Tourists wrestle with rights issues in Myanmar
51 mins ago
BAGAN, Myanmar (AFP) – Soaring high in a hot air balloon over Bagan in central Myanmar at sunrise, foreign tourists gasp in awe at a vast plain dotted with around 4,000 centuries-old temples.
Despite sights like these Myanmar remains one of the least visited nations in Asia, as many operators and holidaymakers take their money elsewhere so that it doesn't end up lining the pockets of the country's military rulers.
But others argue that it is possible to explore the country with a clear conscience in spite of concerns over the junta's rights abuses, imprisonment of dissidents and use of forced labour.
"If nobody came here, there would be more poverty than there is now, I guess, so I don't actually have a problem coming here. It doesn't mean that I support the system," said Dirk, a Belgian tourist in Bagan.
Yasmin, a German visitor, said she wanted to "build up my own idea of the situation here".
"I came on the premise that, as far as possible, I wouldn't stay anywhere state-owned but would try to stick to private businesses, to stay in privately run guesthouses and to have contact with local people, as long as that didn't put them at risk," she said.
Last year, just 230,000 foreigners arrived at Yangon airport, more than half of them tourists, according to an official estimate. The figure was up from the 177,018 who arrived in the previous year but around the same as 2007.
The biggest groups of tourists come from Thailand, China and Japan, drawn by wonders such as Yangon's gold-covered gilded Shwe Dagon pagoda and stunning Inle Lake with its mountains and stilt villages.
By comparison, neighbouring Thailand drew an estimated 14 million tourists in 2009.
Calls by rights groups and some western governments for a visitor boycott grew louder after the regime launched a bloody crackdown on huge pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September 2007.
Thousands of people were arrested after the demonstrations and many received long jail sentences.
One of them was comedian Par Par Lay.
He got out after a month, after his third time behind bars, and while his troupe of performers, the Moustache Brothers, is banned from performing in public, it keeps its nightly shows going for tourists.
"Tourists come -- you know what is happening here," said Lu Maw, another member of the troupe, before a show in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city.
A group of 10 mainly Western tourists watches the mix of crude slapstick and bizarre puppetry, the performers swathed in gaudy costumes and daubed with makeup.
"Tourist's camera, tourist's eye, tourist's ear. That's what we need!" says Lu Maw.
However, with elections promised by the regime later this year, the situation is showing signs of gradual change.
Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi last year wrote to reclusive junta leader Than Shwe offering suggestions on getting Western sanctions lifted after years of advocating punitive measures against the generals.
In August she reportedly eased her earlier objections to tourism, on the grounds that increased contact with foreigners would help ease the regime's grip over the impoverished nation.
"Myanmar (the regime) doesn't want to have contact with Westerners. By boycotting the country, in fact we only reinforce the opinion in Myanmar that Myanmar must be kept separate from the rest of the world," said Jacques Ivanoff of the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia in Bangkok.
A painting seller in Bagan living in a one-roomed hut near the temple ruins said a boost in tourism would help the economy.
"We need tourists here. The government gets only 10 dollars for the entrance fee. But we get money from tourists in hotels, restaurants and by selling things," said the man, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But the junta remains wary of opening up the country to the eyes of tourists. Much of Myanmar remains off-limits, particularly its sensitive border areas largely inhabited by minority ethnic groups.
Visitors therefore tend to see the same handful of sites, leaving most of Myanmar's people untouched by tourism.
"Here we don't benefit because tourists don't come here. They go straight past our village. It's just the government who benefits," said a fisherman in a village near Yangon.
51 mins ago
BAGAN, Myanmar (AFP) – Soaring high in a hot air balloon over Bagan in central Myanmar at sunrise, foreign tourists gasp in awe at a vast plain dotted with around 4,000 centuries-old temples.
Despite sights like these Myanmar remains one of the least visited nations in Asia, as many operators and holidaymakers take their money elsewhere so that it doesn't end up lining the pockets of the country's military rulers.
But others argue that it is possible to explore the country with a clear conscience in spite of concerns over the junta's rights abuses, imprisonment of dissidents and use of forced labour.
"If nobody came here, there would be more poverty than there is now, I guess, so I don't actually have a problem coming here. It doesn't mean that I support the system," said Dirk, a Belgian tourist in Bagan.
Yasmin, a German visitor, said she wanted to "build up my own idea of the situation here".
"I came on the premise that, as far as possible, I wouldn't stay anywhere state-owned but would try to stick to private businesses, to stay in privately run guesthouses and to have contact with local people, as long as that didn't put them at risk," she said.
Last year, just 230,000 foreigners arrived at Yangon airport, more than half of them tourists, according to an official estimate. The figure was up from the 177,018 who arrived in the previous year but around the same as 2007.
The biggest groups of tourists come from Thailand, China and Japan, drawn by wonders such as Yangon's gold-covered gilded Shwe Dagon pagoda and stunning Inle Lake with its mountains and stilt villages.
By comparison, neighbouring Thailand drew an estimated 14 million tourists in 2009.
Calls by rights groups and some western governments for a visitor boycott grew louder after the regime launched a bloody crackdown on huge pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September 2007.
Thousands of people were arrested after the demonstrations and many received long jail sentences.
One of them was comedian Par Par Lay.
He got out after a month, after his third time behind bars, and while his troupe of performers, the Moustache Brothers, is banned from performing in public, it keeps its nightly shows going for tourists.
"Tourists come -- you know what is happening here," said Lu Maw, another member of the troupe, before a show in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city.
A group of 10 mainly Western tourists watches the mix of crude slapstick and bizarre puppetry, the performers swathed in gaudy costumes and daubed with makeup.
"Tourist's camera, tourist's eye, tourist's ear. That's what we need!" says Lu Maw.
However, with elections promised by the regime later this year, the situation is showing signs of gradual change.
Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi last year wrote to reclusive junta leader Than Shwe offering suggestions on getting Western sanctions lifted after years of advocating punitive measures against the generals.
In August she reportedly eased her earlier objections to tourism, on the grounds that increased contact with foreigners would help ease the regime's grip over the impoverished nation.
"Myanmar (the regime) doesn't want to have contact with Westerners. By boycotting the country, in fact we only reinforce the opinion in Myanmar that Myanmar must be kept separate from the rest of the world," said Jacques Ivanoff of the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia in Bangkok.
A painting seller in Bagan living in a one-roomed hut near the temple ruins said a boost in tourism would help the economy.
"We need tourists here. The government gets only 10 dollars for the entrance fee. But we get money from tourists in hotels, restaurants and by selling things," said the man, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But the junta remains wary of opening up the country to the eyes of tourists. Much of Myanmar remains off-limits, particularly its sensitive border areas largely inhabited by minority ethnic groups.
Visitors therefore tend to see the same handful of sites, leaving most of Myanmar's people untouched by tourism.
"Here we don't benefit because tourists don't come here. They go straight past our village. It's just the government who benefits," said a fisherman in a village near Yangon.
***********************************************************
Myanmar sentences two to death for N.Korea leak
Fri Jan 8, 6:15 am ET
YANGON (AFP) – A court in Myanmar has sentenced two officials to death for leaking confidential information, sources said Friday, in a case reportedly involving secret trips by junta leaders to North Korea and Russia.
The men were arrested last year after details and photos were passed to exiled media about the visits by senior regime officials and about military tunnels built in Myanmar by nuclear-armed North Korea, reports said.
A third man was jailed for 15 years, official sources said.
"Two officials got the death sentence and another one was jailed for 15 years for leaking information. They were sentenced at the special court in Insein Prison on Thursday," an official source said on condition of anonymity.
The two condemned men were retired army major Win Naing Kyaw and foreign ministry official Thura Kyaw, while the jailed man was Pyan Sein, also a foreign ministry employee, the sources said.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma and ruled by the army since 1962, has the death penalty but sentences are almost always commuted to life imprisonment.
Details about possible links between North Korea and military-ruled Myanmar prompted the United States to express concerns about regional security, even as Washington pursued a new policy of engagement with the junta.
Thursday's sentences were passed under the state emergency act for leaking military secrets, the website of Thailand-based Irrawaddy magazine said, citing sources at the notorious jail in Yangon where hundreds of dissidents are held.
It said Win Naing Kyaw also received a 20-year sentence for violation of the Electronic Act and holding illegal foreign currency. The act prohibits sending information, photos or video damaging to the regime abroad via the Internet.
The leaks by the three men included details of a 2008 trip to communist North Korea by junta number three General Shwe Mann, who is also the joint chief of staff of Myanmar's armed forces, exile-run media said.
Shwe Mann's visit involved procuring arms and discussing tunnel-building and other matters, Irrawaddy reported.
The men were also accused of leaking pictures of the alleged secret network of tunnels built by North Korean experts inside Myanmar, which were published in June by the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), based in Oslo, Norway.
The documents the men released further showed that junta number two Maung Aye visited Russia in 2006 to discuss the procurement of a guided missile system with Moscow officials, the DVB said on its website Friday.
The Myanmar government has not commented on the allegations.
The death sentences imposed Thursday were part of a wave of harsh punishments handed down by Myanmar's courts as the regime cracks down on dissent ahead of elections promised by the generals some time in 2010.
Dozens of other officials in the defence and foreign ministries were arrested after the leaks but the status of their cases is not known, Irrawaddy said.
A video journalist who had worked with the DVB was last week jailed for 20 years for violating the electronics act, rights groups said Wednesday, although they did not mention any link with the Myanmar-North Korea case.
Myanmar severed ties with Pyongyang in 1983 following a failed assassination attempt by North Korean agents on then-South Korean president Chun Doo-Hwan as he visited the Southeast Asian nation. The attempt left 21 people dead.
But with both countries branded "outposts of tyranny" by the United States in recent years they later sought to rebuild relations.
During a visit to Thailand in July, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said North Korea could be sharing atomic technology with Myanmar, posing a major threat to the region.
But the Obama administration has recently sought engagement with the junta, despite its continued detention of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and alleged rights abuses.
Fri Jan 8, 6:15 am ET
YANGON (AFP) – A court in Myanmar has sentenced two officials to death for leaking confidential information, sources said Friday, in a case reportedly involving secret trips by junta leaders to North Korea and Russia.
The men were arrested last year after details and photos were passed to exiled media about the visits by senior regime officials and about military tunnels built in Myanmar by nuclear-armed North Korea, reports said.
A third man was jailed for 15 years, official sources said.
"Two officials got the death sentence and another one was jailed for 15 years for leaking information. They were sentenced at the special court in Insein Prison on Thursday," an official source said on condition of anonymity.
The two condemned men were retired army major Win Naing Kyaw and foreign ministry official Thura Kyaw, while the jailed man was Pyan Sein, also a foreign ministry employee, the sources said.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma and ruled by the army since 1962, has the death penalty but sentences are almost always commuted to life imprisonment.
Details about possible links between North Korea and military-ruled Myanmar prompted the United States to express concerns about regional security, even as Washington pursued a new policy of engagement with the junta.
Thursday's sentences were passed under the state emergency act for leaking military secrets, the website of Thailand-based Irrawaddy magazine said, citing sources at the notorious jail in Yangon where hundreds of dissidents are held.
It said Win Naing Kyaw also received a 20-year sentence for violation of the Electronic Act and holding illegal foreign currency. The act prohibits sending information, photos or video damaging to the regime abroad via the Internet.
The leaks by the three men included details of a 2008 trip to communist North Korea by junta number three General Shwe Mann, who is also the joint chief of staff of Myanmar's armed forces, exile-run media said.
Shwe Mann's visit involved procuring arms and discussing tunnel-building and other matters, Irrawaddy reported.
The men were also accused of leaking pictures of the alleged secret network of tunnels built by North Korean experts inside Myanmar, which were published in June by the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), based in Oslo, Norway.
The documents the men released further showed that junta number two Maung Aye visited Russia in 2006 to discuss the procurement of a guided missile system with Moscow officials, the DVB said on its website Friday.
The Myanmar government has not commented on the allegations.
The death sentences imposed Thursday were part of a wave of harsh punishments handed down by Myanmar's courts as the regime cracks down on dissent ahead of elections promised by the generals some time in 2010.
Dozens of other officials in the defence and foreign ministries were arrested after the leaks but the status of their cases is not known, Irrawaddy said.
A video journalist who had worked with the DVB was last week jailed for 20 years for violating the electronics act, rights groups said Wednesday, although they did not mention any link with the Myanmar-North Korea case.
Myanmar severed ties with Pyongyang in 1983 following a failed assassination attempt by North Korean agents on then-South Korean president Chun Doo-Hwan as he visited the Southeast Asian nation. The attempt left 21 people dead.
But with both countries branded "outposts of tyranny" by the United States in recent years they later sought to rebuild relations.
During a visit to Thailand in July, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said North Korea could be sharing atomic technology with Myanmar, posing a major threat to the region.
But the Obama administration has recently sought engagement with the junta, despite its continued detention of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and alleged rights abuses.
***********************************************************
US urges Japan to help end base row, clarify alliance
by Lachlan Carmichael – Fri Jan 8, 5:04 am ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States said it will urge the Tokyo government to help end a row over a US airbase and clarify its stand on a US-Japanese alliance that has underpinned security in Asia for 50 years.
Hillary Clinton will convey the message when she meets her Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada in Hawaii on Tuesday when she begins her fourth tour of Asia since she became secretary of state one year ago, officials said.
President Barack Obama's administration welcomed Japan's new center-left government, but voiced irritation when it announced it may scrap the previously agreed relocation of Futenma airbase on southern Okinawa island.
During the talks in Honolulu, Clinton will tell Okada "how important it is to move forward on these issues in Futenma," Kurt Campbell, her top diplomat for Asian affairs, told reporters in Washington.
Clinton will also tell Okada that "we also have to have a very clear-headed recognition of how important this relationship is, how many aspects need to be maintained and engaged upon," Campbell said.
Campbell, who will travel with the chief US diplomat, praised the new Japanese government's multi-billion dollar financial support for US-led efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and combat global climate change.
"So there are a number of areas that we've seen very clear statements on the part of the Japanese government of wanting to work closely with the United States," the assistant secretary of state for Asia and Pacific affairs.
"But the truth is that this is a security alliance at its core," he said.
"And security issues are important in a complex and changing Asia, and we want a very clear set of statements on the part of the Japanese government of a desire to continue to work closely with us," said Campbell.
In the talks, Clinton and her team will discuss plans for marking the 50th anniversary of the US-Japan Security Alliance, "which will occur initially on January 19," he said.
During her visit to Hawaii, Clinton will also deliver a "major policy speech on the American approach to Asian (security) architecture at the East-West Center," he said.
Campbell attributed some of the problems in ties to the adjustment to governing made by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's center-left government, which was elected in August after half a century of conservative rule.
The new government pledged to review past agreements on the US military presence and to deal with Washington on a more "equal" basis.
Hatoyama's stated preference is to move the Futenma base off Okinawa or even outside Japan altogether, breaching an agreement signed in 2006 between previous conservative governments in Washington and Tokyo.
Since its defeat in World War II, officially pacifist Japan has relied on a massive US military presence to guarantee its security, initially as an occupier and later as an ally.
But the dispute over Futenma has raised fears among some Japanese that this alliance might cool, at a time when a rising China is making its presence felt across Asia.
Campbell said Clinton and Okada will also discuss mutual security concerns over the nuclear ambitions of both North Korea and Iran. They will also discuss China's rising power, as well as the military junta in Myanmar.
Before leaving Hawaii on January 14 for Papua New Guinea, Clinton will meet with the US military's Pacific Command.
On January 15, Clinton will travel to Auckland, New Zealand. She travels to January 17 to Melbourne and Canberra, Australia.
In Canberra, Clinton and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will hold the 25th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations with their counterparts Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Defense Minister John Faulkner.
Clinton, Campbell said, will also seek advice from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a Chinese speaker, about how the United States can better work with China, a rising global power, on issues ranging from Iran to climate change.
The US side will also seek his advice on Indonesia, with which Washington is forging a strategic partnership, he said.
He also welcomed Australian support for a strong US-Japanese alliance as key to Asian security.
by Lachlan Carmichael – Fri Jan 8, 5:04 am ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States said it will urge the Tokyo government to help end a row over a US airbase and clarify its stand on a US-Japanese alliance that has underpinned security in Asia for 50 years.
Hillary Clinton will convey the message when she meets her Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada in Hawaii on Tuesday when she begins her fourth tour of Asia since she became secretary of state one year ago, officials said.
President Barack Obama's administration welcomed Japan's new center-left government, but voiced irritation when it announced it may scrap the previously agreed relocation of Futenma airbase on southern Okinawa island.
During the talks in Honolulu, Clinton will tell Okada "how important it is to move forward on these issues in Futenma," Kurt Campbell, her top diplomat for Asian affairs, told reporters in Washington.
Clinton will also tell Okada that "we also have to have a very clear-headed recognition of how important this relationship is, how many aspects need to be maintained and engaged upon," Campbell said.
Campbell, who will travel with the chief US diplomat, praised the new Japanese government's multi-billion dollar financial support for US-led efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and combat global climate change.
"So there are a number of areas that we've seen very clear statements on the part of the Japanese government of wanting to work closely with the United States," the assistant secretary of state for Asia and Pacific affairs.
"But the truth is that this is a security alliance at its core," he said.
"And security issues are important in a complex and changing Asia, and we want a very clear set of statements on the part of the Japanese government of a desire to continue to work closely with us," said Campbell.
In the talks, Clinton and her team will discuss plans for marking the 50th anniversary of the US-Japan Security Alliance, "which will occur initially on January 19," he said.
During her visit to Hawaii, Clinton will also deliver a "major policy speech on the American approach to Asian (security) architecture at the East-West Center," he said.
Campbell attributed some of the problems in ties to the adjustment to governing made by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's center-left government, which was elected in August after half a century of conservative rule.
The new government pledged to review past agreements on the US military presence and to deal with Washington on a more "equal" basis.
Hatoyama's stated preference is to move the Futenma base off Okinawa or even outside Japan altogether, breaching an agreement signed in 2006 between previous conservative governments in Washington and Tokyo.
Since its defeat in World War II, officially pacifist Japan has relied on a massive US military presence to guarantee its security, initially as an occupier and later as an ally.
But the dispute over Futenma has raised fears among some Japanese that this alliance might cool, at a time when a rising China is making its presence felt across Asia.
Campbell said Clinton and Okada will also discuss mutual security concerns over the nuclear ambitions of both North Korea and Iran. They will also discuss China's rising power, as well as the military junta in Myanmar.
Before leaving Hawaii on January 14 for Papua New Guinea, Clinton will meet with the US military's Pacific Command.
On January 15, Clinton will travel to Auckland, New Zealand. She travels to January 17 to Melbourne and Canberra, Australia.
In Canberra, Clinton and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will hold the 25th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations with their counterparts Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Defense Minister John Faulkner.
Clinton, Campbell said, will also seek advice from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a Chinese speaker, about how the United States can better work with China, a rising global power, on issues ranging from Iran to climate change.
The US side will also seek his advice on Indonesia, with which Washington is forging a strategic partnership, he said.
He also welcomed Australian support for a strong US-Japanese alliance as key to Asian security.
***********************************************************
EarthTimes - Dhaka, Yangon begin talks over disputed maritime boundary
Posted : Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:21:57 GMT
Dhaka - Bangladesh and Myanmar on Friday began talks on the demarcation of their disputed maritime boundary, officials saidThe lack of a clear boundary caused tension between the two neighbours over offshore hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay of Bengal in 2008.
"We have discussed the processes of delineating the maritime boundary," Bangladesh's Additional Foreign Secretary Md Khurshid Alam said after the first day of the two-day talks in Chittagong.
Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint is leading Myanmar's delegation at the talks, which are due to resume Saturday.
This is the first such meeting since Bangladesh lodged a complaint with the United Nations arbitration court in October 2009 to resolve the dispute with neighbouring Myanmar and India over territorial waters.
Bangladesh, however, kept open the option of bilateral discussions to settle the disputes.
Myanmar and Bangladesh resumed talks on maritime boundary demarcation in 2008 after a gap of 22 years, but failed to resolve the dispute.
The earlier dialogue took place against the backdrop of movements of warships in the Bay of Bengal by both the countries following Myanmar's alleged intrusion into Bangladesh's territorial waters for oil and gas exploration.
The tension was defused through diplomatic efforts initiated by Dhaka.
Both sides agreed at that time that neither of the sides would pursue oil and gas exploration in the disputed areas of the mineral-rich bay until their boundaries are demarcated according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry officials say Bangladesh, India and Myanmar cannot exploit the full benefits of their oil and gas reserves in the Bay due to claims and counter-claims to the offshore gas blocks.
Out of Bangladesh's total of 27 offshore gas blocks, Myanmar and India have made overlapping claims on at least 18 blocks in the complicated maritime geography, they said.
Posted : Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:21:57 GMT
Dhaka - Bangladesh and Myanmar on Friday began talks on the demarcation of their disputed maritime boundary, officials saidThe lack of a clear boundary caused tension between the two neighbours over offshore hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay of Bengal in 2008.
"We have discussed the processes of delineating the maritime boundary," Bangladesh's Additional Foreign Secretary Md Khurshid Alam said after the first day of the two-day talks in Chittagong.
Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint is leading Myanmar's delegation at the talks, which are due to resume Saturday.
This is the first such meeting since Bangladesh lodged a complaint with the United Nations arbitration court in October 2009 to resolve the dispute with neighbouring Myanmar and India over territorial waters.
Bangladesh, however, kept open the option of bilateral discussions to settle the disputes.
Myanmar and Bangladesh resumed talks on maritime boundary demarcation in 2008 after a gap of 22 years, but failed to resolve the dispute.
The earlier dialogue took place against the backdrop of movements of warships in the Bay of Bengal by both the countries following Myanmar's alleged intrusion into Bangladesh's territorial waters for oil and gas exploration.
The tension was defused through diplomatic efforts initiated by Dhaka.
Both sides agreed at that time that neither of the sides would pursue oil and gas exploration in the disputed areas of the mineral-rich bay until their boundaries are demarcated according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry officials say Bangladesh, India and Myanmar cannot exploit the full benefits of their oil and gas reserves in the Bay due to claims and counter-claims to the offshore gas blocks.
Out of Bangladesh's total of 27 offshore gas blocks, Myanmar and India have made overlapping claims on at least 18 blocks in the complicated maritime geography, they said.
***********************************************************
First-day sea limits talks end
Fri, Jan 8th, 2010 3:44 pm BdST
Chittagong, Jan 8 (bdnews24.com)--The first day of the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar to dissolve disputes over maritime boundary ended on Friday.
The delegations will meet again on Saturday.
"We discussed the processes of delineating maritime boundary," Md Khurshid Alam, additional foreign secretary heading the Bangladesh delegation, told reporters after the first day's meeting at around 2pm.
In the meeting, Bangladesh emphasised the principle of equity process while Myanmar wanted acceptance of the principle of equal distance, he said.
The two-day meeting began at Hotel Agrabad in the port city at 9:30am with Maung Myint heading the 13-member Myanmar delegation.
Anup Kumar Chakma, Bangladesh ambassador in Yangon, and U Tse Than U, Myanmar envoy in Bangladesh, are attending the two-nation meeting.
This is the first such meeting since Bangladesh in October last year turned to the United Nations arbitration court for resolving the dispute over water territory in the Bay of Bengal with Myanmar and India.
At the same time, Bangladesh made it known that options for bilateral discussions and settlement would remain open.
Foreign ministry officials say Bangladesh, India and Myanmar cannot exploit the full benefits of their oil and gas reserves in the Bay due to claim and counter-claim of the offshore blocks.
Out of Bangladesh's total 27, Myanmar and India have made overlapping claims over at least 18 offshore blocks in the complicated maritime geography.
Indian and Myanmar claim, what foreign minister Dipu Moni termed as "aggressive", that those would make block Bangladesh's sea zone.
Bangladesh and Myanmar resumed talks on maritime boundary demarcation in 2008 after a pause of 22 years. The two countries had at least three rounds of talks on the issue since then and the talks yielded no tangible result.
The two countries could not even agree on determining the starting point of the boundary demarcation.
On Oct 8 last year, Bangladesh appealed to the UN tribunal for arbitration to end the maritime boundary disputes with Myanmar and India.
Foreign minister Dipu Moni on Oct 8 said the government approached to the UN tribunal to end the disputes as soon as possible.
She said the disputes would be resolved at the tribunal in maximum four years if Bangladesh could not bury the disputes through bilateral talks.
Fri, Jan 8th, 2010 3:44 pm BdST
Chittagong, Jan 8 (bdnews24.com)--The first day of the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar to dissolve disputes over maritime boundary ended on Friday.
The delegations will meet again on Saturday.
"We discussed the processes of delineating maritime boundary," Md Khurshid Alam, additional foreign secretary heading the Bangladesh delegation, told reporters after the first day's meeting at around 2pm.
In the meeting, Bangladesh emphasised the principle of equity process while Myanmar wanted acceptance of the principle of equal distance, he said.
The two-day meeting began at Hotel Agrabad in the port city at 9:30am with Maung Myint heading the 13-member Myanmar delegation.
Anup Kumar Chakma, Bangladesh ambassador in Yangon, and U Tse Than U, Myanmar envoy in Bangladesh, are attending the two-nation meeting.
This is the first such meeting since Bangladesh in October last year turned to the United Nations arbitration court for resolving the dispute over water territory in the Bay of Bengal with Myanmar and India.
At the same time, Bangladesh made it known that options for bilateral discussions and settlement would remain open.
Foreign ministry officials say Bangladesh, India and Myanmar cannot exploit the full benefits of their oil and gas reserves in the Bay due to claim and counter-claim of the offshore blocks.
Out of Bangladesh's total 27, Myanmar and India have made overlapping claims over at least 18 offshore blocks in the complicated maritime geography.
Indian and Myanmar claim, what foreign minister Dipu Moni termed as "aggressive", that those would make block Bangladesh's sea zone.
Bangladesh and Myanmar resumed talks on maritime boundary demarcation in 2008 after a pause of 22 years. The two countries had at least three rounds of talks on the issue since then and the talks yielded no tangible result.
The two countries could not even agree on determining the starting point of the boundary demarcation.
On Oct 8 last year, Bangladesh appealed to the UN tribunal for arbitration to end the maritime boundary disputes with Myanmar and India.
Foreign minister Dipu Moni on Oct 8 said the government approached to the UN tribunal to end the disputes as soon as possible.
She said the disputes would be resolved at the tribunal in maximum four years if Bangladesh could not bury the disputes through bilateral talks.
***********************************************************
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Sea Boundary Talks With Myanmar
The Daily Star - Dhaka wants equitable demarcation
Staff Correspondent, Ctg
Bangladesh proposed demarcation of the maritime boundary on the basis of equity in the two-day talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar that began yesterday in the port city.
Two teams with 13 members each from both the countries are participating in the meeting in efforts to resolve the dispute over maritime boundary. Yesterday's session started at 9:30am at Hotel Agrabad.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar U Maung Myint was heading the Myanmar delegation while Additional Foreign Secretary of United Nations Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam the Bangladesh team.
"Bangladesh wants to demarcate the maritime boundary on the basis of equity while Myanmar insists on equidistance method," Khurshed Alam told journalists.
"We hope the talks would help resolve the dispute," said the Bangladesh delegation leader.
Myanmar delegation leader U Maung Myint said, "The negotiation is going on and we are yet to reach the stage for drawing conclusion".
Bangladesh needs to file claims for its maritime boundary to the International Seabed Authorities as per UNCLOS. In accordance with the UN Convention on Law of the Seas,
Bangladesh must demarcate its boundaries by July 27, 2011 while India by June 29, 2009 and Myanmar by May 21, 2009.
Under the convention, Bangladesh has to submit necessary documents to UN to validate its claims of territorial waters, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) up to 200 nautical miles (nm) and continental shelf up to 350 nm from the baseline.
But the demarcation on equidistance method would deprive Bangladesh of its equitable share of the territorial waters.
Bangladesh needs to settle the dispute to preserve its sovereignty and resources in the territorial waters, said the sources.
The meeting is the first of its kind after Bangladesh officially asked in October 2009, for arbitration under 1982 UNCLOS to settle the issues on maritime boundaries with India and Myanmar.
Bangladesh would be trying to settle the dispute through talks with Myanmar and India, said the delegation members while talking to journalists yesterday.
Bangladesh Ambassador in Myanmar Major General Anup Kumar Chakma and Myanmar Ambassador in Bangladesh U Phae Than Oo were also present at the meeting.
Bangladesh delegation included Sector General (Administration) Mohammad Abdul Hye and five high officials of foreign ministry and representatives from Hydrography and Naval Operations of Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Geological Survey, Petrobangla and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.
In the Myanmar team, representatives from Ministries of Defence and Education, Legal and Consular Affairs, Consular and Legal Affairs Department, Myanmar National Hydrographic Centre, State Peace and Development Council, Legal Expert Group and Law Department of University of Yangon were present.
Sea Boundary Talks With Myanmar
The Daily Star - Dhaka wants equitable demarcation
Staff Correspondent, Ctg
Bangladesh proposed demarcation of the maritime boundary on the basis of equity in the two-day talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar that began yesterday in the port city.
Two teams with 13 members each from both the countries are participating in the meeting in efforts to resolve the dispute over maritime boundary. Yesterday's session started at 9:30am at Hotel Agrabad.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar U Maung Myint was heading the Myanmar delegation while Additional Foreign Secretary of United Nations Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam the Bangladesh team.
"Bangladesh wants to demarcate the maritime boundary on the basis of equity while Myanmar insists on equidistance method," Khurshed Alam told journalists.
"We hope the talks would help resolve the dispute," said the Bangladesh delegation leader.
Myanmar delegation leader U Maung Myint said, "The negotiation is going on and we are yet to reach the stage for drawing conclusion".
Bangladesh needs to file claims for its maritime boundary to the International Seabed Authorities as per UNCLOS. In accordance with the UN Convention on Law of the Seas,
Bangladesh must demarcate its boundaries by July 27, 2011 while India by June 29, 2009 and Myanmar by May 21, 2009.
Under the convention, Bangladesh has to submit necessary documents to UN to validate its claims of territorial waters, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) up to 200 nautical miles (nm) and continental shelf up to 350 nm from the baseline.
But the demarcation on equidistance method would deprive Bangladesh of its equitable share of the territorial waters.
Bangladesh needs to settle the dispute to preserve its sovereignty and resources in the territorial waters, said the sources.
The meeting is the first of its kind after Bangladesh officially asked in October 2009, for arbitration under 1982 UNCLOS to settle the issues on maritime boundaries with India and Myanmar.
Bangladesh would be trying to settle the dispute through talks with Myanmar and India, said the delegation members while talking to journalists yesterday.
Bangladesh Ambassador in Myanmar Major General Anup Kumar Chakma and Myanmar Ambassador in Bangladesh U Phae Than Oo were also present at the meeting.
Bangladesh delegation included Sector General (Administration) Mohammad Abdul Hye and five high officials of foreign ministry and representatives from Hydrography and Naval Operations of Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Geological Survey, Petrobangla and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.
In the Myanmar team, representatives from Ministries of Defence and Education, Legal and Consular Affairs, Consular and Legal Affairs Department, Myanmar National Hydrographic Centre, State Peace and Development Council, Legal Expert Group and Law Department of University of Yangon were present.
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Equity Bulls - NHPC signs agreement for Projects in Myanmar
Posted On: 1/8/2010 4:33:14 AM
NHPC Ltd has announced that the Company has signed Agreement for taking up Additional Investigations and Preparation of Updated Detailed Project Reports for 1200 MW Tamanthi HE Project and 642 MW Shwezaya HE Project in Myanmar, as consultancy assignments, with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India on January 08, 2010 for Rs. 20 Crore each.
The stock closed the day at Rs.35.35, down by Rs.0.30 or 0.84%. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs.36.05 and low of Rs.35.25.
The total traded quantity was 4524741 compared to 2 week average of 8224592.
Posted On: 1/8/2010 4:33:14 AM
NHPC Ltd has announced that the Company has signed Agreement for taking up Additional Investigations and Preparation of Updated Detailed Project Reports for 1200 MW Tamanthi HE Project and 642 MW Shwezaya HE Project in Myanmar, as consultancy assignments, with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India on January 08, 2010 for Rs. 20 Crore each.
The stock closed the day at Rs.35.35, down by Rs.0.30 or 0.84%. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs.36.05 and low of Rs.35.25.
The total traded quantity was 4524741 compared to 2 week average of 8224592.
***********************************************************
Malaysian Mirror - Education gives hope to the refugee child
Melati Mohd Ariff
Friday, 20 November 2009 11:50
KUALA LUMPUR - Statistics issued by UNHCR Malaysia indicate that as of last Sept 30, there were 63,600 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UN Refugee Agency.
And out of this number, 58,000 were from Myanmar comprising some 27,700 Chins, 15,900 Rohingyas, 3,800 Myanmar Muslims, 2,300 Kachins and the remaining being other ethnic minorities from that country.
There are also some 5,600 refugees and asylum-seekers from other countries, including 2,700 Sri Lankans, 760 Somalis, 530 Iraqis and 530 Afghans.
Based on the available statistics, 51 per cent of the refugees and asylum-seekers were men while women made up 49 per cent. There were 14,600 children below the age of 18.
UNHCR Malaysia said there were also a large number of persons of concern to the agency who remained unregistered and the figure was said to be around 30,000.
Generation of beggars
For Zin Oo Ko, who is from Myanmar and whose family migrated to Malaysia in the late 80s, only education will take the refugee children off the streets and prevent them from becoming a generation of beggars apart from being dragged into bad company.
Zin said there were two groups of Rohingya refugee children who took to the streets as beggars in Malaysia.
On one side, the children were in the clutches of a triad from their own ethnic group in cahoots with local gangs who pay money to the parents of the children and the children themselves before sending them out to the streets to beg.
"The other group are those who have no choice but to beg and it is the easiest form of earning a livelihood," he said.
Zin then related the story of one of the refugees, a Abdul Rahim
"He was actually selling religious books but this is also considered like begging because there is no fixed amount for the books. It is up to the people to give him whatever amount they think suitable.
"His family is ashamed to allow Abdul Rahim to do this but they have no choice and the boy is also too young to get a job. The father used to go round collecting metal scraps and recycled items but later he became too ill and became bedridden," said zin.
The young boy then started to mix with the bad elements and was later picked up by the authorities. After some considerations by the relevant authorities, they decided to send him to a reform school in Kelantan.
Teach them how to fish
Zin said poverty, particularly for the refugees, served not only as the breeding ground for crimes but also for the refugees to rapidly 'multiply' in their number as they were ignorant of family planning.
"To me, the only way to get these people out from the clutches of poverty is through education. We can give them rice, a packet or two or give them money but the money is never enough.
"We need to empower them, especially the children, teach them how to fish, not just giving them the fish so they can stand on their own two feet. What if one day I am not here anymore and the others who are helping them?
"What would happen to them then? Would they go back to their old lives? In a way I am a bit worried," Zin said in an interview with Bernama here recently.
Zin who can also speak fluent Bahasa Malaysia, said he had taken onto himself to teach some of the Rohingya children The students are between five and 23 years old.
Rewarding vocation
According to the 30-year-old Zin, he started teaching the children around the end of 2005 until recently when he decided to temporarily stop until he could get a proper place to conduct the classes.
"I was going from house to house, teaching Bahasa Malaysia, English, some Mathematics and religious studies. The children were great, very responsive and excited to learn.
It is satisfying to see the glow on their faces as they respond to my teaching. They also love drawing.
Zin, who has a Malaysian Permanent Resident (PR) status himself, has no experience in teaching but after asking around from his friends who are teachers and lecturers, he began to develop his own syllabus to teach the children.
"I feel privileged that I can assist them. We are not in their situation, we are the lucky ones and if we compare our lives to theirs and also our everyday problems, it is nothing compared to what they are going through.
"They are practically living with no hope, no dreams, no tomorrow, nothing. I am helping them straight from my heart. My goal is, let's say out of 100 students, if I can get one into university, this is already very rewarding. This will take some time but I am willing to do this forever.
"At the same time for those who cannot study, I want to give them vocational training like that in wiring, house renovations, auto mechanics and handicrafts. This is my long-term plan," said Zin.
Melati Mohd Ariff
Friday, 20 November 2009 11:50
KUALA LUMPUR - Statistics issued by UNHCR Malaysia indicate that as of last Sept 30, there were 63,600 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UN Refugee Agency.
And out of this number, 58,000 were from Myanmar comprising some 27,700 Chins, 15,900 Rohingyas, 3,800 Myanmar Muslims, 2,300 Kachins and the remaining being other ethnic minorities from that country.
There are also some 5,600 refugees and asylum-seekers from other countries, including 2,700 Sri Lankans, 760 Somalis, 530 Iraqis and 530 Afghans.
Based on the available statistics, 51 per cent of the refugees and asylum-seekers were men while women made up 49 per cent. There were 14,600 children below the age of 18.
UNHCR Malaysia said there were also a large number of persons of concern to the agency who remained unregistered and the figure was said to be around 30,000.
Generation of beggars
For Zin Oo Ko, who is from Myanmar and whose family migrated to Malaysia in the late 80s, only education will take the refugee children off the streets and prevent them from becoming a generation of beggars apart from being dragged into bad company.
Zin said there were two groups of Rohingya refugee children who took to the streets as beggars in Malaysia.
On one side, the children were in the clutches of a triad from their own ethnic group in cahoots with local gangs who pay money to the parents of the children and the children themselves before sending them out to the streets to beg.
"The other group are those who have no choice but to beg and it is the easiest form of earning a livelihood," he said.
Zin then related the story of one of the refugees, a Abdul Rahim
"He was actually selling religious books but this is also considered like begging because there is no fixed amount for the books. It is up to the people to give him whatever amount they think suitable.
"His family is ashamed to allow Abdul Rahim to do this but they have no choice and the boy is also too young to get a job. The father used to go round collecting metal scraps and recycled items but later he became too ill and became bedridden," said zin.
The young boy then started to mix with the bad elements and was later picked up by the authorities. After some considerations by the relevant authorities, they decided to send him to a reform school in Kelantan.
Teach them how to fish
Zin said poverty, particularly for the refugees, served not only as the breeding ground for crimes but also for the refugees to rapidly 'multiply' in their number as they were ignorant of family planning.
"To me, the only way to get these people out from the clutches of poverty is through education. We can give them rice, a packet or two or give them money but the money is never enough.
"We need to empower them, especially the children, teach them how to fish, not just giving them the fish so they can stand on their own two feet. What if one day I am not here anymore and the others who are helping them?
"What would happen to them then? Would they go back to their old lives? In a way I am a bit worried," Zin said in an interview with Bernama here recently.
Zin who can also speak fluent Bahasa Malaysia, said he had taken onto himself to teach some of the Rohingya children The students are between five and 23 years old.
Rewarding vocation
According to the 30-year-old Zin, he started teaching the children around the end of 2005 until recently when he decided to temporarily stop until he could get a proper place to conduct the classes.
"I was going from house to house, teaching Bahasa Malaysia, English, some Mathematics and religious studies. The children were great, very responsive and excited to learn.
It is satisfying to see the glow on their faces as they respond to my teaching. They also love drawing.
Zin, who has a Malaysian Permanent Resident (PR) status himself, has no experience in teaching but after asking around from his friends who are teachers and lecturers, he began to develop his own syllabus to teach the children.
"I feel privileged that I can assist them. We are not in their situation, we are the lucky ones and if we compare our lives to theirs and also our everyday problems, it is nothing compared to what they are going through.
"They are practically living with no hope, no dreams, no tomorrow, nothing. I am helping them straight from my heart. My goal is, let's say out of 100 students, if I can get one into university, this is already very rewarding. This will take some time but I am willing to do this forever.
"At the same time for those who cannot study, I want to give them vocational training like that in wiring, house renovations, auto mechanics and handicrafts. This is my long-term plan," said Zin.
***********************************************************
The New Straits Times - Charged with drug trafficking
2010/01/08
KUANTAN: A 33-year-old Myanmar fisherman was charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with trafficking in 17g of heroin last month.
Aung Htay Myint from Yangoon, Myanmar, was alleged to have committed the offence at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan here at 1.30am on Dec 29 last year.
Aung had a valid work permit and had been in the country for the past two years.
Magistrate Nor Zaihan Mohd Ali fixed Feb 25 for mention.
2010/01/08
KUANTAN: A 33-year-old Myanmar fisherman was charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with trafficking in 17g of heroin last month.
Aung Htay Myint from Yangoon, Myanmar, was alleged to have committed the offence at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan here at 1.30am on Dec 29 last year.
Aung had a valid work permit and had been in the country for the past two years.
Magistrate Nor Zaihan Mohd Ali fixed Feb 25 for mention.
***********************************************************
China Daily - Myanmar builds new railroads to better regional transport
(Xinhua) Updated: 2010-01-08 13:15
YANGON: Myanmar has been building new railroads in the country and some sections of the new railroads on the east and west banks of the Ayeyawaddy River have been commissioned into service, facilitating regional commodity flow and public transport, according to the Ministry of Rail Transportation Friday.
The recent successive inauguration of two sectional railroads Aungtha-Bawditahtaung and Monywa-Bawditahtaung of the circular railway in Monywa, northwestern Sagaing division, has facilitated the commute in Monywa where more than 250,000 people live, it said.
The addition of the two railroads also helps develop tourism in the region, it added.
Meanwhile, an over-400-kilometer-long railroad project to link Magway division and Rakhine state has been underway and is targeted to be completed during this year.
The 413-kilometer long Sittwe-Ann-Padang-Minbu railroad project includes building of 51 railway stations, 1,285 bridges and tunnels.
Moreover, Myanmar will start nine other new railway network projects to link south with north and east with west of the country.
The over 2,000-kilometer-long project will cost about 132 billion kyats (over US $130 million).
According to official statistics, the length of railroads and rail tracks in Myanmar has respectively extended up to 5,031.29 kilometers (km) and 6,549.26 km, increasing 59 percent and 46 percent in the past 21 years.
There were 3,162.16 km of railroads and 4,470.17 km rail tracks nationwide before 1988 and the state-run Myanmar Railways has built 1,868 km of new railroads and 2,079 km of rail tracks in the whole country since 1988.
The passenger trains has increased to 379 from 229 and freight trains to 18 from 17, the figures indicate.
There are 805 railway stations in the whole country now, an increase of 318 from before 1988 when there were only 487.
According to official statistics, the number of passengers rail- transported in the country in a day stood over 100,000.
(Xinhua) Updated: 2010-01-08 13:15
YANGON: Myanmar has been building new railroads in the country and some sections of the new railroads on the east and west banks of the Ayeyawaddy River have been commissioned into service, facilitating regional commodity flow and public transport, according to the Ministry of Rail Transportation Friday.
The recent successive inauguration of two sectional railroads Aungtha-Bawditahtaung and Monywa-Bawditahtaung of the circular railway in Monywa, northwestern Sagaing division, has facilitated the commute in Monywa where more than 250,000 people live, it said.
The addition of the two railroads also helps develop tourism in the region, it added.
Meanwhile, an over-400-kilometer-long railroad project to link Magway division and Rakhine state has been underway and is targeted to be completed during this year.
The 413-kilometer long Sittwe-Ann-Padang-Minbu railroad project includes building of 51 railway stations, 1,285 bridges and tunnels.
Moreover, Myanmar will start nine other new railway network projects to link south with north and east with west of the country.
The over 2,000-kilometer-long project will cost about 132 billion kyats (over US $130 million).
According to official statistics, the length of railroads and rail tracks in Myanmar has respectively extended up to 5,031.29 kilometers (km) and 6,549.26 km, increasing 59 percent and 46 percent in the past 21 years.
There were 3,162.16 km of railroads and 4,470.17 km rail tracks nationwide before 1988 and the state-run Myanmar Railways has built 1,868 km of new railroads and 2,079 km of rail tracks in the whole country since 1988.
The passenger trains has increased to 379 from 229 and freight trains to 18 from 17, the figures indicate.
There are 805 railway stations in the whole country now, an increase of 318 from before 1988 when there were only 487.
According to official statistics, the number of passengers rail- transported in the country in a day stood over 100,000.
***********************************************************
The Irrawaddy - Burma Would 'Disintegrate' under Federalism: Gen Maung Aye
By LAWI WENG - Friday, January 8, 2010
Burma would “disintegrate” if the demands by ethnic groups for a federal system of government were granted, Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, the No 2 ranking general, told military officers and government officials on Thursday.
In a speech at a graduation parade at the Defense Services Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Science, Maung Aye stressed the need for the preservation of the union form of government, national solidarity and “perpetuation of sovereignty.”
After achieving independence from Britain, armed insurgency broke out across the country in ethnic areas, he told the graduates in Rangoon.
“Political demands [by ethnic groups] related to federalism also emerged,” he said. He said that since ethnic groups dominate many regions of the country, “the country [would] break up into pieces” leading to the collapse of the nation.
“Our nation is a union where more than one hundred national ethnic groups live...in every corner of the country due to [a] divide and rule policy imposed during more than hundred years of colonization,” he said in the prepared text of his speech.
He urged the graduates to treat locations where they are assigned to duty as “their home” and to “treat local people as your own parents.”
“The socio-economic conditions of people, especially those in the border areas, is relatively low due to [the] negative impact caused by armed insurgents,” he said.
He told officers to participate in state development projects in ethnic border areas and other rural development projects implemented by the government.
The ceremony was also attended by Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council and Quartermaster General of the Armed Forces, and other members of the junta's leadership.
In related matters, Burmese state-run media on Thursday published a commentary piece criticizing the Karen National Union (KNU), which it said did not want to see peace, stability and development in its region. It said the KNU acted like terrorists, killing innocent people in a bomb attack during Karen New Year celebrations.
Meanwhile, government troops are preparing to launch a military offensive in the KNU Brigade 6 area.
David Dakapaw, the KNU vice chairman, said, “We almost have fighting one or two times a day.” He said the offensive was not expected to be large.
The military junta is trying to force 17 ethnic armed cease-fire groups to transform their troops into a border guard force under state control. Tension has mounted in recent months. The government says the border guard forces should be created before the national election this year.
The most powerful ethnic armed cease-fire group, the United Wa State Army, with about 20,000 troops in northern Shan State, has refused the order, along with most of the other cease-fire groups.
By LAWI WENG - Friday, January 8, 2010
Burma would “disintegrate” if the demands by ethnic groups for a federal system of government were granted, Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, the No 2 ranking general, told military officers and government officials on Thursday.
In a speech at a graduation parade at the Defense Services Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Science, Maung Aye stressed the need for the preservation of the union form of government, national solidarity and “perpetuation of sovereignty.”
After achieving independence from Britain, armed insurgency broke out across the country in ethnic areas, he told the graduates in Rangoon.
“Political demands [by ethnic groups] related to federalism also emerged,” he said. He said that since ethnic groups dominate many regions of the country, “the country [would] break up into pieces” leading to the collapse of the nation.
“Our nation is a union where more than one hundred national ethnic groups live...in every corner of the country due to [a] divide and rule policy imposed during more than hundred years of colonization,” he said in the prepared text of his speech.
He urged the graduates to treat locations where they are assigned to duty as “their home” and to “treat local people as your own parents.”
“The socio-economic conditions of people, especially those in the border areas, is relatively low due to [the] negative impact caused by armed insurgents,” he said.
He told officers to participate in state development projects in ethnic border areas and other rural development projects implemented by the government.
The ceremony was also attended by Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council and Quartermaster General of the Armed Forces, and other members of the junta's leadership.
In related matters, Burmese state-run media on Thursday published a commentary piece criticizing the Karen National Union (KNU), which it said did not want to see peace, stability and development in its region. It said the KNU acted like terrorists, killing innocent people in a bomb attack during Karen New Year celebrations.
Meanwhile, government troops are preparing to launch a military offensive in the KNU Brigade 6 area.
David Dakapaw, the KNU vice chairman, said, “We almost have fighting one or two times a day.” He said the offensive was not expected to be large.
The military junta is trying to force 17 ethnic armed cease-fire groups to transform their troops into a border guard force under state control. Tension has mounted in recent months. The government says the border guard forces should be created before the national election this year.
The most powerful ethnic armed cease-fire group, the United Wa State Army, with about 20,000 troops in northern Shan State, has refused the order, along with most of the other cease-fire groups.
***********************************************************
The Irrawaddy - Election to be Held in October?
By WAI MOE - Friday, January 8, 2010
Burma's ruling junta will likely hold its long-awaited election in October and announce electoral and party laws in April, according to a report by a leading Japanese newspaper on Thursday.
The Asahi Shimbun, citing a Burmese military government source, reported that the election will be held on Oct.10. The newspaper also reported that the junta-backed mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), and former military officers will form two or three proxy parties in April ahead of the six-month campaign period.
A USDA source contacted by The Irrawaddy could not confirm the dates mentioned in the report, saying that the group is still waiting for the junta to officially announce the election date.
“Except for the head of the state, no one knows the date,” he said, referring to junta head Snr-Gen Than Shwe.
“The USDA is in a good position. It is almost ready for the election,” the source said, adding that the group has already made a list of candidates for pro-government parties.
According to USDA sources, officials of the organization have been planning since August 2008 to form proxy parties with respected local people, businessmen and former military officers. One of the newly formed parties will reportedly be named the “National Prosperity Party.”
Others who may take part in the election include former student activists who are well connected with the ruling generals, as well as veteran politicians and relatives of cabinet members who served in the administration of U Nu, Burma's first and last democratically elected post-independence prime minister.
Although parties cannot legally be formed before the electoral law is announced, veteran politician Thu Wai has already formed the Democratic Party with the children of former ministers from the U Nu era.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy, Thu Wai said that the election is a kind of military tactic that will allow the junta to withdraw from the front line. “So we, civilian politicians, should prepare to systematically take over their places,” he said.
However, the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has not yet announced whether it will join the election.
NLD sources said the party's most urgent task is to reorganize itself before the elections.
According to government staffers, since late 2009, senior officials have been ordering public servants to prepare for the election to take place sometime between May and October. International non-government organizations have reportedly been told by the authorities to stop their operations in the country during this period.
“The government and the USDA have been preparing for the election for at least one and a half years, secretly nominating candidates for future pro-government parties,” said Aye Thar Aung, an Arakanese leader and the secretary of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, an umbrella opposition organization.
Some observers in Burma said the Oct. 10 date provided by the Asahi source was plausible, given the junta's superstitious attachment to auspicious numbers. By setting the election on the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10th year, the regime may believe that it will improve its chances of victory.
Traditionally, however, the junta has regarded nine as its luckiest number. When it seized power in 1988, it chose Sept. 18 as the day to launch its coup (18 is significant because it is a multiple of 9). Similarly, the last election held in the country took place on May 27, 1990.
Moreover, all three dates—Sept. 18, 1988, May 27, 1990 and Oct. 10, 2010—fall on Sundays.
“The generals are crazy about numbers and astrology, so you can't totally dismiss the possibility that the junta has decided to hold the elections on Oct. 10,” said an editor with a private journal in Rangoon.
By WAI MOE - Friday, January 8, 2010
Burma's ruling junta will likely hold its long-awaited election in October and announce electoral and party laws in April, according to a report by a leading Japanese newspaper on Thursday.
The Asahi Shimbun, citing a Burmese military government source, reported that the election will be held on Oct.10. The newspaper also reported that the junta-backed mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), and former military officers will form two or three proxy parties in April ahead of the six-month campaign period.
A USDA source contacted by The Irrawaddy could not confirm the dates mentioned in the report, saying that the group is still waiting for the junta to officially announce the election date.
“Except for the head of the state, no one knows the date,” he said, referring to junta head Snr-Gen Than Shwe.
“The USDA is in a good position. It is almost ready for the election,” the source said, adding that the group has already made a list of candidates for pro-government parties.
According to USDA sources, officials of the organization have been planning since August 2008 to form proxy parties with respected local people, businessmen and former military officers. One of the newly formed parties will reportedly be named the “National Prosperity Party.”
Others who may take part in the election include former student activists who are well connected with the ruling generals, as well as veteran politicians and relatives of cabinet members who served in the administration of U Nu, Burma's first and last democratically elected post-independence prime minister.
Although parties cannot legally be formed before the electoral law is announced, veteran politician Thu Wai has already formed the Democratic Party with the children of former ministers from the U Nu era.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy, Thu Wai said that the election is a kind of military tactic that will allow the junta to withdraw from the front line. “So we, civilian politicians, should prepare to systematically take over their places,” he said.
However, the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has not yet announced whether it will join the election.
NLD sources said the party's most urgent task is to reorganize itself before the elections.
According to government staffers, since late 2009, senior officials have been ordering public servants to prepare for the election to take place sometime between May and October. International non-government organizations have reportedly been told by the authorities to stop their operations in the country during this period.
“The government and the USDA have been preparing for the election for at least one and a half years, secretly nominating candidates for future pro-government parties,” said Aye Thar Aung, an Arakanese leader and the secretary of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, an umbrella opposition organization.
Some observers in Burma said the Oct. 10 date provided by the Asahi source was plausible, given the junta's superstitious attachment to auspicious numbers. By setting the election on the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10th year, the regime may believe that it will improve its chances of victory.
Traditionally, however, the junta has regarded nine as its luckiest number. When it seized power in 1988, it chose Sept. 18 as the day to launch its coup (18 is significant because it is a multiple of 9). Similarly, the last election held in the country took place on May 27, 1990.
Moreover, all three dates—Sept. 18, 1988, May 27, 1990 and Oct. 10, 2010—fall on Sundays.
“The generals are crazy about numbers and astrology, so you can't totally dismiss the possibility that the junta has decided to hold the elections on Oct. 10,” said an editor with a private journal in Rangoon.
***********************************************************
Activist sentenced to 71 years in prison
Friday, 08 January 2010 22:23 Myint Maung
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Fifteen political activists from three townships in Mandalay Division, who were held in Obo prison in Mandalay for three months, were given various prison sentences ranging from two years to 71 years on 30 December by a court sitting inside the prison.
The special branch of the police arrested the political activists from Myingyan, Nyaung Oo and Kyauk Padaung towns last September and October without giving any reasons and did not allow them to meet their family members during detention. They have been given prison sentences now, a family member who met one of the activists in a prison interview on January 6 said.
“Myo Han (Myingyan) was charged in 10 cases and sentenced to 51 years in prison. His elder sister saw him on January 6 but she was not allowed to speak to her brother freely,” a source close to the family member said.
Myo Han was given 15 years in prison with cases under the Electronic Act, nine years with three cases under Unlawful Associations Act, two years for inciting people against state security, 14 years with two cases under Printing and Publishing Act, eight years in the with Associations Act and three years under the Television Act, he said quoting his lawyer Myint Thwin.
The rest of the activists, U Nandawuntha a.k.a. Aung Naing Oo from Myingyan was sentenced to 71 years, Dr. Wint Thu was given 28 years, Kyi Soe 22 years, Soe Phyo Yarzar Soe 14 years, Hla Myo Kyaw 14 years, Ko Ko Naing 28 years, Than Htike Aung 35 years and Wei Phyo 11 years respectively.
They are not only political activists but also volunteers who did relief work for Cyclone Nargis victims.
Similarly Myo Min Thant from Nyaung Oo was given 15 years in prison, Zaw Zaw five years, Kyaw Tun Linn 52 years, Ye Goung from Kyauk Padaung 19 years and Cho Cho Than eight years respectively. A monk named U Zaw Tika arrested in November last year from Thukha Waddy monastery in Kyauk Padaung town was sentenced to two years in prison on December 10 for "inciting crime against state security".
They were charged in various cases including having contact with Thailand-based Burmese opposition forces and then given varying prison terms.
Lawyers Myint Thwin and Kyaw Soe Lwin are representing them and they will file revision cases against the court verdicts.
Friday, 08 January 2010 22:23 Myint Maung
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Fifteen political activists from three townships in Mandalay Division, who were held in Obo prison in Mandalay for three months, were given various prison sentences ranging from two years to 71 years on 30 December by a court sitting inside the prison.
The special branch of the police arrested the political activists from Myingyan, Nyaung Oo and Kyauk Padaung towns last September and October without giving any reasons and did not allow them to meet their family members during detention. They have been given prison sentences now, a family member who met one of the activists in a prison interview on January 6 said.
“Myo Han (Myingyan) was charged in 10 cases and sentenced to 51 years in prison. His elder sister saw him on January 6 but she was not allowed to speak to her brother freely,” a source close to the family member said.
Myo Han was given 15 years in prison with cases under the Electronic Act, nine years with three cases under Unlawful Associations Act, two years for inciting people against state security, 14 years with two cases under Printing and Publishing Act, eight years in the with Associations Act and three years under the Television Act, he said quoting his lawyer Myint Thwin.
The rest of the activists, U Nandawuntha a.k.a. Aung Naing Oo from Myingyan was sentenced to 71 years, Dr. Wint Thu was given 28 years, Kyi Soe 22 years, Soe Phyo Yarzar Soe 14 years, Hla Myo Kyaw 14 years, Ko Ko Naing 28 years, Than Htike Aung 35 years and Wei Phyo 11 years respectively.
They are not only political activists but also volunteers who did relief work for Cyclone Nargis victims.
Similarly Myo Min Thant from Nyaung Oo was given 15 years in prison, Zaw Zaw five years, Kyaw Tun Linn 52 years, Ye Goung from Kyauk Padaung 19 years and Cho Cho Than eight years respectively. A monk named U Zaw Tika arrested in November last year from Thukha Waddy monastery in Kyauk Padaung town was sentenced to two years in prison on December 10 for "inciting crime against state security".
They were charged in various cases including having contact with Thailand-based Burmese opposition forces and then given varying prison terms.
Lawyers Myint Thwin and Kyaw Soe Lwin are representing them and they will file revision cases against the court verdicts.
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Burmese form part of missing children in Thailand
Friday, 08 January 2010 22:02 Usa Pichai
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Thai social workers have urged the government to find a solution for a large number of missing children less than 18 years in the country.
Bangkok-based, Information Center of Missing Person to anti-human Trafficking, The Mirror Foundation, released a report on Thursday, which revealed that the there are about 1,000 reported missing children in Thailand since 2005. Those who could not be found is about 63 per cent of a total of 1,600 missing, both children and adults.
The report noted that the situation of missing children in the country is bad and more complicated. “The reasons for going missing include abduction or misleading the children for sex trade or forced labour” and added that “a number of them were misled via internet communication.”
The group urged related authorities including the Thai Royal Police, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social development and Human Security and media network to take appropriate action on this problem.
Thitima Meeparn, Head of the center told Mizzima that there are about 20 to 30 cases each year where Burmese families want to find their relatives who work in Thailand by coordination though migrant workers assistance organization.
“However, we expected the number to be higher because the total number of migrant workers in Thailand is very big and many move their workplace quite often. So, it’s very difficult to find them,” she said.
Thitima’s center did not specifically record children from Burma separately but just told Mizzima that a number of them are stateless children (about 10-20 per cent from 1,000).
Thitima added that there are cases that aid organizations asking the center to find families for migrant children who were found while they were on the street or rescued from risky places.
“It’s very difficult because these children were confused about details of their parent’s workplace and houses,” she added.
Mala, a Burmese woman working for a local NGO in Ranong in Thailand told Mizzima that parents of Burmese children in the area are also scared that their children would be abducted because last year some of migrant children went missing but there is no NGO or authority to follow up the case.
The group proposed to the authorities to solve the problem by setting up a government agency to process the notice of missing children and adults and follow up because recently, only non government organization are into this role and police should receive the notice from the family and follow up immediately in case of missing children.
According to Thai regulations regarding missing persons, they have to be missing for more than 24 hours, and then the police will accept complaints from the family. Normally, when police are informed about missing persons, they investigate to find them such as from clues, evidence and witnesses. Then they post announcements in the police station, local newspapers and radio. Now they also post it on Ministry of Social Development and Human Security website.
Actually, there is no Thai law that directly links the case of missing persons that include procedure of authorities in dealing with the case. The group noted that the Thai Royal Police should identify the terms and conditions of missing person’s case to be a model for basic investigating.
In addition, local authorities and organizations such as police stations and schools should provide information and warning to parents in case there are abductions in the areas to lessen the problem.
Friday, 08 January 2010 22:02 Usa Pichai
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Thai social workers have urged the government to find a solution for a large number of missing children less than 18 years in the country.
Bangkok-based, Information Center of Missing Person to anti-human Trafficking, The Mirror Foundation, released a report on Thursday, which revealed that the there are about 1,000 reported missing children in Thailand since 2005. Those who could not be found is about 63 per cent of a total of 1,600 missing, both children and adults.
The report noted that the situation of missing children in the country is bad and more complicated. “The reasons for going missing include abduction or misleading the children for sex trade or forced labour” and added that “a number of them were misled via internet communication.”
The group urged related authorities including the Thai Royal Police, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social development and Human Security and media network to take appropriate action on this problem.
Thitima Meeparn, Head of the center told Mizzima that there are about 20 to 30 cases each year where Burmese families want to find their relatives who work in Thailand by coordination though migrant workers assistance organization.
“However, we expected the number to be higher because the total number of migrant workers in Thailand is very big and many move their workplace quite often. So, it’s very difficult to find them,” she said.
Thitima’s center did not specifically record children from Burma separately but just told Mizzima that a number of them are stateless children (about 10-20 per cent from 1,000).
Thitima added that there are cases that aid organizations asking the center to find families for migrant children who were found while they were on the street or rescued from risky places.
“It’s very difficult because these children were confused about details of their parent’s workplace and houses,” she added.
Mala, a Burmese woman working for a local NGO in Ranong in Thailand told Mizzima that parents of Burmese children in the area are also scared that their children would be abducted because last year some of migrant children went missing but there is no NGO or authority to follow up the case.
The group proposed to the authorities to solve the problem by setting up a government agency to process the notice of missing children and adults and follow up because recently, only non government organization are into this role and police should receive the notice from the family and follow up immediately in case of missing children.
According to Thai regulations regarding missing persons, they have to be missing for more than 24 hours, and then the police will accept complaints from the family. Normally, when police are informed about missing persons, they investigate to find them such as from clues, evidence and witnesses. Then they post announcements in the police station, local newspapers and radio. Now they also post it on Ministry of Social Development and Human Security website.
Actually, there is no Thai law that directly links the case of missing persons that include procedure of authorities in dealing with the case. The group noted that the Thai Royal Police should identify the terms and conditions of missing person’s case to be a model for basic investigating.
In addition, local authorities and organizations such as police stations and schools should provide information and warning to parents in case there are abductions in the areas to lessen the problem.
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WFP to continue assistance to Chin State
Thursday, 07 January 2010 19:30 Salai Pi Pi
New Delhi (Mizzima) – The World Food Program (WFP) has pledged to offer further help to Chin state in western Burma plagued by rat infestation and other natural disasters leading to food shortage over the last three years.
Swe Swe Win, program officer of WFP's office in Burma's former capital Rangoon on Tuesday said, WFP will continue its assistance program in the country including Chin State under the new Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO), which will continue from 2010 to 2012 to improve food security, nutrition status and livelihood of the vulnerable population in Myanmar. The amount of the operation is not available.
"As far as food assistance is concerned, we are going to increase assistance throughout Chin state," Swe Swe Win told Mizzima. "Areas will be targeted based on their vulnerability and food insecurity" she added.
"Since the beginning, WFP has provided assistance to the affected areas through the food-for-work program," Swe Swe Win said, "We introduced the FFW scheme in community assets creation and provided food to the participants for their family members".
The chronic food insecurity in Burma's most backward Chin state worsened after bamboo flowering caused rat infestation in 2007. The rats destroyed crops in farmland and created food shortage in several villages.
London-based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)'s recent report said at least 100,000 people in more than 200 villages in Chin state have been affected by the chronic food shortage caused by rat infestation leaving many dead from hunger and famine-related diseases.
Since 2009, WFP and NGOs responded to the rat crisis by launching a "Food for Work" programme in three townships and "Food plus Cash for Work" programme in five townships in Chin state.
WFP and its working partners' activities focus on improving productive assets that increase their food security, such as agriculture land development, construction of trafficable roads, as well as other projects identified by the communities themselves.
"The cash component is added to meet additional food needs, and also to help get out of debts for those who borrowed to endure the crisis," Swe Swe Win said.
In 2009, WFP provided 1088 metric tonnes of food and Kyat 85 million to the people in six townships in Chin state including Hakha, Thangtlang, Falam, Tonzang, Matupi and Tedim under food-for-work and food plus cash for work program.
"WFP is going to establish an office in Chin in the near future" she added.
Meanwhile, Khawma, Secretary of India's northeast state Mizoram based Chin Famine and Emergency Relief Committee (CFERC), which is into cross-border aid to Chin state said, some villagers are unhappy with an assistance program of the WFP led NGOs as it only benefits those who could get involved in the activities.
"Though each person received 3 kgs of rice per day, in some villages, the people who are under 18 and over 60 are not benefitting from the program as they are not allowed to work," Khawma said.
Khawma said the villagers could not do their own work as the working hour is from 6 am to 6 pm except hour for lunch.
According to Khawma, the rats had recently damaged several crops in farms in Paletwa Township in southern Chin state and left several villagers with shortage of food.
"The situation is getting worse in several areas of Paletwa Township as the rats recently destroyed several crops in hillside farms. The villagers are depending on jungle fruit and roots," Khawma told Mizzima.
Moreover, he said, the hot wind, which occasionally strikes the areas, and crop-eating birds like sparrows have brought down the crop yield in most areas of Chin state.
Nyi Nyi Aung, media contact person of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Rangoon told Mizzima that its organization's development project could access only over 60 villages out of over 400 in Paletwa Township due to poor road connectivity.
UNDP at present is conducting development projects including setting up infrastructure to promote the livelihood of villagers in nine townships of Chin state. It has also distributed rice as emergency relief aid to the victims of rat infestation in 2008.
"We could not reach every village because of the difficulties of communication and transportation in those areas," Nyi Nyi Aung said.
Thursday, 07 January 2010 19:30 Salai Pi Pi
New Delhi (Mizzima) – The World Food Program (WFP) has pledged to offer further help to Chin state in western Burma plagued by rat infestation and other natural disasters leading to food shortage over the last three years.
Swe Swe Win, program officer of WFP's office in Burma's former capital Rangoon on Tuesday said, WFP will continue its assistance program in the country including Chin State under the new Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO), which will continue from 2010 to 2012 to improve food security, nutrition status and livelihood of the vulnerable population in Myanmar. The amount of the operation is not available.
"As far as food assistance is concerned, we are going to increase assistance throughout Chin state," Swe Swe Win told Mizzima. "Areas will be targeted based on their vulnerability and food insecurity" she added.
"Since the beginning, WFP has provided assistance to the affected areas through the food-for-work program," Swe Swe Win said, "We introduced the FFW scheme in community assets creation and provided food to the participants for their family members".
The chronic food insecurity in Burma's most backward Chin state worsened after bamboo flowering caused rat infestation in 2007. The rats destroyed crops in farmland and created food shortage in several villages.
London-based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)'s recent report said at least 100,000 people in more than 200 villages in Chin state have been affected by the chronic food shortage caused by rat infestation leaving many dead from hunger and famine-related diseases.
Since 2009, WFP and NGOs responded to the rat crisis by launching a "Food for Work" programme in three townships and "Food plus Cash for Work" programme in five townships in Chin state.
WFP and its working partners' activities focus on improving productive assets that increase their food security, such as agriculture land development, construction of trafficable roads, as well as other projects identified by the communities themselves.
"The cash component is added to meet additional food needs, and also to help get out of debts for those who borrowed to endure the crisis," Swe Swe Win said.
In 2009, WFP provided 1088 metric tonnes of food and Kyat 85 million to the people in six townships in Chin state including Hakha, Thangtlang, Falam, Tonzang, Matupi and Tedim under food-for-work and food plus cash for work program.
"WFP is going to establish an office in Chin in the near future" she added.
Meanwhile, Khawma, Secretary of India's northeast state Mizoram based Chin Famine and Emergency Relief Committee (CFERC), which is into cross-border aid to Chin state said, some villagers are unhappy with an assistance program of the WFP led NGOs as it only benefits those who could get involved in the activities.
"Though each person received 3 kgs of rice per day, in some villages, the people who are under 18 and over 60 are not benefitting from the program as they are not allowed to work," Khawma said.
Khawma said the villagers could not do their own work as the working hour is from 6 am to 6 pm except hour for lunch.
According to Khawma, the rats had recently damaged several crops in farms in Paletwa Township in southern Chin state and left several villagers with shortage of food.
"The situation is getting worse in several areas of Paletwa Township as the rats recently destroyed several crops in hillside farms. The villagers are depending on jungle fruit and roots," Khawma told Mizzima.
Moreover, he said, the hot wind, which occasionally strikes the areas, and crop-eating birds like sparrows have brought down the crop yield in most areas of Chin state.
Nyi Nyi Aung, media contact person of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Rangoon told Mizzima that its organization's development project could access only over 60 villages out of over 400 in Paletwa Township due to poor road connectivity.
UNDP at present is conducting development projects including setting up infrastructure to promote the livelihood of villagers in nine townships of Chin state. It has also distributed rice as emergency relief aid to the victims of rat infestation in 2008.
"We could not reach every village because of the difficulties of communication and transportation in those areas," Nyi Nyi Aung said.
***********************************************************
ILO to be ‘more proactive, not reactive’ in Burma
Jan 7, 2010 (DVB)–The International Labour Organisation is looking to change its approach to dealing with issues of child soldiers and forced labour in Burma, with a top-level ILO official to visit the country next week.
The Burmese army has been accused by rights groups of being one of the world’s leading recruiters of child soldiers, deemed illegal under both international law and Burmese domestic law.
According to Steve Marshall, ILO liaison officer in Rangoon, the UN body continues to receive complaints of child soldier recruitment, despite holding a ‘Supplementary Understanding’ with the Burmese junta to stop use of underage soldiers.
Last year the ILO received 83 complaints of child soldier recruitment, Marshall said, while 46 children had been officially discharged by the army. The total number of complaints received by the organization since it began its complaints mechanism in February 2007 stands at more than 120.
The ILO deputy director general is due to visit Burma next week “with a view to signing a 12-month extension of the supplementary understanding,” Marshall said, adding that he will meet with the government’s Committee for the Prevention of Underage Recruitment.
He also said that the ILO is looking to work with the Burmese government “to get a joint action plan which would allow a more positive, proactive approach to the problem [of child soldiers and forced labour], rather than the current reactive approach”.
A grassroots legal advocacy group, Guiding Star, said last month that use of child soldiers in Burma was increasing after incentives were offered to troops to boost battalion numbers. The military-ruled country already has one of the highest troop-civilian ratios in the world.
Another domestic group tackling child soldier recruitment in Burma, the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network (HRDP), told DVB yesterday that two 16-year-old males were abducted by an army sergeant last month in Irrawaddy division’s Bogalay township and sent to a military centre in Rangoon.
The incident was reported to the ILO yesterday, Maung Maung Lay of the HRDP said, adding that the group assisted in a total of 46 child soldier cases in 2009, and managed to return home around 20 children.
“There is a greater chance of bringing a kid back home quickly while he’s still in a recruitment centre but once the kid is posted in active duty in the army then it becomes more difficult,” he said.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw
Jan 7, 2010 (DVB)–The International Labour Organisation is looking to change its approach to dealing with issues of child soldiers and forced labour in Burma, with a top-level ILO official to visit the country next week.
The Burmese army has been accused by rights groups of being one of the world’s leading recruiters of child soldiers, deemed illegal under both international law and Burmese domestic law.
According to Steve Marshall, ILO liaison officer in Rangoon, the UN body continues to receive complaints of child soldier recruitment, despite holding a ‘Supplementary Understanding’ with the Burmese junta to stop use of underage soldiers.
Last year the ILO received 83 complaints of child soldier recruitment, Marshall said, while 46 children had been officially discharged by the army. The total number of complaints received by the organization since it began its complaints mechanism in February 2007 stands at more than 120.
The ILO deputy director general is due to visit Burma next week “with a view to signing a 12-month extension of the supplementary understanding,” Marshall said, adding that he will meet with the government’s Committee for the Prevention of Underage Recruitment.
He also said that the ILO is looking to work with the Burmese government “to get a joint action plan which would allow a more positive, proactive approach to the problem [of child soldiers and forced labour], rather than the current reactive approach”.
A grassroots legal advocacy group, Guiding Star, said last month that use of child soldiers in Burma was increasing after incentives were offered to troops to boost battalion numbers. The military-ruled country already has one of the highest troop-civilian ratios in the world.
Another domestic group tackling child soldier recruitment in Burma, the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network (HRDP), told DVB yesterday that two 16-year-old males were abducted by an army sergeant last month in Irrawaddy division’s Bogalay township and sent to a military centre in Rangoon.
The incident was reported to the ILO yesterday, Maung Maung Lay of the HRDP said, adding that the group assisted in a total of 46 child soldier cases in 2009, and managed to return home around 20 children.
“There is a greater chance of bringing a kid back home quickly while he’s still in a recruitment centre but once the kid is posted in active duty in the army then it becomes more difficult,” he said.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw
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