UN experts say NKorea is exporting nuke technology
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer – Fri May 28, 2:38 am ET
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – North Korea is exporting nuclear and ballistic missile technology and using multiple intermediaries, shell companies and overseas criminal networks to circumvent U.N. sanctions, U.N. experts said in a report obtained by The Associated Press.
The seven-member panel monitoring the implementation of sanctions against North Korea said its research indicates that Pyongyang is involved in banned nuclear and ballistic activities in Iran, Syria and Myanmar. It called for further study of these suspected activities and urged all countries to try to prevent them.
The 47-page report, obtained late Thursday by AP, and a lengthy annex document sanctions violations reported by U.N. member states, including four cases involving arms exports and two seizures of luxury goods by Italy — two yachts and high-end recording and video equipment. The report also details the broad range of techniques that North Korea is using to try to evade sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council after its two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
Council diplomats discussed the report by the experts from Britain, Japan, the United States, France, South Korea, Russia and China at a closed-door meeting on Thursday.
Its release happened to coincide with heightened tensions between North Korea and South Korea over the March sinking of a South Korean navy ship which killed 46 sailors. The council is waiting for South Korea to decide what action it wants the U.N.'s most powerful body to take in response to the sinking, which a multinational investigation determined was caused by a North Korean torpedo.
The panel of experts said there is general agreement that the U.N. embargoes on nuclear and ballistic missile related items and technology, on arms exports and imports except light weapons, and on luxury goods, are having an impact.
But it said the list of eight entities and five individuals currently subject to an asset freeze and travel ban seriously understates those known to be engaged in banned activities and called for additional names to be added. It noted that North Korea moved quickly to have other companies take over activities of the eight banned entities.
The experts said an analysis of the four North Korean attempts to illegally export arms revealed that Pyongyang used "a number of masking techniques" to avoid sanctions.
They include providing false descriptions and mislabeling of the contents of shipping containers, falsifying the manifest and information about the origin and destination of the goods, "and use of multiple layers of intermediaries, shell companies, and financial institutions," the panel said.
It noted that a chartered jet intercepted in Thailand in December carrying 35 tons of conventional weapons including surface-to-air missiles from North Korea was owned by a company in the United Arab Emirates, registered in Georgia, leased to a shell company registered in New Zealand and then chartered to another shell company registered in Hong Kong — which may have been an attempt to mask its destination.
North Korea is also concealing arms exports by shipping components in kits for assembly overseas, the experts said.
As one example, the panel said it learned after North Korean military equipment was seized at Durban harbor in South Africa that scores of technicians from the North had gone to the Republic of Congo, where the equipment was to have been assembled.
The experts called for "extra vigilance" at the first overseas port handling North Korean cargo and close monitoring of airplanes flying from the North, saying Pyongyang is believed to use air cargo "to handle high valued and sensitive arms exports."
While North Korea maintains a wide network of trade offices which do legitimate business as well as most of the country's illicit trade and covert acquisitions, the panel said Pyongyang "has also established links with overseas criminal networks to carry out these activities, including the transportation and distribution of illicit and smuggled cargoes."
This may also include goods related to weapons of mass destruction and arms, it added.
Under council resolutions, all countries are required to submit reports on what they are doing to implement sanctions but as of April 30 the panel said it had still not heard from 112 of the 192 U.N. member states — including 51 in Africa, 28 in Asia, and 25 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
While no country reported on nuclear or ballistic missile-related imports or exports from North Korea since the second sanctions resolution was adopted last June, the panel said it reviewed several U.S. and French government assessments, reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency, research papers and media reports indicating Pyongyang's continuing involvement in such activities.
These reports indicate North Korea "has continued to provide missiles, components, and technology to certain countries including Iran and Syria ... (and) has provided assistance for a nuclear program in Syria, including the design and construction of a thermal reactor at Dair Alzour," the panel said.
Syria denied the allegations in a letter to the IAEA, but the U.N. nuclear agency is still trying to obtain reports on the site and its activities, the panel said.
The experts said they are also looking into "suspicious activity in Myanmar," including activities of Namchongang Trading, one of the companies subject to U.N. sanctions, and reports that Japan in June 2009 arrested three individuals for attempting to illegally export a magnetometer — which measures magnetic fields — to Myanmar via Malaysia allegedly under the direction of a company known to be associated with illicit procurement for North Korea's nuclear and military programs. The company was not identified.
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer – Fri May 28, 2:38 am ET
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – North Korea is exporting nuclear and ballistic missile technology and using multiple intermediaries, shell companies and overseas criminal networks to circumvent U.N. sanctions, U.N. experts said in a report obtained by The Associated Press.
The seven-member panel monitoring the implementation of sanctions against North Korea said its research indicates that Pyongyang is involved in banned nuclear and ballistic activities in Iran, Syria and Myanmar. It called for further study of these suspected activities and urged all countries to try to prevent them.
The 47-page report, obtained late Thursday by AP, and a lengthy annex document sanctions violations reported by U.N. member states, including four cases involving arms exports and two seizures of luxury goods by Italy — two yachts and high-end recording and video equipment. The report also details the broad range of techniques that North Korea is using to try to evade sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council after its two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
Council diplomats discussed the report by the experts from Britain, Japan, the United States, France, South Korea, Russia and China at a closed-door meeting on Thursday.
Its release happened to coincide with heightened tensions between North Korea and South Korea over the March sinking of a South Korean navy ship which killed 46 sailors. The council is waiting for South Korea to decide what action it wants the U.N.'s most powerful body to take in response to the sinking, which a multinational investigation determined was caused by a North Korean torpedo.
The panel of experts said there is general agreement that the U.N. embargoes on nuclear and ballistic missile related items and technology, on arms exports and imports except light weapons, and on luxury goods, are having an impact.
But it said the list of eight entities and five individuals currently subject to an asset freeze and travel ban seriously understates those known to be engaged in banned activities and called for additional names to be added. It noted that North Korea moved quickly to have other companies take over activities of the eight banned entities.
The experts said an analysis of the four North Korean attempts to illegally export arms revealed that Pyongyang used "a number of masking techniques" to avoid sanctions.
They include providing false descriptions and mislabeling of the contents of shipping containers, falsifying the manifest and information about the origin and destination of the goods, "and use of multiple layers of intermediaries, shell companies, and financial institutions," the panel said.
It noted that a chartered jet intercepted in Thailand in December carrying 35 tons of conventional weapons including surface-to-air missiles from North Korea was owned by a company in the United Arab Emirates, registered in Georgia, leased to a shell company registered in New Zealand and then chartered to another shell company registered in Hong Kong — which may have been an attempt to mask its destination.
North Korea is also concealing arms exports by shipping components in kits for assembly overseas, the experts said.
As one example, the panel said it learned after North Korean military equipment was seized at Durban harbor in South Africa that scores of technicians from the North had gone to the Republic of Congo, where the equipment was to have been assembled.
The experts called for "extra vigilance" at the first overseas port handling North Korean cargo and close monitoring of airplanes flying from the North, saying Pyongyang is believed to use air cargo "to handle high valued and sensitive arms exports."
While North Korea maintains a wide network of trade offices which do legitimate business as well as most of the country's illicit trade and covert acquisitions, the panel said Pyongyang "has also established links with overseas criminal networks to carry out these activities, including the transportation and distribution of illicit and smuggled cargoes."
This may also include goods related to weapons of mass destruction and arms, it added.
Under council resolutions, all countries are required to submit reports on what they are doing to implement sanctions but as of April 30 the panel said it had still not heard from 112 of the 192 U.N. member states — including 51 in Africa, 28 in Asia, and 25 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
While no country reported on nuclear or ballistic missile-related imports or exports from North Korea since the second sanctions resolution was adopted last June, the panel said it reviewed several U.S. and French government assessments, reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency, research papers and media reports indicating Pyongyang's continuing involvement in such activities.
These reports indicate North Korea "has continued to provide missiles, components, and technology to certain countries including Iran and Syria ... (and) has provided assistance for a nuclear program in Syria, including the design and construction of a thermal reactor at Dair Alzour," the panel said.
Syria denied the allegations in a letter to the IAEA, but the U.N. nuclear agency is still trying to obtain reports on the site and its activities, the panel said.
The experts said they are also looking into "suspicious activity in Myanmar," including activities of Namchongang Trading, one of the companies subject to U.N. sanctions, and reports that Japan in June 2009 arrested three individuals for attempting to illegally export a magnetometer — which measures magnetic fields — to Myanmar via Malaysia allegedly under the direction of a company known to be associated with illicit procurement for North Korea's nuclear and military programs. The company was not identified.
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EUbusiness - EU bid to pre-inspect Myanmar polls 'not finalised'
27 May 2010, 20:53 CET
(BRUSSELS) - EU efforts to get experts into Myanmar to check democratic conditions for scheduled elections are "not finalised," foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton's office said on Thursday.
A spokeswoman for Ashton said the English baroness "spoke briefly" with Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win in Madrid on the sidelines of a dinner gathering the 27 European Union ministers and their 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations counterparts late on Wednesday.
However, spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said that the decision on how far to press for access "is not for the High Representative to take, it's for member states.
"We would like to do it, but it's not yet finalised," she said, stressing that the idea was in the hands of member states' ambassadors.
A Spanish official warned on Wednesday that such an "exploratory mission" to Yangon to discuss the polls would be "very complicated, very delicate" with "no guarantees" that it would be able to see opposition leaders.
Ashton's bid followed a joint appeal to Myanmar to make the elections, scheduled by the end of November, "a credible, transparent and inclusive process."
At the Madrid meeting, the ministers said that "the early release of those under detention would contribute to making the elections more inclusive and help bring about a peaceful political dialogue," in a reference to detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) has boycotted the polls, as it would have been forced to oust its iconic leader and recognise the junta's constitution if it had signed up.
NLD members on Thursday marked 20 years since winning Myanmar's last polls -- a result that the country's military junta, in power since 1962, refused to recognise.
Nobel Peace prize winner Suu Kyi has spent much of the time under house arrest.
27 May 2010, 20:53 CET
(BRUSSELS) - EU efforts to get experts into Myanmar to check democratic conditions for scheduled elections are "not finalised," foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton's office said on Thursday.
A spokeswoman for Ashton said the English baroness "spoke briefly" with Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win in Madrid on the sidelines of a dinner gathering the 27 European Union ministers and their 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations counterparts late on Wednesday.
However, spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said that the decision on how far to press for access "is not for the High Representative to take, it's for member states.
"We would like to do it, but it's not yet finalised," she said, stressing that the idea was in the hands of member states' ambassadors.
A Spanish official warned on Wednesday that such an "exploratory mission" to Yangon to discuss the polls would be "very complicated, very delicate" with "no guarantees" that it would be able to see opposition leaders.
Ashton's bid followed a joint appeal to Myanmar to make the elections, scheduled by the end of November, "a credible, transparent and inclusive process."
At the Madrid meeting, the ministers said that "the early release of those under detention would contribute to making the elections more inclusive and help bring about a peaceful political dialogue," in a reference to detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) has boycotted the polls, as it would have been forced to oust its iconic leader and recognise the junta's constitution if it had signed up.
NLD members on Thursday marked 20 years since winning Myanmar's last polls -- a result that the country's military junta, in power since 1962, refused to recognise.
Nobel Peace prize winner Suu Kyi has spent much of the time under house arrest.
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CathNews Asia (blog) - Sri Lankans demand release of Suu Kyi
Published Date: May 28, 2010
Catholic priests, nuns and Buddhist monks have joined a rally against the deterioration of democracy in Myanmar and have urged the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.
“Free Aung San Suu Kyi!” “Freedom for Burmese People!” “Let parliamentary rule be established in Myanmar!” the 30 or so demonstrators shouted in front of the Myanmar embassy in Colombo on May 26, ucanews.com reports.
The protest takes place every year to mark the general election victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Suu Kyi, in May 27, 1990.
However, the military junta refused to recognize the results, and continued to place Suu Kyi under house arrest.
“Our traditional relations with the Burmese in terms of culture and religion since time immemorial make us concerned about their sufferings and their long struggle for democracy,” said S. Gunaratne, an activist.
“The suppressions in Myanmar are not justifiable,” Gunaratne said.
“Suu Kyi has been in prison for more than 20 years,” said Father Terrence Fernando of Colombo archdiocese, another protester. “She should be freed very soon. The Myanmar military government should release her and take steps to uphold democratic rights in Myanmar.”
Holy Family Sister Sunitha Fernando, said, “I join with other activists to urge the Myanmar government to uphold democratic rights and release all political prisoners and detainees.”
The NLD is boycotting polls slated for later this year. The party has denounced new election laws as undemocratic and declined to register as required, which meant it is automatically dissolved.
Published Date: May 28, 2010
Catholic priests, nuns and Buddhist monks have joined a rally against the deterioration of democracy in Myanmar and have urged the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.
“Free Aung San Suu Kyi!” “Freedom for Burmese People!” “Let parliamentary rule be established in Myanmar!” the 30 or so demonstrators shouted in front of the Myanmar embassy in Colombo on May 26, ucanews.com reports.
The protest takes place every year to mark the general election victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Suu Kyi, in May 27, 1990.
However, the military junta refused to recognize the results, and continued to place Suu Kyi under house arrest.
“Our traditional relations with the Burmese in terms of culture and religion since time immemorial make us concerned about their sufferings and their long struggle for democracy,” said S. Gunaratne, an activist.
“The suppressions in Myanmar are not justifiable,” Gunaratne said.
“Suu Kyi has been in prison for more than 20 years,” said Father Terrence Fernando of Colombo archdiocese, another protester. “She should be freed very soon. The Myanmar military government should release her and take steps to uphold democratic rights in Myanmar.”
Holy Family Sister Sunitha Fernando, said, “I join with other activists to urge the Myanmar government to uphold democratic rights and release all political prisoners and detainees.”
The NLD is boycotting polls slated for later this year. The party has denounced new election laws as undemocratic and declined to register as required, which meant it is automatically dissolved.
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The Irrawaddy - US Senators Condemn Burma's Regime
By LALIT K JHA - Friday, May 28, 2010
WASHINGTON—Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 1990 election in Burma in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming number of seats but the military regime refused to transfer power, six US senators condemned the regime for its past and present oppression.
Senators Mitch McConnell, Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Judd Gregg, John McCain and Sam Brownback condemned the military regime both for its refusal to transfer power to the NLD in 1990 and its plan to hold a new election this year without the participation of the NLD and other pro-democracy forces.
“On the twentieth anniversary of this election, we reaffirm our conviction that the people of Burma deserve the freedom to choose their future for themselves,” the senators said in a joint statement.
“We condemn the continuing dictatorship imposed by the junta and call on its ruling generals to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally, and to begin a genuine political dialogue with opposition and ethnic groups and leaders, including with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” they said.
The senators also condemned the junta's election laws, which required the NLD to expel its imprisoned members in order to register for the new election, saying that the election laws confirm that the vote the junta has promised later this year represents yet another mockery of the democratic process in Burma.
“Rather than accept the junta’s outrageous election laws, the NLD is now forced into dissolution. While we recognize that this was a painful decision for the NLD’s leaders, we applaud and honor their courage in upholding the principles that have guided their efforts since the party’s founding,” the senators said.
While the NLD may have lost its legal status in Burma, it has not lost its legitimacy in the eyes of millions of people in Burma and around the world; that is a power far beyond the reach of the junta, the senators said.
“The junta’s recent actions should prompt the President to exercise the authority provided to him by Section 5 of the 2008 Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act to impose targeted banking sanctions against the regime and its leaders,” the senators said. They also urged the Obama administration to nominate a special representative and policy coordinator to Burma, as required by US law.
Aung Din, the executive director of the US Campaign for Burma, expressed appreciation for the senators' strong and consistent support of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi. “This is a clear message from the United States to the regime that it's showcase election will not be recognized by the international community,” he said.
“I am hoping that the senators' message will also remind the US administration to strengthen and maximize pressure on the regime, so its engagement with the regime will become more effective," Aung Din said.
Meanwhile, in an interview with MSNBC, US Sen Jim Webb offered a different perspective on US relations with Burma, arguing that the US should continue its recent policy of engagement with the military junta.
“We see a transition that the United States should be engaged in, rather than turning our back to and saying we‘re not going to talk to people simply because they politically don’t agree with us,” said Webb, who will begin a three-day visit to Burma on June 4.
“The connecting fabric in many of these situations is China not stepping up in a cooperative way, in a way that equals its emerging power in the region. Korea’s a good example of that, because China could be a major force in terms of calming things down on the Korean Peninsula. They have not yet done it. They did not do it with these meetings that Hillary Clinton had there. And China sort of views North Korea as a buffer state. They have a self-interest in not seeing a unification of Korea. And so we need to have them step up,” he said.
Webb visited Burma in August, becoming the first US senator to do so in more than ten years. He remains the only American official to meet with the country’s top leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe. He also met with imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and obtained the release of American prisoner John Yettaw.
By LALIT K JHA - Friday, May 28, 2010
WASHINGTON—Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 1990 election in Burma in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming number of seats but the military regime refused to transfer power, six US senators condemned the regime for its past and present oppression.
Senators Mitch McConnell, Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Judd Gregg, John McCain and Sam Brownback condemned the military regime both for its refusal to transfer power to the NLD in 1990 and its plan to hold a new election this year without the participation of the NLD and other pro-democracy forces.
“On the twentieth anniversary of this election, we reaffirm our conviction that the people of Burma deserve the freedom to choose their future for themselves,” the senators said in a joint statement.
“We condemn the continuing dictatorship imposed by the junta and call on its ruling generals to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally, and to begin a genuine political dialogue with opposition and ethnic groups and leaders, including with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” they said.
The senators also condemned the junta's election laws, which required the NLD to expel its imprisoned members in order to register for the new election, saying that the election laws confirm that the vote the junta has promised later this year represents yet another mockery of the democratic process in Burma.
“Rather than accept the junta’s outrageous election laws, the NLD is now forced into dissolution. While we recognize that this was a painful decision for the NLD’s leaders, we applaud and honor their courage in upholding the principles that have guided their efforts since the party’s founding,” the senators said.
While the NLD may have lost its legal status in Burma, it has not lost its legitimacy in the eyes of millions of people in Burma and around the world; that is a power far beyond the reach of the junta, the senators said.
“The junta’s recent actions should prompt the President to exercise the authority provided to him by Section 5 of the 2008 Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act to impose targeted banking sanctions against the regime and its leaders,” the senators said. They also urged the Obama administration to nominate a special representative and policy coordinator to Burma, as required by US law.
Aung Din, the executive director of the US Campaign for Burma, expressed appreciation for the senators' strong and consistent support of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi. “This is a clear message from the United States to the regime that it's showcase election will not be recognized by the international community,” he said.
“I am hoping that the senators' message will also remind the US administration to strengthen and maximize pressure on the regime, so its engagement with the regime will become more effective," Aung Din said.
Meanwhile, in an interview with MSNBC, US Sen Jim Webb offered a different perspective on US relations with Burma, arguing that the US should continue its recent policy of engagement with the military junta.
“We see a transition that the United States should be engaged in, rather than turning our back to and saying we‘re not going to talk to people simply because they politically don’t agree with us,” said Webb, who will begin a three-day visit to Burma on June 4.
“The connecting fabric in many of these situations is China not stepping up in a cooperative way, in a way that equals its emerging power in the region. Korea’s a good example of that, because China could be a major force in terms of calming things down on the Korean Peninsula. They have not yet done it. They did not do it with these meetings that Hillary Clinton had there. And China sort of views North Korea as a buffer state. They have a self-interest in not seeing a unification of Korea. And so we need to have them step up,” he said.
Webb visited Burma in August, becoming the first US senator to do so in more than ten years. He remains the only American official to meet with the country’s top leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe. He also met with imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and obtained the release of American prisoner John Yettaw.
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The Irrawaddy - Than Shwe’s Electronic Dream
By MIN LWIN - Friday, May 28, 2010
Burma's military junta has expanded its Fiber Optic Cable (FOC) project to its Eastern Regional Command, bringing to a total four military regional command centers whose electronic systems are linked to Naypyidaw via the country's most modern network.
The FOCs have been laid in Pekon, Aung Pan and Kalaw townships in eastern Shan State, according to local people and military sources. The FOC cables—which are individually no wider than a strand of hair—transmit Internet, telephone and cable TV.
Local people in an area controlled by the ethnic cease-fire group, the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP), said that two- and six-feet deep trenches were dug to hold the FOC pipelines that were installed in late April. The cables connect the Burmese army's Eastern Regional Command, based in the Shan State capital of Taunggyi, to its Triangle Regional Command center, based in Kengtung.
Since 2000, the Burmese junta has implemented an FOC project in its Western Regional Military Command center in Arakan State; in Northern Regional Command in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State; and in its Northeastern Regional Command center in Lashio in northern Shan State.
The FOC program is conducted by the Directorate of Signals and overseen by the Ministry of Defense. According to military sources, a map of the cables' transmission routes has been kept so secret that even staff officers at the Directorate of Signals do not know the details.
Sources have speculated that junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe is personally involved in the project and is insistent that the military maintains an independent electronics network from the rest of the country. He is reputedly concerned that military communications are intercepted by hostile agencies, ethnic insurgents, cease-fire groups or foreign intelligence agencies.
“Tet Chauk [Military Chief Than Shwe] has a dream about military communications,” said a military source in Rangoon. “He is suspicious of wireless communication, because he thinks it will be intercepted by hostile organizations. That's why he wants all his military bases to be linked by FOCs.”
“Than Shwe’s dream is to hold his four-monthly meetings via electronic links, so no regional commander need come to military headquarters,” said a retired commander who spoke to The Irrawaddy. “At the same time, he believes the FOCs will prevent any information being intercepted.”
By MIN LWIN - Friday, May 28, 2010
Burma's military junta has expanded its Fiber Optic Cable (FOC) project to its Eastern Regional Command, bringing to a total four military regional command centers whose electronic systems are linked to Naypyidaw via the country's most modern network.
The FOCs have been laid in Pekon, Aung Pan and Kalaw townships in eastern Shan State, according to local people and military sources. The FOC cables—which are individually no wider than a strand of hair—transmit Internet, telephone and cable TV.
Local people in an area controlled by the ethnic cease-fire group, the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP), said that two- and six-feet deep trenches were dug to hold the FOC pipelines that were installed in late April. The cables connect the Burmese army's Eastern Regional Command, based in the Shan State capital of Taunggyi, to its Triangle Regional Command center, based in Kengtung.
Since 2000, the Burmese junta has implemented an FOC project in its Western Regional Military Command center in Arakan State; in Northern Regional Command in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State; and in its Northeastern Regional Command center in Lashio in northern Shan State.
The FOC program is conducted by the Directorate of Signals and overseen by the Ministry of Defense. According to military sources, a map of the cables' transmission routes has been kept so secret that even staff officers at the Directorate of Signals do not know the details.
Sources have speculated that junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe is personally involved in the project and is insistent that the military maintains an independent electronics network from the rest of the country. He is reputedly concerned that military communications are intercepted by hostile agencies, ethnic insurgents, cease-fire groups or foreign intelligence agencies.
“Tet Chauk [Military Chief Than Shwe] has a dream about military communications,” said a military source in Rangoon. “He is suspicious of wireless communication, because he thinks it will be intercepted by hostile organizations. That's why he wants all his military bases to be linked by FOCs.”
“Than Shwe’s dream is to hold his four-monthly meetings via electronic links, so no regional commander need come to military headquarters,” said a retired commander who spoke to The Irrawaddy. “At the same time, he believes the FOCs will prevent any information being intercepted.”
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The Irrawaddy - Junta to Reshuffle Regional Commanders
By WAI MOE - Friday, May 28, 2010
During its four-monthly meeting in Naypyidaw this week, Burma's military junta reportedly decided to reshuffle its regional military commanders and other senior military posts.
Military sources in Napyidaw said at least five of the Tatmadaw's (Burma's armed forces) thirteen regional military commanders will be affected by the coming reshuffle. And according Burmese military observers, six of the most senior regional military commanders are likely be promoted following the four-monthly meeting.
The senior commanders expected to be promoted are: Maj-Gen Wai Lwin of the Naypyidaw Command, Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut of the Northeastern Command, Maj-Gen Thet Naing Win of Southeastern Command, Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe of the Central Command, Maj-Gen Thaung Aye of the Western Command and Maj-Gen Khin Zaw Win of the Coastal Command.
“It is quite likely they [the senior commanders] will be promoted, as junior officials are waiting to take over their position,” said Win Min, a Burmese researcher on Burma military affairs. “They could be promoted as chiefs of special operation bureaus, chiefs of other posts in the war office in Naypyidaw, or other minister posts.”
Of the regional command posts, the one most likely to be reshuffled is that of the chief of military affairs security (MAS), formerly known as military intelligence. Military sources said Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the chief of the MAS, has become unpopular with Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the junta leader and commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw, for failing to convince ceasefire ethnic groups to join the junta's Border Guard Force plan.
During the last four-monthly meeting in November, Than Shwe reportedly told Ye Myint that he must successfully handle the ethnic group issues or be replaced.
Brig-Gen Myat Tun Oo, the commander of the 101 Light Infantry Division in Pakokku, who was previously assigned to talk with the Karen National Union over a ceasefire deal, is expected to be appointed to a leadership position on the Border Guard Force issue, said military sources. It is unclear, however, whether Tun Oo would replace Ye Myint or they would work together.
Also on the agenda at the four-monthly meeting is the question of which military officials will be assigned to the military's allocated seats in parliament at the time of this years election and which will become members of a yet to be formed military commission.
Although Than Shwe, 77, vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, 72, the junta's No. 2 ranking official, and other aging top generals may retire from their military posts in the future, they are likely to manage the country's military affairs through the the new commission, which observers liken it to the State Peace and Development Council.
Another issue expected to be decided and announced following the four-monthly meeting is the reshuffling of current government ministries.
Although Burmese officials told a US delegation earlier in May that Prime Minister Thein Sein and other top ministers would remain in their posts until the next government is formed, sources said some ministers who are members of the prime minister's Union Development and Solitary Party could resign from their government positions next month.
“The order [for the ministers to resign] is expected to be issued by Naypyidaw in early June. Director-general and managing directors could become temporary ministers,” said a source from Naypyidaw.
Than Shwe is attending the four-monthly meeting, which as of Friday was still ongoing.
“The four-monthly meeting will last for almost this entire week. It is expected to be finished on Saturday as all military commanders are scheduled to come back to their bases on Sunday,” said a military source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
By WAI MOE - Friday, May 28, 2010
During its four-monthly meeting in Naypyidaw this week, Burma's military junta reportedly decided to reshuffle its regional military commanders and other senior military posts.
Military sources in Napyidaw said at least five of the Tatmadaw's (Burma's armed forces) thirteen regional military commanders will be affected by the coming reshuffle. And according Burmese military observers, six of the most senior regional military commanders are likely be promoted following the four-monthly meeting.
The senior commanders expected to be promoted are: Maj-Gen Wai Lwin of the Naypyidaw Command, Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut of the Northeastern Command, Maj-Gen Thet Naing Win of Southeastern Command, Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe of the Central Command, Maj-Gen Thaung Aye of the Western Command and Maj-Gen Khin Zaw Win of the Coastal Command.
“It is quite likely they [the senior commanders] will be promoted, as junior officials are waiting to take over their position,” said Win Min, a Burmese researcher on Burma military affairs. “They could be promoted as chiefs of special operation bureaus, chiefs of other posts in the war office in Naypyidaw, or other minister posts.”
Of the regional command posts, the one most likely to be reshuffled is that of the chief of military affairs security (MAS), formerly known as military intelligence. Military sources said Lt-Gen Ye Myint, the chief of the MAS, has become unpopular with Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the junta leader and commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw, for failing to convince ceasefire ethnic groups to join the junta's Border Guard Force plan.
During the last four-monthly meeting in November, Than Shwe reportedly told Ye Myint that he must successfully handle the ethnic group issues or be replaced.
Brig-Gen Myat Tun Oo, the commander of the 101 Light Infantry Division in Pakokku, who was previously assigned to talk with the Karen National Union over a ceasefire deal, is expected to be appointed to a leadership position on the Border Guard Force issue, said military sources. It is unclear, however, whether Tun Oo would replace Ye Myint or they would work together.
Also on the agenda at the four-monthly meeting is the question of which military officials will be assigned to the military's allocated seats in parliament at the time of this years election and which will become members of a yet to be formed military commission.
Although Than Shwe, 77, vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, 72, the junta's No. 2 ranking official, and other aging top generals may retire from their military posts in the future, they are likely to manage the country's military affairs through the the new commission, which observers liken it to the State Peace and Development Council.
Another issue expected to be decided and announced following the four-monthly meeting is the reshuffling of current government ministries.
Although Burmese officials told a US delegation earlier in May that Prime Minister Thein Sein and other top ministers would remain in their posts until the next government is formed, sources said some ministers who are members of the prime minister's Union Development and Solitary Party could resign from their government positions next month.
“The order [for the ministers to resign] is expected to be issued by Naypyidaw in early June. Director-general and managing directors could become temporary ministers,” said a source from Naypyidaw.
Than Shwe is attending the four-monthly meeting, which as of Friday was still ongoing.
“The four-monthly meeting will last for almost this entire week. It is expected to be finished on Saturday as all military commanders are scheduled to come back to their bases on Sunday,” said a military source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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Mon leaders resign after decades of struggle
Friday, 28 May 2010 22:14 Phanida
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Three top leaders of the New Mon State Party, which has rejected the junta’s offer of bringing its troops into a junta-controlled Border Guard Force, resigned from the party on May 18, a party spokesman said.
The party accepted the resignations tendered by party joint secretary Nai Chan Twe and central executive committee members Nai Tin La and Nai Kho Sap, who no longer wanted to work for the party, Nai Chay Mon said.
Nai Tin La had served for party for 25 years and Nai Chan Twe and Nai Kho Sap had served for party for at least 30 years. “They might want a change as they have been [participating] in revolution for a long time”, Nai Chay Mon said.
The relationship between the New Mon State Party and Burma’s military regime is tense and both sides are on standby for military action.
Those who resigned from the party might support a new ethnic Mon group, the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP), the NMSP speculated. The AMRDP’s registration with the Election Commission was approved on May 24.
AMRDP nominated 53 candidates to stand for election and would be led by retired Mon State education chief Nai Ngwe Thein. It was formed in Mawlamyaing on April 7 and intended to contest the election in Mon and Karen states and in Tanintharyi and Pegu divisions, the party chairman told Kaowao, the Mon news agency based in Thailand.
Friday, 28 May 2010 22:14 Phanida
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Three top leaders of the New Mon State Party, which has rejected the junta’s offer of bringing its troops into a junta-controlled Border Guard Force, resigned from the party on May 18, a party spokesman said.
The party accepted the resignations tendered by party joint secretary Nai Chan Twe and central executive committee members Nai Tin La and Nai Kho Sap, who no longer wanted to work for the party, Nai Chay Mon said.
Nai Tin La had served for party for 25 years and Nai Chan Twe and Nai Kho Sap had served for party for at least 30 years. “They might want a change as they have been [participating] in revolution for a long time”, Nai Chay Mon said.
The relationship between the New Mon State Party and Burma’s military regime is tense and both sides are on standby for military action.
Those who resigned from the party might support a new ethnic Mon group, the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP), the NMSP speculated. The AMRDP’s registration with the Election Commission was approved on May 24.
AMRDP nominated 53 candidates to stand for election and would be led by retired Mon State education chief Nai Ngwe Thein. It was formed in Mawlamyaing on April 7 and intended to contest the election in Mon and Karen states and in Tanintharyi and Pegu divisions, the party chairman told Kaowao, the Mon news agency based in Thailand.
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DVB News - Suu Kyi would snub US senator
By NAY HTOO
Published: 28 May 2010
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would likely refuse to meet with US senator Jim Webb on looming visit to Burma, long-time party colleague Win Tin has said.
Webb is due to visit Burma this week as part of a regional delegation that will also take him to South Korea and Thailand. His last trip to Burma, in August 2009, secured the release of US citizen John Yettaw, who was imprisoned for swimming to Suu Kyi's Rangoon compound.
But, said Win Tin, the visit would not be welcome by members of the NLD: “I do not believe that NLD general secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will want to meet him also,” he added.
Webb was criticised by members of Burma's pro-democracy movement for his inability to pressure the junta to free Suu Kyi whilst successfully bringing Yettaw back to the US.
Some also see his anti-sanctions stance as too soft on the ruling generals. Win Tin questioned whether his trip was related to murmurings in the US senate about ramping up sanctions.
"So are you going to talk about ending those sanctions again? Are you also going to give advice to the military government on ways to end the sanctions? If you do, we are not going to stand for it," Win Tin said.
Phyo Min Thein, chairman of the Union Democratic Alliance, a party which has registered to contest the elections this year, said he will be issuing a three-point proposal to Webb similar to one presented to US assistant secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, who visited Burma earlier this month.
If the government wants to ensure fairness, independent international experts should be brought in to monitor the elections, he said. I will ask Mr Jim Webb to persuade the Burmese government to do that.
He added that he would press Webb to urge the junta to form a transition government comprising military and civilian officials before the elections, which many regard as a sham aimed at cementing military rule in Burma.
Webb's visit coincides with the scheduled visit to Burma by the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao who is due to meet junta chief Than Shwe to discuss strengthening trade and cooperation. China's foreign ministry said that bilateral trade between the two countries last year reached more than $US2.9 billion.
By NAY HTOO
Published: 28 May 2010
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would likely refuse to meet with US senator Jim Webb on looming visit to Burma, long-time party colleague Win Tin has said.
Webb is due to visit Burma this week as part of a regional delegation that will also take him to South Korea and Thailand. His last trip to Burma, in August 2009, secured the release of US citizen John Yettaw, who was imprisoned for swimming to Suu Kyi's Rangoon compound.
But, said Win Tin, the visit would not be welcome by members of the NLD: “I do not believe that NLD general secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will want to meet him also,” he added.
Webb was criticised by members of Burma's pro-democracy movement for his inability to pressure the junta to free Suu Kyi whilst successfully bringing Yettaw back to the US.
Some also see his anti-sanctions stance as too soft on the ruling generals. Win Tin questioned whether his trip was related to murmurings in the US senate about ramping up sanctions.
"So are you going to talk about ending those sanctions again? Are you also going to give advice to the military government on ways to end the sanctions? If you do, we are not going to stand for it," Win Tin said.
Phyo Min Thein, chairman of the Union Democratic Alliance, a party which has registered to contest the elections this year, said he will be issuing a three-point proposal to Webb similar to one presented to US assistant secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, who visited Burma earlier this month.
If the government wants to ensure fairness, independent international experts should be brought in to monitor the elections, he said. I will ask Mr Jim Webb to persuade the Burmese government to do that.
He added that he would press Webb to urge the junta to form a transition government comprising military and civilian officials before the elections, which many regard as a sham aimed at cementing military rule in Burma.
Webb's visit coincides with the scheduled visit to Burma by the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao who is due to meet junta chief Than Shwe to discuss strengthening trade and cooperation. China's foreign ministry said that bilateral trade between the two countries last year reached more than $US2.9 billion.
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