Asean and Burma to push the grouping together to become a community," Mr Kasit said.
For the first time, Asean asked Nyan Win to convey the sentiment to the Burmese leadership.
The action came after Asean foreign ministers felt concerned that their joint call for changes in Burma might not reach the ears of the Burmese leader Snr Gen Than Shwe.
Nobody can tell how receptive the Burmese leaders will be to what the outside world has been demanding. Many demands were made in the past but no actions were taken by the regime.
The many joint communiques of Asean and the chairman's statement from the Asean Plus Three - Japan, China and South Korea - as well as ARF throughout the years reaffirm that the Burmese government must hold a free, fair and inclusive election in 2010 in order to lay down a good foundation for future social and economic development.
They reiterated their calls for the Burmese government to immediately release all political prisoners, including Ms Suu Kyi to pave the way for genuine reconciliation and meaningful dialogue involving all parties.
"Asean ministers were afraid that the Burmese leader might choose to acknowledge only the positive reaction from Asean such as its welcoming of the recent visit of UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon or the thanks for Burma's cooperation in allowing outsiders to help its people after Cyclone Nargis," said a source who attended the meeting.
The source admitted the atmosphere in the meeting rooms was better than the past year as there was not any pressure on Burma.
"The atmosphere was full of cogency and pertinent to the real reason [of the need for change in Burma]. There were more frank discussions than in the past," the source said.
This was reflected in the offer of Asean and members of ARF to work with Burma to promote democracy, human rights and the well-being of her people. At the same time, it was hoped that Burma would also be responsive to the international community's concerns, according to Mr Kasit.
Nyan Win, however, told his Asean counterparts on Monday that pressure from the outside world and economic sanctions were hampering Burma's democratisation and development efforts.
According to the same source, Asean was in the process of persuading Burma to change its situation.
"Having Asean to help Burma in its democratisation is better than fighting it," the source said. This message was released during the ARF meeting in which the US also participated.
Mr Kasit emphasised that Asean members wanted to help one another and resolve internal problems within the bloc's family without recourse to the international community.
Asean's new approach towards Burma at this meeting is its ministers have agreed to take turns to engage the Burmese leadership soon and if the Burmese government would allow outsiders to observe its elections next year, Asean should be the first grouping to do so, the source said.
Asean is expected to receive a positive response from Burma before the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York in September where all Asean foreign ministers will gather, the source added.
If Asean is a pull factor for Burma, the US is working as a push one.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Burma to release Ms Suu Kyi in exchange for direct investment from the United States.
"If she were released, that would open up opportunities at least for my country to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma," she said.
Pornpimon Trichote, a Burmese expert, said she was not surprised at the US shift as new US President Barack Obama used to hint that the US policy towards Burma might change.
"The US might change some approaches towards Burma but its principles would remain the same. However, I believe Burma might not be in a hurry to reciprocate on what the US has to offer as the relationship of both countries has been estranged for a long time," she said, adding that Burma never cared for the US as it is friends with other powers like China, Russia and North Korea.
If things go according to plan, these push and pull factors could eventually help create more space to deal with Burma after the election next year, she said. "The US might face an impasse as the sanctions have produced nothing for many years. If it has not changed its position, it has nowhere to go," she said, adding it was likely condemnation of Burma will be softer after this.
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Bangkok Post - Explore the unexplored
Published: 27/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Outlook
Starting tomorrow, Eight Thonglor Lifestyle Retail Centre together with H Gallery will be showcasing 18 never-before-seen photographs taken at the "off-limits" area of Burma by Spanish photographer Xavier Comas.
During his solo adventure in the Shan State region of the Golden Triangle area of Burma, Comas lived with the hill tribe people for two weeks to experience their authentic native lifestyle. It was a part of his one-year globetrotting experience.
"It is not a trip that you can plan. You don't know where you are going. It is purely by chance. This way, you can come in contact with real people, and it is an amazing way to travel," said the adventurous photographer.
The captured photos show his experience through the people that he interacted with. "These are honest pictures, taken as things were. There was no pretention to show anything else apart from reality because I did not mean to take these pictures for any project."
The native people told him that he was the first foreigner in that area after so many years, and he was so foreign to them that little children would cry and the local people would stare at him wide-eyed.
Communication was one of the biggest challenges. He communicated through hand gestures, facial expressions and drawings. "When you stay with people who do not understand your language, you need basic human communication means. I developed my communication skills and became so close to them. I realised that a spoken language can have a million words - beautiful and sophisticated words - but they might not be as honest and direct as non-verbal communication."
The trip was an intensely eye-opening experience for him, and he hopes to share it with everyone through this debut exhibition in Bangkok, as well as to inspire the desire to travel more thoughtfully. "The exhibition is about people. Travelling is a privilege and not everyone in the world can travel. That is why we should appreciate every encounter and treasure the memories. Travelling is not just entertainment - it is also responsibility."
'Off Limits Trespassing in the Shan State' will be on view at Eight Thonglor, Sukhumvit Soi 55, beginning tomorrow until August 30. Call 02-260-5820 ext 113 - 120.
Published: 27/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Outlook
Starting tomorrow, Eight Thonglor Lifestyle Retail Centre together with H Gallery will be showcasing 18 never-before-seen photographs taken at the "off-limits" area of Burma by Spanish photographer Xavier Comas.
During his solo adventure in the Shan State region of the Golden Triangle area of Burma, Comas lived with the hill tribe people for two weeks to experience their authentic native lifestyle. It was a part of his one-year globetrotting experience.
"It is not a trip that you can plan. You don't know where you are going. It is purely by chance. This way, you can come in contact with real people, and it is an amazing way to travel," said the adventurous photographer.
The captured photos show his experience through the people that he interacted with. "These are honest pictures, taken as things were. There was no pretention to show anything else apart from reality because I did not mean to take these pictures for any project."
The native people told him that he was the first foreigner in that area after so many years, and he was so foreign to them that little children would cry and the local people would stare at him wide-eyed.
Communication was one of the biggest challenges. He communicated through hand gestures, facial expressions and drawings. "When you stay with people who do not understand your language, you need basic human communication means. I developed my communication skills and became so close to them. I realised that a spoken language can have a million words - beautiful and sophisticated words - but they might not be as honest and direct as non-verbal communication."
The trip was an intensely eye-opening experience for him, and he hopes to share it with everyone through this debut exhibition in Bangkok, as well as to inspire the desire to travel more thoughtfully. "The exhibition is about people. Travelling is a privilege and not everyone in the world can travel. That is why we should appreciate every encounter and treasure the memories. Travelling is not just entertainment - it is also responsibility."
'Off Limits Trespassing in the Shan State' will be on view at Eight Thonglor, Sukhumvit Soi 55, beginning tomorrow until August 30. Call 02-260-5820 ext 113 - 120.
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The Nation - Asean Energy Ministers meet in Mandalay
Published, July 27, 2009
Energy Minister Wannarat Charn-nukul will join the meeting with energy ministers of Asean +3 and Asean +6 in Mandalay, Burma during July 29-30.
In this occasion, Thailand will emphasise its strength as the regional hub of alternative energy. Meanwhile, Thailand will join the Asean energy action plan during 2010-2015 which highlight cooperation in seven areas including clean coal technology, the regional power transmission grid, gas pipelines, energy conservation, recycliable energy, and nuclear power.
According to Wannarat, Thailand also seeks a bilateral talk with Burmaon further cooperation in natural gas investment.
Published, July 27, 2009
Energy Minister Wannarat Charn-nukul will join the meeting with energy ministers of Asean +3 and Asean +6 in Mandalay, Burma during July 29-30.
In this occasion, Thailand will emphasise its strength as the regional hub of alternative energy. Meanwhile, Thailand will join the Asean energy action plan during 2010-2015 which highlight cooperation in seven areas including clean coal technology, the regional power transmission grid, gas pipelines, energy conservation, recycliable energy, and nuclear power.
According to Wannarat, Thailand also seeks a bilateral talk with Burmaon further cooperation in natural gas investment.
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The Irrawaddy - Suu Kyi’s Trial Postponed to Tuesday
By WAI MOE, Monday, July 27, 2009
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will have to return to court yet again after the final arguments were not concluded in the case against her on Monday and were postponed until the following day.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Monday, Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi’s defense lawyers, said, “The final arguments were not concluded today, so the court decided there should be one more day to conclude the case,”
According to the lawyer, Suu Kyi's two female companions, who are also on trial, gave their statements, and the lawyer for American John William Yettaw, who is charged with trespassing, was also given time to present his final argument.
Nyan Win said the trial started at 10 a.m. and continued until late in the afternoon.
The trial of the detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate is being closely monitored around the world.
During the Asean Ministerial Meeting and Asean Regional Forum (ARF) at Phuket in Thailand last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and several Asean foreign ministers called for the release of Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 other political prisoners.
Clinton offered the Burmese junta a carrot during the ARF meeting, hinting that if Suu Kyi is released, the US may reconsider investing in Burma, adding that the Obama administration’s policy review will be decided after the results from Suu Kyi’s trial.
However, Clinton stressed that the situation depends on the Burmese junta.
Suu Kyi could face up to five years’ imprisonment if convicted of harboring a foreigner at her Inya Lake home in May.
Her lawyers said they expected the verdict will be announced in two or three weeks.
Ahead of the verdict for Suu Kyi’s trial, Amnesty International awarded her its highest accolade, the Ambassador of Conscience Award, on Monday.
Meanwhile, sources in Rangoon have said security was tightened around the city on Monday.
By WAI MOE, Monday, July 27, 2009
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will have to return to court yet again after the final arguments were not concluded in the case against her on Monday and were postponed until the following day.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Monday, Nyan Win, one of Suu Kyi’s defense lawyers, said, “The final arguments were not concluded today, so the court decided there should be one more day to conclude the case,”
According to the lawyer, Suu Kyi's two female companions, who are also on trial, gave their statements, and the lawyer for American John William Yettaw, who is charged with trespassing, was also given time to present his final argument.
Nyan Win said the trial started at 10 a.m. and continued until late in the afternoon.
The trial of the detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate is being closely monitored around the world.
During the Asean Ministerial Meeting and Asean Regional Forum (ARF) at Phuket in Thailand last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and several Asean foreign ministers called for the release of Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 other political prisoners.
Clinton offered the Burmese junta a carrot during the ARF meeting, hinting that if Suu Kyi is released, the US may reconsider investing in Burma, adding that the Obama administration’s policy review will be decided after the results from Suu Kyi’s trial.
However, Clinton stressed that the situation depends on the Burmese junta.
Suu Kyi could face up to five years’ imprisonment if convicted of harboring a foreigner at her Inya Lake home in May.
Her lawyers said they expected the verdict will be announced in two or three weeks.
Ahead of the verdict for Suu Kyi’s trial, Amnesty International awarded her its highest accolade, the Ambassador of Conscience Award, on Monday.
Meanwhile, sources in Rangoon have said security was tightened around the city on Monday.
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Mizzima News - Ban hits Sino-Burmese border trade
by Myo Gyi
Monday, 27 July 2009 17:48
Ruili (Mizzima) – Sino-Burmese border trade is taking a beating and passenger bus services on the second biggest border trade zone, Bamo-Lweje, have dwindled to a quarter because of a ban on the import of Chinese goods.
The Burmese military junta banned import of Chinese goods from Jiang Peng, opposite Lweje, this month following which the volume of traffic fell considerably. Two passenger bus companies, Sein Lone Taung Dan and Shwe Hlegar plied over 70 buses. Now only 20 buses are plying on this route.
“Many buses have stopped plying. Of 70 to 80 buses, only 20 ply on this route due to reasons which are purely economic,” a bus driver from ‘Shwe Hlegar’ said.
The service is provided by Toyota Hilux pickup trucks and highway buses. Most of the cars are Hilux.
“We could not ply buses on this route for over a week. Our bus has been run on a trial basis for 1 to 2 days,” the wife of a driver of a highway passenger bus said.
Import of Chinese goods was banned after a complaint was lodged with Naypyitaw (capital) against government employees manning the checkpoints on the border trade route for extorting money from bus owners and traders.
“The Director of Na Ka Tha (Border Trade Authority) lodged a complaint against his subordinates to Naypyitaw at the beginning of this month. The higher authorities came and monitored the checkpoints and departmental business operations. It is now difficult for traders to cross the checkpoints,” a trader from Lwe Je said.
“They did not ban plying of buses on this route but prohibited import of Chinese goods. Passenger buses are still operating on this route but the numbers have fallen. This fresh ban has hit medium and small traders and the government employees,” he said.
“We cannot get a lot of goods from our customers now. Now we can get only a small amount of original (officially) imported goods from them. The goods cannot be imported into Burma because of the government staff. The situation has changed drastically. The number of traders travelling on this route has plummeted. We can barely recover fuel costs from our transport business, which is about Kyat 40,000 to 60,000 per trip,” he said.
After the Director of Border Trade Authority at Lwe Je complained against his subordinate staff members, the authorities upped and banned the import of Chinese goods. But no action was taken action against the staff members. Some were reportedly transferred to other places.
“We haven’t yet heard of any arrest. But we are having difficulty in carrying contraband goods because of strict monitoring. As such many staff members from Lwe Je office are frustrated,” a trader from Lwe Je said.
Observers living on the Sino-Burmese border said that it was strange to see import of Chinese goods being banned. Extortion and demands for protection money on these border trade routes such as Bamo-Lwe Je and Bamo-Laiza by government staff manning these checkpoints are not new and have existed for a long time.
The banned on imports of Chinese goods was made following a visit by Vice-Senior Gen. Maung Aye to the 105-mile Sino-Burmese border trade zone in early July.
by Myo Gyi
Monday, 27 July 2009 17:48
Ruili (Mizzima) – Sino-Burmese border trade is taking a beating and passenger bus services on the second biggest border trade zone, Bamo-Lweje, have dwindled to a quarter because of a ban on the import of Chinese goods.
The Burmese military junta banned import of Chinese goods from Jiang Peng, opposite Lweje, this month following which the volume of traffic fell considerably. Two passenger bus companies, Sein Lone Taung Dan and Shwe Hlegar plied over 70 buses. Now only 20 buses are plying on this route.
“Many buses have stopped plying. Of 70 to 80 buses, only 20 ply on this route due to reasons which are purely economic,” a bus driver from ‘Shwe Hlegar’ said.
The service is provided by Toyota Hilux pickup trucks and highway buses. Most of the cars are Hilux.
“We could not ply buses on this route for over a week. Our bus has been run on a trial basis for 1 to 2 days,” the wife of a driver of a highway passenger bus said.
Import of Chinese goods was banned after a complaint was lodged with Naypyitaw (capital) against government employees manning the checkpoints on the border trade route for extorting money from bus owners and traders.
“The Director of Na Ka Tha (Border Trade Authority) lodged a complaint against his subordinates to Naypyitaw at the beginning of this month. The higher authorities came and monitored the checkpoints and departmental business operations. It is now difficult for traders to cross the checkpoints,” a trader from Lwe Je said.
“They did not ban plying of buses on this route but prohibited import of Chinese goods. Passenger buses are still operating on this route but the numbers have fallen. This fresh ban has hit medium and small traders and the government employees,” he said.
“We cannot get a lot of goods from our customers now. Now we can get only a small amount of original (officially) imported goods from them. The goods cannot be imported into Burma because of the government staff. The situation has changed drastically. The number of traders travelling on this route has plummeted. We can barely recover fuel costs from our transport business, which is about Kyat 40,000 to 60,000 per trip,” he said.
After the Director of Border Trade Authority at Lwe Je complained against his subordinate staff members, the authorities upped and banned the import of Chinese goods. But no action was taken action against the staff members. Some were reportedly transferred to other places.
“We haven’t yet heard of any arrest. But we are having difficulty in carrying contraband goods because of strict monitoring. As such many staff members from Lwe Je office are frustrated,” a trader from Lwe Je said.
Observers living on the Sino-Burmese border said that it was strange to see import of Chinese goods being banned. Extortion and demands for protection money on these border trade routes such as Bamo-Lwe Je and Bamo-Laiza by government staff manning these checkpoints are not new and have existed for a long time.
The banned on imports of Chinese goods was made following a visit by Vice-Senior Gen. Maung Aye to the 105-mile Sino-Burmese border trade zone in early July.
*****************************************************
Burma’s information ministry in new email campaign
July 27, 2009 (DVB)–The Ministry of Information in Burma has begun emailing government-generated newsletters to exiled Burmese activists and journalists in an attempt to counter news-sharing by exiled opposition groups.
The website responsible for the emails is the Kyaymon online newspaper, run by the government’s Ministry of Information, which carries headlines such as ‘Shame on you Clinton’ and ‘America’s ugly failure in the ASEAN summit’.
When approached by DVB, the assistant editor of Kyaymon, Aung Kyaw Thwin, said that the action was entirely orchestrated by the government.
“We have been sending you newsletters under direction from our information minister and there is no personal motive behind this,” he said.
Burma’s information minister, Brigadier General Kyaw Hasn, has reportedly sent out instructions to all media workers in Burma that include statements such as “strive for realization of the seven-step Road Map through media” and “train better qualified press workers who favour the profit of the nation”.
A UK-based Burmese journalist, Bo Bo Lan Sin, said that the newsletters were actually a refreshing alternative to other more generic government news.
“[Kyaymon] newsletters are not that boring; the more news variety than the government blogs,” he said, adding that he had only recently found out who was sending the emails.
His comments were echoed by the secretary of the Burma Media Association, San Moe Wei.
“The whole thing is clear; they are sending out the newsletters because no one bothers to go on to their websites and read their news,” he said.
State-run media, such as the Myanma Ahlin newspaper, is loaded with news on ribbon-cutting ceremonies and editorials penned by pro-government journalists.
Burma’s media environment is amongst the most repressive in the world, with media watchdog Reporters Without Borders last year ranking it 170 out of 173 in its annual Press Freedom Index.
Media laws are very tough, and journalists inside Burma face severe punishment if seen to be criticising the government.
Media workers are often under strict surveillance, with internet café owners forced to take screen-shots of each computers every five mintues which are then sent to the Ministry of Information.
“It’s easy for them to get a hold of our email addresses; they surf through blogs and find out which internet user is ‘politically concerned’”, said Burmese blogger, Mr Thinker.
“The media in exile has been using this newsletter method to spread their information and now [the government] has begun to do the same thing.”
It is unclear how many people the government is targeting in this campaign, although the email received by DVB had been sent to around 400 other addresses.
Reporting by Ahunt Phone Myat
July 27, 2009 (DVB)–The Ministry of Information in Burma has begun emailing government-generated newsletters to exiled Burmese activists and journalists in an attempt to counter news-sharing by exiled opposition groups.
The website responsible for the emails is the Kyaymon online newspaper, run by the government’s Ministry of Information, which carries headlines such as ‘Shame on you Clinton’ and ‘America’s ugly failure in the ASEAN summit’.
When approached by DVB, the assistant editor of Kyaymon, Aung Kyaw Thwin, said that the action was entirely orchestrated by the government.
“We have been sending you newsletters under direction from our information minister and there is no personal motive behind this,” he said.
Burma’s information minister, Brigadier General Kyaw Hasn, has reportedly sent out instructions to all media workers in Burma that include statements such as “strive for realization of the seven-step Road Map through media” and “train better qualified press workers who favour the profit of the nation”.
A UK-based Burmese journalist, Bo Bo Lan Sin, said that the newsletters were actually a refreshing alternative to other more generic government news.
“[Kyaymon] newsletters are not that boring; the more news variety than the government blogs,” he said, adding that he had only recently found out who was sending the emails.
His comments were echoed by the secretary of the Burma Media Association, San Moe Wei.
“The whole thing is clear; they are sending out the newsletters because no one bothers to go on to their websites and read their news,” he said.
State-run media, such as the Myanma Ahlin newspaper, is loaded with news on ribbon-cutting ceremonies and editorials penned by pro-government journalists.
Burma’s media environment is amongst the most repressive in the world, with media watchdog Reporters Without Borders last year ranking it 170 out of 173 in its annual Press Freedom Index.
Media laws are very tough, and journalists inside Burma face severe punishment if seen to be criticising the government.
Media workers are often under strict surveillance, with internet café owners forced to take screen-shots of each computers every five mintues which are then sent to the Ministry of Information.
“It’s easy for them to get a hold of our email addresses; they surf through blogs and find out which internet user is ‘politically concerned’”, said Burmese blogger, Mr Thinker.
“The media in exile has been using this newsletter method to spread their information and now [the government] has begun to do the same thing.”
It is unclear how many people the government is targeting in this campaign, although the email received by DVB had been sent to around 400 other addresses.
Reporting by Ahunt Phone Myat
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Suu Kyi trial again suspended
July 27, 2009 (DVB)–The trial of Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi has been suspended for a second time in recent days and will resume tomorrow after the prosecution again failed to wrap up their statement.
The trial was expected to finish on Friday last week, but the hearing lasted only two and a half hours and didn’t allow the prosecution enough time to deliver their statement.
Six diplomats, including US and UK officials attended today’s hearing, as they had been allowed on Friday.
A lawyer for Suu Kyi, Nyan Win, said that today’s hearing started at 10am and ran through to 5pm.
“After the lunch break…government prosecutors began presenting their statement and they didn’t finish until the trial time was over at 5pm so the court decided to extend the hearing to tomorrow,” he said.
The court heard statements from both Suu Kyi’s lawyers and lawyer for John Yettaw, whose intrusion into her compound in May triggered charges that she had breached conditions of her house arrest.
Suu Kyi will be asked to arrive back at the courtroom at 10am tomorrow for what is hoped to be the final day of the trial.
It is unclear however when a verdict will be given, although Nyan Win told Reuters that it could take up to two or three weeks.
It is widely expected that she will be found guilty, and her lawyer said that his client was “preparing for the worst”.
A source closes to Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party said last week that Suu Kyi “was disappointed” with the court’s decision to extend the trial because it gives the prosecution two days to prepare a counter argument.
The defence has only been allowed to put forward two witnesses, while the prosecution has heard from nine in total.
Reporting by Htet Aung Kyaw
July 27, 2009 (DVB)–The trial of Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi has been suspended for a second time in recent days and will resume tomorrow after the prosecution again failed to wrap up their statement.
The trial was expected to finish on Friday last week, but the hearing lasted only two and a half hours and didn’t allow the prosecution enough time to deliver their statement.
Six diplomats, including US and UK officials attended today’s hearing, as they had been allowed on Friday.
A lawyer for Suu Kyi, Nyan Win, said that today’s hearing started at 10am and ran through to 5pm.
“After the lunch break…government prosecutors began presenting their statement and they didn’t finish until the trial time was over at 5pm so the court decided to extend the hearing to tomorrow,” he said.
The court heard statements from both Suu Kyi’s lawyers and lawyer for John Yettaw, whose intrusion into her compound in May triggered charges that she had breached conditions of her house arrest.
Suu Kyi will be asked to arrive back at the courtroom at 10am tomorrow for what is hoped to be the final day of the trial.
It is unclear however when a verdict will be given, although Nyan Win told Reuters that it could take up to two or three weeks.
It is widely expected that she will be found guilty, and her lawyer said that his client was “preparing for the worst”.
A source closes to Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party said last week that Suu Kyi “was disappointed” with the court’s decision to extend the trial because it gives the prosecution two days to prepare a counter argument.
The defence has only been allowed to put forward two witnesses, while the prosecution has heard from nine in total.
Reporting by Htet Aung Kyaw
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