BNI Weekly News - December 15, 2003
 
 
.   High Security Alert in towns of Northern Arakan
.   US Embassy officials visit Arakan
.   Arakanese youth turns a fugitive for wearing T-shirt with Daw Suu’s photo
.   Burmese Activists Celebrate the 55th Human Rights Day
.   Peoples’ land confiscated for sale in USDA fund drive
.   New marriage law brings new sufferings
.   Champion Wool Company laid off 1200 Burmese workers
.   Force Reallocation and Force Labor For The Re-construction of Tamu-Nanphalong Road
.   Strategic Meeting of Burmese Revolutionary forces held at the Thailand-Burma border
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High Security Alert in towns of Northern Arakan
15 December 2003 :
 
In the northern towns of the Arakan State, namely Sittwe (Akyab), Buthe
Daung, Rathe Daung, Maung Daw, the local authority has increased the
security arrangements due to the fear of communal violence between Arakanese
Buddhists and Muslim communities.
 
“Though there is no official curfew in Sittwe, those found on the street
after 10 pm have been arrested by the military.  They cannot be bailed out.
The troops are everywhere through out the city, as they were in the Coup of
1988.  They are guarding every street corner,” a city resident said.
 
Due to the fear of communal violence, which had been intense in the middle
of mainland Burma, the security forces have been more apparent in the
northern towns of Arakan.
 
“There is heightened security in Sittwe and Maung Daw. Recently there was a
brawl between an Arakanese student and a Muslim youth.  There were some
security scares, but the authority managed to contain it in time. However,
Maung Kyaw Zin Khant, a protagonist of the brawl, is still missing.  There
was also a group of Muslims, who wanted to stir up the community, which set
alight the Muslim religious school.  This is why the authorities of these
two towns are really careful with the communal problems,” said a Maung Daw
resident.
 
Those civilians, who stay on the streets of Sittwe after 10 pm, are accused
of being political dissidents and many of them are still in detention.
 
In 1942, on the eve of Japanese invasion into Burma, the communal violence
spread into Arakan and resulted in violent clashes between Arakanese and
Muslim residents of Arakan, leaving tens of thousands of people dead. Since
then, the two communities have been at odds. #
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US Embassy officials visit Arakan
15 December 2003:
 
Three high ranking officials of the US Embassy in Rangoon paid a three day
visit to Maung Daw Township which is bordering with Bangladesh and located
in the western most part of Arakan state.
 
The officials were Carmen Martinez, Charge D’Affair of the US Embassy to
Rangoon and political officer David Juras, accompanied by another officer.
The visit lasted for 3 days from 3rd to 5th December.
 
Said officials visited the officials from the UNHCR and foreign NGO offices
in the region. The officials also met with authority of Nasaka, the Burmese
border security.
 
The visitors were in a fact-finding mission on the repatriation of Burmese
Muslim refugees from Bangladesh and resettlement programmes in the border
township.
 
The visit from the US Embassy is the talk of the town since it is coincide
with the time of rumour that many Muslims are fleeing Burma again into
Bangladesh due to the Burmese government repression, unable to find work and
high living cost.#
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Arakanese youth turns a fugitive for wearing T-shirt with Daw Suu’s photo
11 December 2003:
 
An Arakanese youth has been living the life of a fugitive to escape from the
military intelligence No. 10 unit, with his only ‘’crime’’ being that he
wore a T-shirt bearing a photograph of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s
opposition leader, said a student from Sittwe.
 
The incident took place in Sittwe -- the capital of Arakan State -- last
month. Ko Naing Naing (31) son of late U Maung Gree Sein of San Pya quarter
in  Sittwe, an active worker of democratic movement, bought a T-shirt
bearing  the image of Daw Suu from Rangoon.
 
Ever since he walked the streets sporting the T-shirt he has been  living in
hideouts to avoid being arrested and is under pursuit by the Military
Intelligence (MI) No 10 base in Sittwe.
 
According to a person closed to Ko Naing Naing, he has been accused of
distributing about 1,000 T-shirts bearing photographs of Daw Aung Suu Kyi.
 
Ko Naing Naing had participated in the ‘88’ peoples’ uprising for democratic
  movement in Sittwe and was accused of killing of 3 MI personnel and was
arrested along with 17 other accused. Later he was proved not guilty and was
released with other 8 persons after three years under detention. The
military court sentenced the other eight to death by in 2000.
 
During Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s last year visit to Sittwe, Ko Naing Naing  had
welcomed her from the town of Pona Gwan, 16 miles north of Sittwe.
 
But because of this reason he become an eyesore for the MI and his employer,
U San Kyaw. The owner of Shrimp Company was compelled by MI to fire him from
the job. #
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Burmese Activists Celebrate the 55th Human Rights Day
By Mung Pi
December 10, 2003
 
The 55th International human rights day celebration was held at Burmese
Community Resource Center (BCRC) in New Delhi, India on today.
 
An exiled Member of Parliament (M.P) Mr. U Thar Noe in his opening speech
said,         " Since time immemorial people have been fighting for human
rights under various administrations. Though the concept of human rights has
been known for ages the words are unpopular until recently."
U Thar Noe, who was also one of the Chief Guest for the occasion continued
saying, "As for Burma, we are now fighting for our second Independence, the
key to our victory lies on the people to unite. Until we fight and change
the military, there will be no human rights in Burma"
 
Referring to the hopeless human rights condition of Burma, Ko Kyaw Than, who
was also present on the occasion, said "Human rights should be relevant to
the ground reality and developed countries where people are able to solve
their basic necessities can practice better human rights. Human rights is
for people who dare fight for it".
 
Around 70 Burmese Delhi-based democracy forces attended the celebration.
Ven. U Pyinnyawara, who was also one of the Chief guest for the occasion,
said, "Rights should be used in the right way, and should not be misuse. We
should try to understand thoroughly and educated the people inside Burma".
 
December 10, International Human Rights day is set by United Nations in 1948
when it formulated the Universal declaration of human rights for every one
in the world.
 
The first article of the declaration begins, "All human beings are born free
and equal in dignity and rights" - the right to security, freedom, equality
and dignity.
 
Mizzima has learnt that Burmese activists in US, Australia and Japan
participated the celebrations and protest against Burma's military regime
for it's notorious human rights violation.#
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Peoples’ land confiscated for sale in USDA fund drive
10 December 2003:
 
State Peace and Development Council authorities have seized the land owned
by the locals and are planning to sell these in pieces for a fund drive for
the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), the local people
said.
 
The land owned by the local people is situated along the bank of Sat Rogya
creek, in the Sittwe downtown. The locals earlier used to sell bamboo,
firewood and water palm leaves (material used as roofing). The army
confiscated the land in 2002 and to build an office for the military
Intelligence, No 10, and Nazi Quarter police station.
 
The two acres of surplus land was in the process of being sold to raise
funds for USDA and Women’s affair Committee (WAC) led by Dr Daw Khin Win
Shwe, wife of Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt.
In the past too cases like this have taken place, for instance the police
department after having built a long building comprising 10 stalls, the
department sold each stall for 5,00,000 kyats to raise funds for its
department.
 
The estimated current value of the plot is 2 million Burmese kyats said
local reliable sources.
 
After confiscation, the owners were forced to shift their business of
selling, bamboo, fire wood and water palm leaves to the upper reaches of Sat
Rogya creek, far away from Sittwe downtown, causing inconvenience to the
Sittwe dwellers in purchasing the commodities mentioned, local people
complained. #
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New marriage law brings new sufferings
9 December 2003:
 
The people of northern townships of Arakan province are suffering from the
new marriage law announced by the Nasaka Border Security Force of Burma.
 
The new law requires that anyone wanting to get married has to get a prior
clearance from the Nasaka authorities, a said report.
 
This has created great difficulties for the youth here, but is bringing a
fortune to the officials in form of bribes and hefty fees, the report added.
 
According to new marriage law, anyone living under the Nasaka jurisdiction
area wanting to marry would have to apply to the Nasaka Border Security area
commander for the permit in advance.
 
The applicants have to attach two copies of passport size photographs and a
certificate issued by chairman of village administration council. It is
reported that permission could be delay by one to two months.But the delay
is dependent on the ability of the interested persons to pay bribe. The
bigger the amount of bribe, the faster is the granting of permission.
 
A couple wanting to tie the nuptial knot has to pay forty to kyat 40,000 to
50,000 thousand to Nasaka area commander, the report said. The applicants
are also required to pay handsome tips to the chairman of  village council
for issuance of the required certificate.
 
A primary school teacher of Maung Daw said ‘’Because of the new marriage law
citizens are suffering but most of the Nasaka Burmese officers are
prospering economically.’’
 
The new law issued from the Nasaka Headquarters, Kyiganbran, Maung Daw
Township does not exist anywhere in the world, except in the Muslim
populated area of the northern part of the Arakan province. #
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Champion Wool Company laid off 1200 Burmese workers
8 December 2003;
 
Last week Mizzima released news of B.K Wool Company's (also called Champion
by the locals) plan to lay off its workers.  Based in Maesot, Tah township
of Thailand, where approximately 3000 Burmese migrant workers are employed,
the company started by laying-off 800 workers on 6 December and 400 on 8
December, creating a dire situation for the already strained Burmese
migrants-even forcing some women to turn to prostitution for income.
 
Concerning the workers of the Taiwan owned wool company, Daw Nan Myint Myint
Sein of Karen state said: "Over 1000 have been laid-off, but few have gone
back to Burma. Most are trying to find another job. A few have started
daily-wage jobs and a few have gone to the fields, but that's only possible
for the men. As for girls, word is that that are going to "that place".
"That place" means the prostitution house. As there is no work and no money,
our debtors are chasing us. That is the only way to solve the problem."
 
The company ordered the employees to take three months leave and gave them
each 900 baht compensation. At the same time, however, the workers were
required to pay their 300 baht registration fee, as well as their food,
electricity and water bills.  Most were left penniless.
 
Burmese migrants workers build huts for themselves in the paddy fields
outside Maesot. At the same time that their work permits are held by their
employers, they are regularly harassed and arrested by the authorities. #
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Forced Relocation and Forced Labor For The Re-construction of Tamu-Nanphalong Road
7 December 2003:
 
After a while of recess, reports say that forced re-locations and forced
labor have re-started to enable the construction of a road in Tamu township
of Sagaing division.
 
Force laborers were summoned according to respective wards, quarters, and
houses. On December 6th, all the residents of quarter no.(5) in Tamu were
said to have been called for free labor to re-construct the road connecting
the Than bridge and the Thaman bridge that was destroy by the flood last
year.
 
According to a resident of Tamu, residents are require to work from 7:00 am
to 11:00 am with their own tools and rations and absconders are fined 500
kyats.
 
Moreover, residents of Sandarku quarter were also said to have been called
twice in the previous week, for free labor to construct the same road. The
road that is being re-constructed is connected to the Tamu-Nanphalong road,
which is a strategic road for Indo-Burma border trade.
 
The flood of Pahe river last year, apart from destroying (20) houses along
with Than bridge of Autkyin quarter and numerous paddy fields, destroyed the
main bridge connecting India and Burma. The bridge has been repaired by the
Indian authorities.
 
Tamu township authorities re-located six houses from Sandarku quarter no.(3)
to make room from the road site opposite the river near Inn Daw quarter. The
residents, however, refused to stay in the allocated area as the area was
previously used as cemetery to bury prisoners.
 
A resident of Tamu said: "We refuse to stay there because the place is used
as an old cemetery.  When we dug the ground for constructing our houses, we
found human skeletons.  As for the people who are out of the road site, they
continue to stay in the same place in spite of the danger of flood".
 
It is also reported that another seven more houses in Sandarku quarter that
are on the road site that were ordered to be re-located by Township Peace
and Development Council (TPDC). #
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Strategic Meeting of Burmese Revolutionary forces held at the Thailand-Burma border
6 December 2003:
 
The fifth strategic consultation meeting of Anti-Rangoon forces was held
along the Thai-Burmese border from the 3rd to the 5th of December.
 
The meeting was attended by Leaders of the Karenni National Progress Party
(KNPP), United Nationalities League for Democracy/Librated Area (UNLD/LA),
Women's League of Burma (WLB), National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma (NCGUB) and National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB).
 
In their statement dated Dec 5, participants demanded that members of the
United Nations and the UN Secretary-General play the leading role in efforts
to implement the 58th Session of UN resolutions.
 
They pointed out the need to extend invitations to the National League for
Democracy (NLD), the UNLD, and the United Nationalities Alliance to the
international conference for national reconciliation sponsored by Thailand
with the claim that the conference would not lead to a genuine national
reconciliation without the participation of the representatives elected by
the people of Burma. !
 
This statement emphasizes the importance of gathering the opinions of armed
ethnic nationalities forces including KNPP, National Democratic Front (NDF),
and other armed ethnic forces before political talks on Burma are held.
 
The participants of the meeting solemnly agreed to establish closer and
stronger cooperation with the international community, between different
anti-junta groups, and with the people of Burma while establishing the
following five political objectives:
 
(a)        Release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
(b)        Nation wide cessation of armed hostilities.
(c)        Emergence of seminars of ethnic nationalities throughout the country.
(d)        Emergence of basic democratic rights, including the freedom of 
           organizational activities by political parties.
(e)        Improving human rig! hts conditions throughout the country as well as
           finding justice for the 30 May Debayin  massacre.#
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Burma News International (BNI) is a network of six Independent Burma Media
organizations: The Mizzima News, The Narinjara News, the Kaladan Press
Network, the Khonumthung News Group, the Network Media Group and the
Independent Mon News Agency. #