EU extends economic sanctions on Myanmar again
EU extends economic sanctions on Myanmar yet is keen to improve ties, plans mission to Yangon
Robert Wielaard, Associated Press Writer, On Monday April 26, 2010, 11:35 am EDT
LUXEMBOURG (AP) -- The EU extended its sanctions against Myanmar Monday yet said it is keen to improve relations with the former Burma, whose military junta continues to refuse to let a pro-democracy movement that won elections in 1990, take power.
The EU foreign ministers said they do not see Myanmar moving to democratic rule and again called for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader who remains under house arrest in Yangon.
She has been in detention for 15 of the last 20 years.
In an annual routine, the EU extended its economic sanctions for another year.
These include a travel ban and a freeze of assets of enterprises owned by members of Myanmar's ruling junta and people associated with them, including judges.
But in a statement, the foreign ministers also said they stand "ready to respond positively to genuine progress" in Myanmar.
"The EU is ready to continue its dialogue with the authorities of Myanmar and all other relevant stakeholders," the statement added.
The EU foreign ministers said they plan to send "an exploratory mission ... to hold high level talks in the hope of building trust and helping the political process" in Myanmar evolve toward democracy.
It was unclear if the authorities in Myanmar would be willing to receive an EU diplomat.
EU extends economic sanctions on Myanmar yet is keen to improve ties, plans mission to Yangon
Robert Wielaard, Associated Press Writer, On Monday April 26, 2010, 11:35 am EDT
LUXEMBOURG (AP) -- The EU extended its sanctions against Myanmar Monday yet said it is keen to improve relations with the former Burma, whose military junta continues to refuse to let a pro-democracy movement that won elections in 1990, take power.
The EU foreign ministers said they do not see Myanmar moving to democratic rule and again called for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader who remains under house arrest in Yangon.
She has been in detention for 15 of the last 20 years.
In an annual routine, the EU extended its economic sanctions for another year.
These include a travel ban and a freeze of assets of enterprises owned by members of Myanmar's ruling junta and people associated with them, including judges.
But in a statement, the foreign ministers also said they stand "ready to respond positively to genuine progress" in Myanmar.
"The EU is ready to continue its dialogue with the authorities of Myanmar and all other relevant stakeholders," the statement added.
The EU foreign ministers said they plan to send "an exploratory mission ... to hold high level talks in the hope of building trust and helping the political process" in Myanmar evolve toward democracy.
It was unclear if the authorities in Myanmar would be willing to receive an EU diplomat.
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EU hopes to send poll mission to Myanmar
1 hr 42 mins ago
LUXEMBOURG (AFP) – The EU hopes to send a mission to Myanmar to discuss the country's upcoming elections with the junta, amid "serious concerns" that the rules are neither free nor fair, ministers said Monday.
EU foreign ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, called on Myanmar's military leaders "to cooperate fully" with Piero Fassino, its special envoy to the country.
The ministers expressed "serious concerns" at new Myanmar election laws published last month which "do not provide for free and fair elections."
The National League for Democracy (NLD), party of Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is boycotting this year's legislative polls, the first for 20 years, as it would have been forced to oust its iconic leader and recognise the junta's constitution if it had signed up.
"The EU believes that despite everything there is room for manoeuvre," a European diplomat said.
"But we are only prepared to go there if we are received at the highest level. We are not prepared to be humiliated."
The NLD risk being dissolved by the Myanmar junta if they do not take part in the polls which are set to take place by the end of November.
Suu Kyi's NLD were the main winners in the last elections in 1990, but the military junta, in power since 1962, refused to recognise those results.
Since then the Nobel Peace prize winner has spent much of the time under house arrest.
The United States has led international condemnation of the laws that Myanmar has enacted for the ballot.
Last month the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution expressing concern that election laws failed to include the necessary elements to guarantee an inclusive political process.
The EU foreign ministers reiterated a call for Suu Kyi's release and said the country's challenges "can only be addressed through genuine dialogue between all stakeholders, including the ethic groups and the opposition."
1 hr 42 mins ago
LUXEMBOURG (AFP) – The EU hopes to send a mission to Myanmar to discuss the country's upcoming elections with the junta, amid "serious concerns" that the rules are neither free nor fair, ministers said Monday.
EU foreign ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, called on Myanmar's military leaders "to cooperate fully" with Piero Fassino, its special envoy to the country.
The ministers expressed "serious concerns" at new Myanmar election laws published last month which "do not provide for free and fair elections."
The National League for Democracy (NLD), party of Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is boycotting this year's legislative polls, the first for 20 years, as it would have been forced to oust its iconic leader and recognise the junta's constitution if it had signed up.
"The EU believes that despite everything there is room for manoeuvre," a European diplomat said.
"But we are only prepared to go there if we are received at the highest level. We are not prepared to be humiliated."
The NLD risk being dissolved by the Myanmar junta if they do not take part in the polls which are set to take place by the end of November.
Suu Kyi's NLD were the main winners in the last elections in 1990, but the military junta, in power since 1962, refused to recognise those results.
Since then the Nobel Peace prize winner has spent much of the time under house arrest.
The United States has led international condemnation of the laws that Myanmar has enacted for the ballot.
Last month the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution expressing concern that election laws failed to include the necessary elements to guarantee an inclusive political process.
The EU foreign ministers reiterated a call for Suu Kyi's release and said the country's challenges "can only be addressed through genuine dialogue between all stakeholders, including the ethic groups and the opposition."
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EU to urge Myanmar junta to accept pre-election mission
Fri Apr 23, 3:07 pm ET
BRUSSELS (AFP) – The EU hopes to send an "exploratory mission" to Myanmar to discuss with the military junta the country's upcoming elections, despite controversial voting laws, a diplomatic source said Friday.
The European Union also calls on Myanmar's military leaders "to cooperate fully" with Piero Fassino, its special envoy to the country, in a text approved by representatives of the 27 European Union nations which will be formally adopted by EU foreign ministers on Monday.
The ministers will express "serious concerns" at new Myanmar election laws published last month which "do not provide for free and fair elections", according to the text seen by AFP.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), party of Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is boycotting this year's legislative polls, the first for 20 years, as it would have been forced to oust its iconic leader and recognise the junta's constitution if it had signed up.
"The EU believes that despite everything there is room for manoeuvre," the European diplomat said.
"But we are only prepared to go there if we are received at the highest level. We are not prepared to be humiliated."
The NLD risk being dissolved by the Myanmar junta if they do not take part in the polls which are set to take place by the end of November.
Suu Kyi's NLD were the main winners in the last elections in 1990, but the military junta, in power since 1962, refused to recognise those results.
Since then the Nobel Peace prize winner has spent much of the time under house arrest.
The United States has led international condemnation of laws Myanmar has enacted for the ballot, the first in the military-run country in two decades, which effectively bar Aung San Suu Kyi from participating.
Last month the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution expressing concern that election laws failed to include the necessary elements to guarantee an inclusive political process.
Fri Apr 23, 3:07 pm ET
BRUSSELS (AFP) – The EU hopes to send an "exploratory mission" to Myanmar to discuss with the military junta the country's upcoming elections, despite controversial voting laws, a diplomatic source said Friday.
The European Union also calls on Myanmar's military leaders "to cooperate fully" with Piero Fassino, its special envoy to the country, in a text approved by representatives of the 27 European Union nations which will be formally adopted by EU foreign ministers on Monday.
The ministers will express "serious concerns" at new Myanmar election laws published last month which "do not provide for free and fair elections", according to the text seen by AFP.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), party of Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is boycotting this year's legislative polls, the first for 20 years, as it would have been forced to oust its iconic leader and recognise the junta's constitution if it had signed up.
"The EU believes that despite everything there is room for manoeuvre," the European diplomat said.
"But we are only prepared to go there if we are received at the highest level. We are not prepared to be humiliated."
The NLD risk being dissolved by the Myanmar junta if they do not take part in the polls which are set to take place by the end of November.
Suu Kyi's NLD were the main winners in the last elections in 1990, but the military junta, in power since 1962, refused to recognise those results.
Since then the Nobel Peace prize winner has spent much of the time under house arrest.
The United States has led international condemnation of laws Myanmar has enacted for the ballot, the first in the military-run country in two decades, which effectively bar Aung San Suu Kyi from participating.
Last month the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution expressing concern that election laws failed to include the necessary elements to guarantee an inclusive political process.
**********************************************************
The Australian - Time to bring Burma's brutal generals to justice
Benedict Rogers
From: The Australian
April 26, 2010 12:00AM
THE UN and the world must protest against a sham poll held by a criminal regime.
Frightened, vulnerable and with a tone of despair, a man with no legs and five children sat in the darkness under a tarpaulin and whispered: "When I had two legs, I could earn money for the whole family and I could give my children money for snacks. Now I cannot provide for them. It is not a normal life. I had to flee the Burma army many times. I did portering for the Burma army many times."
His legs had been blown off by a landmine that he stepped on in the jungle while looking for vegetables, he said. His story was typical of many of the refugees along the Thai-Burma border who were subjected to forced labour by the military regime, and his conclusion summed up his people's struggle: "Run and run and run until now -- this is my life."
Since January, the refugees have been facing constant harassment from the Thai military, and in February the Thai authorities were ready to deport them to Burma. The deportations were averted at the last moment after international pressure, but the harassment continued. Most of the refugees have since given in to the grinding intimidation and fled the camp. Some have returned to a life on the run in the jungle; others may have attempted to disperse in Thailand as illegal immigrants. Those who have gone back to their villages have walked into a death trap, in an area full of landmines, controlled by the Burmese army, where they would almost certainly be subjected to forced labour and torture.
More than 3500 villages in eastern Burma have been destroyed since 1996, and at least a million people displaced. Forced labour, rape and torture are widespread and systematic. I met one refugee who said she had been forced to dig her own grave, and another whose parents were killed when he was a boy and whose wife and children were later shot dead.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma concluded last month that this "pattern of gross and systematic violation of human rights" was "the result of a state policy that involves authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels". The rapporteur argues that the Burmese regime may be guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes, and says the UN should establish a commission of inquiry to investigate.
Australia, Britain and the Czech Republic have agreed in principle with the rapporteur's call for an investigation. Now they need to work to achieve it.
However, many in the international community refuse to accept the truth: that Burma's military regime is illegitimate and criminal. When the regime published its election laws recently, the reaction was muted. Yet the election laws show more blatantly than ever what a sham the regime's planned election will be.
No wonder the National League for Democracy has decided to boycott the sham poll.
The new laws ban political prisoners from belonging to a political party, which means the NLD would have to abandon its leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and hundreds of its members.
Political parties are required to support the new constitution, pushed through in a sham referendum two years ago, which gives the military a quarter of the parliamentary seats and bans Suu Kyi from seeking election.
The NLD, which won the last elections in 1990 with 82 per cent of the seats, is fighting for its existence and will probably be deemed illegal by the regime after May 7. Yet all US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley said was: "This is not what we had suggested to the Burmese government."
However, some countries appear to have had enough. Burma's neighbours are increasingly frustrated. The Philippines Foreign Minister has described the elections as "a complete farce".
In Burma, opinion is divided. Some people intend to take part, in the hope of prising open some space for the future. Others argue that the polls should be boycotted. Both positions are understandable, and the choice is tough.
But for the international community, the choice is clear. It must not give the election any credibility. Instead, the UN must insist no process that so blatantly excludes Suu Kyi and the NLD can be acceptable. A Security Council resolution should call on the regime to engage in dialogue with the NLD and ethnic groups, and spell out benchmarks that are required to measure progress. It is time for the UN to do the right thing: reject the election, investigate the war crimes claims and bring the generals to justice. Only then is there a chance of real change for Burma.
Benedict Rogers is a human rights advocate with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, based in London, and the author of a new biography of Burma's dictator, Than Shwe:
Unmasking Burma's Tyrant, to be published next month by Silkworm Books
Benedict Rogers
From: The Australian
April 26, 2010 12:00AM
THE UN and the world must protest against a sham poll held by a criminal regime.
Frightened, vulnerable and with a tone of despair, a man with no legs and five children sat in the darkness under a tarpaulin and whispered: "When I had two legs, I could earn money for the whole family and I could give my children money for snacks. Now I cannot provide for them. It is not a normal life. I had to flee the Burma army many times. I did portering for the Burma army many times."
His legs had been blown off by a landmine that he stepped on in the jungle while looking for vegetables, he said. His story was typical of many of the refugees along the Thai-Burma border who were subjected to forced labour by the military regime, and his conclusion summed up his people's struggle: "Run and run and run until now -- this is my life."
Since January, the refugees have been facing constant harassment from the Thai military, and in February the Thai authorities were ready to deport them to Burma. The deportations were averted at the last moment after international pressure, but the harassment continued. Most of the refugees have since given in to the grinding intimidation and fled the camp. Some have returned to a life on the run in the jungle; others may have attempted to disperse in Thailand as illegal immigrants. Those who have gone back to their villages have walked into a death trap, in an area full of landmines, controlled by the Burmese army, where they would almost certainly be subjected to forced labour and torture.
More than 3500 villages in eastern Burma have been destroyed since 1996, and at least a million people displaced. Forced labour, rape and torture are widespread and systematic. I met one refugee who said she had been forced to dig her own grave, and another whose parents were killed when he was a boy and whose wife and children were later shot dead.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma concluded last month that this "pattern of gross and systematic violation of human rights" was "the result of a state policy that involves authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels". The rapporteur argues that the Burmese regime may be guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes, and says the UN should establish a commission of inquiry to investigate.
Australia, Britain and the Czech Republic have agreed in principle with the rapporteur's call for an investigation. Now they need to work to achieve it.
However, many in the international community refuse to accept the truth: that Burma's military regime is illegitimate and criminal. When the regime published its election laws recently, the reaction was muted. Yet the election laws show more blatantly than ever what a sham the regime's planned election will be.
No wonder the National League for Democracy has decided to boycott the sham poll.
The new laws ban political prisoners from belonging to a political party, which means the NLD would have to abandon its leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and hundreds of its members.
Political parties are required to support the new constitution, pushed through in a sham referendum two years ago, which gives the military a quarter of the parliamentary seats and bans Suu Kyi from seeking election.
The NLD, which won the last elections in 1990 with 82 per cent of the seats, is fighting for its existence and will probably be deemed illegal by the regime after May 7. Yet all US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley said was: "This is not what we had suggested to the Burmese government."
However, some countries appear to have had enough. Burma's neighbours are increasingly frustrated. The Philippines Foreign Minister has described the elections as "a complete farce".
In Burma, opinion is divided. Some people intend to take part, in the hope of prising open some space for the future. Others argue that the polls should be boycotted. Both positions are understandable, and the choice is tough.
But for the international community, the choice is clear. It must not give the election any credibility. Instead, the UN must insist no process that so blatantly excludes Suu Kyi and the NLD can be acceptable. A Security Council resolution should call on the regime to engage in dialogue with the NLD and ethnic groups, and spell out benchmarks that are required to measure progress. It is time for the UN to do the right thing: reject the election, investigate the war crimes claims and bring the generals to justice. Only then is there a chance of real change for Burma.
Benedict Rogers is a human rights advocate with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, based in London, and the author of a new biography of Burma's dictator, Than Shwe:
Unmasking Burma's Tyrant, to be published next month by Silkworm Books
**********************************************************
EarthTimes - Myanmar ministers resign military posts, source says
Posted : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:55:41 GMT
Yangon - Myanmar's prime minister and at least 17 other ministers and deputy ministers on Monday resigned their military posts in what appears to be a step towards contesting upcoming polls, military sources said.
"Prime Minister Thein Sein has resigned his post as General in the army, so he is now just U (Mr) Thein Sein," said a source, who asked to remain anonymous.
Myanmar state-run media did not immediately confirm the mass resignation, which appears to be in preparation for ex-military men to contest an upcoming election this year at a still unspecified date.
Myanmar's ruling junta has promised polls some time this year as part of their "seven-step roadmap to democracy."
Regulations on party registrations to contest the election were issued in March, which effectively forced the main opposition party the National League for Democracy (NLD) to choose between dropping their leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, from their ranks or not contesting the polls.
The NLD chose not to contest. The regulations bar any person currently serving a prison term for being a political party member, a clause which seems aimed at Suu Kyi, who is serving an 18-month house detention sentence.
The junta is expected to register its own party soon which will be led by ex-military men.
Persons holding military positions are not permitted to contest the election.
Observers believe the polls will bring a pro-military "elected" government to power that will assure the generals' stranglehold on the country, which has been ruled by military dictatorships since 1962.
Posted : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:55:41 GMT
Yangon - Myanmar's prime minister and at least 17 other ministers and deputy ministers on Monday resigned their military posts in what appears to be a step towards contesting upcoming polls, military sources said.
"Prime Minister Thein Sein has resigned his post as General in the army, so he is now just U (Mr) Thein Sein," said a source, who asked to remain anonymous.
Myanmar state-run media did not immediately confirm the mass resignation, which appears to be in preparation for ex-military men to contest an upcoming election this year at a still unspecified date.
Myanmar's ruling junta has promised polls some time this year as part of their "seven-step roadmap to democracy."
Regulations on party registrations to contest the election were issued in March, which effectively forced the main opposition party the National League for Democracy (NLD) to choose between dropping their leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, from their ranks or not contesting the polls.
The NLD chose not to contest. The regulations bar any person currently serving a prison term for being a political party member, a clause which seems aimed at Suu Kyi, who is serving an 18-month house detention sentence.
The junta is expected to register its own party soon which will be led by ex-military men.
Persons holding military positions are not permitted to contest the election.
Observers believe the polls will bring a pro-military "elected" government to power that will assure the generals' stranglehold on the country, which has been ruled by military dictatorships since 1962.
**********************************************************
EarthTimes - Temperatures reach record highs in central Myanmar
Posted : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:14:29 GMT
Yangon - Temperatures in central Myanmar have reached 46-year record highs this hot season, peaking at 45.6 degrees in some places, news reports said Monday.
"The annual March and April heat wave has pushed maximum temperatures in some areas of upper Myanmar to almost 50-year highs," the Myanmar Times reported, citing data from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
According to the department's figures, the heat wave peaked at 45.6 degrees in Minbu, Magway division, on April 6, slightly above the past record of 45.2 degrees reached on April 17, 1973.
On March 26, the mercury hit 43.5 degrees in Monywa, 135 kilometres north-east of Mandalay, and on April 7, a temperature of 43.5 degrees was recorded at Naypyitaw, the military government's new capital, situated 320 kilometres north of Yangon, the old capital.
The exception was Kachin State in northern Myanmar, where temperatures were around the April average of 26 degrees, and rain and thundershowers were recorded.
Posted : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:14:29 GMT
Yangon - Temperatures in central Myanmar have reached 46-year record highs this hot season, peaking at 45.6 degrees in some places, news reports said Monday.
"The annual March and April heat wave has pushed maximum temperatures in some areas of upper Myanmar to almost 50-year highs," the Myanmar Times reported, citing data from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
According to the department's figures, the heat wave peaked at 45.6 degrees in Minbu, Magway division, on April 6, slightly above the past record of 45.2 degrees reached on April 17, 1973.
On March 26, the mercury hit 43.5 degrees in Monywa, 135 kilometres north-east of Mandalay, and on April 7, a temperature of 43.5 degrees was recorded at Naypyitaw, the military government's new capital, situated 320 kilometres north of Yangon, the old capital.
The exception was Kachin State in northern Myanmar, where temperatures were around the April average of 26 degrees, and rain and thundershowers were recorded.
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Rediff News - What India must do in Myanmar and how
April 26, 2010 17:11 IST
The best course of action for India remains to work within the space it has created in Myanmar and not make the junta too apprehensive, while still trying to nudge for greater political reforms, writes Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd)
Come October, the Myanmarese people have a date with a supposedly profound event in their lives. The ruling military junta has promised to hold elections for a parliament where it has already reserved 25 percent of the seats for itself. Notwithstanding such a glaring departure from democratic norms, this is the first election (promised) after 1990, when the incarcerated Aung San Suu Kyi's party National League for Democracy won a majority that the ruling junta then, did not honour.
Myanmar is strategically situated to generate ample interest in the two Asian giants that share its borders, India and China. It provides the land bridge between south, southeast Asia and China. Its southern shores, jutting into the Andaman Sea, provide the western province of Yunnan, China a much required outlet to the seas. China also gains direct access to Bay of Bengal, bypassing the narrow Strait of Malacca.
For India, Myanmar provides an outlet to the sea for the seven land-locked northeastern states. Trade and commerce with Myanmar provides a market to this region, just as it holds out a similar option for Yunnan. Besides, some of our northeast insurgency movements have found safe sanctuaries in Myanmar, in the past.
The Myanmarese military junta initiated the march to democracy with a referendum to have its draft constitution approved in 2008. The referendum had coincided with Cyclone Nargis that left a trail of devastation and loss of life in its wake. However, the military junta carried on with the referendum in spite of calls for postponement by a lot of countries. The results of the referendum were as surprising as the elusive logic for its conduct under the circumstances; 92 percent voters, presumably, voted for the new constitution.
Obviously, the exercise in fudging was undertaken without any concern for international opinion or domestic concerns.
Indian response to events in Myanmar over the decades, have graduated from idealistic to hardnosed pragmatic. While we were fairly strident in our condemnation when General Ne Win usurped power in a military coup in 1968, have called for the release of opposition leader and NLD chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi's release, periodically, conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding on her in 1995, the current approach is more a hands off attitude best expressed by our foreign minister during his visit in 2007, "... we would like democracy to flourish everywhere. But this is for every country to decide for itself."
The pragmatism apparent in the Indian policy has been spurred by the fact of our losing ground in Yangon to China over the years. The relationship between the Chinese and Myanmarese has improved steadily since 1988, after General Ne Win's days. They have invested heavily enough in Myanmar to have replaced Thailand as that country's major trading partner. The pipeline project currently being pursued will provide gas to China's western provinces by 2015; not only making cheaper energy available, but also providing the Myanmar junta much needed cash flows, having been denied any World Bank aid since 1990, post sanctions imposed on it by certain western countries.
The new roads, rails, bridges have also led to massive influx of Chinese into Myanmar. Of strategic significance are roads along the Irrawaddy river that lead south to the coast. Also, of strategic dimensions is the increase of Chinese settlers in Myanmar.
Chinese involvement in Myanmar's military buildup and ports is also of concern. The famous String of Pearls that China is creating to limit India's sea power in the Indian Ocean, includes the Sittwe Port in Myanmar. This string's pearls include China's southernmost province Hainan Islands; Sittwe, Coco Islands and certain other port facilities in Myanmar; Chittagong in Bangladesh, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadhar in Pakistan, and Nepal.
The ban imposed by western nations and a rather idealistic stance of our foreign policy, were the primers that the Chinese used to entrench their interests in Myanmar. Sittwe would be able to reduce Chinese Navy's voyage to Indian Ocean by 3,000 km by not passing through the Strait of Malacca to reach the Bay of Bengal.
Indian investments in Myanmar include the 160 km Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road in Myanmar, originating from Manipur border. The trilateral highway project to connect Moreh in Manipur to Bagan in Myanmar and further to Mae Sot, Thailand, has received Indian assistance. The Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project would ease connectivity of north-eastern states from the Mizoram border to Sittwe Port in Myanmar.
Amongst the hurdles that the junta has to cope with are Myanmar's history of ethnic insurgencies and warlords fighting to retain control of poppy cultivation. However, currently none of the insurgencies are strong enough to destabilise the junta.
In the absence of any greater effort from outside to usher political changes, as also the low combat capabilities of the insurgencies, there are two key domestic constituencies that could create difficult conditions for the military junta. These are, first, the Buddhist monks. The military's repeated heavy handed approach to protests by the monks, has alienated the largely Buddhist population. They have the capability to engineer nationwide protests, albeit non-violent. A popular mass movement could find elements in the armed forces sympathetic to it. However, without outside support and faced with a military that is 4 lakh strong, such an eventuality is remote. There have been mass movements in Myanmar in 1988 and 2007. Such movements are not new in Southeast Asia, the latest being in Thailand.
The next lot is the NLD party of Suu Kyi. The party has decided not to participate in the elections. In any case the rules governing the elections would not allow Su Kyi to contest. The election laws also require all parties to register. The pro-junta political parties including the National Unity Party and the Union Solidarity Development Association are ready to register. However, NLD and a host of ethnic parties have decided not to do so. If these parties are derecognised, their workers may go underground and initiate a more cohesive armed resistance.
The best course of action for India remains to work within the space it has created in Myanmar and not make the junta too apprehensive, while still trying to nudge for greater political reforms.
Myanmar has traditionally been a neutral state, a stance that we need to strengthen, and avoid possibilities of the Chinese navy garnering huge strategic advantages. It is also important to keep Myanmar out of a possible Chinese economic trap. In fact, the inclusion of Myanmar in ASEAN in 1997, primarily steered by Thailand, is both in our and southeast Asia's interests. Myanmar is pivotal to our 'Look East' policy.
Myanmar and our northeast states must benefit from liberalised economic policies. The Kaladan project provides a great opportunity and gives us access right up to Sittwe Port, including its development. As Myanmar progresses economically, political changes would be required to sustain its growth, and it may be possible to switch to more democratic governance as a win-win model for all stake holders in Myanmar, at that stage.
The immediate challenge remains the conduct of free elections and amendment to the election laws. The best forum to pursue these missions is the UN and the 14 member 'Friends of Myanmar' group that includes China and India.
April 26, 2010 17:11 IST
The best course of action for India remains to work within the space it has created in Myanmar and not make the junta too apprehensive, while still trying to nudge for greater political reforms, writes Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd)
Come October, the Myanmarese people have a date with a supposedly profound event in their lives. The ruling military junta has promised to hold elections for a parliament where it has already reserved 25 percent of the seats for itself. Notwithstanding such a glaring departure from democratic norms, this is the first election (promised) after 1990, when the incarcerated Aung San Suu Kyi's party National League for Democracy won a majority that the ruling junta then, did not honour.
Myanmar is strategically situated to generate ample interest in the two Asian giants that share its borders, India and China. It provides the land bridge between south, southeast Asia and China. Its southern shores, jutting into the Andaman Sea, provide the western province of Yunnan, China a much required outlet to the seas. China also gains direct access to Bay of Bengal, bypassing the narrow Strait of Malacca.
For India, Myanmar provides an outlet to the sea for the seven land-locked northeastern states. Trade and commerce with Myanmar provides a market to this region, just as it holds out a similar option for Yunnan. Besides, some of our northeast insurgency movements have found safe sanctuaries in Myanmar, in the past.
The Myanmarese military junta initiated the march to democracy with a referendum to have its draft constitution approved in 2008. The referendum had coincided with Cyclone Nargis that left a trail of devastation and loss of life in its wake. However, the military junta carried on with the referendum in spite of calls for postponement by a lot of countries. The results of the referendum were as surprising as the elusive logic for its conduct under the circumstances; 92 percent voters, presumably, voted for the new constitution.
Obviously, the exercise in fudging was undertaken without any concern for international opinion or domestic concerns.
Indian response to events in Myanmar over the decades, have graduated from idealistic to hardnosed pragmatic. While we were fairly strident in our condemnation when General Ne Win usurped power in a military coup in 1968, have called for the release of opposition leader and NLD chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi's release, periodically, conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding on her in 1995, the current approach is more a hands off attitude best expressed by our foreign minister during his visit in 2007, "... we would like democracy to flourish everywhere. But this is for every country to decide for itself."
The pragmatism apparent in the Indian policy has been spurred by the fact of our losing ground in Yangon to China over the years. The relationship between the Chinese and Myanmarese has improved steadily since 1988, after General Ne Win's days. They have invested heavily enough in Myanmar to have replaced Thailand as that country's major trading partner. The pipeline project currently being pursued will provide gas to China's western provinces by 2015; not only making cheaper energy available, but also providing the Myanmar junta much needed cash flows, having been denied any World Bank aid since 1990, post sanctions imposed on it by certain western countries.
The new roads, rails, bridges have also led to massive influx of Chinese into Myanmar. Of strategic significance are roads along the Irrawaddy river that lead south to the coast. Also, of strategic dimensions is the increase of Chinese settlers in Myanmar.
Chinese involvement in Myanmar's military buildup and ports is also of concern. The famous String of Pearls that China is creating to limit India's sea power in the Indian Ocean, includes the Sittwe Port in Myanmar. This string's pearls include China's southernmost province Hainan Islands; Sittwe, Coco Islands and certain other port facilities in Myanmar; Chittagong in Bangladesh, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadhar in Pakistan, and Nepal.
The ban imposed by western nations and a rather idealistic stance of our foreign policy, were the primers that the Chinese used to entrench their interests in Myanmar. Sittwe would be able to reduce Chinese Navy's voyage to Indian Ocean by 3,000 km by not passing through the Strait of Malacca to reach the Bay of Bengal.
Indian investments in Myanmar include the 160 km Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road in Myanmar, originating from Manipur border. The trilateral highway project to connect Moreh in Manipur to Bagan in Myanmar and further to Mae Sot, Thailand, has received Indian assistance. The Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project would ease connectivity of north-eastern states from the Mizoram border to Sittwe Port in Myanmar.
Amongst the hurdles that the junta has to cope with are Myanmar's history of ethnic insurgencies and warlords fighting to retain control of poppy cultivation. However, currently none of the insurgencies are strong enough to destabilise the junta.
In the absence of any greater effort from outside to usher political changes, as also the low combat capabilities of the insurgencies, there are two key domestic constituencies that could create difficult conditions for the military junta. These are, first, the Buddhist monks. The military's repeated heavy handed approach to protests by the monks, has alienated the largely Buddhist population. They have the capability to engineer nationwide protests, albeit non-violent. A popular mass movement could find elements in the armed forces sympathetic to it. However, without outside support and faced with a military that is 4 lakh strong, such an eventuality is remote. There have been mass movements in Myanmar in 1988 and 2007. Such movements are not new in Southeast Asia, the latest being in Thailand.
The next lot is the NLD party of Suu Kyi. The party has decided not to participate in the elections. In any case the rules governing the elections would not allow Su Kyi to contest. The election laws also require all parties to register. The pro-junta political parties including the National Unity Party and the Union Solidarity Development Association are ready to register. However, NLD and a host of ethnic parties have decided not to do so. If these parties are derecognised, their workers may go underground and initiate a more cohesive armed resistance.
The best course of action for India remains to work within the space it has created in Myanmar and not make the junta too apprehensive, while still trying to nudge for greater political reforms.
Myanmar has traditionally been a neutral state, a stance that we need to strengthen, and avoid possibilities of the Chinese navy garnering huge strategic advantages. It is also important to keep Myanmar out of a possible Chinese economic trap. In fact, the inclusion of Myanmar in ASEAN in 1997, primarily steered by Thailand, is both in our and southeast Asia's interests. Myanmar is pivotal to our 'Look East' policy.
Myanmar and our northeast states must benefit from liberalised economic policies. The Kaladan project provides a great opportunity and gives us access right up to Sittwe Port, including its development. As Myanmar progresses economically, political changes would be required to sustain its growth, and it may be possible to switch to more democratic governance as a win-win model for all stake holders in Myanmar, at that stage.
The immediate challenge remains the conduct of free elections and amendment to the election laws. The best forum to pursue these missions is the UN and the 14 member 'Friends of Myanmar' group that includes China and India.
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New Kerala - Fencing of India-Myanmar border under way
Imphal, Apr 24 : Fencing along the India-Myanmar international border at Manipur's Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants.
"The project is likely to benefit both Myanmar and India. Drug trafficking, human trafficking and illegal trafficking will be controlled," said Ginsei Lhungdim, General Secretary, Hill Tribal Council.
The states of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram have been identified as a transit point for illegal trafficking by the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and International Narcotic Control Board (INCB).
"Government of India had promised to have Myanmar's government in setting up Border liason office near the border area. The objectives are building up bilateral friendship. Then Myanmar's officials desire to be taught the Queen's language, English," said Ginsei Lhungdim.
"They also want to settle petty border criminal issues at the local level itself without forwarding the matter to national capital," he added.
The first phase of surveying the border fencing work was taken along the porous Indo-Myanmar border in 2009.
The fencing work kicked off this year on February 2 after the completion of the boundary survey by the Survey of India.
According to a trade treaty between India and Myanmar, a stretch of 40 kilometers on each side of the border is totally open. No visa and other documents are required to cross the Indo-Myanmar border in this area.
Imphal, Apr 24 : Fencing along the India-Myanmar international border at Manipur's Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants.
"The project is likely to benefit both Myanmar and India. Drug trafficking, human trafficking and illegal trafficking will be controlled," said Ginsei Lhungdim, General Secretary, Hill Tribal Council.
The states of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram have been identified as a transit point for illegal trafficking by the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and International Narcotic Control Board (INCB).
"Government of India had promised to have Myanmar's government in setting up Border liason office near the border area. The objectives are building up bilateral friendship. Then Myanmar's officials desire to be taught the Queen's language, English," said Ginsei Lhungdim.
"They also want to settle petty border criminal issues at the local level itself without forwarding the matter to national capital," he added.
The first phase of surveying the border fencing work was taken along the porous Indo-Myanmar border in 2009.
The fencing work kicked off this year on February 2 after the completion of the boundary survey by the Survey of India.
According to a trade treaty between India and Myanmar, a stretch of 40 kilometers on each side of the border is totally open. No visa and other documents are required to cross the Indo-Myanmar border in this area.
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Australia, Myanmar to be observers at SAARC summit
Calcutta News.Net
Friday 23rd April, 2010 (IANS)
In a sign of the South Asian regional bloc's growing clout, Australia and Myanmar will join the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation as observers at the 16th SAARC summit in Bhutan next week.
With the participation of Australia and Myanmar at the April 28-29 summit in Bhutan certain, the total number of observers at the SAARC has now reached nine.
China, Iran, European Union, Japan, South Korea, the US and Mauritius already have observer status in the SAARC.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will join other leaders of South Asian countries for the 16th SAARC summit in Thimphu April 28, which will focus on climate change as its key theme.
The summit is expected to culminate in a joint declaration entitled 'Towards a Green and Happy South Asia' and will see the signing of two pacts on environment and trade in services.
Regional powers have in the past few years shown an increasing interest in SAARC, which was once written off as another talk shop.
Ahead of the Thimphu summit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu has described SAARC as 'the most important regional cooperation organisation' in South Asia and stressed that there has been constant progress in its relationship with the grouping.
'As the most important regional cooperation organisation in South Asia, SAARC has played an active role in promoting cooperation among member states in advancing social, economic development of the region,' Jiang said.
The Chinese delegation at the SAARC summit would be represented by Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya, she said.
Calcutta News.Net
Friday 23rd April, 2010 (IANS)
In a sign of the South Asian regional bloc's growing clout, Australia and Myanmar will join the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation as observers at the 16th SAARC summit in Bhutan next week.
With the participation of Australia and Myanmar at the April 28-29 summit in Bhutan certain, the total number of observers at the SAARC has now reached nine.
China, Iran, European Union, Japan, South Korea, the US and Mauritius already have observer status in the SAARC.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will join other leaders of South Asian countries for the 16th SAARC summit in Thimphu April 28, which will focus on climate change as its key theme.
The summit is expected to culminate in a joint declaration entitled 'Towards a Green and Happy South Asia' and will see the signing of two pacts on environment and trade in services.
Regional powers have in the past few years shown an increasing interest in SAARC, which was once written off as another talk shop.
Ahead of the Thimphu summit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu has described SAARC as 'the most important regional cooperation organisation' in South Asia and stressed that there has been constant progress in its relationship with the grouping.
'As the most important regional cooperation organisation in South Asia, SAARC has played an active role in promoting cooperation among member states in advancing social, economic development of the region,' Jiang said.
The Chinese delegation at the SAARC summit would be represented by Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya, she said.
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23 April, 2010 14:26 PM
Thailand Top Investor In Myanmar
BANGKOK, April 23 (Bernama) -- Thailand is the top investor in Myanmar, with Britain and Singapore coming second and third, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported citing the Board of Investment (BoI), a Thai government agency.
Wassana Mututanond, BoI investment advisor, said Myanmar is one of many destinations where Thai businesspersons have an opportunity to invest. Thailand has invested US$7.41 billion in Myanmar between 1988 and 2009, making it the top investor in the country in terms of investment value.
Of the total value, 81.7 per cent is invested in the power business, 8.33 per cent in the manufacturing industry, and 3.1 per cent in the hotels and tourism sector.
She said industries that give Thai investors opportunities to invest in Myanmar include agriculture, processed foods, leather, precious stones and mining, and tourism.
Regarding a plan to hold investment promotion actiivities abroad in Fiscal 2010, she said BoI is set to conduct 13 events and activities both locally and overseas.
In addition to holding seminars, BoI will focus on providing information and consultancy services, help create a state- and private-sector network and encourage business matching.
Thailand Top Investor In Myanmar
BANGKOK, April 23 (Bernama) -- Thailand is the top investor in Myanmar, with Britain and Singapore coming second and third, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported citing the Board of Investment (BoI), a Thai government agency.
Wassana Mututanond, BoI investment advisor, said Myanmar is one of many destinations where Thai businesspersons have an opportunity to invest. Thailand has invested US$7.41 billion in Myanmar between 1988 and 2009, making it the top investor in the country in terms of investment value.
Of the total value, 81.7 per cent is invested in the power business, 8.33 per cent in the manufacturing industry, and 3.1 per cent in the hotels and tourism sector.
She said industries that give Thai investors opportunities to invest in Myanmar include agriculture, processed foods, leather, precious stones and mining, and tourism.
Regarding a plan to hold investment promotion actiivities abroad in Fiscal 2010, she said BoI is set to conduct 13 events and activities both locally and overseas.
In addition to holding seminars, BoI will focus on providing information and consultancy services, help create a state- and private-sector network and encourage business matching.
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Interconnectionworld - Private airlines in Myanmar stop Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw flight
YANGON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Private airlines in Myanmar have stopped operation of the route between the former capital of Yangon and the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw for lack of passengers, according to travel agencies Sunday.
The air route, which was previously run by Air Bagan and Yangon Airways, is now operated daily only by the state-run Myanmar Airways as most of the passengers prefer to travel by road following the introduction of Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw express highway a year ago, the report said.
The Myanmar Airways charges passengers for the route at 21,000 kyats (about 21 U.S. dollars) for local and 30-40 U.S. dollars for foreigners, it added.
Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw highway, which represents the lower section of the overall Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay's, was commissioned into service in March 2009, while the upper section of the road, Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay is projected to complete by October this year.
The 320-kilometer 8-lane Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw concrete highway takes only 4 hours' drive to reach Nay Pyi Taw from Yangon instead of 8 hours taken with the existing Yangon-Mandalay highway.
Myanmar moved its administrative capital from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw in November 2005, about 390 kilometers to the north of Yangon.
Nay Pyi Taw is accessible by air, train and road.
YANGON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Private airlines in Myanmar have stopped operation of the route between the former capital of Yangon and the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw for lack of passengers, according to travel agencies Sunday.
The air route, which was previously run by Air Bagan and Yangon Airways, is now operated daily only by the state-run Myanmar Airways as most of the passengers prefer to travel by road following the introduction of Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw express highway a year ago, the report said.
The Myanmar Airways charges passengers for the route at 21,000 kyats (about 21 U.S. dollars) for local and 30-40 U.S. dollars for foreigners, it added.
Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw highway, which represents the lower section of the overall Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay's, was commissioned into service in March 2009, while the upper section of the road, Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay is projected to complete by October this year.
The 320-kilometer 8-lane Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw concrete highway takes only 4 hours' drive to reach Nay Pyi Taw from Yangon instead of 8 hours taken with the existing Yangon-Mandalay highway.
Myanmar moved its administrative capital from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw in November 2005, about 390 kilometers to the north of Yangon.
Nay Pyi Taw is accessible by air, train and road.
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Apr 26, 2010
Straits Times - Asean is not a 'magic wand'
HONG KONG - THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations is not a 'magic wand' for the region's problems and could not ensure free elections in military-ruled Myanmar, the 10-member bloc's chief said on Monday.
Surin Pitsuwan, Asean's secretary-general, said that a decision by opposition parties not to participate in upcoming polls in Myanmar was a problem.
The elections, expected to be held by early November, have been widely criticised as lacking credibility because of laws that effectively bar opposition leader and pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part.
'It is a problem, everybody knows it,' Dr Surin told the International Media Conference in Hong Kong. 'But we're not a magic wand that can deliver a miracle in every issue.'
Defending the regional grouping, which is sometimes criticised as toothless, Dr Surin said Asean had kept Southeast Asia peaceful and boosted economic growth. 'We've been able to maintain peace and growth' in the region, he said.
Movement on human rights would take time, Dr Surin said, but added that members 'are talking to each other much more openly and much more candidly now.' Asean's growing international influence meant it can be an effective buffer in any regional power struggle between China and the United States, he added.
Straits Times - Asean is not a 'magic wand'
HONG KONG - THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations is not a 'magic wand' for the region's problems and could not ensure free elections in military-ruled Myanmar, the 10-member bloc's chief said on Monday.
Surin Pitsuwan, Asean's secretary-general, said that a decision by opposition parties not to participate in upcoming polls in Myanmar was a problem.
The elections, expected to be held by early November, have been widely criticised as lacking credibility because of laws that effectively bar opposition leader and pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part.
'It is a problem, everybody knows it,' Dr Surin told the International Media Conference in Hong Kong. 'But we're not a magic wand that can deliver a miracle in every issue.'
Defending the regional grouping, which is sometimes criticised as toothless, Dr Surin said Asean had kept Southeast Asia peaceful and boosted economic growth. 'We've been able to maintain peace and growth' in the region, he said.
Movement on human rights would take time, Dr Surin said, but added that members 'are talking to each other much more openly and much more candidly now.' Asean's growing international influence meant it can be an effective buffer in any regional power struggle between China and the United States, he added.
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Apr 24, 2010
Straits Times - Crisis: Perils of military rule
YANGON - THAILAND'S political crisis shows that a constitution drawn up by the military can never deliver stability, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Saturday, according to her party.
Myanmar's military junta, which has ruled for nearly half a century, produced a new constitution as part of a 'road map to democracy' which includes elections due to be held later this year.
The election plans have been widely criticised and subject to a boycott by Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), which would have had to expel its leader if it wanted to take part. NLD spokesman Nyan Win said that in a meeting Saturday with Suu Kyi, she discussed the situation in Thailand, which has been wracked by crises since a 2006 coup ejected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
'A new government coming to power under a constitution drawn up by the military will never be stable,' he cited her as saying. 'We do not need to see very far. We just see Thailand,' she said. 'Thaksin was an elected person. The military seized the power from an elected person. The constitution was drawn up by the military,' she said.
'After that, what happened with the first (government)? It was not stable,' she said of the short-lived administration that followed the coup. 'This was a result of the constitution being written by the military.'
Nyan Win said Suu Kyi was not giving an opinion on the rights and wrongs of the conflict in Thailand, where red-shirted campaigners largely loyal to Thaksin are calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Straits Times - Crisis: Perils of military rule
YANGON - THAILAND'S political crisis shows that a constitution drawn up by the military can never deliver stability, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Saturday, according to her party.
Myanmar's military junta, which has ruled for nearly half a century, produced a new constitution as part of a 'road map to democracy' which includes elections due to be held later this year.
The election plans have been widely criticised and subject to a boycott by Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), which would have had to expel its leader if it wanted to take part. NLD spokesman Nyan Win said that in a meeting Saturday with Suu Kyi, she discussed the situation in Thailand, which has been wracked by crises since a 2006 coup ejected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
'A new government coming to power under a constitution drawn up by the military will never be stable,' he cited her as saying. 'We do not need to see very far. We just see Thailand,' she said. 'Thaksin was an elected person. The military seized the power from an elected person. The constitution was drawn up by the military,' she said.
'After that, what happened with the first (government)? It was not stable,' she said of the short-lived administration that followed the coup. 'This was a result of the constitution being written by the military.'
Nyan Win said Suu Kyi was not giving an opinion on the rights and wrongs of the conflict in Thailand, where red-shirted campaigners largely loyal to Thaksin are calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
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MorungExpress - Myanmar based militant activities on rise on Indian side
GUWAHATI, APR 25 (NEPS): Indian Army indicates that there were approximately 40 to 50 camps of the Northeast-based militant groups in Myanmar. He revealed that, out of these camps, 25 to 30 were identified as bigger camps or of established nature. Another source also said Arunachal Pradesh became a steady corridor for procurement of arms by Northeast militants from neighboring China. Sources further disclosed that a major modernization drive in the Chinese Army has released vast quantities of old weapons, some of which are being offloaded to arms dealers, to reach militant groups. Weapons, including AK series rifles, MI 15 rifles, LMGs and ammunition, discarded by the Chinese Army, are still good enough for militant.
The Central intelligence confirms that there are frequent visits by Northeast Indian militant leaders to China. The ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua had been traced to Ruili in the Yunan Province of China, bordering Myanmar. Army sources indicate, “Most of the arms deals are struck at Ruili and from there the Chinese arms are brought to Bamo in Myanmar, from where they are routed to different places. ULFA and other militant outfits of the northeast also bring their arms and ammunition through this route.
Since the Myanmar junta and (Myanmarese) rebel groups are in ceasefire, the Indian insurgent outfits like NSCN-K, ULFA, and Meitei groups of Manipur have found safe haven in the areas under control of the Kachin Independent Army and United Wa State Army rebels (in Myanmar) groups.
Meanwhile, Tirap and Changalang, on one side, and Lohit, Upper and Lower Dibang Valleys, on the other, across the Arunachal Pradesh corridor, remain the principal transit routes for the ULFA for transfer of men and material from both Myanmar and China.
As per the Home Ministry sources, there had been militant activities of the KIA in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap, Changlang and Lohit districts bordering Myanmar.
The report further revealed that the NSCN (K) also had maintained fraternal alliances with UNLF of Manipur and the KIA in Myanmar during the course of operation in the Arunachal territory.
Newly recruited NSCN-K cadres used to undergo training under the guidance of the KIA in the Sagaing region of Myanmar. “NSCN-K has turned to the Kachin Independent Army for logistic help to build their bases in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh — Tirap, Changlang Lohit. And heavily armed KIA fighters have already entered into these three districts along the Indo-Myanmar border,” Arunachal Pradesh senior Police official said.
The NSCN-IM has a similar operational understanding with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-R) in Assam for logistics such as training, movement and arms procurement from Myanmar, via Arunachal Pradesh new corridor.
Meanwhile, a special operation of Dibrugarh police have recently conducted a search at Dibrugarh Medical College hostel and arrested a Myanmar rebel cadre belonging to Kachin Independent Army (KIA).
According to sources available from the College’s Hostel No-23, the youth was identified as Sengli Singpho. Talking to Dibrugarh Police Superintendent Mr. Abhijit Bora, he said the arrested cadre was alleged to be a cadre of KIA.
GUWAHATI, APR 25 (NEPS): Indian Army indicates that there were approximately 40 to 50 camps of the Northeast-based militant groups in Myanmar. He revealed that, out of these camps, 25 to 30 were identified as bigger camps or of established nature. Another source also said Arunachal Pradesh became a steady corridor for procurement of arms by Northeast militants from neighboring China. Sources further disclosed that a major modernization drive in the Chinese Army has released vast quantities of old weapons, some of which are being offloaded to arms dealers, to reach militant groups. Weapons, including AK series rifles, MI 15 rifles, LMGs and ammunition, discarded by the Chinese Army, are still good enough for militant.
The Central intelligence confirms that there are frequent visits by Northeast Indian militant leaders to China. The ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua had been traced to Ruili in the Yunan Province of China, bordering Myanmar. Army sources indicate, “Most of the arms deals are struck at Ruili and from there the Chinese arms are brought to Bamo in Myanmar, from where they are routed to different places. ULFA and other militant outfits of the northeast also bring their arms and ammunition through this route.
Since the Myanmar junta and (Myanmarese) rebel groups are in ceasefire, the Indian insurgent outfits like NSCN-K, ULFA, and Meitei groups of Manipur have found safe haven in the areas under control of the Kachin Independent Army and United Wa State Army rebels (in Myanmar) groups.
Meanwhile, Tirap and Changalang, on one side, and Lohit, Upper and Lower Dibang Valleys, on the other, across the Arunachal Pradesh corridor, remain the principal transit routes for the ULFA for transfer of men and material from both Myanmar and China.
As per the Home Ministry sources, there had been militant activities of the KIA in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap, Changlang and Lohit districts bordering Myanmar.
The report further revealed that the NSCN (K) also had maintained fraternal alliances with UNLF of Manipur and the KIA in Myanmar during the course of operation in the Arunachal territory.
Newly recruited NSCN-K cadres used to undergo training under the guidance of the KIA in the Sagaing region of Myanmar. “NSCN-K has turned to the Kachin Independent Army for logistic help to build their bases in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh — Tirap, Changlang Lohit. And heavily armed KIA fighters have already entered into these three districts along the Indo-Myanmar border,” Arunachal Pradesh senior Police official said.
The NSCN-IM has a similar operational understanding with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-R) in Assam for logistics such as training, movement and arms procurement from Myanmar, via Arunachal Pradesh new corridor.
Meanwhile, a special operation of Dibrugarh police have recently conducted a search at Dibrugarh Medical College hostel and arrested a Myanmar rebel cadre belonging to Kachin Independent Army (KIA).
According to sources available from the College’s Hostel No-23, the youth was identified as Sengli Singpho. Talking to Dibrugarh Police Superintendent Mr. Abhijit Bora, he said the arrested cadre was alleged to be a cadre of KIA.
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istockAnalyst.com (press release) - Multilateral companies to implement hydropower project in Myanmar
Saturday, April 24, 2010 10:37 PM
YANGON, Apr. 25, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Four companies will jointly implement a hydropower project originally agreed between the electric power authorities of Myanmar and Thailand four years ago, according to a state-run daily Sunday.
The Hutgyi hydropower project will be implemented under a memorandum of agreement signed on Saturday in Nay Pyi Taw among the Department of Hydropower Planning of the Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power-1, Sinohydro Corporation Ltd of China, EGAT International Co Ltd of Thailand and International Group of Entrepreneur Co Ltd, said the New Light of Myanmar.
Experts of Myanmar and Thailand have made initial survey on some river ports along Myanmar's Thanlwin River in preparation to build the hydropower plant already agreed in December 2005 between Myanmar and Thailand.
Soil tests on banks of some three ports along the river in southeastern Kayin state were carried out then by experts of Myanmar and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to build the Hutgyi hydropower plant under an agreement signed in December 2005.
The Hutgyi hydropower plant will consist of a 600 megawatt (mw) turbine that can produce 3.82 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) yearly, according to earlier report.
The project constitutes part of those on the Thanlwin and Tanintharyi Rivers agreed earlier between Myanmar and Thailand in June 2005.
Saturday, April 24, 2010 10:37 PM
YANGON, Apr. 25, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Four companies will jointly implement a hydropower project originally agreed between the electric power authorities of Myanmar and Thailand four years ago, according to a state-run daily Sunday.
The Hutgyi hydropower project will be implemented under a memorandum of agreement signed on Saturday in Nay Pyi Taw among the Department of Hydropower Planning of the Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power-1, Sinohydro Corporation Ltd of China, EGAT International Co Ltd of Thailand and International Group of Entrepreneur Co Ltd, said the New Light of Myanmar.
Experts of Myanmar and Thailand have made initial survey on some river ports along Myanmar's Thanlwin River in preparation to build the hydropower plant already agreed in December 2005 between Myanmar and Thailand.
Soil tests on banks of some three ports along the river in southeastern Kayin state were carried out then by experts of Myanmar and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to build the Hutgyi hydropower plant under an agreement signed in December 2005.
The Hutgyi hydropower plant will consist of a 600 megawatt (mw) turbine that can produce 3.82 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) yearly, according to earlier report.
The project constitutes part of those on the Thanlwin and Tanintharyi Rivers agreed earlier between Myanmar and Thailand in June 2005.
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Spero News - Myanmar: Following a number of attacks, tensions rise between the Myanmar army and Kachin militias
In the northern state of Kachin, Myanmar’s military junta has strengthened its presence. Its ultimatum for the Kachin Independence Army to join the border guards expires on 28 April. Otherwise, the militia will be outlawed. Attacks against the Myitsone dam construction site have raised tensions. ...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
By Asia News
Myitkyina – The winds of war are picking up in Myanmar’s Kachin state, on the border of China. The series of blasts that hit the Myitsone dam construction site and the ultimatum set by Myanmar’s military junta against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to join the Border Guard Force (BGF) have raised tensions further. Local sources tell AsiaNews that people are “waiting to see who will fire the first shot”.
Myanmar’s military rulers said that they are ready to outlaw the KIA if the militia’s leaders refuse to join the BGF. The deadline for merger is 28 April.
Meanwhile in the state capital of Myitkyina, 100 Myanmar army trucks were seen near to the KIA’s headquarters, getting ready in case of conflict.
The KIA has refused to join the BGF unless its political wing, the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), is given a clear role in Myanmar politics. The KIO wants this before this year’s parliamentary elections are held.
Sources told AsiaNews, “tensions are running high” in the affected region. The military appear ready to “outlaw the KIA if it does not join the border guards by 28 April.” Confrontation between the sides is “likely” with people just “waiting to see who will fire the first shot.”
In Myitkyina, residents are in favour “of the KIO, the Kachin Independence Organisation”, but the latter “lacks a strong structure” to “face the Burmese military junta.”
A series of explosions that shook the Myitsone dam construction side last Saturday raised the alarm level even further.
A number of bombs exploded in rapid succession at the Asia World company office in Long Ga Zuap village, 10 kilometres south of the construction site. More bombs went off in neighbouring villages. According to unconfirmed reports, seven people, all Chinese, were killed in the attacks.
The dam is a joint project between Myanmar’s Industry Ministry, Asia World and the China Power Investment Corporation, one of the mainland’s largest state-run power producers.
Once it is completed, the dam is expected to generate 3,600 megawatts of electricity to be sold to China’s Yunnan province.
The project has led to the forced relocation of up to 15,000 residents from at least 60 villages upstream of the site.
Local sources complain that the project has caused “the destruction of a grotto with the statue of the Virgin Mary.” Kachin state has a large Christian community and many locals were “quite devoted to the holy image”.
The military junta has blamed the KIO for the attacks. The nationalist movement has denied any involvement. It did acknowledge that it is opposed to project but blamed the junta for the violence. With tensions running so high, locals expect that any incident might lead to open warfare.
In the northern state of Kachin, Myanmar’s military junta has strengthened its presence. Its ultimatum for the Kachin Independence Army to join the border guards expires on 28 April. Otherwise, the militia will be outlawed. Attacks against the Myitsone dam construction site have raised tensions. ...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
By Asia News
Myitkyina – The winds of war are picking up in Myanmar’s Kachin state, on the border of China. The series of blasts that hit the Myitsone dam construction site and the ultimatum set by Myanmar’s military junta against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to join the Border Guard Force (BGF) have raised tensions further. Local sources tell AsiaNews that people are “waiting to see who will fire the first shot”.
Myanmar’s military rulers said that they are ready to outlaw the KIA if the militia’s leaders refuse to join the BGF. The deadline for merger is 28 April.
Meanwhile in the state capital of Myitkyina, 100 Myanmar army trucks were seen near to the KIA’s headquarters, getting ready in case of conflict.
The KIA has refused to join the BGF unless its political wing, the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), is given a clear role in Myanmar politics. The KIO wants this before this year’s parliamentary elections are held.
Sources told AsiaNews, “tensions are running high” in the affected region. The military appear ready to “outlaw the KIA if it does not join the border guards by 28 April.” Confrontation between the sides is “likely” with people just “waiting to see who will fire the first shot.”
In Myitkyina, residents are in favour “of the KIO, the Kachin Independence Organisation”, but the latter “lacks a strong structure” to “face the Burmese military junta.”
A series of explosions that shook the Myitsone dam construction side last Saturday raised the alarm level even further.
A number of bombs exploded in rapid succession at the Asia World company office in Long Ga Zuap village, 10 kilometres south of the construction site. More bombs went off in neighbouring villages. According to unconfirmed reports, seven people, all Chinese, were killed in the attacks.
The dam is a joint project between Myanmar’s Industry Ministry, Asia World and the China Power Investment Corporation, one of the mainland’s largest state-run power producers.
Once it is completed, the dam is expected to generate 3,600 megawatts of electricity to be sold to China’s Yunnan province.
The project has led to the forced relocation of up to 15,000 residents from at least 60 villages upstream of the site.
Local sources complain that the project has caused “the destruction of a grotto with the statue of the Virgin Mary.” Kachin state has a large Christian community and many locals were “quite devoted to the holy image”.
The military junta has blamed the KIO for the attacks. The nationalist movement has denied any involvement. It did acknowledge that it is opposed to project but blamed the junta for the violence. With tensions running so high, locals expect that any incident might lead to open warfare.
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Radio Australia News - Australian PM calls on China to drop regime links
Linda Mottram, Canberra correspondent
Last Updated: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:52:00 +1000
Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has called on China to end its links with repressive regimes like Burma and Sudan, saying they do not help secure a stable world order.
Delivering the 2010 Morrison lecture in Canberra, Mr Rudd also announced $A53 million to set up a new Australia Centre on China in the World at Australian National University.
In his first comments on China since the trial of Australian citizen and former Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu, Mr Rudd said there should be robustness between the two countries without fear of causing offence.
But he says China has much more to do globally.
"It does not help, for example, that China associates with regimes around the world that others seek to isolate because of their assault on the integrity of the international system - from the Sudan to Burma," he said.
"China can, and should, do more to support wider international efforts against destabilising regimes and on global security challenges such as Afghanistan and Iran."
Linda Mottram, Canberra correspondent
Last Updated: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:52:00 +1000
Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has called on China to end its links with repressive regimes like Burma and Sudan, saying they do not help secure a stable world order.
Delivering the 2010 Morrison lecture in Canberra, Mr Rudd also announced $A53 million to set up a new Australia Centre on China in the World at Australian National University.
In his first comments on China since the trial of Australian citizen and former Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu, Mr Rudd said there should be robustness between the two countries without fear of causing offence.
But he says China has much more to do globally.
"It does not help, for example, that China associates with regimes around the world that others seek to isolate because of their assault on the integrity of the international system - from the Sudan to Burma," he said.
"China can, and should, do more to support wider international efforts against destabilising regimes and on global security challenges such as Afghanistan and Iran."
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The Irrawaddy - US Congressman Calls For Burmese Military Revolt
By LALIT K. JHA - Friday, April 23, 2010
WASHINGTON — US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has urged “patriots” in the Burmese military to join pro-democracy advocates like Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic fighters to overthrow the military junta and restore democracy in Burma.
Speaking on the floor of the House of Representative, the California congressman said that patriots and freedom-loving people of Burma will either join against tyranny and foreign domination, or their country will be lost for generations to come.
“The time has come to choose,” Rohrabacher said. “ Let the Burmese, the ethnic people of Burma, the business and military leaders who long for a legitimate and honest government, and all of the other patriots there, let them have the courage to step forward and join together and retake their country. The time is now.”
Rohrabacher said there needs to be reconciliation between the Burmans and the ethnic groups who make up half of Burma's population, adding that in the decades-old insurgency the ethnic fighters have been the primary source of opposition to Burma’s iron-fisted dictatorship.
“Urban democratic leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi and other patriotic Burmans have been beaten down and repressed and imprisoned. These two elements must come together, the Burmans and the ethnic groups that are fighting the Burmese dictatorship,” Rohrabacher said. “They must come together as one under a banner promising respect for the rights and traditions of various people, those various people who make up the wonderfully diverse nation of Burma.”
Rohrabacher appealed for members of the Burmese military to join the fight against the junta.
“An opposition coalition must be joined also by patriots in the military, professional soldiers who seek to remake their army into a respected defender of the nation, not a tool of corruption and foreign domination. It is time for leaders in the army to join the people and build a new, prosperous and free and, yes, independent Burma,” Rohrabacher said.
“In the blink of an eye, Burma can reclaim its sovereignty and can be put on the path to national reconciliation, democracy, and, yes, prosperity. The military in a new Burma, as are professional armies throughout the democratic nations of the world, will be a respected institution, not a tool of foreign domination, repression and corruption,” he said.
Drawing attention to the history of the plight of the people of Burma, Rohrabacher recounted how shortly after World War II Burma was granted its independence from Great Britain. At that time, with democratic institutions in place, rich natural resources and an educated population, it was expected that Burma would become a wealthy, stable and free country.
“Sadly, that country, with so much potential, has been dominated by corrupt tyrants. And despite its vast natural wealth, its people suffer in abject poverty,” Rohrabacher said.
He said the people of Burma are actually losing their country to a foreign power—China.
“A Chinese power grab is not only depleting and stealing Burma’s natural resources, but slowly and surely, Burma is being turned into a subservient province of Beijing,” Rohrabacher said. “China is literally stealing Burma from its own people, and it is accomplishing this monumental crime with the assistance of Burmese government officials whose lust for power is greater than any loyalty to their own national homeland.”
“This is a great moment of opportunity,” Rohrabacher said. “People of Burma, do not let this moment pass by. The world will celebrate with you as you recapture your nation. We are on your side.”
By LALIT K. JHA - Friday, April 23, 2010
WASHINGTON — US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has urged “patriots” in the Burmese military to join pro-democracy advocates like Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic fighters to overthrow the military junta and restore democracy in Burma.
Speaking on the floor of the House of Representative, the California congressman said that patriots and freedom-loving people of Burma will either join against tyranny and foreign domination, or their country will be lost for generations to come.
“The time has come to choose,” Rohrabacher said. “ Let the Burmese, the ethnic people of Burma, the business and military leaders who long for a legitimate and honest government, and all of the other patriots there, let them have the courage to step forward and join together and retake their country. The time is now.”
Rohrabacher said there needs to be reconciliation between the Burmans and the ethnic groups who make up half of Burma's population, adding that in the decades-old insurgency the ethnic fighters have been the primary source of opposition to Burma’s iron-fisted dictatorship.
“Urban democratic leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi and other patriotic Burmans have been beaten down and repressed and imprisoned. These two elements must come together, the Burmans and the ethnic groups that are fighting the Burmese dictatorship,” Rohrabacher said. “They must come together as one under a banner promising respect for the rights and traditions of various people, those various people who make up the wonderfully diverse nation of Burma.”
Rohrabacher appealed for members of the Burmese military to join the fight against the junta.
“An opposition coalition must be joined also by patriots in the military, professional soldiers who seek to remake their army into a respected defender of the nation, not a tool of corruption and foreign domination. It is time for leaders in the army to join the people and build a new, prosperous and free and, yes, independent Burma,” Rohrabacher said.
“In the blink of an eye, Burma can reclaim its sovereignty and can be put on the path to national reconciliation, democracy, and, yes, prosperity. The military in a new Burma, as are professional armies throughout the democratic nations of the world, will be a respected institution, not a tool of foreign domination, repression and corruption,” he said.
Drawing attention to the history of the plight of the people of Burma, Rohrabacher recounted how shortly after World War II Burma was granted its independence from Great Britain. At that time, with democratic institutions in place, rich natural resources and an educated population, it was expected that Burma would become a wealthy, stable and free country.
“Sadly, that country, with so much potential, has been dominated by corrupt tyrants. And despite its vast natural wealth, its people suffer in abject poverty,” Rohrabacher said.
He said the people of Burma are actually losing their country to a foreign power—China.
“A Chinese power grab is not only depleting and stealing Burma’s natural resources, but slowly and surely, Burma is being turned into a subservient province of Beijing,” Rohrabacher said. “China is literally stealing Burma from its own people, and it is accomplishing this monumental crime with the assistance of Burmese government officials whose lust for power is greater than any loyalty to their own national homeland.”
“This is a great moment of opportunity,” Rohrabacher said. “People of Burma, do not let this moment pass by. The world will celebrate with you as you recapture your nation. We are on your side.”
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NDF vows to continue armed struggle
Monday, 26 April 2010 22:50 Mizzima News
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - In a major development that may lead to fresh armed conflict between the armed ceasefire groups and the Burmese Army, the National Democratic Front - Burma (NDF) has declared that it will join hands with its allies to attack the junta on multiple front lines.
“The flames of civil war will be fuelled. We are discussing amongst ourselves to open many front lines around the country if the junta opens even one,” Mai Phone Kyaw, General Secretary of NDF, warned.
The NDF’s Central Committee meeting was held on April 23 and 24 and 18 representatives from seven groups of eight attended and resolved to continue armed struggle.
A NDF statement said it supports the rejection by ceasefire groups of the junta’s proposal to transform their armed wings to the Border Guard Force (BGF).
Mai Phone Kyaw said NDF has established a rapport and a mutual understanding with other ceasefire groups and has already conveyed its intention to them.
He added that the NDF has suggested to the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which was accused of producing opium, to fight for its national rights. He also pointed out that there is enough evidence of top junta leaders’ involvement in opium production operations.
The statement said NDF opposes the 2008 constitution and the junta’s one-sided election, which will only legitimize the military dictatorship and increase its stranglehold on the country. It welcomed the NLD’s decision not to re-register the party with the country’s Election Commission.
The NDF was formed with 13 ethnic armed groups on May 10, 1976, to fight for ethnic rights and self-determination.
Later, some of the groups arrived at a ceasefire agreement with the junta, leaving eight groups, the Karen National Union (KNU), Chin National Front (CNF), New Mon State Party (NMSP), PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), Wa National Organization (WNO), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) in the National Democratic Front fold.
Monday, 26 April 2010 22:50 Mizzima News
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - In a major development that may lead to fresh armed conflict between the armed ceasefire groups and the Burmese Army, the National Democratic Front - Burma (NDF) has declared that it will join hands with its allies to attack the junta on multiple front lines.
“The flames of civil war will be fuelled. We are discussing amongst ourselves to open many front lines around the country if the junta opens even one,” Mai Phone Kyaw, General Secretary of NDF, warned.
The NDF’s Central Committee meeting was held on April 23 and 24 and 18 representatives from seven groups of eight attended and resolved to continue armed struggle.
A NDF statement said it supports the rejection by ceasefire groups of the junta’s proposal to transform their armed wings to the Border Guard Force (BGF).
Mai Phone Kyaw said NDF has established a rapport and a mutual understanding with other ceasefire groups and has already conveyed its intention to them.
He added that the NDF has suggested to the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which was accused of producing opium, to fight for its national rights. He also pointed out that there is enough evidence of top junta leaders’ involvement in opium production operations.
The statement said NDF opposes the 2008 constitution and the junta’s one-sided election, which will only legitimize the military dictatorship and increase its stranglehold on the country. It welcomed the NLD’s decision not to re-register the party with the country’s Election Commission.
The NDF was formed with 13 ethnic armed groups on May 10, 1976, to fight for ethnic rights and self-determination.
Later, some of the groups arrived at a ceasefire agreement with the junta, leaving eight groups, the Karen National Union (KNU), Chin National Front (CNF), New Mon State Party (NMSP), PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), Wa National Organization (WNO), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) in the National Democratic Front fold.
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DVB News - Mon and Wa refugees flee to Thailand
By MAUNG TOO
Published: 26 April 2010
Hundreds of Mon refugees are fleeing into Thailand as the possibility of fighting increases after the New Mon State Party (MNSP) last week rejected proposals to become a Border Guard Force.
Escalating tension in Burma’s northeastern Shan state following a similar rejection by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has also forced dozens across the border into Thailand’s northern Chiang Mai province, Wa locals say.
Demands by the Burmese government that all ceasefire groups transform into border militias have been largely rejected, despite threats of military action by the Burmese army.
Additional troops have reportedly been sent to Burma’s central Mon state, close to Ye township. An NMSP representative told DVB that hundreds of people had arrived at the Halockhani refugee camp in eastern Thailand in recent days.
“Many people from areas deep inside Burma are fleeing to Halockhani camp,” said Nai Chay Mon. “We were able to provide temporary shelter for 225 mothers and children at a middle school inside Halockhani camp. That was all we can do.”
More are reported to be arriving at the camp. The NMSP said on Friday last week that it would not meet the junta’s demands, which would see it forced to reduce troop numbers and subordinated to the Burmese army.
Nai Chay Mon added that NMSP and government troops are “vigilantly watching each other” and that some of the group’s offices have been closed down.
The border guard issue looks set to further destabilise Burma’s already volatile ethnic states, the majority of which lie along Burma’s borders with Thailand, China and India.
China has already warned against unrest along its border, following an outbreak of fighting last year between Burmese troops and an ethnic Kokang group in Shan state which had refused the transformation. The fighting forced more than 30,000 refugees into China.
The junta is looking to consolidate its support base prior to elections this year, but decades-old ceasefire agreements with nearly 20 ethnic armies are looking increasingly tenuous. Ethnic strife has plagued the military government since it came to power in 1962 and has since underpinned much of the country’s political turmoil.
The UWSA said last month that Burmese troops had blocked the flow of food into Wa state, a ‘special region’ of Shan state, in a sign of looming hostilities.
Similarly, troops have moved closer to the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Burma’s main ceasefire groups, which is also resisting the demands to transform.
By MAUNG TOO
Published: 26 April 2010
Hundreds of Mon refugees are fleeing into Thailand as the possibility of fighting increases after the New Mon State Party (MNSP) last week rejected proposals to become a Border Guard Force.
Escalating tension in Burma’s northeastern Shan state following a similar rejection by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has also forced dozens across the border into Thailand’s northern Chiang Mai province, Wa locals say.
Demands by the Burmese government that all ceasefire groups transform into border militias have been largely rejected, despite threats of military action by the Burmese army.
Additional troops have reportedly been sent to Burma’s central Mon state, close to Ye township. An NMSP representative told DVB that hundreds of people had arrived at the Halockhani refugee camp in eastern Thailand in recent days.
“Many people from areas deep inside Burma are fleeing to Halockhani camp,” said Nai Chay Mon. “We were able to provide temporary shelter for 225 mothers and children at a middle school inside Halockhani camp. That was all we can do.”
More are reported to be arriving at the camp. The NMSP said on Friday last week that it would not meet the junta’s demands, which would see it forced to reduce troop numbers and subordinated to the Burmese army.
Nai Chay Mon added that NMSP and government troops are “vigilantly watching each other” and that some of the group’s offices have been closed down.
The border guard issue looks set to further destabilise Burma’s already volatile ethnic states, the majority of which lie along Burma’s borders with Thailand, China and India.
China has already warned against unrest along its border, following an outbreak of fighting last year between Burmese troops and an ethnic Kokang group in Shan state which had refused the transformation. The fighting forced more than 30,000 refugees into China.
The junta is looking to consolidate its support base prior to elections this year, but decades-old ceasefire agreements with nearly 20 ethnic armies are looking increasingly tenuous. Ethnic strife has plagued the military government since it came to power in 1962 and has since underpinned much of the country’s political turmoil.
The UWSA said last month that Burmese troops had blocked the flow of food into Wa state, a ‘special region’ of Shan state, in a sign of looming hostilities.
Similarly, troops have moved closer to the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Burma’s main ceasefire groups, which is also resisting the demands to transform.
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